bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug substitution associated with a hospital stay in Belgium: a retrospective analysis of a claims database
Authors: Simoens Steven , Dubois Cécile , Spinewine Anne , Foulon Veerle , Paulus Dominique
Published: July 2013

Objectives

This study measures the extent of drug substitution associated with a hospital stay in Belgium.

Methods

Data were extracted from the 2006–2007 dataset of the Belgian Agency of Health Insurance Funds on drug use of patients hospitalized in acute hospitals. Reimbursed drugs received in ambulatory care during the 3 months prior to hospitalization were compared with drugs received during the 3 months following hospital discharge. Both a narrow definition and a broad definition were used for drug substitution. Narrow substitution (switches between generic and originator drugs) was computed for 14 drug classes for chronic conditions with the highest public expenditure. Broad substitution (changes between chemical substances within the drug class at ATC level 4, changes in brand name) was calculated for statins and proton-pump inhibitors only.

Key findings

The database included 17 764 patients (mean age 66 ± 17 years; 60% female). In 71% of cases an originator drug was received prior to and following hospitalization. A generic drug was received prior to and following hospitalization in 25% of cases. Some form of narrow substitution occurred in 4% of cases: a generic drug was replaced by an originator drug in 2% of cases and an originator drug was replaced by a generic drug in 2% of cases. Some form of broad substitution occurred in 25% of cases for proton-pump inhibitors and 13% of cases for statins.

Conclusions

Hospitalization was not a trigger for changes between originator and generic versions of a drug. Broad substitution associated with a hospital stay was relatively limited for statins and proton-pump inhibitors.
Emigration for Development? An Exploration of the State's Role in the Development‐Migration Nexus: The Case of Romania
Authors: Careja Romana
Published: July 2013

This article explores the proposition that the developmental potential of emigration depends on the context of the sending countries. It builds on the insights from the institutional approach to development and adapts them to the migration‐development nexus. It argues that government involvement is necessary if resources from emigration are to become seeds for development. By analysing the case of Romania, one of the largest labour sending countries in Eastern Europe, it argues that its laissez‐faire approach is likely not enough to capitalize on emigrants' resources for development.
Ear, nose, and throat involvement in Egyptian patients with pemphigus vulgaris: a step towards a better management
Authors: Fawzy Marwa Mohamed , Hegazy Rehab A. , Abdel Fattah Ahmed F.
Published: July 2013

Background

The frequency of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is not clear; thereby, the importance of setting routine ENT examination for patients with PV could not be deduced.

Objective

Determine the prevalence of ENT involvement in patients with PV in Egypt; to modify the routine protocol and achieve a step towards better management.

Patients and methods

Thirty‐four patients with PV were included. Patients were asked about ENT symptomatology and evaluated for ENT manifestations.

Results

Twenty‐five patients complained from ENT symptoms (74%). The pharyngeal/laryngeal‐related symptoms were the most common. Eighty‐two percent of patients had positive endoscopic findings. The most common were pharyngeal/laryngeal (76.5%). In total, the positive endoscopic findings superseded the positive symptomatic findings. More severe involvement was documented in non‐smoking patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Full ENT examination as a routine for all patients with PV could be of great value, as it would lead to more accurate diagnosis, therefore improved management.
‘I am not a dyslexic person I'm a person with dyslexia’: identity constructions of dyslexia among students in nurse education
Authors: Evans William
Published: July 2013

Aim

To introduce how nursing students discursively construct their dyslexic identities.

Background

Identity mediates many important facets of a student's scholarly journey and the availability and use of discourses play a critical part in their ongoing construction.

Design

A discourse‐based design was used to examine the language employed by students in constructing their dyslexic identities.

Methods

Using narrative methods, 12 student nurses with dyslexia from two higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland were interviewed during the period February–July 2012. Discourse analysis of interviews entailed a two‐stage approach: leading identity analysis followed by thematic analysis.

Results

Discourses used by students to construct their dyslexic identity correspond with positions on an ‘Embracer, Passive Engager and Resister’ continuum heuristic. The majority of students rejected any reference to using medical or disabled discourses and instead drew on contemporary language in constructing their dyslexic identity. Nine of the 12 students did not disclose their dyslexic identity in practice settings and drew on not being understood to support this position. In addition, a discourse linking ‘being stupid’ with dyslexia was pervasive in most student narratives and evolved from historical as well as more recent interactions in nurse education.

Conclusion

This study indicates variation in how students discursively construct their dyslexic identities, which, in turn, has an impact on disclosure behaviours. Policy leaders must continue to be mindful of wider sociocultural and individualized understandings of dyslexic identities to enhance inclusion prerogatives.
Experiential avoidance and self‐compassion in chronic pain
Authors: Costa Joana , Pinto‐Gouveia José
Published: July 2013

The present study investigates the role of coping, experiential avoidance, and self‐compassion on psychological distress prediction (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms). A battery of self‐report questionnaires was used to assess coping, experiential avoidance, self‐compassion, and psychological distress in 103 adults with chronic pain from Portuguese primary health care units. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed and showed that experiential avoidance and self‐compassion are the factors that mostly explain psychological distress. Our results suggest that when people with chronic pain are willing to remain in contact with particular private experiences without attempting to control them, they reported less depression, anxiety, and stress. Implications for clinical practice were discussed, suggesting the importance of helping people with chronic pain to increase their willingness to pain rather than avoiding it.
Contested Bodies, Contested States: Performance, Emotions, and New Forms of Regional Governance in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Authors: Fabricant Nicole , Postero Nancy
Published: July 2013

Este artículo busca comprender cómo estrategias de protesta incorporadas y utilizadas por la élite local en la región de Santa Cruz de Bolivia (del 2006 al 2010) canalizan emociones y construyen identidades colectivas con el fin de oponerse al gobierno centralizado de Evo Morales. Las élites regionales ahora se imaginan como ciudadanos marginados de una nación‐estado que representa los intereses de los pueblos indígenas y que amenaza con socavar la producción agraria a gran escala y usurpar la riqueza de los recursos en su región. Huelgas de hambre y otras manifestaciones, en las cuales se interpreta y personifica que el cuerpo del mestizo blanco simboliza o representa la región victimizada y excluida, resultan críticas para sus estrategias de construcción de un movimiento y, eventualmente, legitiman una nueva forma de gobernancia que re‐espacializa el poder hacia las regiones. Mientras las élites re‐escriben narrativas de opresión y restablecen estructuras de poder antiguas, nosotros argumentamos que el miedo y la fantasía moldean sus estrategias de protesta y oscurecen las relaciones de poder en marcha y las desigualdades en el acceso a los modos de producción y a los recursos que generan riqueza.
He Followed the Funereal Steps of Ixtab: The Pleasurable Aesthetics of Suicide in Newspaper Journalism in Yucatán, Mexico
Authors: Reyes‐Foster Beatriz
Published: July 2013

Este artículo argumenta que las fotografías y reportajes en el periodismo rojo Yucateco representan al suicidio como un fenómeno que sucede casi exclusivamente entre los jóvenes indígenas. El artículo presenta un análisis textual y discursivo de noticias sobre suicidios en Yucatán entre los años 2005–2010, y argumenta que en Yucatán esas imágenes sugieren que los mayas tienen una predisposición cultural al suicidio. Esto no significa que no exista un problema serio en Yucatán, dado su elevado índice de suicidios, los cuales doblan media nacional. Más bien, sugiere que en el proceso de representar a la víctima como un “otro” perdemos perspectiva de los matices sociales presentes en las condiciones, construcción social y realidades que empujan a la gente a tomar la decisión de suicidarse. Por otra parte, la idea del Maya suicida presupone la existencia de una identidad maya definida, lo cual ha sido problematizado.
“Socios”: The Contested Morality of “Partnerships” in Indigenous Community–Mining Company Relations, Northern Chile
Authors: Babidge Sally
Published: July 2013

En 2007, una comunidad atacameña del norte de Chile y una empresa multinacional minera de cobre renovaron un trato de diez años con respecto al uso del territorio por parte de la empresa y el impacto causado debido a la extracción de recursos de agua subterránea. Las negociaciones entre la comunidad atacameña y la empresa minera están influenciadas por la presencia de un estado remoto o incluso ausente, lo que ha marcado la historia de la industria minera, y un discurso hegemónico internacional sobre los beneficios de las asociaciones de acuerdo a la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa. Los valores morales implícitos en la idea de “socio” sirven y a la vez restringen una relación que a primera vista pareciera caracterizarse por la hegemonía del neoliberalismo, pero narrativas locales de autosuficiencia y patronazgo histórico revelan ambigüedades y raíces más profundas. Este análisis etnográfico del compromiso comunidad‐empresa suscita una crítica de las condiciones de ser socios y lo enmarca en términos de controvertidas interpretaciones sobre la moralidad de las relaciones sociales y económicas.
Face‐bow transfer in prosthodontics: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Farias‐Neto A. , Dias A. H. M. , de Miranda B. F. S. , de Oliveira A. R.
Published: July 2013

An extensive search for randomised controlled clinical trials was accomplished to compare dental prostheses and occlusal splints constructed with or without face‐bow transfer, and question whether face‐bow transfer may present better clinical results than simpler approaches. Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on the Health Science, and Brazilian Bibliography of Dentistry). The keywords ‘dental articulator’, ‘semi‐adjustable articulator’, ‘face‐bow’, ‘jaw relation record’ and ‘occlusal splint therapy’ were used. The minimum inclusion requirements were (i) randomised controlled trials with patients of any age, (ii) comparison between dental prostheses or occlusal splints constructed with or without face‐bow transfer and (iii) assessment of clinician's time, number of occlusal contacts, patient satisfaction or masticatory function. The search resulted in the identification of 8779 articles. Subsequently, 8763 articles were excluded on the basis of title and abstract. By the end of the search phase, eight randomised controlled trials were considered eligible. Current scientific evidence suggests that face‐bow transfer is not imperative to achieve better clinical results in prosthodontics. Randomised clinical trials suggest that simpler approaches for the construction of complete dentures and occlusal splints may present acceptable results, while no clinical study has investigated its use in fixed and removable partial dentures.
Prevalence of Poor Sleep Quality and Its Relationship With Body Mass Index Among Teenagers: Evidence From Taiwan
Authors: Chen Duan‐Rung , Truong Khoa D. , Tsai Meng‐Ju
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

The linkage between sleep quality and weight status among teenagers has gained more attention in the recent literature and health policy but no consensus has been reached.

METHODS

Using both a propensity score method and multivariate linear regression for a cross‐sectional sample of 2,113 teenagers, we analyzed their body mass index (BMI) in relation to sleep quality while controlling for family characteristics (household income, parent/guardian level of education, disability status, work night shift, and smoking) and individual factors (age, sex, regular exercise, smoking, employment, and feeling secure in the neighborhood). Sleep quality was assessed using 3 scales: difficulty in initiating sleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, and non‐restorative sleep, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV‐defined insomnia.

RESULTS

Considering all 3 types of poor sleep quality, 20.9% of teenagers in Taiwan experienced some form of sleep problems. After adjusting for the other variables, 2 factors independently and statistically predicted sleep problems: current smoking and working night shifts by the head of the household. Teens experiencing difficulty in initiating sleep had higher BMIs ranging from 0.86 to 1.41 units.

CONCLUSIONS

Efforts to address childhood obesity need to take into consideration sleep problems that are highly prevalent among teenagers.
Low Genetic Diversity Suggests a Single Introduction and Recent Spread of Tomato chlorosis virus in Brazil
Authors: Barbosa Júlio C. , Rezende Jorge A. M. , Filho Armando B.
Published: July 2013

By comparing the partial nucleotide sequences of the heat shock protein HSP70 homologue gene, we assessed the genetic diversity of Brazilian tomato isolates of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), as well as their relationship with other ToCV isolates found worldwide. The Brazilian ToCV isolates shared 99.9–100% nucleotide identity, which indicates low genetic diversity. Brazilian ToCV isolates showed a closer evolutionary relationship to those from Mediterranean countries. Based on these results, the origin of Brazilian ToCV isolates and the possible number of introductions of the virus into Brazil are discussed.
Occurrence of Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot of Kiwifruit in Turkey
Authors: Kurbetli İlker , Ozan Sirel
Published: July 2013

Vine decline of kiwifruit was observed in an orchard in Bartın province of Turkey. Affected vines exhibited poor terminal growth, leaf discoloration and various degrees of dieback, including complete vine death. Symptoms were observed in the field on roots, crowns and stems. Two Phytophthora species were isolated from decayed cortical roots and lower stems of kiwifruits. They were identified as Phytophthora cryptogea and Phytophthora megasperma by their morphological characteristics and the analysis of sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by stem inoculation on kiwifruit seedlings. After 4 weeks, cankers developed in the plants inoculated with P. cryptogea, while no cankers formed in those inoculated with P. megasperma and in control plants. This is the first report of P. cryptogea causing root and stem rot of kiwifruit in Turkey.
Identification and Molecular Characterizations of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum Causing Stem Canker of Red‐fleshed Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) in Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Masratul Hawa , Salleh Baharuddin , Zakaria Latiffah
Published: July 2013

During the year 2008 to 2009, a new disease of stem canker was noticed in most red‐fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) plantations in Malaysia. The symptoms observed were small circular sunken orange spot, black pycnidia and rotted stem. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of the stem canker on H. polyrhizus in Malaysia, subsequently to isolate, identify and characterize the fungal pathogen based on morphology and molecular characteristics and pathogenicity test. From the surveyed 20 plantations in Malaysia, stem canker was detected in all the plantations. A total of 40 isolates of Scytalidium‐like fungus were isolated and identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum based on morphological characteristics and ITS region sequences, which showed 99% similarity to N. dimidiatum (FJ648577). From the phylogenetic analysis using maximum‐likelihood tree, isolates of N. dimidiatum from stem canker of H. polyrhizus were grouped together and did not show any sequence variation. From pathogenicity test, all 40 isolates of N. dimidiatum were pathogenic causing stem canker on H. polyrhizus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of stem canker of H. polyrhizus caused by N. dimidiatum in Malaysia.
Additive effect of sirolimus and anti‐death receptor 5 agonistic antibody against hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kawahara Toshiyasu , Toso Christian , Yamaguchi Keisuke , Cader Sonia , Douglas Donna N. , Nourbakhsh Mahra , Lewis Jamie T. , Churchill Thomas A. , Yagita Hideo , Kneteman Norman M.
Published: July 2013

Background & Aims

Despite careful patient selection, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs in 10–20% of cases after liver transplantation, and the use of potent adjuvant anticancer drugs would be welcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a combined therapy of rapamycin (sirolimus) and anti‐death receptor (DR)5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on HCC.

Methods

We first assessed the side effects of anti‐DR5 mAb administration in vivo by giving various doses of anti‐DR5 mAb. Cell proliferation assays were then performed using mouse Hepa1‐6 cells or human Huh7 cells to quantify the relative cell viability under various concentrations of sirolimus, anti‐DR5 mAb or a combination. Next, one million Hepa1‐6 cells were transplanted into C.B17‐SCID‐beige mice subcutaneously, and four groups were created: (1) untreated, (2) anti‐DR5 mAb alone, (3) sirolimus alone and (4) anti‐DR5 mAb + sirolimus.

Results

Anti‐DR5 mAb (200 and 300 μg/day) induced liver dysfunction with partial necrosis of the liver, but 100 μg/day was well tolerated with transaminitis, but normal bilirubin and only minor histological liver damage. In vitro, anti‐DR5 mAb lysed Hepa1‐6 and Huh7 cells in a dose‐dependent manner, and combinations of sirolimus and anti‐DR5 mAb demonstrated an additive effect. In vivo studies demonstrated that tumour sizes were significantly smaller in the combined therapy group than in the monotherapy groups.

Conclusions

Combining sirolimus and low‐dose anti‐DR5 mAb has a significant effect against HCC. This strategy represents a potential novel approach for the management of HCC.
Petrology of impactites from El’gygytgyn crater: Breccias in ICDP‐drill core 1C, glassy impact melt rocks and spherules
Authors: WITTMANN Axel , GODERIS Steven , CLAEYS Philippe , VANHAECKE Frank , DEUTSCH Alexander , ADOLPH Leonie
Published: July 2013

El’gygytgyn is a 18 km diameter, 3.6 Ma old impact crater in NE Siberia. International Continental Scientific Drilling Program—El’gygytgyn hole 1C was drilled on the frozen crater lake, 2.3 km from the crater center to a final depth of 517 m below the lake floor. Petrographic and geochemical analyses of 26 drill core samples, three impact melt rocks from the surface, and seven glass spherules from surface deposits outside the crater are used to characterize the impactite inventory at El’gygytgyn. The bottom 98 m of hole 1C intersected monomict brecciated, unshocked, rhyolitic ignimbrite with minor intercalations of polymict breccia and mafic inclusions. These lithologies are overlain by 89 m of polymict breccia whose components occasionally exhibit scarce, low‐degree shock metamorphic features. This unit is succeeded by 10 m of suevite that contains about 1 vol% glassy impact melt shards <1 cm in size and a low amount of shock metamorphosed lithic clasts. The suevite is capped by a reworked fallout deposit that constitutes a transition over 4 m into lacustrine sedimentation. A higher abundance of shock metamorphosed lithic clasts, and glass spherules, some with Ni‐rich spinel and admixture of an ultramafic component, characterize this unit. We tentatively interpret this impactite section as allochthonous breccia in the vicinity of El’gygytgyn’s central ring uplift. The geochemical compositions of seven glass spherules from terrace deposits 2 km outside the crater and eight spherules from the reworked fallout deposit in hole 1C show far greater variability than the composition of impact melt shards and impact melt rocks. Some of these spherules also show strong enrichments in siderophile elements.
The Chemical Reaction Optimization Approach to Solving the Environmentally Sustainable Network Design Problem
Authors: Szeto W. Y. , Wang Yi , Wong S. C.
Published: July 2013

Nowadays, the decision makers in the transportation industry are being urged to incorporate environmental costs into road network design decision making because road traffic affects the environment and health. The design of a road network should not only be cost‐effective but also environmentally sustainable. This article proposes a new network design problem (NDP) that takes both vehicle emissions and noise into account. This proposed environmentally sustainable NDP is formulated as a discrete bilevel program. The lower‐level problem is formulated as user‐equilibrium assignment. The upper‐level problem determines the optimal road capacity expansion to minimize the total costs of emissions, noise, and travel time with the considerations of budgetary and capacity improvement constraints. The proposed problem is solved by an enhanced version of a new meta‐heuristic named Chemical Reaction Optimization (CRO), and its parameters are tuned by our proposed tuning procedure. Two benchmark road networks with different demand levels are used to evaluate the performance of the enhanced CRO and illustrate the properties of the problem. The results show that there were tradeoffs between emissions, noise, and travel time costs, and that the enhanced CRO outperformed Genetic Algorithm (GA) on more than half of the testing scenarios and had a comparable performance on certain test scenarios compared with GA.
Recombinant AgB8/1 ELISA test vs. commercially available IgG ELISA test in the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis
Authors: Tamarozzi F. , Sako Y. , Ito A. , Piccoli L. , Grisolìa A. , Itoh S. , Gatti S. , Meroni V. , Genco F. , Brunetti E.
Published: July 2013

The diagnosis and clinical management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) rely on imaging and serology, the latter still having a complementary role as its accuracy in assessing cyst viability is unsatisfactory. We used an experimental IgG ELISA test based on the recombinant antigen rEgAgB8/1 cloned from Echinococcus granulosus to differentiate active from inactive/cured CE infection, comparing its performance to that of a commercially available ELISA test used routinely in our hospital laboratory. Both tests were performed on sera from 88 patients with hepatic echinococcal cysts, grouped according to cyst stage based on ultrasonographical morphology, and on 17 patients surgically treated for echinococcosis and 18 patients with nonparasitic hepatic cysts included as controls. Tests’ performances did not differ significantly, but the overall concordance between tests drastically dropped when groups were analysed separately. Further longitudinal studies should evaluate whether these discrepancies reflect the different ability of either test to predict the evolution of cysts over time. Although the recombinant‐AgB8/1‐based ELISA test seems to have no clinical advantage over the commercially available ELISA test in the assessment of hepatic CE cyst viability, the easiness of production and reproducibility of high‐quality recombinant antigens makes rEgAgB8/1 a valid candidate for use in CE ELISA diagnostic tests.
Adaptive Flood Risk Management Under Climate Change Uncertainty Using Real Options and Optimization
Authors: Woodward Michelle , Kapelan Zoran , Gouldby Ben
Published: July 2013

It is well recognized that adaptive and flexible flood risk strategies are required to account for future uncertainties. Development of such strategies is, however, a challenge. Climate change alone is a significant complication, but, in addition, complexities exist trying to identify the most appropriate set of mitigation measures, or interventions. There are a range of economic and environmental performance measures that require consideration, and the spatial and temporal aspects of evaluating the performance of these is complex. All these elements pose severe difficulties to decisionmakers. This article describes a decision support methodology that has the capability to assess the most appropriate set of interventions to make in a flood system and the opportune time to make these interventions, given the future uncertainties. The flood risk strategies have been explicitly designed to allow for flexible adaptive measures by capturing the concepts of real options and multiobjective optimization to evaluate potential flood risk management opportunities. A state‐of‐the‐art flood risk analysis tool is employed to evaluate the risk associated to each strategy over future points in time and a multiobjective genetic algorithm is utilized to search for the optimal adaptive strategies. The modeling system has been applied to a reach on the Thames Estuary (London, England), and initial results show the inclusion of flexibility is advantageous, while the outputs provide decisionmakers with supplementary knowledge that previously has not been considered.
Childhood Parental Death and Lifetime Suicide Attempt of the Opposite‐Gender Offspring in a Nationwide Community Sample of Korea
Authors: Jeon Hong Jin , Hong Jin Pyo , Fava Maurizio , Mischoulon David , Nyer Maren , Inamori Aya , Sohn Jee Hoon , Seong Sujeong , Cho Maeng Je
Published: July 2013

Although previous studies have shown that childhood parental death influences suicide attempts of their offspring, few studies have examined influence of gender and age at exposure. Koreans show the third highest suicide rate in the world, and many children and adolescents lost their parents during and after the Korean War. A total of 12,532 adults, randomly selected through a one‐person‐per‐household method, completed the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and questionnaire for suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt (response rate 80.2%). A total of 2,332 subjects experienced biological parental death in childhood (18.6%). Male suicide attempts were associated with age of exposure to maternal death from 0 to 4 years (adjusted OR = 4.48, 95% CI 1.32–15.18) and from 5 to 9 years (adjusted OR = 5.52, 95% CI 1.97–16.46), but not with paternal death, after adjusting for age, education years, marital status, monthly income, and psychiatric comorbidities. Female suicide attempts were associated with paternal death from 5 to 9 years (adjusted OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.13–4.27), but not with maternal death. Childhood parental death is significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempt in the opposite‐gender offspring, especially when exposure occurs before age 10.
A Five‐Month Longitudinal Study of Psychache and Suicide Ideation: Replication in General and High‐Risk University Students
Authors: Troister Talia , Davis Michael P. , Lowndes Ashley , Holden Ronald R.
Published: July 2013

Shneidman's (1993) model of psychache as the cause of suicide was evaluated in a 5‐month longitudinal study of psychological pain and suicide ideation. Replicating across general (N = 683) and high‐risk undergraduates (N = 262), psychache was significantly associated with suicide ideation, and change in psychache was significantly associated with change in suicide ideation. For general suicide ideation and suicide preparation, these significant results were maintained even when depression and hopelessness were statistically controlled. This research is a unique contribution being the first large‐sample longitudinal study that evaluates and supports Shneidman's psychache causal model of suicidality in general and high‐risk groups.
Implications of municipal wastewater irrigation on soil health from a study in Bangladesh
Authors: Mojid M. A. , Wyseure G. C. L.
Published: July 2013

This study evaluated soil health in fields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Shatabdi) and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) irrigated by different blends of municipal wastewater (hereafter called wastewater). The crops were grown with and without added fertilizers over three consecutive years. The wastewater contained high concentrations of organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B). It also contained negligible concentrations of a few heavy metals. Irrigation by wastewater resulted in an increase in the porosity of the surface soil and thus a reduced bulk density. Wastewater enhanced the saturated hydraulic conductivity and water retention capacity of the soils. The organic carbon, total N, available P and S, and exchangeable Na, K, Ca and Mg of the soils increased proportionately with the quantity of applied wastewater. C, N and K increased significantly (α = 0.05) when fields were irrigated using raw wastewater after applied fertilizers; the other elements accumulated in the soil insignificantly under both fertility levels. Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of the upper 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers increased with the application of wastewater; the increase was significant only under raw wastewater irrigation. In the 40–60 cm soil layer, both EC and pH remained unchanged. The applied inorganic fertilizers raised EC but reduced soil pH. The wastewater contained large counts of total coliform (TC: 17.2 × 106 cfu/100 mL) and faecal coliform (FC: 13.4 × 103 cfu/100 mL). Irrigation using municipal wastewater is proposed for improving soil fertility as well as for alleviating water scarcity with the exception of some crops whose edible parts come in direct contact with wastewater and/or are eaten uncooked.
An assessment of hepatitisEvirus (HEV) inUSblood donors and recipients: no detectableHEV RNAin 1939 donors tested and no evidence forHEVtransmission to 362 prospectively followed recipients
Authors: Xu Chenyu , Wang Richard Y. , Schechterly Cathy A. , Ge Shengxiang , Shih James W. , Xia Ning‐Shao , Luban Naomi L.C. , Alter Harvey J.
Published: July 2013

Background

HepatitisEvirus (HEV) infection has become relevant to blood transfusion practice because isolated cases of blood transmission have been reported and becauseHEVhas been found to cause chronic infection and severe liver disease in immunocompromised patients.

Study Design and Methods

We tested for immunoglobulin (Ig)GandIgMantibodies to theHEVand forHEV RNAin 1939 unselected volunteerUSblood donors. Subsequently, we tested the same variables in pre‐ and serial posttransfusion samples from 362 prospectively followed blood recipients to assess transfusion risk.

Results

IgGanti‐HEVseroprevalence in the total 1939 donations was 18.8%: 916 of these donations were made in 2006 at which time the seroprevalence was 21.8% and the remaining 1023 donations were in 2012 when the seroprevalence had decreased to 16.0% (p < 0.01). A significant (p < 0.001) stepwise increase in anti‐HEVseroprevalence was seen with increasing age. Eight of 1939 donations (0.4%) tested anti‐HEV IgMpositive; no donation wasHEV RNApositive. Two recipients had an apparent anti‐HEVseroconversion, but temporal relationships and linked donor testing showed that these were not transfusion‐transmittedHEVinfections.

Conclusion

No transfusion‐transmittedHEVinfections were observed in 362 prospectively followed blood recipients despite an anti‐HEVseroprevalence among donations exceeding 16%.
In‐vessel composting under air pressure of organic fraction of municipal solid waste in Azemmour, Morocco
Authors: Makan A. , Assobhei O. , Mountadar M.
Published: July 2013

This study aims to evaluate the performance of laboratory‐scale in‐vessel composting bioreactor for the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste treatment in Azemmour, Morocco. The bioreactor was specially designed and used for this study, and it was operated semicontinuously under 0.6 bar pressure. The evaluations studied included the operational indices, the compost maturity indices and the quality of the final compost. Obtained results showed that organic fraction of municipal solid waste could be composted successfully in 12 days. Moreover, high CO2 generations involve high temperature and high internal air pressure change, revealing vigorous microbial activity. The final compost was satisfactory for its agricultural application.
Using multistate occupancy estimation to model habitat use in difficult-to-sample watersheds: bridle shiner in a low-gradient swampy stream
Authors: Jensen Timothy , Vokoun Jason C.
Published: July 2013

We used multiseason, multistate patch occupancy models to investigate habitat use of a regionally rare minnow (bridle shiner, Notropis bifrenatus) within a difficult-to-sample, swampy stream system by defining occupancy states as coarse abundance categories (i.e., none, some, many). Habitat patches were repeatedly subsampled during three sampling periods spanning June to August 2011 using a nonstandard purse-and-lift method with a seine net, as poorly defined shorelines, unconsolidated substrate, and emergent vegetation limited beaching and restricted possible sampling locations. Detection probabilities increased from June to August, likely due to increasing catch per effort as age 0 became vulnerable to the gear, supported by the probability of detection being greater when the species was at high abundance, given occupancy. The probability of a habitat patch being occupied increased with the percent of macrophyte cover and decreased with increasing distance from another occupied patch. Decreasing mean depth showed a weak relationship to high abundance, given a patch was occupied. In summary, the multistate occupancy analytical approach was highly informative for developing quantitative habitat relationships and was seen as an effective framework for evaluating habitat use of aquatic organisms that inhabit environments inherently difficult to sample for which imperfect detection and sampling efficiency are of concern.
VARIATIONAL BAYES AND LOCALIZED FEATURE SELECTION FOR STUDENT'S t-MIXTURE MODELS
Authors: ZHANG HUI , WU Q. M. JONATHAN , NGUYEN THANH MINH
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for feature selection and model detection using Student's t-distribution based on the variational Bayesian (VB) approach. First, our method is based on the Student's t-mixture model (SMM) which has heavier tail than the Gaussian distribution and is therefore less sensitive to small numbers of data points and consequent precision-estimates of the components number. Second, the number of components, the local feature saliency and the parameters of the mixture model are simultaneously estimated by Bayesian variational learning. Experimental results using synthetic and real data demonstrate the improved robustness of our approach.
A MOTION ATTENTION MODEL BASED ON RARITY WEIGHTING AND MOTION CUES IN DYNAMIC SCENES
Authors: XU JIAWEI , YUE SHIGANG , TANG YUCHAO
Published: July 2013

Nowadays, motion attention model is a controversial topic in the biological computer vision area. The computational attention model can be decomposed into a set of features via predefined channels. Here we designed a bio-inspired vision attention model, and added the rarity measurement onto it. The priority of rarity is emphasized under the assumption of weighting effect upon the features logic fusion. At this stage, a final saliency map at each frame is adjusted by the spatiotemporal and rarity values. By doing this, the process of mimicking human vision attention becomes more realistic and logical to the real circumstance. The experiments are conducted on the benchmark dataset of static images and video sequences. We simulated the attention shift based on several dataset. Most importantly, our dynamic scenes are mostly selected from the objects moving on the highway and dynamic scenes. The former one can be developed on the detection of car collision and will be a useful tool for further application in robotics. We also conduct experiment on the other video clips to prove the rationality of rarity factor and feature cues fusion methods. Finally, the evaluation results indicate our visual attention model outperforms several state-of-the-art motion attention models.
VARIABLE SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING INTERVAL HOTELLING'S T2 CHARTS WITH RUNS RULES FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN SAMPLE SIZES AND SAMPLING INTERVAL LENGTHS
Authors: MAHADIK SHASHIBHUSHAN B.
Published: July 2013

Variable sample size and sampling interval (VSSI) T2 charts are substantially more efficient than static T2 charts. However, the frequent switches between sample sizes and sampling interval lengths can be a complicating factor during the implementation of these charts. In this paper, runs rules are proposed for switching between sample sizes and sampling interval lengths of VSSI T2 charts in order to reduce the frequency of switches. The expressions for performance measures for the charts with these runs rules are developed. The effects of different runs rules on performances of the charts are evaluated numerically. In general, runs rules substantially reduce the frequency of switches. However, some runs rules significantly affect statistical performances of the charts.
THE ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION OF OXYGEN ON CdZnTe (111)B-(2 × 2) SURFACE
Authors: BAI XUXU , JIE WANQI , ZHA GANGQIANG , ZHANG WENHUA , ZHU JUNFA , QIAN DONG , JIA JINFENG
Published: July 2013

The oxygen adsorption and desorption on the CdZnTe (111) B -(2×2) surface were studied with synchrotron radiation ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (SRUPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that a surface state of clean CdZnTe (111) B -(2×2) surface appears at 0.5 eV below Fermi level ( E F), which disappears after the oxygen exposure, and shows again after annealing in UHV. The surface work function of CdZnTe (111) B -(2×2) decreases after the oxygen exposure, and futher reduces after annealing.
A NOVEL PARTICLE FILTER BASED SLAM
Authors: HAVANGI R. , TESHNEHLAB M. , NEKOUI M. A. , TAGHIRAD H. D.
Published: July 2013

In this paper, a new approach to SLAM is proposed that is based on particle filter and soft computing techniques. In this approach, the robot pose is estimated based on unscented marginal particle filter (UMPF) and the static map is considered as parameters that are updated using soft computing. Significant improvement in the proposed method is observed in terms of accuracy of estimation and consistency compared to conventional methods. A number of simulations and experiments are presented to evaluate the algorithm's performance compared to conventional approaches.
Geant4 applications for modeling molecular transport in complex vacuum geometries
Authors: Singal Jack , Langton J. Brian , Schindler Rafe
Published: July 2013

We discuss a novel use of the Geant4 simulation toolkit to model molecular transport in a vacuum environment, in the molecular flow regime. The Geant4 toolkit was originally developed by the high energy physics community to simulate the interactions of elementary particles within complex detector systems. Here its capabilities are utilized to model molecular vacuum transport in geometries where other techniques are impractical. The techniques are verified with an application representing a simple vacuum geometry that has been studied previously both analytically and by basic Monte Carlo simulation. We discuss the use of an application with a very complicated geometry, that of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera cryostat, to determine probabilities of transport of contaminant molecules to optical surfaces where control of contamination is crucial.
Nucleosynthesis in Stars and the Chemical Enrichment of Galaxies
Authors: Nomoto Ken'ichi , Kobayashi Chiaki , Tominaga Nozomu
Published: July 2013

After the Big Bang, production of heavy elements in the early Universe takes place starting from the formation of the first stars, their evolution, and explosion. The first supernova explosions have strong dynamical, thermal, and chemical feedback on the formation of subsequent stars and evolution of galaxies. However, the nature of the Universe's first stars and supernova explosions has not been well clarified. The signature of the nucleosynthesis yields of the first stars can be seen in the elemental abundance patterns observed in extremely metal-poor stars. Interestingly, those patterns show some peculiarities relative to the solar abundance pattern, which should provide important clues to understanding the nature of early generations of stars. We thus review the recent results of the nucleosynthesis yields of mainly massive stars for a wide range of stellar masses, metallicities, and explosion energies. We also provide yields tables and examine how those yields are affected by some hydrodynamical effects during supernova explosions, namely, explosion energies from those of hypernovae to faint supernovae, mixing and fallback of processed materials, asphericity, etc. Those parameters in the supernova nucleosynthesis models are constrained from observational data of supernovae and metal-poor stars. Nucleosynthesis yields are then applied to the chemical evolution model of our Galaxy and other types of galaxies to discuss how the chemical enrichment process occurred during evolution.
Mapping of Immune-Mediated Disease Genes
Authors: Ricaño-Ponce Isis , Wijmenga Cisca
Published: July 2013

Genetic studies in immune-mediated diseases have yielded a large number of disease-associated loci. Here we review the progress being made in 12 such diseases, for which 199 independently associated non-HLA loci have been identified by genome-wide association studies since 2007. It is striking that many of the loci are not unique to a single disease but shared between different immune-mediated diseases. The challenge now is to understand how the unique and shared genetic factors can provide insight into the underlying disease biology. We annotated disease-associated variants using the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) database and demonstrate that, of the predisposing disease variants, the majority have the potential to be regulatory. We also demonstrate that many of these variants affect the expression of nearby genes. Furthermore, we summarize results from the Immunochip, a custom array, which allows a detailed comparison between five of the diseases that have so far been analyzed using this platform.
The Role of the Inherited Disorders of Hemoglobin, the First “Molecular Diseases,” in the Future of Human Genetics
Authors: Weatherall David J.
Published: July 2013

Although the inherited hemoglobin disorders were the first genetic diseases to be explored at the molecular level, they still have important messages for the future of medical genetics. In particular, they can offer a better understanding of the evolutionary and population biology of genetic disease, the mechanisms that underlie the phenotypic diversity of monogenic disease, and how, by developing appropriate partnerships, richer countries can help low-income countries to evolve programs for the control and management of these diseases where, in many cases, they are particularly common.
Prostate Stem Cells in the Development of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer: Emerging Role and Concepts
Authors: Prajapati Akhilesh , Gupta Sharad , Mistry Bhavesh , Gupta Sarita
Published: July 2013

Benign Prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are the most common prostatic disorders affecting elderly men. Multiple factors including hormonal imbalance, disruption of cell proliferation, apoptosis, chronic inflammation, and aging are thought to be responsible for the pathophysiology of these diseases. Both BPH and PCa are considered to be arisen from aberrant proliferation of prostate stem cells. Recent studies on BPH and PCa have provided significant evidence for the origin of these diseases from stem cells that share characteristics with normal prostate stem cells. Aberrant changes in prostate stem cell regulatory factors may contribute to the development of BPH or PCa. Understanding these regulatory factors may provide insight into the mechanisms that convert quiescent adult prostate cells into proliferating compartments and lead to BPH or carcinoma. Ultimately, the knowledge of the unique prostate stem or stem-like cells in the pathogenesis and development of hyperplasia will facilitate the development of new therapeutic targets for BPH and PCa. In this review, we address recent progress towards understanding the putative role and complexities of stem cells in the development of BPH and PCa.
Detection of Gender Differences in Incomplete Revascularization after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Varies with Classification Technique
Authors: Oertelt-Prigione Sabine , Kendel Friederike , Kaltenbach Martin , Hetzer Roland , Regitz-Zagrosek Vera , Baretti Rufus
Published: July 2013

Background. Incomplete revascularization negatively affects survival after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Since gender and classification technique might impact outcome and reporting, we investigated their effect on revascularization patterns and mortality.Methods. A cohort of bypass patients (N=1545, 23% women) was enrolled prospectively. The degree of revascularization was determined as mathematical difference between affected vessels upon diagnosis and number of grafts or the surgeon’s rating on the case file.Results. Although men displayed more triple-vessel disease, they obtained complete revascularization more frequently than women (85% versus 77%,P<0.001). The two calculation methods identified analogous percentages of incompletely revascularized patients, yet there was only a 50% overlap between the two groups. Mathematically, more women, older patients, and patients with NYHA class III/IV appeared incompletely revascularized, while the surgeons identified more patients undergoing technically challenging procedures. Regardless of the definition, incompleteness was a significant risk factor for mortality in both genders (mathematical calculation: HR 2.62, 95% CI 1.76–3.89,P<0.001; surgeon: HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.35–3.89,P=0.001).Conclusions. Given the differences in identification patterns, we advise that the mathematical calculation be performed after-procedure in all patients regardless of the surgeons’ rating to uncover additional subjects at increased risk.