bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compact lowpass filter with a sharp roll‐off using patch resonators
Authors: Raphika P. M. , Abdulla P. , Jasmine P. M.
Published: August 2014

This article presents a new compact microstrip lowpass filter with sharp roll‐off and ultrawide stopband using funnel and triangular patch resonators. The patch resonators are placed symmetrically about a high impedance central microstrip line. The filter has been designed and fabricated using a very low cost material. The experimental results show a good agreement with the simulated results and demonstrate that, the sharp roll‐off and good stopband performance is obtained by the proposed filter. The 3 dB cutoff frequency of the proposed filter is at 5.55 GHz with a roll‐off of 84 dB/GHz and its stopband extends up to 11.8 GHz. The filter has an ultra compact size of 9.4 × 8 mm2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2534–2536, 2014
A smooth evolution scheme to remodulated WDM‐PON based on POLSK/ASK orthogonal modulation
Authors: Qirui Zhou , Hongyan Liu , Jun Ma , Yang Lu , Biao Chen
Published: August 2014

A smooth evolution scheme from legacy time division multiplexing passive optical network to the next generation wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network using polarization shift keying/amplitude shift keying orthogonal modulation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Clear eye diagrams and bit‐error‐rate performance show crosstalk is small. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2598–2601, 2014
A 2.4‐GHz frequency synthesizer with a discrete‐time sample‐hold‐reset loops filter
Authors: Huang Jhin‐Fang , Lai Wen‐Cheng , Yang Jia‐Lun
Published: August 2014

A 2.4‐GHz integer‐N frequency synthesizer is implemented in TSMC 0.18‐μm CMOS process. This article proposes a charge pump (CP) linearization technique and uses a current‐switching differential Colpitts VCO to lower the phase noise and an averaged varactor circuit to increase the linearity of the VCO tuning range. A three phase sample‐hold‐reset loop filter that isolates the CP output node from the VCO tuning node, which improves synthesizer spur performance, minimizes phase noise and reduces on‐chip capacitors area. At 1.8 V supply voltage, measured results of the proposed prototype achieves a wide tuning range from 2.24 to 2.42 GHz, corresponding to 7.7%, a phase noise of −114.76 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency from 2.4 GHz, a power consumption of 13.6 mW and an output power of −8.43 dBm. Including pads, the chip area only occupies 0.849 (0.899 × 0.944) mm2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2591–2598, 2014
Stability analysis of the PML scheme for CN‐FDTD and ADI‐FDTD
Authors: Hwang Jiunn‐Nan , Chen Fu‐Chiarng
Published: August 2014

The alternating direction implicit‐finite‐difference time‐domain (ADI‐FDTD) method can be seen as a second‐order perturbation of the Crank–Nicolson FDTD (CN‐FDTD) scheme. When the PML is introduced for the ADI‐FDTD method, the perturbation term will affect the stability of the ADI‐FDTD method. In this work, the stability analysis of the PML schemes for the ADI‐FDTD and CN‐FDTD are demonstrated. It is found that the PML equations for ADI‐FDTD method will be unstable due to the perturbation term. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2637–2642, 2014
Microstrip‐line FED beak‐shaped monopole‐like slot UWB antenna with enhanced band width
Authors: Chandel Richa , Gautam A. K. , Kanaujia Binod Kr.
Published: August 2014

A novel microstrip‐line fed beak‐shaped monopole‐like slot UWB antenna is proposed for enhanced ultrawideband, bluetooth, GPS, and GSM applications. In which, a beak‐shaped radiating patch is fed by a microstrip‐line and a square ground plane is defected by etching a hexagonal slot. Two triangular slots in the beak‐shaped radiator and hexagonal‐shaped defect in the ground plane are used to obtain GPS (1520–1590 MHz), GSM (1770–1840 MHz), and bluetooth (2385–2490 MHz). Furthermore, the bandwidth of an antenna is increased by etching a triangular slot at the junction of patch and feeding line. The antenna is fabricated on 1.6 mm thick commercial available FR4 material. The antenna offers an enhanced bandwidth of 24.26 GHz from 0.24 to 24.5 GHz with the voltage standing wave ratio <2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2624–2628, 2014
Efficient RF extrinsic parameters extraction technique for finfets
Authors: Maafri Djabar , Yagoub Mustapha C. E. , Touhami Rachida , Slimane Abdelhalim , Belaroussi Mohand Tahar
Published: August 2014

Small signal RF modeling of FinFETs is strongly dependent on the methodology used to extract transistor intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. In this article, an original extraction method is proposed for determining all FinFET extrinsic series elements values from S‐parameters measurements at zero bias condition. The extracted technique is demonstrated through successful comparison between simulated and measured S‐parameters over a widefrequency range. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2616–2619, 2014
Even–odd mode analysis for multiband bandpass filters having multiple resonators and its microstrip implementations
Authors: Karpuz Ceyhun , Gorur Ali Kursad
Published: August 2014

This article presents even–odd mode impedance/admittance descriptions for dual‐mode multiband filters having independently controllable passbands formed by multiple resonators in different electrical lengths. Even–odd mode impedance models of dual‐mode ring resonators are used. Using these models, conventional equivalent admittance formulas are revised with a frequency dependent separation coefficient to obtain the desired in‐band return loss levels by keeping each passband from the effects of other passbands. As the proposed method can be applied for dual‐mode multiband filters, a dual‐mode dual‐band microstrip filter is designed, simulated, and fabricated. Designed filter has two dual‐mode resonators in different electrical lengths which are comprised by square loop resonators having narrow slits. Fabricated dual‐band filter has also been measured in a good agreement with the simulated results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2664–2667, 2014
Microwave dielectric measurements of fibrous catalyst using transmission line technique in the frequency range of 1–4 GHz
Authors: Aboutaleb Adam , Chi‐Tangyie George , Huddersman Katherine , Oxley Chris H
Published: August 2014

Materials performance at microwave frequencies has generated a wide interest in recent years for commercial and industrial purposes. However, the interaction between microwave energy and iron compounds is an area where further characterization work is required. The article presents a novel optimized analytical‐numerical method for conversion of smoothed transmission scattering (
) parameters to complex permittivity. The measurement method was validated and subsequently used to characterize the dielectric properties of modified polyacrylonitrile catalyst powder incorporating ligated iron cations. The result is compared to other published iron catalyst materials measured in the same frequency range of 1 to 4 GHz. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2671–2676, 2014
A new design of triple‐band WLAN/WiMAX monopole antenna for multiple‐input/multiple‐output applications
Authors: Ojaroudi Nasser , Ghadimi Nuraddin , Mehranpour Mehdi , Ojaroudi Yasser , Ojaroudi Sajjad
Published: August 2014

In this manuscript, a new design of microstrip‐fed monopole antenna with meander‐line strips for wireless local area network (WLAN) and world‐wide interoperability microwave access (WiMAX) systems is proposed. The operating frequencies of the proposed antenna are 2.4/3.5/5.5 GHz, which covers the WLAN and WiMAX bands. The measured results of the proposed antenna show that the impedance bandwidths are from 2.01 to 2.67 GHz, 3.25 to 3.75 GHz, and 5 to 6 GHz. The presented antenna has a small size of 12 × 18 mm2. Various configurations of array of this antenna for multiple input‐multiple output (MIMO) application are also studied. It shows that the features of low profile, good return loss, and small mutual coupling are promising for MIMO applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2667–2671, 2014
A powerful method based on artificial bee colony algorithm for translational motion compensation of ISAR image
Authors: Ustun Deniz , Ozdemir Caner , Akdagli Ali , Toktas Abdurrahim , Berkan Bicer Mustafa
Published: August 2014

Inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging is an efficient technique to generate two‐dimensional spatial distributions of radar cross‐section of a target. The received signal of ISAR contains interphase errors resulting in blurring problem in the images due to motion effects of the target. In this study, a simple, stable, and robust method based on artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm has been proposed for motion compensation (MoComp) to overcome the blurring problem in ISAR images. The minimum entropy was used as objective function in the ABC algorithm for optimally determining the parameters of velocity and acceleration. The proposed method was implemented to four different scenarios based on the two air target models to show performance of the ABC algorithm. The radar signal of the target without MoComp was given as inputs to the ABC algorithm to determine velocity and acceleration values so as to provide the clearest ISAR image. The proposed method was compared with a suggestion reported elsewhere using particle swarm optimization (PSO), PSO with island model, genetic algorithm. It is pointed out that the proposed method is more successful, stable and efficient in terms of the image quality, entropy values, and standard deviation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2691–2698, 2014
Three‐dimensional subwavelength confinement of a photonic nanojet using a plasmonic nanoantenna GAP
Authors: Hasan Mehdi , Simpson Jamesina J.
Published: August 2014

Using 3D finite‐difference time‐domain modeling, a microsphere‐generating nanojet and gold nanoantenna gap are optimized to achieve 3D nanojet confinement to a subwavelength volume of about 0.009 µm3 (wherein the edges of the volume are defined at 1/e2 of the maximum electric‐field intensity) for an incident wavelength of 633 nm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2700–2706, 2014
Synthesis of matching networks for microwave active circuits based on genetic algorithm
Authors: Babak Leonid I. , Vjushkov Vladislav A. , Dorofeev Sergey Y. , Kalentyev Alexey A. , Garays Dmitry V. , Goryainov Alexandr E.
Published: August 2014

A new genetic algorithm‐based technique for the synthesis of broadband matching and compensation networks used in microwave active circuits is presented. It allows the complete control over network configurations and element values leading to convenient practical solutions. The technique is implemented in the software tool GENESYN. As an example, the design of interstage network that compensates the transistors' gain slope and simultaneously provides DC bias in 4–6 GHz two‐stage FET amplifier is demonstrated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2719–2722, 2014
Radiation beam pattern synthesis for coherent MIMO radar antenna arrays
Authors: Deng Hai , Geng Zhe , Himed Braham
Published: August 2014

An innovative optimum waveform design approach is introduced for synthesizing the radiation beam pattern of coherent multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) radar to minimize the interference between the radar and other radio systems operating at the same frequency without degrading radar target detection performance. The proposed antenna array waveform design approach allows both amplitudes and phases to be optimized to synthesize the best radiation beam patterns. Given the designed waveforms for coherent MIMO radar, a virtual beamforming filter is used for virtual transmit–receive beam refocusing processing to achieve the maximum target processing gain. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2740–2745, 2014
Erratum for: A low phase noise LC‐VCO for phase‐locked frequency synthesizers
Authors: Wang Hao X. , Zhang Wei , Liu Yan Y. , Zhang Liang
Published: August 2014

Originally published Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1486–1492, 2014. The first author and the corresponding author's names are wrongly printed. And the third affiliation is not accurate. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2748, 2014
Erratum for: Single‐layer polarization‐switchable frequency‐band‐fixed microstrip antenna using a single‐switch
Authors: Oh Soon‐Soo , Park Wook‐Ki , Ahn Chi‐Hyung , Shafai Lotfollah
Published: August 2014

A single‐layer polarization‐switchable frequency‐bandfixed microstrip square‐ring antenna was developed. The copolar plane of the radiation pattern was reconfigured with a single‐switch, but the resonant frequencies were identical. A microstrip square‐ring antenna was adopted, and the lateral and vertical widths of the microstrip ring were tuned to agree the resonant frequencies of the unloaded or loaded antenna. A single‐layer dielectric substrate was used instead of a latest three‐layer configuration. Antenna impedance was optimized to a value between those of the loaded and unloaded antennas. The proposed antenna exhibited single‐switch polarization–reconfiguration on a single‐layer substrate, and could thus be used in mobile communications and microwave imaging systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1874–1879, 2014
Degradation Tests Using Geometric Brownian Motion Process for Lumen Degradation Data
Authors: Chiang Jyun‐You , Lio Y.L. , Tsai Tzong‐Ru
Published: August 2014

Running a traditional life test over an affordable time period with highly reliable products is inefficient to collect the lifetime information of products even if the products are subject to higher stress conditions. This fact makes it difficult to infer the reliability of highly reliable products. The accelerated degradation test (ADT) method has been suggested as an alternative to infer the reliability of highly reliable product based on its degradation measurements. The current study is motivated by the statistical modeling of the lumen degradation date set of transistor outline can packaged light emitting diodes (LEDs). All degradation measurements were collected from an ADT, which was conducted with two stress loadings, the ambient temperature and drive current. To study the reliability of the LEDs under the ADT, the geometric Brownian motion process and generalized Eyring model are applied to estimate the distribution parameters and percentiles of the LEDs. Planning strategies of the sample size and measurement times for the proposed ADT are established to minimize the asymptotic variance of maximum‐likelihood estimator of the lower 100pth percentile of LED lifetimes under the given budget. An algorithm is provided to reach the planning strategy. The guidelines of this study can be extended to infer the reliability of other highly reliable product besides LEDs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond a Politics of the Plural in World Englishes
Authors: Porter Curt
Published: August 2014

This article explores three recent books related to World Englishes studies and considers ways they overtly and implicitly frame the politics of the field. The author also describes some of his own experiences working with graduate students that suggest a disruption of traditional dichotomies between single standard and pluralistic models of English spread. The author shares some pedagogical materials designed to provoke deeper discussions of the personal and political dimensions of language variety and identification. Finally, he concludes with a call to consider how Canagarajah's notion of translingualism may lead to updated political frameworks that embrace the transformative potential of languages, speakers, and societies.
Struggling with scales: revisiting the boundaries of river basin management
Authors: Warner Jeroen F. , Wester Philippus , Hoogesteger Jaime
Published: August 2014

This article reviews, illustrated by two case studies, how struggles around scales play out in three globally hegemonic trends in river governance: (1) stakeholder participation for (2) integrated water resources management (IWRM), conceived at (3) the watershed or river basin level. This ‘holy trinity’ has found blanket acceptance and support both in top‐down (donors, governments) and bottom‐up [nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)] directions as a way of democratizing water management, rationalizing water resource use, and managing conflict between water users in river basins. The precepts underlying these trends however have largely gone unquestioned, and the basin scale has become ‘naturalized’. This continuing hegemonic frame tends to obfuscate how boundaries are often manipulated for political ends and how different stakeholders frame the ‘natural’ scale in quite different ways. In this article we notably question the way boundaries get drawn and scales framed in light of water infrastructure, such as dams, canals, locks, and pipelines, which not only act as ‘pipelines of power’ but also seemingly impose management scale, ‘naturalizing’ water management in a different, semi‐deterministic way. Rather than providing a full‐fledged literature review, we build our argument drawing from cases from Ecuador and Turkey, each in its own way showing that depoliticizing discourse hides a political reality that may be better captured by ‘polycentricity’. WIREs Water 2014, 1:469–481. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1035

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance
Dietary management in glycogen storage disease type III: what is the evidence?
Authors: Derks Terry G. J. , Smit G. Peter A.
Published: August 2014

In childhood, GSD type III causes relatively severe fasting intolerance, classically associated with ketotic hypoglycaemia. During follow up, history of (documented) hypoglycaemia, clinical parameters (growth, liver size, motor development, neuromuscular parameters), laboratory parameters (glucose, lactate, ALAT, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatine kinase and ketones) and cardiac parameters all need to be integrated in order to titrate dietary management, for which age‐dependent requirements need to be taken into account. Evidence from case studies and small cohort studies in both children and adults with GSD III demonstrate that prevention of hypoglycaemia and maintenance of euglycemia is not sufficient to prevent complications. Moreover, over‐treatment with carbohydrates may even be harmful. The ageing cohort of GSD III patients, including the non‐traditional clinical presentations in adulthood, raises ‬‬‬new questions.
Resistance exercise: an effective strategy to reverse muscle wasting in hemodialysis patients?
Authors: Rhee Connie M. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: August 2014

Muscle wasting is a common complication afflicting maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients, and it is associated with decreased muscle function, exercise performance, physical function, and quality of life. Meanwhile, numerous epidemiologic studies have consistently shown that greater muscle mass (ascertained by body anthropometry surrogates, body composition tests such as dual x‐ray absorptiometry, and/or serum creatinine in patients with little to no residual kidney function) is associated with increased survival in this population. The pathophysiology of muscle wasting in HD patients is complex and may be caused by poor dietary intake, catabolic effects of dialysis therapy, hormonal alterations (e.g., decreased levels or resistance to anabolic hormones, increased levels of catabolic hormones), inflammation, metabolic acidosis, and concurrent comorbidities. Muscle disuse resulting from low physical activity is an important yet under‐appreciated risk factor for muscle wasting. Intra‐dialytic resistance exercise training has been suggested as a potential strategy to correct and/or prevent this complication in HD patients, but prior studies examining this exercise modality as an anabolic intervention have shown mixed results. In a recently published 12‐week randomized controlled trial of a novel intra‐dialytic progressive resistance exercise training (PRET) program vs. control therapy conducted in HD and non‐HD patients, PRET resulted in increased muscle volume and strength in both groups. At this time, further study is needed to determine if anabolic improvements imparted by resistance exercise translates into improved physical function and quality of life, decreased hospitalization and mortality risk, and greater cost‐effectiveness in HD patients.
Objective QbTest and subjective evaluation of stimulant treatment in adult attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Bijlenga D. , Jasperse M. , Gehlhaar S.K. , Sandra Kooij J.J.
Published: August 2014

Purpose:

To evaluate the QbTest as an objective measure versus self-reported ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) before and during stimulant treatment in adults with ADHD.

Patients and methods:

We used the subjective ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS), and the objective computerized QbTest, which is a 20-minute unconditional identical pairs test that measures attention, impulsivity, and also hyperactivity using a motion-tracking system. Patients were assessed before (baseline) and during medical treatment with stimulants (follow-up) in an observational study design.

Results:

Data of n = 145 patients at baseline and n = 82 patients at follow-up were analyzed. There were significant symptom reductions on all symptom domains, but correlations between the tests were weak. Improvement on the QbTest was independent of the patient's age, gender, educational level, ADHD subtype, co-morbid disorders, and use of other medications. Patients with worst QbTest results at baseline showed most improvement at follow-up. The QbTest was more sensitive to medication effects than the ADHD-RS. QbTest objectified clinical significant medication effect in 54% of patients who subjectively did not report any clinical effects.

Discussion:

Symptoms dimensions of objective and subjective tests refer to different psychological constructs.

Conclusion:

The QbTest is a valuable addition to existing subjective measures to assess medication effects in ADHD patients who have difficulties reporting treatment effects.
Longitudinal relationship between expressed emotion and cannabis misuse in young people with first-episode psychosis
Authors: González-Blanch C. , Gleeson J.F. , Cotton S.M. , Crisp K. , McGorry P.D. , Alvarez-Jimenez M.
Published: August 2014

Carers’ expressed emotion (EE) and patients’ cannabis misuse are two of the most robust predictors of psychotic relapse. We aimed to examine the temporal relationship between EE and cannabis misuse. Sixty-three key carers of young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) were assessed at baseline and 7-month follow-up. EE was measured in carers using the Family Questionnaire (FQ) and cannabis misuse in patients using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Correlational and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the temporal relationship between EE components (i.e. criticism and emotional over involvement) and cannabis misuse. Carers’ criticism at baseline significantly predicted cannabis misuse according to the ASSIST at 7-month follow-up. The association remained significant after controlling for baseline symptom severity and social functioning (B = 0.15, P = .02). Conversely, baseline cannabis misuse was not associated with carers’ criticism at 7-month follow-up. Patients in families with high criticism showed a tendency to increase cannabis misuse over time whereas the opposite trend was observed in those with carers with low criticism. A family environment characterized by high criticism may become a key risk factor for worsening cannabis misuse over time in young people with FEP. Further studies should investigate the potential mechanisms (e.g., patient's anxiety or perceived stress) through which criticism increases cannabis misuse in FEP.
Transecting versus avoiding incision of the anterior placenta previa during cesarean delivery
Authors: Verspyck Eric , Douysset Xavier , Roman Horace , Marret Stephane , Marpeau Loïc
Published: August 2014

Objective

To compare maternal outcomes after transection and after avoiding incision of the anterior placenta previa during cesarean delivery.

Methods

In a retrospective study, records were reviewed for women who had anterior placenta previa and delivered by cesarean after 24 weeks of pregnancy at a tertiary center in Rouen, France. During period A (January 2000 to December 2006), the protocol was to systematically transect the placenta when it was unavoidable. During period B (January 2007 to December 2010), the technique was to avoid incision by circumventing the placenta and passing a hand around its margin. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors associated with maternal transfusion of packed red blood cells.

Results

Eighty‐four women were included (period A: n = 43; period B: n = 41). During period B, there was a reduction in frequency of intraoperative hemorrhage (> 1000 mL) (P = 0.02), intraoperative hemoglobin loss (P = 0.005), and frequency of blood transfusion (P = 0.02) as compared with period A. In multivariable analysis, period B was associated with a reduced risk of maternal transfusion (odds ratio 0.27; 95% confidence interval 0.09–0.82; P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Avoiding incision of the anterior placenta previa was found to reduce frequency of maternal blood transfusion during or after cesarean delivery.
Rate of cesarean delivery at hospitals providing emergency obstetric care in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Mohammad T. , Yoshimura Yukie
Published: August 2014

Objective

To assess the rate of cesarean delivery and its indications at public emergency obstetric care (EmOC) hospitals in a district in Bangladesh.

Methods

In a retrospective, cross‐sectional study, data were extracted from the Safe Motherhood Promotion Project database and operation theater registers for cesarean deliveries at three district and three subdistrict EmOC hospitals in Narsingdi between January 1 and December 31, 2008. Information on cesarean deliveries and their indications, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were analyzed descriptively.

Results

Among 3329 deliveries, 1075 (32.3%) occurred by cesarean. The frequency of cesarean delivery ranged from 17.8% (147 of 824 deliveries) to 56.3% (174 of 309) among the six hospitals. Information on indications was available for 1043 cesarean deliveries. The main indications were previous cesarean delivery (251 deliveries, 24.1%), fetal distress (228, 21.9%), and prolonged or obstructed labor (214, 20.5%). There were no maternal deaths, but 10 (1.0%) cesarean deliveries resulted in stillbirth.

Conclusion

The overall rate of cesarean delivery was high at EmOC hospitals. Interventions to improve decision making and limit possible unnecessary cesarean operations are needed.
Two rare AKAP9 variants are associated with Alzheimer's disease in African Americans
Authors: Logue Mark W. , Schu Matthew , Vardarajan Badri N. , Farrell John , Bennett David A. , Buxbaum Joseph D. , Byrd Goldie S. , Ertekin‐Taner Nilufer , Evans Denis , Foroud Tatiana , Goate Alison , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Kamboh M. Ilyas , Kukull Walter A. , Manly Jennifer J. ,   Alzheimer Disease Genetics Consortium, Haines Jonathan L. , Mayeux Richard , Pericak‐Vance Margaret A. , Schellenberg Gerard D. , Lunetta Kathryn L. , Baldwin Clinton T. , Fallin M. Daniele , Farrer Lindsay A.
Published: August 2014

Background

Less is known about the genetic basis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in African Americans (AAs) than in non‐Hispanic whites.

Methods

Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on seven AA AD cases. Disease association with potentially AD‐related variants from WES was assessed in an AA discovery cohort of 422 cases and 394 controls. Replication was sought in an AA sample of 1037 cases and 1869 controls from the Alzheimer Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC).

Results

Forty‐four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from WES passed filtering criteria and were successfully genotyped. Nominally significant (P < .05) association to AD was observed with two African‐descent specific AKAP9 SNPs in tight linkage disequilibrium: rs144662445 (P = .014) and rs149979685 (P = .037). These associations were replicated in the ADGC sample (rs144662445: P = .0022, odds ratio [OR] = 2.75; rs149979685: P = .0022, OR = 3.61).

Conclusions

Because AKAP9 was not previously linked to AD risk, this study indicates a potential new disease mechanism.
Is it a typical crosstalk: Need for re‐implantation?
Authors: Kaya Zeynettin , Akbuga Kursat , Aribas Alpay , Can Ilknur
Published: August 2014

With constantly evolving technology and an ever‐increasing number of patients with pacemakers, clinicians will encounter various pacemaker malfunctions in their practice. While some of these issues can be solved even by using only the pacemaker's mode settings, others require re‐intervention; neglecting a pacemaker's malfunction without full investigation threatens the patient's life. In this report, we describe a patient with a dual‐chamber pacemaker with neglected or unresolved dyssynchronization that occurred 2 years after implantation.
Targeting BRCA1‐BER deficient breast cancer by ATM or DNA‐PKcs blockade either alone or in combination with cisplatin for personalized therapy
Authors: Albarakati Nada , Abdel-Fatah Tarek M.A. , Doherty Rachel , Russell Roslin , Agarwal Devika , Moseley Paul , Perry Christina , Arora Arvind , Alsubhi Nouf , Seedhouse Claire , Rakha Emad A. , Green Andrew , Ball Graham , Chan Stephen , Caldas Carlos , Ellis Ian O. , Madhusudan Srinivasan
Published: August 2014

BRCA1, a key factor in homologous recombination (HR) repair may also regulate base excision repair (BER). Targeting BRCA1‐BER deficient cells by blockade of ATM and DNA‐PKcs could be a promising strategy in breast cancer. We investigated BRCA1, XRCC1 and pol β protein expression in two cohorts (n = 1602 sporadic and n = 50 germ‐line BRCA1 mutated) and mRNA expression in two cohorts (n = 1952 and n = 249). Artificial neural network analysis for BRCA1‐DNA repair interacting genes was conducted in 249 tumours. Pre‐clinically, BRCA1 proficient and deficient cells were DNA repair expression profiled and evaluated for synthetic lethality using ATM and DNA‐PKcs inhibitors either alone or in combination with cisplatin. In human tumours, BRCA1 negativity was strongly associated with low XRCC1, and low pol β at mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.0001). In patients with BRCA1 negative tumours, low XRCC1 or low pol β expression was significantly associated with poor survival in univariate and multivariate analysis compared to high XRCC1 or high pol β expressing BRCA1 negative tumours (ps < 0.05). Pre‐clinically, BRCA1 negative cancer cells exhibit low mRNA and low protein expression of XRCC1 and pol β. BRCA1‐BER deficient cells were sensitive to ATM and DNA‐PKcs inhibitor treatment either alone or in combination with cisplatin and synthetic lethality was evidenced by DNA double strand breaks accumulation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We conclude that XRCC1 and pol β expression status in BRCA1 negative tumours may have prognostic significance. BRCA1‐BER deficient cells could be targeted by ATM or DNA‐PKcs inhibitors for personalized therapy.
MTA1 regulates higher‐order chromatin structure and histone H1‐chromatin interaction in‐vivo
Authors: Liu Jian , Wang Haijuan , Ma Fei , Xu Dongkui , Chang Yanan , Zhang Jinlong , Wang Jia , Zhao Mei , Lin Chen , Huang Changzhi , Qian Haili , Zhan Qimin
Published: August 2014

In the current study, for the first time, we found that metastasis‐associated gene 1 (MTA1) was a higher‐order chromatin structure organizer that decondenses the interphase chromatin and mitotic chromosomes. MTA1 interacts dynamically with nucleosomes during the cell cycle progression, prominently contributing to the mitotic chromatin/chromosome structure transitions at both prophase and telophase. We showed that the decondensation of interphase chromatin by MTA1 was independent of Mi‐2 chromatin remodeling activity. H1 was reported to stabilize the compact higher‐order chromatin structure through its interaction with DNA. Our data showed that MTA1 caused a reduced H1‐chromatin interaction in‐vivo. Moreover, the dynamic MTA1‐chromatin interaction in the cell cycle contributed to the periodical H1‐chromatin interaction, which in turn modulated chromatin/chromosome transitions. Although MTA1 drove a global decondensation of chromatin structure, it changed the expression of only a small proportion of genes. After MTA1 overexpression, the up‐regulated genes were distributed in clusters along with down‐regulated genes on chromosomes at parallel frequencies.
SOME ADVANCES ON THE ERLANG(n) DUAL RISK MODEL
Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez Eugenio V. , Cardoso Rui M. R. , Egídio dos Reis Alfredo D.
Published: August 2014

The dual risk model assumes that the surplus of a company decreases at a constant rate over time and grows by means of upward jumps, which occur at random times and sizes. It is said to have applications to companies with economical activities involved in research and development. This model is dual to the well-known Cramér-Lundberg risk model with applications to insurance. Most existing results on the study of the dual model assume that the random waiting times between consecutive gains follow an exponential distribution, as in the classical Cramér-Lundberg risk model. We generalize to other compound renewal risk models where such waiting times are Erlang(n) distributed. Using the roots of the fundamental and the generalized Lundberg's equations, we get expressions for the ruin probability and the Laplace transform of the time of ruin for an arbitrary single gain distribution. Furthermore, we compute expected discounted dividends, as well as higher moments, when the individual common gains follow a Phase-Type, PH(m), distribution. We also perform illustrations working some examples for some particular gain distributions and obtain numerical results.
Smokers’ Treatment Expectancies Predict Smoking Cessation Success
Authors: Fucito Lisa M. , Toll Benjamin A. , Roos Corey R. , King Andrea C.
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Smokers’ treatment expectancies may influence their choice of a particular medication as well as their medication experience.

Aims: This study examined the role of smokers’ treatment expectancies to their smoking cessation outcomes in a completed, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of naltrexone for smoking cessation, controlling for perceptions of treatment assignment.

Methods: Treatment-seeking cigarette smokers (N = 315) were randomized to receive either naltrexone (50 mg) or placebo in combination with nicotine patch and behavioural counselling. Expectancies for naltrexone as a smoking cessation aid were assessed at baseline and four weeks after the quit date.

Results: More positive baseline medication expectancies predicted higher quit rates at one month in the naltrexone group (OR = 1.45, p = 0.04) but were associated with lower quit rates in the placebo group (OR = 0.66, p = 0.03). Maintaining and/or increasing positive medication expectancies in the first month of treatment was associated with better pill adherence during this interval in the naltrexone group (ps < 0.05). Positive baseline medication expectancies were also associated with the perception of having received naltrexone over placebo among all participants.

Conclusions: Positive medication expectancies in smokers may contribute to better treatment response. Assessing treatment expectancies and attempting to maintain or improve them may be important for the delivery, evaluation, and targeting of smoking cessation treatments.
SUCCESSIVE ITERATIONS FOR POSITIVE EXTREMAL SOLUTIONS OF NONLINEAR FRACTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS ON A HALF-LINE
Authors: ZHANG LIHONG , AHMAD BASHIR , WANG GUOTAO
Published: August 2014

In this paper, positive solutions of fractional differential equations with nonlinear terms depending on lower-order derivatives on a half-line are investigated. The positive extremal solutions and iterative schemes for approximating them are obtained by applying a monotone iterative method. An example is presented to illustrate the main results.
REGULARITY OF BOUNDARY POINTS IN THE DIRICHLET PROBLEM FOR THE HEAT EQUATION
Authors: WATSON NEIL A.
Published: August 2014

We show that the null limit hypothesis, in the definition of a barrier, can be relaxed for normal boundary points that satisfy a mild additional condition. We also give a simple necessary and sufficient condition for the regularity of semi-singular boundary points.
The Politics of Financialization in the United States, 1949–2005
Authors: Witko Christopher
Published: August 2014

Financial activity has become increasingly important in affluent economies in recent decades. Because this ‘financialization’ distributes costs and benefits unevenly across groups, politics and policy likely affect the process. Therefore, this article discusses how changes in the power of organizations representing the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of financialization affect its pace. An analysis of the United States from 1949–2005, shows that when unions are stronger, and when the Democratic Party is in power and is more reliant on the support of working-class voters, financialization is slower. In contrast, when the financial industry is more highly mobilized into politics, financialization is faster. The study also finds that financial deregulation was one policy translating the political power of these actors into economic outcomes.
The Net Premium Method of Valuation
Authors: Carroll P. M.
Published: August 2014

1.1. The net premium method of valuation has been controversial ever since it was first advocated over a century and a quarter ago. Its merits and deficiencies have exercised the minds of actuaries whose names are legendary in actuarial science—men such as Finlaison, Jellicoe, Sprague, Manly, Bailey, Coutts, Elderton and Redington; it has been tested in practice against almost every kind of experience; and its demise has repeatedly been predicted. Nevertheless, although it has been modified somewhat over time, in principle it remains today firmly entrenched in life office practice. Consideration of it, even in modern times, has divided actuaries in old ways—the artist from the scientist, the theoretician from the practical man.
The Danish Life Assurance Market
Authors: Cammidge P. G. A.
Published: August 2014

1.1. Historically, as today, the Danish insurance community has been subjected to a far greater degree of official supervision than their U.K. colleagues are accustomed to. Insurance can only be written if the Forsikringsraad (Insurance Supervisory Board) recommends that the applicant office be granted a concession to do so. In particular, the Forsikringsraad will have to be satisfied that the office's premium rates are adequate. At a time when the U.K. is moving towards closer supervision, it is particularly interesting and instructive to examine a functioning supervisory system. (Section 6 of the present paper deals with this aspect of insurance in Denmark.)
The German Life Assurance Market
Authors: Hawken J. S. , Kilroy R. J. M.
Published: August 2014

1. The paper sets out a brief description of the life assurance market in the Federal Republic of Germany (including West Berlin). The aim has been to highlight those aspects of the market, in particular the supervision system, which differ significantly from British practice. After a section giving some historical background, the main section outlines the present market and the paper concludes with a brief look at the future.

2. The paper is based on the impressions which we obtained in establishing a new branch office of a British proprietary life assurance company in Germany. The views expressed are, however, entirely personal. Our thanks are due to J. A. Langley and R. J. McCurrach, who assembled the statistical material.
Long-Term Rates of Interest in the Valuation of a Pension Fund
Authors: Daykin C. D.
Published: August 2014

1. It seems to be a common misconception outside the actuarial profession that those within that illustrious body are mysteriously able to peer into their crystal balls and come up with prophetic answers about the future progress of pension funds, insurance companies and other allied matters. The appearance of an actuarial report with its air of finality and disclosure of a definite surplus, deficiency, bonus declaration or whatever it may be, only endorses the impression that the actuary is reporting on the unique and unquestionable answer to the problem in hand.
More Words and Numbers.
Authors: Redington F. M.
Published: August 2014

I am always happy to be back where my Institute life started and I am grateful to your Committee for fitting me in at short notice.

When you start to write, ideas take on a being of their own. Life is a shy child which hides its face when you stand aloof, but is soon at your elbow to help when you kneel to build with its bricks. Then other bricks begin to appear. As it turns out, my helper is concerned about imagination so ‘imagination’ shall be our subtitle.

First, a brief reference to my 1972 paper: the winning themes were—in reverse order, as for beauty queens—third prize to the imminent collapse of our society, second prize to the essential unity of the universe, but an easy winner was double faults at tennis.
Models in Motor Insurance.
Authors: Bennett M. C.
Published: August 2014

The introduction of high-speed electronic computers has opened the way for analyses of motor insurance risk statistics on a scale not previously possible. We may regard the purpose of the analyses which form the subject of this note as being to test the validity of the existing rating structure by finding out how the claims experience varies from one rating cell to another within that structure; and, more generally, to explore the possibility of devising a more efficient rating structure by defining new levels within the existing factors, or by using new factors in addition to, or in replacement of, those already used.

To achieve this purpose it is appropriate to consider on the one hand a detailed investigation of the experience over a limited period, analogous to that carried out when constructing a new standard life table and, on the other hand, a system for keeping the emerging experience under more or less continuous review. For this second aspect it is natural to think in terms of making comparisons between the actual experience and that expected according to the standard table.
Deposit Administration.
Authors: Iqbal M.
Published: August 2014

An employer contemplating the setting up of a pension scheme might wish to use the investment facilities of a life office for one of two reasons. He might wish to insure the investment risk; he might wish to use the life office's investment expertise in preference to his own or those of, say, an outside adviser. These are two distinct requirements and in analysing the usefulness of an insured pension scheme they have to be considered separately. This paper is concerned primarily with the former.

As, except in the case of the managed fund, no part of the life office's assets are allocated to any individual scheme, actuaries have devised various methods of allocating investment return to the scheme. This paper concentrates on the system known as Deposit Administration (DA).
Pension Aspects of Takeovers and Mergers.
Authors: Chapman R. J. , Jagelman R. J.
Published: August 2014

Over the past few years the Pension Managers of most large groups of companies, and some not so large, have had to grapple with the pension complications which have arisen when their holding company sells or acquires another company. For example, the pension costs of an acquisition may not have been adequately considered, possibly because the Pension Manager had not been one of the limited number of principals who were involved in the negotiations leading up to the acquisition. Even if the Pension Manager has been involved in an advisory capacity during the negotiations, formidable problems may subsequently arise in integrating the previous pension benefits of the new employees with the benefits of existing employees.

Detailed consideration of the financial condition of the pension scheme of the company which is taken over has been the exception rather than the rule and many companies have found that a seemingly straightforward undertaking to ‘safeguard’ employees' pension rights involves both higher than anticipated pension costs and problems of comparability between similar grades of employees at different locations within the group.
Erisa.
Authors: Fishman A. S.
Published: August 2014

In my opinion, the implications of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which was enacted in the U.S. on 2 September 1974, are of vital importance to U.K. pensions' actuaries.

Pension schemes which are established in the U.K. by U.K. branch operations of a U.S. parent are subject to the provisions of ERISA. Furthermore, there have recently been suggestions that U.K. subsidiary company operations of a U.S. parent might also be required to prepare ERISA-style reports.

Since U.S. enterprises account for some 13% of the U.K.'s total gross product in manufacturing in the private sector, almost every U.K. insurance company, firm of consulting actuaries or pension consultants will have come into contact with some aspect of, or question relating to, ERISA.
The Control Cycle: Financial Control of a Life Assurance Company.
Authors: Goford Jeremy
Published: August 2014

The intention of this paper is to describe, by way of example, how profit testing is carried on in practice and how by making it central to the company's operation the company may be controlled. The mechanism of control is to test the company's results against the results of profit tests built into a model of the company. We shall also describe how the results of these tests of the company's results are fed back into the profit tests to establish the basis for future tests of the company's results.

The motivation for this paper arose from the need to communicate to shareholders the links between profit testing and the company's actual results. It is all very well to say to shareholders that the products satisfy a certain profitability standard but how does that show itself and how real is that profitability paticularly for a new or expanding company which displays nothing but statutory losses or, at best, break even? This communication also led to the need to explain variations from the original projections and finally to answer the question: what happens to profitability if these variances continue?
Topical Pension Problems (A Personal Overview).
Authors: Kaye Geraldine
Published: August 2014

Much discussion is taking place currently in the United Kingdom on the subject of pensions. Conferences and symposia have been conducted at various times on many aspects of pensions by such diverse bodies as the Policy Studies Institute (1), the Institute of Fiscal Studies (2), the Trades Union Congress (3), the Pensions Management Institute, the Confederation of British Industry, the National Association of Pension Funds and even our own Institute (4) (in the case of our Institute, on the whole field).

The Government announced an all-embracing enquiry on 16 December 1983. This has been divided into separate parts. Evidence for the first part concerned with ‘portable pensions’ was required by 31 January 1984. Despite the very tight deadline, written evidence was obtained from over 1,500 different sources. This serves to show just how much interest was currently being aroused. The final results of the full Government enquiry are not yet available (September 1984). The unprecedented speed with which the Government has proceeded demonstrates the importance that it attaches to the issues raised, and suggests that any prompted legislation will be given a degree of priority.