bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Casimir force between an ideal metal plate and a dissipative dielectric slab
Authors: Falinejad H. , Bayat F.
Published: September 2014

In this research, a general formula for the Casimir force between ideal metal plate and a dissipative dielectric slab has been obtained. The dielectric function of the slab is assumed to be an arbitrary complex function of frequency satisfying Kramers–Kronig relations. A classical expression for the radiation pressure of the vacuum fields on the slab is presented by using the Maxwell stress tensor. With the transition to the quantum domain and using the fluctuation dissipation theorem and Kubo's formula, the resulting expression is written in terms of the imaginary part of the vector potential Green functions components of the system. Finally, by computing the Green function, the Casimir force on the slab is obtained. This formalism enables us to calculate the Casimir force without resorting to the explicit form of the field operators. The general expression is confirmed by limiting and comparing with one of the previous works.
A High-Linear CMOS Down Conversion Mixer Using Adjusting the Second and Third-Order Harmonic in Transconductance Stage
Authors: Amiri Mina , Abrishamifar Adib
Published: September 2014

In this paper a new high-linear CMOS mixer is proposed. A well-known low voltage CMOS multiplier structure is used for mixer application in this paper and its linearity is provided by adjusting the value of a resistor, sizing the aspect ratio of a PMOS transistor and adding a proper value of inductor at the input stage. In simulation, a supply voltage as low as 1 V is applied to the circuit. Simulation results of improved mixer in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology illustrate 14 dB increases in IIP3 and also an increase around 1.4 dB is obtained in conversion gain. Furthermore, additional components which are used for improving linearity would not increase the power consumption and area significantly.
The zero-point field and the emergence of the quantum
Authors: de la Peña L. , Cetto A. M. , Valdés-Hernandes A.
Published: September 2014

A new way of arriving at the quantum formalism is presented, based on the recognition of the reality of the random zero-point radiation field (ZPF). The quantization of both matter and radiation field is shown to emerge as a result of the permanent interaction of matter with the ZPF. Quantum mechanics (QM) is obtained both in its Schrödinger and its Heisenberg version, under certain well-defined conditions and approximations. The theory provides for an explanation of the origin of entanglement. Further, the same physical elements and hypotheses allow us to cross the doorway and go beyond QM, to the realm of (nonrelativistic) quantum electrodynamics (QED).
The influence of gold nanoparticles on the electroactivity of nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine
Authors: Maringa Audacity , Nyokong Tebello
Published: September 2014

We report on the electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles ( AuNPs ) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) followed by deposition of nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine ( NiTSPc ) film by electropolymerization (poly- NiTSPc -GCE) to form Poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE. The presence of the gold nanoparticles caused a lowering of the anodic and cathodic peak separation (ΔEp) of ferricyanide from 126 mV on poly- NiTSPc to 110 mV on poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs . The electrooxidation of nitrite improved on modified electrodes compared to GCE, with the latter giving Ep= 0.78 V and the modified electrodes gave Ep= 0.62 V or 0.61 V. Poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE had higher currents compared to poly- NiTSPc -GCE. This indicates the enhancement effect caused by the AuNPs . Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometric studies also showed that poly- NiTSPc / AuNPs -GCE was a better electrocatalyst than poly- NiTSPc -GCE or AuNPs -GCE.
Weak-renormalized solutions for three species competition model in ecology
Authors: Shangerganesh Lingeshwaran , Barani Balan Natesan , Balachandran Krishnan
Published: September 2014

This paper investigate the existence of weak-renormalized solutions of the three species degenerate predator–prey model. The data belong to L1and we assume no growth condition on the nonlinearities.
Superoxide Dismutase 1 Loss Disturbs Intracellular Redox Signaling, Resulting in Global Age-Related Pathological Changes
Authors: Watanabe Kenji , Shibuya Shuichi , Ozawa Yusuke , Nojiri Hidetoshi , Izuo Naotaka , Yokote Koutaro , Shimizu Takahiko
Published: September 2014

Aging is characterized by increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and organ dysfunction, which occur in a progressive and irreversible manner. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) serves as a major antioxidant and neutralizes superoxide radicals throughout the body.In vivostudies have demonstrated that copper/zinc superoxide dismutase-deficient (Sod1−/−) mice show various aging-like pathologies, accompanied by augmentation of oxidative damage in organs. We found that antioxidant treatment significantly attenuated the age-related tissue changes and oxidative damage-associated p53 upregulation inSod1−/−mice. This review will focus on various age-related pathologies caused by the loss ofSod1and will discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis inSod1−/−mice.
Sulfa Drugs as Inhibitors of Carbonic Anhydrase: New Targets for the Old Drugs
Authors: al-Rashida Mariya , Hussain Sajad , Hamayoun Mehwish , Altaf Aisha , Iqbal Jamshed
Published: September 2014

Sulfa drugs are well-known antibacterial agents containing N-substituted sulfonamide group on para position of aniline ring (NH2RSO2NHR′). In this study 2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine derivatives of sulfa drugs, sulfamerazine (1b), sulfaquinoxaline (2b), sulfadiazine (3b), sulfadimidine (4b), and sulfachloropyrazine (5b) (1a–5a) were synthesized and characterized. Their carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity was evaluated against bovine cytosolic carbonic anhydrase isozyme II (bCA II). For the sake of comparison the CA inhibition activity of the parent sulfa drugs (1b–5b) was also evaluated. A significant increase in CA inhibition activity of sulfa drugs was observed upon substitution with 2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine moiety. Molecular docking studies were carried out to highlight binding site interactions. ADME properties were calculated to evaluate drug likeness of the compounds.
Design and Simulated Characteristics of Nanosized InSb Based Heterostructure Devices
Authors: Subash T. D. , Gnanasekaran T. , Divya C. , Jagannathan J.
Published: September 2014

Indium antimonide nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature. X-ray diffraction measurements are utilized to characterize the nanocomposites. The InSb nanoparticle has an average particle size in a range of 47 mm to 99 mm which is observed using the XRD result. The InSb is a material which is used to design the transistor. For designing purpose the simulator TCAD is used, by which the HEMT device is structured and its performance is analyzed and it is found that transistor operates as normal devices. This designed device is more valuable since a nanocomposite InSb material is used as a channel in HEMT device, thereby leading to the nanosized HEMT device. In addition, InSb has the property of high saturation velocity and mobility which results in higher performance of the device than any other materials in III-V compounds.
Minimizing the Total Service Time of Discrete Dynamic Berth Allocation Problem by an Iterated Greedy Heuristic
Authors: Lin Shih-Wei , Ying Kuo-Ching , Wan Shu-Yen
Published: September 2014

Berth allocation is the forefront operation performed when ships arrive at a port and is a critical task in container port optimization. Minimizing the time ships spend at berths constitutes an important objective of berth allocation problems. This study focuses on the discrete dynamic berth allocation problem (discrete DBAP), which aims to minimize total service time, and proposes an iterated greedy (IG) algorithm to solve it. The proposed IG algorithm is tested on three benchmark problem sets. Experimental results show that the proposed IG algorithm can obtain optimal solutions for all test instances of the first and second problem sets and outperforms the best-known solutions for 35 out of 90 test instances of the third problem set.
Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Dispersed in Various Aqueous Media Using Laser Ablation
Authors: Tajdidzadeh M. , Azmi B. Z. , Yunus W. Mahmood M. , Talib Z. Abidin , Sadrolhosseini A. R. , Karimzadeh K. , Gene S. A. , Dorraj M.
Published: September 2014

The particle size, morphology, and stability of Ag-NPs were investigated in the present study. A Q-Switched Nd: YAG pulsed laser (λ= 532 nm, 360 mJ/pulse) was used for ablation of a pure Ag plate for 30 min to prepare Ag-NPs in the organic compound such as ethylene glycol (EG) and biopolymer such as chitosan. The media (EG, chitosan) permitted the making of NPs with well dispersed and average size of Ag-NPs in EG is about 22 nm and in chitosan is about 10 nm in spherical form. Particle size, morphology, and stability of NPs were compared with distilled water as a reference. The stability of the samples was studied by measuring UV-visible absorption spectra of samples after one month. The result indicated that the formation efficiency of NPs in chitosan was higher than other media and NPs in chitosan solution were more stable than other media during one month storage. This method for synthesis of silver NPs could be as a green method due to its environmentally friendly nature.
Cardioprotection: A Review of Current Practice in Global Ischemia and Future Translational Perspective
Authors: Habertheuer Andreas , Kocher Alfred , Laufer Günther , Andreas Martin , Szeto Wilson Y. , Petzelbauer Peter , Ehrlich Marek , Wiedemann Dominik
Published: September 2014

The idea of protecting the heart from ischemic insult during heart surgery to allow elective cardiac arrest is as old as the idea of cardiac surgery itself. The current gold standard in clinical routine is a high potassium regimen added either to crystalloid or blood cardioplegic solutions inducing depolarized arrest. Ongoing patient demographic changes with increasingly older, comorbidly ill patients and increasing case complexity with increasingly structurally abnormal hearts as morphological correlate paired with evolutions in pediatric cardiac surgery allowing more complex procedures than ever beforeredefine requirements for cardioprotection. Many, in part adversarial, regimens to protect the myocardium from ischemic insults have entered clinical routine; however, functional recovery of the heart is still often impaired due to perfusion injury. Myocardial reperfusion damage is a key determinant of postoperative organ functional recovery, morbidity, and mortality in adult and pediatric patients. There is a discrepancy between what current protective strategies are capable of and what they are expected to do in a rapidly changing cardiac surgery community. An increased understanding of the molecular players of ischemia reperfusion injury offers potential seeds for new cardioprotective regimens and may further displace boundaries of what is technically feasible.
Improved Efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Using Warmed Miriplatin for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Yasui Daisuke , Murata Satoru , Onozawa Shiro , Mine Takahiko , Ueda Tatsuo , Sugihara Fumie , Kawamoto Chiaki , Uchida Eiji , Kumita Shin-ichiro
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using warmed and nonwarmed miriplatin for hepatocellular carcinoma. Eighty patients (117 nodules), treated between January 2010 and June 2013, were evaluated. Thirty-two and 85 nodules were treated with nonwarmed and warmed miriplatin, respectively. The efficacy of TACE was evaluated on a per nodule basis according to treatment effect (TE). Adverse events were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0. TE grades were significantly improved in the warmed group compared to the nonwarmed group (nonwarmed: TE 4, 12.5%; TE 3, 0%; TE 2, 15.6%; TE 1, 71.9%; warmed: TE 4, 34.1%; TE 3, 5.9%; TE 2, 9.4%; TE 1, 50.6%;P=0.017) . Multivariate analysis revealed significant impact of warming miriplatin on objective response rate (odds ratio, 12.35; 95% confidence interval, 2.90–90.0;P=0.0028). CTCAE grades of elevated aspartate and alanine transaminase after TACE were significantly higher in the warmed group (P=0.0083and 0.0068, resp.); however, all adverse events were only transient. The use of warmed miriplatin in TACE significantly improved TE without causing serious complications.
Second Law Analysis for Third-Grade Fluid with Variable Properties
Authors: Adesanya Samuel O.
Published: September 2014

This paper investigates the entropy generation in a third-grade fluid flow with variable properties through a channel. Approximate solutions to the nonlinear boundary-value problem are obtained using Adomian decomposition method (ADM). Variation of important parameters on the fluid velocity, temperature distribution, entropy generation and irreversibility ratio are presented graphically and discussed.
In Vivo Antiprotozoal Activity of the Chloroform Extract from Carica papaya Seeds against Amastigote Stage of Trypanosoma cruzi during Indeterminate and Chronic Phase of Infection
Authors: Jimenez-Coello Matilde , Acosta-Viana Karla Y. , Ortega-Pacheco Antonio , Perez-Gutierrez Salud , Guzman-Marin Eugenia
Published: September 2014

In order to evaluate the antiprotozoal activity of the chloroform extract of Carica papaya seeds during the subacute and chronic phase of infection of Trypanosoma cruzi, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg were evaluated during the subacute phase, including a mixture of their main components (oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids). Subsequently, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg in mice during the chronic phase of infection (100 dpi) were also evaluated. It was found that chloroform extract was able to reduce the amastigote nests numbers during the subacute phase in 55.5 and 69.7% (P > 0.05) as well as in 56.45% in animals treated with the mixture of fatty acids. Moreover, the experimental groups treated with 50 and 75 mg/kg during the chronic phase of the infection showed a significant reduction of 46.8 and 53.13% respectively (P < 0.05). It is recommended to carry out more studies to determine if higher doses of chloroformic extract or its administration in combination with other antichagasic drugs allows a better response over the intracellular stage of T. cruzi in infected animal models and determine if the chloroform extract of C. papaya could be considered as an alternative for treatment during the indeterminate and chronic phase of the infection.
Transient Anisocoria after Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking
Authors: Kymionis George D. , Grentzelos Michael A. , Stojanovic Nela , Paraskevopoulos Theodore A. , Detorakis Efstathios T.
Published: September 2014

Purpose. To report a case with transient anisocoria after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL).Methods. Case report.Results. A 24-year-old male underwent corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in his right eye for keratoconus. At the end of the procedure, the pupil of the treated eye was irregular and dilated, while the pupil of the fellow eye was round, regular, and reactive (anisocoria). The following day, pupils were round, regular, and reactive in both eyes.Conclusion. Anisocoria may be a transient and innocuous complication after CXL. A possible cause for this complication might be the anesthetic drops used before and during the surgical procedure or/and the ultraviolet A irradiation during the treatment.
Robust Framework to Combine Diverse Classifiers Assigning Distributed Confidence to Individual Classifiers at Class Level
Authors: Khalid Shehzad , Arshad Sannia , Jabbar Sohail , Rho Seungmin
Published: September 2014

We have presented a classification framework that combines multiple heterogeneous classifiers in the presence of class label noise. An extension ofm-Mediods based modeling is presented that generates model of various classes whilst identifying and filtering noisy training data. This noise free data is further used to learn model for other classifiers such as GMM and SVM. A weight learning method is then introduced to learn weights on each class for different classifiers to construct an ensemble. For this purpose, we applied genetic algorithm to search for an optimal weight vector on which classifier ensemble is expected to give the best accuracy. The proposed approach is evaluated on variety of real life datasets. It is also compared with existing standard ensemble techniques such as Adaboost, Bagging, and Random Subspace Methods. Experimental results show the superiority of proposed ensemble method as compared to its competitors, especially in the presence of class label noise and imbalance classes.
Orbital Epidermoid Cysts: A Diagnosis to Consider
Authors: Ahmed Rania A. , Eltanamly Rasha M.
Published: September 2014

Background. Orbital epidermoids form a rare pathological entity that is separate from dermoid cysts. They have variable clinical and radiological presentations and they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital cystic lesions. This work describes the various clinical and radiological presentations of 17 cases of epidermoid cysts and the surgical outcome.Method. A prospective interventional study was conducted on 17 patients diagnosed with epidermoid cysts. Patients’ symptoms and signs were recorded; CT scan was done for all patients. All lesions were removed through anterior orbitotomy and histopathological diagnosis confirmed.Results. Mean age of patients was 16.3 years±  10.54. Main complaints were lid swelling, masses, ocular dissimilarity, chronic pain, and ocular protrusion. Clinical signs varied from lid swelling and masses in all cases to proptosis, globe displacement, limitation of ocular motility, and scars. Radiological findings ranged from homogenous hypodense masses (58.8%) to homogenous radiolucent (17.6%) and heterogenous masses (23.5%). No recurrences following surgeries were reported throughout the follow-up (mean 18.8 months±  0.72).Conclusion. Deep orbital epidemoid cysts are a separate entity that can behave like deep orbital epidermoid; however, they usually present at a relatively older age. They can be associated with increased orbital volume but not necessarily related to bony sutures.
Gene Network Biological Validity Based on Gene-Gene Interaction Relevance
Authors: Gómez-Vela Francisco , Díaz-Díaz Norberto
Published: September 2014

In recent years, gene networks have become one of the most useful tools for modeling biological processes. Many inference gene network algorithms have been developed as techniques for extracting knowledge from gene expression data. Ensuring the reliability of the inferred gene relationships is a crucial task in any study in order to prove that the algorithms used are precise. Usually, this validation process can be carried out using prior biological knowledge. The metabolic pathways stored in KEGG are one of the most widely used knowledgeable sources for analyzing relationships between genes. This paper introduces a new methodology, GeneNetVal, to assess the biological validity of gene networks based on the relevance of the gene-gene interactions stored in KEGG metabolic pathways. Hence, a complete KEGG pathway conversion into a gene association network and a new matching distance based on gene-gene interaction relevance are proposed. The performance of GeneNetVal was established with three different experiments. Firstly, our proposal is tested in a comparative ROC analysis. Secondly, a randomness study is presented to show the behavior of GeneNetVal when the noise is increased in the input network. Finally, the ability of GeneNetVal to detect biological functionality of the network is shown.
A Participatory Approach to Develop the Power Mobility Screening Tool and the Power Mobility Clinical Driving Assessment Tool
Authors: Kamaraj Deepan C. , Dicianno Brad E. , Cooper Rory A.
Published: September 2014

The electric powered wheelchair (EPW) is an indispensable assistive device that increases participation among individuals with disabilities. However, due to lack of standardized assessment tools, developing evidence based training protocols for EPW users to improve driving skills has been a challenge. In this study, we adopt the principles of participatory research and employ qualitative methods to develop the Power Mobility Screening Tool (PMST) and Power Mobility Clinical Driving Assessment (PMCDA). Qualitative data from professional experts and expert EPW users who participated in a focus group and a discussion forum were used to establish content validity of the PMCDA and the PMST. These tools collectively could assess a user’s current level of bodily function and their current EPW driving capacity. Further multicenter studies are necessary to evaluate the psychometric properties of these tests and develop EPW driving training protocols based on these assessment tools.
Angiomyolipoma of the Thoracic Wall: An Extremely Rare Diagnostic Challenge
Authors: Gemenetzis Georgios , Kostidou Eleni , Goula Kalliroi , Smyrniotis Vassilios , Arkadopoulos Nikolaos
Published: September 2014

Extrarenal angiomyolipoma (AML) is an extremely uncommon lesion, accounting for less than 9% of all angiomyolipomas. We present a previously unreported case of a rarely located gigantic extrarenal angiomyolipoma at the posterolateral chest wall of a 35-year-old woman. Clinically, the lesion had all the characteristics of a benign tumor, being soft in palpation, painless, and growing in size in a slow rate. Histologically, the lesion consisted of convoluted thick-walled blood vessels without an elastic layer, interlacing fascicles of smooth muscle, and mature adipose tissue, features consistent with an angiomyolipoma. The mass was surgically removed, without any postoperative complications, and the patient has an uneventful postoperative course. Signs of local recurrence have not been observed. The purpose of this brief report is to point out the necessity of including angiomyolipoma in the differential diagnosis of adipose layer lesions.
Synthesis andIn VitroandIn VivoEvaluation of a New68Ga-Semicarbazone Complex: Potential PET Radiopharmaceutical for Tumor Imaging
Authors: Al-Hokbany N. S. , Alotaibi Basim , Bin Amer Suad , Okarvi Subhani M. , Al-Jammaz Ibrahim
Published: September 2014

In an attempt to develop new tumor imaging radiotracers with favorable biochemical properties, we have synthesized new68Ga-2-acetylpyridine semicarbazone (68Ga-[APSC]2) as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) tumor imaging agent using a straightforward and a one-step simple reaction. Radiochemical yield and purity were quantitative without HPLC purification. Biodistribution studies in nude mice model bearing human MDA-MB-231 cell line xenografts displayed significant tumor uptake of68Ga-[APSC]2radiotracer after 2 h postinjection (p.i.). The initial results demonstrate that68Ga-[APSC]2radiotracer may be useful probe for detecting and staging of hypoxic tumor using PET imaging modality.
Treatment of Sulfonated Azo Dye Reactive Red 198 by UV/H2O2
Authors: Ribeiro Jefferson P. , Oliveira Juliene T. , Oliveira André G. , Sousa Francisco W. , Abdala Neto Eliezer F. , Vidal Carla B. , de Keukeleire Denis , Santos André B. dos , Nascimento Ronaldo F.
Published: September 2014

UV/H2O2system was tested on the color removal of sulfonated azo dye Reactive Red 198 (RR), which is widely used in textile process. The effects of hydrogen peroxide concentration, temperature, pH, and the in-line addition of hydrogen peroxide on high color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals were investigated. The kinetic of dye decolorization was also determined. The results showed that 2% H2O2decreased the process efficiency, while 1% H2O2solution led to a better performance of the system. Despite the fact that the pH increase had small effect on color removal, it affects positively COD removals. The same behavior was found for temperature increase. A high temperature resulted in a slight decrease in color removal and a sharp decrease for COD removal. In addition the H2O2in-line provided a small improvement in both color and COD removals. UV/1% H2O2treatment was the most efficient, the good performance was linked to higher amount of hydroxyl radicals formed.
One-Stage Femoral Osteotomy and Computer-Assisted Navigation Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis in a Patient with Femoral Subtrochanteric Fracture Malunion
Authors: Fan C. H. Jason
Published: September 2014

Extra-articular femoral deformity in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is realigned by either intra-articular correction or extra-articular osteotomy. The more distant the deformity is away from knee joint, the more likely it is corrected by the former method. No report described the use of antegrade cephalomedullary femoral nail to fix the osteotomy followed by computer-assisted navigation TKA. This report described the unusual use of this method to manage a 64-year-old man with femoral subtrochanteric fracture malunion and osteoarthritis of knee. He demonstrated a satisfactory functional outcome and good lower limb alignment.
Dynamic Contact Angle Analysis of Protein Adsorption on Polysaccharide Multilayer’s Films for Biomaterial Reendothelialization
Authors: Benni Safiya , Avramoglou Thierry , Hlawaty Hanna , Mora Laurence
Published: September 2014

Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease. One of the side effects is restenosis. The aim of this work was to study the coating of stents by dextran derivates based polyelectrolyte’s multilayer (PEM) films in order to increase endothelialization of injured arterial wall after stent implantation. Films were composed with diethylaminoethyl dextran (DEAE) as polycation and dextran sulphate (DS) as polyanion. One film was composed with 4 bilayers of (DEAE-DS)4and was labeled D−. The other film was the same as D− but with an added terminal layer of DEAE polycation: (DEAE-DS)4-DEAE (labeled D+). The dynamic adsorption/desorption of proteins on the films were characterized by dynamic contact angle (DCA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Human endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion and proliferation were quantified and correlated to protein adsorption analyzed by DCA for fibronectin, vitronectin, and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Our results showed that the endothelial cell response was optimal for films composed of DS as external layer. Fibronectin was found to be the only protein to exhibit a reversible change in conformation after desorption test. This behavior was only observed for (DEAE-DS)4films. (DEAE-DS)4films could enhance HUVEC proliferation in agreement with fibronectin ability to easily change from conformation.
The Diet and Sexual Differences of the Caspian Bent-Toed Gecko,Tenuidactylus caspius(Squamata: Gekkonidae), in Northern Iran
Authors: Hojati Vida , Babaei Savasari Reza
Published: September 2014

The Caspian bent-toed gecko,Tenuidactylus caspius, is one of the most common nocturnal lizards of Iran with widespread distribution especially in the northern provinces. This research was done in order to study the diet and sexual dimorphism of this species in Sari County from 5 May to 20 October. During this research, 40 specimens of them including 20 males and 20 females were studied for diet and 140 specimens including 70 adult males and 70 adult females were studied for sexual dimorphism. Prey items identified were insects that belong to 15 species of 8 families and 6 orders. The most common prey items wereCulex pipiensandMusca domestica. There is no significant difference between diets of males and females. Results show that the adult males in addition of having the apparent femoral and preanal pores are heavier than females and have larger body, head, and tail length.
Behavioral Disorder amongst Adolescents Attending Secondary School in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Chinawa J. M. , Manyike P. C. , Obu H. A. , Odetunde O. I. , Aniwada E. C. , Ndu I. K. , Chinawa A. T.
Published: September 2014

Background. Adolescents are prone to various forms of behavioral problems. These behavioral issues in adolescents can have serious consequences for the adolescents.Objectives. The objectives of the study are to determine the causative factors of adolescent problems and specific manifestations.Methods. Behavioral problems were investigated using a random sampling of adolescents from secondary schools in southeast Nigeria from February to April, 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was developed from Health Kids Colorado Questionnaire.Results. A total of 763 subjects completed the questionnaire. Adolescents who reported to have used tobacco 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 times during the last 30 days are just 3.14% and 3.4%, respectively. Nineteen (2.49%) adolescents claimed that they have had sex before but not in the last 3 months. Adolescents who attempted suicide are from 15 years and peaked at 18. Eighty-three (11%) adolescents who are 15 years old attempted suicide in a year; this peaks at 17 years where 235 (30.8%) committed suicide. Majority of adolescents with behavioral disorder are from the upper class family.Conclusion. This study revealed that adolescents exhibit several forms of behavioral problems.
Numerical Analysis of Vibration Isolation Using Pile Rows against the Vibration due to Moving Loads in a Viscoelastic Medium
Authors: Xu Bin , Xu Man-Qing
Published: September 2014

A numerical method for evaluating the vertical vibration isolation effect of pile rows embedded in a viscoelastic half space subjected to a moving load is developed in this paper on the basis of the Cole-Cole model and Muki’s method. Based on the proposed method, the influence of various parameters on the vibration isolation effect of pile rows embedded in the viscoelastic half space is investigated numerically.
Serum Metal Ion Concentrations in Paediatric Patients following Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Megaprostheses
Authors: Friesenbichler Jörg , Sadoghi Patrick , Maurer-Ertl Werner , Szkandera Joanna , Glehr Mathias , Ogris Kathrin , Wolf Matthias , Weger Christian , Leithner Andreas
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum in the serum of paediatric tumour patients after fixed hinge total knee arthroplasty. Further, these metal ion levels were compared with serum metal ion levels of patients with other orthopaedic devices such as hip and knee prostheses with metal-on-metal or metal-on-polyethylene articulation to find differences between anatomical locations, abrasion characteristics, and bearing surfaces. After an average follow-up of 108 months (range: 67 to 163) of 11 paediatric patients with fixed hinge total knee arthroplasty, the mean concentrations for Co and Cr were significantly increased while Mo was within the limits compared to the upper values from the reference laboratory. Furthermore, these serum concentrations were significantly higher compared to patients with a standard rotating hinge device (P=0.002andP<0.001) and preoperative controls(P<0.001). On the other hand, the serum levels of patients following MoM THA or rotating hinge arthroplasty using megaprostheses were higher. Therefore, periodic long-term follow-ups are recommended due to the rising concerns about systemic metal ion exposure in the literature. Upon the occurrence of adverse reactions to metal debris the revision of the fixed hinge implant should be considered.
Modeling the Relationship between Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake and Tumor Radioresistance as a Function of the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Jeong Jeho , Deasy Joseph O.
Published: September 2014

High fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) uptake in tumors has often been correlated with increasing local failure and shorter overall survival, but the radiobiological mechanisms of this uptake are unclear. We explore the relationship between FDG-PET uptake and tumor radioresistance using a mechanistic model that considers cellular status as a function of microenvironmental conditions, including proliferating cells with access to oxygen and glucose, metabolically active cells with access to glucose but not oxygen, and severely hypoxic cells that are starving. However, it is unclear what the precise uptake levels of glucose should be for cells that receive oxygen and glucose versus cells that only receive glucose. Different potential FDG uptake profiles, as a function of the microenvironment, were simulated. Predicted tumor doses for 50% control (TD50) in 2 Gy fractions were estimated for each assumed uptake profile and for various possible cell mixtures. The results support the hypothesis of an increased avidity of FDG for cells in the intermediate stress state (those receiving glucose but not oxygen) compared to well-oxygenated (and proliferating) cells.
Synthesis of Imine-Naphthol Tripodal Ligand and Study of Its Coordination Behaviour towards Fe(III), Al(III), and Cr(III) Metal Ions
Authors: Kaur Kirandeep , Baral Minati
Published: September 2014

A hexadentate Schiff base tripodal ligand is synthesized by the condensation of tris (2-aminoethyl) amine with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques like UV-VIS, IR, NMR, MASS, and elemental analysis. The solution studies by potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods are done at 25 ± 1°C,µ=0.1 M KCl, to calculate the protonation constants of the ligand and formation constants of metal complexes formed by the ligand with Fe(III), Al(III), and Cr(III) metal ions. The affinity of the ligand towards Fe(III) is compared with deferiprone (a drug applied for iron intoxication) and transferrin (the main Fe(III) binding protein in plasma). Structural analysis of the ligand and the metal complexes was done using semiempirical PM6 method. Electronic and IR spectra are calculated by semiempirical methods and compared with experimental one.
Male Accessory Gland Infection: Relevance of Serum Total Testosterone Levels
Authors: Condorelli R. A. , Calogero A. E. , Vicari E. , Favilla V. , Cimino S. , Russo G. I. , Morgia G. , La Vignera S.
Published: September 2014

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the different ultrasound characterization of fertile symptomatic patients with MAGI (male accessory gland infection) according to different serum concentrations of total T (TT). We analyzed the ultrasound and hormonal data of 200 patients aged between 24.0 and 67.0 years. Patients were divided into six groups according to the sextile distribution of TT. Patients with serum concentrations of TT < 3.6 ng mL−1had a higher mean duration of symptoms compared to the other examined groups. Patients with serum concentrations of TT > 6.6 ng mL−1showed a frequency of ultrasound criteria suggestive for bilateral form of prostatitis and prostate-vesiculo-epididymitis and significantly lower compared to the other examined groups. At multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and BMI, TT was an independent predictive factor of prostatovesiculitis (OR = 0.818 [95% CI: 0.675–0.992];P<0.01) and prostate-vesiculo-epididymitis (OR = 0.714 [95% CI: 0.578–0.880];P<0.01), which represent the main forms of complicated MAGI. The results of this study suggest that male hypogonadism could be associated with a different ultrasound characterization of these patients.
Acute Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Secondary to Reactive Thrombocytosis after Splenectomy
Authors: Oncel Acir Nursen , Borazan Mehmet , Dadaci Zeynep
Published: September 2014

The diagnosis and treatment of central retinal vein occlusion was reported in a young patient. Central retinal vein occlusion was probably related to secondary to reactive thrombocytosis after splenectomy. The patient was treated with steroids for papilledema and administered coumadin and aspirin. The symptoms resolved, and the findings returned to normal within three weeks. Current paper emphasizes that, besides other well-known thrombotic events, reactive thrombocytosis after splenectomy may cause central retinal vein occlusion, which may be the principal symptom of this risky complication. Thus, it can be concluded that followup for thrombocytosis and antithrombotic treatment, when necessary, are essential for these cases.
Fabrication of Silk Nanofibres with Needle and Roller Electrospinning Methods
Authors: Sasithorn Nongnut , Martinová Lenka
Published: September 2014

In this study, silk nanofibres were prepared by electrospinning from silk fibroin in a mixture of formic acid and calcium chloride. A needle and a rotating cylinder were used as fibre generators in the spinning process. The influences of the spinning electrode and spinning parameters (silk concentration and applied voltage) on the spinning process, morphology of the obtained fibres, and the production rate of the spinning process were examined. The concentration of the spinning solution influenced the diameter of the silk electrospun fibres, with an increase in the concentration increasing the diameters of the fibres in both spinning systems. The diameters of the electrospun fibres produced by roller electrospinning were greater than those produced by needle electrospinning. Moreover, increasing the concentration of the silk solution and the applied voltage in the spinning process improved the production rate in roller electrospinning but had less influence on the production rate in needle electrospinning.
Impact of Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin Versus Aspirin Alone on the Progression of Native Coronary Artery Disease After Bypass Surgery
Authors: Une Dai , Al-Atassi Talal , Kulik Alexander , Voisine Pierre , Le May Michel , Ruel Marc
Published: September 2014

Background—

The effects of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel on the progression of native coronary artery disease after coronary artery bypass grafting are unknown.

Methods and Results—

In the Clopidogrel After Surgery for Coronary Artery DiseasE (CASCADE) trial, a total of 113 patients were randomized to receive aspirin plus clopidogrel or aspirin plus placebo for 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting. In this secondary analysis, the 92 patients who underwent preoperative and 1-year postoperative angiograms at 2 centers had each of their coronary stenoses graded serially by using 6 thresholds (grade 0 [0%–24%], grade 1 [25%–37%], grade 2 [38%–62%], grade 3 [63%–82%], grade 4 [83%–98%], and grade 5 [99%–100%]). We compared the incidence and degree of evolving coronary artery disease between the 2 treatment groups. A total of 543 preoperative stenoses and occlusions were quantified and followed. At 1-year postoperatively, there were 103 evolving (94 worsened, 9 improved) and 22 new lesions. The right coronary artery territory and sites proximal to a graft were more commonly associated with worsening coronary artery disease (
P
≤0.02). There were no differences in clinical events between treatment groups, and the proportion of patients with evolving or new lesions was also similar (70% versus 74%, aspirin–clopidogrel versus aspirin–placebo, respectively;
P
=0.8). However, in evolving or new lesions, the mean grade change (1.1±1.0 versus 1.6±1.1, respectively;
P
=0.01) and the proportion of new occlusions (7% versus 22%;
P
=0.02) were lower in the aspirin–clopidogrel group.

Conclusions—

The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin correlates with less worsening of native coronary artery disease 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting. These findings may help guide post–coronary artery bypass grafting antiplatelet therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00228423.
Spiral Rainbands in a Numerical Simulation of Hurricane Bill (2009). Part I: Structures and Comparisons to Observations
Authors: Moon Yumin , Nolan David S.
Published: September 2014

This study examines spiral rainbands in a numerical simulation of Hurricane Bill (2009). This paper, the first part of the study, evaluates the structures of spiral rainbands and compares them to previous observations. Four types of spiral rainbands are identified: principal, secondary, distant, and inner rainbands. Principal rainbands tend to be stationary relative to the storm center, while secondary rainbands are more transient and move around the storm center. Both principal and secondary rainbands are tilted radially outward with height and have many of the commonly observed kinematic features, such as overturning secondary circulation and enhanced tangential velocity on their radially outward sides. Principal rainbands are bounded by very dry air on their radially outward sides. Distant rainbands are radially inward-tilting convective features that have dense cold pools near the surface. Inner rainbands are made of shallow convection that appears to have originated from near the eyewall. Differences in the structures of spiral rainbands between observations and the Hurricane Bill simulation are noted. The second part of the study investigates how inner rainbands propagate and makes comparison with previously proposed hypotheses such as vortex Rossby waves.
Refining Estimates of Polar Ice Volumes during the MIS11 Interglacial Using Sea Level Records from South Africa
Authors: Chen Florence , Friedman Sarah , Gertler Charles G. , Looney James , O’Connell Nizhoni , Sierks Katie , Mitrovica Jerry X.
Published: September 2014

Peak eustatic sea level (ESL), or minimum ice volume, during the protracted marine isotope stage 11 (MIS11) interglacial at ~420 ka remains a matter of contention. A recent study of high-stand markers of MIS11 age from the tectonically stable southern coast of South Africa estimated a peak ESL of 13 m. The present study refines this estimate by taking into account both the uncertainty in the correction for glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and the geographic variability of sea level change following polar ice sheet collapse. In regard to the latter, the authors demonstrate, using gravitationally self-consistent numerical predictions of postglacial sea level change, that rapid melting from any of the three major polar ice sheets (West Antarctic, Greenland, or East Antarctic) will lead to a local sea level rise in southern South Africa that is 15%–20% higher than the eustatic sea level rise associated with the ice sheet collapse. Taking this amplification and a range of possible GIA corrections into account and assuming that the tectonic correction applied in the earlier study is correct, the authors revise downward the estimate of peak ESL during MIS11 to 8–11.5 m.
Statistical Downscaling Using Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA)*
Authors: Pierce David W. , Cayan Daniel R. , Thrasher Bridget L.
Published: September 2014

A new technique for statistically downscaling climate model simulations of daily temperature and precipitation is introduced and demonstrated over the western United States. The localized constructed analogs (LOCA) method produces downscaled estimates suitable for hydrological simulations using a multiscale spatial matching scheme to pick appropriate analog days from observations. First, a pool of candidate observed analog days is chosen by matching the model field to be downscaled to observed days over the region that is positively correlated with the point being downscaled, which leads to a natural independence of the downscaling results to the extent of the domain being downscaled. Then, the one candidate analog day that best matches in the local area around the grid cell being downscaled is the single analog day used there. Most grid cells are downscaled using only the single locally selected analog day, but locations whose neighboring cells identify a different analog day use a weighted combination of the center and adjacent analog days to reduce edge discontinuities. By contrast, existing constructed analog methods typically use a weighted average of the same 30 analog days for the entire domain. By greatly reducing this averaging, LOCA produces better estimates of extreme days, constructs a more realistic depiction of the spatial coherence of the downscaled field, and reduces the problem of producing too many light-precipitation days. The LOCA method is more computationally expensive than existing constructed analog techniques, but it is still practical for downscaling numerous climate model simulations with limited computational resources.
Regime Transition of the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Extreme Cold Event over Europe in January–February 2012
Authors: Luo Dehai , Yao Yao , Feldstein Steven B.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, large-scale aspects for the onset of the extreme cold European weather event in January–February 2012 are investigated. It is shown that the outbreak of this extreme cold weather event may be attributed to the transition from a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO+) event to a long-lasting blocking event over the eastern Atlantic and western Europe (hereafter ENAO−). A persistent decline of the surface air temperature (SAT) is seen over all of Europe during the long-lived ENAO− event, while the main region of enhanced precipitation is located over southern Europe and part of central Europe, in association with the presence of a persistent double storm track: one over the Norwegian and Barents Seas and the other over southern Europe.

The NAO+ to NAO− transition events are divided into NAO+ to ENAO− and NAO+ to WNAO− transition events [ENAO− (WNAO−) events correspond to eastward- (westward-) displaced NAO− events whose positive center is defined to be located to the east (west) of 10°W], and a statistical analysis of the NAO+ to ENAO− transition events during 1978–2012 is performed. It is found that there has been a marked increase in the frequency of the NAO+ to ENAO− transition events during the period 2005–12. Composites of SAT anomalies indicate that the marked decline of the SAT observed over much of Europe is primarily associated with NAO+ to ENAO− transition events. Thus, NAO+ to ENAO− transition events may be more favorable for the extreme cold events over Europe observed in recent winters than other types of NAO− events.
Improvements to a Tropical Cyclone Initialization Scheme and Impacts on Forecasts
Authors: Van Nguyen Hiep , Chen Yi-Leng
Published: September 2014

This study makes improvements to the tropical cyclone (TC) initialization method introduced by Nguyen and Chen (i.e., the NC2011 scheme). The authors found that prescribing sea level pressure associated with the initial vortex using a modified Fujita formula has very little impact on the vortex structure and intensity during a series of 1-h model integration and relocation. On the other hand, inserting an artificial warm core makes the vortex spin up much faster. When a warm core is inserted during the initial spinup process, the computational time required for model initialization is reduced by ½–⅓. Because prescribed sea level pressure is not required to spin up the vortex, information on vortex size, such as radius of maximum wind, is no longer needed. The performance of the improved NC2011 scheme with an initial prescribed warm core during the initial spinup process is tested for typhoons that made landfall over southern China or Vietnam in 2006. Before landfall, these storms were over the open ocean where conventional data were sparse, without special observations. Two sets of model runs, with (NC2011-CTRL) and without (CTRL) vortex initialization, are performed for comparison. The initial and time-dependent boundary conditions are from the NCEP Final Analyses (FNL). There are twelve 48-h simulations in each run set. Results show that the vortex initialization improves TC track and intensity simulations.