bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the lifelong health impact and financial burdens of different types of lung cancer
Authors: Yang Szu-Chun , Lai Wu-Wei , Su Wu-Chou , Wu Shang-Yin , Chen Helen HW , Wu Yi-Lin , Hung Mei-Chuan , Wang Jung-Der
Published: December 2013

Background

Owing to the high mortality and rapidly growing costs related to lung cancer, it is worth examining the health benefits of prevention for major types of lung cancer. This study attempts to quantify the quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE), loss-of-QALE, and lifetime healthcare expenditures of patients with different pathological types of lung cancer.

Methods

A national cohort consisting of 66,535 patients with pathologically verified lung cancer was followed for 13 years (1998–2010) to obtain the survival function, which was further extrapolated to lifetime. Between 2011 and 2012, EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaires were used to measure the quality of life (QoL) for 1,314 consecutive, cross-sectional samples. After multiplying the lifetime survival function by the utility values of QoL, we estimated the QALE and loss-of-QALE. We also collected the monthly healthcare expenditures, which included National Health Insurance-reimbursed and out-of-pocket direct medical costs, for 2,456 patients from 2005 to 2012. These values were multiplied by the corresponding survival probabilities to calculate lifetime healthcare expenditures after adjustments with medical care inflation rates and annual discount rates.

Results

The QALE for patients with small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma were 1.21, 2.37, and 3.03 quality-adjusted life year (QALY), with the corresponding loss-of-QALE of 13.69, 12.22, and 15.03 QALY, respectively. The lifetime healthcare expenditures were US$ 18,455 ± 1,137, 20,599 ± 1,787, and 36,771 ± 1,998, respectively.

Conclusions

The lifelong health impact and financial burdens in Taiwan are heavier for adenocarcinoma than for squamous cell carcinoma. The cost-effectiveness of prevention programs could be directly compared with that of treatment strategies to improve patient value. And the methodology could be applied to other chronic diseases for resources planning of healthcare services.
Awareness of diabetes mellitus among diabetic patients in the Gambia: a strong case for health education and promotion
Authors: Foma Mafomekong Ayuk , Saidu Yauba , Omoleke Semeeh Akinwale , Jafali James
Published: December 2013

Background

Awareness of various aspects of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is essential for the prevention, management and control of the disease. However, several studies have consistently shown that awareness of DM in the general population is low. None of these studies, however, was conducted in The Gambia, even though the condition constitutes a major public health problem in the country. In this paper, we assessed the awareness of DM among diabetic patients attending the Medical Out-Patient Department (MOPD) of Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), Banjul.

Methods

We interviewed 200 patients attending the MOPD of RVTH. We used a tool containing questions on patient’s demographic characteristics and awareness of various aspects of DM including general knowledge on DM, causes, complications, management and prevention.

Results

Of the 199 patients who were aware of their condition, only 47% said they knew what DM is. Similarly, 53% of the study participants had no knowledge of the causes of DM and about 50% were not aware of the methods of prevention. 67% knew that DM can result to loss of sight while 46.5% knew that DM can cause poor wound healing. Few respondents knew that DM can lead to kidney failure (13.5%), skin sepsis (12.0%), heart failure (5.5%) and stroke (4.5%). Close to 50% of the respondent did not know how DM can be prevented. Level of education, duration of illness and knowledge of a family member with diabetes were important predictors of knowledge in our study.

Conclusion

Our study shows that the majority of patients attending the MOPD have poor knowledge on several aspects of DM. Hence, there is need for conscious efforts towards improving the level of awareness through health education and promotion, not limited to the hospital but also within the general population, as part of strategies to prevent, manage and control DM.
Efficacy of low-dose intra-articular tranexamic acid in total knee replacement; a prospective triple-blinded randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sa-ngasoongsong Paphon , Wongsak Siwadol , Chanplakorn Pongsthorn , Woratanarat Patarawan , Wechmongkolgorn Supaporn , Wibulpolprasert Bussanee , Mulpruek Pornchai , Kawinwonggowit Viroj
Published: December 2013

Background

Recently, a number of studies using intra-articular application of tranexamic acid (IA-TXA), with different dosage and techniques, successfully reduced postoperative blood loss in total knee replacement (TKR). However, best of our knowledge, the very low dose of IA-TXA with drain clamping technique in conventional TKR has not been yet studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and dose-response effect of two low-dose IA-TXA regimens in conventional TKR on blood loss and blood transfusion reduction.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2011, a triple-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted in 135 patients undergoing conventional TKR. The patients were allocated into three groups according to intra-articular solution received: Control group (physiologic saline), TXA-250 group (TXA 250 mg), and TXA-500 group (TXA 500 mg). The solution was injected after wound closure followed by drain clamping for 2 hours. Blood loss and transfusion were recorded. Duplex ultrasound was performed. Functional outcome and complication were followed for one year.

Results

There were forty-five patients per groups. The mean total hemoglobin loss was 2.9 g/dL in control group compared with 2.2 g/dL in both TXA groups (p > 0.001). Ten patients (22%, control), six patients (13%, TXA-250) and none (TXA-500) required transfusion (p = 0.005). Thromboembolic events were detected in 7 patients (4 controls, 1 TXA-250, and 2 TXA-500). Functional outcome was non-significant difference between groups.

Conclusions

Combined low-dose IA-TXA, as 500 mg, with 2-hour clamp drain is effective for reducing postoperative blood loss and transfusion in conventional TKR without significant difference in postoperative knee function or complication.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01850394.
Hospital accreditation, reimbursement and case mix: links and insights for contractual systems
Authors: Ammar Walid , Khalife Jade , El-Jardali Fadi , Romanos Jenny , Harb Hilda , Hamadeh Ghassan , Dimassi Hani
Published: December 2013

Background

Resource consumption is a widely used proxy for severity of illness, and is often measured through a case-mix index (CMI) based on Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), which is commonly linked to payment. For countries that do not have DRGs it has been suggested to use CMIs derived from International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Our research objective was to use ICD-derived case-mix to evaluate whether or not the current accreditation-based hospital reimbursement system in Lebanon is appropriate.

Methods

Our study population included medical admissions to 122 hospitals contracted with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) between June 2011 and May 2012. Applying ICD-derived CMI on principal diagnosis cost (CMI-ICDC) using weighing similar to that used in Medicare DRG CMI, analyses were made by hospital accreditation, ownership and size. We examined two measures of 30-day re-admission rate. Further analysis was done to examine correlation between principal diagnosis CMI and surgical procedure cost CMI (CMI-CPTC), and three proxy measures on surgical complexity, case complexity and surgical proportion.

Results

Hospitals belonging to the highest accreditation category had a higher CMI than others, but no difference was found in CMI among the three other categories. Private hospitals had a higher CMI than public hospitals, and those more than 100 beds had a higher CMI than smaller hospitals. Re-admissions rates were higher in accreditation category C hospitals than category D hospitals. CMI-ICDC was fairly correlated with CMI-CPTC, and somehow correlated with the proposed proxies.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the current link between accreditation and reimbursement rate is not appropriate, and leads to unfairness and inefficiency in the system. Some proxy measures are correlated with case-mix but are not good substitutes for it. Policy implications of our findings propose the necessity for changing the current reimbursement system by including case mix and outcome indicators in addition to accreditation in hospital contracting. Proxies developed may be used to detect miss-use and provider adverse behavior. Research using ICD-derived case mix is limited and our findings may be useful to inform similar initiatives and other limited-setting countries in the region.
Nb, F-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres with high visible light photocatalytic activity
Authors: Gao Mingqi , Xu Youlong , Bai Yang , Xiao Fang
Published: December 2013

Nb, F-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres (NFTSs) were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method with niobium oxide, hydrofluoric acid, and tetrabutyl titanate. The obtained spheres were hollow, with a diameter of about 2 μm, and the sphere wall was made up of nanorods arranged close together. The NFTSs presented anatase phase with more {001} facets exposed, which could be mainly attributed to F ions which were preferentially adsorbed on the {001} facets during the crystal growth process. Ti3+ states in NFTSs were increased due to Nb, F-codoping, resulting in the decrease of the band gap and the red shift of the absorption edge of the NFTSs. The NFTSs exhibited 20.1% higher photocatalytic speed compared to P25 on the degradation of methylene orange.
Atomistic insight into the minimum wear depth of Cu(111) surface
Authors: Li Zengqiang , Huang Yanhua , Zhang Junjie , Yan Yongda , Sun Tao
Published: December 2013

In the present work, we investigate the minimum wear depth of single crystalline Cu(111) under single asperity friction by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The atomistic mechanisms governing the incipient plasticity are elucidated by characterizing specific defect structures and are correlated to the observed mechanical and frictional responses of the material. Furthermore, the effect of probe radius on the friction process is studied. Our simulations indicate that the formation of wear impression is closely associated with defect nucleation and the minimum wear depth is equivalent to the critical penetration depth at which plasticity initiates. It is found that the probe radius has a strong influence on the formation of defect structures and the observed mechanical responses.
A novel pre-processing and adaptive statistical threshold for sphere detection in MIMO systems
Authors: Cao Haiyan , Li Jun , Fang Xin , Wang Xiumin
Published: December 2013

In this paper, an efficient sphere detection (SD) scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems is presented. The proposed SD scheme can substantially reduce computational complexity by introducing a pre-processing scheme and an adaptive threshold. In particular, our proposed pre-processing scheme is based on an iterative successive interference cancelation (SIC). The proposed adaptive threshold is used to judge whether a traversed path is correct or not and obtained by analyzing the distributions of the correct and erroneous estimates which have the minimum error pattern among all the SD searching paths. Simulation results show that our proposed scheme offers a substantial complexity reduction in terms of the number of visited nodes while keeping a significantly small performance degradation compared to conventional approaches.
Multi-non-binary turbo codes
Authors: Balta Horia , Douillard Catherine , Lucaciu Radu
Published: December 2013

This paper presents a new family of turbo codes called multi-non-binary turbo codes (MNBTCs) that generalizes the concept of turbo codes to multi-non-binary (MNB) parallel concatenated convolutional codes (PCCC). An MNBTC incorporates, as component encoders, recursive and systematic multi-non-binary convolutional encoders. The more compact data structure for these encoders confers some advantages on MNBTCs over other types of turbo codes, such as better asymptotic behavior, better convergence, and reduced latency. This paper presents in detail the structure and operation of an MNBTC: MNB encoding, trellis termination, Max-Log-MAP decoding adapted to the MNB case. It also shows an example of MNBTC whose performance is compared with the state-of-the-art turbo code adopted in the DVB-RCS2 standard.
Designing of interferon-gamma inducing MHC class-II binders
Authors: Dhanda Sandeep Kumar , Vir Pooja , Raghava Gajendra PS
Published: December 2013

Background

The generation of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by MHC class II activated CD4+ T helper cells play a substantial contribution in the control of infections such as caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the past, numerous methods have been developed for predicting MHC class II binders that can activate T-helper cells. Best of author’s knowledge, no method has been developed so far that can predict the type of cytokine will be secreted by these MHC Class II binders or T-helper epitopes. In this study, an attempt has been made to predict the IFN-γ inducing peptides. The main dataset used in this study contains 3705 IFN-γ inducing and 6728 non-IFN-γ inducing MHC class II binders. Another dataset called IFNgOnly contains 4483 IFN-γ inducing epitopes and 2160 epitopes that induce other cytokine except IFN-γ. In addition we have alternate dataset that contains IFN-γ inducing and equal number of random peptides.

Results

It was observed that the peptide length, positional conservation of residues and amino acid composition affects IFN-γ inducing capabilities of these peptides. We identified the motifs in IFN-γ inducing binders/peptides using MERCI software. Our analysis indicates that IFN-γ inducing and non-inducing peptides can be discriminated using above features. We developed models for predicting IFN-γ inducing peptides using various approaches like machine learning technique, motifs-based search, and hybrid approach. Our best model based on the hybrid approach achieved maximum prediction accuracy of 82.10% with MCC of 0.62 on main dataset. We also developed hybrid model on IFNgOnly dataset and achieved maximum accuracy of 81.39% with 0.57 MCC.

Conclusion

Based on this study, we have developed a webserver for predicting i) IFN-γ inducing peptides, ii) virtual screening of peptide libraries and iii) identification of IFN-γ inducing regions in antigen (http://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/ifnepitope/).

Reviewers

This article was reviewed by Prof Kurt Blaser, Prof Laurence Eisenlohr and Dr Manabu Sugai.
Online exercise for the design and simulation of PCR and PCR-RFLP experiments
Authors: San Millán Rosario María , Martínez-Ballesteros Ilargi , Rementeria Aitor , Garaizar Javier , Bikandi Joseba
Published: December 2013

Background

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of PCR products (PCR-RFLP) are extensively used molecular biology techniques. An exercise for the design and simulation of PCR and PCR-RFLP experiments will be a useful educational tool.

Findings

An online PCR and PCR-RFLP exercise has been create that requires users to find the target genes, compare them, design primers, search for restriction endonucleases, and finally to simulate the experiment. Each user of the service is randomly assigned a gene from Escherichia coli; to complete the exercise, users must design an experiment capable of distinguishing among E. coli strains. By applying the experimental procedure to all completely sequenced E. coli, a basic understanding of strain comparison and clustering can also be acquired. Comparison of results obtained in different experiments is also very instructive.

Conclusions

The exercise is freely available at http://insilico.ehu.es/edu.
Genetic diversity and structure in Leishmania infantum populations from southeastern Europe revealed by microsatellite analysis
Authors: Gouzelou Evi , Haralambous Christos , Antoniou Maria , Christodoulou Vasiliki , Martinković Franjo , Živičnjak Tatjana , Smirlis Despina , Pratlong Francine , Dedet Jean-Pierre , Özbel Yusuf , Toz Seray Özensoy , Presber Wolfgang , Schönian Gabriele , Soteriadou Ketty
Published: December 2013

Background

The dynamic re-emergence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in south Europe and the northward shift to Leishmania-free European countries are well-documented. However, the epidemiology of VL due to Leishmania infantum in southeastern (SE) Europe and the Balkans is inadequately examined. Herein, we aim to re-evaluate and compare the population structure of L. infantum in SE and southwestern (SW) Europe.

Methods

Leishmania strains collected from humans and canines in Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Croatia, were characterized by the K26-PCR assay and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). Genetic diversity was assessed by multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) and MLM Types were analyzed by model- and distance- based algorithms to infer the population structure of 128 L. infantum strains.

Results

L. infantum MON-1 was found predominant in SE Europe, whilst 16.8% of strains were MON-98. Distinct genetic populations revealed clear differentiation between SE and SW European strains. Interestingly, Cypriot canine isolates were genetically isolated and formed a monophyletic group, suggesting the constitution of a clonal MON-1 population circulating among dogs. In contrast, two highly heterogeneous populations enclosed all MON-1 and MON-98 strains from the other SE European countries. Structure sub-clustering, phylogenetic and Splitstree analysis also revealed two distinct Croatian subpopulations. A mosaic of evolutionary effects resulted in consecutive sub-structuring, which indicated substantial differentiation and gene flow among strains of both zymodemes.

Conclusions

This is the first population genetic study of L. infantum in SE Europe and the Balkans. Our findings demonstrate the differentiation between SE and SW European strains; revealing the partition of Croatian strains between these populations and the genetic isolation of Cypriot strains. This mirrors the geographic position of Croatia located in central Europe and the natural isolation of the island of Cyprus. We have analysed the largest number of MON-98 strains so far. Our results indicate extensive gene flow, recombination and no differentiation between MON-1 and MON-98 zymodemes. No correlation either to host specificity or place and year of strain isolation was identified. Our findings may be associated with intensive host migration and common eco-epidemiological characteristics in these countries and give valuable insight into the dynamics of VL.
Increased soluble IL-2 receptor levels in serum from a patient with painless thyroiditis
Authors: Hamamoto Kae , Inaba Masaaki , Yamada Shinsuke , Yoda Maki , Yoda Koichiro , Goto Hitoshi , Kurajoh Masafumi , Koyama Hidenori
Published: December 2013

Context

Serum concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) has been established as a reliable marker of T-lymphocyte activation. However, there have been no reports describing the relationship between serum sIL-2R and painless thyroiditis.

Objective

We report a case of a 76-yr-old female with a significant and temporary increase of sIL-2R concomitant with painless thyroiditis.

Case illustration

The patient was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma at the age of 73. After 6 cycles of CHOP-R complete remission was induced and no recurrence was observed up to 3.5 years. At 76 years of age, she exhibited hyperthyroidism and was diagnosed with painless thyroiditis based upon US examination and 99mTc-Thyroid scintigraphy. Her AST and ALT were mildly elevated, and her serum level of sIL-2R increased up to 2230 U/mL from the approximately 540 U/mL, which had been stable for 3 years before.

These abnormal data normalized without requiring any treatment. The time-course of the reduction in sIL-2R did not correlate with FT4 or FT3, but was very similar to that of AST and ALT.

Conclusion

There was no evidence of relapse of the malignant lymphoma. We conclude that the increase of sIL-2R was associated with painless thyroiditis. Considering the similar time-course between the reduction of serum sIL-2R and those of AST and ALT, which are often accompanied by autoimmune processes in painless thyroiditis during the development of hyperthyroidism, it was suggested that the increase of serum sIL-2R in this case resulted from activation of an autoimmune process.
Naupliar development of Pseudocyclops sp. (Copepoda: Calanoida: Pseudocyclopidae): description of an unusual set of character states
Authors: Ferrari Frank D , Dahms Hans-Uwe , Kangtia Pawana , Chullasorn Supawadee , Schick Mark
Published: December 2013

Background

Naupliar development is known for only one other species of the calanoid taxon Pseudocyclopidae as yet.

Results

Six naupliar stages are described from an as yet unnamed population of Pseudocyclops cultured at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL. The naupliar body is divided into a deep anterior section and a shallow posterior section, although the posterior section is poorly defined at NI. The posterior section bears a long, thin mediodorsal seta; short thick setae are added during molts to NIII ~ NV. The posterior section does not bear limb buds except for the caudal ramus and is presumed to represent the anal segment of the copepod. Throughout naupliar development, the antennule is five-segmented, a uniquely high number for a calanoid copepod. The distal segment is broadened, and three proximal segments are foreshortened during the molt to NIII, and remain so thereafter. Setae are added dorsally and ventrally to the distal segment during each molt. The naupliar arthrite is a simple, seta-like structure on the coxa of the antenna of all naupliar stages. On the exopod of the antenna, setae are added to the segment adjacent to the proximal one during molts to NIV ~ NVI in a manner consistent with the model of ramal patterning. The gnathobase is added to the coxa of the mandible during the molt to NIV, but its ventral attenuations are lost during the molt to NVI. The endopod of the mandible significantly changes between stages NIII and NIV; setae originate dorsally rather than ventrally on the proximal endopodal segment. These unique changes are reversed during the molt to NVI.

Conclusions

Many of these changes have not been reported for any other calanoid. The morphological restoration at NVI is particularly noteworthy.
A framework to integrate speech based interface for blind web users on the websites of public interest
Authors: Verma Prabhat , Singh Raghuraj , Singh Avinash Kumar
Published: December 2013

Despite many assistive tools available for browsing the web, blind persons are not able to perform the tasks using internet that are done by persons without such disability. Even the futuristic social networking sites and other websites using the features of web 2.0 indicate a lesser accessible/responsible web. In this paper, we propose a framework, which can be used by the websites of public interest to make their important utilities better accessible and usable to blind web users. The approach is based on providing an alternate access system on the fly using one single website. The framework makes use of existing technologies like JavaScript, available speech APIs etc. and therefore provides a lightweight and robust solution to the accessibility problem. As a case study, we demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed framework by showing its working on a key functionality of the Indian Railways Reservation Website.
Notch3 establishes brain vascular integrity by regulating pericyte number
Authors: Wang Yuying , Pan Luyuan , Moens Cecilia B. , Appel Bruce
Published: December 2013

Brain pericytes are important regulators of brain vascular integrity, permeability and blood flow. Deficiencies of brain pericytes are associated with neonatal intracranial hemorrhage in human fetuses, as well as stroke and neurodegeneration in adults. Despite the important functions of brain pericytes, the mechanisms underlying their development are not well understood and little is known about how pericyte density is regulated across the brain. The Notch signaling pathway has been implicated in pericyte development, but its exact roles remain ill defined. Here, we report an investigation of the Notch3 receptor using zebrafish as a model system. We show that zebrafish brain pericytes express notch3 and that notch3 mutant zebrafish have a deficit of brain pericytes and impaired blood-brain barrier function. Conditional loss- and gain-of-function experiments provide evidence that Notch3 signaling positively regulates brain pericyte proliferation. These findings establish a new role for Notch signaling in brain vascular development whereby Notch3 signaling promotes expansion of the brain pericyte population.
Proteomic response of marine invertebrate larvae to ocean acidification and hypoxia during metamorphosis and calcification
Authors: Mukherjee Joy , Wong Kelvin K. W. , Chandramouli Kondethimmanahalli H. , Qian Pei-Yuan , Leung Priscilla T. Y. , Wu Rudolf S. S. , Thiyagarajan Vengatesen
Published: December 2013

Calcifying marine invertebrates with complex life cycles are particularly at risk to climate changes as they undergo an abrupt ontogenetic shift during larval metamorphosis. Although our understanding of the larval response to climate changes is rapidly advancing, the proteome plasticity involved in a compensatory response to climate change is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the proteomic response of metamorphosing larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans, challenged with two climate change stressors, ocean acidification (OA; pH 7.6) and hypoxia (HYP; 2.8 mg O2 l−1), and with both combined. Using a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE)-based approach coupled with mass spectrometry, we found that climate change stressors did not affect metamorphosis except under OA, but altered the larval proteome and phosphorylation status. Metabolism and various stress and calcification-related proteins were downregulated in response to OA. In OA and HYP combined, HYP restored the expression of the calcification-related proteins to the control levels. We speculate that mild HYP stress could compensate for the negative effects of OA. This study also discusses the potential functions of selected proteins that might play important roles in larval acclimation and adaption to climate change.
Characterization and Phenylacetylene-Assisted Cyclometalation of an Isolable Hydrido–Selenolato PtII Complex Having Phosphite Ligands, cis-[PtH(SeTrip){P(OPh)3}2]
Authors: Kamon Hitomi , Aoki Yutaro , Nakata Norio , Ishii Akihiko
Published: December 2013

A hydrido–selenolato PtII complex having P(OPh)3 ligands, cis-[PtH(SeTrip){P(OPh)3}2] (Trip: 9-triptycyl), was synthesized by the reaction of TripSeH with [Pt{P(OPh)3}2]. The structure was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography in comparison with the corresponding PPh3 complex, cis-[PtH(SeTrip)(PPh3)2], indicating the stronger coordination of P(OPh)3 to the Pt center than that of PPh3. On heating at 130 °C in xylene for 17 h, cis-[PtH(SeTrip){P(OPh)3}2] was converted to the corresponding 1,2-selenaplatinacycle (SP-4–2)-[Pt(κC1,κSe9-TripSe(2−)){P(OPh)3}2] through an intramolecular cyclization (cyclometalation). The reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) gave a mixture of hydroselenation products (E)- and (Z)-(MeO2C)CH=C(SeTrip)CO2Me non-stereoselectively together with 1H-2-benzoselenin, dimethyl 7H-7,11b[1′,2′]-benzenoanthra[9,1-bc]selenin-2,3-dicarboxylate. In the reaction with phenylacetylene in toluene at 110 °C, phenylacetylene served as a hydrogen acceptor to form the 1,2-selenaplatinacycle and styrene. Based on the results of controlled experiments using cis-[PtD(SeTrip){P(OPh)3}2] and phenylacetylene-d, the mechanism of the cyclometalation was proposed as the 1,2- (major) and 2,1- (minor) insertions of phenylacetylene into the Pt–H bond followed by cyclometalation between the Pt center and the triptycyl group. The reaction with phenylacetylene in the presence of excess P(OPh)3 furnished a 1,2,3-oxaphosphaplatinacycle, (SP-4–2)-[Pt{κC,κP-(Z)-CH=C(Ph)OP(OPh)2}(SeTrip){P(OPh)3}], as a minor product, together with the 1,2-selenaplatinacycle in a decreased yield.
Tantalum(V) Fluoride-catalyzed N-Alkylation of Arylamines with Benzyl Alcohols
Authors: Gangaram Sathaiah , Adimulam Chandra Shekhar , Akula Ravi Kumar , Kengiri Raju , Pamulaparthy Shanthan Rao , Madabhushi Sridhar , Banda Narsaiah
Published: December 2013

This paper describes a simple and efficient protocol for the N-alkylation of arylamines with benzyl alcohols using tantalum(V) fluoride as the catalyst.
Periprosthetic bone loss: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
Authors: Cavalli Loredana , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: December 2013

Total joint replacement surgery is being performed on an increasingly large part of the population. Clinical longevity of implants depends on their osseointegration, which is influenced by the load, the characteristics of the implant and the bone-implant interface, as well as by the quality and quantity of the surrounding bone. Aseptic loosening due to periprosthetic osteolysis is the most frequent known cause of implant failure. Wear of prosthetic materials results in the formation of numerous particles of debris that cause a complex biological response. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is regarded as an accurate method to evaluate Bone Mineral Density (BMD) around hip or knee prostheses. Further data may be provided by a new device, the Bone Microarchitecture Analysis (BMA), which combines bone microarchitecture quantification and ultra high resolution osteo-articular imaging. Pharmacological strategies have been developed to prevent bone mass loss and to extend implant survival. Numerous trials with bisphosphonates show a protective effect on periprosthetic bone mass, up to 72 months after arthroplasty. Strontium ranelate has been demonstrated to increase the osseointegration of titanium implants in treated animals with improvement of bone microarchitecture and bone biomaterial properties.
Epitypification of Ganoderma sichuanense J.D. Zhao & X.Q. Zhang (Ganodermataceae)
Authors: Yao Yi-Jian , Wang Xin-Cun , Wang Bo
Published: December 2013

The widely cultivated Chinese Ganoderma, as Ling‐zhi in Chinese and previously named as “G. lucidum”, is an important fungus with significant medicinal and economic values. The species identity of the fungus was recently clarified as G. sichuanense based on both morphological and molecular data, but an unusual ITS sequence inconsistent with morphological characters was also reported from the holotype of G. sichuanense. The ITS sequence is proved to be of G. weberianum, a species distinctly different from G. sichuanense in morphology. However, repeated amplifications of DNA fragments from the holotype of G. sichuanense were unsuccessful because of the specimen's condition. In order to interpret the species concept of the taxon, both morphologically and molecularly, an epitype of G. sichuanense is designated in this paper from recent collections with living strains from the type locality of the species. Ganoderma lingzhi, a recently proposed new species name for Ling‐zhi widely cultivated in China, is determined as a later synonym of G. sichuanense.
Lectotypification of the name Crocus sativus var. vernus L. (Iridaceae) and its consequences within Crocus ser. Verni
Authors: Peruzzi Lorenzo , Carta Angelino , Garbari Fabio
Published: December 2013

The typification of the Linnaean name Crocus sativus var. vernus is discussed. A lectotype is designated from the Burser Herbarium at UPS. Due to changes in taxonomy and this lectotypification, it has not been possible to maintain the present strict usage of the name. Crocus vernus (L.) Hill should correctly be applied to the plants previously known as C. vernus subsp. albiflorus (Kit.) Ces. (≡ C. albiflorus Kit.). The next available name for the species to which the name C. vernus subsp. vernus has been misapplied is C. neapolitanus (Ker Gawl.) Loisel.
Cinema on the steppes of Central Asia: Mongolian film culture from communism to commercialization
Authors: Grøn Nis
Published: December 2013

In Mongolia cinema has been a medium of artistic expression and documentation for more then seventy years and a popular leisure activity for the Mongolians for even longer. This article frames the investigation of Mongolian Cinema within the field of small nation cinema studies and subsequently traces the historical development of a national based film culture in Mongolia from its implementation in the 1930s under communist rule to its present state. The article explores the question of what happened to the national based film culture in the wreck of the Soviet meltdown around 1990 and how the socio-political transformation of the country since the early 1990s has challenged the existence of a locally rooted film culture in Mongolia.
Imperfectible narrative within colonial melancholia: Gendered sovereignty and the technology of colonial subjects in the wartime Korean propaganda film, The Volunteer (1941)
Authors: Lee Yongwoo
Published: December 2013

This article examines colonial melancholia among conflicting positions of colonial subjects represented in the 1941 film, Jiwŏnbyŏng/The Volunteer. This wartime propaganda film tells the story of a colonial Korean man who joins the Imperial Japanese Army following implementation of the Special Volunteer Army System in 1938. By showing the ways in which discourses of assimilation into, and imperialization by, the Japanese empire become an ‘imperfectible’ narrative in colonial Koreans’ production of local discourses, this paper conveys the discourse of Koreans’ Imperial subjecthood as an expression of melancholia through a close examination of narratives from the literary works of female writer Ch’oe Chong-Hui and the pro-Japanese The Volunteer. I aim to establish a theoretical and historical framework for analysing colonial mentality during the Total War era and the formation of continual colonial epistemology.
A Reference-Dependent Model of the Price–Quality Heuristic
Authors: Gneezy Ayelet , Gneezy Uri , Lauga Dominique Oliέ
Published: December 2013

People often use price as a proxy for quality, resulting in a positive correlation between prices and product liking, known as the “price– quality” (P–Q) heuristic. Using data from three experiments conducted at a winery, this article offers a more complex and complete reference-dependent model of the relationship between price and quality. The authors propose that higher prices set higher expectations, which serve as reference points. When expectations are met or exceeded, we observe the familiar P–Q relationship. However, when price is high and quality is relatively low, the product falls short of consumers’ reference point and the P–Q relationship is reversed; thus, people evaluate a low-quality product with a high price more negatively than a low-quality product with a low price. Using the results of a field experiment, the authors discuss implications for pricing considerations and profitability.
Protecting Appearance and Atmospherics: Trade Dress as a Component of Retail Strategy
Authors: Kopp Steven W. , Langenderfer Jeff
Published: December 2013

Although many retailers recognize the value of managing store appearance and atmosphere to improve sales and consumer loyalty, few are aware that trade dress, a subset of trademark, may be used to protect retail environments from some forms of imitation. This article discusses the importance of trade dress protection for retailers and expands on the elements of trade dress, the parameters of trade dress protection, and the interaction of trade dress law with retail strategy. The authors also assess whether trade dress protection serves the policy goals of reducing deception and promoting fair competition for the benefit of the public as configured and interpreted under current U.S. law.
Poverty and Materialism: A Look at Impoverished versus Affluent Children
Authors: Chaplin Lan Nguyen , Hill Ronald Paul , John Deborah Roedder
Published: December 2013

Concerns about materialism have been elevated to a public policy issue, with consumer activists and social scientists calling for restrictions on marketing to children. A recent UNICEF report on the welfare of children suggests that those from low-income families may be particularly vulnerable to marketing efforts. The current research provides a first glimpse into the consumer values of impoverished children. Personal interviews conducted with 177 children and adolescents from impoverished and affluent families reveal differences in materialistic values. Although younger children (ages 8–10 years) from poor families exhibit similar levels of materialism to their more affluent peers, when they reach adolescence (ages 11–13 years) and beyond (ages 16–17 years), impoverished youth are more materialistic than their wealthier counterparts. Further analysis shows that this difference is associated with lower self-esteem among impoverished teens. The authors discuss the implications of these findings, including public policy solutions aimed at reducing low-income children's vulnerability to developing materialistic values that undermine their well-being.
Hardy spaces
associated with a pair of commuting operators
Authors: Cao Jun , Fu Zunwei , Jiang Renjin , Yang Dachun
Published: December 2013

Let

L
1

,

L
2

${L_1,L_2}$

be a pair of one-to-one commuting sectorial
operators such that each Li
for

i
∈
{
1
,
2
}

${i\in \lbrace 1,2\rbrace }$

satisfies
the mi
order L
2 off-diagonal estimates and

m
1

≥

m
2

>
0

${m_1\ge m_2>0}$

.
Let

H

L
i

p

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L_i}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}$

,

i
∈
{
1
,
2
}

${i\in \lbrace 1,2\rbrace }$

, and

H

L
1

+

L
˜

2

p

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L_1+\widetilde{L}_2}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}$

be
the Hardy spaces associated, respectively, to the operators Li
and

L
1

+

L
˜

2

${L_1+\widetilde{L}_2}$

,
where

L
˜

2

:
=

L
2

m
1

/

m
2

${\widetilde{L}_2:=L_2^{m_1/m_2}}$

is a fractional power of L
2.
In this paper, the authors give out some real-variable properties of these
Hardy spaces. More precisely, the authors first establish the bounded joint
H
∞ functional calculus in these Hardy spaces and prove that the abstract
Riesz transform

D

m
i

(

L
1

+

L
2

)

-
1
/
2

${D^{m_i}(L_1+L_2)^{-1/2}}$

is bounded from

H

L
i

p

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L_i}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}$

to the classical Hardy space

H
p

(

ℝ
n

)

${H^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}$

for all

p
∈
(

n

n
+

m
i

,
1
]

${p\in (\frac{n}{n+m_i},1]}$

,
where

i
∈
{
1
,
2
}

${i\in \lbrace 1,2\rbrace }$

. Moreover, for all

p
∈
(
0
,
1
]

${p\in (0, 1]}$

,
the authors show that

H

L
1

+

L
˜

2

p

(

ℝ
n

)

=

H

L
1

p

(

ℝ
n

)

+

H

L
2

p

(

ℝ
n

)

$
{H_{L_1+\widetilde{L}_2}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)=
H_{L_1}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)+H_{L_2}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}\vspace*{-1.42262pt}
$

and give a sufficient
condition to guarantee

H

L
1

p

(

ℝ
n

)

⊂

H

L
2

p

(

ℝ
n

)

${H_{L_1}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)\subset H_{L_2}^p(\mathbb {R}^n)}$

.
Bayesian posterior contraction rates for linear severely ill-posed inverse problems
Authors: Agapiou Sergios , Stuart Andrew M. , Zhang Yuan-Xiang
Published: December 2013

We consider a class of linear ill-posed inverse problems
arising from inversion of a compact operator with singular
values which decay exponentially to zero. We adopt a
Bayesian approach, assuming a Gaussian prior on the unknown
function. The observational noise is assumed to be
Gaussian; as a consequence the prior is conjugate to the likelihood so that
the posterior distribution is also Gaussian. We study
Bayesian posterior consistency in the small observational noise
limit. We assume that the forward operator and the
prior and noise covariance operators commute with one another.
We show how, for given smoothness
assumptions on the truth, the scale parameter of the
prior, which is a constant multiplier of the prior covariance operator, can be adjusted to optimize the rate of posterior
contraction to the truth, and we explicitly compute
the logarithmic rate.
Reconstruction of dynamic objects with affine deformations in computerized tomography
Authors: Hahn Bernadette
Published: December 2013

The data acquisition in computerized tomography takes a certain amount of time since the x-ray source has to be rotated around the specimen. An object that changes during the scanning causes inconsistent data sets. To avoid the motion artefacts in reconstructions, the algorithm has to take the dynamic behavior of the specimen into account. In this context, some a priori information about the movement is required. A reconstruction method is proposed that compensates for the motion with a special focus on affine deformations. It also permits the combination of reconstruction and image analysis tools to extract features of the object without motion artefacts. The algorithm is validated with a numerical example from medical imaging.
Analysis of the factorization method for a general class of boundary conditions
Authors: Chamaillard Mathieu , Chaulet Nicolas , Haddar Houssem
Published: December 2013

We analyze the factorization method (introduced by Kirsch in 1998 to solve inverse
scattering problems at fixed frequency from the far field operator) for a general class of boundary conditions
that generalizes impedance boundary conditions. For instance, when the surface impedance
operator is of pseudo-differential type, our main result stipulates that the
factorization method works if the order of this operator is different from
one and the operator is Fredholm of index zero with non-negative imaginary
part. We
also provide some validating numerical examples for boundary operators of
second order with discussion on the choice of the test function.
Repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist rescues brain inflammation and brain damage after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rat
Authors: Furukawa Seishi , Yang Li , Sameshima Hiroshi , Ikenoue Tsuyomu
Published: December 2013

Objective: We examined the effect of repetitive administration of acetylcholine receptor agonist (carbachol) on brain damage and microglial accumulation in three brain regions after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in newborn rat.

Study Design: Seven-day-old Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one receiving a 0.1 mg/kg dose of carbachol on days 7, 8 and 9 to examine the attenuating effect on brain damage with decreasing accumulation of microglia, and the other group receiving saline as a control. Rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia. We evaluated brain damage and the number of microglias in three regions on days 10 and 14.

Results: Brain tissue was better preserved in the carbachol group on days 10 and 14. Microglial accumulation in the cortex was strong and persisted from day 10s to 14 in the control. Conversely, the accumulation of microglias was attenuated in the hippocampus and white matter on day 14. Carbachol significantly reduced the number of microglias in the hippocampus and white matter on day 10 and in the cortex on days 10 and 14.

Conclusion: The main area of late inflammation was the cortex. Repetitive administration of carbachol reduces early and late inflammation after HI in the developing brain.
Synthesis and properties of 0.3%Y2O3/0.3%La2O3/0.3%Al2O3/Cu composite
Authors: Wang Song , Xie Ming , Zhang Jiming , Chen Yongtai
Published: December 2013

The 0.3%Y2O3/0.3%La2O3/0.3%Al2O3/Cu composite was prepared by oxygen and nitrogen atomization spray deposition technique, internal oxidation, and then treated by annealing at different temperatures. Physical properties such as microstructures, fracture appearance, hardness, strength, electrical conductivity, and arc erosion surface of the composite were investigated. The experimental results show that with an increase in the annealing temperature, the grains of the composite grow up obviously and the electrical conductivity of the composite increases gradually, while the hardness and the tensile strength decrease. When the annealing temperature reaches 1000°C, the matrix grains begin to appear as annealing twins. The tensile fracture morphology of the composite that has been treated by annealing at 700°C for 2 h shows a huge number of large and deep dimples, in which the metallic oxide particles exist. The fracture mode of the composite is the microporous polycondensation plastic fracture. The arc erosion surface shows a large number of paste-like coagulum and bubbles.
Finite element studies on buckling of laminated cylindrical skew panels
Authors: Srinivasa Chikkol Venkateshappa , Suresh Yalaburgi Jayadevappa , Kumar Wooday Puttiah Prema
Published: December 2013

The present paper presents the finite element studies made on critical buckling load of isotropic and laminated composite cylindrical skew panels. Analysis is performed using CQUAD4 and CQUAD8 elements of MSC/NASTRAN. It is found that the CQUAD8 element yields better results compared to the CQUAD4 element in terms of accuracy and convergence. Using the CQUAD8 element, the effects of the panel angle, skew angle, aspect ratio, and length-to-thickness ratio on the critical buckling load of isotropic cylindrical skew panels have been studied. The effects of additional parameters such as fiber orientation angle, numbers of layers (NL), and stacking sequence on the critical buckling load of laminated composite cylindrical skew panels have also been studied. The critical buckling loads are found to increase with the increase in panel angle and skew angle. When the NL in the laminate is large, the variation of the critical buckling load with the NL is not appreciable. The boundary conditions are found to have significant influence on the critical buckling load.
Musical Imagery and the Planning of Dynamics and Articulation During Performance
Authors: Bishop Laura , Bailes Freya , Dean Roger T.
Published: December 2013

Musicians anticipate the effects of their actions during performance. Online musical imagery, or the consciously accessible anticipation of desired effects, may enable expressive performance when auditory feedback is disrupted and help guide performance when it is present. This study tested the hypotheses that imagery 1) can occur concurrently with normal performance, 2) is strongest when auditory feedback is absent but motor feedback is present, and 3) improves with increasing musical expertise. Auditory and motor feedback conditions were manipulated as pianists performed melodies expressively from notation. Dynamic and articulation markings were introduced into the score during performance and pianists indicated verbally whether the markings matched their expressive intentions while continuing to play their own interpretation. Expression was similar under auditory-motor (i.e., normal feedback) and motor-only (i.e., no auditory feedback) performance conditions, and verbal task performance suggested that imagery was stronger when auditory feedback was absent. Verbal task performance also improved with increasing expertise, suggesting a strengthening of online imagery.