bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and effectiveness of a selective strategy for coronary artery revascularization before transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Gasparetto Valeria , Fraccaro Chiara , Tarantini Giuseppe , Buja Paolo , D'Onofrio Augusto , Yzeiraj Ermela , Pittarello Demetrio , Isabella Giambattista , Gerosa Gino , Iliceto Sabino , Napodano Massimo 
Published: March 2012

ObjectivesWe assessed the safety and effectiveness of a selective percutaneous revascularization strategy before TAVI in a single‐center prospective registry.BackgroundManagement of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is not yet established.MethodsPercutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) was scheduled in proximal‐to‐mid coronary segment lesions on major coronary branches. TAVI was performed by percutaneous trans‐femoral, trans‐subclavian or trans‐apical approach, using either the self‐expandable III generation CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA) or the Edwards SAPIEN™/SAPIEN XT balloon‐expandable prosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences Irvine, CA). Clinical and echocardiographic follow‐up was collected at 30‐day, 3,6,12‐month and yearly thereafter.ResultsOut of 191 patients who underwent TAVI, 113 (59.2%) had CAD. Mean age was 80.5 ± 6.9 years (57.6% female), logistic EuroSCORE was 21.4% ± 13.4. Twenty‐seven (14.1%) patients had previous percutaneous and 29 (15.2%) surgical revascularization. PCI was performed as scheduled before TAVI in 39 (20.4%) patients, without adverse events. Complete anatomical revascularization was obtained in 38 of 113 CAD patients (33.6%). After TAVI, 30‐day mortality was 4.2%, and was comparable between CAD and no‐CAD patients (P = ns), while 30‐day myocardial infarction incidence was 2.6% and occurred only in the CAD group (4.4%, P = 0.06). Overall mortality at follow‐up (12.9 ± 9.5 months) was 14.8%, without difference between groups (P = 0.88). At follow‐up, five patients underwent coronary revascularization.ConclusionsIn this study, the incidence of CAD is high in patients referred for TAVI. A selective, clinical based, coronary revascularization before TAVI seemed to be safe, and was associated with an outcome similar to those observed in no‐CAD TAVI patients. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Balloon angioplasty of recoarctation of the neoaortic arch after the norwood operation: Factors affecting outcome and recurrence
Authors: Bendaly Edgard A. , Lane Kathleen A. , Breinholt John P. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundBalloon angioplasty (BA) is effective in relieving neoaorta recoarctation (reCoa) after the Norwood procedure. However, recurrence is not uncommon and risk factors for success and recurrence require further elucidation. We report the results of BA for reCoa following the Norwood procedure. We examine acute results and risk factors associated with success and recurrence after BA.MethodsPatients who underwent BA between November 2000 and June 2010 were studied. Factors for immediate success and recurrence after BA were determined using logistic regression. Recurrence‐free survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier curve.ResultsForty‐seven angioplasties were performed in 39 patients. Mean age at catheterization was 5.0 ± 4.1 months. BA was successful in 40 angioplasties (85.1%). A higher preprocedure gradient across the coarctation (P = 0.04) and a higher ratio of balloon to descending aorta (P = 0.01) were associated with success. Six patients required redilation. Risk factors for recurrence included older age at Norwood (P = 0.02), younger age (P = 0.03), lower weight (P = 0.04) and smaller body surface area at balloon angioplasty (BA) (P = 0.04), and shorter duration between surgery and angioplasty (P = 0.03). Freedom from recurrence from the first catheterization was 82% after 6 months and 78% after 1 year. There were no neurologic sequelae or deaths.ConclusionsBA is effective acutely and long term with limited morbidity and mortality. Recurrence occurs usually within the first year. Delay in performing the initial angioplasty may be beneficial in reducing the risk of recurrence, but further study is needed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficient protocol design for dynamic tag population monitoring in large‐scale radio frequency identification systems
Authors: Xiao Qingjun , Bu Kai , Xiao Bin , Sun Limin 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYAs radio frequency identification (RFID) tags become more ubiquitously available, they will stay in dynamic environments where tags can freely enter or leave RFID readers' interrogation range. With such a dynamic tag population, there arises a problem of population monitoring, whose purpose is to identify the missing tags that have departed from the reading range and the new tags that have newly entered. This problem is a new problem which cannot be well solved by the conventional tag identification protocols. In this paper, we first show that this traditional approach is inefficient, because it collects all the tag IDs in each scan and ignores the ready‐for‐use knowledge of the tag population in a previous scan. To be more efficient, we present three protocols: (i) a baseline protocol that improves the traditional tag identification protocol by optimizing its length of random number used for collision detection; (ii) a novel one‐phase protocol with easy labor to identify exactly the new tags and the missing tags by fully utilizing the knowledge of previous tag population; and (iii) a hybrid protocol that smartly combines the baseline protocol and the one‐phase protocol. Its purpose is to deal with the situation that the knowledge of previous tag population is highly inconsistent with the current tag population. This hybrid protocol, as shown by our analysis, can improve the tag monitoring accuracy by 25%, and improve the time efficiency by 55.3%, as compared with a recent work (called two‐phase protocol), which also identifies the population changes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scheduling algorithms‐by‐blocks on small clusters
Authors: Igual Francisco D. , Quintana‐Ortí Gregorio , van de Geijn Robert 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYThe arrival of multicore architectures has generated an interest in reformulating dense matrix computations as algorithms‐by‐blocks, where submatrices are units of data and computations with those blocks are units of computation. Rather than directly executing such an algorithm, a directed acyclic graph is generated at runtime that is then scheduled by a runtime system such as SuperMatrix. The benefit is a clear separation of concerns between the library and the heuristics for scheduling. In this paper, we show that this approach can be taken one step further using the same methodology and an ad hoc runtime to map algorithms‐by‐blocks to small clusters. With no change to the library code, and the application that uses it, the computational power of such small clusters can be utilized. An impressive performance on a number of small clusters is reported. As a proof of the flexibility of the solution, we report performance results on accelerated clusters based on graphics processors. We believe this to be a possible step towards programming many‐core architectures, as demonstrated by a port of the solution to Intel's Single‐chip Cloud Computer (Intel, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Field‐based insights to the evolution of specialization: plasticity and fitness across habitats in a specialist/generalist species pair
Authors: Griffith Timothy , Sultan Sonia E. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractFactors promoting the evolution of specialists versus generalists have been little studied in ecological context. In a large‐scale comparative field experiment, we studied genotypes from naturally evolved populations of a closely related generalist/specialist species pair (Polygonum persicariaandP. hydropiper), reciprocally transplanting replicates of multiple lines into open and partially shaded sites where the species naturally co‐occur. We measured relative fitness, individual plasticity, herbivory, and genetic variance expressed in the contrasting light habitats at both low and high densities. Fitness data confirmed that the putative specialist out‐performed the generalist in only one environment, the favorable full sun/low‐density environment to which it is largely restricted in nature, while the generalist had higher lifetime reproduction in both canopy and dense neighbor shade. The generalist,P. persicaria, also expressed greater adaptive plasticity for biomass allocation and leaf size in shaded conditions than the specialist. We found no evidence that the ecological specialization ofP. hydropiperreflects either genetically based fitness trade‐offs or maintenance costs of plasticity, two types of genetic constraint often invoked to prevent the evolution of broadly adaptive genotypes. However, the patterns of fitness variance and herbivore damage revealed how release from herbivory in a new range can cause an introduced species to evolve as a specialist in that range, a surprising finding with important implications for invasion biology. Patterns of fitness variance between and within sites are also consistent with a possible role for the process of mutation accumulation (in this case, mutations affecting shade‐expressed phenotypes) in the evolution and/or maintenance of specialization inP. hydropiper.
The genetics of phenotypic plasticity. X. Variation versus uncertainty
Authors: Scheiner Samuel M. , Holt Robert D. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDespite the apparent advantages of adaptive plasticity, it is not common. We examined the effects of variation and uncertainty on selection for plasticity using an individual‐based computer simulation model. In the model, the environment consisted of a linear gradient of 50 demes with dispersal occurring either before or after selection. Individuals consisted of multiple loci whose phenotypic expression either are affected (plastic) or are not affected (nonplastic) by the environment. Typically, evolution occurred first as genetic differentiation, which was then replaced by the evolution of adaptive plasticity, opposite to the evolutionary trend that is often assumed. Increasing dispersal rates selected for plasticity, if selection occurred before dispersal. If selection occurred after dispersal, the highest plasticity was at intermediate dispersal rates. Temporal variation in the environment occurring after development, but before selection, favored the evolution of plasticity. With dispersal before selection, such temporal variation resulted in hyperplasticity, with a reaction norm much steeper than the optimum. This effect was enhanced with negative temporal autocorrelation and can be interpreted as representing a form of bet hedging. As the number of nonplastic loci increased, plasticity was disfavored due to an increase in the uncertainty of the genomic environment. This effect was reversed with temporal variation. Thus, variation and uncertainty affect whether or not plasticity is favored with different sources of variation—arising from the amount and timing of dispersal, from temporal variation, and even from the genetic architecture underlying the phenotype—having contrasting, interacting, and at times unexpected effects.
Seasonal dynamics of arboreal spider diversity in a temperate forest
Authors: Hsieh Yu‐Lung , Linsenmair Karl Eduard 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMeasuring and estimating biodiversity patterns is a fundamental task of the scientist working to support conservation and inform management decisions. Most biodiversity studies in temperate regions were often carried out over a very short period of time (e.g., a single season) and it is often—at least tacitly—assumed that these short‐term findings are representative of long‐term general patterns. However, should the studied biodiversity pattern in fact contain significant temporal dynamics, perhaps leading to contradictory conclusions. Here, we studied the seasonal diversity dynamics of arboreal spider communities dwelling in 216 European beeches (Fagus sylvatica L.) to assess the spider community composition in the following seasons: two cold seasons (I: November 2005–January 2006; II: February–April) and two warm seasons (III: May–July; IV: August–October). We show that the usually measured diversity of the warm season community (IV: 58 estimated species) alone did not deliver a reliable image of the overall diversity present in these trees, and therefore, we recommend it should not be used for sampling protocols aimed at providing a full picture of a forest's biodiversity in the temperate zones. In particular, when the additional samplings of other seasons (I, II, III) were included, the estimated species richness nearly doubled (108). Community I possessed the lowest diversity and evenness due to the harsh winter conditions: this community was comprised of one dominant species together with several species low in abundance. Similarity was lowest (38.6%) between seasonal communities I and III, indicating a significant species turnover due to recolonization, so that community III had the highest diversity. Finally, using nonparametric estimators, we found that further sampling in late winter (February–April) is most needed to complete our inventory. Our study clearly demonstrates that seasonal dynamics of communities should be taken into account when studying biodiversity patterns of spiders, and probably forest arthropods in general.
Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Testing of a Bacteria‐Targeted MR Contrast Agent
Authors: Matosziuk Lauren M. , Harney Allison S. , MacRenaris Keith W. , Meade Thomas J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA bacteria‐targeted MR contrast agent, Zn‐1, consisting of two Zn‐dipicolylamine (Zn‐dpa) groups conjugated to a GdIII chelate has been synthesized and characterized. In vitro studies with S. aureus and E. coli show that Zn‐1 exhibits a significant improvement in bacteria labeling efficiency vs. control. Studies with a structural analogue, Zn‐2, indicate that removal of one Zn‐dpa moiety dramatically reduces the agent's affinity for bacteria. The ability of Zn‐1 to significantly reduce the T1 of labeled vs. unlabeled bacteria, resulting in enhanced MR image contrast, demonstrates its potential for visualizing bacterial infections in vivo.
Syntheses, Characterization, and Properties of Functionalized 9,10‐Bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)‐9,10‐dihydroanthracene Derivatives and Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Complexes
Authors: Hu Liang , Qin Jie , Zhu Rong‐Mei , Li Yi‐Zhi , Zuo Jing‐Lin , You Xiao‐Zeng 
Published: March 2012

AbstractNew π‐extended tetrathiafulvalenes (exTTF) 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b have been synthesized by direct phosphite‐mediated cross‐couplings of anthraquinone with 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione derivatives. Further coordination reactions of the exTTF ligands including the phenanthroline unit (5a and 5b) with [Re(CO)5Cl] afford interesting tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes 6a and 6b, respectively. The X‐ray crystal structures of compounds 4a and 4b show a saddlelike conformation of the exTTF framework. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of compounds 4a–6a and 4b–6b have been studied. The results suggest that the oxidation of the exTTF derivatives shows the typical quasi‐reversible two‐electron oxidation wave of the exTTF core at potentials that vary depending on the substituents.
Synthesis of Calixarene‐Based Bis(iminophosphoranes) and Their Use in Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling
Authors: Monnereau Laure , Sémeril David , Matt Dominique 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCalix[4]arene‐derived bis(iminophosphoranes) have been synthesised and assessed in palladium‐catalysed cross‐couplings between phenylboronic acid and aryl bromides orchlorides. TOFs of up to 35100 mol(ArPh formed) mol(Pd)–1 h–1were observed in the reaction with 4‐bromoanisole. The ligands showed higher activities than the parent calixarene–diphosphanes. Their relatively good performances possibly arise from their ability to generate chelated intermediates in highly crowded metal environments, which incidentally facilitates the reductive elimination step.
HgII‐Selective Fluorescent Indicator: One‐Step Synthesis
Authors: Kim Seul‐Bi , Cho Dong‐Gyu 
Published: March 2012

AbstractFluorescent indicator 2 was synthesized by a single‐step reaction. The indicator underwent an HgII‐selective reaction (hydrolysis/decarboxylation sequence) in the presence of HgII, which was verified by using LC‐MS and NMR techniques.
Optimized earthquake response of multi‐storey buildings with seismic isolation at various elevations
Authors: Charmpis Dimos C. , Komodromos Petros , Phocas Marios C. 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYThe response of multi‐storey structures can be controlled under earthquake actions by installing seismic isolators at various storey levels. By vertically distributing isolation devices at various elevations, the designer is provided with numerous options to appropriately adjust the seismic performance of a building. However, introducing seismic isolators at various storey levels is not a straightforward task, as it may lead to favourable or unfavourable structural behaviour depending on a large number of factors. As a consequence, a rather chaotic decision space of seismic isolation configurations arises, within which a favourable solution needs to be located. The search for favourable isolators' configurations is formulated in this work as a single‐objective optimization task. The aim of the optimization process is to minimize the maximum floor acceleration of the building under consideration, while constraints are specified to control the maximum interstorey drift, the maximum base displacement and the total seismic isolation cost. A genetic algorithm is implemented to perform this optimization task, which selectively introduces seismic isolators at various elevations, in order to identify the optimal configuration for the isolators satisfying the pre‐specified constraints. This way, optimized earthquake response of multi‐storey buildings can be obtained. The effectiveness of the proposed optimization procedure in the design of a seismically isolated structure is demonstrated in a numerical study using time‐history analyses of a typical six‐storey building. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytical computation of the correlation of spreading sequences for nonlinear OQPSK‐type modulations
Authors: Afonso Daniel , Cercas Francisco , Dinis Rui , Rodrigues Rui , Luz Ângelo 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTIn this paper we study the behavior and correlation properties of some spreading sequences when applied to a system using nonlinear offset quadrature phase‐shift keying‐type modulations. These signals, which include as special cases continuous‐phase modulation schemes, can be designed to have very low envelope fluctuations or even a constant envelope, making them compatible with a very low‐cost and power‐efficient grossly nonlinear amplification. We use an analytical method to derive the correlation of those signals. The resulting expressions are then applied to maximum‐length sequences, Kasami, and Tomlinson, Cercas, Hughes sequences. It is shown that Tomlinson, Cercas, Hughes sequences have better correlation properties than other spreading sequences. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐Time Forecasts of Inflation: The Role of Financial Variables
Authors: Monteforte Libero , Moretti Gianluca 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTWe present a mixed‐frequency model for daily forecasts of euro area inflation. The model combines a monthly index of core inflation with daily data from financial markets; estimates are carried out with the MIDAS regression approach. The forecasting ability of the model in real time is compared with that of standard VARs and of daily quotes of economic derivatives on euro area inflation. We find that the inclusion of daily variables helps to reduce forecast errors with respect to models that consider only monthly variables. The mixed‐frequency model also displays superior predictive performance with respect to forecasts solely based on economic derivatives. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Training older workers: Lessons learned, unlearned, and relearned from the field of instructional design
Authors: Williams van Rooij Shahron 
Published: March 2012

AbstractChanging workforce demographics have highlighted the need to provide training and development opportunities for older workers. This article critically examines the current state of research on the use of systematic instructional design procedures to develop work‐related training that is inclusive of older workers. The review reveals a disconnect between what the literature recommends to achieve age‐inclusive design and what is offered as evidence of age‐inclusive design. Age‐related generalizations about cognition and learning capacity often serve as the basis for design decisions, with little attention paid to the role of training context and content. The article recommends that this disconnect be resolved and offers some specific suggestions about how human resource managers can integrate sound instructional design principles into the training and development component of their talent management strategies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do conflict management systems matter?
Authors: Roche William , Teague Paul 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe most influential current idea in the theory of conflict management concerns the design features and supposed superior outcomes of conflict management systems combining interest‐based and rights‐based practices for resolving conflict in organizations. Yet much of the literature in the area is highly prescriptive and draws heavily either on exemplary case studies or descriptive data. Using focus groups of HR practitioners and experts in conflict resolution to develop a questionnaire covering the main conflict management practices associated with the theory of conflict management systems, the study analyzes data from a survey of firms in the Republic of Ireland to examine quantitatively the effects of conflict management systems on organizational outcomes. While proactive line management and supervisory engagement in conflict resolution as a key dimension of conflict management systems is found to be positively associated with a range of organizational outcomes, no evidence is found for the kind of system effects proposed in the theoretical and prescriptive literature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Randomised health services studies
Authors: Hakama Matti , Malila Nea , Dillner Joakim 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe randomised controlled (or clinical) trial (RCT) is recognized as the most valid among the study designs. The use of RCT in research is widespread and well formalised. In contrast, implementations of new methods and policies in routine health care are commonly lacking a formalised design, impairing the ability to evaluate and improve health care. Use of experimental designs in health care is possible at the implementation phase of clinical or preventive action or more broad process‐of‐care. We propose the terminology randomised health services studies (RHS) to denote the use of a randomised design with observations in routine health care, regardless of whether randomisation is done at individual, population or process level. In contrast to RCT, the RHS should be based on the same regulative actions, funding mechanisms and ethical framework as routine health care itself. This commentary discusses the different basis, practicalities, and formalities that distinguish the RHS from the RCT. Development of a formalised framework for RHS, including distinct registration, could contribute to an increased use of valid methods in effectiveness research, thus gaining better and more direct evidence on routine medical practice.