bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late Palaeozoic–Early Triassic deposition and climates between Samfrau and Tethys: A review
Authors: Wopfner H.
Published: November 2012

In the period between the Westphalian and the Early Triassic, climatic conditions across Gondwana changed from the Gondwana-wide glaciation in the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian to warm to hot, semi-humid to arid conditions by the Late Permian–Early Triassic. In Afro-Arabia, glaciers advanced to 40° palaeolatitude creating a steep gradient between them and the temperate-humid environment in the vicinity of the equator. Synchronous deglaciation associated with a eustatic rise of sea level in the Early Sakmarian was followed by a flattening of the climate gradient and increased humidity, expressed by blackwater rivers and coal swamps between the South Pole and about 50° palaeolatitude and increasing aridity towards the equator. Brief poleward advances of hot aridity are evident around the Kungurian. Expansion of the hot climate zone to the south took place in the Middle Permian, commencing with a humid to semi-humid phase in the south and semi-arid to arid conditions towards the north. A short pluvial event is locally indicated at the beginning of the Triassic, but warm semi-arid to semi-humid conditions prevailed in the south and hot aridity near the equator. There are variations of that general theme in eastern Gondwana, but the fundamental changes in climate-controlled depositional environments occurred almost synchronously over the whole of Gondwana, including Antarctica. The slight drift of Gondwana towards the equator is therefore an unlikely cause for these changes, as are modifications of ocean–continent geometries or of atmospheric composition. As the main driver was temperature it is suggested that governing control, not only of global temperature but also of the intensity of geotectonic activities, was imposed on the solar system by forces emanating from our galaxy (cosmic ray flux, magnetic intensity, gravitational vectors) and their variation over the course of a galactic year (the time for the solar system to orbit the core of the galaxy).
Carbon and oxygen isotope records of Permian brachiopods from relatively low and high palaeolatitudes: climatic seasonality and evaporation
Authors: Nielsen Jesper Kresten , BŁażejowski BŁażej , Gieszcz Piotr , Nielsen Jan Kresten
Published: November 2012

Several brachiopods which belong to the same genus
Horridonia
of late Early and early Late Permian age in Spitsbergen and Poland, respectively, have been petrographically and geochemically analysed to verify seasonal variation in stable carbon and oxygen isotope values for palaeoclimatological implications. The specimens of
Horridonia timanica
from Spitsbergen show distinct cyclicity reflective of seasonal pattern, while those of
Horridonia horrida
from Poland do not. These differences are explained by the fact that the former lived at high palaeolatitudes at the northern margin of the supercontinent Pangaea where the seawater temperature differences between winter and summer seasons were greater, as expressed in the isotopic composition of the skeletal materials. In contrast, the shell growth of
Horridonia horrida
was subjected to strong evaporative influence by climatic variations in the eastern area of Pangaea.
Syllable Specific Unit Selection Cost Functions for Text-to-Speech Synthesis
Authors: Narendra N. P. , Rao K. Sreenivasa
Published: November 2012

This paper presents the design and development of syllable specific unit selection cost functions for improving the quality of text-to-speech synthesis. Appropriate unit selection cost functions, namely concatenation cost and target cost, are proposed for syllable based synthesis. Concatenation costs are defined based on the type of segments present at the syllable joins. Proposed concatenation costs have shown significant reduction in perceptual discontinuity at syllable joins. Three-stage target cost formulation is proposed for selecting appropriate units from database. Subjective evaluation has shown improvement in the quality of speech at each stage.
Investigating Metaphorical Language in Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Rentoumi Vassiliki , Vouros George A. , Karkaletsis Vangelis , Moser Amalia
Published: November 2012

Intuition dictates that figurative language and especially metaphorical expressions should convey sentiment. It is the aim of this work to validate this intuition by showing that figurative language (metaphors) appearing in a sentence drive the polarity of that sentence. Towards this target, the current article proposes an approach for sentiment analysis of sentences where figurative language plays a dominant role. This approach applies Word Sense Disambiguation aiming to assign polarity to word senses rather than tokens. Sentence polarity is determined using the individual polarities for metaphorical senses as well as other contextual information. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed method achieves high scores in comparison with other state-of-the-art approaches tested on the same corpora. Finally, experimental results provide supportive evidence that this method is also well suited for corpora consisting of literal and figurative language sentences.
Reconfigured and Notched Tapered Slot UWB Antenna for Cognitive Radio Applications
Authors: Aboufoul Tamer , Alomainy Akram , Parini Clive
Published: November 2012

A compact reconfigurable and notched ultra-wideband (UWB) tapered slot antenna (TSA) is presented. The antenna reconfiguration operation principle relies on 2 mechanisms: in the first mechanism a resonator parasitic microstrip line electrically coupled to the TSA is used to notch the TSA at a specific frequency and the second mechanism relies on changing the input impedance matching of the antenna by means of changing the length of a stub line extended from an additional tiny partial ground on the back side of the antenna. The reflection coefficient, radiation patterns, and gain simulations and measurements for the proposed antenna are presented to verify the design concepts featuring a very satisfactory performance. Total efficiency simulations and measurements are also presented to highlight the filtering performance of the reconfigured antenna. When the antenna was reconfigured from the UWB to work into multiple frequency bands, the radiation patterns were still the same and the total peak gain has slightly improved compared to the UWB case. In addition, when the antenna operated in the notched mode, the gain has significantly dropped at the notch frequency. The simplicity and flexibility of the proposed multimode antenna make it a good candidate for future cognitive radio front ends.
On the Primary Ionization Mechanism(s) in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization
Authors: Molin Laura , Seraglia Roberta , Czarnocki Zbigniew , Maurin Jan K. , Pluciński Franciszek A. , Traldi Pietro
Published: November 2012

A mechanism is proposed for the first step of ionization occurring in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, leading to protonated and deprotonated matrix (Ma) molecules ([Ma+H]+and[Ma-H]-ions). It is based on observation that in solid state, for carboxyl-containing MALDI matrices, the molecules form strong hydrogen bonds and their carboxylic groups can act as both donors and acceptors. This behavior leads to stable dimeric structures. The laser irradiation leads to the cleavage of these hydrogen bonds, and theoretical calculations show that both[Ma+H]+and[Ma-H]-ions can be formed through a two-photon absorption process. Alternatively, by the absorption of one photon only, a heterodissociation of one of the O–H bonds can lead to a stable structure containing both cationic and anionic sites. This structure could be considered an intermediate that, through the absorption of a further photon, leads to the formation of matrix ions. Some experiments have been performed to evaluate the role of thermal ionization and indicate that its effect is negligible. Some differences have been observed for different matrices in the formation of analyte molecule (M) ion[M+H]+,[M-H]-,M+•, and[M-2H]-•, and they have been explained in terms of ionization energies, pKa values, and thermodynamic stability.
A General Solution for Troesch′s Problem
Authors: Vazquez-Leal Hector , Khan Yasir , Fernández-Anaya Guillermo , Herrera-May Agustín , Sarmiento-Reyes Arturo , Filobello-Nino Uriel , Jimenez-Fernández Víctor-M. , Pereyra-Díaz Domitilo
Published: November 2012

The homotopy perturbation method (HPM) is employed to obtain an approximate solution for the nonlinear differential equation which describes Troesch’s problem. In contrast to other reported solutions obtained by using variational iteration method, decomposition method approximation, homotopy analysis method, Laplace transform decomposition method, and HPM method, the proposed solution shows the highest degree of accuracy in the results for a remarkable wide range of values of Troesch’s parameter.
Identification at Biovar Level ofBrucellaIsolates Causing Abortion in Small Ruminants of Iran
Authors: Behroozikhah Ali Mohammad , Bagheri Nejad Ramin , Amiri Karim , Bahonar Ali Reza
Published: November 2012

To determine the most prevalent biovar responsible for brucellosis in sheep and goat populations of Iran, a cross-sectional study was carried out over 2 years in six provinces selected based on geography and disease prevalence. Specimens obtained from referred aborted sheep and goat fetuses were cultured onBrucellaselective media for microbiological isolation. Brucellae were isolated from 265 fetuses and examined for biovar identification using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that 246 isolates (92.8%) wereB. melitensisbiovar 1, 18 isolates (6.8%) wereB. melitensisbiovar 2, and, interestingly, one isolate (0.4%) obtained from Mazandaran province wasB. abortusbiovar 3. In this study,B. melitensisbiovar 3 was isolated in none of the selected provinces, and all isolates from 3 provinces (i.e., Chehar-mahal Bakhtiari, Markazi, and Ilam) were identified only asB. melitensisbiovar 1. In conclusion, we found thatB. melitensisbiovar 1 remains the most prevalent cause of small ruminant brucellosis in various provinces of Iran.
The Acute Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: AL Dhahab Hisham , Barkun Alan
Published: November 2012

Background. The mortality from nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is still around 5%, despite the increased use of proton-pump inhibitors and the advancement of endoscopic therapeutic modalities. Aim. To review the state-of-the-art management of acute non variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding from the presentation to the emergency department, risk stratification, endoscopic hemostasis, and postendoscopic consolidation management to reduce the risk of recurrent bleeding from peptic ulcers. Methods. A PubMed search was performed using the following key words acute management, non variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and bleeding peptic ulcers. Results. Risk stratifying patients with acute non variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding allows the categorization into low risk versus high risk of rebleeding, subsequently safely discharging low risk patients early from the emergency department, while achieving adequate hemostasis in high-risk lesions followed by continuous proton-pump inhibitors for 72 hours. Dual endoscopic therapy still remains the recommended choice in controlling bleeding from peptic ulcers despite the emergence of new endoscopic modalities such as the hemostatic powder. Conclusion. The management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding involves adequate resuscitation, preendoscopic risk assessment, endoscopic hemostasis, and post endoscopic pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment.
Mapping of Micro-Tom BAC-End Sequences to the Reference Tomato Genome Reveals Possible Genome Rearrangements and Polymorphisms
Authors: Asamizu Erika , Shirasawa Kenta , Hirakawa Hideki , Sato Shusei , Tabata Satoshi , Yano Kentaro , Ariizumi Tohru , Shibata Daisuke , Ezura Hiroshi
Published: November 2012

A total of 93,682 BAC-end sequences (BESs) were generated from a dwarf model tomato, cv. Micro-Tom. After removing repetitive sequences, the BESs were similarity searched against the reference tomato genome of a standard cultivar, “Heinz 1706.” By referring to the “Heinz 1706” physical map and by eliminating redundant or nonsignificant hits, 28,804 “unique pair ends” and 8,263 “unique ends” were selected to construct hypothetical BAC contigs. The total physical length of the BAC contigs was 495, 833, 423 bp, covering 65.3% of the entire genome. The average coverage of euchromatin and heterochromatin was 58.9% and 67.3%, respectively. From this analysis, two possible genome rearrangements were identified: one in chromosome 2 (inversion) and the other in chromosome 3 (inversion and translocation). Polymorphisms (SNPs and Indels) between the two cultivars were identified from the BLAST alignments. As a result, 171,792 polymorphisms were mapped on 12 chromosomes. Among these, 30,930 polymorphisms were found in euchromatin (1 per 3,565 bp) and 140,862 were found in heterochromatin (1 per 2,737 bp). The average polymorphism density in the genome was 1 polymorphism per 2,886 bp. To facilitate the use of these data in Micro-Tom research, the BAC contig and polymorphism information are available in the TOMATOMICS database.
A Novel Herbal Medicine KIOM-MA Exerts an Anti-Inflammatory Effect in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells
Authors: Oh You-Chang , Cho Won-Kyung , Jeong Yun Hee , Im Ga Young , Kim Aeyung , Hwang Youn-Hwan , Kim Taesoo , Song Kwang Hoon , Ma Jin Yeul
Published: November 2012

KIOM-MA was recently reported as a novel herbal medicine effective for atopic dermatitis and asthma. In this study, we have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of KIOM-MA on proinflammatory mediator produced in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. KIOM-MA significantly inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2). Consistent with the inhibitory effect on PGE2, KIOM-MA suppresses the LPS-induced migration of macrophages and gelatinase activity and the expression of matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, KIOM-MA showed a strong suppressive effect on the inflammatory cytokines production such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We also found that KIOM-MA inhibits the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and represses the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Taken together, we elucidated the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of KIOM-MA using RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Hepatotoxicity Associated with Single Dose Nitrofurantoin Use
Authors: Sargın Gokhan , Elbek Osman , Balantekin Cem , Meteoglu İbrahim , Culhacı Nil
Published: November 2012

Nitrofurantoin is a synthetic nitrofuran compound. It is generally used in urinary tract infections, either alone or in combination with other antibiotics. A number of adverse effects may develop in different body systems during nitrofurantoin treatment; however, concomitant pulmonary and hepatotoxicity are rare. In this paper, we present a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome and hepatotoxicity following administration of a single dose of nitrofurantoin.
Boesenbergia rotunda: From Ethnomedicine to Drug Discovery
Authors: Eng-Chong Tan , Yean-Kee Lee , Chin-Fei Chee , Choon-Han Heh , Sher-Ming Wong , Li-Ping Christina Thio , Gen-Teck Foo , Khalid Norzulaani , Abd Rahman Noorsaadah , Karsani Saiful Anuar , Othman Shatrah , Othman Rozana , Yusof Rohana
Published: November 2012

Boesenbergia rotundais a herb from theBoesenbergiagenera under the Zingiberaceae family.B. rotundais widely found in Asian countries where it is commonly used as a food ingredient and in ethnomedicinal preparations. The popularity of its ethnomedicinal usage has drawn the attention of scientists worldwide to further investigate its medicinal properties. Advancement in drug design and discovery research has led to the development of synthetic drugs fromB. rotundametabolites via bioinformatics and medicinal chemistry studies. Furthermore, with the advent of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, new insights on the biosynthetic pathways ofB. rotundametabolites can be elucidated, enabling researchers to predict the potential bioactive compounds responsible for the medicinal properties of the plant. The vast biological activities exhibited by the compounds obtained fromB. rotundawarrant further investigation through studies such as drug discovery, polypharmacology, and drug delivery using nanotechnology.
On the Simplex Algorithm Initializing
Authors: Stojković Nebojša V. , Stanimirović Predrag S. , Petković Marko D. , Milojković Danka S.
Published: November 2012

This paper discusses the importance of starting point in the simplex algorithm. Three different methods for finding a basic feasible solution are compared throughout performed numerical test examples. We show that our two methods on the Netlib test problems have better performances than the classical algorithm for finding initial solution. The comparison of the introduced optimization softwares is based on the number of iterative steps and on the required CPU time. It is pointed out that on average it takes more iterations to determine the starting point than the number of iterations required by the simplex algorithm to find the optimal solution.
Endocytosis of Integrin-Binding Human Picornaviruses
Authors: Merilahti Pirjo , Koskinen Satu , Heikkilä Outi , Karelehto Eveliina , Susi Petri
Published: November 2012

Picornaviruses that infect humans form one of the largest virus groups with almost three hundred virus types. They include significant enteroviral pathogens such as rhino-, polio-, echo-, and coxsackieviruses and human parechoviruses that cause wide range of disease symptoms. Despite the economic importance of picornaviruses, there are no antivirals. More than ten cellular receptors are known to participate in picornavirus infection, but experimental evidence of their role in cellular infection has been shown for only about twenty picornavirus types. Three enterovirus types and one parechovirus have experimentally been shown to bind and use integrin receptors in cellular infection. These include coxsackievirus A9 (CV-A9), echovirus 9, and human parechovirus 1 that are among the most common and epidemic human picornaviruses and bind toαV-integrins via RGD motif that resides on virus capsid. In contrast, echovirus 1 (E-1) has no RGD and uses integrinα2β1 as cellular receptor. Endocytosis of CV-A9 has recently been shown to occur via a novel Arf6- and dynamin-dependent pathways, while, contrary to collagen binding, E-1 binds inactiveβ1 integrin and enters via macropinocytosis. In this paper, we review what is known about receptors and endocytosis of integrin-binding human picornaviruses.
Strict Monotonicity and Unique Continuation for the Third‐Order Spectrum of Biharmonic Operator
Authors: Ben Haddouch Khalil , El Allali Zakaria , Mermri El Bekkaye , Tsouli Najib
Published: November 2012

We will study the spectrum for the biharmonic operator involving the laplacian and the gradient of the laplacian with weight, which we call third‐order spectrum. We will show that the strict monotonicity of the eigenvalues of the operator Δ2u + 2β · ∇(Δu)+|β|2Δu, where β ∈ ℝN, holds if some unique continuation property is satisfied by the corresponding eigenfunctions.
Changes in the Monocytic Subsets CD14dimCD16+and CD14++CD16−in Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Amir Offer , Spivak Ilia , Lavi Idit , Rahat Michal Amit
Published: November 2012

Different monocytic subsets are important in inflammation and tissue remodelling, but although heart failure (HF) is associated with local and systemic inflammation, their roles in HF are yet unknown. We recruited 59 chronic systolic HF patients (aged years, 45 males and 14 females) and 29 age-matched controls with no pervious heart disease. Compared to the controls, we found no change in the distribution of the CD14+CD16+monocytic subset, whereas the classical CD14++CD16−subset was decreased by 11% (), and the nonclassical CD14dimCD16+subset was expanded by 4% () in HF patients and was inversely associated with severe HF (), as assessed by increased end-diastolic dimension (EDD). Compared to the control group, serum TNF, IL-1, IL-10, and IL-13 levels were significantly elevated in the HF patients. Specifically, IL-13 levels were positively correlated to the CD1CD14dimCD16+monocytic subset (, ), and intracellular staining of IL-13 demonstrated that some of these monocytes produce the cytokine in HF patients, but not in the controls. We suggest that the inverse association between EDD values and the expansion of CD1CD16+monocytes that can produce IL-13 could be explained as a measure to counterbalance adverse remodelling, which is a central process in HF.
Uniqueness of Positive Solutions for a Perturbed Fractional Differential Equation
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhang Jieming
Published: November 2012

We are concerned with the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for the following nonlinear perturbed fractional two-point boundary value problem:D0+αu(t)+f(t,u,u',…,u(n-2))+g(t)=0, 0<t<1, n-1<α≤n, n≥2,u(0)=u'(0)=⋯=u(n-2)(0)=u(n-2)(1)=0, whereD0+αis the standard Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative. Our analysis relies on a fixed-point theorem of generalized concave operators. An example is given to illustrate the main result.
Na3MP3O10·12H2O (M = Co, Ni): Crystal Structure and IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Azzaoui Khalil , Essehli Rachid , Mejdoubi El Miloud , El Bali Brahim , Dusek Michal , Fejfarova Karla
Published: November 2012

Two new dodecahydrate trisodium triphosphates Na3MP3O10·12H2O (M = Co (1), Ni (2)) were synthesized using a wet chemistry route and characterized by X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy. They are isotypic, monoclinic (P21/n, Z=2), with pseudoorthorhombic unit cell parameters (Ǻ,°): (a=14,9906 (4), b=9,1628 (2), c=14,6660 (4), β=90,098 (2), for (1) and a=15,0236 (3), b=9,1972 (2), c=14,6654 (3), β=90,0492 (16) for (2)). Values of R/Rw are 0.0267/0.0738 and 0.0284/0.0907, respectively, for (1) and (2). Both compounds were found to be systematically twinned by 180° rotation around a. Their frameworks are made by slabs parallel to ab plane, resulting from the cohesion of two kinds of metallic chains. IR spectrum confirms the presence of characteristic bands from P3O10 phosphate group.
Auricular Acupuncture and Vagal Regulation
Authors: He Wei , Wang Xiaoyu , Shi Hong , Shang Hongyan , Li Liang , Jing Xianghong , Zhu Bing
Published: November 2012

Auricular acupuncture has been utilized in the treatment of diseases for thousands of years. Dr. Paul Nogier firstly originated the concept of an inverted fetus map on the external ear. In the present study, the relationship between the auricular acupuncture and the vagal regulation has been reviewed. It has been shown that auricular acupuncture plays a role in vagal activity of autonomic functions of cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. Mechanism studies suggested that afferent projections from especially the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) form the anatomical basis for the vagal regulation of auricular acupuncture. Therefore, we proposed the “auriculovagal afferent pathway” (AVAP): both the autonomic and the central nervous system could be modified by auricular vagal stimulation via projections from the ABVN to the NTS. Auricular acupuncture is also proposed to prevent neurodegenerative diseases via vagal regulation. There is a controversy on the specificity and the efficacy of auricular acupoints for treating diseases. More clinical RCT trials on auricular acupuncture and experimental studies on the mechanism of auricular acupuncture should be further investigated.
Giant Cell Tumor of Rib Arising Anteriorly as a Large Inframammary Mass: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Sharma Amit , Armstrong Amy E.
Published: November 2012

Introduction. Giant cell tumor of the bone is a rare benign lesion that infrequently affects the ribs, and if present, is usually located posteriorly. The rarity of this tumor poses diagnostic and therapeutic problems for physicians, especially when it is located in the anterior arc of the rib in close proximity to the breasts in female patients.Case Presentation. We report the case of a 32-year-old Asian female with a giant cell tumor of her anterior rib, presenting as a large inframammary mass. Computed tomography showed a tumor arising from the 7th rib anteriorly with marginal sclerosis, cortical destruction, and a soft tissue mass. She was treated with surgical resection, and the defect was reconstructed primarily. The surgical specimen measured 28.0 × 24.0 cm. The microscopic examination showed a large number of multinucleate giant cells scattered over the parenchyma. Patient recovered uneventfully and continues to be recurrence-free six years after surgical resection.Conclusion. We report the largest known case of giant cell tumor arising from the anterior aspect of a rib. We recommend including giant cell tumor in the differential diagnosis of chest wall masses especially in female patients, regardless of the size on clinical examination.
A Contraction Fixed Point Theorem in Partially Ordered Metric Spaces and Application to Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Zhou Xiangbing , Wu Wenquan , Ma Hongjiang
Published: November 2012

We generalize a fixed point theorem in partially ordered complete metric spaces in the study of A. Amini‐Harandi and H. Emami (2010). We also give an application on the existence and uniqueness of the positive solution of a multipoint boundary value problem with fractional derivatives.
Posttransplant Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Siddiqui M. Shadab , Sterling Richard K.
Published: November 2012

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic derangements associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. MS has become a major health concern worldwide and is considered to be the etiology of the current epidemic of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition to cardiovascular disease, the presence of MS is also closely associated with other comorbidities including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The prevalence of MS in patients with cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease is not well established and difficult to ascertain. Following liver transplant, the prevalence of MS is estimated to be 44–58%. The main factors associated with posttransplant MS are posttransplant diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. In addition to developing NAFLD, posttransplant MS is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality that is 2.5 times that of the age- and sex-matched individuals. Additionally, the presence of posttransplant MS has been associated with rapid progression to fibrosis in individuals transplanted for HCV cirrhosis. There is an urgent need for well-designed prospective studies to fully delineate the natural history and risk factors associated with posttransplant MS. Until then, early recognition, prevention, and treatment of its components are vital in improving outcomes in liver transplant recipients.
Asymptotic Normality of a Hurst Parameter Estimator Based on the Modified Allan Variance
Authors: Bianchi Alessandra , Campanino Massimo , Crimaldi Irene
Published: November 2012

In order to estimate the memory parameter of Internet traffic data, it has been recently proposed a log-regression estimator based on the so-called modified Allan variance (MAVAR). Simulations have shown that this estimator achieves higher accuracy and better confidence when compared with other methods. In this paper we present a rigorous study of the MAVAR log-regression estimator. In particular, under the assumption that the signal process is a fractional Brownian motion, we prove that it is consistent and asymptotically normally distributed. Finally, we discuss its connection with the wavelets estimators.
Biventricular Levitronix CentriMag Assist Device: A “Bridge to Recovery” Solution in Patients with Acute Fulminant Myocarditis
Authors: Vollroth Marcel , Barten Markus J. , Mohr Friedrich W. , Garbade Jens
Published: November 2012

Fulminant myocarditis (FM) represents a crucial cardiac pathology with extensive hemodynamic compromise occurring in a previously healthy patient. Early death occurs because of acute cardiac decompensation from inflammation, necrosis, and myocytolysis. Nevertheless, in this situation implantation of an extracorporeal circulatory support system may ensure cardiac recovery. We herein report our experience using a biventricular Levitronix CentriMag system for bridge to recovery.
Towards Online Model Predictive Control on a Programmable Logic Controller: Practical Considerations
Authors: Huyck Bart , Ferreau Hans Joachim , Diehl Moritz , De Brabanter Jos , Van Impe Jan F. M. , De Moor Bart , Logist Filip
Published: November 2012

Given the growing computational power of embedded controllers, the use of model
predictive control (MPC) strategies on this type of devices becomes more and more attractive.
This paper investigates the use of online MPC, in which at each step, an optimization problem
is solved, on both a programmable automation controller (PAC) and a programmable
logic controller (PLC). Three different optimization routines to solve the quadratic program
were investigated with respect to their applicability on these devices. To this end,
an air heating setup was built and selected as a small‐scale multi‐input single‐output
system. It turns out that the code generator (CVXGEN) is not suited for the PLC as the
required programming language is not available and the programming concept with preallocated
memory consumes too much memory. The Hildreth and qpOASES algorithms
successfully controlled the setup running on the PLC hardware. Both algorithms perform
similarly, although it takes more time to calculate a solution for qpOASES. However, if
the problem size increases, it is expected that the high number of required iterations when
the constraints are hit will cause the Hildreth algorithm to exceed the necessary time to
present a solution. For this small heating problem under test, the Hildreth algorithm is
selected as most useful on a PLC.
Depressive Symptoms, Pain, and Quality of Life among Patients with Nonalcohol-Related Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: Balliet Wendy E. , Edwards-Hampton Shenelle , Borckardt Jeffery J. , Morgan Katherine , Adams David , Owczarski Stefanie , Madan Alok , Galloway Sarah K. , Serber Eva R. , Malcolm Robert
Published: November 2012

Objective. The present study was conducted to determine if depressive symptoms were associated with variability in pain perception and quality of life among patients with nonalcohol-related chronic pancreatitis.Methods.The research design was cross-sectional, and self-report data was collected from 692 patients with nonalcohol-related, intractable pancreatitis. The mean age of the sample was 52.6 (); 41% of the sample were male. Participants completed the MOS SF12 Quality of Life Measure, the Center for Epidemiological Studies 10-item Depression Scale (CESD), and a numeric rating scale measure of “pain on average” from the Brief Pain Inventory.Results.Depressive symptoms were significantly related to participants’ reports of increased pain and decreased quality of life. The mean CESD score of the sample was 10.6 () and 52% of the sample scored above the clinical cutoff for the presence of significant depressive symptomology. Patients scoring above the clinical cutoff on the depression screening measure rated their pain as significantly higher than those below the cutoff () and had significantly lower physical quality of life () and lower mental quality of life ().Conclusion.Although causality cannot be determined based on cross-sectional, correlational data, findings suggest that among patients with nonalcoholic pancreatitis, the presence of depressive symptoms is common and may be a risk factor associated with increased pain and decreased quality of life. Thus, routine screening for depressive symptomology among patients with nonalcoholic pancreatitis may be warranted.
Synthesis, Structural, and Antimicrobial Studies of Some New Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II) with Azomethines Derived from Amino Acids
Authors: Gupta Monika , Sihag Sangeeta , Varshney A. K. , Varshney S.
Published: November 2012

Some new coordination compounds of palladium(II) have been synthesized by the reaction of palladium(II) acetate with azomethines in a 1 : 2 molar ratio using acetonitrile as a reaction medium. Azomethines used in these studies have been prepared by the condensation of 2‐acetyl fluorene and 4‐acetyl biphenyl with glycine, alanine, valine, and leucine in methanol. An attempt has been made to probe their bonding and structures on the basis of elemental analyses and IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectral studies. Pd(II) compounds have been found to be more active than their uncomplexed ligands as both of them were screened for antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities.
What Aspect of Dependence Does the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence Measure?
Authors: DiFranza Joseph R. , Wellman Robert J. , Savageau Judith A. , Beccia Ariel , Ursprung W. W. Sanouri A. , McMillen Robert
Published: November 2012

Although the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) are widely used, there is a uncertainty regarding what is measured by these scales. We examined associations between these instruments and items assessing different aspects of dependence. Adult current smokers (, mean age 33.3 years, 61.9% female) completed a web-based survey comprised of items related to demographics and smoking behavior plus (1) the FTND and HSI; (2) the Autonomy over Tobacco Scale (AUTOS) with subscales measuring Withdrawal, Psychological Dependence, and Cue-Induced Cravings; (3) 6 questions tapping smokers’ wanting, craving, or needing experiences in response to withdrawal and the latency to each experience during abstinence; (4) 3 items concerning how smokers prepare to cope with periods of abstinence. In regression analyses the Withdrawal subscale of the AUTOS was the strongest predictor of FTND and HSI scores, followed by taking precautions not to run out of cigarettes or smoking extra to prepare for abstinence. The FTND and its six items, including the HSI, consistently showed the strongest correlations with withdrawal, suggesting that the behaviors described by the items of the FTND are primarily indicative of a difficulty maintaining abstinence because of withdrawal symptoms.
Langerhans Cell Sarcoma in the Cervical Lymph Node: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Wang Yi-ni , Zhou Xiao-ge , Wang Zhao
Published: November 2012

Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) is extremely rare, with only 36 cases reported in English literature. In this report we represent the case of a 77-year-old woman with a 1-month history of left neck swelling and pain. A diagnosis of LCS was rendered from pathological findings of the cervical lymph node biopsy. The patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she died 2 days after diagnosis. A literature review in the context of the present case was performed to better enhance understanding of the early diagnosis and treatment of this unusual lesion.
The Impact of Parenting Styles on Adolescent Alcohol Use: The TRAILS Study
Authors: Visser Leenke , de Winter Andrea F. , Vollebergh Wilma A.M. , Verhulst Frank C. , Reijneveld Sijmen A.
Published: November 2012

Aims: To investigate the influence of parenting styles (overprotection, emotional warmth, and rejection) in early adolescence on regular alcohol use in late adolescence. Methods: We analyzed data from the first three waves (mean ages: 11.09, 13.56, and 16.27 years, respectively) of a population-based prospective cohort study of 2,230 adolescents, conducted between 2001 and 2007. Adolescents reported on parental overprotection, emotional warmth, and rejection (T1). Regular alcohol use was defined as six and seven glasses or more a week for girls and boys, respectively. We further assessed family socioeconomic status, parental divorce, parental alcohol use, educational level of the adolescent, and alcohol use at baseline. Results: Parental overprotection had the strongest relationship to regular alcohol use: adolescents who perceived more parental overprotection were at increased risk of developing regular alcohol use, even after adjustment for several confounders. Rejection was not related to adolescents’ alcohol use and, after adjustment for the other variables, neither was emotional warmth. Conclusion: Overprotective parenting is a determinant of future regular adolescent alcohol use and therefore health professionals should pay particular attention to those adolescents who have overprotective parents. The role of adolescent characteristics in the relationship between overprotection and alcohol use deserves further study.
Comparison between High-Resolution CT and MRI Using a Very Short Echo Time in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis with Extra Focus on Mosaic Attenuation
Authors: Teufel Matthias , Ketelsen Dominik , Fleischer Sabrina , Martirosian Petros , Graebler-Mainka Ulrike , Stern Martin , Claussen Claus D. , Schick Fritz , Schaefer Juergen F.
Published: November 2012

Background: It would be beneficial to establish pulmonary MRI as a complementary approach to CT for direct visualization of mosaic perfusion, bullae, and emphysema in patients with cystic fibrosis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare both modalities, CT and MRI, using the Helbich-Bhalla score with a special focus on reliable detection of a mosaic pattern. Methods: Out of 51 patients examined by MRI on a 1.5-Tesla system during a period of 2 years, 19 patients were scheduled for additional low-dose CT in a clinical context. The MRI protocol comprised a gradient echo (GRE) sequence with a very short echo time (TE = 0.8 ms) in inspiration and expiration, a 3-D GRE sequence in breath hold, and a fast spin echo sequence with respiration and ECG triggering. MDCT was carried out in inspiration and adapted to body weight using 100 or 120 kV, 30-60 mA, 1- and 3-mm slice thicknesses, as well as low and high kernels. Additionally incremental slices in 3 positions were recorded in expiration for distinct detection of air trapping. CT and MRI analyses were performed by two radiologic readers in consensus unaware of the clinical parameters. The Helbich-Bhalla score of both examinations was correlated. Mean difference and accordance were assessed in each category. Results: There was a strong correlation between CT and MRI (R = 0.87, p < 0.01). The mean Helbich-Bhalla score for CT was 12.2 (range 1-18) and for MRI it was 11.7 (range 2-19). The mean difference was 0.5 points. Besides this strong correlation for findings (bronchiectasis, mucus plugging, peribronchial thickening, and consolidation) with a prolonged T2 TE in MRI, we could also state a qualitative agreement of 95-100% in the categories with short T2 and low signal intensity in MRI as emphysema, bullae, and mosaic perfusion. Conclusions: These results suggest that in our patient group none of the relevant findings were missed by MR imaging and reading.
Differential Pathological Response to Preoperative Chemotherapy across Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes
Authors: Jinno Hiromitsu , Matsuda Sachiko , Hayashida Tetsu , Takahashi Maiko , Hirose Shigemichi , Ikeda Tadashi , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: November 2012

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a diversity of clinical behaviors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of breast cancer intrinsic subtypes in the prediction of pathological complete response (pCR) in a cohort of breast cancer patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy. Methods: Patients with stage II/III breast cancer received 4 cycles of XT (capecitabine and docetaxel) followed by 4 cycles of FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) as preoperative chemotherapy. Tumors were classified as luminal A, luminal B, luminal/HER2, HER2, basal-like, or non-basal-like triple negative by immunohistochemical analysis in core needle biopsy samples at baseline. Results: The overall pCR rate was 11.9% (12/101). Multivariate analysis showed that intrinsic subtype was an independent factor to predict pCR. With luminal A patients as the reference group, luminal B (OR = 16.39; 95% CI 1.44–185.88; p = 0.024), HER2 (OR = 14.73; 95% CI 1.19–180.84; p = 0.035), and basal-like (OR = 13.27; 95% CI 1.27–138.79; p = 0.031) patients had a significantly higher likelihood of pCR. Conclusion: The present data indicate that intrinsic subtypes may be useful predictive biomarkers of pCR in breast cancer patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy.
High-Throughput Sequencing and Rare Genetic Diseases
Authors: Makrythanasis P. , Antonarakis S.E.
Published: November 2012

High-throughput sequencing has drastically changed the research of genes responsible for genetic disorders and is now gradually introduced as an additional genetic diagnostic testing in clinical practice. The current debates on the emerging technical, medical and ethical issues as well as the potential optimum use of the available technology are discussed.
Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Two Different Antimuscarinics, Imidafenacin and Solifenacin, for Treatment of Overactive Bladder: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Yokoyama Teruhiko , Koide Takao , Hara Ryoei , Fukumoto Kazuhiko , Miyaji Yoshiyuki , Nagai Atsushi
Published: November 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with two different antimuscarinics, imidafenacin and solifenacin, in patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Patients and Methods: Male or female patients 20 years of age or older who had urgency (more than 1 episode in 24 h) were randomized into two groups: group I, imidafenacin (0.1 mg twice daily), and group S, solifenacin (5 mg once daily) for a 12-month treatment regimen. Subjective and objective symptoms were assessed before, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Results: A total of 109 patients, including 55 (mean age: 72.0 years) in group I and 54 (mean age: 70.4 years) in group S, were treated. Subjective symptoms were significantly improved in group I and S after treatment. Dry mouth significantly worsened in both groups. However, the duration of dry mouth in group I was significantly shorter than that in group S. Three (5.8%) and 7 (13.5%) patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events in group I and group S, respectively. Conclusions: Imidafenacin and solifenacin were efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated treatments for OAB. As for adverse events, group I had fewer than group S.
Risk in Dosing Regimens for 25-OH Vitamin D Supplementation in Chronic Haemodialysis Patients
Authors: Albalate M. , de la Piedra C. , Ortiz A. , Hernández Pérez J. , Rubert M. , Pérez Garcia R. , Zazo P. , Nieto L. , de Sequera P. , Egido J.
Published: November 2012

Introduction: 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHvitD) insufficiency or deficiency should be treated in haemodialysis (HD) patients, although the 25-OHvitD target, drug or dosing regimens are unclear. Aims: To describe factors associated with 25-OHvitD levels in HD patients and to assess the effect of three dosing regimens to supplement 25-OHvitD (calcifediol) on serum calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-OHvitD and 1,25-OHvitD. Methods: Two hundred and seventeen patients from three HD units were studied. Demographic and biochemical data were collected at baseline. Two different 25-OHvitD assays were used. One hundred and sixty-seven patients were treated with various calcifediol dosing regimens. The same biochemical determinations were repeated after 3 months of treatment. Results: At baseline, 12.9% of patients had 25-OHvitD <10 ng/ml. In multivariate linear regression, the season (lower in winter) and the assay method were determinants of 25-OHvitD concentration. Following calcifediol supplementation, 25-OHvitD, calcium and phosphate increased, while PTH diminished with statistical significance. After treatment, there were positive correlations between 25-OHvitD and Ca (r = 0.28, p < 0.0001) or 1,25-OHvitD (r = 0.75, p < 0.0001) that were not observed in the baseline dataset. High concentrations of post-treatment 25-OHvitD were associated with higher 1,25-OHvitD levels. Calcemia increased more in those treated with concomitant active vitamin D or those having suppressed baseline PTH, while PTH decreased more in those having above-target PTH levels. Conclusions: Standardisation of methods to determine 25-OHvitD blood levels is needed. In HD patients, calcifediol increased 25-OHvitD, calcemia and phosphatemia and lowered PTH. Caution should be exercised with the higher calcifediol dosing regimens, especially in patients with suppressed PTH or on vitamin D receptor activators.
Atrial Giant Cell Myocarditis
Authors: Larsen Brandon T. , Maleszewski Joseph J. , Edwards William D. , Cooper Leslie T. , Sobonya Richard E. , Thompson V. Eric , Duckett Simon G. , Peebles Charles R. , Simpson Iain A. , Tazelaar Henry D.
Published: November 2012

Background—

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) typically causes fulminant heart failure, arrhythmias, or heart block, necessitating aggressive immunosuppression, ventricular assist device insertion, or cardiac transplantation. We describe a novel variant of GCM, primarily involving the atria, that displays distinctive clinical features and follows a more benign course than ventricular GCM.

Methods and Results—

We identified 6 patients (median age 67.5 years, 4 male) with atrial GCM in our pathology consultation practices from 2010 to 2012. Clinical history, imaging, and pathology materials were reviewed. Clinically, 4 patients had atrial fibrillation, 1 had acute heart failure, and 1 had incidental disease at autopsy. Among the 5 living patients, echocardiography revealed severe atrial dilatation (5 cases), mitral/tricuspid regurgitation (5), atrial mural thrombus (3), atrial wall thickening (2), and atrial hypokinesis (2). Ventricular function was preserved in all 5. Histological review of surgically resected atria showed giant cell and lymphocytic infiltrates, lymphocytic myocarditis-like foci, cardiomyocyte necrosis, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in all cases. Other features included interstitial fibrosis (5), poorly-formed granulomas (4), eosinophils (4), neutrophils (1), and vasculitis (1). Treatment consisted of steroids and cyclosporine (1), pacemaker placement for sick sinus syndrome (1), and supportive care (3). All 5 living patients returned to baseline exercise tolerance after 6 to 16 weeks of follow-up.

Conclusions—

Atrial GCM represents a distinct clinicopathologic entity with a more favorable prognosis than classic ventricular GCM. This disorder should be included in the differential diagnosis of atrial dilatation, particularly when associated with atrial wall thickening. The utility of immunomodulatory therapy for this condition remains unknown.