bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locating Anchors in WSN Using a Wearable IMU-Camera
Authors: Hu Jwu-Sheng , Huang Yu-Lun , Tseng Chin-Yuan
Published: July 2014

Localization in a wireless sensor network (WSN) becomes important for many modern applications, like landslide detection, precision agriculture, health care, and so forth. The more precise the position of an anchor node is, the more accurate the localization of a sensor node can be measured. Since the Global Positioning System (GPS) device cannot work properly indoor, some existing localization methods configure anchor nodes in a manual fashion. However, neither applying GPS modules nor manually configuring anchor nodes is suitable for a WSN and especially artificial errors of manual configuration may be propagated and affect the results of localization. In this paper, we propose an alternative method to estimate anchor node locations in an indoor environment. We collect the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data from the anchor node when human is walking around them. Meanwhile, we use a wearable IMU-camera device to assist the moving trajectory estimation. We implement a monocular Visual Odometry with a human walking model to estimate moving trajectories. An Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is used to estimate the anchor node location by fusing the RSSI data and moving trajectory. The experiment results show that the proposed method has lower estimation error when locating anchors.
HRV Analysis: A Clinical and Diagnostic Tool in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Bernardo Aline Fernanda Barbosa , Vanderlei Luiz Carlos M. , Garner David M.
Published: July 2014

This study’s aim is to analyze heart rate dynamics in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measures of heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is a simple and noninvasive measure of autonomic impulses. 38 adults were divided into two equal groups based on respiratory function: COPD and normal. HRV was monitored in the supine position for 30 minutes. After tests of normality, Kruskal-Wallis was used for the statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at P<0.05. Principal component analysis identified two components representing 99.5% of total variance. Furthermore, it is suggested that the chaos forward parameter (CFP) which applies all three “chaotic globals” is the most influential, although others are statistically more significant. The COPD subjects exhibited a decrease in the CFP. COPD can be termed a dynamical condition, decreasing the chaotic response. The perceived benefits of such analysis include quantitative assessment and suitable pharmacological intervention in the respiratory condition, especially of other related dynamical diseases such as cardiac failure.
Adrenergic Activation of Melatonin Secretion in Ovine Pineal Explants in Short-Term Superfusion Culture Occurs via Protein Synthesis Independent and Dependent Phenomena
Authors: Lewczuk Bogdan , Ziółkowska Natalia , Prusik Magdalena , Przybylska-Gornowicz Barbara
Published: July 2014

The ovine pineal is generally considered as an interesting model for the study on adrenergic regulation of melatonin secretion due to some functional similarities with this gland in the human. The present investigations, performed in the superfusion culture of pineal explants, demonstrated that the norepinephrine-induced elevation of melatonin secretion in ovine pinealocytes comprised of two subsequent periods: a rapid increase phase and a slow increase phase. The first one included the quick rise in release of N-acetylserotonin and melatonin, occurring parallel to elevation of NE concentration in the medium surrounding explants. This rapid increase phase was not affected by inhibition of translation. The second, slow increase phase began after NE level had reached the maximum concentration in the culture medium and lasted about two hours. It was completely abolished by the treatment with translation inhibitors. The obtained results showed for the first time that the regulation of N-acetylserotonin synthesis in pinealocytes of some species like the sheep involves the on/off mechanism, which is completely independent of protein synthesis and works very fast. They provided strong evidence pointing to the need of revision of the current opinion that arylalkylamines N-acetyltransferase activity in pinealocytes is controlled exclusively by changes in enzyme abundance.
Metabolic Variations, Antioxidant Potential, and Antiviral Activity of Different Extracts ofEugenia singampattiana(an Endangered Medicinal Plant Used by Kani Tribals, Tamil Nadu, India) Leaf
Authors: John K. M. Maria , Ayyanar Muniappan , Jeeva Subbiah , Suresh Murugesan , Enkhtaivan Gansukh , Kim Doo Hwan
Published: July 2014

Eugenia singampattianais an endangered medicinal plant used by the Kani tribals of South India. The plant had been studied for its antioxidant, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, and antidiabetic activity. But its primary and secondary metabolites profile and its antiviral properties were unknown, and so this study sought to identify this aspect inEugenia singampattianaplant through different extraction methods along with their activities against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The GC-MS analysis revealed that 11 primary metabolites showed significant variations among the extracts. Except for fructose all other metabolites were high with water extract. Among 12 secondary metabolites showing variations, the levels of 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, ferulic acid, coumaric acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol were high with methanol extract. Since the flavonoid content of methanol extracts was high, the antioxidant potential, such as ABTS, and phosphomolybdenum activity increased. The plants antiviral activity against PRRSV was for the first time confirmed and the results revealed that methanol 25 µg and 75 to 100 µg in case of water extracts revealed antiviral activity.
Circumsporozoite Protein-SpecificKd-Restricted CD8+ T Cells Mediate Protective Antimalaria Immunity in Sporozoite-Immunized MHC-I-KdTransgenic Mice
Authors: Huang Jing , Tsao Tiffany , Zhang Min , Tsuji Moriya
Published: July 2014

Although the roles of CD8+ T cells and a major preerythrocytic antigen, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, in contributing protective antimalaria immunity induced by radiation-attenuated sporozoites, have been shown by a number of studies, the extent to which these players contribute to antimalaria immunity is still unknown. To address this question, we have generated C57BL/6 (B6) transgenic (Tg) mice, expressingKdmolecules under the MHC-I promoter, called MHC-I-Kd-Tg mice. In this study, we first determined that a single immunizing dose of IrPySpz induced a significant level of antimalaria protective immunity in MHC-I-Kd-Tg mice but not in B6 mice. Then, by depleting various T-cell subsetsin vivo, we determined that CD8+ T cells are the main mediator of the protective immunity induced by IrPySpz. Furthermore, when we immunized (MHC-I-Kd-Tg × CS-Tg) F1 mice with IrPySpz after crossing MHC-I-Kd-Tg mice with PyCS-transgenic mice (CS-Tg), which are unable to mount PyCS-specific immunity, we found that IrPySpz immunization failed to induce protective antimalaria immunity in (MHC-I-Kd-Tg × CS-Tg) F1 mice, thus indicating the absence of PyCS antigen-dependent immunity in these mice. These results indicate that protective antimalaria immunity induced by IrPySpz in MHC-I-Kd-Tg mice is mediated by CS protein-specific,Kd-restricted CD8+ T cells.
Mathematical Model Relating Uniaxial Compressive Behavior of Manufactured Sand Mortar to MIP-Derived Pore Structure Parameters
Authors: Tian Zhenghong , Bu Jingwu
Published: July 2014

The uniaxial compression response of manufactured sand mortars proportioned using different water-cement ratio and sand-cement ratio is examined. Pore structure parameters such as porosity, threshold diameter, mean diameter, and total amounts of macropores, as well as shape and size of micropores are quantified by using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) technique. Test results indicate that strains at peak stress and compressive strength decreased with the increasing sand-cement ratio due to insufficient binders to wrap up entire sand. A compression stress-strain model of normal concrete extending to predict the stress-strain relationships of manufactured sand mortar is verified and agreed well with experimental data. Furthermore, the stress-strain model constant is found to be influenced by threshold diameter, mean diameter, shape, and size of micropores. A mathematical model relating stress-strain model constants to the relevant pore structure parameters of manufactured sand mortar is developed.
Improved Reliability of Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells by Double Anode Buffer Layers
Authors: Huang Pao-Hsun , Huang Chien-Jung , Chen Kan-Lin , Ke Jhong-Ciao , Wang Yeong-Her , Kang Chih-Chieh
Published: July 2014

An optimized hybrid planar heterojunction (PHJ) of small molecule organic solar cells (SM‐OSCs) based on copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as donor and fullerene (C60) as acceptor was fabricated, which obviously enhanced the performance of device by sequentially using both MoO3 and pentacene as double anode buffer layers (ABL), also known as hole extraction layer (HEL). A series of the vacuum‐deposited ABL, acting as an electron and exciton blocking layer, were examined for their characteristics in SM‐OSCs. The performance and reliability were compared between conventional ITO/ABL/CuPc/C60/BCP/Ag cells and the new ITO/double ABL/CuPc/C60/BCP/Ag cells. The effect on the electrical properties of these materials was also investigated to obtain the optimal thickness of ABL. The comparison shows that the modified cell has an enhanced reliability compared to traditional cells. The improvement of lifetime was attributed to the idea of double layers to prevent humidity and oxygen from diffusing into the active layer. We demonstrated that the interfacial extraction layers are necessary to avoid degradation of device. That is to say, in normal temperature and pressure, a new avenue for the device within double buffer layers has exhibited the highest values of open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and lifetime in this work compared to monolayer of ABL.
Game Theoretic Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction and Sales Promotion in Dyadic Supply Chain in Presence of Consumers’ Low-Carbon Awareness
Authors: Xia Liangjie , He Longfei
Published: July 2014

The paper studies how the combination of the manufacturer’s carbon emission reduction and the retailer’s emission reduction relevant promotion impacts the performances of a dyadic supply chain in low-carbon environment. We consider three typical scenarios, that is, centralized and decentralized without or with side-payment. We compare measures of supply chain performances, such as profitabilities, emission reduction efficiencies, and effectiveness, in these scenarios. To improve chain-wide performances, a new side-payment contract is designed to coordinate the supply chain and numerical experiments are also conducted. We find the following. (1) In decentralized setting, the retailer will provide emission cutting allowance to the manufacturer only if their unit product profit margin is higher enough than the manufacturer’s, and the emission reduction level of per unit product is a monotonically increasing function with respect to the cost pooling proportion provided by the retailer; (2) the new side-payment contract can coordinate the dyadic supply chain successfully due to its integrating sales promotion effort and emission reduction input, which results in system pareto optimality under decentralized individual rationality but achieves a collective rationality effect in the centralized setting; (3) when without external force’s regulation, consumers’ low-carbon awareness is to enhance consumers’ utility and decrease profits of supply chain firms.
The Pólya-Szegö Principle and the Anisotropic Convex Lorentz-Sobolev Inequality
Authors: Liu Shuai , He Binwu
Published: July 2014

An anisotropic convex Lorentz-Sobolev inequality is established, which extends Ludwig, Xiao, and Zhang’s result to any norm from Euclidean norm, and the geometric analogue of this inequality is given. In addition, it implies that the (anisotropic) Pólya-Szegö principle is shown.
A Review on Characterizations and Biocompatibility of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Drug Delivery Design
Authors: Tan Julia M. , Arulselvan Palanisamy , Fakurazi Sharida , Ithnin Hairuszah , Hussein Mohd Zobir
Published: July 2014

The revolutionary development of functionalized carbon nanotubes (f‐CNTs) for applications in nanomedicine has emerged as one of the most interesting fields, which has increased exponentially in recent years. This is due to their appealing physical and chemical properties, as well as their unique architecture. After a brief introduction on the physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we described several functionalization methods for the surface modification of CNTs, with the aim to facilitate their solubility in physiological aqueous environment. This review focuses on recent advances in drug delivery design based on f‐CNTs with an emphasis on the determination of various parameters involved and characterization methods used in order to achieve higher therapeutic efficacy of targeted drug delivery. In particular, we will highlight a variety of different analytical techniques which can be used to characterize the elemental composition, chemical structure, and functional groups introduced onto the CNTs after surface modification. We also review the current progress of available in vitro biocompatibility assays based on f‐CNTs and then discuss their toxicological profile and biodistribution for advanced drug delivery.
Nonreference Medical Image Edge Map Measure
Authors: Panetta Karen , Gao Chen , Agaian Sos , Nercessian Shahan
Published: July 2014

Edge detection is a key step in medical image processing. It is widely used to extract features, perform segmentation, and further assist in diagnosis. A poor quality edge map can result in false alarms and misses in cancer detection algorithms. Therefore, it is necessary to have a reliable edge measure to assist in selecting the optimal edge map. Existing reference based edge measures require a ground truth edge map to evaluate the similarity between the generated edge map and the ground truth. However, the ground truth images are not available for medical images. Therefore, a nonreference edge measure is ideal for medical image processing applications. In this paper, a nonreference reconstruction based edge map evaluation (NREM) is proposed. The theoretical basis is that a good edge map keeps the structure and details of the original image thus would yield a good reconstructed image. The NREM is based on comparing the similarity between the reconstructed image with the original image using this concept. The edge measure is used for selecting the optimal edge detection algorithm and optimal parameters for the algorithm. Experimental results show that the quantitative evaluations given by the edge measure have good correlations with human visual analysis.
Low-Cost ZnO:YAG-Based Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor White Light-Emitting Diodes with Various Insulators
Authors: Chen Lung-Chien , Hsu Chih-Hung , Zhang Xiuyu , Wu Jia-Ren
Published: July 2014

ZnO:YAG-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) diodes with various insulators were synthesized on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. SiO2and MnZnO (MZO) were separately used as insulators. X-ray diffraction revealed the crystalline structure of the ZnO:YAG film. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZnO:YAG film were studied and the color of photoluminescence was found to be almost white. The electrical properties of the diodes with different insulators and thicknesses were compared. The diode with the SiO2insulator had a lower threshold voltage, smaller leakage current, and a higher series resistance than that with the MZO insulator layer.
Effect of Baseflow Separation on Uncertainty of Hydrological Modeling in the Xinanjiang Model
Authors: Lin Kairong , Lian Yanqing , He Yanhu
Published: July 2014

Based on the idea of inputting more available useful information for evaluation to gain less uncertainty, this study focuses on how well the uncertainty can be reduced by considering the baseflow estimation information obtained from the smoothed minima method (SMM). The Xinanjiang model and the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method with the shuffled complex evolution Metropolis (SCEM‐UA) sampling algorithm were used for hydrological modeling and uncertainty analysis, respectively. The Jiangkou basin, located in the upper of the Hanjiang River, was selected as case study. It was found that the number and standard deviation of behavioral parameter sets both decreased when the threshold value for the baseflow efficiency index increased, and the high Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients correspond well with the high baseflow efficiency coefficients. The results also showed that uncertainty interval width decreased significantly, while containing ratio did not decrease by much and the simulated runoff with the behavioral parameter sets can fit better to the observed runoff, when threshold for the baseflow efficiency index was taken into consideration. These implied that using the baseflow estimation information can reduce the uncertainty in hydrological modeling to some degree and gain more reasonable prediction bounds.
Cardiac Failure as an Unusual Presentation in a Patient with History of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Namazi Mohammad Hasan , Khaheshi Isa , Haybar Habib , Esmaeeli Shooka
Published: July 2014

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most well-known form of motor neuron diseases in which both upper and lower motor neurons are involved in this disease. We presented an unusual case of ALS whom had presented with chief complaint of dyspnea. Cardiac failure was diagnosed at the final stage of the ALS disease. The pathogenetic mechanism leading to an elevated occurrence of cardiomyopathy in ALS is not comprehensible. Dilated cardiomyopathy has been explained in some previous studies. Based on the collected data, it was hypothesized that cardiomyopathy is underdiagnosed in the ALS population, probably because symptoms are masqueraded as a result of the patients’ disability. It was suggested that in all motor neuron diseases a serial cardiological evaluation should be executed, including annual echocardiography.
USP9X Downregulation Renders Breast Cancer Cells Resistant to Tamoxifen
Authors: Oosterkamp Hendrika M. , Hijmans E. Marielle , Brummelkamp Thijn R. , Canisius Sander , Wessels Lodewyk F.A. , Zwart Wilbert , Bernards René
Published: July 2014

Tamoxifen is one of the most widely used endocrine agents for the treatment of estrogen receptor α (ERα)–positive breast cancer. Although effective in most patients, resistance to tamoxifen is a clinically significant problem and the mechanisms responsible remain elusive. To address this problem, we performed a large scale loss-of-function genetic screen in ZR-75-1 luminal breast cancer cells to identify candidate resistance genes. In this manner, we found that loss of function in the deubiquitinase USP9X prevented proliferation arrest by tamoxifen, but not by the ER downregulator fulvestrant. RNAi-mediated attenuation of USP9X was sufficient to stabilize ERα on chromatin in the presence of tamoxifen, causing a global tamoxifen-driven activation of ERα-responsive genes. Using a gene signature defined by their differential expression after USP9X attenuation in the presence of tamoxifen, we were able to define patients with ERα-positive breast cancer experiencing a poor outcome after adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen. The signature was specific in its lack of correlation with survival in patients with breast cancer who did not receive endocrine therapy. Overall, our findings identify a gene signature as a candidate biomarker of response to tamoxifen in breast cancer. Cancer Res; 74(14); 3810–20. ©2014 AACR.
High Expression of CAI2, a 9p21-Embedded Long Noncoding RNA, Contributes to Advanced-Stage Neuroblastoma
Authors: Barnhill Lisa M. , Williams Richard T. , Cohen Olga , Kim Youngjin , Batova Ayse , Mielke Jenna A. , Messer Karen , Pu Minya , Bao Lei , Yu Alice L. , Diccianni Mitchell B.
Published: July 2014

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric cancer with significant genomic and biologic heterogeneity. p16 and ARF, two important tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome 9p21, are inactivated commonly in most cancers, but paradoxically overexpressed in neuroblastoma. Here, we report that exon γ in p16 is also part of an undescribed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that we have termed CAI2 (CDKN2A/ARF Intron 2 lncRNA). CAI2 is a single-exon gene with a poly A signal located in but independent of the p16/ARF exon 3. CAI2 is expressed at very low levels in normal tissue, but is highly expressed in most tumor cell lines with an intact 9p21 locus. Concordant expression of CAI2 with p16 and ARF in normal tissue along with the ability of CAI2 to induce p16 expression suggested that CAI2 may regulate p16 and/or ARF. In neuroblastoma cells transformed by serial passage in vitro, leading to more rapid proliferation, CAI2, p16, and ARF expression all increased dramatically. A similar relationship was also observed in primary neuroblastomas where CAI2 expression was significantly higher in advanced-stage neuroblastoma, independently of MYCN amplification. Consistent with its association with high-risk disease, CAI2 expression was also significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes, although this effect was reduced when adjusted for MYCN amplification. Taken together, our findings suggested that CAI2 contributes to the paradoxical overexpression of p16 in neuroblastoma, where CAI2 may offer a useful biomarker of high-risk disease. Cancer Res; 74(14); 3753–63. ©2014 AACR.
Phase I Study of RGB-286638, A Novel, Multitargeted Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor in Patients with Solid Tumors
Authors: van der Biessen Diane A.J. , Burger Herman , de Bruijn Peter , Lamers Cor H.J. , Naus Nicole , Loferer Hannes , Wiemer Erik A.C. , Mathijssen Ron H.J. , de Jonge Maja J.A.
Published: July 2014

Purpose: RGB-286638 is a multitargeted inhibitor with targets comprising the family of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) and a range of other cancer-relevant tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. The objectives of this first in human trial of RGB-286638, given i.v. on days 1 to 5 every 28 days, were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles of this new drug.

Experimental Design: Sequential cohorts of 3 to 6 patients were treated per dose level. Blood, urine samples, and skin biopsies for full PK and/or PD analyses were collected.

Results: Twenty-six patients were enrolled in 6-dose levels from 10 to 160 mg/d. Four dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 2 of the 6 patients enrolled at the highest dose level. These toxicities were AST/ALT elevations in 1 patient, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs), hypotension, and an increase in troponin T in another patient. The plasma PK of RGB-286638 was shown to be linear over the studied doses. The interpatient variability in clearance was moderate (variation coefficient 7%–36%). The PD analyses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, serum (apoptosis induction) and skin biopsies (Rb, p-Rb, Ki-67, and p27KIP1 expression) did not demonstrate a consistent modulation of mechanism-related biomarkers with the exception of lowered Ki-67 levels at the MTD level. The recommended MTD for phase II studies is 120 mg/d.

Conclusions: RGB-286638 is tolerated when administered at 120 mg/d for 5 days every 28 days. Prolonged disease stabilization (range, 2–14 months) was seen across different dose levels. Clin Cancer Res; 20(18); 4776–83. ©2014 AACR.
Coagulopathy in Liver Diseases: Complication or Therapy?
Authors: Bianchini Marcello , De Pietri Lesley , Villa Erica
Published: July 2014

Coagulopathy in cirrhosis is a composite condition where liver synthetic deficit rebalances coagulation to a parallel reduction of both pro- and anticoagulant factors. Cirrhosis is therefore no longer considered a hypocoagulable state but rather a more unstable hemostatic balance with a lower threshold for tipping toward thrombosis or bleeding. Tendency to bleeding in cirrhosis is due to the reduction in the synthesis of procoagulants and a low platelet count as well as hyperfibrinolysis. Variceal hemorrhage is a frequent bleeding complication in decompensated cirrhosis. However, the possible contribution of coagulopathy as a precipitant or an aggravating factor is poorly documented and further data are required to clarify its real contributing role. Moreover, apart from the gastrointestinal tract, the occurrence of spontaneous and procedure-related bleeding elsewhere in the body, whilst not uncommon, is less than would be expected. By contrast, a large-scale population-based study has shown the propensity towards venous thrombosis in patients with liver diseases. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a critical but frequent event occurring in up to 40% of patients with liver cirrhosis. PVT causes deterioration of the clinical course, the complications of portal hypertension and an increase in post-transplant mortality. The pathogenesis of PVT includes both local alterations, like blood flow reduction and endothelial activation, and systemic derangement. Systemic prohemostatic alterations include high von Willebrand factor, low ADAMTS-13, low levels of anticoagulants (antithrombin, proteins C and S) and increases in procoagulants like factor VIII. Low-molecular-weight heparin such as enoxaparin has proven to be safe and effective in both the treatment and prevention of PVT. In addition, patients in prophylaxis with enoxaparin showed a lower rate of decompensation and a better survival without bleeding complications. In such patients, circulating bacterial DNA, endotoxemia and markers of inflammation were attenuated compared to controls. These results therefore suggest a possible connection between enoxaparin, decrease of endotoxemia and reduction of portal hypertension. The approach to the coagulopathy in patients with liver diseases is changing: while the main goal for clinicians so far has been to reduce the risk of bleeding, the results of these new studies highlight the importance of preventing or treating thrombophilic disorders like PVT to avoid microcirculatory damage and eventually liver decompensation.
Effect of Antiretroviral HIV Therapy on Hepatitis B Virus Replication and Pathogenicity
Authors: Gürtler Lutz G.
Published: July 2014

Coinfections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV are very frequent. Although HBV is a DNA virus, it replicates via reverse transcription like HIV. Structural similarities between the enzymatic pocket of the HBV DNA polymerase and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase are the basis that certain drugs inhibit both enzymes and thus the replication of both viruses. HBV components increase the pathogenic action of HIV and vice versa directly by certain proteins like HBsAg in the case of HBV and HIV-encoded Tat and Vpr and by disturbing the cytokine balance in affected cells. Antiretroviral therapy is highly beneficial for HIV/HBV-coinfected patients, but carries the risk of drug-induced resistance development and hepatotoxicity. Even with restoration of the immune capacity, signs of hepatic inflammation may develop even after 10 years of treatment.
Therapy of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Prevention of Reactivation
Authors: Raimondo Giovanni , Filomia Roberto , Maimone Sergio
Published: July 2014

Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is highly prevalent worldwide. In some cases, it is a consequence of infection with variant viruses mutated in the S gene and producing a surface antigen not recognized by diagnostic kits. In most cases, OBI is due to a strong inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities exerted by host defense mechanisms. OBI may reactivate in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and/or chemotherapy with the possibility of a consequent development of acute hepatitis that may lead to hepatic failure. Hematological malignancies and therapeutic schedules including rituximab are the conditions most frequently associated with OBI reactivation. However, this event may occur in a large number of additional clinical and therapeutic settings. Identification of patients prone to undergo reactivation is of great importance for promptly starting a proper antiviral therapy that may stop the HBV reactivation and prevent its clinical sequelae.
Selected Phenotypic Assays Used to Evaluate Antiviral Resistance and Viral Fitness of Hepatitis B Virus and Its Variants
Authors: Glebe Dieter , Geipel Andreas
Published: July 2014

Currently available antiviral therapies specifically target viral replication by blocking reverse transcription with orally given nucleos(t)ide analogues and are able to specifically suppress viral replication. The unique replication strategy of hepatitis B virus (HBV), however, allows long-term persistence of the viral genome within infected hepatocytes in spite of successful therapy. Thus, antiviral therapy needs to be continued for years. Therapy can result either in the emergence and selection of antiviral-resistant variants or the relapse of viral replication after the termination of antiviral therapy. Resistance is a major problem for 4 of the 5 approved HBV nucleos(t)ide analogues, but it is not the only reason for therapy failure. An accurate phenotypic in vitro assay for resistance allows the identification of a viral variant selected in vivo during antiviral therapy and helps to find therapeutic alternatives. Furthermore, these assays can be used to measure viral fitness and pathogenicity in vitro. With the help of these assays, the prediction of emerging viral variants with drug resistance or increased pathogenic potential can be realized. Phenotypic resistance tests for HBV are not trivial because the virus cannot be readily grown in cell culture. This review focuses on currently available phenotypic assays to evaluate antiviral resistance of HBV and fitness of viral variants in general.
Use of Aspirin for Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in the United States, 2011–2012
Authors: Mainous Arch G. , Tanner Rebecca J. , Shorr Ronald I. , Limacher Marian C.
Published: July 2014

Background

Aspirin use has been shown to be an effective tool in cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) prevention among high‐risk patients. The patient‐reported physician recommendation for aspirin as preventive therapy among high‐ and low‐risk patients is unknown.

Methods and Results

We conducted an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012 to examine the use of aspirin for
CVD
prevention. Patients without previously diagnosed
CVD
were classified into high and low risk based on their Framingham Risk Score (10‐year coronary heart disease risk). Among patients without previously diagnosed
CVD
, 22.5% were classified as high risk. Of the high‐risk individuals, 40.9% reported being told by their physician to take aspirin, with 79.0% complying. Among those who were at low risk, 26.0% were told by their physician to take aspirin, with 76.5% complying. Logistic regression analysis indicated that age, access to a regular source of care, education, and insurance status were significant predictors of patient‐reported physician recommendations for aspirin use for primary prevention. Among high‐risk patients, age, race, and insurance status were significant predictors of reported recommendations for aspirin use. Among low‐risk patients, age, education, obesity, and insurance status were significant predictors of reported recommendations for aspirin use.

Conclusions

Patient reports indicate nonideal rates of being told to take aspirin, for both high‐ and low‐risk patients for primary prevention. Clinical decision support tools that could assist physicians in identifying patients at risk may increase patient reports of physician recommendations for aspirin use.
Understanding Midlatitude Jet Variability and Change Using Rossby Wave Chromatography: Methodology
Authors: Lorenz David J.
Published: July 2014

Rossby wave chromatography (RWC) is implemented in a linearized barotropic model as a tool to diagnose and understand the interaction between the midlatitude jet and the eddies. Given the background zonal-mean flow and the space–time structure of the baroclinic wave activity source, RWC calculates the space–time structure of the upper-tropospheric eddy momentum fluxes. Using the convergence of the vertical Eliassen–Palm (E–P) flux in the upper troposphere as the wave source, RWC reproduces the main features of a GCM’s mean state and response to external forcing. When coupled to the zonal-mean zonal wind and a simple model of wave activity source phase speed changes, RWC also simulates the temporal evolution of the GCM’s internally generated zonal-mean zonal wind anomalies. Because the full space–time structure of the baroclinic wave activity source is decoupled from the background flow, RWC can be used to isolate and quantify the dynamical mechanisms responsible for 1) the poleward shift of the midlatitude jet and 2) the feedbacks between the eddy momentum fluxes and the background flow in general.
Who Joins Teach For America and Why? Insights Into the “Typical” Recruit in an Urban School District
Authors: Straubhaar Rolf , Gottfried Michael
Published: July 2014

Building upon previous research on how personal and demographic characteristics of teachers are correlated with larger issues in teacher recruitment and retention, this study contributes unique insight into the personal attributes, characteristics, and career aspirations of new teachers brought into teaching in Los Angeles through the Teach For America program. Drawing from ethnographic interviews with 25 current Teach For America teachers, this study finds that teachers in this study perceive themselves as embodying personal characteristics that prior research would support as less common among teachers in urban schools: That is, they see themselves as being competitive, high-performing, and enthusiastically committed to ending educational inequality. However, these participants tend to come from privileged backgrounds and colleges and consequently view their time teaching in urban schools as an interim period before pursuing other more “high prestige” careers. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Intergenerational Differences in Parenting Styles of Mother–Daughter Dyads Among Immigrants and Native-Born Israelis
Authors: Shechory Bitton Mally , Ben David Sarah
Published: July 2014

The study examined and compared intergenerational differences in parenting styles, attitudes toward child-rearing, and corporal punishment (CP) in three groups of mother–daughter dyads in Israel: immigrants from Ethiopia and from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and native-born Israelis. Results show that ethnicity, mothers’ parenting styles, and mothers’ attitudes toward CP significantly explain 21% to 26% of the variance in daughters’ parenting styles. However, the results also indicate the differential effect on parenting style of exposure to a culture other than the culture of origin. This is also reflected in the fact that the younger generation, especially among immigrants from Ethiopia, is more affected by the encounter with the host society than is the older generation.
Parental Expectations and Prosocial Behavior of Adolescents From Low-Income Backgrounds
Authors: Mesurado Belén , Richaud María Cristina , Mestre Maria Vicenta , Samper-García Paula , Tur-Porcar Ana , Morales Mesa Santiago Alberto , Viveros Edison Francisco
Published: July 2014

Parental expectations are influenced by cultural models, which in turn are subject to a great influence from historically fluctuating features of the socioeconomic background. Parental expectations seem to be linked to children’s social and emotional development in terms of empathy and prosocial behavior. The current study aims to (a) compare low-income adolescents’ perceptions of parental expectations of prosocial and antisocial behavior across three Latin countries (Argentina, Colombia, and Spain), (b) compare the empathy and prosocial behavior between the three countries, (c) compare the prosocial behavior between the three countries, and (d) study the effect of perceived parental expectations and empathy on the prosocial behavior of adolescents in all three of the countries studied in this research. The sample was made up of 446 Argentinean adolescents, 474 Colombian adolescents, and 632 Spanish adolescents. The Expected Parental Reactions Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Prosocial Behavior Questionnaire were used to measure the variables included in this study. Results reveal considerable differences between children’s perceptions of parental expectations in different countries. Results also show the existence of significant differences between male and female adolescents. In all three countries, girls score more highly than boys in prosocial behavior and empathy. Furthermore, we find that low-income Argentinean adolescents score more highly than Spanish and Colombian adolescents in prosocial behavior measures. Finally, expected parental reactions toward prosocial behavior and empathy seem to have an influence on the adolescents’ development of prosocial behavior in all three countries.
Public Acceptance for Drug Treatment in Lieu of Incarceration for Drug Offenders in Florida
Authors: Giordano Vincent A.
Published: July 2014

How does the public think the drug problem should be solved? Several small opinion polls have suggested that many people believe that drug-abuse treatment is now the best way to fight the War on Drugs. However, opinion polls can be highly questionable as to the accuracy of their claims. This is further complicated by the varied findings of these polls, with some indicating support for the War on Drugs, while others see the war as a failure. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive research design was used to evaluate perceptions and beliefs of the population of Pinellas Country, Florida, in an effort to determine whether an individual’s attitude on providing drug-abuse treatment in lieu of incarceration for drug offenders is influenced by his or her personal view of drug addiction. The results of this study show that a majority of the participants are open to reform in the War on Drugs.
Bureaucracy and Its “Objectives”? A Response to Alexandru Roman
Authors: Raadschelders Jos C. N.
Published: July 2014

In his provocative piece Alexandru Roman argues that bureaucracy today is perhaps less associated with administrative efficiency and more with buffering civil servants from a volatile environment. However, his argument suffers from conceptual and theoretical limitations. Also, Roman presents no evidence that supports his main argument. Most importantly, in this response a historical perspective shows the extent to which public bureaucracies have been responsive to societal changes.
Computation of control related states of bottom kth-order system (with a non-sharing resource place) of Petri nets
Authors: Chao Daniel Yuh , Yu Tsung Hsien
Published: July 2014

Earlier, Chao pioneered the very first closed-form solution of the number of reachable and other states for marked graphs and kth-order systems, which is the simplest class of systems of simple sequential processes with resources. This paper progresses one step further by enumerating reachable, forbidden, live and deadlock states for bottom kth-order systems, which have one non-sharing resource place in the bottom position of the right-side process, with a formula depending on parameter k for a subclass of nets with k sharing resources.
Using Multidimensional CAT to Administer a Short, Yet Precise, Screening Test
Authors: Yao Lihua , Pommerich Mary , Segall Daniel O.
Published: July 2014

Multidimensional computerized adaptive testing (MCAT) provides a mechanism by which the simultaneous goals of accurate prediction and minimal testing time for a screening test could both be met. This article demonstrates the use of MCAT to administer a screening test for the Computerized Adaptive Testing–Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (CAT-ASVAB) under a variety of manipulated conditions. CAT-ASVAB is a test battery administered via unidimensional CAT (UCAT) that is used to qualify applicants for entry into the U.S. military and assign them to jobs. The primary research question being evaluated is whether the use of MCAT to administer a screening test can lead to significant reductions in testing time from the full-length selection test, without significant losses in score precision. Different stopping rules, item selection methods, content constraints, time constraints, and population distributions for the MCAT administration are evaluated through simulation, and compared with results from a regular full-length UCAT administration.
Ballot Titles and Voter Decision Making on Ballot Questions
Authors: Hastings Jeff , Cann Damon
Published: July 2014

From gay marriage to taxation to environmental issues, many of our nation’s most important policy issues are decided by voters through ballot questions. Conventional wisdom holds that information provided on the ballot about the ballot questions heavily influences voters’ choices in those elections, but there is little empirical evidence of this. We apply theories of framing to voters’ choices on ballot questions and design an experiment to test the hypothesis that ballot title wording influences voters’ decisions. Even on a matter that is hotly contested and where the policy is relatively noncomplex and relatively well understood by voters, we find strong framing effects for changes in ballot title wording, though the effects are driven primarily by influencing whether individuals who previously supported the measure abstained from participation.
Adult age differences in frequency estimations of happy and angry faces
Authors: Nikitin Jana , Freund Alexandra M.
Published: July 2014

With increasing age, the ratio of gains to losses becomes more negative, which is reflected in expectations that positive events occur with a high likelihood in young adulthood, whereas negative events occur with a high likelihood in old age. Little is known about expectations of social events. Given that younger adults are motivated to establish new social relations, they should be vigilant towards signals of opportunities for socializing, such as smiling faces. Older adults, who are particularly motivated to avoid negative encounters, should be vigilant towards negative social signals, such as angry faces. Thus, younger adults should overestimate the occurrence of positive social signals, whereas older adults should overestimate the occurrence of negative social signals. Two studies (Study 1: n = 91 younger and n = 89 older adults; Study 2: n = 50 younger and n = 50 older adults) partly supported these hypotheses using frequency estimates of happy and angry faces. Although both younger and older adults overestimated the frequency of angry compared to happy faces, the difference was significantly more pronounced for older adults.
Self-defensive subjectivity
Authors: Kautzer Chad
Published: July 2014

In his book Das Recht der Freiheit (2011), Axel Honneth develops a theory of social justice that incorporates negative, reflexive and social forms of freedom as well as the institutional conditions necessary for their reproduction. This account enables the identification of social pathologies or systemic normative deficits that frustrate individual efforts to relate their actions reflexively to a normative order and inhibits their ability to recognize the freedom of others as a condition of their own. In this article I utilize Honneth’s theory in the diagnosis of a contemporary social pathology, which impedes social recognition and thereby contributes to social injustice. I argue that this particular social pathology – associated with the Second Amendment right to bear arms – has given rise to a pernicious form of subjectivity, which I call self-defensive. I conclude with some remarks concerning what this application reveals about the strengths and weaknesses of Honneth’s account.
Hemispheric asymmetry measured by texture analysis and diffusion tensor imaging in two multiple sclerosis subtypes
Authors: Savio Sami , Hakulinen Ullamari , Ryymin Pertti , Hagman Sanna , Dastidar Prasun , Soimakallio Seppo , Elovaara Irina , Eskola Hannu
Published: July 2014

Background

This paper addresses two subtypes of multiple sclerosis (MS), primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The separation of PPMS and RRMS is challenging in certain cases.

Purpose

To quantitatively determine MS subtypes using texture analysis (TA) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Material and Methods

T1-weighted (T1W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI of the left and right brain hemispheres of 17 patients with PPMS and 19 patients with RRMS were studied. Areas of the caudate nucleus and thalamus were investigated as normal appearing gray matter (NAGM), and areas of the cerebral peduncle and centrum semiovale were investigated as normal appearing white matter (NAWM). The described locations were symmetrical and were accurately marked. TA was performed on the T1W images, and the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient were determined from the DTI data.

Results

Hemispherical differences were found with both TA and DTI. Several texture and diffusion tensor parameter values calculated for the left and right hemispheres of the patients showed statistically significant differences. The patients with RRMS had greater significant differences ( P < 0.01) in the thalamus between the hemispheres than did the patients with PPMS. The TA classification accuracy of the PPMS and RRMS subtypes was above 80%.

Conclusion

TA can be helpful when distinguishing between PPMS and RRMS, while DTI appears to reveal the hemispherical asymmetry of RRMS patients.