bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phase II trial of weekly i.v. KW‐2170 in advanced castrate‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: DE SOUZA Paul L , NORTH Scott , BOLGER Graeme B , SPIRIDONIDIS Harris , LIM Robert , KHOO Kei Siong , PHILLIPS James , FUJIMORI Matt
Published: November 2010

Aim:  KW‐2170 is a novel pyrazoloacridone derivative that intercalates nucleic acids. It has promising in vitro properties against prostate and other cancers and is active in vivo against doxorubicin‐resistant cell lines. We wished to investigate its activity and toxicity profile in this Phase II trial in androgen independent prostate cancer.

Methods:  Overall 44 men were recruited to this multicenter, open label, non‐randomized study, with 35 evaluable for prostatic specific antigen (PSA) response.

Results:  Five patients had a PSA fall greater than 50% (overall RR 14.3%, 95% CI 4.8–30.3%). Overall median survival was 16 months. In the evaluable group (n = 35), median survival was 18.9 months. The drug was very well tolerated, with the most common toxicities being hematological (anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia), alopecia, fatigue, and nausea. However, most of these were National Cancer Institute Grade 1 or 2; Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in only 11% of patients, and there was no Grade 4 neutropenia. Quality of life as measured by the FACT–P scale was not compromised.

Conclusion:  KW‐2170 is a very well tolerated chemotherapy agent. It has a relatively low PSA response rate, and did not meet the pre‐specifed criteria for further studies.
Clinicopathological report: Bilateral choroidal metastases from papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: TRAN Khoi , BIGBY Kieron J , HUGHES Brett GM , LEE Lawrence , ALLISON Roger
Published: November 2010

Bilateral uveal metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma are extremely rare. A 36‐year‐old woman with a 12‐month history of papillary thyroid carcinoma presented with sudden loss of visual acuity and fields in the left eye. An examination and B‐scan revealed a large, solid choroidal lesion in the left eye causing exudative retinal detachment. A small solid mass was also observed in the right eye fundus. Following left eye enucleation, immunohistopathology confirmed metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The authors report the third known case of bilateral choroidal metastases.
A phase I and II trial of epirubicin, cisplatin, 24‐hour infusion 5 fluorouracil and sodium folinate in patients with advanced esophagogastric carcinomas
Authors: KARAPETIS Christos S , CHEONG Kerry A , YIP Desmond , STRICKLAND Andrew H , STEER Christopher , MARX Gavin , YIP Sonia , CHRYSTAL Kathryn , HARPER Peter G
Published: November 2010

Aim:  Advanced esophagogastric carcinoma has a poor prognosis. Palliative chemotherapy provides a survival advantage and improved quality of life. Epirubicin, cisplatin and continuous infusional 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) (ECF) is a well‐established chemotherapy regimen but a continuous chemotherapy infusion is not always feasible or acceptable.

Methods:  We conducted a phase I and II trial of a modified version of ECF, utilizing 5‐FU as a 24‐h infusion on day 1 and day 8 of a 21‐day cycle, administered with sodium folinate as a modulator of 5‐FU (ECSF). In the phase I study the dose of 5‐FU was increased in successive cohorts from 1250 mg/m2, 1500 mg/m2, and 1750 mg/m2 to 2000 mg/m2 per 24 h.

Results:  Dose limiting toxicity of febrile neutropenia was encountered at 2000 mg/m. The recommended dose for 5‐FU was 1750 mg/m2. Overall 29 patients were treated with ECSF of whom 27 were evaluable for toxicity. The response rate was 45% on an intention‐to‐treat analysis with a complete response rate of 3%. The median response rate was 4.1 months and the median survival was 10.7 months. A total of 23 patients (72%) obtained clinical benefit with improvement in dysphagia or weight gain. central venous catheter (CVC) complications were observed in 12 (41%) patients.

Conclusion:  ECSF was associated with a response rate and survival similar to that reported with standard ECF. ECSF may provide an alternative regimen to standard ECF when a continuous ambulatory infusion pump is not feasible or not preferred by the patient. CVC complications are a limitation.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: A SIGN guideline that has considerable interpretation bias
Authors: Browning G.G.
Published: November 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 325–326
Pyroclast loss or retention during explosive volcanism on asteroids: Influence of asteroid size and gas content of melt
Authors: WILSON Lionel , KEIL Klaus , McCOY Timothy J.
Published: November 2010

Abstract– We review the conditions under which explosive volcanism took place on early‐forming differentiated asteroids. The pressure‐dependent solubility of typical asteroid volatiles in melts implies that the gas driving explosive volcanism on asteroids less than approximately 100 km in diameter was probably present mainly as a free phase capable of accumulating into large gas bodies and, thus, causing slug flow in melts approaching the surface. In contrast, in asteroids larger than approximately 100 km the gas was probably present largely as a dispersion of small bubbles. We show that these gas distributions have implications for the size distribution of the pyroclastic droplets produced in explosive eruptions at the surface. All pyroclastic melt droplets are accelerated by the expanding gases, but their speeds lag the gas speed by a finite amount that is a function of the droplet size and density and the asteroid size and, hence, acceleration due to gravity. We compute pyroclast speeds and, by comparing them with escape velocities, we identify the critical pyroclast diameter on a given‐size asteroid that distinguishes droplets lost to space from droplets that return to the surface. Identification of asteroidal pyroclasts and measurements of their sizes could throw light on the amounts of gas driving eruptions.
Universality in the Evolution of Orientation Columns in the Visual Cortex
Authors: Kaschube Matthias , Schnabel Michael , Löwel Siegrid , Coppola David M. , White Leonard E. , Wolf Fred
Published: November 2010

Orientation Columns

In the brain's visual cortex, certain neurons respond to vertical lines and others to horizontal lines, with a range in between. Such orientation of neurons tends to be organized in columns reflecting similar responses, and the columns are organized in pinwheels representing the range of responses.

Kaschube
et al.

(p.
1113
, published online 4 November; see the Perspective by

Miller

) looked at the organization of orientation columns in diverse placental mammals and discovered a similarity of organizational principles.
Is the oxygen “side-on”, or “end-on” and fluctional, in peroxyl radicals with magnetically equivalent oxygen atoms?
Authors: Ingold K. U. , DiLabio Gino A.
Published: November 2010

The g values that have been measured for the group-14 peroxyls are sufficiently similar to suggest that they all have very similar structures. However, the 17O hyperfine splittings seem to indicate that tin peroxyls have structures that differ from their lighter group-14 analogs. We hypothesize that the oxygen atoms in tin peroxyls are magnetically equivalent because they undergo a rapid 1,2-shift. Density-functional and wave-function theory calculations support this view.
A water potential based on multipole moments trained by machine learning — Reducing maximum energy errors
Authors: Hawe Glenn I. , Popelier Paul L.A.
Published: November 2010

A potential that strives to represent the Coulomb interaction realistically must include polarization. In our approach, three decisions were made to accomplish this: (i) define an atom according to quantum chemical topology (QCT), (ii) express the interaction between atoms via their multipole moments, and (iii) use machine learning to capture the response of an atomic multipole moment to a change in this atom’s environment. This approach avoids explicit (distributed) polarizabilities and eliminates the problem of polarization catastrophe. Previously, we showed ( Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2009, 11, 6365 ) that a machine learning method called kriging predicted atomic multipole moments more accurately than competing machine learning methods. This was established for the atoms of a central water molecule in water clusters, from the dimer to the hexamer. The prediction errors in all multipole moments were collectively assessed by errors in total interaction energy, for thousands of clusters configurations. Here, we target the maximum errors, with an eye on reducing the worst predictions that the potential may return. We demonstrate proof-of-principle for the water dimer using local kriging.
Performance Comparisons of Bilayer Graphene and Graphene Nanoribbon Field-Effect Transistors under Ballistic Transport
Authors: Hosokawa Hiroshi , Sako Ryūtaro , Ando Haruki , Tsuchiya Hideaki
Published: November 2010

In this paper, we investigate the upper limit performance of bilayer graphene (BLG) and graphene nanoribbon (GNR) field-effect transistors (FETs) based on a first-principles approach. We have found that GNR-FETs with ribbon widths of about 3–4 nm exhibit better device performance than n-channel Si metal–oxide–semiconductor FETs and InP-high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs). Although a BLG-FET shows an inferior performance potential to GNR-FETs with a similar band gap, it is comparable to InP-HEMTs. The present simulation study indicates that both GNR and BLG are expected to be a post-Si channel material for high-speed digital switches in logic circuits.
A Novel Missense Mutation in Fumarate Hydratase in an Italian Patient with a Diffuse Variant of Cutaneous Leiomyomatosis (Reed’s Syndrome)
Authors: Rongioletti F. , Fausti V. , Ferrando B. , Parodi A. , Mandich P. , Pasini B.
Published: November 2010

Background: The multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis syndrome (MCUL) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by cutaneous leiomyomatosis in both sexes and uterine leiomyomas in women. This syndrome overlaps with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome. Methods: We report an Italian family in which the finding of multiple cutaneous leiomyomas in the proband, a 46-year-old woman, led to the diagnosis of Reed’s syndrome and to a general and genetic screening. Results: DNA sequencing in the proband disclosed a missense mutation designated p.Asp341Tyr that has not been reported previously. Interestingly, the patient’s mother had a clear-cell-type renal cancer removed at the age of 57 years. Conclusion: Cutaneous leyomiomas are the clinical and histological clue leading to the diagnosis of MCUL or HLRCC. Dermatologists should be aware that a correct evaluation of a patient with cutaneous leiomyomas involves a complete medical and family history, physical examination and a genetic counseling.
Impact of pharmacokinetic (CYP2C9) and pharmacodynamic (VKORC1, F7, GGCX, CALU, EPHX1) gene variants on the initiation and maintenance phases of phenprocoumon therapy
Authors: Luxembourg Beate , Schneider Katharina , Sittinger Katja , Toennes Stefan , Seifried Erhard , Lindhoff-Last Edelgard , Oldenburg Johannes , Geisen Christof
Published: November 2010

Compared to warfarin, little is known about the effect of pharmacogenomics on the inter-individual variability of phenprocoumon therapy. In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of VKORC1 c.-1639G>A; CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3; GGCX c.214+597G>A; CALU c.*4A>G; EPHX1 c.337T>C; F7 c.-402G>A, and F7 c.-401G>T on the initiation (n=54) and maintenance phases (n=91) of phenprocoumon therapy. We assessed the following outcome parameters: time to stable international normalised ratio (INR), time to first supra-therapeutic INR, time out of INR range, probability of over-anticoagulation, number of anticoagulation clinic visits. During the initiation phase, homozygotes for the VKORC1 c.-1639 A and G alleles achieved stable INRs later (p<0.001), spent more time at supra-therapeutic INRs (p<0.001), had increased risks of over-anticoagulation (odds ratio 19.83, p=0.003 and 4.45, p=0.045, respectively), and had higher frequencies of anticoagulation clinic visits (p<0.001) compared to GA carriers. CYP2C9*2, *3 carriers reached stable INRs faster (p=0.024) with fewer anticoagulation clinic visits (p=0.001) than wild-type carriers. EPHX1 c.337 C carrier spent significantly more time above range in the initiation phase (p=0.023). GGCX, CALU, and F7 gene variants did not affect outcome parameters of the initiation phase and none of the genotypes had an impact on maintenance phase parameters. Compared to the VKORC1 genotype, early INR values were less informative in the prediction of outcome parameters such as time to stable INR and time above the INR range. Our study is limited by the retrospective study design with no standardised protocol in a usual care setting. Therefore, our findings should be validated in a larger, controlled prospective study.
Impaired Skeletal Muscle Glucose Uptake by [
18
F]Fluorodeoxyglucose–Positron Emission Tomography in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease and Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Pande Reena L. , Park Mi-Ae , Perlstein Todd S. , Desai Akshay S. , Doyle Jeanne , Navarrete Nicole , Copeland-Halperin Robert S. , Redline Whitney , Di Carli Marcelo F. , Creager Mark A.
Published: November 2010

Objective—

Reduced limb perfusion from arterial stenosis does not adequately account for intermittent claudication symptoms in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Insulin resistance is associated with PAD and may contribute to claudication by impairing skeletal muscle metabolism. We aimed to determine whether skeletal muscle glucose uptake, assessed by [
18
F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, is reduced in patients with claudication.

Methods and Results—

Thirty-seven subjects with PAD and claudication and 11 healthy controls underwent [
18
F]fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography imaging of the legs during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Calf glucose uptake was quantified by graphical Patlak analysis, and whole-body insulin sensitivity was assessed as the glucose disposal rate (M) from the insulin clamp. Compared with healthy controls, PAD subjects were insulin resistant (M=3.4 mg/kg per minute [interquartile range, 2.7 to 4.8] versus 5.0 [3.7 to 6.6],
P
=0.019). Calf muscle glucose uptake was significantly lower in PAD compared with healthy subjects (48.6±2.6 μmol/kg per minute versus 62.9±6.5 μmol/kg per minute,
P
=0.009) and correlated with systemic insulin sensitivity (
r
=0.37,
P
=0.03) in PAD subjects. These abnormalities persisted even after exclusion of PAD subjects with diabetes.

Conclusion—

Patients with claudication have impaired calf muscle glucose uptake. Future studies are required to assess whether calf muscle insulin resistance contributes to exercise limitation in patients with intermittent claudication.
Brain Glucose Metabolism in Vascular White Matter Disease With Dementia
Authors: Pascual Belen , Prieto Elena , Arbizu Javier , Marti-Climent Josep , Olier Jorge , Masdeu Joseph C.
Published: November 2010

Background and Purpose—

The boundary between vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) continues to be unclear. Some posit that gradually progressive vascular dementia, as with small vessel disease, is simply vascular disease plus AD. Because AD presents a characteristic pattern on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, we sought to determine whether the fluorodeoxyglucose pattern of vascular dementia resembled more AD or the pattern in nondemented patients with severe microvascular brain disease.

Methods—

Vascular disease patients were selected on the basis of confluent white matter lesions on both hemispheres. Among them, with a similar degree of vascular disease on MRI, neuropsychological testing separated groups with dementia and without dementia. Patients with AD and healthy controls were also studied. The 4 groups, with 12 subjects each, were matched by age, gender, and educational level. Fluorodeoxyglucose distribution was analyzed using both voxel-based and volume of interest methods.

Results—

The AD group had the characteristic pattern of bilaterally decreased metabolism in parieto-temporal association cortex and precuneus. By contrast, patients with vascular disease and dementia had a similar anatomic pattern to that of the vascular patients without dementia, but with greater metabolic abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes and deep nuclei.

Conclusions—

The anatomy of metabolic abnormalities in vascular disease with dementia suggests that, at least in some cases, dementia with vascular disease may be independent of AD. The metabolic abnormality involves the thalamus, caudate, and frontal lobe, a pattern concordant with the neuropsychological findings of impaired executive function characteristic of vascular dementia.
A preliminary investigation of insect succession on carrion in Calabria (southern Italy)
Authors: Brandmayr Pietro , Greco Silvia , Brandmayr Brandmayr Tullia Zetto , Bonacci Teresa , Tersaruolo Claudio , Vercillo Vannio
Published: November 2010

We present data from the first study of successional patterns of insect fauna in Calabria (southern Italy). The aim was to identify and qualitatively assess the major taxa of forensic importance in this region. Studies were conducted in autumn-winter 2006, summer 2007 and winter 2008 in the Botanical Garden, University of Calabria. Over 50 taxa were collected and identified. The most abundant fly species were Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus, 1758), L. sericata (Meigen, 1826), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, C. vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758), Sarcophaga spp., Amobia sp ., Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758, and Muscina stabulans ((Fallén). The successional patterns, relative abundance of adult sarcosaprophagous insects, carcass decay, diversity and seasonality of species are described and the taxa useful for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) are identified. The data of this study could be very useful for further forensic investigations in southern Italy.
The fate of the Rocky Mountain locust, Melanoplus spretus Walsh: implications for conservation biology
Authors: Lockwood Jeff Rey
Published: November 2010

The Rocky Mountain locust, Melanoplus spretus, is believed to be extinct. Habitat destruction via the conversion of montane river valleys to agriculture in the late 1800s is the currently accepted explanation for the species' disappearance. In the last decade, questions have been raised concerning both the status of the locust and the causes for its extinction. The paper addresses the arguments for and against M. spretus being extinct. Assuming it is extinct, new possibilities accounting for its decline are considered, including changes in forest ecosystems in the 1800s and the role of metapopulation dynamics. The loss of the Rocky Mountain locust provides a valuable test case for the tactics of rewilding. A benefit-cost analysis reveals that only under a narrow set of conditions would a restoration of this species or a proxy be justified. How the species might have persisted is considered, along with the possibility that M. spretus could recover. The roles of climate change and micro-evolutionary processes are evaluated with respect to the locust's return. Finally, the discovery of a surviving remnant of the Rocky Mountain locust would raise important questions with respect to our understanding of endangered species and how the concept of 'pest' pertains to conservation biology.
Justice for Child Soldiers? The RUF Trial of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Authors: Waschefort Gus
Published: November 2010

The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was the primary agitator during the decade-long civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone. One of the hallmarks of RUF tactics was the abduction and military use of children. The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) issued an indictment against the high-command of the RUF. Each of the accused was charged with the enlistment, conscription or use of child soldiers. The Prosecutor v. Sesay, Kallon and Gbao case (RUF case) provides a cogent account of the crime of conscripting or using children younger than fifteen in hostilities. This paper tracks the development of the growing child soldier jurisprudence and plots the contribution of the RUF case. Specific emphasis is placed on the Court's application of abstract concepts to concrete situations, e.g. the determination whether a specific instance of child soldier use amounts to the child's 'active participation in hostilities'. The paper follows a progression whereby the chapeau requirements of Article 4 of the Statute of the SCSL are first assessed and thereafter the actus reus and mens rea elements of the substantive crime of enlisting, conscripting or using children in hostilities are examined in light of the RUF case.
Forensic evidence: Materializing bodies, materializing crimes
Authors: Kruse Corinna
Published: November 2010

Based on an ethnographic study of fingerprint and DNA evidence practices in the Swedish judicial system, this article analyses the materialization of forensic evidence. It argues that forensic evidence, while popularly understood as firmly rooted in materiality, is inseparably technoscientific and cultural. Its roots in the material world are entangled threads of matter, technoscience and culture that produce particular bodily constellations within and together with a particular sociocultural context. Forensic evidence, it argues further, is co-materialized with crimes as well as with particular bodily and social constellations. Consequently, the article suggests that an analysis of how forensic evidence is produced can contribute to feminist understandings of the inseparability of sex and gender: understanding bodies as ongoing technoscientific-material-cultural practices of materialization may be a fruitful approach to analysing their complexity, and the relationships in which they are placed, without surrendering to either cultural or biological determinism. Taking a theoretical point of departure not only in an STS-informed approach, but also in material feminist theorizations, the article also underlines that the suggested theoretical conversations across borders of feminist theory and STS should be understood as a two-way-communication where the two fields contribute mutually to each other.
Dynamic changes in genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4 methylation patterns in response to dehydration stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: van Dijk Karin , Ding Yong , Malkaram Sridhar , Riethoven Jean-Jack M , Liu Rong , Yang Jingyi , Laczko Peter , Chen Han , Xia Yuannan , Ladunga Istvan , Avramova Zoya , Fromm Michael
Published: November 2010

Background

The molecular mechanisms of genome reprogramming during transcriptional responses to stress are associated with specific chromatin modifications. Available data, however, describe histone modifications only at individual plant genes induced by stress. We have no knowledge of chromatin modifications taking place at genes whose transcription has been down-regulated or on the genome-wide chromatin modification patterns that occur during the plant's response to dehydration stress.

Results

Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing (ChIP-Seq) we established the whole-genome distribution patterns of histone H3 lysine 4 mono-, di-, and tri-methylation (H3K4me1, H3K4me2, and H3K4me3, respectively) in Arabidopsis thaliana during watered and dehydration stress conditions. In contrast to the relatively even distribution of H3 throughout the genome, the H3K4me1, H3K4me2, and H3K4me3 marks are predominantly located on genes. About 90% of annotated genes carry one or more of the H3K4 methylation marks. The H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 marks are more widely distributed (80% and 84%, respectively) than the H3K4me3 marks (62%), but the H3K4me2 and H3K4me1 levels changed only modestly during dehydration stress. By contrast, the H3K4me3 abundance changed robustly when transcripts levels from responding genes increased or decreased. In contrast to the prominent H3K4me3 peaks present at the 5'-ends of most transcribed genes, genes inducible by dehydration and ABA displayed atypically broader H3K4me3 distribution profiles that were present before and after the stress.

Conclusions

A higher number (90%) of annotated Arabidopsis genes carry one or more types of H3K4me marks than previously reported. During the response to dehydration stress the changes in H3K4me1, H3K4me2, and H3K4me3 patterns show different dynamics and specific patterns at up-regulated, down-regulated, and unaffected genes. The different behavior of each methylation mark during the response process illustrates that they have distinct roles in the transcriptional response of implicated genes. The broad H3K4me3 distribution profiles on nucleosomes of stress-induced genes uncovered a specific chromatin pattern associated with many of the genes involved in the dehydration stress response.
Quantification of newly produced B and T lymphocytes in untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
Authors: Motta Marina , Chiarini Marco , Ghidini Claudia , Zanotti Cinzia , Lamorgese Cinzia , Caimi Luigi , Rossi Giuseppe , Imberti Luisa
Published: November 2010

Background

The immune defects occurring in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are responsible for the frequent occurrence of infections and autoimmune phenomena, and may be involved in the initiation and maintenance of the malignant clone. Here, we evaluated the quantitative defects of newly produced B and T lymphocytes.

Methods

The output of B and T lymphocytes from the production and maturation sites was analyzed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and healthy controls by quantifying kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) and T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) by a Real-Time PCR assay that simultaneously detects both targets. T-lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by six-color flow cytometric analysis. Data comparison was performed by two-sided Mann-Whitney test.

Results

KRECs level was reduced in untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients studied at the very early stage of the disease, whereas the release of TRECs+cells was preserved. Furthermore, the observed increase of CD4+lymphocytes could be ascribed to the accumulation of CD4+cells with effector memory phenotype.

Conclusions

The decreased number of newly produced B lymphocytes in these patients is likely related to a homeostatic mechanism by which the immune system balances the abnormal B-cell expansion. This feature may precede the profound defect of humoral immunity characterizing the later stages of the disease.
Programmatic Actors and the Transformation of European Health Care States
Authors: Hassenteufel Patrick , Smyrl Marc , Genieys William , Moreno-Fuentes Francisco Javier
Published: November 2010

In France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the decades from the late 1980s to the present have witnessed significant change in health policy. Although this has included the spread of internal competition and growing autonomy for certain nonstate and parastate actors, it does not follow that the mechanism at work is a “neoliberal convergence.” Rather, the translation into diverse national settings of quasi-market mechanisms is accompanied by a reassertion of regulatory authority and strengthening of statist, as opposed to corporatist, management of national insurance systems. Thus the use of quasi-market tools brings state-strengthening reform. The proximate and necessary cause of this dual transformation is found in the work of small, closely integrated groups of policy professionals, whom we label “programmatic actors.” While their identity differs across cases, these actors are strikingly similar in functional role and motivation. Motivated by a desire to wield authority through the promotion of programmatic ideas, rather than by material or careerist interests, these elite groups act both as importers and translators of ideas and as architects of policy. The resulting elite-driven model of policy change integrates ideational and institutionalist elements to explain programmatically coherent change despite institutional resistance and partisan instability.
Pedestrian Paths: Why Path-Dependence Theory Leaves Health Policy Analysis Lost in Space
Authors: Brown Lawrence D.
Published: November 2010

Path dependence, a model first advanced to explain puzzles in the diffusion of technology, has lately won allegiance among analysts of the politics of public policy, including health care policy. Though the central premise of the model—that past events and decisions shape options for innovation in the present and future—is indisputable (indeed path dependence is, so to speak, too shallow to be false), the approach, at least as applied to health policy, suffers from ambiguities that undercut its claims to illuminate policy projects such as managed care, on which this article focuses. Because path dependence adds little more than marginal value to familiar images of the politics of policy—incrementalism, for one—analysts might do well to put it on the back burner and pursue instead “thick descriptions” that help them to distinguish different degrees of openness to exogenous change among diverse policy arenas.
Reformed Permutations in Mousetrap and Its Generalizations
Authors: Bersani Alberto Maria
Published: November 2010

We study a card game called
Characterization of Highly Hardened Surface Layers on Austenitic Stainless Steels
Authors: Ubertalli G. , Mortarino G. M. M. , Firrao D.
Published: November 2010

The highly hardened surface layers obtained from a TiN-physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating and a treatment that leads to a surface carbon enrichment, applied to American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 304, 316, and 316L stainless steels, have been characterized. The metallographic analyses have revealed a depth of about 2.5 μm for the TiN-PVD treatment (1150 HV) and of between 30 and 40 μm for the carbon enrichment (1000–1150 HV), depending on the steel composition. The molybdenum enhancing carbon diffusion is also discussed. The X-ray diffraction analysis has shown an increase in the lattice parameter, subsequent to insertion of the carbon interstitial element, a reduced Fe5C2 Hägg carbide precipitation (mainly on AISI 304 samples), and high compressive stresses. The carbon profiles, obtained on carbon enriched samples through microprobe analysis, have been related to the HV profiles.
Security Solutions for Uplink- and Downlink-Traffic in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Bohli Jens-Matthias , Hessler Alban , Ugus Osman , Westhoff Dirk
Published: November 2010

This article provides an overview about selected security and dependability solutions for wireless sensor networks. The proposed concepts have been recently developed in the European projects UbiSecSens, Sensei and WSAN4CIP. The main focus of this article is on securing convergecast traffic, securing multicast as well as aggregation providing in-network resilience for real-time wireless sensor networks. All the discussed solutions have in common that, besides an adequate security level, key design aspects are energy efficiency and a small memory footprint.
Dynamic Object Flow Analysis
Authors: Lienhard Adrian
Published: November 2010

The behavior of an object-oriented software system is notoriously hard to understand from the source code alone. The main reason is the large gap between the program´s static structure and its actual runtime behavior. Complementary to static analysis, dynamic analysis can help to close this gap by investigating the properties of a running program. The state of the art in dynamic analysis focuses on investigating runtime control flow and structures of object graphs, but a thorough analysis of how objects are passed through a system is missing. This article provides an overview of the thesis “Object Flow Analysis”, our approach to track object flow by explicitly representing object references and reference transfer. Object Flow Analysis provides an effective and original way of analyzing and runtime monitoring dependencies introduced by object aliasing. A key contribution of our work is that we advance the state of the art in “back-in-time debugging”.
Disziplin gegen Barbarei. Der westeuropäische Diskurs über die russländischen Militärsiedlungen (1810-1866)
Authors: Boden Ragna
Published: November 2010

Die Militärsiedlungen in den westlichen Regionen Russlands waren Teil des verspäteten russischen Modernisierungsprozesses. Dieses Experiment sollte den Staatsetat von den enormen Militärausgaben entlasten, indem ein neuer Typ des Siedlers geschaffen wurde: der Soldaten-Bauer. Angesichts des Zeitpunkts und der Dimensionen des Projekts mit bis zu 700.000 Siedlern war es kein Wunder, dass es in der europäischen Öffentlichkeit auf großes Interesse stieß. Es ist interessant zu sehen, wie Informationen über diese geschlossenen Gesellschaften in die Öffentlichkeit drangen und wie ausländische Beobachter sie beurteilten. Die Reaktionen waren vielfältig und auch gegensätzlich: während manche enthusiastisch darüber urteilten, prognostizierten andere, dass das Projekt nicht von langer Dauer sein würde, und eine dritte Fraktion erwartete ernste Konsequenzen für Russland selbst – in Form einer Revolution – oder für ganz Europa, für das das gigantische russische Militärpotential eine unberechenbare Gefahr darstellte. Der Diskurs über die Militärsiedlungen spiegelte daher beispielhaft die europäische Sicht auf Russland als eine neue Großmacht und enthielt auch Fragen zum Kulturtransfer.
Preliminary Study of Coagulation Monitoring by Antenna for Treatment during Microwave Coagulation Therapy
Authors: Saito Kazuyuki , Ito Koichi
Published: November 2010

Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) has been employed mainly for treatment of small size tumors. In the treatment, thin microwave antenna is inserted into the tumor and microwave energy heats up the tumor up to at least 60°C for generation of enough coagulated volume including the target tumor. During the microwave radiation, reflection coefficient of treatment antenna changes significantly. In this paper, possibility of coagulation monitoring was found observing the reflection coefficient change of the antenna by numerical calculations and measurements.
Familial Mediterranean Fever as an Emerging Clinical Model of Atherogenesis Associated with Low-Grade Inflammation
Authors: Yüksel Şahru , Ayvazyan Lilit , Gasparyan Armen Yuri
Published: November 2010

Numerous inflammatory and innate immune pathways are involved in atherogenesis. Elaboration of clinical models of inflammation-induced atherogenesis may further advance our knowledge of multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in atherogenesis and provide a useful tool for cardiovascular prevention. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with profiles of inflammatory markers close to that seen in the general population. In a few recent studies, it has been shown that endothelial dysfunction, increased atherosclerotic burden and activation of platelets accompany attack-free periods of FMF. Colchicine is proved to be useful in suppression of inflammation in FMF. Preliminary basic and clinical studies suggest that this relatively safe drug may be useful for cardiovascular protection in patients with FMF and in the general population. Multinational prospective studies are warranted to further elaborate clinical model of inflammation-induced atherosclerosis associated with FMF.
Behçet’s Disease: an Insight from a Cardiologist’s Point of View
Authors: Cocco Giuseppe , Gasparyan Armen Yuri
Published: November 2010

Behçet's disease (BD) is an enigmatic inflammatory disorder, with vasculitis (perivasculitis) underlying pathophysiology of its multisystemic affections. Venous pathology and thrombotic complications are hallmarks of BD. However, it has been increasingly recognized that cardiac involvement and arterial complications (aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, rupture and thrombosis) are important part of the course of BD. Pericarditis, myocardial (diastolic and/or systolic dysfunction), valvular and coronary (thrombosis, aneurysms, rupture) involvement, intracardiac thrombi (predominantly right-sided) are, probably, the most frequent cardiac manifestations. Treatment of cardiovascular involvement in BD is largely empirical and aimed at suppression of vasculitis. The most challenging seems to be the treatment of arterial aneurysms and thromboses due to the associated risk of bleedings. Cardiologists should always bear in mind potential threats of (a)symptomatic cardiovascular involvement in BD.
Probability-Utility Model for Managing Evidence-based Central Database
Authors: Bauer Janet G
Published: November 2010

The Probability-Utility Model is dependent on the clinical practice guideline for its function. The Model functions to provide decision analyses that demonstrate to clinicians and patients how personal preferences change the character of best evidence. Initially, patients are provided a clinical practice guideline based on “average patient” best evidence. The Model works to demonstrate how decision, utility, and cost best evidence impact on decisions. It offers to patients an explanation of these impacts. Thus, patients may become more informed about the choices that go into making optimal clinical decisions for their own personal health care. The model also provides for visual images to be used in discussing their personal choices when considering different treatment options and clinical scenarios. The calculations accomplished through the Model provide trade-off analyses by which discussions may be facilitated between provider and patient in reaching informed consent and optimal clinical decisions in formulating treatment plans.
Bioinformatics and Data Mining Studies in Oral Genomics and Proteomics: New Trends and Challenges
Authors: Giacomelli Luca , Covani Ugo
Published: November 2010

Genomics and proteomics have promised to change the practice of dentistry and oral pathology, allowing the identification and the characterization of risk factors and therapeutic targets at a molecular level. However, mass-scale molecular genomics and proteomics suffer from some pitfalls: gene/protein expression are significant only if inserted in a detailed network of molecular pathways and gene/gene, gene/protein and protein/protein interactions.

The proper analysis of these complex pictures requires the contribution of theoretical disciplines, like bioinformatics and data mining. In particular, data-mining of existing information could become a strong starting point to formulate new targeted hypotheses and to planad hocexperimentation.

In this review, advantages and disadvantages of the above-mentioned disciplines and their potential in oral pathology are discussed. The leader gene approach is a new data mining algorithm, recently applied to some oral diseases and their correlation with systemic conditions. The preliminary results of the application of the leader gene approach to the correlation between periodontitis and heart ischemia at a molecular level are presented for the first time.
Clinical Results of 40 Consecutive Basal Thumb Prostheses and No CRPS Type I After Vitamin C Prophylaxis
Authors: Zollinger Paul E. , Ünal Halil , Ellis Maarten L. , Tuinebreijer Wim E.
Published: November 2010

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I may occur as complication after any type of surgery for basal joint arthritis of the thumb. We investigated prospectively in an ongoing study our results after a fully standardized treatment with a total joint prosthesis under vitamin C prophylaxis.

Patients with trapeziometacarpal arthritis stage II or III according to Dell, and no benefit from conservative treatment, were selected to undergo joint replacement with a semi-constrained hydroxyapatite coated prosthesis.

First web opening and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain, activities of daily living (ADL) and satisfaction were taken pre and postoperatively. Vitamin C 500 mg daily was started two days prior to surgery during 50 days as prevention for CRPS. Post-operative treatment was functional.

We performed 40 implantations for trapeziometacarpal arthritis in 34 patients (mean age 60.8 years; 27 females, 7 males) with a mean follow-up of 44 months. Operations were performed in day care under regional (or general) anesthesia.

First web opening increased with 15.4 degrees and there was a significant improvement for pain, ADL and satisfaction as well (p = 0.000). Patient satisfaction was strongly associated with the amount of pain reduction. According to the Veldman and IASP criteria, there were no cases of CRPS.

The overall complication rate for this procedure is high. Literature reports 5 cases of CRPS after 38 operations with the same implant (13%). We advise vitamin C as prophylaxis against CRPS in trapeziometacarpal joint replacement.
Detection and Occurrence of Indicator Organisms and Pathogens
Authors: Herzog Amanda B. , Bhaduri Prianca , Stedtfeld Robert D. , Seyrig Gregoire , Ahmad Farhan , Dave Parth K. , Hashsham Syed A.
Published: November 2010

A review of the literature published in 2009 is presented on topics related to occurrence and detection of fecal indicators and pathogens. This review is divided into three major sections: environmental occurrence, persistence, and transport; detection methods; and microbial source tracking. The first section is subdivided into persistence and transport of fecal indicator bacteria, particle association and transport, microbial quality of recreational beaches, occurrence of fecal indicators bacteria and pathogens in watersheds, irrigation systems, estuaries, and wetlands, and novel indicators. The second section describes the studies related to endpoint PCR and reverse transcription PCR, real‐time PCR, loop mediated isothermal amplification, array based genetic and phenotype based diagnostics, and genotyping. The third section covers genotypic and phenotypic microbial source tracking methods.
Physico‐Chemical Processes
Authors: Pourrezaei Parastoo , Afzal Atefeh , Ding Ning , Islam Md. Shahinoor , Moustafa Ahmed , Drzewicz Przemys ł Aw , Chelme‐Ayala Pamela , El‐Din Mohamed Gamal
Published: November 2010

This is a review of literature published in 2009 that covered issues related physico‐chemical processes used to treat water and wastewaters. The review is divided into six sections, including coagulation/flocculation, sorption processes, filtration, sedimentation/flotation, oxidation, and air stripping.
Sustainability
Authors: Zhou Jianpeng , Erdal Zeynep K. , McCreanor Philip T. , Montalto Franco
Published: November 2010

:This review on Sustainability covers journal articles and conferences papers published in 2009 and is divided into the following sections:  •Sustainable water and wastewater utilities  •Sustainable watersheds and water resources management  •Industrial and corporate approaches towards sustainability  •Stormwater and green infrastructure  •Sustainable wastewater technologies  •Sustainability assessment and life cycle analysis  •Sustainability and energy in wastewater industry  •Sustainability and climate change  •Sustainability and water reuse  •Application of LEED®  The sustainable water and wastewater utilities reviewed sustainable practices, sustainable workforce management, and sustainable financing. The stormwater and green Infrastructure (GI) described the current development in four general categories: new studies of GI and low impact design (LID) system performance; GI/LID system planning and design; modeling of GI/LID systems; and social implications of GI/LID systems. The sustainable wastewater technologies reviewed wastewater treatment, anaerobic technologies, low impact and natural treatment systems, residuals and emissions management.
An Experimental Assessment of Vehicle Disturbance Effects on Migratory Shorebirds
Authors: Tarr Nathan M. , Simons Theodore R. , Pollock Kenneth H.
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT Off‐road vehicle (ORV) traffic is one of several forms of disturbance thought to affect shorebirds at migration stopover sites. Attempts to measure disturbance effects on shorebird habitat use and behavior at stopover sites are difficult because ORV disturbance is frequently confounded with habitat and environmental factors. We used a before‐after‐control‐impact experimental design to isolate effects of vehicle disturbance from shorebird responses to environmental and habitat factors. We manipulated disturbance levels within beach closures along South Core Banks, North Carolina, USA, and measured changes in shorebird abundance and location, as well as the activity of one focal species, the sanderling (Calidris alba), within paired control and impact plots. We applied a discrete treatment level of one flee‐response‐inducing event every 10 minutes on impact plots. We found that disturbance reduced total shorebird and black‐bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) abundance and reduced relative use of microhabitat zones above the swash zone (wet sand and dry sand) by sanderlings, black‐bellied plovers, willets (Tringa semipalmata), and total shorebirds. Sanderlings and total shorebirds increased use of the swash zone in response to vehicle disturbance. Disturbance reduced use of study plots by sanderlings for resting and increased sanderling activity, but we did not detect an effect of vehicle disturbance on sanderling foraging activity. We provide the first estimates of how a discrete level of disturbance affects shorebird distributions among ocean beach microhabitats. Our findings provide a standard to which managers can compare frequency and intensity of disturbance events at other shorebird stopover and roosting sites and indicate that limiting disturbance will contribute to use of a site by migratory shorebirds.
No Evidence for Resistance to Fenbendazole in Trichostrongylus tenuis, a Nematode Parasite of the Red Grouse
Authors: Cox Ruth , Newborn David , Baines David , Thomas Christopher J. , Sherratt Thomas N.
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT The parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis has a detrimental effect on red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) at the individual and population levels. Treatment using grit coated with the anthelmintic fenbendazole hydrochloride reduces parasite infection and increases grouse density. However, a frequent and low dose of anthelmintic increases selection pressure for parasite resistance, a serious practical and economic problem. We used an egg hatch assay to test resistance of T. tenuis from 12 moors in northern England, which differed in grit treatment intensity. The anthelmintic concentration that prevented 50% and 95% of T. tenuis eggs from hatching (ED50 and ED95, respectively) did not differ among moors and were not related to treatment. We suggest annual monitoring and responsible anthelmintic use to prevent resistance so that medicated grit continues to enhance red grouse management.