bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What proportion of patients report long-term pain after total hip or knee replacement for osteoarthritis? A systematic review of prospective studies in unselected patients
Authors: Beswick Andrew David , Wylde Vikki , Gooberman-Hill Rachael , Blom Ashley , Dieppe Paul
Published: February 2012

Background

Total hip or knee replacement is highly successful when judged by prosthesis-related outcomes. However, some people experience long-term pain.

Objectives

To review published studies in representative populations with total hip or knee replacement for the treatment of osteoarthritis reporting proportions of people by pain intensity.

Data sources

MEDLINE and EMBASE databases searched to January 2011 with no language restrictions. Citations of key articles in ISI Web of Science and reference lists were checked.

Study eligibility criteria, participants and interventions

Prospective studies of consecutive, unselected osteoarthritis patients representative of the primary total hip or knee replacement population, with intensities of patient-centred pain measured after 3 months to 5-year follow-up.

Study appraisal and synthesis methods

Two authors screened titles and abstracts. Data extracted by one author were checked independently against original articles by a second. For each study, the authors summarised the proportions of people with different severities of pain in the operated joint.

Results

Searches identified 1308 articles of which 115 reported patient-centred pain outcomes. Fourteen articles describing 17 cohorts (6 with hip and 11 with knee replacement) presented appropriate data on pain intensity. The proportion of people with an unfavourable long-term pain outcome in studies ranged from about 7% to 23% after hip and 10% to 34% after knee replacement. In the best quality studies, an unfavourable pain outcome was reported in 9% or more of patients after hip and about 20% of patients after knee replacement.

Limitations

Other studies reported mean values of pain outcomes. These and routine clinical studies are potential sources of relevant data.

Conclusions and implications of key findings

After hip and knee replacement, a significant proportion of people have painful joints. There is an urgent need to improve general awareness of this possibility and to address determinants of good and bad outcomes.
Payer decision-making with limited comparative and cost effectiveness data: the case of new pharmacological treatments for gout
Authors: Meltzer Michele , Pizzi Laura T , Jutkowitz Eric
Published: February 2012

Context

The need for comparative effectiveness (CE) data continues to grow, fuelled by market demand as well as health reform. There may be an assumption that new drugs result in improved efficacy compared with the standard of care, therefore warranting premium prices. Gout treatment has recently become controversial, as expensive new drugs enter the market with limited CE data.

Methods

The authors reviewed published clinical trials and conducted a cost effectiveness analysis on a new drug (febuxostat) versus the standard (allopurinol) to illustrate the limitations in using these data to inform evidence-based decision-making.

Findings

Although febuxostat trials included allopurinol as a comparator, methodological limitations make comparative effectiveness evaluations difficult. However, when available trial data were input to a decision analytic model, the authors found that a significant reduction in febuxostat cost would be required in order for it to dominate allopurinol in cost effectiveness analysis. This case exemplifies the challenges of using clinical trial data in comparative and cost effectiveness analyses.
How much doctoral research on clinical topics is published?: Table 1
Authors: Caan Woody , Cole Michael
Published: February 2012

Objective

To determine how often clinical research from doctoral degree programmes is unpublished and to see if one can characterise differences between those researchers who do or do not publish their work or between the institutions where they studied.

Design

Secondary research with data in the public domain: combining a national dataset of healthcare doctoral theses with related publications traceable in two widely accessible databases.

Data sources

The Index to Theses was searched for UK doctoral theses and the databases Web of Knowledge and SCOPUS searched by author name for literature derived from each thesis. Confirmatory details about student names or their doctoral programmes were obtained from university websites, if required.

Eligibility criteria

Search terms were chosen to identify only projects directly related to human health. Thesis records included ‘clinical trials’ or ‘clinical research’. The awards were all doctorate-level degrees between 2000 and 2010. ‘Related’ publication in the Web of Knowledge or SCOPUS was interpreted very broadly to include publications with any research commonality with the degree project as recorded in the Index to Theses.

Results

A sample of 82 theses from 39 universities provided the initial material for a literature search. The Web of Knowledge contained more publications from more students than SCOPUS held. Of the doctoral research samples, 39 out of 82 theses (47.6%) produced no discernable publications. The 43 students whose research was published typically began publishing before completing their degree (mean time 1.3 years preceding their award). Not all types of doctorates were associated equally with publication: all 11 MD theses in our sample had related publications (100%).

Conclusions

Research evidence associated with doctoral degrees is often left unpublished, across many settings. Sharing such evidence is a scientific and ethical duty. Supporting students in publishing preliminary work while they are still in doctoral programmes may be the most productive response. The large number of doctorates awarded in ‘medical’ disciplines every year represents a substantial investment in training and a resource for evidence-based medicine that should not be squandered.
Get into Reading as an intervention for common mental health problems: exploring catalysts for change: Figure 1
Authors: Dowrick Christopher , Billington Josie , Robinson Jude , Hamer Andrew , Williams Clare
Published: February 2012

There is increasing evidence for the efficacy of non-medical strategies to improve mental health and well-being. Get into Reading is a shared reading intervention which has demonstrable acceptability and feasibility. This paper explores potential catalysts for change resulting from Get into Reading. Two weekly reading groups ran for 12 months, in a GP surgery and a mental health drop-in centre, for people with a GP diagnosis of depression and a validated severity measure. Data collection included quantitative measures at the outset and end of the study, digital recording of sessions, observation and reflective diaries. Qualitative data were analysed thematically and critically compared with digital recordings. The evidence suggested a reduction in depressive symptoms for Get into Reading group participants. Three potential catalysts for change were identified: literary form and content, including the balance between prose and poetry; group facilitation, including social awareness and communicative skills; and group processes, including reflective and syntactic mirroring. This study has generated hypotheses about potential change processes of Get into Reading groups. Evidence of clinical efficacy was limited by small sample size, participant attrition and lack of controls. The focus on depression limited the generalisability of findings to other clinical groups or in non-clinical settings. Further research is needed, including assessment of the social and economic impact and substantial trials of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this intervention.
A happy doctor's escape from narrative: reflection inSaturday
Authors: Belling Catherine
Published: February 2012

The humanities have, in their application to medicine, become almost synonymous with narrative. When medical education turned to ‘reflection’ as a means to nurture coherent and ethical professional identity, interventions tended to take narrative as their primary form. Even while promoting ‘mindfulness’ as complete engagement in the present moment, proponents of reflection sometimes subsume reflection under the category ‘narrative’. The author offers a reading of Ian McEwan's novelSaturday, the account of the thoughts of a London surgeon over the course of one day, attending to the novel's reflective and lyrical as well as its narrative passages, in order to suggest that, rather than grouping the various forms that constitute ‘literature’ into a single instrumental method for producing more professional and ethical doctors, it might be valuable to attend to the various modes that constitute literary discourse, of which narrative is only one.
Low-profile visible intraluminal support device: immediate outcome of the first three US cases
Authors: Turner Raymond D , Turk Aquilla , Chaudry Imran
Published: February 2012

Introduction

Dissecting and wide-necked aneurysms that incorporate a large portion of the parent artery can be challenging to treat with currently available devices. This study reports three cases treated with a new hybrid stent design that incorporates a smaller cell size and more pliable design than current generation stents and results in some flow diversion characteristics.

Methods

In all three cases, use of the low-profile visible intraluminal support (LVIS) device in conjunction with coil embolization was determined to provide the best opportunity to achieve aneurysm occlusion while mitigating adverse events. The institutional review board reviewed all cases and approval was obtained. All cases were performed under emergent use exemption from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Results

All three patients were successfully stent coiled with the LVIS device. One patient was completely occluded initially and remained so at follow-up, one patient progressed to complete occlusion at follow-up, and the last patient had stable incomplete occlusion of their fusiform aneurysm. There were no complications related to the procedures and the patients were maintained on dual-antiplatelet therapy.

Conclusion

The LVIS device offers promise as a stent-assisted coil device with certain characteristics that may be advantageous over currently available microstents.
Pre-intervention triage incorporating perfusion imaging improves outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular stroke therapy: a comparison with the device trials
Authors: Rai Ansaar T , Raghuram Karthikram , Domico Jennifer , Hobbs Gerald , Carpenter Jeffrey
Published: February 2012

Objectives

Endovascular therapy of acute ischemic stroke is evolving towards thrombectomy devices for vessel recanalization. High rates of revascularization have been reported in stroke device trials. However, the discrepancy between recanalization and outcomes raises the question whether patients with irreversible ischemic injury are being exposed to these interventions. This study evaluated a triage methodology that incorporates perfusion imaging against previous device trials that treated all patients within a certain time frame.

Methods

99 consecutive patients were identified with anterior circulation strokes who had undergone endovascular therapy. All patients had a baseline NIHSS score ≥8 and had undergone pre-intervention CT perfusion. Rates of recanalization and functional outcomes were compared with the MERCI, Multi-MERCI and Penumbra trials.

Results

This study's recanalization rate of 55.6% is not significantly different from the 46% for MERCI (p=0.15) and 68% for Multi-MERCI (p=0.08) but was significantly lower than the 82% for the Penumbra trial (p<0.0001). Successfully recanalized patients had a significantly higher good outcome of 67% in this cohort versus 46% in MERCI, 49% in Multi-MERCI and 29% in Penumbra. The rate of futile recanalization was 33% compared with 54% for MERCI, 51% for Multi-MERCI and 71% for Penumbra. A small cerebral blood volume (CBV) abnormality (p<0.0001) and large mean transit time–CBV mismatch (p<0.0001) were strong predictors of a good outcome.

Conclusion

Despite similar or lower recanalization rates, there was a significantly higher rate of good outcomes in the recanalized population and thus a significantly lower rate of futile recanalization in this study versus the device trials, suggesting a role for pre-intervention perfusion imaging for patient selection.
A multicenter registry of hydrocephalus following coil embolization of unruptured aneurysms: which patients are at risk and why it occurs
Authors: Turner Raymond D , da Costa LeoDante B , terBrugge Karel G
Published: February 2012

Introduction

Unexplained post-procedural events such as cerebral edema, inflammation, aseptic meningitis and hydrocephalus have been reported following unruptured cerebral aneurysm coiling. However, understanding of the etiology for these occurrences is limited due to their rare occurrence. A multicenter registry was developed to investigate further the occurrence of these events.

Method

This registry consisted of a retrospective analysis of unruptured aneurysms treated with hydrocoil that evolved to develop focal cerebral edema, inflammation, aseptic meningitis, or ventricular enlargement/hydrocephalus following uncomplicated coil embolization. Data points included pre, intra, and postoperative imaging, patient demographics, aneurysm demographics, procedural details such as coils used, medications administered, and intraprocedural complications, and all post-procedure follow-up including clinical status of the patients and all adverse events.

Results

Twenty-five patients (26 aneurysm coiling procedures) were found at 12 centers over an 8-year period. The mean aneurysm size was 13.7 mm. The average time from treatment to onset of symptoms was 8.5 months (2 weeks to 30 months, median 6 months). Delayed hydrocephalus was the most common clinical presentation. Six of the 25 patients were asymptomatic and did not require treatment.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing endovascular coiling may be at risk of developing delayed complications, which may or may not be symptomatic. This risk appeared low and was restricted mostly to larger aneurysms. These events can be difficult to detect due to delayed presentation.
Incidence and risk factors associated with chlamydia in men who have sex with men: a cohort analysis of Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance data
Authors: Wilkinson Anna , El-Hayek Carol , Fairley Christopher K , Leslie David , Roth Norm , Tee B K , Hellard Margaret E , Stoové Mark
Published: February 2012

Background

Chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia. Incidence studies of chlamydia in men who have sex with men (MSM) are rare and offer important public health information.

Objective

To determine chlamydia incidence in MSM presenting at high caseload clinics and describe predictors of infection.

Methods

The Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance of bloodborne viruses and STIs (VPCNSS) links testing, demographic and behavioural data from individual testers at participating clinics. Data from MSM with more than one chlamydia test at the VPCNSS site between April 2006 and June 2010 were included. Chlamydia incidence per 100 person-years (PY) was calculated and Cox regression used to examine predictors of incidence.

Results

1206 positive tests for chlamydia were detected among 6333 MSM across 11 409 PY of follow-up. Overall chlamydia incidence was 10.6/100 PY (95% CI 10.0 to 11.2) and was highest among MSM aged 16–29 years (12.9/100 PY, 95% CI 11.7 to 14.1), presenting with STI symptoms (16.0/100 PY, 95% CI 14.2 to 18.0), HIV positive (18.5/100 PY, 95% CI 16.6 to 20.6) and self-identified sex workers (14.3/100 PY, 95% CI 10.0 to 20.6). Significant predictors of chlamydia infection among MSM were younger age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=1.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.3), self-identifying as a sex worker (aHR=1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.6), being HIV positive (aHR=2.6, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.8), presenting with STI symptoms (aHR=1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.1) and reporting >10 sex partners in the past 6 months (aHR=2.5 95% CI 1.4 to 4.6).

Conclusion

These results show that MSM represent a key risk population for chlamydia in Australia and identify a number of high-risk MSM subpopulations for whom clinical and public health interventions are warranted.
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE COSMOLOGICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF LOOP QUANTUM GRAVITY
Authors: CIANFRANI FRANCESCO , MONTANI GIOVANNI
Published: February 2012

This papers offers a critical discussion on the procedure by which Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC) is constructed from the full Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) theory. Revising recent issues in preserving SU(2) symmetry when quantizing the isotropic Universe, we trace a new perspective in approaching the cosmological problem within quantum geometry. The cosmological sector of LQG is reviewed and a critical point of view on LQC is presented. It is outlined how a polymer-like scale for quantum cosmology can be predicted from a proper fundamental graph underlying the homogeneous and isotropic continuous picture. However, such a minimum scale does not coincide with the choice made in LQC. Finally, the perspectives towards a consistent cosmological LQG model based on such a graph structure are discussed.
CONTROLLING THE SIZE AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES: A DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT STUDY
Authors: KUMAR DHIRAJ , MEENAN BRIAN J , MUTREJA ISHA , D'SA RAECHELLE , DIXON DORIAN
Published: February 2012

The Turkevich method is the oldest and most widely employed protocol for the production of colloidal gold. Gold nanoparticles are nontoxic in nature and have potential applications in various biomedical fields including drug delivery and bioimaging. These metallic nanoparticles can be functionalized with drugs, targeting ligands such as tumor necrosis factor and groups (e.g., Poly ethylene glycol) to provide shielding from undesired immune responses. In this study we investigate the influence of process variables on the synthesis of nanoparticles by the reduction of chloroauric acid ( HAuCl4 ) solution with sodium citrate. A design of experiment (DoE) approach was used to investigate the influence of production volume, temperature, stirring rate and sodium citrate concentration on the physical properties of the nanoparticles namely size, size distribution, zeta potential and UV-Vis characteristics. The study showed that the relative amount of sodium citrate added ( Au /citrate mole ratio) had a significant effect on the size, poly dispersity index (PDI), the number of peaks in the size distribution and the position of Lambda max in the UV-Vis spectra. By varying the Au /Citrate ratio it is possible to synthesize particles with average diameters from 20 to 80 nm. However, the use of low amounts of sodium citrate in order to produce particles larger than ~35 nm tends to result in a wide bimodal size distribution.
Managing the Nutrition of Plants and People
Authors: White Philip J. , Broadley Martin R. , Gregory Peter J.
Published: February 2012

One definition of food security is having sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs. This paper highlights the role of plant mineral nutrition in food production, delivering of essential mineral elements to the human diet, and preventing harmful mineral elements entering the food chain. To maximise crop production, the gap between actual and potential yield must be addressed. This gap is 15–95% of potential yield, depending on the crop and agricultural system. Current research in plant mineral nutrition aims to develop appropriate agronomy and improved genotypes, for both infertile and productive soils, that allow inorganic and organic fertilisers to be utilised more efficiently. Mineral malnutrition affects two-thirds of the world's population. It can be addressed by the application of fertilisers, soil amelioration, and the development of genotypes that accumulate greater concentrations of mineral elements lacking in human diets in their edible tissues. Excessive concentrations of harmful mineral elements also compromise crop production and human health. To reduce the entry of these elements into the food chain, strict quality requirements for fertilisers might be enforced, agronomic strategies employed to reduce their phytoavailability, and crop genotypes developed that do not accumulate high concentrations of these elements in edible tissues.
Microenvironment-Centred Dynamics in Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Cacciatore Matilde , Guarnotta Carla , Calvaruso Marco , Sangaletti Sabina , Florena Ada Maria , Franco Vito , Colombo Mario Paolo , Tripodo Claudio
Published: February 2012

Aggressive B-cell lymphomas share high proliferative and invasive attitudes and dismal prognosis despite heterogeneous biological features. In the interchained sequence of events leading to cancer progression, neoplastic clone-intrinsic molecular events play a major role. Nevertheless, microenvironment-related cues have progressively come into focus as true determinants for this process. The cancer-associated microenvironment is a complex network of nonneoplastic immune and stromal cells embedded in extracellular components, giving rise to a multifarious crosstalk with neoplastic cells towards the induction of a supportive milieu. The immunological and stromal microenvironments have been classically regarded as essential partners of indolent lymphomas, while considered mainly negligible in the setting of aggressive B-cell lymphomas that, by their nature, are less reliant on external stimuli. By this paper we try to delineate the cardinal microenvironment-centred dynamics exerting an influence over lymphoid clone progression in aggressive B-cell lymphomas.
Feeding Preferences of the Endangered Diving BeetleCybister tripunctatus orientalisGschwendtner (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)
Authors: Ohba Shin-ya , Inatani Yoshinori
Published: February 2012

The numbers ofCybister tripunctatus orientalisGschwendtner diving beetles are declining in most regions of Japan, and it is included in the Red Data List of species in 34 of 47 prefectures of Japan. However, basic ecological information aboutC. tripunctatus orientalis, such as its feeding habits, remains unknown. In order to elucidate the feeding habits ofC. tripunctatus orientalislarvae, feeding preference experiments were carried out in 2nd and 3rd instar larvae. The number of Odonata nymphs consumed was significantly higher than the number of tadpoles consumed, indicating thatC. tripunctatus orientalislarvae prefer Odonata nymphs to tadpoles. In addition, all the first instar larvae ofC. tripunctatus orientalisdeveloped into second instars when they were supplied with motionless Odonata nymphs, but their survival rate was lower when they were supplied with motionless tadpoles. These results suggest thatC. tripunctatus orientalislarvae prefer insects to vertebrates.
The Effect of Conventional and Mini-Invasive Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Neutrophil Activation in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Kolackova Martina , Krejsek Jan , Svitek Vladimir , Kunes Pavel , Mandak Jiri , Holubcova Zdenka , Lonsky Vladimir
Published: February 2012

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is considered to be a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties, which have been previously linked to increased incidence of sepsis. The level of IL-10 is elevated by cardiac surgery when cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and methylprednisolone are used. In our study, we compare the level of IL-10, IL-10 Receptor (IL-10R), and percentage of neutrophils between two groups of cardiac surgical patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, both of which were not given methylprednisolone. The first group was operated with conventional CPB, while the second group was operated with minimally invasive CPB (mini-CPB). We detected enhanced level of IL-10 during surgery and at the end of surgery in both groups of patients. While no correlation between IL-10 and IL10R was found, IL-10 was positively correlated with increased percentage of neutrophils at the time points when the level of IL-10 peaked.
Experimental Application of Predictive Controllers
Authors: Silva C. H. F. , Henrique H. M. , Oliveira-Lopes L. C.
Published: February 2012

Model predictive control (MPC) has been used successfully in industry. The basic characteristic of these algorithms is the formulation of an optimization problem in order to compute the sequence of control moves that minimize a performance function on the time horizon with the best information available at each instant, taking into account operation and plant model constraints. The classical algorithms Infinite Horizon Model Predictive Control (IHMPC) and Model Predictive Control with Reference System (RSMPC) were used for the experimental application in the multivariable control of the pilot plant (level and pH). The simulations and experimental results indicate the applicability and limitation of the control technique.
Minimizing Hemodialysis Catheter Dysfunction: An Ounce of Prevention
Authors: Lee Timmy , Lok Charmaine , Vazquez Miguel , Moist Louise , Maya Ivan , Mokrzycki Michele
Published: February 2012

The maintenance of tunneled catheter (TC) patency is critical for the provision of adequate hemodialysis in patients who are TC-dependent. TC dysfunction results in the need for costly and inconvenient interventions, and reduced quality of life. Since the introduction of TCs in the late 1980s, heparin catheter lock has been the standard prophylactic regimen for the prevention of TC dysfunction. More recently, alternative catheter locking agents have emerged, and in some cases have shown to be superior to heparin lock with respect to improving TC patency and reducing TC-associated infections. These include citrate, tissue plasminogen activator, and a novel agent containing sodium citrate, methylene blue, methylparaben, and propylparaben. In addition, prophylaxis using oral anticoagulants/antiplatelet agents, including warfarin, aspirin, ticlodipine, as well as the use of modified heparin-coated catheters have also been studied for the prevention of TC dysfunction with variable results. The use of oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents as primary or secondary prevention of TC dysfunction must be weighed against their potential adverse effects, and should be individualized for each patient.
Identification and Characterization of Novel Perivascular Adventitial Cells in the Whole Mount Mesenteric Branch Artery Using Immunofluorescent Staining and Scanning Confocal Microscopy Imaging
Authors: Somasundaram Chandra , Nath Rahul K. , Bukoski Richard D. , Diz Debra I.
Published: February 2012

A novel perivascular adventitial cell termed, adventitial neuronal somata (ANNIES) expressing the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and the vasodilator neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), exists in the adult rat mesenteric branch artery (MBA) in situ. In addition, we have previously shown that ANNIES coexpress CGRP and NCAM. We now show that ANNIES express the neurite growth marker, growth associated protein-43(Gap-43), palladin, and the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), that senses changes in extracellular Ca(2+) and participates in vasodilator mechanisms. Thus, a previously characterized vasodilator, calcium sensing autocrine/paracrine system, exists in the perivascular adventitia associated with neural-vascular interface. Images of the whole mount MBA segments were analyzed under scanning confocal microscopy. Confocal analysis showed that the Gap-43, CaSR, and palladin were present in ANNIES about 37 ± 4%, 94 ± 6%, and 80 ± 10% respectively, comparable to CGRP (100%). Immunoblots from MBA confirmed the presence of Gap-43 (48 kD), NCAM (120 and 140 kD), and palladin (90–92 and 140 kD). In summary, CGRP, and NCAM-containing neural cells in the perivascular adventitia also express palladin and CaSR, and coexpress Gap-43 which may participate in response to stress/injury and vasodilator mechanisms as part of a perivascular sensory neural network.
The Effect of Solvents, Acetone, Water, and Ethanol, on the Morphological and Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave
Authors: Khoza Phindile B. , Moloto Makwena J. , Sikhwivhilu Lucky M.
Published: February 2012

HDA-capped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by solvothermal method using solvents of different polarities. A number of parameters were kept constant such as temperature, pressure, time, and pH while solvents were varied, that is, water, ethanol, and acetone. The TEM was used for the structural properties and morphologies such as spheres, mixture of rods, and spheres and stars were obtained in ethanol, acetone, and water, respectively, in a given reaction time of 15 minutes. Both ethanol and acetone gave rods with high aspect ratio primarily because of the lengths of the rods. Water and ethanol have the hydroxyl groups which interact with nanoparticles from nucleation, growth, and termination giving rise to nonspherical shapes. The hydroxyl group promotes growth in a nonuniform way resulting in stars and rods. The optical features were typical of ZnO nanoparticles with excitonic peaks in the range 368 to 374 nm from their absorption spectra. The XRD patterns of the particles gave the most stable form of ZnO which is the hexagonal phase, with high degree of crystallinity and with the 101 plane predominant in all solvents.
A Signature‐Based Power Model for MPSoC on FPGA
Authors: Piscitelli Roberta , Pimentel Andy D.
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a framework for high‐level power estimation of multiprocessor systems‐on‐chip (MPSoC) architectures on FPGA. The technique is based on abstract execution profiles, called event signatures, and it operates at a higher level of abstraction than, for example, commonly used instruction‐set simulator (ISS)‐based power estimation methods and should thus be capable of achieving good evaluation performance. As a consequence, the technique can be very useful in the context of early system‐level design space exploration. We integrated the power estimation technique in a system‐level MPSoC synthesis framework. Subsequently, using this framework, we designed a range of different candidate architectures which contain different numbers of MicroBlaze processors and compared our power estimation results to those from real measurements on a Virtex‐6 FPGA board.
Cyanobacteria in Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Review
Authors: Charpy L. , Casareto B. E. , Langlade M. J. , Suzuki Y.
Published: February 2012

Cyanobacteria have dominated marine environments and have been reef builders on Earth for more than three million years (myr). Cyanobacteria still play an essential role in modern coral reef ecosystems by forming a major component of epiphytic, epilithic, and endolithic communities as well as of microbial mats. Cyanobacteria are grazed by reef organisms and also provide nitrogen to the coral reef ecosystems through nitrogen fixation. Recently, new unicellular cyanobacteria that express nitrogenase were found in the open ocean and in coral reef lagoons. Furthermore, cyanobacteria are important in calcification and decalcification. All limestone surfaces have a layer of boring algae in which cyanobacteria often play a dominant role. Cyanobacterial symbioses are abundant in coral reefs; the most common hosts are sponges and ascidians. Cyanobacteria use tactics beyond space occupation to inhibit coral recruitment. Cyanobacteria can also form pathogenic microbial consortia in association with other microbes on living coral tissues, causing coral tissue lysis and death, and considerable declines in coral reefs. In deep lagoons, coccoid cyanobacteria are abundant and are grazed by ciliates, heteroflagellates, and the benthic coral reef community. Cyanobacteria produce metabolites that act as attractants for some species and deterrents for some grazers of the reef communities.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Parotid Gland in the Setting of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Deeb Robert , Zhang Ziying , Ghanem Tamer
Published: February 2012

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is infamous for its unpredictable behavior and metastatic potential. We report a case of a patient with a complex history of multifocal renal cell carcinoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), who subsequently developed a parotid mass. Total parotidectomy revealed this mass to be an additional site of metastasis which had developed 19 years after his initial diagnosis of RCC.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Powders (P25) via Calcination Treatment
Authors: Wang Guohong , Xu Lin , Zhang Jun , Yin Tingting , Han Deyan
Published: February 2012

P25 TiO2powders were calcined at different temperatures in a muffle furnace in air. The P25 powders before and after calcination treatment were characterized with XRD FTIR, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and N2adsorption-desorption measurements. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange aqueous solution under UV light irradiation in air. The results showed that calcination treatment obviously influenced the microstructures and photocatalytic activity of the P25 TiO2powders. The synergistic effect of the phase structure, BET surface area, and crystallinity on the photocatalytic of TiO2powders (P25) after calcination was investigated. An optimal calcination temperature () was determined. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2powders calcined at was nearly 2 times higher than that of the uncalcined P25 TiO2. The highest photocatalytic activities of the calcined samples at for 4 h might be ascribed to the enhancement of anatase crystallization and the optimal mass ratio (ca. 1 : 2) of rutile to anatase.
Analysis of Triopoly Game with Isoelastic Demand Function and Heterogeneous Players
Authors: Yao Hong-Xing , Shi Lian , Xi Hao
Published: February 2012

We analyze a triopoly game model with fully heterogeneous players when the demand function is isoelastic. The three players were considered to be bounded rational, adaptive, and naïve. Existing equilibrium points and their locally asymptotic stability conditions are studied. Complexity of the dynamical system is examined by means of numerical simulations, such as period cycles, bifurcation diagrams, strange attractors and sensitive, dependence on initial conditions. This paper extends the result of Tramontana (2010) who considered a heterogeneous duopoly with isoelastic demand function. Comparisons with respect to the heterogeneous triopoly model of Elabbasy et al. (2009) assuming linear demand function are performed.
The Compromise Condition for High Performance of the Single Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Lee Youngseok , Dao Vinh Ai , Kim Sangho , Kim Sunbo , Park Hyeongsik , Cho Jaehyun , Ahn Shihyun , Yi Junsin
Published: February 2012

For optimum performance of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon (a-Si : H/c-Si) heterojunction solar cells, featuring a doping concentration, localized states, as well as thickness of emitter layer are crucial, since Fermi level, surface passivated quality, and light absorption have to be compromised themselves. For this purpose, the effect of both doping concentration and thickness of emitter layer was investigated. It was found that with gas phase doping concentration and emitter layer thickness of 3% and 7 nm, solar cell efficiency in excess of 14.6% can be achieved. For high gas phase doping concentration, the degradation of open-circuit voltage as well as cell efficiency was obtained due to the higher disorder in the emitter layer. The heavily doped along with thicker in thickness of emitter layer results in light absorption on short wavelength, then diminishing short-circuit current density.
A Justification of Two‐Dimensional Nonlinear Viscoelastic Shells Model
Authors: Li Fushan
Published: February 2012

By applying formal asymptotic analysis and Laplace transformation, we obtain two‐dimensional
nonlinear viscoelastic shells model satisfied by the leading term of asymptotic expansion of the solution
to the three‐dimensional equations.
Canonical Analysis Technique as an Approach to Determine Optimal Conditions for Lactic Acid Production byLactobacillus helveticusATCC 15009
Authors: Leite Marcelo Teixeira , Barrozo Marcos Antonio de Souza , Ribeiro Eloizio Júlio
Published: February 2012

The response surface methodology and canonical analysis were employed to find the most suitable conditions forLactobacillus helveticusto produce lactic acid from cheese whey in batch fermentation. The analyzed variables were temperature, pH, and the concentrations of lactose and yeast extract. The experiments were carried out according to a central composite design with three center points. An empiric equation that correlated the concentration of lactic acid with the independent variables was proposed. The optimal conditions determined by the canonical analysis of the fitted model were 40°C, pH 6.8, 82 g/L of lactose, and 23.36 g/L of yeast extract. At this point, the lactic acid concentration reached 59.38 g/L. A subsequent fermentation, carried out under optimal conditions, confirmed the product concentration predicted by the adjusted model. This concentration of lactic acid is the highest ever reported forLactobacillus helveticusATCC 15009 in batch process using cheese whey as substrate.
Cyclin D1 in ASM Cells from Asthmatics Is Insensitive to Corticosteroid Inhibition
Authors: Allen Jodi C. , Seidel Petra , Schlosser Tobias , Ramsay Emma E. , Ge Qi , Ammit Alaina J.
Published: February 2012

Hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a feature of the remodelled airway in asthmatics. We examined the antiproliferative effectiveness of the corticosteroid dexamethasone on expression of the key regulator of G1 cell cycle progression—cyclin D1—in ASM cells from nonasthmatics and asthmatics stimulated with the mitogen platelet-derived growth factor BB. While cyclin D1 mRNA and protein expression were repressed in cells from nonasthmatics in contrast, cyclin D1 expression in asthmatics was resistant to inhibition by dexamethasone. This was independent of a repressive effect on glucocorticoid receptor translocation. Our results corroborate evidence demonstrating that corticosteroids inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation only in ASM cells from subjects without asthma and suggest that there are corticosteroid-insensitive proliferative pathways in asthmatics.
Are Pyogenic Liver Abscesses Still a Surgical Concern? A Western Experience
Authors: Alkofer Barbara , Dufay Corentin , Parienti Jean Jacques , Lepennec Vincent , Dargere Sylvie , Chiche Laurence
Published: February 2012

Backgrounds. Pyogenic liver abscess is a rare disease whose management has shifted toward greater use of percutaneous drainage. Surgery still plays a role in treatment, but its indications are not clear. Method. We conducted a retrospective study of pyogenic abscess cases admitted to our university hospital between 1999 and 2010 and assessed the factors potentially associated with surgical treatment versus medical treatment alone. Results. In total, 103 liver abscess patients were treated at our center. The mortality was 9%. The main symptoms were fever and abdominal pain. All of the patients had CRP > 6 g/dL. Sixty-nine patients had a unique abscess. Seventeen patients were treated with antibiotics alone and 57 with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics. Twenty-seven patients who were treated with percutaneous techniques required surgery, and 29 patients initially received it. Eventually, 43 patients underwent abscess surgery. The factors associated with failed medical treatment were gas-forming abscess and septic shock at the initial presentation . Conclusion. Medical and percutaneous treatment constitute the standard management of liver abscess cases. Surgery remains necessary after failure of the initial treatment but should also be considered as an early intervention for cases presenting with gas-forming abscesses and septic shock and when treatment of the underlying cause is immediately required.
An Innovative Approach for Management of Vertical Coronal Fracture in Molar: Case Report
Authors: Kathuria Ambica , Kavitha M. , Ravishankar P.
Published: February 2012

Unlike anterior teeth, acute exogenous trauma is an infrequent cause of posterior coronal vertical tooth fractures. Endodontic and restorative management of such fractures is a great challenge for the clinician. Newer advancements in adhesive techniques can provide successful intracoronal splinting of such teeth to reinforce the remaining tooth structure. This paper describes the diagnosis and management of a case of complicated vertical coronal fracture in mandibular first molar induced by a traffic accident.
Facial Baroparesis Caused by Scuba Diving
Authors: Kamide Daisuke , Matsunobu Takeshi , Shiotani Akihiro
Published: February 2012

Middle ear barotrauma is one of the common complications of SCUBA diving representing acute otalgia, hearing loss, and bleeding. But occurrence of facial palsy is rare. Here we report a case of a 30-year-old navy diver suffered middle ear barotrauma with transient facial palsy after SCUBA diving. He felt difficulty in equalizing the pressure in middle ear with Valsalva maneuver during diving, and suffered right facial palsy and aural fullness after diving. Clinical examination showed remarkable bulging of the right tympanic membrane and right facial palsy without other neurological findings. But facial palsy was disappeared immediately after myringotomy. We considered that the etiology of this case was neuropraxia of facial nerve in middle ear caused by over pressure of middle ear.
Results of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in Acromegaly
Authors: Franzin Alberto , Spatola Giorgio , Losa Marco , Picozzi Piero , Mortini Pietro
Published: February 2012

Objective. Single-session radiosurgery with Gamma Knife (GK) may be a potential adjuvant treatment in acromegaly. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of GK in patients who had previously received maximal surgical debulking at our hospital.Methods. The study was a retrospective analysis of hormonal, radiological, and ophthalmologic data collected in a predefined protocol from 1994 to 2009. The mean age at treatment was 42.3 years (range 22–67 yy). 103 acromegalic patients participated in the study. The median follow-up was 71 months (IQ range 43–107). All patients were treated with GK for residual or recurrent GH-secreting adenoma.Results. Sixty-three patients (61.2%) reached the main outcome of the study. The rate of remission was 58.3% at 5 years (95% CI 47.6–69.0%). Other 15 patients (14.6%) were in remission after GK while on treatment with somatostatin analogues. No serious side effects occurred after GK. Eight patients (7.8%) experienced a new deficit of pituitary function. New cases of hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, and hypoadrenalism occurred in 4 of 77 patients (5.2%), 3 of 95 patients (3.2%), and 6 of 100 patients at risk (6.0%), respectively.Conclusion. In a highly selected group of acromegalic patients, GK treatment had good efficacy and safety.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Gastrointestinal Parasite Infection in a Developing Nation Environment
Authors: Morgan Douglas R. , Benshoff Matthew , Cáceres Mercedes , Becker-Dreps Sylvia , Cortes Loreto , Martin Christopher F. , Schmulson Max , Peña Rodolfo
Published: February 2012

Postinfectious IBS is defined in the industrialized world as IBS onset following a sentinel gastrointestinal infection. In developing nations, where repeated bacterial and parasitic gastrointestinal infections are common, the IBS pathophysiology may be altered. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasite infection and IBS in the “nonsterile” developing world environment. IBS subjects were identified from a population-based sample of 1624 participants using the Rome II Modular Questionnaire. Stool samples from cases and randomly selected controls were examined for ova and parasites. Logistic regression models explored the relationship between IBS and parasite infection. The overall IBS prevalence among participants was 13.2% (9.3% males, 15.9% females). There was no difference in parasite carriage between IBS cases and controls, 16.6% versus 15.4% (P=0.78), nor among IBS subtypes. The pathophysiology of post-infectious IBS may be altered in the developing world as compared to industrialized nations and warrants investigation.
Structure-Function of Falcipains: Malarial Cysteine Proteases
Authors: Pandey Kailash C. , Dixit Rajnikant
Published: February 2012

Evidence indicates that cysteine proteases play essential role in malaria parasites; therefore an obvious area of investigation is the inhibition of these enzymes to treat malaria. Studies with cysteine protease inhibitors and manipulating cysteine proteases genes have suggested a role for cysteine proteases in hemoglobin hydrolysis. The best characterizedPlasmodiumcysteine proteases are falcipains, which are papain family enzymes. Falcipain-2 and falcipain-3 are major hemoglobinases ofP. falciparum. Structural and functional analysis of falcipains showed that they have unique domains including a refolding domain and a hemoglobin binding domain. Overall, the complexes of falcipain-2 and falcipain-3 with small and macromolecular inhibitors provide structural insight to facilitate the design or modification of effective drug treatment against malaria. Drug development targeting falcipains should be aided by a strong foundation of biochemical and structural studies.
Evolution and Conservation of Predicted Inclusion Membrane Proteins in Chlamydiae
Authors: Lutter Erika I. , Martens Craig , Hackstadt Ted
Published: February 2012

Chlamydiaspp. are obligate intracellular pathogens that replicate within a vacuole termed the inclusion. Chlamydiae extensively modify the inclusion membrane via the insertion of chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) which decorate the cytosolic face of the inclusion. We have assessed the overall relatedness and phylogeny of Incs in order to identify potential evolutionary trends. Despite a high degree of conservation among Incs withinC. trachomatisserovars, phylogenetic analysis showed that some Incs cluster according to clinical groupings suggesting that certain Incs may contribute to tissue tropism. Bioinformatic predictions identified Incs in five chlamydial species: 55 inC. trachomatis, 68 inC. felis, 92 inC. pneumoniae, 79 inC. caviae, and 54 inC. muridarum. Inc homologues were compared between chlamydial species and 23 core Incs were identified as shared among all species. Genomic expansion of Incs was identified inC. pneumoniae, C. caviae, andC. felisbut notC. trachomatisorC. muridarum.
The Photocatalytic Inactivation Effect of Fe-Doped TiO2Nanocomposites on Leukemic HL60 Cells-Based Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Huang Kangqiang , Chen Li , Liao Meixiang , Xiong Jianwen
Published: February 2012

The Fe-doped TiO2nanocomposites synthesized by a deposition-precipitation method were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis adsorption spectra and then were taken as a new “photosensitizer” for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The photocatalytic inactivation of Fe-doped TiO2on Leukemic HL60 cells was investigated using PDT reaction chamber based on LED light source, and the viability of HL60 cells was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The experimental results showed that the growth of leukemic HL60 cells was significantly inhibited by adding TiO2nanoparticles, and the inactivation efficiency could be effectively enhanced by the surface modification of TiO2nanoparticles with Fe doping. Furthermore, the optimized conditions were achieved at 5 wt% Fe/TiO2at a final concentration of 200 μg/mL, in which up to 82.5% PDT efficiency for the HL60 cells can be obtained under the irradiation of 403 nm light (the power density is 5 mW/cm2) within 60 minutes.