bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of EMD in combination with bone swaging and calcium phosphate bone cement on periodontal regeneration in one‐wall intrabony defects in dogs
Authors: Shirakata Y , Yoshimoto T , Takeuchi N , Taniyama K , Noguchi K
Published: July 2012

Background and Objective:  Although the application of EMD is a widely accepted periodontal‐regenerative therapy, its effects on noncontained intrabony defects are unpredictable because of the lack of a space‐making property. The combined use of EMD and autogenous bone grafts reportedly stimulates significant periodontal regeneration in intrabony defects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of EMD in combination with bone swaging (BS) and injectable calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC), which was placed into the spaces between the grafted swaged bone and the proximal host bone, on periodontal healing in one‐wall intrabony defects in dogs.

Material and Methods:  One‐wall intrabony defects (3 mm wide and 5 mm deep) were surgically created on the mesial and distal sides of the bilateral mandibular premolars in four dogs. The 16 defects were assigned to one of the following treatments: EMD only, BS only, EMD with BS (EMD + BS), or EMD with BS and CPC (EMD + BS + CPC). The animals were killed 8 wk after surgery for histologic evaluation.

Results:  The height of newly formed bone was significantly greater in the EMD + BS + CPC group (3.73 ± 0.30 mm) than in the BS‐only (2.74 ± 0.33 mm; p < 0.05) and EMD + BS (2.88 ± 0.98 mm; p < 0.05) groups. The area of newly formed bone was significantly larger in the EMD + BS + CPC group (5.68 ± 1.66 mm2) than in the EMD‐only (3.68 ± 0.33 mm2; p < 0.05), BS‐only (3.48 ± 1.26 mm2; p < 0.05) and EMD + BS (3.38 ± 1.37 mm2; p < 0.05) groups. The EMD‐only (4.63 ± 0.42 mm), EMD + BS (4.67 ± 0.30 mm) and EMD + BS + CPC (4.78 ± 0.54 mm) groups showed significantly greater cementum formation than did the BS‐only group (3.93 ± 0.56 mm; p < 0.05).

Conclusion:  These results indicate that treatment with EMD + BS + CPC promotes favorable periodontal healing in one‐wall intrabony defects in dogs.
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI‐5482 glycoside hydrolase family 66 homolog catalyzes dextranolytic and cyclization reactions
Authors: Kim Young‐Min , Yamamoto Eiji , Kang Min‐Sun , Nakai Hiroyuki , Saburi Wataru , Okuyama Masayuki , Mori Haruhide , Funane Kazumi , Momma Mitsuru , Fujimoto Zui , Kobayashi Mikihiko , Kim Doman , Kimura Atsuo
Published: July 2012

Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI‐5482 harbors a gene encoding a putative cycloisomaltooligosaccharide glucanotransferase (BT3087) belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 66. The goal of the present study was to characterize the catalytic properties of this enzyme. Therefore, we expressed BT3087 (recombinant endo‐dextranase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI‐5482) in Escherichia coli and determined that recombinant endo‐dextranase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI‐5482 preferentially synthesized isomaltotetraose and isomaltooligosaccharides (degree of polymerization > 4) from dextran. The enzyme also generated large cyclic isomaltooligosaccharides early in the reaction. We conclude that members of the glycoside hydrolase 66 family may be classified into three types: (a) endo‐dextranases, (b) dextranases possessing weak cycloisomaltooligosaccharide glucanotransferase activity, and (c) cycloisomaltooligosaccharide glucanotransferases.
E‐MAILS, STATUTES, AND PERSONALITY DISORDERS: A CONTEXTUAL EXAMINATION OF THE PROCESSES, INTERVENTIONS, AND PERSPECTIVES OF PARENTING COORDINATORS
Authors: Hayes Sherrill , Grady Melissa , Brantley Helen T.
Published: July 2012

The current study uses a survey instrument to examine parenting coordination through the lens of Bronfenbrenner's Person, Process, Context, Time (PPCT) model. The survey focused on contextual factors such as statutes, local rules, interpersonal characteristics, dynamics of the clients, and background characteristics of parenting coordinators. Responses from a sample of PCs were obtained using list serves and a snowball sampling procedure. Results included the extent to which the parenting coordination process occurs through email and other technology rather than in‐person sessions. Mental health disorders and inability to pay were primary barriers to the PC process.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:

There are many potential factors, both inside and outside a PC case, that influence the decisions that practitioners make when working with clients and, ultimately, on the results of the process.

The most salient contextual factors that influence the PC process were formal rules (statutes and/or local rules), interpersonal characteristics of the participants (personality disorders, socio‐economic factors), and background characteristics of the PC (education, experience).
Effect of Boron Nitride (BN) on Luminescent Properties of Y3Al5O12:Ce Phosphors and their White Light‐Emitting Diode Characteristics
Authors: Wang Xiaojun , Zhang Hailong , Zhao Yi , Liu Xinjuan , Li Huili , Zhang Zhejuan , Sun Zhuo
Published: July 2012

This article reports a low‐cost yellow‐emitting Y3Al5‐xBxO12‐xNx:Ce3+ phosphor with an enhanced luminescent intensity and excellent thermal stability for white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). It was synthesized by a simple gas‐pressure sintering (GPS) process. The effect of B3+–N3− incorporation on the optical properties of Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ phosphor was investigated. The addition of appropriate amounts of boron nitride (BN) leads to a marked increase in photoluminescent intensity and a slight shift of its emission spectra toward the blue region, which is assigned to the improved crystallinity and increased particle size. Especially, the prepared oxynitride phosphor does not exhibit any thermal quenching under high temperature, and the emission intensity at 250°C even increases up to 175% of that measured at 20°C. Finally, the white LED flat lamp with luminous efficiency as high as 101 lm/W, color rendering index of 72, and correlated color temperature of about 6600 K is successfully realized by using YAG:Ce3+ phosphor doped with 0.5 molar ratio BN, which is acceptable and promising for general indoor illuminations to replace fluorescent or incandescent lamps.
The Thermal Stability and Photoluminescence Degradation of Mn2+ in Fluorescent Lamp used BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+ Phosphor
Authors: Zhang Jiachi , Zhou Meijiao , Liu Bitao , Wang Yuhua
Published: July 2012

The thermal stability and photoluminescence degradation of Mn2+ in fluorescent lamps used BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+ phosphor are investigated. The detection of impurity containing manganese with high valence demonstrates the oxidation of Mn2+ during baking process at 700°C and it partly leads to emission degradation of Mn2+. The emission of Mn2+ mainly originates from the energy transfer of Eu2+→Mn2+. The oxidation of Eu2+ decrease the amount of Eu2+ centers and thus finally causes the degradation of Mn2+. Some traps are revealed to be induced during baking process and it further weakens energy transfer efficiency of Eu2+→Mn2+ and decreases the emission of Mn2+.
Advanced nursing practice hours as part of endorsement requirements for nurse practitioners in Australia: A definitional conundrum
Authors: Scanlon Andrew , Cashin Andrew , Watson Ngaire , Bryce Julianne
Published: July 2012

Purpose: To define what can be considered to be nursing practice, time that can be calculated as the practice of nursing as well as what is considered to be advanced nursing practice and how all this can be related to the current endorsement process for nurse practitioner (NP) in Australia.

Data sources: Current codes and guidelines cited by the Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia related to nursing practice and NPs, cited competency standards from the Australian Midwifery Accreditation Council, as well as published material of peak nursing bodies from within Australia as well as internationally were used. Information was also obtained through government health and professional organization websites. All information in the literature regarding current and past status and nomenclature of advanced practice nursing was considered relevant.

Conclusions: The definitional entanglement of what is considered to be nursing practice, the calculation of specific hours and what is advanced nursing practice interferes with endorsement of NPs in Australia, and a clear understanding of what is meant by advanced practice is required to move forward.

Implications for practice: Dependent on how practice is interpreted by the Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia directly affects the outcome of the endorsement proceedings for individual NP candidates.
Managing multidimensional knowledge assets: HR configurations in professional service firms
Authors: Swart Juani , Kinnie Nicholas
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this article is to illustrate empirically how HR practices are configured to manage multidimensional knowledge assets. It contributes directly to the configurational approaches to HRM by identifying HRM systems that are used to manage various types of knowledge assets. First, we develop a framework from theory to categorise knowledge assets into human (industry and firm specific), social (entrepreneurial and co‐operative) and organisational capital (mechanistic and organic). Within this framework, we draw on data gathered in the 12 professional services firms to understand how HR practices enable the management of each knowledge asset. We identify two configurations of HR practices (organisationally and professionally focused). These configurations do not exist in isolation but are used simultaneously by organisations via either a targeted (different practices in different parts of the organisation) or a temporally segregated way (different practices for the same group of employees over time).
Barbarians at the gate: a critical appraisal of the influence of economics on the field and practice of HRM
Authors: Spencer David A.
Published: July 2012

This article considers the influence of economics on the field and practice of HRM. Modern innovations, such as transaction cost economics and personnel economics, have enabled mainstream economists to encamp on the terrain of HRM and neighbouring fields. The article will contend that these perspectives incorporate certain ‘myths’ about key HRM issues and will argue against their transplantation into the study of HRM. The claim made by some critics that the language and assumptions of economics contribute to ‘bad HRM’ practices in the real world will also be critically assessed. It will be argued that modern economic theories of HRM reflect reality rather more than they create it, and that their support for a narrow and regressive form of HRM is, to some extent, in keeping with the actual reality of many organisations in which unequal power and conflict remain ever‐present (if sometimes under the surface).
Homeworking: negotiating the psychological contract
Authors: Collins Alison M. , Cartwright Susan , Hislop Donald
Published: July 2012

This article explores the psychological contract of female clerical homeworkers who work from home full‐time and are employed at a local authority. Qualitative interviews were carried out with homeworkers and their supervisors. Temporal flexibility was desired by all the homeworkers in order to achieve a better work–life balance, and was deemed important by women without children as well as those with childcare responsibilities. Our findings highlight that homeworkers were able to negotiate their own idiosyncratic deals with line managers in order to attain their desired levels of temporal flexibility. However, the issue of flexibility remains ambiguous with some supervisory staff being more comfortable with the concept than others, leading to some homeworkers enjoying different levels of temporal flexibility than their co‐workers. Our findings suggest that employees perceive flexibility idiosyncratic deals of co‐workers as fair as long as they achieve their own personal levels of temporal flexibility. The potential implications for organisations are discussed.
Postischemic Brain Infiltration of Leukocyte Subpopulations Differs among Murine Permanent and Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia Models
Authors: Zhou Wei , Liesz Arthur , Bauer Henrike , Sommer Clemens , Lahrmann Bernd , Valous Nektarios , Grabe Niels , Veltkamp Roland
Published: July 2012

Cellular and humoral inflammations play important roles in ischemic brain injury. The effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapies may critically depend on the chosen experimental model. Our purpose was to compare the post‐ischemic neuroinflammation among murine permanent and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models. Permanent MCAO was induced by transtemporal electrocoagulation and 30 minutes or 90 minutes transient MCAO was induced by intraluminal filament in C57BL/6 mice. Infiltration of leukocyte subpopulations was quantified by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. Cerebral cytokine and adhesion molecule expression was measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Neutrophil infiltration was noted at 24 h after transient MCAO, but did not further increase until 5 days in the permanent MCAO model. Few T cells were observed in both MCAO models at 24 h, but permanent MCAO demonstrated much more infiltrating T cells at 5 days. Pronounced microglial activation was evident at 24 h and 5 days after permanent but not after transient MCAO. The number of invading NK cells and expression of MHCII on CD11b+ cells did not differ among the three groups. Five days after MCAO, the expression of IL‐1, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ and of the adhesion molecules ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 was significantly higher in the permanent than in the transient MCAO groups. Cellular and humoral inflammation differs substantially among commonly used MCAO models. Neuroinflammation is more pronounced after permanent electrocoagulatory MCAO compared with 30 minutes and 90 minutes filament‐MCAO.
Predicting the risk of psychosis onset: advances and prospects
Authors: Strobl Eric V. , Eack Shaun M. , Swaminathan Vaidy , Visweswaran Shyam
Published: July 2012

Aim

To conduct a systematic review of the methods and performance characteristics of models developed for predicting the onset of psychosis.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search restricted to English articles and identified using PubMed, Medline and PsychINFO, as well as the reference lists of published studies and reviews. Inclusion criteria included the selection of more than one variable to predict psychosis or schizophrenia onset, and selection of individuals at familial risk or clinical high risk. Eighteen studies met these criteria, and we compared these studies based on the subjects selected, predictor variables used and the choice of statistical or machine learning methods.

Results

Quality of life and life functioning as well as structural brain imaging emerged as the most promising predictors of psychosis onset, particularly when they were coupled with appropriate dimensionality reduction methods and predictive model algorithms like the support vector machine (SVM). Balanced accuracy ranged from 100% to 78% in four studies using the SVM, and 67% to 81% in 14 studies using general linear models.

Conclusions

Performance of the predictive models improves with quality of life measures, life functioning measures, structural brain imaging data, as well as with the use of methods like SVM. Despite these advances, the overall performance of psychosis predictive models is still modest. In the future, performance can potentially be improved by including genetic variant and new functional imaging data in addition to the predictors that are used currently.
Managing hepatitis B virus carriers with systemic chemotherapy or biologic therapy in the outpatient clinic
Authors: Nishida Tsutomu , Hiramatsu Naoki , Mizuki Masao , Nagatomo Izumi , Kida Hiroshi , Tazumi Keiko , Shinzaki Shinichiro , Miyazaki Masanori , Yakushijin Takayuki , Tatsumi Tomohide , Iijima Hideki , Kiso Shinichi , Kanto Tatsuya , Tsujii Masahiko , Takehara Tetsuo
Published: July 2012

Aim:  The number of outpatients receiving systemic chemotherapy in Japan has recently increased. We retrospectively examined whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers were safely treated and managed with systemic chemotherapy or biologic agents as outpatients at our oncology center.

Methods:  A total of 40 115 consecutive infusion chemotherapy or biologic therapies were administrated to 2754 outpatients in the Chemotherapy and Oncology Center at Osaka University Hospital from December 2003 to March 2011. We first studied the prevalence of outpatients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and then retrospectively evaluated a database to determine the frequencies of testing for other HBV‐related markers and the incidence of developing hepatitis or HBV reactivation in patients positive for HBsAg. As a control for comparison, we also examined these same factors in patients with hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV).

Results:  The majority of physicians at our hospital screened for HBsAg (95%) and anti‐HCV (94%) prior to administrating chemotherapy. Of the 2754 outpatients, 46 (1.7%) were positive for HBsAg and 90 (3.3%) were positive for anti‐HCV. Fifteen patients that were HBsAg positive were treated with lamivudine or entecavir prior to chemotherapy. None of the patients with HBsAg taking a prophylactic antiviral developed hepatitis, and only one breast cancer patient without prophylactic antiviral treatment (1/31 [3.2%]) developed hepatitis due to HBV reactivation.

Conclusion:  HBV reactivation occurred in outpatients without prophylactic antiviral treatment, but the incidence was relatively low.
Preparation of sustained release rifampicin microparticles for inhalation
Authors: Son Yoen-Ju , McConville Jason T
Published: July 2012

Objectives

The aim of this research was to develop a novel carrier-free dry powder formulation of rifampicin for inhalation with controlled-release properties.

Methods

Rifampicin dihydrate (RFDH) microcrystals were prepared by a polymorphic transformation of rifampicin. The prepared RFDH microcrystals were coated with poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) or poly (dl-lactide), using a spray-dryer equipped with two different types of three-fluid (3F) spray nozzles. The physicochemical and aerodynamic properties of the coated RFDH microcrystals were compared with those of conventional matrix microparticles.

Key findings

The coated RFDH powder, encapsulating 50% of rifampicin, was successfully prepared by simple in-situ coating methods using two different types of 3F nozzles and had mass median aerodynamic diameter values of 3.5–4.5 µm. The thin flaky morphology of RFDH powders, providing good aerosolization properties, was maintained after coating. The coated RFDH formulations showed relatively low initial rifampicin release, compared with the uncoated RFDH crystals, followed by slow rifampicin release (about 70%) over 8 h in phosphate-buffered saline media (pH 7.4). Significant chemical degradations were not observed from the crystalline-structured RFDH formulations, while the amorphous-structured matrix formulations showed chemical degradation in six months.

Conclusions

These polymer coated RFDH formulations may be a valuable alternative in the treatment of tuberculosis since the carrier-free formulation offers the benefit of delivering a maximum-potency formulation of the antibiotic directly to the site of infection, and long drug residence times may be achieved by the controlled release of the drug.
Relaxant effects of the essential oil of Mentha pulegium L. in rat isolated trachea and urinary bladder
Authors: Soares Pedro Marcos Gomes , de Freitas Pires Alana , de Souza Emmanuel Prata , Assreuy Ana Maria Sampaio , Criddle David Neil
Published: July 2012

Objectives

We evaluated the relaxant activity of the essential oil of Mentha pulegium L. (EOMP) and pulegone in rat isolated tracheal and bladder smooth muscles.

Methods

Isometric contractions of isolated tracheal and bladder strips from male Wistar rats were induced by KCl (K60; 60 mm) or acetylcholine (ACh; 10 µm). EOMP and its majory compound pulegone were incubated, after contracting agent, with the tissues in cumulating concentrations.

Key findings

EOMP (3–300 µg/ml) inhibited the contractions induced by ACh and K60 in both tissues, but was more effective against the contractions induced by K60 in trachea (IC50 = 40.47 ± 3.27 µg/ml) compared with ACh. Its relaxant action rules out ganglia and NO participation. Pulegone (10−7 to 10−3  m) inhibited the contractions induced by ACh and K60 in both tissues. EOMP concentration-dependently inhibited the contractions evoked by addition of CaCl2 in depolarised trachea, suggesting inhibition of extracellular calcium entry.

Conclusions

These findings suggests that EOMP induced relaxant responses in pre-contracted smooth muscles of rat trachea and bladder, which are likely to be mediated via inhibition of calcium entry, mainly by its major compound, pulegone. These effects are coherent with the popular use of EOMP as an antispasmodic agent.
Castelnuovo bounds for higher-dimensional varieties
Authors: Zak F. L.
Published: July 2012

We give bounds for the Betti numbers of projective algebraic varieties in terms of their classes (degrees of dual varieties of successive hyperplane sections). We also give bounds for classes in terms of ramification volumes (mixed ramification degrees), sectional genus and, eventually, in terms of dimension, codimension and degree. For varieties whose degree is large with respect to codimension, we give sharp bounds for the above invariants and classify the varieties on the boundary, thus obtaining a generalization of Castelnuovo’s theory for curves to varieties of higher dimension.
Cold Sprayed Liners for Gun Tubes
Authors: Trexler Matthew D. , Carter Robert , Champagne Victor K.
Published: July 2012

The use of refractory materials is currently being developed for gun barrel coatings and liners. Explosive cladding, as well as a novel gun liner emplacement with elastomeric material (GLEEM) technique has been shown to be a successful method for bonding liners into 25-mm M242 Bushmaster barrels. The process relies on commercially available tube products that serve as the liner materials that are often difficult to manufacture. Cold spray is a novel process used to consolidate metal powders into both thin coatings and large bulk materials that is being investigated as a cost effective alternative to conventional processing techniques. This work examines the use of cold spray as it pertains to the consolidation of Ta donor tubes for explosively bonded gun liners. Ta tubes were consolidated and annealed to increase the ductility of the material from 0.2% to 35% strain as determined by tensile testing. Ta donor tube was successfully explosively clad to 25 mm gun barrel forging. Bond strength testing results of explosively clad cold spray tube were found to be comparable to commercially obtained liners. GLEEM was also successfully employed. However, the mechanical bond strength of this cladding was considerably lower than that of the explosively clad liner. The failure mechanism during GLEEM is slip between the liner and the forging and is due to the fact that the process relies on frictional bonding rather than metallurgical bonding.
Material Modeling for Autofrettage Stress Analysis Including the “Single Effective Material”
Authors: Parker Anthony P. , Gibson Michael C. , Hameed Amer , Troiano Edward
Published: July 2012

Analytical and numerical stress analyses of the autofrettage process have made great strides in the last few years. The major challenge is no longer the stress analysis process but the incorporation of “real” material behavior, including Bauschinger effect. This means that material properties may vary at every radial location within the tube. In this paper, it is demonstrated that finite element analysis (FEA) may be accomplished using a “user programmable feature (UPF)” within a nonlinear FEA or, more simply using an elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio adjustment procedure (EMPRAP) within a linear-effective FEA. The results of these two methods are shown to be in agreement with each other and with an independent numerical analysis. It is further demonstrated that the numerical solutions may be obtained using a single “fictitious” material. This is called a single effective material (SEMAT). While this requires a very small number of iterations for accurate convergence, it dramatically reduces the material-modeling challenges. Furthermore, SEMAT may be implemented into an analytical procedure thereby permitting highly accurate modeling of a real material whose unloading behavior varies with radius. Comparisons indicate that this is a robust, accurate procedure.
MANAGING UNCERTAINTY IN WEB-BASED SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: QIAO SHAOJIE , LI TIANRUI , YANG YAN , YANG CHRISTOPHER C.
Published: July 2012

Identifying key members from web-based social networks assists in assessing the risk of criminal network formation. To manage the uncertainty in complex web-based social networks, we first formally defined the binary relation and uncertainty of pages in web-based social networks. Secondly, we proposed an effective algorithm for Mining Key member from uncertain web-based social networks, called MiKey, by integrating uncertainty of pages into three centrality measures including degree, betweenness, and closeness. MiKey takes into a full consideration of the uncertainty in web-based social networks by computing the transition probability from one page to another. Furthermore, we briefly introduced the approach of calculating the k-order transition matrix of pages. Finally, we conducted experiments on real web data and the results show that MiKey is effective in discovering key pages from web-based social networks with less time deficiency than the centrality measures based algorithm.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HETEROGENEOUS DECISION ANALYSIS APPROACHES APPLIED TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY EVALUATION
Authors: ESPINILLA MACARENA , PALOMARES IVÁN , MARTÍNEZ LUIS , RUAN DA
Published: July 2012

The evaluation of sustainable energy policies supports the selection of the best policy to put it in practice. In this evaluation, stakeholders may express their preferences in different domains, considering their diverse background and the imprecision and uncertainty of the related information, as well as the nature of assessed criteria. Therefore, these evaluation problems require the selection of an adequate approach to manage such a heterogeneous framework. In this paper, we review three approaches with different strategies to deal with heterogeneous information and apply them to the evaluation of sustainable energy policies, with the view of analyzing their influence in a complex evaluation process, mainly in terms of interpretability and understandability.
TIMELY RESOURCE ALLOCATION BETWEEN R&D AND MARKETING: A SYSTEM DYNAMICS VIEW
Authors: SOYDAN AHMET ILKER , ATILLA ONER M.
Published: July 2012

Trade-off between marketing and research and development (R&D) has always been a dilemma in management science for many years. Allocating the budget to departments and estimating the future profits and customer base as a result of this action has remained a "challenging task." Developing products faster, better, and cheaper than competitors has become critical to success in many markets. This may require huge initial investments in underlying processes resulting in over-investment in marketing and/or R&D in spite of insufficient purchasing power and market saturation for new products.

Using a system dynamics (SD) model, this paper aims to understand the dynamics of a complex market where demand fluctuates annually. The problem contains severe difficulties in terms of planning and strategy for marketing and R&D. The budgets to be shared by R&D and marketing vary every period. The market includes feedback and dynamic issues to consider. This brings in the problem of understanding and controlling complexity in the market structure by understanding the cyclical causal relationships.

The paper indicates that SD modeling is very useful in investigating and finding sustainable allocation trends in marketing and R&D, so that a firm can keep a sustainable level of customers. While searching for these trends, special attention is paid to the timing of these decisions to synchronize two activities. The paper shows an understanding of the management of a complex problem via policy design and analysis using SD modeling.
LIGHT INDUCED CHANGE IN CONDUCTIVITY OF GRAPHENE OXIDE FILMS PATTERNED BY METAL MASKS
Authors: VALENTINI LUCA , CARDINALI MARTA , KENNY JOSE'
Published: July 2012

Micron-scale ordered gold patterns were deposited through a metallic copper grid positioned onto graphene oxide (GO) film. The exposure to a xenon light source results in the formation of conductive GO/metal interface with photocurrent generation. It is suggested that such simple method might serve as an efficient path for the formation of multifunctional patterned metal-carbon interconnects.
Self-Paced Walking within a Diverse Topographical Environment Elicits an Appropriate Training Stimulus for Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients
Authors: Faulkner James , Gerhard Johannes , Stoner Lee , Lambrick Danielle
Published: July 2012

Purpose. To assess the effect of a self-paced walking intervention within a topographically varied outdoor environment on physiological and perceptual markers in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients.Methods. Sixteen phase II CR patients completed twelve self-paced one-mile walking sessions over a four-week period within a community-based CR programme. Walking velocity, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were reported at eight stages throughout the self-paced walks.Results. The study showed a significant increase in walking velocity from week 1 (~4.5 km/h) to week 4 (~5.1 km/h) of the self-paced walking programme (P<.05). A significantly higher HR was also observed in week 4 (111±13 b·min−1;~69% of maximal HR) compared to week 1 (106±14 b·min−1;~65% of maximal HR,P<.001). There were no changes in the average RPE across the course of the 4-week self-paced walking programme (P>.05).Conclusion. A self-paced walking programme may elicit an appropriate training stimulus for CR patients when exercising within a diverse topographical environment. Participants completed a one-mile walk within a shorter period of time and at a higher physiological intensity than that elicited at the onset of the programme, despite no observed changes in participants' subjective perception of exertion.
Congenital Absence of Left Circumflex Artery Detected by Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography: A Case Report
Authors: Hongsakul Keerati , Suwannanon Ruedeekorn
Published: July 2012

The congenital absence of the left circumflex artery (LCx) is a very rare congenital anomaly of coronary arteries, but it is benign. Currently, the best modality for the diagnosis of coronary anomalies is computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). We report a case of congenitally absent LCx with an atypical chest pain.
On the Second Order of Accuracy Stable Implicit Difference Scheme for Elliptic‐Parabolic Equations
Authors: Ashyralyev Allaberen , Gercek Okan
Published: July 2012

We are interested in studying a second order of accuracy implicit difference scheme for the solution of the elliptic‐parabolic equation with the nonlocal boundary condition. Well‐posedness of this difference scheme is established. In an application, coercivity estimates in Hölder norms for approximate solutions of multipoint nonlocal boundary value problems for elliptic‐parabolic differential equations are obtained.
Oral Rehabilitation in a Patient with Major Maxillofacial Trauma: A Case Management
Authors: Tuna Elif Bahar , Ozgen Mehmet , Cankaya Abdulkadir Burak , Sen Cenk , Gencay Koray
Published: July 2012

Traumatic injuries may cause anatomic deficiencies in soft and hard tissues. These defects often result in the loss of attached mucosa and alveolar processes, which might reduce potential prosthesis support and require bone and skin grafting. As a result of major maxillofacial trauma, complete or partial avulsion of the palate may require extensive surgical and prosthodontic rehabilitation. The appropriate treatment for the maxillary defect demands a multidisciplinary approach by a team which consists of various fields of dentistry and medicine. The planning prostheses should replace not only missing teeth but also lost soft tissues and bone, and they should include the hard palate, residual alveolar ridges, and, in some instances, the soft palate. This paper describes the treatment procedures including plastic surgery operation procedures and prosthetic rehabilitation in a 19-year-old woman after her severe bicycle accident.
Fold-to-Fault Progression of a Major Thrust Zone Revealed in Horses of the North Mountain Fault Zone, Virginia and West Virginia, USA
Authors: Orndorff Randall C.
Published: July 2012

The method of emplacement and sequential deformation of major thrust zones may be deciphered by detailed geologic mapping of these important structures. Thrust fault zones may have added complexity when horse blocks are contained within them. However, these horses can be an important indicator of the fault development holding information on fault-propagation folding or fold-to-fault progression. The North Mountain fault zone of the Central Appalachians, USA, was studied in order to better understand the relationships of horse blocks to hanging wall and footwall structures. The North Mountain fault zone in northwestern Virginia and eastern panhandle of West Virginia is the Late Mississippian to Permian Alleghanian structure that developed after regional-scale folding. Evidence for this deformation sequence is a consistent progression of right-side up to overturned strata in horses within the fault zone. Rocks on the southeast side (hinterland) of the zone are almost exclusively right-side up, whereas rocks on the northwest side (foreland) of the zone are almost exclusively overturned. This suggests that the fault zone developed along the overturned southeast limb of a syncline to the northwest and the adjacent upright limb of a faulted anticline to the southeast.
Enriched and Deprived Sensory Experience Induces Structural Changes and Rewires Connectivity during the Postnatal Development of the Brain
Authors: Bengoetxea Harkaitz , Ortuzar Naiara , Bulnes Susana , Rico-Barrio Irantzu , Lafuente José Vicente , Argandoña Enrike G.
Published: July 2012

During postnatal development, sensory experience modulates cortical development, inducing numerous changes in all of the components of the cortex. Most of the cortical changes thus induced occur during the critical period, when the functional and structural properties of cortical neurons are particularly susceptible to alterations. Although the time course for experience-mediated sensory development is specific for each system, postnatal development acts as a whole, and if one cortical area is deprived of its normal sensory inputs during early stages, it will be reorganized by the nondeprived senses in a process of cross-modal plasticity that not only increases performance in the remaining senses when one is deprived, but also rewires the brain allowing the deprived cortex to process inputs from other senses and cortices, maintaining the modular configuration. This paper summarizes our current understanding of sensory systems development, focused specially in the visual system. It delineates sensory enhancement and sensory deprivation effects at both physiological and anatomical levels and describes the use of enriched environment as a tool to rewire loss of brain areas to enhance other active senses. Finally, strategies to apply restorative features in human-deprived senses are studied, discussing the beneficial and detrimental effects of cross-modal plasticity in prostheses and sensory substitution devices implantation.
Inhibitory Effects of Arginine on the Aggregation of Bovine Insulin
Authors: Varughese Michael M. , Newman Jay
Published: July 2012

Static and dynamic light scattering were used to investigate the effects of L-arginine, commonly used to inhibit protein aggregation, on the initial aggregation kinetics of solutions of bovine insulin in 20% acetic acid and 0.1 M NaCl as a model system for amyloidosis. Measurements were made as a function of insulin concentration (0.5–2.0 mM), quench temperature (60–85°C), and arginine concentration (10–500 mM). Aggregation kinetics under all conditions had a lag phase, whose duration decreased with increasing temperature and with increasing insulin concentration but which increased by up to a factor of 8 with increasing added arginine. Further, the initial growth rate after the lag phase also slowed by up to a factor of about 20 in the presence of increasing concentrations of arginine. From the temperature dependence of the lag phase duration, we find that the nucleation activation energy doubles from to  kcal/mol in the presence of 500 mM arginine.
Radiation-Induced Peripheral Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumor Arising from Vestibular Schwannoma after Linac-Based Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: A Case Report and Review of Literatures
Authors: Puataweepong Putipun , Janwityanujit Taweesak , Larbcharoensub Noppadol , Dhanachai Mantana
Published: July 2012

In recent years the use of stereotactic radiation for vestibular schwannomas has increased worldwide. However, malignant transformation associated with radiation, although uncommon, has been reported in recent publications. We present a case of the 34 year-old female who had left vestibular schwannoma and who underwent surgery and postoperative stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), hypofraction in 2005. At 6 years after SRT, the patient came with left facial palsy and severe headache. CT brain revealed progression in size with cystic and hemorrhagic changes of the preexisting tumor at left CPA with new obstructive hydrocephalus. Partial tumor removal was done, and the pathological report was malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Regarding the uncertainty of carcinogenesis risk, we should still practice radiation therapy with caution, especially in the young patient with tumor predisposition syndrome. Because of low incidence of MPNST after radiation, it should not be a major decision about giving radiotherapy. However, with the poor prognosis of MPNST, this possibility should be explained to the patient before radiation treatment option.
In Vitro Activities of Kissorphin, a Novel Hexapeptide KiSS-1 Derivative, in Neuronal Cells
Authors: Milton Nathaniel G. N.
Published: July 2012

The primary products of the metastasis-suppressor KiSS-1 gene are the kisspeptin (KP) peptides that stimulate gonadotrophin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) release via GPR-54 receptor activation. Recent studies have suggested that the KP-10 peptide also activates neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptors. The aim of the current study was to determine the activities of the KiSS-1 derivative kissorphin (KSO), which contains the first six amino acids of the KP-10 peptide, is C-terminally amidated, and shares amino acid similarities with the biologically active NPFF 3–8 sequence. The KSO peptide inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production in ND7/23 neuroblastoma cells via an action that could be inhibited by the NPFF receptor antagonist RF9. Release of GnRH by LA-N-1 neuroblastoma cells was not altered by the KSO peptide. In ND7/23 neuroblastoma cells, the KSO peptide was able to reduce forskolin neuroprotection against H2O2 toxicity. The KSO peptide was also able to prevent prostaglandin E2-induced apoptosis in rat cortical neurons. The NPFF receptor antagonist RF9 could inhibit these actions of the KSO peptide in oxidative stress and apoptosis models. In conclusion, the kissorphin peptide, comprising the amino acid sequence Tyr-Asn-Trp-Asn-Ser-Phe-NH2, has NPFF-like biological activity without showing any GnRH releasing activity and inhibits forskolin-activated cAMP release.
Pouched Rats’ Detection of Tuberculosis in Human Sputum: Comparison to Culturing and Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Mahoney Amanda , Weetjens Bart J. , Cox Christophe , Beyene Negussie , Reither Klaus , Makingi George , Jubitana Maureen , Kazwala Rudovick , Mfinanga Godfrey S. , Kahwa Amos , Durgin Amy , Poling Alan
Published: July 2012

Setting. Tanzania.Objective. To compare microscopy as conducted in direct observation of treatment, short course centers to pouched rats as detectors ofMycobacterium tuberculosis.Design. Ten pouched rats were trained to detect tuberculosis in sputum using operant conditioning techniques. The rats evaluated 910 samples previously evaluated by smear microscopy. All samples were also evaluated through culturing and multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed on culture growths to classify the bacteria.Results. The patientwise sensitivity of microscopy was 58.0%, and the patient-wise specificity was 97.3%. Used as a group of 10 with a cutoff (defined as the number of rat indications to classify a sample as positive forMycobacterium tuberculosis) of 1, the rats increased new case detection by 46.8% relative to microscopy alone. The average samplewise sensitivity of the individual rats was 68.4% (range 61.1–73.8%), and the mean specificity was 87.3% (range 84.7–90.3%).Conclusion. These results suggest that pouched rats are a valuable adjunct to, and may be a viable substitute for, sputum smear microscopy as a tuberculosis diagnostic in resource-poor countries.
Monostable‐Type Travelling Wave Solutions of the Diffusive FitzHugh‐Nagumo‐Type System in RN
Authors: Huang Chih-Chiang
Published: July 2012

This paper is concerned with monostable‐type travelling wave solutions of the diffusive FitzHugh‐Nagumo‐type system (FHN) in RN
for the two components u and v. By solving v in terms of u, this system can be reduced to a nonlocal single equation for u. When the diffusion coefficients in the system are equal, we construct travelling wave solutions for the non‐local equation by the method of super‐ and subsolutions developed by Morita and Ninomiya (2008) Moreover, we propose a condition for γ, which is similar to the condition Reinecke and Sweers (1999) used to transform (FHN) into a quasimonotone system.
Construction and Study of Hetreojunction Solar Cell Based on Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid-Doped Polyaniline/n-Si
Authors: Morsi I. , Ebrahim Sh. , Soliman M.
Published: July 2012

Polyaniline/n-type Si heterojunctions solar cell are fabricated by spin coating of soluble dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA)-doped polyaniline onto n-type Si substrate. The electrical characterization of the Al/n-type Si/polyaniline/Au (Ag) structure was investigated by using current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V), and impedance spectroscopy under darkness and illumination. The photovoltaic cell parameters, that is, open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and energy conversion efficiency (η) were calculated. The highestJsc,Voc, and efficiency of these heterojunctions obtained using PANI-DBSA as a window layer (wideband gap) and Au as front contact are 1.8 mA/cm2, 0.436 V, and 0.13%, respectively. From Mott-Schottky plots, it was found that order of charge carrier concentrations is3.5×1014and1.0×1015/cm3for the heterojunctions using Au as front contact under darknessness and illumination, respectively. Impedance study of this type of solar cell showed that the shunt resistance and series resistance decreased under illumination.
Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of the Patient with Severely Worn Dentition: A Case Report
Authors: Hatami Mahnaz , Sabouhi Mahmoud , Samanipoor Siamak , Badrian Hamid
Published: July 2012

The management of tooth wear has been a subject of increasing interest from both preventive and restorative points of view. This paper describes the full mouth rehabilitation of a 63-year-old bruxer man with a severely worn dentition and other dental problems including unsuitable restorations and several missing teeth. The treatment entailed using cast posts and cores, metal-ceramic restorations, and a removable partial denture. As with the treatment procedure of such cases, equal-intensity centric occlusal contacts on all teeth and an anterior guidance in harmony with functional jaw movements were especially taken into account.
A Patient with a Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery after Initial Seizure
Authors: Kanata Akiko , Morioka Takato , Tsukamoto Haruhisa , Katsuta Toshiro , Suzuki Satoshi O.
Published: July 2012

Background: Since dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) are benign tumors that are frequently associated with long-standing medically intractable epilepsy, it is well known that the surgical strategy is resection of the associated epileptogenic zone as well as the tumor. However, the surgical strategy for DNT with a single seizure has not been fully discussed. Methods: We report an 8-year-old boy with DNT in the nondominant frontal lobe who underwent epilepsy surgery at 3 months after his initial seizure. Results: An intraoperative electrocorticogram revealed frequent paroxysmal cortical activity lateral to the tumor. Since resection of the tumor resulted in persistent paroxysmal activity in this cortex, additional resection was performed. The histological findings in the cortex revealed the presence of cortical dysplasia (CD) (Palmini type IIA). Lesionectomy alone might have left the epileptogenic CD. Conclusion: It is thought that epilepsy surgery should be recommended in patients with typical neuroimaging findings of DNT, even if the patients had only one episode of seizure.
Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging's
Editors' Picks
Authors:   The Editors
Published: July 2012

The following articles are being highlighted as part of
Circulation's
Topic Review series. This series summarizes the most important manuscripts, as selected by the editors, published in
Circulation
and the
Circulation
subspecialty journals. The studies included in this article represent the Editors' Picks for each
Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging
issue published in 2011.
Scalar Turbulence in Convective Boundary Layers by Changing the Entrainment Flux
Authors: Lanotte Alessandra S. , Mazzitelli Irene M.
Published: July 2012

A large-eddy simulation model is adopted to investigate the evolution of scalars transported by atmospheric cloud-free convective boundary layer flows. Temperature fluctuations due to the ground release of sensible heat and concentration fluctuations of a trace gas emitted at the homogeneous surface are mixed by turbulence within the unstable boundary layer. On the top, the entrainment zone is varied to obtain two distinct situations: (i) the temperature inversion is strong and the trace gas increment across the entrainment region is small, yielding to a small top flux with respect to the surface emission; (ii) the temperature inversion at the top of the convective boundary layer is weak, and the scalar increment large enough to achieve a concentration flux toward the free atmosphere that overwhelms the surface flux. In both cases, an estimation of the entrainment flux is obtained within a simple model, and it is tested against numerical data. The evolution of the scalar profiles is discussed in terms of the different entrainment–surface flux ratios.

Results show that, when entrainment at the top of the boundary layer is weak, temperature and trace gas scalar fields are strongly correlated, particularly in the lower part of the boundary layer. This means that they exhibit similar behavior from the largest down to the smallest spatial scales. However, when entrainment is strong, as moving from the surface, differences in the transport of the two scalars arise.

Finally, it is shown that, independently of the scalar regime, the temperature field exhibits more intermittent fluctuations than the trace gas.