bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SNP in TNFα T308G is predictive for persistent postoperative pain following inguinal hernia surgery
Authors: Kalliomäki Maija , Lind Anne-Li , Grönbladh Alfhild , Gunnarsson Ulf , Sandblom Gabriel , Gordh Torsten , Nyberg Fred 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Aim of investigation
Persistent postoperative pain of some extent is seen in about 20% of patients after surgical operations, while 80% heal without chronic pain. The type of chronic pain that arises is mainly neuropathic, and is suggested to be in part regulated by genetic factors.
In order to study the possible involvement of some candidate genes suggested to be involved in the processing of pain (BDNF, CACNA2D2, ORPM1, GRIK 3, GCH1 and TNF-α ), we performed a genetic association study in a well characterized clinical material of patients that had undergone surgery for inguinal hernia (n = 189). Of those 94 had developed a persistent postoperative pain state when investigated 2–3 years following the operation. The control group (n = 95) had undergone the same surgical procedure, and were pain free at follow up.

Methods
Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and genotyped by the Handy Bio-strand method and the TaqMan assay.

Results
The patients with persistent postoperative pain that had homozygous SNP in the TNF-α gene displayed increased risk of persistent postoperative pain with an odds risk of 2.42, compared the pain free controls. None of the other of the investigated genes were associated with significant risk of development of chronic pain following surgery.

Conclusion
The expression of TNF-α shows a significant impact on the risk of developing chronic pain after surgery. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed in order to fine map the TNF-α effect and to address underlying mechanisms.
Chronic pain in thoracotomy
Authors: Springer J.S. , Johnsen B. , Hojsgaard A. , Jensen T.S. , Nikolajsen L. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background/aims
Chronic pain is frequent after thoracotomy (Wildgaard et al., 2009; Guastella et al., 2011). According to a recent Danish study with a follow-up period of 22 months, 33% of the patients developed pain after thoracotomy, and 4–12% of the patients experienced severe pain (Wildgaard et al., 2011). The mechanisms underlying chronic pain after surgery are not fully known, but several risk factors have been identified, e.g. intraoperative nerve damage and acute postoperative pain (Kehlet et al., 2006). A few studies have suggested a correlation between nerve damage during surgery and the development of pain after thoracotomy (Benedetti et al., 1997, 1998; Rogers et al., 2002). We plan to investigate if intraoperative nerve damage is responsible for the development of pain and sensory abnormalities after thoracotomy.

Methods
Sixty individuals with normal sensibility on the thorax will be included preoperatively. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) will be performed during surgery. Post-surgical follow-up with questionnaires and bilaterally Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) on the thorax will be performed according to the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS). Before implementing the neurophysiological measurements in humans, they have been tested in pigs.

Results
Neurophysiological measurements in pigs have shown that it is possible to do NCSs on both motor and sensory intercostal nerves, suggesting that measurements are possible in humans. Inclusion of patients is pending.

Conclusion
The preliminary results will be presented at the congress.
The variability in thermal threshold-assessments in post-thoracotomy pain syndrome
Authors: Wildgaard Kim , Ringsted Thomas K. , Kehlet Henrik , Werner Mads U. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background/aims
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a reference method in characterization of neuropathic pain components. Variability data on thermal thresholds have been presented for a number of diseases, but not for patients with persistent post-surgical pain. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to assess the day-to-day variation, but also topographic variability in thermal threshold assessments in post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) patients. The variability in thermal thresholds between pre-specified sites, on the surgical and the non-surgical side were compared to each other and to the area of maximum pain.

Patients and methods
Fourteen PTPS patients were included. Dynamic sensory mapping was performed with a 25 °C metal roller (cool). Within the area of cool sensory dysfunction on the surgical side (thorax), 4 peripheral locations were marked including the maximum pain area. Similarly 4 identical peripheral but contralateral sites on the non-surgical side were also marked. Warmth detection threshold (WDT), cool detection threshold (CDT) and heat pain threshold (HPT) were assessed on day1 and day2, separated by 12 days for all marked locations.

Results
Comparisons of test-retest thermal assessments (day 1–day 2), did not demonstrate any significant intra-side differences. The 99% confidence intervals for WDT ranged between 32.6 and 46.6°C, for CDT between 20.2–30.5 °C and for HPT between 37.9–51.5 °C. Within-patient and between-patient variances consisted of 5 to 28% and 73 to 95%, respectively of the total variance. Side-to-side comparisons displayed higher thresholds on the surgical side

Conclusion
In patients with PTPS, different statistical methods indicated an excessively high variability in thermal thresholds, in particular for between-patient variance. This may suggest an advantage in using patients as ‘self-controls’ for assessment of thermal thresholds. However, due to the low within-patient variance, our study could still demonstrate highly significantly increases in thermal detection thresholds, within the area of cool sensory dysfunction, on the surgical side compared to the contralateral side. Also, static and dynamic assessments of thermal perception seem to indicate considerable wide-spread loco-regional changes on the side of surgery, an important finding when deciding where to assess thermal thresholds.
Fifty-Three Hours of Total Sleep Deprivation Has No Effect on Rewarming From Cold Air Exposure
Authors: Esmat Tiffany A. , Clark Katherine E. , Muller Matthew D. , Juvancic-Heltzel Judith A. , Glickman Ellen L. 
Published: July 2012

Objective Sleep deprivation and cold air exposure are both experienced in occupational and military settings but the combined effects of these 2 stressors is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 53 hours of total sleep deprivation on thermoregulation during the rewarming phase (25°C air) after acute cold air exposure (10°C air). Methods Eight young men underwent 2 trials in which they either received 7 hours of sleep at night or were totally sleep deprived. On 3 consecutive mornings, the subjects underwent 2 hours of cold air exposure followed by 2 hours of rewarming. Rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, oxygen consumption, and thermal sensation were measured. Results Rewarming from acute cold air exposure caused a decline in rectal temperature (∼0.5°C) each day but this was not different between subjects who were totally sleep deprived and subjects who received 7 hours of sleep at night. During this same period, mean skin temperature increased (from ∼22°C to 27°C), oxygen consumption decreased (from ∼7 to 4 mL·kg−1·min−1), and the participants felt warmer. Conclusions Under the conditions of the present study, sleep-deprived persons are not at a greater risk for a decline in rectal temperature (ie, a hypothermic afterdrop) during rewarming from cold air.
Acoustic and hydrodynamic analysis of the flow around an aerofoil with trailing-edge serrations
Authors: Jones L. E. , Sandberg R. D. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractDirect numerical simulations of the flow around a NACA-0012 aerofoil are conducted, employing an immersed boundary method to represent flat-plate trailing-edge extensions both with and without serrations. Properties of the turbulent boundary layer convecting over the trailing edge are similar for both cases. For cases with serrations, the trailing-edge noise produced by the flow over the aerofoil is observed to decrease in amplitude, and the frequency interval over which the noise reduction occurs differs depending on the serration length. The directivity and spanwise coherence of the trailing-edge noise appears largely unaffected by the serrations. The hydrodynamic behaviour in the vicinity of the trailing-edge extensions is investigated. The streamwise discontinuity imparted upon the turbulent flow by the straight trailing edge can clearly be observed in statistical quantities, whereas for the serrated case no spanwise homogeneous discontinuities are observed. The trailing-edge serrations appear to break up the larger turbulent structures convecting into the wake, and to promote the development of horseshoe vortices originating at the serrations themselves.
Spectral broadening and flow randomization in free shear layers
Authors: Wu Xuesong , Tian Feng 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIt has been observed experimentally that when a free shear layer is perturbed by a disturbance consisting of two waves with frequencies ${\omega }_{0} $ and ${\omega }_{1} $, components with the combination frequencies $(m{\omega }_{0} \pm n{\omega }_{1} )$ ($m$ and $n$ being integers) develop to a significant level thereby causing flow randomization. This spectral broadening process is investigated theoretically for the case where the frequency difference $({\omega }_{0} \ensuremath{-} {\omega }_{1} )$ is small, so that the perturbation can be treated as a modulated wavetrain. A nonlinear evolution system governing the spectral dynamics is derived by using the non-equilibrium nonlinear critical layer approach. The formulation provides an appropriate mathematical description of the physical concepts of sideband instability and amplitude–phase modulation, which were suggested by experimentalists. Numerical solutions of the nonlinear evolution system indicate that the present theory captures measurements and observations rather well.
Adaptation to benzalkonium chloride and ciprofloxacin affects biofilm formation potential, efflux pump and haemolysin activity of Escherichia coli of dairy origin
Authors: Pagedar Ankita , Singh Jitender , Batish Virender K. 
Published: July 2012

The present study investigates the effect of adaptive resistance to ciprofloxacin (Cip) and benzalkonium chloride (BC) on biofilm formation potential (BFP), efflux pump activity (EPA) and haemolysin activity of Escherichia coli isolates of dairy origin. All the isolates, irrespective of antimicrobial susceptibility, developed significant adaptive resistance (P < 0·05). All the resistant phenotypes (antibiotic resistant: AR; & biocide resistant: BR) were stronger biofilm former and post-adaptation, an insignificant change was observed in their BFP. Whereas, post-adaptation, non-resistant isolates (antibiotic non-resistant: ANR; biocide non-resistant: BNR) transformed from poor or moderate to strong biofilm formers. Post-adaptive percentage increase in EPA was highly significant in non-resistant categories (P < 0·01) and significant at P < 0·05 in BR category. Interestingly, post-adaptive increase in EPA in BR isolates was more than that in AR yet, the latter exhibited greater adaptive resistance than the former. These findings indicated prevalence of some other specific resistance mechanism/s responsible for adaptive resistance against Cip. Strain specific variations were observed for stability of adaptive resistance and haemolysin activity for all the categories. Our findings especially in reference to post-adaptation upgradation of BFP status of non-resistant isolates seems to be providing an insight into the process of conversion of non-resistant isolate into resistant ones with enhanced BFP. These observations emphasize the serious implications of sub-lethal residual levels of antimicrobials in food environments and suggest a role of food chain in emergence of antimicrobial resistances.
Energetic electron generation by magnetic reconnection in laboratory laser-plasma interactions
Authors: DONG Q.-L. , YUAN D.-W. , WANG S.-J. , LI Y. T. , LIU X. , JIANG S. E. , DING Y. K. , DU K. , YU M.-Y. , HE X.-T. , TANG Y. J. , ZHU J. Q. , ZHAO G. , SHENG Z.-M. , ZHANG J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe magnetic reconnection (MR) configuration was constructed by using two approaching laser-produced plasma bubbles. The characteristics of the MR current sheet were investigated. The driving energy of the laser pulse affects the type of the current sheet. The experiments present “Y-type” and “X-type” current sheets for larger and smaller driving energy, respectively. The energetic electrons were found to be well-collimated. The formation and ejection of plasmoid from the “Y-type” current sheet was expected to enhance the number of accelerated electrons.
A Provisional Reading of Rousseau's Reveries of the Solitary Walker
Authors: Gourevitch Victor 
Published: July 2012

AbstractRousseau speaks of his last work, The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, as an informal record of conversations of his soul with itself in its quest for his—our—naturel purged of artifice and convention. In the course of these conversations he addresses many of the problems that he explores in his other writings: man's place in the scheme of things, hence God, divine justice, immortality; freedom; the contrasts between the active, citizen life and the circumscribed, solitary life; what we owe to our fellows and what we owe to ourselves; amour-propre, shame, and amour de soi; the conditions for individual happiness, its kinds, and how they might (or might not) compose with public happiness. However, in the Reveries he addresses these problems from an explicitly nonpolitical perspective. While he says that he did not reduce his reflections—meditations, reveries—about them to a system, his account of them is remarkably comprehensive and carefully crafted.
The Critical Function of Genealogy in the Thought of J.-J. Rousseau
Authors: Neuhouser Frederick 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis paper examines the kind of genealogical project Rousseau undertakes in the Discourse on the Origins of Inequality. It explains what it is for Rousseau to discover the “origins” of inequality and examines the normative implications of such an account, especially the relation his genealogical claims have to his critique of society. After arguing that the Discourse singles out l'amour propre as the psychological source of inequality, the paper reconstructs Rousseau's account of the origin of inequality and its criteria for judging the legitimacy of inequalities. It also highlights similarities among Rousseau's use of genealogy and later genealogical projects, such as Nietzsche's.
ORACLE EFFICIENT VARIABLE SELECTION IN RANDOM AND FIXED EFFECTS PANEL DATA MODELS
Authors: Kock Anders Bredahl 
Published: July 2012

This paper generalizes the results for the Bridge estimator of Huang, Horowitz, and Ma (2008) to linear random and fixed effects panel data models which are allowed to grow in both dimensions. In particular, we show that the Bridge estimator isoracle efficient. It can correctly distinguish between relevant and irrelevant variables and the asymptotic distribution of the estimators of the coefficients of the relevant variables is the same as if only these had been included in the model, i.e. as if an oracle had revealed the true model prior to estimation.In the case of more explanatory variables than observations we prove that the Marginal Bridge estimator can asymptotically correctly distinguish between relevant and irrelevant explanatory variables if the error terms are Gaussian. Furthermore, a partial orthogonality condition of the same type as in Huang et al. (2008) is needed to restrict the dependence between relevant and irrelevant variables.
An assessment of population responses of common inshore fishes and invertebrates following declaration of five Australian marine protected areas
Authors: EDGAR GRAHAM. J. , BARRETT NEVILLE S. 
Published: July 2012

SUMMARYIn order to better understand community-level effects of fishing on temperate reefs at continental scales, changes in densities of common species in five Australian marine protected areas (MPAs) were estimated from prior to establishment to three years after enforcement of fishing prohibitions. A before-after-control-impact survey design was used, with 5–14 replicated sites distributed within both sanctuary and fishing zones associated with each MPA. On the basis of published meta-analyses, exploited species were generally expected to show increased densities. By contrast, only two of the 11 exploited fish species (the red morwongCheilodactylus fuscusand latrid trumpeterLatridopsis forsteri), and none of seven exploited invertebrate species, showed significant signs of population recovery within sanctuary zones. Four fish species increased in biomass between survey periods. When variation in abundance data was partitioned by PERMANOVA independently for the five MPAs, the ‘zone × year’ interaction component consistently contributed onlyc.4% of total variation, compared to site (c.35%), zone (c.8%), year (c.8%) and residual error (c.45%) components. Given that longer-term Australian studies show clear community-wide responses following MPA protection, the discrepancy between weak observed recovery anda prioriexpectations is probably due, at least in part, to the three-year period studied being insufficient to generate clear trends, to relatively low fishing pressure on some temperate Australian reefs, and to meta-analyses overestimating the likelihood of significant short-term population responses.
A fourth inventory of Antarctic subglacial lakes
Authors: Wright Andrew , Siegert Martin 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAntarctic subglacial lakes are studied for three main scientific reasons. First, they form an important component of the basal hydrological system which is known to affect the dynamics of the ice sheet. Second, they are amongst the most extreme viable habitats on Earth and third, if sediments exist on their floors, they may contain high-resolution records of ice sheet history. Here we present a new inventory of locations, dimensions and data sources for 379 subglacial lakes. Several major advances are responsible for the rise in the total number of lakes from the 145 known at the time of the last inventory in 2005. New radar datasets have been collected in previously unexplored regions of the ice sheet while digital data collection and processing techniques have allowed improvements to lake identification methods. Satellite measurements of ice surface elevation change caused by the movement of subglacial water have also been found to be widespread in Antarctica, often in places where radar data are absent. These advances have changed our appreciation of the Antarctic subglacial environment and have expanded our understanding of the behaviour of subglacial lakes.
On the measurement of trade costs: direct vs. indirect approaches to quantifying standards and technical regulations
Authors: CHEN NATALIE , NOVY DENNIS 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIn this article, we review the literature on the measurement of trade costs in international trade with a special emphasis on non-tariff measures and in particular on standards and technical regulations. We distinguish ‘direct’ from ‘indirect’ approaches. The direct approach collects observable data or proxy variables on trade cost components which are then typically used as regressors in a gravity equation of trade. Instead, the indirect approach infers the extent of trade impediments from trade flows. It compares actual trade flows to the trade flows predicted by a hypothetical frictionless benchmark scenario based on a micro-founded trade model, attributing the deviation of actual from predicted trade flows to trade frictions. We argue that economists and policy-makers can gain useful insights from both approaches.
International trade and endogenous standards: the case of GMO regulations
Authors: VIGANI MAURO , RAIMONDI VALENTINA , OLPER ALESSANDRO 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis paper quantifies the effect of GMO regulation on bilateral trade flows of agricultural products. We develop a composite index of GMO regulations and using a gravity model we show that bilateral differences in GMO regulation negatively affect trade flows. This effect is especially driven by labeling, approval process, and traceability. Our results are robust to the endogeneity of GMO standards to trade flows.
Quality of life from the perspective of the palliative care patient in a resource-poor community in South Africa
Authors: Jansen van Rensburg Jacoba J.M. , Maree Johanna E. , van Belkum Corrien 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjective:Quality of life is an ill-defined term, as it means different things to different people. Quality of life has been well researched, especially with respect to people with cancer, but not necessarily from the perspective of the patient, and also, not in Third World, resource-poor countries. The objective of this study was to explore quality of life from the perspective of palliative care patients managed at a palliative care clinic serving a resource-poor community in Tshwane, South Africa.Method:An exploratory, qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. The target population for this study was all patients managed at a palliative care clinic serving a resource-poor community in Tshwane. Self-report data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using a template analysis style as well as content analysis using open coding. Data analysis was done concurrently with data gathering. Data saturation was reached after 10 interviews (n = 10).Results:Three themes arose from the data: factors that had a positive influence on quality of life, factors that had a negative influence on quality of life, and experience of quality of life. Work played the most important role in quality of life whereas only one participant linked symptom control with quality of life. Experiencing symptoms, rejection, and stigmatization had a negative influence on quality of life. Friends and religion played a significant role and added to quality of life.Significance of results:Life was a daily struggle for survival. Poverty was so overwhelming that quality of life was primarily measured in terms of the ability to buy food and other basic commodities.