bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial patterns in the effects of fire on savanna vegetation three‐dimensional structure
Authors: Levick Shaun R. , Asner Gregory P. , Smit Izak P. J.
Published: December 2012

Spatial variability in the effects of fire on savanna vegetation structure is seldom considered in ecology, despite the inherent heterogeneity of savanna landscapes. Much has been learned about the effects of fire on vegetation structure from long‐term field experiments, but these are often of limited spatial extent and do not encompass different hillslope catena elements. We mapped vegetation three‐dimensional (3‐D) structure over 21 000 ha in nine savanna landscapes (six on granite, three on basalt), each with contrasting long‐term fire histories (higher and lower fire frequency), as defined from a combination of satellite imagery and 67 years of management records. Higher fire frequency areas contained less woody canopy cover than their lower fire frequency counterparts in all landscapes, and woody cover reduction increased linearly with increasing difference in fire frequency (r2 = 0.58, P = 0.004). Vegetation height displayed a more heterogeneous response to difference in fire frequency, with taller canopies present in the higher fire frequency areas of the wetter sites. Vegetation 3‐D structural differences between areas of higher and lower fire frequency differed between geological substrates and varied spatially across hillslopes. Fire had the greatest relative impact on vegetation structure on nutrient‐rich basalt substrates, and it imparted different structural responses upon vegetation in upland, midslope, and lowland topographic positions. These results highlight the complexity of fire–vegetation relationships in savanna systems, and they suggest that underlying landscape heterogeneity needs more explicit incorporation into fire management policies.
Observations of terrestrial behavior in the peruvian night monkey (Aotus miconax) in an anthropogenic landscape, La Esperanza, Peru
Authors: Shanee Sam , Shanee Noga
Published: December 2012

No abstract
Golden-headed lion tamarin research in the 21st century: recent advances and potential areas of future research
Authors: Vleeschouwer Kristel , Oliveira Leonardo , Raboy Becky , Raghunathan Nima , Zeigler Sara
Published: December 2012

No abstract
Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Possess the Characteristics of Pericytes
Authors: Iwasaki Kengo , Komaki Motohiro , Yokoyama Naoki , Tanaka Yuichi , Taki Atsuko , Kimura Yasuyuki , Takeda Masaki , Oda Shigeru , Izumi Yuichi , Morita Ikuo
Published: December 2012

Background: Periodontal ligament (PDL) contributes to maintaining homeostasis in periodontal tissues by supplying stem/progenitor cells. It has long been suggested that PDL stem cells/progenitors are located around blood vessels. Recently mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated and cultured from PDL in vitro, although the location of the stem cells in PDL is unclear. The purpose of this study is to test the characteristics of human PDL stem cells (PDLSCs) and examine their similarity to related vascular cell types, such as pericytes and endothelial cells.

Methods: PDLSCs were obtained from healthy extracted teeth using the collagenase/dispase enzyme digestion method. MSC and pericyte characteristics of PDLSCs were examined by cell surface marker expression using flow cytometry. The expression of pericyte markers was tested using immunohistochemistry. Pericyte‐like functions of PDLSCs were examined in co‐culture of PDLSCs and umbilical vein endothelial cells on a gel matrix.

Results: Cultured PDLSCs were positive for both MSC markers and pericyte markers, including cluster of differentiation 146 (CD146), neural/glial antigen 2 (NG2), and CD140b. When pericyte marker expression was explored in rat periodontal tissue sections, CD146‐ and NG2‐positive signals were observed in the perivascular area of the PDL. Further, when the cells were cultured with human umbilical cord endothelial cells under conditions for forming capillary‐like structures in vitro, PDLSCs localized adjacent to endothelial cells and contributed to the stability of the capillary‐like structure.

Conclusions: PDLSCs possess pericyte‐like characteristics and may localize as pericytes in the PDL. These data provide useful information for stem cell biology in periodontal research and stem cell–based periodontal therapy.
Assessing Errors and Accuracy in Dew‐Point Potentiometer and Pressure Plate Extractor Meaurements
Authors: Gubiani Paulo Ivonir , Reichert José Miguel , Campbell Colin , Reinert Dalvan José , Gelain Neiva Somavilla
Published: December 2012

Soil water potential can be determined quickly with a WP4 device, which uses a chilled mirror dew point technique. The instrument can be used to check the soil water potential of samples drained in a porous plate extractor (PPE). However, soil water potential measured in both devices on the same soil sample may not be in agreement, mainly in the wet‐end of the water retention curve. This work investigates this problem, and further evaluates how equilibrating soil samples in a PPE with different permeable material at the sample bottom (filter paper [FP], polyester fabric [PE], and synthetic knitwear [SK]) affects the final water potential. Soil samples (soil fraction <2 mm) of an Ultisol and an Oxisol were drained at 0.5 and 1.5 MPa pressure in a PPE and the water potential of these samples was measured in a WP4. Another fraction of the same soil was used to obtain a WP4 water retention curve. The permeable materials caused large differences in water retention at 0.5 MPa pressure (0.006 g g−1 in the Oxisol and 0.021 g g−1 in the Ultisol), and the FP allowed more water drainage than PE and SK, indicating the latter two should be avoided when using a PPE to determine water extraction. In both soils, the water potential measured in the WP4 was lower than −0.5 MPa for samples under 0.5 MPa pressure and greater than −1.5 MPa for samples under 1.5 MPa pressure. The increase of residual (fitted minus measured) in the WP4 water retention curve indicated that above −0.7 MPa the precision of WP4 measurements decreased drastically.
HIV-1 Vaccine Trials: Evolving Concepts and Designs
Authors: Sanou Missa P , De Groot Anne S , Murphey-Corb Michael , Levy Jay A , Yamamoto Janet K
Published: December 2012

An effective prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine is needed to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic but designing such a vaccine is a challenge. Despite many advances in vaccine technology and approaches to generate both humoral and cellular immune responses, major phase-II and -III vaccine trials against HIV/AIDS have resulted in only moderate successes. The modest achievement of the phase-III RV144 prime-boost trial in Thailand re-emphasized the importance of generating robust humoral and cellular responses against HIV. While antibody-directed approaches are being pursued by some groups, others are attempting to develop vaccines targeting cell-mediated immunity, since evidence show CTLs to be important for the control of HIV replication. Phase-I and -IIa multi-epitope vaccine trials have already been conducted with vaccine immunogens consisting of known CTL epitopes conserved across HIV subtypes, but have so far fallen short of inducing robust and consistent anti-HIV CTL responses. The concepts leading to the development of T-cell epitope-based vaccines, the outcomes of related clinical vaccine trials and efforts to enhance the immunogenicity of cell-mediated approaches are summarized in this review. Moreover, we describe a novel approach based on the identification of SIV and FIV antigens which contain conserved HIV-specific T-cell epitopes and represent an alternative method for developing an effective HIV vaccine against global HIV isolates.
HRT: Some Unresolved Clinical Issues in Breast Cancer, Endometrial Cancer and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
Authors: Davey Dennis A
Published: December 2012

Many important issues regarding HRT and the management of postmenopausal women are unresolved and require ongoing consideration and some explanation. HRT is only one of many factors affecting the risk of breast cancer and the risk of breast cancer is not increased in past users of HRT. There is seemingly a paradox in the effect of body weight and HRT on breast cancer risk. It is unclear whether the benefit of giving progestin with estrogen to prevent endometrial cancer in HRT outweighs the increased risk of breast cancer. Sequential HRT may not fully prevent endometrial cancer, and continuous combined regimes are to be preferred. The prevention of the consequences of premature ovarian insuffiency, both immediate and long term, has been neglected, and a strong case can be made for estrogen replacement therapy in all women with premature ovarian insuffiency, particularly following bilateral oophorectomy.
A New Contraceptive Pill Containing 17β-Estradiol and Nomegestrol Acetate
Authors: Christin-Maitre Sophie , Laroche Emmanuelle , Bricaire Léopoldine
Published: December 2012

Most combined oral contraceptive pills contain ethinyl estradiol (EE) with progestins. In order to minimize the pill's cardiovascular risks, the concept of using 17β-estradiol (E2), the endogenous estradiol, arose in the 1970s. Many attempts to develop a pill containing 17β-E2 have failed as cycle control was low. The first pill containing 17β-E2 was launched in 2011. This monophasic pill contains 24 pills with 1.5 mg 17β-E2 and 2.5 mg nomegestrol acetate, and four placebo pills. Studies conducted in Europe and the USA demonstrate that its Pearl index is 0.38 and 1.13, respectively. It has less influence on hemostasis, fibrinolysis markers, lipids and carbohydrate metabolism than the combined oral contraceptive levonorgestrel/EE (150 g/30 g and 100 μg/20 μg). Withdrawal bleedings are shorter and lighter as compared with women using drospirenone/EE (3 mg/30 μg). The number of women without withdrawal bleeding is approximately 30% after 12 months. Even though its contraindications are identical to other combined oral contraceptives, this nomegestrol acetate/E2 pill should be considered to be of interest for many women.
Impaired Fasting Plasma Glucose and Type 2 Diabetes Are Related to the Risk of Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Death and All-Cause Mortality
Authors: Laukkanen Jari A. , Mäkikallio Timo H. , Ronkainen Kimmo , Karppi Jouni , Kurl Sudhir
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine whether impaired fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and type 2 diabetes may be risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This prospective study was based on 2,641 middle-aged men 42–60 years of age at baseline. Impaired FPG level (≥5.6 mmol/L) among nondiabetic subjects (501 men) was defined according to the established guidelines, and the group with type 2 diabetes included subjects (159 men) who were treated with oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin therapy, and/or diet.

RESULTS

During the 19-year follow-up, a total of 190 SCDs occurred. The relative risk (RR) for SCD was 1.51-fold (95% CI 1.07–2.14, P = 0.020) for nondiabetic men with impaired FPG and 2.86-fold (1.87–4.38, P < 0.001) for men with type 2 diabetes as compared with men with normal FPG levels, after adjustment for age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, serum LDL cholesterol, smoking, prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), and family history of CHD. The respective RRs for out-of-hospital SCDs (157 deaths) were 1.79-fold (1.24–2.58, P = 0.001) for nondiabetic men with impaired FPG and 2.26-fold (1.34–3.77, P < 0.001) for men with type 2 diabetes. Impaired FPG and type 2 diabetes were associated with the risk of all-cause death. As a continuous variable, a 1 mmol/L increment in FPG was related to an increase of 10% in the risk of SCD (1.10 [1.04–1.20], P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired FPG and type 2 diabetes represent risk factors for SCD.
Variation in Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Hospital Discharges for Obstetric Delivery Across 23 States in the United States
Authors: Bardenheier Barbara H. , Elixhauser Anne , Imperatore Giuseppina , Devlin Heather M. , Kuklina Elena V. , Geiss Linda S. , Correa Adolfo
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

To examine variability in diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence at delivery by race/ethnicity and state.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases for 23 states of the United States with available race/ethnicity data for 2008 to examine age-adjusted and race-adjusted rates of GDM by state. We used multilevel analysis to examine factors that explain the variability in GDM between states.

RESULTS

Age-adjusted and race-adjusted GDM rates (per 100 deliveries) varied widely between states, ranging from 3.47 in Utah to 7.15 in Rhode Island. Eighty-six percent of the variability in GDM between states was explained as follows: 14.7% by age; 11.8% by race/ethnicity; 5.9% by insurance; and 2.9% by interaction between race/ethnicity and insurance at the individual level; 17.6% by hospital level factors; 27.4% by the proportion of obese women in the state; 4.3% by the proportion of Hispanic women aged 15–44 years in the state; and 1.5% by the proportion of white non-Hispanic women aged 15–44 years in the state.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that GDM rates differ by state, with this variation attributable to differences in obesity at the population level (or “at the state level”), age, race/ethnicity, hospital, and insurance.
Intimate Partner Violence and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Women
Authors: Mason Susan M. , Wright Rosalind J. , Hibert Eileen N. , Spiegelman Donna , Jun Hee-Jin , Hu Frank B. , Rich-Edwards Janet W.
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

We sought to estimate the association between intimate partner violence, a prevalent psychosocial stressor, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In 2001, 68,376 Nurses’ Health Study II participants answered questions on physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence in adulthood (age ≥18 years) and reported the years in which any abuse occurred. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the associations between intimate partner violence exposures and incidence of type 2 diabetes from 2001 to 2007. We also estimated effects of duration and time since intimate partner violence on type 2 diabetes incidence.

RESULTS

Of 68,376 respondents, 64,732 met inclusion criteria at the 2001 baseline; of these, 23% reported lifetime physical intimate partner violence, 11% reported lifetime sexual intimate partner violence, and 8% reported moderate and <2% reported severe psychological intimate partner violence. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for type 2 diabetes, adjusted for potential confounders, were 1.18 (1.00–1.39) and 1.08 (0.86–1.35) for more than one lifetime episode of physical and sexual intimate partner violence, respectively, and 1.78 (1.21–2.61) for severe psychological abuse. Addition of updated BMI and other diabetes risk factors reduced the physical intimate partner violence HR to 1.12 (0.94–1.33) and the psychological intimate partner violence HR to 1.61 (1.09–2.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Physical intimate partner violence is modestly associated with incidence of type 2 diabetes in this population. Severe psychological violence may substantially increase type 2 diabetes risk.
Impact of Restricted Maternal Weight Gain on Fetal Growth and Perinatal Morbidity in Obese Women With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ásbjörnsdóttir Björg , Rasmussen Signe S. , Kelstrup Louise , Damm Peter , Mathiesen Elisabeth R.
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

Since January 2008, obese women with type 2 diabetes were advised to gain 0–5 kg during pregnancy. The aim with this study was to evaluate fetal growth and perinatal morbidity in relation to gestational weight gain in these women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort comprised the records of 58 singleton pregnancies in obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes giving birth between 2008 and 2011. Birth weight was evaluated by SD z score to adjust for gestational age and sex.

RESULTS

Seventeen women (29%) gained ≤5 kg, and the remaining 41 gained >5 kg. The median (range) gestational weight gains were 3.7 kg (−4.7 to 5 kg) and 12.1 kg (5.5–25.5 kg), respectively. Prepregnancy BMI was 33.5 kg/m2 (30–53 kg/m2) vs. 36.8 kg/m2 (30–48 kg/m2), P = 0.037, and median HbA1c was 6.7% at first visit in both groups and decreased to 5.7 and 6.0%, P = 0.620, in late pregnancy, respectively. Gestational weight gain ≤5 kg was associated with lower birth weight z score (P = 0.008), lower rates of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants (12 vs. 39%, P = 0.041), delivery closer to term (268 vs. 262 days, P = 0.039), and less perinatal morbidity (35 vs. 71%, P = 0.024) compared with pregnancies with maternal weight gain >5 kg.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study in obese women with type 2 diabetes, maternal gestational weight gain ≤5 kg was associated with a more proportionate birth weight and less perinatal morbidity.
Diabetic Retinopathy, Its Progression, and Incident Cardiovascular Events in the ACCORD Trial
Authors: Gerstein Hertzel C. , Ambrosius Walter T. , Danis Ronald , Ismail-Beigi Faramarz , Cushman William , Calles Jorge , Banerji MaryAnn , Schubart Ulrich , Chew Emily Y. ,   for the ACCORD Study Group
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

Both the presence of diabetic retinopathy and its severity are significantly associated with future cardiovascular (CV) events. Whether its progression is also linked to incident CV outcomes hasn’t been assessed.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The relationship between retinopathy, its 4-year progression, and CV outcomes (CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke) was analyzed in participants in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial who also participated in the ACCORD Eye Study. Retinopathy was classified as either none, mild, moderate, or severe, and worsening was classified as a <2-step, 2–3-step, or >3-step change (that included incident laser therapy or vitrectomy).

RESULTS

Participants (n = 3,433) of mean age 61 years had baseline retinal photographs (seven stereoscopic fields). Compared with no retinopathy, the adjusted HRs (95% CI) for the CV outcome rose from 1.49 (1.12–1.97) for mild retinopathy to 2.35 (1.47–3.76) for severe retinopathy. A subset of 2,856 was evaluated for progression of diabetic retinopathy at 4 years. The hazard of the primary outcome increased by 38% (1.38 [1.10–1.74]) for every category of change in retinopathy severity. Additional adjustment for the baseline and follow-up levels of A1C, systolic blood pressure, and lipids either individually or together rendered the relationships between worsening and CV outcomes nonsignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the severity of retinopathy and its progression are determinants of incident CV outcomes. The retina may provide an anatomical index of the effect of metabolic and hemodynamic factors on future CV outcomes.
Environmental Implications of Anesthetic Gases
Authors: Yasny Jeffrey S. , White Jennifer
Published: December 2012

For several decades, anesthetic gases have greatly enhanced the comfort and outcome for patients during surgery. The benefits of these agents have heavily outweighed the risks. In recent years, the attention towards their overall contribution to global climate change and the environment has increased. Anesthesia providers have a responsibility to minimize unnecessary atmospheric pollution by utilizing techniques that can lessen any adverse effects of these gases on the environment. Moreover, health care facilities that use anesthetic gases are accountable for ensuring that all anesthesia equipment, including the scavenging system, is effective and routinely maintained. Implementing preventive practices and simple strategies can promote the safest and most healthy environment.
Circular External Fixator–Assisted Ankle Arthrodesis following Failed Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: McCoy Thomas H. , Goldman Vladimir , Fragomen Austin T. , Rozbruch S. Robert
Published: December 2012

Background: Failed total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) often results in significant bone loss and requires salvage arthrodesis. This study quantified the bone loss following failed TAA and reports the outcome of seven arthrodesis reconstructions using the Ilizarov method. Methods: A retrospective review of ankle fusions was performed for failed TAA to collect the mode of implant failure, presenting limb length discrepancy (LLD), total bone defect, postarthrodesis LLD, and treatment type (shoe lift versus distraction osteogenesis) and amount (shoe lift or lengthening). Results: Four mechanical failures and three infections were found. Four of seven cases had prior revision TAAs. Four of seven patients were treated with tibiotalar arthrodesis; three of the seven patients required talar resection and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis. The mean presenting LLD was 2.2 (range, 1.2 to 3.5) cm. The mean time in frame was 197 (range, 146 to 229) days. With a mean postexplantation total bone defect of 5.1 (range, 3.7 to 8.5) cm, four of seven patients elected tibial lengthening following fusion [mean lengthening 4.6 (range, 2.5 to 8.0) cm; external fixation index (EFI) 42.6 (range, 16.5 to 55.6) days/cm)]. Three of seven patients were treated with a shoe lift [mean lift height 2.9 (range 2.5 to 3.2) cm]. There was no failure of fixation, refracture, or infection. All patients had a stable plantigrade foot and walked with minimal limp. Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) functional scores were six good and one fair. ASAMI bone scores were four excellent and three good. Conclusions: Ankle arthrodesis following failed TAA results in large LLDs secondary to bone loss during implant failure and subsequent explantation. External fixation can produce an excellent fusion rate in complex, possibly infected, failed TAAs. Limb length equalization (by either distraction osteogenesis or shoe lift) provides a means of obtaining good functional outcomes following failed TAA.

Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series
Locked versus Nonlocked Plate Fixation for First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis: A Biomechanical Investigation
Authors: Hunt Kenneth J. , Barr Cameron R. , Lindsey Derek P. , Chou Loretta B.
Published: December 2012

Background: First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis using dorsal plate fixation is a common procedure for painful conditions of the great toe. Locked plates have become increasingly common for arthrodesis procedures in the foot, including the hallux MTP joint. The biomechanical advantages and disadvantages of these plates are currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare locked and nonlocked plates used for first MTP fusion for strength and stiffness. Materials and Methods: The first ray of nine matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric feet underwent dissection, preparation with cup-and-cone reamers, and fixation of the MTP joint with a compression screw and either a nonlocked or locked stainless steel dorsal plate. Each specimen was loaded in a cantilever fashion to 90 N at a rate of 3 Hz for a total of 250,000 cycles. The amount of plantar MTP gap was recorded using a calibrated extensometer. Load-to-failure testing was performed for all specimens that endured the entire cyclical loading. Stiffness was calculated from the final load-to-failure test. Results: The locked plate group demonstrated significantly less plantar gapping during fatigue endurance testing from cycle 10,000 through 250,000 ( p < .05). Mean stiffness was significantly greater in the locked plate group compared with the nonlocked plate group ( p = .02). There was no significant difference in load to failure between the two groups ( p = .27). Conclusion: Compared with nonlocked plates, locked hallux MTP arthrodesis plates exhibited significantly less plantar gapping after 10,000 cycles of fatigue endurance testing and significantly greater stiffness in load-to-failure testing. Clinical Relevance: As the use of locked plate technology is becoming increasingly common for applications in the foot, a thorough understanding of the biomechanical characteristics of these implants may help optimize their indications and clinical use.
Osseous Talofibular Impingement after Supination–External Rotation Stage II Ankle Fracture: Case Report
Authors: Potter Michael Q. , Blankenhorn Brad D. , Avilucea Frank R. , Beals Timothy C. , Nickisch Florian
Published: December 2012

Level of Evidence: V, Expert Opinion
What Makes a Working Paper in Economics Publishable? A Tale from the Scientific Periphery
Authors: Teixeira Aurora A. C.
Published: December 2012

Research on scientific production and publications in the field of economics has positively boomed in the last few years. However, hardly any attention has been dedicated to the production of working papers and the consequences they may have within the institutions where they are produced. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the working papers produced and published from an institution that is relatively peripheral in terms of its production of research in economics. It mainly explores the probability of the working papers being published in peer-reviewed journals. Through the use of an extensive series of these working papers, produced between 1985 and the end of 2005, and through the estimation of a logistic regression model, it was concluded that the probability of international publication increases significantly when the working paper is recent and co-written with a researcher from a foreign institution. Such evidence suggests that for success in the ‘publish or perish’ world of scientific research, one has to be integrated into an international scientific network.
Stochastic Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Pavement Preservation Treatments
Authors: Pittenger Dominique , Gransberg Douglas D. , Zaman Musharraf , Riemer Caleb
Published: December 2012

The use of life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) as a decision-making tool in pavement design and the analysis of competing alternatives is recommended by FHWA. However, dependence on deterministic LCCA raises issues about the accuracy of input information because of the degree of construction price volatility found in the underlying commodities used in pavements. Stochastic LCCA has been shown to produce superior results when used at the new pavement design or network level and is suggested for transportation use by FHWA. However, no project-level tools exist to facilitate use of a stochastic approach to evaluate pavement preservation treatment. This paper proposes a practical stochastic LCCA model on the basis of equivalent uniform annual cost, specifically to compare pavement preservation treatment alternatives. The paper explores statistical LCCA techniques that expose inherent uncertainties to identify and quantify the risk of commodity price volatility. The proposed methodology enhances a pavement engineer's ability to address budget issues, mitigate risk, and justify pavement preservation treatment decisions. Underlying commodity price volatility in pavement treatment costs can be modeled effectively with stochastic LCCA.
Probabilistic Approach to Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Preventive Maintenance Strategies on Flexible Pavements
Authors: Harvey John T. , Rezaei Arash , Lee Charles
Published: December 2012

Preventive maintenance (PM) is recognized as a potentially useful tool to reduce pavement network operation costs. To identify the lowest-cost maintenance and rehabilitation strategies to keep pavement conditions at their desired levels, agencies need to predict conditions on the network accurately. This need presents a challenge because pavement deterioration is a complex mechanism that involves not only structural damage but also the effects of interactions between traffic, material, environment, and time. Earlier studies have based cost analyses on deterministic pavement deterioration prediction models, even though these models lack the capability to capture the random part of true pavement field behavior. An alternative approach is to use probabilistic models, which are built on the basis of observations of in-service facilities and allow a more realistic representation of pavement performance. In this research study, pavement crack initiation models were developed on the basis of stochastic hazard rate modeling techniques. Significantly, model development included data from the California Department of Transportation Pavement Condition Survey so that the effects of a wide range of facilities and environmental conditions could be represented. This study also compared several pavement maintenance scenarios with the use of rehabilitation only as the control case. The study's performance results were then coupled with available cost information to develop life-cycle cost comparisons. The research results confirmed that, compared with rehabilitation alone and maintenance at advance levels of cracking pavement, PM practices significantly reduced long-term costs of roadway maintenance.
Measurement and Communication of Bridge Performance with Remote Sensing Technologies
Authors: Ahlborn Theresa M. , Vaghefi Khatereh , Harris Devin K. , Brooks Colin N.
Published: December 2012

The importance of a functional and efficient transportation network system is well known to the traveling public, but the financial and technical requirements to keep this infrastructure in a state of good repair often are not well understood. From the standpoint of functionality, a bottleneck typically can be traced to the condition of bridges, which continues to be a major challenge as funds shrink. Nearly 12% of the more than 600,000 bridges in the United States were categorized in 2010 as structurally deficient. Much of this deterioration relates directly not only to the lack of funding, staffing, and resources to maintain this infrastructure but also to the lack of tools for proper assessment of the degree of deterioration, which can be unaccounted for in the routine inspection process. The use of remote sensing to assess the condition of a bridge is a relatively new concept in the monitoring of structural health. For the typical bridge engineer, remote sensing can mean enhanced and safer inspection assessment without traffic disruption. No single technology can completely assess bridge performance. This paper details the applicability of a series of remote sensing technologies to assess and monitor bridge performance and to provide state and local engineers with a decision support system to prioritize critical maintenance and repair of the nation's bridges. Selected commercially available technologies are defined, and their relationships in the communication of bridge needs to bridge engineers and inspectors are discussed.
Convection-enhanced delivery of topotecan into diffuse intrinsic brainstem tumors in children
Authors: Anderson Richard C. E. , Kennedy Benjamin , Yanes Candix L. , Garvin James , Needle Michael , Canoll Peter , Feldstein Neil A. , Bruce Jeffrey N.
Published: December 2012

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) for the treatment of malignant gliomas is a technique that can deliver chemotherapeutic agents directly into the tumor and the surrounding interstitium through sustained, low-grade positive-pressure infusion. This allows for high local concentrations of drug within the tumor while minimizing systemic levels that often lead to dose-limiting toxicity. Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are universally fatal childhood tumors for which there is currently no effective treatment. In this report the authors describe CED of the topoisomerase inhibitor topotecan for the treatment of DIPG in 2 children.

As part of a pilot feasibility study, the authors treated 2 pediatric patients with DIPG. Stereotactic biopsy with frozen section confirmation of glial tumor was followed by placement of bilateral catheters for CED of topotecan during the same procedure. The first patient underwent CED 210 days after initial diagnosis, after radiation therapy and at the time of tumor recurrence, with a total dose of 0.403 mg in 6.04 ml over 100 hours. Her Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score was 60 before CED and 50 posttreatment. Serial MRI initially demonstrated a modest reduction in tumor size and edema, but the tumor progressed and the patient died 49 days after treatment. The second patient was treated 24 days after the initial diagnosis prior to radiation with a total dose of 0.284 mg in 5.30 ml over 100 hours. Her KPS score was 70 before CED and 50 posttreatment. Serial MRI similarly demonstrated an initial modest reduction in tumor size. The patient subsequently underwent fractionated radiation therapy, but the tumor progressed and she died 120 days after treatment.

Topotecan delivered by prolonged CED into the brainstem in children with DIPG is technically feasible. In both patients, high infusion rates (> 0.12 ml/hr) and high infusion volumes (> 2.8 ml) resulted in new neurological deficits and reduction in the KPS score, but lower infusion rates (< 0.04 ml/hr) were well tolerated. While serial MRI showed moderate treatment effect, CED did not prolong survival in these 2 patients. More studies are needed to improve patient selection and determine the optimal flow rates for CED of chemotherapeutic agents into DIPG to maximize safety and efficacy. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00324844.
Position of Blackbird (Turdus Merula) Nests in Orange Trees
Authors: Taberner Aina , Tamarit Rosa , Gil-Delgado José A.
Published: December 2012

Nest placement affects the risk of predation and determines the microclimate for incubation. We have analysed the nest placement of the blackbird nests and the temperatures at which they are exposed in an orange plantation from Eastern Spain. The data come from a 16.9 ha of an orange plantation. In this plot, nest searching techniques were applied. Nest placement and the temperatures at midday were recorded from a sample of 84 nests. Furthermore, a sample of 16 nests was used to determine the daily variation between 8:00 and 20:00 hours. We measured the nest height, tree height, and distance from the tree centre to the nest, and the length of the longest branch. The temperatures inside the nest cup and of the surrounding air temperatures were also obtained. The range of the orange tree height was 82-425 cm (mean = 234.0 cm). The length range of the longest branch was 11-311 cm (mean = 136.4). The nests were placed at heights between 41 and 223 cm (mean = 134.4) and the distance from the centre of the tree varied from 8 to 233 (mean = 126.5). There was no variation in the nest heights and distances from the trunk to the nest place as the breeding season progresses. The air temperature (Tat) and the nest temperature (Tict) at midday increases as the breeding season progresses but the difference between Tat and Tict did not vary according to the time in the breeding season. The daily difference between the air and the nest temperatures increased from 08:00h to 12:00h and then decreased. Only three nests out of the 100 nests sampled were successful inbreeding.
Zebra Finches Build Nests that do not Resemble their Natal Nest
Authors: Muth Felicity , Healy Susan D.
Published: December 2012

Nests are built by nearly all bird species and can be extremely varied in their structural characteristics, both within and among species. As with a number of other avian behaviours, it seems plausible that early learning might be important in producing adult nest-building behaviour. To examine whether preferences that adults have for nest materials are related to their early-life experience, we experimentally manipulated the colour of the nest in which Zebra Finch pairs built and raised chicks. We then tested these chicks at maturity to determine whether they preferred the colour of the nest from which they had fledged or preferred the same colour as their father. We also examined the overall structure of nests that fathers and their sons built to determine whether the nest a male builds resembles that from which he hatched. When males and females naïve to building were paired as adults and tested for their nest material preferences, they did not prefer the colour of their natal nest. When these males were re-paired and their preference tested a second time, the majority then preferred the colour that their father had preferred (which was also the colour preferred by most of the males). The structural components of a male's nest did not resemble the nest built by his father, but neither did his father's nests resemble each other. We found no evidence that the experience of the nest from which a bird fledges influences his preferences for the colour of nest material or the structure of his first nest.
Decorin Content and Near Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Dried Collagenous Biomaterial Samples
Authors: Aldema-Ramos Mila , Castell Joan , Muir Zerlina , Adzet Jose , Sabe Rosa , Schreyer Suzanne
Published: December 2012

The efficient removal of proteoglycans, such as decorin, from the hide when processing it to leather by traditional means is generally acceptable and beneficial for leather quality, especially for softness and flexibility. A patented waterless or acetone dehydration method that can generate a product similar to leather called Dried Collagenous Biomaterial (known as BCD) was developed but has no effect on decorin removal efficiency. The Alcian Blue colorimetric technique was used to assay the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) portion of decorin. The corresponding residual decorin content was correlated to the mechanical properties of the BCD samples and was comparable to the control leather made traditionally. The waterless dehydration and instantaneous chrome tanning process is a good eco-friendly alternative to transforming hides to leather because no additional effects were observed after examination using NIR spectroscopy and additional chemometric analysis.
Spatial and Temporal Responses to an Emissions Trading Scheme Covering Agriculture and Forestry: Simulation Results from New Zealand
Authors: Kerr Suzi , Anastasiadis Simon , Olssen Alex , Power William , Timar Levente , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2012

We perform simulations using the integrated Land Use in Rural New Zealand (LURNZ) model to analyze the effect of various New Zealand emissions trading scheme (ETS) scenarios on land use, emissions and output in a temporally and spatially explicit manner. We compare the impact of afforestation to the impact of other land-use change on net greenhouse gas emissions and evaluate the importance of the forestry component of the ETS relative to the agricultural component. We find that the effect of including agriculture in the ETS is small relative to the effect of including forestry. We also examine the effect of land-use change on the time profile of net emissions from the forestry sector. Finally, we present projections of future agricultural output under various policy scenarios.
Protective Effect of Anthocyanins from Lingonberry on Radiation-induced Damages
Authors: Fan Zi-Luan , Wang Zhen-Yu , Zuo Li-Li , Tian Shuang-Qi
Published: December 2012

There is a growing concern about the serious harm of radioactive materials, which are widely used in energy production, scientific research, medicine, industry and other areas. In recent years, owing to the great side effects of anti-radiation drugs, research on the radiation protectants has gradually expanded from the previous chemicals to the use of natural anti-radiation drugs and functional foods. Some reports have confirmed that anthocyanins are good antioxidants, which can effectively eliminate free radicals, but studies on the immunoregulatory and anti-radiation effects of anthocyanins from lingonberry (ALB) are less reported. In this experiment, mice were given orally once daily for 14 consecutive days before exposure to 6 Gy of gamma-radiation and were sacrificed on the 7th day post-irradiation. The results showed that the selected dose of extract did not lead to acute toxicity in mice; while groups given anthocyanins orally were significantly better than radiation control group according to blood analysis; pretreatment of anthocyanins significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the thymus and spleen indices and spleen cell survival compared to the irradiation control group. Pretreatment with anthocyanins before irradiation significantly reduced the numbers of micronuclei (MN) in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). These findings indicate that anthocyanins have immunostimulatory potential against immunosuppression induced by the radiation.
Second Malignant Neoplasms Following Radiotherapy
Authors: Kumar Sanath
Published: December 2012

More than half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy as a part of their treatment. With the increasing number of long-term cancer survivors, there is a growing concern about the risk of radiation induced second malignant neoplasm [SMN]. This risk appears to be highest for survivors of childhood cancers. The exact mechanism and dose-response relationship for radiation induced malignancy is not well understood, however, there have been growing efforts to develop strategies for the prevention and mitigation of radiation induced cancers. This review article focuses on the incidence, etiology, and risk factors for SMN in various organs after radiotherapy.
Dispersion of Pt Nanoparticle-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Using Aniline as a Stabilizer
Authors: Grinou Ali , Yun Young , Cho Se , Park Hyun , Jin Hyoung-Joon
Published: December 2012

In this study, a simple one-step method was developed to load small-sized Pt nanoparticles (3.1 ± 0.3 nm) in large quantities (50 wt %) on aniline-functionalized and reduced graphene oxide (r-fGO). In the process, an ethylene glycol solution and aniline-functionalized moiety play the roles of reducing agent and stabilizer for the Pt nanoparticles, respectively, without damaging the graphite structures of the r-fGO. The Pt nanoparticles loading on the surface of r-fGO with uniform dispersion have a great effect on the electrical conductivity.
Palyosulfonoceramides A and B: Unique Sulfonylated Ceramides from the Brazilian Zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum and Protopalyhtoa variabilis
Authors: Almeida Jose , Maia Ana , Wilke Diego , Silveira Edilberto , Braz-Filho Raimundo , La Clair James , Costa-Lotufo Leticia , Pessoa Otília
Published: December 2012

The zoanthids Palythoa caribaeorum and Protopalythoa variabilis are among the most abundant marine species along the Brazilian coast. We now report the isolation and structure elucidation of two unprecedented sulfonylated ceramides, palyosulfonoceramide A (1) and palyosulfonoceramide B (2) from specimens collected off Brazil’s northeastern coast. The structures of 1 and 2 were established using a combination of NMR analyses, including: evaluation of 1H, 13C, 1H–1H COSY, 1H–13C HSQC, 1H–13C HMBC, and 1H–15N HMBC NMR spectra, high-resolution mass spectrometry and chemical degradation. In addition, we also isolated the corresponding known ceramides, N-((2S,3R,4E,8E)-1, 3-dihydroxyoctadeca-4,8-dien-2-yl)-hexadecanamide (3) and N-((2S,3R,4E)-1,3-dihydroxy octadeca-4-en-2-yl)-hexadecanamide (4), which provided further support for the assignments of 1 and 2.
Compounds from the Roots and Rhizomes of Valeriana amurensis Protect against Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells
Authors: Wang Qiuhong , Wang Changfu , Zuo Yueming , Wang Zhibin , Yang Bingyou , Kuang Haixue
Published: December 2012

Three new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, heishuixiecaoline A–C (compounds 1–3), were isolated along with ten known compounds 4–13 from fraction of Valeriana amurensis roots and rhizomes effective against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The structures of 1–3 were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data. We also investigated the protective effect of compounds 1–13 on the neurotoxicity of PC12 cells induced by amyloid-beta (Aβ25–25), respectively. As a result, germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids 1–4 and lignans 5–7 were seen to afford protection against Aβ-induced toxicity in PC 12 cells. This study will contribute to revealing the chemical basis for the therapeutic effect of V. amurensis against AD.
Glyphosate Detection by Means of a Voltammetric Electronic Tongue and Discrimination of Potential Interferents
Authors: Bataller Román , Campos Inmaculada , Laguarda-Miro Nicolas , Alcañiz Miguel , Soto Juan , Martínez-Máñez Ramón , Gil Luís , García-Breijo Eduardo , Ibáñez-Civera Javier
Published: December 2012

A new electronic tongue to monitor the presence of glyphosate (a non-selective systemic herbicide) has been developed. It is based on pulse voltammetry and consists in an array of three working electrodes (Pt, Co and Cu) encapsulated on a methacrylate cylinder. The electrochemical response of the sensing array was characteristic of the presence of glyphosate in buffered water (phosphate buffer 0.1 mol·dm−3, pH 6.7). Rotating disc electrode (RDE) studies were carried out with Pt, Co and Cu electrodes in water at room temperature and at pH 6.7 using 0.1 mol·dm−3 of phosphate as a buffer. In the presence of glyphosate, the corrosion current of the Cu and Co electrodes increased significantly, probably due to the formation of Cu2+ or Co2+ complexes. The pulse array waveform for the voltammetric tongue was designed by taking into account some of the redox processes observed in the electrochemical studies. The PCA statistical analysis required four dimensions to explain 95% of variance. Moreover, a two-dimensional representation of the two principal components differentiated the water mixtures containing glyphosate. Furthermore, the PLS statistical analyses allowed the creation of a model to correlate the electrochemical response of the electrodes with glyphosate concentrations, even in the presence of potential interferents such as humic acids and Ca2+. The system offers a PLS prediction model for glyphosate detection with values of 098, −2.3 × 10−5 and 0.94 for the slope, the intercept and the regression coefficient, respectively, which is in agreement with the good fit between the predicted and measured concentrations. The results suggest the feasibility of this system to help develop electronic tongues for glyphosate detection.
Dynamic Propagation Channel Characterization and Modeling for Human Body Communication
Authors: Nie Zedong , Ma Jingjing , Li Zhicheng , Chen Hong , Wang Lei
Published: December 2012

This paper presents the first characterization and modeling of dynamic propagation channels for human body communication (HBC). In-situ experiments were performed using customized transceivers in an anechoic chamber. Three HBC propagation channels, i.e., from right leg to left leg, from right hand to left hand and from right hand to left leg, were investigated under thirty-three motion scenarios. Snapshots of data (2,800,000) were acquired from five volunteers. Various path gains caused by different locations and movements were quantified and the statistical distributions were estimated. In general, for a given reference threshold è = −10 dB, the maximum average level crossing rate of the HBC was approximately 1.99 Hz, the maximum average fade time was 59.4 ms, and the percentage of bad channel duration time was less than 4.16%. The HBC exhibited a fade depth of −4 dB at 90% complementary cumulative probability. The statistical parameters were observed to be centered for each propagation channel. Subsequently a Fritchman model was implemented to estimate the burst characteristics of the on-body fading. It was concluded that the HBC is motion-insensitive, which is sufficient for reliable communication link during motions, and therefore it has great potential for body sensor/area networks.