bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical evaluation of film thickness‐derived pressure–viscosity coefficients
Authors: Bair Scott
Published: October 2014

A single parameter, the pressure–viscosity coefficient, α, quantifies the pressure dependence of the viscosity of the liquid in elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). Most published values of α have not been obtained from measurements of viscosity as a function of pressure. Rather, these effective pressure–viscosity coefficients have been derived from the measurement of the EHL film thickness, a more difficult procedure. In this article, five well‐characterized liquids that should be Newtonian in the EHL inlet are identified for which film‐derived coefficients have been reported. These coefficients are compared with coefficients derived from published viscosity correlations and new viscosity measurements. The film‐derived coefficients are found to not be an accurate representation of the piezoviscous response. The procedure of deriving a pressure–viscosity coefficient from a film thickness measurement does not offer an alternative to the simpler and easier viscometer measurement. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medication misuse, nonadherence, and clinical outcomes among liver transplant recipients
Authors: Serper Marina , Patzer Rachel E. , Reese Peter P. , Przytula Kamila , Koval Rachel , Ladner Daniela P. , Levitsky Josh , Abecassis Michael M. , Wolf Michael S.
Published: October 2014

Medication nonadherence after liver transplantation (LT) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as graft rejection and graft loss. Few studies have examined nonadherence and its impact on clinical outcomes in LT. The study objectives were (1) to evaluate medication understanding (with treatment knowledge and demonstrated regimen use scores) and medication adherence or nonadherence to entire regimens among LT recipients and (2) to examine associations of these exposures with clinical outcomes. We conducted a 2‐site study of 105 recipients between 2011 and 2012 at 2 transplant centers in Chicago, IL and Atlanta, GA. Data were collected via detailed, in‐person interviews and medical record reviews. Study participants were middle‐aged and predominantly male; 15% of the sample had limited literacy. On average, patients were taking 11 medications [standard deviation (SD) = 4], and 39% had undergone a medication change within the last month. The average scores for the entire medication regimen were 86% (SD = 22%) for treatment knowledge and 78% (SD = 22%) for demonstrated regimen use. The mean score for self‐reported nonadherence to the entire regimen was 14% (SD = 20%), whereas 32% of the patients were nonadherent according to tacrolimus levels. In multivariate analyses, lower income, less time since transplantation, a higher number of medications, and limited literacy were inversely associated with treatment knowledge scores (all P < 0.05), whereas limited literacy was associated with nonadherence according to tacrolimus levels (P < 0.05). In multivariate models, higher scores for treatment knowledge [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.74‐0.97] and demonstrated regimen use (IRR = 0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.77‐0.98) were independently associated with 15% and 13% reductions in the number of posttransplant rehospitalizations, respectively. Inadequate treatment knowledge and improper regimen use may be significant determinants of unintentional nonadherence among LT recipients and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Liver Transpl 21:22‐28, 2015. © 2014 AASLD.
Curaua Fibers/Epoxy Laminates with Improved Mechanical Properties: Effects of Fiber Treatment Conditions
Authors: Cardoso Paulo H. M. , Bastian Fernando L. , Thiré Rossana M. S. M.
Published: October 2014

The use of lignocellulosic fibers as reinforcement in polymer composites has increased worldwide recently. Vegetal fibers have low cost and they are commonly available in Brazil. The curaua fibers in particular are of great importance for the development of the Amazon region. The mechanical behavior of the composites reinforced with fibers depends on the effectiveness of the transfer of the applied load by the matrix to the fibers, which is determined by the magnitude of the interfacial bonding between fiber/matrix phases. In this paper, curaua fibers were treated with 0.25–2% (w/v) NaOH solution under tensile loading to improve fiber‐matrix adhesion in curaua fibers/epoxy laminates. Composites with 40 vol.% curaua fibers were obtained. Maximum improvement in the composite properties was observed for those containing curaua fibers treated with 0.5% NaOH under tensile loading. Composites with good bending properties were obtained by using a simple, low cost and environmental friendly method for curaua treatment. This method employed low concentration of chemical solutions, which are neutralized during the process, and no need of heating.
Spatiotemporal phase unwrapping for real‐time phase‐contrast flow MRI
Authors: Untenberger Markus , Hüllebrand Markus , Tautz Lennart , Joseph Arun A. , Voit Dirk , Merboldt K. Dietmar , Frahm Jens
Published: October 2014

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a practical phase unwrapping method for real‐time phase‐contrast flow MRI using temporal and spatial continuity.

Methods

Real‐time phase‐contrast MRI of through‐plane flow was performed using highly undersampled radial FLASH with phase‐sensitive reconstructions by regularized nonlinear inversion. Experiments involved flow in a phantom and the human aorta (10 healthy subjects) with and without phase wrapping for velocity encodings of 100 cm·s−1 and 200 cm·s−1. Phase unwrapping was performed for each individual cardiac cycle and restricted to a region of interest automatically propagated to all time frames. The algorithm exploited temporal continuity in forward and backward direction for all pixels with a “continuous” representation of blood throughout the entire cardiac cycle (inner vessel lumen). Phase inconsistencies were corrected by a comparison with values from direct spatial neighbors. The latter approach was also applied to pixels exhibiting a discontinuous signal intensity time course due to movement‐induced spatial displacements (peripheral vessel zone).

Results

Phantom and human flow MRI data were successfully unwrapped. When halving the velocity encoding, the velocity‐to‐noise ratio (VNR) increased by a factor of two.

Conclusion

The proposed phase unwrapping method for real‐time flow MRI allows for measurements with reduced velocity encoding and increased VNR. Magn Reson Med 74:964–970, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased brain perfusion contrast with T2‐prepared intravoxel incoherent motion (T2prep IVIM) MRI
Authors: Federau Christian , O'Brien Kieran
Published: October 2014

The feasibility to measure brain perfusion using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI has been reported recently with currently clinically available technology. The method is intrinsically local and quantitative, but is contaminated by partial volume effects with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Signal from CSF can be suppressed by a 180° inversion recovery (180°‐IR) magnetization preparation, but this also leads to strong suppression of blood and brain tissue signal. Here, we take advantage of the different T2 relaxations of blood and brain relative to CSF, and implement a T2‐prepared IVIM (T2prep IVIM) inversion recovery acquisition, which permits a recovery of between 43% and 57% of arterial and venous blood magnetization at excitation time compared with the theoretical recovery of between 27% and 30% with a standard 180°‐IR. We acquired standard IVIM (IVIM), T2prep IVIM and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) images at 3 T using a 32‐multichannel receiver head coil in eight patients with known large high‐grade brain tumors. We compared the contrast and contrast‐to‐noise ratio obtained in the corresponding cerebral blood volume images quantitatively, as well as subjectively by two neuroradiologists. Our findings suggest that quantitative cerebral blood volume contrast and contrast‐to‐noise ratio, as well as subjective lesion detection, contrast quality and diagnostic confidence, are increased with T2prep IVIM relative to IVIM and DSC. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intelligente Kamera für schnelle Zeilenbildauswertung
Authors: Beising Michael
Published: October 2014

Die Smart Camera von EVT ermöglicht es, Bildauswertungen von Zeilensensoren in Hochgeschwindigkeit, in einem kompakten Kameragehäuse zu realisieren. Die Kamera basiert auf dem Xilinx Zynq FPGA/Prozessor SoC (System on Chip Design), das zwei ARM Prozessoren mit 48 000 Logic‐Gattern auf einem Chip vereint. Da das gesamte System um den Xilinx SoC aufgebaut ist, konnten die Maße der Smart Camera sehr kompakt gehalten werden, die betragen gerade mal 64 × 47 × 29 mm. Dank der energieeffizienten ARM‐Technologie beträgt die maximale Leistungsaufnahme vier Watt. Dadurch lässt sich die Kamera komplett passiv über das Gehäuse kühlen (Abb. 1).
Synthesis and evaluation of the thermal properties of biosourced poly(ether)ureas and copoly(ether)ureas from 1,4:3,6‐dianhydrohexitols
Authors: Medimagh Raouf , Smaidia Maissa Meddeb , Bennour Haythem , Chatti Saber
Published: October 2014

A new series of poly(ether)ureas were prepared by solution polyaddition of three diamines based on 1,4:3,6‐dianhydrohexitols with three types of diisocyanate. The corresponding poly(ether)ureas were obtained with high yields. They were characterized by various analytical techniques (NMR, TGA and differential thermal analysis, DSC). NMR spectroscopy allowed us to confirm structure type and to optimize reaction conditions and DSC proved the high thermal properties of the products obtained (Tg and Tm in the range 126 − 158 °C and 235 − 330 °C respectively). Then, copoly(ether)ureas partially based on commercial diamines were synthesized in order to reduce polymer cost and tune their thermal behaviour. The reactivity of both diamines was evaluated by their incorporation in the polymer by means of NMR spectra. Then their thermal properties were compared with fully commercial diamine based polyureas by DSC studies. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
MS/MS‐based strategies for proteomic profiling of invasive cell structures
Authors: Havrylov Serhiy , Park Morag
Published: October 2014

Acquired capacity of cancer cells to penetrate through the extracellular matrix of surrounding tissues is a prerequisite for tumour metastatic spread – the main source of cancer‐associated mortality. Through combined efforts of many research groups, we are beginning to understand that the ability of cells to invade through the extracellular matrix is a multi‐faceted phenomenon supported by variety of specialised protrusive cellular structures, primarily pseudopodia, invadopodia and podosomes. Additionally, secreted extracellular vesicles are being increasingly recognised as important mediators of invasive cell phenotypes and therefore may be considered bona fide invasive cell structures. Dissection of the molecular makings underlying biogenesis and function of all of these structures is crucial to identify novel targets for specific anti‐metastatic therapies. Rapid advances and growing accessibility of MS/MS‐based protein identification made this family of techniques a suitable and appropriate choice for proteomic profiling of invasive cell structures. In this review, we provide a summary of current progress in the characterisation of protein composition and topology of protein interaction networks of pseudopodia, invadopodia, podosomes and extracellular vesicles, as well as outline challenges and perspectives of the field.
Thermodynamic study of the ternary system gallium‐arsenic‐bismuth
Authors: Elayech N. , Fitouri H. , Essouda Y. , Rebey A. , El Jani B.
Published: October 2014

Binary thermodynamic data, successfully used for phase diagram calculations of binary system Ga‐As, Ga‐Bi and As‐Bi were used for prediction of phase equilibria in ternary Ga‐As‐Bi system. The parameters for the thermodynamic models of the constituent binary systems and those for the Ga‐As‐Bi system are optimized in this study using data on phase equilibria and data on the different alloys available in the literature and calculated in the present work. The implications of the phase data for solution epitaxy are discussed. The liquidus surface and isothermal section were calculated. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Bound state solutions of D‐dimensional schrödinger equation with exponential‐type potentials
Authors: Peña José Juan , García‐Martínez Jesús , García‐Ravelo Jesus , Morales Jesus
Published: October 2014

In this article, using an exactly‐solvable multiparameter exponential‐type potential we propose a unified treatment of the analytical bound—state solutions of the Schrödinger equation for exponential‐type potentials in D‐dimensions. Our proposal accepts different approximations to the centrifugal term; however, its usefulness is exemplified in the frame of the Green and Aldrich approach. This fact enables us to compare our results with specific potentials found in the literature and that are obtained here as particular cases of our proposal. That is, instead of solving a specific exponential‐type potential, by resorting each time to a specialized method, the energy spectra and wavefunctions are derived straightforward from the proposed approach. Furthermore, our proposal can be used as an alternative way in the search of solutions to new exponential‐type potentials besides that one can study different approximations to the term
. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vivo isotopically labeled atherosclerotic aorta plaques in ApoE KO mice and molecular profiling by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging
Authors: Castro‐Perez Jose , Hatcher Nathan , Kofi Karikari Nana , Wang Sheng‐Ping , Mendoza Vivienne , Shion Henry , Millar Alan , Shockcor John , Towers Mark , McLaren David , Shah Vinit , Previs Stephen , Akinsanya Karen , Cleary Michele , Roddy Thomas P. , Johns Douglas G.
Published: October 2014

RATIONALE

The ability to quantify rates of formation, regression and/or remodeling of atherosclerotic plaque should facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis and management of cardiovascular disease. In the current study, we coupled a stable isotope labeled tracer protocol with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) to examine spatial and temporal lipid dynamics in atherosclerotic plaque.

METHODS

To promote plaque formation in the aorta region, ApoE KO mice were fed a high cholesterol diet (0.15% cholesterol) and orally dosed with (2,2,3,4,4,6‐d6)‐cholesterol over several weeks. Tissue sections of ~10 µm thickness were analyzed by MALDI‐MSI using matrix deposition by either chemical sublimation or acoustic droplet ejection.

RESULTS

MALDI‐MSI yielded distinct spatial distribution information for a variety of lipid classes including specific lysophosphatidylcholines typically associated with atherosclerosis‐related tissue damage such as phospholipase 2 (Lp‐PLA2) that mediate chemotactic responses to inflammation (e.g. LPC 16:0, LPC 18:0 and LPC 18:1) as well as free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters that contribute to atheroma formation. MALDI mass spectra acquired from aorta tissue sections clearly distinguished non‐esterified and esterified versions of (2,2,3,4,4,6‐d6)‐cholesterol within aortic plaque regions and showed distinct spatial accumulation of the cholesterol tracer.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to couple stable isotope based protocols with MALDI‐MSI enables a novel strategy to characterize the effects of therapeutic treatments on atherosclerotic plaque formation, regression and potential remodeling of the complex lipid components with high chemical specificity and spatiotemporal information. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silver dopants for targeted and untargeted direct analysis of unsaturated lipids via infrared matrix‐assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR‐MALDESI)
Authors: Meier Florian , Garrard Kenneth P. , Muddiman David C.
Published: October 2014

RATIONALE

Unsaturated lipids play a crucial role in cellular processes as signaling factors, membrane building blocks or energy storage molecules. However, adequate mass spectrometry imaging of this diverse group of molecules remains challenging. In this study we implemented silver cationization for direct analysis by infrared matrix‐assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR‐MALDESI) to enhance the ion abundances for olefinic lipids and facilitate peak assignment.

METHODS

Trace amounts of silver nitrate were doped into the electrospray solvent of an IR‐MALDESI imaging source coupled to an Orbitrap mass analyzer. Calcifediol was examined as a model compound to demonstrate the effect of silver dopants on sensitivity and assay robustness. Dried human serum spots were subsequently analyzed to compare Ag‐doped solvents with previously described solvent compositions. Mass differences as well as ion abundance ratio filters were employed to interpret results based on the characteristic isotopic pattern of silver.

RESULTS

Olefinic lipids were readily observed as silver adducts in IR‐MALDESI analyses. Silver cationization decreased the limit of detection for calcifediol by at least one order of magnitude and was not affected in complex biological matrices. The ion abundance ratio and mass difference of [M + 107Ag+]+ and [M + 109Ag+]+ were successfully applied to facilitate the spectral assignment of silver adducts. Overall, silver cationization increased the analyte coverage in human serum by 43% compared with a standard IR‐MALDESI approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Silver cationization has been shown to enhance IR‐MALDESI sensitivity and selectivity for unsaturated lipids, even when applied to complex samples. Increased compound coverage, enhanced robustness as well as the developed tools for peak assignment and mapping of isotopic patterns will clearly benefit future mass spectrometry imaging studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The defense in‐depth approach to the protection for browsing users against drive‐by cache attacks
Authors: Lai Yeu‐Pong , Wu Wei‐Feng
Published: October 2014

Because of the evolution of cloud computing techniques, web browsing becomes the main function for persons using computers. Researchers are then devoted to the study of the attack characteristics for delaminating the attacks via Web connections. Because these defense technologies on the server side have great progress, attackers therefore target to the other side, the client side of personal computers. Drive‐by download is the most commonly used method to attack client computers, which exploits software vulnerabilities on the computers to secretly download and install malware. That is used to collect information on the affected computers or take those as hops to the next victims. Because of the protection technology improved and user awareness educated, attackers developed a new variety type of attacks named ‘drive‐by cache’ that has different attack steps and counterfeit file extension from the original ‘drive‐by download’. The changes elude those existed detection methods. This paper proposed a depth defense scheme to detect and prevent this type of attacks via collaboratively many existing solutions in phases. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Classification accuracy of claims‐based methods for identifying providers failing to meet performance targets
Authors: Hubbard Rebecca A. , Benjamin‐Johnson Rhondee , Onega Tracy , Smith‐Bindman Rebecca , Zhu Weiwei , Fenton Joshua J.
Published: October 2014

Quality assessment is critical for healthcare reform, but data sources are lacking for measurement of many important healthcare outcomes. With over 49 million people covered by Medicare as of 2010, Medicare claims data offer a potentially valuable source that could be used in targeted health care quality improvement efforts. However, little is known about the operating characteristics of provider profiling methods using claims‐based outcome measures that may estimate provider performance with error. Motivated by the example of screening mammography performance, we compared approaches to identifying providers failing to meet guideline targets using Medicare claims data. We used data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium and linked Medicare claims to compare claims‐based and clinical estimates of cancer detection rate. We then demonstrated the performance of claim‐based estimates across a broad range of operating characteristics using simulation studies. We found that identification of poor performing providers was extremely sensitive to algorithm specificity, with no approach identifying more than 65% of poor performing providers when claims‐based measures had specificity of 0.995 or less. We conclude that claims have the potential to contribute important information on healthcare outcomes to quality improvement efforts. However, to achieve this potential, development of highly accurate claims‐based outcome measures should remain a priority. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fundamental period of irregular concentrically braced steel frame structures
Authors: Young Kelly , Adeli Hojjat
Published: October 2014

This paper presents the results of investigation on the fundamental periods of concentrically braced frame (CBF) structures with varying geometric irregularities. A total of 12 CBFs are designed and analyzed. On the basis of the results obtained from vibration theory, equations for the approximate fundamental periods are put forth for CBFs, which take into account vertical and horizontal irregularities. Through statistical comparison, it was found that a three‐variable power model that is able to account for irregularities resulted in a better fit to the Rayleigh data than equations that were dependent on height only. The proposed equations were validated through a comparison of available measured period data for CBFs. These proposed equations will allow design engineers to quickly and to accurately estimate the fundamental period of CBF structures by taking into account irregularities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Channel discovery algorithms for interference avoidance in smart grid communication networks: a survey
Authors: Wang Teng‐Hui , Chen Hsiao‐Hwa
Published: October 2014

Smart grid technology has attracted a lot of attention in the communication and power engineering communities because of its high efficiency and environmental friendly power production and delivery. Smart grid communication networks act as not only a bridge between the end power users and the utility but also a backbone of the entire smart grid system. It is a challenging task to deploy smart grid communication networks because of interference‐intensive environment. The goal of this paper is to explore various issues on deployment of smart grid communication networks. The first half of this paper provides a survey on smart grid communication networks. The background of smart grid communication networks is introduced, and the IEEE 802.15.4g standard for smart utility networks is reviewed. In addition, the issues on network topology and routing protocols of smart utility networks are addressed, followed by the discussions on optimizing gateway deployment. Various methods for addressing coexistence issues in smart grid communication networks are presented. The second half of this paper is to propose a channel discovery algorithm exploiting the inherent CSMA/CA mechanism in the protocols. Because of the use of CSMA/CA mechanism and up‐to‐date channel status table, the proposed algorithm can quickly find an available channel for transmission when interferences occur. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asymmetric reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone to (R)-1,3-butanediol with absolute stereochemical selectivity by a newly isolated strain of Pichia jadinii
Authors: Yang Taowei , Man Zaiwei , Rao Zhiming , Xu Meijuan , Zhang Xian , Xu Zhenghong
Published: October 2014

In this study, a novel strain of Pichia jadinii, HBY61, capable of the biocatalysis of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone (4H2B) to (R)-1,3-BD was isolated. HBY61 produced (R)-1,3-BD with high activity and absolute stereochemical selectivity (100 % e.e). Glucose and beef extract were found to be the key factors governing the fermentation, and their optimal concentrations were determined to be 84.2 and 43.7 g/L, respectively. The optimal bioconversion conditions of 4H2B catalyzed by HBY61 were pH 7.4, 30 °C, and 250 rpm with 6 % (v/v) glucose as the co-substrate. Accordingly, when 45 g/L of 4H2B was divided into three equal parts and added successively into the system at set time intervals, the maximum (R)-1,3-BD concentration reached 38.3 g/L with high yield (85.1 %) and strict 100 % enantioselectivity. Compared with previously reported yields for the biocatalytic production of (R)-1,3-BD, the use of strain HBY61 provided a high yield with excellent stereoselectivity.
Comparative Assay of Antioxidant Packages for Dimer of Estolide Esters
Authors: Cermak Steven C. , Bredsguard Jakob W. , Dunn Robert O. , Thompson Travis , Feken Kati A. , Roth Katie L. , Kenar James A. , Isbell Terry A. , Murray Rex E.
Published: October 2014

A series of 26 different antioxidants and commercial antioxidant packages designed for petroleum‐based materials, containing both natural and synthetic‐based materials, were evaluated with dimeric coconut‐oleic estolide 2‐ethylhexyl ester (2‐EH), a bio‐based material. The different antioxidants were categorized into different classes of phenolic, aminic, and blended/others materials. The oxidation onset temperatures (OT) using non‐isothermal pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) were measured and recorded under previously reported standard conditions. The aminic series gave the best resistance to oxidation as defined by the PDSC method with OT of 246.6 and 244.7 °C for the best two performers, which was a 38 °C improvement over the uninhibited or unformulated dimer estolide material. The phenolic series, containing most of the naturally occurring antioxidants, was the least successful formulation package for the dimer estolide. The blended/other materials, which were specifically designed for petroleum‐based lubricants, did not have the best OT, since the estolides and other bio‐based materials interact differently than their petroleum counterparts. A number of potential antioxidants have been identified as useful additives for the estolides esters. The OT of the estolide and formulated materials correlated well with other bio‐based materials such as biodiesel.
Les revues françaises d'astronomie, un cas d'interactivité scientifique
Authors: Vassilieff Catherine
Published: October 2014

Les données astronomiques des observatoires trouvent une large application sur terre comme sur mer. Par leur structure et leur périodicité, les revues sont particulièrement adaptées aux remontées de données et échanges de commentaires tant entre savants qu'entre savants et «observateurs». Les observatoires régionaux fédèrent au long du XIXe siècle ce mouvement qui rassemble des professionnels intéressés par les applications de ces observations, puis, sous l'impulsion de personnalités comme Camille Flammarion, un public élargi d'amateurs. Ces lieux d'échanges que sont les revues se retrouvent au XXe siècle sur Internet aussi bien sur les sites institutionnels que sur les forums associatifs.
Trois revues institutionnelles: le journal de l'école polytechnique, les annales des mines, les annales des ponts et chaussées
Authors: Masson Francine
Published: October 2014

Les trois revues étudiées sont marquées par la tutelle d'institutions d'État qui explique certainement leur pérennité et la lenteur de leurs évolutions. Le Journal de /'École polytechnique est de type académique, les deux Annales sont à la fois scientifiques, techniques et administratives. Elles sont le lien entre l'administration et ses agents. Elles constituent des corpus importants de textes scientifiques, techniques et administratifs, d'où la nécessité de développer des systèmes efficaces d'accès aux divers articles.
Global and Domestic Legal Preparedness and Response: 2014 Ebola Outbreak
Authors: Hodge James G.
Published: October 2014

The global rise of Ebola viral diseases in 2014 necessitates legal responses that promote effective public health responses and respect for the health and human rights of populations. Compulsory public health interventions, approval and administration of experimental drugs or vaccines, and allocation of finite resources require difficult choices in law and policy. Crafting legal decisions in real-time emergencies is neither easy nor predictable, but it is essential to controlling epidemics and saving lives.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-4)
Responding to a Radiological Crisis: Experiences of British Foreign Office Staff in Japan After the Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown
Authors: Bakhshi Savita , Lynn-Nicholson Rebecca , Jones Bryony , Amlôt Richard , Greenberg Neil , Rubin G. James
Published: October 2014

Objectives

To identify factors that affected well-being among British embassy staff based in Japan after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown.

Methods

In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 36 members of staff 8 to 9 months after the earthquake.

Results

Participants described their crisis work as stressful, exciting, and something of which they were proud. Aside from disaster-specific stressors, factors identified as stressful included unclear roles, handing over work to new personnel, being assigned to office-based work, feeling that work was not immediately beneficial to the public, not taking good-quality breaks, and difficulties with relatives. The radiation risk provoked mixed feelings, with most participants being reassured by contact with senior scientists.

Conclusions

Interventions to safeguard the well-being of personnel during crisis work must consider the impact of a broad range of stressors.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-7)
Steroids, psychosis and poly-substance abuse
Authors: Duffy R. M. , Kelly B. D.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To review consequences of the changing demographic profile of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use.

Method

Case report and review of key papers.

Results

We report here a case of a 19-year-old Irish male presenting with both medical and psychiatric side effects of methandrostenolone use. The man had a long-standing history of harmful cannabis use, but had not experienced previous psychotic symptoms. Following use of methandrostenolone, he developed rhabdomyolysis and a psychotic episode with homicidal ideation.

Discussion

Non-medical AAS use is a growing problem associated with medical, psychiatric and forensic risks. The population using these drugs has changed with the result of more frequent poly-substance misuse, potentially exacerbating these risks.

Conclusion

A higher index of suspicion is needed for AAS use. Medical personnel need to be aware of the potential side effects of their use, including the risk of violence. Research is needed to establish the magnitude of the problem in Ireland.
Effects of an axial flow on the centrifugal, elliptic and hyperbolic instabilities in Stuart vortices
Authors: Mathur Manikandan , Ortiz Sabine , Dubos Thomas , Chomaz Jean-Marc
Published: October 2014

Linear stability of the Stuart vortices in the presence of an axial flow is studied. The local stability equations derived by Lifschitz & Hameiri (Phys. Fluids A, vol. 3 (11), 1991, pp. 2644–2651) are rewritten for a three-component (3C) two-dimensional (2D) base flow represented by a 2D streamfunction and an axial velocity that is a function of the streamfunction. We show that the local perturbations that describe an eigenmode of the flow should have wavevectors that are periodic upon their evolution around helical flow trajectories that are themselves periodic once projected on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. Integrating the amplitude equations around periodic trajectories for wavevectors that are also periodic, it is found that the elliptic and hyperbolic instabilities, which are present without the axial velocity, disappear beyond a threshold value for the axial velocity strength. Furthermore, a threshold axial velocity strength, above which a new centrifugal instability branch is present, is identified. A heuristic criterion, which reduces to the Leibovich & Stewartson criterion in the limit of an axisymmetric vortex, for centrifugal instability in a non-axisymmetric vortex with an axial flow is then proposed. The new criterion, upon comparison with the numerical solutions of the local stability equations, is shown to describe the onset of centrifugal instability (and the corresponding growth rate) very accurately.
Quasi-cylindrical approximation to the swirling flow in an atomizer chamber
Authors: Higuera F. J. , Pereña A.
Published: October 2014

A quasi-cylindrical approximation is used to analyse the axisymmetric swirling flow of a liquid with a hollow air core in the chamber of a pressure swirl atomizer. The liquid is injected into the chamber with an azimuthal velocity component through a number of slots at the periphery of one end of the chamber, and flows out as an annular sheet through a central orifice at the other end, following a conical convergence of the chamber wall. An effective inlet condition is used to model the effects of the slots and the boundary layer that develops at the nearby endwall of the chamber. An analysis is presented of the structure of the liquid sheet at the end of the exit orifice, where the flow becomes critical in the sense that upstream propagation of long-wave perturbations ceases to be possible. This analysis leads to a boundary condition at the end of the orifice that is an extension of the condition of maximum flux used with irrotational models of the flow. As is well known, the radial pressure gradient induced by the swirling flow in the bulk of the chamber causes the overpressure that drives the liquid towards the exit orifice, and also leads to Ekman pumping in the boundary layers of reduced azimuthal velocity at the convergent wall of the chamber and at the wall opposite to the exit orifice. The numerical results confirm the important role played by the boundary layers. They make the thickness of the liquid sheet at the end of the orifice larger than predicted by irrotational models, and at the same time tend to decrease the overpressure required to pass a given flow rate through the chamber, because the large axial velocity in the boundary layers takes care of part of the flow rate. The thickness of the boundary layers increases when the atomizer constant (the inverse of a swirl number, proportional to the flow rate scaled with the radius of the exit orifice and the circulation around the air core) decreases. A minimum value of this parameter is found below which the layer of reduced azimuthal velocity around the air core prevents the pressure from increasing and steadily driving the flow through the exit orifice. The effects of other parameters not accounted for by irrotational models are also analysed in terms of their influence on the boundary layers.
Self-sustained oscillations of shallow flow past sequential cavities
Authors: Tuna B. A. , Rockwell D.
Published: October 2014

Shallow flow past successive cavities is characterized by means of high-image-density particle image velocimetry (PIV). Highly coherent, self-sustained oscillations arise due to coupling between the inherent instability of the separated shear layer along the opening of each sequential cavity; and a gravity standing wave mode within each cavity. The globally coupled nature of the flow structure is evident through dominance of the same spectral component in the undulating vorticity layers along each of the successive cavities and the wall pressure fluctuations within the cavities. Unlike coupled phenomena associated with flow past a single cavity, optimal coupling for successive cavities requires a defined phase shift between the gravity standing wave patterns in adjacent cavities and, furthermore, an overall phase shift of the undulating shear layer along the cavity openings. The magnitudes of these phase shifts depend on the mode of the gravity standing wave in each cavity, i.e. longitudinal or transverse mode, which is respectively aligned with or normal to the main stream. Such phase shifts result in corresponding displacements of patterns of phase-referenced vorticity concentrations along the cavity openings and changes in the timing of impingement of these concentrations upon the downstream corners of successive cavities. All of the foregoing aspects are related to the unsteady recirculation flow within the cavity, the time-dependent streamline topology, and concentrations of Reynolds stress along the cavity opening.
COPTS AND THE MILLET PARTNERSHIP: THE INTRA-COMMUNAL DYNAMICS BEHIND EGYPTIAN SECTARIANISM
Authors: Sedra Paul
Published: October 2014

The sparse scholarship on the political role of Coptic Christians in modern Egypt almost always takes the Coptic Orthodox Church as a point of departure, assuming that the head of the church, the Coptic patriarch, is not only the spiritual leader of the community but its political leader as well. This article argues that the disproportionate attention afforded to the Coptic Orthodox Church in this scholarship has obscured intra-communal dynamics of the Copts that are essential to an understanding of their political role. Through an analysis of historical struggles between the Coptic clergy and the Coptic laity for influence in Egyptian politics, as well as a particular focus on how these struggles have played out in the arena of personal status law, the article demonstrates that Egyptian politics and Coptic communal dynamics are deeply intertwined, to a degree often disregarded both by Copts and by Egypt analysts.
The impact of date palm fruits and their component polyphenols, on gut microbial ecology, bacterial metabolites and colon cancer cell proliferation
Authors: Eid Noura , Enani Sumia , Walton Gemma , Corona Giulia , Costabile Adele , Gibson Glenn , Rowland Ian , Spencer Jeremy P. E.
Published: October 2014

The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactyliferaL.) is a rich source of dietary fibre and polyphenols. We have investigated gut bacterial changes induced by the whole date fruit extract (digested date extract; DDE) and its polyphenol-rich extract (date polyphenol extract; DPE) using faecal, pH-controlled, mixed batch cultures mimicking the distal part of the human large intestine, and utilising an array of microbial group-specific 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probes. Fluorescence microscopic enumeration indicated that there was a significant increase in the growth of bifidobacteria in response to both treatments, whilst whole dates also increased bacteroides at 24 h and the total bacterial counts at later fermentation time points when compared with DPE alone. Bacterial metabolism of whole date fruit led to the production of SCFA, with acetate significantly increasing following bacterial incubation with DDE. In addition, the production of flavonoid aglycones (myricetin, luteolin, quercetin and apigenin) and the anthocyanidin petunidin in less than 1 h was also observed. Lastly, the potential of DDE, DPE and metabolites to inhibit Caco-2 cell growth was investigated, indicating that both were capable of potentially acting as antiproliferative agentsin vitro, following a 48 h exposure. This potential to inhibit growth was reduced following fermentation. Together these data suggest that consumption of date fruits may enhance colon health by increasing beneficial bacterial growth and inhibiting the proliferation of colon cancer cells. This is an early suggestion that date intake by humans may aid in the maintenance of bowel health and even the reduction of colorectal cancer development.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a suicide factor in mental disorders
Authors: Grah Majda , Mihanovic Mate , Ruljancic Nedjeljka , Restek-Petrovic Branka , Molnar Sven , Jelavic Silvana
Published: October 2014

Objective

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in brain plasticity processes and serum levels have been demonstrated to be altered in patients with different mental disorder including suicidal behaviour. The objective of this study was to examine the association between serum BDNF levels as a possible peripheral indicator of suicide behaviour in subjects suffering from depression, personality disorders (PDs) and adjustment disorders (ADs) with or without suicide attempt.

Methods

The research included 172 randomly selected individuals suffering from recurrent depressive disorder (RDD; F 33.2), emotionally unstable PD (F 60.3) and AD (F 43.2), with or without attempted suicide according to the criteria of the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) and 60 phenotypically health control subjects. In the group of patients, 73% subjects took some form of psychopharmacotherapy. Serum BDNF levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Subjects with PD and AD with suicide attempts had significantly lower serum BDNF levels than those without suicide attempts. In groups of subjects with PD and AD, those taking psychopharmacotherapy had higher serum BDNF levels. In the group of subjects with RDD, there were no differences with respect to suicide attempts or psychopharmacotherapy. Logistical regression analysis was indicated that psychopharmcotherapy and serum BDNF levels statistically correlated with suicide attempts.

Conclusion

The lower levels of BDNF in subjects suffering from PD and AD with suicide attempts, suggest that the serum BDNF level is a potential marker of suicidal behaviour, independent of mental disorders.
Visibility of Pulsar Emission: Motion of the Visible Point
Authors: Yuen R. , Melrose D. B.
Published: October 2014

A standard model for the visibility of pulsar radio emission is based on the assumption that the emission is confined to a narrow cone about the tangent to a dipolar field line. The widely accepted rotating vector model (RVM) is an approximation in which the line of sight is fixed and the field line is not strictly tangent to it. We refer to an exact treatment (Gangadhara, 2004) as the tangent model. In the tangent model (but not in the RVM) the visible point changes as a function of pulsar rotational phase, ψ, defining a trajectory on a sphere of radius r. We solve for the trajectory and for the angular velocity of the visible point around it. We note the recent claim that this motion is observable using interstellar holography (Pen et al., 2014). We estimate the error introduced by use of the RVM and find that it is significant for pulsars with emission over a wide range of ψ. The RVM tends to underestimate the range of ψ over which emission is visible. We suggest that the geometry alone strongly favors the visible pulsar radio being emitted at a heights more than ten percent of the light-cylinder distance, where our neglect of retardation effects becomes significant.
Toronto-area Ethnic Newspapers and Canada's 2011 Federal Election: An Investigation of Content, Focus and Partisanship
Authors: Lindgren April
Published: October 2014

Canada's political class is embracing ethnocultural news media with increasing zeal, highlighting the need to understand the role of these news organizations in the political process. This study investigated coverage of Canada's 2011 federal election in five Toronto-area ethnocultural newspapers. The publications, which carried campaign news to varying degrees, provided coverage that was distinct in many ways from mainstream media. Content such as the focus on ingroup candidates had the potential to strengthen community bonds while more general election news equipped readers with information that would facilitate participation in society through informed voting. Analysis of reporting about the Conservative Party of Canada, which pursued an aggressive ethnic media strategy, identified no clear pattern of stories with explicitly biased content. In most newspapers, however, the CPC did enjoy an advantage in that it received more coverage than the competition.
The First Great Railway Strike: Rereading the Early Labour Movement in São Paulo
Authors: Grandi Guilherme
Published: October 2014

By analysing the first great railway strike in São Paulo (Brazil), this article aims to understand the role of the Companhia Paulista railway workers’ movement and its impact on labour relations in the São Paulo state. To that end, I have examined selected newspapers, the minutes of workers’ meetings, police investigations into the strike, and the reports of the Companhia Paulista's directors. Differing from the views of other historians who have tended to see the 1906 railway strike as a relatively inconsequential conflict about wages, I interpret it both as rooted in deeper grievances about labour conditions and as a starting point for a period of heightened militancy and changing labour-management relations.
Manipulation of laser-generated energetic proton spectra in near critical density plasma
Authors: Palmer Charlotte A. J. , Dover Nicholas P. , Pogorelsky Igor , Streeter Matthew J. V. , Najmudin Zulfikar
Published: October 2014

We present simulations that demonstrate the production of quasi-monoenergetic proton bunches from the interaction of a CO2 laser pulse train with a near-critical density hydrogen plasma. The multi-pulse structure of the laser leads to a steepening of the plasma density gradient, which the simulations show is necessary for the formation of narrow-energy spread proton bunches. Laser interactions with a long, front surface, scale-length (≫ c/ωp) plasma, with linear density gradient, were observed to generate proton beams with a higher maximum energy, but a much broader spectrum compared to step-like density profiles. In the step-like cases, a peak in the proton energy spectra was formed and seen to scale linearly with the ratio of laser intensity to plasma density.
Biogeography of continental shelf and upper slope fishes off El Salvador, Central America
Authors: Fuentes Claudia I. , Acuña Enzo , Hernández Numa R.
Published: October 2014

The present research provides detailed information on the geographic and bathymetric distributional patterns of fishes and describes the main species assemblages of the continental shelf and upper slope off El Salvador. The sampling was based on 673 bottom-trawl tows taken during research surveys from April to November 2003. The data analysis was based on presence-absence matrixes and was conducted with PRIMER 6 software. A total of 148 fish species were recorded during the study period: the families with the highest number of species were Sciaenidae (13) and Carangidae (10), and the highest percentages of occurrence were registered for Porichthys margaritatus (40.6%), Pontinus sp. (34.8%) and Monolene dubiosa (33.1%). The cluster analysis by depth showed three faunistic associations: (1) on the inner and part of the mid continental shelf (20–60 m), (2) one bathymetric stratum on the mid continental shelf (80–100 m), and (3) on the outer continental shelf and upper slope (120–240 m). The cluster analysis by geographic zones showed separation between three zones: Western, Central and Eastern Zones off El Salvador. The Central zone is characterized by a different fish community of mixed habitat, while the main factor that determined the fish assemblages on the continental shelf and upper slope was depth.