bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Invited) CMUT Based Microscale Integrated Ultrasound Systems for Minimally Invasive Intracardiac and Intravascular Imaging
Authors: Degertekin F Levent , Tekes Coskun , Xu Toby , Satir Sarp , Gurun Gokce , Zahorian Jaime , Hasler Jennifer , Karaman Mustafa , Müntjes Jutta , Schankenberg Uwe
Published: May 2014

High frequency ultrasonic imaging devices are widely used in minimally invasive catheter-based interventions especially in intravascular imaging, but there is still a need for more flexible devices with true 3-D volumetric imaging capability in front of the catheter tip. Single chip capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays with on-chip CMOS electronics implementation provides great flexibility in designing array geometry and integrated front-end electronics. We have successfully implemented dual ring CMUT arrays for forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and intracardiac echography (ICE) imaging which provide 3-D volumetric imaging functionality. In this paper, we report on the details of the single-chip microscale imaging system and experimental results. We also discuss system improvements with initial experimental results.
(Invited) Engineering Chalcogenide Materials – From Bulk Optics to CMOS-Compatible Microelectronic Integration
Authors: Richardson Kathleen A , Mayer Theresa , Rivero-Baleine Clara
Published: May 2014

Next generation optical and opto-electronic components will require materials that possess unique, spectrally agile, multi-functional attributes that can be produced via low(er) cost manufacturing processes. Material compositional design and novel processing and fabrication strategies are essential to the success in realizing new materials that fit application-specific needs. Efforts by our team have focused on use of IR transmissive glasses and crystalline alloys in planar form on Si, which lend themselves to integration with an on-chip source and semiconductor detector. Such devices exploit the enhanced sensitivity that comes from using probe light in the mid-infrared region (MIR) where applications such as sensors require materials which have spectral response that overlaps with fundamental molecular fingerprints of target analytes. We report progress on designing CMOS-compatible materials and processes aimed at adding to the ‘photonic material toolbox’ which exploit other functions including phase change or high mobility materials for emerging electronics applications.
(Invited) Microwave-Based Metrology Platform Development: Application of Broad-Band RF Metrology to Integrated Circuit Reliability Analyses
Authors: You Lin , Okoro Chukwudi A , Ahn Jung-Joon , Kopanski Joseph J. , Obeng Yaw S.
Published: May 2014

In this paper we describe the development of a suite of techniques, based on the application of high frequency electromagnetic waves (RF), to probe material and structural changes in integrated circuits under various external perturbations. We discuss how RF insertion loss (S21) based-techniques have been used to study the impact of thermal cycling on the thermo-mechanical reliability of Cu TSV-based interconnects in 3D-ICs. In addition, we demonstrate, with preliminary data, how Scanning Microwave Spectroscopy (based around RF reflectance (S11)) can be used to detect buried artifacts and characterize metallic contacts.
(Invited) Reference Materials 8096 and 8097 - The Microelectromechanical Systems 5-in-1 Reference Materials: Homogeneous and Stable
Authors: Cassard Janet , Geist Jon , Kramar John
Published: May 2014

The NIST Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) 5-in-1 Reference Materials (RMs) were developed to assist users in validating their use of five documentary standard test methods. A Reference Material can be defined as a material whose property values are sufficiently homogeneous, stable, and well established such that the values can be used in the assessment of a measurement method. This paper presents the data that are used to characterize the RMs as homogeneous and stable.
(Invited) Framework for Structural, Processing, and Environmental Assessment of Micro to Nano Scaled Integrated Circuit Structures
Authors: Thomas Sylvia , Bell Brian , Alcantar Norma , Durham Delcie , Perez Samuel
Published: May 2014

Micro to nano-scaled structures are progressively being integrated into semiconductor architecture and will have a global impact on electronics, filtration, biosensing, and energy storage. These structures include micro and nano sized fiber membranes for electrodes, nanolaminates for trenched capacitors, or nanofiber membranes for sensing and actuating. For integrated circuit innovations, the ultimate thrust is to provide superior functionality and structural durability without adversely impacting the environment. As micro to nano-scaled structures rapidly progress toward scalable manufacturing, it is critical and timely to conduct fundamental investigations on assessing material composition impacts on functional failures and environmental sustainability. This paper proposes a framework for a failure and life cycle assessment (FLCA) process to understand material composition influence on micro and nano structure 1) properties, 2) performance limiting defects (failure), and 3) environmental impacts. The FLCA integrates multiple characterization stages, performance testing, and environmental assessments of fiber membranes. This work will have a long-term impact on the integration of nanoscaled structures into emerging electronic materials per the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) and identifying a transferable process for a FLCA to evaluate polymer nanofiber technology for ICs.
Fabrication of Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Xerogel Based High Aspect Ratio 3-D Hierarchical C-MEMS Structures
Authors: Sharma Chandra Shekhar , Katepalli Hari , Sharma Ashutosh , Teixidor Genis Turon , Madou M.
Published: May 2014

We demonstrate a novel method to fabricate arrays of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogel (RFX) based high aspect ratio (HAR) three-dimensional (3-D) hierarchical C-MEMS structures. Starting from a master pattern of HAR 3-D posts fabricated in SU-8 negative photoresist by photolithography, a negative PDMS stamp with arrays of holes was prepared by micromolding. The PDMS stamp was then used to fabricate HAR 3-D RFX posts by replica molding. The 3-D RFX posts thus fabricated were electrosprayed with SU-8 or an RF sol in the form of submicron or nano sized droplets and followed by pyrolysis to yield HAR 3-D hierarchical carbon posts. To characterize their use in C-MEMS based batteries, galvanostatic (charge and discharge) experiments on RFX derived carbon showed that it can be reversibly intercalated with Li ions and possesses superior intercalation properties as compared to SU-8 derived carbon which is a widely used material in C-MEMS.
The Effects of Single-Dose Rectal Midazolam Application on Postoperative Recovery, Sedation, and Analgesia in Children Given Caudal Anesthesia Plus Bupivacaine
Authors: Saylan Sedat , Eroglu Ahmet , Dohman Davut
Published: May 2014

Background. This study aimed to compare the effects of rectal midazolam addition after applying bupivacaine and caudal anesthesia on postoperative analgesia time, the need for additional analgesics, postoperative recovery, and sedation and to find out its adverse effects in children having lower abdominal surgery.Methods. 40 children between 2 and 10 years of ASA I-II were randomized, and they received caudal anesthesia under general anesthesia. Patients underwent the application of caudal block in addition to saline and 1 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25%. In the postoperative period, Group C (n= 20) was given 5 mL saline, and Group M (n= 20) was given 0.30 mg/kg rectal midazolam diluted with 5 mL saline. Sedation scale and postoperative pain scale (CHIPPS) of the patients were evaluated. The patients were observed for their analgesic need, first analgesic time, and adverse effects for 24 hours.Results. Demographic and hemodynamic data of the two groups did not differ. Postoperative sedation scores in both groups were significantly lower compared with the preoperative period. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of sedation and sufficient analgesia.Conclusions. We conclude that caudal anesthesia provided sufficient analgesia in peroperative and postoperative periods, and rectal midazolam addition did not create any differences. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT02127489.
Resolution of Localized Chronic Periodontitis Associated with Longstanding Calculus Deposits
Authors: Lai Pin-Chuang , Walters John D.
Published: May 2014

This report, which is based on nonstandardized serial radiographs obtained over a period of 15 years, documents a case of localized chronic periodontitis associated with progressive deposition of calculus on the distal aspect of a mandibular second molar. The site was treated by scaling and root planing, followed by a course of adjunctive systemic azithromycin. Treatment yielded favorable reductions in probing depth and clinical inflammation, leaving only few isolated sites with pockets no deeper than 4 mm. Two years after completion of active treatment, there was radiographic evidence of increased bone density distal to the second molar.
Through Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Evaluate the Original Properties of Neural Pathways of Patients with Partial Seizures and Secondary Generalization by Individual Anatomic Reference Atlas
Authors: Peng Syu-Jyun , Harnod Tomor , Tsai Jang-Zern , Huang Chien-Chun , Ker Ming-Dou , Chiou Jun-Chern , Chiueh Herming , Wu Chung-Yu , Hsin Yue-Loong
Published: May 2014

To investigate white matter (WM) abnormalities in neocortical epilepsy, we extract supratentorial WM parameters from raw tensor magnetic resonance images (MRI) with automated region-of-interest (ROI) registrations. Sixteen patients having neocortical seizures with secondarily generalised convulsions and 16 age-matched normal subjects were imaged with high-resolution and diffusion tensor MRIs. Automated demarcation of supratentorial fibers was accomplished with personalized fiber-labeled atlases. From the individual atlases, we observed significant elevation of mean diffusivity (MD) in fornix (cres)/stria terminalis (FX/ST) and sagittal stratum (SS) and a significant difference in fractional anisotropy (FA) among FX/ST, SS, posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), and posterior thalamic radiation (PTR). For patients with early-onset epilepsy, the diffusivities of the SS and the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule were significantly elevated, and the anisotropies of the FX/ST and SS were significantly decreased. In the drug-resistant subgroup, the MDs of SS and PTR and the FAs of SS and PLIC were significantly different. Onset age was positively correlated with increases in FAs of the genu of the corpus callosum. Patients with neocortical seizures and secondary generalisation had microstructural anomalies in WM. The changes in WM are relevant to early onset, progression, and severity of epilepsy.
Renal Paraganglioma: Report of a Case Managed by Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bahar Burak , Pambuccian Stefan E. , Gupta Gopal N. , Barkan Güliz A.
Published: May 2014

We describe the pathological and clinical presentation of a rare case of renal paraganglioma occurring as an incidental left renal mass in a 58-year-old woman. The patient underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, which is the first one in the literature.
Shape Preserving Properties forq-Bernstein-Stancu Operators
Authors: Wang Yali , Zhou Yinying
Published: May 2014

We investigate shape preserving forq-Bernstein-Stancu polynomialsBnq,α(f;x)introduced by Nowak in 2009. Whenα=0,Bnq,α(f;x)reduces to the well-knownq-Bernstein polynomials introduced by Phillips in 1997; whenq=1,Bnq,α(f;x)reduces to Bernstein-Stancu polynomials introduced by Stancu in 1968; whenq=1,α=0, we obtain classical Bernstein polynomials. We prove that basicBnq,α(f;x)basis is a normalized totally positive basis on[0,1]andq-Bernstein-Stancu operators are variation-diminishing, monotonicity preserving and convexity preserving on[0,1].
Controlled Bidirectional Quantum Secure Direct Communication
Authors: Chou Yao-Hsin , Lin Yu-Ting , Zeng Guo-Jyun , Lin Fang-Jhu , Chen Chi-Yuan
Published: May 2014

We propose a novel protocol for controlled bidirectional quantum secure communication based on anonlocal swapgate scheme. Our proposed protocol would be applied to a system in which a controller (supervisor/Charlie) controls the bidirectional communication with quantum information or secret messages between legitimate users (Alice and Bob). In this system, the legitimate users must obtain permission from the controller in order to exchange their respective quantum information or secret messages simultaneously; the controller is unable to obtain any quantum information or secret messages from the decoding process. Moreover, the presence of the controller also avoids the problem of one legitimate user receiving the quantum information or secret message before the other, and then refusing to help the other user decode the quantum information or secret message. Our proposed protocol is aimed at protecting against external and participant attacks on such a system, and the cost of transmitting quantum bits using our protocol is less than that achieved in other studies. Based on thenonlocal swapgate scheme, the legitimate users exchange their quantum information or secret messages without transmission in a public channel, thus protecting against eavesdroppers stealing the secret messages.
Hydrochemistry of the Hot Springs in Western Sichuan Province Related to the WenchuanMS8.0 Earthquake
Authors: Chen Zhi , Du Jianguo , Zhou Xiaocheng , Yi Li , Liu Lei , Xie Chao , Cui Yueju , Li Ying
Published: May 2014

Hydrogeochemistry of 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan Province after the WenchuanMS8.0 earthquake was investigated by analyzing the concentrations of cation and anion and the isotopic compositions of hydrogen and oxygen. The water samples of the hot springs were collected four times from June 2008 to April 2010. Hydrogeochemical data indicated the water samples can be classified into 9 chemical types. Values ofδD andδ18O indicated that the spring waters were mainly derived from meteoric precipitation and affected by water-rock interaction and mixture of deep fluids. Concentrations of K+andSO4−of the samples from the Kangding district exhibited evident increases before the Wenchuan earthquake, indicating more supplement of deep fluids under the increase of tectonic stress. The chemical and isotopic variations of the water samples from the area closer to the epicenter area can be attributed to variation of regional stress field when the aftershock activities became weak.
Tracheoesophageal Fistula due to a Damaged Tracheal Stent
Authors: Kimura Masahiro , Kuwabara Yoshiyuki , Ishiguro Hideyuki , Tanaka Tatsuya , Takeyama Hiromitsu
Published: May 2014

We describe the management of a tracheoesophageal fistula due to a damaged tracheal stent, which was first inserted to treat tracheal stenosis. A 29-year-old woman with a history of treated epilepsy had a seizure and suffered from smoke inhalation during a fire. Breathing difficulties appeared and gradually worsened; consultation was obtained two years afterward. After undergoing a thorough examination, the patient was diagnosed with tracheal strangulation. A noncovered, metallic stent was inserted. When the patient was 37 years old, she was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of a tracheoesophageal fistula. We diagnosed it as a tracheoesophageal fistula due to the collapse of the damaged tracheal stent toward the esophageal side, and we decided to perform a mediastinal tracheostomy. Granulation may be formed in the circumference of a stent that has been present for a prolonged period, and removal of the stent may become difficult. This case suggests that insertion of a noncovered, metallic stent is contraindicated for a benign disease.
Palmoplantar Erythrodysesthesia-Like Skin Symptoms in Patients under Various Chemotherapeutics: Preventive and Therapeutic Options
Authors: Lademann Juergen , Röwert-Huber Hans-Joachim , Haas Norbert , Kluschke Franziska , Patzelt Alexa , Zastrow Leonhard , Lange-Asschenfeldt Bernhard , Jung Sora , Sterry Wolfram , Sehouli Jalid
Published: May 2014

Background/Aims: The palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia (PPE) is an inflammatory cutaneous side effect in patients under chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), with indications that also other chemotherapeutics induce similar side effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that PLD escapes with the sweat onto the skin inducing radical-forming processes that damage the skin. The topical application of antioxidants with a high radical protection factor has proven to be a very efficient prevention strategy for PLD-treated patients. Methods: 68 patients, who had been treated with 12 different chemotherapeutics and experienced side effects similar to PPE, were treated with a meanwhile commercially available ointment. Results: At the beginning of the therapy, 46 patients suffered from a PPE of severity grade III, while in 22 patients a PPE of severity grade II was diagnosed. The application of the ointment resulted in a significant improvement of the clinical symptoms and the skin status in all these patients; their chemotherapies could be continued. Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that radical-forming processes play an essential role in a great number of chemotherapeutics which induce dermal side effects. The topical application of the antioxidant-containing ointment proved to be a good therapeutic option which needs further evaluation.
Correlation between Severity of Growth Hormone Deficiency and Thyroid Metabolism and Effects of Long-Term Growth Hormone Treatment on Thyroid Function in Children with Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency
Authors: Ciresi A. , Guarnotta V. , Amato M.C. , Giordano C.
Published: May 2014

Background/Aim: The significance of changes in thyroid function in children during growth hormone (GH) treatment remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the impact of GH replacement on thyroid status in children with idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD). Methods: Data of 105 GHD children (82 M, 23 F; aged 11.13 years) during a 36-month follow-up were analyzed. At diagnosis the areas under the curve of GH (AUCGH) were calculated during a GH-releasing hormone + arginine (GHRH-Arg) and insulin tolerance test. Results: A significant ΔfT3 (p < 0.001) was documented at 12 months, without any further change at 24 and 36 months and without fT4 and TSH modifications. Grouping patients according to ΔfT3 at 12 months into those with lower (n = 80, 76%) or greater values than the 75th percentile (n = 25, 24%), the latter showed lower AUCGH and GH peak during a GHRH-Arg (p = 0.018 and 0.014, respectively) and insulin tolerance test (p = 0.023 and 0.020, respectively) at diagnosis. In addition, children with lower GH at diagnosis showed a greater ΔfT3 at 12 months (p = 0.030). Conclusions: In GHD children, GH treatment is associated with a significant increase in fT3 in the first 12 months, more pronounced in patients with more severe GHD, highlighting the strong correlation between severity of GHD and thyroid metabolism.
The Expression of Epithelial Intercellular Junctional Proteins in the Sinonasal Tissue of Subjects with Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Histopathologic Study
Authors: Li Ying , Wang Xiangdong , Wang Ruihan , Bo Mingyu , Fan Erzhong , Duan Su , Zhang Luo
Published: May 2014

Objective: To evaluate the expression of five epithelial intercellular junctional proteins in the sinonasal tissue of subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods: Forty-one samples of nasal polyp tissue of CRS patients with nasal polyps (wNP), 20 ethmoid sinus mucosa of CRS patients without nasal polyps (sNP) and 19 nasal mucosa of controls were collected and assessed for the expression of zonulae occludens (ZO-1), claudin-1, E-cadherin and desmoglein-1 and -2 (DSG1, DSG2) using immunohistochemical staining. Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the tissues were also measured using ELISA. Results: The expression of ZO-1, claudin-1, DSG1 and DSG2 in the CRSwNP patient group and the expression of claudin-1, DSG1 and DSG2 of the CRSsNP patient group was significantly lower compared to that of the control group. Furthermore, the expression of DSG1 in the CRSwNP patient group was also significantly lower than in the CRSsNP patient group. In contrast, the expression of E-cadherin in the CRSwNP and the CRSsNP patient groups was significantly greater compared to the controls. The assessment of associations between the expression of the intercellular junctional proteins and cytokines demonstrated negative correlations between IL-5 and claudin-1, IL-6 and claudin-1, IL-6 and DSG2, IL-8 and DSG1, and IL-8 and DSG2. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between IL-8 and E-cadherin. Conclusions: Differences in the expression of epithelial intercellular junctional proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRS.
Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy (IOERT) as an Alternative to Standard Whole Breast Irradiation: Only for Low-Risk Subgroups?
Authors: Maluta Sergio , Dall'Oglio Stefano , Goer Donald A. , Marciai Nadia
Published: May 2014

Background: Intraoperative radiotherapy during breast-conserving surgery is being studied as an alternative to 6 weeks of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for low-risk women; it can be delivered using electrons (intraoperative electron radiotherapy, IOERT) or 50-kV X-rays. Materials and Methods: We analyzed both single institutional and randomized studies involving single-fraction IOERT treatments. Rates for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were obtained. Results: IOERT had true 5-year recurrence rates of < 1.5% for ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology) and ESTRO (European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) suitable women, or for low-risk women as defined by the ELIOT trial. Women with ductal carcinoma in situ eligible for breast-conserving therapy, older women that currently receive no EBRT, and younger women with favorable biology are additional potential candidates. Conclusion: ASTRO suitable and ESTRO good women for accelerated partial breast irradiation are low-risk groups. Higher-risk women with favorable biology might also be suitable candidates for IOERT, providing the tumor biology can be determined prior to surgery. For intraoperative radiotherapy using 50-kV X-rays, follow-up was too short to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.
Systematics of the Podarcis hispanicus complex (Sauria, Lacertidae) III: valid nomina of the western and central Iberian forms
Authors: GENIEZ PHILIPPE , SÁ-SOUSA PAULO , GUILLAUME CLAUDE P. , CLUCHIER ALEXANDRE , CROCHET PIERRE-ANDRÉ
Published: May 2014

Recent genetic works have suggested that the Iberian wall lizard Podarcis hispanicus (Steindachner, 1870) sensu lato is a species complex. Several forms have already been elevated to species rank and linked to available nomina, but at least three still have to be formally named, including the western Iberian forms currently designated as Podarcis hispanicus “type 1A”, “type 1B” and “type 2”. The aim of the present work is to assign a valid nomen to these taxa. Using multivariate analyses, we first checked that the morphological differences reported in Portugal between type 1 and type 2 are maintained over their distribution range. We then investigated phenotypic differentiation between type 1A and type 1B, which were found to be so similar that identification based on phenotype is currently not advisable. We propose to treat type 1 and type 2 as distinct species because of their level of genetic and phenotypic divergence, large area of distribution and ample evidence for reduced or absent introgression in contact zones. We maintain type 1A and 1B as subspecies for the time being, pending further analyses of their contact zone. The valid nomen for “Podarcis hispanica type 1 (sensu lato)” is Lacerta muralis guadarramae Boscá, 1916 which becomes Podarcis guadarramae (Boscá, 1916). Lineage type 1A is here described as a new taxon: P. guadarramae lusitanicus ssp. nov., inhabiting northern Portugal and northwestern Spain. The type 1B lineage corresponds to the nominotypical subspecies that inhabits Spain, mostly the Central Iberian Mountains. We were unable to locate an available nomen for “Podarcis hispanica type 2”, which is here described as Podarcis virescens sp. nov. This species is widely distributed in the plains and plateaus of central and parts of south-western Spain as well as central and southern Portugal.
Anolis boulengerianus Thominot, 1887, a senior synonym of Anolis isthmicus Fitch, 1978 (Squamata: Dactyloidae)
Authors: DE OCA ADRIÁN NIETO-MONTES , KÖHLER GUNTHER , FERIA-ORTIZ MANUEL
Published: May 2014

For most of its history, the name Anolis boulengerianus Thominot, 1887 has been regarded as a junior synonym of Anolis nebulosus (Wiegmann, 1834) or Anolis nebuloides Bocourt, 1873. However, a comparison of the syntypes and additional topotypical specimens of A. boulengerianus with three topoparatypes and additional specimens of the species currently referred to as Anolis isthmicus Fitch, 1978 showed that these two names pertain to the same species. Because of the priority principle, A. isthmicus becomes a junior synonym of A. boulengerianus. We provide a redescription of the type series of A. boulengerianus and an updated diagnosis for this taxon relative to all other beta anoles.
Illustrated key for identification of the species included in the genus Leptoglossus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae: Coreinae: Anisoscelini), and descriptions of five new species and new synonyms
Authors: BRAILOVSKY HARRY
Published: May 2014

Five new species of Leptoglossus are described: L.caicosensis from Turks and Caicos Island, L. egeri and L. impensus from Bolivia, L. franckei from Costa Rica, and L. polychromus from Ecuador, Cooperative Republic of Guiana (British Guiana), and French Guiana. Leptoglossus argentinus Bergroth is synonymized under L. chilensis chilensis (Spinola) and Narnia anaticula Brailovsky & Barrera under Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann. Dorsal view drawings and key to the 61 known species and 1 subspecies are included; a complete checklist, and the position of each species within the species-group defined herein, are given except for two species L. macrophylus Stål and L. polychromus sp.nov., that are insertae-sedis. The pronotal disk, hind legs, and male genital capsule of the new species here described are illustrated.
The Role of the Government in R&D Promotion and the Development of Technology-Intensive Industries in China
Authors: Mah Jai S. , Yeo Myeong
Published: May 2014

This article explains the role of the government in promoting China’s R&D activities and development of technology-intensive industries. The measures implemented comprise: increasing the amount of R&D expenditure; developing science parks; encouraging private firms to undertake R&D activities and invest in technology-intensive industries by providing tax incentives; and attracting foreign-invested enterprises, in particular those bringing advanced technologies. As a result of government policies to promote R&D activities and develop technology-intensive industries, there has been an apparent improvement in human capital, innovation, and the production and export of output produced in technology-intensive industries. Finally, this article talks of the implications for developing countries pursuing an R&D promotion policy.
Examining The End of Revolution
Authors: Horesh Niv , Sullivan Jonathan
Published: May 2014

Wang Hui is a significant contemporary Chinese thinker and a key representative of Chinese New Left thought. This article provides a critical review of some of the themes that emerge from Wang’s The End of Revolution as a means of situating his position in China’s intellectual landscape, with a particular mind to exploring the historicity of Wang’s thought as it informs his views. The essay engages some of the key discursive threads in The End of Revolution and provides a critical overview of Wang’s positions on neoliberalism, the tension between Western articulations of modernity and China’s own self-image.
Beyond Test Scores
Authors: Kimelberg Shelley McDonough
Published: May 2014

The pursuit of high-quality schools for their children is one of the main factors motivating middle-class families to exit urban communities. This study draws on interviews with middle-class mothers in Boston who have opted instead to stay in the city to explore how they evaluated their local public elementary schools. Specifically, I examine how some middle-class mothers deploy their cultural capital in the process of embracing a choice that others may see as risky or surprising. Findings reveal that respondents’ awareness of and confidence in their own cultural capital—in particular, their ability to provide enriching learning opportunities outside the classroom—shape how they think about the kind of school their children need and enable them to downplay the relevance of the district’s standardized test scores. This, in turn, allows them to privilege other aspects of the educational experience when deciding among public school options.
Routine versus ad hoc screening for acute stress following injury: who would benefit and what are the opportunities for prevention
Authors: Bell Nathaniel , Sobolev Boris , Anderson Stephen , Hewko Robert , Simons Richard K
Published: May 2014

Background

Screening for acute stress is not part of routine trauma care owing in part to high variability of acute stress symptoms in identifying later onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The objective of this pilot study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and power to predict onset of PTSD symptoms at 1 and 4 months using a routine screening program in comparison to current ad hoc referral practice.

Methods

Prospective cross-sectional observational study of a sample of hospitalized trauma patients over a four-month period from a level-I hospital in Canada. Baseline assessments of acute stress (ASD) and subsyndromal ASD (SASD) were measured using the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ). In-hospital psychiatric consultations were identified from patient discharge summaries. PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD Checklist-Specific (PCL-S). Post-discharge health status and health services utilization surveys were also collected.

Results

Routine screening using the ASD (0.43) and SASD (0.64) diagnoses were more sensitive to PTSD symptoms at one month in comparison to ad hoc referral (0.14) and also at four months (0.17, 0.33 versus 0.17). Ad hoc referral had greater positive predictive power in identifying PTSD caseness at 1 month (0.50) in comparison to the ASD (0.46) and SASD (0.43) diagnoses and also at 4 months (0.67 versus 0.25 and 0.29).

Conclusions

Ad hoc psychiatric referral process for acute stress is a more conservative approach than employing routine screening for identifying persons who are at risk of psychological morbidity following injury. Despite known limitations of available measures, routine patient screening would increase identification of trauma survivors at risk of mental health sequelae and better position trauma centers to respond to the circumstances that affect mental health during recovery.
Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Cognitive Triad Inventory (CTI). A preliminary study.
Authors: Śliwerski Andrzej
Published: May 2014

Aim of the study

The aim of this study was to translate and evaluate the Polish version of the Cognitive Triad Inventory (CTI), an instrument developed to measure the cognitive triad conceptualized by Beck as an important variable in depression.

Subject or material and methods

A sample of N=86 adults included depressed, non-depressed and prisoners completed a survey test battery comprised of CTI, CES-D, and STAI.

Results

This study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the Polish CTI. Exploratory factor analysis showed the one-factor model to best fit the data, as in the American version.

Discussion

The division into self, world, and future is an unwieldy taxonomy with highly overlapping categories. Because the three-factor model did not fit the data very well it is suggested that it would be reasonable to label that one CTI factor “Self-Relevant Negative Attitude.”

Conclusions

This study examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of the CTI on both clinical and nonclinical samples, and confirms that CTI may be used to measure the cognitive triad. Evaluation of suicidal ideation was also discussed.
Domain Adaptation for Sentiment Classification in Light of Multiple Sources
Authors: Fang Fang , Dutta Kaushik , Datta Anindya
Published: May 2014

Sentiment classification is one of the most extensively studied problems in sentiment analysis, and supervised learning methods, which require labeled data for training, have been proven quite effective. However, supervised methods assume that the training domain and the testing domain share the same distribution; otherwise, accuracy drops dramatically. Although this does not pose problems when training data are readily available, in some circumstances, labeled data is quite expensive to acquire. For instance, if we want to detect sentiment from Tweets or Facebook comments, the only way to acquire is to manually label it, and this is prohibitively burdensome and time-consuming. In this paper, we propose a hybrid approach that integrates the sentiment information from source-domain labeled data and a set of preselected sentiment words to solve this problem. The experimental results suggest that our method statistically outperforms the state of the art and even, in some cases, surpasses the in-domain gold standard.
A Wide Branching Strategy for the Graph Coloring Problem
Authors: Morrison David R. , Sauppe Jason J. , Sewell Edward C. , Jacobson Sheldon H.
Published: May 2014

Branch-and-price algorithms for the graph coloring problem use an exponentially sized independent set-based integer programming formulation to produce usually tight lower bounds to enable more aggressive pruning in the branch-and-bound tree. One major problem inherent to any branch-and-price scheme for graph coloring is that to avoid destroying the pricing problem structure during column generation, difficult-to-implement branching rules that modify the underlying graph must be used. This paper proposes an alternative branching strategy that does not change the graph to solve the pricing problem but rather modifies the search tree to require fewer calls to difficult instances of the pricing problem. This approach, called wide branching, generates many subproblems at each node in the branch-and-price tree; this significantly reduces the length of any path through the search tree. In contrast, traditional deep branching only creates two subproblems per node, assigning a variable to either 0 or 1. A delayed branching procedure is introduced that prevents the branching factor at any particular node from growing too large in this scheme. Finally, computational results are presented that show the wide branching strategy to be competitive with state-of-the-art graph coloring solvers.
Relative Comparison and Category Membership: The Case of Equity Analysts
Authors: Bowers Anne
Published: May 2014

Although audience perception is critical to the theory that classification affects rewards, such as ratings or sales, tests of the classification–rewards link occur without directly measuring audience perception. As a result, although a great deal is known about the mean level of rewards as a function of classification, little is known about the individual evaluations that underlie them and that contribute to the variance. I advance a process-based explanation for evaluative outcomes. Individuals make evaluations as a result of relative judgments on a subset of objects, comparing each object under consideration against a small set of others. Categorical boundaries matter to individuals perhaps because of personal preferences but also, importantly, because fit within boundaries determines how strictly to apply performance results. Simply by different individuals examining different subsets of objects, evaluative outcomes can vary dramatically, such that the same object may have different evaluations by audience members. Using recommendations by analysts at U.S. brokerages, I find support for the hypothesis that lower performance of a stock relative to other stocks already rated by a given analyst is associated with a lower likelihood of a high rating by an analyst, but this effect applies only to those stocks that fit clearly into industry boundaries. In general, the results suggest that the positive effect of category membership on evaluative outcomes, well established in prior literature, is contingent on the evaluative processes of individual audience members.
O Programa de Escrita SRSD e a sua Adaptação para um Estudo em Escolas de Coimbra
Authors: Rebelo José Augusto da Silva , Sousa Carla Sofia Gonçalves de , Inácio Míriam Da Costa , Vaz João Luís Pimentel , Festas Maria Isabel Ferraz , Oliveira Albertina Lima de
Published: May 2014

Este artigo, que pretende ser de revisão, tem por principal objetivo apresentar o programa SRSD para o ensino da escrita, utilizado num projeto de investigação, e descrever como foi feita a sua adaptação, para poder ser aplicado em escolas de Coimbra. Em função desse objetivo, contém considerações prévias sobre a aprendizagem e o ensino da escrita, referências a contextos em que os programas aparecem e a fundamentos que os suportam. Daí, a apresentação de investigações e de programas específicos neste domínio.
Cidade Educadora e Hábitos Culturais: Outros Públicos, Outras Oportunidades
Authors: Moio Isabel Sofia Fernandes , Mendes Ana Catarina Pereira
Published: May 2014

As mudanças que se têm registado na regulação das políticas públicas em educação apresentam repercussões nas políticas de educação e formaçãode adultos, no sentido da descentralização de poderes, da territorialização e da valorização do local. As estratégias inerentes ao Processo de Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências respeitam estes princípios ao valorizarem as aprendizagens localmente construídas, num sério compromisso com os adultos. Apresentam‑se, neste artigo, os resultados obtidos através da administração de um questionário sobre a participação de um grupo de adultos do Centro Novas Oportunidades da Escola Secundária de Jaime Cortesão no Projeto “Hábitos Culturais, Outros Públicos, Outras Oportunidades”, resultante de um trabalho conjunto entre aquele Centro e o Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente. Através dos dados recolhidos foi possível concluir que os adultos aprendem mais quando envolvidos em atividades significativas e localmente construídas, o que se coaduna com os pressupostos subjacentes à designação de “Cidade Educadora”.
Territorios liminares. Los márgenes de la ciudad en el centro de un terreno común de la arquitectura
Authors: Paritá Giuseppe
Published: May 2014

A pesar de las transformaciones en la manera de vivir y pensar nuestro "hábitat", el ambiente físico, en cuanto plataforma modificable por la arquitectura, no deja de ser una de las primeras entradas en el proceso de diseño. Aunque la ciudad haya ido cambiando su propia gramática, siguen existiendo una serie de lugares fértiles para el proyecto contemporáneo y que aún quedan inexplorados, sin nombres y ni siquiera reconocidos como partes de la ciudad. La investigación que aquí se propone se enmarca en el ámbito del diseño urbano, tratando de llevar sobre un terreno común un determinado tipo de territorios físicos, a través de una nueva mirada: el artículo se propone llegara a comprender en qué idea de ciudad y en qué tipo de espacialidad se pueden identificar y reconocer las áreas de margen. A través de una revisión de algunas zonas marginales de grandes ciudades, se intentará elevar a la categoría de "fundamentos" algunos elementos que han tenido hasta ahora un significado negativo. Reconfigurar límites, dar dignidad a los confines, dar espesor a los bordes, son todos ellos modos de proyectar una distancia que se advierte entre partes distintas de la ciudad, una condición hasta ahora entendida como ambigua y que desorienta.
Una propuesta para el mejoramiento cognitivo en el adulto mayor: Una alternativa al entrenamiento cerebral
Authors: Mogollón González Eddy De Jesús
Published: May 2014

Recibido 19 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 25 de enero de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo proponer una alternativa del mejoramiento cognitivo en el adulto mayor; de acuerdo con los aportes y evidencias presentadas por expertos en el área. Se analizan las posturas científicas a favor y en contra, en cuanto al uso del entrenamiento cerebral. Se argumenta sobre la viabilidad de esta propuesta según las evidencias empíricas presentadas por teóricos e investigadores en el campo de las neurociencias, apoyados en las modernas tecnologías de mapeo cerebral (brain scanning). Se concluye que a pesar de la vulnerabilidad natural del  adulto en ocasión de su  envejecimiento, esta propuesta hace factible su mejoramiento cognitivo, como una alternativa al entrenamiento cerebral.
Aportaciones de lectores académicos a la formación para la investigación educativa
Authors: Jiménez Mora José Margarito , Moreno Bayardo María Guadalupe , Torres Frías José De la Cruz
Published: May 2014

Recibido 3 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 30 de enero de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014

Este trabajo presenta una reflexión basada en elementos empíricos, derivados de la obra de Moreno, Torres y Jiménez (2014), titulada El discurso de los lectores académicos como mediación para formar investigadores en el posgrado, en la cual se reporta una investigación cuyo objeto de estudio es el contenido y orientación de los mensajes recibidos por estudiantes de doctorado en educación, de parte de formadores que realizaron lecturas críticas de sus avances de tesis doctoral. Se eligió este nivel educativo porque en México prácticamente todos los programas doctorales se encuentran orientados a la investigación. Por ende, se concibe que en el doctorado los estudiantes se forman para ser capaces de realizar investigación en un campo específico de conocimiento. Los datos, provenientes de 101 reportes escritos realizados por 9 lectores académicos a los trabajos de 60 estudiantes de dos programas de doctorado en educación en México, permiten dar cuenta de aspectos importantes que pueden aprender los estudiantes respecto a la forma de realizar investigación educativa y de reportarla en un texto escrito. En este trabajo tales aspectos se exponen en tres ejes de contenido, recuperando partes del discurso de los lectores.
Relación entre la dimensión afectiva y el aprendizaje de las matemáticas
Authors: Gamboa Araya Ronny
Published: May 2014

Recibido11 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 21 de marzo de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014

Las matemáticas se han convertido, para un número importante de estudiantes, en un obstáculo para el logro de sus objetivos escolares, de manera que ha trascendido la parte académica y se ha establecido como un impedimento cognitivo y emocional.  Lo que el estudiantado siente, percibe, cree y su actuación influye directamente en esto.  Aunado a lo anterior, lo que el sujeto docente siente, percibe, sus expectativas, creencias y actitudes respecto a la disciplina, también juegan un importante papel en el tipo de enseñanza que realiza y la dimensión afectiva de sus estudiantes.  El presente artículo tiene como propósito abordar, basado en aspectos teóricos de varios autores, algunos elementos de la dimensión afectiva y, a partir de ellos, mostrar elementos concernientes tanto a docentes como a estudiantes y su relación con la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la matemática.  Se obtuvo que el papel de la dimensión afectiva en el aprendizaje de las matemáticas debe ser un elemento abordado por la educación matemática como un medio para comprender este proceso desde la perspectiva de los actores relacionados con él, estudiantes y profesorado, así como para lograr un cambio en dicha disciplina a partir del mejoramiento de las creencias y actitudes del alumnado y personal docente hacia esta área del conocimiento.
Synthesis and Characterization of NanoComposite Superhard Materials
Authors: Zhao Yusheng , He Duanwei , Qian Jiang , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: May 2014

We have developed a novel method of reactive sintering under high pressure and high temperature conditions and have successfully synthesized bulk and nanostructured BC2N, BC4N, and diamond-SiC composites. The keys to this success are the careful preparation of precursor materials through high energy ball-milling and sensible tuning of the sintering conditions (pressure, temperature, and sintering time), leading to the formation of nano-scale features in the final synthesis products. The indentation measurements indicate that BC2N and BC4N have the Vickers hardness of 62 and 68 GPa, respectively, making them the second hardest materials known, second only to diamond. The high P-T reactive sintering results in a nanostructured diamond-SiC composite of high uniformity, low porosity, minimum residual silicon, and minimal quantities of graphite. It tunes subtle interplays of P-T-t to have fine control of thermodynamics and kinetics in the formation of diamond-SiC nanocomposites with nanocrystalline SiC matrix. The surface defects of micron/nano-diamonds are consumed by amorphous/molten silicon in the formation of nanocrystalline SiC matrix. It in turn greatly reduces the forming/mobility of microcracks thus leads to significant enhancement of fracture toughness (by as much as 50%) of the nano-composites without much compromising of hardness. The present study shows how to design/proceed a well controlled nano-synthesis so as to achieve great improvement in nano-mechanics for advance technological applications.
The Effects of On-Going Seismic Activity on Air Quality in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Somervell E. R. , Aberkane T.
Published: May 2014

The New Zealand region of Canterbury has experienced over three years of frequent seismic activity, centred under or near the main city of Christchurch. Larger earthquakes and aftershocks have triggered liquefaction in certain parts of the city, depositing significant amounts of fine silt on the surface, which is a new source of dust emissions.

Historically, concerns about air quality in Christchurch have been dominated by emissions from wood burning in winter for domestic heating. High emissions, along with frequent temperature inversions lead to regular exceedances of the national standard for PM10 of 50 μg m-3 for a twenty-four hour average concentration. The health effects of PM10 are widely acknowledged, and regulatory drives to improve ambient air quality are succeeding in recent years.

During 2011, ratios of PM2.5 to PM10 suggested that some periods of elevated concentrations were due to the liquefaction from the earthquakes and that the silt may represent a novel air quality issue to be managed.

In addition, the earthquakes have damaged thousands of residences, causing changes in domestic heating practices as many chimneys are destroyed or currently in need of repair. This will affect emissions in upcoming winters and thus, the health burden may alter if a permanent step change in wood burning emissions is observed. However, the increased dust levels from liquefaction introduce a potentially compounding factor to any estimates of exposure.

Thus, as a result of the earthquakes, air quality in Christchurch is rapidly changing with unknown effects on exposure and ultimately, the health of the Christchurch population.