bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rotating‐platform knee arthroplasty: a review and update
Authors: Huang Zhi‐ming , Ouyang Gui‐lin , Xiao Lian‐bo
Published: October 2011

Fixed versus rotating‐platform knee arthroplasty for total knee arthroplasty is still a controversial topic. In this article, biomechanical and clinical aspects of rotating‐platform knee arthroplasty are reviewed. In regard to its biomechanical characteristics, the rotating‐platform knee arthroplasty design has been proved to provide less tibiofemoral contact stress under conditions of tibiofemoral malalignment. It also reduces the wear rate. However, in regard to its clinical characteristics, the mid‐term and long‐term survivorship of rotating‐platform knee arthroplasties is not superior to that of fixed‐platform knees. It appears that we are at a crossroads. In this article, progress in biomechanical and clinical aspects of rotating‐platform knee prosthesis is reviewed.
Salvage treatment with erlotinib after gefitinib failure in advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients with poor performance status: A matched‐pair case–control study
Authors: Luo Daxian , Huang Meijuan , Zhang Xinxing , Yu Min , Zou Bingwen , Li Yanying , Long Jianlin , Wang Jin , Peng Feng , Xu Yong , Li Lu , Ren Li , Hou Mei , Lu You
Published: October 2011

Purpose:  Gefitinib plays an important role in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment; however, progression of the disease occurs in most patients even after an initial response. The role of erlotinib after gefitinib failure has been investigated but continues to be debated, especially in heavily treated patients with poor performance status (PS). Therefore, a retrospective matched‐pair case–control study was carried out to evaluate the role of erlotinib after gefitinib failure in advanced NSCLC patients.

Methods:  A total of 58 patients were identified. The two groups were balanced with demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. All patients had PS ≥2 and most of them (89.7%) had received more than two systemic therapies before erlotinib or best supportive care (BSC). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRAS genotypes were analyzed in 36 (62.1%) patients, 19 of them were in the erlotinib group.

Results:  Median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 6 months. Median OS for patients who received erlotinib and BSC was 10 and 3 months, respectively (P= 0.001). Disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR) were 51.7% and 10.3% in patients receiving erlotinib, respectively, while median time to progression (TTP) was 3 months. Among the 19 patients in the erlotinib group with biomarker results available, those with EGFR mutation achieved longer median TTP (P= 0.016) and better DCR (P= 0.177) than those with wild‐type EGFR.

Conclusions:  A switch to erlotinib after gefitinib failure may represent a better therapeutic option for advanced NSCLC patients with poor PS, and an EGFR mutation seemed to be associated with better survival rate.
Zonal segmentation of prostate using multispectral magnetic resonance images
Authors: Makni N. , Iancu A. , Colot O. , Puech P. , Mordon S. , Betrouni N.
Published: October 2011

Purpose:

To investigate the performance of a new method of automatic segmentation of prostatic multispectral magnetic resonance images into two zones: the peripheral zone and the central gland.

Methods:

The proposed method is based on a modified version of the evidential C‐means clustering algorithm. The evidential C‐means optimization process was modified to introduce spatial neighborhood information.A priori knowledge of the prostate's zonal morphology was modeled as a geometric criterion and used as an additional data source to enhance the differentiation of the two zones.

Results:

Thirty‐one clinical magnetic resonance imaging series were used to validate the method, and interobserver variability was taken into account in assessing its accuracy. The mean Dice Similarity Coefficient was 89% for the central gland and 80% for the peripheral zone, as validated by a consensus from expert radiologist segmentation.

Conclusions:

The method was statistically insensitive to variations in patient age, prostate volume and the presence of tumors, which increases its feasibility in a clinical context.
Polarization of PAR Proteins by Advective Triggering of a Pattern-Forming System
Authors: Goehring Nathan W. , Trong Philipp Khuc , Bois Justin S. , Chowdhury Debanjan , Nicola Ernesto M. , Hyman Anthony A. , Grill Stephan W.
Published: October 2011

Patterning of
Caenorhabditis elegans
zygotes involves passive as well as active mechanisms.
Endocannabinoid Hydrolysis Generates Brain Prostaglandins That Promote Neuroinflammation
Authors: Nomura Daniel K. , Morrison Bradley E. , Blankman Jacqueline L. , Long Jonathan Z. , Kinsey Steven G. , Marcondes Maria Cecilia G. , Ward Anna M. , Hahn Yun Kyung , Lichtman Aron H. , Conti Bruno , Cravatt Benjamin F.
Published: October 2011

A new tissue-specific pathway for the synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins is described.
Legal considerations for limited companies
Authors: Openshaw Nick
Published: October 2011

A limited company is one in which its members invest. Should the business fail, its officers and shareholders have limited liability, in contrast with sole traders or other non‐limited businesses, where their owners risk losing personal assets. Before 1998, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) did not permit the ownership or running of veterinary practices by limited companies and almost all practices operated as sole traders or partnerships. Since the RCVS modified its position, a considerable number of practices have ‘converted’ to limited company status or new practices have been set up as companies, and others have been taken over by ‘corporate’ owners. In this article, Nick Openshaw explains the legal relationships between the owners of veterinary practices run by a limited company compared with those run by a partnership. In particular, he looks at the role of the Shareholders Agreement in regulating matters relating to the running of limited businesses.
Comments on the dilemma in the September issue: ‘Irresponsible dog ownership’
Authors: Stevenson Michael
Published: October 2011

The dilemma in the September issue concerned neighbours who owned two beagles and housed them in a purpose‐built compound (In Practice, September 2011, volume 33, page 422). The owners worked long days and were often away at weekends. A paid dog walker exercised the dogs for 50 minutes a day during the week, but after being walked the dogs bayed periodically throughout the day. The dogs were not walked at the weekend but were allowed to run around a terraced garage roof. Paul Roger commented that this problem exemplified the lack of forethought and planning taken by many people when they decided to become dog owners. Rather than choosing a dog based on aesthetics, potential owners needed to think about breed characteristics and whether they would be able to provide the five freedoms in their home environment. In this case, the dogs had limited exercise and might also have experienced fear and discomfort when confined within the compound. These conditions contravened guidelines published by the Companion Animal Welfare Council in its Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs. While a breach in these provisions was not a legal offence in itself, it could be used to demonstrate failure to comply with the current regulations listed under Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Complaints made to the appropriate authorities could result in an investigation by the police or an appropriately appointed inspector, who might choose to involve a local veterinary surgeon. The RSPCA might also investigate complaints in a private capacity. A person suspected of failing to comply with the Act would be handed an improvement notice; failure to comply with this would result in prosecution and could lead to seizure and rehoming of the animals.
Further comment on the dilemma in the July/August issue: ‘Regulation breach on farm’
Authors: Hall Simon
Published: October 2011

The dilemma in the July/August issue, discussed by Mike Steele, concerned a pregnant suckler cow with an infected, ulcerated growth on its third eyelid that was provisionally diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The farmer client insisted on palliative treatment despite the vet recommending removal of the mass as the best course of action. In addition, several untagged dead calves and two dead sheep were observed in a ditch at the entrance to the farmer's land (In Practice, July/August 2011, volume 33, page 362).
Diagnosis, treatment and control of left displaced abomasum in cattle
Authors: Mueller Karin
Published: October 2011

Left displaced abomasum remains an important disease in dairy cows during the early postpartum period. The condition is multifactorial in nature, so it is important to carry out a thorough clinical examination and consider the influence of concurrent disease on management. This article outlines the clinical findings that aid diagnosis, and describes the treatment options available and the relative merits of each. In addition, it reviews the potential risk factors that might be involved and highlights some predictive indicators cited in the literature that may find practical application in the future.
Population screening of endangered horse breeds for the foal immunodeficiency syndrome mutation
Authors: Fox‐Clipsham L. Y. , Brown E. E. , Carter S. D. , Swinburne J. E.
Published: October 2011

The Fell and Dales are UK pony breeds that have small populations and may be at risk from in‐breeding and inherited diseases. Foal immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS) is a lethal inherited disease caused by the recessive mutation of a single gene, which affects both Fell and Dales ponies and potentially other breeds that have interbred with either of these. FIS, previously known as Fell pony syndrome, is characterised by progressive anaemia and severe B lymphocyte deficiency. The identification of the causal mutation for this disease led to the recent development of a DNA‐based carrier test. In this study, the authors used this test to estimate the prevalence of the FIS mutation in the Fell and Dales populations, revealing that approximately 18 per cent of adult Dales ponies and 38 per cent of adult Fell ponies are carriers of the FIS defect. In addition, a study of five potential at‐risk breeds was conducted to assess the transfer of the FIS defect into these populations. Of the 192 coloured ponies tested, two were confirmed as FIS carriers: No carriers were found among 210 Clydesdales, 208 Exmoor ponies, 161 Welsh section D, 49 part‐bred Welsh section D and 183 Highland ponies.
INFLUENCE OF SPIN-FLIP ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SPIN-DIODE
Authors: TAGANI M. BAGHERI , SOLEIMANI H. RAHIMPOUR
Published: October 2011

We study spin-dependent transport through a spin diode in the presence of spin-flip by means of reduced density matrix approach. The current polarization and the spin accumulation are computed and influence of spin-flip on the current polarization is also analyzed. Analytical relations for the current polarization and the spin accumulation are obtained as a function of polarization of ferromagnetic lead and the spin-flip rate. It is observed that the current polarization becomes zero under fast spin-flip and the spin accumulation decreases up to 85% when the time of spin-flip is equal to the tunneling time. It is also observed that the current polarization increases linearly when the dot is singly occupied, whereas its behavior is more complicated when the dot is doubly occupied.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME CAUSED BY A CUBITUS VARUS DEFORMITY
Authors: Shimizu H. , Beppu M. , Arai T. , Kihara H. , Izumiyama K.
Published: October 2011

We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical, preoperative ultrasonographic, and operative findings of eight patients who had tardy ulnar nerve palsy caused by a cubitus varus deformity. The mean varus angle on the affected side was 23°. With preoperative ultrasonography, the anterior dislocation of the ulnar nerve from the medial epicondyle was detected in dynamic scanning of short-axis images, and long-axis images revealed nerve compression and kinking in the proximal border of the flexor carpi ulnaris. Operative findings revealed compression of the ulnar nerve by a fibrous band, which was released in all cases. The cause of the tardy ulnar nerve palsy in this series of patients was constriction by a fibrous band and kinking in the proximal border of the flexor carpi ulnaris due to ulnar nerve dislocation from compression resulting from the forward movement of the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle.
CONTINUOUS PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCK IN FOREARM FOR SEVERE HAND TRAUMA
Authors: Osada Ryusuke , Zukawa Mineyuki , Seki Eiko , Kimura Tomoatsu
Published: October 2011

We studied the use of a continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) in the distal forearm and wrist immediately after emergent surgery for severe hand trauma in 22 hands. After emergent surgery, a 2–3 cm longitudinal incision was made at the distal forearm and an 18-gauge catheter was inserted along the peripheral nerves. All patients received postoperative analgesia by continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine at 2 ml/h for seven to 21 days. Pain score remained low during postoperative period and only a small number of analgesic rescues were needed. There were no major complications related to the CPNB and one patient showed mild superficial infection at the insertion site that immediately recovered after catheter removal. This method provides good postoperative analgesia without loss of motor function in extrinsic hand muscles and should be considered as a postoperative pain management for severe hand trauma.
LOCKING PALMAR PLATE FIXATION FOR DORSALLY DISPLACED FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL RADIUS: A PRELIMINARY REPORT
Authors: Moriya Koji , Saito Hidehiko , Takahashi Yuji , Ohi Hiroyuki
Published: October 2011

We reviewed a series of 62 consecutive patients with dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius, including 20 extra-articular and 42 intra-articular fractures. All patients were treated with palmar locking plate systems at our institution between 2002 and 2006. After a minimum follow-up time of 12 weeks, the fractures had healed with satisfactory radiographic and functional results. According to the demerit point system of Gartland and Werley, 35 patients were rated excellent, 26 good, and one fair. In the good and fair groups, the demerit points were almost all for ulnar wrist pain. Our results suggest that palmar locking plate systems enable early functional mobilization with good reproducible radiographic and clinical outcomes. Since nine out of 62 patients had residual ulnar wrist pain at the final follow-up evaluation, further investigation of the pathogenesis of ulnar wrist pain is necessary to obtain better functional outcomes.
OPPONOPLASTY WITHOUT POSTOPERATIVE IMMOBILIZATION
Authors: Okutsu Ichiro , Hamanaka Ikki , Yoshida Aya
Published: October 2011

Opponoplasty using tendon transfer is a useful reconstructive procedure that restores lost thenar muscle function. Tendon transfers, however, require postoperative immobilization periods of up to four weeks before the sutured tendons reach required strength. We developed an opponoplasty procedure using α-TCP (alpha-tricalcium phosphate) cement that does not require postoperative immobilization and was applied to nine hands out of nine cases. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia without a pneumatic tourniquet and on an outpatient basis.

In this procedure, the flexor digitorum superficialis of the ring finger is used as the donor tendon and the palmaris longus tendon is used as a dynamic pulley. The distal end of the transferred tendon is anchored to the inside of a newly formed bone hole in the thumb's proximal phalanx using α-TCP cement.

Our opponoplasty procedure was uneventful postoperatively and produced satisfactory results in all nine cases. The α-TCP cement procedure shows potential for other tendon transfer applications.
OUTCOMES OF SILASTIC TRAPEZIUM REPLACEMENTS
Authors: Jewell D. P. A. , Brewster M. B. S. , Arafa M. A.
Published: October 2011

Trapezio-metacarpal joint arthritis is common, affecting 7% of men and 15% of women. Numerous surgical techniques are described for this condition but it is not clear which is best. Eighty-six silicone trapezium replacements were assessed at an average of 46 months (six to 156 months) postoperatively for patient satisfaction, pain, key and power grip strength, range of motion, complications and disability with DASH score. Patient satisfaction was 92%. There was excellent pain reduction from 4.2 to 0.6 on a scale of 0 to 5. Strength was 72% and 84% of age-sex-matched normal data for key and power grips, respectively. The complication rate was low, with two cases of persistent pain. One resolved spontaneously, the other resolved following revision of the silicone implant. The average DASH score was 30. Silicone trapezium replacement is an effective operation that offers the patient good pain relief, strength and good function with few complications.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE THUMB WITH A MODIFIED WRAP-AROUND FLAP IN A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM β-THALASSEMIA MINOR
Authors: Galeano M. , Checcucci G. , Ceruso M.
Published: October 2011

Thalassemia is a congenital hemolytic disorder caused by a partial or complete deficiency of α- or β-globin chain synthesis. It has been seen that thalassemic patients exhibit an increased frequency of thrombotic events. The article presents the first case of thumb reconstruction with a modified wrap-around flap in a patient suffering from β-thalassemia minor.
BACK MUSCLES' ENDURANCE IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS: NORMATIVE DATA FOR A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN POPULATION
Authors: Mbada Chidozie E. , Ayanniyi Olusola , Adedoyin Rufus A. , Johnson Olubusola E. , Dada Olumide O.
Published: October 2011

Purpose: Back muscles' endurance assessment provides an objective indicator of the functional capacity of the back. This study sought to establish a gender and age referenced normative data for back muscles endurance for a Sub-Saharan African population. Methods: This cross sectional study involved 1253 (623 male, 630 female) consecutive participants between the ages of 11 and 69 years without a history of symptomatic LBP within one year to the time of the study. Participants were recruited from eight secondary schools, two universities and two teaching hospitals, respectively. All participants underwent assessment of the back extensor muscles' endurance using the modified Biering-Sorensen test of muscular endurance. The mean and percentile data for endurance time were determined for six gender/age groups classified on a range of 10 years. Results: The mean endurance time (ET) of all the participants was 119 ± 53.6 secs. Men exhibited a significantly (p = 0.001) higher ET than women (125.9 ± 53.3 versus 112.6 ± 53.1 secs). Using percentile values cut-points; poor endurance (less than 25th), moderate endurance (25–75th) and good endurance (> 75th percentile) were < 85.0 secs, 85–163 secs, and > 163 secs, respectively for male; and < 69.8 secs, 69.8–148 secs and > 148 secs, respectively for female. Conclusion: The normative values derived in this study would be useful in assessing impairment in back muscles' endurance in both healthy and patient populations. The results suggest that age, gender and anthropometric factors can significantly influence back muscles' endurance.
THE ATOMIC FINITE ELEMENT METHOD AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN MOLECULAR DYNAMICS AND CONTINUUM MECHANICS
Authors: NEUGEBAUER R. , WERTHEIM R. , SEMMLER U.
Published: October 2011

On cutting tools for high performance cutting (HPC) processes or for hard-to-cut materials, there is an increased importance in so-called superlattice coatings with hundreds of layers each of which is only a few nanometers in thickness. Homogeneity or average material properties based on the properties of single layers are not valid in these dimensions any more. Consequently, continuum mechanical material models cannot be used for modeling the behavior of nanolayers. Therefore, the interaction potentials between the single atoms should be considered. A new, so-called atomic finite element method (AFEM) is presented. In the AFEM the interatomic bonds are modeled as nonlinear spring elements. The AFEM is the connection between the molecular dynamics (MD) method and the crystal plasticity FEM (CPFEM). The MD simulates the atomic deposition process. The CPFEM considers the behavior of anisotropic crystals using the continuum mechanical FEM. On one side, the atomic structure data simulated by MD defines the interface to AFEM. On the other side, the boundary conditions (displacements and tractions) of the AFEM model are interpolated from the CPFEM simulations. In AFEM, the lattice deformation, the crack and dislocation behavior can be simulated and calculated at the nanometer scale.
PREDICTION OF RESIDUAL STRESS IN MULTILAYERED COATINGS WITH A LINEARLY ELASTIC MODEL INCORPORATING DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY CALCULATIONS
Authors: YIN DEQIANG , PENG XIANGHE , QIN YI , WANG ZHONGCHANG
Published: October 2011

Local residual stress fields often influence and even govern some of the mechanical properties of multilayered coatings at nanoscale. An approach is developed for the evaluation of the local residual stress with the representative volume element (RVE) of a multilayered coating and the concept of lattice mismatch between neighboring layers, incorporating high-precision density functional theory calculations. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental reports, even if each individual host constituent is assumed linearly elastic, demonstrating the validity of the proposed approach in the evaluation of the residual stress. In addition, it is found that lattice mismatch is a reasonable key factor to account for the extremely large residual stress in multilayered transitional metal-nitride coatings.
Functional analysis of colonic bacterial metabolism: relevant to health?
Authors: Hamer Henrike M. , De Preter Vicky , Windey Karen , Verbeke Kristin
Published: October 2011

With the use of molecular techniques, numerous studies have evaluated the composition of the intestinal microbiota in health and disease. However, it is of major interest to supplement this with a functional analysis of the microbiota. In this review, the different approaches that have been used to characterize microbial metabolites, yielding information on the functional end products of microbial metabolism, have been summarized. To analyze colonic microbial metabolites, the most conventional way is by application of a hypothesis-driven targeted approach, through quantification of selected metabolites from carbohydrate (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) and protein fermentation (e.g., p-cresol, phenol, ammonia, or H2S), secondary bile acids, or colonic enzymes. The application of stable isotope-labeled substrates can provide an elegant solution to study these metabolic pathways in vivo. On the other hand, a top-down approach can be followed by applying metabolite fingerprinting techniques based on1H-NMR or mass spectrometric analysis. Quantification of known metabolites and characterization of metabolite patterns in urine, breath, plasma, and fecal samples can reveal new pathways and give insight into physiological regulatory processes of the colonic microbiota. In addition, specific metabolic profiles can function as a diagnostic tool for the identification of several gastrointestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Nevertheless, future research will have to evaluate the relevance of associations between metabolites and different disease states.
Effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on noradrenergic activation of hypoglossal motoneurons
Authors: Stettner Georg M. , Fenik Victor B. , Kubin Leszek
Published: October 2011

In obstructive sleep apnea patients, elevated activity of the lingual muscles during wakefulness protects the upper airway against occlusions. A possibly related form of respiratory neuroplasticity is present in rats exposed to acute and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Since rats exposed to CIH have increased density of noradrenergic terminals and increased α1-adrenoceptor immunoreactivity in the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus, we investigated whether these anatomic indexes of increased noradrenergic innervation translate to increased sensitivity of XII motoneurons to noradrenergic activation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to CIH for 35 days, with O2level varying between 24% and 7% with 180-s period for 10 h/day. They were then anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. The dorsal medulla was exposed, and phenylephrine (2 mM, 10 nl) and then the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.2 mM, 3 × 40 nl) were microinjected into the XII nucleus while XII nerve activity (XIIa) was recorded. The area under integrated XIIa was measured before and at different times after microinjections. The excitatory effect of phenylephrine on XII motoneurons was similar in sham- and CIH-treated rats. In contrast, spontaneous XIIa was more profoundly reduced following prazosin injections in CIH- than sham-treated rats [to 21 ± 7% (SE) vs. 40 ± 8% of baseline, P < 0.05] without significant changes in central respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, or heart rate. Thus, consistent with increased neuroanatomic measures of noradrenergic innervation of XII motoneurons following exposure to CIH, prazosin injections revealed a stronger endogenous noradrenergic excitatory drive to XII motoneurons in CIH- than sham-treated anesthetized rats.
Radiation Therapy for High-Risk Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Patients with Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Schaffer Julie V. , Orlow Seth J.
Published: October 2011

Radiation therapy (RT) represents an important adjuvant treatment modality for high-risk squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Despite the frequency of aggressive cutaneous and extracutaneous malignancies, there have been relatively few reports of RT in individuals with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). We describe 2 adolescent boys with XP and high-risk SCCs of the skin that were treated with standard RT regimens without acute or chronic complications. After follow-up periods of 2 and 7 years, both of these patients had developed fewer skin cancers on the treated side of the face. A review of reported cases revealed that XP patients generally have normal cellular and clinical responses to ionizing radiation, which reflects the specificity of their nucleotide excision repair defect for ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage.
Predicting the Risk of High-Grade Bladder Cancer Using Noninvasive Data
Authors: Shapur Nandakishore , Pode Dov , Katz Ran , Shapiro Amos , Yutkin Vladimir , Pizov Galina , Appelbaum Liat , Zorn Kevin C. , Duvdevani Mordechai , Landau Ezekiel H. , Gofrit Ofer N.
Published: October 2011

Aim: To examine the hypothesis that the risk of high-grade bladder cancer can be predicted using noninvasively obtained data. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the database of 431 patients that had transurethral resection of first-time bladder tumors between June 1998 and December 2009. Pre-operative parameters evaluated were: patients’ age; gender; sonographic tumor diameter, number and location of tumor inside the bladder; presence of hydronephrosis, and results of urinary cytology. Parameters that showed significance in multivariate analysis were incorporated into the nomogram. Results: Multivariate analysis of the data showed that patient’s age, the presence of hydronephrosis, sonographic tumor diameter (risk of a high-grade tumor: 14, 29, 43.3, 55.7 and 69.4% at diameters: 0.5–1.5, 1.6–2, 2.1–2.5, 2.6–3 and >3 cm, respectively), location of tumor in the bladder (risk of high-grade tumor: 28.8, 47, 67.5 and 90.5% in the lateral walls, posterior/base, anterior and dome, respectively), and urinary cytology were all highly significant and independent predictors of high-grade tumors. A nomogram constructed using these variables scored an area of 0.853 in the ROC curve. Conclusions: The risk of high-grade bladder tumor can be accurately predicted using non-invasively obtained information. This prediction can help to triage patients with newly detected bladder cancer for biopsy.
Feasibility of Noninvasive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Diagnose Detrusor Overactivity
Authors: Farag Fawzy F. , Martens Frank M. , Feitz Wout F. , Heesakkers John P.
Published: October 2011

Introduction: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an optical technology able to detect the hemodynamic changes in biological tissues. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of applying NIRS in the noninvasive diagnosis of detrusor overactivity (DO). Patients and Methods: Comparative analysis was performed on 39 involuntary detrusor contractions (IDC) from 23 filling cystometries with simultaneous noninvasive NIRS of the bladder in 14 patients with DO. Motion artifacts were checked for via surface EMG of the abdominal muscles. Results: Thirty-nine IDC were obtained. The median amplitude of rise in detrusor pressure at DO was 48 cm H2O (range: 5–219). The median filling volume at DO was 148 ml (range: 9–531). NIRS curves demonstrated apparently significant deviations from baseline in 35 of 39 (90%) DO episodes. All onsets of NIRS deviations occurred within the time period of the IDC with a mean delay of 3 s (range: 0–9). Conclusion: NIRS can be a potential tool for the noninvasive diagnosis of DO.
Ureteric Avulsion Caused by Lumbar Exostosis
Authors: Miernik A. , Halscheid C. , Frankenschmidt A.
Published: October 2011

A 72-year-old woman sustained a ureteric avulsion following circulatory collapse at home. Urosonographic imaging revealed hydronephrosis at the left kidney, and abdominal emergency computed tomography showed some fluid around it. Left retrograde pyelography proved ureteral disruption at the level of the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ). Immediate open surgery was performed to restore ureteropelvic continuity. Correct and early diagnosis of UPJ transsection is difficult under emergency service conditions and lack of symptoms. With the rapid increase in the aging population, the presence of degenerative exostoses will increase, and its exclusive pathomechanism and pattern of injury might be seen more frequently in emergency care. Trauma specialists should be aware of this pathology.
Incidence of Caries Lesions in Approximal Surfaces: A Radiographic Study of a General Adult Danish Population
Authors: Kirkevang L.-L. , Væth M. , Wenzel A.
Published: October 2011

The aim was to describe the incidence of caries lesions in a randomly selected adult population, and to identify risk factors related to the incidence of caries lesions in approximal surfaces. In 1997, 616 adults participated in a study including a radiographic survey. In 2003 these individuals were contacted again and offered a second radiographic survey; 473 consented and attended this examination. In approximal surfaces, presence/absence of caries lesions and presence and type of coronal fillings were recorded. The incidence of caries lesions in surfaces with no caries lesions in 1997 was studied. Potential risk factors included information at three levels: (1) person, (2) tooth, and (3) surface. The analysis was carried out by multilevel logistic regression. For the analyses 23,701 approximal surfaces were eligible. In 23,243 approximal surfaces no caries lesions were detected in 1997, 17,007 of these were surfaces without fillings, and 6,236 were filled surfaces. In unfilled surfaces several factors affected the risk for development of a caries lesion: young age, high number of fillings, number of teeth and status of the adjacent surface. In filled surfaces few factors affected the incidence of caries lesions: status of the adjacent surface, smoking and distal surfaces. Differences in risk factor patterns for the incidence of caries lesions were found for unfilled and filled surfaces. The study emphasizes the importance of assessing factors related to the incidence of caries lesions in adults. Further it underlines the need to analyse the fate of filled surfaces separately, because once a surface has received a filling it needs continuous attendance.
Galectin-3 in Ambulatory Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Felker G. Michael , Fiuzat Mona , Shaw Linda K. , Clare Robert , Whellan David J. , Bettari Luca , Shirolkar Shailesh C. , Donahue Mark , Kitzman Dalane W. , Zannad Faiez , Piña Ileana L. , O'Connor Christopher M.
Published: October 2011

Background—

Galectin-3 is a soluble ß-galactoside–binding lectin released by activated cardiac macrophages. Elevated levels of galectin-3 have been found to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. We evaluated the association between galectin-3 and long-term clinical outcomes in ambulatory heart failure patients enrolled in the HF-ACTION study.

Methods and Results—

HF-ACTION was a randomized, controlled trial of exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Galectin-3 was assessed at baseline in a cohort of 895 HF-ACTION subjects with stored plasma samples available. The association between galectin-3 and clinical outcomes was assessed using a series of Cox proportional hazards models. Higher galectin-3 levels were associated with other measures of heart failure severity, including higher New York Heart Association class, lower systolic blood pressure, higher creatinine, higher amino-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), and lower maximal oxygen consumption. In unadjusted analysis, there was a significant association between elevated galectin-3 levels and hospitalization-free survival (unadjusted hazard ratio, 1.14 per 3-ng/mL increase in galectin-3;
P
<0.0001). In multivariable modeling, the prognostic impact of galectin-3 was significantly attenuated by the inclusion of other known predictors, and galectin-3 was no longer a significant predictor after the inclusion of NTproBNP.

Conclusions—

Galectin-3 is elevated in ambulatory heart failure patients and is associated with poor functional capacity and other known measures of heart failure severity. In univariate analysis, galectin-3 was significantly predictive of long-term outcomes, but this association did not persist after adjustment for other predictors, especially NTproBNP.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00047437.
A comparison of female migrant workers’ mental health in four cities in China
Authors: He Xuesong , Wong Daniel Fu Keung
Published: October 2011

Background:

There are approximately 47.5 million female migrant workers living in major cities in China. Numerous studies have documented the marginalized living conditions confronting migrant workers in cities, such as employment difficulties, unjustifiably demanding working conditions, lack of medical insurance and social provision, poor housing conditions, unfavourable educational arrangements for migrant children, and discrimination by urban residents. In addition, female migrant workers may suffer from discrimination, exploitation and oppression.

Aim:

This study aimed to explore the difficulties and perceived meaningfulness of migration and their effect on the mental health status of female migrant workers in Shanghai, Kunshan, Dongguan and Shenzhen.

Methods:

A total of 959 female migrant workers from 12 factories completed the questionnaires, which included the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Migration Stress Scale and the Meaning in Migration Scale.

Results:

The findings indicate that 24% of female migrant workers could be classified as having poor mental health and the percentage in Shenzhen (35%) was far greater than in the three other cities in China. ‘Financial and employment-related difficulties’, ‘cultural differences’, gender-specific stressors and ‘better future for self and children’ significantly accounted for the mental health outcomes of female migrant workers.

Conclusion:

Recommendations for policy change and service initiatives targeted at improving the mental health of female migrant workers are discussed.
What is an ‘adult protection’ issue? Victims, perpetrators and the professional construction of adult protection issues
Authors: Johnson Fiona
Published: October 2011

Drawing on data from a Scottish research study, this paper explores the relationship of professionals’ perceptions about specific perpetrators and victims to their constructions of ‘adult protection’ issues in practice. It finds that professionals’ perceptions of victim distress did not consistently coincide with the construction of adult protection issues, whilst the connection to any assessment of victims’ heightened vulnerability in specific cases was not clear. With respect to perpetrators, implicit practice rules were evidenced which differed from explicit policy criteria. In particular, there were different rules for relatives, staff and service user perpetrators, whilst harms attributed to institutions were de-emphasized. Explanations of the findings are advanced based on the complex power relations underpinning practice but unacknowledged in policies. More research is recommended to deepen this analysis in a changing policy context, to foreground service user perspectives, and to contextualize harms potentially resolvable through adult support and protection/safeguarding routes with respect to harms better addressed in other ways.
Combined effect of polypropylene fiber and silica fume on mechanical properties of concrete composite containing fly ash
Authors: Zhang Peng , Li Qingfu , Zhang Haiyang
Published: October 2011

A parametric experimental study has been conducted to investigate the combined effect of polypropylene fiber and silica fume on the mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and compressive modulus of elasticity) of concrete composite containing fly ash. Five different fiber volume fractions, four contents of fly ash, and four silica fume contents were used. The results indicate that the contribution of silica fume on the growth of compressive strength and splitting tensile strength is performed at the early curing period, and the contribution of fly ash on the growth of compressive strength and splitting tensile strength is performed at the later curing period, when the fly ash content is not beyond 20% and the silica fume content exceeding 3%. The addition of fly ash and silica fume greatly increases the compressive modulus of elasticity at 28 days curing. Though the addition of polypropylene fiber decreases the compressive strength of the concrete with fly ash and silica fume, the splitting tensile strength is improved and compressive modulus of elasticity is decreased effectively, which can decrease the rigidity and increase the ductility of the concrete composite containing fly ash and silica fume to protect the concrete from damages for large deformation.
Impact and fatigue properties of hemp–glass fiber hybrid biocomposites
Authors: Shahzad Asim
Published: October 2011

The effect of hybridization of hemp fibers with glass fibers on the impact and fatigue properties of the hybrid biocomposites made from them has been studied. The laminates were made by hand layup followed by compression molding, using unsaturated polyester resin as the matrix. Hemp fibers were in the form of short randomly oriented mat and glass fibers were in the form of chopped strand mat. Replacement of about 11% of hemp fibers with glass fibers in hybrid composites increased their impact damage tolerance considerably. Following impact at 4 J energy, hybrid composites lost only about 30% of their intrinsic strength and stiffness, compared to 70% loss for hemp fiber composites at same impact energy. However, at this concentration of glass fibers in hemp fibers, the improvement in impact damage tolerance was limited to 15 J impact at which level the hybrid composites lost almost 90% of their intrinsic strength and stiffness. Hybrid hemp–glass fiber composites showed improvement in fatigue strength but no improvement in fatigue sensitivity was observed compared to hemp fiber composites.
The politics of studying securitization? The Copenhagen School in Turkey
Authors: Bilgin Pinar
Published: October 2011

Copenhagen School securitization theory has made significant inroads into the study of security in Western Europe. In recent years, it has also begun to gain a presence elsewhere. This is somewhat unanticipated. Given the worldwide prevalence of mainstream approaches to security, the nature of peripheral international relations, and the Western European origins and focus of the theory, there is no obvious reason to expect securitization theory to have a significant presence outside Western Europe. Adopting a reflexive notion of theory allows, the article argues, inquiry into the politics of studying security, which in turn reveals how the Western European origins and focus of securitization theory may be a factor enhancing its potential for adoption by others depending on the historico-political context. Focusing on the case of Turkey, the article locates the security literature of that country in the context of debates on accession to the European Union and highlights how securitization theory is utilized by Turkey’s authors as a ‘Western European approach’ to security.
Designing (de)security: European exceptionalism, Atlantic republicanism and the ‘public sphere’
Authors: Schou Tjalve Vibeke
Published: October 2011

This article pursues three interrelated objectives. Above all, it seeks to theorize desecuritization at the level of polity rather than policy; to distinguish between forms of political order and the likelihood that they will give in to the call for exceptional measures. Second, and to achieve that goal, it suggests a turn away from continental notions of ‘the people’ and towards American debates over ‘the public sphere’: a realm deliberately designed and continually cultivated to exercise autonomous, pluralistic and politicized contestation. Third, it examines why the ‘speechlessness’ of contemporary Western security practices may inhibit that public sphere from functioning properly.
Politics, security, theory
Authors: Wæver Ole
Published: October 2011

This article outlines three ways of analysing the ‘politics of securitization’, emphasizing an often-overlooked form of politics practised through theory design. The structure and nature of a theory can have systematic political implications. Analysis of this ‘politics of securitization’ is distinct from both the study of political practices of securitization and explorations of competing concepts of politics among security theories. It means tracking what kinds of analysis the theory can produce and whether such analysis systematically impacts real-life political struggles. Securitization theory is found to ‘act politically’ through three structural features that systematically shape the political effects of using the theory. The article further discusses – on the basis of the preceding articles in the special issue – three emerging debates around securitization theory: ethics, transformations and post-Western analyses. The article finally suggests one possible way forward for securitization theory: a route built on first clarifying its concept of theory, then specifying more clearly the place of political theory and causal mechanisms in different parts of the analysis. The politics of securitization accordingly becomes sharpened. Instead of deducing the political quality of the theory from various empirical statements by its proponents, this approach zooms in on the very core of the theory: how does it structurally condition work done with it in systematically political ways?
Foreign Direct Investment in India’s Power Sector
Authors: Satyanand Premila Nazareth
Published: October 2011

Since the Indian government had traditionally viewed power as a key infrastructure sector, it was the first to be opened to foreign direct investment in 1991. Foreign power companies were allowed 100 per cent ownership, automatic investment approval and other incentives. In response, all of the world’s largest power companies—including Enron, Electricite de France, PowerGen, Cogentrix and National Power—initiated projects in India, but, for a variety of commercial, operational and political reasons, have now all exited, except AES Corp. and China Light and Power. Thus, India’s power sector has received very little foreign direct investment in generation, transmission and distribution, despite the government’s concerted effort to attract it. However, global power equipment companies have operated successfully in India—now an increasingly strategic market—for decades. India’s emerging renewable energy sector is also drawing interest from global wind and hydropower companies, despite some commercial and operational impediments. Finally, the Indian power sector’s opening to private and foreign capital has triggered a far-reaching process of structural and governance reform, which has resulted in the birth of a dynamic and expanding domestic private power sector, which is now gradually beginning to internationalise. It is also prompting renewed, if wary, interest from overseas electricity companies, especially from Asia.
Resolution of Public-good Dilemma through Induced Collective Action
Authors: Danda Anamitra Anurag
Published: October 2011

Since the mid-1980s, scholarship on commons has shown that resource users often create institutional arrangements and management regimes that help them to allocate benefits over long periods of time. This, usually, is achieved through collective action where people come together to supply themselves with goods and services that they all need but could not provide for themselves individually. However, there are scores of communities that are unable to make the initial collective investment in monetary terms and are, therefore, unable to supply themselves with goods and services that they all need. The civil society sector, particularly non-government development organisations, has recognised the inability of poor communities to make the initial collective monetary investment and arrange for grants. This results in ‘induced collective action’ where social or public-good dilemmas are resolved in a cost-efficient manner but the institutional arrangement tends to dissipate soon after. This piece examines a set of interventions made by an NGO in the Indian Sundarbans to resolve a public-good dilemma and attempts to analyse the conduct of the community in the face of deteriorating system integrity and possible loss of benefits. In other words, this is an attempt to understand what undermines sustainability of institutional arrangements of induced collective action.
Turf Wars
Authors: Bishin Benjamin G. , Kaufmann Karen M. , Stevens Daniel
Published: October 2011

Research demonstrates that competition over resources can have an important influence on minority political behavior. To date, however, the effects of these local conditions on Latino political behavior have gone largely unexamined. Employing a most similar case study design to overcome the lack of data on intragroup attitudes and political behavior nationally, we examine the voting behavior of Cubans and non-Cuban Hispanics in two Florida counties. The group position thesis holds that status inequalities and perceived discrimination yield out-group hostilities that can influence political behavior. In Miami, where Cubans are dominant, we expect non-Cuban Latinos to report greater pan-Latino competition and that anti-Cuban attitudes will influence non-Cuban Hispanic voting. In Tampa, where non-Cuban Latinos live in communities where Cubans are not dominant, we expect lower levels of perceived competition and Cuban-related attitudes to be inconsequential to the vote. The results confirm that power relations in the local arena constitute an important influence on the political behavior of Latino immigrants.