bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors for cerebral infraction and outcome in patients with intracranial aneurysm
Authors: Zhu Yuan , Zhao Hongyang , Zhu Xianli
Published: May 2012

Aim

The purpose of this study was to describe prognostic factors for cerebral infraction and outcome in patients undergoing neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling with intracranial aneurysms. In addition, we compared the incidence of cerebral infraction and outcome in patients treated with neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling.

Patients and Methods

Data were analysed from 972 patients with intracranial aneurysms enrolled at Union Hospital between September 2007 and May 2011. Multivariable logistic regression with backwards selection were derived to define independent predictors of cerebral infraction and outcome in patients undergoing neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms.

Results

In the multivariable analysis, cerebral infraction was not associated with the history of hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, aneurysmal size and number, the use of dehydrant and low‐dosage i.v. nimodipine. Factors that contributed most to variation in cerebral infraction, in descending order of importance, were Fisher grade of the computed tomography scan, aneurysmal location, Hunt and Hess scale grade on admission, rupture times, the operating day from first rupture, increasing age, treatment modality and male sex. Predictors of poor outcome, also in descending order of importance, were Hunt and Hess scale grade IV, rupture one to three times, cerebral infraction, Fisher grade 3, operation on 4th−14th day from rupture, diabetes mellitus history, age > 55 years, hypertension history, smoking history and neurosurgical clipping.

Conclusion

Although most prognostic factors for cerebral infraction and outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage are already present on admission, for suitable patients endovascular coiling and early intervention are recommended.
Novel technique for retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for patients with huge hydronephrosis
Authors: Nozaki Tetsuo , Iida Akihiro , Morii Akihiro , Fujiuchi Yasuyoshi , Fuse Hideki
Published: May 2012

Introduction

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (RLNU) presents a therapeutic dilemma for the surgeon, especially in the case of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT‐UC) with huge hydronephrosis (HH). The present study describes a specific technical modification for efficient and successful RLNU for UUT‐UC with HH by using the SAND balloon catheter.

Patient and Methods

A 72‐year‐old female underwent RLNU. The SAND balloon catheter was directly inserted into the expanded hydronephrotic kidney, and the liquid was extracted appropriately. Urine leakage from the hydronephrotic kidney was avoided, because the puncture site was sealed firmly between the two adjacent balloons at the tip of the catheter. Disposal counter traction using the catheter facilitated the mobilization of the hydronephrotic kidney.

Results

RLNU with HH was completed without the need for open conversion by the use of the SAND (‘SAND’ derived from ‘sandwich’) balloon catheter. Virtually no spillage occurred during the procedure. The original HH sac could be extracted at its smallest possible size.

Conclusion

This method improves the surgeon's vision and facilitates the performance of a resection, without causing any spillage of the hydronephrotic kidney contents during RLNU.
Reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor after laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Tam Ho‐Man , Lee Kit‐Fai , To Ka‐Fai , Wong John , Lai Paul Bo‐San
Published: May 2012

Reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor (RNFP) is a rare, benign, reactive lesion to antecedent abdominal surgery or trauma. In the presents study, we report a case of a 54‐year‐old woman who developed a mass at the hepatic hilum after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The mass was excised completely in two separate operations, and histopathological examination confirmed RNFP. The clinical significance of the disease is discussed.
The effect of forest ski‐pistes on butterfly assemblages in the Alps
Authors: ROLANDO ANTONIO , NEGRO MATTEO , D’ENTRÈVES PIETRO P. , BALLETTO EMILIO , PALESTRINI CLAUDIA
Published: May 2012

Abstract. 1. The abandonment of man‐made pastures below the tree line is favouring natural reforestation in the European Alps. As such, the creation of forest ski‐pistes might, paradoxically, be beneficial to butterflies. This study is the first to focus on the effects of forest ski‐pistes on butterfly assemblages (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera).

2. We sampled both butterflies and flowers on ski‐pistes, in adjacent forests and in the nearest pastures at three sites in the Aosta Valley (north‐western Italian Alps).

3. Transect counts showed that butterflies were more abundant on ski‐pistes (and forests) than in pastures. However, species richness and diversity were lower on ski‐pistes than on nearby pastures. Flower abundance was higher, but flower richness and diversity were lower on ski‐pistes than in pastures. Multivariate regression trees indicated that butterfly abundance was positively associated with flower abundance and butterfly diversity was positively associated with flower diversity.

4. We conclude that: (i) butterfly abundance on ski‐pistes was higher because in mid‐summer these grassland strips were more abundant in flowers than nearby pastures and (ii) butterfly diversity was lower both because of the lower flower diversity and because of the higher isolation and/or smaller area of ski‐pistes by comparison with pastures.

5. In the Alps, several grassland butterfly species are of conservation concern. Ski‐pistes are probably sub‐optimal habitats for butterflies. Nevertheless, within a natural reforestation framework, they may be useful to butterfly conservation, on condition that they are completely re‐vegetated and that grass cover of ski‐pistes are favoured and maintained to facilitate their colonisation.
Proteomics Improves the Prediction of Burns Mortality: Results from Regression Spline Modeling
Authors: Finnerty Celeste C. , Ju Hyunsu , Spratt Heidi , Victor Sundar , Jeschke Marc G. , Hegde Sachin , Bhavnani Suresh K. , Luxon Bruce A. , Brasier Allan R. , Herndon David N.
Published: May 2012

Prediction of mortality in severely burned patients remains unreliable. Although clinical covariates and plasma protein abundance have been used with varying degrees of success, the triad of burn size, inhalation injury, and age remains the most reliable predictor. We investigated the effect of combining proteomics variables with these three clinical covariates on prediction of mortality in burned children. Serum samples were collected from 330 burned children (burns covering >25% of the total body surface area) between admission and the time of the first operation for clinical chemistry analyses and proteomic assays of cytokines. Principal component analysis revealed that serum protein abundance and the clinical covariates each provided independent information regarding patient survival. To determine whether combining proteomics with clinical variables improves prediction of patient mortality, we used multivariate adaptive regression splines, because the relationships between analytes and mortality were not linear. Combining these factors increased overall outcome prediction accuracy from 52% to 81% and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve from 0.82 to 0.95. Thus, the predictive accuracy of burns mortality is substantially improved by combining protein abundance information with clinical covariates in a multivariate adaptive regression splines classifier, a model currently being validated in a prospective study. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume #: 1–7
Soft and hard clustering methods for delineation of hydrological homogeneous regions in the southern strip of the Caspian Sea Watershed
Authors: Chavoshi S. , Azmin Sulaiman W.N. , Saghafian B. , Sulaiman MD. N.B. , Latifah A.M.
Published: May 2012

Regionalisation is a fundamental task for transferring hydrological information from gauged to un‐gauged catchments. This study employs several soft and hard clustering approaches for regionalisation of the 61 catchments located in the southern strip of the Caspian Sea Watershed. Factor analysis using Principal Component Analysis resulted to four out of 16 catchment's attributes relating to flooding which were then used for regionalisation. Hierarchical and Non‐Hierarchical Clustering, K‐Means, Fuzzy C‐Means and Kohonen methods were studied and compared by L‐Moment tests. While in hard clustering approach, distinct clusters of catchments were formed, soft clustering techniques allocated catchments to more than one cluster according to their membership probability. The performance of different clustering methods resulted to the similar number of homogeneous groups. However, the number of sites allocated to the clusters is different. Hard clustering resulted in three clusters at 38, 10 and 13 sites, while Soft clustering allocated 26, 20 and 15 sites to the clusters, respectively. Results indicate a superiority of the soft clustering in the study area where deriving hydrologic groups by hard clustering is problematic.
Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein versus scimitar syndrome: Comparison of two paediatric cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Odenthal Cara , Sarikwal Anubhav
Published: May 2012

The ‘scimitar sign’ on plain chest radiograph is most commonly attributed to the presence of a scimitar vein, which is a variant of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD). An anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein (AUSPV) is a very rare anomaly, albeit benign, which can also present with the scimitar sign. Despite a similar radiographic appearance, these two anomalies have very different prognostic implications. Moreover, differentiation between the two is important in the paediatric population to prevent unnecessary investigations. We present two paediatric patients who presented with the scimitar sign on plain chest radiograph, with one having PAPVD and the other having AUSPV, and provide a review of the literature on AUSPV, an anomaly which most likely shares a similar pathogenesis to the scimitar vein of PAPVD.
Effects of Acute and Chronic Atorvastatin on Cardioprotection of Ischemic Postconditioning in Isolated Rat Hearts
Authors: Fan Ying , Yang Shusen , Cao Yang , Huang Yonglin
Published: May 2012

Background

Myocardial reperfusion therapy remains the most effective strategy to limit infarct size and improve clinical outcome. However, reperfusion injury is still inevitable, and a number of strategies have been developed to ameliorate its lethal outcome. The beneficial roles of ischemic postconditioning (Ipost) have regained more interest in targeting myocardial reperfusion phase to improve cardioprotection.

Aims

This study was to determine whether acute or chronic treatment with atorvastatin affects cardioprotection when it was combined with Ipost.

Results

Acute or chronic atorvastatin treatment significantly reduced infarct size and recovered contractile dysfunction during reperfusion. When Ipost was combined with atorvastatin treatment, chronic, but not acute, atorvastatin therapy attenuated the cardioprotective effects of Ipost. Chronic, but not acute, atorvastatin treatment also abolished Ipost‐induced phosphorylation level of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

Conclusions

Chronic atorvastatin treatment could interfere with cardioprotective effects of Ipost on limiting infarct size and contractile dysfunction, possibly via inhibition of Akt and eNOS activity. This study suggests that Ipost should be used carefully when atorvastatin is taken by patients with AMI.
Integration of base rates and new information in an abstract hypothesis‐testing task
Authors: Rusconi Patrice , Marelli Marco , Russo Selena , D’Addario Marco , Cherubini Paolo
Published: May 2012

In two studies, we investigated how people use base rates and the presence versus the absence of new information to judge which of two hypotheses is more likely. Participants were given problems based on two decks of cards printed with 0–4 letters. A table showed the relative frequencies of the letters on the cards within each deck. Participants were told the letters that were printed on or absent from a card the experimenter had drawn. Base rates were conveyed by telling participants that the experimenter had chosen the deck by drawing from an urn containing, in different proportions, tickets marked either ‘deck 1’ or ‘deck 2’. The task was to judge from which of the two decks the card was most likely drawn. Prior probabilities and the evidential strength of the subset of present clues (computed as ‘weight of evidence’) were the only significant predictors of participants’ dichotomous (both studies) and continuous (Study 2) judgments. The evidential strength of all clues was not a significant predictor of participants’ judgments in either study, and no significant interactions emerged. We discuss the results as evidence for additive integration of base rates and the new present information in hypothesis testing.
On Greenberg’s L-invariant of the symmetric sixth power of an ordinary cusp form
Authors: Harron Robert
Published: May 2012

We derive a formula for Greenberg’s L-invariant of Tate twists of the symmetric sixth power of an ordinary non-CM cuspidal newform of weight ≥4, under some technical assumptions. This requires a ‘sufficiently rich’ Galois deformation of the symmetric cube, which we obtain from the symmetric cube lift to GSp(4)/Q of Ramakrishnan–Shahidi and the Hida theory of this group developed by Tilouine–Urban. The L-invariant is expressed in terms of derivatives of Frobenius eigenvalues varying in the Hida family. Our result suggests that one could compute Greenberg’s L-invariant of all symmetric powers by using appropriate functorial transfers and Hida theory on higher rank groups.
Covers inp-adic analytic geometry and log covers II: cospecialization of the (p′)-tempered fundamental group in higher dimensions
Authors: Lepage Emmanuel
Published: May 2012

The tempered fundamental group of ap-adic variety classifies analytic étale covers that become topological covers for Berkovich topology after pullback by some finite étale cover. This paper constructs cospecialization homomorphisms between the (p′) versions of the tempered fundamental group of the fibers of a smooth morphism with polystable reduction. We study the question for families of curves in another paper. To construct them, we will start by describing the pro-(p′) tempered fundamental group of a smooth and proper variety with polystable reduction in terms of the reduction endowed with its log structure, thus defining tempered fundamental groups for log polystable varieties.
Comprehensive computer model for magnetron sputtering. I. Gas heating and rarefaction
Authors: Jimenez Francisco J. , Dew Steven K.
Published: May 2012

The complex interaction between several variables in magnetron sputtering discharges is a challenge in developing engineering design tools for industrial applications. For instance, at high pressures, rarefaction and gas heating should no longer be neglected for determining several parameters of the process. In this article, we use a comprehensive 3D reactor-scale simulator that incorporates most phenomena of interest in a self-consistent manner to simulate the transport of sputtered particles over a wide range of pressures and powers. Calculations of aluminum deposition rates and metal vapor densities are in reasonable agreement with experiments over a wide range of pressures and powers. Of the elements investigated (Al, Ti, and Cu), copper showed the greatest rarefaction (30%) due to its higher sputtering yield. Titanium, despite a slightly lower sputtering yield than Al, shows a greater rarefaction than aluminum as more particles are reflected from the target as high energy neutrals. In this case, a more efficient energy transfer process is responsible for the higher rarefaction observed in Ti sputtering when compared to Al. The authors also observed that by sputtering at a higher pressure, the probability of electron impact ionization of sputtered particles is increased and speculate about the role of this process in contrast to penning ionization, which is believed to be the dominant ionization mechanism in magnetron sputtering.
The Structural Basis of DKK-Mediated Inhibition of Wnt/LRP Signaling
Authors: Bao Ju , Zheng Jie J. , Wu Dianqing
Published: May 2012

Structural analysis indicates that the binding sites on a receptor for a ligand and an inhibitor partially overlap.
Mechanical Control by Planar Cell Polarity
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: May 2012

Polarized distribution of the myosin Dachs induces asymmetric cell contractions to drive tissue morphogenesis.
Pharmacokinetics of Tulathromycin in Healthy and Neutropenic Mice Challenged Intranasally with Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli
Authors: Villarino N. , Brown S. A. , Martín-Jiménez T.
Published: May 2012

Tulathromycin represents the first member of a novel subclass of macrolides, known as triamilides, approved to treat bovine and swine respiratory disease. The objectives of the present study were to assess the concentration-versus-time profile of tulathromycin in the plasma and lung tissue of healthy and neutropenic mice challenged intranasally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from
Escherichia coli
O111:B4. BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into four groups of 40 mice each: groups T-28 (tulathromycin at 28 mg/kg of body weight), T-7, T7-LPS, and T7-LPS-CP (cyclophosphamide). Mice in group T-28 were treated with tulathromycin at 28 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c.) (time 0 h). The rest of the mice were treated with tulathromycin at 7 mg/kg s.c. (time 0 h). Animals in dose groups T-7-LPS and T7-LPS-CP received a single dose of
E. coli
LPS intranasally at −7 h. Mice in group T7-LPS-CP were also rendered neutropenic with cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg intraperitoneally) prior to the administration of tulathromycin. Blood and lung tissue samples were obtained from 5 mice from each dose group at each sampling time over 144 h after the administration of tulathromycin. There were not statistical differences in lung tissue concentrations among groups T-7, T-7-LPS, and T7-LPS-CP. For all dose groups, the distribution of tulathromycin in the lungs was rapid and persisted at relatively high levels during 6 days postadministration. The concentration-versus-time profile of tulathromycin in lung tissue was not influenced by the intranasal administration of
E. coli
LPS. The results suggest that in mice, neutrophils may not have a positive influence on tulathromycin accumulation in lung tissue when the drug is administered during either a neutrophilic or a neutropenic state.
Moxifloxacin Population Pharmacokinetics in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and the Effect of Intermittent High-Dose Rifapentine
Authors: Zvada Simbarashe P. , Denti Paolo , Geldenhuys Hennie , Meredith Sandra , van As Danelle , Hatherill Mark , Hanekom Willem , Wiesner Lubbe , Simonsson Ulrika S. H. , Jindani Amina , Harrison Thomas , McIlleron Helen M.
Published: May 2012

We described the population pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin and the effect of high-dose intermittent rifapentine in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were randomized to a continuation-phase regimen of 400 mg moxifloxacin and 900 mg rifapentine twice weekly or 400 mg moxifloxacin and 1,200 mg rifapentine once weekly. A two-compartment model with transit absorption best described moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics. Although rifapentine increased the clearance of moxifloxacin by 8% during antituberculosis treatment compared to that after treatment completion without rifapentine, it did not result in a clinically significant change in moxifloxacin exposure.
The Cyclophilin Inhibitor SCY-635 Disrupts Hepatitis C Virus NS5A-Cyclophilin A Complexes
Authors: Hopkins Sam , Bobardt Michael , Chatterji Udayan , Garcia-Rivera Jose A. , Lim Precious , Gallay Philippe A.
Published: May 2012

The nonimmunosuppressive cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitor SCY-635 blocks hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication both
in vitro
and
in vivo
and represents a novel potent anti-HCV agent. However, its mechanism of action remains to be fully elucidated. A growing body of evidence suggests that cyclophilin A (CypA) is absolutely necessary for HCV replication and that the HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein serves as a main viral ligand for CypA. In this study, we examined the effect of SCY-635 on HCV replication. Specifically, we asked whether SCY-635 blocks HCV replication by targeting CypA-NS5A interactions. We also investigated the possibility that HCV can escape SCY-635 selection pressure and whether this resistance influences either CypA-NS5A interactions or the dependence of HCV on CypA. We found not only that SCY-635 efficiently inhibits HCV replication, but it is sufficient alone to clear HCV replicon-containing cells. We found that SCY-635 prevents CypA-NS5A interactions in a dose-dependent manner. SCY-635 prevents the contact between CypA and NS5A derived from genotypes 1 to 3. Together, these data suggest that NS5A-CypA interactions control HCV replication and that SCY-635 blocks viral replication by preventing the formation of these complexes. We also found that NS5A mutant proteins found in SCY-635-resistant HCV replicons behave similarly to wild-type NS5A in terms of both CypA binding and SCY-635-mediated dissociation and inhibition of CypA binding. However, the NS5A mutations found in SCY-635-resistant HCV replicons rescued viral replication in CypA-knockdown cells, suggesting that the NS5A mutations, which arose
in vitro
under SCY-635 selection, do not alter the binding affinity of CypA for NS5A. These specific mutations in NS5A eliminate the dependence of HCV RNA replication on the expression of host CypA
Edwardsiella tarda Eta1, an
In Vivo
-Induced Antigen That Is Involved in Host Infection
Authors: Sun Yun , Zheng Wen-Jiang , Hu Yong-Hua , Sun Bo-Guang , Sun Li
Published: May 2012

Edwardsiella tarda
, a Gram-negative bacterium, is a severe fish pathogen that can also infect humans. In this study, we identified, via
in vivo
-induced antigen technology, an
E. tarda
antigen, Eta1, and analyzed its function in a Japanese flounder (
Paralichthys olivaceus
) model. Eta1 is composed of 226 residues and shares homology with putative bacterial adhesins. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis indicated that when cultured
in vitro
,
eta1
expression was growth phase dependent and reached maximum at mid-logarithmic phase. During infection of flounder lymphocytes,
eta1
expression was drastically increased at the early stage of infection. Compared to the wild type, the
eta1
-defective mutant, TXeta1, was unaffected in growth but exhibited attenuated overall virulence, reduced tissue dissemination and colonization capacity, and impaired ability to invade flounder lymphocytes and to block the immune response of host cells. The lost virulence of TXeta1 was restored when a functional
eta1
gene was reintroduced into the strain. Western blot and immunodetection analyses showed that Eta1 is localized to the outer membrane and exposed on the surface of
E. tarda
and that recombinant Eta1 (rEta1) was able to interact with flounder lymphocytes. Consistent with these observations, antibody blocking of Eta1 inhibited
E. tarda
infection at the cellular level. Furthermore, when used as a subunit vaccine, rEta1 induced strong protective immunity in flounder against lethal
E. tarda
challenge. Taken together, these results indicate that Eta1 is an
in vivo
-induced antigen that mediates pathogen-host interaction and, as a result, is required for optimal bacterial infection.
Efficacy and tolerability of a β-1 selective β blocker, bisoprolol, as a first-line antihypertensive in Indian patients diagnosed with essential hypertension (BRIGHT): an open-label, multicentric observational study
Authors: Channaraya V , Marya R K , Somasundaram M , Mitra Debashish , Tibrewala K D
Published: May 2012

Objectives

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bisoprolol, in Indian patients diagnosed with stage I essential hypertension as first-line drug.

Design

This was an open-label, phase IV, multicentric prospective study.

Settings

239 outpatient centres across India.

Participants

After ethical approval, patients who were willing to sign informed consent, who are newly diagnosed with JNC VII stage I essential hypertension (systolic blood pressure 140–159 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure 90–99 mm Hg) and who are prescribed bisoprolol were enrolled in the study. Patients with significant organ disease or complications, women of childbearing age refusing reliable contraceptive method, patients with known contraindications (like symptomatic bradycardia, significant atrioventricular blockade, sick sinus syndrome) and patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to bisoprolol and unwilling patients were excluded.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures

The primary outcome measure was percentage of patients achieving blood pressure (BP) ≤140/90 mm Hg at the end of 12 weeks, while multiple secondary outcome measures were assessed.

Results

Of 2418 patients screened, 2161 patients were recruited (66.64% men, mean age 51.7±9.8 years, smokers 19.19%) and 2131 (96.44%) patients achieved BP control. There was significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (−25.29; SD: 13.22 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (−14.14; SD: 7.67 mm Hg) and heart rate (−12/min; SD: 6.15) compared with baseline (all p values <0.05). The median dose of bisoprolol and average period required for the response were 5 mg/day and 33 days, respectively. Bisoprolol was found to be well tolerated in the patients up to 10 mg/day. A total of 1.9% patients showed adverse events, which were mild to moderate in severity without any severe adverse event. None required treatment withdrawal.

Conclusion

Bisoprolol is an effective and safe option to control BP. Thus, it can be used as one of the first-line antihypertensive in Indian patients.
AN AUDITORY BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE WITH ACCURACY PREDICTION
Authors: LOPEZ-GORDO M. A. , PELAYO F. , PRIETO A. , FERNANDEZ E.
Published: May 2012

Fully auditory Brain-computer interfaces based on the dichotic listening task (DL-BCIs) are suited for users unable to do any muscular movement, which includes gazing, exploration or coordination of their eyes looking for inputs in form of feedback, stimulation or visual support. However, one of their disadvantages, in contrast with the visual BCIs, is their lower performance that makes them not adequate in applications that require a high accuracy. To overcome this disadvantage, we employed a Bayesian approach in which the DL-BCI was modeled as a Binary phase shift keying receiver for which the accuracy can be estimated a priori as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio. The results showed the measured accuracy to match the predefined target accuracy, thus validating this model that made possible to estimate in advance the classification accuracy on a trial-by-trial basis. This constitutes a novel methodology in the design of fully auditory DL-BCIs that let us first, define the target accuracy for a specific application and second, classify when the signal-to-noise ratio guarantees that target accuracy.
ON THE LEARNING POTENTIAL OF THE APPROXIMATED QUANTRON
Authors: LABIB RICHARD , DE MONTIGNY SIMON
Published: May 2012

The quantron is a hybrid neuron model related to perceptrons and spiking neurons. The activation of the quantron is determined by the maximum of a sum of input signals, which is difficult to use in classical learning algorithms. Thus, training the quantron to solve classification problems requires heuristic methods such as direct search. In this paper, we present an approximation of the quantron trainable by gradient search. We show this approximation improves the classification performance of direct search solutions. We also compare the quantron and the perceptron's performance in solving the IRIS classification problem.
AUTOMORPHISMS OF THE HARTOGS TYPE DOMAINS OVER CLASSICAL SYMMETRIC DOMAINS
Authors: AHN HEUNGJU , BYUN JISOO , PARK JONG-DO
Published: May 2012

In this paper we completely describe the automorphism group of the Hartogs type domains over bounded classical symmetric domains by using the ball characterization theorem about noncompact automorphism groups. As an application, we give plenty of examples of non-homogeneous domains in ℂn, for which the real dimension of the automorphism group is less than n2 - 1.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Acupoint Stimulation on Smoking Cessation
Authors: Cheng Hsiao-Min , Chung Yu-Chu , Chen Hsing-Hsia , Chang Yung-Hsien , Yeh Mei-Ling
Published: May 2012

Smoking represents a serious worldwide public health problem because of its close association with the development of chronic disease and cancer. Acupoint stimulation has been used as treatment mode for smoking cessation but its efficacy remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of acupoint stimulation on smoking cessation rate and daily cigarette consumption. Electronic literature searches in eight electronic databases up to March 2011 were performed to identify acupoint stimulation for smoking cessation. The outcomes assessed were smoking cessation rate and cigarette consumption. We assessed abstinence from smoking at the earliest and last measured time points, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Meta-analysis was performed using CMA software. A total of 20 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. A significant effect of acupoint stimulation was found in smoking cessation rates and cigarette consumption at immediate, 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with effect sizes 1.24 (95%CI = 1.07 ~ 1.43, p = 0.003), -2.49 (95%CI = -4.65 ~ -0.34, p = 0.02), 1.70 (95%CI = 1.17 ~ 2.46, p = 0.01), and 1.79 (95%CI = 1.13 ~ 2.82, p = 0.01), respectively. Multi-modality treatments, especially acupuncture combined with smoking cessation education or other interventions, can help smokers to eschew smoking during treatment, and to avoid relapse after treatment.
ON PSEUDOVARIETIES OF MONOUNARY ALGEBRAS
Authors: Jakubíková-Studenovská Danica
Published: May 2012

A class of finite algebras is called a pseudovariety if it is closed under homomorphisms, subalgebras and direct products of finitely many members. We give a constructive description of members of all pseudovarieties of monounary algebras. Further, we show that each equational pseudovariety of monounary algebras except the pseudovariety of all finite monounary algebras can be generated by a single algebra.
ON THE WAVE OPERATORS AND LEVINSON'S THEOREM FOR POTENTIAL SCATTERING IN ℝ3
Authors: Kellendonk Johannes , Richard Serge
Published: May 2012

The paper is a presentation of recent investigations on potential scattering in ℝ3. We advocate a new formula for the wave operators and deduce the various outcomes that follow from this formula. A topological version of Levinson's theorem is proposed by interpreting it as an index theorem.
The Tradeoff Between Compensation and Incentives in Executive Stock Options
Authors: Chance Don M. , Yang Tung-Hsiao
Published: May 2012

Because stock options have a dual role as both compensation and incentives, a portion of option value represents compensation and a portion represents incentives. We develop a model that measures the tradeoff between the compensation and incentive values of options. Empirical estimates over a 14-year period show that the median option contains $1.08 of incentives for every $1.00 of compensation and that option compensation is around 30% of total compensation. We also find that firms that use options more as a compensation device use fewer options and reduce other cash payments suggesting a resourceful and not abusive use of options.
Shaping the future of IT within the academy
Authors: Ives Blake , Adams Dennis
Published: May 2012

We summarize the problems and potential solutions put forward in the four articles by the Deans and then offer three lenses to consider as we reimagine the future of IT education and research. These lenses include major disruptions in education that are already emerging, the need to harness the huge, ever, payoff from the rapid, but predictable, growth in information technology, and, what seems likely to be, a painful transition from an economy based largely on labor and material goods to one based on software and information goods.
Existence of Solutions of a Nonlocal Elliptic System via Galerkin Method
Authors: Cabada Alberto , Corrêa Francisco Julio S. A.
Published: May 2012

By means of the Galerkin method and by using a suitable version of the Brouwer fixed‐point theorem, we establish the existence of at least one positive solution of a nonlocal elliptic N‐dimensional system coupled with Dirichlet boundary conditions.
Molecular Mechanism of Isocupressic Acid Supresses MA-10 Cell Steroidogenesis
Authors: Tsui Kuan-Hao , Wang Jyun-Yuan , Wu Leang-Shin , Chiu Chih-Hsien
Published: May 2012

Consumption of ponderosa pine needles causes late-term abortions in cattle and is a serious poisonous plant problem in foothill and mountain rangelands. Isocupressic acid (IA) is the component of pine needles responsible for the abortifacient effect, its abortifacient effect may be due to inhibition of steroidogenesis. To investigate the more detail molecular mechanism, we used MA-10 cell, which is wild used to investigate molecular mechanism of steroidogenesis, to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of IA in more detail. In this report, we focus on the function of IA on important steroidogenic genes, including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450scc), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD). We found that IA does not affect enzyme activities of these genes but inhibits transcription of P450scc and translation of StAR and P450scc through attenuating cAMP-PKA signaling. Thus, steroid productions of cells were suppressed.
Impact of the −174 G>C IL-6 Polymorphism on Bioelectrical Parameters in Obese Subjects after Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
Authors: Di Renzo Laura , Carbonelli Maria Grazia , Bianchi Alessia , Domino Emidio , Migliore Maria Rita , Rillo Guido , Iacopino Leonardo , Di Daniele Nicola , De Lorenzo Antonino
Published: May 2012

Background. Recent data demonstrated that the−174 G>CIL-6 polymorphism may account for differences in the therapeutic response to laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery.Objective. We investigated the impact of−174 G>CIL-6 polymorphism on weight loss, body composition, and fluid distribution changes in obese subjects after LAGB.Design and Outcome Measures. Twenty obese subjects were selected and studied at baseline and 3 months after LAGB. Genetic assessment of−174 G>CIL-6 polymorphism and anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed.Results. At baseline, C(+) carriers had a lower extracellular water (ECW) and higher intra-CW, phase angle (PA), reactanceXc, andXc/height. LAGB surgery determined significant reductions in weight and BMI. After LAGB, in C(−) carriers, significant decreases in weight, BMI, and ECW and increases in BCM, BCMI, ICW, PA, andXc/Hwere highlighted. In C(+) carriers, significant reductions in weight, BMI, ICW, and PA and increases in ECW, Na/K, resistance (R), andR/height were obtained. Significant higher reductions in BMI andXc/Hwere observed in C(+) with respect to C(−) carriers.Conclusions. Genotyping of genetic variants, for example, the−174 G>Cpolymorphism of IL-6, gives the opportunity to predict therapeutic response, in terms of body composition outcomes after LAGB.
Eicosanoids and Respiratory Viral Infection: Coordinators of Inflammation and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Authors: McCarthy Mary K. , Weinberg Jason B.
Published: May 2012

Viruses are frequent causes of respiratory infection, and viral respiratory infections are significant causes of hospitalization, morbidity, and sometimes mortality in a variety of patient populations. Lung inflammation induced by infection with common respiratory pathogens such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus is accompanied by increased lung production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, lipid mediators with a wide range of effects on host immune function. Deficiency or pharmacologic inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene production often results in a dampened inflammatory response to acute infection with a respiratory virus. These mediators may, therefore, serve as appealing therapeutic targets for disease caused by respiratory viral infection.
Existence of Almost‐Periodic Solutions for Lotka‐Volterra Cooperative Systems with Time Delay
Authors: Zhao Kaihong
Published: May 2012

This paper considers the existence of positive almost‐periodic solutions for almost‐periodic Lotka‐Volterra cooperative system with time delay. By using Mawhin’s continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory, sufficient conditions for the existence of positive almost‐periodic solutions are obtained. An example and its simulation figure are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.
Conservation of the RNA Transport Machineries and Their Coupling to Translation Control across Eukaryotes
Authors: Vazquez-Pianzola Paula , Suter Beat
Published: May 2012

Restriction of proteins to discrete subcellular regions is a common mechanism to establish cellular asymmetries and depends on a coordinated program of mRNA localization and translation control. Many processes from the budding of a yeast to the establishment of metazoan embryonic axes and the migration of human neurons, depend on this type of cell polarization. How factors controlling transport and translation assemble to regulate at the same time the movement and translation of transported mRNAs, and whether these mechanisms are conserved across kingdoms is not yet entirely understood. In this review we will focus on some of the best characterized examples of mRNA transport machineries, the “yeast locasome” as an example of RNA transport and translation control in unicellular eukaryotes, and on theDrosophilaBic-D/Egl/Dyn RNA localization machinery as an example of RNA transport in higher eukaryotes. This focus is motivated by the relatively advanced knowledge about the proteins that connect the localizing mRNAs to the transport motors and the many well studied proteins involved in translational control of specific transcripts that are moved by these machineries. We will also discuss whether the core of these RNA transport machineries and factors regulating mRNA localization and translation are conserved across eukaryotes.
Modified Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode for Voltammetric Determination of Carbidopa, Folic Acid, and Tryptophan
Authors: Esfandiari Baghbamidi Sakineh , Beitollahi Hadi , Karimi-Maleh Hassan , Soltani-Nejad Somayeh , Soltani-Nejad Vahhab , Roodsaz Sara
Published: May 2012

A simple and convenient method is described for voltammetric determination of carbidopa (CD), based on its electrochemical oxidation at a modified multiwall carbon nanotube paste electrode. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method exhibited acceptable analytical performances in terms of linearity (over the concentration range from 0.1 to 700.0 μM), detection limit (65.0 nM), and reproducibility (RSD=2.5%) for a solution containing CD. Also, square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used for simultaneous determination of CD, folic acid (FA), and tryptophan (TRP) at the modified electrode. To further validate its possible application, the method was used for the quantification of CD, FA, and TRP in urine samples.
Endoscopic-Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration and the Role of the Cytopathologist in Solid Pancreatic Lesion Diagnosis
Authors: Iqbal Shahzad , Friedel David , Gupta Mala , Ogden Lorna , Stavropoulos Stavros N.
Published: May 2012

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most sensitive imaging modality for solid pancreatic lesions. The specificity, however, is low (about 75%). It can be increased to 100% with an accuracy of 95% by the addition of fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Cytopathology plays an important role. The final diagnosis is based upon the correlation of clinical, EUS, and cytologic features. A close interaction with the cytopathologist is required in improving the diagnostic yield. In this paper, we present an overview of the role of EUS-guided FNA and importance of close interaction with the cytopathologist. Day to day examples of different solid pancreatic lesions have been presented at the end.
Subchronic Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of 2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Dodd Darol E. , Pluta Linda J. , Sochaski Mark A. , Banas Deborah A. , Thomas Russell S.
Published: May 2012

Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (TCP) for 5 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or 13 weeks. TCP was administered by gavage at doses of 0, 10, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day. Endpoints evaluated included clinical observations, body weights, liver weights, serum chemistry, blood TCP, gross pathology, and liver histopathology. There were no TCP exposure-related clinical signs of toxicity. Mean body weight decreased 12–22% compared to control in the 100 and 200 mg/kg/day groups. Serum ALT concentrations were increased in rats of the 200 mg/k/day. Liver weight increases were both dose- and exposure time-related and statistically significant at ≥25 mg/kg/day. Incidence and severity of centrilobular hepatocytic vacuolation, hepatocyte hypertrophy, and single cell hepatocytic necrosis were related to dose and exposure time. Following 13 weeks of exposure, bile duct hyperplasia and centrilobular and/or periportal fibrosis were observed in rats primarily of the highest TCP dose group. Blood TCP concentrations increased with dose and at 13 weeks ranged from 1.3 to 8.5 μg/mL (10 to 200 mg/kg/day). A NOAEL of 10 mg/kg/day was selected based on the statistically significant incidence of hepatocyte hypertrophy at doses ≥25 mg/kg/day.
A Comparison of Wound Healing Rate Following Treatment with Aftamed and Chlorine Dioxide Gels in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Al-Bayaty Fouad , Abdulla Mahmood Ameen
Published: May 2012

Background and Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the wound healing activities of Aftamed and chlorine dioxide gels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Experimental Approach. Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were chosen for this study, divided into 4 groups. Diabetes was induced. Two-centimeter-diameter full-thickness skin excision wounds were created. Animals were topically treated twice daily. Groups 1, the diabetic control group, were treated with 0.2 mL of sterile distilled water. Group 2 served as a reference standard were treated with 0.2 mL of Intrasite gel. Groups 3 and 4 were treated with 0.2 mL of Aftamed and 0.2 mL of chlorine dioxide gels respectively. Granulation tissue was excised on the 10th day and processed for histological and biochemical analysis. The glutathione peroxidase ,superoxide dismutase activities and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. Results. Aftamed-treated wounds exhibited significant increases in hydroxyproline, cellular proliferation, the number of blood vessels, and the level of collagen synthesis. Aftamed induced an increase in the free radical-scavenging enzyme activity and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation levels in the wounds as measured by the reduction in the MDA level. Conclusions. This study showed that Aftamed gel is able to significantly accelerate the process of wound healing in diabetic rats.
Extraction of Nucleolus Candidate Zone in White Blood Cells of Peripheral Blood Smear Images Using Curvelet Transform
Authors: Soltanzadeh Ramin , Rabbani Hossein , Talebi Ardeshir
Published: May 2012

The main part of each white blood cell (WBC) is its nucleus which contains chromosomes. Although white blood cells (WBCs) with giant nuclei are the main symptom of leukemia, they are not sufficient to prove this disease and other symptoms must be investigated. For example another important symptom of leukemia is the existence of nucleolus in nucleus. The nucleus contains chromatin and a structure called the nucleolus. Chromatin is DNA in its active form while nucleolus is composed of protein and RNA, which are usually inactive. In this paper, to diagnose this symptom and in order to discriminate between nucleoli and chromatins, we employ curvelet transform, which is a multiresolution transform for detecting 2D singularities in images. For this reason, at first nuclei are extracted by means ofK-means method, then curvelet transform is applied on extracted nuclei and the coefficients are modified, and finally reconstructed image is used to extract the candidate locations of chromatins and nucleoli. This method is applied on 100 microscopic images and succeeds with specificity of 80.2% and sensitivity of 84.3% to detect the nucleolus candidate zone. After nucleolus candidate zone detection, new features that can be used to classify atypical and blast cells such as gradient of saturation channel are extracted.
Study on the Compressive Modulus of Nylon‐11/Silica Nanocomposites
Authors: Chung Haseung , Kong Sungjun , Kim Dongchoul
Published: May 2012

This paper investigates the unusual characteristics regarding the mechanical properties of Nylon‐11 filled with different volume fractions of silica nanoparticles by selective laser sintering (SLS) from numerical simulation. The compressive modulus was predicted by two different numerical models and compared with the experimentally measured one. While the two‐phase model has a limited capability in explaining the unusual behavior shown in the compressive modulus obtained by experiments with 2% volume fraction of nanoparticles, the effective interface model can simulate the unexpected characteristic of nanocomposites according to the volume fraction of nanoparticles. We can conclude that the effective interface model should be employed to predict the mechanical properties of nanocomposites for efficiency and accuracy.
Buruli-Ulcer Induced Disability in Ghana: A Study at Apromase in the Ashanti Region
Authors: Agbenorku Pius , Edusei Anthony , Agbenorku Margaret , Diby Thomas , Nyador Esenam , Nyamuame Geoffrey , Saunderson Paul
Published: May 2012

Objectives. To describe trends and category of disabilities caused by Buruli ulcer disease. Design. This retrospective study was set up to quantify information on the disability trends caused by Buruli ulcer (BU) using data on patients attending BU and chronic ulcer clinics from 2004 to 2009, at Global Evangelical Mission Hospital, Apromase. Methods. Data was retrieved from the WHO BU1 form, case registry book, surgical theatre register, and BU patients' records book of the hospital. Disability was measured as the incapability of patients to perform one or more daily activities due to his/her state of BU disease before treatment. Results. A total of 336 positive BU cases comprising 181 males (53.9%) were recorded of which 113 (33.6%) cases of disabilities were identified. A mean age of 52.5 (±1.32) years was recorded. For the trend of disabilities, the year 2009 recorded the highest (N = 34, 31.0%). The lesions were mostly located at the lower limbs (N = 65, 57.5%) region of the patients. Lesions with diameter >15 cm were the major (59.3%) category of lesions. Conclusion. Trend of disability reveals proportional increase over the years from 2004 to 2009. Contracture at the knee and ankle joints was the commonest disability recorded.