bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) predict survival in oral cavity cancer patients?
Authors: Sayed Suhail I. , Sharma Shilpi , Rane Pawan , Vaishampayan Sagar , Talole Sanjay , Chaturvedi Pankaj , Chaukar Devendra , Deshmukh Anuja , Agarwal Jai Prakash , D'cruz Anil K.
Published: July 2013

Objectives

To evaluate the prognostic role of the lymph node ratio (LNR; ratio of total positive nodes to total dissected nodes) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as compared to pN staging with an aim to provide an optimal cut‐off value.

Methods

1,408 OSCC previously untreated patients who underwent treatment (surgery + neck dissection + adjuvant treatment). LNR sensitivity with respect to survival was calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Cox regression method. LNR and TNM staging variables were subjected to multivariate analysis.

Results

LNR (0.088) showed significant association with survival outcomes. For patients with LNR ≤0.088, the OS, DFS, local control, regional control and distant metastasis rates were 64%, 70%, and 89%; for LNR >0.088 it was 22%, 19%, and 52%, respectively (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis LNR of 0.088 was seen to be an independent prognostic factor for 5‐year regional control (p, hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]; 0.044, 2.016 (1.019–3.990), DFS, 0.032, 1.858 (1.054–3.276), and OS, 0.040, 1.195 (1.033–1.144). On multivariate analysis LNR categorization showed a statistically significant [0.032, 1.858, (1.054–3.276)] advantage over pN staging [0.527, 1.208 (1.054–3.276)] in predicting survival.

Conclusions

LNR is a better prognostic marker than the current N staging of TNM classification. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013 108:256–263. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Three‐dimensional sinus imaging as an adjunct to two‐dimensional imaging to accelerate education and improve spatial orientation
Authors: Yao William C. , Regone Rachel M. , Huyhn Nancy , Butler E. Brian , Takashima Masayoshi
Published: July 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

Develop a novel three‐dimensional (3‐D) anatomical model to assist in improving spatial knowledge of the skull base, paranasal sinuses, and adjacent structures, and validate the utilization of 3‐D reconstruction to augment two‐dimensional (2‐D) computed tomography (CT) for the training of medical students and otolaryngology–head and neck surgery residents.

Study Design

Prospective study.

Methods

A study of 18 subjects studying sinus anatomy was conducted at a tertiary academic center during the 2011 to 2012 academic year. An image processing and 3‐D modeling program was used to create a color coded 3‐D scalable/layerable/rotatable model of key paranasal and skull base structures from a 2‐D high‐resolution sinus CT scan. Subjects received instruction of the sinus anatomy in two sessions, first through review of a 2‐D CT sinus scan, followed by an educational module of the 3‐D reconstruction. After each session, subjects rated their knowledge of the sinus and adjacent structures on a self‐assessment questionnaire.

Results

Significant improvement in the perceived understanding of the anatomy was noted after the 3‐D educational module session when compared to the 2‐D CT session alone (P < .01). Every subject believed the addition of 3‐D imaging accelerated their education of sinus anatomy and recommended its use to others.

Conclusions

The impression of the learners was that a 3‐D educational module, highlighting key structures, is a highly effective tool to enhance the education of medical students and otolaryngology residents in sinus and skull base anatomy and its adjacent structures, specifically in conceptualizing the spatial orientation of these structures.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 124:596–601, 2014
A novel method for culturing human glottic cells
Authors: Bonet Mireya , Basterra Jorge , Pérez Ana , Zapater Enrique
Published: July 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

The objective of this basic investigation was to describe a new method of preparing primary monolayer cultures of human glottic cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the culturing of healthy human glottic cells. This technique may be of use for other applications in the challenging field of laryngeal diseases.

Study Design

Individual prospective cohort study.

Methods

Tissue samples were collected from 15 patients who underwent laryngeal surgery due to chronic laryngitis or larynx carcinoma. An inverted phase microscope was used to study the cultured cells, and immunocytochemistry using a mouse anti‐human cytokeratin 19 monoclonal antibody was performed to identify epithelial cells. The relationship between the culture results and several patient variables was evaluated.

Results

Cultures were positive in 40% of samples. The total and supracricoid laryngectomy groups had the highest rate of culture positivity (P < .02).

Conclusions

The current study provides methodological details that will allow other research groups to replicate this model of glottic cell culture.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 123:E104–E108, 2013
Polycyclotrimers of 1,4‐Diethynylbenzene, 2,6‐Diethynylnaphthalene, and 2,6‐Diethynylanthracene: Preparation and Gas Adsorption Properties
Authors: Zukal Arnošt , Slováková Eva , Balcar Hynek , Sedláček Jan
Published: July 2013

Hyperbranched partly cross‐linked polycyclotrimers of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene, 2,6‐diethynyl­naphthalene, and 2,6‐diethynylanthracene, Pc(1,4‐DEB), Pc(2,6‐DEN), and Pc(2,6‐DEA), respectively, are prepared using TaCl5/Ph4Sn catalyst. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, microporosity, and maximum sorption capacity for H2 and CO2 decrease in the order of decreasing relative content of branching points in polycyclotrimers Pc(1,4‐DEB) > Pc(2,6‐DEN) > Pc(2,6‐DEA), the highest values for Pc(1,4‐DEB) being SBET = 1299 m2 g−1, aH2 = 1.26 wt% (100 kPa, 77 K), and aCO2 = 10.8 wt% (100 kPa, 273 K). N2 isotherms show that adsorption/desorption hysteresis occurs already at low equilibrium pressures. CO2 isotherms show that the time allotted to the measurement influences both the maximum adsorption capacity and the hysteresis upon desorption.

image
Near‐Interface Composition in Pressure Sensitive Adhesives at the Adhesive–Adherent Interface
Authors: Schindler Markus , Pröller Stephan , Geue Thomas , Müller‐Buschbaum Peter
Published: July 2013

The adhesive–adherent interface of a model system for pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) is probed with neutron reflectivity to reveal its inner composition. The statistical copolymer poly(ethylhexyl‐stat‐d‐methylmethacrylate) P(EHA‐stat‐dMMA), consisting of 80 wt% ethylhexylacrylate (EHA) and 20 wt% deuterated methylmethacrylate (dMMA), is used as model PSA. Its interface with silicon is investigated. The surface cleaning treatments applied to silicon strongly affect the inner near interface structure of the solution cast P(EHA‐stat‐dMMA). Two opposite behaviors are observed. On acid cleaned silicon the soft and sticky majority component EHA enriches at the interface to the substrate. In contrast, the glassy minority component dMMA forms an enrichment layer at the interface to the basic cleaned silicon surface.
The motor neuron response to SMN1 deficiency in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Kang Peter B. , Gooch Clifton L. , McDermott Michael P. , Darras Basil T. , Finkel Richard S. , Yang Michele L. , Sproule Douglas M. , Chung Wendy K. , Kaufmann Petra , de Vivo Darryl C. ,   for the Muscle Study Group and the Pediatric Neuromuscular Clinical Research Network for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Published: July 2013

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to measure and analyze motor unit number estimation (MUNE) values longitudinally in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods: Sixty‐two children with SMA types 2 and 3 were observed prospectively for up to 42 months. Longitudinal electrophysiological data were collected, including compound motor action potential (CMAP), single motor unit action potential (SMUP), and MUNE. Results: Significant motor neuron loss and compensatory collateral reinnervation were noted at baseline. Over time, there was a significant mean increase in MUNE (4.92 units/year, P = 0.009), a mean decrease in SMUP amplitude (−6.32 μV/year, P = 0.10), and stable CMAP amplitude. Conclusions: The unexpected longitudinal results differ from findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis studies, perhaps indicating that compensatory processes in SMA involve new motor unit development. A better understanding of the mechanisms of motor unit decline and compensation in SMA is important for assessing novel therapeutic strategies and for providing key insights into disease pathophysiology. Muscle Nerve 49: 636–644, 2014
A marching cubes based failure surface propagation concept for three‐dimensional finite elements with non‐planar embedded strong discontinuities of higher‐order kinematics
Authors: Linder Christian , Zhang Xiaoxuan
Published: July 2013

This paper presents an advanced failure surface propagation concept based on the marching cubes algorithm initially proposed in the field of computer graphics and applies it to the embedded finite element method. When modeling three‐dimensional (3D) solids at failure, the propagation of the failure surface representing a crack or shear band should not exhibit a strong sensitivity to the details of the finite element discretization. This results in the need for a propagation of the discrete failure zone through the individual finite elements, which is possible for finite elements with embedded strong discontinuities. Whereas for two‐dimensional calculations the failure zone propagation location is easily predicted by the maximal principal stress direction, more advanced strategies are needed to achieve a smooth failure surface in 3D simulations. An example for such method is the global tracking algorithm, which predicts the crack path by a scalar level set function computed on the basis of the solution of a simplified heat conduction like problem. Its prediction may though lead to various scenarios on how the failure surface may propagate through the individual finite elements. In particular, for a hexahedral eight‐node finite element, 256 such cases exist. To capture all those possibilities, the marching cubes algorithm is combined with the global tracking algorithm and the finite elements with embedded strong discontinuities in this work. In addition, because many of the possible cases result in non‐planar failure surfaces within a single finite element and because the local quantities used to describe the kinematics of the embedded strong discontinuities are physically meaningful in a strict sense only for planar failure surfaces, a remedy for such scenarios is proposed. Various 3D failure propagation simulations outline the performance of the proposed concept. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical and experimental infrared spectra of hydrated and dehydrated Nafion
Authors: Kendrick Ian , Yakaboski Adam , Kingston Erin , Doan Jonathan , Dimakis Nicholas , Smotkin Eugene S.
Published: July 2013

The time‐dependent IR spectra during dehydration of fully hydrated Nafion show the reversible disappearance of the 1061 cm−1 and 969 cm−1 concurrent with the emergence of peaks at ∼928 cm−1 and ∼1408 cm−1. The first pair of group modes is associated with a dissociated exchange group (sulfonate) with a local C3V symmetry. The C3V group modes shift with state‐of‐hydration: The 969 cm−1 peak completely vanishes and the 1061 cm−1 is reduced to a small shoulder at 1070 cm−1 at end of dehydration. The C3V group modes are replaced by the pair of group modes of an associated exchange group (sulfonic acid) with C1 local symmetry. The density functional theory normal mode analysis confirms that the sulfonic acid/sulfonate site plays a dominant role in the C1 and C3V group modes, respectively. This work clarifies the importance of assigning fluoropolymers peaks as group modes rather than traditional single functional group assignments as is often the case with the ∼1061 cm−1 and ∼969 cm−1 C3V group modes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1329–1334
Structural and optical properties of Alx Ga1–xN nanowires
Authors: Pierret A. , Bougerol C. , Hertog M. den , Gayral B. , Kociak M. , Renevier H. , Daudin B.
Published: July 2013

magnified image

The structural properties of Alx Ga1–xN nanowires with high Al content grown by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy have been studied by high‐resolution electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Evidence for marked chemical composition fluctuations has been found that have been assigned to kinetical effects during growth. Concomitantly, microphotoluminescence and nanocathodoluminescence experiments on single nanowires have revealed the presence of sharp emission lines, as an evidence of carrier localization. This feature has been assigned to several spatial scales of composition fluctuations, in agreement with the kinetically‐driven growth model proposed for Alx Ga1–xN nanowires. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Plasma hydrogenated, reactively sputtered aluminium oxide for silicon surface passivation
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Cuevas Andres
Published: July 2013

The intentional addition of hydrogen during reactive sputtering of AlOx films has led to a dramatic improvement of the surface passivation of crystalline silicon wafers achieved with this technique. The 5 ms effective minority carrier lifetime measured on 1.5 Ω cm n‐type CZ silicon wafers is close to the 6 ms of a control wafer coated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of AlOx. Hydrogen‐sputtered films also provide excellent passivation of 1 Ω cm p‐type silicon, as demonstrated by an effective lifetime of 1.1 ms. It is likely that the improved passivation is related to the formation of an interfacial silicon oxide layer, as indicated by FTIR measurements. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Study of the Early Changes of the Level of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Histopathology of Penises of Rats with Experimentally Induced Type I Diabetes Mellitus by Streptozocin
Authors: El-Kamshoushi Abdel Aal M. , Abdallah Wafaa I. , Helal Suzan F. , El Azhary Nesrine M. , Hassan Eman M.
Published: July 2013

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multiorgan disease that leads to neurovascular complications that disturb the normal erectile function.

Aim

The aim of the current work was to study the early changes occurring in the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histopathological changes in penile tissues of uncontrolled diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods

This study was carried on 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into two main groups: group I (control, n = 10) and group II (diabetic, n = 40). Type I DM was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). The tissue level of CGRP and histopathological examination of rat penises were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after induction of DM.

Results

CGRP was higher in the diabetic group at 4, 6, and 8 weeks than in the control group. However, endothelial changes and decreased smooth muscles mass started only 2 weeks after induction of DM.

Conclusion

Deterioration of histopathological features of the uncontrolled diabetic rats corporeal tissues is time dependent. Furthermore, vascular changes seem to precede the neurological changes.
The Control and Prediction of End‐Point Phosphorus Content during BOF Steelmaking Process
Authors: Wang Zhou , Xie Feiming , Wang Bin , Liu Qing , Lu Xinchun , Hu Lining , Cai Fei
Published: July 2013

Removal of phosphorus is a reaction, which plays an important role in combined converter steelmaking process, and the precise control of end‐point phosphorus content during BOF steelmaking process would greatly improve the quality of liquid steel. Therefore, the relation between dephosphorization ratio and temperature of liquid steel, FeO content of slag, slag basicity is clearly clarified through thermodynamic analysis of dephosphorization process in this paper. Besides, by means of combining the methods of multivariate regression analysis and multi‐level recursive completely, the multi‐level recursive regression model, which is used to complete the prediction of end‐point phosphorus content during BOF steelmaking process, is established based on large amount of production data. The verification of the model with the data taken from three steel plants indicates that the hit rate of the multi‐level recursive regression model is above 84% when predictive errors of the model are within ±0.005%, and it could provide a relatively good reference for real production.
Broadcasting with hard deadlines in wireless multihop networks using network coding
Authors: Ostovari Pouya , Khreishah Abdallah , Wu Jie
Published: July 2013

Broadcasting with network coding mixes packets to minimize the number of transmissions, which improves the energy efficiency of wireless networks. On the other hand, delaying the transmissions increases coding opportunities at intermediate nodes, but increases the delay of packets. In this paper, we consider these two contradicting factors and study the problem of minimizing the number of transmissions in wireless networks while meeting the deadline constraints. We show that this problem is NP‐complete; therefore, we provide a heuristic to solve it. First, we construct broadcasting trees, each of them rooted at one source. We then specify overlapping conditions based on the constructed trees, to determine the number of transmissions each node has to perform without the deadline constraints. Then, we partition the set of packets such that coding is performed among the packets of the same partition, which does not result in deadline misses. Linear coding may not be applicable in some wireless networks because of its computational complexity. For these networks, we propose three XOR coding approaches, which rely only on local neighborhood information. Simulation results show that our techniques not only reduce the number of transmissions but also allow the majority of nodes to receive the packets on time. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermal Analysis of Two Energetic Ionic Salts Based on 3,4‐Diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (DATr)
Authors: Wu Jin‐Ting , Zhang Jian‐Guo , Yin Xin , Sun Mou , Zhang Tong‐Lai
Published: July 2013

Two energetic ionic salts DATr·NTO (2) and DATr·TNR (3) of 3,4‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (DATr) (1) were synthesized by reaction of 3,4‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole with either 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐one (NTO) or 2,4,6‐trinitro‐resorcinol (TNR) in aqueous solution. Their structures were characterized by FT IR spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analysis. Their molecular structure and crystal structure were determined. They belong to the monoclinic crystal system, space group P21/c. The crystal density is 1.693 g·cm–3 and 1.738 g·cm–3, respectively. The thermal decomposition characteristics of the title compounds were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) technologies. Furthermore, the sensitivity properties were determined by standard methods.
Invariants and divergences in half-maximal supergravity theories
Authors: Bossard G. , Howe P. S. , Stelle K. S.
Published: July 2013

Abstract

The invariants in half-maximal supergravity theories in D = 4, 5 are discussed in detail up to dimension eight (e.g. R
4). In D = 4, owing to the anomaly in the rigid SL(2,

$ \mathbb{R} $
) duality symmetry, the restrictions on divergences need careful treatment. In pure
$ \mathcal{N}=4 $
supergravity, this anomalous symmetry still implies duality invariance of candidate counterterms at three loops. Provided one makes the additional assumption that there exists a full 16-supercharge off-shell formulation of the theory, counterterms at L ≥ 2 loops would also have to be writable as full-superspace integrals. At the three-loop order such a duality-invariant full-superspace integral candidate counterterm exists, but its duality invariance is marginal in the sense that the full-superspace counter-Lagrangian is not itself duality-invariant. We show that such marginal invariants are not allowable as counterterms in a 16-supercharge off-shell formalism. It is not possible to draw the same conclusion when vector multiplets are present because of the appearance of F
4 terms in the SL(2,

$ \mathbb{R} $
) anomaly. In D = 5 there is no one-loop anomaly in the shift invariance of the dilaton, and we argue that this implies finiteness at two loops, again subject to the assumption that 16 supercharges can be preserved off-shell.
Two‐day Hospital Stay After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery under an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Pathway
Authors: Rossi Gustavo , Vaccarezza Hernán , Vaccaro Carlos A. , Mentz Ricardo E. , Im Victor , Alvarez Adrián , Quintana Guillermo Ojea
Published: July 2013

Background

The present study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of a two‐day hospital stay after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LCR) under an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2010, 882 consecutive patients undergoing LCR were analyzed. Patients were grouped and analyzed according to whether their hospital stay was 2 days (group A) or longer (group B). Demographic, surgical, and postoperative data were compared. To identify independent predictive factors related to a short hospital stay, a multivariate analysis was also performed.

Results

Group A represented 10.3 % of this series (91 patients). There were no differences regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA, and previous abdominal surgeries between groups. Group A had a lower incidence of rectal cancer and anterior resections than group B (6.6 vs. 17.7 % [p = 0.006] and 14.3 vs. 23.4 % [p = 0.048]), respectively, and a lower mean operative time (170 min vs. 192 min; p = 0.002). Group A had a lower overall morbidity rate than group B (5.5 vs. 16.9 %; p = 0.004) and a lower incidence of surgery‐related complications (5.5 vs. 14.9 %; p = 0.001). The overall conversion rate was 10 % (only one patient in group A required conversion), and the difference in conversion rate between groups was statistically significant (1.2 vs. 10.7 %; p = 0.003). Group A had a lower readmission rate (0 vs. 4.9 %; p = 0.089). Multivariate analysis showed that conversion, postoperative morbidity, and rectal prolapse were independently associated with the length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

A two‐day hospital stay after LCR is safe and feasible under an ERAS pathway, without compromising the readmission or complication rate.
Evaluation effects of allopurinol and FSH on reduction of ischemia–reperfusion injury and on preservation of follicle after heterotopic auto‐transplantation of ovarian tissue in mouse
Authors: Abedi Reyhaneh , Eimani Hussein , Pashaee Rad Shahrokh , Eftekhari Yazdi Popak , Shahverdi Abdol Hossein , Mokhber Maleki Elham
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Allopurinol and FSH injection are applied to reduce ischemia–reperfusion injury and to increase survival rate for ovarian follicles after ovarian heterotopic autotransplantation in mice.

Methods

Ovarian tissues from 6‐week‐old mice were grafted into back muscle then collected after 3 weeks. A total of five groups were included in this experiment as follows: control group (n = 5), sham‐operated group (n = 5), allopurinol treatment group (AP) (n = 5), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment group (n = 5), as well as, allopurinol and FSH treatment group (APF) (n = 5). We investigated survival, number and development of follicles, vaginal cytology along with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in grafted ovary.

Results

Total follicles count significantly increased in APF group compared with other treatment groups (p < 0.05). MDA concentration significantly decreased in AP group and APF treatment group compared with sham‐operated group. In AP group, vaginal smears showed presence of cornified epithelial cells three–five day after surgery.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that allopurinol, as a XO inhibitor, plays an important role in order to decrease ischemia injury and to increase survival rate for follicles. Also, FSH, as a folliculogenesis and angiogenesis factor, increases development of follicles. It seems that allopurinol can cause re‐establishing hypothalamus–pituitary axis and finally can restore estrous cycle earlier than for the sham operated group, so it explains the increasing survival rate for follicles.
LMO4 modulates proliferation and differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes
Authors: Wang Ning , Wang Xichen , Shi Mingxin , Shi Hongyan , Yan Xiaohong , Li Hui , Wang Shouzhi , Wang Yuxiang
Published: July 2013

Previous microarray analyses revealed that LMO4 is expressed in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes, however, its roles in adipogenesis are unknown. In the present study, using RT‐PCR sequencing and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR, we confirmed that LMO4 gene is expressed in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and its expression peaks at the early stage of 3T3‐L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Further analyses showed that LMO4 knockdown decreased the proliferation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes, and attenuated the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes, as evidenced by reduced lipid accumulation and down‐regulation of PPARγ gene expression. Collectively, our findings indicate that LMO4 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis.
Consumer responses to parodic ads
Authors: Roehm Michelle L. , Roehm Harper A.
Published: July 2013

We analyze parodic ads, which are humorous commercial messages that parody extant advertising. The effects of three dimensions are examined: mockery, perceived truth and playful humor. Consequences are considered for attitudes toward the parodic ad, its sponsor brand, the parodied advertising (which the parodic ad mimics) and the parodied advertising's sponsor brand. Results of three studies indicate that parodic ads can produce positive as well as negative outcomes across these attitudinal variables. These results suggest caution in the use of parody as a messaging device.
Interferon regulatory factor 5 and autoimmune lupus
Authors: Xu Wang-Dong , Pan Hai-Feng , Xu Yuekang , Ye Dong-Qing
Published: July 2013

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe multi-system autoimmune disease, whereas interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5 belongs to the family of transcription factors that modulate immune system activities. Recently, many lines of investigations suggested that IRF5 gene polymorphisms are closely associated with the disease onset of SLE. Indeed, expressed in B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes and macrophages, IRF5 could significantly affect these immune cells participating in the pathogenesis of SLE, and numerous studies implied that this transcription factor is mechanistically linked to the disease progression. Here, we comprehensively review the updated evidence indicating the roles of IRF5 in autoimmune lupus. Hopefully, the information obtained will lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and development of novel therapeutic strategies for the systemic autoimmune disease.
Coherent structures and the saturation of a nonlinear dynamo
Authors: Rempel Erico L. , Chian Abraham C.-L. , Brandenburg Axel , Muñoz Pablo R. , Shadden Shawn C.
Published: July 2013

Eulerian and Lagrangian tools are used to detect coherent structures in the velocity and magnetic fields of a mean-field dynamo, produced by direct numerical simulations of the three-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations with an isotropic helical forcing and moderate Reynolds number. Two distinct stages of the dynamo are studied: the kinematic stage, where a seed magnetic field undergoes exponential growth; and the saturated regime. It is shown that the Lagrangian analysis detects structures with greater detail, in addition to providing information on the chaotic mixing properties of the flow and the magnetic fields. The traditional way of detecting Lagrangian coherent structures using finite-time Lyapunov exponents is compared with a recently developed method called function $M$. The latter is shown to produce clearer pictures which readily permit the identification of hyperbolic regions in the magnetic field, where chaotic transport/dispersion of magnetic field lines is highly enhanced.
Large eddy simulation of flow around a reverse rotating propeller
Authors: Jang Hyunchul , Mahesh Krishnan
Published: July 2013

This paper studies the flow around a propeller rotating in the reverse direction in a uniform free stream. Large eddy simulation is used to study this massively separated flow at a Reynolds number of 480 000 and advance ratios$J= - 0. 5$,$- 0. 7$and$- 1. 0$. Simulations are performed on two grids; statistics of the loads and velocity field around the propeller show encouraging agreement between the two grids and with experiment. The impact of advance ratio is discussed, and a physical picture of the unsteady flow and its influence on the propeller loads is proposed. An unsteady vortex ring is formed in the vicinity of the propeller disk due to the interaction between the free stream and the reverse flow produced by the reverse rotation. The flow is separated in the blade passages; the most prominent is the separation along the sharp edge of the blade on the downstream side of the blade. This separation results in high-amplitude, transient propeller loads. Conditional averaging is used to describe the statistically relevant events that determine low- and high-amplitude thrust and side-forces. The vortex ring is closer and the reverse flow induced by propeller rotation is lower when the loads are high. The propeller loads scale with$\rho {U}^{2} $for$J\lt - 0. 7$and with$\rho {n}^{2} {D}^{2} $for$J\gt - 0. 7$.
Range of validity of an extended WKB theory for atmospheric gravity waves: one-dimensional and two-dimensional case
Authors: Rieper Felix , Achatz U. , Klein R.
Published: July 2013

A computational model of the pseudo-incompressible equations is used to probe the range of validity of an extended Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin theory (XWKB), previously derived through a distinguished limit of a multiple-scale asymptotic analysis of the Euler or pseudo-incompressible equations of motion, for gravity-wave packets at large amplitudes. The governing parameter of this analysis had been the scale-separation ratio$\varepsilon $between the gravity wave and both the large-scale potential-temperature stratification and the large-scale wave-induced mean flow. A novel feature of the theory had been the non-resonant forcing of higher harmonics of an initial wave packet, predominantly by the large-scale gradients in the gravity-wave fluxes. In the test cases considered a gravity-wave packet is propagating upwards in a uniformly stratified atmosphere. Large-scale winds are induced by the wave packet, and possibly exert a feedback on the latter. In the limit$\varepsilon \ll 1$all predictions of the theory can be validated. The larger$\varepsilon $is the more the transfer of wave energy to the mean flow is underestimated by the theory. The numerical results quantify this behaviour but also show that, qualitatively, XWKB remains valid even when the gravity-wave wavelength approaches the spatial scale of the wave-packet amplitude. This includes the prevalence of first and second harmonics and the smallness of harmonics with wave number higher than two. Furthermore, XWKB predicts for the vertical momentum balance an additional leading-order buoyancy term in Euler and pseudo-incompressible theory, compared with the anelastic theory. Numerical tests show that this term is relatively large with up to$30\hspace{0.167em} \% $of the total balance. The practical relevance of this deviation remains to be assessed in future work.
Energy cascade and scaling in supersonic isothermal turbulence
Authors: Kritsuk Alexei G. , Wagner Rick , Norman Michael L.
Published: July 2013

Supersonic turbulence plays an important role in a number of extreme astrophysical and terrestrial environments, yet its understanding remains rudimentary. We use data from a three-dimensional simulation of supersonic isothermal turbulence to reconstruct an exact fourth-order relation derived analytically from the Navier–Stokes equations (Galtier & Banerjee, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 107, 2011, p. 134501). Our analysis supports a Kolmogorov-like inertial energy cascade in supersonic turbulence previously discussed on a phenomenological level. We show that two compressible analogues of the four-fifths law exist describing fifth- and fourth-order correlations, but only the fourth-order relation remains ‘universal’ in a wide range of Mach numbers from incompressible to highly compressible regimes. A new approximate relation valid in the strongly supersonic regime is derived and verified. We also briefly discuss the origin of bottleneck bumps in simulations of compressible turbulence.
Empowering Women through Development Aid: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Afghanistan
Authors: BEATH ANDREW , CHRISTIA FOTINI , ENIKOLOPOV RUBEN
Published: July 2013

In societies with widespread gender discrimination, development programs with gender quotas are considered a way to improve women's economic, political, and social status. Using a randomized field experiment across 500 Afghan villages, we examine the effects of a development program that mandates female participation. We find that even in a highly conservative context like Afghanistan, such initiatives improve outcomes specific to female participation in some economic, social, and political activities, including increased mobility and income generation. They, however, produce no change in more entrenched female roles linked to family decision-making or in attitudes toward the general role of women in society.
EXAMINING INTER-GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIALS IN MATERNAL HEALTH CARE SERVICE UTILIZATION: INSIGHTS FROM THE INDIAN DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY
Authors: SINGH PRASHANT KUMAR , SINGH LUCKY
Published: July 2013

This study examines the association between age cohort and utilization of maternal health care services in India, before and after adjusting for individual, household and contextual factors. Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey 2005–06, women were classified into three distinct age cohorts based on their age at childbirth: 15–24, 25–34 and 35–49 years. Binary logistic regression models were applied to assess the influence of women's age cohort on receiving full antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA). The analytical sample included the women who delivered their most recent birth at any time in the 5 years preceding the survey. Women belonging to the younger age cohort were found to be disadvantaged in receiving full ANC, whereas increasing age of women was negatively associated with receiving SBA. Low level of education, low mass media exposure, low autonomy, belonging to deprived social groups, poor economic status and residence in the central region were found to be major constraining factors in receiving full ANC and SBA for women in India. The findings support the need for ‘age-sensitive’ interventions that tailor programmes and incentives to women's health care needs through the reproductive life-stage. Urgent efforts are needed to ensure that women who are illiterate and those belonging to low autonomy and low socioeconomic groups receive the recommended maternal health care benefits.
The cruise tourism industry in the Canadian Arctic: analysis of activities and perceptions of cruise ship operators
Authors: Lasserre Frédéric , Têtu Pierre-Louis
Published: July 2013

With the melting of sea ice in the Arctic, the potential for higher shipping access has markedly changed. Shipping activity in the Arctic is increasing, including tourism and exploration activities, underlining the need for reliable communication and monitoring. This article examines the interactions between climate and sea ice change, the patterns of cruise ship tourism through Arctic Canada and the interest of operators to increase their activities in the cruise tourism market in the region. Since 1995, the melting of the summer pack ice in the offers the possibilities of increased shipping in this region while encouraging speculation regarding the potential of the northwest passage (NWP) and the Canadian Arctic to become a major cruise maritime highway. Integrating research from both human and transport geography, this article presents an analysis of vessel movements. It also analyses perceptions of charters and cruise ship operators and of their interests in the cruise tourism market. Discussion is focused on issues associated with the lack of available vessels and maritime infrastructure, regulations in the Canadian arctic waters, security and search and rescue. This research could prove useful for communities, and policy makers, as well as the cruise sector itself, with regard to response to change in these remote locations.
School performance and the risk of suicide attempts in young adults: a longitudinal population-based study
Authors: Kosidou K. , Dalman C. , Fredlund P. , Lee B. K. , Galanti R. , Isacsson G. , Magnusson C.
Published: July 2013

Background

Poor school performance is strongly associated with attempted suicide, but the mechanisms underlying this association are uncertain. We examined this relationship and the extent to which it is explained by (i) adult health behaviours and (ii) social conditions. Furthermore, we examined the potential modifying role of previous suicidal thoughts in the relationship.

Method

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 6146 individuals aged 18–33 years, recruited in 2002 and 2006 in Stockholm and resurveyed in 2007 and 2010 respectively. We estimated the risk of reported lifetime suicide attempts at follow-up among individuals without a history of suicide attempts at baseline and in relation to compulsory school-leaving grades, controlling for possible confounders and mediators.

Results

There were 91 cases of self-reported suicide attempts during the follow-up (5-year incidence of 1.5%). ORs ranged from 3.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88–5.96] for those in the lowest grade quartile to 2.60 (95% CI 1.48–4.57) and 1.76 (95% CI 0.99–3.13) for those in the second and third quartiles respectively. The relationship between school performance and risk of suicide attempts did not differ by sex. Adult health behaviours and social conditions marginally attenuated, but did not explain, the relationship. The gradient varied with baseline history of suicidal thoughts, and was found only among individuals without such a history.

Conclusions

Poor school performance was found to predict suicide attempts among young adults without a history of suicidal thoughts. Adult health behaviours and social conditions did not explain this relationship. Instead, other factors linked with poor school performance, such as poor coping ability, may increase the risk of suicide attempts.
Ageing in an aged society: experiences and attitudes of Catholic order members towards population ageing and older people
Authors: LUY MARC , FLANDORFER PRISKA , DI GIULIO PAOLA
Published: July 2013

Population ageing occurs in all industrialised societies and is the demographic phenomenon that currently gets the highest attention from scientists, policy makers and the general public. The main aim of this paper is to broaden our understanding of its societal consequences, such as ageism and intergenerational solidarity. Our study is based on the 2008 investigation of attitudes towards population ageing and older people in seven European countries of Schoenmaeckerset al.We replicate their analysis in a specific human subpopulation in which the process of population ageing started earlier and is much more advanced than in the general societies: the members of Catholic orders. The study compares the attitudes of 148 nuns and monks from three Bavarian monasteries to those of the western German general population using descriptive and multivariate analyses in the context of the debate around population ageing in Germany. We discuss the specific characteristics of order members that might influence their attitudes and also take a brief look at their views on possible political strategies to solve the problems connected with the demographic changes. Our results confirm the findings of Schoenmaeckerset al.and reveal that worldly and monastic populations show an identical basic pattern of a positive attitude towards older people while at the same time considering population ageing a worrisome development. However, order members evaluate older people's abilities and their role in society more positively. This result gives rise to the optimistic perspective that in an aged population the younger and older generations can build a well-functioning society.
Older adults’ networks and public care receipt: do partners and adult children substitute for unskilled public care?
Authors: SCHENK NIELS , DYKSTRA PEARL , MAAS INEKE , VAN GAALEN RUBEN
Published: July 2013

This study investigates how (a) the reliance on public care and (b) the type of public care received by older people in the Netherlands depends on the availability of partners and adult children. Older people aged 65 years and older were surveyed in the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study at two time-points. Survey results were linked to registry data on public care receipt at the two time-points. Multilevel models revealed that receiving frequent help in the household from children was not associated with public care receipt. Only men having a partner were less likely to receive public care. Further analyses comparing the receipt of skilled and unskilled forms of public care revealed that female partners are especially important in rendering unskilled care unnecessary compared to skilled care. Two arguments may explain our findings. One is that a gender-bias exists in processing public care requests – men are perceived as less able to provide care to their female partners. Another is that men lack the skills, or perceive themselves as lacking the care skills that female partners have. Caution is advised against introducing policy measures that increase pressure on female partners.
Visuo: A model of visuospatial instantiation of quantitative magnitudes
Authors: Gagné Jonathan , Davies Jim
Published: July 2013

Visuo is an implemented Python program that models visual reasoning. It takes as input a description of a scene in words (e.g. ‘small dog on a sunny street’) and produces estimates of the quantitative magnitudes of the qualitative input (e.g. the size of the dog and the brightness of the street). We claim that reasoners transfer quantitative knowledge to new concepts from distributions of familiar concepts in memory. We also claim that visuospatial magnitudes should be stored as distributions over fuzzy sets. We show that Visuo successfully predicts quantitative knowledge to new concepts.
Reasoning with visual metaphors
Authors: McAllister James W.
Published: July 2013

Research into visual reasoning up to now has focused on images that are literal depictions of their objects. I argue in this article that an important further mode of visual reasoning operates on images that depict objects metaphorically. Such images form part of the class of expressive symbols: they are found, for example, in allegorical representations in works of visual art, studied by iconology. They were also a common way of encapsulating insights about the universe in natural philosophy in the Renaissance. Many writers assume that expressive symbols have vanished from modern science, but I argue in the second part of the article that mathematical law statements in present-day physics should be seen, in part, as images that constitute expressive symbols of the world. In support of this view, I offer evidence that law statements relate to their objects metaphorically and that physicists engage with them primarily through visual inspection and visual reasoning.
Acquisition of the polarity sensitive itemrenhe‘any’ in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: HUANG AIJUN , CRAIN STEPHEN
Published: July 2013

The present study investigated Mandarin-speaking children's acquisition of the polarity sensitive itemrenhe‘any’ in Mandarin Chinese. Like its English counterpartany,renhecan be used as a negative polarity item (NPI), or as a free choice (FC) item, and both the distribution and interpretation ofrenheare governed by the same syntactic and semantic constraints as Englishany. Using a Truth Value Judgment Task, the present study tested five-year-old Mandarin-speaking children's comprehension of FCrenhein sentences containing the modal wordneng‘can’, and tested children's comprehension of NPIrenhein sentences containing the temporal conjunctionzai…zhiqian‘before’. Most children demonstrated knowledge of the interpretation of both FCrenheand NPIrenhedespite a paucity of relevant adult input. Like adults, however, Mandarin-speaking children do not userenhefrequently in ordinary conversation, due to the availability of alternative colloquial expressions (wh-pronouns) that also convey children's intended meanings.
Mind-sets of functional reasoning in engineering design
Authors: Howard Thomas J. , Andreasen Mogens Myrup
Published: July 2013

The concept of a function is of great importance in design. This paper describes from theory how designers should reason about functions when designing. This paper introduces the link model, showing how functions and properties link the product and its use, to the perceived value of the product. The important and useful distinction between functions and properties is made along with the distinction between “wirk functions,” which is what the product does when operating, and “use functions,” which is what the product is used for. The paper makes a novel contribution beyond previous literature, showing that not only is a product's behavior or mode of action designed but also the use activity of the end user. Based on the theoretical perspective unfolded, the authors offer nine mind-sets for both design practitioners and researchers to consider when reasoning about functions.
Identifying requirements for physics-based reasoning on function structure graphs
Authors: Sen Chiradeep , Summers Joshua D.
Published: July 2013

Function-based design and modeling have been taught, studied, and practiced in various forms for several years with efforts centered on using function modeling to help designers understand problems or to facilitate idea generation. Only limited focus has been placed on potential use for qualitative and quantitative reasoning and analysis of the design concept. This potential for early stage analysis has not been fully explored partly because computational reasoning tools have not been developed for this express purpose. This paper presents a set of requirements and their justification to realize this design enabling tool. The requirements include coverage, consistency, validity against physics laws, domain neutrality, physics-based definitions, normative and descriptive modeling, and qualitative and quantitative modeling and reasoning. Each requirement is defined in concrete terms and illustrated with examples and logic. With the requirements for function-based reasoning and representation clearly identified, future research toward formalizing of function-based design will be more focused and objective validation of proposed representations against these requirements would be possible.