bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate signaling maintains the activity of glutamate uptake in Bergmann glia
Authors: Mashimo Masato , Okubo Yohei , Yamazawa Toshiko , Yamasaki Miwako , Watanabe Masahiko , Murayama Toshihiko , Iino Masamitsu
Published: October 2010

The maintenance of synaptic functions is essential for neuronal information processing in the adult brain. Astrocytes express glutamate transporters that rapidly remove glutamate from the extracellular space and they play a critical role in the precise operation of glutamatergic transmission. However, how the glutamate clearance function of astrocytes is maintained remains elusive. Here, we describe a maintenance mechanism for the glutamate uptake capacity of Bergmann glial cells (BGs) in the cerebellum. When inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) signaling was chronically and selectively inhibited in BGs in vivo, the retention time of glutamate around parallel fiber–Purkinje cell synapses was increased. Under these conditions, a decrease in the level of the glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) in BGs was observed. The same effects were observed after chronic in vivo inhibition of purinergic P2 receptors in the cerebellar cortex. These results suggest that the IP3 signaling cascade is involved in regulating GLAST levels in BGs to maintain glutamate clearance in the mature cerebellum.
LESSons in minimally invasive urology
Authors: Dev Harveer , Sooriakumaran Prasanna , Tewari Ashutosh , Rane Abhay
Published: October 2010

Since the introduction of laparoscopic surgery, the promise of lower postoperative morbidity and improved cosmesis has been achieved. LaparoEndoscopic Single Site (LESS) surgery potentially takes this further. Following the first human urological LESS report in 2007, numerous case series have emerged, as well as comparative studies comparing LESS with standard laparoscopy. Technological developments in instrumentation, access and optics devices are overcoming some of the challenges that are raised when operating through a single site. Further advances in the technique have included the incorporation of robotics (R‐LESS), which exploit the ergonomic benefits of ex vivo robotic platforms in an attempt to further improve the implementation of LESS procedures. In the future, urologists may be able to benefit from in vivo micro‐robots that will allow the manipulation of tissue from internal repositionable platforms. The use of magnetic anchoring and guidance systems (MAGS) might allow the external manoeuvring of intra‐corporeal instruments to reduce clashing and facilitate triangulation. However, the final promise in minimally invasive surgery is natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), with its scarless technique. It remains to be seen whether NOTES, LESS, or any of these future developments will prove their clinical utility over standard laparoscopic methods.
Overexpression of two cambium‐abundant Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) α‐expansin genes ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 affect growth and development in transgenic tobacco and increase the amount of cellulose in stem cell walls
Authors: Wang Guifeng , Gao Yan , Wang Jinjun , Yang Liwei , Song Rentao , Li Xiaorong , Shi Jisen
Published: October 2010

Expansins are unique plant cell wall proteins that possess the ability to induce immediately cell wall extension in vitro and cell expansion in vivo. To investigate the biological functions of expansins that are abundant in wood‐forming tissues, we cloned two expansin genes from the differentiating xylem of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook). Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that they belong to α‐expansin (EXPA), named ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2. Expression pattern analysis demonstrated that they are preferentially expressed in the cambium region. Overexpression of ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 in tobacco plants yielded pleiotropic phenotypes of plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and seed pod. The height and diameter growth of the 35Spro:ClEXPA1 and 35Spro:ClEXPA2 transgenic plants were increased drastically, exhibiting an enlargement of pith parenchyma cell size. Isolated cell walls of ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 overexpressors contained 30%–50% higher cellulose contents than the wild type, accompanied by a thickening of the cell walls in the xylem region. Both ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 are involved in plant growth and development, with a partially functional overlap. Expansins are not only able to induce cell expansion in different tissues/organs in vivo, but they also can act as a potential activator during secondary wall formation by directly or indirectly affecting cellulose metabolism, probably in a cell type‐dependent manner.
Least Squares Subdivision Surfaces
Authors: Boyé S. , Guennebaud G. , Schlick C.
Published: October 2010

The usual approach to design subdivision schemes for curves and surfaces basically consists in combining proper rules for regular configurations, with some specific heuristics to handle extraordinary vertices. In this paper, we introduce an alternative approach, called Least Squares Subdivision Surfaces (LS), where the key idea is to iteratively project each vertex onto a local approximation of the current polygonal mesh. While the resulting procedure haves the same complexity as simpler subdivision schemes, our method offers much higher visual quality, especially in the vicinity of extraordinary vertices. Moreover, we show it can be easily generalized to support boundaries and creases. The fitting procedure allows for a local control of the surface from the normals, making LS3very well suited for interactive freeform modeling applications. We demonstrate our approach on diadic triangular and quadrangular refinement schemes, though it can be applied to any splitting strategies.
Feature Oriented Progressive Lossless Mesh Coding
Authors: Peng Jingliang , Huang Yan , Kuo C.‐C. Jay , Eckstein Ilya , Gopi M.
Published: October 2010

A feature‐oriented generic progressive lossless mesh coder (FOLProM) is proposed to encode triangular meshes with arbitrarily complex geometry and topology. In this work, a sequence of levels of detail (LODs) are generated through iterative vertex set split and bounding volume subdivision. The incremental geometry and connectivity updates associated with each vertex set split and/or bounding volume subdivision are entropy coded. Due to the visual importance of sharp geometric features, the whole geometry coding process is optimized for a better presentation of geometric features, especially at low coding bitrates. Feature‐oriented optimization in FOLProM is performed in hierarchy control and adaptive quantization. Efficient coordinate representation and prediction schemes are employed to reduce the entropy of data significantly. Furthermore, a simple yet efficient connectivity coding scheme is proposed. It is shown that FOLProM offers a significant rate‐distortion (R‐D) gain over the prior art, which is especially obvious at low bitrates.
Condenser‐Based Instant Reflectometry
Authors: Lan Yanxiang , Dong Yue , Wang Jiaping , Tong Xin , Guo Baining
Published: October 2010

We present a technique for rapid capture of high quality bidirectional reflection distribution functions(BRDFs) of surface points. Our method represents the BRDF at each point by a generalized microfacet model with tabulated normal distribution function (NDF) and assumes that the BRDF is symmetrical. A compact and light‐weight reflectometry apparatus is developed for capturing reflectance data from each surface point within one second. The device consists of a pair of condenser lenses, a video camera, and six LED light sources. During capture, the reflected rays from a surface point lit by a LED lighting are refracted by a condenser lenses and efficiently collected by the camera CCD. Taking advantage of BRDF symmetry, our reflectometry apparatus provides an efficient optical design to improve the measurement quality. We also propose a model fitting algorithm for reconstructing the generalized microfacet model from the sparse BRDF slices captured from a material surface point. Our new algorithm addresses the measurement errors and generates more accurate results than previous work. Our technique provides a practical and efficient solution for BRDF acquisition, especially for materials with anisotropic reflectance. We test the accuracy of our approach by comparing our results with ground truth. We demonstrate the efficiency of our reflectometry by measuring materials with different degrees of specularity, values of Fresnel factor, and angular variation.
Variance Soft Shadow Mapping
Authors: Yang Baoguang , Dong Zhao , Feng Jieqing , Seidel Hans‐Peter , Kautz Jan
Published: October 2010

We present variance soft shadow mapping (VSSM) for rendering plausible soft shadow in real‐time. VSSM is based on the theoretical framework of percentage‐closer soft shadows (PCSS) and exploits recent advances in variance shadow mapping (VSM). Our new formulation allows for the efficient computation of (average) blocker distances, a common bottleneck in PCSS‐based methods. Furthermore, we avoid incorrectly lit pixels commonly encountered in VSM‐based methods by appropriately subdividing the filter kernel. We demonstrate that VSSM renders high‐quality soft shadows efficiently (usually over 100 fps) for complex scene settings. Its speed is at least one order of magnitude faster than PCSS for large penumbra.
Towards Perceptual Simplification of Models with Arbitrary Materials
Authors: Menzel Nicolas , Guthe Michael
Published: October 2010

Real‐time rendering of models with high polygon count is still an important issue in interactive computer graphics. A common way to improve rendering performance is to generate different levels of detail of a model. These are mostly computed using polygonal simplification techniques, which aim to reduce the number of polygons without significant loss of visual fidelity. Most existing algorithms use geometric error bounds, which are well‐suited for silhouette preservation. They ignore the fact that a much more aggressive simplification is possible in low‐contrast areas inside the model. The main contribution of this paper is an efficient simplification algorithm based on the human visual system. The key idea is to move the domain of error computation from image‐space to vertex‐space to avoid a costly per‐pixel comparison. This way the error estimation of a simplification operation can be accelerated significantly. To account for the human vision, we introduce a perceptually based metric depending on the contrast and spatial frequency of the model at a single vertex. Finally, we validate our approach with a user study.
Tossing truths: improvisation and the performative utterances of Nichols and May
Authors: STEVENS KYLE
Published: October 2010

This paper theorises the style of improvisational comedy innovated by Mike Nichols and Elaine May in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Nichols and May's commentary relies on the listener's willingness to grasp – and to mock – conventions of ordinary language, and I recount the duo's history while examining their affinity to the contemporaneous work of J. L. Austin. Doing so allows me to demonstrate that Nichols and May complicate Austin's class of ‘performatives’ by recuperating the importance of truth, and that their work occupies a middle ground between referential and fictional language.
Identifying 8‐hydroxynaringenin as a suicide substrate of mushroom tyrosinase
Authors: Chang T.‐S. , Lin M.‐Y. , Lin H.‐J.
Published: October 2010

A biotransformed metabolite of naringenin was isolated from the fermentation broth of Aspergillus oryzae, fed with naringenin, and identifi ed as 8‐hydroxynaringenin based on the mass and 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR spectral data. The compound showed characteristics of both an irreversible inhibitor and a substrate of mushroom tyrosinase in preincubation and HPLC analysis. These results demonstrate that 8‐hydroxynaringenin belongs to a suicide substrate of mushroom tyrosinase. The partition ratio between the compound's molecules in the formation of product and in the inactivation of the enzyme was determined to be 283 ± 21. The present study's results, together with our previous fi ndings, which proved that both 8‐hydroxydaidzein and 8‐hydroxygenistein are suicide substrates of mushroom tyrosinase, show that 7,8,4′‐trihydroxyl functional groups on fl avonoids’ skeletons play important roles in producing suicide substrate properties toward mushroom tyrosinase.
Involvement of decreased muscarinic receptor function in prepulse inhibition deficits in mice reared in social isolation
Authors: Koda K , Ago Y , Yano K , Nishimura M , Kobayashi H , Fukada A , Takuma K , Matsuda T
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We have previously reported that galantamine, a weak acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, improves prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits in mice reared in social isolation. ACh receptors are involved in the underlying mechanism of PPI, but whether rearing in social isolation causes dysfunction of the cholinergic system is unknown. In this study, we examined the involvement of muscarinic receptors in the improvement of PPI deficits induced by galantamine, and whether the cholinergic system is altered in mice reared in isolation.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Three‐week‐old male ddY mice were housed in isolated cages for 6 weeks before the initiation of experiments to create PPI deficits. Cholinergic functions were determined by measuring the behavioural and neurochemical responses to nicotinic and muscarinic receptor agonists.

KEY RESULTS

The improvement by galantamine of social isolation‐induced PPI deficits was blocked by scopolamine, a non‐selective muscarinic antagonist, and telenzepine, a preferential M1receptor antagonist. Activation of M1receptors improved social isolation‐induced PPI deficits. Social isolation did not affect choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, but it reduced the locomotor‐suppressive response to muscarinic agonist oxotremorine, but not to nicotine. The isolation also attenuated the M1receptor agonistN‐desmethylclozapine‐induced increase in prefrontal dopamine release.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Galantamine improves PPI deficits of mice reared in social isolation via activation of M1receptors. Social isolation reduces the muscarinic, especially M1, receptor function and this is involved in PPI deficits.
Space, Scale, and Scaling in Entropy Maximizing. 最大熵中的空间、尺度与标度
Authors: Batty Michael
Published: October 2010

Entropy measures were first introduced into geographical analysis during a period when the concept of human systems in equilibrium was in its ascendancy. In particular, entropy maximizing, in direct analogy with equilibrium statistical mechanics, provides a powerful framework in which to generate location and interaction models. This was introduced and popularized by Wilson, and it led to many different extensions that elaborate the framework rather than extend it to different kinds of models. I review two such extensions here: how space can be introduced into the formulation through defining a “spatial entropy” and how entropy can be decomposed and nested to capture spatial variation at different scales. Two obvious directions to this research remain implicit. First, the more substantive interpretations of the concept of entropy for different shapes and sizes of geographical systems have hardly been developed. Second, an explicit dynamics associated with generating probability distributions has not been attempted until quite recently with respect to the search for how power laws emerge as signatures of universality in complex systems. In short, the connections between entropy maximizing, substantive interpretations of entropy measures, and the longer‐term dynamics of how equilibrium distributions are reached and maintained have not been well developed. This literature gap has many implications for future research, and, in conclusion, I sketch the need for new and different entropy measures that enable us to see how equilibrium spatial distributions can be generated as the outcomes of dynamic processes that converge to a steady state.
The Invisible Black Victim: How American Federalism Perpetuates Racial Inequality in Criminal Justice
Authors: Miller Lisa L.
Published: October 2010

The promise of civil rights is the promise of inclusion; yet the vast disparity in incarceration rates between blacks, Latinos, and whites stands as an ugly reminder of the nation's long history of race-based exclusionary practices. In this article, I argue that an important aspect of understanding race and the law in the twenty-first century is an appreciation of the American federal system that structures legal authority, political mobilization, and policy solutions and serves as an important and overlooked obstacle to more complete and sustained racial equality in crime and punishment in the United States. In contrast to the conventional wisdom about the role of the national government in protecting the rights of minorities and other disadvantaged groups, I suggest that crime and justice are arenas where the nationalization of issues has left the most important constituents behind. In fact, local crime politics provides a space where there is regular and ongoing articulation of the inclusionary goals of the civil rights agenda and sustained efforts to move forward in realizing that agenda through meaningful community involvement in promoting public safety, economic development, and social justice. This article explores these themes and offers a discussion of the linkages between federalism, racial inequality and crime, victimization and punishment.
The implications of heterogeneous resource intensities on technical change and growth
Authors: Pittel Karen , Bretschger Lucas
Published: October 2010

Abstract We analyze the long‐term dynamics of an economy in which sectors are heterogeneous with respect to the intensity of natural resource use. It is shown that heterogeneity induces technical change to be biased towards resource‐intensive sectors. Along the balanced growth path, the sectoral structure of the economy is constant as the higher resource dependency in resource‐intensive sectors is compensated by enhanced research activities. Resource taxes have no impact on dynamics except when the tax rate varies over time. Research subsidies and the sectoral provision of productivity‐enhancing public goods raise growth and provide an effective tool for structural policy.
The responsiveness of industry wages to low‐frequency shocks in Canada
Authors: Gray David , Qiu Hanqing
Published: October 2010

Abstract The first objective of this paper is to examine the empirical relationship between low‐frequency shocks to labour demand and average wages on an industrial basis using a Canadian longitudinal data set. We estimate a fixed‐effects model that controls for workers’ unobservable attributes. The second major objective is to extend the existing industry‐based literature by estimating a specification allowing for a comparison between the degree of wage responsiveness of within‐firm stayers and between‐firm movers. The findings indicate that average wages by industry tend to respond positively to low frequency changes in employment, and that there is some degree of wage flexibility within firm‐worker matches.
FDI and productivity growth: the role of inter‐industry linkages
Authors: Wang Yanling
Published: October 2010

Abstract There is a large literature on the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on productivity through inter‐industry economic linkages. This paper contributes to the literature by focusing on the developed economy of Canada. It finds that FDI generates strong effects on total factor productivity (TFP) growth through both forward and backward inter‐industry linkages, and increase in an industry's absorptive capacity raises the effects of FDI on TFP growth through forward inter‐industry linkages. For R&D intensive industries, the effects of FDI on TFP growth through inter‐industry linkages are small, but imports turn out to be an important source for TFP growth.
Sorting, peers, and achievement of Aboriginal students in British Columbia
Authors: Friesen Jane , Krauth Brian
Published: October 2010

Abstract We examine the contribution of differences in school environments to the gap in education outcomes between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal students. We find both substantial school‐level segregation of Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal students and a substantial gap in test scores. Conventional achievement gap decompositions attribute roughly half of the grade 7 test score gap to between‐school differences and half to within‐school differences. The segregation of Aboriginal students suggests that peer effects might explain some of these between‐school achievement differences. However, we find that peer effects associated with a greater proportion of Aboriginal peers, if anything, improve value‐added exam outcomes of Aboriginal students.
Endogenous market structures and the optimal financial structure
Authors: Etro Federico
Published: October 2010

Abstract We characterize the optimal financial structure as a strategic device to optimize the value of a firm competing in a market where entry is endogenous. Debt financing is always optimal under quantity competition, and, contrary to the Brander‐Lewis‐Showalter results based on duopolies, we show the optimality of moderate debt financing also under price competition with cost uncertainty (but not with demand uncertainty). We derive the formulas for the optimal financial structure, which does not affect the strategies of the other firms but reduces their number.
Patient perceptions of remote monitoring for nocturnal home hemodialysis
Authors: CAFAZZO Joseph A. , LEONARD Kevin , EASTY Anthony C. , ROSSOS Peter G. , CHAN Christopher T.
Published: October 2010

Adoption of nocturnal home hemodialysis (NHHD) has been slow, due in part to patient‐perceived barriers, such as anxiety and lack of self‐efficacy. This study investigates patient perception of remote monitoring in addressing these barriers. Perceptions of remote patient monitoring (RPM) were studied through a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The NHHD and conventional hemodialysis (CHD) were included in the survey (209 in total). Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted as well as a focus group that included NHHD patients and family caregivers. The CHD patients had greater interest in adopting NHHD with RPM than without (1.90±1.37 vs. 1.71±1.28, P<0.002), with the negative intensity ratio declining from 10.50 to 5.56. Interest in RPM was correlated with interest in NHHD (r=0.768, P<0.001). Other significant factors correlated with interest in NHHD include the belief that remote monitoring will ease the performing of NHHD (r=0.452, P=0.001) and the belief that RPM should be mandatory (r=0.541, P=0.000). Qualitative findings supported three themes: (1) There is an expectation for the use of RPM, (2) RPM should be used at a minimum transitionally, and (3) RPM acts as a surrogate support of family‐caregivers. The RPM may lower perceived barriers to the adoption of NHHD, in part through its surrogate support of family caregivers. However, RPM alone is likely insufficient to alter patients' attitudes to undergo NHHD. RPM is a common expectation of CHD patients considering the therapy, at a minimum during the transitional phase.
Intima‐media thickness of carotid arteries and erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients
Authors: STOLIC Radojica V. , BUKUMIRIC Zoran M.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in hemodialysis (HD) is extremely high. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the intima‐media thickness of carotid arteries and ED in HD patients. The survey was organized as a cross‐sectional study in men aged up to 65 years, in the HD. All respondents voluntarily completed the questionnaire of the International Index of Erectile Function‐5, adjusted for the Serbian language, verified routine laboratory analysis, calculated body mass index, demographic structure, duration of dialysis, the presence of hepatotropic viruses and erythropoietin therapy, smoking and drinking alcohol, determined the quality of HD, verified significantly comorbidities and measured the intima‐media thickness of carotid artery using the Doppler method. The prevalence of ED in our study was 82.2%. Erectile dysfunction significantly more prevalent in older (P = 0.001) and obese patients (P = 0.047). It is significantly represented in patients with cardiovascular disease (P = 0.006), in those who consume alcohol (P = 0.04) and patients with higher values of intima‐media thickness of carotid arteries (P = 0.007). Spearman's coefficient of linear correlation (ρ=−0.34, P=0.006) and linear regression (b=−2.02, P<0.001) indicated a negative association between intima‐media thickness and the International Index of Erectile Function score. The prevalence of ED in our patients was 82.2%, more common in older and obese patients, a significant determinant of alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease. Increased thickness of the intima media of the carotid arteries was associated with a higher incidence of ED.
Fluid overload and acute kidney injury
Authors: YERRAM Preethi , KARUPARTHI Poorna R. , MISRA Madhukar
Published: October 2010

Acute kidney injury is commonly encountered in critically ill patients, and is associated with worse outcomes. Fluid therapy is a key component in the management of these patients, often leading to fluid overload, especially in the setting of septic acute kidney injury. Emerging data overwhelmingly suggest that fluid overload in these patients may be associated with adverse outcomes. Management of such patients should include a strategy of early guided resuscitation, followed by careful assessment of fluid status, and early initiation of renal replacement therapy as soon as it is deemed safe, aiming for a neutral or negative fluid balance. This review will focus on the pathophysiological link between fluid overload and acute kidney injury, mechanisms of organ dysfunction in fluid overload, and strategies for management.
Cognitive and Psychosocial Consequences of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Among Middle‐Aged, Older, and Oldest‐Old Adults in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS)
Authors: Cherry Katie E. , Galea Sandro , Su L. Joseph , Welsh David A. , Jazwinski S. Michal , Silva Jennifer L. , Erwin Marla J.
Published: October 2010

This study examined the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on cognitive and psychosocial functioning among middle‐aged (45–64 years), older (65–89 years), and oldest‐old adults (90 years and over) in the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study (LHAS). Analyses of pre‐ and post‐disaster cognitive data showed storm‐related decrements in working memory for the middle‐aged and older adults, but not for the oldest‐old adults. Regression analyses confirmed that measures of social engagement and storm‐related disruption significantly predicted pre‐ to post‐disaster differences in short‐term and working memory performance for the middle‐aged and older adults only. These results are consistent with a burden perspective on post‐disaster psychological reactions. Implications for current views of disaster reactions are discussed.
An Examination of the Mediational Effects of Cognitive and Attitudinal Factors of a Parent Intervention to Reduce College Drinking
Authors: Turrisi Rob , Abar Caitlin , Mallett Kimberly A. , Jaccard James
Published: October 2010

As part of a parent intervention to reduce heavy drinking, college freshmen were assessed for their attitudes toward drinking and reasonable alternatives to drinking on the weekends, as well as cognitive variables underlying attitudinal variables. Intervention parents received a handbook the summer prior to college entrance with information about college drinking and best practices for parent–teen communication. Results revealed that the association between intervention condition and drinking outcomes was mediated by attitudes favorable to drinking and reasonable alternatives to drinking, as well as beliefs about alcohol‐related behavior. This parent program was shown to be efficacious for changing high‐risk drinking in college. Findings are discussed regarding the further development of college drinking prevention programs involving parents.
Weight after childbirth: a 2‐year follow‐up of obese women in a weight‐gain restriction program
Authors: CLAESSON ING‐MARIE , SYDSJÖ GUNILLA , BRYNHILDSEN JAN , BLOMBERG MARIE , JEPPSSON ANNIKA , SYDSJÖ ADAM , JOSEFSSON ANN
Published: October 2010

Objective. To investigate the effects of a weight‐gain restriction program on weight development or weight maintenance 2 years after childbirth. Design. A case‐control intervention study. Setting. Antenatal care clinics in the southeast of Sweden. Sample. One hundred and fifty‐five obese pregnant women who participated in a weight‐gain restriction program with weekly support during pregnancy and every 6 months during the two first years after childbirth. The control group consisted of 193 obese pregnant women. Methods. Follow‐up weight measurements were done at 12 and 24 months after childbirth. Main Outcome Measures. Weight change in kilogram at 12 and 24 months postpartum. Results. A greater percentage of women in the intervention group showed a weight loss 24 months after delivery than did women in the control group at that same time (p= 0.034). Women in the intervention group who gained less than 7 kg during pregnancy had a significantly lower weight than the controls at the 24 months follow‐up (p= 0.018). The mean value of weight change in the intervention group was −2.2 kg compared to +0.4 kg in the control group from early pregnancy to the follow‐up 12 months after childbirth (p= 0.046). Conclusions. An intervention program with weekly motivational support visits during pregnancy and every 6 months after childbirth seems to have an impact on weight gain up to 24 months after childbirth for those women in the intervention group who succeeded in restricting their gestational weight gain to less than 7 kg.
Low serum interleukin‐17 is associated with preterm delivery
Authors: HEE LENE , KIRKEGAARD IDA , VOGEL IDA , THORSEN POUL , SKOGSTRAND KRISTIN , HOUGAARD DAVID M. , ULDBJERG NIELS , SANDAGER PUK
Published: October 2010

Objective. To study maternal serum interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) during normal pregnancy and evaluate the association with preterm delivery. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Population. Three cohorts: (a) low‐risk cohort of 1,069 women who had serum drawn in weeks 12 and 19, (b) subgroup of the low‐risk cohort, consisting of 40 women, who had serum drawn at 12, 19, 26, 33 and 39 weeks of gestation and (c) a symptomatic cohort of 93 women admitted with symptoms of preterm delivery at a gestational age of 24+ 0 weeks to 33+ 6 weeks. Methods. Serum IL‐17 determined by an in‐house developed multiplex sandwich immunoassay. Main outcome measures. Preterm delivery <37+0 weeks gestation. Results. Serum IL‐17 did not change during normal pregnancy. At admission to hospital, women with preterm contractions had significantly decreased serum IL‐17 as compared with normal pregnancies (median <4 [interquartile ranges, IQR, <4–10 pg/ml] vs. 174 pg/ml [IQR, 92 – 485 pg/ml]); this difference was enhanced and highly significant for women delivering preterm versus term (median <4 [IQR, <4–7.9 pg/ml] vs. median 6.0 [IQR, <4–221 pg/ml]; p‐value 0.03). Serum IL‐17 was also lower in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. A slightly, but not statistically significant decrease was found in weeks 12 and 19 in low‐risk women who subsequently delivered preterm. Conclusion. Maternal serum IL‐17 may be involved in preterm delivery.
Vaginal cleansing and postoperative infectious morbidity in vaginal hysterectomy. A register study from the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery
Authors: KJØLHEDE PREBEN , HALILI SHEFQET , LÖFGREN MATS
Published: October 2010

Objective. To evaluate whether preoperative vaginal preparation routines influence postoperative infectious morbidity in vaginal hysterectomy and to analyze risk factors for postoperative infectious morbidity. Design. Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. Setting. Forty ‐three hospitals in Sweden, participating in the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery. Population. All 6,496 women who were enrolled in the Register and underwent vaginal or laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy between 1 January 2000 and 1 February 2008. Methods. Register data were collected prospectively using doctors' forms and patient questionnaires. Information about vaginal preparation routines in the clinics were achieved retrospectively by an e‐mail survey. Multiple logistic regression analyses models were used to determine associations and risk factors. Main outcome measures. Infectious morbidity within 6–8 weeks postoperatively. Results. No significant differences were seen in postoperative infectious morbidity in long term between vaginal preparation using saline or chlorhexidine solution or no cleansing. At discharge from hospital, those who had had vaginal cleansing using saline solution had a significantly higher risk of postoperative infections. Risk factors for infectious morbidity were young age, obesity, peroperative injury of the urinary bladder, operative time and duration of hospital stay. Protective were prophylactic antibiotics and concomitant prolapse surgery. Conclusions. Saline solution should not be used for vaginal cleansing due to a higher risk of infectious morbidity in the immediate postoperative period. Infectious morbidity may be reduced further by employing preventive measures such as meticulous surgical technique, preoperative weight reduction in obese women and minimizing time in hospital.
Abrupt regime shifts in space and time along rivers and connected lake systems
Authors: Hilt Sabine , Köhler Jan , Kozerski Hans‐Peter , van Nes Egbert H. , Scheffer Marten
Published: October 2010

Regime shifts between clear and turbid water states are commonly found in shallow lakes. These shifts are attributed to a positive feedback between water clarity and submerged macrophytes (underwater plants). Altering the retention time of the water may influence these interactions and thus potentially reduce the probability of alternative stable states. Here we assessed the effect of water retention time on the occurrence of alternative states in water quality of flushed lakes, chains of lakes and rivers using a spatially explicit simple model. Our results indicate that increased flushing of lakes rapidly decreases the range of parameters with alternative stable states up to their total disappearance at a flushing rate of about 50% the algal growth rate. Similarly, in a chain of lakes or in rivers with low flowing velocity, our model predicts that alternative stable states can only occur for systems with a high retention time. Despite the lack of hysteresis at lower water retention times, we predict that abrupt changes between clear and turbid states are still possible both in time and in space. Over a wide range of parameters, the equilibrium state of the chain of lakes shows a steep gradient of vegetation cover. Further, the transient dynamics of the model often include rapid shifts in time. For example, a local regime shift that occurs upstream may propagate through the whole lake chain or river due to a domino effect. All results of the simple model could qualitatively be reproduced with a more mechanistic model. The abrupt rather than gradual response of submerged macrophytes to reduced turbidity levels still makes river systems rather resilient to management measure. The importance of the initial turbidity and the observed domino effect suggest that restoration measures should start upstream and that these measures should eventually trigger regime shifts downstream.
Trophic matches and mismatches: can polar bears reduce the abundance of nesting snow geese in western Hudson Bay?
Authors: Rockwell Robert F. , Gormezano Linda J. , Koons David N.
Published: October 2010

Climate change driven advances in the date of sea ice breakup will increasingly lead to a loss of spring polar bear foraging opportunities on ringed seal pups creating a phenological trophic ‘mismatch’. However, the same shift will lead to a new ‘match’ between polar bears and ground nesting birds. This new match will be especially prevalent along the Cape Churchill Peninsula of western Hudson Bay where both polar bears and nesting snow geese are abundant. Easily foraged goose eggs will provide at least some of the earlier arriving polar bears with compensation for the energy deficit accrued through lost seal hunting opportunities. We examine the potential impact of changes in the extent and pattern of polar bear egg predation on snow goose abundance using projection models that account not only for increases in the temporal overlap of the two species but also for autocorrelation and stochasticity in the processes underlying polar bear onshore arrival and snow goose incubation. Egg predation will reduce reproductive output of the nesting lesser snow geese and, under all but trivial rates, will lead to a reduction in the size of their nesting population on the Cape Churchill Peninsula. Stochasticity associated with the asymmetrical advances in polar bear onshore arrival and the snow goose incubation period will lead to periodic mismatches in their overlap. These, in turn, will allow snow goose abundance to increase periodically. Climate driven changes in trophic matches and mismatches may reduce snow goose numbers but will not eliminate this over‐abundant species that poses a threat to Arctic landscapes.
Meta‐analysis of passive immunoprophylaxis in paediatric patients at risk of severe RSV infection
Authors: Pons JMV , Tebé C , Paladio N , Garcia‐Altes A , Danés I , Valls‐i‐Soler A
Published: October 2010

Aim:  To review respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), passive immunoprophylaxis (PI) trials and meta‐analysis (MA).

Methods:  A literature review.

Results:  Two MA of PI were found. Overall 3927 patients were randomized. PI reduces RSV hospitalization in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.41, 0.82) and with acyanotic congenital heart disease (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.14, 0.62). In patients with cyanotic heart disease or premature infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia, results are inconclusive. Passive immunoprophylaxis has a null effect in mechanical ventilation and death.

Conclusion:  Passive immunoprophylaxis reduces RSV hospitalization in a subset of patients. However, it has no effect in harder endpoints of RSV disease severity.
Growth pattern and growth prediction of body height in children with mucopolysaccharidosis type II
Authors: Rozdzynska Agnieszka , Tylki‐Szymanska Anna , Jurecka Agnieszka , Cieslik Joachim
Published: October 2010

Aim:  Our goal was to evaluate the level, degree and direction of deviation in the ontogenesis of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) in comparison with the healthy population.

Material and methods:  The anthropometric data of a longitudinal study on 28 patients with MPS II, aged from 0.5 to 21 years, were used to analyse the general growth patterns in terms of height, weight and head circumference. The growth trend was assessed with the straight‐line regression model. The mathematical structural growth model was used to evaluate the structure of body height growth.

Results:  A statistically significant negative growth trend for all features was found. Analysis of development structure revealed an earlier onset of the adolescent growth spurt among healthy boys and a lower current velocity of growth than expected values.

Conclusion:  During the first 3 years of life, all observed anthropometric features grew faster than normal. They slowed down by the end of the third year and, in subsequent years, reached lower values when compared with the reference charts. The values obtained from the BTT model showed the structure of body height growth, with particular emphasis on the pubertal spurt, was significantly different from the reference charts.
Increased Use of Oral Contraceptives in Spain: Related Factors and Time Trend, 2003–2006
Authors: Carrasco-Garrido Pilar , Hernández Barrera Valentín , Martin-Lopez Rocio , Lópezde Andrés Ana , Esteban Hernandez Jesús , Jiménez-García Rodrigo
Published: October 2010

Aims

We aimed to determine the prevalence of consumption of oral contraceptives (OCs) among women living in Spain and to identify the factors associated with this consumption.

Methods

Descriptive cross-sectional epidemiologic study on consumption of OCs by women aged 16–50 years resident in Spain. As the dependent variable, we took the answer to the question, “In the last two weeks, have you taken the contraceptives pill?” Independent variables were sociodemographic, comorbidity, and healthcare resources. Using logistic multivariate regression models, we have analyzed the temporal evolution of OCs consumption between 2003 and 2006.

Main Outcome Measures

We used secondary individualized data drawn from the 2003 (n = 5,807) and 2006 (n = 9,103) Spanish National Health Surveys.

Results

In 2003, the 4.99% of women reported having taken the contraceptive pill; this proportion increased to 9.44% in 2006 (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis highlighted the association between OCs use gynecologist visits (odds ratio [OR] = 5.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.52–12.79 in 2003, and OR = 5.09, 95% CI = 2.87–9.02 in 2006); cervical smear test (OR = 2.98 95% CI = 1.83–4.85 in 2003 and OR = 1.79 95% CI = 1.28–2.50 in 2006); and risk variables such alcohol consumption or hypertension in the year 2006 (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.05–2.22).

Conclusions

We can conclude that there was a significant increase in OC use among women living in Spain from 2003 to 2006. The OC consumers in our study were young women who visited the gynecologist and took preventive measures such as smear testing, although they did have risk variables associated with OC, such as alcohol use and arterial hypertension.
Trans-Corporal Incision of Peyronie’s Plaques
Authors: Shaeer Osama
Published: October 2010

Introduction

Patients presenting with Peyronie’s disease (PD) curvature and erectile dysfunction (ED) can achieve straightening and rigidity through penile prosthesis implantation and manual modeling and, if necessary, a relaxing tunical incision with or without grafting. Unfortunately, this maneuver will not correct PD-induced shortening. In addition, incision and grafting after the prosthesis has already been implanted adds to operative time and risk, and may indicate mobilization of the neurovascular bundle and, possibly, a secondary skin incision.

Aim

This work describes trans-corporal incision (TCI), a minimally invasive endoscopic approach for plaque incision from within the corpora cavernosa, restoring straightness and length to the penis, before calibration of the corpora cavernosa, allowing implantation of a longer prosthesis in a straight penis, with neither mobilizing the neurovascular bundle nor a secondary incision.

Methods

Sixteen patients with PD deformity and refractory ED were operated upon. Intra-operative artificial erection demonstrated the deformity. Through a penoscrotal incision, the corpora were dilated. TCI was performed to incise Peyronie’s plaques at the point of maximum deformity. Artificial erection was re-induced and correction of curvature evaluated. Length was measured before and after TCI. Implantation proceeded as usual.

Main Outcome Measures

Penile straightness and length.

Results

Following implantation, the penis was straight in all cases. Pre-TCI length of the corpora was unequal on either side. Post-TCI, both corpora were of equal length with an average increase of 2.5 cm (11.9%) on the right side and 1.9 (9.1%) on the left.

Conclusion

TCI; corporoscopic incision of Peyronie’s plaques upon implantation of penile prosthesis is a minimally invasive approach that restores both straightness and length to patients with PD and ED, with neither mobilization of the neurovascular bundle nor plaque incision and grafting.
Clarity and ambiguity: a new approach to the test of legitimacy in the law of legitimate expectations
Authors: Watson Jack
Published: October 2010

This paper examines the legitimacy element of the doctrine of legitimate expectations in English administrative law. It argues that the underlying principle is the voluntary assumption of responsibility that comes from analysing a promise as a social convention. From this underlying principle, it argues that the current ‘clear unambiguous representation’ test is insufficiently certain and instead advocates a three-stage test centred round the courts' ability to make an order, the objective construction of the promise and the decision makers' intent. This test, it is argued, explains the decided cases, as well as providing a robust structure for future decisions.
The classical model of contract: the product of a revolution in legal thought?
Authors: Swain Warren
Published: October 2010

Writing in the introduction to his new treatise on contract in 1826, Joseph Chitty observed that ‘Perhaps no branch of the jurisprudence of this country has of late years been more subject of judicial inquiry and decision than the Law of Contracts’. It is generally accepted that the so-called classical model of contract law, which remains influential into the present day, was created at this time. Ever since the subject first attracted sustained attention from legal historians in the 1970s, the driving forces of these developments have been contested. Some saw legal change as a product of economic and social factors. For others the reception of new ways of thinking and legal literature provided a more convincing explanation. What is not usually disputed is that there was a fundamental revolution in contract doctrine and literature in the nineteenth century. This assumption is open to challenge. It fails to give proper weight to the past. In fact these changes were deeply rooted in the eighteenth century and even earlier.
Monitoring mental health treatment acceptance and initial treatment adherence in veterans
Authors: Lindley Steven , Cacciapaglia Holly , Noronha Delilah , Carlson Eve , Schatzberg Alan
Published: October 2010

Identifying factors that influence mental health outcomes in veterans can aid in the redesign of programs to maximize the likelihood of early resolution of problems. To that end, we examined demographic and clinical process data from 2,684 veterans who scored positive on a mental health screen. We investigated this data set for patterns and possible predictors of mental health referral acceptance and attendance. The majority of patients had not received mental health treatment within the last two years (76%). Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) were more likely to accept a mental health referral for depression but were equally likely to attend a mental health visit as other era veterans. Decreased acceptance was associated with provider type and contact method, clinic location, depression only, and specific age ranges (65–74). Among those who accepted a referral, decreased attendance was associated with clinic location, depression only, and retirement. No variables predicted OEF/OIF acceptance/attendance. In conclusion, our findings illustrate the importance of close, continual monitoring of clinical process data to help reveal targets for improving mental health care for veterans.