bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A River Runs Through It: A Multiple Streams Meta‐Review
Authors: Jones Michael D. , Peterson Holly L. , Pierce Jonathan J. , Herweg Nicole , Bernal Amiel , Lamberta Raney Holly , Zahariadis Nikolaos
Published: June 2015

This study uses content analysis of recent Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) research to determine the scope of MSA applications, examining the consistency, and coherence with which concepts of MSA are applied. Our analysis examines peer‐reviewed articles testing MSA concepts available in English published from 2000 through 2013 (N = 311). Among other findings, we observe that MSA is applied to study 65 different countries, at multiple levels of governance, across 22 different policy areas, and by researchers spanning the globe. Our findings suggest that while MSA is prolific, consistency across applications—in terms of operationalization of MSA core concepts—is needed to facilitate theoretical development of the approach.
Race/ethnicity and asthma management among adults presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Venkat Arvind , Hasegawa Kohei , Basior Jeanne M. , Crandall Cameron , Healy Megan , Inboriboon P. Charles , Sullivan Ashley F. , Camargo Carlos A.
Published: June 2015

We investigated whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in asthma management among 1785 adults requiring emergency department (ED) treatment. In this multicentre study, non‐Hispanic blacks with increased chronic asthma severity were only as likely (P > 0.05) as non‐Hispanic whites or Hispanics to utilize controller medications or see asthma specialists before ED presentation and to be prescribed recommended inhaled corticosteroids at ED discharge. Improved ED education on evidence‐based chronic disease management is needed to address continuing race/ethnicity‐based asthma disparities.
Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): physical activity, knee function, pain, exertion, and well‐being
Authors: Würth S. , Finkenzeller T. , Pötzelsberger B. , Müller E. , Amesberger G.
Published: June 2015

This study focused on the psychological and quality of life aspects of resuming alpine skiing practice after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in elderly skilled skiers. Two data pools were used in order to analyze psychological states: (a) at the beginning, at the end, and 8 weeks after a 12‐week skiing intervention; and (b) concerning diurnal variations of states (i.e., skiing days compared with everyday life during intervention and retention phase). In particular, effects of skiing on amount of physical activity and perceived exertion, perceived pain and knee function, and subjective well‐being were analyzed using a control group design. Results reveal that the skiing intervention substantially increases the amount of physical activity by the intervention group (122.30 ± 32.38 min/day), compared with the control group (75.14 ± 21.27 min/day) [F (2, 32) = 8.22, P < 0.01, η2 = 0.34)]. Additionally, the analyses of psychological states demonstrated that skiing goes along with enhanced well‐being and no significant impact on perceived pain, exertion or knee function. In sum, alpine skiing can be recommended for older persons with TKA with respect to well‐being, perceived pain and knee function, and perceived exertion.
HNA antibody‐mediated neutrophil aggregation is dependent on serine protease activity
Authors: Berthold T. , Schubert N. , Muschter S. , Rohr M. , Wesche J. , Reil A. , Bux J. , Bakchoul T. , Greinacher A.
Published: June 2015

Background and Objectives

Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) is often caused by antibodies against human neutrophil alloantigen‐2 (HNA‐2) and HNA‐3a. Neutrophil aggregation is considered as a major cause of TRALI, but little is known about how HNA antibodies initiate this process. We explored mechanisms involved in neutrophil aggregation induced by HNA‐2 and HNA‐3a antibodies.

Materials and Methods

Isolated neutrophils were pretreated with broad‐spectrum or specific inhibitors against different cell functions or proteases. Granulocyte agglutination test (GAT) was performed with serially diluted anti‐HNA‐2 and anti‐HNA‐3a plasmas or control plasma, and reactivity was evaluated microscopically. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in neutrophils was investigated using a lucigenin‐based chemiluminescence assay.

Results

HNA‐2 and HNA‐3a antibody‐mediated neutrophil aggregation was inhibited by pretreatment with formaldehyde, iodoacetamide and the serine protease inhibitors Pefabloc‐SC, N‐p‐tosyl‐L‐phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and Nα‐tosyl‐L‐lysine chloromethyl ketone hydrochloride (TLCK). In contrast, inhibition of actin polymerization, respiratory burst, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases or aspartic proteases did not affect neutrophil aggregation. Furthermore, HNA‐3a antibodies did not directly cause ROS production in neutrophils.

Conclusion

Aggregation of neutrophils induced by HNA‐2 and HNA‐3a antibodies is an active process and depends on trypsin‐ or chymotrypsin‐like serine proteases but is not dependent on the production of ROS. These findings may open new prospects for the pharmacologic prevention of neutrophil‐associated acute lung injury.
Prognosis of critical limb ischemia: Major vs. minor amputation comparison
Authors: Matsuzaki Kyoichi , Hayashi Ruka , Okabe Keisuke , Aramaki‐Hattori Noriko , Kishi Kazuo
Published: June 2015

Healthcare providers treating wounds have difficulties assessing the prognosis of patients with critical limb ischemia who had been discharged after complete healing of major amputation wounds. The word “major” in “major amputation” gives the impression of “being more severe” than “minor amputation.” Therefore, even if wounds are healed after major amputation, they imagine that prognosis after major amputation would be poorer than that after minor amputation. We investigated the prognosis of diabetic nephropathy patients 2 years after amputations. Those patients underwent dialysis as well as amputation following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for their foot wounds. They were ambulatory prior to these surgeries. Among 56 cases of minor amputation, 45 were males and 11 were females, and mortality was 41.1%. The mortality of cases with and without a coronary intervention history was 53.1% and 25.0%, respectively (p = 0.034). Among 10 cases of major amputation, 9 were males and 1 was female, and mortality was 60%. The mortality of cases with and without a coronary intervention history was 75.0% and 0%, respectively. Although we predicted poor prognosis in cases with major amputation, there was no significant difference in mortality 2 years after amputations (p = 0.267). Thus far poor prognosis has been reported for major amputation. It might be due to inclusion of the following patients: patients with wounds proximal to ankle joints, patients with extensive gangrene spreading to the lower legs, patients with septicemia from wound infection and who died around the time of operation, and patients with malnutrition. The results of our present study showed that the outcomes at 2 years postoperatively were similar between patients with major amputations and those with minor amputations, if surgical wounds were able to heal. We should not estimate the prognosis by the level of amputation, rather we should consider the effect of coronary intervention history on prognosis.
3‐aminobenzamide, a poly (ADP ribose) polymerase inhibitor, enhances wound healing in whole body gamma irradiated model
Authors: El‐Hamoly Tarek , El‐Denshary Ezzeddin S. , Saad Shokry Mohamed , El‐Ghazaly Mona A.
Published: June 2015

The custom use of radiotherapy was found to participate in the development of chronic unhealed wounds. In general, exposure to gamma radiation stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that eventually leads to damaging effect. Conversely, overexpression of a nuclear poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase enzyme (PARP) after oxidative insult extremely brings about cellular injury due to excessive consumption of NAD and ATP. Here, we dedicated our study to investigate the role of 3‐aminobenzamide (3‐AB), a PARP inhibitor, on pregamma irradiated wounds. Two full‐thickness (6 mm diameter) wounds were created on the dorsum of Swiss albino mouse. The progression of wound contraction was monitored by capturing daily photo images. Exposure to gamma radiation (6Gy) exacerbated the normal healing of excisional wounds. Remarkably, topical application of 3‐AB cream (50 µM) revealed a marked acceleration in the rate of wound contraction. Likewise, PARP inhibition ameliorated the unbalanced oxidative/nitrosative status of granulated skin tissues. Such effect was significantly revealed by the correction of the reduced antioxidant capacity and the enhanced lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, and myeloperoxidase contents. Moreover, application of 3‐AB modified the cutaneous nitrite content throughout healing process. Conversely, the expressions of pro‐inflammatory cytokines were down‐regulated by PARP inhibition. The mitochondrial ATP content showed a lower consumption rate on 3‐AB‐treated wound bed as well. In parallel, the mRNA expressions of Sirt‐1 and acyl‐COA oxidase‐2 (ACOX‐2) were up‐regulated; whom functions control the mitochondrial ATP synthesis and lipid metabolism. The current data suggested that inhibition of PARP‐1 enzyme may accelerate the delayed wound healing in whole body gamma irradiated mice by early modifying the oxidative stress as well as the inflammatory response.
A Novel Inexact Two-Stage Stochastic Robust-Compensation Model for Electric Supply Environmental Management Under Uncertainty
Authors: Li W. , Liu S. X. , Fu Z. H. , Shi H. D. , Xie Y. L.
Published: June 2015

In this study, a novel inexact two-stage stochastic robust-compensation programming (ITSP-RC) model is developed for CO2 emission reduction management under uncertainties. This model is attempted to integrate ITSP and stochastic RC programming into a general framework and apply the ITSP-RC for power management and CO2 emission reduction management, such that the developed model can tackle uncertainties described in terms of interval values and probability distributions over a two-stage context. Moreover, it can reflect dynamic and randomness of the energy systems during the planning horizon. The developed method has been applied to a case to solve CO2 emission management problem in electric supply environmental management. A number of scenarios corresponding to different adoption rate levels of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology are examined. With the RC programming, regional energy systems would have a stable financial budget. The result suggests that the methodology is applicable for reflecting complexities of large-scale energy management systems and addressing CO2 emissions reduction issue with the planning period.
Pressure Profile in Annulus: Solids Play a Significant Role
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Miska Stefan , Yu Mengjiao , Ozbayoglu Evren M. , Takach Nicholas
Published: June 2015

This paper looks into the effects of solids on the wellbore pressure profile under different conditions. An extensive number of experiments were conducted on a 90-ft-long, 4.5 in. × 8 in. full-scale flow loop to simulate field conditions. The flow configurations are analyzed. A solid–liquid two-phase flow configuration map is proposed. Significant difference is found between the pressure profile with solids and without solids in the wellbore. The results of this study show how the pressure profile in the wellbore varies when solids present in the annulus, which may have important applications in drilling operations.
Dynamic Properties of a Heliostat Structure Determined by Numerical and Experimental Modal Analysis
Authors: Felipe Vásquez-Arango J. , Buck Reiner , Pitz-Paal Robert
Published: June 2015

An experimental and numerical modal analysis was performed on an 8 m2 T-shaped heliostat structure at different elevation angles. The experimental results were used to validate a finite element (FE) model by comparing natural frequencies and mode shapes. The agreement between experiments and simulations is good in all operating points investigated. In addition, damping coefficients were determined experimentally for each mode, in order to provide all necessary information for the development of a dynamic model. Furthermore, potentially critical operating conditions caused by vortex shedding were identified using a simple approach.
Comparative Analysis of Different Configuration Domestic Refrigerators: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach
Authors: Mokheimer Esmail M. A. , Sanusi Yinka S.
Published: June 2015

To reduce the tremendous increase in the energy consumption in the residential sector, there is a continuous need to improve the cooling efficiency and reduce running cost in domestic refrigerators. In this regard, three domestic refrigerator configurations have been considered. These configurations, namely, top mounted freezer (TMF), bottom mounted freezer (BMF), and side mounted freezer (SMF), were numerically simulated using ansys fluent 14 code. The refrigerators considered in this paper are air cooled by natural convection mechanism. For improved accuracy, piecewise polynomial function was used to obtain the temperature dependent specific heat capacity, while the discrete ordinate (DO) model was used to account for the radiation energy exchange between the refrigerator walls and cooling air. The effect of refrigerator opening and refrigerator load on the performance of the model refrigerators was also studied. Results show that cabinets that have the same relative position from the base (ground level) in TMF, BMF, and SMF configuration was observed to have similar cooling effectiveness irrespective of the compartment (i.e., freezer or fresh food). Load in the lowest parts of the model refrigerator consistently maintains the highest cooling effectiveness with about 15% more than their respective topmost cabinet. Thus, consumer preference of highly efficient compartment (either freezer or refrigerator) should be considered. After 300 min cooling time, the TMF and BMF cooling load are more than that of SMF by about 8%. This suggests that SMF with better cooling effectiveness will consume less energy and would have a lower running cost.
Coupling Vibration Investigation of Cyclone Separator Interacted With Unsteady Fluid
Authors: Li Qiang , Xu Weiwei , Wang Jianjun , Guo Ying , Jin Youhai
Published: June 2015

Gas–cyclone body coupling vibration is one kind of vibration caused by air pulsation. This coupling vibration causes widespread damage and deformation of three-stage cyclone separator used in residue fluid catalytic cracking. After theoretically analyzing the mechanism of the generation of the gas–cyclone body coupling vibration, the numerical simulation of three-dimensional swirling flow the cyclone separator was performed by using Reynolds stress model (RSM). The results showed the existence of precessing vortex core (PVC) in the cyclone separator. The PVC phenomenon and motion of PVC were described in detail. Furthermore, the amplitude and frequency of gas fluctuation in the PVC region at different axial positions were quantitatively analyzed. The simulation results agreed with the experimental results of laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Finally, characteristics of PVC in cyclone separator with a novel vortex finder were designed, and the results showed that the novel vortex finder can reduce flow vibration.
Effects of cation stoichiometry on electronic and structural properties of LaNiO3
Authors: Smith Cole R. , Lang Andrew C. , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Taheri Mitra L. , May Steven J.
Published: June 2015

LaNiO3 films with varying La:Ni ratios were deposited onto SrTiO3 (001) substrates via molecular beam epitaxy to elucidate the effects of cation off-stoichiometry. The physical properties of La-deficient films are found to differ substantially from those of Ni-deficient films, with La-deficient films exhibiting lower electrical resistivities and smaller c-axis parameters than Ni-deficient films. No evidence of secondary phases is observed; however, transmission electron microscopy reveals an abundance of defects, the nature of which differs in lanthanum- and nickel-deficient films. This work illustrates the nontrivial role that cation stoichiometry can play on the functional properties of complex oxides.
Surface compositions of atomic layer deposited Zn1−xMgxO thin films studied using Auger electron spectroscopy
Authors: Xie Ting , Romero Danilo , Gomez Romel D.
Published: June 2015

In this paper, the authors present Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) studies of Zn1−xMgxO (ZMO) films grown via interrupted atomic-layer deposition (ALD) techniques. The ZMO films were fabricated by alternating ALD deposition of ZnO and MgO layers up to 1000 cycles. Zn1−xMgxO films with progressively decreasing Mg/Zn ratios (Mg/Zn = 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/9, and 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, and 5/20) were fabricated for this study. The AES results exhibit an abrupt drop of Mg composition on the ZMO surface when the Mg/Zn < 1/3. Additionally, the surface composition ratios of O to Mg, O to Zn, and Mg to Zn were estimated with known Auger sensitivity factors. The results indicate that Mg ions diffuse into the bulk, forming Zn1−xMgxO alloys.
Molybdenum oxide and molybdenum oxide-nitride back contacts for CdTe solar cells
Authors: Drayton Jennifer A. , Williams Desiree D. , Geisthardt Russell M. , Cramer Corson L. , Williams John D. , Sites James R.
Published: June 2015

Molybdenum oxide (MoOx) and molybdenum oxynitride (MoON) thin film back contacts were formed by a unique ion-beam sputtering and ion-beam-assisted deposition process onto CdTe solar cells and compared to back contacts made using carbon–nickel (C/Ni) paint. Glancing-incidence x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements show that partially crystalline MoOx films are created with a mixture of Mo, MoO2, and MoO3 components. Lower crystallinity content is observed in the MoON films, with an additional component of molybdenum nitride present. Three different film thicknesses of MoOx and MoON were investigated that were capped in situ in Ni. Small area devices were delineated and characterized using current–voltage (J-V), capacitance–frequency, capacitance–voltage, electroluminescence, and light beam-induced current techniques. In addition, J-V data measured as a function of temperature (JVT) were used to estimate back barrier heights for each thickness of MoOx and MoON and for the C/Ni paint. Characterization prior to stressing indicated the devices were similar in performance. Characterization after stress testing indicated little change to cells with 120 and 180-nm thick MoOx and MoON films. However, moderate-to-large cell degradation was observed for 60-nm thick MoOx and MoON films and for C/Ni painted back contacts.
Influence of oxygen on characteristics of Zn(O,S) thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering
Authors: Choi Ji Hyun , Garay Adrian Adalberto , Hwang Su Min , Chung Chee Won
Published: June 2015

Zn(O,S) thin films were successfully deposited by reactive sputtering using Ar and O2 gas mixtures at 473 K. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the well crystallized Zn(O,S) films were deposited with increasing oxygen concentration in O2/Ar, resulting in a shift of the Zn peak of 28.5° to a higher angle, closer to the ZnO peak of 34.4°. Zn(O,S) films were composed of grains agglomerated from small particles, which grew gradually with increasing oxygen concentration. The depth profiles and energy dispersive spectroscopy results of the films indicated that the O/(O+S) ratio increased from 0.04 to 0.81, and all Zn(O,S) films were Zn rich with uniform concentrations of each component. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that, as the oxygen concentration increased to 2%, the ZnS films were transformed to Zn(O,S) films via substitution of oxygen for sulfur.
Electron-beam-evaporated thin films of hafnium dioxide for fabricating electronic devices
Authors: Xiao Zhigang , Kisslinger Kim
Published: June 2015

Thin films of hafnium dioxide (HfO2) are widely used as the gate oxide in fabricating integrated circuits because of their high dielectric constants. In this paper, the authors report the growth of thin films of HfO2 using e-beam evaporation, and the fabrication of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits using this HfO2 thin film as the gate oxide. The authors analyzed the thin films using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, thereby demonstrating that the e-beam-evaporation-grown HfO2 film has a polycrystalline structure and forms an excellent interface with silicon. Accordingly, the authors fabricated 31-stage CMOS ring oscillator to test the quality of the HfO2 thin film as the gate oxide, and obtained excellent rail-to-rail oscillation waveforms from it, denoting that the HfO2 thin film functioned very well as the gate oxide.
XPS Examination of the Oxide Layer Formed on Kovar Following Pre-Oxidation
Authors: Mallinson Christopher F. , Tardio Sabrina , Yates Paul M. , Staff Martyn T. , Fernie John A. , Watts John F.
Published: June 2015

Kovar (Fe-29 Ni-17 Co wt%) is widely used in electrical components. For applications such as feed-throughs there is a requirement to join it to glass, forming a glass-to-metal seal. A controlled thickness, well adhered, oxide is desired on the Kovar to form a strong bond. The oxides formed on Kovar pre-oxidized, at 700 and 800 °C for ten min, have been analyzed. Each sample showed the presence of Fe2O3, CoO and NiO. XPS survey spectra and high resolution spectra were collected and are presented.
Effects of Home-Based Walking on Quality of Life and Fatigue Outcomes in Early Stage Breast Cancer Survivors: A 12-Week Pilot Study
Authors: Baruth Meghan , Wilcox Sara , Ananian Cheryl Der , Heiney Sue
Published: June 2015

Background:

Adjuvant treatment for breast cancer may result in long-lasting, adverse emotional and physical side effects, and reduce quality of life (QOL). This pilot study examined the effects of a home-based walking program on QOL and fatigue in early stage breast cancer survivors and whether changes in walking behavior were associated with changes in outcomes.

Methods:

Participants (n = 32) were randomized to a 12-week home-based walking intervention plus brief telephone counseling (n = 20) or a wait-list control group (n = 12). Self-reported fatigue, QOL, and walking were assessed at baseline and 12-weeks. Results are presented as effect sizes.

Results:

Participants in the intervention had improvements in a majority of fatigue and QOL outcomes, whereas the control group had no change or worsened in many; effect sizes were generally in the small to medium range. Changes in fatigue/QOL outcomes were associated with changes in walking behavior, with effects generally in the small to medium range.

Conclusion:

Home-based physical activity (walking) programs may be an appropriate avenue for alleviating the adverse side effects that often accompany adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. These programs have potential for widespread dissemination, which may have considerable impact on the quality of life of women recently completing breast cancer treatment.
Walking to Work: The Roles of Neighborhood Walkability and Socioeconomic Deprivation
Authors: Kelly Cheryl , Lian Min , Struthers Jim , Kammrath Anna
Published: June 2015

Background:

There are few studies that aimed to find a relationship between transportation-related physical activity and neighborhood socioeconomic condition using a composite deprivation index. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship of neighborhood walkability and socioeconomic deprivation with percentage of adults walking to work.

Methods:

A walkability index and a socioeconomic deprivation index were created at block group-level. The outcome variable, percentage of adults who walk to work was dichotomized as < 5% of the block group walking to work low and ≥ 5% of the block group walking to work as high and applied logistic regression to examine the association of walkability and socioeconomic deprivation with walking to work.

Results:

Individuals in the most walkable neighborhoods are almost 5 times more likely to walk to work than individuals in the least walkable neighborhoods (OR = 4.90, 95% CI = 2.80–8.59). After adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, individuals in the most walkable neighborhoods are almost 3 times more likely to walk to work than individuals in the least walkable neighborhoods (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.62–5.49).

Conclusions:

Walkability (as measured by the walkability index) is a very strong indicator of walking to work even after controlling for neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage.
Phenotypic assays identify azoramide as a small-molecule modulator of the unfolded protein response with antidiabetic activity
Authors: Fu Suneng , Yalcin Abdullah , Lee Grace Y. , Li Ping , Fan Jason , Arruda Ana Paula , Pers Benedicte M. , Yilmaz Mustafa , Eguchi Kosei , Hotamisligil Gökhan S.
Published: June 2015

New assays that measure endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function and protein folding identify a small molecule, azoramide, that exerts antidiabetic effects.
When instability is a good thing
Authors: Dronca Roxana
Published: June 2015

Mismatch repair–deficient tumors have a high rate of somatic mutations, have higher neoantigen formation, and are more sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade.
Evaluation of patients with abnormalities on intraoperative cholangiogram: time to abandon endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as the initial follow-up study
Authors: Bill Jason G , Kushnir Vladimir M , Mullady Daniel K , Murad Faris M , Azar Riad R , Easler Jeffery J , Early Dayna S , Edmundowicz Steven A
Published: June 2015

Background

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is currently the method of choice for the postoperative evaluation of suspected bile duct stones seen on intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC); however, the sensitivity of IOC for identifying biliary pathology is unclear, with studies reporting false positive rates between 30% and 60%.

Objective

Evaluate the sensitivity of IOC for biliary pathology, using ERCP with sphincterotomy and balloon sweep as gold standard.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary medical centre.

Patients

130 consecutive patients (age 51.3±1.7 years, 69.2% women) who underwent ERCP for the evaluation of abnormalities identified on IOC between 2005 and 2013.

Interventions

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Main outcome measurements

Sensitivity of IOC, identify predictors of positive postoperative ERCP and ERCP-related complications.

Results

ERCP was successful in all 130 subjects. ERCP-related adverse events occurred in six (4.3%) patients, including self-limited post-sphincterotomy bleeding in three (2.3%) and mild post-ERCP pancreatitis in three (2.3%). Overall, 41 (31.5%) patients had normal cholangiogram at time of ERCP. Finding of a filling defect on IOC was the only predictor for the presence of common bile duct stones on postoperative ERCP (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 10.8, p=0.05).

Limitations

Retrospective study design.

Conclusions

Nearly one-third of patients with abnormal IOC had a normal postoperative ERCP. Significant pathology could have been missed in 1/130 patients. Based on these findings, we believe the use of less-invasive diagnostic modalities may be used in place of ERCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis on IOC.
Social disparities in Disease Management Programmes for coronary heart disease in Germany: a cross-classified multilevel analysis
Authors: Bozorgmehr Kayvan , Maier Werner , Brenner Hermann , Saum Kai-Uwe , Stock Christian , Miksch Antje , Holleczek Bernd , Szecsenyi Joachim , Razum Oliver
Published: June 2015

Background

Disease Management Programmes (DMPs) aim to improve effectiveness and equity of care but may suffer from selective enrolment. We analysed social disparities in DMP enrolment among elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Germany, taking into account contextual effects at municipality and primary care practice levels.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of effects of educational attainment and regional deprivation on physician-reported DMP enrolment in a subsample of a large population-based cohort study in Germany, adjusting for individual-level, practice-level and area-level variables. We calculated OR and their 95% CIs (95% CI) in cross-classified, multilevel logistic regression models.

Results

Among N=1280 individuals with CHD (37.3% women), DMP enrolment rates were 22.2% (women) and 35% (men). The odds of DMP enrolment were significantly higher for male patients (OR=1.98 (1.50 to 2.62)), even after adjustment for potential confounding by individual-level, practice-level and area-level variables (range: OR=1.60 (1.08 to 2.36) to 2.16 (1.57 to 2.98)). Educational attainment was not significantly associated with DMP enrolment. Compared to patients living in least-deprived municipalities, the adjusted propensity of DMP enrolment was statistically significantly lower for patients living in medium-deprived municipalities (OR=0.41 (0.24 to 0.71)), and it also tended to be lower for patients living in the most-deprived municipalities (OR=0.70 (0.40 to 1.21)). Models controlling for the social situation (instead of health-related behaviour) yielded comparable effect estimates (medium-deprived/most-deprived vs least-deprived areas: OR=0.45 (0.26 to 0.78)/OR=0.68 (0.33 to 1.19)). Controlling for differences in comorbidity attenuated the deprivation effect estimates.

Conclusions

We found evidence for marked gender, but not educational disparities in DMP enrolment among patients with CHD. Small-area deprivation was associated with DMP enrolment, but the effects were partly explained by differences in comorbidity. Future studies on DMPs should consider contextual effects when analysing programme effectiveness or impacts on equity and efficiency.
Childhood and adolescence risk factors and development of depressive symptoms: the 32-year prospective Young Finns follow-up study
Authors: Elovainio Marko , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Hakulinen Christian , Ferrie Jane E , Jokela Markus , Hintsanen Mirka , Raitakari Olli T , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa
Published: June 2015

Background

Environmental risks in childhood have been shown to predict later depressive symptoms. In this study, we examined whether various environmental risk domains in childhood and adolescence, socioeconomic, psychoemotional, parental lifestyle and life-events, predict depressive symptom trajectories in adulthood individually by domain and as a cumulative risk score across domains.

Methods

Participants were a nationally representative sample of 1289 men and 1585 women from the Young Finns study, aged 3–18 years at study entry in 1980. They responded to questions on depressive symptoms (modified version of the Beck Depression Inventory) at four study phases from 1997 to 2012.

Results

Findings from longitudinal repeated multilevel modelling showed that all clusters of risk within domain and the cumulative risk score were associated with later depressive symptoms (regression coefficient range from 0.07 to 0.34). Socioeconomic risk, psychoemotional risk and the cumulative risk score predicted later depressive symptoms after adjustment for the effects of adulthood risk. No interaction with time was observed.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that environment risks in childhood and adolescence, particularly in the socioeconomic and psychoemotional domains, are associated with a higher risk, but not an increased progression, of depressive symptoms in adulthood.
A novel method of continuous cage‐side monitoring of hyperthyroid cats treated with radio‐iodine
Authors: Roberts E. , Gray J. M. , Gunn E. , Ramsey I. K.
Published: June 2015

A continuous monitoring system (MGP DM2000X) was assessed for monitoring γ radiation emissions and determining appropriate isolation times for hyperthyroid cats treated with radioactive iodine (I131). Daily radiation emitted by 12 cats who had received a range of doses of I131(80–200 MBq) was measured and average background radiation readings deducted. The effective half‐lives of the I131in the cats were found to have a median of 2.54 days (range 1.40–3.24 days). Cats treated with 200 MBq emitted 5 µGy/day more exposure than cats treated with lower doses throughout the study period (P=0.032). All cats were found to emit a total radiation dose exposure less than 100 µGy (range 0–43 µGy) during days 18–21 of isolation. The potential additional dose exposure to owners was calculated at various days that might be considered for the cats to be returned to their owners. Using this provisional data, maximum isolation periods at this institution could be safely reduced to 17 days as long as certain precautions are followed. This preliminary study demonstrated that this novel cage‐side monitoring system can be used to calculate the effective half‐life of I131and to measure γ radiation exposure from treated cats, which may assist other institutions in determining appropriate isolation times for individual cats.
Newton Method and Trajectory-Based Method for Solving Power Flow Problems: Nonlinear Studies
Authors: Deng Jiao-Jiao , Chiang Hsiao-Dong , Zhao Tian-Qi
Published: June 2015

This paper analyzes the convergence properties and convergence region of a class of trajectory-based power flow methods. The convergence region of the trajectory-based method is a connected set and possesses the near-by property. The convergence region of Newton method and trajectory-based method in solving power flow problems are numerically investigated. Since the convergence region of trajectory-based method corresponds to the stability region of the nonlinear dynamic system, the stability regions of two dynamic systems are computed. The numerical results indicate that the stability region of the dynamic system possesses better geometry features than the convergence region of Newton method. These properties make the trajectory-based power flow method robust, especially on heavy loading conditions.
Bogdanov–Takens Bifurcation of a Class of Delayed Reaction–Diffusion System
Authors: Cao Jianzhi , Wang Peiguang , Yuan Rong , Mei Yingying
Published: June 2015

In this paper, a class of reaction–diffusion system with Neumann boundary condition is considered. By analyzing the generalized eigenvector associated with zero eigenvalue, an equivalent condition for the determination of Bogdonov–Takens (B–T) singularity is obtained. Next, by using center manifold theorem and normal form method, we have a two-dimension ordinary differential system on its center manifold. Finally, two examples show that the given algorithm is effective.
Vibration Attenuation of an Electromechanical System Coupled with Plate Springs Damped by an Impact Element
Authors: Lampart Marek , Zapoměl Jaroslav
Published: June 2015

The main aim of this paper is focused on vibration attenuation of the electromechanical system flexibly coupled with a baseplate and damped by an impact element. The model is constructed with three degrees of freedom in the mechanical oscillating part, two translational and one rotational. The system movement is described by three mutually coupled second-order ordinary differential equations, derived by the force balance method. Here, the most important nonlinearities are: stiffness of the support spring elements and internal impacts. The main results show the impact damping device attenuates vibrations of the rotor frame in a wide range of the excitation frequencies, that is wider then in the case when the impact element works only as an inertia damper without occurrence of any impacts.
Radial Basis Collocation Method for the Dynamics of Rotating Flexible Tube Conveying Fluid
Authors: Wang Lihua , Zhong Zheng
Published: June 2015

A Meshfree Radial Basis Collocation Method (RBCM) associated with explicit and implicit time integration scheme is formulated to study the coupling dynamics of a rotating flexible tube conveying fluid, which involves a partial differential equation (PDE) with variable coefficients. Dispersion studies are performed and they indicate that the proposed RBCM has a very small dispersion error compared with conventional FEM and Galerkin-based meshfree methods. Numerical examples are conducted for the influence of initial flow rate of the fluid, discretization and shape parameter on the dispersion error. The critical time step is obtained from a Von Neumann stability analysis. For the eigenproblem, Hermite-type RBCM is proposed in order to construct square matrices and eigenvalue analysis gives the frequencies of the system. Subsequently, the influence of angular velocity, flow rate of the fluid and the time variation on the fundamental frequencies is studied. Though proposed for studying the dynamics of a rotating flexible tube conveying fluid, this solution scheme is applicable to other dynamical problems which have similar PDEs with variable coefficients.
Testing the waters
Authors: Richards Daniel
Published: June 2015

This paper explores the potential for technical communicators to employ usability research with risk-based interactive geovisualization technologies as a method of cultivating "critical rhetorics of risk communication" for local communities. Through integrating theories from usability studies and risk communication, I offer some new directions for thinking about the productive usability of online, participatory technologies that promote citizen engagement in science. I argue that the key tenets of productive usability afford technical communicators the opportunity to build localized knowledge of risk in real, local users, which in turn improves the capacity for a community and its stakeholders to more effectively communicate risk.
A UX workflow for building awesome applications
Authors: Wiley Kristi , Getto Guiseppe
Published: June 2015

Though usability is a must for all new applications, small organizations often lag behind in this area. This trend is frequently posed as a resource problem: User Experience design (UX) teams, usability testing software, and professional web developers are typically lacking in cash-strapped small businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions, so creating cutting-edge designs may seem impossible. We propose that what is lacking in these settings is actually knowledge of effective design workflows, however, not resources. What is lacking is a sound understanding of UX and an effective means of mobilizing existing resources. Based on a case study of a redesign process for a mobile application, we present evidence that all organizations can build awesome applications if they simply learn how to better manage their design processes.
Understanding digital badges through feedback, reward, and narrative
Authors: Fanfarelli Joseph , Vie Stephanie , McDaniel Rudy
Published: June 2015

Digital badges are studied and implemented for a variety of purposes. Regardless of the specific application, all badges have one thing in common: they contain explicitly designed information meant to motivate users. This information is created by the badge's developer, transferred using the badge as a vessel, and assimilated by the user. In other words, badges are devices for communication. This article examines this communication process within social environments from three different perspectives---badges as rewards, feedback mechanisms, and narrative. For each of these perspectives, this article provides examples and discusses the type of information that can be communicated as well as the design considerations required for successful communication.
GamingAnywhere
Authors: Huang Chun-Ying , Hsu Cheng-Hsin , Chen Kuan-Ta
Published: June 2015

GamingAnywhere is an open-source clouding gaming platform. In addition to its openness, we design GamingAnywhere for high extensibility, portability, and reconfigurability. GamingAnywhere currently supports Windows and Linux, and can be ported to other OS's including OS X and Android. Our performance study demonstrates that GamingAnywhere achieves high responsiveness and video quality yet imposes low network traffic [1,2]. The value of GamingAnywhere, however, is from its openness: researchers, service providers, and gamers may customize GamingAnywhere to meet their needs. This is not possible in other closed and proprietary cloud gaming platforms.
Arcuate Na+,K+-ATPase senses systemic energy states and regulates feeding behavior through glucose-inhibited neurons
Authors: Kurita Hideharu , Xu Kai Y. , Maejima Yuko , Nakata Masanori , Dezaki Katsuya , Santoso Putra , Yang Yifei , Arai Takeshi , Gantulga Darambazar , Muroya Shinji , Lefor Alan K. , Kakei Masafumi , Watanabe Eiju , Yada Toshihiko
Published: June 2015

Feeding is regulated by perception in the hypothalamus, particularly the first-order arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons, of the body's energy state. However, the cellular device for converting energy states to the activity of critical neurons in ARC is less defined. We here show that Na+,K+-ATPase (NKA) in ARC senses energy states to regulate feeding. Fasting-induced systemic ghrelin rise and glucose lowering reduced ATP-hydrolyzing activity of NKA and its substrate ATP level, respectively, preferentially in ARC. Lowering glucose concentration (LG), which mimics fasting, decreased intracellular NAD(P)H and increased Na+concentration in single ARC neurons that subsequently exhibited [Ca2+]iresponses to LG, showing that they were glucose-inhibited (GI) neurons. Third ventricular injection of the NKA inhibitor ouabain induced c-Fos expression in agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons in ARC and evoked neuropeptide Y (NPY)-dependent feeding. When injected focally into ARC, ouabain stimulated feeding and mRNA expressions for NPY and AgRP. Ouabain increased [Ca2+]iin single NPY/AgRP neurons with greater amplitude than in proopiomelanocortin neurons in ARC. Conversely, the specific NKA activator SSA412 suppressed fasting-induced feeding and LG-induced [Ca2+]iincreases in ARC GI neurons. NPY/AgRP neurons highly expressed NKAα3, whose knockdown impaired feeding behavior. These results demonstrate that fasting, via ghrelin rise and LG, suppresses NKA enzyme/pump activity in ARC and thereby promotes the activation of GI neurons and NPY/AgRP-dependent feeding. This study identifies ARC NKA as a hypothalamic sensor and converter of metabolic states to key neuronal activity and feeding behaviour, providing a new target to treat hyperphagic obesity and diabetes.
TRPC6 channel as an emerging determinant of the podocyte injury susceptibility in kidney diseases
Authors: Ilatovskaya Daria V. , Staruschenko Alexander
Published: June 2015

Podocytes (terminally differentiated epithelial cells of the glomeruli) play a key role in the maintenance of glomerular structure and permeability and in the incipiency of various renal abnormalities. Injury to podocytes is considered a major contributor to the development of kidney disease as their loss causes proteinuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis. The physiological function of podocytes is critically dependent on proper intracellular calcium handling; excessive calcium influx in these cells may result in the effacement of foot processes, apoptosis, and subsequent glomeruli damage. One of the key proteins responsible for calcium flux in the podocytes is transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 6 (TRPC6); a gain-of-function mutation in TRPC6 has been associated with the onset of the familial forms of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Recent data also revealed a critical role of this channel in the onset of diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, major efforts of the research community have been recently dedicated to unraveling the TRPC6-dependent effects in the initiation of podocyte injury. This mini-review focuses on the TRPC6 channel in podocytes and colligates recent data in an attempt to shed some light on the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of TRPC6-mediated glomeruli damage and its potential role as a therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases.
Eye-hand coordination during a double-step task: evidence for a common stochastic accumulator
Authors: Gopal Atul , Murthy Aditya
Published: June 2015

Many studies of reaching and pointing have shown significant spatial and temporal correlations between eye and hand movements. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether these correlations are incidental, arising from common inputs (independent model); whether these correlations represent an interaction between otherwise independent eye and hand systems (interactive model); or whether these correlations arise from a single dedicated eye-hand system (common command model). Subjects were instructed to redirect gaze and pointing movements in a double-step task in an attempt to decouple eye-hand movements and causally distinguish between the three architectures. We used a drift-diffusion framework in the context of a race model, which has been previously used to explain redirect behavior for eye and hand movements separately, to predict the pattern of eye-hand decoupling. We found that the common command architecture could best explain the observed frequency of different eye and hand response patterns to the target step. A common stochastic accumulator for eye-hand coordination also predicts comparable variances, despite significant difference in the means of the eye and hand reaction time (RT) distributions, which we tested. Consistent with this prediction, we observed that the variances of the eye and hand RTs were similar, despite much larger hand RTs (∼90 ms). Moreover, changes in mean eye RTs, which also increased eye RT variance, produced a similar increase in mean and variance of the associated hand RT. Taken together, these data suggest that a dedicated circuit underlies coordinated eye-hand planning.
Acute fasting increases somatodendritic dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area
Authors: Roseberry Aaron G.
Published: June 2015

Fasting and food restriction alter the activity of the mesolimbic dopamine system to affect multiple reward-related behaviors. Food restriction decreases baseline dopamine levels in efferent target sites and enhances dopamine release in response to rewards such as food and drugs. In addition to releasing dopamine from axon terminals, dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) also release dopamine from their soma and dendrites, and this somatodendritic dopamine release acts as an autoinhibitory signal to inhibit neighboring VTA dopamine neurons. It is unknown whether acute fasting also affects dopamine release, including the local inhibitory somatodendritic dopamine release in the VTA. In these studies, I have tested whether fasting affects the inhibitory somatodendritic dopamine release within the VTA by examining whether an acute 24-h fast affects the inhibitory postsynaptic current mediated by evoked somatodendritic dopamine release (D2R IPSC). Fasting increased the contribution of the first action potential to the overall D2R IPSC and increased the ratio of repeated D2R IPSCs evoked at short intervals. Fasting also reduced the effect of forskolin on the D2R IPSC and led to a significantly bigger decrease in the D2R IPSC in low extracellular calcium. Finally, fasting resulted in an increase in the D2R IPSCs when a more physiologically relevant train of D2R IPSCs was used. Taken together, these results indicate that fasting caused a change in the properties of somatodendritic dopamine release, possibly by increasing dopamine release, and that this increased release can be sustained under conditions where dopamine neurons are highly active.