bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cohort study
Authors: Ngian Gene-Siew , Stevens Wendy , Prior David , Gabbay Eli , Roddy Janet , Tran Ai , Minson Robert , Hill Catherine , Chow Ken , Sahhar Joanne , Proudman Susanna , Nikpour Mandana
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of mortality in connective tissue disease (CTD). We sought to quantify survival and determine factors predictive of mortality in a cohort of patients with CTD-associated PAH (CTD-PAH) in the current era of advanced PAH therapy.

Methods

Patients with right heart catheter proven CTD-PAH were recruited from six specialised PAH treatment centres across Australia and followed prospectively. Using survival methods including Cox proportional hazards regression, we modelled for all-cause mortality. Independent variables included demographic, clinical and hemodynamic data.

Results

Among 117 patients (104 (94.9%) with systemic sclerosis), during 2.6 ± 1.8 (mean ± SD) years of follow-up from PAH diagnosis, there were 32 (27.4%) deaths. One-, two- and three-year survivals were 94%, 89% and 73%, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, higher mean right atrial pressure (mRAP) at diagnosis (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.24, P = 0.007), lower baseline six-minute walk distance (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.97, P = 0.04), higher baseline World Health Organization functional class (HR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.25 to 9.36, P = 0.04) and presence of a pericardial effusion (HR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.07 to 10.68, P = 0.04) were predictive of mortality. Warfarin (HR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.78, P = 0.02) and combination PAH therapy (HR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.83, P = 0.03) were protective.

Conclusions

In this cohort of CTD-PAH patients, three-year survival was 73%. Independent therapeutic predictors of survival included warfarin and combination PAH therapy. Our findings suggest that anticoagulation and combination PAH therapy may improve survival in CTD-PAH. This observation merits further evaluation in randomised controlled trials.
The Analysis of the Parameters of Three-phase Coexistence in the Course of Long-term Contact between a Superhydrophobic Surface and an Aqueous Medium
Authors: Boinovich Ludmila , Emelyanenko Alexandre M
Published: October 2012

A method to estimate the portion of wetted area and the intrinsic wettability state (hydrophobic versus hydrophilic) of elements of texture in the case of a heterogeneous wetting regime is proposed and discussed.
Vitamin D: Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Authors: Generali Joyce A. , Cada Dennis J.
Published: October 2012

This Hospital Pharmacy feature is extracted from Off-Label Drug Pacts, a quarterly publication available from Wolters Kluwer Health. Off-Label Drug Pacts is a practitioner-oriented resource for information about specific drug uses that are unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This new guide to the literature enables the health care professional or clinician to quickly identify published studies on off-label uses and determine if a specific use is rational in a patient care scenario. References direct the reader to the full literature for more comprehensive information before patient care decisions are made. Direct questions or comments regarding Off-Label Drug Uses to jgeneral@kumc.edu .
Streptococcus milleri Group Cutaneous Abscess Associated with Insulin Injection to Distal Lower Extremity in an Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Man
Authors: Kerr Kevin J. , Fugit Randolph V.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

We report a case of Streptococcus milleri group (SMG)-associated cutaneous abscess in an older diabetic man. The infection developed after subcutaneous insulin injection to the distal lower extremity. This is the first known account of SMG-associated abscess secondary to insulin administration.

A 60-year-old Caucasian insulin-dependent diabetic male developed a severe cutaneous infection including abscess and surrounding cellulitis at the site of a self-administered insulin glargine injection on the medial portion of his right lower leg. The infection developed rapidly within 1 day following the injection. Cultures from purulent drainage were positive for SMG. The infection resolved rapidly with an antibiotic regimen including 1 dose of clindamycin followed by intravenous pipercillin/tazobactam plus vancomycin and concluded with outpatient treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Organisms belonging to SMG are increasingly recognized as pyogenic pathogens responsible, most commonly, for abscess infections. SMG infections have been reported in diabetics; however, this is the first known case of SMG-associated abscess secondary to subcutaneous insulin administration.

Conclusion

A 60-year-old diabetic male experienced a severe SMG-associated abscess in the distal lower extremity after self-injection with insulin glargine. The infection resolved rapidly with intravenous and oral antibiotics. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for abscess infection from SMG at insulin injection sites.
Leadership Courage
Authors: Enright Sharon Murphy , White Sara J.
Published: October 2012

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This month's article continues the focus on the use of mind mapping to clarify and simplify complex pharmacy department issues. At the ASHP Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy, faculty use mind maps to prepare a summary of the participants' responses to the week's content. The mind mapping process clarifies the discussion and illustrates the conclusions that are drawn.
Dys-appearance and compassion: The body, pain and ethical enactments in Mike Parr’s Close the Concentration Camps (2002)
Authors: Hazou Rand
Published: October 2012

On 15 June 2002, Australian performance artist Mike Parr staged a performance entitled Close the Concentration Camps at the Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne. The work focused on the acts of self-harm that detained asylum seekers were engaging in while being segregated in
detention centres in isolated parts of the country. For Parr the performance was an expression of solidarity and empathy with the detainees. In the resulting performance, he had his lips sewn shut and had the word ‘Alien’ branded into his thigh with a hot iron. This article draws
on the phenomenology of pain as outlined by Drew Leder to discuss the deployment of pain in performance. Applying the notion of ‘dys-appearance’, the article discusses how the temporal characteristics of pain can lay the foundations for an ethical audience engagement by encouraging
spectators to acknowledge that they share the same space and time as the bleeding and suffering body that they see before them. The article considers this ethical response in relation to the notion of ‘compassion’. Pointing to the etymological meaning of compassion as ‘suffering
with’, I argue that the performance engages the painful body’s capacity to elicit an affective and visceral response in order to encourage audiences to feel with the suffering body they see before them. Moreover, this affective response can be seen as a prelude to political intervention
on behalf of asylum seekers incarcerated in detention centres.
REVIEWS
Authors: Poore Ben , O’Toole Emer , Maguire Tom , Lease Bryce , Poore Ben , Jenkins Lindsay
Published: October 2012

EMBODYING AMERICAN SLAVERY IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, LISA WOOLFORK, (2009) Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 248 pp., ISBN 978-0-252-03390-2, hbk, $40 SLAVERY AND SENTIMENT ON THE AMERICAN STAGE, 1787–1861: LIFTING THE VEIL OF BLACK, HEATHER S. NATHANS, (2009)
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 275 pp., ISBN 978-0-521-87011-5, hbk, £50 REPRESENTATION AND CONTESTATION: CULTURAL POLITICS IN A POLITICAL CENTURY, CHING-YU LIN AND JOHN McSWEENEY (EDS), (2010) Vol. 73, Critical Issues Series, New York: Rodopi, 255 pp., ISBN 978-90-420-3149-4,
pbk, £48 APPLIED THEATRE: INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES AND CHALLENGES FOR PRACTICE, MONICA PRENDERGAST AND JULIANA SAXTON, (2009) Bristol/Chicago: Intellect, 224 pp., ISBN 978-1-84150-281-6, pbk, £19.95 CLOSER: PERFORMANCE, TECHNOLOGIES, PHENOMENOLOGY, SUSAN KOZEL, (2008) Cambridge,
Mass.: MIT Press, 355 pp., ISBN 978-0-262-11310-6, hbk, £25.95 BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE: THE CRISIS IN BRITAIN’S REGIONAL THEATRES, OLIVIA TURNBULL, (2008) Bristol: Intellect, 192 pp., ISBN 978-1-84150-208-3, pbk, £19.95, $40 RUSSIA, FREAKS AND FOREIGNERS: THREE PERFORMANCE
TEXTS, JAMES MACDONALD, (2008) Bristol/Chicago: Intellect, 219 pp., ISBN 978-1-84150-186-4, pbk, £14.95
The clinical seminar as a learning methodology: an evaluation of nursing students' views
Authors: Granero-Molina José , Fernández-Sola Cayetano , Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez , Jiménez-López Francisca Rosa , Aguilera-Manrique Gabriel , Márquez-Membrive Josefa
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE: To explore students' assessments of the clinical seminar as a complementary teaching method to the clinical practicum experience. METHODS: This was a qualitative study based on the hermeneutic phenomenology of Gadamer. Twenty-three open-ended interviews were conducted from among the 132 first-year students who attended an initial clinical practicum. We performed a qualitative analysis of the data using ATLAS.ti software. RESULTS: The students agreed that the clinical seminar gave them the opportunity to learn about procedures, nursing care and interpersonal relationships. They also found it very helpful when they encountered challenging stressful situations as they performed their practice, and believed it allowed them to make a connection between the theory in the classroom and the clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: These seminars can contribute to reducing levels of stress during clinical practice. They can also help students obtain significant learning from their fellows and reduce the theory-practice gap.
Assessment of metabolic control among patients in a capillary glucose self-monitoring program
Authors: Veras Vivian Saraiva , Araújo Márcio Flávio Moura de , Rodrigues Flávia Fernanda Luchetti , Santos Manoel Antônio dos , Damasceno Marta Maria Coelho , Zanetti Maria Lúcia
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE: To assess the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus patients registered in a capillary glucose self-monitoring program at home. METHODS: In this longitudinal retrospective study, 97 subjects at four health institutions in a Brazilian city were followed during 37 months between 2005 and 2008. The health files were analyzed of patients selected to register the evolution of variables related to capillary glucose self-monitoring at home and metabolic control of diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: During the assessment, both mean and monthly percentages of capillary blood glucose measurements at home decreased from 34.1 (65.1%) to 33.6 (64.8%), respectively (p <0.001). Mean HbA1c levels dropped from 9.20% to 7.94% (p<0.001). HDL cholesterol decreased from 51 mg/dl to 47 mg/dl (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients' metabolic control improved, characterized by a significant reduction in HbA1C.
Elastic Stability of Circular Arches with the Open Thin-walled Monosym-metric Section Considering the Prebuckling Deformation
Authors: Ryu Hyo-Jin , Choi Jin-Yu , Yi Gyu-Sei , Lee Chin-Ok , Lim Nam-Hyoung
Published: October 2012

The effect of prebuckling in-plane deformations on the elastic flexural-torsional buckling of arches is studied in this paper. Nonlinear strain-displacement relations considering initial curvature effects and higher order prebuckling de-formation terms with curvature in deriving process are substituted into the second variation of the total potential to obtain the buckling energy equation. The analytical solutions for the flexural-torsional buckling moment of arches in uniform bending, containing the effects of the prebuckling deformation, are proposed. Also, the influence of the higher order prebuckling deformation terms with the curvature effects is investigated according to the ratio of the minor axis flexural stiffness to the major axis flexural stiffness.
The Case for Routine Parathyroid Hormone Monitoring
Authors: Sprague Stuart M. , Moe Sharon M.
Published: October 2012

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a uremic toxin with multiple systemic effects including bone disorders (renal osteodystrophy), myopathy, neurologic abnormalities, anemia, pruritus, and cardiomyopathy. Hyperparathyroidism is common in CKD and results in significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Clinical practice guidelines from the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes initiative broadened the optimal PTH range to >2 and <9 times the upper limit of normal for the assay measured. Furthermore, the guidelines recommend following trends in PTH to determine the appropriate therapy. These guidelines overcome issues with the assay variability and help clinicians make judgments when treating individual patients. They also require frequent measurement in order to determine trends and implement appropriate treatments.
Echocardiographic findings and clinical signs in dairy cows with primary cardiac lymphoma: 7 cases (2007–2010)
Authors: Buczinski Sébastien
Published: October 2012

Objective—To describe echocardiographic and clinical findings in cattle with cardiac manifestation of lymphoma.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—7 adult Holstein dairy cows with cardiac lymphoma.

Procedures—Medical and necropsy records of all cows that underwent transthoracic echocardiography from January 2007 through April 2010 because of clinical signs of cardiac diseases or bovine lymphoma were reviewed. The diagnosis of cardiac manifestation of lymphoma was confirmed by necropsy examination or cytologic evaluation of pericardial fluid obtained by pericardiocentesis.

Results—Most commonly, cows had clinical signs of right-sided congestive heart failure secondary to cardiac tamponade with moderate to severe anechoic pericardial effusion (5/7 cows). In 2 cows, tachycardia was the only clinical sign in relation to cardiac disease and a heterogenic mass was observed protruding into the right atrium.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The use of transthoracic echocardiography aided in the diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma in cows. Transthoracic echocardiography may help to quantify the severity of pericardial effusion and to orient needle placement for pericardiocentesis to determine a final diagnosis. A mass within the right atrium was also suggestive of cardiac lymphoma and should be differentiated from mural bacterial endocarditis.
Hands-On Open Access Broadband Wireless Technology Lab Mapping Course Outcomes to Lab Experiments
Authors: Alqudah Yazan , Cooklev Todor
Published: October 2012

The unprecedented growth in wireless communication is offering opportunities and challenges for educators. Thanks to technology advances and job opportunities, more and more students are interested in wireless communications courses. However, bridging the gap between classroom and real-world experience remains a challenge. Advanced undergraduate communications courses typically focus more on theory. Some courses are given online, and lack hands-on experiments. Driven by feedback from industry and students, we propose practical laboratory experiments that attempt to bridge the gap between classroom and real world. The laboratory exercises take advantage of the infrastructure of deployed wireless networks and allow students to measure, and analyze data, as well as to interact. The proposed labs can be used even in online courses. This paper describes the experiments proposed, the procedures and typical results. The experiments are tied to course objective.
Sensitivity analysis of a pulse nutrient addition technique for estimating nutrient uptake in large streams
Authors: Lin Laurence , Webster J. R.
Published: October 2012

The constant nutrient addition technique has been used extensively to measure nutrient uptake in streams. However, this technique is impractical for large streams, and the pulse nutrient addition (PNA) has been suggested as an alternative. We developed a computer model to simulate Monod kinetics nutrient uptake in large rivers and used this model to evaluate the sensitivity of the PNA technique. We parameterize our model using the average hydrogeomorphological estimates from a pulse release study of ammonium in the Snake River, WY, and used this study to demonstrate how data from a field experiment can be effectively analyzed using a simulation model. To evaluate the sensitivity of the PNA technique, we manipulated the hydrogeomorphology and uptake kinetics of our stream model, simulated a pulse ammonium addition, and measured the downstream response in our model as if it were a field experiment, while ammonium areal uptake at ambient concentration was kept unchanged in the model. Ammonium uptake estimates by the PNA technique were different from the uptake in our model and these differences were nonrandom. The difference was greatest when velocity was high and there was little solute spread, either in the water column or from exchange with transient storage. The difference was also high when the half saturation coefficient for uptake was low. Our estimates of ammonium uptake under the assumption of Monod kinetics were higher than those under the assumption of first‐order kinetics based on direct calculation from the experimental data.
Improved estimation of carbon fixation rates from active flourometry using spectral fluorescence in light‐limited environments
Authors: Silsbe Greg. M. , Hecky Robert E. , Smith Ralph E.H.
Published: October 2012

Bio‐optical models predict photosynthetic electron transport rates through photosystem II (ETRPSII) from measures of irradiance (E), the absorption coefficient of pigments associated with PSII (aPSII) that are spectrally scaled to E (a̅PSII), and the quantum efficiency of PSII (ϕ′PSII). However bio‐optical models currently suffer from methodological uncertainties in the quantification of a̅PSII, and variable stoichiometry between ETRPSII and the more ecologically‐relevant carbon fixation (PC), defined here as the quantum requirement for carbon fixation (Φe,C = ETRPSII × PC−1). Here we analyze measures of PC, ϕ′PSII, and a̅PSII across optical, thermal, nutrient and phytoplankton composition gradients in Lake Erie. We show that ϕ′PSII in the light‐limited portion of the water column is relatively constant despite the wide range of biological and environmental conditions, but that variations in a̅PSII are large. Measures of a̅PSII are shown to be highly influenced by methodology as different approaches significantly influence measures of ETRPSII and Φe,C. A new technique that derives a̅PSII from in situ spectral fluorescence measures is introduced and shown to yield ETRPSII estimates that correlate well with independent measures of PC under light limited conditions. The Φe,C inferred from this new approach agreed well with independent assessments in the lake and demonstrates that bio‐optical models with well‐parameterized a̅PSII can be usefully predictive of light‐limited PC across wide biological and chemical gradients in this great lake.
Economic Performance of U.S. Multinational Agribusinesses: Foreign Direct Investment and Firm Strategy
Authors: Garcia‐Fuentes Pablo A. , Ferreira Gustavo F. C. , Kennedy P. Lynn
Published: October 2012

This study borrows the theoretical framework developed by Lee and Habte‐Giorgis (2004) to empirically assess the sequential relationships between firm strategic factors, foreign direct investment (FDI) activity, and financial performance for a sample of U.S.‐based multinational agribusinesses. After using hierarchical regressions and path analysis, this study finds a positive direct effect of FDI on performance, a complementary effect between FDI and firm strategic factors (positive and significant interaction terms) on performance, and a positive effect of FDI on performance given a threshold for firm size. Specifically, it provides insights about the direct effect of FDI on performance, as well as about the joint effect of firm size and FDI, marketing intensity and FDI, and capital intensity and FDI on performance. These findings provide evidence that FDI activity is an important factor for U.S. agribusiness financial strength. [JEL classifications: F230, Q130, L250].
Feasibility analysis of the remediation of fuel oil‐contaminated soil and groundwater around the railroad station of Y city, Korea with surfactant‐aided soil flushing
Authors: Lee Hwan , Lee Yoonjin
Published: October 2012

Various surveys including geophysical, trench, topographical, and global positioning system were performed to evaluate the status of fuel–oil pollution in Y city in Korea. The target area was a railway station, that has been in operation since 1973. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) were analyzed in samples collected from 54 representative points and from soil gas in sampling wells. The mean value of TPH and BTEX was 7504, 10 mg/kg. The target area for the remediation process for TPH was estimated at 18 376 m3. The results suggested that soil flushing is a possible purification method for this polluted area. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrahigh frequency lensless ultrasonic transducers for acoustic tweezers application
Authors: Lam Kwok Ho , Hsu Hsiu‐Sheng , Li Ying , Lee Changyang , Lin Anderson , Zhou Qifa , Kim Eun Sok , Shung Kirk Koping
Published: October 2012

Similar to optical tweezers, a tightly focused ultrasound microbeam is needed to manipulate microparticles in acoustic tweezers. The development of highly sensitive ultrahigh frequency ultrasonic transducers is crucial for trapping particles or cells with a size of a few microns. As an extra lens would cause excessive attenuation at ultrahigh frequencies, two types of 200‐MHz lensless transducer design were developed as an ultrasound microbeam device for acoustic tweezers application. Lithium niobate single crystal press‐focused (PF) transducer and zinc oxide self‐focused transducer were designed, fabricated and characterized. Tightly focused acoustic beams produced by these transducers were shown to be capable of manipulating single microspheres as small as 5 µm two‐dimensionally within a range of hundreds of micrometers in distilled water. The size of the trapped microspheres is the smallest ever reported in the literature of acoustic PF devices. These results suggest that these lensless ultrahigh frequency ultrasonic transducers are capable of manipulating particles at the cellular level and that acoustic tweezers may be a useful tool to manipulate a single cell or molecule for a wide range of biomedical applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 881–886. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Revised international consensus guidelines for the management of patients with mucinous cysts
Authors: Pitman Martha Bishop
Published: October 2012

The management of patients with pancreatic cysts is a challenge. An international multidisciplinary group of physicians has updated the 2006 “Sendai” guidelines for the management of patients with mucinous cysts. Cyst fluid analysis with cytological, biochemical, and molecular analysis is a valuable component of preoperative evaluation.
Catalytic Hydrocarboxylation of Olefins with CO2 and H2 – a DFT Computational Analysis
Authors: Ostapowicz Thomas G. , Hölscher Markus , Leitner Walter
Published: October 2012

One of the major challenges for the utilization of carbon dioxide as a chemical feedstock is to devise thermodynamically feasible transformations to valuable chemicals through efficient catalytic processes. In this paper, we examine the feasibility of the experimentally not yet realized direct hydrocarboxylation of alkenes, using computational methods. A conceivable catalytic cycle was devised for the addition of H2 and CO2 to ethene, which affords propionic acid. The corresponding energy profiles were calculated with state‐of‐the‐art DFT methods for three rhodium pincer complexes as potential catalyst. Several junctions within the productive catalytic cycle were identified, leading to competing hydrogenation reactions of ethene or CO2. A profound analysis of the reaction network by means of the energetic span model allowed us to identify parameters that facilitate the carboxylation and that favor it over the hydrogenation reaction. A comparison of the relevant activation energies revealed that two of the three investigated complexes slightly favour the hydrogenation of ethene, but one complex preferentially stays within the carboxylation cycle.
A hematology consensus agreement on antifungal strategies for neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies and stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Girmenia Corrado , Aversa Franco , Busca Alessandro , Candoni Anna , Cesaro Simone , Luppi Mario , Pagano Livio , Rossi Giuseppe , Venditti Adriano , Nosari Anna Maria
Published: October 2012

In the attempt to establish key therapy definitions and provide shared approaches to invasive fungal diseases in neutropenic patients, trials of empiric, preeemptive and targeted antifungal therapy (EAT, PAT and TAT) were reviewed, and a Consensus Development Conference Project was convened. The Expert‐Panel concurred that all antifungal treatments, including EAT, should always follow an adequate diagnostic strategy and that the standard definition of PAT may be misleading: being PAT guided by the results of a diagnostic work‐up, it should better be termed diagnostic‐driven antifungal therapy (DDAT). The Expert‐Panel agreed that radiological findings alone are insufficient for the choice of a TAT and that the identification of the etiologic pathogen is needed. The Consensus Agreement proceeded identifying which clinical and microbiological findings were sufficient to start a DDAT and which were not. Finally, an algorithm to rationalize the choice of antifungal drugs on the basis of clinical manifestations, antifungal prophylaxis, instrumental and laboratory findings was drawn up. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Osteosarcoma cells induce endothelial cell proliferation during neo‐angiogenesis
Authors: de Nigris Filomena , Mancini Francesco Paolo , Schiano Concetta , Infante Teresa , Zullo Alberto , Minucci Pellegrino Biagio , Al‐Omran Mohammed , Giordano Antonio , Napoli Claudio
Published: October 2012

Understanding the mechanisms inducing endothelial cell (EC) proliferation following tumor microenvironment stimuli may be important for the development of antiangiogenic therapies. Here, we show that cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 and 5 (Cdk2, Cdk5) are important mediators of neoangiogenesis in in vitro and in vivo systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a specific Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein‐dependent signal from osteosarcoma (SaOS) cells determines proliferation of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Following tumor cell stimuli, HAECs overexpress Cdk2 and Cdk5, display increased Cdk2 activity, undergo enhanced proliferation, and form capillary‐like structures. Moreover, Roscovitine, an inhibitor of Cdks, blunted overexpression of Cdk2 and Cdk5 and Cdk2 activity induced by the YY1‐dependent signal secreted by SaOS cells. Furthermore, Roscovitine decreased HAEC proliferation and angiogenesis (the latter by 70% in in vitro and 50% in in vivo systems; P < 0.01 vs. control). Finally, the finding that Roscovitine triggers apoptosis in SaOS cells as well as in HAECs by activating caspase‐3/7 indicates multiple mechanisms for the potential antitumoral effect of Roscovitine. Present work suggests that Cdk2 and Cdk5 might be pharmacologically accessible targets for both antiangiogenic and antitumor therapy. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 846–852, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
To establish the parameters of optimal nutrition do we need to consider psychological in addition to physiological parameters?
Authors: Benton David
Published: October 2012

The criteria used to establish dietary reference values are discussed and it is suggested that the too often the “need” they aim to satisfy is at the best vaguely specified. The proposition is considered that if we aim to establish optimal nutrition we will gain from considering psychological in addition to physiological parameters. The brain is by a considerable extent the most complex and metabolically active organ in the body. As such it would be predicted that the first signs of minor subclinical deficiencies will be the disruption of the functioning of the brain. The output of the brain is the product of countless millions of biochemical processes, such that if enzyme activity is only a few percentage points less than maximum, a cumulative influence would result. A series of studies of micronutrient supplementation in well‐designed trials were reviewed. In metaanalyses the cognitive functioning of children and the mood and memory of adults has been shown to respond to multivitamin/mineral supplementation. Given the concerns that have been expressed about the negative responses to high levels of micronutrients, the implications are discussed of the finding that psychological functioning may benefits from an intake greater than those currently recommended.
Juggling personal life and professionalism: Ethical implications for rural school psychologists
Authors: Osborn Amanda
Published: October 2012

Rural communities often contain unique features that separate them from more urban communities. Although a body of research is devoted to ethical considerations for psychologists working in rural communities as a whole, much less current research is focused on working in rural schools. This paper specifically highlights ethical considerations regarding competence, multiple relationships, and confidentiality. Given that access to services within the community may be limited, school psychologists may encounter cases that are outside of their area of competence. Furthermore, due to the interconnectedness present in many rural communities, psychologists frequently have multiple relationships with those whom they have professional contact. Confidentiality may be compromised when families and school personnel also have multiple relationships. These factors must be considered by psychologists working in rural schools, and steps must be taken at the outset of practice to ensure ethical compliance. More specific means of obtaining this compliance are discussed in this paper.
Living radical polymerization of acrylonitrile catalyzed by copper with a high concentration of radical initiator and its application in removal of Ag(I) after modification
Authors: Liu Delong , Chen Hou , Ji Naiyi , Tan Zhi
Published: October 2012

In this study, we reported the synthesis of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) via living radical polymerization in N, N‐dimethylformamide using carbon tetrachloride as initiator, copper(II) chloride (CuCl2)/hexamethylenetetramine as catalyst system, and 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as a high concentration of thermal radical initiator. The polymerization proceeded in controlled/living manner as indicated by first‐order kinetics of the polymerization with respect to the monomer concentration, linear increase of the molecular weight with monomer conversion and narrow polydispersity. Higher polymerization rate and narrower molecular weight distributions were observed with CuCl2 less than 50 ppm. The rate of polymerization showed a trend of increase along with temperature. The modified PAN containing amidoxime group was used for extraction of Ag(I) ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption kinetics data indicated that the adsorption process followed pseudo‐second‐order rate model. The isotherm adsorption process could be described by the Freundlich isotherm model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Comparative study of poly(L‐lactide) nanocomposites with organic montmorillonite and carbon nanotubes
Authors: Chen Hai‐ming , Chen Jie , Shao Li‐na , Yang Jing‐hui , Huang Ting , Zhang Nan , Wang Yong
Published: October 2012

Organic montmorillonite (OMMT) and the one‐dimensional functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) were introduced into poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) to prepare PLLA/OMMT and PLLA/FMWCNT nanocomposites, respectively. The effects of nanofillers on melt crystallization and cold crystallization of PLLA were comparatively investigated by using polarized optical microcopy, differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X‐ray diffraction. The results show that FMWCNTs exhibit higher nucleation efficiency for the melt crystallization of PLLA, whereas OMMT is the better one for the cold crystallization of PLLA. Rheological properties show that both OMMT and FMWCNTs at relatively higher concentrations can form the percolated network structure in the PLLA matrix, however, the latter nanocomposites exhibit relatively denser or more compact percolated networks. The difference of the networks between OMMT and FMWCNTs is suggested to be the main reason for the different cold crystallization behaviors observed in the PLLA/OMMT and PLLA/FMWCNT nanocomposites. The dynamic mechanical analysis measurements show that OMMT is the better one to improve the stiffness of the nanocomposites in the present work. The thermogravimetric analysis measurements show that FMWCNTs have higher efficiency in improving the thermal stability of PLLA compared with OMMT. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013
Beware of the black swan: The limitations of risk analysis for predicting the extreme impact of rare process safety incidents
Authors: Murphy John F. , Conner Jim
Published: October 2012

This article will discuss the concept of the black swan, the extreme impact of rare and unpredictable events, as applied to chemical process risk assessment. Lessons learned from black swan events of the past and the applicability of these lessons to the design and operations of existing and new chemical processing facilities will be discussed. The limitations of layer of protection analysis (LOPA) and other risk analysis tools in predicting black swan events will be examined. The discussion on the limitations of risk analysis will include examples of hazards scenarios where risk analysis tools such as LOPA may not be appropriate. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2012.
Study on performance‐based safety spacing between ultra‐large oil tanks
Authors: Yifei Meng , Dongfeng Zhao , Yi Liu , Wendong Wang
Published: October 2012

At present, storage capacities of single tank and tank farm have been greatly increasing. This change poses a real challenge for the applicability of current design standards. This article focuses on the applicability of safety spacing between tanks, which is one of the most important parameters of tank farm safety design. Taking PHAST and FDS as main research tools, the consequences of representative accidental scenarios were evaluated for different sizes of oil tanks to study the safety performance change caused by the increase of capability. The research results show that, when current standards are used to design the safety spacing between tanks, the safety performance increases as the capability increases. Considering the high property density, it is suggested that a higher safety performance objective has to be chosen when designing the safety spacing for ultra‐large oil tanks. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2012.
On the stability issues of switched singular time‐delay systems with slow switching based on average dwell‐time
Authors: Zamani Iman , Shafiee Masoud
Published: October 2012

The issue of exponential stability analysis of continuous‐time switched singular systems consisting of a family of stable and unstable subsystems with time‐varying delay is investigated in this paper. It is very difficult to analyze the stability of such systems because of the existence of time‐delay and unstable subsystems. In this regard, on the basis of the free‐weighting matrix approach, by constructing the new Lyapunov‐like Krasovskii functional, and using the average dwell‐time approach, delay‐dependent sufficient conditions are derived and formulated in terms of LMIs to check the exponential stability of such systems. This paper also highlights the relationship between the average dwell‐time of the switched singular time‐delay system, its stability, exponential convergence rate of differential states, and algebraic states. Finally, a numerical example is given to confirm the analytical results and illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Psychology and Practice of Youth‐Adult Partnership: Bridging Generations for Youth Development and Community Change
Authors: Zeldin Shepherd , Christens Brian D. , Powers Jane L.
Published: October 2012

Youth‐adult partnership (Y‐AP) has become a phenomenon of interest to scholars and practitioners. Despite the potential of Y‐AP to promote positive youth development, increase civic engagement, and support community change, the practice remains unfamiliar to many. Although research has increased over the past decade, the construct remains vague with an insufficient grounding in developmental theory and community practice. This article seeks to address these gaps by synthesizing data and insights from the historical foundations of Y‐AP, community based research, and case study. We propose Y‐AP as a unifying concept, distinct from other forms of youth‐adult relationships, with four core elements: authentic decision making, natural mentors, reciprocity, and community connectedness. We conclude that Y‐AP functions as an active ingredient and fundamental practice for positive youth development and civic engagement. Directions for future research are offered.
Oil Production from De‐shelled Aquilaria crassna Seeds Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction
Authors: Chen Chao‐Rui , Cheng Yang‐Jung , Shieh Chwen‐Jen , Hsiang Daina , Chang Chieh‐Ming J.
Published: October 2012

This study examined the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) in the extraction of triglycerides from de‐shelled Aquilaria crassna seeds. A central composite response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the effects of pressure, temperature and solvent‐to‐solid ratio (SSR) on total yield (TY), concentration of triglycerides (CTG) and recovery of triglycerides (RTG). For this experimental design, pressures that ranged from 250 to 350 bar, temperatures that ranged from 313 to 333 K and SSR that ranged from 80 to 120 were investigated for the SC‐CO2 extractions of 15 g of powdered de‐shelled A. crassna seeds at a CO2 flow rate of 25 mL/min under the supercritical phase. The values of TY, CTG and RTG achieved were 36.89 %, 709.5 mg/g and 95.4 %, respectively, under the conditions of a pressure of 340 bar, a temperature of 333 K and an SSR of 115 obtained from the quadratic fitting models.
Ageostrophic instability in a rotating stratified interior jet
Authors: Ménesguen Claire , McWilliams J. C. , Molemaker M. J.
Published: October 2012

Oceanic large- and meso-scale flows are nearly balanced in forces between Earth’s rotation and density stratification effects (i.e. geostrophic, hydrostatic balance associated with small Rossby and Froude numbers). In this regime advective cross-scale interactions mostly drive energy toward larger scales (i.e. inverse cascade). However, viscous energy dissipation occurs at small scales. So how does the energy reservoir at larger scales leak toward small-scale dissipation to arrive at climate equilibrium? Here we solve the linear instability problem of a balanced flow in a rotating and continuously stratified fluid far away from any boundaries (i.e. an interior jet). The basic flow is unstable not only to geostrophic baroclinic and barotropic instabilities, but also to ageostrophic instabilities, leading to the growth of small-scale motions that we hypothesize are less constrained by geostrophic cascade behaviours in a nonlinear regime and thus could escape from the inverse energy cascade. This instability is investigated in the parameter regime of moderate Rossby and Froude numbers, below the well-known regimes of gravitational, centrifugal, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. The ageostrophic instability modes arise with increasing Rossby number through a near-degeneracy of two unstable modes with coincident phase speeds. The near-degeneracy occurs in the neighbourhood of an identified criterion for the non-integrability of the ‘isentropic balance equations’ (namely $A\ensuremath{-} S= 0$ with $A$ the absolute vertical vorticity and $S$ the horizontal strain rate associated with the basic flow), beyond which development of an unbalanced component of the flow is expected. These modes extract energy from the basic state with large vertical Reynolds stress work (unlike geostrophic instabilities) and act locally to modify the basic flow by reducing the isopycnal Ertel potential vorticity gradient near both its zero surface and its critical surface (phase speed equal to basic flow speed).
Modeling the Cross Section of Stock Returns: A Model Pooling Approach
Authors: O’Doherty Michael , Savin N. E. , Tiwari Ashish
Published: October 2012

Model selection (i.e., the choice of an asset pricing model to the exclusion of competing models) is an inherently misguided strategy when the true model is unavailable to the researcher. This paper illustrates the advantages of a model pooling approach in characterizing the cross section of stock returns. The optimal pool combines models using the log predictive score criterion, a measure of the out-of-sample performance of each model, and consistently outperforms the best individual model. The benefits to model pooling are most pronounced during periods of economic stress, and it is a valuable tool for asset allocation decisions.
Impact of grain size on the convection of terrestrial planets
Authors: Rozel A.
Published: October 2012

This article presents a set of simulations of mantle convection, using a new model of grain size‐dependent rheology. In the present paper, it is shown that this rheology behaves in many ways as a visco‐plastic rheology. I use a model of grain size evolution which has been calibrated on experimental data in a previous paper. In this physical model, the grain size is directly related to the stress state, following a temperature‐dependent piezometric law. The rheology used here allows both diffusion and dislocation creep, depending on the grain size. At low stress, the grain size is high and forces the rheology to be dislocation dominated. For sufficiently high stresses, the equilibrium regime reached by the grains is located in the diffusion creep. In this case, the viscosity is linked to a stress‐dependent grain size, which actually makes the rheology more non‐Newtonian than it is in dislocation creep. This experimentally calibrated model allowed me to perform a set of numerical experiments of convection in which the rheology may be diffusion or dislocation creep dominated, depending on the state of the stress tensor. Then, The stress exponent varies from 3 to 5 because of grain size, which has a large impact on the temperature dependence of the viscosity. The present paper shows the impact of this new model on the convection regimes of terrestrial planets. In particular, for a wide range of parameters, I observe the episodic regime which is thought to govern the dynamics of Venus. This process of episodic resurfacing was obtained in previous simulations using visco‐plastic rheologies is a tight range of parameters. I obtain it here without using an ad hoc plasticity law, only using a viscous rheology based on laboratory measurements. In these simulations, I show that the cooling rate of the terrestrial planets may be largely modified by the consideration of a grain size‐dependent rheology.
Decadal variability of the NAO: Introducing an augmented NAO index
Authors: Wang Y.‐H. , Magnusdottir Gudrun , Stern H. , Tian X. , Yu Y.
Published: October 2012

The wintertime NAO is traditionally defined as the first Empirical Orthogonal Function of monthly sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies for all winters and therefore remains fixed in space. The associated NAO index represents the projection of SLP onto the fixed NAO pattern. The NAO index is positive when the pressure contrast between the two centers of action is particularly strong; it is negative when the contrast is weak. This index represents an incomplete description of the wintertime NAO as the pattern is found to shift location on decadal timescales. This study investigates the movement of the centers of action (or nodes) of the NAO for winter in 20‐yr running windows starting in 1871. A new climate index, the Angle index, is introduced. It is a measure of the asymmetry in location of the two nodes of the NAO defined in the partially overlapping 20‐yr windows. The Angle index has a value of zero only when both nodes are located on the same meridian. It increases in positive value as the curve connecting the nodes tilts more to the northeast; it becomes negative when the tilt is to the northwest. The Angle index complements the smooth NAO index, which is the traditional NAO index averaged over the 20‐yr window, especially when the Angle index is strongly negative as occurred during the Arctic warming of the early to mid 20th century. Regression analysis shows that the Angle index provides additional information about climate variability beyond that provided by the smooth NAO index.
LEEM: A new empirical model of radiation‐belt electrons in the low‐Earth‐orbit region
Authors: Chen Yue , Reeves Geoffrey , Friedel Reiner H. W. , Thomsen Michelle F. , Looper Mark , Evans David , Sauvaud Jean‐Andre
Published: October 2012

A new empirical model of radiation‐belt electrons in the low‐Earth‐orbit region has been developed based upon decade‐long in situ observations from several low‐altitude‐orbiting satellites. This model—LEEM—aims to provide the electron environment conditions that a satellite would encounter in a given low Earth orbit. This model presents electron flux values for five energy ranges (0.03–2.5 MeV, 0.1–2.5 MeV, 0.3–2.5 MeV, 1.5–6 MeV, and 2.5–14 MeV) within the space below an altitude of ∼600 km. Compared to the de‐facto standard empirical model of AE‐8, this model not only has a better data coverage in this specific region, but also can provide statistical information on flux levels such as worst cases and occurrence percentiles instead of solely mean values. The comparison indicates that the AE‐8 model not only highly overpredicts the fluxes in the inner belt region in most cases, especially for the MeV electrons, which cannot be accounted for by the widely quoted error factor of 2 for AE‐8, but also is unable to reflect the observed orders of magnitude variations in electron intensities. The LEEM model is carefully validated with both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample tests. The characteristic electron environments along the International Space Station track and other virtual orbits are given as examples and as a demonstration of the use of the model.