bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Slater half-occupation technique revisited: the LDA-1/2 and GGA-1/2 approaches for atomic ionization energies and band gaps in semiconductors
Authors: Ferreira Luiz G. , Marques Marcelo , Teles Lara K.
Published: August 2011

The very old and successful density-functional technique of half-occupation is revisited [J. C. Slater, Adv. Quant. Chem. 6, 1 (1972)]. We use it together with the modern exchange-correlation approximations to calculate atomic ionization energies and band gaps in semiconductors [L. G. Ferreira et al., Phys. Rev. B 78, 125116 (2008)]. Here we enlarge the results of the previous paper, add to its understandability, and show when the technique might fail. Even in this latter circumstance, the calculated band gaps are far better than those of simple LDA or GGA. As before, the difference between the Kohn-Sham ground state one-particle eigenvalues and the half-occupation eigenvalues is simply interpreted as the self-energy (not self-interaction) of the particle excitation. In both cases, that of atomic ionization energies and semiconductor band gaps, the technique is proven to be very worthy, because not only the results can be very precise but the calculations are fast and very simple.
Design and fabrication of a CH/CRF dual-layer perturbation target for ICF hydrodynamic experiments
Authors: Zhu Xiurong , Zhou Bin , Zhong Yanhong , Du Ai , Chen Ke , Li Yunong , Zhang Zhihua , Shen Jun , Wu Guangming , Ni Xingyuan
Published: August 2011

A polystyrene (CH)/carbonized resorcinol formaldehyde (CRF) dual-layer perturbation target for inertial confinement fusion hydrodynamic instability experiments was designed and fabricated. The target was composed of a perturbed CRF aerogel sheet and a CH layer. The detailed fabrication method consisted of three steps. The CRF aerogel sheet was first prepared by sol–gel and carbonization processes; the perturbation patterns were then introduced on the surface of the CRF aerogel sheet by a laser micro-machining process; finally, the CH layer was directly coated on the perturbation surface by a spin-coating process not only to avoid the use of a sticker but also to eliminate the gaps between the CH layer and the CRF aerogel sheet. A scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the surface morphology and microstructure of the CRF aerogel sheet. The parameters of the target, such as the perturbation period (T), perturbation amplitude (A), thickness of the CRF aerogel sheet (H
1) and thickness of the CH layer (H
2), were characterized by a QC-5000 tool microscope. The cross-sectional photographs of the target showed that the CH layer and the CRF aerogel sheet adhered perfectly with each other. The influence of the laser micro-machining process on the microstructure of the CRF aerogel sheet was studied. T and A of the target were about 100 µm and 20 µm while H
1 and H
2 were about 250 µm and 30 µm, respectively. The total thickness and width of the target were about 260 µm and 250 µm, respectively.
Modelling of (2,1) NTM dynamics with flow in JET advanced scenarios
Authors: Maget P. , Lütjens H. , Brix M. , Buratti P. , Buttery R.J. , Coelho R. , Halpern F. , Hawkes N. , Jenkins I. , Challis C. , Giroud C. , Litaudon X. , Mailloux J. , Mellet N. , Meshcheriakov D.
Published: August 2011

Experimental observations show that the βN threshold for (2,1) NTM excitation is increased by flow shear, but the physical explanation for this trend is still unclear. In this work, we investigate this issue by performing numerical experiments addressing the dependence of the critical island width on toroidal plasma rotation with the full MHD toroidal code XTOR (Lütjens and Luciani 2010 J. Comput. Phys.
229 8130–43), on the basis of a typical JET advanced tokamak case. We find that for situations where the Lundquist number is increased towards the experimental value, the (2,1) NTM is weakly destabilized by flow shear at low magnetic Prandtl number Prm, while the threshold remains nearly insensitive to the flow at high Prm. This weak effect of rotation shear also holds close to the linear regime, where an equivalent of the Δ′ concept adapted to nonlinear simulations does not indicate any significant variation with flow shear. The experimental trend is therefore not recovered, and possible explanations for this disagreement are discussed. A simple model of anisotropic viscous tensor shows that the high toroidal viscosity does not influence the value of the threshold, but comparison with experimental measurements suggests that the effective Prm seen by the mode is, however, larger than its small collisional value. Finally, the scaling of dimensionless parameters to ITER range is discussed.
Loss compensation by gain and spasing
Authors: Stockman Mark I.
Published: August 2011

We present a theory of the effective dielectric response of metamaterials containing gain. We demonstrate analytically that the conditions of spaser generation and the full loss compensation in a dense resonant plasmonic-gain metamaterial are identical. Consequently, attempting the full compensation or overcompensation of losses by gain will lead to an instability and a transition to a spaser state. This will limit (clamp) the inversion and eliminate the net gain. As a result, the full loss compensation (overcompensation) in such metamaterials is impossible. The criterion of the loss overcompensation, leading to the instability and spasing, is given in an analytical and a universal (independent from system geometry) form. Comparison with existing experiments is carried out.
Can unified theories of biodiversity explain mammalian macroecological patterns?
Authors: Jones Kate E. , Blackburn Tim M. , Isaac Nick J. B.
Published: August 2011

The idea of a unifying theory of biodiversity linking the diverse array of macroecological patterns into a common theoretical framework is very appealing. We explore this idea to examine currently proposed unified theories of biodiversity (UTBs) and their predictions. Synthesizing the literature on the macroecological patterns of mammals, we critically evaluate the evidence to support these theories. We find general qualitative support for the UTBs' predictions within mammals, but rigorous testing is hampered by the types of data typically collected in studies of mammals. In particular, abundance is rarely estimated for entire mammalian communities or of individual species in multiple locations, reflecting the logistical challenges of studying wild mammal populations. By contrast, there are numerous macroecological patterns (especially allometric scaling relationships) that are extremely well characterized for mammals, but which fall outside the scope of current UTBs. We consider how these theories might be extended to explain mammalian biodiversity patterns more generally. Specifically, we suggest that UTBs need to incorporate the dimensions of geographical space, species' traits and time to reconcile theory with pattern.
Isolation and Culture of Bovine Corneal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Jones Jonathan C. R.
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes the isolation of epithelial cells from bovine cornea. It can be modified for other epithelial cell types if a supply of tissue is available.
On-Membrane Proteolytic Digestion of Electroblotted Proteins
Authors: Simspon Richard J.
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTION

There are two main approaches for digesting proteins to generate peptide maps for gel-separated proteins: (1) protein blotting onto immobilizing membranes, followed by on-membrane digestion, and (2) digesting proteins directly in the gel matrix and extracting the peptides. In this protocol, a method for performing on-membrane protein digestion is provided.
Gene Transfer into Mammalian Cells Using Targeted Filamentous Bacteriophage
Authors: Baird Andrew
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTION

Phage vectors, because of their genetic simplicity, are uniquely suited to methods that use directed evolution to genetically optimize vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. Moreover, because phage production is restricted to strain-specific bacteria, the hosts are equally amenable to genetic engineering, modification, and even genetic selections to optimize yield, genetic stability, manufacture, and cost. The choice of targeting ligand determines the specificity of targeted phage transduction. Genetic targeting is limited to proteins that can be efficiently expressed and biologically active following secretion into the periplasmic space of the bacteria and subsequent incorporation into the phage particle. The capacity of phage to display a chosen targeting ligand must be determined empirically and optimized. Alternatively, the targeting ligand can be selected after display in a phage library. The orientation of the reporter gene relative to the phage structural genes can affect vector transduction efficiency. We have also targeted phage particles for gene delivery using an avidin-biotin linkage. This allows selection of ligands without concern for their ability to be displayed genetically. This protocol describes the use of targeted filamentous phage for gene delivery to mammalian cells. The final vector, although of low efficiency, is meant to serve as a starting point for a vector development platform that can use in vitro and in vivo techniques of combinatorial display to direct its evolution to high efficiency, high specificity, and eventually, safety in humans.
Population Choice as a Consideration for Genetic Analysis Study Design
Authors: Stephens J. Claiborne , Bamshad Michael
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTION

Genetic association and gene mapping studies must be carefully designed if they are to provide meaningful data. An important consideration in designing such studies is the type of population to be analyzed. This article discusses founder populations, homozygosity mapping, and admixed populations, and considers the advantages of each in mapping human disease genes.
Trivial minimization of extra‐steps under dynamic homology
Authors: Wheeler Ward C.
Published: August 2011

Farris (1983) stated that the rationale of the parsimony criterion was to minimize extra (i.e. non‐minimal) steps. For traditional characters, this is equivalent to minimizing total steps (i.e. length). Under dynamic homology (sensu Wheeler, 2001), this identity is broken. Here, it is shown that extra steps (but not total) can be minimized trivially (to zero) for all data sets on all trees when insertion‐deletion events are considered.

© The Willi Hennig Society 2011.
A data variance technique for automated despiking of magnetotelluric data with a remote reference
Authors: Kappler Karl N.
Published: August 2011

The magnetotelluric method employs co‐located surface measurements of electric and magnetic fields to infer the local electrical structure of the earth. The frequency dependent ‘apparent resistivity’ curves can be inaccurate at long periods if input data are contaminated – even when robust remote reference techniques are employed. Data despiking prior to processing can result in significantly more reliable estimates of long period apparent resistivities. This paper outlines a two‐step method of automatic identification and replacement for spike‐like contamination of magnetotelluric data; based on the simultaneity of natural electric and magnetic field variations at distant sites. This simultaneity is exploited both to identify windows in time when the array data are compromised as well as to generate synthetic data that replace observed transient noise spikes. In the first step windows in data time series that contain spikes are identified according to an intersite comparison of channel ‘activity’– such as the variance of differenced data within each window. In the second step, plausible data for replacement of flagged windows are calculated by Wiener filtering coincident data in clean channels. The Wiener filters – which express the time‐domain relationship between various array channels – are computed using an uncontaminated segment of array training data. Examples are shown where the algorithm is applied to artificially contaminated data and to real field data. In both cases all spikes are successfully identified. In the case of implanted artificial noise, the synthetic replacement time series are very similar to the original recording. In all cases, apparent resistivity and phase curves obtained by processing the despiked data are much improved over curves obtained from raw data.
Insect insulin receptors: insights from sequence and caste expression analyses of two cloned hymenopteran insulin receptor cDNAs from the fire ant
Authors: Lu H.‐L. , Pietrantonio P. V.
Published: July 2011

The insulin and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) signalling (IIS) pathway in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is linked to reproductive division of labour and foraging behaviour. Two insulin receptor genes are present in the released genomes of other social hymenopterans. Limited information is available on the IIS pathway role in ants. The predicted insulin receptor sequences from the recently released draft genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are incomplete and biologically significant data are also lacking. To elucidate the role of the IIS pathway in the fire ant, two putative insulin receptors (SiInR‐1 and SiInR‐2) were cloned; the first InR cDNAs cloned from social insects. Analyses of putative post‐translational modification sites in SiInRs revealed the potential for differential regulation. We investigated the transcriptional expression of both receptors at different developmental stages, castes and queen tissues. In last instar larvae and pharate pupae of workers and reproductive, transcriptional abundance of both receptors was negatively correlated with body size and nutritional status. The expression level of both receptors in different queen tissues appears to correlate with requirements for queen reproductive physiology and behaviours. This study contributes new information to the understanding of social insects because in fire ants juvenile hormone acts as a gonadotropin and workers are fully sterile, contrary to honey bees.
Development and feasibility of falls prevention advice
Authors: van Harten‐Krouwel Diny , Schuurmans Marieke , Emmelot‐Vonk Mariëlle , Pel‐Littel Ruth
Published: August 2011

Aims and objectives.  This study examined the feasibility of nursing falls prevention advice and factors influencing feasibility.

Background.  The frequency and seriousness of falls in hospitalised patients are underestimated, and such falls should be preventable because of the presence of professionals. A best practice‐based falls prevention advice was developed to decrease the incidence of secondary falls and the incidence of primary falls in the long term and to increase the knowledge of nurses about falls prevention and the seriousness of falls.

Design.  A descriptive, explorative study.

Methods.  Feasibility of the advice for 30 patients was assessed 82 times (theoretically, three times per patient) by observation and by interviewing nurses, patients and their families.

Results.  The falls prevention advice was used in 48% of the assessments. There was a difference in use between interventions. Interventions that required more knowledge, communication and extra activities were implemented the least. The absence of materials and knowledge about falls prevention were important determinants of the non‐implementation of certain interventions.

Conclusion.  Before falls prevention advice is implemented, it is important to educate nurses about falls, communication skills and implementation of the advice.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The falls prevention advice might help nurses to prevent falls and increase their knowledge about falls prevention.
Helminth infections: therapeutic potential in autoimmune disorders
Authors: EL‐MALKY M. , NABIH N. , HEDER M. , SAUDY N. , EL‐MAHDY M.
Published: July 2011

Knowledge of immunity enables us to predict that the reactions set in response to infection with helminth would prevent concomitant disease driven by an opposing spectrum of immune events. In another way, the immune response generated to combat the helminth infection could counteract the immunopathological reactions that drive autoimmune diseases. Rodent model systems recapitulate many aspects of human autoimmune diseases and have been enormously useful in defining mechanisms of immunopathology after infection. From this theoretical perspective, many researchers have proved that infection with a variety of helminth can ameliorate disease in murine model systems. Thus, helminth‐evoked Th2 events were shown to improve disorders in which Th1 events predominated. This raised the question, ‘Can this information be translated into therapies for autoimmune diseases in humans via actual infection, cell delivery or drug intervention?’ In this review, we will present some experimental trails to treat autoimmune disorders through establishment of some parasitic infections.
The novel HLA‐C*06:58 allele, identified by sequence‐based typing in an Italian family
Authors: Testi M. , Troiano M. , Di Luzio A. , Stellitano C. , Andreani M.
Published: August 2011

The novel HLA‐C allele C*06:58 shows one nucleotide change from C*06:02:01:01 at nt 366 from G to A, resulting in an amino acid change at codon 98 of exon 3 from Met to Ile.
Field‐level effects of preventative management tactics on soybean aphids (Aphis glycinesMatsumura) and their predators
Authors: Tinsley N. A. , Steffey K. L. , Estes R. E. , Heeren J. R. , Gray M. E. , Diers B. W.
Published: August 2011

A 2‐year field experiment was conducted in northern Illinois to evaluate the effects of host plant resistance and an insecticidal seed treatment (thiamethoxam) on soybean aphids,Aphis glycinesMatsumura and their predators. Densities of soybean aphids varied between the 2 years of the experiment. During both years, resistant plants experienced fewer cumulative aphid days than susceptible plants. Populations of soybean aphids on resistant plants rarely exceeded the economic injury level of 250 soybean aphids per plant. The use of thiamethoxam reduced cumulative aphid days in 2007, but not in 2008. Although soybean aphids reached densities that were sufficient to cause yield‐loss for untreated and susceptible plants, no yield‐benefit was associated with using the two management tactics in either year. This latter finding suggests that densities of soybean aphids need to be greater and sustained for a longer period of time than what we observed if the two management tactics are expected to provide a yield‐benefit. Monitoring natural enemies revealed that densities of key aphidophagous predators were relatively unaffected by host plant resistance or thiamethoxam; the effect of these management tactics on densities of predators, as well as the effectiveness of the method used to sample predators, is discussed.
‘If the miners had been Mexican…’ The Chilean mine rescue as Mexican ‘politics machine’ (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Ferry Elizabeth Emma
Published: August 2011

The operation in October 2010 to rescue 33 miners trapped in the San José mine near Copiapó, Chile, which culminated in a technologically and emotionally dramatic rescue after 69 days of captivity and the expenditure of at least 10 million dollars, captured the world's attention. The story acted as a kind of ‘accidental Olympics’, evoking national sentiment and global communitas, and offering more than a billion people the chance to peek into the lives of the miners and their families. But responses to the rescue were not the same everywhere. This article examines responses in Mexico. Whereas elsewhere the story's appeal lay in its capacity to be presented as a ‘politics‐free zone’, this seemed to be less the case in Mexico. Some Mexican publics, at least, were relatively immune to the apolitical ‘inspiration’ offered by the media and enthusiastically taken up elsewhere. This is because many Mexicans see a painful contrast between circumstances in their country and those in Chile. This sense of contrast manifested itself not only in a lower degree of ‘buy‐in’ to the feel‐good aspect of the story in Mexico, but also in a surge of ill‐feeling and protest against the Mexican government, and in a telling spate of jokes that did the rounds in October and November, which were disseminated on Twitter and YouTube and reported in television and print media. The jokes followed the formula: ‘If the [Chilean] miners had been Mexican…’ and drew on strains of social and political satire with a long history in Mexico.
The character and denomination of shares in the Victorian equity market1
Authors: ACHESON GRAEME G. , TURNER JOHN D. , YE QING
Published: July 2011

The seminal work of J. B. Jefferys highlighted two unusual features of the Victorian equity market, namely high share denomination and uncalled capital. This article examines the extent to which publicly traded company stocks in the nineteenth century had these features. It also analyses the effect of these features on stock returns using monthly data for the London Stock Market over the period 1825–70. We find that stocks with unpaid capital earned a higher return, which is consistent with investors being rewarded for the risk of a call on their personal assets. We also find that stocks with a high share denomination earned a lower return, which is consistent with the view that this feature was conducive to superior corporate governance.
Common Trends and Linkages in the US Manufacturing Sector, 1969–2000
Authors: LANASPA SANTOLARIA LUIS FERNANDO , OLLOQUI CUARTERO IRENE , SANZ GARCIA FERNANDO
Published: August 2011

Manufacturing employment series may reflect economically significant trends over time. This proposition is tested using annual employment data for 20 US industrial sectors in the 50 states covering the period 1969–2000. First, we test whether the individual state employment series follow Gibrat's Law. Our results suggest that this is mainly the case. Secondly, we establish whether the series taken two‐by‐two share common stochastic trends and linkages over time. Our main conclusion is that significant relationships, of intra‐ and inter‐industrial nature, are observable in US manufacturing. Finally, we also find a substitution relationship between both types of linkages.

Au fil des années, les séries de données sur l'emploi manufacturier peuvent refléter des tendances importantes sur le plan économique. Cette proposition est évaluée à partir des données annuelles sur l'emploi dans vingt secteurs industriels des cinquante États américains de 1969 à 2000. D'abord, ce travail vérifie si les séries sur l'emploi de chaque État suivent la loi de Gibrat; ce qui, d'après les résultats, est majoritairement le cas. Ensuite, il détermine si les séries, prises deux par deux, présentent des tendances stochastiques communes et des liens dans le temps; la conclusion principale est qu'on peut observer des relations importantes, de nature intra et inter sectorielle, au sein de l'industrie manufacturière aux États‐Unis. Pour finir, l'étude établit aussi une relation de substitution entre les deux types de liens.
Relationships among variables and their equilibrium values: caveats of time‐less interpretation
Authors: Janušonis Skirmantas
Published: August 2011

In biology, the researcher often manipulates some variables of a system and observes its other variables, or investigates relationships among naturally occurring variable values. The studied variables are often measured at equilibrium. It is therefore important to know what we can learn from these equilibrium values and how much information they provide about the fundamental properties of the system. We argue that this information is very limited and that statistical relationships that include equilibrium values may lead to grossly incorrect inferences. A number of simple systems are discussed in order to provide examples of such inferential errors and advice is given about how to avoid them in practice. In conclusion, the potential importance of measure theory in biological sciences in considered.
Modulating human proteinase activated receptor 2 with a novel antagonist (GB88) and agonist (GB110)
Authors: Suen JY , Barry GD , Lohman RJ , Halili MA , Cotterell AJ , Le GT , Fairlie DP
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Many cells express proteinase activated receptor 2 (PAR2) on their plasma membrane. PAR2 is activated by proteolytic enzymes, such as trypsin and tryptase that cleave the receptor N‐terminus, inititating signalling to intracellular G proteins. Studies on PAR2 have relied heavily upon activating effects of proteases and peptide agonists that lack stability and bioavailability in vivo.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH A novel small molecule agonist GB110 and an antagonist GB88 were characterized in vitro against trypsin, peptide agonists, PAR2 antibody, PAR1 agonists and flow cytometry,in seven cell lines using intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and examined in vivo against PAR2‐ and PAR1‐induced rat paw oedema.

KEY RESULTS GB110 is a potent non‐peptidic agonist activating PAR2‐mediated Ca2+ release in HT29 cells (EC50∼200 nM) and six other human cell lines, inducing PAR2 internalization. GB88 is a unique PAR2 antagonist, inhibiting PAR2 activated Ca2+ release (IC50∼2 µM) induced by native (trypsin) or synthetic peptide and non‐peptide agonists. GB88 was a competitive and surmountable antagonist of agonist 2f‐LIGRLO‐NH2, a competitive but insurmountable antagonist of agonist GB110, and a non‐competitive insurmountable antagonist of trypsin. GB88 was orally active and anti‐inflammatory in vivo, inhibiting acute rat paw oedema elicited by agonist GB110 and proteolytic or peptide agonists of PAR2 but not by corresponding agonists of PAR1 or PAR4.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The novel PAR2 agonist and antagonist modulate intracellular Ca2+ and rat paw oedema, providing novel molecular tools for examining PAR2‐mediated diseases.
Increased endothelin‐1 vasoconstriction in mesenteric resistance arteries after superior mesenteric ischaemia‐reperfusion
Authors: Martínez‐Revelles S , Caracuel L , Márquez‐Martín A , Dantas AP , Oliver E , D'Ocon P , Vila E
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular tone. We aimed to evaluate the influence of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) on mesenteric resistance artery vasomotor function and the mechanism involved in the changes in vascular responses to ET‐1.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH SMA from male Sprague‐Dawley rats was occluded (90 min) and following reperfusion (24 h), mesenteric resistance arteries were dissected. Vascular reactivity was studied using wire myography. Protein and mRNA expression, superoxide anion (O2•−) production and ET‐1 plasma concentration were evaluated by immunofluorescence, real‐time quantitative PCR, ethidium fluorescence and elisa, respectively.

KEY RESULTS I/R increased ET‐1 plasma concentration, ET‐1‐mediated vasoconstriction and ETB mRNA expression, and down‐regulated ETA mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence confirmed mRNA results and revealed an increase in ETB receptors in the mesenteric resistance artery media layer after I/R. Therefore, the ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin‐6 induced a contraction that was inhibited by the ETB receptor antagonist BQ788 only in vessels, with and without endothelium, from I/R rats. Furthermore, BQ788 potentiated ET‐1 vasoconstriction only in sham rats. Endothelium removal in rings from I/R rats unmasked the inhibition of ET‐1 vasoconstriction by BQ788. Endothelium removal, Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester and superoxide dismutase abolished the differences in ET‐1 vasoconstriction between sham and I/R rats. We also found that I/R down‐regulates endothelial NOS mRNA expression and concomitantly enhanced O2•− production by increasing NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX‐1) and p47phox mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Mesenteric I/R potentiated the ET‐1‐mediated vasoconstriction by a mechanism that involves up‐regulation of muscular ETB receptors and decrease in NO bioavailability.
Medicare Part D's Effect on the Under‐ and Overuse of Medications: A Systematic Review
Authors: Polinski Jennifer M. , Donohue Julie M. , Kilabuk Elaine , Shrank William H.
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the literature regarding the effect of Medicare Part D on the under‐ and overuse of specific medications and corresponding health outcomes.

DESIGN: Systematic review.

SETTING: Medline search of the peer‐reviewed literature from January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2010.

PARTICIPANTS: Medicare beneficiaries who obtained drug insurance from the Part D program.

MEASUREMENTS: The review evaluated changes in the use of specific drugs or drug classes after implementation of Part D, as described in original, peer‐reviewed articles.

RESULTS: Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria. Part D's implementation was associated with greater use of essential medications such as clopidogrel and statins, especially in beneficiaries who had been previously uninsured, but increases in inappropriate antibiotic use for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections and increases in claims for the often overused proton pump inhibitor drug class were also observed. In the Part D transition period, dually eligible beneficiaries' drug use remained largely unchanged. When beneficiary cost sharing increased in the coverage gap, use of essential and overused medications declined.

CONCLUSION: Increasing drug coverage led to greater use of underused essential medications and inappropriate, or overused, medications under Medicare Part D. Despite efforts to have it do so, the Part D benefit did not sufficiently discriminate between essential and nonessential medication use.
Markets, Hierarchies, and Networks: An Agent‐Based Organizational Ecology
Authors: Jung Danielle F. , Lake David A.
Published: August 2011

Markets, hierarchies, and networks are widely understood to be the three primary forms of social organization. In this article, we study the choice between these forms in a general, agent‐based model (ABM) of cooperation. The organizational ecology is the product, an emergent property, of the set of choices made by agents contingent on their individual attributes and beliefs about the population of agents. This is one of the first attempts to theorize explicitly the choice between different organizational forms, especially networks and hierarchies, and certainly the first to do so in an ABM. The insights of the model are applied to current research on transnational networks, social capital, and the sources of hierarchy and especially autocracy.
Right‐Side RF Ablation Using Remote Catheter Navigation: Experimental Results In Vivo
Authors: THAKUR YOGESH , JONES DOUGLAS L. , SKANES ALLAN , YEE RAYMOND , DRANGOVA MARIA
Published: August 2011

Tele‐Operated Catheter Ablation, In Vivo. Introduction: The close proximity between the interventionalist and patient during catheter‐based interventions for cardiac arrhythmia exposes the interventionalist to harmful radiation. A prototype remote catheter navigation system (RCNS) has been developed to reduce occupational dose. The safety, feasibility of this RCNS and a comparison of remote and conventional navigation techniques is investigated in vivo.

Methods:
Seven anatomical locations in the right side of the heart in porcine models were chosen as navigation targets. Using fluoroscopy and electrogram analysis, an experienced electrophysiology interventionalist manipulated a radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter to each target using the RCNS and conventional navigation. Success rate, navigation time, exposure, exposure time and procedure time was recorded for all anatomical targets. Time to integrate the RCNS with the procedure suite was also measured.

Results:
All targets were successfully reached with the RCNS and conventional navigation. No erratic catheter motion was observed with the RCNS whereas 1 operation failure occurred. The anatomical targets were found to have the largest effect on navigation time (P < 0.05), exposure (P < 0.05), and exposure time (P < 0.01), although the navigation method had little to no effect on the metrics. These results suggest that remote navigation procedures can be performed with navigation times comparable to conventional bedside navigation.

Conclusion:
Remote navigation with the RCNS may present a safe method of reducing occupational dose, while providing comparable navigation time with conventional bedside navigation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 81‐87, January 2012)
Evaluation of the Dental Hygienist Beliefs Survey; test–retest assessment in a group of general dental patients
Authors: Abrahamsson KH , Andersson P , Krok L , Hakeberg M
Published: July 2011

To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene
10, 2012; 30–35  DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2011.00521.x  Abrahamsson KH, Andersson P, Krok L, Hakeberg M. Evaluation of the Dental Hygienist Beliefs Survey; test–retest assessment in a group of general dental patients.

Abstract:  Objective:  To evaluate the Dental Hygienist Beliefs Survey (DHBS) and the test–retest reliability of DHBS in a group of general dental patients.

Material and methods:  The DHBS, which is a questionnaire constructed to assess patients’ specific attitudes towards dental hygienists (DHs), was distributed together with the Dental Anxiety Scale adapted to specifically assess fear of DH treatment (DHAS). It was hypothesized that DHBS would correlate with DHAS and gender. The questionnaires were consecutively distributed to 80 patients at their first visit and after a clinical examination performed by a DH student. Retest assessments of DHBS were conducted approximately two weeks later in conjunction with the next visit at the DH student and before treatment (scaling session). The final study sample included 77 adult general dental patients in treatment at an education clinic for DH students.

Results:  The results verified a statistically significant correlation between DHBS and DHAS. The DHBS sum of scores showed high internal consistency with Cronbach’s a coefficient of 0.88 and 0.91 at the first and second assessments, respectively, and the test–retest reliability of the DHBS was acceptable with intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.76. No statistically significant association was found between DHBS and gender.

Conclusion:  The results suggest that the DHBS is a reliable and stable scale to use to assess patients’ specific attitudes towards DHs. Moreover, DH beliefs are associated with fear of DH treatment.
Sex differences in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in older men and women
Authors: McLaughlin Deirdre , Adams Jon , Sibbritt David , Lui Chi‐Wai
Published: July 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to examine sex differences in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among older adults.

Methods:  Cross‐sectional analysis of data from two cohort studies of community‐dwelling women (n = 5399) and men (n = 3188) aged 82–87 and 77–91 years, respectively. The main outcome measure was self‐report of consultations with an alternative health practitioner.

Results:  Men were 1.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46, 2.20) times more likely to use CAM than women. People born in a non‐English speaking country were 1.49 times (95% CI: 0.94, 2.35) more likely to use CAM. Self‐reported general health (P = 0.01) and bodily pain (P < 0.01) were significantly associated with CAM use.

Conclusion:  In contrast to previous research, CAM use is more prevalent among older men than older women in our sample. Both men and women are using CAM to maintain good health and for the treatment of ongoing conditions.
Physicochemical Properties of Monosodium Glutamate‐Compounded Tapioca Starch Exceeds Those of Simple Heat–Moisture Treated Starch
Authors: Yagishita Takahiro , Ito Koichi , Yokomizo Eiji , Endo Shigeru , Takahashi Koji
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Monosodium glutamate (GluNa)‐compounded starch was prepared by heat–moisture treating a mixture of tapioca starch and GluNa. GluNa‐compounded starch exhibited a higher gelatinization temperature and reduced swelling and solubility, essentially lower hardness of the granule center, and paste viscosity than those of the heat–moisture treated tapioca starch and the untreated starch. However, its appearance, unit chain length distribution, and α‐amylase digestibility were similar to those of the heat–moisture treated tapioca. It is thus concluded that GluNa compounding is useful for providing a unique type of starch that possesses a less swollen and viscous texture than that produced with simple heat–moisture treatment.
The Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Suicide Rates in Bipolar Patients
Authors: Rihmer Zoltan , Gonda Xenia
Published: August 2011

Suicide is a complex and multicausal human behavior and also a great challenge for psychiatry. We review the evidence available concerning pharmacological prevention of suicide in bipolar disorder patients. Several clinical trials provide evidence that effective acute and long‐term treatment of bipolar depression provides a strong protection against suicide, suicide attempts, and probably against other complications of this disorder. Current major mood disorder is the most important risk factor of suicide, and bipolar II patients carry the highest risk. In bipolar patients suicidal behavior is most likely to occur during pure or mixed depressive episodes. Since bipolar disorder is a highly recurrent illness, adequate long‐term pharmacotherapy is needed to prevent suicidal behavior.
On Minimum Link Monotone Path Problems
Authors: Wei Xiangzhi , Joneja Ajay
Published: August 2011

The problem of finding monotone paths between two given points has useful applications in path planning, and in particular, it is useful to look for minimum link paths. We are given a simple polygon P or a polygonal domain D with n vertices and a triplet of input parameters: (s, t, d), where s and t are two points in the plane and d is any direction. We show how to answer a query for the existence of a d-monotone path between s and t inside P (or D) in logarithmic time after preprocessing P in O(En) time, or D in O(En + ERlogR) time, where E is the size of the visibility graph of P (or D), and R is the number of reflex vertices in D. Our approach is based on the novel idea utilizing the dual graph of the trapezoidal map of P (or D). For polygonal domains, our approach uses a trapezoidal map associated with each visibility edge of D, and we show how to compute this large set of trapezoidal maps efficiently. Furthermore, we show how to output a minimum linkd-monotone path between points s and t, for an arbitrary input triplet (s, t, d).
Numerical Modeling of Steady Burning Characteristics of Spherical Ethanol Particles in a Spray Environment
Authors: Kumar Sahu Vaibhav , Raghavan Vasudevan , Pope Daniel N. , Gogos George
Published: August 2011

A numerical study of steady burning of spherical ethanol particles in a spray environment is presented. A spray environment is modeled as a high temperature oxidizer stream where the major products of combustion such as carbon dioxide and water vapor will be present along with reduced amounts of oxygen and nitrogen. The numerical model, which employs variable thermophysical properties, a global single-step reaction mechanism, and an optically thin radiation model, has been first validated against published experimental results for quasi-steady combustion of spherical ethanol particles. The validated model has been employed to predict the burning behavior of the ethanol particle in high temperature modified oxidizer environment. Results show that based on the amount of oxygen present in the oxidizer the burning rate constant is affected. The ambient temperature affects the burning rate constant only after a sufficient decrease in the oxygen content occurs. In pure air stream, ambient temperature variation does not affect the evaporation constant. Results in terms of burning rates, maximum temperature around the particle, and the evaporation rate constants are presented for all the cases. The variation of normalized Damköhler number is also presented to show the cases where combustion or pure evaporation would occur.
Real-Time Optimal Coherent Phantom Track Generation via the Virtual Motion Camouflage Approach
Authors: Xu Yunjun , Basset Gareth
Published: August 2011

Coherent phantom track generation through controlling a group of electronic combat air vehicles is currently an area of great interest to the defense agency for the purpose of deceiving a radar network. However, generating an optimal or even feasible coherent phantom trajectory in real-time is challenging due to the high dimensionality of the problem and severe geometric, as well as state, control, and control rate constraints. In this paper, the bio-inspired virtual motion camouflage based methodology, augmented with the derived early termination condition, is investigated to solve this constrained collaborative trajectory planning problem in two approaches: centralized (one optimization loop) and decentralized (two optimization loops). Specifically, in the decentralized approach, the first loop finds feasible phantom tracks based on the early termination condition and the equality and inequality constraints of the phantom track. The second loop uses the virtual motion camouflage method to solve for the optimal electronic combat air vehicle trajectories based on the feasible phantom tracks obtained in the first loop. Necessary conditions are proposed for both approaches so that the initial and final velocities of the phantom and electronic combat air vehicles are coherent. It is shown that the decentralized approach can solve the problem much faster than the centralized one, and when the decentralized approach is applied, the computational cost remains roughly the same for the cases when the number of nodes and/or the number of electronic combat air vehicles increases. It is concluded that the virtual motion camouflage based decentralized approach has promising potential for usage in real-time implementation.
Robust Fault Tolerant Control for Spacecraft Attitude Stabilization Under Actuator Faults and Bounded Disturbance
Authors: Xiao Bing , Hu Qinglei , Friswell Michael I.
Published: August 2011

This paper investigates the design of spacecraft attitude stabilization controllers that are robust against actuator faults and external disturbances. A nominal controller is developed initially, using the adaptive backstepping technique, to stabilize asymptotically the spacecraft attitude when the actuators are fault-free. Additive faults and the partial loss of actuator effectiveness are considered simultaneously and an auxiliary controller is designed in addition to the nominal controller to compensate for the system faults. This auxiliary controller does not use any fault detection and isolation mechanism to detect, separate, and identify the actuator faults online. The attitude orientation and angular velocity of the closed-loop system asymptotically converge to zero despite actuator faults providing the nominal attitude system is asymptotically stable. Numerical simulation results are presented that demonstrate the closed-loop performance benefits of the proposed control law and illustrate its robustness to external disturbances and actuator faults.
Influence of Electrical Parameters of a Thin-Layer Sensor on the Accuracy of Pressure Measurement in an EHD Contact
Authors: Wilczek Adam
Published: July 2011

This paper presents a model study of inductive, capacitive, and piezoelectric effects on the accuracy of pressure measurements in an EHD contact. Circuit and mathematical models of a thin-layer sensor and a measurement system were developed. It has been assumed that isolation layers of the sensor, deposited as SiOx (1 ≤ x ≤ 2) layers, have piezoelectric properties. The circuit model of the sensor contains a resistance, an electric capacitance, an inductance of a sensor’s circuit, and an ideal current source representing piezoelectric properties of isolating layers of the sensor. The circuit model of the measurement system forms a full measuring bridge with the thin-layer sensor in one of its branches. A derived equation for output voltage of the measurement bridge was used as a mathematical model of the measurement system. The investigations show that at inappropriate electric parameters of the measurement system, inappropriate shape of the sensor’s transducer and short transition time of the sensor through the contact zone, the capacitive, and piezoelectric effects have a significant impact on the accuracy of pressure measurement in the EHD contact. The transducer with an active part located along its connection edges (asymmetric transducer) and a transducer with the active part located in the middle of connections width (symmetric transducer) was tested. It was shown that in the case of the symmetric transducer, the pressure measurement signal change caused by the capacitive and piezoelectric effects, is much smaller than in the case of the asymmetric transducer.
Changes in dose with segmentation of breast tissues in Monte Carlo calculations for low‐energy brachytherapy
Authors: Sutherland J. G. H. , Thomson R. M. , Rogers D. W. O.
Published: August 2011

Purpose:

To investigate the use of various breast tissue segmentation models in Monte Carlo dose calculations for low‐energy brachytherapy.

Methods:

The EGSnrc user‐code BrachyDose is used to perform Monte Carlo simulations of a breast brachytherapy treatment using TheraSeed Pd‐103 seeds with various breast tissue segmentation models. Models used include a phantom where voxels are randomly assigned to be gland or adipose (randomly segmented), a phantom where a single tissue of averaged gland and adipose is present (averaged tissue), and a realistically segmented phantom created from previously published numerical phantoms. Radiation transport in averaged tissue while scoring in gland along with other combinations is investigated. The inclusion of calcifications in the breast is also studied in averaged tissue and randomly segmented phantoms.

Results:

In randomly segmented and averaged tissue phantoms, the photon energy fluence is approximately the same; however, differences occur in the dose volume histograms (DVHs) as a result of scoring in the different tissues (gland and adipose versus averaged tissue), whose mass energy absorption coefficients differ by 30%. A realistically segmented phantom is shown to significantly change the photon energy fluence compared to that in averaged tissue or randomly segmented phantoms. Despite this, resulting DVHs for the entire treatment volume agree reasonably because fluence differences are compensated by dose scoring differences. DVHs for the dose to only the gland voxels in a realistically segmented phantom do not agree with those for dose to gland in an averaged tissue phantom. Calcifications affect photon energy fluence to such a degree that the differences in fluence are not compensated for (as they are in the no calcification case) by dose scoring in averaged tissue phantoms.

Conclusions:

For low‐energy brachytherapy, if photon transport and dose scoring both occur in an averaged tissue, the resulting DVH for the entire treatment volume is reasonably accurate because inaccuracies in photon energy fluence are compensated for by inaccuracies in localized dose scoring. If dose to fibroglandular tissue in the breast is of interest, then the inaccurate photon energy fluence calculated in an averaged tissue phantom will result in inaccurate DVHs and average doses for those tissues. Including calcifications necessitates the use of proper tissue segmentation.