bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Smartphone Applications in Hypertension Management: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sultana Shaheen , Aguda Kayode , Mowo-wale Adetola , Azipu Regina , Nzotta Chiedozie Steven , Alzaki Sadam Abualbshr Mohammed , Obi Marian , Ezewudo Onyinye , Mohamed Abdelhay Hassan Taha , Gopal Shwetha , Anyiman Tope Mwuese , Obiefuna Ngozika Grace , Winners Efi Uyoyou , Okunromade Omolola , Agbakahi Prince , Echere Jovita
Published: July 2024

Background: Hypertension is a global health challenge, affecting over a billion individuals worldwide. Despite the availability of effective treatments, control rates remain suboptimal. Emerging technologies, such as smartphone applications, offer new avenues to enhance hypertension management. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of smartphone applications in hypertension management.
Methods: To provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence, we systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized clinical trials that examined the use of smartphone applications in hypertension management. Our search included all relevant studies published until June 2023. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria relating to study design, patient population, intervention type, and outcome measures. Data were extracted and analyzed by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome of interest was blood pressure control, while secondary outcomes included medication adherence and health-related knowledge.
Results: From our systematic search, a total of 11 RCTs involving 1,685 participants met our inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The smartphone-based interventions varied widely across studies, ranging from simple text reminders to comprehensive digital therapeutics systems, and including education-based applications, self-monitoring programs, and telemonitoring systems. Collectively, these interventions demonstrated significant improvements in blood pressure control in the intervention groups compared to the standard care. Additionally, they showed increased medication adherence and enhanced health-related knowledge, suggesting potential benefits beyond blood pressure control.
Conclusion: The reviewed studies suggest that smartphone applications may provide a beneficial tool for managing hypertension. They show improvements in blood pressure control, medication adherence, and health-related knowledge. These findings underline the potential of digital health interventions to address a global health concern. Nevertheless, further robust, well-designed RCTs are needed to corroborate these findings and explore the long-term effectiveness, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of smartphone applications in hypertension management. With the rapid advancement in technology, the role of digital health in hypertension management is likely to become even more critical and complex, making this an area of crucial importance for future research.
Library Generation by Gene Shuffling
Authors: Meyer Adam J. , Ellefson Jared W. , Ellington Andrew D.
Published: January 2014

This unit describes the process of gene shuffling, also known as sexual PCR. Gene shuffling is a facile method for the generation of sequence libraries containing the information from a family of related genes. Essentially, related genes are fragmented by DNase I digestion and reassembled by primer‐less PCR. The resulting chimeric genes can then be screened or selected for a desired function. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 105:15.12.1‐15.12.7. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Numerical study on relationship between lightning types and distribution of space charge and electric potential
Authors: Tan Yongbo , Tao Shanchang , Liang Zhongwu , Zhu Baoyou
Published: January 2014

The favorable factors that affect the initiation of intracloud (IC) lightning and cloud‐to‐ground (CG) flashes are investigated by using a fine resolution two‐dimensional lightning model. Simulation results indicate that potential at initiation point is a key to decide whether downward leader reaches ground. The absolute values of initiation potential of CG flashes are greater than 30 MV, while the absolute values of initiation potential of IC lightning are basically less than 30 MV. Since potential field is determined by space charge distributions, polarities and types of lightning discharges are also dependent on relative locations and magnitudes of positive and negative charge zones near initiation points. In general, dipoles (positive charge above negative) initiate normal IC lightning and positive CG flashes and inverted dipoles are associated with inverted IC lightning and negative CG flashes. The magnitude of upper charge near initiation point is generally larger than that of lower charge when CG flashes occur, and the two are comparable when IC lightning occur. For CG flashes, the magnitude of lower charge near initiation points should be enough for initiation breakdown, but not so strong that the lower potential well prevents propagation to ground. In addition, CG flashes are initiated within various special charge distributions, only if the reference potentials at initiation point are far away from 0 MV.
The global extent of the mid stratospheric CN layer: A three‐dimensional modeling study
Authors: Campbell Patrick , Mills Michael , Deshler Terry
Published: January 2014

For the first time the global extent of a mid stratospheric new particle layer is addressed, using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Earth System Model, version 1 (CESM1), with the high‐top atmosphere component, the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). The CESM1(WACCM) version has been configured for pure sulfate formation in the stratosphere, including the formation of late winter to spring condensation nuclei (CN), or small particle, layers of enhanced concentration in the polar regions. CESM1(WACCM) adequately reproduces, with some differences, a layer of observed (r > 3–10 nm) particles originating in the polar stratosphere as measured in both the Antarctic and northern mid latitude regions. The austral CN layer in August has nearly a symmetrical maximum in concentration within the 60–65°S latitude band and extends to 15°S. In comparison in February, the Northern Hemisphere CN layer has less symmetry and extends to only 30°N. CN concentrations in the mid stratosphere are variable due to the polar formation of the CN layer in each hemisphere, and the CN layer accounts for > 50–90% of the r > 3 nm particles in the stratospheric column poleward of 30°S and 35°N during winter and spring. The increase in CN concentration during the formation of the austral layer is not necessarily smooth. There may be fluctuations related to changes in temperature, partitioning of sulfuric acid, and the competition between nucleation, condensation, and coagulation. CESM1(WACCM) also predicts fall CN layers in both hemispheres. There are no observations to compare with this prediction.
Robust ensemble selection by multivariate evaluation of extreme precipitation and temperature characteristics
Authors: Thober Stephan , Samaniego Luis
Published: January 2014

Extreme hydrometeorological events often cause severe socioeconomic damage. For water resources assessments and policy recommendations, future extreme hydrometeorological events must be correctly estimated. For this purpose, projections from Regional Climate Models (RCMs) are increasingly used to provide estimates of meteorological variables such as temperature and precipitation. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether a full ensemble or a subset of RCMs reproduces the spatiotemporal variability of observed extremes better than single models. The implications for policy recommendations and impact assessments are then discussed. In particular, the key conditions under which a subset of RCMs could be used for impact assessments are examined. Temperature and precipitation fields of 13 ENSEMBLES RCMs are compared against observations from Germany between 1961 and 2000. Eleven indices characterizing extreme meteorological events were selected for this comparison. The ability of the individual RCMs is estimated based on an overall score and a rejection rate. The former quantifies the biases of these indices. The latter estimates the mean statistical significance quantified by the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. The performance of all possible combinations of RCMs is investigated. Computationally feasible algorithms for finding the best‐performing subensemble are also presented and evaluated. One of the proposed algorithms is able to find subensembles with the lowest rejection rate, which are useful for either policy recommendations or impact assessments. These subsets of RCMs showed smaller and less significant bias than single RCMs or the full ensemble over several regions.
Near‐cloud aerosol properties from the 1 km resolution MODIS ocean product
Authors: Várnai Tamás , Marshak Alexander
Published: January 2014

This study examines aerosol properties in the vicinity of clouds by analyzing high‐resolution atmospheric correction parameters provided in the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) ocean color product. The study analyzes data from a 2 week long period of September in 10 years, covering a large area in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The results indicate that on the one hand, the Quality Assessment (QA) flags of the ocean color product successfully eliminate cloud‐related uncertainties in ocean parameters such as chlorophyll content, but on the other hand, using the flags introduces a sampling bias in atmospheric products such as aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and Angstrom exponent. Therefore, researchers need to select QA flags by balancing the risks of increased retrieval uncertainties and sampling biases. Using an optimal set of QA flags, the results reveal substantial increases in optical thickness near clouds—on average the increase is 50% for the roughly half of pixels within 5 km from clouds and is accompanied by a roughly matching increase in particle size. Theoretical simulations show that the 50% increase in 550 nm AOT changes instantaneous direct aerosol radiative forcing by up to 8 W/m2 and that the radiative impact is significantly larger if observed near‐cloud changes are attributed to aerosol particles as opposed to undetected cloud particles. These results underline that accounting for near‐cloud areas and understanding the causes of near‐cloud particle changes are critical for accurate calculations of direct aerosol radiative forcing.
Can dynamically downscaled windstorm footprints be improved by observations through a probabilistic approach?
Authors: Haas Rabea , Pinto Joaquim G. , Born Kai
Published: January 2014

Windstorms are a main feature of the European climate and exert strong socioeconomic impacts. Large effort has been made in developing and enhancing models to simulate the intensification of windstorms, resulting footprints, and associated impacts. Simulated wind or gust speeds usually differ from observations, as regional climate models have biases and cannot capture all local effects. An approach to adjust regional climate model (RCM) simulations of wind and wind gust toward observations is introduced. For this purpose, 100 windstorms are selected and observations of 173 (111) test sites of the German Weather Service are considered for wind (gust) speed. Theoretical Weibull distributions are fitted to observed and simulated wind and gust speeds, and the distribution parameters of the observations are interpolated onto the RCM computational grid. A probability mapping approach is applied to relate the distributions and to correct the modeled footprints. The results are not only achieved for single test sites but for an area‐wide regular grid. The approach is validated using root‐mean‐square errors on event and site basis, documenting that the method is generally able to adjust the RCM output toward observations. For gust speeds, an improvement on 88 of 100 events and at about 64% of the test sites is reached. For wind, 99 of 100 improved events and ~84% improved sites can be obtained. This gives confidence on the potential of the introduced approach for many applications, in particular those considering wind data.
Online user‐friendly slant total electron content computation from IRI‐Plas: IRI‐Plas‐STEC
Authors: Tuna Hakan , Arikan Orhan , Arikan Feza , Gulyaeva Tamara L. , Sezen Umut
Published: January 2014

Slant total electron content (STEC), the total number of free electrons on a ray path, is an important space weather observable. STEC is the main input for computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT). STEC can be estimated using the dual‐frequency GPS receivers. GPS‐STEC contains the space weather variability, yet the estimates are prone to measurement and instrument errors that are not related to the physical structure of the ionosphere. International Reference Ionosphere Extended to Plasmasphere (IRI‐Plas) is the international standard climatic model of ionosphere and plasmasphere, providing vertical electron density profiles for a desired date, time, and location. IRI‐Plas is used as the background model in CIT. Computation of STEC from IRI‐Plas is a tedious task for researchers due to extensive geodetic calculations and IRI‐Plas runs. In this study, IONOLAB group introduces a new space weather service to facilitate the computation of STEC from IRI‐Plas (IRI‐Plas‐STEC) at www.ionolab.org. The IRI‐Plas‐STEC can be computed online for a desired location, date, hour, elevation, and azimuth angle. The user‐friendly interface also provides means for computation of IRI‐STEC for a desired location and date to indicate the variability in hour of the day, elevation, or azimuth angles. The desired location can be chosen as a GPS receiver in International GNSS Service (IGS) or EUREF Permanent Network (EPN). Also instead of specifying elevation and azimuth angles, the user can directly choose from the GPS satellites and obtain IRI‐Plas‐STEC for a desired date and/or hour. The computed IRI‐Plas‐STEC values are presented directly on the screen or via e‐mail as both text and plots.
Hydrophobic coating of silicate phosphor powder using atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma
Authors: Trinh Quang Hung , Lee Sang Baek , Mok Young Sun
Published: January 2014

A stable superhydrophobic coating was successfully deposited on commercial silicate‐based orange phosphor by using atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma with hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) and HMDSO/toluene mixture as precursors. Owning to the good optical properties, the deposited film acts not only as a hydrophobic protective layer but also as an antireflection optical thin film capable of improving the phosphor photoluminescence efficiency. The plasma‐polymerized film based on SiOSi backbone containing methyl and phenyl nonpolar functional groups exhibited high‐water‐repellent characteristics. It was found that the water contact angle gradually increased with increasing the aging time and remained unchanged at about 140° after 1‐month aging. Besides, the thermal stability of the coated phosphor under high‐temperature condition was substantially enhanced by the aging. The findings of this work can contribute to improving the durability and reliability of the phosphor, eventually the long‐term stability of phosphor‐based light emitting diodes in practical applications. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 829–838, 2014
Frontal cationic curing of epoxy resins in the presence of defoaming or expanding compounds
Authors: Scognamillo Sergio , Bounds Chris , Thakuri Suman , Mariani Alberto , Wu Qinglin , Pojman John A.
Published: January 2014

Thermal frontal polymerization was carried out with trimethylol propane triglycidyl ether using two different BF3‐amine complexes, B‐950 and B‐110 from Leepoxy, as initiators for cationic polymerization. The amounts of filler (kaolin or fumed silica), defoaming, or expansion agents were varied to study how the compositions affected the front velocity, expansion, and flexural modulus of the resulting epoxy resins. The polymer produced with B‐950 initiator showed higher modulus than the polymers produced with B‐110. Moreover, fumed silica created stronger materials than kaolin. The presence of BYK as a defoamer or an expansion agent such as the Expancel #80 was also able to affect significantly the mechanical properties. differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated that the conversion was complete and that kaolin and silica increased the rate of reaction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40339.
INSOS—educational system for teaching intelligent systems
Authors: Marković Marko , Kostić Kovačević Ivana , Nikolić Olivera , Nikolić Boško
Published: January 2014

The basic features of a INSOS software system developed to support the teaching of Intelligent Systems and experiences gained in using it at the Singidunum University Computer Engineering Department, have been presented. The system has been used by students for the self‐learning and the work in the laboratory. They have the possibility to test abstract algorithms that are explained in classes and to explore their visual simulation. Its purpose is to demonstrate the application of theoretical knowledge in practice. Students are using it not only to understand how certain algorithms function, but also to gain insight into how they can be applied in practice and how to choose the right algorithm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 23:268–276, 2015; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21595
Catheterization Therapy vs Surgical Closure in Pediatric Patients With Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang Kai , Pan Xuanren , Tang Qiaoyun , Pang Yusheng
Published: January 2014

Background

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains a common congenital heart disease in pediatric patients, and the new trend of catheterization therapy is still associated with some potential risks and complications.

Hypothesis

Compared with surgical closure, the clinical effect of catheterization therapy in pediatric PDA patients requires meta‐analysis.

Methods

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Science Citation Index, Web of Science, and the Chinese Biomedicine literature database was conducted. Eligible studies included controlled trials of pediatric PDA patients receiving catheterization therapy vs surgical closure. Relative risks (RRs), standard mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test.

Results

Seven studies with a total of 810 patients met the inclusion criteria. Catheterization therapy neither significantly increased the primary success rate (RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.82‐1.03, P = 0.16) nor reduced the total postprocedure complications (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.44‐1.25, P = 0.26) and blood transfusion (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.16‐7.67, P = 0.93). Catheterization was associated with a statistically significant increase in residual shunts (RR: 5.19, 95% CI: 1.41‐19.20, P = 0.01) and reduction in length of hospital stay (standard mean difference: −1.66, 95% CI: −2.65 to −0.67, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Catheterization therapy in pediatric PDA patients did not show a significant advantage in primary success rate, total complications, or blood transfusion, but it was associated with increase in residual shunts and reduction in length of hospital stay.
Multi‐resolution analysis for high accuracy and efficiency of Euler computation
Authors: Kang Hyungmin , Park Kyunghyun , Kim Kyuhong , Lee Dohyung
Published: January 2014

A multi‐resolution analysis (MRA) is proposed for efficient flow computation with preserving the high‐order numerical accuracy of a conventional solver. In the MRA process, the smoothness of a flow pattern is assessed by the difference between original flow property values, and the values approximated by high‐order interpolating polynomial in decomposition. Insignificant data in smooth region are discarded, and flux computation is performed only where crucial features of a solution exist. The reduction of expensive flow computation improves the overall computational efficiency. In order to maintain the high‐order accuracy, modified thresholding procedure restricts the additional error introduced by the thresholding below the order of accuracy of a conventional solver. The practical applicability of the MRA method is validated in various continuous and discontinuous flow problems. The MRA stably computes the Euler equations for continuous and discontinuous flow problems and maintains the accuracy of a conventional solver. Overall, it substantially enhances the computational efficiency of the conventional third‐order accurate solver. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Tougher the Better: An Economic Analysis of Increased Payment Thresholds on the Performance of General Practices
Authors: Feng Yan , Ma Ada , Farrar Shelley , Sutton Matt
Published: January 2014

We investigate whether and how a change in performance‐related payment motivated General Practitioners (GPs) in Scotland. We evaluate the effect of increases in the performance thresholds required for maximum payment under the Quality and Outcomes Framework in April 2006. A difference‐in‐differences estimator with fixed effects was employed to examine the number of patients treated under clinical indicators whose payment schedules were revised and to compare these with the figures for those indicators whose schedules remained unchanged. The results suggest that the increase in the maximum performance thresholds increased GPs' performance by 1.77% on average. Low‐performing GPs improved significantly more (13.22%) than their high‐performing counterparts (0.24%). Changes to maximum performance thresholds are differentially effective in incentivising GPs and could be used further to raise GPs' performance across all indicators. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of verbal ability and fluid intelligence on children's emotion understanding
Authors: De Stasio Simona , Fiorilli Caterina , Di Chiacchio Carlo
Published: January 2014

This study investigated the role of verbal ability and fluid intelligence on children's emotion understanding, testing the hypothesis that fluid intelligence predicts the development of emotion comprehension over and above age and verbal ability. One hundred and two children (48 girls) aged 3.6–6 years completed the Test of Emotion Comprehension (TEC) that comprised external and mental components, the Coloured Progressive Matrices and the Test for Reception of Grammar. Regression analysis showed that fluid intelligence was not equally related to the external and mental components of the TEC (Pons & Harris, 2000). Specifically, the results indicated that the external component was related to age and verbal ability only, whereas recognition of mental emotional patterns required abstract reasoning skills more than age and verbal ability. It is concluded that the development of fluid intelligence has a significant role in the development of mental component of emotion comprehension.
Reduced antinociceptive responsiveness to hyperbaric oxygen in opioid‐tolerant mice
Authors: Zhang Y. , Stolz P.A. , Shirachi D.Y. , Quock R.M.
Published: January 2014

Background

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy can produce analgesia in patients experiencing various conditions of chronic pain. Previously, we reported that naloxone antagonized the acute antinociceptive effect of both brief (11 min) and longer (60 min) HBO2 treatments. This implied a possible role for opioid receptors in the antinociceptive effects of HBO2.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether mice previously rendered as tolerant to opioid agonists would exhibit a reduced antinociceptive responsiveness to HBO2.

Methods

Male NIH Swiss mice were given repeated injections of the opioid agonists morphine, fentanyl or (‐)‐U50488H over 4 days to induce tolerance at their respective opioid receptors. Mice receiving saline according to a similar injection schedule served as a vehicle control group. On day 5, 15 h after the last injection, mice received either an antinociceptive challenge dose of the opioid agonists or a 30‐min HBO2 exposure at 3.5 atmosphere absolute. The antinociception was then assessed by the 0.6% acetic acid‐induced abdominal constriction test.

Results

The results showed that mice rendered as tolerant to morphine, fentanyl or (‐)‐U50488H pretreatment all exhibited reduced antinociceptive responsiveness to themselves and HBO2.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that both μ‐ and κ‐opioid receptors are involved in mediation of the acute antinociceptive response to HBO2.
Novel RANK Antagonists for the Treatment of Bone-Resorptive Disease: Theoretical Predictions and Experimental Validation
Authors: Téletchéa Stéphane , Stresing Verena , Hervouet Soizic , Baud'huin Marc , Heymann Marie-Françoise , Bertho Gildas , Charrier Céline , Ando Kosei , Heymann Dominique
Published: January 2014

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) and RANK ligand (RANKL) play a pivotal role in bone metabolism, and selective targeting of RANK signaling has become a promising therapeutic strategy in the management of resorptive bone diseases. Existing antibody-based therapies and novel inhibitors currently in development were designed to target the ligand, rather than the membrane receptor expressed on osteoclast precursors. We describe here an alternative approach to designing small peptides able to specifically bind to the hinge region of membrane RANK responsible for the conformational change upon RANKL association. A nonapeptide generated by this method was validated for its biological activity in vitro and in vivo and served as a lead compound for the generation of a series of peptide RANK antagonists derived from the original sequence. Our study presents a structure- and knowledge-based strategy for the design of novel effective and affordable small peptide inhibitors specifically targeting the receptor RANK and opens a new therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of resorptive bone disease. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Stability of the Positive Mood Effect on Creativity When Task Switching, Practice Effect, and Test Item Differences are Taken into Consideration
Authors: Tan Chee‐Seng , Qu Li
Published: January 2014

Although experimentally induced positive mood can generally last for 20 min and the induced mood is conducive to creative performance, it is still unclear whether the facilitation effect is stable during these 20 min. Two studies were conducted to examine this issue while controlling for the impacts of task switching, practice effect, and test item differences. In Study 1, participants (N = 42) were randomly assigned to positive, negative, and neutral mood conditions. After watching a short video clip, participants answered four items of the Alternate Uses Test (AUT) in 20 min, with 5 min allotted for each item. Creative performance during each 5‐min period was scored in terms of fluency and flexibility. Separate repeated‐measures analyses of variances on these creativity scores showed that positive mood consistently enhanced performance over 20 min. Study 2 further eliminated the effects of test item differences and test order. Participants (N = 131) underwent the same mood induction procedure and answered the same four items of the AUT, except that these items were presented in four different sequences in accordance with the Latin square design. Consistent with the findings in Study 1, Study 2 showed that the facilitation effect of positive mood lasted for 20 min when the interference of task switching, practice effect, and test item differences were minimized. This finding not only sheds light on the debate regarding the stability of experimentally induced positive mood effect, but also contributes to the body of empirical evidence that future studies may use to examine the positive mood effect over a relatively long period of time.
A pre‐operative nomogram for decision making in oncological surgical emergencies
Authors: Dumont Frédéric , Mazouni Chafika , Bitsakou Georgina , Morice Philippe , Goéré Diane , Honoré Charles , Elias Dominique
Published: January 2014

Background

The purpose of the study was to propose a clinical decision‐making tool for predicting mortality in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery with a palliative intent in the oncology setting.

Methods

Identification of all emergency surgical procedures performed in a Department of Oncologic Surgery in a Comprehensive Cancer Center between January 2008 and January 2013. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression models were used to identify factors predicitve of mortality at 3 months and survival probabilities. Models were internally validated using bootstrapping and calibration.

Results

The mortality rates were 30% at 1 month, 46.7% at 3 months and 83.3% at the end of the study. One model based on the albumin level and the P‐POSSUM score (AUC: 0.725) adequately predicted mortality at 3 months. A survival nomogram predicted mortality with a concordance index (CI) of 0.718, using the following factors: WHO performance status (P = 0.02), albumin level (P < 0.01) and P‐POSSUM score (P < 0.01). The origin or the extent of the carcinoma did not own sufficient pronostic impact to be selected in this model.

Conclusions

Pre‐operative mortality risk scores can be developed in a palliative context. Physicians counselling and surgical decision making should be based on the use of these tools. J. Surg. Oncol 2014; 109:721–725. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of homocysteine with ventricular dilatation and brain atrophy in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sapkota Shraddha , Gee Myrlene , Sabino Jennifer , Emery Derek , Camicioli Richard
Published: January 2014

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients are treated with levodopa (l‐dopa) to help stabilize their impaired motor abilities; however, l‐dopa leads to increased homocysteine (Hcy) levels, which may have a deleterious effect on brain structure and function. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of increased Hcy concentration on global brain atrophy as determined by magnetic resonance imaging in PD patients and controls. The effect of high Hcy level on ventricular dilatation (percentage of intracranial volume [%ICV]) and total tissue volume (%ICV) was examined at baseline and longitudinally at 36 months. Age, sex, education, and l‐dopa duration (in PD patients) were included as covariates. Elevated Hcy levels correlated positively with ventricular dilatation (%ICV) in the whole sample (P = 0.004) and in the PD group (P = 0.008). At baseline, adults with a high Hcy level (>14 μmol/L) had higher ventricular volume (%ICV) than adults with a low Hcy level (≤14 μmol/L) in the whole sample (P = 0.006) and in the PD group (P = 0.03), which persisted over 36 months in both the whole sample (P = 0.004) and the PD group (P = 0.03). PD patients with high Hcy concentrations had a greater rate of ventricular enlargement (%ICV) over time compared with those with low Hcy concentration (P = 0.02). Elevated Hcy concentration was associated with increased ventricular dilatation (%ICV) in PD patients. A larger sample with a broader age range and longer follow‐up is needed to establish the consequences of high Hcy level, including interactions with genetic and environmental risk factors, in PD. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
An improved approximation algorithm for the capacitated TSP with pickup and delivery on a tree
Authors: Xu Zhou , Lai Xiaofan , Lim Andrew , Wang Fan
Published: January 2014

In this research, we study the capacitated traveling salesman problem with pickup and delivery (CTSPPD) on a tree, which aims to determine the best route for a vehicle with a finite capacity to transport amounts of a product from pickup points to delivery points on a tree network, such that the vehicle's total travel distance is kept to a minimum. It has several applications in logistics and is known to be NP‐hard. We develop a 2‐approximation algorithm that is a significant improvement over the best constant approximation ratio of 5 derived from existing CTSPPD literature. Computational results show that the proposed algorithm also achieves good average performance over randomly generated instances. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 63(2), 179–195 2014
Scheduling unit time arc shutdowns to maximize network flow over time: Complexity results
Authors: Boland Natashia , Kapoor Reena , Kaur Simranjit , Kalinowski Thomas
Published: January 2014

We study the problem of scheduling maintenance on arcs of a capacitated network to maximize the total flow from a source node to a sink node over a set of time periods. Maintenance on an arc shuts down the arc for the duration of the period in which its maintenance is scheduled, making its capacity zero for that period. A set of arcs is designated to have maintenance during the planning period, which will require each to be shut down for exactly one time period. In general this problem is known to be NP‐hard. Here we identify a number of characteristics that are relevant for the complexity of instance classes. In particular, we discuss instances with restrictions on the set of arcs that have maintenance to be scheduled; series‐parallel networks; capacities that are balanced, in the sense that the total capacity of arcs entering a (nonterminal) node equals the total capacity of arcs leaving the node; and identical capacities on all arcs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 63(2), 196–202 2014
Revisiting deadlock prevention: A probabilistic approach
Authors: Oliveira Fabiano de S. , Barbosa Valmir C.
Published: January 2014

We revisit the deadlock‐prevention problem by focusing on priority digraphs instead of the traditional wait‐for digraphs. This has allowed us to formulate deadlock prevention in terms of prohibiting the occurrence of directed cycles even in the most general of wait models (the so‐called AND‐OR model, in which prohibiting wait‐for directed cycles is generally overly restrictive). For a particular case in which the priority digraphs are somewhat simplified, we introduce a Las Vegas probabilistic mechanism for resource granting and analyze its key aspects in detail. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 63(2), 203–210 2014
In Brief: Genomic imprinting and imprinting diseases
Authors: Horsthemke Bernhard
Published: January 2014

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process by which the male and the female germline confer different DNA methylation marks and histone modifications onto specific gene regions, so that one allele of an imprinted gene is active and the other one is silent. Since the dosage of imprinted genes is important for normal development, growth and behaviour, the loss or duplication of the active allele can cause disease. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. www.pathsoc.org.uk
Protein extraction from plant tissues for 2DE and its application in proteomic analysis
Authors: Wu Xiaolin , Gong Fangping , Wang Wei
Published: January 2014

Plant tissues contain large amounts of secondary compounds that significantly interfere with protein extraction and 2DE analysis. Thus, sample preparation is a crucial step prior to 2DE in plant proteomics. This tutorial highlights the guidelines that need to be followed to perform an adequate total protein extraction before 2DE in plant proteomics. We briefly describe the history, development, and feature of major sample preparation methods for the 2DE analysis of plant tissues, that is, trichloroacetic acid/acetone precipitation and phenol extraction. We introduce the interfering compounds in plant tissues and the general guidelines for tissue disruption, protein precipitation and resolubilization. We describe in details the advantages, limitations, and application of the trichloroacetic acid/acetone precipitation and phenol extraction methods to enable the readers to select the appropriate method for a specific species, tissue, or cell type. The current applications of the sample preparation methods in plant proteomics in the literature are analyzed. A comparative proteomic analysis between male and female plants of Pistacia chinensis is used as an example to represent the sample preparation methodology in 2DE‐based proteomics. Finally, the current limitations and future development of these sample preparation methods are discussed. This Tutorial is part of the International Proteomics Tutorial Programme (IPTP17).
A rapid one‐step method for the characterization of membrane lipid remodeling in Francisella using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Yanyan , Wang Xiaoyuan , Ernst Robert K.
Published: January 2014

Lipids are essential components of all bacterial membranes. The most common membrane‐associated lipids in Gram‐negative bacteria are phospholipids and lipid A, the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide. Diversity in these lipids arises through structural modifications that include changes in the length and location of fatty acids, and the addition of phosphate and carbohydrate moieties. Analysis of individual structural modifications normally requires large quantities of starting material and multiple methods for the isolation, hydrolysis, and analysis. In this study, we developed a novel one‐step protocol for the combined isolation of phospholipids and lipid A from Francisella subspecies followed by analysis using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. The total time for lipid isolation and analysis was approximately 15 min and with a lower limit of detection of approximately 100 ng of purified lipid. This protocol identified the major lipid structures using both wild‐type Ft subspecies strains and lipid A biosynthesis mutants. We also determined the relative levels of individual lipid A and phospholipids after growth under conditions that mimic the mammalian infection process. This analysis showed that the bacterial membranes remodeled rapidly to adapt to changes in environmental growth conditions and may be important for Francisella pathogenesis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Adenosine Monophosphate Used in Combination with L-Arginine on Female Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum Tissue
Authors: Stücker Olivier , Pons Catherine , Neuzillet Yann , Laemmel Elisabeth , Lebret Thierry
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Sexual dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in women than in men. However, to date, no satisfactory oral treatment is yet available.

Aim

The aim of this study was to study the effects of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) alone or its combination with L-Arginine on the relaxation of the female rabbit corpus cavernosum.

Methods

Cylinder strips from the corporal body of the excised clitoris from female New Zealand White rabbits were incubated in Krebs solution. Phenylephrine (PE) precontraction was achieved, then the drugs AMP and L-Arginine were administered either independently or in sequential combinations to the strips under precontracted conditions.

Main Outcome Measures

Contraction percentages were compared.

Results

When precontraction was induced by PE 8 μM or 20 μM, AMP was shown to induce relaxation up to 25% in a dose-dependent manner. The relaxation induced by L-Arginine reached 15.6% at 5.10−4 M vs. 16.5% at AMP 5.10−4 M under the same experimental conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine strongly inhibited the relaxing effect provoked by AMP, suggesting that the action mechanism of this nucleotide is related to the NO pathway. The combination of L-Arginine at 5.10−4 M with AMP at different doses ranging from 5.10−4 M to 10−3 M significantly amplified the relaxing response up to 40.7% and 58%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that AMP induces a relaxing effect on the female rabbit corpora. They also show that L-Arginine and AMP can potentiate each other and that a synergistic effect can be obtained by their combined use. Because only slight differences exist between both sexes in response to NO donors and/or nucleotide purines or in their use together, it is very likely that close biochemical mechanisms, although not to the same degree and not quite similar, are involved in the engorgement of the penis and the clitoris of New Zealand White rabbits.
Compositionality and Structured Propositions
Authors: Keller Lorraine Juliano , Keller John A. ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: January 2014

In this article, we evaluate the Compositionality Argument for structured propositions. This argument hinges on two seemingly innocuous and widely accepted premises: the Principle of Semantic Compositionality and Propositionalism (the thesis that sentential semantic values are propositions). We show that the Compositionality Argument presupposes that compositionality involves a form of building, and that this metaphysically robust account of compositionality is subject to counter-example: there are compositional representational systems that this principle cannot accommodate. If this is correct, one of the most important arguments for structured propositions is undermined.
A safer net propelled device to capture wild turkey
Authors: Lavoie Maxime , Blanchette Pierre , Tremblay Jean‐Pierre , Larivière Serge
Published: January 2014

We compared 2 net‐propelled devices to capture eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris). One device, the rocket‐net, employs explosives for propulsion and is currently the most effective and widespread method used to capture this species. The second device, the net blaster, works with compressed air instead of explosives. During 2009–2012, we captured 344 wild turkeys using rocket‐nets (n = 30 attempts) and net blasters (n = 15 attempts). Both devices had a similar capture success rate; but malfunctioning was twice as common with the rocket‐net as with the net blaster, as was the rate of injuries to captured wild turkeys. However, rocket‐nets did not have a higher rate of capture‐related mortality. The net blaster was more difficult to handle, more expensive, and did not work when temperatures were below −20°C. Overall the net blaster proved to be more efficient capturing wild turkeys and was safer than the rocket‐net. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Chitosan-zinc chelate improves intestinal structure and mucosal function and decreases apoptosis in ileal mucosal epithelial cells in weaned pigs
Authors: Han Xin-Yan , Ma Yuan-Fei , Lv Meng-Yuan , Wu Zhi-Peng , Qian Li-Chun
Published: January 2014

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of chitosan (CS)-Zn on intestinal morphology, mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis and mucosal immune function in weanling pigs. A total of 150 weanling barrows with a body weight of 7·2 kg were randomly allocated into five groups. A basal diet without Zn supplementation was used as the control and other four groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 50 or 100 mg/kg of Zn as CS-Zn, 100 mg/kg of Zn as ZnSO4 and 3000 mg/kg of Zn as ZnO, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 28 d. The results showed that serum diamine oxidase activities, d-lactate levels and endotoxin contents were lower in pigs fed dietary 100 mg/kg of Zn as CS-Zn or 3000 mg/kg of Zn as ZnO than in pigs fed the control or 100 mg Zn/kg as ZnSO4 diet. The ratios of the villus height:crypt depth of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were higher in pigs that received 100 mg/kg of Zn as CS-Zn or a high level of Zn as ZnO than in pigs fed the control diet. Moreover, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL)-stained ileal epithelial cells were found in the control group, and apoptotic cells did not appear prominently in pigs that received the 100 mg/kg of CS-Zn or ZnO diet. Secretory IgA concentration in ileal mucus was increased in the dietary group that received 100 mg/kg of CS-Zn or ZnO. These results indicated that dietary 100 mg CS-Zn/kg had similar biological effects to dietary 3000 mg ZnO/kg on intestinal morphology, mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis and mucosal immune function.
The Sexual Policies and Sexual Realities of the German Occupiers in Poland in the Second World War
Authors: RÖGER MAREN
Published: January 2014

Sexual policies were a core component of the National Socialist racial policies, both in the Altreich (territories considered part of Nazi Germany before 1938), as well as in the occupied territories. In occupied Poland the Germans imposed a ‘prohibition of contact’ (Umgangsverbot) with the local Polish population, a restriction that covered both social as well as sexual encounters. But this model of absolute racial segregation was never truly implemented. This paper attempts to show that there existed a wide range of sexual contacts between the occupiers and the local inhabitants, with the focus here being on consensual and forced contacts (sexual violence) as seen against the backdrop of National Socialist policies. This article positions itself at the intersection of the history of everyday life (Alltagsgeschichte), the history of sexuality and the gender history of the German occupation of Poland – perspectives that have rarely been used with regard to this region.
Fascism and Political Religion in Italy: A Reassessment
Authors: ADAMSON WALTER L.
Published: January 2014

This article challenges the currently dominant understanding of Italian Fascism as a ‘political religion’, arguing that this view depends upon an outdated model of secularisation and treats Fascism's sacralisation of politics in isolation from church–state relations, the Catholic Church itself and popular religious experience in Italy. Based upon an historiographical review and analysis of what we now know about secularisation and these other religious phenomena, the article suggests that only when we grasp Italian Fascist political religion in relation to secularisation properly understood, and treat it in the context of religious experience and its history as a whole can the nature of Italian Fascism be adequately grasped.
Autonomy and Ideology: Brezhnev, Ceauşescu and the World Communist Movement
Authors: STANCIU CEZAR
Published: January 2014

One of Leonid Brezhnev's primary goals when he acceded to party leadership in the Soviet Union was to restore Moscow's control over the world communist movement, severely undermined by the Sino-Soviet dispute. Nicolae Ceauşescu of Romania was determined to prevent this, in order to consolidate his country's autonomy in the Communist bloc. The Sino-Soviet dispute offered the political and ideological framework for autonomy, as the Romanian Communists claimed their neutrality in the dispute. This article describes Ceauşescu's efforts to sabotage Brezhnev's attempts to have China condemned by an international meeting of Communist parties between 1967 and 1969. His basic ideological argument was that unity of world communism should have a polycentric meaning.