bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The periumbilical approach in ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: technique and long-term results
Authors: Recinos Pablo F. , Pindrik Jonathan A. , Bedri Mazen I. , Ahn Edward S. , Jallo George I. , Recinos Violette Renard
Published: February 2013

Object

The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and safety of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement using a periumbilical approach for distal peritoneal access. By using this minimally invasive approach, the authors hypothesized that the cosmetic outcomes would be better than could be achieved by using a traditional minilaparotomy and that clinical results would be comparable.

Methods

A periumbilical approach was used for distal catheter insertion during a first-time VP shunt placement in 20 patients (8 males and 12 females). Median age at time of surgery was 3.0 months (range 7 days–11.9 years) and mean follow-up time was 17.8 months (range 1.2–28.0 months). The median weight of the patients was 3.99 kg (range 1.95–57.0 kg). A single incision was made along the natural crease inferior to the umbilicus. The linea alba was exposed and a 1-mm incision made while the patient was temporarily held in a Valsalva maneuver. A peritoneal trocar was then inserted through the fascial incision and the distal catheter was passed into the peritoneal space.

Results

The incision line in all patients healed well, did not require operative revision, and was described as minimally visible by the patients' families. Mean operative time was 35 minutes. Eight patients required revision surgery. One distal failure occurred when the distal shunt tubing retracted and became coiled in the neck; this was repaired by conversion to a minilaparotomy for distal replacement. There was 1 shunt infection (5%) requiring shunt removal and replacement. One patient had significant skin thinning around the valve and proximal catheter, which required replacement of the entire shunt system, and another patient underwent a conversion to a ventriculoatrial shunt due to poor peritoneal absorption. In the remaining 4 patients who required operative revision, the peritoneal portion of the shunt was not involved.

Conclusions

The periumbilical approach for peritoneal access during VP shunt placement is technically feasible, has low infection rates, and has cosmetically appealing results. It may be considered as an alternative option to standard VP shunt placement techniques.
Percutaneous treatment of subarachnoid-pleural fistula with Onyx
Authors: Knafo Steven , Parker Fabrice , Herbrecht Anne , Court Charles , Saliou Guillaume
Published: February 2013

Subarachnoid-pleural fistula is a well-described complication after anterior surgery for thoracic disc herniation, but is difficult to treat by means of traditional chest and lumbar drains due to interference by positive ventilation pressures that may keep the fistula open and prevent proper closure. Current treatment strategies include surgical repair, which is technically challenging, and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, which can take several weeks to be effective. In this report, the authors describe a novel treatment for subarachnoid-pleural fistula using percutaneous obliteration with Onyx.

Surgery for removal of a T7–8 disc herniation associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament was performed in a 56-year-old woman via an anterior transthoracic transpleural approach. Ten days after surgery, she presented with diplopia due to a subarachnoid-pleural fistula that was confirmed by CT myelography. Percutaneous injection of Onyx was performed under local anesthesia. Postprocedure CT showed complete obliteration of the fistula with no adverse events. A CT scan obtained 1 month later showed complete resolution of the pleural effusion. Neurological examination at 3 months postsurgery was normal. Clinical and radiological follow-up at 1 year showed complete recovery and no sign of fistula recurrence. Percutaneous treatment for subarachnoid-pleural fistula is an easy, safe, and effective strategy and can therefore be proposed as a first-line option for this challenging complication.
Rigid occipitocervical fixation: indications, outcomes, and complications in the modern era
Authors: Bhatia Robin , Desouza Ruth M. , Bull Jonathan , Casey Adrian T. H.
Published: February 2013

Object

Over the past 40 years, various methods and instrumentation types have been developed for occipitocervical fixation (OCF) in the management of occipitocervical instability. This study reports indications, outcomes, and complications with rigid OCF using screw-rod and screw-plate instrumentation, which has comparatively less long-term data.

Methods

A prospectively maintained database identified 100 consecutive patients who underwent rigid OCF in a single unit over a period of 13 years. Patient demographics, clinical indications, pre- and postoperative radiographic findings, neck disability indices (NDIs), myelopathy disability indices (MDIs), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and Ranawat scores were recorded. Complications including instrumentation failure were also documented.

Results

Underlying etiologies included rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 41%), tumor (16%), trauma (15%), congenital etiologies (14%), metabolic (6%) and inflammatory (6%) conditions, and infection (2%). The pre- and postoperative MDI and VAS scores for neck pain showed significant improvements in the RA group (MDI 64.5% vs 42.5%, p = 0.02; mean VAS 7.5 of 10 vs 3.7 of 10, p < 0.001). Improvements in MDI and NDI outcome measures were also seen in the trauma and tumor categories. Overall, there were 4 cases of instrumentation failure; all included broken rods in the stress riser region of occipitocervical rod curvature, and 1 patient also had occipital plate screw pullout. Other complications included 5 wound infections requiring wound washout, 1 vertebral artery injury (no clinical sequelae), and 1 perioperative death due to myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

Rigid OCF is a safe and effective method of managing occipitocervical instability due to a variety of causes. Outcome measures are favorable, and patients with chronically debilitating diseases such as RA may benefit in terms of improvements in neurological deficit and neck pain. The complication profile is comparable to that reported in other series of OCF in the literature, as well as to the previously used semirigid type of rod/sublaminar wire fixation.
Utilization of an Ionic Liquid/Urea Mixture as a Physical Coupling Agent for Agarose/Talc Composite Films
Authors: Shamsuri Ahmad , Daik Rusli
Published: February 2013

An ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmimCl) was blended with urea at 1:1 mole ratio to create a BmimCl/Urea mixture. The agarose/talc composite films containing the BmimCl/Urea mixture were then acquired through a gelation method. The weight ratio of agarose and talc was fixed at 4:1, while the content of BmimCl/Urea was varied from 0 to 10 wt % relative to the overall weight of the composite films. The tensile stress and modulus results showed the optimum BmimCl/Urea content in the composite film lies at 8 wt %. The talc particles are embedded in the agarose matrix and there are no pullouts for the composite films containing BmimCl/Urea as demonstrated by SEM micrographs. The addition of BmimCl/Urea increased the glass transition temperature of the composite films, however, the thermal decomposition temperature decreased drastically. FTIR and FT-Raman spectra indicated the existence of interaction between agarose and talc, which improves their interfacial adhesion. As a conclusion, a BmimCl/Urea mixture can be utilized as a coupling agent for agarose/talc composite films.
Partial Reconstruction of the Ergot Alkaloid Pathway by Heterologous Gene Expression in Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Ryan Katy , Moore Christopher , Panaccione Daniel
Published: February 2013

Ergot alkaloids are pharmaceutically and agriculturally important secondary metabolites produced by several species of fungi. Ergot alkaloid pathways vary among different fungal lineages, but the pathway intermediate chanoclavine-I is evolutionarily conserved among ergot alkaloid producers. At least four genes, dmaW, easF, easE, and easC, are necessary for pathway steps prior to chanoclavine-I; however, the sufficiency of these genes for chanoclavine-I synthesis has not been established. A fragment of genomic DNA containing dmaW, easF, easE, and easC was amplified from the human-pathogenic, ergot alkaloid-producing fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and transformed into Aspergillus nidulans, a model fungus that does not contain any of the ergot alkaloid synthesis genes. HPLC and LC-MS analyses demonstrated that transformed A. nidulans strains produced chanoclavine-I and an earlier pathway intermediate. Aspergillus nidulans transformants containing dmaW, easF, and either easE or easC did not produce chanoclavine-I but did produce an early pathway intermediate and, in the case of the easC transformant, an additional ergot alkaloid-like compound. We conclude that dmaW, easF, easE, and easC are sufficient for the synthesis of chanoclavine-I in A. nidulans and expressing ergot alkaloid pathway genes in A. nidulans provides a novel approach to understanding the early steps in ergot alkaloid synthesis.
Une benjamine devenue aînée: structures et mutations de l'industrie du jeu vidéo
Authors: Chantepie Philippe
Published: February 2013

Résumé Dernière-née des industries culturelles et de communication, l’industrie des jeux vidéo, mondiale et numérique d’origine, a construit un écosystème économique alliant les principes de l’économie de la culture et ceux de l’économie numérique à travers des dynamiques concurrentielles porteuses de transformations régulières mais aussi d’une logique d’intégration puissante de l’aval vers l’amont, entre industries des technologies de l’information et processus créatifs. En passe de devenir la première industrie culturelle, l’industrie du jeu vidéo qui connaît actuellement et encore des transformations majeures, ouvre sans doute comme benjamine de ces industries et soutenue par de puissantes tendances anthropologiques et sociales, le moment où elle en sera l’aînée, toutes ayant basculée dans cette nouvelle ère sociotechnique.
MULTIJOINT COORDINATION DURING SIT-TO-STAND TASK IN PEOPLE WITH NON-SPECIFIC CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN
Authors: Tajali Shirin , Negahban H. , Shaterzadeh M. J. , Mehravar M. , Salehi R. , Narimani R. , Parnianpour M.
Published: February 2013

Sit-to-stand (STS) is an important functional task affected by low back pain (LBP). It requires fundamental coordination among all segments of the body to control important performance variables such as body's center of mass (CM) and head positions. This study was conducted to determine whether LBPs could coordinate their multiple joints to achieve the task stability to the same extent as healthy controls. About 11 non-specific chronic LBP and 12 healthy control subjects performed STS task at three postural difficulty levels: rigid surface — open eyes (RO), rigid surface — closed eyes (RC) and narrow surface — closed eyes (NC). Motion variability of seven body segments, CM and head positions were calculated across 15 trials, and uncontrolled manifold (UCM) approach was used to investigate joint coordination. This approach partitioned segment angle variations into component that stabilizes a given performance variable and leads to task performance flexibility (UCM variability: VUCM) and that which does not stabilize the performance variable and leads to task performance error (orthogonal variability: VORT). The results showed that LBPs demonstrated significantly less VUCMregarding the control of horizontal CM position and greater VORTregarding the control of horizontal head position. The current findings revealed that multijoint coordination was impaired in the LBP subjects. These altered motor coordination strategies would make their postural control system less adaptive to altered postural demands and may predispose these subjects to re-injury.
Synergies across the natural resources management fields in Southern Africa: Disaster Risk Reduction and One Health
Authors: Bocchino Clara , Burroughs Richard
Published: February 2013

For various reasons, Southern Africa may be considered the playground as well as the thinking tank for many theories and practices in the natural resources management field. History has contributed to reshape conservation practices through colonial times, and recent wars have led to the relocation of people from their homelands and the appropriation by people of previously protected areas due to socio-economic pressures. Contemporary practices stemming from sustainable development have not yielded the expected results in resolving critical socio-economic stresses that impact on environmental health. Furthermore, human health has deteriorated in remote rural areas due to the failures of governance systems and the perpetration of non-participatory models for natural resources management, especially conservation. This paper seeks to explore how two relatively new approaches, Disaster Risk Reduction and One Health, can together tap into the theoretical and practical gaps left by previous paradigms in order to instill a sustainable development approach that can benefit both people and natural resources in remote and poor rural areas.
Come Biopsiare Solo i Pazienti con Tumore Prostatico ad Alto Grado?
Authors: Benecchi Luigi , Bocchi Francesca , Martinotti Mario , Perucchini Laura , Quarta Matteo , Russo Fabrizio , Tonghini Mario , Del Boca Carlo
Published: February 2013

Introduction

Fuzzy logic and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are complementary technologies that together generate neuro-fuzzy system. The aim of our study is to compare 2 models for predicting the presence of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score 7 or more).

Methods

We evaluated data from 1000 men with PSA less than 50 ng/mL, who underwent prostate biopsy. A prostate cancer was found in 313 (31%), and in 172 (17.2%) we detected high-grade prostate cancer. With those data, we developed 2 Co-Active Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems to predict the presence of high-grade prostate cancer. The first model had four input neurons (PSA, free PSA percentage [%freePSA], PSA density, and age) and the second model had three input neurons (PSA, %freePSA, and age).

Results

The model with four input neurons (PSA, %freePSA, PSA density, and age) showed better performances than the one with three input neurons (PSA, %freePSA, and age). In fact the average testing error was 0.42 for the model with four input neurons and 0.44 for the other model.

Conclusions

The addition of PSA density to the model has allowed to obtain better results for the diagnosis of high grade prostate cancer.
Synthesis, Optical and Electrical Properties of ZnFe2O4 Nanocomposites
Authors: Kumar G.S. Yashavanth , Naik H.S. Bhojya , Roy A.S. , Harish K. N. , Viswanath R.
Published: February 2013

ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites have been prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. The prepared samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Disperse X-ray Analysis (EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible absorption spectral techniques. Conductivity measurements show a transition from ferrimagnetism to paramagnetism. The enhancement in fluorescence spectra shows that there is an electronic transition to an exciting level. In UV-Vis spectra, the peak observed at 647nm indicates ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites are a photoactive compound. The above results suggest that these nanomaterials can be used in optoelectronic applications.
Harnessing Fortune
Authors: Empson Rebecca M.
Published: February 2013

Based on long-term fieldwork with herding families along the Mongolian-Russian border, this book examines how people tend to past memories in their homes while navigating new ways of accumulating wealth and fortune in the face of political and economic uncertainties. It is at this intersection, where the politics of tending to the past and the morality of new means of accumulating wealth come together to shape intimate social relations, that the book reveals an innovative area for the study of kinship in anthropology. It combines personal experience with ethnographic insight.
Raymond Lemaire et les débuts de la rénovation urbaine à Bruxelles
Authors: Houbart Claudine
Published: February 2013

A partir de la fin des années 1960, l’archéologue Raymond Lemaire, professeur à l’université catholique de Louvain en Belgique, contribue à la remise en question des méthodes de rénovation urbaine adoptées par les Services techniques de la Ville de Bruxelles pour les quartiers les plus anciens du centre historique. A travers son rôle d’expert pour l’association « Quartier des Arts », il se voit confier plusieurs études en vue de l’adoption de « plans particuliers d’aménagement » pour des îlots de grand intérêt patrimonial, ce qui lui permet de mettre à l’épreuve de la réalité les principes théoriques qu’il contribue à élaborer, au même moment, au sein d’organisations internationales telles qu’ICOMOS ou le Conseil de l’Europe. Notre contribution vise, à travers l’exemple significatif de la rénovation de l’ « îlot Sainte-Anne », à éclairer ce moment-clé de l’histoire récente de l’urbanisme bruxellois et à jeter un regard critique et nuancé sur le travail de Raymond Lemaire.
Utility of Anti–Melanoma Differentiation–Associated Gene 5 Antibody Measurement in Identifying Patients With Dermatomyositis and a High Risk for Developing Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease: A Review of the Literature and a Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Chen Zhiyong , Cao Mengshu , Plana Maria Nieves , Liang Jun , Cai Hourong , Kuwana Masataka , Sun Lingyun
Published: February 2013

Objective

To assess the utility of anti–melanoma differentiation–associated gene 5 (anti‐MDA5) antibody measurement for predicting a risk for developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP‐ILD) in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM).

Methods

A single‐center cohort of 64 consecutive Chinese patients with PM/DM was examined. Serum anti‐MDA5 antibody was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. For meta‐analysis, we searched PubMed and the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge for original studies that measured anti‐MDA5 antibodies in patients with PM/DM. We calculated pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve.

Results

In Chinese patients, anti‐MDA5 antibodies were detected in 26 patients with classic DM or clinically amyopathic DM (CADM). Compared with anti‐MDA5–negative patients, anti‐MDA5–positive patients showed a higher prevalence of RP‐ILD (P = 0.001). In a total of 233 patients with anti‐MDA5 antibody, derived from 16 studies, a higher frequency of CADM was found in Japanese than in non‐Japanese patients (74.7% versus 39.2%; P = 1.2 × 10−7). Meta‐analysis revealed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of anti‐MDA5 antibody for RP‐ILD was 77% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 64–87%) and 86% (95% CI 79–90%), respectively. The pooled DOR was 20.41 (95% CI 9.02–46.20) with a favorable area under the sROC curve of 0.89 (95% CI 0.63–0.98).

Conclusion

Detection of anti‐MDA5 antibody is a valuable tool for identifying DM patients with a high risk for developing RP‐ILD, but the distribution of classic DM and CADM in patients with this antibody varies among ethnic groups.
Medial temporal lobe amnesia impairs performance on a free association task
Authors: Sheldon Signy , Romero Kristoffer , Moscovitch Morris
Published: February 2013

A growing body of evidence suggests that the hippocampus contributes to performance (or is implicated) in non‐memory domains from perception to problem solving. In a previous study we found that hippocampal contribution to exemplar generation in a fluency task was determined jointly by the open‐endedness of the task and its ability to elicit episodic memories (Sheldon and Moscovitch (2012) Hippocampus 22:1451–1466). In the current study, we extend these observations by exploring the role of the hippocampus in generative, goal‐directed open‐ended thought in patients with medial temporal lobe (MTL) amnesia on a free association task (think of words as they come to mind). Patients and control participants were asked to associate freely for one minute to cue words that varied in the open‐endedness of the responses they elicited (greater for low‐ than high‐frequency words), and in the ease with which episodic memories were evoked (greater for high imageable than low imageable words). As predicted, MTL amnesia patients generated fewer words than control participants when cues were highly imageable and low in frequency, but performed equivalently to them in the other conditions. These results support our prediction that the hippocampus contributes to free association, and possibly more generally to other generative tasks that are open‐ended, creative, or that elicit the use of contextual and likely episodic memories in order to derive relevant information. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dual mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibitor Palomid 529 penetrates the Blood–Brain Barrier without restriction by ABCB1 and ABCG2
Authors: Lin Fan , Buil Levi , Sherris David , Beijnen Jos H. , van Tellingen Olaf
Published: February 2013

Palomid 529, a novel dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor has displayed interesting activities in experimental models and is a candidate for clinical evaluation. We have assessed the interaction of Palomid 529 with ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) drug efflux transporters ABCB1 (P‐gp/P‐glycoprotein) and ABCG2 (BCRP/Breast Cancer Resistant Protein) by in vitro transwell assays, and their effects on the brain penetration using drug disposition analysis of i.v. and oral Palomid 529 in wild‐type (WT) and Abcb1 and/or Abcg2 knockout (KO) mice. Palomid 529 lacked affinity for these transporters in vitro, in contrast to GDC‐0941, a small molecule PI3K inhibitor, which we used as control substance for in vitro transport. The plasma AUCi.v. of micronized and DMSO formulated Palomid 529 was similar in WT and KO mice. Importantly, the brain and brain tumor concentration of Palomid 529 at a high dose (54 mg/kg) was also similar in both strains, whereas a less than 1.4‐fold difference (p < 0.05) was found at the low (5.4 mg/kg) dose. Because of poor solubility, the oral bioavailability of micronized Palomid 529 was only 5%. Olive oil or spray‐dried formulation greatly improved the bioavailability up to 50%. Finally, Palomid 529 effectively inhibits the orthotopic U87 glioblastoma growth. In summary, Palomid 529 is the first mTOR targeting drug lacking affinity for ABCB1/ABCG2 and having good brain penetration. This warrants further evaluation of Palomid 529 for treatment of high‐grade gliomas and other intracranial malignancies.
Simulation of mesogenic diruthenium tetracarboxylates: Development of a force field for coordination polymers of the MMX type
Authors: Castro Maria Ana , Roitberg Adrian E. , Cukiernik Fabio D.
Published: February 2013

A classical molecular mechanics force field, able to simulate coordination polymers (CP) based on ruthenium carboxylates (Ru2(O2CReq)4Lax) (eq = equatorial group containing aliphatic chains, Lax= axial ligand), has been developed. New parameters extracted from experimental data and quantum calculations on short aliphatic chains model systems were included in the generalized AMBER force field. The proposed parametrization was evaluated using model systems with known structure, containing either short or long aliphatic chains; experimental results were reproduced satisfactorily. This modified force field, although in a preliminary stage, could then be applied to long chain liquid crystalline compounds. The resulting atomistic simulations allowed assessing the relative influence of the factors determining the CP conformation, determinant for the physical properties of these materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Response to comments on ‘Influences of the Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta, Georgia region, the United States’
Authors: Diem Jeremy E.
Published: February 2013

Researchers have come to differing conclusions about multi‐decadal changes in the position of the western ridge of the Bermuda High during the summer. This communication examines trends for 72 periods within the entire period of record (1948–2012), while also comparing variances in the Western Bermuda High Index (WBHI) and the latitudinal position of the western ridge. The western ridge has not moved significantly eastward or westward over either 1948–2012 or the past 60 years. The western ridge underwent a major westward shift from 1976 to 1977, but it did not stay in that western position during subsequent decades. Over the past 30–40 years, the western ridge has moved significantly eastwards and southwards. Finally, the WBHI, rather than the latitude of the western ridge, has had a definitive increase in variance over time and is the likely cause of increased summer rainfall variability in the southeastern United States.
Comments on ‘Influences of the Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta, Georgia region, USA’
Authors: Li Wenhong , Li Laifang , Fu Rong , Deng Yi , Wang Hui
Published: February 2013

In a recent article, Diem (2012) examined the impact of the North Atlantic Subtropical High (NASH) and atmospheric moistening on summer rainfall variability in the Atlanta, Georgia region. In his paper, he indicated that the results concerning the variability of the NASH western ridge discussed in Li et al. (2011) are incorrect. We present new evidence here to show that the comments by Diem (2012) are unjustified; the main conclusions in Li et al. (2011) were drawn according to the data over a 60‐year (1948–2007) and 45‐year (1958–2002) periods of NCEP/NCAR and ERA‐40 reanalysis, whereas conclusions of Diem (2011) were based upon the trend analysis of a similar but different index of the NASH using sub‐periods of 1948–2009 (since late 1970s). The comment emphases the importance of climate dynamics to study precipitation variability over the Southeastern US and further strengthens the conclusions originally put forth in Li et al. (2011): over the last 60 years (1948–2007), the NASH has shown a significant trend of westward movement, and the meridional movement of the NASH western‐ridge (i.e. its latitudinal change) has enhanced in the recent three decades.
A note on “Multistage Methods for Freight Train Classification”
Authors: Briskorn Dirk , Jaehn Florian
Published: February 2013

The paper “Multistage Methods for Freight Train Classification” by Jacob et al. [Networks 57 (2011) 87–105] provides great insight into the theory and practice of sorting procedures at shunting yards. In Jacob et al. [Networks 57 (2011) 87–105] many relevant shunting situations (e.g., single or multiple inbound trains, single or multiple outbound trains, (un)restricted number of tracks, (un)restricted track capacity) are formally specified as optimization problems. Then, for almost all of them either an exact polynomial‐time algorithm or an NP‐hardness proof is provided. However, the case of multiple inbound trains, which is of high practical relevance, is left open. We close this gap by providing a proof of NP‐hardness. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2013
An integrated microfluidic device for rapid serodiagnosis of amebiasis
Authors: Zhao Wang , Zhang Li , Jing Wenwen , Liu Sixiu , Tachibana Hiroshi , Cheng Xunjia , Sui Guodong
Published: February 2013

A microfluidic device was successfully fabricated for the rapid serodiagnosis of amebiasis. A micro bead-based immunoassay was fabricated within integrated microfluidic chip to detect the antibody to Entamoeba histolytica in serum samples. In this assay, a recombinant fragment of C terminus of intermediate subunit of galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of Entamoeba histolytica (C-Igl, aa 603-1088) has been utilized instead of the crude antigen. This device was validated with serum samples from patients with amebiasis and showed great sensitivity. The serodiagnosis can be completed within 20 min with 2 μl sample consumption. The device can be applied for the rapid and cheap diagnosis of other infectious disease, especially for the developing countries with very limited medical facilities.
All-optical tuning of the Stokes shift in PbS quantum dots
Authors: Ullrich B. , Wang J. S.
Published: February 2013

The Stokes shift of colloidal 4.7 nm PbS quantum dots was measured between 5 and 300 K at incrementally increasing continuous laser intensities. The results demonstrate Stokes shift tuning by optical means only at stable given temperatures due to optically enforced electronic state alteration in the quantum dots. The tuning phenomenon is perfectly fit by a semi-empirical model, which provides a design tool for the chromaticity of quantum dots at different optical pump intensities.
DeconRNASeq: a statistical framework for deconvolution of heterogeneous tissue samples based on mRNA-Seq data
Authors: Gong Ting , Szustakowski Joseph D.
Published: February 2013

Summary: For heterogeneous tissues, measurements of gene expression through mRNA-Seq data are confounded by relative proportions of cell types involved. In this note, we introduce an efficient pipeline: DeconRNASeq, an R package for deconvolution of heterogeneous tissues based on mRNA-Seq data. It adopts a globally optimized non-negative decomposition algorithm through quadratic programming for estimating the mixing proportions of distinctive tissue types in next-generation sequencing data. We demonstrated the feasibility and validity of DeconRNASeq across a range of mixing levels and sources using mRNA-Seq data mixed in silico at known concentrations. We validated our computational approach for various benchmark data, with high correlation between our predicted cell proportions and the real fractions of tissues. Our study provides a rigorous, quantitative and high-resolution tool as a prerequisite to use mRNA-Seq data. The modularity of package design allows an easy deployment of custom analytical pipelines for data from other high-throughput platforms.

Availability: DeconRNASeq is written in R, and is freely available at http://bioconductor.org/packages.

Contact:  tinggong@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Draft Genome Sequence of Chromate-Resistant and Biofilm-Producing Strain Pseudomonas alcaliphila 34
Authors: Santopolo Luisa , Marchi Emmanuela , Decorosi Francesca , Galardini Marco , Brilli Matteo , Giovannetti Luciana , Viti Carlo
Published: February 2013

We report the draft genome sequence of
Pseudomonas alcaliphila
34, a Cr(VI)-hyperresistant and biofilm-producing bacterium that might be used for the bioremediation of chromate-polluted soils. The genome sequence might be helpful in exploring the mechanisms involved in chromium resistance and biofilm formation.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Salmonella enterica Serotype Agona Strains from China
Authors: Zhang Jianmin , Cao Guojie , Xu Xuebin , Jin Huimin , Yang Xiaowei , Allard Marc , Brown Eric , Meng Jianghong
Published: February 2013

Salmonellosis has been one of the major contributors to the global public health burden.
Salmonella enterica
serotype Agona has ranked among the top 10 and top 20 most frequent
Salmonella
serotypes isolated from human sources in China and the United States, respectively. We report draft genomes of three
S.
Agona strains from China.
Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis in a neonate
Authors: Cherian Elizabeth Varkey , Shenoy K Varadaraj , Daniel James
Published: February 2013

Calcification of soft tissues occur, secondary to trauma sustained in the course of neonatal intensive care. They can present with swelling and inflammatory signs, which mimic serious infections of bone, joints and soft tissues. The etiology of the presenting inflammatory response is often unknown and the clinical picture is variable. Hence babies get subjected to more invasive procedures and medications. Recognition is by awareness and radiography the key to diagnosis. Masterly inactivity and vigilance during followup is suggested.
Design and Analysis of a Robust Carbon Nanotube-Based Asynchronous Primitive Circuit
Authors: Ghavami Behnam , Raji Mohsen , Pedram Hossein , Tahoori Mehdi B.
Published: February 2013

Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors (CNFETs) show great promise as extensions to silicon CMOS. However, CNFET-based circuits will face great fabrication challenges that will translate into important parameter variations and decreased reliability. Hence, asynchronous logic, which is intrinsically more robust to variability, seems an ideal and perhaps unavoidable choice for digital circuits in CNFET technology. This article presents the results on the design and analysis of a CNFET-based implementation of an asynchronous circuit primitive: the Muller C-element. Using a CNFET SPICE model, we evaluate the robustness of CNFET-based C-element in the presence of CNT fabrication-related nonidealities. We investigate a quantitative evaluation of how timing variability impacts the functionality of a C-element and then, extract the necessary delay constraints of the C-element circuit from the signal transition graph specification. Considering the large degrees of spatial correlation observed between the CNFETs fabricated on directionally grown CNTs, a layout technique is exploited to overcome the robustness challenges of a CNFET-based C-element. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations on the proposed technique have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed CNFET-based C-element by improving approximately 50X in its robustness in expense of 65% area, 47% delay, and 56% power consumption overheads. Experimental results indicate that implementation of some CNFET-based Quasi Delay Insensitive (QDI) benchmark circuits using the proposed C-element results in significant robustness improvement with negligible power and throughput overheads. As a promising step toward CNFET-based giga-scale integrated circuits, this article shows that the asynchronous logic is an effective approach to design robust integrated circuits in CNFET technology with inherent extreme physical variations.
Region- and action-aware virtual world clients
Authors: Wang Yichuan , Lin Ting-An , Hsu Cheng-Hsin , Liu Xin
Published: February 2013

We propose region- and action-aware virtual world clients. To develop such clients, we present a parameterized network traffic model, based on a large collection of Second Life traces gathered by us. Our methodology is also applicable to virtual worlds other than Second Life. With the traffic model, various optimization criteria can be adopted, including visual quality, response time, and energy consumption. We use energy consumption as the show case, and demonstrate via trace-driven simulations that, compared to two existing schemes, a mobile client can save up to 36% and 41% communication energy by selectively turning on its WiFi network interface.
What we did
Authors: Alvarado Christine , Sweedyk Z.
Published: February 2013

During CSEdWeek, computer scientists reach out to their communities to inform public perceptions about what computer science is, the crucial role it plays in our society, the career opportunities it provides, and to launch new efforts to invigorate CS education at all levels. CSEdWeek is celebrated the second week of December to coincide with Grace Hopper's birthday on December 9. Take a look at what some SIGCSE members did to celebrate this year. For more information about CSEdWeek see http://www.csedweek.org/.
“The Idea of the Nation Was Superior to Race”: Transforming Racial Contours and Social Attitudes and Decolonizing the French Empire from La Réunion, 1946–1973
Authors: Finch-Boyer Héloïse
Published: February 2013

Scholars assume the loss of Algeria in 1962 marked the end of French colonialism and a hardening of racialized categories of difference in France, overlooking how race and class categories became more porous in the overseas departments (départements d’outre-mer, or DOMs) after a new, welfare-led, French colonialism was initiated by Prime Minister Michel Debré (elected deputy of La Réunion in 1963). Comparing the provision of social welfare in the DOMs before and after 1962 demonstrates that Debré’s new health insurance, family allocations, and housing laws offered DOM populations improved social mobility beyond colonial-era racial boundaries. Welfare encouraged Réunion Islanders to support political attachment to France and undermined support for DOM autonomy movements. Combining scholarship on decolonization, French welfare, and the social history of La Réunion, the article reevaluates the place of French overseas departments in decolonization history, in studies of French racial categories, and in modern France.

En constatant que la perte de l’Algérie en 1962 a marqué la fin du colonialisme français et instauré, en France Métropolitaine, un durcissement des catégories raciales de différence, les chercheurs négligent que les catégories de race et de classe sont devenues moins rigides dans les DOM après la mise en place d’une nouvelle forme de colonialisme français, axée autour de l’Etat-providence et établie par l’ancien premier ministre Michel Debré (élu député de La Réunion en 1963). Comparer la protection sociale dans les DOM avant et après 1962 démontre que la nouvelle assurance santé, les allocations familiales et les lois anti-bidonvilles ont offert aux populations des DOM une amélioration de la mobilité sociale au-delà des possibilités de l’époque coloniale. L’Etat-providence a encouragé un attachement politique à la France dans la population locale, tout en sapant le soutien aux idées autonomistes. Cet article donne un regard croisé entre l’histoire politique de la décolonisation, l’histoire de la législation sociale et l’histoire sociale de La Réunion afin de réévaluer l’importance des DOM dans l’histoire de la décolonisation, les études des représentations raciales françaises, et dans l’histoire de la France moderne.
Comparative feeding kinematics of tropical hylid tadpoles
Authors: Venesky Matthew D. , Rossa-Feres Denise , Nomura Fausto , Vasconcellos de Andrade Gilda , Pezzuti Tiago L. , Tsutae de Sousa Verônica T. , Anderson Christopher V. , Wassersug Richard J.
Published: February 2013

Anuran larvae, which are otherwise simple in shape, typically have complex keratinized mouthparts (i.e., labial teeth and jaw sheaths) that allow them to graze upon surfaces. The diversity in these structures among species presumably reflects specializations that allow for maximal feeding efficiency on different types of food. However, we lack a general understanding of how these oral structures function during feeding. We used high-speed digital imaging (500 Hz) to observe tadpoles of six species from the anuran family Hylidae grazing on a standardized food-covered substrate. Tadpoles of these species vary in the number of labial tooth rows, belong to two different feeding guilds (benthic and nektonic), and inhabit ponds and streams. We confirmed that the labial teeth in these species serve two functions; anchoring the mouth to the substrate and raking material off of the substrate. In general, tadpoles with a larger maximum gape and those with fewer labial tooth rows opened and closed their mouths faster than tadpoles with smaller gape and more tooth rows. Nektonic feeding tadpoles released each of their tooth rows proportionally earlier in the gape cycle compared to benthic feeding tadpoles. Lastly, we found some support for the idea that deformation of the jaw sheaths during a feeding cycle is predictable based on tadpole feeding guild. Collectively, our data show that anatomic (e.g., number of labial teeth) and ecological features (e.g., feeding guild) of tadpoles significantly influence how tadpoles open and close their mouths during feeding.
Individual Attitudes and Shopping Mode Characteristics Affecting the Use of E-Shopping and Related Travel
Authors: Crocco Federica , Eboli Laura , Mazzulla Gabriella
Published: February 2013

New telecommunication technologies and services have caused important challenges on travel behaviour and trip characteristics. Existing literature studies show many different outcomes regarding the effects of the new technologies on the participation of people to their personal activities and related travel; specifically, e-shopping may produce the reduction of shopping trips (substitution effect), but also an increase of trips thanks to the reuse of the travel time saved for other activities and trips (complementarity’s effect). The focus of this study is to analyse the aspects mostly affecting consumer choices of purchasing goods by web or in-store, with the aim of understanding how to operate so that e-shopping can positively modify consumers’ travel behaviour. Our research findings show that individual social and economic factors, consumer attitudes, and shopping mode characteristics influence the usage of online shopping. An experimental survey addressed to a sample of Italian consumers is used in the study.
Assessment of Extremes in Air Temperature Over North-East and West Coast Regions of India
Authors: Tondgimenba Jamir , Shankar De Uday , Krishnakumar Gaddam
Published: February 2013

The projected effect of climate change is the increase of both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. An attempt has been made to study the extremes in temperature over two regions of India i.e. North-East Region (NER) and West Coast Region (WCR). A detailed analysis indicated that in the NER, ten stations indicate increase in annual extreme minimum but significant at four stations. Post-monsoon season is very predominant where five stations show significant increase. In the WCR, all the stations indicate increasing trend in annual extreme maximum temperature significant at nine stations. Majority of the stations indicate significant increasing trend in all the seasons except monsoon season.
History of dermatology and venereology in Serbia – Part IV/1: Dermatovenereology in Serbia from 1919 – 1945
Authors: Lalević-Vasić Bosiljka M. , Jovanović Marina
Published: February 2013

After the First World War, Serbia was ravaged and in ruins, whereas the Health Care Service was destroyed. Organization and reorganization of the Health Care Service started with a fight against the spread of infectious diseases. Foundation of specialized health institutions was among the first tasks. As early as 1920, an Outpatient Service forSkin and Venereal Diseases was established and managed by Prof. Đorđe Đorđević. In 1922, after he was appointed as Associate Professor at the newly established Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, he founded a Clinic for Skin andVenereal Diseases, and acted as its first director. In 1928, a Municipal Outpatient Clinic for Skin and Venereal Diseases was founded, whereas in 1938 a modern organization of the Service was established in a new building. After a break during the I World War, the Dermatovenereology Department of the General Military Hospital in Belgrade, founded in 1909, continued working until the Second World War. In Novi Sad, the City Hospital was founded in 1909, including a Dermatovenereology Department. After the First World War, in 1921, Dr. Jovan Nenadović founded a Department of Skinand Venereal Diseases (100 beds) in the General Public Hospital, as well as, an independent Public Outpatient Clinic for free-of-charge treatment of patients with venereal diseases. In Niš, the first Organization Unit for Venereal Diseases was founded in 1912, but the Department of Venereal Diseases was founded in 1921, and it was managed by Dr. Petar Davidović, while in 1927 a Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases was established within the General PublicHospital. In 1920, a Dermatovenereology Department of the Military Hospital in Niš was established. Apart from these, as early as 1921, there was a total of 7 Outpatient Clinics in Serbia, and in 1923 there were 14 venereal departments, and 1 dermatovenereology department.
Lecanicillium Aphanocladii – A New Species to the Mycoflora of Lithuania and a New Pathogen of Tree Leaves Mining Insects
Authors: Pečiulytė Dalė , Kačergius Audrius
Published: February 2013

Pečiulytė D., Kačergius A., 2012: Lecanicillium aphanocladii - a new species to the mycoflora of Lithuania and a new pathogen of tree leaves mining insects [Lecanicillium aphanocladii - nauja Lietuvos mikofloros rūšis ir naujas medžių lapus minuojančių vabzdžių patogenas pasaulyje]. - Bot. Lith., 18(2); 133-146.

Popular park and city trees horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum L. and small-leaved linden, Tilia cordata Miller suffer from damages of leaf mining moths, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic 1968 and Lithocolletis issikii Kumata 1825 (= Phyllonorycter issikii Humber 1822 (both Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), respectively. In 2010-2011, fungi causing moth caterpillar mortality under field conditions were investigated in Vilnius city, Lithuania. Statistical analyses showed high recovery percentage (30.36 % and 31.92 % from C. ohridella and L. issikii caterpillar cadavers, respectively) of a new fungus, which was thereafter identified as Lecanicillium aphanocladii Zare & W. Gams 2001 based on a morphological characteristics and ITS rDNR sequence, which showed 99 % identity with Aphanocladium aranearum (Petch) W. Gams 1971 GenBank accessions No. AF455489 and AF455405 of ribosomal RNA gene (now renamed as L. aphanockladii).
The influence of the map merging order on the resulting global map in multi-robot mapping
Authors: Andersone Ilze
Published: February 2013

An important prerequisite for creation of an autonomous robot is the ability to create the map of the environment. While the use of robot teams becomes more and more widely used, the issue of robot coordination becomes one of the central questions to be addressed. If multiple robots are used for the exploration of the environment, their collected information has to be fused into one general global map. This problem is called map merging. In the case, when more than two robots map the environment, it is possible that the order of map merging can influence the quality of the result - the global map. However, most researches in the map merging field address the problem as if the recommended order of map merging were known. The goal of this paper is to prove that the merging order can greatly influence the resulting global map and discuss the consequences this knowledge makes in the mapping process.
Nonlinear Power-Level Control of the MHTGR Only with the Feedback Loop of Helium Temperature
Authors: Dong Zhe
Published: February 2013

Power-level control is a crucial technique for the safe, stable and efficient operation of modular high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (MHTGRs), which have strong inherent safety features and high outlet temperatures. The current power-level controllers of the MHTGRs need measurements of both the nuclear power and the helium temperature, which cannot provide satisfactory control performance and can even induce large oscillations when the neutron sensors are in error. In order to improve the fault tolerance of the control system, it is important to develop a power-level control strategy that only requires the helium temperature. The basis for developing this kind of control law is to give a state-observer of the MHTGR a relationship that only needs the measurement of helium temperature. With this in mind, a novel nonlinear state observer which only needs the measurement of helium temperature is proposed. This observer is globally convergent if there is no disturbance, and has the L2 disturbance attenuation performance if the disturbance is nonzero. The separation principle of this observer is also proven, which denotes that this observer can recover the performance of both globally asymptotic stabilizers and L2 disturbance attenuators. Then, a new dynamic output feedback power-level control strategy is established, which is composed of this observer and the well-built static state-feedback power-level control based upon iterative dissipation assignment (IDA-PLC). Finally, numerical simulation results show the high performance and feasibility of this newly-built dynamic output feedback power-level controller.