bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Pointing in Graphical User Interfaces for People with Motor Impairments Through Ability-Based Design
Authors: Wobbrock Jacob O.
Published: July 2013

Pointing to targets in graphical user interfaces remains a frequent and fundamental necessity in modern computing systems. Yet for millions of people with motor impairments, children, and older users, pointing—whether with a mouse cursor, a stylus, or a finger on a touch screen—remains a major access barrier because of the fine-motor skills required. In a series of projects inspired by and contributing to ability-based design, we have reconsidered the nature and assumptions behind pointing, resulting in changes to how mouse cursors work, the types of targets used, the way interfaces are designed and laid out, and even how input devices are used. The results from these explorations show that people with motor difficulties can acquire targets in graphical user interfaces when interfaces are designed to better match the abilities of their users. Ability-based design, as both a design philosophy and a design approach, provides a route to realizing a future in which people can utilize whatever abilities they have to express themselves not only to machines, but to the world.
Segmentation of Ill-Defined Objects by Convoluting Context Window of Each Pixel with a Non-Parametric Function
Authors: Kumar Upendra , Lahiri Tapobrata
Published: July 2013

Taking cue from the fact of Context-dependence in Human Cognition process, in this work an image segmentation method is introduced where each pixel are classified into its object-class depending on properties of its neighboring pixels within a context-window-frame surrounding it. In brief methodological steps, the convolution of array obtained as intensities of pixels of a context window is done with weights obtained through a specific architecture of Artificial Neural Network after training. The result of convolution is utilized to define class of an object. The training set of pixels is selected judiciously considering exhaustive variety of context-types which includes pixels inside, outside, boundary of objects. This work also gives a novel approach for quantitative assessment of segmentation-efficiency for a segmentation process. Also the use of context-window appears to improve the segmentation process because of equivalence of this approach with those which use a combination of local texture and color for segmentation.
Medical Video Summarization using Central Tendency-Based Shot Boundary Detection
Authors: Priya G. G. Lakshmi , Domnic S.
Published: July 2013

Due to the advancement in multimedia technologies and wide spread usage of internet facilities; there is rapid increase in availability of video data. More specifically, enormous collections of Medical videos are available which has its applications in various aspects like medical imaging, medical diagnostics, training the medical professionals, medical research and education. Due to abundant availability of information in the form of videos, it needs an efficient and automatic technique to manage, analyse, index, access and retrieve the information from the repository. The aim of this paper is to extract good visual content representatives – Summary of keyframes. In order to achieve this, the authors propose a new method for video shot segmentation which in turn leads to extraction of better keyframes as representative for summary. The proposed method is experimented and evaluated using publically available medical videos. As a result, better precision and recall is obtained for shot detection when compared to that of the recent related methods. Evaluation of video summary is done using fidelity measure and compression ratio.
Smart Grid
Authors: Kaluvala Nikhil Swaroop , Forman Abbe
Published: July 2013

With no less than half a billion people in the world without electricity supply, and electricity being the back bone for technological development, it makes sense that electricity is the center of discussion. While innovation and technology have radically transformed other industrial sectors, the electric system, has continued to operate the same way for decades. The real challenge today is not to meet the minimum functionality but to be prepared for future demands. These demands make it necessary for the transformation from regular grid to a Smart Grid. In this paper, the Smart Grid was evaluated for its impacts on the environment, industry, and the global population. Additionally, the role of ICTs in solving the hurdles of Smart Grid has been examined.
Node Placement Strategy in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Ahmad Puteri Azwa , Mahmuddin M. , Omar Mohd Hasbullah
Published: July 2013

The performance and quality of services in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) depend on coverage and connectivity. Node placement is a fundamental issue closely related to the coverage and connectivity in sensor networks. Node placement influences the target position, coverage area, and connectivity in sensor networks. In random deployment, sensor nodes are deployed randomly in a non-invasive way. The deployment process may cause issues like coverage holes, overlapping, and connectivity failure. Enhancing coverage and connectivity are important for sensor networks to provide a reliable communication within sensing. Placing many sensor nodes in a WSN application region area is not the best solution due to cost and it results in multiple sensors used. Mobile sensor node is used as an alternative to overcome the random deployment problem. The virtual force based self node deployment is used in the mobility sensor to improve the coverage and connectivity area. Virtual Force Algorithm (VFA) approach using virtual repulsive and attractive forces is used to find the optimal node placement to minimize the problems. Simulation results proofed that a uniform deployment achieved using VFA approach with an optimal sensing range to cover the region of interest.
Exploring prospects of β3-adrenoceptor agonists and inverse agonists for colon mobility control
Authors: Perrone Maria Grazia , Contino Marialessandra , Scilimati Antonio
Published: July 2013

Inverse agonists are useful active ingredient of drugs clinically used to treat diseases mainly involving receptors endowed with non-endogenous agonist induced activity (constitutive or basal activity). SP-1e and SP-1g are the first two potent and highly selective β3-adrenoceptor inverse agonists [EC50=181 nM (IA=- 64%) and 136 nM (IA=-73%), respectively], which their peculiar activity seems due to the absolute configurations of the two stereogenic centres present in each molecule. Rat proximal colon motility measurements allowed their further pharmacological characterization and pA2 values determination by Schild analysis (7.89 and 8.16, respectively). The purpose of our work is a further characterization of our novel β3-adrenoceptor agonists (SP-1a-d, SP-1f,1h) and inverse agonists (SP-1e and SP-1g) on rat proximal colon motility and a confirmation of their inverse agonist nature in a more complex system like the functional test on rat proximal colon. Male Wistar rats segment of the proximal colon were placed in organ baths containing Krebs solution. Muscle tension was recorded isotonically. Cumulative β3-AR agonists doses experiments were performed for each test compound: isoprenaline, BRL37344, SP-1a-d, SP-1f and SP-1h were dissolved in Krebs. The EC50 values of each agonists and pA2 of inverse agonists were determined. SP- 1a-d, SP-1f and SP-1h in rat colon have a muscle relaxing effect thus confirming their partial agonist activity found in CHO-K1 cell line. SP-1e and SP-1g behaved as antagonists with pA2 values of 7.89 and 8.16, respectively. In conclusion, experiments carried out by using isolated rat proximal colon allowed us to determine the pA2 values of the two β3-AR inverse agonists and add knowledge on the behavior of a novel set of compounds and their possible value as agents useful whenever is necessary to also control the colon motility.
Recurrent Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Treatment with Dasatinib in a Patient Showing SMAD4 Mutation with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Philadelphia Positive and Juvenile Polyposis Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Syndrome
Authors: Sartor Chiara , Papayannidis Cristina , Abbenante Maria Chiara , Iacobucci Ilaria , Broccoli Alessandro , Venturi Claudia , Testoni Nicoletta , Ferrari Anna , Martinelli Giovanni
Published: July 2013

We report a case of a patient affected by juvenile polyposis and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia linked to a SMAD4 mutation who developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia positive for the Philadelphia chromosome translocation and with a complex karyotype. During the treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib the patient presented recurrent severe gastrointestinal hemorrhages linked to the genetic background and aggravated by thrombocytopenia.
Unexplored Potentials of Epigenetic Mechanisms of Plants and Animals–-Theoretical Considerations
Authors: Seffer Istvan , Nemeth Zoltan , Hoffmann Gyula , Matics Robert , Seffer A. Gergely , Koller Akos
Published: June 2013

Morphological and functional changes of cells are important for adapting to environmental changes and associated with continuous regulation of gene expressions. Genes are regulated–in part–by epigenetic mechanisms resulting in alternating patterns of gene expressions throughout life. Epigenetic changes responding to the environmental and intercellular signals can turn on/off specific genes, but do not modify the DNA sequence. Most epigenetic mechanisms are evolutionary conserved in eukaryotic organisms, and several homologs of epigenetic factors are present in plants and animals. Moreover, in vitro studies suggest that the plant cytoplasm is able to induce a nuclear reassembly of the animal cell, whereas others suggest that the ooplasm is able to induce condensation of plant chromatin. Here, we provide an overview of the main epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression and discuss fundamental epigenetic mechanisms and factors functioning in both plants and animals. Finally, we hypothesize that animal genome can be repro-grammed by epigenetic factors from the plant protoplast.
Reducing the Risk of Harm from Medication Errors in Children
Authors: Neuspiel Daniel R. , Taylor Melissa M.
Published: June 2013

Medication errors affect the pediatric age group in all settings: outpatient, inpatient, emergency department, and at home. Children may be at special risk due to size and physiologic variability, limited communication ability, and treatment by nonpediatric health care providers. Those with chronic illnesses and on multiple medications may be at higher risk of experiencing adverse drug events. Some strategies that have been employed to reduce harm from pediatric medication errors include e-prescribing and computerized provider order entry with decision support, medication reconciliation, barcode systems, clinical pharmacists in medical settings, medical staff training, package changes to reduce look-alike/sound-alike confusion, standardization of labeling and measurement devices for home administration, and quality improvement interventions to promote nonpunitive reporting of medication errors coupled with changes in systems and cultures. Future research is needed to measure the effectiveness of these preventive strategies.
Seasonal dynamics of methane emissions from a subarctic fen in the Hudson Bay Lowlands
Authors: Hanis K. L. , Tenuta M. , Amiro B. D. , Papakyriakou T. N.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Ecosystem-scale methane (CH4) flux (FCH4) over a subarctic fen at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada was measured to understand the magnitude of emissions during spring and fall shoulder seasons, and the growing season in relation to physical and biological conditions. FCH4 was measured using eddy covariance with a closed-path analyser in four years (2008–2011). Cumulative measured annual FCH4 (shoulder plus growing seasons) ranged from 3.0 to 9.6 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 among the four study years, with a mean of 6.5 to 7.1 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 depending upon gap-filling method. Soil temperatures to depths of 50 cm and air temperature were highly correlated with FCH4, with near-surface soil temperature at 5 cm most correlated across spring, fall, and the shoulder and growing seasons. The response of FCH4 to soil temperature at the 5 cm depth and air temperature was more than double in spring to that of fall. Emission episodes were generally not observed during spring thaw. Growing season emissions also depended upon soil and air temperatures but the water table also exerted influence, with FCH4 highest when water was 2–13 cm below and lowest when it was at or above the mean peat surface.
PERSiST: the precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff simulator for solute transport
Authors: Futter M. N. , Erlandsson M. A. , Butterfield D. , Whitehead P. G. , Oni S. K. , Wade A. J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. While runoff is often a first-order control on water quality, runoff generation processes and pathways can vary widely between catchments. Credible simulations of solute and pollutant transport in surface waters are dependent on models which facilitate appropriate representations of perceptual models of the runoff generation process. With a few exceptions, models used in solute transport simulations enforce a single, potentially inappropriate representation of the runoff generation process. Here, we present a flexible, semi-distributed landscape scale rainfall-runoff model suitable for simulating a broad range of user-specified perceptual models of runoff generation and stream flow occurring in different climatic regions and landscape types. PERSiST, the Precipitation, Evapotranspiration and Runoff Simulator for Solute Transport; is designed for simulating present day conditions and projecting possible future effects of climate or land use change on runoff, catchment water storage and solute transport. PERSiST has limited data requirements and is calibrated using observed time series of precipitation, air temperature and runoff at one or more points in a river network. Here, we present a first application of the model to the Thames River in the UK and describe a Monte Carlo tool for parameter optimization and sensitivity analysis.
Optimal Conversion of Forest Land to Agriculture: Evidence from Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: DJEZOU Wadjamsse Beaudelaire
Published: June 2013

The Ivorian economy is based on agriculture which constitutes by far the main cause of deforestation through its shifting characteristic. This situation threatens the ecological equilibrium on which depends in turn agricultural productivity. This paper investigates the determinants for optimal conversion of forest land to agriculture. To this end, we firstly established the optimal rule of forest land allocation to agriculture based on a rigorous forest land use modelling using optimal control techniques. Secondly, we evaluate the effects of the variables highlighted by the theoretical model through an econometric model in the form of error correction model. The study shows that the opportunity cost of forest land and the marginal cost of agricultural exploitation preserve the forest by limiting forest land conversion to agriculture. However, a technological progress in agricultural sector amplifies land conversion process. Finally, we found that there is a minimum level of agricultural yield (967.1 kg/ha) required to reduce forest land conversion. Thus, the paper recommends the development of off farm activities, an increase in agricultural yield and the adoption of labour intensive technologies in order to ensure a sustainable economic growth.
Malnutrition and Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Hospitalized Elderly Patients with and without Heart Failure
Authors: Santillo Elpidio , Migale Monica , Fallavollita Luca , Marini Luciano , Postacchini Demetrio , Balestrini Fabrizio , Incalzi Raffaele Antonelli
Published: July 2013

Heart failure (HF) is highly prevalent among older subjects and it is associated with poor prognosis. HF frequently coexists with malnutrition. Objectives of our work were to assess nutritional status of old inpatients with and without HF and to study the association of malnutrition markers with echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function and geometry. We enrolled 165 patients (72 men, 93 women; mean age: 80±7 years) consecutively admitted to Cardiology ward of our geriatric research hospital. For all subjects we performed clinical examination, echocardiogram and laboratory tests. Nutritional status was assessed evaluating anthropometric and laboratory markers of malnutrition (BMI ≤ 24 kg/m2 and/or serum albumin ≤ 3.2 g/dL). We found high prevalence of HF (67.3%) and malnutrition (28.5%). Mean serum albumin and mean BMI were 3.6±0.5 g/dL and 25.8±5.2 kg/m2 respectively. T-Student tests showed lower values of serum albumin in patients with HF compared with patients without HF (3.5±0.6 g/dL vs 3.7±0.4 g/dL; p:0.043). Conversely BMI values were not significantly different. We found significant association between serum albumin and ejection fraction (EF) of left ventriculum (r:0.311; p:0.001). An independent correlation between EF and serum albumin was confirmed by multivariate analysis (β:0.301; p:0.027). Our study highlights that malnutrition is common among elderly inpatients with HF. Lower albumin was associated with worse systolic left ventricular function. Efforts should be made in the research setting to better understand the pathophysiology of malnutrition in HF and to identify useful management strategies for nutritional assessment and supplementation.
Agreement Between a Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Willett Questionnaire in Overweight or Obese Pregnant Women
Authors: Sui Zhixian , Moran Lisa J , Chapple Lee-anne , Dodd Jodie M.
Published: July 2013

Background & Aims: Overweight and obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of many adverse health outcomes for both women and their infants. There is a need for simple food frequency questionnaires to assess nutritional intake and aid implementation and evaluation of nutritional interventions in these women. The aim of this study was to compare a newly developed food frequency questionnaire with the Willett food frequency questionnaire in Australian pregnant women who were overweight or obese.
Methods: 170 overweight or obese pregnant women (12-20 weeks’ gestation) completed both the Willett and the devised (LIMIT) food frequency questionnaire with n=41 excluded due to unrealistic energy intake or incomplete questionnaires. The mean nutrient intake for each questionnaire and the mean difference in nutrient intake between the questionnaires was assessed. The correlation and agreement between the two questionnaires were assessed by Spearmans correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman method.
Results: There were high correlations for total energy intake, protein, carbohydrates, cholesterol, iron, folate, and caffeine (r>0.50, P<0.01), and moderate correlations for fat, fibre, and calcium (r=0.4-0.5, P<0.01). Correlations were low (r<0.3) for vitamins. There was no significant systematic error between the two food frequency questionnaires with the exception of alcohol, calcium, iron, and folate (P>0.05). The limit of agreement (LOA) was wide (LOA <50% or >200%) for macronutrients, calcium, and folate, but within the acceptable range for iron, vitamins, and caffeine (LOA 133%).
Conclusions: There is good agreement between the Willett and the LIMIT food frequency questionnaires in estimating macronutrient and some key pregnancy-related micronutrients for group-level comparisons.
Pour une compréhension dynamique du rapport au travail : la valeur heuristique de la perspective des parcours de vie
Authors: Côté Nancy
Published: July 2013

L’article a pour but de rendre compte de la valeur heuristique de l’approche des parcours de vie pour saisir le caractère dynamique du rapport au travail et de son évolution dans le temps. Les principes analytiques associés à cette approche insistent sur l’importance de saisir les interactions entre les différentes dimensions de la vie d’un individu, de même que les interactions entre sa vie et celle de ses proches, tout en considérant l’effet du temps sur le déroulement des trajectoires individuelles et du contexte dans lequel elles s’inscrivent. À partir d’une étude de cas effectuée auprès de jeunes infirmières du réseau québécois de la santé et des services sociaux, l’auteure démontre que le rapport au travail est le résultat d’un processus complexe où les aspirations des individus, leurs conditions concrètes d’emploi et les événements qui surviennent dans leur vie personnelle et familiale entretiennent des liens dynamiques et interdépendants qui façonnent le rapport au travail tout au long de la vie.
L’analyse sociale au sein d’une société habilitante
Authors: Hicks Peter , Malo Isabelle
Published: July 2013

Les perspectives fondées sur les parcours de vie jouent seulement un rôle modeste dans l’élaboration des politiques sociales actuelles. Cependant, une fois que les concepts de « parcours de vie » seront utilisés sur une base régulière en statistiques sociales et que les outils analytiques de soutien seront entièrement développés, ces perspectives auront le potentiel d’améliorer de façon radicale l’analyse de politiques concrètes. Afin de donner une idée générale de la portée de ce changement, le présent article examine un ancien cadre de « comptabilité sociale », élaboré il y a environ trois décennies, afin d’appuyer la politique sociale de cette période préinformatique, axée sur le gouvernement et modelée sur la pensée de l’État-providence. L’article compare ce cadre avec le cadre « Olivia » actuel, créé pour appuyer le concept de société habilitante de la politique sociale en émergence axée sur le citoyen, en cette ère de l’information. La principale différence réside dans l’élargissement des perspectives fondées sur les parcours de vie, conformément au travail de Paul Bernard. Ce dernier a ouvert des avenues nouvelles et potentiellement puissantes aux spécialistes en sciences sociales en leur permettant de contribuer de façon importante et concrète à une politique sociale plus pertinente et tournée vers l’avenir.

Le présent article traite des façons par lesquelles toute recherche sociale peut influencer la politique. Il examine également les interactions entre les politiques sociales elles-mêmes, les données et les outils analytiques qui appuient ces politiques sociales et la technologie de l’information qui modifie à la fois les politiques et l’analyse. L’article conclut que de vastes transformations dans les domaines de la politique sociale et de l’analyse sociale sont imminentes, notamment l’abolition des frontières entre politique et analyse.
Le régime de valeur culturel de la sériephilie : plaisir situé et autonomie d’une culture contemporaine
Authors: Glevarec Hervé
Published: July 2013

Depuis une dizaine d’années, les séries télévisées de provenance américaine sont devenues l’objet déclaré de passion de la part de catégories peu enclines jusque-là à valoriser ce genre télévisé tout autant qu’un format de premier plan dans la programmation de soirée des grandes télévisions en France. Consommées dans un contexte technologique transformé par les supports DVD et internet, les séries télévisées saisonnières ou unitaires renouvellent le mode cultivé dominant de consommation des pratiques culturelles, de nature ascétique, en même temps que les significations sociales attachées aux oeuvres culturelles. À partir d’entretiens avec des amateurs, formant corpus dont le noyau dur est constitué d’une population de jeunes adultes, cet article rend compte d’une pratique culturelle qui articule un genre et ses hiérarchies internes à une consommation dans l’espace domestique, selon un temps décalé et dédié, et fréquemment solitaire, avec un système de valeurs et de significations contrastant avec la traditionnelle cinéphilie. La consommation des séries peut se décrire comme un régime de valeur culturel, défini ainsi parce qu’il articule un genre esthétique et un système de valeurs pour une population. Cette configuration n’est pas sans mettre à l’épreuve le modèle de l’oeuvre cinématographique, consommée en salle, et marquée en France du sceau de « l’auteur ». Aussi l’attitude amateur face aux séries télévisées est-elle un excellent révélateur des transformations en cours concernant les pratiques médiatiques et culturelles portant sur des biens issus des industries culturelles et directement articulées à l’environnement numérique.
Another patient with 12q13 microduplication
Authors: Bertoli M. , Alesi V. , Gullotta F. , Zampatti S. , Abate M.R. , Palmieri C. , Novelli A. , Frontali M. , Nardone A. M.
Published: July 2013

Interstitial duplication of the long arm of chromosome 12 is a rare cytogenetic condition. While several reports describe distal 12q duplication, only one case report of homogeneous, non‐mosaic interstitial 12q13 duplication has been documented to date. The authors of that observation proposed that the associated phenotype represented a phenocopy of Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome [Dallapiccola et al., 2009]. Only a few other recorded patients with deletion 12q13 → 12q21 involved mosaicism. We describe a new patient with homogeneous 12q13 duplication in a 6‐year‐old girl who, in early infancy, presented with dysmorphic features suggesting Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome. What is potentially significant about this patient is that her facial phenotype evolved with age, suggesting a different gestalt in older patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A unique case of de novo 5q33.3–q34 triplication with uniparental isodisomy of 5q34–qter
Authors: Fujita Atsushi , Suzumura Hiroshi , Nakashima Mitsuko , Tsurusaki Yoshinori , Saitsu Hirotomo , Harada Naoki , Matsumoto Naomichi , Miyake Noriko
Published: July 2013

De novo triplication together with uniparental disomy (UPD) is a rare genomic rearrangement, and, to our knowledge, co‐occurrence has previously only been reported in two individuals. We encountered a patient with a suspected karyotype of 46,XX,del(5)(q33.1q33.3),dup(5)(q31.3q33.3) or (q33.1q35.1). Genetic analysis revealed tetrasomy of 5q33.3–q34 caused by de novo middle inverted triplication and uniparental isodisomy of 5q34–qter. Most clinical features in the patient were observed in previously reported cases of duplication overlapping with 5q33.3–q34, with the exception of hearing loss. The FOXI1 gene, which causes autosomal recessive deafness (OMIM 600791, DFNB4) when mutated, was contained within the uniparental isodisomy region (5q34–qter). However, no mutations were identified following Sanger sequencing of FOXI1. This is the first report of a patient with de novo triplication together with uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 5q. As segmental isodisomy is a post‐fertilization error, it is thought to have occurred during mitosis just after fertilization via a U‐type exchange, while inverted duplication could have occurred during meiosis or mitosis. This study reaffirms that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array is a powerful tool to screen for UPD in a single experiment, especially in cases of isodisomy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased fracture risk and low bone mineral density in patients with loeys–dietz syndrome
Authors: Tan Eric W. , Offoha Roosevelt U. , Oswald Gretchen L. , Skolasky Richard L. , Dewan Ashvin K. , Zhen Gehua , Shapiro Jay R. , Dietz Harry C. , Cao Xu , Sponseller Paul D.
Published: July 2013

Loeys–Dietz syndrome is a recently recognized connective tissue disorder with widespread systemic involvement. Little is known about its skeletal phenotype. Our goal was to investigate the risk of fracture and incidence of low bone mineral density in patients with Loeys–Dietz syndrome. We performed a cross‐sectional, descriptive, survey‐based study with subsequent chart review from July 2011 to April 2012. Fifty‐seven patients (26 men, 31 women) with Loeys–Dietz syndrome confirmed by genetic testing completed the survey (average age, 25.3 years; range, 0.9–79.6 years). There were a total of 51 fractures (33 patients): 35 fractures in the upper extremities, 14 in the lower extremities, and two in the spine. Fourteen patients (24.6%) reported two or more fractures. There was a 50% risk of fracture by age 14 years. The incidence of any fracture in this cohort was 3.86 per 100 person‐years. Seventeen patients had dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scans available for review, 11 (64.7%) of whom had at least one fracture. Thirteen included lumbar spine absorptiometry reports; eight (61.5%) indicated low or very low bone mineral density. In the left hip, ten of 14 participants (71.4%) had low or very low bone mineral density. In the left femoral neck, nine of 13 participants (69.2%) had low or very low bone mineral density. The lowest Z‐ and T‐scores were not associated with an increased number of fractures. Patients with Loeys–Dietz syndrome have a high risk of fracture and a high incidence of low bone mineral density. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improving polarity classification of bilingual parallel corpora combining machine learning and semantic orientation approaches
Authors: Perea‐Ortega José M. , Martín‐Valdivia M. Teresa , Ureña‐López L. Alfonso , Martínez‐Cámara Eugenio
Published: July 2013

Polarity classification is one of the main tasks related to the opinion mining and sentiment analysis fields. The aim of this task is to classify opinions as positive or negative. There are two main approaches to carrying out polarity classification: machine learning and semantic orientation based on the integration of knowledge resources. In this study, we propose to combine both approaches using a voting system based on the majority rule. In this way, we attempt to improve the polarity classification of two parallel corpora such as the opinion corpus for Arabic (OCA) and the English version of the OCA (EVOCA). Several experiments have been performed to check the feasibility of the proposed method. The results show that the experiment that took into account both approaches in the voting system obtained the best performance. Moreover, it is also shown that the proposed method slightly improves the best results obtained using machine learning approaches solely over the OCA and the EVOCA separately. Therefore, we can conclude that the approach proposed here might be considered a good strategy for polarity detection when we work with bilingual parallel corpora.
The Impact of Limited Organisational and Community Resources on Novice Child Protection Workers: A Queensland Example
Authors: Bates Annerley
Published: July 2013

A high turnover of staff at the Queensland statutory child protection agency, combined with a lack of experienced prospective employees, means that the agency is increasingly relying on new university graduates. However, the availability of resources is a risk to the continued engagement of child protection workers because they do not feel that they are able to adequately service the clients who they work with, and is one reason why they may choose to leave the agency. In order to gain a greater understanding of how graduate child protection workers perceive both organisational and community resourcing, this study interviewed 20 child protection workers who were still in their first 12 months of employment in the agency. The results suggest that insufficient staffing within the agency affected the work of the child protection workers. Participants identified that additional organisational resources of that which would improve the capacity of child protection workers to fulfil their role in a more efficient and safe manner included motor vehicles and administrative support. Participants expressed the view that resources external to the organisation were necessary to promote practice and improve outcomes for children and families. In the absence of additional resources being made available, effectively allocating resources within child protection offices, as well as encouraging the workers to develop their knowledge of available resources, should help address this issue. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘The results suggest that insufficient staffing within the agency affected the work of the child protection workers’

Key Practitioner Messages

Dissatisfaction with resourcing both within a statutory child protection agency and within community‐based organisations external to the agency affect child protection workers' job satisfaction.

Effectively allocating existing resources within child protection offices and encouraging new child protection workers to develop their awareness of external resources should assist these practitioners to fully utilise the resources available to assist children.
ChemInform Abstract: Growth and Luminescence Properties of Undoped Strontium Iodide Crystals.
Authors: Chen Junfeng , Wang Shaohua , Du Yong , Chen Lidong
Published: July 2013

High‐quality SrI2 crystals are grown by the vertical Bridgman method and optical transmission, photoluminescence, radioluminescence, fluorescence, and scintillation decay time data are determined.
ChemInform Abstract: Single Crystal Growth and Thermodynamic Stability of Li17Si4.
Authors: Zeilinger Michael , Benson Daryn , Haeussermann Ulrich , Faessler Thomas F.
Published: July 2013

Single crystals of Li17Si4 are obtained from melts of the elements with 85—95 at.% Li and isolated by isothermal centrifugation.
ChemInform Abstract: A New Method for Intramolecular Chloroamination of Unfunctionalized Olefins
Authors: Liu Gong‐Qing , Li Wei , Li Yue‐Ming
Published: July 2013

using CuCl2 as both promoter and chlorine source
ChemInform Abstract: Ethyl 2‐(tert‐Butoxycarbonyloxyimino)‐2‐cyanoacetate (Boc‐Oxyma) as Coupling Reagent for Racemization‐Free Esterification, Thioesterification, Amidation and Peptide Synthesis.
Authors: Thalluri Kishore , Nadimpally Krishna Chaitanya , Chakravarty Maharishi Parasar , Paul Ashim , Mandal Bhubaneswar
Published: July 2013

Boc‐Oxyma represents the first member of a new class of efficient coupling reagents.
ChemInform Abstract: Metal‐Free Rearrangement of Spirofurooxindoles into Spiropentenoneoxindoles and Indoles: Implications for the Mechanism and Stereochemistry of the Piancatelli Rearrangement.
Authors: Yin Biaolin , Huang Li , Wang Xiujun , Liu Jianchao , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: July 2013

Spirofurooxindoles (I) derived from α‐furylcarbinols are rearranged into spirocyclopentenoneoxindole diastereomers (II)/(III) in refluxing DCE.
ChemInform Abstract: BEMP‐Promoted C(4)‐Alkylation of 4‐Alkyloxazol‐5(4)‐ones: A Rapid and Efficient Route to α,α‐Dialkyl‐α‐amino Acids.
Authors: Lee Yeon‐Ju , Seo Jeyoung , Kim Dong‐Guk , Park Hyeung‐geun , Jeong Byeong‐Seon
Published: July 2013

The use of BEMP as sterically hindered strong base with low nucleophilicity allows the alkylation of oxazolones (I) in a very short time.
ChemInform Abstract: Direct Solvent‐Free Regioselective Construction of Pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,10]phenanthrolines Based on Isocyanide‐Based Multicomponent Reactions.
Authors: Li Ming , Lv Xiu‐Liang , Wen Li‐Rong , Hu Zhi‐Qiang
Published: July 2013

Novel pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,10]phenanthrolines are synthesized utilizing a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 1,10‐phenanthroline, aldehydes, isocyanides, and malononitrile under neat conditions.
ChemInform Abstract: Cytotoxic Indole Diketopiperazines from the Deep Sea‐Derived Fungus Acrostalagmus luteoalbus SCSIO F457.
Authors: Wang Fa‐Zuo , Huang Zhi , Shi Xue‐Feng , Chen Yu‐Chan , Zhang Wei‐Min , Tian Xin‐Peng , Li Jie , Zhang Si
Published: July 2013

Two new indole diketopiperazines, luteoalbusin A (Ia) and B (Ib), are isolated along with eight known compounds from the fungus Acrostalagmus luteoalbus SCSIO F457.
ChemInform Abstract: Strained Alkenes in Natural Product Synthesis
Authors: Wilson Matthew R. , Taylor Richard E.
Published: July 2013

Review: 67 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Recent Progress in Biological Activities and Synthetic Methodologies of Pyrroloquinoxalines
Authors: Huang Aiping , Ma Chen
Published: July 2013

Review: 54 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Multi‐Bond Forming Processes in Efficient Synthesis
Authors: Green Nicholas J. , Sherburn Michael S.
Published: July 2013

Review: about 200 refs.
Empirical analysis of domain ontology usage on the Web: eCommerce domain in focus
Authors: Ashraf Jamshaid , Hussain Omar Khadeer , Hussain Farookh Khadeer
Published: July 2013

In the recent past, there has been an exponential growth in Resource Description Framework data on the web known as web of data. The emergence of the web of data is transforming the existing web from a document‐sharing medium to a decentralized knowledge platform for publishing and sharing information between humans and computers. To enable common understanding between different users, domain ontologies are being developed and deployed to annotate information on the web. This semantically annotated information is then accessed by machines to extract and aggregate information, on the basis of the underlying ontologies used. To effectively and efficiently access data on the web, insight into the usage of ontology is pivotal, because this assists users in experiencing the benefits offered by the Semantic Web. However, such an approach has not been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we present a pragmatic approach to the analysis of domain ontology usage on the web. We propose metrics to measure the use of domain ontology constructs on the web from different aspects. To comprehensively understand the usage patterns of conceptual knowledge, instance data, and ontology co‐usability, we considered GoodRelations ontology as the domain ontology and built a dataset by collecting structured data from 211 web‐based data sources that have published information using the domain ontology. The dataset is analyzed by using the proposed metrics and observations along with their usability and applicability to the different users of the Semantic Web. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extrathymic induction of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells declines with age in a T‐cell intrinsic manner
Authors: Carpentier Maxime , Chappert Pascal , Kuhn Chantal , Lalfer Mélanie , Flament Héloïse , Burlen‐Defranoux Odile , Lantz Olivier , Bandeira Antonio , Malissen Bernard , Davoust Jean , Gross David‐Alexandre
Published: July 2013

Extrathymically induced Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells contribute to the pool of Treg cells and are implicated in the maintenance of immune tolerance at environmental interfaces. The impact of T‐cell senescence on their generation and function is, however, poorly characterized. We report here that steady‐state induction of Foxp3 is impaired in aged T cells in vivo. In vitro assays further revealed that this defective generation of Treg cells was independent from the strength of TCR stimulation and arose before T‐cell proliferation. Importantly, they also revealed that this impairment of Foxp3 induction is unrelated to known age‐related T‐cell defects, such as IL‐2 secretion impairment, accumulation of activated T‐cell populations, or narrowing of the T‐cell repertoire. Finally, a loss of extrathymic induction of Foxp3 and tolerance to minor‐mismatched skin graft were observed in aged mice treated by nondepleting anti‐CD4 antibody. The T‐cell intrinsic impairment of Treg‐cell generation revealed here highlights age as a key factor to be considered in immune tolerance induction.
PtII and RhIII Hydrocarbyl Complexes Bearing Coordinated Oxygen Atom Delivery Reagents
Authors: Webb Joanna R. , Figg Travis M. , Otten Brooke M. , Cundari Thomas R. , Gunnoe T. Brent , Sabat Michal
Published: July 2013

The reactivity of a series of oxidants with [(tbpy)Pt(Ph)(L)]+ and [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)(OTf)]+ [tbpy = 4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, L = thf or triflate (OTf)] complexes was investigated. The PtII and RhIII complexes [(tbpy)Pt(Ph)(ONMe3)][BAr′4], [(tbpy)Pt(Ph)(OPy)][BAr′4], [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)(ONMe3)][BAr′4][OTf], and [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)(OPy)][BAr′4][OTF] (Ar′ = 3,5‐(CF3)2C6H3, OPy = pyridine N‐oxide) have been isolated and characterized by 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. In addition, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of the complexes [(tbpy)Pt(Ph)(OPy)][BAr′4], [(tbpy)2Rh(Cl)2][BAr′4], [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)2][BAr′4], [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)(I)][BAr′4], and [(tbpy)2Rh(Me)(OPy)][BAr′4][OTf] are reported. DFT calculations computationally model the conversions of Pt–Ph and Rh–Me species to the corresponding Pt–OPh and Rh–OMe complexes, providing insight into activation barriers for the oxygen‐atom insertion into PtII–R and RhIII–R bonds.
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of 4‐O‐Methylhonokiol in Rats
Authors: Yu Hyung Eun , Oh Soo Jin , Ryu Je Kyung , Kang Jong Soon , Hong Jin Tae , Jung Jae‐Kyung , Han Sang‐Bae , Seo Seung‐Yong , Kim Young Heui , Park Song‐Kyu , Kim Hwan Mook , Lee Kiho
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 4‐O‐methylhonokiol in rats. The absorption and disposition of 4‐O‐methylhonokiol were investigated in male Sprague–Dawley rats following a single intravenous (2 mg/kg) or oral (10 mg/kg) dose. Its metabolism was studied in vitro using rat liver microsomes and cytosol. 4‐O‐Methylhonokiol exhibited a high systemic plasma clearance and a large volume of distribution. The oral dose gave a peak plasma concentration of 24.1±3.3 ng/mL at 2.9±1.9 h and a low estimated bioavailability. 4‐O‐Methylhonokiol was rapidly metabolized and converted at least in part to honokiol in a concentration‐dependent manner by cytochrome P450 in rat liver microsomes, predicting a high systemic clearance consistent with the pharmacokinetic results. It was also shown to be metabolized by glucuronidation and sulfation in rat liver microsomes and cytosol, respectively. 4‐O‐Methylhonokiol showed a moderate permeability with no apparent vectorial transport across Caco‐2 cells, suggesting that intestinal permeation process is not likely to limit its oral absorption. Taken together, these results suggest that the rapid hepatic metabolism of 4‐O‐methylhonokiol could be the major reason for its high systemic clearance and low oral bioavailability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transient data delivery using fine‐grained mobility data in spontaneous smartphone networks
Authors: Yin Jianxiong , Chon Yohan , Talipov Elmurod , Cha Hojung
Published: July 2013

The commercial success of smartphones increases the feasibility of mobile ad hoc networking in daily life; we define such networks as spontaneous smartphone networks (SSNs). Efficient data delivery in SSNs is challenging because of the low node density, ambiguous contact opportunities, and short message lifetime. The existing schemes attempt to select optimal relays via various cumulative metrics (e.g., encounter history, social centrality, or contact distribution), whose effectiveness is ambiguous and suboptimal. In this paper, we introduce a Markov predictor‐based transient delivery scheme that quantifies the regularity of small time scale movement for forwarding decisions. Unlike previous works, we utilized fine‐grained mobility data to reduce errors of estimating contact opportunities and contact duration. On the basis of this forwarding strategy, we developed a multi‐copy routing scheme. The evaluation using real traces indicates that the proposed approach outperforms compared alternatives in terms of delivery rate and cost. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paroxysmale Dyskinesien
Authors: Weber Y.G. , Lerche H.
Published: July 2013

Paroxysmale Dyskinesien (PD) sind eine heterogene Gruppe von Erkrankungen, die durch plötzliche Attacken von unwillkürlichen Hyperkinesien gekennzeichnet sind. Selten sind sie symptomatisch bedingt (z. B. durch ursächliche Läsionen in den Basalganglien). Die überwiegende Zahl ist genetisch bedingt. Aufgrund der Triggerfaktoren werden sie klinisch in kinesiogene (PKC/PKD/DYT10), nonkinesiogene (PNKD/DYT8) und belastungsinduzierte Formen (PED/DYT18) eingeteilt. Die ersten Gene wurden für PNKD (MR1) und PED (SLC2A1) beschrieben. Während die Funktion des MR1-Proteins noch wenig verstanden ist, führen SLC2A1-Mutationen zu einem reduzierten Glukosetransport über die Blut-Hirn-Schranke. Kürzlich wurden bei Patienten mit PKD Mutationen in PRRT2 beschrieben, das für den neuronalen synaptischen vesikulären Zyklus wichtig zu sein scheint. Diese Übersicht fasst die klinischen Symptome, bildgebenden Befunde, Pathophysiologie und die therapeutischen Möglichkeiten für die verschiedenen PD zusammen.
Hereditäre Ataxien
Authors: Synofzik M. , Schöls L. , Riess O.
Published: July 2013

Hereditäre Ataxien stellen aufgrund der Vielfalt der möglichen genetischen Ursachen eine große diagnostische Herausforderung für die medizinische Genetik dar. Dieses Problem wird dadurch verstärkt, dass zwar die Zahl der neu identifizierten Gene in den letzten 3 Jahren durch neue Sequenziertechnologien rasant zugenommen hat, häufig jedoch nur wenige Familien weltweit Mutationen in diesen Genen aufweisen, d. h. sie extrem selten sind. Der vorliegende Artikel gibt eine Übersicht über dominante und rezessive Ataxien und berücksichtigt dabei auch die neu identifizierten Ataxie-Gene. Um den Anforderungen einer praktisch-orientierten genetischen Diagnostik gerecht zu werden, versuchen wir dabei auch, Häufigkeitseinschätzungen der betroffenen Genorte zu geben und – sofern möglich – phänotypische Eigenschaften und Biomarker zu definieren, die eine genetische Diagnostik erfolgversprechend leiten können, insbesondere bei rezessiven Ataxien. Diese diagnostischen Indikatoren werden in Form von diagnostischen Pfaden zusammengefasst, die eine Orientierung bei der mehrstufigen genetischen Diagnostik dominanter und rezessiver Ataxien geben sollen. Aufgrund der Vielzahl der Genkandidaten und des großen phänotypischen Überlappungsbereichs wird es in den meisten Fällen jedoch am zeiteffizientesten und kostengünstigsten sein, Panel-Untersuchungen mittels Next-Generation-Sequencing-Technologien durchzuführen.
Genetik der Parkinson-Krankheit
Authors: Krüger R. , Klein C.
Published: July 2013

Neben 9 eindeutig gesicherten monogenen Parkinson-Formen gibt es zahlreiche bekannte Risiko- oder protektive Genvarianten, die das Risiko für eine Parkinson-Erkrankung modulieren. Unter den monogenen Formen folgen 3 (PARK1/PARK4, PARK8, PARK17) einem autosomal-dominanten Erbgang und 6 einem rezessiven Vererbungsmuster (PARK2, PARK6, PARK7, PARK9, PARK14, PARK15). Ebenfalls 6 Formen gehen mit einem der idiopathischen Parkinson-Krankheit sehr ähnlichen klinischen Bild einher (PARK1/PARK4, PARK2, PARK6, PARK7, PARK8, PARK17), darunter sind PARK8 mit Mutationen im LRRK2-Gen und spätem Krankheitsbeginn bzw. PARK2 mit Mutationen im Parkin-Gen und frühem Erkrankungsalter die weitaus häufigsten. Pathophysiologisch stehen bei den monogenen Formen wie auch bei der idiopathischen Parkinson-Krankheit Mechanismen der oxidativen Modifikation, des gestörten Proteinabbaus sowie der mitochondrialen Dysfunktion im Mittelpunkt, sodass die monogenen Parkinson-Formen als humane Modellerkrankungen für die idiopathische Form dienen können.
Hereditäre Dystonien
Authors: Grundmann K. , Gasser T.
Published: July 2013

Dystonien sind eine klinisch und ätiologisch heterogene Gruppe von Bewegungsstörungen. Charakteristisch sind unwillkürliche Muskelkontraktionen, die zu drehenden, schraubenden und repetitiven Bewegungen führen und sehr schmerzhaft sein können. Die Dystonie kann dabei das einzige Symptom sein („isolierte Dystonie“) oder von anderen Symptomen begleitet werden („kombinierte Dystonie“), sie kann aber auch eine Manifestation jedweder das Zentralnervensystem betreffenden Erkrankung sein, die das motorische System in Mitleidenschaft zieht (z. B. neurodegenerative, ischämische, traumatische Prozesse). In den letzten 20 Jahren hat die Entwicklung neuer molekulargenetischer Technologien zur Entdeckung neuer Gene geführt, die vielen Dystoniesubtypen zugrunde liegen, und eine verbesserte Klassifizierung sowie einen tieferen Einblick in die Pathophysiologie ermöglicht. Es wird eine aktuelle Übersicht über die genetisch determinierten Dystonien mit Fokus auf den sog. isolierten bzw. kombinierten Formen vorgelegt. Die Zusammenstellung phänotypischer Charakteristika zu spezifischen genetischen Veränderungen soll dem Kliniker ermöglichen, anhand konkreter klinischer Manifestationen eine entsprechende molekulargenetische Abklärung in die Wege zu leiten.