bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living donor liver transplantation using grafts with hepatic cysts
Authors: Sakamoto Seisuke , Nosaka Shunsuke , Shigeta Takanobu , Uchida Hajime , Hamano Ikumi , Karaki Chiaki , Kanazawa Hiroyuki , Fukuda Akinari , Nakazawa Atsuko , Kasahara Mureo
Published: September 2012

Cystic lesions in the liver are often found through the evaluation of liver donors. Multiple cysts are worrisome, and donor candidates with multiple cysts may be unacceptable as liver donors, especially when their recipients have fibrocystic disease (FCD), which is an inherited disorder. This study reviewed 183 cases of living donor liver transplantation. We collected clinical and radiological data associated with donors with cystic lesions and with donors without cystic lesions, and we evaluated the outcomes of these donors and their recipients. As part of the preoperative radiological assessment of grafts, magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) was performed to evaluate the biliary anatomy of donor candidates with multiple cysts. Thirty-four donors (18.6%) had 1 or more cystic lesions in the liver, and 6 of these donors had multiple cysts (ie, >10). Donors with multiple cysts were older and heavier, and there was a significant relationship between these donors and recipients whose original disease was FCD. During the follow-up (median = 3.1 years), all donors with cystic lesions were found to be doing well without any major postoperative complications. Fifteen recipients who received grafts with cystic lesions (12 left-sided lobes and 3 right-sided lobes) had no complications related to the cystic lesions. In conclusion, donors with cystic lesions may be acceptable as liver donors, although our data are limited mostly to left-sided lobe donation with a short follow-up period. MRC should be preoperatively performed to rule out any biliary anomalies, especially in donor candidates whose recipients have FCD. Liver Transpl, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Turán type inequalities for the partial sums of the generating functions of Bernoulli and Euler numbers
Authors: Koumandos Stamatis , Pedersen Henrik Laurberg
Published: September 2012

Turán type inequalities for the partial sums of the generating functions of the Bernoulli and Euler numbers are established. They are shown to follow from a general result relating Turán inequalities of partial sums with Turán inequalities of the corresponding remainders in any Maclaurin expansion. Remainders in asymptotic expansions of the β‐function are shown to be completely monotonic of positive order.
Impaired regeneration in LGMD2A supported by increased PAX7‐positive satellite cell content and muscle‐specific microrna dysregulation
Authors: Rosales Xiomara Q. , Malik Vinod , Sneh Amita , Chen Lei , Lewis Sarah , Kota Janaiah , Gastier‐Foster Julie M. , Astbury Caroline , Pyatt Rob , Reshmi Shalini , Rodino‐Klapac Louise R. , Clark K. Reed , Mendell Jerry R. , Sahenk Zarife
Published: September 2012

Introduction: Recent in vitro studies suggest that CAPN3 deficiency leads initially to accelerated myofiber formation followed by depletion of satellite cells (SC). In normal muscle, up‐regulation of miR‐1 and miR‐206 facilitates transition from proliferating SCs to differentiating myogenic progenitors. Methods: We examined the histopathological stages, Pax7 SC content, and muscle‐specific microRNA expression in biopsy specimens from well‐characterized LGMD 2A patients to gain insight into disease pathogenesis. Results: Three distinct stages of pathological changes were identified that represented the continuum of the dystrophic process from prominent inflammation with necrosis and regeneration to prominent fibrosis, which correlated with age and disease duration. Pax7‐positive SCs were highest in the fibrotic group and correlated with down‐regulation of miR‐1, miR‐133a, and miR‐206. Conclusions: These observations, and other published reports, are consistent with microRNA dysregulation leading to inability of Pax7‐positive SCs to transit from proliferation to differentiation. This results in impaired regeneration and fibrosis. Muscle Nerve 47: 731–739, 2013
Algebraic methods applied to shortest path and maximum flow problems in stochastic networks
Authors: Hastings K. C. , Shier D.R.
Published: September 2012

We present an algebraic approach for computing the distribution of the length of a shortests‐tpath, as well as the distribution of the capacity of a minimums‐tcut, in a network where the arc values (lengths and capacities) have known (discrete) probability distributions. For each problem, both exact and approximating algorithms are presented. These approximating algorithms are shown to yield upper and lower bounds on the distribution of interest. This approach likewise provides exact and bounding distributions on the maximum flow value in stochastic networks. We also obtain bounds on the expected shortest path length as well as the expected minimum cut capacity (and the expected maximum flow value). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2013
Liquid‐crystalline azobenzene‐containing ferrocene‐based polymers: study on synthesis and properties of main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyesters with azobenzene in the side chain
Authors: Amer Wael A. , Wang Li , Amin Abid M. , Yu Haojie , Zhang Lei , Li Chao , Wang Yang
Published: September 2012

Ferrocene‐based polymers are characterized by their electrochemical activity, good redox properties, thermal, photochemical stability, and liquid crystallinity, and thus they have various applications in different fields. A comprehensive investigation on the synthesis and properties of three novel main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyesters with azobenzene in the side chain (MFPAS) was carried out. The main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyester, poly(N‐phenyldiethanolamine 1,1′‐ferrocene dicarboxylate (PPFD), was synthesized via the solution polycondensation reaction of 1,1′‐ferrocenedicarbonyl chloride with phenyldiethanolamine (PDE). The novel MFPAS were synthesized via the post‐polymerization azo‐coupling reaction of PPFD with three different 4‐substituted anilines including 4‐nitroaniline, 4‐aminobenzoic acid, and 4‐aminobenzonitrile to produce 4‐nitrophenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐NT), 4‐carboxyphenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐CA), and 4‐cyanophenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐CN), respectively. All the synthesized polymers were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. In addition, powder X‐ray diffraction patterns were measured for the synthesized polymers. The photoisomerization of the MFPAS was studied. The thermal properties of the MFPAS were studied using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. PPFD‐CA and PPFD‐CN were found to be more thermally stable than PPFD‐NT. Finally, the liquid‐crystalline properties of PPFD and the MFPAS were examined using polarized optical microscope. It was found that all the polymers possessed nematic phases and exhibited textures with schlieren disclinations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid Identification of Unstable Acyl Glucoside Flavonoids of Oxytropis racemosa Turcz by High‐performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detection–Electrospray Ionisation/Multi‐stage Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Song Shuang , Zheng Xiu‐Ping , Liu Wei‐Dong , Du Rui‐Fang , Feng Zi‐Ming , Zhang Pei‐Cheng , Bi Li‐Fu
Published: September 2012

Introduction

Oxytropis racemosa Turcz is an important minority medicine that is used mainly to improve children's indigestion, especially in inner Mongolia and Tibet. Previous studies indicated that the characteristic constituents of this plant are acylated flavonoids.

Objective

Rapidly identify the characteristic chemical constituents of O. racemosa by high‐performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–electrospray ionisation/multi‐stage mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD–ESI/MSn) and suggest a useful method to control the quality of this medicinal plant.

Methods

In the HPLC fingerprint, 32 flavonoids were tentatively identified by a detailed analysis of their mass spectra, UV spectra and retention times. Furthermore, 13 flavonoids were confirmed by comparison with previously isolated compounds obtained from O. racemosa.

Results

In total, 32 flavonoids, including 13 flavonoids with 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid (HMG) moieties and four flavonoids with 3‐malonyl moieties, were identified in the extract of O. racemosa. Among the compounds identified, 10 were characterised as new compounds for their particular acylated sugar moieties.

Conclusions

The method described is effective for obtaining a comprehensive phytochemical profile of plants containing unstable acylated flavonoids. The method is also useful for constructing the chromatographic fingerprint of the minority medicine –O. racemosa Turcz for quality control. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and obstetric outcomes in connective tissue diseases diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy
Authors: Beneventi Fausta , Locatelli Elena , Ramoni Véronique , Caporali Roberto , Montecucco Carlo Maurizio , Simonetta Margherita , Cavagnoli Chiara , Ferrari Maria , Spinillo Arsenio
Published: September 2012

Objective

To evaluate the effect of connective tissue disease (CTD) diagnosed during the first trimester on uterine arteries (UtA) Doppler velocities and on pregnancy outcomes.

Method

Pregnant women were screened for CTDs during the first trimester, using a questionnaire, testing for autoantibodies, rheumatologic examination and UtA Doppler evaluations.

Results

Out of 3932 women screened, 491 (12.5%) were screened positive at the questionnaire; of them, 165(33.6%) tested positive for autoantibodies, including 66 eventually diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), 28 with a definite CTD and 71 with insufficient criteria for a diagnosis. Controls were 326 women screened negative for autoantibodies. In logistic analysis, women diagnosed with either UCTD (OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 2.3–27.3) or overt CTD (OR = 24.9, 95% CI = 6.7–92.4), had increased rates of first trimester bilateral UtA notches compared with controls. The rates of bilateral UtA notches persisting in the second (15/94 vs 0/326, p < 0.001) and third trimesters (7/94 vs 0/326, p < .001) were higher among women with CTDs than in controls. The risk of complications (preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, prematurity, diabetes, fetal loss) was higher (OR = 7.8, 95% CI = 3.6‐17.0) among women with CTDs than in controls.

Conclusion

Women with undiagnosed CTDs have higher rates of bilateral UtA Doppler notches throughout pregnancy and increased rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes than controls. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Omnidirectional study of nanostructured glass packaging for solar modules
Authors: Sakhuja Mridul , Son Jaesung , Verma Lalit K. , Yang Hyunsoo , Bhatia Charanjit S. , Danner Aaron J.
Published: September 2012

Antireflective light trapping glass nanostructures fabricated by a non‐lithographic process are investigated for their angle dependent properties to improve the omnidirectional performance of solar modules. Optical transmission and solar cell module I‐V measurements are used to understand the dependence of angular performance of nanostructures in the packaging glass. Nanostructures 100–400 nm in height demonstrate an increase in solar light transmission both for normal as well as oblique incidence and measurements show that a ~200‐400 nm nanostructure height is optimum for solar modules, providing an absolute increase of 1% in the power conversion efficiency at normal incidence and a gain in short circuit current density over a 120° angular cone of solar incidence. This shows that packaging glass texturing can be an important and often‐overlooked method to yield substantial gain in solar module efficiency. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The efficacy of mindfulness‐based stress reduction on mental health of breast cancer patients: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zainal Nor Zuraida , Booth Sara , Huppert Felicia A.
Published: September 2012

Objective

This study aims to investigate the evidence of the efficacy of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) in improving stress, depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients.

Methods

An extensive systematic electronic review (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsyArticles, PsycINFO, Scopus, Ovid, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library) and a hand search were carried out from 15 October 2011 to 30 November 2011 to retrieve relevant articles using ‘mindfulness’ or ‘mindfulness‐based stress reduction’ and ‘breast cancer’ as keywords. Information about the baseline characteristics of the participants, interventions and findings on perceived stress, depression and anxiety was extracted from each study.

Results

Nine published studies (two randomised controlled trials, one quasi‐experimental case–control study and six one‐group, pre‐intervention and post‐intervention studies) up to November 2011 that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analysed. The pooled effect size (95% CI) for MBSR on stress was 0.710 (0.511–0.909), on depression was 0.575 (0.429–0.722) and on anxiety was 0.733 (0.450–1.017).

Conclusion

On the basis of these findings, MBSR shows a moderate to large positive effect size on the mental health of breast cancer patients and warrants further systematic investigation because it has a potential to make a significant improvement on mental health for women in this group. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new route for fabrication of silicon QDs in a dielectric matrix of silica and silicate
Authors: Castaldo Anna , Addonizio Maria Luisa , Antonaia Alessandro , Nicotra Giuseppe
Published: September 2012

Starting from stratification of alternating thin films of Si and ZnO produced by sputtering technique, followed by an annealing process at a sufficiently low temperature (560 °C) under vacuum (10–4 mbar), we were able to form crystalline nano‐aggregates of Si and ZnO in a dielectric matrix of zinc silicate and silicon oxide. The grain size of the Si crystallites depended on the Si/ZnO ratio in the starting material and on the annealing duration. Materials with tuned band gaps have been produced (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Factors Affecting Migration of Contaminants from Paper through Polymer Coating into Food Simulants
Authors: Huang Xiu‐Ling , Wang Zhi‐Wei , Hu Chang‐Ying , Zhu Yong , Wang Jun
Published: September 2012

The migration of two surrogate contaminants, 1‐hydroxycyclohexyl‐1‐phenyl ketone (184) and benzyldimethyl ketal (651), from different paper into different food simulant (10% ethanol, 95% ethanol and isooctane) through different polymer coating low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) was studied. The paper samples were spiked with anhydrous ethanol solution containing the two surrogates and were dried using vacuum dry oven with vacuum degree 0.01 MPa and temperature 55°C and then subjected to migration experiments by using single‐sided contact method at 20°C. The concentration of surrogates in 10% ethanol, 95% ethanol and isooctane food simulants were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector after predisposal. Effect factors on migration were discussed from different aspect such as food simulant, paper property, thickness of polymer coating and type of polymer coating. The results showed that the migration rate was faster in fatty food simulant 95% ethanol and isooctane than in aqueous food simulant 10% ethanol, a thicker LDPE coating delayed the migration process of contaminant, paper with lower density and higher porosity would increase migration speed and the barrier property of PP was far away higher than that of LDPE, even if the thickness of LDPE was thicker a lot than PP. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extending the known range of glycerol ether lipids in the environment: structural assignments based on tandem mass spectral fragmentation patterns
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Lei , Summons Roger E. , Hinrichs Kai‐Uwe
Published: September 2012

RATIONALE

Glycerol‐based alkyl ether lipids are ubiquitous components in marine sediments. In order to explore their structural diversity and biological sources, marine sediment samples from diverse environments were analyzed and the mass spectra of widely distributed, novel glycerol di‐ and tetraethers were examined systematically.

METHODS

Lipid extracts of twelve globally distributed marine subsurface sediments were analyzed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI‐MS). Tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of compounds were obtained with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight (qTOF) mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

In addition to the well‐established isoprenoidal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (isoprenoidal GDGT) and branched GDGT, suites of novel lipids were detected in all studied samples. These lipids include the following classes of tentatively identified compounds: isoprenoidal glycerol dialkanol diether (isoprenoidal GDD), hydroxylated isoprenoidal GDGT (OH‐GDGT), hybrid isoprenoidal/branched GDGT (IB‐GDGT), hydroxylated isoprenoidal GDD (OH‐GDD), overly branched GDGT (OB‐GDGT), sparsely branched GDGT (SB‐GDGT) and an abundant H‐shaped GDGT with the [M+H]+ ion of m/z 1020 (H‐1020).

CONCLUSIONS

Characteristic MS/MS fragmentation patterns provided mass spectral 'fingerprints' for the recognition of diverse and prominent glycerol ether lipids. The ubiquitous distribution and substantial abundance of these glycerol ethers, as well as their structural variability, suggest a significant ecological role of their source organisms in various marine environments. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo forward projection for statistical analysis in epidemic modelling of human papillomavirus
Authors: Korostil Igor A. , Peters Gareth W. , Cornebise Julien , Regan David G.
Published: September 2012

A Bayesian statistical model and estimation methodology based on forward projection adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo is developed in order to perform the calibration of a high‐dimensional nonlinear system of ordinary differential equations representing an epidemic model for human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 (HPV‐6, HPV‐11). The model is compartmental and involves stratification by age, gender and sexual‐activity group. Developing this model and a means to calibrate it efficiently is relevant because HPV is a very multi‐typed and common sexually transmitted infection with more than 100 types currently known. The two types studied in this paper, types 6 and 11, are causing about 90% of anogenital warts.

We extend the development of a sexual mixing matrix on the basis of a formulation first suggested by Garnett and Anderson, frequently used to model sexually transmitted infections. In particular, we consider a stochastic mixing matrix framework that allows us to jointly estimate unknown attributes and parameters of the mixing matrix along with the parameters involved in the calibration of the HPV epidemic model. This matrix describes the sexual interactions between members of the population under study and relies on several quantities that are a priori unknown. The Bayesian model developed allows one to estimate jointly the HPV‐6 and HPV‐11 epidemic model parameters as well as unknown sexual mixing matrix parameters related to assortativity.

Finally, we explore the ability of an extension to the class of adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms to incorporate a forward projection strategy for the ordinary differential equation state trajectories. Efficient exploration of the Bayesian posterior distribution developed for the ordinary differential equation parameters provides a challenge for any Markov chain sampling methodology, hence the interest in adaptive Markov chain methods. We conclude with simulation studies on synthetic and recent actual data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian modeling of time‐dependent vulnerability to environmental hazards: an example using autism and pesticide data
Authors: Roberts Eric M. , English Paul B.
Published: September 2012

Background: Flexible modeling of time‐dependent effects is required when vulnerability to hazards can be expected to vary over time, but the nature of this temporal dependency cannot be specified in advance. We present an analytic approach requiring minimal a priori assumptions about temporal parameters and producing measures of uncertainty for these parameters.

Methods: As a demonstration, we employ data describing autism spectrum disorders and applications of organochlorine pesticides in proximity to maternal residence before, during, and after pregnancy. We formulate a Bayesian model specifying temporal vulnerability as a flexible step function and constrain the dose–response relationship to be linear. We separately pooled information regarding hazard frequency and magnitude among cases and controls and used it as inputs for a Metropolis‐within‐Gibbs algorithm. To assess statistical significance, we conduct Monte Carlo simulations based on parameters calculated in the Gibbs portion of the algorithm.

Results: This method delineated two discrete periods of association between hazard and outcome. The first corresponded to a previously noted period of vulnerability with the added information of wide credible intervals, suggesting a high degree of uncertainty with respect to timing. Parameters for the second, previously unobserved period displayed slightly higher precision. Assessment of model fit favored the simultaneous inclusion of both these periods, and both periods appeared statistically significant on the basis of posterior distributions of specific parameters using Monte Carlo simulations.

Conclusions: This method enabled a fuller accounting of time‐dependent associations between hazards and outcomes without specifying temporal structure in advance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Tolerance and Distress of Pain Induced by Cold‐Pressor Task
Authors: Liu Xinghua , Wang Sisi , Chang Shaochen , Chen Wenjun , Si Mei
Published: September 2012

A number of studies have demonstrated that short‐term meditation intervention can lead to greater tolerance and lower pain or distress ratings of experimentally induced pain. However, few attempts have been made to examine the effects of short‐term mindfulness‐based intervention on the tolerance and distress of pain, when delivered in a therapist‐free form. The present research explored the effect of brief mindfulness intervention using pre‐recorded instruction on pain experimentally induced by the cold‐pressor task. The effects of the mindfulness strategy, the distraction strategy and spontaneous strategy, all through the instructions of pre‐recorded voices, were compared. The subjects were drawn from healthy college students and randomly assigned to the aforementioned three groups. Our results showed that compared with using spontaneous strategies, the mindfulness intervention significantly improved the participants' pain tolerance and reduced their immersion distress. The distraction strategy also significantly improved the participants' pain tolerance. However, it did not have a significant effect on the participants' level of distress during the immersion period. Our results suggest that brief mindfulness intervention without a therapist's personal involvement is capable of helping people cope with pain induced by the cold‐pressor task. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Highly Entangled Polymeric Nanoconstruct Assembled by siRNA and its Reduction‐Triggered siRNA Release for Gene Silencing
Authors: Namgung Ran , Kim Won Jong
Published: September 2012

A nanoconstruct (NC) is developed from a biocompatible natural polymer and siRNA conjugates to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) target‐specifically without cationic condensation reagents. This study reports a novel siRNA‐mediated cross‐linked NC produced by hybridizing two complementary single‐stranded siRNAs that are conjugated to the polymer dextran via a disulfide linkage. The reducible disulfide bond between the siRNA and polymer allow siRNA release from the NC in the reducible cytoplasmic region after the NC enters the cell. In addition, when the NC contains the prostate‐carcinoma‐binding peptide aptamer DUP‐1, it can selectively deliver siRNA into prostate cancer cells of the PC‐3 lines; thus, the newly formulated NC has reduced the cytotoxicity and improved the efficacy of target‐specific siRNA delivery. Moreover, this new concept of NCs using biocompatible siRNA and a neutral polymer may provide insightful knowledge for future directions for designing NCs for stimuli‐responsive and advanced target‐specific siRNA delivery.
Web applications design recovery and evolution with RE‐UWA
Authors: Bernardi Mario Luca , Cimitile Marta , Distante Damiano
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a semi‐automatic approach for the recovery and evolution of the design of existing Web applications. The proposed approach is structured in two main phases and is based on the Ubiquitous Web Applications (UWA) design framework, a methodology and a set of models and tools for the user‐centered design of multichannel context‐aware Web applications. In the first phase a representative set of the application's front‐end Web pages are analyzed to abstract the ‘as‐is’ design model of the application according to the UWA methodology. In the second phase, the recovered design model is evolved to define the ‘to be’ version of it. This evolution activity considers the up‐to‐date requirements available for the application and UWA design guidelines to identify shortcomings and opportunities of improvement in the ‘as‐is’ design. The reverse modeling phase exploits clustering and clone detection techniques and is supported by the RE‐UWA tool, an Eclipse IDE customized to implement the reverse engineering process defined to extract formal UWA models expressed as instances of a MOF metamodel. The forward design phase is supported by a set of UWA modeling tools that are built on top of the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) and the Eclipse Graphical Modeling Framework (GMF). The proposed design recovery and evolution approach is applied to four real‐world Web applications and the obtained results are also presented in the paper. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study on Properties of Alumina‐Based Mould Fluxes for High‐Al Steel Slab Casting
Authors: Wu Ting , Wang Qian , He Shengping , Xu Jianfei , Long Xiao , Lu Yongjian
Published: September 2012

During the continuous casting of high‐Al steel, the dynamic reduction of silica‐based mould fluxes by the aluminium in the steel leads to changes in their composition and physical properties. The alumina‐based mould flux has been suggested as an alternative to alleviate this reduction problem. However, until now, the smooth running of high‐Al steel continuous casting has been impeded by the lack of systematic investigation of properties of this slag. In this paper, the effects of typical components on the properties of alumina‐based mould fluxes are discussed. The experimental results show that: (a) an increase in F− can reduce the viscosity while increasing the melting and break temperatures; (b) with increasing Li2O, the viscosity, melting temperature, and break temperature first decrease and then increase; (c) with the addition of BaO, the viscosity, melting temperature, and break temperature remain at a low level, while a further increase in BaO causes a decrease in viscosity, an increase in melting temperature, and the stabilization of the break temperature; (d) BaO is favorable to stabilize the properties of mould fluxes for the dissolution of additional Al2O3; (e) the crystalline phases of the mould fluxes mainly contain 12CaO · 7Al2O3 and 11CaO · 7Al2O3 · CaF2, and 12CaO · 7Al2O3 has great potential as a substitute for cuspidine.
Surface Wave Based Ultrasonic Technique for Finding the Optimal Grinding Condition of High Speed Steel (HSS) Work Rolls
Authors: Palit Sagar Sarmishtha , Murthy G. V. S. , Das Tarun Kumar , Prakash Amit , Goel Uday Shankar , Venugopalan T.
Published: September 2012

Over the last few years, the use of work rolls for hot rolling of flat steel has been changed from clear chill rolls to indefinite chill, then high chrome steel and now high speed tool steel (HSS). HSS rolls are highly crack‐sensitive because of its high surface hardness. The crack propagation develops within the working surface of the roll, gradually increases in depth and width followed by a large “cats‐tongue” band type spalls of the overlying barrel surface and that leads to abnormal roll failure. This paper presents the development of surface wave based ultrasonic technique to optimize the grinding procedure for having crack free roll surface.
Concise Review: Patient-Derived Olfactory Stem Cells: New Models for Brain Diseases
Authors: Mackay-Sim Alan
Published: September 2012

Traditional models of brain diseases have had limited success in driving candidate drugs into successful clinical translation. This has resulted in large international pharmaceutical companies moving out of neuroscience research. Cells are not brains, obviously, but new patient-derived stem models have the potential to elucidate cell biological aspects of brain diseases that are not present in worm, fly, or rodent models, the work horses of disease investigations and drug discovery. Neural stem cells are present in the olfactory mucosa, the organ of smell in the nose. Patient-derived olfactory mucosa has demonstrated disease-associated differences in a variety of brain diseases and recently olfactory mucosa stem cells have been generated from patients with schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and familial dysautonomia. By comparison with cells from healthy controls, patient-derived olfactory mucosa stem cells show disease-specific alterations in gene expression and cell functions including: a shorter cell cycle and faster proliferation in schizophrenia, oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease, and altered cell migration in familial dysautonomia. Olfactory stem cell cultures thus reveal patient-control differences, even in complex genetic diseases such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, indicating that multiple genes of small effect can converge on shared cell signaling pathways to present as a disease-specific cellular phenotype. Olfactory mucosa stem cells can be maintained in homogeneous cultures that allow robust and repeatable multiwell assays suitable for screening libraries of drug candidate molecules.
Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Properties of Two New ­Coordination Polymers Constructed from in situ‐generated Pyridyl‐dicarboxylic Acid Ligands
Authors: Xu Hai‐Jun , Xu Li
Published: September 2012

Two novel coordination polymers [Mn3(EPDA)2(H2O)8·(ENA)·(ClO4)·0.5(HClO4)·(CH3OH)·2(H2O)]n (1) and[Zn(EPDA)(H2O)]n (2) (EPDA = 5‐ethylpyridine‐2, 3‐dicarboxylic acid, ENA = 5‐ethylnicotinate acid) were synthesized and characterized by IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, PXRD, TGA, photoluminescence, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Organic EPDA2– and ENA– anions, the decomposition products of ENA‐Pmmi by removing the –Pmmi group under in situ solvothermal conditions, were obtained by performing the reactions of ENA‐Pmmi with MnII or ZnII perchlorate. In complex 1, the MnII ions were bridged by μ4‐EPDA2– anions to give a 2D positively charged layer, and the free ENA– anion and solvent molecules are filled into the gap between the layers through hydrogen bonding interactions to form a sandwich structure. In compound 2, the μ3‐EPDA2– anions bridge divalent Zn2+ ions to form a 1D chain, and the ENA– anions are not involved in stacking interactions but left in the residual solution. In addition, the ENA‐Imoi instead of ENA‐Pmmi, was selected to further investigate this reaction (ENA‐Pmmi and ENA‐Imoi are imazethapyr homologues), and the same experimental results could be obtained.
Sr2Mn2O4Se: A New Oxychalcogenide with Antiferromagnetic Chains
Authors: Free David G. , Herkelrath Sebastian J. C. , Clarke Simon J.
Published: September 2012

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the brown oxide selenide Sr2Mn2O4Se are described. The compound crystallises in space group Pnma with room temperature lattice parameters a = 9.4825(1), b = 10.3356(1) and c = 6.23895(8) Å. The structure contains Mn3+ ions in highly distended MnO4Se2 octahedra with selenide ions in the axial positions. These octahedra share two of their faces with neighbouring octahedra with the result that all the manganese and oxide ions are involved in the formation of undulating $\rm^{1}_{\infty}$[MnO4/2]– chains directed along the a axis, which form corrugated chains along the c axis by sharing the selenide vertices of the octahedra. These chains are isolated from one another along the b axis. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the compound does not obey the Curie‐Weiss law below room temperature and there is a magnetic transition at 160(5) K associated with antiferromagnetic ordering of the Mn3+ moments. The magnetic structure measured at 5 K is described by a k = (0, 0, 0) propagation vector and nearest neighbour moments are coupled antiferromagnetically.
The Azide/Nitrate Route, a Versatile and Prolific Procedure for the Synthesis of Alkali Oxometalates
Authors: Jansen Martin
Published: September 2012

We review the Azide/Nitrate Route as an alternative access to alkali oxometalates. Along this recently discovered approach appropriate mixtures of the azide and nitrate (or nitrite) of the respective alkali metal are reacted with a binary oxide, in an all‐solid‐state reaction. The high heats of formation of the azides and nitrates involved provide a substantially increased thermodynamic driving force for the reactions intended to take place. Moreover, the insensitive‐to‐air starting materials allow to intimately mix them, e.g. by ball milling, which together with the high reactivity of the in‐situ formed alkali metal oxide significantly accelerates the kinetics. As a particular further advantage, the oxygen content of the target compound, and thus the oxidation state of the countercation, can be precisely adjusted by the azide/nitrate ratio chosen. Subsequent to a brief description of the procedures, the potential of the synthesis route is validated on three examples, (1) a new family of intrinsically doped sodium cuprates(II/III), featuring first unambiguous manifestations of a Wigner lattice and frustrated magnetic coupling, (2) several new oxocobaltates(III) with cobalt(III) in tetrahedral coordination, which used to be regarded as uncommon, displaying competing magnetic exchange interactions within or between oligomeric cobaltate anions, and (3) alkali oxometalates featuring "exotic" structural properties.
The Structural Chemistry of Quaternary Chalcogenides of the Type AMM'Q3
Authors: Koscielski Lukasz A. , Ibers James A.
Published: September 2012

The rich structural chemistry of compounds of the type AMM'Q3, where A is an s‐block alkali‐ or alkaline‐earth metal, M is a d‐block transition metal, M' is another d‐block metal or an f‐block metal, and Q is a chalcogen, is discussed. We briefly consider the syntheses and physical property measurements of these compounds, but our main emphasis is on differences and trends among the seven structure types in which the 160 known, structurally characterized compounds crystallize.
On the Precarious Cusp of Genetic Medicine
Authors: Powell Anne Martin
Published: September 2012

This is the story of two brothers at the dawn of genetic medicine, the first severely disabled by cerebral palsy, the other an MD scientist who happens to uncover the genetic cause of his brother's condition. A test confirms their mother's carrier status. But what about their only sister—is she a carrier as well? The question would send the author down a path she never dreamed she would take.
Mitochondriale Erkrankungen
Authors: Horvath R. , Abicht A.
Published: September 2012

Mitochondriale Erkrankungen sind – wie auch die übrigen Artikel dieses Schwerpunkthefts verdeutlichen – ein weites Feld in der klinischen Genetik. Aufgrund des bunten klinischen Bildes sowohl bei Kindern als auch bei Erwachsenen ergeben sich relativ häufig Konstellationen, in denen auch eine mitochondriale Erkrankung in das differenzialdiagnostische Spektrum mit einbezogen wird. In der genetischen Beratung stellt dies eine besondere Herausforderung dar, da unter dieser Verdachtsdiagnose grundsätzlich alle Erbgänge, inklusive einer maternalen Vererbung, möglich sind und gleichzeitig eine zielgerichtete Diagnostik zum molekulargenetischen Beleg oder auch Ausschluss der Diagnose durch die außerordentliche genetische Heterogenität erschwert ist. Im Folgenden erläutern wir ein rationales Vorgehen in der molekulargenetischen Diagnostik und besondere Aspekte der genetischen Beratung.
Advancing Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, treatment, and care: Recommendations from the Ware Invitational Summit
Authors: Naylor Mary D. , Karlawish Jason H. , Arnold Steven E. , Khachaturian Ara S. , Khachaturian Zaven S. , Lee Virginia M.‐Y. , Baumgart Matthew , Banerjee Sube , Beck Cornelia , Blennow Kaj , Brookmeyer Ron , Brunden Kurt R. , Buckwalter Kathleen C. , Comer Meryl , Covinsky Kenneth , Feinberg Lynn Friss , Frisoni Giovanni , Green Colin , Guimaraes Renato Maia , Gwyther Lisa P. , Hefti Franz F. , Hutton Michael , Kawas Claudia , Kent David M. , Kuller Lewis , Langa Kenneth M. , Mahley Robert W. , Maslow Katie , Masters Colin L. , Meier Diane E. , Neumann Peter J. , Paul Steven M. , Petersen Ronald C. , Sager Mark A. , Sano Mary , Schenk Dale , Soares Holly , Sperling Reisa A. , Stahl Sidney M. , van Deerlin Vivianna , Stern Yaakov , Weir David , Wolk David A. , Trojanowski John Q.
Published: September 2012

To address the pending public health crisis due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders, the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania held a meeting entitled “State of the Science Conference on the Advancement of Alzheimer's Diagnosis, Treatment and Care,” on June 21‐22, 2012. The meeting comprised four workgroups focusing on Biomarkers; Clinical Care and Health Services Research; Drug Development; and Health Economics, Policy, and Ethics. The workgroups shared, discussed, and compiled an integrated set of priorities, recommendations, and action plans, which are presented in this article.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Poststroke Falls After Discharge From Inpatient Rehabilitation
Authors: Lim Jong Youb , Jung Se Hee , Kim Won‐Seok , Paik Nam‐Jong
Published: September 2012

Objective

To investigate the incidence of falls and risk factors for falls in persons who had a stroke.

Design

Telephone survey.

Setting

Tertiary university hospital.

Patients and Methods

Patients who had a stroke and were admitted to the rehabilitation unit between April 2006 and July 2008 were listed and contacted by telephone from February 2009 to August 2009.

Main Outcome Measurements

Information obtained from the interviews, which were performed 20 ± 8 months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, included demographic data, information about falls, and current ambulatory function. After the telephone interview, medical records of participants during admission were reviewed.

Results

Of the 404 enrolled patients, 330 were included in the analysis. Of the 330 patients, 62 (19%) had a history of a fall after stroke onset. Of 222 ambulatory patients, 51 patients (23%) fell. Falls frequently occurred in winter, and most falls occurred indoors (70%). Twenty‐nine percent of patients experienced repeated falls. About half of those who fell were injured, and 11% sustained fractures. Patients who had a stroke and had severe deficits showed a lower probability of poststroke falls. In a subgroup analysis of patients with ambulatory capacity, left‐sided hemiplegia/hemiparesis was associated with an increased risk of falls.

Conclusions

This study reveals a high incidence of poststroke falls after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. More caution should be taken for patients with ambulatory ability and left hemiplegia/hemiparesis because they are more vulnerable to falls after a stroke. An increased prevalence of fear of falling in people who fell suggests that an appropriate intervention to reduce fear of falling should be provided to patients who have had a stroke.
ON LOCALLY DEFINED FORMATIONS OF SOLUBLE LIE AND LEIBNIZ ALGEBRAS
Authors: BARNES DONALD W.
Published: September 2012

It is well known that all saturated formations of finite soluble groups are locally defined and, except for the trivial formation, have many different local definitions. I show that for Lie and Leibniz algebras over a field of characteristic 0, the formations of all nilpotent algebras and of all soluble algebras are the only locally defined formations and the latter has many local definitions. Over a field of nonzero characteristic, a saturated formation of soluble Lie algebras has at most one local definition, but a locally defined saturated formation of soluble Leibniz algebras other than that of nilpotent algebras has more than one local definition.
NEW REDUCTIONS AND LOGARITHMIC LOWER BOUNDS FOR THE NUMBER OF CONJUGACY CLASSES IN FINITE GROUPS
Authors: BERTRAM EDWARD A.
Published: September 2012

The unsolved problem of whether there exists a positive constant $c$ such that the number $k(G)$ of conjugacy classes in any finite group $G$ satisfies $k(G) \geq c \log _{2}|G|$ has attracted attention for many years. Deriving bounds on $k(G)$ from (that is, reducing the problem to) lower bounds on $k(N)$ and $k(G/N)$, $N\trianglelefteq G$, plays a critical role. Recently Keller proved the best lower bound known for solvable groups: \[ k(G)\gt c_{0} \frac {\log _{2}|G|} {\log _{2} \log _{2} |G|}\quad (|G|\geq 4) \] using such a reduction. We show that there are many reductions using $k(G/N) \geq \beta [G : N]^{\alpha }$ or $k(G/N) \geq \beta (\log [G : N])^{t}$ which, together with other information about $G$ and $N$ or $k(N)$, yield a logarithmic lower bound on $k(G)$.
A meta-analysis of host specificity in Neotropical hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)
Authors: Nava S. , Guglielmone A.A.
Published: September 2012

Host specificity of Neotropical hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) was analyzed by using the number of hosts species for each tick species and the index of host specificity STD*, which integrates phylogenetic and ecological information. The analyses were based on 4172 records of hard ticks collected from wild and domestic tetrapods. Most tick species included in this study were associated with three to 20 host species. No tick species has been associated either with a single species or with a single genus of host. It was found that the number of host species is sensitive to sampling effort, but not the STD*. The most frequent values of STD* were between 2.5 and 3.5, which shows that the host species more frequently used by Neotropical hard tick species belong to different families or different orders. Immature stages tend to use a broader taxonomic range of hosts than adults, and the interpretation of both measures of host specificity used in this study led to the conclusion that the impact of non-endemic hosts does not alter the patterns of host specificity in Neotropical hard ticks. The index STD* showed that a high proportion of tick species has phylogenetically unrelated species as principal hosts. The conclusion reached in this work indicates that strict host specificity is not common among Neotropical hard ticks and suggests that the influence of tick ecology and evolution of habitat specificity, tick generation time, phenology, time spent off the host and the type of life-cycle could be more important than hosts species.
Classification of irreducible Harish-Chandra modules over generalized Virasoro algebras
Authors: Guo Xiangqian , Lu Rencai , Zhao Kaiming
Published: September 2012

Let G be an arbitrary non-zero additive subgroup of the complex number field ℂ, and let Vir[G] be the corresponding generalized Virasoro algebra over ℂ. In this paper we determine all irreducible weight modules with finite-dimensional weight spaces over Vir[G]. The classification strongly depends on the index group G. If G does not have a direct summand isomorphic to ℤ (the integers), then such irreducible modules over Vir[G] are only modules of intermediate series whose weight spaces are all one dimensional. Otherwise, there is one further class of modules that are constructed by using intermediate series modules over a generalized Virasoro subalgebra Vir[G0] of Vir[G] for a direct summand G0 of G with G = G0 ⊕ ℤb, where b ∈ G \ G0. This class of irreducible weight modules do not have corresponding weight modules for the classical Virasoro algebra.
The acquisition of interpretable features in L2 Spanish: Personala
Authors: GUIJARRO-FUENTES PEDRO
Published: September 2012

This paper examines the acquisition of interpretable features in English second language (L2) learners of Spanish by investigating the personal preposition a in Spanish. The distribution of a in direct object NPs relates to the animacy/specificity of the NP, the animacy/agentivity of the subject, and the semantics of the predicate (Torrego, 1998; Zagona, 2002); i.e., personal a is conditioned by the interpretability of semantic features. Forty-nine English L2 learners of Spanish of three different proficiency levels, and 16 Spanish controls took part in a Completion Task and an Acceptability Judgement Task. These revealed that L2 learners of Spanish of all proficiency levels behaved differently from native speakers of Spanish. The L2 learners appear to have acquired some of the interpretable features (i.e., [±animate]), but show delays with others. Nonetheless, our data show partial convergence by advanced learners with the native speakers: some features are acquirable, while others may be less accessible and subject to developmental processes. In explaining our data we appeal to Lardiere's (2008, 2009) Feature Reassembly Hypothesis, but assess it critically and aim to develop it further by considering the complexity constraints in terms of the number of features involved and their configuration.
Degree of conversational code-switching enhances verbal task switching in Cantonese–English bilinguals
Authors: YIM ODILIA , BIALYSTOK ELLEN
Published: September 2012

The study examined individual differences in code-switching to determine the relationship between code-switching frequency and performance in verbal and non-verbal task switching. Seventy-eight Cantonese–English bilinguals completed a semi-structured conversation to quantify natural code-switching, a verbal fluency task requiring language switching, and two non-verbal switching tasks. Participants who engaged in more conversational code-switching showed smaller costs in verbal task switching than those who switched languages less frequently. Participants performed similarly to bilinguals in previous studies on non-verbal switching tasks, but in this case performance was not linked to the degree of conversational code switching. The difference in the influence of code-switching for verbal and non-verbal executive control tasks indicates a dissociation between domains for the mechanism of task switching.