bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Online Universal Diagnosis Procedure Using Two External Flux Sensors Applied to the AC Electrical Rotating Machines
Authors: Pusca Remus , Romary Raphael , Ceban Andrian , Brudny Jean-François
Published: November 2010

This paper presents an original non-invasive procedure for the diagnosis of electromagnetic devices, as well as AC electrical rotating machines using two external flux coil sensors that measure the external magnetic field in the machines’ vicinity. The diagnosis exploits the signal delivered by the two sensors placed in particular positions. Contrary to classical methods using only one sensor, the presented method does not require any knowledge of a presumed machine’s healthy former state. On the other hand, the loading operating is not a disturbing factor but it is used to the fault discrimination. In order to present this procedure, an internal stator inter-turn short-circuit fault is considered as well.
A Local Weighted Nearest Neighbor Algorithm and a Weighted and Constrained Least-Squared Method for Mixed Odor Analysis by Electronic Nose Systems
Authors: Tang Kea-Tiong , Lin Yi-Shan , Shyu Jyuo-Min
Published: November 2010

A great deal of work has been done to develop techniques for odor analysis by electronic nose systems. These analyses mostly focus on identifying a particular odor by comparing with a known odor dataset. However, in many situations, it would be more practical if each individual odorant could be determined directly. This paper proposes two methods for such odor components analysis for electronic nose systems. First, a K-nearest neighbor (KNN)-based local weighted nearest neighbor (LWNN) algorithm is proposed to determine the components of an odor. According to the component analysis, the odor training data is firstly categorized into several groups, each of which is represented by its centroid. The examined odor is then classified as the class of the nearest centroid. The distance between the examined odor and the centroid is calculated based on a weighting scheme, which captures the local structure of each predefined group. To further determine the concentration of each component, odor models are built by regressions. Then, a weighted and constrained least-squares (WCLS) method is proposed to estimate the component concentrations. Experiments were carried out to assess the effectiveness of the proposed methods. The LWNN algorithm is able to classify mixed odors with different mixing ratios, while the WCLS method can provide good estimates on component concentrations.
Photo-Detectors for Time of Flight Positron Emission Tomography (ToF-PET)
Authors: Spanoudaki Virginia Ch. , Levin Craig S.
Published: November 2010

We present the most recent advances in photo-detector design employed in time of flight positron emission tomography (ToF-PET). PET is a molecular imaging modality that collects pairs of coincident (temporally correlated) annihilation photons emitted from the patient body. The annihilation photon detector typically comprises a scintillation crystal coupled to a fast photo-detector. ToF information provides better localization of the annihilation event along the line formed by each detector pair, resulting in an overall improvement in signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the reconstructed image. Apart from the demand for high luminosity and fast decay time of the scintillation crystal, proper design and selection of the photo-detector and methods for arrival time pick-off are a prerequisite for achieving excellent time resolution required for ToF-PET. We review the two types of photo-detectors used in ToF-PET: photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs) with a special focus on SiPMs.
Macro Level Modeling of a Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Authors: Suther Torgeir , Fung Alan , Koksal Murat , Zabihian Farshid
Published: November 2010

This paper presents a macro-level model of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack implemented in Aspen Plus® for the simulation of SOFC system. The model is 0-dimensional and accepts hydrocarbon fuels such as reformed natural gas, with user inputs of current density, fuel and air composition, flow rates, temperature, pressure, and fuel utilization factor. The model outputs the composition of the exhaust, work produced, heat available for the fuel reformer, and electrochemical properties of SOFC for model validation. It was developed considering the activation, concentration, and ohmic losses to be the main over-potentials within the SOFC, and mathematical expressions for these were chosen based on available studies in the literature. The model also considered the water shift reaction of CO and the methane reforming reaction. The model results were validated using experimental data from Siemens Westinghouse. The results showed that the model could capture the operating pressure and temperature dependency of the SOFC performance successfully in an operating range of 1–15 atm for pressure and 900 °C–1,000 °C for temperature. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the model constants and input parameters that impacted the over-potentials.
Buying Time—The Immune System Determinants of the Incubation Period to Respiratory Viruses
Authors: Hermesh Tamar , Moltedo Bruno , López Carolina B. , Moran Thomas M.
Published: November 2010

Respiratory viruses cause disease in humans characterized by an abrupt onset of symptoms. Studies in humans and animal models have shown that symptoms are not immediate and appear days or even weeks after infection. Since the initial symptoms are a manifestation of virus recognition by elements of the innate immune response, early virus replication must go largely undetected. The interval between infection and the emergence of symptoms is called the incubation period and is widely used as a clinical score. While incubation periods have been described for many virus infections the underlying mechanism for this asymptomatic phase has not been comprehensively documented. Here we review studies of the interaction between human pathogenic respiratory RNA viruses and the host with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms used by viruses to inhibit immunity. We discuss the concept of the “stealth phase”, defined as the time between infection and the earliest detectable inflammatory response. We propose that the “stealth phase” phenomenon is primarily responsible for the suppression of symptoms during the incubation period and results from viral antagonism that inhibits major pathways of the innate immune system allowing an extended time of unhindered virus replication.
From Clinical Practice Guidelines to Computer-interpretable Guidelines
Authors: Tange H. , van den Herik H. J. , Hasman A. , Latoszek-Berendsen A.
Published: November 2010

Background: Guidelines are among us for over 30 years. Initially they were used as algorithmic protocols by nurses and other ancillary personnel. Many physicians regarded the use of guidelines as cookbook medicine. However, quality and patient safety issues have changed the attitude towards guidelines. Implementing formalized guidelines in a decision support system with an interface to an electronic patient record (EPR) makes the application of guidelines more personal and therefore acceptable at the moment of care.

Objective: To obtain, via a literature review, an insight into factors that influence the design and implementation of guidelines.

Methods: An extensive search of the scientific literature in PubMed was carried out with a focus on guideline characteristics, guideline development and implementation, and guideline dissemination.

Results: We present studies that enable us to explain the characteristics of high-quality guidelines, and new advanced methods for guideline formalization, computerization, and implementation. We show how the guidelines affect processes of care and the patient outcome. We discuss the reasons of low guideline adherence as presented in the literature and comment upon them.

Conclusions: Developing high-quality guidelines requires a skilled team of people and sufficient budget. The guidelines should give personalized advice. Computer-interpretable guidelines (CIGs) that have access to the patient’s EPR are able to give personal advice. Because of the costs, sharing of CIGs is a critical requirement for guideline development, dissemination, and implementation. Until now this is hardly possible, because of the many models in use. However, some solutions have been proposed. For instance, a standardized terminology should be imposed so that the terms in guidelines can be matched with terms in an EPR. Also, a dissemination model for easy updating of guidelines should be established. The recommendations should be based on evidence instead of on consensus. To test the quality of the guideline, appraisal instruments should be used to assess the guideline as a whole, as well as checking the quality of the recommendations individually. Only in this way optimal guideline advice can be given on an individual basis at a reasonable cost.
International Efforts in Nanoinformatics Research Applied to Nanomedicine
Authors: Maojo V. , Chiesa S. , Martin-Sanchez F. , Kern J. , Potamias G. , Crespo J. , Garcia-Remesal M. , Keuchkerian S. , Kulikowski C. , Mitchell J. A. , de la Iglesia D.
Published: November 2010

Background: Nanomedicine and nanoinformatics are novel disciplines facing substantial challenges. Since nanomedicine involves complex and massive data analysis and management, a new discipline named nanoinformatics is now emerging to provide the vision and the informatics methods and tools needed forsuch purposes. Methods from biomedical informatics may prove applicable with some adaptation despite nanomedicine involving different biophysical and biochemical characteristics of nanomaterials and corresponding differences in information complexity.

Objectives: We analyze recent initiatives and opportunities for research in nanomedicine and nanoinformatics as well as the previous experience of the authors, particularly in the context of a European project named ACTION-Grid. In this project the authors aimed to create a collaborative environment in biomedical and nanomedical research among countries in Europe, Western Balkans, Latin America, North Africa and the USA.

Methods: We review and analyze the rationale and scientific issues behind the new fields of nanomedicine and nanoinformatics. Such a review is linked to actual research projects and achievements of the authors within their groups.

Results: The work of the authors at the intersection between these two areas is presented. We also analyze several research initiatives that have recently emerged in the EU and USA context and highlight some ideas for future action at the international level.

Conclusions: Nanoinformatics aims to build new bridges between medicine, nanotechnology and informatics, allowing the application of computational methods in the nano-related areas. Opportunities for world-wide collaboration are already emerging and will be influential in advancing the field.
Stratégies du texte hétérogène dans le Conde Lucanor de Don Juan Manuel
Authors: Biaggini Olivier
Published: November 2010

Ce travail aborde le Conde Lucanor à partir du caractère hétérogène que l’œuvre, comme fiction didactique, affiche et met en scène, afin de montrer que l’hétérogénéité contribue à donner une plus grande légitimité à la prétention exemplaire des récits et à asseoir l’autorité de Don Juan Manuel, quoique d’une façon très indirecte et instable, ce qui révèle sa dimension stratégique et sa participation à un processus complexe d’élaboration littéraire.
Le chevalier Ferrán Mexía et son Nobiliario vero (1492) : de l’imaginaire chevaleresque à la logique de l’exclusion
Authors: Heusch Carlos
Published: November 2010

Présentation de Ferrán Mexía, à travers sa biographie, ses poèmes et son œuvre majeure, le Nobiliario vero (1492) qui est étudiée sous l’angle du débat entre les défenseurs et les opposants des conceptions lignagères de la noblesse. Au moment où les Rois Catholiques lancent une vaste réflexion sur le droit, Mexía veut en finir avec les idées bartolistes sur la noblesse. Aussi va-t-il aller plus loin que ses prédécesseurs en axant la noblesse non seulement sur le lignage mais encore sur le sang. L’anoblissement d’un roturier ne peut donc être effectif qu’au bout de la quatrième génération, un délai nécessaire pour que le sang de son lignage plébéien puisse être « purifié ». Mais une fois ces taches originelles lavées la noblesse devient définitive, à jamais.
Archive of oral tradition of the Centre for Asia Minor Studies: its formation and its contribution to research
Authors: Kapoli Evi
Published: November 2010

L’archive d’histoire orale du Centre d’Études d’Asie Mineure. Création et rôle dans l’encadrement de la recherche. En 1930, quelques années après l’échange de populations entre la Turquie et la Grèce, Melpo Logotheti-Merlier (1890-1979) a créé le Centre d’études d’Asie Mineure dans le but d’assurer la sauvegarde de l’histoire et de la culture des populations grecques réfugiées d’Asie Mineure. Le projet consista à demander aux réfugiés de décrire les lieux où ils avaient vécu, et de donner le maximum d’informations sur leur mode de vie, leurs pratiques religieuses ainsi que sur les relations qu’ils entretenaient avec leurs voisins turcs. Enfin, des questions leur étaient également posées sur leur installation en Grèce. Les archives réunies au Centre d’études d’Asie Mineure comprennent les témoignages oraux de 5 000 réfugiés soit environ 300 000 pages manuscrites reprenant les interviews menés depuis le début des années 1930 jusqu’aux années 1970. Ces archives de la tradition orale sont porteuses d’une triple empreintes, celle de Melpo Merlier, elle-même, celles des chercheurs qui ont travaillé au centre mais également celle des informateurs, les réfugiés eux-mêmes. Cet article se propose d’examiner comment ces archives témoignent de la manière dont les réfugiés – et, avec eux, une partie de la société grecque - ont vécu ce bouleversement qui a complètement transformé leur vie et comment ils ont réussi à sauvegarder la mémoire de leur passé.
Contextualiser les archives missionnaires : quelques remarques méthodologiques
Authors: Naepels Michel
Published: November 2010

Contextualiser les archives missionaires : quelques remarques méthodologiques. Les interactions engagées par les missionnaires, marquées par leur volonté de convertir, peuvent également avoir produit des matériaux ethnographiques sous forme d’écrits de différente nature : journaux, correspondances, articles publiés dans divers cadres. À la question du pourquoi ces écrits, et pour qui, vient en écho la question du pourquoi les interlocuteurs du missionnaire ont-ils répondu à ses questions. Il est important de retrouver derrière l’archive la situation qui l’a produite, et de connaître l’histoire de sa conservation, pour réfléchir ensuite à l’utilisation qu’on peut en faire.
Les temps de l’archivage de terrain. Les documents intermédiaires, du papier à l’ordinateur
Authors: Augustins Georges , Mercier Claude , Guilleron Jean-Louis
Published: November 2010

Les temps de l’archivage de terrain. Les documents intermédiaires, du papier à l’ordinateur. La revisite de terrains ethnologiques passés fournit l’occasion de faire le point sur les méthodes employées et leur évolution entre deux moments de la recherche. Elle permet également le passage et la continuité des travaux d’un ethnologue vers un autre. Nous traiterons ces deux angles au travers d’une expérience concrète réalisée sur les travaux ethnologiques des Baronnies de Bigorre. Outre les présentations des deux enquêtes de terrain, la première effectuée de 1974 à 1976 et la seconde fin 2005/début 2006, nous interrogerons les différences dans la pratique ethnographique et les raisons du changement, puis nous nous poserons la question de l’utilisation des documents intermédiaires du premier ethnologue par le second.
Ethnographie des archives officielles de l’État civil : une société en filigrane
Authors: Mercier Claude
Published: November 2010

Ethnographie des archives officielles de l’État civil : une société en filigrane. Les registres des actes d’État civil, classiquement consultés par les ethnologues du domaine français pour établir un système de parenté d’une localité, portent en eux des indications allant bien au-delà de cette seule opération. Au cours de la lecture d’un texte pourtant formaté par une loi, c’est toute une société qui s’y perçoit en filigrane. Apparaissent alors un mode d’organisation sociale particulier à une région et le fonctionnement qui lui est associé.
Le Fonds Marcel-Griaule : un objet de recherche à partager ou un patrimoine à restituer ?
Authors: Jolly Éric
Published: November 2010

Le Fonds-Marcel Griaule, un objet de recherche à partager ou un patrimoine à restituer ? L’ouverture du fonds Griaule aux chercheurs des sociétés ou des régions observées aurait un double effet bénéfique sur la recherche : elle permettrait une meilleure compréhension des données archivées, notamment grâce à la prise en compte du poids des informateurs ou du contexte local dans la production de ces données ; mais elle permettrait également à ces chercheurs d’interroger eux-mêmes leur histoire et leur culture, en exploitant les photographies et les écrits de ce fonds. Produites à l’origine grâce à une collaboration entre des chercheurs étrangers et leurs hôtes ou leurs informateurs locaux, les archives ethnographiques ne sont pas tant un patrimoine à restituer qu’un objet de recherche ou une source d’informations à partager. Analysées et exploitées en commun, ou selon des points de vue complémentaires, elles échapperaient ainsi à toute tentative d’appropriation. Une telle démarche aurait donc l’avantage de désamorcer les enjeux politiques ou patrimoniaux autour de ces documents ethnographiques qui, en tout état de cause, ne doivent jamais être confondus avec les archives des sociétés étudiées.
Le Brésil au cœur des stratégies spatiales du recrutement des clubs européens de football
Authors: Piraudeau Bertrand
Published: November 2010

Depuis la fin des années 1990, le nombre de footballeurs brésiliens évoluant dans les clubs professionnels internationaux augmente constamment. Les principaux championnats européens (Allemagne, Angleterre, Espagne, France, Italie et Portugal) sont très courtisés par les joueurs brésiliens. L'histoire des relations entre les territoires et les stratégies spatiales du recrutement développées par les clubs de football européens font apparaître un système productif de joueurs brésiliens et des canaux migratoires très organisés entre l'Europe et le Brésil.
A fronteira Brasil-França
Authors: Silva Gutemberg de V. , Rückert Aldomar A.
Published: November 2010

O artigo analisa a relação político-institucional entre Brasil e França com foco no Estado do Amapá, pelo Brasil e na Guiana Francesa pela França. Inicia-se com algumas considerações sobre a Geopolítica regional que se configurou nos tempos do delineamento do limite entre os dois países, o único que conecta um país sul-americano e um europeu. Em seguida, utiliza-se como recurso metodológico para identificar a complexidade das relações internacionais contemporâneas as escalas geográficas em sua dimensão espacial, pontuando a pertinência da apreensão da realidade em cada uma delas. Posteriormente, se identifica elementos que apontam a incorporação de novos sentidos atribuídos às fronteiras políticas no contexto das relações internacionais entre Brasil e França, cuja base está assentada em diversos acordos de cooperação institucionalizada, o que é uma novidade da década de 1990 se considerar-se que o foco seja a fronteira e que as ações são para o seu desenvolvimento. Por último, o artigo apresentaalguns dos principais entraves para o avanço na cooperação transfronteiriça entre Amapá e Guiana Francesa. Como conclusão, sugere-se que a lógica clássica das fronteiras políticas, do tipo discriminante e de isolamento, foi se alterando para um ambiente de cooperação em diferentes frentes, mesmo ainda com muitos obstáculos a serem superados nas interações espaciais entre estas duas unidades administrativas.
Monbeig e a noção de Complexo Geográfico
Authors: Dantas Aldo
Published: November 2010

Este artigo mostra como, ao longo de sua estadia no Brasil, Pierre Monbeig vai paulatinamente sendo influenciado pelas rápidas mudanças que observa na realidade brasileira, rompe com as velhas amarras da geografia regional francesa e constrói o conceito de complexo geográfico
Argentine – Chili : Une si longue frontière
Authors: Velut Sébastien
Published: November 2010

Cet article aborde l’intégration sud-américaine à partir de l’examen de la très longue frontière entre le Chili et l’Argentine et de sa configuration matérielle. Son tracé, des traités internationaux au terrain, a été une opération compliquée étalée sur plus d’un siècle. La limite est recoupée par les grands itinéraires transcontinentaux, qui jouent un rôle majeur dans les projets politiques d’intégration sud-américaine. Les dispositifs de passages, les réseaux urbains et routiers
Refletindo sobre a desindustrialização em São Paulo
Authors: Padua Rafael Faleiros de
Published: November 2010

A desindustrialização em São Paulo, ao mesmo tempo em que retoma aspectos da industrialização (e urbanização) da cidade, traz novos problemas à análise. Procuramos mostrar as persistências e rupturas do processo, buscando deixar claro que se trata de um processo contraditório de reprodução da metrópole. Através da pesquisa sobre um lugar localizado em Santo Amaro, região sudoeste da cidade, tenta-se uma aproximação com os novos conteúdos produzidos neste contexto de desindustrialização.
Amanhã, a geografia social?
Authors: Aldhuy Julien , Ripoll Fabrice , Séchet Raymonde , Veschambre Vincent
Published: November 2010

O objeto deste artigo é compartilhar reflexões teóricas que estão em andamento no seio da geografia social e, mais amplamente, interrogar o lugar da geografia dentro das ciências sociais. Duas fortes orientações que delineiam os principais campos teóricos envolvidos na geografia social e que, sobretudo, abarcam o conjunto da disciplina, podem ser apreendidos. Primeiramente, surgiu a necessidade de inscrever a geografia num modo de conhecimento crítico que pudesse integrar os valores de emancipação e justiça na própria elaboração dos conhecimentos produzidos. Num segundo momento destacou-se a contribuição da geografia social para a inclusão da disciplina nas ciências sociais. Afirmar tal orientação é, ao mesmo tempo, reivindicar a importância e a onipresença do espaço e se envolver numa abordagem dimensional do espaço que permita superar a contradição de uma ciência que se quer social tomando o espaço por objeto, objetivando afirmar a sua autonomia. Isso requer uma desconstrução das categorias espaciais em vigor no seio da disciplina e na adoção de conceitos que se referem à dimensão espacial das relações sociais.
Urological challenges in renal transplantation
Authors: Seneviratne N , Perera ND
Published: November 2010

DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2410Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 1-11
Genitourinary tuberculosis
Authors: Abeygunasekera AM
Published: November 2010

DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2411Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 12-17
Retrocaval ureter: a venous anomaly causing ureteric obstruction
Authors: Sathesan B , Prabath API , Goonewardena SAS
Published: November 2010

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report the experience in managing a rare entity, retrocaval ureter. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study performed in a single urology unit of a tertiary referral center over a period of 8 years since October 2001. The diagnosis of retrocaval ureter was confirmed by retrograde ureteropyelogram. Symptomatic patients underwent open surgical pyelopyelostomy (ureteroureterostomy) after the ureter had been transposed to its normal anatomic position. Post surgical relief of ureteric obstruction was confirmed by 99mTc DTPA renogram. Results: There were 5 patients with retrocaval ureter. Mean age of the patients was 33 years (range 27-39 years). Out of 5 patients 4 were males. All 5 patients were presented with right flank pain and 3 of them had haematuria and a small mobile renal stone. All patients had type 1 right-sided retrocaval ureter. Associated anomalies were seen in none of the patients. All patients were asymptomatic after the surgical correction. Post operative 99mTc DTPA renograms were normal in all patients. Conclusion: Retrocaval ureter though rare can easily be diagnosed. Open surgical correction gives good results. DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2412Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 18-21
Characteristics of urological cancers – a prospective audit in a single unit
Authors: De Silva C , Wijayagunawardane S , Gihan LU , Abeygunasekera AM
Published: November 2010

DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2413Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 22-23
Urological malignancies: one-year audit from a tertiary referral centre
Authors: Sathesan B , Prabath API , Goonewardena SAS
Published: November 2010

Objective: To study the clinicopathological characteristics of urological malignancies. Patients and Method: Newly diagnosed patients with urological malignancies in the year 2009 in a single urological unit of a tertiary referral centre were included in this retrospective study. Results: During the study period there were 35 patients with carcinoma of the bladder; 17 patients with carcinoma of the prostate; 9 patients with renal malignancy; 1 patient with synchronous transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and upper urinary tract; 1 patient with seminoma of the testis. Median age of the patients with primary bladder carcinoma was 65 years (range 46-82 years). Majority of the patients with primary bladder cancer were males (3.1:1) and had non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (72.7%). All patients with primary bladder cancer except one had transitional cell carcinoma (97%). Median age of the patients with carcinoma of the prostate was 70 years (range 60-81 years). All patients with carcinoma of the prostate had advanced disease at presentation. Median age of the patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was 65 years (range 53-72 years). There is a 1.3:1 predominance of men over women. 85% of renal cell carcinomas were conventional renal cell carcinomas. Conclusion: Multicentre long-term studies are required to ascertain the actual clinicopathological characteristics of urological malignancies. DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2414Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 24-27
Virchow’s node – an unheard site of metastatic bladder cancer
Authors: Seneviratne LN , Jayasundare JMNRK , Perera ND
Published: November 2010

Metastatic carcinoma of the bladder presenting with enlarged left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy is not reported in literature published in English language. All three cases presented with a Virchow’s node with computer tomography confirming solid bladder tumour. Histology proved muscle invasive high grade transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with one with neuroendocrine differentiation and another with squamous metaplasia. The article reviews diagnosis and management of three cases of metastatic bladder cancer presenting with left supraclavicular lymph node deposits. DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2415Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 28-30
Surgical site, renal fossa and vena caval recurrence of renal cell carcinoma: an unusual case of late recurrence
Authors: Seneviratne LN , Jayasundare JMNRK , Perera ND
Published: November 2010

A 57-year old male who had undergone a radical nephrectomy for T2NoMo Fuhrman grade III tumour 5 years back developed persistent loin pain. Clinically he had a palpable right hypochondriac mass. Imaging revealed a tumour over the previous surgical scar, renal fossa with inferior vena cava obstruction with no other metastatic disease. He underwent excision of the local recurrence, cavotomy, thrombectomy with caval resection since the tumour was adherent to the IVC. Histology confirmed it as a recurrence of renal cell carcinoma and was followed by targeted therapy.We report an unusual case of late presentation of surgical site and renal fossa recurrence with invasion to the inferior vena cava (IVC) in a patient who underwent radical nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A review of the literature showed no previous published cases of RCC recurring in the surgical site, renal fossa with IVC involvement in combination in a single patient. DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2416Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 31-33
Sri Lanka Association of Urological Surgeons - 2009
Authors: Editor The
Published: November 2010

DOI: 10.4038/slju.v10i1.2417Sri Lanka Journal of Urology, 2009, 10, 34-35
Efficient Lung Recruitment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Specific Th1 Cells Induced by Recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Promotes Virus Clearance and Protects from Infection
Authors: Cautivo Kelly M. , Bueno Susan M. , Cortes Claudia M. , Wozniak Aniela , Riedel Claudia A. , Kalergis Alexis M.
Published: November 2010

Infection by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause extensive inflammation and lung damage in susceptible hosts due to a Th2-biased immune response. Such a deleterious inflammatory response can be enhanced by immunization with formalin- or UV-inactivated RSV, as well as with vaccinia virus expressing the RSV-G protein. Recently, we have shown that vaccination with rBCG-expressing RSV Ags can prevent the disease in the mouse. To further understand the immunological mechanisms responsible for protection against RSV, we have characterized the T cell populations contributing to virus clearance in mice immunized with this BCG-based vaccine. We found that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were recruited significantly earlier to the lungs of infected mice that were previously vaccinated. Furthermore, we observed that simultaneous adoptive transfer of CD8+ and CD4+ RSV-specific T cells from vaccinated mice was required to confer protection against virus infection in naive recipients. In addition, CD4+ T cells induced by vaccination released IFN-γ after RSV challenge, indicating that protection is mediated by a Th1 immune response. These data suggest that vaccination with rBCG-expressing RSV Ags can induce a specific effector/memory Th1 immune response consisting on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, both necessary for a fully protective response against RSV. These results support the notion that an effective induction of Th1 T cell immunity against RSV during childhood could counteract the unbalanced Th2-like immune response triggered by the natural RSV infection.
TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 Is Required for T Cell-Mediated Immunity and TCR/CD28 Signaling
Authors: Xie Ping , Kraus Zachary J. , Stunz Laura L. , Liu Yan , Bishop Gail A.
Published: November 2010

We recently reported that TNFR-associated factor (TRAF)3, a ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein, promotes mature B cell apoptosis. However, the specific function of TRAF3 in T cells has remained unclear. In this article, we report the generation and characterization of T cell-specific TRAF3−/− mice, in which the traf3 gene was deleted from thymocytes and T cells. Ablation of TRAF3 in the T cell lineage did not affect CD4 or CD8 T cell populations in secondary lymphoid organs or the numbers or proportions of CD4+,CD8+ or double-positive or double-negative thymocytes, except that the T cell-specific TRAF3−/− mice had a 2-fold increase in FoxP3+ T cells. In striking contrast to mice lacking TRAF3 in B cells, the T cell TRAF3-deficient mice exhibited defective IgG1 responses to a T-dependent Ag, as well as impaired T cell-mediated immunity to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Surprisingly, we found that TRAF3 was recruited to the TCR/CD28 signaling complex upon costimulation and that TCR/CD28-mediated proximal and distal signaling events were compromised by TRAF3 deficiency. These findings provide insights into the roles played by TRAF3 in T cell activation and T cell-mediated immunity.
Myelin-Reactive, TGF-β–Induced Regulatory T Cells Can Be Programmed To Develop Th1-Like Effector Function but Remain Less Proinflammatory Than Myelin-Reactive Th1 Effectors and Can Suppress Pathogenic T Cell Clonal Expansion In Vivo
Authors: O’Connor Richard A. , Leech Melanie D. , Suffner Janine , Hämmerling Günter J. , Anderton Stephen M.
Published: November 2010

Interest in the use of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as cellular therapeutics has been tempered by reports of naturally occurring Tregs losing Foxp3 expression and producing IL-17, raising concerns over a switch to pathogenic function under inflammatory conditions in vivo. TGF-β–induced Tregs (inducible Tregs [iTregs]), generated in large numbers in response to disease-relevant Ags, represent the most amenable source of therapeutic Tregs. Using Foxp3-reporter T cells recognizing myelin basic protein (MBP), we investigated the capacity of iTregs to produce effector-associated cytokines under proinflammatory cytokine conditions in vitro and whether this translated into proinflammatory function in vivo. In contrast with naturally occurring Tregs, iTregs resisted conversion to an IL-17–producing phenotype but were able to express T-bet and to produce IFN-γ. iTregs initiated their T-bet expression during their in vitro induction, and this was dependent on exposure to IFN-γ. IL-12 reignited iTreg expression of T-bet and further promoted iTreg production of IFN-γ upon secondary stimulation. Despite losing Foxp3 expression and expressing both T-bet and IFN-γ, MBP-responsive IL-12–conditioned iTregs induced only mild CNS inflammation and only when given in high numbers. Furthermore, iTregs retained an ability to suppress naive T cell clonal expansion in vivo and protected against the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Therefore, despite bearing predictive hallmarks of pathogenic effector function, previously Foxp3+ iTregs have much lower proinflammatory potential than that of MBP-responsive Th1 cells. Our results demonstrate that autoprotective versus autoaggressive functions in iTregs are not simply a binary relationship to be determined by their relative expression of Foxp3 versus T-bet and IFN-γ.
CD8+ T Cells Negatively Regulate IL-4–Dependent, IgG1-Dominant Posttransplant Alloantibody Production
Authors: Zimmerer Jason M. , Pham Thomas A. , Sanders Virginia M. , Bumgardner Ginny L.
Published: November 2010

We have previously reported that CD8+ T cells significantly influence Ab production based on the observation that posttransplant alloantibody levels in CD8-deficient murine hepatocyte transplant recipients are markedly enhanced. However, the precise mechanisms contributing to enhanced alloantibody production in the absence of CD8+ T cells is not understood. We hypothesized that alloactivated CD8+ T cells inhibit Ab production by skewing toward a proinflammatory cytokine profile, whereas when these cells are absent, an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile shifts the alloimmune response toward alloantibody production. To investigate this possibility, alloantibody isotype profiles were examined in CD8-deficient and wild-type hepatocyte recipients. We found that IgG1 (IL-4–dependent isotype) was the dominant alloantibody isotype in wild-type recipients as well as in CD8-deficient recipients, although the amount of alloantibody in the latter group was substantially higher. Utilizing real-time PCR we found that CD4+ T cells from wild-type recipients significantly upregulated IFN-γ but not IL-4 mRNA. In contrast, in the absence of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells switched to significantly upregulate IL-4 mRNA, while IFN-γ was downregulated. IL-4 knockout mice do not produce any posttransplant alloantibody. However, adoptive transfer of wild-type CD4+ T cells into CD8-depleted IL-4 knockout mice restores high alloantibody levels observed in CD8-depleted wild-type recipients. This suggests that IL-4–producing CD4+ T cells are critical for posttransplant alloantibody production. Additionally, this CD8-mediated regulation of posttransplant alloantibody production is IFN-γ–dependent. Further elucidation of the mechanisms by which CD8+ T cells influence Ab production will significantly contribute to development of therapies to manipulate humoral responses to Ag.
Acquisition of Humoral Transplantation Tolerance upon De Novo Emergence of B Lymphocytes
Authors: Parsons Ronald F. , Vivek Kumar , Rostami Susan Y. , Zekavat Ghazal , Ziaie Seyed M. , Luo Yanping , Koeberlein Brigitte , Redfield Robert R. , Cancro Michael P. , Naji Ali , Noorchashm Hooman
Published: November 2010

A major obstacle to transplantation tolerance is humoral immunity. In this paper, we demonstrate that the intrinsic developmental propensity of the B lymphocyte compartment for acquisition of self-tolerance can be harnessed to induce humoral unresponsiveness to transplanted alloantigens. In the current study, when transitional B cells developed in the presence of donor lymphoid cells, the mature B lymphocyte compartment failed to mount a donor-specific alloantibody response to an organ transplant—despite unrestrained acute T cell-mediated allograft rejection. Specifically, we generated an experimental system wherein a B6 strain B cell compartment developed de novo in the presence of F1 (B6xBALB/c) lymphoid cells and in a T cell-deficient setting. Following establishment of a steady-state B cell compartment, these B6 mice were transplanted with heterotopic cardiac allografts from allogeneic BALB/c donors. The mice were then inoculated with purified syngeneic B6 T cells. As expected, all cardiac allografts were acutely rejected. However, the B lymphocyte compartment of these mice was completely inert in its capacity to form a BALB/c-specific alloantibody response. Using an alloantigen-specific Ig transgenic system, we demonstrated that this profound degree of humoral tolerance was caused by clonal deletion of alloreactive specificities from the primary B cell repertoire. Thus, de novo B cell compartment development at the time of transplantation is of critical importance in recipient repertoire “remodeling” to a humoral tolerant state.
Die stand van psalmsang in die NG Kerk
Authors: Jankowitz Hendrika J. , Kruger Daleen
Published: November 2010

The status of psalm singing in the Dutch Reformed ChurchOver the past three decades, there have been consistent and increasing signs that psalms are disappearing from the repertoire of hymns that are sung in the Dutch Reformed (DR) Church. In an attempt to turn this tendency around, research was undertaken to determine the seriousness and the cause of the current situation. An empirical study was done to determine the frequency of use and the functionality of psalms, and to identify the practical factors that influence these.Results confirmed the low application frequency, dysfunctionality, unpopularity and sparse liturgical employment of psalms, and showed that most psalms that appear in the hymn book of the Church, Liedboek (2001), have not become part of the repertoire of hymns of the DR Church. Respondents also provided valuable information in their explanations of why psalms are out of touch with the needs of congregations in contemporary Afrikaans culture.The research concluded that psalm singing is falling into disuse in the DR Church in South Africa. Only a small number of psalms stand a chance to survive, and then only in congregations where the singing of psalms is propagated, where well-known psalms are sung regularly and where new psalms are being learned.
Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk Based on Mammary Gland Volume Measured with CT
Authors: Kuchiki Megumi , Hosoya Takaaki , Fukao Akira
Published: November 2010

We investigated the relationship between mammary gland volume (MGV) of the breast as measured with three-dimensional chest computed tomography (CT) and breast cancer risk. Univariate analysis was used to assess the relationship between MGV and known risk factors in 427 healthy women. A case control study (97 cases and 194 controls) was conducted to assess breast cancer risk. MGV was significantly smaller for postmenopausal women than for premenopausal women, and was significantly larger for women with a family history of breast cancer than for women without. MGV, body mass index (BMI), and rate of family history of breast cancer were significantly higher among breast cancer patients than among healthy women, and number of deliveries was significantly lower among breast cancer patients. In postmenopausal women, age at menarche was significantly younger for breast cancer patients. MGV correlated well with breast cancer risk factors. The highest odds ratio was 4.9 for premenopausal women with the largest MGV. Regardless of menopausal status, the greater the MGV, the higher the odds ratio. Our results constitute the first reliable data on the relationship between MGV and breast cancer obtained through exact volume analysis.
Locking the Door to Leukocytes: Use of Integrin Inhibitors for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease
Authors: Dryden Gerald W.
Published: November 2010

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) treatments are rapidly evolving. Current knowledge of the immunopathology responsible for IBD grows on a daily basis. These scientific discoveries are quickly being translated into clinical advances for improved treatment of IBD patients. The breakthrough in biologic therapy occurred with the introduction of infliximab for the treatment of Crohn's disease. Since then, research applying biologic therapies for IBD has expanded dramatically. Even though significant therapeutic gains have occurred with the expanded use of biologic therapies directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, some patients still remain underserved by this type of treatment. Clinicians need to be familiar with alternative biological therapeutics to so that patients will have an opportunity to benefit from this effective class of medications. This review will highlight the advances made in integrin inhibitor therapy, and discuss the application of this therapy to an IBD treatment paradigm.
Hypersurfaces of constant curvature in hyperbolic space II
Authors: Guan Bo , Spruck Joel
Published: November 2010

This is the second of a series of papers in which we investigate the problem of finding, in hyperbolic space, complete hypersurfaces of constant curvature with a prescribed asymptotic boundary at infinity for a general class of curvature functions. In this paper we focus on graphs over a domain with nonnegative mean curvature.
Coarse, intermediate and high resolution numerical simulations of the transition of a tropical wave critical layer to a tropical storm
Authors: Montgomery M. T. , Wang Z. , Dunkerton T. J.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Recent work has hypothesized that tropical cyclones in the deep Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins develop from within the cyclonic Kelvin cat's eye of a tropical easterly wave critical layer located equatorward of the easterly jet axis. The cyclonic critical layer is thought to be important to tropical cyclogenesis because its cat's eye provides (i) a region of cyclonic vorticity and weak deformation by the resolved flow, (ii) containment of moisture entrained by the developing flow and/or lofted by deep convection therein, (iii) confinement of mesoscale vortex aggregation, (iv) a predominantly convective type of heating profile, and (v) maintenance or enhancement of the parent wave until the developing proto-vortex becomes a self-sustaining entity and emerges from the wave as a tropical depression. This genesis sequence and the overarching framework for describing how such hybrid wave-vortex structures become tropical depressions/storms is likened to the development of a marsupial infant in its mother's pouch, and for this reason has been dubbed the "marsupial paradigm". Here we conduct the first multi-scale test of the marsupial paradigm in an idealized setting by revisiting the Kurihara and Tuleya problem examining the transformation of an easterly wave-like disturbance into a tropical storm vortex using the WRF model. An analysis of the evolving winds, equivalent potential temperature, and relative vertical vorticity is presented from coarse (28 km), intermediate (9 km) and high resolution (3.1 km) simulations. The results are found to support key elements of the marsupial paradigm by demonstrating the existence of a rotationally dominant region with minimal strain/shear deformation near the center of the critical layer pouch that contains strong cyclonic vorticity and high saturation fraction. This localized region within the pouch serves as the "attractor" for an upscale "bottom up" development process while the wave pouch and proto-vortex move together. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to an upcoming field experiment for the most active period of the Atlantic hurricane season in 2010 that is to be conducted collaboratively between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA).
Atmospheric nucleation: highlights of the EUCAARI project and future directions
Authors: Kerminen V.-M. , Petäjä T. , Manninen H. E. , Paasonen P. , Nieminen T. , Sipilä M. , Junninen H. , Ehn M. , Gagné S. , Laakso L. , Riipinen I. , Vehkamäki H. , Kurten T. , Ortega I. K. , Dal Maso M. , Brus D. , Hyvärinen A. , Lihavainen H. , Leppä J. , Lehtinen K. E. J. , Mirme A. , Mirme S. , Hõrrak U. , Berndt T. , Stratmann F. , Birmili W. , Wiedensohler A. , Metzger A. , Dommen J. , Baltensperger U. , Kiendler-Scharr A. , Mentel T. F. , Wildt J. , Winkler P. M. , Wagner P. E. , Petzold A. , Minikin A. , Plass-Dülmer C. , Pöschl U. , Laaksonen A. , Kulmala M.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Within the project EUCAARI (European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions), atmospheric nucleation was studied by (i) developing and testing new air ion and cluster spectrometers, (ii) conducting homogeneous nucleation experiments for sulphate and organic systems in the laboratory, (iii) investigating atmospheric nucleation mechanism under field conditions, and (iv) applying new theoretical and modelling tools for data interpretation and development of parameterisations. The current paper provides a synthesis of the obtained results and identifies the remaining major knowledge gaps related to atmospheric nucleation. The most important technical achievement of the project was the development of new instruments for measuring sub-3 nm particle populations, along with the extensive application of these instruments in both the laboratory and the field. All the results obtained during EUCAARI indicate that sulphuric acid plays a central role in atmospheric nucleation. However, also vapours other than sulphuric acid are needed to explain the nucleation and the subsequent growth processes, at least in continental boundary layers. Candidate vapours in this respect are some organic compounds, ammonia, and especially amines. Both our field and laboratory data demonstrate that the nucleation rate scales to the first or second power of the nucleating vapour concentration(s). This agrees with the few earlier field observations, but is in stark contrast with classical thermodynamic nucleation theories. The average formation rates of 2-nm particles were found to vary by almost two orders of magnitude between the different EUCAARI sites, whereas the formation rates of charged 2-nm particles varied very little between the sites. Overall, our observations are indicative of frequent, yet moderate, ion-induced nucleation usually outweighed by much stronger neutral nucleation events in the continental lower troposphere. The most concrete outcome of the EUCAARI nucleation studies are the new semi-empirical nucleation rate parameterizations based on field observations, along with updated aerosol formation parameterizations.