bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arginine and Nitric Oxide Pathways in Obesity-Associated Asthma
Authors: Holguin Fernando
Published: April 2013

Obesity is a comorbidity that adversely affects asthma severity and control by mechanisms that are not fully understood. This review will discuss evidence supporting a role for nitric oxide (NO) as a potential mechanistic link between obesity and late-onset asthma (>12 years). Several studies have shown that there is an inverse association between increasing body mass index (BMI) and reduced exhaled NO. Newer evidence suggests that a potential explanation for this paradoxical relationship is related to nitric oxide synthase (NOS) uncoupling, which occurs due to an imbalance between L-arginine (NOS substrate) and its endogenous inhibitor, asymmetric di-methyl arginine (ADMA). The review will propose a theoretical framework to understand the relevance of this pathway and how it may differ between early and late-onset obese asthmatics. Finally, the paper will discuss potential new therapeutic approaches, based on these paradigms, for improving the respiratory health of obese subjects with asthma.
Absorption and Radiation Transitions in Mn2+(3d5)
Configuration of Mn-Doped ZnS Nanoparticles Synthesized by a Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Van Bui Hong , Ben Pham Van , Thi Tran Minh , Nhat Hoang Nam
Published: April 2013

The Mn-doped ZnS nanoparticles with Mn content of 0–15 mol% were synthesized by a hydrothermal method from the solutions Zn(CH3COO)2 0.1 M, Mn(CH3COO)2 0.01 M, and Na2S2O3 0.1 M at 220°C for 15 h. These nanoparticles presented the cubic structure with average particle size about 16 nm. The yellow-orange photoluminescence (PL) band at 586 nm was attributed to the radiation transition of the electrons in 3d5 unfilled shell of Mn2+ ions [4T1(4G)-6A1(6S)] in ZnS matrix. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra monitored at the yellow-orange band, the absorption spectra also showed the near band edge absorption of 336–349 nm and the characteristic absorption bands of Mn2+(3d5) ions at 392, 430, 463, 468, 492, and 530 nm. These bands should be attributed to the absorption transitions of 3d5 electrons from the ground state 6A1(6S) to the excited states 4E(4D), 4T2(4D), 4A1(4G)-4E(4G), 4T2(4G), and 4T1(4G) of Mn2+ ions. The intensity of PL band and absorption bands of Mn2+(3d5) ions also increased with the Mn content from 0.1 to 9 mol%, but their peak positions were almost unchanged. The PLE spectra showed clearly the energy level splitting of Mn2+ ions in ZnS crystal field and allowed for the calculation of the splitting width between the excited states 4A1(4G), 4E(4G) about of 229 cm−1 (28.6 meV), and the Racah parameters B=559 cm−1, C=3202 cm−1  (γ=C/B=5.7), and the crystal field strength Dq=568 cm−1. The PL spectra with different excitation wavelengths corresponding to absorption transition bands of the PLE spectra allow for the discussion of the indirect and direct excitation mechanisms of Mn2+(3d5) ions in the ZnS crystal.
Giant Desmoid Tumor of the Anterior Abdominal Wall in a Young Female: A Case Report
Authors: Koshariya Mahim , Shukla Samir , Khan Zuber , Vikas Vaibhav , Pratap Singh Avinash , Baghel Puspendra , Pendro Varun , Kirti Jain Vishal , Jagdish Jai Shrikant , Kumar Sanjeev , Songra M. C.
Published: April 2013

Desmoid tumors (also called desmoids fibromatosis) are rare slow growing benign and musculoaponeurotic tumors. Although these tumors have a propensity to invade surrounding tissues, they are not malignant. These tumors are associated with women of fertile age, especially during and after pregnancy. We report a young female patient with a giant desmoid tumor of the anterior abdominal wall who underwent primary resection. The patient had no history of an earlier abdominal surgery. Preoperative evaluation included abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The histology revealed a desmoid tumor. Primary surgical resection with immediate reconstruction of abdominal defect is the best management of this rarity. To the best of our knowledge and PubMed search, this is the first case ever reported in the medical literature of such a giant desmoid tumor arising from anterior abdominal wall weighing 6.5 kg treated surgically with successful outcome.
Improving the Demulsification Process of Heavy Crude Oil Emulsion through Blending with Diluent
Authors: Salam K. K. , Alade A. O. , Arinkoola A. O. , Opawale A.
Published: April 2013

In crude oil production from brown fields or heavy oil, there is production of water in oil emulsions which can either be controlled or avoided. This emulsion resulted in an increase in viscosity which can seriously affect the production of oil from sand phase up to flow line. Failure to separate the oil and water mixture efficiently and effectively could result in problems such as overloading of surface separation equipments, increased cost of pumping wet crude, and corrosion problems. Light hydrocarbon diluent was added in varied proportions to three emulsion samples collected from three different oil fields in Niger delta, Nigeria, to enhance the demulsification of crude oil emulsion. The viscosity, total petroleum hydrocarbon, and quality of water were evaluated. The viscosity of the three emulsions considered reduced by 38, 31, and 18%. It is deduced that the increase in diluent blended with emulsion leads to a corresponding decrease in the value of viscosity. This in turn enhanced the rate of demulsification of the samples. The basic sediment and water (BS&W) of the top dry oil reduces the trace value the three samples evaluated, and with optimum value of diluent, TPH values show that the water droplets are safe for disposal and for other field uses.
The Problem of Antigen Affinity Discrimination in B-Cell Immunology
Authors: Raychaudhuri Subhadip
Published: April 2013

B and T lymphocytes activate the humoral and cellular arms of the adaptive immune system. The adaptive strategy works because receptors of adaptive immune cells can mount an immune response based on their affinity for antigens. Thus, affinity discrimination is central to adaptive immunity and has important biomedical ramifications. Due to its intricate connection to the affinity maturation process, affinity discrimination has a special significance in B-cell-mediated immune response. The role of affinity-matured high-affinity antibodies is increasingly recognized in vaccine development. In this paper, we discuss the recent progress made in mathematical and computational studies to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of B-cell affinity discrimination. Formation of B-cell receptor (BCR) oligomers and BCR-lipid rafts, upon antigenic stimulation, emerge to be key factors in B-cell affinity discrimination (at the level of single cells). It also provides a new way of thinking about kinetic proofreading and serial triggering, concepts that have been widely utilized to understand affinity discrimination in adaptive immune cells. Potential future applications of mathematical and computational modeling of affinity discrimination are discussed in the context of autoimmune disorders and vaccine design.
Nonautonomous Differential Equations in Banach Space and Nonrectifiable Attractivity in Two-Dimensional Linear Differential Systems
Authors: Miličić Siniša , Pašić Mervan
Published: April 2013

We study the asymptotic behaviour on a finite interval of a class of linear nonautonomous singular differential equations in Banach space by the nonintegrability of the first derivative of its solutions. According to these results, the nonrectifiable attractivity on a finite interval of the zero solution of the two-dimensional linear integrable differential systems with singular matrix-elements is characterized.
Graphene‐Based Composites as Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Libao , Zhang Ming , Wei Weifeng
Published: April 2013

Owing to the superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, graphene was a perfect candidate to improve the performance of lithium ion batteries. Herein, we review the recent advances in graphene‐based composites and their application as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries. We focus on the synthesis methods of graphene‐based composites and the superior electrochemical performance of graphene‐based composites as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries.
Humeral Shaft Fractures Secondary to Hand Grenade Throwing
Authors: Aydin Bahattin Kerem , Akmese Ramazan , Agar Mustafa
Published: April 2013

A series of five cases were presented in which similar fractures of the shaft of the humerus occurred during the hand grenade throwing activity during the military education. All the fractures were in the 1/3 distal humeral shaft, and butterfly fragments were accompanying in two soldiers. All the fractures healed without any clinical complications with conservative treatment. The mechanism of the fracture is discussed with reference to the recent literature.
Hybrid Discrete Differential Evolution Algorithm for Lot Splitting with Capacity Constraints in Flexible Job Scheduling
Authors: Xu Xinli , Li Li , Fan Lixia , Zhang Jing , Yang Xuhua , Wang Wanliang
Published: April 2013

A two-level batch chromosome coding scheme is proposed to solve the lot splitting problem with equipment capacity constraints in flexible job shop scheduling, which includes a lot splitting chromosome and a lot scheduling chromosome. To balance global search and local exploration of the differential evolution algorithm, a hybrid discrete differential evolution algorithm (HDDE) is presented, in which the local strategy with dynamic random searching based on the critical path and a random mutation operator is developed. The performance of HDDE was experimented with 14 benchmark problems and the practical dye vat scheduling problem. The simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm has the strong global search capability and can effectively solve the practical lot splitting problems with equipment capacity constraints.
Modeling and Numerical Simulation of the Grinding Temperature Field with Nanoparticle Jet of MQL
Authors: Li C. H. , Li J. Y. , Wang S. , Zhang Q.
Published: April 2013

In this research, the heat transfer model of surface grinding temperature field with nanoparticle jet flow of MQL as well as the proportionality coefficient model of energy input workpiece was established, respectively. The numerical simulation of surface grinding temperature field of three workpiece materials was conducted. The results present that, in the workpiece, the surface temperature was significantly higher than the subsurface temperature, presenting relatively large temperature gradient along the direction of workpiece thickness. The impact of the grinding depth on grinding temperature was significant. With the increase of the cut depth, peak values of the grinding temperature rocketed. Distribution rules of the temperature field of 2Cr13 in four cooling and lubrication approaches were the same. Based on the excellent heat transfer property of nanofluids, the output heat through the grinding medium acquired an increasingly high proportion, leading to the drop of the temperature in the grinding zone. For the same cooling and lubrication conditions, grinding temperature presented insignificant changes along the direction of grinding width. Yet, under different cooling conditions, the temperature variation was significant. MQL grinding conditions with additive nanoparticles demonstrated great impact on the weakening of temperature effect on the grinding zone.
Leukoaraiosis on MRI in Patients with Minimally Symptomatic Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Authors: Schulz Ursula G. , Mason Rebecca H. , Craig Sonya E. , Howard Sally , Nicoll Deborah J. , Kohler Malcolm , Rothwell Peter M. , Stradling John R.
Published: April 2013

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with hypertension, nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surges, and increased risk of stroke. It may therefore also be associated with a higher risk of developing leukoaraiosis. Only few data about the prevalence of leukoaraiosis in patients with OSA, and any association between degrees of severity of either condition, exist. Methods: We studied patients who were part of a clinical trial (MOSAIC) in minimally symptomatic OSA. All patients had brain MRI (T2, FLAIR) at baseline. A single observer assessed the images for the presence and severity of leukoaraiosis (ARWMC-score). We related the extent of leukoaraiosis to the severity of OSA (measured by oxygen desaturation index [ODI]) and the presence of other vascular risk factors. Results: 183 patients (156 men, 85.2%; mean age ± SD = 57.7 ± 7.4 years; median oxygen desaturation index = 9.6, interquartile range = 4.6-16.0) took part in the study. Although 135 (74%) patients had some leukoaraiosis, this was generally mild. We confirmed the well-known risk factor associations between leukoaraiosis, increasing age (p < 0.0001) and hypertension (p = 0.003), but we did not find any association between OSA and leukoaraiosis (p = 0.33), despite both conditions being associated with increasing current BP and a history of hypertension. Conclusion: Our data confirm the well-known association between leukoaraiosis, age and increasing BP. However, we found no association between OSA and leukoaraiosis despite some shared risk factor associations. Our findings suggest that OSA is not a strong independent risk factor for leukoaraiosis. Confounding by hypertension may explain any apparent association in previously reported studies of patients with severer OSA.
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade Reduced Oxidative Stress in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Ojeda-Cervantes Marcos , Barrera-Chimal Jonatan , Alberú Josefina , Pérez-Villalva Rosalba , Morales-Buenrostro Luis Eduardo , Bobadilla Norma A.
Published: April 2013

Background: Previous experimental studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that aldosterone plays a central role in renal ischemic processes. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade in renal transplant recipients from living donors. Methods: 20 adult kidney transplant recipients from living donors were included in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study that compared spironolactone and placebo. Placebo or spironolactone (25 mg) was administered 1 day before and 3 days posttransplantation. Renal function and urinary kidney injury molecule-1, interleukin-18, and heat shock protein 72 as well as urinary hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were quantified. Results: No significant differences were seen between the groups studied regarding age, gender, indication for kidney transplantation, residual renal function, renal replacement therapy, or warm and cold ischemia periods. In contrast, spironolactone administration significantly reduced the oxidative stress assessed by the urinary H2O2 excretion, in spite of no differences in renal function or reduction in tubular injury biomarkers. Conclusions: The findings of this exploratory study strongly suggest that aldosterone promotes oxidative stress and that the administration of spironolactone reduces the production of urinary H2O2 as a result of lesser formation of surrogate reactive oxygen species secondary to the ischemia-reperfusion phenomenon.
Novel Description of the 24-Hour Circadian Rhythms of Brachial Versus Central Aortic Blood Pressure and the Impact of Blood Pressure Treatment in a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Williams Bryan , Lacy Peter S. , Baschiera Fabio , Brunel Patrick , Düsing Rainer
Published: April 2013

Elevated brachial blood pressure (BP) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and predicts morbidity and mortality in humans. Recently, 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and assessment of central aortic BP have been introduced to improve BP phenotyping. The Ambulatory Central Aortic Pressure (AmCAP) study combines these approaches and describes, for the first time, the diurnal patterns of simultaneously measured 24-hour ambulatory brachial and central pressures in a prespecified substudy embedded within a clinical trial of BP lowering in patients with hypertension. Twenty-four–hour ambulatory brachial and central pressure measurements were acquired using a tonometer mounted into the articulating strap of a wristwatch-like device (BPro) in 171 participants with hypertension recruited into the ASSERTIVE (AliSkiren Study of profound antihypERtensive efficacy in hyperTensIVE patients) trial. Participants were randomly assigned to BP lowering with either aliskiren 300 mg QD or telmisartan 80 mg QD for 12 weeks. Ambulatory brachial and central BP was measured in all participants both at baseline and at study end. Brachial and central BP both demonstrated typical diurnal patterns with lower pressures at night. However, night time was associated with smaller reductions in central relative to brachial pressure and decreased pulse pressure amplification (
P
<0.0001 for both). These effects were not modulated after BP lowering and were maintained after adjustment for day and night-time BP and heart rate (
P
=0.02). This study demonstrates that brachial and central pressure show different diurnal patterns, which are not modulated by BP-lowering therapy, with relatively higher night-time central pressures. These novel data indicate that night-time central BP may provide prognostic importance and warrants further investigation.

Clinical Trial Registration–

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00865020.
New Neotropical species of Hygronemobius Hebard, 1913 (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Nemobiinae), including a brief discussion of male genitalia morphology and preliminary biogeographic considerations of the genus
Authors: PEREIRA MARCELO RIBEIRO , MIYOSHI AKIO RONALDO , MARTINS LUCIANO DE PINHO , FERNANDES MARIA LUIZA , SPERBER CARLOS FRANKL , MESA ALEJO
Published: April 2013

Three new Neotropical species of Hygronemobius Hebard are described from Atlantic Forest remnants in southeastern Brazil: Hygronemobius indaia sp. n. and Hygronemobius iperoigae sp. n. from the state of São Paulo and Hygronemobius guriri sp. n. from the state of Espírito Santo. We provide photographs of types and male genitalia, and discuss the mor-phology of male genitalia, taxonomy, calling songs and biogeographic distribution of the genus.
Two new species of scalpelliform barnacles (Cirripedia: Thoracica) from the Plio-Pleistocene of Cotentin, northwest France
Authors: CARRIOL RENÉ-PIERRE
Published: April 2013

Two new species of pedunculate cirripede are described from the Plio-Pleistocene of Cotentin, northwest France. Scalpel-lum carentanensis sp. nov. is only the third species of this genus to be recorded from Pliocene strata in Europe. It is char-acterised by a triangular tergum with an apico-basal fold, without an outward extension, the inner surface of which has the raised part marked by wide growth lines, cut by a groove; the scutum has a ridge between the umbo and the tergo-lateral angle, lacks an apico-basal ridge, and possesses a line formed by the convergence of the growth zones; the length of the upper lateral exceeds its width by about 1.25 times, the umbo being situated at one-fifth the length of the plate from the apex. Arcoscalpellum concavitectum sp. nov. is the second species of this genus on record from the Pliocene of Europe. It possesses a carina with a concave tectum bordered on each side by a smooth rounded rib; the tergum has an apico-basal line formed by the convergence of growth zones; and the upper lateral has the basi-scutal angle more widely truncated than the basi-tergal angle.
Insight into the validity of Leptobrachium guangxiense (Anura: Megophryidae): evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphological characters
Authors: CHEN WEICAI , ZHANG WEI , ZHOU SHICHU , LI NING , HUANG YONG , MO YUNMING
Published: April 2013

Leptobrachium guangxiense Fei, Mo, Ye and Jiang, 2009 (Anura: Megophryidae), is presently thought to be endemic to Shangsi, Guangxi Province, China. A molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological data were performed to gain insight into the phylogenetic position of this species. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods were employed to reconstruct phylogenetic relationship, using 1914 bp of sequences from mtDNA genes of 12S rRNA, tRNAVal and 16S rRNA. Topologies revealed that L. guangxiense and Tam Dao (Vietnam) L. chapaense lineage (3A) formed a monophyletic group with well-supported values. The uncorrected p-distance of ~1.4k bp 16S rRNA data-sets between Tam Dao L. chapaense lineage (3A) and L. guangxiense is only 0.1%. Morphologically, L. guangxiense and Tam Dao L. chapaense lineage (3A) shared the same characters, and are distinguishable from “true” L. chapaense from the type locality in Sa Pa, Vietnam. Based on morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA, we suggested that the Tam Dao lineages of L. chapaense are conspecific with L. guangxiense. This represents a range extension for L. guangx-iense, and a new country record for Vietnam.
Two new bamboo-feeding species of the genus Neocarpia Tsaur & Hsu (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Eucarpiini) from Guizhou Province, China
Authors: ZHANG PEI , CHEN XIANG-SHENG
Published: April 2013

Two new bamboo-feeding species of the cixiid planthopper genus Neocarpia Tsaur & Hsu, 2003 (Hemiptera: Fulgoro-morpha: Cixiidae: Eucarpiini), N. bidentata sp. nov. (Guizhou: Xishui) and N. hamata sp. nov. (Guizhou, Yanhe), from southwest China, are described and illustrated. The generic characteristics are redefined. A key and a checklist to the known species of this genus in the world are provided.
Description of Alocobisium tibetense sp. nov., representing the first record of the pseudoscorpion family Syarinidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) from China
Authors: HU JUNFANG , ZHANG FENG
Published: April 2013

Alocobisium tibetense sp. nov. is described from Xizang Autonomous Region, representing the first record of Syarinidae from China. Alocobisium rahmi Beier, 1976 is re-described from type material and a key is given to the genus.
Taxonomic study of Chinese species of the genus Macropsis Lewis, 1836 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae) II: a new subgenus for Macropsis flavovirens Kuoh
Authors: LI HU , DAI REN-HUAI , LI ZI-ZHONG , TISHECHKIN DMITRI YU.
Published: April 2013

A new monobasic subgenus, Macropsis (Spinomacropsis) subgen. nov., of the subfamily Macropsinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) based on type species Macropsis flavovirens Kuoh, 1992 from Yunnan Province of China is proposed. The new subgenus can be distinguished by the unique character of the male pygofer with two spinelike pro-cesses on the caudal margin. Macropsis (S.) flavovirens is redescribed and illustrated, and data on its geographical distri-bution are given.
Cambarus (P.) theepiensis, a new species of crayfish (Decapoda:Cambaridae) from the coalfields region of Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern West Virginia, USA
Authors: LOUGHMAN ZACHARY J. , FOLTZ DAVID A. , GARRISON NICOLE L. , WELSH STUART A.
Published: April 2013

Cambarus (Puncticambarus) theepiensis is a stream-dwelling crayfish that appears to be endemic to the junction of the Cumberland Mountains with the Appalachian Plateau in West Virginia and Kentucky. Within this region, it is prevalent in the Guyandotte and Twelvepole basins of West Virginia, the Little Sandy River and Levisa Fork basins of Kentucky, and tributaries of the Big Sandy River shared by both states. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cambarus robustus and Cambarus sciotensis. It can be differentiated from C. robustus by its broad rostrum, with subparallel, thick-ened margins compared to the narrow, converging rostrum with reduced rostral margins of C. robustus.; larger areola width/length ratio (26 %) than C. robustus (22 %); and mottled color pattern compared to the monotypic color pattern of C. robustus. Cambarus theepiensis can be differentiated from C. sciotensis by the presence of a distinct lateral impression on the chelae compared to the absence of a lateral impression in C. sciotensis; constant thickness of the rostral margin compared to the gradation of rostral thickness in C. sciotensis; greater rostrum width/ length ratio in C. theepiensis (63.1 %) compared to C. sciotensis (57.2 %); and a central projection on the gonopod that is the same length as the mesial pro-cess, compared to a central projection that extends past the tip of the mesial process in C. sciotensis.
One new species, four new records and key to species of Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from China (including Taiwan)
Authors: MIRAB-BALOU MAJID , YANG SHU-LAN , TONG XIAO-LI
Published: April 2013

Hydatothrips ormosiae sp. n. (Thripidae: Sericothripinae) is described from southern China; H. ekasi, H. liquidambara and H. onari Kudô are newly recorded for mainland China, and H. noro Kudô is newly recorded for Taiwan. A key to the 16 Hydatothrips species recorded from China (including Taiwan) is provided.
Disentangling the Knot
Authors: Santana Adele
Published: April 2013

The objective of this study is to reach a deeper understanding of the nature of the motivations behind social practices used by firms. The motivation-mix model is a proposal that attempts to classify the different reasons that may motivate the use of each practice. The article proposes that this motivation-mix can be examined as intrafirm, indicating a particular combination for each social practice within each firm, at a given moment. The article argues that the aggregate of motivation-mixes for all social practices in use by the company at a certain point in time establishes the motivation position for the company as a whole. The author applies the concept of motivation-mix to business community involvement (BCI) practices as an illustration.
Was there petrarchism in Russia?
Authors: Yakushkina Tatiana
Published: April 2013

The turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was the period of the most active interest of the well-educated Russian audience in Petrarch. Analysing the ways his biography and writings were adopted and familiarized in the country, the author of the article attempts to answer the question whether the notion petrarchism is applicable to Russia. The author comes to the conclusion that with regard to Russia, the term petrarchism could be applied only with a number of reservations and only as a very broad term for denoting various forms in which Petrarch’s writings and biography affected the Russian writers of the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. Unlike in other European countries, in Russia Petrarch had become neither the topic of popular admiration nor the subject of general imitation, and his legacy was accepted in the general context of western European culture. At the same time, Russia, in spite of all its uniqueness, in certain ways followed the experience of the ‘classical’ petrarchist countries. One of the ways this was manifested was in the specific features of the first translations. Another way that European petrarchism was similar to that in Russia was in the combination of an interest in imitating Petrarch with a desire to boost the development of the national language.
Quality of Life As a Potential Rehabilitation Service Outcome
Authors: Fleming Allison R. , Fairweather James S. , Leahy Michael J.
Published: April 2013

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, as well as other service providers, are under increased pressure to provide evidence of the effectiveness of services. The primary metric for evaluating services in the VR program is short-term employment outcomes. Although employment outcomes are crucial, they may serve as a poor proxy for the ultimate intended goal of services, namely, improved quality of life (QOL). In this study, a comprehensive framework (the International Classification of Functioning [ICF]) is used to assess QOL in two samples of adults with disabilities receiving educational and vocational services. The relationship between difficulty with work and daily living activities with QOL was compared with a more complex assessment based on the ICF framework, including other life areas such as social relationships and inclusion and environmental factors. Results indicated that the additional information provided by the ICF model substantially increases the prediction of QOL relative to the more traditional VR measures. Within-groups analysis provided more information specific to each sample.
A Head Start or a Step Behind? Understanding How Dispositional and Motivational Resources Influence Emotional Exhaustion
Authors: Kammeyer-Mueller John D. , Simon Lauren S. , Judge Timothy A.
Published: April 2013

This 10-day diary study examined emotional exhaustion throughout the workday using conservation of resources and self-determination theories in the context of service work (nursing). Results revealed that the impact of prework emotional exhaustion on postwork emotional exhaustion was moderated by both personality and motivation. Neurotic individuals had high levels of postwork exhaustion regardless of their level of prework exhaustion. Extrinsically motivated individuals were especially likely to be exhausted after work if they were also exhausted before work. Finally, although intrinsically motivated individuals were less likely to be exhausted in general, the salutary effects of intrinsic motivation were reduced when prework exhaustion was high. These findings are consistent with the idea that neuroticism reflects a state of chronically worrying about resource loss, extrinsic motivation is a drain on personal resources, and intrinsic motivation is a resource that is less accessible as prework exhaustion levels increase.
Opinions of Slovenian family physicians on medically unexplained symptoms: A qualitative study
Authors: Ivetić Vojislav , Kersnik Janko , Klemenc-Ketiš Zalika , Švab Igor , Kolšek Marko , Poplas-Susič Tonka
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To determine the views of Slovenian family physicians on medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and learn more about potential types of treatment for such patients.

Methods

Five focus groups, comprising 24 family medicine physicians (FMPs) from two Slovenian University centres, were convened. Conversations were led towards the research objectives by professionally trained researchers and followed a preliminarily established protocol. Qualitative content analysis of audio and transcripts of the discussions was performed using ATLAS.ti software to establish categories (‘codes’) relevant to issues regarding MUS.

Results

Slovenian FMPs emphasized the importance of good communication and trust between physicians and patients with MUS. Systemic barriers to effective management of MUS arising from the Slovenian health system were highlighted. FMPs stressed the need for more education in the recognition and treatment of MUS in primary care. From the discussions, 64 codes comprising broader research fields of MUS were developed, then grouped into a further eight categories: communication; doctor–patient relationship; causes of MUS; patient characteristics; physician characteristics; courses of action so far; positive relationship with patients; proposals for treatment.

Conclusions

The results are valuable in terms of investigating the treatment of patients with MUS in Slovenia, thereby opening new avenues of research on the subject of MUS.
Sonic geographies
Authors: Gallagher Michael , Prior Jonathan
Published: April 2013

Research into the geographies of sound and music has developed over the last 20 years, yet such work largely remains reliant on conventional verbal-textual methods of data collection and dissemination. In this paper, we conduct a review of current approaches to sonic research, demonstrating that the erasure of audio media within geography silences a rich seam of empirical data. As a result, we propose that phonographic methods – including listening, audio recording and playback – need to be developed further. We consider a range of epistemological implications of phonographic methods, and possible future directions for their development in human geography.
Love and the Other: A response to Morrison et al. (2012)
Authors: Inwood Joshua F.J.
Published: April 2013

This response to Morrison et al.’s work on love focuses on the uncritical use of ‘the Other’ in geographic scholarship and in geographies of affect and emotion more centrally. While broadly sympathetic to the arguments outlined in ‘Critical geographies of love as spatial, relational, and political’, I am concerned that in trying to critique the social sciences for an uncritical account of love the authors may fall into the same essentialist trap. The accounting of a singular and amorphous ‘Other’ in geographic scholarship flattens out difference and creates exclusionary boundaries that reinforce theoretical and subjective divisions that become sutured to the workings of white supremacy both within the discipline and also in wider society.
Clinical Outcomes for Reconstruction of the Posterolateral Corner and Posterior Cruciate Ligament in Injuries With Mild Grade 2 or Less Posterior Translation
Authors: Kim Sung-Jae , Lee Su-Keon , Kim Sung-Hwan , Kim Seong-Hun , Jung Min
Published: April 2013

Background:

There have been no previous studies showing clinical outcomes according to treatment options of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury with mild grade 2 or less posterior translation (<7 mm) combined with posterolateral rotatory instability.

Purpose:

To compare the clinical outcomes of posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstruction with or without simultaneous PCL reconstruction in PCL injuries with mild posterior translation.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 46 patients with a PCL injury with mild posterior translation combined with posterolateral rotatory instability were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-two patients had undergone isolated PLC reconstruction (group A), and 24 patients had undergone simultaneous reconstruction of the PCL and PLC (group B). Each patient was assessed for knee instability with the dial test at 30° and 90° as well as with varus and posterior stress radiography and were evaluated with the Lysholm knee score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective and objective grading.

Results:

In all cases, the minimum follow-up period was 24 months. At the final follow-up evaluation, no significant side-to-side difference was found on varus stress radiography (group A, 1.55 ± 0.78 mm vs group B, 1.35 ± 1.00 mm; P = .458) or the dial test (at 30°: group A, 4.00° ± 1.83° vs group B, 4.04° ± 1.30°; P = .929; at 90°: group A, 3.64° ± 1.18° vs group B, 3.67° ± 1.37°; P = .937). However, group B showed a significant improvement compared with group A on posterior stress radiography (group A, 0.16 ± 0.44 mm vs group B, –1.44 ± 0.74 mm; P < .001), Lysholm knee score (group A, 18.36 ± 8.73 vs group B, 23.42 ± 7.44; P = .040), IKDC subjective score (group A, 25.51 ± 7.11 vs group B, 33.08 ± 5.89; P < .001), and IKDC objective score (group A preoperatively: grade C = 19 patients, grade D = 3; group B preoperatively: grade C = 20, grade D = 4; group A postoperatively: grade B = 11, grade C = 11; group B postoperatively: grade A = 12, grade B = 9, grade C = 3) ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Simultaneous reconstruction of the PCL and PLC is recommended when addressing PCL injuries with mild grade 2 or less posterior translation combined with posterolateral rotary instability.
Simulating waste temperatures in an operating landfill in Québec, Canada
Authors: Bonany James E , Van Geel Paul J , Gunay H Burak , Isgor O Burkan
Published: April 2013

A bioreactor landfill operated in Sainte-Sophie, Québec, Canada was instrumented to better understand the waste stabilization process in northern climates. Instrument bundles were placed within the waste to monitor temperature, oxygen, moisture content, settlement, total load, mounding of leachate and electrical conductivity. A finite element model was developed to simulate the heat fluxes to and from the waste, as well as heat generation within the waste from both anaerobic and aerobic processes. The results of the analysis suggest the majority of the aerobic activity occurs in the top portion of the waste lift exposed to ambient air. In addition, the model indicates that frozen waste lifts require a significant amount of heat to thaw the liquid fraction. The model also demonstrates that when a lift of cold waste is placed at the bottom of the landfill, the subsurface acts as a significant source of heat.
Informational loss in bundled bargaining
Authors: Chen Ying , Eraslan Hülya
Published: April 2013

We analyze a legislative bargaining game over an ideological and a distributive issue. Legislators are privately informed about their ideological positions. Communication takes place before a proposal is offered and majority-rule voting determines the outcome. We compare the outcome of the ‘bundled bargaining’ game in which the legislators negotiate over both issues together to that of the ‘separate bargaining’ game in which the legislators negotiate over the issues one at a time. Although bundled bargaining allows the proposer to use transfers as an instrument for compromise on the ideological issue, we identify two disadvantages of bundled bargaining under asymmetric information: (i) ‘risk of losing the surplus’ (failure to reach agreement on ideology results in the dissipation of the surplus under bundled bargaining, but not under separate bargaining); (ii) ‘informational loss’ (the legislators may convey less information in the bundled bargaining game). Even when there is no risk of losing the surplus, the informational loss from bundling can be sufficiently large that it makes the proposer worse off.
Numerical and experimental investigation on the influence of main motor rotational frequency in fine-cropping
Authors: Zhong Bin , Zhao Shengdun , Zhao Renfeng , Liao Jiean
Published: April 2013

The bar fine-cropping, the first and one of the most important metal-forming procedure, separates the work-piece into accurate products and billets. The aim of this article is to investigate the influence of different main motor rotational frequencies on a new fine-cropping system. Five different rotational frequencies are applied to both the numerical simulations and the fine-cropping experiments. The numerical and experimental results show that good agreement is achieved by combining the average stress triaxiality under different stress states: the equivalent plastic strain, the fatigue-crack propagation path analysis and the micrograph fractography observation. Additionally, the cross-section quality of cropped billets and the final cropping time is also investigated. The results show that the cross-section quality and the final cropping time of the new fine-cropping are greatly influenced by the main motor rotational frequency, especially the frequency close to 33 Hz.
Analyses of adjustment of the impulse noise
Authors: Deželak Ferdinand , Čudina Mirko
Published: April 2013

Impulse noise is one of the most hazardous and annoying types of noise, which is present in the working and community environment. A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level, describing most types of noise, appears not to be the appropriate descriptor, especially not for high-impulsive and high-energy impulsive noise. However, this descriptor is often used as a basis for impulse noise evaluation, when combined with appropriate adjustment terms. But despite of objective character of such evaluation, care should be taken regarding certain facts, especially the source of impulse noise, its environment and time of measurement. In this article, the relationships between all these influential parameters have been investigated in detail. Today, on the other hand, a sophisticated sound level meter offers the possibility of simultaneous measurement of many acoustical descriptors. By combining some of these descriptors with some analytical investigations, as shown in this article, more useful information concerning impulse noise can be obtained. In this article some of them are used for more detailed analysis of impulse correction, according to some international standards.
Visual Long-Term Memory Has the Same Limit on Fidelity as Visual Working Memory
Authors: Brady Timothy F. , Konkle Talia , Gill Jonathan , Oliva Aude , Alvarez George A.
Published: April 2013

Visual long-term memory can store thousands of objects with surprising visual detail, but just how detailed are these representations, and how can one quantify this fidelity? Using the property of color as a case study, we estimated the precision of visual information in long-term memory, and compared this with the precision of the same information in working memory. Observers were shown real-world objects in random colors and were asked to recall the colors after a delay. We quantified two parameters of performance: the variability of internal representations of color (fidelity) and the probability of forgetting an object’s color altogether. Surprisingly, the fidelity of color information in long-term memory was comparable to the asymptotic precision of working memory. These results suggest that long-term memory and working memory may be constrained by a common limit, such as a bound on the fidelity required to retrieve a memory representation.
Urinary CXCL-10/IP-10 and MCP-1 as markers to assess activity of lupus nephritis
Authors: Abujam B , Cheekatla SS , Aggarwal A
Published: April 2013

Objective

IP-10 and MCP-1 are pro-inflammatory chemokines which are involved in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis and may thus be useful biomarkers.

Methods

SLE patients fulfilling ACR 1997 criteria were included. SLEDAI was calculated and blood and urine samples collected. Active lupus was defined as SLEDAI ≥4. Active patients were divided into active renal (proteinuria ≥ 500 mg/day or active sediment in urine) and active non-renal lupus. Patients with active renal lupus were followed until the nephritis became inactive, when a second sample was collected. Serum and urinary levels of MCP-1 and IP-10 (pg/ml) were measured by ELISA. Urinary values were normalized for urinary spot creatinine (in mg/dL. Thus the values were expressed as pg/mg creatinine × 100 creatinine).

Results

A total of 136 patients with SLE including 78 active (46 active renal and 32 active non-renal) were included. Median age was 25 (10–55) years and SLE duration was 23 (six to 48) months. Both serum (data not shown) and urinary levels of MCP-1 (35.2 (12.7–71.7), 9.4 (4.4–17), p < 0.001) and IP-10 (9.5 (4.4–17.9), 3.9 (1.9–9.3), p < 0.001) were higher in active compared to inactive SLE. However, in active renal compared to active non-renal SLE, there was no difference in serum levels; only urinary levels of MCP-1 (46.2 (19.9–125), 12.7 (5.8–43.9), p < 0.001) and IP-10 (12.5 (5.6–22.7), 5.2 (2.3–12.2), p < 0.05) were higher. On longitudinal follow-up of active renal patients ( n = 24), there was a decrease in urinary levels of MCP-1 and IP-10 ( p = 0.005). On ROC analysis, urinary MCP-1 outperformed C4 and urinary IP-10, but was similar to dsDNA and C3 in differentiating active renal from non-renal SLE.

Conclusions

Urinary and serum IP-10 and MCP-1 are potentially useful markers of lupus activity; however, only the urinary levels are indicative of renal activity. However, on ROC analysis, they are not better than conventional markers.
Pediatric lupus nephritis: more options, more chances?
Authors: Vachvanichsanong P , McNeil E
Published: April 2013

Lupus nephritis (LN) is more common and severe in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in adults. It is one of the major causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. Steroid therapy has been used as the first-line treatment for SLE since 1970, and has improved the survival of SLE patients from ∼ 50% to >80%. Over the years many immunosuppressive drugs, including pulse methylprednisolone, oral cyclophosphamide, pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofitil, rituximab, and tacrolimus, have been combined with prednisolone, further improving survival rates to 90%–95%. However, the effectiveness of these drugs is still uncertain, as most seem very good in the beginning, but in studies examining longer-term follow-up the remission of disease does not remain. Fatal infection is still a major complication of aggressive chemotherapy, and the potential benefits as well as adverse events from each drug need to be considered. Induction of remission is the major aim of therapy, with safe and effective maintenance therapy for long-term remission. The survival rates of many published studies vary widely because of differences in patients and treatment modalities, severity of disease, renal histopathology, racial factors, and duration of follow-up. Finding the optimal treatment for SLE and related co-morbidities is highly challenging, and will likely involve a complex combination of different drugs for different patients in the search for giving them an opportunity to be free from this debilitating disease.
Project leadership in regional development coalitions: Horizontal and vertical challenges of trustkeeping
Authors: Thorkildsen Are , Kaulio Matti , Ekman Marianne
Published: April 2013

Endogenous growth policy and partnership collaboration have become increasingly prevalent in the search for value creation and innovation in regional development. Little attention is, however, paid to the dynamic role of project leadership in promoting such broad partnership-based collaboration. Drawing on experiences and data from a partnership-based Regional Development Coalition in Norway (2007–2010), this inquiry seeks to fill this gap. It explores, from a project leadership viewpoint, key challenges in orchestrating and facilitating bottom-up learning processes along the horizontal dimension, and the upholding of national mandates and political visions along the vertical dimension. Based on the empirical findings, a model is developed which sheds light on the complex role of project leadership in partnership-based collaborations.
Romania
Authors: Trif Aurora
Published: April 2013

This article examines the impact of the recession on collective bargaining in Romania, focusing on legislative changes and developments in the public health care and the construction sectors. Prior to the recession, Romania had a legal system that supported dialogue between trade unions, employers and the government, resulting in widespread collective bargaining at all levels. In 2011, the government scrapped all collective agreements and changed, without parliamentary debate, the main labour laws, making it impossible to have cross-sectoral collective agreements and far more difficult to negotiate collective agreements at the sectoral, multi-employer and company levels. The recession was thus used by the centre-right government as a pretext to reform the industrial relations system.
The impact of the economic crisis on collective bargaining in the Czech Republic
Authors: Myant Martin
Published: April 2013

Economic crisis, starting in 2008, led to a double recession in the Czech Republic. Enterprise-sector employees were most affected in the first phase and public sector employees in the second. The latter protected their conditions largely through political protests with collective bargaining playing a smaller role. Collective bargaining in the enterprise sector had developed over the preceding decades and continued through the crisis, albeit with agreements less likely to include pay increases. There was no permanent shift in content, with pay increases back on the agenda as conditions improved. There may have been an increase in employment practices that weakened employees’ positions where bargaining did not exist. Two case studies from the motor-vehicle industry show union organizations accepting pay restraint, resisting management pressure for more flexible work practices and welcoming continued division into a core and peripheral labour force.