bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Atlantic modification and validation of the A Tool to Assess Quality of Life in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (ATAQ-IPF-cA)
Authors: Yorke Janelle , Spencer Lisa G , Duck Annette , Ratcliffe Sarah , Kwong G NgMan , Longshaw Mark S , Belkin Amanda , Swigris Jeffrey J
Published: June 2014

Rationale

The A Tool to Assess Quality of Life in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (ATAQ-IPF) was developed in the USA to assess health-related quality of life in patients with IPF. It is likely that some of the original ATAQ-IPF items perform differently when applied in different countries. This paper reports results of a study conducted to identify the need to refine the content of the ATAQ-IPF to minimise cross-country bias between the USA and the UK.

Methods

The ATAQ-IPF and other study measures were completed by patients attending specialist IPF clinics in the USA and UK. Rasch analysis was used to determine which items performed differently across countries (USA vs UK) and refine the original ATAQ-IPF to an instrument without cross-country bias (ATAQ-IPF-cA). Preliminary validation of the modified instrument was examined by assessing correlations between ATAQ-IPF-cA scores and scores from dyspnoea-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures.

Results

139 patients with IPF (USA=74; UK=65) participated in the study. A total of 41 items and 4 domains were removed from the original, 86-item instrument to yield the 43 items and 10 domains of the ATAQ-IPF-cA. Each domain had good fit to the Rasch model, internal consistency was comparable to the corresponding domains for the original ATAQ-IPF, and validity was supported by significant correlations between its scores and scores from dyspnoea-specific PROs.

Conclusions

The reliability and validity of the substantially shortened ATAQ-IPF-cA are acceptable and comparable to the original instrument. We recommend use of the ATAQ-IPF-cA in IPF studies in which participants are enrolled from the USA and UK.
Identifying the challenges and facilitators of implementing a COPD care bundle
Authors: Lennox Laura , Green Stuart , Howe Cathy , Musgrave Hannah , Bell Derek , Elkin Sarah
Published: June 2014

Background

Care bundles have been shown to improve outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions and reduce length of hospital stay; therefore increasing the speed of uptake and delivery of care bundles should be a priority in order to deliver more timely improvements and consistent high-quality care. Previous studies have detailed the difficulties of obtaining full compliance to bundle elements but few have described the underlying reasons for this. In order to improve future implementation this paper investigates the challenges encountered by clinical teams implementing a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care bundle and describes actions taken to overcome these challenges.

Methods

An initial retrospective documentary analysis of data from seven clinical implementation teams was undertaken to review the challenges faced by the clinical teams. Three focus groups with healthcare professionals and managers explored solutions to these challenges developed during the project.

Results

Documentary analysis identified 28 challenges which directly impacted implementation of the COPD care bundle within five themes; staffing, infrastructure, process, use of improvement methodology and patient and public involvement. Focus groups revealed that the five most significant challenges for all groups were:staff too busy,staff shortages,lack of staff engagement,added workload of the bundleandpatient coding issues. The participants shared facilitating factors used to overcome issues including: shifting perceptions to improve engagement, further education sessions to increase staff participation and gaining buy-in from managers through payment frameworks.

Conclusions

Maximising the impact of a care bundle relies on its successful and timely implementation. Teams implementing the COPD care bundle encountered challenges that were common to all teams and sites. Understanding and learning from the challenges faced by previous endeavours and identifying the facilitators to overcoming these barriers provides an opportunity to mitigate issues that waste time and resources, and ensures that training can be tailored to the anticipated challenges.
A study of patients with isolated mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy undergoing EBUS-TBNA
Authors: Evison Matthew , Crosbie Philip A J , Morris Julie , Martin Julie , Barber Philip V , Booton Richard
Published: June 2014

Background

Isolated mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy (IMHL) may be caused by benign and malignant disorders or be ‘reactive’. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a reported low negative predictive value (NPV) in IMHL, necessitating mediastinoscopy in selected patients. The aim of this study was to examine the NPV of EBUS-TBNA in an IMHL population and determine whether clinical variables differentiate between pathological and reactive IMHL.

Methods

Analysis of a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients with IMHL referred to a single UK centre for EBUS-TBNA.

Results

100 patients with IMHL had EBUS-TBNA during the study (March 2010–February 2013), mean age 58.6±15.7 years, 63% men, 70% white British and mean follow-up 16.8±8.6 months. Pathological cause of IMHL established in 52 patients (sarcoidosis n=20, tuberculosis n=18, carcinoma n=7, lymphoma n=6, benign cyst n=1), 43 from EBUS-TBNA. 48/57 negative EBUS-TBNA samples were true negatives reflecting reactive lymphadenopathy in 48%. The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 91% and NPV was 84.2% (95% CI 72.6% to 91.5%). Multivariate analysis of clinical covariates showed age (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.13; p=0.033), the presence of a relevant comorbidity (OR 9.49, 95% CI 2.20 to 41.04; p=0.003) and maximum lymph node size (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.83; p=0.00004) to differentiate between reactive and pathological IMHL. Stratification of the study population according to comorbidity and maximum lymph node size (<20 mm) identified a low-risk cohort (n=32) where the NPV of EBUS-TBNA was 93.8% (95% CI 79.9% to 98.3%).

Conclusions

Reactive lymphadenopathy accounts for a significant proportion of patients with IMHL. In carefully selected patients with IMHL and a negative EBUS-TBNA, surveillance rather than further invasive sampling may be an appropriate strategy.
Boron doping in a-SiO:H,
Authors: Kitani Y. , Maeda T. , Kakimoto S. , Tanaka K. , Okumoto R. , Sobajima Y. , Sada C. , Matsuda A. , Okamoto H.
Published: June 2014

Boron-doping characteristics in hydrogenated amorphous silicon–oxygen alloys (a-SiO:H) have been studied in contrast to those in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Although the boron-incorporation efficiency shows almost the same value between a-SiO:H and a-Si:H, p-type a-SiO:H (p-a-SiO:H) exhibits lower dark conductivity by one or two orders of magnitude as compared to p-type a-Si:H (p-a-Si:H) in a wide range of doping levels. We have found that p-a-SiO:H exhibits low dark conductivity as compared to p-a-Si:H even when we choose samples showing the same activation energy from a variety of as-deposited and thermally annealed samples. We have concluded from the different Urbach-energy values between high quality intrinsic a-SiO:H and a-Si:H that the origin of low dark conductivity in p-a-SiO:H is due to low hole mobility.
DNA Codeword Design: Theory and Applications
Authors: Garzon Max H.
Published: June 2014

This is a survey of the origin, current progress and applications of a major roadblock to the development of analytic models for DNA computing (a massively parallel programming methodology) and DNA self-assembly (a nanofabrication methodology), namely the so-called CODEWORD DESIGN problem. The problem calls for finding large sets of single DNA strands that do not crosshybridize to themselves or to their complements and has been recognized as an important problem in DNA computing, self-assembly, DNA memories and phylogenetic analyses because of their error correction and prevention properties. Major recent advances include the development of experimental techniques to search for such codes, as well as a theoretical framework to analyze this problem, despite the fact that it has been proven to be NP-complete using any single concrete metric space to model the Gibbs energy. In this framework, codeword design is reduced to finding large sets of strands maximally separated in DNA spaces and, therefore, the key to finding such sets would lie in knowledge of the geometry of these spaces. A new general technique has been recently found to embed them in Euclidean spaces in a hybridization-affinity-preserving manner, i.e., in such a way that oligos with high/low hybridization affinity are mapped to neighboring/remote points in a geometric lattice, respectively. This isometric embedding materializes long-held metaphors about codeword design in terms of sphere packing and error-correcting codes and leads to designs that are in some cases known to be provably nearly optimal for some oligo sizes. It also leads to upper and lower bounds on estimates of the size of optimal codes of size up to 32–mers, as well as to infinite families of solutions to CODEWORD DESIGN, based on estimates of the kissing (or contact) number for sphere packings in Euclidean spaces. Conversely, this reduction suggests interesting new algorithms to find dense sphere packing solutions in high dimensional spheres using results for CODEWORD DESIGN previously obtained by experimental or theoretical molecular means, as well as a proof that finding these bounds exactly is NP-complete in general. Finally, some research problems and applications arising from these results are described that might be of interest for further research.
Confinement in 3D polynomial oscillators through a generalized pseudospectral method
Authors: Roy Amlan K.
Published: June 2014

Spherical confinement in three-dimensional (3D) harmonic, quartic and other higher oscillators of even order is studied. The generalized pseudospectral (GPS) method is employed for accurate solution of relevant Schrödinger equation in an optimum, non-uniform radial grid. Eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, position expectation values, radial densities in low- and high-lying states are presented in case of small, intermediate and large confinement radius. The degeneracy breaking in confined situation as well as correlation in its energy ordering with respect to the respective unconfined counterpart is discussed. For all instances, current results agree excellently with the best available literature results. Many new states are reported here for the first time. In essence, a simple, efficient method is provided for accurate solution of 3D polynomial potentials enclosed within the spherical impenetrable walls.
Ultrahigh energy particle collisions near the black hole horizon in the strong magnetic field
Authors: Zaslavskii O. B.
Published: June 2014

We consider collision between two charged (or charged and neutral) particles near the black hole horizon in the strong magnetic field B. It is shown that there exists a strip near the horizon within which collision of any two such particles leads to ultrahigh energy in the center-of-mass frame (CM frame). The results apply to generic (not necessarily vacuum) black holes.
A 7.8 mW 5.2% FSK ERROR TWO-POINT MODULATOR WITHOUT CALIBRATION
Authors: WANG CHENLUAN , DIAO SHENGXI , CHEN NAN , JIA FEI , LIN FUJIANG
Published: June 2014

A low power phase locked loop (PLL)-based modulator for wireless sensor application is presented in this paper. The modulator adopts two-point modulation architecture in high-pass and low-pass paths of PLL; it modulates the divide ratio through sigma-delta modulator and VCO frequency tuning port simultaneously. An interleave-biased varactor pair is used to linearize the frequency tuning curve of the VCO. Besides, to achieve the desired frequency deviation of 500 kHz, we use a structure with parallel and serial capacitances in combination with tuning varactors. This topology does not need the minimum size varactor, which is sensitive to process variation and mismatch. Implemented in standard 0.18-μm CMOS process, the modulator achieves a 5.2% FSK error for 2 Mbps data rate without using any auto-calibration circuit, consuming 7.8-mW power. Loop filter and crystal are the only off-chip components.
The physics of quantum computation
Authors: Falci G. , Paladino E.
Published: June 2014

Quantum computation has emerged in the past decades as a consequence of down-scaling of electronic devices to the mesoscopic regime and of advances in the ability of controlling and measuring microscopic quantum systems. Quantum computation has many interdisciplinary aspects, ranging from physics and chemistry to mathematics and computer science. In this paper, we focus on physical hardware, present day challenges and future directions for design of quantum architectures.
Individual Innovation Index (I3): Assessment and Enhancement
Authors: Saripalle Ravi Shankar , Kumar P. V. , Tatavarti Rao
Published: June 2014

Inculcation of innovation in organizations and the strategies to assess, monitor and promote the same are prevalent. However, individual innovation assessment and a methodology to improve individual innovation are still in their infancy. This paper stresses the importance of individual innovation for the progress of individual and therefore, for the organization and the country. This paper introduces an assessment metric, individual innovation index (I3), to calibrate innovation of an individual. An intervention mechanism for transforming non-performers into performers is elucidated and validated with case studies pertaining to students in the context of education.
Adefovir and Lamivudine Combination Therapy in Patients with Entecavir-Resistant Chronic Hepatitis B: Antiviral Responses and Evolution of Mutations
Authors: Yim Hyung Joon , Lee Hyun Jung , Suh Sang Jun , Seo Yeon Seok , Kim Chang Wook , Lee Chang Don , Park Sang Hoon , Lee Myung Seok , Park Choong Kee , Chae Hee Bok , Kim Moon Young , Baik Soon Koo , Kim Yun Soo , Kim Ju Hyun , Lee Jung Il , Lee Jin Woo , Hong Sun Pyo , Um Soon Ho
Published: June 2014

Objective: This study was designed to prospectively evaluate the antiviral responses and evolution of resistance mutations during adefovir (ADV) plus lamivudine (LMV) therapy in patients with entecavir (ETV)-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: Twenty chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had been receiving ETV for more than 6 months and developed virologic breakthrough due to ETV resistance were consecutively enrolled. Results: Patients received ADV plus LMV therapy for 12 months. The baseline mean serum HBV DNA level was 5.59 ± 1.28 log10 IU/ml. The rtT184L/I/A/F (50%), rtS202G (25%) and mixed ETV-resistant mutations (25%) were detected at enrollment. The mean reduction in serum HBV DNA levels from baseline to 12 months was -2.3 ± 1.06 log10 IU/ml (p < 0.001). Seventeen patients were followed up for the full 12 months, and complete virologic response (HBV DNA <20 IU/ml) was observed in 4 patients (23.5%). Among the remaining 13 patients who still had detectable HBV DNA, 7 patients showed disappearance of ETV-resistant mutations or reduction of the proportion of ETV-resistant mutants. An ADV- and LMV-resistant mutant (rtA181T) emerged in 2 patients (11.7%). Conclusions: ADV plus LMV combination therapy suppresses ETV-resistant mutants in the viral population and significantly reduces serum HBV DNA levels in ETV-resistant CHB patients.
Health Care Service Utilization of Dementia Patients before and after Institutionalization: A Claims Data Analysis
Authors: Schwarzkopf Larissa , Hao Yi , Holle Rolf , Graessel Elmar
Published: June 2014

Background: Community-based and institutional dementia care has been compared in cross-sectional studies, but longitudinal information on the effect of institutionalization on health care service utilization is sparse. Methods: We analyzed claims data from 651 dementia patients via Generalized Estimation Equations to assess health care service utilization profiles and corresponding expenditures from four quarters before to four quarters after institutionalization. Results: In all domains, utilization increased in the quarter of institutionalization. Afterwards, the use of drugs, medical aids, and non-physician services (e.g., occupational therapy and physiotherapy) remained elevated, but use of in- and outpatient treatment decreased. Cost of care showed corresponding profiles. Conclusion: Institutional dementia care seems to be associated with an increased demand for supportive services but not necessarily for specialized medical care.
Use of Misoprostol for Self-Induced Medical Abortions among Saudi Women: A Call for Attention
Authors: Alsibiani Sharifa A.
Published: June 2014

Aims: To investigate misoprostol use as a self-administered medical abortifacient and to explore the knowledge and availability of misoprostol and attitudes towards it among Saudi women. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in obstetric and gynecological outpatient clinics at private and teaching institutions between January 1 and June 29, 2012. Results: Of the 678 respondents, 40% (271/678) were aware of misoprostol use as an abortifacient and 7.4% (50/678) reported personal use of it as an abortifacient. Misoprostol users were more likely to have had previous abortions (96%, 48/50; p < 0.01), had a relative/friend working in the medical field (70%, 35/50; p < 0.01) and known someone else who had used the drug (82%, 41/50; p < 0.01). The majority responded incorrectly that higher misoprostol doses are required with more advanced gestational age (96%, 48/50) and that misoprostol use confers no fetal risks (100%, 50/50). Conclusion: The proportion that reported personal use of misoprostol in the current study (7.4%) exceeded that in similar samples in Brazil (2.2%) and the USA (5%). One concerning finding was the users' poor knowledge about misoprostol. Increased awareness about the inherent risks associated with unsupervised misoprostol use as an abortifacient is needed.
Longitudinal Effects of Metabolic Syndrome on Alzheimer and Vascular Related Brain Pathology
Authors: Lin Feng , Lo Raymond Y. , Cole Daniel , Ducharme Simon , Chen Ding-Geng , Mapstone Mark , Porsteinsson Anton ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: June 2014

Background/Aims: This study examines the longitudinal effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on brain-aging indices among cognitively normal (CN) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) groups [single-domain aMCI (saMCI) and multiple-domain aMCI (maMCI)]. Methods: The study population included 739 participants (CN = 226, saMCI = 275, and maMCI = 238) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a clinic-based, multi-center prospective cohort. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to determine a MetS latent composite score using baseline data of vascular risk factors. We examined the changes of two Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, namely [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) regions of interest and medial temporal lobe volume over 5 years. A cerebrovascular aging index, cerebral white matter (cWM) volume, was examined as a comparison. Results: The vascular risk was similar in all groups. Applying generalized estimating equation modeling, all brain-aging indices declined significantly over time. Higher MetS scores were associated with a faster decline of cWM in the CN and maMCI groups but with a slower decrement of regional glucose metabolism in FDG-PET in the saMCI and maMCI groups. Conclusion: At the very early stage of cognitive decline, the vascular burden such as MetS may be in parallel with or independent of AD pathology in contributing to cognitive impairment in terms of accelerating the disclosure of AD pathology.
Epicutaneous Immunization with TNP-Ig and Zymosan Induces TCRαβ+ CD4+ Contrasuppressor Cells That Reverse Skin-Induced Suppression via IL-17A
Authors: Majewska-Szczepanik Monika , Strzepa Anna , Marcińska Katarzyna , Wen Li , Szczepanik Marian
Published: June 2014

Background: Our previous work showed that epicutaneous (EC) immunization with protein antigen e.g. TNP-conjugated mouse immunoglobulin (TNP-Ig) in the form of a patch prior to hapten sensitization inhibits Th1-mediated contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in mice. We also found that suppression of CHS was mediated by TCRαβ+ CD4+ CD8+ T suppressor cells producing TGF-β. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of innate immunity in the suppression of CHS. Methods: Mice were immunized by applying gauze patches containing protein antigen alone or in the presence of zymosan, and were then tested for the CHS response. Adoptive cell transfer experiments were used to study the mechanisms involved in the reversal of skin-induced suppression. The influence of EC immunization on cytokine production by lymph node cells was measured by ELISA. Results: We found that EC immunization with TNP-Ig and zymosan before trinitrophenyl chloride sensitization reverses skin-induced suppression, demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. The reversal of skin-induced suppression was transferable by antigen-specific TCRαβ+ CD4+ T contrasuppressor cells. Furthermore, we showed that the contrasuppression was IL-17A-dependent and TLR2- and MyD88-independent. Conclusions: Our work strongly suggests that EC immunization with protein antigen and zymosan reverses skin-induced suppression and that this approach may be a potential tool to increase the immunogenicity of weakly immunogenic antigens.
A Case of Bladder-Inverted Papilloma after Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ezaki Taisuke , Kosaka Takeo , Mikami Shuji , Kaburaki Naoto , Mizuno Ryuichi , Oya Mototsugu
Published: June 2014

An 82-year-old male who presented with the chief complaint of gross hematuria and a history of prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy 6 years previously is described. Cystoscopy revealed multiple bladder tumors on the right posterior wall. A transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed and a pathological diagnosis of the inverted papilloma was made. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of bladder-inverted papilloma after brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
New Lysianassoid Amphipods from the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: KAIM-MALKA R. A.
Published: June 2014

Two new lysianassoid amphipod species, Ambasia anophthalma n. sp. and Bathyamaryllis biscayensis n. sp., are described based on adult females collected in the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay) by an autonomous bait system deployed on the sea bottom at a depth of 1460–1550 m. These two species are characterized by the absence of eyes (blind species). They belong to genera which include very few species.
Acantholachesilla gen. n. (Psocodea:’Psocoptera’: Lachesillidae: Eolachesillinae: Graphocaeciliini) from Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Authors: ALDRETE ALFONSO N. GARCÍA , MANCHOLA OSCAR FERNANDO SAENZ , OBANDO RANULFO GONZÁLEZ
Published: June 2014

Acantholachesilla saltoensis gen. et sp. n. is described from Valle del Cauca, Colombia, in the Lachesillidae, tribe Graphocaeciliini (Eolachesillinae). The genus is related to Dagualachesilla and Dagualachesilloides that occur in the same area, differing from them in the male clunial projection, phallosome, and female subgenital plate and gonapophyses.
The secret stridulatory file under the right tegmen in katydids
(Orthoptera, Ensifera, Tettigonioidea)
Authors: CHAMORRO-RENGIFO JULIANA , BRAUN HOLGER , LOPES-ANDRADE CRISTIANO
Published: June 2014

Males of most species of crickets and katydids produce species-specific calling songs to attract conspecific females. The typical stridulatory apparatus of the Ensifera consists of a file-and-scraper system in the basal dorsal region of the forewings (tegmina): the file on the underside of the cubital vein of one tegmen is composed of a series of lamelliform teeth and is run against the sclerotized scraper at the edge of the other tegmen. The region directly distal of the cubital vein is often thin and glassy and serves to amplify and spread the sound. In stridulating crickets the tegmina are quite symmetrical with both the left and the right one containing a file, which is considered the ancestral condition (Béthoux 2012). Most of these crickets adopted a right-over-left wing overlap and use only the right file. The few extant species of the ancient group Hagloidea have bilaterally symmetrical tegmina, both with functional files, and individual males can change the overlap (Morris & Gwynne 1978). Katydids are distinguished by a left-over-right wing overlap, with a stridulatory file on the underside of the left tegmen, and a scraper on the right one, which usually is also equipped with a mirror as resonating structure.
On the misidentification of Anagrus ustulatus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)
Authors: VIGGIANI GENNARO
Published: June 2014

The cosmopolitan genus Anagrus Haliday is one of the largest in Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), and includes very common egg parasitoids, mostly of leafhoppers. The smallest species (body length: 0.4–0.6 mm) are found in the atomus species group. This group at present includes about 20 species worldwide. Anagrus atomus (Linnaeus) is among the most common species in the Palaearctic region. Other populations very similar in morphology and biology to this species are also widespread and associated with several leafhoppers infesting wild and cultivated plants (Matteucig & Viggiani 2008). Some specimens of these populations were identified as A. ustulatus Haliday by Chiappini (1989), who presumably followed Graham (1982).
Short taxonomic review of little-known Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Malay Peninsula
Authors: TAN MING KAI
Published: June 2014

The taxonomy of three genera of little-known Phaneropterinae from Malay Peninsula (Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia) is reviewed: Cesasundana Koçak & Kemal, 2009, Elbenia Stål, 1876 and Macedna Karsch, 1891. One new species each from the genera Cesasundana and Elbenia are described from Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia respectively: Cesasundana lorniensis sp. n. and Elbenia fraser sp. n. Keys to species of Cesasundana and Elbenia are also included. The taxonomic position of monotypic genus Macedna is validated, male is redescribed and the female is described for the first time.
A new species of the genus Blaberops (Coleoptera: Anthribidae)
from east Madagascar, with a key to species
Authors: TRÝZNA MILOŠ , BAŇAŘ PETR
Published: June 2014

A new species, Blaberops korinae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov. (Anthribidae: Anthribinae: Zygaenodini), from east Madagascar is described. Colour photographs and a key to Madagascan species of the genus Blaberops are provided. Male and female genitalia of the genus are studied and illustrated for the first time.
The tadpole of Amazophrynella manaos Rojas, Carvalho, Gordo, Ávila, Farias and Hrbek, 2014 (Anura, Bufonidae) from the type locality and adjacent regions at Central Amazonia, Brazil
Authors: MENIN MARCELO , PEGORINI REYSI JHAYNE , De Carvalho Vinicius Tadeu , ROJAS ROMMEL ROBERTO , GORDO MARCELO
Published: June 2014

The genus Amazophrynella, as currently recognized (Fouquet et al. 2012a, b), is represented by four nominal species (Frost 2014; Rojas et al. 2014) but the tadpoles of only one species, Amazophrynella minuta (Melin) from Ecuador, have been described (Duellman & Lynch 1969; Duellman 1978). Amazophrynella manaos Rojas, Carvalho, Gordo, Ávila, Farias and Hrbek, 2014 occurs in the leaf litter of terra firme forest in the southwestern part of the Brazilian Guiana region (Rojas et al. 2014). The tadpole of this species was briefly described in diagrammatic drawings by Hero (1990) as Dendrophryniscus minutus. Herein, we provide a detailed description of this tadpole based on individuals at 12 stages of development collected in five different sites, including the type locality, at Central Amazonia, Brazil.
Changing One’s First Name in France: A Fountain of Youth?
Authors: Coulmont Baptiste
Published: June 2014

AbstractA change of name is a change of identity. Many studies have focused on changes in ethnic identity, because those who change their name are often descendants of migrants or migrants themselves. This article focuses on first name changes in France. It shows that those who change their first name are indeed overwhelmingly the descendants of migrants, but that their identity change is multidimensional. Changing one’s first name is also a way to get a younger first name.
Emotions in the Household: Emotion Words and Metaphors in Domesday Book Personal Names
Authors: Díaz-Vera Javier E.
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of the set of emotion-related personal names recorded in the Domesday Book. Through the fine-grained analysis of the themes used in these names, this paper proposes a semantic description of late Old English personal names, which have been classified into the following seven name sub-categories: happiness, joy, love, tenderness, pride, anger, and fear. This analysis shows that emotion-related vocabulary was a favorite personal name element in post-Conquest England. Furthermore, it proposes some of the general tendencies behind name-giving practices, especially in relation to (i) gender distribution of emotion themes and concepts and (ii) frequent lexical combinations of emotion-related themes. Finally, the paper offers an interpretation of the metaphorization processes that motivated the development of some of these combinations of words and their usage as personal names in Anglo-Saxon England.
Two-way partitioning of a recursive Gaussian filter in CUDA
Authors: Lee Chang Won , Ko Jaepil , Choe Tae-Young
Published: June 2014

Recursive Gaussian filters are more efficient than basic Gaussian filters when its filter window size is large. Since the computation of a point should start after the computation of its neighborhood points, recursive Gaussian filters are line oriented. Thus, the degree of parallelism is restricted by the length of the data image. In order to increase the parallelism of recursive Gaussian filters, we propose a two-way partitioned recursive Gaussian filter. The proposed filter partitions a line into two lines and a point, which is used for Gaussian blur effect across the two lines. This partition increases the parallelism because the filter is applied to the two blocks in parallel. Experimental results show that the process time of the proposed filter is half compared to the time of an one-way parallel recursive Gaussian filter while the peak signal-to-noise ratio is maintained within an acceptable rate of 26 to 33 dB.
Nonlinear joint inversion of tomographic data using swarm intelligence
Authors: Paasche Hendrik , Tronicke Jens
Published: June 2014

Geophysical techniques offer the potential to tomographically image physical parameter variations in the ground in two or three dimensions. Due to the limited number and accuracy of the recorded data, geophysical model generation by inversion suffers ambiguity. Linking the model generation process of disparate data by jointly inverting two or more data sets allows for improved model reconstruction. Fully nonlinear inversion using optimization techniques searching the solution space of the inverse problem globally enables quantitative assessment of the ambiguity inherent to the model reconstruction. We used two different multiobjective particle swarm optimization approaches to jointly invert synthetic crosshole tomographic data sets comprising radar and P-wave traveltimes, respectively. Beginning with a nonlinear joint inversion founded on the principle of Pareto optimality and game theoretic concepts, we obtained a set of Pareto-optimal solutions comprising commonly structured radar and P-wave velocity models for low computational costs. However, the efficiency of the approach goes along with some risk of achieving a final model ensemble not adequately illustrating the ambiguity inherent to the model reconstruction process. Taking advantage of the results of the first approach, we inverted the database using a different nonlinear joint-inversion approach reducing the multiobjective optimization problem to a single-objective one. Computational costs were significantly higher, but the final models were obtained mutually independently allowing for objective appraisal of model parameter determination. Despite the high computational effort, the approach was found to be an efficient nonlinear joint-inversion formulation compared to what could be extracted from individual nonlinear inversions of both data sets.
Competition as a Discovery Procedure: Schumpeter Meets Hayek in a Model of Innovation
Authors: Bento Pedro
Published: June 2014

I incorporate an insight of Friedrich Hayek—that competition allows a thousand flowers to bloom, and discovers the best among them—into a model of Schumpeterian innovation. Firms face uncertainty about the optimal direction of innovation, so more innovations implies a higher expected value of the “best” innovation. The model accounts for two seemingly contradictory relationships reported in recent empirical studies—a positive relationship between competition and industry-level productivity growth, and an inverted-U relationship between competition and firm-level innovation. Notwithstanding the positive relationship between competition and growth, I find antitrust policy reduces industry-level growth. (JEL B52, D83, G34, K21, L11, L12, O31)
“Fisher Dynamics” in US Household Debt, 1929–2011
Authors: Mason J. W. , Jayadev Arjun
Published: June 2014

The evolution of debt-income ratios over time depends on income growth, inflation, and interest rates, independent of any changes in borrowing. We examine the effect of these “Fisher dynamics” on household debt-income ratios in the United States over the period 1929–2011. Adapting a standard decomposition of public debt to household sector debt, we show that these factors explain, in accounting terms, a large fraction of the changes in household debt-income ratios observed historically. More recently, debt defaults have also been important. Changes in household debt-income ratios over time cannot be straightforwardly interpreted as reflecting shifts in the supply and demand of household credit. (JEL D14, E21, E31, E43, H63, N32)
The use of anaerobic adhesives for restoration of the equipment at the enterprises of consumer services
Authors: Башкирцев Владимир , Bashkirtsev Vladimir , Посеренин Сергей , Poserenin Sergey
Published: June 2014

Comparative characteristics of anaerobic adhesives have shown their capabilities when applied to restoring parts of machines and equipment. The authors propose a model of technology of restoration of machines and equipment with the use of anaerobic adhesives.
Influence of municipal drains of enterprises on the ecology of adjacent territories
Authors: Минаев Владимир , Minaev Vladimir , Иванов Владимир , Ivanov Vladimir , Жаворонков Александр , Zhavoronkov Aleksandr
Published: June 2014

A number of environmental-management-related problems and issues arise during an assessment of operating and to-be-constructed enterprises in terms of their potential as sources of environmental pollution. The authors claims that a formulation of conditions for carrying out not only an ecological, but also an ethnological examination which will consider the impact of natural factors on the population of the region is required. The issues of environmental protections are considered as evidenced in the Murmansk region, whose many districts are sparsely populated regions and have one industrial enterprise, which excludes their mutual influence from the scope of research and allows the researchers to take a more consistent approach in tracking and analyzing the influence of each separate enterprise on the ecological situation in all the adjoining territories.
Analysis of the criteria of technological and technocal-economic effectiveness of design choices
Authors: Лебедев Владимир , Lebedev Vladimir , Крымская Елена , Krymskaya Elena , Анидалов Александр , Anidalov Aleksandr
Published: June 2014

The authors of the article consider a number of numerical simulation results as well as computation results pertaining to the relative mechanical-economic effectiveness of design choices, local systems of biological wastewater treatment utilized by small-size residential estates, private housing and service enterprises. The authors have developed assessment criteria for technical and comparative technical-economic effectiveness of wastewater treatment systems on the basis of alternating aerobic-treatment machines utilizing biological sludge, and have applied the criteria to a simulation model.
Method of paired comparisons as contributing to solving ecological problems of wastewater sludge processing
Authors: Субботин Кирилл , Subbotin Kirill , Панова Марина , Panova Marina , Тыгер Любовь , Tyger Lyubov
Published: June 2014

With a steady growth of consumption, the Russian Federation has recently seen an increase in waste. However, waste processing and disposal are not duly address, which makes scientific research into the issue of waste processing expedient. The article provides an algorithm of using the method of paired comparisons in selecting the most effective technology of waste processing. The authors consider one of the algorithms of the method of paired comparisons: the algorithm of paired comparisons for a group of experts to be used for identifying the most efficient waste composting technology.
Wicking behavior of non-woven fabrics as contributing to communal facilities performance
Authors: Тюменев Юрий , Tyumenev Yuriy , Мандрон Владимир , Mandron Vladimir
Published: June 2014

The article considers the potential application of non-woven fabrics as water-wicking materials in communal draining systems. The authors describe the wicking behavior of non-woven fabrics, consider the dependence of wicking behavior on the structure and fiber composition, identify the impact of fiber composition, filtering capacity and wicking behavior on the drainage capacity of non-woven geotextiles.
Optimizing Transportation by Inventory Routing and Workload Balancing: Optimizing Daily Dray Operations Across an Intermodal Freight Network
Authors: Sun Xiaoqing , Garg Manish , Balaporia Zahir , Bailey Kendall , Gifford Ted
Published: June 2014

In rail-based intermodal freight operations, full containers are moved by truck from shipper locations to rail ramps, transported via train to destination ramps, and then moved again by truck to consignee locations. We commonly refer to the roadway portions of this activity as dray operations. In a large metropolitan hub area, such as Chicago or Los Angeles, this drayage activity may involve several hundred drivers and up to 500 daily container moves to or from several distinct rail ramps. Both cost and environmental considerations drive the need to maximize driver productivity and minimize the time and miles not directly associated with moving loaded containers to or from rail ramps. In this paper, we describe a solution to this problem using a set-partitioning formulation and column-generation heuristic and report on a large-scale implementation. We focus on real-world implementation details that include (1) fast solve times to support near-real-time re-solving in the face of constantly changing data, (2) adjustments to account for traffic congestion and other operational considerations, and (3) integration with a commercial transportation management system to provide real-time data to the optimizer and to send solution recommendations to a driver-assignment process.
Choosing the correct accessory for each stoma type: an update
Authors: Burch Jennie
Published: June 2014

There are many people with a stoma that report a good quality of life. However, for many, problems can be encountered that can directly affect them. The use of a stoma accessory, in addition to the stoma appliance, can often benefit people with a stoma in relation to treating sore skin or preventing appliances from leakage. This article focuses on some of the more common stoma accessories, including when and why they should be used.
Caring for people with arthritis and a stoma
Authors: Bowles Theresa , Readding Linda
Published: June 2014

It is understood that 10 million people currently live with arthritis and that there are two main types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis ( Arthritis Care, 2013 ). As the numbers of people with arthritis grows, and the population ages, it is likely that nurses may be presented with increasing numbers of people who require advice, not only when they have their stoma fashioned, but later in their life. The purpose of this article is to consider the impact of arthritis upon stoma care and make practical suggestions for stoma management. Sources of further help and information for people living with a stoma and arthritis have also been included. It is hoped that by reading this article the nurse will be more familiar with the impact that arthritis may have on a person with a stoma and how they can be assisted to manage as independently as possible.
Quality of life following ileoanal pouch failure
Authors: Perry-Woodford Zarah L
Published: June 2014

This article describes a novel qualitative study exploring the lived experience of participants having undergone ileoanal pouch failure, on a background of ulcerative colitis (UC). It focuses on the impact of living with indefinite diversion of the pouch and a permanent end ileostomy. Six participants were interviewed with an aim to establish their experience of pouch failure and the support they required. Five pertinent themes emerged that suggested participants did not expect pouch failure and were unprepared for the regression towards UC. Some participants recommenced drug therapy, wore pads to manage leakage from the diverted pouch, avoided certain social settings or manipulated diet and lifestyle in order to gain an acceptable quality of life with a permanent ileostomy. Pouch failure potentially presents adverse effects on patients' quality of life, but currently there is a deficit in support and resources available in order to provide acceptable outcomes for patients experiencing pouch failure.
Esteem Plus: a clinical evaluation
Authors: Day Karen
Published: June 2014

Living with a stoma can significantly affect an individual's lifestyle, reducing independence and impairing quality of life. However, this can often be avoided if the stoma pouch is secure, comfortable, discreet and reduces malodour. This supplement describes how the Esteem Plus stoma pouch was designed to achieve these goals. A clinical evaluation was then undertaken to gain evidence on whether ostomates and their stoma care nurses perceive this appliance to have these properties. The results indicate that the participants found the appliance to be effective and they reported a high level of overall satisfaction with it
Patients' experiences of pancaking while living with a colostomy: a survey
Authors: Perrin Angie , Redmond Caroline , Cowin Caroline , Wiltshire Neil , Smith Amanda , Lovelady Nichola , Carlson Gordon
Published: June 2014

Anecdotally, pancaking is recognised as troublesome within stoma care, leaving many people with ostomies feeling exasperated in trying to deal with this difficult problem. Stoma care nurses offer strategies to help alleviate it, but when strategies fail and appliances continue to leak, or require changing owing to risk of leaking, individuals often feel helpless, demoralised and quality of life can be damaged. A postal survey was carried out to try and identify some of the issues relating to pancaking. Eighty two percent of respondents were likely to experience some degree of pancaking and an alarming 58% changed their pouch more often as a management technique. Therefore, as a consequence of pancaking, the health economy is affected because each individual who suffers from pancaking uses a higher number of appliances. This results in increased costs for the NHS. There is currently no published research regarding pancaking, meaning an integrated approach to finding solutions is needed.
Dexrazoxane: a management option for anthracycline extravasations
Authors: Vidall Cheryl , Roe Helen , Dougherty Lisa , Harrold Karen
Published: June 2014

Aims:

This article reviews the efficacy and place in therapy of dexrazoxane (Savene®) for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation, highlighting the lack of inclusion of Savene in most UK cancer network and organisational treatment guidelines. Here we offer advice to nurses on making a case to ensure the availability of Savene.

Key findings:

In 2010, the UK National Extravasation Information Service (NEXIS) green card scheme reported that anthracyclines were the second most common agent involved in extravasations, but they carry the greatest risk to the patient because of their potentially serious consequences. Anthracycline extravasations therefore require prompt and effective treatment. Due to the infrequent occurrence of anthracycline extravasations, their accidental nature and ethical considerations, conducting randomised controlled clinical trials in this therapy area is not possible. As treatment decisions should always be made on patient-specific factors, health professionals need to demonstrate the rationale for choosing a particular course of action when presented with an anthracycline extravasation, especially when we are moving into an era of increased medical litigation. There are several possible treatment options, some of which require demonstrable local core competencies in order to be considered for a particular patient. Based on the available evidence, Savene—the only licensed antidote—is recommended as an effective management strategy for anthracycline extravasation and should be made available in all settings where chemotherapy is administered. However, a high percentage of nurses administering chemotherapy still do not have access to Savene, as it has not been included in their local guidelines for the management of extravasations. Thus, in a large part of the UK, this important treatment option is not available, leaving a significant unmet need (Figure 1).

Conclusions:

As nurses play a key role in the prevention, detection, and management of extravasations, they should also assume a key role in ensuring that their local protocols include all appropriate management strategies. Where appropriate, if Savene is not included in the treatment guidelines, nurses should feel empowered to encourage their trust and Specialist Commissioning Groups (SCGs) to make it available, and thus minimise the serious risks associated with anthracycline extravasations.
Use of winged infusion devices in intravenous therapy
Authors: Owen Kate , Berry Paul
Published: June 2014

This article has been written to highlight the licensed use of winged infusion devices for short-term intravenous (IV) therapy. There is limited published literature on the subject, yet this clinical audit has demonstrated that the use of winged infusion devices has clear advantages for patients and nurses. The audit was conducted in the community setting but could be replicated in any community or hospital environment where short-term intravenous therapy of non-vesicant fluids are administered. For the purpose of this audit, non-vesicant antibiotics were administered.