bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Right Inframammary Mini-Thoracotomy Approach to the Mitral Valve in Women with Breast Implants
Authors: Shafii Alexis E. , Su Jang Wen , Hendrickson Mark , Mihaljevic Tomislav , Gillinov A. Marc
Published: September 2009

Objective

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery in patients with breast implants is challenging. Obtaining access to cardiac structures without injuring the prosthesis and at the same time maintaining cosmesis is of particular concern in these patients. Mitral valve surgery can be performed using a right mini-inframammary thoracotomy in female patients with breast implants. We describe our experience with this approach to preserve the cosmetic results of previous breast augmentation.

Methods

Six female patients with previous breast implantation presented for isolated mitral valve surgery for degenerative disease. Surgery was performed through an inframammary incision, in most cases using the previous surgical incision from breast implantation. Peripheral cannulation was used for cardiopulmonary bypass. The breast prosthesis was explanted through a 6-cm skin incision, and then the mitral valve was approached through a right mini anterior thoracotomy. At the end of mitral surgery, the implant was replaced.

Results

All patients had satisfactory outcomes. The mitral valve was repaired in five patients and replaced in one patient. Average length of stay was 5.3 days (range, 4–8 days). There were no conversions to median sternotomy. There were no bleeding complications. There were no wound complications or implant infections. Cosmesis was preserved.

Conclusions

Our experience with this approach has allowed both mitral valve repair and replacement at the same time preserving cosmetic results. This minimally invasive technique may also have applications in performing atrial septal defect closure, Maze procedures for atrial fibrillation, and tricuspid valve surgery in patients with breast implants.
Improvement in the Severity of Mitral Regurgitation after Direct Intramyocardial Injection of Angiogenic Cell Precursor
Authors: Arom Kitipan V. , Ruengsakulrach Permyos , Chaothawee Lertlak
Published: September 2009

We reported a case of dilated cardiomyopathy and moderate-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who we treated by surgical direct intramyocardial angiogenic cell precursors injection. The patient was a New York Heart Association functional class III-IV, 56 year old man, who presented with end-stage congestive heart failure, moderate/severe mitral regurgitation, and myocardial fibrosis with the left ventricular ejection fraction of 13%. After he underwent direct surgical intramyocardial cell implantation, the myocardial fibrosis was resolved at 3 months follow-up. The severity of MR reduced to moderate and mild at 3 and 9 months, respectively. The left ventricular function gradually improved up to 53% at 19 months. To our knowledge, this is one of the only reports of successful direct surgical intramyocardial peripheral blood stem cell implantation to treat MR in dilated cardiomyopathy patient.
Irrigated Radiofrequency—Biophysics and Application to Surgical Ablation
Authors: Francischelli David E.
Published: September 2009

Surgical ablation has become a routine procedure in many institutions and is a nearing standard of care for certain conditions. A variety of energy sources are available to the surgeon to induce cell death and create a line of conduction block. This article provides a brief review of the biophysics of irrigated radiofrequency and its application to monopolar and bipolar ablation.
Bio-electrospraying the nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
: studying whole-genome transcriptional responses and key life cycle parameters
Authors: Mongkoldhumrongkul Napachanok , Swain Suresh C. , Jayasinghe Suwan N. , Stürzenbaum Stephen
Published: September 2009

Bio-electrospray, the direct jet-based cell handling approach, is able to handle a wide range of cells (spanning immortalized, primary to stem cells). Studies at the genomic, genetic and the physiological levels have shown that, post-treatment, cellular integrity is unperturbed and a high percentage (more than 70%, compared with control) of cells remain viable. Although, these results are impressive, it may be argued that cell-based systems are oversimplistic. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the bio-electrospray technology using sensitive and dynamically developing multi-cellular organisms that share, at least some, similarities with multi-cell microenviorments encountered with tissues and organs. This study addressed this issue by using a well-characterized model organism, the non-parasitic nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
. Nematode cultures were subjected to bio-electrospraying and compared with positive (heat shock) and negative controls (appropriate laboratory culture controls). Overall, bio-electrospraying did not modulate the reproductive output or induce significant changes in
in vivo
stress-responsive biomarkers (heat shock proteins). Likewise, whole-genome transcriptomics could not identify any biological processes, cellular components or molecular functions (gene ontology terms) that were significantly enriched in response to bio-electrospraying. This demonstrates that bio-electrosprays can be safely applied directly to nematodes and underlines its potential future use in the creation of multi-cellular environments within clinical applications.
Haemolytic activity of polyamidoamine dendrimers and the protective role of human serum albumin
Authors: Klajnert Barbara , Pikala Sylwia , Bryszewska Maria
Published: September 2009

We have examined the haemolytic activity of polyamidoamine dendrimers. Haemolysis increased in a generation- and concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the longer the incubation time, the greater the amount of haemoglobin released. When human serum albumin (HSA) was present in the incubation buffer, the extent of haemolysis decreased. This protective effect may be due to the high affinity of dendrimers for proteins: dendrimers that interact with HSA are unable to disrupt the membrane to the same extent as free dendrimers. The presence of HSA makes the buffer more relevant to physiological conditions. The results of this study suggest that the actual haemotoxicity of dendrimers
in vivo
is lower than is observed
in vitro
.
Using solvents to remove a toner print so that office paper might be reused
Authors: Counsell Thomas A. M. , Allwood Julian M.
Published: September 2009

The environmental impact of office paper recycling might be avoided if toner print could be removed from paper in a way that left the paper immediately reusable. This article reports on experiments that investigate the use of solvents to allow black toner print to be removed from white cut-size office paper. Hansen solubility parameters are estimated for detaching the pigment in toner print from paper and compared to the parameters for paper. These imply that solvents can be found that would allow toner print to be removed without harming the underlying paper. However, immersion in solvents alone detaches just 10 per cent of the toner pigment. Rubbing combined with solvents increases removal to 50 per cent. Adding ultrasonic agitation increases removal to 80 per cent. Mixing different solvents and increasing the volume of solvent can further improve removal to the point where the cleaned paper is useful, although still distinguishable from new. For instance, soaking the printed paper in a mixture of 60 per cent dimethylsulphoxide and 40 per cent chloroform for 4 min, while applying ultrasonic agitation, results in paper that can be readily reprinted. The results need to be validated on other toner and paper types. Further work is needed to investigate the influence of temperature, of adding surfactants and to consider the economic, safety and environmental implications.
Single- and double-spiral-vortex models for a supercavitating non-symmetric wedge in a jet
Authors: Antipov Y. A. , Zemlyanova A. Y.
Published: September 2009

The problem of determining the free surface of a jet incident on a rigid wedge and the boundary of a cavity behind the wedge is considered. The single- and double-spiral-vortex models by Tulin are used to describe the flow at the rear part of the cavity. The location of the wedge in the jet and the sides lengths are arbitrary. This circumstance makes the flow domain doubly connected for the single-vortex model while it is simply connected for the double-vortex model. Both models are solved in closed form by the method of conformal mappings. The maps are expressed through the solutions to certain Riemann–Hilbert problems. For the former model, this problem is formulated on a genus-1 Riemann surface. The double-vortex model requires the solution to a standard Riemann–Hilbert problem on a plane. By comparative analysis of the numerical results for the two models, it is found that the drag and lift are practically the same while the jet surface, the cavity boundary at the rear part and the deflection angle of the jet at infinity are different. Also, the problem of determining the parameters for the conformal mapping in the single-vortex model has two solutions. It is shown that one of the solutions leads to a non-physical shape of the cavity and needs to be disregarded.
A sufficient condition for the existence of trapped modes for oblique waves in a two-layer fluid
Authors: Nazarov Sergey A. , Videman Juha H.
Published: September 2009

The interaction of linear water waves with totally or partially submerged obstacles is considered in a two-layer fluid consisting of two immiscible liquid layers of different densities. A sufficient condition for the existence of trapped modes is established by introducing a trace operator that restricts the solutions to the free surface and the interface. The modes correspond to localized solutions of a spectral problem, decaying at large distances from the obstacles and belonging to the discrete spectrum below a positive cut-off value of the continuous spectrum. The sufficient condition is a simple relation between the cut-off value and some geometrical constants, namely the surface integrals taken over the cross sections of the submerged parts of the obstacles and the line integrals along the parts of the free surface and the interface pierced by the obstacles.
A boundary element regularized Stokeslet method applied to cilia- and flagella-driven flow
Authors: Smith D. J.
Published: September 2009

A boundary element implementation of the regularized Stokeslet method of Cortez is applied to cilia and flagella-driven flows in biology. Previously published approaches implicitly combine the force discretization and the numerical quadrature used to evaluate boundary integrals. By contrast, a boundary element method can be implemented by discretizing the force using basis functions, and calculating integrals using accurate numerical or analytic integration. This substantially weakens the coupling of the mesh size for the force and the regularization parameter, and greatly reduces the number of degrees of freedom required. When modelling a cilium or flagellum as a one-dimensional filament, the regularization parameter can be considered a proxy for the body radius, as opposed to being a parameter used to minimize numerical errors. Modelling a patch of cilia, it is found that: (i) for a fixed number of cilia, reducing cilia spacing reduces transport, (ii) for fixed patch dimension, increasing cilia number increases the transport, up to a plateau at 9×9 cilia. Modelling a choanoflagellate cell, it is found that the presence of a lorica structure significantly affects transport and flow outside the lorica, but does not significantly alter the force experienced by the flagellum.
Cones of material response functions in one-dimensional and anisotropic linear viscoelasticity
Authors: Seredyńska M. , Hanyga A.
Published: September 2009

Viscoelastic materials have non-negative relaxation spectra. This property implies that viscoelastic response functions satisfy certain necessary and sufficient conditions. These conditions can be expressed in terms of each viscoelastic response function ranging over a cone. The elements of each cone are completely characterized by an integral representation. The 1:1 correspondence between the viscoelastic response functions is expressed in terms of cone-preserving mappings and their inverses. The theory covers scalar- and tensor-valued viscoelastic response functions.
The mechanics and mathematics of the effect of pressure on the shear modulus of elastomers
Authors: Rajagopal K. R. , Saccomandi Giuseppe
Published: September 2009

In this paper, we discuss the need for models that express the stretch (or strain) as a function of stress, or implicit constitutive models that relate the stretch (or strain) and stress, for describing the elastic response of some elastomers. We would like to provide an explanation for some experimental data for elastomeric materials that imply that the material moduli depend on pressure. Included in the class of models that are proposed are those which can explain limiting chain extensibility that is exhibited by some rubber-like solids. The models that are proposed stem from a completely different starting point from that for classical elastic bodies, so that these models cannot be obtained within the context of classical theory.
Deciphering Transcriptional and Metabolic Networks Associated with Lysine Metabolism during Arabidopsis Seed Development
Authors: Angelovici Ruthie , Fait Aaron , Zhu Xiaohong , Szymanski Jedrzej , Feldmesser Ester , Fernie Alisdair R. , Galili Gad
Published: September 2009

In order to elucidate transcriptional and metabolic networks associated with lysine (Lys) metabolism, we utilized developing Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds as a system in which Lys synthesis could be stimulated developmentally without application of chemicals and coupled this to a T-DNA insertion knockout mutation impaired in Lys catabolism. This seed-specific metabolic perturbation stimulated Lys accumulation starting from the initiation of storage reserve accumulation. Our results revealed that the response of seed metabolism to the inducible alteration of Lys metabolism was relatively minor; however, that which was observable operated in a modular manner. They also demonstrated that Lys metabolism is strongly associated with the operation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle while largely disconnected from other metabolic networks. In contrast, the inducible alteration of Lys metabolism was strongly associated with gene networks, stimulating the expression of hundreds of genes controlling anabolic processes that are associated with plant performance and vigor while suppressing a small number of genes associated with plant stress interactions. The most pronounced effect of the developmentally inducible alteration of Lys metabolism was an induction of expression of a large set of genes encoding ribosomal proteins as well as genes encoding translation initiation and elongation factors, all of which are associated with protein synthesis. With respect to metabolic regulation, the inducible alteration of Lys metabolism was primarily associated with altered expression of genes belonging to networks of amino acids and sugar metabolism. The combined data are discussed within the context of network interactions both between and within metabolic and transcriptional control systems.
Peroxisomes Are Required for in Vivo Nitric Oxide Accumulation in the Cytosol following Salinity Stress of Arabidopsis Plants
Authors: Corpas Francisco J. , Hayashi Makoto , Mano Shoji , Nishimura Mikio , Barroso Juan B.
Published: September 2009

Peroxisomes are unique organelles involved in multiple cellular metabolic pathways. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical active in many physiological functions under normal and stress conditions. Using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) wild type and mutants expressing green fluorescent protein through the addition of peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1), which enables peroxisomes to be visualized in vivo, this study analyzes the temporal and cell distribution of NO during the development of 3-, 5-, 8-, and 11-d-old Arabidopsis seedlings and shows that Arabidopsis peroxisomes accumulate NO in vivo. Pharmacological analyses using nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors detected the presence of putative calcium-dependent NOS activity. Furthermore, peroxins Pex12 and Pex13 appear to be involved in transporting the putative NOS protein to peroxisomes, since pex12 and pex13 mutants, which are defective in PTS1- and PTS2-dependent protein transport to peroxisomes, registered lower NO content. Additionally, we show that under salinity stress (100 mm NaCl), peroxisomes are required for NO accumulation in the cytosol, thereby participating in the generation of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) and in increasing protein tyrosine nitration, which is a marker of nitrosative stress.
DkMyb4 Is a Myb Transcription Factor Involved in Proanthocyanidin Biosynthesis in Persimmon Fruit
Authors: Akagi Takashi , Ikegami Ayako , Tsujimoto Tomoyuki , Kobayashi Shozo , Sato Akihiko , Kono Atsushi , Yonemori Keizo
Published: September 2009

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are secondary metabolites that contribute to the protection of the plant and also to the taste of the fruit, mainly through astringency. Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is unique in being able to accumulate abundant PAs in the fruit flesh. Fruits of the nonastringent (NA)-type mutants lose their ability to produce PA at an early stage of fruit development, while those of the normal astringent (A) type remain rich in PA until fully ripened. The expression of many PA pathway genes was coincidentally terminated in the NA type at an early stage of fruit development. The five genes encoding the Myb transcription factor were isolated from an A-type cultivar (Kuramitsu). One of them, DkMyb4, showed an expression pattern synchronous to that of the PA pathway genes in A- and NA-type fruit flesh. The ectopic expression of DkMyb4 in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) induced PA biosynthesis but not anthocyanin biosynthesis. The suppression of DkMyb4 in persimmon calluses caused a substantial down-regulation of the PA pathway genes and PA biosynthesis. Furthermore, analysis of the DNA-binding ability of DkMyb4 showed that it directly binds to the MYBCORE cis-motif in the promoters of the some PA pathway genes. All our results indicate that DkMyb4 acts as a regulator of PA biosynthesis in persimmon and, therefore, suggest that the reduction in the DkMyb4 expression causes the NA-type-specific down-regulation of PA biosynthesis and resultant NA trait.
The MYB305 Transcription Factor Regulates Expression of Nectarin Genes in the Ornamental Tobacco Floral Nectary
Authors: Liu Guangyu , Ren Gang , Guirgis Adel , Thornburg Robert W.
Published: September 2009

We have isolated and characterized the cDNA encoding the ornamental tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii X N. sanderae) homolog of the antirrhinum (Antirrhinum majus) MYB305. This transcription factor was robustly expressed at Stage 12 of nectary development but was only weakly expressed in the earlier Stage 6 nectaries. The ornamental tobacco MYB305 contains a conserved R2R3 MYB DNA binding domain with 76 amino acids in the activation domain. A green fluorescent protein-MYB305 fusion localized to nucleus of tobacco protoplasts and yeast one-hybrid assays demonstrated that it functions as a transcription activator. A conserved 23–amino acid C-terminal domain is required to activate gene expression. The coding region of the myb305 cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and was purified to homogeneity. This protein shows binding to two consensus MYB binding sites on the ornamental tobacco Nectarin I (nec1) promoter as well as to the single site located on the Nectarin V (nec5) promoter. Deletions of either of the binding sites from the nec1 promoter significantly reduced expression in nectary tissues. Temporally, MYB305 expression precedes that of nec1 and nec5, as would be expected if the MYB305 factor regulates expression of the nec1 and nec5 genes. Ectopic expression of MYB305 in foliage was able to induce expression of both nec1 and nec5, as well as two flavonoid biosynthetic genes in the foliage. Finally, RNA interference knockdown of MYB305 resulted in reduced expression of both nectarins and flavonoid biosynthetic genes. We conclude that expression of MYB305 regulates expression of the major nectarin genes in the floral nectary.
Phage-Type RNA Polymerase RPOTmp Performs Gene-Specific Transcription in Mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kühn Kristina , Richter Uwe , Meyer Etienne H. , Delannoy Etienne , Falcon de Longevialle Andéol , O'Toole Nicholas , Börner Thomas , Millar A. Harvey , Small Ian D. , Whelan James
Published: September 2009

Transcription of mitochondrial genes in animals, fungi, and plants relies on the activity of T3/T7 phage-type RNA polymerases. Two such enzymes, RPOTm and RPOTmp, are present in the mitochondria of eudicotyledonous plants; RPOTmp is additionally found in plastids. We have characterized the transcriptional role of the dual-targeted RNA polymerase in mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana. Examination of mitochondrial transcripts in rpoTmp mutants revealed major differences in transcript abundances between wild-type and rpoTmp plants. Decreased levels of specific transcripts were correlated with reduced abundances of the respiratory chain complexes I and IV. Altered transcript levels in rpoTmp were found to result from gene-specific transcriptional changes, establishing that RPOTmp functions in distinct transcriptional processes within mitochondria. Decreased transcription of specific genes in rpoTmp was not associated with changes in promoter utilization; therefore, RPOTmp function is not promoter specific but gene specific. This implies that additional gene-specific elements direct the transcription of a subset of mitochondrial genes by RPOTmp.
Current status of chemotherapy in risk‐adapted management for metastatic testicular germ cell cancer
Authors: Kawai Koji , Akaza Hideyuki
Published: September 2009

Today, approximately 80% of men with metastatic testicular cancer can be cured with chemotherapy combined with the appropriate surgery. The improved treatment outcome has led to the stratification of patients with metastatic disease by the consensus prognostic index; the International Germ Cell Cancer Consensus Group classification. Currently, the first‐line chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) remains the standard management of metastatic testicular cancer. Three cycles of BEP for good‐prognosis patients and four cycles of BEP for intermediate‐ and poor‐prognosis patients are the standard first‐line chemotherapy. To achieve the optimal outcome, BEP should be given with appropriate supportive care and risk assessment for toxicity. Although no universal prognostic criteria have been defined for the recurrent or refractory disease, the risk‐adapted approach may clarify the role of ifosfamide‐ and paclitaxel‐containing conventional‐dose chemotherapy or high‐dose chemotherapy in the second‐line setting. Several investigators reported recent improvement of treatment outcome of testicular cancer patients, especially those with poor prognosis. Along with the progress in chemotherapy, the risk‐adapted management at experienced hospitals seems to be responsible for the recent progress in treatment outcome. (Cancer Sci 2009)
Effectiveness of internal quality assurance programmes in improving clinical practice and reducing costs
Authors: Gascón Cánovas Juan J. , Saturno Hernández Pedro J. , Antón Botella Jose J.
Published: September 2009

Rationale, aims and objectives  To assess the effectiveness of internal initiatives to improve quality as compared with external feedback, and as compared with a control group.

Method  Ten primary health centres were randomly selected from the centres in the Murcia's Region and were randomly assigned into three groups: G1 committed themselves to the improvement; G2 composed by two subgroups: with and without quality improvement (QI) activities – received external feedback; G3 received no intervention. Quality of common cold management was measured in a random sample of 50 patients per centre before and after interventions. Effect was assessed comparing criteria compliance and the cost of treatments for common cold in the three groups.

Results  G1 and G2 subgroup with internal QI improved significantly in all criteria, and in G1 average treatment cost decreased by 60% (P < 0.01). G3 improved only in one criterion. Estimated yearly savings in treatment costs for common cold, for a centre with internal QI, were €12 193.83 and it would be €1 817 004.65 for the 30 centres in the Region.

Conclusions  Internally assumed QI activities were significantly more effective than external feedback. Besides, the high cost of deficient quality provides a wide margin to invest with benefits in the promotion of internal QI programmes.
Foliar Application of Glycinebetaine and Salicylic Acid Improves Growth, Yield and Water Productivity of Hybrid Sunflower Planted by Different Sowing Methods
Authors: Hussain M. , Farooq M. , Jabran K. , Wahid A.
Published: September 2009

Improved planting methods and foliar application of glycinebetaine (GB) and salicylic acid (SA) can improve the water productivity in field crops under limited water supply conditions. A 2‐year field study was conducted to evaluate the possible role of different planting methods and foliar applications of GB and SA in improving the yield, quality and water productivity of hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The crop was planted by flat sowing (75 cm spaced rows) and ridge sowing (75 cm spaced ridges), with GB and SA applied exogenously at 100 and 0.724 mm, respectively, at both budding and flowering stages, while control plots received distilled water. Ridge sowing, rather than flat sowing, improved the biological yield, oil yield, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), plant height, water‐use efficiency and final achene yield during both the years. Foliar applications of GB and SA at both the stages improved the achene yield, although foliar application of GB at flowering was the most effective. Neither the planting methods nor the foliar application of GB and SA altered the achene oil contents during both the years. Foliar application of GB and SA increased the free proline content of the leaf and GB contents at flowering but reduced the achene protein contents, whereas planting method had no effect on these attributes across the years. Of the foliar applied chemicals, GB was more effective in improving sunflower growth and yield and water productivity than SA. To conclude, ridge sowing coupled with foliar application of GB at flowering stage could be beneficial for achieving maximum yields of hybrid sunflower under relatively water limited conditions in the field.
Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy for internal rectal prolapse: short‐term functional results
Authors: Collinson R. , Wijffels N. , Cunningham C. , Lindsey I.
Published: September 2009

Objective  Over the last 15 years, posterior rectopexy, which causes rectal autonomic denervation, was discredited for internal rectal prolapse because of poor results. The condition became medical, managed largely by biofeedback. We aimed to audit the short‐term functional results of autonomic nerve‐sparing laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) for internal rectal prolapse.

Method  Prospectively collected data on LVR for internal rectal prolapse were analysed. End‐points were changes in bowel function (Wexner Constipation Score and Fecal Incontinence Severity Index) at 3 and 12 months. Analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U‐test for unpaired data and Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired data (two‐sided p‐test). Functional outcomes were compared with those achieved previously for external rectal prolapse (ERP).

Results  Seventy‐five patients underwent LVR (median age 58, range 25–88 years, median follow up was 12 months). Mortality (0%), major (0%) and minor morbidity (4%) were acceptably low. Median length of stay was 2 days. Preoperative constipation (median Wexner score 12) and faecal incontinence (median FISI score 28) improved significantly at 3 months (Wexner 4, FISI 8, both P < 0.0001) and 12 months (Wexner 5, FISI 8, both P < 0.0001). No patient had worse function. Functional outcomes were similar to those for ERP.

Conclusion  Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy for internal rectal prolapse improves symptoms of obstructed defaecation and faecal incontinence in the short‐term. This establishes proof of concept for a nerve‐sparing surgical treatment for internal rectal prolapse.
Role of enterocele in the obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS): a new radiological point of view
Authors: Morandi C. , Martellucci J. , Talento P. , Carriero A.
Published: September 2009

Aim  The aim of this study was to understand the role of enterocele in the pathogenesis of the obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) a new defecographic classification based on function.

Method  A total of 597 patients (551 women, 46 men) who underwent cinedefecography between November 2001 and November 2005 were studied. A total of 567 (95%) underwent cinedefecography as they had symptoms of ODS. Enterocele was classified into three types.

Results  Enterocele was found in 127 (23%) female and one (2.2%) male patients. Thirty‐eight (6.9%) patients had type A, 38(6.9%) type B, and 27(4.9%) type C enterocele. A total of 24 patients (4.35%) had sigmoidocele. In patients with type C enterocele, the finding of a radiological pattern of ODS was higher (26/27) than that in the other groups (A + B + Sigmoidocele) (23/100) (P < 0.001). An obstructed evacuation pattern was found in 49 (38.5%) patients with enterocele and in 148 (34.9%) patients in the control group.

Conclusion  Type C enterocele is often associated with a radiological pattern of ODS and usually presents as an isolated condition. Type B is less frequently associated with ODS and is more frequently accompanied by other pathological conditions.
Laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for perforated colonic diverticulitis: a systematic review
Authors: Toorenvliet B. R. , Swank H. , Schoones J. W. , Hamming J. F. , Bemelman W. A.
Published: September 2009

Aim  This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy, morbidity and mortality of laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for patients with perforated diverticulitis.

Method  We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases, Google Scholar and five major publisher websites without language restriction. All articles which reported the use of laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for patients with perforated diverticulitis were included.

Results  Two prospective cohort studies, nine retrospective case series and two case reports reporting 231 patients were selected for data extraction. Most (77%) patients had purulent peritonitis (Hinchey III). Laparoscopic peritoneal lavage successfully controlled abdominal and systemic sepsis in 95.7% of patients. Mortality was 1.7%, morbidity 10.4% and only four (1.7%) of the 231 patients received a colostomy.

Conclusion  There have been no publications of high methodological quality on laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for patients with perforated colonic diverticulitis. The published papers do, however, show promising results, with high efficacy, low mortality, low morbidity and a minimal need for a colostomy.
Fusing Point and Areal Level Space–Time Data with Application to Wet Deposition
Authors: Sahu Sujit K. , Gelfand Alan E. , Holland David M.
Published: September 2009

Motivated by the problem of predicting chemical deposition in eastern USA at weekly, seasonal and annual scales, the paper develops a framework for joint modelling of point- and grid-referenced spatiotemporal data in this context. The hierarchical model proposed can provide accurate spatial interpolation and temporal aggregation by combining information from observed point-referenced monitoring data and gridded output from a numerical simulation model known as the ‘community multi-scale air quality model’. The technique avoids the change-of-support problem which arises in other hierarchical models for data fusion settings to combine point- and grid-referenced data. The hierarchical space–time model is fitted to weekly wet sulphate and nitrate deposition data over eastern USA. The model is validated with set-aside data from a number of monitoring sites. Predictive Bayesian methods are developed and illustrated for inference on aggregated summaries such as quarterly and annual sulphate and nitrate deposition maps. The highest wet sulphate deposition occurs near major emissions sources such as fossil-fuelled power plants whereas lower values occur near background monitoring sites.
Ambient temperature influences aging in an annual fish (Nothobranchius rachovii)
Authors: Hsu Chin‐Yuan , Chiu Ya‐Chi
Published: September 2009

Extending lifespan by lowering ambient temperature in the habitat has been shown in a variety of organisms. Its mechanism, however, remains elusive. In this study, we examined the survivorship and the aging process of the annual fish (Nothobranchius rachovii) reared under high (30 °C), moderate (25 °C) and low (20 °C) ambient temperatures. The results showed that low ambient temperatures prolong survivorship, whereas high ambient temperatures shorten survivorship. At low ambient temperature, expression of senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase, lipofuscin, reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, mitochondrial density and ADP/ATP ratio were reduced compared with those reared at high and moderate temperatures, whereas catalase activity, Mn‐superoxide dismutase activities, mitochondrial membrane potential and the levels of ATP, ADP, Sirt1 and Forkhead box O expression were elevated. The expression levels of Hsp70 and CIRP showed no significant difference under any of the ambient temperatures tested. We concluded that cellular metabolism, energy utilization and gene expression are altered at lower ambient temperature, which is associated with the extension of lifespan of the annual fish.
Term breech singletons and caesarean section: A population study, Australia 1991–2005
Authors: SULLIVAN Elizabeth Anne , MORAN Katinka , CHAPMAN Michael
Published: September 2009

Objective: To describe the method of birth of term breech singletons in Australia.

Design, setting and participants:  A retrospective population‐based study of women who gave birth to term breech singletons in Australia between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2005 using data from the National Perinatal Data Collection.

Main outcome measures:  Caesarean section, vaginal breech birth.

Results:  Method of birth changed for term breech singletons from 1991 (vaginal breech birth 23.1% versus caesarean (no labour 55.6%, labour 21.2%)) to 2005 (vaginal breech birth 3.7% versus caesarean (no labour 76.6%, labour 19.7%)). Overall, the population attributable risk percentage of term breech singletons for all caesarean sections declined from 10.2% in 1991 to 6.9% in 2005.

Conclusion:  Planned caesarean section is the standard method of birth for term breech singletons in Australia. Active measures including external cephalic version should be supported to reduce the rate of caesarean section where clinically indicated. Retention of a skilled clinical workforce is essential in the provision of the latter and to assist the minority of women having vaginal breech births. Breech presentation is not a major factor in the overall rise in caesarean section experienced by Australia since 1996.
Lineage Loss in Serengeti Cheetahs: Consequences of High Reproductive Variance and Heritability of Fitness on Effective Population Size
Authors: Kelly Marcella J.
Published: September 2009

Abstract: In natural populations, many breeders do not leave surviving offspring, and as a result many potential genetic lineages are lost. I examined lineage extinction in Serengeti cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and found that 76% of matrilines were lost over a 25‐year period. Production of future breeders was nonrandom and generally confined to a few families. Five out of 63 matrilines accounted for 45% of the total cheetah population over the course of the study. Lineage persistence is perhaps best illustrated by the variance in lifetime reproductive success ( LRS) and heritability in this parameter. In female cheetahs, variance in LRS was high, and new data show that this LRS was heritable. Variance in LRS and heritability in LRS have dramatic consequences for effective population size, Ne. I calculated Ne for cheetahs, taking into account fluctuating population size, unequal sex ratio, non‐Poisson distribution of reproductive success, and heritability of fitness. The Ne was most strongly affected by variance in reproductive success and especially heritability in reproductive success. The variance Ne was 44% of the actual population size, and the inclusion of heritability further reduced Ne to only 15% of the actual population, a ratio similar to that of a social carnivore with reproductive suppression. The current cheetah population in the Serengeti is below numbers suggested by Ne estimates as sufficient to maintain sufficient genetic diversity.
Mitochondria are involved in apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation in lepidopteran Spodoptera litura cell line
Authors: Shan Shigang , Liu Kaiyu , Peng Jianxin , Yao Hanchao , Li Yi , Hong Huazhu
Published: September 2009

Abstract  Mitochondria are involved in apoptosis of mammalian cells and even single‐cell organisms, but mitochondria are not required in apoptosis in cultured Drosophila cells such as S2 and BG2 cell lines. It is not very clear whether mitochondria are involved in apoptosis in other insect cells such as lepidopteran cell lines. Thus, we determined to elucidate the role of mitochondria in apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) cell line (SL‐ZSU‐1). The Western blot results suggested that cytochrome c in the ultraviolet‐treated SL‐1 cells was released from the mitochondria to cytosol as early as 4 h after the induction of ultraviolet radiation and increased in the cytosolic fractions in a time‐dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of SL‐ZSU‐1 cell treated with ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) light indicated the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was dependent on the times of ultraviolet treatment. Both of them are different from apoptosis in cultured Drosophila melanogaster cell lines (S2 and BG2) and it appears evident mitochondria are involved in apoptosis of the studied lepidopteran cells.
Eradication of Solenopsis invicta by pyriproxyfen at the Shihmen Reservoir in northern Taiwan
Authors: Hwang Ji‐Sen
Published: September 2009

Abstract  The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of eradicating the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in the hot, humid and rainy conditions of northern Taiwan. Thirteen hectares of the Shihmen Reservoir have been infected with these ants, with a total of 1 578 mounds. Pyriproxyfen was applied at a rate of 2 kg/hectare each season, for a total of four seasons. Surveys using visual examination, bait traps, as well as the population index method showed that the brood, the reproductive ants, and the worker ants within the nests were all significantly reduced 1 month after the first application of pyriproxyfen. Four months after the initial application there were no more brood or reproductive ants. After 8 months there were no longer any active mounds left, and 12 months later there were no more worker ants. After monitoring for 1 more year, it was ascertained that the red imported fire ants were eradicated. The percentages of decrease after 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment were 57.4%, 80.5%, and 98.2%, respectively.
Dynamic Crush of Tubes
Authors: Thornton P. H.
Published: September 2009

The initial collapse load and the energy absorbed during collapse were measured for brass tubing over a range of compression rates from ∼ 2 × 10−4 m/s to ∼ 12 m/s using two different load cells. Large differences in the initial collapse load under quasi-static loading could be produced by different trigger mechanisms. These differences were reduced as the compression rate was increased. Load cell inertia effects could cause the true form of the load/compression curve to be obscured. Although such ringing responses precluded accurate measurements of the initial collapse load, the measured energy absorbed during the collapse was not affected.
Multilevel Strain Controlled Fatigue on a Type 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Bernard-Connolly M. , Bui-Quoc T. , Biron A.
Published: September 2009

A series of cumulative damage strain-controlled fatigue tests at 20°C has been carried out on a Type 304 stainless steel with two, three, and five strain levels, both in an increasing and decreasing order. Experimental results show that if the strains are applied in an increasing order, the summation of cycle ratios is greater than unity, whatever the number of applied levels. For a decreasing order, this summation is less than one. However, for the same difference between high and low levels, this summation is closer to unity when the number of applied levels increases. The cumulative damage effect is evaluated using an approach which takes into account the sequence effect of loading. The procedure is based on the modification of the damage evolution with respect to that corresponding to constant amplitude loading. This is explained by an interaction effect due to a previous loading. With the interaction effect parameter suggested, the procedure is generalized to any discrete strain pattern. An application of the method is carried out to estimate the sums of life fractions required for failure for the material investigated. The correlation between predictions and experimental results is then discussed.
Materials Testing for Cold Forging
Authors: Sowerby R. , O’Reilly I. , Chandrasekaran N. , Dung N. L.
Published: September 2009

The article describes a series of experiments, and some associated theoretical work, which should assist in assessing the suitability of certain steels designated for cold forging operations. The compression of a circular cylinder is often used to assess the cold forgeability, but with ductile materials the test can result in excessively high loads before surface cracking occurs. Some alternative upsetting procedures are described and the so-called collar test is recommended when studying the upsetting of ductile materials. Information is presented herein which indicates that a single fracture line, in the manner of Kuhn, is not applicable for a variety of steels when different upsetting tests are compared. The hoop, εθ, and axial, εz, strain history at the free surface of an upset specimen is employed to obtain the associated stress history using simple plasticity theory. Three distinct upsetting tests are analyzed using a finite element method and the predictions of the surface strains compare well with experimental data. The behavior of AISI 1045 and 1144 steels in the collar test is also examined. The steels were subjected to three different heat treatments, and the effect of composition and thermal processing on the fracture behavior is discussed.
Mean Stress Effects in Biaxial Fatigue of Inconel 718
Authors: Socie D. F. , Shield T. W.
Published: September 2009

Biaxial fatigue tests were conducted on Inconel 718 thin-walled tubular specimens to quantify the effect of mean stress. The specimens were loaded in combined tension and torsion in strain control at room temperature. Fatigue lives ranged from 3000 to 15,000 cycles depending on the mean stress. These data were correlated with a parameter based on the maximum plastic shear strain amplitude, normal strain amplitude and mean normal stress on the plane of maximum shear strain amplitude. This parameter was combined with the Coffin-Manson equation for estimating fatigue lives. Observations of the cracking behavior show that mean stress affects the rate of crack growth and distribution of cracks.
The Simulation of Sliding Wear by Cyclic Plastic Deformation Under Combined Stresses
Authors: Glardon R. , Chavez S. , Finnie I.
Published: September 2009

A mechanical test which is believed to simulate the conditions occurring in sliding wear is described. It involves the cyclic plastic deformation of metals under combined compression and shear. The results of tests on six alloys are reported and correlated with those from wear tests. On this basis, an expression is proposed for the sliding wear rate which is based on material behavior during cyclic plastic deformation and involves three material properties. The implications of this expression for the wear rate are discussed and directions for future work are suggested.
Fatigue Crack Growth of Duplex Stainless Steel Castings at 4 K
Authors: Purtscher P. T. , Cheng Y. W. , Li P. N.
Published: September 2009

Constant-load-amplitude stage II fatigue crack growth rates at 4 K were measured for duplex stainless steel castings. The results show that at a ΔK of 60 MPa•m1/2, da/dN = 7.6 × 10−4 mm/cycle for an alloy with 1 percent ferrite. For an alloy with 8 percent ferrite, da/dN is 35 percent, and for an alloy with 29 percent ferrite, da/dN is 260 percent greater than for the 1 percent ferrite alloy. However, the exponent in the Paris equation does not change appreciably (less than 18 percent) as the ferrite content changes from 1 to 29 percent.
Prevention of Fracture of Cracked Steel Bars Using Laser: Part I—Laser Hardening
Authors: Kato Akira
Published: September 2009

This paper investigates the effect of laser hardening on cracked steel specimens. After laser hardening around precracked shafts of SAE 1015 steel, rotary bending fatigue strength was determined. The results showed that the fatigue strength of specimens with a small crack can be raised to the strength of virgin specimens. Therefore this method may be used as a technique for fatigue fracture prevention of steel components containing cracks.
The Benefit of Hydrogen Addition to the Boiling Water Reactor Environment on Stress Corrosion Crack Initiation and Growth in Type 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Jewett C. W. , Pickett A. E.
Published: September 2009

Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in Type 304 stainless steel in high temperature high purity water requires the simultaneous presence of sensitized material, high tensile stress and oxygen. Laboratory and in-reactor stress corrosion tests have shown the benefits of adding hydrogen to the boiling water reactor feed-water to reduce the dissolved oxygen concentration and thereby reduce the chemical driving force for IGSCC. The purpose of this program was to verify the benefit of hydrogen additions on the stress corrosion crack behavior. The program investigated the fatigue and constant load crack growth behavior using fracture mechanics specimens in hydrogen water chemistry (HWC). Isothermal heat treatments were used to sensitize Type 304 stainless steel. Additionally, full size pipe tests containing actual welds were used to evaluate crack initiation, as well as propagation of cracks, to verify the results of the fracture mechanics tests. These pipe tests were performed under a trapezoidal loading cycle. The results of the small specimen tests show that HWC inhibits IGSCC in Type 304 stainless steel. The effects of cyclic loading at slow frequencies which promote IGSCC were also evaluated. Computer aided methods were used in the collection and interpretation of the high temperature crack growth data. The full-size component tests substantiated the benefit of HWC in both crack initiation and growth. All results presented were compared to baseline test data to put the results into perspective.