bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New dinoflagellate species Protoperidinium haizhouense sp. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae), its cyst‐theca relationship and phylogenetic position within the Monovela group
Authors: Liu Tingting , Gu Haifeng , Mertens Kenneth Neil , Lan Dongzhao
Published: November 2013

The number of cingular plates has been used to differentiate Protoperidinium from Peridinium and related genera. Protoperidinium is characterized by the presence of three cingular plates plus a transitional plate (3C+t). However, many Protoperidinium species have been described that exhibit different cingular plate tabulations. How these species should be classified within the genus remains unclear. To address this question, the phylogenetic relationship of four Protoperidinium species, with three or four cingular plates and lacking a transitional plate, were examined in relationship to other Protoperidinium species. These four species were germinated from cysts deposited in surface sediments collected from the East China Sea, the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Three of the isolated species, P. tricingulatum, P. americanum and P. parthenopes, were described previously. The fourth is here described as P. haizhouense sp. nov. with the plate formula Po, X, 4′, 3a, 7′′, 3C, 6S, 5′′′, 2′′′′. Differences in the cyst stages of these four species, which can be taxonomically informative, were compared. Partial large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were obtained by single‐cell polymerase chain reaction. Maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian inference showed that these four species, P. fukuyoi and Islandinium minutum form a monophyletic clade with maximal support. The genus as a whole, however, appeared polyphyletic. Our results suggest that the presence/absence of a transitional plate is significant in the phylogeny of Protoperidinium.
CITES at Its Best: CoP16 as a ‘Watershed Moment’ for the World's Wildlife
Authors: Scanlon John E.
Published: November 2013

The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) has been hailed as a ‘watershed moment’ for the Convention, with key decisions being taken on capacity‐building, enforcement, financing and synergies. Significant decisions were also taken to bring many new species of precious fauna and flora, including commercially valuable timber and marine species, under the Convention. CITES parties demonstrated unprecedented levels of international cooperation at CoP16 to combat increased levels and types of wildlife crime, especially with regard to the poaching of African elephants for their ivory and rhinos for their horn. The great success of CoP16 reflects the increasing relevance of a four‐decades‐old convention to the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife.
Beam It Down, Scotty: The Regulatory Framework for Space‐Based Solar Power
Authors: Ernst Deliana
Published: November 2013

The idea of collecting solar energy in space and beaming this energy to Earth has been around since the late 1960s. Based on existing technologies, space solar power (SSP) could become an economically viable alternative to today's commercial energy sources within the next thirty years. This article describes the legal environment for SSP and examines whether the current available legal tools are sufficient to protect the interest of both SSP operators and the public. It examines the international regulatory framework, European Union law and the national legal regimes of the United States and China – both major players in space and both having SSP ambitions. It concludes that one of the main legal challenges will be how to frame liability, from the perspective of both the operator and the public. The article provides suggestions on how to frame liability for SSP.
Demand for credit, international financial legitimacy, and vulnerability to crises: Regulatory change and the social origins of Iceland's collapse
Authors: Larson Erik
Published: November 2013

By analyzing how credit in Iceland expanded to culminate in the country's 2008 financial collapse, this article advances theories about financial crises, regulatory change, and the role of credit. It also complicates popular accounts of Iceland's collapse that focus on the actions of unrestrained bankers by examining the larger context that facilitated these banking practices. After financial liberalization, Icelandic businesses and households had strong demand for credit as a result of: (i) the institutional meaning of credit, (ii) an emergent growth strategy of aggressive international expansion, and (iii) increasing consumption. Incorporating business demand for credit extends demand‐side theory of crises and shows how dominant strategy and shared government and business orientation toward opportunity shaped credit expansion. Credit‐based consumption also stabilized social relations despite increasing inequality. Notwithstanding warnings of risk, regulation did not restrain risky leverage. International market reactions reinforced beliefs about Icelandic success to limit regulatory reach, as Iceland's international financial legitimacy produced market‐based measures that leaders interpreted as signals of economic success.
Does Human Capital Protect Workers against Exogenous Shocks? Evidence from Panel Data on South Africa during the 2008‐2009 Crisis
Authors: Leung Ronald , Stampini Marco , Vencatachellum Desire
Published: November 2013

The financial and economic crisis of 2008 and 2009 took a heavy toll on the South African economy. The economy contracted for the first time since 1998 and entered recession during the fourth quarter of 2008. The gross domestic product contraction was soon transmitted to the labour market. Between the second quarters of 2008 and 2009, employment fell by 3.8%. However, not all individuals were hit with the same intensity. Using panel data from a quarterly labour force survey unique in the African context, we find that human capital (i.e. education as years of schooling and workforce experience) provided a buffer against the shock. After controlling for observable characteristics, education and experience showed the potential to entirely offset the effect of the recession on the likelihood of employment. This has important policy implications, as it strengthens the case for strategic investments in human capital and helps identify the unskilled as having the greatest need for social safety net interventions during a recession.
‘I am stronger, I'm no longer afraid…’, an evaluation of a home‐visiting mentor mother support programme for abused women in primary care
Authors: Prosman Gert‐Jan , Lo Fo Wong Sylvie H. , Römkens Renée , Lagro‐Janssen Antoine L. M.
Published: November 2013

Objective

We aimed to investigate which factors make a mentor mother support programme for abused women successful.

Method

We used semi‐structured interviews with abused women and focus group discussions with the mentor mothers to evaluate their experiences and needs within a mentor support programme (MeMoSA). Fourteen abused women were interviewed 6 months after the support programme ended. Mentor mothers participated in two focus group discussions.

Results

Abused women emphasised that nonjudgmental listening, equivalence, involvement and bonding are important factors for successful support. Mentor mothers described that empathy, availability, persistence and advocacy fitted the needs of women best to empower them and help them to cope with their violent situation at home. A safe place to meet each other was also an important factor.

Conclusion

A good relationship, tailored support provided by home visiting, advocacy and safety are required to effectively help abused women. MeMoSA, a home‐visiting support programme, is a promising valuable new support programme in primary care for abused women.
Being in the City: The Sociology of Urban Experiences
Authors: Borer Michael Ian
Published: November 2013

Though urban sociologists tend to study the growth and development of cities, there is a venerable yet often marginalized tradition that addresses the embodied experience of urban life. Studies of urban experiences have recently begun to flourish due, in part, to the rise of sensory scholarship. Recognizing the connections between urban experiences and sensory stimulations provides nuanced ways to explore the actions and interactions between individuals and their relationships to and with urban places. Relying on a diverse literature of recent studies that focus on cities as dense sensory environments, this article shows the significance of studying city life at the experiential and sensory levels. First, a few seminal early works are discussed, with specific emphasis on Georg Simmel. Then, each of the five bodily senses and their correlated sensescapes – seescapes, soundscapes, smellscapes, tastescapes, and touchscapes – are presented in order to show individuals and groups use their senses to experience and make sense of the city. The article concludes with a brief discussion of methods and few suggestions to encourage future analyses of the everyday embodied and emplaced practices and interpretations of being in the city.
Migrant Mobilization for Homeland Politics: A Social Movement Approach
Authors: Quinsaat Sharon Madriaga
Published: November 2013

From the campaign of Chilean exiles all over the world to overthrow the regime of Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s to the contemporary mobilization of the Kurdish diaspora in Western Europe, various cases demonstrate the persistence of homeland ties among migrants, especially those who experienced repression and displacement by the government in their countries of origin. Diverse frameworks and concepts in both the humanities and the social sciences have been deployed to explain the involvement of migrants in politics in their home countries, from “long‐distance nationalism” to “transnational activism.” Each points to different dynamic processes and causal mechanisms. In recent years, scholars have advocated the use of a social movement framework in the analysis of migrant mobilization, despite the marginalization of such studies in theory development. In this article, I examine the concepts put forward by the political process model (PPM) as they apply to the analysis of migrants' involvement in politics in their native land. I propose ways for PPM to be useful in the explanation of the dynamics and processes of homeland‐oriented migrant mobilization.
Climate Change: A “Green” Approach to Teaching Contemporary Germany
Authors: Melin Charlotte
Published: November 2013

This articles describes a newly designed upper division German language course, “Contemporary Germany: Food, Energy Politics,” and two sampling methods of assessment for measuring parallel gains in German skills and sustainable development (SD) thinking. Second Language Acquisition (SLA) informed course design, key assignments, and multi‐media teaching resources are discussed and presented. A content‐based pedagogical model is advocated as an effective approach to creating a sustainability‐ and foreign language‐infused curricula that make a valuable contribution to the liberal arts undergraduate education as a whole.
LaissezFair: A Case for Greening the Business German Curriculum
Authors: Gonglewski Margaret , Helm Anna
Published: November 2013

An effective way to teach about sustainability and environmentally conscious practices in German language, literature, and culture programs is within the context of a business German course. In this article we first situate educational sustainability in the US, leading into an examination of why the context of German business can be particularly productive for teaching sustainability along with aspects of recent and current German history and culture. We then present a unit focused on “green” business, starting with a general introduction to the topic and migrating into the specific area of Öko‐Mode: organic, fair‐trade clothing. The “green business unit” described here culminates in a business case as classroom task, featuring a small German eco‐fashion company called LaissezFair. The unit further engages students through the use of a variety of media for comprehension and introspection and critical reflection of their behavior as environmentally conscious consumers in our globalized society.
Advances in the Application of the Divide-and-Conquer Algorithm to Multibody System Dynamics
Authors: Laflin Jeremy J. , Anderson Kurt S. , Khan Imad M. , Poursina Mohammad
Published: November 2013

This paper summarizes the various recent advancements achieved by utilizing the divide-and-conquer algorithm (DCA) to reduce the computational burden associated with many aspects of modeling, designing, and simulating articulated multibody systems. This basic algorithm provides a framework to realize O(n) computational complexity for serial task scheduling. Furthermore, the framework of this algorithm easily accommodates parallel task scheduling, which results in coarse-grain O(log n) computational complexity. This is a significant increase in efficiency over forming and solving the Newton–Euler equations directly. A survey of the notable previous work accomplished, though not all inclusive, is provided to give a more complete understanding of how this algorithm has been used in this context. These advances include applying the DCA to constrained systems, flexible bodies, sensitivity analysis, contact, and hybridization with other methods. This work reproduces the basic mathematical framework for applying the DCA in each of these applications. The reader is referred to the original work for the details of the discussed methods.
Mi Casa No Es Su Casa
Authors: Ghajar Cyrus M.
Published: November 2013

Leukemic stem cells that generate AML and CML may reside in distinct niches within the bone marrow microenvironment.
cor
, a Novel Carbon Monoxide Resistance Gene, Is Essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenesis
Authors: Zacharia Vineetha M. , Manzanillo Paolo S. , Nair Vidhya R. , Marciano Denise K. , Kinch Lisa N. , Grishin Nick V. , Cox Jeffery S. , Shiloh Michael U.
Published: November 2013

Tuberculosis, caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, remains a devastating human infectious disease, causing two million deaths annually. We previously demonstrated that
M. tuberculosis
induces an enzyme, heme oxygenase (HO1), that produces carbon monoxide (CO) gas and that
M. tuberculosis
adapts its transcriptome during CO exposure. We now demonstrate that
M. tuberculosis
carries a novel resistance gene to combat CO toxicity. We screened an
M. tuberculosis
transposon library for CO-susceptible mutants and found that disruption of
Rv1829
(
c
arbon m
o
noxide
r
esistance, Cor) leads to marked CO sensitivity. Heterologous expression of Cor in
Escherichia coli
rescued it from CO toxicity. Importantly, the virulence of the
cor
mutant is attenuated in a mouse model of tuberculosis. Thus, Cor is necessary and sufficient to protect bacteria from host-derived CO. Taken together, this represents the first report of a role for HO1-derived CO in controlling infection of an intracellular pathogen and the first identification of a CO resistance gene in a pathogenic organism.

IMPORTANCE
Macrophages produce a variety of antimicrobial molecules, including nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
), and acid (H+), that serve to kill engulfed bacteria. In addition to these molecules, human and mouse macrophages also produce carbon monoxide (CO) gas by the heme oxygenase (HO1) enzyme. We observed that, in contrast to other bacteria, mycobacteria are resistant to CO, suggesting that this might be an evolutionary adaptation of mycobacteria for survival within macrophages. We screened a panel of ~2,500
M. tuberculosis
mutants to determine which genes are required for survival of
M. tuberculosis
in the presence of CO. Within this panel, we identified one such gene,
cor
, that specifically confers CO resistance. Importantly, we found that the ability of
M. tuberculosis
cells carrying a mutated copy of this gene to cause tuberculosis in a mouse disease model is significantly attenuated. This indicates that CO resistance is essential for mycobacterial survival
in vivo
.
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an older child: a rare presentation with successful standard surgical management
Authors: Bajpai Minu , Singh Amit , Panda Shasanka Shekhar , Chand Karunesh , Rafey Abdul Rahman
Published: November 2013

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a disease of neonatal period usually manifest between the third and fourth weeks of life. Metabolic alkalosis and paradoxical aciduria are two common sequel of this entity. We report an unusual case of an 8-year-old boy who presented with recurrent, long-standing episodes of non-bilious vomiting and poor weight gain without any other metabolic derangement.
Geographical prevalence and risk factors for pterygium: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Lei , Wu Jingyang , Geng Jin , Yuan Zhe , Huang Desheng
Published: November 2013

Objective

Pterygium is considered to be a proliferative overgrowth of bulbar conjunctiva that can induce significant astigmatism and cause visual impairment; this is the first meta-analysis to investigate the pooled prevalence and risk factors for pterygium in the global world.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

Setting

International.

Participants

A total of 20 studies with 900 545 samples were included.

Primary outcome measure

The pooled prevalence and risk factors for pterygium.

Results

20 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of pterygium was 10.2% (95% CI 6.3% to 16.1%). The pooled prevalence among men was higher than that among women (14.5% vs 13.6%). The proportion of participants with unilateral cases of pterygium was higher than that of participants with bilateral cases of pterygium. We found a trend that the higher pooled prevalence of pterygium was associated with increasing geographical latitude and age in the world. The pooled OR was 2.32 (95% CI 1.66 to 3.23) for the male gender and 1.76 (95% CI 1.55 to 2.00) for outdoor activity, respectively.

Conclusions

The pooled prevalence of pterygium was relatively high, especially for low latitude regions and the elderly. There were many modifiable risk factors associated with pterygium to which healthcare providers should pay more attention.
Identifying changes in the support networks of end-of-life carers using social network analysis
Authors: Leonard Rosemary , Horsfall Debbie , Noonan Kerrie
Published: November 2013

End-of-life caring is often associated with reduced social networks for both the dying person and for the carer. However, those adopting a community participation and development approach, see the potential for the expansion and strengthening of networks. This paper uses Knox, Savage and Harvey's definitions of three generations social network analysis to analyse the caring networks of people with a terminal illness who are being cared for at home and identifies changes in these caring networks that occurred over the period of caring. Participatory network mapping of initial and current networks was used in nine focus groups. The analysis used key concepts from social network analysis (size, density, transitivity, betweenness and local clustering) together with qualitative analyses of the group's reflections on the maps. The results showed an increase in the size of the networks and that ties between the original members of the network strengthened. The qualitative data revealed the importance between core and peripheral network members and the diverse contributions of the network members. The research supports the value of third generation social network analysis and the potential for end-of-life caring to build social capital.
Policy for home or hospice as the preferred place of death from cancer: Scottish Health and Ethnicity Linkage Study population cohort shows challenges across all ethnic groups in Scotland
Authors: Sharpe Katharine H , Cezard Genevieve , Bansal Narinder , Bhopal Raj S , Brewster David H
Published: November 2013

Background

Place of cancer death varies ethnically and internationally. Palliative care reviews highlight limited ability to demonstrate equal access due to incomplete or unreliable ethnicity data.

Aim

To establish place of cancer death by ethnicity and describe patient characteristics.

Design

We linked census, hospital episode and mortality data for 117 467 persons dying of cancer, 2001–2009. With White Scottish population as reference, prevalence ratios (PR), 95% CIs and p values of death in hospital, home or hospice adjusted for sex and age were calculated by ethnic group.

Results

White Scottish group and minority ethnic groups combined constituted 91% and 0.4% of cancer deaths, respectively. South Asian, Chinese and African Origin patients were youngest at death (66, 66 and 65.9 years). Compared with the Scottish White reference, the White Irish (1.15 (1.10 to 1.22), p<0.0001) and Other White British (1.07 (1.02 to 1.12), p=0.003) groups were more likely to die at home. Generally, affluent Scottish White patients were less likely to die in hospital and more likely to die at home or in a hospice regardless of socioeconomic indicator used.

Conclusions

Cancer deaths occur most often in hospital (52.3%) for all ethnic groups. Regardless of the socioeconomic indicator used, more affluent Scottish White patients were less likely to die in hospital; existing socioeconomic indicators detected no clear trend for the non-White population. Regardless of ethnic group, significant work is required to achieve more people dying at home or the setting of their choice.
A new metric for routing in military wireless network
Authors: Jiang Haibo , Ma Yaofei , Hong Dongsheng , Li Zhen
Published: November 2013

Wireless ad hoc network is generally employed in military and emergencies due to its flexibility and easy-to-use. It is suitable for military wireless network that has the characteristics of mobility and works effectively under severe environment and electromagnetic interfering conditions. However, military network cannot benefit from existing routing protocol directly; there exists quite many features which are only typical for military network. For example, there are several radios in the same vehicle. This paper presents a new metric for routing, which is employed in A* algorithm. The goal of the metric is to choose a route of less distance and less transmission delay between a source and a destination. Our metric is a function of the distance between the ends and the bandwidth over the link. Moreover, we take frequency selection into account since a node can work on multi-frequencies. This paper proposed the new metric, and experimented it based on A* algorithm. The simulation results show that this metric can find the optimal route which has less transmission delay compared to the shortest path routing.
Constrained motion control on a hemispherical surface: path planning
Authors: Berman Sigal , Liebermann Dario G. , McIntyre Joseph
Published: November 2013

Surface-constrained motion, i.e., motion constraint by a rigid surface, is commonly found in daily activities. The current work investigates the choice of hand paths constrained to a concave hemispherical surface. To gain insight regarding paths and their relationship with task dynamics, we simulated various control policies. The simulations demonstrated that following a geodesic path (the shortest path between 2 points on a sphere) is advantageous not only in terms of path length but also in terms of motor planning and sensitivity to motor command errors. These stem from the fact that the applied forces lie in a single plane (that of the geodesic path). To test whether human subjects indeed follow the geodesic, and to see how such motion compares to other paths, we recorded movements in a virtual haptic-visual environment from 11 healthy subjects. The task comprised point-to-point motion between targets at two elevations (30° and 60°). Three typical choices of paths were observed from a frontal plane projection of the paths: circular arcs, straight lines, and arcs close to the geodesic path for each elevation. Based on the measured hand paths, we applied k-means blind separation to divide the subjects into three groups and compared performance indicators. The analysis confirmed that subjects who followed paths closest to the geodesic produced faster and smoother movements compared with the others. The “better” performance reflects the dynamical advantages of following the geodesic path and may also reflect invariant features of control policies used to produce such a surface-constrained motion.
Multiphase, Multicomponent Simulation for Flow and Transport during Polymer Flood under Various Wettability Conditions
Authors: Lee Ji Ho , Lee Kun Sang
Published: November 2013

Accurate assessment of polymer flood requires the understanding of flow and transport of fluids involved in the process under different wettability of reservoirs. Because variations in relative permeability and capillary pressure induced from different wettability control the distribution and flow of fluids in the reservoirs, the performance of polymer flood depends on reservoir wettability. A multiphase, multicomponent reservoir simulator, which covers three-dimensional fluid flow and mass transport, is used to investigate the effects of wettability on the flow process during polymer flood. Results of polymer flood are compared with those of waterflood to evaluate how much polymer flood improves the oil recovery and water-oil ratio. When polymer flood is applied to water-wet and oil-wet reservoirs, the appearance of influence is delayed for oil-wet reservoirs compared with water-wet reservoirs due to unfavorable mobility ratio. In spite of the delay, significant improvement in oil recovery is obtained for oil-wet reservoirs. With respect to water production, polymer flood leads to substantial reduction for oil-wet reservoirs compared with water-wet reservoirs. Moreover, application of polymer flood for oil-wet reservoirs extends productive period which is longer than water-wet reservoir case.
Frequency of Mine Dust Episodes and the Influence of Meteorological Parameters on the Witwatersrand Area, South Africa
Authors: Oguntoke Olusegun , Ojelede Matthew E. , Annegarn Harold J.
Published: November 2013

Aeolian dispersal of dust from gold mine tailing storage facilities impacts negatively on amenities, human health, and the environment of the Witwatersrand region, South Africa. The present study adopted a multivariate analytical method to quantify the effect of specific meteorological parameters on dust fall emissions, monitored at 22 sites in the central Witwatersrand area. Using meteorological and dust fall data from 2001 to 2010, the relationships between weather and dust fallout deposition rates were explored across the sites at different seasons. Dust deposition rate varied among seasons, with spring months showing the highest levels and frequency. Atmospheric humidity had negative correlations () with dust fall while wind speed showed positive correlations () at the selected sites (). Sites with low influence of relative humidity had higher impact on wind speed. Mean relative humidity below 50% and mean wind speed above 4 m/s were predicted as critical levels for dust episodes incidence at sites that recorded “heavy” and “very heavy” dust fall. For environmental planning purposes, current mitigation measures should be manipulated in relation to levels of air humidity and wind speed for dust emission reduction, especially during spring.
A Simple Spatial Working Memory and Attention Test on Paired Symbols Shows Developmental Deficits in Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Song Wei , Zhang Kai , Sun Jinhua , Ma Lina , Jesse Forrest Fabian , Teng Xiaochun , Zhou Ying , Bao Hechen , Chen Shiqing , Wang Shuai , Yang Beimeng , Chu Xixia , Ding Wenhua , Du Yasong , Cheng Zaohuo , Wu Bin , Chen Shanguang , He Guang , He Lin , Chen Xiaoping , Li Weidong
Published: November 2013

People with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia often display deficits in spatial working memory and attention. Evaluating working memory and attention in schizophrenia patients is usually based on traditional tasks and the interviewer’s judgment. We developed a simple Spatial Working Memory and Attention Test on Paired Symbols (SWAPS). It takes only several minutes to complete, comprising 101 trials for each subject. In this study, we tested 72 schizophrenia patients and 188 healthy volunteers in China. In a healthy control group with ages ranging from 12 to 60, the efficiency score (accuracy divided by reaction time) reached a peak in the 20–27 age range and then declined with increasing age. Importantly, schizophrenia patients failed to display this developmental trend in the same age range and adults had significant deficits compared to the control group. Our data suggests that this simple Spatial Working Memory and Attention Test on Paired Symbols can be a useful tool for studies of spatial working memory and attention in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Prediction of Drugs Target Groups Based on ChEBI Ontology
Authors: Gao Yu-Fei , Chen Lei , Huang Guo-Hua , Zhang Tao , Feng Kai-Yan , Li Hai-Peng , Jiang Yang
Published: November 2013

Most drugs have beneficial as well as adverse effects and exert their biological functions by adjusting and altering the functions of their target proteins. Thus, knowledge of drugs target proteins is essential for the improvement of therapeutic effects and mitigation of undesirable side effects. In the study, we proposed a novel prediction method based on drug/compound ontology information extracted from ChEBI to identify drugs target groups from which the kind of functions of a drug may be deduced. By collecting data in KEGG, a benchmark dataset consisting of 876 drugs, categorized into four target groups, was constructed. To evaluate the method more thoroughly, the benchmark dataset was divided into a training dataset and an independent test dataset. It is observed by jackknife test that the overall prediction accuracy on the training dataset was 83.12%, while it was 87.50% on the test dataset—the predictor exhibited an excellent generalization. The good performance of the method indicates that the ontology information of the drugs contains rich information about their target groups, and the study may become an inspiration to solve the problems of this sort and bridge the gap between ChEBI ontology and drugs target groups.
Robotic Technologies and Rehabilitation: New Tools for Stroke Patients’ Therapy
Authors: Poli Patrizia , Morone Giovanni , Rosati Giulio , Masiero Stefano
Published: November 2013

Introduction. The role of robotics in poststroke patients’ rehabilitation has been investigated intensively. This paper presents the state-of-the-art and the possible future role of robotics in poststroke rehabilitation, for both upper and lower limbs.Materials and Methods. We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane, and PeDRO databases using as keywords “robot AND stroke AND rehabilitation.”Results and Discussion. In upper limb robotic rehabilitation, training seems to improve arm function in activities of daily living. In addition, electromechanical gait training after stroke seems to be effective. It is still unclear whether robot-assisted arm training may improve muscle strength, and which electromechanical gait-training device may be the most effective for walking training implementation.Conclusions. In the field of robotic technologies for stroke patients’ rehabilitation we identified currently relevant growing points and areas timely for developing research. Among the growing points there is the development of new easily transportable, wearable devices that could improve rehabilitation also after discharge, in an outpatient or home-based setting. For developing research, efforts are being made to establish the ideal type of treatment, the length and amount of training protocol, and the patient’s characteristics to be successfully enrolled to this treatment.
Drinking Water Fluoride Levels for a City in Northern Mexico (Durango) Determined Using a Direct Electrochemical Method and Their Potential Effects on Oral Health
Authors: Molina Frechero Nelly , Sánchez Pérez Leonor , Castañeda Castaneira Enrique , Oropeza Oropeza Anastasio , Gaona Enrique , Salas Pacheco José , Bologna Molina Ronell
Published: November 2013

Fluoride is ingested primarily through consuming drinking water. When drinking water contains fluoride concentrations >0.7 parts per million (ppm), consuming such water can be toxic to the human body; this toxicity is called “fluorosis.” Therefore, it is critical to determine the fluoride concentrations in drinking water. The objective of this study was to determine the fluoride concentration in the drinking water of the city of Durango. The wells that supply the drinking water distribution system for the city of Durango were studied. One hundred eighty‐nine (189) water samples were analyzed, and the fluoride concentration in each sample was quantified as established by the law NMX‐AA‐077‐SCFI‐2001. The fluoride concentrations in such samples varied between 2.22 and 7.23 ppm with a 4.313 ± 1.318 ppm mean concentration. The highest values were observed in the northern area of the city, with a 5.001 ± 2.669 ppm mean value. The samples produced values that exceeded the national standard for fluoride in drinking water. Chronic exposure to fluoride at such concentrations produces harmful health effects, the first sign of which is dental fluorosis. Therefore, it is essential that the government authorities implement water defluoridation programs and take preventative measures to reduce the ingestion of this toxic halogen.
Optical Property Characterization of Novel Graphene‐X (X=Ag, Au and Cu) Nanoparticle Hybrids
Authors: Sahu Sumit Ranjan , Devi Mayanglambam Manolata , Mukherjee Puspal , Sen Pratik , Biswas Krishanu
Published: November 2013

The present investigation reports new results on optical properties of graphene‐metal nanocomposites. These composites were prepared by a solution‐based chemical approach. Graphene has been prepared by thermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at 90°C by hydrazine hydrate in an ammoniacal medium. This ammoniacal solution acts as a solvent as well as a basic medium where agglomeration of graphene can be prevented. This graphene solution has further been used for functionalization with Ag, Au, and Cu nanoparticles (NPs). The samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to reveal the nature and type of interaction of metal nanoparticles with graphene. The results indicate distinct shift of graphene bands both in Raman and UV‐Vis spectroscopies due to the presence of the metal nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopic analysis indicates blue shift of D and G bands in Raman spectra of graphene due to the presence of metal nanoparticles except for the G band of Cu‐G, which undergoes red shift, reflecting the charge transfer interaction between graphene sheets and metal nanoparticles. UV‐Vis spectroscopic analysis also indicates blue shift of graphene absorption peak in the hybrids. The plasmon peak position undergoes blue shift in Ag‐G, whereas red shift is observed in Au‐G and Cu‐G.
On Iterative Learning Control for Remote Control Systems with Packet Losses
Authors: Liu Chunping , Xiong Rong , Xu Jianxin , Wu Jun
Published: November 2013

The problem of iterative learning control (ILC) is considered for a class of time-varying systems with random packet dropouts. It is assumed that an ILC scheme is implemented via a remote control system and that packet dropout occurs during the packet transmission between the ILC controller and the actuator of remote plant. The packet dropout is viewed as a binary switching sequence which is subject to the Bernoulli distribution. In order to eliminate the effect of packet dropouts on the convergence property of output error, the hold-input scheme is adopted to compensate the packet dropout at the actuator. It is shown that the hold-input scheme with average ILC can achieve asymptotical convergence along the iteration axis for discrete time-varying linear system. Numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
NMDA Reduces Tau Phosphorylation in Rat Hippocampal Slices by Targeting NR2A Receptors, GSK3β, and PKC Activities
Authors: De Montigny Audrée , Elhiri Ismaël , Allyson Julie , Cyr Michel , Massicotte Guy
Published: November 2013

The molecular mechanisms that regulate Tau phosphorylation are complex and currently incompletely understood. In the present study, pharmacological inhibitors were deployed to investigate potential processes by which the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors modulates Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 residues was decreased in NMDA-treated hippocampal slices, an effect that was not reproduced at Ser262 and Ser404 epitopes. NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 was further promoted when NR2A-containing receptors were pharmacologically isolated and were completely abrogated by the NR2A receptor antagonist NVP-AAM077. Compared with nontreated slices, we observed that NMDA receptor activation was reflected in high Ser9 and low Tyr216 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β), suggesting that NMDA receptor activation might diminish Tau phosphorylation via a pathway involving GSK3βinhibition. Accordingly, we found that GSK3βinactivation by a protein kinase C- (PKC-) dependent mechanism is involved in the NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 epitopes. Taken together, these data indicate that NR2A receptor activation may be important in limiting Tau phosphorylation by a PKC/GSK3βpathway and strengthen the idea that these receptors might act as an important molecular device counteracting neuronal cell death mechanisms in various pathological conditions.
Optimality and Duality for Multiobjective Fractional Programming Involving Nonsmooth Generalized(ℱ,b,ϕ,ρ,θ)-Univex Functions
Authors: Liu Jen-Chwan , Liu Chun-Yu
Published: November 2013

We establish properly efficient necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for multiobjective fractional programming involving nonsmooth generalized(ℱ,b,ϕ,ρ,θ)-univex functions. Utilizing the necessary optimality conditions, we formulate the parametric dual model and establish some duality results in the framework of generalized(ℱ,b,ϕ,ρ,θ)-univex functions.
Evaluation of the Association of Plasma Pentraxin 3 Levels with Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy in a Malay Population
Authors: Abu Seman Norhashimah , Witasp Anna , Wan Mohamud Wan Nazaimoon , Anderstam Björn , Brismar Kerstin , Stenvinkel Peter , Gu Harvest F.
Published: November 2013

Recent reports have demonstrated that elevated plasma long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels are associated with cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. In the current study, we investigated the plasma PTX3 levels in 296 Malay subjects including the subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with or without DN by using an enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. Results showed that in males, plasma PTX3 levels in T2DM patients without DN were lower than that in the subjects with NGT (2.78 versus 3.98 ng/mL;P=0.021). Plasma PTX3 levels in T2DM patients with DN were decreased compared to the patients without DN (1.63 versus 2.78 ng/mL;P=0.013). In females, however, no significant alteration of plasma PTX3 levels among NGT subjects and T2DM patients with and without DN was detected. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between PTX3 and body mass index was found in male subjects with NGT (P=0.012;r=-0.390), but not in male T2DM patients, neither in all females. The current study provided the first evidence that decreased plasma PTX3 levels are associated with T2DM and DN in Malay men and also suggested that PTX3 may have different effects in DN and chronic kidney diseases.
Know Your Client and Know Your Team: A Complexity Inspired Approach to Understanding Safe Transitions in Care
Authors: Tregunno Deborah
Published: November 2013

Background. Transitions in care are one of the most important and challenging client safety issues in healthcare. This project was undertaken to gain insight into the practice setting realities for nurses and other health care providers as they manage increasingly complex care transitions across multiple settings.Methods. The Appreciative Inquiry approach was used to guide interviews with sixty-six healthcare providers from a variety of practice settings. Data was collected on participants’ experience of exceptional care transitions and opportunities for improving care transitions.Results. Nurses and other healthcare providers need to know three things to ensure safe care transitions: (1) know your client; (2) know your team on both sides of the transfer; and (3) know the resources your client needs and how to get them. Three themes describe successful care transitions, including flexible structures; independence and teamwork; and client and provider focus.Conclusion. Nurses often operate at the margins of acceptable performance, and flexibility with regulation and standards is often required in complex sociotechnical work like care transitions. Priority needs to be given to creating conditions where nurses and other healthcare providers are free to creatively engage and respond in ways that will optimize safe care transitions.
Dynamical Analysis of a Stochastic Predator-Prey Model with an Allee Effect
Authors: Rao Feng
Published: November 2013

We present and analyze a modified Holling type-II predator-prey model that includes some important factors such as Allee effect, density-dependence, and environmental noise. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functions and applying Itô formula, some qualitative properties are given, such as the existence of global positive solutions, stochastic boundedness, and the global asymptotic stability. A series of numerical simulations to illustrate these mathematical findings are presented.
Speciation inThaparocleidus(Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) Parasitizing Asian Pangasiid Catfishes
Authors: Šimková Andrea , Serbielle Celine , Pariselle Antoine , Vanhove Maarten P. M. , Morand Serge
Published: November 2013

The phylogeny of monogeneans of the genusThaparocleidusthat parasitize the gills of Pangasiidae in Borneo and Sumatra was inferred from molecular data to investigate parasite speciation. The phylogeny of the Pangasiidae was also reconstructed in order to investigate host-parasite coevolutionary history. The monophyly ofThaparocleidusparasitizing Pangasiidae was confirmed. Low intraspecies molecular variability was observed in threeThaparocleidusspecies collected from geographically distant localities. However, a high intraspecies molecular variability was observed in twoThaparocleidusspecies suggesting that these species represent a complex of species highly similar in morphology. Distance-based and tree-based methods revealed a significant global fit between parasite and host phylogenies. Parasite duplication (i.e., intrahost speciation) was recognized as the most common event inThaparocleidus, while the numbers of cospeciation and host switches were lower and similar to each other. When collapsing nodes correspond to duplication cases, our results suggest host switches in theThaparocleidus-Pangasiidae system precluding congruence between host and parasite trees. We found that the morphometric variability of the parasite attachment organ is not linked to phylogeny, suggesting that the attachment organ is under adaptive constraint. We showed that haptor morphometry is linked to host specificity, whereby nonspecific parasites display higher morphometric variability than specialists.
Modeling and Simulation of Flow and Formation Damage of Asphalt-Paved Roads
Authors: Alawi M. H. , El-Qadi M. M. , El-Ameen M. A.
Published: November 2013

Porous asphalt is a standard asphalt built on aggregate storage bed which allows water to drain through it and reduces stormwater runoff. However, porosity of the porous asphalt and the storage bed may be effectively reduced due to trapping suspended solids from the water or from the asphalt damage. In this paper, we present mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of flow and damage of porous asphalt-paved roads. A mathematical model to describe the fine-particles transport carried by a two-phase flow in a porous medium is presented. The buoyancy, capillarity, and mixed relative permeabilities correlations to fit with the mixed-wet system are considered. Throughout this investigation, we monitor the changing of the fluids properties such as water saturation and solid properties such as porosity and permeability due to trapping the fine-particles.
Characterization of a New Providencia sp. Strain X1 Producing Multiple Xylanases on Wheat Bran
Authors: Raj Abhay , Kumar Sharad , Singh Sudheer Kumar , Kumar Mahadeo
Published: November 2013

Providencia sp. strain X1 showing the highest xylanase activity among six bacterial isolates was isolated from saw‐dust decomposing site. Strain X1 produced cellulase‐free extracellular xylanase, which was higher in wheat bran medium than in xylan medium, when cultivated at pH 8.0 and 35°C. Zymogram analysis of crude preparation of enzymes obtained while growing on wheat bran and birchwood xylan revealed the presence of seven and two distinct xylanases with estimated molecular weight of 33; 35; 40; 48; 60; 75; and 95 kDa and 33 and 44 kDa, respectively. The crude xylanases were produced on wheat bran medium and showed optimum activity at pH 9.0 and 60°C. The thermotolerance studies showed activity retention of 100% and 85% at 40°C and 60°C after 30 min preincubation at pH 9.0. It was tolerant to lignin, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and guaiacol and retained 90% activity after ethanol treatment. The enzyme preparation was also tolerant to methanol and acetone and showed good activity retention in the presence of metal ions such as Fe2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+. The crude enzyme preparation was classified as endoxylanase based on the product pattern of xylan hydrolysis. Pretreatment of kraft pulp with crude xylanases for 3 h at 60°C led to a decrease in kappa number by 28.5%. The properties of present xylanases make them potentially useful for industrial applications.
Solution of the Inverse Problem of Subsurface Electric Exploration for Horizontally Stratified Medium
Authors: Karchevsky A. L. , Oralbekova Zh. O. , Iskakov K. T.
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we offer the generalization of the known technique of the construction of the gradient of the residual functional based on the statement of the conjugate problem for the case when the unknown function is complex valued. The notion of the reference frequency of the medium is introduced. Knowing the value of the reference frequency lets us judge the possibility of simultaneous definition of the dielectric permittivity and conductivity.
Global Exponential Stability of Positive Pseudo-Almost-Periodic Solutions for a Model of Hematopoiesis
Authors: Meng Junxia
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a new generalized model of hematopoiesis with multiple time-varying delays. The main purpose of this paper is to study the existence and the global exponential stability of the positive pseudo almost periodic solutions, which are more general and complicated than periodic and almost periodic solutions. Under suitable assumptions, and by using fixed point theorem, sufficient conditions are given to ensure that all solutions of this model converge exponentially to the positive pseudo almost periodic solution for the considered model. These results improve and extend some known relevant results.