bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The causes of flow regime shifts in the semi-arid Hailiutu River, Northwest China
Authors: Yang Z. , Zhou Y. X. , Wenninger J. , Uhlenbrook S.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Identifying the causes (climate vs. human activities) for hydrological variability is a major challenge in hydrology. This paper examines the flow regime shifts, changes in the climatic variables such as precipitation, evaporation, temperature, and crop area in the semi-arid Hailiutu catchment in the middle section of the Yellow River by performing several statistical analyses. The Pettitt test, cumulative sum charts (CUSUM), regime shift index (RSI) method, and harmonic analysis were carried out on annual, monthly, and daily discharges. Four major shifts in the flow regime have been detected in 1968, 1986, 1992 and 2001. Characteristics of the flow regime were analyzed in the five periods: 1957–1967, 1968–1985, 1986–1991, 1992–2000, and 2001–2007. From 1957 to 1967, the flow regime reflects quasi natural conditions with high variability and larger amplitude of 6 months periodic fluctuations. The river flow had been affected by the construction of two reservoirs in the period 1968–1985. In the period of 1986–1991, the river discharge decreased due to the combined influence of river diversions and increase of groundwater extractions for irrigation. In the fourth period of 1992–2000, the river discharge reached lowest flow values and variations corresponding to a large increase in crop area. The flow regime recovered, but not yet to natural status in the fifth period of 2001–2007. Climatic factors are not responsible for all these changes in the flow regime, but the changes are corresponding well to human activities.
Comparison of correlation analysis techniques for irregularly sampled time series
Authors: Rehfeld K. , Marwan N. , Heitzig J. , Kurths J.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Geoscientific measurements often provide time series with irregular time sampling, requiring either data reconstruction (interpolation) or sophisticated methods to handle irregular sampling. We compare the linear interpolation technique and different approaches for analyzing the correlation functions and persistence of irregularly sampled time series, as Lomb-Scargle Fourier transformation and kernel-based methods. In a thorough benchmark test we investigate the performance of these techniques. All methods have comparable root mean square errors (RMSEs) for low skewness of the inter-observation time distribution. For high skewness, very irregular data, interpolation bias and RMSE increase strongly. We find a 40 % lower RMSE for the lag-1 autocorrelation function (ACF) for the Gaussian kernel method vs. the linear interpolation scheme,in the analysis of highly irregular time series. For the cross correlation function (CCF) the RMSE is then lower by 60 %. The application of the Lomb-Scargle technique gave results comparable to the kernel methods for the univariate, but poorer results in the bivariate case. Especially the high-frequency components of the signal, where classical methods show a strong bias in ACF and CCF magnitude, are preserved when using the kernel methods. We illustrate the performances of interpolation vs. Gaussian kernel method by applying both to paleo-data from four locations, reflecting late Holocene Asian monsoon variability as derived from speleothem δ18O measurements. Cross correlation results are similar for both methods, which we attribute to the long time scales of the common variability. The persistence time (memory) is strongly overestimated when using the standard, interpolation-based, approach. Hence, the Gaussian kernel is a reliable and more robust estimator with significant advantages compared to other techniques and suitable for large scale application to paleo-data.
Horizontal Rectus Surgery in Duane Syndrome
Authors: Merino Pilar , Merino María , De Liaño Pilar Gómez , Blanco Natalia
Published: June 2011

Purpose

To study the results of horizontal rectus recession for treatment of Duane syndrome.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 17 patients with Duane syndrome who underwent strabismus surgery between 2000 and 2008 with medial rectus recession for esotropic deviation or lateral rectus recession for exotropic deviation. The amount of surgery varied individually with the angle of deviation and abnormal head posture. Head turn was graded as mild, moderate, or severe. Botulinum toxin was injected in specific cases. An angle of deviation less than 10 PD and head turn less than 5° after surgery were considered good results.

Results

Treatment was successful in 12 cases (70.58%) and unsuccessful in 5 (4 with type I Duane syndrome and one with type III Duane syndrome); in 3 patients the deviation was undercorrected and 2 it was overcorrected. Ipsilateral medial rectus recession of less than 5 mm was performed in 12 patients, although 1 case with a recession of 7 experienced secondary adduction limitation. Abduction limitation was slightly improved in 29.41%. Mean follow-up was 50.59 months.

Conclusions

Moderate horizontal rectus recession is a simple and effective procedure in most patients with Duane syndrome and no secondary duction limitations. The technique only slightly improved abduction in one-third of the cases.
Normalization of Active Appearance Models for Fish Species Identification
Authors: Quivy Charles-Henri , Kumazawa Itsuo
Published: June 2011

In recent years, automatic visual coral reef monitoring has been proposed to solve the demerits of manual monitoring
techniques. This paper proposes a novel method to reduce the computational cost of the standard Active Appearance
Model (AAM) for automatic fish species identification by using an original multiclass AAM. The main novelty is
the normalization of species-specific AAMs using techniques tailored to meet with fish species identification. Shape
models associated to species-specific AAMs are automatically normalized by means of linear interpolations and manual
correspondences between shapes of different species. It leads to a Unified Active Appearance Model built from
species that present characteristic texture patterns. Experiments are carried out on images of fish of four different
families. The technique provides correct classification rates up to 92% on 5 species and 84.5% on 12 species and is
more than 4 times faster than the standard AAM on 12 species.
Bayesian Change-Points Estimation Applied to GPS Signal Tracking
Authors: Stienne G. , Reboul S. , Azmani M. , Boutoille S. , Choquel J. B. , Benjelloun M.
Published: June 2011

A hierarchical Bayesian model is applied to off-line segmentation of the GPS
signal discriminator. The purpose of this work is to estimate the code delay
of the receiving GPS CDMA code in order to retime the local receiver code
and to estimate the pseudorange satellite receiver. The goal of our approach
is to obtain a high-rate accurate positioning in the dynamic navigation case.
We show that the behaviour of the coherent discriminator of a GPS pilot
channel can be modelized by a piecewise stationary process. In our approach
the discriminator behaviour in each stationary segment is approximated by a
constant acceleration model, and the code delay at each end of the segments
is known. The interest of this approach is that we use the coherent values
of the discriminator in each segment to estimate the change instants of the
process and to get in this case an accurate estimation of the code delays. In
this context, a simultaneous estimation of the change instants is considered.
We define the a posteriori distribution which integrates in its expression the
signal change instants and the parameters of its statistical model. The proposed
model leads after marginalization to a penalized contrast function that
we minimize to estimate the discriminator change instants. The interest of
the proposed model is that we can integrate in our estimate prior information
on the roughly known values of the signal-to-noise ratio and relative
speed satellite receiver. The potential of the proposed method is shown on
experimentations realized on synthetic and real data for millisecond receiver
localization.
Order Structure of the Figà-Talamanca-Herz Algebra
Authors: Shams Yousefi Marzieh , Amini Massoud , Sady Fereshteh
Published: June 2011

We study the interplay between the order structure and the -operator space structure of Figà-Talamanca-Herz algebra of a locally compact group . We show that for amenable groups, an order and algebra isomorphism of Figà-Talamanca-Herz-algebras yields an isomorphism or anti-isomorphism of the underlying groups. We also give a bound for the norm of a -completely positive linear map from Figà-Talamanca-Herz algebra to its dual space.
Aggressive Surgical Treatment in Late-Diagnosed Esophageal Perforation: A Report of 11 Cases
Authors: Mahmodlou Rahim , Abdirad Isa , Ghasemi-rad Mohammad
Published: June 2011

Introduction. Esophageal perforation is a relatively uncommon and lethal disease usually resulting from endoscopic procedures. Delay in the diagnosis and treatment occurs in more than 50% of cases, leading to a mortality rate of 40% to 60%, but this rate decreases is 10%–25% if treatment is carried out within 24 hours of perforation. Case Presentation. To analyze the characteristics, etiology, site of perforation, presentation, time interval till diagnosis, treatment and outcome of patients with esophageal perforation. Over a five-year period, from October 2004 through March 2009, 11 patients with esophageal perforation were referred to the division of thoracic surgery of a tertiary referral hospital. In eight patients, perforations were thoracic with delayed diagnosis for at least 48 hours. Two patients had cervical esophageal perforation, and one patient had early-diagnosed Boerhaave's syndrome. Eight patients are alive after followup for a period ranging from eight months to five years. In the remaining three patients, cancer was the underlying disease and the reason of death.
Conclusion. No patient with esophageal perforation should be deprived from surgical repair due to delayed diagnosis. All, except preterminal patients, should undergo exploration after resuscitation, and appropriate treatment should be carried out depending on the findings during operation. Aggressive treatment is necessary in the case of established mediastinitis.
Reproducibility of musculoskeletal ultrasound for determining monosodium urate deposition: Concordance between readers
Authors: Howard Rennie G. , Pillinger Michael H. , Gyftopoulos Soterios , Thiele Ralf G. , Swearingen Christopher J. , Samuels Jonathan
Published: June 2011

Objective

Criteria for sonographic diagnosis of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition have been developed, but the interreader reproducibility of this modality is not well established. We therefore assessed agreement using a systematic approach.

Methods

Fifty male subjects ages 55–85 years were recruited during primary care visits to an urban Veterans Affairs hospital, and were assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) of the knees and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints to evaluate for the double contour sign and tophi as evidence of MSU crystal deposition. Images were read by 2 blinded rheumatologists trained in musculoskeletal US, and the degree of concordance was determined for individual subjects, total joints, femoral articular cartilage (FAC), and first MTP joints. Subjects were further categorized into 3 diagnostic groups: gout, asymptomatic hyperuricemia (no gout, serum uric acid [UA] ≥6.9 mg/dl), and controls (no gout, serum UA ≤6.8 mg/dl), and reader concordance within these 3 groups was assessed.

Results

We observed almost perfect agreement between readers for 1) individual subjects (yes/no; n = 50, 100% agreement, κ = 1.000), 2) total joints (n = 200, 99% agreement, κ = 0.942), 3) FAC (n = 100, 99% agreement, κ = 0.942), and 4) first MTP joints (n = 100, 99% agreement, κ = 0.942). Furthermore, findings by side (right/left) and diagnostic group (gout, asymptomatic hyperuricemia, control) showed substantial to almost perfect concordance for all measures. MSU deposition was seen most commonly in gout patients, and deposition was also seen in some subjects with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, but in only 1 control.

Conclusion

Musculoskeletal US is reliable for detecting MSU deposition in FAC and first MTP joints in gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
Very early improvements in the wrist and hand assessed by power doppler sonography predicting later favorable responses in tocilizumab‐treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kume Kensuke , Amano Kanzo , Yamada Susumu , Hatta Kazuhiko , Kuwaba Noriko , Ohta Hiroyuki
Published: June 2011

Objective

To investigate the response of tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by ultrasonographic evaluation of changes in the wrist and hand, and to determine whether such assessments during early TCZ treatment predict later clinical outcome.

Methods

Thirty‐two RA patients about to receive TCZ treatment were examined by ultrasound at baseline and after 2 weeks using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials semiquantitative scoring of 22 joints (both wrists, proximal interphalangeal joints 1–5, and metacarpophalangeal joints 1–5) as well as clinical and laboratory variables, leading to a calculation of composite indexes. The aim was to determine whether methotrexate treatment and clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic evaluation after 2 weeks of TCZ treatment predict treatment outcome at 24 weeks, as assessed by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28).

Results

Changes of ultrasound scores after 2 weeks were found to be correlated with changes in DAS28 at 24 weeks (r = 0.545–0.622, P < 0.05). The change of sum power Doppler scores after 2 weeks of treatment was identified as the variable most closely correlated with the change in DAS28 at 24 weeks (r = 0.622, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The best predictors after 2 weeks of favorable treatment outcome at 24 weeks were improved power Doppler scores. Methotrexate treatment and composite indexes did not predict favorable treatment outcome in this study.
Preparation and evaluation of an antibacterial dental cement containing quaternary ammonium salts
Authors: Weng Yiming , Guo Xia , Gregory Richard L. , Xie Dong
Published: June 2011

A novel PQAS‐containing antibacterial glass‐ionomer cement has been developed. The functional QAS and their constructed PQAS were synthesized, characterized, and formulated into the light‐cured cements. Compressive strength (CS) and bacterial (S. mutans and lactobacillus) viability were used to evaluate the mechanical strength and antibacterial activity of the cements. Flexural (FS) and diametral tensile strengths (DTS) were tested as well. Fuji II LC cement was used as control. The specimens were conditioned in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h prior to testing. All the PQAS‐containing cements showed a significant antibacterial activity, accompanying with an initial CS reduction. The effects of chain length, loading, and grafting ratio of the QAS were significant. Increasing chain length, loading, grafting ratio significantly enhanced antibacterial activity but reduced the initial CS of the formed cements. The antibacterial effect of the substitute chain lengths from free QAS seem more significant in water than those from their polymers (PQAS) after integrating to the cement. The experimental cement showed less CS reduction and higher antibacterial activity than Fuji II LC. The long‐term aging study indicates that the cement might have a long‐lasting antibacterial function with no PQAS leaching. Within the limitations of this study, it appears that the experimental cement is a clinically attractive dental restorative that can be potentially used for long‐lasting restorations due to its high mechanical strength and long‐lasting antibacterial function. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.
Exfoliated poly (styrene‐co‐methylstyrene) grafted‐polyaniline/layered double hydroxide nanocomposite synthesized by solvent blending method
Authors: Abbasian Mojtaba
Published: June 2011

Well defined poly (styrene‐co‐methylstyrene) grafted polyaniline/organo‐modified MgAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) was produced through solution intercalation method. After LDH nanoparticles were modified by the anion exchange reaction of MgAl (Cl) LDH with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, Poly (styrene‐co‐methylstyrene) copolymers were synthesized by “living” free radical polymerization and then brominated with N‐bromosuccinimide. Afterwards, 1,4‐phenylenediamine was linked to brominated copolymers and prepared functionalized copolymer with amine. Poly (St‐co‐MSt)‐g‐PANI, has been synthesized by adding solution of ammonium persulfate and p‐toluenesufonic acid in DMSO solvent. Finally, Poly (styrene‐co‐methylstyrene) grafted‐Polyaniline/LDH nanocomposites were prepared by solution intercalation method. Characterization of these well‐defined nanocomposites included FT‐IR, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.
Inhibition of enzymatic hydrolysis by residual lignins from softwood—study of enzyme binding and inactivation on lignin‐rich surface
Authors: Rahikainen Jenni , Mikander Saara , Marjamaa Kaisa , Tamminen Tarja , Lappas Angelos , Viikari Liisa , Kruus Kristiina
Published: June 2011

Lignin‐derived inhibition is a major obstacle restricting the enzymatic hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides especially with softwood lignocellulosics. Enzyme adsorption on lignin is suggested to contribute to the inhibitory effect of lignin. The interaction of cellulases with softwood lignin was studied in the present work with commercial Trichoderma reesei cellulases (Celluclast) and lignin‐rich residues isolated from steam pretreated softwood (SPS) by enzymatic and acid hydrolysis. Both lignin preparations inhibited the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and adsorbed the major cellulases present in the commercial cellulase mixture. The adsorption phenomenon was studied at low temperature (4°C) and at the typical hydrolysis temperature (45°C) by following activities of free and lignin‐bound enzymes. Severe inactivation of the lignin‐bound enzymes was observed at 45°C, however at 4°C the enzymes retained well their activity. Furthermore, SDS–PAGE analysis of the lignin‐bound enzymes indicated that very strong interactions form between the residue and the enzymes at 45°C, because the enzymes were not released from the residue in the electrophoresis. These results suggest that heat‐induced denaturation may take place on the surface of softwood lignin at the hydrolysis temperature. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2823–2834. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Well plate microfluidic system for investigation of dynamic platelet behavior under variable shear loads
Authors: Conant Carolyn G. , Schwartz Michael A. , Beecher Jody E. , Rudoff Roger C. , Ionescu‐Zanetti Cristian , Nevill J. Tanner
Published: June 2011

The study of platelet behavior in real‐time under controlled shear stress offers insights into the underlying mechanisms of many vascular diseases and enables evaluation of platelet‐focused therapeutics. The two most common methods used to study platelet behavior at the vessel wall under uniform shear flow are parallel plate flow chambers and cone‐plate viscometers. Typically, these methods are difficult to use, lack experimental flexibility, provide low data content, are low in throughput, and require large reagent volumes. Here, we report a well plate microfluidic (WPM)‐based system that offers high throughput, low reagent consumption, and high experimental flexibility in an easy to use well plate format. The system consists of well plates with an integrated array of microfluidic channels, a pneumatic interface, an automated microscope, and software. This WPM system was used to investigate dynamic platelet behavior under shear stress. Multiple channel designs are presented and tested for shear loads with whole blood to determine their applicability to study thrombus formation. Normal physiological shear (0.1–20 dyn/cm2) and pathological shear (20–200 dyn/cm2) devices were used to study platelet behavior in vitro under various shear, matrix coating, and monolayer conditions. The high physiological relevance, low blood consumption, and increased throughput create a valuable technique available to vascular biology researchers. The approach also has extensibility to other research areas including inflammation, cancer biology, and developmental/stem cell research. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2978–2987. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accelerating Value‐at‐Risk estimation on highly parallel architectures
Authors: Dixon M. F. , Chong J. , Keutzer K.
Published: June 2011

Values of portfolios in modern financial markets may change precipitously with changing market conditions. The utility of financial risk management tools is dependent on whether they can estimate Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) of portfolios on‐demand when key decisions need to be made. However, VaR estimation of portfolios uses the Monte Carlo method, which is a computationally intensive method often run as an overnight batch job. With the proliferation of highly parallel computing platforms such as multicore CPUs and manycore graphics processing units (GPUs), teraFLOPS of computation capability is now available on a desktop computer, enabling the VaR of large portfolios with thousands of risk factors to be computed within only a fraction of a second.

Achieving such performance in practice requires the assimilation of expertise in the following three areas: (i) application domain; (ii) statistical analytics; and (iii) parallel computing. This paper demonstrates that these areas of expertise inform optimization perspectives that, when combined, lead to 127×speedup on our CPU‐based implementation and 538×speedup on our GPU‐based implementation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seismic demand models for probabilistic risk analysis of near fault vertical ground motion effects on ordinary highway bridges
Authors: Gulerce Zeynep , Erduran Emrah , Kunnath Sashi K. , Abrahamson Norman A.
Published: June 2011

The influence of vertical ground motions on the seismic response of highway bridges is not very well understood. Recent studies suggest that vertical ground motions can substantially increase force and moment demands on bridge columns and girders and cannot be overlooked in seismic design of bridge structures. For an evaluation of vertical ground motion effects on the response of single‐bent two‐span highway bridges, a systematic study combining the critical engineering demand parameters (EDPs) and ground motion intensity measures (IMs) is required. Results of a parametric study examining a range of highway bridge configurations subjected to selected sets of horizontal and vertical ground motions are used to determine the structural parameters that are significantly amplified by the vertical excitations. The amplification in these parameters is modeled using simple equations that are functions of horizontal and vertical spectral accelerations at the corresponding horizontal and vertical fundamental periods of the bridge. This paper describes the derivation of seismic demand models developed for typical highway overcrossings by incorporating critical EDPs and combined effects of horizontal and vertical ground motion IMs depending on the type of the parameter and the period of the structure. These models may be used individually as risk‐based design tools to determine the probability of exceeding the critical levels of EDP for pre‐determined levels of ground shaking or may be included explicitly in probabilistic seismic risk assessments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicity of methylmercury injected into eggs when dissolved in water versus corn oil
Authors: Heinz Gary H , Hoffman David J , Klimstra Jon D , Stebbins Katherine R , Kondrad Shannon L
Published: June 2011

In a previous study, the embryotoxicity of methylmercury dissolved in corn oil was compared among 26 species of birds. Corn oil is not soluble in the water-based matrix that constitutes the albumen of an egg. To determine whether the use of corn oil limited the usefulness of this earlier study, a comparison was made of the embryotoxicity of methylmercury dissolved in corn oil versus water. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and chicken (Gallus gallus) eggs were injected with methylmercury chloride dissolved in corn oil or water to achieve concentrations of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 µg/g mercury in the egg on a wet weight basis. Hatching success at each dose of mercury was compared between the two solvents. For mallards, 16.4% of the eggs injected with 1.6 µg/g mercury dissolved in water hatched, which was statistically lower than the 37.6% hatch rate of eggs injected with 1.6 µg/g mercury dissolved in corn oil, but no differences in hatching success were observed between corn oil and water at any of the other doses. With chicken eggs, no significant differences occurred in percentage hatch of eggs between corn oil and water at any of the mercury doses. Methylmercury dissolved in corn oil seems to have a toxicity to avian embryos similar to that of does methylmercury dissolved in water. Consequently, the results from the earlier study that described the toxicity of methylmercury dissolved in corn oil to avian embryos were probably not compromised by the use of corn oil as a solvent. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2103–2106. © 2011 SETAC
Influences of specimen size and heating mode on the ignitability of polymeric materials in typical small‐scale fire test conditions
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2011

Small‐scale fire tests including the Underwriters Laboratories 94 (UL94) vertical burning test and the cone calorimeter test are widely used. In this paper, the ignition times of materials heated by the conical heater of a cone calorimeter and the UL94 flame were measured. It was found that for polymer bars heated by the UL94 flame, the ignition time is relatively short and increases with the specimen thickness. But the contribution of the specimen thickness to the delay of the ignition time is limited. The intrinsic properties of materials play a more important role in the ignition time than the specimen thickness. In addition, respectively corresponding to one‐dimensional, two‐dimensional, and three‐dimensional heat transfer, three heating modes of the UL94 flame were presented and compared with the conical heater. It was found that whether the heat source is the conical heater or the UL94 flame, the ignition time depends on the heat flux and the multidimensional heat transfer. The ignition time decreases with the increasing heat flux, and the magnitude order of the ignition time might drop when the heating mode changes from one‐dimensional to multidimensional heat transfer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The History of Disability Services in higher education
Authors: Madaus Joseph W.
Published: June 2011

In parallel with educational, social, technological, and legal changes in higher education, disability services has evolved rapidly, with professionals addressing increasingly complex issues on their campuses.
UReturn: University of Minnesota services for faculty and staff with disabilities
Authors: Fuecker Dave , Harbour Wendy S.
Published: June 2011

While the majority of disability services offices focus on students, the University of Minnesota has a unique model that also serves faculty and staff with disabilities and chronic conditions.
College students with disabilities: A student development perspective
Authors: Hadley Wanda M.
Published: June 2011

Student developmental theory can provide a useful framework for understanding challenges students with disabilities may face, providing services, and creating a welcoming campus climate.
Frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia treatment in a well‐screened population
Authors: Barken Sidsel Svennekjær , Rebolj Matejka , Andersen Erik Søgaard , Lynge Elsebeth
Published: June 2011

Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) detectable at screening has helped reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, but has also led to overtreatment. The estimates of overtreatment have often focused on a particular grade of CIN or age group. The aim of this paper was to provide a nationwide population‐based estimate of the frequency of CIN treatment per prevented cervical cancer case in a well‐screened population. We retrieved the data from the Danish National Population, Patient, Health Insurance, Pathology, and Cancer Registers, and calculated annual age‐standardized CIN treatment rates. We estimated the frequency of CIN treatment per prevented cervical cancer case by comparing the cumulative life‐time risk of CIN treatment from 1996 onward, with the difference in the cumulative life‐time risks of cervical cancer in the prescreening and the screening periods. Since 1996, more than 5,000 CIN treatments were undertaken annually in the population of about 2.2 million women aged 15–84 years, and at present 5.2 CIN treatments are undertaken per 1,000 women aged 20–49. About six women have undergone CIN treatment for each prevented cervical cancer. The frequency of CIN treatment increased after 2004 and at present almost eight women are treated per prevented cervical cancer case. Screening, though effective in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer, leads also to a considerable burden of CIN treatment. Future trends in CIN treatment should be closely monitored.
The emerging epidemic of estrogen‐related cancers in young women in a developing Asian country
Authors: Lin Ching‐Hung , Chen Yong‐Chen , Chiang Chun‐Ju , Lu Yen‐Shen , Kuo Kuan‐Ting , Huang Chiun‐Sheng , Cheng Wen‐Fang , Lai Mei‐Shu , You San‐Lin , Cheng Ann‐Lii
Published: June 2011

The incidence of breast and genital tract cancers is increasing among Taiwanese women, but the age specificity and histopathological features of these cancers have not been determined. We used a descriptive epidemiological method and data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry (1979–2007) to examine secular trends in the age‐specific incidences of female breast cancer, three major female genital tract cancers and the histopathological subtypes of these cancers. Age‐specific incidence rates in the United States (1978–2002) were used as an external reference, and the incidence rates of all malignancies and of malignant brain tumors were used as internal references. We found that age‐adjusted incidence rates of female breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers increased in Taiwan from 1979 to 2007, whereas the incidence of cervical cancer decreased after 1998. The largest increase was observed for ductal and lobular carcinomas of the breast and endometrioid carcinomas of the uterus and ovary in women ≤55 years, all of these tumors show a high prevalence of hormone receptor expressions. In addition, hormone‐receptor‐positive rates of breast cancer were uniquely higher in younger, as opposed to older, Taiwanese women. These findings indicate that estrogen‐related cancers rapidly emerge in young women in Taiwan and that incidence rates are catching up with that of women living in the United States.
Humoral response to catumaxomab correlates with clinical outcome: Results of the pivotal phase II/III study in patients with malignant ascites
Authors: Ott Marion G. , Marmé Frederik , Moldenhauer Gerhard , Lindhofer Horst , Hennig Michael , Spannagl Rolf , Essing Mirko M. , Linke Rolf , Seimetz Diane
Published: June 2011

The trifunctional antibody catumaxomab is a targeted immunotherapy for the intraperitoneal treatment of malignant ascites. In a Phase II/III trial in cancer patients (n = 258) with malignant ascites, catumaxomab showed a clear clinical benefit vs. paracentesis and had an acceptable safety profile. Human antimouse antibodies (HAMAs), which could be associated with beneficial humoral effects and prolonged survival, may develop against catumaxomab as it is a mouse/rat antibody. This post hoc analysis investigated whether there was a correlation between the detection of HAMAs 8 days after the fourth catumaxomab infusion and clinical outcome. HAMA‐positive and HAMA‐negative patients in the catumaxomab group and patients in the control group were analyzed separately for all three clinical outcome measures (puncture‐free survival, time to next puncture and overall survival) and compared to each other. There was a strong correlation between humoral response and clinical outcome: patients who developed HAMAs after catumaxomab showed significant improvement in all three clinical outcome measures vs. HAMA‐negative patients. In the overall population in HAMA‐positive vs. HAMA‐negative patients, median puncture‐free survival was 64 vs. 27 days (p < 0.0001; HR 0.330), median time to next therapeutic puncture was 104 vs. 46 days (p = 0.0002; HR 0.307) and median overall survival was 129 vs. 64 days (p = 0.0003; HR 0.433). Similar differences between HAMA‐positive and HAMA‐negative patients were seen in the ovarian, nonovarian and gastric cancer subgroups. In conclusion, HAMA development may be a biomarker for catumaxomab response and patients who developed HAMAs sooner derived greater benefit from catumaxomab treatment.
Downregulation and growth inhibitory role of FHL1 in lung cancer
Authors: Niu Chang , Liang Chaoyang , Guo Juntang , Cheng Long , Zhang Hao , Qin Xi , Zhang Qunwei , Ding Lihua , Yuan Bin , Xu Xiaojie , Li Jiezhi , Lin Jing , Ye Qinong
Published: June 2011

Four and a half Lin‐11, Isl‐1, Mac‐3 (LIM) protein 1 (FHL1) has been linked to carcinogenesis. However, the role of FHL1 in lung cancer remains unclear and the detailed mechanism underlying its tumor suppressive role is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine FHL1 expression in lung cancer patients and to investigate how it was associated with lung cancer cell growth. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry showed that FHL1 protein was downregulated in over 90% of 80 lung cancer patients. FHL1 expression was strongly correlated with tumor histological types (p < 10−4) and the differentiation of the tumor (p = 0.002). FHL1 inhibited anchorage‐dependent and ‐independent growth of human lung cancer cell lines. The inhibitory effects of FHL1 on lung cancer cell growth were associated with both the G1 and the G2/M cell cycle arrest concomitant with a marked inhibition of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D as well as the induction of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p21 (WAF1/CIP1) and p27 (Kip1). Direct intratumoral injection of an adenovirus expressing FHL1 dramatically suppressed the growth of A549 lung cancer cells in nude mice. Our data suggest that reduced expression of FHL1 may play an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer and that FHL1 may be a useful target for lung cancer gene therapy.
Mapping the zinc‐transporting system in mammary cells: Molecular analysis reveals a phenotype‐dependent zinc‐transporting network during lactation
Authors: Kelleher Shannon L. , Velasquez Vanessa , Croxford Thomas P. , McCormick Nicholas H. , Lopez Veronica , MacDavid Joshua
Published: June 2011

The mammary epithelial cell transitions from a non‐secreting to a terminally differentiated, secreting cell during lactation. Zinc (Zn) is a key modulator of phenotypic transition as it regulates over 300 biological functions including transcription, translation, energy transformation, intracellular signaling, and apoptosis. In addition, Zn must be redirected from normal cellular functions into the secretory compartment, as many components of the secretory system are Zn‐dependent and an extraordinary amount of Zn is secreted (1–3 mg Zn/day) into milk. Herein, we utilized a “systems biology” approach of genomic and proteomic profiling to explore mechanisms through which Zn is reallocated during phenotype transition in the lactating mammary gland from mice and cultured mammary cells. Nine Zn transporters play key roles in Zn redistribution within the network during lactation. Protein abundance of six Zip (Zip3, Zip5, Zip7, Zip8, Zip10, Zip11) and three ZnT (ZnT2, ZnT4, ZnT9) proteins was expanded >2‐fold during lactation, which was not necessarily reflected by changes in mRNA expression. Our data suggest that Zip5, Zip8, and Zip10 may be key to Zn acquisition from maternal circulation, while multiple Zip proteins reuptake Zn from milk. Confocal microscopy of cultured mammary cells identified the Golgi apparatus (modulated in part by ZnT5, Zip7, and Zip11) and the late endosomal compartment (modulated in part by ZnT2 and Zip3) as key intracellular compartments through which Zn is reallocated during lactation. These results provide an important framework for understanding the “Zn‐transporting network” through which mammary gland Zn pools are redistributed and secreted into milk. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1761–1770, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human peripheral blood lymphocytes and fibroblasts as Notch3 expression models
Authors: Di Maio Giuseppe , Formichi Patrizia , Radi Elena , Bianchi Silvia , Onnis Anna , Tarquini Ermelinda , Leoncini Lorenzo , Federico Antonio
Published: June 2011

Notch3 is a single pass transmembrane protein belonging to the Notch receptor family. Notch proteins are involved in a very conserved signaling system (Notch signaling) with a broad spectrum of functions, from cell proliferation and differentiation to apoptosis. Mutations in Notch3 gene are linked to cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), a disorder characterized by stroke and dementia in young adults. Studies evaluating Notch3 expression in human differentiated cells and adult tissues have shown high Notch3 levels only in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). However, it has been hypothesized that Notch3 is ubiquitously expressed in adult human tissues. Our aim was to evaluate Notch3 expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and fibroblasts from normal healthy subjects. In both cell types, we examined the expression of Notch3 by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Moreover, we assessed Notch3 protein expression by Western blot analysis. RT‐PCR and qRT‐PCR analysis showed the presence of Notch3 mRNA in both cell types. Western blot analysis confirmed Notch3 protein expression in PBLs and fibroblasts though showing different profiles. Our data support the expression of Notch3 in adult human cell types, and suggests that PBLs and fibroblasts could provide readily available cells for the study of the role of Notch3 expression in the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to different human disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1771–1775, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
1‐MCP suppresses ethylene biosynthesis and delays softening of ‘Hami’ melon during storage at ambient temperature
Authors: Li Xuewen , Cao Shifeng , Zheng Yonghua , Sun Aiping
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND: ‘Hami’ melon is susceptible to softening during postharvest storage at ambient temperature, which enhances postharvest deterioration and limits transportation and storage. To look for a method of softening control, the effect of 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) on regulating postharvest softening of ‘Hami’ melon fruit was investigated.

RESULTS: 1‐MCP treatment at 1 µL L−1 significantly reduced ethylene production and maintained higher levels of fruit firmness. It also markedly inhibited the accumulation of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) and maintained lower activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase. In addition, 1‐MCP treatment reduced the activities of fruit‐softening enzymes such as pectin methyl esterase, polygalacturonase, endo‐1,4‐β‐glucanase and β‐galactosidase.

CONCLUSION: 1‐MCP was effective in suppressing ethylene production and delaying fruit softening in ‘Hami’ melon by decreasing the activities of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes and inhibiting fruit‐softening enzymes. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Intersession reliability of the electromyographic signal during incremental cycle ergometry: Quadriceps Femoris
Authors: Travis Liesle A. , Arthmire Steven J. , Baig Ahmed M. , Goldberg Allon , Malek Moh H.
Published: June 2011

Introduction:

The purposes of this investigation were to determine the: (1) reproducibility of the patterns of responses for electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF); and (2) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the EMG amplitude and MPF during three incremental cycle ergometer tests separated by 48 hours.

Methods:

Ten men performed incremental cycle ergometry tests to exhaustion on three separate occasions. Surface EMG signals were recorded simultaneously from the three superficial quadriceps muscles at each trial.

Results:

Polynomial regression indicated that, for >95% of the cases, the best‐fit model was the same at each trial for EMG amplitude but not for EMG MPF. The ICC values were high for EMG amplitude but low for EMG MPF.

Conclusions:

These results indicate that EMG amplitude is a reliable measure of motor unit activation strategy during incremental cycle ergometry, whereas the EMG MPF was unreliable. Muscle Nerve 2011
Linearization techniques for band structure calculations in absorbing photonic crystals
Authors: Effenberger C. , Kressner D. , Engström C.
Published: June 2011

Band structure calculations for photonic crystals require the numerical solution of eigenvalue problems. In this paper, we consider crystals composed of lossy materials with frequency‐dependent permittivities. Often, these frequency dependencies are modeled by rational functions, such as the Lorentz model, in which case the eigenvalue problems are rational in the eigenvalue parameter. After spatial discretization using an interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method, we employ a recently developed linearization technique to deal with the resulting rational matrix eigenvalue problems. In particular, the efficient implementation of Krylov subspace methods for solving the linearized eigenvalue problems is investigated in detail. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our new approach is considerably cheaper in terms of memory and computing time requirements compared with the naive approach of turning the rational eigenvalue problem into a polynomial eigenvalue problem and applying standard linearization techniques. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal and microstructural investigations of oxyfluoride lead germanate glasses
Authors: Cem Elbizim Mithat , Tatar Demet , Yılmaz Deniz , Lütfi Öveçoğlu M.
Published: June 2011

In this study, thermal behaviour and microstructural characterization of germanium rich GeO2–PbF2 binary glass system were investigated. The studies were conducted for 10, 20 and 30 mol% PbF2 contents. The thermal behaviour of oxyfluoride lead germanate glasses was studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA) at the heating rate of 10 °C/min, in air flow. Effects of different heating rates and PbF2 content were investigated on the glass transition, crystallization and melting temperatures. The structural investigations of as‐cast and annealed samples which are heat‐treated above crystallization peak temperatures were conducted using X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Utilizing these techniques, α‐GeO2, α‐PbGe4O9, γ‐PbGe4O9, PbGeO3 and Pb3GeO5 phases were identified. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Antiproliferative Action of Xylopia aethiopica Fruit Extract on Human Cervical Cancer Cells
Authors: Adaramoye Oluwatosin A. , Sarkar Jayanta , Singh Neetu , Meena Sanjeev , Changkija Bendangla , Yadav Prem P. , Kanojiya Sanjeev , Sinha Sudhir
Published: June 2011

The anticancer potential of Xylopia aethiopica fruit extract (XAFE), and the mechanism of cell death it elicits, was investigated in various cell lines. Treatment with XAFE led to a dose‐dependent growth inhibition in most cell lines, with selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and particularly the human cervical cancer cell line C‐33A. In this study, apoptosis was confirmed by nuclear fragmentation and sub‐G0/G1 phase accumulation. The cell cycle was arrested at the G2/M phase with a decreased G0/G1 population. A semi‐quantitative gene expression study revealed dose‐dependent up‐regulation of p53 and p21 genes, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio. These results indicate that XAFE could be a potential therapeutic agent against cancer since it inhibits cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in C‐33A cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrogen adduction by three coordinate group 10 organometallic cations: platinum is favoured over nickel and palladium
Authors: Woolley Matthew J. , Khairallah George N. , Donnelly Paul S. , O'Hair Richard A. J.
Published: June 2011

Previous studies have shown that highly reactive product ions formed by collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of precursor ions generated via electrospray can readily react with residual solvent or drying gases, especially in ion trap mass spectrometers. Here we report on the rapid addition of nitrogen to the coordinatively unsaturated organoplatinum cation, [(phen)Pt(CH3)]+ (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) formed via decarboxylation of the acetate complex [(phen)Pt(O2CCH3)]+. This contrasts with the related coordinatively unsaturated group 10 cations: addition of nitrogen to [(phen)Pd(CH3)]+ occurs at longer reaction times, whereas addition of nitrogen to [(phen)Ni(CH3)]+ is virtually non‐existent. To better understand these reactions, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out at the B3LYP/SDD6‐31+G(d) level of theory to determine the N2‐binding energies of [(phen)M(CH3)]+. [(phen)Pt(CH3)]+ has a higher binding energy to N2 (1.06 eV) than either [(phen)Ni(CH3)]+ (0.61 eV) or [(phen)Pd(CH3)]+ (0.66 eV), consistent with the experimental ease of addition of nitrogen to the coordinatively unsaturated organometallic complexes, [(phen)M(CH3)]+. Finally, [(phen)M(CH3)]+ are reactive to other background gases, forming [(phen)M(O2)].+ (for M = Ni) in reactions with oxygen and undergoing water addition (for M = Ni, Pd and Pt) and water addition/CH4 elimination reactions to yield [(phen)M(OH)]+ (for M = Ni and Pt). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depth‐specific and spatiotemporal variation of δ13C and δ15N in Charophytes of Lake Constance: implications for food web studies
Authors: Matuszak Anja , Voigt Christian C. , Storch Ilse , Bauer Hans‐Günther , Quillfeldt Petra
Published: June 2011

Macrophytes are at the base of many lake food webs providing essential food resources for animals at higher trophic level, such as invertebrates, fish and waterbirds. However, data regarding the spatiotemporal variation in isotopic composition of macrophytes are generally missing. We measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of Charophytes at Lake Constance, where they constitute a major food source for waterbirds. Our data reveal seasonal and site‐specific differences as well as depth‐specific variations in isotopic carbon values within the littoral zone. Charophytes were enriched in 13 C at sites of higher productivity: the δ13C values were high in summer, at shallow and at relatively nutrient‐rich sites, and comparatively low in winter, and in deeper and nutrient‐poorer sites. In contrast, no temporal or spatial trend was found to explain the variability in the isotopic nitrogen values. These results imply that the seasonal timing of food intake (relative to turnover rates of consumers tissue) and the potential depth of foraging need to be taken into account when calculating the relative contribution of energy sources to diets of consumers such as waterbirds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.