bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tradeoffs in green cellular networks
Authors: Altman Eitan , Hanawal Manjesh K. , ElAzouzi Rachid , Shamai Sholomo
Published: March 2012

The growing awareness to negative impact of wireless technology on our environment has lead to designing green networks in which energy saving plays an important role. We consider energy saving by switching off a fraction of the base stations. This saving comes at some cost: the coverage is reduced, and moreover, the uplink transmission power of mobiles may increase. This may imply exposure of the human body to stronger electromagnetic fields. We quantify this through the deactivation of base stations under the assumptions that the random location of base stations and mobiles form Poisson processes. Our model yields explicit expressions for both the uplink power and the coverage probability. For the case with non negligible interference, the uplink power is obtained by using stochastic differential equations assuming exponential attenuation model. We observe that when the mobiles have no power constraints, unlike in the case of negligible interference, switching off base stations reduces the uplink power.
Copy rate synchronization with performance guarantees for work consolidation in storage clusters
Authors: Yan Feng , Mountrouidou Xenia , Riska Alma , Smirni Evgenia
Published: March 2012

As storage in data centers is increasing rapidly, it has become critical to find ways to operate efficiently this important component of a data center. Often, it has been proposed to consolidate the storage workload into a subset of storage devices and shutdown the unused ones with the purpose of preserving power. In many cases storage workload consolidation requires some amount of data to be copied from one device or set to the next. While storage workload consolidation techniques focus on extending power savings with minimal penalty in the performance of a data center, less attention is paid to the process of seamlessly integrating the data copy phase into the overall storage workload consolidation technique. Specifically, in this paper, we propose an analytic framework that synchronizes the pace of copying data between two storage devices (or nodes) such that performance is maintained within predefined targets. As such, we avoid either undesired performance degradation caused by aggressively scheduling the data copy task or a slow copy process caused by conservative scheduling. We show with extensive experimentation that the framework is robust and that it provides an important step toward automating storage consolidation and high power savings.
Multicasting MDC videos to receivers with different screen resolution
Authors: Gandhi Rohan , Koutsonikolas Dimitrios , Hu Y. Charlie
Published: March 2012

A primary challenge in multicasting video in a wireless LAN has been to deal with the client diversity in terms of channel diversity: clients may have different channel characteristics and hence receive different numbers of packet transmissions from the AP. Various schemes exploiting layered video coding schemes such as MRC and MDC have been proposed to address this problem. With the advent of smartphones, a new form of client heterogeneity, that different portable devices have different screen resolution and hence desire different numbers of layers, has become increasingly prominent. In this paper, we propose a practical transmission strategy selection method that takes into consideration this new form of client diversity and show it can increase the number of layers received by clients by up to 62%, compared to a scheme that is oblivious of the client screen resolution diversity.
Computer-Based Annotation of Putative AraC/XylS-Family Transcription Factors of Known Structure but Unknown Function
Authors: Schüller Andreas , Slater Alex W. , Norambuena Tomás , Cifuentes Juan J. , Almonacid Leonardo I. , Melo Francisco
Published: March 2012

Currently, about 20 crystal structures per day are released and deposited in the Protein Data Bank. A significant fraction of these structures is produced by research groups associated with the structural genomics consortium. The biological function of many of these proteins is generally unknown or not validated by experiment. Therefore, a growing need for functional prediction of protein structures has emerged. Here we present an integrated bioinformatics method that combines sequence-based relationships and three-dimensional (3D) structural similarity of transcriptional regulators with computer prediction of their cognate DNA binding sequences. We applied this method to the AraC/XylS family of transcription factors, which is a large family of transcriptional regulators found in many bacteria controlling the expression of genes involved in diverse biological functions. Three putative new members of this family with known 3D structure but unknown function were identified for which a probable functional classification is provided. Our bioinformatics analyses suggest that they could be involved in plant cell wall degradation (Lin2118 protein fromListeria innocua, PDB code 3oou), symbiotic nitrogen fixation (protein fromChromobacterium violaceum, PDB code 3oio), and either metabolism of plant-derived biomass or nitrogen fixation (protein fromRhodopseudomonas palustris, PDB code 3mn2).
Neuroprotective Effect of Phosphocreatine on Focal Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Li Tiegang , Wang Nana , Zhao Min
Published: March 2012

Phosphocreatine (PCr) is a natural compound, which can donate high-energy phosphate group to ADP to synthesize ATP, even in the absence of oxygen and glucose. At present, it is widely used in cardiac and renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) disease. In this study, to examine the protective efficacy of PCr against cerebral IR, disodium creatine phosphate was injected intravenously into rats before focal cerebral IR. Intracranial pressure (ICP), neurological score, cerebral infarction volume, and apoptotic neurons were observed. Expression of caspase-3 and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) was analyzed. Compared with IR group, rats pretreated with PCr had better neurologic score, less infarction volume, fewer ultrastructural histopathologic changes, reduced apoptosis, and lower aquaporin-4 level. In conclusion, PCr is neuroprotective after transient focal cerebral IR injury. Such a protection might be associated with apoptosis regulating proteins.
A Maximum Power Point Tracker with Automatic Step Size Tuning Scheme for Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Chao Kuei-Hsiang , Lee Yu-Hsu
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this paper is to study on a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for photovoltaic (PV) systems. First, the simulation environment for PV systems is constructed by using PSIM software package. A 516 W PV system established with Kyocera KC40T photovoltaic modules is used as an example to finish the simulation of the proposed MPPT method. When using incremental conductance (INC) MPPT method, it usually should consider the tradeoff between the dynamic response and the steady-state oscillation, whereas the proposed modified incremental conductance method based on extension theory can automatically adjust the step size to track the maximum power point (MPP) of PV array and effectively improve the dynamic response and steady-state performance of the PV systems, simultaneously. Some simulation and experimental results are made to verify that the proposed extension maximum power point tracking method can provide a good dynamic response and steady-state performance for a photovoltaic power generation system.
Applications of Measure of Noncompactness in Matrix Operators on Some Sequence Spaces
Authors: Mursaleen M. , Latif A.
Published: March 2012

We determine the conditions for some matrix transformations from n(ϕ), where the sequence space n(ϕ), which is related to the ℓp spaces, was introduced by Sargent (1960). We also obtain estimates for the norms of the bounded linear operators defined by these matrix transformations and find conditions to obtain the corresponding subclasses of compact matrix operators by using the Hausdorff measure of
noncompactness.
Screening and Evaluation of Deleterious SNPs in APOE Gene of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Masoodi Tariq Ahmad , Al Shammari Sulaiman A. , Al-Muammar May N. , Alhamdan Adel A.
Published: March 2012

Introduction. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is present in 30–50% of patients who develop late-onset AD. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are present in APOE gene which act as the biomarkers for exploring the genetic basis of this disease. The objective of this study is to identify deleterious nsSNPs associated with APOE gene.Methods. The SNPs were retrieved from dbSNP. Using I-Mutant, protein stability change was calculated. The potentially functional nonsynonymous (ns) SNPs and their effect on protein was predicted by PolyPhen and SIFT, respectively. FASTSNP was used for functional analysis and estimation of risk score. The functional impact on the APOE protein was evaluated by using Swiss PDB viewer and NOMAD-Ref server.Results. Six nsSNPs were found to be least stable by I-Mutant 2.0 with DDG value of >−1.0. Four nsSNPs showed a highly deleterious tolerance index score of 0.00. Nine nsSNPs were found to be probably damaging with position-specific independent counts (PSICs) score of ≥2.0. Seven nsSNPs were found to be highly polymorphic with a risk score of 3-4. The total energies and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values were higher for three mutant-type structures compared to the native modeled structure.Conclusion. We concluded that three nsSNPs, namely, rs11542041, rs11542040, and rs11542034, to be potentially functional polymorphic.
Solvothermal Synthesis of Well‐Disperse ZnS Nanorods with Efficient Photocatalytic Properties
Authors: Chen Yun , Yin Rong-hui , Wu Qing-sheng
Published: March 2012

Well‐disperse short‐range‐ordered ZnS nanorods with efficient photocatalytic property for photodegradation of Rhodamin B have been successfully synthesized through a solvothermal method. Solvent used can be recovered and reused, which makes the route environment‐friendly. Dodecylamine was found effective in organizing nanorods to ordered monolayer. Characterization showed that these nanorods were uniform with the diameter of about 3 nm and length of nearly 30 nm. And it is expected that these monodisperse ZnS nanorods have potential applications in electroluminescence materials.
Modelling Reflection and Transmission of Acoustic Waves at a Semiconductor: Fluid Interface
Authors: Sharma A. , Sharma J. N. , Sharma Y. D.
Published: March 2012

The paper concentrates on the study of reflection and transmission characteristics of acoustic waves at the interface of a semiconductor half-space underlying an inviscid liquid. The reflection and transmission coefficients varying with the incident angles are examined. Calculated results are verified by considering the quasilongitudinal () and quasitransverse () waves. The special cases of normal and grazing incidence are also derived and discussed. Finally, the numerical computations of reflection and transmission coefficients are carried out with the help of Gauss elimination method by using MATLAB programming software for silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) semiconductors. The computer simulated-results have been plotted graphically for Si and presented in tabular form in case of Ge semiconductors. The study may be useful in semiconductors, geology, and seismology in addition to surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.
Facts and Fiction: The Impact of Hypothermia on Molecular Mechanisms following Major Challenge
Authors: Frink Michael , Flohé Sascha , van Griensven Martijn , Mommsen Philipp , Hildebrand Frank
Published: March 2012

Numerous multiple trauma and surgical patients suffer from accidental hypothermia. While induced hypothermia is commonly used in elective cardiac surgery due to its protective effects, accidental hypothermia is associated with increased posttraumatic complications and even mortality in severely injured patients. This paper focuses on protective molecular mechanisms of hypothermia on apoptosis and the posttraumatic immune response. Although information regarding severe trauma is limited, there is evidence that induced hypothermia may have beneficial effects on the posttraumatic immune response as well as apoptosis in animal studies and certain clinical situations. However, more profound knowledge of mechanisms is necessary before randomized clinical trials in trauma patients can be initiated.
In Silico RAPD Priming Sites in Expressed Sequences and iSCAR Markers for Oil Palm
Authors: Premkrishnan Balakrishnan Vasanthakumari , Arunachalam Vadivel
Published: March 2012

RAPD is a simple dominant marker system widely used in biology. Effectiveness of RAPD can be improved by selecting and redesigning primers whose priming sites occur in target sequence(s) of gene or organism at optimum distance. We developed software that uses sequences of random decamer primers and nucleotide sequence(s) as two input files. It locates the priming sites in input sequences and generates output files listing frequency and distance between priming sites. When the priming sites of a single primer occur more than once in a sequence with a distance of 200 to 2000 bp, the software also designs pairs of iSCAR primers. An input of 387 RAPD primers and 42,432 expressed sequences of oil palm are used as test. Wet-lab PCR results from a publication that used the same set of primers were compared with software output on priming sites. In the test sequences of oil palm covering 1.4% of genome, we found that at least 60% the primers chosen using software are sure of giving PCR amplification. We designed 641 iSCAR primers suitable for amplification of oil palm DNA. The software successfully predicted 92% (67 out of 73) of published polymorphic RAPD primers in oil palm.
Assessing Forest Production Using Terrestrial Monitoring Data
Authors: Hasenauer Hubert , Eastaugh Chris S.
Published: March 2012

Accurate assessments of forest biomass are becoming an increasingly important aspect of natural resource management. Besides their use in sustainable resource usage decisions, a growing focus on the carbon sequestration potential of forests means that assessment issues are becoming important beyond the forest sector. Broad scale inventories provide much-needed information, but interpretation of growth from successive measurements is not trivial. Even using the same data, various interpretation methods are available. The mission of this paper is to compare the results of fixed-plot inventory designs and angle-count inventories with different interpretation methods. The inventory estimators that we compare are in common use in National Forest Inventories. No method should be described as “right” or “wrong”, but users of large-scale inventory data should be aware of the possible errors and biases that may be either compensated for or magnified by their choice of interpretation method. Wherever possible, several interpretation methods should be applied to the same dataset to assess the possibility of error.
Interactions of Abiraterone, Eplerenone, and Prednisolone with Wild-type and Mutant Androgen Receptor: A Rationale for Increasing Abiraterone Exposure or Combining with MDV3100
Authors: Richards Juliet , Lim Ai Chiin , Hay Colin W. , Taylor Angela E. , Wingate Anna , Nowakowska Karolina , Pezaro Carmel , Carreira Suzanne , Goodall Jane , Arlt Wiebke , McEwan Iain J. , de Bono Johann S. , Attard Gerhardt
Published: March 2012

Prostate cancer progression can be associated with androgen receptor (AR) mutations acquired following treatment with castration and/or an antiandrogen. Abiraterone, a rationally designed inhibitor of CYP17A1 recently approved for the treatment of docetaxel-treated castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), is often effective, but requires coadministration with glucocorticoids to curtail side effects. Here, we hypothesized that progressive disease on abiraterone may occur secondary to glucocorticoid-induced activation of mutated AR. We found that prednisolone plasma levels in patients with CRPC were sufficiently high to activate mutant AR. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, such as spironolactone and eplerenone that are used to treat side effects related to mineralocorticoid excess, can also bind to and activate signaling through wild-type or mutant AR. Abiraterone inhibited in vitro proliferation and AR-regulated gene expression of AR-positive prostate cancer cells, which could be explained by AR antagonism in addition to inhibition of steroidogenesis. In fact, activation of mutant AR by eplerenone was inhibited by MDV3100, bicalutamide, or greater concentrations of abiraterone. Therefore, an increase in abiraterone exposure could reverse resistance secondary to activation of AR by residual ligands or coadministered drugs. Together, our findings provide a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of combined CYP17A1 inhibition and AR antagonism. Cancer Res; 72(9); 2176–82. ©2012 AACR.
High TUBB3 Expression, an Independent Prognostic Marker in Patients with Early Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated by Preoperative Chemotherapy, Is Regulated by K-Ras Signaling Pathway
Authors: Levallet Guénaëlle , Bergot Emmanuel , Antoine Martine , Creveuil Christian , Santos Adriana O. , Beau-Faller Michelle , de Fraipont Florence , Brambilla Elisabeth , Levallet Jérôme , Morin Franck , Westeel Virginie , Wislez Marie , Quoix Elisabeth , Debieuvre Didier , Dubois Fatéméh , Rouquette Isabelle , Pujol Jean-Louis , Moro-Sibilot Denis , Camonis Jacques , Zalcman Gérard
Published: March 2012

We assessed the prognostic and predictive value of β-tubulin III (TUBB3) expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, in 412 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens from early-stage patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel- or gemcitabine-based) in a phase III trial (IFCT-0002). We also correlated TUBB3 expression with K-Ras and EGF receptor (EGFR) mutations in a subset of 208 cryopreserved specimens. High TUBB3 protein expression was associated with nonsquamous cell carcinomas (P < 0.001) and K-Ras mutation (P < 0.001). The 127 (30.8%) TUBB3-negative patients derived more than 1 year of overall survival advantage, with more than 84 months median overall survival versus 71.7 months for TUBB3-positive patients [HR, 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–2.25)]. This prognostic value was confirmed in multivariate analysis (adjusted HR for death, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.04–2.21; P = 0.031) with a bootstrapping validation procedure. TUBB3 expression was associated with nonresponse to chemotherapy (adjusted HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01–1.70; P = 0.044) but had no predictive value (taxane vs. gemcitabine). Taking account of these clinical findings, we further investigated TUBB3 expression in isogenic human bronchial cell lines only differing by K-Ras gene status and assessed the effect of K-Ras short interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated depletion, cell hypoxia, or pharmacologic inhibitors of K-Ras downstream effectors, on TUBB3 protein cell content. siRNA K-Ras knockdown, inhibition of RAF/MEK (MAP–ERK kinase) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling, and hypoxia were shown to downregulate TUBB3 expression in bronchial cells. This study is the first one to identify K-Ras mutations as determinant of TUBB3 expression, a chemoresistance marker. Our in vitro data deserve studies combining standard chemotherapy with anti-MEK or anti-PI3K drugs in patients with TUBB3-overexpressing tumors. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(5); 1203–13. ©2012 AACR.
Cotargeting MAPK and PI3K Signaling with Concurrent Radiotherapy as a Strategy for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Williams Terence M. , Flecha Athena R. , Keller Paul , Ram Ashwin , Karnak David , Galbán Stefanie , Galbán Craig J. , Ross Brian D. , Lawrence Theodore S. , Rehemtulla Alnawaz , Sebolt-Leopold Judith
Published: March 2012

There is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies to treat pancreatic cancer, which is among the most lethal of all cancers. KRAS-activating mutations, which are found in more than 90% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, drive tumor dependency on the Ras/MAPK and Akt signaling pathways. Radiation is currently being explored as a component of the standard treatment regimen for pancreatic cancer. This study's purpose was to test the hypothesis that MAP kinase kinase (MEK or MAP2K) inhibitors will offer clear therapeutic benefit when integrated into radiotherapy treatment regimens for treatment of this disease. We explored the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt pathways in response to radiation in multiple pancreatic tumor cell lines. Small molecule inhibitors of MEK (PD0325901) and Akt (API-2) were subsequently evaluated for their radiosensitizing potential alone and in combination. In vivo efficacy was tested in subcutaneous MIA-PaCa2 xenografts. Phosphorylated levels of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 and Akt were found to increase in response to radiation treatment in our pancreatic tumor cell line panel. MEK inhibitor–induced radiosensitization was observed in vitro and in vivo. The further addition of an Akt inhibitor to the MEK inhibitor/radiation regimen resulted in enhanced therapeutic gain as determined by increased radiosensitization and tumor cell death. In conclusion, MEK inhibition results in growth arrest, apoptosis, and radiosensitization of multiple preclinical pancreatic tumor models, and the effects can be enhanced by combination with an Akt inhibitor. These results provide rationale for further testing of a treatment regimen in pancreatic cancer that combines MEK inhibition with radiation, optimally in conjunction with Akt inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(5); 1193–202. ©2012 AACR.
Prenatal Diagnosis of 2q32 Deletion Syndrome Characterized by Multiple Segmental Deletions and Complex Chromosomal Rearrangement Involving Chromosomes 2, 5 and 7
Authors: Thorson Heidi L. , Surti Urvashi , Sathanoori Malini , Kochmar Sally J. , Torchia Beth , Rajkovic Aleksandar
Published: March 2012

This is the first case of 2q32 microdeletion syndrome diagnosed prenatally and followed throughout the pregnancy. The pregnancy was complicated by fetal club feet, ventriculomegaly, intrauterine growth retardation and polyhydramnios. This is a unique and highly complicated prenatal diagnosis case of a de novo complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 2, 5 and 7 with 15 breaks and multiple interstitial 2q deletions, resulting in the 2q32 microdeletion syndrome. The delineation of the karyotype in this case and origin of the pathology required the use of multiple genetic technologies including conventional cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, single-nucleotide polymorphism array and array comparative genomic hybridization.
Pharmacokinetics of Lacosamide in Healthy Korean Male Volunteers
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Gu Namyi , Kim Bo-Hyung , Fitchner Andreas , Elshoff Jan-Peer , Cawello Willi , Jang In-Jin , Yu Kyung-Sang
Published: March 2012

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of single and repeated doses of lacosamide in healthy male Korean volunteers and to compare the PK profile of lacosamide in Korean and Caucasian populations. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation trial, 16 volunteers received a single dose (50 mg) of lacosamide or placebo, and 32 volunteers were administered single/repeated twice-daily doses (100 or 200 mg) of lacosamide or placebo. Results: For multiple doses of 100 and 200 mg twice daily, the geometric means Cmax,ss were 6.23 (15.0) and 13.13 (8.9) µg/ml respectively, and AUCτ,ss values were 52.10 (17.0) and 112.35 (13.0) µg·h/ml, respectively. Values for both parameters were relatively higher than those seen in Caucasians. To further describe ethnic differences, population PK analysis was assessed. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination was selected and effects of CLcreatinine on CL/F and body surface area on V/F were included in the final model. Conclusion: There were no other ethnic differences in the PK profile of lacosamide between Koreans and Caucasians based on the population PK analysis, except for the demographic differences.
Global Longitudinal Strain Predicts Long-Term Survival in Patients With Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Bertini Matteo , Ng Arnold C.T. , Antoni M. Louisa , Nucifora Gaetano , Ewe See H. , Auger Dominique , Marsan Nina Ajmone , Schalij Martin J. , Bax Jeroen J. , Delgado Victoria
Published: March 2012

Background—

Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a measure of the active shortening of the LV in the longitudinal direction, which can be assessed with speckle-tracking echocardiography. The aims of this evaluation were to validate the prognostic value of GLS as a new index of LV systolic function in a large cohort of patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy and to determine the incremental value of GLS to predict long-term outcome over other strong and well-established prognostic factors.

Methods and Results—

A total of 1060 patients underwent baseline clinical evaluation and transthoracic echocardiography. Median age was 66.9 years (interquartile range, 58.4, 74.2 years); 739 (70%) were men. The median follow-up duration for the entire patient population was 31 months. During the follow-up, 270 patients died and 309 patients reached the combined end point (all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization). Compared with survivors, patients who died (270, [25%]) had larger LV volumes (
P
<0.05), lower LV ejection fraction (
P
=0.004), higher wall motion score index (
P
=0.001), and greater impairment of LV GLS (
P
<0.001). After dichotomizing the population on the basis of the median value of LV GLS (−11.5%), patients with an LV GLS ≤−11.5% had superior outcome compared with patients with an LV GLS >−11.5% (log-rank χ
2
, 13.86 and 14.16 for all-cause mortality and combined end point, respectively,
P
<0.001 for both). On multivariate analysis, GLS was independently related to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio per 5% increase, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–2.15;
P
<0.001) and combined end point (1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.32–2.04;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The assessment of LV GLS with speckle-tracking echocardiography is significantly related to long-term outcome in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy.
A Formal Theory of Reflected Appraisals in the Evolution of Power
Authors: Friedkin Noah E.
Published: March 2012

This article investigates the evolution of power with a formal theory that focuses on the influence network through which control of a group’s outcomes emerges via direct and indirect interpersonal influences on group members’ positions on a series of issues over time. Power evolves when individuals’ openness or closure to interpersonal influences correspond with their prior relative control over the group’s issue outcomes. In groups with members who are appraising the relative power of their members over the outcomes of prior issues, a mechanism of “reflected appraisals” will elevate and dampen members’ self-appraisals of their relative power and the amount of influence they accord to others. Across a series of issues over time, this mechanism suffices to generate state transitions of a group’s influence network. The result is an evolution of the group’s influence network such that, with rare exceptions, power becomes concentrated and the preferences of a single leader control the group’s outcomes via intermediaries. A laboratory experiment and a simulation provide support for the theory. The analysis suggests that the evolution of the influence network toward concentrated forms of power and control is generated by fundamental social psychological responses to power and may occur in all enduring social groups whose members are dealing with a lengthy sequence of issues, independent of the conditions of bureaucratic organizations.
Something to Lose and Nothing to Gain
Authors: Jordan Jennifer , Sivanathan Niro , Galinsky Adam D.
Published: March 2012

The current investigation explores how power and stability within a social hierarchy interact to affect risk taking. Building on a diverse, interdisciplinary body of research, including work on non-human primates, intergroup status, and childhood social hierarchies, we predicted that the unstable powerful and the stable powerless will be more risk taking than the stable powerful and unstable powerless. Across four studies, the unstable powerful and the stable powerless preferred probabilistic over certain outcomes and engaged in more risky behaviors in an organizational decision-making scenario, a blackjack game, and a balloon-pumping task than did the the stable powerful and the unstable powerless. These effects appeared to be the result of the increased stress that accompanied states of unstable power and stable powerlessness: these states produced more physiological arousal, a direct manipulation of stress led to greater risk taking, and stress tolerance moderated the interaction between power and stability on risk taking. These results have important implications for the way social scientists conceptualize the psychology of power and offer a theoretical framework for understanding factors that lead to risk taking in organizations.
East Asia Remains Different
Authors: Bomhoff Eduard J. , Gu Mary Man-Li
Published: March 2012

Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel have made two strong claims for the index of “self-expression values” introduced in 1997 by Inglehart using responses from the World Values Survey (WVS): first that these values are getting stronger worldwide and second that this is a necessary condition for a flourishing democracy. In this research note, we document that the shift to more emphasis on tolerance, trust, and post-materialism—principal components of the self-expression index—is indeed visible in many countries, but not in East Asia. Also, the combination of these components into one index is fine on average, but makes little sense for the East Asian region. Many East Asians maintain some different attitudes toward work, family, and social issues that would appear traditional and conservative by today’s Western standard where such conservative values today are held typically by people who are less trusting and more suspicious of democracy. By contrast, trust, measured in six different ways, as well as post-materialism, appears compatible with these conservative work and family values in East Asia. The claim that self-expression values as defined by Inglehart are a necessary condition for a healthy democracy makes sense in many parts of the world, but not in East Asia.
A periodized model for exercise improves the intra-hospital evolution of patients after myocardial revascularization: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: de Macedo Rafael Michel , Neto José Rocha Faria , Costantini Costantino O , Olandoski Marcia , Casali Dayane , de Macedo Ana Carolina Brandt , Muller Andrea , Costantini Costantino R , do Amaral Vivian Ferreria , de Carvalho Katheryne Athayde Teixeira , Guarita-Souza Luiz César
Published: March 2012

Objective:

To compare models of the postoperative hospital treatment phase after myocardial revascularization.

Design:

A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Hospital patients in a hospital setting.

Subjects:

Thirty-two patients with indications for myocardial revascularization were included between January 2008 and December 2009, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%, 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) ≥60 and forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥60% of predicted value.

Interventions:

Patients were randomly placed into two groups: one performed prescribed exercises according to the model proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the other according to a periodized model.

Main measures:

Partial pressure of O2 ( Po2) and arterial O2 saturation ( Sao2), percentage of predicted FVC and total distance on the six-minute walking test (6MWT).

Results:

Twenty-seven patients were re-evaluated upon release from the hospital (ACSM = 14 and PP = 13). Five patients extubated for more than 6 hours in the postoperative period were excluded from the sample. In the preoperative period the variables Po2, Sao2, % FVC and 6MWT were similar. In the postoperative period, a reduction was observed for all parameters in both groups. Upon comparison of the groups, a difference was observed in Po2 (ACSM = 68.0 ± 4.3 vs. PP = 75.9 ± 4.8 mmHg; P < 0.001), Sao2 (ACSM = 93.5 ± 1.4 vs. PP = 94.8 ± 1.2%; P = 0.018) and 6MWT (ACSM = 339.3 ± 41.7 vs. PP = 393.8 ± 25.7 m; P < 0.001). There was no difference in % FVC.

Conclusion:

Patients after myocardial revascularization following a periodized model of exercise presented a better intra-hospital evolution when compared to those using the ACSM model.
Ménétrier Disease and Gastric Adenocarcinoma in 3 Cairn Terrier Littermates
Authors: Munday J. S. , Aberdein D. , Cullen G. D. , French A. F.
Published: March 2012

Ménétrier disease is a rare hypertrophic gastropathy that is characterized by hyperplasia of the mucous cells with concurrent loss of chief and parietal cells within the gastric glands. There are few reports of this disease in dogs, and little is known about the clinical presentation and progression of canine Ménétrier disease. Three Cairn terrier littermates developed hypertrophic gastropathy with histological features of Ménétrier disease. One dog remained clinically asymptomatic for 2 years after diagnosis. The development of this disease in 3 siblings suggests a possible inherited predisposition. All 3 dogs also developed gastric neoplasia, which has been reported in human Ménétrier disease but has not been associated previously with hypertrophic gastropathy in domestic species.
Clinical and Histologic Features of 26 Canine Peripheral Giant Cell Granulomas (Formerly Giant Cell Epulis)
Authors: Desoutter A. V. , Goldschmidt M. H. , Sánchez M. D.
Published: March 2012

Clinical and histologic features of 26 cases of canine peripheral giant cell granuloma (formerly giant cell epulis) are reported. Two main histologic categories were evident: (1) “classic” peripheral giant cell granuloma, characterized by variable numbers of multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) admixed with densely cellular mononuclear spindle-shaped cells in variable amounts of collagenous matrix, and (2) the “collision” peripheral giant cell granuloma, with features of both a peripheral giant cell granuloma and a fibromatous epulis of periodontal ligament origin. In the 16 dogs for which the outcome was known, 2 peripheral giant cell granulomas recurred after excision. No age or sex predilection was evident; however, lesions were more common in maxillary than in mandibular gingiva. In contrast to cats, peripheral giant cell granulomas in dogs behave like fibromatous epulides of periodontal ligament origin and seldom recur after excision. Positive staining with TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) of the MNGCs and a fraction of the mononuclear cell population is consistent with osteoclastic origin.
Measuring the Problem
Authors: Pollock Wendi , Oliver Willard , Menard Scott
Published: March 2012

This research examined socioeconomic variables, offending behavior, and prior police contact, as predictors of self-reported police contact (questioning or arrest). Utilizing multilevel models and eight waves of National Youth Survey Family Study data, the predictors were examined in a national sample of individuals, over 24 years. Results indicate that police contact is predominately predicted by sex, delinquent peers, and offending behavior. This suggests that several of the variables commonly discussed in police contact literature, including race, are not predictors of police contact at the national level in the United States. Implications of national-level findings on police policy are discussed.
Development of an interlocked nail for segmental defects in the rabbit tibia
Authors: LeCronier David J , Papakonstantinou John S , Gheevarughese Vineetha , Beran Casey D , Walter Norman E , Atkinson Patrick J
Published: March 2012

Previous animal models have been developed to study intramedullary nailing for challenging segmental defects in the tibia. In large animals, interlocked nail fixation created a stable environment suitable to study new bone growth technologies placed in the defect. To our knowledge, there are no comparable interlocked tibial defect models for the rabbit in which new technologies could be evaluated. Such a model would be helpful since the rabbit is a popular initial model for orthopedic research studies owing to its wide availability and low cost. While numerous studies have nailed the rabbit tibia, all were non-locked implants that allowed some degree of instability between the fracture fragments. In addition, the non-locked nails were constructed of stainless steel, whereas human nails are increasingly made from titanium alloy. In the current study, an interlocked titanium nail was developed for the rabbit tibia. It was implanted in cadaver tibiae and subjected to fatigue cycling in combined compression and bending at physiologic levels to 21,061 cycles. This duration is estimated to represent 12 weeks of gait by the animal. Before and after fatigue cycling, monotonic testing was performed in compression and bending at physiologic levels. The intact contralateral limbs served as controls. All limbs completed the cycling; the instrumented limbs exhibited interfragmentary cyclic strain amplitudes during fatigue (616 ± 139 microstrain), which was significantly greater than the control limbs (136 ± 35 microstrain). Monotonic strain amplitudes for the test limbs in bending and compression were 4839 ± 1028 and 542 ± 122 microstrain, respectively; corresponding values for the control bones were 407 ± 118 and 95 ± 38 microstrain, respectively. These data are similar to those presented in prior studies in larger bone models. The current study presents one method for interlocked nail fixation for this complex tibial shaft fracture in a small animal.
Dendroglaciological reconstruction of late-Holocene glacier activity at White and South Flat glaciers, Boundary Range, northern British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada
Authors: Johnson Kate , Smith Dan J
Published: March 2012

Holocene glacier activity in the northern British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada, is described following investigations in the recently deglaciated forefields of White and South Flat glaciers spilling from the Cambria Icefield. Glacially overridden stumps and detrital wood was radiocarbon and dendrochronologically dated to describe an advance between ad 250 and 650. Expansion and thickening of White Glacier by ad 765 resulted in creation of an ice-dammed lake in South Flat valley that persisted until ad 1080. Following this the lake drained, before refilling in the early ‘Little Ice Age’ prior to ad 1300. Shortly thereafter White and South Flat glaciers became confluent and flowed over the valley side toward White Lake. The characteristics of the site and the preservation of 1500 yr old deposits indicate that the two glaciers remained confluent throughout the remainder of the ‘Little Ice Age’, only separating following terminal retreat early in the 20th century. The late-Holocene glacial history of White and South Flat glaciers appears synchronous with those of other glaciers in northern portion of Pacific Northwest.
Interest Rate Risk of Stock Prices in Nigeria
Authors: Udegbunam Raphael I. , Oaikhenan Hassan E.
Published: March 2012

The article empirically examines the response of stock prices in the Nigerian Stock Market to interest rate risk, using the Duration and Convexity model. A simple non-linear stock price model that incorporates measure of interest rate duration and convexity and a vector containing a battery of other control variables is specified and estimated using annual secondary data that covered the 1981–2006 sample period. The empirical results largely corroborate the hypothesis of interest rate sensitivity of stock prices in the Nigerian Stock Market. Specifically, we find both measures of interest rate duration and convexity to exert strong but opposite effects on stock prices in Nigeria. The empirical evidence shows that the net effect of interest rate changes on stock prices is negative, an indication that stock prices fall with increases in stock risk. The results provide empirical support for the duration and convexity hypothesis of the existence of a non-linear relationship between interest rate risk and stock prices in Nigeria.

JEL Classification: G1, G12
Interrogational Torture
Authors: Schiemann John W.
Published: March 2012

Debate about the sources of intelligence leading to bin Laden’s location has revived the question as to whether interrogational torture is effective. Answering this question is a necessary—if not sufficient—condition for any justification of interrogational torture. Given the impossibility of approaching the question empirically, I address it theoretically, asking whether the use of torture to extract information satisfies reasonable expectations about reliability of information as well as normative constraints on the frequency and intensity of torture. I find that although information from interrogational torture is unreliable, it is likely to be used frequently and harshly.
Considerations on a Tentative Classification of FVII Deficiency Suited for Practical Clinical Purposes
Authors: Girolami Antonio , Treleani Martina , Scarparo Pamela , Bonamigo Emanuela , Lombardi Anna Maria
Published: March 2012

Adequate classifications of disorders are of paramount importance in the management of congenital bleeding disorders. Classification of congenital FVII deficiency should be simple, based on few tests using thromboplastins of different origin. The first thromboplastin to be used is a rabbit brain preparation since it has been proven that this is the one that, overall, yields the lowest activity level. This is particularly so since molecular biology techniques have supplied important information with regard to the structure–function relation but have failed to supply a satisfactory classification of the defect. Mutations in the same domain have yielded different forms of FVII deficiency. Furthermore, molecular biology techniques are time consuming and are not feasible in every laboratory. A classification of FVII deficiency based on clinical, clotting, and immunological assays is proposed. This classification is suited for practical clinical purposes and may represent a useful preparatory basis for molecular biology studies.
Hybrid synchronization phenomenon in two coupled delay hyperchaotic Lorenz systems with unknown parameters via a single linear controller
Authors: Shi Xuerong , Wang Zuolei
Published: March 2012

This work is devoted to investigating the hybrid synchronization phenomenon of two identical hyperchaotic Lorenz time-delay systems with different initial conditions, and a simple coexistence of anti-phase and complete synchronization scheme only with a single variable controller is proposed. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, sufficient conditions of synchronization are obtained for both linear feedback and adaptive control approaches. The problem of adaptive synchronization between two nearly identical chaotic systems with unknown parameters is also studied. A single input adaptive synchronization controller is proposed and the adaptive parameter update laws are developed. Numerical simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed chaos synchronization scheme.
The differential effects of gratitude and sleep on psychological distress in patients with chronic pain
Authors: Ng Mei-Yee , Wong Wing-Sze
Published: March 2012

This study aimed to examine the possible cross-sectional mediating role of sleep in the relationship of gratitude with depression and anxiety in patients with chronic pain. A total of 224 patients with chronic pain completed structured questionnaires assessing chronic pain, depression and anxiety symptoms, gratitude, and sleep disturbances. Results of multiple regression analyses yielded a modest mediating effect for sleep on the gratitude–depression link whereas a stronger mediating effect was found for sleep on the gratitude–anxiety link. These data show much of the effect of gratitude on depression was direct whereas sleep exerted a stronger mediating effect on the gratitude–anxiety link.
Low-Frequency Repetitive TMS Plus Anodal Transcranial DCS Prevents Transient Decline in Bimanual Movement Induced by Contralesional Inhibitory rTMS After Stroke
Authors: Takeuchi Naoyuki , Tada Takeo , Matsuo Yuichiro , Ikoma Katsunori
Published: March 2012

Background. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the unaffected motor cortex may improve motor function of the paretic hand after stroke. However, low-frequency rTMS might adversely affect bimanual movement by decreasing transcallosal function. Objective. The authors investigated whether combined administration of rTMS and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) prevents deterioration of bimanual movement induced by low-frequency rTMS over the unaffected hemisphere. Methods. A total of 27 participants with chronic subcortical stroke were randomly assigned to receive either 1 Hz rTMS over the unaffected hemisphere, anodal tDCS over the affected hemisphere, or a combination of rTMS and tDCS. All patients performed a pinching motor-training task after stimulation. Bimanual movement and transcallosal inhibition (TCI) were evaluated after stimulation. Results. rTMS and rTMS-tDCS enhanced the motor training effect on the paretic hand. rTMS decreased bimanual coordination and reduced TCI from the unaffected to the affected hemisphere (TCIunaff-aff). rTMS-tDCS changed TCI balance of both hemispheres but did not affect bimanual coordination or TCIunaff-aff. The change in bimanual coordination was negatively correlated with TCIunaff-aff. Following stimulation, improvement in the pinch force in the paretic hand was negatively correlated with TCI balance. Conclusions. Inhibitory rTMS over the unaffected hemisphere transiently caused deterioration of bimanual movements for the current task in stroke patients. This short-term decline was prevented by combined administration of low-frequency rTMS over the unaffected hemisphere and anodal tDCS over the affected hemisphere. These responses to bihemispheric stimulation suggest possible caution and opportunities for the rehabilitation of hand function after stroke.