bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coercing non-liberal persons: Considerations on a more realistic liberalism
Authors: Sleat Matt
Published: April 2013

The central contention of this article is that contemporary liberal theory is without an account of what legitimates coercing those who reject liberalism that is consistent with its own stipulations of the conditions of political legitimacy. After exploring the nature of the liberal principle of legitimacy, and in particular how it is intended to function as a way of protecting individuals from domination and oppression by reconciling freedom and public law, the article considers four different possible accounts of what might legitimate coercing non-liberals. While some of them have independent plausibility, the article argues that none of them meets the requirements of liberal legitimacy. The final section of the article considers the implications of this theoretical gap for liberal theory more widely. The argument is made that liberalism must accept that even liberal politics will necessitate the oppressive use of coercive power, i.e. compelling people to live according to wills other than their own, and that insofar as this is a position central to the recent burgeoning literature on political realism, liberalism ought therefore to be more realist.
Candidate Reputations and Issue Agendas
Authors: Arbour Brian K.
Published: April 2013

How do campaigns decide what issues to emphasize for voters? According to most studies, campaigns rely on factors outside of their control—issue salience, party issue ownership, and district ideology. In this article, I argue that campaign messages are designed primarily based on the candidate. I examine the issue content of campaign advertisements from U.S. House and Senate campaigns from 2000 to 2004 and develop a measure that determines if candidates have developed a reputation on a particular issue. When candidates have developed such a reputation, their campaign is more likely to highlight that issue to voters than campaigns whose candidate has not developed such a reputation. This relationship is consistent across most issues and across two different measures of a campaign’s issue agenda.
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Tai Chi Chih Randomized Controlled Trial in Senior Female Cancer Survivors
Authors: Campo Rebecca A. , O’Connor Kathleen , Light Kathleen C. , Nakamura Yoshio , Lipschitz David L. , LaStayo Paul C. , Pappas Lisa , Boucher Kenneth , Irwin Michael R. , Agarwal Neeraj , Kinney Anita Y.
Published: April 2013

Objective. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a Tai Chi Chih (TCC) intervention in senior female cancer survivors with physical functioning limitations, and its effects on health-related quality of life (QOL). Design. This was a two-armed, parallel group, RCT with 12-weeks of Tai Chi Chih or Health Education Control. Methods. Sixty-three senior ( M age = 67 years, SD = 7.15) female cancer survivors (83% breast cancer, stages I-III) with physical functioning limitations (SF-12 Health Survey role-physical & physical functioning subscales) were randomized to 12-weeks of TCC or Health Education control (HEC). Primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes included health-related QOL (SF-36 Health Survey), and participants’ qualitative feedback on the intervention. Results. Retention (TCC = 91%; HEC = 81%) and class attendance (TCC = 79%; HEC = 83%) rates, and satisfaction levels for both study arms were high, but did not significantly differ from one another. At one-week post-intervention, none of the SF-36 scores differed between the TCC and HEC groups. Within-group analyses revealed significant improvements in the mental component summary score in TCC ( p = 0.01), but not in HEC. Qualitative analyses indicated that the TCC group felt they received mental and physical benefits, whereas HEC group reported on social support benefits and information received. Conclusion. The TCC intervention was found to be a feasible and acceptable modality for senior female cancer survivors. Future, larger definitive trials are needed to clarify TCC dosage effects on QOL in this vulnerable population.
Condom Attitudes of Heterosexual Men Ages 50 and Older Using Prescribed Drugs (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) to Treat Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Jones Sande Gracia , Fenkl Eric A. , Patsdaughter Carol A. (“Pat”) , Chadwell Katherine
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes about condoms that may affect condom use by heterosexual men ages 50 and older who were sexually active and currently using prescribed oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor medications (Viagra®, Cialis®, or Levitra®) for treatment of erectile dysfunction. The study was part of a larger study that explored the need for safer-sex health promotion and education for these men. Fifty men completed factor subscales of the Condom Attitude Scale. Subscales were scored and analyzed. Positive factors were found with regard to the Interpersonal Impact, Inhibition, Perceived Risk, Perceived Seriousness, and Global Attitudes subscales. Factors with negative or neutral responses included the Effect on Sexual Experience, Relationship Safety, and Promiscuity subscales. Independent t tests revealed no differences between married and nonmarried men for the mean score on any of the subscales, but there was a difference on the Global Attitude Scale, with younger men having a more positive global attitude than older men. Study findings can be used in the development of health promotion educational activities on condom use as a safer-sex practice.
A low-power digital processing circuit for capacitive accelerometer
Authors: Zhu Zhongyi , Liu Yidong , Jin Zhonghe
Published: April 2013

A low power consumption digital processing circuit with large dynamic range and low noise density for micromachined capacitive accelerometer is proposed. To reduce the power consumption, the sampling rate and the number of logic units used are analyzed. We lower the sampling rate to 2.5 MHz that is only 1/16 of previous scheme. At this frequency, the dynamic range is still as high as 120 dB that has been tested, while the dynamic power is as low as 5.4 mW that is only about 1/16 of previous scheme. To reduce the amount of logic units, we adopt square-wave demodulator instead of sinusoidal demodulator (realized by coordinate rotation digital computer algorithm). The entire digital processing circuit with square-wave demodulator uses 577 slice registers, about 1/10 of the circuit with sinusoidal demodulator. The dynamic power is even reduced to 0.54 mW. Most of all, almost no additional noise is added into this circuit, and the output noise density is as low as 0.01 mg/√Hz.
Antireflection characteristics of inverted nanopyramid arrays fabricated by low-cost nanosphere lithography technology
Authors: Wang Junfeng , Dong Peitao , Di Di , Chen Jian , Wang Chaoguang , Wang Haoxu , Wu Xuezhong
Published: April 2013

A simple and effective process based on nanosphere lithography for the fabrication of periodic inverted nanopyramid structure is presented in this article. The prepared nanostructure has almost a drop of 40% in the average reflectance at normal incidence, when compared with its corresponding bare silicon surface. Moreover, we obtained the reflection spectra for bare silicon substrate and prepared nanostructure through experiments and numerical calculations, and the results agreed well with each other, respectively. Therefore, we can combine the simulation method and fabrication method together to optimize the nanostructured antireflection coatings for better antireflection characteristics, and this methodology is robust and promising for the development of crystalline silicon solar cells. We further discussed the influences of pyramid size and the lattice constant of the nanopyramid array on the antireflection effect by numerical calculation, and we got a conclusion that the antireflection effect is positively correlated with the area-ratio defined as the ratio of the sum of the area of the nanopyramid holes in a unit cell to the area of a unit cell. Finally, we provide some direction and help for other researchers about the antireflection application of inverted nanopyramid arrays.
LIM kinase-1 selectively promotes glycoprotein Ib-IX–mediated TXA2 synthesis, platelet activation, and thrombosis
Authors: Estevez Brian , Stojanovic-Terpo Aleksandra , Delaney M. Keegan , O’Brien Kelly A. , Berndt Michael C. , Ruan Changgeng , Du Xiaoping
Published: April 2013

Key Points

Role for LIMK1 in GPIb-IX–dependent cPLA2 activation, TXA2 synthesis, and platelet activation independent of its role in actin polymerization. LIMK1 is important in arterial thrombosis in vivo but appears to be dispensable for hemostasis, suggesting a new antithrombotic target.
Genomic selection of purebred animals for crossbred performance in the presence of dominant gene action
Authors: Zeng Jian , Toosi Ali , Fernando Rohan L , Dekkers Jack CM , Garrick Dorian J
Published: April 2013

Background

Genomic selection is an appealing method to select purebreds for crossbred performance. In the case of crossbred records, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effects can be estimated using an additive model or a breed-specific allele model. In most studies, additive gene action is assumed. However, dominance is the likely genetic basis of heterosis. Advantages of incorporating dominance in genomic selection were investigated in a two-way crossbreeding program for a trait with different magnitudes of dominance. Training was carried out only once in the simulation.

Results

When the dominance variance and heterosis were large and overdominance was present, a dominance model including both additive and dominance SNP effects gave substantially greater cumulative response to selection than the additive model. Extra response was the result of an increase in heterosis but at a cost of reduced purebred performance. When the dominance variance and heterosis were realistic but with overdominance, the advantage of the dominance model decreased but was still significant. When overdominance was absent, the dominance model was slightly favored over the additive model, but the difference in response between the models increased as the number of quantitative trait loci increased. This reveals the importance of exploiting dominance even in the absence of overdominance. When there was no dominance, response to selection for the dominance model was as high as for the additive model, indicating robustness of the dominance model. The breed-specific allele model was inferior to the dominance model in all cases and to the additive model except when the dominance variance and heterosis were large and with overdominance. However, the advantage of the dominance model over the breed-specific allele model may decrease as differences in linkage disequilibrium between the breeds increase. Retraining is expected to reduce the advantage of the dominance model over the alternatives, because in general, the advantage becomes important only after five or six generations post-training.

Conclusion

Under dominance and without retraining, genomic selection based on the dominance model is superior to the additive model and the breed-specific allele model to maximize crossbred performance through purebred selection.
Quality control, analysis and secure sharing of Luminex® immunoassay data using the open source LabKey Server platform
Authors: Eckels Josh , Nathe Cory , Nelson Elizabeth K , Shoemaker Sara G , Nostrand Elizabeth Van , Yates Nicole L , Ashley Vicki C , Harris Linda J , Bollenbeck Mark , Fong Youyi , Tomaras Georgia D , Piehler Britt
Published: April 2013

Background

Immunoassays that employ multiplexed bead arrays produce high information content per sample. Such assays are now frequently used to evaluate humoral responses in clinical trials. Integrated software is needed for the analysis, quality control, and secure sharing of the high volume of data produced by such multiplexed assays. Software that facilitates data exchange and provides flexibility to perform customized analyses (including multiple curve fits and visualizations of assay performance over time) could increase scientists’ capacity to use these immunoassays to evaluate human clinical trials.

Results

The HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention collaborated with LabKey Software to enhance the open source LabKey Server platform to facilitate workflows for multiplexed bead assays. This system now supports the management, analysis, quality control, and secure sharing of data from multiplexed immunoassays that leverage Luminex xMAP® technology. These assays may be custom or kit-based. Newly added features enable labs to: (i) import run data from spreadsheets output by Bio-Plex Manager™ software; (ii) customize data processing, curve fits, and algorithms through scripts written in common languages, such as R; (iii) select script-defined calculation options through a graphical user interface; (iv) collect custom metadata for each titration, analyte, run and batch of runs; (v) calculate dose-response curves for titrations; (vi) interpolate unknown concentrations from curves for titrated standards; (vii) flag run data for exclusion from analysis; (viii) track quality control metrics across runs using Levey-Jennings plots; and (ix) automatically flag outliers based on expected values. Existing system features allow researchers to analyze, integrate, visualize, export and securely share their data, as well as to construct custom user interfaces and workflows.

Conclusions

Unlike other tools tailored for Luminex immunoassays, LabKey Server allows labs to customize their Luminex analyses using scripting while still presenting users with a single, graphical interface for processing and analyzing data. The LabKey Server system also stands out among Luminex tools for enabling smooth, secure transfer of data, quality control information, and analyses between collaborators. LabKey Server and its Luminex features are freely available as open source software at http://www.labkey.com under the Apache 2.0 license.
Deletions within COL11A1in Type 2 stickler syndrome detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA)
Authors: Vijzelaar Raymon , Waller Sarah , Errami Abdellatif , Donaldson Alan , Lourenco Teresa , Rodrigues Marcia , McConnell Vivienne , Fincham Gregory , Snead Martin , Richards Allan
Published: April 2013

Background

COL11A1 is a large complex gene around 250 kb in length and consisting of 68 exons. Pathogenic mutations in the gene can result in Stickler syndrome, Marshall syndrome or Fibrochondrogenesis. Many of the mutations resulting in either Stickler or Marshall syndrome alter splice sites and result in exon skipping, which because of the exon structure of collagen genes usually leaves the message in-frame. The mutant protein then exerts a dominant negative effect as it co-assembles with other collagen gene products. To date only one large deletion of 40 kb in the COL11A1, which was detected by RT-PCR, has been characterized. However, commonly used screening protocols, utilizing genomic amplification and exon sequencing, are unlikely to detect such large deletions. Consequently the frequency of this type of mutation is unknown.

Case presentations

We have used Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) in conjunction with exon amplification and sequencing, to analyze patients with clinical features of Stickler syndrome, and have detected six novel deletions that were not found by exon sequencing alone.

Conclusion

Exon deletions appear to represent a significant proportion of type 2 Stickler syndrome. This observation was previously unknown and so diagnostic screening of COL11A1 should include assays capable of detecting both large and small deletions, in addition to exon sequencing.
Changes in the MALT1-A20-NF-κB expression pattern may be related to T cell dysfunction in AML
Authors: Shi Li , Chen Shaohua , Lu Yuhong , Wang Xu , Xu Ling , Zhang Fan , Yang Lijian , Wu Xiuli , Li Bo , Li Yangqiu
Published: April 2013

To elucidate the characteristics of T-cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction in T-cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the mucosa-associated-lymphoid-tissue lymphoma-translocation gene 1 (MALT1), A20, NF-κB and MALT1-V1 gene expression levels in CD3+T cells sorted from the peripheral blood of patients with AML were analyzed by real-time PCR. A significantly lower MALT1 and A20 expression level was found in T cells from patients with AML compared with healthy controls (p = 0.045,p < 0.0001); however, the expression level of MALT1-V1 (variant 1) was significantly higher in the AML group than in the healthy control group (p = 0.006), and the expression level of NF-κB was increased in the AML group. In conclusion, the characteristics of the expression pattern of MALT1-A20-NF-κB and the distribution of MALT1 variants in T cells from AML were first characterized. Overall, low TCR-CD3 signaling is related to low MALT1 expression, which may related to T cell immunodeficiency, while the up-regulation of MALT1-V1 may play a role in overcoming the T cell activity by downregulating A20 in patients with AML, which may be related to a specific response to AML-associated antigens.
Routine ultrasound examination by OB/GYN residents increase the accuracy of diagnosis for emergency surgery in gynecology
Authors: Toret-Labeeuw Flavie , Huchon Cyrille , Popowski Thomas , Chantry Anne A , Dumont Alexandre , Fauconnier Arnaud
Published: April 2013

Introduction

Diagnostic accuracy of first-line sonographic evaluation by obstetrics/gynecology residents in determining the need for emergency surgery in women with acute pelvic pain is unknown. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of routine ultrasound evaluation by obstetrics/gynecology residents, available 24 hours a day, in patients with acute pelvic pain.

Methods

A cross-sectional retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent emergency laparoscopy for acute pelvic pain at a teaching hospital gynecologic emergency unit, between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2006. The laparoscopic diagnosis was the reference standard. Gynecologic and nongynecologic conditions requiring immediate surgery to avoid severe morbidity or death were defined as surgical emergencies. In all patients, obstetrics/gynecology residents routinely performed clinical examination and standardized ultrasonography was routinely recorded. Sonograms were re-interpreted for the study, blinded to physical examination and laparoscopic findings, according to evidence-based predetermined criteria. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were computed for clinical data alone, sonographic data alone, and the combination of both.

Results

Emergency laparoscopy was performed in 234 patients, diagnosing 139 (59%) surgical emergencies. Clinical and sonographic examinations performed by the residents each independently predicted a need for emergency surgery. Combining both examinations was superior over each examination alone and had an acceptable false-negative rate of 1%.

Conclusions

First-line combined clinical and sonographic examination by obstetrics/gynecology residents is effective in ruling out surgical emergencies in patients with acute pelvic pain.
An agent-based framework for performance modeling of an optimistic parallel discrete event simulator
Authors: Kurve Aditya , Kotobi Khashayar , Kesidis George
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The performance of an optimistic parallel discrete event simulator (PDES) in terms of the total simulation execution time of an experiment depends on a large set of variables. Many of them have a complex and generally unknown relationship with the simulation execution time. In this paper, we describe an agent-based performance model of a PDES kernel that is typically used to simulate large-sized complex networks on multiple processors or machines. The agent-based paradigm greatly simplifies the modeling of system dynamics by representing a component logical process (LP) as an autonomous agent that interacts with other LPs through event queues and also interacts with its environment which comprises the processor it resides on.

Method

We model the agents representing the LPs using a “base” class of an LP agent that allows us to use a generic behavioral model of an agent that can be extended further to model more details of LP behavior. The base class focuses only on the details that most likely influence the overall simulation execution time of the experiment.

Results

We apply this framework to study a local incentive based partitioning algorithm where each LP makes an informed local decision about its assignment to a processor, resulting in a system akin to a self organizing network. The agent-based model allows us to study the overall effect of the local incentive-based cost function on the simulation execution time of the experiment which we consider to be the global performance metric.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the utility of agent-based approach in modeling a PDES kernel in order to evaluate the effects of a large number of variable factors such as the LP graph properties, load balancing criteria and others on the total simulation execution time of an experiment.
Application of rural slaughterhouse waste as an organic fertilizer for pot cultivation of solanaceous vegetables in India
Authors: Roy Malancha , Karmakar Sukalpa , Debsarcar Anupam , Sen Pradip K , Mukherjee Joydeep
Published: April 2013

Background

The lack of electricity and water supply in rural abattoirs in developing nations prevents the adoption of waste-processing technologies practiced in economically advanced countries. This research attempts to recycle waste blood and rumen digesta generated in rural slaughterhouses as organic fertilizer, thus promoting sustainable agriculture.

Results

The values of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, concentrations of oil, grease, total suspended solids, total solids, and total phosphorus characterized blood and rumen digesta as highly polluting wastes. Waste blood and rumen digesta were mixed in 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 ratios and dried to obtain ‘bovine-blood-rumen-digesta-mixture’ (BBRDM). The efficacy of the organic fertilizer was compared with diammonium phosphate (DAP) in a pot cultivation of tomato, chili, and brinjal. Five grams of BBRDM (N/P/K = 30.36:1:5.75)/kilogram of soil applied at the second and sixth weeks produced earlier fruiting by 2 weeks and yielded (in terms of total fruit weight) higher by 130% for tomato, by 259% for chili, and by 273% for brinjal in BBRDM (3:1)-cultivated plants compared to DAP. BBRDM-applied soils showed higher C, N, and P concentrations than DAP. High-nitrogen-containing BBRDM mineralized rapidly, and nitrogen and phosphorus were available within 6 days of drying. Although high nitrogen concentration caused toxicity when applied at the time of planting to young plants, BBRDM enhanced the yield and productivity when applied to mature plants after 15 days of plantation. Higher numbers of Azotobacter, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, fungi, and amount of chlorophyll were isolated from soils treated with BBRDM than with DAP. Carbohydrate, protein, and fat contents of the vegetables were comparable to DAP-grown vegetables.

Conclusions

Highly polluting abattoir wastes could be gainfully utilized, promoting a healthy environment around rural slaughterhouses. The application of BBRDM to crops of marginal returns is an attractive proposal.
Modulation of environmental light alters reception and production of visual signals in Nile tilapia
Authors: Hornsby Mark A. W. , Sabbah Shai , Robertson R. Meldrum , Hawryshyn Craig W.
Published: April 2013

Signal reception and production form the basis of animal visual communication, and are largely constrained by environmental light. However, the role of environmental light in producing variation in either signal reception or production has not been fully investigated. To chart the effect of environmental light on visual sensitivity and body colouration throughout ontogeny, we measured spectral sensitivity, lens transmission, and body pattern reflectance from juvenile and adult Nile tilapia held under two environmental light treatments. Spectral sensitivity in juveniles reared under a broad-spectrum light treatment and a red-shifted light treatment differed mostly at short wavelengths, where the irradiance of the two light treatments differed the most. In contrast, adults held under the same two light treatments did not differ in spectral sensitivity. Lens transmission in both juveniles and adults did not differ significantly between environmental light treatments, indicating that differences in spectral sensitivity of juveniles originated in the retina. Juveniles and adults held under the two environmental light treatments differed in spectral reflectance, and adults transferred to a third, white light treatment differed in spectral reflectance from their counterparts held under the two original treatments. These results demonstrate that environmental light plays a crucial role in shaping signal reception in juveniles and signal production throughout ontogeny, reinforcing the notion that environmental light has the capacity to influence animal communication, and suggesting that the characteristics of environmental light should be considered in models of ecological speciation.
Physiological adaptations to reproduction II. Mitochondrial adjustments in livers of lactating mice
Authors: Pichaud Nicolas , Garratt Michael , Ballard J. William O. , Brooks Robert C.
Published: April 2013

Reproduction imposes significant costs and is characterized by an increased energy demand. As a consequence, individuals adjust their cellular structure and function to this physiological constraint. Because mitochondria are central to energy production, changes in their functional properties are likely to occur during reproduction. Such changes could cause adjustments in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and consequently in oxidative stress levels. In this study, we investigated several mechanisms involved in energy production, including mitochondrial respiration at different steps of the electron transport system (ETS) and related the results to citrate synthase activity in the liver of non-reproductive and reproductive (two and eight pups) female house mice at peak lactation. Whereas we did not find differences between females having different litter sizes, liver mitochondria of reproductive females showed lower ETS activity and an increase in mitochondrial density when compared to the non-reproductive females. Although it is possible that these changes were due to combined processes involved in reproduction and not to the relative investment in lactation, we propose that the mitochondrial adjustment in liver might help to spare substrates and therefore energy for milk production in the mammary gland. Moreover, our results suggest that these changes lead to an increase in ROS production that subsequently up-regulates antioxidant defences activity and decreases oxidative stress.
The hydrodynamics of contact of a marine larvaBugula neritinawith a cylinder
Authors: Zilman Gregory , Novak Julia , Liberzon Alex , Perkol-Finkel Shimrit , Benayahu Yehuda
Published: April 2013

Marine larvae are often considered as drifters that collide with larval collectors as passive particles. The trajectories of Bugula neritina larvae and of polystyrene beads were recorded in the velocity field of a vertical cylinder. The experiments illustrated that the trajectories of larvae and of beads may differ markedly. By considering a larva as a self-propelled mechanical microswimmer, a mathematical model of its motion in the two- dimensional velocity field of a long cylinder was formulated. Simulated larval trajectories were compared with experimental observations. We calculated the ratio η of the probability of contact of a microswimmer with a cylinder to the probability of contact of a passive particle with the cylinder. We found that depending on the ratio S of the swimming velocity of the microswimmer to the velocity of the ambient current, the probability of contact of a microswimmer with a collector may be orders of magnitude larger than the probability of contact of a passive particle with the cylinder: for S~0.01, η ~1; for S~0.1, η~10; and for S~1, η~100.
Regioselective N-Methylation of 6-Chloroindolo[3,2-c]quinolines and Their Amination Reactivity at the C-6 Position
Authors: Wang Ning , Imai Kento , Pang Cui-Qing , Wang Ming-qi , Yonezawa Mizuho , Zhang Yu , Nokami Junzo , Inokuchi Tsutomu
Published: April 2013

The treatment of 6-chloroindolo[3,2-c]quinoline 6 with NaH–MeI led to methylation at N-11, forming 8, while the reaction of 6 with MeI with heating gave the corresponding 5-methylated quinolinium salt whose SNAr with water smoothly proceeded to form 5-methylindolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-one 3b. The amination reactivity at the C-6 was assigned in the order of 6 > 11-methylated 8.
Thromboseprophylaxe in der bariatrischen Chirurgie
Authors: Karcz K. , Utzolino S.
Published: April 2013

Patienten der bariatrischen Chirurgie sind eine Hochrisikogruppe für venöse Thromboembo-lien. Die aktuellen Leitlinien der AWMF (Deutschland), NICE (Großbritannien) und der ACCP (USA) werden vorgestellt, und es erfolgt eine Diskussion der Literatur zum Thema. Frühmobilisation und physikalische Methoden sind die Basismaßnahmen zur Thromboseprophylaxe für alle Patienten. Zusätzlich ist in der Regel eine medikamentöse Prophylaxe indiziert. Mittel der Wahl sind heute niedermolekulare Heparine. Evidenz-basierte Dosisempfehlungen für bariatrische Patienten liegen nicht vor. Wir empfehlen eine viertel therapeutische Dosis von niedermolekularen Heparinen ohne Gewichts-Obergrenze einmal täglich s.c. Der Beginn soll am Tag vor der OP sein. Alternative ist Fondaparinux in einer Fixdosis von 1 x 2,5 mg s.c. Gegen das Thrombose- muss individuell das Blutungsrisiko abgewogen werden.
OR Forum—The Cost of Latency in High-Frequency Trading
Authors: Moallemi Ciamac C. , Sağlam Mehmet
Published: April 2013

Modern electronic markets have been characterized by a relentless drive toward faster decision making. Significant technological investments have led to dramatic improvements in latency, the delay between a trading decision and the resulting trade execution. We describe a theoretical model for the quantitative valuation of latency. Our model measures the trading frictions created by the presence of latency, by considering the optimal execution problem of a representative investor. Via a dynamic programming analysis, our model provides a closed-form expression for the cost of latency in terms of well-known parameters of the underlying asset. We implement our model by estimating the latency cost incurred by trading on a human time scale. Examining NYSE common stocks from 1995 to 2005 shows that median latency cost across our sample roughly tripled during this time period. Furthermore, using the same data set, we compute a measure of implied latency and conclude that the median implied latency decreased by approximately two orders of magnitude. Empirically calibrated, our model suggests that the reduction in cost achieved by going from trading on a human time scale to a low latency time scale is comparable with other execution costs faced by the most cost efficient institutional investors, and it is consistent with the rents that are extracted by ultra-low latency agents, such as providers of automated execution services or high frequency traders.
Fasting Serum Lipid and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate as Important Metabolites for Detecting Isolated Postchallenge Diabetes: Serum Metabolomics via Ultra-High-Performance LC-MS
Authors: Liu Liyan , Wang Maoqing , Yang Xue , Bi Mingxin , Na Lixin , Niu Yucun , Li Ying , Sun Changhao
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

Isolated postchallenge diabetes (IPD), a subtype of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) defined as 2-h postprandial plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL (≥11.1 mmol/L) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <108 mg/dL (<6.0 mmol/L), is often overlooked during screening for diabetes on the basis of FPG concentrations. A key challenge is early identification of IPD by the use of fasting serum, which is critical for large-scale diabetes screening.

METHODS

We applied a nontargeted metabolomic approach using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole TOF–mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to analyze serum samples from 51 patients with IPD, 52 with newly diagnosed T2DM, and 49 healthy individuals. We processed metabolite profiles by multivariate analysis to identify potential metabolites, which were further confirmed by tandem MS (MS/MS). We also used GC-MS and ELISA methods to detect potentially important metabolites. A number of independent samples were selected to validate the identified candidates.

RESULTS

We selected 15 metabolites with a view to distinguishing patients with IPD, whereas 11 were identified with an authentic standard. The selected metabolites included linoleic acid, oleic acid, phospholipids, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). In IPD samples, significantly higher linoleic and oleic acid (P < 0.001) and lower DHEA-S (P < 0.001) concentrations were observed, compared with controls. The area under the curve from a combination of linoleic acid, oleic acid, and DHEA-S in the validation study was 0.849 for the IPD group.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides useful information to bridge the gaps in our understanding of the metabolic alterations associated with IPD and might facilitate the characterization of patients with IPD by the use of fasting serum.
Searching for a lost place: European returns in Jewish Australian Second Generation memoirs
Authors: Fischer Nina
Published: April 2013

Migrants tend to construct memory narratives of their former homelands. In the case of Holocaust survivors, the locations of family and community in Europe have been destroyed culturally and physically and have become ‘lost places’. Lives of Holocaust survivors are rarely
thought about from the perspective of migrant biographies, even though only very few survivors returned to live in their former hometowns after liberation, but instead moved to countries around the world. This article explores how memory of place as a vital part of the migrant-survivor family
has a transgenerational effect. Growing up with narratives of the landscapes of pre-war Jewish European life created a double sense of dislocation from the former generational site in children of survivors: both in time and in space. Reading two Jewish Australian memoirs – Lily Brett’s
Between Mexico and Poland (2003) and Arnold Zable’s Jewels and Ashes (1991) – this article investigates the ‘return’ journeys of both authors to Poland. I argue that the parents’ former homelands hold great significance in their children’s lives, that journeys
to actual locations of family memory are an attempt to uncover memory in situ and to integrate the spaces of pre-Holocaust past into their Second Generation life narratives. Such journeys uncover that, while a home, a family or a community are not to be found anymore, the literal, physical
places of the parents’ past still exist and evoke a certain familiarity, as a result of the memory narratives that suffused the post-Holocaust family
Memory, migration and guilt
Authors: Assmann Aleida , Schwarz Anja
Published: April 2013

For a while now, German and Australian societies have been in the process of negotiating the understanding of their nations’ guilty pasts, constituted by the atrocities committed by Germans during the Third Reich on the one hand and the history of Indigenous dispossession in Australia
on the other. These concerns mark a reorientation of national memory politics towards an empathic recognition of the nation’s victims. This article discusses the ways in which immigrants are implicated in these current renegotiations of ‘negative national memories’ in both
countries
Painting research: Challenges and opportunities of intimacy and depth
Authors: Fish Barbara J.
Published: April 2013

This article demonstrates the challenges and opportunities of engaging art materials as an intimate mode of enquiry. Painting is used to investigate the writer’s biases and resistance towards research itself and to explore the method of ‘response art’. Using images
to venture into unfamiliar territory, the writer excavates her preconceived attitudes and gains a deep understanding of her relationship to research. This work helps her reconcile artistic ways of investigation with research, strengthening her ability to understand and engage a range of creative
and traditional methods of enquiry
On creative writing and historical understanding
Authors: McNiff Kelsey
Published: April 2013

This article draws upon the author’s experience of using art-based research to develop historical understanding. It considers how artistic enquiry, specifically creative writing, presents opportunities to explore aspects of human experience that one cannot examine within the disciplinary
conventions of historical scholarship. Yet the article also considers the challenges of creating art that is responsible to history, encouraging like-minded artists to reflect upon questions of artistic intent, integrative research methodologies, creative license and the formation of collective
memory
A more complete knowing: The subjective objective partnership
Authors: Potash Jordan S.
Published: April 2013

Within research, subjectivity is viewed as authentic or biased. Similarly, objectivity is characterized as either rational or distant. These descriptions remove nuances within each position. Rather than narrowly adopt either stance, art-based research involves the careful partnering
of embracing subjectivity and relativizing objectivity. Examples from the author’s own art-based research illustrate these points
Introduction: A critical focus on art-based research
Authors: McNiff Shaun
Published: April 2013

This introduction to the second part of a special issue on ‘Opportunities and challenges in art-based research’ proposes critical examination as a way to advance this increasingly recognized approach to research that nevertheless elicits resistance and hesitation within
applied arts professions. Art-based research is defined as the use of personal expression in various art forms as a primary mode of enquiry. These studies may accompany or include the artistic expressions of others but their unique feature is the making of art by the researcher.
Art-based research for engaging not-knowing in organizations
Authors: Antal Ariane Berthoin
Published: April 2013

This article discusses the potential for learning in organizations with and from artists that lies in engaging with the uncertainty and generativity of experiencing ‘not-knowing’. The organization’s search for answers is engaged by the artists undertaking a search
for questions in their process of exploring the foreign physical and social context. Principles and issues related to the broader practice of art-based research are identified by drawing on research into artistic interventions in organizations, where artists are invited into organizations
to help develop new ways of seeing and doing things.
Crystal structure of aqua-bis(2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl-κN)-acetato-κO) cobalt(II), [Co(C5H5O2N2S)2(H2O)], C10H12CoN4O5S2
Authors: Zhang Mei-Li , Cui Hua-Li , Chen Xiao-Li , Lv Lei
Published: April 2013

C10H12CoN4O5S2, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 11.776(2) Å, b = 9.432(2) Å, c = 12.546(3) Å, β = 92.58(3)°, V = 1392.1 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0830, wRref(F2) = 0.2193, T = 293 K.
High-salt diets during pregnancy affected fetal and offspring renal renin–angiotensin system
Authors: Mao Caiping , Liu Rong , Bo Le , Chen Ningjing , Li Shigang , Xia Shuixiu , Chen Jie , Li Dawei , Zhang Lubo , Xu Zhice
Published: April 2013

Intrauterine environments are related to fetal renal development and postnatal health. Influence of salty diets during pregnancy on renal functions and renin–angiotensin system (RAS) was determined in the ovine fetuses and offspring. Pregnant ewes were fed high-salt diet (HSD) or normal-salt diet (NSD) for 2 months during middle-to-late gestation. Fetal renal functions, plasma hormones, and mRNA and protein expressions of the key elements of renal RAS were measured in the fetuses and offspring. Fetal renal excretion of sodium was increased while urine volume decreased in the HSD group. Fetal blood urea nitrogen was increased, while kidney weight:body weight ratio decreased in the HSD group. The altered ratio was also observed in the offspring aged 15 and 90 days. Maternal and fetal plasma antidiuretic hormone was elevated without changes in plasma renin activity and Ang I levels, while plasma Ang II was decreased. The key elements of local renal RAS, including angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, AT1, and AT2receptor expression in both mRNA and protein, except renin, were altered following maternal high salt intake. The results suggest that high intake of salt during pregnancy affected fetal renal development associated with an altered expression of the renal key elements of RAS, some alterations of fetal origins remained after birth as possible risks in developing renal or cardiovascular diseases.
Planned Home Birth
Authors:   COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN, Watterberg Kristi L. , Papile Lu-Ann , Baley Jill E. , Benitz William , Cummings James , Carlo Waldemar A. , Kumar Praveen , Polin Richard A. , Tan Rosemarie C.
Published: April 2013

The American Academy of Pediatrics concurs with the recent statement of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists affirming that hospitals and birthing centers are the safest settings for birth in the United States while respecting the right of women to make a medically informed decision about delivery. This statement is intended to help pediatricians provide supportive, informed counsel to women considering home birth while retaining their role as child advocates and to summarize the standards of care for newborn infants born at home, which are consistent with standards for infants born in a medical care facility. Regardless of the circumstances of his or her birth, including location, every newborn infant deserves health care that adheres to the standards highlighted in this statement, more completely described in other publications from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including Guidelines for Perinatal Care. The goal of providing high-quality care to all newborn infants can best be achieved through continuing efforts by all participating health care providers and institutions to develop and sustain communications and understanding on the basis of professional interaction and mutual respect throughout the health care system.
Synergistic effects of algal overgrowth and corallivory on Caribbean reef‐building corals
Authors: Wolf Alexander T. , Nugues Maggy M.
Published: April 2013

Indirect biotic interactions play a crucial role in structuring ecological communities, but many of these interactions have not been explored. Algal competition and corallivory are two major stressors contributing to the decline of coral reefs. Here, we provide the first evidence of algal‐induced corallivory and synergistic effects between the two stressors on corals. When corals (Montastraea faveolata) were placed in contact with algae (Halimeda opuntia) together with corallivorous fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) in aquaria, corals suffered high tissue mortality. This mortality was reduced in the presence of algae only, and no mortality occurred in the presence of fireworms only or when excluding both algae and fireworms. These findings were supported by field observations showing a predominance of fireworms inside algae contacting live corals, and by an in situ experiment demonstrating higher coral mortality in contact with algae left undisturbed than with algae from which all mobile epifauna were periodically removed. Among the main contributing mechanisms, we suggest that algal contact produces decaying coral tissue that attracts the corallivore and enhances its aggregation behavior. Our study demonstrates an indirect effect pathway by which algae can impact corals, which shares similarities with the classic models of apparent competition and habitat facilitation.
Using citizen scientists to measure an ecosystem service nationwide
Authors: Kaartinen Riikka , Hardwick Bess , Roslin Tomas
Published: April 2013

The decomposition of dung constitutes an ecosystem service of massive proportions. Previous studies addressing how it depends on individual invertebrate taxa have been focused on small spatial scales, neglecting the impact of large‐scale factors like climate. Here, we use the concept of “citizen science” to quantify taxon‐specific contributions to dung decomposition at the level of a nation. Young people across Finland manipulated the decomposer communities of cow pats, then measured changes in pat mass over the grazing season. In southern Finland most (90%) of the cattle dung hitting pastures decomposed in just two months, whereas 1100 km to the north the corresponding fraction was smaller (74%). Of the total invertebrate‐caused decomposition (13% of dung pat mass, independent of latitude), large tunneling dor beetles in the genusGeotrupesaccount for 61%, hence removing dung twice as fast as do smaller dung‐dwelling beetles and earthworms. Overall, this paper illustrates how ecologists may direct citizen scientists to implement massive ecological experiments. Compared to an approach based purely on professional scientists, we saved three‐quarters of the costs. Ultimately, citizen science may offer a key tool for testing current ecological theories at relevant spatial scales—and for disseminating these theories in the process.
Nitrogen Requirements of First‐Year Corn following Alfalfa Were Not Altered by Fall‐Applied Manure
Authors: Yost Matt A. , Russelle Michael P. , Coulter Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2013

Although farmers in the midwestern United States often apply livestock manure when terminating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), there are no published reports on direct effects of fall manure application on alfalfa N credits to first‐year corn (Zea mays L.). Therefore, eight on‐farm experiments were conducted in Minnesota to test whether manure applied during alfalfa termination in fall affects the rate of fertilizer N needed for the subsequent corn crop. Manure application rates were determined by cooperating growers and N fertilizer rates were 0, 45, 90 or 179 kg N ha–1 at planting and 45 kg N ha–1 as a sidedress. At five locations, neither manure nor fertilizer N increased grain or silage yield. At three remaining locations, N fertilizer was needed to economically optimize grain (98 kg N ha–1 at two locations) or silage yield (113 kg N ha–1 at three locations), but manure did not alter the response to fertilizer N. The presidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) predicted the need for N fertilizer to optimize grain yield 63% of the time and the basal stalk nitrate test (BSNT) identified the need for N fertilizer 75% of the time. When results of this study were combined with data from the literature, the PSNT was accurate only 55% of the time and the BSNT could not separate responsive and nonresponsive sites. These results confirm that first‐year corn following alfalfa often does not require supplemental N for maximum grain yield, and that more accurate methods are needed to predict fertilizer N response.