bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Body Composition and Mitochondrial Dna in HIV-1-Infected Patients Switching to Fixed-Dose Abacavir/Lamivudine or Tenofovir/Emtricitabine: A Substudy of the Bicombo Trial
Authors: Curran Adrian , Martinez Esteban , Podzamczer Daniel , Lonca Montserrat , Barragan Patricia , Crespo Manuel , Falco Vicenç , Vidal-Sicart Sergio , Imaz Arkaitz , Martinez Maria , Gatell Jose Maria , Ribera Esteban
Published: February 2012

Background

Fat distribution, bone mineral density (BMD) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may improve, in the long-term, after switching from nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) to fixed-dose abacavir (ABC)/ lamivudine (3TC) or tenofovir (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC).

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicentre substudy of the BICOMBO trial in which virologically suppressed patients had their NRTIs switched to ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure limb, trunk and total body fat and total BMD. Lumbar and hip DXA scans were used to measure lumbar and hip BMD. Fat mass ratio (FMR; % trunk fat/% leg fat by whole-body DXA) was used to assess fat distribution. mtDNA was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Parameters of interest were measured at baseline, 48 and 96 weeks, and were compared between treatment groups.

Results

Of 56 patients included, 45 (20 ABC/3TC and 25 TDF/FTC) completed the substudy. After 96 weeks, ABC/3TC (+756 g, +12.1%) and TDF/FTC (+337 g, +7.6%) led to non-significantly different increases in limb fat ( P=0.60). By contrast, trunk fat showed a significant increase ( P=0.04) with ABC/3TC (+1,184 g, +10.6%) relative to TDF/FTC (-370 g, -4.2%). Median (IQR) FMR remained unchanged with ABC/3TC (-0.01 [-0.16–0.06]; P=0.23), but it decreased significantly with TDF/FTC (-0.13 [-0.30–0.00]; P=0.007). Total BMD and mtDNA significantly increased after 96 weeks, without differences between groups.

Conclusions

Switching from NRTIs to either ABC/3TC or TDF/FTC led to similar increases in limb fat, BMD and PBMC mtDNA after 96 weeks.
La méthode phénoménologique : différences de structure et explicitation intentionnelle
Authors: Costa Vincenzo
Published: February 2012

Résumé On parle aujourd’hui de naturaliser la phénoménologie. Cet article soutient que cette tentative n’appartient pas à la phénoménologie, puisque le mode d’apparaître des choses demeure irréductible à la structure de notre esprit. Dans le même temps, nous ne tenons pas l’introspection pour la méthode de la phénoménologie. Cette dernière décrit bien plutôt des légalités internes à l’expérience. Notre perspective est illustrée par une critique de la notion de simulation des neurosciences. Enfin, nous revenons à la notion de donation, c’est-à-dire à l’idée selon laquelle l’expérience s’organise elle-même dans un processus qui s’accomplit dans la temporalité phénoménologique, et nous avançons que l’explication [Auslegung] constitue la méthode de la phénoménologie.
Understanding Hoarding in Older Adults
Authors: Sorrell Jeanne M.
Published: February 2012

Compulsive hoarding is a debilitating disorder that is only recently becoming understood. Hoarding has been studied primarily in the general population, with only a few researchers focusing on hoarding in older adults, even though the prevalence and severity of the disorder appears to increase with aging. Hoarding seriously affects the quality of one’s life and can also cause safety and health problems for individuals and the community. Established treatments for hoarding are relatively new and often need to be extended over a long period of time. Nurses can play an important role in helping identify the problem of hoarding in older adults, determining the types of safety and health hazards that need to be addressed, and contacting the appropriate community agencies.
Toric Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation in a Case With Bilateral Primary Peripheral Iris Cysts
Authors: Aman-Ullah Muhammad , Gimbel Howard V. , Camoriano Gerardo D.
Published: February 2012

The authors describe a patient who was found to have bilateral, peripheral iris cysts during preoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) assessment prior to toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) implantation. TICL implantation was undertaken with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The TICLs remained in stable position over a follow-up period of 15 months. The presence of solitary temporal iris cysts had no impact on final visual outcome or TICL position.
How can Socratian Methods facilitate e-learning in the Business Environment?
Authors: Goule Eleni , Stamatiadis Filippos
Published: February 2012

Information and Communication Technology is changing at an alarming pace creating new forms of learning, such as electronic learning, which seems to be very appealing nowadays across all the business sectors. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the pillars of Socrates philosophy can be applied in the development of a successful e-learning program within a business environment. Concepts such as language, individual truth, field of expertise, conformity to law and ethics of different infrastructures, personal contact, and intuition will be explored. A case study is undertaken in order to identify whether the proposed parameters can be adopted as relevant and effective to the procedures of e-training within the HR department of a multinational company in Greece. These concepts determine key questions of the methodological approach that need to be answered in order to develop and implement an appropriate and cost-effective e-learning strategy which will help the HR department identify successfully the needs of the employees and create a long-term impact of this state-of-the art educational reality.
Mood Inference Machine: Framework to Infer Affective Phenomena in ROODA Virtual Learning Environment
Authors: Longhi Magalí Teresinha , Behar Patricia Alejandra , Bercht Magda
Published: February 2012

This article presents a mechanism to infer mood states, aiming to provide virtual learning environments (VLEs) with a tool able to recognize the studentâ??s motivation. The inference model has as its parameters personality traits, motivational factors obtained through behavioral standards and the affective subjectivity identified in texts made available in the communication functionalities of the VLE. In the inference machine, such variables are treated under probability reasoning, more precisely by Bayesian networks.
CD4+ Type II NKT Cells Mediate ICOS and Programmed Death-1–Dependent Regulation of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Kadri Nadir , Korpos Eva , Gupta Shashank , Briet Claire , Löfbom Linda , Yagita Hideo , Lehuen Agnes , Boitard Christian , Holmberg Dan , Sorokin Lydia , Cardell Susanna L.
Published: February 2012

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that results from T cell-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells. CD1d-restricted NKT lymphocytes have the ability to regulate immunity, including autoimmunity. We previously demonstrated that CD1d-restricted type II NKT cells, which carry diverse TCRs, prevented T1D in the NOD mouse model for the human disease. In this study, we show that CD4+ 24αβ type II NKT cells, but not CD4/CD8 double-negative NKT cells, were sufficient to downregulate diabetogenic CD4+ BDC2.5 NOD T cells in adoptive transfer experiments. CD4+ 24αβ NKT cells exhibited a memory phenotype including high ICOS expression, increased cytokine production, and limited display of NK cell markers, compared with double-negative 24αβ NKT cells. Blocking of ICOS or the programmed death-1/programmed death ligand 1 pathway was shown to abolish the regulation that occurred in the pancreas draining lymph nodes. To our knowledge, these results provide for the first time cellular and molecular information on how type II CD1d-restricted NKT cells regulate T1D.
CARMA1 Controls Th2 Cell-Specific Cytokine Expression through Regulating JunB and GATA3 Transcription Factors
Authors: Blonska Marzenna , Joo Donghyun , Zweidler-McKay Patrick A. , Zhao Qingyu , Lin Xin
Published: February 2012

The scaffold protein CARMA1 is required for the TCR-induced lymphocyte activation. In this study, we show that CARMA1 also plays an essential role in T cell differentiation. We have found that the adoptive transfer of bone marrow cells expressing constitutively active CARMA1 results in lung inflammation, eosinophilia, and elevated levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 in recipient mice. In contrast, CARMA1-deficient T cells are defective in TCR-induced expression of Th2 cytokines, suggesting that CARMA1 preferentially directs Th2 differentiation. The impaired cytokine production is due to reduced expression of JunB and GATA3 transcription factors. CARMA1 deficiency affects JunB stability resulting in its enhanced ubiquitination and degradation. In contrast, TCR-dependent induction of GATA3 is suppressed at the transcriptional level. We also found that supplementation with IL-4 partially restored GATA3 expression in CARMA1-deficient CD4+ splenocytes and subsequently production of GATA3-dependent cytokines IL-5 and IL-13. Therefore, our work provides the mechanism by which CARMA1 regulates Th2 cell differentiation.
TheLbw2Locus Promotes Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Authors: Scatizzi John C. , Haraldsson Maria K. , Pollard K. Michael , Theofilopoulos Argyrios N. , Kono Dwight H.
Published: February 2012

The lupus-prone New Zealand Black (NZB) strain uniquely develops a genetically imposed severe spontaneous autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) that is very similar to the corresponding human disease. Previous studies have mapped anti-erythrocyte Ab (AEA)-promoting NZB loci to several chromosomal locations, including chromosome 4; however, none of these have been analyzed with interval congenics. In this study, we used NZB.NZW-Lbw2 congenic (designated Lbw2 congenic) mice containing an introgressed fragment of New Zealand White (NZW) on chromosome 4 encompassing Lbw2, a locus previously linked to survival, glomerulonephritis, and splenomegaly, to investigate its role in AIHA. Lbw2 congenic mice exhibited marked reductions in AEAs and splenomegaly but not in anti-nuclear Abs. Furthermore, Lbw2 congenics had greater numbers of marginal zone B cells and reduced expansion of peritoneal cells, particularly the B-1a cell subset at early ages, but no reduction in B cell response to LPS. Analysis of a panel of subinterval congenic mice showed that the full effect of Lbw2 on AEA production was dependent on three subloci, with splenomegaly mapping to two of the subloci and expansions of peritoneal cell populations, including B-1a cells to one. These results directly demonstrated the presence of AEA-specific promoting genes on NZB chromosome 4, documented a marked influence of background genes on autoimmune phenotypes related to Lbw2, and further refined the locations of the underlying genetic variants. Delineation of the Lbw2 genes should yield new insights into both the pathogenesis of AIHA and the nature of epistatic interactions of lupus-modifying genetic variants.
Fever of Unknown Origin in a Swiss-Born Child: Don’t Miss Tuberculosis!
Authors: Cegielski Melanie , Vaudaux Bernard , Jaton Katia , Bervini David , Perez Marie-Helene
Published: February 2012

Tuberculosis incidence is low in Switzer land. We report here on a Swiss-born toddler. Tuberculosis manifested with a fever of unknown origin, mimicking an inflammatory or autoimmune disorder triggering a high dose of corticosteroid treatment. The disease went unrecognized for several weeks until development of a miliary tuberculosis with advanced central nervous system involvement. This case highlights the difficulties encountered in diagnosing tuberculosis and in identifying the origin of this case. It reminds us that this disease must never be forgotten when facing a child with persistent fever who must be screened for, before starting immunosuppressive therapy.
A new method to discriminate secondary organic aerosols from different sources using high-resolution aerosol mass spectra
Authors: Heringa M. F. , DeCarlo P. F. , Chirico R. , Tritscher T. , Clairotte M. , Mohr C. , Crippa M. , Slowik J. G. , Pfaffenberger L. , Dommen J. , Weingartner E. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Baltensperger U.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Organic aerosol (OA) represents a significant and often major fraction of the non-refractory PM1 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter da < 1 μm) mass. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is an important contributor to the OA and can be formed from biogenic and anthropogenic precursors. Here we present results from the characterization of SOA produced from the emissions of three different anthropogenic sources. SOA from a log wood burner, a Euro 2 diesel car and a two-stroke Euro 2 scooter were characterized with an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-AMS) and compared to SOA from α-pinene. The emissions were sampled from the chimney/tailpipe by a heated inlet system and filtered before injection into a smog chamber. The gas phase emissions were irradiated by xenon arc lamps to initiate photo-chemistry which led to nucleation and subsequent particle growth by SOA production. Duplicate experiments were performed for each SOA type, with the averaged organic mass spectra showing Pearson's r values >0.94 for the correlations between the four different SOA types after five hours of aging. High-resolution mass spectra (HR-MS) showed that the dominant peaks in the MS, m/z 43 and 44, are dominated by the oxygenated ions C2H3O+ and CO2+, respectively, similarly to the relatively fresh semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA) observed in the ambient aerosol. The atomic O:C ratios were found to be in the range of 0.25–0.55 with no major increase during the first five hours of aging. On average, the diesel SOA showed the lowest O:C ratio followed by SOA from wood burning, α-pinene and the scooter emissions. Grouping the fragment ions revealed that the SOA source with the highest O:C ratio had the largest fraction of small ions. The HR data of the four sources could be clustered and separated using principal component analysis (PCA). The model showed a significant separation of the four SOA types and clustering of the duplicate experiments on the first two principal components (PCs), which explained 79% of the total variance. Projection of ambient SV-OOA spectra resolved by positive matrix factorization (PMF) showed that this approach could be useful to identify large contributions of the tested SOA sources to SV-OOA. The first results from this study indicate that the SV-OOA in Barcelona is strongly influenced by diesel emissions in winter while in summer at SIRTA at the southwestern edge of Paris SV-OOA is more similar to alpha-pinene SOA. However, contributions to the ambient SV-OOA from SOA sources that are not covered by the model can cause major interference and therefore future expansions of the PCA model with additional SOA sources is recommended.
DOAS measurements of NO2 from an ultralight aircraft during the Earth Challenge expedition
Authors: Merlaud A. , Van Roozendael M. , van Gent J. , Fayt C. , Maes J. , Toledo X. , Ronveaux O. , De Mazière M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. We report on airborne Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements of NO2 tropospheric columns above South Asia, Arabic peninsula, North Africa, and Italy in November and December 2009. The DOAS instrument was installed on an ultralight aircraft involved in the Earth Challenge project, an expedition of seven pilots flying on four ultralight aircraft between Australia and Belgium. The instrument recorded spectra in limb geometry with a large field-of-view, a set-up which provides a high sensitivity to the boundary layer NO2 while minimizing the uncertainties related to the attitude variations. We compare our measurements with OMI and GOME-2 tropospheric NO2 products when the latter are available. Above Rajasthan and the Po Valley, two areas where the NO2 field is homogeneous, data sets agree very well. Our measurements in this areas are respectively 0.1 ± 0.1 to 2.8 ± 1 × 1015 molec cm−2 and 2.5 ± 0.5 × 1016 molec cm−2. Flying downwind of Riyadh, our NO2 measurements show with a higher spatial resolution than OMI the structure of the megacities'exhaust plume. Moreover, our measurements indicate larger columns (up to 70%) than the one seen by satellites. We also derived tropopsheric columns when no satellite data was available, if it was possible to get information on the visibility from satellite measurements of aerosol optical thickness. The maximum column we measured was above Benghazi, with 5.7 ± 2 × 1016 molec cm−2. This experiment also provides a confirmation for the recent finding of a soil signature above desert.
1961–1990 monthly high-resolution solar radiation climatologies for Italy
Authors: Spinoni J. , Brunetti M. , Maugeri M. , Simolo C.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. We present a methodology for estimating solar radiation climatologies from a sparse network of global radiation and/or sunshine duration records: it allows to obtain high-resolution grids of monthly normal values for global radiation (and for the direct and diffuse components), atmospheric turbidity, and surface absorbed radiation. We discuss the application of the methodology to a preliminary version of an Italian global radiation and sunshine duration data set, which completion is still in progress and present the resulting 1961–1990 monthly radiation climatologies.
Comment on "Climate sensitivity in the Anthropocene" by Previdi et al. (2011)
Authors: Schwartz S. E.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Attention is called to several inconsistencies and errors in the definition and interpretation of quantities relating to climate sensitivity and feedbacks in the discussions paper "Climate sensitivity in the Anthropocene" by Previdi et al. (2011).
Supraglacial dust and debris: geochemical compositions from glaciers in Svalbard, southern Norway, Nepal and New Zealand
Authors: Casey K. A.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Alpine glacier samples were collected in four contrasting regions to measure supraglacial dust and debris geochemical composition and quantify regional variability. A total of 70 surface glacier ice, snow and debris samples were collected in Svalbard, southern Norway, Nepal and New Zealand. Trace elemental abundances in snow and ice samples were measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Supraglacial debris mineral, bulk oxide and trace element composition were determined via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). A total of 45 major, trace and rare earth elements and 10 oxide compound abundances are reported. Elemental abundances revealed sea salt aerosol and metal enrichment in Svalbard, low levels of crustal dust and marine influences to southern Norway, high crustal dust and anthropogenic enrichment in the Khumbu Himalayas, and sulfur and metals attributed to quiescent degassing and volcanic activity in northern New Zealand. Rare earth element and Al/Ti elemental ratios demonstrated distinct provenance of particulates in each study region. Ca/S elemental ratio data showed seasonal denudation in Svalbard and southern Norway. Ablation season atmospheric particulate transport trajectories were mapped in each of the study regions and suggest provenance pathways. The in situ data presented provides first-order glacier surface geochemical variability as measured in the four diverse alpine glacier regions. The surface glacier geochemical data set is available from the PANGAEA database at doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.773951. This geochemical surface glacier data is relevant to glaciologic ablation rate understanding as well as satellite atmospheric and land-surface mapping techniques currently in development.
Father Secchi and the first Italian magnetic observatory
Authors: Ptitsyna N. , Altamore A.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. The first permanent magnetic observatory in Italy was built in 1858 by Pietro Angelo Secchi, a Jesuit priest who made significant contributions in a wide variety of scientific fields, ranging from astronomy to astrophysics and meteorology. In this paper we consider his studies in geomagnetism, which have never been adequately addressed in the literature. We mainly focus on the creation of the magnetic observatory on the roof of the church of Sant'Ignazio, adjacent to the pontifical university, known as the Collegio Romano. From 1859 onwards, systematic monitoring of the geomagnetic field was conducted in the Collegio Romano Observatory, for long the only one of its kind in Italy. We also look at the magnetic instruments installed in the observatory, which were the most advanced for the time, as well as scientific studies conducted there in its early years.
Measurement of Entrepreneurship Macro Surrounding Advantages: Country’s Economic Competitiveness Approach
Authors: Buracas Antanas , Zvirblis Algis , Joksiene Izolda
Published: February 2012

The economic development in the newly EU countries is oriented to the restructuring of economy also reduction of the differences in the economic development level of various regions. The enlargement of country’s competitive ability and creation of a modern knowledge-based economy are the priorities of the development. This paper concerns the measurement backgrounds of entrepreneurship macro surrounding advantages as a country’s economic competitiveness determinant that applicable for reasoning of the attitudes and decisions of economic development strategy using multi-attribute decision making methods. In principle, the assumption is made that the measurement must be performed according to the approach to every key determinant as a partial economic competitiveness which is subject of essential primary competitiveness macro factors. The conceptual provisions are foremost focused on the measurement of a totality of the national macro surrounding advantages based on the generalized model which reflects the interdependencies of primary macro factors in a system with account of the impact (vector) of each of them. This study is intended to reveal the deterministic measurement possibilities oriented to the reasoned multiple criteria evaluation methods on the basis adopted for the particular task models. The technique supposes the following procedures: the identification of essential primary macro factors, their quantifiable assessment (in points) as primary criteria allowing the different weights of the impact on economic competitiveness and the composition of task pillars. When examining the primary macro factors, the indicators of global country’s competitiveness index established by the World Economic Forum were taken into account. The whole of the typical primary macrofactors selected by three task pillars (those of specific business infrastructure, common economic surroundings, fiscal and monetary policy macrofactors) is presented. The favorability indexes of each pillar (as partially integrated criteria having different significance) and, in its turn, the generalized measure – macro surroundings favorability index have been determined by applying, in particular, Simple Additive Weighting method. Lithuania‘s macro surrounding advantages were evaluated according to the proposed technique: they may be scored at 54 point (in 100 point system).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1219
Cloud–Computing Based Accounting for Small to Medium Sized Business
Authors: Christauskas Ceslovas , Miseviciene Regina
Published: February 2012

Small to medium sized business enterprises are young and constantly changing their sphere of activities depending on fluctuations of the market. The enterprises daily use accounting information, which is used in enterprise’s financial situation evaluation, correct decisions making, enterprise’s financial situation analysis according to the results received, making plans for future and controlling the whole enterprise. Accounting information systems play a significant role in providing the financial information for decision making within an organization. The systems are simultaneously providing information for a variety of other decision makers in production, human resources, finance, management, marketing, and supply chain logistics. Unfortunately, accounting systems often do not support business properly. The causes may be: systems mostly are too large and complex to comprehend them in entirety and traditional information technologies are not efficient. There is a need to adopt the newest technologies in small to medium sized business. In the paper investigated study showed the newest trends in accounting information systems for small to medium sized business. One of the newest trends in the information technologies world is cloud computing based technology. Accounting transfer to "cloud" is a new and innovative solution that can help save significant funds small and medium-sized enterprises. Small to medium businesses can get a lot of advantages with the newest technology. However, it has its own risks too. The paper indicates advantages and dangers of the newest technology within the business. Investigation of accounting systems for small and medium sized enterprises in Lithuania in the cloud-computing context is a part of the research. Lithuanian companies have a great opportunity to use cloud computing capabilities. But only one developer of accounting systems offered the cloud based accounting program. Results of the research summarized only by main accounting software. Investigation was carried out by using systematic and comparable literature review of accounting information systems faced to small to medium sized business. The investigation also shows that there are not so many scientific papers on the newest cloud computing trends in Lithuania. Accordingly, this research was mostly based on literature review sourced from the internet.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1220
Financial Analysis of Solar Water Heating Systems during the Depression: Case Study of Greece
Authors: Fantidis Jacob G. , Bandekas Dimitrios V. , Potolias Constantinos , Vordos Nick , Karakoulidis Kostas
Published: February 2012

The use of solar thermal collectors is an economic alternative for water heating. In Greece more than 4 million m2 of collector area has been installed; however, the financial and economic crisis has dealt the solar thermal market a heavy blow. The aim of the paper is twofold: firstly, to present the new legislations and combined efforts taken by the government in order to give the solar thermal market a boost; secondly, to evaluate the effect of these efforts and calculate the new financial data from the citizens. For the promotion of solar water heaters, new legislations and concerted efforts are taken by the government. The effect of the new incentive program on the payback time of a typical glazed solar hot water system in Greece was investigated in this work. Long-term meteorological data from 47 stations are analyzed in order to evaluate the potential of solar water heater application at each site in Greece. The RETScreen software was used to predict the financial viability and the green house gas emissions reductions. The economical indicators showed that Tymbakion was the best site and Ioannina the worst. From the environmental point of view, it was found that on an average an approximate quantity of 1.47 ton of green house gases can be avoided entering into the local atmosphere each year.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1222
An Insight of Rui Xiang Canvas HR Crisis (Case Study)
Authors: Gao Junhong , Alas Ruth
Published: February 2012

Research was supported by ETF grant 7537 Human resources are one of the most important competitive advantages of Chinese enterprises. China has over one billion labor force. The large scale of labor force provides Chinese organizations sufficient human resources. However, HR crisis was found as one of the three main crisis types in Chinese organizations. The causes of human resources crisis vary. In this paper, the authors aim to give a deeper analysis of one typical human resources crisis case occurred in China, so as to gather empirical based knowledge, to complete crisis theory, to provide suggestions and reference to organization management practice. The theoretical part reviewed human resources and crisis management theories. The crisis case demonstrated in this paper was collected in Chinese language. The analysis focused on three key factors of crisis management process, strategy, leadership, and communication. Finally, the authors concluded that the crisis happened due to the poor communication and crisis strategy which resulted from an extreme authoritarian leadership in the organization. To change the management style and improve communications are the suggestions to the enterprise managers. This case is a good example of the downsides of authoritarian leadership going to an extreme ending. The case can be used as a teaching material for management and business students.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1223
Two-sided Market Effect in Lithuanian Mobile Communications Market
Authors: Lickus Petras
Published: February 2012

The paper deals with the activity of Lithuanian mobile communications operators in the context of two-sided market. One knows that value of goods and services grows with an increasing number of people using them. There are products that are used in conjunction with other products at the same time. The latter, when used alone, are almost worthless. Buyers who use these products make up networks. In these networks user utility grows logging in new users. The market characterized by this feature is called a network market and its positive effect of consumption is network externality. Network externality is the situation when consumer utility by good consumption increases with the number of other agents consuming the good or in other words network externality is the increase of net value of action resulting from the growth of the same number of users performing that action. In economic literature generally considered products where network externality can occur are: fax machines, telecommunication networks, credit cards, computer hardware and software, etc. There are two types of network externality: direct and indirect. The direct network externality is generated by the consumption of the same product. The indirect network externality occurs when product value is added by a growing number of substitutions. A good example of this kind is computers and their software. This effect is often called a hardware-software paradigm. The indirect network externality is related to minimum two markets. One, that is exposed to influence and the other (or others) that exposes. In economic literature it is possible to find the term cross-network externality. It is argued that this externality occurs between mobile calls and cellphone sales in the context of two-sided market. One side is cellphone calls and the other is cellphones. It is argued that the profit decline on the cost of subsidizing cellphones is offsetted by an increase in profits from sales of calls. So, this method helps to increase the demand for cellphone calls. This article presents the theoretical model of a two-sided market in a mobile communications area. The conditions of subsidization that is used in order to increase net profit are determined. The research of Lithuanian mobile calls demand is made. The main data sources of the study are reports on the electronic communications sector released by The Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania (data concerning subscribers, calls’ prices and quantities) and United States Department of commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (relates to price index of computers and peripherals). The main results of this estimation are introduced. The study shows that mobile calls’ demand does not depend on the sales of cellphones and that subsidization of cellphones does not stimulate the sales of mobile calls. Lithuanian operators use this subsidization only as a marketing tool in order to acquire bigger market share.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1225
Utility of Immunohistochemical Staining With FLI1, D2-40, CD31, and CD34 in the Diagnosis of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome–Related and Non–Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Related Kaposi Sarcoma
Authors: Nunes Rosado Flavia G , Itani Doha M , Coffin Cheryl M , Cates Justin M
Published: February 2012

Context.—Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor frequently associated with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection, advanced age, or iatrogenic immunosuppression. Immunohistochemistry for CD31 and CD34, and more recently for FLI1 and D2-40, has been used as ancillary diagnostic tests for KS, despite little information regarding the sensitivities and differential staining patterns of the latter 2 markers in the major clinical subtypes and histologic stages of KS.

Objective.—This retrospective study aims to assess the prevalence of the vascular markers D2-40 and FLI1 in the main clinical subgroups and tumor stages of KS.

Design.—Twenty-four cases of KS (12 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]–related cases and 12 non–AIDS-related cases; 11 nodular-stage and 13 patch/plaque–stage KS) were stained for CD34, CD31, D2-40, and FLI1 by immunohistochemistry. The distribution of immunoreactivity was compared between the clinical subtypes and tumor stages of KS using the Mann-Whitney test.

Results.—CD31, CD34, D2-40, and FLI1 strongly and diffusely stained tumor cells in 75%, 92%, 67%, and 92% of AIDS-related cases and 58%, 92%, 67%, and 75% of non–AIDS-related cases, respectively. Differences in the proportions of positive cases between AIDS-related and non–AIDS-related cases did not reach statistical significance. No significant staining differences were observed between nodular- and patch/plaque–stage KS either.

Conclusions.—There are no differences in the distribution of immunohistochemical reactivity for CD31, CD34, D2-40, or FLI1 between AIDS-related and non–AIDS-related KS or between nodular- and patch/plaque–stage KS. All of the markers studied demonstrated high sensitivity in both clinical settings and both stages of tumor progression.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Related Gastrointestinal Pathology: A Southern Africa Perspective With Review of the Literature (Part 2: Neoplasms and Noninfectious Disorders)
Authors: Slavik Tomas
Published: February 2012

Context.—Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is rife in sub-Saharan Africa and in southern Africa in particular. Despite the increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy in this region, HIV-associated neoplasms remain common and frequently involve the gastrointestinal tract, which may also demonstrate other noninfectious, HIV-related pathology.

Objective.—To review the histopathologic findings and distinguishing features of neoplastic and noninfectious, HIV-associated gastrointestinal disorders in southern Africa and relate those findings to the documented international literature.

Data Sources.—The available literature on this topic was reviewed and supplemented with personal experience in a private histopathology practice in South Africa.

Conclusions.—In southern Africa, a diverse range of HIV-related neoplasms and noninfectious gastrointestinal disorders is seen, but published data for the region are scarce. The gastrointestinal disorders include drug-associated pathology, gastrointestinal manifestations of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, idiopathic chronic esophageal ulceration, and the controversial entity of HIV enteropathy.
Exploring Conics: Why Does B2 – 4AC Matter?
Authors: Herman Marlena
Published: February 2012

An introduction to definitions and equations of conic sections can be extended to explain the significance of the determinant.
Fostering Spatial vs. Metric Understanding in Geometry
Authors: Kinach Barbara M.
Published: February 2012

More emphasis on spatial reasoning is a way to increase meaning when students study geometry.
The Back Page: My Favorite Lesson – The Purple Milk Problem
Authors: Allen Kasi C.
Published: February 2012

In this favorite lesson, students must engage in cooperative problem solving and think outside the algebra box as they work to make sense of the Purple Milk problem.
Regioselective Cobalt‐Catalysed Hydrovinylation for the Synthesis of Non‐Conjugated Enones and 1,4‐Diketones
Authors: Kersten Laura , Hilt Gerhard
Published: February 2012

The highly regioselective cobalt‐catalysed 1,4‐hydrovinylation of terminal alkenes with 2‐trimethylsilyloxy‐1,3‐butadiene generates in a stereospecific fashion unsaturated E‐configured silyl enol ether intermediates that are suitable for diastereoselective Mukaiyama‐aldol reactions with bulky aliphatic aldehydes. The acidic hydrolysis of the enol ethers to γ,δ‐unsaturated ketones followed by ozonolysis can be used for the synthesis of various 1,4‐diketones and polycarbonyl derivatives. The 1,4‐diketones and polycarbonyl derivatives were successfully tested for the synthesis of some mono‐ and bis‐pyrrole derivatives. The γ,δ‐unsaturated ketones are useful building blocks (e.g., in natural product synthesis) and can be generated in a one‐pot procedure.
Overweight and obesity among North American Indian infants, children, and youth
Authors: Schell Lawrence M. , Gallo Mia V.
Published: March 2012

The frequency of overweight and obesity among North American Indian children and youth exceeds that of other ethnic groups in the United States. This observation is based on studies using body mass index as the primary measure of overweight and obesity. In the mid‐20th century, there were regional differences among North American Indian groups in sub‐adults' size and shape and only a few Southwestern groups were characterized by high rates of overweight and obesity. In most populations, the high prevalence of overweight and obesity developed in the last decades of the 20th century. Childhood obesity may begin early in life as many studies report higher birth weights and greater weight‐for‐height in the preschool years. Contributing factors include higher maternal weights, a nutritional transition from locally caught or raised foods to store bought items, psychosocial stress associated with threats to cultural identity and national sovereignty, and exposure to obesogenic pollutants, all associated to some degree with poverty. Obesity is part of the profile of poor health among Native Americans in the US and Canada, and contributes to woefully high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality. Interventions that are culturally appropriate are needed to reduce weights at all points in the lifespan. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hydrogenolyse goes Bio: Von Kohlenhydraten und Zuckeralkoholen zu Plattformchemikalien
Authors: Ruppert Agnieszka M. , Weinberg Kamil , Palkovits Regina
Published: February 2012

Angesichts begrenzter Reserven fossiler Rohstoffe und einem Voranschreiten des Klimawandels werden effiziente und umweltfreundliche Technologien zur Nutzbarmachung erneuerbarer Rohstoffe unerlässlich. Dabei stellt die Hydrogenolyse eine vielversprechende Reaktion für zukünftige Bioraffineriekonzepte dar. Sie resultiert in einer C‐C‐ und C‐O‐Bindungsspaltung mit Wasserstoff und erlaubt einen direkten Zugang zu nützlichen Plattformchemikalien, die bereits heute Teil der Wertschöpfungsketten der chemischen Industrie sind. Aus diesem Grund birgt die Hydrogenolyse das Potential, existierende Wertschöpfungsketten und zukünftige Bioraffineriekonzepte zu verbinden. Dieser Aufsatz stellt vorausgegangene und aktuelle Entwicklungen in diesem Bereich mit besonderem Augenmerk auf der direkten Umsetzung von Cellulose als Rohstoffe dar.
Synthesis and chemical modification of new luminescent substituted poly(p‐phenylene) polymers
Authors: Chemli Mejed , Haj Said Ayoub , Fave Jean‐Louis , Barthou Carlos , Majdoub Mustapha
Published: February 2012

A new acyl‐functionalized poly(p‐phenylene) (Ac‐PPP) was synthesized by Yamamoto cross‐coupling and chemically modified to obtain an anthracene‐containing derivative (An‐PPP). The chemical structures of the polymers were confirmed by 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. They are fully soluble in common organic solvents and have number‐average molecular weight of 2.70 × 103 and 5.26 × 103 g mol−1 for Ac‐PPP and An‐PPP, respectively. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies. A green emission was observed in Ac‐PPP solid thin film and a yellow one in the anthracene‐containing polymer An‐PPP. The optical bandgap values were 3.21 and 3.08 eV for Ac‐PPP and An‐PPP, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Near‐peer teaching in an anatomy course with a low faculty‐to‐student ratio
Authors: Durán Claudia Elisa Pámanes , Bahena Eduardo Navarro , Rodríguez María de los Ángeles García , Baca Guillermo Jacobo , Uresti Antonio Sánchez , Elizondo‐Omaña Rodrigo Enrique , López Santos Guzmán
Published: March 2012

Near‐peer teaching is an educational format which utilizes tutors who are more advanced in a curriculum's content to supervise students' activities and to act as instructors in laboratory settings. This format is often used in anatomy laboratory courses. The goal of the present study is to describe the design and implementation of near‐peer teaching in an anatomy course and to evaluate students' perceptions of the program. A total of 700 students were registered for this anatomy course which employed near‐peer instructors. Of enrolled students, 558 (79.7%) agreed to participate in this study. In general, the practical section (e.g., the clinical hour, image‐based anatomy session, and gross anatomy laboratory) of the course was viewed more favorably compared to the theory section (54.8%, n = 306), with dissection and prosection in the laboratory rated as the most valued experiences (34.9%, n = 195). Near‐peer teaching is a viable option that satisfies the demands of modern curricula using small groups. This format stimulates learning within courses that have large numbers of students and low faculty‐to‐student ratios. Anat Sci Educ. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists.
Is maternal parity an independent risk factor for birth defects?
Authors: Duong Hao T. , Hoyt Adrienne T. , Carmichael Suzan L. , Gilboa Suzanne M. , Canfield Mark A. , Case Amy , McNeese Melanie L. , Waller Dorothy Kim ,   and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND

Although associations between maternal parity and birth defects have been observed previously, few studies have focused on the possibility that parity is an independent risk factor for birth defects. We investigated the relation between levels of parity and a range of birth defects, adjusting each defect group for the same covariates.

METHODS

We included infants who had an estimated delivery date between 1997 and 2007 and participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multisite case‐control study. Cases included infants or fetuses belonging to 38 phenotypes of birth defects (n = 17,908), and controls included infants who were unaffected by a major birth defect (n = 7173). Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for 12 covariates using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Compared with primiparous mothers, nulliparous mothers were more likely to have infants with amniotic band sequence, hydrocephaly, esophageal atresia, hypospadias, limb reduction deficiencies, diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, gastroschisis, tetralogy of Fallot, and septal cardiac defects, with significant ORs (1.2 to 2.3). Compared with primiparous mothers, multiparous mothers had a significantly increased risk of omphalocele, with an OR of 1.5, but had significantly decreased risk of hypospadias and limb reduction deficiencies, with ORs of 0.77 and 0.77.

CONCLUSIONS

Nulliparity was associated with an increased risk of specific phenotypes of birth defects. Most of the phenotypes associated with nulliparity in this study were consistent with those identified by previous studies. Research into biologic or environmental factors that are associated with nulliparity may be helpful in explaining some or all of these associations. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perinatal mortality and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a low‐income rural population of women who smoke
Authors: McElroy Jane A. , Bloom Tina , Moore Kelly , Geden Beth , Everett Kevin , Bullock Linda F.
Published: February 2012

We describe adverse pregnancy outcomes, including congenital anomalies, fetal, neonatal, and infant mortality among a Missouri population of low‐income, rural mothers who participated in two randomized smoking cessation trials. In the Baby BEEP (BB) trial, 695 rural women were recruited from 21 WIC clinics with 650 women's pregnancy outcomes known (93.5% retention rate). Following the BB trial, 298 women who had a live infant after November 2004 were recruited again into and completed the Baby Beep for Kids (BBK) trial. Simple statistics describing the population and perinatal and postneonatal mortality rates were calculated. Of the adverse pregnancy outcomes (n = 79), 29% were spontaneous abortions of less than 20 weeks' gestation, 23% were premature births, and 49% were identified birth defects. The perinatal mortality rate was 15.9 per 1000 births (BB study) compared with 8.6 per 1000 births (state of Missouri) and 8.5 per 1000 births (United States). The postneonatal infant mortality rate was 13.4 per 1000 live births (BBK) compared with 2.1 per 1000 live births (United States). The health disparity in this population of impoverished, rural, pregnant women who smoke, particularly in regard to perinatal and infant deaths, warrants attention. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fugenlose Kaimauer für den Containerterminal Beirut
Authors: Pfeiffer Uwe
Published: March 2012

Für die Erweiterung des Containerterminals in Beirut wurde eine fugenlose, ca. 500 m lange Kaimauer als Piled Deck entworfen. Seit 2010 werden Rammarbeiten sowie das Aufspülen der Terminalfläche durchgeführt. Die für den Entwurf maßgebenden Randbedingungen sowie deren Umsetzung werden erläutert. Einen Schwerpunkt bildet dabei die fugenlose Bauweise und deren Vorteile für die Kaimauerkonstruktion.

Jointless quay wall construction for the container terminal in Beirut

For the extension of the quay wall of the existing container terminal in Beirut a jointless piled deck construction with a length of 500 m was designed. In 2010, the driving of steel piles and reclamation works started. Determining boundary conditions and their implementation in the design are explained. Special attention is given to the jointless construction and resulting advantages for the quay wall system.