bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical and economical stainless steel alternatives for civil engineering applications
Authors: Burkert A. , Lehmann J. , Burkert A. , Mietz J. , Gümpel P.
Published: October 2014

Systematic laboratory and field exposure tests allow to compare nine different stainless steels (three ferritic, three austenitic, and three duplex grades) for civil engineering applications. The influence of surface finish was also taken into account by choosing five different industry‐specific features. The three duplex stainless steels revealed excellent corrosion resistance under most of the test conditions. Especially for applications in civil engineering the lean duplex steels offer distinct advantages. The manganese‐alloyed 1.4376 and the ferritic steel 1.4509 cannot be recommended as alternative materials as they did not perform satisfactorily.
Effect and Evolution of Nanostructural Complexity in Sensitive Polymer Gels
Authors: Seiffert Sebastian
Published: October 2014

Sensitive polymer gels consist of swollen networks of crosslinked macromolecules subject to a delicate interplay with their environment, allowing them to be swollen and deswollen or crosslinked and decrosslinked upon external stimulation. Such environmental sensitivity can be realized by the use of covalently crosslinked polymer networks that exhibit critical miscibility with their swelling medium or by the use of transient and reversible, supramolecular chain crosslinking. Both classes of sensitive gels are established and used in a variety of applications. However, to make this truly useful, systematic relations between the structure, dynamics, and properties of these gels must be derived. In addition to the specific trigger of gel responsiveness, a prime factor of influence in this interplay is the nanostructural polymer‐network topology. Whereas a simplistic view of a polymer network is that of an ideal, regular array of monodisperse meshes, real polymer networks often display polydisperse mesh sizes, along with structural imperfections such as loops and dangling chains, and along with further spatial inhomogeneities of their crosslinking density on a length scale of several tens of nanometers. This article summarizes recent effort to consistently probe the impact and temporal evolution of such nanostructural complexity in both gels with critical polymer–solvent miscibility and in gels with transient supramolecular crosslinking. For this purpose, different designed model systems are introduced to control and probe the polymer‐network nanostructural heterogeneity as an experimental variable. This is done using techniques such as rheology, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, light scattering, and neutron scattering.

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Programmable Polymer Memory Device Based on Hydrophilic Polythiophene and Poly(ionic liquid) Electrolyte
Authors: Li Yueqin , Song Yang , Zhang Xiyu , Wu Xiangxiang , Wang Fang , Wang Zhuye
Published: October 2014

A three‐terminal non‐volatile memory device with the configuration of an organic thin‐film transistor (OTFT) is constructed from two polymeric layers by using the conventional solution‐coating process. It consists of a hydrophilic polythiophene, regioregular poly(3‐carboxypentylthiophene) (P3CPT) as the active layer and a poly(ionic liquid), poly[1‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐3‐butyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate] (PVBIT) as a polyelectrolyte layer. The conductivity of the polythiophene layer can be reversibly switched between high and low conductance states with “write” and “erase” bias at +3 and −3 V, respectively. The retention time of the ON state is up to 1.6 × 104 s and the write–read–erase–read switching is stable over 100 cycles. In addition, an instantaneous response and a fast switching speed are observed by simultaneous monitoring of both the “write” and “read” operations. All these results indicate that the device developed possesses potential applications as alternative solid‐state non‐volatile memory devices.

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Conjugated Polymer Composite Nanoparticles by Rapid Mixing
Authors: Jung Christoph , de Roo Tjaard , Mecking Stefan
Published: October 2014

Composite nanoparticles from poly[(9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluoren‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol‐4,8‐diyl)] (F8BT) and poly(9,9‐di‐n‐hexylfluoren‐2,7‐diyl) (PF) with embedded inorganic nanoparticles (TiO2, CdSe, and CdSe/CdS) are prepared through kinetic trapping by rapid turbulent mixing in a multi‐inlet vortex mixer without the need for polymer functionalization. High contents of inorganic materials up to 50–60 wt% are realized for all composites. The influence of flow ratios, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, and absolute flow rates on the particle size and morphology is studied. High water‐to‐THF ratios and high total flow rates around 2 m s−1 yield particle sizes below 50 nm. By adjusting these parameters, controlled particle sizes between 30 to several hundred nanometers are obtained. Composite particles from CdSe/CdS and F8BT or PF show a strong quenching of the polymer emission and near exclusive emission from the inorganic nanocrystal, which indicates an efficient energy transfer with fluorescence quantum yields of 23% for the F8BT/CdSe/CdS composites and 21% for the PF/CdSe/CdS composites. The dispersions are colloidally stable for several months.

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Solvent Effects on Acrylate kp in Organic Media?—A Systematic PLP–SEC Study
Authors: Haehnel Alexander P. , Wenn Benjamin , Kockler Katrin , Bantle Tobias , Misske Andrea M. , Fleischhaker Friederike , Junkers Tanja , Barner‐Kowollik Christopher
Published: October 2014

The Arrhenius parameters of the propagation rate coefficient, kp, are determined employing high‐frequency pulsed laser polymerization–size exclusion chromatography (PLP–SEC) for the homologous series of five linear alkyl acrylates (i.e., methyl acrylate (MA), butyl acrylate (BA), dodecyl acrylate (DA), stearyl acrylate (SA), and behenyl acrylate (BeA)) in 1 m solution in butyl acetate (BuAc) as well as in toluene. The comparison of the obtained kp values with the literature known values for bulk demonstrates that no significant solvent influence neither in BuAc nor in toluene on the propagation reaction compared to bulk is detectable. Concomitantly, the kp values in toluene and in BuAc solution display a similar increase with increasing number of C‐atoms in the ester side chain as was previously reported for the bulk systems. These findings are in clear contrast to earlier studies, which report a decrease of kp with increasing ester side chain length in toluene. The additional investigation of the longest and shortest ester side chain acrylate (i.e., BeA and MA) over the entire experimentally available concentration range at one temperature (i.e., 50 °C) does not reveal any general concentration dependence and all observed differences in the kp are within the experimental error.

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Mitochondrial Potassium Channels as Pharmacological Target for Cardioprotective Drugs
Authors: Testai L. , Rapposelli S. , Martelli A. , Breschi M.C. , Calderone V.
Published: October 2014

Brief periods of ischemia are known to confer to the myocardium an increased resistance to the injury due to a later and more prolonged ischemic episode. This phenomenon, known as ischemic preconditioning (IPreC), is ensured by different biological mechanisms. Although an exhaustive comprehension of them has not been reached yet, it is widely accepted that mitochondria are pivotally involved in controlling cell life and death, and thus in IPreC. Among the several signaling pathways involved, as triggers and/or end effectors, in the mitochondrial mechanisms of cardioprotection, an important role is played by the activation of potassium channels located in the mitochondrial inner membrane (mitoK) of cardiomyocytes. Presently, different types of mitoK channels have been recognized in the heart, such as ATP‐sensitive (mitoKATP) and calcium‐activated (mitoBKCaand mitoSKCa) potassium channels. Consistently, drugs modulating mitoK, on one hand, have been employed as useful experimental tools for early basic studies on IPreC. On the other hand, activators of mitoK are promising and innovative therapeutic agents for limiting the myocardial injury due to ischemic episodes. In this review, we report the experimental evidence supporting the role of mitoK in signaling pathways in the mechanisms of cardioprotection and an overview on the most important molecules acting as modulators of these channels, with their profiles of selectivity. Some innovative pharmaceutical strategies for mitochondriotropic drugs have been also reported. Finally, an appendix describing the main experimental approaches usually employed to study mitoK in isolated mitochondria or in intact cells has been added.
Systematic analysis of the intravoxel incoherent motion threshold separating perfusion and diffusion effects: Proposal of a standardized algorithm
Authors: Wurnig Moritz C. , Donati Olivio F. , Ulbrich Erika , Filli Lukas , Kenkel David , Thoeny Harriet C. , Boss Andreas
Published: October 2014

Purpose

To systematically evaluate the dependence of intravoxel‐incoherent‐motion (IVIM) parameters on the b‐value threshold separating the perfusion and diffusion compartment, and to implement and test an algorithm for the standardized computation of this threshold.

Methods

Diffusion weighted images of the upper abdomen were acquired at 3 Tesla in eleven healthy male volunteers with 10 different b‐values and in two healthy male volunteers with 16 different b‐values. Region‐of‐interest IVIM analysis was applied to the abdominal organs and skeletal muscle with a systematic increase of the b‐value threshold for computing pseudodiffusion D*, perfusion fraction Fp, diffusion coefficient D, and the sum of squared residuals to the bi‐exponential IVIM‐fit.

Results

IVIM parameters strongly depended on the choice of the b‐value threshold. The proposed algorithm successfully provided optimal b‐value thresholds with the smallest residuals for all evaluated organs [s/mm2]: e.g., right liver lobe 20, spleen 20, right renal cortex 150, skeletal muscle 150. Mean D* [10−3 mm2/s], Fp [%], and D [10−3 mm2/s] values (±standard deviation) were: right liver lobe, 88.7 ± 42.5, 22.6 ± 7.4, 0.73 ± 0.12; right renal cortex: 11.5 ± 1.8, 18.3 ± 2.9, 1.68 ± 0.05; spleen: 41.9 ± 57.9, 8.2 ± 3.4, 0.69 ± 0.07; skeletal muscle: 21.7 ± 19.0; 7.4 ± 3.0; 1.36 ± 0.04.

Conclusion

IVIM parameters strongly depend upon the choice of the b‐value threshold used for computation. The proposed algorithm may be used as a robust approach for IVIM analysis without organ‐specific adaptation. Magn Reson Med 74:1414–1422, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Progressive polyradiculoneuropathy due to intraneural oxalate deposition in type 1 primary hyperoxaluria
Authors: Berini Sarah E. , Tracy Jennifer A. , Engelstad Janean K. , Lorenz Elizabeth C. , Milliner Dawn S. , Dyck Peter J.
Published: October 2014

Introduction: A 24‐year‐old man with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) presented with a rapidly progressive axonal and demyelinating sensorimotor polyradiculoneuropathy shortly after the onset of end‐stage renal disease. His plasma oxalate level was markedly elevated at 107 µmol/L (normal <1.8 µmol/L). Methods: A sural nerve biopsy was performed. Teased fiber and paraffin and epoxy sections were done and morphometric procedures were performed on this sample and on an archived sample from a 22‐year‐old man as an age‐ and gender‐matched control. Embedded teased fiber electron microscopy was also performed. Results: The biopsy revealed secondary demyelination and axonal degeneration. Under polarized light, multiple bright hexagonal, rectangular, and starburst inclusions, typical of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals, were seen. Conclusions: The proposed mechanisms of nerve damage include disruption of axonal transport due to crystal deposition, toxic effect of oxalate, or nerve ischemia related to vessel occlusion from oxalate crystal deposition. Muscle Nerve 51: 449–454, 2015
Lichtmikroskopie ohne Beugungsgrenzen
Authors: Zumbusch Andreas
Published: October 2014

Der Nobelpreis 2014 in Chemie geht an Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell und William E. Moerner für die Entwicklung der hochaufgelösten Fluoreszenzmikroskopie.
Die protoelektrische Potenzialkarte
Authors: Radtke Valentin , Himmel Daniel , Pütz Katharina , Goll Sascha K. , Krossing Ingo
Published: October 2014

Redoxpotenziale oder pH‐Werte in verschiedenen Medien miteinander zu vergleichen, stößt auf scheinbar unüberwindliche Schwierigkeiten. Neue Definitionen des Standardpotenzials und des pH‐Wertes im Brønsted'schen Sinne bieten eine Lösung.
Eine unentdeckte Entdeckung?
Authors: Steinhauser Georg , Löffler Gerd , Adunka Roland
Published: October 2014

Im Jahr 1910 publizierte der österreichische Chemiker Carl Auer von Welsbach eine merkwürdige Beobachtung, die nicht im Einklang mit dem damaligen Wissen stand. Es könnte sich um die erste Beschreibung von Neutronenstrahlung handeln.
Biosynthese im Reagenzglas
Authors: Gulder Tanja , Gulder Tobias A. M.
Published: October 2014

Eine Alternative zur chemischen Synthese komplexer Naturstoffe ist es, solche Metabolite ex vivo zu biosynthetisieren.
Registranten sind beunruhigt
Authors: Friede Bernd
Published: October 2014

Stoffdossiers, die entsprechend der europäischen Chemikalienverordnung Reach registriert sind, sind öffentlich zugänglich. Dies nutzen Betrüger, um ohne Aufwand eigene Dossiers zu erstellen. Damit könnten auch gefährliche Stoffe ohne entsprechende Kennzeichnung auf den Markt gelangen.
Wie viel Sauerstoff war im Seewasser?
Authors: Näher Sebastian , Gilli Adrian , Hamann Yvonne , Schubert Carsten
Published: October 2014

Ein Indikator für den Sauerstoffgehalt im Tiefenwasser von Seen ist das Verhältnis von Mangan zu Eisen in Sedimenten. Die Elementzusammensetzung der Sedimente ist mit Röntgenfluoreszenz messbar und zeigt auch die Umweltveränderungen der Vergangenheit.
Nur Singuletts im NMR‐Spektrum
Authors: Zangger Klaus
Published: October 2014

Die Beseitigung der homonuklearen skalaren Kopplung in 1H‐NMR‐Experimenten führt zu Spektren ohne Signalaufspaltungen und damit zu höherer Auflösung. Das ist von Vorteil, wenn die Strukturen komplexer Substanzen wie Naturstoffen oder Peptiden aufzuklären sind oder wenn Substanzgemische vorliegen.
Neue Trennsäule für wasserlösliche Vitamine
Authors: Giegold Sascha
Published: October 2014

Im Labor werden Vitaminpräparate in der Regel mit Ionenpaar‐Reagenzien und Umkehrphasen‐Flüssigchromatographie analysiert. Allerdings sind hierbei die Analysenzeiten sehr lang.
Wer bezahlt den Flug?
Authors: Hermes Ilka
Published: October 2014

Im Ausland studieren — das wollen viele. Doch nicht alle können es sich leisten. Damit jeder an Universitäten außerhalb Deutschlands lernen und Erfahrungen sammeln kann, bieten Staat, Stiftungen und Banken Finanzierungsprogramme.
Provision of Clinical Pharmacist Services for Individuals With Chronic Hepatitis C Viral Infection
Authors: Mohammad Rima A. , Bulloch Marilyn N. , Chan Juliana , Deming Paulina , Love Bryan , Smith Lisa , Dong Betty J.
Published: October 2014

The objective of this opinion paper was to identify and describe potential clinical pharmacists’ services for the prevention and management of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The goals of this paper are to guide the establishment and development of pharmacy services for patients infected with HCV and to highlight HCV research and educational opportunities. Recommendations were based on the following: a review of published data on clinical pharmacist involvement in the treatment and management of HCV‐infected patients; a consensus of clinical pharmacists who provide direct patient care to HCV‐infected patients and practice in different pharmacy models, including community‐based and academic settings; and a review of published guidelines and literature focusing on the treatment and management of HCV infections. The recommendations provided in this opinion paper define the areas of clinical pharmacist involvement and clinical pharmacy practice in the treatment and management of patients with HCV. Clinical pharmacists can promote preventive measures and education about reducing HCV transmission, improve medication adherence, assist in monitoring clinical and adverse effects, recommend treatment strategies to minimize adverse effects and drug interactions, and facilitate medication acquisition and logistics that positively improve patient outcomes and reduce the health care system costs.
Impact of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway on the subproteome of detergent‐resistant microdomains of colon carcinoma cells
Authors: Recktenwald Christian V. , Lichtenfels Rudolf , Wulfaenger Jens , Müller Anja , Dressler Sven P. , Seliger Barbara
Published: October 2014

Lipid rafts play a key role in the regulation of fundamentally important cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The composition of such detergent‐resistant microdomains (DRMs) is altered under pathologic conditions, including cancer. Although DRMs have been analyzed in colorectal carcinoma little information exists about their composition upon treatment with targeted drugs. Hence, a quantitative proteomic profiling approach was performed to define alterations within the DRM fraction of colorectal carcinoma cells upon treatment with the drug U0126, an inhibitor of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. Comparative expression profilings resulted in the identification of 300 proteins, which could partially be linked to key oncogenic signaling pathways and tumor‐related cellular features, such as cell proliferation, adhesion, motility, invasion, and apoptosis resistance. Most of these proteins were downregulated upon inhibitor treatment. In addition, quantitative proteomic profilings of cholesterol‐depleted versus intact lipid rafts were performed to define, which U0126‐regulated target structures represent bona fide raft proteins. Selected differentially abundant raft proteins were validated at the mRNA and/or protein level using U0126‐ or Trametinib‐treated cells. The presented data provide insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with the response to the treatment with MEK inhibitors and might also lead to novel candidates for therapeutic interventions.
Zinc oxide precursor treatment for improving dye‐sensitized solar cell efficiency
Authors: Liu Xiang , Wang Gang , Ng Annie , Ng Yip Hang , Chen Xinyi , Leung Yu Hang , Djurišić Aleksandra B. , Ng Alan Man Ching , Chan Wai Kin
Published: October 2014

Unlike TiO2‐based dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) where improvements in the efficiency with TiCl4 treatments are well established, there are no known treatments to improve the efficiency of ZnO‐based DSSCs. Here we investigated treatments (solution‐based, followed by annealing) with different ZnO precursors (zinc acetate, zinc chloride, and zinc nitrate) on the properties of ZnO porous film and on the ZnO‐based DSSC performance. While zinc chloride and zinc acetate treatments do not improve DSSC performance, zinc nitrate treatment results in increased orange‐red defect emission of ZnO electrode, significant difference in the impedance characteristics, and improved photovoltaic performance from 2.07% to 2.35% with ∼12% increase in power conversion efficiency compared to untreated cells.
50 Years of Reading Research Quarterly (1965–2014): Looking Back, Moving Forward
Authors: Ray Reutzel D. , Mohr Kathleen A.J.
Published: October 2014

This issue of Reading Research Quarterly (RRQ) marks the journal's golden (50th) anniversary and 200th published issue. Given this historic milestone, an understanding of the journal's content and impact might inform its readership about the field of literacy broadly and the contribution of RRQ in particular. This study reports a content and trend analysis using a convergent parallel mixed methods design to profile the content of 50 years of RRQ. Grounded in polysystem and cultural field theories, four parallel investigative tracks afforded a complementary understanding of what the journal has published over five decades and together highlight salient aspects of the journal's history. Analyses targeted the most frequently researched topics and populations, as well as trends in research and analysis types and most frequently cited articles. Bibliometric data add information about the status and online use of the journal as it celebrates its 50th year. In addition, a qualitative analysis of editorials complements the quantitative data to provide a panoramic retrospective that answers five research questions. Data led the researchers to identify trends that supported identification of five pillars that characterize the nature and impact of RRQ in the past and present. Recommendations are made about how RRQ might preserve its core strengths or pillars and develop new directions to expand its influence and impact.
Overcoming Concealment Effects of Targeting Moieties in the PEG Corona: Controlled Permeable Polymersomes Decorated with Folate‐Antennae for Selective Targeting of Tumor Cells
Authors: Yassin Mohamed A. , Appelhans Dietmar , Wiedemuth Ralf , Formanek Petr , Boye Susanne , Lederer Albena , Temme Achim , Voit Brigitte
Published: October 2014

In the context of diligent efforts to improve the tumor targeting efficiency of drug carriers, a shape‐persistent polymersome which possess a pH‐tunable membrane as well as folate targeting antennae is reported. The membrane of such polymersomes behaves as gate which undergoes “on” and “off” switches in response to pH stimuli. Thus, polymersomes can effectively prohibit the premature release of chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin in physiological conditions, but promote drug release once they are triggered in the acidified endosomal compartment. Importantly, the folate moieties are installed on the surface of polymersomes as protruding antennae by doping the polymersomes with folate‐terminated block copolymers designed to have longer PEG segments. Thereby, the folate moieties are freed from concealment and steric effects exerted by the dense PEG corona. The cellular uptake of the FA‐antennae polymersomes by tumor cells is significantly enhanced facilitated by the freely accessible folate antennae; however, the normal cells record a low level of cellular uptake due to the stealth property of the PEG corona. Overall, the excellent biocompatibility, controlled permeability, targeted internalization, as well as selective cytotoxicity of such polymersomes set up the basis for properly smart carrier for targeted drug delivery.
Differentiation of genetic abnormalities in early pregnancy loss
Authors: Romero S. T. , Geiersbach K. B. , Paxton C. N. , Rose N. C. , Schisterman E. F. , Branch D. W. , Silver R. M.
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

Objective

To characterize the types of genetic abnormalities and their prevalence in early pregnancy loss at different developmental stages. We hypothesized that the prevalence of genetic abnormalities in pregnancy loss would differ across developmental stages.

Methods

Women with a pregnancy loss at < 20 weeks' gestation (n = 86) were enrolled at the time of diagnosis. Maternal tissue without a fetal component was found in 13 samples. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was performed on 74 samples (including two samples from a twin pregnancy); 15 were pre‐embryonic (no visible embryo on ultrasound examination), 31 were embryonic (embryo; 6 + 0 to 9 + 6 weeks' gestation) and 28 were fetal (fetus; 10 + 0 to 19 + 6 weeks' gestation) losses. The twin pregnancy was found to be monochorionic diamniotic and was subsequently treated as a single sample in our analysis. Nine samples that underwent CMA were excluded from analysis because of 100% maternal‐cell contamination.

Results

The overall prevalence of genetic abnormalities differed across developmental stages (9.1% pre‐embryonic, 69.2% embryonic and 33.3% fetal; P < 0.01). This difference persisted when comparing pre‐embryonic with embryonic samples (P < 0.01) and embryonic with fetal samples (P = 0.02) but not pre‐embryonic with fetal samples (P = 0.12). Additionally, the prevalence of aneuploidy differed significantly across developmental stages (0.0% in pre‐embryonic samples vs 65.4% in embryonic samples vs 25.9% in fetal samples, P < 0.001). Abnormalities were most common in embryonic cases, followed by fetal and then pre‐embryonic. Maternal cell contamination (MCC) was noted in 47.4% of 46,XX cases assessed.

Conclusions

Genetic abnormalities detected by CMA are more likely to occur in the embryonic period than in pre‐embryonic or fetal stages. MCC is common in early pregnancy loss and should be excluded when results demonstrate a 46,XX karyotype. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Heart‐type fatty‐acid‐binding protein (FABP3) is a lysophosphatidic acid‐binding protein in human coronary artery endothelial cells
Authors: Tsukahara Ryoko , Haniu Hisao , Matsuda Yoshikazu , Tsukahara Tamotsu
Published: October 2014

Fatty‐acid‐binding protein 3, muscle and heart (FABP3), also known as heart‐type FABP, is a member of the family of intracellular lipid‐binding proteins. It is a small cytoplasmic protein with a molecular mass of about 15 kDa. FABPs are known to be carrier proteins for transporting fatty acids and other lipophilic substances from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where these lipids are released to a group of nuclear receptors such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs). In this study, using lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)‐coated agarose beads, we have identified FABP3 as an LPA carrier protein in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Administration of LPA to HCAECs resulted in a dose‐dependent increase in PPARγ activation. Furthermore, the LPA‐induced PPARγ activation was abolished when the FABP3 expression was reduced using small interfering RNA (siRNA). We further show that the nuclear fraction of control HCAECs contained a significant amount of exogenously added LPA, whereas FABP3 siRNA‐transfected HCAECs had a decreased level of LPA in the nucleus. Taken together, these results suggest that FABP3 governs the transcriptional activities of LPA by targeting them to cognate PPARγ in the nucleus.
Evaluating Use of the Siebens Domain Management Model During Inpatient Rehabilitation to Increase Functional Independence and Discharge Rate to Home in Stroke Patients
Authors: Kushner David S. , Peters Kenneth M. , Johnson‐Greene Doug
Published: October 2014

Objective

To evaluate use of the Siebens Domain Management Model (SDMM) during stroke inpatient rehabilitation (IR) to increase functional independence and rate of discharge to home.

Design

Before and after study.

Setting

IR facility.

Participants

Before the intervention: 154 patients with ischemic/hemorrhagic strokes who were admitted to an IR facility in 2010; on average, they were admitted 9.1 days after receiving acute care. After the intervention: 151 patients with ischemic/hemorrhagic strokes who were admitted to an IR facility in 2012; on average they were admitted 7.3 days after receiving acute care. The comorbidity tier severity and prestroke living setting and living support appeared to be similar in both the preintervention and postintervention groups.

Intervention

Use of the SDMM involving weekly adjustments of IR care focused on potential barriers to discharge home including medical/surgical issues, cognitive/emotional coping issues, physical function, and living environment/community re‐entry needs.

Main Outcome Measures

Use of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score change during IR length of stay (LOS; FIM‐LOS efficiency) and rates of discharge to community/home, acute care, and long‐term care (LTC) to compare 2010/preintervention data with postintervention data from 2012, along with comparison of facility data to national aggregate data from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) for both years.

Results

Preintervention 2010 FIM‐LOS efficiency was 1.44 compared with a 2012 postintervention FIM‐LOS efficiency of 2.24, which was significant (t = 4.3; P < .0001). Comparison of the UDSMR 2012 national FIM‐LOS efficiency score (1.72) to the 2012 postintervention score of 2.24 reached significance (t = 2.6; P < .01). In addition, a significant difference was found between groups for discharge location: In the preintervention group, 57.8% were discharged to home/community, 14.9% to LTC, and 27.3% back to acute care compared with the postintervention group, in which 81.2% were discharged to home/community, 9.4% to LTC, and 9.4% back to acute care (χ2 = 8.98; P < .001). Also significant was comparison between the 2012 postintervention group and the 2012 national UDSMR data for the same 3 discharge locations (χ2 = 3.94; P < .05). Comparison of 2010 to 2012 facility data then shows a 23.4% increase in discharge to the community compared with an increase of 5.8% for the UDSMR 2010 to 2012 data, representing a community discharge rate that is 4 times greater for the 2012 facility postintervention group (χ2 = 83.596; P < .0001).

Conclusions

Use of the SDMM during stroke IR may convey improvement in functional independence and is associated with an increased discharge rate to home/community and a reduction in institutionalization and acute‐care transfers.
Managing Upper Extremity Clonus With Intramuscular Botulinum Toxin–A Injections in a Patient Poststroke
Authors: Kassam Adam , Phadke Chetan P. , Ismail Farooq , Boulias Chris
Published: October 2014

Spasticity and clonus are common clinical signs of upper motor neuron lesions poststroke. Intramuscular botulinum toxin–A injections have been shown to reduce spasticity and to improve quality of life. Upper extremity clonus can have a significant impact upon activities of daily living and can pose challenges to comfort, self‐care, hygiene, and appearance. Although less common than in the ankle, it is important to understand how upper extremity clonus management may be beneficial to patients presenting with this finding. The majority of previous reports have focused on management of clonus in the lower extremity, but very few have addressed the management of upper extremity clonus. We present a case of poststroke upper extremity clonus with marked improvements following intramuscular botulinum toxin–A injections.
Algorithm for Quantifying Frontal EMG Responsiveness for Sedation Monitoring
Authors: Lapinlampi Timo Petteri , Viertiö-Oja Hanna Elina , Helin Matti , Uutela Kimmo Henrik , Särkelä Mika Olli Kristian , Vakkuri Anne , Young Gordon Bryan , Walsh Timothy Simon
Published: October 2014

Introduction

To study stimulation-related facial electromyographic (FEMG) activity in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, develop an algorithm for quantifying the FEMG activity, and to optimize the algorithm for monitoring the sedation state of ICU patients.

Methods

First, the characteristics of FEMG response patterns related to vocal stimulation of 17 ICU patients were studied. Second, we collected continuous FEMG data from 30 ICU patients. Based on these data, we developed the Responsiveness Index (RI) algorithm that quantifies FEMG responses. Third, we compared the RI values with clinical sedation level assessments and adjusted algorithm parameters for best performance.

Results

In patients who produced a clinically observed response to the vocal stimulus, the poststimulus FEMG power was 0.33 µV higher than the prestimulus power. In nonresponding patients, there was no difference. The sensitivity and specificity of the developed RI for detecting deep sedation in the subgroup with low probability of encephalopathy were 0.90 and 0.79, respectively.

Conclusion

Consistent FEMG patterns were found related to standard stimulation of ICU patients. A simple and robust algorithm was developed and good correlation with clinical sedation scores achieved in the development data.
Blood Conservation in Neurosurgery: Erythropoietin and Autologous Donation
Authors: McGirr Alexander , Pavenski Katerina , Sharma Bhanu , Cusimano Michael D.
Published: October 2014

Background

Neurosurgery may involve significant blood loss and frequently requires allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Preoperative recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) may be used to improve erythroid status and recovery, and used either alone or in combination with preoperative autologous donation (PAD) it may reduce exposure to allogeneic RBC. We wished to study the use of EPO with and without PAD and the risk of RBC transfusion in neurosurgery.

Methods

Using a retrospective case-control design, 57 patients who received EPO preoperatively were matched 2:1 for age, sex, year of surgery, and International Classification of Diseases code most responsible for surgery (three were excluded because of stringent matching criteria, leaving 54 cases and 108 comparison subjects). Thirty-two cases participated in PAD. Medical and anesthetic records as well as laboratory investigations were reviewed and extracted.

Results

Allogeneic RBC exposure was identical for EPO cases and comparison subjects (18.5%). Concomitant PAD and EPO did not reduce allogeneic RBC exposure (21.9%), and resulted in a greater number of RBC units transfused. Last recorded hemoglobin levels suggested that autologous RBCs were not more liberally used. Patients who engaged in PAD and EPO suffered from iatrogenic anemia. A significant proportion (58.6%) of the autologous RBCs was ultimately not used and discarded.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of EPO in neurological surgery. PAD does not appear to reduce the risk of allogeneic RBC transfusion, despite concomitant EPO. Indeed, PAD resulted in iatrogenic anemia and increased transfusion requirements. The cost-effectiveness of blood conservation efforts in neurosurgery deserves additional research.
Adherence to Guidelines: Experience of a Canadian Stroke Prevention Clinic
Authors: Al-Salti Abdullah , Vieira Lucy , Côté Robert
Published: October 2014

Background

Few studies have assessed the performance of stroke prevention clinics. In particular, limited information exists on patient compliance, achievement of therapeutic targets, and related occurrence of vascular events.

Methods

We compared our clinical practice to recommendations from published guidelines in newly referred patients for transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke between 2008 and 2010. We monitored our cohort for at least 1 year and assessed for adequacy of vascular risk factor management, drug adherence, and occurrence of nonlethal vascular outcomes.

Results

Of 408 patients, 57.8% had a stroke and 42.2% a TIA. The mean age was 68±13 years, and 52% male. Average follow-up was 15.8 months. During follow-up, 253 patients (70.3%) completely achieved their blood pressure target, 151 (45.5%) achieved their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol target, and 407 (99.8%) were on antithrombotics. Eighty-nine patients (21.8%) attained optimal therapy status, defined as reaching targets for LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and antithrombotic use. Adherence to drug therapy was associated with attainment of optimal therapy status (p=0.01). Diabetes was associated with lower probability of attaining optimal therapy status (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.66) and blood pressure targets (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.05-0.17). During follow-up, 52 (12.7%) patients had a nonlethal vascular event.

Conclusion

Our study shows good attainment of therapeutic goals associated with adherence to drug therapy. However, optimal therapy status and blood pressure targets were more difficult to attain in patients with diabetes; therefore, more intensive preventive efforts may be required for these individuals.
Societal Responses to the Post-2008 Economic Crisis among South European and Irish Radical Left Parties: Continuity or Change and Why?
Authors: Charalambous Giorgos , Lamprianou Iasonas
Published: October 2014

The economic crisis has meant that radical left parties in Europe have been faced with changing socioeconomic environments. In this study we examine how European radical left parties have responded to the crisis in terms of their societal mobilization strategies and seek to explain their responses. Discussions in the relevant literature advocate that party-specific characteristics matter greatly in how parties mobilize in society and establish relations with social groups in times of stability. But do they continue to be as important at times of dramatic change, when new realities emerge in society? We look at the cases of the Greek (Greek Communist Party and Coalition of the Radical Left), Irish (Sinn Féin), Portuguese (Portuguese Communist Party and Bloco) and Spanish (Spanish Communist Party/United Left) radical left parties, which are alike at the country level but exhibit differences at the party level. Utilizing data from an original expert survey, we show that both ideology and organizational legacy throw considerable light on the observed variation among the six radical left parties’ societal responses to the crisis. In this way, they ensure continuity rather than change.
The effect of Reynolds number on turbulent drag reduction by streamwise travelling waves
Authors: Hurst Edward , Yang Qiang , Chung Yongmann M.
Published: October 2014

This paper exploits the turbulent flow control method using streamwise travelling waves (Quadrio et al. J. Fluid Mech., vol. 627, 2009, pp. 161–178) to study the effect of Reynolds number on turbulent skin-friction drag reduction. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of a turbulent channel flow subjected to the streamwise travelling waves of spanwise wall velocity have been performed at Reynolds numbers ranging from $\mathit{Re}_{{\it\tau}}=200$ to 1600. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the highest Reynolds number attempted with DNS for this type of flow control. The present DNS results confirm that the effectiveness of drag reduction deteriorates, and the maximum drag reduction achieved by travelling waves decreases significantly as the Reynolds number increases. The intensity of both the drag reduction and drag increase is reduced with the Reynolds number. Another important finding is that the value of the optimal control parameters changes, even in wall units, when the Reynolds number is increased. This trend is observed for the wall oscillation, stationary wave, and streamwise travelling wave cases. This implies that, when the control parameters used are close to optimal values found at a lower Reynolds number, the drag reduction deteriorates rapidly with increased Reynolds number. In this study, the effect of Reynolds number for the travelling wave is quantified using a scaling in the form $\mathit{Re}_{{\it\tau}}^{-{\it\alpha}}$. No universal constant is found for the scaling parameter ${\it\alpha}$. Instead, the scaling parameter ${\it\alpha}$ has a wide range of values depending on the flow control conditions. Further Reynolds number scaling issues are discussed. Turbulent statistics are analysed to explain a weaker drag reduction observed at high Reynolds numbers. The changes in the Stokes layer and also the mean and root-mean-squared (r.m.s.) velocity with the Reynolds number are also reported. The Reynolds shear stress analysis suggests an interesting possibility of a finite drag reduction at very high Reynolds numbers.
Viscous effects of shock reflection hysteresis in steady supersonic flows
Authors: Tao Yuan , Fan Xiaoqiang , Zhao Yilong
Published: October 2014

In this paper, the viscous effects of shock reflection hysteresis in steady supersonic flow is studied analytically, experimentally and numerically, taking the boundary layer developed over the reflecting surface into consideration. Based on a hypothesis that the interaction origin keep invariable during the shock–boundary layer interaction, the separation region is replaced by a virtual wedge with a fixed angle. Combined the free-interaction theory with the shock reflection hysteresis theory, a detailed analysis describing the viscous flow structures of shock reflection configurations is proposed. It is illustrated by mean of further analysis that a shock reflection hysteresis which is similar to the one that exists in the reflection of symmetric shock waves is found theoretically. Experimental results verify the analytical interaction model as well as the existence of two shock reflection patterns, although the hysteresis is not conformed by experiments. This paper also presents results of simulations for the hysteresis process which results from keeping the wedge angle constant and changing the free-stream Mach number, for confirming the hysteresis phenomenon.
Convectively driven shear and decreased heat flux
Authors: Goluskin David , Johnston Hans , Flierl Glenn R. , Spiegel Edward A.
Published: October 2014

We report on direct numerical simulations of two-dimensional, horizontally periodic Rayleigh–Bénard convection between free-slip boundaries. We focus on the ability of the convection to drive large-scale horizontal flow that is vertically sheared. For the Prandtl numbers ($\mathit{Pr}$) between 1 and 10 simulated here, this large-scale shear can be induced by raising the Rayleigh number ($\mathit{Ra}$) sufficiently, and we explore the resulting convection for $\mathit{Ra}$ up to $10^{10}$. When present in our simulations, the sheared mean flow accounts for a large fraction of the total kinetic energy, and this fraction tends towards unity as $\mathit{Ra}\rightarrow \infty$. The shear helps disperse convective structures, and it reduces vertical heat flux; in parameter regimes where one state with large-scale shear and one without are both stable, the Nusselt number of the state with shear is smaller and grows more slowly with $\mathit{Ra}$. When the large-scale shear is present with $\mathit{Pr}\lesssim 2$, the convection undergoes strong global oscillations on long timescales, and heat transport occurs in bursts. Nusselt numbers, time-averaged over these bursts, vary non-monotonically with $\mathit{Ra}$ for $\mathit{Pr}=1$. When the shear is present with $\mathit{Pr}\gtrsim 3$, the flow does not burst, and convective heat transport is sustained at all times. Nusselt numbers then grow roughly as powers of $\mathit{Ra}$, but the growth rates are slower than any previously reported for Rayleigh–Bénard convection without large-scale shear. We find that the Nusselt numbers grow proportionally to $\mathit{Ra}^{0.077}$ when $\mathit{Pr}=3$ and to $\mathit{Ra}^{0.19}$ when $\mathit{Pr}=10$. Analogies with tokamak plasmas are described.
Dynamics of sessile drops. Part 1. Inviscid theory
Authors: Bostwick J. B. , Steen P. H.
Published: October 2014

A sessile droplet partially wets a planar solid support. We study the linear stability of this spherical-cap base state to disturbances whose three-phase contact line is (i) pinned, (ii) moves with fixed contact angle and (iii) moves with a contact angle that is a smooth function of the contact-line speed. The governing hydrodynamic equations for inviscid motions are reduced to a functional eigenvalue problem on linear operators, which are parameterized by the base-state volume through the static contact angle and contact-line mobility via a spreading parameter. A solution is facilitated using inverse operators for disturbances (i) and (ii) to report frequencies and modal shapes identified by a polar $k$ and azimuthal $l$ wavenumber. For the dynamic contact-line condition (iii), we show that the disturbance energy balance takes the form of a damped-harmonic oscillator with ‘Davis dissipation’ that encompasses the dynamic effects associated with (iii). The effect of the contact-line motion on the dissipation mechanism is illustrated. We report an instability of the super-hemispherical base states with mobile contact lines (ii) that correlates with horizontal motion of the centre-of-mass, called the ‘walking’ instability. Davis dissipation from the dynamic contact-line condition (iii) can suppress the instability. The remainder of the spectrum exhibits oscillatory behaviour. For the hemispherical base state with mobile contact line (ii), the spectrum is degenerate with respect to the azimuthal wavenumber. We show that varying either the base-state volume or contact-line mobility lifts this degeneracy. For most values of these symmetry-breaking parameters, a certain spectral ordering of frequencies is maintained. However, because certain modes are more strongly influenced by the support than others, there are instances of additional modal degeneracies. We explain the physical reason for these and show how to locate them.
The effect of viscoelasticity on the turbulent kinetic energy cascade
Authors: Valente P. C. , da Silva C. B. , Pinho F. T.
Published: October 2014

Direct numerical simulations of statistically steady homogeneous isotropic turbulence in viscoelastic fluids described by the FENE-P model, such as those laden with polymers, are presented. It is shown that the strong depletion of the turbulence dissipation reported by previous authors does not necessarily imply a depletion of the nonlinear energy cascade. However, for large relaxation times, of the order of the eddy turnover time, the polymers remove more energy from the large scales than they can dissipate and transfer the excess energy back into the turbulent dissipative scales. This is effectively a polymer-induced kinetic energy cascade which competes with the nonlinear energy cascade of the turbulence leading to its depletion. It is also shown that the total energy flux to the small scales from both cascade mechanisms remains approximately the same fraction of the kinetic energy over the turnover time as the nonlinear energy cascade flux in Newtonian turbulence.
When Innovation Becomes Inefficient: Reexamining Britain's Radio Industry
Authors: Scott Peter
Published: October 2014

I examine the factors underpinning the British radio-equipment sector's particularly poor interwar productivity performance relative to the United States. Differences in socio-legal environments were crucial in allowing key players in the British industry to derive higher monopoly rents than their American counterparts. Higher British rents in turn, had the unintended outcome of stimulating innovation around restrictive patents, initiating a path-dependent process of technical change in favor of expensive multifunctional valves. These valves both raised direct production costs and prevented British firms from following the American path of broadening the radio market beyond the household's prime receiver.
A Tomato for All Seasons: Innovation in American Agricultural Production, 1900–1945
Authors: Hoenig John
Published: October 2014

Economic and geographic centralization are typically seen as critical components of the industrialization of food during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The development of the fresh- and processed-tomato industries during this period offers an important counterexample to this dominant narrative. Between the late nineteenth century and World War II, the most salient characteristic of both fresh- and processed-tomato production was economic and geographic decentralization. This article argues that the emergence of sites of tomato production and processing in virtually every region of the country played a vital role in fulfilling the long-standing quest for year-round access to both fresh and processed tomatoes.