bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, X-Ray Crystallography, Thermal Analysis, and DFT Studies of Ni(II) Complex with 1-Vinylimidazole Ligand
Authors: Şen Fatih , Şahin Ramazan , Dinçer Muharrem , Andaç Ömer , Taş Murat
Published: April 2014

The paper presents a combined experimental and computational study of hexa(1-vinylimidazole)Ni(II) perchlorate complex. The complex was prepared in the laboratory and crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a=8.442(5), b=13.686(8), c=16.041(9) Å, α=γ=90, β=96.638(5), and Z=1. The complex has been characterized structurally (by single-crystal X-Ray diffraction) and its molecular structure in the ground state has been calculated using the density functional theory (DFT) methods with 6-31G(d) and LanL2DZ basis sets. Thermal behaviour and stability of the complex were studied by TGA/DTA analyses. Besides, the nonlinear optical effects (NLO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), and the Mulliken charge distribution were investigated theoretically.
Beneficial Effect of Low-Fat Elemental Diet Therapy on Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: Ikeura Tsukasa , Takaoka Makoto , Uchida Kazushige , Miyoshi Hideaki , Okazaki Kazuichi
Published: April 2014

Background & Aims. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is often associated with abdominal pain, which impairs quality of life. The aim of this prospective study was to clarify whether the use of a low-fat elemental diet (ED) is beneficial for managing pain in patients with CP.Methods. Seventeen CP patients with pain despite fat-restricted dietary and conventional medical treatments were enrolled in this prospective study. These patients received low-fat ED therapy in addition to restricting fat intake for 8 weeks. The change of pain severity was examined by interviewing the patient and status of analgesic use.Results. Mean serum levels of amylase and lipase at 8 weeks after the beginning of low-fat ED therapy decreased compared to those before the therapy. At 8 weeks, pain alleviation after low-fat ED therapy was reported in 15 out of 17 patients (88%). Of these 15 patients, 10 patients reported complete pain disappearance. One of 3 patients with severe or moderate pain requiring analgesic was relieved of analgesic use after low-fat ED therapy.Conclusion. Low-fat ED therapy is useful as means of pain control in CP. The therapy is recommended in outpatients with CP who present with pain despite conventional dietary and medical treatments.
A Tensor-Product-Kernel Framework for Multiscale Neural Activity Decoding and Control
Authors: Li Lin , Brockmeier Austin J. , Choi John S. , Francis Joseph T. , Sanchez Justin C. , Príncipe José C.
Published: April 2014

Brain machine interfaces (BMIs) have attracted intense attention as a promising technology for directly interfacing computers or prostheses with the brain’s motor and sensory areas, thereby bypassing the body. The availability of multiscale neural recordings including spike trains and local field potentials (LFPs) brings potential opportunities to enhance computational modeling by enriching the characterization of the neural system state. However, heterogeneity on data type (spike timing versus continuous amplitude signals) and spatiotemporal scale complicates the model integration of multiscale neural activity. In this paper, we propose a tensor-product-kernel-based framework to integrate the multiscale activity and exploit the complementary information available in multiscale neural activity. This provides a common mathematical framework for incorporating signals from different domains. The approach is applied to the problem of neural decoding and control. For neural decoding, the framework is able to identify the nonlinear functional relationship between the multiscale neural responses and the stimuli using general purpose kernel adaptive filtering. In a sensory stimulation experiment, the tensor-product-kernel decoder outperforms decoders that use only a single neural data type. In addition, an adaptive inverse controller for delivering electrical microstimulation patterns that utilizes the tensor-product kernel achieves promising results in emulating the responses to natural stimulation.
Robust Stabilization of Nonlinear Systems with Uncertain Varying Control Coefficient
Authors: Yang Zaiyue , Chan C. W. , Wang Yiwen
Published: April 2014

This paper investigates the stabilization problem for a class of nonlinear systems, whose control coefficient is uncertain and varies continuously in value and sign. The study emphasizes the development of a robust control that consists of a modified Nussbaum function to tackle the uncertain varying control coefficient. By such a method, the finite‐time escape phenomenon has been prevented when the control coefficient is crossing zero and varying its sign. The proposed control guarantees the asymptotic stabilization of the system and boundedness of all closed‐loop signals. The control performance is illustrated by a numerical simulation.
A New Classification of Endodontic-Periodontal Lesions
Authors: Al-Fouzan Khalid S.
Published: April 2014

The interrelationship between periodontal and endodontic disease has always aroused confusion, queries, and controversy. Differentiating between a periodontal and an endodontic problem can be difficult. A symptomatic tooth may have pain of periodontal and/or pulpal origin. The nature of that pain is often the first clue in determining the etiology of such a problem. Radiographic and clinical evaluation can help clarify the nature of the problem. In some cases, the influence of pulpal pathology may cause the periodontal involvement and vice versa. The simultaneous existence of pulpal problems and inflammatory periodontal disease can complicate diagnosis and treatment planning. An endo-perio lesion can have a varied pathogenesis which ranges from simple to relatively complex one. The differential diagnosis of endodontic and periodontal diseases can sometimes be difficult, but it is of vital importance to make a correct diagnosis for providing the appropriate treatment. This paper aims to discuss a modified clinical classification to be considered for accurately diagnosing and treating endo-perio lesion.
Selective Changes of Resting-State Brain Oscillations in aMCI: An fMRI Study Using ALFF
Authors: Zhao Zhilian , Lu Jie , Jia Xiuqin , Chao Wang , Han Ying , Jia Jianping , Li Kuncheng
Published: April 2014

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to a transitional state between normal aging and dementia and is a syndrome with cognitive decline greater than expected for an individual’s age and educational level. As a subtype of MCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) most often leads to Alzheimer’s disease. This study aims to elucidate the altered brain activation in patients with aMCI using resting-state functional magnetic resonance. We observed Frequency-dependent changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in aMCI patients (n=20), and normal subjects (n=18). At the same time, we took gray matter volume as a covariate. We found that aMCI patients had decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation signal in left superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobe, and right postcentral gyrus compared to the control group. Specially, aMCI patients showed increased signal in left superior and middle frontal gyrus. Our results suggested that increased activation in frontal lobe of aMCI patients may indicate effective recruitment of compensatory brain resources. This finding and interpretation may lead to the better understanding of cognitive changes of aMCI.
Leptin Levels and Nutritional Status of Indigenous Tepehuán and Mestizo Subjects in Durango, Mexico
Authors: Delgadillo Guzmán Dealmy , Marchat Marchau Laurence Annie , Reyes José L. , Loera Castañeda Verónica , Sosa Macías Martha , García Vivas Jessica , Asseff Ismael Lares
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to assess differences in nutritional status and their association with circulating leptin levels in the indigenous Tepehuán people of Mezquital Durango and Mestizo populations of Durango City, Mexico. A group of 128 volunteers aged 18 through 59 years were recruited for the study: 60 indigenous Tepehuán from Mezquital and 68 Mestizo individuals from Durango City. The classification of nutritional status was through body mass index (BMI). Clinical evaluations, including anthropometry and lipid profiles, were performed to ascertain the health of the participants. Circulating leptin levels were determined in blood samples after at 08 hours of fasting. The healthy subjects were classified according to BMI: 32 Tepehuán and 30 Mestizo subjects were of normal weight (NW), and 28 Tepehuán and 38 Mestizo subjects were overweight or obese (OW/O). Both NW and OW/O Tepehuán subjects showed lower leptin concentrations than the comparable Mestizo subjects. Statistical analysis showed a negative Pearson’s correlation (r=-0.5;P<0.05) between BMI and leptin levels in NW Tepehuán subjects, but no significant correlation was found in other groups. The differences found in Tepehuán compared with Mestizo subjects might be explained by poor nutritional status, which leads to scarce adipose tissue and low levels of leptin synthesis. Leptin concentration and its relationship to BMI are associated with ethnicity.
The Impact of Blood Pressure on Kidney Function in the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Ya-Ping , Zuo Xiao-Cong , Huang Zhi-Jun , Kuang Ze-Min , Lu Ming-Gen , Duan Dayue Darrel , Yuan Hong
Published: April 2014

Background/Aims: Intensive blood pressure (BP) target decreases blood perfusion of kidneys that attenuates the benefits of BP treatment in elderly hypertensive individuals. The optimal BP goal for renal function in the hypertensive elderly has been unclear. We investigated the impact of BP on renal function to define the appropriate BP target in the elderly. Methods: A total of 28,258 elderly subjects were categorized into normotensive (Norm), hypotensive (Hypo) and hypertensive (Hyper) groups according to BP levels. Systolic, diastolic and pulse BP (SBP, DBP and PBP) were further stratified by 10 mmHg. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, uric acid, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal insufficiency prevalence (RIP) and proteinuria prevalence (PP) were compared among different groups and BP strata. The RIP and PP in the elderly with obesity, hyperlipidemia or diabetes in Norm, Hypo and Hyper groups were evaluated. Results: GFR in Hypo and Hyper groups was significantly lower than that in Norm group. The RIP and PP was higher in Hypo and Hyper groups than that in the Norm group. Proteinuria became more prevalent when SBP was >140 mmHg or <90 mmHg. DBP>80mmHg increased PP while DBP<70 mmHg increased RIP. PBP>60 mmHg led to an increased RIP and PP. Obesity or hyperlipidemia only combined with hypertension caused a significantly increased RIP and PP. Diabetes independent of hypertension contributed to higher RIP and PP. Conclusions: The most beneficial BP target for kidney function in the elderly may be SBP of 90-140 mmHg and DBP of 70-80 mmHg. PBP <60 mmHg may be appropriate.
Review of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Neuroimaging Studies
Authors: Abbass Allan A. , Nowoweiski Sarah J. , Bernier Denise , Tarzwell Robert , Beutel Manfred E.
Published: April 2014

The clinical efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT) has undergone extensive study and review. Recently, researchers have studied the effects of this treatment on brain metabolic or synaptic activity, but the collective findings have never been reviewed. The objective of this review was to describe the findings of all neuroimaging studies of any form of PDT treatment. An extensive literature search through databases along with surveying of research groups were undertaken to acquire all available published studies. Eleven series were included in the final sample, consisting of 2 randomized controlled trials, 5 controlled trials and 4 case series, altogether involving 210 people: 94 healthy controls and 116 people with mood disorders, panic disorder, somatoform disorders and borderline personality disorder. A variety of neuroimaging techniques were used to examine regional metabolic activity and synaptic neurotransmission before and after treatment. The common finding was normalization of synaptic or metabolic activity in limbic, midbrain and prefrontal regions, occurring in association with improved clinical outcomes. PDT has demonstrable effects on brain function in diverse clinical populations as evidenced by a modest group of mixed neuroimaging studies.
Pulmonary Toxicity in a Renal Transplant Recipient Treated with Amiodarone and Everolimus: A Case of Hypothetical Synergy and a Proposal for a Screening Protocol
Authors: Mella Alberto , Messina Maria , Ranghino Andrea , Solidoro Paolo , Tabbia Giuseppe , Segoloni Giuseppe Paolo , Biancone Luigi
Published: April 2014

Pneumotoxic drugs like amiodarone and m-TOR inhibitors (m-TORi) may be administered contemporaneously in therapy for patients who had renal transplants. We present a case of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT) in a patient treated with amiodarone and everolimus. A 57-year-old Caucasian male, under treatment with both everolimus (for 3 years) and amiodarone (for 2 months), presented with fever, dyspnoea and a negative chest X-ray after his second kidney transplant with suboptimal serum creatinine (3 mg/dl). A non-contrastive high-resolution CT scan showed bilateral interstitial lung disease with an associated reduction in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for an infection, but BAL cytology was suitable for APT (50% of ‘foamy' macrophages). A complete recovery was achieved after amiodarone interruption and an oral steroid therapy increase. Everolimus was continued. His kidney function remained unchanged in the upcoming months. In conclusion, we suggest a possible synergistic effect between m-TORi and amiodarone. Furthermore, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that can be used as a surveillance tool to identify a potential initial lung damage in patients treated with 1 or more pneumotoxic drugs.
Intermittent Animal Behavior: The Adjustment-Deployment Dilemma
Authors: Aguilera Miguel , Bedia Manuel G. , Seron Francisco , Barandiaran Xabier E.
Published: April 2014

Intermittency is ubiquitous in animal behavior. We depict a coordination problem that is part of the more general structure of intermittent adaptation: the adjustment-deployment dilemma. It captures the intricate compromise between the time spent in adjusting a response and the time used to deploy it: The adjustment process improves fitness with time, but during deployment fitness of the solution decays as environmental conditions change. We provide a formal characterization of the dilemma, and solve it using computational methods. We find that the optimal solution always results in a high intermittency between adjustment and deployment around a non-maximal fitness value. Furthermore we show that this non-maximal fitness value is directly determined by the ratio between the exponential coefficient of the fitness increase during adjustment and that of its decay coefficient during deployment. We compare the model results with experimental data obtained from observation and measurement of intermittent behavior in animals. Among other phenomena, the model is able to predict the uneven distribution of average duration of search and motion phases found among various species such as fishes, birds, and lizards. Despite the complexity of the problem, it can be shown to be solved by relatively simple mechanisms. We find that a model of a single continuous-time recurrent neuron, with the same parametric configuration, is capable of solving the dilemma for a wide set of conditions. We finally hypothesize that many of the different patterns of intermittent behavior found in nature might respond to optimal solutions of complexified versions of the adjustment-deployment dilemma under different constraints.
Exploring the Effect of Power Law Social Popularity on Language Evolution
Authors: Gong Tao , Shuai Lan
Published: April 2014

We evaluate the effect of a power-law-distributed social popularity on the origin and change of language, based on three artificial life models meticulously tracing the evolution of linguistic conventions including lexical items, categories, and simple syntax. A cross-model analysis reveals an optimal social popularity, in which the λ value of the power law distribution is around 1.0. Under this scaling, linguistic conventions can efficiently emerge and widely diffuse among individuals, thus maintaining a useful level of mutual understandability even in a big population. From an evolutionary perspective, we regard this social optimality as a tradeoff among social scaling, mutual understandability, and population growth. Empirical evidence confirms that such optimal power laws exist in many large-scale social systems that are constructed primarily via language-related interactions. This study contributes to the empirical explorations and theoretical discussions of the evolutionary relations between ubiquitous power laws in social systems and relevant individual behaviors.
Two new species of Caenohalictus Cameron, 1903 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Colombia
Authors: CELIS CINDY JULIETH , CURE JOSE RICARDO , AGUILAR-BENAVIDES MARLENE LUCIA
Published: April 2014

This paper describes and illustrates females and males of two species of Caenohalictus Cameron, 1903: C. sabanaensis n.sp. and C. alexandrei n.sp. Both species are commonly collected in the Savanna of Bogotá, a high plateau in the central region of the Eastern Andes of Colombia. Notes on morphological variations within and among the species, as well as comments on some biological aspects and images of diagnostic structures are provided.
A new species of Neotraginops Prado (Diptera: Odiniidae) from Mexico and Belize, with additional records for Odinia coronata Sabrosky in Mesoamerica
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ-ORTIZ VICENTE , DZUL-CAUICH JOSÉ F.
Published: April 2014

Neotraginops mexicanus n. sp. is described and illustrated based on specimens from Mexico and Belize, representing the second known species for the genus. Additional records for Odinia coronata Sabrosky from Mexico and Nicaragua are provided.
Forecasting of Surface Winds over Eastern Canada Using the Canadian Offline Land Surface Modeling System
Authors: Ioannidou Lily , Yu Wei , Bélair Stéphane
Published: April 2014

The capability of the Canadian land surface external modeling system known as the Global Environmental Multiscale Surface (GEM-SURF) system with respect to surface wind predictions is evaluated. Based on the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface scheme, and an exponential power law adjusted to the local stability conditions for the prediction of surface winds, the system allows decoupling of surface processes from those of the free atmosphere and enables high resolutions at the surface as dictated by the small-scale heterogeneities of the surface boundary. The simulations are driven by downscaled forecasts from the Regional Deterministic Prediction System, the 15-km Canadian regional operational modeling system. High-resolution, satellite-derived datasets of orography, vegetation, and soil cover are used to depict the surface boundary. The integration domains cover Canada’s eastern provinces at resolutions ranging from that of the driving model to resolutions similar to those of the geophysical datasets. The GEM-SURF predictions outperform those of the driving operational model. Reduction of the standard error and improvement of the model skill is seen as resolution increases, for all wind speeds. Further, the bias error is reduced in association with a rise in the corresponding value of the roughness length. For all examined resolutions GEM-SURF’s predictions are shown to be superior to those obtained through a simple statistical downscaling. In the prospect of the future development of a multicomponent system that provides wind forecasts at levels of wind energy generation, GEM-SURF’s potential for improved scores at the surface and its limited requirements in computer resources make it a suitable surface component of such a system.
On the Spatial Gradient of Soil Moisture–Precipitation Feedback Strength in the April 2011 Drought in the Southern Great Plains
Authors: Su Hua , Dickinson Robert E.
Published: April 2014

The southern Great Plains (SGP) experienced a record-breaking drought in 2011, in which the excessively dry conditions established quickly in spring (i.e., April) and extended into summer. A regional climate model is used (after its evaluation) to simulate this April drought and investigate how a soil moisture anomaly could affect the development of its precipitation deficit. The authors examine how the local thermodynamic structure of the overlying atmosphere contributes to soil moisture feedbacks and how these feedbacks are connected to nonlocal mechanisms. The simulations establish a zonal gradient in the (generally positive) feedback strength [i.e., a significant (negligible) precipitation increase over the eastern (western) SGP] under an SGP-wide wet soil moisture anomaly and spatially similar evapotranspiration (ET) increments. This pattern is dominated by convective precipitation and consistent with spatial gradients in parameters relevant to moist convection, including the precipitable water, the low-level instability and humidity, and the local cloud water content. All these variables are sensitive to a wet soil moisture anomaly, but precipitation responds differently to their changes in different locations. Furthermore, the impacts of the soil moisture anomaly on various large-scale atmospheric fields are related to the spatial structure of feedback strength. Additionally, the weaker feedback over the western SGP occurs in a region of relatively strong subsidence and changes little with a westward expansion of the anomaly area, whereas nonlocal soil moisture impacts—in particular, moisture advection from the west—are important for the stronger feedback over the eastern SGP.
Dependence of Climate Response on Meridional Structure of External Thermal Forcing
Authors: Kang Sarah M. , Xie Shang-Ping
Published: April 2014

This study shows that the magnitude of global surface warming greatly depends on the meridional distribution of surface thermal forcing. An atmospheric model coupled to an aquaplanet slab mixed layer ocean is perturbed by prescribing heating to the ocean mixed layer. The heating is distributed uniformly globally or confined to narrow tropical or polar bands, and the amplitude is adjusted to ensure that the global mean remains the same for all cases. Since the tropical temperature is close to a moist adiabat, the prescribed heating leads to a maximized warming near the tropopause, whereas the polar warming is trapped near the surface because of strong atmospheric stability. Hence, the surface warming is more effectively damped by radiation in the tropics than in the polar region. As a result, the global surface temperature increase is weak (strong) when the given amount of heating is confined to the tropical (polar) band. The degree of this contrast is shown to depend on water vapor– and cloud–radiative feedbacks that alter the effective strength of prescribed thermal forcing.
The Impact of Targeted Dropwindsonde Observations on Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts of Four Weak Systems during PREDICT
Authors: Torn Ryan D.
Published: April 2014

The value of assimilating targeted dropwindsonde observations meant to improve tropical cyclone intensity forecasts is evaluated using data collected during the Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud-Systems in the Tropics (PREDICT) field project and a cycling ensemble Kalman filter. For each of the four initialization times studied, four different sets of Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) ensemble forecasts are produced: one without any dropwindsonde data, one with all dropwindsonde data assimilated, one where a small subset of “targeted” dropwindsondes are identified using the ensemble-based sensitivity method, and a set of randomly selected dropwindsondes. For all four cases, the assimilation of dropwindsondes leads to an improved intensity forecast, with the targeted dropwindsonde experiment recovering at least 80% of the difference between the experiment where all dropwindsondes and no dropwindsondes are assimilated. By contrast, assimilating randomly selected dropwindsondes leads to a smaller impact in three of the four cases. In general, zonal and meridional wind observations at or below 700 hPa have the largest impact on the forecast due to the large sensitivity of the intensity forecast to the horizontal wind components at these levels and relatively large ensemble standard deviation relative to the assumed observation errors.
Concurrent data elicitation procedures, processes, and the early stages of L2 learning: A critical overview
Authors: Leow Ronald P. , Grey Sarah , Marijuan Silvia , Moorman Colleen
Published: April 2014

Given the current methodological interest in eliciting direct data on the cognitive processes L2 learners employ as they interact with L2 data during the early stages of the learning process, this article takes a critical and comparative look at three concurrent data elicitation procedures currently employed in the SLA literature: Think aloud (TA) protocols, eye-tracking (ET), and reaction time (RT). The section on each data elicitation procedure begins with a brief historical and descriptive account of its usage and application in the SLA literature to address cognitive processes as they occur during the early stages of the L2 learning process, followed by its strengths and some methodological issues that should be considered. Suggestions are provided for their usage in future studies investigating concurrent cognitive processes in L2 learning at these early stages of the L2 learning process.
Nurse Practitioners and the Growth of Palliative Medicine
Authors: Heinle Rebecca , McNulty Janice , Hebert Randy S.
Published: April 2014

As Americans live longer they are likely to suffer from chronic, life-limiting illness. Because there are not enough hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) trained physicians to care for these people, there have been recent calls to increase the number of HPM trained physicians. We, however, believe that greater involvement of nurse practitioners (NPs) is a step in remedying this deficit. The philosophy and culture in which nurse practitioners are trained make them ideal clinicians to provide excellent palliative care. In addition, NPs are not only numerous, they can provide care that is on par with that provided by physicians. Removal of barriers to NP practice and increasing the quality of their palliative care education/training needs to occur in order to make this suggestion a reality.
Optimal information in authentication of food and beverages
Authors: Gutiérrez Luis , Quintana Fernando A
Published: April 2014

Food and beverage authentication is the process by which food or beverages are verified as complying with their label descriptions ( Winterhalter, 2007 ). A common way to deal with an authentication process is to measure attributes, such as, groups of chemical compounds on samples of food, and then use these as input for a classification method. In many applications there may be several types of measurable attributes. An important problem thus consists of determining which of these would provide the best information, in the sense of achieving the highest possible classification accuracy at low cost. We approach the problem under a decision theoretic strategy, by framing it as the selection of an optimal test ( Geisser and Johnson, 1992 ) or as the optimal dichotomization of screening tests variables ( Wang and Geisser, 2005 ), where the ‘test’ is defined through a classification model applied to different groups of chemical compounds. The proposed methodology is motivated by data consisting of measurements of 19 chemical compounds (Anthocyanins, Organic Acids and Flavonols) on samples of Chilean red wines. The main goal is to determine the combination of chemical compounds that provides the best information for authentication of wine varieties, considering the losses associated to wrong decisions and the cost of the chemical analysis. The proposed methodology performs well on simulated data, where the best combination of responses is known beforehand.
Effects of an exercise and hypocaloric healthy eating intervention on indices of psychological health status, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation and immune function after early-stage breast cancer: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Saxton John M , Scott Emma J , Daley Amanda J , Woodroofe M Nicola , Mutrie Nanette , Crank Helen , Powers Hilary J , Coleman Robert E
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Many women experience emotional distress, depression and anxiety after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Psychological stress and depression have been associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation that may adversely affect immune system functioning and impact upon survival. This study investigated the effects of a lifestyle intervention on indices of psychological health status, HPA axis regulation and immune function in overweight women recovering from early-stage breast cancer treatment.

Methods

A total of 85 women treated for breast cancer 3 to 18 months previously were randomly allocated to a 6-month exercise and hypocaloric healthy eating program plus usual care or usual care alone (control group). Women in the intervention group received three supervised exercise sessions per week and individualized dietary advice, supplemented by weekly nutrition seminars. Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory version II: BDI-II), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale: PSS), salivary diurnal cortisol rhythms; inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and Tumor necrosis factor-α), leukocyte phenotype counts, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and lymphocyte proliferation following mitogenic stimulation were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow up.

Results

Compared with the control group, the intervention group exhibited a reduction in depressive symptoms (adjusted mean difference, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): −3.12, −1.03 to −5.26; P = 0.004) at the 6-month follow-up but no significant decrease in PSS scores (−2.07, −4.96 to 0.82; P = 0.16). The lifestyle intervention also had a significant impact on diurnal salivary cortisol rhythm compared with usual care alone, as evidenced by an increase in morning salivary cortisol at the 6-month follow-up (P <0.04), indicating a change in HPA axis regulation. Women in the control group had higher total leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in comparison to the intervention group at the 6-month follow-up (P ≤0.05), whereas there was no difference in NK cell counts (P = 0.46), NK cell cytotoxicity (P = 0.85) or lymphocyte proliferation responses (P = 0.11) between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our results show that the lifestyle intervention resulted in a reduction in depressive symptoms and a normalisation of HPA axis regulation. Such changes could have important implications for long-term survival in women recovering from early-breast cancer treatment.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN08045231
Mechanical ventilation drives pneumococcal pneumonia into lung injury and sepsis in mice: protection by adrenomedullin
Authors: Müller-Redetzky Holger C , Will Daniel , Hellwig Katharina , Kummer Wolfgang , Tschernig Thomas , Pfeil Uwe , Paddenberg Renate , Menger Michael D , Kershaw Olivia , Gruber Achim D , Weissmann Norbert , Hippenstiel Stefan , Suttorp Norbert , Witzenrath Martin
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) contributes to morbidity and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Particularly pre-injured lungs are susceptible to VILI despite protective ventilation. In a previous study, the endogenous peptide adrenomedullin (AM) protected murine lungs from VILI. We hypothesized that mechanical ventilation (MV) contributes to lung injury and sepsis in pneumonia, and that AM may reduce lung injury and multiple organ failure in ventilated mice with pneumococcal pneumonia.

Methods

We analyzed in mice the impact of MV in established pneumonia on lung injury, inflammation, bacterial burden, hemodynamics and extrapulmonary organ injury, and assessed the therapeutic potential of AM by starting treatment at intubation.

Results

In pneumococcal pneumonia, MV increased lung permeability, and worsened lung mechanics and oxygenation failure. MV dramatically increased lung and blood cytokines but not lung leukocyte counts in pneumonia. MV induced systemic leukocytopenia and liver, gut and kidney injury in mice with pneumonia. Lung and blood bacterial burden was not affected by MV pneumonia and MV increased lung AM expression, whereas receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP) 1–3 expression was increased in pneumonia and reduced by MV. Infusion of AM protected against MV-induced lung injury (66% reduction of pulmonary permeability p < 0.01; prevention of pulmonary restriction) and against VILI-induced liver and gut injury in pneumonia (91% reduction of AST levels p < 0.05, 96% reduction of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels p < 0.05, abrogation of histopathological changes and parenchymal apoptosis in liver and gut).

Conclusions

MV paved the way for the progression of pneumonia towards ARDS and sepsis by aggravating lung injury and systemic hyperinflammation leading to liver, kidney and gut injury. AM may be a promising therapeutic option to protect against development of lung injury, sepsis and extrapulmonary organ injury in mechanically ventilated individuals with severe pneumonia.
Modeling Building Classes Using Moment Matching
Authors: Cho In Ho , Porter Keith
Published: April 2014

Large-scale earthquake risk assessment necessitates models of the seismic performance of building classes. This work addresses how to depict a class with only a few (index) buildings whose designs span the attributes that most impact the seismic behavior of the class. We propose a general numerical moment matching (MM) technique to represent those seismic attributes of index buildings, which can then be individually analyzed by second-generation performance-based earthquake engineering methods (PBEE-2). The results probabilistically combined to model the class behavior as a whole. Thereby, the model honors the joint distribution of variable features within the class and propagates all other uncertainties that PBEE-2 already recognizes. Importantly, we can reflect and propagate with rigor the uncertain attributes of buildings within a class, notably without resorting to standard distributions. The MM enables PBEE-2 to rigorously capture seismic risk assessment of a building class.
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Incidence of Diabetes in Elderly People: The PRO.V.A. Study
Authors: Veronese Nicola , Sergi Giuseppe , De Rui Marina , Bolzetta Francesco , Toffanello Elena Debora , Zambon Sabina , Corti Maria-Chiara , Sartori Leonardo , Musacchio Estella , Baggio Giovannella , Crepaldi Gaetano , Perissinotto Egle , Manzato Enzo
Published: April 2014

Context:

Increasing research has shown that low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin (25OHD) predict the onset of diabetes, but no research is available on this issue in elderly people.

Objective:

Our objective was to examine whether low serum levels of 25OHD are associated with a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes over a lengthy follow-up in a representative group of elderly people.

Design and Setting:

This was a population-based cohort study as part of the Progetto Veneto Anziani (Pro.V.A.) Study over a follow-up of 4.4 years in the general community.

Participants:

Participants included 2227 participants (1728 with follow-up visits and 499 died during the follow-up) over 65 years of age without diabetes at baseline, of 2352 initially included.

Main Outcome Measure:

The main outcome measure was incident diabetes.

Results:

There were no baseline differences in known factors for the onset of diabetes (body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, renal function, and hemoglobin A1c levels) between the groups with different serum 25OHD levels (≤25, 25–50, 50–75, and ≥75 nmol/L). Over a 4.4-year follow-up, 291 individuals developed diabetes, with an incidence of 28 events per 1000 person-years. No significant difference in the incidence of diabetes emerged between the baseline 25OHD groups. Cox's regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, revealed no relationship between low vitamin D levels and incident diabetes during the follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76–1.45, P = .77; HR = 1.44, 95% CI = 0.95–1.98, P = .12; and HR = 1.37, 95% CI = 0.87–2.16, P = .17 for those with 25OHD ≤25, 25–50, and 50–75 nmol/L, respectively).

Conclusion:

Baseline serum concentrations of 25OHD were not associated with the incidence of diabetes in community-dwelling elderly people over a follow-up of 4.4 years.
Fluorescent Dimer and Fiber of meso-Tetrakis{o-(isonicotinoylamino)phenyl}porphyrin Connected by Pd(II) Coordinations
Authors: Kasuya Sakiko , Yamazawa Yukika , Sugimura Natsuhiko , Shibue Toshimichi , Komatsu Teruyuki
Published: April 2014

A pair of meso-tetrakis{α,α,α,α-o-(isonicotinoylamino)phenyl}porphyrins (P1) was coupled by quadruple Pd(II) coordinations, generating a cofacial and fluorescent porphyrin dimer. Photoinduced electron transfers from the dimer to benzoquinones were investigated. Furthermore, Pd(II) coordinations to the α,β,α,β-atropisomer P2 yielded fluorescent porphyrin fiber with a monomolecular width.
An Explicit Solution of a Nonlinear-Quadratic Constrained Stochastic Control Problem with Jumps: Optimal Liquidation in Dark Pools with Adverse Selection
Authors: Kratz Peter
Published: April 2014

We study a constrained stochastic control problem with jumps; the jump times of the controlled process are given by a Poisson process. The cost functional comprises quadratic components for an absolutely continuous control and the controlled process and an absolute value component for the control of the jump size of the process. We characterize the value function by a “polynomial” of degree two whose coefficients depend on the state of the system; these coefficients are given by a coupled system of ODEs. The problem hence reduces from solving the Hamilton Jacobi Bellman (HJB) equation (i.e., a PDE) to solving an ODE whose solution is available in closed form. The state space is separated by a time dependent boundary into a continuation region where the optimal jump size of the controlled process is positive and a stopping region where it is zero. We apply the optimization problem to a problem faced by investors in the financial market who have to liquidate a position in a risky asset and have access to a dark pool with adverse selection.
Mining Marketing Meaning from Online Chatter: Strategic Brand Analysis of Big Data Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation
Authors: Tirunillai Seshadri , Tellis Gerard J.
Published: April 2014

Online chatter, or user-generated content, constitutes an excellent emerging source for marketers to mine meaning at a high temporal frequency. This article posits that this meaning consists of extracting the key latent dimensions of consumer satisfaction with quality and ascertaining the valence, labels, validity, importance, dynamics, and heterogeneity of those dimensions. The authors propose a unified framework for this purpose using unsupervised latent Dirichlet allocation. The sample of user-generated content consists of rich data on product reviews across 15 firms in five markets over four years. The results suggest that a few dimensions with good face validity and external validity are enough to capture quality. Dynamic analysis enables marketers to track dimensions’ importance over time and allows for dynamic mapping of competitive brand positions on those dimensions over time. For vertically differentiated markets (e.g., mobile phones, computers), objective dimensions dominate and are similar across markets, heterogeneity is low across dimensions, and stability is high over time. For horizontally differentiated markets (e.g., shoes, toys), subjective dimensions dominate but vary across markets, heterogeneity is high across dimensions, and stability is low over time.
Boundedness of intrinsic square functions on generalized Morrey spaces
Authors: Wang Hua
Published: April 2014

We study the strong type and weak type estimates of intrinsic square functions including the Lusin area integral, Littlewood–Paley g-function and

g
λ
*

$g^*_\lambda $

-function on the generalized Morrey spaces

L

p
,
Φ

$L^{p,\Phi }$

for

1
≤
p
<
∞

$1\le p<\infty $

, where Φ is a growth function on

(
0
,
∞
)

$(0,\infty )$

satisfying the doubling condition. The boundedness of commutators generated by

BMO
(

ℝ
n

)

$\operatorname{BMO}(\mathbb {R}^n)$

functions and intrinsic square functions is also obtained.
Thesauri, Terminologien, Lexika, Fachsprachen
Authors: Engerer Volkmar
Published: April 2014

Ich unternehme in diesem Beitrag den Versuch, die Informationswissenschaft - hier gedeutet als ‚Information Retrieval‘- Disziplin - einer synchronen Querschnittsanalyse zu unterziehen, welche die aktuelle Position dieser Disziplin im Feld anderer zeichen- und wortschatzorientierter Disziplinen (neben der Linguistik die Terminologielehre und die Fachsprachenforschung) näher bestimmen soll. Im Rahmen der Analyse wird von einem Information Retrieval-Kern der Informationswissenschaft ausgegangen, welcher den Informationssuchkontext sowie die Konzepte des Informationsbedarfs und der Relevanz als für diese Disziplin zentrale Komponenten ansieht. Synchron wird das Verhältnis der Informationswissenschaft zu benachbarten Disziplinen durch eine Reihe disziplinspezifischer Zeichenanforderungen erklärt, wodurch ein systemischer Zusammenhang entsteht, der die Informationswissenschaft mit den drei anderen zeichenbezogenen und vokabularorientierten Disziplinen in Beziehung setzt. Das Verhältnis zwischen diesen Disziplinen wird anhand der Dimensionen Kontrolle/Verbindlichkeit sowie Verortung des Vokabulars („im Kopf“ vs. in externen Dokumenten) aufgezeigt, und es wird ein übergeordnetes Prinzip der Syntagmatisierung, welches die beiden Dimensionen vereint, vorgeschlagen.
Development of deep silicon plasma etching for 3D integration technology
Authors: Golishnikov А. А. , Putrya M.G.
Published: April 2014

Plasma etch process for thought-silicon via (TSV) formation is one of the most important technological operations in the field of metal connections creation between stacked circuits in 3D assemble technology. TSV formation strongly depends on parameters such as Si-wafer thickness, aspect ratio, type of metallization material, etc. The authors investigate deep silicon plasma etch process for formation of TSV with controllable profile. The influence of process parameters on plasma etch rate, silicon etch selectivity to photoresist and the structure profile are researched in this paper. Technology with etch and passivation steps alternation was used as a method of deep silicon plasma etching. Experimental tool «Platrane-100» with high-density plasma reactor based on high-frequency ion source with transformer coupled plasma was used for deep silicon plasma etching. As actuation gases for deep silicon etching were chosen the following gases: SF6 was used for the etch stage and CHF3 was applied on the polymerization stage. As a result of research, the deep plasma etch process has been developed with the following parameters: silicon etch rate 6 µm/min, selectivity to photoresist 60 and structure profile 90±2°. This process provides formation of TSV 370 µm deep and about 120 µm in diameter.
Genetics and Evolution: An iOS Application to Supplement Introductory Courses in Transmission and Evolutionary Genetics
Authors: Myers Russell B , Millman Brandon , Noor Mohamed A F
Published: April 2014

Students in college courses struggle to understand many concepts fundamental to transmission and evolutionary genetics, including multilocus inheritance, recombination, Hardy-Weinberg, and genetic drift. These students consistently ask for more demonstrations and more practice problems. With this demand in mind, the “Genetics and Evolution” app was designed to help students (and their instructors) by providing a suite of tools granting them the ability to: (1) simulate genetic crosses with varying numbers of genes and patterns of inheritance, (2) simulate allele frequency changes under natural selection and/ or genetic drift, (3) quiz themselves to reinforce terminology (customizable by any instructor for their whole classroom), *4) solve various problems (recombination fractions, Hardy-Weinberg, heritability, population growth), and (5) generate literally an infinite number of practice problems in all of these areas to try on their own. Although some of these functions are available elsewhere, the alternatives do not have the ability to instantly generate new practice problems or achieve these diverse functions in devices that students carry in their pockets every day.
Rapid Evolution of Phenotypic Plasticity and Shifting Thresholds of Genetic Assimilation in the NematodeCaenorhabditis remanei
Authors: Sikkink Kristin L , Reynolds Rose M , Ituarte Catherine M , Cresko William A , Phillips Patrick C
Published: April 2014

Many organisms can acclimate to new environments through phenotypic plasticity, a complex trait that can be heritable, subject to selection, and evolve. However, the rate and genetic basis of plasticity evolution remain largely unknown. We experimentally evolved outbred populations of the nematode Caenorhabditis remanei under an acute heat shock during early larval development. When raised in a nonstressful environment, ancestral populations were highly sensitive to a 36.8° heat shock and exhibited high mortality. However, initial exposure to a nonlethal high temperature environment resulted in significantly reduced mortality during heat shock (hormesis). Lines selected for heat shock resistance rapidly evolved the capacity to withstand heat shock in the native environment without any initial exposure to high temperatures, and early exposure to high temperatures did not lead to further increases in heat resistance. This loss of plasticity would appear to have resulted from the genetic assimilation of the heat induction response in the noninducing environment. However, analyses of transcriptional variation via RNA-sequencing from the selected populations revealed no global changes in gene regulation correlated with the observed changes in heat stress resistance. Instead, assays of the phenotypic response across a broader range of temperatures revealed that the induced plasticity was not fixed across environments, but rather the threshold for the response was shifted to higher temperatures over evolutionary time. These results demonstrate that apparent genetic assimilation can result from shifting thresholds of induction across environments and that analysis of the broader environmental context is critically important for understanding the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.