bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulsewise-Motion Controlled Stamping for Microtexturing Onto Aluminum Sheet
Authors: Aizawa Tatsuhiko , Fukuda Tatsuya
Published: October 2015

High density oxygen plasma-etching was applied to microtexturing onto the diamondlike carbon (DLC) films coated on the die-unit substrates. This mold-die unit with microtextured DLC coating was fixed into a cassette die for computer numerical control (CNC) stamping with the use of precise control both in loading and feeding the sheet materials. In particular, the pulsewise-motion control in stamping was employed to describe the effect of loading and unloading subsequences in the incremental motion on the microtexturing with reference to the normal loading motion. The macroscopic plastic deformation as well as the microscopic metal flow were studied to prove that the pulsewise-motion should be responsible for homogeneous duplication of microcavity patterns into a pure aluminum sheet with high aspect ratio.
The Relationship Between Time of Day of Physical Activity and Obesity in Older Women
Authors: Chomistek Andrea K. , Shiroma Eric J. , Lee I-Min
Published: October 2015

Background:

Physical activity is important for maintaining healthy weight. The time of day when exercise is performed—a highly discretionary aspect of behavior—may impact weight control, but evidence is limited. Thus, we examined the association between the timing of physical activity and obesity risk in women.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 7157 Women’s Health Study participants who participated in an ancillary study begun in 2011 that is measuring physical activity using accelerometers. The exposure was percentage of total accelerometer counts accumulated before 12:00 noon and the outcome was obesity.

Results:

Mean (±SD) BMI among participants was 26.1 (±4.9) kg/m2 and 1322 women were obese. The mean activity counts per day was 203,870 (±95,811) of which a mean 47.1% (±11.5%) were recorded in the morning. In multivariable-adjusted models, women who recorded < 39% (lowest quartile) of accelerometer counts before 12:00 noon had a 26% higher odds of being obese, compared with those recording ≥ 54% (highest quartile) of counts before noon (Ptrend = 0.02).

Conclusions:

These study findings—that women who are less active during morning hours may be at higher risk of obesity—if confirmed can provide a novel strategy to help combat the important health problem of obesity.
The Effect of Increasing Autonomy Through Choice on Young Children’s Physical Activity Behavior
Authors: Sanders Gabriel J. , Juvancic-Heltzel Judith , Williamson Megan L. , Roemmich James N. , Feda Denise M. , Barkley Jacob E.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Increasing autonomy by manipulating the choice of available physical activity options in a laboratory setting can increase physical activity in older children and adults. However, the effect of manipulating the number of physically active choices has yet to be examined in young children in a gymnasium environment.

Methods:

Twenty children (n = 10 girls, 6.1 ± 1.4 years old) individually participated in 2 [low choice (LC), high choice (HC)] free-choice activity conditions for 30 minutes in a 4360 square foot gymnasium. Children had access to 2 or 8 physical activity options in the LC and HC conditions, respectively. Physical activity behavior was measured via accelerometry.

Results:

Children’s 30-minute accelerometer counts increased (P < .03) from the LC (2675 ± 294 counts·min-1) to the HC (3224 ± 280 counts·min-1) condition.

Conclusions:

Providing greater autonomy through choice of a greater number of physically active options increased young children’s physical activity participation by 20.5%.
Developing Point-of-Decision Prompts to Encourage Airport Walking: The Walk to Fly Study
Authors: Frederick Ginny M. , Paul Prabasaj , Watson Kathleen Bachtel , Dorn Joan M. , Fulton Janet
Published: October 2015

Background:

Point-of-decision prompts may be appropriate to promote walking, instead of using a mechanized mode of transport, such as a train, in airports. To our knowledge, no current studies describe the development of messages for prompts in this setting.

Methods:

In-person interviews were conducted with 150 randomly selected airport travelers who rode the train to their departure gate. Travelers reported various reasons for riding the train to their gate. They were asked about messages that would encourage them to walk. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for reasons for riding the train. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for messages to encourage walking to the departure gate.

Results:

Travelers reported not knowing walking was an option (23.8%), seeing others riding the train (14.4%), and being afraid of getting lost (9.2%) as reasons for riding the train. Many indicated that directional signs and prompts promoting walking as exercise would encourage them to walk instead of riding the train.

Conclusions:

Some reasons for riding the train in an airport may be modifiable by installing point-ofdecision prompts. Providing directional signs to travelers may prompt them to walk to their gate instead of riding the train. Similar prompts may also be considered in other community settings.
Biological Evidence of Imagery Abilities: Intraindividual Differences
Authors: Seiler Brian D. , Monsma Eva V. , Newman-Norlund Roger D.
Published: October 2015

This study extended motor imagery theories by establishing specificity and verification of expected brain activation patterns during imagery. Eighteen female participants screened with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) as having good imagery abilities were scanned to determine the neural networks active during an arm rotation task. Four experimental conditions (i.e., KINESTHETIC, INTERNAL Perspective, EXTERNAL Perspective, and REST) were randomly presented (counterbalanced for condition) during three brain scans. Behaviorally, moderate interscale correlations were found between the MIQ-3 and Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2, indicating relatedness between the questionnaires. Partially confirming our hypotheses, common and distinct brain activity provides initial biological validation for imagery abilities delineated in the MIQ-3: kinesthetic imagery activated motor-related areas, internal visual imagery activated inferior parietal lobule, and external visual imagery activated temporal, but no occipital areas. Lastly, inconsistent neuroanatomical intraindividual differences per condition were found. These findings relative to recent biological evidence of imagery abilities are highlighted.
Companion animals: Translational scientist’s new best friends
Authors: Kol Amir , Arzi Boaz , Athanasiou Kyriacos A. , Farmer Diana L. , Nolta Jan A. , Rebhun Robert B. , Chen Xinbin , Griffiths Leigh G. , Verstraete Frank J. M. , Murphy Christopher J. , Borjesson Dori L.
Published: October 2015

Naturally occurring diseases in companion animals represent an underused resource that holds promise for providing predictive proof of efficacy in the evaluation of new therapeutics and devices.
TCR sequencing facilitates diagnosis and identifies mature T cells as the cell of origin in CTCL
Authors: Kirsch Ilan R. , Watanabe Rei , O’Malley John T. , Williamson David W. , Scott Laura-Louise , Elco Christopher P. , Teague Jessica E. , Gehad Ahmed , Lowry Elizabeth L. , LeBoeuf Nicole R. , Krueger James G. , Robins Harlan S. , Kupper Thomas S. , Clark Rachael A.
Published: October 2015

High-throughput TCR sequencing can accurately diagnose and discriminate CTCL cells in skin.
Smooth muscle cell progenitors are primed to muscularize in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Sheikh Abdul Q. , Misra Ashish , Rosas Ivan O. , Adams Ralf H. , Greif Daniel M.
Published: October 2015

During the onset of pulmonary hypertension, a single specialized preexisting smooth muscle cell located at each muscularized-unmuscularized pulmonary arteriole border migrates distally and clonally expands, giving rise to the pathological distal arteriole smooth muscle.
Antioxidants can increase melanoma metastasis in mice
Authors: Le Gal Kristell , Ibrahim Mohamed X. , Wiel Clotilde , Sayin Volkan I. , Akula Murali K. , Karlsson Christin , Dalin Martin G. , Akyürek Levent M. , Lindahl Per , Nilsson Jonas , Bergo Martin O.
Published: October 2015

Antioxidants increase migration and invasion of human melanoma cells and accelerate metastasis in an endogenous mouse model of malignant melanoma.
Subassemblies and Asymmetry in Assembly of Herpes Simplex Virus Procapsid
Authors: Aksyuk Anastasia A. , Newcomb William W. , Cheng Naiqian , Winkler Dennis C. , Fontana Juan , Heymann J. Bernard , Steven Alasdair C.
Published: October 2015

The herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) capsid is a massive particle (~200 MDa; 1,250-Å diameter) with T=16 icosahedral symmetry. It initially assembles as a procapsid with ~4,000 protein subunits of 11 different kinds. The procapsid undergoes major changes in structure and composition as it matures, a process driven by proteolysis and expulsion of the internal scaffolding protein. Assembly also relies on an external scaffolding protein, the triplex, an α
2
β heterotrimer that coordinates neighboring capsomers in the procapsid and becomes a stabilizing clamp in the mature capsid. To investigate the mechanisms that regulate its assembly, we developed a novel isolation procedure for the metastable procapsid and collected a large set of cryo-electron microscopy data. In addition to procapsids, these preparations contain maturation intermediates, which were distinguished by classifying the images and calculating a three-dimensional reconstruction for each class. Appraisal of the procapsid structure led to a new model for assembly; in it, the protomer (assembly unit) consists of one triplex, surrounded by three major capsid protein (MCP) subunits. The model exploits the triplexes’ departure from 3-fold symmetry to explain the highly skewed MCP hexamers, the triplex orientations at each 3-fold site, and the T=16 architecture. These observations also yielded new insights into maturation.

IMPORTANCE
This paper addresses the molecular mechanisms that govern the self-assembly of large, structurally complex, macromolecular particles, such as the capsids of double-stranded DNA viruses. Although they may consist of thousands of protein subunits of many different kinds, their assembly is precise, ranking them among the largest entities in the biosphere whose structures are uniquely defined to the atomic level. Assembly proceeds in two stages: formation of a precursor particle (procapsid) and maturation, during which major changes in structure and composition take place. Our analysis of the HSV procapsid by cryo-electron microscopy suggests a hierarchical pathway in which multisubunit “protomers” are the building blocks of the procapsid but their subunits are redistributed into different subcomplexes upon being incorporated into a nascent procapsid and are redistributed again in maturation. Assembly is a highly virus-specific process, making it a potential target for antiviral intervention.
Pneumomediastinum: a rare manifestation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a patient presenting with unexplained breathlessness at the Borders General Hospital
Authors: Grecian Robert , Faccenda Jakki , Ferrando Luis
Published: October 2015

A 48-year-old woman from the Scottish Borders presented to her general practitioner with exertional dyspnoea. There was a delay in diagnosis of the underlying respiratory condition, due to initial investigations being suggestive of cardiac disease. Subsequently, the patient developed clinical symptoms and signs of pneumomediastinum, which was discovered on radiological imaging. Detailed history-taking and further clinical testing confirmed the cause of this to be hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to sensitisation to pet birds. The patient was treated with high dose steroids and went on to make a good recovery. The birds were rehomed.
Patient–physician mistrust and violence against physicians in Guangdong Province, China: a qualitative study
Authors: Tucker Joseph D , Cheng Yu , Wong Bonnie , Gong Ni , Nie Jing-Bao , Zhu Wei , McLaughlin Megan M , Xie Ruishi , Deng Yinghui , Huang Meijin , Wong William C W , Lan Ping , Liu Huanliang , Miao Wei , Kleinman Arthur
Published: October 2015

Objective

To better understand the origins, manifestations and current policy responses to patient–physician mistrust in China.

Design

Qualitative study using in-depth interviews focused on personal experiences of patient–physician mistrust and trust.

Setting

Guangdong Province, China.

Participants

One hundred and sixty patients, patient family members, physicians, nurses and hospital administrators at seven hospitals varying in type, geography and stages of achieving goals of health reform. These interviews included purposive selection of individuals who had experienced both trustful and mistrustful patient–physician relationships.

Results

One of the most prominent forces driving patient–physician mistrust was a patient perception of injustice within the medical sphere, related to profit mongering, knowledge imbalances and physician conflicts of interest. Individual physicians, departments and hospitals were explicitly incentivised to generate revenue without evaluation of caregiving. Physicians did not receive training in negotiating medical disputes or humanistic principles that underpin caregiving. Patient–physician mistrust precipitated medical disputes leading to the following outcomes: non-resolution with patient resentment towards physicians; violent resolution such as physical and verbal attacks against physicians; and non-violent resolution such as hospital-mediated dispute resolution. Policy responses to violence included increased hospital security forces, which inadvertently fuelled mistrust. Instead of encouraging communication that facilitated resolution, medical disputes sometimes ignited a vicious cycle leading to mob violence. However, patient–physician interactions at one hospital that has implemented a primary care model embodying health reform goals showed improved patient–physician trust.

Conclusions

The blind pursuit of financial profits at a systems level has eroded patient–physician trust in China. Restructuring incentives, reforming medical education and promoting caregiving are pathways towards restoring trust. Assessing and valuing the quality of caregiving is essential for transitioning away from entrenched profit-focused models. Moral, in addition to regulatory and legal, responses are urgently needed to restore trust.
Trends in complementary feeding indicators in Nigeria, 2003–2013
Authors: Ogbo Felix A , Page Andrew , Idoko John , Claudio Fernanda , Agho Kingsley E
Published: October 2015

Objective

The study aimed to examine secular trends and determinants of changes in complementary feeding indicators in Nigeria.

Design, setting and participants

Data on 79 953 children aged 6–23 months were obtained from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) for the period spanning 2003–2013. The surveys used a stratified two-stage cluster sample of eligible mothers aged 15–49 years from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Trends in complementary feeding indicators and socioeconomic, health service and individual characteristics including factors associated with complementary feeding indicators were examined using multilevel logistic regression analyses.

Results

Minimum dietary diversity for children aged 6–23 months worsened from 26% in 2003 to 16% in 2013. Minimum meal frequency improved from 43% in 2003 to 56% in 2013 and minimum acceptable diet worsened from 11% to 9%. Among educated mothers, there was a decreasing prevalence of the introduction of solid, semisolid and soft foods in infants aged 6–8 months (67% in 2003 to 57% in 2013); minimum dietary diversity (33% in 2003 to 24% in 2013) and minimum acceptable diet (13% in 2003 to 8% in 2013). Mothers with a higher education level and mothers who reported more health service contacts were more likely to meet the minimum dietary diversity. Similarly, the odds for minimum acceptable diet were higher among mothers from higher socioeconomic status groups and mothers who reported frequent health services use.

Conclusions

Complementary feeding practices in Nigeria declined over the study period and are below the expected levels required to ensure adequate growth and development of Nigerian children. National policies and programmes that ensure sustainability of projects post-MDGs and higher health service coverage for mothers, including community-based education initiatives, are proposed to improve complementary feeding practices among Nigerian mothers.
Development of the Serious Illness Care Program: a randomised controlled trial of a palliative care communication intervention
Authors: Bernacki Rachelle , Hutchings Mathilde , Vick Judith , Smith Grant , Paladino Joanna , Lipsitz Stuart , Gawande Atul A , Block Susan D
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Ensuring that patients receive care that is consistent with their goals and values is a critical component of high-quality care. This article describes the protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a multicomponent, structured communication intervention.

Methods and analysis

Patients with advanced, incurable cancer and life expectancy of <12 months will participate together with their surrogate. Clinicians are enrolled and randomised either to usual care or the intervention. The Serious Illness Care Program is a multicomponent, structured communication intervention designed to identify patients, train clinicians to use a structured guide for advanced care planning discussion with patients, ‘trigger’ clinicians to have conversations, prepare patients and families for the conversation, and document outcomes of the discussion in a structured format in the electronic medical record. Clinician satisfaction with the intervention, confidence and attitudes will be assessed before and after the intervention. Self-report data will be collected from patients and surrogates approximately every 2 months up to 2 years or until the patient's death; patient medical records will be examined at the close of the study. Analyses will examine the impact of the intervention on the patient receipt of goal-concordant care, and peacefulness at the end of life. Secondary outcomes include patient anxiety, depression, quality of life, therapeutic alliance, quality of communication, and quality of dying and death. Key process measures include frequency, timing and quality of documented conversations.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Institutional Review Board. Results will be reported in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

Protocol identifierNCT01786811; Pre-results.
Self-motivated learning with gamification improves infant CPR performance, a randomised controlled trial
Authors: MacKinnon R J , Stoeter R , Doherty C , Fullwood C , Cheng A , Nadkarni V , Stenfors-Hayes T , Chang T P
Published: October 2015

Background

Effective paediatric basic life support improves survival and outcomes. Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training involves 4-yearly courses plus annual updates. Skills degrade by 3–6 months. No method has been described to motivate frequent and persistent CPR practice. To achieve this, we explored the use of competition and a leaderboard, as a gamification technique, on a CPR training feedback device, to increase CPR usage and performance.

Objective

To assess whether self-motivated CPR training with integrated CPR feedback improves quality of infant CPR over time, in comparison to no refresher CPR training.

Design

Randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effect of self-motivated manikin-based learning on infant CPR skills over time.

Setting

A UK tertiary children's hospital.

Participants

171 healthcare professionals randomly assigned to self-motivated CPR training (n=90) or no refresher CPR training (n=81) and followed for 26 weeks.

Intervention

The intervention comprised 24 h a day access to a CPR training feedback device and anonymous leaderboard. The CPR training feedback device calculated a compression score based on rate, depth, hand position and release and a ventilation score derived from rate and volume.

Main outcome measure

The outcome measure was Infant CPR technical skill performance score as defined by the mean of the cardiac compressions and ventilations scores, provided by the CPR training feedback device software. The primary analysis considered change in score from baseline to 6 months.

Results

Overall, the control group showed little change in their scores (median 0, IQR −7.00–5.00) from baseline to 6 months, while the intervention group had a slight median increase of 0.50, IQR 0.00–33.50. The two groups were highly significantly different in their changes (p<0.001).

Conclusions

A significant effect on CPR performance was demonstrated by access to self-motivated refresher CPR training, a competitive leaderboard and a CPR training feedback device.
Decreased expression of pSTAT, IRF-1 and DAP10 signalling molecules in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with metastatic melanoma
Authors: Mirjačić Martinović Katarina , Srdić-Rajić Tatjana , Babović Nada , Džodić Radan , Jurišić Vladimir , Konjević Gordana
Published: October 2015

Aims

As numerous signalling molecules regulate effector functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) that have an important anti-tumour activity, the aim of this study was to analyse their level in patients with metastatic melanoma (MM) compared with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 36 MMs and 28 HCs were analysed for the level of perforin, interferon-regulating transcription factor-1 (IRF-1), DAP10 and Src homology 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 by reverse transcriptase PCR, level of phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription (pSTAT)-1, pSTAT-4, pSTAT-5 by western blot and interferon (IFN)-γ production by ELISA. The expression of activating NKG2D and inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), CD158a and CD158b, on PBL, CD3−CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), as well as the percentage of CD14+HLA-DR- cells in PBMC were estimated by flow cytometry.

Results

Patients with MM, compared with HCs, had significantly lower level of cytotoxic molecule perforin and decreased IFN-γ production, as well as lower level of pSTAT-1, pSTAT-4, pSTAT-5 and IRF-1 signalling molecules in PBMC. Furthermore, MM had decreased expression of activating NKG2D receptor on PBL and NK cells and low level of its DAP10 signalling molecule contrary to no changes in KIR expression on all investigated cells. These results could be associated with increased percentage of immunosuppressive CD14+HLA-DR− myeloid-derived suppressor cells detected in patients with MM.

Conclusions

The altered signalling molecules of PBL could represent biomarkers of impaired cytotoxic and immunoregulatory function of these cells, indicating melanoma-associated immunosuppression that facilitates tumour progression.
The health benefits of vitamin K
Authors: DiNicolantonio James J , Bhutani Jaikrit , O'Keefe James H
Published: October 2015

Vitamin K has important functions within the body, some of which are still being discovered. Research has shown that vitamin K is an anticalcification, anticancer, bone-forming and insulin-sensitising molecule. Recent data indicate that subclinical vitamin K deficiency is not uncommon. Additionally, vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin may cause detrimental side effects, which may partly be blunted through vitamin K supplementation.
Assessment of transthoracic ultrasound diagnosis of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in adult sheep
Authors: Cousens C. , Scott P. R.
Published: October 2015

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), is a disease of increasing concern in the sheep industry. There is no commercial antemortem test for OPA; therefore, an early evaluation phase study was undertaken to examine the accuracy of transthoracic ultrasound examination using a 5–6.5 MHz sector ultrasound machine widely available in veterinary practice in the UK to diagnose OPA. Restraint, preparation and examination time was restricted to five minutes per sheep to represent the cost limitations of commercial sheep farming. One hundred sheep were examined. All 41 cases identified with suspect OPA lesions during transthoracic ultrasound examination had the diagnosis confirmed at postmortem examination, while sheep without ultrasonographic changes characteristic of OPA had no gross lesions of OPA at postmortem examination. This demonstrates the specificity of transthoracic ultrasound for diagnosis of OPA. The authors propose that, in the absence of any other reliable preclinical diagnostic test, the use of transthoracic ultrasound examination should be considered for a second opinion on an initial diagnosis of OPA, for screening purchased adult flock replacements for OPA, or for screening sheep in a known OPA‐affected flock. However, the authors emphasise that a negative scan cannot provide a guarantee that the animal is free of JSRV infection nor early OPA.
Use of prediction equations to determine the accuracy of whole-body fat and fat-free mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass measurements from a single abdominal image using computed tomography in advanced cancer patients
Authors: Kilgour Robert D. , Cardiff Katrina , Rosenthall Leonard , Lucar Enriqueta , Trutschnigg Barbara , Vigano Antonio
Published: October 2015

Measurements of body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and single abdominal images from computed tomography (CT) in advanced cancer patients (ACP) have important diagnostic and prognostic value. The question arises as to whether CT scans can serve as surrogates for DXA in terms of whole-body fat-free mass (FFM), whole-body fat mass (FM), and appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass. Predictive equations to estimate body composition for ACP from CT images have been proposed (Mourtzakis et al. 2008; Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metabol. 33(5): 997–1006); however, these equations have yet to be validated in an independent cohort of ACP. Thus, this study evaluated the accuracy of these equations in estimating FFM, FM, and ASM mass using CT images at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae and compared these values with DXA measurements. FFM, FM, and ASM mass were estimated from the prediction equations proposed by Mourtzakis and colleagues (2008) using single abdominal CT images from 43 ACP and were compared with whole-body DXA scans using Spearman correlations and Bland–Altman analyses. Despite a moderate to high correlation between the actual (DXA) and predicted (CT) values for FM (rho = 0.93; p ≤ 0.001), FFM (rho = 0.78; p ≤ 0.001), and ASM mass (rho = 0.70; p ≤ 0.001), Bland–Altman analyses revealed large range-of-agreement differences between the 2 methods (29.39 kg for FFM, 15.47 kg for FM, and 3.99 kg for ASM mass). Based on the magnitude of these differences, we concluded that prediction equations using single abdominal CT images have poor accuracy, cannot be considered as surrogates for DXA, and may have limited clinical utility.
Relationship between muscle volume and contractile properties of the human knee extensors
Authors: Behrens Martin , Brown Niklas , Bollinger Robert , Bubeck Dieter , Mau-Moeller Anett , Weippert Matthias , Zschorlich Volker , Bruhn Sven , Alt Wilfried
Published: October 2015

The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between volume and electrically evoked twitch properties of the quadriceps muscle. Supramaximal single and doublet stimulation of the femoral nerve was used to assess contractile properties at 45° and 80° knee flexion. Muscle volume was measured using a 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Quadriceps muscle volume was only significantly correlated (r = 0.629) with peak twitch torque induced by doublet stimulation at 80° but not at 45° knee flexion.
Association of calprotectin with leukocyte chemotactic and inflammatory mediators following acute aerobic exercise
Authors: Maharaj Arun , Slusher Aaron L. , Zourdos Michael C. , Whitehurst Michael , Fico Brandon G. , Huang Chun-Jung
Published: October 2015

The objective of this study was to examine whether acute aerobic exercise-mediated calprotectin in plasma would be associated with monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in healthy individuals. Eleven healthy participants, aged 18 to 30 years, were recruited to perform a 30-min bout of aerobic exercise at 75% maximal oxygen uptake. Acute aerobic exercise elicited a significant elevation across time in plasma calprotectin, MCP-1, MPO, and IL-6. Body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with calprotectin area-under-the-curve with “respect to increase” (AUCi) and IL-6 AUCi. Furthermore, calprotectin AUCi was positively correlated with IL-6 AUCi and MPO AUCi, even after controlling for BMI. Although MPO AUCi was positively correlated with IL-6 AUCi, this relationship no longer existed after controlling for BMI. These results suggest that acute aerobic exercise could mediate innate immune response associated with calprotectin and its related leukocyte chemotactic and inflammatory mediators, especially in individuals with elevated BMI.
A new crocodylian (Eusuchia) from the uppermost Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Wu Xiao-Chun , Brinkman Donald B.
Published: October 2015

Albertosuchus knudsenii gen. et sp. nov. is described on the basis of an incomplete skeleton from the lower part (uppermost Cretaceous) of the Scollard Formation, southern Alberta, Canada. It is probably a crocodyloid, the only Canadian representative of the group and also the sole crocodylian known during the latest Cretaceous in Canada. Within the Crocodyloidea, A. knudsenii is one of the most basal forms and shares a sister-group relationship with the European genus Arenysuchus. However, it needs to be emphasized that because of its incompleteness, phylogenetic relationships proposed here for A. knudsenii may change when better-preserved specimens are found. Albertosuchus knudsenii differs from other crocodyloids in having no premaxilla-maxillary notch, a very short mandibular symphysis with the involvement of the splenial, and an extremely deep hypapophysis on the last cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae. The discovery of A. knudsenii may expand the geographical range of the Crocodyloidea into Canada during the Cretaceous. Crocodylians in the lower part of the Scollard Formation are of low diversity compared with that of the corresponding Hell Creek Formation of Montana and Lance Formation of Wyoming, both farther to the south in the USA.
Hadrosaurid (Edmontosaurus) bonebeds from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Horsethief Member) at Drumheller, Alberta, Canada: geology, preliminary taphonomy, and significance
Authors: Evans David C. , Eberth David A. , Ryan Michael J.
Published: October 2015

Three monodominant hadrosaurid bonebeds in the Horsethief Member of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation (uppermost Campanian) in southern Alberta, Canada, are documented. Each bonebed is hosted by a decimetre-thick deposit of poorly sorted and graded organic-fragment-rich mudstone. These fossil deposits are interpreted as having been carried and deposited by debris flows or hyperconcentrated mass sediment flows initiated by overbank flooding from local channels. Each bonebed is dominated (>50% of identifiable elements) by the disarticulated to occasionally associated remains of hadrosaurine hadrosaurids, inferred to be Edmontosaurus regalis. The majority of hadrosaurid elements at two of the sites (Bleriot Ferry and Prehistoric Park) are from large, presumably adult-sized individuals, whereas the majority of elements from the Fox Coulee site are from subadults and juveniles. Fossil elements from all the sites exhibit similar taphonomic signatures suggestive of a high degree of biostratinomic modification including: (i) thorough disarticulation of carcasses, (ii) a large amount of breakage, (iii) modest amounts of size sorting, and (iv) minimum to modest occurrences of abrasion, and scratch and tooth marks. These signatures indicate that carcasses were exposed for significant amounts of time on the floodplain, where they rotted, were scavenged and trampled, and were exposed to moving water prior to final burial. The size of each bonebed together with the density of bones suggest that the biocoenoses comprised large groups of hadrosaurids, and bone size distributions suggest the possibility of age-segregated populations. The monodominant nature of the assemblages combined with homogenous taphonomic signatures within and between sites suggests that these bonebed assemblages are best interpreted as the result of mass kills rather than attrition, with recurring tropical storm-induced coastal-plain flooding postulated as a likely mechanism for what killed and eventually buried these dinosaurs.
Independence of algebras with edge term
Authors: Aichinger Erhard , Mayr Peter
Published: October 2015

In [A. L. Foster, The identities of — and unique subdirect factorization within — classes of universal algebras, Math. Z. 62 (1955) 171–188], two varieties [Formula: see text] of the same type are defined to be independent if there is a binary term [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for two finite algebras with a Mal’cev term (or, more generally, with an edge term) to generate independent varieties. In particular we show that the independence of finitely generated varieties with edge term can be decided by a polynomial time algorithm.
Existence of global weak solutions to compressible isentropic finitely extensible bead-spring chain models for dilute polymers
Authors: Barrett John W. , Süli Endre
Published: October 2015

We prove the existence of global-in-time weak solutions to a general class of models that arise from the kinetic theory of dilute solutions of nonhomogeneous polymeric liquids, where the polymer molecules are idealized as bead-spring chains with finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) type spring potentials. The class of models under consideration involves the unsteady, compressible, isentropic, isothermal Navier–Stokes system in a bounded domain [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], for the density [Formula: see text], the velocity [Formula: see text] and the pressure [Formula: see text] of the fluid, with an equation of state of the form [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a positive constant and [Formula: see text]. The right-hand side of the Navier–Stokes momentum equation includes an elastic extra-stress tensor, which is the sum of the classical Kramers expression and a quadratic interaction term. The elastic extra-stress tensor stems from the random movement of the polymer chains and is defined through the associated probability density function that satisfies a Fokker–Planck-type parabolic equation, a crucial feature of which is the presence of a center-of-mass diffusion term.
Asymptotics and numerics for the upper-convected Maxwell model describing transient curved viscoelastic jets
Authors: Marheineke Nicole , Liljegren-Sailer Björn , Lorenz Maike , Wegener Raimund
Published: October 2015

This work deals with the modeling and simulation of non-Newtonian jet dynamics as it occurs in fiber spinning processes. Proceeding from a three-dimensional instationary boundary value problem of upper-convected Maxwell equations, we present a strict systematic derivation of a one-dimensional viscoelastic string model by using asymptotic analysis in the slenderness ratio of the jet. The model allows for the unrestricted motion and shape of the jet’s curve, and its deduction extends the hitherto existing uniaxial asymptotic approaches. However, the system of partial differential equations with algebraic constraint has a varying character (hyperbolic, hyperbolic–elliptic, parabolic deficiency). Its applicability range turns out to be limited depending on the physical parameters and the boundary conditions (i.e. singular perturbation). Numerical results are discussed for the hyperbolic regime of gravitational inflow–outflow set-ups which become relevant in drawing and extrusion processes. The simulations are performed with a normal form total upwind scheme in space and an implicit time-integration ensuring convergence of first order.
Well-posedness of an electric interface model and its finite element approximation
Authors: Ammari Habib , Chen Dehan , Zou Jun
Published: October 2015

This work aims at providing a mathematical and numerical framework for the analysis on the effects of pulsed electric fields on the physical media that have a heterogeneous permittivity and a heterogeneous conductivity. Well-posedness of the model interface problem and the regularity of its solutions are established. A fully discrete finite element scheme is proposed for the numerical approximation of the potential distribution as a function of time and space simultaneously for an arbitrary-shaped pulse, and it is demonstrated to enjoy the optimal convergence order in both space and time. The new results and numerical scheme have potential applications in the fields of electromagnetism, medicine, food sciences, and biotechnology.
The geometry and fundamental groups of solenoid complements
Authors: Conner Gregory R. , Meilstrup Mark , Repovš Dušan
Published: October 2015

A solenoid is an inverse limit of circles. When a solenoid is embedded in three space, its complement is an open three manifold. We discuss the geometry and fundamental groups of such manifolds, and show that the complements of different solenoids (arising from different inverse limits) have different fundamental groups. Embeddings of the same solenoid can give different groups; in particular, the nicest embeddings are unknotted at each level, and give an Abelian fundamental group, while other embeddings have non-Abelian groups. We show using geometry that every solenoid has uncountably many embeddings with nonhomeomorphic complements.
How emergent is gravity?
Authors: Bhattacharya Swastik , Shankaranarayanan S.
Published: October 2015

General theory of relativity (or Lovelock extensions) is a dynamical theory; given an initial configuration on a spacelike hypersurface, it makes a definite prediction of the final configuration. Recent developments suggest that gravity may be described in terms of macroscopic parameters. It finds a concrete manifestation in the fluid-gravity correspondence. Most of the efforts till date has been to relate equilibrium configurations in gravity with fluid variables. In order for the emergent paradigm to be truly successful, it has to provide a statistical mechanical derivation of how a given initial static configuration evolves into another. In this paper, we show that the energy transport equation governed by the fluctuations of the horizon-fluid is similar to Raychaudhuri equation and hence gravity is truly emergent.
Induced dark energy in a warped braneworld and accelerating universe
Authors: Lee Tae Hoon
Published: October 2015

In the six-dimensional (6D) Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant, we determine the structure of warped spacetimes bounded by 4-branes. We find an accelerating Universe solution with the induced dark energy, from the 4-brane obtained by orbifolding an external space, and suggest a possibility of addressing problems related to the cosmological constant.
Replication Policy of Real-Time Distributed System for Cloud Computing
Authors: Kimura Mitsutaka , Imaizumi Mitsuhiro , Nakagawa Toshio
Published: October 2015

Recently, cloud computing has been widely used for the purpose of protecting client data on the Internet [A. Weiss, Computing in the clouds, netWorker11 (2007) 16–25; M. Armbrust et al., Above the clouds: A Berkeley view of cloud computing, Technical Report UCV/EECS-2009-28, University of California at Berkeley (2009)]. But when a client receives network service, response time may be slow because the data center is located in a remote place. In order to solve the problem, real-time distributed systems for cloud computing has been proposed [M. Okuno, D. Ito, H. Miyamoto, H. Aoki, Y. Tsushima and T. Yazaki, A study on distributed information and communication processing architecture for next generation cloud system, IEICE Tech. Report109(A48) (2010) 241–246; M. Okuno, S. Tsutsumi and T. Yazaki, A study of high available distributed network processing technique for next generation cloud system, IEICE Tech. Report111(8) (2011) 25–30; S. Yamada, J. Marukawa, D. Ishii, S. Okamoto and N. Yamanaka, A study of parallel transmission technique with GMPLS in intelligent cloud network, IEICE Tech. Report109(455) (2010) 51–56]. The cloud computing system consists of some intelligent nodes as well as a data center. The data center manages all client data. The intelligent node provides client service near clients. It enables to provide client service at short response time [M. Okuno, D. Ito, H. Miyamoto, H. Aoki, Y. Tsushima and T. Yazaki, A study on distributed information and communication processing architecture for next generation cloud system, IEICE Tech. Report109(448) (2010) 241–246]. We considered the reliability model of distributed information processing for cloud computing, derived cost effectiveness and discussed the optimal replication interval to minimize it [M. Kimura, M. Imaizumi and T. Nakagawa, Reliability modeling of distributed information processing for cloud computing, in Proc. 20th ISSAT Int. Conf. Reliability and Quality in Design (2014), pp. 183–187]. Authors had dealt with the server system with one failure mode. In this paper, we consider the reliability model of a real-time distributed system with n intelligent nodes and formulate a stochastic model of the server system with n intelligent nodes for changing the other normal intelligent node at failure. We derive the expected numbers of the replication and of updating the client data. Further, we derive the expected cost and discuss an optimal replication interval to minimize it. Next, we derive the cost effectiveness and discuss an optimal number of intelligent nodes to minimize it.
FACILE SYNTHESIS OF Pt-/Pd-MODIFIED NiTi ELECTRODE WITH SUPERIOR ELECTRO-CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES TOWARD METHANOL, ETHANOL AND ETHYLENE GLYCOL OXIDATION
Authors: HE YONGWEI , WANG MEI , MA ZIZAI , LI RUIXUE , KUNDU MANAB , MA GUANSHUI , LIN NAIMING , TANG BIN , WANG XIAOGUANG
Published: October 2015

Surface functional modification of NiTi electrode with noble Pt and Pd metal has been successfully carried out by simple and cost effective electro-spark deposition technique (ESD). Thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been carried out in order to investigate the structure, morphology, chemical composition and electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode surface. The modified Pt/NiTi and Pd/NiTi electrode surface exhibit a circular splash pattern with a tiny amount of Pt ([Formula: see text]5.30 at.% Pt) and Pd ([Formula: see text]5.71 at.% Pd) existence. The electrochemical results demonstrate that the Pt/NiTi and Pd/NiTi electrode possess an improved electro-catalytic activities toward methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH) and ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation in alkaline media in comparison with the bare NiTi electrode. In acidic environments, the Pt/NiTi electrode exhibits even much better catalytic activities than the pure Pt sheet electrode due to the bi-functional mechanism. In the same way, the electro-catalytic activity of the modified Pd/NiTi electrode is also slightly larger than that of the pure Pd sheet electrode in alkaline environment. The electro-spark surface modification approach is rapid and environmentally-benign, being attractive to widen the application of traditional surface modification technique in the field of material surface/interface design and functionalization.
Modified Homotopy Analysis Method for Nonlinear Aeroelastic Behavior of Two Degree-of-Freedom Airfoils
Authors: Niu Yaobin , Wang Zhongwei , Wang Dequan , Liu Bing
Published: October 2015

In this paper, the homotopy analysis method (HAM) is extended to deal with the nonlinear aeroelastic problem of a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) airfoil. To avoid determination of the parameter for the complicated high-order minimization problem, a new modified HAM is proposed based on the idea of minimizing the squared residual. Using this method, the convergence-control parameter is determined by the low order squared residual of the governing equations, and then the problem is solved in a way similar to the basic HAM. The proposed method is used to solve the nonlinear aeroelastic behavior of a supersonic airfoil, with the unsteady aerodynamic load evaluated by the piston theory. Two examples are prepared, for which the frequencies and amplitudes of the limit cycles are obtained. The approximate solutions obtained are demonstrated to agree excellently the numerical solutions, meanwhile, the convergence-control parameter can be easily determined using the present approach.
Comparative Study of Different Numerical Models for Vehicle–Bridge Interaction Analysis
Authors: Zou Qiling , Deng Lu , Guo Tieding , Yin Xinfeng
Published: October 2015

In this paper, a comprehensive comparative study on several existing vehicle–bridge interaction (VBI) models is presented with the aim to provide a useful reference to the selection of vehicle and bridge models when conducting the VBI simulation. A simply-supported slab-on-girder highway bridge and the AASHTO HS20-44 vehicle are adopted in the numerical analysis. The bridge is modeled as an Euler–Bernoulli beam, grillage, plate-and-beam system and solid-element system, respectively, while the vehicle is modeled as a moving-force, moving-mass and spring-damper-mass (SDM) system, respectively. Other factors, including the road roughness and the contact condition between the vehicle tire and bridge, are also considered. The effects of different VBI models on the bridge responses are studied and the results from different models are compared in terms of their accuracy, efficiency and suitability. The results show that the accuracy of different types of bridge responses calculated varies with the number of bridge vibration modes used in the simulation. It is also found that the type of element used in the bridge model and the vehicle tire model both have a larger impact on the bridge acceleration than bridge deflection.
H-Simple module algebras for eight-dimensional non-semisimple Hopf algebras
Authors: Gao Fengxia , Yang Shilin
Published: October 2015

Let [Formula: see text] be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. For all eight-dimensional non-semisimple Hopf algebras [Formula: see text] which are either pointed or unimodular, we characterrize all finite-dimensional [Formula: see text]-simple module algebras. As a bonus of our approach, it is shown that for any [Formula: see text]-simple algebra, the nilpotent index of the Jacobson radical is at most three.
Some conditions for the existence of Gorenstein projective covers and preenvelopes
Authors: Yu Bin
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we investigate the rings over which a module is Gorenstein flat if and only if it is Gorenstein projective. Some examples of such rings are given. We show that over such rings the class of Gorenstein projective modules is covering. We also characterize the rings over which the class of Gorenstein projective modules is preenveloping. As a conclusion, we obtain that a commutative ring is artinian if and only if every module has a Gorenstein projective preenvelope. The existence of pure injective Gorenstein injective preenvelopes over certain rings is also shown.