bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The outcome of surgical treatment for peri-acetabular metastases
Authors: Shahid M. , Saunders T. , Jeys L. , Grimer R.
Published: January 2014

We reviewed the outcome of patients who had been treated operatively for symptomatic peri-acetabular metastases and present an algorithm to guide treatment.

The records of 81 patients who had been treated operatively for symptomatic peri-acetabular metastases between 1987 and 2010 were identified. There were 27 men and 54 women with a mean age of 61 years (15 to 87). The diagnosis, size of lesion, degree of pelvic continuity, type of reconstruction, World Health Organization performance status, survival time, pain, mobility and complications including implant failure were recorded in each case.

The overall patient survivorship at five years was 5%. The longest lived patient survived 16 years from the date of diagnosis. The mean survival was 23 months (< 1 to 16 years) and the median was 15 months. At follow-up 14 patients remained alive. Two cementoplasties failed because of local disease progression. Three Harrington rods broke: one patient needed a subsequent Girdlestone procedure. One ‘ice-cream cone’ prosthesis dislocated and was subsequently revised without further problems. We recommend the ‘ice-cream cone’ for pelvic discontinuity and Harrington rod reconstruction for severe bone loss. Smaller defects can be safely managed using standard revision hip techniques.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:132–6.
The mid-term outcomes of the Oxford Domed Lateral unicompartmental knee replacement
Authors: Weston-Simons J. S. , Pandit H. , Kendrick B. J. L. , Jenkins C. , Barker K. , Dodd C. A. F. , Murray D. W.
Published: January 2014

Mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee replacements (UKRs) with a flat tibial plateau have not performed well in the lateral compartment, owing to a high dislocation rate. This led to the development of the Domed Lateral Oxford UKR (Domed OUKR) with a biconcave bearing. The aim of this study was to assess the survival and clinical outcomes of the Domed OUKR in a large patient cohort in the medium term.

We prospectively evaluated 265 consecutive knees with isolated disease of the lateral compartment and a mean age at surgery of 64 years (32 to 90). At a mean follow-up of four years (sd 2.2, (0.5 to 8.3)) the mean Oxford knee score was 40 out of 48 (sd 7.4). A total of 12 knees (4.5%) had re-operations, of which four (1.5%) were for dislocation. All dislocations occurred in the first two years. Two (0.8%) were secondary to significant trauma that resulted in ruptured ligaments, and two (0.8%) were spontaneous. In four patients (1.5%) the UKR was converted to a primary TKR. Survival at eight years, with failure defined as any revision, was 92.1% (95% confidence interval 81.3 to 100).

The Domed Lateral OUKR gives good clinical outcomes, low re-operation and revision rates and a low dislocation rate in patients with isolated lateral compartmental disease, in the hands of the designer surgeons.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:59–64.
Survival analysis of elderly patients with a fracture of the odontoid peg
Authors: Venkatesan M. , Northover J. R. , Wild J. B. , Johnson N. , Lee K. , Uzoigwe C. E. , Braybrooke J. R.
Published: January 2014

Fractures of the odontoid peg are common spinal injuries in the elderly. This study compares the survivorship of a cohort of elderly patients with an isolated fracture of the odontoid peg versus that of patients who have sustained a fracture of the hip or wrist. A six-year retrospective analysis was performed on all patients aged > 65 years who were admitted to our spinal unit with an isolated fracture of the odontoid peg. A Kaplan–Meier table was used to analyse survivorship from the date of fracture, which was compared with the survivorship of similar age-matched cohorts of 702 consecutive patients with a fracture of the hip and 221 consecutive patients with a fracture of the wrist.

A total of 32 patients with an isolated odontoid fracture were identified. The rate of mortality was 37.5% (n = 12) at one year. The period of greatest mortality was within the first 12 weeks. Time made a lesser contribution from then to one year, and there was no impact of time on the rate of mortality thereafter. The rate of mortality at one year was 41.2% for male patients (7 of 17) compared with 33.3% for females (5 of 15).

The rate of mortality at one year was 32% (225 of 702) for patients with a fracture of the hip and 4% (9 of 221) for those with a fracture of the wrist. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of mortality following a hip fracture and an odontoid peg fracture (p = 0.95). However, the survivorship of the wrist fracture group was much better than that of the odontoid peg fracture group (p < 0.001). Thus, a fracture of the odontoid peg in the elderly is not a benign injury and is associated with a high rate of mortality, especially in the first three months after the injury.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:88–93.
Are upper labial frenectomies in children aged 11 and under appropriate? Is it time to change practice and agree guidelines?
Authors: Al-Najjim Asseel , Sen Pinaki
Published: January 2014

A retrospective five-year review of upper labial frenectomies in a hospital in the east of England.

AIMS

Determine how many patients underwent surgery; indications for surgery; assess awareness of practitioners to local guidelines; compare the results to set standards and recommend change to our practice.

METHOD

A sample of 41 patients has been reviewed, ranging between 3–48 years old. Female-to-male ratio is 4:1. Children aged 11 years or under represented 20% of the sample.

RESULTS

The rationale for upper labial frenectomy was varied, possibly owing to a lack of consensus among practitioners regarding the timing of frenectomy. The majority of patients (73%) were between 12–16 years old, of whom 81% were females. 59% of patients were referred for orthodontic reasons and 78% of these had an orthodontic opinion. 88% of referring practitioners were not aware of any guidelines for upper labial frenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

National guidelines based on a consensus view will streamline the referral pattern.
Titanium allergy: fact or fiction?
Authors: Campbell Stuart , Crean St John , Ahmed Waqar
Published: January 2014

Titanium is well suited to implantology: it is naturally abundant, readily machined, shows up well on dental radiographs and, perhaps most importantly, it is biocompatable with human tissue. However, the dental literature suggests that metal sensitivity may occur after exposure to titanium dental implants. The prevalence of such cases is likely to increase and, although allergies represent the most frequent chronic diseases in Europe today, affecting the daily lives of more than 60 million people, the role of titanium as a potential allergen is under-investigated. With this in mind, this paper seeks to review the literature to investigate if titanium in dental implants can induce clinically relevant hypersensitivity reactions.
The Effects of Family Factors on the Xenophobia of Primary School Students
Authors: Choi Jung Ha , Kim Young Hwa
Published: January 2014

This study attempted to examine relationships between family factors and the xenophobia of primary school children in South Korea. A questionnaire survey was conducted to the 6th grade students enrolled at 64 primary schools in Gyeonggi-do. Responses of 1,878 students were included in analyses. We developed an inventory to measure the level of the xenophobia of primary school students and analysed the effects of family factors on their level of xenophobia employing multiple regression analyses. Parents' education, father's religion, parents' political propensity, student's close relationships with parents, family structure, the place of residence and student’s gender were found to have statistically significant effects on the xenophobia of primary school children. The level of xenophobia tended to be lower for those students who maintained closer relationships with their parents, for those students in single parents families, for those students who lived in rural areas than in urban areas and for the female students than the male students. The effects of parents' education and their political propensity appeared to differ by parents' sex. On the contrary, the effects of father's occupation and mother's religion appeared not to be statistically significant. The present study is expected to contribute to raising the academic and policy significance of the concept of xenophobia which is differentiated from the concept of multicultural acceptability.
The Kitchen God of Chinese Lore
Authors: Phillips Carolyn
Published: January 2014

This article discusses the origins and mythology of China’s Kitchen God, which include the evolution of this deity over the centuries from Fire God in prehistoric times to his present role as the protector of the home. Also discussed are the many legends that surround this beloved being, as well as historical and current sources for who the Kitchen God might once have been, how he changed over the years, and how he is worshipped in modern times. Mainly ancient Chinese resources are cited in the original, with English translations in the copious endnotes. Illustrations by the author, Carolyn Phillips.
Topology and Control of the Cell-Cycle-Regulated Transcriptional Circuitry
Authors: Haase Steven B , Wittenberg Curt
Published: January 2014

Nearly 20% of the budding yeast genome is transcribed periodically during the cell division cycle. The precise temporal execution of this large transcriptional program is controlled by a large interacting network of transcriptional regulators, kinases, and ubiquitin ligases. Historically, this network has been viewed as a collection of four coregulated gene clusters that are associated with each phase of the cell cycle. Although the broad outlines of these gene clusters were described nearly 20 years ago, new technologies have enabled major advances in our understanding of the genes comprising those clusters, their regulation, and the complex regulatory interplay between clusters. More recently, advances are being made in understanding the roles of chromatin in the control of the transcriptional program. We are also beginning to discover important regulatory interactions between the cell-cycle transcriptional program and other cell-cycle regulatory mechanisms such as checkpoints and metabolic networks. Here we review recent advances and contemporary models of the transcriptional network and consider these models in the context of eukaryotic cell-cycle controls.
Gastritis and gastropathy
Authors: Mihály Emese , Micsik Tamás , Juhász Márk , Herszényi László , Tulassay Zsolt
Published: January 2014

Alterations of the stomach mucosa in response to different adverse effects result in various morphological and clinical symptoms. Gastric mucosa alterations can be classified on the bases of diverse viewpoints. It makes this overview difficult, that identical toxic effects may cause different mucosal changes and different toxic agents may produce similar mucosal appearance. The more accurate understanding of the pathological processes which develop in the stomach mucosa needs reconsideration. The authors make an attempt to define gastritis and gastropathy in order to classify and present their features. Gastritis is a histological definition indicating mucosal inflammation. Acute gastritis is caused by infections. The two most important forms of chronic gastritis are metaplastic atrophic gastritis with an autoimmune origin and Helicobacter pylori inflammation. Gastropathy is the name of different structural alterations of the mucosa. Its most important feature is the paucity of inflammatory signs. Gastropathies can be divided into 4 categories based on the nature of the underlying pathological effect, on its morphological appearance and the way of the development. Differential diagnosis is an important pathological and clinical task because different treatment methods and prognosis. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(2), 43–61.
Estudo comparativo das representações sociais sobre diabetes mellitus e pé diabético
Authors: Mantovani Alessandra Madia , Fregonesi Cristina Elena Prado Teles , Pelai Elisa Bizetti , Mantovani Aline Madia , Savian Nathalia Ulices , Pagotto Priscila
Published: January 2014

O estudo objetivou investigar a representação social dos termos "diabetes" e "pé diabético" em diferentes populações. Os participantes foram divididos em grupos: diabético (GD); não-diabético (GN); e profissional da área da saúde nãodiabético (GP). Foram coletados os dados pessoais e os sujeitos responderam a duas perguntas nas quais deveriam evocar cinco palavras que viessem à mente quando pensassem em "diabetes" e, depois, em "pé diabético". O material evocado foi analisado pelo software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l'Analyse dês Èvocations. Participaram 161 sujeitos, sendo GD (n = 72) com idade média de 56,12 ± 5,49 anos; GN (n = 38) com 54,29 ± 7,91 anos; e GP (n = 51) com idades de 34,95 ± 7,52 anos. Para a representação social do termo "diabetes" foram evocadas 297 palavras no GD, 172 no GN e 235 palavras no GP. Para o termo "pé diabético" foram evocadas 180 palavras no GD, 90 no GN e 236 no GP. Os grupos mostraram-se sedentos por maiores informações, confirmando a necessidade de programas de conscientização e educação em diabetes, que contemplem questões globalizantes acerca da doença.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis on the legislative production relating to healthcare in passage in the National Congress in the years 2007 and 2008
Authors: Santos Viviane Cristina dos , Ferraz Marcos Bosi
Published: January 2014

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: The Federal Constitution of 1988 allowed the National Congress to contribute towards formulation of new public policies. The objective of this study was to analyze the legislative production that dealt with health issues that was in passage in the National Congress between January 2007 and December 2008. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive-exploratory cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative approaches, conducted in a federal university. METHODS: The analysis material for the study comprised 144 draft bills that were classified and subsequently randomly evaluated by 155 professionals working within the healthcare system. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the Workers' Party (PT) and Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) were the parties that presented the largest proportions of the draft bills (12.5% and 11.1%); 25.4% of the draft bills were presented by congress members with academic qualifications within healthcare and only 1.4% of the draft bills became transformed into legal regulations. In questionnaire responses, 51.5% of the evaluators did not consider the draft bills to be viable, 40.6% did not consider them to be relevant and 52.5% said that if the draft bills were not approved it would not be harmful to Brazilian society. CONCLUSION: In analyzing the data from this study, it was noted that the legislative production relating to healthcare was low and the transformation rate from draft bill to legal regulation was negligible. The results from the evaluation showed that the quality of legislative production was impaired.
Biology and Genetics in DSM-5
Authors: Ross Colin A.
Published: January 2014

DSM-5 includes a number of statements concerning the biology and genetics of mental disorders, and these represent a significant landmark in the history of psychiatry. According to DSM-5, there are no laboratory tests, x-rays, or other biological markers for any mental disorder; there is no physiological specificity to any mental disorder; there is no genetic specificity to any mental disorder; and there is no symptom specificity to DSM-5 disorders. DSM-5 disorders, according to the manual, have porous boundaries with each other, have high rates of comorbidity, and fluctuate a great deal over time. The risk genes for mental disorders number in the hundreds, each contributes perhaps 1%–2% to the overall risk, and the same genes confer risk for multiple DSM-5 categories of disorder. The idea that DSM disorders are separate diseases with distinct pathophysiologies has been disconfirmed by the DSM-5, and therefore by the American Psychiatric Association, as it has by the National Institutes of Mental Health.
Killing The GCH Everywhere with a Single Real
Authors: Friedman Sy-David , Golshani Mohammad
Published: January 2014

Shelah-Woodin [10] investigate the possibility of violating instances of GCH through the addition of a single real. In particular they show that it is possible to obtain a failure of CH by adding a single real to a model of GCH, preserving cofinalities. In this article we strengthen their result by showing that it is possible to violate GCH at all infinite cardinals by adding a single real to a model of GCH. Our assumption is the existence of an H(κ+3)-strong cardinal; by work of Gitik and Mitchell [6] it is known that more than an H(κ++)-strong cardinal is required.
Principles Weaker than BD-N
Authors: Lubarsky Robert S. , Diener Hannes
Published: January 2014

BD-N is a weak principle of constructive analysis. Several interesting principles implied by BD-N have already been identified, namely the closure of the anti-Specker spaces under product, the Riemann Permutation Theorem, and the Cauchyness of all partially Cauchy sequences. Here these are shown to be strictly weaker than BD-N, yet not provable in set theory alone under constructive logic.
Measures Induced by Units
Authors: Panti Giovanni , Ravotti Davide
Published: January 2014

The half-open real unit interval (0,1] is closed under the ordinary multiplication and its residuum. The corresponding infinite-valued propositional logic has as its equivalent algebraic semantics the equational class of cancellative hoops. Fixing a strong unit in a cancellative hoop—equivalently, in the enveloping lattice-ordered abelian group—amounts to fixing a gauge scale for falsity. In this paper we show that any strong unit in a finitely presented cancellative hoopHinduces naturally (i.e., in a representation-independent way) an automorphism-invariant positive normalized linear functional onH. SinceHis representable as a uniformly dense set of continuous functions on its maximal spectrum, such functionals—in this context usually called states—amount to automorphism-invariant finite Borel measures on the spectrum. Different choices for the unit may be algebraically unrelated (e.g., they may lie in different orbits under the automorphism group ofH), but our second main result shows that the corresponding measures are always absolutely continuous w.r.t. each other, and provides an explicit expression for the reciprocal density.
New Examples of Small Polish Structures
Authors: Dobrowolski Jan
Published: January 2014

We answer some questions from [4] by giving suitable examples of small Polish structures. First, we present a class of small Polish group structures without generic elements. Next, we construct a first example of a small non-zero-dimensional Polish G-group.
Low Level Nondelegability Results: Domination and Recursive Enumeration
Authors: Cai Mingzhong , Shore Richard A.
Published: January 2014

We study low level nondefinability in the Turing degrees. We prove a variety of results, including, for example, that being array nonrecursive is not definable by a Σ1 or Π1 formula in the language (≤, REA) where REA stands for the “r.e. in and above” predicate. In contrast, this property is definable by a Π2 formula in this language. We also show that the Σ1-theory of (, ≤, REA) is decidable.
Entropy measures and predictive recognition as mirrored in gating and lexical decision over multimorphemic Hungarian noun forms
Authors: Pléh Csaba , Németh Kornél , Varga Dániel , Fazekas Judit , Várhelyi Klára
Published: January 2014

Our paper is an attempt to indicate the relevance of information theoretical
accounts to understand word recognition and morphological processing in
Hungarian, along with other studies using more traditional predictors like
linear position and morphological composition. The first two experiments were
gating studies. The effect of the decision points was only evident in
frequent words. The correct recognition means for the recognition points
differ from the means for one-before-recognition points, indicating that the
recognition point follows a sudden drop of the entropy value. This shows how
entropy measures can be used to predict word recognition in actual language
performance. The next two experiments examined the word reconstruction
effect. A clear bathtub effect (Aitchison, 1987) was obtained: reconstruction
was highest in the cases where both the beginning and the end were correct.
The last, lexical decision based study used four basic morphological types of
markers (plural, second and first possessive) and three types of case
(-nak,-ban-,-ra ?DAT, INSIDE, ONTO). The main effect of the frequency and the
error type was significant. Frequent words were judged faster but less
accurately, suggesting a trade-off. The later the mistake is, the faster and
easier its rejection was.
Late Hallstatt pottery from north-eastern Serbia (6th to 4th century BC)
Authors: Kapuran Aleksandar
Published: January 2014

By looking at prehistoric collections and unpublished material from the museums in north-eastern Serbia, as well as by surveying and excavating, new information was gained which fulfills the image of material and spiritual culture of prehistoric communities from the end of the Early Iron Age. Usually, for a closer chronological determination, metal jewellery and weapons were considered. Pottery finds were published only occasionally, usually due to contexts which were not clear enough, or due to chronological insensitivity (unless they were grave goods), but also due to stylistic and typological differences not clearly distinguished between the 'Basarabi' culture and the culture of 'channelled pottery'. This paper aims to define features of pottery production from different sites, more precisely, those found in the territory between the Iron Gates, Kljuc and the Timok valley.
Votive altar of Lucius Petronius Timachus
Authors: Petkovic Sofija , Ilijic Bojana
Published: January 2014

During the systematic archaeological excavations in the fortress of Timacum Minus in Ravna near Knja'evac in 1991, a votive altar of Jupiter Paternus, dedicated by Lucius Petronius Timachus, a veteran of the legion VII Claudia, was discovered. The name (cognomen) Timachus was noted for the first time on this monument. It was developed from the ethnonime Timachi, or the hydronime Timachus, known from the historical resources of the Roman period. Timacum Maius and Timacum Minus, the fortifications and settlements in Upper Moesia, were named after the river Timachus (modern Timok), as was, probably, the whole region of the Basin of Timok. The votive altar of Jupiter Paternus was in secondary use as a construction material in the reconstruction of the horreum in the last phase of life in Timacim Minus, in the first half of 5th century A.D. The analysis of the archaeological context of the votive and funeral monuments from Ravna, used as spolia, have distinguished the three periods of their use from the last third of the 3rd century to the middle of the 5th century A.D.
The funerary church of the monastery of Zica: A contribution to the study of medieval monastic burial in Byzantium and Serbia
Authors: Popovic Marko
Published: January 2014

The paper revisits the little-examined remains of the funerary church discovered in the vicinity of the monastery of Zica in 1938. It takes a look at the analogous examples of this type of buildings, notably the remains discovered at the monastery of Studenica of Hvosno and the ossuary at the monastery of Bachkovo. It also looks at the rules for monastic burial laid down in the surviving typika of the eleventh/twelfth century, and at different monastic burial practices in the area of the autocephalous Serbian Church. It puts forward the assumption that the funerary chapel formed an integral part of the original complex of the monastery of Zica, that it was built in the 1220s, and that it lost its original function sometime in the fourteenth century.
A camel skeleton from the Viminacium amphitheatre
Authors: Vukovic Sonja , Bogdanovic Ivan
Published: January 2014

Camel remains have occasionally been found in Roman provincial sites throughout the Empire. In Serbia, several camel bones were found on Roman period sites. In the course of the excavations of the Viminacium amphitheatre, a partial camel skeleton was found in the western part of the arena. This find dates back to the middle, or the second half, of the 4th century AD, the period after the amphitheatre lost its function. As no other camel skeleton has been found throughout the European part of the Empire until now, this one represents a unique find in this territory. According to mixed morphometric features of the skeleton, it is suggested that the skeleton belonged to a hybrid individual. Based on taphonomic analysis of the skeleton, assumptions have been made as to how the corpse of this animal was treated after death. In this paper the role and significance of camels in Roman provinces in the territory of Serbia is also discussed.
Comparative videostroboscopic analysis after different external partial laryngectomies
Authors: Mumovic Gordana
Published: January 2014

Background/Aim. After external partial laryngectomias, videostroborscopy is
very usefull in evaluation of postoperative phonatory mehanisms showing the
?slow motion? of the vibrations of the remaining laryngeal structures. The
aim of this paper was to compare the videostroboscopic characteristics of the
vibration and to establish the differences in the phonation mechanisms
depending on the type of external partial laryngectomy performed. Methods.
This prospective study was conducted during the period 2003-2009 at the Ear,
Nose and Throat Clinic, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, including 99
patients with laryngeal carcinoma, treated with open surgical approach using
different types of vertical and horizontal partial laryngectomy.
Videostroboscopy was used to analyse vibrations of the remaining laryngeal
structures. Results. The dominant vibration structure after partial
horizontal laryngectomy, chordectomy, frontolateral laryngectomy and three
quarter laryngectomy was the remaining vocal fold, after hemilaryngectomy it
was the false vocal fold and after subtotal and near total laryngectomy it
was the arythenoid. In patients with supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy
performed, many different structures were involved in the vibration. After
most of the partial laryngectomies, vibrations can be found in the
reconstructed part of the defect. In both horizontal and vertical partial
laryngectomies movements of the larynx during phonation were mostly medial,
while in cricohyoidoglottopexies they were anterior-posterior. Most of the
operated patients (72.7%) had insufficient occlusion of the neoglottis during
the phonation. Conclusion. Videostroboscopy is a useful method in examining
the phonation mechanisms of reconstructed laryngeal structures after partial
laryngectomy as well as in planning postoperative voice therapy.
The rabbit gingival tissue response to retraction liquids and tetrahydrozoline
Authors: Kostic Ivan , Mihailovic Dragan , Najman Stevo , Stojanovic Sanja , Kostic Milena
Published: January 2014

Backround/Aim. Retraction agents for temporary vertical and lateral
suppression of gingival tissue as well as bleeding control and fluid flow in
the gingival sulcus are expected to have maximal efficiency without
irreversible damage of local tissue and adverse systemic effects. The
research started from the assumption that tetrahydrozoline is a biologically
more acceptable means of gingival retraction than commercially available
preparations. The aim of the study was to comparatively analyse the
inflammatory effects of different retraction materials and tetrahydrozoline.
Methods. The effect of retraction liquid on the basis of aluminum chloride
and epinephrine and tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride on gingival tissue of
rabbits was investigated. The application time in the rabbit's gingival
sulcus was 7 minutes. Tissue biopsy was performed after an hour, a day, and 7
and 30 days. Tissue preparations were analyzed under a microscope. Results.
The obtained results indicate a reversible damage of gingival tissues as a
result of local application of aluminum chloride- and epinephrine-based
retraction agents. Their use led to acute inflammatory response after an
observation period of 1 and 7 days. After 30 days reparation of damaged
tissue was observed. The use of tetrahydrozoline resulted in a visibly weaker
inflammatory response. Conclusion. Retraction liquids insertion led to an
acute inflammatory response of gingival tissue which in time assumed a
chronic character. The inflammatory response to the administered
tetrahydrozoline was significantly lower with complete reparation of gingival
tissue. Taking this fact into account it is recommended as a potential
retraction agent.
Physical activity and maximal aerobic capacity in breast cancer survivors: Why this is important
Authors: Brdareski Zorica , Djurovic Aleksandar , Susnjar Snezana , Zivotic-Vanovic Mirjana , Ristic Andjelka , Konstantinovic Ljubica , Vuckovic-Dekic Ljiljana , Tankosic Mirjana
Published: January 2014

nema
Mixed Enzyme Systems for Delignification of Lignocellulosic Biomass
Authors: Woolridge Elisa
Published: January 2014

The application of enzymes such as laccase and xylanase for the preparation of cellulose from lignocellulosic material is an option for those industries seeking to reduce the use of chlorine-containing bleach agents, thus minimizing the environmental impact of their processes. Mixed hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme systems have been well described in the context of biopulping, and thus provide good precedent regarding effectiveness, despite the susceptibility of xylanase to inactivation by laccase-generated oxidants. This paper examines the progress towards development of sequential and simultaneous mixed enzyme systems to accomplish delignification.
Hypoxic Conditioned Medium from Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Accelerates Skin Wound Healing through TGF-β/SMAD2 and PI3K/Akt Pathways
Authors: Jun Eun , Zhang Qiankun , Yoon Byung , Moon Jai-Hee , Lee Gilju , Park Gyuman , Kang Phil , Lee Jung , Kim Areee , You Seungkwon
Published: January 2014

In a previous study, we isolated human amniotic fluid (AF)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) and utilized normoxic conditioned medium (AF-MSC-norCM) which has been shown to accelerate cutaneous wound healing. Because hypoxia enhances the wound healing function of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM), it is interesting to explore the mechanism responsible for the enhancement of wound healing function. In this work, hypoxia not only increased the proliferation of AF-MSCs but also maintained their constitutive characteristics (surface marker expression and differentiation potentials). Notably, more paracrine factors, VEGF and TGF-β1, were secreted into hypoxic conditioned medium from AF-MSCs (AF-MSC-hypoCM) compared to AF-MSC-norCM. Moreover, AF-MSC-hypoCM enhanced the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro, and wound closure in a skin injury model, as compared to AF-MSC-norCM. However, the enhancement of migration of fibroblasts accelerated by AF-MSC-hypoCM was inhibited by SB505124 and LY294002, inhibitors of TGF-β/SMAD2 and PI3K/AKT, suggesting that AF-MSC-hypoCM-enhanced wound healing is mediated by the activation of TGF-β/SMAD2 and PI3K/AKT. Therefore, AF-MSC-hypoCM enhances wound healing through the increase of hypoxia-induced paracrine factors via activation of TGF-β/SMAD2 and PI3K/AKT pathways.
Gastroprotective Mechanisms of Action of Semisynthetic Carnosic Acid Derivatives in Human Cells
Authors: Theoduloz Cristina , Pertino Mariano , Schmeda-Hirschmann Guillermo
Published: January 2014

Carnosic acid (CA) and its semisynthetic derivatives display relevant gastroprotective effects on HCl/ethanol induced gastric lesions in mice. However, little is known on the mechanisms of action of the new compounds. The aim of the present work was to assess the gastroprotective action mechanisms of CA and its derivatives using human cell culture models. A human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) and lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) were used to reveal the possible mechanisms involved. The ability of the compounds to protect cells against sodium taurocholate (NaT)-induced damage, and to increase the cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content was determined using AGS cells. Stimulation of cell proliferation was studied employing MRC-5 fibroblasts. Carnosic acid and its derivatives 10–18 raised GSH levels in AGS cells. While CA did not increase the PGE2 content in AGS cells, all derivatives significantly stimulated PGE2 synthesis, the best effect being found for the 12-O-indolebutyrylmethylcarnosate 13. A significant increase in MRC-5 fibroblast proliferation was observed for the derivatives 7 and 16–18. The antioxidant effect of the compounds was assessed by the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte membranes, scavenging of superoxide anion and DPPH discoloration assay. The new CA derivatives showed gastroprotective effects by different mechanisms, including protection against cell damage induced by NaT, increase in GSH content, stimulation of PGE2 synthesis and cell proliferation.
Modification of a Phenolic Resin with Epoxy- and Methacrylate-Functionalized Silica Sols to Improve the Ablation Resistance of Their Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composites
Authors: Hu Yu , Geng Wenlong , You Hong , Wang You , Loy Douglas
Published: January 2014

Functionalized silica sols were obtained by the hydrolytic condensation of (γ-methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPMS), (γ-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). Three different sols were obtained: MPS (derived from MPMS and TEOS), GPS-MPS (derived from GPMS, MPMS and TEOS), and GPSD (derived from GPMS, TEOS and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, DGEBA). These silica sols were mixed with a phenolic resin (PR). Ethylenediamine was used as a hardener for epoxy-functionalized sols and benzoyl peroxide was used as an initiator of the free-radical polymerization of methacrylate-functionalized silica sols. Glass fiber-reinforced composites were obtained from the neat PR and MPS-PR, GPS-MPS-PR and GPSD-PR. The resulting composites were evaluated as ablation resistant materials in an acetylene-oxygen flame. A large increase in the ablation resistance was observed when the PR was modified by the functionalized silica sols. The ablation resistance of the composites decreased as follows: GPSD-PR > MPS-PR > GPS-MPS-PR > PR.
Melt Patterns and Dynamics in Alaska and Patagonia Derived from Passive Microwave Brightness Temperatures
Authors: Semmens Kathryn , Ramage Joan
Published: January 2014

Glaciers and icefields are critical components of Earth’s cryosphere to study and monitor for understanding the effects of a changing climate. To provide a regional perspective of glacier melt dynamics for the past several decades, brightness temperatures (Tb) from the passive microwave sensor Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) were used to characterize melt regime patterns over large glacierized areas in Alaska and Patagonia. The distinctness of the melt signal at 37V-GHz and the ability to acquire daily data regardless of clouds or darkness make the dataset ideal for studying melt dynamics in both hemispheres. A 24-year (1988–2011) time series of annual Tb histograms was constructed to (1) characterize and assess temporal and spatial trends in melt patterns, (2) determine years of anomalous Tb distribution, and (3) investigate potential contributing factors. Distance from coast and temperature were key factors influencing melt. Years of high percentage of positive Tb anomalies were associated with relatively higher stream discharge (e.g., Copper and Mendenhall Rivers, Alaska, USA and Rio Baker, Chile). The characterization of melt over broad spatial domains and a multi-decadal time period offers a more comprehensive picture of the changing cryosphere and provides a baseline from which to assess future change.
Temporal Behavior of Lake Size-Distribution in a Thawing Permafrost Landscape in Northwestern Siberia
Authors: Karlsson Johanna , Lyon Steve , Destouni Georgia
Published: January 2014

Arctic warming alters regional hydrological systems, as permafrost thaw increases active layer thickness and in turn alters the pathways of water flow through the landscape. Further, permafrost thaw may change the connectivity between deeper and shallower groundwater and surface water altering the terrestrial water balance and distribution. Thermokarst lakes and wetlands in the Arctic offer a window into such changes as these landscape elements depend on permafrost and are some of the most dynamic and widespread features in Arctic lowland regions. In this study we used Landsat remotely sensed imagery to investigate potential shifts in thermokarst lake size-distributions, which may be brought about by permafrost thaw, over three distinct time periods (1973, 1987–1988, and 2007–2009) in three hydrological basins in northwestern Siberia. Results revealed fluctuations in total area and number of lakes over time, with both appearing and disappearing lakes alongside stable lakes. On the whole basin scales, there is no indication of any sustained long-term change in thermokarst lake area or lake size abundance over time. This statistical temporal consistency indicates that spatially variable change effects on local permafrost conditions have driven the individual lake changes that have indeed occurred over time. The results highlight the importance of using multi-temporal remote sensing data that can reveal complex spatiotemporal variations distinguishing fluctuations from sustained change trends, for accurate interpretation of thermokarst lake changes and their possible drivers in periods of climate and permafrost change.
Nonparametric Forecasting for Biochar Utilization in Poyang Lake Eco-Economic Zone in China
Authors: Chang Meng-Shiuh , Kung Chih-Chun
Published: January 2014

Agriculture is the least profitable industry in China. However, even with large financial subsidies from the government, farmers’ living standards have had no significant impact so far due to the historical, geographical, climatic factors. The study examines and quantifies the net economic and environmental benefits by utilizing biochar as a soil amendment in eleven counties in the Poyang Lake Eco-Economic Zone. A nonparametric kernel regression model is employed to estimate the relation between the scaled environmental and economic factors, which are determined as regression variables. In addition, the partial linear and single index regression models are used for comparison. In terms of evaluations of mean squared errors, the kernel estimator, exceeding the other estimators, is employed to forecast benefits of using biochar under various scenarios. The results indicate that biochar utilization can potentially increase farmers’ income if rice is planted and the net economic benefits can be achieved up to ¥114,900. The net economic benefits are higher when the pyrolysis plant is built in the south of Poyang Lake Eco-Economic Zone than when it is built in the north as the southern land is relatively barren, and biochar can save more costs on irrigation and fertilizer use.
Air-quality in the mid-21st century for the city of Paris under two climate scenarios; from regional to local scale
Authors: Markakis K. , Valari M. , Colette A. , Sanchez O. , Perrussel O. , Honore C. , Vautard R. , Klimont Z. , Rao S.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Ozone and PM2.5 concentrations over the city of Paris are modeled with the CHIMERE air-quality model at 4 km × 4 km horizontal resolution for two future emission scenarios. High-resolution (1 km × 1 km) emission projection until 2020 for the greater Paris region is developed by local experts (AIRPARIF) and is further extended to year 2050 based on regional scale emission projections developed by the Global Energy Assessment. Model evaluation is performed based on a 10 yr control simulation. Ozone is in very good agreement with measurements while PM2.5 is underestimated by 20% over the urban area mainly due to a large wet bias in wintertime precipitation. A significant increase of maximum ozone relative to present time levels over Paris is modeled under the "business as usual" scenario (+7 ppb) while a more optimistic mitigation scenario leads to moderate ozone decrease (−3.5 ppb) in year 2050. These results are substantially different to previous regional scale projections where 2050 ozone is found to decrease under both future scenarios. A sensitivity analysis showed that this difference is due to the fact that ozone formation over Paris at the current, urban scale study, is driven by VOC-limited chemistry, whereas at the regional scale ozone formation occurs under NOx-sensitive conditions. This explains why the sharp NOx reductions implemented in the future scenarios have a different effect on ozone projections at different scales. In rural areas projections at both scales yield similar results showing that the longer time-scale processes of emission transport and ozone formation are less sensitive to model resolution. PM2.5 concentrations decrease by 78% and 89% under "business as usual" and "mitigation" scenarios respectively compared to present time period. The reduction is much more prominent over the urban part of the domain due to the effective reductions of road transport and residential emissions resulting in the smoothing of the large urban increment modelled in the control simulation.
Zonal concentration of some geophysical process intensity caused by tides and variations in the Earth's rotation velocity
Authors: Levin B. , Domanski A. , Sasorova E.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. We analyzed what kind of fundamental physical phenomena can be responsible for the generation of the anomalous latitudinal zones of the seismic activity, and the hotspots, and some other geophysical processes. The assessment of tidal effect contribution to the earthquake preparation process is discussed. A disk model of the Earth's rotation was proposed. The model is acceptable for the homogeneous Earth and for the heterogeneous one. The disk model explains the nucleation of two maximums of the gradient of the moment of inertia over latitude with respect to the Equator. Effects of the variations in the Earth's rotation angular velocity were estimated and the possible features caused by the rotation velocity instability were described. The variations in the relative velocity of the Earth's rotation (dimensionless value ν ≈ (T − P)/P) are approximately equal upon the average to 10−8, where T is the observed length of day for the Earth, and P is the astronomical day. These variations lead to the occurrence of the additional energy estimated as 1020 J. The authors proposed the hypothesis of a pulsating geoid based on effects of the Earth's rotation features, and tidal forces, and conception of critical latitudes in the solid Earth. This hypothesis may highlight the phenomenon of zonal intensification of some geological processes in the solid Earth (the seismic activity, and hotspot location, and major ore deposit locations).
Large daytime signals of N2O5 and NO3 inferred at 62 amu in a TD-CIMS: chemical interference or a real atmospheric phenomenon?
Authors: Wang X. , Wang T. , Yan C. , Tham Y. J. , Xue L. , Xu Z. , Zha Q.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) and the nitrate radical (NO3) play important roles in atmospheric chemistry, yet accurate measurements of their concentrations remain challenging. A thermal dissociation chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TD-CIMS) was deployed to an urban site in Hong Kong to measure the sum of N2O5 and NO3 in autumn 2010 based on the signals of NO3− at 62 amu which has also been adopted in previous studies reported in literature. To our surprise, very large signals of N2O5 + NO3 were frequently observed at 62 amu in the daytime, with equivalent N2O5 + NO3 mixing ratios in the range of 200–1000 pptv. To investigate this unusual phenomenon, various interference tests and measurements with different instrument configuration were conducted. It was found that peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) contributed to measurable signals at 62 amu, and more importantly, this interference increased significantly with co-existence of NO2. Nitric acid (HNO3), on the other hand, had little interference to the detection of N2O5/NO3 via the NO3− ion in our TD-CIMS. According to the test results, the interference from PAN and NO2 could have contributed to 30–50% of the average daytime (12:00–16:00, local time) N2O5 + NO3 signal at our site. On the other hand, evidence exists for the presence of elevated daytime N2O5, in addition to the daytime signal at 62 amu. This includes (1) daytime N2O5 measured via the I(N2O5)− cluster ion with an unheated inlet, which was subjected to minimum interferences, and (2) observation of elevated daytime ClNO2 (a product of N2O5 hydrolysis) during a follow-up study. In view of the difficulty in accurately quantifying the contribution from the interferences of PAN and NO2 and untested potential interfering chemicals in the real atmosphere, we caution the use of 62 amu in the TD-CIMS for measuring ambient N2O5 in a high NOx environment like Hong Kong. Additional studies are needed to re-examine the daytime issue using other measurement techniques.
Radiometric calibration of the in-flight blackbody calibration system of the GLORIA interferometer
Authors: Monte C. , Gutschwager B. , Adibekyan A. , Kehrt M. , Ebersoldt A. , Olschewski F. , Hollandt J.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. GLORIA (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere) is an airborne, imaging, infrared Fourier transform spectrometer that applies the limb-imaging technique to perform trace gas and temperature measurements in the Earth's atmosphere with three-dimensional resolution. To ensure the traceability of these measurements to the International Temperature Scale and thereby to an absolute radiance scale, GLORIA carries an on-board calibration system. Basically, it consists of two identical large-area and high-emissivity infrared radiators, which can be continuously and independently operated at two adjustable temperatures in a range from −50 °C to 0 °C during flight. Here we describe the radiometric and thermometric characterization and calibration of the in-flight calibration system at the Reduced Background Calibration Facility of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. This was performed with a standard uncertainty of less than 110 mK. Extensive investigations of the system concerning its absolute radiation temperature and spectral radiance, its temperature homogeneity and its short- and long-term stability are discussed. The traceability chain of these measurements is presented.