bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher vitamin D levels in HIV‐infected out‐patients on treatment with boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy
Authors: Cervero M , Agud JL , Torres R , García‐Lacalle C , Alcázar V , Jusdado JJ , Moreno S
Published: June 2013

Objectives

We investigated the vitamin D status of patients receiving frequently used types of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), including boosted protease inhibitor (PI) monotherapy.

Methods

For this cross‐sectional study, out of 450 HIV‐infected patients followed in the Hospital Severo Ochoa (Madrid, Spain), we selected 352 patients for whom vitamin D levels had been measured (January 2009 to December 2010). We collected the following data: demographics, cART duration, main cART regimen, viral load (VL), CD4 cell count, and concentrations of 25(OH)‐vitamin D [25(OH)‐D], parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin and calcium. Vitamin D status cut‐off points were: (1) deficiency (vitDd): 25(OH)‐D < 20 ng/mL; (2) insufficiency (vitDi): 25(OH)‐D from 20 to 29.99 ng/mL; and (3) optimal (vitDo): 25(OH)‐D ≥ 30 ng/mL.

Results

The percentages of patients with vitDd, vitDi and vitDo were 44, 27.6 and 28.5%, respectively. Twenty‐nine out of 30 (96.7%) Black patients had vitDd or vitDi, vs. 71.6% in the global sample (P < 0.001). Former injecting drug users (IDUs) had a higher prevalence of vitDo (P < 0.001) than patients in other transmission categories. Among patients with vitDd, vitDi and vitDo, the proportions of patients with a VL ≤ 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL were 77.4, 68 and 91%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Of the cART regimens, only boosted PI monotherapy was associated with significant differences in vitamin D levels (P = 0.039). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed an increased risk of vitDi or vitDd associated with the following variables: Black vs. Caucasian ethnicity [odds ratio (OR) 10.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–94; P = 0.033]; heterosexual (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.13–4.93; P = 0.022) or men who have sex with men (MSM) (OR 3.25; 95% CI 1.25–8.50; P = 0.016) transmission category vs. former IDU; and VL > 50 copies/mL (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.10–7.25; P = 0.040). A lower risk of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency was found in patients on boosted PI monotherapy vs. no treatment (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01–0.6; P = 0.018).

Conclusions

Our data show an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in patients with detectable VL and a Black ethnic background. Among cART regimens, boosted PI monotherapy was associated with a lower risk of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The more favourable vitamin D status in former IDUs was probably attributable to a higher frequency of outdoor jobs in this group of patients.
Differences in oviposition strategies between two ecotypes of the endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) under unique syntopic conditions
Authors: Czekes Zsolt , Markó Bálint , Nash David R. , Ferencz Márta , Lázár Bernadette , Rákosy László
Published: June 2013

The Alcon Blue Maculinea alcon and the Mountain Alcon Blue Maculinea ‘rebeli’ are obligate ant‐parasitic butterflies with no distinct morphological and genetic differences but clear ecological separation.

The two butterflies generally lay their eggs on distinct host plant species: M. alcon on Gentiana pneumonanthe and M. ‘rebeli’ on Gentiana cruciata. The egg‐laying behaviour of these two ecotypes has previously only been investigated in sympatric, but not in syntopic populations. We studied the egg‐laying preferences of M. alcon and M. ‘rebeli’ in a unique area where they co‐occur, and where they use different host plants.

The distance to the nearest other host plant does not seem to influence the decision of female butterflies as to whether to lay eggs on a specific host plant.

The two butterflies laid their eggs on different parts of their host plants: M. alcon preferred the sepals of G. pneumonanthe flower buds, while M. ‘rebeli’ laid most eggs on the leaves of G. cruciata.

The major factor correlated with the number of eggs laid on the host plant seemed to be plant quality (number of flowers, stem length, etc.) for both butterflies.

The present study reveals behavioural differences between the two Alcon Blue forms under unique syntopic conditions, a hidden intraspecific diversity that is worth conserving.
In Situ Synthesis of Nanostructured WC‐Co Within Silica Gel Matrix
Authors: Thakur Arpita Dalapati , Ghosh Chaudhuri Mahua , Das Gopes C. , Dey Rajib , Mitra Manoj K. , Mukherjee Siddhartha
Published: June 2013

In situ reduction of tungstic acid and cobalt chloride by dextrose in silica gel resulted in co‐deposition of tungsten carbide‐cobalt (WC–Co) nanoparticles with different proportions of cobalt (5–15 wt % of WC). X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy have been used for characterizing these nanoparticles. WC‐Co aggregates of 25–30 nm size have been achieved, successfully.
Jubilación y prestaciones de salud de los trabajadores migrantes mexicanos que regresan de los Estados Unidos
Authors: Aguila Emma , Zissimopoulos Julie
Published: June 2013

A falta de un convenio entre los Estados Unidos y México sobre la portabilidad y la totalización de los períodos computables a la seguridad social, en el presente artículo se examina el acceso a las pensiones y las prestaciones del seguro social, así como la situación laboral de los trabajadores migrantes mexicanos de edades más avanzadas que regresan a su país. Vemos que los migrantes que regresan tras haber pasado menos de un año en los Estados Unidos tienen un nivel similar de acceso que los no migrantes a las prestaciones de la seguridad social. Los migrantes que regresan tras haber pasado al menos un año en los Estados Unidos tienen menos posibilidades de tener un seguro de salud pública o prestaciones de la seguridad social que si no hubieran migrado, y su vulnerabilidad ante la pobreza en la vejez es mayor. Estos resultados aportan información para el debate sobre un acuerdo bilateral en materia de seguridad social entre los Estados Unidos y México con el objetivo de mejorar la seguridad social de los migrantes.
Effects of glutamine on wound healing
Authors: Kesici Ugur , Kesici Sevgi , Ulusoy Hulya , Yucesan Fulya , Turkmen Aygen U , Besir Ahmet , Tuna Verda
Published: June 2013

Studies reporting the need for replacing amino acids such as glutamine (Gln), hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB) and arginine (Arg) to accelerate wound healing are available in the literature. The primary objective of this study was to present the effects of Gln on tissue hydroxyproline (OHP) levels in wound healing. This study was conducted on 30 female Sprague Dawley rats with a mean weight of 230 ± 20 g. Secondary wounds were formed by excising 2 × 1 cm skin subcutaneous tissue on the back of the rats. The rats were divided into three equal groups. Group C (Control): the group received 1 ml/day isotonic solution by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. Group A (Abound): the group received 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Gln, 0·052 g/kg/day/ml HMB and 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Arg by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. Group R (Resource): the group received 0·3 g/kg/day/ml Gln by gastric gavage after secondary wound was formed. The OHP levels of the tissues obtained from the upper half region on the 8th day and the lower half region on the 21st day from the same rats in the groups were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistics program SPSS version 17.0. No statistically significant differences were reported with regard to the OHP measurements on the 8th and 21st days (8th day: F = 0·068, P = 0·935 > 0·05; 21st day: F = 0·018, P = 0·983 > 0·05). The increase in mean OHP levels on the 8th and 21st days within each group was found to be statistically significant (F = 1146·34, P = 0·000 < 0·001). We conclude that in adults who eat healthy food, who do not have any factor that can affect wound healing negatively and who do not have large tissue loss at critical level, Gln, Arg and HMB support would not be required to accelerate secondary wound healing.
The Course of Sleep Disturbances in Early Alcohol Recovery: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Kolla Bhanu Prakash , Schneekloth Terry , Biernacka Joanna , Mansukhani Meghna , Geske Jennifer , Karpyak Victor , Hall‐Flavin Daniel , Louikianova Larissa , Frye Mark A.
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Understanding the course and determinants of sleep disturbances in alcoholic patients may help identify patients at high risk of persistent sleep problems, relapse and guide treatment interventions.

Methods

We prospectively administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to all patients (N = 196) admitted to a 1‐month residential treatment program. Our analysis excluded patients with active drug abuse/dependence. Demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Inventory of Drug Taking Situations (IDTS) scores were obtained. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed using sex, age, hazardous alcohol use, PHQ‐9 scores, hypnotic use, and use of alcohol as a hypnotic as correlates to admission PSQI scores and improvement in PSQI scores.

Results

A total of 119 alcoholic patients met inclusion criteria (mean age 50.6 ± 13.2 years). The rates of sleep disturbances at admission and discharge were 69.3% and 49.1%, respectively. Self report of using alcohol to fall asleep and use of hypnotics were associated with elevated PSQI scores. Total PSQI scores improved over 4 weeks (p < .001). Change in PSQI scores was not effected by gender, use of hypnotics, hazardous alcohol use, use of alcohol as a hypnotic or co‐morbid psychiatric diagnosis. Older age predicted improvement in PSQI scores in patients with sleep disturbances (p = .004).

Conclusion

While a large proportion of alcoholics had sleep disturbances upon admission and at discharge from a residential treatment program, only older age was associated with improvements in sleep disturbances during early alcohol recovery. (Am J Addict 2014;23:21–26)
Hepatitis C infection in non‐treatment‐seeking heroin users: The burden of cocaine injection
Authors: Roux P. , Fugon L. , Jones J.D. , Comer S.D.
Published: June 2013

Background and Objectives

In heroin dependent individuals, the HIV epidemic has been controlled in countries where access to opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) and needle exchange programs (NEP) have been implemented. However, despite similar routes of contamination for both viruses, the prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) infection remains high in drug users. The objective of this analysis was to identify the prevalence of HCV and the correlates of being HCV‐positive in a sample of out‐of‐treatment heroin‐dependent individuals.

Methods

Data were collected from five inpatient studies (n = 120 participants) conducted at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. A logistic regression was used to identify correlates of being HCV‐positive at baseline.

Results

Among the 120 heroin‐dependent volunteers, 42 were HCV‐positive. Participants who had heavier alcohol use, a longer duration of heroin use, or who reported using heroin by injection were more likely to be HCV‐positive. Interestingly, participants who had injected cocaine during the previous month had a ninefold greater risk of being HCV‐positive compared to non‐cocaine users and those who used cocaine by a non‐injecting route.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

These findings confirm the risk of being HCV‐infected through intravenous drug use, especially with cocaine use. These results underscore the importance of rethinking interventions to prevent HCV infection with combined strategies using pharmacological approaches for cocaine dependence and tailored prevention for cocaine users. (Am J Addict 2013;22:613–618)
Linked exploitation and interference competition drives the variable behavior of a classic predator–prey system
Authors: Delong John P. , Vasseur David A.
Published: June 2013

The potential connection between exploitation and interference competition was recognized long ago but has not been evaluated. We measured the levels of both forms of competition for the protist Didinium preying upon Paramecium. Across populations, exploitation intensity was tightly linked to interference intensity, and the form of this relationship follows from a simple model of interaction speeds. The variation in interference competition was as large across populations of Didinium as has been observed previously across species from a variety of taxa including birds, mammals, insects, crustaceans, flatworms and protists. The link between exploitation and interference competition alters our understanding of how interference competition influences population dynamics. Instead of simply stabilizing systems, variation in interference levels can shift population dynamics through qualitatively different regimes because of its association with exploitation competition. Strong interference competition pushes a system to a regime of deterministic extinction, but intermediate interference generates a system that is stable with a high competitive ability. This may help to explain why the distribution of interference values is unimodal and mostly intermediate in intensity.

Synthesis

Exploitation and interference competition are typically viewed as separate processes. Exploitation is described with a functional response in which the inclusion of interference competition – the effect of predator density on foraging rates – is optional. Although recent work indicates that interference competition is widespread, there is little work linking the two forms of competition. In this article we present evidence that exploitation and interference competition are linked mechanistically through movement patterns that simultaneously generate beneficial interactions of consumers with resources and detrimental interactions with other consumers. This connection alters our view of the role that interference plays in ecological dynamics.
An insight into population structure and gene flow within pure‐bred cats
Authors: Leroy G. , Vernet E. , Pautet M.B. , Rognon X.
Published: June 2013

Investigation of genetic structure on the basis of pedigree information requires indicators adapted to the specific context of the populations studied. On the basis of pedigree‐based estimates of diversity, we analysed genetic diversity, mating practices and gene flow among eight cat populations raised in France, five of them being single breeds and three consisting of breed groups with varieties that may interbreed. When computed on the basis of coancestry rate, effective population sizes ranged from 127 to 1406, while the contribution of founders from other breeds ranged from 0.7 to 16.4%. In the five breeds, FIS ranged between 0.96 and 1.83%, with this result being related to mating practices such as close inbreeding (on average 5% of individuals being inbred within two generations). Within the three groups of varieties studied, FIT ranged from 1.59 to 3%, while values were estimated between 0.04 and 0.91%, which was linked to various amounts of gene exchanges between subpopulations at the parental level. The results indicate that cat breeds constitute populations submitted to low selection intensity, contrasting with relatively high individual inbreeding level caused by close inbreeding practices.
Causes and methods to estimate cryptic sources of fishing mortalitya
Authors: Gilman E. , Suuronen P. , Hall M. , Kennelly S.
Published: June 2013

Cryptic, not readily detectable, components of fishing mortality are not routinely accounted for in fisheries management because of a lack of adequate data, and for some components, a lack of accurate estimation methods. Cryptic fishing mortalities can cause adverse ecological effects, are a source of wastage, reduce the sustainability of fishery resources and, when unaccounted for, can cause errors in stock assessments and population models. Sources of cryptic fishing mortality are (1) pre‐catch losses, where catch dies from the fishing operation but is not brought onboard when the gear is retrieved, (2) ghost‐fishing mortality by fishing gear that was abandoned, lost or discarded, (3) post‐release mortality of catch that is retrieved and then released alive but later dies as a result of stress and injury sustained from the fishing interaction, (4) collateral mortalities indirectly caused by various ecological effects of fishing and (5) losses due to synergistic effects of multiple interacting sources of stress and injury from fishing operations, or from cumulative stress and injury caused by repeated sub‐lethal interactions with fishing operations. To fill a gap in international guidance on best practices, causes and methods for estimating each component of cryptic fishing mortality are described, and considerations for their effective application are identified. Research priorities to fill gaps in understanding the causes and estimating cryptic mortality are highlighted.
Overexpression of Smad2 inhibits proliferation of gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Shimoe M. , Yamamoto T. , Shiomi N. , Tomikawa K. , Hongo S. , Yamashiro K. , Yamaguchi T. , Maeda H. , Takashiba S.
Published: June 2013

Background and Objective

Spatiotemporal inhibition of apical migration and proliferation of gingival epithelium are significant factors involved in periodontal regeneration. Transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) is important in multiple aspects of wound healing, and Smad2, a downstream transcription factor of TGF‐β, has an inhibitory effect on re‐epithelialization during gingival wound healing. Therefore, we investigated the effects on migration and proliferation status, and intra/extracellular signaling regulated by Smad2 overexpression in gingival epithelial cells.

Material and Methods

Gingival epithelial cells were isolated from the palatal gingival tissue of transgenic mice overexpressing Smad2 driven by the Keratin14 promoter. Smad2 expression was identified by western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. Scratch assay and 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine staining were performed to assess cell migration and proliferation. To inactivate TGF‐β type I receptor, the cultures were supplemented with SB431542. Secreted TGF‐β was quantified by ELISA. Smad2 target gene expression was examined by real‐time RT‐PCR and in vivo immunofluorescence analysis of gingival junctional epithelium.

Results

Smad2‐overexpressing cells were confirmed to have significant phosphorylated Smad2 in the nucleus. Scratch assay and 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine staining indicated that Smad2‐overexpressing cells showed no significant differences in migration, but had reduced proliferation rates compared to wild‐type controls. SB431542 significantly inhibited Smad2 phosphorylation, which coincided with restoration of the proliferation rate in Smad2‐overexpressing cells. ELISA of TGF‐β release did not show any differences between genotypes. The cell cycle inhibitors, p15 and p21, showed significant upregulation in Smad2‐overexpressing cells compared to wild‐type controls. Moreover, junctional epithelium of the transgenic mice showed increased expression of P‐Smad2, p15 and p21.

Conclusion

The signaling activation triggered by overexpression of Smad2 was dependent on TGF‐β type I receptor, and the activated Smad2 increased p15 and p21 expression, responsible for inhibiting cell cycle entry, resulting in antiproliferative effects on gingival epithelial cells. Understanding of Smad2‐induced signaling would be useful for possible clinical application to regulate gingival epithelial downgrowth.
The predictive relations between non‐alphanumeric rapid naming and growth in regular and irregular word decoding in at‐risk readers
Authors: Kruk Richard S. , Mayer Jesse , Funk Leah
Published: June 2013

We investigated influences of non‐alphanumeric rapid naming on decoding skill growth for regularly and irregularly spelled English words. In a longitudinal study, 52 at‐risk and 69 not‐at‐risk readers were tracked from Grade 1 to Grade 3. Non‐alphanumeric rapid naming ability measured in Grade 1 accounted for unique variance in irregular word decoding in early Grade 2 – strong rapid naming was associated with strong irregular word decoding. An interaction between reading risk status and Grade 1 rapid naming indicated that the influence of Grade 1 rapid naming ability on growth in irregular word decoding was different for at‐risk than not‐at‐risk readers. Non‐alphanumeric rapid naming can have predictive validity as a marker for identifying specific difficulties in learning to read irregular words in at‐risk readers. Results indicate that rapid naming plays a general role in irregular word reading and a specific role in at‐risk readers' growth in irregular word decoding.
Pilot Study on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Men-Who-Have-Sex-with-Men Treated for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Lee Tsz Kin , Breau Rodney Henry , Eapen Libni
Published: June 2013

Introduction

There is limited data on post-treatment quality of life (QoL) for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) with prostate cancer (PCa). QoL in MSM may not be reflected by assessment tools designed for the heterosexual population.

Aims

Our goals were to evaluate post-treatment QoL in PCa patients who are MSM, and to investigate the utility of current QoL assessment tool.

Methods

PCa patients treated with surgery and/or radiation were recruited from the local MSM community. Each participant completed the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire, Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ), and a questionnaire focused on insertive and receptive roles of anal intercourse.

Main Outcome Measures

Response scores were calculated based on questionnaire design and compared by treatment modality.

Results

Seven participants treated with surgery (mean age 58) and eight participants treated with radiation (mean age 67) were recruited. No participant in the surgical group received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) while two in radiation group were treated with ADT.

The sample size of this study did not permit formal statistical analysis, although potential differences in Urinary and Bowel Domains from EPIC and Ejaculation Scale from MSHQ were observed. More participants from the radiation group seemed to be able to maintain both insertive and receptive anal intercourse roles after treatment compared to participants who received surgery.

Conclusions

While the two validated assessment tools suggested similar QoL scores including sexual function for both surgical and radiation groups, post-treatment sexual function related to anal intercourse may be better in the radiation group, as compared to the surgical group. Larger studies in PCa patients from MSM community are warranted to verify these data.
Shaping Parents: Impact of Contrasting Professional Counseling on Parents' Decision Making for Children with Disorders of Sex Development
Authors: Streuli Jürg C. , Vayena Effy , Cavicchia-Balmer Yvonne , Huber Johannes
Published: June 2013

Introduction

The management of disorders or differences of sex development (DSD) remains complex, especially with respect to parents' decision for or against early genitoplasty. Most parents still tend to disfavor postponing surgery until the child is old enough to provide consent.

Aim

To identify the determinants of parental decisions for or against early sex assignment surgery in DSD children, and in particular to assess the influence of contrasting behavior of health-care professionals and the information they dispense.

Methods

Preliminary data analysis from a focus group identified two broad approaches to counseling information. Two six-minute counseling videos were produced on this basis: one medicalized, by an endocrinologist, the other demedicalized, by a psychologist. Third-year medical students (N = 89) were randomized to watch either video as prospective parents and report its impact on their decision in a self-administered questionnaire.

Main Outcome Measures

Statistical analysis of questionnaire responses regarding decisions for or against surgery, including self-assessed impact of potential determinants.

Results

Thirty-eight of eighty-nine “parents” (43%) chose early surgery for “their” child, including 27/41 “parents” (66%) shown the medicalized video vs. 11/48 (23%) shown the demedicalized video (P < 0.001). Desired aims for “their” child also differed significantly depending on the counseling approach viewed. Yet “parents” perceived their personal attitudes on a four-point Likert scale as the main influence on their decision although their “attitude” was significantly shaped by the video.

Conclusions

Parental decisions concerning early sex assignment surgery for DSD children depend on the health professional counseling received, to a degree of which neither parents nor professionals appear fully aware. In the absence of conclusive data for or against early surgery, there is a danger of medicalized or demedicalized parentalism resulting in irreversible and inadequately grounded decisions, regardless of the consensus statement of 2005 and the subsequent call for multidisciplinary management.
Pharmacokinetics of difloxacin in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at two water temperatures
Authors: Sun M. , Li J. , Gai C. L. , Chang Z. Q. , Li J. T. , Zhao F. Z.
Published: June 2013

In this study, the pharmacokinetics profiles of difloxacin in the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were investigated following intravenous and oral administration (10 mg/kg BW) at 14 and 22 °C water temperatures. Plasma and tissue samples (muscle, liver, and kidney) were analyzed using an HPLC method. The results showed that the plasma concentration–time data for difloxacin were described commendably by two‐compartment open model at the two water temperatures. The absorption half‐life (t1/2ka) of difloxacin after oral administration were 2.08 and 1.10 h at 14 and 22 °C, respectively; whereas the elimination half‐life (t1/2β) was 4.41 and 2.38 h, respectively. The muscle concentration of 1.35 ± 0.19 μg/g was observed at 9 h at 14 °C, and 2.11 ± 0.33 μg/g at 6 h at 22 °C, respectively. For liver, the peak concentration of difloxacin 2.43 ± 0.30 μg/g occurred at 6 h at 14 °C, which was lower than the 3.34 ± 0.24 μg/g peak that occurred at 4 h at 22 °C. The calculated bioavailability of difloxacin was 68.07% at 22 °C, which was higher than the 53.43% calculated for 14 °C. After intravenous administration, the t1/2β were 4.79 and 2.81 h at 14 and 22 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the peak concentrations in muscle and liver at 14 °C are approximately half of those achieved at 22 °C. However, the Cmax in kidney at 14 and 22 °C were similar. The Vd values were 1.20 and 1.75 L/kg at 14 and 22 °C, respectively. These data indicated that both temperature and drug administration had significant effects on the elimination of difloxacin, and lower temperature or oral administration resulted in lower elimination.
OPTIMAL LIQUIDATION IN A LIMIT ORDER BOOK FOR A RISK‐AVERSE INVESTOR
Authors: Løkka Arne
Published: June 2013

In a limit order book model with exponential resilience, general shape function, and an unaffected stock price following the Bachelier model, we consider the problem of optimal liquidation for an investor with constant absolute risk aversion. We show that the problem can be reduced to a two‐dimensional deterministic problem which involves no buy orders. We derive an explicit expression for the value function and the optimal liquidation strategy. The analysis is complicated by the fact that the intervention boundary, which determines the optimal liquidation strategy, is discontinuous if there are levels in the limit order book with relatively little market depth. Despite this complication, the equation for the intervention boundary is fairly simple. We show that the optimal liquidation strategy possesses the natural properties one would expect, and provide an explicit example for the case where the limit order book has a constant shape function.
COMMENT ON “SKEWNESS‐AWARE ASSET ALLOCATION”
Authors: Bae Kwangil
Published: June 2013

This paper discusses risk measures proposed by Low et al. One of their new risk measures is skewness‐aware deviation, which is closely related to constant absolute risk aversion utility functions. This measure captures downside risk more effectively than traditional variance does. The authors also propose a second measure, skewness‐aware variance, which is derived from skewness‐aware deviation. This measure simplifies asset allocation problems and empirical results indicate that it captures risk better than traditional variance. However, this measure is also found to be inconsistent due to factor selection. Additionally, in the aspect of skewness‐aware deviation, optimal portfolios based upon skewness‐aware variance are sometimes less efficient than optimal portfolios that base themselves on traditional variance.
Biased semantics for right and left in 50 Indo‐European and non‐Indo‐European languages
Authors: Schiefenhövel Wulf
Published: June 2013

The negative bias accompanying the terms left and left‐handers has long interested researchers. This paper examines a large number of languages of Indo‐European and non‐Indo‐European origin for such biasing. One surprising outcome is that, within the Indo‐European language family, the terms for right and left do not go back to one set of antonyms but have their etymological roots in a number of different core semantic concepts. As in the non‐Indo‐European languages, right is almost always thought of positively, whereas left is negatively connotated. This is interpreted as the outcome of a universal human evaluation process, partly based on the principle of embodiment. The terms for right never have, in any of the examined languages, a negative bias; the words for left, usually never positively biased, were turned into euphemisms in three language groups (Scandinavian, Greek, and Avestan). On one interpretation, this seems to be an act of historical political correctness, corroborating the negative attitude cultures have for left‐handers, very likely an outcome of discrimination of minorities.
Identification of Left Atrial Ganglionated Plexi by Dense Epicardial Mapping as Ablation Targets for the Treatment of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: KONDO YUSUKE , UEDA MAREHIKO , WATANABE MICHIKO , ISHIMURA MASAYUKI , KAJIYAMA TAKATSUGU , HASHIGUCHI NAOTAKA , KANAEDA TOMONORI , NAKANO MASAHIRO , HIRANUMA YASUNORI , ISHIZAKA TORU , MATSUMIYA GORO , KOBAYASHI YOSHIO
Published: June 2013

Background

Autonomic ganglionated plexi (GPs) play a significant role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). GPs are key targets for a maze procedure. The purpose of this study was to identify the location of the left atrial GPs based on dense epicardial mapping during a maze procedure in patients with concomitant AF.

Methods

Sixteen patients (age, 68 ± 10 years; 11 males, 69%) with heart failure and concomitant AF (duration 55 ± 86 months) underwent intraoperative epicardial electrophysiological mapping and a GP ablation using the maze procedure at our institution. Twenty‐four‐site, high‐frequency stimulation (1,000/min; output, 18 V; pulse width, 0.75 ms) was performed by placing tweezers directly onto the potential GP sites on the left atrial epicardium.

Results

Active GPs were found in 13 (81%) of the 16 patients, and 12 (92%) of 13 patients had active GPs between the right pulmonary veins (PVs) and the interatrial groove. For those patients with active locations, a 7‐day event‐loop recording demonstrated that 12 (92%) of 13 patients were maintained in sinus rhythm 3 months after the operation.

Conclusion

Dense epicardial mapping in the potential GP areas identified active GP locations in a high percentage of patients. GPs between the PVs and interatrial groove have a high potential as ablation targets for treatment of concomitant AF.
An Auction Mechanism for Pricing and Capacity Allocation with Multiple Products
Authors: Karabatı Selçuk , Yalçın Zehra Bilgintürk
Published: June 2013

We consider a pricing and short‐term capacity allocation problem in the presence of buyers with orders for bundles of products. The supplier's objective is to maximize her net profit, computed as the difference between the revenue generated through sales of products and the production and inventory holding costs. The objective of each buyer is similarly profit maximization, where a buyer's profit is computed as the difference between the time‐dependent utility of the product bundle he plans to buy, expressed in monetary terms, and the price of the bundle. We assume that bundles' utilities are buyers' private information and address the problem of allocating the facility's output. We directly consider the products that constitute the supplier's output as market goods. We study the case where the supplier follows an anonymous and linear pricing strategy, with extensions that include quantity discounts and time‐dependent product and delivery prices. In this setting, the winner determination problem integrates the capacity allocation and scheduling decisions. We propose an iterative auction mechanism with non‐decreasing prices to solve this complex problem, and present a computational analysis to investigate the efficiency of the proposed method under supplier's different pricing strategies. Our analysis shows that the problem with private information can be effectively solved with the proposed auction mechanism. Furthermore, the results indicate that the auction mechanism achieves more than 80% of the system's profit, and the supplier receives a higher percentage of profit especially when the ratio of demand to available capacity is high.
Firms' R&D Cooperation Behavior in a Supply Chain
Authors: Ge Zehui , Hu Qiying , Xia Yusen
Published: June 2013

This study investigates firms' R&D cooperation behavior in a supply chain where two firms first cooperate in R&D investments and then decide the production quantity according to a wholesale price contract. By using a concept named contribution level that measures a firm's technological contribution to the R&D cooperation in the supply chain, we show that both firms can achieve win–win via cartelization only if their contribution levels are Pareto matched, i.e., when each firm's contribution level is comparable to its partner's. When spillovers are endogenized, we further establish that an increasing spillover always benefits both firms without any R&D cooperation, but only benefits the firm whose contribution level is relatively low when under R&D cartels. Finally, we show that the path of first increasing spillovers to be perfect and then forming a cartel has a higher chance of achieving the best mode in terms of profitability.
Identity and Engagement among Political Independents in America
Authors: Klar Samara
Published: June 2013

Political behavior among independents has been documented for decades, yet we are left with limited insight into their political engagement. What, if anything, motivates independents to engage in politics? In this study, I apply psychological theories of attitude importance to explain high variation in political‐engagement levels among independents. Using two recent datasets, I find engagement levels are comparable across independents and partisans, yet predictors of their engagement differ substantially. Ideological strength predicts engagement for partisans—but not for independents. Instead, my data show that independents' engagement is best predicted by the importance they place on their independent identity. These data provide evidence that independence is a meaningful political identity and that identity importance is a key to explaining what motivates the independent voter to engage with politics.
Pay for Performance in Five States: Lessons for the Nursing Home Sector
Authors: Miller Edward Alan , Doherty Julia , Nadash Pamela
Published: June 2013

Pay for performance (P4P) aims to use reimbursement to incentivize providers to deliver high‐quality services. This article examines P4P in five Medicaid nursing home programs: Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont. It describes each program and draws lessons regarding program participation, financing, measurement, administration, and development. Findings highlight the importance of obtaining stakeholder input, both initially and on an ongoing basis. Findings also highlight the need to provide opportunities for acceptance and learning by phasing in programs slowly, beginning with performance measurement, followed by public reporting and, finally, by introducing P4P incentives. Funding P4P using new appropriations, incorporating multiple quality measures and domains, and relying on existing data sources when possible were deemed important; so, too, was allowing programs to evolve over time to account for innovations in quality measurement.
Proportional Hazards Modeling of Saccadic Response Times During Reading
Authors: Nilsson Mattias , Nivre Joakim
Published: June 2013

In this article we use proportional hazards models to examine how low‐level processes affect the probability of making a saccade over time, through the period of fixation, during reading. We apply the Cox proportional hazards model to investigate how launch distance (relative to word beginning), fixation location (relative to word center), and word frequency affect the hazard of a saccadic response. This model requires that covariates have a constant impact on the hazard over time, the assumption of proportional hazards. We show that this assumption is not supported. The impact of the covariates changes with the time passed since fixation onset. To account for the non‐proportional hazards we fit step functions of time, resulting in a model with time‐varying effects on the hazard. We evaluate the ability to predict the timing of saccades on held‐out fixation data. The model with time‐varying effects performs better in predicting the timing of saccades for fixations as short as 100 ms and as long as 500 ms, when compared both to a baseline model without covariates and a model which assumes constant covariate effects. This result suggests that the time‐varying effects model better recovers the time course of low‐level processes that influence the decision to move the eyes.
Directed dimerization: an in vivo expression system for functional studies of type II phytochromes
Authors: Liu Peng , Sharrock Robert A.
Published: June 2013

Type II phytochromes (phy) in Arabidopsis form homodimers and heterodimers, resulting in a diverse collection of light‐stable red/far‐red (R/FR) sensing photoreceptors. We describe an in vivo protein engineering system and its use in characterizing the activities of these molecules. Using a phyB null mutant background, singly and doubly transgenic plants were generated that express fusion proteins containing the phyB–phyE N–terminal photosensory regions (NB–NE PSRs), a nuclear localization sequence, and small yeast protein domains that mediate either homodimerization or heterodimerization. Activity of NB/NB homodimers but not monomeric NB subunits in control of seedling and adult plant responses to R light is demonstrated. Heterodimers of the NB sequence with the chromophoreless NBC357S sequence, which mimic phyB Pfr/Pr photo‐heterodimers, mediate R sensitivity in leaves and petioles but not hypocotyls. Homodimerization of the NC, ND and NE sequences and directed heterodimerization of these photosensory regions with the NB region reveal form‐specific R‐induced activities for different type II phy dimers. The experimental approach developed here of directed assembly of defined protein dimer combinations in vivo may be applicable to other systems.
Reverse genetics in complex multigene operons by co‐transformation of the plastid genome and its application to the open reading frame previously designated psbN
Authors: Krech Katharina , Fu Han‐Yi , Thiele Wolfram , Ruf Stephanie , Schöttler Mark A. , Bock Ralph
Published: June 2013

Reverse genetics approaches have contributed enormously to the elucidation of gene functions in plastid genomes and the determination of structure–function relationships in chloroplast multiprotein complexes. Gene knock‐outs are usually performed by disrupting the reading frame of interest with a selectable marker cassette. Site‐directed mutagenesis is done by placing the marker into the adjacent intergenic spacer and relying on co‐integration of the desired mutation by homologous recombination. These strategies are not applicable to genes residing in large multigene operons or other gene‐dense genomic regions, because insertion of the marker cassette into an operon‐internal gene or into the nearest intergenic spacer is likely to interfere with expression of adjacent genes in the operon or disrupt cis‐elements for the expression of neighboring genes and operons. Here we have explored the possibility of using a co‐transformation strategy to mutate a small gene of unknown function (psbN) that is embedded in a complex multigene operon. Although inactivation of psbN resulted in strong impairment of photosynthesis, homoplasmic knock‐out lines were readily recovered by co‐transformation with a selectable marker integrating >38 kb away from the targeted psbN. Our results suggest co‐transformation as a suitable strategy for the functional analysis of plastid genes and operons, which allows the recovery of unselected homoplasmic mutants even if the introduced mutations entail a significant selective disadvantage. Moreover, our data provide evidence for involvement of the psbN gene product in the biogenesis of both photosystem I and photosystem II. We therefore propose to rename the gene product ‘photosystem biogenesis factor 1′ and the gene pbf1.
Effect of retrobulbar nerve block on heart rate variability during enucleation in horses under general anesthesia
Authors: Oel Carolin , Gerhards Hartmut , Gehlen Heidrun
Published: June 2013

Objective

Analysis of any effect of retrobulbar block during ocular surgery on heart rate variability and oculocardiac reflex.

Study design

Prospective study.

Animal studied

Horses (n = 16) undergoing eye enucleation due to chronic ophthalmologic diseases.

Procedure

Eye enucleation was performed under general anesthesia. The horses were randomly assigned to the first (inhalation anesthesia only,n = 10) or second group (inhalation and local retrobulbar anesthesia,n = 6). The retrobulbar block was performed using 12 mL of mepivacaine hydrochloride 2%.ECGdata were taken by a TelemetricECGbefore, during, and after surgery. Heart rate variability was analyzed in the time domain as mean heart rate, mean beat‐to‐beat interval duration, and standard deviation of continuous beat‐to‐beat intervals. The frequency domain analysis included the low‐ and high‐frequency components of heart rate variability and the sympathovagal balance (low/high frequency). The low frequency represents mainly sympathetic influences on the heart, whereas high frequency is mediated by the parasympathetic tone.

Results

All horses without a retrobulbar block showed a significant decrease in the heart rate during traction on the globe and pressure on the orbital fat pad for homoestasis (P = 0.04). Simultaneously, high‐frequency power, as an indicator of vagal stimulation, increased significantly. High‐frequency and low‐frequency power in the retrobulbar block group increased in five horses, and heart rate decreased in only one horse. Both were not significant within the group, but there was a significant difference between both groups relating to the incidence of heart rate decrease occurring at globe traction.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Heart rate variability is a sensitive, non‐invasive parameter to obtain sympathovagal stimulations during general anesthesia. The retrobulbar block can prevent heart rate decrease associated with initiation of the oculocardiac reflex.
ACCURACY OF CT AND MRI FOR CONTOURING THE FELINE OPTIC APPARATUS FOR RADIATION THERAPY PLANNING
Authors: Nolan Michael W. , Randall Elissa K. , LaRue Susan M. , Lunn Katharine F. , Stewart Jeff , Kraft Susan L.
Published: June 2013

Consistency and accuracy in normal tissue contouring in radiotherapy planning is important for comparison of dosimetry and toxicity data between studies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves the accuracy of optic apparatus contouring as compared with computed tomography (CT) in both normal and acromegalic cats, and to construct a reference contour of the feline optic apparatus. Both CT and MRI were performed on cadavers of four healthy cats, as well as on five radiotherapy patients with feline acromegaly. Contours of the optic apparatus were drawn for each imaging study. The volume, center of mass, and the degree of concordance and mismatch were determined for each, and compared with a reference standard. Precontrast CT was found to overestimate volume as compared with MRI in acromegalic cats; no other statistically significant differences were identified in the volume, concordance index or mismatch index values of normal or acromegalic cats. Contours derived from T2‐wieghted MRI were subjectively considered to best match the reference standard. The caudal margin of the optic chiasm and the optic tracts were difficult to confidently contour regardless of which imaging modality and/or sequence was used. In conclusion, findings from the current study supported the use of a combination of CT and MR images and a priori knowledge of the shape of the optic apparatus to guide accurate contouring, especially where image contrast is not sufficient to clearly delineate the margins. Guidelines for feline optic apparatus contouring developed in this study can be used for future studies.
Axial Loss Development in Low Pressure Turbine Cascades
Authors: Muth Bastian , Niehuis Reinhard
Published: June 2013

The objective of this work presented in this paper is to study the performance of low-pressure turbines in detail by extensive numerical simulations. The numerical flow simulations were conducted using the general purpose code ANSYS CFX. Particular attention is focused on the loss development in the axial direction within the flow passage of the cascade. It is shown that modern computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools are able to break down the integral loss of the turbine profile into its components, depending on attached and separated flow areas. In addition, the numerical results allow one to show the composition of the loss depending on the Reynolds number. The method of the analysis of axial loss development presented here allows for a much more comprehensive investigation and evaluation of the quality of the numerical results. For this reason, the paper also demonstrates the capability of this method to quantify the influence of the axial velocity density ratio, the inflow turbulence level, the inflow angle, and the Reynolds number on the loss configuration and the flow angle of the cascade as well as a comparison of steady state and transient results. The validation data of this low pressure turbine (LPT) cascade have been obtained at the High Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel of the Institute of Jet Propulsion. For this purpose, experiments were conducted within the range of Re2th = 40,000 to 400,000. To gather data at realistic engine operation conditions, the wind tunnel allows for an independent variation of Reynolds and Mach number. The experimental results presented herein contain detailed pressure measurements as well as measurements with 3D hot-wire anemometry. However, this paper shows only integral values of the experimental as well as the numerical results to protect the proprietary nature of the LPT design.