bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age dependence of mineral dissolution and precipitation rates
Authors: Reeves Daniel , Rothman Daniel H.
Published: August 2013

Understanding the rates of weathering, and more generally dissolution and precipitation in porous materials, is important for many applications including modeling the global carbon cycle and predicting short‐term and long‐term behavior in subsurface carbon sequestration sites. However, interpretation of the rates remains elusive as they have been observed to vary with location, measurement procedure, and time. We argue that the mechanisms responsible for the apparent aging in the rates, or gradual decrease over time, can be partially determined by noting which measure of time best characterizes the dependence. If the rate is best described as a function of residence time, then hydraulic and transport limitations are responsible for the variations. If reaction age is a better independent variable, then limitations in the chemical reaction at the fluid‐mineral interface are responsible. We discuss several mechanisms in each category and construct mathematical models that demonstrate quantitatively how they affect time variation in reaction rates. These include nonlinear kinetics, disordered kinetics, and a reprecipitation model that accounts for the limited access to the bulk of a dissolving solid. We apply the reprecipitation model to the development of the isotopic composition of porous solids to derive an apparent rate constant that decays with inverse time, similar to that calculated for diagenesis in deep‐sea sediments. This paper provides a theoretical framework for understanding the changing and varied dissolution and precipitation rates measured in the laboratory and in nature, and provides testable quantitative models that capture the aging effect.
Glucose Sensing O-GlcNAcylation Pathway Regulates the Nuclear Bile Acid Receptor Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR)
Authors: Berrabah Wahiba , Aumercier Pierrette , Gheeraert Céline , Dehondt Hélène , Bouchaert Emmanuel , Alexandre Jérémy , Ploton Maheul , Mazuy Claire , Caron Sandrine , Tailleux Anne , Eeckhoute Jérôme , Lefebvre Tony , Staels Bart , Lefebvre Philippe
Published: August 2013

Bile acid metabolism is intimately linked to the control of energy homeostasis and glucose and lipid metabolism. The nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a major role in the enterohepatic cycling of bile acids, but the impact of nutrients on bile acid homeostasis is poorly characterized. Metabolically active hepatocytes cope with increases in intracellular glucose concentrations by directing glucose into storage (glycogen) or oxidation (glycolysis) pathways, as well as to the pentose phosphate shunt and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. Here we studied whether the glucose nonoxidative hexosamine biosynthetic pathway modulates FXR activity. Our results show that FXR interacts with and is O-GlcNAcylated by O-GlcNAc transferase in its N-terminal AF1 domain. Increased FXR O-GlcNAcylation enhances FXR gene expression and protein stability in a cell type-specific manner. High glucose concentrations increased FXR O-GlcNAcylation, hence its protein stability and transcriptional activity by inactivating corepressor complexes, which associate in a ligand-dependent manner with FXR, and increased FXR binding to chromatin. Finally,

in vivo

fasting-refeeding experiments show that FXR undergoes O-GlcNAcylation in fed conditions associated with increased direct FXR target gene expression and decreased liver bile acid content.

Conclusion :

FXR activity is regulated by glucose fluxes in hepatocytes through a direct posttranslational modification catalyzed by the glucose-sensing hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. (Hepatology 2014;59:2022–2033)
Depth extent of the long‐term slow slip event in the Tokai district, central Japan: A new insight
Authors: Ochi Tadafumi , Kato Teruyuki
Published: August 2013

Temporal changes to interplate coupling and long‐term aseismic slip in the Tokai Region of central Japan from July 1996 to June 2009 are statically inverted using continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) data and leveling observations, and examined using a new interpretation of aseismic slip. In this interpretation, the interplate coupling and the aseismic slip should be inferred and compared with reference to a state of no coupling on the plate interface rather than assuming steady state interplate coupling before the occurrence of the aseismic event as previous works have done. For this purpose, we used original time series data without subtracting any linear trends. The inferred distribution shows that the entire period can be divided into three subperiods based on the existence of the aseismic slip area from 2000 to 2005. The strength of the interplate coupling does not change throughout the observed period even though the distribution narrows along the dip direction after the aseismic slip terminates. The aseismic slip area inferred in this study, based on the no‐coupling reference, was determined to be deeper than the area where the long‐term slow slip event (SSE), defined as the slip corresponding to the residual displacement from the steady state, was hypothesized to have occurred in numerous previous studies. The total seismic moment released by the aseismic slip is equivalent to a Mw∼6.6 earthquake while the SSE in previous works was considered to be equivalent to a Mw∼7.0 to 7.1 earthquake. This difference can be attributed primarily to the effects on the interplate coupling, which previous studies did not take into account when defining the SSE. The aseismic slip area coincides well with the distribution of other types of plate interactions, such as short‐term slow slip events and low‐frequency earthquakes.
Assessing Your Leadership Style to Achieve Organizational Objectives
Authors: Rubin Eileen Newman
Published: August 2013

Research has shown that there are more than 30 differently named leadership styles, ranging from micro‐management to hands‐off, each with its own proponents. Six, however, stand out as most commonly found in business: authoritarian, democratic, transformational, laissez‐faire, servant, and situational. A review of the experiences of six leaders who embody these styles reveals that each mode of operating has its pros and cons; there is no single best approach. Being aware of one's leadership style and that of others makes it possible to leverage strengths and compensate for weaknesses and to properly match individuals to a particular role or task—for the good of the entire organization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Multivariate Curve Resolution Approach to the Study of the Degradation Kinetics of Valsartan under Photolytic and Acid Conditions
Authors: Bianchini Romina M. , Kaufman Teodoro S.
Published: August 2013

The analysis of UV‐spectrophotometric data with second‐order chemometrics techniques, including multivariate curve resolution with alternating least‐squares (MCR‐ALS) and hybrid hard‐ and soft MCR (HS‐MCR), was examined as an alternative tool for studying the kinetics of drug degradation under stress conditions, employing valsartan (VAL) as a model drug. Despite small structural and spectroscopic differences between VAL and its degradation products, MCR‐ALS and HS‐MCR were able to detect the generation of two photoneutral degradation products (DP‐1 and DP‐2) and a single acid hydrolysis product (DP‐3), providing good approximations to their pure spectra and concentration profiles, from which estimations of the kinetic profiles and rate constants were obtained. Kinetic models based on first‐order reactions explained the degradation processes. MCR‐ALS and HS‐MCR analyses yielded similar rate constants; however, the latter was capable of more properly fitting the experimental data to a kinetic model in the case of drug photolysis. The results were confirmed by comparison with data obtained by HPLC analysis of the degraded samples.
Summary of Existing Models of the Ni‐P Coating Electroless Deposition Process
Authors: Stankiewicz A. , Szczygieł I. , Szczygieł B.
Published: August 2013

Electroless nickel‐phosphorous plating is a technique often employed in preparation of protective, decorative, and functional coatings. Several feasible mechanisms are discussed in the literature. The influence of process parameters on metal coating deposition is analyzed and described. Nevertheless, some basics of the process and the fundamental aspects of plating still not explained. A number of research groups make an effort to provide a description of the process with a physical model. The aim is to design a theoretical model that could be valid under operating conditions on a practical scale. This work gives a short review of the published data on the mechanism and kinetics of the electroless Ni‐P deposition process. The review also touches a novel approach—proposition to analyze data using artificial intelligence tools.
Nitrogen regulation of protein–protein interactions and transcript levels of GlnK PII regulator and AmtB ammonium transporter homologs in Archaea
Authors: Pedro‐Roig Laia , Lange Christian , Bonete María José , Soppa Jörg , Maupin‐Furlow Julie
Published: August 2013

Gene homologs of GlnK PII regulators and AmtB‐type ammonium transporters are often paired on prokaryotic genomes, suggesting these proteins share an ancient functional relationship. Here, we demonstrate for the first time in Archaea that GlnK associates with AmtB in membrane fractions after ammonium shock, thus, providing a further insight into GlnK‐AmtB as an ancient nitrogen sensor pair. For this work, Haloferax mediterranei was advanced for study through the generation of a pyrE2‐based counterselection system that was used for targeted gene deletion and expression of Flag‐tagged proteins from their native promoters. AmtB1‐Flag was detected in membrane fractions of cells grown on nitrate and was found to coimmunoprecipitate with GlnK after ammonium shock. Thus, in analogy to bacteria, the archaeal GlnK PII may block the AmtB1 ammonium transporter under nitrogen‐rich conditions. In addition to this regulated protein–protein interaction, the archaeal amtB‐glnK gene pairs were found to be highly regulated by nitrogen availability with transcript levels high under conditions of nitrogen limitation and low during nitrogen excess. While transcript levels of glnK‐amtB are similarly regulated by nitrogen availability in bacteria, transcriptional regulators of the bacterial glnK promoter including activation by the two‐component signal transduction proteins NtrC (GlnG, NRI) and NtrB (GlnL, NRII) and sigma factor σN (σ54) are not conserved in archaea suggesting a novel mechanism of transcriptional control.
Risk of severe and refractory postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing diep flap breast reconstruction
Authors: Manahan Michele A. , Basdag Basak , Kalmar Christopher L. , Shridharani Sachin M. , Magarakis Michael , Jacobs Lisa K. , Thomsen Robert W. , Rosson Gedge D.
Published: August 2013

Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are commonly feared after general anesthesia and can impact results. The primary aim of our study was to examine incidence and severity of PONV by investigating complete response, or absence of PONV, to prophylaxis used in patients undergoing DIEP flaps. Our secondary aims were definition of the magnitude of risk, state of the art of interventions, clinical sequelae of PONV, and interaction between these variables, specifically for DIEP patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review occurred for 29 patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction from September 2007 to February 2008. We assessed known patient and procedure‐specific risks for PONV after DIEPs, prophylactic antiemetic regimens, incidence, and severity of PONV, postoperative antiemetic rescues, and effects of risks and treatments on symptoms.

Results

Three or more established risks existed in all patients, with up to seven risks per patient. Although 90% of patients received diverse prophylaxis, 76% of patients experienced PONV, and 66% experienced its severe form, emesis. Early PONV (73%) was frequent; symptoms were long lasting (average 20 hours for nausea and emesis); and multiple rescue medications were frequently required (55% for nausea, 58% for emesis). Length of surgery and nonsmoking statistically significantly impacted PONV.

Conclusion

We identify previously undocumented high risks for PONV in DIEP patients. High frequency, severity, and refractoriness of PONV occur despite standard prophylaxis. Plastic surgeons and anesthesiologists should further investigate methods to optimize PONV prophylaxis and treatment in DIEP flap patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:112–121, 2014.
Wage Inequality and Performance in Nonprofit and For‐Profit Organizations
Authors: Hamann Darla J. , Ren Ting
Published: August 2013

This article examines the effects of several forms of wage inequality on service quality and employee effort. We suggest that two popular theories, tournament and fair wage/equity, are not necessarily competing. Each theory accurately describes aspects of employee behavior, but because of sectoral differences in organizational objectives and employee attitudes, tournament theory's predictions are relatively stronger in the for‐profit sector, while fair wage/equity theory's predictions are relatively stronger in the nonprofit sector. Using an employer–employee matched data set of nursing homes linked to a federal regulatory database and a resident survey, we found that ownership moderates the relationship between wage inequality and service quality. Although wage inequality positively affects service quality in the for‐profit sector, the reverse is true among nonprofit organizations. We also found that overall wage inequality in the workplace has a more pronounced influence on employee discretionary effort than does the employee's place in the distribution of wages.
Size Control of Porous Silicon Nanoparticles by Electrochemical Perforation Etching
Authors: Qin Zhengtao , Joo Jinmyoung , Gu Luo , Sailor Michael J.
Published: August 2013

Size‐controlled porous silicon‐based nanoparticles are prepared by pulsed electrochemical etching of single crystal silicon wafers, followed by ultrasonic fracture of the freestanding porous layer. When high‐current density pulses are applied periodically during the porous layer etching process, a porous multilayer results in which porous layers are separated by thin layers of much higher porosity. Ultrasonic fracture selectively cleaves the porous film along these high‐porosity perforations, providing greater size control and improved yields (by 5x) of the resulting porous nanoparticles. The effect of pulse width and repetition rate is systematically studied: tunability of the average nanoparticle size in the range 160–350 nm is demonstrated.
Flexible docking and refinement with a coarse‐grained protein model using ATTRACT
Authors: de Vries Sjoerd , Zacharias Martin
Published: August 2013

A coarse‐grained (CG) protein model implemented in the ATTRACT protein–protein docking program has been employed to predict protein–protein complex structures in CAPRI Rounds 22–27. For six targets, acceptable or better quality solutions have been submitted corresponding to ∼60% of all targets. For one target, promising results on the prediction of the hydration structure at the protein–protein interface have been achieved. New approaches for the rapid flexible refinement have been developed based on a combination of atomistic representation of the bonded geometry and a CG description of nonbonded interactions. Possible further improvements of the docking approach in particular at the scoring and the flexible refinement steps are discussed. Proteins 2013; 81:2167–2174. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrochemical oxidation of sulphamerazine at boron‐doped diamond electrodes: Influence of boron concentration
Authors: Fabiańska Aleksandra , Bogdanowicz Robert , Zięba Patrycja , Ossowski Tadeusz , Gnyba Marcin , Ryl Jacek , Zielinski Artur , Janssens Stoffel D. , Haenen Ken , Siedlecka Ewa M.
Published: August 2013

The boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrodes with different boron concentrations have been tested as electrode material for sulphamerazine (SRM) oxidation in water solution. An investigation of the electrode morphology and molecular structure was carried out using high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical results showed clearly that the kinetics and efficiency of sulphonamide oxidation were dependent on the amount of boron incorporated in a diamond film. The mechanism of sulphonamide oxidation was also analysed by cycle voltammograms and by identifying oxidative species (•OH radicals) which take part in the degradation process. The aging of the material during the operation was also studied.
Afterglow and thermoluminescence properties in HPHT diamond crystals under beta irradiation
Authors: Chernov V. , Meléndrez R. , Gastélum S. , Pedroza‐Montero M. , Piters T. , Preciado‐Flores S. , Barboza‐Flores M.
Published: August 2013

The behaviour of afterglow (AG) and thermoluminescence (TL) in nine beta‐irradiated HPHT Ib type diamond crystals is presented. The transparent yellow synthetic crystals (Sumicrystal, UP‐3510) were purchased from ProDiamond, Germany. Immediately after irradiation, the crystals exhibit pronounced AG (phosphorescence) caused by thermal emptying of the traps responsible for the low temperature TL peaks. All AG decay curves are well fitted with the sum of one, two or three exponential decays with the same decay lifetimes of 6.73, 12.8 and 145 s for the fast, medium and slow decay components, respectively. Two different groups of AG decay curves can be distinguished. The first group (three crystals) exhibits intense AG related to fast emptying of some shallow traps. The initial AG intensity of other crystals (second group) is 2–3 order lower than those of the first group crystals. This difference is due to the absence (or very low intensity) of the shallow traps in these crystals. TL glow curves consist of two sets of peaks. The first one with peak maxima at about 50, 70, 180 and 280 °C has high sensitivity but saturates at doses higher 1 Gy. The second set looks like several strongly overlapped TL peaks that exhibit linear–sublinear behaviour. The intensity of the TL peaks of the second set correlates with the intensity of TL below 100 °C.

TL glow curves recorded immediately after beta irradiation with indicated doses; the initial part of the curves (below 30 °C) corresponds to AG at room temperature. The inset shows the dose growth of integrated TL between 30 and 330 °C.
Identification of intra‐grain and grain boundary defects in polycrystalline Si thin films by electron paramagnetic resonance
Authors: Sontheimer Tobias , Schnegg Alexander , Steffens Simon , Ruske Florian , Amkreutz Daniel , Lips Klaus , Rech Bernd
Published: August 2013

We investigate the characteristics of intra‐grain and grain boundary defects in polycrystalline Si films, by employing quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on liquid phase crystallized layers with an average grain size of 200 µm and tailored solid phase crystallized Si layers with similar intra‐grain morphology but systematically varied grain sizes between 0.25 µm and 1 µm. The defect characteristics are found to be composed of two distinctive g ‐values of g = 2.0055 and 2.0032, which are attributed to grain boundary defects and intra‐grain defects, respectively. Additional hydrogenation leads to a reduction of the overall defect concentration, while a rapid thermal annealing process primarily heals intra‐grain defects.

magnified image

(© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Lightweight key management on sensitive data in the cloud
Authors: Cui Zongmin , Zhu Hong , Chi Lianhua
Published: August 2013

As cloud servers may not be trusted, sensitive data have to be transmitted and stored in an encrypted form. Major challenges for users are from the management (storage, update, protection, backup, and recoverability) of keys that can help users to decrypt authorized data available on the servers. In this paper, we propose a versatile approach for extremely lightweight key management, which is one of the most basic security tasks in cloud systems. In the multiple data owners scenario, each user only needs to manage a single key by our approach. With the help of the single key and a set of public information stored on the server, users can decrypt all authorized data from different data owners. Specifically, our paper proposes a novel access control model, proves the correctness and security, and analyzes the complexity of the model. Experimental results show that our approach significantly outperforms the single‐layer derivation encryption and double‐layer derivation encryption on the lightweight performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secure socket layer certificate verification: a learning automata approach
Authors: Krishna P. Venkata , Misra Sudip , Joshi Dheeraj , Gupta Anant , Obaidat Mohammad S.
Published: August 2013

With the rapid evolution of the Internet, security has become a major area of concern and, consequently, an interesting research area. Different applications transmit sensitive information over the Internet, which creates increased chances for attackers to look into every piece of data, unless it is secured using secure socket layer (SSL) certificate. However, the present SSL certificates too face challenges because of various attacks, and these certificates need to be verified before transmitting information. In this paper, we show how the concepts of learning automata (LA) can be used to verify SSL certificates. The proposed LA‐based system can detect safe or unsafe SSL certificates. The LA reward/penalty scheme is used to build the trust value for SSL certificates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authenticated key exchange with entities from different settings and varied groups
Authors: Guo Yanfei , Zhang Zhenfeng
Published: August 2013

Authenticated key exchange (AKE) is a very important primitive in cryptography. In the last decades, many AKE protocols appeared either in the certificate‐based (cert‐based) setting or in the identity‐based (id‐based) setting. In real applications, entities from different settings may also have the requirement to communicate with each other. Several papers have concentrated on supporting either multiple certification authorities or multiple key generation centers, but very few have considered the interoperability between the two settings. Furthermore, existing approaches are still inadequate in supporting parameters from different algebraic groups.

In this paper, we consider AKE protocols integrating cert‐based and id‐based settings with varied groups. Based on two extract algorithms for id‐based entities, we present two AKE protocols where one entity is cert‐based and the other is id‐based, and the parameters of both entities come from different groups. An extended AKE security model of Chatterjee et al. and Ustaoǧlu [1, 2] is proposed to support multiple certification authorities and multiple key generation centers in which the proposed protocols are proved to be secure. Other variant protocols are also presented. Then, extensions to support forward secrecy and resistance to leakage of both ephemeral keys are provided. Finally, we present a more efficient integrating protocol than existing constructions for users who use the same group. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sacrificial BSA to block non‐specific adsorption on organosilane adlayers in ultra‐high frequency acoustic wave sensing
Authors: Sheikh Sonia , Blaszykowski Christophe , Thompson Michael
Published: August 2013

This follow‐up study describes the implementation of recently developed cross‐linking trichlorosilane surface chemistry with acoustic wave sensing technology for the real‐time and label‐free detection of biotin/avidin interactions. Biosensing platforms consist of unelectroded piezoelectric quartz resonator discs onto which functionalizable mixed organosilane adlayers are prepared using a new trichlorosilane cross‐linker in combination with a shorter monofunctional diluent molecule. Thiolated or aminated biotin probes can next be anchored to the mixed assembly in a single, preactivation‐free step through site‐specific coupling at pentafluorophenyl ester head moieties. Biosensing properties are assessed at ultra‐high frequency (>0.74 GHz) with the highly sensitive electromagnetic piezoelectric acoustic sensor using micromolar buffered solutions of avidin. This biosensor prototype – which generally displays good reproducibility – uses sacrificial bovine serum albumin to block non‐specific adsorption. This preliminary work in buffer constitutes an important step towards the development of real‐world biosensors able to perform with more demanding biological samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polar bear predatory behaviour reveals seascape distribution of ringed seal lairs
Authors: Pilfold Nicholas W. , Derocher Andrew E. , Stirling Ian , Richardson Evan
Published: August 2013

Ringed seal (Pusa hispida) breeding distribution has been extensively studied across near‐shore habitats, but has received limited attention at a seascape scale due to the difficulty in accessing offshore sea ice environments. Employing highly visible predation attempts by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) on ringed seals in subnivean lairs observed by helicopter, the spatial relationship between predatory behaviour and ringed seal breeding habitat was examined. Resource selection functions were used to determine the relative probability of predation attempts on ringed seals in lairs as a function of habitat during a period of low ringed seal natality (2004–2006). Ringed seal pup kill locations were compared between years of low (2003–2006) and high (2007–2011) natality to assess the effect of reproductive output on habitat use. During years of low natality, polar bear hunting attempts were more likely in near‐shore fast ice, and pup kills were observed predominately in fast ice (fast = 65 %, pack = 29 %, P = 0.002) at a median distance of 36 km from shore. In years of high natality, pup kills were observed farther from shore (median = 46 km, P = 0.03), and there was no difference in the proportion of observations in fast ice and pack ice (fast = 43 %, pack = 52 %, P = 0.29). These results suggest that the facultative use of adjacent offshore pack ice by breeding ringed seals may be influenced by natality. This study illustrates how documenting the behaviour of a predator can facilitate insight into the distribution of a cryptic prey.
Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration and short time insemination in the treatment of men with obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Jiang Yan , Cao Qinying , Zhao Xiujun , Li Li , Li Shuxian , Gao Fulu
Published: August 2013

Objective

To study the efficacy of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in combination with short time insemination to treat infertile men with obstructive azoospermia (OA).

Design

Paired randomized controlled trial in which each couple’s cohort of oocytes was divided into two equal groups.

Setting

Center for reproductive care.

Patients

Twenty men with OA.

Interventions

Motile spermatozoa were collected using PESA. Half of the oocytes were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The rest were inseminated briefly with PESA sperm in vitro fertilization (IVF). After 4–5 h, the remaining cumulus cells were removed mechanically for second polar body observation to decide whether to apply “rescue” ICSI (RE-ICSI).

Main outcome measures

Rates of oocyte maturation, fertilization, cleavage, and good quality embryos. Numbers of available embryos and good quality embryos were compared between PESA-IVF (using a short incubation protocol + rescue ICSI) group and PESA-ICSI group.

Results

In the short time insemination group, cumulus cells were dispersed by PESA spermatozoa. No second polar bodies were found, so RE-ICSI was done. PESA-IVF + RE-ICSI and PESA-ICSI outcomes were comparable in terms of fertilization rates, 2PN cleavage rate and good quality embryo rates with no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions

PESA sperm without centrifugation could disperse the cumulus cells but were infertile and therefore could substitute for synthetic hyaluronidase. The outcomes of PESA-IVF with rescue ICSI were equivalent to PESA-ICSI. Using spermatozoa obtained by PESA and IVF before RE-ICIS is a viable treatment for men with OA.
Is a Physician “Provider Tax” the Solution to Michigan's Medicaid Woes?
Authors: Markel David C. , Sauer Peter J. , Blasier Ralph B.
Published: August 2013

Background

Michigan is facing a Medicaid budget shortfall. Evidence suggests that the underlying factors causing reliance on Medicaid and cost of treatment to increase are getting worse. A tax on Michigan physicians has been proposed by legislators to meet the budget demands of Michigan's Medicaid program.

Questions/Purposes

This paper looks at the legal basis of such a tax, studies the successes and failures of other states that have implemented similar taxes, and attempts to assess the effect this tax would have on Michigan doctors and patients.

Conclusion

With current Medicaid rules, such a tax would increase federal matching funds and potentially reimbursement rates. However, the cost of a tax on physicians would not be born equally, and there are no guarantees that the revenue would provide a funding solution.
“On solid ground”: Family and school connectedness promotes adolescents' future orientation
Authors: Crespo Carla , Jose Paul E. , Kielpikowski Magdalena , Pryor Jan
Published: August 2013

The present study investigated the role of connectedness to the family and school contexts on future orientation of New Zealand adolescents. Participants were 1774 young people (51.9% female) aged between 9 and 16 years at time 1 of the study, who reported their connectedness to family and school and their perceptions of future orientation at three times of measurement one year apart. Structural equation modelling was used to test the combined role of family and school connectedness on future orientation over time. Findings supported a multiple mediation model in that adolescents' connectedness to family and school predicted more positive perceptions of future orientation both directly and indirectly via the effect of the context variables on each other.
Interaction with the Yes‐associated protein (YAP) allows TEAD1 to positively regulate NAIP expression
Authors: Landin Malt André , Georges Adrien , Silber Joël , Zider Alain , Flagiello Domenico
Published: August 2013

Although the expression of the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene is considered involved in apoptosis suppression as well as in inflammatory response, the molecular basis of the NAIP gene expression is poorly understood. Here we show that the TEA domain protein 1 (TEAD1) is able to positively activate the transcription of NAIP. We further demonstrate that this regulation is mediated by the presence of the endogenous Yes associated protein (YAP) cofactor, and requires the interaction with YAP. We finally identified an intronic region of the NAIP gene responding to TEAD1/YAP activity, suggesting that regulation of NAIP by TEAD1/YAP is at the transcriptional level.
Nanoparticle self‐assembly by a highly stable recombinant spider wrapping silk protein subunit
Authors: Xu Lingling , Tremblay Marie-Laurence , Orrell Kathleen E. , Leclerc Jérémie , Meng Qing , Liu Xiang-Qin , Rainey Jan K.
Published: August 2013

Artificial spider silk proteins may form fibers with exceptional strength and elasticity. Wrapping silk, or aciniform silk, is the toughest of the spider silks, and has a very different protein composition than other spider silks. Here, we present the characterization of an aciniform protein (AcSp1) subunit named W1, consisting of one AcSp1 199 residue repeat unit from Argiope trifasciata. The structural integrity of recombinant W1 is demonstrated in a variety of buffer conditions and time points. Furthermore, we show that W1 has a high thermal stability with reversible denaturation at ∼71 °C and forms self‐assembled nanoparticle in near‐physiological conditions. W1 therefore represents a highly stable and structurally robust module for protein‐based nanoparticle formation.
Elevated bilirubin after acute ischemic stroke linked to the stroke severity
Authors: Luo Yun , Li Jingwei , Zhang Junfeng , Xu Yun
Published: August 2013

Background

Our previous study demonstrated that the level of serum bilirubin after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) was correlated to the severity of stroke, also there has the evidence of hyperbilirubinemia prevalent in AIS. We aimed to identify the exact change of bilirubin in the early phase of AIS, and study if this kind of change linked to the severity of stroke.

Methods

Bilirubin and other biochemical indexes were measured in 608 AIS patients and 188 transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients which set as the control group. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were assessed simultaneously with blood collection. First, the level of bilirubin and its distribution were compared between the AIS and control group. According to a cut‐off point, we next analyzed the impacted factors of elevated bilirubin including the direct bilirubin (Dbil) and total bilirubin (Tbil), especially the correlation between elevated bilirubin and the severity of stroke. Finally, we compared the difference of concentration and percent of elevated bilirubin among the Oxford Community Stroke Project (OCSP) subtypes.

Results

The level of serum Dbil and Tbil was significantly higher in the AIS group than that in the TIA group. Different distribution was observed between the two groups, which manifested as the percent of low bilirubin level group was lower while high level group was higher in AIS than that in TIA, the p value were 0.043 and 0.078 in Dbil and Tbil, respectively. When the cut‐off point of elevated bilirubin was selected as Dbil ≥ 6.84 μmol/L and Tbil ≥ 22.2 μmol/L, we found that both NIHSS score and relative severity of AIS were significantly associated with elevated bilirubin whenever in Dbil or Tbil, so did the OCSP subtypes. This trend was still maintained by multivariable logistic regression analysis adjust for relative influence factors. In regard of OCSP subtypes, the highest level of bilirubin was found in TACI, so did the highest rate of elevated bilirubin.

Conclusion

The serum levels of Dbil and Tbil were increased after AIS, which linked to the severity of stroke.
Stepping Stones Triple P and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy: Trial Protocol
Authors: Whittingham Koa , Sanders Matthew , McKinlay Lynne , Boyd Roslyn N.
Published: August 2013

This project aims to optimise outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families by testing the efficacy of two complementary interventions novel to the CP population: (1) parenting intervention (Stepping Stones Triple P, SSTP); and (2) parental stress management (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT) tailored for parents of children with CP. The efficacy of SSTP and the additional effects of ACT will be tested in a wait-list randomised controlled trial, with parents of children with CP (N= 110) randomised into three groups; SSTP, SSTP + ACT and wait-list control. Intervention delivery will combine group sessions with phone consultations. Outcomes will be assessed post-intervention with retention of effect examined at 6-month follow-up. Child outcomes will include: externalising behaviour (primary child outcome), functional performance, parent-reported child quality of life; and parent outcomes will include: dysfunctional parenting (primary parent outcome), parental confidence in performing disability-related parenting practices, degree of problems in performing disability-related parenting practices, parental adjustment, psychological flexibility and parental attitude to child emotions. The theoretical background, study design and study procedures are discussed. The validation of a parenting intervention and a parenting stress intervention for parents of children with CP is crucial to better support parents of children with CP in their parenting role and in providing evidence-based intervention for behavioural and emotional problems in children with CP.
A group based smoking cessation pilot programme for community mental health clients in Sydney
Authors: Devine Erin , Khan Raquiba Jahan , Bedford Karen , Jiang Wei Zhuang , Lim Henry
Published: August 2013

Introduction: This article describes the process and evaluation of a smoking cessation support programme for mental health clients in Sydney.

Aim: The objective of the study was to assess a group-based smoking cessation support model for community mental health clients.

Methods: Two community mental health services participated; 29 clients received free NRT products and weekly education for 12 weeks on: effects of smoking, nicotine dependence, NRT use, withdrawal process and the benefits of quitting. Evaluation included face-to-face interviews, telephone or postal survey using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: The baseline (n = 29) and follow-up (n = 14) surveys showed reduction in the number of cigarettes (30 to 21) smoked a day (55% vs. 36%). At one month 47% (n = 19) were confident about stopping smoking permanently whereas 19% (n = 14) reported the same after six months. Participants reported concerns of health effects, illness, physical symptoms (77% n = 27) and financial cost (93% n = 27) were the motivating factors in quitting. None of the findings was statistically significant.

Conclusions: Community based interventions to address the rate of smoking in this group is needed. Financial and health benefits can be used as motivating factors, and integration of smoking cessation assistance in treatment and rehabilitation of mental health consumers would be useful.
Commentary: Measuring the shape of degree distributions
Authors: BADHAM JENNIFER M.
Published: August 2013

Degree distribution is a fundamental property of networks. While mean degree provides a standard measure of scale, there are several commonly used shape measures. Widespread use of a single shape measure would enable comparisons between networks and facilitate investigations about the relationship between degree distribution properties and other network features. This paper describes five candidate measures of heterogeneity and recommends the Gini coefficient. It has theoretical advantages over many of the previously proposed measures, is meaningful for the broad range of distribution shapes seen in different types of networks, and has several accessible interpretations. While this paper focuses on degree, the distribution of other node-based network properties could also be described with Gini coefficients.
Colonialism and Its Unruly?—The Colonial State and Kuki Raids in Nineteenth Century Northeast India
Authors: GUITE JANGKHOMANG
Published: August 2013

This paper examines the colonial representation of tribal raids in the Northeast frontier of India and argues that, rather than being the ‘lawless and predatory habits of the savage hill tribes’, it was an expression of hill politics. The Kukis raided British territory when they discovered that an extension of the colonial boundary threatened their very existence as an independent state-evading population. It traces how the Kukis re-ethnicized themselves in the hills by evolving a system that is state-repellent, protected by a vast strip of forested jungle around their settlements commonly known as the ‘hunting ground’. It locates the ‘raid’ in the context of the difference in the perception of space and territoriality between the colonial state and indigenous polities. Colonial spatial ideology and its hill-valley binary are seen to play a vital role in animating tension on the frontier. The raid is thus understood as the ultimate weapon of resistance against an established state by an independent ‘not-a-state-subject’ people in defence of their autonomy and essentially represents non-state practices against state appropriations. Instead of being ‘unruly’, the raid is seen as a form of organized and premeditated resistance based on the consciousness of the hillmen's lived world order.
Dog ownership, dog behaviour and transmission of Echinococcus spp. in the Alay Valley, southern Kyrgyzstan
Authors: VAN KESTEREN FREYA , MASTIN ALEXANDER , MYTYNOVA BERMET , ZIADINOV ISKENDER , BOUFANA BELGEES , TORGERSON PAUL R. , ROGAN MICHAEL T. , CRAIG PHILIP S.
Published: August 2013

Echinococcosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease in Kyrgyzstan, and the incidence of human infection has increased substantially since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Domestic dogs are hosts of Echinococcus spp. and play an important role in the transmission of these parasites. The demography, ecology and behaviour of dogs are therefore relevant in studying Echinococcus spp. transmission. Dog demographics, roles of dogs, dog movements and faecal environmental contamination were assessed in four rural communities in the Alay Valley, southern Kyrgyzstan. Arecoline purge data revealed for the first time that E. granulosus, E. canadensis and E. multilocularis were present in domestic dogs in the Alay Valley. Surveys revealed that many households had dogs and that dogs played various roles in the communities, as pets, guard dogs or sheep dogs. Almost all dogs were free to roam, and GPS data revealed that many moved outside their communities, thus being able to scavenge offal and consume rodents. Faecal environmental contamination was high, presenting a significant infection risk to the local communities.
Screening strategies to identify new chemical diversity for drug development to treat kinetoplastid infections
Authors: DON ROB , IOSET JEAN-ROBERT
Published: August 2013

The Drugs for Neglected Diseasesinitiative(DNDi) has defined and implemented an early discovery strategy over the last few years, in fitting with its virtual R&D business model. This strategy relies on a medium- to high-throughput phenotypic assay platform to expedite the screening of compound libraries accessed through its collaborations with partners from the pharmaceutical industry. We review the pragmatic approaches used to select compound libraries for screening against kinetoplastids, taking into account screening capacity. The advantages, limitations and current achievements in identifying new quality series for further development into preclinical candidates are critically discussed, together with attractive new approaches currently under investigation.
“We act like girls and we don't act like men”: Ethnicity and local language change in a Philadelphia high school
Authors: Wagner Suzanne Evans
Published: August 2013

How is ethnicity indexed linguistically in a speech community in which immigrant L2s have typically not been spoken for three or more generations? Drawing on recordings and ethnographic observations of eighteen white high school girls in south Philadelphia, speakers of Irish descent are shown to differentiate themselves from speakers of Italian descent through their use of (ay0), that is, Canadian Raising. (ay0) is an ongoing sound change in Philadelphia and is remarkable for being a rare example of a male-led change. Irish girls exploit more male-like, backed, and raised variants as a resource for indexing their ethnic identity, which is associated locally with stereotypically masculine characteristics such as toughness. The symbolic reflection of ethnic affiliation through this subtle linguistic device makes use of both local and supralocal social meanings. (Ethnicity, adolescence, Philadelphia, Irish, Canadian Raising, gender, sound change, language, and identity)*
Social class and gender impacting change in bilingual settings: Spanish subject pronoun use in New York
Authors: Shin Naomi Lapidus , Otheguy Ricardo
Published: August 2013

This study examines the role of social class and gender in an ongoing change in Spanish spoken in New York City (NYC). The change, which has to do with increasing use of Spanish subject pronouns, is correlated with increased exposure to life in NYC and to English. Our investigation of six different national-origin groups shows a connection between affluence and change: the most affluent Latino groups undergo the most increase in pronoun use, while the least affluent undergo no change. This pattern is explained as further indication that resistance to linguistic change is more pronounced in poorer communities as a result of denser social networks. In addition we find a women effect: immigrant women lead men in the increasing use of pronouns. We argue that the women effect in bilingual settings warrants a reevaluation of existing explanations of women as leaders of linguistic change. (Language change, social class, gender, bilingualism, Spanish in the US, pronouns)*
Ion acceleration and plasma jets driven by a high intensity laser beam normally incident on thin foils
Authors: Shoucri Magdi , Matte Jean-Pierre , Vidal François
Published: August 2013

We study the problem of the radiation pressure acceleration of ions and the formation of plasma jets, driven by a high-intensity circularly polarized laser beam normally incident on thin plasma targets. We use an Eulerian Vlasov code to solve the one-dimensional relativistic Vlasov-Maxwell equations for both electrons and ions. We consider the case of a high density plasma with n/ncr = 100, where ncr is the critical density. Three cases are studied with different target thicknesses, to investigate the physical processes involved when decreasing the target thickness from several electron skin depths down to the order of one skin depth. The results show a more important acceleration of the ions when the thickness is decreased. Although we observe in all cases a neutral plasma jet ejected from the back of the target, the evolution of the system which leads to the formation of this neutral plasma jet is different in the three cases considered. In each case, this evolution will be studied in details. Also, a leak or ejection of electrons from the back of the target is observed in the thinnest case treated (thickness of the order of the skin depth), before the formation of the neutral plasma jet, a regime called leaky light sail radiation pressure acceleration. The absence of noise in the Eulerian Vlasov code allows an accurate representation of the phase-space structures of the distribution functions.
Robust push recovery by whole-body dynamics control with extremal accelerations
Authors: Chen Xuechao , Huang Qiang , Yu Zhangguo , Lu Yuepin
Published: August 2013

This paper presents a whole-body dynamics controller for robust push recovery on a force-controlled bipedal robot. Featherstone's spatial vector method is used to deduce dynamics formulas. We reveal a relationship between the accelerations of the floating base and the desired external forces needed for those accelerations. Introducing constraints on the desired external forces causes corresponding constraints on the accelerations. Quadratic programming is applied to find the extremal accelerations, which recover the robot from pushes as best as possible. A robustness criterion is proposed based on the linear inverted pendulum model to evaluate the performance of push recovery methods quantitatively. We evaluate four typical push recovery methods and the results show that our method is more robust than these. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by push recovery in simulations.