bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) in patients with septic shock: A multicenter randomised controlled clinical trial
Authors: Livigni Sergio , Bertolini Guido , Rossi Carlotta , Ferrari Fiorenza , Giardino Michele , Pozzato Marco , Remuzzi Giuseppe ,   GiViTI: Gruppo Italiano per la Valutazione degli Interventi in Terapia Intensiva (Italian Group for the Evaluation of Interventions in Intensive Care Medicine) is an independent collaboration network of Italian Intensive Care units
Published: January 2014

Objectives

Coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA, Bellco, Italy), to remove inflammatory mediators from blood, has been proposed as a novel treatment for septic shock. This multicenter, randomised, non-blinded trial compared CPFA with standard care in the treatment of critically ill patients with septic shock.

Design

Prospective, multicenter, randomised, open-label, two parallel group and superiority clinical trial.

Setting

18 Italian adult, general, intensive care units (ICUs).

Participants

Of the planned 330 adult patients with septic shock, 192 were randomised to either have CPFA added to the standard care, or not. The external monitoring committee excluded eight ineligible patients who were erroneously included.

Interventions

CPFA was to be performed daily for 5 days, lasting at least 10 h/day.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary endpoint was mortality at discharge from the hospital at which the patient last stayed. Secondary endpoints were: 90-day mortality, new organ failures and ICU-free days within 30 days.

Results

There was no statistical difference in hospital mortality (47.3% controls, 45.1% CPFA; p=0.76), nor in secondary endpoints, namely the occurrence of new organ failures (55.9% vs 56.0%; p=0.99) or free-ICU days during the first 30 days (6.8 vs 7.5; p=0.35). The study was terminated on the grounds of futility. Several patients randomised to CPFA were subsequently found to be undertreated. An a priori planned subgroup analysis showed those receiving a CPFA dose >0.18 L/kg/day had a lower mortality compared with controls (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.99).

Conclusions

CPFA did not reduce mortality in patients with septic shock, nor did it positively affect other important clinical outcomes. A subgroup analysis suggested that CPFA could reduce mortality, when a high volume of plasma is treated. Owing to the inherent potential biases of such a subgroup analysis, this result can only be viewed as a hypothesis generator and should be confirmed in future studies.

ClinicalTrials.gov

NCT00332371;ISRCTN24534559.
Treatment of antipsychotic-associated obesity with a GLP-1 receptor agonist—protocol for an investigator-initiated prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded intervention study: the TAO study protocol
Authors: Ishøy Pelle L , Knop Filip K , Broberg Brian V , Baandrup Lone , Fagerlund Birgitte , Jørgensen Niklas R , Andersen Ulrik B , Rostrup Egill , Glenthøj Birte Y , Ebdrup Bjørn H
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Antipsychotic medication is widely associated with dysmetabolism including obesity and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular-related diseases and early death. Obesity is considered the single most important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Interventions against antipsychotic-associated obesity are limited and insufficient. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but their bodyweight-lowering effects have also been recognised in patients with non-diabetes. The primary endpoint of this trial is weight loss after 3 months of treatment with a GLP-1 receptor agonist (exenatide once weekly) in patients with non-diabetic schizophrenia with antipsychotic-associated obesity. Secondary endpoints include physiological and metabolic measurements, various psychopathological and cognitive measures, and structural and functional brain MRI.

Methods and analysis

40 obese patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder treated with antipsychotic drugs will be randomised to subcutaneous injection of exenatide once weekly (2 mg) or placebo for 3 months, adjunctive to their antipsychotic treatment.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial has been approved by the Danish Health and Medicines Authority, the National Committee on Health Research Ethics and the Danish Data Protection Agency. Trial participation presupposes theoral and written patient informed consent. An external, independent monitoring committee (Good Clinical Practice Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital) will monitor the study according to the GCP Guidelines. Trial data, including positive, negative and inconclusive results, will be presented at national and international scientific meetings and conferences. Papers will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01794429; National Committee on Health Research Ethics project number: 36378; EudraCT nr: 2012-005404-17; The Danish Data Protection Agency project number: RHP-2012-027.
Exploring the infrared-sensing properties of polymorphous silicon-germanium (pm-SixGey:H) thin films
Authors: Moreno M. , Torres A. , Calleja C. , Ambrosio R. , Rosales P. , Kosarev A. , Jiménez R.
Published: January 2014

In this work we have performed an exploratory study of the infrared (IR) sensing properties of polymorphous silicon–germanium (pm-SixGey:H) thin films. Our objective was to study the characteristics that are important parameters for infrared detection, as activation energy (Ea), thermal coefficient of resistance (TCR), room temperature conductivity (σRT), and responsivity to IR radiation. After characterization, our results demonstrated that pm-SiGe:H films have advantages over a-Si:H,B, pm-Si:H, and pm-Ge:H, because of the possibility to tailor its properties as σRT, Ea, and TCR, and moreover, the possibility to adjust those values for specific applications.
On normally embedded subgroups of a finite group
Authors: Shen Zhencai , Chen Yingyi
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we investigate the structure of finite groups by means of normally embedded subgroups.
Studies on Lead Sulfide (PbS) Semiconducting Thin Films Deposited from Nanoparticles and Its NLO Application
Authors: Shyju T. S. , Anandhi S. , Sivakumar R. , Gopalakrishnan R.
Published: January 2014

Nanoparticle Lead sulfide was synthesized via simple chemical method and deposited on glass substrates at different substrate temperatures by thermal evaporation technique. The synthesized nanoparticle PbS was analyzed and confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy SEM with EDX and thermogravimetry. The structural, optical, morphological and electrical properties of the deposited films were studied using XRD, UV-Vis, Raman, SEM with EDX, atomicforce microscopy AFM and Hall Effect measurements. The thickness of the deposited samples was measured using thickness profilometer. The Raman shift in the peak occurs toward lower energy with increasing substrate temperature deposited lead sulfide. The Z-scan study with open aperture was carried out at 532 nm using 5 ns laser pulse on the deposited films which shows that nonlinear absorption arises from saturable absorption process. The deposited PbS film exhibits p-type conductivity in Hall measurement.
The cortical representation of the speech envelope is earlier for audiovisual speech than audio speech
Authors: Crosse Michael J. , Lalor Edmund C.
Published: January 2014

Visual speech can greatly enhance a listener's comprehension of auditory speech when they are presented simultaneously. Efforts to determine the neural underpinnings of this phenomenon have been hampered by the limited temporal resolution of hemodynamic imaging and the fact that EEG and magnetoencephalographic data are usually analyzed in response to simple, discrete stimuli. Recent research has shown that neuronal activity in human auditory cortex tracks the envelope of natural speech. Here, we exploit this finding by estimating a linear forward-mapping between the speech envelope and EEG data and show that the latency at which the envelope of natural speech is represented in cortex is shortened by >10 ms when continuous audiovisual speech is presented compared with audio-only speech. In addition, we use a reverse-mapping approach to reconstruct an estimate of the speech stimulus from the EEG data and, by comparing the bimodal estimate with the sum of the unimodal estimates, find no evidence of any nonlinear additive effects in the audiovisual speech condition. These findings point to an underlying mechanism that could account for enhanced comprehension during audiovisual speech. Specifically, we hypothesize that low-level acoustic features that are temporally coherent with the preceding visual stream may be synthesized into a speech object at an earlier latency, which may provide an extended period of low-level processing before extraction of semantic information.
Comparison of Risks Factors for Unplanned ICU Transfer after ED Admission in Patients with Infections and Those without Infections
Authors: Tsai Jeffrey Che-Hung , Cheng Ching-Wan , Weng Shao-Jen , Huang Chin-Yin , Yen David Hung-Tsang , Chen Hsiu-Ling
Published: January 2014

Background. The objectives of this study were to compare the risk factors for unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) transfer after emergency department (ED) admission in patients with infections and those without infections and to explore the feasibility of using risk stratification tools for sepsis to derive a prediction system for such unplanned transfer.Methods. The ICU transfer group included 313 patients, while the control group included 736 patients randomly selected from those who were not transferred to the ICU. Candidate variables were analyzed for association with unplanned ICU transfer in the 1049 study patients.Results. Twenty-four variables were associated with unplanned ICU transfer. Sixteen (66.7%) of these variables displayed association in patients with infections and those without infections. These common risk factors included specific comorbidities, physiological responses, organ dysfunctions, and other serious symptoms and signs. Several common risk factors were statistically independent.Conclusions. The risk factors for unplanned ICU transfer in patients with infections were comparable to those in patients without infections. The risk factors for unplanned ICU transfer included variables from multiple dimensions that could be organized according to the PIRO (predisposition, insult/infection, physiological response, and organ dysfunction) model, providing the basis for the development of a predictive system.
Vitamin B6-Dependent Enzymes in the Human Malaria ParasitePlasmodium falciparum: A Druggable Target?
Authors: Kronenberger Thales , Lindner Jasmin , Meissner Kamila A. , Zimbres Flávia M. , Coronado Monika A. , Sauer Frank M. , Schettert Isolmar , Wrenger Carsten
Published: January 2014

Malaria is a deadly infectious disease which affects millions of people each year in tropical regions. There is no effective vaccine available and the treatment is based on drugs which are currently facing an emergence of drug resistance and in this sense the search for new drug targets is indispensable. It is well established that vitamin biosynthetic pathways, such as the vitamin B6de novosynthesis present inPlasmodium, are excellent drug targets. The active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5-phosphate, is, besides its antioxidative properties, a cofactor for a variety of essential enzymes present in the malaria parasite which includes the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, synthesis of polyamines), the aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT, involved in the protein biosynthesis), and the serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT, a key enzyme within the folate metabolism).
Current Continuing Professional Education Practice among Malaysian Nurses
Authors: Chong Mei Chan , Francis Karen , Cooper Simon , Abdullah Khatijah Lim
Published: January 2014

Nurses need to participate in CPE to update their knowledge and increase their competencies. This research was carried out to explore their current practice and the future general needs for CPE. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved registered nurses from government hospitals and health clinics from Peninsular Malaysia. Multistage cluster sampling was used to recruit 1000 nurses from four states of Malaysia. Self-explanatory questionnaires were used to collect the data, which were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Seven hundred and ninety-two nurses participated in this survey. Only 80% (562) of the nurses had engaged in CPE activities during the past 12 months. All attendance for the various activities was below 50%. Workshops were the most popular CPE activity (345, 43.6%) and tertiary education was the most unpopular activity (10, 1.3%). The respondents did perceive the importance of future CPE activities for career development. Mandatory continuing professional education (MCPE) is a key measure to ensure that nurses upgrade their knowledge and skills; however, it is recommended that policy makers and nurse leaders in the continuing professional development unit of health service facilities plan CPE activities to meet registered nurses’ (RNs) needs and not simply organizational requirements.
Solitary Fibrous Tumour of the Pleura Presenting as a Spontaneous Massive Haemothorax
Authors: Negri Giampiero , Bandiera Alessandro , Ciriaco Paola , Melloni Giulio , Carretta Angelo , Cremona George Ian , Zannini Piero
Published: January 2014

Solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura are rare neoplasms. These tumours are generally asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed. Symptoms, if present, are nonspecific such as cough, dyspnea, and chest pain. This report describes the case of a 38-year-old woman admitted to our department after the onset of a right massive spontaneous haemothorax requiring emergency surgical treatment. Intraoperatively a bleeding pleural mass was found to be the cause of the haemothorax. The tumour was successfully resected and the patient made an uneventful recovery. Histological examination revealed the mass to be a solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura.
Determination of the Size of Irregular Particles Using Interferometric Out-of-Focus Imaging
Authors: Brunel Marc , Shen Huanhuan , Coëtmellec Sébastien , Gréhan Gérard , Delobel Tony
Published: January 2014

We present a mathematical formalism to predict speckle-like interferometric out-of-focus patterns created by irregular scattering objects. We describe the objects by an ensemble of Dirac emitters. We show that it is not necessary to describe rigorously the scattering properties of an elliptical irregular object to predict some physical properties of the interferometric out-of-focus pattern. The fit of the central peak of the 2D autocorrelation of the pattern allows the prediction of the size of the scattering element. The method can be applied to particles in a size range from a tenth of micrometers to the millimeter.
Prevalence and Trends of Adult Obesity in the US, 1999–2012
Authors: An Ruopeng
Published: January 2014

Aim. To provide national estimates of obesity among US adults aged 20 years and older in 2011-2012 and track its trends from 1999 to 2012. Methods. Measured weight/height from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2012 waves was used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and prevalence measures. Piecewise logistic regressions were conducted to test the differential trends before and after 2010. Results. In 2011-2012, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight and obesity combined (BMI≥25) was 71.1% (95% CI: 68.0%–74.2%) among men and 65.5% (61.8%–69.3%) among women, and the prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30) was 33.3% (30.5%–36.2%) among men and 35.8% (32.3%–39.4%) among women. From 1990–2000 to 2009-2010, the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined, obesity, grades 2 and 3 obesity combined (BMI≥35), and grade 3 obesity (BMI≥40) increased by 7.2%, 17.8%, 17.6%, and 33.0%, respectively. Compared to 2009-2010, most gender- and race/ethnicity-specific prevalence measures remained unchanged or slightly decreased in 2011-2012. No significant difference in trends among prevalence measures was found before and after 2010. Conclusions. Concurrent evidence on the leveling off of obesity in the US is thin. Given its high prevalence and profound socioeconomic consequences, close monitoring of the trend is warranted.
New Mixed Equilibrium Problems and Iterative Algorithms for Fixed Point Problems in Banach Spaces
Authors: Chen Minjiang , Song Jianmin , Wang Shenghua
Published: January 2014

We first introduce a new mixed equilibrium problem with a relaxed monotone mapping in Banach spaces and prove the existence of solutions of the equilibrium problem. Then we introduce a new iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of solutions of the equilibrium problem and the set of fixed points of a quasi-ϕ-nonexpansive mapping and prove some strong convergence theorems of the iteration. Our results extend and improve the corresponding ones given by Wang et al., Takahashi and Zembayashi, and some others.
Doxapram Hydrochloride Aggravates Adrenaline-Induced Arrhythmias Accompanied by Bidirectional Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Oikawa Shota , Nomura Hiroko , Nishio Miki , Nagata Rina , Hata Tadayoshi
Published: January 2014

Objectives. Doxapram hydrochloride is a respiratory stimulant that has an inhibitory effect on myocardial IK1 potassium channels and is thought to increase membrane instability and excitability in myocardial cells. We examined the arrhythmogenic effects of doxapram hydrochloride in a rat model of halothane adrenaline-induced arrhythmia. Methods. Thirteen female Wistar rats (12–14 weeks old) were used in the study. Animals were anesthetized with inhalation of halothane to permit observation of the effects of doxapram hydrochloride on halothane adrenaline-induced arrhythmia. Time-dependent changes in ECG repolarization characteristics (QT, QTc, JTp, JT, and Tp-e intervals) were studied. Results. Doxapram hydrochloride itself did not induce arrhythmia but did induce bidirectional ventricular tachycardia after addition of adrenaline. Conclusion. Drug-induced impairment of intracellular Ca2+ regulation caused BVT in the absence of genetic abnormalities in proteins in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Acupuncture Stimulation Attenuates Impaired Emotional‐Like Behaviors and Activation of the Noradrenergic System during Protracted Abstinence following Chronic Morphine Exposure in Rats
Authors: Lee Bombi , Sur Bong-Jun , Shim Insop , Hahm Dae-Hyun , Lee Hyejung
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture stimulation attenuates withdrawal‐induced behaviors in the rats during protracted abstinence following chronic morphine exposure. To do this, male rats were first exposed to morphine gradually from 20 to 100 mg/kg for 5 days, and subsequently naloxone was injected once to extend despair‐related withdrawal behaviors for 4 weeks. Acupuncture stimulation was performed once at the SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoint on rat’s; hind leg for 5 min during protracted abstinence from morphine. The acupuncture stimulation significantly decreased despair‐like behavior deficits in the forced swimming test and low sociability in the open‐field test as well as increased open‐arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test in the last week of 4‐week withdrawal period. Also the acupuncture stimulation significantly suppressed the increase in the hypothalamic corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) expression, the decrease in the tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the locus coeruleus, and the decrease in the hippocampal brain‐derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression, induced by repeated injection of morphine. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the acupuncture stimulation of SP6 significantly reduces withdrawal‐induced behaviors, induced by repeated administration of morphine in rats, possibly through the modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system.
Combinative Particle Size Reduction Technologies for the Production of Drug Nanocrystals
Authors: Salazar Jaime , Müller Rainer H. , Möschwitzer Jan P.
Published: January 2014

Nanosizing is a suitable method to enhance the dissolution rate and therefore the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. The success of the particle size reduction processes depends on critical factors such as the employed technology, equipment, and drug physicochemical properties. High pressure homogenization and wet bead milling are standard comminution techniques that have been already employed to successfully formulate poorly soluble drugs and bring them to market. However, these techniques have limitations in their particle size reduction performance, such as long production times and the necessity of employing a micronized drug as the starting material. This review article discusses the development of combinative methods, such as the NANOEDGE, H 96, H 69, H 42, and CT technologies. These processes were developed to improve the particle size reduction effectiveness of the standard techniques. These novel technologies can combine bottom-up and/or top-down techniques in a two-step process. The combinative processes lead in general to improved particle size reduction effectiveness. Faster production of drug nanocrystals and smaller final mean particle sizes are among the main advantages. The combinative particle size reduction technologies are very useful formulation tools, and they will continue acquiring importance for the production of drug nanocrystals.
The Research of the Driver Attention Field Modeling
Authors: Tao Pengfei , Hu Hongyu , Gao Zhenhai , Liu Xin , Song Xianmin , Xing Yan , Duan Yuzhou , Wei Fulu
Published: January 2014

For expanding the application scope of car-following, based on the basic idea of the noncontact interaction of the objects in physics, establish an attention field model to describe the driving behavior. Firstly, propose the time distance concept to describe the degree of driver perception to the front one-dimensional space and extend its application range to the two-dimensional space. Secondly, connect the point which has the same time distance to constitute the equipotential line of drivers’ attention field equipotent, and establish a model to describe it. Thirdly, define the effective range of the driver’s psychological field with the feature of the driver’s visual distance range increasing and the angle decreasing. Finally, design the calculation method to collect projection of the object in the psychological field scope and calculate the curve points to determine the object’s intensity of psychological field. Preliminarily build the driving behavior model and use the numerical simulation method to simulate the simple transport scenarios; initially verify the validity of the model.
A Study on the Effects of Redundant Time on the Operation of Different Speed-Grade Trains in Passenger Railway Line Traffic System by Using Cellular Automata Model
Authors: Zeng Junwei , Qian Yongsheng , Li Wenjun , Guang Xiaoping , Wang Min
Published: January 2014

As an integrated kind of railway signal-control pattern, the four-aspect fixed autoblock system has been used in many train control systems. This paper takes the four-aspect fixed autoblock system as the research object and proposes the cellular automata model of the fixed autoblock system based on the existing theoretical researches on different train systems and traffic systems by means of the analytical study of the classical cellular automata model. The CA (cellular automata) models combine complexity of passenger railway line with the theory of cellular automata and introduce some new CA models into the existing control systems. After analyzing the relevant simulation results, we study thoroughly and obtain efficiently the needed data for the variation of the section carrying capacity, the average train delay and the train speed which have been affected by redundant time on the operation of passenger trains with different speeds.
Excellent Temperature Performance of Spherical LiFePO4/C Composites Modified with Composite Carbon and Metal Oxides
Authors: Zhang Bao , Zeng Tao , Zhang Jiafeng , Peng Chunli , Zheng Junchao , Chen Guomin
Published: January 2014

Nanosized spherical LiFePO4/C composite was synthesized from nanosized spherical FePO4·2H2O, Li2C2O4, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, oxalic acid, and sucrose by binary sintering process. The phases and morphologies of LiFePO4/C were characterized using SEM, TEM, CV, EIS, EDS, and EDX as well as charging and discharging measurements. The results showed that the as-prepared LiFePO4/C composite with good conductive webs from nanosized spherical FePO4·2H2O exhibits excellent electrochemical performances, delivering an initial discharge capacity of 161.7 mAh·g−1at a 0.1 C rate, 152.4 mAh·g−1at a 1 C rate and 131.7 mAh·g−1at a 5 C rate, and the capacity retention of 99.1%, 98.7%, and 95.8%, respectively, after 50 cycles. Meanwhile, the high and low temperature performance is excellent for 18650 battery, maintaining capacity retention of 101.7%, 95.0%, 88.3%, and 79.3% at 55°C, 0°C, −10°C, and −20°C by comparison withthat of room temperature (25°C) at the 0.5 C rate over a voltage range of 2.2 V to 3.6 V, respectively.
Effect of Coupling Agent on the Properties of Polymer/Date Pits Composites
Authors: Alsewailem Fares D. , Binkhder Yazeed A.
Published: January 2014

The morphology of the fracture surfaces of polymer/date pits composites was investigated. Polymers used in this study were high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS). Date pits in the form of granules were two types of date pits: khlaas (K) and sekari (S). Two coupling agents, diphenylmethane-4 4′-diisocyanate (DPMI) and ethylene propylene grafted with malice anhydride (EP-g-MA), were used to ease the incorporation of date pit particles into polymer matrix. The SEM micrographs of the neat composites, that is, with no coupling agents, showed coarse morphology with bad dispersion, adhesion, and distribution of date pit particles within the polymer matrix. On the other hand, PS100/K composites coupled with DPMI and EP-g-MA had reasonable dispersed phase size with good distribution and adhesion to the composite matrix which in turn improve the mechanical properties of the resulted polymer/date pits composites.
IDMA‐Based Compressed Sensing for Ocean Monitoring Information Acquisition with Sensor Networks
Authors: Liu Gongliang , Kang Wenjing
Published: January 2014

The ocean monitoring sensor network is a typically energy‐limited and bandwidth‐limited system, and the technical bottleneck of which is the asymmetry between the demand for large‐scale and high‐resolution information acquisition and the limited network resources. The newly arising compressed sensing theory provides a chance for breaking through the bottleneck. In view of this and considering the potential advantages of the emerging interleave‐division multiple access (IDMA) technology in underwater channels, this paper proposes an IDMA‐based compressed sensing scheme in underwater sensor networks with applications to environmental monitoring information acquisition. Exploiting the sparse property of the monitored objects, only a subset of sensors is required to measure and transmit the measurements to the monitoring center for accurate information reconstruction, reducing the requirements for channel bandwidth and energy consumption significantly. Furthermore, with the aid of the semianalytical technique of IDMA, the optimal sensing probability of each sensor is determined to minimize the reconstruction error of the information map. Simulation results with real oceanic monitoring data validate the efficiency of the proposed scheme.
DAG Based Multipath Routing Algorithm for Load Balancing in Machine-to-Machine Networks
Authors: Liu Liang , Zhang Tao , Zhang Jun
Published: January 2014

In M2M networks, most nodes are powered by battery; hence the overused nodes may easily be out of power, which causes the reduction of network lifetime. To solve this problem, it is helpful to balance network load into more nodes and links, so as to reduce network congestion. Multipath routing is a useful tool to reduce congestion, since data flow can be dispersed into multiple paths. However, most of the previous multipath routing algorithm is based on the path disjoint constraint, which leads to the lack of routing paths and the failure to disperse data flow into more links. In this paper, a directed acyclic graph based multipath routing algorithm for congestion minimization (DAGMR) is proposed, where different routing paths are confined in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) under time delay constraint. Furthermore, the data flow distribution is accomplished through partial capacity network to obtain the minimal multipath routing congestion factor. Simulation indicates that our algorithm can obtain lower congestion factor and formulates multipath routing graph with more nodes and links than algorithm with path disjoint constraint. In addition, our algorithm is a polynomial time complexity algorithm with nodes and links number of the entire network.
Study of Photocatalytic Activity and Properties of Transition Metal Ions Doped Nanocrystalline TiO2Prepared by Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Siddhapara K. S. , Shah D. V.
Published: January 2014

Transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co,) doped TiO2nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method. All the prepared samples were calcined at different temperatures like 200°C to 800°C and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The studies revealed that transition metal (TM) doped nanoparticles have smaller crystalline size and higher surface area than pure TiO2. Dopant ions in the TiO2structure caused significant absorption shift into the visible region. The results of photodegradation of formaldehyde in aqueous medium under UV light showed that photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanoparticles was significantly enhanced by the presence of some transition metal ions. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) of formaldehyde solutions done at regular intervals gave a good idea about mineralization of formaldehyde.
Subclinical Inflammatory Status in Rett Syndrome
Authors: Cortelazzo Alessio , De Felice Claudio , Guerranti Roberto , Signorini Cinzia , Leoncini Silvia , Pecorelli Alessandra , Zollo Gloria , Landi Claudia , Valacchi Giuseppe , Ciccoli Lucia , Bini Luca , Hayek Joussef
Published: January 2014

Inflammation has been advocated as a possible common central mechanism for developmental cognitive impairment. Rett syndrome (RTT) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly caused byde novoloss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2. Here, we investigated plasma acute phase response (APR) in stage II (i.e., “pseudo-autistic”) RTT patients by routine haematology/clinical chemistry and proteomic 2-DE/MALDI-TOF analyses as a function of four majorMECP2gene mutation types (R306C, T158M, R168X, and large deletions). Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (median 33.0 mm/h versus 8.0 mm/h,P<0.0001) were detectable in RTT, whereas C-reactive protein levels were unchanged (P=0.63). The 2-DE analysis identified significant changes for a total of 17 proteins, the majority of which were categorized as APR proteins, either positive (n=6spots) or negative (n=9spots), and to a lesser extent as proteins involved in the immune system (n=2spots), with some proteins having overlapping functions on metabolism (n=7spots). The number of protein changes was proportional to the severity of the mutation. Our findings reveal for the first time the presence of a subclinical chronic inflammatory status related to the “pseudo-autistic” phase of RTT, which is related to the severity carried by theMECP2gene mutation.
Substance Use Disorders in Men Presenting to a Psychosexual Clinic
Authors: Rajkumar Ravi Philip
Published: January 2014

Introduction. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are commonly associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Community-based studies have found a significant association between SUDs and sexual dysfunction in men, with a possible causal relation in the case of nicotine. Methods. The case records of 105 men presenting to a clinic for patients with psychosexual disorders were reviewed. Men with and without comorbid SUDs were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, and familial variables. Results. 25 of the 105 men (23.8%) had a lifetime diagnosis of SUD, and 19 (18.1%) had a current SUD. The commonest substances involved were nicotine (n = 21, 20%) and alcohol (n = 9, 9.5%). Men with comorbid SUDs were more likely to report a family history of substance dependence, particularly alcoholism. Single men with SUDs were more likely to have a comorbid mood disorder. Conclusion. SUDs, particularly nicotine and alcohol use disorders, are common comorbidities in patients with psychosexual disorders. Identifying and treating these disorders in this population are important aspects of management.
Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Volatile Anesthetics
Authors: Erturk Engin
Published: January 2014

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is induced as a result of reentry of the blood and oxygen to ischemic tissue. Antioxidant and some other drugs have protective effect on IRI. In many surgeries and clinical conditions IRI is counteract inevitable. Some anesthetic agents may have a protective role in this procedure. It is known that inhalational anesthetics possess protective effects against IRI. In this review the mechanism of preventive effects of volatile anesthetics and different ischemia-reperfusion models are discussed.
A Population-Based Study of Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Body Mass Index
Authors: Warner Echo L. , Fluchel Mark , Wright Jennifer , Sweeney Carol , Boucher Kenneth M. , Fraser Alison , Smith Ken R. , Stroup Antoinette M. , Kinney Anita Y. , Kirchhoff Anne C.
Published: January 2014

Background.Population-based studies are needed to estimate the prevalence of underweight or overweight/obese childhood cancer survivors.Procedure.Adult survivors (diagnosed ≤20 years) were identified from the linked Utah Cancer Registry and Utah Population Database. We included survivors currently aged ≥20 years and ≥5 years from diagnosis(N=1060), and a comparison cohort selected on birth year and sex(N=5410). BMI was calculated from driver license data available from 2000 to 2010. Multivariable generalized linear regression models were used to calculate prevalence relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of BMI outcomes for survivors and the comparison cohort.Results.Average time since diagnosis was 18.5 years(SD=7.8), and mean age at BMI for both groups was 30.5 (survivorsSD=7.7, comparisonSD=8.0). Considering all diagnoses, survivors were not at higher risk for being underweight or overweight/obese than the comparison. Male central nervous system tumor survivors were overweight (RR=1.12, 95% CI 1.01–1.23) more often than the comparison. Female survivors, who were diagnosed at age 10 and under, had a 10% higher risk of being obese than survivors diagnosed at ages 16–20(P<0.05).Conclusion.While certain groups of childhood cancer survivors are at risk for being overweight/obese, in general they do not differ from population estimates.
Early Methanogenic Colonisation in the Faeces of Meishan and Yorkshire Piglets as Determined by Pyrosequencing Analysis
Authors: Su Yong , Bian Gaorui , Zhu Zhigang , Smidt Hauke , Zhu Weiyun
Published: January 2014

Gut methanogenic archaea of monogastric animals are considered to be related to energy metabolism and adipose deposition of the host; however, information on their development in young piglets is limited. Thus, to investigate early methanogenic colonisation in the faeces of Meishan and Yorkshire piglets, faecal samples were collected from piglets at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after birth and used to analyse the methanogenic community with 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Results showed that the diversity of the methanogenic community in the faeces of neonatal piglets decreased from one to 14 days of age, as the total methanogen populations increased. The age of piglets, but not the breed, significantly affected the diversity of the methanogenic community which was dominated by the genusMethanobrevibacter. From the ages of one to 14 days, the abundance ofM. smithii-related operational taxonomic units (OTUs) increased significantly, while the abundances ofM. thaueri- andM. millerae-related OTUs decreased significantly. The substitution ofM. smithiiforM. thaueri/M. milleraewas faster in Yorkshire piglets than in Meishan piglets. These results suggest that the early establishment of microbiota in neonatal piglets is accompanied by dramatic changes in the methanogenic community, and that the changes vary among pigs of different genotypes.
Severe Symptomatic Hypermagnesemia Associated with Over-the-Counter Laxatives in a Patient with Renal Failure and Sigmoid Volvulus
Authors: Khairi Talal , Amer Syed , Spitalewitz Samuel , Alasadi Lutfi
Published: January 2014

Hypermagnesemia is an uncommon but a potentially serious clinical condition. Over-the-counter magnesium containing products are widely used as antacids or laxatives. Although generally well tolerated in patients with normal renal function, their unsupervised use in the elderly can result in severe symptomatic hypermagnesemia, especially in those patients with concomitant renal failure and bowel disorders. We report a case of severe symptomatic hypermagnesemia associated with over-the-counter laxatives in a 70-year-old male patient with renal failure and sigmoid volvulus, who was successfully treated with hemodialysis.
Identification of Leaf Rust Resistance Genes in Selected Egyptian Wheat Cultivars by Molecular Markers
Authors: Imbaby I. A. , Mahmoud M. A. , Hassan M. E. M. , Abd-El-Aziz A. R. M.
Published: January 2014

Leaf rust, caused byPuccinia triticinaEriks., is a common and widespread disease of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) in Egypt. Host resistance is the most economical, effective, and ecologically sustainable method of controlling the disease. Molecular markers help to determine leaf rust resistance genes (Lrgenes). The objective of this study was to identifyLrgenes in fifteen wheat cultivars from Egypt. Ten genes,Lr13,Lr19,Lr24,Lr26,Lr34,Lr35 Lr36,Lr37,Lr39, andLr46, were detected in fifteen wheat cultivars using various molecular markers. The most frequently occurring genes in fifteen Egyptian wheat cultivars wereLr13,Lr24,Lr34, andLr36identified in all the cultivars used, followed byLr26andLr35(93%),Lr39(66%),Lr37(53%), andLr46(26.6%) of the cultivars, and finallyLr19was present in 33.3% of cultivars. It is concluded that there was a good variation inLrgenes carried by wheat cultivars commercially grown in Egypt. Therefore, strategies for deploying resistance genes to prolong effective disease resistance are suggested to control wheat leaf rust disease.
Virtual Reality Rehabilitation from Social Cognitive and Motor Learning Theoretical Perspectives in Stroke Population
Authors: Imam Bita , Jarus Tal
Published: January 2014

Objectives.To identify the virtual reality (VR) interventions used for the lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population and to explain their underlying training mechanisms using Social Cognitive (SCT) and Motor Learning (MLT) theoretical frameworks.Methods.Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 11, 2013. Randomized controlled trials that included a VR intervention for lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population were included. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The underlying training mechanisms involved in each VR intervention were explained according to the principles of SCT (vicarious learning, performance accomplishment, and verbal persuasion) and MLT (focus of attention, order and predictability of practice, augmented feedback, and feedback fading).Results.Eleven studies were included. PEDro scores varied from 3 to 7/10. All studies but one showed significant improvement in outcomes in favour of the VR group (P<0.05). Ten VR interventions followed the principle of performance accomplishment. All the eleven VR interventions directed subject’s attention externally, whereas nine provided training in an unpredictable and variable fashion.Conclusions.The results of this review suggest that VR applications used for lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke population predominantly mediate learning through providing a task-oriented and graduated learning under a variable and unpredictable practice.
Utilization of Palm Oil Fuel Ash as Binder in Lightweight Oil Palm Shell Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Liu Michael Yong Jing , Chua Choon Peng , Alengaram U. Johnson , Jumaat Mohd Zamin
Published: January 2014

Traditionally fly ash (FA) has been used to replace cement as binder in the geopolymer concrete. The utilization of palm oil industrial waste materials known as palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and oil palm shell (OPS) that are abundantly available in South East Asia as binder and coarse aggregate in geopolymer concrete would give an added advantage in both the environmental and economic aspects. The mechanical properties of the OPS geopolymer concrete (OPSGC) through the use of POFA, FA, and OPS are investigated and reported. A total of ten OPSGC mixtures were prepared with varying percentages of POFA and FA such as 0, 10, 20, 40, and 100%. The specimens prepared with two alkaline solution to binder (AK/B) ratios of 0.35 and 0.55 were oven cured at 65°C for 48 hours. The experimental results showed that the highest compressive strength of 30 MPa was obtained for the mix with 20% replacement of FA by POFA and AK/B ratio of 0.55, which underwent oven curing. Further, the mix of up to 20% POFA (with AK/B ratio of 0.55) can be categorized as structural lightweight concrete. An increase of the POFA content beyond 20% decreases the mechanical properties, and hence this mix is recommended to be used.
Parametric Regression Models Using Reversed Hazard Rates
Authors: Mulayath Variyath Asokan , Sankaran P. G.
Published: January 2014

Proportional hazard regression models are widely used in survival analysis to understand and exploit the relationship between survival time and covariates. For left censored survival times, reversed hazard rate functions are more appropriate. In this paper, we develop a parametric proportional hazard rates model using an inverted Weibull distribution. The estimation and construction of confidence intervals for the parameters are discussed. We assess the performance of the proposed procedure based on a large number of Monte Carlo simulations. We illustrate the proposed method using a real case example.
Selective Vitamin D Receptor Activation as Anti-Inflammatory Target in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Donate-Correa J. , Domínguez-Pimentel V. , Méndez-Pérez M. L. , Muros-de-Fuentes M. , Mora-Fernández C. , Martín-Núñez E. , Cazaña-Pérez V. , Navarro-González J. F.
Published: January 2014

Paricalcitol, a selective vitamin D receptor (VDR) activator used for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease (CKD), has been associated with survival advantages, suggesting that this drug, beyond its ability to suppress parathyroid hormone, may have additional beneficial actions. In this prospective, nonrandomised, open-label, proof-of-concept study, we evaluated the hypothesis that selective vitamin D receptor activation with paricalcitol is an effective target to modulate inflammation in CKD patients. Eight patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate between 15 and 44 mL/min/1.73 m2and an intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level higher than 110 pg/mL received oral paricalcitol (1 μg/48 hours) as therapy for secondary hyperparathyroidism. Nine patients matched by age, sex, and stage of CKD, but a PTH level <110 pg/mL, were enrolled as a control group. Our results show that five months of paricalcitol administration were associated with a reduction in serum concentrations of hs-CRP (13.9%,P<0.01), TNF-α(11.9%,P=0.01), and IL-6 (7%,P<0.05), with a nonsignificant increase of IL-10 by 16%. In addition, mRNA expression levels of the TNFαand IL-6 genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells decreased significantly by 30.8% (P=0.01) and 35.4% (P=0.01), respectively. In conclusion, selective VDR activation is an effective target to modulate inflammation in CKD.
Thermal Behavior of Cylindrical Buckling Restrained Braces at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Talebi Elnaz , Tahir Mahmood Md. , Zahmatkesh Farshad , Yasreen Airil , Mirza Jahangir
Published: January 2014

The primary focus of this investigation was to analyze sequentially coupled nonlinear thermal stress, using a three-dimensional model. It was meant to shed light on the behavior of Buckling Restraint Brace (BRB) elements with circular cross section, at elevated temperature. Such bracing systems were comprised of a cylindrical steel core encased in a strong concrete-filled steel hollow casing. A debonding agent was rubbed on the core’s surface to avoid shear stress transition to the restraining system. The numerical model was verified by the analytical solutions developed by the other researchers. Performance of BRB system under seismic loading at ambient temperature has been well documented. However, its performance in case of fire has yet to be explored. This study showed that the failure of brace may be attributed to material strength reduction and high compressive forces, both due to temperature rise. Furthermore, limiting temperatures in the linear behavior of steel casing and concrete in BRB element for both numerical and analytical simulations were about 196°C and 225°C, respectively. Finally it is concluded that the performance of BRB at elevated temperatures was the same as that seen at room temperature; that is, the steel core yields prior to the restraining system.
Themes and Variations: Regulation of RpoN-Dependent Flagellar Genes across Diverse Bacterial Species
Authors: Tsang Jennifer , Hoover Timothy R.
Published: January 2014

Flagellar biogenesis in bacteria is a complex process in which the transcription of dozens of structural and regulatory genes is coordinated with the assembly of the flagellum. Although the overall process of flagellar biogenesis is conserved among bacteria, the mechanisms used to regulate flagellar gene expression vary greatly among different bacterial species. Many bacteria use the alternative sigma factorσ54(also known as RpoN) to transcribe specific sets of flagellar genes. These bacteria include members of the Epsilonproteobacteria (e.g.,Helicobacter pyloriandCampylobacter jejuni), Gammaproteobacteria (e.g.,VibrioandPseudomonasspecies), and Alphaproteobacteria (e.g.,Caulobacter crescentus). This review characterizes the flagellar transcriptional hierarchies in these bacteria and examines what is known about how flagellar gene regulation is linked with other processes including growth phase, quorum sensing, and host colonization.
Quality Assessment and Physicochemical Characteristics of Bran EnrichedChapattis
Authors: Dar B. N. , Sharma Savita , Singh Baljit , Kaur Gurkirat
Published: January 2014

Cereal brans singly and in combination were blended at varying levels (5 and 10%) for development ofChapattis. Cereal bran enrichedChapattiswere assessed for quality and physicochemical characteristics. On the basis of quality assessment, 10% enrichment level forChapattiwas the best. Moisture content, water activity, and free fatty acids remained stable during the study period. Quality assessment and physicochemical characteristics of bran enrichedChapattiscarried out revealed that dough handling and puffing of bran enrichedChapattisprepared by 5 and 10% level of bran supplementation did not vary significantly. All types of bran enrichedChapattisexcept rice bran enrichedChapattisshowed nonsticky behavior during dough handling. Bran enrichedChapattisexhibited full puffing character during preparation. The sensory attributes showed that both 5 and 10% bran supplementedChapattiswere acceptable.