bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Needs and Provision Complexity Scale: a multicentre prospective cohort analysis of met and unmet needs and their cost implications for patients with complex neurological disability
Authors: Turner-Stokes Lynne , McCrone Paul , Jackson Diana M , Siegert Richard John
Published: February 2013

Objective

To provide a brief overview of the Needs and Provision Complexity Scale (NPCS) and report its first application to describe the level of ‘met’ and ‘unmet’ health/social care needs, and to estimate their costs in community-based patients with complex neurological disability.

Design

A multicentre prospective cohort analysis.

Setting

Consecutive discharges to the community from the nine tertiary specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation units in London over 12 months (2010/2011).

Participants

Patients responding at follow-up (n=211). Mean age 50.2(SD14) years, males:females 127/84. Diagnosis 157(74%) brain injury, 27(13%) spinal cord injury/peripheral neuropathy; 27(13%) other.

Primary outcome measure

The NPCS is a brief, pragmatic, directly costable instrument for measuring both an individual's needs for rehabilitation and support (NPCS-Needs) and the levels of service provided (NPCS-Gets) within a given period.

Methods

The ‘NPCS-Needs’ was completed by the treating clinical team at discharge. Patients and/or their carers self-reported ‘NPCS-Gets’ after 6 months by a postal/online questionnaire supported by a follow-up telephone interview.

Results

Needs for medical/nursing care and accommodation were generally well met. Significant shortfalls in provision were identified in the subscales ofRehabilitation(paired t test: t −9.7, p<0.001, effect size (ES)=−0.85),Social support(t −5.8, p<0.001, ES=−0.48) andEquipment(t −5.6, p<0.001, ES=−0.44). Item-level analysis demonstrated that the frequency ofPersonal carereceived exceeded predicted needs (Wilcoxon z=−3.3, p<0.001). In 80% of cases, this care was provided/paid for by families. Translated into mean costs/patient/year, the estimated underspends onRehabilitation(−£2320) andSocial support(−£1790) were exceeded >3.5-fold by excess costs ofPersonal care(£10 313) andAccommodation(£4296).

Conclusions

The results identify underprovision of community-based rehabilitation and support services compared with needs, which may contribute directly to excess care burden and costs to family carers. The NPCS requires further evaluation but has potential use as a simple, directly costable tool to inform both clinical decision-making and population-based service planning and delivery.
Public health approaches to end-of-life care in the UK: an online survey of palliative care services
Authors: Paul Sally , Sallnow Libby
Published: February 2013

Aims and objectives

The public health approach to end-of-life care has gained recognition over the past decade regarding its contribution to palliative care services. Terms, such as health-promoting palliative care, and compassionate communities, have entered the discourse of palliative care and practice; examples exist in the UK and globally. This scoping study aimed to determine if such initiatives were priorities for hospices in the UK and, if so, provide baseline data on the types of initiatives undertaken.

Methods

An online survey was designed, piloted and emailed to 220 palliative care providers across the four UK countries. It included a total of six questions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Findings

There was a 66% response rate. Of those providers, 60% indicated that public health approaches to death, dying and loss were a current priority for their organisation. Respondents identified a range of work being undertaken currently in this area. The most successful were felt to be working with schools and working directly with local community groups. The findings demonstrate the relevance of a public health approach for palliative care services and how they are currently engaging with the communities they serve. Although the approach was endorsed by the majority of respondents, various challenges were highlighted. These related to the need to balance this against service provision, and the need for more training and resources to support these initiatives, at both national and community levels.
Single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle road crashes in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Boufous Soufiane , de Rome Liz , Senserrick Teresa , Ivers Rebecca Q
Published: February 2013

The aim of the study is to compare trends, circumstances and outcomes of single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle on-road crashes in Victoria, Australia, through the analysis of police records and hospital admissions between January 2004 and December 2008. The results show that over 80% of on-road single-vehicle bicycle crashes occurred as a result of the cyclist losing control of the bicycle with the remainder involving collisions with objects. Compared with multi-vehicle crashes, single-vehicle crashes were more likely to occur in the dark, in wet conditions and in rural areas. Over half of the cyclists hospitalised as result of on-road crashes were injured in single-vehicle crashes and this proportion seems to be increasing over time. Single-vehicle crashes were associated with hospitalised injuries as severe as those resulting from multivehicle crashes. The findings highlight the significant burden of serious injury associated with single-vehicle bicycle road crashes. Further research is needed to investigate in greater detail the risk factors of these crashes and the effectiveness of countermeasures to reduce their burden.
Can student-perpetrated college crime be predicted based on precollege misconduct?
Authors: Runyan Carol W , Pierce Matthew W , Shankar Viswanathan , Bangdiwala Shrikant I
Published: February 2013

Objectives

Many colleges assess criminal histories during the admissions process, in part, to address violence on campus. This study sought to examine the utility of screening as a means of reducing violence.

Methods

Using cohort and case-control analyses, we identified college misconduct through college records and self-reports on a confidential survey of graduating seniors, and examined precollege behaviour as indicated on admissions records, a survey and criminal background checks.

Results

One hundred and twenty students met our case definition of college misconduct, with an estimated OR of 5.28 (95% CI 1.92 to 14.48) associated with precollege misconduct revealed on the college application. However, only 3.3% (95% CI 1.0% to 8.0%) of college seniors engaging in college misconduct had reported precollege criminal behaviours on their applications and 8.5% (95% CI 2.4% to 20.4%) of applicants with a criminal history engaged in misconduct during college.

Discussion

Though precollege behaviour is a risk factor for college misconduct, screening questions on the application are not adequate to detect which students will engage in college misconduct. This pilot work would benefit from replication to determine the utility of criminal background investigations as part of admissions.
A bespoke management package can reduce levels of injurious pecking in loose‐housed laying hen flocks
Authors: Lambton S. L. , Nicol C. J. , Friel M. , Main D. C. J. , McKinstry J. L. , Sherwin C. M. , Walton J. , Weeks C. A.
Published: February 2013

This study investigated the protective effects of an on‐farm management package designed to reduce injurious pecking (IP) in loose‐housed laying hens. A systematic review of scientific literature generated 46 potentially protective management strategies. Bespoke management packages were designed for treatment flocks (TF) using these management strategies. IP in 53 TFs was compared with IP in 47 control flocks (CF) where the management package was not employed. Scoring of plumage damage (PD) and observations of gentle and severe feather pecking (GFP; SFP), and vent and cannibalistic pecking (VP) were completed, and management strategy use was recorded, at 20, 30 and 40 weeks of age. Differences between treatment and CF were examined using multilevel modelling. Compared with CF, TF employed more management strategies (P<0.001), had lower PD (P=0.003) and SFP (P=0.019). Regardless of treatment or control flock status, the more of the 46 management strategies that were employed the lower was the PD (P=0.004), GFP (P=0.021), SFP (P=0.043), mortality at 40 weeks (P=0.025), and the likelihood of VP (P=0.021). Therefore, the provision of a bespoke management package was protective against the majority of forms of IP in commercial laying hen flocks.
A Traffic Parameters Extraction Method Using Time-Spatial Image Based on Multicameras
Authors: Wang Jun , Yang Deliang
Published: February 2013

Based on the traffic monitoring system consisting of image processing units (IPUs), network communication, and data fusion server, this paper proposes an approach for the extraction of traffic parameters in the highway based on time-spatial image and data fusion. This system used a simple method to install cameras, which can capture the video images from the left to the right perspectives synchronously, for the sake of reducing the influence from vehicles height or width by fusing the image plane information of multicameras. Firstly, based on the synchronous and adaptive camera calibration method, images from different cameras are projected onto a same world coordinate, which is a top view picture of the same detecting region. Secondly, in order to improve the environment adaptability, an advanced method of time-spatial image is proposed to extract traffic information. At the same time, through network communication, traffic information picked up by each camera is transformed to the SDF timely. Finally, combined with probability fusion map, SDF fuses information grabbed by all cameras to improve the accuracy of traffic parameters extraction. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be implemented quickly and accurately either in crowed state or in fluent state.
Construction of Target Controllable Image Segmentation Model Based on Homotopy Perturbation Technology
Authors: Mei Shu-Li
Published: February 2013

Based on the basic idea of the homotopy perturbation method which was proposed by Jihuan He, a target controllable image segmentation model and the corresponding multiscale wavelet numerical method are constructed. Using the novel model, we can get the only right object from the multiobject images, which is helpful to avoid the oversegmentation and insufficient segmentation. The solution of the variational model is the nonlinear PDEs deduced by the variational approach. So, the bottleneck of the variational model on image segmentation is the lower efficiency of the algorithm. Combining the multiscale wavelet interpolation operator and HPM, a semianalytical numerical method can be obtained, which can improve the computational efficiency and accuracy greatly. The numerical results on some images segmentation show that the novel model and the numerical method are effective and practical.
Systemic Inflammation and Lung Function Impairment in Morbidly Obese Subjects with the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: van Huisstede Astrid , Cabezas Manuel Castro , Birnie Erwin , van de Geijn Gert-Jan M. , Rudolphus Arjan , Mannaerts Guido , Njo Tjin L. , Hiemstra Pieter S. , Braunstahl Gert-Jan
Published: February 2013

Background. Obesity and asthma are associated. There is a relationship between lung function impairment and the metabolic syndrome. Whether this relationship also exists in the morbidly obese patients is still unknown.Hypothesis. Low-grade systemic inflammation associated with the metabolic syndrome causes inflammation in the lungs and, hence, lung function impairment.Methods. This is cross-sectional study of morbidly obese patients undergoing preoperative screening for bariatric surgery. Metabolic syndrome was assessed according to the revised NCEP-ATP III criteria.Results. A total of 452 patients were included. Patients with the metabolic syndrome (n=293) had significantly higher blood monocyte (mean 5.3 versus 4.9,P=0.044) and eosinophil percentages (median 1.0 versus 0.8,P=0.002), while the total leukocyte count did not differ between the groups. The FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly lower in patients with the metabolic syndrome (76.7% versus 78.2%,P=0.032). Blood eosinophils were associated with FEV1/FVC ratio (adj. B −0.113,P=0.018).Conclusion. Although the difference in FEV1/FVC ratio between the groups is relatively small, in this cross-sectional study, and its clinical relevance may be limited, these data indicate that the presence of the metabolic syndrome may influence lung function impairment, through the induction of relative eosinophilia.
Fabrication and Corrosion Resistance of Superhydrophobic Hydroxide Zinc Carbonate Film on Aluminum Substrates
Authors: Liang Jin , Hu Yunchu , Wu Yiqiang , Chen Hong
Published: February 2013

Superhydrophobic hydroxide zinc carbonate (HZC) films were fabricated on aluminum substrate through a convenient in situ deposition process. Firstly, HZC films with different morphologies were deposited on aluminum substrates through immersing the aluminum substrates perpendicularly into aqueous solution containing zinc nitrate hexahydrate and urea. Secondly, the films were then modified with fluoroalkylsilane (FAS: CH3(CF2)6(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3) molecules by immersing in absolute ethanol solution containing FAS. The morphologies, hydrophobicity, chemical compositions, and bonding states of the films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurement (CA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. It was shown by surface morphological observation that HZC films displayed different microstructures such as microporous structure, rose petal‐like structure, block‐shaped structure, and pinecone‐like structure by altering the deposition condition. A highest water contact angle of 156.2° was obtained after FAS modification. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the superhydrophobic surface on aluminum substrate was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The EIS measurements’ results revealed that the superhydrophobic surface considerably improved the corrosion resistance of aluminum.
Axon Guidance Mechanisms for Establishment of Callosal Connections
Authors: Nishikimi Mitsuaki , Oishi Koji , Nakajima Kazunori
Published: February 2013

Numerous studies have investigated the formation of interhemispheric connections which are involved in high-ordered functions of the cerebral cortex in eutherian animals, including humans. The development of callosal axons, which transfer and integrate information between the right/left hemispheres and represent the most prominent commissural system, must be strictly regulated. From the beginning of their growth, until reaching their targets in the contralateral cortex, the callosal axons are guided mainly by two environmental cues: (1) the midline structures and (2) neighboring? axons. Recent studies have shown the importance of axona guidance by such cues and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this paper, we review these guidance mechanisms during the development of the callosal neurons. Midline populations express and secrete guidance molecules, and “pioneer” axons as well as interactions between the medial and lateral axons are also involved in the axon pathfinding of the callosal neurons. Finally, we describe callosal dysgenesis in humans and mice, that results from a disruption of these navigational mechanisms.
Texture Enhancement Based on the Savitzky-Golay Fractional Differential Operator
Authors: Jalab Hamid A. , Ibrahim Rabha W.
Published: February 2013

Texture enhancement for digital images is the most important technique in image processing. The purpose of this paper is to design a texture enhancement technique using fractional order Savitzky-Golay differentiator, which leads to generalizing the Savitzky-Golay filter in the sense of the Srivastava-Owa fractional operators. By employing this generalized fractional filter, texture enhancement is introduced. Consequently, it calculates the generalized fractional order derivative of the given image using the sliding weight window over the image. Experimental results show that the operator can extract more subtle information and make the edges more prominent. In general, the capability of the generalized fractional differential will be high because it is sensitive to the subtle fluctuations of values of pixels.
Playing Piano Can Improve Upper Extremity Function after Stroke: Case Studies
Authors: Villeneuve Myriam , Lamontagne Anouk
Published: February 2013

Music-supported therapy (MST) is an innovative approach that was shown to improve manual dexterity in acute stroke survivors. The feasibility of such intervention in chronic stroke survivors and its longer-term benefits, however, remain unknown. The objective of this pilot study was to estimate the short- and long-term effects of a 3-week piano training program on upper extremity function in persons with chronic stroke. A multiple pre-post sequential design was used, with measurements taken at baseline (week0, week3), prior to (week6) and after the intervention (week9), and at 3-week follow-up (week12). Three persons with stroke participated in the 3-week piano training program that combined structured piano lessons to home practice program. The songs, played on an electronic keyboard, involved all 5 digits of the affected hand and were displayed using a user-friendly MIDI program. After intervention, all the three participants showed improvements in their fine (nine hole peg test) and gross (box and block test) manual dexterity, as well as in the functional use of the upper extremity (Jebsen hand function test). Improvements were maintained at follow-up. These preliminary results support the feasibility of using an MST approach that combines structured lessons to home practice to improve upper extremity function in chronic stroke.
Bifurcation Analysis in a Delayed Diffusive Leslie-Gower Model
Authors: Yan Shuling , Lian Xinze , Wang Weiming , Wang Youbin
Published: February 2013

We investigate a modified delayed Leslie-Gower model under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. We give the stability analysis of the equilibria of the model and show the existence of Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium under some conditions. Furthermore, we investigate the stability and direction of bifurcating periodic orbits by using normal form theorem and the center manifold theorem.
Masses of Negative Multinomial Distributions: Application to Polarimetric Image Processing
Authors: Bernardoff Philippe , Chatelain Florent , Tourneret Jean-Yves
Published: February 2013

This paper derives new closed-form expressions for the masses of negative multinomial distributions. These masses can be maximized to determine the maximum likelihood estimator of its unknown parameters. An application to polarimetric image processing is investigated. We study the maximum likelihood estimators of the polarization degree of polarimetric images using different combinations of images.
A Case Series of Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis in Renal Transplant Patients
Authors: Azevedo Pedro , Freitas Cristina , Silva Hugo , Aguiar Pedro , Farrajota Pedro , Almeida Manuela , Pedroso Sofia , Martins La Salete , Dias Leonídio , Vizcaíno José Ramón , Castro Henriques António , Cabrita António
Published: February 2013

Tuberculosis is a disease relatively frequent in renal transplant patients, presenting a wide variety of clinical manifestations, often involving various organs and potentially fatal. Gastrointestinal tuberculosis, although rare in the general population, is about 50 times more frequent in renal transplant patients. Intestinal tuberculosis has a very difficult investigational approach, requiring a high clinical suspicion for its diagnosis. Therapeutic options may be a problem in the context of an immunosuppressed patient, requiring adjustment of maintenance therapy. The authors report two cases of isolated gastro-intestinal tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients that illustrates the difficulty of making this diagnosis and a brief review of the literature on its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and therapeutic approach.
A Fuzzy Preprocessing Module for Optimizing the Access Network Selection in Wireless Networks
Authors: Kaleem Faisal , Mehbodniya Abolfazl , Yen Kang K. , Adachi Fumiyuki
Published: February 2013

A heterogeneous wireless network is characterized by the presence of different wireless access technologies that coexist in an overlay fashion. These wireless access technologies usually differ in terms of their operating parameters. On the other hand, Mobile Stations (MSs) in a heterogeneous wireless network are equipped with multiple interfaces to access different types of services from these wireless access technologies. The ultimate goal of these heterogeneous wireless networks is to provide global connectivity with efficient ubiquitous computing to these MSs based on the Always Best Connected (ABC) principle. This is where the need for intelligent and efficient Vertical Handoffs (VHOs) between wireless technologies in a heterogeneous environment becomes apparent. This paper presents the design and implementation of a fuzzy multicriteria based Vertical Handoff Necessity Estimation (VHONE) scheme that determines the proper time for VHO, while considering the continuity and quality of the currently utilized service, and the end-users' satisfaction.
Preparation and Electrocatalytic Characteristics Research of Pd/C Catalyst for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell
Authors: Li Qiao Xia , Liu Ming Shuang , Xu Qun Jie , Mao Hong Min
Published: February 2013

Two kinds of carbon‐support 20% Pd/C catalysts for use in direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) have been prepared by an impregnation reduction method using NaBH4 and NaH2PO2 as reductants, respectively, in this study. The catalysts were characterized by XRD and TEM. The results show that the catalysts had been completely reduced, and the catalysts are spherical and homogeneously dispersed on carbon. The electrocatalytic activity of the catalysts was investigated by electrochemical measurements. The results indicate that the catalysts had an average particle size of 3.3 nm and showed the better catalytic performance, when NaBH4 was used as the reducing agent. The electrochemical active surface area of Pd/C (NaBH4) was 56.4 m2·g−1. The electrochemical activity of the Pd/C (NaBH4) was much higher than that of Pd/C (NaH2PO2).
Platinum and Palladium Polyamine Complexes as Anticancer Agents: The Structural Factor
Authors: Marques M. P. M.
Published: February 2013

Since the introduction of cisplatin to oncology in 1978, Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds have been intensively studied with a view to develop the improved anticancer agents. Polynuclear polyamine complexes, in particular, have attracted special attention, since they were found to yield DNA adducts not available to conventional drugs (through long-distance intra- and interstrand cross-links) and to often circumvent acquired cisplatin resistance. Moreover, the cytotoxic potency of these polyamine-bridged chelates is strictly regulated by their structural characteristics, which renders this series of compounds worth investigating and their synthesis being carefully tailored in order to develop third-generation drugs coupling an increased spectrum of activity to a lower toxicity. The present paper addresses the latest developments in the design of novel antitumor agents based on platinum and palladium, particularly polynuclear chelates with variable length aliphatic polyamines as bridging ligands, highlighting the close relationship between their structural preferences and cytotoxic ability. In particular, studies by vibrational spectroscopy techniques are emphasised, allowing to elucidate the structure-activity relationships (SARs) ruling anticancer activity.
An Efficient Constrained Learning Algorithm for Stable 2D IIR Filter Factorization
Authors: Ampazis Nicholas , Perantonis Stavros J.
Published: February 2013

A constrained neural network optimization algorithm is presented for factorizing simultaneously the numerator and denominator polynomials of the transfer functions of 2-D IIR filters. The method minimizes a cost function based on the frequency response of the filters, along with simultaneous satisfaction of appropriate constraints, so that factorization is facilitated and the stability of the resulting filter is respected.
Roots ofErigeron annuusAttenuate Acute Inflammation as Mediated with the Inhibition of NF-κB-Associated Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandin E2production
Authors: Jo Mi Jeong , Lee Jong Rok , Cho Il Je , Kim Young Woo , Kim Sang Chan
Published: February 2013

Erigeron annuusis a naturalized plant belonging to Compositae (asteraceae) family, which is called the annual fleabane, and commonly found at meadows and roadside. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract ofE. annuusroots (EER), as assessed by the paw edema formation and histological analysis in rat, and the productions of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2(PGE2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Raw264.7 murine macrophages. Carrageenan treatment promoted infiltration of inflammatory cells and caused swelling in the hind paw. Oral administrations of EER (0.3 g/kg and 1 g/kg) attenuated acute inflammation similar to the result using dexamethasone (1 mg/kg). Treatment of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) simulated inflammatory condition: LPS significantly increased the productions of NO, PGE2, and proinflammatory cytokines. EER suppressed activation of macrophages, preventing the induction of iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions. LPS treatment induced phosphorylation of I-κBαand increased the level of nuclear NF-κB protein, both of which were suppressed by concomitant treatment of EER. In conclusion, EER ameliorated acute inflammation in rats, and the induction of NO, PGE2, and proinflammatory cytokines in Raw264.7 cells. EER’s effects may be associated with its inhibition of NF-κB activation, suggesting its effect on inflammatory diseases.
Group Classification of a Generalized Lane-Emden System
Authors: Muatjetjeja Ben , Khalique Chaudry Masood , Mahomed Fazal Mahmood
Published: February 2013

We perform the group classification of the generalized Lane-Emden systemxu′′+nu′+xHv=0,  xv′′+nv′+xgu=0, which occurs in many applications of physical phenomena such as pattern formation, population evolution, and chemical reactions. We obtain four cases depending on the values ofn.
Stability in Terms of Two Measures for Nonlinear Impulsive Systems on Time Scales
Authors: Zhang Kexue , Liu Xinzhi
Published: February 2013

We investigate some stability problems in terms of two measures for nonlinear dynamic systems on time scales with fixed moments of impulsive effects. Sufficient conditions for (uniform) stability, (uniform) asymptotic stability, and instability in terms of two measures are derived by using the method of Lyapunov functions. Our results include the existing results as special cases when the time scale reduces to the set of real numbers. Particularly, our results provide stability criteria for impulsive discrete systems in terms of two measures, which have not been investigated extensively. Two examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed results.
Adaptive Learning Based Scheduling in Multichannel Protocol for Energy-Efficient Data-Gathering Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Phung Kieu-Ha , Lemmens Bart , Mihaylov Mihail , Tran Lan , Steenhaut Kris
Published: February 2013

Multichannel communication protocols have been developed to alleviate the effects of interference and consequently improve the network performance in wireless sensor networks requiring high bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a contention-free multichannel protocol to maximize network throughput while ensuring energy-efficient operation. Arguing that routing decisions influence to a large extent the network throughput, we formulate route selection and transmission scheduling as a joint problem and propose a Reinforcement Learning based scheduling algorithm to solve it in a distributed manner. The results of extensive simulation experiments show that the proposed solution not only provides a collision-free transmission schedule but also minimizes energy waste, which makes it appropriate for energy-constrained wireless sensor networks.
Oxaliplatin and Bolus-Modulated 5-Fluorouracil as a Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Can Bolus Regimens Replace FOLFOX When Considered for Second Line?
Authors: Azmy A. , Abdelwahab S. , Yassen M.
Published: February 2013

Objective. Comparing activity of 2 regimens combining oxaliplatin to bolus modulated fluorouracil as second line treatment in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma pretreated with gemcitabine-containing schedule. Methods. Forty eight patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive either FU 500 mg/m2 IV bolus weekly ×6 weeks plus leucovorin 500 mg/m2 IV weekly for 6 weeks during each 8-week cycle plus oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 IV on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of each 8-week (FLOX) OR receive weekly intravenous infusions of oxaliplatin 40 mg/m2, 5-FU 500 mg/m2, and leucovorin 250 mg/m2 (3 weeks on, 1 week off). Results. Non progression(PR+SD) was found in 33.5% for first regimen and 29% for second regimen, and 37.5% had clinical benefit (FLOX regimen) compared to 50% in 3-weeks regimen. The median TTP was 3.9,4 months respectively. Median OS was 8, 9 months for both regimens. Only one case in 3-weeks arm suffered from grade IV diarrhea. Two cases > grade 2 neutropenia were observed; one in each treatment groups. Grade 3 anemia was recorded in 3 patients (2 in FLOX arm, one in 3-weeks arm). Conclusions. Both regimens showed encouraging efficacy, acceptable toxicity, and clinical benefit.
Effects of Surface Morphology of ZnAl2O4 Ceramic Materials on Osteoblastic Cells Responses
Authors: Suárez-Franco José Luis , García-Hipólito Manuel , Surárez-Rosales Miguel Ángel , Fernández-Pedrero José Arturo , Álvarez-Fregoso Octavio , Juárez-Islas Julio Alberto , Álvarez-Pérez Marco Antonio
Published: February 2013

Ceramic scaffolds are widely studied in the tissue engineering field due to their potential in medical applications as bone substitutes or as bone‐filling materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of surface morphology of nanostructure thin films of ZnAl2O4 prepared by spray pyrolysis and bulk pellets of polycrystalline ZnAl2O4 prepared by chemical coprecipitation reaction on the in vitro cell adhesion, viability, and cell‐material interactions of osteoblastic cells. Our result showed that cell attachment was significantly enhanced from 60 to 80% on the ZnAl2O4 nanostructured material surface when compared with bulk ceramic surfaces. Moreover, our results showed that the balance of morphological properties of the thin film nanostructure ceramic improves cell‐material interaction with enhanced spreading and filopodia with multiple cellular extensions on the surface of the ceramic and enhancing cell viability/proliferation in comparison with bulk ceramic surfaces used as control. Altogether, these results suggest that zinc aluminate nanostructured materials have a great potential to be used in dental implant and bone substitute applications.
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid Attenuates the Oxidative Stress-Induced Decrease of CD33 Expression in Human Monocytes
Authors: Guzmán-Beltrán Silvia , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Gonzalez-Reyes Susana , Hernández-Sánchez Fernando , Juarez-Figueroa Ulises E. , Gonzalez Yolanda , Bobadilla Karen , Torres Martha
Published: February 2013

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a natural lignan with recognized antioxidant and beneficial properties that is isolated fromLarrea tridentata. In this study, we evaluated the effect of NDGA on the downregulation of oxidant stress-induced CD33 in human monocytes (MNs). Oxidative stress was induced by iodoacetate (IAA) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and was evaluated using reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell viability. NDGA attenuates toxicity, ROS production and the oxidative stress-induced decrease of CD33 expression secondary to IAA or H2O2in human MNs. It was also shown that NDGA (20 μM) attenuates cell death in the THP-1 cell line that is caused by treatment with either IAA or H2O2. These results suggest that NDGA has a protective effect on CD33 expression, which is associated with its antioxidant activity in human MNs.
Solving Two-Dimensional HP Model by Firefly Algorithm and Simplified Energy Function
Authors: Zhang Yudong , Wu Lenan , Wang Shuihua
Published: February 2013

In order to solve the HP model of the protein folding problem, we investigated traditional energy function and pointed out that its discrete property cannot give direction of the next step to the searching point, causing a challenge to optimization algorithms. Therefore, we introduced the simplified energy function into a turn traditional discrete energy function to continuous one. The simplified energy function totals the distance between all pairs of hydrophobic amino acids. To optimize the simplified energy function, we introduced the latest swarm intelligence algorithm, the firefly algorithm (FA). FA is a hot nature-inspired technique and has been used for solving nonlinear multimodal optimization problems in dynamic environment. We also proposed the code scheme strategy to apply FA to the simplified HP model with the clash test strategy. The experiment took 14 sequences of different chain lengths from 18 to 100 as the dataset and compared the FA with standard genetic algorithm and immune genetic algorithm. Each algorithm ran 20 times. The averaged energy convergence results show that FA achieves the lowest values. It concludes that it is effective to solve 2D HP model by the firefly algorithm and the simplified energy function.
The Influences of CuO/ZnO Ratios on the Crystallization Characteristics Electrical and Magnetic Properties of CuxZn1−xO Powders
Authors: Chen Kuan-Jen , Hung Fei-Yi , Lui Truan-Sheng , Chen Cheng-Hung , Chang Sheng-Po
Published: February 2013

This study synthesizes CuxZn1−xO powders using an aqueous solution method. The CuxZn1−xO powders with different content ratios of CuO and ZnO (CuO : ZnO = 1 : 2, 1 : 1, and 2 : 1) were formed. The crystalline characteristics and electrical and magnetic properties depended primarily on the mixing effect and oxygenation. The electrical resistance of C0.5Z0.5O (1.5×105 Ω/□) powder was lower than that of CuO (5.82×105 Ω/□) powder after ZnO mixing in CuO. This reduction was attributed to the substitution of Cu+ ions at Zn2+ sites or the formation of electron trapping defect centers. The concentration ratio of Cu2O phase in CuxZn1−xO powder mainly dominated the electrical resistance. The CuxZn1−xO has a diluted ferromagnetism (DFM) and paramagnetism (PM). The electrical resistance of CuxZn1−xO decreased; the magnetic behavior increased instead. This study also analyzes the chemical binding of Cu0.5Zn0.5O powders to confirm the contribution of Cu+ ions to the electrical and magnetic properties.
Existence and Exact Asymptotic Behavior of Positive Solutions for a Fractional Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Mâagli Habib , Mhadhebi Noureddine , Zeddini Noureddine
Published: February 2013

We establish the existence and uniqueness of a positive solution for the fractional boundary value problem , with the condition , where , and is a nonnegative continuous function on that may be singular at or .
Two Generalized Predator-Prey Models for Integrated Pest Management with Stage Structure and Disease in the Prey Population
Authors: Shi Ruiqing , Tang Sanyi , Feng Wenli
Published: February 2013

Stage-structured predator-prey models with disease in the prey are constructed. For the purpose of integrated pest management, two types of impulsive control strategies (impulsive release of infective prey and impulsive release of predator) are used. For Case  1, infective prey applications are more frequent than releases of predator (natural enemies). For Case  2, predator (natural enemies) releases are more frequent than infective prey applications. In both cases, we get the sufficient conditions for the global attractivity of the susceptible prey-eradication periodic solution. In addition, the persistence of the systems is also discussed. At last, the results are discussed and some possible future work is put forward.
Preparation of N-TiO2Using a Microwave/Sol-Gel Method and Its Photocatalytic Activity for Bisphenol A under Visible-Light and Sunlight Irradiation
Authors: Wu Chung-Hsin , Kuo Chao-Yin , Lin Chin-Jung , Chiu Peng-Ke
Published: February 2013

This study applied the microwave/sol-gel method to prepare nitrogen-doped TiO2(N-TiO2). The N-TiO2was immobilized in glass balls to form N-TiO2/glass beads and applied to degrade Bisphenol A (BPA) under visible-light and sunlight irradiation. The characteristics of the prepared photocatalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Experimental results demonstrate that the percentage of anatase increased as the amount of N in N-TiO2increased. Compared with the undoped TiO2(420 nm), spectra show that the absorption edge shifted to a longer wavelength (445 nm) after N doping. The XPS characterization confirms the substitution of crystal lattice O to N species in N-TiO2, forming Ti–O–N and N–Ti–O. With an increased N/Ti ratio, photodegradation efficiency increased and then decreased; moreover, the optimal amount for N doping was determined as an N/Ti mole ratio of 0.08 (0.1 NT). The efficiency of 0.1 NT in doing BPA photodegradation was greater than that of Degussa P25. After reaction for 61 min, the mineralization percentage of 0.1 NT under visible-light irradiation reached 41%. Photocatalyst efficiency decreased as the number of repeats increased in the visible-light/N-TiO2system; however, these systems were stable during reaction.
Coordination in a Single-Retailer Two-Supplier Supply Chain under Random Demand and Random Supply with Disruption
Authors: Hu Fei , Lim Cheng-Chew , Lu Zudi , Sun Xiaochen
Published: February 2013

This paper studies the coordination issue of a supply chain consisting of one retailer and two suppliers, a main supplier and a backup supplier. The main supplier’s yield is subject to disruption and the retailer faces a random demand. We determine the retailer’s optimal ordering policy and the main supplier’s production quantity that maximize expected profit of the centralized supply chain. We also analyze the decentralized scenario, and a combination of overproduction risk sharing and buy-back contracts with a side payment from/to the backup supplier is provided to coordinate the supply chain. Numerical examples are given to gain some qualitative insights.
Ranks of a Constrained Hermitian Matrix Expression with Applications
Authors: Yu Shao-Wen
Published: February 2013

We establish the formulas of the maximal and minimal ranks of the quaternion Hermitian matrix expressionC4−A4XA4∗whereXis a Hermitian solution to quaternion matrix equationsA1X=C1,XB1=C2, andA3XA3*=C3. As applications, we give a new necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of Hermitian solution to the system of matrix equationsA1X=C1,XB1=C2,A3XA3*=C3, andA4XA4*=C4, which was investigated by Wang and Wu, 2010, by rank equalities. In addition, extremal ranks of the generalized Hermitian Schur complementC4−A4A3~A4∗with respect to a Hermitian g-inverseA3~ofA3, which is a common solution to quaternion matrix equationsA1X=C1andXB1=C2, are also considered.
The Positive Properties of Green’s Function for Fractional Differential Equations and Its Applications
Authors: Jiang Fuquan , Xu Xiaojie , Cao Zhongwei
Published: February 2013

We consider the properties of Green’s function for the nonlinear fractional differential equation boundary value problem:D0+αu(t)+f(t,u(t))+e(t)=0,0<t<1,u(0)=u'(0)=⋯=u(n-2)(0)=0,u(1)=βu(η), wheren-1<α≤n,n≥3,0<β≤1,0≤η≤1,D0+αis the standard Riemann-Liouville derivative. Here our nonlinearityfmay be singular atu=0. As applications of Green’s function, we give some multiple positive solutions for singular boundary value problems by means of Schauder fixed-point theorem.
Attenuation of CCl4-Induced Oxidative Stress and Hepatonephrotoxicity by Saudi Sidr Honey in Rats
Authors: Al-Yahya Mohammed , Mothana Ramzi , Al-Said Mansour , Al-Dosari Mohammed , Al-Musayeib Nawal , Al-Sohaibani Mohammed , Parvez Mohammad Khalid , Rafatullah Syed
Published: February 2013

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effect of Saudi Sidr honey (SSH) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative stress and liver and kidney damage in rat. Moreover, the antioxidant activity and the phenolic and flavonoidal contents were determined. The hepatorenal protective activity of the SSH was determined by assessing biochemical, hematological, and histological parameters. Serum transaminases, ALP, GGT, creatinine, bilirubin urea, uric acid, and MDA level in liver and kidney tissues were significantly elevated, and the antioxidant status of nonprotein sulfhydryls, albumin, and total protein levels in liver and kidney were declined significantly in CCl4alone treated animals. Pretreatment with SSH and silymarin prior to the administration of CCl4significantly prevented the increase of the serum levels of enzyme markers and reduced oxidative stress. SSH also exhibited a significant lipid-lowering effect and caused an HDL-C enhanced level in serum. The histopathological evaluation of the liver and kidney also revealed that honey protected incidence of both liver and kidney lesions. Moreover, SSH showed a strong antioxidant activity in DPPH andβ-carotene-linoleic acid assays. SSH was found to contain phenolic compounds. Additionally, the SSH supplementation restored the hepatocytes viability against 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) toxicity inex vivotest.
Dynamic Cognitive Self-Organized TDMA for Medium Access Control in Real-Time Vehicle to Vehicle Communications
Authors: Manzano Mario , Espinosa Felipe , Bravo-Santos Ángel M. , Santiso Enrique , Bravo Ignacio , Garcia David
Published: February 2013

The emergence of intelligent transport systems has brought out a new set of requirements on wireless communication. To cope with these requirements, several proposals are currently under discussion. In this highly mobile environment, the design of a prompt, efficient, flexible, and reliable medium access control, able to cover the specific constraints of the named real-time communications applications, is still unsolved. This paper presents the original proposal integrating Non-Cooperative Cognitive Time Division Multiple Access (NCC-TDMA) based on Cognitive Radio (CR) techniques to obtain a mechanism which complies with the requirements of real-time communications. Though the proposed MAC uses a slotted channel, it can be adapted to operate on the physical layer of different standards. The authors’ analysis considers the IEEE WAVE and 802.11p as the standards of reference. The mechanism also offers other advantages, such as avoiding signalling and the adaptation capacity to channel conditions and interferences. The solution is applied to the problem of units merging a convoy. Comparison results between NCC-TDMA and Slotted-Aloha are included.
Discrete Artificial Bee Colony for Computationally Efficient Symbol Detection in Multidevice STBC MIMO Systems
Authors: Ashrafinia Saeed , Naeem Muhammad , Lee Daniel
Published: February 2013

A Discrete Artificial Bee Colony (DABC) is presented for joint symbol detection at the receiver in a multidevice Space-Time Block Code (STBC) Mutli-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communication system. Exhaustive search (maximum likelihood detection) for finding an optimal detection has a computational complexity that increases exponentially with the number of mobile devices, transmit antennas per mobile device, and the number of bits per symbol. ABC is a new population-based, swarm-based Evolutionary Algorithms (EA) presented for multivariable numerical functions and has shown good performance compared to other mainstream EAs for problems in continuous domain. This algorithm simulates the intelligent foraging behavior of honeybee swarms. An enhanced discrete version of the ABC algorithm is presented and applied to the joint symbol detection problem to find a nearly optimal solution in real time. The results of multiple independent simulation runs indicate the effectiveness of DABC with other well-known algorithms previously proposed for joint symbol detection such as the near-optimal sphere decoding, minimum mean square error, zero forcing, and semidefinite relaxation, along with other EAs such as genetic algorithm, estimation of distributions algorithm, and the more novel biogeography-based optimization algorithm.
A New Series of Three-Dimensional Chaotic Systems with Cross-Product Nonlinearities and Their Switching
Authors: Zhao Xinquan , Jiang Feng , Zhang Zhigang , Hu Junhao
Published: February 2013

This paper introduces a new series of three-dimensional chaotic systems with cross-product nonlinearities. Based on some conditions, we analyze the globally exponentially or globally conditional exponentially attractive set and positive invariant set of these chaotic systems. Moreover, we give some known examples to show our results, and the exponential estimation is explicitly derived. Finally, we construct some three-dimensional chaotic systems with cross-product nonlinearities and study the switching system between them.
Changing Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Adenoma in the United States: Review of the Literature
Authors: Chang Charissa Y. , Hernandez-Prera Juan C. , Roayaie Sasan , Schwartz Myron , Thung Swan N.
Published: February 2013

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a benign neoplasm arising from hepatocytes. There is evidence that the inflammatory subtype may be associated with obesity and alcohol use and that men with metabolic syndrome may be at risk for malignant transformation of HCA. We sought to explore the combined experience of US centers as reported in the literature to document the epidemiologic shift in risk factors for HCA formation in the United States, namely, a shift from oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) to an emerging role of obesity as a contributing factor.Methods. Publications reporting HCA in the United States were identified through a PubMed search and a review of the literature. We excluded publications prior to 1970, single case reports, and publications for which there was no data available regarding patient characteristics including OCP use and the number of adenomas.Conclusion. Whereas earlier reports of HCA in the United States described cases exclusively in women exposed to OCPs, there is a trend towards an increase in HCAs reported in men, HCAs in the absence of OCP use, and increased reporting of multiple HCAs. This may be a result of newer OCP formulations and increasing prevalence of obesity.