bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pain management in Australian emergency departments: Current practice, enablers, barriers and future directions
Authors: Bennetts Scott , Campbell‐Brophy Evylyn , Huckson Susan , Doherty Steven ,   National Health and Medical Research Council's National Institute for Clinical Studies National Emergency Care Pain Management Initiative
Published: October 2011

Objective: To explore current pain management practice in Australian EDs and identify enablers and barriers for best‐practice pain management.

Methods: Five focus groups and two in‐depth interviews were held with ED clinical staff (n= 47) from six hospitals in three states. Participants were asked open‐ended questions to determine current pain management practices, enablers and barriers to implementing best‐practice pain management, and understand change in practice within the ED setting.

Results: Emergency department staff identified a gap between evidence‐based pain management recommendations and everyday practice. Perceived barriers to improving pain management included a lack of time and resources, a greater number of urgent and serious presentations that place pain management as a lower priority, organizational protocols and legislative issues. All groups noted difficulty in applying pain management guidelines in the context of competing priorities in the challenging ED environment. A culture of learning clinical practice from respected senior staff and peers was perceived to be a key enabler. Participants consistently expressed the view that evidence‐based practice improvement should be championed by senior clinical staff, and that evidence to demonstrate the benefits of change must be presented to support the need for change.

Conclusions: Effective and sustainable system change requires a strategy that is initiated within the ED, targets opinion leaders, is supported by evidence, and engages all levels of ED staff.
Adult intussusception: A 15‐year retrospective review
Authors: Ma Ka‐Wing , Li Wing‐Hong , Cheung Moon‐Tong
Published: October 2011

Objective:  Adult intussusception is an uncommon disease and is usually associated with malignancy. In many cases, diagnosis is made only in the theatre as a result of its non‐specific presentation and low index of suspicion. By reporting the present study, we would like to share our experience in managing this condition.

Methodology:  Patients with the diagnosis of intussusception admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital within the period 1996–2010 were included. Demographic data, presenting symptoms, and operative and pathological findings were collected and analysed.

Results:  There were 37 adult intussusceptions in the study period; 18 of them were female and 19 of them were male. The mean age of the patients was 67 years. More than 40% of the patients had subacute onset of the symptoms. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom, present in 83.5% of the patients. Preoperative diagnosis was made in 62.2% of the cases and all of these received either preoperative computed tomography and/or ultrasonography. There were nine enteric and 28 colonic intussusceptions. A pathological lead‐point could be identified in 83.8%, and their size ranged from 2 cm to 8 cm. The malignant lead‐point was larger than the benign one lead‐point (4.74 vs 3.3, P = 0.021). Malignancy was found in 33.3% of the enteric lesions and 60.7% of the colonic lesions. respectively. Age older than 70 years was found to be an associated risk factor for malignancy (P = 0.022).

Conclusion:  Intussusception should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses, especially in elderly patients complaining of subacute abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan should be the imaging of choice. Oncological resection should be carried out without attempt of reduction if the patient is older than 70 years, having colonic intussusception and containing a large lead‐point.
New energy‐based devices in laparoscopic splenectomy: Comparison of Ligasure alone versus Ligasure and Ultracision together
Authors: Kurt Yavuz , Yücel Ergun , Filiz Ali İlker , Sücüllü İlker , Akin Mehmet Levhi
Published: October 2011

Background:  More effective energy‐based haemostatic devices, such as LigaSure and Ultracision, have made laparoscopic solid organ surgery, such as laparoscopic splenectomy (LS), feasible and have facilitated its advancement. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Ligasure alone or Ligasure and Ultracision together in LS.

Methods:  Between February 2007 and August 2010, 25 consecutive adult patients (16 male, 9 female, mean age 35 years) who underwent LS with a wide range of immune trombositopenic purpura (ITP) were studied retrospectively. The patients were evaluated in two groups. The first group of 12 patients was the LigaSure group, and the second group of 13 patients was the LigaSure + Ultracision group. The two groups were compared according to operating time, blood loss and postoperative hospital stay. Groups were well matched according to age, sex, spleen size and weight, body mass index, converting and complication rate.

Results:  Mean operative time was significantly shorter for the LigaSure + Ultracision group versus the LigaSure group (112.3 vs 147.5 min; P = 0.002). Mean intraoperative blood loss was slightly lower for the LigaSure + Ultracision group vs the LigaSure group, but it was not statistically significant (122.3 vs 142.5 mL; P = 0.219). There was no significant difference in mean postoperative hospital stay for both groups (2.3 vs 2.9 days; P = 0.093).

Conclusion:  LS must be the first choice for removal of the spleen, particularly for benign haematological disorders. One of the most important factors to achieve advanced laparoscopic surgery, such as LS, is new energy‐based devices, such as LigaSure and Ultracision. Using LigaSure and Ultracision together in LS reduces the operating time.
Spontaneous fat necrosis of the falciform ligament: Tale of the unexpected
Authors: Garkuwa Dahiru Adamu , Weber Beatrix
Published: October 2011

Abdominal pain has a myriad of causes. Advances in technology have improved accuracy in diagnosis and management. Despite this, there are still cases that defy all diagnostic tests, showing themselves only at operation to the amazement of the surgeon. We report one such case, perhaps the second of its kind, as a literature search has shown.
Huge inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the abdomen
Authors: Karadayi Kursat , Yildiz Caglar , Hazar Erkan , Yilmaz Abdülkerim , Gultekin Yener
Published: October 2011

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours are benign lesions most commonly located in the lungs, abdominal origin is rare. As differentiation from malignant conditions can be difficult on clinical grounds alone, pathological examination is essential. We report a patient with an abdominal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour in whom the diagnosis could be made by laparotomy and pathological examination.
SDSS J163030.58+423305.8: a 40-min orbital period detached white dwarf binary
Authors: Kilic Mukremin , Brown Warren R. , Hermes J. J. , Allende Prieto Carlos , Kenyon S. J. , Winget D. E. , Winget K. I.
Published: October 2011

We report the discovery of a new detached, double white dwarf (WD) system with an orbital period of 39.8 min. We targeted SDSS J163030.58+423305.8 (hereafter J1630) as part of our radial velocity programme to search for companions around low-mass WDs using the 6.5-m MMT. We detect peak-to-peak radial velocity variations of 576 km s−1. The mass function and optical photometry rule out main-sequence companions. In addition, no millisecond pulsar companions are detected in radio observations. Thus the invisible companion is most likely another WD. Unlike the other 39-min binary SDSS J010657.39−100003.3, follow-up high-speed photometric observations of J1630 obtained at the McDonald 2.1-m telescope do not show significant ellipsoidal variations, indicating a higher primary mass and smaller radius. The absence of eclipses constrain the inclination angle to i≤ 82°. J1630 contains a pair of WDs, 0.3 M⊙ primary +≥0.3 M⊙ invisible secondary, at a separation of ≥0.32 R⊙. The two WDs will merge in less than 31 Myr. Depending on the core composition of the companion, the merger will form either a single core He-burning subdwarf star or a rapidly rotating massive WD. The gravitational wave strain from J1630 is detectable by instruments like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) within the first year of operation.
Crizotinib‐Resistant Mutants of EML4‐ALK Identified Through an Accelerated Mutagenesis Screen
Authors: Zhang Sen , Wang Frank , Keats Jeffrey , Zhu Xiaotian , Ning Yaoyu , Wardwell Scott D. , Moran Lauren , Mohemmad Qurish K. , Anjum Rana , Wang Yihan , Narasimhan Narayana I. , Dalgarno David , Shakespeare William C. , Miret Juan J. , Clackson Tim , Rivera Victor M.
Published: October 2011

Activating gene rearrangements of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) have been identified as driver mutations in non‐small‐cell lung cancer, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, and other cancers. Crizotinib, a dual MET/ALK inhibitor, has demonstrated promising clinical activity in patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors harboring ALK translocations. Inhibitors of driver kinases often elicit kinase domain mutations that confer resistance, and such mutations have been successfully predicted using in vitro mutagenesis screens. Here, this approach was used to discover an extensive set of ALK mutations that can confer resistance to crizotinib. Mutations at 16 residues were identified, structurally clustered into five regions around the kinase active site, which conferred varying degrees of resistance. The screen successfully predicted the L1196M, C1156Y, and F1174L mutations, recently identified in crizotinib‐resistant patients. In separate studies, we demonstrated that crizotinib has relatively modest potency in ALK‐positive non‐small‐cell lung cancer cell lines. A more potent ALK inhibitor, TAE684, maintained substantial activity against mutations that conferred resistance to crizotinib. Our study identifies multiple novel mutations in ALK that may confer clinical resistance to crizotinib, suggests that crizotinib’s narrow selectivity window may underlie its susceptibility to such resistance and demonstrates that a more potent ALK inhibitor may be effective at overcoming resistance.
Impairment in material‐specific long‐term memory following unilateral mediodorsal thalamic damage and presumed partial disconnection of the mammillo‐thalamic tract
Authors: Edelstyn Nicola M. J. , Mayes Andrew R. , Denby Christine , Ellis Simon J.
Published: October 2011

Neuropsychological findings suggest material‐specific lateralization of the medial temporal lobe's role in long‐term memory, with greater left‐sided involvement in verbal memory, and greater right‐sided involvement in visual memory. Whether material‐specific lateralization of long‐term memory also extends to the anteromedial thalamus remains uncertain. We report two patients with unilateral right (OG) and left (SM) mediodorsal thalamic pathology plus probable correspondingly lateralized damage of the mammillo‐thalamic tract. The lesions were mapped using high‐resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging and schematically reconstructed. Mean absolute volume estimates for the mammillary bodies, hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and ventricles are also presented. Estimates of visual and verbal recall and item recognition memory were obtained using the Doors and People, the Rey Complex Figure Test, and the Logical Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scales. Each patient's performance was compared to a group of healthy volunteers matched for demographic characteristics, premorbid IQ, and current levels of functioning. A striking double dissociation was evident in material‐specific long‐term memory, with OG showing significant impairments in visual memory but not verbal memory, and SM showing the opposite profile of preserved visual memory and significantly impaired verbal memory. These impairments affected both recall and item recognition. The reported double dissociation provides the strongest evidence yet that material‐specific lateralization of long‐term memory also extends to the anteromedial thalamus. The findings are also discussed in relation to proposals that distinct anatomical regions within the medial temporal lobe, anteromedial thalamus, and associated tracts make qualitatively different contributions to recall and item recognition.
Development of the Child Indicator Movement in the United States
Authors: O’Hare William P.
Published: October 2011

Abstract— The development and use of indicators of child well‐being have grown dramatically over the past 20 years. This article discusses some of the fundamental characteristics and uses of child well‐being indicators. It also provides a short history of the development of the field in the United States, focusing heavily on 3 key interconnected initiatives. Finally, it explores a few of the key issues related to the future of the child well‐being indicator field in the United States.
Nurturing Mindfulness in Children and Youth: Current State of Research
Authors: Greenberg Mark T. , Harris Alexis R.
Published: October 2011

Abstract— This article reviews the current state of research on contemplative practices with children and youth. It reviews contemplative practices used both in treatment settings and in prevention or health promotion contexts, including school‐based programs. Although there is great interest and potential promise for contemplative interventions, enthusiasm for promoting such practices outweighs the current evidence supporting them. Interventions that nurture mindfulness in children and youth may be a feasible and effective method of building resilience in universal populations and in the treatment of disorders in clinical populations. This review suggests that meditation and yoga may be associated with beneficial outcomes for children and youth, but the generally limited quality of research tempers the allowable conclusions. Well‐designed experimental studies that are grounded in developmental theory and measure multiple indicators of change must fully test the efficacy of such interventions.
Differences in gene expression profiles and carcinogenesis pathways between colon and rectal cancer
Authors: LI Jing Nan , ZHAO Li , WU Jun , WU Bin , YANG Hong , ZHANG Heng Hui , QIAN Jia Ming
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE:  Colon cancer is more common in the USA and Europe than that in China, for reasons that are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in gene expression profiles and carcinogenesis pathways between colon and rectal cancer.

METHODS:  Expression profiling of primary tumor tissues from 12 colon and 12 rectal cancers was performed using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. All samples were strictly matched by clinical features. Bioinformatic analyses such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used to identify genes and pathways specifically associated with colon or rectal cancers.

RESULTS:  A total of 824 genes were differentially expressed in colon and rectal cancers. All differential gene interactions in the Signal‐Net were analyzed. More genes were differentially expressed and included in the Signal‐Net for rectal than colon cancer. Of the genes differentially expressed between colon and rectal cancer, S100P, the Reg family, ACTN1, CAMK2G and ACAT1 were the most significantly altered. Genes involved in the cell cycle pathway were present in rectal and colon cancers, but were more important in rectal cancer. The p53 and metabolic signaling pathways were significantly different in colon and rectal cancers. Gene expression profiles differed between colon and rectal cancer, with metabolic pathways being more important in rectal cancer.

CONCLUSION:  The oncogenesis of rectal cancer may be more complex than that of colon cancer. Some genes could be new biomarkers for distinguishing between these two cancers.
Hyperuricemia and the Echocardiographic Measures of Myocardial Dysfunction
Authors: Krishnan Eswar , Hariri Ali , Dabbous Omar , Pandya Bhavik J.
Published: October 2011

Few studies have investigated the association between hyperuricemia and subclinical myocardial dysfunction. The authors analyzed the relationship between serum uric acid and subclinical markers of heart failure in participants in the Framingham Offspring Cohort (N=2169, mean age 57.3 years, 55.4% women). Cardiac dysfunction was assessed through echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) mass and thickness, end‐diastolic LV thickness, and LV fractional shortening at the sixth visit, approximately 24 years after study onset. Participants in the highest serum uric acid quartile (≥6.2 mg/dL serum uric acid) had a significantly greater frequency of echocardiographic abnormalities compared with those in the lowest quartile (<4.3 mg/dL). Those in the highest quartile had multivariable‐adjusted odds ratios of 9.013 (95% confidence interval, 2.051–39.604) for abnormal LV ejection fraction and 4.584 (95% confidence interval, 1.951–10.768) for LV systolic dysfunction compared with those in the lowest quartile. Hyperuricemia in young adults can be a marker for subsequent heart failure. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of violence risk factors in people at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis: a service audit
Authors: Hutton Paul , Parker Sophie , Bowe Samantha , Ford Sarah
Published: October 2011

Background: There is little data available on the prevalence of violence risk factors in people at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of the cross‐sectional prevalence of violence risk factors in those attending a routine clinical service for people at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis.

Methods: The case notes of all 34 clients receiving treatment over a 4‐week period were reviewed and all clinicians were interviewed. Information was gathered regarding gender, current violent ideation, history of violence (including convictions), expressions of concern from others, problems with alcohol or substance misuse, jealousy, suspiciousness, irritability, anger and relevant subthreshold psychotic symptoms. Information on protective factors, including treatment engagement, was also gathered.

Results: Thirty‐eight per cent (n = 13) had a history of violent behaviour, 79.4% (n = 27) were thought to be currently experiencing significant levels of suspiciousness and 47.1% (n = 16) were thought to have problems with anger. Twenty‐nine per cent (n = 10) had previous known convictions for violence. Two‐thirds (n = 8) of those where risk of violence was identified were described as being engaged with treatment.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of violence risk factors in this small sample. Further research with larger samples and better methodology is urgently required to investigate risk of violence in this group and determine the contribution, if any, of subclinical psychotic symptoms.
Multiple myeloma with primary manifestation in mandibular area
Authors: da Silva Santos P.S. , Klingbeil M.F.G. , Abrahão A.C. , Gallottini M. , de Sousa S.C.O.M.
Published: October 2011

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological disease characterised by the multicentric proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. This relatively rare disease develops mainly in men (mean age, 60 years). The occurrence of the disease in jaws is uncommon as a primary manifestation. A 73‐year‐old man was first seen with a chief complaint of a painful mandibular enlargement persisting for 1 month with an increase in the volume of the gingiva, which bled during oral hygiene. The Xray revealed a ‘punched‐out’ lesion with ill‐defined margins in the mandibular ramus and body. A computed tomography scan showed a mandibular osteolytic lesion extending to the surrounding soft tissue. The incisional biopsy revealed a monotonous proliferation of plasmacytoid cells strongly immunoreactive to Kappa IgG, which confirmed the diagnosis of MM. After the biopsy, the patient spontaneously fractured his ribs, and the Bence Jones protein test was positive. Conformal radiotherapy followed by bortezomib with melphalan and prednisone was the elected treatment. The patient stopped treatment after two cycles, and progression to death followed after 6 months. This case report reinforces the data on the importance of early diagnosis of MM in the jaw and illustrates the contribution that oral assessment can provide for the diagnosis of this disease.
Aerogel tracks made by impacts of glycine: Implications for formation of bulbous tracks in aerogel and the Stardust mission
Authors: NIXON Adam , BURCHELL Mark J. , PRICE Mark C. , KEARSLEY Anton T. , JONES Steven
Published: October 2011

Abstract– Impacts of small particles of soda‐lime glass and glycine onto low density aerogel are reported. The aerogel had a quality similar to the flight aerogels carried by the NASA Stardust mission that collected cometary dust during a flyby of comet 81P/Wild 2 in 2004. The types of track formed in the aerogel by the impacts of the soda‐lime glass and glycine are shown to be different, both qualitatively and quantitatively. For example, the soda‐lime glass tracks have a carrot‐like appearance and are relatively long and slender (width to length ratio <0.11), whereas the glycine tracks consist of bulbous cavities (width to length ratio >0.26). In consequence, the glycine particles would be underestimated in diameter by a factor of 1.7–3.2, if the glycine tracks were analyzed using the soda‐lime glass calibration and density. This implies that a single calibration for impacting particle size based on track properties, as previously used by Stardust to obtain cometary dust particle size, is inappropriate.
Comparisons of the four Miller Range nakhlites, MIL 03346, 090030, 090032 and 090136: Textural and compositional observations of primary and secondary mineral assemblages
Authors: HALLIS Lydia J. , TAYLOR G. J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract– Petrological and geochemical analyses of Miller Range (MIL) 03346 indicate that this meteorite originated from the same augitic cumulate layer(s) as the nakhlite Martian meteorites, but underwent rapid cooling prior to complete crystallization. As with the other nakhlites, MIL 03346 contains a secondary alteration assemblage, in this case consisting of iddingsite‐like alteration veins in olivine phenocrysts, Fe‐oxide alteration veins associated with the mesostasis, and Ca‐ and K,Fe‐sulfate veins. We compared the textural and mineralogical compositions of MIL 090030, 090032, and 090136 with MIL 03346, focusing on the composition and Raman spectra of the alteration assemblages. These observations indicate that the meteorites are paired, and that the preterrestrial olivine‐bound alteration assemblages were produced by weakly acidic brine. Although these alteration assemblages resemble similar assemblages in Nakhla, the absence of siderite and halite in the Miller Range nakhlites indicates that the parental alteration brine was comparatively HCO3− depleted, and less concentrated, than that which altered Nakhla. This indicates that the Miller Range nakhlite alteration brine experienced a separate evolutionary pathway to that which altered Nakhla, and therefore represents a separate branch of the Lafayette‐Nakhla evaporation sequence. Thin‐sections cut from the internal portions of these meteorites (away from any fusion crust or terrestrially exposed edge), contain little Ca‐sulfate (identified as gypsum), and no jarosite, whereas thin‐sections with terrestrially exposed edges have much higher sulfate abundances. These observations suggest that at least the majority of sulfate within the Miller Range nakhlites is terrestrially derived.
Cyclooxygenase‐2−765G>C functional promoter polymorphism and its association with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Lakshmi Addala , Muralidhar Sadhnani , Kalyan Kumar Chennaboina , Pavan Kumar Addala , Kalyana Chakravarthy Pentapati , Anjaneyulu Vasala , Kaiser Jamil
Published: October 2011

Aim:  Cyclooxygenase‐2 is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, and has critical role in the progression of several malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods:  We designed a case‐control study to evaluate the susceptibility of the functional −765G>C genetic variation in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Polymerase chain reaction‐based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to determine the polymorphism in oral squamous cell carcinoma (n = 150) patients and healthy controls (n = 150).

Results:  The genotype frequencies of cyclooxygenase‐2 765G>G, 765G>C, and 765C>C were 73.3%, 18.66%, and 8.0% in the cancer patients, and 94.66%, 4% and 1.3% in the controls, respectively. The cyclooxygenase‐2 GC and CC genotypes were significantly associated (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.01, respectively) with oral squamous cell carcinoma patients, when compared to the controls. The 765G>C genotypes were statistically significant, with habitual tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption + smoking (P = 0.05).

Conclusions:  This study highlights the genetic variant that might play a role in mediating susceptibility to oral squamous cell carcinoma in this population.
Study on the Effects of Switching Temperature on the Thermal Fatigue Life of the Shell-to-Skirt Junction of Coke Drum
Authors: Oka Masaaki , Ambarita Himsar , Daimaruya Masashi , Fujiki Hiroyuki
Published: October 2011

In spite of the fact that coke drums are subjected to cyclic thermal and mechanical loads, generally, they are not designed for cyclic loads. Thus, their operational life is much shorter than other pressure equipment in refineries. Due to information developed from surveys, it was determined that the major typical location of failure due to thermal fatigue in coke drums is the shell-to-skirt junction area. This paper focuses on temperature and stress characteristics and also the thermal fatigue life of the junction area. The main objective of this paper was to explore effect of the switching temperature on thermal fatigue life of the junction area. Four coke drums, currently in service have been considered in the analyses, named drums A, B, C, and D, identical in dimensions and with an operating cycle period of 48 h. Operational temperatures and strains have been measured and collected every minute. The number of measured cycles of coke drum A, B, C, and D were 52, 53, 53, and 54 cycles, respectively. Thus, a total of 212 cycles have been analyzed. The operational temperatures and strains were examined. Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses have been performed on the selected cycles in order to find the most severe location in the junction area. The strain history and FEM results were used to assess thermal fatigue life. The thermal fatigue lives were calculated based on low cycle fatigue properties using engineering steels for high temperature components issued by National Institute for Materials Sciences (NIMS) in Japan. The number of cycle to fracture versus switching temperature for the coke drums was then plotted. The curve best fitting criteria was then used to develop an equation relating the number of cycle to fracture as a function of switching temperature. The results show that the switching temperature strongly affects the number of cycle to fracture. These results can be used to provide the necessary information to operate coke drums safely in order to extend their useful lives.
Solvent-free, one-pot synthesis of 2,4,6-triarylpyridines using trichloroisocyanuric acid or N-bromosuccinimide as a novel and neutral catalyst
Authors: Maleki Behrooz , Salehabadi Hafezeh , Sepehr Zeinalabedin , Kermanian Mina
Published: October 2011

A simple and benign protocol has been explored for the preparation of 2,4,6-triarylpyridines by a one-pot reaction between aryl aldehydes, enolizable ketones and ammonium acetate in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide or trichloroisocyanuric acid as green and neutral catalysts. The reactions proceed smoothly at 130 °C under solvent-free conditions to provide 2,4,6-triarylpyridines in good yields.
Voltammetric determination of 6-nitrobenzimidazole in the presence of surfactants
Authors: Deýlová Dana , Barek Jiří , Vyskočil Vlastimil
Published: October 2011

Determination of 6-nitrobenzimidazole by differential pulse voltammetry at a hanging mercury drop electrode, a polished silver solid amalgam electrode and a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode was studied in the presence of the surfactants Triton X-100, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulfate. It was found that only cetyltrimethylammonium bromide at polished silver solid amalgam electrode increases the voltammetric signal. This fact was used for the determination of 6-nitrobenzimidazole in the concentration range from 1 × 10–7to 1 × 10–4mol l–1by differential pulse voltammetry at polished silver solid amalgam electrode in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (concentration 1 × 10–4mol l–1).
Revision of the position of the Ordovician–Silurian boundary in southern Ontario: regional chronostratigraphic implications of δ13C chemostratigraphy of the Manitoulin Formation and associated strata
Authors: Bergström Stig M. , Kleffner Mark , Schmitz Birger , Cramer Bradley D.
Published: October 2011

δ13C values of 142 samples from the Manitoulin Formation and subjacent strata collected from 14 exposures and two drill-cores on Manitoulin Island, Bruce Peninsula, and the region south of Georgian Bay suggest that the Manitoulin Formation is latest Ordovician (Hirnantian) rather than earliest Silurian in age. A δ13C excursion identified as the Hirnantian isotope carbon excursion (HICE), which has a magnitude of nearly 2.5‰ above baseline values, is present in an interval from the upper Queenston Formation to the lower to middle part of the Manitoulin Formation in most of Bruce Peninsula and in the area south of Georgian Bay, whereas on Manitoulin Island the HICE appears to be absent. This indicates that a significant part of the Manitoulin Formation is older on the Bruce Peninsula and in its adjacent region than on Manitoulin Island. The chemostratigraphically based conclusions are consistent with biostratigraphic data from conodonts and brachiopods. The Hirnantian δ13C curve from Anticosti Island, Quebec is closely similar to those of southern Ontario. Traditionally, the Ordovician–Silurian boundary has been placed at the base of the Manitoulin Formation, but the new results suggest that it is more likely to be at, or near, the base of the overlying Cabot Head Formation. These new results have major implications for the interpretation of the geologic history and marine depositional patterns of the latest Ordovician of a large part of the North American Midcontinent.
LONG RANGE CHROMOMAGNETIC FIELDS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE
Authors: ANTROPOV S. , BORDAG M. , DEMCHIK V. , SKALOZUB V.
Published: October 2011

The magnetic mass of neutral gluons in Abelian chromomagnetic field at high temperature is calculated in SU(2) gluodynamics. It is noted that such fields are spontaneously generated at high temperature. The mass is computed either from the Schwinger–Dyson equation accounting for the one-loop polarization tensor or in Monte Carlo simulations on a lattice. In latter case, an average magnetic flux penetrating a plaquette is measured for a number of lattices. Both calculations are in agreement with each other and result in zero magnetic mass. Some applications of the results obtained are discussed.
A GEOMETRIC VARIANT OF TITCHMARSH DIVISOR PROBLEM
Authors: AKBARY AMIR , GHIOCA DRAGOS
Published: October 2011

We formulate a geometric analog of the Titchmarsh divisor problem in the context of abelian varieties. For any abelian variety A defined over ℚ, we study the asymptotic distribution of the primes of ℤ which split completely in the division fields of A. For all abelian varieties which contain an elliptic curve we establish an asymptotic formula for such primes under the assumption of Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. We explain how to derive an unconditional asymptotic formula in the case that the abelian variety is a complex multiplication elliptic curve.
EXPLICIT ZERO-FREE REGIONS FOR DEDEKIND ZETA FUNCTIONS
Authors: KADIRI HABIBA
Published: October 2011

Let K be a number field, nK be its degree, and dK be the absolute value of its discriminant. We prove that, if dK is sufficiently large, then the Dedekind zeta function ζK(s) has no zeros in the region: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where log M = 12.55 log dK + 9.69nK log |ℑ𝔪 s| + 3.03 nK + 58.63. Moreover, it has at most one zero in the region:[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. This zero if it exists is simple and is real. This argument also improves a result of Stark by a factor of 2: ζK(s) has at most one zero in the region [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text].
SOLVING n(n + d) ⋯ (n + (k - 1)d) = by2WITH P(b) ≤ Ck
Authors: FILASETA M. , LAISHRAM S. , SARADHA N.
Published: October 2011

We examine the problem of determining the solutions to the Diophantine equation [Formula: see text] where d is fixed and the largest prime divisor of b is no more than Ck. Here, C is fixed but arbitrary. Under some rather minor conditions, it is shown that there are finitely many solutions that can be effectively computed. Some new, largely combinatorial, ideas are introduced into the general theory to handle the case of arbitrary C as considered here.
NORM-EUCLIDEAN CYCLIC FIELDS OF PRIME DEGREE
Authors: McGOWN KEVIN J.
Published: October 2011

Let K be a cyclic number field of prime degree ℓ. Heilbronn showed that for a given ℓ there are only finitely many such fields that are norm-Euclidean. In the case of ℓ = 2 all such norm-Euclidean fields have been identified, but for ℓ ≠ 2, little else is known. We give the first upper bounds on the discriminants of such fields when ℓ > 2. Our methods lead to a simple algorithm which allows one to generate a list of candidate norm-Euclidean fields up to a given discriminant, and we provide some computational results.
RAMANUJAN INVARIANTS FOR DISCRIMINANTS CONGRUENT TO 5 (mod 24)
Authors: KONSTANTINOU ELISAVET , KONTOGEORGIS ARISTIDES
Published: October 2011

In this paper we compute the minimal polynomials of Ramanujan values [Formula: see text] for discriminants D ≡ 5 ( mod 24). Our method is based on Shimura Reciprocity Law as which was made computationally explicit by Gee and Stevenhagen in [Generating class fields using Shimura reciprocity, in Algorithmic Number Theory, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 1423 (Springer, Berlin, 1998), pp. 441–453; MR MR1726092 (2000m:11112)]. However, since these Ramanujan values are not class invariants, we present a modification of the method used in [Generating class fields using Shimura reciprocity, in Algorithmic Number Theory, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 1423 (Springer, Berlin, 1998), pp. 441–453; MR MR1726092 (2000m:11112)] which can be applied on modular functions that do not necessarily yield class invariants.
Measuring Dental Caries in the Mixed Dentition by ICDAS
Authors: Honkala Eino , Runnel Riina , Honkala Sisko , Olak Jana , Vahlberg Tero , Saag Mare , Mäkinen Kauko K.
Published: October 2011

Caries has traditionally been assessed with WHO criteria including only obvious caries lesions. ICDAS has been developed to detect also the enamel caries lesions. This study aims to study caries and the associations of the number of caries lesions between the permanent and primary molars with ICDAS in the mixed dentition of the first and second grade primary school children. The clinical examinations of 485 children were conducted by four examiners with high reproducibility (inter- and intraexaminer kappas >0.9). The mean number of caries lesions—especially dentine caries—seemed to be higher in the second primary molars than in the first permanent molars. There were significant correlations between the number of lesions on occlusal and lingual surfaces between the primary and permanent molars. Enamel caries lesions, restorations, and caries experience did not increase according to age. Therefore, caries might be increasing in this population. As a conclusion, ICDAS recording seems to give appropriate information from the occurrence of caries lesions and its correlations between the primary and permanent teeth and surfaces.
On Pexider Differences in Topological Vector Spaces
Authors: Najati Abbas , Abdollahpour M. R. , Kim Gwang Hui
Published: October 2011

Let X be a normed space and Y a sequentially complete Hausdorff topological vector space over the field ℚ of rational numbers. Let D1 = {(x, y) ∈ X × X : ∥x∥+∥y∥≥d}, and D2 = {(x, y) ∈ X × X : ∥x∥+∥y∥ 0. We prove that the Pexiderized Jensen functional equation is stable for functions defined on D1(D2), and taking values in Y. We consider also the Pexiderized Cauchy functional equation.
Acantholytic Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Associated with Imiquimod 3.75% Application
Authors: Atanaskova Mesinkovska Natasha , Dawes Danyelle , Sood Apra , Bergfeld Wilma
Published: October 2011

Imiquimod is an immunomodulator with both antitumor and antiviral properties. It is currently available in two cream formulations as Aldara (imiquimod 5%) and the newly approved Zyclara (imiquimod 3.75%). Imiquimod has been associated with localized erythema, crusting, and scaling at the site of application. However, more severe generalized skin eruptions including erythema multiforme, psoriasis, and hyperpigmentation have been described. The newly approved imiquimod 3.75% cream is a presumably safer alternative due to its lower concentration. This paper describes the development of generalized acantholytic pityriasis rubra pilaris after the treatment of an actinic keratosis on the forehead with imiquimod 3.75% cream.
Toward Monitoring and Increasing Exercise Adherence in Older Adults by Robotic Intervention: A Proof of Concept Study
Authors: Gadde Prathik , Kharrazi Hadi , Patel Himalaya , MacDorman Karl F.
Published: October 2011

Socially assistive robots have the potential to improve the quality of life of older adults by encouraging and guiding their performance of rehabilitation exercises while offering cognitive stimulation and companionship. This study focuses on the early stages of developing and testing an interactive personal trainer robot to monitor and increase exercise adherence in older adults. The robot physically demonstrates exercises for the user to follow and monitors the user's progress using a vision-processing unit that detects face and hand movements. When the user successfully completes a move, the robot gives positive feedback and begins the next repetition. The results of usability testing with 10 participants support the feasibility of this approach. Further extensions are planned to evaluate a complete exercise program for improving older adults' physical range of motion in a controlled experiment with three conditions: a personal trainer robot, a personal trainer on-screen character, and a pencil-and-paper exercise plan.
Multiple Positive Solutions for Singular Periodic Boundary Value Problems of Impulsive Differential Equations in Banach Spaces
Authors: Fan Hongxia , Li Yongxiang
Published: October 2011

By means of the fixed point theory of strict set contraction operators, we establish a new existence theorem on multiple positive solutions to a singular boundary value problem for second‐order impulsive differential equations with periodic boundary conditions in a Banach space. Moreover, an application is given to illustrate the main result.
Strain Effects on Optical Properties of (In,Ga)As‐Capped InAs Quantum Dots Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy on GaAs (113)A Substrate
Authors: Saidi Faouzi , Bennour Mouna , Bouzaïene Lotfi , Sfaxi Larbi , Maaref Hassen
Published: October 2011

We have investigated the optical properties of InAs/GaAs (113)A quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) capped by (In,Ga)As. Reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED) is used to investigate the formation process of InAs quantum dots (QDs). A broadening of the PL emission due to size distribution of the dots, when InAs dots are capped by GaAs, was observed. A separation between large and small quantum dots, when they are encapsulated by InGaAs, was shown due to hydrostatic and biaxial strain action on large and small dots grown under specifically growth conditions. The PL polarization measurements have shown that the small dots require an elongated form, but the large dots present a quasi‐isotropic behavior.
Periodic and Solitary‐Wave Solutions for a Variant of the K(3, 2) Equation
Authors: Zhou Jiangbo , Tian Lixin
Published: October 2011

We employ the bifurcation method of planar dynamical systems and qualitative theory of polynomial differential systems to derive new bounded traveling‐wave solutions for a variant of the K(3, 2) equation. For the focusing branch, we obtain hump‐shaped and valley‐shaped solitary‐wave solutions and some periodic solutions. For the defocusing branch, the nonexistence of solitary traveling wave solutions is shown. Meanwhile, some periodic solutions are also obtained. The results presented in this paper supplement the previous results.
Discontinuous Sturm‐Liouville Problems and Associated Sampling Theories
Authors: Tharwat M. M.
Published: October 2011

This paper investigates the sampling analysis associated with discontinuous Sturm‐Liouville problems with eigenvalue parameters in two boundary conditions and with transmission conditions at the point of discontinuity. We closely follow the analysis derived by Fulton (1977) to establish the needed relations for the derivations of the sampling theorems including the construction of Green′s function as well as the eigenfunction expansion theorem. We derive sampling representations for transforms whose kernels are either solutions or Green′s functions. In the special case, when our problem is continuous, the obtained results coincide with the corresponding results in the work of Annaby and Tharwat (2006).
Effect of Angiotensin II on the Left Ventricular Function in a Near-Term Fetal Sheep with Metabolic Acidemia
Authors: Acharya Ganesh , Huhta James C. , Haapsamo Mervi , How Ole-Jakob , Erkinaro Tiina , Räsänen Juha
Published: October 2011

We tested the hypothesis that, in acute metabolic acidemia, the fetal left ventricle (LV) has the capacity to increase its contractility in response to angiotensin II infusion. Eleven ewes and their fetuses were instrumented at 127–138/145 days of gestation. The effect of angiotensin II on fetal LV function was assessed using intraventricular pressure catheter and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Angiotensin II increased fetal arterial blood pressure, whereas pH and pO2decreased. The heart rate and systemic venous pressure were not affected significantly. The LV end-diastolic and end-systolic pressures, as well asdP/dtmax, increased. The TDI-derived LV longitudinal myocardial isovolumic contraction velocity and its acceleration and velocity during early filling were higher than those at baseline. The incidence of absent isovolumic relaxation velocity was greater during angiotensin II infusion. In summary, during acute metabolic acidemia, the fetal left ventricle could increase its contractility in response to inotropic stimulus even in the presence of increased afterload. The diastolic LV function parameters were altered by angiotensin II.
Electroconvulsive Therapy and Corpus Callosum Aplasia: A 3-Year Followup
Authors: Palm Ulrich , Strauss Philipp , Born Christoph , Pogarell Oliver
Published: October 2011

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a powerful treatment option in severe or chronic catatonic states and has been reported to be useful in oligophrenic patients. We report the followup medical history of a patient with corpus callosum aplasia (or agenesis) who was continuously treated with ECT over three years. First, he improved considerably after a series of ECT, but relapses of catatonia made a continuous, weekly ECT necessary. Due to the severity of the brain malformation, an add-on medication with benzodiazepines and second generation antipsychotics was necessary to treat catatonic symptoms. This case emphasises the benefits of long-term ECT in oligophrenic patients.
NovelSNPer: A Fast Tool for the Identification and Characterization of Novel SNPs and InDels
Authors: Aßmus Jens , Schmitt Armin O. , Bortfeldt Ralf H. , Brockmann Gudrun A.
Published: October 2011

Typically, next-generation resequencing projects produce large lists of variants. NovelSNPer is a software
tool that permits fast and efficient processing of such output lists. In a first step, NovelSNPer determines if a variant represents a known variant or a previously unknown variant. In a second step, each variant is classified into one of 15 SNP classes or 19 InDel classes. Beside the classes used by Ensembl, we introduce POTENTIAL_START_GAINED and START_LOST as new functional classes and present a classification scheme for InDels. NovelSNPer is based upon the gene structure information stored in Ensembl. It processes two million SNPs in six hours. The tool can be used online or downloaded.
Quasistatic Elastic Contact with Adhesion
Authors: Teniou Boudjemaa , Benferdi Sabrina
Published: October 2011

The aim of this paper is the variational study of the contact with adhesion
between an elastic material and a rigid foundation in the quasistatic
process where the deformations are supposed to be small. The behavior of
this material is modelled by a nonlinear elastic law and the contact is
modelled with Signorini′s conditions and adhesion. The evolution of bonding
field is described by a nonlinear differential equation. We derive a
variational formulation of the mechanical problem, and we prove the existence
and uniqueness of the weak solution using a theorem on variational
inequalities, the theorem of Cauchy‐Lipschitz, a lemma of Gronwall, as well
as the fixed point of Banach.
On the Pressure and Temperature Dependence of the Absorption Coefficient of NH3
Authors: Aousgi F. , Hadded S. , Aroui H.
Published: October 2011

The effects of pressure and temperature on the absorption coefficient of ammonia (NH3) gas self‐perturbed and perturbed by nitrogen (N2) gas have been measured. We varied the gas pressure from 10 to 160 Torr and the temperature from 235 to 296 K in order to study the absorption coefficient at the center and the wings of lines in the ν4 band of NH3. These measurements were made using a high resolution (0.0038 cm−1) Bruker Fourier‐transform spectrometer. These spectra have been analyzed
using the method of multipressure technique permitting to succeed to an evolution of the absorption coefficient with the pressure and the quantum numbers J and K of the NH3 molecule. The results show that the absorption coefficient varies as a quadratic function of the pressure at the center of a given line. However, it has a linear evolution in the wings of the line. Moreover, the absorption coefficients are inversely proportional to temperature in the wings when NH3 lines are broadened by N2. The retrieved values of these coefficients were used to derive the temperature dependence of N2 broadening NH3 lines. The absorption coefficients were shown to fit closely the well‐known exponential
law.