bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chitosan amphiphiles provide new drug delivery opportunities
Authors: Uchegbu Ijeoma F , Carlos Margarida , McKay Cameron , Hou Xueliang , Schätzlein Andreas G
Published: February 2014

Chitosan, an acid soluble and renewable biopolymer, was first studied as a drug delivery agent in 1990. This review focuses on the relatively newer self‐assembling chitosan amphiphiles and their use as drug delivery agents. Chitosan amphiphiles, first introduced in the late 1990s, are prepared by conjugating hydrophobic and sometimes additional hydrophilic units to chitosan. These amphiphiles self‐assemble in aqueous media at neutral pH to form micelles, with critical micellar concentrations (CMCs) ranging from 0.09 to 700 µg mL−1. The CMCs depend on the actual molecular architecture, molecular weight and hydrophobic character, but are typically lower than the values reported for block copolymer amphiphiles. As well as linear amphiphiles in which chitosan is derivatised with hydrophobic pendant groups, new claw amphiphiles have been prepared in which chitosan amphiphiles radiate geometrically from a dendrimer core. These chitosan amphiphiles (linear and claw) have been exploited as drug delivery agents and they increase the oral bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs up to sixfold, deliver hydrophobic drugs to tumours, genes to the liver via the intravenous route, genes to the muscle via the intramuscular routes and small interfering RNAs to tumours via the intratumoural route. Chitosan amphiphile nanoparticles also deliver peptides to the brain via the intravenous and oral routes. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE: CULTURE COUNTS
Authors: Miranda Antoinette Halsell , Radliff Kisha M. , Graves Scott L. , Worrell Frank C.
Published: February 2014

This article introduces a Psychology in the Schools special topic issue on “Culture Counts: Preparing School Psychologists for Working With Diverse Populations.” A brief overview of the need for diversity research in school psychology is discussed given the changing demographics of the school age population. Most importantly, there is a need for research that informs us about training and practice with diverse populations. This special issue is focused on training, practitioner, and school issues that provide us with information on ways to move the field forward. The goal is to move from simple cultural exploration to cultural explanation. A brief introduction to the six articles is provided as well.
High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) with Heliox decreases diaphragmatic injury in a newborn porcine lung injury model
Authors: Jassar Romal K. , Vellanki Haritha , Zhu Yan , Hesek Anne , Wang Jordan , Rodriguez Elena , Wu Jichuan , Shaffer Thomas H. , Wolfson Marla R.
Published: February 2014

Background

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) improves ventilation by washing out nasopharyngeal dead space while delivering oxygen. Heliox (helium–oxygen gas mixture), a low‐density gas mixture, decreases resistance to airflow, reduces the work of breathing, and facilitates distribution of inspired gas. Excessive lung work and potential injury increases the workload on the immature diaphragm predisposing the muscle to fatigue, and can lead to inflammatory and oxidative stress, thereby contributing to impaired diaphragmatic function. We tested the hypothesis that HFNC with Heliox will decrease the work of breathing thereby unloading the neonatal diaphragm, and potentially reducing diaphragmatic injury.

Methods

Spontaneously breathing neonatal pigs were randomized to Nitrox (nitrogen–oxygen gas mixture) or Heliox, and studied over 4 hr following oleic acid injury. Gas exchange, pulmonary mechanics indices, and systemic markers of inflammation were measured serially. Diaphragm inflammation biomarkers and histology for muscle injury were assessed at termination.

Results

Heliox breathing animals demonstrated decreased respiratory load and work of breathing with lower pressure‐rate product, lower labored breathing index, and lower levels of diaphragmatic inflammatory markers, and muscle injury score as compared to Nitrox.

Conclusion

These results suggest that HFNC with Heliox is a useful adjunct to attenuate diaphragmatic fatigue in the presence of lung injury by unloading the diaphragm, resulting in a more efficient breathing pattern, and decreased diaphragm injury. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:1214–1222. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preparation and Characteristics of Foamed NC‐Based Propellants
Authors: Li Yuxiang , Yang Weitao , Ying Sanjiu
Published: February 2014

Foaming properties of the three NC‐based (nitrocellulose‐based) propellants, namely, single‐base propellant, NG (nitroglycerine) propellant and TEGDN (triethylene glycol dinitrate) propellant were investigated in the batch foaming process by using supercritical CO2 as the physical foaming agent. Burning characteristics of the foamed NC‐based propellants were also investigated in this work. For this study, the CO2 desorption of the three NC‐based propellants were plotted by the gravimetric method. The morphology and burning characteristics of these foamed NC‐based propellants were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and closed vessel experiment. The test data revealed that the energetic plasticizer has a considerable effect on the pore formation in the NC matrix although it has little effect on the CO2 solubility in the NC‐based propellants. Moreover, the SEM images showed the foaming temperature also plays an important role in the pore parameters of foamed propellants. Furthermore, the data of closed vessel experiment indicated that the burning characteristics of foamed NC‐based propellants largely depend on the pore parameters, and the porous structure of foamed propellants would considerably increase the mass conversion rate.
Effects of Different Nano‐Metric Particles on the Properties of Composite Solid Propellants
Authors: Pang Wei‐Qiang , Fan Xue‐Zhong , Zhao Feng‐Qi , Zhang Wei , Xu Hui‐Xiang , Yu Hong‐Jian , Xie Wu‐Xi , Yan Ning , Liu Fang‐Li
Published: February 2014

Several industrial‐ and research‐type composite solid propellants containing different nano‐metric metal particles (such as aluminum, zirconium and titanium) with similar nominal composition, were prepared and experimentally analyzed. The effects of different nano‐metric powders on the rheological properties for metal/HTPB slurries and AP‐based composite propellant slurries were investigated. The strand burning rate and the associated combustion flame structure of propellants were determined. The energetic properties and the hazardous properties of propellants prepared were analyzed and the properties mentioned above were compared to those of a conventional aluminized propellant. The results show that aluminum powder can be sufficiently dispersed in HTPB binder. The propellant formulations containing nano‐metric particles are sensitive to impact and friction except for the base propellant with common aluminum powder, which is less sensitive to friction as compared to the other compositions. The nano‐metric additives can affect the combustion behavior and increase the burning rate of propellants compared with the common one (the reference propellant composition).
Surgical intervention for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia is correlated with expression of the AP‐1 transcription factor network
Authors: Lin‐Tsai Opal , Clark Peter E. , Miller Nicole L. , Fowke Jay H. , Hameed Omar , Hayward Simon W. , Strand Douglas W.
Published: February 2014

BACKGROUND

Approximately one‐third of patients fail medical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and associated lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH/LUTS) requiring surgical intervention. Our purpose was to establish a molecular characterization for patients undergoing surgical intervention for LUTS to address therapeutic deficiencies.

METHODS

Clinical, molecular, and histopathological profiles were analyzed in 26 patients undergoing surgery for severe LUTS. Incidental transitional zone nodules were isolated from 37 patients with mild symptoms undergoing radical prostatectomy. Clinical parameters including age, prostate volume, medication, prostate specific antigen, symptom score, body mass index, and incidence of diabetes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustments for potential confounding variables was used to examine associations between patient clinical characteristics and molecular targets identified through molecular profiling.

RESULTS

Compared to incidental BPH, progressive symptomatic BPH was associated with increased expression of the activating protein‐1 transcription factor/chemokine network. As expected, inverse correlations were drawn between androgen receptor levels and age, as well as between 5α‐reductase inhibitor (5ARI) treatment and tissue prostate specific antigen levels; however, a novel association was also drawn between 5ARI treatment and increased c‐FOS expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides molecular evidence that a network of pro‐inflammatory activating protein‐1 transcription factors and associated chemokines are highly enriched in symptomatic prostate disease, a profile that molecularly categorizes with many other chronic autoimmune diseases. Because 5ARI treatment was associated with increased c‐FOS expression, future studies should explore whether increased activating protein‐1 proteins are causal factors in the development of symptomatic prostate disease, inflammation or resistance to traditional hormonal therapy. Prostate 74:669–679, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sample size determination for the weighted log‐rank test with the Fleming–Harrington class of weights in cancer vaccine studies
Authors: Hasegawa Takahiro
Published: February 2014

In recent years, immunological science has evolved, and cancer vaccines are available for treating existing cancers. Because cancer vaccines require time to elicit an immune response, a delayed treatment effect is expected. Accordingly, the use of weighted log‐rank tests with the Fleming–Harrington class of weights is proposed for evaluation of survival endpoints. We present a method for calculating the sample size under assumption of a piecewise exponential distribution for the cancer vaccine group and an exponential distribution for the placebo group as the survival model. The impact of delayed effect timing on both the choice of the Fleming–Harrington's weights and the increment in the required number of events is discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Are there really cooper pairs and persistent currents in aromatic molecules?
Authors: Squire Richard H. , March Norman H. , Rubio Angel
Published: February 2014

Over 20 years ago, one of us suggested the title was affirmative. In 2012, Cooper pairs were identified in several, but not all “aromatic” compounds tested, benzene being one. This manuscript discusses the formation of three time‐reversed pairs of states forming pseudobosons (high energy Cooper pairs) in benzene at room temperature. The large stabilization in energy that results is the additive effect of energy gaps of an s wave state and a charge density wave permitting the pseudobosons to exist at room temperature. The overall result of these interactions is three pseudobosons occupying the lowest boson state and the positions of the carbon nuclei are optimum by forming a perfect hexagon. The possibility of a persistent current exists; detection might not be easy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved description of the orbital relaxation effect by practical use of the self‐energy
Authors: Saitow Masaaki , Ida Tomonori , Mochizuki Yuji
Published: February 2014

The self‐energy shift in the orbital relaxation (OR) term of the polarization propagator complete through the second‐order is presented. In combination with the optimal damping parameter in the OR term, the modified propagator produces the excitation energy of the coupled‐cluster with singles and doubles (CCSD) accuracy. The self‐energy shift requires the floating‐point operation of
, where N refers to the magnitude of the molecular size. Because the second‐order polarization propagator requires the floating‐point operation of
, the additional
computational effort to construct the self‐energy is negligibly small. Numerical results are shown for several molecules including glycine, 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzene, and naphthalene, and promising agreements with those of CCSD are confirmed within less than 0.2 eV. The basis set dependence is also tested for the water molecule using aug‐cc‐pV NZ (N = D–7), where this newly developed approach mimics the behavior of the CCSD values. The self‐energy shifting for the second‐order response matrix in combination with the use of a dumping parameter is efficiently implemented for calculations of medium‐sized molecular systems, including glycine and naphthalene. The developed approach provides CCSD‐like accuracy at a more affordable computational expense. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SIMS study on the improvement of electrical conductivity of a Si quantum dot layer by insertion of polycrystalline Si interlayers
Authors: Baek Hyun Jeong , Kim Tae Woon , Jang Jong Shik , Kim An Soon , Kim Kyung Joong
Published: February 2014

The electrical conductivity of a Si QD layer was investigated by using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The low electrical conductivity was estimated from the charging effect in SIMS depth profiling of a Si QD layer. However, the charging effect of the Si QD layer was disappeared by introduction of poly crystalline Si interlayers, which indicates the improvement of electrical conductivity of the Si QD layer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rhodamine‐Modified Upconversion Nanophosphors for Ratiometric Detection of Hypochlorous Acid in Aqueous Solution and Living Cells
Authors: Zhou Yi , Pei Wenbo , Wang Chenyuan , Zhu Jixin , Wu Jiansheng , Yan Qinyu , Huang Ling , Huang Wei , Yao Cheng , Loo Joachim Say Chye , Zhang Qichun
Published: February 2014

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme‐mediated peroxidation of chloride ions, acts as a key microbicidal agent in immune systems. However, misregulated production of HOCl could damage host tissues and cause many inflammation‐related diseases. Due to its biological importance, many efforts have been focused on developing fluorescent probes to image HOCl in living system. Compared with those conventional fluorescent probes, up‐conversion luminescence (UCL) detection system has been proven to exhibit a lot of advantages including no photo‐bleaching, higher light penetration depth, no autofluorescence and less damage to biosamples. Herein, we report a novel water‐soluble organic‐nano detection system based on rhodamine‐modified UCNPs for UCL‐sensing HOCl. Upon the interaction with HOCl, the green UCL emission intensity in the detection system were gradually decreased, but the emissions in the NIR region almost have no change, which is very important for the ratiometric UCL detection of HOCl in aqueous solution. More importantly, RBH1‐UCNPs could be used for the ratiometric UCL visualization of HOCl released by MPO‐mediated peroxidation of chloride ions in living cells. This organic‐nano system could be further developed into a novel next‐generation imaging technique for bio‐imaging HOCl in living system without background noise.
Monitoring power transmission lines using a wireless sensor network
Authors: Lin Junru , Zhu Baohui , Zeng Peng , Liang Wei , Yu Haibin , Xiao Yang
Published: February 2014

Power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy from power plants to sub‐stations. A wireless sensor network is a promising technology for transmission line monitoring due to its low cost, easy installation, large‐scale coverage, and fault tolerance characteristics. A wireless sensor network is application‐specific; therefore, we investigate the new features and requirements of the wireless sensor network used in transmission line monitoring. Then, we propose an efficient wireless sensor network framework, which includes a clustering algorithm to simplify network management and to balance the network's energy consumption and a hybrid media access control (MAC) (H‐MAC) protocol to handle traffic variability. The framework takes advantage of the features of network topology and traffic pattern to optimize the protocols' performance on real time and energy efficiency. The results indicate that the H‐MAC shows a significant improvement in the network's reliability, real‐time performance, and energy efficiency, and the cluster hierarchy can balance the network's energy consumption. Furthermore, the cluster hierarchy also prolongs the network's lifetime. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of echinocandin preparations on adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes
Authors: Arens C. , Uhle F. , Wolff M. , Röhrig R. , Koch C. , Schulte A. , Weiterer S. , Henrich M. , Weigand M.A. , Schlüter K.-D. , Lichtenstern C.
Published: February 2014

Background

Candida infections represent a relevant risk for patients in intensive care units resulting in increased mortality. Echinocandins have become the agents of choice for early and specific antifungal treatment in critically ill patients. Due to cardiac effects following echinocandin administration seen in intensive care unit (ICU) patients the in vitro effects of echinocandins and fluconazole on isolated cardiomyocytes of the rat were examined.

Aim

The study was designed to investigate a possible impact of echinocandins and fluconazole in clinically relevant concentrations on the in vitro contractile responsiveness and shape of isolated rat cardiomyocytes.

Material and methods

Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from Lewis rats. Cardiomyocytes were cultured in the presence of all licensed echinocandin preparations and fluconazol at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1, 1, 3.3, 10, 33 and 100 μg/ml for 90 min. Cells were stimulated by biphasic electrical stimuli and contractile responsiveness was measured as shortening amplitude. Additionally, the ratio of rod-shaped to round cells was determined.

Results

Anidulafungin concentrations of 3.3 and 10 μg/ml caused a significant increase in contractile responsiveness, caspofungin showed a significant decrease at 10 μg/ml and micafungin concentrations of 3.3–33 μg/ml led to a significant increase in cell shortening. Measurement was not possible at 33 μg/ml for anidulafungin and caspofungin and at 100 μg/ml for all echinocandins due to a majority of round-shaped, non-contracting cardiomyocytes. Fluconazole showed no significant effect on cell shortening at all concentrations tested. For the three echinocandins the ratio of round-shaped, non-contracting versus rod-shaped normal contracting cardiomyocytes increased in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions

Echinocandins impact the in vitro contractility of isolated cardiomyocytes of rats. This observation could be of great interest in the context of antifungal treatment.
Is There Life After DEBI? Examining Health Behavior Maintenance in the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions Initiative
Authors: Feldman Matthew B. , Silapaswan Andrew , Schaefer Nathan , Schermele Daniel
Published: February 2014

The evidence‐based interventions that are identified, packaged, and disseminated by the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions (DEBI) initiative—commonly referred to the "DEBIs"—currently represent a primary source of HIV prevention interventions for community‐based providers. To date, little attention has focused on whether the intended outcomes of the DEBIs, i.e., reductions in HIV‐related risk behaviors, are maintained over time. This review summarized evidence for the sustainability of the effects of the DEBIs on HIV sexual risk behavior and intravenous drug use from studies of original and adapted DEBIs. Evidence of intervention decay or a lack of any intervention effect was identified in several original and adapted versions of the DEBIs included in this review. Recommendations include modifications to current criteria for inclusion in the DEBI portfolio, in addition to the development of remediation strategies to address intervention decay. Further, theoretical models that specify the processes that underlie the maintenance of health behaviors over time should be used in developing HIV prevention interventions.
Snow cover manipulation in agricultural fields: as an option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Yanai Yosuke , Hirota Tomoyoshi , Iwata Yukiyoshi , Nemoto Manabu , Koga Nobuhisa , Nagata Osamu , Ohkubo Shinjiro
Published: February 2014

Short‐term N2O emission occurs in relation to snowmelt within seasonally frozen soil. To understand the effects of changing winter climates on the N2O flux, snow cover manipulation experiments are useful. In Japan, snow cover manipulation is practiced by farmers to improve agricultural yield and is executed either by applying a broadcast of blackish agent onto the snow cover, which leads to faster snow‐melting thereby extending the crop‐growing season, or by snow cover removal/re‐accumulation, leading to an enhanced soil frost depth for weed management. Implementation of these practices involves using an amount of fossil fuel, in addition to influencing soil‐derived N2O emissions, therefore, the load factors of snow cover management practices per unit area of agricultural field were estimated in this study. Field data including micrometeorological conditions, ground surface flux of N2O, and amount of fossil fuel consumed during machinery operation for management practices, were obtained at two sites in Hokkaido over 2 years (2008–2010). Fuel consumption for the field spreading was found to be unexpectedly small (0.017 Mg CO2 eq ha−1). It was therefore suggested that acceleration of snowmelt may have the potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions if the agent used is a low‐degradable C‐rich material, such as charcoal. For soil frost control, the fossil fuel consumption during a set of snow cover removal/re‐accumulation (estimated as 0.052 Mg CO2 eq ha−1) is discussed, together with the relationship between possible mechanisms causing stimulation of N2O production in frozen soil and inherent large differences in N2O flux among sites.
Seasonal variation in children with developmental dysplasia of the hip
Authors: Loder Randall T. , Shafer Cody
Published: February 2014

Background

It has been postulated that developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is more frequent in infants born in the winter months. It was the purpose of this study to ascertain if there was any seasonal variation in DDH at the author's institution and compare/contrast our results with those in the literature using rigorous mathematical fitting.

Methods

All children with DDH treated at the author's institution from 1993 to 2012 were identified. The month of birth was recorded and temporal variation was analyzed using cosinor analysis. Similar data from the literature was analyzed.

Results

There were 424 children (363 girls, 61 boys). An additional 22,936 children were added from the literature for a total of 23,360. Pearson's Chi-square test demonstrated a non-uniform distribution in the month of birth for both our 424 children as well as the combined literature series in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Cosinor analysis of the 424 children demonstrated double peaks in mid-March and mid-October. For the entire 23,360 children, no seasonal variation was observed in 2,205 (9.4 %), a single winter peak in 16,425 (70.3 %), a single summer peak in 1,280 (5.5 %), and double peaks in the spring and autumn in 3,450 (14.8 %).

Conclusions

This study partly supports the hypothesis of tight clothing/cold temperature as one factor in the etiology of DDH with the tighter clothing/swaddling increasing the risk of DDH. However ∼20 % of the DDH births demonstrated a non-winter peak. The single summer and double spring/autumn peaks, as well as in those series where no seasonal variation was noted, refutes the cold winter clothing hypothesis. Perhaps these different patterns in seasonal variation represent the heterogeneity of the genetic factors in DDH interacting with external factors (temperature and clothing) and internal factors (metabolic). Further study will be required to understand these different patterns in DDH seasonal variation.

Level of evidence

IV—case series.
Measuring Complex Patterns in Space–Time
Authors: Thompson Michael , Young Louise
Published: February 2014

Complex systems generate complex information structures. Understanding and managing the behavior of systems, including business systems, requires the study of these complex structures to gain greater understanding of the processes and mechanisms at play in their generation, self-replication and evolution. However, the study of the information generated by such complex structures requires going beyond traditional analytical approaches, i.e. many/most of the existing statistical methods. This paper considers the nature of complex systems in information terms and discusses the issues associated with traditional measurement and summary of their information. The paper then introduces new approaches to conceptualizing and measuring data generated by complex social systems that address these issues by mapping the interaction(s) of the systems’ agents through space–time.
A critical evaluation of alternative methods and paradigms for conducting mediation analysis in operations management research
Authors: Malhotra Manoj K. , Singhal Cherry , Shang Guangzhi , Ployhart Robert E.
Published: February 2014

Mediation as a theory testing approach has witnessed considerable adoption among Operations Management (OM) researchers. Although mediation‐testing methods have evolved tremendously in the past decade, their dissemination in the OM field has not seen parallel growth. These advanced techniques facilitate the testing of existing and complex hypotheses in a more precise manner. With the intent of critically evaluating existing and alternative methods for conducting mediation analysis needed to support sophisticated empirical research, this paper first reviews OM studies that tested for mediation in the past eleven years (2002–2012) from top‐tier OM journals. Four commonly used mediation approaches were identified. Based on principles of good theory building, type of mediation model, and properties of empirical data, we evaluate the existing methodologies and make recommendations on how to improve the rigor of OM mediation testing. Using published OM studies in top journals as examples, we then illustrate the relevance and advantages of these recommendations, as well as their ease of use. Furthermore, we empirically show that more robust and insightful results can be achieved by adopting these techniques, which in turn have the promise of leading to better theory building and testing in the field of operations management.
Spectral Classification Using Restricted Boltzmann Machine
Authors: Fuqiang Chen , Yan Wu , Yude Bu , Guodong Zhao
Published: February 2014

In this study, a novel machine learning algorithm, restricted Boltzmann machine, is introduced. The algorithm is applied for the spectral classification in astronomy. Restricted Boltzmann machine is a bipartite generative graphical model with two separate layers (one visible layer and one hidden layer), which can extract higher level features to represent the original data. Despite generative, restricted Boltzmann machine can be used for classification when modified with a free energy and a soft-max function. Before spectral classification, the original data are binarised according to some rule. Then, we resort to the binary restricted Boltzmann machine to classify cataclysmic variables and non-cataclysmic variables (one half of all the given data for training and the other half for testing). The experiment result shows state-of-the-art accuracy of 100%, which indicates the efficiency of the binary restricted Boltzmann machine algorithm.
Complex Analysis of the Stellar Binary HD25811: A Subgiant System
Authors: Al-Wardat Mashhoor A. , Widyan Hatem S. , Al-thyabat Ahmed
Published: February 2014

The visually close binary system HD25811 is analysed to estimate its physical and geometrical parameters in addition to its spectral type and luminosity class. The method depends on obtaining the best fit between the entire observational spectral energy distribution (SED) of the system and synthetic SEDs created by atmospheric modelling of the individual components, consistent with the system's modified orbital elements. The parameters of the individual components of the system are derived as: Taeff = 6850 ± 50 K, Tbeff = 7000 ± 50 K, log ga = 4.04 ± 0.10, log gb = 4.15 ± 0.10, Ra = 1.96 ± 0.20 R⊙, Rb = 1.69 ± 0.20 R⊙, Mav = 1.m97 ± 0.20, Mbv = 2.m19 ± 0.20, La = 7.59 ± 0.70L⊙, Lb = 6.16 ± 0.70L⊙ with dynamical parallax $\pi (\textrm {mas})=5.095\pm 0.095$. The analysis shows that the system consists of a 1.55M⊙ F2 subgiant star and a less evolved 1.50M⊙ F1 secondary subgiant star with ages around 2 Gy formed by fragmentation. Synthetic magnitudes of both components were calculated under Johnson-Cousins, Strömgren, and Tycho photometrical systems.
Lyman-α Forest and Cosmic Weak Lensing in a Warm Dark Matter Universe
Authors: Markovič Katarina , Viel Matteo
Published: February 2014

We review the current state of the theory of large-scale structure in a warm dark matter (WDM) cosmological model. In particular, we focus on the non-linear modelling of the matter power spectrum and on the mass function of dark matter haloes. We describe the results of N-body simulations with WDM and mention the effects that could be induced by baryonic physics. We also examine the halo model of large-scale structure and its recently suggested modifications for a WDM cosmology, which account for the small-scale smoothness of the initial matter density field and better fit the results of N-body simulations. Having described the theoretical models, we discuss the current lower limits on the WDM particle mass, mwdm, which correspond to upper limits on the WDM temperature under the assumption that the particles are thermal relics. The best such constraints come from the Lyα forest and exclude all masses below 3.3 keV at the 2σ confidence level. We finally review the forecasts for future lensing surveys, which will be of the same order of magnitude as the already existing constraints from the Lyα forest data but explore a different redshift regime.
Playing by Unfair Rules? Asia's Positioning within Global Sports Production Networks
Authors: Manzenreiter Wolfram
Published: February 2014

The link between global sports brands and the violation of workers' rights in Asia has been a mainstream issue for many years. A ceaseless flow of news reports on the infringement of workers' rights in Asia suggests that neocolonialist dependencies and the ruthless exploitation of sweatshop labor are endemic in the industry. However, Asian corporations standing in the shadow of global brands have recently taken the lead in coordinating global sports commodity chains. Asia's rise within the industry is having manifold impacts on development opportunities for workers, companies, and countries, first of all in the Asian region, but also beyond. Putting these transformations into the historical perspective of industrialization, this essay questions the taken-for-granted assumption about agency and compliance behind the new international division of labor.
The representation of older people in television advertisements and social change: the case of Japan
Authors: PRIELER MICHAEL , KOHLBACHER FLORIAN , HAGIWARA SHIGERU , ARIMA AKIE
Published: February 2014

The representation of social groups in advertising has been a major concern in academia. However, research focusing on older people has been scant and mainly conducted in Western countries. In Japan, the country that has been most affected by demographic change, this research area has received little attention. Through a content analysis of a systematic sample of 2,972 television advertisements broadcast on the five major commercial television stations in Japan in 1997 and 2007, this paper tries to fill this research gap, examining changes in the representation of older people in Japanese television advertising. When comparing 2007 to 1997, we found that older people appeared more often, were increasingly alone and in major roles, and were portrayed in more favourable ways, which suggests that their status changed. These changes appear to be related to the fact that older people have become more important within Japanese society. However, some aspects have remained unchanged; older people continue to be under-represented, which does not reflect demographic reality, and are used in advertisements for foods and beverages, confirming findings from previous studies. Our findings indicate that the representation of older people in Japanese television advertising has changed but remains unrealistic.
English as the nativized foreign language and its impact on Serbian
Authors: Prćić Tvrtko
Published: February 2014

The concept of English as the nativized foreign language – or ENFL, for short – was first proposed in 2003, at the 13th International Conference on British and American Studies, in Timişoara, Romania, in a presentation entitled ‘Rethinking the status of English today: is it still a purely foreign language?’, and subsequently published as Prćić, 2003 and 2004. Identified and described in these papers are new, additional properties of English, which have developed over the past few decades, concurrently with the establishment of English as the first language of world communication and as today's global lingua franca (for accounts of this phenomenon, see Jenkins, 2007; Mauranen & Ranta, 2010; Seidlhofer, 2011). Viewed from the perspective of the Expanding Circle (Kachru, 1985), English can no longer be considered a purely, or prototypically, foreign language, usually characterized by three defining properties: not the first language of a country, not the official language of a country and taught as a subject in schools (cf. Richards & Schmidt, 2002). Three newly emerged defining properties of English, over and above the three customary ones, set it uniquely apart from all other purely foreign languages and they will be briefly summarized below (for more extensive discussions, see Prćić, 2003, 2004, 2011a: Chapter 2, 2011b, 2014).
Toward the understanding of Chinese ESL writing
Authors: Hu Min
Published: February 2014

It is worth noting that an increasing number of international students, especially Chinese students, have been flooding into English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States or Australia in pursuit of advanced knowledge and better academic environments. As ESL students are enrolling in writing courses in colleges and universities, teachers are confronted with problems that non-native speakers bring to the class when it comes to their academic writing. The problems are more serious than they appear to be. For one thing, according to Reid (1993: 774), there is a dramatic difference between native students and ESL students in ‘the needs, backgrounds, learning styles, and writing strategies’. For another, the situation becomes worse due to ‘considerable diversity even among ESL students in terms of language and cultural backgrounds, prior education, gender, age, and ESL language proficiency’ (Reid, 1993: 774). Although there is not a single solution which is effective in solving complex ESL issues, teachers would be in a better position to understand their ESL students' writing problems if they were to learn about the distinct nature of L2 writing shaped by linguistic and cultural differences. In this article, the author, who was once a Chinese ESL student in the USA and is now an EFL teacher in China, explores how English writing differs from Chinese writing and how these differences lead to Chinese ESL students' difficulty with English writing. This article is expected to increase ESL practitioners' awareness of the urgency for them to recognize and deal with these differences in order to teach L2 writers effectively, to treat them fairly and thus provide them with equal opportunities to achieve academic and professional success.
HARMONIZATION OF ETHICS IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT: A REVISION OF THE SOCRATIC APPROACH
Authors: Hofmann Bjørn , Droste Sigrid , Oortwijn Wija , Cleemput Irina , Sacchini Dario
Published: February 2014

Background: Ethics has been part of health technology assessment (HTA) from its beginning in the 1970s, and is currently part of HTA definitions. Several methods in ethics have been used in HTA. Some approaches have been developed especially for HTA, such as the Socratic approach, which has been used for a wide range of health technologies. The Socratic approach is used in several ways, and there is a need for harmonization to promote its usability and the transferability of its results. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to stimulate experts in ethics and HTA to revise the Socratic approach.

Methods: Based on the current literature and experiences in applying methods in ethics, a panel of ethics experts involved in HTA critically analyzed the limitations of the Socratic approach during a face-to-face workshop. On the basis of this analysis a revision of the Socratic approach was agreed on after deliberation in several rounds through e-mail correspondence.

Results: Several limitations with the Socratic approach are identified and addressed in the revised version which consists of a procedure of six steps, 7 main questions and thirty-three explanatory and guiding questions. The revised approach has a broader scope and provides more guidance than its predecessor. Methods for information retrieval have been elaborated.

Conclusion: The presented revision of the Socratic approach is the result of a joint effort of experts in the field of ethics and HTA. Consensus is reached in the expert panel on an approach that is considered to be more clear, comprehensive, and applicable for addressing ethical issues in HTA.
ATTITUDES AND ACCEPTANCE TOWARD THE TECHNOLOGY OF CRYONICS IN GERMANY
Authors: Kaiser Stephanie , Gross Dominik , Lohmeier Jens , Rosentreter Michael , Raschke Jürgen
Published: February 2014

Objectives:This study explores the awareness and the degree of acceptance of the idea of the medical technology cryonics—the freezing of a corpse to revive it in the future—among German citizens.

Methods:Data were collected on the basis of a representatively weighted online survey of 1,000 people aged between 16 and 69 years and resident in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Results:Forty-seven percent stated that they had already heard of cryonics; 22 percent could imagine having their bodies cryonized after their deaths. For 53 percent, participation in the latest technological developments which correlated with the approval of the conceivability of cryopreservation was important. The majority of the respondents werenotskeptical or cautious about innovations in the medical field.

Conclusions:The study shows that cryonics is known and accepted to a certain extent. However, a large proportion of respondents did not believe that it was desirable to use medical technology to overcome death, and fundamentally rejected a post-mortal continuation of life.
From a literature review of product configuration definitions to a reference framework
Authors: Oddsson Gudmundur , Ladeby Klaes R.
Published: February 2014

This paper presents a reference framework for the configuration process. The reference framework is established through an extensive review of existing literature, and as such consolidates an extensive theoretical base. The review of literature shows a broadening of the understanding of the configuration task. The definition of the configuration task is somewhat ambiguous because different research groups define configuration tasks differently. This paper proposes a reference framework for configuration that permits a more precise understanding of a configuration task, a definition of the basic concepts in product configuration, and a total configuration system view that describes how operators come together to perform the configuration task in the configuration process. We will define the product, the product model, the configuration task, and the configuration system, and put the whole thing into perspective with the theory of technical systems, where we describe the configuration process and the different abstraction level of configurations. We will also use our resulting framework to describe sales configuration, technical configuration, and reconfiguration. We do this to synthesize previous work, to clarify and make coherent definitions of relevant terms, to extent the definition of product configuration to include “softer” products like information and service, and finally, to give a comparative framework to analyze work done in the field of product configuration. The total configuration system, together with the definition of key concepts, comprises a strong reference framework when working with, developing, and analyzing configuration systems.
The Case
Authors: MISHRA RUCHIKA
Published: February 2014

To submit a case that has been reviewed by an ethics committeeor to submit articles on related topics in clinical ethics, readers are invited to contact section editor Ruchika Mishra at ruchika.mishra@gmail.com.
Adherence in a 1-year whole foods eating pattern intervention with healthy postmenopausal women
Authors: Peters Nancy Champe , Contento Isobel R , Kronenberg Fredi , Coleton Marci
Published: February 2014

Objective

To determine the degree of dietary adherence or change in eating patterns, and demographic, psychosocial and study characteristics associated with adherence, in the Comparing Healthy Options in Cooking and Eating (CHOICE) Study.

Design

Randomized controlled trial where women were randomized to one of three eating patterns: (i) Whole Foods, plant-based, macrobiotic-style (n 22); and Moderate Fat with (ii), and without (iii), 10 g of ground flaxseed added daily, which were combined (n 49).

Setting

A year-long intervention based on social cognitive theory, consisting of twenty-four class sessions involving hands-on cooking classes and behavioural sessions. Monthly 24 h food recalls were obtained and a psychosocial questionnaire was administered at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Subjects

Healthy, free-living, postmenopausal women.

Results

A non-adherence score measuring all food servings out-of-compliance with eating pattern recommendations was specifically designed for the present study. Non-adherence scores decreased significantly (P < 0·05) in both groups to about 65 % during the adoption phase (first 4 months) and remained so during the 8-month maintenance period. Class attendance of the Moderate Fat group showed a trend towards significance as a predictor of adherence (P = 0·063). None of the other predictors (e.g. demographic and psychosocial factors) in a longitudinal regression model were significant.

Conclusions

Postmenopausal women were able to adopt and maintain significant changes in their eating patterns, including those on a demanding, near-vegetarian eating plan, suggesting that behavioural interventions with a healthy free-living population can be effective. The non-adherence score developed for the study provides an example of a means for evaluating eating pattern adherence to a dietary intervention.
Parenchymal Spin-Lock fMRI Signals Associated with Cortical Spreading Depression
Authors: Autio Joonas A , Shatillo Artem , Giniatullin Rashid , Gröhn Olli H
Published: February 2014

We found novel types of parenchymal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals in the rat brain during large increases in metabolism. Cortical spreading depression (CSD), a self-propagating wave of cellular activation, is associated with several pathologic conditions such as migraine and stroke. It was used as a paradigm to evoke transient neuronal depolarization leading to enhanced energy consumption. Activation of CSD was investigated using spin-lock (SL), diffusion, blood oxygenation level-dependent and cerebral blood volume fMRI techniques. Our results show that the SL-fMRI signal is generated by endogenous parenchymal mechanisms during CSD propagation, and these mechanisms are not associated with hemodynamic changes or cellular swelling. Protein phantoms suggest that pH change alone does not explain the observed SL-fMRI signal changes. However, increased amounts of inorganic phosphates released from high-energy phosphates combined with pH changes may produce SL- power-dependent longitudinal relaxation in the rotating frame ( R1ρ) changes in protein phantoms that are similar to those observed during CSD, as seen before in acute ischemia under our experimental conditions. This links SL-fMRI changes intimately to energy metabolism and supports the use of the SL technique as a new, promising functional approach for noninvasive imaging of metabolic transitions in the active or pathologic brain.
Arterial Spin Labeling Characterization of Cerebral Perfusion during Normal Maturation from Late Childhood into Adulthood: Normal ‘Reference Range’ Values and Their Use in Clinical Studies
Authors: Hales Patrick W , Kawadler Jamie M , Aylett Sarah E , Kirkham Fenella J , Clark Christopher A
Published: February 2014

The human brain changes structurally and functionally during adolescence, with associated alterations in cerebral perfusion. We performed dynamic arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging in healthy subjects between 8 and 32 years of age, to investigate changes in cerebral hemodynamics during normal development. In addition, an inversion recovery sequence allowed quantification of changes in longitudinal relaxation time ( T1) and equilibrium longitudinal magnetization ( M0). We present mean and reference ranges for normal values of T1, M0, cerebral blood flow (CBF), bolus arrival time, and bolus duration in cortical gray matter, to provide a tool for identifying age-matched perfusion abnormalities in this age range in clinical studies. Cerebral blood flow and T1 relaxation times were negatively correlated with age, without gender or hemisphere differences. The same was true for M0 anteriorly, but posteriorly, males but not females showed a significant decline in M0 with increasing age. Two examples of the clinical utility of these data in identifying age-matched perfusion abnormalities, in Sturge–Weber syndrome and sickle cell anemia, are illustrated.
Cerebral Neovascularization in Diabetes: Implications for Stroke Recovery and beyond
Authors: Ergul Adviye , Abdelsaid Mohammed , Fouda Abdelrahman Y , Fagan Susan C
Published: February 2014

Neovascularization is an innate physiologic response by which tissues respond to various stimuli through collateral remodeling (arteriogenesis) and new vessel formation from existing vessels (angiogenesis) or from endothelial progenitor cells (vasculogenesis). Diabetes has a major impact on the neovascularization process but the response varies between different organ systems. While excessive angiogenesis complicates diabetic retinopathy, impaired neovascularization contributes to coronary and peripheral complications of diabetes. How diabetes influences cerebral neovascularization remained unresolved until recently. Diabetes is also a major risk factor for stroke and poor recovery after stroke. In this review, we discuss the impact of diabetes, stroke, and diabetic stroke on cerebral neovascularization, explore potential mechanisms involved in diabetes-mediated neovascularization as well as the effects of the diabetic milieu on poststroke neovascularization and recovery, and finally discuss the clinical implications of these effects.