bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The gill maggot Salmincola salmoneus as an indicator of repeat spawning in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
Authors: Kusterle S. , Halttunen E. , Thorstad E. B. , Næsje T. F. , Jensen J. L. A. , Gallo‐Bueno A. , Olague E. , Rikardsen A. H.
Published: February 2013

The potential of the gill maggot Salmincola salmoneus for use as an indicator of repeat spawning in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was studied in adult fish captured during their return migration to the River Alta (n = 659) and River Namsen (n = 540) in Norway. Eighty‐eight and 49% of previous spawners identified by scale readings were infected with S. salmoneus in the two rivers, respectively. Salmincola salmoneus can be used as a reliable, rapid and objective field indicator of repeat spawning in S. salar as nearly all infected fish (99·4%) were identified as repeat spawners, although it is important to have appropriate background information on S. salmoneus prevalence on the postspawning individuals within the same population.
The effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen on antioxidant defences and oxidative damage in the fathead minnow Pimephales promelas
Authors: Clotfelter E. D. , Lapidus S. J. H. , Brown A. C.
Published: February 2013

Fathead minnows Pimephales promelas maintained at 25° C for 6 h had significantly higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than fish maintained at 7 or 32° C, but hypoxic conditions (3 mg l−1 O2) over the same time period did not affect SOD activity. Fish in better body condition (length‐adjusted mass) had higher SOD activity. In a separate experiment, P. promelas maintained at three water temperatures (7, 23 and 32° C) for 31 days did not differ in liver acrolein, a biomarker of oxidative stress.
Combined core promoter mutations and pre‐S deletion of HBV may not increase the risk of HCC: a geographical epidemiological study in Guangxi, China
Authors: Li Guo‐Jian , Harrison Tim J. , Yang Jin‐Ye , Chen Qin‐Yan , Wang Xue‐Yan , Fang Zhong‐Liao
Published: February 2013

Background

Although persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the mechanisms of oncogenesis remain obscure.

Aims

To determine whether the findings that HBV basal core promoter (BCP) A1762T, G1764A double mutations, pre‐S deletions and a combination of both are risk factors of HCC are supported by geographical epidemiology.

Methods

Study subjects were recruited from Long An county, where the incidence of HCC is the highest, and five other counties in Guangxi, where the HCC incidence is lower and varies among them. The Pre‐S region and BCP of HBV from all study subjects were amplified and sequenced and the data were analysed using chi‐squared tests.

Results

The prevalence of BCP and pre‐S mutations differs significantly (χ2 = 9.850, 5.135, respectively, all P < 0.01) between Long An and the other counties. However, the prevalence of combined BCP and pre‐S mutations does not differ significantly (χ2 = 1.510, P > 0.05). These mutations are less frequent in the young but the prevalence of pre‐S deletions does not increase with age. The prevalence of these mutations does not differ significantly between men and women but is significantly higher in Zhuang than the other ethnic populations. Among the other five counties, the prevalence of BCP mutations in counties where the HCC incidence is high is significantly higher than that of counties where the HCC incidence is low.

Conclusions

Combined BCP double mutations and pre‐S deletion may not increase the risk of HCC, although these mutations are a risk factor of HCC when they present alone.
Educational Neuroethics: A Contribution From Empirical Research
Authors: Zocchi Meghan , Pollack Courtney
Published: February 2013

In recent years, educational neuroscience has begun to move into the limelight, suggesting an increased importance on the ethical considerations of educational neuroscience work, or educational neuroethics. In a departure from previous work on educational neuroethics, this article focuses on the ethical considerations that are applicable to empirical educational neuroscience research. Neuroethics concepts were compiled through a thorough survey of neuroethics articles. Then, 28 empirical educational neuroscience articles were analyzed through the lens of five categories of neuroethics concepts collected through the literature survey: the scientific enterprise, prediction, neuro‐manipulation, social considerations, and philosophical considerations. Three of the five categories (i.e., the nature of scientific investigation, prediction, and social considerations) applied to a subset of the articles. In addition, a fourth ethical issue not stemming from the neuroethics literature, referred to here as brain‐based justifications, emerged from the nature of educational neuroscience work. Limitations of this study and future directions for educational neuroethics research are discussed.
Impact of Using a Telescoping‐Support Catheter System for Left Ventricular Lead Placement on Implant Success and Procedure Time of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: JACKSON KEVIN P. , HEGLAND DONALD D. , FRAZIER‐MILLS CAMILLE , PICCINI JONATHAN P. , KOONTZ JASON I. , ATWATER BRETT D. , DAUBERT JAMES P. , WORLEY SETH J.
Published: February 2013

Background

Proper positioning of the left ventricular (LV) lead improves clinical outcomes and survival in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Techniques of LV lead insertion using contrast injection and a telescoping system of delivery catheters to support advancement of the lead into the target branch may allow more efficient, targeted lead placement. We sought to evaluate the impact of an LV lead implant approach using telescoping‐support catheters (group TS) on success rate, lead location, and procedural time compared to standard over‐the‐wire implant techniques (group OTW).

Methods

Four hundred thirty‐seven consecutive patients undergoing CRT implantation were divided into group TS (n = 105) or group OTW (n = 332) based upon a review of the operative technique used for LV lead implantation. The primary outcome was success of LV lead implantation at the index procedure. Secondary endpoints included optimal positioning of the LV lead and reduction in procedural fluoroscopy time.

Results

Failed LV lead placement was lower (1.9% vs 8.1%, P = 0.02) and optimal lead positioning was achieved more often for group TS than group OTW (87% vs 75%, P = 0.01). In addition, there were significantly shorter fluoroscopy times for group TS versus group OTW (29.6 minutes vs 41.9 minutes, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

A CRT‐implant approach using contrast injection and a telescoping‐support catheter system results in fewer failed LV lead implants, improved LV lead location, and shorter procedure times.
Wenxin Keli Suppresses Ventricular Triggered Arrhythmias via Selective Inhibition of Late Sodium Current
Authors: XUE XIAOLIN , GUO DONGLIN , SUN HONGMEI , WANG DAN , LI JIANA , LIU TENGXIAN , YANG LIN , SHU JUAN , YAN GAN‐XIN
Published: February 2013

Background

Wenxin Keli is a popular Chinese herb extract that approximately five million Asians are currently taking for the treatment of a variety of ventricular arrhythmias. However, its electrophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods and results

The concentration‐dependent electrophysiological effects of Wenxin Keli were evaluated in the isolated rabbit left ventricular myocytes and wedge preparation. Wenxin Keli selectively inhibited late sodium current (INa) with an IC50 of 3.8 ± 0.4 mg/mL, which was significantly lower than the IC50 of 10.6 ± 0.9 mg/mL (n = 6, P < 0.05) for the fast INa. Wenxin Keli produced a small but statistically significant QT prolongation at 0.3 mg/mL, but shortened the QT and Tp–e interval at concentrations ≥1 mg/mL. Wenxin Keli increased QRS duration by 10.1% from 34.8 ± 1.0 ms to 38.3 ± 1.1 ms (n = 6, P < 0.01) at 3 mg/mL at a basic cycle length of 2,000 ms. However, its effect on the QRS duration exhibited weak use‐dependency, that is, QRS remained less changed at increased pacing rates than other classic sodium channel blockers, such as flecainide, quinidine, and lidocaine. On the other hand, Wenxin Keli at 1–3 mg/mL markedly reduced dofetilide‐induced QT and Tp–e prolongation by attenuation of its reverse use‐dependence and abolished dofetilide‐induced early afterdepolarization (EAD) in four of four left ventricular wedge preparations. It also suppressed digoxin‐induced delayed afterdepolarization (DAD) and ventricular tachycardias without changing the positive staircase pattern in contractility at 1–3 mg/mL in a separate experimental series (four of four).

Conclusions

Wenxin Keli suppressed EADs, DADs, and triggered ventricular arrhythmias via selective inhibition of late INa.
Differential timing of defense‐related responses induced by cerato‐platanin and cerato‐populin, two non‐catalytic fungal elicitors
Authors: Lombardi Lara , Faoro Franco , Luti Simone , Baccelli Ivan , Martellini Federica , Bernardi Rodolfo , Picciarelli Piero , Scala Aniello , Pazzagli Luigia
Published: February 2013

The cerato‐platanin (CP) family consists of fungal‐secreted proteins involved in various stages of the host–fungus interaction and acting as phytotoxins and elicitors of defense responses. The founder member of this family is CP, a non‐catalytic protein with a six‐stranded double‐ψβ‐barrel fold. Cerato‐populin (Pop1) is an ortholog showing low sequence identity with CP. CP is secreted by Ceratocystis platani, the causal agent of the canker stain of plane. Pop1 is secreted by Ceratocystis populicola, a pathogen of poplar. CP and Pop1 have been suggested to act as PAMPs (pathogen‐associated molecular patterns) because they induce phytoalexin synthesis, transcription of defense‐related genes, restriction of conidia growth and cell death in various plants. Here, we treated plane leaves with CP or Pop1, and monitored defense responses to define the role of these elicitors in the plant interactions. Both CP and Pop1 were able to induce mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation, production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and overexpression of defense related genes. The characteristic DNA fragmentation and the cytological features indicate that CP and Pop1 induce cell death by a mechanism of programmed cell death. Therefore, CP and Pop1 can be considered as two novel, non‐catalytic fungal PAMPs able to enhance primary defense. Of particular interest is the observation that CP showed faster activity compared to Pop1. The different timing in defense activation could potentially be due to the structural differences between CP and Pop1 (i.e. different hydrophobic index and different helix content) therefore constituting a starting point in unraveling their structure–function relationships.
The Ties that Bind: An Analysis of the Concept of Obligation
Authors: Himma Kenneth Einar
Published: February 2013

Legal positivism lacks a comprehensive theory of legal obligation. Hart's account of legal obligation, if successful, would explain only how the rule of recognition obligates officials. There is nothing in Hart's account of social obligation and social norms that would explain how the legal norms that govern citizen behavior give rise to legal obligations. However, we cannot give a theoretical explanation of the concept of legal obligation without a theoretical explanation of the concept of obligation. If legal, social and moral obligations are three instances of the kind defined by “obligation,” then we cannot successfully explicate the nature of legal, social or moral obligations without a successful general conceptual theory of obligation. In what follows, I attempt to develop what I take to be the central elements of the general concept of obligation. I argue that obligations are (1) associated with mandatory prescriptions; (2) reasons for action; (3) exclusionary in the sense that certain reasons are excluded as an excuse of justification for non‐performance; and (4) “binding” in the sense that they have a special normative force. At the end of the paper, I briefly argue that our shared concept of obligation is indeterminate with respect to one theoretically important case, the issue of whether the rules of a crime gang that includes some sort of rule‐defining procedures for making rules governing members obligate gang members if accepted as legitimate by the members.
How Rights Became “Subjective”
Authors: Mautner Thomas
Published: February 2013

What is commonly called a right has since about 1980 increasingly come to be called a subjective right. In this paper the origin and rise of this solecism is investigated. Its use can result in a lack of clarity and even confusion. Some aspects of rights‐concepts and their history are also discussed. A brief postscript introduces Leibniz's Razor.
The alarmin HMGB‐1 influences healing outcomes in fetal skin wounds
Authors: Dardenne Adrienne D. , Wulff Brian C. , Wilgus Traci A.
Published: February 2013

In mice, cutaneous wounds generated early in development (embryonic day 15, E15) heal scarlessly, while wounds generated late in gestation (embryonic day 18, E18) heal with scar formation. Even though both types of wounds are generated in the same sterile uterine environment, scarless fetal wounds heal without inflammation, but a strong inflammatory response is observed in scar‐forming fetal wounds. We hypothesized that altered release of alarmins, endogenous molecules that trigger inflammation in response to damage, may be responsible for the age‐related changes in inflammation and healing outcomes in fetal skin. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the alarmin high‐mobility group box‐1 (HMGB‐1) is involved in fetal wound repair. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that in unwounded skin, E18 keratinocytes expressed higher levels of HMGB‐1 compared with E15 keratinocytes. After injury, HMGB‐1 was released to a greater extent from keratinocytes at the margin of scar‐forming E18 wounds, compared with scarless E15 wounds. Furthermore, instead of healing scarlessly, E15 wounds healed with scars when treated with HMGB‐1. HMGB‐1‐injected wounds also had more fibroblasts, blood vessels, and macrophages compared with control wounds. Together, these data suggest that extracellular HMGB‐1 levels influence the quality of healing in cutaneous wounds.
Flow-Induced Instability on High-Speed Mini Rotors in Laminar Flow
Authors: Dikmen Emre , van der Hoogt Peter J. M. , de Boer André , Aarts Ronald G. K. M. , Jonker Ben
Published: February 2013

In this study, a modeling approach is developed to examine laminar flow effects on the rotordynamic behavior of high-speed mini rotating machinery with a moderate flow confinement. The existing research work mostly focuses on the flow-induced forces in small gap systems, such as bearings and seals, in which the flow is mostly laminar and inertia effects are ignored. In other studies, medium gap systems are analyzed, taking the inertia effects into consideration, but the surrounding flow is considered as turbulent. However, in high speed mini rotating machinery, the large clearances and the high speeds make the inertia effects significant, even in the laminar flow regime. In the current study, the flow-induced forces resulting from the surrounding fluid are analyzed and these models are combined with the structural finite element (FE) models for determining the rotordynamic behavior. The structure is analyzed with finite elements based on Timoshenko beam theory. Flow-induced forces, which include inertia effects, are implemented into the structure as added mass-stiffness-damping at each node in the fluid confinement. The shear stress is modeled with empirical and analytical friction coefficients, and the stability, critical speeds, and vibration response of the rotor is investigated for different friction models. In order to validate the developed modeling approach, experiments were conducted on a specially designed setup at different support properties. By comparing the experiments with the theoretical models, the applicability of the different friction models are examined. It was found that the dynamic behavior is estimated better with empirical friction models compared to using the analytical friction models.
Growth and characterization of GaP/GaNP core/shell nanowires
Authors: Sukrittanon Supanee , Kuang YanJin , Tu Charles W.
Published: February 2013

This paper reports on self-catalyzed vertical GaP nanowires (NWs) and GaP/GaNP core/shell NWs grown on Si(111) by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. It was found that GaP NWs have a growth window from ∼585 °C to ∼615 °C. The low temperature limit is set by lack of adatom mobility, while the high temperature limit is set by unattainable supersaturation condition of vapor–liquid–solid growth. In the temperature window, the GaP NW diameter can be tailored by the growth temperature. A comparison of the photoluminescent spectrum between an ensemble GaP/GaNP core/shell NWs and a single NW shows that the broad and nearly identical width of the spectra probably does not originate from the variation of N composition among NWs but from the mechanism of light emission.
Applications of Statistics to Medicine and Medical Physics.
Authors: Sechopoulos Ioannis
Published: February 2013

Applications of Statistics to Medicine and Medical Physics., Nickoloff E., Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, WI, 2011. 284 pp. (hardcover). Price: $80.00. ISBN: 9781930524514.
Estimating the 4D respiratory lung motion by spatiotemporal registration and super‐resolution image reconstruction
Authors: Wu Guorong , Wang Qian , Lian Jun , Shen Dinggang
Published: February 2013

Purpose:

One of the main challenges in lung cancer radiation therapy is how to reduce the treatment margin but accommodate the geometric uncertainty of moving tumor. 4D‐CT is able to provide the full range of motion information for the lung and tumor. However, accurate estimation of lung motion with respect to the respiratory phase is difficult due to various challenges in image registration, e.g., motion artifacts and large interslice thickness in 4D‐CT. Meanwhile, the temporal coherence across respiration phases is usually not guaranteed in the conventional registration methods which consider each phase image in 4D‐CT independently. To address these challenges, the authors present a unified approach to estimate the respiratory lung motion with two iterative steps.

Methods:

First, the authors propose a novel spatiotemporal registration algorithm to align all phase images of 4D‐CT (in low‐resolution) to a high‐resolution group‐mean image in the common space. The temporal coherence of registration is maintained by a set of temporal fibers that delineate temporal correspondences across different respiratory phases. Second, a super‐resolution technique is utilized to build the high‐resolution group‐mean image with more anatomical details than any individual phase image, thus largely alleviating the registration uncertainty especially in correspondence detection. In particular, the authors use the concept of sparse representation to keep the group‐mean image as sharp as possible.

Results:

The performance of our 4D motion estimation method has been extensively evaluated on both the simulated datasets and real lung 4D‐CT datasets. In all experiments, our method achieves more accurate and consistent results in lung motion estimation than all other state‐of‐the‐art approaches under comparison.

Conclusions:

The authors have proposed a novel spatiotemporal registration method to estimate the lung motion in 4D‐CT. Promising results have been obtained, which indicates the high applicability of our method in clinical lung cancer radiation therapy.
Design and baseline characteristics of the PODOSA (Prevention of Diabetes & Obesity in South Asians) trial: a cluster, randomised lifestyle intervention in Indian and Pakistani adults with impaired glycaemia at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Authors: Douglas Anne , Bhopal Raj S , Bhopal Ruby , Forbes John F , Gill Jason M R , McKnight John , Murray Gordon , Sattar Naveed , Sharma Anu , Wallia Sunita , Wild Sarah , Sheikh Aziz
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To describe the design and baseline population characteristics of an adapted lifestyle intervention trial aimed at reducing weight and increasing physical activity in people of Indian and Pakistani origin at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Design

Cluster, randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Community-based in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Participants

156 families, comprising 171 people with impaired glycaemia, and waist sizes ≥90 cm (men) and ≥80 cm (women), plus 124 family volunteers.

Interventions

Families were randomised into either an intensive intervention of 15 dietitian visits providing lifestyle advice, or a light (control) intervention of four visits, over a period of 3 years.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome is a change in mean weight between baseline and 3 years. Secondary outcomes are changes in waist, hip, body mass index, plasma blood glucose and physical activity. The cost of the intervention will be measured. Qualitative work will seek to understand factors that motivated participation and retention in the trial and families’ experience of adhering to the interventions.

Results

Between July 2007 and October 2009, 171 people with impaired glycaemia, along with 124 family volunteers, were randomised. In total, 95% (171/196) of eligible participants agreed to proceed to the 3-year trial. Only 13 of the 156 families contained more than one recruit with impaired glycaemia. We have recruited sufficient participants to undertake an adequately powered trial to detect a mean difference in weight of 2.5 kg between the intensive and light intervention groups at the 5% significance level. Over half the families include family volunteers. The main participants have a mean age of 52 years and 64% are women.

Conclusions

Prevention of Diabetes & Obesity in South Asians (PODOSA) is one of the first community-based, randomised lifestyle intervention trials in a UK South Asian population. The main trial results will be submitted for publication during 2013.

Trial registration

Current controlled trialsISRCTN25729565(http://www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn/).
Neurological assessment of preterm infants for predicting neuromotor status at 2 years: results from the LIFT cohort
Authors: Leroux Bénédicte Gaillard , N'Guyen The Tich Sylvie , Branger Bernard , Gascoin Géraldine , Rouger Valérie , Berlie Isabelle , Montcho Yannis , Ancel Pierre-Yves , Rozé Jean-Christophe , Flamant Cyril
Published: February 2013

Objective

To develop a predictive risk stratification model for the identification of preterm infants at risk of 2-year suboptimal neuromotor status.

Design

Population-based observational study.

Setting

Regional preterm infant follow-up programme (Loire Infant Follow-up Team (LIFT) cohort) implemented in 2003.

Participants

4030 preterm infants were enrolled in the LIFT cohort, and examined by neonatologists using a modified version of the Amiel-Tison neurological assessment tool.

Main outcome criteria

2 year neuromotor status based on clinical examinations was conducted by trained paediatricians and parents’ responses to the Ages and Stages Questionnaire were reported.

Results

At 2 years of corrected age, 3321 preterm infants were examined, and suboptimal neuromotor status was found in 355 (10.7%). The study population was divided into training and validation sets. In the training set, 13 neonatal neurological items were associated with a 2-year suboptimal neuromotor status. Having at least one abnormal item was defined as an abnormal neurological status at term. In the validation set, these data predicted a 2-year suboptimal neuromotor status with a sensitivity of 0.55 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.62) and a specificity of 0.65 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.67). Two predictive risk stratification trees were built using the training set, which were based on the neurological assessment at term along with either gestational age or severe cranial lesions or birth weight. Using the validation set, the first tree identified a subgroup with a relatively low risk of suboptimal neuromotor status (3%), representing 32% of infants, and the second tree identified a subgroup with a risk of 5%, representing 42% of infants.

Conclusion

A normal neurological assessment at term allows the identification of a subgroup of preterm infants with a lower risk of non-optimal neuromotor development at 2 years.
A theory-driven, longitudinal evaluation of the impact of team training on safety culture in 24 hospitals
Authors: Jones Katherine J , Skinner Anne M , High Robin , Reiter-Palmon Roni
Published: February 2013

Background

Effective teamwork facilitates collective learning, which is integral to safety culture. There are no rigorous evaluations of the impact of team training on the four components of safety culture—reporting, just, flexible and learning cultures. We evaluated the impact of a year-long team training programme on safety culture in 24 hospitals using two theoretical frameworks.

Methods

We used two quasi-experimental designs: a cross-sectional comparison of hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPS) results from an intervention group of 24 hospitals to a static group of 13 hospitals and a pre-post comparison of HSOPS results within intervention hospitals. Dependent variables were HSOPS items representing the four components of safety culture; independent variables were derived from items added to the HSOPS that measured the extent of team training, learning and transfer. We used a generalised linear mixed model approach to account for the correlated nature of the data.

Results

59% of 2137 respondents from the intervention group reported receiving team training. Intervention group HSOPS scores were significantly higher than static group scores in three dimensions assessing the flexible and learning components of safety culture. The distribution of the adoption of team behaviours (transfer) varied in the intervention group from 2.8% to 31.0%. Adoption of team behaviours was significantly associated with odds of an individual reacting more positively at reassessment than baseline to nine items reflecting all four components of safety culture.

Conclusions

Team training can result in transformational change in safety culture when the work environment supports the transfer of learning to new behaviour.
Sexual and reproductive health in a UK cohort of young adults perinatally infected with HIV
Authors: Croucher Adam P , Jose Sophie , McDonald Susan , Foster Caroline , Fidler Sarah
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To assess sexual health and behaviour outcomes of young adults with perinatally acquired HIV-1 (PaHIV), and audit sexual health interventions against published standards of care.

Methods

Retrospective case note audit of 16–25-year-olds with PaHIV attending a dedicated transition clinic from January 2005 to 2011.

Results

Fifty-two young adults, 31 women, median age 20 years. 41 were sexually active; median age of coitarche 16 years. Median number of lifetime partners was 3.5, and five reported non-consensual sex. All had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) screen; 6 were diagnosed with an STI, genital warts (human papilloma virus) most frequently. The median interval from coitarche to first STI screen was 2 years. The pregnancy incidence was 103 per 1000 person years. 18/25 (72%) sexually active women had a cervical smear, four had colposcopy. All patients had hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology. 47 had not been vaccinated against HBV prior to transition. 23 completed HBV vaccination of which 11 had surface antibody >100 IU/ml at 1 year.

Conclusions

The majority of our cohort was sexually active while still under the care of paediatric health services. Cervical screening and hepatitis B vaccination rates fell short of audit standards. Vaccination for hepatitis B should be considered prior to transfer of care to adult HIV services.
HIV surveillance in MENA: recent developments and results
Authors: Bozicevic Ivana , Riedner Gabriele , Calleja Jesus Maria Garcia
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To provide an overview of the current level of development and results from the national HIV surveillance systems of the 23 countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and to assess the quality of HIV surveillance systems in the period 2007–2011.

Methods

A questionnaire was used to collect the information about the structure, activities and the results of HIV surveillance systems from the National AIDS Programmes. Assessment of the quality was based on four indicators: timeliness of data collection, appropriateness of populations under surveillance, consistency of the surveillance sites and groups measured over time, and coverage of the surveillance system.

Results

Only in four countries did surveillance systems enable assessment of epidemic trends in the same populations and locations over time, such as in pregnant women (Morocco, Iran), injecting drug users (Iran, Pakistan), female sex workers (Djibouti, Morocco) and male sex workers (Pakistan). There is increasing evidence of HIV infection being firmly established in at least one of the populations most at risk of HIV in nine MENA countries, while lower risk populations show elevated HIV prevalence in South Sudan, Djibouti and some parts of Somalia.

Conclusions

The performance of HIV surveillance systems in several of the MENA countries has improved in recent years. The extent of HIV epidemics in the populations most at risk of HIV is still largely unknown in 10 countries. Multiple data sources that most of the countries still lack would enable indirectly estimation not only of the patterns of HIV epidemics but also the effectiveness of HIV responses.
Complementary experiments for hydraulic modeling of multi-box culverts
Authors: Ho H.-C. , Muste M. , Plenner S. , Firoozfar A.R.
Published: February 2013

Culvert design must account for a large range of flow rates but most of the time culverts convey flows that are smaller than the design flow. Repeated high flows passing through the culverts lead to a gradual increase of the sediment deposits in the culvert vicinity, eventually resulting in reduced flow and sediment capacity. Sedimentation at culverts is quite an involved process due to the combined effect of flow non-uniformity and unsteadiness, as well as of the flow–sediment interaction. This paper reports results from a series of laboratory experiments aimed at understanding the hydro and morpho-dynamic changes occurring in the vicinity of a three-box culvert. For this purpose, velocity and turbulence characteristics upstream of the culvert were mapped globally and locally during the transition from an original flatbed to equilibrium sediment transport condition using contemporary acoustics, light detection and ranging, and image-based technologies. The experimental results reveal flow complexities not currently accounted for in the design of the multi-barrel culverts, but which can be detrimental for their long-term operation. Considerations on practical approaches to efficiently model the complexities were formulated.
LATTICE SPIN SIMULATIONS OF TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS IN BIAXIAL NEMATIC FILMS WITH HOMEOTROPIC SURFACE ALIGNMENT
Authors: PREETI GOURIPEDDI SAI , ZANNONI CLAUDIO , CHICCOLI CESARE , PASINI PAOLO , SASTRY VANKA S. S.
Published: February 2013

We present a detailed Monte Carlo study of the effects of biaxiality on the textures of nematic films with specific homeotropic boundary conditions. We have used the Straley generalized Hamiltonian for a wide range of biaxial parameters and the differences obtained in the polarized microscopy images are analyzed for the various cases.
CHARACTERIZATION OF HORIZONTAL GAS–LIQUID TWO-PHASE FLOW USING MARKOV MODEL-BASED COMPLEX NETWORK
Authors: HU LI-DAN , JIN NING-DE , GAO ZHONG-KE
Published: February 2013

Horizontal gas–liquid two-phase flow widely exists in many physical systems and chemical engineering processes. Compared with vertical upward gas–liquid two-phase flow, investigations on dynamic behavior underlying horizontal gas–liquid flows are quite limited. Complex network provides a powerful framework for time series analysis of complex dynamical systems. We use a network generation method based on Markov transition probability to infer directed weighted complex networks from signals measured from horizontal gas–liquid two-phase flow experiment and find that the networks corresponding to different flow patterns exhibit different network structure. To investigate the dynamic characteristics of horizontal gas–liquid flows, we construct a number of complex networks under different flow conditions, and explore the network indices for each constructed network. In addition, we investigate the sample entropy of different flow patterns. Our results suggest that the network statistic can well represent the complexity in the transition among different flow patterns and further allows characterizing the interface fluctuation behavior in horizontal gas–liquid two-phase flow.
INTERPOLATION TECHNIQUES FOR SCATTERED DATA BY LOCAL RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION DIFFERENTIAL QUADRATURE METHOD
Authors: CHAN Y. L. , SHEN L. H. , WU C. T. , YOUNG D. L.
Published: February 2013

Interpolation techniques based on the local radial basis function differential quadrature (LRBF-DQ) method are proposed to interpolate the field values with arbitrarily given scattered data. The interpolation of more unknown field data from the limited known data is becoming an important research subject nowadays for the large-scale engineering analysis and design problems. Three new methods that utilize the field gradient, the governing equation, and both of them are undertaken. The geometric characteristics of the field values can therefore be taken into consideration by the field gradient. In the meantime the physical principle is able to be satisfied with the introduction of the governing equation whose merit is absent in the traditional interpolation techniques, such as the linear polynomial fitting (LPF) and the quadratic polynomial fitting (QPF) methods. The last method will take the advantages of both the methods of gradient and governing equation, namely the geometric characteristics and physical laws. Two numerical examples governed respectively by the three-dimensional (3D) Poisson and the 3D advection–diffusion equations are performed to demonstrate the accuracy and the stability of the present methods. The results are compared with those by the LPF and the QPF methods which show the current interpolation methods are more accurate and robust than the conventional ones.
Comparative Biology of γδ T Cell Function in Humans, Mice, and Domestic Animals
Authors: Holderness Jeff , Hedges Jodi F. , Ramstead Andrew , Jutila Mark A.
Published: February 2013

γδ T cells are a functionally heterogeneous population and contribute to many early immune responses. The majority of their activity is described in humans and mice, but the immune systems of all jawed vertebrates include the γδ T cell lineage. Although some aspects of γδ T cells vary between species, critical roles in early immune responses are often conserved. Common features of γδ T cells include innate receptor expression, antigen presentation, cytotoxicity, and cytokine production. Herein we compare studies describing these conserved γδ T cell functions and other, potentially unique, functions. γδ T cells are well documented for their potential immunotherapeutic properties; however, these proposed therapies are often focused on human diseases and the mouse models thereof. This review consolidates some of these studies with those in other animals to provide a consensus for the current understanding of γδ T cell function across species.
Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacodynamic Interactions of Rocuronium and Pancuronium
Authors: Shyam Kumar HariSrinivas , Durga Padmaja , Pathapati Rama Mohan , Tumkur Rajashekar Sujith , Narasimha Reddy Pothula , Ramachandran Gopinath
Published: February 2013

Background. We evaluated the pharmacodynamic interaction of the combination of pancuronium and Rocuronium by analyzing time-response relationship, quality of intubating conditions, changes in the hemodynamics, and cost effectiveness as compared to individual drugs.Methods. Sixty patients in the ASA-I category received either 10 ml of 0.9 mg/kg rocuronium (R) plus 10 ml of saline or 10 ml of 0.1 mg/kg pancuronium (P) plus 10 ml of saline or a combination (C) of 10 ml of 0.45 mg/kg R plus 10 ml of 0.05 mg/kg P according to randomization list. Neuromuscular function was measured up to maximal suppression of twitch height.Results. The mean times (sec) taken for twitch height to decrease to 50% of baseline in R, P, and C were36.84±2.54,74.60±4.94, and40.81±2.34, respectively. The mean cost of intubation per patient was316.71±83.61INR in group R,52.30±14.94INR in group P, and93.33±20.65INR in group C.Conclusions. The combination of P and R provides rapid and smooth intubation with minimal hemodynamic changes at a reasonably priced cost.
Intra-Golgi Transport: Roles for Vesicles, Tubules, and Cisternae
Authors: Martínez-Menárguez José A.
Published: February 2013

The Golgi complex is considered the central station of the secretory pathway where cargo proteins and lipids are properly modified, classified, packed into specific carriers and delivered to their final destinations. Early electron microscope studies showed the extraordinary structural complexity of this organelle. However, despite the large volume of incoming and outgoing traffic, it is able to maintain its architecture, although it is also flexible enough to adapt to the functional status of the cell. Many components of the molecular machinery involved in membrane traffic and other Golgi functions have been identified. However, some basic aspects of Golgi functioning remain unsolved. For instance, how cargo moves through the stack remains controversial and two classical models have been proposed: vesicular transport and cisternal maturation. Since neither of these models explains all the experimental data, a combination of these models as well as new models have been proposed. In this context, the specific role of the cisternae, vesicles and tubules needs to be clarified. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the Golgi organization and function, focusing on the mechanisms of intra-Golgi transport.
The Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Germinated Brown Rice Involves the Upregulation of the Apolipoprotein A1 and Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Genes
Authors: Imam Mustapha Umar , Ismail Maznah , Omar Abdul Rahman , Ithnin Hairuszah
Published: February 2013

Germinated brown rice (GBR) is rich in bioactive compounds, which confer GBR with many functional properties. Evidence of its hypocholesterolemic effects is emerging, but the exact mechanisms of action and bioactive compounds involved have not been fully documented. Using type 2 diabetic rats, we studied the effects of white rice, GBR, and brown rice (BR) on lipid profile and on the regulation of selected genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Our results showed that the upregulation of apolipoprotein A1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor genes was involved in the hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR. Additionally, in vitro studies using HEPG2 cells showed that acylated steryl glycoside, gamma amino butyric acid, and oryzanol and phenolic extracts of GBR contribute to the nutrigenomic regulation of these genes. Transcriptional and nontranscriptional mechanisms are likely involved in the overall hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR suggesting that it may have an impact on the prevention and/or management of hypercholesterolemia due to a wide variety of metabolic perturbations. However, there is need to conduct long-term clinical trials to determine the clinical relevance of the hypocholesterolemic effects of GBR determined through animal studies.
The Modified Simple Equation Method for Exact and Solitary Wave Solutions of Nonlinear Evolution Equation: The GZK-BBM Equation and Right-Handed Noncommutative Burgers Equations
Authors: Khan Kamruzzaman , Akbar M. Ali , Ali Norhashidah Hj. Mohd.
Published: February 2013

The modified simple equation method is significant for finding the exact traveling wave solutions of nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs) in mathematical physics. In this paper, we bring in the modified simple equation (MSE) method for solving NLEEs via the Generalized Zakharov-Kuznetsov-Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (GZK-BBM) equation and the right-handed noncommutative Burgers' (nc-Burgers) equations and achieve the exact solutions involving parameters. When the parameters are taken as special values, the solitary wave solutions are originated from the traveling wave solutions. It is established that the MSE method offers a further influential mathematical tool for constructing the exact solutions of NLEEs in mathematical physics.
A Dynamical Innovation Diffusion Model with Fuzzy Coefficient and Its Application to Local Telephone Diffusion in China
Authors: Liao Zhigao , Xu Jiuping , Yao Liming
Published: February 2013

This paper studies the innovation diffusion problem with the affection of urbanization, proposing a dynamical innovation diffusion model with fuzzy coefficient, and uses the shifting rate of people from rural areas stepping into urban areas to show the process of urbanization. The numerical simulation shows the diffusion process for telephones in China with Genetic Algorithms and this model is effective to show the process of innovation diffusion with the condition of urbanization process.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Oncologic Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Suzuki Rei , Irisawa Atsushi , Bhutani Manoop S.
Published: February 2013

Since the development of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the early 1990s, its application has been extended to various diseases. For pancreatic cancer, EUS-FNA can obtain specimens from the tumor itself with fewer complications than other methods. Interventional EUS enables various therapeutic options: local ablation, brachytherapy, placement of fiducial markers for radiotherapy, and direct injection of antitumor agents into cancer. This paper will focus on EUS-guided oncologic therapy for pancreatic cancer.
Macroscopic Modelling of Environmental Influence on Growth and Form of Sponges and Corals Using the Accretive Growth Model
Authors: Kaandorp Jaap A.
Published: February 2013

We discuss a macroscopical growth model which can be used to simulate growth forms of complex-shaped branching organisms with radiate accretive growth. This type of growth processes can be found in many different marine sessile organisms. We use scleractinian corals and a branching sponge as an example. With the radiate accretive growth model a wide range of morphologies and the influence of the physical environment (light and nutrient distribution by advection-diffusion) can be modelled. We show an (preliminary) example of how the accretive growth model can be coupled with a model of gene regulation and body plan formation in a branching sponge.
Incidence, Mortality, and Predictive Factors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Authors: Hosonuma Kenichi , Sato Ken , Yanagisawa Masatoshi , Kakizaki Satoru , Takagi Hitoshi , Hirato Junko , Mori Masatomo
Published: February 2013

Background. The study aims to analyze in detail the incidence, mortality using the standardized incidence ratio (SIR), and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), because no large case studies have focused on the detailed statistical analysis of them in Asia.Methods. The study cohorts were consecutively diagnosed at Gunma University and its affiliated hospitals. Age- or sex-specific annual cancer incidence and deaths were obtained from Japanese Cancer Registry and Death Registry as a reference for the comparison of SIR or SMR of HCC. Moreover, univariate analyses and multivariate analyses were performed to clarify predictive factors for the incidence of HCC.Results. The overall 179 patients were followed up for a median of 97 months. HCC had developed in 13 cases. SIR for HCC was 11.6 (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.2–19.8) and SMR for HCC was 11.2 (95% CI, 5.4–20.6) in overall patients. The serum albumin levels were a predictive factor for the incidence of HCC in overall patients.Conclusions. The incidence and mortality of HCC in PBC patients were significantly higher than those in Japanese general population. PBC patients with low serum albumin levels were populations at high risk for HCC.
The Corrosion Resistance of Nickel Electrocomposite Coating Containing BaFe12O19 Particles
Authors: Aruna S. T. , Savitha G. , Shedthi Jyothi , William Grips V. K.
Published: February 2013

Electroplating composite coating is an effective method to prepare composite coating through the codeposition of metallic, nonmetallic, or polymer particles with metal to improve properties such as corrosion resistance, hardness, and wear performance. This paper reports the synthesis of a novel Ni-BaFe12O19 magnetic nanocomposite coating exhibiting improved corrosion resistance. In the present paper, BaFe12O19 particles were synthesized by a single-step solution combustion method and characterized for phase, particle size, and morphology. These particles were incorporated in a nickel metal matrix, and the properties of the coatings like nanohardness and corrosion resistance were investigated. The coating microstructure was also studied using field emission scanning electron microscope. A Vickers hardness of 777 HV was exhibited by Ni-BaFe12O19, and plain Ni coating exhibited a hardness of 517 HV. The Ni-BaFe12O19 composite coating exhibited improved corrosion resistance compared to plain Ni coating with an value of 0.034 μA/cm2 compared to 0.361 μA/cm2 for plain Ni. The Ni-BaFe12O19 coating also exhibited higher charge transfer and polarization resistance compared to plain Ni coating.
An Efficient Algorithm for the Reflexive Solution of the Quaternion Matrix EquationAXB+CXHD=F
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Qing-Wen , Jiang Jing
Published: February 2013

We propose an iterative algorithm for solving the reflexive solution of the quaternion matrix equationAXB+CXHD=F. When the matrix equation is consistent over reflexive matrixX, a reflexive solution can be obtained within finite iteration steps in the absence of roundoff errors. By the proposed iterative algorithm, the least Frobenius norm reflexive solution of the matrix equation can be derived when an appropriate initial iterative matrix is chosen. Furthermore, the optimal approximate reflexive solution to a given reflexive matrixX0can be derived by finding the least Frobenius norm reflexive solution of a new corresponding quaternion matrix equation. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Chronic Ulcers in Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease): Updating Epidemiology, Physiopathology, and Bosentan—A Novel Strategy of Therapy
Authors: López de Maturana Ignacio , Rodriguez Javier , González Carmen , Bleda Silvia , de Haro Joaquin , Acin Francisco
Published: February 2013

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) or Buerger's disease is associated with both distal ulcers in the extremities and the possibility of amputation. The only treatment that has been shown to be effective in TAO is complete abstention from smoking. In spite of this, the disease progresses in up to 30 percent of cases and finally results in limb amputation. Only a few pharmacological and surgical options are available to date to improve healing ulcers in TAO. The efficacy of prostaglandin analogues is controversial. This paper summarizes the current evidence for medical treatment with bosentan in chronic ulcers in TAO patients. These available data up to date allow us to conclude that the beneficial effects of bosentan on improving endothelial function, inflammatory processes, and selective vasodilatation of damaged vessels result in a clinical enhancement regarding healing and preventive digital ulcers in such patients. In any case, these promising findings have to be confirmed with larger randomised trials.