bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superior temporal gyrus volume in antipsychotic-naive people at
risk of psychosis
Authors: Takahashi Tsutomu , Wood Stephen J. , Yung Alison R. , Walterfang Mark , Phillips Lisa J. , Soulsby Bridget , Kawasaki Yasuhiro , McGorry Patrick D. , Suzuki Michio , Velakoulis Dennis , Pantelis Christos
Published: March 2010

Background

Morphological abnormalities of the superior temporal gyrus have been
consistently reported in schizophrenia, but the timing of their
occurrence remains unclear.

Aims

To determine whether individuals exhibit superior temporal gyral changes
before the onset of psychosis.

Method

We used magnetic resonance imaging to examine grey matter volumes of the
superior temporal gyrus and its subregions (planum polare, Heschl's
gyrus, planum temporale, and rostral and caudal regions) in 97
antipsychotic-naive individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis, of whom
31 subsequently developed psychosis and 66 did not, and 42 controls.

Results

Those at risk of psychosis had significantly smaller superior temporal
gyri at baseline compared with controls bilaterally, without any
prominent subregional effect; however, there was no difference between
those who did and did not subsequently develop psychosis.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that grey matter reductions of the superior
temporal gyrus are present before psychosis onset, and are not due to
medication, but these baseline changes are not predictive of transition
to psychosis.
Polyclinics and psychiatry: risks and opportunities
Authors: Gask Linda , Joseph Suresh , Hampson Michele
Published: March 2010

The arrival of the ‘polyclinic’ or ‘GP-led health centre’ has been signalled in the review of the National Health Service. A variety of options have been proposed for the way in which polyclinics will incorporate specialist services to work alongside primary care, and the relevance of these models to mental healthcare is considered. Polyclinics provide new opportunities but with those possibilities come potential threats and risks. Of key importance is the threat that they will re-institutionalise mental healthcare after many years of breaking down such barriers. Buildings provide shared space, but new working practices are more difficult to achieve.
Escapes and absconding from secure psychiatric units
Authors: Exworthy Tim , Wilson Simon
Published: March 2010

A prominent radio news programme reported on escapes from secure psychiatric units in the UK and linked that with subsequent offending by psychiatric patients. The report cited did not distinguish between escapes and absconding but, it is argued here, these are very different activities. The acceptable rate both for escapes and absconding from secure psychiatric units is not defined. A certain level of absconding is a consequence of the therapeutic use of leave, which, as part of rehabilitation, is likely to be linked with a reduced reoffending rate post-discharge.
Recreational drugs and health information provided in head shops
Authors: Pillay Divina , Kelly Brendan D.
Published: March 2010

Aims and method

To determine which recreational drugs are most readily offered in ‘head shops’, and what safety information is provided; and determine sales assistants' knowledge about the mental health complications of cannabis. Researchers surveyed ten head shops in Dublin.

Results

Sales assistants in all head shops described their products as legal and safe. Overall, 50% stated cannabis was generally not harmful, although 50% stated it might cause depression and 60% stated it might cause psychosis in susceptible people. Salvia was available in 90% of outlets, although sales assistants in 78% warned about its potency.

Clinical implications

Legal, psychoactive drugs, some of which are banned in other jurisdictions, are readily available in Dublin head shops. Enhanced awareness and effective regulation are required.
Characteristics and Functions of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazolepropionate Receptors Expressed in Mouse Pancreatic α-Cells
Authors: Cho Jung-Hwa , Chen Liangyi , Kim Mean-Hwan , Chow Robert H. , Hille Bertil , Koh Duk-Su
Published: February 2010

Pancreatic islet cells use neurotransmitters such as l-glutamate to regulate hormone secretion. We determined which cell types in mouse pancreatic islets express ionotropic glutamate receptor channels (iGluRs) and describe the detailed biophysical properties and physiological roles of these receptors. Currents through iGluRs and the resulting membrane depolarization were measured with patch-clamp methods. Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+-evoked exocytosis were detected by Ca2+ imaging and carbon-fiber microamperometry. Whereas iGluR2 glutamate receptor immunoreactivity was detected using specific antibodies in immunocytochemically identified mouse α- and β-cells, functional iGluRs were detected only in the α-cells. Fast application of l-glutamate to cells elicited rapidly activating and desensitizing inward currents at −60 mV. By functional criteria, the currents were identified as α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors. They were activated and desensitized by AMPA, and were activated only weakly by kainate. The desensitization by AMPA was inhibited by cyclothiazide, and the currents were blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). Islet iGluRs showed nonselective cation permeability with a low Ca2+ permeability (PCa/PNa = 0.16). Activation of the AMPA receptors induced a sequence of cellular actions in α-cells: 1) depolarization of the membrane by 27 ± 3 mV, 2) rise in intracellular Ca2+ mainly mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels activated during the membrane depolarization, and 3) increase of exocytosis by the Ca2+ rise. In conclusion, iGluRs expressed in mouse α-cells resemble the low Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptor in brain and can stimulate exocytosis.
Uncoupling Protein-2 Decreases the Lipogenic Actions of Ghrelin
Authors: Andrews Zane B. , Erion Derek M. , Beiler Rudolph , Choi Charles S. , Shulman Gerald I. , Horvath Tamas L.
Published: February 2010

The exact mechanisms through which ghrelin promotes lipogenesis are unknown. Uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 is a mitochondrial protein important in regulating reactive oxygen species; however, recent research shows that it may play an important role fat metabolism. Given that ghrelin increases UCP2 mRNA in white adipose tissue, we examined whether the lipogenic actions of ghrelin are modulated by UCP2 using ucp2+/+ and ucp2−/− mice. Chronic ghrelin treatment either via osmotic minipumps or daily ip injections induced body weight gain in both ucp2+/+ and ucp2−/− mice; however, body weight gain was potentiated in ucp2−/− mice. Increased body weight gain was completely due to increased body fat as a result of decreased fat oxidation in ucp2−/− mice. Ghrelin treatment of ucp2−/− mice resulted in a gene expression profile favoring lipogenesis. In a calorie-restriction model of negative energy balance, ghrelin to ucp2+/+ mice did not increase body weight; however, ghrelin to ucp2−/− mice still induced body weight. These results show that UCP2 plays an important role in fat metabolism by promoting fat oxidation and restricts ghrelin-induced lipogenesis.
Neuropeptide W: An Anorectic Peptide Regulated by Leptin and Metabolic State
Authors: Date Yukari , Mondal Muhtashan S. , Kageyama Haruaki , Ghamari-Langroudi Masoud , Takenoya Fumiko , Yamaguchi Hideki , Shimomura Yukio , Mori Masaaki , Murakami Noboru , Shioda Seiji , Cone Roger D. , Nakazato Masamitsu
Published: February 2010

Neuropeptide W (NPW) is an anorectic peptide produced in the brain. Here, we showed that NPW was present in several hypothalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamus, and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. NPW expression was significantly up-regulated in leptin-deficient ob/ob and leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice. The increase in NPW expression in ob/ob mice was abrogated to control levels after leptin replacement. Leptin induced suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 after phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in NPW-expressing neurons. In addition, we demonstrated that NPW reduces feeding via the melanocortin-4-receptor signaling pathway. We also showed that NPW activates proopiomelanocortin and inhibits neuropeptide Y neurons using loose-patch extracellular recording of these neurons identified by promoter-driven green fluorescent protein expression. This study indicates that NPW may play an important role in the regulation of feeding and energy metabolism under the conditions of leptin insufficiency.
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors Mediate Opposing Effects in Cholestasis-Induced Liver Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Paschos Konstantinos A. , Charsou Chara , Constantinidis Theodoros C. , Anagnostoulis Stavros , Lambropoulou Maria , Papachristou Fotini , Simopoulos Konstantinos , Chatzaki Ekaterini
Published: February 2010

CRH receptors are expressed in human and rat liver. The current study investigated the biological role of the CRH system in the hepatocellular apoptotic process and aimed to reveal the responsible molecular mechanisms. Using a rat experimental model of common bile duct surgical ligation leading to obstructive jaundice and cholestasis, liver apoptosis was induced in the hepatic parenchyma as confirmed by the elevated expression of the early apoptotic neoepitope M30. This effect was reversed by administration of the nonselective CRH antagonist astressin but not by the selective CRH2 antagonist astressin2B, suggesting that antagonism of the endogenous CRH1 blocked the cholestasis-induced apoptotic mechanism. No effect was observed in the noncholestasis controls. In our experimental model, early and late apoptosis-preventing markers were induced in parallel to apoptosis; elevated gene transcript levels of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 were found by real-time PCR in the first postoperative day and increased serum hepatocyte growth factor levels were measured by ELISA in the third postoperative day. Selective CRH2 antagonism reversed the elevated expression of bcl-2 and hepatocyte growth factor, suggesting that this receptor type mediated antiapoptotic actions of the endogenous CRH system, opposing the preapoptotic ones mediated by CRH1. In conclusion, the present study indicated that the CRH neuroendocrine system regulates cholestasis-induced apoptosis in the hepatic parenchyma via receptor-specific pathways. These data may contribute to better understanding of the CRH biology and its pathophysiological significance in the periphery.
Optimal Multileaf Collimator Leaf Sequencing in IMRT Treatment Planning
Authors: Taşkın Z. Caner , Smith J. Cole , Romeijn H. Edwin , Dempsey James F.
Published: February 2010

We consider a problem dealing with the efficient delivery of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to individual patients. IMRT treatment planning is usually performed in three phases. The first phase determines a set of beam angles through which radiation is delivered, followed by a second phase that determines an optimal radiation intensity profile (or fluence map). This intensity profile is selected to ensure that certain targets receive a required amount of dose while functional organs are spared. To deliver these intensity profiles to the patient, a third phase must decompose them into a collection of apertures and corresponding intensities. In this paper, we investigate this last problem. Formally, an intensity profile is represented as a nonnegative integer matrix; an aperture is represented as a binary matrix whose ones appear consecutively in each row. A feasible decomposition is one in which the original desired intensity profile is equal to the sum of a number of feasible binary matrices multiplied by corresponding intensity values. To most efficiently treat a patient, we wish to minimize a measure of total treatment time, which is given as a weighted sum of the number of apertures and the sum of the aperture intensities used in the decomposition. We develop the first exact algorithm capable of solving real-world problem instances to optimality within practicable computational limits, using a combination of integer programming decomposition and combinatorial search techniques. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach on a set of 25 test instances derived from actual clinical data and on 100 randomly generated instances.
Fair Dynamic Routing in Large-Scale Heterogeneous-Server Systems
Authors: Armony Mor , Ward Amy R.
Published: February 2010

In a call center, there is a natural trade-off between minimizing customer wait time and fairly dividing the workload among agents of different skill levels. The relevant control is the routing policy, that is, the decision concerning which agent should handle an arriving call when more than one agent is available. We formulate an optimization problem for a call center with heterogeneous agent pools, in which each pool is distinguished by the speed at which agents in that pool handle calls. The objective is to minimize steady-state expected customer wait time subject to a “fairness” constraint on the workload division.

We first solve the optimization problem by formulating it as a Markov decision process (MDP), and solving a related linear program. We note that this approach does not in general lead to an optimal policy that has a simple structure. Fortunately, the optimal policy does appear to have a simple structure as the system size grows large, in the Halfin-Whitt many-server heavy-traffic limit regime. Therefore, we solve the diffusion control problem that arises in this regime and interpret its solution as a policy for the original system. The resulting routing policy is a threshold policy that determines server pool priorities based on the total number of customers in the system. We prove that a continuous modification of our proposed threshold routing policy is asymptotically optimal in the Halfin-Whitt limit regime. We furthermore present simulation results to illustrate that our proposed threshold routing policy outperforms a common routing policy used in call centers (that routes to the agent that has been idle the longest).
No-Holdback Allocation Rules for Continuous-Time Assemble-to-Order Systems
Authors: Lu Yingdong , Song Jing-Sheng , Zhao Yao
Published: February 2010

This paper analyzes a class of common-component allocation rules, termed no-holdback (NHB) rules, in continuous-review assemble-to-order (ATO) systems with positive lead times. The inventory of each component is replenished following an independent base-stock policy. In contrast to the usually assumed first-come-first-served (FCFS) component allocation rule in the literature, an NHB rule allocates a component to a product demand only if it will yield immediate fulfillment of that demand. We identify metrics as well as cost and product structures under which NHB rules outperform all other component allocation rules. For systems with certain product structures, we obtain key performance expressions and compare them to those under FCFS. For general product structures, we present performance bounds and approximations. Finally, we discuss the applicability of these results to more general ATO systems.
An Approximation Approach for the Deviation Matrix of Continuous-Time Markov Processes with Application to Markov Decision Theory
Authors: Leder Nicole , Heidergott Bernd , Hordijk Arie
Published: February 2010

We present an update formula that allows the expression of the deviation matrix of a continuous-time Markov process with denumerable state space having generator matrix Q* through a continuous-time Markov process with generator matrix Q. We show that under suitable stability conditions the algorithm converges at a geometric rate. By applying the concept to three different examples, namely, the M/M/1 queue with vacations, the M/G/1 queue, and a tandem network, we illustrate the broad applicability of our approach. For a problem in admission control, we apply our approximation algorithm to Markov decision theory for computing the optimal control policy. Numerical examples are presented to highlight the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Optimal Selection of Customers for a Last-Minute Offer
Authors: Cominetti Roberto , Correa José R. , Rothvoß Thomas , Martín Jaime San
Published: February 2010

We analyze a short-term revenue optimization problem involving the targeting of customers for a promotion in which a finite number of perishable items are sold on a last-minute offer. The goal is to select the subset of customers to whom the offer will be made available in order to maximize the expected return. Each client replies with a certain probability and reports a specific value that might depend on the customer type, so that the selected subset has to balance the risk of not selling all items with the risk of assigning an item to a low value customer.

We show that threshold strategies, which select all those clients with values above a certain optimal threshold, might fail to achieve the maximal revenue. However, using a linear programming relaxation, we prove that they attain a constant factor of the optimal value. Specifically, the achieved factor is 1/2 when a single item is to be sold and approaches 1 as the number of available items grows to infinity. Also, for the single item case, we propose an upper bound based on a sharper linear relaxation that allows us to obtain a threshold strategy achieving at least 2/3 of the optimal revenue. Moreover, although the complexity status of the problem is open, we provide a polynomial time approximation scheme for the single item case.
The use of muscle flaps in the salvage of infected exposed implants for internal fixation
Authors: Tan K.-J. , Lim C.-T. , Lim A. Y.-T.
Published: March 2010

The treatment of infected exposed implants which have been used for internal fixation usually involves debridement and removal of the implant. This can result in an unstable fracture or spinal column. Muscle flaps may be used to salvage these implants since they provide soft-tissue cover and fresh vascularity. However, there have been few reports concerning their use and these have concentrated on the eradication of the infection and successful soft-tissue cover as the endpoint. There is no information on the factors which may influence the successful salvage of the implant using muscle flaps.

We studied the results and factors affecting outcome in nine pedicled muscle flaps used in the treatment of exposed metal internal fixation with salvage of the implant as the primary endpoint. This was achieved in four cases. Factors predicting success were age < 30 years, the absence of comorbid conditions and a favourable microbiological profile. The growth of multiple organisms, a history of smoking and the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on wound cultures indicated a poor outcome. The use of antibiotic beads, vacuum-assisted closure and dressing, the surgical site, the type of flap performed and the time from primary surgery to flap cover were not predictive of outcome.
Timing of reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in athletes and the incidence of secondary pathology within the knee
Authors: Kennedy J. , Jackson M. P. , O’Kelly P. , Moran R.
Published: March 2010

We reviewed a single-surgeon series of 300 athletic patients who had undergone reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in order to establish the relationship between the timing of the reconstruction and the incidence of meniscal and chondral pathology. The patients were divided into five groups according to the time from their injury to surgery as follows: less than two months, two to six months, six to 12 months, 12 to 18 months and more than 18 months. The presence of meniscal tears was recorded and chondral pathology was scored according to the system of the French Society of Arthroscopy.

There was a significantly higher chance of a medial meniscal tear occurring in patients undergoing reconstruction after one year from their injury (odds ratio (7.99, p = 0.004). The odds of having a lateral meniscal tear did not change significantly with an increasing interval to reconstruction. The chance of patients developing degenerative changes was found to be significantly higher in the groups operated on after six months from injury (odds ratio 4.04, p = 0.005).

We advocate that patients with deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament should be counselled that there is a significant relationship between the duration of the instability of their knee and the subsequent incidence of both chondral changes and meniscal tears. In order to minimise these risks, we recommend that reconstruction be performed within the first year from injury.
Infantile developmental thoracolumbar kyphosis with segmental subluxation of the spine
Authors: Tsirikos A. I. , McMaster M. J.
Published: March 2010

We report five children who presented at the mean age of 1.5 years (1.1 to 1.9) with a progressive thoracolumbar kyphosis associated with segmental instability and subluxation of the spine at the level above an anteriorly-wedged hypoplastic vertebra at L1 or L2. The spinal deformity appeared to be developmental and not congenital in origin. The anterior wedging of the vertebra may have been secondary to localised segmental instability and subsequent kyphotic deformity.

We suggest the term ‘infantile developmental thoracolumbar kyphosis with segmental subluxation of the spine’ to differentiate this type of deformity from congenital displacement of the spine in which the congenital vertebral anomaly does not resolve. Infantile developmental kyphosis with segmental subluxation of the spine, if progressive, may carry the risk of neurological compromise. In all of our patients the kyphotic deformity progressed over a period of three months and all were treated by localised posterior spinal fusion. At a mean follow-up of 6.6 years (5.0 to 9.0), gradual correction of the kyphosis was seen on serial radiographs as well as reconstitution of the hypoplastic wedged vertebra to normality. Exploration of the arthrodesis was necessary at nine months in one patient who developed a pseudarthrosis.
Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing
Authors: De Smet K. , Campbell P. A. , Gill H. S.
Published: March 2010

We report the consensus of surgical opinions of an international faculty of expert metal-on-metal hip resurfacing surgeons, with a combined experience of over 18 000 cases, covering required experience, indications, surgical technique, rehabilitation and the management of problematic cases.
Conflitos e impasses da judicialização na obtenção de medicamentos: as decisões de 1ª instância nas ações individuais contra o Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, em 2005
Authors: Borges Danielle da Costa Leite , Ugá Maria Alicia Dominguez
Published: March 2010

Partindo-se de uma análise das ações judiciais individuais para o fornecimento de medicamentos propostas por usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) contra o Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, no ano de 2005, este estudo tem como objetivo discutir a atuação e o comportamento do Poder Judiciário no julgamento dos referidos processos judiciais. O estudo corresponde a uma pesquisa documental exploratória, de caráter quali-quantitativo, na qual foram analisados alguns aspectos relacionados às ações judiciais, tais como, o tipo de medicamento pleiteado, o teor das decisões proferidas e os fundamentos mais freqüentes utilizados pelos magistrados no julgamento das ações. Com base no resultado da análise das ações, do conceito de judicialização e da padronização oficial em matéria de medicamentos, concluiu-se que, ao decidir sobre o fornecimento de medicamentos, o Poder Judiciário concede os pedidos formulados sem considerar a padronização de medicamentos adotada pelo Ministério da Saúde, exercendo assim uma excessiva intervenção na política de saúde.
Análise da produção legislativa em saúde no Congresso Nacional brasileiro (1990-2006)
Authors: Baptista Tatiana Wargas de Faria
Published: March 2010

O artigo analisa as atuações dos Poderes Legislativo e Executivo no Brasil quanto à formulação de propostas políticas para a saúde, no âmbito legislativo, a partir do ano de 1990. Para tanto, identifica-se a produção legislativa em saúde aprovada pelo Congresso Nacional no período de 1990 a 2006. Os documentos foram analisados por tipo, autoria, tempo de tramitação e temática, considerando o contexto político-institucional. O estudo mostra que o Poder Executivo aprovou 89,8% das matérias em saúde, editou matérias orçamentárias, modificando o orçamento aprovado, e garantiu um tempo de tramitação para matérias de sua autoria seis vezes mais acelerado do que nas matérias de autoria do Legislativo. Conclui-se que o processo político encontra-se desbalanceado, com um Executivo que concentra poder e que assume o papel principal de filtro das demandas políticas propostas para a saúde, refletindo uma forma ainda pouco madura das instituições no processo democrático.
Ciclosporina versus tacrolimus no transplante renal no Brasil: uma comparação de custos
Authors: Guerra Junior Augusto Afonso , Acúrcio Francisco de Assis , Andrade Eli Iola Gurgel , Cherchiglia Mariângela Leal , Cesar Cibele Comini , Queiroz Odilon Vanni de , Silva Grazielle Dias da
Published: March 2010

No Brasil, o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) é responsável maioria dos transplantes renais. Para a manutenção dessas intervenções, os protocolos recomendam uso da ciclosporina ou tacrolimus, associado com corticosteróides e azatioprina ou micofenolato. Na perspectiva do SUS, realizou-se análise econômica sobre recursos ambulatoriais, hospitalares e medicamentos utilizados por paciente e grupo terapêutico. Foi construída coorte de 2000 a 2004, com 5.174 pacientes em transplantes renais e em uso de ciclosporina ou tacrolimus, identificados por relacionamento probabilístico em registros do SUS. A coorte continha 4.015 pacientes em uso de ciclosporina e 1.159 com tacrolimus. A maioria era do sexo masculino, idade < 38 anos, cujos diagnósticos primários mais freqüentes eram nefrites, doenças cardiovasculares e causas indeterminadas. Após 48 meses, observou-se gasto superior para transplantes renais em hospitais do Nordeste, doador cadáver, naqueles em diálises > 24 meses antes do transplantes renais e no grupo do tacrolimus. Constatou-se maior gasto total com recursos hospitalares, ambulatoriais e medicamentos para os transplantes renais em pacientes com esquemas com tacrolimus, quando comparados com o grupo da ciclosporina.
Adaptação cultural do Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) para população brasileira
Authors: Mucci Samantha , Citero Vanessa de Albuquerque , Gonzalez Adriano Miziara , De Marco Mario Alfredo , Nogueira-Martins Luiz Antonio
Published: March 2010

Nesse estudo realizaram-se a tradução para o português e a adaptação cultural do instrumento Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) para uso no Brasil. O instrumento foi traduzido da versão original (inglês) para a língua portuguesa pelos autores e, posteriormente, revisado e avaliado quanto ao grau de dificuldade das traduções e equivalência por tradutores bilíngües. O instrumento foi, então, aplicado em 20 pacientes com hepatopatia crônica selecionados aleatoriamente. Não houve dificuldade na compreensão do instrumento, todas as questões foram consideradas aplicáveis pelos pacientes, e a equivalência cultural do CLDQ foi demonstrada sem que mudanças na tradução original precisassem ser feitas. A tradução e a adaptação cultural do CLDQ para o português, no Brasil, foram realizadas, tendo sido cumprida esta importante etapa para sua validação e utilização em nosso meio.
Psychometric Evaluation of the FACT Colorectal Cancer Symptom Index (FCSI-9): Reliability, Validity, Responsiveness, and Clinical Meaningfulness
Authors: Colwell Hilary H. , Mathias Susan D. , Turner Michelle P. , Lu John , Wright Nicola , Peeters Marc , Cella David , Devercelli Giovanna
Published: February 2010

Background.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for evaluating treatment effects on health-related quality of life and symptoms from the patient's perspective. This study sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of the nine-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/National Comprehensive Cancer Network Colorectal Cancer Symptom Index (FCSI-9) in a metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) population.

Methods.

The FCSI-9 and EQ-5D were administered every 2–4 weeks to mCRC subjects in a phase III clinical trial. Three hundred ninety-one mCRC subjects completed the questionnaires at baseline and at least one follow-up assessment. Internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, construct validity, known groups validity, responsiveness, and the minimum important difference (MID) of the FCSI-9 were evaluated.

Results.

The internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the FCSI-9 were acceptable (0.81 and 0.76, respectively). Construct validity was supported based on moderate correlations with the EQ-5D. Known groups validity was evaluated by examining the FCSI-9 scores of subjects categorized by their Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) score. Subjects with better PS scores reported significantly higher FCSI-9 scores than those with lower PS scores at both baseline and week 8. Responsiveness, as measured by Guyatt's statistic, was 0.77 from baseline to week 8 and 0.60 from week 4 to week 12. Considering all data together, the MID of the FCSI-9 is estimated to be in the range of 1.5–3.0 points.

Conclusion.

Results provide preliminary evidence of the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the FCSI-9.
Nicotine exposure affects mother's and pup's nutritional, biochemical, and hormonal profiles during lactation in rats
Authors: Oliveira E , Pinheiro C R , Santos-Silva A P , Trevenzoli I H , Abreu-Villaça Y , Nogueira Neto J F , Reis A M , Passos M C F , Moura E G , Lisboa P C
Published: February 2010

We have shown that maternal nicotine exposure during lactation has long-lasting effects on body adiposity and hormonal status of rat offspring. Here, we studied the nutritional and hormonal profiles in this experimental model. Two days after birth, osmotic minipumps were implanted in lactating rats divided into two groups: NIC – continuous s.c. infusions of nicotine (6 mg/kg per day) for 14 days and C – saline. Dams and pups were killed at 15 and 21 days of lactation. Body weight and food intake were evaluated. Milk, blood, visceral fat, carcass, and adrenal gland were collected. All the significant data were P<0.05. At the end of nicotine exposure (15 days), dams presented higher milk production, hyperprolactinemia, and higher serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Milk from NIC dams had higher lactose concentration and energy content. After nicotine withdrawal (21 days), dams showed lower food intake and hyperleptinemia. The 15-day-old NIC pups presented higher total body fat, higher HDL-C, serum leptin, serum corticosterone, and adrenal catecholamine content, but lower tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels. The 21-day-old NIC pups had higher body protein content and serum globulin. Thus, maternal nicotine exposure during lactation results in important changes in nutritional, biochemical, and hormonal parameters in dams and offspring. The pattern of these effects is clearly distinct when comparing the nicotine-exposed group to the withdrawal group, which could be important for the programming effects observed previously.
Morphological patterns and community organization in leaf‐litter ant assemblages
Authors: Silva Rogério R. , BrandÃ£o Carlos Roberto F.
Published: March 2010

We present a new approach to determine the number and composition of guilds, using the hyperdiverse leaf‐litter ant fauna as a model, based on appropriate morphological variables and species co‐occurrence null models to describe the complex assemblages of interacting species community structure at the 1‐m2scale. We obtained 18 linear morphometric measures from 949 workers of 171 leaf‐litter ant species (18 762 measurements) surveyed in four Atlantic Forest localities to test whether the assemblages are morphologically structured; the morphological characters were selected to indicate diet and foraging habits. Principal components analysis was used to characterize the morphospace and to describe the guild structure (number of species and composition). The guild proportionality assembly rule (significant tendency toward constant proportion of species in guilds) was assessed at the 1‐m2scale. Our analysis indicates that the division of leaf‐litter ants into guilds is based mainly on microhabitat distribution in the leaf‐litter, body size and shape, eye size, and phylogeny. The same guild scheme applied to four more sites shows that different Atlantic Forest areas have the same leaf‐litter ant guilds. The guild proportionality assembly rule was confirmed for most guilds, suggesting that there are guild‐specific limitations on species coexistence within assemblages; on the other hand, in a few cases the variance in guild proportion was greater than expected under the null assumptions. Other studies on ant functional group classification are partially supported by our quantitative morphological analysis. Our results, however, imply that there are more compartments than indicated in previous models, particularly among cryptic species (confined to soil and litter) and tropical climate specialists. We argue that a general null model for the analysis of species association based on morphology can reveal objectively defined groups and may thus contribute to a robust theory to explain community structure in general and have important consequences on studies of litter ant community ecology in particular.
Coupling between subtidal prey and consumers along a mesoscale upwelling gradient in the Galápagos Islands
Authors: Witman Jon D. , Brandt Margarita , Smith Franz
Published: March 2010

Our understanding of how communities are regulated diminishes with increasing spatial scale. Because oceanographic processes supply food, transport propagules, and set abiotic conditions across broad areas, they may explain metacommunity and food web functioning on large scales. Here we test for bottom‐up manifestations of an oceanographic process, upwelling, through production of barnacle (Megabalanus spp.) prey to top‐down control by whelks, fish, and urchins across a mesoscale (125 km) gradient of 28–68% upwelling at 12 subtidal rock wall sites in the Galápagos from 2002 to 2005. Multivariate analysis of in situ flow measurements and the occurrence of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) distinguished weak (WUP), intermediate (IUP), and strong upwelling (SUP) site groups. Barnacle cover and recruitment were significantly higher at SUP than at WUP sites and decreased with depth from 6 to 15 m. High barnacle recruitment was a persistent feature of SUP sites from 2002 to 2004. This recruitment was significantly related to larval concentrations, vertical flow speeds, and to a lesser extent, onshore offshore flow speeds, while growth rates of barnacles were highest at three SUP and one IUP site. Three‐dimensional (3‐D) flow explained 39% of the variation in growth. Therefore, bottom‐up effects of upwelling occurred via prey production as recruitment and growth of barnacles. Vertical flow was the most important component of the upwelling regime predicting these dynamics.

Evidence of population level predator–prey coupling was provided by significant linear relationships between densities of the whelk, Hexaplex princeps, and both the cover and recruitment of barnacle prey. In a mesoscale predation intensity experiment 33–100% of barnacles were eaten by Hexaplex and fish, linking bottom‐up and top‐down effects. Significantly more barnacles were consumed at SUP than at WUP sites. The broader spatial context for upwelling and predator–prey coupling documented here was provided by the topography of the sea floor offshore, as the maximum depth and bottom slope within 15 km of the sites predicted 40% of upwelling duration. Eighty percent of the SUP sites were close to steep slopes and deep (>1100 m) water where upwelling from internal waves and the EUC is likely.
USE OF LATENCY TO PROBLEM BEHAVIOR TO EVALUATE DEMANDS FOR INCLUSION IN FUNCTIONAL ANALYSES
Authors: Call Nathan A. , Pabico Ryan S. , Lomas Joanna E.
Published: March 2010

Few direct‐assessment procedures are designed to identify potential negative reinforcers (e.g., including demands in the escape condition of functional analyses). Two participants were systematically exposed to a series of demands nominated by caregivers as potential negative reinforcers. Sessions ended following the first instance of problem behavior, and a hierarchy of demand aversiveness was created based on the latency to the first problem behavior. Subsequent functional analyses confirmed the predictive value of the hierarchy, with shorter latency demands consistently producing more differentiated functional analysis outcomes.
BRAND PLACEMENT AND CONSUMER CHOICE: AN IN‐STORE EXPERIMENT
Authors: Sigurdsson Valdimar , Saevarsson Hugi , Foxall Gordon
Published: March 2010

An in‐store experiment was performed to investigate the effects of shelf placement (high, middle, low) on consumers' purchases of potato chips. Placement of potato chips on the middle shelf was associated with the highest percentage of purchases. The results confirm the importance of item placement as a factor in consumers' buying behavior.
Prediction of the three-dimensional flow field and bed shear stresses in a regulated river in mid-Norway
Authors: Rüther Nils , Jacobsen Jens , Olsen Nils Reidar B. , Vatne Geir
Published: March 2010

This study evaluates the use of two Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques in calculating the three-dimensional flow and bed shear stress distribution in a regulated river reach near Trondheim, Norway. The two different CFD codes being used in this study are: one commercial FLOW-3D and an in-house program, SSIIM, developed by the third author (NRBO). One of the primary differences between the programs is that FLOW-3D uses an orthogonal, structured grid, while SSIIM uses a non-orthogonal unstructured grid. Flow-3D computes the location of the free water surface based on a volume of fluid method. In the current study, the water surface profile was computed using a 1D backwater computation with SSIIM. Both programs use first- or second-order schemes for the convective term in the Navier–Stokes equations, and the study investigated both options for the two different models. The computed results were compared to ADCP measurements obtained from three cross sections of the river. The comparison showed a good agreement between calculated and measured velocities when using higher-order discretization schemes. Using a first-order upwind scheme, the results deteriorated somewhat due to false diffusion. The results of this current study could be beneficial for the estimation of fluvial erosion, which causes severe damages to riverine areas.
Network-Based Price Discrimination and `Bill-and-Keep' vs. `Cost-Based' Regulation of Mobile Termination Rates
Authors: Harbord David , Pagnozzi Marco
Published: February 2010

This paper surveys the recent literature on competition between mobile networks in the presence of call externalities and network effects. It argues that the regulation of mobile termination rates based on fully allocated costs, or long-run incremental cost plus," exacerbates the network effects associated with tariff-mediated network externalities," by increasing mobile networks' on-net/off-net price differentials. This reduces welfare and acts as a barrier to growth for smaller networks and new entrants. The paper argues for the adoption of bill-and-keep" for mobile termination rates, and responds to recent theoretical arguments which suggest that such a move might harm mobile subscribers.
Modeling Shaft Damping of Turbine-Generator in Electromagnetic Transient Simulation
Authors: Qiu Peng , Xu Zheng
Published: February 2010

To study the torsional oscillation phenomena of turbine-generators, a fundamental approach is by electromagnetic transient simulation. In this paper, the structure of the damping coefficient matrix of the shaft torsional model for turbine-generators is studied, and a method to determine the values of the elements of the damping coefficient matrix is developed. Through the analysis of different damping components, the most concerned damping component is identified. Based on the complex modal analysis method widely used in the mechanical vibration engineering, the relationship between the damping coefficient matrix and the torsional mode damping is established, furthermore, an iterative method to compute the damping coefficient matrix is developed. A test study on the turbine-generator shaft torsional model of the IEEE first SSR benchmark system indicates that the proposed torsional damping modeling technique in electromagnetic transient simulation is valid and effective.
Three-Phase and Single-Phase p-q Theories Applied to Three-Phase Shunt Active Power Filter under Different Operating Conditions: A Comparative Evaluation
Authors: Khadkikar Vinod , Chandra Ambrish
Published: February 2010

This paper deals with a shunt active power filter (APF) realized using three-phase p-q (3-φ p-q) theory and single-phase p-q (1-φ p-q) theory approaches. A comparative evaluation between two p-q theories, applied to three-phase three-wire system, is presented. An in-depth simulation study is carried out for better understanding of the concepts and to explore the factors that affect the performance of both the theories. A shunt APF system is developed and tested using a DSP DS1104 of dSPACE. An extensive experimental investigation is carried out under balanced and/or unbalanced supply voltages, and balanced and/or unbalanced load conditions. It is found that both the p-q theories perform well under balanced supply voltages and balanced non-linear load condition, but, their performance degrades when supply voltages are highly distorted. The 3-φ p-q theory has advantage over 1-φ p-q theory when the load is unbalanced in nature. However, under unbalanced voltages, 3-φ p-q theory fails to demonstrate its ability to compensate the load current harmonics and reactive power, whereas, 1-φ p-q theory gives better performance.
Unit Commitment by Structure Based Solution and Efficient Lagrangian Relaxation
Authors: Feng Xiaoming , Liao Yuan
Published: February 2010

Lagrangian relaxation (LR) is one of the most promising approaches for solving power system unit commitment (UC) problems by means of decomposition. There are several technical challenges in developing an effective LR solution. The first is to devise an efficient dual optimization procedure. The second is to have a quick and reliable procedure for removing residual violations in the relaxed constraints. The third is to make the solution algorithm less dependent of problem domain knowledge to improve solution portability. This paper presents a general algorithm that depends only on the formal structure of the problem formulation and assumes no specific knowledge in the problem domain. The proposed algorithm has been tested on real unit commitment problems with as many as 50,000 integer variables and has consistently produced good solutions with very limited number of iterations. In addition to being very efficient, the proposed algorithm is also seen to be robust under parametric perturbations.
A New Blocking Scheme for Distance Protection during Power Swings
Authors: Abidin Ahmad Farid , Mohamed Azah , Shareef Hussain
Published: February 2010

This paper presents a new and fast algorithm to prevent distance relay mal-operation during power swings. The algorithm blocks the relay tripping signals during power swing and unblocks the signals if a fault occurs during power swing. The proposed blocking scheme for distance protection incorporates an additional criterion into the conventional relay which is based on the derivative of the line reactive power as seen by the relay. This technique overcomes the shortcoming of conventional power swing detector (PSD) by removing the pre-defined R-X diagram. The conventional PSD has the difficulty in obtaining the timer setting at pre-defined R-X diagram due to varying cycle of power swings. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, simulations were carried out on the IEEE 39 bus test system using the PSS/E software. Test results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in blocking the relays false trip signals during power swing.
Health Care, Health Insurance, and the Distribution of American Incomes
Authors: Burtless Gary , Svaton Pavel
Published: February 2010

Cash income offers an incomplete picture of the resources available to finance household consumption. Most American families are covered by an insurance plan that pays for some or all of the health care they consume. Only a comparatively small percentage of families pays for the full cost of this insurance out of their cash incomes. As health care has claimed a growing share of consumption, the percentage of care that is financed out of household incomes has declined. Because health care consumption is more important for some groups in the population than others, the growth in spending and changes in the payment system for medical care have reduced the value of standard income measures for assessing relative incomes of the rich and poor and the young and old. More than a seventh of total personal consumption now consists of health care that is purchased with government insurance and employer contributions to employee health plans. This paper combines health care spending and insurance reimbursement data in the Medical Expenditure Panel Study and money income and health coverage data in the Current Population Survey to assess the impact of health insurance on the distribution of income. Our estimates imply that gross money income significantly understates the resources available to finance household purchases. The estimates imply that a more complete measure of resources would show less inequality than the income measures that are currently used. The addition of estimates of the value of health insurance to countable incomes reduces measured inequality in the population and the income gap between young and old. If the analysis were extended over a longer period, it would show a sizeable impact of insurance on inequality trends in the United States.