bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-guided Supraclavicular Central Venous Catheter Tip Positioning via the Right Subclavian Vein using a Microconvex Probe
Authors: Kim Se-Chan , Gräff Ingo , Sommer Alexandra , Hoeft Andreas , Weber Stefan
Published: March 2016

Purpose

The ultrasound-guided central venous catheter (CVC) guidewire tip positioning has been demonstrated for catheterization of the right internal jugular vein. We explored the feasibility of an ultrasound-guided right subclavian vein (RScV) CVC tip positioning via a right supraclavicular approach using a microconvex probe.

Methods

Twenty patients scheduled for elective surgery were consecutively included in this observational feasibility study following written informed consent. Exclusion criteria were emergency procedure, thrombosis and obstacle to guidewire advancement. Following an ultrasound pre-scan of the superior vena cava (SVC), the RScV and the right pulmonary artery (RPA) via the right supraclavicular fossa view, a sterile ultrasound-guided venipuncture was performed. The guidewire J-tip was advanced to the distal SVC with subsequent introduction of the CVC. The final CVC tip position was confirmed with ultrasound and postoperative chest radiograph.

Results

In all patients, SVC, RScV and RPA were visualized in the pre-scan. Guidewire positioning and final ultrasound CVC tip confirmation in the distal SVC was successful in all patients. In two patients, needle insertion of the RScV failed and insertion site was converted to a right internal jugular vein insertion. No misplacement, arterial puncture, pneumo- or hematothorax occurred. Time for pre-scan to venipuncture was 9 min 25 sec ± 5 min 24 sec and 1 min 05 sec ± 59 sec from venipuncture until guidewire positioning (mean ± SD, n = 18).

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided CVC tip confirmation following catheterization of the right subclavian vein via a right supraclavicular approach with a microconvex probe is feasible.
A Technique for Ultrasound-Guided Blood Sampling from a Dry and Gel-Free Puncture Area
Authors: Thorn Sofie , Gopalasingam Nigopan , Bendtsen Thomas Fichtner , Knudsen Lars , Sloth Erik
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Vein punctures are performed daily to sample blood. Ultrasound (US) offers an alternative to the blind landmark technique for difficult vascular access. A challenge for this procedure is the presence of US gel in the puncture area. We present a technique for US-guided puncture from extremity veins not palpable or visible to the human eye, while keeping the puncture area dry and gel-free.

Methods

Ten healthy volunteers underwent two US-guided vein punctures from veins that were neither palpable nor visible. One was drawn from an antebrachial vein and another from a brachial vein. A sterile barrier drape was made from a commercially available dressing and a piece of transparent sterile plastic. The barrier drape consists of an adhesive part placed on the skin designed for sonography and a free transparent flap constituting the barrier between the unsterile sonographic site and the sterile gel-free puncture site.

Results

The success rate for vein puncture was 100% in both locations. A total of 22 skin punctures were performed (11 antebrachial and 11 brachial). Gain output was increased 7% (4-12%), and 8% (4-15%), respectively, to compensate for attenuation of the US signal due to the drape. Alignment of the centre of the transducer with the long-axis of the target vein during the procedure was reported as a challenge.

Conclusions

US-guided blood sampling from a brachial and antebrachial vein was possible with a 100% success rate, while ensuring a dry and gel-free venipuncture area on one side and the transducer on the other side of a sterile barrier.
A Two-Year Experience with a Rapid Access, Self-Sealing, Polycarbonate Urethane Nanofiber Vascular access Graft for Hemodialysis
Authors: Ferraresso Mariano , Bortolani Ettore M. , Amnon Gildor
Published: March 2016

We present our experience with AVflo™, a nanofiber, electrospun, self-sealing, early-access graft for hemodialysis (HD).

Objective

Evaluating the safety and efficacy of the AVflo™ graft in terms of patency and complications (early and late) over 2 years.

Materials and methods

Twelve end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (age: mean 68.5 ± 10 years) were followed up for a mean period of 946 ± 570 days after receiving an implantation of the graft for HD. The grafts were implanted at the lower arm (loop configuration), upper arm (straight configuration) and the thigh (loop configuration). First dialysis was performed at day 7 (3-21) following implantation.

Results and discussion

After a mean follow up of 24 months, the primary patency was 56% and the secondary patency was 82%. In this group, AVflo™ shows similar if not superior efficacy and safety to that of available grafts in terms of safety, complications, and long-term patency.
Risk Stratification System and Pattern of Relapse in Patients Treated with Adjuvant Radiotherapy after Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Levis Mario , Guarneri Alessia , Giaj Levra Niccolò , Spratt Daniel E. , Bartoncini Sara , Munoz Fernando , Trino Elisabetta , Botticella Angela , Arcadipane Francesca , Ricardi Umberto
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) as monotherapy in a cohort of prostate cancer patients with undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after surgery and to propose a risk stratification system.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2010, 174 consecutive patients were treated with ART (median dose 71 Gy) at a single institution. Subsequently, we assigned a score of 1 to the following risk factors (RF): T stage ≥3b, presurgical PSA ≥10 ng/mL, pathologic Gleason score (GS) ≥4 + 3, and positive surgical margin (R1). The scores were then summed to stratify the population into low risk (LR), intermediate risk (IR), and high risk (HR).

Results

Median follow-up was 61 months (range 4-105). Five-year biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), clinical relapse-free survival (cRFS), and overall survival (OS) were respectively 93%, 97.1%, and 98.6%. On univariate analyses, GS was the only variable related to bRFS (p = 0.04) and to cRFS (p = 0.05). Any variable was related to OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that HR patients (3-4 RF) had a worse bRFS (p = 0.02) compared to LR patients (0 RF or R1 as single RF); IR patients (1-2 RF) had a lower bRFS compared to LR patients (p = 0.06). Patients with R1 as single RF have the same bRFS as patients with 0 RF (p = 0.6) and are considered as LR patients.

Conclusions

Adjuvant radiotherapy leads to excellent bRFS and cRFS rates at 5 years (93.3% and 97.1%, respectively) in our population. Patients with multiple RF are at higher risk of bRFS. Patients with R1 as single RF have bRFS rates comparable to patients without any RF.
Transarterial Chemoembolization Combination Therapy vs Monotherapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Lei , Tian Jiangke , Liu Peng , Wang Xuan , Zhu Zhenyu
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To perform a meta-analysis examining the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone or in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched through May 31, 2014, using the following keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, transarterial chemoembolization, percutaneous ethanol ablation, percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing 1- and 3-year mortality rates in patients with unresectable HCC receiving either TACE alone or TACE in combination with RFA, PEI, or HIFU were included. One- and 3-year survival rates were compared.

Results

Eleven RCTs were included. The total number of patients ranged from 37 to 189, mean age ranged from 52 to 73 years, and percentage male ranged from 54% to 94%. Overall, TACE alone was associated with higher 1-year mortality than TACE combination therapies (pooled odds ratio [OR] 2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37 to 4.43, p = 0.003). The 1-year mortality rate between TACE alone vs TACE + PEI was not different, but TACE + PEI was associated with a significantly lower 3-year mortality as compared to TACE alone (pooled OR 6.02, 95% CI 3.03 to 11.93, p<0.001). The RFA alone was associated with higher 1-year mortality compared with TACE + RFA (pooled OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.32, p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in combination with percutaneous ablation therapies may improve the survival of patients with unresectable HCC.
Combination Chemotherapy of Solid Tumors: An American-Italian Collaboration: A Celebration of the work of Gianni Bonadonna
Authors: DeVita Vincent T. , Canellos George P.
Published: March 2016

This article highlights the important collaboration between the U.S. NCI in Bethesda, Maryland and the Istituto Tumori in Milan, Italy that had a major impact on the development of curative regimens for breast cancer, Hodgkin's disease and diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

In addition to his contribution to developing new therapies, Gianni Bonadonna played an important role in bringing highly focused, disciplined, ethical clinical trials to the European continent.
“There's no Reason why”: A Campaign to Raise Cancer Awareness among Adolescents
Authors: Magni Chiara , Maggioni Francesca , Ricci Angelo , Barisone Elena , Jankovic Momcilo , Postiglione Emma Sarlo , Cargnel Enrica , Barricelli Barbara Rita , Valtolina Stefano , Veneroni Laura , Chiaravalli Stefano , Lapidari Pietro , Capelletti Mirko , Clerici Carlo A. , Biondi Andrea , Ferrari Andrea
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Adolescents with cancer often experience a longer diagnostic delay than children, mainly because they take longer to go to a doctor. The Italian Society for Adolescents with Oncohematological Diseases (SIAMO) has launched an information campaign focusing on raising adolescents’ awareness of the importance of diagnosing cancer early.

Methods

The concepts of the campaign were developed by a scientific committee of clinicians, cancer patients and their parents, and marketing experts. The title of the campaign is “There's no reason why”. A video has been launched on TV channels and the Internet, and the final frame refers viewers to the SIAMO website, which provides advice to help adolescents interpret any symptoms they experience.

Results

The video has had 12,181 views. In the 6 months following the launch of the campaign, the SIAMO website page dedicated to the campaign was opened by 9,767 viewers for a total of 13,632 views.

Conclusions

Though it remains very difficult to judge the efficacy of this initiative, the value of a campaign focusing on improving the adolescent population's cancer awareness is supported by the large number of studies published on the diagnostic delay in this age group. Our campaign goes to show the importance of ensuring cooperation between the different stakeholders involved in the global care of adolescents with cancer.
The determinants of international tourism demand for Brazil
Authors: Tavares Jean Max , Leitão Nuno Carlos
Published: March 2016

The aim of this article is to identify the main determinants of international tourism flows to Brazil during the period 2004–2013, using the gravity model. The study adopted an econometric strategy of panel data (pooled ordinary least squares estimators that were heteroscedasticity corrected—together with the generalized method of moments system estimator). The variables of a common border and geographical distance showed that proximity was essential to explain tourism demand for Brazil. The exchange rate was positively correlated with tourism demand. The results indicate that the “Aquarela Plan 2020,” developed by the Ministry of Tourism for promotion of the country abroad, is consistent with the main determinants of international tourism demands for Brazil.
An Empirical Study about Influence of China’s Shadow Banking on the Stability of the Financial System
Authors: Liu Bo , Shao Shuai , Gao Yan-yang
Published: March 2016

With the rapid development of the financial system in recent years, all kinds of financial derivatives teem and the size of the shadow banking is becoming more and bigger. It has become an important factor affecting the stability of China’s financial system. The influence of shadow banks on the financial system has two sides, on the one hand it is advantageous to the development and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises as lubricant of corporate financing, on the other hand, features of shadow banking that highly leveraged and term mismatch also bring uncertainty to China’s financial system. Firstly, this paper calculates the size of the shadow banking in China, and then builds a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation system to evaluate the risk of China’s financial system. When determining the evaluation index, this paper apply KMV model to calculate the credit risk of China’s securities market, and the maximum entropy method to determine the index weight. After getting China’s financial system risk index and the size of shadow banking, this paper constructs the VAR model and makes the parameter estimation and impulse response analysis. Analysis results show that in a certain degree, the increase of the scale of shadow banks can reduce the risk of the financial system, but if it is over some certain threshold, it will increase the overall risk of the financial system.
Do Economic Reforms Spur Bancarisation Rate in the CEMAC Region? Empirical Analysis
Authors: Tchouassi Gérard
Published: March 2016

The aim of this paper is to empirically analyze the effect of the economic reforms on the bancarisation rate in the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). Data of six countries from the sub-region from 2001 to 2011 was used in a generalized method of moment (GMM) modeling framework. The following results are obtained: Financial liberalization has facilitated the opening of bank accounts. The opening of bank accounts demand is an increasing function of Gross Domestic Product per capita. The literacy rate contributes to the improvement of financial and banking services. Public and private infrastructures promote decentralization and delocalization of the banking network to smaller cities and rural areas. Institutional reforms work best for increasing the bancarisation rate where financial and banking activities are weak. So, the economic policy to be implemented is to continue the economic and financial reforms and ameliorate the quality of the institutions in the CEMAC region.
Financial Soundness Indicator, Financial Cycle, Credit Cycle and Business Cycle－Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Chang Yuan
Published: March 2016

Business cycle is the repeated expansions (from trough to peak) and contractions (from peak to trough) of real economic activity. Credit cycle is the cyclical process of the bank credit, ranging from short/long-term, loan to enterprise and loan to individual. Financial cycle reflects ups and downs in asset prices and financial institution's balance sheet. This paper examines the linkage among cycles as well as their lead-lag relationship. Theoretically, credit cycle is one of reasons driving business cycle, and financial cycle is a fundamental cause of credit cycle. Based on Taiwan’s quarterly data, this paper firstly identifies cyclical behavior of indicators of real economic activity, bank credit and assets prices in recent decade by defining expansion phases and contraction phases of cyclical variables. Second, this paper calculates concordance index to examine the degree of synchronization among cycles. Third, while the soundness for assets and liabilities of financial institution may drive financial cycle, this paper employs IMF’s Financial Soundness Indicator (FSI) as predictor of expansion and contraction phase of cyclical variables. Specifically, the paper assesses the health of bank’s balance sheet variables by Probit estimation on linkage between FSIs and expansion/contraction phase of cycle. Based on empirical evidence, the knowledge about the extent of assets/liability condition of financial institution corresponding to the expansion and contraction phase of financial, credit and business cycle is enhanced. Authority concerning about financial stability should oversight the performance of FSIs and then engage in prompt corrective actions when the level and volatility of those indicators sharply.
The Effects of Terrorist Activities on Development in the Southeastern Region of Turkey-Theoretical and Empirical Application
Authors: Mete Mustafa
Published: March 2016

Terrorist activities affect and continue to cause social, political, cultural and economic problems for Turkey just as they do to many parts of the world. Investors would prefer to move their capital into safer regions due to the problem of terrorism and this affects the distribution of development. This study, aims at demonstrating the extent at which terrorism has affected development in the South-eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. This study will look at the investment volumes in 9 provinces located in southeast Turkey. We will also look at terrorist activities in these provinces as well as discussing the relationship between investment preferences and terrorism. Firstly, we will look at terrorist incidents in these provinces, the number of provinces affected by terrorist activities, number of people dying from terrorist related activities, state and industrial investments as well as determining the number of industrial workers in these provinces. For this purpose, as a case study, we will investigate investments in Gaziantep which is a city located in the Southern eastern Anatolia region and the sixth largest city in Turkey with a lot of private investments. In this study, a questionnaire was administered to ninety-three (93) big companies who are doing foreign trade with at least one country. The questionnaire administered was easy and used a detailed cross-question analysis. According to the study, it was discovered that there is an inverse relationship between the private investment demand and the frequency of terrorist incidences and then this relationship was discussed in detail.
Analytical Hierarchy Process as a Tool for Investment Appraisal
Authors: Oral Ceren
Published: March 2016

Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), is the method of multiple-criteria decision analysis. AHP; severity of the important criteria in deciding the pairwise comparisons and it carries out the sequence of decisions alternatives. AHP is a powerful and easy to understand method that allows combining qualitative and quantitative factors in the decision making process for groups and individuals.

AHP in finance is a frequently used method especially financial performance appraisal, credit appraisal, the financial failure prediction, estimation of the exchange rate and the selection of projects. Evaluation and selection of projects is a difficult task before making investment decisions. In this context, it has been developed a case study to determine the best project by applying the AHP technique. For this purpose, considering four criteria, the best projects between options have been identified and evaluated by alternative four projects.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 8, No. 4
Authors: Zhang Michael
Published: March 2016

Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 8, No. 4
The Comprehensibility of Readable English Texts and Their Back-Translations
Authors: Mujiyanto Yan
Published: March 2016

This paper presents the results of a study initiated by the potential employment of readability measures to assess the equivalence of reading ease and grade level indices between source texts and their translations as well as back-renderings. It was questionable whether there was a causal relation between the indices and their comprehensibility levels, because whereas the former concentrated merely on quantities of linguistic elements and their formal relations, the latter considered such factors as particular characteristics of each element, meaning coverage, and readers’ socio-psychological background. This study aimed to disclose the relation between the readability measures and the comprehensibility levels of source texts and their translations, as well as back-renderings. A number of English texts, along with their translations in Indonesian, were deliberately chosen for that purpose. The translations were then back-rendered to the source language utilizing Google Translate. Comparison between the source texts and their translations as well as back-renderings was capable of showing their similarities in the readability levels and average number of characters, words, sentences, and words per sentence in the texts. And asking prospective readers about their perception concerning their understanding of such texts was capable of disclosing the causal relation between the readability and the comprehensibility levels of the texts.
Fast Matching of Binary Descriptors for Large-Scale Applications in Robot Vision
Authors: Persson Andreas , Loutfi Amy
Published: March 2016

The introduction of computationally efficient binary feature descriptors has raised new opportunities for real-world robot vision applications. However, brute force feature matching of binary descriptors is only practical for smaller datasets. In the literature, there has therefore been an increasing interest in representing and matching binary descriptors more efficiently. In this article, we follow this trend and present a method for efficiently and dynamically quantizing binary descriptors through a summarized frequency count into compact representations (called fsum) for improved feature matching of binary point-features. With the motivation that real-world robot applications must adapt to a changing environment, we further present an overview of the field of algorithms, which concerns the efficient matching of binary descriptors and which are able to incorporate changes over time, such as clustered search trees and bag-of-features improved by vocabulary adaptation. The focus for this article is on evaluation, particularly large scale evaluation, compared to alternatives that exist within the field. Throughout this evaluation it is shown that the fsum approach is both efficient in terms of computational cost and memory requirements, while retaining adequate retrieval accuracy. It is further shown that the presented algorithm is equally suited to binary descriptors of arbitrary type and that the algorithm is therefore a valid option for several types of vision applications.
Analisis senyawa volatil dari ekstrak tanaman yang berpotensi sebagai atraktan parasitoid telur wereng batang coklat, Anagrus nilaparvatae (Pang et Wang) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)
Authors: Wonorahardjo Surjani , Nurindah Nurindah , Sunarto Dwi Adi , Sujak Sujak , Zakia Neena
Published: March 2016

Tanaman dapat menghasilkan senyawa volatil sebagai sarana komunikasi intra- atau inter- spesies. Tanaman yang terinfeksi herbivora akan memproduksi senyawa volatil sebagai mekanisme pertahanan tidak langsung yang dapat menarik musuh alami herbivora tersebut. Analisis senyawa-senyawa volatil yang diproduksi oleh tanaman padi akibat infestasi telur wereng batang coklat (WBC) dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi komponen penyusun senyawa volatil yang berpotensi sebagai atraktan bagi parasitoid telur WBC, Anagrus nilaparvatae (Pang et Wang) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Kegiatan penelitian ini merupakan tahap awal dari pembuatan formula atraktan parasitoid WBC, meliputi ekstraksi senyawa volatil dari batang padi yang tidak terinfestasi dan terinfestasi telur WBC dengan menggunakan pelarut aseton dan n-heksana, analisis komponen senyawa volatil dengan menggunakan gas kromatografi spektroskopi massa (GC-MS), dan bioassay perilaku orientasi parasitoid terhadap senyawa volatil dengan metode olfaktometri. Metode ekstraksi yang digunakan adalah teknik maserasi dan ekstraksi kontinyu yang diikuti dengan pemekatan. Bioassay perilaku orientasi A. nilaparvatae dilakukan dengan menggunakan olfaktometer tabung Y dan untuk setiap lot bioassay digunakan 30 parasitoid telur yang diulang 3 kali. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa senyawa volatil yang terdapat pada ekstrak tanaman padi yang terinfestasi telur WBC terdiri atas 16 komponen. Komponen dengan proporsi tertinggi pada metode dengan pelarut aseton adalah 2-Pentanon, 4-hidroksi-4-methil (19,9%), sedangkan dengan pelarut n-heksana adalah asam heksanadioat, dioktil ester (65%). A. nilaparvatae menunjukkan respon positif terhadap ekstrak tanaman padi yang terinfestasi telur WBC sehingga senyawa volatil yang terdapat pada ekstrak tanaman padi yang terinfestasi telur WBC dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai atraktan A. nilaparvatae untuk mendukung pengelolaan hama padi yang ramah lingkungan.
Gangguan fisiologi dan biokimia Crocidolomia pavonana (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) akibat perlakuan ekstrak campuran Tephrosia vogelli dan Piper aduncum
Authors: Lina Eka Chandra , Dadang Dadang , Manuwoto Syafrida , Syahbirin Gustini
Published: March 2016

Ekstrak tanaman dapat mempengaruhi fisiologi dan biokimia serangga yang meliputi peng-hambatan makan, asimilasi makanan, dan dan aktivitas enzim detoksifikasi, yaitu sitokrom b5 dan sitokrom P450. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh ekstrak campuran Tephrosia vogelii : Piper aduncum (1 : 5) terhadap fisiologi Crocidolomia pavonana (F.) dan pengaruh ekstrak P. aduncum terhadap biokimia C. pavonana. Pengujian ekstrak campuran T. vogelii : P. aduncum (1 : 5) pada konsentrasi 0,06% atau setara dengan LC95 menghambat makan larva C. pavonana hingga 94,82%. Ekstrak campuran yang diuji pada LC25 (0,007%) dan LC50 (0,014%) menyebabkan gangguan pertumbuhan relatif larva C. pavonana. Gangguan ini disebabkan oleh toksisitas intrinsik ekstrak campuran yang masuk ke dalam tubuh serangga. Selain gangguan pada pertumbuhan larva uji, juga terjadi peningkatan daya cerna serangga sebesar 11,11% sebagai bentuk adaptasi terhadap senyawa toksik tumbuhan. Adaptasi lain yang dilakukan larva C. pavonana adalah mekanisme detoksifikasi terhadap ekstrak P. aduncum. Hal ini tampak dari peningkatan aktivitas enzim oksidasi sitokrom b5 dan sitokrom P450 pada perlakuan in vivo dan in vitro jika dibandingkan dengan kontrol. Penelitian ini memberikan informasi mengenai cara kerja ekstrak campuran T. vogelii : P. aduncum (1 : 5) pada larva C. pavonana dan mekanisme detoksifikasi larva terhadap ekstrak P. aduncum.
Struktur komunitas laba-laba di ekosistem padi ratun: pengaruh aplikasi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo)
Authors: Herlinda Siti , Dewi Rafika , Adam Triani , Suwandi Suwandi , Wijaya Andi
Published: March 2016

Laba-laba merupakan salah satu predator penting dalam mengatur populasi serangga hama di ekosistem padi. Aplikasi cendawan entomopatogen, seperti Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) diharapkan tidak mempengaruhi keberadaan laba-laba tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh aplikasi bioinsektisida B. bassiana terhadap kelimpahan, dan kekayaan spesies laba-laba di ekosistem padi ratun. Penelitian dilakukan pada lahan padi ratun seluas 3 ha dengan tiga perlakuan, yaitu (i) bioinsektisida cair dari B. bassiana dengan dosis 2 l/ha/aplikasi, (ii) ekstrak kompos (tanpa bioinsektisida cair) dengan dosis 2 l/ha/aplikasi, dan (iii) bioinsektisida cair dari B. bassiana dan ekstrak kompos dengan dosis masing-masing 2 l/ha/aplikasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi bioinsektisida B. bassiana tidak memengaruhi kelimpahan dan kekayaan spesies laba-laba di ekosistem padi ratun. Untuk laba-laba penghuni tajuk, perlakuan yang diterapkan tidak memberikan pengaruh pada kekayaan dan kelimpahan spesies laba-laba. Begitu juga untuk laba-laba penghuni permukaan tanah, perlakuan juga tidak mempengaruhi kekayaan dan kelimpahan spesies laba-laba. Perlakuan yang diberikan juga tidak mempengaruhi perubahan komposisi spesies laba-laba pada tajuk maupun pada permukaan tanah. Berdasarkan hasil yang diperoleh dapat disimpulkan bahwa aplikasi bioinsektisida B. bassiana tidak membahayakan laba-laba pada ekosistem padi ratun.
Survival benefits of antiretroviral therapy in Brazil: a model‐based analysis
Authors: Luz Paula M , Girouard Michael P , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Freedberg Kenneth A , Veloso Valdilea G , Losina Elena , Struchiner Claudio J , MacLean Rachel L , Parker Robert A , Paltiel A David , Walensky Rochelle P
Published: March 2016

Objective

In Brazil, universal provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been guaranteed free of charge to eligible HIV‐positive patients since December 1996. We sought to quantify the survival benefits of ART attributable to this programme.

Methods

We used a previously published microsimulation model of HIV disease and treatment (CEPAC‐International) and data from Brazil to estimate life expectancy increase for HIV‐positive patients initiating ART in Brazil. We divided the period of 1997 to 2014 into six eras reflecting increased drug regimen efficacy, regimen availability and era‐specific mean CD4 count at ART initiation. Patients were simulated first without ART and then with ART. The 2014‐censored and lifetime survival benefits attributable to ART in each era were calculated as the product of the number of patients initiating ART in a given era and the increase in life expectancy attributable to ART in that era.

Results

In total, we estimated that 598,741 individuals initiated ART. Projected life expectancy increased from 2.7, 3.3, 4.1, 4.9, 5.5 and 7.1 years without ART to 11.0, 17.5, 20.7, 23.0, 25.3, and 27.0 years with ART in Eras 1 through 6, respectively. Of the total projected lifetime survival benefit of 9.3 million life‐years, 16% (or 1.5 million life‐years) has been realized as of December 2014.

Conclusions

Provision of ART through a national programme has led to dramatic survival benefits in Brazil, the majority of which are still to be realized. Improvements in initial and subsequent ART regimens and higher CD4 counts at ART initiation have contributed to these increasing benefits.
Strongly (001)-textured MgO/Co40Fe40B20 spin-tunnel contact on n-Ge(001) and its spin accumulation: Structural modification with ultrathin Mg insertion by sputtering
Authors: Lee Soogil , Kim Sanghoon , Son Jangyup , Baek Seung-heon Chris , Lee Seok-Hee , Hong Jongill
Published: March 2016

The sputter-deposited fcc-MgO (001)[100]/bcc-Co40Fe40B20 (001)[110] spin-tunnel contact (STC) was successfully prepared on n-Ge(001). We found that the interfacial modification by ultrathin (6 Å) Mg insertion at the interface between n-Ge and MgO plays an important role in spin injection into Ge. The significantly amplified spin accumulation was observed in this STC as a result of the structural modification. The three-terminal Hanle signal of this STC was 2.7 times larger than that of the STC without Mg insertion. Our study confirms that a sputtering technique is indeed practical and useful to modify interfacial structures for the efficient injection of spins into semiconductors.
Dependence of ohmic contact properties on AlGaN layer thickness for AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors
Authors: Takei Yusuke , Tsutsui Kazuo , Saito Wataru , Kakushima Kuniyuki , Wakabayashi Hitoshi , Iwai Hiroshi
Published: March 2016

The dependence of ohmic contact resistance on the AlGaN layer thickness was evaluated for AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) structures. Mo/Al/Ti contacts were formed on AlGaN layers with various thicknesses. The observed resistance characteristics are discussed on the basis of a model in which the overall contact resistance is composed of a series of three resistance components. Different dependences on the AlGaN layer thickness was observed after annealing at low temperatures (800–850 °C) and at high temperatures (900–950 °C). It was determined that lowering the resistance at the metal/AlGaN interface and that of the AlGaN layer is important for obtaining low-resistance ohmic contacts.
Effect of in situ Sb doping on crystalline and electrical characteristics of n-type Ge1−
xSnx epitaxial layer
Authors: Jeon Jihee , Asano Takanori , Shimura Yosuke , Takeuchi Wakana , Kurosawa Masashi , Sakashita Mitsuo , Nakatsuka Osamu , Zaima Shigeaki
Published: March 2016

We examined the molecular beam epitaxy of Ge1−

x
Sn
x
with in situ Sb doping on Ge substrates. The effects of Sb doping on the crystalline and electrical characteristics of Ge1−

x
Sn
x
epitaxial layer were investigated in detail. We found that Sb doping with a concentration of 1020 cm−3 remarkably improves the crystallinity, and surface uniformity of the Ge1−

x
Sn
x
epitaxial layer by changing the growth mode by the surfactant effect of Sb atoms. Low-temperature Ge1−

x
Sn
x
growth with in situ Sb doping realizes a very high electron concentration of 1020 cm−3, which is above the thermal equilibrium solid solubility, as a result of suppressing Sb segregation and precipitation.
Monolithically integrated quantum dot optical modulator with semiconductor optical amplifier for thousand and original band optical communication
Authors: Yamamoto Naokatsu , Akahane Kouichi , Umezawa Toshimasa , Matsumoto Atsushi , Kawanishi Tetsuya
Published: March 2016

A monolithically integrated quantum dot (QD) optical gain modulator (OGM) with a QD semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) was successfully developed with T-band (1.0 µm waveband) and O-band (1.3 µm waveband) QD optical gain materials for Gbps-order, high-speed optical data generation. The insertion loss due to coupling between the device and the optical fiber was effectively compensated for by the SOA section. It was also confirmed that the monolithic QD-OGM/SOA device enabled >4.8 Gbps optical data generation with a clear eye opening in the T-band. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated error-free 4.8 Gbps optical data transmissions in each of the six wavelength channels over a 10-km-long photonic crystal fiber using the monolithic QD-OGM/SOA device in multiple O-band wavelength channels, which were generated by the single QD gain chip. These results suggest that the monolithic QD-OGM/SOA device will be advantageous in ultra-broadband optical frequency systems that utilize the T+O-band for short- and medium-range optical communications.
Localized surface plasmon-enhanced photoluminescence of amorphous silicon quantum dots through plasmonic subwavelength crossed metallic gratings
Authors: Tsai Tsung-Han , Lin Ming-Yi , Hsiao Li-Jen , Choi Wing-Kit , Lin Hoang Yan
Published: March 2016

We investigate experimentally the enhancing effect of plasmonic subwavelength crossed Ag gratings on photoluminescence (PL) from the amorphous silicon quantum dots (a-Si QDs) embedded in a central silicon-rich SiO
x
film of the Ag/SiO
x
:a-Si QDs/Ag sandwich nanostructures. The use of the crossed Ag grating structure as the top layer in the sandwich nanostructures results in a 2-fold increase in the PL peak intensity and a 1.34-fold increase in the integrated emission intensity compared with the use of a one-dimensional (1D) Ag grating top layer, and a 1.53-fold peak intensity increase compared with that of a SiO
x
:a-Si QDs/Ag structure without a Ag top layer. These significant PL enhancements can be attributed to the high light-extraction efficiency of the polarization-independent crossed metallic grating structure, the strong out-coupling of localized surface plasmons (LSPs), and the strong a-Si QD–LSP coupling.
Output characteristics of a semiconductor laser diode with two circular ring resonators
Authors: Shih Ming Chang , Kao Yi Hsiang , Lan Wen How
Published: March 2016

Here, we present the output characteristics of a semiconductor laser diode with two circular ring resonators. The material of the laser diode is a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)-grown InGaAlP multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structure. The current injection of the laser diode is confined by the ridge waveguide of two circular ring resonators connected by two directional couplers. The confined light output through the nonwaveguide region of the substrate was observed. Measurements of light–current (L–I) and spectral characteristics at each output terminal were presented. These measurements showed asymmetric output characteristics of emission from two directional coupling terminals. In addition, output characteristics of a laser diode device with larger diameter ring resonators showed shifting of the lasing emission wavelength from a different side of the output coupling terminal.
Silicon photonic crystal resonators for label free biosensor
Authors: Sana Amrita Kumar , Honzawa Keita , Amemiya Yoshiteru , Yokoyama Shin
Published: March 2016

We report the fabrication and characterization of a two-dimensional (2D) silicon photonic crystal biosensor consisting of waveguides and cavity-type and defect-type resonators for enhancing the interactions between light and biomaterials. Sensitivity was measured using sucrose solution and the sensor showed the highest sensitivity [1570 nm/RIU (refractive index unit)] ever reported. We also investigated cavity size effects on resonance wavelength shift, and we observed that a large cavity exhibits a greater resonance wavelength shift. The fabricated sensor has shown a high Q of ∼105 in water and a device figure of merit of 1.2 × 105, which represent the improvements of the device performance over other photonic-crystal-based sensors.
Frequency-response-based analysis of respiratory sensor measuring capacitance built across skin
Authors: Terasawa Makie , Kumagai Shinya , Sasaki Minoru
Published: March 2016

A capacitive respiratory sensor is studied by attaching the electrodes to the skin. The signal characteristics related to the electrode position and body motion are examined. The frequency response indicates the nearly pure capacitance characteristics. The sensing mechanism model based on the equivalent skin thickness change generated by the body volume change accompanying respiration is reasonably consistent with the experimental results. The sensing method is examined by measuring the frequency response under some different conditions including the grounding issue. The electrode attached to the concave site tends to show a smaller signal difference between inhalation and exhalation. The convex site stabilizes the measurement. The bellyband combined with the electrode realizes stable sensing with comfortable fit on the skin.
Electrical and physical characterizations of the effects of oxynitridation and wet oxidation at the interface of SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) and
Authors: Shiomi Hiromu , Kitai Hidenori , Tsujimura Masatoshi , Kiuchi Yuji , Nakata Daisuke , Ono Shuichi , Kojima Kazutoshi , Fukuda Kenji , Sakamoto Kunihiro , Yamasaki Kimiyohi , Okumura Hajime
Published: March 2016

The effects of oxynitridation and wet oxidation at the interface of SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) and

were investigated using both electrical and physical characterization methods. Hall measurements and split capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements revealed that the difference in field-effect mobility between wet oxide and dry oxynitride interfaces was mainly attributed to the ratio of the mobile electron density to the total induced electron density. The surface states close to the conduction band edge causing a significant trapping of inversion carriers were also evaluated. High-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (HR-RBS) analysis and high-resolution elastic recoil detection analysis (HR-ERDA) were employed to show the nanometer-scale compositional profile of the SiC-MOS interfaces for the first time. These analyses, together with cathode luminescence (CL) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), suggested that the deviations of stoichiometry and roughness at the interface defined the effects of oxynitridation and wet oxidation at the interface of SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) and

.
Identifying contamination with advanced visualization and analysis practices: metagenomic approaches for eukaryotic genome assemblies
Authors: Delmont Tom O. , Eren A. Murat
Published: March 2016

High-throughput sequencing provides a fast and cost-effective mean to recover genomes of organisms from all domains of life. However, adequate curation of the assembly results against potential contamination of non-target organisms requires advanced bioinformatics approaches and practices. Here, we re-analyzed the sequencing data generated for the tardigradeHypsibius dujardini,and created a holistic display of the eukaryotic genome assembly using DNA data originating from two groups and eleven sequencing libraries. By using bacterial single-copy genes, k-mer frequencies, and coverage values of scaffolds we could identify and characterize multiple near-complete bacterial genomes from the raw assembly, and curate a 182 Mbp draft genome forH. dujardinisupported by RNA-Seq data. Our results indicate that most contaminant scaffolds were assembled from Moleculo long-read libraries, and most of these contaminants have differed between library preparations. Our re-analysis shows that visualization and curation of eukaryotic genome assemblies can benefit from tools designed to address the needs of today’s microbiologists, who are constantly challenged by the difficulties associated with the identification of distinct microbial genomes in complex environmental metagenomes.
Improvement of the hillslope‐storage Boussinesq model by considering lateral flow in the unsaturated zone
Authors: Kong Jun , Shen Chengji , Luo Zhaoyang , Hua Guofen , Zhao Hongjun
Published: March 2016

Unsaturated flow is an important factor that affects groundwater motion. Among various drainage models, the nonlinear Hillslope‐storage Boussinesq (HSB) model has been commonly used to predict water flux along a slope. In this study, we improved this model by considering lateral flow in the unsaturated zone. Using modified van Genuchten functions, we analytically expressed the concept of equivalent propagation thickness in the vadose zone. This analytical expression was then incorporated into the HSB model to reflect two different stages of the drainage process and to simulate the hillslope drainage process more accurately. The model results indicated that lateral flow has significant effects in the unsaturated zone during the hillslope drainage process. Even in sandy aquifers, the amount of water contributed by the unsaturated zone is a key factor that enables a decrease in the water table during the middle and late stages of the process. A comparison between the measured and simulated results based on both convergent‐type and divergent‐type hillslope drainage processes revealed that the thickness of the saturated zone decreases as the unsaturated flow increases. This study emphasizes the necessity of considering unsaturated flow in the HSB model to improve the accuracy of predicting groundwater outflow rates and develop more accurate hydrographs. The concept of equivalent propagation thickness also provides a criterion for assessing the importance of unsaturated lateral flow for future drainage research.
Surgical management of a splenic artery aneurysm
Authors: Değer Kamuran Cumhur , Gündeş Ebubekir , Fedakar Ali
Published: March 2016

Key Clinical Message

Aneurisms of the splenic artery are rare clinical findings. Surgeons and interventional radiologists should co‐operate in the management of this challenging disease; we describe here a surgical option.
ChemInform Abstract: LOW SURFACE CONCENTRATION OF BORON IN SILICON BY DIFFUSION THROUGH SILICON DIOXIDE
Authors: MUENCH W. VON , GESSERT C.
Published: March 2016

Es wird demonstriert, daß die Diffusion von B durch eine dünne SiO2‐Schicht ein geeignetes Mittel zur Erzielung von reproduzierbaren Akzeptor‐Oberflächenkonzentrationen im Bereich von 5·1015 bis 2·1020 cm‐3 mit Übergangstiefen von 0‐15 μm ist.
ChemInform Abstract: EFFECTS OF FORMAL CHARGE ON THE HETEROGENEOUS ELECTRON TRANSFER RATE AT A MERCURY‐DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE INTERFACE FOR A SERIES OF ORGANIC SALTS
Authors: KAKUTANI TADAAKI , WHITE C. KENNETH , RIEKE REUBEN D.
Published: March 2016

Die Geschwindigkeitskonstanten für die heterogene Einelektronenreduktion der 1,4‐ Diphosphoniacyclohexadien‐(2,5)‐Salze (I), der Nitrophenyltriphenylphosphoniumund ‐trimethylammonium‐Salze (II) sowie für K‐p‐nitrophenylacetat (III) an einer Hg‐Tropfelektrode in DMF werden mit Hilfe der Wechselstrompolarographie ermittelt.
ChemInform Abstract: PREPARATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF α‐CYANO‐β‐NITROSTYRENES
Authors: BELLEC CHRISTIAN , COLAU ROGER , DESWARTE STEPHANE , DORE JEAN‐CHRISTOPHE , VIEL CLAUDE
Published: March 2016

Die durch Nitrierung der entsprechenden Styrole mit N2O4 in Chloroform bei 0°C in 66 bis 85%igen Ausbeuten erhältlichen Nitrostyrole (I) werden bei der Elektroreduktion zu den Oximen (II) reduziert, die (in neutraler Lösung) zu den Isoxazolen (III) cyclisieren bzw. (in saurer Lösung) zu Ketonen, wie (IV), hydrolysiert werden.
ChemInform Abstract: Reaktionen von cyclischen Aminoxiden und Nitronen mit aktivierten Methylengruppen. 5. Mitt. Thermolyse von N‐Alkyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenz[c.e]azepin‐N‐oxiden.
Authors: KREHER RICHARD , PAWELCZYK HUBERT , GERHARDT WERNER
Published: March 2016

Ausgehend vom Dibromid (I) entstehen durch Cyclisierung mit den entsprechenden Aminen (II) und anschließende Oxidation die N‐Oxide (III) als Hydrate.
ChemInform Abstract: PHOTOCYCLOADDITION OF CIS‐1,2‐DIHYDROPHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE TO BENZENE AND ARENES
Authors: YANG N. C. , NEYWICK C. V. , SRINIVASACHAR K.
Published: March 2016

cis‐1,2‐Dihydro‐phthalsäureanhydrid (I) reagiert bei einer Photolyse in Benzol (II) zu einem Gemisch aus dem Umlagerungsprodukt (III) und dem Addukt (IV), das photochemisch in Gegenwart von Xanthon zu (V) cyclisiert werden kann.
ChemInform Abstract: SYNTHESIS AND SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF SUBSTITUTED 3‐AMINO‐2‐NITROACRYLATES
Authors: KNIPPEL EBERHARD , KNIPPEL MONIKA , MICHALIK MANFRED , KELLING HANS , KRISTEN HELMUT
Published: March 2016

Die Darstellung der Aminoacrylsäureester (III) erfolgt durch Umsetzung der Ester (I) mit den Aminen (II).
ChemInform Abstract: REACTION OF ENEDIONE EPOXIDES WITH BASE
Authors: HERZ W. , IYER V. S. , NAIR M. G.
Published: March 2016

Bei der Behandlung mit katalytischen Mengen an Alkali in Äthanol erhält man aus den Epoxiden (Ia) bzw. (IVa) die anellierten Cyclopentenone (IIa) bzw. (Va).
ChemInform Abstract: FREE‐RADICAL ADDITION OF ALIPHATIC ALCOHOLS TO UNSATURATED CYCLIC ACETALS
Authors: UZIKOVA V. N. , ZLOTSKII S. S. , RAKHMANKULOV D. L.
Published: March 2016

Die cyclischen Acetale des Acroleins (I) reagieren in Gegenwart von Di‐tert.‐butylperoxid bei 135°C mit den Alkoholen (II) unter Bildung der Alkohole (III).
ChemInform Abstract: PURINE STUDIES. XV. ADDITION OF HYDROGEN SULFITE ION TO PURINES
Authors: PENDERGAST WILLIAM
Published: March 2016

Die Addition von schwefliger Säure bzw. K‐hydrogensulfit an Purine wie z.B. (I) bzw. (III) ergibt die Addukte (II) bzw. (IV).
ChemInform Abstract: COMPLEXING BEHAVIOR OF 1,3,4‐THIADIAZOLE‐2‐THIOL‐5‐AMINO. I. COMPLEXES OF IRON(II), COBALT(II), RUTHENIUM(III), RUTHENIUM(II), RHODIUM(III), PALLADIUM(IV), IRIDIUM(III), AND PLATINUM(IV)
Authors: GAJENDRAGAD M. R. , AGARWALA U.
Published: March 2016

Die Komplexe (I)‐(V) werden durch Umsetzung entsprechender Metallchloride mit dem in Äthanol/Wasser gelösten Titelliganden erhalten.