bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tasa de desempleo: ¿puede medir los problemas de absorción de la fuerza de trabajo en países en desarrollo?
Authors: SYLLA Ndongo Samba
Published: April 2013

La definición estadística «estándar» de desempleo suele criticarse porque excluye a muchas personas, consideradas ocupadas o inactivas, cuya situación es comparable en realidad a la de desempleo. El autor analiza los problemas metodológicos y estadísticos asociados a esta definición, así como su inadecuación a los países en desarrollo, donde el empleo es muy heterogéneo. Demuestra además que la tasa de desempleo tiende a subestimar el excedente de oferta de mano de obra y es un mal indicador del déficit de trabajo decente. Por último, destaca sus límites en tanto que orientador de la política económica.
Segregación por género en el sector manufacturero formal de la India
Authors: CHATTOPADHYAY Molly , CHAKRABORTY Sonali , ANKER Richard
Published: April 2013

Mediante el cálculo de un índice de disimilitud con datos de la Encuesta Anual de Industrias, los autores constatan que la segregación por género en las manufacturas indias entre 1989–1990 y 2000–2001 disminuyó, aunque debido sobre todo a cambios en la estructura sectorial del empleo, y no tanto a la integración de género. El índice resultó sensible al número de grupos de industrias establecido en la clasificación utilizada para el cálculo. Tanto a escala nacional como estatal, las mujeres tienen muy pocas oportunidades de empleo formal, concentradas en ciertos sectores manufactureros tradicionalmente femeninos, como los de alimentos, tabaco, confección, hilado y textil.
LIBROS
Authors: Fudge Judy
Published: April 2013

Books reviewed in this issue.

A right to care? Unpaid care work in European employment law. Por Nicole BUSBY.

Gender, law and justice in a global market. Por Ann STEWART.
Use and Acceptance of AAC Systems by Children with Angelman Syndrome
Authors: Calculator Stephen N.
Published: April 2013

Background

This investigation of children with Angelman syndrome (AS) examined reported uses of electronic augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices (i.e. VOCAs), including speech generating devices, in relation to other aided and unaided methods of communication.

Materials and Method

A total of 122 parents of children with AS, mostly from the USA self‐administered a survey over the Internet. Qualitative methods based primarily on thematic analysis were used to organize and examine data.

Results

Children relied heavily on unaided methods of communication such as natural gestures, regardless of their experiences with electronic communication devices. Parents cited various reasons for children's acceptance or rejection of their most advanced devices.

Discussion

Clinical implications are discussed in relation to children's needs for multimodal methods of communication, including accurately matching children's capabilities to AAC device characteristics. Practitioners are encouraged to consider reasons that parents cited for children's acceptance versus rejection of devices when implementing AAC programs.
New‐Generation Drug‐Eluting Stents: Focus on Xience V® Everolimus‐Eluting Stent and Resolute® Zotarolimus‐Eluting Stent
Authors: VAN DYCK CHRISTOPHE J. , HOYMANS VICKY Y. , HAINE STEVEN , VRINTS CHRISTIAAN J.
Published: April 2013

Compared to bare metal stent angioplasty, first‐generation drug‐eluting stents (DES) have markedly reduced the incidence of in‐stent restenosis. However, given the increased concerns over late and very late stent thrombosis, newer‐generation DES were developed. To date, these DES have virtually replaced the use of first‐generation DES worldwide. In this review article, we carefully consider the pre‐clinical and clinical trials that have been performed with currently available, european conformity‐marked and Food and Drug Administration–approved new‐generation Resolute® and Xience V® DES. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:278–286)
Synaptic dysfunction in human immunodeficiency virus type‐1‐positive subjects: inflammation or impaired neuronal plasticity?
Authors: Avdoshina V. , Bachis A. , Mocchetti I.
Published: April 2013

Many people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV) exhibit mild or severe neurological problems, termed HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), even when receiving antiretroviral therapy. Thus, novel adjunctive therapies must be developed to overcome the neurotoxic effect of HIV. New therapies require a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HIV‐induced neurotoxicity and the risk factors that, besides inflammation and T‐cell depletion and drugs of abuse, render the central nervous system (CNS) a target of HIV‐induced neurotoxicity. HIV appears to impair neuronal plasticity, which refers to the innate ability of the CNS respond to injury and promote recovery of function. The availability of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a potent neurotrophic factor that is present in abundance in the adult brain, is essential for neuronal plasticity. BDNF acts through a receptor system composed of Trk and p75NTR. Here, we present experimental evidence that some of the clinical features of HIV‐mediated neurological impairment could result from altered BDNF/TrkB/p75NTR regulation and function.
Does Language Affect Personality Perception? A Functional Approach to Testing the Whorfian Hypothesis
Authors: Chen Sylvia Xiaohua , Benet‐Martínez Verónica , Ng Jacky C. K.
Published: April 2013

Whether language shapes cognition has long been a controversial issue. The present research adopts a functional approach to examining the effects of language use on personality perception and dialectical thinking. We propose that language use activates corresponding cultural mindsets, which in turn influence social perception, thinking, and behavior. Four studies recruited Chinese‐English bilinguals (N = 129 in Study 1, 229 in Study 2, 68 in Study 3, 106 in Study 4) and used within‐subjects and between‐subjects design, written and behavioral reports, and self‐ and other perceptions. The four studies converged to show that Chinese‐English bilinguals exhibit higher dialectical thinking and more variations in self‐ and observer ratings of personality when using the Chinese language than when using English. Furthermore, dialectical thinking predicted more self‐ and other‐perceived variations in personality and behavior across bilingual contexts. These results highlight the important role of culture in understanding the relations between language and cognition, and attest to the malleability of personality perception and dialectical thinking within and across individuals in response to culture‐related linguistic cues.
Sesamol prevents doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage and toxicity on H9c2 cardiomyoblasts
Authors: Nayak Pawan G , Paul Piya , Bansal Punit , Kutty Nampurath Gopalan , Pai Karkala Sreedhara Ranganath
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Exposure to toxicants like doxorubicin (Dox) damages cellular components by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). This can be attenuated using free radical scavengers and/or antioxidants.

Methods

Dox-exposed cardiac myoblasts (H9c2 cells) were treated with sesamol (12.5, 25 and 50 μm), a natural phenolic compound. Intracellular ROS inhibition, cell viability and analysis of antioxidant and biochemical markers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced/oxidized glutathione, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content were performed. The effect of sesamol treatment on the cytotoxic and genotoxic parameters was studied by monitoring the signalling proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway.

Key findings

Dox triggered cellular and genetic damage by increasing levels of intracellular ROS, thereby decreasing cell viability and increasing apoptosis. Sesamol reversed the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Dox. In addition, sesamol attenuated the pro-apoptotic proteins and improved the anti-apoptotic status. Sesamol pre-treatment also alleviated the disturbed antioxidant milieu by preventing ROS production and improving endogenous enzyme levels.

Conclusions

Among the different doses tested, 50 μm of sesamol showed maximum protection against Dox-induced oxidative damage. This reflects the significance of sesamol in ameliorating the deleterious effects associated with cancer chemotherapy.
Nutrient enrichment increased species richness of leaf litter fungal assemblages in a tropical forest
Authors: Kerekes Jennifer , Kaspari Michael , Stevenson Bradley , Nilsson R. Henrik , Hartmann Martin , Amend Anthony , Bruns Thomas D.
Published: April 2013

Microbial communities play a major role in terrestrial ecosystem functioning, but the determinates of their diversity and functional interactions are not well known. In this study, we explored leaf litter fungal diversity in a diverse Panama lowland tropical forest in which a replicated factorialN,P,Kand micronutrient fertilization experiment of 40 × 40 m plots had been ongoing for nine years. We extractedDNAfrom leaf litter samples and used fungal‐specific amplification and a 454 pyrosequencing approach to sequence two loci, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU)D1 region. Using a 95% sequence similarity threshold forITS1 spacer recovered a total of 2523 OTUs, and the number of uniqueITS1OTUs per 0.5–1.0 g leaf litter sample ranged from 55 to 177.Ascomycotawere the dominant phylum among the leaf litter fungi (71% of theOTUs), followed byBasidiomycota(26% of theOTUs). In contrast to our expectations based on temperate ecosystems, long‐term addition of nutrients increased, rather than decreased, species richness relative to controls. Effect of individual nutrients was more subtle and seen primarily as changes in community compositions especially at lower taxonomic levels, rather than as significant changes in species richness. For example, plots receiving P tended to show a greater similarity in community composition compared to the other nutrient treatments, the +PK, +NKand +NPKplots appeared to be more dominated by theNectriaceaethan other treatments, and indicator species for particular nutrient combinations were identified.
Architecture and assembly of the Gram‐positive cell wall
Authors: Beeby Morgan , Gumbart James C. , Roux Benoît , Jensen Grant J.
Published: April 2013

The bacterial cell wall is a mesh polymer of peptidoglycan – linear glycan strands cross‐linked by flexible peptides – that determines cell shape and provides physical protection. While the glycan strands in thin ‘Gram‐negative’ peptidoglycan are known to run circumferentially around the cell, the architecture of the thicker ‘Gram‐positive’ form remains unclear. Using electron cryotomography, here we show that Bacillus subtilis peptidoglycan is a uniformly dense layer with a textured surface. We further show it rips circumferentially, curls and thickens at free edges, and extends longitudinally when denatured. Molecular dynamics simulations show that only atomic models based on the circumferential topology recapitulate the observed curling and thickening, in support of an ‘inside‐to‐outside’ assembly process. We conclude that instead of being perpendicular to the cell surface or wrapped in coiled cables (two alternative models), the glycan strands in Gram‐positive cell walls run circumferentially around the cell just as they do in Gram‐negative cells. Together with providing insights into the architecture of the ultimate determinant of cell shape, this study is important because Gram‐positive peptidoglycan is an antibiotic target crucial to the viability of several important rod‐shaped pathogens including Bacillus anthracis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium difficile.
Seeking the Pathos of God in a Secular Age: Theological Reflections on Mystical Experience in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Bingemer Maria Clara
Published: April 2013

Our current context is a “moving” and unstable one. We are facing not only a time of change, but what Pope Benedict XVI terms “an epochal change.” The impact of this transformation upon religion is unmistakable. In this article I reflect on one aspect of this impact: the one that affects and transforms the experience of God, also called mystical experience. I explore the concept of experience, trying to give a more precise idea of what we understand by mystical experience. I then reflect on the importance of mystical biographies and narratives to theology, including the particular characteristics that emerge when this narrative is about the mystical experiences of twentieth‐century people of faith. I present the specific “case” of Dorothy Day as an exemplification of mystical experience. I conclude with several reflections about how human beings find the way towards God in our secular.
Derivation and validation of a prediction score for acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure in a Chinese cohort
Authors: Wang Yin‐na , Cheng Hong , Yue Tong , Chen Yi‐pu
Published: April 2013

Aims

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication among patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF), and is associated with increased mortality. The goal of this study was to derive and validate a prediction score for AKI in AHF patients.

Methods

The hospital medical records of 1709 patients with AHF were reviewed. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) of ≥26.4 μmol/L or ≥50% within 48 h. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken to develop a new prediction score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the Hosmer‐Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit statistic test were calculated to assess the discrimination and calibration of the prediction score, respectively.

Results

Acute kidney injury developed in 32.2% of patients with AHF. Factors independently associated with the risk of AKI included: ≥70 years of age, ≥3 previous hospital admissions for AHF, systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, serum sodium <130 mmol/L, heart functional class IV, proteinuria, SCr ≥104 μmol/L and intravenous furosemide dose ≥80 mg/day. A prediction score for AKI was derived based on the β coefficients of each risk factor. Patients with ≥8 points would be considered at high risk for development of AKI (55.1% incidence vs 18% in those with <8 points, P < 0.001). Both the derived and validated datasets showed adequate discrimination (area under ROC curve was 0.76 in both datasets) and calibration (Hosmer‐Lemeshow statistic test, P = 0.98 and 0.13, respectively).

Conclusion

The newly derived and validated clinical prediction score may effectively predict AKI in the patients hospitalized with AHF.
Jasmonate signalling: a copycat of auxin signalling?
Authors: PÉREZ A. CUÉLLAR , GOOSSENS A.
Published: April 2013

Plant hormones regulate almost all aspects of plant growth and development. The past decade has provided breakthrough discoveries in phytohormone sensing and signal transduction, and highlighted the striking mechanistic similarities between the auxin and jasmonate (JA) signalling pathways. Perception of auxin and JA involves the formation of co‐receptor complexes in which hormone‐specific E3‐ubiquitin ligases of the SKP1‐Cullin‐F‐box protein (SCF) type interact with specific repressor proteins. Across the plant kingdom, the Aux/IAA and the JASMONATE‐ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins correspond to the auxin‐ and JA‐specific repressors, respectively. In the absence of the hormones, these repressors form a complex with transcription factors (TFs) specific for both pathways. They also recruit several proteins, among which the general co‐repressor TOPLESS, and thereby prevent the TFs from activating gene expression. The hormone‐mediated interaction between the SCF and the repressors targets the latter for 26S proteasome‐mediated degradation, which, in turn, releases the TFs to allow modulating hormone‐dependent gene expression. In this review, we describe the similarities and differences in the auxin and JA signalling cascades with respect to the protein families and the protein domains involved in the formation of the pathway‐specific complexes.
Managing Production and Distribution for Supply Chains in the Processed Food Industry
Authors: Azoury Katy S. , Miyaoka Julia
Published: April 2013

We develop and evaluate a modeling approach for making periodic review production and distribution decisions for a supply chain in the processed food industry. The supply chain faces several factors, including multiple products, multiple warehouses, production constraints, high transportation costs, and limited storage at the production facility. This problem is motivated by the supply chain structure at Amy's Kitchen, one of the leading producers of natural and organic foods in the United States. We develop an enhanced myopic two‐stage approach for this problem. The first stage determines the production plan and uses a heuristic, and the second stage determines the warehouse allocation plan and uses a non‐linear optimization model. This two‐stage approach is repeated every period and incorporates look‐ahead features to improve its performance in future periods. We validate our model using actual data from one factory at Amy's Kitchen and compare the performance of our model to that of the actual operation. We find that our model significantly reduces both inventory levels and stockouts relative to those of the actual operation. In addition, we identify a lower bound on the total costs for all feasible solutions to the problem and measure the effectiveness of our model against this lower bound. We perform sensitivity analysis on some key parameters and assumptions of our modeling approach.
Mothers' experiences of feeding babies born with cleft lip and palate
Authors: Lindberg Nina , Berglund Anna‐Lena
Published: April 2013

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) in newborns have implications for feeding. It might impede the child's attempts to seal around the nipple and to create intraoral pressure. Parents needed support and information about feeding after birth. Mothers' own experiences and how they coped with the challenges related to feeding have not been extensively studied. The aims of this study were twofold: to describe the experiences of feeding for mothers of children born with CLP and to elucidate how the mothers cope with the challenges related to feeding. A qualitative descriptive method and phenomenographic analysis were used to analyse the narratives. Twelve mothers of babies with CLP were strategically selected and interviewed. A semi‐structured interview guide was used. Ethical approval for the study was granted by the local ethical committee. The findings resulted in two main categories and five subcategories. The first main category, Being a capable and good mother, included descriptions associated with the mothers' strong desire to do what was best for the child and about how they experienced feeding. The second main category, Coping with the challenges related to feeding, included descriptions of what the mothers perceived as important in order to cope with the challenges related to feeding; of how personal resources were used; of the significance of the father and close family; and of how healthcare professionals contributed. In conclusion, mothers of children born with CLP were in need of individual information by healthcare professionals with expertise, at the time of the diagnosis and until the feeding was manageable. Furthermore, the mothers' personal resources, the fathers and immediate family were of major importance for the mothers to cope with challenges related to feeding.
Identification of MAIN, a factor involved in genome stability in the meristems of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Wenig Ulrich , Meyer Stefan , Stadler Ruth , Fischer Simon , Werner Dagmar , Lauter Anja , Melzer Michael , Hoth Stefan , Weingartner Magdalena , Sauer Norbert
Published: April 2013

Stem cells in the root and shoot apical meristem provide the descendant cells required for growth and development throughout the lifecycle of a plant. We found that mutations in the Arabidopsis MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN) gene led to plants with distorted stem cell niches in which stem cells are not maintained and undergo premature differentiation or cell death. The malfunction of main meristems leads to short roots, mis‐shaped leaves, reduced fertility and partial fasciation of stems. MAIN encodes a nuclear‐localized protein and is a member of a so far uncharacterized plant‐specific gene family. As main mutant plants are hypersensitive to DNA‐damaging agents, expression of genes involved in DNA repair is induced and dead cells with damaged DNA accumulate in the mutant meristems, we propose that MAIN is required for meristem maintenance by sustaining genome integrity in stem cells and their descendants cells.
Positive immunostaining for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in a Sphinx cat with cutaneous lesions and bilateral panuveitis
Authors: Bauer Bianca S. , Kerr Moira E. , Sandmeyer Lynne S. , Grahn Bruce H.
Published: April 2013

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a common, fatal, systemic disease of cats. This case report describes the antemortem diagnosis ofFIPin a 2‐year‐old spayed female Sphinx cat that presented with a bilateral panuveitis and multiple papular cutaneous lesions. Histopathologically, the skin lesions were characterized by perivascular infiltrates of macrophages, neutrophils, with fewer plasma cells, mast cells, and small lymphocytes in the mid‐ to deep dermis. Immunohistochemistry for intracellular feline coronavirus (FeCoV) antigen demonstrated positive staining in dermal macrophages providing an antemortem diagnosis of a moderate, nodular to diffuse, pyogranulomatous perivascular dermatitis due toFIPinfection. Obtaining an antemortem diagnosis ofFIPcan be a challenge and cutaneous lesions are rare in the disease. Recognition and biopsy of any cutaneous lesions in cats with panuveitis and suspectedFIPcan help establish an antemortem diagnosis of the disease.
A modified collagen gel enhances healing outcome in a preclinical swine model of excisional wounds
Authors: Elgharably Haytham , Roy Sashwati , Khanna Savita , Abas Motaz , DasGhatak Piya , Das Amitava , Mohammed Kareem , Sen Chandan K.
Published: April 2013

Collagen‐based dressings are of great interest in wound care. However, evidence supporting their mechanism of action is scanty. This work provides first results from a preclinical swine model of excisional wounds, elucidating the mechanism of action of a modified collagen gel (MCG) dressing. Following wounding, wound‐edge tissue was collected at specific time intervals (3, 7, 14, and 21 days postwounding). On day 7, histological analysis showed significant increase in the length of rete ridges, suggesting improved biomechanical properties of the healing wound tissue. Rapid and transient mounting of inflammation is necessary for efficient healing. MCG significantly accelerated neutrophil and macrophage recruitment to the wound site on day 3 and day 7 with successful resolution of inflammation on day 21. MCG induced monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 expression in neutrophil‐like human promyelocytic leukemia‐60 cells in vitro. In vivo, MCG‐treated wound tissue displayed elevated vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Consistently, MCG‐treated wounds displayed significantly higher abundance of endothelial cells with increased blood flow to the wound area indicating improved vascularization. This observation was explained by the finding that MCG enhanced proliferation of wound‐site endothelial cells. In MCG‐treated wound tissue, Masson's trichrome and picrosirius red staining showed higher abundance of collagen and increased collagen type I:III ratio. This work presents first evidence from a preclinical setting explaining how a collagen‐based dressing may improve wound closure by targeting multiple key mechanisms. The current findings warrant additional studies to determine whether the responses to the MCG are different from other collagen‐based products used in clinical setting.
Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy.
Authors: Amos Richard A.
Published: April 2013

Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy., Ma C.‐M., Lomax T., Hendee William R., CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2013. 250 pp. (hardcover). Price: $129.95. ISBN: 9781439816073. © 2013 Doody's Review Service. Doody's Review Service
Serrate-Mediated Cis-Inhibition
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: April 2013

Cis-inhibition of Notch signaling by Serrate is mediated by a portion of the extracellular domain of Serrate.
Effect of Three Drugs against Encephalitozoon cuniculi Infection in Immunosuppressed Mice
Authors: Lallo Maria Anete , da Costa Lidiana F. Vidoto , de Castro João Manoel
Published: April 2013

Microsporidia comprise a large group of obligate intracellular parasites. The microsporidian
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
causes disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients with HIV, cancer, or transplants and in the elderly.
In vivo
and
in vitro
studies on the effectiveness of drugs are controversial. Currently, there is no effective treatment. We tested albendazole, albendazole sulfoxide, metronidazole, and cyclosporine in mice immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide and inoculated by the intraperitoneal route with 10
7
E. cuniculi
spores. One week after experimental inoculation, the mice were treated with albendazole, albendazole sulfoxide, metronidazole, and cyclosporine. Histological and morphometric analyses were performed to compare the treated groups. The state of immunosuppression was evaluated by phenotyping CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells by flow cytometry. Nontreated mice showed acute disseminated and fatal encephalitozoonosis. The treatment with benzimidazoles significantly reduced infection until 30 days posttreatment (p.t.), but at 60 days p.t., the infection had recurred. Metronidazole decreased infection by a short time, and cyclosporine was not effective. All animals were immunosuppressed by all the experiments, as demonstrated by the low number of CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells. We conclude that no drug was effective against
E. cuniculi
, but the benzimidazoles controlled the infection transiently.
Changes to Its Peptidoglycan-Remodeling Enzyme Repertoire Modulate β-Lactam Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Cavallari Joseph F. , Lamers Ryan P. , Scheurwater Edie M. , Matos Andrea L. , Burrows Lori L.
Published: April 2013

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and is resistant to many antibiotics. Among its primary mechanisms of resistance is expression of a chromosomally encoded AmpC β-lactamase that inactivates β-lactams. The mechanisms leading to AmpC expression in
P. aeruginosa
remain incompletely understood but are intricately linked to cell wall metabolism. To better understand the roles of peptidoglycan-active enzymes in AmpC expression—and consequent β-lactam resistance—a phenotypic screen of
P. aeruginosa
mutants lacking such enzymes was performed. Mutants lacking one of four lytic transglycosylases (LTs) or the nonessential penicillin-binding protein PBP4 (
dacB
) had altered β-lactam resistance.
mltF
and
slt
mutants with reduced β-lactam resistance were designated WIMPs (wall-impaired mutant phenotypes), while highly resistant
dacB
,
sltB1
, and
mltB
mutants were designated HARMs (high-level AmpC resistant mutants). Double mutants lacking
dacB
and
sltB1
had extreme piperacillin resistance (>256 μg/ml) compared to either of the single knockouts (64 μg/ml for a
dacB
mutant and 12 μg/ml for an
sltB1
mutant). Inactivation of
ampC
reverted these mutants to wild-type susceptibility, confirming that AmpC expression underlies resistance.
dacB
mutants had constitutively elevated AmpC expression, but the LT mutants had wild-type levels of AmpC in the absence of antibiotic exposure. These data suggest that there are at least two different pathways leading to AmpC expression in
P. aeruginosa
and that their simultaneous activation leads to extreme β-lactam resistance.
A hiding in the lining: painful pericardial cyst
Authors: Masood Abdul-Mannan , Ali Omair M , Sequeira Reginald
Published: April 2013

A pericardial cyst is a rare and benign congenital malformation, usually discovered in the third or fourth decade of life. Its clinical presentation is variable, as it may be asymptomatic or present with chest pain, shortness of breath, or rarely with cardiac tamponade and arrhythmias. We present an interesting case of a woman presenting with chest pain who was found to have a pericardial cyst.
Fragment reattachment of fractured anterior teeth in a young patient with a 1.5-year follow-up
Authors: Ninawe Nupur , Doifode Deoyani , Khandelwal Vishal , Nayak Prathibha Anand
Published: April 2013

Crown fracture of maxillary anterior teeth is relatively common among children and teenagers. Aesthetic rehabilitation of crown fractures of the maxillary anterior is one of the greatest challenges to the dentist. Reattachment of a fractured fragment to the remaining tooth can provide better and long-lasting aesthetics, improved function, a positive psychological response and is a faster and less-complicated procedure. This article presents a case of reattachment of anterior tooth with a coronal fracture involving enamel, dentin and pulp with a 1.5-year follow-up.
A liver abscess presenting as bowel obstruction and perforation
Authors: Rusman Jan
Published: April 2013

A 69-year-old cachexic man presented with tachycardia and hypotension on a background of 7 days of vomiting and constipation. He was not obviously in pain. He had a raised white cell count of 24.8×109/l, and a lactate of 2.2 mmol/l. A chest x-ray had the appearance of free air under the diaphragm and he was suspected of having a bowel obstruction with perforation. An abdominal CT scan showed instead a large fluid and gas-filled hepatic abscess, and a second smaller simple cyst. The abscess was percutaneously drained, and the purulent fluid drained grewStreptococcus milleri. The patient was discharged home 2 weeks later.
Isospectral hermitian counterpart of complex nonhermitian Hamiltonian p2 – gx4 + a/x2
Authors: Nanayakkara Asiri , Mathanaranjan Thilagarajah
Published: April 2013

We show that the nonhermitian Hamiltonians H = p2 – gx4 + a/x2 and the conventional hermitian Hamiltonians h = p2 + 4gx4 + bx [Formula: see text] are isospectral if a = (b2 – 4gℏ2)/16g and a ≥ –ℏ2/4. This new class includes the equivalent nonhermitian–hermitian Hamiltonian pair, p2 – gx4 and [Formula: see text] found by Jones and Mateo six years ago as a special case. When a = (b2 – 4gℏ2)/16g and a < –ℏ2/4 although h and H are still isospectral, b is pure imaginary, and h is no longer the hermitian counterpart of H.
NATURAL ENDOMORPHISMS OF SHUFFLE ALGEBRAS
Authors: FOISSY LOÏC , PATRAS FRÉDÉRIC
Published: April 2013

We show that there exist two natural endomorphism algebras for shuffle bialgebras such as Sh (X), where X is a graded set. One of these endomorphism algebras is a natural extension of the Malvenuto–Reutenauer Hopf algebra and is defined using graded permutations. The other one, the dendriform descent algebra, is a subalgebra of the first defined by mimicking the definition of the descent algebras by convolution from the graded projections in the tensor algebra. We study these algebras for their own, show that they carry bidendriform structures and establish freeness properties, study their generators, dimensions, bases, and also feature their relations to the internal structure of shuffle algebras. As an application of these ideas, we give a new proof of Chapoton's rigidity theorem for shuffle bialgebras.
ON RINGS DETERMINED BY ZERO PRODUCTS
Authors: GHAHRAMANI HOGER
Published: April 2013

Let [Formula: see text] be a ring. We say that [Formula: see text] is zero product determined if for every additive group [Formula: see text] and every bi-additive map [Formula: see text] the following holds: if ϕ(a, b) = 0 whenever ab = 0, then there exists an additive map [Formula: see text] such that ϕ(a, b) = T(ab) for all [Formula: see text]. In this paper, first we study the properties of zero product determined rings and show that semi-commutative and non-commutative rings are not zero product determined. Then, we will examine whether the rings with a nontrivial idempotent are zero product determined. As applications of the above results, we prove that simple rings with a nontrivial idempotent, full matrix rings and some classes of operator algebras are zero product determined rings and discuss whether triangular rings and upper triangular matrix rings are zero product determined.
ON A CLASS OF NORMAL ENDOMORPHISMS OF GROUPS
Authors: DE GIOVANNI FRANCESCO , NEWELL MARTIN L. , RUSSO ALESSIO
Published: April 2013

It is proved that if θ is an endomorphism of a group G such that 〈x, xθ〉 is cyclic for all elements x of G, then θ is a normal endomorphism of G, i.e. it commutes with all inner automorphisms of G.
THE EXISTENCE OR NONEXISTENCE OF NON-COMMUTING GRAPHS WITH PARTICULAR PROPERTIES
Authors: AKBARI M. , MOGHADDAMFAR A. R.
Published: April 2013

We consider the non-commuting graph ∇(G) of a non-abelian finite group G; its vertex set is G\Z(G), the set of non-central elements of G, and two distinct vertices x and y are joined by an edge if [x, y] ≠ 1. We determine the structure of any finite non-abelian group G (up to isomorphism) for which ∇(G) is a complete multipartite graph (see Propositions 3 and 4). It is also shown that a non-commuting graph is a strongly regular graph if and only if it is a complete multipartite graph. Finally, it is proved that there is no non-abelian group whose non-commuting graph is self-complementary and n-cube.
CARTAN–EILENBERG GORENSTEIN PROJECTIVE COMPLEXES
Authors: YANG GANG , LIANG LI
Published: April 2013

In the paper, we study Cartan–Eilenberg (CE) Gorenstein projective complexes, and we give some homological descriptions of the CE Gorenstein projective dimension of complexes.
FINITE GROUPS IN WHICH ALL NONABELIAN SUBGROUPS ARE TI-SUBGROUPS
Authors: SHI JIANGTAO , ZHANG CUI
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we show that G is a finite group in which every nonabelian subgroup is a TI-subgroup if and only if every nonabelian subgroup of G is normal in G.
DIRECT SUMS OF H-SUPPLEMENTED MODULES
Authors: KURATOMI YOSUKE
Published: April 2013

A module M is said to be H-supplemented if, for any submodule X of M, there exists a direct summand M′ of M such that M = X + Y if and only if M = M′ + Y for all Y ⊆ M (cf. [S. H. Mohamed and B. J. Müller, Continuous and Discrete Modules, London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series, Vol. 147 (Cambridge University Press, 1999)]). We say that a module M is semi-lifting if any direct summand of M is H-supplemented. A H-supplemented module is a dual to a Goldie-extending module which was introduced by Akalan–Birkenmeier–Tercan [Goldie extending modules, Comm. Algebra37 (2009) 663–683]. In this paper, we give some characterizations of semi-lifting modules and H-supplemented modules. In addition, we consider generalizations of relative projectivities and apply them to the study of direct sums of semi-lifting modules.
THE LOCUS OF SMOOTH PLANE CURVES WITH A SEXTACTIC POINT
Authors: FARAHAT M. A.
Published: April 2013

Let Mg be the moduli space of isomorphism classes of genus g smooth curves over ℂ. We show that the locus S2d-r ⊂ Mg whose general points represent smooth plane curves of degree d ≥ 4 with a sextactic point of sextactic order 2d - r, where r ∈ {0, 1, 2}, is an irreducible and rational subvariety of codimension d(d - 4) + 2 - r of Mg. These results generalize those results introduced by the author in case of quartic curves (see K. Alwaleed and M. Farahat, The locus of smooth quartic curves with a sextactic point, Appl. Math. Inf. Sci.7(2) (2013) 509–513).
A NEW MEASURE FOR PARTY COHERENCE: APPLYING A PHYSICS-BASED CONCEPT TO THE SWISS PARTY SYSTEM
Authors: CHRISTEN MARKUS , OTT THOMAS , SCHWARZ DANIEL
Published: April 2013

The paper revives a theoretical definition of party coherence as being composed of two basic elements, cohesion and factionalism, to propose and apply a novel empirical measure based on spin physics. The simultaneous analysis of both components using a single measurement concept is applied to data representing the political beliefs of candidates in the Swiss general elections of 2003 and 2007, proposing a connection between the coherence of the beliefs party members hold and the assessment of parties being at risk of splitting. We also compare our measure with established polarization measures and demonstrate its advantage with respect to multi-dimensional data that lack clear structure. Furthermore, we outline how our analysis supports the distinction between bottom-up and top-down mechanisms of party splitting. In this way, we are able to turn the intuition of coherence into a defined quantitative concept that, additionally, offers a methodological basis for comparative research of party coherence. Our work serves as an example of how a complex systems approach allows to get a new perspective on a long-standing issue in political science.
THE INVESTIGATION OF NON-OSCILLATING STRUCTURE OF THE PHOTODETACHMENT CROSS SECTION OF MOLECULAR ANION USING TRADITIONAL THEORETICAL IMAGING METHOD
Authors: HANEEF MUHAMMAD , ARIF SUNEELA , AKBAR JEHAN , SHAH NASRULLAH , ZAHIR MUHAMMAD
Published: April 2013

Using traditional theoretical imaging method, we predict invisible oscillations in the photodetachment cross section of [Formula: see text] near a thin soft surface. A laser which is polarized parallel to the surface is used to knock off electron from [Formula: see text]. Analytical expressions are derived for detached electron flux and photodetachment cross section. The results depend on the inter ion surface distance and separation of the atomic centers of the molecular anion. It is found that the surface strongly affects the detached electron flux and the photodetachment cross section. Unlike the detached electron flux the cross section displays non-oscillating structure. The non-oscillating structure is attributed to the parallel orientation of the laser polarization direction with the thin elastic surface.
Synthesis, spectral and electrochemical properties of a novel phosphorous(V)-phthalocyanine
Authors: Isago Hiroaki , Fujita Harumi , Hirota Misako , Sugimori Tamotsu , Kagaya Yutaka
Published: April 2013

A novel phosphorous(V)-phthalocyanine, [ P ( tppc )( OH )( O )], where tppc denotes tetrakis{(2′,6′-dimethyl)phenoxy}phthalocyaninate, has been synthesized and its spectral properties in non-aqueous and aqueous media have been investigated. This compound has been found free from aggregation in EtOH whereas forms J-aggregates in CH 2 Cl 2 and acetonitrile, suggesting the presence of chemical interaction between the axial ligand and the surrounding solvent molecules. The most intense absorption band (Q-band) appears at 683 nm in EtOH , however, reaction with CF 3 COOH has given rise to a large red shift of the Q-band without lowering of its C 4 symmetry (evidenced by magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy), indicating protonation at the axial site. Its fluorescence quantum yield has been determined (0.49 in EtOH ) and has been found much higher than those of the known Sb V or As V derivatives by more than one order of magnitude. The first reduction potential has been determined by cyclic voltammetry (-1.09 V vs. ferrocenium+/ferrocene) in CH 2 Cl 2. It is noteworthy that the Q-band maximum wavelength and the first reduction potential values are normal for conventional phthalocyanines despite the presence of pnictogen(V) in the cavity of the macrocyclic ligand.
MICROWAVE-ASSISTED SYNTHESIS AND CATALYTIC PERFORMANCE OF HIERARCHICAL Cu2O NANOSTRUCTURES
Authors: GONG XUE-YUN , GAO YU-PENG , WANG LI-BO , GUO PENG-FEI
Published: April 2013

Hierarchical Cu 2 O nanostructures have been successfully fabricated on a large scale using copper acetate and glucose as starting reactants, CTAB as an additive via a microwave-assisted process. The influences of CTAB dosage and reaction time on the morphology of the products were investigated. The resulting Cu 2 O nanostructures were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). FESEM images show that the Cu 2 O nanostructures are microsphere, which are composed of nanoparticles. The concentration of CTAB plays a key role in the growth of Cu 2 O nanostructures under experimental conditions. The possible formation mechanism of these hierarchical Cu 2 O nanostructures has been proposed. Meanwhile, the catalytic performances of these Cu 2 O microspheres for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were investigated using DSC. The results revealed that Cu 2 O have a great influence on the thermal decomposition of AP. The additions of Cu 2 O powders lower the high decomposition temperature of AP.
NONSTATIONARY TIME SERIES CONVOLUTION: ON THE RELATION BETWEEN THE HILBERT–HUANG AND FOURIER TRANSFORM
Authors: NEUKIRCH MAIK , GARCIA XAVIER
Published: April 2013

The Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) decomposes time series into intrinsic mode functions (IMF) in time-frequency domain. We show that time slices of IMFs equal time slices of Fourier series, where the instantaneous parameters of the IMF define the parameters amplitude and phase of the Fourier series. This leads to the formulation of the theorem that nonstationary convolution of an IMF with a general time domain response function translates into a multiplication of the IMF with the respective spectral domain response function which is explicitly permitted to vary over time. We conclude and show on a real world application that a de-trended signal's IMFs can be convolved independently and then be used for further time-frequency analysis. Finally, a discussion is opened on parallels in HHT and the Fourier transform with respect to the time-frequency domain.
An internet-scale idea generation system
Authors: Yu Lixiu , Nickerson Jeffrey V.
Published: April 2013

A method of organizing the crowd to generate ideas is described. It integrates crowds using evolutionary algorithms. The method increases the creativity of ideas across generations, and it works better than greenfield idea generation. Specifically, a design space of internet-scale idea generation systems is defined, and one instance is tested: a crowd idea generation system that uses combination to improve previous designs. The key process of the system is the following: A crowd generates designs, then another crowd combines the designs of the previous crowd. In an experiment with 540 participants, the combined designs were compared to the initial designs and to the designs produced by a greenfield idea generation system. The results show that the sequential combination system produced more creative ideas in the last generation and outperformed the greenfield idea generation system. The design space of crowdsourced idea generation developed here may be used to instantiate systems that can be applied to a wide range of design problems. The work has both pragmatic and theoretical implications: New forms of coordination are now possible, and, using the crowd, it is possible to test existing and emerging theories of coordination and participatory design. Moreover, it may be possible for human designers, organized as a crowd, to codesign with each other and with automated algorithms.
Demo hour
Authors: Takahashi Yoichi , Matoba Yasushi , Koike Hideki , Cassinelli Alvaro , Angesleva Jussi , Watanabe Yoshihiro , Frasca Gonzalo , Ishikawa Masatoshi , Hirsch Matthew , Izadi Shahram , Holtzman Henry , Raskar Ramesh , Bonnard Quentin , Legge Amanda , Geiduschek Anna , Kaplan Frédéric , Dillenbourg Pierre
Published: April 2013

Demo Hour highlights new prototypes and projects that exemplify innovation and novel forms of interaction.

Audrey Desjardins, Editor
Cherry-picking and the Scientific Method
Authors: Neville-Neil George
Published: April 2013

So while haggling with the cherry seller, it became obvious that buying a whole flat of cherries would be a better deal than buying a single basket, even though that was all we really wanted. Not wanting to pass up a deal, however, my friend bought the entire flat and off we went, eating and talking. It took another 45 minutes to get home, and during that time we had eaten more than half the flat of cherries. I couldn’t look at anything even remotely cherry-flavored for months; and today, when someone says cherry-picking, that doesn’t conjure up happy images of privileged kids playing farmer on Saturday mornings along the California coast, I just feel ill.
Effect of Water on the Electrochemical Reduction of Methyl 2-Bromomethylbenzoate at Carbon Cathodes in Dimethylformamide
Authors: Allen Caroline R. , Brown Drew K. , Potts Jessica L. , Ji Chang
Published: April 2013

Cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis have been employed to examine the electrochemical reduction of methyl 2-bromomethylbenzoate at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide containing tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate. A cyclic voltammogram for the reduction of the substrate exhibits one irreversible cathodic wave with a peak potential of -1.45 V vs. SCE, which is due to the two-electron cleavage of the carbon-bromine bond. The corresponding reductive peak current also increases incrementally with the amount of water in solvent. Bulk electrolyses of methyl 2-bromomethylbenzoate have been carried out at -1.85 V vs. SCE with different concentrations of water present in dimethylformamide. The reduction process involves carbanion intermediates to afford various products including phthalide, which is generated via intramolecular cyclization that is affected by water. Detailed mechanism for the electrochemical reaction is proposed and discussed.
Strip-Loaded Waveguide Optical Isolator Employing Nonreciprocal Guided-Radiation Mode Conversion
Authors: Yokoi Hideki , Takaki Kouji
Published: April 2013

An optical isolator employing a nonreciprocal guided-radiation mode conversion has been investigated. The optical isolator is comprised of a strip-loaded magneto-optic waveguide. Only backward-traveling TM modes can couple to TE radiation modes so that the device acts as a TM-mode optical isolator. Fabrication tolerance of waveguide parameters are discussed for a strip-loaded magneto-optic waveguide optical isolator and a rib waveguide optical isolator.
Dependence of ZnO:Ga Film Microstructure on the Magnetron Sputtering Conditions and Relation to the Thornton Zone Model
Authors: Yamamoto Naoki , Morisawa Kirihiko
Published: April 2013

The magnetron sputtering conditions used to form ZnO:Ga films and the correspondence to the Thornton zone model were studied for the development of transparent electrodes for electronic devices applications. The microstructures of ZnO:Ga films formed at 180 °C (Zone I) and 250 °C (Zone T) were significantly different and were related to the electrical properties of the films. Films thinner than ca. 200 nm formed at 250 °C had a lower resistivity than those formed at 180 °C. In contrast, the resistivity of films formed at 180 °C that were thicker than ca. 200 nm was less than that of the films formed at 250 °C. The resistivity of a 5-μm-thick 180 °C film was as low as 2.2 μΩ·m.
Electrical Conductivity and Microstructure of NiO-CGO Composites Prepared By One-Step Synthesis
Authors: Macedo Daniel Araújo de , Figueiredo Filipe M.L. , Patrício Sónia G. , Nascimento Rubens M. , Martinelli Antonio Eduardo , Paskocimas Carlos A. , Marques Fernando M.B.
Published: April 2013

The correlation between the microstructure and electrical properties of NiO-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (NiO-CGO) composites prepared by a one-step synthesis method is reported in the present work, and compared to conventional samples synthesized by mechanically mixing commercial powders. Samples sintered between 1350 and 1450 °C had their microstructures and electrical properties investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance spectroscopy. The total electrical conductivity in the range of 100 – 500 °C of one-step composites is more than one order of magnitude higher than for conventional material. This result is associated to the presence of a network of well-connected and homogeneously distributed NiO grains shown by SEM for the one-step composite, which is responsible for its improved percolative behavior and lower activation energy (0.24 eV at 250 – 650 °C).