bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arsenic Trioxide Induces Apoptosis in Uveal Melanoma Cells Through the Mitochondrial Pathway
Authors: Chen Miao-Ju , Yang Pei-Yu , Ye Yi-Zhen , Hu Dan-Ning , Chen Ming-Feng
Published: November 2010

Uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, is highly resistant to most chemotherapeutic drugs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is known to inhibit ocular melanoma cell growth. However, the effects of ATO on human uveal melanoma cells are poorly understood. Therefore, this study evaluated the mechanisms of ATO and its inhibiting effects on a human uveal melanoma cell line (SP6.5). An MTT assay indicated that, compared to human fibroblasts, ATO had a stronger inhibiting effect on SP6.5 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptosis ratio in SP6.5 cells, which was indicated by cell DNA fragmentation, was 4.1- to 7.7-fold higher after ATO-treatment. The ATO treatment substantially increased the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, but not of caspase-8. These findings were consistent with the protein expression observed by Western blots. ATO also significantly enhanced expression of Bax and cytochrome c proteins but suppressed those of Bcl-2. Therefore, ATO-induced apoptosis in uveal melanoma cells occurs mainly through the mitochondrial pathway rather than through the death receptor pathway. This report is the first to evaluate the complete mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway of ATO in uveal melanoma cells. These results can be used to improve the clinical effectiveness of ATO treatment for uveal melanoma.
Paeonol Attenuates H2O2-Induced NF-κB-Associated Amyloid Precursor Protein Expression
Authors: Su Shan-Yu , Cheng Chin-Yi , Tsai Tung-Hu , Hsiang Chien-Yun , Ho Tin-Yun , Hsieh Ching-Liang
Published: November 2010

Hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2 ) has been shown to promote neurodegeneration by inducing the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). In this study, NF-κB activation was induced by H2O2 in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Whether paeonol, one of the phenolic phytochemicals isolated from the Chinese herb Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (MC), would attenuate the H2O2 -induced NF-κB activity was investigated. Western blot results showed that paeonol inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB and the translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus. The ability of paeonol to reduce DNA binding ability and suppress the H2O2 -induced NF-κB activation was confirmed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and a luciferase reporter assay. Using a microarray combined with gene set analysis, we found that the suppression of NF-κB was associated with mature T cell up-regulated genes, the c-jun N-terminal kinase pathway, and two hypoxia-related gene sets, including the hypoxia up-regulated gene set and hypoxia inducible factor 1 targets. Moreover, using network analysis to investigate genes that were altered by H2O2 and reversely regulated by paeonol, we found that NF-κB was the primary center of the network and amyloid precursor protein (APP) was the secondary center. Western blotting showed that paeonol inhibited APP at the protein level. In conclusion, our work suggests that paeonol down-regulates H2O2 -induced NF-κB activity, as well as NF-κB-associated APP expression. Furthermore, the gene expression profile accompanying the suppression of NF-κB by paeonol was identified. The new gene set that can be targeted by paeonol provided a potential use for this drug and a possible pharmacological mechanism for other phenolic compounds that protect against oxidative-related injury.
THE LATEST STATUS OF LHC AND THE EWSB PHYSICS
Authors: ASAI S.
Published: November 2010

The latest status of LHC and the performances of ATLAS and CMS detectors are summarized in the first part. Physics potential to solve the origin of the ElectroWeak Symmetry Breaking is summarized in the 2nd part, focusing especially on two major scenarios, (1) the light Higgs boson plus SUSY and (2) the Strong Coupling Gauge Theory. Both ATLAS and CMS detectors have the excellent potential to discover them, and we can perform crucial test on the ElectroWeak Symmetry Breaking.
Synthesis, heterogenization and sensing properties of melamine-bridged bis-porphyrin dimers
Authors: Carofiglio Tommaso , Lubian Elisa , Varotto Alessandro
Published: November 2010

A straightforward, "one-pot" approach to the construction of a new class of molecular tweezers and their heterogenization onto various aminated materials is reviewed here. It is based on nucleophilic substitution of the cyanuric chloride scaffold with tailored aminoporphyrin subunits. The molecular recognition properties of these porphyrinic materials for diamine sensing are also discussed.
Reservoir connectivity analysis of a complex combination trap: Terra Nova Field, Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Newfoundland, Canada
Authors: Richards F. W. , Vrolijk P. J. , Gordon J. D. , Miller B. R.
Published: November 2010

Terra Nova Oil Field is formed by a complex, structural, stratigraphic and diagenetic combination trap. About 1 billion barrels Stock-Tank Oil-In-Place (STOOIP) are trapped in a faulted plunging anticline, reservoired in stacked, braided fluvial sandstones which are of varying quality and extent due to onlap, cementation and facies transitions. Terra Nova Field is unusual when compared to the other three major hydrocarbon fields in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin in that it lacks a gas leg, and hydrocarbons are confined to the deepest of four major reservoir intervals, the Jeanne d'Arc sandstones. In this reservoir interval, the highest part of the plunging anticline is wet while the lowest part has the deepest fluid contact and longest oil column. Aquifer pressures vary between hydrostatic and significantly overpressured, but are far below leak-off. This apparently unusual distribution of fluids, pressures and contacts can be understood by systematically describing the many compartments within the overall structure, defining the connections between compartments, and building a ‘connectivity diagram’ which ensures a disciplined analysis of the fluid system. This type of approach, used historically by the Operator, Petro-Canada, and formalized as ‘Reservoir Connectivity Analysis’ (RCA) at ExxonMobil, is effective and necessary at multiple scales: basin, field, producing fault block and individual sandstone, and continues to be important at Terra Nova eight years into development and production.
Some Common Fixed Point Theorems in Menger PM Spaces
Authors: Imdad M , Tanveer M , Hasan M
Published: November 2010

Employing the common property (E.A), we prove some common fixed point theorems for weakly compatible mappings via an implicit relation in Menger PM spaces. Some results on similar lines satisfying quasicontraction condition as well as "Equation missing"-type contraction condition are also proved in Menger PM spaces. Our results substantially improve the corresponding theorems contained in (Branciari, (2002); Rhoades, (2003); Vijayaraju et al., (2005)) and also some others in Menger as well as metric spaces. Some related results are also derived besides furnishing illustrative examples.
Trends in Kaposi's Sarcoma Survival Disparities in the United States: 1980 through 2004
Authors: Datta Geetanjali D. , Kawachi Ichiro , Delpierre Cyrille , Lang Thierry , Grosclaude Pascale
Published: November 2010

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common cancer diagnosed among people with HIV in the United States. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is an essential treatment for KS, and recent reports document the emergence of racial disparities in KS incidence and HIV-related mortality in the post-HAART era (1996 to present). The aim of this study was to examine trends in KS survival by race from the beginning of the HIV epidemic through the introduction of HAART.

Methods: Median cause-specific survival and adjusted hazard ratios for KS from 1980 to 2004 were calculated by race using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results nine-area data.

Results: Median survival among both black and white patients was relatively constant until 1995 (average median survival, 14 and 18 months, respectively). In 1996, white patients experienced an increase in median survival to 103 months. In subsequent years, the increase in median survival was so great that white patients did not reach 50% mortality (follow-up ending December 31, 2007). Survival among black patients increased gradually until its peak in 2001 when median survival had not been reached after 83 months of follow-up. However, subsequent relative decreases to 35 months occurred in 2002 and 2004.

Conclusions: The current analysis provides evidence that there have been substantial increases in KS survival among white patients in the HAART era. Black patients have also experienced some improvements but to an attenuated extent.

Impact: Careful attention should be paid to the continuing evolution of trends in KS survival and survival disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2718–26. ©2010 AACR.
Associations of Cumulative Sun Exposure and Phenotypic Characteristics with Histologic Solar Elastosis
Authors: Thomas Nancy E. , Kricker Anne , From Lynn , Busam Klaus , Millikan Robert C. , Ritchey Mary E. , Armstrong Bruce K. , Lee-Taylor Julia , Marrett Loraine D. , Anton-Culver Hoda , Zanetti Roberto , Rosso Stefano , Gallagher Richard P. , Dwyer Terence , Goumas Chris , Kanetsky Peter A. , Begg Colin B. , Orlow Irene , Wilcox Homer , Paine Susan , Berwick Marianne ,   The Genes, Environment, and Melanoma Study Group
Published: November 2010

Background: Solar elastosis adjacent to melanomas in histologic sections is regarded as an indicator of sun exposure, although the associations of UV exposure and phenotype with solar elastosis are yet to be fully explored.

Methods: The study included 2,589 incident primary melanoma patients with assessment of histologic solar elastosis in the population-based Genes, Environment, and Melanoma study. Ambient erythemal UV (UVE) at places of residence and sun exposure hours, including body site–specific exposure, were collected. We examined the association of cumulative site-specific and non–site-specific sun exposure hours and ambient UVE with solar elastosis in multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, center, pigmentary characteristics, nevi, and, where relevant, body site.

Results: Solar elastosis was associated most strongly with site-specific UVE [odds ratio (OR) for top exposure quartile, 5.20; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.40-7.96; P for trend <0.001] and also with site-specific sun exposure (OR for top quartile, 5.12; 95% CI, 3.35-7.83; P for trend <0.001). Older age (OR at >70 years, 7.69; 95% CI, 5.14-11.52; P for trend < 0.001) and having more than 10 back nevi (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.97; P = 0.03) were independently associated with solar elastosis.

Conclusion: Solar elastosis had a strong association with higher site-specific UVE dose, older age, and fewer nevi.

Impact: Solar elastosis could be a useful biomarker of lifetime site-specific UV. Future research is needed to explore whether age represents more than simple accumulation of sun exposure and to determine why people with more nevi may be less prone to solar elastosis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2932–41. ©2010 AACR.
Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer in U.S. Men with AIDS
Authors: Shiels Meredith S. , Goedert James J. , Moore Richard D. , Platz Elizabeth A. , Engels Eric A.
Published: November 2010

Background: Previous studies describe decreased prostate cancer risk in HIV-infected men. In the United States, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is common and increases the detection of prostate cancer. We evaluated whether the prostate cancer deficit among men with AIDS reflects differential PSA screening.

Methods: Data from the U.S. HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study were used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for prostate cancer, comparing men with AIDS (N = 287,247) to the general population. Furthermore, we estimated PSA testing rates in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort.

Results: Prostate cancer rates increased over time in the general population and, beginning in the 1990s, were consistently higher than among men with AIDS. Men with AIDS had the same prostate cancer risk as the general population in the pre-PSA era (<1992, SIR = 1.00), but significantly reduced risk during the PSA era overall (1992-2007, SIR = 0.50) and across age, race, HIV risk group, antiretroviral therapy era, and CD4 counts. Local and regional stage prostate cancer risk was lower among men with AIDS (SIRs, 0.49 and 0.14, respectively), but distant stage cancer risk did not differ (SIR = 0.85). Among HIV-infected men ≥40 years old, PSA testing was uncommon (18.7% per year), but increased 2.4-fold from 2000 to 2008, after age adjustment.

Conclusion: Prostate cancer risk was decreased by 50% among men with AIDS compared with the general population. This deficit was limited to the PSA era and early stage cancers.

Impact: Our findings suggest that the prostate cancer deficit in HIV-infected men is largely due to differential PSA screening. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(11); 2910–5. ©2010 AACR.
Kisspeptin-Evoked Calcium Signals in Isolated Primary Rat Gonadotropin- Releasing Hormone Neurones
Authors: Kroll Heike , Bolsover Stephen , Hsu Judith , Kim Soo-Hyun , Bouloux Pierre-Marc
Published: November 2010

Background: Kisspeptin and its cognate receptor GPR54 are the central driving forces in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis essential for sexual maturation and reproduction. Kisspeptin/GPR54 signalling stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones and induces pulsatile GnRH release. The molecular signalling pathway by which kisspeptin stimulates GnRH neurones is currently under investigation. Methods: Primary GnRH neurones were isolated from young adult rats and loaded with the calcium indicator Fura Red. Cytosolic calcium was measured while the cells were stimulated with kisspeptin. Results: GnRH neurones show a maintained increase of cytosolic calcium upon stimulation with 100 nM kisspeptin-10. The calcium elevation was inhibited 30% by 1 µM tetrodotoxin, a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, and 76% by 30 µM SKF96365, an inhibitor of receptor-mediated calcium entry. Furthermore, removal of extracellular calcium completely abolished the kisspeptin-induced calcium elevation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the major part of the kisspeptin-evoked calcium signal is generated by an action potential-independent calcium influx, possibly through channels of the classical transient receptor potential type, with an additional influx through voltage-gated calcium channels activated by sodium action potentials.
Coagulation in Invertebrates
Authors: Cerenius Lage , Söderhäll Kenneth
Published: November 2010

In most animals there is a need to quickly prevent the loss of blood or equivalent fluids through inflicted injuries. In invertebrates with an open circulatory system (and sometimes a hydroskeleton as well) these losses may otherwise soon be fatal. Also, there is a need to prevent microbes that have gained access to the body through the wound from disseminating throughout the open circulatory system. Therefore, many invertebrates possess a coagulation system to prevent such accidents from having too serious consequences. In this review we discuss recent developments in a few animals – mainly arthropods – where more detailed data are available. It is likely, however, that corresponding systems are present in most phyla, but this is still unchartered territory.
Effects of a Computerized Professional Development Program on Teacher and Student Outcomes
Authors: Fisher Joseph B. , Schumaker Jean B. , Culbertson John , Deshler Donald D.
Published: November 2010

Effects of a computerized professional development (PD) program for a concept teaching routine were investigated in two studies. For each, teachers were randomly assigned to either a virtual workshop group that used a multimedia software program for PD or an actual workshop group that participated in a live PD session. In Study 1, the teachers’ knowledge about the routine and planning for the routine significantly improved after completing either workshop; no significant differences were found between the groups. Both teacher groups were satisfied with the PD. In Study 2, the teachers’ performance of the routine in their classrooms improved, as did student performance on tests of concept knowledge. Students were satisfied with the instruction provided by both groups of teachers. No differences were found between the posttest scores earned by the teacher groups or by students of the teachers. Implications regarding computerized PD for teachers are discussed.
Snow White and the Wicked Problems of the West: A Look at the Lines between Empirical Description and Normative Prescription
Authors: Farrell Katharine N.
Published: November 2010

This article discusses the relationship between the origins of the concept of post-normal science, its potential as a heuristic and the phenomenon of complex science entailed policy problems in late industrial societies (wicked problems of the West). Drawing on arguments presented in the early works of Funtowicz and Ravetz, it is proposed that there is a fundamentally empirical character to the post-normal science call for democratizing expertise, which serves as an antidote to late industrial poisoning of the fairy tale ideal (Snow White) of a clean divide between science and politics. Post-normal science extended-peer-review methodology is interpreted as a response to a crisis in the governance of science. Rather than viewing extended-peer-review processes as products of the post-normal science discourse, here the post-normal science discourse is understood to provide a heuristic lens through which existing complex science/society collaborations and conflicts can be better understood. Two different post-normal science situations—management of mega-contamination in Bitterfeld, Germany, and eviction of the Parakuiyo Maasai from the eastern wetlands of the Usangu plains of Tanzania—are presented and the implications of their de facto extended-peer-review structures are discussed, to illustrate this heuristic potential.
Solid-state Thermal and Photochemical E/Z Isomerization of Bidentate-N,S Schiff Base Ligands in Iridium(III) Complexes
Authors: Kawamoto Tatsuya , Takino Yusuke , Sakoda Keiichi , Konno Takumi
Published: November 2010

The newly prepared [IrL(ppy or CF3-ppy)2] complexes with a bidentate-N,S Schiff base ligand (L) showed thermal and photochemical E/Z conversions in the solid state, which are tuned by the modification of a pendent phenyl group of L and a phenyl group of ppy.
AFM Interaction Study of Poly(ammonium acrylate) Adsorbed on a Si Surface in Aqueous KCl Solution
Authors: Isobe Toshihiro , Nakano Yosuke , Kameshima Yoshikazu , Okada Kiyoshi , Nakajima Akira
Published: November 2010

Interaction force between solid surfaces in aqueous solvent was investigated using scanning probe microscopy. Only short-range repulsive forces were observed in a poly(ammonium acrylate) (PAA) solution. Their range increased concomitantly with increase of the molecular weight of the PAA. In a PAA solution with 0.1–1 mM KCl, the PAA adsorbed onto the Si substrate. Furthermore, the interaction force was described by DLVO theory, and repulsive force is thought to originate from the steric hindrance of the PAA.
Selection of sustainable technologies for combustion of Bosnian coals
Authors: Kazagic Anes , Smajevic Izet , Duic Neven
Published: November 2010

This paper deals with optimization of coal combustion conditions to support
selection a sustainable combustion technology and an optimal furnace and
boiler design. A methodology for optimization of coal combustion conditions
is proposed and demonstrated on the example of Bosnian coals. The properties
of Bosnian coals vary widely from one coal basin to the next, even between
coal mines within the same basin. Very high percentage of ash (particularly
in Bosnian brown coal) makes clear certain differences between Bosnian coal
types and other world coal types, providing a strong argument for
investigating specific problems related to the combustion of Bosnian coals,
as well as ways to improve their combustion behavior. In this work, options
of the referent energy system (boiler) with different process temperatures,
corresponding to the different combustion technologies; pulverised fuel
combustion (slag tap or dry bottom furnace) and fluidized bed combustion, are
under consideration for the coals tested. Sustainability assessment, based on
calculation economic and environment indicators, in combination with common
low cost planning method, is used for the optimization. The total costs in
the lifetime are presented by General index of total costs, calculated on the
base of agglomeration of basic economic indicators and the economic
indicators derived from environmental indicators. So, proposed methodology is
based on identification of those combustion technologies and combustion
conditions for coals tested for which the total costs in lifetime of the
system under consideration are lowest, provided that all environmental issues
of the energy system is fulfilled during the lifetime. Inputs for calculation
of the sustainability indicators are provided by the measurements on an
experimental furnace with possibility of infinite variation of process
temperature, supported by good praxis from the power plants which use the
fuels tested and by thermal calculations of the different options (different
temperature in the boiler furnace) of the referent energy system.
L'extension des territoires du patient : Internet et santé au quotidien
Authors: Wyatt Sally , Henwood Flis , Hart Angie , Platzer Hazel
Published: November 2010

Extending patient's world: the Internet, health information and everyday life

In this paper, we intend to confront the euphorie discourses of médical Internet promoters with an analysis of the actual practices of information seeking for patients confronted with aging effects (menopause, impotence). We show that, within this specific population, Internet use, when effective, is not replacing traditionnal information seeking practices (press, leaflets, books, relatives, friends) nor are they challenging patient/doctor relationships, doctors remaining in an expert position; moreover, the intensity of the recourse to internet appears to be linked to a variety of elements: personnal lifestory, acquired skills in information technology, patient' s positionning towards medicine, the more or less acute nature of the health problem at stake. We conclude on the idea that a comprehensive analysis of Internet use must be contextualised and take into account situated practices within this context.
Design and Evaluation of an Ontology-based Drug Application Database
Authors: Quinzler R. , Leser U. , Senger C. , Seidling H. M. , Haefeli W. E.
Published: November 2010

Objectives: Several recently published cases of preventable adverse drug reactions were associated with flaws in drug application. However, current clinical decision support (CDS) systems do not properly consider drug application issues and thus do not support effective prevention of such medication errors. With the aim to improve CDS in this respect, we developed a comprehensive model precisely describing all aspects of drug application.

Methods: The model consists of 1) a schema comprising all relevant attributes of drug application and 2) an ontology providing a hierarchically structured vocabulary of terms that describe the possible values of the schema’s attributes. Finally, medical products were annotated by a semi-automatic term assignment process. For evaluation, we developed an algorithm that uses our model to compute a meaningful similarity between medicinal products with respect to their drug application characteristics.

Results: Our schema consists of 22 attributes. The ontology contains 248 terms, textual descriptions, and synonym lists. More than 58,700 medicinal products were automatically annotated with >386,600 terms. 2450 drugs were manually reviewed by experts, adding > 4500 terms. The annotation and similarity measure allow for (similarity) searches, clustering, and proper discrimination of drugs with different drug application characteristics. We demonstrated the value of our approach by means of a set of case studies.

Conclusion: Our model enables a detailed description of drug application, allowing for semantically meaningful comparisons of drugs. This is an important prerequisite for improving the ability of CDS systems to prevent prescription errors.
Effectiveness of Lexico-syntactic Pattern Matching for Ontology Enrichment with Clinical Documents
Authors: Chapman W. W. , Savova G. , Chute C. G. , Sioutos N. , Crowley R. S. , Liu K.
Published: November 2010

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a lexico-syntactic pattern (LSP) matching method for ontology enrichment using clinical documents.

Methods: Two domains were separately studied using the same methodology. We used radiology documents to enrich RadLex and pathology documents to enrich National Cancer Institute Thesaurus (NCIT). Several known LSPs were used for semantic knowledge extraction. We first retrieved all sentences that contained LSPs across two large clinical repositories, and examined the frequency of the LSPs. From this set, we randomly sampled LSP instances which were examined by human judges. We used a twostep method to determine the utility of these patterns for enrichment. In the first step, domain experts annotated medically meaningful terms (MMTs) from each sentence within the LSP. In the second step, RadLex and NCIT curators evaluated how many of these MMTs could be added to the resource. To quantify the utility of this LSP method, we defined two evaluation metrics: suggestion rate (SR) and acceptance rate (AR). We used these measures to estimate the yield of concepts and relationships, for each of the two domains.

Results: For NCIT, the concept SR was 24%, and the relationship SR was 65%. The concept AR was 21%, and the relationship AR was 14%. For RadLex, the concept SR was 37%, and the relationship SR was 55%. The concept AR was 11%, and the relationship AR was 44%.

Conclusion: The LSP matching method is an effective method for concept and concept relationship discovery in biomedical domains.
“Why the Hell Do We Need Electronic Health Records?”
Authors: Hoerbst A. , Ammenwerth E. , Hackl W. O.
Published: November 2010

Background: Progress in the medical sciences, together with related technologies, in the past has led to higher specialization and has created a strong need to exchange health information across institutional borders. The concept of electronic health records (EHR) was introduced to fulfill these needs. Remarkably, many EHR introduction projects ran into trouble, not least because they lacked the acceptance of EHR among physicians. Negative emotions, such as anxiety and fear due to a lack of information, may cause change barriers and hamper physicians’ acceptance of such projects.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to gain deeper insight into the negative emotions related to the intended implementation of a mandatory national electronic health record system (called ELGA) in Austria among physicians in private practice.

Methods: Qualitative, problem-centered interviews were conducted with eight physicians in private practice in the capital region of Tyrol. The methods of qualitative content analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: Three hundred and twenty-eight pas sages in the interviews were selected, annotated, and paraphrased. These passages were assigned to 139 different primary categories. Finally, 18 main categories in the form of statements were derived. They were correlated and a theoretical model was formed to explain the genesis of the detected fears and anxiety related to the ELGA project. The results show that the physicians feel uninformed and snubbed. They fear unknown changes, increased costs, as well as workload and surveillance without obtaining any advantages from using electronic health records in their daily practice.

Conclusion: Impartial information campaigns that are tailored to the physicians’ needs and questions as along with a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis could benefit the physicians’ opinion of EHRs.
HBV or HCV Coinfections and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in HIV-Infected Individuals: The D:A:D Cohort Study
Authors:   The Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) Study Group
Published: November 2010

Background

Data on a link between HCV or HBV infection and the development of cardiovascular disease among HIV-negative and HIV-positive individuals are conficting. We sought to investigate the association between HBV or HCV infection and myocardial infarction in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods

The prospective observational database of the D:A:D collaboration of 11 cohorts of HIV-infected individuals, including 212 clinics in Europe, the United States and Australia was used. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to assess the effect of HCV or HBV infection on the development of myocardial infarction after adjustment for potential confounders, including cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes mellitus and exposure to antiretroviral therapy.

Results

Of 33,347 individuals, 517 developed a myocardial infarction over 157,912 person-years, with an event rate of 3.3 events/1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–3.6). Event rates (95% CIs) per 1,000 person-years in those who were HCV- seronegative and HCV-seropositive were 3.3 (3.0–3.7) and 2.7 (2.2–3.3), respectively, and for those who were HBV-seronegative, had inactive infection or had active infection were 3.2 (2.8–3.5), 4.2 (3.1–5.2) and 2.8 (1.8–3.9), respectively. After adjustment, there was no association between HCV seropositivity (rate ratio 0.86 [95% CI 0.62–1.19]), inactive HBV infection (rate ratio 1.07 [95% CI 0.79–1.43]) or active HBV infection (rate ratio 0.78 [95% CI 0.52–1.15]) and the development of myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

We found no association between HBV or HCV coinfection and the development of myocardial infarction among HIV-infected individuals.
Framingham Risk Score and Early Markers of Atherosclerosis in a Cohort of Adults Infected with HIV
Authors: Falcone E Liana , Mangili Alexandra , Skinner Sally , Alam Ahsan , Polak Joseph F , Wanke Christine A
Published: November 2010

Background

The utility of the Framingham risk score among individuals infected with HIV is poorly understood. We examined the association of Framingham risk scores with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in a carefully characterized cohort of adults infected with HIV.

Methods

We calculated Framingham risk scores and measured carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores in 334 participants from the Nutrition for Healthy Living study. Cardiovascular risk factors, c-IMT and CAC scores were assessed for each Framingham risk subgroup (low versus intermediate/high risk). We used adjusted and unadjusted linear and logistic regression to examine the association between clinical factors and Framingham risk group with c-IMT and CAC scores.

Results

Patients with intermediate/high Framingham risk scores were more likely to have internal c-IMT≥1.0 mm (26% versus 12%; P=0.003) and common c-IMT≥0.8 mm (22% versus 5%; P<0.001). These patients were also more likely to have detectable CAC (78% versus 48%; P<0.001). Intermediate/high Framingham risk scores were significantly associated with internal c-IMT≥1.0 mm (odds ratio 2.65 [95% confidence interval 1.37–5.13]) and common c-IMT≥0.8 mm (odds ratio 5.24 [95% confidence interval 2.39–11.50]). Intermediate/high Framingham risk scores were also significantly associated with detectable CAC (odds ratio 3.84 [95% confidence interval 2.05–7.16]). The addition of HIV-related variables did not improve the accuracy of the Framingham risk score.

Conclusions

Our study shows that increased Framingham risk scores are associated with abnormal early and late surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in adults infected with HIV, and might predict the risk of cardiovascular complications in this population.
Specific identification of some female Empoascini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), using morphological characters of the ovipositor and isozyme and mtCOI sequence analyses
Authors: Demichelis Stefano , Manino Aulo , Sartor Chiara , Cifuentes Dina , Patetta Augusto
Published: November 2010

We identified females of six species of leafhoppers (tribe Empoascini),Asymmetrasca decedens(Paoli),Empoasca affinisNast,E. decipiensPaoli,E. pteridis(Dahlbom),E. vitisGöthe, andJacobiasca lybica(Bergevin and Zanon), using morphological characters of the ovipositor and isozyme and mitochondrial COI sequence analyses. Useful traits of the ovipositor are tooth morphology, length of the toothed area, form of sculpturing, and number and position of sensilla on the first and second pair of valves. Among the set of enzyme systems assayed, four putative loci,sod, hk-2, est-3,andest-2,together provided reliable diagnostic characters for single species, pairs of species, and groups of species. Analysis of mtCOI sequences revealed differences between the six species of Empoascini, and the neighbour-joining tree separated them into three distinct groups. Phenetic trees elaborated using Nei’s index and the Kimura two-parameter model clustered the six Empoascini species in similar groups.
Sex-related difference in the ability ofCarabus lewisianus(Coleoptera: Carabidae) to escape from pitfall traps
Authors: Yamashita Hanae , Togashi Katsumi , Kiritani Keizi
Published: November 2010

Carabid beetles can escape from pitfall traps. To determine whether or not a female-biased sex ratio for catches ofCarabus lewisianusBreuning from pitfall traps could be explained by sexual differences in the rates of capture by and escape from traps, we performed two laboratory experiments to estimate these rates using mathematical models. The results indicated that the two sexes dropped into the pitfall traps at almost equal rates (0.0456/min for females and 0.0366/min for males) and that males escaped from the traps at rates of 0.0591 and 0.0889/min, but no females managed to escape. The bias of escape rates in the field is shown by the higher captures of femaleC. lewisianusby pitfall traps. Calibration of capture and escape rates suggested similar activity densities of the two sexes in the field. Development of more accurate measures of the number of the relevant sex on the soil surface, and of the methodology for estimating the values of parameters in the field is discussed.
Characterization of individual aerosol particles collected during a haze episode in Incheon, Korea using the quantitative ED-EPMA technique
Authors: Geng H. , Ryu J. , Maskey S. , Jung H.-J. , Ro C.-U.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon that leads to low visibility, and is mostly due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter. It can have effects on cloud formation, public health, agriculture, and even the global climate. Although urban haze has been increasing in occurrence over the past several years over the Seoul-Incheon metropolis, Korea, studies of the morphology and chemical composition of ambient aerosol particles by single-particle analysis during haze episodes have rarely been conducted. Herein, a quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe microanalysis (ED-EPMA), called low-Z particle EPMA, was used to analyze individual aerosol particles collected in Incheon, Korea on 13–18 October 2008 (a typical haze episode occurred from 15 to 18 October). Overall, 3600 particles in 12 aerosol samples collected on haze and non-haze days were measured by low-Z particle EPMA. Based on quantitative X-ray analysis, together with secondary electron images of individual particles, we successfully identified the aerosol particle types as follows: elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), (NH4)2SO4/NH4HSO4-containing, genuine (fresh) and reacted (aged) sea-salt, mineral dust (such as aluminosilicate, SiO2, CaCO3/CaMg(CO3)2, etc.), and K-containing, Fe-rich, and fly ash particles. By analyzing the relative abundances of different particle types, it was concluded that (a) on non-haze days, reacted sea-salts and reacted mineral dust particles were abundant in both the PM2.5–10 and PM1.0–2.5 fractions (with relative abundances of 65.0% and 57.7%, respectively); whereas on haze days, the relative abundances of OC and (NH4)2SO4/NH4HSO4-containing particles were significantly elevated, indicating that organic matter and secondary aerosols were abundant in the atmosphere when haze occurred. (b) in PM2.5–10 fractions, sea-salt and mineral dust particles reacted with NOx/HNO3 significantly outnumbered those reacted with SO2/H2SO4, no matter whether they were collected on haze or non-haze days; but in PM1.0–2.5 fractions on non-haze days, the nitrate-containing reacted particles significantly outnumbered the sulfate-containing ones, whereas it was the reverse on haze days, implying that on haze days there were special sources or formation mechanisms for the reacted fine aerosol particles (aerodynamic diameter<2.5 μm). It is hypothesized that motor vehicles, biomass burning from the areas surrounding Incheon, and haze transported from Eastern China are the major contributors to urban haze formation in Incheon under stagnant meteorological conditions such as low wind speed, high relative humidity, etc.
Summer and winter variations of dicarboxylic acids, fatty acids and benzoic acid in PM2.5 in Pearl Delta River Region, China
Authors: Ho K. F. , Ho S. S. H. , Lee S. C. , Kawamura K. , Zou S. C. , Cao J. J. , Xu H. M.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Ground-based PM2.5 samples collected in Pearl River Delta (PRD) region during winter and summer (from 14 December 2006 to 28 January 2007 in winter and from 4 July 2007 to 9 August 2007 in summer) were analyzed for 30 water-soluble organic species, including dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids and dicarbonyls, nine fatty acids, and benzoic acid. Molecular distributions of dicarboxylic acids demonstrated that oxalic acid (C2) was the most abundant species followed by phthalic acid (Ph) in PRD region. The concentrations of total dicarboxylic acids ranged from 99 to 1340 ng m−3, with an average of 438 ± 267 ng m−3 in PRD. The concentrations of total ketocarboxylic acids ranged from 0.6 to 207 ng m−3 (43 ± 48 ng m−3 on average) while the concentrations of total α-dicarbonyls, including glyoxal and methylglyoxal, ranged from 0.2 to 89 ng m−3, with an average of 11 ± 18 ng m−3 in PRD. The total quantified water-soluble organic carbon (TQWOC) accounted for 3.4 ± 2.2% of OC and 14.3 ± 10.3% of water-soluble OC (WSOC). Hexadecanoic acid (C16:0), octadecanoic acid (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1) are the three most abundant fatty acids in PRD. The distributions of fatty acids are characterized by a strong even carbon number predominance with a maximum (Cmax) at hexadecanoic acid (C16:0). Ratio of C18:1 to C18:0 acts as an indicator for aerosol aging. In PRD, an average of C18:1/C18:0 ratio was 0.53 ± 0.39, suggesting an enhanced photochemical degradation of unsaturated fatty acid. Seasonal variations of the pollutant concentrations were found in the four sampling cities. Higher concentrations of TQWOC were observed in winter (544 ng m−3) than in summer (318 ng m−3). However, the abundances of TQWOC in OC mass were higher in summer (1.8–12.4%, 5.4% on average) than in winter (1.1–5.7, 2.6% on average), being consistent with enhanced secondary production of dicarboxylic acids in warmer weather. Spatial variations of water-soluble dicarboxylic acids were characterized by higher concentrations in Hong Kong and lower concentrations Guangzhou (GZ)/Zhaoqing (ZQ) during winter whereas highest concentrations were observed in GZ/ZQ during summer. These spatial and seasonal distributions are consistent with photochemical production and the subsequent accumulation under different meteorological conditions.
Retrieval algorithm for CO2 and CH4 column abundances from short-wavelength infrared spectral observations by the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite
Authors: Yoshida Y. , Ota Y. , Eguchi N. , Kikuchi N. , Nobuta K. , Tran H. , Morino I. , Yokota T.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. The Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) was launched on 23 January 2009 to monitor the global distributions of carbon dioxide and methane from space. It has operated continuously since then. Here we describe a retrieval algorithm for column abundances of these gases from the short-wavelength infrared spectra obtained by the Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation-Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS). The algorithm consists of three steps. First, cloud-free observational scenes are selected by several cloud-detection methods. Then, column abundances of carbon dioxide and methane are retrieved based on the optimal estimation method. Finally, the retrieval quality is examined to exclude low-quality and/or aerosol-contaminated results. Most of the retrieval random errors come from the instrumental noise. The interferences by auxiliary parameters retrieved simultaneously with gas abundances are small. The evaluated precisions of the retrieved column abundances for single observations are less than 1% in most cases. The interhemispherical differences and the temporal variation patterns of the retrieved column abundances agree well with the current state of knowledge.
Monitoring of active layer dynamics at a permafrost site on Svalbard using multi-channel ground-penetrating radar
Authors: Westermann S. , Wollschläger U. , Boike J.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Multi-channel ground-penetrating radar is used to investigate the late-summer evolution of the thaw depth and the average soil water content of the thawed active layer at a high-arctic continuous permafrost site on Svalbard, Norway. Between mid of August and mid of September 2008, five surveys have been conducted in gravelly soil over transect lengths of 130 and 175 m each. The maximum thaw depths range from 1.6 m to 2.0 m, so that they are among the deepest thaw depths recorded in sediments on Svalbard so far. The thaw depths increase by approximately 0.2 m between mid of August and beginning of September and subsequently remain constant until mid of September. The thaw rates are approximately constant over the entire length of the transects within the measurement accuracy of about 5 to 10 cm. The average volumetric soil water content of the thawed soil varies between 0.18 and 0.27 along the investigated transects. While the measurements do not show significant changes in soil water content over the first four weeks of the study, strong precipitation causes an increase in average soil water content of up to 0.04 during the last week. These values are in good agreement with evapotranspiration and precipitation rates measured in the vicinity of the the study site. While we cannot provide conclusive reasons for the detected spatial variability of the thaw depth at the study site, our measurements show that thaw depth and average soil water content are not directly correlated. The study demonstrates the potential of multi-channel ground-penetrating radar for mapping thaw depth in permafrost areas. The novel non-invasive technique is particularly useful when the thaw depth exceeds 1.5 m, so that it is hardly accessible by manual probing. In addition, multi-channel ground-penetrating radar holds potential for mapping the latent heat content of the active layer and for estimating weekly to monthly averages of the ground heat flux during the thaw period.
A die rotating system for moderations of extrusion load and pressure drop profiles for molten PP and wood/polypropylene composites in extrusion processes
Authors: Intawong Naret , Kantala Chatchawan , Lotaisong Watit , Sombatsompop Narongrit
Published: November 2010

A die‐rotating system was proposed in this work for moderations of extrusion forces and entrance pressure drop for molten polypropylene (PP) and wood/polypropylene (WPP) composites in a capillary rheometer and a single screw extruder. The effects of processing conditions and wood loading in PP were of our interests. The extrusion force and entrance pressure drop with and without the die rotating system were monitored in real‐time. This was the first time that the die‐rotating system was used for processing of highly viscous wood/polymer composite materials. It was found that the flow properties of the molten PP and WPP composites obeyed pseudoplastic non‐Newtonian behavior. The behavior was more obvious at wood contents of above 6 wt % and in the capillary rheometer. The rotation of the die could moderate the extrusion load by 60% and entrance pressure drop by 20% in the capillary rheometer, and the entrance pressure drop by 30% in the single screw extruder, especially at the conditions where the viscosities of the WPP and the extrusion rate were high. Greater fluctuations in entrance pressure drop caused by die rotation were observed in the single screw extruder. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120:1006–1016, 2011
Multiscale motion saliency for keyframe extraction from motion capture sequences
Authors: Halit Cihan , Capin Tolga
Published: November 2010

Motion capture is an increasingly popular animation technique; however data acquired by motion capture can become substantial. This makes it difficult to use motion capture data in a number of applications, such as motion editing, motion understanding, automatic motion summarization, motion thumbnail generation, or motion database search and retrieval. To overcome this limitation, we propose an automatic approach to extract keyframes from a motion capture sequence. We treat the input sequence as motion curves, and obtain the most salient parts of these curves using a new proposed metric, called 'motion saliency'. We select the curves to be analysed by a dimension reduction technique, Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We then apply frame reduction techniques to extract the most important frames as keyframes of the motion. With this approach, around 8% of the frames are selected to be keyframes for motion capture sequences. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.