bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimensions of the posterior cerebral circulation: an analysis based on advanced non-invasive imaging
Authors: Rai Ansaar T , Rodgers Daniel , Williams Eric A , Hogg Jeffery P
Published: November 2012

Background

Our goal was to provide measurements of the posterior cerebral circulation using non-invasive imaging and advanced software analysis tools.

Methods

100 consecutive patients aged ≥40 years (50 men and 50 women) who had undergone CT angiography (CTA) but had no vascular abnormality were analyzed. Specific software was used to make vessel measurements along the center line. The length of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA), the basilar artery (BA) and the distance from the mid-basilar artery to the posterior cerebral artery (mBA-PCA) was recorded. Vessel diameter was measured at the proximal and distal ends of these vessel lengths. Vessel taper was calculated as the change in diameter in millimeters per centimeter of length.

Results

The mean lengths of the intracranial VA, the BA and the mBA-PCA were 40±10.6 mm, 27.3±5.7 mm and 25.6±4.3 mm, respectively. The proximal and distal diameters were 3.9±0.8 mm and 2.8±0.6 mm for the VA and 3.6±0.6 mm and 3.1±0.5 mm for the BA, respectively. The mean mid-BA diameter and the proximal PCA diameter were 3.2±0.5 mm and 2.2±0.4 mm, respectively. There was a significant increase in arterial caliber in patients aged ≥60 years compared with those aged 40–59 years. Men also tended to have longer vessels with a larger diameter than women.

Conclusions

Advanced software and non-invasive imaging can be used to perform accurate vessel analysis. The posterior circulation measurements showed an increase in arterial caliber with age. This baseline information may be useful in planning neurovascular procedures and endovascular device development.
Perforator aneurysms of the posterior circulation: case series and review of the literature
Authors: Ding Dale , Starke Robert M , Jensen Mary E , Evans Avery J , Kassell Neal F , Liu Kenneth C
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Posterior circulation perforator artery aneurysms are sparsely reported in the literature. The natural history of these rare lesions remains unclear and their diagnosis and management are not well-defined.

Methods

We reviewed our institution's medical records and performed a comprehensive literature search for cases of posterior circulation perforator aneurysms. Diagnostic imaging, management and clinical outcomes were the primary components of interest.

Results

Our first case was a 58-year-old patient who developed an infarct after attempted endovascular treatment of a basilar perforator artery aneurysm, the second case was a 55-year-old patient with a posterior cerebral artery perforator aneurysm who did well with conservative management and the third case was a 68-year-old patient who suffered an infarct after successful Onyx embolization of a superior cerebellar artery perforator aneurysm. From the literature we identified four case reports and four case series, all describing aneurysmal lesions of the basilar perforator arteries, giving a total of 17 cases including those from our institution. All cases presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage although 47% of initial vascular imaging studies failed to reveal the aneurysm. Cumulatively, 41% of patients were treated with microsurgery, 35% were treated with endovascular therapy and 24% were managed conservatively with subsequent spontaneous aneurysm resolution at a mean interval of 10 months after rupture.

Conclusions

Perforator aneurysms of the posterior circulation are diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Both microsurgical and endovascular treatment of posterior circulation perforator aneurysms are technically difficult, necessitating comprehensive management by an experienced cerebrovascular team.
Biophysical characteristics of the stem and petiole surface of six hemlock (Tsuga) species and a hybrid: implications for resistance to Adelges tsugae
Authors: Oten K.L.F. , Bauchan G.R. , Frampton J. , Hain F.P.
Published: November 2012

Characteristics of the plant surface significantly affect host-plant selection by phytophagous insects. Surface morphology of six hemlock species (Tsuga spp.) and a hybrid was investigated using low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Observations focused on trichome presence and placement and cuticle thickness. These characteristics were studied in the context of species-level host-plant resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), an exotic insect causing massive mortality to eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Engelm.) in the eastern United States. Hemlocks in the native range of the insect do not succumb to infestations and the mechanism of resistance is unknown. We addressed the potential role of plant surface morphology in the adelgid–hemlock interaction by comparing four adelgid-resistant hemlock species and a hybrid with the two adelgid-susceptible hemlock species. We found that trichomes are likely not involved in conferring resistance to A. tsugae. Cuticle thickness may be involved in insertion site selection by A. tsugae and may therefore have implications for resistance. The cuticle is thinnest at the point of A. tsugae stylet insertion and thus may affect A. tsugae feeding.
Partial oligomerization of pyolysin induced by a disulfide-tethered mutant
Authors: Pokrajac Lisa , Baik Clara , Harris J. Robin , Sarraf Naghmeh S. , Palmer Michael
Published: November 2012

The bacterial toxin pyolysin (PLO) belongs to the family of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs), which form large, ring-shaped oligomeric pores in cholesterol-containing membranes. Monomeric CDC molecules have a structure of four domains, with domains 2 and 3 packed against each other. After binding to target membranes containing cholesterol, toxin monomers oligomerize into pre-pore complexes. Trans-membrane pores form when the pre-pores insert into the lipid bilayer. Membrane insertion requires each subunit in the pre-pore to undergo a significant change in conformation, including the separation of domains 2 and 3. We here characterize a pyolysin mutant with an engineered disulfide bond between domains 2 and 3. The disulfide-tethered mutant binds to membranes but does not form oligomers. When mixed with wild type PLO, the two proteins form hybrid oligomers, which are reduced in size and arc-shaped rather than ring-shaped. With equimolar mixtures or the disulfide mutant in slight excess, the hybrid oligomers retain pore-forming activity, while a larger excess of the mutant suppresses pore formation. These results support a “partially cooperative” mode of protein activity, in which a limited number of functional subunits within an oligomer have to cooperate to initiate membrane insertion and pore formation.
DECAYS OF FOURTH GENERATION BOUND STATES
Authors: DMITRIEV V. F. , FLAMBAUM V. V.
Published: November 2012

We consider the decay modes of the heavy [Formula: see text] bound states originating from Higgs boson exchange between quark–antiquark pair. In case of a small coupling between the fourth and lower generation the main decay mode is [Formula: see text] annihilation. We show that for a vector state the dominant decay modes are Higgs-gamma and Higgs-Z decays, while for a pseudoscalar state the strong two-gluon decay mode dominates. The bound states are very narrow. The ratio of the total width to the binding energy is less than 1% if we are not extremely close to the critical quark mass where the binding energy is very small. The discussed decay modes exist for any fermion–antifermion bound states including heavy leptons and heavy neutrinos if their masses are high enough to form a bound state due to attractive Higgs boson exchange potential.
COMPLEXITY MEASURES AND NOISE EFFECTS ON DIFFUSION MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE NEURON AXONS NETWORK IN THE HUMAN BRAIN
Authors: KATSALOULIS P. , HIZANIDIS J. , VERGANELAKIS D. A. , PROVATA A.
Published: November 2012

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) is a novel technique that mirrors the complex architecture of the neuron axons fiber networks in the human brain. Based on the dMRI scans, fractal dimensions (Box Counting and Multifractal Dimensions) are used to quantify the complexity of the neuron axons networks. The values of the fractal dimensions are calculated as a function of the intensity threshold τ in an effort to remove the effects of stochastic noise, always present in the molecular diffusion of water in the brain. It is shown that intermediate values of the noise threshold τ are better for estimating the complexity of the neuron network architecture, because for small τ the presence of stochastic noise often masks the underlying structure, while for τ > 0.6 important parts of the axon network structure are ignored. Calculations of the multifractal dimensions in healthy brains as a function of τ, give consistent scaling results in the medium intensity thresholds, where the neuron axons activity is better discerned. In these intermediate τ scales, deviations are recorded in the multifractal spectra of pathological brains, which indicate damaged network architectures.
Enhancing data center sustainability through energy-adaptive computing
Authors: Kant Krishna , Murugan Muthukumar , Du David H. C.
Published: November 2012

The sustainability concerns of Information Technology (IT) go well beyond energy-efficient computing and require techniques for minimizing environmental impact of IT infrastructure over its entire life-cycle. Traditionally, IT infrastructure is overdesigned at all levels from chips to entire data centers and ecosystem; the paradigm explored in this article is to replace overdesign with rightsizing coupled with smarter control, henceforth referred to as
Energy-Adaptive Computing
or EAC. The article lays out the challenges of EAC in various environments in terms of the adaptation of the workload and the infrastructure to cope with energy and cooling deficiencies. The article then focuses on implementing EAC in a data center environment, and addresses the problem of simultaneous energy demand and energy supply regulation at multiple levels, work, from servers to the entire data center. The proposed control scheme adapts the assignments of tasks to servers in a way that can cope with the varying energy limitations. The article also presents some experimental results to show how the scheme can continue to meet
Quality of Service
(QoS) requirements of tasks under energy limitations.
Alan Turing remembered
Authors: Newman William
Published: November 2012

A unique firsthand account of formative experiences with Alan Turing.
A view on the state of software engineering practice
Authors: El-Deeb Ahmed
Published: November 2012

An excerpt from Thomas Friedman's famous book The World Is Flat, "When developing countries start thinking about the challenge of flatism...It has to ask itself," "To what extent is my country advancing or being left behind by the flattening of the world, and to what extent is it adapting to and taking advantage of all the new platforms for collaborations and competition?" is vividly describing the appeal of many developing countries in entering the software industry. With the globalization of crafting software and its services, the software industry is seen as a lucrative economic growth opportunity. Unlike other industrial investments, the software industry is convenient to developing countries for its low-cost of establishment. All is needed is an affordable real estate rental, a bunch of PCs, and a few skilled workers to get the business running. The globalization of the software industry with attention given to accessing the right skills no matter where and reducing costs through cheap labor is even a realization to those countries ambitions to remedy part of their economic challenges. India preceded with utilizing such potential and made good use of such globalization, or flatism, of the software industry; positioning itself as a successful model to those nations aspiring to compete globally and establish economic growth.

Egypt is no exception from this ambition. Geographically positioned in proximity to Europe at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia and with access to abundant low wage talent pool of multilingual technical graduates annually are all factors that made it conceivable that Egypt can compete in the global industry of software. However, such entrance into competition, notably with India as well as other Middle Eastern countries, have shaped trends in the practices of software engineering in Egypt as well as it did emerge several challenges that Egypt should learn to remedy if it wants to stay competitive in the global software industry. This paper attempts to shed light on salient current software engineering practices and related challenges that would be affecting Egypt's progress and competitive edge. In laying a foundation to such brief survey of practices, this paper also overviews major cornerstones that gave rise to the establishment and support of such industry in Egypt.
Report from the second international workshop on games and software engineering (GAS 2012)
Authors: Bell Jonathan , Cooper Kendra M.L. , Kaiser Gail , Sheth Swapneel
Published: November 2012

The Second International Workshop on Games and Software Engineering (GAS 2012) was held in June 2012, collocated with ICSE 2012 in Zurich, Switzerland. GAS 2012 explores issues that crosscut the software engineering and the game engineering communities. Advances in game engineering techniques can be adopted by the software engineering community to develop more engaging applications across diverse domains: education; healthcare; fitness; sustainable activities (e.g., recycling awareness); and so on. Successful computer games feature a property that is not always found in traditional software: they are highly engaging. Engaging games enthrall players and result in users willing to spend increasing amounts of time and money playing them. Nine submissions were accepted for the workshop, which also featured a panel session and an informal poster session.
FormSERA workshop on formal methods in software engineering rigorous and agile approaches
Authors: Gruner Stefan , Rumpe Bernhard
Published: November 2012

This report summarizes the activities and results of the FormSERA workshop on Formal Methods in Software Engineering -- Rigorous and Agile Approaches. The workshop took place on the 2nd of June 2012 in Zürich (CH) under the umbrella of the 34th International Conference on Software Engineering, ICSE 2012, see http://www.formsera.org/.
A benchmarking-inspired approach to determine threshold values for metrics
Authors: Lochmann Klaus
Published: November 2012

In order to assess software quality by software metrics, usually, thresholds for metric values are needed. A common problem is to define reasonable threshold values. One possible solution is to use a benchmarking approach: the threshold value for a metric is calculated based on the metric values of a set of systems, which are called benchmarking base. A relevant question is, how the used benchmarking base inuences the result of the software quality assessment. Based on the quality assessment approach of Quamoco, we conduct a series of experiments, using different benchmarking bases. For each benchmarking base a quality assessment of a series of test systems is conducted. We analyze the whether the quality assessment results of the test systems are concordant for different benchmarking bases. The main findings are: (1) The bigger the benchmarking base, the less divergent are the rankings, and the less is the variance of the results. (2) The size of the systems contained within a benchmarking base does not inuence the results, i.e. a benchmarking base containing small systems works equally well for small and large systems, and vice versa. These results show that benchmarking is a feasible approach for determining threshold values.
Strategies for testing products in software product lines
Authors: do Carmo Machado Ivan , McGregor John D. , Santana de Almeida Eduardo
Published: November 2012

The software product line engineering strategy enables the achievement of significant improvements in quality through reuse of carefully crafted software assets across multiple products. However, high levels of quality in the software product line assets, which are used to create products, must be accompanied by effective and efficient test strategies for the products in the software product line. The goal of this study is to understand which strategies for testing products in software product lines have been reported in the literature, enabling discussions on the significant issues, and also pointing out further research directions. A systematic literature review was carried out that identified two hundred seventy-three papers, published from the years 1998 and early in 2012. From such a set of papers, a systematic selection resulted in forty-one relevant papers. The analysis of the reported strategies comprised two important aspects: the selection of products for testing, and the actual test of products. The findings showed a range of strategies, dealing with both aspects, but few empirical evaluations of their effectiveness have been performed, which limits the inferences that can be drawn.
Issue ownership activity in two large software projects
Authors: Caglayan Bora , Bener Ayse
Published: November 2012

Issue management is one of the major challenges of software development teams. Balanced workload allocation of developers who are responsible for the maintenance of the software product would impact the long-term reliability of the product. In this paper, we analyse the issue report, issue ownership, and issue resolve patterns of two large software products over a period of time. We use GINI index to estimate the inequalities in issue ownership over time. Our results indicate that a small group of developers tends to take the ownership of a large portion of new issues especially when the active issue count is relatively high in the software development life cycle. We discuss the implications of this trend and propose long-term issue management strategies to deal with them.
Modeling class loaders in Java PathFinder version 7
Authors: Shafiei Nastaran , Mehlitz Peter
Published: November 2012

The class loading mechanism is one of the essential components of the Java runtime environment. Java class loading is performed on-demand, allows multiple, user extensible class loaders, and can associate a separate type namespace with each class loader. Previous versions of the Java Pathfinder (JPF) model checker only provided a single, hardcoded class loading mechanism. As one of the cornerstones of the upcoming JPF version 7 (JPF v7), we have implemented a standard Java conforming class loader infrastructure. Our implementation does not only support different class loaders and type namespaces, but also allows explicit instantiation of multiple bootstrap class loaders which is essential for model checking of distributed applications - the primary motivation for our work. With the new class loading mechanism, such applications can be mapped to threads using different bootstrap class loaders, thus effectively separating all static fields between application threads. In addition, the JPF v7 class loading is considered to be the basis for future verification of Java security properties.
Computing and visualizing the impact of change with Java PathFinder extensions
Authors: Mercer Eric , Person Suzette , Rungta Neha
Published: November 2012

Change impact analysis techniques estimate the potential effects of changes made to software. Directed Incremental Symbolic Execution (DiSE) is a Java PathFinder extension that computes the impact of changes on program execution behaviors. The results of DiSE are a set of impacted path conditions that can be efficiently processed by a subsequent client analysis. Path conditions, however, may not be intuitive for software developers without the context of the source code. In this paper we present a framework for visualizing the results of DiSE. The visualization includes annotated source code and control ow graphs indicating program statements that are changed and statements that may be impacted by the changes. A simulation mode enables users to also observe the impact of changes on symbolic execution of the program, by showing the changes to the path conditions as the user steps through the sequences of statements executed.
Ectopic lipid deposition and the metabolic profile of skeletal muscle in ovariectomized mice
Authors: Jackson Kathryn C. , Wohlers Lindsay M. , Lovering Richard M. , Schuh Rosemary A. , Maher Amy C. , Bonen Arend , Koves Timothy R. , Ilkayeva Olga , Thomson David M. , Muoio Deborah M. , Spangenburg Espen E.
Published: November 2012

Disruptions of ovarian function in women are associated with increased risk of metabolic disease due to dysregulation of peripheral glucose homeostasis in skeletal muscle. Our previous evidence suggests that alterations in skeletal muscle lipid metabolism coupled with altered mitochondrial function may also develop. The objective of this study was to use an integrative metabolic approach to identify potential areas of dysfunction that develop in skeletal muscle from ovariectomized (OVX) female mice compared with age-matched ovary-intact adult female mice (sham). The OVX mice exhibited significant increases in body weight, visceral, and inguinal fat mass compared with sham mice. OVX mice also had significant increases in skeletal muscle intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) compared with the sham animals, which corresponded to significant increases in the protein content of the fatty acid transporters CD36/FAT and FABPpm. A targeted metabolic profiling approach identified significantly lower levels of specific acyl carnitine species and various amino acids in skeletal muscle from OVX mice compared with the sham animals, suggesting a potential dysfunction in lipid and amino acid metabolism, respectively. Basal and maximal mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates were significantly impaired in skeletal muscle fibers from OVX mice compared with sham animals. Collectively, these data indicate that loss of ovarian function results in increased IMCL storage that is coupled with alterations in mitochondrial function and changes in the skeletal muscle metabolic profile.
Quantitative inference of population response properties across eccentricity from motion-induced maps in macaque V1
Authors: Rasch Malte J. , Chen Ming , Wu Si , Lu Haidong D. , Roe Anna W.
Published: November 2012

Interpreting population responses in the primary visual cortex (V1) remains a challenge especially with the advent of techniques measuring activations of large cortical areas simultaneously with high precision. For successful interpretation, a quantitatively precise model prediction is of great importance. In this study, we investigate how accurate a spatiotemporal filter (STF) model predicts average response profiles to coherently drifting random dot motion obtained by optical imaging of intrinsic signals in V1 of anesthetized macaques. We establish that orientation difference maps, obtained by subtracting orthogonal axis-of-motion, invert with increasing drift speeds, consistent with the motion streak effect. Consistent with perception, the speed at which the map inverts (the critical speed) depends on cortical eccentricity and systematically increases from foveal to parafoveal. We report that critical speeds and response maps to drifting motion are excellently reproduced by the STF model. Our study thus suggests that the STF model is quantitatively accurate enough to be used as a first model of choice for interpreting responses obtained with intrinsic imaging methods in V1. We show further that this good quantitative correspondence opens the possibility to infer otherwise not easily accessible population receptive field properties from responses to complex stimuli, such as drifting random dot motions.
Validation of Antenna Modeling Methodology in IMT-Advanced Channel Model
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Pan Chun
Published: November 2012

In this paper, the antenna modeling method in the International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced) channel model is validated by field channel measurements in the indoor scenario at 2.35 GHz. First, the 2 × 2 MIMO channel impulse responses (CIRs) are recorded with practical antennas as references. Second, the CIRs are reconstructed from the available IMT-Advanced channel model with field patterns of the practical antennas and updated spatial parameters extracted from the similar scenario measurements. Then comparisons between the field CIRs and the reconstructed CIRs are made from coherent bandwidth, eigenvalue dispersion, outage capacity, and ergodic channel capacity. It is found that the reconstructed results closely approximate real results in the coherent bandwidth and correctly describe the statistical characteristics in frequency domain. Compared to the field CIRs, the spatial correlation of the reconstructed CIRs with both types of antenna have a wider range that causes the underestimation of the 5% channel outage capacity. Due to the negligence of the coupling among the antennas and the near field effect of antenna, this modeling method will have a great impact on the characteristics of radio channels, especially on the spatial characteristics.
Optimal Sizing and Control Strategy Design for Heavy Hybrid Electric Truck
Authors: Zou Yuan , Li Dong-ge , Hu Xiao-song
Published: November 2012

Due to the complexity of the hybrid powertrain, the control is highly involved to improve the collaborations of the different components. For the specific powertrain, the components′ sizing just gives the possibility to propel the vehicle and the control will realize the function of the propulsion. Definitely the components′ sizing also gives the constraints to the control design, which cause a close coupling between the sizing and control strategy design. This paper presents a parametric study focused on sizing of the powertrain components and optimization of the power split between the engine and electric motor for minimizing the fuel consumption. A framework is put forward to accomplish the optimal sizing and control design for a heavy parallel pre‐AMT hybrid truck under the natural driving schedule. The iterative plant‐controller combined optimization methodology is adopted to optimize the key parameters of the plant and control strategy simultaneously. A scalable powertrain model based on a bilevel optimization framework is built. Dynamic programming is applied to find the optimal control in the inner loop with a prescribed cycle. The parameters are optimized in the outer loop. The results are analysed and the optimal sizing and control strategy are achieved simultaneously.
Preventive Treatment with Methylprednisolone Paradoxically Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Wüst Simone , van den Brandt Jens , Reichardt Holger M. , Lühder Fred
Published: November 2012

Glucocorticoids (GCs) represent the standard treatment for acute disease bouts in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, for which methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy is the most frequently used protocol. Here, we compared the efficacy of therapeutic and preventive MP application inMOG35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57Bl/6 mice. When administered briefly after the onset of the disease, MP efficiently ameliorated EAE in a dose-dependent manner. Surprisingly, MP administration around the time of immunization was contraindicated as it even increased leukocyte infiltration into the CNS and worsened the disease symptoms. Our analyses suggest that in the latter case an incomplete depletion of peripheral T cells by MP triggers homeostatic proliferation, which presumably results in an enhanced priming of autoreactive T cells and causes an aggravated disease course. Thus, the timing and selection of a particular GC derivative require careful consideration in MS therapy.
Experimental Validation of Volume of Fluid Method for a Sluice Gate Flow
Authors: Oner A. A. , Akoz M. S. , Kirkgoz M. S. , Gumus V.
Published: November 2012

Laboratory experiments are conducted for 2D turbulent free surface flow which interacts with a vertical sluice gate. The velocity field, on the centerline of the channel flow upstream of the gate is measured using the particle image velocimetry technique. The numerical simulation of the same flow is carried out by solving the governing equations, Reynolds-averaged continuity and Navier-Stokes equations, using finite element method. In the numerical solution of the governing equations, the standard [Formula: see text] turbulence closure model is used to define the turbulent viscosity. The measured horizontal velocity distribution at the inflow boundary of the solution domain is taken as the boundary condition. The volume of fluid (VOF) method is used to determine the flow profile in the channel. Taking into account of the flow characteristics, the computational domain is divided into five subdomains, each having different mesh densities. Three different meshes with five subdomains are employed for the numerical model. A grid convergence analysis indicates that the discretization error in the predicted velocities on the fine mesh remains within 2%. The computational results are compared with the experimental data, and, the most suitable mesh in predicting the velocity field and the flow profile among the three meshes is selected.
Progress towards Elimination of HIV Mother-to-Child Transmission in the Dominican Republic from 1999 to 2011
Authors: Lorenzo Osvaldo , Beck-Sagué Consuelo M. , Bautista-Soriano Claudia , Halpern Mina , Roman-Poueriet José , Henderson Nora , Perez-Then Eddy , Abreu-Perez Rosa , Soto Solange , Martínez Luis , Rives-Gray Sarah , Veras Bienvenido , Connolly Maureen , Callender Greer Brittany , Nicholas Stephen W.
Published: November 2012

In 1999, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT) using antiretrovirals was introduced in the Dominican Republic (DR). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was introduced for immunosuppressed persons in 2004 and for pMTCT in 2008. To assess progress towards MTCT elimination, data from requisitions for HIV nucleic acid amplification tests for diagnosis of HIV infection in perinatally exposed infants born in the DR from 1999 to 2011 were analyzed. The MTCT rate was 142/1,274 (11.1%) in 1999–2008 and 12/302 (4.0%) in 2009–2011 (P<.001), with a rate of 154/1,576 (9.8%) for both periods combined. This decline was associated with significant increases in the proportions of women who received prenatal HAART (from 12.3% to 67.9%) and infants who received exclusive formula feeding (from 76.3% to 86.1%) and declines in proportions of women who received no prenatal antiretrovirals (from 31.9% to 12.2%) or received only single-dose nevirapine (from 39.5% to 19.5%). In 2007, over 95% of DR pregnant women received prenatal care, HIV testing, and professionally attended delivery. However, only 58% of women in underserved sugarcane plantation communities (2007) and 76% in HIV sentinel surveillance hospitals (2003–2005) received their HIV test results. HIV-MTCT elimination is feasible but persistent lack of access to critical pMTCT measures must be addressed.
Microphone Arrays as a Leakage Detection Tool in Industrial Compressed Air Systems
Authors: Eret Petr , Meskell Craig
Published: November 2012

Compressed air energy is expensive, but common in industrial manufacturing plant. However, a significant part of the generated compressed air energy is lost due to leakage. Best practice requires ongoing leak detection and repair. Leak detection in the ultrasonic frequency range using handheld devices is possible only over short distances as associated high-frequency sound is rapidly attenuated by atmospheric absorption. Pressurized air escaping to ambience also generates frequencies below 20 kHz. In this paper beamforming—a well known method for generating noise maps—is tested as a tool for localization of compressed air leaks at larger distances in the audible frequency range. Advanced beamforming methods in both time domain (broadband) and frequency domain (narrowband) have been implemented in a variety of situations on a laboratory experimental rig with several open blows representing leakage in a noisy environment similar to a factory setting. Based on the results achieved it is concluded that the microphone array approach has the potential to be a robust leak identification tool. The experience gained here can also provide useful guidance to the practitioner.
Pattern Formation in a Cross‐Diffusive Ratio‐Dependent Predator‐Prey Model
Authors: Lian Xinze , Yue Yanhong , Wang Hailing
Published: November 2012

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of evolutionary process that involves organisms distribution and their interaction of spatial distribution of the species with self‐ and cross‐diffusion in a Holling‐III ratio‐dependent predator‐prey model. The diffusion instability of the positive equilibrium of the model with Neumann boundary conditions is discussed. Furthermore, we present novel numerical evidence of time evolution of patterns controlled by self‐ and cross‐diffusion in the model and find that the model dynamics exhibits a cross‐diffusion controlled formation growth to spots, stripes, and spiral wave pattern replication, which show that reaction‐diffusion model is useful to reveal the spatial predation dynamics in the real world.
Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Caused by Smoldering Plasma Cell Myeloma: An Autopsy Case of POEMS Syndrome
Authors: Chinen Katsuya , Fujioka Yasunori
Published: November 2012

The POEMS syndrome (coined to refer to polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) is a rare variant of plasma cell disorders with multiple systemic manifestations. Recently, pulmonary hypertension (PH) has become established as a complication, but pathological studies of this condition are scarce and the detailed pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. We present herein a case of a 49-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having idiopathic PH and was treated in accordance. However, she eventually died of respiratory failure and an autopsy revealed the presence of smoldering plasma cell myeloma and multiple organomegaly in addition to severe PH. The latter was attributed to stenosis and occlusion of the arterioles of the lungs due to marked plasma cell proliferation, quite different from the histology of idiopathic PH. From these findings, together with the clinical details, we concluded that the patient’s PH was a complication of the POEMS syndrome. This case showed a unique pulmonary vascular pathology featuring plasma cell proliferation and it provides clues towards understanding the pathogenesis with this background.
Paravertebral Burkitt's Lymphoma in a Child: An Unusual Presentation
Authors: Hoyoux C. , Forget P. , Piette C. , Dresse M. F. , Florkin B. , Rausin L. , Thiry A.
Published: November 2012

Paravertebral malignant tumors constitute 4.8% of cancer cases in pediatric oncology and are mostly composed of neuroblastoma (46.4%) and soft tissue sarcomas (35.7%). We describe the case of a Caucasian 6-year-old boy who was admitted for middle back pain radiated to limbs and progressively increasing weakness of the legs, suggesting a spinal cord disease. The exploration revealed two paravertebral masses extending through the neural foraminae into the epidural space. The association with elevated serum neuron specific enolase suggested at first the diagnosis of neuroblastoma, but the pathological examination revealed a Burkitt's lymphoma. This is a rare location of sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma with neurologic syndrome as first symptoms.
A Systematic Review of Bilateral Upper Limb Training Devices for Poststroke Rehabilitation
Authors: van Delden A. (Lex) E. Q. , Peper C. (Lieke) E. , Kwakkel Gert , Beek Peter J.
Published: November 2012

Introduction. In stroke rehabilitation, bilateral upper limb training is gaining ground. As a result, a growing number of mechanical and robotic bilateral upper limb training devices have been proposed.Objective. To provide an overview and qualitative evaluation of the clinical applicability of bilateral upper limb training devices.Methods. Potentially relevant literature was searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases from 1990 onwards. Devices were categorized as mechanical or robotic (according to the PubMed MeSH term of robotics).Results. In total, 6 mechanical and 14 robotic bilateral upper limb training devices were evaluated in terms of mechanical and electromechanical characteristics, supported movement patterns, targeted part and active involvement of the upper limb, training protocols, outcomes of clinical trials, and commercial availability.Conclusion. Initial clinical results are not yet of such caliber that the devices in question and the concepts on which they are based are firmly established. However, the clinical outcomes do not rule out the possibility that the concept of bilateral training and the accompanied devices may provide a useful extension of currently available forms of therapy. To actually demonstrate their (surplus) value, more research with adequate experimental, dose-matched designs, and sufficient statistical power are required.
Estimated Pollution Reduction from Wind Farms in Oklahoma and Associated Economic and Human Health Benefits
Authors: Greene J. Scott , Morrissey Mark
Published: November 2012

Over the past few decades, there has been a recognition of the growing need for different forms of energy outside of fossil fuels. Since the latter half of the twentieth century individuals, corporations, and governments have become increasingly aware of the effects of the emissions of carbon and other harmful pollutants on the environment. With this greater concern has come increasing activity to combat these harmful emissions by using alternative fuel sources to power homes, businesses, and cities. As can be seen from recent trends in their installed capacity, it is clear that renewable energy resources will continue to be more commonly used in the future. As renewable energy increases, a decrease in a range of harmful pollutants from the energy sector will also occur. This paper provides a case study to estimate the potential environmental and health benefits of an increased shift from fossil fuels to renewable fuels for electrical production in Oklahoma. Results illustrate and quantify the specific reduction that wind energy can and will have on air quality, as well as provide a quantification of the associated potential health benefits.
Primary Observation of Early Transtympanic Steroid Injection in Patients with Delayed Treatment of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Authors: Zhou Yide , Zheng Guiliang , Zheng Hongliang , Zhou Ronjue , Zhu Xiaomei , Zhang Qing
Published: November 2012

Approximately 5% of the population worldwide suffer from varieties of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Prevention and early identification remain the best methods of approaching NIHL. Over the years, numerous methods of improving the outcome in patients presenting with NIHL have been evaluated; however, these are far from sufficient. The present trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early transtympanic steroid injection in patients with delayed treatment of NIHL. Because systemic steroid treatment is the most common treatment of choice in the management of NIHL, it was considered unethical to replace the first-line systemic steroid treatment with transtympanic treatment. Therefore, the present study evaluated the combination of conventional steroid treatment with a transtympanic steroid injection. A total of 53 patients diagnosed with delayed treatment of NIHL were randomized into a transtympanic group (TR group, n = 27) and a control group (n = 26). The TR group received the conventional steroid treatment plus four courses of additional transtympanic injections of methylprednisolone 3 days after NIHL onset, and the control group received the conventional steroid treatment. Transtympanic injection was performed through laser-assisted myringotomy (a 0.5- to 1-mm perforation was made in the tympanic membrane) under an operation microscope. A total of 51.9% of the patients in the TR group had a ≥15-dB HL improvement in pure-tone average, compared with 23.1% of the patients in the control group, at the 8-week follow-up audiogram. A total of 66.7% of the patients in the TR group had an improvement of ≥15% in the speech discrimination score, compared with 30.8% of patients in the control group, 8 weeks after the treatment. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. The outcome of this trial indicates that delayed treatment of NIHL may be preferable if transtympanic therapy can be applied earlier. The large variability in the individual results indicates that additional carefully controlled studies with larger sample sizes are needed to understand the effect of early transtympanic therapy in patients with delayed treatment of NIHL.
Evolution of Reperfusion Therapies for Acute Brain and Acute Myocardial Ischemia
Authors: Patel Richa D. , Saver Jeffrey L.
Published: November 2012

Background and Purpose—

Early reperfusion is the most effective therapy for both acute brain and cardiac ischemia. However, the cervicocephalic circulatory bed offers more challenges to recanalization interventions. The historical development of reperfusion interventions has not previously been systematically compared.

Methods—

Medline search identified all multi-arm, controlled trials of coronary revascularization for acute myocardial infarction and multicenter trials of cerebral revascularization for acute ischemic stroke reporting angiographic reperfusion rates.

Results—

Thirty-seven trials of coronary reperfusion enrolled 10 908 patients from 1983 to 2009, and 10 trials of cerebral reperfusion enrolled 1064 patients from 1992 to 2009. Coronary reperfusion trials included 10 of intravenous fibrinolysis alone, 8 combined intravenous fibrinolysis and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with or without stenting, 3 intra-arterial fibrinolysis, and 16 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with or without stenting. Cerebral reperfusion trials included 1 of intravenous fibrinolysis alone, 3 intra-arterial fibrinolysis, 3 endovascular device alone, and 3 of endovascular treatment ± intravenous fibrinolysis. In both circulatory beds, endovascular treatments were more efficacious at achieving reperfusion than peripherally administered fibrinolytics. In the coronary bed, rates of achieved reperfusion began at high levels in the 1980s and improved modestly over the subsequent 3 decades. In the cerebral bed, reperfusion rates began at modest levels in the early 1990s and increased more slowly. Most recently, in 2005 to 2009, cardiac reperfusion rates substantially exceeded cerebral, partial reperfusion 86.1% versus 61.1%, complete reperfusion 78.6% versus 23.4%.

Conclusions—

Reperfusion therapies developed more slowly and remain less effective for cerebral than cardiac ischemia. Further, cerebral circulation–specific technical advances are required for physicians to become as capable at safely restoring blood flow to the ischemic brain as the ischemic heart.
Some Early Authorities Cited by Tājika Authors
Authors: Gansten Martin
Published: November 2012

In comparison with the spread of Perso-Arabic astrological traditions into medieval Europe, the Indian reception of the same knowledge systems, known in Sanskrit as tājika-śāstra, has received little scholarly attention. The present article attempts to shed some light on the history of the transmission of tājika-śāstra by examining the statements of Sanskrit authors about their earliest non-Indian sources. In particular, the identities of five traditionally cited authorities—Yavana, Khindhi, Hillāja, Khattakhutta and Romaka—are discussed on the basis of text-internal, historical and linguistic evidence.
Sappho, Corinna and Colleagues in Ancient Rome. Tatian’s Catalogue of Statues (Oratio ad Graecos 33-4) Reconsidered
Authors: Thorsen Thea Selliaas
Published: November 2012

Abstract

In hisOratio ad GraecosTatian claims to have seen Sappho’s statue among a number of other female figures in Rome, which, according to a passage in Pliny the Elder, seem to have been in the Portico of Pompey. This article examines how difficulties in the scholarly reception of Tatian’sOratio ad Graecoscontinue to obstruct a fuller picture of the role of female figures such as Sappho in late Republican and Augustan Rome. Furthermore, by bringing fresh archaeological evidence into the discussion of Tatian’s text and pointing out previously ignored philological connections betweenOratio ad Graecosand late Republican and Augustan literature, the article refines the image of a woman like Sappho in Ancient Rome.
The Archaeology of the Epigrams from the Tabulae Iliacae: Adaptation, Allusion, Alteration
Authors: Petrain David
Published: November 2012

Abstract

The epigrams and other metrical texts inscribed on theTabulae Iliacaedocument an active engagement with the prior poetic tradition on the part of the artisans of these early Imperial reliefs, who adapt and reshape earlier texts in order to create for their Roman clientele a novel version of Greek myth and history.

I reconsider the texts of three groups of inscriptions and argue for their significance to the history of Greek epigram. TheTabula Chigi(IG14.1296) transmits two elegiac couplets that employ dialectal variation to characterize the speech of Alexander the Great; a metrical irregularity reveals how the couplets were adapted to their inscriptional context. Variations in the two metrical signatures of Theodorus, the creator of theTabulae(IG14.1284;SEG14.626), reveal a nuanced attempt to characterize his relationship with his avowed poetic source, Homer. Verse summaries of theIliadon theTabula Sarti(IG14.1286) have been misunderstood because the sole surviving image of the tablet has been misread: a new edition shows the summaries’ close adaptation of Homer and uncovers the rationale for their unusual meter (anapestic tetrameter catalectic). An appendix discusses the whereabouts of theTabula Chigi, which is currently lost.
The Syntax and Rhetoric of Ruth 1:9a
Authors: Schipper Jeremy
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Scholars have made a number of proposals to explain the difficult syntax of Ruth 1:9a. After a brief review of scholarship, this note develops a recent proposal by Robert D. Holmstedt to explain both the syntax and rhetoric of this half verse.
Die Schuld der Väter (er-)tragen—Thr 5 im Kontext exilischer Theologie
Authors: Wagner Thomas
Published: November 2012

Zusammenfassung

Thr 5 gibt einen Einblick in die Auseinandersetzungen der nachexilischen Theologie mit den Erfahrungen des Exils und des ausbleibenden Heils nach den Verheißungen der spätexilischen Propheten. Die Redaktion konnte auf ein Klagelied aus der Exilszeit zurückgreifen, das in seiner Grundfassung den Untergang Jerusalems sowie dessen Folgen schilderte und als Schuldbekenntnis des Volkes diente. Mit dem Anschluss des Liedes an Thr 4 wird Thr 5 durch einen Redaktor um die V. 1.7.20-22 ergänzt. In diesen ruft er JHWH auf, das Gott-Mensch-Verhältnis der Generation, die für die Katastrophe nicht mehr verantwortlich ist, neu zu begründen, und ihr damit ein Leben in göttlicher Gnade zu ermöglichen. Diese Generation ist nicht mehr bereit, die Folgen der Schuld seiner Vorväter weiter zu tragen.