bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source levels of fin whale 20 Hz pulses measured in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
Authors: Weirathmueller Michelle J. , Wilcock William S. D. , Soule Dax C.
Published: January 2013

Source levels of fin whale calls can be used to determine range to recorded vocalizations and to model maximum communication range between animals. In this study, source levels of fin whale calls were estimated using data collected on a network of eight ocean bottom seismometers in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. The acoustic pressure levels measured at the instruments were adjusted for the propagation path between the calling whales and the instruments using the call location and estimating losses along the acoustic travel path. A total of 1241 calls were used to estimate an average source level of 189 ± 5.8 dB re 1μPa at 1 m. This variability is largely attributed to uncertainties in the horizontal and vertical position of the fin whale at the time of each call and the effect of these uncertainties on subsequent calculations. Variability may also arise from station to station differences within the network. For call sequences produced by a single vocalizing whale, no consistent increase or decrease in source level was observed over the duration of a dive. Calls within these sequences that immediately followed gaps of 27 s or longer were classified as backbeat calls and were consistently lower in both frequency and amplitude.
Aeroacoustics of T-junction merging flow
Authors: Lam G. C. Y. , Leung R. C. K. , Tang S. K.
Published: January 2013

This paper reports a numerical study of the aeroacoustics of merging flow at T-junction. The primary focus is to elucidate the acoustic generation by the flow unsteadiness. The study is conducted by performing direct aeroacoustic simulation approach, which solves the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations and the perfect gas equation of state simultaneously using the conservation element and solution element method. For practical flows, the Reynolds number based on duct width is usually quite high (>105). In order to properly account for the effects of flow turbulence, a large eddy simulation methodology together with a wall modeling derived from the classical logarithm wall law is adopted. The numerical simulations are performed in two dimensions and the acoustic generation physics at different ratios of side-branch to main duct flow velocities VR (=0.5,0.67,1.0,2.0) are studied. Both the levels of unsteady interactions of merging flow structures and the efficiency of acoustic generation are observed to increase with VR. Based on Curle's analogy, the major acoustic source is found to be the fluctuating wall pressure induced by the flow unsteadiness occurred in the downstream branch. A scaling between the wall fluctuating force and the efficiency of the acoustic generation is also derived.
Characterization of metal matrix composites by linear ultrasonics and finite element modeling
Authors: Chen Xuesheng , Sharples Steve D. , Clark Matt , Wright David
Published: January 2013

Titanium metal matrix composites (TiMMCs) offer advantages over traditional materials for aerospace applications due to the increased mechanical strength of the materials. But the non-destructive inspection of these materials, especially with ultrasound, is in an infancy stage. If the manufacturing process of TiMMC is not correctly controlled, then disbonds and voids between the fibers can result. The effective microstructure of the composite makes difficulty to interpret results from traditional ultrasound techniques because of the scattering caused by fibers; the scattering prevents the ultrasound from penetrating far into the composite region and produces a background signal masking any reflections from voids. In this paper, relatively low frequency ultrasound is used to probe the composite region, and the state of the composite (porosity) is inferred from the velocity of the ultrasound traversing the composite. The relationship between the velocity and porosity is complex in this regime, so finite element (FE) analysis is used to model the composite regions and relate the velocity to the porosity. The FE simulated results are validated by ultrasound velocity measurements.
Training listeners to report the acoustic correlate of formant-frequency scaling using synthetic voices
Authors: Barreda Santiago , Nearey Terrance M.
Published: January 2013

The vocal tract length of a speaker is the primary determinant of the range of formant frequencies (FFs) produced by that speaker. Listeners have demonstrated sensitivity to the average FFs produced by voices, for example, in estimating the relative heights of two speakers based on their speech. However, it is not known whether they can learn to identify voices based on the acoustic characteristic associated with the average FFs produced by a voice (this characteristic will be referred to as FF-scaling). To investigate this, a series of vowels corresponding to voices that differed in their average f0 and/or FF-scaling were synthesized. Listeners (n = 71) were trained to identify these voices using a training procedure where, for each trial, they heard the vowels representing a voice and then had to identify the stimulus voice from among a series of candidate voices that differed in terms of their FF-scaling and/or their f0. Results indicate that listeners can identify voices on the basis of FF-scaling quite accurately and consistently after only a short training session and that, although f0 weakly influences these estimates, they are most strongly determined by the stimulus FFs.
Flow simulations on an organ pipe foot model
Authors: Vaik István , Paál György
Published: January 2013

The present paper shows numerical simulations of the flow responsible for the sound generation in an organ pipe. Only the foot model of the organ pipe (i.e., with the resonator detached) is investigated by two-dimensional incompressible CFD simulations. It is shown that in spite of the moderately high Reynolds number (Re≈2350) no turbulence modeling is necessary. Free jet simulation (foot model without the upper lip) showed that the jet oscillates due to its natural instability. The velocity profile, the centerline and the width of the jet is determined at different heights above the flue. Edge tone simulations (foot model with the upper lip) were carried out having the upper lip at a constant height but at different x positions. It was found that the strongest and most stable edge tone oscillation occurs if the lower left corner of the upper lip is in the centerline of the jet (optimum position). When the upper lip is far from its optimum position the oscillation of the jet is rather due to the natural instability of the jet than the edge tone phenomenon. The results agree well with the experimental results of Außerlechner et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 126, 878–886 (2009)] and Außerlechner (Ph.D. thesis, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany) and with former results of the authors [Paál and Vaik, Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 28, 575–586 (2007); Paál and Vaik, in Conference on Modelling Fluid Flow (CMFF'09), Budapest, Hungary].
Linking dynamic-range compression across the ears can improve speech intelligibility in spatially separated noise
Authors: Wiggins Ian M. , Seeber Bernhard U.
Published: January 2013

Recently introduced hearing devices allow dynamic-range compression to be coordinated at the two ears through a wireless link. This study investigates how linking compression across the ears might improve speech intelligibility in the presence of a spatially separated steady noise. An analysis of the compressors' behavior shows how linked compression can preserve interaural level differences (ILDs) and, compared to compression operating independently at each ear, improve the long-term apparent speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the ear with the better SNR. Speech intelligibility for normal-hearing listeners was significantly better with linked than with unlinked compression. The performance with linked compression was similar to that without any compression. The benefit of linked over unlinked compression was the same for binaural listening and for monaural listening to the ear with the better SNR, indicating that the benefit was due to changes to the signal at this ear and not to the preservation of ILDs. Differences in performance across experimental conditions were qualitatively consistent with changes in apparent SNR at the better ear. Predictions made using a speech intelligibility model suggest that linked compression could potentially provide a user of bilateral hearing aids with an improvement in intelligibility of up to approximately ten percentage points.
In situ estimation of applied biaxial loads with Lamb waves
Authors: Shi Fan , Michaels Jennifer E. , Lee Sang Jun
Published: January 2013

Spatially distributed arrays of piezoelectric disks are being applied to monitor structural integrity using Lamb waves. Applied loads directly affect waves propagating between array elements because of dimensional changes and the acoustoelastic effect. Resulting changes in phase velocity depend upon the propagation direction as well as the Lamb wave mode and frequency. This paper shows from numerical solutions of the acoustoelastic wave equation for an isotropic plate that it is possible to decouple the effects of a homogeneous biaxial stress into its two principal components. As a consequence of both this decoupling and material isotropy, the acoustoelastic response of a specific mode and frequency is described by only two constants, which can be determined from a uniaxial loading experiment. Using this formulation, a method is developed and verified via simulations to estimate an arbitrary biaxial load from phase velocity changes measured along multiple directions of propagation. Results from uniaxial loading experiments on two different plates further demonstrate the efficacy of the method. It is also shown that opening fatigue cracks may significantly degrade results by interfering with Lamb wave direct arrivals, but that this degradation can be mitigated by using a reduced set of data from unaffected paths of propagation.
Radiation force of an arbitrary acoustic beam on an elastic sphere in a fluid
Authors: Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Bailey Michael R.
Published: January 2013

A theoretical approach is developed to calculate the radiation force of an arbitrary acoustic beam on an elastic sphere in a liquid or gas medium. First, the incident beam is described as a sum of plane waves by employing conventional angular spectrum decomposition. Then, the classical solution for the scattering of a plane wave from an elastic sphere is applied for each plane-wave component of the incident field. The net scattered field is expressed as a superposition of the scattered fields from all angular spectrum components of the incident beam. With this formulation, the incident and scattered waves are superposed in the far field to derive expressions for components of the radiation stress tensor. These expressions are then integrated over a spherical surface to analytically describe the radiation force on an elastic sphere. Limiting cases for particular types of incident beams are presented and are shown to agree with known results. Finally, the analytical expressions are used to calculate radiation forces associated with two specific focusing transducers.
Geographic variability in the acoustic parameters of striped dolphin's (Stenella coeruleoalba) whistles
Authors: Papale Elena , Azzolin Marta , Cascão Irma , Gannier Alexandre , Lammers Marc O. , Martin Vidal M. , Oswald Julie , Perez-Gil Monica , Prieto Rui , Silva Monica A. , Giacoma Cristina
Published: January 2013

Geographic variation in the acoustic features of whistles emitted by the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Atlantic Ocean (Azores and Canary Islands) and the Mediterranean was investigated. Ten parameters (signal duration, beginning, end, minimum and maximum frequency, the number of inflection points, of steps, of minima and maxima in the contour and the frequency range) were extracted from each whistle. Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 73% of sounds between Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. A cline in parameters was apparent from the Azores to the Mediterranean, with a major difference between the Canaries and the Mediterranean than between Azores and Canaries. Signal duration, maximum frequency, and frequency range measured in the Mediterranean sample were significantly lower compared to those measured in the Atlantic. Modulation parameters played a considerable role in area discrimination and were the only parameters contributing to highlight the differences within the Atlantic Ocean. Results suggest that the acoustic features constrained by structural phenotype, such as whistle's frequency parameters, have a major effect on the Atlantic and Mediterranean separation while behavioral context, social, and physical environment may be among the main factors contributing to local distinctiveness of Atlantic areas. These results have potential passive acoustic monitoring applications.
Rayleigh scattering of a spherical sound wave
Authors: Godin Oleg A.
Published: January 2013

Acoustic Green's functions for a homogeneous medium with an embedded spherical obstacle arise in analyses of scattering by objects on or near an interface, radiation by finite sources, sound attenuation in and scattering from clouds of suspended particles, etc. An exact solution of the problem of diffraction of a monochromatic spherical sound wave on a sphere is given by an infinite series involving products of Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials. In this paper, a simple, closed-form solution is obtained for scattering by a sphere with a radius that is small compared to the wavelength. Soft, hard, impedance, and fluid obstacles are considered. The solution is valid for arbitrary positions of the source and receiver relative to the scatterer. Low-frequency scattering is shown to be rather sensitive to boundary conditions on the surface of the obstacle. Low-frequency asymptotics of the scattered acoustic field are extended to transient incident waves. The asymptotic expansions admit an intuitive interpretation in terms of image sources and reduce to classical results in appropriate limiting cases.
Phonovibrographic wavegrams: Visualizing vocal fold kinematics
Authors: Unger Jakob , Meyer Tobias , Herbst Christian T. , Fitch W. Tecumseh S. , Döllinger Michael , Lohscheller Jörg
Published: January 2013

Recently, endoscopic high-speed laryngoscopy has been established for commercial use as a state-of-the-art technique to examine vocal fold kinematics. Since modern cameras provide sampling rates of several thousand frames per second, a high volume of data has to be considered for visual and objective analysis. A method for visualizing endoscopic high speed videos in three-dimensional cycle-based graphs combining and extending the approaches of phonovibrograms and electroglottographic wavegrams is presented. To build a phonovibrographic wavegram, individual cycles of a phonovibrogram are segmented, normalized in cycle duration, and concatenated over time. For analyzing purposes, the emerging three-dimensional scalar field is visualized with different rendering techniques providing information of different aspects of vocal fold kinematics. The phonovibrographic wavegram incorporates information about the glottal closure type, size, and location of the amplitudes, symmetry, periodicity, and phase information. The potential of the approach to visualize the characteristics of vocal fold vibration in a compact and intuitive way is demonstrated within two healthy and three pathologic subjects. The phonovibrographic wavegram allows a comprehensive analysis of vocal fold kinematics and reveals information that remains hidden with other visualization techniques.
CD271
+
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells May Provide a Niche for Dormant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Das Bikul , Kashino Suely S. , Pulu Ista , Kalita Deepjyoti , Swami Vijay , Yeger Herman , Felsher Dean W. , Campos-Neto Antonio
Published: January 2013

CD271
+
bone marrow stem cells may provide a protective intracellular niche for dormant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
In Active Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, Effector T Cell Resistance to Adaptive T
regs
Involves IL-6–Mediated Signaling
Authors: Schneider Anya , Long Sarah Alice , Cerosaletti Karen , Ni Chester T. , Samuels Peter , Kita Mariko , Buckner Jane Hoyt
Published: January 2013

Effector T cells in patients with active RRMS can be resistant to immune tolerance through a mechanism involving IL-6R signaling.
Binge Drinking Induces Whole-Body Insulin Resistance by Impairing Hypothalamic Insulin Action
Authors: Lindtner Claudia , Scherer Thomas , Zielinski Elizabeth , Filatova Nika , Fasshauer Martin , Tonks Nicholas K. , Puchowicz Michelle , Buettner Christoph
Published: January 2013

Rats given alcohol to simulate binge drinking exhibit the first signs of diabetes, a result of altered insulin action in the brain.
Giving Lipid a Shot
Authors: Shrout Joshua D.
Published: January 2013

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide can be modified for use as an adjuvant.
Quantifying Pathogen Surveillance Using Temporal Genomic Data
Authors: Chan Joseph M. , Rabadan Raul
Published: January 2013

With the advent of deep sequencing, genomic surveillance has become a popular method for detection of infectious disease, supplementing information gathered by classic clinical or serological techniques to identify host-determinant markers and trace the origin of transmission. However, two main factors complicate genomic surveillance. First, pathogens exhibiting high genetic diversity demand higher levels of scrutiny to obtain an accurate representation of the entire population. Second, current systems of detection are nonuniform, with significant gaps in certain geographic locations and animal reservoirs. Despite past unforeseen pandemics like the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus, there is no standardized way of evaluating surveillance. A more complete surveillance system should capture a greater proportion of pathogen diversity. Here we present a novel quantitative method of assessing the completeness of genomic surveillance that incorporates the time of sequence collection, as well as the pathogen’s evolutionary rate. We propose the
q
2 coefficient, which measures the proportion of sequenced isolates whose closest neighbor in the past is within a genetic distance equivalent to 2 years of evolution, roughly the median time of changing strain selection for influenza A vaccines. Easily interpretable and significantly faster than other methods, the
q
2 coefficient requires no full phylogenetic characterization or use of arbitrary clade definitions. Application of the
q
2 coefficient to influenza A virus confirmed poor sampling of swine and avian populations and identified regions with deficient surveillance. We demonstrate that the
q
2 coefficient can not only be applied to other pathogens, including dengue and West Nile viruses, but also used to describe surveillance dynamics, particularly the effects of different public health policies.

IMPORTANCE
Surveillance programs have become key assets in determining the emergence or prevalence of pathogens circulating in human and animal populations. Genomic surveillance, in particular, provides comprehensive information on the history of isolates and potential molecular markers for infectivity and pathogenicity. Current techniques for evaluating genomic surveillance are inaccurate, ignoring the pathogen’s evolutionary rate and biodiversity, as well as the timing of sequence collection. Using sequence data, we propose the
q
2 coefficient as a quantitative measure of surveillance completeness that combines elements of time and evolution without defining arbitrary criteria for clades or species. Through several case studies of influenza A, dengue, and West Nile viruses, we employed the
q
2 coefficient to identify sampling deficiencies in different host species and locations, as well as examine the effects of different public health policies through historical records of the
q
2 coefficient. These results can guide public health agencies to focus resource allocation and virus collection to bolster specific problems in surveillance.
A not very NICE case of endocarditis
Authors: Lopez Rekha , Flavell Sophie , Thomas Claire
Published: January 2013

A 69-year-old man, previously independent and with a pre-existing metallic aortic valve, presented with a history of fevers, confusion and malaise and was diagnosed with prosthetic valve endocarditis. Blood cultures taken on presentation grewStreptococcus sanguinisand vegetations were confirmed on transoesophageal echocardiogram. He had had a dental procedure 10 days before presentation but had not received prophylactic antibiotics; he had been receiving antibiotic prophylaxis for dental treatment up until the change in NICE guidelines in 2008. He was treated with high dose antibiotics and was referred for cardiothoracic surgery, but developed a cerebrovascular event, thought to be embolic, and deteriorated and died. Given that the patient had a metallic aortic valve and poor dentition, and therefore was at increased risk of infective endocarditis, should the new guidelines have been followed so rigidly, particularly as American and European guidelines still recommend the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient group?
Bilateral optic perineuritis as the presenting feature of giant cell arteritis
Authors: Morotti Andrea , Liberini Paolo , Padovani Alessandro
Published: January 2013

Optic perineuritis (OPN) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder of the optic nerve sheath. Most cases are idiopathic, though OPN can rarely occur as a manifestation of vasculitic diseases. We describe the case of a 74-year-old Caucasian man presenting with diplopia and bilateral visual loss. A brain MRI showed bilateral OPN without involvement of other structures. All the tests performed to investigate OPN's aetiology showed negative results. Considering clinical presentation and neuroimaging findings, a diagnosis of bilateral idiopathic OPN was made. Treatment with intravenous high-dose steroid was administered. Four weeks after admission, the steroid therapy was interrupted because ofListeria monocytogenesinvasive infection. After steroid treatment withdrawal, the patient developed jaw claudication and bilateral skin necrosis of the temporal region, clinical features that are highly specific for giant cell arteritis (GCA). On this basis, a diagnosis of bilateral OPN secondary to GCA was made.
Delayed diagnosis of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis due to negative cryptococcal antigen test
Authors: Kessler Bernhard , Bally Frank , Hewer Ekkehard , Sendi Parham
Published: January 2013

Cryptococcusspp. commonly causes infection in immunocompromised hosts. Clinical presentation of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is variable, but headache, fever and a high intracranial pressure should suggest the diagnosis. The cryptococcal antigen test is a specific and sensitive rapid test that can be performed on blood or cerebrospinal fluid. We report a case of CM in a patient with previously undetected lymphocytopenia. Because cryptococcal antigen test results were negative, diagnosis and treatment were delayed.
Hypoadrenal syndrome in a patient with amyloidosis secondary to familial mediterranean fever
Authors: Gharabaghi Mehrnaz Asadi , Behdadnia Aram , Gharabaghi Mehrnoush Asadi , Abtahi Hamidreza
Published: January 2013

Amyloidosis is a common complication of poorly controlled familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). A variety of organs including kidneys, heart, liver, thyroid and adrenal glands may be clinically affected. However, involvement of adrenal glands leading to significant inefficiency is rarely seen in FMF patients with amyloidosis. The impairment of neuroendocrine immune system in FMF together with proteinuria in renal amyloidosis is a challenge while interpreting adrenal function tests. Here we present a case report of a 42-year-old man with FMF and renal failure due to amyloidosis whose disease course was complicated by adrenal insufficiency.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presenting with visual symptoms: a case of the ‘Heidenhain variant’
Authors: Verma Rajesh , Junewar Vivek , Sahu Ritesh
Published: January 2013

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) belongs to a group of prion diseases that may be caused by the abnormal folding of proteins called prion proteins. The ‘Heidenhain variant’ is a subclass of patients with CJD, who present with isolated visual symptoms at the onset without any cognitive decline. Here we report such a case of an elderly man presenting with progressive diminution of vision, forgetfulness, abnormal behaviour, myoclonic jerks and akinetic mutism since the last 5 months. On clinical examination, lead pipe rigidity was present in all four limbs, and plantars were bilateral extensors. In view of rapidly progressive dementia associated with myoclonus, a possibility of CJD was entertained. As visual symptoms preceded dementia, hence the Heidenhain variant was strongly suspected. MRI of the brain revealed cortical ribboning, and EEG showed periodic triphasic waveforms with background slowing. The patient succumbed to the illness within 1 month of hospitalisation.
Paradoxical response to dexamethasone and spontaneous hypocortisolism in Cushing's disease
Authors: Lila Anurag R , Sarathi Vijaya , Bandgar Tushar R , Shah Nalini S
Published: January 2013

Paradoxical response to dexamethasone and spontaneous development of hypocortisolism are rare features of Cushing's disease. We report a 13-year-old boy with Cushing's disease owing to a pituitary macroadenoma. On initial evaluation, he had partial suppression of serum cortisol by dexamethasone. He developed transient hypocortisolism after first adenomectomy, but the disease recurred after 1 year. Repeat evaluation showed recurrent hypercortisolism and paradoxical response to dexamethasone. He underwent second surgery and, postoperatively, hypercostisolism persisted even after 2 years of surgery. Repeat evaluations after 8 years of second surgery revealed persistent hypocortisolism despite residual tumour of same size and similar plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. We have also shown that the paradoxical increase in serum cortisol was preceded by a paradoxical increase in ACTH. The paradoxical response persisted despite hypocortisolism. This patient with Cushing's disease had two very rare features: paradoxical response to dexamethasone and spontaneous development of hypocortisolism.
Disseminated tuberculosis in a patient with antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus: a rare association
Authors: Kumar Naveen , Aggarwal Puneet , Dev Nishanth , Kumar Gunjan
Published: January 2013

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations. Tuberculosis is known to induce and exacerbate SLE and it becomes quite difficult to diagnose tuberculosis in this setting, owing to a similar, overlapping presentation of tuberculosis and SLE. We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a patient with antinuclear antibody-negative SLE. Treatment was started with antitubercular drugs together with hydroxychloroquine and steroid. After 6 months of follow-up the patient recovered with treatment.
Identifying attributes required by Foundation Year 1 doctors in multidisciplinary teams: a tool for performance evaluation
Authors: McGettigan Patricia , McKendree Jean , Reed Nick , Holborow Sarah , Walsh Charlotte Devereaux , Mace Thomas
Published: January 2013

Background

Effective working in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) is promoted as essential in ensuring good healthcare outcomes, suggesting that an understanding exists of the relationship between outcomes and the attributes needed by individuals to function effectively in the MDT. While the characteristics of effective teamwork have been described, the attributes needed by individual MDT members have not been investigated. To address this, the study focuses on newly qualified Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors, creating and testing a tool to evaluate their performance in the MDT.

Methods

Repertory grid technique was used to elicit attributes needed by FY1 doctors to function effectively in the MDT. Study participants (all experienced MDT members) used these to evaluate MDT working by FY1 doctor colleagues. Data on 57 FY1 doctors were collected from 95 MDT members working in five hospitals. Participants also ranked the attributes in terms of importance for effective team functioning and rated an ‘Ideal’ FY1 doctor.

Results

The repertory grid permitted differentiation between groups of FY1 doctors’ MDT performance. FY1 doctors who undertook interprofessional training were rated no differently than UK-trained graduates without such training. UK-trained graduates were rated significantly higher on all attributes than non-UK-trained graduates. Overall, FY1 doctors were rated lower than the ‘Ideal’. Factor analysis and rankings suggested tensions between clinical attributes needed for good team functioning and more ‘social’ attributes.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the potential of repertory grid methodology in eliciting attributes that are important for effective teamworking, and using these to evaluate MDT working by FY1 doctors.
Matching identifiers in electronic health records: implications for duplicate records and patient safety
Authors: McCoy Allison B , Wright Adam , Kahn Michael G , Shapiro Jason S , Bernstam Elmer Victor , Sittig Dean F
Published: January 2013

Objective

To quantify the percentage of records with matching identifiers as an indicator for duplicate or potentially duplicate patient records in electronic health records in five different healthcare organisations, describe the patient safety issues that may arise, and present solutions for managing duplicate records or records with matching identifiers.

Methods

For each institution, we retrieved deidentified counts of records with an exact match of patient first and last names and dates of birth and determined the number of patient records existing for the top 250 most frequently occurring first and last name pairs. We also identified methods for managing duplicate records or records with matching identifiers, reporting the adoption rate of each across institutions.

Results

The occurrence of matching first and last name in two or more individuals ranged from 16.49% to 40.66% of records; inclusion of date of birth reduced the rates to range from 0.16% to 15.47%. The number of records existing for the most frequently occurring name at each site ranged from 41 to 2552. Institutions varied widely in the methods they implemented for preventing, detecting and removing duplicate records, and mitigating resulting errors.

Conclusions

The percentage of records having matching patient identifiers is high in several organisations, indicating that the rate of duplicate records or records may also be high. Further efforts are necessary to improve management of duplicate records or records with matching identifiers and minimise the risk for patient harm.
Pd/BaSO4-catalyzed cross coupling of acyl chlorides with in situ generated alkynylzinc derivatives for the synthesis of ynones
Authors: Yuan Hu , Jin Huizi , Li Bo , Shen Yunheng , Yue Rongcai , Shan Lei , Sun Qingyan , Zhang Weidong
Published: January 2013

An efficient and operationally simple procedure using Pd/BaSO4-catalyzed cross coupling of acyl chlorides with in situ generated alkynylzinc derivatives was developed, giving the corresponding ynones at yields of 50%–96%.
Submerged macrophytes modify bacterial community composition in sediments in a large, shallow, freshwater lake
Authors: Zhao Da-Yong , Liu Peng , Fang Chao , Sun Yi-Meng , Zeng Jin , Wang Jian-Qun , Ma Ting , Xiao Yi-Hong , Wu Qinglong L.
Published: January 2013

Submerged aquatic macrophytes are an important part of the lacustrine ecosystem. In this study, the bacterial community compositions in the rhizosphere sediments from three kinds of submerged macrophytes (Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton crispus, and Vallisneria natans) were investigated to determine whether submerged macrophytes could drive the variation of bacterial community in the eutrophic Taihu Lake, China. Molecular techniques, including terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene and clone libraries, were employed to analyze the bacterial community compositions. Remarkable differences of the T-RFLP patterns were observed among the different samples, and the results of LIBSHUFF analysis also confirmed that the bacterial community compositions in the rhizosphere sediments of three kinds of submerged macrophytes were statistically different from that of the unvegetated sediment. Acidobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups in the rhizosphere sediments of Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton crispus, and Vallisneria natans, respectively, accounting for 15.38%, 29.03%, and 18.00% of the total bacterial abundances. Our study demonstrated that submerged macrophytes could influence the bacterial community compositions in their rhizosphere sediments, suggesting that macrophytes have an effect on the cycling and transportation of nutrients in the freshwater lake ecosystem.
Effects of band structure and electron–phonon coupling on charge density waves
Authors: Sadowski Jason W. , Tanaka K. , Nagai Yuki
Published: January 2013

We examine the effects of band structure and electron–phonon interactions on charge density waves (CDW) in terms of the extended attractive Hubbard model at half filling. It is shown that van Hove singularities well below the Fermi surface can lead to a substantial energy gain by electron–phonon coupling and result in the formation of CDW.
TRPM8 agonists modulate contraction of the pig urinary bladder
Authors: Vahabi Bahareh , Parsons Brian A. , Doran Olena , Rhodes Anthony , Dean Sarah , Drake Marcus J.
Published: January 2013

The transient receptor potential melastin-8 (TRPM8) channel is activated by the “cooling” compounds menthol and icilin. Pathophysiologically, it is implicated in the overactive bladder and bladder cooling reflex, but the activity of TRPM8 in normal bladder physiology is poorly understood. We investigated the distribution of TRPM8 channels and the effect of TRPM8 agonists on the contractile function of pig bladder (n = 35) strips and whole bladders. The distribution of TRPM8 was examined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of vesical or intravascular menthol (0.1–0.3 mmol/L) or icilin (50 μmol/L) on carbachol-induced isolated whole bladder contractions was monitored by recording vesical pressure. Strips of denuded detrusor or mucosa were mounted in organ baths to study the effect of TRPM8 agonists on the contractile responses to 10 μmol/L carbachol. TRPM8-like immunoreactivity was detected on pig urothelium. Intravascular menthol (0.3 mmol/L) and icilin (50 μmol/L) significantly decreased the magnitude of carbachol-induced whole bladder contraction, whereas vesical administration significantly increased the response. In detrusor and mucosal strips, both menthol (0.3 mmol/L) and icilin (50 μmol/L) inhibited carbachol-induced contractions. We conclude that the TRPM8 channel is expressed on the urothelium of pig bladder. In the whole organ, exposure of the urothelium to menthol or icilin increases the contractile response to carbachol. Where detrusor muscle is exposed directly to these compounds, the contractile response to carbachol is reduced.
Expression of genes involved in key metabolic processes during winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) metamorphosis
Authors: Vagner Marie , de Montgolfier Benjamin , Sévigny Jean-Marie , Tremblay Réjean , Audet Céline
Published: January 2013

The aim of this study was to better understand the molecular events governing ontogeny in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum, 1792)). The expression of seven genes involved in key metabolic processes during metamorphosis were measured at settlement (S0), at 15 (S15), and 30 (S30) days after settlement and compared with those in pelagic larvae prior to settlement (PL). Two critical stages were identified: (1) larval transit from the pelagic to the benthic habitat (from PL to S0) and (2) metamorphosis maturation, when the larvae stay settled without growth (from S0 to S30). Growth hormone (gh) gene expression significantly increased at S0. At S30, an increase in cytochrome oxidase (cox) gene expression occurred with a second surge of gh gene expression, suggesting that enhanced aerobic capacity was supporting growth before the temperature decrease in the fall. Expression patterns of pyruvate kinase (pk), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd), and bile salt activated lipase (bal) genes indicated that energy synthesis may be mainly supplied through glycolysis in PL, through the pentose–phosphate pathway at settlement, and through lipid metabolism at S30. The expression of the heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70), superoxide dismutase (sod), cox, and peroxiredoxin-6 (prx6) genes revealed that oxidative stress and the consequent development of antioxidative protection were limited during the PL stage, reinforced at settlement, and very high at S30, certainly owing to the higher growth rate observed at this period.
Concurrent changes in group size and roost use by reproductive female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)
Authors: Olson Cory R. , Barclay Robert M.R.
Published: January 2013

Group formation is beneficial for many small endotherms, in part to create favourable conditions for developing offspring. However, for individuals occupying spatially limited structures, such as tree cavities, group formation may influence—and be influenced by—the range of structures available for use. This may be especially true of bats, which often form maternity groups that regularly change in size. We examined colonies of tree-roosting little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831)) in northern Alberta to address two questions: (1) is group size associated with patterns of roost use, in particular the use of large-diameter trees, and (2) does group size change during reproduction and correspond to changes in roost use? We located roosts over 2 years using radiotelemetry and conducted exit counts at a subset of these roosts. Larger diameter trees had larger and more variable group sizes. Roost-tree diameter peaked near the start of parturition, the time when bats formed the largest groups. We suggest that large groups are especially beneficial at this time due to the thermoregulatory benefits to small, unfurred pups. Our results indicate that roost use and group size are interrelated and that large-diameter trees may be especially beneficial by supporting a wider range of group sizes.
ON SMALL UNIVERSAL SPLICING SYSTEMS
Authors: ALHAZOV ARTIOM , ROGOZHIN YURII , VERLAN SERGEY
Published: January 2013

In this paper we consider universal systems based on splicing. As in previous works, we take the number of rules as the parameter for the descriptional complexity. We present three results: universal double splicing extended H system with 5 rules, universal splicing test tube system with 8 rules and a universal splicing P system with 5 rules.
DECIDABILITY AND UNIVERSALITY IN THE AXIOMATIC THEORY OF COMPUTABILITY AND ALGORITHMS
Authors: BURGIN MARK
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we study to what extent decidability is connected to universality. A natural context for such a study is provided by the axiomatic theory of computability, automata and algorithms. In Section 2, we introduce necessary concepts, constructions, axioms, postulates, conditions and problems. Section 3 contains the main results of the paper. In particular, it is demonstrated (Theorems 1 and 2) that undecidability of algorithmic problems does not depend on existence of universal algorithms and may be caused by weaker conditions. At the same time, results of Theorems 2 and 3 demonstrate that decidability is incompatible with universality. It is also proved (Theorem 5) that sufficiently big classes of total algorithms/automata, such as the class of all primitive recursive functions, cannot have universal algorithms/automata.
THREE APPLICATIONS TO RATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE HIGH UNDECIDABILITY OF THE INFINITE POST CORRESPONDENCE PROBLEM IN A REGULAR ω-LANGUAGE
Authors: FINKEL OLIVIER
Published: January 2013

It was noticed by Harel in [Har86] that "one can define [Formula: see text]-complete versions of the well-known Post Correspondence Problem". We first give a complete proof of this result, showing that the infinite Post Correspondence Problem in a regular ω-language is [Formula: see text]-complete, hence located beyond the arithmetical hierarchy and highly undecidable. We infer from this result that it is [Formula: see text]-complete to determine whether two given infinitary rational relations are disjoint. Then we prove that there is an amazing gap between two decision problems about ω-rational functions realized by finite state Büchi transducers. Indeed Prieur proved in [Pri01, Pri02] that it is decidable whether a given ω-rational function is continuous, while we show here that it is [Formula: see text]-complete to determine whether a given ω-rational function has at least one point of continuity. Next we prove that it is [Formula: see text]-complete to determine whether the continuity set of a given ω-rational function is ω-regular. This gives the exact complexity of two problems which were shown to be undecidable in [CFS08].
SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON BOUNDED QUERY COMPUTATIONS OVER THE REALS
Authors: MEER KLAUS
Published: January 2013

A classical theme in recursion theory is the question whether for a set A and n given elements x1,…,xn, an oracle machine having access to an oracle B can determine which of the elements xi belong to A. And if yes, how many queries are necessary? Here, B = A is possible and leads to interesting special cases of the general question

In the present paper we adapt classical notions in this area of bounded query computations to real number algorithms as formalized by Blum, Shub, and Smale and analyze them in the new framework. Among the results obtained we find: A real version of a non-speedup theorem based on real quantifier elimination, some basic properties about selective real sets, and a way to construct natural terse sets in ℝ by applying the implicit function theorem. The purpose of the paper is on presenting some interesting questions and basic results as an appertizer to intensify research into this direction.
A TISSUE P SYSTEM BASED SOLUTION TO QUADRATIC ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM
Authors: NIU YUNYUN , SUBRAMANIAN K. G. , VENKAT IBRAHIM , ABDULLAH ROSNI
Published: January 2013

The quadratic assignment problem (QAP) is one of the fundamental combinatorial optimization problems, which models many real-life problems. However, it is considered as one of the most difficult NP-hard problems, which means that no polynomial-time algorithm is known to solve this intractable problem effectively. Even small instances of QAP may require vast computation time. In this work, a uniform cellular solution to QAP is proposed in the framework of membrane computing by using a family of recognizer tissue P systems with cell division. In the design of the solution, we encode the given instances in binary notations. The paper can be considered as a contribution to the study of considering a binary encoding of the information in P systems.
CONTEXT-FREE GROUPS AND THEIR STRUCTURE TREES
Authors: DIEKERT VOLKER , WEIß ARMIN
Published: January 2013

Let Γ be a connected, locally finite graph of finite tree width and G be a group acting on it with finitely many orbits and finite node stabilizers. We provide an elementary and direct construction of a tree T on which G acts with finitely many orbits and finite vertex stabilizers. Moreover, the tree is defined directly in terms of the structure tree of optimally nested cuts of Γ. Once the tree is constructed, Bass–Serre theory yields that G is virtually free. This approach simplifies the existing proofs for the fundamental result of Muller and Schupp that characterizes context-free groups as finitely generated (f.g.) virtually free groups. Our construction avoids the explicit use of Stallings' structure theorem and it is self-contained. We also give a simplified proof for an important consequence of the structure tree theory by Dicks and Dunwoody which has been stated by Thomassen and Woess. It says that a f.g. group is accessible if and only if its Cayley graph is accessible.
SOLVING THE NONLOCALITY RIDDLE BY CONFORMAL QUANTUM GEOMETRODYNAMICS
Authors: SANTAMATO ENRICO , DE MARTINI FRANCESCO
Published: January 2013

Since the 1935 proposal by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen the riddle of nonlocality, today demonstrated by the violation of Bell's inequalities within innumerable experiments, has been a cause of concern and confusion within the debate over the foundations of quantum mechanics. The present paper tackles the problem by a nonrelativistic approach based on conformal differential geometry applied to the solution of the dynamical problem of two entangled spin 1/2 particles. It is found that the quantum nonlocality may be understood on the basis of a conformal quantum geometrodynamics acting necessarily on the full "configuration space" of the entangled particles. At the end, the violation of the Bell inequalities is demonstrated without making recourse to the common nonlocality paradigm.
Optically active J-aggregate formed from water-soluble porphyrin with phenylalanine
Authors: Uemori Yoshio , Munakata Hiroki , Kitazawa Sakiko , Osada Astuko , Imai Hiroyasu
Published: January 2013

A water-soluble porphyrin bearing multi-dentate ligands was prepared, and its aggregation behavior in solution under various conditions (temperature, pH, metal ion, chiral compound) was investigated using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Upon the addition of Ca2+, Ba2+ , or Sr2+ to a solution of porphyrin, the porphyrin first forms an H-aggregate and is then transformed to a J-aggregate at 25 °C in buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.4). On the other hand, the porphyrin forms a self-aggregate (H-aggregate) at 25 °C in buffered aqueous solution (pH 6.0), and the H-aggregate does not form the J-aggregate upon the addition of the group II metal ions. The measurement of CD spectra revealed that the H-aggregate that forms right after the addition of Ba2+ to the porphyrin solution in the presence of D- or L-phenylalanine does not show an induced CD signal, while the J-aggregate formed from the H-aggregate shows induced CD signals in the Soret region.
Consecutive intercalation of a cationic porphyrin dimer between the GC base-pairs: a kinetic study
Authors: Gong Lindan , Lee Changyun , Kim Gyeongwon , Lee Young Sun , Lee Suk Joong , Kim Seog K.
Published: January 2013

One of the porphyrin moieties of the porphyrin dimer intercalates rapidly between the DNA base-pairs, followed by the slow intercalation of the other. The slow intercalation of the second porphyrin moiety of porphyrin dimer to poly[d(G-C)2] was investigated by normal absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The change in absorbance in the Soret band of porphyrin upon association with poly[d(G-C)2] can be best elucidated by the combination of the two single exponential curves, suggesting the intercalation occurred via two independent first order reactions. Activation energies of these two first order reactions were calculated to be 0.37 kcal/mol and 3.19 kcal/mol, respectively. The intercalation associated with lower activation energy can be assigned to the intercalation of second porphyrin moiety to 5′CG3′ site while that with higher activation energy to 5′GC3′ intercalation site. Increasing the flexibility of poly[d(G-C)2] by adding Na+ ion resulted in an enhancement of the reaction rate for both steps in an exponential manner.