bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two New Indexes for the Assessment of Autonomic Balance in Elite Soccer Players
Authors: Orellana José Naranjo , Torres Blanca de la Cruz , Cachadiña Elena Sarabia , de Hoyo Moisés , Cobo Sergio Domínguez
Published: October 2014

Purpose:

The application of Poincaré-plot analysis to heart-rate variability (HRV) is a common method for the assessment of autonomic balance. However, results obtained from the indexes provided by this analysis tend to be difficult to interpret. In this study the authors aimed to prove the usefulness of 2 new indexes: the stress score (SS) and the sympathetic:parasympathetic ratio (S:PS ratio).

Methods:

25 professional Spanish soccer players from same team underwent 330 resting measurements of HRV. All subjects experienced 10 min of HRV monitoring through an R-R-interval recorder. The following parameters were calculated: (1) Poincaré-plot indexes: SD1 (transverse axis), which is proportional to parasympathetic activity; SD2 (longitudinal axis), which is inversely proportional to sympathetic activity; and the SD1:SD2 ratio; (2) time-domain parameters: standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDNN), root-mean-square differences of successive heartbeat intervals (rMSSD), and percentage of successive R-R-interval pairs differing in more than 50 ms in the entire recording divided by the total number of R-R intervals (pNN50); and (3) the proposed 2 new indexes: the SS and the S:PS ratio.

Results:

The study found a high negative correlation between the SS and SDNN (R2 = .94). The S:PS ratio correlated inversely to rMSSD (R2 = .95), SDNN (R2 = .94), and pNN50 (R2 = .74). The S:PS ratio showed a strong correlation with SD1 (R2 = .95) and SS (r = .87, R2 = .88).

Conclusions:

The application of the SS as sympathetic-activity index and the S:PS ratio as a representation of autonomic balance (SS:SD1) provides a better understanding of the Poincaré-plot method in HRV.
Exploration of patterns predicting renal damage in patients with diabetes type II using a visual temporal analysis laboratory
Authors: Klimov Denis , Shknevsky Alexander , Shahar Yuval
Published: October 2014

Objective To analyze the longitudinal data of multiple patients and to discover new temporal knowledge, we designed and developed the Visual Temporal Analysis Laboratory (ViTA-Lab). In this study, we demonstrate several of the capabilities of the ViTA-Lab framework through the exploration of renal-damage risk factors in patients with diabetes type II.

Materials and methods The ViTA-Lab framework combines data-driven temporal data mining techniques, with interactive, query-driven, visual analytical capabilities, to support, in an integrated fashion, an iterative investigation of time-oriented clinical data and of patterns discovered in them. Patterns discovered through the data mining mode can be explored visually, and vice versa. Both analysis modes are supported by a rich underlying ontology of clinical concepts, their relations, and their temporal properties. The knowledge enables us to apply a temporal-abstraction pre-processing phase that abstracts in a context-sensitive manner raw time-stamped data into interval-based clinically meaningful interpretations, increasing the results’ significance. We demonstrate our approach through the exploration of risk factors associated with future renal damage (micro-albuminuria and macro-albuminuria) and their relationship to the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C ) and creatinine level concepts, in the longitudinal records of 22 000 patients with diabetes type II followed for up to 5 years.

Results The iterative ViTA-Lab analysis process was highly feasible. Higher ranges of either normal albuminuria or normal creatinine values and their combination were shown to be significantly associated with future micro-albuminuria and macro-albuminuria. The risk increased given high HbA1C levels for women in the lower range of normal albuminuria, and for men in the higher range of albuminuria.

Conclusions The ViTA-Lab framework can potentially serve as a virtual laboratory for investigations of large masses of longitudinal clinical databases, for discovery of new knowledge through interactive exploration, clustering, classification, and prediction.
Choosing blindly but wisely: differentially private solicitation of DNA datasets for disease marker discovery
Authors: Zhao Yongan , Wang Xiaofeng , Jiang Xiaoqian , Ohno-Machado Lucila , Tang Haixu
Published: October 2014

Objective To propose a new approach to privacy preserving data selection, which helps the data users access human genomic datasets efficiently without undermining patients’ privacy.

Methods Our idea is to let each data owner publish a set of differentially-private pilot data, on which a data user can test-run arbitrary association-test algorithms, including those not known to the data owner a priori. We developed a suite of new techniques, including a pilot-data generation approach that leverages the linkage disequilibrium in the human genome to preserve both the utility of the data and the privacy of the patients, and a utility evaluation method that helps the user assess the value of the real data from its pilot version with high confidence.

Results We evaluated our approach on real human genomic data using four popular association tests. Our study shows that the proposed approach can help data users make the right choices in most cases.

Conclusions Even though the pilot data cannot be directly used for scientific discovery, it provides a useful indication of which datasets are more likely to be useful to data users, who can therefore approach the appropriate data owners to gain access to the data.
Electromyographic activity of preterm newborns in the kangaroo position: a cohort study
Authors: Miranda Rafael Moura , Cabral Filho José Eulálio , Diniz Kaísa Trovão , Souza Lima Geisy Maria , Vasconcelos Danilo de Almeida
Published: October 2014

Objective

To compare the electromyographic activity of preterm newborns placed in the kangaroo position with the activity of newborns not placed in this position.

Design

A cohort study.

Setting

A Kangaroo Unit sector and a Nursery sector in a secondary and tertiary care at a mother-child hospital in Recife, Brazil.

Participants

Preterm infants of gestational age 27–34 weeks (n=38) and term infants (n=39).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Surface electromyography was used to investigate muscle activity in the brachial biceps at rest. 3 groups were designed: (1) preterm newborns in the kangaroo position (PT-KAN), where the newborn remains in a vertical position, lying face down, with limbs flexed, dressed in light clothes, maintaining skin-to-skin contact with the adult's thorax. Her electromyographic activity was recorded at 0 h (immediately before starting this position), and then at 48 h after the beginning of the position (but newborns were kept in the kangaroo position for 8–12 h per day) and at term equivalent age (40±1 weeks); (2) preterm newborns not in the kangaroo position (PT-NKAN), in which measurements were made at 0 h and 48 h; and (3) term newborns (T), in which measurements were made at 24 h of chronological age.

Results

The Root Mean Square (RMS) values showed significant differences among groups (F(5,108)=56.69; p<0.001). The multiple comparisons showed that RMS was greater at 48 h compared to 0 h in the preterm group in the kangaroo position, but not in the group not submitted in the kangaroo position. The RMS in the term equivalent aged group in the kangaroo position was also greater when compared with those in the term group.

Conclusions

The kangaroo position increases electromyographic activity in the brachial biceps of preterm newborns and those who have reached the age equivalent to term.
The multiscale analysis between stock market time series
Authors: Shi Wenbin , Shang Pengjian
Published: October 2014

This paper is devoted to multiscale cross-correlation analysis on stock market time series, where multiscale DCCA cross-correlation coefficient as well as multiscale cross-sample entropy (MSCE) is applied. Multiscale DCCA cross-correlation coefficient is a realization of DCCA cross-correlation coefficient on multiple scales. The results of this method present a good scaling characterization. More significantly, this method is able to group stock markets by areas. Compared to multiscale DCCA cross-correlation coefficient, MSCE presents a more remarkable scaling characterization and the value of each log return of financial time series decreases with the increasing of scale factor. But the results of grouping is not as good as multiscale DCCA cross-correlation coefficient.
Stop-mass prediction in naturalness scenarios within MSSM-25
Authors: Abdus Salam Shehu S.
Published: October 2014

The "top-down" approach to minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) phenomenology provides model-dependent indications for a natural stop mass. The approach is based on specific assumptions about the supersymmetry-breaking energy scale and parameters degeneracies. In order to determine robust predictions, we update the stop-mass prediction within the MSSM with 25 parameters (MSSM-25) by including electroweak fine-tuning as "naturalness data" during the Bayesian fits of the parameters to experimental data. The approximately prior-independent results show that imposing naturalness, taken here to mean a 25% to 100% fine-tuning, predicts a 1–2 TeV stop mass. The posterior distributions for the neutralino–proton cross-sections indicate better prospects for probing the associated neutralino cold dark matter (CDM) with future upgrades of the detection facilities.
Backward clusters, hierarchy and wild sums for a hard sphere system in a low-density regime
Authors: Aoki Kazuo , Pulvirenti Mario , Simonella Sergio , Tsuji Tetsuro
Published: October 2014

We study the statistics of backward clusters in a gas of hard spheres at low density. A backward cluster is defined as the group of particles involved directly or indirectly in the backwards-in-time dynamics of a given tagged sphere. We derive upper and lower bounds on the average size of clusters by using the theory of the homogeneous Boltzmann equation combined with suitable hierarchical expansions. These representations are known in the easier context of Maxwellian molecules (Wild sums). We test our results with a numerical experiment based on molecular dynamics simulations.
Browse-to-Search
Authors: Lu Shiyang , Mei Tao , Wang Jingdong , Zhang Jian , Wang Zhiyong , Li Shipeng
Published: October 2014

With the development of image search technology, users are no longer satisfied with searching for images using just metadata and textual descriptions. Instead, more search demands are focused on retrieving images based on similarities in their contents (textures, colors, shapes etc.). Nevertheless, one image may deliver rich or complex content and multiple interests. Sometimes users do not sufficiently define or describe their seeking demands for images even when general search interests appear, owing to a lack of specific knowledge to express their intents. A new form of information seeking activity, referred to as exploratory search, is emerging in the research community, which generally combines browsing and searching content together to help users gain additional knowledge and form accurate queries, thereby assisting the users with their seeking and investigation activities. However, there have been few attempts at addressing integrated exploratory search solutions when image browsing is incorporated into the exploring loop. In this work, we investigate the challenges of understanding users' search interests from the images being browsed and infer their actual search intentions. We develop a novel system to explore an effective and efficient way for allowing users to seamlessly switch between browse and search processes, and naturally complete visual-based exploratory search tasks. The system, called
Browse-to-Search
enables users to specify their visual search interests by circling any visual objects in the webpages being browsed, and then the system automatically forms the visual entities to represent users' underlying intent. One visual entity is not limited by the original image content, but also encapsulated by the textual-based browsing context and the associated heterogeneous attributes. We use large-scale image search technology to find the associated textual attributes from the repository. Users can then utilize the encapsulated visual entities to complete search tasks. The Browse-to-Search system is one of the first attempts to integrate
browse
and
search
activities for a visual-based exploratory search, which is characterized by four unique properties: (1) in session—searching is performed during browsing session and search results naturally accompany with browsing content; (2) in context—the pages being browsed provide text-based contextual cues for searching; (3) in focus—users can focus on the visual content of interest without worrying about the difficulties of query formulation, and visual entities will be automatically formed; and (4) intuitiveness—a touch and visual search-based user interface provides a natural user experience. We deploy the Browse-to-Search system on tablet devices and evaluate the system performance using millions of images. We demonstrate that it is effective and efficient in facilitating the user's exploratory search compared to the conventional image search methods and, more importantly, provides users with more robust results to satisfy their exploring experience.
A cross talk between class a scavenger receptor and receptor for advanced glycation end-products contributes to diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Ma Ke , Xu Yiming , Wang Chenchen , Li Nan , Li Kexue , Zhang Yan , Li Xiaoyu , Yang Qing , Zhang Hanwen , Zhu Xudong , Bai Hui , Ben Jingjing , Ding Qingqing , Li Keran , Jiang Qin , Xu Yong , Chen Qi
Published: October 2014

In response to hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes, many signaling pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR). Excessive production of inflammatory mediators plays an important role in this process. Amadori-glycated albumin, one of the major forms of advanced glycated end-products, has been implicated in DR by inducing inflammatory responses in microglia/macrophages. Our goal was to delineate the potential cross talk between class A scavenger receptor (SR-A) and the receptor for advanced glycated end-product (RAGE) in the context of DR. We show here that SR-A ablation caused an exacerbated form of DR in streptozotocin-injected C57BL/6J mice as evidenced by fundus imaging and electroretinography. Immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR assay indicated that there was augmented activation of proinflammatory macrophages with upregulated synthesis of proinflammatory mediators in the retina in Sr-a−/− mice. Overexpression of SR-A suppressed RAGE-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, whereas RAGE activation in macrophages favored a proinflammatory (M1) phenotype in the absence of SR-A. Mechanistic analysis on bone marrow-derived macrophages and HEK293 cell line revealed that SR-A interacted with and inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7, the major kinase in the RAGE-MAPK-NF-κB signaling, thereby leading to diminished secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Our findings suggest that the antagonism between SR-A and RAGE contributes to the pathogenesis of DR by nurturing a disease-prone macrophage phenotype. Therefore, specific agonist that boosts SR-A signaling could potentially provide benefits in the prevention and/or intervention of DR.
Neuroprotective Effect of Ethanol Extract of Leaves of Malva parviflora against Amyloid-β- (Aβ-) Mediated Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Sial Ali Akbar
Published: October 2014

Malva parviflora L. possesses significant antioxidant potential. This study was conducted to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of ethanol extract of the leaves of Malva parviflora against amyloid-β- (Aβ-) mediated Alzheimer’s disease. In Morris water maze model, the extract significantly restored the defected memory of amyloid-β injected mice (P<0.01). The reduced levels of brain antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were also restored significantly to similar levels as seen in normal control mice (P<0.01). The levels of lipid peroxidase were decreased significantly in treatment group mice when compared to Alzheimer group mice (P<0.01). So, this study showed that ethanol extract of the leaves of Malva parviflora possesses neuroprotective activity in mice.
Computational Actuator Disc Models for Wind and Tidal Applications
Authors: Johnson B. , Francis J. , Howe J. , Whitty J.
Published: October 2014

This paper details a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study of a constantly loaded actuator disc model featuring different boundary conditions; these boundary conditions were defined to represent a channel and a duct flow. The simulations were carried out using the commercially available CFD software ANSYS-CFX. The data produced were compared to the one-dimensional (1D) momentum equation as well as previous numerical and experimental studies featuring porous discs in a channel flow. The actuator disc was modelled as a momentum loss using a resistance coefficient related to the thrust coefficient (CT). The model showed good agreement with the 1D momentum theory in terms of the velocity and pressure profiles. Less agreement was demonstrated when compared to previous numerical and empirical data in terms of velocity and turbulence characteristics in the far field. These models predicted a far larger velocity deficit and a turbulence peak further downstream. This study therefore demonstrates the usefulness of the duct boundary condition (for computational ease) for representing open channel flow when simulating far field effects as well as the importance of turbulence definition at the inlet.
Reversed Phase SPE and GC-MS Study of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water Samples from the River Buriganga, Bangladesh
Authors: Nawaz Md. Saddam , Ferdousi Farhana Khanam , Rahman Mohammad Arifur , Alam A. M. Shafiqul
Published: October 2014

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) categorized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PAHs are ubiquitous in terrestrial, atmospheric, and particularly aquatic environments throughout the world and have been detected in lakes, ground waters, and rivers. This research work involved the analysis of five PAHs, anthracene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, in water sample collected from the river Buriganga, Bangladesh. The extraction of water samples was carried out by reversed phase solid-phase extraction (RP-SPE) technique with C-18 SPE cartridges. A solvent mixture of dichloromethane and hexane (1 : 2) with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min was used as eluent. Percentage recoveries of five PAHs for this technique were in the range of 81.47 ± 1.16 to 98.60 ± 0.61%. PAHs quantification was achieved by using an ion trap gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) interfaced to gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a fused silica capillary column. Helium was used as carrier gas with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The commonly detected PAH compounds in the river water were anthracene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene at the concentration ranges of 0.451 to 3.201, 0.033 to 3.1131, and 0.320 to 2.546 μg/mL, respectively. The results reflect that PAHs presented in this river water were mostly from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources.
Global Stability of an HIV-1 Infection Model with General Incidence Rate and Distributed Delays
Authors: Ndongo Abdoul Samba , Talibi Alaoui Hamad
Published: October 2014

In this work an HIV-1 infection model with nonlinear incidence rate and distributed intracellular delays and with humoral immunity is investigated. The disease transmission function is assumed to be
governed by general incidence rate f(T,V)V. The intracellular delays describe the time between viral entry into a target cell and the production of new virus particles and the time between infection of a cell and the emission of viral particle. Lyapunov functionals are constructed and LaSalle invariant principle for delay differential equation is used to establish the global asymptotic stability of the infection-free equilibrium, infected equilibrium without B cells response, and infected equilibrium with B cells response. The results obtained show that the global dynamics of the system depend on both the properties of the general incidence function and the value of certain threshold parameters R0 and R1 which depends on the delays.
Bacteria in Nanoparticle Synthesis: Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Iravani Siavash
Published: October 2014

Microbial metal reduction can be a strategy for remediation of metal contaminations and wastes. Bacteria are capable of mobilization and immobilization of metals and in some cases, the bacteria which can reduce metal ions show the ability to precipitate metals at nanometer scale. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using bacteria has emerged as rapidly developing research area in green nanotechnology across the globe with various biological entities being employed in synthesis of NPs constantly forming an impute alternative for conventional chemical and physical methods. Optimization of the processes can result in synthesis of NPs with desired morphologies and controlled sizes, fast and clean. The aim of this review is, therefore, to make a reflection on the current state and future prospects and especially the possibilities and limitations of the above mentioned bio-based technique for industries.
Bayesian Perspective on Random Censored Survival Data
Authors: Guure Chris B. , Bosomprah Samuel
Published: October 2014

A unit is said to be randomly censored when the information on time occurrence of an event is not available due to either loss to followup, withdrawal, or nonoccurrence of the outcome event before the end of the study. It is assumed in independent random/noninformative censoring that each individual has his/her own failure time T and censoring time C; however, one can only observe the random vector, say, (X;δ). The classical approach is considered for analysing the generalised exponential distribution with random or noninformative censored samples which occur most often in biological or medical studies. The Bayes methods are also considered via a numerical approximation suggested by Lindley in 1980 and that of the Laplace approximation procedure developed by Tierney and Kadane in 1986 with assumed informative priors alongside linear exponential loss function and squared error loss function. A simulation study is carried out to compare the estimators proposed in this paper. Two datasets have also been illustrated.
Sustainable Supplier Performance Evaluation and Selection with Neofuzzy TOPSIS Method
Authors: Chaharsooghi S. K. , Ashrafi Mehdi
Published: October 2014

Supplier selection plays an important role in the supply chain management and traditional criteria such as price, quality, and flexibility are considered for supplier performance evaluation in researches. In recent years sustainability has received more attention in the supply chain management literature with triple bottom line (TBL) describing the sustainability in supply chain management with social, environmental, and economic initiatives. This paper explores sustainability in supply chain management and examines the problem of identifying a new model for supplier selection based on extended model of TBL approach in supply chain by presenting fuzzy multicriteria method. Linguistic values of experts’ subjective preferences are expressed with fuzzy numbers and Neofuzzy TOPSIS is proposed for finding the best solution of supplier selection problem. Numerical results show that the proposed model is efficient for integrating sustainability in supplier selection problem. The importance of using complimentary aspects of sustainability and Neofuzzy TOPSIS concept in sustainable supplier selection process is shown with sensitivity analysis.
Taste Masked Orally Disintegrating Pellets of Antihistaminic and Mucolytic Drug: Formulation, Characterization, and In Vivo Studies in Human
Authors: Taj Yasmeen , Pai Roopa S. , Kusum Devi V. , Singh Gurinder
Published: October 2014

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of orally disintegrating pellets (ODPs) as an approach for taste masking of bitter drugs, namely, Ambroxol hydrochloride (A-HCl) and Cetirizine dihydrochloride (C-DHCl). Pellets were prepared by extrusion/spheronization with Eudragit EPO, kyron T-134, Kyron T-314, mannitol, sorbitol, MCC (Avicel PH-101), sucralose, chocolate flavor, and 5% xanthum gum. The prepared pellets were characterized for percentage yield, drug content, particle size, in vitro drug release, and in vivo evaluation on humans for taste, mouth feel, and in vivo disintegration time. The results revealed that the average size of pellets was influenced greatly by the percentage of binder and extrusion speed. The optimized ODPs disintegrated in less than 20 s and showed more than 98% of drugs in ODPs dissolved within 15 min. Taste perception study was carried out on human volunteers to evaluate the taste masking ability of ODPs for taste, mouth feel, and in vivo disintegration time. Crystalline state evaluation of drugs in the optimized ODPs was conducted for X-ray powder diffraction. In conclusion, the study confirmed that ODPs can be utilized as an alternative approach for effective taste masking and rapid disintegration in the oral cavity.
Comparison of the Antifungal Efficacy of 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD with Other Routine Irrigants: An Ex-Vivo Study
Authors: Juneja Neha , Hegde Mithra N.
Published: October 2014

Objectives. To evaluate and compare the antifungal efficacy of 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), and iodine potassium iodide (IKI). Materials and Methods. Fifty-two single rooted teeth were used which were divided into four groups with 10 teeth in each group: 2.5% NaOCl, 2% CHX, IKI, 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD, and physiologic saline. Two teeth served as negative controls and were placed in fresh brain-heart infusion broth (BHI) after autoclaving. The teeth were inoculated and incubated with Candida albicans after which the teeth were instrumented and irrigated with the test irrigants. The first microbial sampling was then performed and colony forming unit/mL (cfu/mL) was counted. The second microbial sampling was performed 1 week after instrumentation and irrigation. Results. The test irrigants were effective against C. albicans in both the first and second microbial samplings. When the irrigants were compared, there was no statistical difference in their activity in the 1st and 2nd microbial sampling. On comparison of the change in mean cfu/mL between the 1st and 2nd microbial samplings, the antifungal activity of the test irrigants was in the order 2.5% NaOCl > 2% CHX > 1.3% NaOCl/MTAD > IKI.
A Real Valued Neural Network Based Autoregressive Energy Detector for Cognitive Radio Application
Authors: Onumanyi A. J. , Onwuka E. N. , Aibinu A. M. , Ugweje O. C. , Salami M. J. E.
Published: October 2014

A real valued neural network (RVNN) based energy detector (ED) is proposed and analyzed for cognitive radio (CR) application. This was developed using a known two-layered RVNN model to estimate the model coefficients of an autoregressive (AR) system. By using appropriate modules and a well-designed detector, the power spectral density (PSD) of the AR system transfer function was estimated and subsequent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the detector generated and analyzed. A high detection performance with low false alarm rate was observed for varying signal to noise ratio (SNR), sample number, and model order conditions. The proposed RVNN based ED was then compared to the simple periodogram (SP), Welch periodogram (WP), multitaper (MT), Yule-Walker (YW), Burg (BG), and covariance (CV) based ED techniques. The proposed detector showed better performance than the SP, WP, and MT while providing better false alarm performance than the YW, BG, and CV. Data provided here support the effectiveness of the proposed RVNN based ED for CR application.
The Interdependency of the Morphological Variations of the Planktonic Foraminiferal Species Globigerina bulloides in Surface Sediments on the Environmental Parameters of the Southwestern Indian Ocean
Authors: Mazumder Abhijit , Khare Neloy , Govil Pawan
Published: October 2014

18 surface sediment samples collected from a north-south transect along the Indian Ocean have been analyzed for planktonic Foraminifera content. Among the other planktonic foraminiferal faunas, Globigerina bulloides was present substantially in all samples. Census data of G. bulloides were measured for different parameters (average size, mean proloculus size, coiling direction, and number of chambers) and a Q-mode cluster analysis was applied on these data. Samples were segregated into two homogeneous clusters, each reflecting particular environmental conditions. Two clusters are as follows: (1) Cluster A, comprised of 6 samples and characterized by the highest range of foraminiferal and ecological parameters, except sea surface temperature and salinity which shows the lowest range, and (2) Cluster B, comprised of 12 samples and characterized by the lowest range of foraminiferal parameters and ecological parameters, except sea surface temperature and salinity which shows the highest range. The study suggests that the ecological parameters are the governing factors for the morphological characteristics of planktonic foraminiferal species G. bulloides.
Rapid Detection of Rifampicin and Isoniazid Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Genotype MTBDRplus Assay in Nepal
Authors: Sharma Bijay Kumar , Bhandari Shiva , Maharjan Bhagwan , Shrestha Bhawana , Banjara Megha Raj
Published: October 2014

Rapid line probe assay (LPA) can be a practical and rapid alternative to the slow conventional phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) for detection of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of Genotype MTBDRplus, LPA for TB, and compare its performance with conventional DST. A total of 54 culture samples were analyzed for DST using both conventional proportion method and MTBDRplus, where conventional DST identified 43 isolates (79.6%) as drug resistant. Among these 43 drug resistant isolates, 30 isolates (69.7%) were found to be multidrug resistant (MDR). Of all observed mutations using MTBDRplus, codon 531 of rpoB gene and codon 315 of katG gene were found to have highest mutational frequency for RIF resistance (64.7%) and INH resistance (96.8%), respectively. In the present study, MTBDRplus assay was shown to have excellent specificity (100%) for both RIF and INH resistance while sensitivity of the assay was little lower with value of 89.4% for RIF resistance and 91.4% for INH resistance. Therefore, the assay can be a rapid, reliable, and promising molecular test for early detection of MDR-TB in Nepal.
Bflinks: Reliable Bugfix Links via Bidirectional References and Tuned Heuristics
Authors: Prechelt Lutz , Pepper Alexander
Published: October 2014

Background. Data from software version archives and defect databases can be used for defect insertion circumstance analysis and defect prediction. The first step in such analyses is identifying defect-correcting changes in the version archive (bugfix commits) and enriching them with additional metadata by establishing bugfix links to corresponding entries in the defect database. Candidate bugfix commits are typically identified via heuristic string matching on the commit message. Research Questions. Which filters could be used to obtain a set of bugfix links? How to tune their parameters? What accuracy is achieved? Method. We analyze a modular set of seven independent filters, including new ones that make use of reverse links, and evaluate visual heuristics for setting cutoff parameters. For a commercial repository, a product expert manually verifies over 2500 links to validate the results with unprecedented accuracy. Results. The heuristics pick a very good parameter value for five filters and a reasonably good one for the sixth. The combined filtering, called bflinks, provides 93% precision and only 7% results loss. Conclusion. Bflinks can provide high-quality results and adapts to repositories with different properties.
Effect of Test Parameters on the Friction Behaviour of Anodized Aluminium Alloy
Authors: Guezmil M. , Bensalah W. , Khalladi A. , Elleuch K. , De-Petris Wery M. , Ayedi H. F.
Published: October 2014

The tribological behaviour of anodic oxide layer formed on Al5754, used in automotive applications, was investigated against test parameters. The friction coefficient under different normal loads, sliding speeds, and oxide thicknesses was studied using a pin on disc tribometer. Results show that the increase of load and sliding speed increase the friction coefficient. The rise of contact pressure and temperature seems to cause changes in wear mechanism. Glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) was used to investigate the chemical composition of the oxide layer. Morphology and composition of the wear tracks were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). On the basis of these characterization techniques, a wear mechanism was proposed. The observed mechanical properties can be related to the morphology and the chemical composition of the layer.
Threats to Mammals on Fragmented Habitats around Asella Town, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Kasso Mohammed , Bekele Afework
Published: October 2014

Assessment of the current information on the major threat to mammals in fragmented remnant montane forest of Child Care Center and School of Agriculture was conducted from March to July 2013. The prevailing threatening factors were collected by questionnaires, checklists, interview, observation, and document analysis. A total of 22 species of mammals were recorded of which six (27%) were endemic to the country and vulnerable. Mammals and their habitats were threatened by land fragmentation, hunting, habitat modification, land degradation and deforestation, lack of awareness, and finance. Although all mammals were susceptible to hunting, high rate of occurrence was recorded for Olive baboon (Papio anubis). The different infrastructure construction in both compounds is causing different impacts. As the area is rich in mammals and other species and threatened by different factors to reverse the situation, urgent conservation action is highly recommended.
The Impact of Histologic Variants on FSGS Outcomes
Authors: Meliambro Kristin , Schwartzman Monica , Cravedi Paolo , Campbell Kirk N.
Published: October 2014

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the most common glomerular disease leading to end-stage renal disease. The clinical course is highly variable with disparate responses to therapeutic intervention and rates of progression. Histologic variant subtype has been commonly used as a prognostic and therapeutic guide in the clinical management of FSGS. The tip lesion is widely considered to portend the most favorable prognosis and to be the most responsive to steroid therapy. Conversely, the collapsing lesion, more prevalent in patients of African descent, is associated with steroid resistance and higher risk of disease progression. In the 10 years since the Columbia classification system for FSGS was published, some retrospective and one prospective study explored the impact of histologic variants at the time of biopsy on FSGS outcomes. The results largely validate its clinical predictive value with respect to treatment response, though its utility in cases recurring after kidney transplantation is still unknown. Sampling and interpretation errors are additional sources of caution. More research is needed to fully define reproducible prognostic and therapeutic markers for this polymorphic disorder.
Factors Affecting Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services in Kombolcha District, Eastern Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Zelalem Ayele Desalew , Belayihun Bekele , Teji Kedir , Admassu Ayana Desalegn
Published: October 2014

Introduction. World health organization estimates that more than half a million women lose their lives in the process of reproduction worldwide every year and most of these mortalities are avoidable if mothers have access to maternal health care services. Objectives. This study was conducted with objectives of determining the prevalence of utilization of maternal health care services and identifying factors affecting it. Methodology. A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in six kebeles of Kombolcha district. A total of 495 women of reproductive age participated in the study and their selection was made using simple random sampling technique and data was collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results. A total of 495 women were included in this study and from these women about 86.1% had at least one ANC visit during their last pregnancy. About 61.7% of mothers had less than four visits which is less than the recommended and 46.2% started it in the second trimester. Only 25.3% of respondents gave birth in health institutions and rural women were less likely to use institutional delivery 20.9% compared to urban women 35.9%. Recommendations. More efforts should be given to educate society in general and mothers in particular, to strengthen community participation and to increase the accessibility of maternal health care services. Moreover, providing accurate information about the services provided in the health institutions is required from the concerned governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
Impact of New Water Sources on the Overall Water Network: An Optimisation Approach
Authors: Chagwiza Godfrey , Jones Brian C. , Hove-Musekwa Senelani D.
Published: October 2014

A mathematical programming problem is formulated for a water network with new water sources included. Salinity and water hardness are considered in the model, which is later solved using the Max-Min Ant System (MMAS)
to assess the impact of new water sources on the total cost of the existing network. It is efficient to include new water sources if the distances to them are short or if there is a high penalty associated with failure to meet demand. Desalination unit costs also significantly affect the decision whether to install new water sources into the existing network while softening costs are generally negligible in making such decisions. Experimental results show that, in the example considered, it is efficient to reduce number of desalination plants to remain with one central plant. The Max-Min Ant System algorithm seems to be an effective method as shown by least computational
time as compared to the commercial solver Cplex.
Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessment of Antiangiogenic Treatment Effects in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Merz Maximilian , Ritsch Judith , Kunz Christina , Wagner Barbara , Sauer Sandra , Hose Dirk , Moehler Thomas , Delorme Stefan , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Zechmann Christian , Hillengass Jens
Published: October 2014

Purpose: To noninvasively assess bone marrow microcirculation before and after therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).

Experimental Design: Ninety-six patients received DCE-MRI before and after primary treatment for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. For the 91 evaluable patients, treatment consisted of high-dose therapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in 82 patients and chemotherapy without ASCT in 9 patients. In addition, 33 healthy volunteers were imaged as the control group. Analysis of DCE-MRI was performed according to the two-compartment model by Brix to quantify amplitude A (associated with blood volume) and exchange rate constant kep (reflecting vessel permeability and perfusion).

Results: Nonresponders showed significantly higher A-values before the start of therapy compared with responders (P = 0.02). In both responders and nonresponders to therapy, A-values dropped significantly (P = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively) after primary therapy, whereas lower values for kep were found only in responders (P < 0.001). Depth of remission was significantly correlated to decreased bone marrow microcirculation: Patients in near complete response (nCR) or complete remission (CR) after treatment showed significantly lower values for A compared with patients not achieving nCR+CR. The application of HDT or novel agents had no significant effect on DCE-MRI parameters after therapy, although patients treated with novel agents more often achieved nCR+CR (42%/12.5%; P < 0.002). Higher kep-values at second MRI were positively correlated to shorter overall survival (HR 3.53; 95% confidence intervals, 1.21–10.33; P = 0.02).

Conclusion: Parameters from DCE-MRI are correlated to remission after primary therapy and outcome in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res; 21(1); 106–12. ©2014 AACR.
Translating the Molecular Message of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer into Targeted Therapy
Authors: Vidula Neelima , Rugo Hope S.
Published: October 2014

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. Genomic analysis of TNBCs offers the opportunity to decode TNBC into biologically relevant subtypes with unique molecular targets. With further research, these findings may be translated into effective targeted therapeutic options. Clin Cancer Res; 21(7); 1511–3. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Burstein et al. p. 1688
Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer in Alcohol Dependence: A Pilot Study
Authors: Garbusow Maria , Schad Daniel J. , Sommer Christian , Jünger Elisabeth , Sebold Miriam , Friedel Eva , Wendt Jean , Kathmann Norbert , Schlagenhauf Florian , Zimmermann Ulrich S. , Heinz Andreas , Huys Quentin J.M. , Rapp Michael A.
Published: October 2014

Background: Pavlovian processes are thought to play an important role in the development, maintenance and relapse of alcohol dependence, possibly by influencing and usurping ongoing thought and behavior. The influence of pavlovian stimuli on ongoing behavior is paradigmatically measured by pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) tasks. These involve multiple stages and are complex. Whether increased PIT is involved in human alcohol dependence is uncertain. We therefore aimed to establish and validate a modified PIT paradigm that would be robust, consistent and tolerated by healthy controls as well as by patients suffering from alcohol dependence, and to explore whether alcohol dependence is associated with enhanced PIT. Methods: Thirty-two recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients and 32 age- and gender-matched healthy controls performed a PIT task with instrumental go/no-go approach behaviors. The task involved both pavlovian stimuli associated with monetary rewards and losses, and images of drinks. Results: Both patients and healthy controls showed a robust and temporally stable PIT effect. Strengths of PIT effects to drug-related and monetary conditioned stimuli were highly correlated. Patients more frequently showed a PIT effect, and the effect was stronger in response to aversively conditioned CSs (conditioned suppression), but there was no group difference in response to appetitive CSs. Conclusion: The implementation of PIT has favorably robust properties in chronic alcohol-dependent patients and in healthy controls. It shows internal consistency between monetary and drug-related cues. The findings support an association of alcohol dependence with an increased propensity towards PIT. 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Hassliebe. Żydowska samonienawiść w ujęciu Sandera L. Gilmana (część pierwsza: od Hermana z Moguncji do Johannesa Pfefferkorna)
Authors: Tokarska-Bakir Joanna
Published: October 2014

Hassliebe. Jewish self-hatred as seen by Sander L. Gilman (part one: from Hermann of Mainz to Johannes Pfefferkorn)The present paper constitutes the first part of the analysis of Sander L. Gilman’s famous book Jewish Self-Hatred, and the pioneering interpretation of the concept of stereotype. According to Gilman, a stereotype emerges as a result of an active collaboration of the person who stereotypises and the outsider. The latter opposes the image imposed by the stereotype, and thus splits the stereotype into a positive and a negative part. By identifying himself with the positive part, the outsider delegates the purity of classification not only to the subgroup he does not feel any attachment to, but also involuntarily legitimises the stereotype, because without his authorisation, the stereotype would merely remain a racist insult. The article is based on the narrations of Jewish converts to Christianity from the Middle Ages to the 15th century. Hassliebe. Żydowska samonienawiść w ujęciu Sandera L. Gilmana (część pierwsza: od Hermana z Moguncji do Johannesa Pfefferkorna)Tekst jest pierwszą częścią omówienia głośnej książki Sandera L. Gilmana, Jewish Self-Hatred i przedstawionej w niej pionierskiej koncepcji stereotypu, powstającego w ramach aktywnego współdziałania stereotypizującego i outsidera. Ten ostatni, walcząc z narzuconym mu niesprawiedliwym wizerunkiem, dokonuje rozszczepienia stereotypu na pozytywny i negatywny, identyfikując się z tym pierwszym. W ten sposób nie tylko deleguje „nieczystość klasyfikacyjną” na podgrupę, z którą nie czuje związku, ale przede wszystkim niezauważalnie sam legitymizuje stereotyp, który bez jego autoryzacji miałby rangę rasistowskiego oszczerstwa. Materiał źródłowy artykułu stanowią narracje żydowskich konwertytów na chrześcijaństwo od średniowiecza po wiek XV.
Złudzenie symetrii. Na marginesie polskiego tłumaczenia żydowskiej antyewangelii „Toledot Jeszu”
Authors: Radzik Zuzanna
Published: October 2014

An illusion of symmetry. On the Polish translation of the Jewish anti-gospel “Toledot Yeshu”The article was inspired by the introduction to the Polish translation of Toledot Yeshu (by Jan Iluk). The translator suggests that Toledot Yeshu might have been the cause of the Christian anti-Judaism. This is an unjustified opinion, and this paper provides a review of the current state of research on the Christian-Jewish relations in the ancient times and the causes of the negative opinions on Jews being taught in Christian tradition. The author suggests that Toledot Yeshu should be read as a chronicle of the Jewish perspective of the mutual relations between Jews and Christians. Złudzenie symetrii. Na marginesie polskiego tłumaczenia żydowskiej antyewangelii „Toledot Jeszu”Punktem wyjścia artykułu są uwagi zawarte we wstępie do polskiego tłumaczenia tekstów żydowskiej antyewangelii Toledot Jeszu przez Jana Iluka (Żydowska politeja i Kościół w Imperium Rzymskim u schyłku antyku, t. 2: Żydowska Antyewangelia. Antyczna tradycja i nowożytne trwanie). Tłumacz i zarazem autor opracowania sugeruje, że teksty Toledot Jeszu mogły stać się przyczyną chrześcijańskiego antyjudaizmu. Krytykując to założenie, autorka artykułu referuje aktualny stan badań na temat relacji chrześcijańsko-żydowskich w starożytności oraz przyczyn chrześcijańskiego negatywnego nauczania na temat Żydów. Następnie proponuje lekturę Toledot Jeszu jako zapisu żydowskiej perspektywy wzajemnych stosunków Żydów i chrześcijan.