bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gadolinium‐based contrast agents for magnetic resonance cancer imaging
Authors: Zhou Zhuxian , Lu Zheng‐Rong
Published: October 2012

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a clinical imaging modality effective for anatomical and functional imaging of diseased soft tissues, including solid tumors. MRI contrast agents (CA) have been routinely used for detecting tumor at an early stage. Gadolinium‐based CA are the most commonly used CA in clinical MRI. There have been significant efforts to design and develop novel Gd(III) CA with high relaxivity, low toxicity, and specific tumor binding. The relaxivity of the Gd(III) CA can be increased by proper chemical modification. The toxicity of Gd(III) CA can be reduced by increasing the agents' thermodynamic and kinetic stability, as well as optimizing their pharmacokinetic properties. The increasing knowledge in the field of cancer genomics and biology provides an opportunity for designing tumor‐specific CA. Various new Gd(III) chelates have been designed and evaluated in animal models for more effective cancer MRI. This review outlines the design and development, physicochemical properties, and in vivo properties of several classes of Gd(III)‐based MR CA tumor imaging. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2013, 5:1–18. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1198

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Alternative Synthesis and Structures of C‐monoacetylenic Phosphaalkenes
Authors: Orthaber Andreas , Öberg Elisabet , Jane Reuben T. , Ott Sascha
Published: October 2012

An alternative synthesis of C‐monoacetylenic phosphaalkenes trans‐Mes*P=C(Me)(C≡CR) (Mes* = 2, 4, 6‐tBu3Ph, R = Ph, SiMe3) from C‐bromophosphaalkenes cis‐Mes*P=C(Me)Br using standard Sonogashira coupling conditions is described. Crystallographic studies confirm cis‐trans isomerization of the P=C double bond during Pd‐catalyzed cross coupling, leading exclusively to trans‐acetylenic phosphaalkenes. Crystallographic studies of all synthesized compounds reveal the extend of π‐conjugation over the acetylene and P=C π‐systems.
Resumming soft and collinear contributions in deeply virtual Compton scattering
Authors: Altinoluk T. , Pire B. , Szymanowski L. , Wallon S.
Published: October 2012

Abstract

We calculate the quark coefficient function T

q
(x, ξ) that enters the factorized amplitude for deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) at all order in a soft and collinear gluon approximation, focusing on the leading double logarithmic behavior in (x±ξ), where x ± ξ is the light cone momentum fraction of the incoming/outgoing quarks. We show that the dominant part of the known one loop result can be understood in an axial gauge as the result of a semi-eikonal approximation to the box diagram. We then derive an all order result for the leading contribution of the ladder diagrams and deduce a resummation formula valid in the vicinity of the boundaries of the regions defining the energy flows of the incoming/outcoming quarks, i.e. x = ±ξ. The resummed series results in a simple closed expression.
Effect of Obesity and Decompressive Laparotomy on Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis Requiring Intensive Care Unit Admission
Authors: Davis Philip J. B. , Eltawil Karim M. , Abu‐Wasel Bassam , Walsh Mark J. , Topp Trevor , Molinari Michele
Published: October 2012

Background

Controversy still exists on the effect that obesity has on the morbidity and mortality in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The primary purpose of this study was to compare the mortality rate of obese versus nonobese patients admitted to the ICU for SAP. Secondary goals were to assess the potential risk factors for abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and to investigate the performance of validated scoring systems to predict ACS and in‐hospital mortality.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of adults admitted to the ICU for SAP was stratified by their body mass index (BMI) as obese and nonobese. The rates of morbidity, mortality, and ACS were compared by univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Areas under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the discriminating performance of severity scores and other selected variables to predict mortality and the risk of ACS.

Result

Forty‐five patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and 24 (53 %) were obese with similar characteristics to nonobese patients. Among all the subjects, 11 (24 %) died and 16 (35 %) developed ACS. In‐hospital mortality was significantly lower for obese patients (12.5 vs. 38 %; P = 0.046) even though they seemed to develop ACS more frequently (41 vs. 28 %; P = 0.533). At multivariable analysis, age was the most significant factor associated with in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.273; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.052–1.541; P = 0.013) and APACHE II and Glasgow‐Imrie for the development of ACS (OR = 1.143; 95 % CI 1.012–1.292; P = 0.032 and OR = 1.221; 95 % CI 1.000–1.493; P = 0.05) respectively. Good discrimination for in‐hospital mortality was observed for patients’ age (AUC = 0.846) and number of comorbidities (AUC = 0.801). ACS was not adequately predicted by any of the clinical severity scores (AUC = 0.548–0.661).

Conclusions

Patients’ age was the most significant factor associated with mortality in patients affected by SAP. Higher APACHE II and Glasgow‐Imrie scores were associated with the development of ACS, but their discrimination performance was unsatisfactory.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Finucane Brenda
Published: October 2012

This special issue of the Journal of Genetic Counseling focuses on developmental disabilities and includes commentaries, original research, personal accounts, and practice guidelines.
Uptake of Cardiac Screening and Genetic Testing Among Hypertrophic and Dilated Cardiomyopathy Families
Authors: Miller Erin M. , Wang Yu , Ware Stephanie M.
Published: October 2012

Cardiomyopathy is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous, life threatening disease which affects people of all ages. Recent guidelines provide recommendations for cardiac screening and genetic testing in at‐risk relatives, but the uptake and impact of these measures in the United States is unknown. This is a single institution retrospective study that characterizes the uptake of cardiac screening and genetic testing for relatives of a cohort of 57 probands with hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who underwent both clinical evaluation and genetic testing. Cardiac screening was indicated for 302 relatives. One hundred and seventy‐three (57 %) completed cardiac screening. Forty of the 57 probands were mutation positive and genetic testing was indicated for 213 relatives. Eighty‐four (39 %) completed genetic testing. The uptake of cardiac surveillance was greater than the uptake of genetic testing (p < 0.0001) among relatives of mutation positive probands. Within the group of at‐risk, asymptomatic relatives of probands, cardiac screening and genetic testing were positive in 25 % and 40 % of cases, respectively. These data demonstrate the important role and utility of cascade cardiac screening and genetic testing in the care of patients and families with HCM or DCM. The approach to cardiac screening and genetic testing should be family‐specific and requires expertise in the genetics of cardiomyopathy.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Arab‐American Women Regarding Inherited Cancer Risk
Authors: Mellon Suzanne , Gauthier Jacqueline , Cichon Michelle , Hammad Adnan , Simon Michael S.
Published: October 2012

The increasing incidence of breast cancer in the Arab world, coupled with a relatively early age of onset, raises concern for the presence of hereditary risk factors in this population. However, due to potential structural and cultural barriers, Arab Americans make up the smallest percentage of individuals tested for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome in the United States. The objectives of this qualitative pilot focus group of 13 Arab‐American women were to explore attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding hereditary breast cancer in the Arab‐American community in metropolitan Detroit, identify barriers that would prevent women from seeking hereditary cancer screening/testing and determine who women would talk to about inherited cancer. Results indicated that cultural beliefs and personal experiences with cancer influenced the women's perspectives on hereditary cancer risk. A high level of secrecy about cancer within Arab‐American families was present, which may prevent accurate risk assessment and referral for genetic services. Other identified barriers that may influence hereditary risk assessment included stigma, fears and misconceptions of cancer. While these barriers were present, participants also expressed a strong need for education and tailored cancer risk information for their community.
Increased Bioactive Lipids Content in Human Subcutaneous and Epicardial Fat Tissue Correlates with Insulin Resistance
Authors: Błachnio‐Zabielska Agnieszka U. , Baranowski Marcin , Hirnle Tomasz , Zabielski Piotr , Lewczuk Anna , Dmitruk Iwona , Górski Jan
Published: October 2012

Obesity is a risk factor for metabolic diseases. Intramuscular lipid accumulation of ceramides, diacylglycerols, and long chain acyl‐CoA is responsible for the induction of insulin resistance. These lipids are probably implicated in obesity‐associated insulin resistance not only in skeletal muscle but also in fat tissue. Only few data are available about ceramide content in human subcutaneous adipose tissue. However, there are no data on DAG and LCACoA content in adipose tissue. The aim of our study was to measure the lipids content in human SAT and epicardial adipose tissue we sought to determine the bioactive lipids content by LC/MS/MS in fat tissue from lean non‐diabetic, obese non‐diabetic, and obese diabetic subjects and test whether the lipids correlate with HOMA‐IR. We found, that total content of measured lipids was markedly higher in OND and OD subjects in both types of fat tissue (for all p < 0.001) as compared to LND group. In SAT we found positive correlation between HOMA‐IR and C16:0‐Cer (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) and between HOMA‐IR and C16:0/18:2 DAG (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). In EAT we found a strong correlation between C16:0‐CoA content and HOMA‐IR (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). The study showed that in obese and obese diabetic patients, bioactive lipids content is greater in subcutaneous and epicardial fat tissue and the particular lipids content positively correlates with HOMA‐IR.
The DYNAMO-HIA Model: An Efficient Implementation of a Risk Factor/Chronic Disease Markov Model for Use in Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
Authors: Boshuizen Hendriek C. , Lhachimi Stefan K. , van Baal Pieter H. M. , Hoogenveen Rudolf T. , Smit Henriette A. , Mackenbach Johan P. , Nusselder Wilma J.
Published: October 2012

In Health Impact Assessment (HIA), or priority-setting for health policy, effects of risk factors (exposures) on health need to be modeled, such as with a Markov model, in which exposure influences mortality and disease incidence rates. Because many risk factors are related to a variety of chronic diseases, these Markov models potentially contain a large number of states (risk factor and disease combinations), providing a challenge both technically (keeping down execution time and memory use) and practically (estimating the model parameters and retaining transparency). To meet this challenge, we propose an approach that combines micro-simulation of the exposure information with macro-simulation of the diseases and survival. This approach allows users to simulate exposure in detail while avoiding the need for large simulated populations because of the relative rareness of chronic disease events. Further efficiency is gained by splitting the disease state space into smaller spaces, each of which contains a cluster of diseases that is independent of the other clusters. The challenge of feasible input data requirements is met by including parameter calculation routines, which use marginal population data to estimate the transitions between states. As an illustration, we present the recently developed model DYNAMO-HIA (DYNAMIC MODEL for Health Impact Assessment) that implements this approach.
Coherent Mortality Forecasting: The Product-Ratio Method With Functional Time Series Models
Authors: Hyndman Rob J. , Booth Heather , Yasmeen Farah
Published: October 2012

When independence is assumed, forecasts of mortality for subpopulations are almost always divergent in the long term. We propose a method for coherent forecasting of mortality rates for two or more subpopulations, based on functional principal components models of simple and interpretable functions of rates. The product-ratio functional forecasting method models and forecasts the geometric mean of subpopulation rates and the ratio of subpopulation rates to product rates. Coherence is imposed by constraining the forecast ratio function through stationary time series models. The method is applied to sex-specific data for Sweden and state-specific data for Australia. Based on out-of-sample forecasts, the coherent forecasts are at least as accurate in overall terms as comparable independent forecasts, and forecast accuracy is homogenized across subpopulations.
Paradox Revisited: A Further Investigation of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Infant Mortality by Maternal Age
Authors: Powers Daniel A.
Published: October 2012

I reexamine the epidemiological paradox of lower overall infant mortality rates in the Mexican-origin population relative to U.S.-born non-Hispanic whites using the 1995–2002 U.S. NCHS linked cohort birth-infant death files. A comparison of infant mortality rates among U.S.-born non-Hispanic white and Mexican-origin mothers by maternal age reveals an infant survival advantage at younger maternal ages when compared with non-Hispanic whites, which is consistent with the Hispanic infant mortality paradox. However, this is accompanied by higher infant mortality at older ages for Mexican-origin women, which is consistent with the weathering framework. These patterns vary by nativity of the mother and do not change when rates are adjusted for risk factors. The relative infant survival disadvantage among Mexican-origin infants born to older mothers may be attributed to differences in the socioeconomic attributes of U.S.-born non-Hispanic white and Mexican-origin women.
Transient small molecule interactions kinetically modulate amyloid β peptide self‐assembly
Authors: Abelein Axel , Lang Lisa , Lendel Christofer , Gräslund Astrid , Danielsson Jens
Published: October 2012

Small organic molecules, like Congo red and lacmoid, have been shown to modulate the self‐assembly of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ). Here, we show that Aβ forms NMR invisible non‐toxic co‐aggregates together with lacmoid as well as Congo red. We find that the interaction involves two distinct kinetic processes and at every given time point only a small fraction of Aβ is in the co‐aggregate. These weak transient interactions kinetically redirect the aggregation prone Aβ from self‐assembling into amyloid fibrils. These findings suggest that even such weak binders might be effective as therapeutics against pathogenic protein aggregation.
A C‐terminally amidated analogue of ShK is a potent and selective blocker of the voltage‐gated potassium channel Kv1.3
Authors: Pennington Michael W. , Harunur Rashid M. , Tajhya Rajeev B. , Beeton Christine , Kuyucak Serdar , Norton Raymond S.
Published: October 2012

ShK, a 35‐residue peptide from a sea anemone, is a potent blocker of potassium channels. Here we describe a new ShK analogue with an additional C‐terminus Lys residue and amide. ShK‐K‐amide is a potent blocker of Kv1.3 and, in contrast to ShK and ShK‐amide, is selective for Kv1.3. To understand this selectivity, we created complexes of ShK‐K‐amide with Kv1.3 and Kv1.1 using docking and molecular dynamics simulations, then performed umbrella sampling simulations to construct the potential of mean force of the ligand and calculate the corresponding binding free energy for the most stable configuration. The results agree well with experimental data.
An Australian Survey of the Clinical Practice Patterns of Case Management for Clients with Brain Injury
Authors: Lannin Natasha , Henry Kareena , Turnbull Michelle , Elder Megan , Campisi Josephine
Published: October 2012

Aim: To investigate the characteristics of Australian organisations providing case management to individuals who have acquired brain injury, and to determine the methods of case management service delivery including professional development and evaluation of outcomes.

Method: An anonymous 23-item web-based survey was used. Respondents were case managers who deliver services to adults and/or children with brain injuries. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit respondents from around Australia.

Findings: Fifty-one case managers completed the survey. Respondents were from a wide range of professions, the largest group being occupational therapy. The majority of respondents were based in metropolitan areas, were employed within the public health system and were based in the community. Respondents reported that the main determinant for clients receiving case management was the severity of the brain injury followed by complex family needs. Variations in practice and a lack of consistency in outcome measurement, goal setting and professional development were noted.

Discussion: This study provides an overview of characteristics of case management practices for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). Identifying roles and responsibilities of case managers is the first step to developing future research designs, which determine the effectiveness of case management.
Macro-quantization of the guiding centre motion of charged particles in a magnetic field
Authors: VARMA RAM K.
Published: October 2012

This review describes the results of investigations on charged particle dynamics in a magnetic field carried out over a number of years. The studies have unravelled the existence of some very surprising and unusual phenomena. Though existing on the macro-scale, they are found to be of quantum origin, and are thereby not covered by the Lorentz equation, which has been regarded conventionally as the descriptor of electrodynamic phenomena on the macro-scale. These novel phenomena have been found to be attributed to the ‘quantum modulation’ of the de Broglie wave along the magnetic field. This is brought about through the scattering-induced transition across Landau levels, leading to the modulation of the plane wave state along the field as a result of the entanglement between the parallel and perpendicular degrees of freedom. These findings were motivated by the predictions of a formalism developed by the author and include such unusual phenomena as (i) macro-scale matter wave interference effects and (ii) the detection of curl-free vector potential also on the macro-scale, both attributed to quantum modulation which is a matter wave on the macro-scale. The formalism is thus described as ‘macro-quantization of guiding centre motion’.
The Path of the Courtier: Castiglione, Machiavelli, and the Loss of Republican Liberty
Authors: Lovett Frank
Published: October 2012

Although Castiglione'sThe Courtierwas one of the most popular products of the Italian Renaissance, it has largely escaped the attention of modern political theorists. Many dismissThe Courtieras an apolitical work characterized by nostalgia and escapism, but it should not be so dismissed: on the contrary, Castiglione's book expresses a definite political program. This essay explores that program as a “politics of the second best”—as a pragmatic response to unfortunately diminished political opportunities. Put simply, given the choice between trying to make one's master a better person, on the one hand, and not having a master at all, on the other, surely one would not opt for the former unless the latter was not available. Reflection on this point informs the debate between proponents of “negative liberty” and those of “republican liberty.”
John Locke on Custom's Power and Reason's Authority
Authors: Grant Ruth W.
Published: October 2012

Locke stresses the power of custom in shaping opinion and behavior, though this aspect of his thought has been underappreciated. Recognizing its importance raises critical issues, particularly the relation between custom and reason and the role of authoritative custom in supporting political and social power. Locke explains in detail the various psychological and sociological mechanisms by which the power of custom is manifested; but he nonetheless consistently and emphatically rejects its authority. Instead, Locke is a champion of the authority of reason. Because custom is powerful, but reason is authoritative, Locke attempts to enlist the power of custom in the service of reason and of reasonable politics, and because custom is powerful and its impact unavoidable, individual intellectual independence cannot mean being without cultural prejudices. At best, it means the ability to gain some critical distance from them. These observations place Locke's relation to the Enlightenment in a new perspective.
Response to Tom Greggs
Authors: Kelsey David
Published: October 2012

A colleague commented that it is difficult to give a clear brief summary of Eccentric Existence because it has so many moving parts. That's fair, and for that reason Tom Greggs offers not a précis but, as he says, a ‘tour’ of EE. I am grateful to him for this perceptive, perspicuous and generous tour of the book's premises and conclusions. I want to address as best I can here Greggs's several ‘unsystematic probes’. The probes seem to me to fall into two broad groups, one raising formal or methodological concerns and the other substantive concerns. I shall begin with the first group, taking them up in more or less the order in which they were made.
A categorical analogue of the monoid semiring construction
Authors: HINES PETER
Published: October 2012

This paper introduces and studies a categorical analogue of the familiar monoid semiring construction. By introducing an axiomatisation of summation that unifies notions of summation from algebraic program semantics with various notions of summation from the theory of analysis, we demonstrate that the monoid semiring construction generalises to cases where both the monoid and the semiring are categories. This construction has many interesting and natural categorical properties, and natural computational interpretations.
Probably Intersecting Families are Not Nested
Authors: RUSSELL PAUL A. , WALTERS MARK
Published: October 2012

It is well known that an intersecting family of subsets of an n-element set can contain at most 2n−1 sets. It is natural to wonder how ‘close’ to intersecting a family of size greater than 2n−1 can be. Katona, Katona and Katona introduced the idea of a ‘most probably intersecting family’. Suppose that is a family and that 0 < p < 1. Let (p) be the (random) family formed by selecting each set in independently with probability p. A family is most probably intersecting if it maximizes the probability that (p) is intersecting over all families of size ||.

Katona, Katona and Katona conjectured that there is a nested sequence consisting of most probably intersecting families of every possible size. We show that this conjecture is false for every value of p provided that n is sufficiently large.
Modified Calgary score in differential diagnosis between cardiac syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-associated syncope in children
Authors: Yang Jinyan , Zhu Lulu , Chen Stella , Li Xueying , Zhang Qingyou , Zhang Fengwen , Chen Li , Tang Chaoshu , Du Junbao , Jin Hongfang
Published: October 2012

The present study was designed to analyse the usefulness of a modified Calgary score system during differential diagnosis between cardiac syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-associated syncope through a large sample sized clinical investigation. The study included 213 children, including 101 boys and 112 girls, with cardiac syncope or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-associated syncope in the age group of 2–19 years (mean 11.8 ± 2.9 years). A modified Calgary score was created, which was analysed to predict differential diagnoses between cardiac syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-associated syncope using a receiver operating characteristic curve. The median of modified Calgary scores for cardiac syncope was −5.0, which significantly differed from that of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (0.0; p < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of a differentiation score of less than −2.5 was 96.3% and 72.7%, respectively. Owing to the fact that the modified Calgary score was an integer, when less than −3.0 the diagnosis could be considered as cardiac syncope. The modified Calgary score could be used to make an initial differential diagnosis between cardiac syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome-associated syncope in the clinic.
A Clinical Investigation of Motivation to Change Standards and Cognitions about Failure in Perfectionism
Authors: Egan Sarah J. , Piek Jan P. , Dyck Murray J. , Rees Clare S. , Hagger Martin S.
Published: October 2012

Background: Clinical perfectionism is a transdiagnostic process that has been found to maintain eating disorders, anxiety disorders and depression. Cognitive behavioural models explaining the maintenance of clinical perfectionism emphasize the contribution of dichotomous thinking and resetting standards higher following both success and failure in meeting their goals. There has been a paucity of research examining the predictions of the models and motivation to change perfectionism. Motivation to change is important as individuals with clinical perfectionism often report many perceived benefits of their perfectionism; they are, therefore, likely to be ambivalent regarding changing perfectionism. Aims: The aim was to compare qualitative responses regarding questions about motivation to change standards and cognitions regarding failure to meet a personal standard in two contrasting groups with high and low negative perfectionism. Negative perfectionism refers to concern over not meeting personal standards. Method: A clinical group with a range of axis 1 diagnoses who were elevated on negative perfectionism were compared to a group of athletes who were low on negative perfectionism. Results: Results indicated that the clinical group perceived many negative consequences of their perfectionism. They also, however, reported numerous benefits and the majority stated that they would prefer not to change their perfectionism. The clinical group also reported dichotomous thinking and preferring to either keep standards the same or reset standards higher following failure, whilst the athlete group reported they would keep standards the same or set them lower. Conclusions: The findings support predictions of the cognitive behavioural model of clinical perfectionism.
Developmental trends and L1 effects in early L2 learners’ onset cluster production
Authors: TESSIER ANNE-MICHELLE , SORENSON DUNCAN TAMARA , PARADIS JOHANNE
Published: October 2012

This study focuses on English onset cluster production in spontaneous speech samples of 10 children aged 5;04–6;09 from Chinese and Hindi/Punjabi first language (L1) backgrounds, each with less than a year of exposure to English. The results suggest commonalities between early second language (L2) learners and both monolingual and adult L2 learners in the location of cluster repair and the sometimes-exceptional treatment of s+stop clusters. We also provide evidence that accuracy rates and repairs used in early L2 cluster production show L1 influences. We conclude that early L2 learners represent a unique learner group, whose study is crucial to the understanding of phonological development.
The Use of μCT and ESEM in the Study of the Osmosis-Induced Water Uptake by Eurobitum Bituminized Radioactive Waste
Authors: Mariën An , Valcke Elie , Bleyen Nele , Van Geet Maarten , Wevers Martine
Published: October 2012

Laboratory water uptake tests are performed at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN to obtain insight into the hydromechanical behavior of Eurobitum bituminized radioactive waste under geological disposal conditions. Small nonradioactive and radioactive Eurobitum samples are hydrated in restricted swelling conditions (i.e., nearly constant volume conditions and constant stress conditions). Microfocus X-ray computer tomography (μCT) proves to be a very suitable technique to follow up the ingress of water in the samples. μCT analyses demonstrate that, under the studied hydration conditions, the water uptake by Eurobitum samples is a diffusion controlled process. A characterization of the partially leached samples with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) shows that the hydration of salt crystals and the subsequent dilution of the salt solution result in an increase in pore size that is limited to a few tens of μm in restricted swelling conditions. The μCT and ESEM analyses allow improvement in the understanding of water uptake by Eurobitum in restricted swelling conditions. In this article we discuss the μCT and ESEM analyses of nonradioactive Eurobitum samples that were hydrated for 2 to 4 years at a constant stress of 1, 22, 33, and 44 bar or in nearly constant volume conditions.
Measuring institutions in the Trobriand Islands: a comment on Voigt's paper
Authors: ROBINSON JAMES A.
Published: October 2012

I use the historical institutions of the Trobriand Islands to discuss problems and non-problems with measuring institutions and estimating their causal effects on economic outcomes.
Use of force during occupation: law enforcement and conduct of hostilities
Authors: Watkin Kenneth
Published: October 2012

This article explores the law governing the maintenance of public order and safety during belligerent occupation. Given the potential for widespread violence associated with international armed conflict, such as occurred in 2003–2004 in Iraq, it is inevitable that military and police forces will be engaged in activities that interface and overlap. Human-rights-based norms governing law enforcement, such as the right to life, are found in humanitarian law, permitting an application of both law enforcement and conduct of hostilities norms under that body of law. This results in the simultaneous application of these norms through both humanitarian and human rights law, which ultimately enhances the protection of inhabitants of the occupied territory.
Development of the ITHACA Toolkit for monitoring human rights and general health care in psychiatric and social care institutions
Authors: Randall J. , Thornicroft G. , Burti L. , Katschnig H. , Lewis O. , Russo J. , Shaw T. , Wahlbeck K. , Rose D.
Published: October 2012

Background.

Human rights violations are commonly experienced by people in psychiatric and social care institutions. States and private organizations providing such health and social services must comply with international human rights law. Monitoring of such compliance is increasingly recognized as a vital component in ensuring that rights are respected and violations are brought out in the open, remedied and prevented.

Aims.

The Institutional Treatment, Human Rights and Care Assessment (ITHACA) project produced a method to document violations and good practice with the aim of preventing human rights violations and improving general health care practice in psychiatric and social care institutions (www.ithacastudy.eu).

Methods.

A methodological and implementation study conducted across 15 European countries developed and assessed the ITHACA Toolkit in monitoring visits to 87 mental health organizations.

Results.

The toolkit is available in 13 European languages and has demonstrated applicability in a range of contexts and conditions. The information gathered through monitoring visits can document both good practice and areas for improvement.

Conclusions.

The ITHACA Toolkit is an acceptable and feasible method for the systematic monitoring of human rights and general health care in psychiatric and social care institutions that explicitly calls for the participation of service users in the monitoring of human rights violations and general health care practice.
The Boston University Twin Project (BUTP)
Authors: Saudino Kimberly J. , Asherson Philip
Published: October 2012

The Boston University Twin Project (BUTP) is a multi-method, multi-situation, longitudinal study of early child temperament and related behaviors. The first phase of this project focused primarily on activity level and comprised over 300 twin pairs assessed in the home and lab at ages 2 and 3. Subject recruitment, sample characteristics, and study procedures are described. A second phase broadens our focus to the development of multiple temperament dimensions and developmental outcomes in a new cohort of 300 twin pairs to be assessed at 3, 4, and 5 years of age. Recruitment is currently underway.
The North of England Survey of Twin and Multiple Pregnancy
Authors: Glinianaia Svetlana V. , Rankin Judith , Sturgiss Stephen N. , Ward Platt Martin P. , Crowder Danielle , Bell Ruth
Published: October 2012

The population-based Northern Survey of Twin and Multiple Pregnancy (NorSTAMP, formerly the Multiple Pregnancy Register) has collected data since 1998 on all multiple pregnancies in North of England (UK) from the earliest point of ascertainment in pregnancy. This paper updates recent developments to the NorSTAMP and presents some early mortality data from the first 10 years of data collection (1998–2007). Since 2005, mothers have been asked to give explicit consent for their identifiable data to be held by the survey, in line with changing guidance and legal frameworks for identifiable data. In 2009, regional standards of care for multiple pregnancies were developed, agreed, and disseminated. During 1998–2007, 4,865 twin maternities (pregnancies with at least one live birth or stillbirth) were registered, with an average twinning rate of 14.9 per 1,000 maternities. The overall stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates in twins were 18.0/1,000 births and 23.0/1,000 live births respectively. Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates were significantly higher in monochorionic than dichorionic twins: 44.4 versus 12.2 per 1,000 births (relative risk [RR] 3.6, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] 2.6–5.1), and 32.4 versus 21.4 per 1,000 live births (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.04–2.2) respectively. There was no significant improvement during this period in either stillbirth or neonatal mortality rates in either chorionicity group. This population-based survey is an important source of data on multiple pregnancies, which allows monitoring of trends in multiple birth rates and pregnancy losses, providing essential information to support improvements in clinical care and for epidemiological research.
The Murcia Twin Registry: A Population-Based Registry of Adult Multiples in Spain
Authors: Ordoñana Juan R. , Rebollo-Mesa Irene , Carrillo Eduvigis , Colodro-Conde Lucía , García-Palomo Francisco J. , González-Javier Francisca , Sánchez-Romera Juan F. , Aznar Oviedo José M. , de Pancorbo Marian M. , Pérez-Riquelme Francisco
Published: October 2012

The Murcia Twin Registry (MTR) was created in 2006, under the auspices of the University of Murcia and the regional Health Authority, aiming to develop a research resource in Spain intended to stimulate current research and new investigation on the analysis of genetic factors related to health and health-related behaviors. The MTR development strategy was designed as a step-by-step process. Initially, it was focused on women's health but nowadays it includes males and opposite-sex twins. The database comprises 2,281 participants born between 1940 and 1966 in the region of Murcia, in Spain. There have been three waves of data collection and today the MTR databases include questionnaire and anthropometric data as well as biological samples. The current main areas of research interest are health and health-related behaviors, including lifestyle, health promotion, and quality of life. Future short-term development points to the completion of the biobank and continuing the collection of longitudinal data.
The University of British Columbia Twin Project: Still Figuring Out What Personality Is and Does
Authors: Jang Kerry L.
Published: October 2012

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Twin Project is a registry of approximately 2,000 pairs of reared-together twins recruited across the major Canadian provinces. The focus of the project is an investigation of the behavioral genetics of personality and its disorders, and their relationship to other forms of mental illness. The goal is to find evidence for current diagnostic structures and classification systems, or certainly provide data for their reform. The primary measures employed are full-form self-report questionnaires of major psychological and psychiatric instruments covering personality, mood, general health, schizotypy, and more recently the anxiety disorders from symptoms resulting from exposure traumatic events, obsessive–compulsive behavior and beliefs, as well as coping strategies and health anxieties. No DNA has been collected. Data from the project have been used in several collaborative projects worldwide, and collaborative projects with other groups and interested researchers are welcomed.
Quantitative geochemical modeling along a transect off Peru: Carbon cycling in time and space, and the triggering factors for carbon loss and storage
Authors: Arning Esther T. , van Berk Wolfgang , Schulz Hans‐Martin
Published: October 2012

Early diagenetic processes in Peruvian shelf and slope sediments are numerically reproduced by applying chemical thermodynamics in a complex, universal approach using the PHREEQC (version 2) computer code. The reaction kinetics of organic carbon remineralization are integrated into a set of equilibrium reactions by defining the type and the amount of converted organic matter in a certain time step. We calculate the most intense remineralization of organic carbon for present‐day shelf sites, and the final carbon pool is dominated by secondary carbonates. This serves to highlight the influence of organic matter degradation and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) on diagenetic mineral formation. The enrichment of aqueous methane and the formation of methane hydrate only takes place in slope sediments with high sedimentation rates that prevent diffusive loss of methane (e.g., Sites 682 and 688). Moreover, AOM prevents the diffusion of dissolved methane into overlying seawater. Throughout the Miocene period, these sites were located on a former shelf and the total carbon loss from the sediments was significantly higher in comparison with the present‐day. Compared with the present‐day shelf site, organic matter remineralization is high, and methane is produced but not stored within the sediments. Our model calculations rule out the possibility of present‐day and former shelf site sediments off the coast of Peru as methane reservoirs. Remineralized TOC has to be considered, particularly in older sediments, when interpreting TOC profiles and calculating mass accumulation rates of total organic carbon (MARTOC). The more organic matter has been remineralized during the depositional history, the larger the difference between MARTOC calculated from measured TOC data, and from the sum of modeled and measured TOC data. Consequently, most reliable primary productivity calculations are based on the sum of measured relict TOC and the amount of remineralized organic carbon determined by modeling.
Bayesian inference of uncertainties in precipitation‐streamflow modeling in a snow affected catchment
Authors: Koskela J. J. , Croke B. W. F. , Koivusalo H. , Jakeman A. J. , Kokkonen T.
Published: October 2012

Bayesian inference is used to study the effect of precipitation and model structural uncertainty on estimates of model parameters and confidence limits of predictive variables in a conceptual rainfall‐runoff model in the snow‐fed Rudbäck catchment (142 ha) in southern Finland. The IHACRES model is coupled with a simple degree day model to account for snow accumulation and melt. The posterior probability distribution of the model parameters is sampled by using the Differential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM(ZS)) algorithm and the generalized likelihood function. Precipitation uncertainty is taken into account by introducing additional latent variables that were used as multipliers for individual storm events. Results suggest that occasional snow water equivalent (SWE) observations together with daily streamflow observations do not contain enough information to simultaneously identify model parameters, precipitation uncertainty and model structural uncertainty in the Rudbäck catchment. The addition of an autoregressive component to account for model structure error and latent variables having uniform priors to account for input uncertainty lead to dubious posterior distributions of model parameters. Thus our hypothesis that informative priors for latent variables could be replaced by additional SWE data could not be confirmed. The model was found to work adequately in 1‐day‐ahead simulation mode, but the results were poor in the simulation batch mode. This was caused by the interaction of parameters that were used to describe different sources of uncertainty. The findings may have lessons for other cases where parameterizations are similarly high in relation to available prior information.
Regime‐based analysis of aerosol‐cloud interactions
Authors: Gryspeerdt Edward , Stier Philip
Published: October 2012

Previous global satellite studies into the indirect aerosol effect have relied on determining the sensitivity of derived Cloud Droplet Number Concentration (Nd) to co‐located Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). These studies generally find a positive Nd sensitivity to AOD changes over ocean, but some find a negative sensitivity over land, in contrast to that predicted by models and theory. Here we investigate the Ndsensitivity to AOD in different cloud regimes, determined using a k‐means clustering process on retrieved cloud properties. We find the strongest positive Nd sensitivity in the stratiform regimes over both land and ocean, providing the majority of the total sensitivity. The negative sensitivity previously observed over land is generated by the low cloud fraction regimes, suggesting that it is due to the difficulty of retrieving Nd at low cloud fractions. When considering a mean sensitivity, weighted by liquid cloud fraction to account for sampling biases, we find an increased sensitivity over land, in some regions becoming positive. This highlights the importance of regime based analysis when studying aerosol indirect effects.
Tensile rock mass strength estimated using InSAR
Authors: Jónsson Sigurjón
Published: October 2012

The large‐scale strength of rock is known to be lower than the strength determined from small‐scale samples in the laboratory. However, it is not well known how strength scales with sample size. I estimate kilometer‐scale tensional rock mass strength by measuring offsets across new tensional fractures (joints), formed above a shallow magmatic dike intrusion in western Arabia in 2009. I use satellite radar observations to derive 3D ground displacements and by quantifying the extension accommodated by the joints and the maximum extension that did not result in a fracture, I put bounds on the joint initiation threshold of the surface rocks. The results indicate that the kilometer‐scale tensile strength of the granitic rock mass is 1–3 MPa, almost an order of magnitude lower than typical laboratory values.
Recent changes in the dynamic properties of declining Arctic sea ice: A model study
Authors: Zhang Jinlun , Lindsay Ron , Schweiger Axel , Rigor Ignatius
Published: October 2012

Results from a numerical model simulation show significant changes in the dynamic properties of Arctic sea ice during 2007–2011 compared to the 1979–2006 mean. These changes are linked to a 33% reduction in sea ice volume, with decreasing ice concentration, mostly in the marginal seas, and decreasing ice thickness over the entire Arctic, particularly in the western Arctic. The decline in ice volume results in a 37% decrease in ice mechanical strength and 31% in internal ice interaction force, which in turn leads to an increase in ice speed (13%) and deformation rates (17%). The increasing ice speed has the tendency to drive more ice out of the Arctic. However, ice volume export is reduced because the rate of decrease in ice thickness is greater than the rate of increase in ice speed, thus retarding the decline of Arctic sea ice volume. Ice deformation increases the most in fall and least in summer. Thus the effect of changes in ice deformation on the ice cover is likely strong in fall and weak in summer. The increase in ice deformation boosts ridged ice production in parts of the central Arctic near the Canadian Archipelago and Greenland in winter and early spring, but the average ridged ice production is reduced because less ice is available for ridging in most of the marginal seas in fall. The overall decrease in ridged ice production contributes to the demise of thicker, older ice. As the ice cover becomes thinner and weaker, ice motion approaches a state of free drift in summer and beyond and is therefore more susceptible to changes in wind forcing. This is likely to make seasonal or shorter‐term forecasts of sea ice edge locations more challenging.
Sensitivity of equatorial mesopause temperatures to the 27‐day solar cycle
Authors: von Savigny C. , Eichmann K.‐U. , Robert C. E. , Burrows J. P. , Weber M.
Published: October 2012

Night‐time observations of OH(3–1) rotational temperatures with SCIAMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY) on Envisat are used to study the sensitivity of equatorial mesopause temperatures to the 27‐day solar forcing. Fourier and cross‐correlation analysis are first used to demonstrate the presence of a solar‐driven 27‐day cycle in OH rotational temperatures. The temperature sensitivity to solar forcing is quantitatively evaluated based on a superposed epoch analysis that also demonstrates that the solar signal in the OH temperature time series is significant at the 99.9 % confidence level. The most remarkable result is that the temperature sensitivity to solar forcing in terms of the 27‐day solar cycle (βF10.7= 2.46 (±0.93) K/(100 sfu)) agrees within uncertainties with the majority of published sensitivity values in terms of the 11‐year solar cycle. This implies that the same underlying physical mechanism drives the mesopause temperature response to solar variability at both the 27‐day and the 11‐year time scale.