bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanotechnology what are the Challenges and Emerging Benefits for Water Treatment?
Authors: Tuccillo Mary Ellen , Boyd Glen R. , Sandvig Anne , Shatkin Jo Anne , Dionysiou Dionysios D.
Published: December 2011

This article summarizes the findings of Water Research Foundation Project No. 4311, Challenges and Opportunities of Nanomaterials in Drinking Water. The objective of the project was to provide drinking water utilities with information about various technical issues associated with nanomaterials, including topics of interest to the drinking water community such as potential health effects, removing nanomaterial from drinking water, potential uses of nanoparticles, nanostructured membranes, nanosorbents, arsenic removal, TiO2 photocatalysis, and nanosensors.
Determination of metformin in rat plasma by HILIC‐MS/MS combined with Tecan automation and direct injection
Authors: Zhang Wei , Han Futian , Zhao Harry , Lin Zhongping (John) , Huang Qingtao (Mike) , Weng Naidong
Published: December 2011

Metformin is a well‐known oral antihyperglycemic drug used in treatment of type II diabetes. Analysis of metformin in biological fluids is a challenge owing to its high polarity and small molecular size, which lead to poor retention of metformin on reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic columns. A high‐throughput method was developed and validated for the determination of metformin in rat plasma in support of preclinical toxicology studies, using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC‐MS/MS) and Tecan automated sample preparation. Extracted samples were directly injected onto the unbounded silica column with an aqueous–organic mobile phase. This HILIC‐MS/MS method was validated for accuracy, precision, sensitivity, stability, matrix effect, recovery and calibration range. Acceptable intra‐run and inter‐run assay precision (coefficient of variation ≤ 3.9%) and accuracy (99.0–101.8%) were achieved over a linear range of 50–50,000 ng/mL. Metformin is stable in rat plasma for at least 6 h at room temperature, 147 days at −70°C and through three freeze (−70°C) and thaw cycles. Metformin is also stable in rat whole blood for at least 2 h at room temperature and in an ice–water bath. The validated method was successfully used in support of several preclinical studies where metformin is dosed together with an investigational drug substance. The ruggedness of the validated method was demonstrated by the incurred sample reproducibility test. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Substituent Effects in Double‐Helical Hydrogen‐Bonded AAA‐DDD Complexes
Authors: Wang Hong‐Bo , Mudraboyina Bhanu P. , Wisner James A.
Published: December 2011

Two series of DDD and AAA hydrogen‐bond arrays were synthesized that form triply‐hydrogen‐bonded double‐helical complexes when combined in CDCl3 solution. Derivatization of the DDD arrays with electron‐withdrawing groups increases the complex association constants by up to a factor of 30 in those arrays examined. Derivatization of the AAA arrays with electron donating substituents reveals a similar magnitude effect on the complex stabilities. The effect of substitution on both types of arrays are modeled quite satisfactorily (R2 > 0.96 in all cases) as free energy relationships with respect to the sums of their Hammett substituent constants. In all, the complex stabilities can be manipulated over more than three orders of magnitude (>20 kJ mol−1) using this type of modification.
The adhesive disc in the mobilid ciliate Trichodina pediculus: Evidence for centrin‐related, calcium‐sensitive filaments
Authors: Viguès Bernard , Damaj Raghida
Published: December 2011

The adhesive disc is a highly complex apparatus that allows mobilid ciliates to attach to the tissues of a variety of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. The disc comprises concentric rings of rigid skeletal pieces interconnected by filamentous material. This study explored the biochemical properties of the filamentous disc material in the trichodinid Trichodina pediculus. Calcium sensitivity of this material was suggested in vitro by the appearance of transverse cross‐striation along bundles of filaments following calcium shock, and complete solubilization of the filamentous material in the presence of EGTA. A 23‐kDa immunoanalog of centrins was immunoprecipitated from the EGTA extract. The protein binds calcium as indicated by 45Ca2+ blot overlay and Ca2+‐induced shifts in electrophoretic mobility. Using Ca2+/EGTA buffers, we demonstrated a direct relationship between extraction of the filaments and solubilization of the protein. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that the protein localized to the filamentous disc material and revealed cross‐reactivity with the spasmoneme, which is the prototype of ion‐sensitive, centrin‐like contractile systems in ciliates. The possibility that the filamentous disc material may be a novel example of Ca2+‐sensitive, centrin‐based systems found in ciliates is discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Chemical species separation with simultaneous estimation of field map and T using a k‐space formulation
Authors: Honorato Jose Luis , Parot Vicente , Tejos Cristian , Uribe Sergio , Irarrazaval Pablo
Published: December 2011

Chemical species separation techniques in image space are prone to incorporate several distortions. Some of these are signal accentuation in borders and geometrical warping from field inhomogeneity. These errors come from neglecting intraecho time variations. In this work, we present a new approach for chemical species separation in MRI with simultaneous estimation of field map and T decay, formulated entirely in k‐space. In this approach, the time map is used to model the phase accrual from off‐resonance precession and also the amplitude decay due to T. Our technique fits the signal model directly in k‐space with the acquired data minimizing the l2‐norm with an interior‐point algorithm. Standard two dimensional gradient echo sequences in the thighs and head were used for demonstrating the technique. With this approach, we were able to obtain excellent estimation for the species, the field inhomogeneity, and T decay images. The results do not suffer from geometric distortions derived from the chemical shift or the field inhomogeneity. Importantly, as the T map is well positioned, the species signal in borders is correctly estimated. Considering intraecho time variations in a complete signal model in k‐space for separating species yields superior estimation of the variables of interest when compared to existing methods. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model for the correction of motion‐induced phase errors in multishot diffusion‐weighted‐MRI of the head: Are cardiac‐motion‐induced phase errors reproducible from beat‐to‐beat?
Authors: O'Halloran R. L. , Holdsworth S. , Aksoy M. , Bammer R.
Published: December 2011

In diffusion‐weighted imaging, multishot acquisitions are problematic due to intershot inconsistencies of the phase caused by motion during the diffusion‐encoding gradients. A model for the motion‐induced phase errors in diffusion‐weighted‐MRI of the brain is presented, in which rigid‐body and nonrigid‐body motion are separated. In the model, it is assumed that nonrigid‐body motion is due to cardiac pulsation, and that the motion patterns are repeatable from beat‐to‐beat. To test the validity of this assumption, the repeatability of nonrigid‐body motion‐induced phase errors is quantified in three healthy volunteers. Nonrigid‐body motion‐induced phase was found to significantly correlate (P < 0.05) with pulse‐oximeter waveforms in ∼83% of the pixels tested across all slices and subjects. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Respiratory self‐navigation for whole‐heart bright‐blood coronary MRI: Methods for robust isolation and automatic segmentation of the blood pool
Authors: Piccini Davide , Littmann Arne , Nielles‐Vallespin Sonia , Zenge Michael O.
Published: December 2011

Free‐breathing three‐dimensional whole‐heart coronary MRI is a noninvasive alternative to X‐ray coronary angiography. However, the existing navigator‐gated approaches do not meet the requirements of clinical practice, as they perform with suboptimal accuracy and require prolonged acquisition times. Self‐navigated techniques, applied to bright‐blood imaging sequences, promise to detect the position of the blood pool directly in the readouts acquired for imaging. Hence, the respiratory displacement of the heart can be calculated and used for motion correction with high accuracy and 100% scan efficiency. However, additional bright signal from the chest wall, spine, arms, and liver can render the isolation of the blood pool impossible. In this work, an innovative method based on a targeted combination of the output signals of an anterior phased‐array surface coil is implemented to efficiently suppress such additional bright signal. Furthermore, an algorithm for the automatic segmentation of the blood pool is proposed. Robust self‐navigation is achieved by cross‐correlation. These improvements were integrated into a three‐dimensional radial whole‐heart coronary MRI sequence and were compared with navigator‐gated imaging in vivo. Self‐navigation was successful in all cases and the acquisition time was reduced up to 63%. Equivalent or slightly superior image quality, vessel length, and sharpness were achieved. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Minimax current density gradient coils: Analysis of coil performance and heating
Authors: Poole Michael S. , While Peter T. , Lopez Hector Sanchez , Crozier Stuart
Published: December 2011

Standard gradient coils are designed by minimizing the inductance or resistance for an acceptable level of gradient field nonlinearity. Recently, a new method was proposed to minimize the maximum value of the current density in a coil additionally. The stated aim of that method was to increase the minimum wire spacing and to reduce the peak temperature in a coil for fixed efficiency. These claims are tested in this study with experimental measurements of magnetic field and temperature as well as simulations of the performance of many coils. Experimental results show a 90% increase in minimum wire spacing and 40% reduction in peak temperature for equal coil efficiency and field linearity. Simulations of many more coils indicate increase in minimum wire spacing of between 50 and 340% for the coils studied here. This method is shown to be able to increase coil efficiency when constrained by minimum wire spacing rather than switching times or total power dissipation. This increase in efficiency could be used to increase gradient strength, duty cycle, or buildability. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of very high order and degree B0 shimming for spectroscopic imaging of the human brain at 7 tesla
Authors: Pan Jullie W. , Lo Kai‐Ming , Hetherington Hoby P.
Published: December 2011

With the advent of ultrahigh field systems (7T), significant improvements in spectroscopic imaging (SI) studies of the human brain have been anticipated. These gains are dependent upon the achievable B0 homogeneity, both globally (σB, over the entire regions of interest or slice) and locally (σB, influencing the linewidth of individual SI voxels within the regions of interest). Typically the B0 homogeneity is adjusted using shim coils with spatial distributions modeled on spherical harmonics which can be characterized by a degree (radial dependence) and order (azimuthal symmetry). However, the role of very high order and degree shimming (e.g., 3rd and 4th degree) in MRSI studies has been controversial. Measurements of σB and σB were determined from B0 field maps of 64 × 64 resolution. In a 10 mm thick slice taken through the region of the subcortical nuclei, we find that in comparison to 1st–2nd degree shims, use of 1st–3rd and 1st–4th degree shims reduces σB by 29% and 55%, respectively. Using a SI voxel size of ∼1cc with an estimate of σB from 3 × 3 × 3 B0 map pixels in this subcortical region, the number of pixels with σB of less than 5 Hz increased from 24 to 59% with 1st–3rd and 1st–4th over 1st–2nd degree shims, respectively. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surface potential measurement of As‐doped homojunction ZnO nanorods by Kelvin probe force microscopy
Authors: Ben Chu Van , Cho Hak Dong , Kang Tae Won , Yang Woochul
Published: December 2011

In this study, we demonstrate the electronic properties of As‐doped homojunction ZnO nanorods by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). The self‐assembled undoped/As‐doped homojunction ZnO nanorods were grown on Si (111) substrates by using vapor phase transport. Individual nanorods were transferred onto Au films grown on Si substrates. The morphology and surface potentials of the ZnO nanorods were simultaneously measured by KPFM. For the homojunction nanorods with ~200 nm in diameter, the KPFM images show obviously doping transition across the junction region, indicating local doping types. Also, the surface potential difference across the junction was measured to be ~85 mV, which could be the result from the work function difference between undoped and As‐doped region. It is in good agreement with the work function difference of ~95 meV between the As‐doped p‐type and intrinsic n‐type nanorods in the same measurement condition. The work function of the doped ZnO nanorods measured by KPFM is discussed in terms of surface band bending induced by surface states of ZnO. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aging‐related deficits in orexin/hypocretin modulation of the septohippocampal cholinergic system
Authors: Stanley Emily M. , Fadel Jim
Published: December 2011

The medial septum (MS) of the basal forebrain contains cholinergic neurons that project to the hippocampus, support cognitive function, and are implicated in age‐related cognitive decline. Hypothalamic orexin/hypocretin neurons innervate and modulate basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and provide direct inputs to the hippocampus. However, the precise role of orexin in modulating hippocampal cholinergic transmission—and how these interactions are altered in aging—is unknown. Here, orexin A was administered to CA1 and the MS of young (3–4 months) and aged (27–29 months) Fisher 344/Brown Norway rats, and hippocampal acetylcholine efflux was analyzed by in vivo microdialysis. At both infusion sites, orexin A dose‐dependently increased hippocampal acetylcholine in young, but not aged rats. Moreover, immunohistochemical characterization of the MS revealed no change in cholinergic cell bodies in aged animals, but a significant decrease in orexin fiber innervation to cholinergic cells. These findings indicate that: (1) Orexin A modulates hippocampal cholinergic neurotransmission directly and transsynaptically in young animals, (2) Aged animals are unresponsive to orexin A, and (3) Aged animals undergo an intrinsic reduction in orexin innervation to cholinergic cells within the MS. Alterations in orexin regulation of septohippocampal cholinergic activity may contribute to age‐related dysfunctions in arousal, learning, and memory. Synapse, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rigorous formulation of two-parameter double-hybrid density-functionals
Authors: Fromager Emmanuel
Published: December 2011

A two-parameter extension of the density-scaled double hybrid approach of Sharkas et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 134, 064113 (2011)] is presented. It is based on the explicit treatment of a fraction of multideterminantal exact exchange. The connection with conventional double hybrids is made when neglecting density scaling in the correlation functional as well as second-order corrections to the density. In this context, the fraction ac of second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) correlation energy is not necessarily equal to the square of the fraction ax of Hartree-Fock exchange. More specifically, it is shown that \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$a_{\rm c}\le a^2_{\rm x}$\end{document}ac≤ax2, a condition that conventional semi-empirical double hybrids actually fulfill. In addition, a new procedure for calculating the orbitals, which has a better justification than the one routinely used, is proposed. Referred to as λ1 variant, the corresponding double hybrid approximation has been tested on a small set consisting of H2, N2, Be2, Mg2, and Ar2. Three conventional double hybrids (B2-PLYP, B2GP-PLYP, and PBE0-DH) have been considered. Potential curves obtained with λ1- and regular double hybrids can, in some cases, differ significantly. In particular, for the weakly bound dimers, the λ1 variants bind systematically more than the regular ones, which is an improvement in many but not all cases. Including density scaling in the correlation functionals may of course change the results significantly. Moreover, optimized effective potentials based on a partially-interacting system could also be used to generate proper orbitals. Work is currently in progress in those directions.
Chemical bond modification in porous SiOCH films by H2 and H2/N2 plasmas investigated by in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroshi , Asano Kohei , Ishikawa Kenji , Sekine Makoto , Hayashi Hisataka , Sakai Itsuko , Ohiwa Tokuhisa , Takeda Keigo , Kondo Hiroki , Hori Masaru
Published: December 2011

The modification of porous low-dielectric (low-k) SiOCH films by ashing plasma irradiation and subsequent exposure to air was investigated by in situ characterizations. Porous blanket SiOCH film surfaces were treated by a H2 or H2/N2 plasma in a 100-MHz capacitively coupled plasma reactor. The individual or combined effects of light, radicals, and ions generated by the plasmas on the chemical bonds in the porous SiOCH films were characterized using an in situ evaluation and by in situ Fourier-transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS). In situ IR-RAS analysis revealed that the number of Si-OH, Si-H, and Si-NH2 bonds increased while the number of Si-CH3 bonds decreased during exposure to a H2 or H2/N2 plasma. Subsequent air exposure increased the number of Si-OH bonds by modifying Si-O-Si structures. The experimental results indicate that light emitted from a H2 or H2/N2 plasma can break Si-CH3 and Si-O-Si bonds and thereby generate dangling bonds. Radicals (e.g., NxHy and H radicals) can break Si-CH3 and Si-O-Si bonds and Si-NH2, Si–H, and Si-OH bonds could be formed. Si-NH2, Si-H, and dangling bonds react with moisture in the air cause the formation of Si-OH bonds. The dehydroxylation reaction on Si-OH was found to be the origin of Si-O-Si network structures. The mechanism of the degradation of porous low-k SiOCH films induced by a H2 or H2/N2 plasma is discussed based on the in situ characterization results.
Cenozoic climate change influences mammalian evolutionary dynamics
Authors: Figueirido Borja , Janis Christine M. , Pérez-Claros Juan A. , De Renzi Miquel , Palmqvist Paul
Published: December 2011

Global climate change is having profound impacts on the natural world. However, climate influence on faunal dynamics at macroevolutionary scales remains poorly understood. In this paper we investigate the influence of climate over deep time on the diversity patterns of Cenozoic North American mammals. We use factor analysis to identify temporally correlated assemblages of taxa, or major evolutionary faunas that we can then study in relation to climatic change over the past 65 million years. These taxa can be grouped into six consecutive faunal associations that show some correspondence with the qualitative mammalian chronofaunas of previous workers. We also show that the diversity pattern of most of these chronofaunas can be correlated with the stacked deep-sea benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope (
δ
18
O) curve, which strongly suggests climatic forcing of faunal dynamics over a large macroevolutionary timescale. This study demonstrates the profound influence of climate on the diversity patterns of North American terrestrial mammals over the Cenozoic.
Activation of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor stimulates cardiac reverse remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI)
Authors: Kanashiro-Takeuchi Rosemeire M. , Takeuchi Lauro M. , Rick Ferenc G. , Dulce Raul , Treuer Adriana V. , Florea Victoria , Rodrigues Claudia O. , Paulino Ellena C. , Hatzistergos Konstantinos E. , Selem Sarah M. , Gonzalez Daniel R. , Block Norman L. , Schally Andrew V. , Hare Joshua M.
Published: December 2011

Both cardiac myocytes and cardiac stem cells (CSCs) express the receptor of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), activation of which improves injury responses after myocardial infarction (MI). Here we show that a GHRH-agonist (GHRH-A; JI-38) reverses ventricular remodeling and enhances functional recovery in the setting of chronic MI. This response is mediated entirely by activation of GHRH receptor (GHRHR), as demonstrated by the use of a highly selective GHRH antagonist (MIA-602). One month after MI, animals were randomly assigned to receive: placebo, GHRH-A (JI-38), rat recombinant GH, MIA-602, or a combination of GHRH-A and MIA-602, for a 4-wk period. We assessed cardiac performance and hemodynamics by using echocardiography and micromanometry derived pressure-volume loops. Morphometric measurements were carried out to determine MI size and capillary density, and the expression of GHRHR was assessed by immunofluorescence and quantitative RT-PCR. GHRH-A markedly improved cardiac function as shown by echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters. MI size was substantially reduced, whereas myocyte and nonmyocyte mitosis was markedly increased by GHRH-A. These effects occurred without increases in circulating levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I and were, at least partially, nullified by GHRH antagonism, confirming a receptor-mediated mechanism. GHRH-A stimulated CSCs proliferation ex vivo, in a manner offset by MIA-602. Collectively, our findings reveal the importance of the GHRH signaling pathway within the heart. Therapy with GHRH-A although initiated 1 mo after MI substantially improved cardiac performance and reduced infarct size, suggesting a regenerative process. Therefore, activation of GHRHR provides a unique therapeutic approach to reverse remodeling after MI.
Effects of Phosphate Salts on the pH Values and Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) Pasting Parameters of Wheat Flour Suspensions
Authors: Zhou Yibin , Hou Gary G.
Published: December 2011

Changes in pH and pasting properties of instant‐noodle formula dry‐mix suspensions containing each of 12 phosphate salts were investigated. The pH values of solutions alone and then solution and flour suspensions decreased as the level of phosphate salts increased, except that of trisodium phosphate, which increased the pH value. The changes in the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) pasting parameters of instant‐noodle formula suspensions were not consistent with the respective changes in pH, but the change trends of the RVA parameters for the two different wheat flours (hard red winter and soft white wheat) were similar. Five of the phosphate salts gradually increased the RVA peak viscosity (PV) as phosphate concentration increased. Seven other phosphate salts increased the PV at 0.05% and then decreased PV as the phosphate concentration increased. The change in trough viscosity owing to phosphate salt and concentration was similar to that of PV. The final viscosity (FV) gradually declined, to varying degrees, as the phosphate concentration increased for some of the phosphate salts. However, seven of the phosphate salts caused slight increases in FV as their concentrations increased. The response of starch gelatinization and pasting behavior, as measured by RVA, indicated that phosphate salts exert an influence on starch during heating in water. Because RVA parameters have been linked to instant‐noodle processing and textural properties, phosphate salt identity and concentration can likely be manipulated to affect end‐product quality.
Immunology in the clinic review series: focus on type 1 diabetes and viruses: the role of viruses in type 1 diabetes: a difficult dilemma
Authors: Coppieters K T , Wiberg A , Tracy S M , von Herrath M G
Published: December 2011

OTHER THEMES PUBLISHED IN THIS IMMUNOLOGY IN THE CLINIC REVIEW SERIES

Metabolic diseases, host responses, cancer, autoinflammatory diseases, allergy.

Convincing evidence now indicates that viruses are associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) development and progression. Human enteroviruses (HEV) have emerged as prime suspects, based on detection frequencies around clinical onset in patients and their ability to rapidly hyperglycaemia trigger in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Whether or not HEV can truly cause islet autoimmunity or, rather, act by accelerating ongoing insulitis remains a matter of debate. In view of the disease's globally rising incidence it is hypothesized that improved hygiene standards may reduce the immune system's ability to appropriately respond to viral infections. Arguments in favour of and against viral infections as major aetiological factors in T1D will be discussed in conjunction with potential pathological scenarios. More profound insights into the intricate relationship between viruses and their autoimmunity-prone host may lead ultimately to opportunities for early intervention through immune modulation or vaccination.
KHA‐CARI guideline: KHA‐CARI adaptation of the KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Care of Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: CHADBAN STEVEN J , BARRACLOUGH KATHERINE A , CAMPBELL SCOTT B , CLARK CAROLINE J , COATES P TOBY , COHNEY SHLOMO J , CROSS NICHOLAS B , ERIS JOSETTE M , HENDERSON LORNA , HOWELL MARTIN R , ISBEL NICOLE M , KANELLIS JOHN , KOTWAL SRADHA S , MANLEY PAUL , MASTERSON ROSEMARY , MULLEY WILLIAM , MURALI KARUMATHIL , O'CONNELL PHILLIP , PILMORE HELEN , ROGERS NATASHA , RUSS GRAEME R , WALKER ROWAN G , WEBSTER ANGELA C , WIGGINS KATE J , WONG GERMAINE , WYBURN KATE R
Published: December 2011

The latest Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment (CARI) guideline detailing renal transplant care, developed as a local modification of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines.
Strengthening handover communication in pediatric cardiac intensive care
Authors: Craig Rona , Moxey Linda , Young David , Spenceley Neil S. , Davidson Mark G.
Published: December 2011

Objective:  To evaluate knowledge transfer and perceptions using a structured handover process for the postoperative pediatric cardiac patient being admitted to intensive care. The hypothesis being that knowledge transfer could be optimized by the implementation of this handover structure.

Aim:  To investigate the effects of the implementation of a structured handover in the intensive care unit, including preadmission cardiac reports and operating room information.

Background:  Patient handover following pediatric cardiac surgery involves a multidisciplinary team and a potentially unstable patient, which may create multiple cognitive demands for the treating team. This may lead to an increased risk of information error with potentially significant sequelae for the patient.

Methods:  A prospective interventional study in a tertiary pediatric hospital providing both general and cardiac intensive care in the United Kingdom was undertaken in the postoperative cardiac group. Twenty‐one preintervention and 22 postintervention handovers were observed by a trained independent observer. Three phases of the handover, prepatient readiness, prehandover readiness, and information conveyed, were assessed as well as attentiveness, organization of the team, and flow of information during the handover. The duration and number of interruptions were also recorded. Staff perceptions of the handover were also assessed.

Results:  All three phases of the handover were significantly improved with the handover intervention. The observer scores were also significantly improved as were the perceptions of the staff following the implementation of the handover tool. There was no significant increase in the duration of the handover.

Conclusions:  Communication between the operating room and intensive care staff, regarding postoperative pediatric cardiac patients, significantly improved with the implementation of a structured handover.
Association Between Dental Status and Incident Disability in an Older Japanese Population
Authors: Aida Jun , Kondo Katsunori , Hirai Hiroshi , Nakade Miyo , Yamamoto Tatsuo , Hanibuchi Tomoya , Osaka Ken , Sheiham Aubrey , Tsakos Georgios , Watt Richard G.
Published: December 2011

Objectives

To determine the association between dental health status and onset of functional disability in older Japanese people.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Six Japanese municipalities.

Participants

Four thousand four hundred twenty‐five community‐dwelling individuals aged 65 and over.

Measurements

The outcome measure was the onset of functional disability based on public records of people receiving long‐term care insurance benefits, determined through a standardized multistep assessment of functional and cognitive impairment including a personal interview and an examination by a physician. Disability data were analyzed for 4,425 respondents during 2003 to 2007. Self‐reported number of remaining teeth and eating ability were used as measures of dental health status. Age, sex, body mass index, self‐rated health, present illness, smoking, alcohol, exercise, and equivalent income were used as covariates.

Results

In the age‐ and sex‐adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, there were significant associations between number of remaining teeth, eating ability, and onset of disability. After adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status variables, respondents with 19 or fewer teeth had a significant 1.21 (95% confidence interval = 1.06–1.40) times higher hazard ratio for the onset of functional disability. In contrast, eating ability was not significantly associated with the onset of disability.

Conclusion

Poor dental status was associated with a higher risk of onset of functional disability in older Japanese people. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status covariates explained the association between eating ability and onset of disability.
Water Pollution Risk Associated with Natural Gas Extraction from the Marcellus Shale
Authors: Rozell Daniel J. , Reaven Sheldon J.
Published: December 2011

In recent years, shale gas formations have become economically viable through the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. These techniques carry potential environmental risk due to their high water use and substantial risk for water pollution. Using probability bounds analysis, we assessed the likelihood of water contamination from natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale. Probability bounds analysis is well suited when data are sparse and parameters highly uncertain. The study model identified five pathways of water contamination: transportation spills, well casing leaks, leaks through fractured rock, drilling site discharge, and wastewater disposal. Probability boxes were generated for each pathway. The potential contamination risk and epistemic uncertainty associated with hydraulic fracturing wastewater disposal was several orders of magnitude larger than the other pathways. Even in a best‐case scenario, it was very likely that an individual well would release at least 200 m3 of contaminated fluids. Because the total number of wells in the Marcellus Shale region could range into the tens of thousands, this substantial potential risk suggested that additional steps be taken to reduce the potential for contaminated fluid leaks. To reduce the considerable epistemic uncertainty, more data should be collected on the ability of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities to remove contaminants from used hydraulic fracturing fluid.
Targeted Disruption of Toxoplasma gondii Serine Protease Inhibitor 1 Increases Bradyzoite Cyst Formation
In Vitro
and Parasite Tissue Burden in Mice
Authors: Pszenny Viviana , Davis Paul H. , Zhou Xing W. , Hunter Christopher A. , Carruthers Vern B. , Roos David S.
Published: December 2011

As an intracellular protozoan parasite,
Toxoplasma gondii
is likely to exploit proteases for host cell invasion, acquisition of nutrients, avoidance of host protective responses, escape from the parasitophorous vacuole, differentiation, and other activities.
T. gondii
serine protease inhibitor 1 (
Tg
PI1) is the most abundantly expressed protease inhibitor in parasite tachyzoites. We show here that alternative splicing produces two
Tg
PI1 isoforms, both of which are secreted via dense granules into the parasitophorous vacuole shortly after invasion, become progressively more abundant over the course of the infectious cycle, and can be detected in the infected host cell cytoplasm. To investigate
Tg
PI1 function, the endogenous genomic locus was disrupted in the RH strain background. Δ
Tg
PI1 parasites replicate normally as tachyzoites but exhibit increased bradyzoite gene transcription and labeling of vacuoles with
Dolichos biflorus
lectin under conditions promoting
in vitro
differentiation. The differentiation phenotype can be partially complemented by either
Tg
PI1 isoform. Mice infected with the Δ
Tg
PI1 mutant display ∼3-fold-increased parasite burden in the spleen and liver, and this
in vivo
phenotype is also complemented by either
Tg
PI1 isoform. These results demonstrate that
Tg
PI1 influences both parasite virulence and bradyzoite differentiation, presumably by inhibiting parasite and/or host serine proteases.
Is There a Difference between the Effects of One-Point and Three-Point Indirect Moxibustion Stimulation on Skin Temperature Changes of the Posterior Trunk Surface?
Authors: Mori Hidetoshi , Tanaka Tim Hideaki , Kuge Hiroshi , Sasaki Ken
Published: December 2011

Objective

To determine whether any difference exists in responses to indirect moxibustion relative to thermal stimulation sites.

Methods

Twenty one healthy men of mean±SD age 22.5±6.1 years were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving a single moxibustion stimulation in three locations (the three-point stimulation group, n=10 participants) and the other receiving three stimulations in one location (the one-point stimulation group, n=11 participants). The thermal stimulation sites were GV14, GV9 and GV4 acupuncture points. A thermograph was used to obtain the skin temperature on the posterior trunks of the participants. To analyse skin temperature, four arbitrary frames (the scapular, interscapular, lumbar and vertebral regions) were made on the posterior trunk.

Result

An increase in skin temperature on the posterior trunk was observed following both one- and three-point moxibustion administrations. The skin temperature of the lumbar region showed a significant increase after three-point stimulation compared with single-point stimulation (p=0.011). There was also a significant increase in skin temperature of the spinal region after three-point stimulation compared with one-point stimulation (p=0.046).

Conclusion

Administration of single moxibustion doses on the GV14, GV9 and GV4 points produces greater changes in skin temperature than three applications of moxibustion to the GV14 point only.
REMARKS ON THE REEH–SCHLIEDER PROPERTY FOR HIGHER SPIN FREE FIELDS ON CURVED SPACETIMES
Authors: DAPPIAGGI CLAUDIO
Published: December 2011

The existence of states enjoying a weak form of the Reeh–Schlieder property has been recently established on curved backgrounds and in the framework of locally covariant quantum field theory. Since only the example of a real scalar field has been discussed, we extend the analysis to the case of massive and massless free fields either of spin-½ or of spin-1. In the process, it is also shown that both the vector potential and the Proca field can be described as a locally covariant quantum field theory.
PROBABILISTIC ENSEMBLES FOR IMPROVED INFERENCE IN PROTEIN-STRUCTURE DETERMINATION
Authors: SONI AMEET , SHAVLIK JUDE
Published: December 2011

Protein X-ray crystallography — the most popular method for determining protein structures — remains a laborious process requiring a great deal of manual crystallographer effort to interpret low-quality protein images. Automating this process is critical in creating a high-throughput protein-structure determination pipeline. Previously, our group developed ACMI, a probabilistic framework for producing protein-structure models from electron-density maps produced via X-ray crystallography. ACMI uses a Markov Random Field to model the three-dimensional (3D) location of each non-hydrogen atom in a protein. Calculating the best structure in this model is intractable, so ACMI uses approximate inference methods to estimate the optimal structure. While previous results have shown ACMI to be the state-of-the-art method on this task, its approximate inference algorithm remains computationally expensive and susceptible to errors. In this work, we develop Probabilistic Ensembles in ACMI (PEA), a framework for leveraging multiple, independent runs of approximate inference to produce estimates of protein structures. Our results show statistically significant improvements in the accuracy of inference resulting in more complete and accurate protein structures. In addition, PEA provides a general framework for advanced approximate inference methods in complex problem domains.
GPU-BASED FLUID SIMULATION WITH FAST COLLISION DETECTION ON BOUNDARIES
Authors: WU JIAWEN , ZHANG FENGQUAN , SHEN XUKUN
Published: December 2011

In this paper, we present a method for fluid simulation based on smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) with fast collision detection on boundaries on GPU. The major goal of our algorithm is to get a fast SPH simulation and rendering on GPU. Additionally, our algorithm has the following three features: At first, to make the SPH method GPU-friendly, we introduce a spatial hash method for neighbor search. After sorting the particles based on their grid index, neighbor search can be done quickly on GPU. Second, we propose a fast particle-boundary collision detection method. By precomputing the distance field of scene boundaries, collision detection's computing cost arrived as O(n), which is much faster than the traditional way. Third, we propose a pipeline with fine-detail surface reconstruction, and progressive photon mapping working on GPU. We experiment our algorithm on different situations and particle numbers of scenes, and find out that our method gets good results. Our experimental data shows that we can simulate 100K particles, and up to 1000K particles scene at a rate of approximately 2 times per second.
Rheolytic Thrombectomy with or without Adjunctive Indwelling Pharmacolysis in Patients Presenting with Acute Pulmonary Embolism Presenting with Right Heart Strain and/or Pulseless Electrical Activity
Authors: Hubbard J. , Saad W. E. A. , Sabri S. S. , Turba U. C. , Angle J. F. , Park A. W. , Matsumoto A. H.
Published: December 2011

Purpose. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Possis rheolytic thrombectomy with or without indwelling catheter-directed pharmacolysis for the treatment of massive pulmonary embolus in patients presenting with right heart strain and/or a pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Materials and Methods. Retrospective review of patients undergoing pulmonary pharmacolysis was performed (07/2004–06/2009). Pre- and posttreatment Miller index scoring weres calculated and compared. Patients were evaluated for tPA doses, ICU stay, hospital stay, and survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results. 11 patients with massive PE were found, with 10/11 presenting with a Miller score of >17 (range: 16–27, mean: 23.2). CTPA and/or echocardiographic evidence of right heart strain was found in 10/11 patients. 3 (27%) patients presented with a PEA event. Two (18%) patients had a contraindication to pharmacolysis and were treated with mechanical thrombectomy alone. The intraprocedural mortality was 9% (). Of the 10 patients who survived the initial treatment, 7 patients underwent standard mechanical thrombectomy initially, while 5 received power pulse spray mechanical thrombectomy. Eight of these 10 patients underwent adjunctive indwelling catheter-directed thrombolysis. The mean catheter-directed infusion duration was 18 hours (range of 12–26 hours). The average intraprocedural, infusion, and total doses of tPA were 7 mg, 19.7 mg, and 26.7 mg, respectively. There was a 91% (10/11) technical success rate. The failure was the single mortality. Average reduction in Miller score was 9.5 or 41% (), obstructive index of 6.4 or 47% (), and perfusion index of 2.7 or 28% (). Average ICU and hospital stay were 7.4 days (range 2–27 days) and 21.3 days (range 6–60 days), respectively. Intent to treat survival was 90% at 6, 12, and 18 months. Conclusion. Rheolytic thrombectomy with or without adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis provides a safe and effective method for treatment of acute PE in patients who present with right heart strain and/or a PEA event.
Intraseasonal Convective Moistening in CMIP3 Models
Authors: Xavier Prince K.
Published: December 2011

A precise relationship between tropospheric moisture and convection is thought to be a key to the accurate simulation of tropical intraseasonal variability. An evaluation of the precipitation distribution and its fundamental physical relationship with relative humidity (RH) in the 14 climate models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) is presented here. Most models tend to reside in a light rainfall regime that largely determines the models’ basic state, and the intraseasonal transition toward heavy precipitation is not as gradual as in the observations. Some of the precipitation biases are related to the deficiencies in the representation of the relationship between the precipitation and RH, and the moisture preconditioning ahead of intraseasonal convection. It is also shown that even for models with reasonable baroclinic temperature anomaly structures of the MJO, there are large biases in the intraseasonal specific humidity anomalies, some of which may be related to the uncertainties in representing shallow cumulus, convective downdrafts, and convective detrainment.
Immune‐Modulating Formulas
Authors: Worthington Michelle Lee , Cresci Gail
Published: December 2011

Most agree that enteral nutrition is the ideal way to feed critically ill patients who have a functional gastrointestinal tract, but selecting the appropriate enteral formula can be difficult. Specifically, the use of immune‐modulating diets has brought much excitement as well as debate. Literature to date presents both positive and potential adverse effects. To aid the clinician in the decision‐making process, this article reviews the current research and recommendations regarding the use of immune‐modulating diets.
Hospital Religious Affiliation and Outcomes for High-Risk Infants
Authors: Garrido Melissa M. , Allison Kirk C. , Bergeron Mark J. , Dowd Bryan
Published: December 2011

The effect of hospital organizational affiliation on perinatal outcomes is unknown. Using the 2004 American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases, the authors examined relationships among organizational affiliation, equipment and service availability and provision, and in-hospital mortality for 5,133 infants across five states born with very low and extremely low birth weight and congenital anomalies. In adjusted bivariate probit selection models, the authors found that government hospitals had significantly higher mortality rates than not-for-profit nonreligious hospitals. Mortality differences among other types of affiliation (Catholic, not-for-profit religious, not-for-profit nonreligious, and for-profit) were not statistically significant. This is encouraging as health care reform efforts call for providers at facilities with different institutional values to coordinate care across facilities. Although there are anecdotes of facility religious affiliation being related to health care decisions, the authors did not find evidence of these relationships in their data.
The Cheerleaders’ Mock Execution
Authors: Trujillo-Jenks Laura
Published: December 2011

The fervor of student speech is demonstrated through different mediums and venues in public schools. In this case, a new principal encounters the mores of a community that believes in free speech, specifically student free speech. When a pep rally becomes a venue for hate speech, terroristic threats, and profanity, the student code of conduct could become the principal’s best weapon. This case explores case law, codes of conduct, organizational culture and climate, and leadership in the context of a controversial cheerleader sketch at a pep rally. A brief literature review can be found in the teaching notes with suggestions for current and future school administrators.
Uniform blow-up rate for a porous medium equation with a weighted localized source
Authors: Zeng Weili , Lu Xiaobo , Liu Qilin
Published: December 2011

In this article, we investigate the Dirichlet problem for a porous medium equation with a more complicated source term. In some cases, we prove that the solutions have global blow-up and the rate of blow-up is uniform in all compact subsets of the domain. Moreover, in each case, the blow-up rate of |u(t)|∞ is precisely determined.
Hopf Bifurcation and Feedback Control of Self-Excited Torsion Vibration in the Drive System
Authors: Gao Zhiying , Zang Yong , Wu Diping
Published: December 2011

According to the general drive system consisting of motor, gear reducer and working-load, a torsion dynamics model with three-degree-of-freedom is established, in which the nonlinear resistance torque is considered. Based on the Hurwitz algorithm criterion, the Hopf bifurcation and critical points are analyzed and the stable parameter domains are obtained. Furthermore introducing the feedback controller into the initial system, the stability of self-excited vibration originating from the way of Hopf bifurcation is investigated. The critical parameters can be shifted by adjusting the linear gain for the purpose of enlarging the stable parameter domains. Applying the central manifold theorem, the amplitude of periodic motion and the unstable divergent vibration can be suppressed through selecting appropriate nonlinear control parameter. In addition, all these theoretical results are verified by numerical simulation.
Automotive Interior Noise Prediction Based on Single Sound Cavity Using Statistical Energy Analysis Method
Authors: Chen Shuming , Wang Dengfeng , Lei Yingfeng
Published: December 2011

In order to predict car interior noises at the car design and development stage, the statistical energy analysis (SEA) method was used. All the input parameters – modal density (MD), damping loss factor (DLF) and coupling loss factor (CLF) were calculated with SEA principle. Meanwhile, the sound excitation was calculated with sound power experiment data of internal combustion engine given by the engine manufacturer and sound source radiation formula. Engine mount excitation was also computed through the acceleration at initiative side of the engine mount and the transmissibility. A car virtual prototype was built to calculate a car body suspension receiving excitation from road roughness. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was also built up to analyze the wind excitation on the outside surfaces. The car interior noises were predicted by the SEA model with all of the parameters and excitations. A good agreement was indicated by comparing predicted results with measured ones. The maximum relative error between prediction and measurement results is less than 3%, and the maximum absolute error is less than 2.5 dB (A). The above predicted results satisfy engineering precision requirements and as well as showing that using SEA method to predict car internal noises is feasible. The acoustic sensitivity analysis was made at the end. The car internal noise prediction method presented in the paper can be used at car design and development stage.