bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase I/IIa trial of fractionated radiotherapy, temozolomide, and autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine for newly diagnosed glioblastoma
Authors: Ishikawa Eiichi , Muragaki Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Maruyama Takashi , Tsuboi Koji , Ikuta Soko , Hashimoto Koichi , Uemae Youji , Ishihara Takeshi , Matsuda Masahide , Matsutani Masao , Karasawa Katsuyuki , Nakazato Yoichi , Abe Tatsuya , Ohno Tadao , Matsumura Akira
Published: July 2014

Object

Temozolomide (TMZ) may enhance antitumor immunity in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In this paper the authors report on a prospective Phase I/IIa clinical trial of fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) concomitant with TMZ therapy, followed by treatment with autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV) and TMZ maintenance in patients with newly diagnosed GBM.

Methods

Twenty-four patients (age 16–75 years, Karnofsky Performance Scale score ≥ 60% before initiation of FRT) with newly diagnosed GBM received a total dose of 60 Gy of FRT with daily concurrent TMZ. After a 4-week interval, the patients received 3 AFTV injections and the first course of TMZ maintenance chemotherapy for 5 days, followed by multiple courses of TMZ for 5 days in each 28-day cycle.

Results

This treatment regimen was well tolerated by all patients. The percentage of patients with progression-free survival (PFS) ≥ 24 months was 33%. The median PFS, median overall survival (OS), and the actuarial 2- and 3-year survival rates of the 24 patients were 8.2 months, 22.2 months, 47%, and 38%, respectively. The median PFS in patients with a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response after the third AFTV injection (DTH-2) of 10 mm or larger surpassed the median length of follow-up for progression-free patients (29.5 months), which was significantly greater than the median PFS in patients with a smaller DTH-2 response.

Conclusions

The treatment regimen was well tolerated and resulted in favorable PFS and OS for newly diagnosed GBM patients. Clinical trial registration no.: UMIN000001426 (UMIN clinical trials registry, Japan).
Chronic subdural hematoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical procedures
Authors: Liu Weiming , Bakker Nicolaas A. , Groen Rob J. M.
Published: July 2014

Object

In this paper the authors systematically evaluate the results of different surgical procedures for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).

Methods

The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and other databases were scrutinized according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) statement, after which only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs were included. At least 2 different neurosurgical procedures in the management of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) had to be evaluated. Included studies were assessed for the risk of bias. Recurrence rates, complications, and outcome including mortality were taken as outcome measures. Statistical heterogeneity in each meta-analysis was assessed using the T2 (tau-squared), I2, and chi-square tests. The DerSimonian-Laird method was used to calculate the summary estimates using the fixed-effect model in meta-analysis.

Results

Of the 297 studies identified, 19 RCTs were included. Of them, 7 studies evaluated the use of postoperative drainage, of which the meta-analysis showed a pooled OR of 0.36 (95% CI 0.21–0.60; p < 0.001) in favor of drainage. Four studies compared twist drill and bur hole procedures. No significant differences between the 2 methods were present, but heterogeneity was considered to be significant. Three studies directly compared the use of irrigation before drainage. A fixed-effects meta-analysis showed a pooled OR of 0.49 (95% CI 0.21–1.14; p = 0.10) in favor of irrigation. Two studies evaluated postoperative posture. The available data did not reveal a significant advantage in favor of the postoperative supine posture. Regarding positioning of the catheter used for drainage, it was shown that a frontal catheter led to a better outcome. One study compared duration of drainage, showing that 48 hours of drainage was as effective as 96 hours of drainage.

Conclusions

Postoperative drainage has the advantage of reducing recurrence without increasing complications. The use of a bur hole or twist drill does not seem to make any significant difference in recurrence rates or other outcome measures. It seems that irrigation may lead to a better outcome. These results may lead to more standardized procedures.
Prenatal and postnatal evaluation for syringomyelia in patients with spinal dysraphism
Authors: Bixenmann Ben J. , Kline-Fath Beth M. , Bierbrauer Karin S. , Bansal Danesh
Published: July 2014

Object

Syringomyelia can be diagnosed in isolation but is more commonly found in the presence of craniocervical junction anomalies or spinal dysraphism. The origin of syringomyelia has been hypothesized to be either congenital or acquired. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of syringomyelia within the fetal and postnatal population with neural tube defects (NTDs).

Methods

A review was performed of the authors' fetal MRI database of pregnancies with imaging between March 2004 and November 2011 for evaluation of an intrauterine anomaly detected via prenatal ultrasonography. Those cases with an NTD were then selected and a chart review was performed of all prenatal and postnatal imaging as well as available clinical history.

Results

A total of 2362 fetal MRI examinations were performed, and 109 of these were patients with an NTD. Of the 2362 studies reviewed, 2 cases of fetal syringomyelia were identified. Both fetal syrinxes were identified in fetuses with CSF flow disturbances (1 case each of encephalocele and myelomeningocele). Both fetal MRI examinations were performed late in gestation, at 31 and 38 weeks, respectively. The patient with an encephalocele was excluded from the spinal NTD population; therefore a syrinx was identified in 0.08% (2/2362) of the entire population of fetuses who underwent MRI, or 0.9% (1/109) of fetuses with a spinal NTD. Sixty-three of the 109 patients with an NTD had postnatal clinical data available for review. Twenty-nine (46%) of 63 had a syrinx identified during the follow-up period. Of this group, 50 patients had an open NTD and 27 (54%) of 50 developed a syrinx. Among the patients with an open NTD who developed a syrinx, only 7% did not have or develop hydrocephalus, compared with 35% of the patients who did not develop a syrinx (p < 0.05). There were nonsignificantly more frequent shunt revisions among those patients who developed a syrinx, and a syrinx developed in all patients who required surgical Chiari malformation decompression or tethered cord release. The initial identification of a spinal cord syrinx varied greatly between patients, ranging from 38 weeks gestation to greater than 4 years of age.

Conclusions

These data suggest that syringomyelia is not a congenital embryonic condition. A syrinx was not identified in fetuses who underwent imaging for other intrauterine anomalies. In the population of patients with NTDs who are known to be at high risk for developing syringomyelia, the pathology was only identified in 2 third-trimester fetuses or postnatally, typically in the presence of hydrocephalus, shunt placement, Chiari malformation decompression, or tethered cord release. The study supports the authors' hypothesis that a syrinx is an acquired lesion, most likely due to the effects of abnormal CSF flow.
Minimally invasive convection-enhanced delivery of biologics into dorsal root ganglia: validation in the pig model and prospective modeling in humans
Authors: Pleticha Josef , Maus Timothy P. , Christner Jodie A. , Marsh Michael P. , Lee Kendall H. , Hooten W. Michael , Beutler Andreas S.
Published: July 2014

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are critical anatomical structures involved in nociception. Intraganglionic (IG) drug delivery is therefore an important route of administration for novel analgesic therapies. Although IG injection in large animal models is highly desirable for preclinical biodistribution and toxicology studies of new drugs, no method to deliver pharmaceutical agents into the DRG has been reported in any large species. The present study describes a minimally invasive technique of IG agent delivery in domestic swine, one of the most common large animal models. The technique utilizes CT guidance for DRG targeting and a custom-made injection assembly for convectionenhanced delivery (CED) of therapeutic agents directly into DRG parenchyma. The DRG were initially visualized by CT myelography to determine the optimal access route to the DRG. The subsequent IG injection consisted of 3 steps. First, a commercially available guide needle was advanced to a position dorsolateral to the DRG, and the dural root sleeve was punctured, leaving the guide needle contiguous with, but not penetrating, the DRG. Second, the custom-made stepped stylet was inserted through the guide needle into the DRG parenchyma. Third, the stepped stylet was replaced by the custom-made stepped needle, which was used for the IG CED. Initial dye injections performed in pig cadavers confirmed the accuracy of DRG targeting under CT guidance. Intraganglionic administration of adeno-associated virus in vivo resulted in a unilateral transduction of the injected DRG, with 33.5% DRG neurons transduced. Transgene expression was also found in the dorsal root entry zones at the corresponding spinal levels. The results thereby confirm the efficacy of CED by the stepped needle and a selectivity of DRG targeting. Imaging-based modeling of the procedure in humans suggests that IG CED may be translatable to the clinical setting.
Obliteration of the choroid plexus after endoscopic coagulation
Authors: Ogiwara Hideki , Uematsu Kodai , Morota Nobuhito
Published: July 2014

Object

Endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation (CPC) with or without endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been shown to be effective for selected patients with hydrocephalus. However, whether the effect of the coagulation is temporary and the choroid plexus regenerates or can be obliterated has remained largely unknown. The authors evaluate the effectiveness of CPC and report 3 cases of obliteration demonstrated by direct endoscopic observation.

Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed the surgical results of patients with hydrocephalus primarily treated by CPC with or without ETV. Charts were reviewed for demographic data, clinical presentations, surgical therapies, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Eighteen patients with hydrocephalus were surgically treated using endoscopic CPC between July 2002 and July 2012. In 12 patients, ETV was concurrently performed. The etiology of hydrocephalus was posthemorrhagic in 5 patients, myelomeningocele in 3, postmeningitis in 2, congenital aqueductal stenosis in 1, hydranencephaly in 1, porencephaly in 1, and idiopathic in 5.

The mean age at surgery was 8 months (range 0.3–24 months). The mean follow-up was 64 months. In 9 cases (50%), control of hydrocephalus was successful and the patients did not require further surgeries. In 9 patients (50%), treatment failed. Of these, 3 patients underwent repeat ETV 2, 3, and 38 months after the initial surgery. Endoscopic observation of the previous coagulation site revealed no regeneration of the choroid plexus in 2 patients, who underwent repeat ETV 2 and 3 months after CPC. In 1 patient who underwent repeat ETV 38 months after CPC, no regeneration of the choroid plexus, except for that in the proximity of the foramen of Monro, was observed.

Conclusions

Endoscopic CPC with or without ETV can be a safe and effective treatment alternative to shunt placement in infantile hydrocephalus. Obliteration of the choroid plexus can persist in the relatively long term following CPC, which may contribute to the long-term control of hydrocephalus in successful cases.
Plasma lipid profile of mice fed diet supplemented with broiler fat
Authors: Das GB , Hossain ME , Akbar MA
Published: July 2014

This study was conducted with 180 female Swiss albino mice to examine the effects of supplementing broiler fat in the diets of mice on blood lipid profile. Twenty one days old mice were collected from ICDDRB, Mohakhali, Dhaka. They were randomly distributed in four groups having three replications each. Each replicate group had 15 mice. Results revealed that supplementation of broiler fat in mice diet significantly changed (p<0.05) triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) among groups. The control group (T0) had the highest level of cholesterol and LDL. Cholesterol, TG and LDL markedly increased (p<0.05) in all dietary treatment groups, while high density lipoprotein (HDL) significantly (p<0.01) decreased after supplementation of experimental diets. It was concluded that all the dietary treatments in general increased blood cholesterol, TG and LDL in mice fed broiler fat with different oil supplements. However, the soybean and palm oil group was comparatively better than other groups in respect of cholesterol, HDL and LDL at the blood lipid profile of mice. Therefore, it can be concluded that consumption of broiler fat with soybean and palm oil could be less harmful for mice.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i1.19380 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (1): 21-24
Effect of dietary exogenous phytase on laying performance of chicken at older ages
Authors: Lucky NJ , Howlider MAR , Alam MA , Ahmed MF
Published: July 2014

A total of 48 Shaver-579 chicken layers aged between 85 to 94 weeks were reared in individual cages and given a basal diet amounting to 115g feed/bird/day. The basal diet fortified with 0.05, 0.10 or 0.15% Rena-Phytase-400 constituted of 3 experimental diets to see the effects of exogenous phytase on egg production and egg quality. Results indicated that increasing level of exogenous phytase in diet almost linearly (p<0.05) increased egg production and feed conversion but did not affect egg quality. Providing phytase in the diet at 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15% increased egg production by 11.86, 22.2 and 24.58%, respectively. It was shown that highest egg production was found at 0.15% phytase levels in diet. It can be concluded that egg production of aged hen could be increased by adding said amount of exogenous phytase in the diet.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i1.19385 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (1): 52-55
Unsteady MHD chemically reacting fluid through a porous medium bounded by a non-isothermal impulsively-started vertical plate: a numerical technique
Authors: Ahmed Sahin , Kalita Karabi
Published: July 2014

A numerical modeling on MHD transient mass transfer by free convection flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically-conducting, and Newtonian fluid through a porous medium bounded by an impulsively-started semi-infinite vertical plate in the presence of thermal radiation and chemical reaction of first order has been analyzed. The fluid is assumed optically thin gray gas, absorbing-emitting radiation, but a non-scattering medium. The dimensionless governing coupled, non-linear boundary layer partial differential equations are solved by an efficient, accurate, extensively validated and unconditionally stable finite difference scheme of the Crank-Nicolson type. The effects of the conduction-radiation parameter , chemical reaction and the porosity (K) on the velocity, temperature and concentration fields have been studied. The local skin friction, Nusselt number and the Sherwood number are also presented graphically and analyzed. Increasing magnetic parameter serves to decelerate the flow but increased temperatures and concentration values. It is found that the velocity is increased considerably with a rise in the porosity parameter (K) whereas the temperature and concentration are found to be reduced with increasing porosity (K). An increase in the porosity parameter (K) is found to escalate the local skin friction , Nusselt number and the Sherwood number . Possible applications of the present study include laminar aerodynamics, materials processing and thermo-fluid dynamics.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jname.v11i1.10269
Computational hydrodynamic simulations for an underwater axisymmetric hemisphere-cylinder hull-form at incidence
Authors: Zahir Salimuddin
Published: July 2014

This contribution presents a computational simulation for a generic hull shape with attached short pin-protuberance for its hydrodynamic characteristics. This work is a part of a large framework of numerical simulation and experimentation carried out for blunted head-forms of hemispheric shapes for determination of aero-hydrodynamic coefficients and static stability features. Results are presented for a clean hull-form and with the pin-protuberance, as static axial and circumferential pressure distribution on the surface, calculated at a fixed velocity and at different angle of attacks, under non-cavitating depth and velocity. It is shown that a suitably located short lateral pin has an adequate effectiveness to control pitch maneuver of an underwater hemisphere-cylinder hull-form. In view of that, a suitable pin-height adjustment commensurate to pitch attitude trajectory corrections is a workable idea, and the concept has potential of effective pitch attitude control of the hemisphere-cylinder hull-form.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jname.v11i1.16725
Prediction of the dynamic responses for two containerships operating in the black sea
Authors: Gasparotti Carmen , Rusu Liliana
Published: July 2014

This work presents a methodology for the evaluation of the vessels operability in the basin of the Black Sea. The approach proposed is based on the results provided by a wave prediction system that was implemented and validated in the Black Sea. This offers a meaningful framework in the assessment of the seakeeping performance for ships operating in different conditions. The aim of the work is to improve the seakeeping performances for various types of ships that sail in the Romanian coastal zones. Two containerships are considered, of 1300TEU and 800TEU respectively, which have however the same displacement. For predicting the ship motions induced by the various wave conditions encountered in the operational area, it is necessary to know the transfer functions for different ship speeds and heading angles. These are computed with a numerical code based on the strip theory. The predicted motions are then compared with the limit values of the relevant seakeeping criteria, considered as the criteria for checking the operability of the ship. By defining the acceptable operating boundaries, the ship behavior in waves can be quantified. The vessel meets the criteria for those combinations wave height-wave period that are below the limit curves. The results are presented as operational maps for the Black Sea basin, allowing the identification of the areas that should be avoided due to unfavorable weather conditions. The methodology proposed herewith can be extended and applied to various marine environments and types of ships.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jname.v11i1.17289
The Cosmogonic Word in al-Shahrastānī’s Exegesis ofSūrat al-Baqara
Authors: Mayer Toby
Published: July 2014

The higher thought of al-Shahrastānī (d. 548/1153) is revealed in all its idiosyncrasy and richness in his last work, the incomplete Qur'an commentary, Mafātīḥ al-asrār. Despite his fame as a neo-Ashʿarī thinker, his commentary's interpretive system strongly incorporates Ismāʿīlī features, along with vital Ashʿarī and Avicennan influences. This article focuses on discussions within his commentary on Sūrat al-Baqara, which are related to the theme of God's Command (al-amr) – simultaneously the author's cosmological and epistemological linchpin. Initially, his response to the key questions in the ‘theology of the Qur'an’ is presented, namely, (1) how might the scripture's inimitability for human beings be established, thus its transcendental origin, and (2) what is the scripture's precise relation with that transcendental origin, i.e., the problem of ‘inlibration’, and whether the Qur'anic text is to be viewed as a historical entity or as above time? It emerges that, notwithstanding his keen interest in historical inquiries into the text's canonisation and language, he takes it to be a substantial portal to the entire Realm of the Command (ʿālam al-amr), which is a kind of ‘pre-geometry’ for the cosmos (ʿālam al-khalq). With this premise, al-Shahrastānī invokes a highly systematic ‘lettric’ cosmogonic theory. In this theory, the instrument by which the universe enters existence is taken to be a kind of hyper-language, thought of on the model of the 28 Arabic letters. The details of this system are demonstrably Ismāʿīlī, such as its allusion to a heptadic paradigm of hiero-history. Lastly, the vital cosmological function of translating the graphemic and verbal realities of the Realm of the Command into creational entities and events is attributed to the angelic hierarchies.
All Animals Are Equal, or Are They? The Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ’s Animal Epistle and its Unhappy End
Authors: Tlili Sarra
Published: July 2014

The Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ’s animal epistle is an intriguing work. Although in the body of the narrative the authors challenge anthropocentric preconceptions and present nonhuman animals in a more favourable light than human beings, inexplicably, the narrative ends by reconfirming the privileged status of humans. The aim of this paper is to propose an explanation for this discrepancy. I argue that the egalitarian message reflected in the body of the narrative is traceable back to the Qur'an, the main text with which the authors engage in the fable, whereas the final outcome is due to the Ikhwān's hierarchical worldview.
Qur'anic Manuscripts from Late Muslim Spain: The Collection of Almonacid de la Sierra
Authors: Martínez-de-Castilla-Muñoz Nuria
Published: July 2014

In spite of a widespread ignorance of Arabic among the Moriscos (the last Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula, expelled in 1018–23/1609–14), and the prohibition of the possession of books in Arabic script, the Moriscos continued transcribing and transmitting the Qur'an. These copies exhibit various peculiarities related either to their physical presentation, or to their cultural significance. The materials which are part of the Almonacid de la Sierra collection (today in the Tomás Navarro Tomás library (CCHS-CSIC), Madrid) – that means, 37 fragmentary copies of the Qur'an – provide us with an idea of the kind of Qur'anic texts the Moriscos were using by the end of the tenth/sixteenth century in spite of the religious and linguistic restraints which were imposed on them. There are complete maṣāhif, usually divided into four volumes. In addition, we find Qur'anic extracts, the contents of which are almost always the same; this probably implies some ritual use. Finally, there are family prayer books containing some suras and verses which can be recited according to the moment. The diversity of these manuscripts gives us an idea of the knowledge of the Qur'an among the Moriscos and the strength of Islam in tenth/sixteenth-century Aragon.
Competition in a New Industrial Economy: Toward an Agent-Based Economic Model of Modularity
Authors: Chie Bin-Tzong , Chen Shu-Heng
Published: July 2014

When firms (conglomerates) are competing, not only for the present, with a given population of customers and a fixed set of commodities or service, but also for the future, in which products are constantly evolving, what will be their competitive strategies and what will be the emerging ecology of the market? In this paper, we use the agent-based modeling of a modular economy to study the markup rate dynamics in a duopolistic setting. We find that there are multiple equilibria in the market, characterized by either a fixed point or a limit cycle. In the former case, both firms compete with the same markup rate, which is a situation similar to the familiar classic Bertrand model, except that the rate is not necessarily zero. In the latter case, both firms survive by maintaining different markup rates and different market shares.
Ion Dynamics Effect on Stark-Broadened Line Shapes: A Cross-Comparison of Various Models
Authors: Ferri Sandrine , Calisti Annette , Mossé Caroline , Rosato Joël , Talin Bernard , Alexiou Spiros , Gigosos Marco , González Manuel , González-Herrero Diego , Lara Natividad , Gomez Thomas , Iglesias Carlos , Lorenzen Sonja , Mancini Roberto , Stambulchik Evgeny
Published: July 2014

Modeling the Stark broadening of spectral lines in plasmas is a complex problem. The problem has a long history, since it plays a crucial role in the interpretation of the observed spectral lines in laboratories and astrophysical plasmas. One difficulty is the characterization of the emitter’s environment. Although several models have been proposed over the years, there have been no systematic studies of the results, until now. Here, calculations from stochastic models and numerical simulations are compared for the Atoms 2014, 2 300 Lyman-α and -β lines in neutral hydrogen. Also discussed are results from the Helium-α and -β lines of Ar XVII.
Street Choice Logit Model for Visitors in Shopping Districts
Authors: Kawada Ko , Yamada Takashi , Kishimoto Tatsuya
Published: July 2014

In this study, we propose two models for predicting people’s activity. The first model is the pedestrian distribution prediction (or postdiction) model by multiple regression analysis using space syntax indices of urban fabric and people distribution data obtained from a field survey. The second model is a street choice model for visitors using multinomial logit model. We performed a questionnaire survey on the field to investigate the strolling routes of 46 visitors and obtained a total of 1211 street choices in their routes. We proposed a utility function, sum of weighted space syntax indices, and other indices, and estimated the parameters for weights on the basis of maximum likelihood. These models consider both street networks, distance from destination, direction of the street choice and other spatial compositions (numbers of pedestrians, cars, shops, and elevation). The first model explains the characteristics of the street where many people tend to walk or stay. The second model explains the mechanism underlying the street choice of visitors and clarifies the differences in the weights of street choice parameters among the various attributes, such as gender, existence of destinations, number of people, etc. For all the attributes considered, the influences of DISTANCE and DIRECTION are strong. On the other hand, the influences of Int.V, SHOPS, CARS, ELEVATION, and WIDTH are different for each attribute. People with defined destinations tend to choose streets that “have more shops, and are wider and lower”. In contrast, people with undefined destinations tend to choose streets of high Int.V. The choice of males is affected by Int.V, SHOPS, WIDTH (positive) and CARS (negative). Females prefer streets that have many shops, and couples tend to choose downhill streets. The behavior of individual persons is affected by all variables. The behavior of people visiting in groups is affected by SHOP and WIDTH (positive).
Measuring the Value of Mortality Risk Reductions in Turkey
Authors: Tekeşin Cem , Ara Shihomi
Published: July 2014

The willingness to pay (WTP) for mortality risk reduction from four causes (lung cancer, other type of cancer, respiratory disease, traffic accident) are estimated using random parameter logit model with data from choice experiment for three regions in Turkey. The value of statistical life (VSL) estimated for Afsin-Elbistan, Kutahya-Tavsanli, Ankara and the pooled case are found as 0.56, 0.35, 0.46 and 0.49 million Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) adjusted 2012 US dollars (USD). Different types of risk cause different VSL estimates and we found the lung cancer premium of 213% against traffic accident. The effects of one-year-delayed provision of risk-reduction service are the reduction of WTP by 482 TL ($318 in PPP adjusted USD) per person on average, and the disutility from status-quo (zero risk reduction) against alternative is found to be 891 TL ($589 in PPP adjusted USD) per person on average. Senior discounts of VSL are partially determined by status-quo preference and the amount of discount decreases once the status-quo bias is removed. The peak VSL is found to be for the age group 30–39 and the average VSL for the age group is 0.8 million PPP adjusted USD). Turkey’s compliance to European Union (EU) air quality standard will cause welfare gains of total 373 million PPP adjusted USD for our study areas in terms of reduced number of premature mortality.
Bioactive Coatings for Orthopaedic Implants—Recent Trends in Development of Implant Coatings
Authors: Zhang Bill , Myers Damian , Wallace Gordon , Brandt Milan , Choong Peter
Published: July 2014

Joint replacement is a major orthopaedic procedure used to treat joint osteoarthritis. Aseptic loosening and infection are the two most significant causes of prosthetic implant failure. The ideal implant should be able to promote osteointegration, deter bacterial adhesion and minimize prosthetic infection. Recent developments in material science and cell biology have seen the development of new orthopaedic implant coatings to address these issues. Coatings consisting of bioceramics, extracellular matrix proteins, biological peptides or growth factors impart bioactivity and biocompatibility to the metallic surface of conventional orthopaedic prosthesis that promote bone ingrowth and differentiation of stem cells into osteoblasts leading to enhanced osteointegration of the implant. Furthermore, coatings such as silver, nitric oxide, antibiotics, antiseptics and antimicrobial peptides with anti-microbial properties have also been developed, which show promise in reducing bacterial adhesion and prosthetic infections. This review summarizes some of the recent developments in coatings for orthopaedic implants.
“Jones-ing” for a Solution: Commercial Street Surveillance and Privacy Torts in Canada
Authors: Hargreaves Stuart
Published: July 2014

While street surveillance technologies such as Google Street View are deployed with no discriminatory intent, there is selective scrutiny applied to the published imagery by the anonymous crowd. Disproportionately directed at women and members of ethnic minority groups, this scrutiny means the social risks of street surveillance are not equal. This paper considers the possibility of invasion of privacy actions in tort brought against the commercial service provider as a possible solution. Analysis suggests that Canadian law has evolved in a way such that it is exceedingly difficult to make a claim for “privacy” in tort when the plaintiff is located in public space. This evolution exists in order to ensure that innocuous behavior not be rendered actionable. Furthermore, conceptual reasons exist to suggest that actions in tort are unlikely to be the best solution to the problems posed by commercial street surveillance. While any individual case of embarrassment or nuisance matters, broader “macro-harms” that impact entire communities reflect perhaps the most serious problem associated with the selective scrutiny of street surveillance imagery. Yet, it seems difficult to justify attaching liability for those harms to the commercial providers. While limits need to be placed on the operation of these street surveillance programmes, it is unlikely that invasion of privacy actions are the most effective way to achieve that goal.
Benzyl {2-[(2-(1H-Benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl} carbamate
Authors: Küçükbay Hasan , Buğday Nesrin
Published: July 2014

N-(Protected α-aminoacyl)benzotriazoles are powerful acylating agents, and they are used frequently for preparing peptides and their mimetics and conjugates. The present paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a new benzyl {2-[(2-(1H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl} carbamate.
Indium Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Films Deposited by Ultrasonic Chemical Spray Technique, Starting from Zinc Acetylacetonate and Indium Chloride
Authors: Biswal Rajesh , Maldonado Arturo , Vega-Pérez Jaime , Acosta Dwight , De La Luz Olvera María
Published: July 2014

The physical characteristics of ultrasonically sprayed indium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:In) thin films, with electrical resistivity as low as 3.42 × 10−3 Ω·cm and high optical transmittance, in the visible range, of 50%–70% is presented. Zinc acetylacetonate and indium chloride were used as the organometallic zinc precursor and the doping source, respectively, achieving ZnO:In thin films with growth rate in the order of 100 nm/min. The effects of both indium concentration and the substrate temperature on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical characteristics were measured. All the films were polycrystalline, fitting well with hexagonal wurtzite type ZnO. A switching in preferential growth, from (002) to (101) planes for indium doped samples were observed. The surface morphology of the films showed a change from hexagonal slices to triangle shaped grains as the indium concentration increases. Potential applications as transparent conductive electrodes based on the resulting low electrical resistance and high optical transparency of the studied samples are considered.
Property Criteria for Automotive Al-Mg-Si Sheet Alloys
Authors: Prillhofer Ramona , Rank Gunther , Berneder Josef , Antrekowitsch Helmut , Uggowitzer Peter , Pogatscher Stefan
Published: July 2014

In this study, property criteria for automotive Al-Mg-Si sheet alloys are outlined and investigated in the context of commercial alloys AA6016, AA6005A, AA6063 and AA6013. The parameters crucial to predicting forming behavior were determined by tensile tests, bending tests, cross-die tests, hole-expansion tests and forming limit curve analysis in the pre-aged temper after various storage periods following sheet production. Roping tests were performed to evaluate surface quality, for the deployment of these alloys as an outer panel material. Strength in service was also tested after a simulated paint bake cycle of 20 min at 185 °C, and the corrosion behavior was analyzed. The study showed that forming behavior is strongly dependent on the type of alloy and that it is influenced by the storage period after sheet production. Alloy AA6016 achieves the highest surface quality, and pre-ageing of alloy AA6013 facilitates superior strength in service. Corrosion behavior is good in AA6005A, AA6063 and AA6016, and only AA6013 shows a strong susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. The results are discussed below with respect to the chemical composition, microstructure and texture of the Al-Mg-Si alloys studied, and decision-making criteria for appropriate automotive sheet alloys for specific applications are presented.
Release of Tenofovir from Carrageenan-Based Vaginal Suppositories
Authors: Zaveri Toral , Hayes John , Ziegler Gregory
Published: July 2014

Microbicides are an active area of research for HIV prevention, being developed as a woman-initiated method of prevention during unprotected coitus. Along with safety and efficacy, assessing and improving compliance is a major area of research in microbicide development. We have produced microbicide prototypes in the form of semisoft vaginal suppositories prepared from carrageenan and conducted both qualitative and quantitative studies using these prototypes to determine the physical properties that drive acceptability and possibly adherence. In order to ensure that the suppositories function as effective drug delivery vehicles, we have conducted in vitro dissolution studies in water, vaginal simulant fluid (VSF) and semen simulant fluid (SSF) with suppositories loaded with the antiretroviral drug, tenofovir (TFV). TFV was released via diffusion and matrix erosion in water or by diffusion out of the matrix in VSF and SSF. Diffusion studies were conducted in two different volumes of VSF and SSF. The volume of VSF/SSF into which TFV diffused and the size of the suppositories determined the rate of diffusion from the suppositories. About 45%–50% of the encapsulated TFV diffused out of the suppositories within the first two hours, irrespective of suppository size, diffusion medium (VSF/SSF) and the volume of medium. Prior work indicates that a short waiting period between insertion and coitus is highly desired by women; present data suggest our microbicide prototypes have rapid initial release followed by a slow release curve over the first 24 h.
Design, Fabrication and Failure Analysis of Stretchable Electrical Routings
Authors: Hocheng Hong , Chen Chao-Ming
Published: July 2014

Stretchable microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) possess higher mechanical deformability and adaptability than devices based on conventional solid and flexible substrates, hence they are particularly desirable for biomedical, optoelectronic, textile and other innovative applications. The stretchability performance can be evaluated by the failure strain of the embedded routing and the strain applied to the elastomeric substrate. The routings are divided into five forms according to their geometry: straight; wavy; wrinkly; island-bridge; and conductive-elastomeric. These designs are reviewed and their resistance-to-failure performance is investigated. The failure modeling, numerical analysis, and fabrication of routings are presented. The current review concludes with the essential factors of the stretchable electrical routing for achieving high performance, including routing angle, width and thickness. The future challenges of device integration and reliability assessment of the stretchable routings are addressed.
Autosolvation: Architecture and Selection of Chiral Conformers in Alkylcobalt Carbonyl Molecular Clocks
Authors: Kurdi Róbert , Táborosi Attila , Zucchi Claudia , Pályi Gyula
Published: July 2014

Autosolvation is an important factor in stabilizing the architecture of medium complicated molecules. It is a kind of “supramolecular force” acting in intramolecular manner, consisting of orbital-orbital interactions between polar groups, separated by more than one covalent bonds within the same molecule. This effect facilitates also the development of chiral conformations. Two typical alkylcobalt carbonyl type molecules are discussed here as examples of autosolvating intramolecular interactions, leading to dramatic selection of chiral conformers and indicating also to the limits of the effect. The conformers stabilized by autosolvation and their interconversion are excellent examples of a “molecular clockwork”. Operation mode of these molecular clockworks gives some insight into the intramolecular transfer of chiral information.
Crustal Strain Observation Using a Two-Color Interferometer with Accurate Correction of Refractive Index of Air
Authors: Telada Souichi , Araya Akito , Takamori Akiteru
Published: July 2014

A highly accurate two-color interferometer with automatic correction of the refractive index of air was developed for crustal strain observation. The two-color interferometer, which can measure a geometrical distance of approximately 70 m, with a relative resolution of 2 × 10−9, clearly detected a change in strain due to earth tides in spite of optical measurement in air. Moreover, a large strain quake due to an earthquake could be observed without disturbing the measurement. We demonstrated the advantages of the two-color interferometer in air for geodetic observation.
Investigating Recurrent Neural Networks for OCT A-scan Based Tissue Analysis
Authors: Otte S. , Wittig L. , Hüttmann G. , Kugler C. , Drömann D. , Zell A. , Schlaefer A. , Otte C.
Published: July 2014

Objectives: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has been proposed as a high resolution image modality to guide transbronchial biopsies. In this study we address the question, whether individual A-scans obtained in needle direction can contribute to the identification of pulmonary nodules.

Methods: OCT A-scans from freshly resected human lung tissue specimen were recorded through a customized needle with an embedded optical fiber. Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory networks (BLSTMs) were trained on randomly distributed training and test sets of the acquired A-scans. Patient specific training and different pre-processing steps were evaluated.

Results: Classification rates from 67.5% up to 76% were archived for different training scenarios. Sensitivity and specificity were highest for a patient specific training with 0.87 and 0.85. Low pass filtering decreased the accuracy from 73.2% on a reference distribution to 62.2% for higher cutoff frequencies and to 56% for lower cutoff frequencies.

Conclusion: The results indicate that a grey value based classification is feasible and may provide additional information for diagnosis and navigation. Furthermore, the experiments show patient specific signal properties and indicate that the lower and upper parts of the frequency spectrum contribute to the classification.
Simulation of Range Imaging-based Estimation of Respiratory Lung Motion
Authors: Werner R. , Blendowski M. , Ortmüller J. , Handels H. , Wilms M.
Published: July 2014

Objectives: A major problem associated with the irradiation of thoracic and abdominal tumors is respiratory motion. In clinical practice, motion compensation approaches are frequently steered by low-dimensional breathing signals (e.g., spirometry) and patient-specific correspondence models, which are used to estimate the sought internal motion given a signal measurement. Recently, the use of multidimensional signals derived from range images of the moving skin surface has been proposed to better account for complex motion patterns. In this work, a simulation study is carried out to investigate the motion estimation accuracy of such multidimensional signals and the influence of noise, the signal dimensionality, and different sampling patterns (points, lines, regions).

Methods: A diffeomorphic correspondence modeling framework is employed to relate multidimensional breathing signals derived from simulated range images to internal motion patterns represented by diffeomorphic non-linear transformations. Furthermore, an automatic approach for the selection of optimal signal combinations/patterns within this framework is presented.

Results: This simulation study focuses on lung motion estimation and is based on 28 4D CT data sets. The results show that the use of multidimensional signals instead of one-dimensional signals significantly improves the motion estimation accuracy, which is, however, highly affected by noise. Only small differences exist between different multidimensional sampling patterns (lines and regions). Automatically determined optimal combinations of points and lines do not lead to accuracy improvements compared to results obtained by using all points or lines.

Conclusions: Our results show the potential of multidimensional breathing signals derived from range images for the model-based estimation of respiratory motion in radiation therapy.
OPTIMIZATION OF UHPFRC BEAMS SUBJECTED TO BENDING USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS
Authors: Ćirović Goran , Radonjanin Vlastimir , Trivunić Milan , Trivunić Milan , Nikolić Dragan
Published: July 2014

Ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) is cementitious composite with very high strength, and when compared with ordinary concrete it is a more superior material both in terms of its mechanical properties and its durability. In order to predict the behaviour of UHPFRC beams, first of all, experiments were carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of composites containing 2% and 4% of steel fibres. Following this, four beams of 2 m in length were tested by subjecting to four point bending. Two beams contained only micro steel fibres, while the remaining two contained conventional steel bar reinforcement. On the basis of experimental studies and recommendations by the AFGC for UHPC, the behaviour of the beams was modelled and optimization was carried out using genetic algorithms (GA) according to the criterion of minimum price. In this paper, the prices of individual UHPFRC beams are also shown in comparison with beams, which contain steel bars or prestressed reinforcement.
ANALYSIS OF HYSTERETIC RESPONSE OF GLASS INFILLED WOODEN FRAMES
Authors: Antolinc David , Rajčić Vlatka , Žarnić Roko
Published: July 2014

The idea of the present study is to determine the performance of timber-glass hybrid shear wall exposed to monotone and cyclic horizontal in-plane load at the level of story height which is simulation of situation during earthquake or wind load. Fourteen quasi-static in-plane racking tests of shear wall specimens have been conducted where the specimens are composed of laminated timber frame and heat strengthened laminated glass panels, which are adhesive less, connected to wooden frame with friction only. For the evaluation of the experimental results the software (HYSPA+) was developed which is giving the information on normalised stiffness degradation and equivalent viscous damping coefficient based on the in-plane hysteresis response. The results are showing that described structural components are ductile with relatively high potential for dissipating of induced energy due to friction connection of glass panel and wooden frame. Observed damages were concentrated in timber frame joints, while glass panels remained entirely undamaged. In continuation of development of glass infilled wooden frames the configuration of frame joints will be modified to achieve its higher load bearing capacity and lower deformability.
ESTIMATING FUTURE BIDDING PERFORMANCE OF COMPETITOR BIDDERS IN CAPPED TENDERS
Authors: Ballesteros-Pérez Pablo , González-Cruz M. Carmen , Fernández-Diego Marta , Pellicer Eugenio
Published: July 2014

Research in Bid Tender Forecasting Models (BTFM) has been in progress since the 1950s. None of the developed models were easy-to-use tools for effective use by bidding practitioners because the advanced mathematical apparatus and massive data inputs required. This scenario began to change in 2012 with the development of the Smartbid BTFM, a quite simple model that presents a series of graphs that enables any project manager to study competitors using a relatively short historical tender dataset. However, despite the advantages of this new model, so far, it is still necessary to study all the auction participants as an indivisible group; that is, the original BTFM was not devised for analyzing the behavior of a single bidding competitor or a subgroup of them. The present paper tries to solve that flaw and presents a stand-alone methodology useful for estimating future competitors’ bidding behaviors separately.
A CONDITIONAL STOCHASTIC PROJECTION METHOD APPLIED TO A PARAMETRIC VIBRATIONS PROBLEM
Authors: Brzakala Wlodzimierz , Herbut Aneta
Published: July 2014

Parametric vibrations can be observed in cable-stayed bridges due to periodic excitations caused by a deck or a pylon. The vibrations are described by an ordinary differential equation with periodic coefficients. The paper focuses on random excitations, i.e. on the excitation amplitude and the excitation frequency which are two random variables. The excitation frequency ωL is discretized to a finite sequence of representative points, ωL,i Therefore, the problem is (conditionally) formulated and solved as a one-dimensional polynomial chaos expansion generated by the random excitation amplitude. The presented numerical analysis is focused on a real situation for which the problem of parametric resonance was observed (a cable of the Ben-Ahin bridge). The results obtained by the use of the conditional polynomial chaos approximations are compared with the ones based on the Monte Carlo simulation (truly two-dimensional, not conditional one). The convergence of both methods is discussed. It is found that the conditional polynomial chaos can yield a better convergence then the Monte Carlo simulation, especially if resonant vibrations are probable.