bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Latest Carboniferous (Late Gzhelian) Fusulinids from Timor Leste and their Paleobiogeographic Affinities
Authors: Davydov Vladimir I. , Haig David W. , McCartain Eujay
Published: May 2014

An uppermost Gzhelian bioherm discovered in the central highlands of Timor Leste contains abundant foraminifera belonging to 17 genera. Representatives of the families Biseriamminidae, Biwaellidae, Bradyinidae, Cornuspiridae, Lasiodiscidae, Palaeotextulariidae, Pseudotaxidae, Ozawainellidae, Schubertellidae, Schwagerinidae, Staffellidae and Textrataxidae are present, including 21 species referred to known types and 12 species left in open nomenclature. Two new Schwagerina species are described: Schwagerina timorensis new species, and Schwagerina maubissensis new species. The assemblage belongs to the uppermost Gzhelian Schwagerina robusta–Ultradaixina bosbytauensis Zone although a possible lowest Asselian correlation cannot be excluded (the name Ultradaixina is controversial and sometimes synonymized as Bosbytauella. The case to resolve this issue has been submitted to the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature). The bioherm is the oldest carbonate unit so far recorded from the Maubisse Formation and the oldest sedimentary unit biostratigraphically dated in Timor. This discovery has implications for the latest Carboniferous–earliest Permian climate history of Timor that lay in the northern part of the north-south East Gondwana rift system along which the western margin of Australia later developed. The highest peak in fusulinid diversity within the Pennsylvanian–Cisuralian interval and a major marine transgression documented in many regions in Northern Pangaea took place during the latest Gzhelian to earliest Asselian and evidence for this is now extended to southern Pangaea. Cluster analysis, using the Jaccard similarity index at species level, of late Gzhelian fusulinids from 16 regions has been performed. This shows that the Timor fauna is most closely related to faunas from South China and the Changning-Menlian region of Yunnan (China). The assemblages here are distinct from those of three biogeographic regions (Arctic, Uralo-Asian and Irano-Taurids) recognized within the Tropical belt.
New Chondrichthyans from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) of Seymour and James Ross Islands, Antarctica
Authors: Otero Rodrigo A. , Gutstein Carolina Simon , Vargas Alexander , Rubilar-Rogers David , Yury-Yañez Roberto , Bastías Joaquin , Ramírez Cristián
Published: May 2014

We present new records of chondrichthyans recovered from strata of Maastrichtian age of the López de Bertodano Formation, Seymour (=Marambio) Island, and from levels of latest Campanian age of the Santa Marta Formation, James Ross Island, both located in the eastern Antarctic Peninsula. The material from Marambio Island comprises an associated assemblage with the first records of an indeterminate odontaspidid different fromOdontaspis, as well as the generaPristiophorus,Squatina,Paraorthacodus, and the speciesChlamydoselachus taterefrom the López de Bertodano Formation. Also, the studied section provides a well-constrained age for several taxa already recognized in the López de Bertodano Formation only by scattered samples of Maastrichtian age for the first time. The assemblage from Marambio Island is representative of one of the latest environmental conditions during the end of the Cretaceous in the coastal seas of the Larsen Basin before major changes that began after the K/P boundary. In addition, the finds from James Ross Island comprise the southernmost records of the neoselachiansCretalamnasp.,Centrophoroidessp., as well as the holocephalansCallorhinchussp. and an indeterminate rhinochimaerid, extending the occurrence of some of these taxa into the late Campanian, being their oldest record of the Weddellian Biogeographic Province.
The shortest distance between two points isn't always a great circle: getting around landmasses in the calibration of marine geodisparity
Authors: Wu Shuang-Ye , Miller Arnold I.
Published: May 2014

In the assessment of Phanerozoic marine global biodiversity, there has been longstanding interest in quantifying compositional similarities among sampling points as a function of their distances from one another (geodisparity). Previous research has demonstrated that faunal similarity between any two locations tends to decrease significantly as the great circle distance (GCD) between the locations increases, but the rate of decrease begins to stabilize at transoceanic distances. The accuracy of these assessments, and comparisons among different temporal intervals, may suffer, however, because of intervening landmasses that are not accounted for when distance is calibrated simply as GCD. Here, we present a new method for determining the shortest overwater distance (WD) between two marine locations, and we use the method to recalibrate for several Phanerozoic intervals previous measures of global geodisparity in the taxonomic compositions of marine biotas. WD was determined by using a cost-distance approach in ArcGIS, modified to work on a spherical, as opposed to a planar, surface. Results demonstrate two notable effects of using WD. First, mean compositional similarity between locations tends to decrease more continuously as a function of distance with WD than with GCD. Second, pairs of locations with WDs that are at least 50% greater than their GCDs tend to have lower compositional similarity to one another than those with more closely matching WDs and GCDs. These differences are expected as WD better represents the “true” distance between locations; they diminish at GCDs of 5000 km or more when clear, transoceanic paths between locations become more common. Despite these effects, using WD does not alter fundamental temporal trends in global geodisparity through the Phanerozoic observed in previous research, but it is likely to have more significant ramifications for more confined paleobiogeographic investigations.
Assessing the effect of time-scaling methods on phylogeny-based analyses in the fossil record
Authors: Bapst David W.
Published: May 2014

Phylogeny-based approaches can be used to infer diversification dynamics and the rate and pattern of trait change. Applying these analyses to fossil data often requires time-scaling a cladogram of morphotaxon relationships. Although several time-scaling methods have been developed for this purpose, the incomplete sampling of the fossil record can distort the apparent timing of branching. It is unclear how well different time-scaling methods reconstruct the true temporal relationships or how any such inaccuracy could affect tree-based evolutionary analyses. I developed process-based simulations of the fossil record that allow the comparison of approximated time-scaled trees to true time-scaled trees. I used this simulation framework to test the effect of time-scaling methods on the fidelity of several commonly applied tree-based analyses, across a range of simulation conditions. When the fidelity of time-scaling methods differed, the stochastic “cal3”time-scaling method with ancestral assignment produced preferable results. Estimating rates and models of continuous trait evolution was particularly sensitive to bias from scenarios that forced the insertion of many short branch lengths, a bias that is not solved by any of the considered time-scaling methods in all scenarios. Thecal3method of time-scaling can be recommended as the preferred time-scaling method among those tested, but caution must be exercised because tree-based analyses are prone to easily overlooked biases.
Is U.S. climatic diversity well represented within the existing federal protection network?
Authors: Batllori Enric , Miller Carol , Parisien Marc-André , Parks Sean A. , Moritz Max A.
Published: May 2014

Establishing protection networks to ensure that biodiversity and associated ecosystem services persist under changing environments is a major challenge for conservation planning. The potential consequences of altered climates for the structure and function of ecosystems necessitates new and complementary approaches be incorporated into traditional conservation plans. The conterminous United States of America (CONUS) has an extensive system of protected areas managed by federal agencies, but a comprehensive assessment of how this network represents CONUS climate is lacking. We present a quantitative classification of the climate space that is independent from the geographic locations to evaluate the climatic representation of the existing protected area network. We use this classification to evaluate the coverage of each agency's jurisdiction and to identify current conservation deficits. Our findings reveal that the existing network poorly represents CONUS climatic diversity. Although rare climates are generally well represented by the network, the most common climates are particularly underrepresented. Overall, 83% of the area of the CONUS corresponds to climates underrepresented by the network. The addition of some currently unprotected federal lands to the network would enhance the coverage of CONUS climates. However, to fully palliate current conservation deficits, large‐scale private‐land conservation initiatives will be critical.
Seismic study of the Jurassic deformation and sedimentation of the southwestern Paris basin: a low subsiding domain transition to the Aquitaine basin
Authors: Lenoir Fabien , Guillocheau François , Robin Cecile , Lasseur Eric , Serrano Olivier , Beccaletto Laurent
Published: May 2014

The main goal of this study is a better knowledge of the deformation and sedimentary evolution of the southwestern part of the Paris basin, a low subsiding domain, at the transition between the Paris and Aquitaine basins. This study is based on the analysis of industrial seismic lines reprocessed by the BRGM (French Geological Survey), calibrated on petroleum wells, water supply wells (coming from the BSS, BRGM database) and outcrops.

Four second order (10 Ma and multiples) transgressive-regressive cycles were defined on facies evolution on dated sediments. There are similar to those defined in the central part of the Paris basin, with some differences on the age limits. Seven seismic units, bounded by time-lines, were mapped. Isopach map and wells correlations show four main results. (1) The Mid-Cimmerian (Toarcian-Aalenian) and Neo-Cimmerian (Berriasian) medium to long wavelength deformations are well recorded (with truncations) in this area. (2) Two main phases of extension, contemporaneous with the Tethys Alpine rift, of Early to Middle Liassic and Early Bajocian ages were characterized. The first one was mapped at the scale of France. (3) A medium to long wavelength flexural subsidence regime, initiated during Bathonian, occurred during Callovian to Oxfordian times, contemporaneous with the progradation of a carbonate platform toward the SSW. (4) Some major basement faults were active during all the Jurassic whatever the type of subsidence.
Tertiary ground birds from Patagonia (Argentina) in the Tournouër collection of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris
Authors: Buffetaut Eric
Published: May 2014

Avian fossils collected by André Tournouër in Patagonia during the early years of the 20th century are described. A small phorusrhacid (Psilopterus cf. affinis) is reported from the Deseadan (Late Oligocene). The Santacrucian (Early Miocene) remains belong to a rheid (Opisthodactylus patagonicus), phorusrhacids (Psilopterus sp., Phorusrhacos longissimus) and a brontornithid (Brontornis burmeisteri). Several characters of the lower jaw of Brontornis differ from those of phorusrhacids and support the inclusion of brontornithids in Anseriformes.
Tracking composition of microbial communities for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in polyurethane foam
Authors: Chen Yuan , Wang Li , Ma Fang , Yang Ji-xian , Qiu Shan
Published: May 2014

The process of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) of immobilized microorganisms in polyurethane form is discussed. The effect of different positions within the polyurethane carrier on microbial community response for the SND process is investigated by a combination of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of the 16S rRNA gene V3 region and scanning electron microscopy. Results show that polyurethane, which consists of a unique porous structure, is an ideal platform for biofilm stratification of aerobe, anaerobe and facultative microorganisms in regard to the SND process. The community structure diversity response to different positions was distinct. The distributions of various functional microbes, detected from the surface aerobic stratification to the interior anaerobic stratification of polyurethane, were mainly nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. Meanwhile aerobic denitrifying bacteria such as Paracoccus sp., Agrobacterium rubi and Ochrobactrum sp. were also adhered to the interior and surface of polyurethane. The SND process occurring on polyurethane foam was carried out by two independent processes: nitrogen removal and aerobic denitrification.
Biodiesel production by microalgae cultivated using permeate from membrane bioreactors in continuous system
Authors: Low Siok Ling , Ong Say Leong , Ng How Yong
Published: May 2014

Microalgae in three submerged ceramic membrane photobioreactors (SCMPBRs) with different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were fed with permeate of a submerged ceramic membrane bioreactor for a period of 3 months to investigate the lipid content and also the biodiesel quality produced at different HRTs. The lipid content, lipid productivity and fatty acid compositions for all three SCMPBRs were not significantly different at the 95% confidence level. These results suggested that insigniﬁcant change in the amount of fatty acids was observed at different HRTs that supplied varying concentration of nitrate in the medium. Among the fatty acids, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were the main components, whereas stearic acid was a minor fatty acid. Since there was insignificant effect of HRT on lipid content, lipid productivity and fatty acid compositions, the optimum HRT for SCMPBRs can then be designed based on optimum nutrient removal performance and low membrane fouling propensity.
The thin-layer drying characteristics of sewage sludge by the appropriate foaming pretreatment
Authors: Wang Hui-Ling , Yang Zhao-Hui , Huang Jing , Wang Li-Ke , Gou Cheng-Liu , Yan Jing-Wu , Yang Jian
Published: May 2014

As dewatered sludge is highly viscous and sticky, the combination of foaming pretreatment and drying process seems to be an alternative method to improve the drying performance of dewatered sludge. In this study, CaO addition followed by mechanical whipping was employed for foaming the dewatered sludge. It was found that the foams were stable and the diameters of bubbles mainly ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 mm. The drying experiments were carried out in a drying oven in the convective mode. The results indicated that foamed sludge at 0.70 g/cm3 had the best drying performance at each level of temperature, which could save 35–45% drying time to reach 20% moisture content compared with the non-foamed sludge. The drying rate of foamed sludge at 0.70 g/cm3 was improved with the increasing of drying temperature. The impact of sample thickness on drying rate was not obvious when the sample thickness increased from 2 to 8 mm. Different mathematical models were used for the simulation of foamed sludge drying curves. The Wang and Singh model represented the drying characteristics better than other models with coefficient of determination values over 0.99.
Suitability of anaerobic digestion effluent as process water for corn fuel ethanol fermentation
Authors: Wang Ke , Zhang Jian-Hua , Liu Pei , Mao Zhong-Gui
Published: May 2014

A corn fuel ethanol plant integrated with anaerobic digestion treatment of thin stillage increases the net energy balance. Furthermore, the anaerobic digestion effluent (ADE) can be reused as a potential substitute for process water in the ethanol fermentation. In this study, the suitability of ADE as process water for corn ethanol fermentation was investigated by analyzing the potential inhibitory components in the ADE. It was found that ammonium influenced the growth and metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Maximum ethanol production was obtained when the concentration of ammonium nitrogen was 200 mg/L, and ammonium could replace urea as the nitrogen source for S. cerevisiae under this concentration. In the ethanol fermentation with a higher concentration of ammonium, more glycerol was produced, thereby resulting in the decrease of ethanol production. In addition, components except ammonium in the ADE caused no inhibition to ethanol production. These results suggest that ADE could be reused as process water for corn ethanol fermentation without negative effect when ammonium concentration is well controlled.
Effect of selective organic fractions on denitrification rates using Salsnes Filter as primary treatment
Authors: Razafimanantsoa V. A. , Ydstebø L. , Bilstad T. , Sahu A. K. , Rusten B.
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this project was to investigate the effect of selective particle removal during primary treatment on downstream biological nutrient removal processes. Bench-scale Salsnes Filter fine mesh sieves were used as a primary treatment to obtain different organic fractions to test the effect on denitrification. Activated sludge and moving bed biofilm reactor anoxic tests were performed on municipal wastewater collected from two full-scale wastewater treatment plants located around the Oslo region (Norway). About 43% of the suspended solids in the wastewater was less than 18 μm, and 14% was between 18 and 150 μm. The effect of particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal on denitrification rates was very minor.
Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge with high solids content
Authors: Wang Feng , Hidaka Taira , Uchida Tsutomu , Tsumori Jun
Published: May 2014

The treatment performance of thermophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge with high solids content was investigated with two laboratory-scale thermophilic anaerobic reactors (R1 and R2) with a feeding of pre-centrifuged sewage sludge. Reactor R1 was fed with sludge of 3.7% total solids (TS). The volatile solids (VS) removal ratio and methane yield in the stable state were 54.9% and 0.29 NL CH4/g VSadded, respectively. For reactor R2, when the TS content of fed sludge was 7.4%, the VS removal ratio and methane yield in the stable state were 73.2% and 0.38 NL CH4/g VSadded, respectively. When the TS content was increased to 9.5%, the VS removal ratio and methane yield slightly decreased to 69.3% and 0.32 NL CH4/g VSadded, respectively, but the reactor was stably operated. An increase of ammonia concentration was observed, but it was in the safe range without severe inhibition on the methane production. The result indicated that thermophilic AD could support sewage sludge with high TS content (9.5%) without abrupt deterioration of the treatment performance. The high-solids AD process is an economical method for centralized sewage sludge treatment with lower transport cost.
Combined bio-regeneration and ion-exchange system for perchlorate removal
Authors: Bae B. U.
Published: May 2014

In order to prove that perchlorate-laden resins could be bio-regenerated through direct contact with perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB), a combined bio-regeneration and ion-exchange (IX) system was operated. Two kinds of perchlorate-laden resins, nitrate-selective A520E and perchlorate-selective A530E, were successfully regenerated by PRB cultivated under anaerobic conditions. The bio-regeneration efficiency of perchlorate-laden resins increased with the amount of flow passed through the IX column. When the fully exhausted resin was bio-regenerated for 10 days at the flow rate of 2 BV (bed volume)/min and mixed liquor suspended solids concentration of 80 mg/L, almost 100% of IX capacity was recovered. A520E resin had higher bio-regeneration efficiency than A530E under all conditions, probably due to the fact that the perchlorate ion is more strongly bonded to the functional group of perchlorate-selective A530E resin. Measurement of perchlorate concentrations in the column effluents also revealed that the amount of perchlorate eluted from A520E resin was higher than that from A530E resin. Since only 10–20% of perchlorate was eluted from the resin during 10 days of bio-regeneration, the main mechanism of bio-regeneration appears to be the direct reduction of perchlorate by PRB on the resin.
Outcomes of surgery for total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
Authors: Milovanovic Vladimir , Mimic Branko , Vulicevic Irena , Divac Ivan , Parezanovic Vojislav , Ilisic Tamara , Djukic Milan , Jovanovic Ida , Ilic Slobodan
Published: May 2014

Introduction. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare
congenital heart disease and in some variants represents the only true
surgical emergency in congenital heart surgery. Basic anatomical
characteristic of this anomaly is an abnormal connection of pulmonary veins
with systemic venous circulation. Although the results of TAPVC repair in
infancy have been markedly improved in recent years, the recurrent pulmonary
venous obstruction (RPVO) remains relatively frequent complication of
surgical treatment. Objective. The aim of this study was a retrospective
evaluation of TAPVC repair at a single institution, identifying the risk
factors associated with the increased mortality and morbidity. Methods.
Between January 2001 and January 2010, 43 consecutive patients underwent
repair of TAPVC at the University Children?s Hospital, with median weight of
3.8 kg (1.8-13 kg). Median age at surgery varied from 5 days to 5 years.
Distribution of TAPVC types was as follows: supracardiac 19 (44%), cardiac
12 (28%), infracardiac 9 (21%), and mixed 3 (7%). Eleven patients (26%) were
emergencies due to obstructed drainage. Results. Early mortality was 9.30%
(4/43). An average time of followup/survival for 95% interval of confidence
was 101.6?6.7 months. Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival was 83.7?5.7%.
Freedom from reintervention after 10 years was 87.2?0.5%. The principal
reason for reintervention was RPVO. Conclusion. Preoperative obstruction is
not a risk factor of early mortality and RPVO. Low body mass (below 2.5 kg)
is the only identified risk factor of early mortality. Complex morphology of
the confluens, particularly in a mixed type of TAPVR, is the main risk
factor of RPVO development.
Outcome among patients suffering from in-hospital cardiac arrest
Authors: Trpkovic Sladjana , Pavlovic Aleksandar , Bumbasirevic Vesna , Sekulic Ana , Milicic Biljana
Published: May 2014

Introduction. In relation to pre-hospital treatment of patients with cardiac
arrest (CA) in the field where resuscitation is often started by
nonprofessionals, resuscitation in hospital is most commonly performed by
well-trained personnel. Objective. The aim was to define the factors
associated with an improved outcome among patients suffering from the
inhospital CA (IHCA). Methods. The prospective study included a total of 100
patients in the Emergency Center over two-year period. The patterns by the
Utstein-Style guidelines recorded the following: age, sex, reason for
hospital admission, comorbidity, cause and origin of CA, continuous
monitoring, time of arrival of the medical emergency team and time of
delivery of the first defibrillation shock (DC). Results. Most patients (61%)
had cardiac etiology. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved
in 58% of patients. ROSC was more frequently achieved in younger patients
(57.69?11.37), (p<0.05), non-surgical patients (76.1%), (p<0.01) and in
patients who were in continuous monitoring (66.7%) (p<0.05). The outcome of
CPR was significantly better in patients who received advanced life support
(ALS) (76.6%) (p<0.01). Time until the delivery of the first DC shock was
significantly shorter in patients who achieved ROSC (1.67?1.13 min),
(p<0.01). A total of 5% of IHCA patients survived to hospital discharge.
Conclusion. In our study, the outcome of CPR was better in patients who were
younger and with non-surgical diseases, which are prognostic factors that we
cannot control. Factors associated with better outcome of IHCA patients were:
continuous monitoring, shorter time until the delivery of the first DC and
ALS. This means that better education of medical staff, better organization
and up-to-dated technical equipment are needed.
Attitudes and knowledge of nurses on organ legacy and transplantation
Authors: Vlaisavljevic Zeljko , Milutinovic Dragana , Milicic Biljana , Jesic-Vukicevic Rada
Published: May 2014

Introduction. Nurses represent an important link in mediating between the
potential donors and their relatives? consent to organ and tissue
transplantation. The message of the Health Department to potential donors
about the importance of organ donation was supported by the Serbian Orthodox
Church, the army and other institutions through media campaigns. Nurses could
contribute to this action by their personal example. Objective. The aim of
this study was identification and bivariate analysis of nurse attitude about
organ donation, their knowledge about the importance of transplantation as
treatment methods, as well as the connection between work experience and
education level with the formation of attitudes and new skills. Methods. In
this cross-sectional study, 291 nurses from the Clinical Center of Serbia,
Belgrade, filled in the questionnaire on the effect of correlation between
the length of the service and level of education on knowledge and attitudes
toward organ transplantation and organ donation. Results. Out of 291
respondents, 67.4% have completed the nursing school and 32.6% have higher
education. The majority (63.9%) of respondents knew that the EEG was the most
valid method for determining brain death. The question regarding the
possibility of buying organs was answered correctly by 68.7% of respondents.
A large majority (91%) would accept organ transplant, if needed, but only
32.0% would be organ donors, and only 0.3% owned a donor card. In contrast,
one third of nurses were already blood donors. Conclusion. In case of
necessary transplantation, nurses would accept someone else?s organ, though
they do not possess donor cards, but just few would donate their organs. It
is possible that prejudice arises from ignorance and distrust in the health
policy of the Republic of Serbia. However, besides negative attitude, nurses
have expressed interest in learning and professional development in the area
of transplantation.
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in isolated pulmonary capillaritis: Case report
Authors: Medenica Milic , Medenica Miras
Published: May 2014

Introduction. Pulmonary capillaritis is a small-diameter vessel vasculitis of
the lung, which may occur in isolation as in isolated pauci-immune
capillaritis, usually associated with the systemic vasculitis but it could be
also related to collagen vascular diseases and in lung transplant rejection.
Pulmonary capillaritis leads to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. The clinical
presentation includes symptoms like dyspnea, cough, pleuritic chest pain,
fever and hemoptysis. Case Outline. A 48 year-old female patient, smoker,
presented with progressive dyspnea. Serum tests for infectious diseases,
collagen disorders and vasculitis were negative. Radiography and computed
tomography of the chest showed diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Cytology of
bronchoalveolar lavage showed presence of siderophages. A thoracoscopic lung
biopsy was performed to clarify the diagnosis. The histopathological findings
showed capillaritis and diffuse intraalveolar hemorrhage. Patient was treated
with steroids, and good clinical and minimal radiographic response was
obtained. Recently described pauci-immune pulmonary capillaritis has been
characterized as p-ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) negative
isolated pulmonary capillaritis. Conclusion. Isolated pauci-immune pulmonary
capillaritis is a rare disease. First clinical manifestations of the isolated
pulmonary capillaritis were the symptoms of progressive dyspnea, radiographic
and functional signs of the interstitial fibrosis. At the same time, the
signs of extrapulmonary diseases were not found. Presence of siderophages in
bronchoalveolar lavage indicated alveolar hemorrhage. Histopathological tests
of the sample of the lung pointed to pulmonary capillaritis and intraalveolar
hemorrhage. Prolonged treatment with corticosteroids was necessary.
Dystrophic calcifications and Raynaud’s phenomenon in an eight-year old girl
Authors: Grebeldinger Slobodan , Tomic Jelena , Vijatov-Djuric Gordana , Radojcic Branka , Vuckovic Nada , Culafic Jelena
Published: May 2014

Introduction. Dystrophic calcifications are the most common subtype of skin
calcinosis. Tumorous soft tissue calcium deposits usually contain
hydroxyapatite and amorphous calcium phosphate. Differential diagnosis of
skin calcinosis encompasses Thibierge-Weissenbach syndrome, systemic
sclerosis, scleroderma, CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud?s phenomenon,
esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and telangiectasia), dermatomyositis,
systemic lupus erythematosus, ad myositis ossificans progressiva. Case
Outline. We present the case of an eight-year old girl with tumorous soft
tissue calcium deposits and Raynaud?s phenomenon. At the age of 3.5 years,
our patient was admitted to Pediatric Surgery Clinic because of bilateral
acrocyanosis localized at the fingertips area of hands, with the signs of
vascular trauma. Therapy with vasodilators and hyperbaric oxygen treatment
were completed. This therapy resulted in improvement. At the age of eight,
the patient was admitted again due to intermittent, painful cramps localized
in both hands. Punctiform deposits were present at the tips of fingers and
toes, which looked like calcifications and were spontaneously eliminated,
with the remnants of crater-shaped defects. A hard tumorous deformity
localized in soft tissue was present in the extensor area of the right elbow.
Laboratory indicators of inflammation were within the reference values, and
antinuclear antibodies were positive. A nodus localized at the right elbow
was extirpated. Pathohistological findings: connective and fat tissue with
large deposits of calcium. Conclusion. Further follow-up of our patient is
necessary due to possible development of complete picture of CREST syndrome
or systemic sclerosis.
Contemporary approach to primary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism regarding the impact of risk factors on anticoagulation therapy duration
Authors: Antonijevic Nebojsa , Jovanovic Ljubica , Djordjevic Valentina , Zivkovic Ivana , Vukcevic Miodrag , Apostolovic Milan , Kanjuh Vladimir
Published: May 2014

Adequate thromboprophylaxis primarily requires timely detection of reversible
and irreversible risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and their
categorization. It is important to note that the highest percentage of VTE
episodes occur in non-surgical (medical) patients and that VTE develops in a
large number of surgical patients upon hospital discharge; this emphasizes
the need for adequate VTE prevention in inflammatory diseases, acute medical
illness and other medical diseases as well as for prolonging and optimizing
the anticoagulant regimen after surgical intervention in the primary VTE
prophylaxis. As almost completely unrecognized and neglected major risk
factors of VTE in clinical practice, we particularly point out the chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure, especially in NYHA
functional class III and IV patients with significantly reduced left heart
ventricle. It is necessary to raise clinicians? awareness of a potential
danger from wrongly and one-sidedly interpreted dyspnea and coughing signs in
patients with COPD as typical symptoms of basic respiratory disease as well
as from ascribing the signs of disease aggravation in heart failure patients
exclusively to cardial status worsening, neglecting the possibility of having
unrecognized and untreated pulmonary embolism at issue. Contemporary way of
life enhances the development of new VTE risk factors such as traveler?s
thrombosis, in particular during long-haul flights as well as in individuals
sitting at a computer for prolonged periods (e-thrombosis). Determining and
recognizing VTE risk factors, especially those formerly neglected nonsurgical
ones and simultaneous presence of multiple risk factors within a given period
is required for defining an adequate anticoagulant regimen in primary VTE
prophylaxis for surgical and non-surgical (medical) patients.
A Predictive Ordered Logistic Regression Model as a Tool for Quality Review of Control Risk Assessments
Authors: Issa Hussein , Kogan Alexander
Published: May 2014

External auditors and management increasingly rely on control risk assessments conducted by internal auditors. Consequently, it is crucial to ensure the quality of such assessments and identify irregular instances that deviate from the normal pattern of assessments. Moreover, processing and prioritizing a large number of outlying internal auditors' assessments can help their superiors as well as external auditors overcome the human limitations of dealing with information overload and direct their investigations toward the more suspicious cases, consequently improving overall audit efficiency. In this paper, we use historic data consisting of control risk assessments procured from the internal audit department of a multinational consumer products company. It is used to infer an ordered logistic regression model to provide a quality review of internal auditors' and business owners' assessments of internal controls. We identify anomalous cases where the assessment does not conform to the expected value and develop a methodology to prioritize these outliers. The results indicate that the proposed model can serve as a quality review tool, thus improving audit efficiency, as well as a learning tool that non-experts can employ to gain expert-like knowledge. Additionally, the proposed ranking metrics proved effective in helping the auditors focus their efforts on the more problematic audits.
Enterprise Risk Management: Re-Conceptualizing the Role of Risk and Trust on Information Sharing in Transnational Alliances
Authors: Arnold Vicky , Benford Tanya S. , Hampton Clark , Sutton Steve G.
Published: May 2014

Globalization places greater emphasis on the development of transnational alliances. The greatest benefits from alliances are derived from high-level information sharing, but vulnerability escalates with information sharing. This study examines risk in transnational alliances based on a theoretical model drawing from enterprise risk management (ERM) as a strategic management effort. This theoretical model posits that ERM strategies focus on business risk as the primary determinant of alliance partner selection and continuity, particularly within global relationships, whereas prior management control research focused on trust. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of ERM on risk and trust associated with transnational alliances and the resulting impact on interorganizational information sharing. Survey data are gathered from 200 senior-level managers monitoring transnational alliances. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypothesized relationships. Results provide strong support for the research model, showing that high ERM is associated with decreased risk, increased trust, and enhanced information sharing. Given the ongoing debate over the relationship directionality between trust and risk, we conducted additional sensitivity testing. Competing models focusing on trust as the key control mechanism are tested to assess the strength of our research model. Our risk-oriented research model demonstrates stronger explanatory power than competing models. Overall, our results show ERM substantially alters strategic management of transnational alliances, and has become a major influence on interorganizational risk, trust, and information sharing.
A Randomized Trial of a Home System to Reduce Nocturnal Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Maahs David M. , Calhoun Peter , Buckingham Bruce A. , Chase H. Peter , Hramiak Irene , Lum John , Cameron Fraser , Bequette B. Wayne , Aye Tandy , Paul Terri , Slover Robert , Wadwa R. Paul , Wilson Darrell M. , Kollman Craig , Beck Roy W. ,   for the In Home Closed Loop Study Group
Published: May 2014

OBJECTIVE

Overnight hypoglycemia occurs frequently in individuals with type 1 diabetes and can result in loss of consciousness, seizure, or even death. We conducted an in-home randomized trial to determine whether nocturnal hypoglycemia could be safely reduced by temporarily suspending pump insulin delivery when hypoglycemia was predicted by an algorithm based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) glucose levels.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Following an initial run-in phase, a 42-night trial was conducted in 45 individuals aged 15–45 years with type 1 diabetes in which each night was assigned randomly to either having the predictive low-glucose suspend system active (intervention night) or inactive (control night). The primary outcome was the proportion of nights in which ≥1 CGM glucose values ≤60 mg/dL occurred.

RESULTS

Overnight hypoglycemia with at least one CGM value ≤60 mg/dL occurred on 196 of 942 (21%) intervention nights versus 322 of 970 (33%) control nights (odds ratio 0.52 [95% CI 0.43–0.64]; P < 0.001). Median hypoglycemia area under the curve was reduced by 81%, and hypoglycemia lasting >2 h was reduced by 74%. Overnight sensor glucose was >180 mg/dL during 57% of control nights and 59% of intervention nights (P = 0.17), while morning blood glucose was >180 mg/dL following 21% and 27% of nights, respectively (P < 0.001), and >250 mg/dL following 6% and 6%, respectively. Morning ketosis was present <1% of the time in each arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of a nocturnal low-glucose suspend system can substantially reduce overnight hypoglycemia without an increase in morning ketosis.
Evaluation of Tensile Retention of Y-TZP Crowns After Long-term Aging: Effect of the Core Substrate and Crown Surface Conditioning
Authors: Amaral R , Rippe M , Oliveira BG , Cesar PF , Bottino MA , Valandro LF
Published: May 2014

This study evaluated the effect of the core substrate type (dentin and composite resin) on the retention of crowns made of yttrium oxide stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP), submitted to three inner surface conditionings. For this purpose, 72 freshly extracted molars were embedded in acrylic resin, perpendicular to the long axis, and prepared for full crowns: 36 specimens had crown preparations in dentin; the remaining 36 teeth had the crowns removed, and crown preparations were reconstructed with composite resin plus fiber posts with dimensions identical to the prepared dentin. The preparations were impressed using addition silicone, and 72 Y-TZP copings for the tensile test were produced. Cementation was performed with a dual-cured cement containing phosphate monomers. For cementation, the crown preparation (dentin or resin) was conditioned with the adhesive system, and the ceramic was subjected to one of three surface treatments: isopropyl alcohol, tribochemical silica coating, or thin low-fusing glassy porcelain layer application plus silanization. After 24 hours, all specimens were submitted to thermocycling (6000 cycles) and placed in a special tensile testing device in a universal testing machine to determine failure loads. The failure modes of all samples were analyzed under a stereomicroscope. Two-way analysis of variance showed that the surface treatment and substrate type (α=0.05) affected the tensile retention results. The dentin substrate presented the highest tensile retention values, regardless of the surface treatment. When the substrate was resin, the tribochemical silica coating and low-fusing glaze application plus silanization groups showed the higher retention values.
Monocytopenia as a Diagnostic Clue to Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Rare Circulating Blasts
Authors: Park Sunita I. , Rogers Beverly B.
Published: May 2014

B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-LL) is the most common childhood cancer. Circulating blasts in the peripheral blood may be rare (≤1%) and missed, even when flow cytometric immunophenotyping is performed, leading to a false-negative report. The records from all patients with a new diagnosis of B-LL between January 2009 and December 2011 at our institution were reviewed. Of 130 cases with peripheral blood flow cytometry, 15 had a blast count of ≤1%, with 14 having electronic files for gating monocytes. The percentage of monocytes by flow cytometry and absolute monocyte counts (AMCs) were compared with peripheral blood samples that were negative by flow cytometry, sent due to cytopenia of at least 1 lineage ( n = 39). The monocytes from the patients with leukemia averaged 0.8% and were statistically fewer than the negative controls, which averaged 7.1% ( P < 0.001). Eleven of the 14 (79%) patients with leukemia had monocytes <1%, compared to only 3 (8%) of the negative controls. The AMCs were also significantly lower ( P < 0.001), with 93% of the leukemia group having an AMC <100 cells/μL, compared to only 28% of the negative controls. In patients with cytopenias, percentage of monocytes may be an important diagnostic clue in determining the presence of occult leukemia. If flow cytometry is performed, acquisition of more than the standard 10 000 events is necessary to adequately assess for leukemia. If monocytes are <1% by flow cytometry in the setting of cytopenias, bone marrow examination is recommended, even with negative peripheral blood flow cytometry.
Novikov homology, jump loci and Massey products
Authors: Kohno Toshitake , Pajitnov Andrei
Published: May 2014

Let X be a finite CW complex, and ρ: π 1(X) → GL(l, ℂ) a representation. Any cohomology class α ∈ H 1(X, ℂ) gives rise to a deformation γ t of ρ defined by γ t (g) = ρ(g) exp(t〈α, g〉). We show that the cohomology of X with local coefficients γ gen corresponding to the generic point of the curve γ is computable from a spectral sequence starting from H*(X, ρ). We compute the differentials of the spectral sequence in terms of the Massey products and show that the spectral sequence degenerates in case when X is a Kähler manifold and ρ is semi-simple.

If α ∈ H 1(X, ℝ) one associates to the triple (X, ρ, α) the twisted Novikov homology (a module over the Novikov ring). We show that the twisted Novikov Betti numbers equal the Betti numbers of X with coefficients in the local system γ gen. We investigate the dependence of these numbers on α and prove that they are constant in the complement to a finite number of proper vector subspaces in H 1(X, ℝ).
The L q spectra and Rényi dimension of generalized inhomogeneous self-similar measures
Authors: Liszka Przemysław
Published: May 2014

Very recently bounds for the L q spectra of inhomogeneous self-similar measures satisfying the Inhomogeneous Open Set Condition (IOSC), being the appropriate version of the standard Open Set Condition (OSC), were obtained. However, if the IOSC is not satisfied, then almost nothing is known for such measures. In the paper we study the L q spectra and Rényi dimension of generalized inhomogeneous self-similar measures, for which we allow an infinite number of contracting similarities and probabilities depending on positions. As an application of the results, we provide a systematic approach to obtaining non-trivial bounds for the L q spectra and Rényi dimension of inhomogeneous self-similar measures not satisfying the IOSC and of homogeneous ones not satisfying the OSC. We also provide some non-trivial bounds without any separation conditions.
Binary codes and partial permutation decoding sets from the odd graphs
Authors: Fish Washiela , Fray Roland , Mwambene Eric
Published: May 2014

For k ≥ 1, the odd graph denoted by O(k), is the graph with the vertex-set Ω{k}, the set of all k-subsets of Ω = {1, 2, …, 2k +1}, and any two of its vertices u and v constitute an edge [u, v] if and only if u ∩ v = /0. In this paper the binary code generated by the adjacency matrix of O(k) is studied. The automorphism group of the code is determined, and by identifying a suitable information set, a 2-PD-set of the order of k 4 is determined. Lastly, the relationship between the dual code from O(k) and the code from its graph-theoretical complement $\overline {O(k)} $, is investigated.
On the existence of ɛ-fixed points
Authors: Cardinali Tiziana
Published: May 2014

In this paper we prove some approximate fixed point theorems which extend, in a broad sense, analogous results obtained by Brânzei, Morgan, Scalzo and Tijs in 2003. By assuming also the weak demiclosedness property we state two fixed point theorems. Moreover, we study the existence of ɛ-Nash equilibria.
Univalence conditions of certain integral operators
Authors: Xu Yi-Hui , Liu Jin-Lin
Published: May 2014

The purpose of the present paper is to determine univalence conditions of certain integral operators.
Kolmogorov-Smirnov isometries of the space of generalized distribution functions
Authors: Molnár Lajos , Szokol Patrícia
Published: May 2014

In this paper we describe the structure of surjective isometries of the space of all generalized probability distribution functions on ℝ with respect to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov metric.
The zero divisor graphs of Boolean posets
Authors: Joshi Vinayak , Khiste Anagha
Published: May 2014

In this paper, it is proved that if B is a Boolean poset and S is a bounded pseudocomplemented poset such that S\Z(S) = {1}, then Γ(B) ≌ Γ(S) if and only if B ≌ S. Further, we characterize the graphs which can be realized as zero divisor graphs of Boolean posets.
Expression of Apoptosis Mediators p53 and Caspase 3, 7, and 9 in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis
Authors: Küpper Daniel Salgado , Valera Fabiana C. P. , Malinsky Rafael , Milanezi Cristiane Maria , Silva João S. , Tamashiro Edwin , Anselmo-Lima Wilma T.
Published: May 2014

Background

The causal factor for the perpetuation of the inflammatory process in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the influence of cell death in this disease. Thus, the molecular assessment of mechanisms involved in apoptosis might shed light on the pathogenesis of CRSwNPs. This study was designed to evaluate the gene expression of different apoptotic factors in patients with NPs compared with control patients.

Methods

The mRNA expression of the apoptosis mediators caspase 3, 7, and 9 and of p53 protein was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in 25 NPs and 18 control samples.

Results

We observed significantly lower expression of p53 and caspase 3 and 9 in patients with CRSwNPs compared with the controls, whereas caspase 7 expression was not significantly different from the controls.

Conclusion

The reduced expression of these apoptosis factors in CRSwNPs might be related to higher proliferation and the perpetuation of inflammatory cells hindering the control of the disease. A better understanding of the possible influence of apoptosis factors on CRSwNPs could provide rationale for future therapies.