bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Paraphilic Activity, Specialization, and Generalization in Priests Who Sexually Abused Minors
Authors: Tallon Jennifer A. , Terry Karen J.
Published: April 2008

It is a common belief that priests who sexually abused minors specialized in victim type, particularly in regard to age and gender. The Nature and Scope study showed that 81% of the victims of sexual abuse by priests were male, and more than half the sample was aged 11 to 14 years. However, a closer analysis of victim type shows that only 693 of the 4,392 priests with sexual abuse allegations “specialized,” or abused multiple victims of the same gender and age. Few studies compare child sexual abusers who are versatile in their victim choice and those who sexually abuse a particular type of victim. Findings here indicate that priests who were versatile in their choice of victim differed from specialists in that they had more victims over a longer period of time, more grooming behavior, and an earlier onset of abusive behavior. There are also differences among various specialist groups in regard to age of onset and duration of abusive behavior.
Persistent Sexual Abusers in the Catholic Church
Authors: Mercado Cynthia Calkins , Tallon Jennifer A. , Terry Karen J.
Published: April 2008

This study aims to enhance understanding of clergy offending patterns through a comparison of low-rate and high-rate clergy offenders. Data for these re-analyses are derived from 3,674 cases from the Nature and Scope of Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church. This article compares those clerics who had just one allegation with those who had a moderate (2 to 3), high (4 to 9), or exceptionally high (10-plus) number of allegations of sexual abuse. Findings reveal that the 3.7% ( n =137) who had 10 or more victims accounted for a disproportionate 24.8% of the abuse. Priests with the most victims began perpetrating offenses at an earlier age and were more likely to have male victims than those who abused fewer victims. The importance of research addressing the causes and situational correlates of sexual offending by priests, as well as the need for more refined management strategies, are discussed.
Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Authors: Terry Karen J. , Ackerman Alissa
Published: April 2008

Research on child sexual abuse often focuses on offenders, particularly on explanations of the etiology and maintenance of their abusive behavior. A recent study by Smallbone and Wortley suggests, however, that research should also focus on the situation in which the sexual abuse occurs. This article employs the situational crime prevention (SCP) framework that they used to study child sexual abusers in Queensland to study patterns of abuse by Catholic priests. Results from the study on the nature and scope of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests support the assertions by Smallbone and Wortley that there is a situational component to sexually abusive behavior. The discussion outlines the steps taken by the Catholic Church as well as other SCP techniques that could be employed to create safe environments.
Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Authors: White Michael D. , Terry Karen J.
Published: April 2008

The Catholic Church response to its sexual abuse crisis and how the problem should be addressed parallels the “rotten apple” assertions of police deviance. The rotten apple theory, however, does not fully explain police deviance, as there are often also structural explanations. This article employs Kappeler, Sluder, and Alpert's (1998) police deviance framework to characterize and understand the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, drawing specific comparisons to the intentional use of excessive force by police. Though the analogy has limitations, there are similarities at both the individual and organizational levels, particularly because the Church has implemented accountability mechanisms similar to the police. The article concludes with a discussion of lessons the Church can learn from the police organization as they seek to prevent, control, and effectively respond to sexual abuse of children by their clergy.
Extracorporeal photopheresis reverses experimental graft-versus-host disease through regulatory T cells
Authors: Gatza Erin , Rogers Clare E. , Clouthier Shawn G. , Lowler Kathleen P. , Tawara Isao , Liu Chen , Reddy Pavan , Ferrara James L. M.
Published: April 2008

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), a technique that exposes isolated white blood cells to photoactivatable 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A radiation, is used clinically to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and immune-mediated diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). ECP is thought to control these diseases in part through direct induction of lymphocyte apoptosis, but its effects on the immune system beyond apoptosis remain poorly characterized. We have developed a novel method for incorporating ECP treatment into well-established and clinically relevant murine models of GVHD to examine its effects during an ongoing immune response. We demonstrate that the transfer of cells treated with ECP reverses established GVHD by increasing donor regulatory T cells and indirectly reducing the number of donor effector lymphocytes that themselves had never been exposed to psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation.
Studies on Effects of External Electric Fields on Halobacteria with Fluorescence Intensity and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy
Authors: Nakabayashi Takakazu , Wang Hui-Ping , Tsujimoto Kazuo , Miyauchi Seiji , Kamo Naoki , Ohta Nobuhiro
Published: April 2008

Effects of an external electric field have been measured for Halobacterium salinarum loaded with fluorescent dye BCECF. Aggregates of the halobacteria are effectively formed by an electric field. The fluorescence lifetime of BCECF remains unchanged after the formation of the aggregates, suggesting that intracellular environments are not affected significantly by an external electric field in spite of the aggregate formation.
Calcium Chloride as an Efficient Lewis Base Catalyst for the One-pot Synthesis of α-Aminophosphonic Esters
Authors: Kaboudin Babak , Zahedi Hazegh
Published: April 2008

A simple, efficient, and general method has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonic esters, under solvent-free conditions, with the use of CaCl2 as a Lewis base catalyst. The esters were obtained under mild conditions and in high yield (80 to 96%) and purity. They were synthesized by the reaction of diethyl phosphite with a mixture of aldehydes and amines, in the presence of CaCl2, and under solvent-free conditions. Major advantages of this protocol are: high yields, inexpensive method, making use of a non-toxic catalyst and finally mild and solvent-free conditions.
Photoinduced Processes of Subphthalocyanine–Diazobenzene–Fullerene Triad as an Efficient Excited Energy Transfer System
Authors: Kim Jong-Hyung , El-Khouly Mohamed E , Araki Yasuyuki , Ito Osamu , Kay Kwang-Yol
Published: April 2008

Photoinduced processes of a newly synthesized subphthalocyanine–diazobenzene–fullerene triad have been studied by the time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. On photo-excitation of subphthalocyanine (SubPc) moiety, the fluorescence quenching of SubPc was observed, suggesting the energy-transfer process from singlet excited energy of the light-harvesting SubPc to C60 through diazobenzene. This finding is confirmed by the nanosecond transient absorption of the triplet excited state of C60.
Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Modification into a Photograft-polymerized Polymer Film via Polyion-complexation
Authors: Yamaguchi Yoshifumi , Haraguchi Shinsuke , Nakashima Naotoshi
Published: April 2008

Shortened single-walled carbon nanotubes having anionic charges were immobilized in a cationic vinyl monomer-photografted poly(ethylene terephthalate) film. The present method is simple and useful for preparing polymer/nanotube hybrid films via the polyion-complexation of cationic photografted polymer films and anionic CNTs.
Incidence of interval breast cancers after 650,000 negative mammographics in 13 Italian health districts
Authors: Bucchi Lauro , Ravaioli Alessandra , Foca Flavia , Colamartini Americo , Falcini Fabio , Naldoni Carlo
Published: April 2008

Objectives

To estimate the total proportional incidence of interval breast cancers in a two-yearly mammography screening programme, and to perform subgroup analyses by woman's age, screening centre-specific recall rate and screening round.

Methods

Using unconverted electronic datasets from the 13 screening centres in the Emilia-Romagna Region of northern Italy (540,450 women aged 50-69 years), a database of 919,538 mammography records was created. Of these, 655,175 eligible single-mammography records (1997-2002) from 379,318 women were record-linked with the regional Breast Cancer Registry. In the two-year inter-screening interval, a total of 1,022,694.3 woman-years at risk were accumulated, with 695 interval cancers observed and 2428.3 expected. The observed number of interval cancers was divided by the expected number to obtain the proportional incidence.

Results

The total proportional incidence of first- and second-year interval cancers was 0.18 (95% CI 0.15-0.20) and 0.43 (0.39-0.47), respectively. woman's age was inversely associated with proportional incidence in both interval years, with a cut-off point at age 60. A screening centre-specific recall rate greater than the regional average of 5% was associated with a proportional incidence of 0.14 (0.11-0.17) versus 0.20 (0.17-0.24) in the first interval year, and of 0.36 (0.31-0.41) versus 0.50 (0.44-0.56) in the second. The proportional incidence remained unchanged between the first and subsequent screening rounds.

Conclusions

The results were in line with the previous Italian data and with the recommended European standards. The inverse effect of woman's age and of recall rate was expected.
High-grade cervical abnormalities and screening intervals in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Schindeler Suzanne , Morrell Stephen , Zuo Yeqin , Baker Deborah
Published: April 2008

Objectives

This study aims to determine the association of two versus three year screening intervals with the likelihood of detection of a high-grade cervical abnormality and cervical cancer.

Methods

Data were obtained from the New South Wales (NSW) Papanicolaou (Pap) Test Register (PTR) and NSW Central Cancer Registry (CCR). Subjects were human papillomavirus (HPV) unvaccinated women aged 20-69 years who had a minimum of two Pap tests with a negative result at their first recorded Pap test (n = 1,213,295). Logistic regression was used to determine the association between screening interval and the likelihood of: (1) a cytological prediction of high-grade abnormality, defined as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or greater; (2) a histologically confirmed high-grade abnormality; (3) a cytological prediction of cervical cancer and (4) a confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer, controlling for potential confounders of age and socioeconomic status (SES) of area of residence.

Results

For each year increase in the screening interval, the odds of a histologically confirmed high-grade abnormality increased significantly in women aged 20-29 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.28) and in women aged 30-49 years (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06-1.16), but not in women aged 50-69 years (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.89-1.32). Similar results were observed for cytologically detected high-grade abnormalities. The screening interval was significantly and positively associated with a cytological prediction of cervical cancer (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.28-1.54) and a confirmed cervical cancer diagnosis (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.33-2.07) in women aged 20-69 years. We estimate that if the screening interval were increased from two to three years, and the number of women participating in triennial screening participation was the same as for biennial participation in NSW, then 267 (95% CI 186-347) extra cases of high-grade abnormalities would be detected annually by cytology and 225 extra cases (95% CI 160-291) confirmed by histology, mostly confined to women aged 20-49 years. Equivalently, 2.3 (95% CI 1.8-2.8) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.4) extra cases of high-grade cytology and histology, respectively, would be expected per 1000 women with initially negative cytology if the screening interval were extended from two to three years.

Conclusion

Increasing the cervical screening interval from two to three years would be expected to significantly increase the odds of detection of a high-grade abnormality for NSW women aged 20-49 years and cervical cancer for NSW women aged 20-69 years. Accordingly, our study provides evidence in support of retaining the recommended cervical screening interval at two years for HPV unvaccinated, well women.
Performance of systematic and non-systematic (‘opportunistic’) screening mammography: a comparative study from Denmark
Authors: Bihrmann Kristine , Jensen Allan , Olsen Anne Helene , Njor Sisse , Schwartz Walter , Vejborg Ilse , Lynge Elsebeth
Published: April 2008

Objectives

Evaluation and comparison of the performance of organized and opportunistic screening mammography.

Methods

Women attending screening mammography in Denmark in 2000. The study included 37,072 women attending organized screening. Among these, 320 women were diagnosed with breast cancer during follow-up. Opportunistic screening was attended by 2855 women with 26 women being diagnosed with breast cancer. Data on women attending screening were linked with information on cancer status. Each woman was followed with respect to diagnosis of breast cancer (invasive as well as in situ) for a period of two years. Screening outcome and cancer status during follow-up were combined to assess whether the result of the examination was true-positive, true-negative, false-positive or false-negative. Based on this classification, age-adjusted sensitivity and specificity of organized and opportunistic screening were calculated.

Results

Defining BI-RADS™ 4-5 as a positive screening outcome, the overall sensitivity of opportunistic screening was 33.6% and the specificity was 99.1%. Using BI-RADS™ 3-5 as positive, the sensitivity was 37.4% and the specificity was 97.9%. Organized screening (which was not categorized according to BI-RADS™) had an overall sensitivity of 67.2% and a specificity of 98.4%.

Conclusion

Our study showed a considerably higher sensitivity in organized screening than in opportunistic screening, while the specificity was fairly similar in the two settings. The findings support implementation of population-based breast screening programmes, as recommended in the ‘European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis’.
A cohort effect in cervical screening coverage?
Authors: Lancuck L , Patnickand J , Vessey M
Published: April 2008

Introduction

Objectives The objective of this study is to analyse cervical screening coverage data over time.

Methods

Routinely collected cervical screening statistics, in England, on the proportion of women who have undergone cervical screening with cytology during the preceding five years. The participants included all women residents eligible for cervical screening.

Results

Overall coverage remained at about 82% or over between 1995 and 2000. Since 2000, however, coverage has drifted slowly down to just over 80% in 2005. Coverage has long been observed to be related to age. In 2005, the coverage rate was 71% in women aged 25-29, 83% in those aged 35-54 and 75% in those aged 55-64. Comparing coverage by age in the three years, 1995-2000 and 2005 - shows broad conformity with this pattern in each of the three years, but overlaid is the fact that at ages below 50, the rate has been falling while at ages above 55, the rate has been rising. The fall in screening coverage appears to be largely a cohort effect, with women born in the 1960s and later being increasingly less likely to participate.

Conclusions

No specific reason for this effect is evident. Action could be targeted at women aged 25-34 to address falling coverage.
Preservation of mouth region processing in two cases of prosopagnosia
Authors: Bukach Cindy M. , Le Grand Richard , Kaiser Martha D. , Bub Daniel N. , Tanaka James W.
Published: April 2008

Although most adults are considered experts in face recognition, brain trauma can produce a selective loss in this ability, a condition referred to as prosopagnosia. This study examined the processing strategies of prosopagnosic patients LR and HH using the Face Dimensions Test. In this test, featural and configural information in the upper and lower halves of the face was parametrically varied and sensitivity to these changes measured. We found that relative to age‐matched control participants, LR and HH exhibited an impaired ability to discriminate differences in the eye region, but a preserved ability to detect featural and configural differences in the mouth region. This pattern of impairment and sparing was demonstrated in tests of direct perception and immediate memory. The obtained findings demonstrate that prosopagnosia does not necessarily cause a global impairment to face perception, but a selective impairment to the perception of information in the upper half of the face.
EphrinB2 Regulation by PTH and PTHrP Revealed by Molecular Profiling in Differentiating Osteoblasts
Authors: Allan Elizabeth H , Häusler Karl D , Wei Tao , Gooi Jonathan H , Quinn Julian MW , Crimeen-Irwin Blessing , Pompolo Sueli , Sims Natalie A , Gillespie Matthew T , Onyia Jude E , Martin T John
Published: April 2008

With the aim of identifying new pathways and genes regulated by PTH(1–34) and PTH-related protein 1–141 [PTHrP(1–141)] in osteoblasts, this study was carried out using a mouse marrow stromal cell line, Kusa 4b10, that acquires features of the osteoblastic phenotype in long-term culture conditions. After the appearance of functional PTH receptor 1 (PTHR1) in Kusa 4b10 cells, they were treated with either PTH(1–34) or PTHrP(1–141), and RNA was subjected to Affymetrix whole mouse genome array. The microarray data were validated using quantitative real-time RT-PCR on independently prepared RNA samples from differentiated Kusa 4b10, UMR106 osteosarcoma cells, and primary mouse calvarial osteoblasts, as well as in vivo using RNA from metaphyseal bone after a single PTH injection to 3-wk-old and 6-mo-old ovariectomized rats. Of the 45,101 probes used on the microarray, 4675 were differentially expressed by ≥1.5 fold, with a false discovery rate <0.1. Among the regulated genes, ephrinB2 mRNA was upregulated in response to both PTH and PTHrP. This was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR in vitro and in vivo. Increased ephrinB2 protein was also shown in vitro by Western blotting, and immunostaining of femur sections showed ephrinB2 in both osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Production of ephrinB2, as well as other ephrins or Eph family members, did not change during differentiation of Kusa 4b10 cells. Blockade of ephrinB2/EphB4 interaction resulted in inhibition of mineralization of Kusa 4b10 cells. Together with the shown effect of ephrinB2 promoting osteoblast differentiation and bone formation through action on EphB4, the data raise the possibility that PTH or PTHrP might regulate ephrinB2 to act in a paracrine or autocrine manner on EphB4 or EphB2 in the osteoblast, contributing as a local event to the anabolic action of PTH or PTHrP.
Berberine Promotes Osteoblast Differentiation by Runx2 Activation With p38 MAPK
Authors: Lee Hyun Woo , Suh Jung Hee , Kim Hyun-Nam , Kim A Young , Park So Yun , Shin Chan Soo , Choi Je-Yong , Kim Jae Bum
Published: April 2008

Berberine (BBR) has been implicated in bone biology. Although BBR reduces osteoporosis by enhancing BMD and inhibiting osteoclast activity, the effects of BBR on osteoblasts during the process of osteogenesis have not been thoroughly studied. In osteoblastic cells, BBR enhanced the expression of osteogenic marker genes including osteopontin and osteocalcin and promoted the transcriptional activity of the key osteogenic transcription factor Runx2. In osteoblasts, BBR increased the binding of Runx2 to the promoter region of osteopontin. The recruitment of co-factors such as p300 and HDAC1 to the promoter regions of osteopontin and osteocalcin was regulated by BBR, resulting in an enhancement in the expression of those genes. Furthermore, BBR activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and increased cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression, which are key factors in osteoblast differentiation. Consistently, a p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor attenuated the effect of BBR on osteogenesis, whereas p38 MAPK overexpression augmented BBR-induced osteogenic gene expression. Moreover, BBR stimulated bone area formation in calvarial organ culture. Taken together, these findings indicate that BBR promotes osteoblast differentiation through activation of Runx2 by p38 MAPK. Therefore, BBR may be a potential therapeutic agent to treat bone-related disorders including osteoporosis.
Significance of Serum TRACP in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Janckila Anthony J , Neustadt David H , Yam Lung T
Published: April 2008

Human serum contains two related isoforms of TRACP: TRACP 5a and TRACP 5b. Serum TRACP 5a protein is increased in about one third of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sera. This study was undertaken to examine the significance of serum TRACP isoforms 5a and 5b as disease markers of inflammation and bone destruction in RA. One hundred eighteen patients were recruited including 50 with RA (25 with nodules), 26 with osteoarthritis (OA), and 42 with other rheumatic diseases. Twenty-six healthy adults served as controls. Serum TRACP 5a activity, TRACP 5a protein, and TRACP 5b activity were determined by in-house immunoassays. C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined by in-house immunoassay using commercial antibodies and CRP. Other commercial markers included bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C-telopeptides of type-I collagen (ICTP), cartilage glycoprotein-39 (YKL-40), and IgM rheumatoid factors (IgM-RF). Mean TRACP 5a protein was significantly elevated only in RA compared with healthy controls and other disease groups. TRACP 5a protein correlated significantly only with IgM-RF in RA. Among RA patients, mean TRACP 5a protein and IgM RF were significantly higher in nodule formers. In contrast, TRACP 5b activity was slightly elevated in RA and correlated with BALP, ICTP, and YKL-40 but not with IgM-RF or CRP. Mean TRACP 5b activity was no different in RA patients with or without nodules. TRACP isoforms could be useful disease markers in RA; TRACP 5a protein may be a measure of systemic inflammatory macrophage burden and disease severity. TRACP 5b activity is a marker for osteoclast number and perhaps local or systemic bone destruction.
In Vivo μMRI-Based Finite Element and Morphological Analyses of Tibial Trabecular Bone in Eugonadal and Hypogonadal Men Before and After Testosterone Treatment
Authors: Zhang X Henry , Liu X Sherry , Vasilic Branimir , Wehrli Felix W , Benito Maria , Rajapakse Chamith S , Snyder Peter J , Guo X Edward
Published: April 2008

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem in men. Hypogonadal men have decreased BMD and deteriorated trabecular bone architecture compared with eugonadal men. Testosterone treatment improves their BMD and trabecular structure. We tested the hypothesis that testosterone replacement in hypogonadal men would also improve their bone's mechanical properties. Ten untreated severely hypogonadal and 10 eugonadal men were selected. The hypogonadal men were treated with a testosterone gel for 24 mo to maintain their serum testosterone concentrations within the normal range. Each subject was assessed before and after 6, 12, and 24 mo of testosterone treatment by μMRI of the distal tibia. A subvolume of each μMR image was converted to a microfinite element (μFE) model, and six analyses were performed, representing three compression and three shear tests. The anisotropic stiffness tensor was calculated, from which the orthotropic elastic material constants were derived. Changes in microarchitecture were also quantified using newly developed individual trabeculae segmentation (ITS)-based and standard morphological analyses. The accuracy of these techniques was examined with simulated μMR images. Significant differences in four estimated anisotropic elastic material constants and most morphological parameters were detected between the eugonadal and hypogonadal men. No significant change in estimated elastic moduli and morphological parameters was detected in the eugonadal group over 24 mo. After 24 mo of treatment, significant increases in estimated elastic moduli E22 (9.0%), E33 (5.1%), G23 (7.2%), and G12 (9.4%) of hypogonadal men were detected. These increases were accompanied by significant increases in trabecular plate thickness. These results suggest that 24 mo of testosterone treatment of hypogonadal men improves estimated elastic moduli of tibial trabecular bone by increased trabecular plate thickness.
PDGF Receptor β Is a Potent Regulator of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Function
Authors: Tokunaga Ayano , Oya Takeshi , Ishii Yoko , Motomura Hiraku , Nakamura Chieko , Ishizawa Shin , Fujimori Toshihiko , Nabeshima Yo-ichi , Umezawa Akihiro , Kanamori Masahiko , Kimura Tomoatsu , Sasahara Masakiyo
Published: April 2008

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in bone marrow are important for bone homeostasis. Although platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been reported to be involved in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, the role remains controversial and the network of PDGF signaling for MSCs has not been clarified. To clarify the underlying regulatory mechanism of MSC functions mediated by PDGF, we deleted the PDGF receptor (PDGFR)β gene by Cre-loxP strategy and examined the role of PDGF in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and fracture repair. In cultured MSCs, the mRNA expression of PDGF-A, -B, -C, and -D as well as PDGFRα and β was detected. Depletion of PDGFRβ in MSCs decreased the mitogenic and migratory responses and enhanced osteogenic differentiation as evaluated by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mRNA levels of ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2, Runx2, and osterix in quantitative RT-PCR. PDGF-BB, but not PDGF-AA, inhibited osteogenic differentiation accompanied by decreased ALP activity and mRNA levels, except for BMP2. These effects of PDGF-BB were eliminated by depletion of PDGFRβ in MSCs except that PDGF-BB still suppressed osterix expression in PDGFRβ-depleted MSCs. Depletion of PDGFRβ significantly increased the ratio of woven bone to callus after fracture. From the combined analyses of PDGF stimulation and specific PDGFRβ gene deletion, we showed that PDGFRβ signaling distinctively induces proliferative and migratory responses but strongly inhibits osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. The effects of PDGFRα on the osteogenic differentiation were very subtle. PDGFRβ could represent an important target for guided tissue regeneration or tissue engineering of bone.
Neuropsychological Assessment and Management of People in States of Impaired Consciousness: An Overview of Some Recent Studies
Authors: Wilson Barbara A. , Coleman Martin R. , Pickard John D.
Published: April 2008

This article is concerned with patients in coma, the vegetative, or minimally conscious states. Studies addressing the issue of assessment and management of these patients are described. These include (a) the development of an assessment tool (Wessex Head Injury Matrix, WHIM); (b) use of the WHIM to assess the effects of posture on arousal, showing that some 75% of patients show more behaviours when assessed while they are in a standing frame than when supine; (c) a comparison of the WHIM with the Glasgow Coma Scale, demonstrating that the WHIM is more sensitive than the GCS for measuring the behavioural repertoire of people in states of reduced consciousness; (d) a discussion of situations when neuro-imaging techniques are required to assess residual functioning; and (e) the long term outcome of one of the first vegetative patients to be scanned with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). We conclude with a discussion about neuropsychology and patients in states of impaired consciousness.
Applications of Advances in Neuroscience to Assessment of Brain Injury
Authors: Geffen Gina
Published: April 2008

The application of neuroscience advances to brain injury is addressed in the context of our studies of the role of the corpus callosum in the interhemispheric transfer of auditory and tactile information. The outcome of these studies, which were conducted over a period of 30 years in normal individuals as well as those with congenital and acquired lesions of the corpus callosum, have since been confirmed and extended by modern brain imaging techniques. These techniques nevertheless continue to rely on the use of sensitive, specific, valid and reliable behavioural testing paradigms.
Concept of Automatic Usability Evaluation of Safety-Critical Interactive Systems in the Field (Konzept der automatischen Bewertung der Gebrauchstauglichkeit sicherheitskritischer Systeme)
Authors: Funk Mathias , Hamacher Nico
Published: April 2008

The usability of interactive systems is an important attribute, especially for safety-critical devices like driver information systems. The functional complexity of such devices is increasing. Traditional user testing during development often fails to provide necessary data for an appropriate usability evaluation. In this work an approach for in-the-field usage data collection using the D'PUIS framework and automatic evaluation with the REVISER evaluation tool is introduced.
Ein Cockpit-Mockup zur Evaluierung auditiver Flugführungsanzeigen (A Cockpit Mockup for the Evaluation of Auditory Flight Instruments)
Authors: Borys Bernd-Burkhard
Published: April 2008

Steht ein Mensch mit geschlossenen Augen in der freien Natur, dann kann er sich schon allein aus dem, was er hört, ein Bild der Umgebung machen. Er hört dabei dreidimensional in Richtung und Entfernung. Wir wollen dieses dreidimensionale Hörerlebnis in einer technischen Umgebung zumindest teilweise zurückgeben. Wir hoffen, dass es Piloten dabei unterstützt, ein Bild ihrer Umgebung und ihrer eigenen Position darin aufzubauen. Unsere Lösung und der Aufbau zur experimentellen Überprüfung wird im Folgenden beschrieben.
Crystal chemistry of the mendipite-type system Pb3O2Cl2—Pb3O2Br2
Authors: Siidra Oleg I. , Krivovichev Sergey V. , Armbruster Thomas , Depmeier Wulf
Published: April 2008

The crystal structures of the mendipite series Pb3O2Cl2—Pb3O2Br2 have been solved by direct methods. The structures are based upon [O2Pb3]2+ double chains of edge-sharing OPb4 tetrahedra. There are three symmetrically independent Pb2+ cations. The number of nonequivalent halogen sites is two (X1, X2). Short Pb—O bonds are located on one side of the Pb2+ cations and weak Pb-X bonds are located on the other side of the Pb2+ coordination sphere. The evident strong distortion of the Pb2+ coordination polyhedra is due to the stereoactivity of the 6s
2 lone electron pairs of the Pb2+ cations. Pb1-X2 and Pb2-X2 bonds are the most sensitive to the X site occupancy, which is in agreement with the non-linear behavior of the a and c parameters. Determination of unit-cell parameters by single crystal studies showed strong deviation from Vegard's rule. Nonlinearity of the lattice parameters is caused by selective ordering of the halide anions over X1 and X2 sites. Br atoms prefer the X2 position, whereas Cl prefers the X1 site. The angle between two adjacent OPb4 tetrahedra was determined to analyze the influence of halogen atoms on the structure of the [O2Pb3]2+ chain. Different occupancy of the X1 site by Cl and Br atoms leads to most pronounced angular changes. These observations may be interpreted as adaptation of the [O2Pb3]2+ double chains to the large halide ions in the crystal structures of the mendipite series compounds.
New compounds of glycine with metal halogenides
Authors: Fleck Michel , Held Peter , Schwendtner Karolina , Bohatý Ladislav
Published: April 2008

The crystal structures of five new glycine (H2N–CH2–COOH) metal halogenide compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Three of them are monoclinic phases, GlycineCaCl2 · 3 H2O (space group P21/c, a = 9.964(2), b = 6.868(1), c = 13.959(3) Å,
β
= 104.11(3)°, R1 = 0.024), GlycineZnCl2 · H2O (space group P21/a, a = 7.868(1), b = 9.124(1), c = 10.645(1) Å,
β
= 103.51(1)°, R1 = 0.026) and Glycine2ZnCl2 · 2 H2O (space group C2/c, a = 14.444(1), b = 6.916(1), c = 12.968(1) Å,
β
= 117.90(3)° R1 = 0.033), two of them are orthorhombic phases Glycine3CeCl3 · 3 H2O (space group P212121, a = 4.788(1), b = 12.074(2), c = 30.949(6) Å R1 = 0.034) and Glycine2CaI2 · 3 H2O (space group Pca21, a = 13.059(3), b = 9.862(2), c = 22.724(5) Å R1 = 0.023). The atomic arrangements as well as aspects of the crystal chemistry of these compounds are presented.
Control of nuclear remodelling and subsequent in vitro development and methylation status of porcine nuclear transfer embryos
Authors: Kwon D J , Park C K , Yang B K , Cheong H T
Published: April 2008

We attempted to control the nuclear remodelling of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos (NTs) and examined their subsequent development and DNA methylation patterns in pigs. Porcine foetal fibroblasts were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with either 5 mM caffeine for 2.5 h or 0.5 mM vanadate for 0.5 h. After activation, NTs were cultured in vitro for 6 days to examine their development. The nuclear remodelling type of the reconstituted embryos was evaluated 1 h after fusion. Methylated DNA of in vitro-fertilised (IVF) embryos and NTs at various developmental stages and of donor cells was detected using a 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) antibody. Caffeine-treated NTs induced premature chromosome condensation at a high rate (P<0.05), whereas most vanadate-treated NTs formed a pronucleus-like structure. Although cleavage rates to the two-cell stage did not differ among groups, delayed cleavage was observed in the vanadate-treated group. The blastocyst formation rate was significantly reduced by vanadate treatment compared with caffeine-treated and non-treated (control) NT groups (P<0.05). The apoptotic cell index of NT blastocysts was lower in the caffeine-treated group than in other groups (P<0.05). The methylation patterns were similar among NTs, but more hypermethylated DNA was observed at the four-cell stage of control and vanadate-treated NTs when compared with that in IVF embryos (P<0.05). Thus, the nuclear remodelling type controlled by caffeine or vanadate treatment can affect in vitro development and the methylation status of NTs in relation to nuclear reprogramming.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Potassium Permanganate Treatment Efficacy for the Control of Acute Experimental Infection by Flavobacterium columnare in Channel Catfish
Authors: Darwish Ahmed M , Mitchell Andrew J , Hobbs Melissa S
Published: April 2008

An experiment was performed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) against Flavobacterium columnare. In vitro, F. columnare treated with KMnO4 at 2 mg/L for 8 h exhibited a 70% reduction in colony-forming units (CFU). A minimum KMnO4 concentration of 10 mg/L was needed to inhibit bacterial growth. An acute and systemic experimental infection was produced in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus by waterborne exposure to the bacteria after mechanical cutaneous abrasion to remove mucus and epithelium. At 22 h postchallenge, an 8-h treatment with KMnO4 at 2.3 mg/L (2.0 mg/L above the average KMnO4 demand of 0.3 mg/L) was initiated. This did not reduce mortality in experimentally infected fish. The infection model utilized in the experiment was evaluated by examining the clinical signs and histopathology of infected fish. Fish in the model showed columnaris signs similar to those of a natural infection, including skin depigmentation and ulceration and gill necrosis. Histologically, the skin had severe ulcerative necrotizing dermatitis and the muscles had severe necrotizing myositis. The gills had severe multifocal necrotizing branchitis involving the lamellar and filament epithelium, pillar cells, and central venous sinus. Heavy bacterial aggregates of long rods were associated with the necrotic cellular debris. The identity of the bacteria isolated from the challenged fish was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The results suggest that KMnO4 is beneficial for reducing F. columnare load in the water column and possibly on fish, but the therapeutic value of KMnO4 is limited in fish with an acute and systemic columnaris infection. Further research is warranted to investigate the value of KMnO4 as a therapeutic agent for fish with a milder columnaris infection and as a treatment to prevent further spread of columnaris in a fish population.
Reproductive Ecology and Spawning Substrate Preference of the Northern Leatherside Chub
Authors: Billman Eric J , Wagner Eric J , Arndt Ronney E
Published: April 2008

Conservation of rare fishes is often hindered by a lack of understanding of their basic life history characteristics. We used captive-breeding studies to determine the preferred spawning habitat and early life history characteristics of the northern leatherside chub Lepidomeda copei, a small cyprinid native to the upper Snake River basin and the Bear River drainage in the Bonneville Basin (Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming). In the first study, wild adult northern leatherside chub were given a choice of four habitats (two shallow riffle habitats and two deeper pool habitats), each with four spawning substrates (large cobble, small cobble, pebble, and a coarse artificial spawning mat) in a large rectangular tank. In the second study, adults were given a choice of three locations with different water velocities (9.5, 12.9, or 19.0 cm/s) but the same substrate size (small cobble). Successful spawning occurred in both studies. Northern leatherside chub spawned almost exclusively over the small cobble substrate (99.6% of total young). Habitat selection was significant, but the patterns were not consistent across tanks; uncovered pool habitat was selected in two tanks and the upper riffle habitat was primarily selected in the third tank. In addition, northern leatherside chub preferentially chose the site with the highest flow (19 cm/s) for spawning. Early life history characteristics (embryo size, time to hatch, larvae size, eggs per spawn, time to swim-up, and fry growth) were estimated from the reproductive output of the spawning studies. Small cobble is needed for northern leatherside chub reproduction, and its availability may be among the limiting factors for northern leatherside chub populations.
Water Budgets for a Rice–Crawfish Aquaculture System
Authors: McClain W Ray , Romaire Robert P
Published: April 2008

Red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii and white river crawfish P. zonangulus are raised mostly in southern Louisiana, usually in association with commercial rice cultivation. Shallow ponds (fields) are flooded in the fall after the rice harvest (usually in October) and drained at the end of the crawfish production cycle the following spring–summer (usually in May–July). The water use and effluent volume associated with crawfish aquaculture have not been quantified. This study was conducted to determine water use and effluent release in crawfish aquaculture under simulated commercial conditions. Water inflow and outflow were measured in experimental crawfish ponds from 1999 to 2002 (three consecutive crawfish production seasons) that simulated rice–crawfish rotational production practices. The mean water inflow from groundwater pumping and precipitation was 228 cm per production season (range, 223–233 cm). Total water use (groundwater plus precipitation) and groundwater consumption averaged 21.5 and 15.2 m3 per kilogram of crawfish harvested, respectively. The amount of groundwater used for filling ponds, replacing losses from evaporation–evapotranspiration and seepage, and flushing ponds to maintain satisfactory dissolved oxygen levels averaged 139 cm (range, 97–165 cm). The contribution from precipitation averaged 90 cm. Effluent discharge averaged 59.5 cm. Of this, 36.9% was accounted for by pond drainage at the end of the production season, 29.4% by precipitation overflow and temporary levee failures, 22.1% by lateral seepage and minor leaks of the perimeter levees, and 11.6% by intentional flushing to maintain an acceptable concentration of dissolved oxygen. On average, 74% (172.5 cm) of the water input was lost as a result of evaporation, evapotranspiration, and percolation through the pond-bottom sediments.
Effects of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on Oxygen Consumption and Development of Channel Catfish Eggs and Fry: Implications for Hatchery Management
Authors: Torrans Les , Steeby Jim
Published: April 2008

Eight channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus spawns were split into two similar portions and incubated under controlled conditions to determine the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on the development and survival of eggs and fry. The DO concentration was 7.42 ± 0.03 mg/L (mean ± SD; 92.5% saturation) and 18.40 ± 0.28 mg/L (230% saturation) through hatching in the low- and high-oxygen treatments, respectively. Eggs hatched 6 h earlier in the low-oxygen treatment, but fry reached swim-up stage 31 h later. Survival to the swim-up stage in the low-oxygen treatment was 16.4 percentage points lower than in the high-oxygen treatment (72.5% versus 88.9%, respectively). The routine metabolic rate and limiting oxygen concentration were also determined for eggs, sac fry, and swim-up fry. Oxygen consumption increased through swim-up stage, as expected. However, the limiting oxygen concentration peaked during the last day of incubation at 88.1 ± 2.9% saturation and decreased to 40.1 ± 2.0% saturation upon hatching. Premature hatching observed in the low-oxygen treatment was apparently initiated when the limiting oxygen concentration approached the ambient oxygen saturation on the last day of incubation. A survey of DO management in 26 commercial catfish hatcheries in the Mississippi Delta revealed that DO saturation in the hatching troughs ranged from 45.2% to 100.2%, with only nine hatcheries (35% of the hatcheries sampled) having a DO saturation greater than 95%. Seventeen hatcheries (65%) had a DO saturation less than that maintained in the low-oxygen treatment in our hatching experiment and could experience greater mortality through swim-up than we observed. We recommend that hatcheries initially run well water through a packed column and use blowers or liquid oxygen to maintain the DO concentration in hatching troughs at or above air saturation as eggs near the time of hatching.
Tolerance of Channel Catfish Fry to Abrupt pH Changes
Authors: Mischke Charles C , Wise David J
Published: April 2008

Fry survival in the catfish industry is variable, and failure to survive cannot be completely attributable to diseases, fertilization practices, or lack of zooplankton abundance. The variability in fry survival may be related to current handling and stocking methods. When stocked, fry are transferred relatively quickly from hatchery water to pond water. Generally, temperature differences are monitored between hatchery water and pond water, but little attention is paid to pH differences. We conducted studies to determine the tolerance of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fry to pH changes. Catfish fry showed a high tolerance for decreasing pH values but a relatively low tolerance for increasing pH values. We estimate that an increase in pH of 0.7 units will cause 10% mortality in 8-d-posthatch catfish fry, and an increase of 1.4 pH units will cause 50% mortality. We recommend that farmers monitor pH before stocking fry and stock ponds that tend to increase in pH throughout the day early in the morning.
Prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease and its impact on short-term survival
Authors: Ferreira Palmireno Pinheiro , Camara Edmundo José Nasri , Paula Rogério Luis Porto de , Zollinger Cláudio Celestino , Cavalcanti Andréa Ribeiro , Bittencourt Paulo Lisboa
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is reported to occur in 4% to 32% of the patients with chronic liver disease and is associated with poor liver function and shortened patient survival before and after liver transplantation. AIMS: To assess the frequency of hepatopulmonary syndrome in Brazilian patients with decompensated chronic liver disease and to investigate its impact on patient survival. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients (101 males, mean age 61 ± 12 years) with decompensated chronic liver disease were evaluated for the presence of hepatopulmonary syndrome. The diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome was considered in the presence of alveolar arterial oxygen gradient of more than 15 mm Hg and of pulmonary vascular dilatation assessed by contrast enhanced echocardiography. RESULTS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome was observed in 21 (16%) patients. The presence of hepatopulmonary syndrome was significantly associated with severity of liver disease assessed by the MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score, but not with in hospital mortality after admission due to decompensated chronic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome occurs in 16% of patients with chronic liver disease and is associated with disease severity according to the MELD score. Short term mortality following decompensation of chronic liver disease was not associated with hepatopulmonary syndrome.
Controle de plantas daninhas em milho em função de épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio
Authors: Rizzardi M.A. , Zanatta F.S. , Lamb T.D. , Johann L.B.
Published: April 2008

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a influência da época de aplicação do nitrogênio nas relações de interferência das plantas daninhas na cultura do milho e determinar o efeito da aplicação de nitrogênio na época de controle destas. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos arranjados em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco sistemas de aplicação de nitrogênio em milho: 0-0-0, 150-0-0, 75-75-0, 0-150-0 e 0-75-75, correspondendo, respectivamente, às quantidades de nitrogênio aplicadas em pré-semeadura, nos estádios de quatro e oito folhas, e de seis épocas de controle de plantas daninhas (milho com 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 e 7 folhas) mais duas testemunhas sem e com a presença de ervas. Realizou-se o controle de plantas daninhas em pós-emergência com a associação dos herbicidas nicosulfuron e atrazine. O controle de plantas daninhas no estádio fenológico V2 do milho resultou em menor controle da erva em função da reinfestação. Aplicações antecipadas do nitrogênio aumentaram a densidade das plantas daninhas. Os maiores teores de nitrogênio na folha-índice do milho ocorreram quando ele foi aplicado nos estádios V4 e V8 desta cultura, independentemente da época de controle das plantas daninhas. O maior rendimento de grãos e o número de grãos por espiga de milho foram obtidos quando o controle das plantas daninhas foi realizado no estádio fenológico V4 da cultura, independentemente da época de aplicação do nitrogênio.