bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Reconstruction of Reverse Hill-Sachs Lesions Using the Underpinning Technique
Authors: Banerjee Samik , Singh Vinay Kumar , Das Abhishek Kumar , Patel Vipul R.
Published: May 2012

Posterior glenohumeral joint dislocation is an uncommon injury and is associated with bony and ligamentous disruption. It requires prompt diagnosis and early treatment to prevent acute or recurrent instability and subsequent dysfunction. Reverse Hill-Sachs lesions associated with this injury are challenging to treat, and optimal treatment is controversial. Treatment methods can be divided into those that achieve stability through muscle transfers, osteotomies, or posterior bone-block procedures (glenoid augmentation) and those that restore the sphericity of the humeral head. Joint replacement is often suggested for large head lesions (>50%) considered beyond reconstruction. Restoration of stability, preservation of the proximal humeral anatomy, and salvage of the humeral head sphericity should be the treatment goals in the younger population.

This article describes the surgical technique of elevation of the impressed osteochondral fragment followed by filling the lesion with Allomatrix bone graft putty (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, Tennessee) in 2 patients. The size of the head lesion was ⩽35%. Underpinning raft screws were used to provide subchondral support and prevent the collapse of the elevated fragment. Postoperatively, the sphericity of the humeral head and glenohumeral stability were restored. No evidence of collapse, osteonecrosis, or osteoarthritis progression was seen at latest follow-up. Functional results were excellent, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

This technique is an alternative method of restoring humeral head sphericity in patients with acute posterior glenohumeral joint dislocations with medium (20%–40%) reverse Hill-Sachs lesions.
Zone 2 Flexor Digitorum Profundus and Superficialis Rupture Treated With Single-stage Tendon Reconstruction Using an Active Hunter Rod Implant
Authors: Macknin Jonathan B. , Malone Kevin J.
Published: May 2012

To our knowledge, no report has been published of a flexor tendon rupture as a result of a closed phalangeal fracture.

A 58-year-old woman with multiple medical comorbidities presented with a closed, apex volar fracture of her long finger proximal phalynx with clinically intact flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis tendons in zone 2 of the flexor tendon sheath. After 5 weeks of nonoperative treatment, the patient reported hearing a pop in her finger, and clinical findings suggested rupture of the flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis tendons. Intraoperatively, the nonreparable attritional rupture was underneath the A2 pulley. A bony prominence in the tendon sheath floor from the healed phalynx fracture made rerupture a concern with a tendon graft. A Hunter Active Tendon Implant (Wright Medical Technology, Inc, Arlington, Tennessee) was used to reconstruct the flexor digitorum profundus tendon to avoid a second procedure. The patient progressed well and had regained a functional arc of active finger range of motion by 2 months postoperatively.

The Hunter Active Tendon Implant provided a suitable alternative to a 2-staged procedure, with the added benefit that a good tendon bed was developed in the event that a second procedure was needed.
Stingray Injury to the Webspace of the Foot
Authors: Jarvis Hannah C. , Matheny Lauren M. , Clanton Thomas O.
Published: May 2012

Stingrays are cartilaginous fish that are related to sharks. They are one of the largest groups of venomous marine animals. Stingrays account for 750 to 2000 injuries annually. They are generally passive, reclusive creatures that only sting in self-defense. Most injuries caused by these animals are nonfatal. A stingray possesses between 1 and 4 venomous stings, which are located along the caudal spine. If a stingray injury is sustained, parts of the spine may be left in the lacerations, which prolongs exposure to venom and increases the risk of subsequent wound infection. Stingray venom is unique in its enzymatic composition and results in distinct soft tissue injury patterns. Typically, a pattern of acute inflammation occurs, with a predominantly lymphoid cellular infiltrate followed by necrosis. The environment in which stingray injuries occur presents unique bacterial flora, and subsequent wound infections require careful antibiotic selection.

This article describes a case of a healthy 31-year-old woman who sustained a stingray injury to the webspace of the foot while in Costa Rica. Initial basic first aid measures were applied. However, the wound subsequently became infected, and formal irrigation and debridement were performed. The initial wound cultures grew
Staphylococcus viridans
. Two months postoperatively, the incision was well healed, and the patient was pain free and returned to work.
Intraspinal Penetrating Stab Injury to the Middle Thoracic Spinal Cord With No Neurologic Deficit
Authors: Li Xinning , Curry Emily J. , Blais Micah , Ma Richard , Sungarian Arno S.
Published: May 2012

The annual incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury worldwide is estimated to be 35 patients per million. Nonmissile penetrating spinal injuries most commonly occur in the thoracic region, and the majority has neurologic deficits on admission. The management of patients who lack neurologic deficits is controversial due to the risk of neurologic status alteration intraoperatively. However, failure to intervene increases the risk of infection, delayed onset of neurologic deficits, and worsening functional outcome.

A 17-year-old boy presented with an intradural T7-T8 knife penetration injury to the spinal cord with no neurologic deficit. Rapid surgical intervention was critical because the knife was lodged between the 2 hemispheres of the spinal cord. The patient was intubated in the lateral position, transferred to the prone position on a Jackson table, and underwent surgical decompression with laminectomy 1 level above and below the injury site, removal of the knife blade in the original path of trajectory, and repair of the dural tear with a collagen matrix. The patient sustained no neurologic sequelae from the penetrating knife injury. He was able to ambulate at discharge and had no complications. To our knowledge, this is the only report of a patient with intradural spinal cord penetration by a foreign object (knife blade) presenting with a normal neurologic preoperative examination that persisted throughout the course of postoperative care.
Job Stress, Mentoring, Psychological Empowerment, and Job Satisfaction Among Nursing Faculty
Authors: Chung Catherine E. , Kowalski Susan
Published: May 2012

The National League for Nursing endorses mentoring throughout nursing faculty’s careers as the method to recruit nurses into academia and improve retention of nursing faculty within the academy. A nationwide sample of 959 full-time nursing faculty completed a descriptive survey comprising a researcher-created demographic questionnaire plus Dreher’s mentoring scale, Gmelch’s faculty stress index, Spreitzer’s psychological empowerment scale, and the National Survey for Postsecondary Faculty’s job satisfaction scale. Results showed that 40% of the sample had a current work mentor. Variables showed significant relationships to job satisfaction (
p
< 0.01): mentoring quality (0.229), job stress (–0.568), and psychological empowerment (0.482). Multiple regression results indicated job satisfaction was significantly influenced (
p
< 0.01) by the presence of a mentoring relationship, salary, tenure status, psychological empowerment, and job stress. The regression model explained 47% of the variance in job satisfaction for the sample.
Dramatic Regression of Amelanotic Choroidal Melanoma With PDT Following Poor Response to Brachytherapy
Authors: Tuncer Samuray , Kir Nur , Shields Carol L.
Published: May 2012

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used for treatment of choroidal neovascular membrane from exudative macular degeneration. Other applications include treatment of some intraocular tumors, such as choroidal hemangioma, vasoproliferative tumor, and choroidal osteoma. The authors report the effect of PDT for amelanotic choroidal melanoma. A 40-year-old woman with an amelanotic choroidal melanoma of 6.5 mm thickness showed poor response to iodine brachytherapy (80 Gy apical dose) with no reduction in thickness at 16 months of follow-up. There was prominent residual tumor. The amelanotic tumor was treated with verteporfin PDT using three overlapping spots (8,600 microns), with avoidance of the optic disc using standard treatment parameters. Dramatic tumor regression over 2 months to a completely flat scar (1.3 mm thickness) was documented and remained stable at 50 months of follow-up. Amelanotic choroidal melanoma with incomplete response following conventional plaque radiotherapy can be treated with verteporfin PDT for consolidation.
Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography: Choroidal Thickness and Correlations With Age, Refractive Error, and Axial Length
Authors: Goldenberg Dafna , Moisseiev Elad , Goldstein Michaela , Loewenstein Anat , Barak Adiel
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate choroidal thickness at five macular locations and assess the correlations between choroidal thickness at these locations with age, refractive error, and axial length.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Eighty-four eyes from 42 healthy adult volunteers were included. Enhanced depth imaging by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was performed, and choroidal thickness was measured at five macular locations: subfoveal and 3 mm nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior. Correlations of choroidal thickness at each location with age, refractive error, and axial length were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Mean choroidal thicknesses at the subfoveal, superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal locations were 293, 308, 264, 263, and 174 μm, respectively. A correlation was found between choroidal thickness, age, refractive error, and axial length at all locations.

CONCLUSION:

Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness in healthy adults is approximately 300 μm. A correlation was found between choroidal thickness and all parameters studied.
Revisiting Autologous Platelets as an Adjuvant in Macular Hole Repair: Chronic Macular Holes Without Prone Positioning
Authors: Kapoor Kapil G. , Khan Adeel N. , Tieu Brian C. , Khurshid Gibran S.
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Chronic macular hole and inability to maintain prone positioning remain poor prognostic markers for successful macular hole closure. The authors revisited the role of autologous platelets as an adjunct to internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling of chronic macular holes in patients unable to maintain prone positioning.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A retrospective case study was conducted on 13 eyes of 13 patients with full-thickness chronic macular hole (> 24 months). Each patient was unable to maintain prone positioning due to medical and physical comorbidities. Each eye was treated with pars plana vitrectomy, ILM peeling, autologous platelets, and C
3
F
8
gas tamponade. No positioning was advised postoperatively. All patients had complete ophthalmic examinations preoperatively and 1 day and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively with optical coherence tomography. Outcome measures were anatomic closure based on Tornambe classification, final best-corrected visual acuity, and improvement of quality of vision.

RESULTS:

All 13 patients completed 6 months’ follow-up. Macular hole duration ranged from 2 to 5 years. There was a 100% macular hole closure rate at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. All patients reported subjective improvement in visual acuity as an improvement of an absolute central scotoma. At 6 months postoperatively, 38% of patients reported improved best-corrected visual acuity. There were no recurrences.

CONCLUSION:

Autologous platelets and ILM peeling may function synergistically to enhance chronic macular hole closure in patients unable to maintain prone positioning.
Memory and Oblivion. Testimonies and Depictions
Authors: Meyer Eugenia
Published: May 2012

If everything is history, then, in his work, the historian acknowledges both memory and oblivion when creating those depictions that constitute his never-ending commitment, and hence assumes the responsibility of creating and preserving new sources for a new history. Recovering memory and combating oblivion signify a challenge to ceaselessly denounce injustices.

One endeavors to write a history that recovers and preserves different versions of the facts, seen from the most diverse viewpoints and in the light of all manner of interests, and this implies carrying out a task that precedes that of deconstruction, so as to subsequently embark on the heroic feat of splitting hairs, while taking into account different opinions and viewpoints that express the events themselves in many ways. In short, the historian is both a witness of -and a protagonist in- his times.
A Switch in Pathogenic Mechanism in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in IFN-γ–Inducible Lysosomal Thiol Reductase-Free Mice
Authors: Bergman Cheryl M. , Marta Cecilia B. , Maric Maja , Pfeiffer Steven E. , Cresswell Peter , Ruddle Nancy H.
Published: May 2012

IFN-γ–inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) is an enzyme located in the Lamp-2–positive compartments of APC. GILT−/− mice are phenotypically normal, but their T cells exhibit reduced proliferation to several exogenously administered Ags that include cysteine residues and disulfide bonds. We undertook the present studies to determine if GILT−/− mice would process exogenously administered myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), which contains disulfide bonds, to generate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to the endogenous protein. One possibility was that MOG35–55 peptide would induce EAE, but that MOG protein would not. GILT−/− mice were relatively resistant to MOG35–55-induced EAE but slightly more susceptible to rat MOG protein-induced EAE than wild-type (WT) mice. Even though MOG35–55 was immunogenic in GILT−/− mice, GILT APCs could not generate MOG35–55 from MOG protein in vitro, suggesting that the endogenous MOG protein was not processed to the MOG35–55 peptide in vivo. Immunization of GILT−/− mice with rat MOG protein resulted in a switch in pathogenic mechanism from that seen in WT mice; the CNS infiltrate included large numbers of plasma cells; and GILT−/− T cells proliferated to peptides other than MOG35–55. In contrast to WT rat MOG-immunized mice, rat MOG-immunized GILT−/− mice generated Abs that transferred EAE to MOG35–55-primed GILT−/− mice, and these Abs bound to oligodendrocytes. These studies, demonstrating the key role of a processing enzyme in autoimmunity, indicate that subtle phenotypic changes have profound influences on pathogenic mechanisms and are directly applicable to the outbred human population.
Type I IFN Induced by Adenovirus Serotypes 28 and 35 Has Multiple Effects on T Cell Immunogenicity
Authors: Johnson Matthew J. , Petrovas Constantinos , Yamamoto Takuya , Lindsay Ross W. B. , Loré Karin , Gall Jason G. D. , Gostick Emma , Lefebvre François , Cameron Mark J. , Price David A. , Haddad Elias , Sekaly Rafick-Pierre , Seder Robert A. , Koup Richard A.
Published: May 2012

Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) vectors are being investigated as vaccine delivery vehicles in preclinical and clinical studies. rAds constructed from different serotypes differ in receptor usage, tropism, and ability to activate cells, aspects of which likely contribute to their different immunogenicity profiles. In this study, we compared the infectivity and cell stimulatory capacity of recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5), recombinant adenovirus serotype 28 (rAd28), and recombinant adenovirus serotype 35 (rAd35) in association with their respective immunogenicity profiles. We found that rAd28 and rAd35 infected and led to the in vitro maturation and activation of both human and mouse dendritic cells more efficiently compared with rAd5. In stark contrast to rAd5, rAd28 and rAd35 induced production of IFN-α and stimulated IFN-related intracellular pathways. However, the in vivo immunogenicity of rAd28 and rAd35 was significantly lower than that of rAd5. Deletion of IFN-α signaling during vaccination with rAd28 and rAd35 vectors increased the magnitude of the insert-specific T cell response to levels induced by vaccination with rAd5 vector. The negative impact of IFN-α signaling on the magnitude of the T cell response could be overcome by increasing the vaccine dose, which was also associated with greater polyfunctionality and a more favorable long-term memory phenotype of the CD8 T cell response in the presence of IFN-α signaling. Taken together, our results demonstrate that rAd-induced IFN-α production has multiple effects on T cell immunogenicity, the understanding of which should be considered in the design of rAd vaccine vectors.
Cutting Edge: Divergent Cell-Specific Functions of MyD88 for Inflammatory Responses and Organ Injury in Septic Peritonitis
Authors: Gais Petra , Reim Daniel , Jusek Gabriela , Rossmann-Bloeck Tanja , Weighardt Heike , Pfeffer Klaus , Altmayr Felicitas , Janssen Klaus-Peter , Holzmann Bernhard
Published: May 2012

Although global MyD88 deficiency attenuates lethal inflammation in sepsis, cell-specific functions of MyD88 remain largely unknown. Using mice with selective expression of MyD88 in myeloid cells (Myd88MYEL), we show that, during polymicrobial septic peritonitis, both myeloid and nonmyeloid cells contribute to systemic inflammation, whereas myeloid cell MyD88 was sufficient to fully establish the peritoneal cytokine response. Importantly, Myd88MYEL mice developed markedly aggravated liver injury that was linked to impaired upregulation of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 and an excessive production of TNF-α. Upregulation of inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), a known transcriptional repressor of the Tnfa gene, was impaired in Myd88MYEL mice. Moreover, Myd88MYEL mice showed enhanced transcription of the Tnfa gene and an excessive production of CCL3, which is also negatively regulated by ICER, but they had normal levels of CXCL1, which is expressed in an ICER-independent manner. Together, these findings suggest a novel protective role for nonmyeloid cell MyD88 in attenuating liver injury during septic peritonitis.
Differential Effects of Denileukin Diftitox IL-2 Immunotoxin on NK and Regulatory T Cells in Nonhuman Primates
Authors: Yamada Yohei , Aoyama Akihiro , Tocco Georges , Boskovic Svjetlan , Nadazdin Ognjenka , Alessandrini Alessandro , Madsen Joren C. , Cosimi A. Benedict , Benichou Gilles , Kawai Tatsuo
Published: May 2012

Denileukin diftitox (DD), a fusion protein comprising IL-2 and diphtheria toxin, was initially expected to enhance antitumor immunity by selectively eliminating regulatory T cells (Tregs) displaying the high-affinity IL-2R (α-β-γ trimers). Although DD was shown to deplete some Tregs in primates, its effects on NK cells (CD16+CD8+NKG2A+CD3−), which constitutively express the intermediate-affinity IL-2R (β-γ dimers) and play a critical role in antitumor immunity, are still unknown. To address this question, cynomolgus monkeys were injected i.v. with two doses of DD (8 or 18 μg/kg). This treatment resulted in a rapid, but short-term, reduction in detectable peripheral blood resting Tregs (CD4+CD45RA+Foxp3+) and a transient increase in the number of activated Tregs (CD4+CD45RA−Foxp3high), followed by their partial depletion (50–60%). In contrast, all NK cells were deleted immediately and durably after DD administration. This difference was not due to a higher binding or internalization of DD by NK cells compared with Tregs. Coadministration of DD with IL-15, which binds to IL-2Rβ-γ, abrogated DD-induced NK cell deletion in vitro and in vivo, whereas it did not affect Treg elimination. Taken together, these results show that DD exerts a potent cytotoxic effect on NK cells, a phenomenon that might impair its antitumoral properties. However, coadministration of IL-15 with DD could alleviate this problem by selectively protecting potentially oncolytic NK cells, while allowing the depletion of immunosuppressive Tregs in cancer patients.
New insights into nocturnal nucleation
Authors: Ortega I. K. , Suni T. , Boy M. , Grönholm T. , Manninen H. E. , Nieminen T. , Ehn M. , Junninen H. , Hakola H. , Hellén H. , Valmari T. , Arvela H. , Zegelin S. , Hughes D. , Kitchen M. , Cleugh H. , Worsnop D. R. , Kulmala M. , Kerminen V.-M.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Formation of new aerosol particles by nucleation and growth is a significant source of aerosols in the atmosphere. New particle formation events usually take place during daytime, but in some locations they have been observed also at night. In the present study we have combined chamber experiments, quantum chemical calculations and aerosol dynamics models to study nocturnal new particle formation. All our approaches demonstrate, in a consistent manner, that the oxidation products of monoterpenes play an important role in nocturnal nucleation events. By varying the conditions in our chamber experiments, we were able to reproduce the very different types of nocturnal events observed earlier in the atmosphere. The exact strength, duration and shape of the events appears to be sensitive to the type and concentration of reacting monoterpenes, as well as the extent to which the monoterpenes are exposed to ozone and potentially other atmospheric oxidants.
Relationships among Brewer-Dobson circulation, double tropopauses, ozone and stratospheric water vapour
Authors: Castanheira J. M. , Peevey T. R. , Marques C. A. F. , Olsen M. A.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. The statistical relationships among the variability of the area covered by double tropopause (DT) events, the strength of the tropical upwelling, the variabilities of total column ozone and of lower stratospheric water vapour are analyzed. The QBO and ENSO signals in the double tropopause and tropical upwelling as well as their influence on the statistical relationships are also presented. The analysis is based on both reanalysed data (ERA-Interim) and satellite data. Significant anticorrelations were found between the area covered by double tropopause events and the total column ozone in the midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. This relationship is confirmed by a large positive correlation between the areas covered by ozone laminae and double tropopause events as found in the HIRDLS satellite data. Significant anticorrelations were also found between the global area of double tropopause events and the near global (50° S–50° N) water vapour in the lower stratosphere. The correlations of DT variables with total column ozone and ozone laminae are both consistent with the poleward displacement of tropical air with lower ozone mixing ratio and with tropospheric intrusions of tropical tropospheric air into the lower extratropical stratosphere. Finally, a significant anticorrelation was found between the tropical upwelling and the near global lower stratospheric water vapour. The step like decrease in the lower stratospheric water vapour after 2001 is mirrored by a step like increase in the tropical upwelling.
Surface/bulk partitioning and acid/base speciation of aqueous decanoate: direct observations and atmospheric implications
Authors: Prisle N. L. , Ottosson N. , Öhrwall G. , Söderström J. , Dal Maso M. , Björneholm O.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Dilute aqueous solutions of the atmospheric organic surfactant sodium decanoate have been studied using surface sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with synchrotron radiation. We studied the decanoate/decanoic acid speciation and preferential adsorption at the vapor–liquid interface, and the responses to mixing in solution with some of the most common atmospheric inorganic ions, Na+, NH4+, Cl−, and O42−. We observe no influence of Na+, Cl−, or SO42− ions on neither the relative speciation nor the individual adsorption properties of decanoate and decanoic acid. In particular, the anticipated salting-out effect due to common Na+ cations of the organic and inorganic salts was not observed. On the other hand, mixing with NH4+ cations resulted in a pronounced surface enhancement of decanoic acid, which is attributed to surface specific acid–base chemistry. These changes in surface/bulk partitioning and speciation may significantly affect properties of aqueous droplets containing decanoate/decanoic acid, and potential implications for several processes critical to the climate effects of atmospheric aerosols are discussed.
A hypothesis linking sub-optimal seawater pCO2 conditions for cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbioses with the exceedence of the interglacial threshold (>260 ppmv)
Authors: Wooldridge S. A.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Most scleractinian corals and many other cnidarians host intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts ("zooxanthellae"). The zooxanthellae contribute to host metabolism and skeletogenesis to such an extent that this symbiosis is well recognised for its contribution in creating the coral reef ecosystem. The stable functioning of cnidarian symbioses is however dependent upon the host's ability to maintain demographic control of its algal partner. In this review, I explain how the modern envelope of seawater conditions found within many coral reef ecosystems (characterised by elevated temperatures, rising pCO2, and enriched nutrient levels) are antagonistic toward the dominant host processes that restrict excessive symbiont proliferation. Moreover, I outline a new hypothesis and initial evidence base, which support the suggestion that the additional "excess" zooxanthellae fraction permitted by seawater pCO2 levels beyond 260 ppmv significantly increases the propensity for symbiosis breakdown ("bleaching") in response to temperature and irradiance extremes. The relevance of this biological threshold is discussed in terms of historical reef extinction events, glacial-interglacial climate cycles and the modern decline of coral reef ecosystems.
Soil-water dynamics and unsaturated storage during snowmelt following wildfire
Authors: Ebel B. A. , Hinckley E. S. , Martin D. A.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Many forested watersheds with a substantial fraction of precipitation delivered as snow have the potential for landscape disturbance by wildfire. Little is known about the immediate effects of wildfire on snowmelt and near-surface hydrologic responses, including soil-water storage. Montane systems at the rain-snow transition have soil-water dynamics that are further complicated during the snowmelt period by strong aspect controls on snowmelt and soil thawing. Here we present data from field measurements of snow hydrology and subsurface hydrologic and temperature responses during the first winter and spring after the September 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire in Colorado, USA. Our observations of soil-water content and soil temperature show sharp contrasts in hydrologic and thermal conditions between north- and south-facing slopes. South-facing burned soils were ∼1–2 °C warmer on average than north-facing burned soils and ∼1.5 °C warmer than south-facing unburned soils, which affected soil thawing during the snowmelt period. Soil-water dynamics also differed by aspect: in response to soil thawing, soil-water content increased approximately one month earlier on south-facing burned slopes than on north-facing burned slopes. While aspect and wildfire affect soil-water dynamics during snowmelt, soil-water storage at the end of the snowmelt period reached the value at field capacity for each plot, suggesting that post-snowmelt unsaturated storage was not substantially influenced by aspect in wildfire-affected areas. Our data and analysis indicate that the amount of snowmelt-driven groundwater recharge may be larger in wildfire-impacted areas, especially on south-facing slopes, because of earlier soil thaw and longer durations of soil-water contents above field capacity in those areas.
Classification and flow prediction in a data-scarce watershed of the equatorial Nile region
Authors: Kileshye Onema J.-M. , Taigbenu A. E. , Ndiritu J.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. Continuous developments and investigations in flow predictions are of interest in watershed hydrology especially where watercourses are poorly gauged and data are scarce like in most parts of Africa. Thus, this paper reports on two approaches to generate local monthly runoff of the data-scarce Semliki watershed. The Semliki River is part of the upper drainage of the Albert Nile. With an average annual local runoff of 4.622 km3/annum, the Semliki watershed contributes up to 20% of the flows of the White Nile. The watershed was sub-divided in 21 sub-catchments (S3 to S23). Using eight physiographic and meteorological variables, generated from remotely sensed acquired datasets and limited catchment data, monthly runoffs were estimated. One ordination technique, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the tree cluster analysis of the landform attributes were performed to study the data structure and spot physiographic similarities between sub-catchments. The PCA revealed the existence of two major groups of sub-catchments – flat (Group I) and hilly (Group II). Linear and nonlinear regression models were used to predict the long-term monthly mean discharges for the two groups of sub-catchments, and their performance evaluated by the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Percent bias (PBIAS) and root mean square error to the standard deviation ratio (RSR). The dimensionless indices used for model evaluation indicate that the non-linear model provides better prediction of the flows than the linear one.
A framework for upscaling short-term process-level understanding to longer time scales
Authors: Lim W. H. , Roderick M. L.
Published: May 2012

Abstract. General experience in hydrologic modelling suggests that the parameterisation of a model could change over different time scales. As a result, hydrologists often re-parameterise their models whenever different temporal resolutions are required. Here, we investigate theoretical aspects of this issue in a search for the cause(s) of the need for re-parameterisations. Based on Taylor series expansion, we present a mathematical framework for temporal upscaling and evaluate it using a simple experimental system. For that, we use a unique database of half-hourly pan evaporation measurements (comprising 237 days) and examine how the model parameters change for daily and monthly integration periods. We show that the model parameters change over different integration periods with changes in the covariance between the model variables. The theory presented here is general and can be used as a basis for temporal upscaling.
“I Wish I Had AIDS”: A qualitative study on access to health care services for HIV/AIDS and diabetic patients in Cambodia
Authors: Men C , Meessen B , Pelt M Van , Damme W Van , Lucas H
Published: May 2012

Financially stricken Cambodian patients with diabetes and HIV/AIDS typically encounter multiple, serious barriers to effective care. This process may extend over many years and involve numerous rounds of diagnosis and treatment as the disease progresses from initial symptoms to longer term complications. Living with both the impact of the disease and this ongoing struggle for care can severely disrupt the everyday life of both sufferers and their families. Our retrospective study adopted qualitative research methods to collect data from HIV/AIDS and diabetic patients enrolled and not enrolled in treatment programs at varying institutions in urban and rural settings. Using purposive sampling techniques, a total of 25 HIV/AIDS and 45 diabetic patients were recruited. Semi-structured and open-ended interviews were used to collect information on patient experiences of different phases in the on-going process of seeking care and treatment. The findings indicate that both HIV/AIDS and diabetic patients encounter multiple supply- and demand-side barriers to care at different stages of their illness. More strikingly, our research findings suggest that supply-side barriers, for example rationing systems or targeting strategies that limit access to free treatment or social assistance, are substantially higher for diabetic patients. This perceived inequity had a profound impact on diabetic patients to the extent that some “wished they had HIV/AIDS”. These findings suggest that there is an urgent need to widen the focus of health care to address the substantial and increasing burden of disease resulting from diabetes and other serious chronic disorders in Cambodia and many other low/middle income countries.
Storing Wind for a Rainy Day: What Kind of Electricity Does Denmark Export?
Authors: Green Richard , Vasilakos Nicholas
Published: May 2012

Physical laws mean that it is generally impossible to identify which power stations are exporting to another country, but economic logic offers strong clues. On windy days, Denmark tends to export electricity to its neighbours, and to import power on calm days. Storing electricity in this way thus allows the country to deal with the intermittency of wind generation. We show that this kind of behaviour is theoretically optimal when a region with wind and thermal generation can trade with one based on hydro power. However, annual trends in Denmark’s trade follow its output of thermal generation and are inversely related to Nordic production of hydro power and the amount of water available to Scandinavian generators, with no correlation with wind generation. We estimate the cost of volatility in Denmark’s wind output to equal between 4% and 8% of its market value.
Linear and Non-linear Causality between CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth
Authors: Barassi Marco R. , Spagnolo Nicola
Published: May 2012

In this paper we investigate the casual effects between per capita economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions. The focus on the causal analysis in both mean and variance differentiate this study from other contributions to the literature. The analysis is conducted for six countries. We find substantial evidence of feedback in the causality in mean and volatility spillovers between emissions and output growth in the six countries under examination
Degrees of Coordination in Market Coupling and Counter-Trading
Authors: Oggioni Giorgia , Smeers Yves
Published: May 2012

Cross-border trade remains a contentious issue in the restructuring of the European electricity market. This paper analyzes the cross-border trade problem through a set of models that represent different degrees of coordination both between the energy and the transmission markets and among national Transmission System Operators (TSOs). We first present a nodal price-like organization of the system, where Power Exchanges (PXs) and Transmission System Operators are integrated to operate the energy and transmission markets. This system is not implemented in Europe but its success elsewhere makes it the natural reference for the study. We then move to a more realistic representation of the European electricity market based on the so-called market coupling design where energy and transmission are operated separately by PXs and TSOs. We consider different degrees of coordination of the national TSOs’ activities to assess the range of inefficiencies that the lack of integration can lead to. The paper supposes price taking agents and hence leaves aside the incentive to game the system induced by zonal systems.
The effects of loperamide, or loperamide plus simethicone, on the distribution of gut water as assessed by MRI in a mannitol model of secretory diarrhoea
Authors: Placidi E. , Marciani L. , Hoad C. L. , Napolitano A. , Garsed K. C. , Pritchard S. E. , Cox E. F. , Costigan C. , Spiller R. C. , Gowland P. A.
Published: May 2012

Background

Loperamide (LOP) is an anti‐diarrhoeal agent which is thought to act largely by slowing transit with an uncertain effect on the fluid content of the small and large bowel in humans. Adding simethicone (SIM) to LOP improves its efficacy, but the mechanism of interaction is unclear. Novel MRI techniques to assess small bowel water content (SBWC) have shown that mannitol solutions markedly increase SBWC and can be used as a model of diarrhoea.

Aim

We aimed to use quantitative MRI techniques to compare the actions in the gut of LOP and LOP + SIM in a model of secretory diarrhoea using mannitol.

Methods

A total of 18 healthy volunteers ingested capsules containing placebo (PLA) or 12 mg LOP or 12 mg LOP + 125 mg SIM. After 100 min they were given a drink containing 5% mannitol in 350 mL of water. They underwent baseline fasting and postprandial serial MRI scans at 45 min intervals for 4.5 h after ingesting the drink. A range of MRI sequences was acquired to image the gut.

Results

LOP and LOP + SIM significantly accelerated gastric emptying (P < 0.03) and reduced SBWC during the late phase (135–270 min after mannitol ingestion), P < 0.009, while delaying arrival of fluid in the ascending colon (AC). The relaxation time T2 of the contents of the AC was reduced by both drugs (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

LOP and LOP + SIM accelerate gastric emptying, but reduce small bowel water content which may contribute to the delay in oral‐caecal transit and overall anti‐diarrhoeal effect.
Living with the H-Index? Metric Assemblages in the Contemporary Academy
Authors: Burrows Roger
Published: May 2012

This paper examines the relationship between metrics, markets and affect in the contemporary UK academy. It argues that the emergence of a particular structure of feeling amongst academics in the last few years has been closely associated with the growth and development of ‘quantified control’. It examines the functioning of a range of metrics: citations; workload models; transparent costing data; research assessments; teaching quality assessments; and commercial university league tables. It argues that these metrics, and others, although still embedded within an audit culture, increasingly function autonomously as a data assemblage able not just to mimic markets but, increasingly, to enact them. It concludes by posing some questions about the possible implications of this for the future of academic practice.
INFERRING THE REGULATORY INTERACTION MODELS OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS IN TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATORY NETWORKS
Authors: AWAD SHERINE , PANCHY NICHOLAS , NG SEE-KIONG , CHEN JIN
Published: May 2012

Living cells are realized by complex gene expression programs that are moderated by regulatory proteins called transcription factors (TFs). The TFs control the differential expression of target genes in the context of transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs), either individually or in groups. Deciphering the mechanisms of how the TFs control the differential expression of a target gene in a TRN is challenging, especially when multiple TFs collaboratively participate in the transcriptional regulation. To unravel the roles of the TFs in the regulatory networks, we model the underlying regulatory interactions in terms of the TF–target interactions' directions (activation or repression) and their corresponding logical roles (necessary and/or sufficient). We design a set of constraints that relate gene expression patterns to regulatory interaction models, and develop TRIM (Transcriptional Regulatory Interaction Model Inference), a new hidden Markov model, to infer the models of TF–target interactions in large-scale TRNs of complex organisms. Besides, by training TRIM with wild-type time-series gene expression data, the activation timepoints of each regulatory module can be obtained. To demonstrate the advantages of TRIM, we applied it on yeast TRN to infer the TF–target interaction models for individual TFs as well as pairs of TFs in collaborative regulatory modules. By comparing with TF knockout and other gene expression data, we were able to show that the performance of TRIM is clearly higher than DREM (the best existing algorithm). In addition, on an individual Arabidopsis binding network, we showed that the target genes' expression correlations can be significantly improved by incorporating the TF–target regulatory interaction models inferred by TRIM into the expression data analysis, which may introduce new knowledge in transcriptional dynamics and bioactivation.
Obesity and Trends in Life Expectancy
Authors: Walls Helen L. , Backholer Kathryn , Proietto Joseph , McNeil John J.
Published: May 2012

Background.Increasing levels of obesity over recent decades have been expected to lead to an epidemic of diabetes and a subsequent reduction in life expectancy, but instead all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality rates have decreased steadily in most developed countries and life expectancy has increased.Methods.This paper suggests several factors that may be masking the effects of obesity on life expectancy.Results.It is possible that health and life expectancy gains could be even greater if it was not for the increasing prevalence of extreme obesity. It is also possible that the principal impact of obesity is on disability-free life expectancy rather than on life expectancy itself.Conclusion.If the principal impact of obesity were through disability-free life expectancy rather than on life expectancy itself, this would have substantial implications for the health of individuals and the future burden on the health care system.
Interlayer Thickness Effects on Magnetic Properties of X/FePtAg (X = FePt/Fe and Fe/FePt) Trilayers
Authors: Tsai Jai-Lin , Huang Jian-Chiang , Tai Hsueh-Wei
Published: May 2012

A soft/hard FePt/Fe/FePtAg and Fe/FePt/FePtAg trilayers with perpendicular magnetization were prepared on a glass substrate. Inserting disordered FePt layer allowed modification of magnetic anisotropy of the Fe/FePtAg sharp interface to Fe/FePt/FePtAg stepwise interface. The out‐of‐plane coercivity field was modulated as a function of the FePt thickness because of the interface coupling attenuation between Fe and FePtAg. The coercivity was inversely proportional to the FePt thickness as evidenced by the pinning effect at the stepwise interface. Additionally, the out‐of‐plane magnetization was controlled by domain wall pinning effect. The in‐plane magnetization reversal processes occurred in two steps like in exchange spring systems and attributed to the domain wall nucleation and its propagation from Fe/FePt layer into FePtAg layer.
An Evolution Model of Trading Behavior Based on Peer Effect in Networks
Authors: Bian Yue-Tang , Xu Lu , Li Jin-Sheng , He Jian-Min , Zhuang Ya-Ming
Published: May 2012

This work concerns the modeling of evolvement of trading behavior in stock markets which can cause significant impact on the movements of prices and volatilities. Based on the assumption of the investors′ limited rationality, the evolution mechanism of trading behavior is modeled according to peer effect in network, that investors are prone to imitate their neighbors′ activity through comprehensive analysis on the neighboring preferred degree, self‐psychological preference, and the network topology of the relationship among them. We investigate by mean‐field analysis and extensive simulations the evolution of investors′ trading behavior in various typical networks under different characteristics of peer effect. Our results indicate that the evolution of investors′ behavior is affected by the network structure of stock market and the effect of neighboring preferred degree; the stability of equilibrium states of investors′ behavior dynamics is directly related with the concavity and convexity of the peer effect function; connectivity and heterogeneity of the network play an important role in the evolution of the investment behavior in stock market.
Dyslipidemia and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Bowman Gene L. , Kaye Jeffrey A. , Quinn Joseph F.
Published: May 2012

Background. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Modifiable factors associated with BBB function may have therapeutic implication. This study tested the hypothesis that dyslipidemia is associated with BBB impairment in mild-to-moderate AD.Methods. Thirty-six subjects with AD were followed for 1 year. Fasting CSF and plasma were collected with clinical assessments at baseline and 12 months. BBB impairment was defined as CSF albumin index ≥9. Independentt-tests and linear regression assessed the relationship between plasma lipoproteins and BBB integrity.Results. Dyslipidemia was prevalent in 47% of the population, and in 75% of those with BBB impairment. Subjects with BBB impairment had significantly higher mean plasma triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol (TG,P=0.007; HDL,P=0.043). Plasma triglycerides explained 22% of the variance in BBB integrity and remained significant after controlling for age, gender, ApoE-4 genotype, blood pressure, and statin use.Conclusion. Dyslipidemia is more prevalent in AD subjects with BBB impairment. Plasma triglyceride and HDL cholesterol may have a role in maintaining BBB integrity in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
The Role of Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1/FoxO-Mediated Transcription for the Pathogenesis of Obesity-Associated Dementia
Authors: Moll Lorna , Schubert Markus
Published: May 2012

Epidemiological studies suggest that being obese in midlife is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia in later life. Hyperinsulinemia is one of the most frequent endocrine features in overweight people which results in insulin desensitization. Thus, chronically high insulin levels have been identified as risk factor for dementia. Accordingly, chronically high insulin levels might be harmful for brain function. Furthermore, insulin and IGF-1-induced signaling is reduced in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Interestingly, studies in rodents suggest that reduced insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling decrease AD pathology, that is,β-amyloid toxicity. Data obtained inC. elegansindicate that the beneficial effect mediated via reduced IR/IGF-1R signaling might partially be induced via the forkhead-box O transcription factors (FoxO). In the mammalian brain, there are FoxO1, FoxO3a, and FoxO6 expressed. Surprisingly, high-fat diet specifically reduces the expression of FoxO3a and FoxO6 suggesting that IR/IGF-1 → FoxO-mediated transcription is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated cognitive impairment. Therefore, the function of FoxO1 and FoxO3a has been investigated in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease in detail. The current paper focuses on the role of IR/IGF-1 signaling and IR/IGF-1 → FoxO-mediated transcription for the pathogenesis of obesity-associated dementia.
Does Death of a Family Member Moderate the Relationship between Religious Attendance and Depressive Symptoms? The HUNT Study, Norway
Authors: Sørensen Torgeir , Danbolt Lars J. , Holmen Jostein , Koenig Harold G. , Lien Lars
Published: May 2012

Background. The death of a family member is a stressful life event and can result in an increased level of depressive symptoms. Previous American research has shown inverse relationships between religious involvement and depression. European investigations are few and findings inconsistent; different contexts may have an important influence on findings. We therefore investigated the relationship between attendance at church/prayer house and depressive symptoms, and whether this relationship was moderated by the death of a close family member, in Norway.Methods. A population-based sample from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, Norway (HUNT 3,N=37,981), was the population examined. Multiple regression and interaction tests were utilised.Results. Religious attendees had lower scores on depressive symptoms than non-attendees; death of a close family member moderated this relationship. The inverse relationships between attendance at church/prayer house and depressive symptoms were greater among those experiencing the death of an immediate family member in the last twelve months compared to those without such an experience, with men's decrease of depressive symptoms more pronounced than women's.Conclusion. In a population-based study in Norway, attendance at church/prayer house was associated with lower depressive symptoms, and the death of a close relative and gender moderated this relationship.