bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salivary gland function after sialendoscopy for treatment of chronic radioiodine‐induced sialadenitis
Authors: Kim Young‐Mo , Choi Jeong‐Seok , Hong Seong Bin , Hyun In Young , Lim Jae‐Yol
Published: July 2014

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine whether sialendoscopy could ameliorate radioactive iodine‐induced obstructive sialadenitis and restore the salivary gland dysfunction in recalcitrant radioactive iodine sialadenitis.

Methods

Ten patients with 15 parotid glands of chronic radioactive iodine sialadenitis who did not respond to medical treatment were enrolled in this prospective study. We assessed subjective symptom scores and evaluated the objective salivary gland functions before and 3 months after sialendoscopy.

Results

The post‐sialendoscopic obstructive symptoms were significantly improved relative to pre‐sialendoscopy (p = .009). Xerostomia‐related symptom scores post‐sialendoscopy did not differ significantly from the pre‐sialendoscopy scores. Stimulated salivary flow rate post‐sialendoscopy tended to increase relative to pre‐sialendoscopy. No pre‐sialendoscopic parameters associated with salivary uptake and secretion by salivary gland scintigraphy were significantly improved post‐sialendoscopy.

Conclusion

These results show that sialendoscopy can improve obstructive symptoms; however, it seems to have some limitations for relief of xerostomia and improvement of salivary gland dysfunctions in recalcitrant chronic radioactive iodine sialadenitis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 51–58, 2016
IOERT as anticipated tumor bed boost during breast‐conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer—Results of a case series after 5‐year follow‐up
Authors: Fastner Gerd , Reitsamer Roland , Ziegler Ingrid , Zehentmayr Franz , Fussl Christoph , Kopp Peter , Peintinger Florentia , Greil Richard , Fischer Thorsten , Deutschmann Heinrich , Sedlmayer Felix
Published: July 2014

To evaluate retrospectively rates of local (LCR) and locoregional tumor control (LRCR) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) who were treated with preoperative chemotherapy (primary systemic treatment, PST) followed by breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) and either intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons (IOERT) preceding whole‐breast irradiation (WBI) (Group 1) or with WBI followed by an external tumor bed boost (electrons or photons) instead of IOERT (Group 2). From 2002 to 2007, 83 patients with clinical Stage II or III breast cancer were enrolled in Group 1 and 26 in Group 2. All patients received PST followed by BCS and axillary lymph node dissection. IOERT boosts were applied by single doses of 9 Gy (90% reference isodose) versus external boosts of 12 Gy (median dose range, 6–16) in 2 Gy/fraction (ICRU). WBI in both groups was performed up to total doses of 51–57 Gy (1.7–1.8 Gy/fraction). The respective median follow‐up times for Groups 1 and 2 amount 59 months (range, 3–115) and 67.5 months (range, 13–120). Corresponding 6‐year rates for LCR, LRCR, metastasis‐free survival, disease‐specific survival and overall survival were 98.5, 97.2, 84.7, 89.2 and 86.4% for Group 1 and 88.1, 88.1, 74, 92 and 92% for Group 2, respectively, without any statistical significances. IOERT as boost modality during BCS in LABC after PST shows a trend to be superior in terms of LCR and LRCR in comparison with conventional boosts.
Implementation of the diagonalization‐free algorithm in the self‐consistent field procedure within the four‐component relativistic scheme
Authors: Hrdá Marcela , Kulich Tomáš , Repiský Michal , Noga Jozef , Malkina Olga L. , Malkin Vladimir G.
Published: July 2014

A recently developed Thouless‐expansion‐based diagonalization‐free approach for improving the efficiency of self‐consistent field (SCF) methods (Noga and Šimunek, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2010, 6, 2706) has been adapted to the four‐component relativistic scheme and implemented within the program package ReSpect. In addition to the implementation, the method has been thoroughly analyzed, particularly with respect to cases for which it is difficult or computationally expensive to find a good initial guess. Based on this analysis, several modifications of the original algorithm, refining its stability and efficiency, are proposed. To demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the improved algorithm, we present the results of four‐component diagonalization‐free SCF calculations on several heavy‐metal complexes, the largest of which contains more than 80 atoms (about 6000 4‐spinor basis functions). The diagonalization‐free procedure is about twice as fast as the corresponding diagonalization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Replica exchange with guided annealing for accelerated sampling of disordered protein conformations
Authors: Zhang Weihong , Chen Jianhan
Published: July 2014

We critically examine a recently proposed convective replica exchange (cRE) method for enhanced sampling of protein conformation based on theoretical and numerical analysis. The results demonstrate that cRE and related replica exchange with guided annealing (RE‐GA) schemes lead to unbalanced exchange attempt probabilities and break detailed balance whenever the system undergoes slow conformational transitions (relative to the temperature diffusion timescale). Nonetheless, numerical simulations suggest that approximate canonical ensembles can be generated for systems with small conformational transition barriers. This suggests that RE‐GA maybe suitable for simulating intrinsically disordered proteins, an important class of newly recognized functional proteins. The efficacy of RE‐GA is demonstrated by calculating the conformational ensembles of intrinsically disordered kinase inducible domain protein. The results show that RE‐GA helps the protein to escape nonspecific compact states more efficiently and provides several fold speedups in generating converged and largely correct ensembles compared to the standard temperature RE. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oxygen enrichment with magnesium peroxide for minimizing hypoxic stress of flooded corn
Authors: Liu Guodong , Porterfield David Marshall
Published: July 2014

Flooding/waterlogging is a major factor responsible for hypoxic stress in agriculture. The aim of this study was to develop an effective oxygen buffer with magnesium peroxide (MgO2) to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and release bioavailable oxygen. MgO2 provided a relatively stable level (approx. 300 µM) of bioavailable oxygen. The oxygen‐buffer system is adjustable and controllable by adding Mg2+ or EDTA to the aqueous system. Regular H2O2 was also able to provide bioavailable oxygen but the system was poorly buffered with respect to oxygen release. The accessibility of plants to bioavailable oxygen was indicated by the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADHase, EC 1.1.1.1), an anaerobically induced enzyme of flooded plants. The application of MgO2 to flooded soil reduced ADHase activity in corn‐root tips by 91.3%. This application of MgO2 presents a novel pathway to significantly (P < 5%) minimize adverse impacts of hypoxia on flooded corn seedlings. This finding may have broad implications for addressing hypoxicity problems in crop science and technology.
The Characteristic Objects Method: A New Distance‐based Approach to Multicriteria Decision‐making Problems
Authors: Sałabun Wojciech
Published: July 2014

Multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) methods are concerned with the ranking of alternatives based on expert judgements made using a number of criteria. In the MCDM field, the distance‐based approach is one popular method for obtaining a final ranking. The technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) is a commonly used example of this kind of MCDM method. The TOPSIS ranks the alternatives with respect to their geometric distance from the positive and negative ideal solutions. Unfortunately, two reference points are often insufficient, especially for nonlinear problems. As a consequence of this situation, the final result ranking is prone to errors, including the rank reversals phenomenon.

This study proposes a new distance‐based MCDM method: the characteristic objects method. In this approach, the preferences of each alternative are obtained on the basis of the distance from the nearest characteristic objects and their values. For this purpose, we have determined the domain and Fuzzy number set for all the considered criteria. The characteristic objects are obtained as the combination of the crisp values of all the Fuzzy numbers. The preference values of all the characteristic object are determined on the basis of the tournament method and the principle of indifference. Finally, the Fuzzy model is constructed and is used to calculate preference values of the alternatives, making it a multicriteria model that is free of rank reversal. The numerical example is used to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method with respect to results from the TOPSIS method. The characteristic objects method results are more realistic than the TOPSIS results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ranking of Drivers for Green Manufacturing Implementation Using Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution Method
Authors: Mittal Varinder Kumar , Sangwan Kuldip Singh
Published: July 2014

The governments are under tremendous pressure to sustain high manufacturing growth in emerging economies. Unfortunately, the manufacturing sector consumes much energy and other resources and emits a large amount of green house gases, which increases environmental problems such as climate change and global warming. One possible solution to this problem is green manufacturing (GM) implementation in industry. However, GM implementation faces many challenges. Various motivating factors named as ‘drivers’ should be facilitated by the government and industry to make this change possible. This paper investigates the drivers for GM implementation and their ranking based on fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method using government, industry and experts perspectives. The study concluded that competitiveness, incentives, organizational resources and technology are top ranked drivers and should be facilitated by the government and industry to help implement GM. The ranking of these drivers is expected to help the government and industry to focus on few important drivers to facilitate the GM implementation with limited resources. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thrombosis of the torcular herophili in the fetus: a series of eight cases
Authors: Corral Edgardo , Stecher Ximena , Malinger Gustavo , Ochoa Jose H. , de Catte Luc , Sepulveda Waldo
Published: July 2014

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe the prenatal sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, antenatal course, and pregnancy outcome in fetuses diagnosed as having thrombosis of the torcular herophili.

Methods

Retrospective review of cases collected from five fetal medicine referral centers.

Results

Eight cases that were prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound between 22 and 32 weeks of gestation were reviewed. Seven cases were further evaluated with fetal MRI. Associated findings included torcular and superior sagittal sinus dilatation in all cases and ventriculomegaly in two (25%) cases. Serial sonographic follow‐up scans demonstrated a favorable antenatal course with complete resolution before delivery in four (50%) cases. Postnatal follow‐up from 6 months to 5 years revealed normal outcome in four (50%) infants, speech disabilities in three (38%), and mild neurodevelopmental delay in the remaining case (13%).

Conclusions

Prenatal sonography is an effective method for diagnosing and monitoring thrombosis of the torcular herophili. As a complementary technique, fetal MRI can provide additional information to rule out cerebral parenchymal lesions secondary to hypoperfusion and associated brain malformations. According to our experience, the thrombus almost invariably resolves over time, although mild neurologic disabilities are frequent on long‐term follow‐up. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Realizing the Standard Model particles in the type IIB matrix model
Authors: Tsuchiya A.
Published: July 2014

We discuss how three generations of the Standard Model particles are realized in the type IIB matrix model.
Azithromycin inhibits nuclear factor‐κB activation during lung inflammation: an in vivo imaging study
Authors: Stellari Fabio F. , Sala Angelo , Donofrio Gaetano , Ruscitti Francesca , Caruso Paola , Topini Thomas M. , Francis Kevin P. , Li Xiaojian , Carnini Chiara , Civelli Maurizio , Villetti Gino
Published: July 2014

We studied in vivo the potential involvement of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway in the molecular mechanism of the anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of azithromycin in the lung. Mice transiently transfected with the luciferase gene under the control of a NF‐κB responsive element were used to assess in vivo NF‐κB activation by bioluminescence imaging. Bioluminescence as well as inflammatory cells and concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, were monitored in an acute model of pulmonary inflammation resulting from intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation induced a marked increase in lung bioluminescence in mice transiently transfected with the luciferase gene under the control of an NF‐κB responsive element, with significant luciferase expression in resident cells such as endothelial and epithelial cells, as assessed by duoplex immunofluorescence staining. Activation of NF‐κB and inflammatory cell lung infiltration linearly correlated when different doses of bortezomib were used to inhibit NF‐κB activation. Pretreatment with azithromycin significantly decreased lung bioluminescence and airways cell infiltration induced by LPS, also reducing proinflammatory cytokines concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavages and inhibiting NF‐κB nuclear translocation. The results obtained using a novel approach to monitor NF‐κB activation, provided, for the first time, in vivo evidence that azithromycin treatment results in pulmonary anti‐inflammatory activity associated with the inhibition of NF‐κB activation in the lung.
Context and Implications Document for: Researching children's schooling identities: Towards the development of an ethnographic methodology
Authors: Brown Ceri
Published: July 2014

This guide accompanies the following article: Ceri Brown. Researching children's schooling identities: Towards the development of an ethnographic methodology, Review of Education, 10.1002/rev3.3027
A Bayesian generalized age–period–cohort power model for cancer projections
Authors: Jürgens Verena , Ess Silvia , Cerny Thomas , Vounatsou Penelope
Published: July 2014

Age–period–cohort (APC) models are the state of art in cancer projections, assessing past and recent trends and extrapolating mortality or incidence data into the future. Nordpred is a well‐established software, assuming a Poisson distribution for the counts and a log‐link or power‐link function with fixed power; however, its predictive performance is poor for sparse data. Bayesian models with log‐link function have been applied, but they can lead to extreme estimates. In this paper, we address criticisms of the aforementioned models by providing Bayesian formulations based on a power‐link and develop a generalized APC power‐link model, which assumes a random rather than fixed power parameter. In addition, a power model with a fixed power parameter of five was formulated in the Bayesian framework. The predictive performance of the new models was evaluated on Swiss lung cancer mortality data using model‐based estimates of observed periods. Results indicated that the generalized APC power‐link model provides best estimates for male and female lung cancer mortality. The gender‐specific models were further applied to project lung cancer mortality in Switzerland during the periods 2009–2013 and 2014–2018. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Masculine Status, Sexual Performance, and the Sexual Stigmatization of Women
Authors: Sweeney Brian N.
Published: July 2014

Collegiate hookup culture advances ideas of masculinity but contradicts notions of appropriate feminine sexuality. Drawing on focus group and interview data with college students, I examine how a group of class‐ and race‐privileged fraternity men face dilemmas as they enact a group constructed masculinity focused on sexual performance and the objectification of women. I employ a symbolic interactionist framework to illustrate how men, attentive to peer status yet anxious about the sexual stigmatization of women, draw on cultural ideas about appropriate feminine sexuality as they account for their approaches to sex and women (bothwith whomthey interact sexually andhow) along a range of intimacy—from hookups to committed relationships. I demonstrate that heterosexual interaction does not unequivocally link to masculine status and that men sometimes strive to limit the impact of casual sex or avoid it altogether.
Rheological properties of packaging‐waste‐polyethylene‐modified asphalt
Authors: Hu Jingbo , Fang Changqing , Zhou Shisheng , Jiao Linna , Zhang Maorong , Wu Di
Published: July 2014

Waste‐polyethylene (WPE) in packaging, instead of virgin polymer, was utilized as a modifier of base asphalt, and rheological properties of the modified asphalt were studied. Results show that the modified asphalt possesses better anti‐distortion capacity than the base asphalt, as indicated by the fact that the modified asphalt has higher viscosity and smaller endothermic peak dispersion in the transformation process of asphalt aggregation. Compared with base asphalt, the modified asphalt has higher complex modulus (G*), storage modulus (G′), and dissipation modulus (G″). In addition, the modified asphalt has smaller phase angle (δ), less tangent (tanδ), and lower rut factor (G*/sinδ), reflecting the high‐temperature rut resistance of the asphalt. The improvement of the rheological properties is related to the main features of the modified asphalt, including the swelling, whereas packaging‐waste‐PE absorbs low‐molecular‐weight fractions of asphalt, the displacement restriction of asphalt particles, and the molecular structure and performance of PE molecules. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:215–219, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Revisiting analysis of phthalate plasticizers concentration in poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Krongauz Vadim V. , Ling Michael T.K. , O'Connell John
Published: July 2014

The method of the efficient analysis of di(2‐diethylhexyl) phthalate, tri(2‐ethylhexyl) trimellitate, di(2‐ethylhexyl) terephthalate, and other phthalate plasticizers concentrations in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was developed. The method is based on quantitative dissolution of the PVC sample in methyl ethyl ketone with the consequent precipitation of PVC with hexane and concentration of phthalate in an organic layer. A capillary column‐based gas chromatographic technique for phthalates separation and quantification was developed and used in conjunction with the PVC and phthalates dissolution technique. The developed method of phthalate plasticizers analysis proved to be relatively fast, reproducible, and straightforward. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:197–204, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Crystallization kinetics and affecting parameters on polycaprolactone composites with inorganic and organic additives
Authors: Cesur Serap , Alp Burcu , Küçükgöksel Yelda , Kahraman Tansel , Balköse Devrim
Published: July 2014

The isothermal crystallization and mechanical behavior of biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) composites with organic (oleic acid and glycerol monooleate) and inorganic (zinc oxide, organoclay, and hydroxy apatite) additives used alone or simultaneously were investigated. The effect of all additives on the degree of crystallinity percentage (DOC%), isothermal crystallization kinetics parameters, and mechanical test results of PCL composites was studied. The PCL composite films were prepared by solvent casting by using dichloromethane as the solvent. The films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests. DSC of the first melting and X‐ray diffraction DOC% results (for composites by solvent casting) are compatible. The values by DSC of the second melting (for composites by extrusion method) are lower. Organoclay gives the highest crystallinity among the other inorganic additives used. Small amounts of inorganic additives act as a nucleating agent and increase the crystallinity; the higher amounts decrease. The organic additives act as the plasticizer. When used alone, it lowers the crystallinity, but when used with inorganic additives, it improves the dispersion of inorganic particles in the polymer matrix. The isothermal crystallization kinetics parameters by Avrami analysis showed that crystallization was controlled by nucleation and the crystals had spherical structure. The nucleation type changed between thermal and athermal nucleation. The Pukanzky model interaction parameter B indicated that the organic additives improved the dispersion of inorganic particles in the polymer matrix. Statistically significant, eight correlations (F > 6) were obtained for the crystallinity, crystallization parameters, Young's modulus, and tensile strength as a function of concentration of additives. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:174–182, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Morphological studies of (polyamide‐6)/(silane‐grafted high‐density polyethylene)/nanoclay ternary nanocomposites
Authors: Sharif‐Pakdaman Ali , Morshedian Jalil , Jahani Yousef
Published: July 2014

In this work, the influence of organoclay incorporation along with silane grafting of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) on compatibilization and morphology of HDPE/(polyamide‐6) (PA6) blends was investigated. Analysis by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy was done for the investigation of grafting efficiency of specimens. Scanning electron microscopy and thermal properties (diffraction scanning colorimetry) were examined to study the effect of silane grafting as well as adding organoclay in compatibilizing blends. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic rheology (Rheometric Mechanical Spectrometer) were also used to explain morphological changes. The results of scanning electron microscopy indicated that silane‐grafted HDPE had hydrophilic characteristics and therefore was more compatible with PA6 than neat polyethylene. Furthermore, in the same way, adding nanoclay to this blend resulted in more uniform and finer morphology. Results of diffraction scanning colorimetry confirmed the compatibilizing effect of both silane grafting of polyethylene and use of organoclay in blends by showing a strong deviation of separate melting peak of PA6 in the composites to reduced intensity and shift to lower temperatures. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:191–196, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Punishment
Authors: Goodwin Geoffrey P. , Gromet Dena M.
Published: July 2014

Retributivism is a deontological theory of punishment that calls for the deserved punishment of a guilty offender in proportion with his moral blameworthiness for a past offense. It is often referred to as punishment based on ‘just deserts’, and it contrasts with consequentialist theories that ground punishment in its potentially beneficial future consequences. Rich philosophical debate surrounds the appropriateness of retributivism. From a psychological perspective, the key question concerns whether retributivism underlies ordinary individuals' desire for the legal punishment of wrongdoers. Past research in social psychology has answered this question in the affirmative. However, much of this existing evidence requires a new look, because it is premised on a fundamental ambiguity. We review alternative evidence for the existence of retributive motives from lesser‐known correlational studies, and from studies of the punishment of companies and animals. We also explore the links between retributivism and restorative justice—an alternative justice approach that focuses on repairing the harms caused by an offense. Although often cast as diametrically opposed to one another, retributive and restorative justice in fact share more in common than is often supposed. Both are premised on notions of deservingness, and their goals can be achieved by the same action (i.e., retributive punishment can restore victims). In all areas of the research we review, more work is needed to better understand: retributivism directed at human offenders, the commonalities and discontinuities between retributive and restorative justice, and how the notion of desert structures moral life and thought more generally.WIREs Cogn Sci2014, 5:561–572. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1301

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Emotion and Motivation

Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making

Philosophy > Value
The experience error and the perils of psychopsychology
Authors: Pomerantz James R.
Published: July 2014

‘The stimuli were four similar yellow objects flashing on a white background’. These words might not raise eyebrows when read in a research paper, but they should, because they probably commit the experience error (EE), in which the structure of our percepts is attributed to the stimulus rather than to our perceptual system. These words are less a description of the physical stimulus than of how that stimulus appears to human observers. That is problematic because perception is often incomplete or illusory. When we commit the EE, we confuse the external, physical stimulus with a response, namely our perception of it. Thus, we may end up relating psychological responses to stimuli solely to our psychological descriptions of those stimuli. This in turn may transform psychophysics into ‘psychopsychology’ and thus inadvertently leave the physical world out of our explanation of perception; and it may potentially demote proper experiments to correlational studies that lack the capacity to support inferences about cause and effect. Identified long ago, the EE is nearly forgotten today. We aim to reintroduce, clarify, and illustrate the idea more clearly, as well as to suggest possible preventions or cures. WIREs Cogn Sci 2014, 5:509–517. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1302

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Attention

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics

Psychology > Theory and Methods
Syntheses, Structures, and Photoluminescence of Two Three‐dimensional Cadmium Coordination Polymers with Benzene­dicarboxylate Ligands
Authors: Yao Yang , Wang Yu‐Ling , Xiahou Zuo‐Juan , Liu Qing‐Yan
Published: July 2014

Two cadmium(II) coordination polymers, namely, [Cd3(m‐phth)2(atz)2]n (1) (m‐phth = m‐phthalate and atz = 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazolate) and [Cd(atphth)(H2O)]n (2) (atphth = 2‐aminoterephthalate), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 features a three‐dimensional (3D) pillared framework based on two‐dimensional (2D) cadmium‐benzenedicarboxylate ladders pillared by the triazolate ligands. Compound 2 has a 3D framework constructed from 2D cadmium‐benzenedicarboxylate layers, which are further linked by Cd–N bonds between the cadmium ions and amino groups of the atphth2– ligands of the adjacent layers to form the final 3D structure. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit solid‐state photoluminescence with emission maxima at 448 and 470 nm, respectively.
An Assessment of Genetic Counseling Services for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Skinner Stephanie , Guimond Colleen , Butler Rachel , Dwosh Emily , Traboulsee Anthony L. , Sadovnick A. Dessa
Published: July 2014

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects up to 1/500 Canadians. The University of British Columbia MS Clinic (UBC Clinic) is the only MS clinic in Canada (and likely internationally) that routinely offers genetic counseling to patients and their families. A typical session includes the collection of family history and demographic data, discussion of the inheritance of MS, interpretation of family‐specific recurrence risks and psychosocial counseling. The aims of this study were to explore patients’: 1) expectations of the genetic counseling session; 2) understanding of the etiology of MS (both pre and post‐session); and 3) post‐session perceptions of genetic counseling. A two‐part questionnaire to assess genetic counseling services was distributed before and after sessions to all consenting patients seen during the period October 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009 inclusive. Sixty‐two completed questionnaires were analysed. Genetic counseling was found to significantly increase the number of individuals who were able to correctly identify the etiology of MS (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction with genetic counseling was high, with an average satisfaction score of 32.4/35 (92.6 %). Of those who provided comments (n = 42/60) regarding the usefulness of the genetic counseling session, 95.2 % reported it useful (n = 40/42). Findings suggest that genetic counseling is effective in increasing patients’ knowledge of the etiology of MS and is viewed by patients as a useful service. Based on the high level of positive feedback regarding genetic counseling by the study sample, this study suggests that the services provided by genetic counselors may be beneficial for patients with MS seen in other centers.
Antioxidant and Anti‐inflammation Activities of Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress Essential Oils in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Amilia Destryana R. , Gary Young D. , Woolley Cole L. , Huang Tzou‐Chi , Wu Hung‐Yi , Shih Wen‐Ling
Published: July 2014

Essential oils are formed by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites and are widely used in traditional medicine. In this research, the composition and biological activities of three commercial oils essential oils, Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress, were evaluated in cultured cells and in mice. GC/MS revealed different components within these oils. Ocotea and Copaiba did not have an antioxidant activity below 5 % (v/v), and Blue Cypress possessed a moderate anti‐oxidant activity. Ocotea was the most potent inhibitor against pro‐inflammatory mediators. In addition, Ocotea and a higher concentration of Blue Cypress suppressed LPS‐induced PGE2 production. Single high‐concentration administration of the oils showed acute toxicity in mice. Blood chemistry analysis showed the three essential oils to be quite safe under a lower sub‐lethal dosage. Our findings suggested that essential oils can be useful as active medicines to inhibit over‐activation of macrophages followed by stimulation by inflammatory mediators.
The effects of hypoxic preconditioning on white matter damage following hypoxic‐ischaemic injury in the neonatal rat brain
Authors: Suryana Eurwin , Jones Nicole M.
Published: July 2014

Myelination is an essential process in human development that is carried out by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Hypoxic‐ischaemic (HI) brain injury can disrupt myelination by causing oxidative stress, inflammation and excitotoxicity, resulting in the loss of myelin as well as cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage. We have previously shown that hypoxic preconditioning (HP) can protect against HI injury, however, to date there have been no reports of its effects on white matter injury. Sprague‐Dawley rat pups (postnatal day (P) 6) were placed into control and HP groups. On P7, pups were further separated into HI and sham surgery groups. HI pups underwent a unilateral common carotid artery occlusion and then exposed to 8% oxygen for 3 h. Sham pups underwent the same procedure without occlusion and were maintained in room air. Brains were removed 5 days post‐surgery for analysis. In HI‐only pups there was a significant reduction in brain volume observed. Consequently, when HP was performed prior to HI, the loss of brain tissue was prevented. The number of early and late oligodendrocyte progenitors (preOLs) in the corpus callosum was unaffected by HI, however, HI reduced the amount of myelin basic protein, indicating that HI may inhibit the maturation of preOLs. Whilst HP did not affect preOL density, it was found to prevent the loss of myelin caused by HI. This indicates that HP may either protect myelin directly or possibly promote the maturation of preOLs to regenerate the lost or damaged myelin.
Measurement of the ventriculoatrial interval from the coronary sinus during para‐Hisian pacing may fail to distinguish ventriculoatrial nodal conduction from conduction over a septal accessory pathway
Authors: Iijima Takafumi , Kaneko Yoshiaki , Nakajima Tadashi , Irie Tadanobu , Ota Masaki , Saito Akihiro , Kurabayashi Masahiko
Published: July 2014

Background

Para‐Hisian pacing (PHP) helps differentiate retrograde conduction over an accessory pathway (AP) from retrograde conduction over the atrioventricular (AV) node. This study examined a potential limitation of this technique, focusing on the measurement of the ventriculoatrial (V–A) interval from the coronary sinus (CS) during PHP.

Methods

Our subjects were 9 patients undergoing electrophysiological studies before successful catheter ablation of a posteroseptal AP. During PHP, retrograde conduction occurred over an AP when the pacing stimulus to atrium (S–A) interval recorded near the AP remained unchanged whether the His bundle (HB) was captured or not (pattern 1), or when a loss of HB capture was associated with an increase in the S–A interval and no change in the V–A interval near the AP (pattern 2).

Results

Patterns 1 and 2 were observed in 5 (56%) and 2 (22%) patients, respectively. However, in the remaining 2 patients (22%), loss of HB capture during PHP was associated with an increase in the S–A interval (as in pattern 2), whereas the V–A interval near the AP could not be measured because no ventricular electrogram was visible on the CS recording (pattern 3); therefore, the presence of AP could not be confirmed by PHP. In patterns 2 and 3, the atrial activation sequence remained unchanged whether the HB was captured or not.

Conclusions

PHP may not be able to discriminate between a retrograde septal AP and AV nodal conduction in patients whose proximal CS recording shows no visible ventricular electrogram.
Intrusion-generated waves in a linearly stratified fluid
Authors: Maurer Benjamin D. , Linden P. F.
Published: July 2014

We present an experimental and numerical study of the upstream internal wavefield in a channel generated by constant density intrusions propagating into a linearly stratified ambient fluid during the initial phase of translation. Using synthetic schlieren imaging and two-dimensional direct numerical simulations, we quantify this wave motion within the ambient stratified fluid ahead of the advancing front. We show that the height of the neutral buoyancy surface in the ambient fluid determines the vertical modal response with the predominant waves being mode 2 for intrusions near the mid-depth of the channel and mode 1 waves being produced by intrusions nearer the top or bottom of the domain. All higher vertical modes travel slower than the intrusion and so do not appear upstream ahead of the intrusion front. We find the energy flux into this upstream wavefield to be approximately constant, and to be between 10 and 30 % of the rate of available potential energy transfer into the flow.
Experimental control of natural perturbations in channel flow
Authors: Juillet Fabien , McKeon B. J. , Schmid Peter J.
Published: July 2014

A combined approach using system identification and feed-forward control design has been applied to experimental laminar channel flow in an effort to reduce the naturally occurring disturbance level. A simple blowing/suction strategy was capable of reducing the standard deviation of the measured sensor signal by 45 %, which markedly exceeds previously obtained results under comparable conditions. A comparable reduction could be verified over a significant streamwise extent, implying an improvement over previous, more localized disturbance control. The technique is effective, flexible, and robust, and the obtained results encourage further explorations of experimental control of convection-dominated flows.
Sociophonetic analysis of phonemic trill variation in two sub-varieties of Peninsular Spanish
Authors: Henriksen Nicholas
Published: July 2014

In this paper we provide a preliminary characterization of the phonemic trill (i.e., /r/) as produced by twenty-four speakers of northern and central Peninsular Spanish. The acoustic analysis revealed a considerable number of non-canonical variants containing one or zero apical occlusions. The quantitative results showed robust effects of the following three factors on trill articulation: Speaker dialect, gender, and preceding vowel. Regarding social factors, central Peninsular speakers and male speakers showed the greatest propensity to produce fewer occlusions per phonemic trill. Regarding linguistic factors, non-canonical variants were especially common in contexts of preceding /u/; we interpret this result on articulatory grounds given the antagonistic gestures required for the trill and the high back vowel. All in all, these findings offer empirical support that geographically-oriented studies within a sociophonetic framework offer critical information on the diachrony of trill consonants.
Computer Simulation of Dialect Feature Diffusion
Authors: Kretzschmar William A. , Juuso Ilkka , Bailey C. Thomas
Published: July 2014

This paper describes the independent construction and implementation of two cellular automata that model dialect feature diffusion as the adaptive aspect of the complex system of speech. We show how a feature, once established, can spread across an area, and how the distribution of a dialect feature as it stands in Linguistic Atlas data could either spread or diminish. Cellular automata use update rules to determine the status of a feature at a given location with respect to the status of its neighboring locations. In each iteration all locations in a matrix are evaluated, and then the new status for each one is displayed all at once. Throughout hundreds of iterations, we can watch regional distributional patterns emerge as a consequence of these simple update rules. We validate patterns with respect to the linguistic distributions known to occur in the Linguistic Atlas Project.
Sourcing the obsidian of prehistoric tools found in western Iran to southeastern Turkey: a case study for the sites of Eastern Chia Sabz and Chogha Ahovan
Authors: Khazaee M. , Glascock M.D. , Masjedi P. , Nadoshan F. Khademi , Farsani R. Soleimani , Delfan M. , Mansori A. , Sodaie B. , Dolatyari A.
Published: July 2014

In this paper the results of X-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analyses for 18 obsidian tools from the archaeo¬logical sites of Eastern Chia Sabz and Chogha Ahovan in western Iran are presented. The archaeological sites have materials dating from the Pre-pottery Neolithic and Chalcolithic to Uruk periods. The evidence supports our conclusion that most of the obsidian found on western Iranian sites came from sources located near Lake Van in southeastern Turkey. These results suggest that the trade route for obsidian originated in southeastern Anatolia and moved southward along the western slopes of the Zagros Mountains into the central Zagros region.
Cylinder and stamp seals from Tatarlı Höyük
Authors: Girginer K. Serdar , Collon Dominique
Published: July 2014

In this article, 13 cylinder and stamp seals are examined. They were found at Tatarlı Höyük during the 2008–2012 excavations. The interesting and significant collection of cylinder and stamp seals of the second millennium BC reveals the importance of Tatarlı Höyük in the archaeology of Kizzuwatna. Stamp seals from earlier periods were found out of context and shed light on prehistoric Tatarlı Höyük. We believe that Tatarlı Höyük is ancient Lawazantiya – the famous ‘lost’ city of the Hittites and of Kizzuwatna.
Further work at Kilise Tepe, 2007-2011: refining the Bronze to Iron Age transition
Authors: Bouthillier Christina , Colantoni Carlo , Debruyne Sofie , Glatz Claudia , Hald Mette Marie , Heslop David , Kozal Ekin , Miller Bob , Popkin Peter , Postgate Nicholas , Steele Caroline S. , Stone Adam
Published: July 2014

The excavations at Kilise Tepe in the 1990s inevitably left a range of research questions unanswered, and our second spell of work at the site from 2007 to 2011 sought to address some of these, relating to the later second and early first millennia. This article gathers the architectural and stratigraphie results of the renewed excavations, presenting the fresh information about the layout and character of the Late Bronze Age North-West Building and the initial phases of the Stele Building which succeeded it, including probable symbolic practices, and describing the complex stratigraphic sequence in the Central Strip sounding which covers the lapse of time from the 12th down to the seventh century. There follow short reports on the analyses of the botanical and faunal materials recovered, a summary of the results from the relevant radiocarbon dating samples and separate studies addressing issues resulting from the continuing study of the ceramics from the different contexts. Taken together, a complex picture emerges of changes in settlement layout, archi¬tectural traditions, use of external space, artefact production and subsistence strategies during the centuries which separate the Level III Late Bronze Age settlement from the latest Iron Age occupation around 700 BC.
From Central Asia to Anatolia: the transmission of the black-line technique and the development of pre-Ottoman tilework
Authors: Samkoff Aneta
Published: July 2014

Black line is a polychrome overglaze painting technique that was developed in Central Asia in the late 14th century. Black-line tilework is also found in 15th- and 16th-century Anatolia, yet it is unclear how the tradition emerged in this region. This paper investigates the appearance of the technique in Anatolia and situates it in the context of Timurid (1370–1501) tilework as well as the development of Anatolian traditions of the Rum Seljuk (1077–1307) and Beylik (1071–1453) periods. The analysis is conducted by tracing the history of two tiles from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and by stylistic, technological and contextual comparisons with Seljuk, Timurid and Ottoman examples. I suggest that the introduction of the black-line technique to Anatolia was concurrent with the introduction of yellow pigment in the 15th century. I also propose that the Metropolitan Museum tiles should be redated to the second half of the 15th century on the basis that they were produced in Anatolia by craftsmen trained in Transoxiana who were also familiar with local Rum Seljuk and Karamanid traditions. These artists introduced new eastern styles which, together with local traditions, created an exciting experimental period in Anatolian tilework production and contributed to the emergence of Ottoman tile art.
Robust neural network control of MEMS gyroscope using adaptive sliding mode compensator
Authors: Fei Juntao , Yang Yuzheng
Published: July 2014

A new robust neural sliding mode (RNSM) tracking control scheme using radial basis function (RBF) neural network (NN) is presented for MEMS z-axis gyroscope to achieve robustness and asymptotic tracking error convergence. An adaptive RBF NN controller is developed to approximate and compensate the large uncertain system dynamics, and a robust compensator is designed to eliminate the impact of NN modeling error and external disturbances for guaranteeing the asymptotic stability property. Moreover, another RBF NN is employed to learn the upper bound of NN modeling error and external disturbances, so the prior knowledge of the upper bound of system uncertainties is not required. All the adaptive laws in the RNSM control system are derived in the same Lyapunov framework, which can guarantee the stability of the closed loop system. Comparative numerical simulations for an MEMS gyroscope are investigated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed RNSM tracking control scheme.
Inverse dynamics modeling of a (3-UPU)+(3-UPS+S) serial-parallel manipulator
Authors: Hu Bo , Yu Jingjing , Lu Yi
Published: July 2014

The inverse dynamics model of a novel (3-UPU)+(3-UPS+S) serial–parallel manipulator (S-PM) formed by a 3-UPU PM and a 3-UPS+S PM connected in serial is studied in this paper. First, the inverse position, velocity, and acceleration of this S-PM are studied systematically. Second, the velocity mapping relations between each component and the terminal platform of (3-UPU)+(3-UPS+S) S-PM are derived. Third, the dynamics model of the whole (3-UPU)+(3-UPS+S) S-PM is established by means of the principle of virtual work. The process for establishing the dynamics model of this S-PM is fit for other S-PMs.
AN INTRODUCTION TO ALLAN GIBBARD’S HARVARD SEMINAR PAPER
Authors: Weymark John A.
Published: July 2014

This note provides an introduction to the accompanying article by Allan Gibbard that was originally written for the 1968–69 Harvard graduate seminar conducted by Kenneth Arrow, John Rawls and Amartya Sen.
Early Neuropsychological Characteristics of Progranulin Mutation Carriers
Authors: Hallam Bradley J. , Jacova Claudia , Hsiung Ging-Yuek R. , Wittenberg Dana , Sengdy Pheth , Bouchard-Kerr Phoenix , Slack Penny , Rademakers Rosa , Baker Matthew , Chow Tiffany W. , Levine Brian , Feldman Howard H. , Mackenzie Ian R.
Published: July 2014

Mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) are a common cause of familial frontotemporal dementia. We used a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to investigate whether early cognitive changes could be detected in GRN mutation carriers before dementia onset. Twenty-four at-risk members from six families with known GRN mutations underwent detailed neuropsychological testing. Group differences were investigated by domains of attention, language, visuospatial function, verbal memory, non-verbal memory, working memory and executive function. There was a trend for mutation carriers (n=8) to perform more poorly than non-carriers (n=16) across neuropsychological domains, with significant between group differences for visuospatial function (p<.04; d=0.92) and working memory function (p<.02; d=1.10). Measurable cognitive differences exist before the development of frontotemporal dementia in subjects with GRN mutations. The neuropsychological profile of mutation carriers suggests early asymmetric, right hemisphere brain dysfunction that is consistent with recent functional imaging data from our research group and the broader literature. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–10)
Extracellular Matrix Reorganization during Cryo Preparation for Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Wu Yong , Liang Jing , Rensing Kim , Chou Tseng-Ming , Libera Matthew
Published: July 2014

Biofilms are three-dimensional communities of bacteria distributed in a highly hydrated extracellular matrix (ECM). They can be visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), but the requisite SEM sample preparation can modify the biofilm morphology. Here, four different approaches to prepare biofilms of hydrated Staphylococcus aureus for SEM imaging are compared. In order of increasing cooling effectiveness these are: (1) drying in air; (2) plunging in liquid nitrogen; (3) plunging in liquid ethane; and (4) high pressure freezing with liquid nitrogen. These different methods give rise to markedly different biofilm morphologies, which are revealed by cryo-SEM imaging. Significantly, high-pressure frozen biofilms exhibit a rich network of nanoscale ECM fibers surrounding individual bacteria throughout the biofilm thickness. This structure is entirely lost when similar biofilms are dried in air, and it is substantially modified when these biofilms are plunged into liquid nitrogen or liquid ethane.