bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Which extended paramedic skills are making an impact in emergency care and can be related to the UK paramedic system? A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Evans Rachel , McGovern Ruth , Birch Jennifer , Newbury-Birch Dorothy
Published: April 2013

Background

Increasing demand on the UK emergency services is creating interest in reviewing the structure and content of ambulance services. Only 10% of emergency calls have been seen to be life-threatening and, thus, paramedics, as many patients’ first contact with the health service, have the potential to use their skills to reduce the demand on Emergency Departments. This systematic literature review aimed to identify evidence of paramedics trained with extra skills and the impact of this on patient care and interrelating services such as General Practices or Emergency Departments.

Methods

International literature from Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest, Scopus and grey literature from 1990 were included. Articles about any prehospital emergency care provider trained with extra skill(s) beyond their baseline competencies and evaluated in practice were included. Specific procedures for certain conditions and the extensively evaluated UK Emergency Care Practitioner role were excluded.

Results

8724 articles were identified, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria. 14 articles considered paramedic patient assessment and management skills, two articles considered paramedic safeguarding skills, two health education and learning sharing and one health information. There is valuable evidence for paramedic assessing and managing patients autonomously to reduce Emergency Department conveyance which is acceptable to patients and carers. Evidence for other paramedic skills is less robust, reflecting a difficulty with rigorous research in prehospital emergency care.

Conclusions

This review identifies many viable extra skills for paramedics but the evidence is not strong enough to guide policy. The findings should be used to guide future research, particularly into paramedic care for elderly people.
Transvenous Onyx embolization of a subependymal deep arteriovenous malformation with a single drainage vein: technical note
Authors: Martínez-Galdámez Mario , Saura Pedro , Saura Javier , Muñiz Jesus , Albisua Julio , Pérez-Higueras Antonio
Published: April 2013

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon. Treatment options include embolization, radiosurgery and surgery, separately or combined, the final goal being complete occlusion of the malformation. We describe the case of a symptomatic small subependymal AVM with a single deep drainage vein previously treated unsuccessfully by radiosurgery and transarterial embolization. The AVM was successfully embolized transvenously using Onyx, achieving complete occlusion in a single treatment session.
Seasonal differences in the relative importance of specific phenolics and twig morphology result in contrasting patterns of foraging by a generalist herbivore
Authors: Stolter C. , Ball John P. , Julkunen-Tiitto R.
Published: April 2013

The co-evolved relationship between the chemical composition of plants and herbivory is fundamental in understanding diet selection of herbivores and their impacts on plants and ecosystems. However, the impact of plant secondary chemistry on mammalian herbivory is not fully understood. We investigated seasonal influences of phenolics with low molecular weight (e.g., flavonoids, salicylates) and plant morphology of the tea-leaved willow (Salix phylicifolia L.) on moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) foraging. We analysed the relationship of different phenolic compounds in twigs and browsing in winter, and in leaves and the degree of leaf stripping in summer, and the role of plant morphology. In winter, higher concentrations of phenolics, e.g., myricetin-related compounds (belonging to the flavonoids), had a negative impact on herbivory by moose. This impact was not associated with a single compound but instead seemed to be more a result of synergistic or additive effects of different compounds. In contrast, the models for summer browsing showed a pronounced effect of plant morphology. Our analyses reveal differences in the relative importance of phenolics of low molecular weight and plant morphology on diet selection between seasons. These findings are relevant for understanding feeding decisions and mechanisms deterring mammalian herbivores known for shaping the vegetation on the ecosystem level.
A SEMANTIC SECURITY FRAMEWORK FOR SYSTEMS OF SYSTEMS
Authors: TRIVELLATO DANIEL , ZANNONE NICOLA , GLAUNDRUP MAURICE , SKOWRONEK JACEK , ETALLE SANDRO
Published: April 2013

Systems of systems (SoS) are dynamic coalitions of distributed, autonomous and heterogeneous systems that collaborate to achieve a common goal. While offering several advantages in terms of scalability and flexibility, the SoS paradigm has a strong impact on systems interoperability and on the security requirements of the collaborating parties. In this paper, we introduce a service-oriented security framework that protects the information exchanged among the parties in an SoS, while preserving parties' autonomy and interoperability. Confidentiality and integrity of information are protected by combining context-aware access control with trust management. Autonomy and interoperability among parties are enabled by the use of ontology-based services. More precisely, parties may refer to different ontologies to define the semantics of the terms used in their security policies and to describe domain knowledge and context information; a semantic alignment technique is then employed to map concepts from different ontologies and align the parties' vocabularies. We demonstrate the applicability of our solution by deploying a prototype implementation of the framework in an SoS in the maritime safety and security domain.
METABOLIC COST AS AN ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE FOR COOPERATIVE LEARNING
Authors: BALDUZZI DAVID , ORTEGA PEDRO A. , BESSERVE MICHEL
Published: April 2013

This article investigates how neurons can use metabolic cost to facilitate learning at a population level. Although decision-making by individual neurons has been extensively studied, questions regarding how neurons should behave to cooperate effectively remain largely unaddressed. Under assumptions that capture a few basic features of cortical neurons, we show that constraining reward maximization by metabolic cost aligns the information content of actions with their expected reward. Thus, metabolic cost provides a mechanism whereby neurons encode expected reward into their outputs. Further, aside from reducing energy expenditures, imposing a tight metabolic constraint also increases the accuracy of empirical estimates of rewards, increasing the robustness of distributed learning. Finally, we present two implementations of metabolically constrained learning that confirm our theoretical finding. These results suggest that metabolic cost may be an organizing principle underlying the neural code, and may also provide a useful guide to the design and analysis of other cooperating populations.
Synthesis and characterization of some octaalkyl substituted lead phthalocyanines and unexpected variations in lead lability arising from the position of substituents and their chain length
Authors: Sosa-Vargas Lydia X. , Chambrier Isabelle , MacDonald Colin J. , Coles Simon J. , Tizzard Graham J. , Cammidge Andrew N. , Cook Michael J.
Published: April 2013

The preparation of some peripherally substituted (2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24) and non-peripherally substituted (1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25) octaalkyl lead(II) phthalocyanines with different alkyl chain lengths (6, 7, 8 or 9 carbons) is described and a comparison of some of their properties reported. X-ray structure analyses of the isomeric peripheral and non-peripheral octakis(octyl)phthalocyaninato lead(II) compounds reveal a greater degree of distortion of the ligand ring system from planarity in the former derivative. The series of peripherally substituted octaalkyl lead(II) phthalocyanines exhibit columnar liquid crystal behavior whereas the non-peripherally substituted isomers do not. The lability of the lead ion was investigated using 1 H NMR spectrometry under a specific set of conditions (8.8 × 10-4 M solutions of the phthalocyanine in d8-toluene containing d4-acetic acid 2.06 × 10-5 M). All the compounds underwent acid catalyzed demetalation at rates dependent upon the location of the substituents and, more surprisingly, the chain length of the alkyl groups. Under these conditions the lead ion within each of the peripherally substituted octaalkyl lead phthalocyanines was more labile than that in the non-peripherally substituted isomer.
MAGNETO-OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS OF COLLECTIVE SPIN DYNAMICS OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS OF FERROMAGNETIC NANOELEMENTS
Authors: RANA BIVAS , BARMAN ANJAN
Published: April 2013

Magnetic nanodot arrays are interesting systems for future applications in nanotechnology including patterned magnetic media, magnonic crystals, magnetic logic, sensors, STNOs and biomedical applications. All applications require the knowledge base of magnetization processes of magnetic nanodot arrays at various time and length scales. Here, we review the present status of experimental studies of picosecond precessional magnetization dynamics in magnetic nanodot arrays. We discuss the fabrication methods of magnetic nanodot arrays and excitation and detection methods of precessional dynamics by optical means. We further discuss the all-optical excitation and detection of precessional dynamics in Ni80Fe20 (permalloy) nanodot arrays with width between 200 nm and 50 nm and with interdot separation between 50 nm and 400 nm. A transition from strongly collective dynamics to completely isolated dynamics through various weakly collective regimes, variation of precession frequency and damping with the interdot separation, effects of dipolar and quadrupolar interdot interaction, effects of the variation of dot size on the dynamics of single elements and arrays, and anisotropy of collective dynamics have been thoroughly studied by experimental and micromagnetic simulation results. Finally, we discuss the future directions in the research on the dynamics of magnetic nanodot arrays.
CORM-A1 prevents blood-brain barrier dysfunction caused by ionotropic glutamate receptor-mediated endothelial oxidative stress and apoptosis
Authors: Basuroy Shyamali , Leffler Charles W. , Parfenova Helena
Published: April 2013

In cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVEC) of newborn pigs, glutamate at excitotoxic concentrations (mM) causes apoptosis mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Carbon monoxide (CO) produced by CMVEC or delivered by a CO-releasing molecule, CORM-A1, has antioxidant properties. We tested the hypothesis that CORM-A1 prevents cerebrovascular endothelial barrier dysfunction caused by glutamate excitotoxicity. First, we identified the glutamate receptors (GluRs) and enzymatic sources of ROS involved in the mechanism of endothelial apoptosis. In glutamate-exposed CMVEC, ROS formation and apoptosis were blocked by rotenone, 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), and antimycin, indicating that mitochondrial complexes I, II, and III are the major sources of oxidative stress. Agonists of ionotropic GluRs (iGluRs) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), cis-ACPD, AMPA, and kainate increased ROS production and apoptosis, whereas iGluR antagonists exhibited antiapoptotic properties, suggesting that iGluRs mediate glutamate-induced endothelial apoptosis. The functional consequences of endothelial injury were tested in the model of blood-brain barrier (BBB) composed of CMVEC monolayer on semipermeable membranes. Glutamate and iGluR agonists reduced transendothelial electrical resistance and increased endothelial paracellular permeability to 3-kDa dextran. CORM-A1 exhibited potent antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties in CMVEC and completely prevented BBB dysfunction caused by glutamate and iGluR agonists. Overall, the endothelial component of the BBB is a cellular target for excitotoxic glutamate that, via a mechanism involving a iGluR-mediated activation of mitochondrial ROS production and apoptosis, leads to BBB opening that may be prevented by the antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions of CORMs. Antioxidant CORMs therapy may help preserve BBB functional integrity in neonatal cerebrovascular disease.
Mechanism of the circadian clock in physiology
Authors: Richards Jacob , Gumz Michelle L.
Published: April 2013

It has been well established that the circadian clock plays a crucial role in the regulation of almost every physiological process. It also plays a critical role in pathophysiological states including those of obesity and diabetes. Recent evidence has highlighted the potential for targeting the circadian clock as a potential drug target. New studies have also demonstrated the existence of “clock-independent effects” of the circadian proteins, leading to exciting new avenues of research in the circadian clock field in physiology. The goal of this review is to provide an introduction to and overview of the circadian clock in physiology, including mechanisms, targets, and role in disease states. The role of the circadian clocks in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, renal function, metabolism, the endocrine system, immune, and reproductive systems will be discussed.
Ontogeny of ornithine-urea cycle gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: LeMoine Christophe M. R. , Walsh Patrick J.
Published: April 2013

Although the majority of adult teleosts excrete most of their nitrogenous wastes as ammonia, several fish species are capable of producing urea early in development. In zebrafish, it is unclear whether this results from a functional ornithine-urea cycle (O-UC) and, if so, how it might be regulated. This study examined the spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression of four major O-UC enzymes: carbamoyl phosphate synthase III (CPSIII), ornithine transcarboxylase, arginosuccinate synthetase, and arginosuccinate lyase, using real-time PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization. In addition, we hypothesized that CPSIII gene expression was epigenetically regulated through methylation of its promoter, a widespread mode of differential gene regulation between tissues and life stages in vertebrates. Furthermore, to assess CPSIII functionality, we used morpholinos to silence CPSIII in zebrafish embryos and assessed their nitrogenous waste handling during development, and in response to ammonia injections. Our results suggest that mRNAs of O-UC enzymes are expressed early in zebrafish development and colocalize to the embryonic endoderm. In addition, the methylation status of CPSIII promoter is not consistent with the patterns of expression observed in developing larvae or adult tissues, suggesting other means of transcriptional regulation of this enzyme. Finally, CPSIII morphants exhibited a transient reduction in CPSIII enzyme activity 24 h postfertilization, which was paralleled by reduced urea production during development and in response to an ammonia challenge. Overall, we conclude that the O-UC is functional in zebrafish embryos, providing further evidence that the capacity to produce urea via the O-UC is widespread in developing teleosts.
Spontaneous fluctuation indices of the cardiovagal baroreflex accurately measure the baroreflex sensitivity at the operating point during upright tilt
Authors: Schwartz Christopher E. , Medow Marvin S. , Messer Zachary , Stewart Julian M.
Published: April 2013

Spontaneous fluctuation indices of cardiovagal baroreflex have been suggested to be inaccurate measures of baroreflex function during orthostatic stress compared with alternate open-loop methods (e.g. neck pressure/suction, modified Oxford method). We therefore tested the hypothesis that spontaneous fluctuation measurements accurately reflect local baroreflex gain (slope) at the operating point measured by the modified Oxford method, and that apparent differences between these two techniques during orthostasis can be explained by a resetting of the baroreflex function curve. We computed the sigmoidal baroreflex function curves supine and during 70° tilt in 12 young, healthy individuals. With the use of the modified Oxford method, slopes (gains) of supine and upright curves were computed at their maxima ( Gmax) and operating points. These were compared with measurements of spontaneous indices in both positions. Supine spontaneous analyses of operating point slope were similar to calculated Gmaxof the modified Oxford curve. In contrast, upright operating point was distant from the centering point of the reset curve and fell on the nonlinear portion of the curve. Whereas spontaneous fluctuation measurements were commensurate with the calculated slope of the upright modified Oxford curve at the operating point, they were significantly lower than Gmax. In conclusion, spontaneous measurements of cardiovagal baroreflex function accurately estimate the slope near operating points in both supine and upright position.
Notch4-dependent antagonism of canonical TGF-β1 signaling defines unique temporal fluctuations of SMAD3 activity in sheared proximal tubular epithelial cells
Authors: Grabias Bryan M. , Konstantopoulos Konstantinos
Published: April 2013

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is thought to drive fibrogenesis in numerous organ systems. However, we recently established that ectopic expression of TGF-β1 abrogates collagen accumulation via canonical SMAD signaling mechanisms in a shear-induced model of kidney fibrosis. We herein delineate the temporal control of endogenous TGF-β1 signaling that generates sustained synchronous fluctuations in TGF-β1 cascade activation in shear-stimulated proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). During 8-h exposure to physiological shear stress (0.3 dyn/cm2), PTECs experience in situ oscillatory concentrations of active endogenous TGF-β1 that are ∼10-fold greater than those detected under higher stress regimes (2–4 dyn/cm2). The elevated levels of intrinsic TGF-β1 maturation observed under physiological conditions are accompanied by persistent downstream SMAD3 activation. Pathological shear stresses (2 dyn/cm2) first elicit temporal variations in phosphorylated SMAD3 with an apparent period of ∼6 h, whereas even higher stresses (4 dyn/cm2) abolish SMAD3 activation. These divergent patterns of SMAD3 activation are attributed to varying levels of Notch4-dependent phospho-SMAD3 degradation. Depletion of Notch4 in shear-stimulated PTECs eventually increases the levels of active TGF-β1 protein by approximately fivefold, recovers stable SMAD phosphorylation and ubiquitinated SMAD species, and attenuates collagen accumulation. Collectively, these data establish Notch4 as a critical mediator of shear-induced fibrosis and further reinforce the renoprotective effects of canonical TGF-β1 signaling.
N-acetylcysteine ameliorates acute kidney injury but not glomerular hemorrhage in an animal model of warfarin-related nephropathy
Authors: Ware Kyle , Qamri Zahida , Ozcan Ayhan , Satoskar Anjali A. , Nadasdy Gyongyi , Rovin Brad H. , Hebert Lee A. , Nadasdy Tibor , Brodsky Sergey V.
Published: April 2013

Warfarin-related nephropathy (WRN) occurs under conditions of overanticoagulation with warfarin. WRN is characterized by glomerular hemorrhage with occlusive tubular red blood cell (RBC) casts and acute kidney injury (AKI). Herein we test the hypothesis that oxidative stress plays a role in the AKI of WRN. 5/6 Nephrectomy rats were treated with either warfarin (0.04 mg·kg−1·day−1) alone or with four different doses of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Also tested was the ability of our NAC regimen to mitigate AKI in a standard ischemia-reperfusion model in the rat. Warfarin resulted in a threefold or greater increase in prothrombin time in each experimental group. Serum creatinine (Scr) increased progressively in animals receiving only warfarin + vehicle. However, in animals receiving warfarin + NAC, the increase in Scr was lessened, starting at 40 mg·kg−1·day−1NAC, and completely prevented at 80 mg·kg−1·day−1NAC. NAC did not decrease hematuria or obstructive RBC casts, but mitigated acute tubular injury. Oxidative stress in the kidney was increased in animals with WRN and it was decreased by NAC. The NAC regimen used in the WRN model preserved kidney function in the ischemia-reperfusion model. Treatment with deferoxamine (iron chelator) did not affect WRN. No iron was detected in tubular epithelial cells. In conclusion, this work taken together with our previous works in WRN shows that glomerular hematuria is a necessary but not sufficient explanation for the AKI in WRN. The dominant mechanism of the AKI of WRN is tubular obstruction by RBC casts with increased oxidative stress in the kidney.
Characterization of inward currents and channels underlying burst activity in motoneurons of crab cardiac ganglion
Authors: Ransdell Joseph L. , Temporal Simone , West Nicole L. , Leyrer Megan L. , Schulz David J.
Published: April 2013

Large cell motoneurons in the Cancer borealis cardiac ganglion generate rhythmic bursts of action potentials responsible for cardiac contractions. While it is well known that these burst potentials are dependent on coordinated interactions among depolarizing and hyperpolarizing conductances, the depolarizing currents present in these cells, and their biophysical characteristics, have not been thoroughly described. In this study we used a combined molecular biology and electrophysiology approach to look at channel identity, expression, localization, and biophysical properties for two distinct high-voltage-activated calcium currents present in these cells: a slow calcium current ( ICaS) and a transient calcium current ( ICaT). Our data indicate that CbCaV1 is a putative voltage-gated calcium channel subunit in part responsible for an L-type current, while CbCaV2 (formerly cacophony) is a subunit in part responsible for a P/Q-type current. These channels appear to be localized primarily to the somata of the motoneurons. A third calcium channel gene (CbCaV3) was identified that encodes a putative T-type calcium channel subunit and is expressed in these cells, but electrophysiological studies failed to detect this current in motoneuron somata. In addition, we identify and characterize for the first time in these cells a calcium-activated nonselective cationic current ( ICAN), as well as a largely noninactivating TTX-sensitive current reminiscent of a persistent sodium current. The identification and further characterization of these currents allow both biological and modeling studies to move forward with more attention to the complexity of interactions among these distinct components underlying generation of bursting output in motoneurons.
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism alters spinal DC stimulation-induced plasticity in humans
Authors: Lamy Jean-Charles , Boakye Maxwell
Published: April 2013

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) is one of many genes thought to influence neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the BDNF gene due to valine-to-methionine substitution at codon 66 (BDNF Val66Met) in the normal population has been associated with complex neuronal phenotype, including differences in brain morphology, episodic memory, or cortical plasticity following brain stimulation and is believed to influence synaptic changes following motor learning task. However, the effect of this polymorphism on spinal plasticity remains largely unknown. Here, we used anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), a novel noninvasive technique that induces plasticity of spinal neuronal circuits in healthy subjects. To investigate whether the susceptibility of tsDCS probes of spinal plasticity is significantly influenced by BDNF polymorphism, we collected stimulus-response curves of the soleus (Sol) H reflex before, during, at current offset, and 15 min after anodal tsDCS delivered at Th11 (2.5 mA, 15 min, 0.071 mA/cm2, and 64 mC/cm2) in 17 healthy, Met allele carriers and 17 Val homozygotes who were matched for age and sex. Anodal tsDCS induced a progressive leftward shift of recruitment curve of the H reflex during the stimulation that persisted for at least 15 min after current offset in Val/Val individuals. In contrast, this shift was not observed in Met allele carriers. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that the BDNF Val66Met genotype impacts spinal plasticity in humans, as assessed by tsDCS, and may be one factor influencing the natural response of the spinal cord to injury or disease.
Understanding Multiferroic Hexagonal Manganites by Static and Ultrafast Optical Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Yu Ting , Luo Chih Wei , Kobayashi Takayoshi
Published: April 2013

Multiferroic hexagonal manganites ReMnO3studied by optics are reviewed. Their electronic structures were revealed by static linear and nonlinear spectra. Two transitions located at~1.7 eV and~2.3 eV have been observed and attributed to the interband transitions from the lower-lying Mn3+dxy/dx2-y2anddxz/dyzstates to the Mn3+d3z2-r2state, respectively. These so-called d-d transitions exhibit a blueshift as decreasing temperatures and an extra blueshift nearTN. This dramatic change indicates that the magnetic ordering seriously influences the electronic structure. On the other hand, the ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopy has provided the important information on spin-charge coupling and spin-lattice coupling. Because of the strongly correlation between electronic structure and magnetic ordering, the amplitude of the initial rising component inΔR/Rshows striking changes at the vicinity ofTN. Moreover, the coherent optical and acoustic phonons were observed on optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Both the amplitude and dephasing time of coherent phonons also exhibit significant changes atTN, which provide the evidence for spin-lattice interaction in these intriguing materials.
Identifying At-Risk Subpopulations of Canadians with Limited Health Literacy
Authors: Yamashita Takashi , Bailer A. John , Noe Douglas A.
Published: April 2013

Background. Health literacy, the set of skills for locating, understanding, and using health-related information, is associated with various health outcomes through health behaviors and health care service use. While health literacy has great potential for addressing health disparities stemming from the differing educational attainment in diverse populations, knowledge about subpopulations that share the same risk factors is useful. Objective. This study employed a logistic regression tree algorithm to identify subpopulations at risk of limited health literacy in Canadian adults. Design. The nationally representative data were derived from the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (n = 20,059). The logistic regression tree algorithm splits the samples into subgroups and fits logistic regressions. Results. Results showed that the subpopulation comprised of individuals 56 years and older, with household income less than $50,000, no participation in adult education programs, and lack of reading activities (i.e., newspaper, books) was at the greatest risk (82%) of limited health literacy. Other identified subgroups were displayed in an easily interpreted tree diagram. Conclusions. Identified subpopulations organized in tree diagrams according to the risk of limited health literacy inform not only intervention programs targeting unique subpopulations but also future health literacy research.
Piecewise-Smooth Support Vector Machine for Classification
Authors: Wu Qing , Wang Wenqing
Published: April 2013

Support vector machine (SVM) has been applied very successfully in a variety of classification systems. We attempt to solve the primal programming problems of SVM by converting them into smooth unconstrained minimization problems. In this paper, a new twice continuously differentiable piecewise-smooth function is proposed to approximate the plus function, and it issues a piecewise-smooth support vector machine (PWSSVM). The novel method can efficiently handle large-scale and high dimensional problems. The theoretical analysis demonstrates its advantages in efficiency and precision over other smooth functions. PWSSVM is solved using the fast Newton-Armijo algorithm. Experimental results are given to show the training speed and classification performance of our approach.
Does Time between Imaging Diagnosis and Initiation of Radiotherapy Impact Survival after Whole-Brain Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases?
Authors: Nieder Carsten , Spanne Oddvar , Haukland Ellinor , Dalhaug Astrid
Published: April 2013

Aims. To evaluate whether reduced waiting time influences survival of patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases. Materials and Methods. Retrospective intention-to-treat study including 110 patients treated with primary WBRT (typically 10 fractions of 3 Gy; no other treatment between diagnosis and WBRT). Uni- and multivariate tests were performed. Results. Median delay between imaging diagnosis and WBRT was 12 days (range 0–66 days). WBRT started within 1 week in 36%, during the second week in 28%, and during the third week in 18% of patients. No significant correlation between waiting time and survival was evident, except for one subgroup of patients. Those without extracranial metastases (potentially more threatened by worse intracranial disease control) survived for a median of 2.5 months from WBRT if waiting time was 2 weeks or longer as compared to 5.6 months if waiting time was shorter than 2 weeks (). The same correlation was seen if survival was computed from imaging diagnosis. Conclusion. If departmental resources are not sufficient to provide immediate WBRT within 2 weeks to all patients, those without extracranial metastases should be prioritised. This study did not address the impact of waiting time on quality of life or symptom palliation.
Left and Right Inverse Eigenpairs Problem forκ-Hermitian Matrices
Authors: Li Fan-Liang , Hu Xi-Yan , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2013

Left and right inverse eigenpairs problem forκ-hermitian matrices and its optimal approximate problem are considered. Based on the special properties ofκ-hermitian matrices, the equivalent problem is obtained. Combining a new inner product of matrices, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the problem and its general solutions are derived. Furthermore, the optimal approximate solution and a calculation procedure to obtain the optimal approximate solution are provided.
Catechins and Sialic Acid AttenuateHelicobacter pylori-Triggered Epithelial Caspase-1 Activity and EradicateHelicobacter pyloriInfection
Authors: Yang Jyh-Chin , Yang Hung-Chih , Shun Chia-Tung , Wang Teh-Hong , Chien Chiang-Ting , Kao John Y.
Published: April 2013

The inflammasome/caspase-1 signaling pathway in immune cells plays a critical role in bacterial pathogenesis; however, the regulation of this pathway in the gastric epithelium duringHelicobacter pyloriinfection is yet to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the effect of catechins (CAs), sialic acid (SA), or combination of CA and SA (CASA) onH. pylori-induced caspase-1-mediated epithelial damage, as well asH. pyloricolonizationin vitro(AGS cells) andin vivo(BALB/c mice). Our results indicate that the activity of caspase-1 and the expression of its downstream substrate IL-1βwere upregulated inH. pylori-infected AGS cells. In addition, we observed increased oxidative stress, NADPH oxidase gp91phox, CD68, caspase-1/IL-1β, and apoptosis, but decreased autophagy, in the gastric mucosa ofH. pylori-infected mice. We have further demonstrated that treatment with CASA led to synergistic anti-H. pyloriactivity and was more effective than treatment with CA or SA alone. In particular, treatment with CASA for 10 days eradicatedH. pyloriinfection in up to 95% ofH. pylori-infected mice. Taken together, we suggest that the pathogenesis ofH. pyloriinvolves a gastric epithelial inflammasome/caspase-1 signaling pathway, and our results show that CASA was able to attenuate this pathway and effectively eradicateH. pyloriinfection.
Dynamic Output Feedback Passive Control of Uncertain Switched Stochastic Systems with Time-Varying Delay
Authors: Jia Huimei , Karimi Hamid Reza , Xiang Zhengrong
Published: April 2013

This paper is concerned with the issues of passivity analysis and dynamic output feedback (DOF) passive control for uncertain switched stochastic systems with time-varying delay via multiple storage functions (MSFs) method. Firstly, based on the MSFs method, a sufficient condition for the existence of the passivity of the underlying system is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Furthermore, the problem of dynamic output feedback passive control is investigated. Based on the obtained passivity condition, a sufficient condition for the existence of the desired switched passive controller is derived. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Congenital Diverticular Disease of the Entire Colon
Authors: Patel A. , Joshi H. M. N. , Kaur C. , Wilson J. M.
Published: April 2013

Congenital or true colonic diverticulosis is a rare condition typified by the preservation of the colonic wall architecture within the diverticular outpouching. Cases of multiple jejunal diverticula have been reported as well as cases of solitary giant diverticula of the colon. There have been no reports in the literature of pancolonic congenital diverticulosis.
Increasing Possibilities of Nanosuspension
Authors: Sutradhar Kumar Bishwajit , Khatun Sabera , Luna Irin Parven
Published: April 2013

Nowadays, a very large proportion of new drug candidates emerging from drug discovery programmes are water insoluble and thus poorly bioavailable. To avoid this problem, nanotechnology for drug delivery has gained much interest as a way to improve the solubility problems. Nano refers to particles size range of 1–1000 nm. The reduction of drug particles into the submicron range leads to a significant increase in the dissolution rate and therefore enhances bioavailability. Nanosuspensions are part of nanotechnology. This interacts with the body at subcellular (i.e., molecular) scales with a high degree of specificity and can be potentially translated into targeted cellular and tissue-specific clinical applications designed to achieve maximal therapeutic efficacy with minimal side effects. Production of drugs as nanosuspensions can be developed for drug delivery systems as an oral formulation and nonoral administration. Here, this review describes the methods of pharmaceutical nanosuspension production including advantages and disadvantages, potential benefits, characterization tests, and pharmaceutical applications in drug delivery.
A Qualitative Survey of Five Antibiotics in a Water Treatment Plant in Central Plateau of Iran
Authors: Heidari Mohsen , Kazemipour Maryam , Bina Bijan , Ebrahimi Afshin , Ansari Mehdi , Ghasemian Mohammad , Amin Mohammad Mehdi
Published: April 2013

Introduction. This study aimed to survey a total of five common human and veterinary antibiotics based on SPE-LC-MS-MS technology in a water treatment plant at central plateau of Iran. Also two sampling techniques, passive and grab samplings, were compared in the detection of selected antibiotics.Materials and Methods. In January to March 2012, grab and passive samples were taken from the influent and effluent of a water treatment plant. The samples were prepared using solid-phase extraction (SPE), and extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS).Results. The results showed that enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and tylosin were not detected in none of the samples. However, ampicillin was detected in the grab and passive samples taken from the influent (source water) of the plant, and ciprofloxacin was detected in passive samples taken from the influent and effluent (finished water) of the plant.Conclusion. The results imply that passive sampling is a better approach than grab sampling for the investigation of antibiotics in aquatic environments. The presence of ampicillin and ciprofloxacin in source water and finished water of the water treatment plant may lead to potential emergence of resistant bacteria that should be considered in future studies.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of SBA‐15 Using Sodium Silicate Derived from Coal Gangue
Authors: Wang Jing , Fang Li , Cheng Fangqin , Duan Xiaofang , Chen Rongming
Published: April 2013

Well‐ordered SBA‐15 was prepared with a hydrothermal route by sodium silicate derived from coal gangue. The as‐prepared sample was analyzed by SAXRD, BET, TEM, and SEM, respectively. The results indicate that at a low hydrothermal temperature of 100∘C the well‐ordered mesoporous SBA‐15 could be synthesized. The surface area, pore volume, and pore size of the sample are 552 m2/g, 0.54 cm3/g, and 7.0 nm, respectively. It is suggested that coal gangue could be used in obtaining an Si source to prepare mesoporous materials, such as SBA‐15.
Insight into PMD Regimes: An Analysis on Buried Optical Fibres
Authors: Ireeta Winston T. , Musara Vitalis , Wu Lorinda , Leitch Andrew W. R.
Published: April 2013

Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) field measurements on deployed buried fibres showed that the PMD variation over the 1520 to 1570 nm wavelength was stochastic. The PMD variation over the 98-hour period for each wavelength was directional and limited; they are due to the presence of random mode coupling along the fibre length and limited influence from extrinsic perturbations over time, respectively. PMD variation in the wavelength domain showed that the mean first-order PMD (FO-PMD) value is independent of whether the FO-PMD statistics of a fibre link approaches the Maxwellian theoretical distribution; the key factor is sufficient random mode coupling. The accompanying second-order PMD (SO-PMD) statistics, with FO-PMD statistics approaching Maxwellian, followed the PDF given by Foschini et al. (1999). The FO- and SO-PMD statistics at a given wavelength gave nonstochastic PMD distributions with time.
Regression Test Reduction for Object-Oriented Software: A Control Call Graph Based Technique and Associated Tool
Authors: Frechette Nicolas , Badri Linda , Badri Mourad
Published: April 2013

This paper presents a selective regression testing technique and an associated tool for object-oriented software. The technique is based on the concept of Control Call Graphs, which are a reduced form of traditional Control Flow Graphs. It uses static analysis of the source code of the program. The developed tool (1) identifies the Control Call Paths potentially impacted by changes, (2) selects, from an existing test suite, the appropriate test cases, and (3) generates new JUnit test cases for control call paths that are not covered by existing tests (new ones, or those whose structure has been modified after changes). In this way, the approach supports an incremental update of the test suite. The selected JUnit test cases, including the new ones, are automatically executed. Three concrete case studies are reported to provide evidence of the feasibility of the approach and its benefits in terms of reduction of regression testing effort.
Structural Reliability Sensitivities under Nonstationary Random Vibrations
Authors: Greco Rita , Trentadue Francesco
Published: April 2013

Response sensitivity evaluation is an important element in reliability evaluation and design optimization of structural systems. It has been widely studied under static and dynamic forcing conditions with deterministic input data. In this paper, structural response and reliability sensitivities are determined by means of the time domain covariance analysis in both classically and nonclassically damped linear structural systems. A time integration scheme is proposed for covariance sensitivity. A modulated, filtered, white noise input process is adopted to model the stochastic nonstationary loads. The method allows for the evaluation of sensitivity statistics of different quantities of dynamic response with respect to structural parameters. Finally, numerical examples are presented regarding a multistorey shear frame building.
Decision Graphs and Their Application to Software Testing
Authors: Gold Robert
Published: April 2013

Control flow graphs are a well-known graphical representation of programs that capture the control flow but abstract from program details. In this paper, we derive decision graphs that reduce control flow graphs but preserve the branching structure of programs. As an application to software engineering, we use decision graphs to compare and clarify different definitions of branch covering in software testing.
Vitamin D Status and Spine Surgery Outcomes
Authors: Rodriguez William J. , Gromelski Jason
Published: April 2013

There is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with back pain regardless of whether or not they require surgical intervention. Furthermore, the risk of hypovitaminosis D is not limited to individuals with traditional clinical risk factors. Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone formation, maintenance, and remodeling, as well as muscle function. Published data indicate that hypovitaminosis D could adversely affect bone formation and muscle function in multiple ways. The literature contains numerous reports of myopathy and/or musculoskeletal pain associated with hypovitaminosis D. In terms of spinal fusion outcomes, a patient may have a significant decrease in pain and the presence ofde novobone on an X-ray, yet their functional ability may remain severely limited. Hypovitaminosis D may be a contributing factor to the persistent postoperative pain experienced by these patients. Indeed, hypovitaminosis D is not asymptomatic, and symptoms can manifest themselves independent of the musculoskeletal pathological changes associated with conditions like osteomalacia. It appears that vitamin D status is routinely overlooked, and there is a need to raise awareness about its importance among all healthcare practitioners who treat spine patients.
A Study of Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis in Traditional Korean Medicine for Stroke Patients Based on Quantification Theory Type II
Authors: Ko Mi Mi , Park Tae-Yong , Lee Ju Ah , Kang Byoung-Kab , Lee Jungsup , Lee Myeong Soo
Published: April 2013

In traditional Korean medicine (TKM), pattern identification (PI) diagnosis is important for treating diseases. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the relationship between the PI type and tongue diagnosis or pulse diagnosis variables. The study included 1,879 stroke patients who were admitted to 12 oriental medical university hospitals from June 2006 through March 2009. The status of the pulse and tongue was examined in each patient. Additionally, to investigate relatively important indicators related to specialist PI, the quantification theory type II analysis was performed regarding the PI type. In the first axis quantification of the external criteria, the Qi-deficiency and the Yin-deficiency patterns were located in the negative direction, while the dampness-phlegm (DP) and fire-heat patterns were located in the positive direction. The explanatory variable with the greatest impact on the assessment was a fine pulse. In the second axis quantification, the external criteria were divided into either the DP or non-DP patterns. The slippery pulse exhibited the greatest effect on the division. This study attempted to build a model using a statistical method to objectively quantify PI and various indicators that constitute the unique diagnosis system of TKM. These results should assist the development of future diagnostic standards in stroke PI.
DSPACE Real-Time Implementation of MPPT-Based FLC Method
Authors: Noman Abdullah M. , Addoweesh Khaled E. , Mashaly Hussein M.
Published: April 2013

Maximum power point trackers are so important in photovoltaic systems to improve their overall efficiency. This paper presents a photovoltaic system with maximum power point tracking facility. An intelligent fuzzy logic controller method is proposed in this paper to achieve the maximum power point tracking of PV modules. The system consists of a photovoltaic solar module connected to a DC-DC buck-boost converter. The system is modeled using MATLAB/SIMULINK. The system has been experienced under disturbance in the photovoltaic temperature and irradiation levels. The simulation results show that the proposed maximum power tracker tracks the maximum power accurately and successfully in all conditions tested. The MPPT system is then experimentally implemented. DSPACE is used in the implementation of the MPPT hardware setup for real-time control. Data acquisition and control system is implemented using dSPACE 1104 software and digital signal processor card. The simulation and practical results show that the proposed system tracked the maximum power accurately and successfully under all atmospheric conditions.
Solutions of a Class of Sixth Order Boundary Value Problems Using the Reproducing Kernel Space
Authors: Akram Ghazala , Ur Rehman Hamood
Published: April 2013

The approximate solution to a class of sixth order boundary value problems is obtained using the reproducing kernel space method. The numerical procedure is applied on linear and nonlinear boundary value problems. The approach provides the solution in terms of a convergent series with easily computable components. The present method is simple from the computational point of view, resulting in speed and accuracy significant improvements in scientific and engineering applications.It was observed that the errors in absolute values are better than compared (Che Hussin and Kiliçman (2011) and, Noor and Mahyud-Din (2008), Wazwaz (2001), Pandey (2012)).Furthermore, the nonlinear boundary value problem for the integrodifferential equation has been investigated arising in chemical engineering, underground water flow and population dynamics, and other fields of physics and mathematical chemistry. The performance of reproducing kernel functions is shown to be very encouraging by experimental results.
On the Performance of Trimetazidine and Vitamin E as Pharmacoprotection Agents in Cyclosporin A-Induced Toxicity
Authors: Cristina De la Cruz Rodríguez Lilia , del Rosario Rey María , Carmen Rosa Araujo , Ana Veronica Oldano
Published: April 2013

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A (CyA) has been used in diseases with immunological basis and in transplant patients. Nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity are the main adverse effects of this drug. To find a protective drug against those effects we assayed the cardioprotector Trimetazidine (TMZ) and vitamin E, used as nutritional supplements to alleviate oxidative stress. Six groups of eight male Wistar rats each were prepared (groups A–F): A, control; B, vitamin E (10 mg/Kg/day); C, TMZ (20 mg/Kg/day); D, 25 mg/Kg/day CyA; E, CyA and vitamin E (25 mg/Kg/day CyA + 10 mg/Kg/day Vit E); F, TMZ for 20 days (20 mg/kg/day); and then CyA (25 mg/kg/day) and TMZ (20 mg/Kg/day). The experiment lasted 120 days. The exposure of rats to CyA promoted nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity with an increase in serum urea, creatinine, and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH). Structural and ultrastructural studies of liver and kidney were performed. Group D showed adverse effects induced by CyA since statistically significant differences were found with respect to the control group (A). Vitamin E (E) showed no protective effect. Pretreatment with TMZ (F) attenuated the adverse effects of CyA. We conclude that CyA-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity are attenuated by the cytoprotective effect of TMZ. TMZ inhibits the reabsorption and, consequently, the accumulation of CyA in the cell. The antioxidant capacity of vitamin E did not improve the effect of CyA.