bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Muscle Tension Estimation in the Presence of Neuromuscular Impairment
Authors: Zariffa José , Steeves John D. , Pai Dinesh K.
Published: December 2011

Static optimization approaches to estimating muscle tensions rely on the assumption that the muscle activity pattern is in some sense optimal. However, in the case of individuals with a neuromuscular impairment, this assumption is likely not to hold true. We present an approach to muscle tension estimation that does not rely on any optimality assumptions. First, the nature of the impairment is estimated by reformulating the relationship between the muscle tensions and the external forces produced in terms of the deviation from the expected activation in the unimpaired case. This formulation allows the information from several force production tasks to be treated as a single coupled system. In a second step, the identified impairments are used to obtain a novel cost function for the muscle tension estimation task. In a simulation study of the index finger, the proposed method resulted in muscle tension errors with a mean norm of 23.3 ± 26.8% (percentage of the true solution norm), compared to 52.6 ± 24.8% when solving the estimation task using a cost function consisting of the sum of squared muscle stresses. Performance was also examined as a function of the amount of error in the kinematic and muscle Jacobians and found to remain superior to the performance of the squared muscle stress cost function throughout the range examined.
A GENETIC ALGORITHM-BASED APPROACH FOR OPTIMIZATION OF SCHEDULING IN JOB SHOP ENVIRONMENT
Authors: RITWIK KUMAR , DEB SANKHA
Published: December 2011

The present work aims to develop a genetic algorithm-based approach to solve the scheduling optimization problem in the Job Shop manufacturing environment. A new encoding scheme for chromosome representation has been developed for this purpose that denotes a priority sequence of operations, from which a schedule can be generated if the precedence constraints are known. The successful implementation of the proposed encoding scheme has been presented and its performance has been compared with the existing operation-based scheme found in literatures across different test cases by varying the number of jobs and machines in the shop floor.
Increased Angiotensin II–Induced Hypertension and Inflammatory Cytokines in Mice Lacking Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme N Domain Activity
Authors: Ong Frank S. , Lin Chentao X. , Campbell Duncan J. , Okwan-Duodu Derick , Chen Xu , Blackwell Wendell-Lamar B. , Shah Kandarp H. , Gonzalez-Villalobos Romer A. , Shen Xiao Z. , Fuchs Sebastien , Bernstein Kenneth E.
Published: December 2011

—Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is composed of the N- and C-terminal catalytic domains. To study the role of the ACE domains in the inflammatory response, N-knockout (KO) and C-KO mice, models lacking 1 of the 2 ACE domains, were analyzed during angiotensin II–induced hypertension. At 2 weeks, N-KO mice have systolic blood pressures that averaged 173±4.6 mm Hg, which is more than 25 mm Hg higher than the blood pressures observed in wild-type or C-KO mice (146±3.2 and 147±4.2 mm Hg). After 3 weeks, blood pressure differences between N-KO, C-KO, and wild-type were even more pronounced. Macrophages from N-KO mice have increased expression of tumor necrosis factor α after stimulation with either lipopolysaccharide (about 4-fold) or angiotensin II (about 2-fold), as compared with C-KO or wild-type mice. Inhibition of the enzyme prolyl oligopeptidase, responsible for the formation of acetyl-SerAspLysPro and other peptides, eliminated the blood pressure difference and the difference in tumor necrosis factor α expression between angiotensin II–treated N-KO and wild-type mice. However, this appears independent of acetyl-SerAspLysPro. These data establish significant differences in the inflammatory response as a function of ACE N- or C-domain catalytic activity. They also indicate a novel role of prolyl oligopeptidase in the cytokine regulation and in the blood pressure response to experimental hypertension.
Comments on “The Relationship between Land–Ocean Surface Temperature Contrast and Radiative Forcing”
Authors: Dommenget Dietmar
Published: December 2011

In a recent article, Dommenget discussed the role of sea surface temperature variability for continental climate variability and change. Lambert et al. comment on Dommenget’s article in their article several times, arguing that the sensitivity experiment in Dommenget, in which the SST response to surface land temperature changes are discussed, is inconsistent with their and other previously published studies. In this comment, the results of Dommenget’s sensitivity experiments are discussed in more detail and the experiments are extended for longer response times. It is shown that the discussion of how the oceans’ response to land forcing is time-scale dependent, with a very weak response to land forcing on interannual time scales, as discussed in Dommenget, and that it has about a twice as strong of a near-equilibrium response to land forcing on time scales longer than 100 yr. The asymmetric land–sea interaction, with the ocean forcing the land much more strongly than the land forces the oceans, as discussed in Dommenget, is confirmed by this study.
Practice‐Based Validation of Calcium and Phosphorus Solubility Limits for Pediatric Parenteral Nutrition Solutions
Authors: MacKay Mark , Jackson Daniel , Eggert Larry , Fitzgerald Kristie , Cash Jared
Published: December 2011

In an effort to maximize the precipitation‐free delivery of calcium and phosphorus to neonates, Fitzgerald and MacKay published in 1986 the results of empirical determination of calcium‐phosphate saturation curves for a number of parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions. The saturation curves generated from these investigations have been used to formulate thousands of PN solutions. The curves were developed testing only calcium and phosphate without other components added to PN solutions. The authors reviewed 38,019 PN orders from 2007–2010 and plotted the calcium and phosphate concentrations for each solution in relation to the published curves to assess the practical validity of the curves. The solutions reviewed were compounded using standard weight ranges for electrolytes, trace minerals, and vitamins. The solutions were evaluated for precipitation using standards for visual compatibility against a black and white background. There were no visual precipitates found in the 38,019 PN solutions. All calcium and phosphorus concentrations plotted below the precipitation limits predicted by the published curves despite a large range of concentrations of electrolytes and minerals. There has always been concern about extrapolating data from solubility curves that were developed empirically from a limited number of test solutions based on the few variables of calcium, phosphorus, amino acid concentration, and presence of cysteine HCl and/or fat emulsion. This experience validates the calcium and phosphorus solubility limits represented by published curves. Moreover, the findings support the concept that principal variables governing calcium and phosphorus precipitation in PN solutions are calcium, phosphorus, amino acid concentrations, temperature, and pH.
Sexually Dimorphic Testosterone Secretion in Prenatal and Neonatal Mice Is Independent of Kisspeptin-Kiss1r and GnRH Signaling
Authors: Poling Matthew C. , Kauffman Alexander S.
Published: December 2011

Kisspeptin, encoded by the Kiss1 gene, stimulates GnRH secretion and is therefore critical for sex steroid secretion at puberty and in adulthood. However, kisspeptin's role in regulating sex steroid secretion earlier in development is unexplored. In rodents, testosterone (T) levels are higher in prenatal and newborn males than females. We determined whether kisspeptin-Kiss1r and GnRH signaling plays a role in sexually dimorphic perinatal T secretion in mice. Our results demonstrate that 1) T levels in newborn males are elevated at 4 h but not 20 h after birth, but hypothalamic Kiss1 and neurokinin B (NKB) levels in males are not different between these time points (and both are lower than in females); 2) serum T levels in newborn Kiss1r knockout (KO) males are higher than in newborn females and similar to wild-type (WT) males; 3) perinatal hypothalamic progesterone receptor (Pgr) expression, which is dependent on circulating levels of gonadally produced T, is significantly higher in prenatal and newborn Kiss1r KO and WT males than similarly aged females; 4) multiple measures of testicular growth and function are not different between developing Kiss1r KO and WT mice until after postnatal d 5; and 5) GnRH neurons of newborn males do not exhibit high c-fos coexpression, and newborn hypogonadal (hpg) male mice (lacking GnRH) secrete elevated T, similar to newborn WT males. We conclude that, unlike in puberty and adulthood, elevated T secretion in prenatal and neonatal mice is independent of both kisspeptin and GnRH signaling, and the necessity of kisspeptin-Kiss1r signaling for testicular function is first apparent after d 5.
“We Will Be Right with You”: Managing Customer Expectations with Vague Promises and Cheap Talk
Authors: Allon Gad , Bassamboo Achal , Gurvich Itai
Published: December 2011

Delay announcements informing customers about anticipated service delays are prevalent in service-oriented systems. How delay announcements can influence customers in service systems is a complex problem that depends on both the dynamics of the underlying queueing system and on the customers' strategic behavior. We examine this problem of information communication by considering a model in which both the firm and the customers act strategically: the firm in choosing its delay announcement while anticipating customer response, and the customers in interpreting these announcements and in making the decision about when to join the system and when to balk. We characterize the equilibrium language that emerges between the service provider and her customers. The analysis of the emerging equilibria provides new and interesting insights into customer-firm information sharing. We show that even though the information provided to customers is nonverifiable, it improves the profits of the firm and the expected utility of the customers. The robustness of the results is illustrated via various extensions of the model. In particular, studying models with incomplete information on the system parameters allows us also to highlight the role of information provision in managing customer expectations regarding the congestion in the system. Further, the information could be as simple as “high congestion”/“low congestion” announcements, or it could be as detailed as the true state of the system. We also show that firms may choose to shade some of the truth by using intentional vagueness to lure customers.
Exploring the Initial Steps of the Testing Process: Frequency and Nature of Pre-Preanalytic Errors
Authors: Carraro Paolo , Zago Tatiana , Plebani Mario
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND

Few data are available on the nature of errors in the so-called pre-preanalytic phase, the initial steps of the testing process. We therefore sought to evaluate pre-preanalytic errors using a study design that enabled us to observe the initial procedures performed in the ward, from the physician's test request to the delivery of specimens in the clinical laboratory.

METHODS

After a 1-week direct observational phase designed to identify the operating procedures followed in 3 clinical wards, we recorded all nonconformities and errors occurring over a 6-month period. Overall, the study considered 8547 test requests, for which 15 917 blood sample tubes were collected and 52 982 tests undertaken.

RESULTS

No significant differences in error rates were found between the observational phase and the overall study period, but underfilling of coagulation tubes was found to occur more frequently in the direct observational phase (P = 0.043). In the overall study period, the frequency of errors was found to be particularly high regarding order transmission [29 916 parts per million (ppm)] and hemolysed samples (2537 ppm). The frequency of patient misidentification was 352 ppm, and the most frequent nonconformities were test requests recorded in the diary without the patient's name and failure to check the patient's identity at the time of blood draw.

CONCLUSION

The data collected in our study confirm the relative frequency of pre-preanalytic errors and underline the need to consensually prepare and adopt effective standard operating procedures in the initial steps of laboratory testing and to monitor compliance with these procedures over time.
Surfactant Systems for EOR in High-Temperature, High-Salinity Environments
Authors: Puerto Maura , Hirasaki George J. , Miller Clarence A. , Barnes Julian R.
Published: December 2011

A systematic study was made of phase behavior of alkoxyglycidylether sulfonates (AGESs). These surfactants were screened with either NaCl-only brines or NaCl-only brines and n-octane at water/ oil ratio (WOR) ~1 for temperatures between approximately 85 and 120°C. All test cases were free of alcohols and other cosolvents. Classical Winsor phase behavior was observed in most scans, with optimal salinities ranging from less than 1% NaCl to more than 20% NaCl for AGESs with suitable combinations of hydrophobe and alkoxy chain type [ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO)] and chain length. Oil solubilization was high, indicating that ultralow interfacial tensions existed near optimal conditions. The test results for 120°C at WOR~1 have been summarized in a map, which might provide a useful guide for initial selection of such surfactants for EOR processes. Saline solutions of AGESs separate at elevated temperatures into two liquid phases (the cloud-point phenomenon), which may be problematic when they are injected into high-temperature reservoirs. An example is provided that indicates that this situation can be alleviated by blending suitable AGES and internal olefin sulfonate (IOS) surfactants. Synergy between the two types of surfactant resulted in transparent, single-phase aqueous solutions for some blends, but not for the individual surfactants, over a range of conditions including in synthetic seawater. Such blends are promising because both AGES and IOS surfactants have structural features that can be adjusted during manufacture to give a range of properties to suit reservoir conditions (temperature, salinity, and crude-oil type).
The Oil Industry and Africa: The Expanding Reach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Authors: Deming Stuart H.
Published: December 2011

As a statute designed to deter improper inducements to foreign officials in connection with business activities, the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has over time dramatically increased in its reach. This article examines the reach of the FCPA into Africa with special reference to corrupt practices in the oil industry. Owing to the combined enforcement activities of the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, it concludes by arguing that the FCPA's impact and potency in the developing world will continue to grow.
Multiple Taxpayers and Litigation Cost Reimbursement Rules
Authors: Yoon Sung-Soo
Published: December 2011

This study examines whether the existence of multiple taxpayers who have similar cases will affect the settlement/litigation decisions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It also investigates whether changes in tax laws that reduce taxpayers' litigation cost burden will encourage the IRS to settle more tax cases. I find that the existence of just two taxpayers can make the IRS prefer a trial to a settlement even when the IRS would settle if there were a single taxpayer. I also find that changes in litigation cost reimbursement rules favoring taxpayers will not lead to more settlements as expected. Instead, such changes can result in more trials. Litigation cost reimbursement rules decrease taxpayers' total burden in general, but could increase that of those who have strong cases in some settings.
The Effect of Three Days of Judo Training Sessions on the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress Markers
Authors: Laskowski Radosław , Ziemann Ewa , Olek Robert , Zembron-Lacny Agnieszka
Published: December 2011

The Effect of Three Days of Judo Training Sessions on the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress Markers

The main purpose of this study was to investigate how extreme physical strain influences cytokine response and oxidative stress markers by examining professional judo athletes during a typical 3-day judo training session (randori combat training).

Creatine kinase (CK) activity, a marker of muscle damage, was considerably elevated immediately after randori training. Pro- (IL-1β and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-10) cytokines were also increased. The strongest effect was seen in IL-1β concentration, which correlated with CK activity (r = 0.49, P < 0.05). All the observed cytokines returned to baseline (IL-1β) or even dropped below initial levels (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) 12 h after completing the training. Lipid peroxides (LPO), a marker of reactive oxygen species, also decreased below their initial values. LPO levels correlated directly with IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10.

This study is the first to evaluate the effect of a 3-day judo training session on muscle damage by evaluating the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and markers of oxidative stress. It is also the first to demonstrate significant changes in the blood cytokine profile that correlate with lipid peroxide levels and muscle damage.
Influence of environmental factors on the life cycle and morphology of Artemia salina (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Sabkhet El Adhibet (SE Tunisia)
Authors: Naceur Hachem , Jenhani Amel , Romdhane Mohamed
Published: December 2011

Influence of environmental factors on the life cycle and morphology of Artemia salina (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Sabkhet El Adhibet (SE Tunisia)

This study was aimed to examine in greater detail the influence of selected environmental factors on the life cycle and morphological characteristics of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758). During this follow-up, from November 2005 to April 2006 and from November 2006 to April 2007, Sabkhet El Adhibet (southeast Tunisia: 33°07'7.58"N, 11°24'8.69"E) was surveyed monthly to determine the impact of water salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and phytoplankton density and community structure on Artemia density, population structure, reproductive mode, and total offspring. Strong correlations were found between physicochemical parameters of water and Artemia reproduction characteristics. In contrast, no significant relationship was detected between physicochemical variables and Artemia population structure and density. Further, there were no correlations between phytoplankton density and the Artemia life cycle. Moreover, we observed relationships between physicochemical parameters and all morphological characteristics, especially between the width of 3rd abdominal segment and salinity (rxy = 0.96), temperature (rxy = 0.73), pH (rxy = -0.77) and oxygen (rxy = -0.92) for male specimens, and between the length of the furca and both salinity (rxy = -0.76) and dissolved oxygen (rxy = 0.74), and between the maximal diameter of compound eyes and temperature (rxy = -0.56) for female specimens. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that male and female specimens collected at different environmental conditions converge, which explains the morphological similarity between them according to salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration as well as total phytoplankton, diatom, cryptophyte, and dinophyte density.
An Efficient Hardware Implementation of Smith-Waterman Algorithm Based on the Incremental Approach
Authors: Pułka Andrzej , Milik Adam
Published: December 2011

An Efficient Hardware Implementation of Smith-Waterman Algorithm Based on the Incremental Approach

The paper presents optimized hardware structure applied to genome alignment search. The proposed methodology is based on dynamic programming. The authors show how starting from the original Smith-Waterman approach, the algorithm can be optimized and the evaluation process simplified and speeded-up. The main idea is based on the observations of growth trends in the adjacent cells of the systolic array, which leads to the incremental approach. Moreover various coding styles are discussed and the best technique allowing further reduction of resources is selected. The entire processing unit utilizes fully pipelined structure that is well balanced trade-off between performance and resource requirements. The proposed technique is implemented in modern FPGA structures and obtained results proved efficiency of the methodology comparing to other approaches in the field.
Effects of Mechanical Site Preparation on Growth of Oaks Planted on Former Agricultural Fields
Authors: Self Andrew , Ezell Andrew W. , Rowe Dennis , Schultz Emily B. , Hodges John D.
Published: December 2011

Mechanical site preparation is frequently proposed to alleviate problematic soil conditions when afforesting retired agricultural fields. Without management of soil problems, any seedlings planted in these areas may exhibit poor growth and survival. While mechanical site preparation methods currently employed in hardwood afforestation are proven, there is a substantial void in research comparing subsoiling, bedding, and combination plowing treatments. A total of 4,320 bare-root Nuttall oak (Quercus texana Buckley), Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii Buckley), and swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii Nutt.) seedlings were planted in February 2008 on three Mississippi sites. All sites were of comparable soils and received above average precipitation throughout the three-year duration of the study. Four site preparation treatments were replicated at each site, with 480 seedlings planted in each of nine replications, and a total of 1,440 seedlings per species planted across all sites. Mechanical treatments were installed using 3.1 m row centers, with treatments as follows: control, subsoiling, bedding, and combination plowing. Treatment effects on seedling height, groundline diameter (GLD), and survival were analyzed. Seedlings exhibited greater height in bedded and combination plowed areas (79.7 cm to 102.7 cm and 82.6 cm to 100.1 cm, respectively) compared to subsoiled or control areas (70.4 cm to 84.6 cm and 71.4 cm to 86.9 cm, respectively). Greater GLD was observed in bedded and combination plowed areas (11.9 mm to 18.4 mm and 12.2 mm to 18.3 mm, respectively) compared to subsoiled or control areas (10.2 mm to 14.6 mm and 10.5 mm to 15.6 mm, respectively). Survival was high for this study (94.%), and no differences were detected among treatments.
An Organizing Vision for E-Participation Projects in Africa
Authors: Ochara Nixon Muganda
Published: December 2011

To address the shortcomings of this artifact concept, the chapter further presents literature and insights from prior analyses to underpin a nomadic e-particpation framework for realizing effective e-particpation. The framework is clustered around two major layers of building Mobile Communities: building local networks of governance and building flexible networks. The emphasis in the proposed framework is that the current conceptualization of e-government stifles e-particpation, which therefore limits greater online public participation and deliberations on public policy issues.
SCRAN
Authors: Deakin Mark
Published: December 2011

This chapter draws attention to the triple-helix model of knowledge production and the Web-services assembled to support the development of the SmartCities (inter) Regional Academic Network as a community of practice for standardising the transformation of eGovernment services. It draws particular attention to the University-Industry-Government collaborations (triple-helix) underlying the Web 2.0 service-orientated architecture of this knowledge infrastructure and the deployment of such technologies as an enterprise allowing communities to learn about how to standardise eGovernment services as transformative business-to-citizen applications. The chapter serves to highlight the critical role business-to-citizen applications play in making it possible for cities to be smart in reaching beyond the transactional logic of service provision and grasping the potential regional innovation systems offer to democratise the customisation of eGovernment through multi-channel access and via user profiling.
Success and Failure of Local E-Government Projects
Authors: Abdelsalam Hisham M. , Reddick Christopher G. , El Kadi Hatem A.
Published: December 2011

This chapter examines the Information Systems success model in the Egyptian context. Much of the existing literature on information system success focuses primarily on the private sector. There are fewer studies that examine success in the context of the development of e-government. This study focuses specifically on local e-government development of projects in Egypt. A survey is administered in three local governments on actual users of Information Systems. The results of this study confirm much of the existing research on information system success, but highlight the importance of net benefit as a success factor that examines the organizational and managerial context of e-government development. The importance of this research indicates that managerial functions matter for the success of e-government projects.
Social Skill Development through Math
Authors: Walker Zachary M. , Hunt Jessica H.
Published: December 2011

How to weave life skills into a classroom to support students with disabilities.
Disinfection By‐Products—Meeting the Challenges of Compliance
Authors: Mike Sudman T. , Hone Todd E. , Green Cheryl L.
Published: December 2011

This article discussed how the city of Celina, Ohio, when faced with a compliance violation, turned to a granular activated carbon (GAC) system to treat challenging source water with high total organic carbon (TOC), disinfection byproducts (DBPs), and taste and odor problems.
Study on waste heat recovery from exhaust smoke in cogeneration system using woody biomass fuels
Authors: Hoshi Akira , Akazawa Takuya , Wakashima Shin‐ichiro , Fujimoto Isao , Kikuoka Yasuhira
Published: December 2011

In recent years, fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas have become limited resources. In addition, bad effects caused by excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have now begun destroying our global environment seriously. Since current living and economical standards depend strongly on the fossil fuels, it is necessary to realize a new society that utilizes biomass as one of major sources of energy. In this background, we manufactured a practical Stirling engine using woody biomass fuels for the first time in Japan in 2005. Further we proposed a unique cogeneration system with the Stirling engine that uses woody biomass fuels such as sawdust, firewood, and wood pellets. In this cogeneration system, 43% of the input energy is wasted as heat loss from the exhaust smoke into the atmosphere. Therefore we tried to recover the waste heat by using a thermoelectric conversion module in this study. In this report, the results of basic performance test and demonstration experiment as a cogeneration system combined the waste heat recovery with a power generating system are reported. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.20390
Evaluating the effect of land use changes on soil erosion and sediment yield using a grid‐based distributed modelling approach
Authors: Wang Guoqiang , Jiang Hong , Xu Zongxue , Wang Lijing , Yue Weifeng
Published: December 2011

Processes of soil erosion and sediment transport are strongly influenced by land use changes so the modelling of land use changes is important with respect to the simulation of soil degradation and its on‐site and off‐site consequences. The reliability of simulation results from erosion models is circumscribed by considerable spatial variation in many parameters. However, most of the currently widely used erosion models at the mesoscale are semidistributed, which leads to difficulties in incorporating a high degree of spatial information, especially land use information, so that the effects of land use changes on soil erosion have hitherto not been investigated in detail using these models. In this article, a grid‐based distributed erosion and sediment transport model is introduced, which simulates the spatial pattern of erosion and deposition rates and sediment transport processes in river channels. In this model, land use affects soil erosion through altering soil loss and influencing sediment delivery. Simulated soil erosion for events recorded in 1989 and 1996 in the Lushi basin in China was analyzed by comparing it with historical land use maps. The results indicated that even relatively minor land use changes had a significant effect on regional soil erosion rates and sediment transport to rivers. The average erosion rate increased from 1989 to 1996, after the transformation of forest to farmland. The results of the study suggest that the proposed soil erosion model can be applied in similar river basins. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Practical Quantification of Blood Glucose Production due to High‐level Chronic Stress
Authors: Mathews Edward Henry , Liebenberg Leon
Published: December 2011

Blood glucose (BG) is the primary metabolic fuel for, among others, cancer cell progression, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Stress is an important contributor to the amount of BG produced especially by the liver. In this paper, we attempt to quantify the BG production due to chronic (in the order of weeks) high‐level psychological stress in a manner that a lay person will understand. Three independent approaches were used. The first approach was based on a literature survey of stress hormone data from healthy individuals and its subsequent mathematical manipulation. The next approach was a deductive process where BG levels could be deduced from published stress data of large cardiovascular clinical trials. The third approach used empirical BG data and a BG simulation model. The three different methods produced an average BG increase of 2.2‐fold above basal for high levels of stress over a period of more than a day. The standard deviation normalized to the average value was 4.5%. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thoracoscopic Removal of Mediastinal Parathyroid Lesions: Selection of Surgical Approach and Pitfalls of Preoperative and Intraoperative Localization
Authors: Iihara Masatoshi , Suzuki Rumi , Kawamata Akiko , Horiuchi Kiyomi , Okamoto Takahiro
Published: December 2011

Background

Thoracoscopic surgery has replaced conventional sternotomy or thoracotomy for resection of mediastinal parathyroid lesions. We review our experience with this type of surgery with reference to selection of the appropriate approach and the pitfalls of lesion localization before and during surgery.

Methods

During a 14‐year period, we treated 14 patients with hyperparathyroidism, in whom a mediastinal lesion had been localized preoperatively by sestamibi scan. Primary hyperparathyroidism was present in 12 patients (single adenoma in 11, associated with MEN 1 in one) and secondary hyperparathyroidism in 2. Thoracoscopic procedures were performed by the three‐port method.

Results

The thoracoscopic procedure was successful in eight patients who were shown preoperatively to have a deep‐seated (5 anterior, 3 middle) mediastinal lesions. Intraoperative visual confirmation of parathyroid adenoma was difficult only in a 19‐year‐old patient with a tumor embedded in the thymus, necessitating partial thymectomy. One of the eight mediastinal lesions resected thoracoscopically was a sestamibi‐positive thymoma. Secondary hyperparathyroidism recurred 4 years after thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy in one patient, necessitating additional thoracoscopic removal of this supernumerary lesion. However, seven patients with mediastinal parathyroid lesions localized at the aortic arch or upper region were treated successfully via a cervical approach. None of the patients suffered any surgical complications.

Conclusions

Thoracoscopic surgery is safe and feasible for resection of deep mediastinal parathyroid lesions. Such lesions localized preoperatively at the aortic arch or upper region can be treated via a cervical approach. Preoperative sestamibi scan can sometimes give a false‐positive result in cases of concurrent thymoma.
L* neural networks from different magnetic field models and their applicability
Authors: Yu Yiqun , Koller Josef , Zaharia Sorin , Jordanova Vania
Published: December 2011

The third adiabatic invariant L* plays an important role in modeling and understanding the radiation belt dynamics. The typical way to numerically calculate the L* value follows the method described by Roederer (1970), which is just a line integration method that is computationally slow and expensive. This work describes the application of an artificial neural network technique to a series of magnetospheric field models for calculating L* values in microseconds instead of seconds without losing significant accuracy, thereby delivering to the radiation belt community various L* neural networks. These neural networks will enable comprehensive solar‐cycle long studies of radiation belt processes and can also help the development of operational radiation belt models because of the speed in calculating L*. The main focus of this work is to test the applicability of each L* neural network, an aspect not addressed in the previous studies, under different interplanetary and magnetospheric conditions. Specifically, we describe the conditions when the neural network is providing a good approximation to the full numerical calculation of L* and when the traditional but more time‐consuming method should be used. These L* neural networks are available for download at http://lanlstar.net.
The ab initio ground-state potential energy function of beryllium monohydride, BeH
Authors: Koput Jacek
Published: December 2011

The accurate ground-state potential energy function of beryllium monohydride, BeH, has been determined from large-scale ab initio calculations using the multi-reference averaged coupled-pair functional (MR-ACPF) method in conjunction with the correlation-consistent core-valence basis sets up to septuple-zeta quality. The effects of electron correlation beyond the MR-ACPF level of approximation were taken into account. The scalar relativistic and adiabatic (the diagonal correction) effects, as well as some of the nonadiabatic effects, were also discussed. The vibration-rotation energy levels of three isotopologues, BeH, BeD, and BeT, were predicted to sub-cm−1 accuracy.
Microsecond linear optical response in the unusual nematic phase of achiral bimesogens
Authors: Panov V. P. , Balachandran R. , Nagaraj M. , Vij J. K. , Tamba M. G. , Kohlmeier A. , Mehl G. H.
Published: December 2011

Some hydrocarbon linked mesogenic dimers are known to exhibit an additional nematic phase (Nx) below a conventional uniaxial nematic (Nu) phase. Although composed of non-chiral molecules, the Nx phase is found to exhibit linear (polar) switching under applied electric field. This switching has remarkably low response time of the order of a few microseconds. Two chiral domains with opposite handedness and consequently opposite responses are found in planar cells. Uniformly lying helix, electroclinic, and flexoelectric effects are given as possible causes for this intriguing phenomenon.
Single-step solution processing of small-molecule organic semiconductor field-effect transistors at high yield
Authors: Yu Liyang , Li Xiaoran , Pavlica Egon , Loth Marsha A. , Anthony John E. , Bratina Gvido , Kjellander Charlotte , Gelinck Gerwin , Stingelin Natalie
Published: December 2011

Here, we report a simple, alternative route towards high-mobility structures of the small-molecular semiconductor 5,11-bis(triethyl silylethynyl) anthradithiophene that requires one single processing step without the need for any post-deposition processing. The method relies on careful control of the casting temperature of the semiconductor and allows rapid production of transistors with uniform and reproducible device performance over large areas.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the Response of Dickeya dadantii 3937 to Plant Antimicrobial Peptides
Authors: Rio-Alvarez Isabel , Rodríguez-Herva Jose J. , Cuartas-Lanza Raquel , Toth Ian , Pritchard Leighton , Rodríguez-Palenzuela Pablo , López-Solanilla Emilia
Published: December 2011

Antimicrobial peptides constitute an important factor in the defense of plants against pathogens, and bacterial resistance to these peptides have previously been shown to be an important virulence factor in Dickeya dadantii, the causal agent of soft-rot disease of vegetables. In order to understand the bacterial response to antimicrobial peptides, a transcriptional microarray analysis was performed upon treatment with sub-lethal concentration of thionins, a widespread plant peptide. In all, 36 genes were found to be overexpressed, and were classified according to their deduced function as i) transcriptional regulators, ii) transport, and iii) modification of the bacterial membrane. One gene encoding a uricase was found to be repressed. The majority of these genes are known to be under the control of the PhoP/PhoQ system. Five genes representing the different functions induced were selected for further analysis. The results obtained indicate that the presence of antimicrobial peptides induces a complex response which includes peptide-specific elements and general stress-response elements contributing differentially to the virulence in different hosts.
First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on Tamarillo in the United States
Authors: Jones R. W. , Perez F. G.
Published: December 2011

An aggressive anthracnose disease was identified on greenhouse and home garden cultivated tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) in 2010 and 2011 in Prince George's and Montgomery counties of Maryland. Angular lesions, dark brown at the edges and tan at the interior, eventually engulfed leaves of mature, fruit bearing trees. Additional lesions were seen on petioles and stems, resulting in stem girdling. Flower clusters were also attacked, but fruit lesions were not observed. Sporulation was evident only on stem tissue. In greenhouse-cultivated 3- to 8-month-old immature plants were found to be infected in the foliar and apical regions, resulting in death. Cultures obtained from surface-sterilized leaf and stem tissue of multiple disease samples cultivated on potato dextrose agar consistently resulted in a single fungal isolate. Molecular identification was carried out by sequence analysis of the region amplified using ITS1 forward and ITS4 reverse primers (ITS1 and 2, 5.8S ribosomal RNA). Full matches were found to Glomerella acutata (anamorph Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds). A representative sequence was submitted to GenBank as JN863589. Cultures were reddish gray with masses of macroscopically mucilaginous orange-brown spores. Conidia were fusiform, measuring 14.0 ± 2.3 × 5.7 ± 0.7 μm. No setae were present, but structures resembling immature perithecia were present, embedded in the agar, a characteristic of C. acutatum Group D isolates (2). Six immature plants (5 months old) and three mature plants (2 years old) were spray inoculated with 1 × 104 conidia per ml of water into apical regions and on the upper foliage. Plants were enclosed in clear plastic bags and incubated for 3 days. Two noninoculated plants of each age were maintained as controls. Bags were removed and plants were maintained in the greenhouse at 25°C. Within 2 weeks, all inoculated plants expressed disease symptoms. Lesions on the foliage were evident as well as the apical regions. Lesions progressed, killing the upper regions of the plant within 1 month. Isolations consistently resulted in cultures of C. acutatum. A culture obtained from infected tissue derived from the first inoculation study was used to repeat Koch's postulate. Anthracnose of tamarillo has been reported in South America and New Zealand where commercial production is concentrated, however, it is primarily a fruit disease (1). Our isolate is principally a foliar and stem pathogen. Host range for C. acutatum is wide enough that our isolate likely originated from another host since there is no widespread tamarillo production in the United States. Interestingly, solanaceous crop plants are generally subject to infection by C. coccodes, not C. acutatum, however, this may be changing (3).

References: (1) L. Afanador-Kafuri et al. Phytopathology 93:579, 2003. (2) R. Lardner et al. Mycol. Res. 103:275, 1999. (3) H. Xia et al. Plant Dis. 95:219, 2011.
Follow up of aerobic capacity in children affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome
Authors: YU CLARE C.W. , LI ALBERT M. , AU CHUN T. , MCMANUS ALISON M. , SO RAYMOND C.H. , LAM HUGH S. , CHU WINNIE C.W. , SO HUNG K. , CHIU WA K. , LEUNG CHI W. , YAU YAT S. , FOK TAI F. , SUNG RITA Y.T.
Published: December 2011

Background and objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the aerobic capacity of children 3 years after they were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods:  Twenty‐seven patients who completed both pulmonary function and maximal aerobic capacity tests at 6 and 15 months after the acute illness were invited to return for reassessment.

Results:  Twenty‐one patients (median age 18.2 years, interquartile range (IQR) 16.5–19.7) completed all investigations at 36 months. Pulmonary function was normal in all patients. Maximal aerobic capacity, peak oxygen pulse (peak VO2) and ventilatory anaerobic threshold showed significant improvements compared with values measured at 6 months in both boys and girls. In girls, ventilatory efficiency (ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide) and perfusion of the lungs (end‐tidal partial carbon dioxide pressure) had not increased further compared with the values measured at 15 months. Although peak VO2 improved further at 36 months in patients with or without persistent radiological abnormalities, the values were 68% (IQR 50–84) and 74% (IQR 60–99), respectively, of those for normal control subjects.

Conclusions:  There were improvements in aerobic capacity at 36 months in children affected by SARS; however, the measured values remained suboptimal.
Sexual Dimorphism in the Tarsal Bones: Implications for Sex Determination
Authors: Harris Sheena M. , Case D. Troy
Published: December 2011

Abstract: An accurate determination of sex is essential in the identification of human remains in a forensic context. Measurements of some of the tarsals have been shown to be sexually dimorphic by previous researchers. The purpose of the present study is to determine which dimensions of the seven tarsals demonstrate the greatest sexual dimorphism and therefore have the most potential for accurate sex determination. Eighteen measurements of length, width, and height were obtained from the tarsals of 160 European‐American males and females from the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection. These measurements were made using a mini‐osteometric board. Logistic regression analyses were performed to create equations for sex discrimination. All measurements showed significant sexual dimorphism, with the talus, cuboid, and cuneiform I producing allocation accuracies of between 88 and 92%. Combinations of measurements provided better accuracy (88.1–93.6%) than individual measurements (80.0–88.0%).
Bone Age Assessment: The Applicability of the Greulich–Pyle Method in Eastern Turkish Children
Authors: Cantekin Kenan , Celikoglu Mevlut , Miloglu Ozkan , Dane Asim , Erdem Abdulvahit
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the Greulich–Pyle (GP) method is adequate for Turkish children. A group of 767 individuals (425 girls and 342 boys) between 7 and 17 years were studied. Bone age (BA) from plain radiographs of left hands and wrists by GP standards was estimated. The total mean differences between BA and chronological age (CA) for girls and boys were found to be 0.20 and −0.13 years, respectively. There were significant differences between BA and CA in age groups 7‐, 8‐, 10‐, 11‐, 12‐, 13‐, 15‐, and 16‐year‐olds for girls and 7‐, 10‐, and 12‐year‐olds for boys. The results of this study suggest that the mean differences between BA and CA are low enough to be of no practical significance, and thus, for the time being unless any other methods will be proved more useful, this method could be used in all age groups.
To pluck or not to pluck: scientific methodologies should be carefully chosen, not ‘one size fits all’
Authors: Katzner Todd E. , Wheeler Maria , Negro Juan Jose , Kapetanakos Yula , DeWoody J. Andrew , Horvath Marton , Lovette Irby
Published: December 2011

McDonald and Griffith (2011) raise important points in their critique of reliance on feathers as a source of DNA for scientific research. Although those authors are right about many details, their one‐size‐fits all approach (i.e. prescribing blood draws for avian DNA analyses) obscures bigger picture issues that are of extraordinary relevance to avian biology. We introduce four points to provide alternative perspectives on their commentary. In particular, we feel that a) scientific goals should determine methodologies; b) stress to animals is context specific and blood sampling is not always less stressful to birds than feather plucking; c) feather DNA is too valuable to be ignored, especially when coupled with other analyses that require feathers; and d) logistical and other concerns often preclude blood sampling. A one size fits all approach to science is generally short‐sighted, be it in regard to the collection of genetic or other samples from birds, or to a suite of other research problems.
An atypical melanocytic lesion without genomic abnormalities shows locoregional metastasis
Authors: Abraham Ronnie M. , Ming Michael E. , Elder David E. , Xu Xiaowei
Published: December 2011

A subset of difficult melanocytic lesions exists with histopathologic features that evade diagnostic consensus from even expert dermatopathologists. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has emerged as a useful diagnostic tool to categorize these lesions, by identifying known chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanoma or the lack thereof in melanocytic nevi. However, determining a lesion's biological behavior primarily on CGH is limited by a relatively small series of corroborative cases without long term follow up. We present a case of a pigmented lesion on the right cheek of a 4 year old boy. The lesion had features of a deep penetrating nevus, but the presence of frequent mitoses, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and microscopic foci of tumor necrosis were concerning for an unusual melanoma. We termed this lesion a melanocytic tumor of uncertain potential (MELTUMP) for these reasons. High‐resolution array‐CGH performed elsewhere on the lesion demonstrated no melanoma‐associated genomic abnormalities. A sentinel lymph node biopsy of this patient later revealed multiple small tumor deposits. Although the presence of nodal involvement in similar lesions often do not lead to progressive and fatal disease, this case illustrates that atypical melanocytic lesions with nodal involvement may not demonstrate genomic abnormalities by CGH, and that histopathologic assessment remains paramount in defining these difficult melanocytic lesions. Further comprehensive study of these lesions is needed.

Abraham RM, Ming ME, Elder DE, Xu X. An atypical melanocytic lesion without genomic abnormalities shows locoregional metastasis.