bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation in the Cardiac Transplant Games: Impact on health‐related quality of life
Authors: McGee Hannah M. , Horgan John H.
Published: June 2011

Despite pre‐operative deconditioning and lowered aerobic capacity for cardiac transplant patients, significant exercise benefits have been documented following hospital‐based rehabilitation. Patient‐led groups have also developed exercise‐based events, e.g. the Cardiac Transplant Games. These may have significant psychosocial, as well as physical benefits, but are also potential sources of stress. This study examined patients from a National Transplant Centre, intending to participate in the international Cardiac Transplant Games. Twenty patients (15 male/5 female) were assessed to determine medical suitability and prescribe training schedules. Psychological assessment was completed seven to 12 weeks before (T1), the week before (T2), and a week after the Games (T3). This included physical symptoms, body image, anxiety, mood and health‐related quality of life (QoL). One patient was advised not to participate, five withdrew (three for health reasons), leaving 14 participants (13 male/1 female), mean age 46.4 (range 31–67) years. Results (for 12 of 14 participants) indicated significant effects for body image and physical symptoms; both improved from T1–T2; this benefit was retained at T3. There was no change in anxiety, mood or health‐related QoL over time. Thus participation in a sporting event by well‐selected transplant patients was associated with no negative psychological effects but with decreased physical symptomatology and an enhanced body image.
Positive but not negative life‐events predict vulnerability to upper respiratory illness
Authors: Evans Philip D. , Doyle Austin , Hucklebridge Frank , Clow Angela
Published: June 2011

Objectives. The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of life‐events in the prediction of naturally occurring episodes of upper respiratory tract illness (mainly reported as common colds).

Design. The study was prospective, involving a variable follow‐up period which averaged six and a half weeks.

Methods. Measures of life‐events (Sarason LES), stress experience, and personality (EPQ‐R) were obtained for a sample of 35 participants, who were then followed up for incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Illness (URTI).

Results. Positive but not negative life‐events were shown strongly to predict subsequent incidence of URTI. Reports of recent stress experience and stress proneness were not predictive, nor were personality measures. Positive LES was shown to be predictive independent of personality measures, and health‐related behaviour reports concerned with smoking, alcohol consumption and normal diet. Self‐reports of URTI and symptom reporting were for the first five days of the study supplemented with objective body temperature readings. Temperature measures correlated positively and significantly with symptom and URTI reporting.

Conclusions. Although some of the principal effect may reflect individual differences in exposure to infectious agents, host factors affecting symptomatic expression may also be involved, in ways that are currently not understood.
Improving arthritis self‐management among older adults: ‘Just what the doctor didn't order’
Authors: Barlow Julie H. , Williams Bethan , Wright Chris C.
Published: June 2011

Objective. Community‐based health interventions have been shown to be effective in promoting arthritis self‐management amongst people in North America. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of such programmes among older people in the UK.

Design. The study was a multiple baseline, pre‐test–post‐test design of 62 older people (> 55 years of age) attending Arthritis Self‐Management Programmes (ASMP) delivered in community settings.

Method. Data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires at two points in time: prior to the intervention and after the intervention, four months from baseline.

Results. The sample comprised 94 per cent women, with a mean age of 69 and mean disease duration of 26 years. Most participants had either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Results showed that after four months, participants demonstrated significant increases in arthritis self‐efficacy (p < .0005), positive affect (p = .042), cognitive symptom management (p < .0005), communication with doctors (p =< .0005), exercise (p < .0005) and relaxation (p < .0005). In addition, significant decreases were found in terms of pain (p = .026), depression (p = .042) and visits to GPs (p = .013).

Conclusion. This first evaluation of the ASMP delivered in community settings suggests that this form of health intervention is not only acceptable to older people in the UK, but can offer considerable benefits in terms of arthritis self‐efficacy, increased use of self‐management strategies such as exercise, a reduction in pain and improved psychological well‐being.
Situational and individual‐difference correlates of annoyance extent and variability in daily provocations
Authors: Gidron Y. , Stewart S. H. , Ben‐Zur H. , Breznitz S.
Published: June 2011

Objectives. This study wished to replicate previous findings on the effects of situational factors on annoyance extent of Israeli students in Canadian students, and to examine the roles of trait hostility and monitoring in annoyance extent and variability.

Design. A within‐subject design tested the effects of situational dimensions (e.g. damage, intentionality), on annoyance extent, and a correlational design tested the relation between individual‐difference traits and annoyance extent and variability.

Methods. Two Canadian student samples (N = 73 and N=79) completed a questionnaire to determine the effects of nine situational dimensions on annoyance extent. The second sample was additionally assessed for trait hostility (abbreviated Ho scale) and trait monitoring (Miller Behavioral Style Scale). Annoyance variability was defined as difference in annoyance extent between severe and mild provocations.

Results. Eight situational dimensions conceptually related to harm (damage, correct‐ability, investment), control/information (intentionality, expectedness, agent, preventability) and social context (audience) consistently affected annoyance extent. Hostility and monitoring were positively and significantly correlated with annoyance extent (r = .34, r = .31, respectively). Finally, hostility was negatively correlated with annoyance variability.

Conclusions. Several situational dimensions were found to have a robust effect on annoyance extent cross‐culturally. The negative correlation between hostility and annoyance variability may reflect cognitive and/or response biases. Interventions aimed at reducing health risks of hostile individuals (e.g. coronary heart disease) may need to alter these biases when facing provocations of different severity, to help them adapt more appropriately.
Biased perception and recall of reassurance in medical patients
Authors: Lucock M. P. , White C. , Peake M. D. , Morley S.
Published: June 2011

Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that compared with patients with low health anxiety those with high health anxiety would perceive and recall reassurance given by a physician as less reassuring than the physician reported giving.

Design. A quasi‐experimental repeated measures design; three time periods (immediate, one month and one year post‐consultation) in three groups of patients (total N = 50) defined by a ternary split on a questionnaire.

Methods. Patients' health anxiety was measured prior to gastroscopic investigation and consultation with a physician for unexplained symptoms. All the investigations were negative for serious pathology. Immediately after consultation the physician and patients rated the given and perceived reassurance message on a five‐point scale describing the probability of there being something seriously wrong. Patients repeated their ratings at one month and one year.

Results. Patients in the high‐health anxiety group were more likely to recall the reassurance given as less certain that there was nothing seriously wrong with them than were either the low or medium groups immediately post‐consultation. This difference persisted after one month but not one year later.

Conclusions. These data provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that high health anxiety may bias the perception and recall of reassurance‐related information.
Factors affecting parental reports of the sleep patterns of children with severe learning disabilities
Authors: Wiggs Luci , Stores Gregory
Published: June 2011

Objectives. Children with severe learning disabilities were identified by parental report as having a severe sleep problem (according to research criteria). A subgroup were considered by their parents to have no difficulty with their sleep pattern. The study aimed to investigate why sleeping problems of equal intensity should be a problem for one group of parents and not for another group, with a view to (a) establishing whether the families differed in the extent the child's sleep pattern affected the family and (A) identifying parent and child factors which may affect the parents' ability to tolerate the sleep problem.

Design. Three groups (matched for sex, age and duration of sleep problem if appropriate) of 13 were compared: children with no sleep problem (NSP), children with a recognized sleep problem (SP), and children with an unrecognized sleep problem (USP).

Methods. Mothers completed questionnaire assessments of the children's sleep and daytime behaviour and the mothers' sleepiness, coping style, stress and perceived control.

Results. The USP mothers and children are similar to the NSP mothers and children. Compared to the SP group, the mothers are less stressed, have increased perceived control and the children have fewer daytime behaviour problems. USP mothers and SP mothers are equally dissatisfied with their child's, and their own, sleep pattern.

Conclusions. USP mothers do not unrealistically deny that their child has a sleep problem but there are protective factors within the child and the parent which enable the mothers to tolerate sleep problems and suffer less negative effects. Implications for interventions arc considered.
Partner smoking behaviour change is associated with women's smoking reduction and cessation during pregnancy
Authors: Appleton P. L. , Pharoah P. O. D.
Published: June 2011

Objectives. To examine whether partner smoking behaviour change is associated with women's smoking reduction and cessation during pregnancy, independently of a range of potential psychosocial confounding variables. It was hypothesized that a woman's failure to reduce or quit smoking in pregnancy would be associated independently with failure of partner to reduce or quit smoking.

Design. Cohort study.

Methods. A population‐based sample of 662 women who smoked, or had smoked until becoming pregnant, were recruited in early pregnancy, with follow‐up in late pregnancy. Participants completed questionnaires and self‐report measures of sychosocial variables. The primary outcome measures were women's self‐reported daily cigarette consumption before pregnancy (retrospective), and during early and late pregnancy (contemporary), from which smoking cessation, reduction and maintenance measures were derived.

Results. Seventy per cent of partners smoked, and 25 per cent of all partners (34 per cent of smoking partners) reduced or quitted smoking in early pregnancy. The study hypothesis was confirmed in multivariate logistic regression models. Women's failure to quit smoking in early pregnancy was independently associated with partner failing to reduce or quit smoking, higher number of social network smokers, adult attachment style, socio‐economic status, pre‐pregnancy cigarette consumption and older age. Women's failure to reduce smoking was independently associated with partner failing to reduce or quit smoking, socio‐economic status, pre‐pregnancy cigarette consumption, and higher parity. Partner and family emotional support, joint pregnancy planning and depressive symptomatology, were not independently associated with women's smoking reduction or cessation. Follow‐up data confirmed the early pregnancy results.

Conclusions. Intervention trials to reduce the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy should include targeting of behavioural change in partner smoking.
The task of social psychology: Some historical reflections
Authors: Jaspars Joseph M. F.
Published: June 2011

Changes, over time, in the task of social psychology are evaluated in the light of Van Leent's detailed study concerning the relationship between sociology and psychology. He distinguished between a number of different levels of analysis within each discipline. This leads to horizontal specialisms within both camps. He also identified a limited number of subdisciplines involving the vertical integration of phenomena from more than one level. It is argued that the problem with social psychology is that it is neither a horizontal specialism nor a vertical subdiscipline. In some ways the task of integrating the two parent disciplines is easier than it was at the end of the 19th century and in some ways it is more difficult. This is due to a number of largely uncorrelated and uncoordinated changes in the parent discipline themselves which are identified and discussed in the course of the paper. It is argued that the shift of interest in the evolution of sociology has been from the macro‐ to the micro‐level whilst in psychology the shift has generally been in the opposite direction.

This article is dedicated to J. Van Leent.
Notes for a prehistory of cognitive balance theory
Authors: Weir Alastair J.
Published: June 2011

This paper is devoted to the idea that Heider's concept of cognitive balance plays a much more integrative role in the history of ideas than is sometimes believed. It brings together many and diverse lines of thought, including not only the theories of sentiments and interpersonal relations, but also the analysis of the emotions, conflict theory, personality development and even the association principle. We attempt to trace some of these threads for part of their length, treating the endeavour less as an exercise in interpersonal influence among philosophers and psychologists, more as a study in the development of the ideas as such. The paper is dedicated to Fritz and Grace Heider, in affectionate recollection of a year at Kansas University, in which my family and I enjoyed the pleasure of their company, the benefit of their counsel and the privilege of their friendship.
Social psychology in China
Authors: Brown L. B.
Published: June 2011

The development of psychology in China from 1917 is described with special reference to the political constraints on accepting social psychology after the Liberation in 1949, but particularly during the Cultural Revolution. Throughout this period Western social psychology was criticized for its bourgeois orientation and insensitivity to a class analysis. Since 1980, however, social psychology has been acknowledged, with a role for analysis and training in management and in education.
Uniqueness, continuity and the existence of implicit functions in constructive analysis
Authors: Diener H. , Schuster P.
Published: June 2011

We extract a quantitative variant of uniqueness from the usual hypotheses of the implicit function theorem. Not only does this lead to an a priori proof of continuity, but also to an alternative, full proof of the implicit function theorem. Additionally, we investigate implicit functions as a case of the unique existence paradigm with parameters.
The spatio‐temporal characteristics of action potential initiation in layer 5 pyramidal neurons: a voltage imaging study
Authors: Popovic Marko A. , Foust Amanda J. , McCormick David A. , Zecevic Dejan
Published: June 2011

Non‐technical summary  Axons are long process of nerve cells that mediate communication and control within the organism. Mammalian neurons have developed a complex ion channel clustering mechanism in axons to optimize rapid signalling. It has been discovered recently that intricate details of the spatial pattern of channel clustering play a critical role in signal processing in the axon. The electrical properties of axons, however, have been difficult to study using electrodes because axons are very small in diameter. We took advantage of a critical methodological improvement in the high sensitivity membrane potential imaging (Vm imaging) technique to study electrical correlates of channel clustering in the axon of cortical neurons. Voltage imaging revealed the location and length of the axonal site for nerve impulse initiation as well as the pattern of saltatory conduction in myelinated axons in the form of dynamic spatial maps of transmembrane potential.
Fostering in mice induces cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction in adulthood
Authors: Matthews Phillippa A. , Samuelsson Anne‐Maj , Seed Paul , Pombo Joaquim , Oben Jude A. , Poston Lucilla , Taylor Paul D.
Published: June 2011

Non‐technical summary  Cross‐fostering of newborn pups to different dams is a method widely used in rodent studies of developmental ‘programming’ to determine whether pregnancy or the suckling period is more important in determining adult characteristics following changes to the maternal environment. We have investigated whether the process of fostering per se influences cardiovascular and metabolic development in mice. Compared with mice reared by their biological mother, fostered mice showed increased appetite, body weight, abdominal fatness and altered blood sugar metabolism. A marked increase in blood pressure was also apparent. This study demonstrates that the process of fostering can lead to profound effects in cardiovascular and metabolic function in otherwise normal mice. The findings have implications both for the interpretation of previous cross‐fostering studies in mice and for studies investigating the hypothesis of developmental programming, in which early postnatal manipulation of litters is common practice.
In Vivo Serial MRI-Based Models and Statistical Methods to Quantify Sensitivity and Specificity of Mechanical Predictors for Carotid Plaque Rupture: Location and Beyond
Authors: Wu Zheyang , Yang Chun , Tang Dalin
Published: June 2011

It has been hypothesized that mechanical risk factors may be used to predict future atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Truly predictive methods for plaque rupture and methods to identify the best predictor(s) from all the candidates are lacking in the literature. A novel combination of computational and statistical models based on serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was introduced to quantify sensitivity and specificity of mechanical predictors to identify the best candidate for plaque rupture site prediction. Serial in vivo MRI data of carotid plaque from one patient was acquired with follow-up scan showing ulceration. 3D computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models using both baseline and follow-up data were constructed and plaque wall stress (PWS) and strain (PWSn) and flow maximum shear stress (FSS) were extracted from all 600 matched nodal points (100 points per matched slice, baseline matching follow-up) on the lumen surface for analysis. Each of the 600 points was marked “ulcer” or “nonulcer” using follow-up scan. Predictive statistical models for each of the seven combinations of PWS, PWSn, and FSS were trained using the follow-up data and applied to the baseline data to assess their sensitivity and specificity using the 600 data points for ulcer predictions. Sensitivity of prediction is defined as the proportion of the true positive outcomes that are predicted to be positive. Specificity of prediction is defined as the proportion of the true negative outcomes that are correctly predicted to be negative. Using probability 0.3 as a threshold to infer ulcer occurrence at the prediction stage, the combination of PWS and PWSn provided the best predictive accuracy with (sensitivity, specificity) = (0.97, 0.958). Sensitivity and specificity given by PWS, PWSn, and FSS individually were (0.788, 0.968), (0.515, 0.968), and (0.758, 0.928), respectively. The proposed computational-statistical process provides a novel method and a framework to assess the sensitivity and specificity of various risk indicators and offers the potential to identify the optimized predictor for plaque rupture using serial MRI with follow-up scan showing ulceration as the gold standard for method validation. While serial MRI data with actual rupture are hard to acquire, this single-case study suggests that combination of multiple predictors may provide potential improvement to existing plaque assessment schemes. With large-scale patient studies, this predictive modeling process may provide more solid ground for rupture predictor selection strategies and methods for image-based plaque vulnerability assessment.
Mechanical YAPping
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: June 2011

The transcriptional regulators YAP and TAZ relay mechanical cues from the environment to the nucleus.
May the Force Be with Your Tenocytes
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2011

The sudden loss of mechanical force in severed tendons leads to release of TGF-β and massive tenocyte death.
Susceptibility of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Isolates from Intra-Abdominal Infections and Molecular Characterization of Ertapenem-Resistant Isolates
Authors: Hawser Stephen P. , Bouchillon Samuel K. , Lascols Christine , Hackel Meredith , Hoban Daryl J. , Badal Robert E. , Woodford Neil , Livermore David M.
Published: June 2011

A total of 2,841 clinical isolates of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
from intra-abdominal infections worldwide were collected in the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) during 2008 and 2009. Overall, 22.4% of isolates had extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The most active antibiotics among the 11 tested were imipenem, amikacin, and ertapenem, though even these, like all other comparators, were less consistently active against ESBL-positive isolates than against ESBL-negative isolates. Globally, 6.5% of isolates were ertapenem resistant based on the June 2010 clinical breakpoints published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, with MICs of ≥1 μg/ml. Molecular characterization of 43 isolates with ertapenem MICs of ≥4 μg/ml showed that they variously produced CTX-M or SHV ESBLs combined with altered impermeability and/or had KPC (
n
= 28), OXA-48 (
n
= 3), or VIM (
n
= 1) carbapenemases. Further monitoring of ertapenem susceptibility and molecular characterization of ertapenem-resistant isolates are needed.
Simplified Estimation of Aminoglycoside Pharmacokinetics in Underweight and Obese Adult Patients
Authors: Pai Manjunath P. , Nafziger Anne N. , Bertino Joseph S.
Published: June 2011

Aminoglycosides are an important class of agents that are used in combination antimicrobial regimens to treat bacterial pathogens. Dosing of aminoglycosides is typically based on total body weight. However, the most appropriate alternative body size descriptor for dosing aminoglycosides at the extremes of weight (underweight and obese) is not known. Also, the predictive performance of newer formulas to assess kidney function, such as the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) and chronic kidney disease-epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equations compared to the Cockcroft-Gault equation to predict aminoglycoside clearance, is not known. We sought to examine dosing of aminoglycosides across the extremes of weight using a variety of formulas to assess kidney function. Pharmacokinetic data were obtained from a set of prospectively collected data (1982 to 2003) of 2,073 (53.5% male) adult patients that included 497 tobramycin- and 1,576 gentamicin-treated cases. The median (minimum, maximum) age, weight, and body mass index were 66 (18, 98) years, 70.0 (29.7, 206.7) kg, and 24.4 (11.3, 73.8) kg/m
2
, respectively. The percentage of underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese cases based on the World Health Organization classification were 8.8%, 45.5%, 26.5%, and 19.2%, respectively. The aminoglycoside volume of distribution was normalized to several alternative body size descriptors. Only lean body weight estimated by the method of S. Janmahasatian et al. (Clin. Pharmacokinet. 44:1051–1065, 2005) normalized the volume of distribution for both tobramycin and gentamicin across all weight strata, with the estimate being approximately 0.45 liter/kg. Aminoglycoside dosing can be simplified across all weight strata with the use of lean body weight. The CKD-EPI equation best predicts aminoglycoside clearance.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Commonly Encountered Bacterial Isolates to Fosfomycin Determined by Agar Dilution and Disk Diffusion Methods
Authors: Lu Ching-Lan , Liu Chia-Ying , Huang Yu-Tsung , Liao Chun-Hsing , Teng Lee-Jene , Turnidge John D. , Hsueh Po-Ren
Published: June 2011

We studied the antimicrobial activity of fosfomycin against 960 strains of commonly encountered bacteria associated with urinary tract infection using standard agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. Species studied included 3 common species of
Enterobacteriaceae
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Acinetobacter baumannii
, and
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
; methicillin-susceptible and -resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
; and vancomycin-susceptible and resistant
Enterococcus faecalis
and
E. faecium
. MICs and inhibition zone diameters were interpreted in accordance with both the currently recommended Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria for urinary tract isolates of
Escherichia coli
and
Enterococcus faecalis
and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria for
Enterobacteriaceae
. Tentative zone diameter interpretive criteria were developed for species not currently published by CLSI or EUCAST.
Escherichia coli
was uniformly susceptible to fosfomycin, as were most strains of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and
Enterobacter cloacae. A. baumannii
was resistant to fosfomycin, while the prevalence of resistance in
P. aeruginosa
and
S. maltophilia
was greatly affected by the choice of MIC breakpoint. New tentative zone diameter criteria for
K. pneumoniae
,
E. cloacae
,
S. aureus
, and
E. faecium
were able to be set, providing some interim laboratory guidance for disk diffusion until further breakpoint evaluations are undertaken by CLSI and EUCAST.
Efficacy of Human Simulated Exposures of Ceftaroline Administered at 600 Milligrams Every 12 Hours against Phenotypically Diverse Staphylococcus aureus Isolates
Authors: Keel Rebecca A. , Crandon Jared L. , Nicolau David P.
Published: June 2011

Ceftaroline exhibits bactericidal activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA)
Staphylococcus aureus
, as well as common Gram-negative pathogens. This study evaluated the efficacy of human simulated exposures of ceftaroline against
S. aureus
in both the neutropenic and immunocompetent mouse thigh infection models. Twenty-six
S. aureus
isolates (4 MSSA, 22 MRSA) with ceftaroline MICs ranging from 0.125 to 4 μg/ml were collected. All isolates were tested in the neutropenic model and a subset of 13 MRSA isolates were tested in the immunocompetent model. Two hours after inoculation, a ceftaroline regimen that simulated the percentage of the dosing interval that free-drug concentrations remained above the MIC of the infecting organism (
f
T>MIC) of humans administered ceftaroline at 600 mg every 12 h (q12h) infused over 1 h was given. The change in log
10
CFU/ml after 24 h of treatment was analyzed relative to the 0- and 24-h controls for neutropenic and immunocompetent mice, respectively. The human simulated regimen resulted in efficacy against all isolates tested in both infection models. In the neutropenic model, a 0.95 to 3.28 log
10
CFU/ml reduction was observed when compared with the 0-h control, whereas for the immunocompetent model, all isolates obtained a >1 log
10
CFU/ml reduction (log
10
CFU/ml reduction range: 1.06 to 2.43) in bacterial density. Irrespective of immune competency, a reduction in bacterial density was observed at the highest MIC of 4 μg/ml (
f
T>MIC of 27.5%). Human simulated exposures of ceftaroline 600 mg q12h provided predictable efficacy against all tested
S. aureus
isolates in the mouse thigh model independent of immune status. These data support the clinical utility of ceftaroline against
S. aureus
, including MRSA, with MICs of ≤4 μg/ml.
In Vitro
Echinocandin Susceptibility of
Aspergillus
Isolates from Patients Enrolled in the Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network
Authors: Lockhart Shawn R. , Zimbeck Alicia J. , Baddley John W. , Marr Kieren A. , Andes David R. , Walsh Thomas J. , Kauffman Carol A. , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P. , Ito James I. , Pappas Peter G. , Chiller Tom
Published: June 2011

We determined the echinocandin minimum effective concentration (MEC) values for caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin against 288
Aspergillus
isolates prospectively collected from transplant patients with proven or probable invasive aspergillosis between 2001 and 2006 as part of the Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network (TRANSNET). We demonstrated that the vast majority of
Aspergillus
isolates had MEC values at or below the epidemiological cutoff values for caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin, including those from patients who had received caspofungin.
Regulation of Type VI Secretion System during Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection
Authors: Chen Yahua , Wong Jocelyn , Sun Guang Wen , Liu Yichun , Tan Gek-Yen Gladys , Gan Yunn-Hwen
Published: June 2011

Type III and type VI secretion systems (T3SSs and T6SSs, respectively) are critical virulence determinants in several Gram-negative pathogens. In
Burkholderia pseudomallei
, the T3SS-3 and T6SS-1 clusters have been implicated in bacterial virulence in mammalian hosts. We recently discovered a regulatory cascade that coordinately controls the expression of T3SS-3 and T6SS-1. BsaN is a central regulator located within T3SS-3 for the expression of T3SS-3 effectors and regulators for T6SS-1 such as VirA-VirG (VirAG) and BprC. Whereas T6SS-1 gene expression was completely dependent on BprC when bacteria were grown in medium, the expression inside host cells was dependent on the two-component sensor-regulator VirAG, with the exception of the
tssAB
operon, which was dependent primarily on BprC. VirAG and BprC initiate different transcriptional start sites within T6SS-1, and VirAG is able to activate the
hcp1
promoter directly. We also provided novel evidence that
virAG
,
bprC
, and
tssAB
are critical for T6SS-1 function in macrophages. Furthermore,
virAG
and
bprC
regulator mutants were avirulent in mice, demonstrating the absolute dependence of T6SS-1 expression on these regulators
in vivo
.
Preventing bath water scalds: a cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing bath thermostatic mixer valves in social housing
Authors: Phillips Ceri J , Humphreys Ioan , Kendrick Denise , Stewart Jane , Hayes Mike , Nish Lesley , Stone David , Coupland Carol , Towner Elizabeth
Published: June 2011

Aims

To assess the cost-effectiveness of installing thermostatic mixer valves (TMVs) in reducing risks of bath water scalds and estimate the costs of avoiding bath water scalds.

Methods

The evaluation was undertaken from the perspective of the UK public sector, and conducted in conjunction with a randomised control trial of TMVs installed in social housing in Glasgow. Installation costs were borne by the social housing organisation, while support materials were provided by the UK NHS. Effectiveness was represented by the number of families with at-risk bath water temperatures pre- and post-installation, and the number of bath scalds avoided as a result of installation. Differences in the number of families with at-risk temperatures between groups were derived from the RCT. Cost-effectiveness was assessed and a series of one-way sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

Unit costs associated with installation were calculated to be £13.68, while costs associated with treating bath water scalds ranged from £25 226 to £71 902. The cost of an avoided bath water scald ranged from net savings to public purse of £1887 to £75 520 and at baseline produced a net saving of £3 229 008; that is, £1.41 saved for every £1 spent.

Conclusion

It is very likely that installing TMVs as standard in social housing in new buildings and major refurbishments accompanied by educational information represents value for money.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN:21179067.
Acceptability of financial incentives to improve health outcomes in UK and US samples
Authors: Promberger Marianne , Brown Rebecca C H , Ashcroft Richard E , Marteau Theresa M
Published: June 2011

In an online study conducted separately in the UK and the US, participants rated the acceptability and fairness of four interventions: two types of financial incentives (rewards and penalties) and two types of medical interventions (pills and injections). These were stated to be equally effective in improving outcomes in five contexts: (a) weight loss and (b) smoking cessation programmes, and adherence in treatment programmes for (c) drug addiction, (d) serious mental illness and (e) physiotherapy after surgery. Financial incentives (weekly rewards and penalties) were judged less acceptable and to be less fair than medical interventions (weekly pill or injection) across all five contexts. Context moderated the relative preference between rewards and penalties: participants from both countries favoured rewards over penalties in weight loss and treatment for serious mental illness. Only among US participants was this relative preference moderated by perceived responsibility of the target group. Overall, participants supported funding more strongly for interventions when they judged members of the target group to be less responsible for their condition, and vice versa. These results reveal a striking similarity in negative attitudes towards the use of financial incentives, rewards as well as penalties, in improving outcomes across a range of contexts, in the UK and the USA. The basis for such negative attitudes awaits further study.
UPPER BOUND OF THE DIRECTIONAL ENTROPY OF A ℤ2-ACTION
Authors: AKIN HASAN
Published: June 2011

In this short paper, we study the measure directional entropy of a ℤ2-action generated by an invertible one-dimensional linear cellular automaton and the shift map acting on the compact metric space [Formula: see text]. We obtain an upper bound of the measure directional entropy of the ℤ2-action with respect to arbitrary Bernoulli measures without making use of the natural extension previously used in the paper [M. Courbage and B. Kaminski, Studia Math. 153(3), 285–295 (2002)].
NORM BREAKING IN CROWD — ATHERMAL PHASE TRANSITION
Authors: MALARZ KRZYSZTOF , KORFF RUEDIGER , KUŁAKOWSKI KRZYSZTOF
Published: June 2011

Standard order–disorder phase transition in the Ising model is described in terms of rates of processes of spin flips. This formulation allows to extend numerous results on phase transition for sciences other than physics of magnetism. We apply it to the problem of norm breaking. Two strategies: to cooperate or to defect, form an analogy to two spin orientations. An example is a crowd at an exit, where to defect means to push others, and to cooperate is to move slowly together.
PALATINI FORMULATION OF MODIFIED GRAVITY WITH A NON-MINIMAL CURVATURE-MATTER COUPLING
Authors: HARKO TIBERIU , KOIVISTO TOMI S. , LOBO FRANCISCO S. N.
Published: June 2011

We derive the field equations and the equations of motion for scalar fields and massive test particles in modified theories of gravity with an arbitrary coupling between geometry and matter by using the Palatini formalism. We show that the independent connection can be expressed as the Levi–Cività connection of an auxiliary, matter Lagrangian dependent metric, which is related with the physical metric by means of a conformal transformation. Similarly to the metric case, the field equations impose the nonconservation of the energy–momentum tensor. We derive the explicit form of the equations of motion for massive test particles in the case of a perfect fluid, and the expression of the extra-force is obtained in terms of the matter-geometry coupling functions and of their derivatives. Generally, the motion is non-geodesic, and the extra force is orthogonal to the four-velocity. It is pointed out here that the force is of a different nature than in the metric formalism. We also consider the implications of a nonlinear dependence of the action upon the matter Lagrangian.
COSMOGRAPHY WITH THE HUBBLE PARAMETER
Authors: LUONGO ORLANDO
Published: June 2011

In this paper we investigate the possibility to obtain constraints on the kinematics of the Universe in a flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker cosmology, through the use of the so-called Cosmography. The basic idea lies directly on fitting the H(z) series, by adopting a more recent dataset of H(z), in the range z≼1.8, obtaining the limits of the kinematical quantities under exam. The advantage that we propose here is that this fitting procedure is model independent and it does not need any assumption given a priori on the cosmology of the Universe, but only its geometry and flatness. Moreover, as an example, we relate the measured cosmographic set to the free parameter of ΛCDM, being the matter density Ωm. In fact, by inverting Ωm in terms of the cosmographic set, it would be possible to infer limits on it. We find results in agreement with other kind of cosmological constraints.
NON-ABELIAN GAUGE THEORY FOR CHERN–SIMONS PATH INTEGRAL ON R3
Authors: LIM ADRIAN P. C.
Published: June 2011

In a prequel to this article, we used abstract Wiener measure to define the Chern–Simons path integral over ℝ3. In this sequel, we compute the Wilson Loop observable for the non-abelian gauge group and compare with current knot literature.
CHARACTERIZATIONS OF CU-BASED COATED AL7075 VIA PLASMA-SPRAY METHOD — A WEAR CASE STUDY
Authors: GHAZALI M. J. , MAT KAMAL S. E. , ABDULLAH S. , MISRAN H.
Published: June 2011

Despite of its poor tribological properties (low hardness and low resistance to friction, wear and abrasion as well as poor seizure resistance), aluminum has become a potential material in automotives, particularly in the engine areas. To overcome these weaknesses and increase the engine lifetime, a good surface treatment can be one of the best options. In this work, Cu-Ni alloy that has such excellent properties like ductility, corrosion and wear resistance, good electrical and thermal conductivity as well as it can be easily joined or fabricated into useful shapes, was chosen. The work aims to study the wear behavior of Cu-Ni coatings deposited on Al7075 substrates using an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) with different level of plasma powers. Lubricated wear test were carried out on a pin-on-disc tester under an applied load of 100 N with a fixed sliding speed of 0.851 ms-1 at room temperature (~ 23°C). It was found that a decrease in plasma power from 40 kW to 30 kW promoted finer microstructures and higher hardness of the coatings, up to 39%. At 30 kW, the splats formation involved high degree of flattening and solidification without many splashes within the structure. At higher power (40 kW), both velocity and temperature of droplets were noted to be increased, resulting rougher coating structures which were most likely due to overlapped splats. In turn, this weakened the bonding strength between splats. In the case of wear, the resistance of Cu-Ni coated Al7075 was found to be increased from ~6 to 18 × 10-5 mm3/Nm, indicating a mild wear regime that was attributed to an increase in the coating hardness.
PALM OIL BASED FATTY ALCOHOLS TEMPLATED MESOPOROUS SILICA AND SILICA SPHERES
Authors: MISRAN HALINA , SINGH RAMESH , GHAZALI MARIYAM JAMEELAH
Published: June 2011

Mesoporous silica xerogels with wormhole-like pore structure were successfully synthesized using a series of surfactantless oil-in-water emulsion at room temperature. The surfactantless emulsion systems consisted of palm-oil derived fatty alcohols having several carbon chain lengths to act as mesoporous templates in place of commercial surfactants in a direct base–acid catalyzed sol–gel method. This method allowed direct decomposition of fatty alcohols in situ during calcination process to create mesoporosity in the materials. The mesoporous silica xerogels exhibited relatively high surface area at ca. 505 m2/g and pore sizes at ca. 8 nm to 13 nm as the carbon chain lengths were varied. The pore size obtained in this study was larger than the conventional MCM-41 materials (at ca. 2 nm). The mesopores were generated from the interstices of the primary particles (framework-confined porosity) and secondary particles (textural porosity). Furthermore, by changing the co-solvent amount and oil/water ratio, surfactantless oil-in-water microemulsions were obtained. These microemulsions were useful in the synthesis of monodispersed silica spheres. The size of the silica spheres could be controlled at two different size clusters, ca. 50–200 nm and at ca. 500 nm.
IMPROVING THE CONTROL STRATEGY IN TWO-WAY DETERMINISTIC CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROTOCOLS
Authors: EUSEBI ANITA , MANCINI STEFANO
Published: June 2011

We introduce a new control strategy on a two-way deterministic cryptographic scheme, which relies on a suitable unitary transformation rather than a quantum measurement. The study is developed for d-ary alphabets and the particular choice of the transformation works when d is an odd prime power. It leads to an improvement of the protocol security, which we prove to increase with the alphabet order d.
MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF A BI-LAYER CANTILEVER MICRO-BEAM SUBJECTED TO ELECTROSTATIC FORCE, MECHANICAL SHOCK AND THERMAL MOMENT
Authors: REZAZADEH G. , PASHAPOUR M. , ABDOLKARIMZADEH F.
Published: June 2011

In the present work, we study the static and dynamic behavior of a bi-layer cantilever micro-beam and its pull-in instability subjected to simultaneous effects of thermal moment, electrostatic force and mechanical shock. The nonlinear governing equation in the static case has been linearized using a Step-by-Step Linearization Method (SSLM) and the resulted linear equation has been solved using a Finite Difference Method (FDM). The obtained results for some cases have been compared to the existing results and good agreement achieved. The dynamic response of the system owing to application of a mechanical shock and a step DC voltage for thermally actuated micro-beam have been accomplished by a partial differential equation. A Reduced-Order Model (ROM) has been used to simulate the dynamic behavior of the micro-beam. The effects of temperature changes and mechanical shock on the pull-in behavior have been studied and obtained results show an earlier pull-in phenomenon experience when these effects are considered.
DEFENSE HOLE DESIGN FOR UNIAXIAL DOMINANT HYBRID LOAD FOR INFINITE PLATE
Authors: AKOUR S. N. , NAYFEH J. F.
Published: June 2011

A baseline data for designing optimum Defense Hole System (DHS) for tension dominant hybrid load (Tensile/Shear > 25%) is obtained. Maximum stress reduction and optimum DHS parameters are achieved. The maximum stress reduction achieved range from 15% up to nearly 18% based on the principle stress ratio (25% < Tensile/Shear < 100%). This reduction is available by introducing auxiliary circular holes, i.e., DHS, along the principal stress direction. A two-DHS is shown to be the optimum for tensile dominant loaded plate. Two major goals are achieved by introducing such defense system: maximum stress reduction and material reduction. Redesign optimization method (iterative numerical optimization technique) is utilized to investigate this problem. Parametric optimization technique is also utilized in producing the routs for reaching those optimum cases. Finite element analysis is used to optimize the size and the location of the DHS. Selected optimum cases are verified experimentally using RGB photoelasticity.
Influence of Annealing on the Structure and 1.54 µm Photoluminescence of Er-Doped ZnO Thin Films Prepared by Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Miao Lei , Xiao Xiudi , Ran Fanyong , Tanemura Sakae , Xu Gang
Published: June 2011

We have investigated the effects of Er concentration, post-annealing time and temperature through a sol–gel preparation method on the structure and 1.54-µm-related photoluminescence (PL) of ZnO:Er thin films. The results illustrated that the 1.54 µm emission was greatly influenced by the local structure of Er–O complex and ZnO host. The active oxygen movement during annealing process resulted in the formation of optical active center of Er ions, which probably attributed to the formation of a similar pseudo-octahedron with C
4v
structure around Er. The preferential orientation of ZnO host had more effect on the 1.54 µm PL intensity than the crystallinity of ZnO host. Therefore, the optimum annealing condition was about 800 °C/2 h and the appropriate concentration was about 0.05 at. % Er. A low-cost and fast formation of highly efficient Er centers in ZnO host for strong luminescence at near-infared region should be benefit for both fundamental research and also applications of light-emitting devices.
Charge Transport Study of 2,2',7,7'-Tetrakis(N,N-di-4-methoxyphenyl amino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene Using Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Rana Omwati , Srivastava Ritu , Grover Rakhi , Chauhan Gayatri , Bawa S. S. , Zulfequar M. , Husain M. , Kamalasanan M. N.
Published: June 2011

The conduction mechanism in 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-4-methoxyphenyl amino)-9,9'-spirobifluoren (spiro-MeOTAD) has been studied by impedance spectroscopy (IS) by using indium tin oxide (ITO)/spiro-MeOTAD/gold (Au) hole only device. The device could be modelled by an equivalent parallel RC network with a low contact resistance R
s in series, in which the bulk geometrical capacitance above resonance frequency of spiro-MeOTAD remains unchanged while the bulk resistance R
p changes with bias voltage. Upon increasing the bias voltage the conductivity of deposited film has increased by one order of magnitude (i.e., from ∼10-9 to ∼10-8 Ω-1 cm-1) whereas the dielectric relaxation time (τ) decreased from 1.7 ×10-4 to 1.2 ×10-5 s. Capacitance spectra of hole-only spiro-MeOTAD devices indicate the validity of the Space charge limited current (SCLC) model with localised states distributed in energy and field-dependent mobility.
Synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystallines by a Hydrothermal Route
Authors: Wang Chunrui , Cheng Chen , Cao Yun , Fang Wei , Zhao Lijuan , Xu Xiaofeng
Published: June 2011

Cu2ZnSnS4 is an ideal candidate absorber material for thin film solar cells with an optimal band-gap for a single junction photovoltaic device of 1.4–1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient (>104 cm-1), and abundant elemental components. In this paper, Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines have been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method using CuCl, ZnCl2, SnCl4·5H2O and (NH2)2CS as reaction reagents for the first time. The as-grown product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction. The results confirm that the product was polycrystalline Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles with the diameter of 5–7 nm. The effect of the reaction temperature and time on the formation of the Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines was discussed. The band-gap of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines was estimated to be 1.70 eV via ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectrum of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines. Raman spectrum of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines had about 8 cm-1 red-shift in comparison with that of the responding bulk counterpart.