bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intractable glaucoma necessitating dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) removal and glaucoma surgery in a child with uveitis
Authors: Kumari Neha , Parchand Swapnil , Kaushik Sushmita , Singh Ramandeep
Published: December 2013

Although there are encouraging reports showing the use of dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) in uveitis in adults, the literature is scanty regarding its benefits and side effects in children. A 12-year-old boy presented with intermediate uveitis with disc oedema. He had 20/20 visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) of 18 mm Hg in both eyes. He was treated with intravitreal Ozurdex in his left eye (LE) due to progressive worsening of uveitis and disc oedema. He developed increased IOP (31 mm Hg) that could not be controlled on maximal antiglaucoma medications and required the removal of the Ozurdex implant at 2.5 months. His IOP remained persistently high leading to increased cup disc ratio necessitating glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS). At 9 months of post-GFS follow-up, IOP was 12 mm Hg in LE without any medication. Though dexamethasone implant is being increasingly used in children with uveitis, its potential risk factors such as intractable glaucoma should be considered.
The life–saving little tip: intraosseous gas
Authors: Kivrak Ali Sami , Sumer Sua , Aktug Demir Nazlim , Aydin Bahattin Kerem
Published: December 2013

A case is presented of an-aerobic osteomyelitis with intraosseous gas resulting in the extension of gas in soft tissue structures in a patient with diabetes mellitus. The finding of intraosseous gas and its extension into the pubic joint and the left anterior abdominal wall is depicted. Intraosseous gas is a rare but worrying finding for osteomyelitis in the absence of a penetrative wound, recent surgery, biopsy or fracture.
Multifocal osteoid osteoma of tibia
Authors: Sampath Kumar Venkatesan , Khan Shah Alam , Palaniswamy Aravindh , Rastogi Shishir
Published: December 2013

Multifocal osteoid osteoma of the bone is extremely rare. We report a 25-year-old man who presented with pain in the left leg since 11 months which was partially relieved by over-the-counter analgesics. Radiograph demonstrated two lytic lesions with surrounding sclerosis along the anterior cortex of the left tibia. Three-phase Tc 99m bone and CT scans confirmed the diagnosis of multifocal osteoid osteoma. The patient underwent surgical excision followed by protected weight bearing. The patient was asymptomatic at 6 months postoperatively. Multifocal osteoid osteoma needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple lytic lesions in the bone.
Early angiographic occlusion of ruptured blister aneurysms of the internal carotid artery using the Pipeline Embolization Device as a primary treatment option
Authors: Hu Yin C , Chugh Chandril , Mehta Hasit , Stiefel Michael F
Published: December 2013

Background

Data on the timing, durability and occlusion rate of treating ruptured blister cerebral aneurysms using the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) are limited.

Clinical presentation

Three patients who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhages from ruptured blister aneurysms of the internal carotid arteries were treated with the PED.

Results

Aneurysmal occlusion with reconstruction of the parent vessels occurred angiographically using the PED as a primary treatment modality. All three patients were treated successfully without immediate or delayed complications and remained neurologically intact during the 6-month follow-up period.

Conclusions

Complete occlusion of a ruptured blister aneurysm can occur immediately after PED placement. In ruptured blister aneurysms with contrast stagnation after PED treatment, early angiographic occlusion was confirmed as early as 6 weeks and continued with medium-term durability.
Influence of stocking, site quality, stand age, low-severity canopy disturbance, and forest composition on sub-boreal aspen mixedwood carbon stocks
Authors: Reinikainen Michael , D’Amato Anthony W. , Bradford John B. , Fraver Shawn
Published: December 2013

Low-severity canopy disturbance presumably influences forest carbon dynamics during the course of stand development, yet the topic has received relatively little attention. This is surprising because of the frequent occurrence of such events and the potential for both the severity and frequency of disturbances to increase as a result of climate change. We investigated the impacts of low-severity canopy disturbance and average insect defoliation on forest carbon stocks and rates of carbon sequestration in mature aspen mixedwood forests of varying stand age (ranging from 61 to 85 years), overstory composition, stocking level, and site quality. Stocking level and site quality positively affected the average annual aboveground tree carbon increment (CAAI), while stocking level, site quality, and stand age positively affected tree carbon stocks (CTREE) and total ecosystem carbon stocks (CTOTAL). Cumulative canopy disturbance (DIST) was reconstructed using dendroecological methods over a 29-year period. DIST was negatively and significantly related to soil carbon (CSOIL), and it was negatively, albeit marginally, related to CTOTAL. Minima in the annual aboveground carbon increment of trees (CAI) occurred at sites during defoliation of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) by forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hubner), and minima were more extreme at sites dominated by trembling aspen than sites mixed with conifers. At sites defoliated by forest tent caterpillar in the early 2000s, increased sequestration by the softwood component (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) compensated for overall decreases in CAI by 17% on average. These results underscore the importance of accounting for low-severity canopy disturbance events when developing regional forest carbon models and argue for the restoration and maintenance of historically important conifer species within aspen mixedwoods to enhance stand-level resilience to disturbance agents and maintain site-level carbon stocks.
COMPACT MODELING OF DOUBLE AND TRI-GATE MOSFETs
Authors: IÑIGUEZ BENJAMIN , RITZENTHALER ROMAIN , LIME FRANÇOIS
Published: December 2013

This chapter presents some insights into the modeling of different Multi-Gate SOI MOSFET structures, and in particular Double-Gate MOSFETs (DG MOSFETs) and Tri-Gate MOSFETs (TGFETs). For long-channel case an electrostatic model can be developed from the solution of the 1D Poisson's equation (in the case of DG MOSFETs) and the 2D Poisson's equation in the section perpendicular to the channel (in the case of TGFETs). Allowing it to be incorporated in quasi-2D compact models. For short-channel devices a model can be derived from a 2D (in the case of DG MOSFETs) or a 3D (in the case of TGFETs) electrostatic analysis. The models were successfully compared with 2D and 3D TCAD simulations and, in some cases, experimental measurements. Short-channel effects, such as subthrehold slope degradation, threshold voltage roll-off and DIBL were accurately reproduced.
ON TWO PROBLEMS OF ASYMMETRIC QUANTUM CODES
Authors: LI RUIHU , XU GEN , GUO LUOBIN
Published: December 2013

In this paper, we discuss two problems on asymmetric quantum error-correcting codes (AQECCs). The first one is on the construction of a [[12, 1, 5/3]]2 asymmetric quantum code, we show an impure [[12, 1, 5/3 ]]2 exists. The second one is on the construction of AQECCs from binary cyclic codes, we construct many families of new asymmetric quantum codes with dz> δ max +1 from binary primitive cyclic codes of length n = 2m-1, where δ max = 2⌈m/2⌉-1 is the maximal designed distance of dual containing narrow sense BCH code of length n = 2m-1. A number of known codes are special cases of the codes given here. Some of these AQECCs have parameters better than the ones available in the literature.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF p(1 GeV)+natU FISSION–SPALLATION REACTION AND DELAYED NEUTRON MEASUREMENTS
Authors: STANKUNAS GEDIMINAS
Published: December 2013

In this paper, results were obtained in the form of the experimental studies of fission reactions induced by protons in a large range of excitation energies. Some fission product characteristics such as their production yield probabilities and delayed neutron (DV) emission were examined in the dedicated experiment. This paper touches not only fundamental properties of the fission process, but also contains a direct link to various applications.
FAST CONE-BEAM CT IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON BPF ALGORITHM: APPLICATION TO ORTHO-CT
Authors: ZOU JING , CHEN HAO , ZHANG QIYANG , YANKANG  , XIA DAN
Published: December 2013

Multi-GPUs accelerated BPF algorithm is developed for improving computational efficiency. Three major acceleration techniques are introduced: (1) dividing reconstructed volume into subsets vertically which reduces the computational cost on the boundary term between parallel chords; (2) transposed method is used to avoid low efficiency of access in global memory which is caused by different chords selection; (3) optimized memory allocation scheme is adopted. Experimental data are used to evaluate the image quality and reconstruction time. It takes only 4.118 s to reconstruct a volume image of 512 × 512 × 512 with 360 projection data of 512 × 512 on dual NVIDIA Tesla C2070 cards. Added the time consuming on data read, transfer and storage part, the complete reconstruction process could be finished in less than 9 s. In particular, BPF-based ROI-reconstruction for cone beam Ortho-CT shows promising application prospect.
ACCELERATING HIGH INVOLVEMENT: THE ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN ENABLING EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION
Authors: ABU EL-ELLA NAGWAN , STOETZEL MARTIN , BESSANT JOHN , PINKWART ANDREAS
Published: December 2013

The experience of implementing employee involvement in innovation can be viewed as a bounded opportunity. Whilst long-term strategic benefits could flow from organising participation across the workforce, creating structures that sustain such a culture is highly complex. In effect the "transaction costs" of high involvement innovation limit its implementation. However a number of technological and social developments (such as innovation platforms and company social networks) offer new options in this space which may change this. In particular the "reach" and "richness" trade-off could be changed to permit higher levels of participation in larger-scale projects. Much depends on the ways in which implementation of systems deploying these new approaches is undertaken and the development of appropriate behavioural routines to support them. This paper explores a number of cases within German enterprises and reports early experience along this learning curve.
SIMPLE ASSOSYMMETRIC RINGS
Authors: Bharathi D. , Munirathnam M.
Published: December 2013

In Kleinfeld [Assosymmetric rings, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc.8 (1957) 983–986] showed that every commutator and every associator is in the nucleus N. In this paper, first we prove that the nucleus coincides with the center of the ring. Using this result and results of Kleinfeld, it is shown that a simple assosymmetric ring is third power associative and hence associative.
Attenuated dopaminergic tone in the paraventricular nucleus contributing to sympathoexcitation in rats with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Zheng Hong , Liu Xuefei , Li Yulong , Mishra Paras K. , Patel Kaushik P.
Published: December 2013

The study was conducted to investigate the role for dopamine in the centrally mediated sympathoexcitatory response in rats with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D was induced by a combination of high-fat diet (HFD) and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ). HFD/STZ treatment for 12–14 wk resulted in significant increase in the number of FosB-positive cells in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In anesthetized rats, administration of exogenous dopamine (dopamine hydrochloride, 20 mM) in the PVN, but not in the RVLM, elicited decreases in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in control rats and but not in the T2D rats. Blocking the endogenous dopamine with dopamine D1/D5 receptor antagonist SCH39166 (2 mM) in the PVN and RVLM, resulted in increases in RSNA, MAP, and heart rate (HR) in both control and T2D rats. These responses were significantly attenuated in T2D rats compared with control rats (PVN − ΔRSNA: 21 ± 10 vs. 44 ± 2%; ΔMAP: 7 ± 3 vs. 19 ± 6 mmHg, ΔHR: 17 ± 5 vs. 32 ± 4 bpm, P < 0.05). There were no significant increases in response to dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist raclopride application in the PVN and RVLM of both control and T2D rats. Furthermore, there were decreased dopamine D1 receptor and D2 receptor expressions in the PVN of T2D rats. Taken together, these data suggest that reduced endogenous dopaminergic tone within the PVN may contribute to the sympathoexcitation in T2D.
Effects of varying doses of testosterone on atherogenic markers in healthy younger and older men
Authors: Roberts Christian K. , Chen Brian H. , Pruthi Sandeep , Lee Martin L.
Published: December 2013

Whether exogenous testosterone is proatherogenic remains controversial. We assessed the effects of graded doses of testosterone on serum markers of oxidative stress, chemotaxis, adhesion, and inflammation in healthy younger and older men. In a double-blind, randomized trial, 121 eugonadal men ( n = 61, 18–35 years of age and n = 60, 60–75 years of age) were randomized to one of five groups to receive weekly injections of 25, 50, 125, 300, or 600 mg of testosterone enanthate for 20 wk, respectively, along with a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. Energy and protein intakes were standardized and no resistance training was allowed. We measured plasma levels of the atherogenic biomarkers monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), 8-isoprostane-PGF2α (8-iso-PGF2α), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) before and after the intervention. Administration of increasing doses of testosterone led to reduction in total 8-iso-PGF2α in the younger (p-trendYounger = 0.01), but not older (p-trendOlder = 0.79) men. No significant linear associations were observed between testosterone dose and MCP-1, sICAM-1, or hs-CRP (all p-trend >0.20). In apparently healthy men, over a wide dose range, testosterone did not adversely affect atherogenic biomarkers. Long-term studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to determine whether testosterone supplementation affects atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular risk.
Practical Aspects of Broken Rotor Bars Detection in PWM Voltage-Source-Inverter-Fed Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors
Authors: Zhu Hong-yu , Hu Jing-tao , Gao Lei , Huang Hao
Published: December 2013

Broken rotor bars fault detection in inverter-fed squirrel cage induction motors is still as difficult as the dynamics introduced by the control system or the dynamically changing excitation (stator) frequency. This paper introduces a novel fault diagnosis techniques using motor current signature analysis (MCSA) to solve the problems. Switching function concept and frequency modulation theory are firstly used to model fault current signal. The competency of the amplitude of the sideband components at frequencies (1±2s)fsas indices for broken bars recognition is subsequently studied in the controlled motor via open-loop constant voltage/frequency control method. The proposed techniques are composed of five modules of anti-aliasing signal acquisition, optimal-slip-estimation based on torque-speed characteristic curve of squirrel cage motor with different load types, fault characteristic frequency determination, nonparametric spectrum estimation, and fault identification for achieving MCSA efficiently. Experimental and simulation results obtained on 3 kW three-phase squirrel-cage induction motors show that the model and the proposed techniques are effective and accurate.
Survey of the Situation of Infertile Women Seeking In Vitro Fertilization Treatment in China
Authors: Jin Xuan , Wang Gongxian , Liu Sisun , Zhang Jing , Zeng Fang , Qiu Yun , Huang Xiaojin
Published: December 2013

Background. In previous studies, people’s knowledge of reproductive health and infertile women’s psychological states was surveyed in several countries. However, there has been limited information concerning the psychological states of infertile women seeking treatment and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in China.Methods. Infertile women were asked to complete short questionnaires on the day that their oocytes were retrieved; these questionnaires covered the durations of their infertility, levels of education, sources of pressure, and psychological states. Data concerning IVF outcomes were provided by embryologists and clinicians. The correlations between the duration of infertility and educational level, psychological state and education level, and psychological state and outcome of IVF were analyzed in the cohort study.Results. The duration of infertility in more than half of the females was longer than 5 years. Compared with less-educated women, women with higher levels of education sought treatment earlier and their rates of depressive symptoms were lower. There is an association between negative emotions and outcome of IVF.Conclusions. The survey of the situations of infertile women seeking IVF treatment in China indicates the importance of popularizing knowledge concerning reproductive health. Improving medical conditions, reducing the costs of treatment, and developing social culture will aid in relieving the stress of infertile women and improving assisted reproductive treatment.
Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study of Preschool Children in Kanpur District, India
Authors: Prakasha Shrutha Santhebachalli , Vinit Grandim Balarama Gupta , Giri Kolli Yada , Alam Sarwar
Published: December 2013

Background. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children’s health, development, and wellbeing. The objective of this study was to assess the caries experience in 3–5-year-old children and to evaluate the relationship with their mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene habits in Kanpur. Method. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on 2000 (974 boys and 1026 girls) children aged 3–5 years from a random sample of preschools in Kanpur district, India. Dental caries experience was recorded using WHO criteria. A pretested questionnaire with 9 questions was used for collecting information regarding mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene practices. Chi-square test (χ2) and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis.
Results. The prevalence of ECC was 48% with mean dmft of 2.03 ± 2.99. Boys (57%) were affected more than girls (43%) which was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Caries prevalence was high and statistically significant (P<0.05) among those who were breast fed for longer duration, during nighttime, those falling asleep with bottle, and those fed with additional sugar in milk. Conclusion. Determining the role of feeding practices on early childhood caries can help in the development of appropriate oral health promotion strategies.
Secure and Efficient Anonymous Authentication Scheme in Global Mobility Networks
Authors: Kim Jun-Sub , Kwak Jin
Published: December 2013

In 2012, Mun et al. pointed out that Wu et al.’s scheme failed to achieve user anonymity and perfect forward secrecy and disclosed the passwords of legitimate users. And they proposed a new enhancement for anonymous authentication scheme. However, their proposed scheme has vulnerabilities that are susceptible to replay attack and man-in-the-middle attack. It also incurs a high overhead in the database. In this paper, we examine the vulnerabilities in the existing schemes and the computational overhead incurred in the database. We then propose a secure and efficient anonymous authentication scheme for roaming service in global mobility network. Our proposed scheme is secure against various attacks, provides mutual authentication and session key establishment, and incurs less computational overhead in the database than Mun et al.'s scheme.
The Incidence of Concussion in a Professional Australian Rugby League Team, 1998–2012
Authors: Savage Jason , Hooke Chloe , Orchard John , Parkinson Richard
Published: December 2013

Background. Rugby league is a physically demanding team sport and the National Rugby League is the highest-level competition of rugby league in Australia. Frequent tackles and collisions between players result in a high incidence of injury to players. Concussion injuries have been the source of much debate, with reporting varying greatly depending on the definition used.Method. Injury records of 239 players from one professional National Rugby League were analysed during a continuous period of 15 years, with particular interest in the incidence and recurrence of concussions and the change in incidence over time.Result. A total of 191 concussions were recorded, affecting 90 players. The incidence of concussion injuries was found to be 28.33 per 1000 player match hours, with an increase over time (P=0.0217). Multiple concussions were recorded for 51 players.Conclusion. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of concussion injuries was found, without a concurrent increase in the number of head injuries or total injuries. New rules which mandate removal of players from the field may be beneficial for protection of players on the long term, although they risk being counterproductive, if they make players less likely to report their symptoms during matches.
Fabrication of Microfibrous and Nano-/Microfibrous Scaffolds: Melt and Hybrid Electrospinning and Surface Modification of Poly(L-lactic acid) with Plasticizer
Authors: Yoon Young Il , Park Ko Eun , Lee Seung Jin , Park Won Ho
Published: December 2013

Biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) fibrous scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning from a PLA melt containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer to obtain thinner fibers. The effects of PEG on the melt electrospinning of PLA were examined in terms of the melt viscosity and fiber diameter. Among the parameters, the content of PEG had a more significant effect on the average fiber diameter and its distribution than those of the spinning temperature. Furthermore, nano-/microfibrous silk fibroin (SF)/PLA and PLA/PLA composite scaffolds were fabricated by hybrid electrospinning, which involved a combination of solution electrospinning and melt electrospinning. The SF/PLA (20/80) scaffolds consisted of a randomly oriented structure of PLA microfibers (average fiber diameter = 8.9 µm) and SF nanofibers (average fiber diameter = 820 nm). The PLA nano-/microfiber (20/80) scaffolds were found to have similar pore parameters to the PLA microfiber scaffolds. The PLA scaffolds were treated with plasma in the presence of either oxygen or ammonia gas to modify the surface of the fibers. This approach of controlling the surface properties and diameter of fibers could be useful in the design and tailoring of novel scaffolds for tissue engineering.
The Method of Lyapunov Function and Exponential Stability of Impulsive Delay Systems with Delayed Impulses
Authors: Cheng Pei , Deng Feiqi , Wang Lianglong
Published: December 2013

This paper investigates the exponential stability of general impulsive delay systems with delayed impulses. By using the Lyapunov function method, some Lyapunov-based sufficient conditions for exponential stability are derived, which are more convenient to be applied than those Razumikhin-type conditions in the literature. Their applications to linear impulsive systems with time-varying delays are also proposed, and a set of sufficient conditions for exponential stability is provided in terms of matrix inequalities. Meanwhile, two examples are discussed to illustrate the effectiveness and advantages of the results obtained.
Enteral Nutrition in Crohn’s Disease: An Underused Therapy
Authors: Kansal S. , Wagner J. , Kirkwood C. D. , Catto-Smith A. G.
Published: December 2013

This paper reviews the literature on the history, efficacy, and putative mechanism of action of enteral nutrition for inflammatory bowel disease in both paediatric and adult patients. It also analyses the reasoning behind the low popularity of exclusive enteral nutrition in clinical practice despite the benefits and safety profile.
Empirical Study of Travel Time Estimation and Reliability
Authors: Li Ruimin , Chai Huajun , Tang Jin
Published: December 2013

This paper explores the travel time distribution of different types of urban roads, the link and path average travel time, and variance estimation methods by analyzing the large-scale travel time dataset detected from automatic number plate readers installed throughout Beijing. The results show that the best-fitting travel time distribution for different road links in 15 min time intervals differs for different traffic congestion levels. The average travel time for all links on all days can be estimated with acceptable precision by using normal distribution. However, this distribution is not suitable to estimate travel time variance under some types of traffic conditions. Path travel time can be estimated with high precision by summing the travel time of the links that constitute the path. In addition, the path travel time variance can be estimated by the travel time variance of the links, provided that the travel times on all the links along a given path are generated by statistically independent distributions. These findings can be used to develop and validate microscopic simulations or online travel time estimation and prediction systems.
Spectral Fixed Point Method for Nonlinear Oscillation Equation with Periodic Solution
Authors: Xu Ding , Wang Xian , Xie Gongnan
Published: December 2013

Based on the fixed point concept in functional analysis, an improvement on the traditional spectral method is proposed for nonlinear oscillation equations with periodic solution. The key idea of this new approach (namely, the spectral fixed point method, SFPM) is to construct a contractive map to replace the nonlinear oscillation equation into a series of linear oscillation equations. Usually the series of linear oscillation equations can be solved relatively easily. Different from other existing numerical methods, such as the well-known Runge-Kutta method, SFPM can directly obtain the Fourier series solution of the nonlinear oscillation without resorting to the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. In the meanwhile, the steepest descent seeking algorithm is proposed in the framework of SFPM to improve the computational efficiency. Finally, some typical cases are investigated by SFPM and the comparison with the Runge-Kutta method shows that the present method is of high accuracy and efficiency.
A Departure Time Choice for Morning Commute Considering Train Capacity of a Rail Transit Line
Authors: Feng Jia , Mao Baohua , Chen Zhijie , Bai Yun , Li Minggao
Published: December 2013

Every commuter utilizing urban rail transit decides the departure time from home to a station according to individual judgment for the biggest possibility to board a train as soon as possible after the arrival. Therefore, the departure time choice behavior of the commuters is complicated especially when the transport capacity of this transit line cannot meet the travel demands of its users in rush hour. This research first develops a travel cost function mainly considering the travel time to rationally describe the volume distribution of the commuters arriving at a station at different time periods. Furthermore, an optimization model is accordingly proposed to rationalize the arrival distribution of the commuters on the basis of the amount of the arrived commuters who are able to board a train from the perspective of the systematic operation of a rail transit line for the minimal total travel cost of all the commuters along this line. It is found that the total travel cost can be reduced by 19.0% at most through the arrival distribution rationalization with the optimization model.
Choking at Night: A Case of Opercular Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Rathore Geetanjali , Larsen Paul , Parakh Manish , Fernandez Cristina
Published: December 2013

Frontal lobe seizures have a tendency to occur in sleep and in most cases occur exclusively insleep; these individuals are said to have nocturnal frontal lobe (NFLE). NFLE can be difficult to distinguish clinically from various other sleep disorders, particularly parasomnias, which also present with paroxysmal motor activity in sleep. Interictal and ictal EEG findings are frequently unremarkable or nonspecific in both parasomnias and NFLE making the diagnosis even more difficult. Nocturnal epilepsy should be suspected in patients with paroxysmal events at night characterized by high frequency, repetition, extrapyramidal features, and marked stereotypy of attacks. Here we present a 13-year-old female who was extensively worked up for choking episodes at night. On repeat video EEG she was found to have frontal opercular seizures. Once on Carbamazepine, her seizures completely resolved.
Pricing Options and Convertible Bonds Based on an Actuarial Approach
Authors: Liu Jian , Yan Lizhao , Ma Chaoqun
Published: December 2013

This paper discusses the pricing problem of European options and convertible bonds using an actuarial approach. We get the pricing formula of European options, extend the pricing results to the case with continuous dividend, and then derive the call-put parity relation. Furthermore, we get the general expression of convertible bond price. Finally, we conduct a comparative analysis of numerical simulation and make an empirical analysis between the B-S model and the actuarial model using the actual data in the Chinese stock market. The empirical results show that the efficiency of the actuarial model is superior to the B-S model.
Monoaxial Pedicle Screws Are Superior to Polyaxial Pedicle Screws and the Two Pin External Fixator for Subcutaneous Anterior Pelvic Fixation in a Biomechanical Analysis
Authors: Vaidya Rahul , Onwudiwe Ndidi , Roth Matthew , Sethi Anil
Published: December 2013

Purpose. Comparison of monoaxial and polyaxial screws with the use of subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixation.Methods. Four different groups each having 5 constructs were tested in distraction within the elastic range. Once that was completed, 3 components were tested in torsion within the elastic range, 2 to torsional failure and 3 in distraction until failure.Results. The pedicle screw systems showed higher stiffness (4.008 ± 0.113 Nmm monoaxial, 3.638 ± 0.108 Nmm Click-x; 3.634 ± 0.147 Nmm Pangea) than the exfix system (2.882 ± 0.054 Nmm) in distraction. In failure testing, monoaxial pedicle screw system was stronger (360 N) than exfixes (160 N) and polyaxial devices which failed if distracted greater than 4 cm (157 N Click-x or 138 N Pangea). The exfix had higher peak torque and torsional stiffness than all pedicle systems. In torsion, the yield strengths were the same for all constructs.Conclusion. The infix device constructed with polyaxial or monoaxial pedicle screws is stiffer than the 2 pin external fixator in distraction testing. In extreme cases, the use of reinforcement or monoaxial systems which do not fail even at 360 N is a better option. In torsional testing, the 2 pin external fixator is stiffer than the pedicle screw systems.
Multiple-Model Cardinality Balanced Multitarget Multi-Bernoulli Filter for Tracking Maneuvering Targets
Authors: Yuan Xianghui , Lian Feng , Han Chongzhao
Published: December 2013

By integrating the cardinality balanced multitarget multi-Bernoulli (CBMeMBer) filter with the interacting multiple models (IMM) algorithm, an MM-CBMeMBer filter is proposed in this paper for tracking multiple maneuvering targets in clutter. The sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) method is used to implement the filter for generic multi-target models and the Gaussian mixture (GM) method is used to implement the filter for linear-Gaussian multi-target models. Then, the extended Kalman (EK) and unscented Kalman filtering approximations for the GM-MM-CBMeMBer filter to accommodate mildly nonlinear models are described briefly. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed filter.
A Low-Cost Anchor Placement Strategy for Range-Free Localization Problems in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Chi-Chang , Lin Ting-Chun
Published: December 2013

The deployment of anchor nodes (or beacon nodes) is a key element in the design of range-free localization schemes for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The majority of range-free localization schemes deploy numerous anchor nodes within the monitored region. However, in certain cases (e.g., hazardous areas), it may not be possible to manually install anchor nodes within the monitored region of a WSN. In this study, very few anchor nodes are installed at the boundary of a WSN monitored region to estimate the locations of unknown sensors. The locations of the unknown sensors are estimated based on the minimum hop counts to the anchor nodes. The average hop distance is estimated by applying parameters derived from prior experiments. The simulation results show that the range error of the proposed localization scheme can be as low as 0.15. The localization accuracy, computation cost, and communication cost of the proposed scheme are compared with those of the well-known DV-Hop method.
The Effect of NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation on Quadriceps Strength and Knee Function in Professional Soccer Players: Return to Sport after ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Taradaj J. , Halski T. , Kucharzewski M. , Walewicz K. , Smykla A. , Ozon M. , Slupska L. , Dymarek R. , Ptaszkowski K. , Rajfur J. , Pasternok M.
Published: December 2013

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of NMES program applied in male soccer players (after ACL reconstruction) on the quadriceps muscle. The 80 participants (NMES = 40, control = 40) received an exercise program, including three sessions weekly. The individuals in NMES group additionally received neuromuscular electrical stimulation procedures on both right and left quadriceps (biphasic symmetric rectangular pulses, frequency of impulses: 2500 Hz, and train of pulses frequency: 50 Hz) three times daily (3 hours of break between treatments), 3 days a week, for one month. The tensometry, muscle circumference, and goniometry pendulum test (follow-up after 1 and 3 months) were applied. The results of this study show that NMES (in presented parameters in experiment) is useful for strengthening the quadriceps muscle in soccer athletes. There is an evidence of the benefit of the NMES in restoring quadriceps muscle mass and strength of soccer players. In our study the neuromuscular electrical stimulation appeared to be safe for biomechanics of knee joint. The pathological changes in knee function were not observed. This trial is registered with Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials RegistryACTRN12613001168741.
Associations between Tissue Visfatin/Nicotinamide, Phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), Retinol Binding Protein-4, and Vaspin Concentrations and Insulin Resistance in Morbidly Obese Subjects
Authors: Goktas Zeynep , Owens Shannon , Boylan Mallory , Syn David , Shen Chwan-Li , Reed Debra B. , San Francisco Susan , Wang Shu
Published: December 2013

Visfatin/Nampt, vaspin, and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) play an important role in insulin resistance. The objectives of this study were to measure visfatin/Nampt, vaspin, and RBP-4 concentrations in blood, liver, muscle, subcutaneous, omental, and mesenteric adipose tissues in morbidly obese subjects and investigate their relationship to insulin resistance. Blood and tissue samples were collected from 38 morbidly obese subjects during Roux-en-Y surgery. Insulin resistance biomarkers were measured using standard kits. Visfatin/Nampt, vaspin, and RBP-4 gene expression levels in tissues were measured using real-time PCR. Their protein concentrations in blood and tissues were measured using ELISA kits. Diabetic subjects had significantly higher homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance and age and lower blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations than nondiabetic and prediabetic subjects. Diabetic and prediabetic subjects had significantly higher blood concentrations of visfatin/Nampt and vaspin than nondiabetic subjects. Liver RBP-4 concentrations were positively associated with blood glucose concentrations. Blood insulin resistance biomarker levels were positively associated with visfatin/Nampt concentrations in omental adipose tissue and liver, and vaspin concentrations in mesenteric adipose tissue. In conclusion, the correlations of visfatin/Nampt, vaspin, and RBP-4 with insulin resistance are tissue dependent.
Smart Spotting of Pulmonary TB Cavities Using CT Images
Authors: Swanly V. Ezhil , Selvam L. , Kumar P. Mohan , Renjith J. Arokia , Arunachalam M. , Shunmuganathan K. L.
Published: December 2013

One third of the world’s population is thought to have been infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) with new infection occurring at a rate of about one per second. TB typically attacks the lungs. Indication of cavities in upper lobes of lungs shows the high infection. Traditionally, it has been detected manually by physicians. But the automatic technique proposed in this paper focuses on accurate detection of disease by computed tomography (CT) using computer-aided detection (CAD) system. The various steps of the detection process include the following: (i) image preprocessing, which is done by techniques such as resizing, masking, and Gaussian smoothening, (ii) image egmentation that is implemented by using mean-shift model and gradient vector flow (GVF) model, (iii) feature extraction that can be achieved by Gradient inverse coefficient of variation and circularity measure, and (iv) classification using Bayesian classifier. Experimental results show that its perfection of detecting cavities is very accurate in low false positive rate (FPR).
Permanent Sensorineural Deafness in a Patient with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Secondary to Intracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Kapur Sakshi , Wax Michael , Miles Levin , Hussain Adnan
Published: December 2013

A 52-year-old male presented with tinnitus and fullness in left ear for one day. Workup revealed a white blood cell count of685×103/μL with marked increase in granulocyte series and myeloid precursors on peripheral smear. The initial impression was chronic myelogenous leukemia with hyperleukocytosis, and patient was started on hydration, hydroxyurea, and allopurinol. Patient tolerated bone marrow biopsy well but continued to bleed excessively from the biopsy site. Results confirmed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (chronic phase). On day three of hospitalization, patient developed sudden slurred speech along with shaking movements involving extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple hemorrhages throughout the brain. Hydroxyurea was continued until insurance coverage for nilotinib was getting approved. On day nine of hospitalization, patient developed sudden bilateral sensorineural deafness. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple new hemorrhages throughout the brain. Computer tomography of the temporal bones showed inflammatory changes in right and left mastoid cells. Nilotinib was started on day eleven of hospitalization. Patient’s white blood cell count continued to decrease, but there was no improvement in hearing. Four months later, patient was treated with bilateral transmastoid cochlear implants. This case highlights permanent deafness as a hemorrhagic complication secondary to chronic myelogenous leukemia.
A Nonthoracotomy Myocardial Infarction Model in an Ovine Using Autologous Platelets
Authors: Spata Tyler , Bobek Daniel , Whitson Bryan A. , Parthasarathy Sampath , Mohler Peter J. , Higgins Robert S. D. , Kilic Ahmet
Published: December 2013

Objective. There is a paucity of a biological large animal model of myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that, using autologous-aggregated platelets, we could create an ovine model that was reproducible and more closely mimicked the pathophysiology of MI.Methods. Mepacrine stained autologous platelets from male sheep (n=7) were used to create a myocardial infarction via catheter injection into the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Serial daily serum troponin measurements were taken and tissue harvested on post-embolization day three. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to detect the mepacrine-stained platelet-induced thrombus, and histology performed to identify three distinct myocardial (infarct, peri-ischemic “border zone,” and remote) zones.Results. Serial serum troponin levels (μg/mL) measured0.0±0.0at baseline and peaked at297.4±58.0on post-embolization day 1, followed by153.0±38.8on day 2 and76.7±19.8on day 3. Staining confirmed distinct myocardial regions of inflammation and fibrosis as well as mepacrine-stained platelets as the cause of intravascular thrombosis.Conclusion. We report a reproducible, unique model of a biological myocardial infarction in a large animal model. This technique can be used to study acute, regional myocardial changes following a thrombotic injury.
Subtrochanteric Fracture following Removal of a Porous Tantalum Implant
Authors: Amanatullah Derek F. , Farac Randall , McDonald Thomas J. , Moehring H. David , Di Cesare Paul E.
Published: December 2013

Osteonecrosis of the hip accounts for about 10% of all total hip arthroplasty cases and presents a significant challenge for those patients with and without femoral head collapse. Subtrochanteric femur fractures have been reported with numerous types of proximal femoral implants. Care must be taken to avoid penetrating the lateral cortex of the proximal femur inferior to the distal border of the lesser trochanter. Core decompression requires a 3 mm to 20 mm defect in the lateral femoral cortex. Subtrochanteric femur fractures are a well-known complication of core decompression as well. We present a case of a subtrochanteric fracture following the removal of a porous tantalum implant.
A New Model for Capturing the Spread of Computer Viruses on Complex-Networks
Authors: Zhang Chunming , Feng Tianliang , Zhao Yun , Jiang Guifeng
Published: December 2013

Based on complex network, this paper proposes a novel computer virus propagation model which is motivated by the traditional SEIRQ model. A systematic analysis of this new model shows that the virus-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable when its basic reproduction is less than one, and the viral equilibrium is globally attractive when the basic reproduction is greater than one. Some numerical simulations are finally given to illustrate the main results, implying that these results are applicable to depict the dynamics of virus propagation.
Implicative Int-Soft Filters ofR0-Algebras
Authors: Jun Young Bae , Ahn Sun Shin , Lee Kyoung Ja
Published: December 2013

The notion of implicative int-soft filters is introduced, and related properties are investigated. A relation between an int-soft filter and an implicative int-soft filter is discussed, and conditions for an int-soft filter to be an implicative int-soft filter are provided. Characterizations of an implicative int-soft filter are considered, and a new implicative int-soft filter from an old one is displayed. The extension property of an implicative int-soft filter is established.
Autophagy-Dependent Metabolic Reprogramming Sensitizes TSC2-Deficient Cells to the Antimetabolite 6-Aminonicotinamide
Authors: Parkhitko Andrey A. , Priolo Carmen , Coloff Jonathan L. , Yun Jihye , Wu Julia J. , Mizumura Kenji , Xu Wenping , Malinowska Izabela A. , Yu Jane , Kwiatkowski David J. , Locasale Jason W. , Asara John M. , Choi Augustine M.K. , Finkel Toren , Henske Elizabeth P.
Published: December 2013

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is hyperactive in many human cancers and in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Autophagy, a key mTORC1-targeted process, is a critical determinant of metabolic homeostasis. Metabolomic profiling was performed to elucidate the cellular consequences of autophagy dysregulation under conditions of hyperactive mTORC1. It was discovered that TSC2-null cells have distinctive autophagy-dependent pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) alterations. This was accompanied by enhanced glucose uptake and utilization, decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Importantly, these findings revealed that the PPP is a key autophagy-dependent compensatory metabolic mechanism. Furthermore, PPP inhibition with 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) in combination with autophagy inhibition suppressed proliferation and prompted the activation of NF-κB and CASP1 in TSC2-deficient, but not TSC2-proficient cells. These data demonstrate that TSC2-deficient cells can be therapeutically targeted, without mTORC1 inhibitors, by focusing on their metabolic vulnerabilities.

Implications: This study provides proof-of-concept that therapeutic targeting of diseases with hyperactive mTORC1 can be achieved without the application of mTORC1 inhibitors. Mol Cancer Res; 12(1); 48–57. ©2013 AACR.
The Antidepressant Desipramine and α2-Adrenergic Receptor Activation Promote Breast Tumor Progression in Association with Altered Collagen Structure
Authors: Szpunar Mercedes J. , Burke Kathleen A. , Dawes Ryan P. , Brown Edward B. , Madden Kelley S.
Published: December 2013

Emotional stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine to promote breast tumor pathogenesis. We demonstrate here that the metastatic mammary adenocarcinoma cell line 4T1 does not express functional adrenergic receptors (AR), the receptors activated by norepinephrine, yet stimulation of adrenergic receptor in vivo altered 4T1 tumor progression in vivo. Chronic treatment with the antidepressant desipramine (DMI) to inhibit norepinephrine reuptake increased 4T1 tumor growth but not metastasis. Treatment with a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, dexmedetomidine (DEX), increased tumor growth and metastasis. Neither isoproterenol (ISO), a β-AR agonist, nor phenylephrine, an α1-AR agonist, altered tumor growth or metastasis. Neither DMI- nor DEX-induced tumor growth was associated with increased angiogenesis. In DMI-treated mice, tumor VEGF, IL-6, and the prometastatic chemokines RANTES, M-CSF, and MIP-2 were reduced. Tumor collagen microstructure was examined using second harmonic generation (SHG), a nonabsorptive optical scattering process to highlight fibrillar collagen. In DMI- and DEX-treated mice, but not ISO-treated mice, tumor SHG was significantly altered without changing fibrillar collagen content, as detected by immunofluorescence. These results demonstrate that α2-AR activation can promote tumor progression in the absence of direct sympathetic input to breast tumor cells. The results also suggest that SNS activation may regulate tumor progression through alterations in the extracellular matrix, with outcome dependent on the combination of adrenergic receptor activated. These results underscore the complexities underlying SNS regulation of breast tumor pathogenesis, and suggest that the therapeutic use of adrenergic receptor blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and adrenergic receptor agonists must be approached cautiously in patients with breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 6(12); 1262–72. ©2013 AACR.