bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Suppression of overtone oscillation and low‐current operation using novel‐design scheme for quartz crystal oscillators
Authors: Satoh Tomio , Izyan Binti Ruslan Ruzaini , Marumo Masahide , Akitsu Tetsuya 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA novel design is proposed for a low‐frequency quartz crystal oscillator circuit. Negative resistance in a low‐frequency CMOS‐inverter quartz oscillator was reviewed for the fundamental mode at 32 kHz and the overtone oscillation at 200 kHz. Suppression of the overtone oscillation, appropriate gain, and drive current reduction are realized by adding only three circuit components. Experimental results and an estimate of the absolute value of the negative resistance are presented for the conventional Colpitts circuit and two types of the quartz crystal oscillator circuit. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Management of Delayed Presentation of a Right‐Side Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture
Authors: Guner Ali , Ozkan Omer Faruk , Bekar Yildiray , Kece Can , Kaya Umit , Reis Erhan 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundRight‐side diaphragmatic rupture is an unusual condition after blunt trauma. The diagnosis may be missed during the early period of trauma and may lead to progressive herniation of intraabdominal contents into the thorax. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment options for the late diagnosis of cases of right‐side traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.MethodsWe evaluated the patients with diaphragmatic hernia who were admitted to the hospital during an 8‐year period. Only patients with a right‐side diaphragmatic hernia and a history of high‐energy trauma were included in the study. Patients with left‐side diaphragmatic hernia or those who were subjected to emergency operation due to diaphragmatic rupture were excluded from the study. Patient characteristics, clinical presentations, diagnostic tools, and treatment options were evaluated.ResultsEight patients (five men, three women) were enrolled in the study. The most common trauma type was a traffic accident, and the average interval between the trauma and diagnosis was 10 years. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography had high sensitivity and specificity for visualizing the diaphragmatic hernia. No predisposing factor was found to add laparotomy to thoracotomy. There was no postoperative mortality, and no late complications were observed at the assessments during the 45‐month follow‐up.ConclusionsClinical presentation of late diagnosed diaphragmatic hernia, which is encountered only rarely on the right side, requires diagnostic and therapeutic approaches different from those associated with acute diaphragmatic rupture. It should not be forgotten during the differential diagnosis in patients with a history of trauma.
From the inverse density–area relationship to the minimum patch size of a host–parasitoid system
Authors: Zhao Zi‐Hua , He Da‐Han , Hui Cang 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe minimum amount of suitable habitat (MASH) is an important concept in conservation biological control. Two methods for estimating the MASH have been proposed by McCoy and Mushinsky based on an inverse density–area relationship. Using data of the population densities of aphid host–parasitoid–hyperparasitoid collected from wheat fields of different habitat sizes, we argued that the inverse density–area relationship may be an artifact. Significant correlations between population densities and patch sizes from all three trophic levels were found once the population density had been log‐transformed. We could not obtain the same results if the population density had not been log‐transformed. We estimated that the MASH for the aphid M. avena, S. graminum, A. avenae, A. gifuensis, P. aphidis, and Alloxysta sp. were 246, 246, 479, 495, 949, and 835 m2 according to the methods of McCoy and Mushinsky. The scale‐dependence and the systematic spatial variations of the host–parasitoid interaction suggests that we can achieve an optimal effect of biological control by manipulating the habitat patch sizes, although not based on the inverse density–area relationship.
R&D challenges and solutions for highly complex distributed systems: a middleware perspective
Authors: White Jules , Dougherty Brian , Schantz Richard , Schmidt Douglas C. , Porter Adam , Corsaro Angelo 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Highly complex distributed systems (HCDSs) are characterized by a large number of mission-critical, heterogeneous inter-dependent subsystems executing concurrently with diverse—often conflicting—quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. Creating, integrating, and assuring these properties in HCDSs is hard and expecting application developers to perform these activities without significant support is unrealistic. As a result, the computing and communication foundation for HCDSs is increasingly based on middleware. This article examines key R&D challenges that impede the ability of researchers and developers to manage HCDS software complexity. For each challenge that must be addressed to support HCDSs, the article surveys the state-of-the-art middleware solutions to these challenges and describes open issues and promising future research directions.
Dietary values of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin in Penaeus monodon in the presence and absence of cholesterol supplementation: effect on growth, nutrient digestibility and tissue carotenoid composition
Authors: Niu Jin , Li Chun-Hou , Liu Yong-Jian , Tian Li-Xia , Chen Xu , Huang Zhong , Lin Hei-Zhao 
Published: December 2011

Penaeus monodon (mean initial wet weight 1·19 (se 0·01) g) were fed seven diets in triplicate: a control diet (D1) without carotenoids; three diets formulated to supply 0·1 % astaxanthin alone (D2), 0·2 % astaxanthin alone (D3), and a combination of 0·1 % astaxanthin and 1 % cholesterol (D4); three diets with 0·07 % canthaxanthin alone (D5), 0·13 % canthaxanthin alone (D6), and a combination of 0·07 % canthaxanthin and 1 % cholesterol (D7). Weight gain (WG, %), specific growth rate (SGR, %/d) and survival were chosen as parameters of shrimp growth performance. Total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were chosen as indices of shrimp plasma antioxidant capacity. Meanwhile, digestibility, retention efficiency and tissue carotenoids were also investigated to determine the additive effect of cholesterol on the efficiency of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin. After 74 d rearing, WG and SGR of shrimp fed D2–D4 and D7 were higher than those of shrimp fed D1 (P < 0·05). Shrimp fed D4 had the highest survival. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of astaxanthin in D2–D4 were higher than those of canthaxanthin in D5–D7 (P < 0·05). Although ADC of astaxanthin were quite high (>98 %) in D2–D4 and no differences were found among them (P>0·05), the carotenoid retention efficiencies in the whole body, muscle and shell (D2–D3 treatments) were considerably low; however, cholesterol supplementation significantly improved the carotenoid retention efficiencies in the whole body, muscle and shell (D4 treatment). Accordingly, the addition of cholesterol also significantly enhanced the carotenoid contents of tissues. Shrimp fed supplemented carotenoid diets (D2–D7) had higher TAS and lower SOD, ALT and AST than shrimp fed D1 (P < 0·05). A low dissolved oxygen stress test was conducted for 7 d after the rearing trial and shrimp survival was also compared among the treatments. The survival of shrimp fed the diets supplemented with astaxanthin or canthaxanthin was higher than that of shrimp fed D1 during the stress test (P < 0·05). In conclusion, all data suggested that astaxanthin was better than canthaxanthin as the dietary carotenoid source in the commercial diet of P. monodon, and the supplement of cholesterol could positively enhance the efficiency of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin.
Lycopene inhibits angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and rat aortic rings
Authors: Elgass Simone , Cooper Alan , Chopra Mridula 
Published: December 2011

Angiogenesis is important for tumour vascularisation and growth, and is therefore a promising target for cancer therapy. The present study reports inhibition ofin vitroangiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as well as in rat aortic rings at physiological concentrations of lycopene, that is, 1–2 μmol/l. At a final concentration of 1·15 μmol/l, a significant reduction (P < 0·05) in network branching, that is, junction numbers, the number of tubules and tubule length, was observed in both HUVEC as well as in the rat aortic rings. The inhibitory effect of lycopene was independent of the presence of the pro-angiogenic agents, vascular endothelial growth factor and TNF-α. The anti-angiogenic effects of lycopene in the present study were shown at a concentration that should be achievable by dietary means. These results extend our knowledge of one of the putative anti-cancer actions of lycopene.
An extract of chokeberry attenuates weight gain and modulates insulin, adipogenic and inflammatory signalling pathways in epididymal adipose tissue of rats fed a fructose-rich diet
Authors: Qin Bolin , Anderson Richard A. 
Published: December 2011

Chokeberries are a rich source of anthocyanins, which may contribute to the prevention of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to determine if an extract from chokeberries would reduce weight gain in rats fed a fructose-rich diet (FRD) and to explore the potential mechanisms related to insulin signalling, adipogenesis and inflammatory-related pathways. Wistar rats were fed a FRD for 6 weeks to induce insulin resistance, with or without chokeberry extract (CBE) added to the drinking-water (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, daily: CBE100 and CBE200). Both doses of CBE consumption lowered epididymal fat, blood glucose, TAG, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. CBE consumption also elevated plasma adiponectin levels and inhibited plasma TNF-α and IL6, compared with the control group. There were increases in the mRNA expression forIrs1,Irs2,Pi3k,Glut1,Glut4andGys1, and decreases in mRNA levels ofGsk3β.The protein and gene expression of adiponectin andPparγmRNA levels were up-regulated andFabp4,FasandLplmRNA levels were inhibited. The levels of gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, such asIl1β,Il6andTnfαwere lowered, and protein and gene expression of ZFP36 (zinc finger protein) were enhanced in the epididymal adipose tissue of the rats that consumed the CBE200 extract. In summary, these results suggest that the CBE decreased risk factors related to insulin resistance by modulating multiple pathways associated with insulin signalling, adipogenesis and inflammation.
Multi‐instrument observation on co‐seismic ionospheric effects after great Tohoku earthquake
Authors: Hao Y. Q. , Xiao Z. , Zhang D. H. 
Published: December 2011

In this paper, evidence of quake‐excited infrasonic waves is provided first by a multi‐instrument observation of Japan's Tohoku earthquake. The observations of co‐seismic infrasonic waves are as follows: 1, effects of surface oscillations are observed by local infrasonic detector, and it seems these effects are due to surface oscillation‐excited infrasonic waves instead of direct influence of seismic vibration on the detector; 2, these local excited infrasonic waves propagate upwards and correspond to ionospheric disturbances observed by Doppler shift measurements and GPS/TEC; 3, interactions between electron density variation and currents in the ionosphere caused by infrasonic waves manifest as disturbances in the geomagnetic field observed via surface magnetogram; 4, within 4 hours after this strong earthquake, disturbances in the ionosphere related to arrivals of Rayleigh waves were observed by Doppler shift sounding three times over. Two of the arrivals were from epicenter along the minor arc of the great circle (with the second arrival due to a Rayleigh wave propagating completely around the planet) and the other one from the opposite direction. All of these seismo‐ionospheric effects observed by HF Doppler shift appear after local arrivals of surface Rayleigh waves, with a time delay of 8–10 min. This is the time required for infrasonic wave to propagate upwards to the ionosphere.
Culture Media for the Isolation of Campylobacters, Helicobacters and Arcobacters
Authors: Corry Janet E. L. , Atabay H. Ibrahim 
Published: December 2011

The history of the development of selective media for isolation of campylobacters, including the rationale for choice of selective agents, is described. Most important with regard to human disease are the thermotolerant species C. jejuni, C. coli, C upsaliensis and C. lari. Developments have included modifications to allow incubation at 37°C instead of 42 or 43°C and changes in the types and concentrations of antibiotics in order not to inhibit organisms such as Campylobacter upsaliensis, C. jejuni subsp. doylei and some strains of C. coli and C. lari. When examining foods, plating media originally developed for isolation from faeces are normally used, sometimes after liquid enrichment. Most of the media include ingredients intended to protect campylobacters from the toxic effect of oxygen derivatives. Most commonly used are lysed or defibrinated blood, charcoal, a combination of ferrous sulfate, sodium metabisulfite and sodium pyruvate (FBP) and also haemin or haematin.Enrichment media are sometimes incubated for a few hours at reduced temperature or addition of antibiotics is sometimes delayed in order to avoid inhibitory effects on sublethally damaged cells from toxic components in the formula. The current ISO method for foods in general recommends the use of Bolton broth and modified charcoal, cefoperazone deoxycholate agar. There is a similar ISO method for water which uses Preston broth as well as Bolton broth. For some foods, particularly raw poultry products that can often be contaminated with large numbers of campylobacters, direct plating as well as enrichment plating is recommended, including a second plating medium.Media for isolating arcobacters are similar to those for campylobacters, except that lower temperatures and sometimes aerobic atmosphere are used for incubation. Some strains of Arcobacter cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii are sensitive to 32 mg L−1 cefoperazone and all Arcobacter spp. are sensitive to colistin used in some campylobacter media.Helicobacter spp. are more difficult to cultivate that the other two genera. Selective media for H. pylori have been developed, although, with one exception using immunomagnetic beads, they have not been successful in isolating the organism from foods or the environment. Many other Helicobacter-like organisms, seen in gastric or intestinal tissue samples from a variety of animals, have not been successfully cultivated until recently. H. pullorum can be cultivated on blood agar, while more elaborate methods have been found necessary for other species, including H. bizzizeronii, H. suis and H. baculiformis.
Was gibt es Neues beim Schlaganfall?
Authors: Weber R. , Hajjar K. , Frank B. , Diener H-C. , Weimar C. 
Published: December 2011

ZusammenfassungAnhand von selektierten Publikationen aus den vergangenen 12 Monaten werden aktuelle Entwicklungen und Neuheiten in der Prävention und Behandlung des Schlaganfalls dargestellt. Der orale direkte Thrombininhibitor Dabigatran zeigt weniger intrakranielle Blutungskomplikationen bei überlegener Wirksamkeit gegenüber Warfarin und ist seit August 2011 für die Behandlung von Patienten mit Vorhofflimmern zugelassen. Andere Antikoagulantien der neuen Generation wie Rivaroxaban und Apixaban sind gegenüber Warfarin ebenfalls überlegen, jedoch in Europa bislang noch nicht zur Behandlung von Patienten mit Vorhofflimmern zugelassen. Bei Patienten mit Vorhofflimmern wird das Risiko kardio- oder zerebrovaskulärer Ereignisse durch Angiotensin-Rezeptorblocker nicht reduziert. Eine aggressive Therapie des Diabetes mellitus senkt das Risiko für mikrovaskuläre, nicht jedoch für zerebro- und kardiovaskuläre Ereignisse oder die Sterblichkeit. Das Absetzen von Thrombozytenfunktionshemmern erhöht das Schlaganfall-Rezidivrisiko um 40%. Die Ausweitung des Zeitfensters für eine systemische Thrombolyse von 3 auf 4,5 Stunden hat weder die Blutungsrate oder Mortalität noch die mediane Latenzzeit von Aufnahme bis Lysebeginn erhöht. Ein Alter über 80 Jahre allein sollte kein Grund sein Patienten von der Lysetherapie auszuschließen. Angiotensin-Rezeptorblocker führen weder zur Verbesserung des Behandlungsergebnisses noch zur Reduktion kognitiver Störungen nach Schlaganfall. Zur Behandlung symptomatischer Carotisstenosen ist die Thrombendarteriektomie dem Stenting vorzuziehen. Das Stenting intrakranieller Stenosen und asymptomatischer extrakranieller Stenosen wird eher nicht empfohlen. Die zeitnahe Gabe von niedermolekularen Heparinen zur Thromboseprophylaxe und die Wiederaufnahme der oralen Antikoagulation 10–30 Wochen nach intrazerebraler Blutung sind wahrscheinlich sicher. Durch moderne CT-Diagnostik können Subarachnoidalblutungen und intrakranielle Aneurysmen ausreichend zuverlässig diagnostiziert werden. Endothelin-Rezeptor-Antagonisten sind zur Behandlung von Vasospasmen nach Subarachnoidalblutung unwirksam.
Open conformation of human DOPA decarboxylase reveals the mechanism of PLP addition to Group II decarboxylases
Authors: Giardina Giorgio , Montioli Riccardo , Gianni Stefano , Cellini Barbara , Paiardini Alessandro , Voltattorni Carla Borri , Cutruzzolà Francesca 
Published: December 2011

DOPA decarboxylase, the dimeric enzyme responsible for the synthesis of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, is involved in severe neurological diseases such as Parkinson disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Binding of the pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) cofactor to the apoenzyme is thought to represent a central mechanism for the regulation of its activity. We solved the structure of the human apoenzyme and found it exists in an unexpected open conformation: compared to the pig kidney holoenzyme, the dimer subunits move 20 Å apart and the two active sites become solvent exposed. Moreover, by tuning the PLP concentration in the crystals, we obtained two more structures with different conformations of the active site. Analysis of three-dimensional data coupled to a kinetic study allows to identify the structural determinants of the open/close conformational change occurring upon PLP binding and thereby propose a model for the preferential degradation of the apoenzymes of Group II decarboxylases.
On the recombination of hydronium and hydroxide ions in water
Authors: Hassanali Ali , Prakash Meher K. , Eshet Hagai , Parrinello Michele 
Published: December 2011

The recombination of hydronium and hydroxide ions following water ionization is one of the most fundamental processes determining the pH of water. The neutralization step once the solvated ions are in close proximity is phenomenologically understood to be fast, but the molecular mechanism has not been directly probed by experiments. We elucidate the mechanism of recombination in liquid water with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, and it emerges as quite different from the conventional view of the Grotthuss mechanism. The neutralization event involves a collective compression of the water-wire bridging the ions, which occurs in approximately 0.5 ps, triggering a concerted triple jump of the protons. This process leaves the neutralized hydroxide in a hypercoordinated state, with the implications that enhanced collective compressions of several water molecules around similarly hypercoordinated states are likely to serve as nucleation events for the autoionization of liquid water.
Analysing family service needs of typically underserved families in the USA
Authors: Samuel P. S. , Hobden K. L. , LeRoy B. W. , Lacey K. K. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  Present day service systems evolved from the traditional model of disability intervention where the child with the disability and the family were viewed as pathological entities that needed to be fixed rather than supported. Scholars have increasingly called for a greater focus on the family in service delivery, but few studies have empirically examined the practical reality of such a shift. The present paper examines the disability‐related formal service supports within the family quality of life (FQOL) framework in a sample of predominantly low‐income, minority families in the USA.Methods  Cross‐sectional data collected from a convenience sample of 149 families using the Family Quality of Life Survey (FQOLS‐2006) was analysed at the univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels.Results  Over half of the families indicated that they needed more help from the service system, and the largest barrier to accessing services was a lack of information. Almost all families viewed service support as very important to their overall FQOL; however, only half of them were satisfied with the formal support that they were receiving. Less than half of the families reported having many service support opportunities and high attainment of service support, although most took high initiative in pursuing formal supports. The path model illustrated the complex inter‐relationships between the six dimensions of service support.Conclusions  Findings underscore the need for resources to empower families and the value of using the FQOLS‐2006 to ascertain the service support needs and strengths of families.
Development of a standardised Occupational Therapy – Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery to assess older and/or functionally impaired drivers
Authors: Unsworth Carolyn A. , Baker Anne , Taitz Carla , Chan Siew‐Pang , Pallant Julie F. , Russell Kay J. , Odell Morris 
Published: December 2011

Introduction:  Research has been conducted over several years to develop a new off‐road assessment battery referred to as the Occupational Therapy ‐ Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery. This article documents the development of the Battery, and provides preliminary research evidence to support its content and predictive validity.
Methods:  Literature reviews and a focus group with nine driver assessor occupational therapists were undertaken, as well as data collection using the Occupational Therapy ‐ Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery with 246 clients. A Classification and Regression Tree model was constructed to ascertain the predictive validity of the Battery, with fitness‐to‐drive as the outcome.
Results:  Twenty‐one physical, 13 sensory and seven assessments of cognition/perception were identified as being reflective of the skills required for driving. Following rating of their psychometric properties, the best assessments were presented to focus group members. The driver assessors supported the inclusion of several assessments and encouraged the development of new assessments. A draft version of the Occupational Therapy ‐ Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery was tested and found to have excellent predictive validity for client on‐road performance of 82.6%. The Classification and Regression Tree model showed that client performance on tests included in the Battery should be used together, rather than in isolation, to support fitness‐to‐drive recommendations.
Conclusion:  This research identified the most suitable physical, sensory and cognitive assessments to include in the Occupational Therapy ‐ Driver Off‐Road Assessment Battery, and provided support for its validity. The development of this standardised battery assists driver assessors to accurately and consistently assess and report the off‐road driving capacity of clients.