bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adverse Psychological Effects and Costs Associated with Waiting for Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: BARCLAY JUSTIN L. , GIBSON PATRICK H. , LEWIS ADELE , WILSON CLARE , AFFOLTER JONATHAN T. , PATEL JITENDRA C. , SCOTT NEIL W. , ALEXANDER DAVID A. , CHOY ANNA MARIA , BROADHURST PAUL A.
Published: February 2013

Background

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is undertaken as a potentially curative treatment for a variety of heart rhythm disturbances. Previous studies have demonstrated improved quality of life and reduced symptoms after ablation. In many health care environments waiting lists exist for scheduling of procedures. However, the psychological effects of waiting for radiofrequency ablation have not previously been assessed. We hypothesized that waiting for this intervention may be associated with increased psychological morbidity and health care costs.

Methods

Ninety‐two patients scheduled for elective RFA completed repeated questionnaires comprising the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and an in‐house questionnaire designed to assess the burden of symptoms related to arrhythmia (arrhythmia‐related burden score). Mean scores were generated and compared at time points while waiting, before and after the procedure. Regression analyses were carried out to identify predictors of increased psychological morbidity while waiting and immediately prior to the procedure. Health care costs during the waiting period as a consequence of arrhythmia were quantified.

Results

Mean scores for parameters of psychological morbidity worsened during the period of waiting and improved after the procedure. Predictors of adverse effects within the cohort varied according to the time point assessed for each of the measures of psychological morbidity. A conservative estimate of the health care cost incurred while waiting exceeds £181 per patient.

Conclusions

Waiting for radiofrequency ablation appears to be associated with adverse psychological effects and health care costs. These results may support strategies to reduce waiting times and prioritize resource allocation.
Decreased Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Transplantation: The Significance of Autonomic Denervation
Authors: NOHERIA AMIT , PATEL SANDEEP M. , MIRZOYEV SULTAN , MADHAVAN MALINI , FRIEDMAN PAUL A. , PACKER DOUGLAS L. , DALY RICHARD C. , KUSHWAHA SUDHIR S. , EDWARDS BROOKS S. , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J.
Published: February 2013

Background

Endocardial ablation approaches targeting the retroatrial cardiac ganglia to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) have been proposed. However, the potential value using this approach is unknown. Disruption of the autonomic inputs with orthotropic heart transplant (OHT) provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of autonomic innervation on AF genesis and maintenance. We hypothesized that due to denervation, the risk of postoperative AF would be lower following OHT compared to surgical maze even though both groups get isolation of the pulmonary veins.

Methods and Results

We reviewed 155 OHTs (mean age 52 ± 11 years, 72% males) and used 1:1 age‐, sex‐, and date‐of‐surgery‐matched two control groups from patients undergoing surgical maze or only coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Using conditional logistic regression we compared the odds of AF within 2 weeks following OHT versus controls. Postoperative AF occurred in 10/155 (6.5%) OHT patients. The conditional odds of postoperative AF were lower for OHT as compared to controls (vs maze: odds ratio [OR] 0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13–0.57], vs CABG: OR 0.38 [0.17–0.81], P = 0.003; and on additional adjustment for left atrial enlargement, vs maze: OR 0.28 [0.13–0.60], vs CABG: OR 0.14 [0.04–0.47], P = 0.0009).

Conclusions

Risk of postoperative AF is significantly lower with OHT as in comparison to surgical maze. As both surgeries entail isolation of the pulmonary veins but only OHT causes disruption of autonomic innervation, this observation supports a mechanistic role of autonomic nervous system in AF. The benefit of targeting the cardiac autonomic system to treat AF needs further investigation.
Uncovering Phantom Shocks in Cardiac Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Authors: BILANOVIC ANA , IRVINE JANE , KOVACS ADRIENNE H. , HILL ANN , CAMERON DOUG , KATZ JOEL
Published: February 2013

Background

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients sometimes report “phantom shocks” (PSs), defined as a reported shock lacking objective evidence. The aim of this study was to describe the subjective experience of PSs and their psychosocial correlates using a mixed methods approach.

Methods

PS participants were matched on sex and age with individuals who received objective shocks only (OSO). Participants were interviewed and completed measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD Checklist—Civilian Version), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), disease‐specific distress (Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire—CAQ), and social desirability (Socially Desirable Response Set—SDRS). Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Results

Seventeen male patients participated (PS: n = 9; OSO: n = 8). Three themes emerged from IPA: (1) PS as a somatic experience, (2) the emotional impact of PSs, and (3) searching for meaning. Quantitative analyses showed that both groups exhibited elevated trauma and anxiety levels. Effect size differences (ESD) suggested a medium ESD on depression (P = 0.176, ηp2 = 0.118) and PTSD (avoidance: P = 0.383, ηp2 = 0.055, numbing: P = 0.311, ηp2 = 0.068), and a large ESD on SDRS (P = 0.081, ηp2 = 0.189), where PS participants, comparatively, exhibited elevated levels. A medium ESD was detected on CAQ‐fear (P = 0.237, ηp2 = 0.092) where OSO participants exhibited greater heart‐focused worry.

Conclusion

The qualitative and quantitative findings of this mixed method study show convergence in terms of the emotional factors associated with the experience of PSs. PSs are often reported to be indistinguishable from objective shocks, evoking alarm, frustration, and confusion, forcing the individual to face the uncertainties of what to them is a novel and confusing experience.
The Innocent in the Just War Thinking of Vitoria and Suárez: A Challenge Even for Secular Just War Theorists and International Law
Authors: Medina Vicente
Published: February 2013

Vitoria and Suárez defend the categorical immunity of the innocent not to be intentionally killed. But they allow for inflicting collective punishment on the innocent and the noninnocent alike during and after a just war. So they allow for deliberately harming them. Inflicting harm on the innocent can often result in their death. Hence, holding both claims seems incoherent. First, the objections against using the term “innocent” are explained. Second, their views on just war are explored. And third, by appealing to Aquinas' double‐effect reasoning, it is shown how they try to avoid the above‐mentioned incoherence. Still, their appeal might be insufficient to palliate the tension between the above‐mentioned claims. If just wars are possible, the deliberate harming of the innocent is reasonably unavoidable for defeating and punishing those who wage them. Hence, defenders of just wars, whether from a religious or a secular perspective, must live with such a tension.
Education in Vascular Access
Authors: Moist Louise M. , Lee Timmy C. , Lok Charmaine E. , Al‐Jaishi Ahmed , Xi Wang , Campbell Vern , Graham Janet , Wilson Barb , Vachharajani Tushar J.
Published: February 2013

The successful creation and use of an arteriovenous vascular access (VA) requires a coordinated, educated multidisciplinary team to ensure an optimal VA for each patient. Patient education programs on VA are associated with increased arteriovenous VA use at dialysis initiation. Education should be tailored to patient goals and preferences with the understanding that experiential education from patient to patient is far more influential than that provided by the healthcare professional. VA education for the nephrologist should focus on addressing the systematic and patient‐level barriers in achieving a functional VA, with specific components relating to VA creation, maturation, and cannulation that consider patient goals and preferences. A deficit in nursing skills in the area of assessment and cannulation can have devastating consequences for hemodialysis patients. Delivery of an integrated education program increases nurses’ knowledge of VA and development of simulation programs or constructs to assist in cannulation of the VA will greatly facilitate the much needed skill transfer. Adequate VA surgical training and experience are critical to the creation and outcomes of VA. Simulations can benefit nephrologists, dialysis nurses surgeons, and interventionalists though aiding in surgical creation, understanding of the physiology and anatomy of a dysfunctional VA, and practicing cannulation techniques. All future educational initiatives must emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary care to attain successful VA outcomes.
The Effect of Government Ideology on an Exchange Rate Regime: Some International Evidence
Authors: Chang Chun‐Ping , Lee Chien‐Chiang
Published: February 2013

This paper comprehensively investigates the effect of government ideology on the type of exchange rate regime that a country implements via multinomial logit and multinomial probit models for 147 countries in the period 1974–2009. Our results clearly indicate that a left‐wing government increases the likelihood that a country implements a flexible regime in the classifications of exchange rate regimes. Nevertheless, evidence is weaker when using the de jure IMF course classification, which is set up by Ilzetzki et al. (). In a deeper investigation, we find that left‐wing governments are more likely to choose a flexible regime relative to a fixed one in our sample of OECD, non‐OECD and non‐Eurozone countries, as the impacts from government ideology on the determinant of the choice of exchange rate regime in Eurozone countries disappear. More importantly, we present many explanations for exchange rate regime choices when macroeconomic conditions, political constraints and institutions impact the choice of exchange rate regime.
Effects of antiproteolytic agents on corneal epithelial viability and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and metalloproteinase‐9 activity in alkali‐burned corneas of rats
Authors: Trujillo Piso Dunia Y. , Ribeiro Alexandre P. , Silva Miguel L. , Guimarães Patrícia J. , Morales Adriana , Martins Bianca C. , Padua Ivan M. , Renzo Roberta , Andrade Alexandre L. , Uscátegui Ricardo R. , Laus José L.
Published: February 2013

Objective

To evaluate the effects of agents on corneal re‐epithelization and metalloproteinase‐2 and metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐2 and MMP‐9) activities in corneas of rats submitted to ulceration.

Animals Studied

Ninety eight healthy rats.

Procedures

Corneal ulcers were created using 1N NaOH in their left eye. Eyes were treated every 6 h with 1% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 3% chondroitin sulfate (CS), 10% N‐acetylcysteine NAc and saline (S) at 6‐h intervals. Corneas were stained with fluorescein and photographed at the same time points. Following 20 h and 40–42 h of corneal injury, corneas were processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to quantify microvilli density, and MMPs activities were analyzed using zymography.

Results

The percentage of wound area and the time in hours for corneal re‐epithelization did not differ significantly among treatment groups (P > 0.05). In first and the second moments, latent MMP‐2 was significantly elevated in the eyes treated with NAC and CS (P < 0.001). Active MMP‐2 did not change significantly among treatment groups in the first moment (P > 0.05); significantly higher activity was observed in the second moment in the eyes treated with CS (P <0.001). In the second moment, latent MMP‐9 decreased significantly in eyes treated with EDTA and S (P < 0.01). Microvilli corneal density did not change significantly between healthy subjects and treatment groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Any of the studied substances did not accelerate corneal re‐epithelization and did not add protection to the corneal microvilli. Significant higher levels of active form of MMP‐2 in 3% chondroitin sulfate‐treated group may indicate that the agent acts as substrate for such enzyme. At the end of the experiment, 1% EDTA was the most efficient agent to inhibit significantly the latent form of MMP‐9. However, any of the substances add benefit over saline on reducing the proteolytic activity in the cornea of rats after alkali injury.
Microfluidic wound bandage: Localized oxygen modulation of collagen maturation
Authors: Lo Joe F. , Brennan Martin , Merchant Zameer , Chen Lin , Guo Shujuan , Eddington David T. , DiPietro Luisa A.
Published: February 2013

Restoring tissue oxygenation has the potential to improve poorly healing wounds with impaired microvasculature. Compared with more established wound therapy using hyperbaric oxygen chambers, topical oxygen therapy has lower cost and better patient comfort, although topical devices have provided inconsistent results. To provide controlled topical oxygen while minimizing moisture loss, a major issue for topical oxygen, we have devised a novel wound bandage based on microfluidic diffusion delivery of oxygen. In addition to modulating oxygen from 0 to 100% in 60 seconds rise time, the microfluidic oxygen bandage provides a conformal seal around the wound. When 100% oxygen is delivered, it penetrates wound tissues as measured in agar phantom and in vivo wounds. Using this microfluidic bandage, we applied the oxygen modulation to 8 mm excisional wounds prepared on diabetic mice. Treatment with the microfluidic bandage demonstrated improved collagen maturity in the wound bed, although only marginal differences were observed in total collagen, microvasculature, and external closure rates. Our results show that proper topical oxygen can improve wound parameters underneath the surface. Because of the ease of fabrication, the oxygen bandage represents an economical yet practical method for oxygen wound research.
Empiric evidence for a genetic contribution to predisposition to surgical site infection
Authors: Lee James P. , Hopf Harriet W. , Cannon‐Albright Lisa A.
Published: February 2013

The genetics of microbial pathogens have been extensively studied, but there has been little work on human genetic susceptibility to surgical site infection (SSI). We analyzed a large genealogical population database to study the familial contribution to SSI. We analyzed 651 individuals with International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision codes indicating the presence of SSI. Matched hospital controls were randomly selected from the database based on birth year, sex, and birthplace. The average relatedness of all possible pairs of cases and separately of controls (×1000 sets) was compared empirically. The relative risk (RR) for SSI was estimated by comparing the number of observed affected individuals among the relatives of cases to the number of affected individuals observed among relatives of matched hospital controls. The genealogical index of familiality test for patients with SSI showed significant excess relatedness (p < 0.010); this excess was still observed when close relationships were ignored (p = 0.019). The RR for third‐degree relatives of cases was significantly elevated (1.62, p = 0.029). The significant excess relatedness and the significantly elevated RR to distant relatives support a genetic predisposition to acquiring SSI.
Flexoelectric Responses of Circular Rings
Authors: Hu Shundi , Li Hua , Tzou Hornsen
Published: February 2013

Dynamic sensing is essential to effective closed-loop control of precision structures. In a centrosymmetric crystal subjected to inhomogeneous deformation, when piezoelectricity is absent, only the strain gradient contributes to the polarization known as the “flexoelectricity.” In this study, a flexoelectric layer is laminated on a circular ring shell to monitor the natural modal signal distributions. Due to the strain gradient characteristic, only the bending strain component contributes to the output signal. The total flexoelectric signal consists of two components respectively induced by the transverse modal oscillation and the circumferential modal oscillation. Analog to the signal analysis, the flexoelectric sensitivity is also studied in two forms: a transverse sensitivity induced by the transverse modal oscillation and a transverse sensitivity induced by the circumferential modal oscillation. Analysis data suggest that the transverse modal oscillation dominates the flexoelectric signal generation and its magnitude/distribution shows nearly the same as the total signal. Furthermore, voltage signals and signal sensitivities are evaluated with respect to ring mode, sensor segment size, ring thickness, and ring radius in case studies. The total signal increases with mode numbers and sensor thicknesses, decreases with sensor segment size and ring radii, and remains the same with different ring thicknesses.
Effect of quantum dot length on the degree of electron localization in polymer wires grown by molecular layer deposition
Authors: Yoshimura Tetsuzo , Ishii Sho
Published: February 2013

Polymer multiple quantum dots were fabricated on glass substrates by molecular layer deposition. The quantum dot length was controlled by connecting three source molecules with monomolecular steps in designated sequences and was estimated from theoretical structures to be in the range 0.9–3.1 nm. With decreasing dot length, the absorption peak shifted to higher energy because of the quantum confinement effect; however, the photoluminescence peak shifted to lower energy due to a Stokes shift enhanced by increased π-electron localization. This suggests that π-electrons tend to be tightly confined in quantum dots with reduced lengths.
Variables influencing germination and initial survival of two critically endangered plants: Warea amplexifolia and Lupinus aridorum
Authors: Rynear Juliet , Peterson Cheryl L. , Richardson Matthew L.
Published: February 2013

One challenge of ex situ conservation is developing propagation methods that promote a high rate of survival and genetic diversity. Developing successful propagation methods is especially important for rare species to prevent their extinction. Clasping warea, Warea amplexifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. (Brassicaceae), and scrub lupine, Lupinus aridorum McFarlin ex Beckner (Fabaceae), are two rare species endemic to imperiled Florida sandhill and scrub habitats, respectively. We tested whether the collection site of seeds, seed stratification temperature, and several propagation methods influenced germination and initial survival of W. amplexifolia and L. aridorum. The collection site of seeds and type of pot influenced percent germination of W. amplexifolia, whereas soaking seeds in water and stratification temperature did not. The site where seeds were collected did not influence germination of L. aridorum and treating seedlings with salicylic acid, nitrogen, or salicylic acid and nitrogen sometimes reduced, but did not increase, initial survival of seedlings. Overall, our results will inform additional experiments on ex situ conservation and may be applicable to other herbs endemic to Florida.
Stability and decarbonylation of 1,3-dialkyl-2-formylimidazolium perchlorate in solution
Authors: Xin Hong-Xing , Liu Qi , Yan Hong , Song Xiu-Qing
Published: February 2013

The stability of 1,3-dialkyl-2-formylimidazolium perchlorate 1 in solution was studied in detail and found to be related to its structure and the solvent character and temperature. 1 was stable in common solvents at room temperature and unstable in protic solvents under reflux. In protic solvents, such as H2O, MeOH, EtOH, and AcOH, 1 decarbonylated into 1,3-dialkylimidazole perchlorates 2, which was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, and X-ray spectroscopy. The decarbonylation of 1 was proposed to occur via its hemiacetal formed by the addition of solvents based on the tracking NMR spectra of 1 in deuterated reagents.
Experimental investigation of the effect of obstacles on the behavior of turbidity currents
Authors: Oshaghi Mohammad Reza , Afshin Hossein , Firoozabadi Bahar
Published: February 2013

Turbidity current is produced when a particle-laden fluid flows under lighter ambient fresh fluid. The streaming of particle-laden fluid is called a turbidity current and this kind of current is an important mechanism for sediment transportation in lakes and oceans. In the present research, the main concentration is on the effect of obstacle with an isosceles right triangular cross section on the behavior of turbidity current. A series of laboratory experiments were carried out with various obstacle heights and different inlet densimetric Froude numbers. In each experiment, velocity profiles upstream and downstream of the obstacle were measured, using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. Kaolin was used as the suspended material. Experiments showed that the density current with lower inlet Froude number, reacts to the presence of the obstacle more rapidly compared to the currents with higher values of inlet Froude number. At the upstream section of the obstacle, an increase in the height of the obstacle resulted in a reduction in the current inertia and the maximum velocity. Also the local Froude numbers had an abrupt increase when the dense layer passed the obstacle.
Dipteran assemblages of spring fens closely follow the gradient of groundwater mineral richness
Authors: Omelková Markéta , Syrovátka Vít , Křoupalová Vendula , Rádková Vanda , Bojková Jindřiška , Horsák Michal , Zhai Marie , Helešic Jan
Published: February 2013

Groundwater chemistry is a major determinant of assemblages of various taxonomic groups in spring fens, but its effect on insect assemblages has not been proved yet. We investigated dipteran assemblages at 17 isolated spring fens, which encompass the whole mineral richness gradient from rich (calcareous) to poor (highly acidic) sites, and analyzed faunal patterns at two contrasting mesohabitats: flowing water and standing water. The effect of water chemistry, substratum features, discharge, and temperature on the dipteran assemblages were assessed using PERMANOVA and GAM. Highly diverse dipteran assemblages (156 taxa) were closely related to the mineral richness gradient at both mesohabitats, showing a continual and nearly complete species exchange along the gradient, while their total abundance and taxa density did not change significantly. The assemblages included both habitat generalists and taxa specifically associated with acidic, moderate, or calcareous conditions. The mineral richness gradient was also reflected by changes in substratum properties, thus creating a complex environmental gradient that we suggest is the main environmental gradient structuring aquatic assemblages in spring fens.
SOCIAL INTEREST FOR USER SELECTING ITEMS IN RECOMMENDER SYSTEMS
Authors: NIE DA-CHENG , DING MING-JING , FU YAN , ZHOU JUN-LIN , ZHANG ZI-KE
Published: February 2013

Recommender systems have developed rapidly and successfully. The system aims to help users find relevant items from a potentially overwhelming set of choices. However, most of the existing recommender algorithms focused on the traditional user-item similarity computation, other than incorporating the social interests into the recommender systems. As we know, each user has their own preference field, they may influence their friends' preference in their expert field when considering the social interest on their friends' item collecting. In order to model this social interest, in this paper, we proposed a simple method to compute users' social interest on the specific items in the recommender systems, and then integrate this social interest with similarity preference. The experimental results on two real-world datasets Epinions and Friendfeed show that this method can significantly improve not only the algorithmic precision-accuracy but also the diversity-accuracy.
FAILURE PROGNOSTICS BY A DATA-DRIVEN SIMILARITY-BASED APPROACH
Authors: DI MAIO FRANCESCO , ZIO ENRICO
Published: February 2013

This paper presents a data-driven, similarity-based approach for prognostics of industrial and structural components. The potentiality of the approach is demonstrated on a problem of crack propagation, taken from literature. The crack growth process is described by a nonlinear model affected by nonadditive noises. A comparison is provided with an existing Monte Carlo-based estimation method, known as particle filtering.
BAYESIAN RELIABILITY APPROACH TO THE POWER LAW PROCESS WITH SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS TO PRIOR SELECTION
Authors: MOLINARES CARLOS A. , TSOKOS CHRIS P.
Published: February 2013

The intensity function is the key entity to the power law process, also known as the Weibull process or nonhomogeneous Poisson process. It gives the rate of change of the reliability of a system as a function of time. We illustrate that a Bayesian analysis is applicable to the power law process through the intensity function. First, we show using real data, that one of the two parameters in the intensity function behaves as a random variable. With a sequence of estimates of the subject parameter we proceeded to identify the probability distribution that characterizes its behavior. Using the commonly used squared-error loss function we obtain a Bayesian reliability estimate of the power law process. Also a simulation procedure shows the superiority of the Bayesian estimate with respect to the maximum likelihood estimate and the better performance of the proposed estimate with respect to its maximum likelihood counterpart. As well, it was found that the Bayesian estimate is sensitive to a prior selection.
AN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHOD OF FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF VON KARMAN NONLINEAR PLATE MODEL
Authors: USCILOWSKA A. , BERENDT D.
Published: February 2013

The nonlinear plate dynamics is a subject of investigations across many disciplines. Various models have been proposed. In this paper, one of the models derived by von Karman is under consideration. In this case, the initial-boundary value problem of the dynamics of a plate large deflection is described by two nonlinear, coupled partially differential equations of fourth order with two initial conditions and four boundary conditions given at each boundary point.

There are various means of simulating the dynamic response of thin nonlinear plate, to various degrees of accuracy. The proposal of this paper is to implement one of the meshfree methods i.e., the method of fundamental solutions (MFS). The problem is solved in discretized time domain. This discretization is done in a conception of the finite difference method. The nonlinearity of the equations, obtained at each time step, is solved by application of Picard iterations. For each iteration step, a boundary value problem is to be solved. Moreover, the equations at each iteration step are inhomogeneous ones. So, the radial basis function approximation is applied and a particular solution of boundary value problems is obtained. The final solution is calculated by implementation of the MFS.

The numerical experiment has confirmed that the proposed numerical procedure gives the solutions with demanded accuracy and is a good tool to solve the considered problem.
ON THE EXPONENTIAL CONVERGENCE OF THE METHOD OF FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTIONS
Authors: TSAI CHIA-CHENG , LIN PO-HO
Published: February 2013

It is well known that the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) is a numerical method of exponential convergence. In other words, the logarithmic error is proportional to the node number of spatial discretization. In this study, the exponential convergence of the MFS is demonstrated by solving the Laplace equation in domains of rectangles, ellipses, amoeba-like shapes, and rectangular cuboids. In the solution procedure, the sources of the MFS are located as far as possible and the instability resulted from the ill-conditioning of system matrix is avoided by using the multiple precision floating-point reliable (MPFR) library. The results converge faster for the cases of smoother boundary conditions and larger area/perimeter ratios. For problems with discontinuous boundary data, the exponential convergence is also accomplished using the enriched method of fundamental solutions (EMFS), which is constructed by the fundamental solutions and the local singular solutions. The computation is scalable in the sense that the required time increases only algebraically.
THE FIXED POINT METHOD FOR PERTURBATION OF BIHOMOMORPHISMS AND BIDERIVATIONS IN NORMED 3-LIE SYSTEMS
Authors: SHOKRI JAVAD , EBADIAN ALI , AGHALARI RASOUL
Published: February 2013

This paper contained some errors and its publication is retracted from IJGMMP
Cross Talk Between Animal and Human Influenza Viruses
Authors: Ozawa Makoto , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: February 2013

Although outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild and domestic birds have been posing the threat of a new influenza pandemic for the past decade, the first pandemic of the twenty-first century came from swine viruses. This fact emphasizes the complexity of influenza viral ecology and the difficulty of predicting influenza viral dynamics. Complete control of influenza viruses seems impossible. However, we must minimize the impact of animal and human influenza outbreaks by learning lessons from past experiences and recognizing the current status. Here, we review the most recent influenza virology data in the veterinary field, including aspects of zoonotic agents and recent studies that assess the pandemic potential of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Theent-15α-Acetoxykaur-16-en-19-oic Acid Relaxes Rat Artery Mesenteric Superior via Endothelium-Dependent and Endothelium-Independent Mechanisms
Authors: Ribeiro Êurica Adélia Nogueira , Herculano Edla de Azevedo , Costa Cintia Danieli Ferreira da , Furtado Fabiola Fialho , da-Cunha Emídio Vasconcelos Leitão , Barbosa-Filho José Maria , da Silva Marcelo Sobral , Medeiros Isac Almeida de
Published: February 2013

The objective of the study was to investigate the mechanism of the relaxant activity of theent-15α-acetoxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid (KA-acetoxy). In rat mesenteric artery rings, KA-acetoxy induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in vessels precontracted with phenylephrine. In the absence of endothelium, the vasorelaxation was significantly shifted to the right without reduction of the maximum effect. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of the NO-synthase (NOS), indomethacin, an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase, L-NAME + indomethacin, atropine, a nonselective antagonist of the muscarinic receptors, ODQ, selective inhibitor of the guanylyl cyclase enzyme, or hydroxocobalamin, a nitric oxide scavenger. The relaxation was completely reversed in the presence of L-NAME + 1 mM L-arginine or L-arginine, an NO precursor. Diterpene-induced relaxation was not affected by TEA, a nonselective inhibitor of K+ channels. The KA-acetoxy antagonized CaCl2-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner and also inhibited an 80 mM KCl-induced contraction. The KA-acetoxy did not interfere with Ca2+release from intracellular stores. The vasorelaxant induced by KA-acetoxy seems to involve the inhibition of the Ca2+influx and also, at least in part, by endothelial muscarinic receptors activation, NO and PGI2release.
New Molecular Targeted Therapy and Redifferentiation Therapy for Radioiodine-Refractory Advanced Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Literature Review
Authors: Wong Kai-Pun , Lang Brian Hung-Hin
Published: February 2013

Although the majority of papillary thyroid carcinoma could be successfully managed by complete surgical resection alone or resection followed by radioiodine ablation, a small proportion of patients may develop radioiodine-refractory progressive disease which is not amenable to surgery, local ablative treatment or other treatment modalities. The use of FDG-PET/CT scan for persistent/recurrent disease has improved the accuracy of restaging as well as cancer prognostication. Given that patients with RAI-refractory disease tend to do significantly worse than those with radioiodine-avid or non-progressive disease, an increasing number of phase I and II studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of new molecular targeted drugs such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors and redifferentiation drugs. The overall response rate of these drugs ranged between 0–53%, depending on whether the patients had been previously treated with these drugs, performance status and extent of disease. However, drug toxicity remains a major concern in administration of target therapies. Nevertheless, there are also ongoing phase III studies evaluating the efficacy of these new drugs. The aim of the review was to summarize and discuss the results of these targeted drugs and redifferentiation agents for patients with progressive, radioiodine-refractory papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Structure and Stability of Chemically Modified DNA Bases: Quantum Chemical Calculations on 16 Isomers of Diphosphocytosine
Authors: Al-Sehemi Abdullah G. , El-Gogary Tarek M. , Wolschann Karl Peter , Koehler Gottfried
Published: February 2013

We studied for the first time 16 tautomers/rotamers of diphosphocytosine by four computational methods. Some of these tautomers/rotamers are isoenergetic although they have different structures. High-level electron correlation MP2 and MP4(SDQ) ab initio methods and density functional methods employing a B3LYP and the new M06-2X functional were used to study the structure and relative stability of 16 tautomers/rotamers of diphosphocytosine. The dienol tautomers of diphosphocytosine are shown to be much more stable than the keto-enol and diketo forms. The tautomers/rotamers stability could be ranked as PC3 = PC12 < PC2 = PC11 < PC1 < PC10 < PC8 < PC9 < PC15 < PC16 < PC6 ~ PC7 < PC13 < PC4 ~ PC14 < PC5. This stability order was discussed in the light of stereo and electronic factors. Solvation effect has been modeled in a high dielectric solvent, water using the polarized continuum model (PCM). Consideration of the solvent causes some reordering of the relative stability of diphosphocytosine tautomers: PC3 ~ PC12 ~ PC2 ~ PC11 < PC1 < PC10 < PC8 < PC9 < PC15 ~ PC16 < PC13 < PC6 ~ PC7 ~ PC14 < PC4 ~ PC5.
Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimation in the Gompertz Distribution under Progressive Type II Censored Data with Binomial Removals
Authors: Shanubhogue Ashok , Jain N. R.
Published: February 2013

This paper deals with the problem of uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimation for the parameter of the Gompertz distribution based on progressively Type II censored data with binomial removals. We have obtained the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) for powers of the shape parameter and its functions. The UMVUE of the variance of these estimators is also given. The UMVUE of (i) pdf, (ii) cdf, (iii) reliability function, and (iv) hazard function of the Gompertz distribution is derived. Further, an exact % confidence interval for the th quantile is obtained. The UMVUE of pdf is utilized to obtain the UMVUE of . An illustrative numerical example is presented.
Photoluminescence Spectroscopic Study of BaMgAl10O17:Eu Phosphor Coated with CaF2via a Sol-Gel Process
Authors: Li Feng , Yang Ying , Song Yang , Wang Wubao , Yang Wei , Yang Bingya
Published: February 2013

CaF2coatings on the surface of BaMgAl10O17:Eu (BAM) were prepared by a sol-gel process, and the optical properties and antithermal degradation properties were analyzed by photoluminescence spectra recorded under 254 nm and 147 nm excitation. The results indicate that BAM particles were successfully coated with CaF2and CaF2coatings show an interesting property to enhance the blue emission intensity of BAM. The optimum antithermal degradation properties were obtained at the weight ratio 0.4 wt% under 254 nm excitation and 0.3 wt% under 147 nm excitation, respectively.
Extract of Wax Gourd Peel Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6 Mice via the Inhibition of the PPARγPathway
Authors: Gu Ming , Fan Shengjie , Liu Gaigai , Guo Lu , Ding Xiaobo , Lu Yan , Zhang Yu , Ji Guang , Huang Cheng
Published: February 2013

Wax gourd is a popular vegetable in East Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine, wax gourd peel is used to prevent and treat metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. However, there is no experimental evidence to support these applications. Here, we examined the effect of the extract of wax gourd peel (EWGP) on metabolic disorders in diet-induced C57BL/6 obese mice. In the preventive experiment, EWGP blocked body weight gain and lowered serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), liver TG and TC contents, and fasting blood glucose in mice fed with a high-fat diet. In the therapeutic study, we induced obesity in the mice and treated with EWGP for two weeks. We found that EWGP treatment reduced serum and liver triglyceride (TG) contents and fasting blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance in the mice. Reporter assay and gene expression analysis showed that EWGP could inhibit peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ) transactivities and could decrease mRNA levels of PPARγand its target genes. We also found that HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) was downregulated in the mouse liver by EWGP. Our data suggest that EWGP lowers hyperlipidemia of C57BL/6 mice induced by high-fat diet via the inhibition of PPARγand HMGCR signaling.
Slowly Evolving Trends in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Management at London Health Sciences Centre
Authors: Blume Warren T.
Published: February 2013

Although the advent of MRI impacted significantly our presurgical investigation, ictal semiology with interictal and ictal EEG has clearly retained its roles in localizing epileptogenesis. MRI-identified lesions considered epileptogenic on semiological and electroencephalographic grounds have increased the likelihood of resective surgery effectiveness whereas a nonlesional MRI would diminish this probability. Ictal propagation and the interplay between its source and destination have emerged as a significant component of seizure evaluation over the past 30 years.
New Insights into HIV/AIDS-Associated Cryptococcosis
Authors: Antinori Spinello
Published: February 2013

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. According to the most recent taxonomy, the responsible fungus is classified into a complex that contains two species (Cryptococcus neoformansandC. gattii), with eight major molecular types. HIV infection is recognized worldwide as the main underlying disease responsible for the development of cryptococcal meningitis (accounting for 80–90% of cases). In several areas of sub-Saharan Africa with the highest HIV prevalence despite the recent expansion of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy programme, cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of community-acquired meningitis with a high mortality burden. Although cryptococcal meningitis should be considered a neglected disease, a large body of knowledge has been developed by several studies performed in recent years. This paper will focus especially on new clinical aspects such as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, advances on management, and strategies for the prevention of clinical disease.
Symptomatic Primary (AL) Amyloidosis of the Stomach and Duodenum
Authors: Fossmark Reidar , Skarsvåg Espen , Aarset Harald , Hjorth-Hansen Henrik , Waldum Helge L.
Published: February 2013

Primary (AL) amyloidosis of the gastrointestinal tract is relatively rare, and symptomatic amyloidosis of the stomach is even more seldom. We present the case of a patient who was referred to upper endoscopy because of weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Large areas of intramucosal hemorrhages were seen, and biopsies resulted in profuse bleeding stopped with endoscopic clips. The biopsies showed amyloid depositions and further workup revealed that the patient also had cardiac and neuropathic involvements. The patient started treatment with dexamethasone, melphalan and bortezomib. After treatment was started the nausea and epigastric discomfort improved, and a reduction in the biochemical markers troponin T, NT-proBNP, and M-component was observed. Gastric amyloidosis is rarely seen at upper endoscopy in patients without a previously established diagnosis, but the unusual endoscopic findings and bleeding tendency after biopsy should be kept in mind by gastroenterologists.
Evaluation of PE Films Having NIR-Reflective Additives for Greenhouse Applications in Arid Regions
Authors: Gulrez Syed K. H. , Abdel-Ghany Ahmed M. , Al-Helal Ibrahim M. , Al-Zaharani Saeed M. , Alsadon Abdullah A.
Published: February 2013

Linear-low-density-polyethylene- (LLDPE-) based formulations with several near-infrared- (NIR-) reflective pigments were prepared by melt blending technique and their subsequent films were prepared by blown film extrusion process. Thermal properties of these films were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the melting and crystallization temperatures (TmandTc, resp.) of these formulations were almost similar to that of control resin. The melt viscosity was measured by stress-controlled rotational rheometer and melt flow index (MFI) instruments. Rheological measurements indicated that the blend formulations with NIR-reflective additive have similar melt viscoelastic behavior (storage modulus and dynamic viscosity) to the control resin. The mechanical test performed on NIR-reflective films showed similar values of tensile strength for blend samples as that of control resin. The spectral radiometric properties of the blend films were evaluated in the solar wavelength range of 200–1100 nm and found to be improved over the control sample without having NIR-reflective pigment.
Flexion Relaxation Ratio Not Responsive to Acutely Induced Low Back Pain from a Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Protocol
Authors: Horn Maggie E. , Bishop Mark D.
Published: February 2013

Background. The flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) has been suggested as a measure of muscular performance in patients with low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the FRR was responsive to acute LBP produced from a delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) protocol. Methods. Fifty-one pain-free volunteers performed DOMS to induce LBP. Current pain intensity, trunk flexion range of motion (ROM), and passive straight leg raise (SLR) were measured at baseline, 24 and 48 hours after DOMS. Participants were categorized into pain groups based on reported current pain intensity. Changes in FRR, trunk flexion ROM, and SLR ROM were examined using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results. Pain group was not found to have a significant effect on FRR ( = 0.054, ), nor were there any two-way interactions for changes in FRR. The pain group had decreased trunk flexion ROM compared to the minimal pain group ( = 7.21, ), but no decreases in SLR ROM ( = 3.51, ) over time. Interpretation. There were no differences in FRR based on reported pain intensity of LBP from a DOMS protocol. The responsiveness of FRR might be limited in patients with acute onset LBP of muscular origin.
Structural and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Cu-Doped CdS Thin Films Prepared by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Xie Rui , Su Jinzhan , Li Mingtao , Guo Liejin
Published: February 2013

Cu-doped CdS thin films of variable doping levels have been deposited on indium tin oxide-coated glass substrate by simple and cost-effective ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. The influences of doping concentration and annealing treatment on the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of the films were investigated. The deposited films were characterized by XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis spectra. Moreover, the films were investigated by electrochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements with regard to splitting water for solar energy conversion. The results showed that the Cu impurity can cause a structural change and red shift of absorption edge. It was found that the photocurrent can be improved by the Cu-doping process for the unannealed films under the weak illumination. The unannealed 5 at.% Cu-doped sample obtained the maximum IPCE, which achieved about 45% at 0.3 V versus SCE potential under 420 nm wavelength photoirradiation. In addition, the p-type CdS was formed with a doping of 4 at.%~10 at.% Cu after 450°C 2 h annealed in vacuum.
Existence for Competitive Equilibrium by Means of Generalized Quasivariational Inequalities
Authors: Benedetti I. , Donato M. B. , Milasi M.
Published: February 2013

A competitive economic equilibrium model integrated with exchange, consumption, and production is considered. Our goal is to give an existence result when the utility functions are concave, proper, and upper semicontinuous. To this aim we are able to characterize the equilibrium by means of a suitable generalized quasi-variational inequality; then we give the existence of equilibrium by using the variational approach.
Computation of Positive Solutions for Nonlinear Impulsive Integral Boundary Value Problems withp-Laplacian on Infinite Intervals
Authors: Zhang Xingqiu
Published: February 2013

This paper deals with the existence and iteration of positive solutions for nonlinear second-order impulsive integral boundary value problems withp-Laplacian on infinite intervals. Our approach is based on the monotone iterative technique.
Preparation, Characterization, and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity of Y2Cu2O5‐Based Compounds under Simulated Sunlight Irradiation
Authors: Zhang Li , Yan Jianhui , Zhou Minjie , Liu Younian
Published: February 2013

Y2Cu2O5 photocatalyst was successfully prepared via solid state reaction and further combined with TiO2 by a sol‐gel method and a solid phase method, respectively. For comparison, Pt particles were loaded to prepare Pt‐Y2Cu2O5 via a hydrogen reduction method. All the samples were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐vis DRS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Photocatalytic H2 evolution activities of the as‐obtained samples were evaluated from aqueous oxalic acid solution under simulated sunlight irradiation. The effects of photocatalyst concentration, TiO2 content, and composite method on the H2 evolution activities of the as‐obtained photocatalysts were investigated. The results show that, when the concentration of photocatalyst is 0.8 g L−1, the TiO2‐Y2Cu2O5 composite photocatalyst prepared by a sol‐gel method exhibits the optimized photocatalytic activity, and the H2 production rate is 4.35 mmol h−1g−1 with 30 wt.% content of TiO2.
Generalized Minimax Programming with Nondifferentiable (G,β)-Invexity
Authors: Yuan D. H. , Liu X. L.
Published: February 2013

We consider the generalized minimax programming problem (P) in which functions are locally Lipschitz (G,β)-invex. Not onlyG-sufficient but alsoG-necessary optimality conditions are established for problem (P). WithG-necessary optimality conditions and (G,β)-invexity on hand, we construct dual problem (DI) for the primal one (P) and prove duality results between problems (P) and (DI). These results extend several known results to a wider class of programs.