bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of non-equilibrium plasmas in medicine
Authors: Petrovic Zoran , Puac N. , Malovic G. , Lazovic S. , Maletic D. , Miletic M. , Mojsilovic S. , Milenkovic P. , Bugarski D.
Published: December 2012

We review the potential of plasma medical applications, the connections to
nanotechnologies and the results obtained by our group. A special issue in
plasma medicine is the development of the plasma sources that would achieve
non-equilibrium at atmospheric pressure in atmospheric gas mixture with no or
only marginal heating of the gas, and with desired properties and mechanisms
that may be controlled. Our studies have shown that control of radicals or
chemically active products of the discharge such as ROS (reactive oxygen
species) and/or NO may be used to control the growth of the seeds. At the
same time specially designed plasma needle and other sources were shown to be
efficient to sterilize not only colonies of bacteria but also planctonic
samples (microorganisms protected by water) or bio films. Finally we have
shown that plasma may induce differentiation of stem cells. Non-equilibrium
plasmas may be used in detection of different specific markers in medicine.
For example proton transfer mass spectroscopy may be employed in detection of
volatile organic compounds without their dissociation and thus as a technique
for instantaneous measurement of the presence of markers for numerous
diseases.
How Can Accounting Researchers Become More Innovative?
Authors: Basu Sudipta
Published: December 2012

SYNOPSIS:

This essay is based on a presentation at the American Accounting Association Strategy Retreat in May 2011 on the assertion “Accounting research as of 2011 is stagnant and lacking in significant innovation that introduces fresh ideas and insights into our scholarly discipline.” It poses the question “How can accounting researchers become more innovative?” and discusses why accounting researchers may have become less innovative. It also outlines some changes in incentive structures and editorial processes needed to achieve greater innovation in accounting research.

JEL Classifications: A11; A12; B23; C12; I23; J44; M4; O31.
Accounting Craftspeople versus Accounting Seers: Exploring the Relevance and Innovation Gaps in Academic Accounting Research
Authors: McCarthy William E.
Published: December 2012

SYNOPSIS:

Is accounting research stuck in a rut of repetitiveness and irrelevancy? I would answer yes, and I would even predict that both its gap in relevancy and its gap in innovation are going to continue to get worse if the people and the attitudes that govern inquiry in the American academy remain the same. From my perspective in accounting information systems, mainstream accounting research topics have changed very little in 30 years, except for the fact that their scope now seems much more narrow and crowded. More and more people seem to be studying the same topics in financial reporting and managerial control in the same ways, over and over and over. My suggestions to get out of this rut are simple. First, the profession should allow itself to think a little bit normatively, so we can actually target practice improvement as a real goal. And second, we need to allow new scholars a wider berth in research topics and methods, so we can actually give the kind of creativity and innovation that occurs naturally with young people a chance to blossom.
Early Warnings of Internal Control Problems: Additional Evidence
Authors: Munsif Vishal , Raghunandan K. , Rama Dasaratha V.
Published: December 2012

Hermanson and Ye (2009; hereafter, HY) find that in the initial year of SOX Section 404 implementation, only 27 percent of accelerated filer firms with an adverse Section 404(b) report had disclosed such material weaknesses (MWs) in internal control in Section 302 certifications in previous quarters of the same fiscal year. We extend HY by examining (1) a more recent time period (using data from fiscal years 2007 and 2008), and (2) both accelerated and non-accelerated filers. We find that the proportion of accelerated filers (with adverse Section 404 reports) that have early warnings (in Section 302 certifications in previous quarters of the same fiscal year) is less than 50 percent even in the fourth and fifth years of Section 404 reporting. We also find that, after controlling for other factors, non-accelerated filers were more likely to have early warnings than accelerated filers in 2008; however, the difference is not significant in 2007. Early warning is more likely for firms with (1) a higher number of MWs, (2) a new CFO, (3) more audit committee members, and (4) more frequent audit committee meetings.
Assessment of owner willingness to treat or manage diseases of dogs and cats as a guide to shelter animal adoptability
Authors: Murphy Molly D. , Larson Janice , Tyler Allison , Kvam Vanessa , Frank Kristen , Eia Cheryl , Bickett-Weddle Danelle , Flaming Kevan , Baldwin Claudia J. , Petersen Christine A.
Published: December 2012

Objective—To determine community approaches to medical and behavioral diseases in dogs and cats.

Design—Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Sample—97 companion animal veterinarians and 424 animal owners.

Procedures—Companion animal veterinarians in central Iowa ranked medical or behavioral diseases or conditions by what they thought most clients would consider healthy, treatable, manageable, or unhealthy (unmanageable or untreatable). In a parallel survey, cat- or dog-owning households in central Iowa responded to a telephone survey regarding the relationship of their animal in the household, owner willingness to provide medical or behavioral interventions, and extent of financial commitment to resolving diseases.

Results—One hundred twenty common health or behavioral disorders in cats and dogs were ranked by veterinarians as healthy, treatable, manageable, or unhealthy (unmanageable or untreatable) on the basis of their opinion of what most clients would do. Findings were in congruence with animal owners' expressed willingness to provide the type of care required to maintain animals with many acute or chronic medical and behavioral conditions. In general, owners indicated a willingness to use various treatment modalities and spend money on veterinary services when considering current or previously owned animals as well as hypothetical situations with an animal. Past experiences with veterinary care in which an animal did not recover fully did not diminish the willingness of respondents to use veterinary services again in the future.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—These results provide a baseline indication of community willingness to address medical or behavioral conditions in dogs and cats. These considerations can be used in conjunction with Asilomar Accords recommendations to assess adoptability of cats and dogs in animal shelters.
Evaluation of plasma lactate concentration and base excess at the time of hospital admission as predictors of gastric necrosis and outcome and correlation between those variables in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus: 78 cases (2004–2009)
Authors: Santoro Beer Kari A. , Syring Rebecca S. , Drobatz Kenneth J.
Published: December 2012

Objective—To determine the correlation between plasma lactate concentration and base excess at the time of hospital admission and evaluate each variable as a predictor of gastric necrosis or outcome in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—78 dogs.

Procedures—For each dog, various data, including plasma lactate concentration and base excess at the time of hospital admission, surgical or necropsy findings, and outcome, were collected from medical records.

Results—Gastric necrosis was identified in 12 dogs at the time of surgery and in 4 dogs at necropsy. Sixty-five (83%) dogs survived to hospital discharge, whereas 13 (17%) dogs died or were euthanized. Of the 65 survivors and 8 nonsurvivors that underwent surgery, gastric necrosis was detected in 8 and 4 dogs, respectively. Via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial plasma lactate concentration cutoff of 7.4 mmol/L was 82% accurate for predicting gastric necrosis (sensitivity, 50%; specificity, 88%) and 88% accurate for predicting outcome (sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 89%). Among all dogs, the correlation between initial plasma lactate concentration and base excess was significant, although base excess was a poor discriminator for predicting gastric necrosis or outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.571 and 0.565, respectively).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In dogs with GDV, plasma lactate concentration at the time of hospital admission was a good predictor of gastric necrosis and outcome. However, despite the correlation between initial base excess and plasma lactate concentration, base excess should not be used for prediction of gastric necrosis or outcome in those patients.
Computed tomographic findings in dogs and cats with temporomandibular joint disorders: 58 cases (2006–2011)
Authors: Arzi Boaz , Cissell Derek D. , Verstraete Frank J. M. , Kass Philip H. , DuRaine Grayson D. , Athanasiou Kyriacos A.
Published: December 2012

Objective—To describe CT findings in dogs and cats with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—41 dogs and 17 cats.

Procedures—Medical records and CT images of the skull were reviewed for dogs and cats that were examined at a dentistry and oral surgery specialty practice between 2006 and 2011.

Results—Of 142 dogs and 42 cats evaluated, 41 dogs and 17 cats had CT findings consistent with a TMJ disorder. In dogs, the most common TMJ disorder was osteoarthritis; however, in most cases, there were other TMJ disorders present in addition to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was more frequently identified at the medial aspect rather than the lateral aspect of the TMJ, whereas the frequency of osteoarthritic involvement of the dorsal and ventral compartments did not differ significantly. In cats, fractures were the most common TMJ disorder, followed by osteoarthritis. Clinical signs were observed in all dogs and cats with TMJ fractures, dysplasia, ankylosis, luxation, and tumors; however, only 4 of 15 dogs and 2 of 4 cats with osteoarthritis alone had clinical signs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that TMJ disorders were frequently present in combination. Osteoarthritis was the most common TMJ disorder in dogs and the second most common TMJ disorder in cats. Computed tomography should be considered as a tool for the diagnosis of TMJ disorders in dogs and cats with suspected orofacial disorders and signs of pain. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2013;242:69–75)
Anti-Legionella dumoffii Activity of Galleria mellonella Defensin and Apolipophorin III
Authors: Palusińska-Szysz Marta , Zdybicka-Barabas Agnieszka , Pawlikowska-Pawlęga Bożena , Mak Pawel , Cytryńska Małgorzata
Published: December 2012

The gram-negative bacterium Legionella dumoffii is, beside Legionella pneumophila, an etiological agent of Legionnaires’ disease, an atypical form of pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of Galleria mellonella defense polypeptides against L. dumoffii. The extract of immune hemolymph, containing a mixture of defense peptides and proteins, exhibited a dose-dependent bactericidal effect on L. dumoffii. The bacterium appeared sensitive to a main component of the hemolymph extract, apolipophorin III, as well as to a defense peptide, Galleria defensin, used at the concentrations 0.4 mg/mL and 40 μg/mL, respectively. L. dumoffii cells cultured in the presence of choline were more susceptible to both defense factors analyzed. A transmission electron microscopy study of bacterial cells demonstrated that Galleria defensin and apolipophorin III induced irreversible cell wall damage and strong intracellular alterations, i.e., increased vacuolization, cytoplasm condensation and the appearance of electron-white spaces in electron micrographs. Our findings suggest that insects, such as G. mellonella, with their great diversity of antimicrobial factors, can serve as a rich source of compounds for the testing of Legionella susceptibility to defense-related peptides and proteins.
Plant Regeneration and Somatic Embryogenesis from Immature Embryos Derived through Interspecific Hybridization among Different Carica Species
Authors: Azad Md. Abul , Rabbani Md. Golam , Amin Latifah
Published: December 2012

Plant regeneration and somatic embryogenesis through interspecific hybridization among different Carica species were studied for the development of a papaya ringspot virus-resistant variety. The maximum fruit sets were recorded from the cross of the native variety C. papaya cv. Shahi with the wild species C. cauliflora. The highest hybrid embryos were recorded at 90 days after pollination and the embryos were aborted at 150 days after pollination. The immature hybrid embryos were used for plant regeneration and somatic embryogenesis. The 90-day-old hybrid embryos from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora showed the highest percentage of germination, as well as plant regeneration on growth regulators free culture medium after 7 days pre-incubation on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L BAP, 0.5 mg/L NAA and 60 g/L sucrose. The 90-day-old hybrid embryos from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora produced maximum callus, as well as somatic embryos when cultured on half-strength MS medium containing 5 mg/L 2,4-D, 100 mg/L glutamine, 100 mg/L casein hydrolysate and 60 g/L sucrose. The somatic embryos were transferred into half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L NAA and 60 g/L sucrose for maturation. The highest number of regenerated plants per hybrid embryo (10.33) was recorded from the cross of C. papaya cv. Shahi × C. cauliflora. Isoenzyme and dendrogram cluster analysis using UPGMA of the regenerated F1 plantlets confirmed the presence of the hybrid plantlets.
Plant Glandular Trichomes as Targets for Breeding or Engineering of Resistance to Herbivores
Authors: Glas Joris , Schimmel Bernardus , Alba Juan , Escobar-Bravo Rocío , Schuurink Robert , Kant Merijn
Published: December 2012

Glandular trichomes are specialized hairs found on the surface of about 30% of all vascular plants and are responsible for a significant portion of a plant’s secondary chemistry. Glandular trichomes are an important source of essential oils, i.e., natural fragrances or products that can be used by the pharmaceutical industry, although many of these substances have evolved to provide the plant with protection against herbivores and pathogens. The storage compartment of glandular trichomes usually is located on the tip of the hair and is part of the glandular cell, or cells, which are metabolically active. Trichomes and their exudates can be harvested relatively easily, and this has permitted a detailed study of their metabolites, as well as the genes and proteins responsible for them. This knowledge now assists classical breeding programs, as well as targeted genetic engineering, aimed to optimize trichome density and physiology to facilitate customization of essential oil production or to tune biocide activity to enhance crop protection. We will provide an overview of the metabolic diversity found within plant glandular trichomes, with the emphasis on those of the Solanaceae, and of the tools available to manipulate their activities for enhancing the plant’s resistance to pests.
Topographical Anisotropy and Wetting of Ground Stainless Steel Surfaces
Authors: Calvimontes Alfredo , Mauermann Marc , Bellmann Cornelia
Published: December 2012

Microscopic and physico-chemical methods were used for a comprehensive surface characterization of different mechanically modified stainless steel surfaces. The surfaces were analyzed using high-resolution confocal microscopy, resulting in detailed information about the topographic properties. In addition, static water contact angle measurements were carried out to characterize the surface heterogeneity of the samples. The effect of morphological anisotropy on water contact angle anisotropy was investigated. The correlation between topography and wetting was studied by means of a model of wetting proposed in the present work, that allows quantifying the air volume of the interface water drop-stainless steel surface.
The Antiviral Activities and Mechanisms of Marine Polysaccharides: An Overview
Authors: Wang Wei , Wang Shi-Xin , Guan Hua-Shi
Published: December 2012

Recently, the studies on the antiviral activities of marine natural products, especially marine polysaccharides, are attracting more and more attention all over the world. Marine-derived polysaccharides and their lower molecular weight oligosaccharide derivatives have been shown to possess a variety of antiviral activities. This paper will review the recent progress in research on the antiviral activities and the mechanisms of these polysaccharides obtained from marine organisms. In particular, it will provide an update on the antiviral actions of the sulfated polysaccharides derived from marine algae including carrageenans, alginates, and fucans, relating to their structure features and the structure–activity relationships. In addition, the recent findings on the different mechanisms of antiviral actions of marine polysaccharides and their potential for therapeutic application will also be summarized in detail.
Biosimilars: Company Strategies to Capture Value from the Biologics Market
Authors: Calo-Fernández Bruno , Martínez-Hurtado Juan
Published: December 2012

Patents for several biologic blockbusters will expire in the next few years. The arrival of biosimilars, the biologic equivalent of chemical generics, will have an impact on the current biopharmaceuticals market. Five core capabilities have been identified as paramount for those companies aiming to enter the biosimilars market: research and development, manufacturing, supporting activities, marketing, and lobbying. Understanding the importance of each of these capabilities will be key to maximising the value generated from the biologics patent cliff.
Photonic Crystal Based Sensor for Organic Solvents and for Solvent-Water Mixtures
Authors: Fenzl Christoph , Hirsch Thomas , Wolfbeis Otto
Published: December 2012

Monodisperse polystyrene nanoparticles with a diameter of 173 nm were incorporated into a polydimethylsiloxane matrix where they display an iridescent color that can be attributed to the photonic crystal effect. The film is of violet color if placed in plain water, but turns to red in the presence of the non-polar solvent n-hexane. Several solvents were studied in some detail. We show that such films are capable of monitoring the water content of ethanol/water mixtures, where only 1% (v/v) of water leads to a shift of the peak wavelength of reflected light by 5 nm. The method also can be applied to determine, both visually and instrumentally, the fraction of methanol in ethanol/methanol mixtures. Here, a fraction of 1% of methanol (v/v) results in a wavelength shift of 2 nm. The reflected wavelength is not influenced by temperature changes nor impeded by photobleaching. The signal changes are fully reversible and response times are <1 s.
Grapevine Yield and Leaf Area Estimation Using Supervised Classification Methodology on RGB Images Taken under Field Conditions
Authors: Diago Maria-Paz , Correa Christian , Millán Borja , Barreiro Pilar , Valero Constantino , Tardaguila Javier
Published: December 2012

The aim of this research was to implement a methodology through the generation of a supervised classifier based on the Mahalanobis distance to characterize the grapevine canopy and assess leaf area and yield using RGB images. The method automatically processes sets of images, and calculates the areas (number of pixels) corresponding to seven different classes (Grapes, Wood, Background, and four classes of Leaf, of increasing leaf age). Each one is initialized by the user, who selects a set of representative pixels for every class in order to induce the clustering around them. The proposed methodology was evaluated with 70 grapevine (V. vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo) images, acquired in a commercial vineyard located in La Rioja (Spain), after several defoliation and de-fruiting events on 10 vines, with a conventional RGB camera and no artificial illumination. The segmentation results showed a performance of 92% for leaves and 98% for clusters, and allowed to assess the grapevine’s leaf area and yield with R2 values of 0.81 (p < 0.001) and 0.73 (p = 0.002), respectively. This methodology, which operates with a simple image acquisition setup and guarantees the right number and kind of pixel classes, has shown to be suitable and robust enough to provide valuable information for vineyard management.
Ammonia Sensing Behaviors of TiO2-PANI/PA6 Composite Nanofibers
Authors: Wang Qingqing , Dong Xianjun , Pang Zengyuan , Du Yuanzhi , Xia Xin , Wei Qufu , Huang Fenglin
Published: December 2012

Titanium dioxide-polyaniline/polyamide 6 (TiO2-PANI/PA6) composite nanofibers were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of PA6 nanofibers and a sputtering-deposition process with a high purity titanium sputtering target. TiO2-PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers and PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers were fabricated for ammonia gas sensing. The ammonia sensing behaviors of the sensors were examined at room temperature. All the results indicated that the ammonia sensing property of TiO2-PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers was superior to that of PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers. TiO2-PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers had good selectivity to ammonia. It was also found that the content of TiO2 had a great influence on both the morphology and the sensing property of TiO2-PANI/PA6 composite nanofibers.
Geosensor Data Representation Using Layered Slope Grids
Authors: Lee Yongmi , Jung Young , Nam Kwang , Nittel Silvia , Beard Kate , Ryu Keun
Published: December 2012

Environmental monitoring applications are designed for supplying derived and often integrated information by tracking and analyzing phenomena. To determine the condition of a target place, they employ a geosensor network to get the heterogeneous sensor data. To effectively handle a large volume of sensor data, applications need a data abstraction model, which supports the summarized data representation by encapsulating raw data. For faster data processing to answer a user’s queries with representative attributes of an abstracted model, we propose such a data abstraction model, the Layered Slopes in Grid for Sensor Data Abstraction (LSGSA), which is based on the SGSA. In a single grid-based layer for each sensor type, collected data is represented by slope directional vectors in two layered slopes, such as height and surface. To answer a user query in a central monitoring server, LSGSA is used to reduce the time needed to extract event features from raw sensor data as a preprocessing step for interpreting the observed data. The extracted features are used to understand the current data trends and the progress of a detected phenomenon without accessing raw sensor data.
Prototypes of Newly Conceived Inorganic and Biological Sensors for Health and Environmental Applications
Authors: Nicolini Claudio , Adami Manuela , Sartore Marco , Bragazzi Nicola , Bavastrello Valter , Spera Rosanna , Pechkova Eugenia
Published: December 2012

This paper describes the optimal implementation of three newly conceived sensors for both health and environmental applications, utilizing a wide range of detection methods and complex nanocomposites. The first one is inorganic and based on matrices of calcium oxide, the second is based on protein arrays and a third one is based on Langmuir-Blodgett laccase multi-layers. Special attention was paid to detecting substances significant to the environment (such as carbon dioxide) and medicine (drug administration, cancer diagnosis and prognosis) by means of amperometric, quartz crystal microbalance with frequency (QCM_F) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM_D) technologies. The resulting three implemented nanosensors are described here along with proofs of principle and their corresponding applications.
Prioritized Degree Distribution in Wireless Sensor Networks with a Network Coded Data Collection Method
Authors: Wan Jan , Xiong Naixue , Zhang Wei , Zhang Qinchao , Wan Zheng
Published: December 2012

The reliability of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be greatly affected by failures of sensor nodes due to energy exhaustion or the influence of brutal external environment conditions. Such failures seriously affect the data persistence and collection efficiency. Strategies based on network coding technology for WSNs such as LTCDS can improve the data persistence without mass redundancy. However, due to the bad intermediate performance of LTCDS, a serious ‘cliff effect’ may appear during the decoding period, and source data are hard to recover from sink nodes before sufficient encoded packets are collected. In this paper, the influence of coding degree distribution strategy on the ‘cliff effect’ is observed and the prioritized data storage and dissemination algorithm PLTD-ALPHA is presented to achieve better data persistence and recovering performance. With PLTD-ALPHA, the data in sensor network nodes present a trend that their degree distribution increases along with the degree level predefined, and the persistent data packets can be submitted to the sink node according to its degree in order. Finally, the performance of PLTD-ALPHA is evaluated and experiment results show that PLTD-ALPHA can greatly improve the data collection performance and decoding efficiency, while data persistence is not notably affected.
A Hybrid Smartphone Indoor Positioning Solution for Mobile LBS
Authors: Liu Jingbin , Chen Ruizhi , Pei Ling , Guinness Robert , Kuusniemi Heidi
Published: December 2012

Smartphone positioning is an enabling technology used to create new business in the navigation and mobile location-based services (LBS) industries. This paper presents a smartphone indoor positioning engine named HIPE that can be easily integrated with mobile LBS. HIPE is a hybrid solution that fuses measurements of smartphone sensors with wireless signals. The smartphone sensors are used to measure the user’s motion dynamics information (MDI), which represent the spatial correlation of various locations. Two algorithms based on hidden Markov model (HMM) problems, the grid-based filter and the Viterbi algorithm, are used in this paper as the central processor for data fusion to resolve the position estimates, and these algorithms are applicable for different applications, e.g., real-time navigation and location tracking, respectively. HIPE is more widely applicable for various motion scenarios than solutions proposed in previous studies because it uses no deterministic motion models, which have been commonly used in previous works. The experimental results showed that HIPE can provide adequate positioning accuracy and robustness for different scenarios of MDI combinations. HIPE is a cost-efficient solution, and it can work flexibly with different smartphone platforms, which may have different types of sensors available for the measurement of MDI data. The reliability of the positioning solution was found to increase with increasing precision of the MDI data.
A Task-based Support Architecture for Developing Point-of-care Clinical Decision Support Systems for the Emergency Department
Authors: Michalowski W. , O’Sullivan D. , Farion K. , Sayyad-Shirabad J. , Kuziemsky C. , Kukawka B. , Wilk S.
Published: December 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to create a task-based support architecture for developing clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) that assist physicians in making decisions at the point-of-care in the emergency department (ED). The backbone of the proposed architecture was established by a task-based emergency workflow model for a patient-physician encounter.

Methods: The architecture was designed according to an agent-oriented paradigm. Specifically, we used the O-MaSE (Organization-based Multi-agent System Engineering) method that allows for iterative translation of functional requirements into architectural components (e.g., agents). The agent-oriented paradigm was extended with ontology-driven design to implement ontological models representing knowledge required by specific agents to operate.

Results: The task-based architecture allows for the creation of a CDSS that is aligned with the task-based emergency workflow model. It facilitates decoupling of executable components (agents) from embedded domain knowledge (ontological models), thus supporting their interoperability, sharing, and reuse. The generic architecture was implemented as a pilot system, MET3-AE – a CDSS to help with the management of pediatric asthma exacerbation in the ED. The system was evaluated in a hospital ED.

Conclusions: The architecture allows for the creation of a CDSS that integrates support for all tasks from the task-based emergency workflow model, and interacts with hospital information systems. Proposed architecture also allows for reusing and sharing system components and knowledge across disease-specific CDSSs.
Parent Hearing Aid Experiences in the United States
Authors: Muñoz Karen , Blaiser Kristina , Barwick Karianne
Published: December 2012

Background:Children born with permanent hearing loss have the opportunity to receive services earlier as a result of newborn hearing screening (NHS). We conducted a survey to address three aspects within the early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) process: (1) timeliness
of service delivery, (2) hearing device access, and (3) hearing aid management. Parent experiences provide valuable information in identifying existing challenges for these components of the EHDI system.Purpose:The aim was to investigate parent experiences as they access and manage
hearing aids for their child.Research Design:A cross-sectional, population-based survey was used.Study Sample:Three hundred fifty-two completed surveys from parents of children born between 1977 and 2010 were returned from 45 states in the United States.Data Collection and
Analysis:Responses were obtained online and through the mail, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:Over time, the age of hearing loss identification has decreased to a median of 2 mo, age of first hearing aid fitting has decreased to a median of 5 mo, and the delay
between hearing loss identification and hearing aid fitting has remained the same with a median of 2 mo. For children born between 2007 and 2010, the top three challenges parents reported in obtaining hearing aids were (1) paying for hearing aids, (2) accepting the need for hearing aids, and
(3) wait time for an appointment. Almost one-half (48%) of the parents reported that they did not receive adequate support from their audiologist in how to check the function of their child's hearing aids.Conclusions:Significant progress has been made over the past two decades in reducing
the age of hearing loss identification and hearing aid fitting for children who do not pass the NHS. However, many children continue to experience delays between hearing loss diagnosis and hearing aid fitting that exceed Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommendations. The experiences parents
reported provide valuable information about areas that need further investigation to improve the process for children with hearing loss.
Cortical Encoding of Timbre Changes in Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Zhang Fawen , Benson Chelsea , J. Cahn Steven
Published: December 2012

Background:Most cochlear implant (CI) users describe music as a noise-like and unpleasant sound. Using behavioral tests, most prior studies have shown that perception of pitch-based melody and timbre is poor in CI users.Purpose:This article will focus on cortical encoding
of timbre changes in CI users, which may allow us to find solutions to further improve CI benefits. Furthermore, the value of using objective measures to reveal neural encoding of timbre changes may be reflected in this study.Research Design:A case-control study of the mismatch negativity
(MMN) using electrophysiological technique was conducted. To derive MMNs, three randomly arranged oddball paradigms consisting of standard/deviant instrumental pairs: saxophone/piano, cello/trombone, and flute/French horn, respectively, were presented.Study Sample:Ten CI users and ten
normal-hearing (NH) listeners participated in this study.Data Collection and Analysis:After filtering, epoching, and baseline correction, independent component analysis (ICA) was performed to remove artifacts. The averaged waveforms in response to the standard stimuli (STANDARD waveform)
and the deviant stimuli (DEVIANT waveform) in each condition were separately derived. The responses from nine electrodes in the fronto-central area were averaged to form one waveform. The STANDARD waveform was subtracted from the DEVIANT waveform to derive the difference waveform, for which
the MMN was judged to be present or absent. The measures used to evaluate the MMN included the MMN peak latency and amplitude as well as MMN duration.Results:The MMN, which reflects the ability to automatically detect acoustic changes, was present in all NH listeners but only approximately
half of CI users. In CI users with present MMNs, the MMN peak amplitude and duration were significantly smaller and shorter compared to those in NH listeners.Conclusions:Our electrophysiological results were consistent with prior behavioral results that CI users' performance in timbre
perception was significantly poorer than that in NH listeners. Our results may suggest that timbre information is poorly registered in the auditory cortex of CI users and the capability of automatic detection of timbre changes is degraded in CI users. Although there are some limitations of
the MMN in CI users, along with other objective auditory evoked potential tools, the MMN may be a useful objective tool to indicate the extent of sound registration in auditory cortex in the future efforts of improving CI design and speech strategy.
Efficacy of Hearing-Aid Based Telephone Strategies for Listeners with Moderate-to-Severe Hearing Loss
Authors: Picou Erin M. , Ricketts Todd A.
Published: December 2012

Background:Understanding speech over the telephone when listening in noisy environments may present a significant challenge for listeners with moderate-to-severe hearing loss.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to compare speech recognition and subjective ratings across
several hearing aid-based telephone listening strategies for individuals with moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss.Research Design:Speech recognition and subjective ratings were evaluated for a simulated telephone signal. The strategies evaluated included acoustic telephone,
unilateral telecoil, unilateral wireless streaming, and bilateral wireless streaming. Participants were seated in a noisy room for all evaluations.Study Sample:Eighteen adults, aged 49‐88 yr, with moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss participated.Data Collection and
Analysis:Speech recognition scores on the Connected Speech Test were converted to rationalized arcsine units and analyzed using analysis of variance testing and Tukey post hoc analyses. Subjective ratings of ease and comfort were also analyzed in this manner.Results:Speech recognition
performance was poorest with acoustic coupling to the telephone and best with bilateral wireless routing. Telecoil coupling resulted in better speech recognition performance than acoustic coupling, but was significantly poorer than bilateral wireless routing. Furthermore, unilateral wireless
routing and telecoil coupling generally led to similar speech recognition performance, except in lower-level background noise conditions, for which unilateral routing resulted in better performance than the telecoil.Conclusions:For people with moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing
loss, acoustic telephone listening with a hearing aid may not lead to acceptable performance in noise. Although unilateral routing options (telecoil and wireless streaming) improved performance, speech recognition performance and subjective ratings of ease and comfort were best when bilateral
wireless routing was used. These results suggest that wireless routing is a potentially beneficial telephone listening strategy for listeners with moderate-to-severe hearing loss who are fitted with limited venting if the telephone signal is routed to both ears. Unilateral wireless routing
may provide similar benefits to traditional unilateral telecoil. However, the newer wireless systems may have the advantage for some listeners in that they do not include some of the positioning constraints associated with telecoil use.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): An Invaluable Tool in Translational Neuroscience
Authors: Whitten Lori
Published: December 2012

The sophisticated methods of neuroscience—including molecular genetics, structural and functional neuroimaging, animal models, and experimental tasks that approximate real-world behaviors in human research—have yielded important insights about typical functioning and neurobehavioral disorders. Translational neuroscience endeavors to use this knowledge to improve the human condition by developing and improving interventions for these disorders. This paper reviews the literature on the contribution of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and two related techniques, resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) and real-time fMRI (rt-fMRI), to the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. It also explains how incorporating neuroscience principles and techniques into research on the prevention of substance misuse and antisocial behavior may spur advances and innovations in this important area. This article argues that fMRI’s potential contribution to these prevention efforts has yet to be fully realized, explores new ways in which the technique could be adapted to that end, highlights some of the work by researchers in the vanguard of this effort, and notes limitations of fMRI and ethical concerns the technique raises.
Genomic Selection in Wheat Breeding using Genotyping‐by‐Sequencing
Authors: Poland Jesse , Endelman Jeffrey , Dawson Julie , Rutkoski Jessica , Wu Shuangye , Manes Yann , Dreisigacker Susanne , Crossa José , Sánchez‐Villeda Héctor , Sorrells Mark , Jannink Jean‐Luc
Published: December 2012

Genomic selection (GS) uses genomewide molecular markers to predict breeding values and make selections of individuals or breeding lines prior to phenotyping. Here we show that genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) can be used for de novo genotyping of breeding panels and to develop accurate GS models, even for the large, complex, and polyploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genome. With GBS we discovered 41,371 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a set of 254 advanced breeding lines from CIMMYT's semiarid wheat breeding program. Four different methods were evaluated for imputing missing marker scores in this set of unmapped markers, including random forest regression and a newly developed multivariate‐normal expectation‐maximization algorithm, which gave more accurate imputation than heterozygous or mean imputation at the marker level, although no significant differences were observed in the accuracy of genomic‐estimated breeding values (GEBVs) among imputation methods. Genomic‐estimated breeding value prediction accuracies with GBS were 0.28 to 0.45 for grain yield, an improvement of 0.1 to 0.2 over an established marker platform for wheat. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing combines marker discovery and genotyping of large populations, making it an excellent marker platform for breeding applications even in the absence of a reference genome sequence or previous polymorphism discovery. In addition, the flexibility and low cost of GBS make this an ideal approach for genomics‐assisted breeding.
Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Oil Content, Oil Composition, and Other Agronomically Important Traits in Oat
Authors: Hizbai Biniam T. , Gardner K. M. , Wight C. P. , Dhanda R. K. , Molnar S. J. , Johnson D. , Frégeau‐Reid J. , Yan W. , Rossnagel B. G. , Holland J. B. , Tinker N. A.
Published: December 2012

Groat oil content and composition are important determinants of oat (Avena sativa L.) quality. We investigated these traits in a population of 146 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between ‘Dal’ (high oil) and ‘Exeter’ (low oil). A linkage map consisting of 475 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers spanning 1271.8 cM across 40 linkage groups was constructed. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for groat oil content and composition was conducted using grain samples grown at Aberdeen, ID, in 1997. Quantitative trait locus analysis for multiple agronomic traits was also conducted using data collected from hill plots and field plots in Ottawa, ON, in 2010. Using simple and composite interval mapping methods, QTLs for oil content, palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), and linolenic acid (18:3) were identified. Two of the loci associated with oil content were associated with all of the fatty acids examined in this study, and most oil‐related QTL showed similar patterns of effect on the fatty acid profile. These results suggest the presence of pleiotropic effects on oil‐related traits through influences at specific nodes of the oil synthesis pathway. In addition, 12 QTL‐associated markers (likely representing nine unique regions) were associated with plant height, heading date, lodging, and protein content.
Patient Preferences for Hepatitis B Therapy
Authors: Lim Seng Gee , Aung Myat Oo , Chung Stephanie WM , Soon Charlene SL , Mak Belinda HN , Lee Keat Hong
Published: December 2012

Background

Little is known about patient preferences for selection of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment. This issue is important as it affects the therapeutic choices available for patients and, in the long term, the health of CHB patients.

Methods

The study was a questionnaire-led survey directed at patients attending a CHB follow-up clinic. Patients were asked questions regarding their knowledge on CHB treatment, preferred route and frequency of administration, duration of treatment, cost, adverse events, viral resistance, efficacy and whether treatment options were discussed with doctors. Patients were also asked to rank their priorities when selecting treatment for CHB. In addition, a summary of the profile of current agents was shown to patients who were then asked to select their preferred therapy. Finally, patients were asked questions regarding their willingness to pay for CHB treatment and expectations of treatment. Questionnaires were self-administered and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 10.0).

Results

Lamivudine was the best-known drug among patients. Only 30% of patients were treatment-naive. Most patients preferred oral therapy with once-daily dosing and a fixed duration of treatment. Drug efficacy was considered the most important factor in drug selection. When shown the profile of the different drugs available for the treatment of CHB, entecavir was the preferred choice of therapy. The majority of patients were willing to spend no more than S$10 (USD 8) daily for therapy with expectation of cure for their disease. Overall, 92% of patients would follow doctor's recommendations.

Conclusions

Patients’ preferences are important in evaluating drug selection for CHB.
Plasma Concentrations of Efavirenz with a 600 Mg Standard Dose in Cambodian HIV-Infected Adults Treated for Tuberculosis with a Body Weight above 50 Kg
Authors: Borand Laurence , Laureillard Didier , Madec Yoann , Chou Monidarin , Pheng Phearavin , Marcy Olivier , Sok Thim , Goldfeld Anne E , Taburet Anne-Marie , Blanc François-Xavier ,   the CAMELIA (ANRS 1295-CIPRA KH001) study team
Published: December 2012

Background

The optimal dose of efavirenz for HIV-infected patients receiving a tuberculosis regimen including rifampicin remains debated, especially for subjects weighing over 50 kg. To address this issue, we measured plasma efavirenz concentrations from Cambodian adults with tuberculosis enrolled in the CAMELIA randomized trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01300481) 6 weeks after the onset of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

Efavirenz concentrations and proportions of patients with concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml were compared across patient body weight below or above 50 kg using a Student's t-test and a c2 test, respectively. Factors associated with efavirenz concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml were identified by logistic regression analysis. Logistic regression analysis was also performed to check if efavirenz concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml were associated with virological failure.

Results

Plasma efavirenz concentrations were higher in the 332 patients who weighed <50 kg compared with the 150 who weighed ≥50 kg (median [IQR] 2,859 [1,787–4,749] and 2,060 [1,425–3,575] ng/ml, respectively; P=0.02). However, the proportion of patients with efavirenz concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml was not different between those weighing less than or more than 50 kg (6% and 10%, respectively; P=0.13) and a body weight above 50 kg was not associated with a higher risk of plasma efavirenz concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml. When plasma efavirenz concentrations below 1,000 ng/ml were present, they were not associated with virological failure.

Conclusions

The current WHO guidelines recommending 600 mg efavirenz daily irrespective of patient's body weight remains a safe and effective approach to treating coinfected adults needing simultaneous tuberculosis and HIV therapy.
La sociologie de l'éducation comme histoire du présent : fabrication, différence et abjection
Authors: Popkewitz Thomas S.
Published: December 2012

Résumé À travers l’exemple de travaux sur la jeunesse, dans le monde anglophone aux États-Unis et en Europe, l’auteur interroge la fabrication par les sciences de l’éducation de types d’humanité, de fictions sur les individus, de production d’individus comme théories, programmes ou actions qui doivent assurer leur développement. Il ne s’agit plus de traiter ces études comme des données et des faits établis, bases d’explication, mais de les considérer comme un événement, une façon de penser et d’agir observable et située historiquement, en croisant des approches historiques, discursives et ethnographiques des réformes scolaires et des sciences de l’éducation. L’analyse de l’élaboration de types d’humanité comme technologie de gouvernement montre les méthodes de fabrication d’un sujet calculable et administrable qui peuvent produire une inégalité au nom même du gouvernement de l’égalité. La recherche génère des thèses sur les possibilités de vie et ces principes “abjectent”, rejettent les individus dans des espaces invivables. Cette approche est stratégique pour une science sociale critique, à l’intersection de l’histoire, de la philosophie, des études politiques et culturelles, inspirées de la littérature française importée aux États-Unis, remettant en cause ses traditions de philosophie analytique et de structuralisme social.