bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aspectual marking among English and Korean learners of Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Tsang, Wai Lan 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe present study reports on a small-scale investigation of Mandarin aspectual marking among two groups of pre-intermediate learners of Mandarin Chinese: native English speakers and native Korean speakers. The use of -le, -guo, and -zhe in the learners' written work was examined, with particular attention to three variables: (i) overall frequency of aspectual marking, (ii) frequency of occurrence of each marker, and (iii) interaction between these markers and situation types (Smith 1997). The learners' patterns were also compared with those of a group of native Mandarin speakers and analysed in terms of the postulates of the Aspect Hypothesis (Andersen & Shirai 1996, Bardovi-Harlig 2000). The overall analysis discerned both similarities and differences in the usage of the three markers among the learners. Such patterns are likely to be related to the distinctive nature of the markers, type of genre, the learners' L1 aspectual systems, and classroom/textbook input.
Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in benign and malignant diseases
Authors: Hertlein Linda , Stieber Petra , Kirschenhofer Angela , Fürst Sophie , Mayr Doris , Hofmann Karin , Krocker Katja , Nagel Dorothea , Lenhard Miriam , Burges Alexander 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is described as a useful new biomarker in ovarian cancer. As HE4 is neither tumor nor organ specific, we intensively investigated the occurrence of this protein in female and male patients with various benign and malignant diseases in order to avoid misinterpretation and to identify potential additional clinical relevance.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated HE4 (ARCHITECT®, Abbott Diagnostics, US) in the sera of 205 healthy individuals, 654 patients with benign disorders and 720 patients with cancer before initial treatment.

Results: The lowest concentrations of HE4 were observed in healthy men (median 26.2 pmol/L) followed by healthy women (median 40.4 pmol/L). In benign diseases, highest HE4 concentrations were seen in both women and men with renal failure (women, median 1041 pmol/L; men, median 1368 pmol/L). In women, the highest HE4 levels in malignant diseases were observed in ovarian cancer (median 242 pmol/l), whereas the highest HE4 concentrations in men occurred in lung cancer (median 89.2 pmol/L). The area under the curve (AUC) of HE4 in women was highest in ovarian cancer and borderline tumors as compared to benign gynecological disorders (88.9%), with a sensitivity of 67.4% at 95% specificity. Also, significantly elevated concentrations of HE4 with reference to the respective group of benign diseases were observed in uterus corpus and breast cancer as well as in lung cancer for men and women.

Conclusions: HE4 has the highest relevance in ovarian cancer but can be elevated in a variety of benign and malignant diseases.
A predictive equation to adjust for clinical variables in soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) levels
Authors: Park Eun-Kee , Wilson Donald , Yates Deborah H. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground:Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive pleural tumor which is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Thus, biomarkers for MM including soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) are currently an area of intense research interest. However, SMRP is affected by several factors other than malignancy which need to be taken into account in the individual patient. This study aimed to evaluate factors required to adjust SMRP levels for such variables and produce a useful prediction equation for clinical application.Methods:Serum SRMP levels were measured in 535 subjects formerly exposed to asbestos and silica, including many with asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). Linear regression analyses were used to quantify the strength and “direction” of the relationship between SMRP and several independent variables, and 2×2 tables were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of SMRP levels, taking into account clinical variables.Results:SMRP levels were affected by age and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which were strong confounders in this study. Body mass index (BMI) was also an initial confounder but lost significance after other factors were taken into account. SMRP was also affected by smoking. Poor sensitivity (15.1%) for SMRP values among subjects with non-malignant asbestos-related disorders was found when compared to currently healthy subjects with a history of asbestos exposure.Conclusions:The present study proposes an equation based on age and GFR to improve diagnostic accuracy of SMRP. The poor sensitivity of SMRP found in this study suggests that further work is needed to find new candidate biomarkers for diagnosing early stage MM.
Laboratory hemostasis: milestones in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Favaloro Emmanuel J. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Hemostasis is a delicate, dynamic and intricate system, in which pro- and anti-coagulant forces cooperate for either maintaining blood fluidity under normal conditions, or else will prompt blood clot generation to limit the bleeding when the integrity of blood vessels is jeopardized. Excessive prevalence of anticoagulant forces leads to hemorrhage, whereas excessive activation of procoagulant forces triggers excessive coagulation and thrombosis. The hemostasis laboratory performs a variety of first, second and third line tests, and plays a pivotal role in diagnostic and monitoring of most hemostasis disturbances. Since the leading targets of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine include promotion of progress in fundamental and applied research, along with publication of guidelines and recommendations in laboratory diagnostics, this journal is an ideal source of information on current developments in the laboratory technology of hemostasis, and this article is aimed to celebrate some of the most important and popular articles ever published by the journal in the filed of laboratory hemostasis.
Absence of hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (HDFN) in a pregnancy with anti-Yka (York) red cell antibody
Authors: Decaro Jorge , Pedrozo Angel , Gularte Martín , Tironi Gustavo , Citrín Estela 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The York antigen, assigned to the Knops system (KN5-ISBT 022005), is a high frequency antigen present in 90% of the Caucasian and 98% of the African-American population. No cases of anti-Yka in pregnancies have been published. No hemolytic diseases of the fetus and newborn have been observed previously. We report the first case of anti-Yka antibody found in a pregnant woman without fetal anemia, which was monitored by Doppler assessment of peak systolic velocity at the middle cerebral artery. A 36-year-old white woman, gravida 2, para 2 (1994 and 1996) was transfused with two units of packed red cells in 2009. On July 1, 2011 at 13 weeks of gestation of her third pregnancy, “type and screen” showed blood group 0 RhD positive and was found to have one IgG antibody that reacted against all panel red blood cells in the anti-human globulin phase by gel technique. The antibody was identified as anti-Yka and titer was 64. The patient’s phenotype was YK(a–). Peak systolic velocity at the middle cerebral artery, performed by Doppler, at weeks 25, 28, 32 and 34 of gestation did not show fetal anemia. At birth, the newborn was group 0 Rh (D) positive, Yk(a+) with direct Coombs test negative without anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Our case contributes, as further evidence, to the clinically benignity of the anti-Yka antibody not been a cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
Should clinicians advise terminating a pregnancy following the diagnosis of a serious fetal cardiac abnormality?
Authors: Menahem Samuel , Teoh Mark , Wilkinson Dominic 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
An 18-year-old single mother presented for counseling following the diagnosis of a hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the fetus. Despite being encouraged by her family members to terminate the pregnancy, the clinicians involved endeavored to provide information in a non-directive manner in accordance with widely accepted norms for antenatal counseling. Following the consultation, however, the clinicians wondered whether they should have provided more directive advice. In this report, we review the ethics of counseling following the diagnosis of a severe fetal cardiac abnormality. We assess the general and specific arguments in favor of providing directive advice, at least in some circumstances. There may be legitimate concerns about harms to the fetus, to the mother, or to the wider community from continuing a pregnancy. While these arguments yield rare exceptions to the generally accepted practice that antenatal counseling should not be directive, they may still not apply to the more severe forms of congenital cardiac abnormalities.
Development of a HPLC method for the determination of losartan urinary metabolic ratio to be used for the determination of CYP2C9 hydroxylation phenotypes
Authors: Dorado Pedro , Machín Esther , de Andrés Fernando , Naranjo María-Eugenia G. , Peñas-Lledó Eva M. , LLerena Adrián 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background: Losartan is metabolized to losartan carboxylic acid (E-3174) by the polymorphic cytochrome CYP2C9. The aim of the study was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection for simultaneously measuring losartan and its metabolite E-3174 in urine to evaluate the losartan urinary metabolic ratio (MR: losartan/E-3174) for CYP2C9 phenotyping in humans.

Methods: The compounds were separated in a reversed-phase chromatographic column and detected by fluorescence at a wavelength of 250 nm for excitation and of 370 nm for emission.

Results: No analytical interferences with endogenous compounds were found, and the extraction recoveries were over 88%. Limits of quantification of 2 ng mL–1 for losartan and 5 ng mL–1 for E-3174 were achieved, as well as good reproducibility with coefficients of variation of <9% in all cases. Analyses with the present HPLC method show significant differences (p<0.05) in losartan MRs between the four CYP2C9 genotype groups in 13 Spanish healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: The method developed is simple and affordable, as well as sensitive and reliable to calculate the MR. Therefore, it appears to be useful for CYP2C9 phenotyping using losartan as a drug test in populations, such as Hispanics with different allele combinations.
On the character degrees of Sylow p-subgroups of Chevalley groups G(pf
) of type E
Authors: Le Tung , Magaard Kay 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Let 𝔽
q
be a field of characteristic p with q elements. It is known that the degrees of the irreducible
characters of the Sylow p-subgroup of GL(𝔽
q
) are powers of q. On the other hand Sangroniz (2003) showed that this is true for a Sylow
p-subgroup of a classical group defined over 𝔽
q
if and only if p is odd. For the classical groups
of Lie type B, C and D the only bad prime is 2. For the exceptional groups there are others. In this paper we construct irreducible characters for the Sylow p-subgroups of the Chevalley groups
D
4(q) with q = 2
f
of degree q
3/2. Then we use an analogous construction for
E
6(q) with q = 3
f
to obtain characters of degree q
7/3, and for E
8(q) with
q = 5
f
to obtain characters of degree q
16/5. This helps
to explain why the primes 2, 3 and 5 are bad for the Chevalley groups of type E in terms of
the representation theory of the Sylow p-subgroup.
Mock modular grids and Hecke relations for mock modular forms
Authors: Ahlgren Scott , Kim Byungchan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract.
We construct and study several infinite grids of mock modular forms. The “rows” of each grid encode an infinite family of
forms, while the “columns” encode a second infinite family. Each of these grids contains a generating function of interest as its first entry
(for example, the “smallest parts” function of Andrews, or a mock theta function of Ramanujan). We show that the Hecke operators transform these grids in systematic ways,
and from this we deduce many corollaries for the generating functions under consideration. For example, we recover the systematic families of congruences for the smallest parts function
which have recently been discovered by various authors, and we obtain families of Hecke relations
in the grid associated to the mock theta function f(q).
A criterion on oscillation and variation for the commutators
of singular integral operators
Authors: Liu Feng , Wu Huoxiong 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
This paper gives a criterion on the
weighted norm estimates of the oscillatory and variation operators
for the commutators of Calderón–Zygmund singular integrals in
dimension 1. As applications, the weighted Lp
-boundedness of the
oscillation operators and the ρ-variation operators for
commutators of the Hilbert transform and the Hermitian Riesz
transform are obtained. In addition, the corresponding results for
the λ-jump operators and the numbers of up-crossings
associated with these operators are also given.
Effects of hydrothermal processing on the cellulosic fraction of Eucalyptus globulus wood
Authors: Vila Carlos , Francisco José Luis , Santos Valentin , Parajó Juan Carlos 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The effects of hydrothermal treatments of Eucalyptus globulus wood have been evaluated in terms of the solid yield and the composition of the treated wood. The contents of cellulose, xylan, and Klason lignin in treated solids were determined and interpreted by means of kinetic models. Particular attention was paid to the degree of polymerization (DP) lowering of cellulose caused by hydrothermal treatments, which was assessed by measurements of intrinsic viscosity.
Elastic properties of cellular wood panels with hexagonal and auxetic cores
Authors: Smardzewski Jerzy 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Light cellular wood panels have been gaining increasing interest among furniture manufacturers, but only a few articles can be found dealing with modeling of mechanical properties of cellular wood panels with a paper honeycomb core inside. The present paper intends to fill this gap, and thus, the elastic properties of cellular wood panels with paper honeycomb of hexagonal and auxetic cells were evaluated. Analytical models have been employed by comparison of experimental data with those obtained by numerical calculations. The cores of the examined cellular wood panels exhibited strong orthotropic properties. Results of numerical calculations of sandwich beam deflections corroborated their satisfactory conformity. The results of laboratory measurements proved the correctness of the determined elastic constants.
Uncle Sam wants you to be the first-inventor-to-file for nanotechnology inventions
Authors: Garsson Ross Spencer , Pham Chinh H. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBy the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), the U.S. patent system is experiencing the most significant reform since the U.S. Patent Act was enacted some 60 years ago. This article focuses on one aspect of the AIA that has perhaps triggered the biggest debate, namely the conversion under the U.S. Patent laws from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-inventor-to-file” system. The change to the first-inventor-to file system has broad implications to all entities filing patents in the U.S. Under the new first-inventor-to-file system, the emphasis is now on filing patent applications in the U.S. Patent Office even more quickly than before. Thus, a strategy to file early and often (including using provisional applications) will generally better protect against a later inventor winning the race to the U.S. Patent Office.
Evaluation of factors and kinetics study of polyacrylamide redox polymerization using statistical design modeling
Authors: Lee Khai Ern , Morad Norhashimah , Teng Tjoon Tow , Poh Beng Teik 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Polyacrylamide was produced through redox polymerization in a single batch reactor. Ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite were applied as the redox initiators. Statistical design consisting a 24 full factorial design was used to determine the dependence of the factors such as temperature, concentrations of acrylamide, ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite, as well as their interactions in affecting the initial rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. All independent factors were shown to have a significant effect on the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. The order of significance was: temperature>ammonium persulfate>acrylamide>sodium bisulfite. The interactive effects of the factors were also investigated. The 24 ull factorial design was augmented to central composite design (CCD), to optimize the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. The results showed that a high rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization occurred at a high level of the factors. A statistical design kinetics model was constructed through second-order regression to predict the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization and the R2 value was 0.9888, which fitted the experimental rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization better compared to the classical kinetics model.
Effect of warm compaction and microwave sintering on the densification, tribological and electrochemical properties of TiC/316L composites
Authors: Lin Shaojiang , Xiong Weihao , Chen Shan , Yao Zhenhua 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIn this study, TiC/316L stainless steel composites were fabricated by combining warm compaction and microwave sintering (WMS). X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the phases in the material. Microstructure characteristics of composites were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Density, microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance were evaluated at room temperature. Results revealed that TiC/316L composites with higher relative density and finer properties can be obtained by WMS, compared with conventional powder metallurgy process. For all the tested species, the hardness of the composites prepared by WMS is higher than that of the composites prepared by conventional powder metallurgy (P/M). Wear tests showed that the WMS species exhibited significantly good wear resistance. Furthermore, it is found that the composites prepared by WMS were not only has high mechanical properties but also better corrosion resistance compared with the conventional P/M species.
The tribological properties of A356-SiCp metal-matrix composites fabricated by thixomoulding technique
Authors: Özyürek Dursun , Yıldırım Musa , Çiftçi İbrahim 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIn this study, A356-SiCp metal-matrix composites were produced through thixomoulding process, and these composites were subjected to wear tests. The composites containing various volume fractions of SiCp particles (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) as the reinforcement were produced at two different temperatures of 590°C and 600°C. The influences of processing temperatures and reinforcement ratio on the properties and wear behaviour of the composites were investigated. Prior to the wear tests, microstructural properties and hardness of the composites were determined. For the wear tests, a pin-on-disc-type wear apparatus was employed to carry out the wear tests. The wear tests were carried out at 2.0 m/s sliding speed under 15 N load and for four different sliding distances. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the wear mechanisms on the worn surfaces of the composites. The results indicated that sphericity rate and hardness of the composites produced at 590°C were higher than those of the composites produced at 600°C. In addition, the composites produced at 590°C exhibited lower weight loss and friction coefficient.
„Ernsthafte Philosophie oder Kniefallvor dem Nichts?“
Authors: Funk Eva 
Published: August 2012

Zusammenfassung
Der folgende Beitrag präsentiert Ergebnisse einer qualitativenStudie, welche sich der Rekonstruktion gegenwärtiger Rezeptionsprozessebezüglich Lehren und Praktiken des tibetischen Buddhismus sowie seiner Vertreterund Vertreterinnen in der Schweizer Öffentlichkeit ab Mitte der 1990erJahre widmete. Anhand der Untersuchung gesellschaftlicher Diskurse über dentibetischen Buddhismus wird auf der Grundlage einer diskurstheoretischen Forschungsperspektivedie Frage nach der gesellschaftlichen Konstruktion, Repräsentationund (Re-)Produktion kulturell-religiöser Differenz thematisiert. Im Rahmen der öffentlichen Rezeption und medialen Repräsentation des tibetischenBuddhismus bildet sich dabei eine verstärkte (wenn auch implizite) Auseinandersetzungmit der eigenen Religiosität, mit Vorstellungen der eigenenkulturellen und nationalen Identität sowie kollektiven Wertvorstellungen derSchweizer Gesellschaft ab. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass das Diskursfeld über tibetischenBuddhismus in der Schweiz von gegenläufigen Tendenzen geprägt ist: Sosteht den dominant in Erscheinung tretenden positiv bewertenden Topoi, die alsElemente eines bestehenden Wissensrepertoires über Tibet, Tibeter und „dieWeltreligion Buddhismus“ gelten können und selbstverständlich reproduziertwerden, eine multidimensionale Dekonstruktion dieser Topoi entgegen, welchejedoch über eine weitaus geringere Reichweite bezüglich einer sich in öffentlichausgetragenen sozialen Debatten und gesellschaftlichen Handlungsmustern manifestierendenFremdheits- bzw. Differenzkonstruktion verfügt.
Electrophysiological Studies of Shoemakers Exposed to Sub‐TLV Levels of n‐hexane
Authors: Neghab Masoud , Soleimani Esmaeel , Khamoushian Kambiz 
Published: August 2012

Electrophysiological Studies of Shoemakers Exposed to Sub‐TLV Levels of n‐hexane: Masoud NEGHAB, et al. Department of Occupational Health, School of Health and Nutrition and Research Center for Health Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran—Background and ObjectivesExposure to n‐hexane, a neurotoxic solvent, has been associated with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, both in occupationally exposed workers and in glue‐sniffing addicts. The present study was carried out to ascertain whether exposure to sub‐TLV levels of n‐hexane was associated with electrophysiological abnormalities and to determine if these possible abnormalities have any correlations with parameters such as the biological exposure index (BEI) of this neurotoxic chemical, workers' TWA exposure to n‐hexane and/or duration of employment.Materials and MethodsTwenty‐seven asymptomatic male workers from 6 shoemaking workshops were studied and compared with a group of 20 age‐ and sexmatched normal controls with no history of exposure to any neurotoxic agent. They underwent physical examinations as well as conventional needle electromyographic examinations and sensory and motor nerve conduction studies of upper and lower extremities. The TWA exposure to n‐hexane and urinary concentration of free 2,5‐hexanedione were also determined. Data were analyzed using version 16.0 of the SPSS/PC statistical package.ResultsThe TWA exposure to n‐hexane was estimated to be 83.2 mg/m3. Electrophysiological studies showed that the amplitudes of sensory nerve action potential (SAP) for median and sural nerves were significantly lower in exposed subjects than in unexposed normal controls. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between these decreases and the urinary concentration of free 2,5hexanedione.ConclusionThe significant decrements in SAP amplitudes for the median and sural nerves may be considered as appropriate indicators for early detection of n‐hexane‐induced peripheral neuropathy in asymptomatic workers with current exposure to sub‐TLV levels of n‐hexane.