bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chapter 6 The role of Archaeocyatha in Cambrian biostratigraphy and biogeography
Authors: Kerner A. , Debrenne F.
Published: November 2013

The Archaeocyatha is a group of Cambrian fossils successively considered as cnidarians or sponges or as an independent phylum convergent with many groups lacking clear affinities. Comparisons with Recent calcified sponges discovered in submarine caves have demonstrated that the sponge model is consistent with their structural organization. Thus their systematic position is now agreed as a class within the phylum Porifera, permitting realistic investigations of their comparative physiology and life strategies. Archaeocyatha is an important part of research programmes on the Cambrian System, initiated by different commissions of the IUGS since 1970. Archaeocyathan biozones are available in some key regions. Faunal and palaeocommunities distribution, especially of the reefs they helped build in epeiric seas, and migration pathways constrain Cambrian palaeogeographical reconstructions. A database, using recent compilations of the group, is now online. This free access data source offers specialists a tool, easy to use not only as an identification key but also to establish faunal, geographical and stratigraphical distributions of archaeocyathan genera, and a rapid first step towards Cambrian palaeogeographical reconstructions.
Chapter 8 Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian non-stromatoporoid Porifera
Authors: Muir Lucy A. , Botting Joseph P. , Carrera Marcelo G. , Beresi Matilde
Published: November 2013

The Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian distributions of non-stromatoporoid sponges are reviewed. The earliest Cambrian faunas contain mostly hexactinellids, with protomonaxonids dominating middle Cambrian assemblages. There are no obvious palaeobiogeographical patterns, with many genera being found widely. Vauxiids, lithistids and heteractinids are apparently confined to low latitudes, but this may be due to a poor fossil record. Most known Ordovician faunas are from low latitudes, although some high-latitude faunas are known, which contain reticulosan hexactinellids and protomonaxonids. There is some division of faunas within Laurentia, into eastern and western provinces, with the western assemblage extending across low northern latitudes during the Late Ordovician. During the Silurian Period, sponge diversity was very low during the Llandovery Epoch, probably partly owing to lack of habitat for taxa restricted to carbonate facies, and also because of sampling bias. There was a dramatic increase in diversity through the Silurian Period, mostly owing to an apparent diversification in the demosponges; however, there are many ghost lineages, indicating that their fossil record is poorly known. Non-lithistid sponges are very poorly known, with few recorded outside Euramerica. The currently available data for Early Palaeozoic sponges are too incomplete to allow any reliable palaeobiogeographical inferences.

Supplementary material:

the compilation of Silurian sponge occurrences is available at:
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18666
.
Chapter 9 Coral biogeography in the Late Ordovician (Cincinnatian) of Laurentia
Authors: Elias Robert J. , Young Graham A. , Lee Dong-Jin , Bae Boo-Young
Published: November 2013

During the Late Ordovician, Cincinnatian, the epicontinental seas and continental margin of Laurentia provided habitats that were suitable for corals. Biogeographical differentiation occurred within this equatorially placed continent, when corals were introduced to areas that had fundamentally different environments. There were four biogeographical divisions, characterized by distinctive faunas that included some endemic taxa: the Red River–Stony Mountain Province, Richmond Province, Edgewood Province and the less well understood, informal ‘Continental Margin’ Area. In each division, the potential for diversification and the capacity for diversity were determined by factors such as the duration and size of the division, the amount of immigration, the extent of evolution and biogeographical differentiation, faunal responses to changes in sea-level and climate, and the complexity of the ecological structure. The development of multiple biogeographical divisions, each contributing to overall diversity, enhanced the ‘Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event’. During the latest Ordovician mass extinction, there was a reduction of diversity and loss of biogeographical divisions within Laurentia. The divisions were terminated when their characteristic taxa disappeared, in response to major environmental changes associated with glaciation in Gondwana and subsequent global warming.
Teaching evidence-based software engineering
Authors: Castelluccia Daniela , Visaggio Giuseppe
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we share our experiences about teaching evidence-based software engineering to students of a Master degree program in Computer Science. We provided a semester-long course, composed of lessons about empirical and experimental methods. It also included a collaborative project concerning a systematic mapping study of the challenges in the adoption of open source software in a business context. All students collaborated on the project by analyzing emerging results in the scientific literature. They evaluated the proposals in terms of level of novelty and evidence and delivered a complete report, which summarized the risk factors in the adoption of open source software and offers technical knowledge about evolutionary patterns and development community support, with practical implications. As a side effect, this problem-based learning approach provides a positive impact in terms of students' participation, teamwork attitude, professional interest in open source software, and exam passing.
Formative measurement
Authors: Howell Roy D. , Breivik Einar , Wilcox James B.
Published: November 2013

The past five years have witnessed a plethora of articles on the topic of formative measurement, both in the IS area and in other disciplines. This work can best be described as divergent and often contradictory. In this paper we review the issues surrounding formative measurement and attempt to delineate areas of agreement and to clarify points of disagreement regarding problems with formative measurement and proposed solutions. We provide six recommendations regarding the future use of formative measurement in IS research.
Does existing measurement theory support the use of composite and causal indicators in information systems research?
Authors: Hardin Andrew M. , Chang Jerry Cha-Jan
Published: November 2013

Despite lingering concerns surrounding the use of composite and causal indicators, a significant number of information systems researchers continue to employ them in their work. The authors suggest that misunderstandings about the appropriateness of implementing composite and causal indicators can be traced to the absence of measurement theory supporting their use. Recommendations on how researchers might design studies that avoid the use of these respective indicators are also provided.
The analysis of formative measurement in IS research
Authors: Cenfetelli Ronald T. , Bassellier Geneviève , Posey Clay
Published: November 2013

Formative measurement is a valuable alternative to reflective measurement when developing indicators of latent variables in structural equation models (SEM). Our goal is to further guide IS research in the application of formative measures by comparing the two dominant analysis techniques: component-(e.g., partial least squares -PLS) and covariance-based SEM techniques. We demonstrate that covariance-based techniques can be appropriate for formative measurement despite a near absence of their use within IS research, which favors PLS. In addition, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using either technique and offer six prescriptions to consider when choosing one technique over another for formative measurement analysis. We present these and other contributions towards encouraging the continued and expanded use of formative measurement in IS research and the diversity of techniques to analyze formative measures.
Cardiac-specific VLCAD deficiency induces dilated cardiomyopathy and cold intolerance
Authors: Xiong Dingding , He Huamei , James Jeanne , Tokunaga Chonan , Powers Corey , Huang Yan , Osinska Hanna , Towbin Jeffrey A. , Purevjav Enkhsaikhan , Balschi James A. , Javadov Sabzali , McGowan Francis X. , Strauss Arnold W. , Khuchua Zaza
Published: November 2013

The very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) enzyme catalyzes the first step of mitochondrial β-oxidation. Patients with VLCAD deficiency present with hypoketotic hypoglycemia and cardiomyopathy, which can be exacerbated by fasting and/or cold stress. Global VLCAD knockout mice recapitulate these phenotypes: mice develop cardiomyopathy, and cold exposure leads to rapid hypothermia and death. However, the contribution of different tissues to development of these phenotypes has not been studied. We generated cardiac-specific VLCAD-deficient (cVLCAD−/−) mice by Cre-mediated ablation of the VLCAD in cardiomyocytes. By 6 mo of age, cVLCAD−/− mice demonstrated increased end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular dimensions and decreased fractional shortening. Surprisingly, selective VLCAD gene ablation in cardiomyocytes was sufficient to evoke severe cold intolerance in mice who rapidly developed severe hypothermia, bradycardia, and markedly depressed cardiac function in response to fasting and cold exposure (+5°C). We conclude that cardiac-specific VLCAD deficiency is sufficient to induce cold intolerance and cardiomyopathy and is associated with reduced ATP production. These results provide strong evidence that fatty acid oxidation in myocardium is essential for maintaining normal cardiac function under these stress conditions.
Identification of genes regulating growth and fatness traits in pig through hypothalamic transcriptome analysis
Authors: Pérez-Montarelo Dafne , Madsen Ole , Alves Estefânia , Rodríguez M. Carmen , Folch Josep María , Noguera José Luis , Groenen Martien A. M. , Fernández Ana I.
Published: November 2013

Previous studies on Iberian × Landrace (IBMAP) pig intercrosses have enabled the identification of several quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions related to growth and fatness traits; however, the genetic variation underlying those QTLs are still unknown. These traits are not only relevant because of their impact on economically important production traits, but also because pig constitutes a widely studied animal model for human obesity and obesity-related diseases. The hypothalamus is the main gland regulating growth, food intake, and fat accumulation. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify genes and/or gene transcripts involved in the determination of growth and fatness in pig by a comparison of the whole hypothalamic transcriptome (RNA-Seq) in two groups of phenotypically divergent IBMAP pigs. Around 16,000 of the ∼25.010 annotated genes were expressed in these hypothalamic samples, with most of them showing intermediate expression levels. Functional analyses supported the key role of the hypothalamus in the regulation of growth, fat accumulation, and energy expenditure. Moreover, 58,927 potentially new isoforms were detected. More than 250 differentially expressed genes and novel transcript isoforms were identified between the two groups of pigs. Twenty-one DE genes/transcripts that colocalized in previously identified QTL regions and/or whose biological functions are related to the traits of interest were explored in more detail. Additionally, the transcription factors potentially regulating these genes and the subjacent networks and pathways were also analyzed. This study allows us to propose strong candidate genes for growth and fatness based on expression patterns, genomic location, and network interactions.
Senescence-Related Changes in Gene Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Octo/Nonagenarians Compared to Their Offspring
Authors: Abdul Rahman Amirah , Abdul Karim Norwahidah , Abdul Hamid Noor Aini , Harun Roslan , Wan Ngah Wan Zurinah
Published: November 2013

Mechanisms determining both functional rate of decline and the time of onset in aging remain elusive. Studies of the aging process especially those involving the comparison of long-lived individuals and young controls are fairly limited. Therefore, this research aims to determine the differential gene expression profile in related individuals from villages in Pahang, Malaysia. Genome-wide microarray analysis of 18 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two groups: octo/nonagenarians (80–99 years old) and their offspring (50.2 ± 4.0years old) revealed that 477 transcripts were age-induced and 335 transcripts were age-repressed with fold changes ≥1.2 in octo/nonagenarians compared to offspring. Interestingly, changes in gene expression were associated with increased capacity for apoptosis (BAK1), cell cycle regulation (CDKN1B), metabolic process (LRPAP1), insulin action (IGF2R), and increased immune and inflammatory response (IL27RA), whereas response to stress (HSPA8), damage stimulus (XRCC6), and chromatin remodelling (TINF2) pathways were downregulated in octo/nonagenarians. These results suggested that systemic telomere maintenance, metabolism, cell signalling, and redox regulation may be important for individuals to maintain their healthy state with advancing age and that these processes play an important role in the determination of the healthy life-span.
Automatic Mapping Extraction from Multiecho T2-Star Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images for Improving Morphological Evaluations in Human Brain
Authors: Yu Shaode , Wu Shibin , Xie Yaoqin
Published: November 2013

Mapping extraction is useful in medical image analysis. Similarity coefficient mapping (SCM) replaced signal response to time course in tissue similarity mapping with signal response to TE changes in multiecho T2-star weighted magnetic resonance imaging without contrast agent. Since different tissues are with different sensitivities to reference signals, a new algorithm is proposed by adding a sensitivity index to SCM. It generates two mappings. One measures relative signal strength (SSM) and the other depicts fluctuation magnitude (FMM). Meanwhile, the new method is adaptive to generate a proper reference signal by maximizing the sum of contrast index (CI) from SSM and FMM without manual delineation. Based on four groups of images from multiecho T2-star weighted magnetic resonance imaging, the capacity of SSM and FMM in enhancing image contrast and morphological evaluation is validated. Average contrast improvement index (CII) of SSM is 1.57, 1.38, 1.34, and 1.41. Average CII of FMM is 2.42, 2.30, 2.24, and 2.35. Visual analysis of regions of interest demonstrates that SSM and FMM show better morphological structures than original images, T2-star mapping and SCM. These extracted mappings can be further applied in information fusion, signal investigation, and tissue segmentation.
Design and Experimental Characterization of a Vibration Energy Harvesting Device for Rotational Systems
Authors: Yan Lutao , Hou Jingfeng , Yang Zhipeng , Chu Xiangcheng
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a new vibration based electromagnetic power generator to transfer energy from stationary to rotating equipment, which can be a new attempt to substitute slip ring in rotational systems. The natural frequencies and modes are simulated in order to have a maximum and steady power output from the device. Parameters such as piezoelectric disk location and relative motion direction of the magnet are theoretically and experimentally analyzed. The results show that the position that is close to the fixed end of the cantilever and the relative motion along the long side gives higher power output. Moreover, the capability of the energy harvester to extract power from lower energy environment is experimentally validated. The voltage and power output are measured at different excitation frequencies.
Natural Compounds as Modulators of NADPH Oxidases
Authors: Maraldi Tullia
Published: November 2013

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are cellular signals generated ubiquitously by all mammalian cells, but their relative unbalance triggers also diseases through intracellular damage to DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids. NADPH oxidases (NOX) are the only known enzyme family with the sole function to produce ROS. The NOX physiological functions concern host defence, cellular signaling, regulation of gene expression, and cell differentiation. On the other hand, increased NOX activity contributes to a wide range of pathological processes, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, organ failure, and cancer. Therefore targeting these enzymatic ROS sources by natural compounds, without affecting the physiological redox state, may be an important tool. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the role of NOX enzymes in physiology and pathology and provides an overview of the currently available NADPH oxidase inhibitors derived from natural extracts such as polyphenols.
Intermittent Fault Detection for Uncertain Networked Systems
Authors: He Xiao , Hu Yanyan , Peng Kaixiang
Published: November 2013

This paper investigates intermittent fault detection problem for a class of networked systems with multiple state delays and unknown input. Polytopic-type parameter uncertainty in the state-space model matrices is considered. A novel measurement model is employed to account for both the random measurement delays and the stochastic data missing (package dropout) phenomenon, which are typically resulted from the limited capacity of the communication networks. We aim to design an uncertainty-dependent fault detection filter such that, for all unknown input, all possible parameter uncertainties, and all incomplete measurements, the error between residual and weighted fault is made as small as possible. By converting the addressed robust fault detection problem into an alternative robustH∞filtering problem of a certain Markovian jumping system (MJS), a sufficient condition for the existence of the desired robust fault detection filter is derived. A residual evaluation within an incremental form is brought forward to make the whole method suitable for intermittent fault detection. A numerical example is utilized to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Numerical Simulation on Dense Packing of Granular Materials by Container Oscillation
Authors: Liu Jun , You Dongxu
Published: November 2013

The packing of granular materials is a basic and important problem in geomechanics. An approach, which generates dense packing of spheres confined in cylindrical and cuboidal containers in three steps, is introduced in this work. A loose packing structure is first generated by means of a reference lattice method. Then a dense packing structure is obtained in a container by simulating dropping of particles under gravitational forces. Furthermore, a scheme that makes the bottom boundary fluctuate up and down was applied to obtain more denser packing. The discrete element method (DEM) was employed to simulate the interactions between particle-particle and particle-boundary during the particles' motions. Finally, two cases were presented to indicate the validity of the method proposed in this work.
The Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Adam Mehmet , Okka Mehmet , Yosunkaya Şebnem , Bozkurt Banu , Kerimoğlu Hürkan , Turan Meydan
Published: November 2013

Aim. To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).Materials and Method. We studied 43 new diagnosed OSAS patients and 40 healthy volunteers. Patients underwent an overnight sleep study in an effort to diagnose and determine the severity of OSAS. RNFL analyses were performed using Stratus OCT. The average and the four-quadrant RNFL thickness were evaluated.Results. There was no difference between the average and the four-quadrant RNFL thickness in OSAS and control groups. There was no correlation between apnea-hypopnea index and intraocular pressure. Body mass index of patients with moderate and severe OSAS was significantly higher in patients with mild OSAS.Conclusion. Mean RNFL thickness did not differ between the healthy and the OSAS subjects, however, the parameters were more variable, with a larger range in OSAS patients compared to controls.
A Wireless and Real-Time Monitoring System Design for Car Networking Applications
Authors: Wenjun Li , Yiming Zhong , Wenbin Li
Published: November 2013

We described a wireless and monitoring system to obtain several classes of vehicle data and send them to the server via General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) in real-time. These data are consisted by on-board diagnostic (OBD) which get from the vehicle’s OBD interface, Tire-Pressure Monitoring system (TPMS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). The main content of this paper is the hardware design of the system, especially RF modules and antennas.
Influential Factors and Strategy of Sustainable Product Development under Corporate Social Responsibility in Taiwan
Authors: Tu Jui-Che , Chiu Pi-Lien , Huang Yu-Chen , Hsu Chuan-Ying
Published: November 2013

This study aimed to adopt the perspective of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to explore the intention of sustainable product development in Taiwan, as well as leading to the creation of influential factors that affect corporate sustainable product development intention. In this research, the induction analysis was conducted to understand the implementation of sustainable product development, and this was supplemented with questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews to evaluate developmental intention. In addition, principal component analysis was used for factor analysis and content analysis in the 6 W expression method, leading to the creation of the influential factors. The research results have demonstrated that the factors affecting the intention of corporate sustainable product development include having a sustainable design and a development purpose, a corporate development purpose, sustainable development concepts, a sustainable design value, a sustainability concept, and a manufacturing process quality. For sustainable product development, corporate social responsibility needs to be most concerned with the added value of products, regulation requirements, and accommodation of the industrial chain, costs, and quality.
Ampicillin-Improved Glucose Tolerance in Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6NTac Mice Is Age Dependent
Authors: Rune I. , Hansen C. H. F. , Ellekilde M. , Nielsen D. S. , Skovgaard K. , Rolin B. C. , Lykkesfeldt J. , Josefsen K. , Tranberg B. , Kihl P. , Hansen A. K.
Published: November 2013

Ampicillin has been shown to improve glucose tolerance in mice. We hypothesized that this effect is present only if treatment is initiated prior to weaning and that it disappears when treatment is terminated. High-fat fed C57BL/6NTac mice were divided into groups that received Ampicillin at different ages or not at all. We found that both diet and Ampicillin significantly changed the gut microbiota composition in the animals. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in Ampicillin-treated, five-week-old mice compared to nontreated mice in the control group. At study termination, expressions of mRNA coding for tumor necrosis factor, serum amyloid A, and lactase were upregulated, while the expression of tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily member 15 was downregulated in the ileum of Ampicillin-treated mice. Higher dendritic cell percentages were found systemically in high-fat diet mice, and a lower tolerogenic dendritic cell percentage was found both in relation to high-fat diet and late Ampicillin treatment. The results support our hypothesis that a “window” exists early in life in which an alteration of the gut microbiota affects glucose tolerance as well as development of gut immunity and that this window may disappear after weaning.
Clinical Utility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Fibre Tractography for Evaluating Diffuse Axonal Injury with Hemiparesis
Authors: Sugiyama Ken , Kondo Takeo , Suzukamo Yoshimi , Oouchida Yutaka , Sato Mari , Watanabe Hiroshi , Izumi Shin-Ichi
Published: November 2013

Although diffuse axonal injury (DAI) frequently manifests as cognitive and/or motor disorders, abnormal brain findings are generally undetected by conventional imaging techniques. Here we report the case of a patient with DAI and hemiparesis. Although conventional MRI revealed no abnormalities, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fibre tractography (FT) revealed the lesion speculated to be responsible for hemiparesis. A 37-year-old woman fell down the stairs, sustaining a traumatic injury to the head. Subsequently, she presented with mild cognitive disorders and left hemiparesis. DTI fractional anisotropy revealed changes in the right cerebral peduncle, the right posterior limb of the internal capsule, and the right corona radiata when compared with the corresponding structures observed on the patient’s left side and in healthy controls. On FT evaluation, the right corticospinal tract (CST) was poorly visualised as compared with the left CST as well as the CST in healthy controls. These findings were considered as evidence that the patient’s left hemiparesis stemmed from DAI-induced axonal damage in the right CST. Thus, DTI and FT represent useful techniques for the evaluation of patients with DAI and motor disorders.
On the Mean Values of Certain Character Sums
Authors: Xu Zhefeng , Liu Huaning
Published: November 2013

Letq≥5be an odd number. In this paper, we study the fourth power mean of certain character sums∑χmodq,χ-1=-1*∑1≤a≤q/4aχa4and∑χmodq,χ-1=1*∑1≤a≤q/4aχa4, where∑‍*denotes the summation over primitive characters moduloq, and give some asymptotic formulae.
Exploring Spatial Associations between On-Sale Alcohol Availability, Neighborhood Population Characteristics, and Violent Crime in a Geographically Isolated City
Authors: Han Daikwon , Gorman Dennis M.
Published: November 2013

Objectives. Despite the increasing evidence of the associations between alcohol availability and violence, there are still inconsistent findings on the effects of on- and off-sale alcohol outlets on violent crime. The aim of this study was to examine spatial associations between on-sale alcohol availability, neighborhood characteristics, and violent crime in a geographically isolated city in Texas.Methods. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) and global regression models were employed to analyze the nature of the spatial relationship between violent crime, neighborhood sociocultural characteristics, and on-sale alcohol environment.Results. We found strong effects of neighborhood characteristics combined with on-sale alcohol availability on violence outcomes. Several neighborhood variables combined with alcohol availability explained about 63% of the variability in violence. An additional 7% was explained by the GWR model, while spatially nonstationary associations between violence and some predictor variables were observed.Conclusions. This study provided more credible evidence of the influence of on-sale alcohol outlets on violence in a unique setting. These findings have important policy implications in addressing the question of public health consequences of alcohol-related violence in local contexts.
Idiopathic Oesophageal Dysmotility Disorder: Stridor Secondary to Megaesophagus
Authors: Natesh B. G. , Caton N. , Kim D. , Shetty A.
Published: November 2013

We present an interesting case of an elderly lady who presented with stridor caused by megaesophagus secondary to an acquired idiopathic dysmotility disorder. We discuss the aetiology and management of megaesophagus secondary to this condition and how it differs from megaesophagus secondary to achalasia.
3D‐QSAR Study on a Series of VEGFR‐2 Kinase Inhibitors: 3‐Pyrrole Substituted Indolin‐2‐Ones Compounds
Authors: Li Shunlai , Zhang Rutao , Du Hongguang
Published: November 2013

The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 kinases (VEGFR‐2) are attractive targets for the development of anticancer agents. Self‐organizing molecular field analysis (SOMFA) (a simple three‐dimensional quantitative structure‐activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) method) is used to study the structure‐activity correlation of 3‐pyrrole substituted indolin‐2‐ones VEGFR‐2 inhibitors. The statistical results, cross‐validated (0.5267) and non‐cross‐validated r2 (0.5623), show a reliable predictive ability. The contributions of shape and electrostatic fields are 42.7% and 57.3%, respectively. Analysis of SOMFA models through shape and electrostatic grids provide useful information for the design and optimization of new 3‐pyrrole substituted indolin‐2‐one based VEGFR‐2 inhibitors.
Integrative Oncology: Best of Both Worlds—Theoretical, Practical, and Research Issues
Authors: Cramer Holger , Cohen Lorenzo , Dobos Gustav , Witt Claudia M.
Published: November 2013

More and more cancer patients use complementary therapies. As the majority of patients do not disclose their use of complementary therapies to their oncologists, they expose themselves to possible detrimental effects from the therapies due to drug interactions. To meet the needs of patients and health care professionals on valid information on complementary therapies, the collaborative research project “Competence Network Complementary Medicine in Oncology—KOKON”, an interdisciplinary network for complementary medicine research in oncology, was established. Moreover, Integrative Oncology, a combination of conventional and evidenced-based complementary therapies delivered using a comprehensive approach, is now increasingly used in the United States and Europe. A variety of different Integrative Oncology models have been established worldwide including an expert-based model at the Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany and a patient-centered, evidenced-based approach at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Both models are briefly reviewed. More research is needed and Comparative Effectiveness Research that places strong emphasis on the comparison of different treatment options in usual care settings by including more heterogeneous patients, using less standardized treatment protocols, and measuring patient-centered outcomes would provide useful information for decision-making. To improve the quality of care and research in Integrative Oncology, sustainable financial models for Integrative Oncology and more funding for research are needed.
Effect of Zeolite Modification via Cationic Exchange Method on Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Zeolite Composites
Authors: Zaharri N. D. , Othman N. , Ishak Z. A. Mohd
Published: November 2013

In this research, organozeolite filled ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) composites were prepared in a melt-mixing process and followed by compression molding using hot press machine according to standard test specimen. Prior to mixing process, zeolite was modified via cationic exchange of alkylammonium ions. The effect of zeolite or organozeolite loading from 5 up to 25 volume percentages on the properties of EVA/zeolite composites was evaluated. A combination of Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis were done to characterize the resultant organoclay. Tensile test was performed in order to study the mechanical properties of the composites. EVA filled with organozeolite showed better tensile properties compared to EVA filled with unmodified zeolite, which might be an indication of enhanced dispersion of organophilic clay in the composites. Meanwhile, morphological study using SEM revealed the fibrillation effect of organozeolite. Besides, thermal properties of the composites were also characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the application of the cation exchange treatment increases both decomposition and melting temperature of EVA/zeolite composites.
Nodal Solutions of thep-Laplacian with Sign-Changing Weight
Authors: Ma Ruyun , Liu Xilan , Xu Jia
Published: November 2013

We are concerned with determining values ofγ, for which there exist nodal solutions of the boundary value problem(|u′|p-2u′)′+γm(t)f(u)=0,t∈(0,1),u(0)=u(1)=0,wherem∈C[0,1]is a sign-changing function,f:ℝ→ℝwithf(s)s>0. The proof of our main results is based upon global bifurcation techniques.
The Effect of Live Spontaneous Harp Music on Patients in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Chiasson Ann Marie , Linda Baldwin Ann , Mclaughlin Carrol , Cook Paula , Sethi Gulshan
Published: November 2013

This study was performed to investigate the effect of live, spontaneous harp music on individual patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), either pre- or postoperatively. The purpose was to determine whether this intervention would serve as a relaxation or healing modality, as evidenced by the effect on patient’s pain, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability. Each consenting patient was randomly assigned to receive either a live 10-minute concert of spontaneous music played by an expert harpist or a 10-minute rest period. Spontaneous harp music significantly decreased patient perception of pain by 27% but did not significantly affect heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, or heart rate variability. Trends emerged, although being not statistically significant, that systolic blood pressure increased while heart rate variability decreased. These findings may invoke patient engagement, as opposed to relaxation, as the underlying mechanism of the decrease in the patients’ pain and of the healing benefit that arises from the relationship between healer, healing modality, and patient.
Performance Analyses and Improvements for IEEE 802.15.4 CSMA/CA Scheme in Wireless Multihop Sensor Networks Based on HTC Algorithm
Authors: Zhu Jianping , Lv Chunfeng , Tao Zhengsu
Published: November 2013

Most of analyses for the IEEE 802.15.4 Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme for multi-hop wireless sensor networks (WSNs) focus on how to avoid the impacts of hidden terminal problems rather than how to derive the exact multi-hop characters. In this paper, we propose a novel analysis model to analyze and improve the behaviors of multi-hop WSNs touching upon both avoiding the impacts of hidden terminals and acquiring the exact multi-hop behaviors. At first, a novel Hidden Terminal Couple (HTC) algorithm is proposed to avoid the impacts of hidden terminals, and a parallel access scheme is proposed to dispense with taking the routing overhead into account. Along with these two strategies, the accurate statistical performance metrics of throughput and delay of unsaturated, unacknowledged IEEE 802.15.4 beacon-enabled networks for 1-hop and 2-hop scenarios are then predicted based on the models which contains n modified semi-Markov chains and one macro-Markov chain, in which nodes are assumed to locate randomly over a circle plane according to Poisson distribution. Moreover, performance comparisons between our scheme (called HTC scheme) and other multi-hop CSMA/CA schemes which involve hidden terminal avoiding are also proposed. Comprehensive NS-2 simulations demonstrate that the analysis results of these models match well the simulation results, especially for larger transmission range and relatively higher node density. Besides, the analysis and comparison results show that delay behavior of HTC is improved largely relatively to other schemes, while throughput performance is improved in some cases of more node density and larger transmission range.
Immune Response to Mycobacterial Infection: Lessons from Flow Cytometry
Authors: Rovina Nikoletta , Panagiotou Marios , Pontikis Konstantinos , Kyriakopoulou Magdalini , Koulouris Nikolaos G. , Koutsoukou Antonia
Published: November 2013

Detecting and treating active and latent tuberculosis are pivotal elements for effective infection control; yet, due to their significant inherent limitations, the diagnostic means for these two stages of tuberculosis (TB) to date remain suboptimal. This paper reviews the current diagnostic tools for mycobacterial infection and focuses on the application of flow cytometry as a promising method for rapid and reliable diagnosis of mycobacterial infection as well as discrimination between active and latent TB: it summarizes diagnostic biomarkers distinguishing the two states of infection and also features of the distinct immune response againstMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) at certain stages of infection as revealed by flow cytometry to date.
G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor-Selective Ligands Modulate Endometrial Tumor Growth
Authors: Petrie Whitney K. , Dennis Megan K. , Hu Chelin , Dai Donghai , Arterburn Jeffrey B. , Smith Harriet O. , Hathaway Helen J. , Prossnitz Eric R.
Published: November 2013

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. GPER/GPR30 is a 7-transmembrane spanning G protein-coupled receptor that has been identified as the third estrogen receptor, in addition to ERαand ERβ. High GPER expression is predictive of poor survival in endometrial and ovarian cancer, but despite this, the estrogen-mediated signaling pathways and specific estrogen receptors involved in endometrial cancer remain unclear. Here, employing ERα-negative Hec50 endometrial cancer cells, we demonstrate that GPER mediates estrogen-stimulated activation of ERK and PI3K via matrix metalloproteinase activation and subsequent transactivation of the EGFR and that ER-targeted therapeutic agents (4-hydroxytamoxifen, ICI182,780/fulvestrant, and Raloxifene), the phytoestrogen genistein, and the “ERα-selective” agonist propylpyrazole triol also function as GPER agonists. Furthermore, xenograft tumors of Hec50 cells yield enhanced growth with G-1 and estrogen, the latter being inhibited by GPER-selective pharmacologic antagonism with G36. These results have important implications with respect to the use of putatively ER-selective ligands and particularly for the widespread long-term use of “ER-targeted” therapeutics. Moreover, our findings shed light on the potential mechanisms of SERM/SERD side effects reported in many clinical studies. Finally, our results provide the first demonstration that pharmacological inhibition of GPER activityin vivoprevents estrogen-mediated tumor growth.
Double Ion Implantation and Pulsed Laser Melting Processes for Third Generation Solar Cells
Authors: García-Hemme Eric , García-Hernansanz Rodrigo , Olea Javier , Pastor David , del Prado Álvaro , Mártil Ignacio , Wahnón Perla , Sanchez Kefrén , Palacios Pablo , González-Díaz Germán
Published: November 2013

In the framework of the third generation of photovoltaic devices, the intermediate band solar cell is one of the possible candidates to reach higher efficiencies with a lower processing cost. In this work, we introduce a novel processing method based on a double ion implantation and, subsequently, a pulsed laser melting (PLM) process to obtain thicker layers of Ti supersaturated Si. We perform ab initio theoretical calculations of Si impurified with Ti showing that Ti in Si is a good candidate to theoretically form an intermediate band material in the Ti supersaturated Si. From time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements, we confirm that we have obtained a Ti implanted and PLM thicker layer of 135 nm. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a single crystalline structure whilst the electrical characterization confirms the transport properties of an intermediate band material/Si substrate junction. High subbandgap absorption has been measured, obtaining an approximate value of 104 cm−1in the photons energy range from 1.1 to 0.6 eV.
Pastoralist Community’s Perception of Tuberculosis: A Quantitative Study from Shinille Area of Ethiopia
Authors: Melaku Samuel , Sharma Hardeep Rai , Alemie Getahun Asres
Published: November 2013

Background. In Ethiopia the prevalence of all forms of TB is estimated at 261/100 000 population, leading to an annual mortality rate of 64/100 000 population. The incidence rate of smear-positive TB is 108/100 000 population.Objectives. To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding TB among pastoralists in Shinille district, Somali region, Ethiopia.Method. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 821 pastoralists aged >18 years and above from February to May, 2011 using self-structured questionnaire.Results. Most (92.8%) of the study participants heard about TB, but only 10.1% knew about its causative agent. Weight loss as main symptom, transmittance through respiratory air droplets, and sputum examination for diagnosis were the answers of 34.3%, 29.9%, and 37.9% of pastoralists, respectively. The majority (98.3%) of respondents reported that TB could be cured, of which 93.3% believed with modern drugs. About 41.3% of participants mentioned covering the nose and mouth during sneezing and coughing as a preventive measure. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that household income >300 Ethiopian Birr and Somali ethnicity were associated with high TB knowledge. Regarding health seeking behaviour practice only 48.0% of the respondents preferred to visit government hospital and discuss their problems with doctors/health care providers.Conclusion. This study observed familiarity with gaps and low overall knowledge on TB and revealed negative attitudes like discrimination intentions in the studied pastoral community.
Office Removal of a Subglottic Bread Clip
Authors: Rosow David E. , Chen Si
Published: November 2013

Objective. The presence of an upper airway foreign body is an emergent, potentially life-threatening situation that requires careful but rapid evaluation and management. Organic or nonorganic material may typically be found in the pyriform sinuses or tongue base or may be aspirated directly into the tracheobronchial tree. We present here an unusual case report of a patient who accidentally ingested a plastic bread clip that was lodged in his subglottis for 15 months and report successful removal in the office under local anesthesia.Methods. Mucosal anesthesia was achieved with inhaled 4% lidocaine spray. Flexible laryngoscopic removal of the foreign body was then successfully accomplished.Results. The patient’s symptoms resolved completely following removal, with no sequelae.Conclusions. Office removal of airway foreign bodies is feasible and can be safely done with adequate topical anesthesia, but great caution and emergency planning must be exercised.
Laterality Does Not Affect the Depth Perception, but Interpupillary Distance
Authors: Aslankurt Murat , Aslan Lokman , Aksoy Adnan , Özdemir Murat , Dane Şenol
Published: November 2013

In this study, which investigates the relationship between the levels of stereopsis with eye and hand dominance or interpupillary distance, 120 healthy young volunteers were investigated. Eye dominance was determined by modified Miles technique following a complete eye examination. Handedness was assessed with the Edinburgh handedness inventory. Interpupillary distance was measured with millimetric ruler. Stereoacuity was measured in both contour (Titmus test) and random dot (TNO test) stereograms. The stereopsis scores were evaluated in terms of hand or eye dominance. The correlation between stereopsis score and interpupillary distance was assessed. Main outcome measures were stereopsis scores according to hand and eye dominance. As a result, right- and left-handed individuals showed no differences in terms of stereopsis. No differences were found in stereopsis scores between right- and left-eye dominant people. There was a correlation between interpupillary distance and the depth of stereopsis (r=-0.248,P<0.05). Contrary to the expectation, the left and right dominant individuals did not differ in levels of stereopsis. Interpupillary distance has a positive effect on stereopsis.
IRAK1/4-Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Action of Caffeic Acid
Authors: Yang Woo Seok , Jeong Deok , Yi Young-Su , Park Jae Gwang , Seo Hyohyun , Moh Sang Hyun , Hong Sungyoul , Cho Jae Youl
Published: November 2013

Caffeic acid (CA) is a phenolic compound that is frequently present in fruits, grains, and dietary supplements. Although CA has been reported to display various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-oxidative effects, the action mechanism of CA is not yet fully elucidated. In this study, the anti-inflammatory action mechanism of CA was examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) and HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis. CA was found to diminish nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were downregulated by CA. CA also strongly suppressed the nuclear translocation of AP-1 family proteins and the related upstream signaling cascade composed of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1), IRAK4, TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4/7 (MKK4/7), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In a direct kinase assay, CA was revealed to directly inhibit IRAK1 and IRAK4. CA also ameliorated HCl/EtOH-induced gastric symptoms via the suppression of JNK, IRAK1, and IRAK4. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that CA acts as an anti-inflammatory drug by directly suppressing IRAK1 and IRAK4.
The Injury/Illness Performance Project (IIPP): A Novel Epidemiological Approach for Recording the Consequences of Sports Injuries and Illnesses
Authors: Palmer-Green Debbie , Fuller Colin , Jaques Rod , Hunter Glenn
Published: November 2013

Background. Describing the frequency, severity, and causes of sports injuries and illnesses reliably is important for quantifying the risk to athletes and providing direction for prevention initiatives.Methods. Time-loss and/or medical-attention definitions have long been used in sports injury/illness epidemiology research, but the limitations to these definitions mean that some events are incorrectly classified or omitted completely, where athletes continue to train and compete at high levels but experience restrictions in their performance. Introducing a graded definition of performance-restriction may provide a solution to this issue.Results. Results from the Great Britain injury/illness performance project (IIPP) are presented using a performance-restriction adaptation of the accepted surveillance consensus methodologies. The IIPP involved 322 Olympic athletes (males: 172; female: 150) from 10 Great Britain Olympic sports between September 2009 and August 2012. Of all injuries (n=565), 216 were classified as causing time-loss, 346 as causing performance-restriction, and 3 were unclassified. For athlete illnesses (n=378), the majority (P<0.01) resulted in time-loss (270) compared with performance-restriction (101) (7 unclassified).Conclusions. Successful implementation of prevention strategies relies on the correct characterisation of injury/illness risk factors. Including a performance-restriction classification could provide a deeper understanding of injuries/illnesses and better informed prevention initiatives.