bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Frailty on Functional Gain, Resource Utilisation, and Discharge Destination: An Observational Prospective Study in a GEM Ward
Authors: Kawryshanker Sujatha , Raymond Warren , Ingram Katharine , Inderjeeth Charles A.
Published: February 2014

Background. A geriatric evaluation and management unit (GEM) manages elderly inpatients with functional impairments. There is a paucity of literature on frailty and whether this impacts on rehabilitation outcomes.Objectives. To examine frailty score (FS) as a predictor of functional gain, resource utilisation, and destinations for GEM patients.Methods. A single centre prospective case study design. Participants (n=136) were ≥65 years old and admitted to a tertiary hospital GEM. Five patients were excluded by the preset exclusion criteria, that is, medically unstable, severe dementia or communication difficulties after stroke. Core data included demographics, frailty score (FS), and functional independence.Results. The mean functional improvement (FIM) from admission to discharge was 11.26 (95% CI 8.87, 13.66;P<0.001). Discharge FIM was positively correlated with admission FIM (β=0.748;P<0.001) and negatively correlated with frailty score (β=−1.151;P=0.014). The majority of the patients were in the “frail” group. “Frail” and “severely frail” subgroups improved more on mean FIM scores at discharge, relative to that experienced by the “pre-frail” group.Conclusion. All patients experienced functional improvement. Frailer patients improved more on their FIM and improved relatively more than their prefrail counterparts. Higher frailty correlated with reduced independence and greater resource utilisation. This study demonstrates that FS could be a prognostic indicator of physical independence and resource utilisation.
Lactic Acid Yield Using Different Bacterial Strains, Its Purification, and Polymerization through Ring-Opening Reactions
Authors: Orozco F. G. , Valadez-González A. , Domínguez-Maldonado J. A. , Zuluaga F. , Figueroa-Oyosa L. E. , Alzate-Gaviria L. M.
Published: February 2014

Laboratory-scale anaerobic fermentation was performed to obtain lactic acid from lactose, using five lactic acid bacteria:Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, L. delbrueckii, L. plantarum,andL. delbrueckii lactis. A yield of 0.99 g lactic acid/g lactose was obtained withL. delbrueckii, from which a final concentration of 80.95 g/L aqueous solution was obtained through microfiltration, nanofiltration, and inverse osmosis membranes. The lactic acid was polymerized by means of ring-opening reactions (ROP) to obtain poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA), with a viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) of 19,264 g/mol.
On Delay‐Fractional‐Dependent Stability Criteria for Takagi‐Sugeno Fuzzy Systems with Interval Delay
Authors: Xia Xianzhong , Li Renfa , An Jiyao
Published: February 2014

This paper investigates stability program of Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy systems with interval time‐varying delay via a variable delay decomposition approach. By developing a delay decomposition approach, both lower and upper bound information of the delayed plant states can be taken into full consideration; two novel delay‐fractional‐dependent stability criteria are obtained based on the direct Lyapunov method allied with an appropriate and variable Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional choice and with two different bounding techniques to estimate some integral terms in the time‐derivative of the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional. The first stability criterion is derived by utilizing the suitable and generalized integral inequalities, while the second stability condition is obtained by employing a scalar inequality, without any direct approximation. Particularly, the proposed results differ from previous ones since the positiveness of the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional is guaranteed by new relaxed conditions. When applying these two stability criteria to check the stability of a T‐S fuzzy system, it is shown through some numerical examples that the first stability condition can provide a larger maximum allowable delay bound than the second stability criterion, and both stability criteria yield less conservative than the existing ones.
Development of a Stochastic Hourly Solar Irradiation Model
Authors: Brecl Kristijan , Topič Marko
Published: February 2014

We have developed a new solar irradiation model and implemented it in the SunIrradiance photovoltaic cell/module simulator. This model uses stochastic methods to generate the hourly distribution of solar irradiation on a horizontal or inclined surface from monthly irradiation values on the horizontal surface of a selected location and was verified with the measured irradiance data in Ljubljana, located in Central Europe. The new model shows better simulation results with regard to the share of the diffuse irradiation in the region than the other models. The simulation results show that the new solar irradiation model is excellent for photovoltaic system simulations of single junction PV technologies.
Capacity of Data Collection in Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Mutual Information and MMSE Estimation
Authors: Arifin Ajib Setyo , Ohtsuki Tomoaki
Published: February 2014

We investigate the properties of data collection in wireless sensor networks, in terms of both capacity and power allocation strategy. We consider a scenario in which a number of sensors observe a target being estimated at fusion center (FC) using minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimator. Based on the relationship between mutual information and MMSE (I-MMSE), the capacity of data collection in coherent and orthogonal multiple access channel (MAC) models is derived. Considering power constraint, the capacity is derived under two scenarios: equal power allocation and optimal power allocation of both models. We provide the upper bound of capacity as a benchmark. In particular, we show that the capacity of data collection scales as Θ((1/2)log(1+L)) when the number of sensors L grows to infinity. We show through simulation results that for both coherent and orthogonal MAC models, the capacity of the optimal power is larger than that of the equal power. We also show that the capacity of coherent MAC is larger than that of orthogonal MAC, particularly when the number of sensors L is large and the total power P is fixed.
Multiconsensus of Second‐Order Multiagent Systems with Input Delays
Authors: Chen Jie , Chi Ming , Guan Zhi-Hong , Liao Rui-Quan , Zhang Ding-Xue
Published: February 2014

The multiconsensus problem of double‐integrator dynamic multiagent systems has been investigated. Firstly, the dynamic multiconsensus, the static multiconsensus, and the periodic multiconsensus are considered as three cases of multiconsensus, respectively, in which the final multiconsensus convergence states are established by using matrix analysis. Secondly, as for the multiagent system with input delays, the maximal allowable upper bound of the delays is obtained by employing Hopf bifurcation of delayed networks theory. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the theoretical analysis.
Analysis of Price Stackelberg Duopoly Game with Bounded Rationality
Authors: Shi Lian , Le Yun , Sheng Zhaohan
Published: February 2014

The classical Stackelberg game is extended to boundedly rational price Stackelberg game, and the dynamic duopoly game model is described in detail. By using the theory of bifurcation of dynamical systems, the existence and stability of the equilibrium points of this model are studied. And some comparisons with Bertrand game with bounded rationality are also performed. Stable region, bifurcation diagram, The Largest Lyapunov exponent, strange attractor, and sensitive dependence on initial conditions are used to show complex dynamic behavior. The results of theoretical and numerical analysis show that the stability of the price Stackelberg duopoly game with boundedly rational players is only relevant to the speed of price adjustment of the leader and not relevant to the follower’s. This is different from the classical Cournot and Bertrand duopoly game with bounded rationality. And the speed of price adjustment of the boundedly rational leader has a destabilizing effect on this model.
New Researches and Application Progress of Commonly Used Optical Molecular Imaging Technology
Authors: Chen Zhi-Yi , Wang Yi-Xiang , Yang Feng , Lin Yan , Zhou Qiu-Lan , Liao Yang-Ying
Published: February 2014

Optical molecular imaging, a new medical imaging technique, is developed based on genomics, proteomics and modern optical imaging technique, characterized by non-invasiveness, non-radiativity, high cost-effectiveness, high resolution, high sensitivity and simple operation in comparison with conventional imaging modalities. Currently, it has become one of the most widely used molecular imaging techniques and has been applied in gene expression regulation and activity detection, biological development and cytological detection, drug research and development, pathogenesis research, pharmaceutical effect evaluation and therapeutic effect evaluation, and so forth, This paper will review the latest researches and application progresses of commonly used optical molecular imaging techniques such as bioluminescence imaging and fluorescence molecular imaging.
Application of Genetic Algorithms in Nonlinear Heat Conduction Problems
Authors: Kadri Muhammad Bilal , Khan Waqar A.
Published: February 2014

Genetic algorithms are employed to optimize dimensionless temperature in nonlinear heat conduction problems. Three common geometries are selected for the analysis and the concept of minimum entropy generation is used to determine the optimum temperatures under the same constraints. The thermal conductivity is assumed to vary linearly with temperature while internal heat generation is assumed to be uniform. The dimensionless governing equations are obtained for each selected geometry and the dimensionless temperature distributions are obtained using MATLAB. It is observed that GA gives the minimum dimensionless temperature in each selected geometry.
Adaptations in the Treatment of Congenital Lymphedema Centered on the Quality of Life
Authors: de Godoy Jose Maria Pereira , Sanchez Ana Paula , Zucchi Libanore Daniel , Guerreiro Godoy Maria de Fatima
Published: February 2014

Case Description. This report describes the evolution, necessary adaptations, and complications in the treatment of a 9-year-old child with primary congenital lymphedema.Description of Intervention. The clinical treatment of lymphedema was started in the first year of the patient’s life and for five years she was only treated using the Godoy & Godoy technique of cervical stimulation. Three years ago the patient was prescribed a compression stocking made from a cotton-polyester fabric (grosgrain) because of a sudden increase in the lymphedema after she started to take growth hormones.Outcome and Conclusion. The combination of cervical stimulation and a compression stocking was effective to keep the child’s life relatively normal, performing all day-to-day and recreational activities.
Lipoxygenase Pathway Mediates Increases of Airway Resistance and Lung Inflation Induced by Exposure to Nanotitanium Dioxide in Rats
Authors: Lee Jyu-Feng , Tung Shu-Ping , Wang David , Yeh Diana Yuwung , Fong Yao , Young Yu-Chung , Leu Fur-Jiang
Published: February 2014

Nanotitanium dioxide particle (nTiO2) inhalation has been reported to induce lung parenchymal injury. After inhalation of nTiO2, we monitored changes in 5-lipoxygenase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in rat lung tissue. Lung function parameters include specific airway resistance (SRaw), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), functional residual capacity (FRC), and lung compliance (Cchord); blood white blood cell count (WBC), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH); and lung lavage leukotriene C4, interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrotic factorα(TNFα), hydroxyl radicals, and NO. Leukotriene receptor antagonist MK571 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor MK886 were used for pharmacologic intervention. Compared to control, nTiO2exposure induced near 5-fold increase in 5-lipoxygenase mRNA expression in lung tissue. iNOS mRNA increased while eNOS mRNA decreased. Lavage leukotriene C4; IL6; TNFα; NO; hydroxyl radicals; and blood WBC, NO, hydrogen peroxide, and LDH levels rose. Obstructive ventilatory insufficiency was observed. MK571 and MK886 both attenuated the systemic inflammation and lung function changes. We conclude that inhaled nTiO2induces systemic inflammation, cytokine release, and oxidative and nitrosative stress in the lung. The lipoxygenase pathway products, mediated by oxygen radicals and WBC, play a critical role in the obstructive ventilatory insufficiency induced by nTiO2.
Accurate Tooth Lead Crowning without Twist in Cylindrical Helical Gear Grinding
Authors: Zhang Hu , Fang Chenggang , Huang XiaoDiao
Published: February 2014

Form grinding is a popular finishing process in manufacturing cylindrical gears with tooth flank modification. The tooth flanks are usually twisted when a lead crowning is performed only through additional radial motion during double flank grinding. For solving the problem, this paper proposes a method for application of tooth lead crowning without twist in cylindrical helical gears based on the idea of tooth form correction for spiral bevel and hypoid gears. In this method, the motion of each following axis is formulated as a six-order polynomial of the leading axis position and the sensitivity of tooth ground flanks with respect to the changes in the motion polynomial coefficients is analyzed. Polynomial coefficients for lead crowning are optimized by minimizing the errors between the ground tooth flanks and the target tooth flanks. The proposed optimization procedure uses dynamic sensitivity matrix instead of static, and it can obtain optimum solution with fewer steps stably. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this twist preventing method.
Optimum Material Gradient for Functionally Graded Rectangular Plate with the Finite Element Method
Authors: Helal Wasim M. K. , Shi Dongyan
Published: February 2014

The optimum material gradient of a rectangular plate made of functionally graded material (FGM) is determined in this study. Elastic modulus of functionally graded (FG) rectangular plate is assumed to vary continuously throughout the height of the plate, according to the volume fraction of the constituent materials based on the power law, exponential model I, exponential model П, or sigmoid functions. The difference between these distribution functions for the constituents’ volume fraction is discussed in this study. To determine the optimum material gradient of a rectangular plate made of FGM, the finite element method and the optimization techniques are used. In this study, von Mises stress, shear stress, and deformation in FGM case with the power law, exponential model I, exponential model П, or sigmoid functions are investigated. Simulation results indicate that the optimum material gradient for FG rectangular plate can be described by using a modified sigmoid function. The maximum values of von Mises stress, shear stress, and deformation in FG rectangular plate with the optimum material gradient are reduced compared with the pure material case by around 22%, 11%, and 24%, respectively.
Physical, Chemical, and Biological Methods for the Removal of Arsenic Compounds
Authors: Lim K. T. , Shukor M. Y. , Wasoh H.
Published: February 2014

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid which is widely distributed in nature. It is normally present as arsenate under oxic conditions while arsenite is predominant under reducing condition. The major discharges of arsenic in the environment are mainly due to natural sources such as aquifers and anthropogenic sources. It is known that arsenite salts are more toxic than arsenate as it binds with vicinal thiols in pyruvate dehydrogenase while arsenate inhibits the oxidative phosphorylation process. The common mechanisms for arsenic detoxification are uptaken by phosphate transporters, aquaglyceroporins, and active extrusion system and reduced by arsenate reductases via dissimilatory reduction mechanism. Some species of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms use arsenic oxyanions for their regeneration of energy. Certain species of microorganisms are able to use arsenate as their nutrient in respiratory process. Detoxification operons are a common form of arsenic resistance in microorganisms. Hence, the use of bioremediation could be an effective and economic way to reduce this pollutant from the environment.
Optimality Conditions forε-Vector Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Wei-zhong Lu , Shou-jun Huang , Jun Yang
Published: February 2014

By virtue of the separation theorem of convex sets, a necessary condition and a sufficient condition forε-vector equilibrium problem with constraints are obtained. Then, by using the Gerstewitz nonconvex separation functional, a necessary and sufficient condition forε-vector equilibrium problem without constraints is obtained.
Evaluation of the Impact of Pedestrian Countdown Signals on Crossing Behavior
Authors: Xiong Hui , Xiong Lingli , Deng Xiaoyong , Wang Wuhong
Published: February 2014

The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of pedestrian countdown signals on crossing behavior at intersections. Data were collected by means of questionnaire and video recording at two signalized intersections: one was with pedestrian countdown signal and the other was with traditional signal. The questionnaire aims to reveal pedestrians' preference to countdown signals. It shows that 91.8% of pedestrians believe that countdown signals are helpful in determining the time to enter crosswalk, and 72.6% of pedestrians think that countdown signals are more comfortable for crossing. To evaluate effects of countdown signals, four measures of effectiveness, that is, proportion of compliers, adventurers, violators, and trapped pedestrians, are applied. Hypothesis testing results show that countdown signals can significantly increase proportions of compliers and reduce proportions of violators and trapped pedestrians compared with traditional signals. However, countdown signals have weak impact on adventurers since many pedestrians do not understand the meaning of flashing signal.
Structural and Optical Properties of Germanium Thin Films Prepared by the Vacuum Evaporation Technique
Authors: Al-Sharafi Z. , Mohyeddine S. , Osman Mohammed Samir , Kershi R. M.
Published: February 2014

Germanium (Ge) thin films have been deposited onto the glass substrates by the vacuum evaporation technique. The effect of annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of the germanium thin films was investigated. The structural and optical properties of thin films were characterized by XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis techniques. XRD results showed that the structure of the deposited thin films changed from amorphous phase for the films, which deposited at room temperature, to crystalline phase for the films, which deposited at high temperature. Optimum temperature to obtain a good crystalline structure was 525°C. The SEM image also showed that the crystallization of the thin films is increased with increasing of annealing temperature. Transmittance and reflectance spectral were used to calculate the absorption coefficient. Two absorption edges in two spectral regions were distinguished according to direct and indirect electron transitions. Energy band gap Eg was calculated by using the Tauc relationship for both direct and indirect electron transitions. The average value of Eg was equal to 0.79 eV and 0.61 eV for direct and indirect transitions, respectively.
Depression and Psychological Trauma: An Overview Integrating Current Research and Specific Evidence of Studies in the Treatment of Depression in Public Mental Health Services in Chile
Authors: Vitriol Verónica , Cancino Alfredo , Weil Kristina , Salgado Carolina , Asenjo Maria Andrea , Potthoff Soledad
Published: February 2014

In the last two decades, different research has demonstrated the high prevalence of childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, among depressive women. These findings are associated with a complex, severe, and chronic psychopathology. This can be explained considering the neurobiological changes secondary to early trauma that can provoke a neuroendocrine failure to compensate in response to challenge. It suggests the existence of a distinguishable clinical-neurobiological subtype of depression as a function of childhood trauma that requires specific treatments. Among women with depression and early trauma receiving treatment in a public mental health service in Chile, it was demonstrated that a brief outpatient intervention (that screened for and focused on childhood trauma and helped patients to understand current psychosocial difficulties as a repetition of past trauma) was effective in reducing psychiatric symptoms and improving interpersonal relationships. However, in this population, this intervention did not prevent posttraumatic stress disorder secondary to the extreme earthquake that occurred in February 2010. Therefore in adults with depression and early trauma, it is necessary to evaluate prolonged multimodal treatments that integrate pharmacotherapy, social support, and interpersonal psychotherapies with trauma focused interventions (specific interventions for specific traumas).
Mechanisms of Ascorbyl Radical Formation in Human Platelet-Rich Plasma
Authors: Shyu Kou-Gi , Chang Chao-Chien , Yeh Yu-Chieh , Sheu Joen-Rong , Chou Duen-Suey
Published: February 2014

Recently, many clinical reports have suggested that the ascorbyl free radical (Asc∙) can be treated as a noninvasive, reliable, real-time marker of oxidative stress, but its generation mechanisms in human blood have rarely been discussed. In this study, we used upstream substances, enzyme inhibitors, and free radical scavengers to delineate the mechanisms ofAsc∙formation in human platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Our results show that the doublet signal was detected in PRP samples by using electron spin resonance, and the hyperfine splitting of the doublet signal wasaH=1.88gauss andg-factor = 2.00627, which was determined to be theAsc∙. We observed that the inhibitors of NADPH oxidase (NOX), cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), mitochondria complex III, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), but not xanthine oxidase, diminished the intensity of theAsc∙signal dose dependently. All enzyme inhibitors showed no obvious antioxidant activity during a Fenton reaction assay. In summary, the obtained data suggest thatAsc∙formation is associated with NOX, COX, LOX, CYP450, eNOS, and mitochondria in human PRP.
Fast Total‐Variation Image Deconvolution with Adaptive Parameter Estimation via Split Bregman Method
Authors: He Chuan , Hu Changhua , Zhang Wei , Shi Biao , Hu Xiaoxiang
Published: February 2014

The total‐variation (TV) regularization has been widely used in image restoration domain, due to its attractive edge preservation ability. However, the estimation of the regularization parameter, which balances the TV regularization term and the data‐fidelity term, is a difficult problem. In this paper, based on the classical split Bregman method, a new fast algorithm is derived to simultaneously estimate the regularization parameter and to restore the blurred image. In each iteration, the regularization parameter is refreshed conveniently in a closed form according to Morozov’s discrepancy principle. Numerical experiments in image deconvolution show that the proposed algorithm outperforms some state‐of‐the‐art methods both in accuracy and in speed.
Reputation Revision Method for Selecting Cloud Services Based on Prior Knowledge and a Market Mechanism
Authors: Wu Qingtao , Zhang Xulong , Zhang Mingchuan , Lou Ying , Zheng Ruijuan , Wei Wangyang
Published: February 2014

The trust levels of cloud services should be evaluated to ensure their reliability. The effectiveness of these evaluations has major effects on user satisfaction, which is increasingly important. However, it is difficult to provide objective evaluations in open and dynamic environments because of the possibilities of malicious evaluations, individual preferences, and intentional praise. In this study, we propose a novel unfair rating filtering method for a reputation revision system. This method uses prior knowledge as the basis of similarity when calculating the average rating, which facilitates the recognition and filtering of unfair ratings. In addition, the overall performance is increased by a market mechanism that allows users and service providers to adjust their choice of services and service configuration in a timely manner. The experimental results showed that this method filtered unfair ratings in an effective manner, which greatly improved the precision of the reputation revision system.
Application of Highly Purified Electrolyzed Chlorine Dioxide for Tilapia Fillet Disinfection
Authors: Yu Chen-Hsing , Huang Tzou-Chi , Chung Chao-Chin , Huang Hao-Hsun , Chen Ho-Hsien
Published: February 2014

This research aimed to develop an electrolysis method to generate high-concentration chlorine dioxide (ClO2) for tilapia fillet disinfection. The designed generator produced up to 3500 ppm of ClO2at up to 99% purity. Tilapia fillets were soaked in a 400 ppm ClO2solution for 5, 10, and 25 min. Results show that total plate counts of tilapia, respectively, decreased by 5.72 to 3.23, 2.10, and 1.09 log CFU/g. In addition, a 200 ppm ClO2solution eliminated coliform bacteria andEscherichia coliin 5 min with shaking treatment. Furthermore, ClO2and trihalomethanes (THMs) residuals on tilapia fillets were analyzed by GC/MS and were nondetectable (GC-MS detection limit was 0.12 ppb). The results conform to Taiwan’s environmental protection regulations and act governing food sanitation.
Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Review of Medical and Surgical Management
Authors: Shah Nirali , Iyer Sandhya
Published: February 2014

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease currently accounts for the majority of esophageal pathologies. This study is an attempt to help us tackle the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this disease. This study specifically focuses on patients in the urban Indian setup.Materials and Methods. This study was a prospective interventional study carried out at a teaching public hospital in Mumbai from May 2010 to September 2012. Fifty patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (confirmed by endoscopy and esophageal manometry) were chosen for the study.Results. Fifty patients were included in the study. Twenty patients showed symptomatic improvement after three months and were thus managed conservatively, while 30 patients did not show any improvement in symptoms and were eventually operated.Conclusion. We suggest that all patients diagnosed to have gastroesophageal reflux disease should be subjected to 3 months of conservative management. In case of no relief of symptoms, patients need to be subjected to surgery. Laparoscopic Toupet's fundoplication is an effective and feasible surgical treatment option for such patients, associated with minimal side effects. However, the long-term effects of this form of treatment still need to be evaluated further with a larger sample size and a longer followup.
Expression of uPA, tPA, and PAI-1 in Calcified Aortic Valves
Authors: Kochtebane Najlah , Alzahrani Abdullah Mossa M. , Bartegi Aghleb
Published: February 2014

Purpose. Our physiopathological assumption is that u-PA, t-PA, and PAI-1 are released by calcified aortic valves and play a role in the calcification of these valves.Methods. Sixty-five calcified aortic valves were collected from patients suffering from aortic stenosis. Each valve was incubated for 24 hours in culture medium. The supernatants were used to measure u-PA, t-PA, and PAI-1 concentrations; the valve calcification was evaluated using biphotonic absorptiometry.Results. Aortic stenosis valves expressed normal plasminogen activators concentrations and overexpressed PAI-1 (u-PA, t-PA, and PAI-1 mean concentrations were, resp., 1.69 ng/mL ± 0.80, 2.76 ng/mL ± 1.33, and 53.27 ng/mL ± 36.39). There was no correlation between u-PA and PAI-1 (r=0.3) but t-PA and PAI-1 were strongly correlated with each other (r=0.6). Overexpression of PAI-1 was proportional to the calcium content of the AS valves.Conclusions. Our results demonstrate a consistent increase of PAI-1 proportional to the calcification. The overexpression of PAI-1 may be useful as a predictive indicator in patients with aortic stenosis.
Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag Modified Ti-Doped-Bi2O3Photocatalyst
Authors: Zhang Lilan , Niu Junfeng , Li Duo , Gao Ding , Shi Jianghong
Published: February 2014

Ti doped Bi2O3(TDB) and Ag ion modified Ti doped Bi2O3(Ag@TDB) photocatalysts were prepared by framework replacement synthesis method with different Ag loadings (0.05, 0.3, 0.75, and 1.0 mol/L AgNO3). The structural properties of the prepared catalysts were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance (DRS). The XRD spectra of the Ti doped Bi2O3calcined at 650°C showed the diffraction peaks of a mixture of Bi12TiO20and Bi4Ti3O12, with bits of mixed crystallite consisting of TiO2and B2O3. A high blue shift in the range 650–550 nm was detected in the DRS band. This blue shift increased with the decreasing Ag content. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were evaluated for the degradation of crystal violet (CV) under UV light irradiation. The results indicated that the degradation rate of CV by using 1.0 mol/L AgNO3doped bismuth titanate composite photocatalyst (1.0 Ag@TDB) was 1.9 times higher than that by using the bare Ti doped Bi2O3photocatalyst. The higher activity of Ag@TDB is due to the enhancement of electron-hole pair separation by the electron trapping of silver particles.
Uses of Local Plant Biodiversity among the Tribal Communities of Pangi Valley of District Chamba in Cold Desert Himalaya, India
Authors: Rana Pawan Kumar , Kumar Puneet , Singhal Vijay Kumar , Rana Jai Chand
Published: February 2014

Pangi Valley is the interior most tribal area in Himachal Pradesh of Northwest Himalaya. An ethnobotanical investigation is attempted to highlight the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants being used by the tribes of Pangi Valley. Various localities visited in the valley 2-3 times in a year and ethnobotanical information was collected through interviews with elderly people, women, shepherds, and local vaids during May 2009 to September 2013. This paper documented 67 plant species from 59 genera and 36 families along with their botanical name, local name, family name, habit, medicinal parts used, and traditional usage, including the use of 35 plants with new ethnomedicinal and other use from the study area for the first time. Wild plants represent an important part of their medicinal, dietary, handicraft, fuel wood, veterinary, and fodder components. These tribal inhabitants and migrants depend on the wild plant resources for food, medicines, fuel, fibre, timber, and household articles for their livelihood security. The present study documents and contributes significant ethnobotanical information from the remote high altitude and difficult region of the world, which remains cut off from rest of the world for 6-7 months due to heavy snowfall.
Ambient Particulate Matter Air Pollution in Mpererwe District, Kampala, Uganda: A Pilot Study
Authors: Schwander Stephan , Okello Clement D. , Freers Juergen , Chow Judith C. , Watson John G. , Corry Melody , Meng Qingyu
Published: February 2014

Air quality in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, has deteriorated significantly in the past two decades. We made spot measurements in Mpererwe district for airborne particulate matter PM2.5(fine particles) and coarse particles. PM was collected on Teflon-membrane filters and analyzed for mass, 51 elements, 3 anions, and 5 cations. Both fine and coarse particle concentrations were above 100 µg/m3in all the samples collected. Markers for crustal/soil (e.g., Si and Al) were the most abundant in the PM2.5fraction, followed by primary combustion products from biomass burning and incinerator emissions (e.g., K and Cl). Over 90% of the measured PM2.5mass can be explained by crustal species (41% and 59%) and carbonaceous aerosol (33%–55%). Crustal elements dominated the coarse particles collected from Kampala. The results of this pilot study are indicative of unhealthy air and suggest that exposure to ambient air in Kampala may increase the burden of environmentally induced cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory diseases including infections. Greater awareness and more extensive research are required to confirm our findings, to identify personal exposure and pollution sources, and to develop air quality management plans and policies to protect public health.
BioaccessibilityIn Vitroof Nutraceuticals from Bark of SelectedSalixSpecies
Authors: Gawlik-Dziki Urszula , Sugier Danuta , Dziki Dariusz , Sugier Piotr
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate and to compare the extractability, bioaccessibility, and bioavailabilityin vitroof antioxidative compounds from bark of selectedSalixspecies:S. alba (SA), S. daphnoides (SD), S. purpurea (SP),andS. daphnoides x purpurea (SDP)hybrid willow clones originating from their natural habitats and cultivated on the sandy soil. The highest amount of phenolic glycosides was found in the bark ofSDPandSD. The best source of phenolics was bark ofSDP. The highest content of flavonoids were found inSDbark samples, whereas the highest concentration of bioaccessible and bioavailable phenolic acids was determined inSDPbark. Bark of all testedSalixspecies showed significant antiradical activity. This properties are strongly dependent on extraction system and genetic factors. Regardless ofSalixgenotypes, the lowest chelating power was found for chemically-extractable compounds. Bark of allSalixspecies contained ethanol-extractable compounds with reducing ability. Besides this, high bioaccessibility and bioavailabilityin vitroofSalixbark phytochemicals were found. Obtained results indicate that extracts from bark testedSalixgenotypes can provide health promoting benefits to the consumers; however, this problem requires further study.
A Top-Down Optimization Methodology for Mutually Exclusive Applications
Authors: Kilic Alp , Marrakchi Zied , Mehrez Habib
Published: February 2014

Proliferation of mutually exclusive applications on circuits and the higher cost of silicon make the resource sharing more and more important. The state-of-the-art synthesis tools may often be unsatisfactory. Their efficiency may depend on the hardware description style. Nevertheless, today, different applications in a circuit can be developed by different developers. This paper proposes an efficient method to improve resource sharing between mutually exclusive applications with no dependence on the coding style. It takes the advantage of the possibility of resource sharing as done in FPGA and of predefined multiple functions as in ASIC.
Infectious and Noninfectious Granulomatosis in Patient with Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Followup
Authors: Paovic Jelena , Paovic Predrag , Sredovic Vojislav
Published: February 2014

Patient was followed up over the course of 30 years. In 1978, after severe systemic infection followed by fever, pulmonary edema, and numerous neurological manifestations, patient was differentially diagnosed with apoplectic form of multiple sclerosis (MS), which was confirmed a year later via neurological and MRI findings. Approximately 20 years following the initial attack, sarcoidosis was diagnosed during the regular preoperative procedures required for cataract surgery. As consequence of lower immune system, infectious granulomatosis in form of pulmonary tuberculosis developed. Ophthalmological findings revealed bilateral retrobulbar neuritis (RBN) approximately six years after initial attack. This developed into total uveitis with retinal periphlebitis and anterior granulomatous uveitis—all of which are clinically similar in both MS and sarcoidosis.
Preparation and Performance of Inorganic Heat Insulation Panel Based on Sepiolite Nanofibers
Authors: Wang Fei , Liang Jinsheng , Liu Haifeng , Duan Xinhui , Tang Qingguo , Liu Huimin
Published: February 2014

High efficiency and low cost thermal insulation energy saving panel materials containing sepiolite nanofibers were developed by means of the synergistic action of inorganic adhesive, curing agent, and hydrogen peroxide. The water soluble sodium silicate was used as inorganic adhesive, and the sodium fluorosilicate was chosen as curing agent. Moreover, appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide was added in order to decrease the bulk density and improve the heat insulation performance of panel materials. The results showed that the synergistic action of inorganic adhesive, curing agent, and hydrogen peroxide could make thermal insulation energy saving panel materials have low bulk density and high mechanical performance, and the optimal process was as follows: 120°C of drying temperature, 1.6% of sodium silicate as inorganic adhesive, 12% of sodium fluorosilicate as curing agent in sodium silicate, and 2.5% of hydrogen peroxide. The thermal insulation energy saving panel materials as prepared could arrest heat transmission and resist external force effectively.
The Treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in Advanced Gastric Cancer: State of the Art
Authors: Montori Giulia , Coccolini Federico , Ceresoli Marco , Catena Fausto , Colaianni Nicola , Poletti Eugenio , Ansaloni Luca
Published: February 2014

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the world; 53–60% of patients show disease progression and die of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). PC of gastric origin has an extremely inauspicious prognosis with a median survival estimate at 1–3 months. Different studies presented contrasting data about survival rates; however, all agreed with the necessity of a complete cytoreduction to improve survival. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has an adjuvant role in preventing peritoneal recurrences. A multidisciplinary approach should be empowered: the association of neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy (NIPS), cytoreductive surgery (CRS), HIPEC, and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) could increase the rate of completeness of cytoreduction (CC) and consequently survival rates, especially in patients with Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) ≤6. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival also in PC from GC and adjuvant chemotherapy could prevent recurrence. In the last decade an interesting new drug, called Catumaxomab, has been developed in Germany. Two studies showed that this drug seems to improve progression-free survival in patients with GC; however, final results for both studies have still to be published.
Asymptotic Analysis of Shout Options Close to Expiry
Authors: Alobaidi G. , Mallier R.
Published: February 2014

We use an asymptotic expansion to study the behavior of shout options
close to expiry. Series solutions are obtained for the location of the free
boundary and the price of the option in that limit.
The Potential Value of Sleep Hygiene for a Healthy Pregnancy: A Brief Review
Authors: Ferraro Zachary M. , Chaput Jean-Philippe , Gruslin Andrée , Adamo Kristi B.
Published: February 2014

The quality of the intrauterine environment influences maternal-fetal health and also offspring predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic disease later in life. Several determinants, including but not limited to pregravid obesity and excessive gestational weight gain, alter the developmental milieu, fetal growth, and child obesity risk. However, the role of sleep and its relationship to healthy pregnancy is not fully established. Given the host of psychosocial and physiological complications associated with childhood obesity, targeting the gestational period is purported to be an opportune time for preventive intervention. Many longitudinal studies suggest that short sleep duration is a risk factor for the development of impaired glycemia and obesity. However, there is a dearth of information concerning the role of sleep hygiene and its role in a healthy pregnancy. Reports note disrupted and poorer quality of sleep during gestation and highlight an association between reduced sleep and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Given the lack of well-designed human trials assessing the value of sleep and healthy pregnancy outcomes, this review summarizes current evidence which suggests that incorporating sleep recommendations and utilizing time management strategies that encourage a healthful night ’s sleep may improve the health of the mom and the baby.
Polyaniline/Palm Oil Blend for Anticorrosion of Mild Steel in Saline Environment
Authors: Rashid Mohd , Sabir Suhail , Rahim Afidah A. , Waware Umesh
Published: February 2014

The corrosion protective performance of polyaniline/palm oil (PAni-PO) blend coated on mild steel in 3% NaCl aqueous solutions has been evaluated by electrochemical methods, namely, open circuit potential (ocp), potentiodynamic polarization, and EIS spectroscopy. The surface of mild steel was covered by a dark green protective layer due to the physical interaction between the coating and steel. The permanent shifts of ocp and potentiodynamic polarization towards higher positive value of oxidation potential by about 800 mV and by a decrease in corrosion current density by sixfold in magnitude and an increase of 10 orders of magnitude in charge transfer resistance are due to protective coating.
The Process of Nanostructuring of Metal (Iron) Matrix in Composite Materials for Directional Control of the Mechanical Properties
Authors: Zemtsova Elena , Yurchuk Denis , Smirnov Vladimir
Published: February 2014

We justified theoretical and experimental bases of synthesis of new class of highly nanostructured composite nanomaterials based on metal matrix with titanium carbide nanowires as dispersed phase. A new combined method for obtaining of metal iron-based composite materials comprising the powder metallurgy processes and the surface design of the dispersed phase is considered. The following stages of material synthesis are investigated: (1) preparation of porous metal matrix; (2) surface structuring of the porous metal matrix by TiC nanowires; (3) pressing and sintering to give solid metal composite nanostructured materials based on iron with TiC nanostructures with size 1–50 nm. This material can be represented as the material type “frame in the frame” that represents iron metal frame reinforcing the frame of different chemical compositions based on TiC. Study of material functional properties showed that the mechanical properties of composite materials based on iron with TiC dispersed phase despite the presence of residual porosity are comparable to the properties of the best grades of steel containing expensive dopants and obtained by molding. This will solve the problem of developing a new generation of nanostructured metal (iron-based) materials with improved mechanical properties for the different areas of technology.
Gentrification in Latin America: Overview and Critical Analysis
Authors: Betancur John J.
Published: February 2014

This paper offers a critical review and interpretation of gentrification in Latin American cities. Applying a flexible methodology, it examines enabling conditions associated with societal regime change and local contingencies to determine its presence, nature, extent, and possibilities. Questioning the uncritical transfer of constructs such as gentrification from the Global North to the Global South, the paper advocates analyses of mediating structures and local conditions to determine their applicability and possible variations. Overall, the review questions the feasibility of self-sustained, large scale gentrification in central areas of the region’s cities today tying it to each city’s level of incorporation into global circuits and the role of local governments. Rather than an orthodox hypothesis testing, this is an exercise in interpretation that calls for nuanced approaches to the study of urban restructuring in cities of the global South.
Pilot Study of 19 Patients with Severe Pemphigus: Prophylactic Treatment with Rituximab Does Not Appear to be Beneficial
Authors: Gregoriou S. , Giatrakou S. , Theodoropoulos K. , Katoulis A. , Loumou P. , Toumbis-Ioannou E. , Papadavid E. , Avgerinou G. , Stavrianeas N. , Rigopoulos D.
Published: February 2014

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab in refractory pemphigus and the possible benefit of an additional prophylactic infusion at 6 months. Methods: Seventeen patients with pemphigus vulgaris, 1 with pemphigus foliaceus and 1 with pemphigus vegetans were treated with 4 weekly infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2). Nine patients received an additional prophylactic infusion after 6 months while the rest received no maintenance therapy. In case of recurrence, an additional single infusion was administered. Results: Control of the disease was obtained after 3-8 weeks. End of the consolidation phase for all patients was observed after 16 weeks. Patients remained in full remission for 7-42 months. All immunosuppressive agents, including prednisone, were discontinued after 2-12 months. The disease relapsed in 5 out of 9 patients who received the additional prophylactic infusion, and in 3 out of 10 patients among those skipping the prophylactic additional infusion. Conclusion: One course of rituximab and treatment of relapses is highly effective and well tolerated in the treatment of refractory pemphigus. In this pilot study of 19 patients, the prophylactic infusion does not appear to have provided any additional benefit to the patients receiving it.
The Benefits of Bimodal Hearing: Effect of Frequency Region and Acoustic Bandwidth
Authors: Sheffield Sterling W. , Gifford René H.
Published: February 2014

We examined the effects of acoustic bandwidth on bimodal benefit for speech recognition in adults with a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and low-frequency acoustic hearing in the contralateral ear. The primary aims were to (1) replicate Zhang et al. [Ear Hear 2010;31:63-69] with a steeper filter roll-off to examine the low-pass bandwidth required to obtain bimodal benefit for speech recognition and expand results to include different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and talker genders, (2) determine whether the bimodal benefit increased with acoustic low-pass bandwidth and (3) determine whether an equivalent bimodal benefit was obtained with acoustic signals of similar low-pass and pass band bandwidth, but different center frequencies. Speech recognition was assessed using words presented in quiet and sentences in noise (+10, +5 and 0 dB SNRs). Acoustic stimuli presented to the nonimplanted ear were filtered into the following bands: <125, 125-250, <250, 250-500, <500, 250-750, <750 Hz and wide-band (full, nonfiltered bandwidth). The primary findings were: (1) the minimum acoustic low-pass bandwidth that produced a significant bimodal benefit was <250 Hz for male talkers in quiet and for female talkers in multitalker babble, but <125 Hz for male talkers in background noise, and the observed bimodal benefit did not vary significantly with SNR; (2) the bimodal benefit increased systematically with acoustic low-pass bandwidth up to <750 Hz for a male talker in quiet and female talkers in noise and up to <500 Hz for male talkers in noise, and (3) a similar bimodal benefit was obtained with low-pass and band-pass-filtered stimuli with different center frequencies (e.g. <250 vs. 250-500 Hz), meaning multiple frequency regions contain useful cues for bimodal benefit. Clinical implications are that (1) all aidable frequencies should be amplified in individuals with bimodal hearing, and (2) verification of audibility at 125 Hz is unnecessary unless it is the only aidable frequency.