bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of 1,3,5‐Trisubstituted‐2‐pyrazolines Derivatives
Authors: Jagadish P. C. , Soni Neeraj , Verma Amita
Published: October 2013

Mannich base of pyrazolines 3(a–e) under both conventional and microwave irradiation was synthesized. All the synthesised compounds were purified
by recrystallisation, characterized on the basis of UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy, and further supported by mass spectroscopy. The result obtained confirms superiority of
microwave irradiation method over classical heating one. The molecular properties and Lipinski rule of five for compounds 3(a–e) were determined by Molinspiration.
The synthesized compounds were subsequently evaluated for the antioxidant activity. All the compounds were found in compliance with Lipinski “Rule of Five”,
and compound 3e having p‐hydroxyl substitution showed best antioxidant activity as compared to ascorbic acid and rutin.
Research on SDG-Based Qualitative Reasoning in Conceptual Design
Authors: Li Kai , Yi Zhen-Zhen , Xu Wei , Zhao Ke , Wang Lin
Published: October 2013

Conceptual design is the initial stage throughout the product life cycle, whose main purposes include function creation, function decomposition, and function and subfunction designs. At this stage, the information about product function and structure has the characteristics of imprecision, incompleteness, being qualitative, and so forth, which will affect the validity of conceptual design. In this paper, the signed directed graph is used to reveal the inherent causal relationship and interactions among the variables and find qualitative interactions between design variables and design purpose with the help of causal sequence analysis and constraint propagation. In the case of incomplete information, qualitative reasoning, which has the function of qualitative behavior prediction, can improve conceptual design level aided by the computer. To some extent, qualitative reasoning plays a supplementary role in evaluating scheme and predicting function. At last, with the problem of planar four-bar mechanism design, a qualitative reasoning flowchart based on the Signed Directed Graph is introduced, and an analysis is made of how to adjust design parameters to make the trajectory of a moving point reach to the predetermined position so as to meet the design requirements and achieve the effect that aided designers expect in conceptual design.
Observer-Based Stabilization of Spacecraft Rendezvous with Variable Sampling and Sensor Nonlinearity
Authors: Li Zhuoshi , Liu Ming , Karimi Hamid Reza , Cao Xibin
Published: October 2013

This paper addresses the observer-based control problem of spacecraft rendezvous with nonuniform sampling period. The relative dynamic model is based on the classical Clohessy-Wiltshire equation, and sensor nonlinearity and sampling are considered together in a unified framework. The purpose of this paper is to perform an observer-based controller synthesis by using sampled and saturated output measurements, such that the resulting closed-loop system is exponentially stable. A time-dependent Lyapunov functional is developed which depends on time and the upper bound of the sampling period and also does not grow along the input update times. The controller design problem is solved in terms of the linear matrix inequality method, and the obtained results are less conservative than using the traditional Lyapunov functionals. Finally, a numerical simulation example is built to show the validity of the developed sampled-data control strategy.
Association of Psoriasis Severity with Serum Prolactin, Thyroid Hormones, and Cortisol before and after Treatment
Authors: Robati Reza M. , Toossi Parviz , Rahmati-Roodsari Mohammad , Khalilazar Sara , Abolhasani Ehsan , Namazi Nastaran , Younespour Shima
Published: October 2013

Background. Prolactin (PRL) level is proposed to be associated with the severity of psoriasis although the previous studies reported different results. Objective. To find the association between PRL levels and severity of psoriasis before and after treatment. In addition, we aimed to find a difference in prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), and cortisol levels between patients with psoriasis and normal controls. Methods. First, the levels of hormones were measured in 30 patients with psoriasis and 30 matched controls. The severity was assessed by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Then, patients were treated, and PASI was assessed every week until achieving PASI‐75 response. At this time, the hormones were measured again and compared to the baseline. Results. No statistical significant difference was observed in the mean PRL, T3, T4, TSH, and cortisol levels between cases and controls. Comparing to the baseline, a significant decrease in PRL levels and a significant increase in T3 and serum cortisol levels were observed after treatment (P < 0.05), while the changes in other hormones were not significant. Conclusion. After treatment, PRL significantly decreased, and T3 and cortisol levels significantly increased. No correlation between hormone levels and improvement of PASI score existed.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Tang-Luo-Ning Ameliorates Sciatic Nerve Injuries in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Zou Da-Wei , Gao Yan-Bin , Zhu Zhi-Yao , Zhou Hui , Zhang Tao-Jing , Li Bu-Man , Wang Jin-Yang , Li Min-Zhou , Ma Ming-Fei , Zhang Na
Published: October 2013

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes associated with high disability rate and low quality of life. Tang-Luo-Ning (TLN) is an effective traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of DPN. To illustrate the underlying neural protection mechanisms of TLN, the effect of TLN on electrophysiology and sciatic nerve morphology was investigated in a model of streptozotocin-induced DPN, as well as the underlying mechanism. Sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity and digital sensory nerve conduction velocity were reduced in DPN and were significantly improved by TLN orα-lipoic acid at 10 and 20 weeks after streptozotocin injection. It was demonstrated that TLN intervention for 20 weeks significantly alleviated pathological injury as well as increased the phosphorylation of ErbB2, Erk, Bad (Ser112), and the mRNA expression of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1), GRB2-associated binding protein 1 (Gab1), and mammalian target of rapamycin (Mtor) in injured sciatic nerve. These novel therapeutic properties of TLN to promote Schwann cell survival may offer a promising alternative medicine for the patients to delay the progression of DPN. The underlying mechanism may be that TLN exerts neural protection effect after sciatic nerve injury through Nrg1/ErbB2→Erk/Bad Schwann cell survival signaling pathway.
Susceptibility to Distraction by Social Cues in Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Krause-Utz Annegret , Elzinga Bernet M. , Oei Nicole Y.L. , Spinhoven Philip , Bohus Martin , Schmahl Christian
Published: October 2013

Background/Aims: Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are highly sensitive to social rejection and show alterations in social perception. Increased susceptibility to social cues in patients with BPD might interfere with executive functions that play an important role in goal-directed behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of task-irrelevant (neutral vs. negatively arousing) social cues on working memory performance in BPD patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: 28 unmedicated female BPD patients and 28 female HC (matched for age and education) performed a Sternberg item recognition task, while being distracted by neutral versus negatively arousing pictures from the International Affective Picture System (interpersonal scenes) and the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces Set (faces). Additionally, self-ratings of aversive inner tension were assessed and correlated with task performance. Results: Compared to HC, BPD patients showed significantly impaired accuracy after distraction by negatively arousing stimuli (both scenes and faces) and neutral faces (but not neutral scenes). Significant negative correlations between overall accuracy and self-reported aversive inner tension were observed in BPD patients. Conclusions: Findings of the present study suggest increased susceptibility to distracting (negatively arousing) social cues in individuals with BPD, which might interfere with cognitive functioning.
Application of the PredictAD Decision Support Tool to a Danish Cohort of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Authors: Simonsen A.H. , Mattila J. , Hejl A.M. , Garde E. , van Gils M. , Thomsen C. , Lötjönen J. , Soininen H. , Waldemar G.
Published: October 2013

Background: The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is based on an ever-increasing body of data and knowledge making it a complex task. The PredictAD tool integrates heterogeneous patient data using an interactive user interface to provide decision support. The aim of this project was to investigate the performance of the tool in distinguishing AD from non-AD dementia using a realistic clinical dataset. Methods: We retrieved clinical data from a group of patients diagnosed with AD (n = 72), vascular dementia (VaD, n = 30), frontotemporal dementia (FTD, n = 25) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, n = 14) at the Copenhagen Memory Clinic at Rigshospitalet. Three classification methods were applied to the data in order to differentiate between AD and a group of non-AD dementias. The methods were the PredictAD tool's Disease State Index (DSI), the naïve Bayesian classifier and the random forest. Results: The DSI performed best for this realistic dataset with an accuracy of 76.6% compared to the accuracies for the naïve Bayesian classifier and random forest of 67.4 and 66.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the DSI differentiated between the four diagnostic groups with a p value of <0.0001. Conclusion: In this dataset, the DSI method used by the PredictAD tool showed a superior performance for the differentiation between patients with AD and those with other dementias. However, the methods need to be refined further in order to optimize the differential diagnosis between AD, FTD, VaD and DLB.
Aorta-Derived Mesoangioblasts Can Be Differentiated into Functional Uterine Epithelium, but Not Prostatic Epithelium or Epidermis, by Instructive Mesenchymes
Authors: Simon Liz , Cooke Paul S. , Berry Suzanne E.
Published: October 2013

Mesoangiobasts are blood vessel-derived stem cells that differentiate into smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle cells. We have reported that postnatal aorta-derived mesoangioblasts (ADM) regenerate skeletal muscle and prevent onset of dilated cardiomyopathy in animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. ADM also differentiate into myelinating glial cells, suggesting they are multipotent and capable of generating mesodermal or ectodermal derivatives. Mesenchyme of some fetal organs is a potent instructive inducer. Here we examined whether ADM can differentiate into prostatic, uterine, and skin epithelium by recombining ADM with fetal or neonatal mesenchyme from these organs and grafting them under the renal capsule of syngeneic hosts. In tissue recombinants of uterine mesenchyme (UtM) and ADM, ADM formed histologically normal simple columnar uterine epithelium that expressed estrogen receptor 1 and in response to estrogen showed increased mitogenesis and downregulation of progesterone receptor. In contrast, ADM did not differentiate into prostatic epithelium or epidermis when recombined with urogenital sinus mesenchyme or fetal dermis, respectively. These results indicate that ADM can respond to cues from neonatal UtM and differentiate into morphologically and functionally normal uterine epithelial cells, and support previous reports that ADM can differentiate into a variety of tissues of the mesodermal lineage. However, these data indicate that ADM are restricted in their capacity to differentiate into endodermal and ectodermal derivatives such as prostatic and skin epithelial cells, respectively.
Hypoxia Induces the Expression of Transketolase-Like 1 in Human Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Bentz S. , Cee A. , Endlicher E. , Wojtal K.A. , Naami A. , Pesch T. , Lang S. , Schubert P. , Fried M. , Weber A. , Coy J.F. , Goelder S. , Knüchel R. , Hausmann M. , Rogler G.
Published: October 2013

Background and Aims: Transketolase-like (TKTL) 1 is one of the key enzymes for anaerobic sugar degradation even in the presence of oxygen (aerobic glycolysis). Transketolase-dependent reactions supply malignant tumors with ribose and NADPH. Therefore, TKTL1 activity could be crucial for tumor proliferation and survival. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of TKTL1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its regulation under hypoxic conditions. Methods: We studied TKTL1 mRNA and protein expression in CRC cell lines and human CRC biopsies by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Regulation of TKTL1 under oxygen depletion was analyzed by cultivating cells either in a three-dimensional spheroid model or in a hypoxia incubator chamber. Results: TKTL1 mRNA was heterogeneously expressed in monolayers of cells with high levels in HT-29 and SW480. TKTL1 protein was also clearly detectable in HT-29 and SW480. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein expression correlated with TKTL1 protein expression in SW480 spheroids over time. On the one hand, induction of hypoxia in T84 spheroids did not induce TKTL1; on the other hand, hypoxia by incubation at 1% O2 in a hypoxia incubator chamber clearly showed an upregulation of TKTL1. In 50% of CRC patients, TKTL1 protein expression was upregulated in tumor compared to non-tumor tissue. The immunohistochemical staining of TKTL1 in CRC patient samples resulted in 14 positive and 30 negative samples. Conclusions: TKTL1 expression correlated with HIF-1α protein expression and was induced upon hypoxic conditions which could facilitate energy supply to tumors under these circumstances.
Assessment of Personality Functioning: Validity of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis Axis IV (Structure)
Authors: Doering Stephan , Burgmer Markus , Heuft Gereon , Menke Dina , Bäumer Brigitta , Lübking Margit , Feldmann Marcus , Schneider Gudrun
Published: October 2013

Background: The assessment of personality functioning has recently become a focus of psychiatric diagnostics. The interview-based Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD-2) provides a ‘structure axis' for the assessment of personality functioning. Methods: One hundred twenty-four psychiatric patients were diagnosed by means of the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV (SCID-I and SCID-II), underwent OPD-2 interviews, and completed 9 questionnaires. Results: The OPD-2 structure axis shows good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.793). Correlations between the OPD-2 structure axis domains and a priori selected questionnaire scales were of medium size and significant. Patients with a personality disorder (PD) showed significantly worse personality functioning than those without. In cluster B PD, personality functioning was more severely impaired than in cluster C PD. Discussion: The OPD-2 structure axis shows good reliability as well as concurrent and discriminant validity and can be recommended for clinical use and research purposes.
Acquired Generalized Anhidrosis: Review of the Literature and Report of a Case with Lymphocytic Hidradenitis and Sialadenitis Successfully Treated with Cyclosporine
Authors: Fujita Kumi , Hatta Kazuhiro
Published: October 2013

We report a case of acquired generalized anhidrosis successfully treated with cyclosporine. A skin biopsy showed T cell infiltration around the sweat glands and labial biopsy revealed lymphoplasmacytic infiltration around the minor salivary gland, suggesting an underlying autoimmune disease such as Sjögren's syndrome. Administration of cyclosporine markedly improved the patient's condition and sympathetic skin response; thus cyclosporine may be effective for treating anhidrosis in patients with autoimmune disorders.
Comparison of the Five Sonographic Morphology Scoring Systems for the Diagnosis of Malignant Ovarian Tumors
Authors: Klangsin S. , Suntharasaj T. , Suwanrath C. , Kor-anantakul O. , Prasartwanakit V.
Published: October 2013

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the 5 sonographic morphology scoring (SMS) systems (Sassone, DePriest, Lerner, Vera and Kawai and Valentin) for prediction of malignant ovarian tumors. Methods: A diagnostic study was conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital during November 2008 to June 2009. All of the patients scheduled for elective surgery due to ovarian tumors underwent transabdominal or transvaginal sonography within 72 h before the operation. The pictures were recorded. Attention was given to volume, wall and septal thickness, locularity, echogenicity, and papillary and internal surface of the tumor. The 5 SMS systems were applied later by the first author, who was not aware of the clinical data. The final diagnosis was determined by a histopathological report and was categorized into benign or malignant ovarian tumor. Borderline tumors were included in the malignant group. Results: One hundred and forty-six patients were recruited; 82 benign (56.2%), 14 borderline (9.6%), and 50 malignant tumors (34.2%). The sensitivities of the SMS by Sassone, DePriest, Lerner, Vera and Kawai and Valentin were 75, 89.1, 82.8, 79.7 and 82.8% and the specificities were 79.3, 73.2, 68.3, 82.9 and 85.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Among the 5 systems, the DePriest system is the most sensitive SMS for the prediction of ovarian cancer.
First-Trimester Contingent Screening for Trisomies 21, 18 and 13 by Biomarkers and Maternal Blood Cell-Free DNA Testing
Authors: Nicolaides K.H. , Syngelaki A. , Poon L.C. , Gil M.M. , Wright D.
Published: October 2013

Objective: To examine potential performance of screening for trisomies by cell-free (cf) DNA testing in maternal blood contingent on results of first-line testing by combinations of fetal translucency thickness (NT), fetal heart rate (FHR), ductus venosus pulsatility index (DV PIV), and serum-free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PLGF) and α-fetoprotein (AFP). Methods: Performance was estimated for firstly, screening by cfDNA in all pregnancies and secondly, cfDNA testing contingent on results of first-line testing by combinations of ultrasound and biochemical markers. Results: In first-line screening by cfDNA testing, the detection rate for trisomy 21 and trisomies 18 or 13 would be 99 and 96%, respectively, after invasive testing in 1% of the population. In contingent screening, a detection rate of 98% for trisomy 21 and 96% for trisomy 18 or 13, at an invasive testing rate of 0.7%, can be achieved by carrying out cfDNA testing in about 35, 20 and 11% of cases identified by first-line screening with the combined test alone (age, NT, FHR, β-hCG, PAPP-A), the combined test plus PLGF and AFP and the combined test plus PLGF, AFP and DV PIV, respectively. Conclusions: Effective first-trimester screening for trisomies can be achieved by contingent screening incorporating biomarkers and cfDNA testing.
Chromosomal Instability and Telomere Shortening in Long-Term Culture of Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Insights from a Cell Culture Model of RPS14 Haploinsufficiency
Authors: Thomay K. , Schienke A. , Vajen B. , Modlich U. , Schambach A. , Hofmann W. , Schlegelberger B. , Göhring G.
Published: October 2013

The fate of cultivated primary hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with respect to genetic instability and telomere attrition has not yet been described in great detail. Thus, knowledge of the genetic constitution of HSCs is important when interpreting results of HSCs in culture. While establishing a cell culture model for myelodysplastic syndrome with a deletion in 5q by performing RPS14 knockdown, we found surprising data that may be of importance for any CD34+ cell culture experiments. We performed cytogenetic analyses and telomere length measurement on transduced CD34+ cells and untransduced control cells to observe the effects of long-term culturing. Initially, CD34+ cells had a normal median telomere length of about 12 kb and showed no signs of chromosomal instability. During follow-up, the median telomere length seemed to decrease and, simultaneously, increased chromosomal instability could be observed - in modified and control cells. One culture showed a clonal monosomy 7 - independent of prior RPS14 knockdown. During further culturing, it seemed that the telomeres re-elongated, and chromosomes stabilized, while TERT expression was not elevated. In summary, irrespective of our results of RPS14 knockdown in the long-term culture of CD34+ cells, it becomes clear that cell culture artefacts inducing telomere shortening and chromosomal instability have to be taken into account and regular cytogenetic analyses should always be performed.
Prognostic Role of Subsequent Atrial Tachycardias Occurring During Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Rostock Thomas , Salukhe Tushar V. , Hoffmann Boris A. , Steven Daniel , Berner Imke , Müllerleile Kai , Theis Cathrin , Bock Karsten , Servatius Helge , Sultan Arian , Willems Stephan
Published: October 2013

Background—

The role of subsequent atrial tachycardias (AT) in the context of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains undetermined. This study evaluated the prognostic role of subsequent ATs for arrhythmia recurrences after catheter ablation of persistent AF.

Methods and Results—

A total of 110 patients with persistent AF (63±9 years; 22 women; 61 long-lasting persistent AF) underwent pulmonary vein isolation followed by electrogram-guided ablation. After AF terminated to AT, patients were separated by the randomization protocol to receive either direct cardioversion (group A) or further ablation of subsequent ATs to sinus rhythm (group B). After a mean follow-up of 20.1±13.3 months after the first procedure, significantly more group B patients were in sinus rhythm as compared with patients in group A (30 [57%] versus 18 [34%];
P
=0.02). Moreover, recurrences of AF were significantly less frequent of group B than in group A patients (10 [19%] versus 26 [49%];
P
=0.001). After the last procedure (follow-up, 34.0±6.4 months), significantly more group B patients were free of AF as compared with patients of group A (49 [92%] versus 39 [74%];
P
=0.01). The proportion of AT recurrences did not differ between the 2 groups after the first and final procedures. The strongest predictor for an arrhythmia-free survival after a single procedure was randomization to the procedural end point of termination to sinus rhythm by elimination of subsequent ATs (
P
=0.004).

Conclusions—

Catheter ablation of subsequent ATs increases freedom from AF but not AT, suggesting a contributing role of subsequent ATs in the mechanisms of persistent AF.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01896570.
Proinflammatory Endothelial Activation Detected by Molecular Imaging in Obese Nonhuman Primates Coincides With Onset of Insulin Resistance and Progressively Increases With Duration of Insulin Resistance
Authors: Chadderdon Scott M. , Belcik J. Todd , Bader Lindsay , Kirigiti Melissa A. , Peters Dawn M. , Kievit Paul , Grove Kevin L. , Lindner Jonathan R.
Published: October 2013

Background—

Inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) are associated processes that potentiate risk for cardiovascular disease in obesity. The temporal relation between IR and inflammation is not completely characterized. We hypothesized that endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in large arteries is an early event that coincides with diet-induced obesity and IR in primates.

Methods and Results—

Ten adult male rhesus macaques were studied at baseline and every 4 to 6 months on a high-fat diet for 2 years. Truncal fat, carotid intima-media thickness, plasma inflammatory biomarkers, and carotid P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression by contrast-enhanced ultrasound molecular imaging were assessed. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed at baseline and at 4 and 18 months. A high-fat diet produced a rapid increase (
P
<0.01) in weight, truncal fat, and degree of IR indicated by the insulin area under the curve and glucose disappearance rate on intravenous glucose tolerance test, all of which worsened minimally thereafter. Molecular imaging detected a progressive increase in endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression over time (5- to 7-fold greater than control agent signal at 2 years;
P
<0.01). Changes in intima-media thickness were not detected until 2 years and, although there was a trend toward an increase in plasma markers of inflammation (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, C-reactive protein), the pattern of increase varied considerably over time.

Conclusions—

In primates with diet-induced obesity, endothelial inflammatory activation is an early event that occurs coincident with the development of IR and long before any measurable change in carotid intima-media thickness. Endothelial activation is related more to the duration rather than to the severity of IR and is not mirrored by changes in plasma biomarkers.
Legitimating Power: The Domestic Politics of U.S. International Hierarchy
Authors: Lake David A.
Published: October 2013

The United States has maintained international hierarchies over the Western Hemisphere for more than a century and over Western Europe for nearly seven decades. More recently, it has extended similar hierarchies over states in the Middle East. How does the United States exercise authority over other countries? In a world of juridically sovereign states, how is U.S. rule rendered legitimate? Hierarchy has interstate and intrastate distributional consequences for domestic ruling coalitions and regime types. When the gains from hierarchy are large or when subordinate societies share policy preferences similar to those of the United States, as in Europe, international hierarchy is possible and compatible with democracy. When the gains from hierarchy are small and the median citizen has policy preferences distant from those of the United States, as in Central America, international hierarchy requires autocracy, and the benefits of foreign rule will be concentrated within the governing elite. In the Middle East, the gains from hierarchy also appear small, and policy preferences are distant from those of the United States. As a result, the United States has backed sympathetic authoritarian rulers. Although a global counterinsurgency strategy might be viable over the long term, the costs of establishing effective hierarchies in the region imply that the United States is better off retrenching “East of Suez.”
On the genus Scalopidia Stimpson, 1858 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea: Scalopidiidae), with the description of one new genus and three new species
Authors: NG Peter K.L. , CASTRO PETER
Published: October 2013

A revision of Scalopidia Stimpson, 1858 (Brachyura: Goneplacoidea: Scalopidiidae) has resulted in the description of two new species of Scalopidia from the Indian Ocean and Papua New Guinea, as well as a new genus and new species from Madagascar. The type species of Scalopidia, S. spinosipes Stimpson, 1858, is redescribed and Hypophthalmus leuchochirus Richters, in Lenz & Richters, 1881, is synonymised with S. spinosipes.
Trevathana noae, a new species of coral inhabiting barnacle
(Cirripedia: Thoracica: Pyrgomatidae)
Authors: Achituv Yair , Hosie Andrew M.
Published: October 2013

We describe a new species from the genus Trevathana Anderson, 1992, collected from the Cocos/Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean. Trevathana noae sp. nov. is similar to other species of Trevathana by its external shell and opercular valve morphology. It is distinct from congeners in that the tergum has a distinct spur which lacks an internal tooth in adult specimens. A key to the known species of Trevathana is given.
Hypocaccus (Baeckmanniolus) laevis Thérond, 1963 is not synonymous with H. (B.) virescens Thérond, 1963 (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Saprininae)
Authors: LACKNER TOMÁŠ
Published: October 2013

The synonymy of Hypocaccus (Baeckmanniolus) virescens Thérond, 1963 and Hypocaccus (Baeckmanniolus) laevis Thérond, 1963 is rejected following the examination of the type specimens of both species. Hypocaccus (Baeckmanniolus) laevis stat. restit. is reinstated as valid. The two species differ mainly in the dorsal sculpture, pronotal shape, shape of protibia as well as in other minor characters. Hypocaccus (B.) laevis is newly recorded from Kenya.
The Mechanics of Social Capital and Academic Performance in an Indian College
Authors: Hasan Sharique , Bagde Surendrakumar
Published: October 2013

In this article we examine how social capital affects the creation of human capital. Specifically, we study how college students’ peers affect academic performance. Building on existing research, we consider the different types of peers in the academic context and the various mechanisms through which peers affect performance. We test our model using data from an engineering college in India. Our data include information about the performance of individual students as well as their randomly assigned roommates, chosen friends, and chosen study-partners. We find that students with able roommates perform better, and the magnitude of this roommate effect increases when the roommate’s skills match the student’s academic goals. We also find that students benefit equally from same- and different-caste roommates, suggesting that social similarity does not strengthen peer effects. Finally, although we do not find strong evidence for independent friendship or study-partner effects, our results suggest that roommates become study-partners, and in so doing, affect performance. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that peer effects are a consequential determinant of academic achievement.
The Returns to Criminal Capital
Authors: Loughran Thomas A. , Nguyen Holly , Piquero Alex R. , Fagan Jeffrey
Published: October 2013

Human capital theory posits that individuals increase their labor market returns through investments in education and training. This concept has been studied extensively across several disciplines. An analog concept of criminal capital, the focus of some speculation and limited empirical study, remains considerably less developed theoretically and methodologically. This article offers a formal theoretical model of criminal capital indicators and tests for greater illegal wage returns using a sample of serious adolescent offenders, many of whom participate in illegal income-generating activities. Our results reveal that, consistent with human capital theory, important illegal wage premiums are associated with investments in criminal capital, notably an increasing but declining marginal return to experience and a premium for specialization. Furthermore, as in studies of legal labor markets, we find strong evidence that, if left unaccounted for, nonrandom sample selection causes severe bias in models of illegal wages. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of these results, along with directions for future research.
Redefining Relationships
Authors: Turney Kristin , Wildeman Christopher
Published: October 2013

In response to dramatic increases in imprisonment, a burgeoning literature considers the consequences of incarceration for family life, almost always documenting negative outcomes. But effects of incarceration may be more complicated and nuanced. In this article, we consider the countervailing consequences of paternal incarceration for a host of family relationships, including fathers’ parenting, mothers’ parenting, and the relationship between parents. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we find recent paternal incarceration sharply diminishes parenting behaviors among residential but not nonresidential fathers. Virtually all of the association between incarceration and parenting among residential fathers is explained by changes in fathers’ relationships with their children’s mothers. Consequences for mothers’ parenting, however, are weak and inconsistent. Furthermore, our findings show recent paternal incarceration sharply increases the probability a mother repartners, potentially offsetting some losses from the biological father’s lesser involvement while simultaneously leading to greater family complexity. Taken together, the collateral consequences of paternal incarceration for family life are complex and countervailing.
Community conversations as community engagement: hosts’ reflections
Authors: Kotzé Marinda , Seedat Mohamed , Suffla Shahnaaz , Kramer Sherianne
Published: October 2013

This article reviews community conversations as a community engagement tool within the South African context by exploring the perceptions of the conversation hosts. A focus group discussion was held with community conversation hosts to better understand the community conversation process and its community engagement value. Their reflections are reviewed against four principles of community engagement, namely, appreciation, applicability, provocation, and collaboration. According to the hosts, the community conversations seemingly increased community members’ awareness of community resources and allowed for community members to voice their shared concerns and discuss matters that they deem to be most relevant in their community. The conversations were considered to have created a participative environment in which community members and external stakeholders could discuss potential solutions to identified problems, thereby laying a foundation for future action. Additionally, the conversations were interpreted as promotive of relationship-building and collaboration opportunities among community members and between community members and external stakeholders. The article reflects on limitations of the method and recommendations for its future application.
Protection of Parathyroid Function Using Carbon Nanoparticles during Thyroid Surgery
Authors: Huang Kai , Luo Dingyuan , Huang Mingqing , Long Miaoyun , Peng Xingzhi , Li Honghao
Published: October 2013

Objective

To investigate the hypothesis that injected carbon nanoparticle (CN) suspension helps identify parathyroid glands (PGs) during thyroid cancer surgery, thereby reducing PG injury.

Study Design

A prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Sun Yet‐san Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China.

Subjects and Methods

Thyroid cancer surgeries were performed on 72 consenting patients who were randomized for conventional surgery (control group) or surgery with CN suspension injection (CN group). The primary end point was the prevalence of symptomatic hypocalcemia and serum calcium levels <1.9 mmol/L.

Results

From 36 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer in each group, symptomatic hypocalcemia was found in 10 patients without CN injection and 3 patients with CN suspension injection (P =. 032). In total, 5.6% of patients in the CN group presented with muscle cramps compared with 22.2% of the control group (P =. 041), which showed a significant difference.

Conclusion

Our randomized study revealed that CN suspension injection was feasible and appeared to be beneficial for patients undergoing thyroid surgery because the incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia was lower compared with controls. Therefore, this technology and technique should be more widely considered for thyroid cancer therapy. Additional studies with more patients and longer follow‐up times will be needed for a thorough evaluation of this methodology.
Improving rural teachers' attitudes towards acceleration
Authors: Olthouse Jill M
Published: October 2013

Gifted students see both educational benefits and barriers as a result of living in rural communities. Benefits include increased individual attention and community engagement; barriers include limited curricular options ( Lawrence, 2009 ). Acceleration is an option that has positive academic outcomes but is underused, especially in rural areas. Even teachers with experience teaching gifted students can be hesitant to recommend acceleration. This position paper, supported with evidence from the literature and from personal experience with an online course involving rural teachers, explains the objections teachers have to acceleration and why there is a need to improve rural teachers’ attitudes towards acceleration.
Trace Elements in Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Fessler Theresa A.
Published: October 2013

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life‐sustaining therapy for hundreds of thousands of people who have severe impairment of gastrointestinal function. Trace elements are a small but very important part of PN that can be overlooked during busy practice. Serious complications can result from trace element deficiencies and toxicities, and this is especially problematic during times of product shortages. Practical information on parenteral trace element use can be gleaned from case reports, some retrospective studies, and very few randomized controlled trials. A general knowledge of trace element metabolism and excretion, deficiency and toxicity symptoms, products, optimal dosages, and strategies for supplementation, restriction, and monitoring will equip practitioners to provide optimal care for their patients who depend on PN.
The Role of Dietary Protein Intake in the Prevention of Sarcopenia of Aging
Authors: Beasley Jeannette M. , Shikany James M. , Thomson Cynthia A.
Published: October 2013

Sarcopenia is defined as an age‐related decrease in muscle mass and performance. Several consensus definitions of sarcopenia exist, each providing different cut points and methodologies for assessing muscle mass and muscle strength. Thus, wide variation in the prevalence of sarcopenia has been reported, generally ranging up to 45% for men and 26% for women. Risk factors for sarcopenia include age, malnutrition, and physical inactivity. Additional evidence suggests a protective role for protein supplementation in older adults to preserve lean body mass and prevent frailty, accepted intervention targets for reducing the risk of sarcopenia. Protein supplements vary widely in their composition, and small trials of heterogeneous study designs have made it difficult to extrapolate findings to develop data‐driven, evidence‐based recommendations for protein supplementation in sarcopenia prevention. Short‐term randomized controlled trials of muscle protein synthesis have demonstrated that whey protein increases synthesis more so than casein or soy isolates. Studies also suggest that essential amino acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis to a greater extent than nonessential amino acids. This review summarizes the epidemiological and clinical trial evidence establishing the current definitions for sarcopenia and provides an overview of the state of the evidence for protein supplementation to prevent and/or mitigate sarcopenia.
Perceived Negative Health Effect of Tanning
Authors: Yoo Jeong-Ju , Kim Hye-Young
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the perceived negative health effect of tanning (PNHET) and body-tanning attitudes and behaviors. A total of 333 college students with an average age of 19.8 years participated in the study. A majority of the participants were female (80.2%) and Caucasian (76.9%). Three body-tanning attitudes emerged from the data: pleasurable activity, physical attractiveness, and healthy behavior. The PNHET was negatively related to all three body-tanning attitudes and methods of tanning behaviors used (i.e., sunbathing, tanning beds, and sunless tanning product use). However, specific body-tanning attitudes independently influence the methods of body-tanning behaviors. Pleasurable activity was a significant attitude influencing indoor and outdoor tanning. College students seek tanning beds and tanning products, particularly when physical attractiveness is concerned. Healthy behavioral attitudes exist for outdoor tanning. Intervention strategies regarding body-tanning behaviors should focus on attitudinal changes, which specifically involve ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure. Educating the public about the negative health effects of tanning is still a very important intervention strategy to help individuals avoid excessive amount of harmful UV exposure and resultant skin cancer. Body-tanning behaviors, as a part of consumer culture, should change to minimize these unhealthy behaviors.
The development of extra-judicial systems of collective conflict resolution in Southern Europe: Understanding the Spanish system
Authors: Rigby Mike , Garcia Calavia Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2013

There has been an increasing tendency to promote systems of extra-judicial intervention in resolving collective conflicts in Southern European countries. However, it seems that it has been difficult for these initiatives to displace traditional judicial avenues of settlement. We consider various efforts to promote extra-judicial settlement, and identify the greater success enjoyed by the Spanish system of settlement in providing an alternative to labour courts. Explanatory factors include its distinctive design features, social partner unity and deficiencies in the judicial system. Spanish experience suggests a need to reassess assumptions about the obstacles to extra-judicial collective conflict resolution in Southern Europe.
Interest Rate, Human Capital and Tax
Authors: Kar Saibal
Published: October 2013

Individual decision-making is naturally subjected to various micro and macroeconomic policies of the government. Choice of schooling by an individual is also affected by such public policies. We show that the distribution of individuals in a scale of risk aversion, ex post, is strongly influenced by factors like discount rate, market interest rate and tax-subsidy policies. We obtain the relative distribution (and therefore, supply) of individuals acquiring human capital in the economy as determined by the critical degree of risk aversion. Rise in market interest rate, consequent on higher discount rates may lower participation in schools. Corrective tax-subsidy policies may only conditionally improve the aggregate level of human capital in the economy.
Atypical employment in Germany. Forms, development, patterns1
Authors: Keller Berndt , Seifert Hartmut
Published: October 2013

This article deals with recent developments of atypical employment in Germany, its present extent and current patterns. In its introductory remarks it differentiates between standard employment and atypical forms. It then describes the development and structures, enabling an analysis of the long-term consequences. It goes on to introduce a crucial distinction between atypical and precarious employment on the basis of explicitly defined criteria. The article ends by presenting certain explanations to a large extent missing in existing research.
Two steps forward, one step back, or vice versa: the new legal framework of collective labour relations in Turkey1
Authors: Uçkan Banu
Published: October 2013

Due to the late start of industrialization and development of a working class and democratization in Turkey, all the labour and democratic rights gained through class struggle elsewhere in Europe were introduced in Turkey by the state. This saw the detailed framework of Turkish industrial relations being defined by law, with trade unions not challenging the limits to enhance their rights. Previous collective labour acts had been criticized for decades as a heritage of the 1980 military coup. Following amendments to the 1982 Constitution in 2010, a new collective labour act, the Trade Union and Collective Agreement Act (TUCAA), was adopted in 2012. In this article, the Trade Union and Collective Agreement Act will be examined from the perspective of the triad of the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to strike, with the main changes also being reviewed in a general comparison with the previous acts.
Study on electric–mechanical hysteretic model of Macro-Fiber Composite actuator
Authors: Xiaomin Xue , Luqi Chen , Xiaohong Wu , Qing Sun
Published: October 2013

Hysteresis is an important nonlinear effect exhibited by piezoelectric actuators. As a member of piezoelectric actuator family, Macro-Fiber Composite actuators can also be testified as having the same characteristics, as shown in the experimental research in this article. In order to interpret the characteristics accurately, various models were proposed previously, in which the Bouc–Wen model has gained more interest because of its capability to match a wide class of hysteretic systems. However, the model consists of a set of differential equations where multiparameters present a need to be estimated simultaneously, which is an arduous task. In view of this, the present study sets out to propose a more efficient genetic algorithm and a simplified Bouc–Wen model, on the one hand, and on the other, the genetic algorithm is applied to the model to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the parameter estimation. Finally, a large number of experimental data are used to testify the proposed approach more efficiently and accurately than the other conventional methods. Also suggested are the implications of the present study on other hysteretic models or other complex mathematical models.
Multiclass feature selection using computational homology for Lamb wave–based damage characterization
Authors: Miller Corey A , Hinders Mark K
Published: October 2013

We investigate a new approach for characterizing class separability based on topological measures for use with identifying flaw severity in plates. Multi-mode Lamb waves are propagated across a flat-bottom hole of varying depth. Lamb wave tomography reconstructions are first generated to locate and size the flaw at each depth. As the flaw depth increases, scattering and mode conversion effects dominate the raw time-domain signals, obscuring information about flaw severity. Pattern classification provides an alternate means for processing the ultrasonic waveforms to identify flaw severity. High-dimensional feature spaces are generated from the Lamb wave signals using the dynamic wavelet fingerprinting technique. In order to achieve high classification accuracy, an optimal feature space is required. An intelligent feature selection routine is explored here that identifies favorable class distributions in multidimensional feature spaces using computational homology theory. Betti numbers and formal classification accuracies are calculated for each feature space subset to establish a correlation between the topology of the class distribution and the corresponding classification accuracy.
Modeling Tactical Product-Mix Decisions
Authors: Cannon James N. , Cannon Hugh M. , Low James T.
Published: October 2013

Notwithstanding the wide-spread inclusion of product-mix decisions in marketing simulation games, little theoretical work has been done to ensure that the algorithms driving them reflect current knowledge regarding product-mix strategy. Recent work based on relationship marketing theory has sought to address this problem strategically, focusing on the impact of demand correlation within the product mix. This article extends this line of research to a tactical level, using Goldratt’s theory of constraints to address the impact of supply constraints on product-mix interactions. It shows how these factors can be incorporated into a standard simulation objective function.