bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positive Solutions for Fourth-Order Nonlinear Differential Equation with Integral Boundary Conditions
Authors: Wang Qi , Guo Yanping , Ji Yude
Published: February 2013

This paper investigates the existence and nonexistence of positive solutions for a class of fourth-order nonlinear differential equation with integral boundary conditions. The associated Green's function for the fourth-order boundary value problems is first given, and the arguments are based on Krasnoselskii's fixed point theorem for operators on a cone.
A New Simultaneous Identification of the Harmonic Excitations and Nonlinear Damping of Forced Damped Nonlinear Oscillations: A Parametric Approach
Authors: Jang T. S.
Published: February 2013

This paper presents a novel, general method that is aimed at identifying both the harmonic excitations and nonlinear damping of forced nonlinear oscillation systems. An inverse formalism is developed for the identification method, which is shown to be well posed. That is, the inverse formalism has a unique solution and it depends continuously on the data. The unique solution is derived in the closed form. In addition to the mathematical analysis, a numerical example involving a highly nonlinear system is examined for demonstrating the workability of the proposed method for simultaneously identifying both the two aforementioned excitations and nonlinear damping.
An Enhanced Matrix-Free Secant Method via Predictor-Corrector Modified Line Search Strategies for Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Waziri M. Y. , Majid Z. A.
Published: February 2013

Diagonal updating scheme is among the cheapest Newton-like methods for solving system of nonlinear equations. Nevertheless, the method has some shortcomings. In this paper, we proposed an improved matrix-free secant updating scheme via line search strategies, by using the steps of backtracking in the Armijo-type line search as a step length predictor and Wolfe-Like condition as corrector. Our approach aims at improving the overall performance of diagonal secant updating scheme. Under mild assumptions, the global convergence results have been presented. Numerical experiments verify that the proposed approach is very promising.
MOG1 Rescues Defective Trafficking of Na
v
1.5 Mutations in Brugada Syndrome and Sick Sinus Syndrome
Authors: Chakrabarti Susmita , Wu Xiaofen , Yang Zhaogang , Wu Ling , Yong Sandro L. , Zhang Cuntai , Hu Keli , Wang Qing K. , Chen Qiuyun
Published: February 2013

Background—

Loss-of-function mutations in Na
v
1.5 cause sodium channelopathies, including Brugada syndrome, dilated cardiomyopathy, and sick sinus syndrome; however, no effective therapy exists. MOG1 increases plasma membrane (PM) expression of Na
v
1.5 and sodium current (
I
Na
) density, thus we hypothesize that MOG1 can serve as a therapeutic target for sodium channelopathies.

Methods and Results—

Knockdown of
MOG1
expression using small interfering RNAs reduced Na
v
1.5 PM expression, decreased
I
Na
densities by 2-fold in HEK/Na
v
1.5 cells and nearly abolished
I
Na
in mouse cardiomyocytes. MOG1 did not affect Na
v
1.5 PM turnover.
MOG
1 small interfering RNAs caused retention of Na
v
1.5 in endoplasmic reticulum, disrupted the distribution of Na
v
1.5 into caveolin-3–enriched microdomains, and led to redistribution of Na
v
1.5 to noncaveolin-rich domains. MOG1 fully rescued the reduced PM expression and
I
Na
densities by Na
v
1.5 trafficking–defective mutation D1275N associated with sick sinus syndrome/dilated cardiomyopathy/atrial arrhythmias. For Brugada syndrome mutation G1743R, MOG1 restored the impaired PM expression of the mutant protein and restored
I
Na
in a heterozygous state (mixture of wild type and mutant Na
v
1.5) to a full level of a homozygous wild-type state.

Conclusions—

Use of MOG1 to enhance Na
v
1.5 trafficking to PM may be a potential personalized therapeutic approach for some patients with Brugada syndrome, dilated cardiomyopathy, and sick sinus syndrome in the future.
Ahmed Deedat, Internationalisation, and Transformations of Islamic Polemic
Authors: Sadouni Samadia
Published: February 2013

Abstract

The South African preacher, Ahmed Deedat, has developed a specific discourse on the nature of relations between Muslims and Other religions through polemic and public debates. This paper describes the mechanisms of the circulation of his thought and activities and its political character. Deedat is a relevant actor in ‘Muslim politics’ who has not been thoroughly studied in the field of Muslim proselytism. His political activities were inscribed first in the long history of munazara (debate, dispute) in India and then in the desire to internationalise his religious ideas in public platforms and media. His ideology has also been reappropriated by other television preachers, especially in Mumbai, through the example of Zakir Naïk. The historical and the political approaches of this paper provide a better understanding of the internationalisation and transformations of Islamic polemics.
A new species of the blind cave gudgeon Milyeringa (Pisces: Gobioidei, Eleotridae) from Barrow Island, Western Australia, with a redescription of M. veritas Whitley
Authors: LARSON HELEN K. , FOSTER RALPH , HUMPHREYS WILLIAM F. , STEVENS MARK I.
Published: February 2013

A new species of the eyeless eleotrid genus Milyeringa is described from wells sunk on Barrow Island, Western Australia. Milyeringa justitia n. sp. is the third species of the genus to be named. Morphological data and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA sequence data from a wide sample of localities at which the genus occurs was used to evaluate relationships and species limits. Milyeringa veritas is redescribed, and M. brooksi is synonymised with M. veritas. The unique form and ecology of these fishes, plus the threats to their survival, warrants immediate and continuing attention in management.
On the enigmatic Heterostomus curvipalpis Bigot, 1857, with a description of the pupa (Diptera, Brachycera)
Authors: COSCARÓN SIXTO , COSCARÓN MARÍA DEL CARMEN , GIL-AZEVEDO LEONARDO H.
Published: February 2013

The previously unknown pupa of Heterostomus curvipalpis Bigot is described. The morphology of the pupa of Heterostomus is compared with the pupae of Xylophagomorpha, Tabanomorpha and Stratiomyomorpha families, based on five characters, and its phylogenetic position is discussed. Currently placed in Xylophagidae, we conclude that the pupa of Heterostomus shares most characters with the pupae of Pelecorhynchidae.
The advertisement call of the poorly known Leptodactylus tapiti (Anura, Leptodactylidae)
Authors: BRANDÃO REUBER ALBUQUERQUE , ÁLVARES GUILHERME FAJARDO ROLDÃO , DE SÁ RAFAEL OMAR
Published: February 2013

The genus Leptodactylus consists of approximately 80 species distributed in four nominal groups (Frost 2011). The fuscus group harbors approximately 30 small species with terrestrial nests, deposited in male built burrows on soft soils. Leptodactylus tapiti Sazima & Bokermann 1978 was described from Veadeiros, currently Alto Paraíso municipality,Goiás State,Brazil. The species is restricted to the region of Chapada dos Veadeiros (Frost 2011), where it occurs in areas of water-saturated soils associated with open fields (Sazima & Bokermann 1978). Since its original description, nothing was published about the species, and its advertisement call remains unknown. Herein, we describe its advertisement call.
Evaluation of the WRF PBL Parameterizations for Marine Boundary Layer Clouds: Cumulus and Stratocumulus
Authors: Huang Hsin-Yuan , Hall Alex , Teixeira Joao
Published: February 2013

The performance of five boundary layer parameterizations in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model is examined for marine boundary layer cloud regions running in single-column mode. Most parameterizations show a poor agreement of the vertical boundary layer structure when compared with large-eddy simulation models. These comparisons against large-eddy simulation show that a parameterization based on the eddy-diffusivity/mass-flux approach provides a better performance. The results also illustrate the key role of boundary layer parameterizations in model performance.
Homo sapiens on Vacation
Authors: Crouch Geoffrey I.
Published: February 2013

In recent years, scholars in various fields have been making increased use of evolutionary theory to gain a deeper understanding of human behavior. Since the 1970s, with the birth of new fields of research known as Sociobiology and Evolutionary Psychology, researchers in a broad range of the social sciences are now applying evolutionary theory and thinking to the study of human behavior in a wide variety of contexts. However, there is little evidence of studies that have sought to examine tourism behavior from an evolutionary perspective. This article examines predominantly the literature on sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, as well as some from genetic science, in order to identify aspects of tourism behavior in which evolutionary-based theorizing may hold important and promising potential to increase understanding.
What does Matthew Say about Divine Recompense? On the Misuse of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (20.1-16)
Authors: Eubank Nathan
Published: February 2013

Discussions of the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Mt. 20.1-16) tend to rely on two key assumptions: (1) the parable eliminates ‘merit’ and replaces it with ‘grace’; (2) the parable is the hermeneutical key to all of Matthew’s other discussions of rewards, if not the entire New Testament. This article challenges these assumptions and offers a reassessment of divine recompense in Matthew. Matthew 19.16–20.16 does not set aside ‘merit’ in place of ‘grace’ but contrasts generous wages faithfully repaid by God with even more generous wages. The Gospel as a whole emphasizes that disciples must earn treasure in heaven and forgive others their debts to enter the kingdom; those who refuse to work and who refuse to forgive will be damned. At the same time, however, God’s repayment of deeds is not according to strict desert, but goes far beyond what workers have earned.
Bringing Public Organization and Organizing Back In
Authors: Arellano-Gault David , Demortain David , Rouillard Christian , Thoenig Jean-Claude
Published: February 2013

Since the late 1990s social science-based studies have allocated much less attention to public organizations. Based on the sixth Organization Studies summer workshop, this introductory paper suggests a diagnosis of such a decline as well as a research agenda. It lists some fundamental issues still to be explored such as publicness and governance. It also considers how social science-based organizational knowledge might be extended to various empirical objects and fields in public domains and set-ups such as inter-organizational arrangements, hybrid organizations, multi-stakeholder arenas, hybrid organizing, and transnationalization processes, that usually are covered by scholars – economists, historians, anthropologists, management academics, etc. – who are not using organizational theory lenses.
Grounded theologies
Authors: Tse Justin K.H.
Published: February 2013

This paper replies to Kong’s (2010) lament that geographers of religion have not sufficiently intervened in religious studies. It advocates ‘grounded theologies’ as a rubric by which to investigate contemporary geographies of religion in a secular age. Arguing that secularization can itself be conceived as a theological process, the paper critiques a religious/secular dichotomy and argues that individualized spiritualities presently prevalent are indicative of Taylor’s (2007) nova effect of proliferating grounded theologies. Case studies are drawn from social and cultural geographies of religious intersectionalities and from critical geopolitics.
Recent Perspectives of the State and Debates in Early Indian History
Authors: Sahu Bhairabi Prasad
Published: February 2013

This article tries to show how the study of the Indian state in the recent decades by focusing on the understanding of processes has led to a nuanced reading of the sources in their entirety, and coherent long-term view of early India, which at times disturbs some of our cherished notions of the past. These studies enrich our understanding insofar as they unravel the regional trajectories of socio-political transformations and locate them in the wider context of their trans-regional linkages. They straddle a wide range of issues ranging from vana–kṣetra and tribe–caste continuum, through hierarchisation of society and evolving structures of legitimation to expanding resource bases and questions of identity formation.
Exploring the Beneficiaries: A Gendered Peep into the Institution of Niyoga in Early India
Authors: Sahgal Smita
Published: February 2013

In patriarchal societies around the world the absence of a male issue has been regarded a serious social aberration. Alternatives have been worked out to surmount the problem. Early Indian literature apprises us of one such option; niyoga or levirate wherein a widow or the wife of an impotent man was temporarily made to cohabit with a designated man in order to procure a son who would be regarded as the son of his mother’s legal husband. It clearly came within the fold of apaddharam or the law of exigency, something that could be resorted to only in the time of emergency. There seems to be a divergence of views in the narrative tradition and normative [ shastriya] literature on the issue of its genesis and purpose. But what comes out clearly is that niyoga was hailed as a ‘strategy of heirship’.

The article intends to look at the trajectory of the practice in ancient and early medieval India from the vantage of principal female actors. A host of queries would be taken up. It would be worth dwelling upon the issue of its sustainability and popularity; whether the practice of niyoga was designed to benefit a particular section of the society or was meant for larger social good. Did the practice of niyoga bring women some solace or turned out to be an exploitative way of controlling their sexuality? Did the woman have the right to reject it or enter in out of their volition? How did men negotiate this practice? Did it bruise their masculinity or repair, at least in some cases? Did the practice also have caste and class angles to it? Can we detect divergence in the views of Brahman theoreticians and members of other castes such as kshatriyas for whom its practical application amounted to a survival tactic? Who eventually stood to gain from the practice and its eventual fading away? What was the legal and social status of the daughter born of such unions? We shall take up these issues for analysis in the article.
Design of a Garment for Data Collection of Toddler Language and Physical Activity
Authors: Haar Sherry , Fees Bronwyn , Trost Stewart , Crowe Linda K. , Murray Ann
Published: February 2013

Design process phases of development, evaluation and implementation were used to create a garment to simultaneously collect reliable data of speech production and intensity of movement of toddlers (18-36 months). A series of prototypes were developed and evaluated that housed accelerometer-based motion sensors and a digital transmitter with microphone. The approved test garment was a top constructed from loop-faced fabric with interior pockets to house devices. Extended side panels allowed for sizing. In total, 56 toddlers (28 male; 28 female; 16-36 months of age) participated in the study providing pilot and baseline data. The test garment was effective in collecting data as evaluated for accuracy and reliability using ANOVA for accelerometer data, transcription of video for type of movement, and number and length of utterances for speech production. The data collection garment has been implemented in various studies across disciplines.
Clinical and Personality Correlates of MMO Gaming
Authors: Cole Sadie H. , Hooley Jill M.
Published: February 2013

Massively-multiplayer online games (MMOs) are increasingly popular worldwide. MMO gaming can result in problematic Internet use (PIU; or Internet addiction), which is characterized by dysfunction in areas such as work or relationships. Because PIU in online gaming is increasingly seen in clinical populations, we explored PIU in the context of MMO gaming. Using a cross-sectional design, we sought to identify clinical and personality factors, as well as motivations for gaming, that differentiated between people who scored high or low on a measure of problematic Internet use. Subjects completed all study procedures via an online survey. Participants were 163 MMO users recruited from the community, from gaming websites, and from online forums. Subjects completed a series of demographic, mood, anxiety, and personality questionnaires. The study found that individuals in the high PIU group ( n = 79) were more likely to have higher levels of social phobia ( p = .000), state ( p = .000) and trait ( p = .000) anxiety, introversion ( p = .000), neuroticism ( p = .000) and absorption ( p = .019) than individuals in the low-PIU group ( n = 84). Different reasons for gaming also characterized the group with more problematic Internet use. Our findings provide support for the idea that high anxiety and absorption may be risk factors for problematic Internet use within the MMO gaming environment and suggest that gamers who endorse problematic Internet use identify different motivations for online gaming than gamers who do not.
Combination Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Tackett Kimberly L. , Stajich Gregory V.
Published: February 2013

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disorder of the small pulmonary arteries characterized by progressive fibrotic and proliferative changes that result in an increased pulmonary vascular resistance. It is a progressive and debilitating disease that leads to right ventricular dysfunction, impairment in activity tolerance and eventually right-sided heart failure, and premature death. The treatment goals for PAH include improvement in symptoms, improvement in functional class and exercise class, decreased morbidity, and preventing mortality. Combination therapy in the treatment of PAH is an emerging therapeutic option. Combining therapies with differing mechanisms of action will maximize therapeutic benefits such as symptom control and increased rate of survival. The updated 2007 American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines recommend combination therapy in functional classes III and IV if there is no improvement with current therapy or if there is deterioration in class. PAH monotherapy has been shown to improve symptoms, but the patients’ hemodynamic parameters may not be normalized, leading to further pulmonary vascular remodeling. Combination therapy offers an additional option for those patients who are unable to stabilize on monotherapy.
Anti-Christian Polemic in the Apocalypse of Abraham: Jesus as a Pseudo-Messiah in Apoc. Ab. 29.3–14
Authors: Harlow Daniel C.
Published: February 2013

The Apocalypse of Abraham describes a man from the heathen who is alternately shamed, struck, and worshiped by Gentiles and by some of Abraham's descendants (29.3–14). Most scholars have identified the man as Jesus of Nazareth but then excised the passage as a Christian interpolation. This article proposes that the passage is integral to the work and that it allusively depicts Jesus as a false messiah—a foil to the true messiah from Abraham's line. The passage coheres with the entire work's overriding concern to juxtapose false worship with true worship of the one God. Its polemic against veneration of Jesus is achieved through a deliberate distortion of New Testament traditions, a phenomenon not without parallel in roughly contemporaneous literature.
Experimental evidence on the theory of club goods
Authors: Tutić Andreas
Published: February 2013

We provide experimental evidence on the theory of club goods. Subjects played what we call ‘the club game’ – that is, a two-stage game: at the first stage, each player announces her favourite club size. Depending on the profile of announced club sizes, each player either joins a club of her favourite size or stays alone. At the second stage, club members play some kind of non-linear public goods game exhibiting the property that certain club sizes favour cooperation, and hence the payoffs for the players. Among other hypotheses, the central idea of club theory can be tested this way: A population of actors should partition itself in clubs of optimal size. As it turns out, this hypothesis can be validated.
Where Do You Think Domestic Abuse Hurts Most?
Authors: Sweetnam Stephanie
Published: February 2013

This personal essay provides readers with a view of an individual’s journey through the cycle of abuse. This piece of writing uses a creative approach to discuss the issue of domestic violence. The pictorial representation depicts an individual’s experience in the cycle of violence. This creative medium of expression covers the effects of violence on an individual’s emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. Concepts of systematic oppression and violence are also presented and discussed.
Alone or together? How institutions affect party entry in presidential elections in Europe and South America
Authors: Spoon Jae-Jae , West Karleen Jones
Published: February 2013

Prior research has shown that institutions affect parties’ incentives to coordinate within elections or compete on their own. However, no study to date has examined with institutional effects when parties coordinate in the most important of electoral contests: the presidential race. In this article, we explain which institutions encourage parties to run as part of pre-electoral coalitions (PECs) or shun them and run on their own in the race for the presidency. Using an original dataset of over 1400 parties that sponsored a candidate on their own or ran as part of an alliance in presidential elections across 23 democracies in Europe and South America from 1975 to 2009, we find that the powers of the presidential office, electoral rules and multi-level governance determine when parties decide to enter the race on their own or form an alliance. Our findings have important implications for understanding party competition in semi-presidential and presidential systems.
Recipient-side test questions
Authors: Antaki Charles
Published: February 2013

Standard test questions allow the questioner to confirm an answer as correct, displaying their greater epistemic authority over the answerer (as in the canonical case of the classroom, where the teacher knows more than the pupil). But the instructional power of test questions may prompt their use even when that asymmetry is neutralized or reversed, and the recipient ought to know as much as, or indeed more than, the questioner. I describe how (and why) staff who support clients with intellectual impairment use what I call ‘recipient-side’ test questions, where the questioner claims final authority over matters in the recipient’s experience, even though it is the recipient who has prior entitlement and access to it. When recipient-side test questions fail, questioners may revert to the standard test question asymmetry by hinting at, or openly asserting, their own epistemic authority.
Journalistic professionalism as indirect control and fetishistic disavowal
Authors: Hearns-Branaman Jesse Owen
Published: February 2013

In this essay I argue that a better understanding of the basis of journalistic professionalism lies in the combination of two ideological formations. First, we have the process of professional socialization of journalists, leading to a delimited range of voices and self-censorship. This formation alone is insufficient, however, as occasional self-criticism and scepticism of journalistic professional norms is needed. I argue that Žižek’s concept of ideology as fetishistic disavowal (that is, being able to actively admit the limitations of one’s ideology as long as one still follows it) is a necessary complement to the idea of ideology as indirect control. This is done with an examination of the discourses used by 20 US and UK-based political journalists to answer seven different interview questions.
Predictive modeling of anti-malarial molecules inhibiting apicoplast formation
Authors: Jamal Salma , Periwal Vinita ,   Open Source Drug Discovery Consortium, Scaria Vinod
Published: February 2013

Background

Malaria is a major healthcare problem worldwide resulting in an estimated 0.65 million deaths every year. It is caused by the members of the parasite genus Plasmodium. The current therapeutic options for malaria are limited to a few classes of molecules, and are fast shrinking due to the emergence of widespread resistance to drugs in the pathogen. The recent availability of high-throughput phenotypic screen datasets for antimalarial activity offers a possibility to create computational models for bioactivity based on chemical descriptors of molecules with potential to accelerate drug discovery for malaria.

Results

In the present study, we have used high-throughput screen datasets for the discovery of apicoplast inhibitors of the malarial pathogen as assayed from the delayed death response. We employed machine learning approach and developed computational predictive models to predict the biological activity of new antimalarial compounds. The molecules were further evaluated for common substructures using a Maximum Common Substructure (MCS) based approach.

Conclusions

We created computational models using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. The models were evaluated based on multiple statistical criteria. We found Random Forest based approach provides for better accuracy as assessed from ROC curve analysis. We further evaluated the active molecules using a substructure based approach to identify common substructures enriched in the active set. We argue that the computational models generated could be effectively used to screen large molecular datasets to prioritize them for phenotypic screens, drastically reducing cost while improving the hit rate.
Prediction of a time-to-event trait using genome wide SNP data
Authors: Kim Jinseog , Sohn Insuk , Son Dae-Soon , Kim Dong Hwan , Ahn Taejin , Jung Sin-Ho
Published: February 2013

Background

A popular objective of many high-throughput genome projects is to discover various genomic markers associated with traits and develop statistical models to predict traits of future patients based on marker values.

Results

In this paper, we present a prediction method for time-to-event traits using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We also propose a MaxTest associating between a time-to-event trait and a SNP accounting for its possible genetic models. The proposed MaxTest can help screen out nonprognostic SNPs and identify genetic models of prognostic SNPs. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through simulations.

Conclusions

In conjunction with the MaxTest, the proposed method provides more parsimonious prediction models but includes more prognostic SNPs than some naive prediction methods. The proposed method is demonstrated with real GWAS data.
Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis: a cross-sectional single-centre experience with bone histomorphometry and quantitative computed tomography
Authors: Bacchetta Justine , Wesseling-Perry Katherine , Gilsanz Vicente , Gales Barbara , Pereira Renata C , Salusky Isidro B
Published: February 2013

Background

Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis (IJO) is a rare condition of poorly understood etiology and pathophysiology that affects otherwise healthy children. This condition is characterized clinically by bone pain and vertebral fractures; spontaneous recovery is observed after puberty in the majority of cases. Although decreased trabecular bone turnover has been noted previously, cortical and trabecular bone characteristics as determined by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and their relationship to bone histomorphometry are unknown.

Methods

All children with a clinical diagnosis of IJO who were followed in our center since 1995 and who had undergone at least one diagnostic bone biopsy were included in this cross-sectional analysis.

Results

Fifteen patients (11 males/4 females) with median ages of 5.8 and 10.2 years at first symptoms and at referral, respectively, were included in the analysis. Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated decreased trabecular bone turnover (BFR/BS) in the majority of patients with heterogeneous parameters of trabecular mineralization and volume. QCTresults demonstrated that bone mineral density (BMD) was reduced in both trabecular/lumbar and cortical/femoral bone: Z score: -2.1 (−3.6;–1.0) and −0.9 (−8.2;1.4)in the two compartments, respectively. In the eight patients who underwent both bone biopsy and QCT, cortical BMD was associated with trabecular separation and with trabecular bone formation rate (r = 0.898 and −0.881, respectively, both p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This series confirms that IJO is characterized by impaired trabecular architecture that can be detected by both bone biopsy and QCT. The association between bone biopsy and QCT results may have implications for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these children.
Improved photovoltaic performance of silicon nanowire/organic hybrid solar cells by incorporating silver nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Kong , Qu Shengchun , Zhang Xinhui , Tan Furui , Wang Zhanguo
Published: February 2013

Silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays show an excellent light-trapping characteristic and high mobility for carriers. Surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be used to increase light scattering and absorption in solar cells. We fabricated a new kind of SiNW/organic hybrid solar cell by introducing AgNPs. Reflection spectra confirm the improved light scattering of AgNP-decorated SiNW arrays. A double-junction tandem structure was designed to manufacture our hybrid cells. Both short-circuit current and external quantum efficiency measurements show an enhancement in optical absorption of organic layer, especially at lower wavelengths.
Insulin-producing cells could not mimic the physiological regulation of insulin secretion performed by pancreatic beta cells
Authors: Shi Qiping , Luo Simin , Jia Haiying , Feng Lie , Lu Xiaohua , Zhou Lixin , Cai Jiye
Published: February 2013

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the difference between insulin-producing cells (IPCs) and normal human pancreatic beta cells both in physiological function and morphological features in cellular level.

Methods

The levels of insulin secretion were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The insulin gene expression was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The morphological features were detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and laser confocal scanning microscopy.

Results

IPCs and normal human pancreatic beta cells were similar to each other under the observation in AFM with the porous structure features in the cytoplasm. Both number of membrane particle size and average roughness of normal human beta cells were higher than those of IPCs.

Conclusions

Our results firstly revealed that the cellular ultrastructure of IPCs was closer to that of normal human pancreatic beta cells, but they still could not mimic the physiological regulation of insulin secretion performed by pancreatic beta cells.
A hierarchical propelled fusion strategy for SAR automatic target recognition
Authors: Cui Zongyong , Cao Zongjie , Yang Jianyu , Feng Jilan
Published: February 2013

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) is playing a very important role in military and civil field. Much work has been done to improve the performance of SAR ATR systems. It is well-known that ensemble methods can be used for improving prediction performance. Thus recognition using multiple classifiers fusion (MCF) has become a research hotspot in SAR ATR. Most current researchers focus on the fusion methods by parallel structure. However, such parallel structure has some disadvantages, such as large time consumption, features attribution conflict and low capability on confuser recognition. A hierarchical propelled strategy for multi-classifier fusion (HPSMCF) is proposed in this paper. The proposed HPSMCF has the characters both of series and parallel structure. Features can be used more effective and the recognition efficiency can be improved by extracting features and fusing the probabilistic outputs in a hierarchical propelled way. Meanwhile, the confuser recognition can be achieved by setting thresholds for the confidence in each level. Experiments on MSTAR public data demonstrate that the proposed HPSMCF is robust for variant recognition conditions. Compared with the parallel structure, HPSMCF has better performance both on time consumption and recognition rate.
Bronchial obstruction by tumor embolus of contralateral lung during pneumonectomy: report of a case
Authors: Lee Dong Kyu , Kim Heezoo , Lim Sang Ho , Choi Young Ho , Kim Hyun Koo
Published: February 2013

Bronchial obstruction due to a tumor embolus of the contralateral lung during pneumonectomy is an uncommon and fatal complication. According to previous cases, a bronchial balloon of double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) could prevent a dislodged tumor from traveling to the contralateral lung. We experienced a tumor embolism from the bronchus with cancer to the other bronchus despite applying DLT. A 59-year-old male with endobronchial lung cancer underwent a left pneumonectomy. One-lung ventilation was established by the right-sided DLT. After a left bronchial division, a sudden increase of peak airway pressure and reduction of the expired tidal volume to 50 ml was observed. Intraoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a near total obstruction of the right main bronchus due to tumor emboli. It was not possible to remove the tumor embolus through bronchoscopic suction and forceps. Therefore, we reopened the left bronchial stump and successfully extracted tumor embolus under bronchoscopic guidance.
Endoluminale Lasertherapie vs. Crossektomie/Stripping bei Vena saphena magna-Varicosis
Authors: Stenger D. , Hartmann M. , Roll S. , Flessenkämper I.
Published: February 2013

Einleitung: Zur Therapie der Stammvaricosis der Vena saphena magna stehen u.a. die Kombination Crossektomie/ Stripping und die endoluminale Lasertherapie zur Verfügung, jedoch bislang ohne statistisch belastbare Daten.

Material und Methode: Perioperativ, nach 2 und 6 Monaten, wurden sonographische und klinische Parameter in einer prospektiven randomisierten dreiarmigen Multicenter-Studie zwischen der endoluminalen Lasertherapie, der invaginierend durchgeführten, modifizierten, offen operativen Therapie der Stammvarikosis der Vena saphena magna und der endoluminalen Lasertherapie (Laser-prozedur mit 980 nm Laser (Biolitec), Continuous-Mode-Verfahren mit 30 Watt) vergli-chen. Initial und nach 2 Monaten wurden Daten von 449 Patienten, nach 6 Monaten von 388 Patienten erhoben. Zielparameter waren die sonographischen, inguinalen Refluxbefunde einschließlich durchströmter Seitenäste und deren Bezug zu klinischen Rezidiven.

Ergebnisse: In den beiden Lasergruppen wurden signifikant mehr crossennahe Seitenäste gefunden als in der operativen Therapie. Es gab zu diesem Zeitpunkt keinen statistisch signifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen Refluxbefunden und klinischen Rezidiven. Die Re-flux- und Rezidivbefunde zeigten im zeitlichen Verlauf keine intraindividuelle Konstanz. Bezüglich der Endpunkte Ödeme, Lymphödeme, neurologische Sensibilitätsstörungen, Matting und postoperative Einschränkungen gab es signifikant mehr Lymphödeme, lokale Sensibilitätsstörungen und Saphenusschäden in den beiden Lasergruppen.

Diskussion: Mit längerfristigen Nachuntersuchungen muss die Bedeutung der crossenahen Seitenäste für die Entwicklung klinischer Rezi-dive geklärt werden. Aufgrund des Nebenwirkungsprofils kann die verwendete Lasertechnik nicht als schonenderes Verfahren gegenüber der klassischen Operation bezeichnet werden.
Hematocrit correction does not improve glucose monitor accuracy in the assessment of neonatal hypoglycemia
Authors: Wang Li , Sievenpiper John L. , de Souza Russell J. , Thomaz Michele , Blatz Susan , Grey Vijaylaxmi , Fusch Christoph , Balion Cynthia
Published: February 2013

Background:The lack of accuracy of point of care (POC) glucose monitors has limited their use in the diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycemia. Hematocrit plays an important role in explaining discordant results. The objective of this study was to to assess the effect of hematocrit on the diagnostic performance of Abbott Precision Xceed Pro (PXP) and Nova StatStrip (StatStrip) monitors in neonates.

Methods:All blood samples ordered for laboratory glucose measurement were analyzed using the PXP and StatStrip and compared with the laboratory analyzer (ABL 800 Blood Gas analyzer [ABL]). Acceptable error targets were ±15% for glucose monitoring and ±5% for diagnosis.

Results:A total of 307 samples from 176 neonates were analyzed. Overall, 90% of StatStrip and 75% of PXP values met the 15% error limit and 45% of StatStrip and 32% of PXP values met the 5% error limit. At glucose concentrations ≤4 mmol/L, 83% of StatStrip and 79% of PXP values met the 15% error limit, while 37% of StatStrip and 38% of PXP values met the 5% error limit. Hematocrit explained 7.4% of the difference between the PXP and ABL whereas it accounted for only 0.09% of the difference between the StatStrip and ABL. The ROC analysis showed the screening cut point with the best performance for identifying neonatal hypoglycemia was 3.2 mmol/L for StatStrip and 3.3 mmol/L for PXP.

Conclusions:Despite a negligible hematocrit effect for the StatStrip, it did not achieve recommended error limits. The StatStrip and PXP glucose monitors remain suitable only for neonatal hypoglycemia screening with confirmation required from a laboratory analyzer.
Large-Scale Direct Shear Testing of Recycled Construction and Demolition Materials
Authors: Piratheepan J. , Arulrajah A. , Disfani M. M.
Published: February 2013

Laboratory large-scale direct shear tests were carried out on five different recycled construction and demolition materials, such as crushed concrete (CC), crushed rock (CR), crushed brick (CB), reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and recycled glass (RG). The shear strength parameters were evaluated with a large shear test machine for different values of normal stress ranging from 30 to 200 kPa. Resulting values of cohesion were found to vary in a wide range between 8.55 kPa to 284.5 kPa, whereas coefficient of internal friction varies between 44.6° to 52.1°. The failure envelopes for all materials investigated are straight-line failure envelopes. Crushed rock and crushed concrete showed high cohesion of 284 kPa and 154 kPa, respectively, whereas reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled glass showed low cohesion of 8.55 kPa and 14 kPa, respectively. Meanwhile, crushed brick showed a medium cohesion of 61.2 kPa. Further, the volumetric behaviours of the recycled materials are dilatancy except for reclaimed asphalt pavement at low normal stress. The results of the shear strength tests indicate that CR, CC, and CB and blends of RAP and medium recycled glass (MRG) with other materials can be viable materials to be sustainably used in pavement sub-base applications.
Performance Evaluation of Flexible Pavements Using a New Field Cyclic Plate Load Test
Authors: McCartney John S. , Cox Brady R. , Wood Clinton M. , El Tawati Abdalla
Published: February 2013

This study presents a new field cyclic plate load test for characterization of the permanent and dynamic deformation behavior of flexible pavements as a function of load and number of loading cycles. Specifically, in this study a Vibroseis was used to apply thousands of loading cycles to pavement sections with a peak dynamic force of 62 kN (a ±22 kN dynamic force superimposed on a static hold-down force of 40 kN), which is approximately equivalent to [3/4] of an ESAL. These vertical loads were applied to a dual wheel-sized loading footprint resting on the pavement surface at a rate of 50 Hz. During loading, the permanent and dynamic surface deformations were recorded every 500 cycles at incremental distances from the loading footprint. The cyclic plate load test was performed for two pavement sections having similar asphalt, subgrade, and base course characteristics, but different base course thicknesses. The results from the pavement sections at two different times of the year (summer and winter) indicate improved performance with increasing base course thickness, and a stiffer response in the winter months due to temperature effects on the asphalt elastic modulus, as expected. The measured permanent deformation basins were interpreted using inverse analysis of an analytical Timoshenko-Winkler beam solution to identify softening of the Young’s moduli of the asphalt and combined base and subgrade layers after application of different numbers of loading cycles. The beam solution provides a good fit to the measured deformation profiles and the inverse analysis shows a clear decrease in Young’s moduli of the pavement layers during cyclic loading.
Modifying Media Content for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Christakis Dimitri A. , Garrison Michelle M. , Herrenkohl Todd , Haggerty Kevin , Rivara Frederick P. , Zhou Chuan , Liekweg Kimberly
Published: February 2013

BACKGROUND:

Although previous studies have revealed that preschool-aged children imitate both aggression and prosocial behaviors on screen, there have been few population-based studies designed to reduce aggression in preschool-aged children by modifying what they watch.

METHODS:

We devised a media diet intervention wherein parents were assisted in substituting high quality prosocial and educational programming for aggression-laden programming without trying to reduce total screen time. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 565 parents of preschool-aged children ages 3 to 5 years recruited from community pediatric practices. Outcomes were derived from the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS:

At 6 months, the overall mean Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation score was 2.11 points better (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–3.44) in the intervention group as compared with the controls, and similar effects were observed for the externalizing subscale (0.68 [95% CI: 0.06–1.30]) and the social competence subscale (1.04 [95% CI: 0.34–1.74]). The effect for the internalizing subscale was in a positive direction but was not statistically significant (0.42 [95% CI: −0.14 to 0.99]). Although the effect sizes did not noticeably decay at 12 months, the effect on the externalizing subscale was no longer statistically significant (P = .05). In a stratified analysis of the effect on the overall scores, low-income boys appeared to derive the greatest benefit (6.48 [95% CI: 1.60–11.37]).

CONCLUSIONS:

An intervention to reduce exposure to screen violence and increase exposure to prosocial programming can positively impact child behavior.
NIDCAP: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Ohlsson Arne , Jacobs Susan E.
Published: February 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The “synactive” theory of neurobehavioral development forms the basis of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP). Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of NIDCAP in improving outcomes in preterm infants.

METHODS:

Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, The Cochrane Library, Pediatric Academic Societies’ Abstracts and Web of Science were searched in July 2010 and February 2012. The studies selected were randomized controlled trials testing the effectiveness of NIDCAP on medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The authors abstracted baseline characteristics of infants and outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane criteria. RevMan 5.1 was used to synthesize data by the use of relative risk and risk difference for dichotomous outcomes and mean or standardized mean difference for continuous outcomes.

RESULTS:

Eleven primary and 7 secondary studies enrolling 627 neonates were included, with 2 of high quality. The composite primary outcomes of death or major sensorineural disability at 18 months corrected age or later in childhood (3 trials, 302 children; relative risk 0.89 [95% confidence interval 0.61 to 1.29]) and survival free of disability at 18 months corrected age or later in childhood (2 trials, 192 infants; relative risk 0.97 [95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.35]), were not significantly different between the NIDCAP and control groups. With the sensitivity analysis that excluded the 2 statistically heterogeneous outlying studies, there were no significant differences between groups for short-term medical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

This systematic review including 627 preterm infants did not find any evidence that NIDCAP improves long-term neurodevelopmental or short-term medical outcomes.
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among US Adolescents and Young Adults and Risk of Early Mortality
Authors: Saydah Sharon , Bullard Kai McKeever , Imperatore Giuseppina , Geiss Linda , Gregg Edward W.
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the risk of mortality associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in a national sample of adolescents and young adults.

METHODS:

Prospective study of participants in the third NHANES (1988–1994), aged 12 to 39 years at the time of the survey (n = 9245). Risk factors included 3 measures of adiposity, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, self-reported smoking status, and cotinine level. Death before age 55 (n = 298) was determined by linkage to the National Death Index through 2006. Proportional hazards models, with age as the time scale, were used to determine the risk of death before age 55 years after adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, and presence of comorbid conditions.

RESULTS:

After adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, results of categorical analyses showed that current smokers were at 86% greater risk for early death than those classified as never smokers; that those with a waist-to-height ratio >0.65 were at 139% greater risk than those with a WHR <0.5; and that those with an HbA1c level >6.5% were at 281% greater risk than those with an HbA1c level <5.7%. Neither high-density lipoprotein nor non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol measures were associated with risk for early death.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our finding that risk for death before age 55 among US adolescents and young adults was associated with central obesity, smoking, and hyperglycemia supports reducing the prevalence of these risk factors among younger US residents.
Crystal Structures of Long-Period Stacking-Ordered Phases in the Mg-TM-RE Ternary Systems
Authors: Kishida Kyosuke , Yokobayashi Hideyuki , Inoue Atsushi , Inui Haruyuki
Published: February 2013

Crystal structures of long-period stacking-ordered (LPSO) phases in the Mg-TM (transition-metal)-RE(rare-earth) systems were investigated by atomic resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). The 18R-type LPSO phase is constructed by stacking 6-layer structural blocks, each of which contains four consecutive close-packed planes enriched with TM and RE atoms. Formation of the TM6RE8 clusters with the L12 type atomic arrangement is commonly observed in both Mg-Al-Gd and Mg-Zn-Y LPSO phases. The difference between the crystal structures of Mg-Al-Gd and Mg-Zn-Y LPSO phases can be interpreted as the difference in the in-plane ordering of the TM6RE8 clusters in the structural block. The Mg-Al-Gd LPSO phase exhibits a long-range in-plane ordering of Gd and Al, which can be described by the periodic arrangement of the Al6Gd8 clusters with the L12 type atomic arrangement on lattice points of a two-dimensional 2$\sqrt 3 $aMg × 2$\sqrt 3 $aMg primitive hexagonal lattice, although the LPSO phase in the Zn/Y-poor Mg-Zn-Y alloys exhibits a shortrange in-plane ordering of the Zn6Y8 clusters.