bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sunitinib and improved diabetes control
Authors: Tyrrell Helen Elizabeth Jane , Pwint Thinn
Published: December 2014

There is increasing use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as targeted therapy for several malignancies. Sunitinib is the first-line treatment for renal cancer and we report a case of a man receiving this medication who also had diabetes. When started on sunitinib he experienced improvement in his diabetes control with reduction in his insulin requirements, which later worsened when sunitinib was reduced or stopped. Several retrospective studies have been performed demonstrating this effect with sunitinib, but to date no prospective studies have been reported. Most tyrosine kinase inhibitors reduce blood glucose levels in diabetics, but some agents, such as nilotinib, may increase them. There is no consensus on the mechanism of action of sunitinib in reducing glucose levels. Several theories have been postulated, such as increased insulin secretion, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced loss of islet cells, the gastrointestinal side effects of sunitinib, or an interaction with other antihyperglycaemic agents.
Cost of unintended pregnancy in Norway: a role for long-acting reversible contraception
Authors: Henry Nathaniel , Schlueter Max , Lowin Julia , Lekander Ingrid , Filonenko Anna , Trussell James , Skjeldestad Finn Egil
Published: December 2014

Objectives

The objective of this study was to quantify the cost burden of unintended pregnancies (UPs) in Norway, and to estimate the proportion of costs due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. Potential cost savings that could arise from increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) were also investigated.

Methods

An economic model was constructed to estimate the total number of UPs and associated costs in women aged 15–24 years. Adherence-related UP was estimated using ‘perfect use’ and ‘typical use’ contraceptive failure rates. Potential savings from increased use of LARC were projected by comparing current costs to projected costs following a 5% increase in LARC uptake.

Results

Total costs from UP in women aged 15–24 years were estimated to be 164 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK), of which 81.7% were projected to be due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. A 5% increase in LARC uptake was estimated to generate cost savings of NOK 7.2 million in this group.

Conclusions

The cost of UP in Norway is substantial, with a large proportion of this cost arising from imperfect contraceptive adherence. Increased LARC uptake may reduce the UP incidence and generate cost savings for both the health care payer and contraceptive user.
Interactive Learning of Pattern Rankings
Authors: Dzyuba Vladimir , Leeuwen Matthijs van , Nijssen Siegfried , De Raedt Luc
Published: December 2014

Pattern mining provides useful tools for exploratory data analysis. Numerous efficient algorithms exist that are able to discover various types of patterns in large datasets. Unfortunately, the problem of identifying patterns that are genuinely interesting to a particular user remains challenging. Current approaches generally require considerable data mining expertise or effort from the data analyst, and hence cannot be used by typical domain experts.

To address this, we introduce a generic framework for interactive learning of userspecific pattern ranking functions. The user is only asked to rank small sets of patterns, while a ranking function is inferred from this feedback by preference learning techniques. Moreover, we propose a number of active learning heuristics to minimize the effort required from the user, while ensuring that accurate rankings are obtained. We show how the learned ranking functions can be used to mine new, more interesting patterns.

We demonstrate two concrete instances of our framework for two different pattern mining tasks, frequent itemset mining and subgroup discovery. We empirically evaluate the capacity of the algorithm to learn pattern rankings by emulating users. Experiments demonstrate that the system is able to learn accurate rankings, and that the active learning heuristics help reduce the required user effort. Furthermore, using the learned ranking functions as search heuristics allows discovering patterns of higher quality than those in the initial set. This shows that machine learning techniques in general, and active preference learning in particular, are promising building blocks for interactive data mining systems.
Continuous Time Random Walk and Migration–Proliferation Dichotomy of Brain Cancer
Authors: Iomin A.
Published: December 2014

A theory of fractional kinetics of glial cancer cells is presented. A role of the migration-proliferation dichotomy in the fractional cancer cell dynamics in the outer-invasive zone is discussed and explained in the framework of a continuous time random walk. The main suggested model is based on a construction of a 3D comb model, where the migration-proliferation dichotomy becomes naturally apparent and the outer-invasive zone of glioma cancer is considered as a fractal composite with a fractal dimension Dfr< 3.
Silurian flysch successions of Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada, and their significance to northern Caledonian palaeogeography and tectonics
Authors: Beranek Luke P. , Pease Victoria , Hadlari Thomas , Dewing Keith
Published: December 2014

Detrital zircon provenance studies of Silurian flysch units that underlie the Hazen and Clements Markham fold belts of Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada, were conducted to evaluate models for northern Caledonian palaeogeography and tectonics. Llandovery flysch was deposited along an active plate margin and yields detrital zircons that require northern derivation from the adjacent Pearya terrane. If Pearya originated near Svalbard and NE Greenland, it was transported by strike-slip faults to Ellesmere Island by the Early Silurian. Wenlock to Ludlow turbidites yield Palaeozoic–Archaean detrital zircons with dominant age-groupings
c
. 650, 970, 1150, 1450 and 1650 Ma. These turbidite systems did not fill a flexural foreland basin in front of the East Greenland Caledonides, but rather an east–west-trending trough that was probably related to sinistral strike-slip faulting along the northern Laurentian margin. The data support provenance connections with the Svalbard Caledonides, especially Baltican-affinity rocks of SW Spitsbergen that were proximal to NE Greenland during the Baltica–Laurentia collision. Pridoli flysch has sources that include Pearya, the East Greenland Caledonides and the Canadian Shield. Devonian–Carboniferous molasse in Arctic Canada has analogous detrital zircon signatures, which implies recycling of Silurian flysch during mid-Palaeozoic (Ellesmerian) collisional tectonism or that some collisional blocks were of similar Baltican–Laurentian crustal affinities.

Supplementary material:

Detrital zircon U–Pb age results, isotopic data and concordia diagrams of dated samples are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18797
.
Sodium levels of human pancreatic donors are a critical factor for determination of islet efficacy and survival
Authors: Qi Meirigeng , Luis Valiente , Bilbao Shiela , Omori Keiko , Rawson Jeffrey , McFadden Brian , Juan Jemily , Nair Indu , Mullen Yoko , El-Shahawy Mohamed , Dafoe Donald , Kandeel Fouad , Al-Abdullah Ismail H.
Published: December 2014

Organs from hypernatremia (elevated Na+) donors when used for transplantation have had dismal outcomes. However, islet isolation from hypernatremic donors for both transplantation and research applications has not yet been investigated. A retrospective analysis of in vivo and in vitro islet function studies was performed on islets isolated from hypernatremic (serum sodium levels ≥ 160 meq/l) and normal control (serum sodium levels ≤ 155 meq/l) donors. Twelve isolations from 32 hypernatremic and 53 isolations from 222 normal donors were randomly transplanted into diabetic NOD Scid mice. Sodium levels upon pancreas procurement were significantly elevated in the hypernatremia group (163.5 ± 0.6 meq/l) compared with the normal control group (145.9 ± 0.4 meq/l) ( P < 0.001). The postculture islet recovery rate was significantly lower in the hypernatremia (59.1 ± 3.8%) group compared with the normal (73.6 ± 1.8%) group ( P = 0.005). The duration of hypernatremia was inversely correlated with the recovery rate ( r2= 0.370, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of successful graft function when transplanted into diabetic NOD Scid mice was significantly lower in the hypernatremia (42%) group compared with the normal control (85%) group ( P < 0.001). The ability to predict islet graft function posttransplantation using donor sodium levels and duration of hypernatremia was significant (ROC analysis, P = 0.022 and 0.042, respectively). In conclusion, duration of donor hypernatremia is associated with reduced islet recovery postculture. The efficacy of islets from hypernatremia donors diminished when transplanted into diabetic recipients.
Asymmetry and modulation of spike timing in electrically coupled neurons
Authors: Sevetson Jessica , Haas Julie S.
Published: December 2014

Electrical coupling mediates interactions between neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), which play a critical role in regulating thalamocortical and corticothalamic communication by inhibiting thalamic relay cells. Accumulating evidence has shown that asymmetry of electrical synapses is a fundamental and dynamic property, but the effect of asymmetry on coupled networks is unexplored. Recording from patched pairs in rat brain slices, we investigate asymmetry in the subthreshold regime and show that electrical synapses can exert powerful effects on the spike times of coupled neighbors. Electrical synaptic signaling modulates spike timing by 10–20 ms, in an effect that also exhibits asymmetry. Furthermore, we show through modeling that coupling asymmetry expands the set of outputs for pairs of coupled neurons through enhanced regions of synchrony and reversals of spike order. These results highlight the power and specificity of signaling exerted by electrical synapses, which contribute to information flow across the brain.
Ex Uno Plures: Molecular Designs for Embryonic Pluripotency
Authors: Loh Kyle M. , Lim Bing , Ang Lay Teng
Published: December 2014

Pluripotent cells in embryos are situated near the apex of the hierarchy of developmental potential. They are capable of generating all cell types of the mammalian body proper. Therefore, they are the exemplar of stem cells. In vivo, pluripotent cells exist transiently and become expended within a few days of their establishment. Yet, when explanted into artificial culture conditions, they can be indefinitely propagated in vitro as pluripotent stem cell lines. A host of transcription factors and regulatory genes are now known to underpin the pluripotent state. Nonetheless, how pluripotent cells are equipped with their vast multilineage differentiation potential remains elusive. Consensus holds that pluripotency transcription factors prevent differentiation by inhibiting the expression of differentiation genes. However, this does not explain the developmental potential of pluripotent cells. We have presented another emergent perspective, namely, that pluripotency factors function as lineage specifiers that enable pluripotent cells to differentiate into specific lineages, therefore endowing pluripotent cells with their multilineage potential. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the developmental biology, transcription factors, and extrinsic signaling associated with pluripotent cells, and their accompanying subtypes, in vitro heterogeneity and chromatin states. Although much has been learned since the appreciation of mammalian pluripotency in the 1950s and the derivation of embryonic stem cell lines in 1981, we will specifically emphasize what currently remains unclear. However, the view that pluripotency factors capacitate differentiation, recently corroborated by experimental evidence, might perhaps address the long-standing question of how pluripotent cells are endowed with their multilineage differentiation potential.
Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Effect of Aqueous Fruit Extract ofPassiflora ligularisJuss. on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Anusooriya Palanirajan , Malarvizhi Deivasigamani , Gopalakrishnan Velliyur Kanniappan , Devaki Kanakasabapathi
Published: December 2014

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder that impairs glucose homeostasis resulting in severe diabetic complications including retinopathy, angiopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy causing neurological disorders due to perturbation in utilization of glucose. Hypoglycemic activity was detected in aqueous extract ofPassiflora ligularis, a traditionally used medicinal plant, using streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg body weight) induced diabetic rat model. Oral administration of aqueous extract ofPassiflora ligularisto diabetic rats for 30 days resulted in a decrease in blood glucose. The diabetic rats had decreased levels of serum total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio as compared to control rats. In addition, the activities of hepatic and renal markers were significantly elevated in diabetic rats as compared to control rats. Treatment with aqueous fruit extract ofP. ligularisand glibenclamide reversed these parameters to near normal. Extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg given orally for 30 days showed significant elevation in enzymatic (SOD, catalase, and Gpx) and nonenzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced glutathione). Plant extract treated groups showed significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO). Aqueous extract ofPassiflora ligularisfruit can decrease the blood glucose and reduce the oxidative stress by removing free radicals in diabetes.
Sudden Death by Pulmonary Thromboembolism due to a Large Uterine Leiomyoma with a Parasitic Vein to the Mesentery
Authors: Podduturi Varsha , Armstrong-Briley Danielle R. , Guileyardo Joseph M.
Published: December 2014

The pathophysiology of venous thrombosis is classically attributed to alterations in one or more components of Virchow’s triad: hypercoagulability, stasis, and damage to the vascular endothelium. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may lead to pulmonary thromboembolism (PE), and the latter is culpable for many deaths annually in the United States; however, DVT as a complication of uterine leiomyoma has rarely been reported. We report a case of a 57-year-old woman whose death was due to a large pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma externally compressing the pelvic veins resulting in stasis and venous thrombosis leading to fatal PE. The association of large pelvic masses with venous thrombosis has clinical implications, since prophylactic surgery could be life-saving.
The Effect of a Femoral Fracture Sustained before Skeletal Maturity on Bone Mineral Density: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study
Authors: Kettunen J. A. , Palmu S. , Tallroth K. , Nietosvaara Y. , Lohman M.
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose. The possible effect of pediatric femoral fractures on the bone mineral density (BMD) is largely unknown. We conducted a study to investigate BMD in adults who had sustained a femoral shaft fracture in childhood treated with skeletal traction. Materials and Methods. Forty-four adults, who had had a femoral fracture before skeletal maturity, were reexamined on average 21 (range 11.4) years after treatment. Our follow-up study included a questionnaire, a clinical examination, length and angle measurements of the lower extremities from follow-up radiographs, and a DEXA examination with regional BMD values obtained for both legs separately. Results. At follow-up femoral varus-valgus (P=0.001) and ante-/recurvatum (P=0.001) angles were slightly larger in the injured lower-limb compared to the contralateral limb. The mean BMD of the entire injured lower-limb was lower than that of the noninjured (1.323 g/cm2 versus 1.346 g/cm2, P=0.003). Duration of traction was the only factor in multiple linear regression analysis that was positively correlated with the BMD discrepancy between the injured and noninjured lower-limb explaining about 17% of its variation. Conclusion. The effect of a femoral fracture sustained during growth is small even in patients treated with traction.
Performance Analysis of Extracted Rule-Base Multivariable Type-2 Self-Organizing Fuzzy Logic Controller Applied to Anesthesia
Authors: Liu Yan-Xin , Doctor Faiyaz , Fan Shou-Zen , Shieh Jiann-Shing
Published: December 2014

We compare type-1 and type-2 self-organizing fuzzy logic controller (SOFLC) using expert initialized and pretrained extracted rule-bases applied to automatic control of anaesthesia during surgery. We perform experimental simulations using a nonfixed patient model and signal noise to account for environmental and patient drug interaction uncertainties. The simulations evaluate the performance of the SOFLCs in their ability to control anesthetic delivery rates for maintaining desired physiological set points for muscle relaxation and blood pressure during a multistage surgical procedure. The performances of the SOFLCs are evaluated by measuring the steady state errors and control stabilities which indicate the accuracy and precision of control task. Two sets of comparisons based on using expert derived and extracted rule-bases are implemented as Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results indicate that type-2 SOFLCs outperform type-1 SOFLC while handling the various sources of uncertainties. SOFLCs using the extracted rules are also shown to outperform those using expert derived rules in terms of improved control stability.
Low Power Data Acquisition System for Bioimplantable Devices
Authors: Khan Sadeque Reza , Bhat M. S.
Published: December 2014

Signal acquisition represents the most important block in biomedical devices, because of its responsibilities to retrieve precise data from the biological tissues. In this paper an energy efficient data acquisition unit is presented which includes low power high bandwidth front-end amplifier and a 10-bit fully differential successive approximation ADC. The proposed system is designed with 0.18 µm CMOS technology and the simulation results show that the bioamplifier maintains a wide bandwidth versus low noise trade-off and the proposed SAR-ADC consumes 450 nW power under 1.8 V supply and retain the effective number of bit 9.55 in 100 KS/s sampling rate.
Three-Level Supply Chain Coordination under Disruptions Based on Revenue-Sharing Contract with Price Dependent Demand
Authors: Pang Qinghua , Chen Yuer , Hu Yulu
Published: December 2014

Considering the market demand is stochastic and dependent on price, this paper shows that the revenue-sharing contract could coordinate a three-level supply chain consisting of one manufacturer, one distributor, and one retailer under normal environment. However, the original revenue-sharing contract cannot coordinate the supply chain under disruptions in circumstances of certain incidents leading to significant changes in market demand and causing additional deviation costs. To solve the problem, this essay introduces two improved forms of revenue-sharing contract: a mixed contract form based on a quantity discount policy and a pure form, which are characterized by antidisruption ability. The model of improved revenue-sharing contract is optimized when the market demand is in the additive form or in the multiplicative form with price dependent demand. Formulas are given to calculate the optimal contract parameters. Finally, this essay demonstrates the accuracy of the model of improved revenue-sharing contract with the help of numerical examples.
Determination of Oxidative Stress Related Toxicity on Repeated Dermal Exposure of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles in Rats
Authors: Parayanthala Valappil Mohanan , Santhakumar Syama , Arumugam Sabareeswaran
Published: December 2014

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) have numerous applications, such as substitute for bone grafting, bone fillers, bioceramic coating, and dental fillings. The toxicity of these nanomaterials is of growing concern despite their significant scientific interest and promising potential in many applications. In this study, an in-house synthesized, characterized HANP of size <50 nm was investigated for the dermal toxicity. A paste of HANPs was prepared in water and applied on the dorsal side of the rats for 28 days. At the end of 28 days, blood was subjected to haematological and biochemical analysis. Gross necropsy was conducted and major organs were collected for histopathological observations. Liver from the animals was evaluated for lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes activity. It was observed that none of the animals showed any abnormality during the experimental period. Gross examination of carcasses did not reveal any abnormality in the organs examined. The results also demonstrated that there was no significant fluctuation in the level of antioxidant defense mechanisms, lipid peroxidation, and haematological and biochemical parameters. There was no histopathological lesion observed in any of the organs. Hence, it can be concluded that the synthesized HANPs were nontoxic at cellular level, when exposed dermally to rats.
Filter Bank Multicarrier Modulation: A Waveform Candidate for 5G and Beyond
Authors: Farhang-Boroujeny Behrouz
Published: December 2014

Recent discussions on viable technologies for 5G emphasize on the need for waveforms with better spectral containment per subcarrier than the celebrated orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) is an alternative technology that can serve this need. Subcarrier waveforms are built based on a prototype filter that is designed with this emphasis in mind. This paper presents a broad review of the research work done in the wireless laboratory of the University of Utah in the past 15 years. It also relates this research to the works done by other researchers. The theoretical basis based on which FBMC waveforms are constructed is discussed. Also, various methods of designing effective prototype filters are presented. For completeness, polyphase structures that are used for computationally efficient implementation of FBMC systems are introduced and their complexity is contrasted with that of OFDM. The problems of channel equalization as well as synchronization and tracking methods in FBMC systems are given a special consideration and a few outstanding research problems are identified. Moreover, this paper brings up a number of appealing features of FBMC waveforms that make them an ideal choice in the emerging areas of multiuser and massive MIMO networks.
Non-Hermitian Lagrangian for Quasirelativistic Fermions
Authors: Alexandre Jean
Published: December 2014

We present a Lorentz-symmetry violating Lagrangian for free fermions, which is local but not Hermitian, whereas the corresponding Hamiltonian is Hermitian but not local. A specific feature of the model is that the dispersion relation is relativistic in both the IR and the UV but not in an intermediate regime, set by a given mass scale. The consistency of the model is shown by the study of properties expected in analogy with the Dirac Lagrangian.
Dealing with a Porcelain Aorta during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Adesanya T. M. Ayodele , Kilic Ahmet
Published: December 2014

We report a complex case of multivessel CAD in a patient with a porcelain aorta and high-grade left subclavian artery stenosis. Utilizing a staged left subclavian artery stent placement with a next-day plan for a four-vessel, on-pump CABG and ascending aortic replacement, this case highlights an organized approach to diagnosing and dealing with a heavily calcified aorta while describing a stepwise algorithm to deal with aortic calcifications prior to initiating cardiac surgery.
A Delphi Study to Detect Deficiencies and Propose Actions in Real Life Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: García-Layana Alfredo , Arias Luis , Figueroa Marta S. , Araiz Javier , Ruiz-Moreno José María , García-Arumí José , Gómez-Ulla Francisco , López-Gálvez María Isabel , Cabrera-López Francisco , García-Campos José Manuel , Monés Jordi , Cervera Enrique , Armadá Felix , Gallego-Pinazo Roberto , Piñero-Bustamante Antonio , Serrano-Garcia Miguel Angel
Published: December 2014

Purpose. Spanish retina specialists were surveyed in order to propose actions to decrease deficiencies in real-life neovascular age macular degeneration treatment (nv-AMD).Methods. One hundred experts, members of the Spanish Vitreoretinal Society (SERV), were invited to complete an online survey of 52 statements about nv-AMD management with a modified Delphi methodology. Four rounds were performed using a 5-point Linkert scale. Recommendations were developed after analyzing the differences between the results and the SERV guidelines recommendations.Results. Eighty-seven specialists completed all the Delphi rounds. Once major potential deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment were identified, 15 recommendations were developed with a high level of agreement. Consensus statements to reduce the burden of the disease included the use of treat and extend regimen and to reduce the amount of diagnostic tests during the loading phase and training technical staff to perform these tests and reduce the time between relapse detection and reinjection, as well as establishing patient referral protocols to outside general ophthalmology clinics.Conclusion. The level of agreement with the final recommendations for nv-AMD treatment among Spanish retinal specialist was high indicating that some actions could be applied in order to reduce the deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment.
Video Multiple Watermarking Technique Based on Image Interlacing Using DWT
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed M. , Abdel Kader Neamat S. , Zorkany M.
Published: December 2014

Digital watermarking is one of the important techniques to secure digital media files in the domains of data authentication and copyright protection. In the nonblind watermarking systems, the need of the original host file in the watermark recovery operation makes an overhead over the system resources, doubles memory capacity, and doubles communications bandwidth. In this paper, a robust video multiple watermarking technique is proposed to solve this problem. This technique is based on image interlacing. In this technique, three-level discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is used as a watermark embedding/extracting domain, Arnold transform is used as a watermark encryption/decryption method, and different types of media (gray image, color image, and video) are used as watermarks. The robustness of this technique is tested by applying different types of attacks such as: geometric, noising, format-compression, and image-processing attacks. The simulation results show the effectiveness and good performance of the proposed technique in saving system resources, memory capacity, and communications bandwidth.
Primary Synovial Sarcoma of Kidney: A Rare Differential Diagnosis of Renomegaly
Authors: Modi Gaurang , Madabhavi Irappa , Panchal Harsha , Anand Asha , Patel Apurva , Parikh Sonia , Revannasiddaiah Swaroop
Published: December 2014

Synovial sarcomas (SS) are classified as subgroup of soft tissue sarcomas affecting mainly extremities of young adults. Primary SS of kidney are very rare tumours with poor prognosis. Though they have characteristic histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) due to rarity of incidence it is difficult to diagnose them. Sometimes chromosomal rearrangement studies are required to confirm the diagnosis. We are presenting a case of 41-year-old male who was referred to our cancer centre for evaluation of left renal mass. CT scan of abdomen revealed a large left renal mass encasing the aorta. Biopsy of renal mass revealed poorly differentiated sarcoma and IHC was positive for vimentin, CD99, and BCL2 and negative for AE1, epithelial membrane antigen, and leukocyte common antigen. The patient was clinically inoperable as renal mass was encasing the aorta. So he was subsequently offered palliative chemotherapy in form of ifosfamide and adriamycin. CT abdomen shows partial response after 3 cycles of chemotherapy according to RECIST criteria.
Efficient and Cost-Effective Alternative Treatment for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Interstitial Cystitis in Women: A Two-Case Report
Authors: Mansour Anthony , Hariri Essa , Shelh Samar , Irani Ralph , Mroueh Mohamad
Published: December 2014

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections affecting women. UTIs are primarily caused byEscherichia coli, which increases the likelihood of a recurrent infection. We encountered two cases of recurrent UTIs (rUTIs) with a positiveE. coliculture, not improving with antibiotics due to the development of antibiotic resistance. An alternative therapeutic regimen based on parsley and garlic, L-arginine, probiotics, and cranberry tablets has been given. This regimen showed a significant health improvement and symptoms relief without recurrence for more than 12 months. In conclusion, the case supports the concept of using alternative medicine in treating rUTI and as a prophylaxis or in patients who had developed antibiotic resistance.
Complexity Quantification for Overhead Transmission Line Emergency Repair Scheme via a Graph Entropy Method Improved with Petri Net and AHP Weighting Method
Authors: Zhou Jing , Li Cunbin , Shen Weihua , Zhang Ye
Published: December 2014

According to the characteristics of emergency repair in overhead transmission line accidents, a complexity quantification method for emergency repair scheme is proposed based on the entropy method in software engineering, which is improved by using group AHP (analytical hierarchical process) method and Petri net. Firstly, information structure chart model and process control flowchart model could be built by Petri net. Then impact factors on complexity of emergency repair scheme could be quantified into corresponding entropy values, respectively. Finally, by using group AHP method, weight coefficient of each entropy value would be given before calculating the overall entropy value for the whole emergency repair scheme. By comparing group AHP weighting method with average weighting method, experiment results for the former showed a stronger correlation between quantified entropy values of complexity and the actual consumed time in repair, which indicates that this new method is more valid.
Convergence of Infinite Family of Multivalued Quasi-Nonexpansive Mappings Using Multistep Iterative Processes
Authors: Chugh Renu , Kumar Sanjay
Published: December 2014

We prove strong and weak convergence results using multistep iterative sequences for countable family of multivalued quasi-nonexpansive mappings by using some conditions in uniformly convex real Banach space. The results presented extended and improved the corresponding result of Zhang et al. (2013), Bunyawat and Suantai (2012), and some others from finite family, one countable family, and two countable families tok-number of countable families of multivalued quasi-nonexpansive mappings. Also we used a numerical example in C++ computational programs to prove that the iterative scheme we used has better rate of convergence than other existing iterative schemes.
Solving Nondifferentiable Nonlinear Equations by New Steffensen‐Type Iterative Methods with Memory
Authors: Jaiswal J. P.
Published: December 2014

It is attempted to present two derivative‐free Steffensen‐type methods with memory for solving nonlinear equations. By making use of a suitable self‐accelerator parameter in the existing optimal fourth‐ and eighth‐order without memory methods, the order of convergence has been increased without any extra function evaluation. Therefore, its efficiency index is also increased, which is the main contribution of this paper. The self‐accelerator parameters are estimated using Newton’s interpolation. To show applicability of the proposed methods, some numerical illustrations are presented.
Sociodemographic Correlates of Modifiable Risk Factors for Hypertension in a Rural Local Government Area of Oyo State South West Nigeria
Authors: Abdulsalam Saliu , Olugbenga-Bello Adenike , Olarewaju Olakunle , Abdus-salam Ismail
Published: December 2014

Modifiable risk factors of hypertension contribute significantly to all-cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of and the association of modifiable risk factors with hypertension in rural community. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 166 male and 201 female adults of 18 years and above using cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using modified WHO STEPS instrument and hypertensive subjects were defined as those with systolic greater than or equal to 140 and diastolic of 90 mmHg. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 17 with level of significance atP<0.05. The mean age of the subjects was 36.36 (±16.88) years and mean systolic and diastolic pressures were 124 (±16.93) and 76.32 (±11.85) mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was high (22.9%) in this rural communities but awareness was low, 10.71%. The prevalence of alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, abnormal weight, inadequate sleep, smoking, significant stress, and female use of hormonal contraceptives was 149 (40.6%), 91 (24.8%), 88 (24.0%), 122 (33.2%), 14 (3.8%), 65 (17.7%), and 53 (26.5%), respectively. Overweight, sex, inadequate sleep, and stress were established as positive predictors of hypertension. The rising prevalence of hypertension and its modifiable risk factors in rural communities require prompt interventions directed at reversing these trends.
Postoperative Vision Loss after Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Mumith Aadil , Scadden John
Published: December 2014

We report a case which highlights the rare but devastating complication of postoperative vision loss (POVL) in orthopaedic surgery. Though documented previously, it has not been reported in shoulder arthroplasty surgery of which we present the first case. The aetiology of POVL is difficult to elucidate due to its elusive nature. We explain the risks associated with regional blocks used for such surgery and how this may be related to POVL. We must be vigilant of the possible causes of POVL as curative treatment is often not possible and hence must take preventative measures which we have recommended. Fortunately, the patient fully recovered at 10 months postoperatively with excellent function of her reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
Cognitive Enhancing and Neuroprotective Effect of the Embryo of the Nelumbo nucifera Seed
Authors: Kim Eun Sil , Weon Jin Bae , Yun Bo-Ra , Lee Jiwoo , Eom Min Rye , Oh Kyoung-Hee , Ma Choong Je
Published: December 2014

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ENS on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine and its potential neuroprotective effect against glutamate‐induced cytotoxicity in HT22 cell and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. ENS (3, 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), scopolamine (1 mg/kg), and donepezil (1 mg/kg) were administered to mice during a test period. Scopolamine impaired memory and learning in a water maze test and a passive avoidance test. The neuroprotective effect of ENS (10 and 100 μg/mL) was investigated on glutamate‐induced cell death in HT22 cells by MTT assay. We investigated acetylcholinesterase inhibition in hippocampus and antioxidant activity, ROS levels, and Ca2+ influx in HT22 cells to elucidate the potential mechanisms of ENS. We found that ENS significantly ameliorated scopolamine‐induced memory impairment and inhibited AChE activity in hippocampus. In vitro, ENS showed potent neuroprotective effects against glutamate‐induced neurotoxicity in the HT22 cell. In addition, ENS induced a decrease in ROS production and intercellular Ca2+ accumulation and showed DPPH radical and H2O2 scavenging activity. In conclusion, ENS showed both a memory improving effect and a neuroprotective effect. Our results indicate that ENS may be of use in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders.
A Hybrid Grey Relational Analysis and Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II for Project Portfolio Selection
Authors: Razi Farshad Faezy
Published: December 2014

Project selection and formation of an optimal portfolio of selected projects are among the main challenges of project management. For this purpose, several factors and indicators are simultaneously examined considering the terms and conditions of the decision problem. Obviously, both qualitative and quantitative factors may influence the formation of a portfolio of projects. In this study, the projects were first ranked using grey relational analysis to form an optimal portfolio of projects and to create an expert system for the final project selection. Because of the fuzzy nature of the environmental risk of each project, the environmental risk was predicted and analyzed using the fuzzy inference system and failure mode and effect analysis based on fuzzy rules. Then, the rank and risk of each project were optimized using a two-objective zero-one mathematical programming model considering the practical constraints of the decision problem through the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). A case study was used to discuss the practical methodology for selecting a portfolio of projects.
Bifurcation of Safe Basins and Chaos in Nonlinear Vibroimpact Oscillator under Harmonic and Bounded Noise Excitations
Authors: Haiwu Rong , Xiangdong Wang , Qizhi Luo , Wei Xu , Tong Fang
Published: December 2014

The erosion of the safe basins and chaotic motions of a nonlinear vibroimpact oscillator under both harmonic and bounded random noise is studied. Using the Melnikov method, the system’s Melnikov integral is computed and the parametric threshold for chaotic motions is obtained. Using the Monte-Carlo and Runge-Kutta methods, the erosion of the safe basins is also discussed. The sudden change in the character of the stochastic safe basins when the bifurcation parameter of the system passes through a critical value may be defined as an alternative stochastic bifurcation. It is founded that random noise may destroy the integrity of the safe basins, bring forward the occurrence of the stochastic bifurcation, and make the parametric threshold for motions vary in a larger region, hence making the system become more unsafely and chaotic motions may occur more easily.
Five-Year Outcome of Catheter Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Using Termination of Atrial Fibrillation as a Procedural Endpoint
Authors: Scherr Daniel , Khairy Paul , Miyazaki Shinsuke , Aurillac-Lavignolle Valerie , Pascale Patrizio , Wilton Stephen B. , Ramoul Khaled , Komatsu Yuki , Roten Laurent , Jadidi Amir , Linton Nick , Pedersen Michala , Daly Matthew , O’Neill Mark , Knecht Sebastien , Weerasooriya Rukshen , Rostock Thomas , Manninger Martin , Cochet Hubert , Shah Ashok J. , Yeim Sunthareth , Denis Arnaud , Derval Nicolas , Hocini Meleze , Sacher Frederic , Haissaguerre Michel , Jais Pierre
Published: December 2014

Background—

This study aimed to determine 5-year efficacy of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) using AF termination as a procedural end point.

Methods and Results—

One hundred fifty patients (57±10 years) underwent persistent AF ablation using a stepwise ablation approach (pulmonary vein isolation, electrogram-guided, and linear ablation) with the desired procedural end point being AF termination. Repeat ablation was performed for recurrent AF or atrial tachycardia. AF was terminated by ablation in 120 patients (80%). Arrhythmia-free survival rates after a single procedure were 35.3%±3.9%, 28.0%±3.7%, and 16.8%±3.2% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Arrhythmia-free survival rates after the last procedure (mean 2.1±1.0 procedures) were 89.7%±2.5%, 79.8%±3.4%, and 62.9%±4.5%, at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. During a median follow-up of 58 (interquartile range, 43–73) months after the last ablation procedure, 97 of 150 (64.7%) patients remained in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic drugs. Another 14 (9.3%) patients maintained sinus rhythm after reinitiation of antiarrhythmic drugs, and an additional 15 (10.0%) patients regressed to paroxysmal recurrences only. Failure to terminate AF during the index procedure (hazard ratio 3.831; 95% confidence interval, 2.070–7.143;
P
<0.001), left atrial diameter ≥50 mm (hazard ratio 2.083; 95% confidence interval, 1.078–4.016;
P
=0.03), continuous AF duration ≥18 months (hazard ratio 1.984; 95% confidence interval, 1.024–3.846;
P
<0.04), and structural heart disease (hazard ratio 1.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.037–3.388;
P
=0.04) predicted arrhythmia recurrence.

Conclusions—

In patients with persistent AF, an ablation strategy aiming at AF termination is associated with freedom from arrhythmia recurrence in the majority of patients over a 5-year follow-up period. Procedural AF nontermination and specific baseline factors predict long-term outcome after ablation.
Elevated Placental Adenosine Signaling Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia
Authors: Iriyama Takayuki , Sun Kaiqi , Parchim Nicholas F. , Li Jessica , Zhao Cheng , Song Anren , Hart Laura A. , Blackwell Sean C. , Sibai Baha M. , Chan Lee-Nien L. , Chan Teh-Sheng , Hicks M. John , Blackburn Michael R. , Kellems Rodney E. , Xia Yang
Published: December 2014

Background—

Preeclampsia is a prevalent hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This pathogenic condition is speculated to be caused by placental abnormalities that contribute to the maternal syndrome. However, the specific factors and signaling pathways that lead to impaired placentas and maternal disease development remain elusive.

Methods and Results—

Using 2 independent animal models of preeclampsia (genetically engineered pregnant mice with elevated adenosine exclusively in placentas and a pathogenic autoantibody-induced preeclampsia mouse model), we demonstrated that chronically elevated placental adenosine was sufficient to induce hallmark features of preeclampsia, including hypertension, proteinuria, small fetuses, and impaired placental vasculature. Genetic and pharmacological approaches revealed that elevated placental adenosine coupled with excessive A
2B
adenosine receptor (ADORA2B) signaling contributed to the development of these features of preeclampsia. Mechanistically, we provided both human and mouse evidence that elevated placental CD73 is a key enzyme causing increased placental adenosine, thereby contributing to preeclampsia.

Conclusions—

We determined that elevated placental adenosine signaling is a previously unrecognized pathogenic factor for preeclampsia. Moreover, our findings revealed the molecular basis underlying the elevation of placental adenosine and the detrimental role of excess placental adenosine in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, and thereby, we highlight novel therapeutic targets.
Artists Design Exhibitions: Introduction
Authors: Grace Claire , Lotery Kevin
Published: December 2014

In the first half of the twentieth century, exhibition design served a central and multivalent function: As spaces of the public sphere, exhibitions offered sites for aesthetic experimentation, for the confrontation with new technologies, and for the dissemination of propaganda materials. Rather than elaborating a medium per se, artists who turned to exhibition design sought tactical, site-specific—even project-specific—interventions in the pressing questions of their present, and they did so by positioning their work within the terms, materials, and technologies then active. One need only consider the approaches articulated in such diverse texts as El Lissitzky's 1926 manifesto-like “Exhibition Rooms” or Herbert Bayer's 1937 treatise “Fundamentals of Exhibition Design” to appreciate the privileged role and cultural currency of this formal strategy through the middle of the century.
Model Exhibition
Authors: Gough Maria
Published: December 2014

Despite the fact that it was never realized at full scale, Vladimir Tatlin's long-lost model for his Monument to the Third International (1920) remains to this day the most widely known work of the Soviet avant-garde. A visionary proposal for a four-hundred-meter tower in iron and glass conceived at the height of the Russian Civil War, the monument was to house the headquarters of the Third International, or Comintern, the international organization of Communist, socialist, and other left-wing parties and workers' organizations founded in Moscow in the wake of the October Revolution with the objective of fomenting revolutionary agitation abroad. Constructed in his spacious Petrograd studio, which was once the mosaics workshop of the imperial Academy of Art, Tatlin's approximately 1:80 scale model comprises a skeletal wooden armature of two upward-moving spirals and a massive diagonal girder, within which are stacked four revolving geometrical volumes made out of paper, these last set in motion by means of a rotary crank located underneath the display platform. In the proposed monument-building, these volumes were to contain the Comintern's legislature, executive branch, press bureau, and radio station. According to the later recollection of Tevel' Schapiro, who assisted Tatlin in his construction of the model, two large arch spans at ground level were designed so that the tower could straddle the banks of the river Neva in Petrograd, the birthplace of the 1917 revolutions.
The Peripatetic Viewer at Heartfield's Film und Foto Exhibition Room
Authors: Zervigón Andrés Mario
Published: December 2014

The traveling exhibition Film und Foto, inaugurated in 1929 by the famous German Werkbund association, stands as a critical landmark in the exhibition of modernist photography and film. Yet walking through its inaugural venue, in Stuttgart, was as much like flipping through an instructional photo essay as navigating an exhibition space. The first of the show's thirteen rooms, for example, offered a large number of prints that recapitulated the history of photography, or more specifically the history of its practical use. Displayed on sleek scaffolds that efficiently expanded the available exhibition surface, these prints hung in what may best be described as modernist salon style meets the printed page. A lower register seems strung near thigh level while a second row pushed toward the ceiling. The left-page/right-page and vertical/horizontal dialogues this arrangement afforded encouraged viewers to compare photographs taken from the spheres of science and industry to avant-garde prints inspired by the former. Above this series of exchanges ran a prominent sans-serif caption, a punning query that framed the entire show: “Where is photography's development headed?”
“Enlightenment, Advertising, Education, Etc.”: Herbert Bayer the Museum of Modern Art's Road to Victory
Authors: La Kristie
Published: December 2014

“In the beginning was virgin land and America was promises.”2 So began the text panel located in the opening panorama of the photo exhibition Road to Victory: A Procession of Photographs of the Nation at War that the Museum of Modern Art organized in 1942 and circulated between 1943 and 1945. Years before Edward Steichen became curator of photography at MoMA and organized the global blockbuster exhibition The Family of Man, he combed government, press, and corporate archives to select the photographs for Road to Victory, his first curatorial project at the museum. Encircling the opening text were large photographic panels of picturesque landscapes, stern Native Americans, and a few buffalo. The largest panel—of pristine mountain valleys—was sixteen by twelve feet, making the viewer about the same height as the three portraits of Native Americans. Exhibition designer Herbert Bayer, recent Austrian émigré and former Bauhaus master, removed the walls from the second floor of the museum, using the large-scale photographs to structure the exhibition architecturally. Arranged in a semicircle, these opening panels welcomed the viewer and urged him to follow the curve into the exhibition.