bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of may as an evidential and epistemic marker in English medical abstracts
Authors: Alonso-Almeida Francisco , Cruz-García Laura
Published: March 2012

The value of may as an evidential and epistemic marker in English medical abstracts

Our article addresses the issue of the relationship between epistemic modality and evidentiality. Earlier works such as Lazard (2001) claim that English does not hold grammatical markers for the source of knowledge in contrast to other languages, e.g. Quechua, that seem to do so. Dendale and Tasmowski (2001), however, think that grammatical evidentials are possible in English, and Aikhenvald (2004) admits that modal verbs in English are a borderline case. In our article, we seek to explore the use of may and might in a corpus of medical abstracts to demonstrate (i) their value as grammatical evidential markers, and (ii) their value as epistemic markers that show the author's attitude to the proposition manifested. In doing so, we follow Cornillie (2009), who defines these two concepts as independent categories. The results of our analyses indicate that these modals may be used as grammatical markers of evidentiality, regardless of other semantic and pragmatic meanings.
Allomorphy in the plural morpheme of Old English disyllabic neuter a-stem nouns: Analogy and token frequency
Authors: Newman John
Published: March 2012

Allomorphy in the plural morpheme of Old English disyllabic neuter a-stem nouns: Analogy and token frequency

Many instances of plural number marking in Old English disyllabic neuter a-stem nouns appear uncertain. This is due partly to a want of additional empirical evidence regarding what appears to have been a tension between a high vowel deletion process, by which some disyllabic neuters containing a long root vowel failed to attach the nominative/accusative plural number marker -u, and several analogical extension processes which resulted in irregular attachments of the plural markers -u, -ø, and others. This apparent unpredictability, however, is also due to a lack of agreement about how best to subclassify many disyllabic a-neuters. Various scholars have addressed the problem of the allomorphy at issue here, but their grouping criteria have differed and no one scheme has proven truly satisfactory (cf. Brunner - Sievers 1965; Dahl 1938; Campbell 1959; Wełna 1996). Consequently, determining which disyllabic a-neuters attached the u-plural allomorph regularly and which attached it by analogy as well as which of these neuters suffixed the ø-allomorph regularly and which did so analogically is trouble-some. In an attempt to augment our understanding of allomorphy in the plural morpheme of the Old English disyllabic neuter a-stems, this paper analyzes more than 300 plurals culled from both Early and Late Old English texts, and it proposes, unlike previous treatments, that token frequency was crucial to the analogical processes which so often determined plural marker selection in these nouns.
High efficiency high step-up DC/DC converters - a review
Authors: Tomaszuk A. , Krupa A.
Published: March 2012

High efficiency high step-up DC/DC converters - a review

The renewable energy sources such as PV modules, fuel cells or energy storage devices such as super capacitors or batteries deliver output voltage at the range of around 12 to 70 VDC. In order to connect them to the grid the voltage level should be adjusted according to the electrical network standards in the countries. First of all the voltage should be stepped up to sufficient level at which the DC/AC conversion can be performed to AC mains voltage requirements. Overall performance of the renewable energy system is then affected by the efficiency of step-up DC/DC converters, which are the key parts in the system power chain. This review is focused on high efficiency step-up DC/DC converters with high voltage gain. The differentiation is based on the presence or lack of galvanic isolation. A comparison and discussion of different DC/DC step-up topologies will be performed across number of parameters and presented in this paper.
The Basic Science and Surgical Treatment Options for Articular Cartilage Injuries of the Knee
Authors: Tetteh Elizabeth S. , Bajaj Sarvottam , Ghodadra Neil S. , Cole Brian J.
Published: March 2012

Synopsis

The complex structure of articular cartilage allows for diverse knee function throughout range of motion and weight bearing. However, disruption to the structural integrity of the articular surface can cause significant morbidity. Due to an inherently poor regenerative capacity, articular cartilage defects present a treatment challenge for physicians and therapists. For many patients, a trial of nonsurgical treatment options is paramount prior to surgical intervention. In instances of failed conservative treatment, patients can undergo an array of palliative, restorative, or reparative surgical procedures to treat these lesions. Palliative methods include debridement and lavage, while restorative techniques include marrow stimulation. For larger lesions involving subchondral bone, reparative procedures such as osteochondral grafting or autologous chondrocyte implantation are considered. Clinical success not only depends on the surgical techniques but also requires strict adherence to rehabilitation guidelines. The purpose of this article is to review the basic science of articular cartilage and to provide an overview of the procedures currently performed at our institution for patients presenting with symptomatic cartilage lesions. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(3):243–253. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3673
Diagnosis and Management of the Multiligament-Injured Knee
Authors: Skendzel Jack G. , Sekiya Jon K. , Wojtys Edward M.
Published: March 2012

Synopsis

Knee injuries involving multiple ligaments, which are often associated with tibiofemoral joint dislocations, are complex injuries that are challenging to evaluate and treat. The clinician must have a thorough understanding of knee anatomy and be capable of a detailed physical examination to determine the extent and pattern of injury. Accurate interpretation of imaging studies is crucial but cannot replace the physical examination. The magnitude of deforming forces and amount of translation and rotation of the tibia in relation to the femur determine the risk for neurovascular injury. Most patients with multiligament knee injuries undergo surgical management; however, some patients may be best served by a nonoperative approach. Successful rehabilitation consists of achieving good range of motion and strength, as well as normal gait mechanics, while respecting the stages of healing.

Level of Evidence

Therapy, level 5. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(3):234–242. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3678
Detection of Stop Bar Traffic Flow State
Authors: Perez-Montesinos Jean , Dixon Michael P. , Kyte Michael
Published: February 2012

Traffic signal systems can be more effective if high-quality performance measures are available. However, these performance measurement methodologies require more detection than exists in standard signal systems. One useful performance measure would be the traffic flow state at the intersection (e.g., static queue, discharging queue, free flow). This paper develops and tests a method for detection of the state of real-time traffic flow by interpreting patterns of signal status and traffic flow conditions measured by stop bar detectors. This paper proposes a widely available algorithm to create a model in the form of a decision tree that is calibrated to translate these states from traffic operation and signal control patterns. The tree was calibrated with microscopic simulation data and validated with independent simulation and manually extracted field data sets. Test results indicated that the traffic flow states detection methodology performed well and could be efficiently developed on large data sets.
Integrated Control of Freeway Interchange Model Based on Enhanced Cell Transmission Model
Authors: Li Zichuan , Tao Ruihua
Published: February 2012

Congested freeway interchanges normally suffer from the spillback of off-ramp and on-ramp queues. The traffic signals around a congested interchange can also experience link-blockage and lane-blockage problems. For an overall system performance around an interchange to be improved, both freeway and arterial performance must be considered to optimize signal timings. This study extends the cell transmission concept and proposes a set of new formulations to capture the traffic dynamic with link blockage, lane blockage, and ramp spillback. On the basis of these formulations, an integrated control model for optimizing interchanges and a solution method based on a genetic algorithm are proposed. The model's performance was demonstrated in a case study with different traffic scenarios for the interchange connecting Georgia Avenue (MD-97) and the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Silver Spring, Maryland. The resulting signal timings were compared with those from TRANSYT-7F (Release 10). For fair comparison, this study used CORSIM, a third-party simulation package, as the performance evaluator. Results indicated that the proposed model was promising and could improve freeway and arterial performance.
Design of Intergreen Times Based on Safety Reliability
Authors: Tang Keshuang , Kuwahara Masao , Tanaka Shinji
Published: February 2012

This study proposes a stochastic approach for the design of intergreen times, that is, signal change and clearance intervals, at signalized intersections based on safety reliability. Unlike the conventional deterministic methods, the proposed method accounts for the uncertainty of input variables deriving intergreen times as well as driver decision randomness at the onset of yellow. The probability of risky behavior, including abrupt stop and red light running, was selected as the safety reliability measure for determining yellow time, and the probability of the occurrence of clearance failure was used as the measure for determining all-red time. A theoretical model of estimating safety reliability and deriving intergreen times was developed and was validated by the use of the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Comparisons with the current methods used in Japan, the United States, and Germany indicated that the proposed method captured the probabilistic nature of traffic and driving decision and thus provided a more rational design of intergreen times.
Development and Evaluation of Optimal Arterial Control Strategies for Oversaturated Conditions
Authors: Abbas Montasir M. , Adam Zain M. , Gettman Douglas
Published: February 2012

Oversaturated conditions present an additional burden for practitioners because of the lack of adequate optimization tools for addressing such situations. In contrast to undersaturated conditions, congested conditions require careful consideration and analysis of the underlying causes before mitigation strategies can be developed. This paper presents a framework for developing optimal oversaturation control strategies that account for identification and mitigation of critical underlying causes (critical route and traffic pattern information). A proposed framework takes into account some basic underlying constraints as applied to cycle, offset, and split designs. Simulation results revealed that the proposed framework led to a significant improvement in system performance. Results also revealed that different control parameters in the optimal range improved some performance measures more than they did others.
New Gradient Approximation Method for Dynamic Origin–Destination Matrix Estimation on Congested Networks
Authors: Frederix Rodric , Viti Francesco , Corthout Ruben , Tampère Chris M. J.
Published: February 2012

In origin–destination (O-D) estimation methods, the relationship between the link flows and the O-D flows is typically approximated by a linear function described by the assignment matrix that corresponds with the current estimate of the O-D flows. However, this relationship implicitly assumes the link flows to be separable; this assumption leads to biased results in congested networks. The use of a different linear approximation of the relationship between O-D flows and link flows has been suggested to take into account link flows being nonseparable. However, deriving this relationship is cumbersome in terms of computation time. In this paper, the use of marginal computation (MaC) is proposed. MaC is a computationally efficient method that performs a perturbation analysis, with the use of kinematic wave theory principles, to derive this relationship. The use of MaC for dynamic O-D estimation was tested on a study network and on a real network. In both cases the proposed methodology performed better than traditional O-D estimation approaches, and thereby showed its merit.
Centralized Time-Dependent Multiple-Carrier Collaboration Problem for Less-Than-Truckload Carriers
Authors: Hernández Salvador , Peeta Srinivas
Published: February 2012

This paper addresses a time-dependent, centralized multiple-carrier collaboration problem (TD-MCCP) for the small to medium-sized less-than-truckload (LTL) industry. The TD-MCCP represents a strategy in which a central entity (such as a third-party logistics firm) seeks to minimize the total system costs of an LTL carrier collaborative that consists of multiple carriers by identifying collaborative opportunities over a shared network under three rate-setting behavioral strategies and a leasing alternative. In contrast to conventional time-dependent network problems that view demand as dynamic, capacities in the proposed LTL multiple-carrier collaborative framework are time-dependent but known a priori, and demand is fixed. The TD-MCCP is modeled as a binary (0–1) multi-commodity minimum cost-flow problem formulation for two rate-setting behavioral cases and solved with a branch-and-cut algorithm. The first case examines the effect of one rate-setting behavioral strategy at a time, and the second case examines the effect of multiple rate-setting behavioral strategies simultaneously. Numerical experiments are conducted to seek insights into the computational performance of the TD-MCCP formulations under various network sizes and numbers of shipments. The results indicate that the attractiveness of the time-dependent multiple-carrier collaboration paradigm increases with a volume-oriented rate-setting strategy. Also, a volume-oriented rate strategy has the potential to increase the capacity utilization of carriers seeking to minimize empty-haul trips. Finally, the leasing alternative can serve as a viable option for a centralized collaborative system, especially when affordable collaborative capacity is scarce.
Disaggregate Multimodal Travel Demand Modeling Based on Road Pricing and Access to Transit
Authors: Peters Jonathan R. , Shim Hyoung S. , Kress Michael E.
Published: February 2012

In this paper, the conventional disaggregate travel demand model, a probability model for the modeling of multiple modes, generally called random utility maximization (RUM), is expanded to a model of count of mode choice. The extended travel demand model is derived from general economic theory—maximizing instantaneous utility on the time horizon, subject to a budget constraint—and can capture the dynamic behavior of countable travel demand. Because the model is for countable dependent variables, it has a more realistic set of assumptions to explain travel demand than the RUM model. An empirical test of the theoretical model using a toll facility user survey in the New York City area was performed. The results showed that the theoretical model explained more than 50% of the trip frequency behavior observed in New York City toll facility users. Travel demand for toll facility users increased with respect to household employment, household vehicle count, and employer payment of tolls and decreased in terms of travel time, road pricing, travel distance, and mass transit access.
Adaptive Traffic Control for Large-Scale Dynamic Traffic Assignment Applications
Authors: Paz Alexander , Chiu Yi-Chang
Published: February 2012

Dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) applications require traffic signal control data that are typically difficult to obtain and cumbersome to code in the required format. In addition, the evaluation of future scenarios requires future traffic signal settings consistent with the forecast demand. These signal settings are not known a priori and are costly to estimate. Intuitively, future signal timings need to be reasonably optimized so as to represent what the traffic management agency will do. In the literature, integration between traffic control and DTA models has been formulated as a bi-level or single-level optimization problem with system or user optimal constraints. Most existing solution procedures require certain nested structure with an inner-loop algorithm solving the problem of user-equilibrium or system-optimal assignment and the outer-loop algorithm searching for the optimal signal-timing settings. Most of these solution approaches remain only research tools without practical use because of computational intractability. This research proposes an efficient solution algorithm to the problem. An adaptive traffic signal control model is embedded in a simulation-based DTA model. For each inbound approach at an intersection of interest, the adaptive model uses upstream information and a dynamic rolling-horizon approach to project traffic flow conditions for a dynamic but short (projection) period. The adaptive model provides the signal settings during the entire process of traffic flow simulation and for every iteration of the solution algorithm. Thus, during the entire solution process, the experienced travel times and resulting traffic assignment flows are based on the adaptive (demand-responsive) signal settings, allowing the DTA flows and the adaptive signal settings to be generated simultaneously in a single-loop algorithmic structure. Simulation experiments illustrate the capabilities of the proposed approach.
Model of Traffic Flow Capacity Constraint through Nodes for Dynamic Network Loading with Queue Spillback
Authors: Gibb John
Published: February 2012

In dynamic network traffic loading models with queues spilling back in the links, if one or more links departing a node have demand exceeding capacity, a node model is required to unambiguously constrain the flows exiting the links approaching that node. Basic principles of traffic flow and causality impose requirements on macroscopic node models that have only been recently articulated. Only one existing model fully conforms, but it has a weakness that is identified and discussed. This paper develops a new conforming model from a particular behavior of traffic: vehicles wait their turns to proceed and consume additional approach capacity due to waiting. The model's derivation from behavior distinguishes this model from previous ones that allocate capacity by proportionality rules. A simple, efficient, and convergent solution algorithm for the new model is provided.
Select Zone Analysis for Traffic Impact Studies
Authors: Mamun Md. Shahid , Xu Hongli , Yin Yafeng
Published: February 2012

Select zone analysis examines the spatial impacts of a new development and requires knowledge of the distribution of path flows or of the distribution of origin–destination (O-D) specific link flows. Because these two flow distributions may not be uniquely determined from assignment of deterministic user equilibriums, the choice of a particular flow distribution as the basis for select zone analysis remains an open question. This paper both suggests the use of the mean of all the solutions for path or O-D–specific user equilibriums as that basis and proves its stability. A sampling procedure is proposed to estimate the basis. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the proposed concept and compare it with the entropy maximization approach.
Travel Speed Forecasting by Means of Continuous Conditional Random Fields
Authors: Djuric Nemanja , Radosavljevic Vladan , Coric Vladimir , Vucetic Slobodan
Published: February 2012

This paper explores the application of the recently proposed continuous conditional random fields (CCRF) to travel forecasting. CCRF is a flexible, probabilistic framework that can seamlessly incorporate multiple traffic predictors and exploit spatial and temporal correlations inherently present in traffic data. In addition to improving prediction accuracy, the probabilistic approach provides information about prediction uncertainty. Moreover, information about the relative importance of particular predictor and spatial–temporal correlations can be easily extracted from the model. CCRF is fault-tolerant and can provide predictions even when some observations are missing. Several CCRF models were applied to the problem of travel speed prediction in a range from 10 to 60 min ahead and evaluated on loop detector data from a 5.71-mi section of I-35W in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Several CCRF models, with increasing levels of complexity, are proposed to assess performance of the method better. When these CCRF models were compared with the linear regression model, they reduced the mean absolute error by around 4%. The results imply that modeling spatial and temporal neighborhoods in traffic data and combining various baseline predictors under the CCRF framework can be beneficial.
Do Advance Yield Markings Increase Safe Driver Behaviors at Unsignalized, Marked Midblock Crosswalks?: Driving Simulator Study
Authors: Gómez Radhameris A. , Samuel Siby , Gerardino Luis Roman , Romoser Matthew R. E. , Collura John , Knodler Michael , Fisher Donald L.
Published: February 2012

In the United States, 78% of pedestrian crashes occur at noninter-section crossings. As a result, unsignalized, marked midblock crosswalks are prime targets for remediation. Many of these crashes occur under sight-limited conditions in which the view of critical information by the driver or pedestrian is obstructed by a vehicle stopped in an adjacent travel or parking lane on the near side of the crosswalk. Study of such a situation on the open road is much too risky, but study of the situation in a driving simulator is not. This paper describes the development of scenarios with sight limitations to compare potential vehicle–pedestrian conflicts on a driving simulator under conditions with two different types of pavement markings. Under the first condition, advance yield markings and symbol signs (prompts) that indicated “yield here to pedestrians” were used to warn drivers of pedestrians at marked, midblock crosswalks. Under the second condition, standard crosswalk treatments and prompts were used to warn drivers of these hazards. Actual crashes as well as the drivers’ point of gaze were measured to determine if the drivers approaching a marked midblock crosswalk looked for pedestrians in the crosswalk more frequently and sooner in high-risk scenarios when advance yield markings and prompts were present than when standard markings and prompts were used. Fewer crashes were found to occur with advance yield markings. Drivers were also found to look for pedestrians much more frequently and much sooner with advance yield markings. The advantages and limitations of the use of driving simulation to study problems such as these are discussed.
Can Walking Behavior be Predicted?: Analysis of Calibration and Fit of Pedestrian Models
Authors: Rudloff Christian , Matyus Thomas , Seer Stefan , Bauer Dietmar
Published: February 2012

Several models for simulation of pedestrian movement have been proposed in recent decades. These models are primarily used in the planning and evaluation of large pedestrian infrastructures, such as transportation hubs, with a focus to increase comfort and safety for pedestrians. Although the number of proposed simulation models is increasing at a fast pace, not much is known about the properties of calibration procedures or the transferability of the models estimated in one setting to other settings. This paper compares three calibration methods for a slightly adapted social force model. The main emphasis lies in the characteristics of the data-generation process and the information contained in the data sets. The sensitivity of the model parameters of the calibrated model were investigated, and the transferability of the model to different scenarios was tested. Results revealed that the quality of the data had a strong effect on the suitability of different calibration strategies and that the information content in the scene under investigation limited the transferability of the results to other scenarios. These results suggest that several data sets with different characteristics do not need to be included in the calibration process to achieve a model that performs well in a wider variety of settings.
Pedestrian Safety Programs in Centers of Large Cities: Institutional Settings and Identified Barriers
Authors: Shin Hyeon-Shic , Chen Greg , Holisko Gregory
Published: February 2012

Although pedestrian fatalities in the United States have decreased, walking remains one of the more dangerous travel modes. Concern for pedestrian safety is likely to be felt more strongly in the centers of large cities (defined as cities with populations of greater than 500,000) than in other, smaller cities. The needs and the issues in the centers of large cities need to be understood when planning officials develop and implement pedestrian safety programs. Planning officials from 13 large cities (Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Los Angeles, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; San Francisco and San Jose, California; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, D.C.) were interviewed to discuss institutional settings, interagency collaboration, high-risk population groups, and institutional barriers. Results revealed that collaboration of multiple stakeholders was typical, but several barriers needed to be addressed to further improve pedestrian safety. The barriers included competing priorities between agencies, lack of resources, auto-dependent culture, and data gaps. More holistic approaches are needed as safety countermeasures alone may not always be sufficient for the enhancement of pedestrian safety. Often, pedestrian safety is related to pedestrians’ socioeconomic status, physical environment, and even adverse local issues. Thus, participation and formalized policy integration among multiple parties are required to create a win–win safety policy that can be built on the basis of frequent dialogue, information sharing, and identification of shared goals and objectives.
Development and Implementation of Conflict-Based Assessment of Pedestrian Safety to Evaluate Accessibility of Complex Intersections
Authors: Salamati Katayoun , Schroeder Bastian , Rouphail Nagui M. , Cunningham Christopher , Long Richard , Barlow Janet
Published: February 2012

This paper describes the development and implementation of the conflict-based assessment of pedestrian safety (CAPS) methodology for the evaluation of pedestrian accessibility at complex intersections. Significant research has explored pedestrian access to modern roundabouts and other complex intersections, and a significant focus has been placed on accessibility for pedestrians who were blind. A majority of these studies relied on actual street crossings by study participants under the supervision of a trained orientation and mobility specialist. These crossing studies quantified risk from a measurement of intervention events, in which the orientation and mobility specialist had to physically stop the participant from crossing. Although such studies provide useful data on the crossing risk at a particular intersection, street crossings can be dangerous to the study participants and are time-consuming and expensive to conduct. The CAPS method emphasizes the use of conflict-based safety factors to quantify risk in a framework compatible with indicator studies. This method relates pedestrian crossing decisions to advanced measurements of vehicle dynamics to estimate lane-by-lane conflicts and identifies the grade of conflict on the basis of a five-criterion rating scale. The CAPS framework was applied to a study of crossings by blind pedestrians at a multilane roundabout. The resulting risk scores were calibrated from the actual orientation and mobility interventions observed during the study. The calibrated CAPS framework correctly matched all (high-risk) orientation and mobility intervention events and further identified other (lower-risk) pedestrian–vehicle conflicts. The CAPS framework provides a more efficient, objective, and consistent safety assessment of pedestrian crossings in a research context, without the need for pedestrians to step into the roadway.
Role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy at infected cerebrospinal fluid shunt removal
Authors: Shimizu Tomohisa , Luciano Mark G. , Fukuhara Toru
Published: March 2012

Object

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection is distressing, especially in the pediatric population. Usually, infected CSF shunts are removed, and after temporary external CSF drainage, reinsertion of the CSF shunt is necessary. Unfortunately, it is not rare to encounter CSF reinfection after shunt renewal, and furthermore, the reinserted CSF shunt is at a considerable risk of malfunction. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a potent option in managing CSF shunt infection, although ETV failure may occur more frequently when it is used to remove an infected shunt. The authors retrospectively evaluated CSF reinfection after using ETV during removal of infected CSF shunts; then the longevity of ETV and of successive reinserted ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) after ETV failure were also examined.

Methods

Children with shunted hydrocephalus were retrospectively reviewed, and data on their initial CSF shunt infections were extracted. Thirty-six children underwent VPS reinsertion (the VPS group), and 9 underwent ETV after removal of the infected CSF shunt (the ETV group). As the primary outcome, ETV efficacy against CSF reinfection within 6 months was analyzed by comparing the reinfection rates, and the risk factors for CSF reinfection were analyzed by logistic regression. The longevity of the reinserted shunt in the VPS group was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, which was compared with ETV longevity as the secondary outcome, and also with the longevity of reinserted VPSs in the ETV group after ETV failure as the tertiary outcome.

Results

Reinfection of CSF was seen in 27.8% of children in the VPS group. Among 9 children in the ETV group, only 1 (11.1%) had CSF reinfection. However, logistic regression analysis failed to show that performing ETV was a significant factor protecting against CSF reinfection: the significant risk factors were younger age at reinsertion of VPS or ETV (p = 0.037) and a history of shunt revisions (p = 0.011). The longevity of reinserted VPSs in the VPS group was calculated to be 658 ± 166.3 days (mean ± SE). Longevity of ETV was compared in the analysis of the secondary outcome, which was 929.2 ± 511.1 days, and there were no significant differences between these durations. Only 2 ETVs stayed patent, and a VPS was eventually implanted in the other 7 children. The longevity of this reinserted VPS in the ETV group, calculated based on these 7 children, was 2011.1 ± 540.7 days, which was confirmed to be longer than that in the VPS group (p = 0.031).

Conclusions

Although the protective effect of using ETV during removal of an infected CSF shunt on reinfection is marginal, the ETV longevity can be considered equivalent to that of reinserted VPSs. Even if ETV failure occurs, the reinserted VPS has significantly better longevity than a VPS reinserted without using ETV, and use of ETV during infected CSF shunt removal can be considered a potent alternative or at least an adjunct to VPS reinsertion.
De novo cerebral arteriovenous malformation in a child with previous cavernous malformation and developmental venous anomaly
Authors: Alvarez Hortensia , Perry Victor , Solle Michael , Castillo Mauricio
Published: March 2012

Although cerebral vascular malformations are traditionally considered to be congenital lesions, they often become clinically evident in the 3rd to 4th decades of life, leading to the assumption of a long silent clinical period. Unlike vein of Galen malformations, antenatal diagnosis of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is highly uncommon. Postnatal development of an AVM is an emergent concept supported by more clinical observations. Genetic and biological studies demonstrate that an environmental trigger (“second hit”) in addition to genetic predisposition may be a key in understanding the pathophysiology of AVMs and other cerebral vascular lesions such as cavernous malformations (CMs). The authors describe a 6-year-old boy in whom a giant CM was diagnosed and a de novo AVM was detected 25 months after initial resection of the CM. This case seems to support the second-hit hypothesis.
Conventional versus reference-surface mass balance
Authors: Huss Matthias , Hock Regine , Bauder Andreas , Funk Martin
Published: February 2012

Glacier surface mass balance evaluated over the actual glacier geometry depends not only on climatic variations, but also on the dynamic adjustment of glacier geometry. Therefore, it has been proposed that reference-surface balances calculated over a constant glacier hypsometry are better suited for climatic interpretation. Here we present a comparison of 82 year modelled time series (1926-2008) of conventional and reference-surface balance for 36 Swiss glaciers. Over this time period the investigated glaciers have lost 22% of their area, and ice surface elevation close to the current glacier terminus has decreased by 78 m on average. Conventional balance in the last decade, at −0.91 mw.e.a-1, is 0.14 m w.e. a-1 less negative than the reference-surface balance. About half of the negative (stabilizing) feedback on mass balance due to glacier terminus retreat is compensated by more negative mass balances due to surface lowering. Short-term climatic variability is clearly reflected in the conventional mass-balance series; however, the magnitude of the long-term negative trend is underestimated compared to that found in the reference-surface balance series. Both conventional and reference-surface specific balances show large spatial variability among the 36 glaciers.
Online Marketing in Bangladesh: A Descriptive Study in the Context of Some Selected Click and Mortar Businesses
Authors: Hassan Md Kamrul , Momen Md Abdul , Sultana Seyama
Published: February 2012

Every business requires a good marketing mix to introduce, grow, and sustain in this highly competitive market economy. The day before yesterday marketers were rarely looking at online based marketing efforts, instead, they were just relaying on conventional marketing mix. With the presence of highly growingInternet users, relative low cost and easy going strategies, ‘online marketing’ is also becoming so crucial for every business hub. By getting the balance of offline and online advertising right, marketing mix will help provide everything firms need to gain leads, increase sales, improve customer retention, and rocket the company profits. The study has a comprehensive perspective and provides a bird’s eye view of the online marketing practice in Bangladesh. This discussion is extended with an examination of the studies that compare conventional marketing practices with the principles and rules of the online marketing world particularly the four major components of the traditional marketing mix in an online context. To understand the online marketing environment in the country a greater sense of the study has extended its overall views from both the consumers and business perspectives. This study provides an effort to understand the relationship between online marketing exercise and the area of business operation (international vs. domestic) as well as gives an idea why marketers use Internet in the country. And this paper concludes with the prime exercise of online marketing which is centralizing mostly for leveraging international business operations in Bangladesh.Keywords: Online Marketing; Online Marketing Mix; E-commerce; Click and Mortar BusinessDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbt.v5i2.9986Journal of Technology (Dhaka) Vol. 5(2), July-December, 2010 150-165
Executive Editor's Note Vol.6(1)
Authors: Alam Mahmudul
Published: February 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbt.v6i1.9990Journal of Technology (Dhaka) Vol. 6(1), January-June, 2011
Customers Perception about the Determinants of Service Quality of Foreign and Domestic Banks: An Empirical Study on Bangladesh
Authors: Siddique Abu Baker , Karim Khondoker Sazzadul , Rahman Md Lutfor
Published: February 2012

This paper investigates the determinants of perceived service quality among the customers of domestic and foreign banks in Dhaka, Bangladesh using a modified version of SERVQUAL model. It finds that in general the foreign banks provided marginally better measures in most of the dimensions than did the domestic banks. For domestic private banks reliability, communication, credibility, security, and tangibility are found to be significantly affecting the service quality. On the other hand, for foreign banks, reliability, credibility, and tangibility are the only significant factors affecting their service quality.Keywords: Determinants of Service quality; Banking industry; Bangladesh; SERVQUAL Model.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbt.v6i1.9991  Journal of Technology (Dhaka) Vol. 6(1), January-June, 2011 1-14
A Review of Entrepreneurship Education for College Students in China
Authors: Zhou Mansheng , Xu Haixia
Published: March 2012

Partly as a result of the rapid growth in Chinese higher education, graduate placement has become a critical issue facing colleges and universties. In response, one of the policy initiatives adopted by the Chinese government is for higher education institutions to put an emphasis on entrepreneurship education. In 2002, the Ministry of Education launched a pilot program on carrying out entrepreneurship education in nine prestigious higher education institutions in China. Since then, many colleges and universities have adopted this innovation in education. This study attempts to examine entrepreneurship education as an innovative solution to the challenges facing higher education in China. It first introduces the background for promoting entrepreneurship education in China, analyzes the entrepreneurship education programs and activities in three selected universities, assesses the state of entrepreneurship education both from a student perspective and also through a comparison with developments in the United States, and concludes with recommendations for further developments in entrepreneurship education in China’s colleges and universities.
Mortalin, Apoptosis, and Neurodegeneration
Authors: Londono Carolina , Osorio Cristina , Gama Vivian , Alzate Oscar
Published: March 2012

Mortalin is a highly conserved heat-shock chaperone usually found in multiple subcellular locations. It has several binding partners and has been implicated in various functions ranging from stress response, control of cell proliferation, and inhibition/prevention of apoptosis. The activity of this protein involves different structural and functional mechanisms, and minor alterations in its expression level may lead to serious biological consequences, including neurodegeneration. In this article we review the most current data associated with mortalin’s binding partners and how these protein-protein interactions may be implicated in apoptosis and neurodegeneration. A complete understanding of the molecular pathways in which mortalin is involved is important for the development of therapeutic strategies for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Stress Alters the Discriminative Stimulus and Response Rate Effects of Cocaine Differentially in Lewis and Fischer Inbred Rats
Authors: Kosten Therese A. , Miserendino Mindy J. D.
Published: March 2012

Stress enhances the behavioral effects of cocaine, perhaps via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Yet, compared to Fischer 344 (F344) rats, Lewis rats have hyporesponsive HPA axis function and more readily acquire cocaine self-administration. We hypothesized that stress would differentially affect cocaine behaviors in these strains. The effects of three stressors on the discriminative stimulus and response rate effects of cocaine were investigated. Rats of both strains were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline using a two-lever, food-reinforced (FR10) procedure. Immediately prior to cumulative dose (1, 3, 10 mg/kg cocaine) test sessions, rats were restrained for 15-min, had 15-min of footshock in a distinct context, or were placed in the shock-paired context. Another set of F344 and Lewis rats were tested similarly except they received vehicle injections to test if stress substituted for cocaine. Most vehicle-tested rats failed to respond after stressor exposures. Among cocaine-tested rats, restraint stress enhanced cocaine’s discriminative stimulus effects in F344 rats. Shock and shock-context increased response rates in Lewis rats. Stress-induced increases in corticosterone levels showed strain differences but did not correlate with behavior. These data suggest that the behavioral effects of cocaine can be differentially affected by stress in a strain-selective manner.
Temporal Asymmetry, Entropic Irreversibility, and Finite-Time Thermodynamics: From Parmenides–Einstein Time-Reversal Symmetry to the Heraclitan Entropic Arrow of Time
Authors: Haddad Wassim M.
Published: February 2012

In this paper, we combine the two universalisms of thermodynamics and dynamical systems theory to develop a dynamical system formalism for classical thermodynamics. Specifically, using a compartmental dynamical system energy flow model we develop a state-space dynamical system model that captures the key aspects of thermodynamics, including its fundamental laws. In addition, we establish the existence of a unique, continuously differentiable global entropy function for our dynamical system model, and using Lyapunov stability theory we show that the proposed thermodynamic model has finite-time convergent trajectories to Lyapunov stable equilibria determined by the system initial energies. Finally, using the system entropy, we establish the absence of Poincaré recurrence for our thermodynamic model and develop clear and rigorous connections between irreversibility, the second law of thermodynamics, and the entropic arrow of time.
Flavone Enhances Dengue Virus Type-2 (NGC Strain) Infectivity and Replication in Vero Cells
Authors: Zandi Keivan , Lani Rafidah , Wong Pooi-Fong , Teoh Boon-Teong , Sam Sing-Sin , Johari Jefree , Mustafa Mohd Rais , AbuBakar Sazaly
Published: February 2012

This study investigates the effects of 2-phenyl-1-benzopyran-4-one (flavone) on DENV-2 infectivity in Vero cells. Virus adsorption and attachment and intracellular virus replication were investigated using a foci forming unit assay (FFUA) and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Addition of flavone (100 μg/mL) significantly increased the number of DENV-2 foci by 35.66% ± 1.52 and 49.66% ± 2.51 when added during and after virus adsorption to the Vero cells, respectively. The average foci size after 4 days of infection increased by 33% ± 2.11 and 89% ± 2.13. The DENV-2 specific RNA copy number in the flavone-treated infected cells increased by 6.41- and 23.1-fold when compared to the mock-treated infected cells. Flavone (100 μg/mL) did not promote or inhibit Vero cell proliferation. The CC50 value of flavone against Vero cells was 446 µg/mL. These results suggest that flavone might enhance dengue virus replication by acting antagonistically towards flavonoids known to inhibit dengue virus replication.
Fluorescence-Based Multiplex Protein Detection Using Optically Encoded Microbeads
Authors: Jun Bong-Hyun , Kang Homan , Lee Yoon-Sik , Jeong Dae Hong
Published: March 2012

Potential utilization of proteins for early detection and diagnosis of various diseases has drawn considerable interest in the development of protein-based multiplex detection techniques. Among the various techniques for high-throughput protein screening, optically-encoded beads combined with fluorescence-based target monitoring have great advantages over the planar array-based multiplexing assays. This review discusses recent developments of analytical methods of screening protein molecules on microbead-based platforms. These include various strategies such as barcoded microbeads, molecular beacon-based techniques, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based techniques. Their applications for label-free protein detection are also addressed. Especially, the optically-encoded beads such as multilayer fluorescence beads and SERS-encoded beads are successful for generating a large number of coding.
Pattern Classification Using an Olfactory Model with PCA Feature Selection in Electronic Noses: Study and Application
Authors: Fu Jun , Huang Canqin , Xing Jianguo , Zheng Junbao
Published: March 2012

Biologically-inspired models and algorithms are considered as promising sensor array signal processing methods for electronic noses. Feature selection is one of the most important issues for developing robust pattern recognition models in machine learning. This paper describes an investigation into the classification performance of a bionic olfactory model with the increase of the dimensions of input feature vector (outer factor) as well as its parallel channels (inner factor). The principal component analysis technique was applied for feature selection and dimension reduction. Two data sets of three classes of wine derived from different cultivars and five classes of green tea derived from five different provinces of China were used for experiments. In the former case the results showed that the average correct classification rate increased as more principal components were put in to feature vector. In the latter case the results showed that sufficient parallel channels should be reserved in the model to avoid pattern space crowding. We concluded that 6~8 channels of the model with principal component feature vector values of at least 90% cumulative variance is adequate for a classification task of 3~5 pattern classes considering the trade-off between time consumption and classification rate.
Nuclear Actin and Lamins in Viral Infections
Authors: Cibulka Jakub , Fraiberk Martin , Forstova Jitka
Published: February 2012

Lamins are the best characterized cytoskeletal components of the cell nucleus that help to maintain the nuclear shape and participate in diverse nuclear processes including replication or transcription. Nuclear actin is now widely accepted to be another cytoskeletal protein present in the nucleus that fulfills important functions in the gene expression. Some viruses replicating in the nucleus evolved the ability to interact with and probably utilize nuclear actin for their replication, e.g., for the assembly and transport of capsids or mRNA export. On the other hand, lamins play a role in the propagation of other viruses since nuclear lamina may represent a barrier for virions entering or escaping the nucleus. This review will summarize the current knowledge about the roles of nuclear actin and lamins in viral infections.