bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engaged Reading as Mental Work:
Authors: Polvinen Merja 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article presents an account of the design and perceived results of a course on cognitive narratology. The course aims to introduce the theoretical apparatus of cognitive narratology, including issues such as social cognition (mind reading) and the mental construction of fictional worlds. Students explore these issues by reading and analyzing science fiction and fantasy texts in which various narrative conventions are concretized within what would normally be impossible worlds and scenarios. The aim in using texts from popular genres is both to create in students reading experiences that engage their imaginations and to give them explicit illustrations of the cognitive functions of narrative. Of these functions, the course focuses on literature as mental work, that is, on texts providing dynamic patterns of thought for readers to act out. A focus on literature as mental work can provide students with a theoretical outlook and analytical toolbox while at the same time preserving a central role for their individual reading experiences.
Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Substantive Changes—An Update
Authors: Williams Andrea , Miskowicz-Retz Konrad C. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA COCA) is recognized by the US Secretary of Education as the only accrediting agency for osteopathic predoctoral education. To maintain its recognition with the US Secretary of Education, the AOA COCA is required to adhere to all federal laws and regulations associated with the recognition of accrediting agencies. The authors discuss changes in the policies and procedures applicable to review of substantive changes in existing colleges of osteopathic medicine. Also included is a review of AOA COCA–approved class sizes of the accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine.
Learning Curves in 3‐Dimensional Sonographic Follicle Monitoring During Controlled Ovarian Stimulation
Authors: Rodriguez Amelia , Guillén Juan José , López Maria Jesus , Vassena Rita , Coll Oriol , Vernaeve Valerie 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesThree‐dimensional (3D) sonographically based automated volume calculation (SonoAVC; GE Healthcare, Zipf, Austria) is being introduced in folliculometry during ovarian stimulation; however, clear training assessments in this technique are lacking. The learning curve–cumulative summation (LC‐CUSUM) test provides a quantitative tool to determine when a trainee has learned a procedure. The aim of this prospective study was to assess 3D SonoAVC LC‐CUSUM curves in folliculometry.MethodsAnalyses were performed on 98 oocyte donors by capturing the ovarian image in 3D and applying the 3D SonoAVC software during ovarian stimulation cycles. Each patient was scanned by an expert operator and by a trainee. Independent LC‐CUSUM tests for 4 follicular diameters tracked the competency of 3 trainees in 3D SonoAVC.ResultsWe found that the numbers of sonographic examinations required by the 3 trainees to identify the correct number of follicles of 10 mm or larger were 38, 32, and 28, respectively; for follicles of 14 mm or larger, they were 29, 28, and 28; for follicles of 18 mm or larger, they were 24, 19, and 27; and for follicles of 21 mm or larger, they were 29, 19, and 24.ConclusionsA variable number of procedures are needed to reach proficiency in 3D SonoAVC, even for trained 2‐dimensional sonographers. Assessment of learning curves should be implemented when incorporating 3D SonoAVC in reproduction units.
Role of 3‐Dimensional Power Doppler Sonography in Differentiating Pregnant Women With Threatened Preterm Labor From Those With an Asymptomatic Short Cervix
Authors: De Diego Raül , Sabrià Joan , Vela Antonio , Rodríguez David , Gómez Maria Dolores 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo compare cervical volumes and vascularization indices using 3‐dimensional power Doppler sonography among singleton pregnancies with threatened preterm labor and an asymptomatic short cervix.MethodsThree hundred asymptomatic healthy pregnant women between 24 and 34.6 gestational weeks were prospectively scanned for cervical length. If cervical length was short, defined as below the 10th percentile for gestational age, the cervical volume and vascularization indices (vascularization index [VI], vascularization‐flow index [VFI], and flow index [FI]) were measured. Women receiving any treatment for preterm delivery prevention were excluded. During this period, the same sonographic parameters were measured among patients with threatened preterm labor admitted to our institution during the first 24 hours after admission. Multiple pregnancies and fetal or maternal pathologic conditions, were exclusion criteria. Data on body mass index, maternal age, smoking, parity, family history of preterm birth, mother who was born preterm, and previous preterm birth among the pregnant women were recorded. Sonographic and medical history parameters were compared between the two groups.ResultsTwenty‐nine asymptomatic healthy women (9.6%) had a short cervix. Additionally, 71 pregnancies with threatened preterm labor were scanned. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in medical history parameters or cervical length. The cervical volume was smaller in threatened preterm cases (12.90 versus 17.168 cm3; P = .005). The VI and VFI were lower in women with an asymptomatic short cervix (VI, 4.369% versus 15.939%; P < .001; VFI, 1.514 versus 4.878; P < .001). The FI was higher in the short cervix group (33.581 versus 30.311; P = .006).ConclusionsThree‐dimensional transvaginal sonography reveals differences in cervical volume and vascularization indices between pregnancies with an asymptomatic short cervix and cases with threatened preterm labor, although cervical length is similar in both groups.
Adnexal Sonographic Findings in Ectopic Pregnancy and Their Correlation With Tubal Rupture and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels
Authors: Frates Mary C. , Doubilet Peter M. , Peters Hope E. , Benson Carol B. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo determine whether the distribution of transvaginal sonographic findings of ectopic pregnancy has changed since the studies done 20 years ago and to explore the correlation of tubal rupture with transvaginal sonographic findings and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels.MethodsPatients with ectopic pregnancy who underwent transvaginal sonography before treatment were included. Sonograms and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of a tubal ring, the presence of a yolk sac, embryonic cardiac activity, the degree of vascularity on color Doppler imaging, hCG levels, and results of surgery were recorded.ResultsOur study included 231 ectopic pregnancies. A positive sonographic adnexal finding was present in 219 cases (94.8%): adnexal mass in 218 (94.4%) and a moderate‐to‐large amount of free fluid in 84 (36.4%). The adnexal masses were graded as follows: 1, nonspecific mass (125 cases [54.1% of total]); 2, tubal ring without a yolk sac or embryo (57 [24.7%]); 3, yolk sac but no embryonic heartbeat (19 [8.3%]); and 4, embryo with cardiac activity (17 [7.4%]). The mean hCG level increased as the grade ascended from 1 to 4. Thirty‐six patients had tubal rupture at surgery within 24 hours of the sonogram. A moderate‐to‐large amount of free fluid was significantly associated with tubal rupture (P < .05) but had low sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for rupture. Other sonographic findings and hCG levels were not significantly related to tubal rupture.ConclusionsTransvaginal sonography showed an adnexal abnormality in nearly 95% of our patients with ectopic pregnancy, most commonly a nonspecific adnexal mass. Embryonic cardiac activity was seen in fewer than 10%. Neither sonographic findings nor hCG levels were useful predictors of tubal rupture.
Geochemistry of volcanic glasses from the Louisville Seamount Trail (IODP Expedition 330): Implications for eruption environments and mantle melting
Authors: Nichols Alexander R. L. , Beier Christoph , Brandl Philipp A. , Buchs David M. , Krumm Stefan H. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractVolcanic glasses recovered from four guyots during drilling along the Louisville Seamount Trail, southwest Pacific, have been analyzed for major, trace, and volatile elements (H2O, CO2, S, and Cl), and oxygen isotopes. Compared to other oceanic island settings, they are geochemically homogeneous, providing no evidence of the tholeiitic stage that characterizes Hawai'i. The degrees and depth of partial melting remained constant over 1–3 Ma represented by the drill holes, and along‐chain over several million years. The only exception is Hadar Guyot with compositions that suggest small degree preferential melting of an enriched source, possibly because it erupted on the oldest and thickest lithosphere. Incompatible element enriched glass from late‐stage volcaniclastics implies lower degrees of melting as the volcanoes moved off the melting anomaly. Volcaniclastic glasses from throughout the igneous basement are degassed suggesting generation during shallow submarine eruptions (<20 mbsl) or as subaerial flows entered the sea. Drill depths may no longer reflect relative age due to postquench downslope movement. Higher volatile contents in late‐stage volcaniclastics indicate submarine eruptions at 118–258 mbsl and subsidence of the edifices below sea level by the time they erupted, or generation in flank eruptions. Glass from intrusion margins suggests emplacement ∼100 m below the surface. The required uplift to achieve these paleo‐quench depths and the subsequent subsidence to reach their current depths exceeds that expected for normal oceanic lithosphere, consistent with the Louisville melting anomaly being <100°C hotter than normal asthenosphere at 50–70 Ma when the guyots were erupted.
Simulation of Earth textures by conditional image quilting
Authors: Mahmud K. , Mariethoz G. , Caers J. , Tahmasebi P. , Baker A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTraining image‐based approaches for stochastic simulations have recently gained attention in surface and subsurface hydrology. This family of methods allows the creation of multiple realizations of a study domain, with a spatial continuity based on a training image (TI) that contains the variability, connectivity, and structural properties deemed realistic. A major drawback of these methods is their computational and/or memory cost, making certain applications challenging. It was found that similar methods, also based on training images or exemplars, have been proposed in computer graphics. One such method, image quilting (IQ), is introduced in this paper and adapted for hydrogeological applications. The main difficulty is that Image Quilting was originally not designed to produce conditional simulations and was restricted to 2‐D images. In this paper, the original method developed in computer graphics has been modified to accommodate conditioning data and 3‐D problems. This new conditional image quilting method (CIQ) is patch based, does not require constructing a pattern databases, and can be used with both categorical and continuous training images. The main concept is to optimally cut the patches such that they overlap with minimum discontinuity. The optimal cut is determined using a dynamic programming algorithm. Conditioning is accomplished by prior selection of patches that are compatible with the conditioning data. The performance of CIQ is tested for a variety of hydrogeological test cases. The results, when compared with previous multiple‐point statistics (MPS) methods, indicate an improvement in CPU time by a factor of at least 50.
Efficacy of long‐term low‐dose macrolide therapy in preventing early recurrence of nasal polyps after endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Varvyanskaya Anastasia , Lopatin Andrey 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundThis study assessed efficacy of clarithromycin “long‐term” macrolide therapy as an adjunct to maintenance therapy with nasal corticosteroids to prevent recurrence of nasal polyps (NP) after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).MethodsA total of 66 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and bilateral NP were randomized into 3 study arms, 22 patients in each arm. After FESS, patients in the first and second groups were treated with clarithromycin 250 mg/day for 12 and 24 weeks, respectively, whereas patients in the third group did not receive any clarithromycin. Patients in all 3 groups received maintenance therapy with mometasone furoate 400 μg/day. Patient assessment was conducted before the surgery and 6, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery, using a visual analogue scale (VAS), 20‐item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐20), acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, saccharin transit time, nasal endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) of paranasal sinuses, and measurement of the level of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in their nasal secretions.ResultsThe study confirmed efficacy of “long‐term” macrolide therapy, resulting in significant improvement of all parameters except acoustic rhinometry and VAS in both clarithromycin groups as compared to the control. Concentration of ECP in the nasal secretions increased dramatically after surgery, then returned to baseline levels after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment with clarithromycin. In the control group, ECP level continued to increase and was significantly higher at the endpoint. Both groups with clarithromycin showed significantly better endoscopic and CT scores than the control group at the end point.Conclusion“Long‐term” low‐dose clarithromycin 250 mg/day is able to control eosinophilic inflammation and prevent early relapse of NP after FESS.
Enhanced proton conductivity from phosphoric acid‐incorporated 3D polyacrylamide‐graft‐starch hydrogel materials for high‐temperature proton exchange membranes
Authors: Qin Qi , Tang Qunwei , He Benlin , Chen Haiyan , Yuan Shuangshuang , Wang Xin 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTTo enhance anhydrous proton conductivity of high‐temperature proton exchange membranes (PEMs), we report here the realization of H3PO4‐imbibed three‐dimensional (3D) polyacrylamide‐graft‐starch (PAAm‐g‐starch) hydrogel materials as high‐temperature PEMs using the unique absorption and retention of crosslinked PAAm‐g‐starch to concentrated H3PO4 aqueous solution. The 3D framework of PAAm‐g‐starch matrix provides enormous space to keep H3PO4 into the porous structure, which can be controlled by adjusting crosslinking agent and initiator dosages. Results show that the H3PO4 loading and therefore the proton conductivities of the membranes are significantly enhanced by increasing the amount of crosslinking agent and initiator dosages. Proton conductivities as high as 0.109 S cm−1 at 180°C under fully anhydrous state are recorded. The high conductivities at high temperatures in combination with the simple preparation, low cost, and scalable matrices demonstrate the potential use of PAAm‐g‐starch hydrogel materials in high‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40622.
Gelling of cellulose nanowhiskers in aqueous suspension
Authors: Le Goff Kevin Jacques , Jouanneau Diane , Garnier Catherine , Aubry Thierry 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe gelling properties of a 0.46 wt % semi‐dilute aqueous suspension of well‐characterized nanocrystalline cellulose particles extracted from the tunic of marine animals were studied by measuring the time evolution of linear viscoelastic moduli at various frequencies. The results show the existence of a gel time characterized by a frequency‐independent loss angle, which suggests that gelling is due to the growth of self‐similar clusters, whose fractal dimension was determined. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40676.
Optimized‐Based Stabilization of Constrained Nonlinear Systems: A Receding Horizon Approach
Authors: He De‐feng , Yu Li , Song Xiu‐lan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe problem of stabilizing constrained nonlinear systems while optimizing performance is investigated in this paper. The tool of weak control Lyapunov functions (WCLFs) is introduced to construct a tuning Sontag's controller where some adjustable parameters are optimized with respect to given performances in a receding horizon fashion. Two algorithms are presented and the corresponding closed‐loop systems with input constraints are proven to be stable in some regions by using the LaSalle's theorem and the properties of WCLFs. Moreover, the inverse optimality result of the controller is achieved. Finally, two open‐loop unstable examples are used to illustrate the performance and effectiveness of the results obtained here.
An Observer–Based Scheme for Decentralized Stabilization of Large‐Scale Systems With Application to Power Systems
Authors: Langarica Córdoba Diego , Ortega Romeo 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAn observer‐based methodology for decentralized stabilization of large‐scale linear time‐invariant systems is presented. Each local controller is provided with available local measurements, it implements a deterministic observer to reconstruct the state of the other subsystems and uses—in a certainty‐equivalent way—these estimates in the control law. The observers are designed following the principles of immersion and invariance. The class of systems to which the design is applicable is identified via a linear matrix inequality, from which the observer gains are obtained. It is shown that the use of immersion and invariance observers, instead of standard Luenberger's observers, enlarges the class of stabilizable systems. The applicability of the proposed method is illustrated with a transient stabilization controller for a two‐machine power system.
Policy Gradient Approach of Event‐Based Optimization and Its Online Implementation
Authors: Xia Li 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn the theory of event‐based optimization (EBO), the decision making is triggered by events, which is different from the traditional state‐based control in Markov decision processes (MDP). In this paper, we propose a policy gradient approach of EBO. First, an equation of performance gradient in the event‐based policy space is derived based on a fundamental quantity called Q‐factors of EBO. With the performance gradient, we can find the local optimum of EBO using the gradient‐based algorithm. Compared to the policy iteration approach in EBO, this policy gradient approach does not require restrictive conditions and it has a wider application scenario. The policy gradient approach is further implemented based on the online estimation of Q‐factors. This approach does not require the prior information about the system parameters, such as the transition probability. Finally, we use an EBO model to formulate the admission control problem and demonstrate the main idea of this paper. Such online algorithm provides an effective implementation of the EBO theory in practice.
Fluorescence enhancement monitoring of pyrromethene laser dyes by metallic Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Sakr Mahmoud E. M. , Abou Kana Maram T. H. , Abdel Fattah Gamal 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTFluorescence enhancement monitoring of pyrromethene laser dyes using their complexation with Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was studied. The size of the prepared Ag NPs was determined by transmission electron spectroscopy and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. Mie theory was also used to confirm the size of NPs theoretically. The effect of different nanoparticle concentrations on the optical properties of 1 × 10‐4 M PM dyes shows that 40%of Ag NPs concentration (40%C Ag NPs) in complex is the optimum concentration. Also, the effects of different concentrations of PM dyes in a complex was measured. Emission enhancement factors were calculated for all samples. Fluorescence enhancement efficiencies depended on the input pumping energy of a Nd‐YAG laser (wavelength 532 nm and 8 ns pulse duration) were reported and showed the lowest energy (28 and 32 mJ) in the case of PM567 and PM597, respectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous determination of calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, calycosin, formononetin, astragaloside IV and schisandrin in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS: application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Shenqi Wuwei chewable tablets
Authors: Sun Xuehui , Zhang Pingping , Wu Xiujun , Wu Qiong , Zhang Mengmeng , An Ye , Shi Guobing 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTA rapid, sensitive and reliable high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of the five main bioactive components, calycosin, calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, formononetin, astragaloside IV and schisandrin in rat plasma after oral administration of Shenqi Wuwei chewable tablets. Plasma samples were extracted using solid‐phase extraction separated on a CEC18 column and detected by MS with an electrospray ionization interface in multiple‐reaction monitoring mode. Calibration curves offered linear ranges of two orders of magnitude with r > 0.995. The method had a lower limit of quantitation of 0.1, 0.02, 0.1, 1 and 0.1 ng/mL for calycosin, calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, formononetin, astragaloside IV and schisandrin, respectively. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (relative standard deviation) for all analytes ranged from 0.97 to 7.63% and from 3.45 to 10.89%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the five compounds in rats after oral administration of Shenqi Wuwei chewable tablets. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast quantification of cyclophosfamide and its N‐dechloroethylated metabolite 2‐dechloroethylcyclophosphamide in human plasma by UHPLC‐MS/MS
Authors: Yang Le , Feng Jin , Zhang Feng , Jiang Bo , Gao Shouhong , Chen Wansheng 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTA rapid, novel and reliable UHPLC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of cyclophosphamide (CP) and its dechloroethylated metabolite, 2‐dechloroethylcyclosphamide (2‐DCECP) in human plasma. The plasma samples were conducted by protein precipitation with 3‐fold acetonitrile, containing 0.1% formic acid. Mass spectrometric detection was performed using electrospray positive ionization with multiple reaction monitoring mode, using tinidazole as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent poroshell 120 SB‐C18 column (2.1 × 75 mm, 2.7 µm) using gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, the total run time was 2.5 min. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 20 ng/mL for both CP and 2‐DCECP. Accuracies and precisions were <15% at LOQ and below 10% at quality control concentration levels. This UHPLC‐MS/MS method was successfully applied for the estimation of CP and 2‐DCECP in human plasma, which was also useful for clinical toxicology studies and therapeutic drug monitoring of CP. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.