bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arbeitsgemeinschaft: Topological Robotics
Authors: Farber Michael , Gonzalez Espino Barros Jesus , Schütz Dirk
Published: May 2011

The purpose of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft was to enable PhD students and researchers to study Topological Robotics, a new field investigating topological problems motivated by robotics and engineering as well as problems of practical robotics requiring topological tools. The topics broadly fell into the areas of Topology of configuration spaces, Topological complexity of robot motion planning algorithms and Stochastic topology.
Mathematical Challenges in Stochastic Networks
Authors: Foss Serguei , Last Günter , Mandjes Michel , Prabhakar Balaji
Published: May 2011

The workshop was devoted to the discussion of recent progress in modern stochastic network theory and to the exploration of open mathematical challenging problems in the field. The workshop covered a wide range of mathematical topics; while being centered around applied probability, it also included a substantial amount of graph theory and (combinatorial) optimization.
Infinite Dimensional Lie Theory
Authors: Neeb Karl-Hermann , Pianzola Arturo , Ratiu Tudor S.
Published: May 2011

The workshop focussed on recent developments in infinite-dimensional Lie theory. The talks covered a broad range of topics, such as structure and classification theory of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras, geometry of infinite-dimensional Lie groups and homogeneous spaces and representations theory of infinite-dimensional Lie groups, Lie algebras and Lie-superalgebras.
Teichmüller Theory
Authors: Morita Shigeyuki , Papadopoulos Athanase , Penner Robert C.
Published: May 2011

This is a report on the workshop on Teichmüller theory held in Oberwolfach, from November 28 to December 4, 2010. The workshop brought together people working in various aspects of the field, with a focus on recent developments. The topics discussed included higher Teichmüller theory, moduli spaces of flat connections, cluster algebras, quantization of Teichmüller spaces, the dynamical aspects of the Teichmüller and Weil-Petersson geodesic flows, the metric and the boundary theory of Teichmüller space including the new developments on Thurston’s asymmetric metric, string topology, geometric analysis on moduli spaces, and relations with three-manifold topology and with minimal surface theory were also highlighted. The mapping class group was also discussed in detail, from various points of view, including its actions on simplicial complexes and on infinite-dimensional Teichmüller spaces, its asymptotic dimension, the relation with the arc operad, the generalizations of the Johnson homomorphisms to the monoid of homology cylinders, making contact with knot theory and with the Casson invariant and other 3-manifolds invariants. There was an open problem session, which is also reported on here.
Classical and Quantum Mechanical Models of Many-Particle Systems
Authors: Arnold Anton , Carlen Eric A. , Desvillettes Laurent
Published: May 2011

The topic of this meeting were non-linear partial differential and integro-differential equations (in particular kinetic equations and their macroscopic/fluid-dynamical limits) modeling the dynamics of many-particle systems with applications in physics, engineering, and mathematical biology. Typical questions of interest were the derivation of macro-models from micro-models, the mathematical analysis (well-posedness, stability, asymptotic behavior of solutions), and “to a lesser extent” numerical aspects of such equations. A highlight of this meeting was a mini-course on the recent mathematical theory of Landau damping.
Mini-Workshop: Algebraic and Analytic Techniques for Polynomial Vector Fields
Authors: Gasull Armengol , Hartmann Julia , Llibre Jaume , Walcher Sebastian
Published: May 2011

Polynomial vector fields are in the focus of research in various areas of mathematics and its applications. As a consequence, researchers from rather different disciplines work with polynomial vector fields. The main goal of this mini workshop was to create new and consolidate existing interdisciplinary exchange on the subject.
Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Authors: Fraser R. , McClay J. , Woelfl N. , Thompson C.B. , Cambell J. , Windle J. , Grabenbauer L.
Published: May 2011

Objective: Less than 20% of hospitals in the US have an electronic health record (EHR). In this qualitative study, we examine the perspectives of both academic and private physicians and administrators as stakeholders, and their alignment, to explore their perspectives on the use of technology in the clinical environment.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted with 74 participants who were asked a series of open-ended questions. Grounded theory was used to analyze the transcribed data and build convergent themes. The relevance and importance of themes was constructed by examining frequency, convergence, and intensity. A model was proposed that represents the interactions between themes. Results: Six major themes emerged, which include the impact of EHR systems on workflow, patient care, communication, research/outcomes/billing, education/learning, and institutional culture. Academic and private physicians were confident of the future benefits of EHR systems, yet cautious about the current implementations of EHR, and its impact on interactions with other members of the healthcare team and with patients, and the amount of time necessary to use EHR’s. Private physicians differed on education and were uneasy about the steep learning curve necessary for use of new systems. In contrast to physicians, university and hospital administrators are optimistic, and value the availability of data for use in reporting.

Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that both private and academic physicians concur on the need for features that maintain and enhance the relationship with the patient and the healthcare team. Resistance to adoption is related to insufficient functionality and its potential negative impact on patient care. Integration of data collection into clinical workflows must consider the unexpected costs of data acquisition.
A dimensão categórica do documento na ciência da informação
Authors: Rabello Rodrigo
Published: May 2011

Considerando uma perspectiva epistemológica de análise, propôs-se fazer um estudo histórico-conceitual do documento na Ciência da Informação (CI) buscando remontar aspectos teóricos com base nas disciplinas História, Diplomática e Documentação. Para tanto, orientou-se nos pressupostos da história dos conceitos que permitiu estudar aspectos sincrônicos e diacrônicos do conceito mediante a configuração da tradição e da inovação como categorias antitéticas de análise. Enfim, buscou-se demonstrar o caráter categórico do documento no quadro teórico da CI.
Characteristics of water-vapour inversions observed over the Arctic by Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and radiosondes
Authors: Devasthale A. , Sedlar J. , Tjernström M.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. An accurate characterization of the vertical structure of the Arctic atmosphere is useful in climate change and attribution studies as well as for the climate modelling community to improve projections of future climate over this highly sensitive region. Here, we investigate one of the dominant features of the vertical structure of the Arctic atmosphere, i.e. water-vapour inversions, using eight years of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder data (2002–2010) and radiosounding profiles released from the two Arctic locations (North Slope of Alaska at Barrow and during SHEBA). We quantify the characteristics of clear-sky water vapour inversions in terms of their frequency of occurrence, strength and height covering the entire Arctic for the first time. We found that the frequency of occurrence of water-vapour inversions is highest during winter and lowest during summer. The inversion strength is, however, higher during summer. The observed peaks in the median inversion-layer heights are higher during the winter half of the year, at around 850 hPa over most of the Arctic Ocean, Siberia and the Canadian Archipelago, while being around 925 hPa during most of the summer half of the year over the Arctic Ocean. The radiosounding profiles agree with the frequency, location and strength of water-vapour inversions in the Pacific sector of the Arctic. In addition, the radiosoundings indicate that multiple inversions are the norm with relatively few cases without inversions. The amount of precipitable water within the water-vapour inversion structures is estimated and we find a distinct, two-mode contribution to the total column precipitable water. These results suggest that water-vapour inversions are a significant source to the column thermodynamics, especially during the colder winter and spring seasons. We argue that these inversions are a robust metric to test the reproducibility of thermodynamics within climate models. An accurate statistical representation of water-vapour inversions in models would mean that the large-scale coupling of moisture transport, precipitation, temperature and water vapour vertical structure and radiation are also essentially captured well in such models.
A versatile and reproducible automatic injection system for liquid standard introduction: application to in-situ calibration
Authors: Isaacman G. , Kreisberg N. M. , Worton D. R. , Hering S. V. , Goldstein A. H.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. The quantitation of trace organic compounds in ambient organic aerosol is difficult due to the chemical complexity of these mixtures, but is needed to provide insight into their sources and formation processes. Compound-level characterization of organic aerosols is typically performed through sample collection followed by gas or liquid chromatography. With these methods, introduction of liquid standards has long been used as an effective means of quantifying trace compounds, but automating this technique for use with in-situ instrumentation has not previously been achieved. Here we develop an automatic injection system (AutoInject) for the introduction of liquids into a custom collection and analysis cell for improved quantitation in chromatographic measurements. The system consists of chilled reservoirs containing liquid standards from which a sample loop is loaded and then injected into the cell. The AutoInject is shown to have reproducibility over 106 injections with a relative standard deviation of 1.5 %, and have negligible injection-to-injection carryover. A 6-port selector allows injection of different liquid standards separately or simultaneously. Additionally, automatic injection of multiple sample loops is shown to generate a linear multi-point calibration curve. Tests conducted in this work focus on use with the Thermal desorption Aerosol Gas chromatograph (TAG), but the flexibility of the system allows it to be used for a variety of applications.
Nitrogen enrichment enhances the dominance of grasses over forbs in a temperate steppe ecosystem
Authors: Song L. , Bao X. M. , Liu X. J. , Zhang Y. , Christie P. , Fangmeier A. , Zhang F. S.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. Chinese grasslands are extensive natural ecosystems that comprise 40 % of the total land area of the country and are sensitive to N deposition. A field experiment with six N rates (0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1) was conducted at Duolun, Inner Mongolia, during 2005 and 2010 to identify some effects of N addition on a temperature steppe ecosystem. The dominant plant species in the plots were divided into two categories, grasses and forbs, on the basis of species life forms. Enhanced N deposition, even as little as 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1 above ambient N deposition (16 kg N ha−1 yr−1), led to a decline in species richness. The cover of grasses increased with N addition rate but their species richness showed a weak change across N treatments. Both species richness and cover of forbs declined strongly with increasing N deposition as shown by linear regression analysis (p<0.05). Increasing N deposition elevated aboveground production of grasses but lowered aboveground biomass of forbs. Plant N concentration, plant δ15N and soil mineral N increased with N addition, showing positive relationships between plant δ15N and N concentration, soil mineral N and/or applied N rate. The cessation of N application in the 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1 treatment in 2009 and 2010 led to a slight recovery of the forb species richness relative to total cover and aboveground biomass, coinciding with reduced plant N concentration and soil mineral N. The results show that N deposition induced changes in soil N transformations and plant N assimilation that are key to changes in species composition and biomass accumulation in this temperate steppe ecosystem.
The seismic signatures of the 2009 Shiaolin landslide in Taiwan
Authors: Feng Z.
Published: May 2011

Abstract. The Shiaolin landslide occurred on 9 August 2009 after Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan, claiming over 400 lives. The seismic signals produced by the landslide were recorded by broadband seismic stations in Taiwan. The time-frequency spectra for these signals were obtained by the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) and were analyzed to obtain the seismic characteristics of the landslide. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) was applied to differentiate weak surface-wave signals from noise and to estimate the surface-wave velocities in the region. The surface-wave velocities were estimated using the fifth intrinsic mode function (IMF 5) obtained from the EMD. The spectra of the earthquake data were compared. The main frequency content of the seismic waves caused by the Shiaolin landslide were in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 Hz. This frequency range is smaller than the frequency ranges of other earthquakes. The spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) method is suggested for characterizing the shear-wave velocities of the strata in the region.
Visual Acuity, Contrast Sensitivity, Subjective Quality of Vision, and Quality of Life with 4 Different Multifocal IOLs
Authors: Gil Miguel A. , Varon Consuelo , Rosello Noemi , Cardona Genis , Buil José A.
Published: May 2011

Purpose

This prospective, randomized, double-masked, clinical trial was designed to evaluate visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, subjective quality of vision, and quality of life in 47 patients symmetrically, and randomly, implanted with 4 different IOL designs (SN6AD1, SN60D3, ReZoom NXG1, and Tecnis ZMA00), 3 months after cataract intervention.

Methods

Binocular corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuity, binocular distance corrected (BCNVA) and uncorrected (UCNVA) near visual acuity, binocular distance corrected (BCIVA) and uncorrected (UCIVA) intermediate visual acuity, photopic, mesopic, and mesopic with glare contrast sensitivity, quality of vision, and quality of life were evaluated.

Results

Statistically and clinically significant differences were found in BCNVA and UCNVA at 33 cm between high and low add power IOLs, while diffractive SN6AD1 lenses achieved better UCNVA at 40 cm than refractive ReZoom IOLs. Asphericity and low add power were found to improve BCIVA. Contrast sensitivity was similarly compromised in all IOL models, although diffractive optics and aspheric profiles performed better in mesopic conditions. All IOL types received similar overall satisfaction and quality of life scores. Whereas ReZoom patients depended on their spectacles for near tasks, intermediate vision was spectacle independent. Photic phenomena were present in all IOLs, albeit more frequent in ReZoom IOLs.

Conclusions

The present results, which reflect IOL characteristics in optics, profile, and add power, may contribute to help surgeons decide on the type of IOL most suitable for each patient, especially those with high visual demands at near and intermediate distances.
The provision of bioinformatics services in Canadian academic libraries
Authors: Dennie Danielle
Published: May 2011

Introduction – This article describes the level of bioinformatics services offered by academic libraries across Canada. It also assesses faculty use of bioinformatics resources and the need for library bioinformatics services at one academic institution, Concordia University. Methods – To assess the level of bioinformatics services at Canadian universities, a survey was sent to life and health sciences librarians at English-speaking Canadian universities comparable to Concordia University. To assess faculty use of bioinformatics and the need for bioinformatics instruction, another survey was sent to faculty of the Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics at Concordia University. Results – Approximately one-quarter of librarians surveyed provided services such as online research guides for bioinformatics resources, workshops, or online tutorials. Individual consultations with students were infrequent. The majority of the libraries where bioinformatics services were offered were at universities with a medical school. The faculty survey indicated that Concordia Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics researchers are heavy users of bibliographic and bioinformatics databases, using at least one of these databases on a daily basis. Most faculty members learned how to use bioinformatics databases on their own and regularly teach the use of these databases to their students or colleagues. Nevertheless, faculty at Concordia seem to be open to some form of collaboration with the library for the provision of bioinformatics services. Discussion – Although librarians can participate in the teaching of bioinformatics database skills, library services in bioinformatics at Canadian university libraries are still in the embryonic phase. Librarians should be trained in the use of these databases to increase their confidence and expertise and to help them market these skills to faculty and students.
Evolving a collaborative matrix for teaching informatics online to health sciences students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Authors: King S. , Murray H. , MacDonald K.
Published: May 2011

Introduction – The study of informatics is multidisciplinary in nature. The informatics course, HSC 310: Health Care Informatics (HSC 310), for undergraduate health sciences students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is an example of a librarian-led, multidisciplinary team functioning within a totally online environment. Description – The development and design of the course HSC 310 is reviewed. Issues and challenges are discussed, as well as the benefits of interdisciplinary expertise in the learning environment. Outcomes – Because informatics is fundamentally interdisciplinary in nature, librarians, instructional designers, statisticians, nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals can learn from each other and strengthen the learning experience of students. The “matrix” of informatics explains how diverse types of information interact with, and impact on, each other. This knowledge is crucial to the understanding of information and its role in one's professional life. There was a journey taken in the design of the course, its evolution cumulating in its final online form. Our unique design was an informatics exercise in itself. Student feedback confirmed that, in addition to the course content, the online environment was a positive educational experience. Discussion – Librarian involvement in teaching informatics at MCPHS began with a National Library of Medicine (NLM) fellowship in informatics at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This resulted in the library's first for-credit course offered totally in-class and included the participation of faculty from other disciplines. Successful collaboration with the College instructional designer was essential in moving this librarian-led course to a totally virtual environment. In addition, the teaming of librarians with other faculty resulted in two nursing-led, hybrid courses on our Boston and Manchester campuses. During the past two years, interdisciplinary teams have provided informatics instruction to the Boston campus within a totally online environment. This paper discusses one of those courses, HSC 310: Health Care Informatics. The topics discussed in the course and the virtual platform have both provided a valuable learning experience for faculty and students. Informatics is an area where varied disciplines can join to achieve common goals.
Diagnostic accuracy, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the Greek version of the patient health questionnaire 9 in diagnosing depression in rheumatologic disorders
Authors: Hyphantis Thomas , Kotsis Konstantinos , Voulgari Paraskevi V. , Tsifetaki Niki , Creed Francis , Drosos Alexandros A.
Published: May 2011

Objective

The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ‐9) was developed to screen for depressive disorders in community, primary care, and medical settings. We aimed to estimate its diagnostic accuracy, internal consistency, reliability, and convergent validity in diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD) in Greek patients with rheumatologic disorders.

Methods

In a 2‐phase sampling design study, we recruited 475 patients with established rheumatologic disorders. One of 2 of the high scorers (PHQ‐9 score ≥9, n = 85) and 1 of 3 of the low scorers (PHQ‐9 score 0–8, n = 128) were interviewed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to confirm MDD. A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was performed to confirm the optimum threshold value. The scale's dimensional structure was tested with factor analysis, and internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Psychological distress (Symptom Check List‐90‐Revised [SCL‐90‐R]), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index), and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL; World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument [WHOQOL‐BREF]) were also assessed to test convergent validity with bivariate correlations.

Results

At an optimum threshold of 10, the PHQ‐9 showed a sensitivity of 81.2% and a specificity of 86.8%. The area under the curve was 0.91. The PHQ‐9 presented unidimensional structure with good scale reliability (α = 0.82). The PHQ‐9 score presented the greatest correlations with SCL‐90‐R depression (r = 0.736) and WHOQOL‐BREF mental HRQOL scales (r = −0.571), and all other correlations with disability and HRQOL were in the expected direction.

Conclusion

At a cutoff of 10, the PHQ‐9 is an accurate, reliable, and valid measure for screening for MDD among Greek rheumatologic patients.
Development and initial validation of composite parent‐ and child‐centered disease assessment indices for juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Consolaro Alessandro , Ruperto Nicolino , Pistorio Angela , Lattanzi Bianca , Solari Nicoletta , Galasso Roberta , Pederzoli Silvia , Varnier Giulia C. , Dolezalova Pavla , Alessio Maria , Burgos‐Vargas Ruben , Vesely Richard , Martini Alberto , Ravelli Angelo ,   Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation
Published: May 2011

Objective

To develop and validate a parent‐centered and a child‐centered composite disease assessment index for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): the Juvenile Arthritis Parent Assessment Index (JAPAI) and the Juvenile Arthritis Child Assessment Index (JACAI), respectively.

Methods

The JAPAI and the JACAI include 4 measures: parent/child rating of overall well‐being, pain, physical function, and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Validation analyses were conducted on nearly 5,000 patients and included assessment of construct validity, discriminant validity, responsiveness to change, and reliability. Besides the 4‐item version, a 3‐item version of both indices, which did not include HRQOL, was tested.

Results

The JAPAI and the JACAI demonstrated good construct validity, yielding high correlations with the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score and moderate correlations with physician global rating and joint counts. Correlations obtained for the JAPAI and the JACAI and for the 4‐item and the 3‐item versions were comparable. Factorial analysis by principal component analysis showed that both indices are monodimensional. Both the JAPAI and JACAI discriminated well between different disease states and courses and between different levels of American College of Rheumatology Pediatric criteria in a clinical trial, and revealed fair responsiveness to clinical change. Internal consistency was satisfactory, with a Cronbach's alpha of >0.80 in all but 1 of the patient samples tested.

Conclusion

The JAPAI and the JACAI were found to be valid instruments for assessment of disease status in JIA and suitable surrogates of physicians' evaluations. Both indices are potentially applicable in clinical practice, observational studies, and therapeutic trials.
Conditional DNA‐Protein Interactions Confer Stimulus‐Sensing Properties to Biohybrid Materials
Authors: Christen Erik H. , Karlsson Maria , Kämpf Michael M. , Schoenmakers Ronald , Gübeli Raphael J. , Wischhusen Hanna M. , Friedrich Christian , Fussenegger Martin , Weber Wilfried
Published: May 2011

Interactive materials that specifically respond to environmental stimuli hold high promise as energy‐autonomous sensors and actuators in biomedicine, analytics or microsystems engineering. However, the implementation of materials specifically responsive to a given small molecule has so far been hampered by a lack of generically applicable stimulus sensors. In this study, a novel and likely general strategy for the synthesis of biohybrid materials with desired stimulus specificity is established. The strategy is based on allosterically regulated DNA‐binding proteins, a conserved protein family that has evolved in prokaryotes to sense and respond to most diverse molecules in order to enable bacterial survival in a changing environment. The novel hydrogel design concept is demonstrated with the example of single‐chain TetR, a protein that binds the tetO DNA motif and dissociates thereof in the presence of the antibiotic tetracycline. Therefore, linear polyacrylamide is crosslinked via the TetR/tetO interaction to a biohybrid material that can subsequently be dissolved by tetracycline in a dose‐dependent manner. This drug‐induced dissolution is applied for the adjustable release of the cytokine interleukin 4 in a tetracycline‐dependent manner. The design concept developed in this study might serve as a blueprint for the synthesis of biohybrid materials responsive to drugs, metabolites or toxins by replacing TetR/tetO with another protein/DNA pair showing the desired stimulus specificity.
Euler–Lagrange modeling of a gas–liquid stirred reactor with consideration of bubble breakage and coalescence
Authors: Sungkorn R. , Derksen J. J. , Khinast J. G.
Published: May 2011

Simulations of a gas–liquid stirred reactor including bubble breakage and coalescence were performed. The filtered conservation equations for the liquid phase were discretized using a lattice‐Boltzmann scheme. A Lagrangian approach with a bubble parcel concept was used for the dispersed gas phase. Bubble breakage and coalescence were modeled as stochastic events. Additional assumptions for bubble breakup modeling in an Euler–Lagrange framework were proposed. The action of the reactor components on the liquid flow field was described using an immersed boundary condition. The predicted number‐based mean diameter and long‐term averaged liquid velocity components agree qualitatively and quantitatively well with experimental data for a laboratory‐scale gas–liquid stirred reactor with dilute dispersion. Effects of the presence of bubbles, as well as the increase in the gas flow rate, on the hydrodynamics were numerically studied. The modeling technique offers an alternative engineering tool to gain detailed insights into complex industrial‐scale gas–liquid stirred reactors. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Convergent Evolution Driven by Similar Feeding Mechanics in Balaenopterid Whales and Pelicans
Authors: Field Daniel J. , Lin Sheng Chuan , Ben‐Zvi Micha , Goldbogen Jeremy A. , Shadwick Robert E.
Published: May 2011

The feeding apparatuses of rorqual whales and pelicans exhibit a number of similarities, including long, kinetic jaws that increase gape size, and extensible tissue comprising the floor of the mouth. These specializations enable the engulfment of large volumes of prey‐laden water in both taxa. However, the mechanics of engulfment feeding in rorquals and pelicans have never been quantitatively compared. Here, we use “BendCT,” a novel analytical program, to investigate the mechanical design of rorqual and pelican mandibles, to understand whether these bones show comparable designs for resisting similar hydrodynamical loads. We also compare the mechanical properties of the extensible tissue used during engulfment in rorquals and pelicans. We demonstrate that the evolutionary convergence in the feeding apparatus of rorquals and pelicans is more pronounced than has been recognized previously; both taxa exhibit mandibular flexural rigidity distributions suited for resisting dorsoventral bending stresses encountered while feeding, and possess similarly extensible tissue on the floor of their mouths. Anat Rec,, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparing 3D Virtual Methods for Hemimandibular Body Reconstruction
Authors: Benazzi Stefano , Fiorenza Luca , Kozakowski Stephanie , Kullmer Ottmar
Published: May 2011

Reconstruction of fractured, distorted, or missing parts in human skeleton presents an equal challenge in the fields of paleoanthropology, bioarcheology, forensics, and medicine. This is particularly important within the disciplines such as orthodontics and surgery, when dealing with mandibular defects due to tumors, developmental abnormalities, or trauma. In such cases, proper restorations of both form (for esthetic purposes) and function (restoration of articulation, occlusion, and mastication) are required. Several digital approaches based on three‐dimensional (3D) digital modeling, computer‐aided design (CAD)/computer‐aided manufacturing techniques, and more recently geometric morphometric methods have been used to solve this problem. Nevertheless, comparisons among their outcomes are rarely provided. In this contribution, three methods for hemimandibular body reconstruction have been tested. Two bone defects were virtually simulated in a 3D digital model of a human hemimandible. Accordingly, 3D digital scaffolds were obtained using the mirror copy of the unaffected hemimandible (Method 1), the thin plate spline (TPS) interpolation (Method 2), and the combination between TPS and CAD techniques (Method 3). The mirror copy of the unaffected hemimandible does not provide a suitable solution for bone restoration. The combination between TPS interpolation and CAD techniques (Method 3) produces an almost perfect‐fitting 3D digital model that can be used for biocompatible custom‐made scaffolds generated by rapid prototyping technologies. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Mechanical Significance of the Temporal Fasciae in Macaca fascicularis: An Investigation Using Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Curtis Neil , Witzel Ulrich , Fitton Laura , O'higgins Paul , Fagan Michael
Published: May 2011

Computational finite element analyses (FEAs) of the skull predict structural deformations under user specified loads and constraints, with results normally presented as stress and strain distributions over the skull's surface. The applied loads are generally a representation of the major adductor musculature, with the skull constrained at bite positions and at the articulating joints. However, virtually all analyses ignore potentially important anatomical structures, such as the fasciae that cover the temporalis muscle and attach onto the zygomatic arch. In vivo experimental studies have shown that removal of the temporal fasciae attachment onto the zygomatic arch in Cebus monkeys results in significant bone adaptation and remodeling in this region, suggesting the fasciae play an important role in stabilising the arch during biting. Here we investigate this potential stabilising role by carrying out FEAs of a macaque skull with and without temporal fasciae included. We explore the extent to which the zygomatic arch might be stabilized during biting by a synchronized tensioning of the temporal fasciae, acting to oppose masseteric contraction forces. According to our models, during temporalis muscle bulging the forces generated within the tensioned temporal fasciae are large enough to oppose the pull of the masseter. Further, a near bending‐free state of equilibrium within the arch can be reached, even under forceful biting. We show that it is possible to eliminate the high strain gradients in and around the zygomatic arch that are present in past computational studies, with strains being more uniform in magnitude than previously thought. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of the idiotype:antiidiotype antibody ratio with the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for the prevention of recurrent autoimmune‐associated congenital heart block
Authors: Routsias John G. , Kyriakidis Nikolaos C. , Friedman Deborah M. , Llanos Carolina , Clancy Robert , Moutsopoulos Haralampos M. , Buyon Jill , Tzioufas Athanasios G.
Published: May 2011

Objective

Congenital heart block (CHB), a manifestation of neonatal lupus, is associated with maternal anti‐Ro/SSA and anti‐La/SSB autoantibodies and recurs in ∼18% of subsequent pregnancies. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the idiotype:antiidiotype (Id:anti‐Id) antibody ratio in the ability of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administered during subsequent pregnancies to prevent CHB.

Methods

We studied 16 anti‐Ro/SSA and anti‐La/SSB–positive pregnant women from the Preventive IVIG Therapy for Congenital Heart Block study who had previously given birth to a child with neonatal lupus. In 3 of the mothers, the study pregnancy resulted in the birth of a child with neonatal lupus (2 with CHB and 1 with rash). Sequential serum samples were obtained from all mothers immediately before the administration of IVIG during pregnancy and were evaluated for antibodies against the major B cell epitope 349–364aa of La/SSB (idiotype) and its antiidiotypic antibodies.

Results

Following IVIG treatment, serum titers of anti‐La(349–364) (Id antibodies) decreased in 80% of the mothers, and in 60% an increase in anti‐Id antibodies against anti‐La(349–364) was observed. The Id:anti‐Id ratio was significantly higher in mothers whose offspring developed neonatal lupus compared to mothers who gave birth to a healthy child (P < 0.0001). Removal of anti‐Id antibodies substantially increased the reactivity against La(349–364) in sera from 5 of 7 mothers tested. All IVIG preparations were examined for Id and anti‐Id antibody activity. IVIG from batches administered to mothers who gave birth to a healthy child had an Id:anti‐Id activity ratio of <1, in contrast to that given to mothers who gave birth to a child with neonatal lupus. Addition of the IVIG preparations to the maternal sera further enhanced antiidiotypic activity (by up to 4.7‐fold) in 11 of 13 patients studied.

Conclusion

This is the first study in humans to demonstrate that IVIG influences the Id–anti‐Id network of a specific pathogenic autoantibody. Specifically, we showed that IVIG enhanced the anti‐Id antibody response in pregnant women with anti‐La/SSB antibodies. A high Id:anti‐Id ratio in both the IVIG preparation and the maternal serum may explain the absence of an effect of IVIG in preventing recurrent neonatal lupus in some cases.
Promoting metacognition in first year anatomy laboratories using plasticine modeling and drawing activities: A pilot study of the “Blank Page” technique
Authors: Naug Helen L. , Colson Natalie J. , Donner Daniel G.
Published: May 2011

Many first year students of anatomy and physiology courses demonstrate an inability to self‐regulate their learning. To help students increase their awareness of their own learning in a first year undergraduate anatomy course, we piloted an exercise that incorporated the processes of (1) active learning: drawing and plasticine modeling and (2) metacognition: planning, monitoring, reaction, and reflection. The activity was termed “blank page” because all learning cues were removed and students had to create models and diagrams from reflection and recall. Two hundred and eighty‐two students responded to a questionnaire reporting qualitative feedback on the exercise. Based on student responses, the “blank page” activity was a positive learning experience and confirmed a need to teach metacognitive skills. From this pilot study, we established that drawing or plasticine modeling is an excellent vehicle for demonstration of the metacognitive processes that enable self‐regulation: a known predictor of academic success. Anat Sci Educ. © 2011 American Association of Anatomists.
Epigenetic regulation in neural crest development
Authors: Liu Yifei , Xiao Andrew
Published: May 2011

The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent, migratory cell population that arises from the developing dorsal neural fold of vertebrate embryos. Once their fates are specified, neural crest cells (NCCs) migrate along defined routes and differentiate into a variety of tissues, including bone and cartilage of the craniofacial skeleton, peripheral neurons, glia, pigment cells, endocrine cells, and mesenchymal precursor cells (Santagati and Rijli,2003; Dupin et al.,2006; Hall,2009). Abnormal development of NCCs causes a number of human diseases, including ear abnormalities (including deafness), heart anomalies, neuroblastomas, and mandibulofacial dysostosis (Hall,2009). For more than a century, NCCs have attracted the attention of geneticists and developmental biologists for their stem cell‐like properties, including self‐renewal and multipotent differentiation potential. However, we have only begun to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for their formation and behavior. Recent studies have demonstrated that epigenetic regulation plays important roles in NC development. In this review, we focused on some of the most recent findings on chromatin‐mediated mechanisms for vertebrate NCC development. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extracellular matrix and heart development
Authors: Lockhart Marie , Wirrig Elaine , Phelps Aimee , Wessels Andy
Published: May 2011

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the developing heart contains numerous molecules that form a dynamic environment that plays an active and crucial role in the regulation of cellular events. ECM molecules found in the heart include hyaluronan, fibronectin, fibrillin, proteoglycans, and collagens. Tight regulation of the spatiotemporal expression, and the proteolytic processing of ECM components by proteases including members of the ADAMTS family, is essential for normal cardiac development. Perturbation of the expression of genes involved in matrix composition and remodeling can interfere with a myriad of events involved in the formation of the four‐chambered heart and result in prenatal lethality or cardiac malformations as seen in humans with congenital heart disease. In this review, we summarize what is known about the specific importance of some of the components of the ECM in relation to the cardiovascular development. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stranger at the Gate: The Effect of the Plaintiff's use of an Interpreter on Juror Decision‐Making
Authors: Shuman Daniel W. , Stokes Lynne , Martinez George
Published: May 2011

There exists a substantial literature examining the effect on juror decision‐making of extraneous demographic characteristics of plaintiffs and defendants. In most of these studies, members of groups that are perceived as being minorities or as belonging to one of a variety of outgroups (lower socioeconomic status, immigrants) are treated more harshly by jurors, or are perceived as being less deserving or credible. In this study, the authors examine treatment by jurors of a relatively less well investigated outgroup: that of the non‐English speaker. An experiment was conducted in which actual jurors in a large urban county were randomly assigned to view a videotape of a civil case. Three versions of the videotapes were identical except that, on one, the plaintiff required an interpreter to communicate and it is approximately three minutes longer than the other two. On the other two versions, the plaintiff spoke English, but differed in ethnicity (Hispanic or Anglo). The findings showed that the non‐English‐speaking plaintiff did not fare worse than the English speakers, and, in fact, was awarded higher mean damages than either of the English speakers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spontaneous Transmission of Chirality through Multiple Length Scales
Authors: Iski Erin V. , Tierney Heather L. , Jewell April D. , Sykes E. Charles H.
Published: May 2011

The hierarchical transfer of chirality in nature, from the nano‐, to meso‐, to macroscopic length scales, is very complex, and as of yet, not well understood. The advent of scanning probes has allowed chirality to be monitored at the single molecule or monolayer level and has opened up the possibility to track enantiospecific interactions and chiral self‐assembly with molecular‐scale detail. This paper describes the self‐assembly of a simple, model molecule (naphtho[2,3‐a]pyrene) that is achiral in the gas phase, but becomes chiral when adsorbed on a surface. This polyaromatic hydrocarbon forms a stable and reversibly ordered system on Cu(111) in which the transmission of chirality from single surface‐bound molecules to complex 2D chiral architectures can be monitored as a function of molecular packing density and surface temperature. In addition to the point chirality of the surface‐bound molecule, the unit cell of the molecular domains was also found to be chiral due to the incommensurate alignment of the molecular rows with respect to the underlying metal lattice. These molecular domains always aggregated in groups of three, all of the same chirality, but with different rotational orientations, forming homochiral “tri‐lobe” ensembles. At a larger length scale, these tri‐lobe ensembles associated with nearest‐neighbor tri‐lobe units of opposite chirality at lower packing densities before forming an extended array of homochiral tri‐lobe ensembles at higher converges. This system displayed chirality at a variety of size scales from the molecular (≈1 nm) and domain (≈5 nm) to the tri‐lobe ensemble (≈10 nm) and extended array (>25 nm) levels. The chirality of the tri‐lobe ensembles dictated how the overall surface packing occurred and both homo‐ and heterochiral arrays could be reproducibly and reversibly formed and interchanged as a function of surface coverage. Finally, these chirally templated surfaces displayed remarkable enantiospecificity for naphtho[2,3‐a]pyrene molecules adsorbed in the second layer. Given its simplicity, reversibility, and rich degree of order, this system represents an ideal test bed for the investigation of symmetry breaking and the hierarchical transmission of chirality through multiple length scales.
The mouse olfactory peduncle
Authors: Brunjes Peter C. , Kay Rachel B. , Arrivillaga J.P.
Published: May 2011

The olfactory peduncle, the region connecting the olfactory bulb with the basal forebrain, contains several neural areas that have received relatively little attention. The present work includes studies that provide an overview of the region in the mouse. An analysis of cell soma size in pars principalis (pP) of the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) revealed considerable differences in tissue organization between mice and rats. An unbiased stereological study of neuron number in the cell‐dense regions of pars externa (pE) and pP of the AON of 3‐, 12‐, and 24‐month‐old mice indicated that pE has about 16,500 cells in 0.043 mm3and pP about 58,300 cells in 0.307 mm3. Quantitative Golgi studies of pyramidal neurons in pP suggested that mouse neurons are similar to although smaller than those of the rat. An immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that all peduncular regions (pE, pP, the dorsal peduncular cortex, ventral tenia tecta, and anterior olfactory tubercle and piriform cortex) have cells that express either calbindin, calretinin, parvalbumin, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, or cholecystokinin (antigens commonly co‐expressed by subspecies of γ‐aminobutyric acid [GABA]ergic neurons), although the relative numbers of each cell type differ between zones. Finally, an electron microscopic comparison of the organization of myelinated fibers in lateral olfactory tract in the anterior and posterior peduncle indicated that the region is less orderly in mice than in rats. The results provide a caveat for investigators who generalize data between species, as both similarities and differences between the laboratory mouse and rat were observed. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2870–2886, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunohistochemical localization of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) in the central nervous system of the pigeon (Columba livia)
Authors: Atoji Yasuro
Published: May 2011

Glutamatergic neurons are distributed widely in the telencephalic pallium of birds, but their targets are unknown. In the present study, a polyclonal antibody was produced against pigeon vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) and was used for Western blot and immunohistochemistry to detect projection targets of glutamatergic neurons in the pigeon central nervous system. The molecular weight of vGluT2 was measured at 65 kDa. vGluT2 immunoreactivity was observed in neuropil, but not in neuronal cell bodies or glia. Immunoreactive neuropil generally appeared homogeneous, but fine granules or puncta were found in many areas or nuclei. The telencephalon showed strong immunoreactivity, except for the globus pallidus. In particular, the mesopallium and hippocampal formation revealed the most intense immunostaining. In the diencephalon, vGluT2 immunoreactivity was intense in the dorsal thalamus and hypothalamus. In the midbrain, strong immunostaining was seen in the periaqueductal gray, the dorsal part of the lateral mesencephalic nucleus, and the isthmo‐optic nucleus. The optic tectum showed moderate immunoreactivity. In the cerebellar cortex, glomeruli in the granular layer were intensely immunoreactive, and the molecular layer showed intensely homogeneous immunostaining. In the caudal brainstem, the cochlear magnocellular and angular nuclei showed strongly immunoreactive puncta around neuronal cell bodies. In the spinal cord, the dorsal horn revealed moderate immunoreactivity and the marginal nucleus was strongly immunoreactive. Ultrastructural observations revealed that vGluT2 immunoreactivity is localized in asymmetric, presynaptic terminals. The present results indicate an extensive distribution of glutamatergic projections and circuits in the avian central nervous system. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2887–2905, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.