bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crowd dynamics and conservation laws with nonlocal constraints and capacity drop
Authors: Andreianov Boris , Donadello Carlotta , Rosini Massimiliano D.
Published: May 2014

In this paper we model pedestrian flows evacuating a narrow corridor through an exit by a one-dimensional hyperbolic conservation law with a point constraint in the spirit of [Colombo and Goatin, J. Differential Equations, 2007]. We introduce a nonlocal constraint to restrict the flux at the exit to a maximum value p(ξ), where ξ is the weighted averaged instantaneous density of the crowd in an upstream vicinity of the exit. Choosing a non-increasing constraint function p(⋅), we are able to model the capacity drop phenomenon at the exit.

Existence and stability results for the Cauchy problem with Lipschitz constraint function p(⋅) are achieved by a procedure that combines the wave-front tracking algorithm with the operator splitting method. In view of the construction of explicit examples (one is provided), we discuss the Riemann problem with discretized piecewise constant constraint p(⋅). We illustrate the fact that nonlocality induces loss of self-similarity for the Riemann solver; moreover, discretization of p(⋅) may induce non-uniqueness and instability of solutions.
Revisiting the Role of First Trimester Homocysteine as an Index of Maternal and Fetal Outcome
Authors: Mascarenhas Mariano , Habeebullah Syed , Sridhar M. G.
Published: May 2014

Aim.To revisit the role of first trimester homocysteine levels with the maternal and fetal outcome.Methods.This was a cohort study comprising 100 antenatal women between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation. Serum homocysteine levels were checked after overnight fasting.Results.There were significantly elevated homocysteine levels among women with prior history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and prior second or third trimester pregnancy losses. There was no significant difference in homocysteine levels among women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm deliveries, or fetal malformations. Homocysteine levels were significantly elevated in those who developed hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, oligohydramnios, and meconium stained amniotic fluid, had a pregnancy loss, or delivered a low birth weight baby. There was no significant difference in homocysteine levels for those who developed gestational diabetes mellitus.Conclusions.Increased first trimester serum homocysteine is associated with history of pregnancy losses, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and preterm birth. This is also associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, pregnancy loss, oligohydramnios, meconium stained amniotic fluid, and low birth weight in the current pregnancy. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govCTRI/2013/02/003441.
Treatment Patterns in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Zhao Zhongyun , Wang Song , Barber Beth L.
Published: May 2014

Objective.To describe treatment patterns and factors influencing treatment in a real-world setting of US patients with metastatic melanoma (MM).Methods.This was a retrospective claims-based study among patients with MM diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 identified from MarketScan databases.Results.Of 2546 MM patients, 66.8% received surgery, 44.7% received radiation, 38.7% received systemic therapies, and 17.7% received all modalities. Patients with lung, brain, liver, or bone metastases were less likely to undergo surgery (allP<0.0001); patients with lung (P=0.04), brain (P<0.001), or liver metastases (P=0.03) were more likely to receive systemic therapies; patients with brain (P<0.0001) or bone metastases (P<0.0001) were more likely to receive radiation therapy. Oncologists were more likely to recommend systemic therapy (P<0.0001) or radiation (P<0.0001), while dermatologists were more likely to recommend surgery (P=0.002). Monotherapy was the dominant systemic therapy (82.4% patients as first-line).Conclusions.Only 39% of MM patients received systemic therapies, perhaps reflecting efficacy and safety limitations of conventional systemic therapies for MM. Among those receiving systemic therapy, monotherapy was the most common approach. Sites of metastases and physician speciality influenced treatment patterns. This study serves as a baseline against which future treatment pattern studies, following approval of new agents, can be compared.
Multiobjective Fractional Programming Involving Generalized Semilocally V-Type I-Preinvex and Related Functions
Authors: Slimani Hachem , Mishra Shashi Kant
Published: May 2014

We study a nonlinear multiple objective fractional programming with inequality constraints where each component of functions occurring in the problem is considered semidifferentiable along its own direction instead of the same direction. New Fritz John type necessary and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker type necessary and sufficient efficiency conditions are obtained for a feasible point to be weakly efficient or efficient. Furthermore, a general Mond-Weir dual is formulated and weak and strong duality results are proved using concepts of generalized semilocally V-type I-preinvex functions. This contribution extends earlier results of Preda (2003), Mishra et al. (2005), Niculescu (2007), and Mishra and Rautela (2009), and generalizes results obtained in the literature on this topic.
A Stochastic Weakly Damped, Forced KdV-BO Equation
Authors: Wang Guolian
Published: May 2014

We investigate the long time behavior of the damped, forced KdV-BO equation driven by white noise. We first show that the global solution generates a random dynamical system. By energy type estimates and dispersive properties, we then prove that this system possesses a weak random attractor in the spaceH1(ℝ).
A Basic Study on RF Characteristics of Meander Line Employing Periodic Ground Structure on GaAs MMIC for Application to Miniaturization of RF Components
Authors: Jeong Jang-Hyeon , Yun Young , Kang Suk-Youb
Published: May 2014

The meander line employing periodic ground structure (MLEPGS) was fabricated on GaAs substrate for application to miniaturization of RF components on MMIC, and its RF characteristics were thoroughly investigated. The MLEPGS with a length ofλ/8 showed loss less than 0.72 dB up to 20 GHz, which was low enough for application to RF passive components. The MLEPGS showed much higher propagation constantβand effective permittivityεeffthan conventional meander line. Concretely, the MLEPGS withTof 20 μm showedβof 1.08~20.85 rad/mm andεeffof 2703~2479 from 1 to 20 GHz, while the conventional meander line showedβof 0.18~3.36 rad/mm andεeffof 74.2~64.7 in the same frequency range. According to the result, the size of theλ/4 transmission line employing the MLEPGS was 0.151 mm2, which was 3.5% of the size of the transmission line employing conventional meander line.
Application of Proteomics and Peptidomics to COPD
Authors: Pelaia Girolamo , Terracciano Rosa , Vatrella Alessandro , Gallelli Luca , Busceti Maria Teresa , Calabrese Cecilia , Stellato Cristiana , Savino Rocco , Maselli Rosario
Published: May 2014

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disorder involving both airways and lung parenchyma, usually associated with progressive and poorly reversible airflow limitation. In order to better characterize the phenotypic heterogeneity and the prognosis of patients with COPD, there is currently an urgent need for discovery and validation of reliable disease biomarkers. Within this context, proteomic and peptidomic techniques are emerging as very valuable tools that can be applied to both systemic and pulmonary samples, including peripheral blood, induced sputum, exhaled breath condensate, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissues. Identification of COPD biomarkers by means of proteomic and peptidomic approaches can thus also lead to discovery of new molecular targets potentially useful to improve and personalize the therapeutic management of this widespread respiratory disease.
UAV Robust Strategy Control Based on MAS
Authors: Han Jian , Wang Changhong , Yi Guoxing
Published: May 2014

A novel multiagent system (MAS) has been proposed to integrate individual UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to form a UAV team which can accomplish complex missions with better efficiency and effect. The MAS based UAV team control is more able to conquer dynamic situations and enhance the performance of any single UAV. In this paper, the MAS proposed and established combines the reacting and thinking abilities to be an initiative and autonomous hybrid system which can solve missions involving coordinated flight and cooperative operation. The MAS uses BDI model to support its logical perception and to classify the different missions; then the missions will be allocated by utilizing auction mechanism after analyzing dynamic parameters. Prim potential algorithm, particle swarm algorithm, and reallocation mechanism are proposed to realize the rational decomposing and optimal allocation in order to reach the maximum profit. After simulation, the MAS has been proved to be able to promote the success ratio and raise the robustness, while realizing feasibility of coordinated flight and optimality of cooperative mission.
Characterizations of Some Fuzzy Prefilters (Filters) inEQ-Algebras
Authors: Xin Xiao Long , He Peng Fei , Yang Yong Wei
Published: May 2014

We introduce and study some types of fuzzy prefilters (filters) inEQ-algebras. First, we present several characterizations of fuzzy positive implicative prefilters (filters), fuzzy implicative prefilters (filters), and fuzzy fantastic prefilters (filters). Next, using their characterizations, we mainly consider the relationships among these special fuzzy filters. Particularly, we find some conditions under which a fuzzy implicative prefilter (filter) is equivalent to a fuzzy positive implicative prefilter (filter). As applications, we obtain some new results about classical filters inEQ-algebras and some related results about fuzzy filters in residuated lattices.
Revision of the Calceolaria tripartita s. l. species complex (Calceolariaceae) using multivariate analyses of morphological characters
Authors: PUPPO PAMELA
Published: May 2014

The morphological variation of the Calceolaria tripartita species complex was evaluated using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of morphological characters. Fourteen quantitative characters were measured on more than 250 herbarium specimens. The results suggest the recognition of three entities based on floral characters, especially stamen morphology. The distinction between C. mandoniana, C. chelidonioides and C. tripartita s.s. is not supported. The morphological differences between the closely related C. tripartita s.s. and C. chelidonioides were also analyzed using two characters previously used to differentiate them. Finally, the morphological variation of C. tripartita s.s. throughout its geographical range and at an intra-population level was also surveyed. Even though this species is highly variable, no further subdivision is supported morphologically. A taxonomic synopsis and a key to species of the Calceolaria tripartita species complex are provided.
Silbermann’s “Revue entomologique”: Publication Dates for Nomenclatural Purposes and Bibliographic Notes (Insecta, mainly Coleoptera)
Authors: NAGEL PETER , SCHMIDLIN LARA
Published: May 2014

The rare yet entomologically important scientific journal “Revue entomologique” was published in French language in five volumes during the first half of the nineteenth century. We provide some bibliographic notes which reveal, for example, the motivation and goals of the editor, Gustave Silbermann. He wanted to contribute to an exchange of entomological knowledge between French and German scientists, in particular by translating German articles into French and to inform his readers of new German and French entomological literature. The work deals with many taxa, mainly beetles, yet also moths, cicadas and other insects. The journal contains taxonomic notes and species descriptions for which correct dating is essential. Evidence inside the books indicates the partly wrong assignment of the publication dates printed on the title pages from 1833 to 1837. We found one depository holding the originally assembled and unbound fascicles of the first two volumes. Despite the month of publication being absent on all wrappers, their original composition allowed the detailed reconstruction of publication dates, as well as of unpaginated species descriptions. We analysed the work, attributed page numbers to single or merged fascicles and provided publication dates for all 30 fascicles, which were shown to have been published from 1833 to 1840. We also traced the enigmatic reference for the description of a longhorn beetle (Molorchus ulmi Chevrolat, 1838) and were able to demonstrate that its supposed association with the “Revue entomologique” is erroneous.
A new species of the Miniopterus schreibersii species complex (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) from the Maghreb Region, North Africa
Authors: PUECHMAILLE SEBASTIEN J. , ALLEGRINI BENJAMIN , BENDA PETR , GÜRÜN KANAT , ŠRÁMEK JAN , IBAÑEZ CARLOS , JUSTE JAVIER , BILGIN RASIT
Published: May 2014

We used an integrative approach combining cranio-dental characters, mitochondrial and nuclear data and acoustic data to show the presence in the genus Miniopterus of a cryptic species from the Maghreb region. This species was previously recognised as Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817). Miniopterus maghrebensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from M. schreibersii sensu stricto on the basis of cranial characters and from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite evidence. Although slight external morphological and acoustic differences were noted between the two species, these criteria alone did not allow reliable species identification from live animals. Based on the specimens identified morphologically and/or genetically, the distribution range of M. maghrebensis sp. nov. extends from northern Morocco to south of the High Atlas Mountains and northern Tunisia. The new cryptic species is found in sympatry with M. schreibersii s.str. near coastal regions of North Africa.
Beyond the Looking Glass
Authors: Saperstein Aliya , Penner Andrew M.
Published: May 2014

Research has demonstrated the fluidity of racial self-identification and interviewer classification, but how they influence each other over time has not been systematically explored using national, longitudinal data. A typical theoretical prediction, consistent with theories of a “looking-glass self,” is that people calibrate their self-identification in accordance with how they are perceived by others. We examine the degree to which this and other symbolic-interactionist processes account for the dynamics of racial categorization among young adults in the United States. To do so, we deploy a conceptual framework focused on three key dimensions of variation—concordance, stability, and influence—that capture both inconsistency in racial categorization at a given point in time and fluidity in either measure of race over time. We find that while the standard looking-glass self-perspective accounts for the majority of racial fluidity, a substantial proportion of changes in both measures of race remain unexplained by existing theory.
Disinvestment policy and the public funding of assisted reproductive technologies: outcomes of deliberative engagements with three key stakeholder groups
Authors: Hodgetts Katherine , Hiller Janet E , Street Jackie M , Carter Drew , Braunack-Mayer Annette J , Watt Amber M , Moss John R , Elshaug Adam G ,   the ASTUTE Health study group
Published: May 2014

Background

Measures to improve the quality and sustainability of healthcare practice and provision have become a policy concern. In addition, the involvement of stakeholders in health policy decision-making has been advocated, as complex questions arise around the structure of funding arrangements in a context of limited resources. Using a case study of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), deliberative engagements with a range of stakeholder groups were held on the topic of how best to structure the distribution of Australian public funding in this domain.

Methods

Deliberative engagements were carried out with groups of ART consumers, clinicians and community members. The forums were informed by a systematic review of ART treatment safety and effectiveness (focusing, in particular, on maternal age and number of treatment cycles), as well as by international policy comparisons, and ethical and cost analyses. Forum discussions were transcribed and subject to thematic analysis.

Results

Each forum demonstrated stakeholders’ capacity to understand concepts of choice under resource scarcity and disinvestment, and to countenance options for ART funding not always aligned with their interests. Deliberations in each engagement identified concerns around ‘equity’ and ‘patient responsibility’, culminating in a broad preference for (potential) ART subsidy restrictions to be based upon individual factors rather than maternal age or number of treatment cycles. Community participants were open to restrictions based upon measures of body mass index (BMI) and smoking status, while consumers and clinicians saw support to improve these factors as part of an ART treatment program, as distinct from a funding criterion. All groups advocated continued patient co-payments, with measures in place to provide treatment access to those unable to pay (namely, equity of access).

Conclusions

Deliberations yielded qualitative, socially-negotiated evidence required to inform ethical, accountable policy decisions in the specific area of ART and health care more broadly. Notably, reductionist, deterministic characterizations of stakeholder ‘self-interest’ proved unfounded as each group sought to prioritise universal values (in particular, ‘equity’ and ‘responsibility’) over specific, within-group concerns. Our results - from an emotive case study in ART - highlight that evidence-informed disinvestment decision-making is feasible, and potentially less controversial than often presumed.
Maximum toe flexor muscle strength and quantitative analysis of human plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles by a magnetic resonance imaging technique
Authors: Kurihara Toshiyuki , Yamauchi Junichiro , Otsuka Mitsuo , Tottori Nobuaki , Hashimoto Takeshi , Isaka Tadao
Published: May 2014

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationships between the maximum isometric toe flexor muscle strength (TFS) and cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles and to identify the major determinant of maximum TFS among CSA of the plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles.

Methods

Twenty six young healthy participants (14 men, 12 women; age, 20.4 ± 1.6 years) volunteered for the study. TFS was measured by a specific designed dynamometer, and CSA of plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To measure TFS, seated participants optimally gripped the bar with their toes and exerted maximum force on the dynamometer. For each participant, the highest force produced among three trials was used for further analysis. To measure CSA, serial T1‐weighted images were acquired.

Results

TFS was significantly correlated with CSA of the plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses identified that the major determinant of TFS was CSA of medial parts of plantar intrinsic muscles (flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digitorum brevis, quadratus plantae, lumbricals and abductor hallucis). There was no significant difference between men and women in TFS/CSA.

Conclusions

CSA of the plantar intrinsic and extrinsic muscles is one of important factors for determining the maximum TFS in humans.
Mammalian-wide interspersed repeat (MIR)-derived enhancers and the regulation of human gene expression
Authors: Jjingo Daudi , Conley Andrew B , Wang Jianrong , Mariño-Ramírez Leonardo , Lunyak Victoria V , Jordan I King
Published: May 2014

Background

Mammalian-wide interspersed repeats (MIRs) are the most ancient family of transposable elements (TEs) in the human genome. The deep conservation of MIRs initially suggested the possibility that they had been exapted to play functional roles for their host genomes. MIRs also happen to be the only TEs whose presence in-and-around human genes is positively correlated to tissue-specific gene expression. Similar associations of enhancer prevalence within genes and tissue-specific expression, along with MIRs’ previous implication as providing regulatory sequences, suggested a possible link between MIRs and enhancers.

Results

To test the possibility that MIRs contribute functional enhancers to the human genome, we evaluated the relationship between MIRs and human tissue-specific enhancers in terms of genomic location, chromatin environment, regulatory function, and mechanistic attributes. This analysis revealed MIRs to be highly concentrated in enhancers of the K562 and HeLa human cell-types. Significantly more enhancers were found to be linked to MIRs than would be expected by chance, and putative MIR-derived enhancers are characterized by a chromatin environment highly similar to that of canonical enhancers. MIR-derived enhancers show strong associations with gene expression levels, tissue-specific gene expression and tissue-specific cellular functions, including a number of biological processes related to erythropoiesis. MIR-derived enhancers were found to be a rich source of transcription factor binding sites, underscoring one possible mechanistic route for the element sequences co-option as enhancers. There is also tentative evidence to suggest that MIR-enhancer function is related to the transcriptional activity of non-coding RNAs.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data reveal enhancers to be an important cis- regulatory platform from which MIRs can exercise a regulatory function in the human genome and help to resolve a long-standing conundrum as to the reason for MIRs’ deep evolutionary conservation.
Experimental analyses of metal-composite bonded joints: damage identification
Authors: de Medeiros Ricardo , Borges Emanuel Nunes , Tita Volnei
Published: May 2014

The advent of composite co-cured and co-bonded integrated construction in aircraft structures has lead to the replacement of fastened joints with bonded joints between the skins and the stiffeners. Skin-stiffener debondings could occur due to impact or other operational reasons and it is usually internal failure. Damage identification of bonded components, which are often vital elements in many structures, is crucial for the prevention of failure of the entire structure. Thus, different researchers have investigated vibration-based methods as an alternative technique to be used in the structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. Hence, this work consists of investigating experimentally through the vibration-based method, the dynamic behavior changes in a bonded metal-composite structure by using piezoelectric transducer and accelerometers in order to monitory the damage. The damage is an artificial debonding in the joint, which was simulated by inserting Teflon™ tapes within the joint. In-situ inspection as ensured by accelerometer and piezoelectric transducers (PZT) bonded to the structure. Indeed, with a simple comparison of the frequency response functions is difficult to conclude if there is damage in the structure, unless a large damage is presented. However, by using damage metrics, it is possible to identify the damage with more accuracy. Thus, the experimental results obtained by the accelerometers were compared to the data provided by the smart composite sensors (PZT). Finally, it was discussed the advantages and limitations of the experimental analyses and the identification technique proposal.
High dose tigecycline in critically ill patients with severe infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria
Authors: De Pascale Gennaro , Montini Luca , Pennisi Mariano Alberto , Bernini Valentina , Maviglia Riccardo , Bello Giuseppe , Spanu Teresa , Tumbarello Mario , Antonelli Massimo
Published: May 2014

Introduction

The high incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria among patients admitted to ICUs has determined an increase of tigecycline (TGC) use for the treatment of severe infections. Many concerns have been raised about the efficacy of this molecule and increased dosages have been proposed. Our purpose is to investigate TGC safety and efficacy at higher than standard doses.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of prospectively collected data in the ICU of a teaching hospital in Rome. Data from all patients treated with TGC for a microbiologically confirmed infection were analyzed. The safety profile and efficacy of high dosing regimen use were investigated.

Results

Over the study period, 54 patients (pts) received TGC at a standard dose (SD group: 50 mg every 12 hours) and 46 at a high dose (HD group: 100 mg every 12 hours). Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter.baumannii (blaOXA-58 and blaOXA-23 genes) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (blaKPC-3 gene) were the main isolated pathogens (n = 79). There were no patients requiring TGC discontinuation or dose reduction because of adverse events. In the ventilation-associated pneumonia population (VAP) subgroup (63 patients: 30 received SD and 33 HD), the only independent predictor of clinical cure was the use of high tigecycline dose (odds ratio (OR) 6.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59 to 24.57; P = 0.009) whilst initial inadequate antimicrobial treatment (IIAT) (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.68; P = 0.01) and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.87; P = 0.003) were independently associated with clinical failure.

Conclusions

TGC was well tolerated at a higher than standard dose in a cohort of critically ill patients with severe infections. In the VAP subgroup the high-dose regimen was associated with better outcomes than conventional administration due to Gram-negative MDR bacteria.
Intrarenal Ghrelin Receptor Antagonism Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypertension in Male Rats
Authors: Kemp Brandon A. , Howell Nancy L. , Gildea John J. , Padia Shetal H.
Published: May 2014

Excess weight gain contributes up to 65% of the risk of primary hypertension, and the increase in blood pressure in response to high-fat diet (HFD) is preceded by significant increases in renal tubular sodium (Na+) reabsorption. In normal rats, intrarenal ghrelin infusion increases distal nephron-dependent Na+ reabsorption via activation of the intrarenal ghrelin receptor (GHSR). This study focusses on the role of intrarenal GHSR-mediated Na+ reabsorption in HFD-induced hypertension. Dahl salt-sensitive rats received standard diet or HFD for 6 weeks. Rats underwent uninephrectomy and osmotic minipump implantation for chronic intrarenal delivery of vehicle (0.25 μL/h × 28 d), selective GHSR antagonist [D-Lys-3]-growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (0.2μM/d), or GHSR inverse agonist [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-substance P (SUB-P) (3.6μM/d). HFD rats with vehicle pumps had significantly increased renal GHSR expression compared with standard diet (0.092 ± 0.005 vs 0.065 ± 0.004 arbitrary units; P < .05), whereas acyl ghrelin levels were similar (16.3±6.2 vs 15.7±8.7 pg/g tissue). HFD rats with vehicle pumps became hypertensive after 2 weeks (P < .05) and showed a significant reduction in 24-hour urine Na+ before hypertension. At this time, these rats showed an increase in collecting duct α-epithelial Na+ channel, thereby providing a potential mechanism for the excess Na+ reabsorption. In contrast, HFD rats with [D-Lys-3]-growth hormone releasing peptide-6 or SUB-P pumps never became hypertensive and did not show the reduction in urine Na+. Because SUB-P blocks the constitutive, but not ghrelin-dependent, activity of the GHSR, and HFD-induced α-epithelial Na+ channel up-regulation was abolished during GHSR antagonism, these data suggest that HFD increases the constitutive activity of renal GHSR to increase Na+ reabsorption and induce hypertension in rats.
Regulation and Function of Deiodinases During Decidualization in Female Mice
Authors: Deng Wen-Bo , Liang Xiao-Huan , Liu Ji-Long , Yang Zeng-Ming
Published: May 2014

Thyroid dysfunction during human pregnancy is closely related to serious pregnancy outcome. However, the regulation and function of thyroid hormones during early pregnancy are largely unknown. We found that type II deiodinase, an enzyme converting T4 to activated T3, is highly expressed in the mouse uterus on days 3 and 4 of pregnancy. Once the embryo implants into the receptive uterus, type III deiodinase (Dio3), a mainly paternally imprinted gene for inactivating T3, is significantly induced in the stromal cells and accompanied by DNA hypermethylation of intergenic differentially CpG methylation regions in the δ-like 1 homolog-Dio3 imprinting cluster. The concentration of uterine free T3 is actually decreased after embryo implantation. T3 induces Dio3 expression both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting a positive feedback loop. T3 addition or Dio3 knockdown compromises decidualization. These results indicate that the Dio3-mediated local T3 decrease is critical for decidualization of stromal cells during early pregnancy. Furthermore, we found that progesterone regulates Dio3 expression through its cognate receptor both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, cAMP regulates Dio3 transcription through the protein kinase A-cAMP response element-binding protein pathway. The inhibition of the protein kinase A pathway results in decreased Dio3 expression and impaired decidualization. Dio3 opposite strand (Dio3os) expressed in a similar pattern to Dio3, is transcribed from the opposite strand of Dio3 and fine-tunes Dio3 expression during decidualization. Our data indicate that Dio3 is strongly expressed and tightly controlled during decidualization.
The socioeconomic status and family context of eating attitudes and dietary behaviours of children in Polish primary schools
Authors: Pilecki Maciej , Kowal Małgorzata , Woronkowicz Agnieszka , Kryst Łukasz , Sobiecki Jan
Published: May 2014

Aim of the study

The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between the results of the Polish version of Maloney’s ChEAT-26, the socio-economical status of pre-pubertal pupils from Krakow schools and their family situation.

Subject or material and methods

The study group comprised 218 pupils that attended Grades from 4 to 6 and their mothers. The children’s ChEAT-26 results were related to family structure, emigration, parental education, the mother’s state of health and her subjective judgement of her state of health and her family circumstances, employment status and financial circumstances.

Results

Disordered eating attitudes of the children were elevated in families where one of the parents had emigrated. Parents with higher education levels tend to have a stronger influence on their child’s eating habits. The children of such parents are more aware of dietary standards, they tend to control their eating habits more but they also get less pleasure out of eating food. Having the mother achieve professional success, in her estimation, turned out to be positively correlated with an increased desire in her child to lose weight. A mother’s positive assessment of her family was correlated with her child’s greater compliance with the principles of healthy eating. Some of the observed correlations were different in the boys’ group and in the girls’ group.

Discussion

Any discussion concerning the relationship of the obtained results with a change in the social circumstance, although likely, is only hypothetical.

Conclusions

Study has provided evidence of a connection between socioeconomic status, family variables and eating attitudes in young children in modern Poland.
Comparison of metabolic parameters and Framingham cardiovascular risk scores before and after in‐hospital treatment with antipsychotics
Authors: Wysokiński Adam , Kaźmierski Jakub , Kłoszewska Iwona
Published: May 2014

Aim of the study

The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Framingham cardiovascular risk scores in adult with schizophrenia after in-hospital treatment with antipsychotics.

Subject or material and methods

For 58 patients (36 women and 22 men) the following data was acquired on admission and at discharge: body height and weight, waist circumference, cigarette smoking, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TGA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood pressure, concomitant use of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic medications.

Results

Mean TGA levels increased significantly (140.32 mg/dL vs. 180.17 mg/dL), other parameters did not change. MetS prevalence on admission and at discharge did not differ significantly, irrespective of definition used (IDF: 50.00% vs. 60.34%; ATPIII: 39.66% vs. 43.10%; ATPIII A: 46.55% vs. 51.72%). Two cardiovascular risk scores were reduced at discharge: stroke, 10-year (4.10% vs. 3.46%) and hypertension, 4-year (22.18% vs. 16.58%). Other Framingham risk scores did not change. Very high prevalence of abnormal body weight (up to 65%), abdominal obesity (63% in men and 89% in women), hypertension (>50%) and lipid abnormalities (31-64%) was found.

Discussion

We have found a very high rate of MetS in patients treated with antipsychotics. No metabolic parameters improved after hospital stay, while some worsened. This did not, however, result in increased risk of cardiovascular events. Abnormal body weight and lipid abnormalities were very common in our study population.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that metabolic parameters should be monitored regularly, particularly in outpatient settings, and appropriate treatment should be introduced as soon as any significant changes are found.
Three-element non-finitely axiomatizable matrices and term-equivalence
Authors: Pałasińska Katarzyna
Published: May 2014

It was shown in [5] that all two-element matrices are finitely based independently of their classification by term equivalence (the Post classification). In particular, each 2-valued matrix is finitely axiomatizable. We show below that for certain two not finitely axiomatizable 3-valued matrices this property is also preserved under term equivalence. The general problem, whether finite axiomatizability of a finite matrix is preserved under term-equivalence, is still open, as well as the related problem as to whether the consequence operation of a finite matrix is finitely based.
Seeing Stars: Matthew Effects and Status Bias in Major League Baseball Umpiring
Authors: Kim Jerry W. , King Brayden G
Published: May 2014

This paper tests the assumption that evaluators are biased to positively evaluate high-status individuals, irrespective of quality. Using unique data from Major League Baseball umpires' evaluation of pitch quality, which allow us to observe the difference in a pitch's objective quality and in its perceived quality as judged by the umpire, we show that umpires are more likely to overrecognize quality by expanding the strike zone, and less likely to underrecognize quality by missing pitches in the strike zone for high-status pitchers. Ambiguity and the pitcher's reputation as a “control pitcher” moderate the effect of status on umpire judgment. Furthermore, we show that umpire errors resulting from status bias lead to actual performance differences for the pitcher and team.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1967 .

This paper was accepted by Jesper Sørensen, organizations.
Bid-Taker Power and Supply Base Diversification
Authors: Wan Zhixi , Beil Damian R.
Published: May 2014

We study a buyer who periodically auctions off short-term supply contracts among her supply base. To mitigate significant cost shocks to procurement, the buyer can diversify her supply base by selecting suppliers from different regions. We find that the buyer's decision to diversify depends on her bid-taker power—that is, her ability to choose the auction mechanism. At one extreme, when the buyer has full bid-taker power and thus can dictatorially implement the optimal mechanism, she always prefers to diversify. At the other extreme, when the buyer uses a reverse English auction with no reserve price due to her lack of bid-taker power, she generally prefers to protect herself against potential price escalation from cost-advantaged suppliers by diversifying less. The managerial insight is that the more bid-taker power the buyer has to control price escalation from cost-advantaged suppliers the more she prefers a diversified supply base. This insight is shown to be robust to correlation between regional costs, ex ante asymmetry between regions, and intermediate levels of bid-taker power.
Service Systems with Finite and Heterogeneous Customer Arrivals
Authors: Wang Rowan , Jouini Oualid , Benjaafar Saif
Published: May 2014

We consider service systems with a finite number of customer arrivals, where customer interarrival times and service times are both stochastic and heterogeneous. Applications of such systems are numerous and include systems where arrivals are driven by events or service completions in serial processes as well as systems where servers are subject to learning or fatigue. Using an embedded Markov chain approach, we characterize the waiting time distribution for each customer, from which we obtain various performance measures of interest, including the expected waiting time of a specific customer, the expected waiting time of an arbitrary customer, and the expected completion time of all customers. We carry out extensive numerical experiments to examine the effect of heterogeneity in interarrival and service times. In particular, we examine cases where interarrival and service times increase with each subsequent arrival or service completion, decrease, increase and then decrease, or decrease and then increase. We derive several managerial insights and discuss implications for settings where such features can be induced. We validate the numerical results using a fluid approximation that yields closed-form expressions.
Influência da alexitimia nos processos atencionais: A deteção de expressões faciais emocionais
Authors: Vitorino Patrícia , Soares Sandra C. , Cunha Marina
Published: May 2014

A alexitimia carateriza-se pela dificuldade no processamento emocional e reconhecimento de expressões faciais, processos indispensáveis no relacionamento interpessoal. Neste estudo, pretendemos avaliar se o processamento de expressões faciais em indivíduos com altos níveis de alexitimia, sobretudo de expressões com cariz emocional negativo (raiva, nojo), é diferenciado do processamento efetuado por indivíduos com baixos níveis de alexitimia. Os participantes (67 mulheres) realizaram uma tarefa de procura visual onde se apresentavam conjuntos de expressões faciais emocionais (alegria, raiva, nojo), tendo os participantes de detetar de modo rápido e preciso a presença (ou ausência) destas expressões apresentadas entre expressões faciais neutras. Os resultados não revelaram quaisquer diferenças significativas entre os grupos. Contudo, verificou-se um processamento diferencial das expressões faciais emocionais em função do género da face. As expressões emocionais negativas em faces de homens foram mais rapidamente detetadas. Por outro lado, o processamento de faces de mulheres que expressavam raiva conduziu a uma maior proporção de erros. Os pressupostos evolutivos associados ao processamento das emoções negativas, que a literatura na área da relação entre a emoção e a atenção aponta como adaptativa na população em geral, poderá explicar a ausência de efeitos significativos entre o grupo com altos e baixos níveis de alexitimia.
O Ensino e a Aprendizagem da Evolução Biológica na Sala de Aula: A Perspetiva de Alunos de uma Escola Secundária
Authors: Cid Marília , Correia Sónia
Published: May 2014

O estudo que se apresenta incide sobre o tema evolução biológica, o qual integra o programa da disciplina de Biologia e Geologia do 11.º ano, e é parte de um trabalho de investigação desenvolvido numa escola de Lisboa. O conceitode evolução constitui um pilar fundamental na construção do conhecimento biológico, uma vez que é considerado por muitos o eixo integrador da Biologia. Nessa medida, uma das questões de partida foi a seguinte: Como é efetuado o ensino da evolução biológica em sala de aula com alunos do ensino secundário na disciplina de Biologia e Geologia do 11.º ano, e que aprendizagens resultam dessa abordagem? Procurou‑se, assim, identificar as estratégias de ensino através da perspetiva dos alunos e o seu entendimento sobre o tema. Os resultados indicam práticas letivas pouco inovadoras e aprendizagens próximas da explicação científica, embora com inconsistências para uma parte dos alunos questionados.
Formação Inicial de Professores do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico: Requisitos de Ingresso, Planos de Estudos e Perfis de Docência
Authors: Vieira Mónica Duarte , Damião Maria Helena
Published: May 2014

A formação dos professores do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico sofreu ajustamentos decorrentes da Reorganização Curricular de Bolonha, os quais se encontram devidamente legislados. Repartida por dois ciclos de ensino superior – licenciatura e mestrado –, tem sido diversamente concretizada por instituições politécnicas e universitárias, que a acolheram. Considerando que a qualidade do desempenho docente, em grande medida resultante da formação proporcionada aos professores, é fundamental para o sucesso académico dos alunos, os requisitos de ingresso nesses ciclos e a oferta curricular que disponibilizam têm sido alvo de atenção na sociedade portuguesa. Neste trabalho apresenta‑se uma análise desses dois aspetos que se espera poder contribuir para um debate fundamentado que se afigura necessário.
Consumo de Drogas e Comportamentos Antissociais na Adolescência: Que Relação?
Authors: Fonseca António Castro
Published: May 2014

O objetivo deste artigo era examinar a relação longitudinal entre o consumo de droga e comportamentos antissociais durante a adolescência. Utilizou‑se para esse efeito uma amostra de rapazes e raparigas da comunidade, avaliados quatro vezes durante o período que vai dos 7‑8 anos aos 17‑18 anos de idade. Os resultados mostraram que consumo de droga e comportamentos antissociais andam fortemente associados durante toda a adolescência. Verificou‑se também que o comportamento antissocial no início da adolescência predizia o consumo de droga aos 17‑18 anos e que esse poder preditivo se mantinha (embora mais fraco) quando se controlava o efeito de outras variáveis, designadamenteo baixo autocontrolo. Em contrapartida, o consumo de droga não era bom preditor do comportamento antissocial relativamente ao mesmo período. Ainda uma outra conclusão foi a de que os adolescentes que apresentavam simultaneamente os dois problemas tinham posteriormente um nível de adaptação social mais pobre em vários domínios do que os seus pares com um só ou nenhum desses problemas.
O Caso República e a retórica nos discursos políticos: Um estudo descritivo
Authors: Amaral Virgilio , Pereira Susana
Published: May 2014

Este estudo teve como objectivo perceber, através de práticas discursivas veiculadas na imprensa oficial de dois grupos políticos – Partido Socialista e Partido Comunista Português –, a forma como estes dois partidos políticos construíram o significado de um incidente crítico que os opôs – o conflito no jornal “República” – no contexto revolucionário do pós 25 de Abril. Enquadrado nos pressupostos de “uma proposta pós moderna” de análise retórica de discurso (Billig, 1991, 2012), bem como das propostas da Análise Crítica de Discurso de Van Dijk (2006), em particular sobre as dicotomias argumentativas utilizadas pelas formações políticas em confronto, procedeu-se à reconstrução quer das polaridades ideológicas utilizadas pelos dois partidos, quer à interpretação dos momentos em que os discursos políticos se veiculam como maioritários vs. minoritários, e, desse modo, apresentar uma análise daqueles discursos com base no pressuposto de Billig (1991, 2012) de que a defesa de uma determinada posição só é entendível como oposição (explícita ou implicitamente) a uma posição contrária. No discurso socialista o caso “República” é construído como argumento retórico que invoca aquilo a que se opõe – o “totalitarismo” da atuação do PCP – promovendo uma mobilização que, num contexto de legitimidade eleitoral (Eleições para a Assembleia Constituinte, ganhas pelo Partido Socialista), convoca os portugueses à luta pela liberdade de expressão, através de uma generalização retórica do incidente. No discurso comunista, a retórica do argumento conspirativo (“aliança” do PS a forças que se opunham ao processo revolucionário) associado a uma bipolarização da realidade (Reacção vs. Revolução) em torno do caso, seve o propósito de legitimar a actuação revolucionária do Partido no âmbito do pós 25 de Abril (nomeadamente, tendo em conta a “aliança Povo – MFA”, recorrentemente evocada). A análise dos discursos, também tendo em conta os mecanismos retóricos identificados por Potter (1996) e Castro (2002), permitiu proceder à reconstrução do significado do conflito subjacente aos argumentários apresentados pelos dois grupos políticos em confronto. Em causa estão diferenças ideológicas e posições sobre a condução política futura do país, em torno de duas legitimidades: revolucionária vs. eleitoral.
A study of possibility to design a fast neutron spectrometer based on the organic scintillator with surrounding materials
Authors: Avdic Senada , Marinkovic Predrag , Osmanovic Alma , Gazdic Izet , Hadzic Sejla , Demirovic Damir
Published: May 2014

This paper deals with the design of a novel spectrometer of fast neutrons in
nuclear safeguards applications based on the liquid organic scintillator
EJ-309 with materials of different thickness surrounding the detector. The
investigation was performed on the simulated data obtained by the
MCNPX-PoliMi numerical code based on the Monte Carlo method. Among the
various materials (polyethylene, iron, aluminum, and graphite) investigated
as layers around the scintillator, polyethylene and iron have shown the most
promising characteristics for evaluation of fast neutron energy spectra. The
simulated pulse height distributions were summed up for each energy bin in
the neutron energy range between 1 MeV and 15 MeV in order to obtain better
counting statistics. The unfolded results for monoenergetic neutron sources
obtained by a first order of Tikhonov regularization and non-linear neural
network show very good agreement with the reference data while the evaluated
spectra of neutron sources continuous in energy follow the trend of the
reference spectra. The possible advantages of a novel spectrometer include a
less number of input data for processing and a less sensitivity to the noise
compared to the scintillation detector without surrounding materials.
Measurement uncertainty in broadband radiofrequency radiation level measurements
Authors: Vulevic Branislav , Belic Cedomir , Perazic Luka
Published: May 2014

For the evaluation of measurement uncertainty in the measurement of broadband
radio frequency radiation, in this paper we propose a new approach based on
the experience of the authors of the paper with measurements of
radiofrequency electric field levels conducted in residential areas of
Belgrade and over 35 municipalities in Serbia. The main objective of the
paper is to present practical solutions in the evaluation of broadband
measurement uncertainty for the in-situ RF radiation levels.