bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute arterial infarcts in patients with severe head injuries
Authors: Garg Anil , Agrawal Deepak
Published: October 2012

To study the incidence, demographic profile, and outcome of patients with severe closed head injuries who develop acute arterial infarcts.

Patients with severe head injury (Glasgow coma score (GCS) ≤8) presenting within 8 h of injury in the Department of Neurosurgery over a period of 5 months were enrolled in the study. Patients with penetrating head injury, infarct due to herniation and iatrogenic arterial injuries were excluded from the study. Only arterial infarcts developing within 8 h of injury were included in the study. A computed tomography (CT) head was done on all patients within 8 h of injury and repeated if necessary. Arterial infarct was defined as well-demarcated wedge-shaped hypodensity corresponding to an arterial territory on plain CT of the head. Outcome was assessed using Glasgow outcome score (GOS) at 1 month post-injury or at death (whichever came earlier).

Forty-four patients of severe head injury were included in the study during the above period. Of these, four patients (9.1%) had arterial infarcts on the initial CT scan. The male:female ratio was 1:3. The mean age was 54 years (range 3–85 years). Two patients had infarcts in the middle cerebral artery distribution and two in the superior cerebellar artery distribution. Poor outcome (GOS 1–3) was seen in 100% of the patients with arterial infarct compared to 52.5% (n=21) in patients with severe head injury without arterial infarct.

A significant percentage of patients with severe head injury have arterial infarcts on admission, which may imply arterial injury. Our study shows that these patients have a poorer prognosis vis-à-vis patient without these findings
Biobanking for cancer research: Preservation of tissue integrity – Some technical considerations
Authors: Mahadevan Anita , Shankar S.K.
Published: October 2012

Biobanking and biomarker discovery have become an integral part of neuro-oncology research. Towards achieving this end, the essential requirement is optimizing methods of tissue preservation of human tissues removed at surgery for diagnostic purposes and banking them for subserving future research. Owing to recent advances in molecular diagnostic tools, this clinical material has become a precious source for proteomic and genomic studies. The advent of biotechnological tools such as microarray, proteomics, and genomics has made it essential to preserve not just morphology but also the quality of nucleic acids and proteins, changing the traditional workflow of a pathology laboratory. It is therefore essential to develop simple technologies for tissue fixation and storage ensure that receptor and molecular integrity is reasonably maintained. Knowledge of the basic chemistry of tissue fixatives, the biochemical changes that take place in biological material by utilizing different techniques of fixation is essential while undertaking molecular, genomic, and proteomic studies on fresh and archival tissues.
Spontaneous acute subdural hematoma in a patient with multiple myeloma
Authors: Kumar Ashish , Ramzan Altaf , Malik Nayil , Naseer Syed , Wani Abrar
Published: October 2012

Acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in a patient of multiple myeloma receiving chemotherapy is an unknown event, needing an urgent neurosurgical management. We report this patient who presented with progressive neurological deterioration and a low platelet count. She was successfully managed by craniotomy and evacuation of subdural hematoma with intraoperative transfusion of platelets. The acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in her was probably related to the bleeding diathesis due to thrombocytopenia associated with chemotherapy.
Post shunt meningeal fibrosis: Role of contrast enhanced MRI in differentiation from chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Panda Prashant , Sharma Sanjiv , Sood R.G. , Bhatia Vikas
Published: October 2012

Post shunt meningeal fibrosis is an uncommon complication following VP shunt insertion and it presents with a diagnostic dilemma. It is a rare post shunt entity that may mimic chronic subdural hematoma on unenhanced CT and MR. Thus it is important to recognize it before any therapeutic intervention is being considered. We present a case of 47 year male who underwent VP shunt insertion for tubercular hydrocephalus 4 years ago. He presented with chronic headache for 6 months for which MRI brain was done. MRI finding revealed post shunt meningeal fibrosis thus differentiating from chronic subdural hematoma and hence obviated surgical drainage.
Transformational leadership in Pakistan: An examination of the relationship of transformational leadership to organizational culture and innovation propensity
Authors: Tipu Syed Awais Ahmad , Ryan James C , Fantazy Kamel A
Published: October 2012

Does transformational leadership have a positive relationship to organizational culture and innovation propensity in business organizations of Pakistan? Transformational leadership has been associated with a variety of positive organizational outcomes in a number of studies. However, the outcomes of transformational leadership in Pakistan are still underexplored. The current study examined the specific relationship between transformational leadership, organizational culture, and innovation propensity among a sample of 523 organizational members in Pakistan. Our findings showed that transformational leadership is positively related to organizational culture and innovation propensity. Results also indicated that organizational culture mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and innovation propensity. Furthermore, ANOVA analyses identified differences in ratings of transformational leadership across employees' education level and company size. Also, correlation analyses found no relationship between employees' ratings of transformational leadership and employees' age and organizational tenure. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed.
Inverse estimation of source parameters of oceanic radioactivity dispersion models associated with the Fukushima accident
Authors: Miyazawa Y. , Masumoto Y. , Varlamov S. M. , Miyama T. , Takigawa M. , Honda M. , Saino T.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. With combined use of the ocean-atmosphere simulation models and field observation data, we evaluate the parameters associated with the total caesium-137 amounts of the direct release into the ocean and atmospheric deposition over the Western North Pacific caused by the accident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FNPP) that occurred in March 2011. The Green's function approach is adopted for the estimation of two parameters determining the total emission amounts for the period from 12 March to 6 May 2011. It is confirmed that the validity of the estimation depends on the simulation skill near FNPP. The total amount of the direct release is estimated as 5.5–5.9 × 1015 Bq, while that of the atmospheric deposition is estimated as 5.5–9.7 × 1015 Bq, which indicates broader range of the estimate than that of the direct release owing to uncertainty of the dispersion widely spread over the Western North Pacific.
Black carbon contributes to organic matter in young soils in the Morteratsch proglacial area (Switzerland)
Authors: Eckmeier E. , Mavris C. , Krebs R. , Pichler B. , Egli M.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Most glacier forefields of the European Alps are progressively exposed since the glaciers reached their maximum expansion in the 1850s. Global warming and climate changes additionally promote the exposure of sediments in previously glaciated areas. In these proglacial areas, initial soils have started to develop so that they may offer a continuous chronosequence from 0 to 150 yr-old soils. The build-up of organic matter is an important factor of soil formation, and not only autochthonous but also distant sources might contribute to its accumulation in young soils and surfaces of glacier forefields. Only little is known about black carbon in soils that develop in glacier forefields, although charred organic matter could be an important component of organic carbon in Alpine soils. The aim of our study was to examine whether black carbon is present in the initial soils of a proglacial area, and to estimate its relative contribution to soil organic matter. We investigated soil samples from 35 sites distributed over the whole proglacial area of Morteratsch, covering a chronosequence from 0 to 150 yr. BC concentrations were determined in fine-earth using the benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) marker method. We found that the proportion of BC to total Corg was related to the time since the surface was exposed. Soils on surfaces exposed less than 40 yr ago contained the highest proportion of BC. The absolute concentrations of BC in fine-earth were generally low but increased in soils that had been exposed for more than 40 yr. Charred organic matter occurred in the whole area, and it was a main component of soil organic matter in young soils, where total Corg concentrations were very low. Specific initial microbial communities consequently may profit from this additional C source during the first years of soil evolution and potentially promote soil development in its early stage.
A semi-analytical solution to accelerate spin-up of a coupled carbon and nitrogen land model to steady state
Authors: Xia J. Y. , Luo Y. Q. , Wang Y.-P. , Weng E. S. , Hararuk O.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The spin-up of land models to steady state of coupled carbon–nitrogen processes is computationally so costly that it becomes a bottleneck issue for global analysis. In this study, we introduced a semi-analytical solution (SAS) for the spin-up issue. SAS is fundamentally based on the analytic solution to a set of equations that describe carbon transfers within ecosystems over time. SAS is implemented by three steps: (1) having an initial spin-up with prior pool-size values until net primary productivity (NPP) reaches stabilization, (2) calculating quasi-steady-state pool sizes by letting fluxes of the equations equal zero, and (3) having a final spin-up to meet the criterion of steady state. Step 2 is enabled by averaged time-varying variables over one period of repeated driving forcings. SAS was applied to both site-level and global scale spin-up of the Australian Community Atmosphere Biosphere Land Exchange (CABLE) model. For the carbon-cycle-only simulations, SAS saved 95.7% and 92.4% of computational time for site-level and global spin-up, respectively, in comparison with the traditional method (a long-term iterative simulation to achieve the steady states of variables). For the carbon–nitrogen coupled simulations, SAS reduced computational cost by 84.5% and 86.6% for site-level and global spin-up, respectively. The estimated steady-state pool sizes represent the ecosystem carbon storage capacity, which was 12.1 kg C m−2 with the coupled carbon–nitrogen global model, 14.6% lower than that with the carbon-only model. The nitrogen down-regulation in modeled carbon storage is partly due to the 4.6% decrease in carbon influx (i.e., net primary productivity) and partly due to the 10.5% reduction in residence times. This steady-state analysis accelerated by the SAS method can facilitate comparative studies of structural differences in determining the ecosystem carbon storage capacity among biogeochemical models. Overall, the computational efficiency of SAS potentially permits many global analyses that are impossible with the traditional spin-up methods, such as ensemble analysis of land models against parameter variations.
A method for low flow estimation at ungauged sites, case study in Wallonia (Belgium)
Authors: Grandry M. , Gailliez S. , Sohier C. , Verstraete A. , Degré A.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Being able to estimate low flows at any point of a river is really important nowadays for a good integrated management of rivers. Knowing the magnitude as well as the frequency of such extreme events becomes essential. In order to build a model of low flow calculation, usable in ungauged catchments and which takes also into account low flow frequency, we started with a low flow frequency analysis including a comparison of different distributions. Two-parameter Lognormal and Gamma were the most common distributions that fit low flow data in Wallonia. This was followed by a regionalisation of low flows using 25 different climatic and physical catchment variables, and the development of regression models that can be used to estimate the minimum 7-day average flow for different return periods, using catchment characteristics. The variables the most correlated to specific minimum 7-day average flows were the recession coefficient and percolation, regardless of the return period. The determination coefficients of the models ranged from 0.51 to 0.67 for calibration and from 0.61 to 0.80 for validation. Finally, regression coefficients were logarithmically linked to the return period. This enabled us to develop a single model per region and for the whole study area, in function of the return period. In conclusion, the method developed in this study allows us to estimate low flows in gauged and ungauged catchments of a given region for a given return period. The interest of regionalisation and development of regional models is also discussed.
A statistical analysis of insurance damage claims related to rainfall extremes
Authors: Spekkers M. H. , Kok M. , Clemens F. H. L. R. , ten Veldhuis J. A. E.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. In this paper, a database of water-related insurance damage claims related to private properties and content was analysed. The aim was to investigate whether high numbers of damage claims were associated with high rainfall intensities. Rainfall data were used for the period of 2003–2010 in the Netherlands based on a network of 33 automatic rain gauges operated by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Insurance damage data were aggregated to areas within 10-km range of the rain gauges. Through a logistic regression model, high claim numbers were linked to maximum rainfall intensities, with rainfall intensity based on 10-min to 4-h time windows. Rainfall intensity proved to be a significant damage predictor; however, the explained variance, approximated by a pseudo-R2 statistic, was at most 34% for property damage and at most 30% for content damage. When directly comparing predicted and observed values, the model was able to predict 5–17% more cases correctly compared to a random prediction. No important differences were found between relations with property and content damage data. A considerable fraction of the variance is left unexplained, which emphasizes the need to study damage generating mechanisms and additional explanatory variables.
Seismic imaging of sandbox experiments – laboratory hardware setup and first reflection seismic sections
Authors: Krawczyk C. M. , Buddensiek M.-L. , Oncken O. , Kukowski N.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. With the study and technical development introduced here, we combine analogue sandbox simulation techniques with seismic physical modelling of sandbox models. For that purpose, we designed and developed a new mini-seismic facility for laboratory use, comprising a seismic tank, a PC-driven control unit, a positioning system, and piezo-electric transducers used here the first time in an array mode. To assess the possibilities and limits of seismic imaging of small-scale structures in sandbox models, different geometry setups were tested in the first experiments that also tested the proper functioning of the device and studied the seismo-elastic properties of the granular media used. Simple two-layer models of different materials and layer thicknesses as well as a more complex model comprising channels and shear zones were tested using different acquisition geometries and signal properties. We suggest using well sorted and well rounded grains with little surface roughness (glass beads). Source receiver-offsets less than 14 cm for imaging structures as small as 2.0–1.5 mm size have proven feasible. This is the best compromise between wide beam and high energy output, and being applicable with a consistent waveform. Resolution of the interfaces of layers of granular materials depends on the interface preparation rather than on the material itself. Flat grading of interfaces and powder coverage yields the clearest interface reflections. Finally, sandbox seismic sections provide images of very good quality showing constant thickness layers as well as predefined channel structures and fault traces from shear zones. Since these can be regarded in sandbox models as zones of decompaction, they behave as reflectors and can be imaged. The multiple-offset surveying introduced here improves the quality with respect to S/N-ratio and source signature even more; the maximum depth penetration in glass bead layers thereby amounts to 5 cm. Thus, the presented mini-seismic device is already able to resolve structures within simple models of saturated porous media, so that multiple-offset seismic imaging of shallow sandbox models, that are structurally evolving, is generally feasible.
Bedmap2: improved ice bed, surface and thickness datasets for Antarctica
Authors: Fretwell P. , Pritchard H. D. , Vaughan D. G. , Bamber J. L. , Barrand N. E. , Bell R. , Bianchi C. , Bingham R. G. , Blankenship D. D. , Casassa G. , Catania G. , Callens D. , Conway H. , Cook A. J. , Corr H. F. J. , Damaske D. , Damm V. , Ferraccioli F. , Forsberg R. , Fujita S. , Gogineni P. , Griggs J. A. , Hindmarsh R. C. A. , Holmlund P. , Holt J. W. , Jacobel R. W. , Jenkins A. , Jokat W. , Jordan T. , King E. C. , Kohler J. , Krabill W. , Riger-Kusk M. , Langley K. A. , Leitchenkov G. , Leuschen C. , Luyendyk B. P. , Matsuoka K. , Nogi Y. , Nost O. A. , Popov S. V. , Rignot E. , Rippin D. M. , Riviera A. , Roberts J. , Ross N. , Siegert M. J. , Smith A. M. , Steinhage D. , Studinger M. , Sun B. , Tinto B. K. , Welch B. C. , Young D. A. , Xiangbin C. , Zirizzotti A.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. We present Bedmap2, a new suite of gridded products describing surface elevation, ice-thickness and the seafloor and subglacial bed elevation of the Antarctic south of 60° S. We derived these products using data from a variety of sources, including many substantial surveys completed since the original Bedmap compilation (Bedmap1) in 2001. In particular, the Bedmap2 ice thickness grid is made from 25 million measurements, over two orders of magnitude more than were used in Bedmap1. In most parts of Antarctica the subglacial landscape is visible in much greater detail than was previously available and the improved coverage of data has in many areas revealed the full scale of mountain ranges, valleys, basins and troughs, only fragments of which were previously indicated in local surveys. The derived statistics for Bedmap2 show that the volume of ice contained in the Antarctic ice sheet (27 million km3) and its potential contribution to sea-level rise (58 m) are similar to those of Bedmap1, but the mean thickness of the ice sheet is 4.6 % greater, the mean depth of the bed beneath the grounded ice sheet is 72 m lower and the area of ice sheet grounded on bed below sea level is increased by 10 %. The Bedmap2 compilation highlights several areas beneath the ice sheet where the bed elevation is substantially lower than the deepest bed indicated by Bedmap1. These products, along with grids of data coverage and uncertainty, provide new opportunities for detailed modelling of the past and future evolution of the Antarctic ice sheets.
Pintura Fresca
Authors: Morales Ricardo
Published: October 2012

Salvador EspinozaOmar d`LeónFederico Alvarado Zuniga (1980)William Chávez MuñozDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/cultura.v18i57.800Cultura de Paz • Año XVIII • N° 57 • Mayo - Agosto 2012 P / 29-32
La epifanía de lo real: la fotografía de Celeste González en su libro "Rivas de la Cuaresma"
Authors: Lovo Anastasio
Published: October 2012

El crítico de arte Anastasio Lovo reseña la obra “Rivas de la Cuaresma” de la extraordinaria fotógrafa Celeste González, cuyo contenido es el pueblo de Rivas que con sus gentes por fe, tradición y sentido comunitario, acceden a vivir en un ritual donde cultura y naturaleza, unidas en esponsales de color morado, conmemoran la trascendencia de la Pasión de Jesús de Nazaret.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/cultura.v18i57.805Cultura de Paz • Año XVIII • N° 57 • Mayo - Agosto 2012 P / 52-56
Presentación a la obra: “Cultura de Paz Historia, Epistemología y Textos”
Authors: Arrien Juan Bautista
Published: October 2012

… “el profesor Lovo ha construido una extraordinaria estructura y admirable andamiaje históricos en los que distintas disciplinas, religión, fi losofía, sociología, psicología, lenguaje, historia, etc. con sus más representativos autores intelectuales y religiosos sustentan, preludian y analizan la realidad del ser humano en toda su amplitud y poderío relacionado con la violencia de la guerra y la violencia de la paz”, dice el Dr. Juan Bautista Arríen, refi riéndose a la obra: “Cultura de Paz: Historia, Epistemología y Textos”.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/cultura.v18i57.806Cultura de Paz • Año XVIII • N° 57 • Mayo - Agosto 2012 P / 57-59
Social Intelligence for a Robot Engaging People in Cognitive Training Activities
Authors: Chan Jeanie , Nejat Goldie
Published: October 2012

Current research supports the use of cognitive training interventions to improve the brain functioning of both adults and children. Our work focuses on exploring the potential use of robot assistants to allow for these interventions to become more accessible. Namely, we aim to develop an intelligent, socially assistive robot that can engage individuals in person-centred cognitively stimulating activities. In this paper, we present the design of a novel control architecture for the robot Brian 2.0, which enables the robot to be a social motivator by providing assistance, encouragement and celebration during an activity. A hierarchical reinforcement learning approach is used in the architecture to allow the robot to: 1) learn appropriate assistive behaviours based on the structure of the activity, and 2) personalize an interaction based on user states. Experiments show that the control architecture is effective in determining the robot's optimal assistive behaviours during a memory game interaction.
Performance of weather‐based residential irrigation controllers in a desert environment
Authors: Al‐Ajlouni Malik G. , Vanleeuwen Dawn M. , Hilaire Rolston St.
Published: October 2012

Performance of residential weather‐based irrigation controllers was evaluated in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots installed in the arid southern Chihuahuan Desert in the southwestern United States. In the first experiment, Irritrol Smart Dial,1 RainBird ET Manager,2 Aqua Conserve,3 Hunter ET System,4 and Weathermatic SL1600 irrigation controllers,5 and one manual irrigation controller programmed at 80% of historical reference crop evapotranspiration were tested. Compared with the manual controller, Irritrol and RainBird treatments saved 53% and 34% of irrigation water, respectively. In the second experiment, Smart Dial and ET Manager were tested for one year. Although soil moisture content of turf plots in the Irritrol treatment dipped below 50% of available soil water capacity between November 2010 and January 2011, relative water content of turf grass in both treatments exceeded 85%. Smart Dial applied less water than ET Manager, but the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence averaged 0.78 for both treatments, indicating that the turf grass was not stressed.
Established and Emerging Approaches for the Management of Dyslipidaemia
Authors: Norata Giuseppe Danilo
Published: October 2012

The key role of dyslipidaemia in determining cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been proved beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore several dietary and pharmacological approaches have been developed. The discovery of statins has provided a very effective approach in reducing cardiovascular risk as documented by the results obtained in clinical trials and in clinical practice. The current efficacy of statins or other drugs, however, comes short of providing the benefit that could derive from a further reduction of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in high-risk and very high risk patients. Furthermore, experimental data clearly suggest that other lipoprotein classes beyond LDL play important roles in determining cardiovascular risk. For these reasons a number of new potential drugs are under development in this area. Aim of this review is to discuss the available and the future pharmacological strategies for the management of dyslipidemia.
Evaluation of quality of life pre- and post-vestibular rehabilitation in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo associated with Meniere's disease
Authors: Socher Jan Alessandro , Azzi Viviane Jacintha Bolfe , Socher Dayra Dill
Published: October 2012

Introduction: Vertigo is a symptom that impacts the patients' quality of life and may force them to cease performing activities of daily living. Here, we discuss benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Meniere's disease (MD), which show exacerbated symptoms when they appear in association. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is an effective treatment in reducing vertigo, especially in conjunction with other therapies.

Aim: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with BPPV and MD before and after VR.

Method: We conducted a descriptive observational qualitative and quantitative case study with 12 patients aged 35 to 86 years. All patients diagnosed with BPPV and MD received treatment in the ENT clinic. The Brazilian DHI questionnaire, which assesses the quality of life with a focus on physical, emotional, and functional aspects, was used for data collection, and was completed by patients before the first session and after the fifth session of VR. Data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, followed by Wilcoxon, Friedman, and Spearman correlation tests (p < 0.05).

Results: There were significant improvements in scores for all aspects, with median changes ranging from 12 to 0 in the physical, 6 to 1 in the emotional, and 11 to 1 in the functional aspect. There were no correlations between the scores and sample characteristics.

Conclusion: VR was an effective method for the treatment of patients with BPPV and MD; it improves quality of life and shows the maximal influence on physical aspect scores, regardless of age or gender.
Profile of cochlear implant users of the city of Manaus
Authors: Moreira Sandra Costa , Pedrett Mariana dos Santos
Published: October 2012

Introduction: The cochlear implant is a device that is intended to substitute for the function of cochlear hair cells, electrically stimulate auditory nerve fibers, and contribute to the perception of speech sounds. However, the surgical procedure alone is not enough for the user to achieve favorable results in habilitation/rehabilitation.

Objective: To characterize the patients from Manaus who have received cochlear implants based on the criteria for surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 15 cases and recorded etiological aspects of deafness, age, gender, duration of implant use, use of hearing aids, and participation in individual therapy. Data were recorded in a protocol designed specifically for this purpose. All patients were natives of Manaus.

Results: The leading etiological aspect was ototoxicity associated with prematurity in newborns undergoing treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit. The age at surgery is carefully observed in the evaluation of implant centers, as well as if the candidate is pre-or post-lingual. In this study, 73% of patients were pre-lingual and did not benefit from hearing aids. As to the degree and type of hearing loss, 93% had audiological reports indicating profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and 7% had severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This latter finding confirmed one of the basic principles of implant placement.

Conclusion: This study allowed us to verify that there are reduced number of cochlear implant recipients in Manaus, but they have met the criteria required by implant centers located in other states of Brazil.
Predicting the short‐term risk of diabetes in HIV‐positive patients: the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti‐HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study
Authors: Petoumenos Kathy , Worm Signe W , Fontas Eric , Weber Rainer , De Wit Stephane , Bruyand Mathias , Reiss Peter , El‐Sadr Wafaa , Monforte Antonella D'Arminio , Friis‐Møller Nina , Lundgren Jens D , Law Matthew G ,   D:A:D Study Group
Published: October 2012

Introduction

HIV‐positive patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) frequently experience metabolic complications such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, as well as lipodystrophy, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Rates of DM and other glucose‐associated disorders among HIV‐positive patients have been reported to range between 2 and 14%, and in an ageing HIV‐positive population, the prevalence of DM is expected to continue to increase. This study aims to develop a model to predict the short‐term (six‐month) risk of DM in HIV‐positive populations and to compare the existing models developed in the general population.

Methods

All patients recruited to the Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti‐HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study with follow‐up data, without prior DM, myocardial infarction or other CVD events and with a complete DM risk factor profile were included. Conventional risk factors identified in the general population as well as key HIV‐related factors were assessed using Poisson‐regression methods. Expected probabilities of DM events were also determined based on the Framingham Offspring Study DM equation. The D:A:D and Framingham equations were then assessed using an internal‐external validation process; area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve and predicted DM events were determined.

Results

Of 33,308 patients, 16,632 (50%) patients were included, with 376 cases of new onset DM during 89,469 person‐years (PY). Factors predictive of DM included higher glucose, body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride levels, and older age. Among HIV‐related factors, recent CD4 counts of<200 cells/µL and lipodystrophy were predictive of new onset DM. The mean performance of the D:A:D and Framingham equations yielded AUROC of 0.894 (95% CI: 0.849, 0.940) and 0.877 (95% CI: 0.823, 0.932), respectively. The Framingham equation over‐predicted DM events compared to D:A:D for lower glucose and lower triglycerides, and for BMI levels below 25 kg/m2.

Conclusions

The D:A:D equation performed well in predicting the short‐term onset of DM in the validation dataset and for specific subgroups provided better estimates of DM risk than the Framingham.
Dinâmica populacional de pragas em tomateiro industrial no norte de Minas Gerais. DOI: 10.7902/ecb.v2i1.25
Authors: De Aquino Rosiane Filomena Batista Almeida , Da Costa Renildo Ismael Félix , Aquino Leonardo Angelo de , Sá Laís Pacheco
Published: October 2012

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, amostrar e reconhecer a dinâmica populacional de insetos-praga presentes em tomate industrial na região Norte Mineira, no município de Itacarambi. Amostraram-se semanalmente dez pontos aleatórios e, em cada ponto quatro plantas, semanalmente; com base no procedimento padrão sugerido para o MIP tomateiro. Foram avaliados: transmissores de viroses: pulgões, mosca branca e tripes; minadores de folha: traça-do-tomateiro e mosca minadora. Observou-se a ocorrência de mosca branca durante todo o período de coleta. Na primeira quinzena do ciclo da cultura houve maior população de tripes. Observou-se a presença populacional de Cigarrinha (Empoasca sp) no início do ciclo da cultura; e  aumento populacional de Tripes na segunda quinzena da cultura. Outras pragas-chave para a cultura do tomateiro como pulgões e traças não foram observados nas coletas. As informações deste trabalho permitem direcionar as táticas de controle para os períodos em que as populações dos insetos-praga são mais elevadas.

Palavras-chave: Solanum lycopersicum, manejo integrado de pragas, mosca branca.
Caracterização de um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecidual em transição com o cerrado, no município de Bebedouro, SP. DOI: 10.7902/ecb.v2i1.26
Authors: Escher Edmilson , Ferraudo Antonio Sergio , Souza Josué Marcondes de , Viana Fábio Luiz , Colli Áurea Maria Therezinha
Published: October 2012

Este estudo teve como objetivo a caracterização de um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecidual em transição com o cerrado, localizado na área de assentamento do município de Bebedouro, SP, para fins conservacionistas. Utilizou-se o método das parcelas, demarcando-se uma área amostral de 2800 metros, subdividida em sete parcelas de 20 m por 20 m. Foram medidos, marcados com plaquetas de PVC numeradas e identificados todos os indivíduos arbóreos com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) superior a quinze centímetros. Foram calculados descritores fitossociológicos de densidade, frequência, área basal, dominância, índice de valor de importância e cobertura, índice de equabilidade de Pielou e índice de Shannon. Espécies como sucupira (Pterodon emarginatus), pimenta-de-macaco (Xilopia aromatica) e verga-d'anta (Didymopanax macrocarpum), encontradas em todas as parcelas, caracterizaram-se como dominantes e o índice de diversidade (Shannon) resultou em 1,048. O solo apresentou pH médio de 4,0 (quantidade de íons H⁺¹) com pequena concentração dos elementos, fósforo, potássio e cálcio. A região está sofrendo pressão antrópica e necessita de intervenção, principalmente no controle de cipós e na confecção de bordadura com espécies pioneiras nativas do local, objetivando-se diminuir o efeito de borda.
Avaliação da transferibilidade de lócus de microssatélites em oito espécies de “Astyanax”. DOI: 10.7902/ecb.v2i1.33
Authors: Silva Sabrina Alves da , Penteado Pierre Rafael , Pazza Rubens , Kavalco Karine Frehner
Published: October 2012

Os peixes do gênero Astyanax são popularmente conhecidos como lambaris ou piabas e são uns dos mais especiosos da região neotropical. Os microssatélites são um tipo de marcador molecular formado por arranjos de repetições em tandem de dois a seis nucleotídeos. São extremamente utilizados para identificação de indivíduos e no rastreamento da história biológica de populações, uma vez que normalmente geram padrões espécie-específicos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a amplificação cruzada utilizando seis pares de primers para lócus de microssatélites desenvolvidos a partir da espécie Astyanax mexicanus em outras espécies de Astyanax. Foram testadas quanto a transferibilidade de lócus oito espécies do gênero Astyanax. Para definir a melhor temperatura de anelamento de cada primer testes de amplificação foram realizados utilizando termociclador com gradiente de temperatura. Quatro primers amplificaram em pelo menos algumas espécies. Quatro espécies mostram padrão de amplificação positivo para um dos primers, apresentando um padrão bastante polimórfico.
Epidemiologic aspects of traumatic brain injury in acute combat casualties at a major military medical center: A cohort study
Authors: Xydakis Michael S. , Ling Geoffrey S. F. , Mulligan Lisa P. , Olsen Cara H. , Dorlac Warren C.
Published: October 2012

Objective:

From the ongoing military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, an understanding of the neuroepidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as requisite for further advancements in neurocombat casualty care. This study reports population‐specific incidence data and investigates TBI identification and grading criteria with emphasis on the role of loss of consciousness (LOC) in the diagnostic rubric.

Methods:

This is a cohort study of all consecutive troops acutely injured during combat operations—sustaining body‐wide injuries sufficient to require immediate stateside evacuation—and admitted sequentially to our medical center during a 2‐year period. A prospective exploration of the TBI identification and grading system was performed in a homogeneous population of blast‐injured polytrauma inpatients.

Results:

TBI incidence was 54.3%. Structural neuroimaging abnormalities were identified in 14.0%. Higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) was associated with abnormal neuroimaging, longer length of stay (LOS), and elevated TBI status—primarily based on autobiographical LOC. Mild TBI patients had normal neuroimaging, higher ISS, and comparable LOS to TBI‐negative patients. Patients who reported LOC had a lower incidence of abnormal neuroimaging.

Interpretation:

This study demonstrates that the methodology used to assign the diagnosis of a mild TBI in troops with complex combat‐related injuries is crucial to an accurate accounting. The detection of incipient mild TBI, based on an identification system that utilizes LOC as the principal diagnostic criterion to discern among patients with outcomes of interest, misclassifies patients whose LOC may not reflect actual brain injury. Attempts to identify high‐risk battlefield casualties within the current point‐of‐injury mild TBI case definition, which favors high sensitivity, will be at the expense of specificity. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:673–681
Diminished Th17 (not Th1) responses underlie multiple sclerosis disease abrogation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Darlington Peter J. , Touil Tarik , Doucet Jean‐Sebastien , Gaucher Denis , Zeidan Joumana , Gauchat Dominique , Corsini Rachel , Kim Ho Jin , Duddy Martin , Jalili Farzaneh , Arbour Nathalie , Kebir Hania , Chen Jacqueline , Arnold Douglas L. , Bowman Marjorie , Antel Jack , Prat Alexandre , Freedman Mark S. , Atkins Harold , Sekaly Rafick , Cheynier Remi , Bar‐Or Amit ,   for the Canadian MS/BMT Study Group
Published: October 2012

Objective

To define changes in phenotype and functional responses of reconstituting T cells in patients with aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with ablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods

Clinical and brain magnetic resonance imaging measures of disease activity were monitored serially in patients participating in the Canadian MS HSCT Study. Reconstitution kinetics of immune‐cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry, whereas thymic function was assessed using T‐cell receptor excision circle analyses as well as flow cytometry measurements of CD31+ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs). Functional assays were performed to track central nervous system–autoreactive antigen‐specific T‐cell responses, and the relative capacity to generate Th1, Th17, or Th1/17 T‐cell responses.

Results

Complete abrogation of new clinical relapses and new focal inflammatory brain lesions throughout the 2 years of immune monitoring following treatment was associated with sustained decrease in naive T cells, in spite of restoration of both thymic function and release of RTEs during reconstitution. Re‐emergence as well as in vivo expansion of autoreactive T cells to multiple myelin targets was evident in all patients studied. The reconstituted myelin‐specific T cells exhibited the same Th1 and Th2 responses as preablation myelin‐reactive T cells. In contrast, the post‐therapy T‐cell repertoire exhibited a significantly diminished capacity for Th17 responses.

Interpretation

Our results indicate that diminished Th17 and Th1/17 responses, rather than Th1 responses, are particularly relevant to the abrogation of new relapsing disease activity observed in this cohort of patients with aggressive MS following chemoablation and HSCT. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:341–354
Adsorption behavior and mechanism of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene by functionalized polystyrene nanospheres
Authors: Zhang Yihe , Wang Xinyan , Lv Fengzhu , Chu Paul K. , Ye Zhengfang , Zhou Fengshan , Zhang Rui , Wei Fangfang
Published: October 2012

3‐Methactyloxylpropyltrimethoxyl silane (KH‐570)‐modified polystyrene (PS) nanospheres and PS nanospheres were prepared and used to absorb 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene. The absorbed amount reached 2.81 mg/g for KH‐570‐modified PS nanospheres at 298 K and pH 6 when the initial 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluen concentration was 50 mg/L. The kinetic results showed that the pseudo‐second‐order model fit the two kinds of absorbents. The adsorption mechanism study revealed that the driving forces of adsorption were combined actions of Π–Π stacking interaction, hydrogen interaction, and hydrophobic interaction. The prepared nanospheres were reusable. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Thermo‐reversible healing in a crosslinked polymer network containing covalent and thermo‐reversible bonds
Authors: Khor Sarah P. , Varley Russell J. , Shen Shirley Z. , Yuan Qiang
Published: October 2012

The self‐healing behavior of a modified ureido‐amide based thermoplastic hybrid elastomer was investigated by increasing the concentration of non‐reversible (covalent) bonds compared to reversible (hydrogen) bonds. A crosslinked polymer network was synthesized using varying amounts of diglycidylether of bisphenol A and reacting with the ureido‐amide thermoplastic. Increasing epoxy content produced a more rigid and thermally stable hybrid network, which in turn decreased overall thermo‐reversible or healing behavior. Fracture toughness recoveries varied from 25% for the system containing the greatest number of covalent bonds to well over 200% for systems containing higher thermoplastic content. Substantial levels of healing, about 62% recovery, were still achieved despite the crosslinked network having a Tg above room temperature, 31°C as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was used to monitor thermo‐reversible behavior of the elastic moduli and thus probe molecular mobility within the glassy state. The extent and rate of recovery of the elastic modulus was dominated by the extent of thermal activation above the glass transition temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic and DSC studies confirmed that reacting the thermoplastic with an epoxy resin produced a covalently bonded crosslinked network and the epoxide groups were completely consumed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Improvement of electrical conductivity with phase‐separation in polyolefin/multiwall carbon nanotube/polyethylene oxide composites
Authors: Miyazaki Kensuke , Okazaki Noriyasu , Nakatani Hisayuki
Published: October 2012

Electrical conductivity developments of polypropylene (PP)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) and polybutene (PB)/MWNT composites were carried out with polyethylene oxide (PEO) phase‐separation behavior for the polymeric materials. The low conductivity (8.47 × 10−8 S cm−1) of PP(98%)/MWNT (2%) was drastically increased up to 1.56 × 10−3 S cm−1 by only 2% PEO(96%)/MWNT(4%) loading. The drastic improvement originated from the formation of an electrical connector structure with the PEO/MWNT domain. The PB(93%)/MWNT(7%) conductivity was also improved by the PEO(92%)/MWNT(8%) loading although the conductivity improvement effect was lower than that of the PP/MWNT. The Raman spectra showed that the MWNT dispersity in the PB was poorer than that in the PP, resulting in the formation of a PEO/MWNT connector structure only at higher loading. In addition, a PEO/carbon black composite was able to produce the connector structure for the PP/MWNT as well as the PEO/MWNT. These results indicated that the highly conductive composites could be produced with smaller MWNT amounts. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Numerical approximations of fractional derivatives with applications
Authors: Pooseh Shakoor , Almeida Ricardo , Torres Delfim F. M.
Published: October 2012

Two approximations, derived from continuous expansions of Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives into series involving integer order derivatives, are studied. Using those series, one can formally transform any problem that contains fractional derivatives into a classical problem in which only derivatives of integer order are present. Corresponding approximations provide useful numerical tools to compute fractional derivatives of functions. Application of such approximations to fractional differential equations and fractional problems of the calculus of variations are discussed. Illustrative examples show the advantages and disadvantages of each approximation.
The Expanding Role of MBD Genes in Autism: Identification of a MECP2 Duplication and Novel Alterations in MBD5, MBD6, and SETDB1
Authors: Cukier Holly N. , Lee Joycelyn M. , Ma Deqiong , Young Juan I. , Mayo Vera , Butler Brittany L. , Ramsook Sandhya S. , Rantus Joseph A. , Abrams Alexander J. , Whitehead Patrice L. , Wright Harry H. , Abramson Ruth K. , Haines Jonathan L. , Cuccaro Michael L. , Pericak‐Vance Margaret A. , Gilbert John R.
Published: October 2012

The methyl‐CpG‐binding domain (MBD) gene family was first linked to autism over a decade ago when Rett syndrome, which falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), was revealed to be predominantly caused by MECP2 mutations. Since that time, MECP2 alterations have been recognized in idiopathic ASD patients by us and others. Individuals with deletions across the MBD5 gene also present with ASDs, impaired speech, intellectual difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and epilepsy. These findings suggest that further investigations of the MBD gene family may reveal additional associations related to autism. We now describe the first study evaluating individuals with ASD for rare variants in four autosomal MBD family members, MBD5, MBD6, SETDB1, and SETDB2, and expand our initial screening in the MECP2 gene. Each gene was sequenced over all coding exons and evaluated for copy number variations in 287 patients with ASD and an equal number of ethnically matched control individuals. We identified 186 alterations through sequencing, approximately half of which were novel (96 variants, 51.6%). We identified 17 ASD specific, nonsynonymous variants, four of which were concordant in multiplex families: MBD5 Tyr1269Cys, MBD6 Arg883Trp, MECP2 Thr240Ser, and SETDB1 Pro1067del. Furthermore, a complex duplication spanning of the MECP2 gene was identified in two brothers who presented with developmental delay and intellectual disability. From our studies, we provide the first examples of autistic patients carrying potentially detrimental alterations in MBD6 and SETDB1, thereby demonstrating that the MBD gene family potentially plays a significant role in rare and private genetic causes of autism. Autism Res 2012, 5: 385–397. © 2012 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fractal analysis of extra‐embryonic vascularization in Japanese quail embryos exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields
Authors: Costa Edbhergue V.L. , Jimenez George C. , Barbosa Catão T.F. , Nogueira Romildo A.
Published: October 2012

Magnetic fields (MF) can alter the dynamic behavior of vascular tissue and may have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on blood vessel growth. Fractal geometry has been used in several studies as a tool to describe the development of blood vascular networks. Due to its self‐similarity, irregularity, fractional dimension, and dependence on the scale of vessel dimensions, vascular networks can be taken as fractal objects. In this work, we calculated the fractal dimension by the methods of box counting (Dbc) and information dimension (Dinf) to evaluate the development of blood vessels of the yolk sac membrane (YSM) from quail embryos exposed to MF with a magnetic flux density of 1 mT and a frequency of 60 Hz. The obtained results showed that when the MF was applied to embryos aged between 48 and 72 h, in sessions of 2 h (6 h/day) and 3 h (9 h/day) with exposure intervals between 6 and 5 h, respectively, blood vascular formation was inhibited. Exposure sessions shorter than 2 h or longer than 3 h had no observable change on the vascular process. In contrast, the magnetic field had no observable change on the YSM vascular network for embryos aged between 72 and 96 h, irrespective of the exposure time. In conclusion, these results show a “window effect” regarding exposure time. Bioelectromagnetics 34:114–121, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.