bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Policy and Equity of Health Care Financing in Australia: 1973–2010
Authors: Hajizadeh Mohammad , Connelly Luke Brian , Butler James Robert Gerard
Published: January 2014

Using data from Australian Taxation Statistics and Household Expenditure Surveys we analyze the distribution of health care financing in Australia over almost four decades. We compute Kakwani Progressivity indices for four sources of health care financing: general taxation, Medicare Levy payments, Medicare Levy Surcharge payments, and direct consumer payments, and estimate the effects of major policy changes on them. The results demonstrate that the first three of these sources of health care financing are progressive in Australia, while the distribution of direct payments is regressive. Surprisingly, we find that neither the introduction of Medicare in Australia in 1984 nor the Extended Medicare Safety Net in 2004 had significant effects on the progressivity of health care financing in Australia. By contrast, the Lifetime Cover scheme—introduced in 2000 to encourage people to buy and hold private health insurance—had a progressive effect on health care financing.
Mining Trajectory Data and Geotagged Data in Social Media for Road Map Inference
Authors: Li Jun , Qin Qiming , Han Jiawei , Tang Lu‐An , Lei Kin Hou
Published: January 2014

As mapping is costly and labor‐intensive work, government mapping agencies are less and less willing to absorb these costs. In order to reduce the updating cycle and cost, researchers have started to use user generated content (UGC) for updating road maps; however, the existing methods either rely heavily on manual labor or cannot extract enough information for road maps. In view of the above problems, this article proposes a UGC‐based automatic road map inference method. In this method, data mining techniques and natural language processing tools are applied to trajectory data and geotagged data in social media to extract not only spatial information – the location of the road network – but also attribute information – road class and road name – in an effort to create a complete road map. A case study using floating car data, collected by the National Commercial Vehicle Monitoring Platform of China, and geotagged text data from Flickr and Google Maps/Earth, validates the effectiveness of this method in inferring road maps.
Boomwhackers and End-Pipe Corrections
Authors: Ruiz Michael J.
Published: January 2014

End-pipe corrections seldom come to mind as a suitable topic for an introductory physics lab. Yet, the end-pipe correction formula can be verified in an engaging and inexpensive lab that requires only two supplies: plastic-tube toys called boomwhackers1 and a meterstick. This article describes a lab activity in which students model data from plastic tubes to arrive at the end-correction formula for an open pipe. Students also learn the basic mathematics behind the musical scale, and come to appreciate the importance of end-pipe physics in the engineering design of toy musical tubes.
Visualizing Sound with an Electro-Optical Eardrum
Authors: Truncale Nicholas P. , Graham Michelle T.
Published: January 2014

As science educators, one of our important responsibilities is ensuring students possess the proper tools and accommodations to examine phenomena in a laboratory setting. It is our job to innovate methods enabling students with disabilities to participate in all aspects of investigations. This article describes an experimental accommodation allowing a deaf student to determine and plot the sensitivity of an electro-optical eardrum in the sound range of 10–150 Hz.
Measurement of the Convective Heat-Transfer Coefficient
Authors: Conti Rosaria , Gallitto Aurelio Agliolo , Fiordilino Emilio
Published: January 2014

We propose an experiment for investigating how objects cool down toward the thermal equilibrium with their surroundings. We describe the time dependence of the temperature difference of the cooling objects and the environment with an exponential decay function. By measuring the thermal constant τ, we determine the convective heat-transfer coefficient, which is a characteristic constant of the convection system.
The Trouble with Trig
Authors: Galle Gillian , Meredith Dawn
Published: January 2014

A few years ago we began to revamp our introductory physics course for life science students.1 We knew that this cohort would be less prepared and less adventurous mathematically than engineering, physical science, or mathematics majors. Moreover, from our own experience and the mathematics education literature,2-4 we knew that trigonometry would be particularly challenging. Based on these circumstances, we decided to systematically probe the following questions: What is the range of students' initial knowledge with respect to trigonometry? Is reviewing trigonometric concepts valuable and/or necessary? Can students see the trigonometric equations describing oscillations as conveying an idea, in addition to being a tool to get “the answer”?
Multiplexed Protein Analysis
Authors: Gökmen-Polar Yesim , Badve Sunil
Published: January 2014

Multiplexed protein analysis using an antibody-DNA barcoding approach could accelerate early detection and monitoring of cancer biomarkers in patient samples, as well as unravel pathways leading to therapeutic response or resistance (Ullal
et al
., this issue).
Posttranscriptional Control of Microbe-Induced Rearrangement of Host Cell Actin
Authors: Gruber Charley C. , Sperandio Vanessa
Published: January 2014

Remodeling of the host cytoskeleton is a common strategy employed by bacterial pathogens. Although there is vigorous investigation of the cell biology underlying these bacterially mediated cytoskeleton modifications, knowledge of the plasticity and dynamics of the bacterial signaling networks that regulate the expression of genes necessary for these phenotypes is lacking. Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
attaches to enterocytes, forming pedestal-like structures. Pedestal formation requires the expression of the locus-of-enterocyte-effacement (LEE) and
espFu
genes. The LEE encodes a molecular syringe, a type III secretion system (T3SS) used by pathogens to translocate effectors such as EspFu into the host cell. By using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and cell biology approaches, we show that pedestal formation relies on posttranscriptional regulation by two small RNAs (sRNAs), GlmY and GlmZ. The GlmY and GlmZ sRNAs are unique; they have extensive secondary structures and work in concert. Although these sRNAs may offer unique insights into RNA and posttranscriptional biology, thus far, only one target and one mechanism of action (exposure of the ribosome binding site from the
glmS
gene to promote its translation) has been described. Here we uncovered new targets and two different molecular mechanisms of action of these sRNAs. In the case of EspFu expression, they promote translation by cleavage of the transcript, while in regard to the LEE, they promote destabilization of the mRNA. Our findings reveal that two unique sRNAs act in concert through different molecular mechanisms to coordinate bacterial attachment to mammalian cells.

IMPORTANCE
Pathogens evolve by horizontal acquisition of pathogenicity islands. We describe here how two sRNAs, GlmY and GlmZ, involved in cellular metabolism and cellular architecture, through the posttranscriptional control of GlmS (the previously only known target of GlmY and GlmZ), which controls amino sugar synthesis, have been coopted to modulate the expression of virulence. These sRNAs quickly allow for plasticity in gene expression in order for enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
to fine-tune the expression of its complex type III secretion machinery and its effectors to promote bacterial attachment and subsequent actin rearrangement on host cells. Pedestal formation is a very dynamic process. Many of the genes necessary for pedestal formation are located within the same operon to evolutionarily guarantee that they are inherited together. However, it is worth noting that within these operons, several genes need to yield more proteins than others and that these differences cannot be efficiently regulated at the transcriptional level.
Acute blue finger: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Farag Mohamed , Elmasry Mohamed , Mabote Thato , Elsayed Ayman , Sunthareswaran Rame
Published: January 2014

The management of the acute blue finger is controversial with many regarding it as a benign condition. However, we would argue that it should always be considered as an emergency. We present a challenging case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a 1-week history of sudden onset blue discolouration of the left fifth digit, and a 6-week history of episodic joint problems. Examination showed bilateral normal radial and ulnar pulses. Following blood investigations, an initial working diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis with associated Raynaud's phenomenon was made. Also, infective endocarditis was considered due to temporary misleading physical signs. Later, CT angiography of the left upper limb arteries showed a significant proximal left subclavian stenosis. Subsequently, a diagnosis of the left subclavian arteritis associated with digit ischaemia from embolic debris was made and the patient underwent a left subclavian angioplasty. However, delayed management resulted in a necrotic digit, which was left to autoamputate.
Enterobiasis-related inflammatory caecal polyp masquerading as a malignancy
Authors: Elsaid Nada , Mahmood Humza , Tekkis Paris , Tan Emile
Published: January 2014

A 55 -year-old Asian man was seen in the emergency department with bleeding per rectum. He was a teetotaller and had no previous abdominal surgery. He did, however, report a change in bowel habit towards constipation. He underwent colonoscopy which revealed a lesion, highly suspicious of malignancy, in the caecum. On review by two consultants, a decision to completely resect this lesion was made. Histological analysis of the polypoidal growth showed it to be a consequence of chronic infection with the helminthEnterobius vermicularis. Importantly, there was no evidence of dysplastic or malignant cells. The patient was subsequently discharged with a 3-day course of antihelminthic mebendazole and reassured that his per rectal bleeding was most likely due to haemorrhoids discovered at rectal examination.
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified through genotyping-by-sequencing improve genetic stock identification of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from western Alaska
Authors: Larson Wesley A. , Seeb James E. , Pascal Carita E. , Templin William D. , Seeb Lisa W.
Published: January 2014

Genetic stock identification (GSI), an important tool for fisheries management that relies upon the ability to differentiate stocks of interest, can be difficult when populations are closely related. Here we genotyped 11 850 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from existing DNA sequence data available in five closely related populations of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from western Alaska. We then converted a subset of 96 of these SNPs displaying high differentiation into high-throughput genotyping assays. These 96 SNPs (RAD96) and 191 SNPs developed previously (CTC191) were screened in 28 populations from western Alaska. Regional assignment power was evaluated for five different SNP panels, including a panel containing the 96 SNPs with the highest FST across the CTC191 and RAD96 panels (FST96). Assignment tests indicated that SNPs in the RAD96 were more useful for GSI than those in the CTC191 and that increasing the number of reporting groups in western Alaska from one to three was feasible with the FST96. Our approach represents an efficient way to discover SNPs for GSI and should be applicable to other populations and species.
Studies of silver photodiffusion dynamics in Ag/GexS1−x (x = 0.2 and 0.4) films using neutron reflectometry
Authors: Sakaguchi Y. , Asaoka H. , Uozumi Y. , Kawakita Y. , Ito T. , Kubota M. , Yamazaki D. , Soyama K. , Ailavajhala M. , Latif M.R. , Mitkova M.
Published: January 2014

To better understand the dynamics of silver photodiffusion into amorphous chalcogenide (Ch) films, it is informative to probe the time-dependent distribution of silver in the films while they are simultaneously exposed to visible light. Time-resolved neutron reflectometry is particularly well-suited to this purpose because it can follow time-dependent changes in the multilayer structure (Ag/Ag–Ch/Ch) while excluding the possibility of probe beam induced changes. This paper reports the results of time-resolved neutron reflectivity measurements of two Ag/GexS1−x (x = 0.2 and 0.4) films as they are exposed to a visible light source. Analysis showed that silver diffusion occurs via two distinct processes: a fast diffusion that takes place during the first 2 and 10 min of sample illumination for the x = 0.2 and 0.4 films, respectively; and a subsequent slower change that is observed over the next 18 min (x = 0.2 film) and 107 min (x = 0.4 film). These results suggest the formation of a relatively stable Ag-rich phase in the reaction layer followed by slower diffusion at the interface between Ag-rich and Ag-poor layers. Fourier transform analysis shows that the position of the interface is essentially fixed — a conclusion that contradicts the “diffusion front” model that has been previously postulated.
Using spoor and prey counts to determine temporal and spatial variation in lion (Panthera leo) density
Authors: Bauer D. , Schiess-Meier M. , Mills D.R. , Gusset M.
Published: January 2014

In many African countries, large carnivores such as lions (Panthera leo (L., 1758)) are under serious threat through conflict with people, declining prey abundance, and exposure to disease. Spoor and prey count surveys were used to determine temporal and spatial variation in lion density in Khutse Game Reserve (KGR), Botswana, and the adjacent communal grazing area. Estimated lion density in KGR for the period September 2008 – June 2010 was 41% lower than for the period June 2007 – August 2008 (1.02 vs. 1.72 lions/100 km2). Prior to this population crash in mid-2008, estimated lion density in the communal grazing area (1.21 lions/100 km2) was 30% lower than inside KGR. The relative abundance of the three most abundant, preferred prey species of lions occurring in KGR decreased from 2001 to 2008 by 50%–79%. Based on two prey biomass estimates, the lion population in KGR was below the potential carrying capacity of the habitat after the crash in mid-2008. These results suggest that there could be a human-caused population sink around KGR, which might be strong enough to threaten the long-term survival of lions in the area; particularly if this edge effect is intensified by prey depletion and disease outbreaks, which might have caused the sudden decline in the lion population.
Numerical simulation of Neumann boundary condition in the thermal lattice Boltzmann model
Authors: Chen Q. , Zhang X. B. , Zhang J. F.
Published: January 2014

In this paper, a bilinear interpolation finite-difference scheme is proposed to handle the Neumann boundary condition with nonequilibrium extrapolation method in the thermal lattice Boltzmann model. The temperature value at the boundary point is obtained by the finite-difference approximation, and then used to determine the wall temperature via an extrapolation. Our method can deal with the boundaries with complex geometries, motions and gradient boundary conditions. Several simulations are performed to examine the capacity of this proposed boundary method. The numerical results agree well with the analytical solutions. When compared with a representative boundary method, an improved performance is observed. The results also show that the proposed scheme together with nonequilibrium extrapolation method has second-order accuracy.
Ground state of one-dimension repulsing particles on disordered lattice
Authors: Pastur L. A. , Slavin V. V. , Krivchikov A. A.
Published: January 2014

The ground state (GS) of interacting particles on a disordered one-dimensional (1D) host-lattice is studied by a new numerical method. It is shown that if the concentration of particles is small, then even a weak disorder of the host-lattice breaks the long-range order of Generalized Wigner Crystal (GWC), replacing it by the sequence of blocks (domains) of particles with random lengths. The mean domains length as a function of the host-lattice disorder parameter is also found. It is shown that the domain structure can be detected by a weak random field, whose form is similar to that of the ground state but has fluctuating domain walls positions. This is because the generalized magnetization corresponding to the field has a sufficiently sharp peak as a function of the amplitude of fluctuations for small amplitudes.
TAX EVASION: A TWO-PERIOD MODEL
Authors: XIAO TINGTING , LIU KE , LAI KIN KEUNG
Published: January 2014

We mainly study a taxpayer's optimal strategies of tax evasion and its relevant properties, in order to deduce some effective suggestions and theoretical bases for the tax authority to restrain tax evasion. Based on the Christiansen static model of tax evasion, we formulate a two-period model where the discovery of tax evasion in the second period induces a tax audit in the first period if it has not been done before. The taxpayer has to choose the amount of tax evasion in each period to maximize the total expected utility of the two periods. We show that the threat of having the first-period evasion discovered in the second period diminishes attractiveness of tax evasion in both periods. We also discuss the policy of audit power enhancement, where the audit probability in the second period will be increased if tax evasion is discovered in the first period. We find that this policy may play two roles. First, it can reduce the incentive of tax evasion in the second period if tax evasion is discovered in the first period. Second, a high potential increase of the audit probability may contain tax evasion in the first period but may cause more evasion in the second period.
QUANTUM CORRELATIONS OF TWO SPIN-1 PARTICLES IN THE OPTICAL LATTICE
Authors: SHI JIA-DONG , WU TAO , SONG XUE-KE , YE LIU
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we investigate the dynamical behaviors of quantum correlations witnessed by geometric discord and negativity when two three-level spin-1 atoms exist in the optical lattice. The results show that the GD can detect the critical point K = J at finite temperature associated with the quantum phase transition which separates the superfluid phase from the Mott insulator phase, while the negativity cannot. In addition, the system undergoes an entanglement sudden death (ESD), but the GD always exists, meanwhile, the GD is more robust than negativity against temperature T.
AUTOMATIC BAND SEGMENTATION AND DETECTION OF 1D-GEL IMAGES WITH DIFFERENT EXPOSURES
Authors: TSAI MENG-HSIUN , GUO SHU-WEI , CHAN YUNG-KUAN , WU JIUNN-LIN , WANG CHING-LIN , CHU YEN-PING , CHENG WEN-YU
Published: January 2014

Many gel electrophoresis image segmentation methods have been proposed. However, most of the proposed methods cannot provide a satisfying performance since a gel electrophoresis image is a manually captured image often with various noise and poor quality. This paper presents a one-dimensional-gel image segmentation method (1DGISM) to cut the bands off from a one-dimensional gel electrophoresis image (1D-gel image). The experimental results showed that 1DGISM can give an impressive segmentation performance even if the band boundaries are very indistinct. Moreover, the authors suggest that a low exposure for imaging be helpful in segmenting bright bands. Alternatively, taking the image at a high exposure is useful if the bands are dark.
AN ELEMENTARY PROOF FOR THAT ALL UNORIENTED SPANNING SURFACES OF A LINK ARE RELATED BY ATTACHING/DELETING TUBES AND MÖBIUS BANDS
Authors: YASUHARA AKIRA
Published: January 2014

Gordon and Litherland showed that all compact, unoriented, possibly non-orientable surfaces in S3 bounded by a link are related by attaching/deleting tubes and half twisted bands. In this note we give an elementary proof for this result.
A fast algorithm for computing bipartite edge frustration number of (3,6)-fullerenes
Authors: Yarahmadi Zahra , Ashrafi Ali Reza
Published: January 2014

The vertex and edge bipartization problems are to find the minimum number of vertices and edges, respectively, whose removal makes the graph bipartite. It is well-known that these problems are NP hard even for cubic graph. In this paper, a result is proved by which it is possible to find a fast algorithm for computing the edge bipartization number of (3,6)-fullerenes.
Automated analysis of routinely generated preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data
Authors: Lindhardt Emma , Gennemark Peter
Published: January 2014

Model-based analysis of routinely generated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) data is a key component of preclinical drug discovery. The work process of such analyses can be automated by properly designed computer programs that reduce the number of manual steps, resulting in time saving and significantly fewer errors. Critical decisions can still be made by modelers. Using concrete animal data examples this paper illustrates when, and demonstrates how, automated PK–PD approaches can be used and what benefits they offer to the modeling and simulation community. Specifically, we describe two compound optimization case studies from drug discovery projects, and also demonstrate how a subsequent optimization step to predict the human dose can be coupled to an automated approach.
A GENERATION SCHEME OF THE DISTRIBUTED FOUR-PHOTON CLUSTER-TYPE POLARIZATION-ENTANGLED STATES EXPLOITING THE INTEGRATION OF ENTANGLEMENT GATES AND THE CONTROLLED PHASE GATE
Authors: DONG LI , WANG JUN-XI , XIU XIAO-MING , DONG HAI-KUAN , LI DAN , GAO YA-JUN
Published: January 2014

We propose a scheme for preparing the distributed four-photon cluster-type polarization-entangled states associated with the integration of the controlled phase gate and two kinds of entanglement gates. Employing weak cross-Kerr nonlinear interactions and Homodyne measurement, two individual photons entangle together based on the bus function of coherent states. Assisted by optical elements mainly including polarization beam splitters, the entanglement of the signal photons is converted from the spatial mode to the polarization mode. The application of classical feed forward provides the high-efficiency to the preparation of Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) states, Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) states, and four-photon cluster-type polarization-entangled states. With regard to the four-photon cluster-type state, it can be generated in two distributed nodes with less experimental requirements, integrating the features of three logical gates.
Approximation of rational numbers by Dedekind sums
Authors: Girstmair Kurt
Published: January 2014

Given a rational number x and a bound ε, we exhibit m, n such that |x - s(m, n)| < ε. Here s(m, n) is the classical Dedekind sum and the parameters m and n are completely explicit in terms of x and ε.
Writing π as sum of arctangents with linear recurrent sequences, Golden mean and Lucas numbers
Authors: Abrate Marco , Barbero Stefano , Cerruti Umberto , Murru Nadir
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we study the representation of π as sum of arctangents. In particular, we highlight the role of linear recurrent sequences obtaining new identities. Moreover, we provide a method in order to express π as sum of arctangents involving the Golden mean, the Lucas numbers, and more in general any quadratic irrationality.
Relations for Bernoulli–Barnes numbers and Barnes zeta functions
Authors: Bayad Abdelmejid , Beck Matthias
Published: January 2014

The Barnes ζ-function is [Formula: see text] defined for [Formula: see text], Re (x) > 0, and Re (z) > n and continued meromorphically to ℂ. Specialized at negative integers -k, the Barnes ζ-function gives [Formula: see text] where Bk(x; a) is a Bernoulli–Barnes polynomial, which can be also defined through a generating function that has a slightly more general form than that for Bernoulli polynomials. Specializing Bk(0; a) gives the Bernoulli–Barnes numbers. We exhibit relations among Barnes ζ-functions, Bernoulli–Barnes numbers and polynomials, which generalize various identities of Agoh, Apostol, Dilcher, and Euler.
Three-dimensional islet graft histology: panoramic imaging of neural plasticity in sympathetic reinnervation of transplanted islets under the kidney capsule
Authors: Juang Jyuhn-Huarng , Peng Shih-Jung , Kuo Chien-Hung , Tang Shiue-Cheng
Published: January 2014

Microscopic examination of transplanted islets in an ectopic environment provides information to evaluate islet engraftment, including revascularization and reinnervation. However, because of the dispersed nature of blood vessels and nerves, global visualization of the graft neurovascular network has been difficult. In this research we revealed the neurovascular network by preparing transparent mouse islet grafts under the kidney capsule with optical clearing to investigate the sympathetic reinnervation via three-dimensional confocal microscopy. Normoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were used in syngeneic islet transplantation, with both groups maintaining euglycemia after transplantation. Triple staining of insulin/glucagon, blood vessels, and tyrosine hydroxylase (sympathetic marker) was used to reveal the graft microstructure, vasculature, and sympathetic innervation. Three weeks after transplantation, we observed perigraft sympathetic innervation similar to the peri-islet sympathetic innervation in the pancreas. Six weeks after transplantation, prominent intragraft, perivascular sympathetic innervation was achieved, resembling the pancreatic intraislet, perivascular sympathetic innervation in situ. Meanwhile, in diabetic recipients, a higher graft sympathetic nerve density was found compared with grafts in normoglycemic recipients, indicating the graft neural plasticity in response to the physiological difference of the recipients and the resolving power of this imaging approach. Overall, this new graft imaging method provides a useful tool to identify the islet neurovascular complex in an ectopic environment to study islet engraftment.
Minimal modeling of insulin secretion in the perfused rat pancreas: a drug effect case study
Authors: Riz Michela , Pedersen Morten Gram , Toffolo Gianna Maria , Haschke Guido , Schneider Hans-Christoph , Klabunde Thomas , Margerie Daniel , Cobelli Claudio
Published: January 2014

The experimental protocol of the perfused rat pancreas is commonly used to evaluate β-cell function. In this context, mathematical models become useful tools through the determination of indexes that allow the assessment of β-cell function in different experimental groups and the quantification of the effects of antidiabetic drugs, secretagogues, or treatments. However, a minimal model applicable to the isolated perfused rat pancreas has so far been unavailable. In this work, we adapt the C-peptide minimal model applied previously to the intravenous glucose tolerance test to obtain a specific model for the experimental settings of the perfused pancreas. Using the model, it is possible to estimate indexes describing β-cell responsivity for first (ΦD) and second phase (ΦS, T) of insulin secretion. The model was initially applied to untreated pancreata and afterward used for the assessment of pharmacologically relevant agents (the gut hormone GLP-1, the potent GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide, and a GPR40/FFAR1 agonist, SAR1) to quantify and differentiate their effect on insulin secretion. Model fit was satisfactory, and parameters were estimated with good precision for both untreated and treated pancreata. Model application showed that lixisenatide reaches improvement of β-cell function similarly to GLP-1 (11.7- vs. 13.1-fold increase in ΦD and 2.3- vs. 2.8-fold increase in ΦS) and demonstrated that SAR1 leads to an additional improvement of β-cell function in the presence of postprandial GLP-1 levels.
Genetic influence on exercise-induced changes in physical function among mobility-limited older adults
Authors: Buford Thomas W. , Hsu Fang-Chi , Brinkley Tina E. , Carter Christy S. , Church Timothy S. , Dodson John A. , Goodpaster Bret H. , McDermott Mary M. , Nicklas Barbara J. , Yank Veronica , Johnson Julie A. , Pahor Marco
Published: January 2014

To date, physical exercise is the only intervention consistently demonstrated to attenuate age-related declines in physical function. However, variability exists in seniors' responsiveness to training. One potential source of variability is the insertion (I allele) or deletion (D allele) of a 287 bp fragment in intron 16 of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. This polymorphism is known to influence a variety of physiological adaptions to exercise. However, evidence is inconclusive regarding the influence of this polymorphism on older adults' functional responses to exercise. This study aimed to evaluate the association of ACE I/D genotypes with changes in physical function among Caucasian older adults ( n = 283) following 12 mo of either structured, multimodal physical activity or health education. Measures of physical function included usual-paced gait speed and performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). After checking Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, we used using linear regression to evaluate the genotype*treatment interaction for each outcome. Covariates included clinic site, body mass index, age, sex, baseline score, comorbidity, and use of angiotensin receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors. Genotype frequencies [II (19.4%), ID (42.4%), DD (38.2%)] were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium ( P > 0.05). The genotype*treatment interaction was statistically significant for both gait speed ( P = 0.002) and SPPB ( P = 0.020). Exercise improved gait speed by 0.06 ± 0.01 m/sec and SPPB score by 0.72 ± 0.16 points among those with at least one D allele (ID/DD carriers), but function was not improved among II carriers. Thus, ACE I/D genotype appears to play a role in modulating functional responses to exercise training in seniors.
Social Network Supported Process Recommender System
Authors: Ye Yanming , Yin Jianwei , Xu Yueshen
Published: January 2014

Process recommendation technologies have gained more and more attention in the field of intelligent business process modeling to assist the process modeling. However, most of the existing technologies only use the process structure analysis and do not take the social features of processes into account, while the process modeling is complex and comprehensive in most situations. This paper studies the feasibility of social network research technologies on process recommendation and builds a social network system of processes based on the features similarities. Then, three process matching degree measurements are presented and the system implementation is discussed subsequently. Finally, experimental evaluations and future works are introduced.
Supported TiO2 on Borosilicate Glass Plates for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Fenamiphos
Authors: El Yadini A. , Saufi H. , Dunlop P. S. M. , Byrne J. Anthony , El Azzouzi M. , El Hajjaji S.
Published: January 2014

Supported titanium dioxide (TiO2) was investigated for the photodegradation of the insecticide fenamiphos in water. The photocatalyst was immobilised on borosilicate glass plates and the kinetics of degradation were studied in a stirred tank reactor under UV irradiation. Two types of TiO2, for example, Millennium PC500 (100% anatase) and Degussa P25 (80% anatase, 20% rutile), were used. Their activities have been based on the rates of insecticide disappearance. Experiments were investigated to evaluate the effect of pH and initial concentrations of fenamiphos as well as catalyst doses on the photocatalytic degradation of fenamiphos. Kinetic parameters were experimentally determined and an apparent first-order kinetic was observed. For photolysis process of fenamiphos, two photoproducts were identified and characterized using high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). The plausible mechanism of photolysis involved is the oxidation of sulfonamide group. In presence of photocatalyst TiO2, photodegradation was observed. Under identical conditions, Degussa P25 shows higher photocatalytic activity in regard to PC500 Millennium and complete degradation was observed after 180 min.
Lens Extrusion fromLaminin Alpha 1Mutant Zebrafish
Authors: Pathania Mallika , Semina Elena V. , Duncan Melinda K.
Published: January 2014

We report analysis of the ocular lens phenotype of the recessive, larval lethal zebrafish mutant,lama1a69/a69. Previous work revealed that this mutant has a shortened body axis and eye defects including a defective hyaloid vasculature, focal corneal dysplasia, and loss of the crystalline lens. While these studies highlight the importance of lamininα1 in lens development, a detailed analysis of the lens defects seen in these mutants was not reported. In the present study, we analyze the lenticular anomalies seen in thelama1a69/a69mutants and show that the lens defects result from the anterior extrusion of lens material from the eye secondary to structural defects in the lens capsule and developing corneal epithelium associated with basement membrane loss. Our analysis provides further insights into the role of the lens capsule and corneal basement membrane in the structural integrity of the developing eye.
Clinical Potential of Oral Nicorandil to Improve Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Nishimura Masato , Okamoto Yu , Tokoro Toshiko , Sato Nodoka , Nishida Masaya , Hashimoto Tetsuya , Kobayashi Hiroyuki , Yamazaki Satoru , Okino Koji , Iwamoto Noriyuki , Takahashi Hakuo , Ono Toshihiko
Published: January 2014

Background/Aims: The assessment of myocardial fatty acid metabolism impairment by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 123I-β-methyliodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) might predict the risk of cardiac death in hemodialysis patients. We investigated the potential of oral nicorandil to improve myocardial fatty acid metabolism after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in this population. Methods: We evaluated 128 hemodialysis patients who had obtained coronary revascularization by PCI (90 men and 38 women, 66 ± 9 years). Participants for the analysis were randomly assigned to either the nicorandil (n = 63) or control group (n = 65). BMIPP SPECT was performed every year after coronary revascularization by PCI. Uptake on SPECT was graded in 17 segments on a 5-point scale (0, normal; 4, absent) and assessed as BMIPP summed scores (SS). Results: The incidence of cardiac death was lower (p = 0.004) in the nicorandil group (7/63, 11.1%) than in the control group (21/65, 32.3%) during a mean follow-up of 2.7 ± 1.4 years. BMIPP SS reduction rates improved in the nicorandil group compared with the control group from 3 years of administration. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, free survival rate of cardiac death was higher in patients with a ≥20% BMIPP SS reduction rate as compared with those with a <20% BMIPP SS reduction rate (p = 0.0001). In multiple logistic analysis, oral administration of nicorandil was associated with ≥20% reduction rates of BMIPP SS (odds ratio 2.823, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Long-term oral administration of nicorandil may improve impaired myocardial fatty acid metabolism after coronary revascularization by PCI in hemodialysis patients.
Combined Intracorneal and Subconjunctival Bevacizumab Injections for Recurrent Visual Loss and Intraocular Hemorrhage from Vascularized Fibrous Downgrowth
Authors: Mansour Ahmad M.
Published: January 2014

Background: Epithelial and fibrous downgrowths result from persistently leaky wounds with conjunctival or corneal epithelium and fibroblasts growing over corneal endothelium, iris and angle structures, leading to corneal edema and difficult-to-control glaucoma. Therapies have included en bloc resection, cryotherapy, endolaser or external photocoagulation and either 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin C injections. A new complication and a novel therapy are presented. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old uniocular housewife sustained a large corneoscleral laceration following a fall. She underwent primary suturing and was subsequently referred for repair of retinal detachment. She underwent resuturing of her gaping wound, pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckle. Postoperative visual acuity was 6/120 due to a large macular hole. Visual acuity dropped to hand motion 5 times in a recurrent fashion due to diffuse intraocular hemorrhage. Vascularized fibrous downgrowth was the identifiable source of bleeding into the anterior and posterior chambers. This was controlled by 21 intracorneal and subconjunctival bevacizumab injections over 2.5 years of therapy. Conclusion: Repeated bevacizumab injections can control intraocular bleeding from new vessels accompanying fibrous downgrowth with preservation of vision.
Selective Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms Targeting for Atrial Fibrillation Study (SELECT AF)
Authors: Verma Atul , Sanders Prashanthan , Champagne Jean , Macle Laurent , Nair Girish M. , Calkins Hugh , Wilber David J.
Published: January 2014

Background—

This study compared generalized complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) ablation versus a selective CFAE ablation strategy targeting areas of continuous electric activity.

Methods and Results—

Subjects with symptomatic, persistent/high-burden paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled at 6 centers (n=86) and randomized to 1 of 2 arms. For group I, all CFAE regions with an interval confidence level >7 were ablated followed by pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). For group II, only CFAE sites with continuous electric activity were ablated followed by PVI. For PVI, all 4 PV antra were isolated with confirmed entrance block. Subjects were followed for 1 year with a visit, ECG, and 48-hour Holter every 3 months. Symptoms were confirmed by loop recording. The primary end point was freedom from arrhythmia >30 seconds at 1 year. For both group I and II, CFAE ablation prolonged AF cycle length (25±33 versus 23±33 ms;
P
=0.78) and resulted in similar rates of AF termination (37% versus 28%;
P
=0.42). Radiofrequency duration during CFAE ablation was significantly less in group II (23±20 versus 38±20 minutes;
P
=0.002). At 1-year follow-up, freedom from AF/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia recurrence was significantly higher in group I versus group II after 1 procedure (50% versus 28%;
P
=0.03). There were also significantly fewer repeat procedures in group I (13% versus 36%;
P
=0.021).

Conclusions—

Continuous electric activity ablation+PVI result in a similar incidence of acute AF termination with significantly less radiofrequency time. However, incidence of repeat procedures and long-term recurrence of AF/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia are significantly lower using generalized CFAE ablation+PVI.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00926783
National Trends in Visits to Physician Offices and Outpatient Clinics for Angina 1995 to 2010
Authors: Will Julie C. , Loustalot Fleetwood , Hong Yuling
Published: January 2014

Background—

We asked whether visits to physician offices and hospital outpatient clinics for angina have changed over time and whether more frequent use of certain diagnostic techniques or referrals in this setting may account for such changes.

Methods and Results—

We combined data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to study visits to physician offices and outpatient departments. We calculated both crude and standardized rates for these visits using a modified version of technical specifications published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In 1995 to 1998, there were on average 3.6 million office/clinic visits each year for angina among adults in the United States. By 2007 to 2010, this had declined to 2.3 million visits each year. Angina visit rates per 100 000 declined significantly (
P
<0.05), with the greatest decline from 1995 through 1998 to 2003 through 2007. Coronary atherosclerotic disease diagnoses also declined after 2002. Both stress testing and referring patients out for care doubled during some study periods.

Conclusions—

Office and clinic visits for angina have declined over time. This trend parallels findings for both preventable hospitalization and emergency room visits for angina. Previous research’s decline in angina hospitalizations is not likely attributable to decreased referrals to hospital and emergency rooms for diagnosis and management. Although changes in
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
coding guidelines may explain some of the decline in angina and coronary atherosclerotic disease visits, it seems that other factors such as improved treatment or prevention may have played an additional role.
Patient Phenotypes Associated With Outcomes After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Ibrahim George M. , Morgan Benjamin R. , Macdonald R. Loch
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose—

Predictors of outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have been determined previously through hypothesis-driven methods that often exclude putative covariates and require a priori knowledge of potential confounders. Here, we apply a data-driven approach, principal component analysis, to identify baseline patient phenotypes that may predict neurological outcomes.

Methods—

Principal component analysis was performed on 120 subjects enrolled in a prospective randomized trial of clazosentan for the prevention of angiographic vasospasm. Correlation matrices were created using a combination of Pearson, polyserial, and polychoric regressions among 46 variables. Scores of significant components (with eigenvalues >1) were included in multivariate logistic regression models with incidence of severe angiographic vasospasm, delayed ischemic neurological deficit, and long-term outcome as outcomes of interest.

Results—

Sixteen significant principal components accounting for 74.6% of the variance were identified. A single component dominated by the patients’ initial hemodynamic status, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies score, neurological injury, and initial neutrophil/leukocyte counts was significantly associated with poor outcome. Two additional components were associated with angiographic vasospasm, of which one was also associated with delayed ischemic neurological deficit. The first was dominated by the aneurysm-securing procedure, subarachnoid clot clearance, and intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas the second had high contributions from markers of anemia and albumin levels.

Conclusions—

Principal component analysis, a data-driven approach, identified patient phenotypes that are associated with worse neurological outcomes. Such data reduction methods may provide a better approximation of unique patient phenotypes and may inform clinical care as well as patient recruitment into clinical trials.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00111085.
Hemicraniectomy and Durotomy Upon Deterioration From Infarction-Related Swelling Trial
Authors: Frank Jeffrey I. , Schumm L. Philip , Wroblewski Kristen , Chyatte Douglas , Rosengart Axel J. , Kordeck Christi , Thisted Ronald A. ,   HeADDFIRST Trialists, Bernardini Gary , Andrefsky John , Krieger Derk , Elkind Mitchell , Coplin William , Graffagnino Carmelo , Biller Jose , Wang David , Cruz-Flores Salvador , Brock David , Demchuk Andrew , Verro Piero , Frank Jeffrey , Woo Daniel , Suarez Jose , Pettigrew Creed , LaMonte Marian
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose—

Hemicraniectomy and Durotomy Upon Deterioration From Infarction-Related Swelling Trial (HeADDFIRST) was a randomized pilot study to obtain information necessary to design a Phase III trial to evaluate the benefit of surgical decompression for brain swelling from large supratentorial cerebral hemispheric infarction.

Methods—

All patients with stroke were screened for eligibility (age 18–75 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥18 with Item 1a<2 [responsive to minor stimulation], and CT demonstrating unilateral, complete middle cerebral artery territory infarction by specific imaging criteria). All enrolled patients were treated using a standardized medical treatment protocol. Those with both ≥4 mm of pineal shift and deterioration in level of arousal or ≥7.5 mm of anteroseptal shift within 96 hours of stroke onset were randomized to continued medical treatment only or medical treatment plus surgery. Death at 21 days was the primary outcome measure.

Results—

Among 4909 screened patients, only 66 (1.3%) patients were eligible for HeADDFIRST. Forty patients were enrolled, and 26 patients developed the requisite brain swelling for randomization. All who failed to meet randomization criteria were alive at 21 days. Mortality at 21 and 180 days was 40% (4/10) in the medical treatment only and 21% (3/14) and 36% (5/14) in the medical treatment plus surgery arms, respectively.

Conclusions—

HeADDFIRST randomization criteria effectively distinguished low from high risk of death from large supratentorial cerebral hemispheric infarction. Lower mortality in the medical treatment only group than in other published trials suggests a possible benefit to standardizing medical management. These results can inform the interpretation of recently completed European trials concerning patient selection and medical management.

Clinical Trial Registration—

This trial was not registered because enrollment began before July 1, 2005.
Supraventricular Premature Beats and Short Atrial Runs Predict Atrial Fibrillation in Continuously Monitored Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Kochhäuser Simon , Dechering Dirk G. , Dittrich Ralf , Reinke Florian , Ritter Martin A. , Ramtin Shahram , Duning Thomas , Frommeyer Gerrit , Eckardt Lars
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose—

Supraventricular premature beats (SPBs) may help to assess the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cryptogenic stroke and therefore guide therapy.

Methods—

An internal loop recorder was implanted in consecutive patients with acute cryptogenic stroke. The occurrence and quantity of SPBs and short supraventricular runs (SVRs) in 24-hour ECG in patients with and without future AF were analyzed. We evaluated the relative risk of the upper quartile of SPB and SVR patients against the remainder and used binary logistic regression to evaluate a possible independent influence of SPBs and SVRs on AF occurrence.

Results—

Twelve of 70 included patients (mean age, 59±13 years) experienced development of AF during a mean monitoring duration of 536±212 days. Patients with AF had a median of 22.8 SPBs/h versus 1.2 SPBs/h (
P
<0.0001) in patients without AF and a median of 0.7 SVRs/h (AF) versus 0 SVR/h (non-AF). Patients in the upper quartile of SPBs (>14.1/h) and SVRs (>0.2/h) demonstrated a relative risk of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.1–14.6;
P
=0.04) and 6.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.8–26.7;
P
=0.005) for future AF, respectively. In binary logistic regression, SPBs (
P
=0.02) and SVRs (
P
=0.05) remained significant independent predictors for occurrence of AF.

Conclusions—

Numerous SPBs and SVRs demonstrated a high risk for future AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke.