bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Para
-Aminosalicylic Acid Acts as an Alternative Substrate of Folate Metabolism in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Chakraborty Sumit , Gruber Todd , Barry Clifton E. , Boshoff Helena I. , Rhee Kyu Y.
Published: November 2012

Poisoned Pathways

Fifty years ago,
para
-aminosalicyclic acid (PAS) was developed as an antituberculosis drug. Since then, it has been assumed that PAS acts to competitively inhibit
para
-aminobenzoate (PABA) from entering the folate pathway at the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS). Strangely, the well-known inhibitors of DHPS—the sulfonamide drugs—are useless in tuberculosis treatment, although they are effective against other microbial pathogens.

Chakraborty
et al.

(p.
88
, published online 1 November) addressed this conundrum by comparing the effect of several sulfonamides, as well as PAS and PABA, on the folate pathway of live
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It seems the bacterium is better at inactivating sulfonamides than PAS and that PAS does not really compete with PABA. Instead, PAS cascades through the folate pathway generating a series of poisonous intermediates.
Bicycling to school improves the cardiometabolic risk factor profile: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Østergaard Lars , Børrestad Line A B , Tarp Jakob , Andersen Lars Bo
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To investigate whether bicycling to school improves cardiometabolic risk factor profile and cardiorespiratory fitness among children.

Design

Prospective, blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Single centre study in Odense, Denmark

Participants

43 children previously not bicycling to school were randomly allocated to control group (n=20) (ie, no change in lifestyle) or intervention group (ie, bicycling to school) (n=23).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Change in cardiometabolic risk factor score and change in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Results

All participants measured at baseline returned at follow-up. Based upon intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors was lowered by 0.58 SD (95% CI −1.03 to −0.14, p=0.012) in the bicycling group compared to the control group. Cardiorespiratory fitness (l O2/min) per se did not increase significantly more in the intervention than in the control group (β=0.0337, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.12, p=0.458).

Conclusions

Bicycling to school counteracted a clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors and should thus be recognised as potential prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The intervention did, however, not elicit a larger increase in cardiorespiratory fitness in the intervention group as compared with the control group.

Trial registration

Registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01236222).
Using simple telehealth in primary care to reduce blood pressure: a service evaluation
Authors: Cottrell Elizabeth , Chambers Ruth , O'Connell Phil
Published: November 2012

Objectives

This service evaluation examines how efficiently an innovative, simple and interactive blood pressure (BP) management intervention improves BP control in general practice.

Design

Prospective service evaluation.

Setting

Ten volunteer general practitioner (GP) practices in Stoke on Trent, UK.

Participants

Practice staff identified 124 intervention patients and invited them to participate based on two inclusion criteria: (1) patient has chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 or 4 with BP persistently >130/85 mm Hg or (2) patient is >50 years-old (without CKD stages 3–5) with BP persistently >140/90 mm Hg despite prescribed antihypertensive medication. Three selected hypertensive control patients per intervention patient underwent usual clinical care (n=364).

Interventions

Intervention patients used ‘Florence’, a simple, interactive mobile phone texting service with BP management intervention for 3 months, or for less time if their BP became controlled. Patients measured their BP, text their readings to Florence, received an immediate automatic response and had results reviewed by their GP/practice nurse at least weekly.

Main outcome measures

Baseline data including recent BP readings and medications were collected; similar information was obtained for 6 months for both control and intervention patients. Average BP readings and medication usage were determined.

Results

At final data collection, five intervention patients had not yet completed the full programme. Control and intervention patients were well matched except that intervention patients had significantly greater baseline BP. Greatest BP reductions were among hypertensive intervention patients without CKD stages 3–5. Intervention patients had significantly more BP readings and more changes in medication over the 3-month data collection period.

Conclusions

Simple telehealth is acceptable and effective in reducing patients’ BP. In future, poorly controlled patients could be targeted to maximise BP reductions or broader use could improve diagnostic accuracy and accessibility for patients who struggle to regularly attend their GP surgery.
A pragmatic method for electronic medical record-based observational studies: developing an electronic medical records retrieval system for clinical research
Authors: Yamamoto Keiichi , Sumi Eriko , Yamazaki Toru , Asai Keita , Yamori Masashi , Teramukai Satoshi , Bessho Kazuhisa , Yokode Masayuki , Fukushima Masanori
Published: November 2012

Objective

The use of electronic medical record (EMR) data is necessary to improve clinical research efficiency. However, it is not easy to identify patients who meet research eligibility criteria and collect the necessary information from EMRs because the data collection process must integrate various techniques, including the development of a data warehouse and translation of eligibility criteria into computable criteria. This research aimed to demonstrate an electronic medical records retrieval system (ERS) and an example of a hospital-based cohort study that identified both patients and exposure with an ERS. We also evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the method.

Design

The system was developed and evaluated.

Participants

In total, 800 000 cases of clinical information stored in EMRs at our hospital were used.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The feasibility and usefulness of the ERS, the method to convert text from eligible criteria to computable criteria, and a confirmation method to increase research data accuracy.

Results

To comprehensively and efficiently collect information from patients participating in clinical research, we developed an ERS. To create the ERS database, we designed a multidimensional data model optimised for patient identification. We also devised practical methods to translate narrative eligibility criteria into computable parameters. We applied the system to an actual hospital-based cohort study performed at our hospital and converted the test results into computable criteria. Based on this information, we identified eligible patients and extracted data necessary for confirmation by our investigators and for statistical analyses with our ERS.

Conclusions

We propose a pragmatic methodology to identify patients from EMRs who meet clinical research eligibility criteria. Our ERS allowed for the efficient collection of information on the eligibility of a given patient, reduced the labour required from the investigators and improved the reliability of the results.
Can manual ability be measured with a generic ABILHAND scale? A cross-sectional study conducted on six diagnostic groups
Authors: Arnould Carlyne , Vandervelde Laure , Batcho Charles Sèbiyo , Penta Massimo , Thonnard Jean-Louis
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Several ABILHAND Rasch-built manual ability scales were previously developed for chronic stroke (CS), cerebral palsy (CP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and neuromuscular disorders (NMD). The present study aimed to explore the applicability of a generic manual ability scale unbiased by diagnosis and to study the nature of manual ability across diagnoses.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Outpatient clinic homes (CS, CP, RA), specialised centres (CP), reference centres (CP, NMD) and university hospitals (SSc).

Participants

762 patients from six diagnostic groups: 103 CS adults, 113 CP children, 112 RA adults, 156 SSc adults, 124 NMD children and 124 NMD adults.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Manual ability as measured by the ABILHAND disease-specific questionnaires, diagnosis and nature (ie, uni-manual or bi-manual involvement and proximal or distal joints involvement) of the ABILHAND manual activities.

Results

The difficulties of most manual activities were diagnosis dependent. A principal component analysis highlighted that 57% of the variance in the item difficulty between diagnoses was explained by the symmetric or asymmetric nature of the disorders. A generic scale was constructed, from a metric point of view, with 11 items sharing a common difficulty among diagnoses and 41 items displaying a category-specific location (asymmetric: CS, CP; and symmetric: RA, SSc, NMD). This generic scale showed that CP and NMD children had significantly less manual ability than RA patients, who had significantly less manual ability than CS, SSc and NMD adults. However, the generic scale was less discriminative and responsive to small deficits than disease-specific instruments.

Conclusions

Our finding that most of the manual item difficulties were disease-dependent emphasises the danger of using generic scales without prior investigation of item invariance across diagnostic groups. Nevertheless, a generic manual ability scale could be developed by adjusting and accounting for activities perceived differently in various disorders.
Stakeholder perspectives on handovers between hospital staff and general practitioners: an evaluation through the microsystems lens
Authors: Göbel Beryl , Zwart Dorien , Hesselink Gijs , Pijnenborg Loes , Barach Paul , Kalkman Cor , Johnson Julie K
Published: November 2012

Background

Much of the research on improving patient handovers has focused on enhancing communication within the hospital system, but there have been relatively few efforts aimed at addressing the challenges at the interface between the hospital and the primary care setting.

Methods

A qualitative thematic analysis using a clinical microsystems lens applied to 28 semi-structured key stakeholder interviews in the Netherlands. Data were organised into seven ‘virtual’ clinical microsystem datasets composed of patients, hospital-based physicians, hospital-based nurses and community-based general practitioners.

Results

Five themes that contributed to effective or ineffective handovers emerged from our analysis: (1) lack of adequate information; (2) healthcare professionals’ availability and opportunity for personal contact; (3) feedback, teaching and protocols related to handovers; (4) information technology facilitated communication solutions; and (5) the role and responsibility of patients. Our analysis suggests that each healthcare professional attempted to provide the best care possible, but did this largely in isolation, and without the benefit of the knowledge and expertise of the other members of the microsystem.

Conclusions

The microsystem approach offers an innovative organisational construct and approach to assess the gaps in ‘hospital to community’ patient handovers, by viewing the hospital to the community interface as a clinical microsystem continuum. Our application of the microsystem approach confirms and extends earlier findings about the impact of barriers on the continuity and safety of patient transitions and their impact on the quality of patient care.
Searching for the missing pieces between the hospital and primary care: mapping the patient process during care transitions
Authors: Johnson Julie K , Farnan Jeanne M , Barach Paul , Hesselink Gijs , Wollersheim Hub , Pijnenborg Loes , Kalkman Cor , Arora Vineet M ,   on behalf of the HANDOVER Research Collaborative
Published: November 2012

Background

Safe patient transitions depend on effective communication and a functioning care coordination process. Evidence suggests that primary care physicians are not satisfied with communication at transition points between inpatient and ambulatory care, and that communication often is not provided in a timely manner, omits essential information, or contains ambiguities that put patients at risk.

Objective

Our aim was to demonstrate how process mapping can illustrate current handover practices between ambulatory and inpatient care settings, identify existing barriers and facilitators to effective transitions of care, and highlight potential areas for quality improvement.

Methods

We conducted focus group interviews to facilitate a process mapping exercise with clinical teams in six academic health centres in the USA, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

Findings

At a high level, the process of patient admission to the hospital through the emergency department, inpatient care, and discharge back in the community were comparable across sites. In addition, the process maps highlighted similar barriers to providing information to primary care physicians, inaccurate or incomplete information on referral and discharge, a lack of time and priority to collaborate with counterpart colleagues, and a lack of feedback to clinicians involved in the handovers.

Conclusions

Process mapping is effective in bringing together key stakeholders and makes explicit the mental models that frame their understanding of the clinical process. Exploring the barriers and facilitators to safe and reliable patient transitions highlights opportunities for further improvement work and illustrates ideas for best practices that might be transferrable to other settings.
Effects of ovariohysterectomy on intra‐abdominal pressure and abdominal perfusion pressure in cats
Authors: Bosch L. , Rivera del Álamo M. M. , Andaluz A. , Monreal L. , Torrente C. , García‐Arnas F. , Fresno L.
Published: November 2012

Intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) and abdominal perfusion pressure (APP) have shown clinical relevance in monitoring critically ill human beings submitted to abdominal surgery. Only a few studies have been performed in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to assess how pregnancy and abdominal surgery may affect IAP and APP in healthy cats. For this purpose, pregnant (n=10) and non‐pregnant (n=11) queens undergoing elective spaying, and tomcats (n=20, used as controls) presented for neutering by scrotal orchidectomy were included in the study. IAP, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), APP, heart rate and rectal temperature (RT) were determined before, immediately after, and four hours after surgery. IAP increased significantly immediately after abdominal surgery in both female groups when compared with baseline (P<0.05) and male (P<0.05) values, and returned to initial perioperative readings four hours after surgery. Tomcats and pregnant females (P<0.05) showed an increase in MAP and APP immediately after surgery decreasing back to initial perioperative values four hours later. A significant decrease in RT was appreciated immediately after laparotomy in both pregnant and non‐pregnant queens. IAP was affected by abdominal surgery in this study, due likely to factors, such as postoperative pain and hypothermia. Pregnancy did not seem to affect IAP in this population of cats, possibly due to subjects being in early stages of pregnancy.
Pelvic differences between brachycephalic and mesaticephalic cats and indirect pelvimetry assessment
Authors: Monteiro C. L. B. , Campos A. I. M. , Madeira V. L. H. , Silva H. V. R. , Freire L. M. P. , Pinto J. N. , de Souza L. P. , da Silva L. D. M.
Published: November 2012

Pelvic measurements were carried out in cats with various cranial conformations to (1) determine pelvic morphometry, (2) compare any pelvic differences with cranial conformation and gender and (3) determine whether body biometrics can be used to predict pelvic measurements. Thirteen brachycephalic and 14 mesaticephalic female cats and 17 brachycephalic and nine mesaticephalic male cats were used. Body and external pelvic measurements, as well as pelvic radiographs, were performed. Brachycephalic females all had external pelvic and radiographic measurements that were significantly smaller than those of the mesaticephalic females, including smaller pelvic inlet and outlet areas and a smaller pelvic canal shape. Brachycephalic females had wider and flatter heads than do mesaticephalic females. Similarly, brachycephalic males all have radiographic pelvic measurements that are smaller than those of mesaticephalic males. Males had larger pelvis measurements than did their female counterparts for both cranial types, and indirect pelvimetry did not demonstrate good predictive value in determining the internal pelvic measurements. Thus, we conclude that pelvic differences exist between genders and between brachycephalic and mesaticephalic cats. Furthermore, body biometric measurements do not have good predictive value for determining internal pelvic measurements.
Anatomical study of fibrous structures of the medial aspect of the canine elbow joint
Authors: Villamonte‐Chevalier A. , Soler M. , Sarria R. , Agut A. , Latorre R.
Published: November 2012

Forces exerted by fibrous structures on the medial aspect of the canine elbow joint have been reported to be involved in elbow pathology. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationships of the ligamentous and muscular structures of this region of the canine elbow joint, and how they relate to the medial coronoid process. Six cadavers of adult German shepherd cross‐breed dogs were used in this study to make intra‐articular and vascular injections of this region. Some joints were dissected and some were frozen to saw sagittal or dorsal cryosections to assess the relationships of the myotendinous structures. The brachialis muscle tendon passed through the division of the bicipital tendon of insertion which formed a fibrous tendon sheath that was reinforced by the oblique ligament. The biceps' brachii's main insertion is the radial tuberosity where it inserts along with the cranial branch of the oblique ligament and the cranial branch of the medial collateral ligament. Rotational and compression forces exerted by the insertion of the biceps brachii‐brachialis tendon complex onto the ulna might influence medial coronoid disease. Therefore, sectioning these tendons could be considered as a treatment for medial coronoid disease.
Aiding the transition from vet school to practice
Authors: Boulton Clare , McIntyre Jennifer
Published: November 2012

The RCVS Charitable Trust is undertaking a project that aims to make a range of online resources available to support new graduates as they make the move from veterinary school to practice. Clare Boulton, the project's manager and Librarian at the trust, and Jennifer McIntyre, the project's coordinator, explain the thinking behind the initiative
Fluid ingestion is more effective in preventing hyperthermia in aerobically trained than untrained individuals during exercise in the heat
Authors: Mora-Rodriguez Ricardo , Hamouti Nassim , Del Coso Juan , Ortega Juan F.
Published: November 2012

It is unclear if fluid ingestion during exercise in the heat alleviates the thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain similarly in aerobically trained and untrained individuals. It is also unknown at what exercise intensity the effects of rehydration are greater. Ten aerobically trained (T) and 10 healthy untrained (UT) subjects ([Formula: see text]O2peak, 60 ± 6 vs. 44 ± 3 mL O2·kg−1·min−1, respectively; P < 0.05) pedalled in a hot, dry environment (36 ± 1 °C; 25% ± 2% relative humidity; airflow, 2.5 m·s−1) at 40%, 60%, and 80% [Formula: see text]O2peak while ingesting fluids (Fluid). The results were compared with those from our previous study [Mora-Rodriguez et al., Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 109(5): 973–981 (2010)] with no fluid ingestion (No Fluid). Subjects were not heat-acclimated. At 40% [Formula: see text]O2peak, Fluid reduced rectal temperature (TRE) in T and UT (0.31 ± 0.08 and 0.32 ± 0.07 °C; respectively). At 60% [Formula: see text]O2peak, Fluid reduced TRE in T more than in UT (0.30 ± 0.10 °C vs. 0.18 ± 0.10 °C; P < 0.05) but had no effect at 80% [Formula: see text]O2peak in any group. At similar relative intensity, heart rates (HR) were similar between groups. Fluid lowered heart rate (i.e., HR) similarly in the T and UT at 40% and 60% [Formula: see text]O2peak (11% and 6%, respectively; P < 0.05) but not at 80% [Formula: see text]O2peak (P > 0.05). At similar metabolic heat production (i.e., 60% for T vs. 80% [Formula: see text]O2peak for UT), Fluid lowered TRE only in the T individuals (P < 0.05). In summary, rehydration during low- and moderate-intensity exercise reduces TRE and HR more than during high-intensity exercise (80% [Formula: see text]O2peak) in T and UT subjects. Fluid replacement is more effective on preventing the rise in TRE in T than in UT individuals during moderate-intensity exercise (60% [Formula: see text]O2peak), as well as when exercising at a similar heat production rate.
A risk-based model of climate change threat: hazard, exposure, and vulnerability in the ecology of lichen epiphytes
Authors: Ellis Christopher J.
Published: November 2012

This review positions the biodiversity response to climate change within a social-sciences risk-based framework, integrating the parameters of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It uses lichen epiphytes as a case study. In treating human-induced climate change as a hazard, the exposure of lichen epiphytes is considered as their sensitivity to spatial climatic variation, while also seeking congruence between bioclimatic models and observational data supporting distributional change. Improved understanding of exposure could be generated through functional response models, and climate sensitivity should be carefully interpreted against co-occurring hazards (pollution, habitat degradation). Where negative impacts result from exposure to climate change, species vulnerability may be reduced through adaptive forest management. This opportunity is based on a cross-scale interaction between microhabitat specificity and macroclimatic setting. Certain stand types (e.g., old-growth stands) offer greater opportunity for establishment and growth in suboptimal climates, because high microhabitat heterogeneity generates a broader spectrum of microclimatic niches, which buffer an unsuitable macroclimate. Lichen epiphyte vulnerability will nevertheless be dependent on an amalgam of ecological processes considered at the stand scale, including trophic interactions, acclimation, and evolutionary adaptation, and at the landscape scale, including gene flow and dispersal limitation. A trait-focused approach could provide an opportunity to generalize these processes.
Quasi-classical trajectory calculation of the chemical reaction Ba + m-C6H4ClCH3
Authors: Xia Wenwen , Yao Li , Zhong Haiyang , Li Xiangyuan
Published: November 2012

In this paper, the dynamical properties of the reaction between the Ba atom and m-C6H4ClCH3 have been studied using the quasi-classical trajectory method, based on the extended London–Eyring–Polanyi–Sato potential energy surface. The vibrational distribution, reaction cross section and product rotational alignment of the reaction Ba + m-C6H4ClCH3 have been calculated, and the reaction mechanism has also been discussed. When the collision energy equals 1.08 eV, the peak value of the vibrational distribution is located at v = 0 for the reaction Ba + m-C6H4ClCH3. This result agrees with experimental vibrational distribution. The calculated result of the reaction cross section increases with an increase of the collision energy from 0.6 to 1.3 eV. The calculated rotational alignment of the product greatly deviates from −0.5, which firstly decreases and then increases with the increasing collision energy.
Integrating haplotypes and single genetic variability effects of thePax7gene on growth traits in two cattle breeds
Authors: Xu Yao , Zhou Yang , Wang Ning , Lan Xianyong , Zhang Chunlei , Lei Chuzhao , Chen Hong
Published: November 2012

The paired box 7 (Pax7) gene encoding for the transcription factor can regulate the conversion of stem cells into myogenic cells and participate in the development and regeneration of skeletal muscle. The aims of this study were to detect variations of the Pax7 gene by DNA pool sequencing and aCRS–RFLP methods in 1441 cattle from five breeds and to investigate their associations with growth traits in Nanyang and Chinese red steppe cattle. Altogether, three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the last intron of the Pax7 gene: NC_007300: ss1 (g. G103688A), ss2 (g. T103735C), and ss3 (g. A103764T). Genotypes and the referring haplotype frequencies showed a high similarity trend among five breeds, and the G, T, and A allele frequencies of the three loci were always superior when separate or in combination. Association analysis of the single SNPs and haplotype combinations revealed that the T allele of ss2 and ss3 loci and the haplotype H2H2(GG-TT-TT) showed significant effects on growth traits such as body height, body mass, and chest girth in cattle at early stages (6 and 12 months old) (P < 0.05). The results showed that Pax7 gene variations and their corresponding genotypes may be considered as molecular markers for economic traits in cattle breeding.
FIRST-PRINCIPLES CALCULATIONS OF SPIN-TRIPLET ANDREEV REFLECTION SPECTRA AT HALF-METALLIC FERROMAGNET/SUPERCONDUCTOR INTERFACE
Authors: TANG LING
Published: November 2012

Combining the first-principles noncollinear calculations of scattering matrices with Andreev approximation, we investigated the spin-triplet Andreev reflection (AR) spectra for the interface between half-metallic ferromagnet Co 2 MnSi and s-wave BCS superconductor Al with and without interfacial roughness, where the orientations of magnetic moments near the interface are randomly distributed. The calculated results show that the AR spectra have peak structures near zero bias for the clean interface with relative weak magnetic disorder. With the increasing degree of interfacial roughness or magnetic disorder, these subgap peaks of conductance spectra will be washed out. The results also show that the value of subgap conductance spectrum can be raised significantly by the magnetic disorder. Finally, our calculations reveal that the long-range spin-triplet AR in Co 2 MnSi / Al (001) interface can be enhanced by a small amount of interfacial roughness.
ON THE OPTICAL POTENTIAL OF AN ATTRACTIVE NONRELATIVISTIC DEGENERATE ELECTRON GAS INTERACTING WITH NUCLEAR MATTER
Authors: GRADO-CAFFARO M. A. , GRADO-CAFFARO M.
Published: November 2012

The optical potential of an attractive nonrelativistic electron gas interacting with nuclear matter is determined on the basis of the concept of degenerate Fermi gas. In fact, the involved electrons are treated as three-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillators confined at the surface of a spherical (approximately ideal) potential well. Within this picture, the Fermi velocity is calculated as well as the spatial electron density at the surface of the potential well and the attractive force between the electron gas and the nuclear matter. In addition, considerations related to the Lippmann–Schwinger model are made.
EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL PRESSURE ON FERROMAGNETISM AND TRANSPORT PROPERTIES IN La0.7-xYxCa0.3CoO3
Authors: ZHANG D. W. , TANG G. D. , XU X. B. , QIU L. , WANG Z. H. , DU Y. W.
Published: November 2012

We have investigated the chemical pressure effects, induced by the substitution of smaller ionic radius Y 3+ for La 3+, on the magnetic and electrical transport properties for the La 0.7-x Y x Ca 0.3 CoO 3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15). The magnetization and the Curie temperature TC decrease sharply as the doping level of Y 3+ increases, which indicates that the chemical pressure induced by Y 3+-doping can suppress the ferromagnetism. The transport measurement reveals a chemical pressure-induced increase of the resistivity due to a suppression of eg-electron hopping. We thought that the effect of Y 3+-doping induced chemical pressure on the ferromagnetic (FM) phase has a similar behavior to that of external pressure. These results imply that the enhancing chemical pressure can suppress the FM phase in La 0.7-x Y x Ca 0.3 CoO 3.
CCDD: AN ENHANCED STANDARD ECG DATABASE WITH ITS MANAGEMENT AND ANNOTATION TOOLS
Authors: ZHANG JIA-WEI , LIU XIA , DONG JUN
Published: November 2012

Standard Electrocardiogram (ECG) database is created for validating and comparing different algorithms on feature detection and disease classification. At present, there are four frequently used standard databases: MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, QT database, CSE multi-lead database and AHA database. With the development in equipment and diagnosis approach, severe deficiencies are discovered and a new modern ECG database is needed for further research. So Chinese Cardiovascular Disease Database (CCDD or CCD database), which contains 12-Lead ECG data, detailed annotation features and beat diagnosis result is proposed. It is advanced for not only improving the raw ECG data's technical parameters, but also introducing valuable morphology features which are utilized by experienced cardiologists effectively. CCDD is employed by our group as well as aiming for supporting other research groups that work in automated ECG analysis.
AUTOMATED DETECTION OF MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT THROUGH MRI DATA ANALYSIS
Authors: LI LIN , WANG JAMES Z. , LOZAR CARL , ECKERT MARK A.
Published: November 2012

The early identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has the potential for timely therapeutic interventions that would limit the advancement of MCI to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper presents an automated approach for early detection of MCI through pattern classification of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The approach is based on image feature selection and support vector machine (SVM) classification. Subjects were selected from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) database and included 89 MCI subjects and 80 controls. Voxel-by-voxel differences in gray matter (GM) intensity between the MCI and control groups were identified. Then regions of interest (ROIs) and the most discriminative image features that represented the patterns in MCI subjects were determined for training a classifier. The classifier demonstrated a high classification accuracy (90%) when a behavioral estimate of MCI and the ROIs were included as features in comparison to the behavioral estimate or the ROIs alone, which is one scientific contribution of our work. Another contribution is that the classifier can be integrated with the image processing functions through an online interface with significant medical capability that can be used for automated image pre-processing, obtaining MCI probability estimates for individual cases, and visualization of affected regions.
MULTI-LEVEL CLUSTERING OF PHYLOGENETIC PROFILES
Authors: PSOMOPOULOS FOTIS E. , MITKAS PERICLES A.
Published: November 2012

The prediction of gene function from genome sequences is one of the main issues in Bioinformatics. Most computational approaches are based on the similarity between sequences to infer gene function. However, the availability of several fully sequenced genomes has enabled alternative approaches, such as phylogenetic profiles. Phylogenetic profiles are vectors which indicate the presence or absence of a gene in other genomes. The main concept of phylogenetic profiles is that proteins participating in a common structural complex or metabolic pathway are likely to evolve in a correlated fashion. In this paper, a multi-level clustering algorithm of phylogenetic profiles is presented, which aims to detect inter- and intra-genome gene clusters.
GEOMETRIC LANGEVIN EQUATIONS ON SUBMANIFOLDS AND APPLICATIONS TO THE STOCHASTIC MELT-SPINNING PROCESS OF NONWOVENS AND BIOLOGY
Authors: GROTHAUS MARTIN , STILGENBAUER PATRIK
Published: November 2012

In this paper we develop geometric versions of the classical Langevin equation on regular submanifolds in Euclidean space in an easy, natural way and combine them with a bunch of applications. The equations are formulated as Stratonovich stochastic differential equations on manifolds. The first version of the geometric Langevin equation has already been detected before by Lelièvre, Rousset and Stoltz with a different derivation. We propose an additional extension of the models, the geometric Langevin equations with velocity of constant Euclidean norm. The latters are seemingly new and provide a galaxy of new, beautiful and powerful mathematical models. Up to the authors best knowledge there are not many mathematical papers available dealing with geometric Langevin processes. We connect the first version of the geometric Langevin equation via proving that its generator coincides with the generalized Langevin operator proposed by Soloveitchik, Jørgensen or Kolokoltsov. All our studies are strongly motivated by industrial applications in modeling the fiber lay-down dynamics in the production process of nonwovens. We light up the geometry occurring in these models and show up the connection with the spherical velocity version of the geometric Langevin process. Moreover, as a main point, we construct new smooth industrial relevant three-dimensional fiber lay-down models involving the spherical Langevin process. Finally, relations to a class of swarming models are presented and further applications of the geometric Langevin equations are given.
INVESTIGATION OF TEAR-OUT BEHAVIOR OF SMALL INTESTINAL ANASTOMOSES INTRODUCING A NEW STANDARDIZATION OF THE MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
Authors: GESTER K. , VON TROTHA K.-T. , BUTZ N. , NEUMANN U. P. , SCHMITZ-RODE T. , STEINSEIFER U.
Published: November 2012

Purpose: The goal of the study was to investigate the influence of independently varied parameters on the tear-out force of small intestinal anastomoses of abattoir pigs using methods which provide a high grade of standardization and reproducibility.

Methods: The tear-out force of sutured small intestine tissue was recorded, while independently varying the thread type (I), the number of stitches (II), the stitch-to-stitch distance (III), and the stitch to sample-edge distance (IV).

Results: The tear-out force was shown to be significantly higher when using Vicryl 3-0 in comparison to PDS II 3-0, the significance being highest for small numbers of stitches. Given a fixed number of stitches, small stitch-to-stitch (stitch-to-edge) distances <~5.0 mm yield a significantly lower tear-out force than larger stitch-to-stitch distances.

Conclusion: Standardization of methods used in the investigation of anastomoses of the small intestine is desirable and shown to be possible. Significant dependence of the tear-out force on some of the investigated parameters can be observed.
FIELD-FREE MOLECULAR ORIENTATION IN DISSIPATIVE MEDIA BY A COMBINATION OF FEMTOSECOND AND THz LASER PULSES
Authors: LIU YONG , LI JIAN , YU JIE , CONG SHU-LIN
Published: November 2012

We present a theoretical scheme for achieving the field-free molecular orientation in dissipative media by a combination of femtosecond and THz laser pulses. Numerical calculations are performed by solving the quantum Liouville equation based on multilevel Bloch model. The molecular orientation degree is sensitive to the carrier-envelope phase of the THz pulse and the delay time between the two pulses. The orientation and the rotational population of CO molecules in dissipative environment are computed at different pressures and temperatures. The influence of pure decoherence on the molecular orientation is also discussed.
GEOMETRICALLY RELATING MOMENTUM CUT-OFF AND DIMENSIONAL REGULARIZATION
Authors: AGARWALA SUSAMA
Published: November 2012

The β function for a scalar field theory describes the dependence of the coupling constant on the renormalization mass scale. This dependence is affected by the choice of regularization scheme. I explicitly relate the β functions of momentum cut-off regularization and dimensional regularization on scalar field theories by a gauge transformation using the Hopf algebras of the Feynman diagrams of the theories.
BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS FOR HELMHOLTZ EQUATION AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Authors: MAHER AHMED
Published: November 2012

In this paper, the jump problem and the auxiliary Cauchy problem for Helmholtz equation have been studied. The diffraction problems for the junctions of open waveguide in the classes of distributions are investigated. Furthermore some results and theorems concerning the existence and uniqueness for the solutions of the suggested problems are given. The methods adapted for the investigation are the integral Fourier transformation.
METAL-TO-DIELECTRIC TRANSITION INDUCED BY ANNEALING OF ORIENTED TITANIUM THIN FILMS
Authors: BESNARD AURÉLIEN , MARTIN NICOLAS , STHAL FABRICE , CARPENTIER LUC , RAUCH JEAN-YVES
Published: November 2012

Titanium thin films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering. The glancing angle deposition (GLAD) method was implemented to prepare two series of titanium films: perpendicular and oriented columnar structures. The first series was obtained with a conventional incident angle α of the sputtered particles (α = 0°), whereas the second one used a grazing incident angle α = 85°. Afterwards, the films were annealed in air using six cycles of temperature ranging from 293 K to 773 K. DC electrical conductivity was measured during the annealing treatment. Films deposited by conventional sputtering (α = 0°) kept a typical metallic-like behavior versus temperature (σ300 K = 2.0 × 106 S m-1 and TCR293 K = 1.52 × 10-3 K-1), whereas those sputtered with α = 85° showed a gradual transition from metal to dielectric. Such a transition was mainly attributed to the high porous structure, which favors the oxidation of titanium films to tend to the TiO2 compound.
Constraints on the timing of deformation, magmatism and metamorphism in the Dalradian of NE Scotland
Authors: Carty J. P. , Connelly J. N. , Hudson N. F. C. , Gale J. F. W.
Published: November 2012

Synopsis

The Portsoy Gabbro was emplaced into Argyll Group Dalradian metasediments as part of a suite of mafic intrusives that outcrop around the low-P/high-T Buchan metamorphic domain in NE Scotland. This paper presents new field data together with geobarometry and calculated pseudosections for pelites and metabasites, and geochronological data from the Portsoy Shear Zone, on the western boundary of the Buchan domain, which constrain the relative and absolute timing of deformation, metamorphism and magmatism. Textural and cross-cutting relationships indicate the D2 event, magmatism and Buchan metamorphism overlapped. Pelitic schists containing all three Al
2
SiO
5
polymorphs occur structurally beneath the Portsoy Gabbro. The sequence of aluminosilicate growth in these rocks is andalusite–sillimanite–kyanite, implying an anti-clockwise P–T–t path. This study indicates that the andalusite to sillimanite transformation took place during D2, synchronous with the intrusion of the Portsoy Gabbro, and was followed by kyanite growth after D2. The late growth of kyanite indicates that, at least initially, cooling was not associated with uplift. Magmatic zircons from the Portsoy Gabbro yield a U–Pb age of 471.3 ± 0.6 Ma. A U–Pb zircon age from an undeformed pegmatite that cuts the S2 foliation in the gabbro indicates D2 shearing had largely terminated by ~ 471 Ma. We demonstrate, using a metabasite pseudosection, that the titanite formed during deformation as the gabbros cooled. The cooling rate for the gabbro from 1000°C to 620°C was rapid – at least 49°C Ma
−1
– and, allowing that the Portsoy Shear Zone was not an uplift structure, was caused by a change in the thermal regime.
Silicic pyroclastic deposits at the base of the Paleogene Skye Lava Field: Evidence from An Carnach, Strathaird Peninsula
Authors: Drake S.M. , Beard A. D.
Published: November 2012

Synopsis

Silicic pyroclastic deposits, attributed to two discrete volcanic phases, are reported from a basal sequence of the Paleogene Skye Lava Field, NW Scotland. Phase 1 comprises relict silicic fall deposits that have been subsequently altered to a bed of K-bentonite. These fall deposits pre-date a thick (
c
. 70 m) sequence of basaltic plateau lavas and a later underlying tholeiitic sill. The K-bentonite bed has a fabric that strongly resembles that of eutaxitic welded ignimbrite.

Phase 2 comprises both basic and silicic ignimbrites that post-date the lowermost plateau lavas. The nature of these distinct ignimbrite lithofacies can be used to infer that eruption parameters, such as chemistry, intensity and flux output, underwent temporal variations.

The recognition of these two phases of pyroclastic volcanism has major implications for the established sequence of the Skye Lava Field and gives important new insights into the nature of these Paleogene eruptions.
Historic specimen is not a tetrapod trackway with tail-drag from the Upper Old Red Sandstone of Tarbat Ness, Easter Ross, Scotland
Authors: Trewin N. H.
Published: November 2012

Synopsis

A specimen labelled as part of a tetrapod trackway with an apparent sinusoidal tail-drag mark in the museum collection at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, is identified as part of the ‘lost’ nineteenth-century collection made by the Revs Campbell and Joass in 1862 at Tarbat Ness east of Tain, Easter Ross. On the basis of further examination it is concluded that the ‘tail-drag’ is probably an invertebrate horizontal burrow.
The biota, depositional environment and age of the Old Red Sandstone of the island of Kerrera, Scotland
Authors: Trewin N. H. , Gurr P. R. , Jones R. B. , Gavin P.
Published: November 2012

Synopsis

Two fish-bearing levels are present in the Lower Old Red Sandstone of the island of Kerrera, near Oban. On the north side of Port Dubh [NM 791267] 11 m of basal conglomerate and cross- bedded sandstone rests unconformably on deformed Easdale Slates. The succeeding 17 m of strata are predominantly fine-grained sandstones and red mudstones with desiccation cracks, but contain two levels that include grey, laminated, fossiliferous lithologies. These are termed the Upper and Lower Port Dubh fish beds. Thick conglomerates complete the sequence. Lacustrine shales at Orasaig [NM7980 2675] yield organic remains interpreted as algal/bacterial mats, and delicate impressions of algal thalli. Fish remains are rare at this locality. The fauna of the Port Dubh fish beds comprises agnathan fish (the cornuate osteostracan
Cephalaspis
, a non-cornuate osteostracan,
Gylenaspis n. n
., and an anaspid), arthropods (a millipede, and a ‘eurypterid’), and rare plant debris. The animal remains are disarticulated, and have been transported. Arthropod trackways (
Siskemia, Diplichnites
and
Beaconichnus
) and fish traces (
Undichna unisulca
) are closely associated with the fish beds. Short vertical burrows are present, rarely associated with radial bedding-parallel grooves. The fish beds probably formed in shallow temporary lakes created during burial of the irregular regional unconformity surface, and were eventually covered by fluvial conglomerates. Contemporaneous volcanic activity close to the locality resulted in the intrusion of andesites into wet sediment, and the dominance of volcanic debris in sandstones and conglomerates. The general features of the fauna support previous palynological evidence that the rocks are latest Silurian to earliest Devonian in age.
Tectonic and sedimentary response to subduction and incipient continental collision in southern Cyprus, easternmost Mediterranean region
Authors: Kinnaird Tim , Robertson Alastair
Published: November 2012

Evidence mainly from Neogene–Recent sedimentary units and penetrative structures (faults and folds) is used to constrain stress regimes in Cyprus. Following
c.
south-vergent folding/thrusting, a regional change to extension activated several depocentres during the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene. Fault analysis establishes that kinematic linkages existed between the four Late Miocene basins in southern and western Cyprus. During Late Pliocene(?)–Early Pleistocene time there was a switch to
c.
east–west left-lateral strike-slip/transpression and fault reactivation. Late Pleistocene growth folding in western coastal Cyprus is explained by reactivation of extensional faults in a left-lateral stress regime. The timing of neotectonic faulting/folding in several areas is constrained by optically stimulated luminescence dating. Existing tectonic models involving north–south collision, left-lateral strike-slip and post-collisional suture tightening are problematic in certain respects. A new model is proposed in which Late Miocene extensional basin formation relates to northward subduction coupled with rollback of the African plate. Subduction culminated in collision of the Eratosthenes Seamount, the leading edge of the African plate, with the Cyprus active margin (
c.
3 Ma). This initiated regional uplift focused on the Troodos Massif. Cyprus was by then coupled with Anatolia as it escaped westwards towards the Aegean subduction zone, giving rise to dominantly strike-slip-related structures in southern Cyprus during the Late Pliocene–Recent.
Constraints on Variscan and Cimmerian magmatism and metamorphism in the Pontides (Yusufeli–Artvin area), NE Turkey from U–Pb dating and granite geochemistry
Authors: Ustaömer Timur , Robertson Alastair H. F. , Ustaömer P. Ayda , Gerdes Axel , Peytcheva Irena
Published: November 2012

Metamorphic and igneous rocks exposed in NW-vergent thrust sheets and their autocthonous basement in the NE Pontides were dated by the U–Pb method using zircons, supported by geochemical data for granitic rocks. Two meta-sedimentary units (Narlık schist and Karadağ paragneiss) yielded detrital zircon populations of 0.50–0.65 and 0.9–1.1 Ga, suggesting an affinity with NE Africa (part of Gondwana). The youngest concordant zircon age is Ediacaran for the schist but Devonian for the paragneiss, bracketing the paragneiss depositional age as Mid-Devonian to Early Carboniferous. Metamorphic rims of zircon cores in the paragneiss gave Carboniferous ages (345–310 Ma). The zircon rim data indicate two Variscan metamorphic events (334 and 314 Ma) separated by a hiatus (320–325 Ma). Granite emplacement took place during early Carboniferous, Early Jurassic and Late Jurassic phases. The crystallization age of the early Carboniferous granites (
c.
325 Ma) corresponds to a hiatus in the zircon age data that could reflect subduction slab break-off. The Variscan granitic rocks intruded a Gondwana-derived continental terrane that was loosely accreted to Eurasia during early–late Carboniferous time but remained isolated from Eurasian-derived terrigenous sediment. In contrast, the Jurassic granitic magmatism relates to later back-arc extension along the southern margin of Eurasia.

Supplementary material:

Full isotope data (8 tables) are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18558