bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving surgical inpatient ward lists in a large acute hospital: a simple yet effective process to save the time of junior house officers
Authors: Kenny Ross , Johnston Carolyn , Qureshi Imran
Published: June 2014

In order for the smooth running of a surgical firm, an effective ward list must be created, updated, and edited each day, often by junior medical personnel. Ward lists are used by various healthcare professionals including consultants, specialist nurses, and pharmacists. Over time ward inpatient lists can become increasingly difficult to use and lacking in vital information.

Baseline measurement revealed the extent of the problem with junior house officers spending on average 95 minutes per day maintaining the ward list. After a period of research and learning, a bespoke inpatient list was created containing all of the vital information required. Criteria to fulfil included being straightforward to manipulate, easy to input new patients and aesthetically pleasing. After a trial period with modifications, an improved inpatient ward list was successfully implemented. Post-intervention data collection revealed a reduction of 42 minutes per day on average spent maintaining the list, with a 100% increase in satisfaction, and reduction in problems encountered from daily to weekly. Following this success, the general surgery weekend handover list was improved using the same prototype. This led to a saving of 8 minutes per day on average and increased doctor satisfaction.

The process of creating an effective, easy to use, and useful inpatient ward list can lead to large amount of time saved each day for the staff responsible for its management. This time can then be reinvested on clinical duties, or education, to further improve the healthcare service we provide.
Unintentional drowning mortality, by age and body of water: an analysis of 60 countries
Authors: Lin Ching-Yih , Wang Yi-Fong , Lu Tsung-Hsueh , Kawach Ichiro
Published: June 2014

Background

To examine unintentional drowning mortality by age and body of water across 60 countries, to provide a starting point for further in-depth investigations within individual countries.

Methods

The latest available three years of mortality data for each country were extracted from WHO Health Statistics and Information Services (updated at 13 November 2013). We calculated mortality rate of unintentional drowning by age group for each country. For countries using International Classification of Disease 10 (ICD-10) detailed 3 or 4 Character List, we further examined the body of water involved.

Results

A huge variation in age-standardised mortality rate (deaths per 100 000 population) was noted, from 0.12 in Turkey to 9.19 in Guyana. Of the ten countries with the highest age-standardised mortality rate, six (Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova) were in Eastern Europe and two (Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) were in Central Asia. Some countries (Japan, Finland and Greece) had a relatively low rank in mortality rate among children aged 0–4 years, but had a high rank in mortality rate among older adults. On the contrary, South Africa and Colombia had a relatively high rank among children aged 0–4 years, but had a relatively low rank in mortality rate among older adults. With regard to body of water involved, the proportion involving a bathtub was extremely high in Japan (65%) followed by Canada (11%) and the USA (11%). Of the 13 634 drowning deaths involving bathtubs in Japan between 2009 and 2011, 12 038 (88%) were older adults aged 65 years or above. The percentage involving a swimming pool was high in the USA (18%), Australia (13%), and New Zealand (7%). The proportion involving natural water was high in Finland (93%), Panama (87%), and Lithuania (85%).

Conclusions

After considering the completeness of reporting and quality of classifying drowning deaths across countries, we conclude that drowning is a high-priority public health problem in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Japan (older adults involving bathtubs), and the USA (involving swimming pools).
Intratumoral DNA content heterogeneity in breast carcinomas demonstrated by core punch tissue sampling and flow cytometry
Authors: Zhang Zhouwei , Weaver Donald L , Munjal Kavita , Evans Mark F
Published: June 2014

Further to advancements in instrumentation and fluorescent dye technologies, there has been a resurgence of interest in the flow cytometric assay of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Here we present a novel, simple and effective alternative to whole block sectioning that allows selective multisampling of tissues within a specimen block and the investigation of intratumoral heterogeneity. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma specimens were core-punched using 1.0 mm diameter needles and assayed by flow cytometry using a modified Hedley method. Intratumoral heterogeneity for DNA index and per cent S-phase fraction was detected in 10 of 23 (44%) and 11 of 23 (47%) specimens respectively. Macro-level genomic heterogeneity is common in breast cancer even within a single surgical specimen block. Studies investigating the relationship of DNA content heterogeneity to other markers of genomic instability such as mutations, deletions, insertions and translocations are warranted.
Evaluating the health inequalities impact of area-based initiatives across the socioeconomic spectrum: a controlled intervention study of the New Deal for Communities, 2002–2008
Authors: Stafford Mai , Badland Hannah , Nazroo James , Halliday Emma , Walthery Pierre , Povall Sue , Dibben Christopher , Whitehead Margaret , Popay Jennie
Published: June 2014

Background

Previous evaluations of area-based initiatives have not compared intervention areas with the full range of areas from top to bottom of the social spectrum to evaluate their health inequalities impact.

Setting

Deprived areas subject to the New Deal for Communities (NDC) intervention, local deprivation-matched comparator areas, and areas drawn from across the socioeconomic spectrum (representing high, medium and low deprivation) in England between 2002 and 2008.

Data

Secondary analysis of biannual repeat cross-sectional surveys collected for the NDC National Evaluation Team and the Health Survey for England (HSE).

Methods

Following data harmonisation, baseline and time trends in six health and social determinants of health outcomes were compared. Individual-level data were modelled using regression to adjust for age, sex, ethnic and socioeconomic differences among respondents.

Results

Compared with respondents in HSE low deprivation areas, those in NDC intervention areas experienced a significantly steeper improvement in education, a trend towards a steeper improvement in self-rated health, and a significantly less steep reduction in smoking between 2002 and 2008. In HSE high deprivation areas, significantly less steep improvements in five out of six outcomes were seen compared with HSE low deprivation areas.

Conclusions

Although unable to consider prior trends and previous initiatives, our findings provide cautious optimism that well-resourced and constructed area-based initiatives can reduce, or at least prevent the widening of, social inequalities for selected outcomes between the most and least deprived groups of areas.
Girdling and tree death: lessons fromChamaecyparis pisifera
Authors: Ueda Masafumi , Shibata Ei’ichi , Fukuda Hideshi , Sano Akira , Waguchi Yoshiaki
Published: June 2014

To investigate the effects of girdling on the water relation of trees, we measured a number of water-status parameters and morphological features following trunk and branch girdling of Chamaecyparis pisifera Siebold & Zucc. Girdling caused a marked reduction in the water-conduction area of the trunk cross section at the girdled part. Some girdled trees generated intense acoustic emissions (AE), simultaneously decreased leaf water potentials (LWP), and then died within 1 year. However, others lived for more than 2 years after girdling. In these survivors, the water-conduction area of the trunk cross section was reduced but not entirely blocked, and LWP decreases did not occur. Consequently, we conclude that girdling affects xylem water conductivity and sometimes causes short-term (within 1 year) tree death by blocking water uptake from soil to leaves. The results of this study on whether tree death from girdling occurs sooner or later could be important in the use of girdling for thinning management.
Thermal stress analysis and entropy generation rate due to laser short pulse heating of a metallic surface
Authors: Yilbas Bekir Sami , Ali Haider , Al-Dweik Ahmad Yousef
Published: June 2014

An analytical solution is developed for thermal stress in exponentially time decaying laser short-pulse heating of a metallic surface. Because the heating duration is short, a nonequilibrium heating model incorporating the electron kinetic theory approach is used to formulate the temperature distribution during the laser heating pulse. Thermomechanical coupling is introduced in the analysis to formulate the thermal stress field. Thermodynamic irreversibility is considered and the entropy generation rate due to heat transfer and thermal stress field is formulated during the heating process. It is found that temperature decays gradually in the surface region and becomes sharp as the distance increases towards the solid bulk. Thermal stress is compressive in the irradiated region. Thermodynamic irreversibility due to heat transfer dominates thermodynamic irreversibility because of the thermal stress field.
Comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of double-differential cross sections for CH4 at 300 and 350 eV incident electron energies
Authors: Yavuz Murat , Isik Nimet , Ozer Zehra Nur , Ulu Melike , Dogan Mevlut , Sahlaoui Mohammed , Benmansour Nour El Houda , Lasri Boumediene , Bouamoud Mammar
Published: June 2014

For the first time in the literature, the angular distribution of the double-differential cross section of a methane molecule is measured and calculated at 300 and 350 eV electron impact energies. Experiments were carried out with a conventional electron spectrometer. The theoretical results were obtained using the first Born approximation and the one-Coulomb wave model corrected by the Gamow factor to take into account the post-collision interaction between the outgoing electrons. The agreement between experiment and theory indicates that the one-Coulomb wave model is a reliable theoretical approach to describe electron–methane interactions.
Phase transition of iron doped MgO under high pressure by first-principles study
Authors: Yang K. S. , Li S. L. , Zhang J. , Zeng Z. , Qin X. Y. , Zhou X. M.
Published: June 2014

The ( Mg, Fe ) O solid solution is one of the major lower mantle minerals, and studying its properties and structures under high pressure is a fundamental step toward understanding Earth's deep interior. Here within the framework of density functional theory, we first discuss the relationship between the total energy and iron doped positions of ( Mg, Fe ) O , and find that the doped iron favors to be dispersive. Then the pressure-induced phase transitions of ( Mg, Fe ) O from NaCl -type (B1) to CsCl -type (B2) are probed. It is found that the phase transition pressure of ( Mg, Fe ) O decreases with damped oscillation, as the increase of iron concentration. This phenomenon is essentially determined by the iron concentration as well as iron doped positions. The electronic structures of MgO and ( Mg 0.75 Fe 0.25) O at 436 GPa are calculated, and the results show that the doped irons play a crucial role in the metallicity of ( Mg 0.75 Fe 0.25) O . Our results are in agreement with the experimental counterparts. This study would provide some useful information for understanding the behavior of pressure-induced phase transition and geoscience.
Central exclusive production within the Durham model: A Review
Authors: Harland-Lang L. A. , Khoze V. A. , Ryskin M. G. , Stirling W. J.
Published: June 2014

We review recent results within the Durham model of central exclusive production. We discuss the theoretical aspects of this approach and consider the phenomenological implications in a variety of processes, comparing to existing collider data and addressing the possibilities for the future.
Toward a Framework of the Process of Open Innovation — Case of Acclarent in the Medical Device Industry
Authors: Wan Hua-Hsin , Quan Xiaohong Iris
Published: June 2014

Using a case study of Acclarent, a medical device company, this paper attempts to propose a framework to further illustrate the process of open innovation in the medical device industry. We examined five elements in the mechanism of the open innovation process. Our paper shows how the success of Acclarent — a medical device start-up — depends on effective management of the flow of knowledge to satisfy unmet needs, while integrating in-depth knowledge of FDA regulations and third-party payers' reimbursement policies into the product innovation process.
The transport mechanism of the human sodium/myo-inositol transporter 2 (SMIT2/SGLT6), a member of the LeuT structural family
Authors: Sasseville Louis J. , Longpré Jean-Philippe , Wallendorff Bernadette , Lapointe Jean-Yves
Published: June 2014

The sodium/ myo-inositol transporter 2 (SMIT2) is a member of the SLC5A gene family, which is believed to share the five-transmembrane segment inverted repeat of the LeuT structural family. The two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) technique was used to measure the steady-state and the pre-steady-state currents mediated by human SMIT2 after expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Phlorizin is first shown to be a poor inhibitor of pre-steady-state currents for depolarizing voltage pulse. From an up to threefold difference between the apparent ON and OFF transferred charges during a voltage pulse, we also show that a fraction of the transient current recorded for very negative potentials is not a true pre-steady-state current coming from the cotransporter conformational changes. We suggest that this transient current comes from a time-dependent leak current that can reach large amplitudes when external Na+ concentration is reduced. A kinetic model was generated through a simulated annealing algorithm. This algorithm was used to identify the optimal connectivity among 19 different kinetic models and obtain the numerical values of the associated parameters. The proposed 5-state model includes cooperative binding of Na+ ions, strong apparent asymmetry of the energy barriers, a rate-limiting step that is likely associated with the translocation of the empty transporter, and a turnover rate of 21 s−1. The proposed model is a proof of concept for a novel approach to kinetic modeling of electrogenic transporters and allows insight into the transport mechanism of members of the LeuT structural family at the millisecond timescale.
The ins and outs of angiotensin processing within the kidney
Authors: Wilson Bryan A. , Marshall Allyson C. , Alzayadneh Ebaa M. , Chappell Mark C.
Published: June 2014

The kidney is a key target organ for bioactive components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS); however, various renal cells such as the tubular epithelium contain an intrinsic RAS. The renal RAS can be functionally divided into ANG II-AT1receptor and ANG-(1–7)-AT7/Mas receptor arms that functionally oppose one another. The current review considers both extracellular and intracellular pathways that potentially govern the formation and metabolism of angiotensin peptides within the renal proximal tubules.
Operant conditioning of the soleus H-reflex does not induce long-term changes in the gastrocnemius H-reflexes and does not disturb normal locomotion in humans
Authors: Makihara Yukiko , Segal Richard L. , Wolpaw Jonathan R. , Thompson Aiko K.
Published: June 2014

In normal animals, operant conditioning of the spinal stretch reflex or the H-reflex has lesser effects on synergist muscle reflexes. In rats and people with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), soleus H-reflex operant conditioning can improve locomotion. We studied in normal humans the impact of soleus H-reflex down-conditioning on medial (MG) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) H-reflexes and on locomotion. Subjects completed 6 baseline and 30 conditioning sessions. During conditioning trials, the subject was encouraged to decrease soleus H-reflex size with the aid of visual feedback. Every sixth session, MG and LG H-reflexes were measured. Locomotion was assessed before and after conditioning. In successfully conditioned subjects, the soleus H-reflex decreased 27.2%. This was the sum of within-session (task dependent) adaptation (13.2%) and across-session (long term) change (14%). The MG H-reflex decreased 14.5%, due mainly to task-dependent adaptation (13.4%). The LG H-reflex showed no task-dependent adaptation or long-term change. No consistent changes were detected across subjects in locomotor H-reflexes, EMG activity, joint angles, or step symmetry. Thus, in normal humans, soleus H-reflex down-conditioning does not induce long-term changes in MG/LG H-reflexes and does not change locomotion. In these subjects, task-dependent adaptation of the soleus H-reflex is greater than it is in people with SCI, whereas long-term change is less. This difference from results in people with SCI is consistent with the fact that long-term change is beneficial in people with SCI, since it improves locomotion. In contrast, in normal subjects, long-term change is not beneficial and may necessitate compensatory plasticity to preserve satisfactory locomotion.
Voxel-based morphometry and arterial spin labeling fMRI reveal neuropathic and neuroplastic features of brain processing of itch in end-stage renal disease
Authors: Papoiu Alexandru D. P. , Emerson Nichole M. , Patel Tejesh S. , Kraft Robert A. , Valdes-Rodriguez Rodrigo , Nattkemper Leigh A. , Coghill Robert C. , Yosipovitch Gil
Published: June 2014

Pruritus of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a multifactorial symptom of complex etiology not yet fully understood. In this study we have investigated the cerebral perfusion patterns at rest in ESRD patients on hemodialysis, compared with those in healthy volunteers. We have also studied the brain responses evoked by experimental itch induction in ESRD, after stimulating the two distinct histamine and cowhage itch pathways, and compared them with the responses evoked in healthy volunteers. To identify potential structural alterations in ESRD patients compared with a group of age-matched healthy volunteers, we calculated the density of gray matter for the entire brain using a voxel-based morphometric analysis. Our results indicated that gray matter density was significantly reduced in ESRD patients in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices, as well as in the S1, precuneus, and insula, whereas the brain stem, hippocampus, amygdala, midcingulate cortex, and nucleus accumbens displayed an increased gray matter density. Functionally, we found a significantly higher brain perfusion at baseline associated with ESRD pruritus in the anterior cingulate, insula, claustrum, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. The brain responses evoked by cowhage itch, which are mediated by protease-activated receptors (PAR2), displayed significant differences compared with responses in healthy individuals and were correlated with perceived itch intensity in a dual, complex manner. The inverse correlations in particular suggested that a negative feedback mechanism modulated itch intensity, when elicited in a preexistent chronic itch background.
An Incus-Body Driving Type Piezoelectric Middle Ear Implant Design and Evaluation in 3D Computational Model and Temporal Bone
Authors: Liu Houguang , Rao Zhushi , Huang Xinsheng , Cheng Gang , Tian Jiabin , Ta Na
Published: June 2014

A new incus-body driving type transducer relying on piezoelectric stack, with broad frequency bandwidth, is proposed for use in a middle ear implant. To aid the design process of this transducer, a coupling biomechanical model of the human middle ear and the piezoelectric transducer was established by reverse engineering technology. The validity of this model was confirmed by comparing model predicted motions with experimental measurements. Based on this verified biomechanical model, the main parameters of the transducer were determined. And its power consumption was calculated. Finally, to verify the capability of the designed piezoelectric transducer, a human temporal bone experimental platform was built. And the dynamic characteristics and the stimulated performance of the piezoelectric transducer were tested. The result showed that stapes displacement stimulated by the transducer excitation at 10.5 V RMS was equivalent to that from acoustic stimulation at 100 dB SPL, which is an adequate stimulation to the ossicular chain. The corresponding power consumption is 0.31 mW per volt of excitation at 1 kHz, which is low enough for the transducer to be used in a middle ear implant. Besides, this transducer demonstrates high performance at high frequencies.
Application of Hybrid MOPSO Algorithm to Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem Considering Voltage Stability
Authors: Zeng Yujiao , Sun Yanguang
Published: June 2014

This study presents a novel hybrid multiobjective particle swarm optimization (HMOPSO) algorithm to solve the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem. This problem is formulated as a challenging nonlinear constrained multiobjective optimization problem considering three objectives, that is, power losses minimization, voltage profile improvement, and voltage stability enhancement simultaneously. In order to attain better convergence and diversity, this work presents the use of combing the classical MOPSO with Gaussian probability distribution, chaotic sequences, dynamic crowding distance, and self-adaptive mutation operator. Moreover, multiple effective strategies, such as mixed-variable handling approach, constraint handling technique, and stopping criteria, are employed. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for solving the ORPD problem is validated on the standard IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus systems under nominal and contingency states. The obtained results are compared with classical MOPSO, nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D), and other methods recently reported in the literature from the point of view of Pareto fronts, extreme, solutions and multiobjective performance metrics. The numerical results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed HMOPSO in solving the ORPD problem while strictly satisfying all the constraints.
Omitted Variables in the Geographical Treatment of Well-Being and Happiness
Authors: Simandan Dragos
Published: June 2014

This paper provides a critical engagement with state-of-the-art research from positive psychology and behavioral genetics that directly challenges social geographers’ working hypothesis that people’s well-being and happiness can dramatically be improved by suitably modifying unjust social arrangements and exploitative economic relations. It is intended to generate interest in this neglected body of work in general and awareness of its politically regressive implications in particular.
Comparing the Effect of Oral Supplementation of Vitamin E, Injective Vitamin E and Selenium or Both during Late Pregnancy on Production and Reproductive Performance and Immune Function of Dairy Cows and Calves
Authors: Kafilzadeh Farokh , Kheirmanesh Habibollah , Karami Shabankareh Hamed , Targhibi Mohhamad Reza , Maleki Elaheh , Ebrahimi Mahdi , Yong Meng Goh
Published: June 2014

The object of this study was to determine the effect of prepartum supplementation of vitamin E with or without injective vitamin E and selenium (Se) on productive and reproductive performances and immune function in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided randomly into three groups at the end of gestation. Cows in each group received one of three treatments: (1) a single intramuscular (im) injection of vit. E + selenium 3 weeks prepartum; (2) daily supplementation of oral vit. E given from 3 weeks prepartum to parturition; (3) injective vit. E + Se with daily supplementation of oral vit. E. Blood samples were collected from cows at calving and from calves at 0 and 7 days of age. Concentration of IgG in serum of cows and calves as well as in colostrum was determined. No significant differences among treatments occurred in the concentrations of IgG, animal, and calf production and reproduction performance. Due to the lack of significant difference between injection and oral supplementation, it is recommended to replace the injection with oral supplementation.
New Results for Generalized Gronwall Inequalities and Their Applications
Authors: Lin Shi-you
Published: June 2014

In succession to our earlier work, we further provide some new generalized Gronwall inequalities and apply these inequalities to the study of qualitative estimations of solutions to certain fractional differential equations.
Efficient Feature Selection and Classification of Protein Sequence Data in Bioinformatics
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Javed , Faye Ibrahima , Samir Brahim Belhaouari , Md Said Abas
Published: June 2014

Bioinformatics has been an emerging area of research for the last three decades. The ultimate aims of bioinformatics were to store and manage the biological data, and develop and analyze computational tools to enhance their understanding. The size of data accumulated under various sequencing projects is increasing exponentially, which presents difficulties for the experimental methods. To reduce the gap between newly sequenced protein and proteins with known functions, many computational techniques involving classification and clustering algorithms were proposed in the past. The classification of protein sequences into existing superfamilies is helpful in predicting the structure and function of large amount of newly discovered proteins. The existing classification results are unsatisfactory due to a huge size of features obtained through various feature encoding methods. In this work, a statistical metric-based feature selection technique has been proposed in order to reduce the size of the extracted feature vector. The proposed method of protein classification shows significant improvement in terms of performance measure metrics: accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, recall, F-measure, and so forth.
A Novel Kernel for RBF Based Neural Networks
Authors: Aftab Wasim , Moinuddin Muhammad , Shaikh Muhammad Shafique
Published: June 2014

Radial basis function (RBF) is well known to provide excellent performance in function approximation and pattern classification. The conventional RBF uses basis functions which rely on distance measures such as Gaussian kernel of Euclidean distance (ED) between feature vector and neuron’s center, and so forth. In this work, we introduce a novel RBF artificial neural network (ANN) where the basis function utilizes a linear combination of ED based Gaussian kernel and a cosine kernel where the cosine kernel computes the angle between feature and center vectors. Novelty of the proposed work relies on the fact that we have shown that there may be scenarios where the two feature vectors (FV) are more prominently distinguishable via the proposed cosine measure as compared to the conventional ED measure. We discuss adaptive symbol detection for multiple phase shift keying (MPSK) signals as a practical example to show where the angle information can be pivotal which in turn justifies our proposed RBF kernel. To corroborate our theoretical developments, we investigate the performance of the proposed RBF for the problems pertaining to three different domains. Our results show that the proposed RBF outperforms the conventional RBF by a remarkable margin.
Dynamic Access Control Model for Security Client Services in Smart Grid
Authors: Yeo Sang-Soo , Kim Si-Jung , Cho Do-Eun
Published: June 2014

In the next-generation intelligent power grid, known as the smart grid, various objects can access systems in several network environments, and, accordingly, access control security becomes critical. Thus, to provide users with secure services in the smart grid, a new access control security model is needed. This paper proposes a dynamic access model for secure user services in the smart grid environment. The proposed model analyzes the user's various access contexts and chooses an appropriate context type among the predefined context types. And then it applies the context-based user security policy to allow the user's access to services dynamically. Therefore, it provides stronger security services by permitting context information-applied security services and flexible access control in various network environments. It is expected that this study will be used to solve important access control issues when establishing the smart grid.
Role of Training and Detraining on Inflammatory and Metabolic Profile in Infarcted Rats: Influences of Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous System
Authors: Rodrigues Bruno , Santana Aline Alves , Santamarina Aline Boveto , Oyama Lila Missae , Caperuto Érico Chagas , de Souza Cláudio Teodoro , Barboza Catarina de Andrade , Rocha Leandro Yanase , Figueroa Diego , Mostarda Cristiano , Irigoyen Maria Cláudia , Lira Fábio Santos
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise training (ET, 50–70% of VO2 max, 5 days/week) and detraining (DT) on inflammatory and metabolic profile after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into control (C,n=8), sedentary infarcted (SI,n=9), trained infarcted (TI, n=10; 3 months of ET), and detrained infarcted (DI,n=11; 2 months of ET + 1 month of DT). After ET and DT protocols, ventricular function and inflammation, cardiovascular autonomic modulation (spectral analysis), and adipose tissue inflammation and lipolytic pathway were evaluated. ET after MI improved cardiac and vascular autonomic modulation, and these benefits were correlated with reduced inflammatory cytokines on the heart and adipose tissue. These positive changes were sustained even after 1 month of detraining. No expressive changes were observed in oxidative stress and lipolytic pathway in experimental groups. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that the autonomic improvement promoted by ET, and maintained even after the detraining period, was associated with reduced inflammatory profile in the left ventricle and adipose tissue of rats subjected to MI. These data encourage enhancing cardiovascular autonomic function as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammatory process triggered by MI.
Supercloseness Result of Higher Order FEM/LDG Coupled Method for Solving Singularly Perturbed Problem on S-Type Mesh
Authors: Xie Shenglan , Tu Huonian , Zhu Peng
Published: June 2014

we present a first supercloseness analysis for higher order FEM/LDG coupled method for solving singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem. Based on piecewise polynomial approximations of degreek  (k≥1), a supercloseness property ofk+1/2in DG norm is established on S-type mesh. Numerical experiments complement the theoretical results.
Functional Roles of Syk in Macrophage-Mediated Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Yi Young-Su , Son Young-Jin , Ryou Chongsuk , Sung Gi-Ho , Kim Jong-Hoon , Cho Jae Youl
Published: June 2014

Inflammation is a series of complex biological responses to protect the host from pathogen invasion. Chronic inflammation is considered a major cause of diseases, such as various types of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases and cancers. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) was initially found to be highly expressed in hematopoietic cells and has been known to play crucial roles in adaptive immune responses. However, recent studies have reported that Syk is also involved in other biological functions, especially in innate immune responses. Although Syk has been extensively studied in adaptive immune responses, numerous studies have recently presented evidence that Syk has critical functions in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses and is closely related to innate immune response. This review describes the characteristics of Syk-mediated signaling pathways, summarizes the recent findings supporting the crucial roles of Syk in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses and diseases, and discusses Syk-targeted drug development for the therapy of inflammatory diseases.
Amelogenesis Imperfecta and Screening of Mutation in Amelogenin Gene
Authors: Oliveira Fernanda Veronese , Gurgel Carla Vecchione , Kobayashi Tatiana Yuriko , Dionísio Thiago José , Neves Lucimara Teixeira , Santos Carlos Ferreira , Machado Maria Aparecida Andrade Moreira , Oliveira Thais Marchini
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to report the clinical findings and the screening of mutations of amelogenin gene of a 7-year-old boy with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). The genomic DNA was extracted from saliva of patient and his family, followed by PCR and direct DNA sequencing. The c.261C>T mutation was found in samples of mother, father, and brother, but the mutation was not found in the sequence of the patient. This mutation is a silent mutation and a single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs2106416). Thus, it is suggested that the mutation found was not related to the clinical presence of AI. Further research is necessary to examine larger number of patients and genes related to AI.
Perception of Childhood Obesity and Support for Prevention Policies among Latinos and Whites
Authors: Puricelli Perin Douglas M. , Frerichs Leah , Costa Sergio , Ramirez Amelie G. , Huang Terry T.-K.
Published: June 2014

A cross-sectional survey was administered to Latino and White residents of Omaha, NE, to assess perception of the childhood obesity problem, attribution of responsibility, and support for obesity-related policies. The sample included 40.8% (n=271) Latinos and 59.2% (n=393) Whites. Among Latinos, 25% did not see childhood obesity as a problem, compared to 6% of Whites (P<0.001). This difference persisted after adjusting for age, gender, and education level (odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–4.14). Latinos were more likely to agree that government was responsible for addressing childhood obesity compared to Whites (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.82–4.35). Higher support for policy interventions was observed among individuals who perceived childhood obesity as a big problem compared to those who did not, independent of race, sex, age, or education level. The relationship between support for tax-based policies and perception of the childhood obesity problem was mainly evident among Latinos rather than Whites. Despite city-wide efforts to address obesity, differential penetration in community subgroups appears evident. There is room to further engage Latinos in the cause of obesity. Deepening community awareness about the consequences and complexity of childhood obesity can lead to stronger support for childhood obesity policy interventions.
Approximate Analytic Solutions for the Two-Phase Stefan Problem Using the Adomian Decomposition Method
Authors: Qin Xiao-Ying , Duan Yue-Xing , Yin Mao-Ren
Published: June 2014

An Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is applied to solve a two-phase Stefan problem that describes the pure metal solidification process. In contrast to traditional analytical methods, ADM avoids complex mathematical derivations and does not require coordinate transformation for elimination of the unknown moving boundary. Based on polynomial approximations for some known and unknown boundary functions, approximate analytic solutions for the model with undetermined coefficients are obtained using ADM. Substitution of these expressions into other equations and boundary conditions of the model generates some function identities with the undetermined coefficients. By determining these coefficients, approximate analytic solutions for the model are obtained. A concrete example of the solution shows that this method can easily be implemented in MATLAB and has a fast convergence rate. This is an efficient method for finding approximate analytic solutions for the Stefan and the inverse Stefan problems.
Immunophenotypes and Immune Markers Associated with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Prognosis
Authors: Xu Fang , Yin Chang-Xin , Wang Chun-Li , Jiang Xue-Jie , Jiang Ling , Wang Zhi-Xiang , Yi Zheng-Shan , Huang Kai-Kai , Meng Fan-Yi
Published: June 2014

CD2+, CD34+, and CD56+ immunophenotypes are associated with poor prognoses of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The present study aimed to explore the role of APL immunophenotypes and immune markers as prognostic predictors on clinical outcomes. A total of 132 patients with de novo APL were retrospectively analyzed. Immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. Clinical features, complete remission (CR), relapse, and five-year overall survival (OS) rate were assessed and subjected to multivariate analyses. The CD13+CD33+HLA-DR-CD34− immunophenotype was commonly observed in patients with APL. Positive rates for other APL immune markers including cMPO, CD117, CD64, and CD9 were 68.7%, 26%, 78.4%, and 96.6%, respectively. When compared with patients with CD2− APL, patients with CD2+ APL had a significantly higher incidence of early death (50% versus 15.7%;P=0.016), lower CR rate (50% versus 91.1%;P=0.042), and lower five-year OS rate (41.7% versus 74.2%;P=0.018). White blood cell (WBC) count before treatment was found to be the only independent risk factor of early death, CR failure, and five-year mortality rate. Flow cytometric immunophenotype analysis can facilitate prompt APL diagnosis. Multivariate analysis has demonstrated that WBC count before treatment is the only known independent risk factor that predicts prognosis for APL in this study population.
A Galerkin Finite Element Method for Numerical Solutions of the Modified Regularized Long Wave Equation
Authors: Mei Liquan , Gao Yali , Chen Zhangxin
Published: June 2014

A Galerkin method for a modified regularized long wave equation is studied using finite elements in space, the Crank-Nicolson scheme, and the Runge-Kutta scheme in time. In addition, an extrapolation technique is used to transform a nonlinear system into a linear system in order to improve the time accuracy of this method. A Fourier stability analysis for the method is shown to be marginally stable. Three invariants of motion are investigated. Numerical experiments are presented to check the theoretical study of this method.
An Unusual Case of Systemic Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor with Successful Treatment with ALK-Inhibitor
Authors: Jacob Sanjivini V. , Reith John D. , Kojima Angerika Y. , Williams William D. , Liu Chen , Vila Duckworth Lizette
Published: June 2014

Systemic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is an exceedingly rare entity. A 45-year-old Hispanic female presented with a 6-month history of left-sided thigh pain, low back pain, and generalized weakness. PET/CT scan revealed abnormal activity in the liver, adrenal gland, and pancreas. MRI of the abdomen demonstrated two 6-7 cm masses in the liver. MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrated lesions in the L2 to L4 spinous processes, paraspinal muscles, and subcutaneous tissues, as well as an 8 mm enhancing intradural lesion at T11, all thought to be metastatic disease. A biopsy of the liver showed portal tract expansion by a spindle cell proliferation rich in inflammation. Tumor cells showed immunoreactivity for smooth muscle actin and anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 (ALK1). Tissue from the L5 vertebra showed a process histologically identical to that seen in the liver. FISH analysis of these lesions demonstrated an ALK (2p23) gene rearrangement. The patient was successfully treated with an ALK-inhibitor, Crizotinib, and is now in complete remission. We present the first reported case, to our knowledge, of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with systemic manifestations and ALK translocation. This case is a prime example of how personalized medicine has vastly improved patient care through the use of molecular-targeted therapy.
Uniform Statistical Convergence on Time Scales
Authors: Altin Yavuz , Koyunbakan Hikmet , Yilmaz Emrah
Published: June 2014

We will introduce the concept ofm- and(λ,m)-uniform density of a set andm- and(λ,m)-uniform statistical convergence on an arbitrary time scale. However, we will definem-uniform Cauchy function on a time scale. Furthermore, some relations about these new notions are also obtained.
A Novel Wide-Area Backup Protection Based on Fault Component Current Distribution and Improved Evidence Theory
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Kong Xiangping , Yin Xianggen , Yang Zengli , Wang Lijun
Published: June 2014

In order to solve the problems of the existing wide-area backup protection (WABP) algorithms, the paper proposes a novel WABP algorithm based on the distribution characteristics of fault component current and improved Dempster/Shafer (D-S) evidence theory. When a fault occurs, slave substations transmit to master station the amplitudes of fault component currents of transmission lines which are the closest to fault element. Then master substation identifies suspicious faulty lines according to the distribution characteristics of fault component current. After that, the master substation will identify the actual faulty line with improved D-S evidence theory based on the action states of traditional protections and direction components of these suspicious faulty lines. The simulation examples based on IEEE 10-generator-39-bus system show that the proposed WABP algorithm has an excellent performance. The algorithm has low requirement of sampling synchronization, small wide-area communication flow, and high fault tolerance.
Water‐Dispersible Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Obtained from Citric‐Acid‐Assisted Oxygen Plasma Functionalization
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Jellur , Mieno Tetsu
Published: June 2014

A new and safe method has been developed to functionalize multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with fewer surface defects, which significantly increases their dispersibility in water. MWCNTs are pretreated in pure ethanol by a supersonic homogenizer. Then, the mixture is dried and soaked in weak citric acid solution. Finally, the MWCNTs in the citric acid solution are treated with radio frequency (13.56 MHz) oxygen plasma. As a result, many carboxyl functional groups are attached onto the MWCNT surfaces and stable dispersion of the MWCNTs in water is obtained. The treatment conditions are optimized in this study.
New Mixed Exponential Sums and Their Application
Authors: Zhan Yu , Li Xiaoxue
Published: June 2014

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a new mixed exponential sums and then use the analytic methods and the properties of Gauss sums to study the computational problems of the mean value involving these sums and give an interesting computational formula and a sharp upper bound estimate for these mixed exponential sums. As an application, we give a new asymptotic formula for the fourth power mean of DirichletL-functions with the weight of these mixed exponential sums.
2D Chaos in the Interaction of Inflation and Unemployment: Moving Averages and the Modeling of High Frequency Macrodynamics
Authors: Flaschel Peter , Proaño Christian
Published: June 2014

The paper argues that applicable macro is high frequency macro and the data generating process is therefore to be modeled in continuous time. It exemplifies this with a misuse of a 2D period model of monetarist type which becomes extremely overshooting, allowing for routes to “chaos,” when iterated at low frequencies. Instead of such low frequency procedures, we augment the model by a Keynesian feedback chain (the real rate of interest channel) to introduce local instability into the model. We also introduce heterogeneous opinion dynamics into it. The implied 4D dynamics are made bounded thereby, but seem to allow only complex limit cycles, with no transition towards strange attractors anymore.
Multiplicity Results for Variable-Coefficient Singular Third-Order Differential Equation with a Parameter
Authors: Cheng Zhibo , Xin Yun
Published: June 2014

We investigate a class of variable coefficients singular third-order differential equation with superlinearity or sublinearity assumptions at infinity for an appropriately chosen parameter. By applications of Green’s function and the Krasnoselskii fixed point theorem, sufficient conditions for the existence of positive periodic solutions are established.
An Improved Internal Model Principle Based Multivariable Nonlinear Control Method with Multiclass Nonharmonic Disturbances and Its Application to Speed Control of a Motor Drive System
Authors: Yu Yang , Mi Zengqiang , Zhao Tong , Xu Yikun
Published: June 2014

We study the global disturbance rejection problem for a class of general multivariable nonlinear systems with multiclass nonharmonic disturbances. The paper first introduces the importance and state of the art for disturbance rejection problem and describes the control problem in the form of mathematical expressions. It stresses the multiclass disturbances produced by the exosystem satisfying certain characteristic conditions. Then, the nonlinear internal models are designed in accordance with different characteristics of multiclass external disturbances. On the basis of introduction of the control law for disturbance-free system, a multivariable state feedback controller is devised in terms of the designed internal model equations and corresponding assumptions. A Lyapunov function is constructed to theoretically prove the global uniform boundness of all signals for the multivariable closed-loop system. Finally, the presented method is applied to implement the speed control and reject the multiclass nonharmonic disturbances for a two-input motor drive system. The simulation results testify correctness and effectiveness of the presented algorithm.
Further Properties of Trees with Minimal Atom-Bond Connectivity Index
Authors: Liu Jianping , Chen Jinsong
Published: June 2014

LetG=(V,E)be a graph the atom-bond connectivity (ABC) index is defined as the sum of weights((du+dv-2)/dudv)1/2over all edgesuvofG, wheredudenotes the degree of a vertexuofG. In this paper, we determined a few structural features of the trees with minimal ABC index also we characterized the trees withdia[T]=2and minimal ABC index, where[T]is induced by the vertices of degree greater than 2 inTanddia[T]is the diameter of[T].
Effect of Rotation on Propagation of Waves in Transversely Isotropic Thermoelastic Half-Space
Authors: Gupta Raj Rani , Gupta Rajani Rani
Published: June 2014

The present study is concerned with the effect of rotation on the propagation of plane waves in a transversely isotropic medium in the context of thermoelasticity theory of GN theory of types II and III. After solving the governing equations, three waves propagating in the medium are obtained. The fastest among them is a quasilongitudinal wave. The slowest of them is a thermal wave. The remaining is called quasitransverse wave. The prefix “quasi” refers to their polarizations being nearly, but not exactly, parallel or perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The polarizations of these three waves are not mutually orthogonal. After imposing the appropriate boundary conditions, the amplitudes of reflection coefficients have been obtained. Numerically simulated results have been plotted graphically with respect to frequency to evince the effect of rotation and anisotropy.
Explicit Determinants of the RFPrLrR Circulant and RLPrFrL Circulant Matrices Involving Some Famous Numbers
Authors: Xu Tingting , Jiang Zhaolin , Jiang Ziwu
Published: June 2014

Circulant matrices may play a crucial role in solving various differential equations. In this paper, the techniques used herein are based on the inverse factorization of polynomial. We give the explicit determinants of the RFPrLrR circulant matrices and RLPrFrL circulant matrices involving Fibonacci, Lucas, Pell, and Pell-Lucas number, respectively.