bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polarity control of intrinsic ZnO films using substrate bias
Authors: Williams Jesse R. , Furukawa Hirokazu , Adachi Yutaka , Grachev Sergey , Søndergård Elin , Ohashi Naoki
Published: July 2013

The structures and properties of zinc oxide thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering were investigated for different substrate biases applied during deposition. The electrical bias determined the crystalline polarity of a nominally undoped film on an amorphous substrate: films with a (0001) surface and a (0001¯) surface were produced under positive and negative biases, respectively. Moreover, the polarity of the films was determined at an early stage of the deposition and could not be reversed by switching the substrate bias.
Measurements of configurational anisotropy in isolated sub-micron square permalloy dots
Authors: Endean Daniel E. , Weigelt C. T. , Victora R. H. , Dan Dahlberg E.
Published: July 2013

We measure a shape dependent anisotropy energy in isolated square permalloy dots with characteristic dimensions as small as 200 nm. The magnetization behavior is characterized using the anisotropic magnetoresistance to determine the magnetic state of the sample. The behavior is consistent with the sample adopting a quasi-single-domain magnetization with a direction determined by an anisotropy intrinsic to the square geometry. We quantify the magnitude of this anisotropy through two independent measurements and confirm the observed magnetic behavior with micromagnetic simulations.
Internal standard for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Bortchagovsky E. , Schmid T. , Zenobi R.
Published: July 2013

This article presents a concept for the realization of an internal standard for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and shows a proof-of-principle of this idea. The local enhancement is monitored by the Raman signal of a reference compound chemisorbed on the tip. In this way, we are able to bring a constant amount of the reference material to all measuring points without contamination of the system of interest, and always keep it positioned in the same enhanced field that acts on the analyte on the sample surface.
Photoresponse in arrays of thermoelectric nanowire junctions
Authors: Huber T. E. , Scott R. , Johnson S. , Brower T. , Belk J. H. , Hunt J. H.
Published: July 2013

We report the first demonstration of optical detection by thermoelectric nanowire junctions. We employed devices composed of bismuth nanowire arrays which are capped with a transparent indium tin oxide electrode. The incident surface features very low optical reflectivity and enhanced light trapping. The unique attributes of the thermoelectric arrays are the combination of strong temporal and optical wavelength dependences of the photocurrent. Under infrared illumination, the signal can be completely described by thermoelectric effects considering cooling rates given by heat diffusion through the array. In addition, under visible illumination, we observe a photovoltaic response.
Influence of thermal energy on exchange-bias studied by finite-element simulations
Authors: Dean J. , Kohn A. , Kovács A. , Allwood D. A. , Suess D. , Schrefl T.
Published: July 2013

In this article we describe the thermal relaxation in anti-ferromagnetic/ferromagnetic bilayers using a hybrid method that combines a kinetic Monte Carlo technique with magnetization dynamics following the Landau Lifshitz Gilbert equation. A granular anti-ferromagnetic layer is exchange coupled to an amorphous ferromagnetic layer and discretized using a finite element method. Calculations are made to help clarify how the underlying magnetic structure is related to the measured exchange bias fields as a function of temperature for the case of amorphous Co65.5Fe14.5B20/granular Ir22Mn78 bilayers. Our calculations are in excellent agreement with experimentally measured macro-magnetic properties of these bilayers.
Tendency of a rotating electron plasma to approach the Brillouin limit
Authors: Gueroult Renaud , Fruchtman Amnon , Fisch Nathaniel J.
Published: July 2013

A neutral plasma is considered to be immersed in an axial magnetic field together with a radial electric field. If the electrons are magnetized, but the ions are not magnetized, then the electrons will rotate but the ions will not rotate, leading to current generation. The currents, in turn, weaken the axial magnetic field, leading to an increase in the rotation frequency of the slow Brillouin mode. This produces a positive feedback effect, further weakening the magnetic field. The operating point thus tends to drift towards the Brillouin limit, possibly finding stability only in proximity to the limit itself. An example of this effect might be the cylindrical Hall thruster configuration.
Room-temperature magnetically modulated electroluminescence from hybrid organic/inorganic spintronics devices
Authors: Sun Dali , Basel Tek P. , Gautam Bhoj R. , Han Wei , Jiang Xin , Parkin Stuart S. P. , Valy Vardeny Z.
Published: July 2013

We report a hybrid organic/inorganic magnetic-field controlled light-emitting diode (h-OLED), in which an inorganic magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with large room temperature magnetoresistance is coupled to an OLED having efficient electroluminescence. In operation, the large resistance mismatch between the MTJ and OLED components is suppressed due to the non-linear I-V characteristic of the OLED. This leads to ∼80% giant magneto-electroluminescence at room temperature with emission in the red, green, and blue spectral ranges.
High intrinsic noise and absence of hysteresis in superconducting quantum interference devices with large Steward-McCumber parameter
Authors: Zeng Jia , Zhang Yi , Mück Michael , Krause Hans-Joachim , Braginski Alex I. , Kong Xiangyan , Xie Xiaoming , Offenhäusser Andreas , Jiang Mianheng
Published: July 2013

We investigated niobium thin film superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) with large Steward-McCumber parameter (βc > 1). No hysteresis was observed in the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the SQUIDs, even for βc ≈ 17. We attribute the absence of hysteresis to an excess voltage noise of the junctions which increases the SQUID intrinsic noise δΦs. It can be represented by an effective noise temperature T* of the SQUID which is higher than the bath temperature T. We simulated SQUID I-V characteristics using the measured device parameters and confirmed the absence of hysteresis.
Leaf traits of Eucalyptus arenacea (Myrtaceae) as indicators of edge effects in temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia
Authors: Wright Thomas E. , Kasel Sabine , Tausz Michael , Bennett Lauren T.
Published: July 2013

Despite recent trends in using plant functional traits to describe ecosystem responses to environmental change, few studies have examined the capacity of traits to represent environmental variation for individual species at small spatial scales, such as across forest edges. We examined the utility of 12 easy-to-measure leaf traits (fresh weight to dry weight ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), osmolality, δ13C, δ15N, and concentrations of key nutrients) to detect edge effects on the function of a dominant woodland tree, Eucalyptus arenacea Marginson & Ladiges. The study included replicate E. arenacea trees at the woodland edge (0 m) and interior (75 m from edge) of three woodlands adjoined by pasture and three woodlands adjoined by plantation established on pasture. Leaf traits proved useful in identifying potentially degrading processes at woodland edges. Notably, greater leaf P concentrations and δ15N in edge than interior trees irrespective of edge type (pasture versus plantation) indicated persistent effects of nutrient enrichment from agricultural practices; and leaf osmolality and Na concentrations indicated greatest exposure of woodland trees to salinity at pasture edges. Nonetheless, leaf traits proved less useful in detecting edge effects on tree physiology, with most traits being non-responsive to a pronounced interactive effect of edge type and distance from edge on physiological measures. In addition, negative correlations between SLA and physiological measures of tree productivity were contrary to global relationships. Overall, we found that although particular leaf traits indicated potentially degrading processes of nutrient enrichment and salinisation, they were not reliable indicators of small-scale edge effects on the physiological function of E. arenacea.
A warm-core eddy linking shelf, Leeuwin Current and oceanic waters demonstrated by near-shelf distribution patterns of Synechococcus spp. and Prochlorococcus spp. in the eastern Indian Ocean
Authors: Paterson Harriet , Heel Kathy , Waite Anya
Published: July 2013

In May 2006 (Austral autumn) the distribution and abundance of the cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp. and Prochlorococcus spp. were examined to assess the connectivity of a forming warm-core mesoscale eddy with the Leeuwin Current and shelf waters off south-west Western Australia. Distributions of the cyanobacteria resulted in two broad categories of samples, those dominated by Prochlorococcus spp. from subtropical and Leeuwin Current waters and those with mixed populations from shelf and eddy waters. Water temperature (21.45°C), salinity (35.46) and nitrate (0.33 μM) contributed to these groupings. Synechococcus spp. reached an integrated abundance of 3.3 × 108 cells cm–2 in warm shelf waters, with 60% of cells in G2 phase in the mid-afternoon (~16:00 hours). Cooler, nitrate-poor oceanic waters were almost exclusively inhabited by Prochlorococcus spp., with the highest abundance of 4.2 × 108 cells cm–2 in cool deep waters off the Capes in the south with 40% of cells in G2 phase in the evening (~19:00 hours). The eddy perimeter represented a clear boundary for both species, but showed connectivity between the shelf and eddy centre as both locations had a mixed community, dominated by Synechococcus spp. Eddies of the Leeuwin Current advect shelf waters, and their assemblages and productivity offshore.
Dynamic determination of the functional state in photolyase and the implication for cryptochrome
Authors: Liu Zheyun , Zhang Meng , Guo Xunmin , Tan Chuang , Li Jiang , Wang Lijuan , Sancar Aziz , Zhong Dongping
Published: July 2013

The flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor has an unusual bent configuration in photolyase and cryptochrome, and such a folded structure may have a functional role in initial photochemistry. Using femtosecond spectroscopy, we report here our systematic characterization of cyclic intramolecular electron transfer (ET) dynamics between the flavin and adenine moieties of flavin adenine dinucleotide in four redox forms of the oxidized, neutral, and anionic semiquinone, and anionic hydroquinone states. By comparing wild-type and mutant enzymes, we have determined that the excited neutral oxidized and semiquinone states absorb an electron from the adenine moiety in 19 and 135 ps, whereas the excited anionic semiquinone and hydroquinone states donate an electron to the adenine moiety in 12 ps and 2 ns, respectively. All back ET dynamics occur ultrafast within 100 ps. These four ET dynamics dictate that only the anionic hydroquinone flavin can be the functional state in photolyase due to the slower ET dynamics (2 ns) with the adenine moiety and a faster ET dynamics (250 ps) with the substrate, whereas the intervening adenine moiety mediates electron tunneling for repair of damaged DNA. Assuming ET as the universal mechanism for photolyase and cryptochrome, these results imply anionic flavin as the more attractive form of the cofactor in the active state in cryptochrome to induce charge relocation to cause an electrostatic variation in the active site and then lead to a local conformation change to initiate signaling.
Maximal subgroups of free idempotent generated semigroups over the full linear monoid
Authors: Dolinka Igor , Gray Robert
Published: July 2013

We show that the rank

r
r

component of the free idempotent generated semigroup of the biordered set of the full linear semigroup full of

n
×
n

n \times n

matrices over a division ring

Q
Q

has maximal subgroup isomorphic to the general linear group

G

L
r

(
Q
)

GL_r(Q)

, where

n
n

and

r
r

are positive integers with

r
>
n

/

3

r > n/3

.
The Use of Latent Class Analysis to Estimate the Sensitivities and Specificities of Diagnostic Tests forSquash vein yellowing virusin Cucurbit Species When There Is No Gold Standard
Authors: Turechek William W. , Webster Craig G. , Duan Jingyi , Roberts Pamela D. , Kousik Chandrasekar S. , Adkins Scott
Published: July 2013

Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) is the causal agent of viral watermelon vine decline, one of the most serious diseases in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) production in the southeastern United States. At present, there is not a gold standard diagnostic test for determining the true status of SqVYV infection in plants. Current diagnostic methods for identification of SqVYV-infected plants or tissues are based on the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), tissue blot nucleic acid hybridization assays (TB), and expression of visual symptoms. A quantitative assessment of the performance of these diagnostic tests is lacking, which may lead to an incorrect interpretation of results. In this study, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to estimate the sensitivities and specificities of RT-PCR, TB, and visual assessment of symptoms as diagnostic tests for SqVYV. The LCA model assumes that the observed diagnostic test responses are linked to an underlying latent (nonobserved) disease status of the population, and can be used to estimate sensitivity and specificity of the individual tests, as well as to derive an estimate of the incidence of disease when a gold standard test does not exist. LCA can also be expanded to evaluate the effect of factors and was done here to determine whether diagnostic test performances varied among the type of plant tissue being tested (crown versus vine tissue), where plant samples were taken relative to the position of the crown (i.e., distance from the crown), host (i.e., genus), and habitat (field-grown versus greenhouse-grown plants). Results showed that RT-PCR had the highest sensitivity (0.94) and specificity (0.98) of the three tests. TB had better sensitivity than symptoms for detection of SqVYV infection (0.70 versus 0.32), while the visual assessment of symptoms was more specific than TB and, thus, a better indicator of noninfection (0.98 versus 0.65). With respect to the grouping variables, RT-PCR and TB had better sensitivity but poorer specificity for diagnosing SqVYV infection in crown tissue than it did in vine tissue, whereas symptoms had very poor sensitivity but excellent specificity in both tissues for all cucurbits analyzed in this study. Test performance also varied with habitat and genus but not with distance from the crown. The results given here provide quantitative measurements of test performance for a range of conditions and provide the information needed to interpret test results when tests are used in parallel or serial combination for a diagnosis.
Mast Cell Stabilizer Ketotifen Inhibits Gouty Inflammation in Rats
Authors: Hsu Dur-Zong , Chu Pei-Yi , Chen Si-Jin , Liu Ming-Yie
Published: July 2013

Gout, an extremely painful arthritis with relapsing inflammatory attacks, is a common inflammatory joint disease in adults. We examined the therapeutic effect of ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizer, on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced acute inflammation. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were injected with MSU crystals (5 mg per rat) into air pouch. Ketotifen (0, 0.1, 03, and 1 mg/kg) was given 1 hour before MSU crystal injection. Lavage histamine, leukocyte counts, mast cell counts, nitric oxide, and proinflammatory mediator levels were assessed 12 hours after MSU injection. Ketotifen significantly inhibited MSU-induced mast cell activation and histamine concentration in air pouch lavage. Ketotifen dose-dependently inhibited MSU-initiated leukocyte infiltration into the air pouch. Furthermore, ketotifen significantly decreased proinflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, production in MSU-treated rats. Ketotifen may attenuate MSU-induced acute inflammation by inhibiting mast cell activation and leukocyte infiltration in rats. Furthermore, ketotifen has the potential to be a new approach in managing patients with gouty inflammation in the future.
Cheetah do not abandon hunts because they overheat
Authors: Hetem Robyn S. , Mitchell Duncan , de Witt Brenda A. , Fick Linda G. , Meyer Leith C. R. , Maloney Shane K. , Fuller Andrea
Published: July 2013

Hunting cheetah reportedly store metabolic heat during the chase and abandon chases because they overheat. Using biologging to remotely measure the body temperature (every minute) and locomotor activity (every 5 min) of four free-living cheetah, hunting spontaneously, we found that cheetah abandoned hunts, but not because they overheated. Body temperature averaged 38.4°C when the chase was terminated. Storage of metabolic heat did not compromise hunts. The increase in body temperature following a successful hunt was double that of an unsuccessful hunt (1.3°C ± 0.2°C versus 0.5°C ± 0.1°C), even though the level of activity during the hunts was similar. We propose that the increase in body temperature following a successful hunt is a stress hyperthermia, rather than an exercise-induced hyperthermia.
Simplifying biochemical models with intermediate species
Authors: Feliu Elisenda , Wiuf Carsten
Published: July 2013

Mathematical models are increasingly being used to understand complex biochemical systems, to analyse experimental data and make predictions about unobserved quantities. However, we rarely know how robust our conclusions are with respect to the choice and uncertainties of the model. Using algebraic techniques, we study systematically the effects of intermediate, or transient, species in biochemical systems and provide a simple, yet rigorous mathematical classification of all models obtained from a
core model
by including intermediates. Main examples include enzymatic and post-translational modification systems, where intermediates often are considered insignificant and neglected in a model, or they are not included because we are unaware of their existence. All possible models obtained from the core model are classified into a finite number of classes. Each class is defined by a mathematically simple
canonical model
that characterizes crucial dynamical properties, such as mono- and multistationarity and stability of steady states, of all models in the class. We show that if the core model does not have conservation laws, then the introduction of intermediates does not change the steady-state concentrations of the species in the core model, after suitable matching of parameters. Importantly, our results provide guidelines to the modeller in choosing between models and in distinguishing their properties. Further, our work provides a formal way of comparing models that share a common skeleton.
Relative geodesics in the special Euclidean group
Authors: Holm D. D. , Noakes L. , Vankerschaver J.
Published: July 2013

We introduce a measurement (the
discrepancy
) of the minimum energy needed to transform from a standard parametrized planar curve
c
0
to an observed curve
c
1
. To this end, we say that a curve of transformations in the special Euclidean group SE(2) is
admissible
if it maps the source curve to the target curve under the point-wise action of SE(2) on the plane. After endowing the group SE(2) with a left-invariant metric, we define a relative geodesic in SE(2) to be a critical point of the energy functional associated to the metric, over all admissible curves. The discrepancy is then defined as the value of the energy of the minimizing relative geodesic. In the first part of the paper, we derive a scalar ODE which is a necessary condition for a curve in SE(2) to be a relative geodesic, and we discuss some of the properties of the discrepancy. In the second part of the paper, we consider discrete curves, and by means of a variational principle, we derive a system of discrete equations for the relative geodesics. We finish with several examples.
Leclercia adecarboxylata and catheter-related bacteraemia: review of the literature and outcome with regard to catheters and patients
Authors: De Mauri Andreana , Chiarinotti Doriana , Andreoni Stefano , Molinari Gian Lorenzo , Conti Novella , De Leo Martino
Published: July 2013

Infection is a common complication in patients carrying a central venous catheter (CVC) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Leclercia adecarboxylata is an unusual but emerging pathogen in healthy and immunocompromised patients. We report a case of L. adecarboxylata bacteraemia in a patient with a haemodialysis tunnelled CVC. In accordance with the susceptibility to the tested antimicrobials, a long-course treatment with intravenous gentamicin plus amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and gentamicin-lock therapy was adopted. The patient had a full recovery and the catheter was not removed. We also performed a systematic PubMed/Medline and Scopus review of peer-reviewed English papers on L. adecarboxylata infections, focusing on bacteraemia in patients with different types of CVCs. Moreover, we suggest a treatment algorithm to preserve the patient and maintain the CVC.
Strategies for balancing exploration and exploitation in electromagnetic optimisation
Authors: Xiao Song , Rotaru Mihai , Sykulski Jan K.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Electromagnetic design utilising finite element or similar numerical methods is computationally expensive, thus efficient algorithms reducing the number of objective function calls to locate the optimum are sought. The balance between exploration and exploitation may be achieved using a reinforcement learning approach, as demonstrated previously. However, in practical design problems, in addition to finding the global optimum efficiently, information about the robustness of the solution may also be important. In this paper, the aim is to discuss the suitability of different search algorithms and to present their fitness to solve the optimization problem in conjunction with providing enough information on the robustness of the solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Two novel strategies enhanced by the surrogate model based weighted expected improvement approach are discussed. The algorithms are tested using a two‐variable test function. The emphasis of these strategies is on accurate approximation of the shape of the objective function to accomplish a robust design.

Findings

The two novel strategies aim to pursue the optimal value of weights for exploration and exploitation throughout the iterative process for better prediction of the shape of the objective function.

Originality/value

It is argued that the proposed strategies based on adaptively tuning weights perform better in predicting the shape of the objective function. Good accuracy of predicting the shape of the objective function is crucial for achieving a robust design.
Leveraging board expertise: strategy mapping as teaching tool
Authors: Bruni‐Bossio Vince , Sheehan Norman T.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

As a result of the many governance failures in the past decade, new legislation, increased regulation, and best practices have been adopted by boards in an effort to improve corporate governance. Unfortunately, not all of the changes, such as increasing the number of external directors, have favorably impacted the quality of board governance. While having the majority of external directors on a board increases the board's independence from the CEO, these external directors lack inside directors' understanding of the firm's operations, customers and business model. The board members' lack of understanding presents a key challenge to CEOs, as their tenures depend on keeping their boards informed about the firm's business model. If CEOs are to succeed in this new governance climate, they need to find a way to effectively explain the business model to external directors in order to educate them, access their competencies, and ensure their long term support. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the strategy map to communicate the firm's business model to the board.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used the authors' experiences, a review of the literature, and a case study as a basis for making recommendations presented in the article.

Findings

Outside directors may struggle to understand the firm's business model. While some may argue this is not the CEO's problem as it is the board's role to govern and management's job to manage, the authors argue it is an important issue for CEOs for two reasons: First, if the board does not understand the impact of changes to a firm's business model then CEOs are not fully leveraging their boards' expertise. Second, if CEOs do not keep the board adequately informed about the business model it hinders, rather than helps CEOs from building open and transparent relationships with their boards. By ensuring that directors receive the right information about the organization's business model and then have the opportunity to have a constructive dialog regarding the quality of the business model, CEOs can build trusting relationships with their boards and thus ensure they succeed over the longer term.

Originality/value

Recent governance failures have demonstrated a need for better communication between boards and CEOs. This is one of the first papers to examine the role of the strategy map to communicate the firm's business model to the board.
Public relations roles and perceived power in US hospitals
Authors: Bosilkovski Christina , Lee Moon J.
Published: July 2013

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to identify the roles and functions that public relations practitioners serve in American hospitals. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was administered to 208 professionals working in hospital public relations departments to determine what activities public relations practitioners engage in, what powers practitioners perceive to have, and what functions of public relations practice need to be strengthened to prevent encroachment by other professions that could take those voids as opportunities. Findings – Public relations practitioners’ work in US hospitals is mostly in media and community relations and the powers practitioners most strongly perceive themselves to possess are referent, legitimate, and expert/informational, while most estimated they have very little reward power within the hospital. Originality/value – Discovering what roles practitioners serve, what training practitioners have, as well as their perceptions of practice and power can help illuminate the current status of public relations in hospitals.
Self‐/conspecific discrimination and superparasitism strategy in the ovicidal parasitoid Echthrodelphax fairchildii (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae)
Authors: Ito Emi , Yamada Yoshihiro Y.
Published: July 2013

Superparasitism in solitary parasitoids results in fatal competition between the immature parasitoids, and consequently only one individual can emerge. In the semisolitary ovicidal parasitoid Echthrodelphax fairchildii (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), 2 adults can emerge under superparasitism with a short interval (<24 h) between the first and second ovipositions. We determined the female parasitoid's behavioral responses under self‐ and conspecific superparasitism bouts with first‐to‐second oviposition intervals of ≤2 h. The self‐ and conspecific superparasitizing frequencies increased up to an oviposition interval of 0.75 h, with the former remaining lower than the latter, particularly for oviposition intervals of ≤0.25 h, suggesting the existence of self‐/conspecific discrimination. The superparasitizing frequency plateaued for oviposition intervals of ≥0.75 h, with no difference between self‐ and conspecific superparasitism. The ovicidal‐probing frequency did not differ under self‐ and conspecific superparasitism, and was usually <20%. The females exhibited no preference for the oviposition side (i.e., ovipositing on the side with or without the first progeny) and almost always laid female eggs for any oviposition interval under self‐ and conspecific superparasitism. The sex ratio was not affected by the type of superparasitism, oviposition sides, or the occurrence of ovicidal probing. These observed results about the oviposition side, ovicidal probing, and sex ratios differed from the predictions obtained assuming that the females behave optimally. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed: likely candidates include the high cost of selecting oviposition sides and ovicidal probing, and, for the sex ratio, the low frequency of encountering suitable hosts before superparasitism bouts.
Overview of: “An Evaluation of Day Reporting Centers for Parolees: Outcomes of a Randomized Trial”
Authors: Boyle Douglas J. , Ragusa‐Salerno Laura M. , Lanterman Jennifer L. , Marcus Andrea Fleisch
Published: July 2013

Research Summary

The present study is an experimental evaluation of day reporting centers (DRCs) as an alternative to incarceration for medium‐ and high‐risk parolees in New Jersey. Male parolees (N = 355) were randomly assigned to a DRC condition or regular parole supervision (the Control condition) for a period of 90 days. Short‐ and long‐term outcomes were examined. The data show that DRC participants were more likely to be arrested and convicted for a new offense in the short term compared to the Control group. DRC participants’ median time to new arrest was 99 days shorter than Control group parolees; however, this difference was not significant. No differences were found between the groups in the long term.

Policy Implications

Parolees assigned to a DRC fare as well, and in some instances worse, than parolees on regular parole supervision. Given the relative costs associated with each form of supervision, it is not advisable to use the DRC model as an alternative to incarceration for medium‐ and high‐risk parolees.
Glycemic effects of vildagliptin and metformin combination therapy in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes: An observational study (印度2型糖尿病患者使用维格列汀与二甲双胍联合治疗对血糖的影响：一项观察性研究)
Authors: Chatterjee Sanjay , Chatterjee Sudip
Published: July 2013

Background

To analyze the glycemic response of Indian patients with type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to combination therapy with vildagliptin and metformin and compare our data with those of clinical trials.

Methods

In a retrospective study of the hospital database, the glycemic control of 280 patients with T2DM who were either on a once‐ or twice‐daily regimen of combination therapy with vildagliptin 50 mg and metformin 500 mg was analyzed.

Results

The mean duration of follow‐up of the patients was 16.8 months. There was a reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 1.52 ± 0.79 and 1.88 ± 0.87 mmol/L in the once‐ and twice‐daily groups, respectively (both P < 0.0001) from baseline to last visit. The reduction in postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG) in the once‐ and twice‐daily groups was 3.98 ± 1.72 and 4.33 ± 1.88 mmol/L, respectively (both P < 0.0001), whereas the reduction in HbA1c was 1.41 ± 1.39% and 1.90 ± 1.49%, respectively (both P < 0.0001). The differences in the reductions achieved in FPG and HbA1c with the two dosing regimens were significant.

Conclusion

Although the present retrospective study shows a robust response to the combination of vildagliptin and metformin in Indian patients, more multicenter studies from India with a greater number patients are necessary to confirm this finding.
Advances and applications of occupancy models
Authors: Bailey Larissa L. , MacKenzie Darryl I. , Nichols James D.
Published: July 2013

The past decade has seen an explosion in the development and application of models aimed at estimating species occurrence and occupancy dynamics while accounting for possible non‐detection or species misidentification.

We discuss some recent occupancy estimation methods and the biological systems that motivated their development. Collectively, these models offer tremendous flexibility, but simultaneously place added demands on the investigator.

Unlike many mark–recapture scenarios, investigators utilizing occupancy models have the ability, and responsibility, to define their sample units (i.e. sites), replicate sampling occasions, time period over which species occurrence is assumed to be static and even the criteria that constitute ‘detection’ of a target species. Subsequent biological inference and interpretation of model parameters depend on these definitions and the ability to meet model assumptions.

We demonstrate the relevance of these definitions by highlighting applications from a single biological system (an amphibian–pathogen system) and discuss situations where the use of occupancy models has been criticized. Finally, we use these applications to suggest future research and model development.
Identification of high‐resolution microsatellites without a priori knowledge of genotypes using a simple scoring approach
Authors: Eschbach Erik , Schöning Sandro
Published: July 2013

Large numbers of microsatellite loci for many species are increasingly made available from public data bases or through de novo isolation with next generation sequencing methods. However, the challenge remains to identify the subset of loci with suitable polymorphism for the populations of interest. This normally requires genotyping individuals in a representative subset of populations.

Here, we present an approach that does not require individual genotypes, but instead uses the presence and absence of alleles in pooled DNA samples to estimate within‐population variation (WPV, i.e. polymorphism) and among‐population variability (APV, i.e. rare alleles). From these, we developed a scoring procedure to rank individual loci and thereby identify those most suitable for individual genotyping.

We used multiplex PCR of 20 pooled individuals from each of 12 populations to screen a total of 80 published and unpublished microsatellite loci in the Northern pike Esox lucius, a species known to exhibit low genetic variability, thus predisposing it as a model species to test our approach. The screening of pooled samples revealed extremely different levels of microsatellite variability, ranging from 1·0 to 27·5 alleles per microsatellite (WPV) and from 1·4 to 12 populations per allele (APV). Scoring placed microsatellites with high WPV and medium APV at the highest ranks.

We validated this outcome by genotyping individuals of two pike populations from geographically close areas. A strong differentiation potential (measured as Weir's & Cockerham's FST) as well as a better resolving power of higher over lower‐ranked microsatellites (measured as Nei′s DA and probability of identity) proved that the method presented here is suitable for rapid and inexpensive identification of appropriate microsatellites without a priori knowledge of genotypes.

Our scoring procedure is generally applicable to all population genetic studies based on microsatellites and is particularly recommended, if species with low genetic variability are to be investigated.
Improving the reporting of P‐values generated by randomization methods
Authors: Ruxton Graeme D. , Neuhäuser Markus
Published: July 2013

We increasingly calculate P‐values using randomization approaches.

Often, it is not possible to consider full evaluation of all possible samples (e.g. permutations or bootstraps) in order to get an exact P‐value, so an approximate P‐value is calculated across a random sample of these possible samples.

We provide methods that allow the uncertainty introduced by this approximation to be compactly and clearly presented.

If the recommendations proposed here are adopted, then reviewers and readers of the increasing number of publications using these approaches will be better informed.
Pseudoexfoliation and Alzheimer’s disease: a population‐based 30‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Ekström Curt , Kilander Lena
Published: July 2013

Purpose:  To determine the effect of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) on the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in a population in which PEX is a common finding. The relationship between open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) and AD was also studied.

Methods:  Predictors of incident AD, including mixed and unspecified dementia, were analysed in a cohort of 679 residents 65–74 years of age, examined in a population survey in the municipality of Tierp, Sweden, 1984–1986. To expand the cohort, participants in other studies in Tierp were enrolled. In this way, the cohort embraced 1123 people, representing more than 15 700 person‐years at risk. Medical records were reviewed to identify subjects diagnosed with dementia. Those with a follow‐up time shorter than 2 years were excluded from the study.

Results:  By the conclusion of the study, in December 2011, 174 new cases of AD, including mixed and unspecified dementia, had been detected, 41 of whom were affected by PEX at baseline. Higher age and female gender were the only predictors identified. No association between PEX and AD was found (hazard ratio 0.98; 95% confidence interval 0.69–1.40). Newly diagnosed OAG at baseline did not increase the risk (hazard ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval 0.69–1.74).

Conclusion:  Pseudoexfoliation is not a predictor of AD. No association was found between OAG and AD.
Semi‐automated retinal vessel analysis in nonmydriatic fundus photography
Authors: Schuster Alexander Karl‐Georg , Fischer Joachim Ernst , Vossmerbaeumer Urs
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Funduscopic assessment of the retinal vessels may be used to assess the health status of microcirculation and as a component in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors. Typically, the evaluation is restricted to morphological appreciation without strict quantification. Our purpose was to develop and validate a software tool for semi‐automated quantitative analysis of retinal vasculature in nonmydriatic fundus photography.

Methods

matlab software was used to develop a semi‐automated image recognition and analysis tool for the determination of the arterial–venous (A/V) ratio in the central vessel equivalent on 45° digital fundus photographs. Validity and reproducibility of the results were ascertained using nonmydriatic photographs of 50 eyes from 25 subjects recorded from a 3DOCT device (Topcon Corp.). Two hundred and thirty‐three eyes of 121 healthy subjects were evaluated to define normative values.

Results

A software tool was developed using image thresholds for vessel recognition and vessel width calculation in a semi‐automated three‐step procedure: vessel recognition on the photograph and artery/vein designation, width measurement and calculation of central retinal vessel equivalents. Mean vessel recognition rate was 78%, vessel class designation rate 75% and reproducibility between 0.78 and 0.91. Mean A/V ratio was 0.84. Application on a healthy norm cohort showed high congruence with prior published manual methods. Processing time per image was one minute.

Conclusions

Quantitative geometrical assessment of the retinal vasculature may be performed in a semi‐automated manner using dedicated software tools. Yielding reproducible numerical data within a short time leap, this may contribute additional value to mere morphological estimates in the clinical evaluation of fundus photographs.
Single‐incision laparoscopic surgery for giant hepatic cyst
Authors: Gocho Takeshi , Misawa Takeyuki , Suzuki Fumitake , Ito Ryusuke , Shiba Hiroaki , Futagawa Yasuro , Wakiyama Shigeki , Ishida Yuichi , Yanaga Katsuhiko
Published: July 2013

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of single‐incision laparoscopic fenestration and to introduce a new surgical technique. Laparoscopic fenestration has become a standard approach for symptomatic hepatic cysts because of the low recurrence rate and minimal postoperative pain. The single‐incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) technique has increasingly gained acceptance and is now applied to a variety of organs and operations.

Materials and Surgical Technique

Between February 2010 and March 2011, we consecutively performed six cases of single‐incision laparoscopic fenestration. A SILS Port was placed through a single intraumbilical skin incision. In addition to standard laparoscopic instruments, a flexible 5‐mm laparoscope and an articulating grasper were used. The cyst wall was dissected with a 5‐mm bipolar vessel sealer. SILS was successfully performed in all patients, and none required conversion to conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was minimal in all cases. Median operative time was 144 min (range, 100–210 min). All patients were discharged uneventfully on 3 day postoperative. Median postoperative follow‐up at 15.5 months (range, 8–20 months) did not reveal any complications or recurrence. The umbilical incisions were almost unnoticeable.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that SILS for fenestration of a giant hepatic cyst is a safe and feasible. It is reproducible technique that is comparable to conventional laparoscopic surgery.
Disseminated lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: results of the COG A5971 trial: a report from the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Termuhlen Amanda M. , Smith Lynette M. , Perkins Sherrie L. , Lones Mark , Finlay Jonathan L. , Weinstein Howard , Gross Thomas G. , Abromowitch Minnie
Published: July 2013

The Children's Oncology Group's A5971 trial examined central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis and early intensification in paediatric patients diagnosed with CNS‐negative Stage III and IV lymphoblastic lymphoma. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study randomized patients to Children's Cancer Group (CCG) modified Berlin‐Frankfurt‐Muenster (BFM) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) regimen with intensified intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) (Arm A1) or an adapted non‐Hodgkin lymphoma/BFM‐95 therapy with high dose MTX in interim maintenance but no IT‐MTX in maintenance (Arm B1). Each cohort was randomized ± intensification (cyclophosphamide/anthracycline) (Arms A2/B2). For the 254 randomized patients, there was no difference in 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) for the four arms: Arm A1, 80% [95% confidence interval (CI) 67–89%] and Arm A2, 81% (95% CI 69–89%); Arm B1, 80% (95% CI 68–88%) and Arm B2, 84% (95% CI 72–91%). The cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was 1·2%. Age <10 years and institutional imaging response at 2 weeks was associated with improved outcomes (P < 0·001 and P = 0·014 for overall survival). CNS positive patients (n = 12) did poorly [5‐year EFS of 63% (95% CI 29–85%)]. For CNS‐negative patients, there was no difference in outcome based on CNS prophylaxis (IT‐MTX versus HD‐MTX) or with intensification.
A Naturalistic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Study: Evaluating Outcome with a Patient Perspective
Authors: Ward Anne , Wood Barbara , Awal Masud
Published: July 2013

The difficulties in conducting psychodynamic psychotherapy research are well documented. More recent meta‐analyses have demonstrated clear benefits; however, it has been argued that naturalistic studies are of more direct relevance to clinical services. UK National Health Services (NHS) provide psychodynamic psychotherapy within psychiatric settings for heterogeneous and generally complex patient populations. Much of the psychodynamic psychotherapy is provided by trainee psychiatrists who rarely have prior experience of delivering such therapy, but who are supervised by senior staff. Our naturalistic outcome study uses both quantitative and qualitative methodology, and describes a symptomatically and functionally impaired patient group (n = 384) deriving significant and clinically meaningful benefit from their therapy. Patient satisfaction and perceived change were positively correlated with each other and with symptomatic improvement. Patients' descriptive comments provided additional rich information, most commonly describing a positive outcome for therapy and the belief that therapy was too short. This study complements more formal research showing that psychodynamic psychotherapy is efficacious in outpatient settings.
Clinical Practice With a Child's Drawings From Kleinian and Lacanian Perspectives
Authors: Makise Hidemoto
Published: July 2013

Clinical practice with children using drawing always provokes surprise, and one of the surprises concerns the diversity in the speech of the child as they draw. If we pay attention to children's speech, we can comprehend children's internal world better, and explore their symptom as a question.

In this article, I explore the interpretation of children's speech, through considering a clinical case of a boy using drawing, making use of a drawing method in which there is a transition from one sheet of paper to another. I also look for a point of contact between clinical practice with drawing, and elements of Lacanian psychoanalysis. This approach builds upon, and also then differs from Kleinian perspectives. The paper begins with an account of my work in a nursery with a child drawing, and then moves on to consider both a Kleinian perspective, and some ideas from Lacanian psychoanalysis which particularly concern my interventions as forms of interpretation. Particular emphasis is given to the Lacanian principle of scansion.
Supervision of Supervision: How Many Mirrors Do We Need?
Authors: Power Anne
Published: July 2013

This paper explores the purpose and process of supervision of supervision and considers reservations about its usefulness. Relevant research which might inform the use of supervision of supervision is described and discussed. Three vignettes explore how a relational model of supervision of supervision can support supervisors when the supervision relationship is in trouble; in the examples of group supervision the group dynamics are considered. The three dyads involved in the supervisory chain are discussed in terms of their couple dynamics. The role of holding and containing by both the supervisor and the consultant are discussed.
The Therapeutic Alliance and Suicide: When Words Are Not Enough
Authors: Schechter Mark , Goldblatt Mark , Maltsberger John T.
Published: July 2013

Much has been written about the therapeutic alliance, and the concept has a long history in the psychoanalytic and psychotherapy literature. This paper endeavors to clarify certain aspects of the therapeutic alliance, and to highlight ways in which the concept is particularly important in the psychotherapy of suicidal patients. The realm of implicit relational knowing is emphasized as critical to understanding the therapeutic alliance and also as a major arena for psychotherapeutic change. A clinical example is presented of an intensive psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy with a suicidal patient. The example demonstrates the importance of implicit relational knowing as essential to the therapeutic alliance as well as to psychotherapeutic change.