bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering geological assessment for route selection of railway line in geologically active area: A case study in China
Authors: Huang Run-qiu , Li Yan-rong , Qu Ke , Wang Ke
Published: July 2013

The Cheng-Lan railway links Chengdu, a central city in Southwestern China, and Lanzhou, a central city in Northwestern China. The railway passes through the Longmenshan fault zone (Wenchuan earthquake happened there on May 12, 2008), Minjiang fault zone, and Dongkunlun fault zone, which are all active. It runs over the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and crosses high mountains and deep valleys. There exists, along the railway’s alignment, different kinds of strata of hard granite and soft, weak metamorphic rocks such as carbonaceous slate, schist, and phyllite. It is, therefore, a key issue for such an infrastructure construction to assess the engineering geological conditions and risks, so as to mitigate or avoid possible georisks and to offer optional designs. Geological survey and georisk assessment along the railway corridor are carried out. Special attention is given to active faults, earthquakes and seismic zones. Based on these, discussions about geological aspects for route selection of the railway are conducted and countermeasures for georisk control are proposed accordingly. Main conclusions are achieved as follows: (1) Geohazards such as landslides, rockfalls and debries flows dominate both the route selection of the railway and the engineering structures (e.g., tunnels or bridges) adopted; (2) Tunnel has been proved to be an excellent structure for linear engineering in geologically active area; and (3) In the case where avoiding is impractical, necessary protection measures should be taken to engineering slopes in high earthquake intensity areas, especially the area with earthquake of Ms. 8 or greater.
Identifying scale-location specific control on vegetation distribution in mountain-hill region
Authors: Qiu Bing-wen , Zeng Can-ying , Tang Zheng-hong , Li Wei-jiao , Hirsh Aaron
Published: July 2013

The scale-location specific control on vegetation distribution was investigated through continuous wavelet transforms approaches in subtropical mountain-hill region, Fujian, China. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated as an indicator of vegetation greenness using Chinese Environmental Disaster Reduction Satellite images along latitudinal and longitudinal transects. Four scales of variations were identified from the local wavelet spectrum of NDVI, with much stronger wavelet variances observed at larger scales. The characteristic scale of vegetation distribution within mountainous and hilly regions in Southeast China was around 20 km. Significantly strong wavelet coherency was generally examined in regions with very diverse topography, typically characterized as small mountains and hills fractured by rivers and residents. The continuous wavelet based approaches provided valuable insight on the hierarchical structure and its corresponding characteristic scales of ecosystems, which might be applied in defining proper levels in multilevel models and optimal bandwidths in Geographically Weighted Regression.
Time‐dependent changes in cardiovascular function during copulatory behavior induced by the hand method in the male dog
Authors: Terada Misao , Horii Yatsuka , Sato Fumio , Taniguchi Kazumi , Hori Tatsuya , Kawakami Eiichi , Tsutsui Toshihiko , Akimoto Toshio , Shinoda Motoo , Saito Toru R.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Ejaculation in the male dog consists of three fractions. Observation of behavior and measurement of heart rate (HR), and plasma noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (Ad) concentrations were researched sequentially, and a fundamental examination of the features of sympathetic nerve activity during copulatory behavior induced by the hand method in the male dog was undertaken.

Methods

We investigated the breeding capability of male dogs. HR, plasma NA level and plasma Ad levels were measured during ejaculation induced by the hand method.

Results

HR was 125.8 ± 6.0 beats/min at rest, and peaked during mounting at 195.2 ± 8.2 beats/min. Moreover, HR at 3 min after the first fraction decreased to values similar to those at rest. Plasma NA and Ad concentrations during copulatory behavior induced by the hand method did not differ significantly from those at rest. However, although there was no significant difference, plasma NA concentration during ejaculation of the third fraction peaked at about 1.8 times the baseline value.

Conclusions

In the male dog, excitation of sympathetic nerves of long duration during erection of the penis and ejaculation is questionable. However, inhibition of sympathetic nerves and activation of parasympathetic nerves is thought to occur during erection of the penis and ejaculation.
Brief report: The influence of posttraumatic stress on unprotected sex among sexually active adolescent girls and boys involved in the child welfare system of the United States
Authors: Cavanaugh Courtenay E.
Published: July 2013

While posttraumatic stress (PTS) has been positively associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB) among adult women, there is a paucity of research examining PTS in relation to RSB among adolescent girls and boys. This study aimed to replicate findings among adult women with sexually active adolescents (179 females and 106 males) involved in a national study of children in the United States child welfare system. After controlling for age and the complex study design, sexually active adolescent girls with clinically significant PTS symptoms were more than seven times more likely than those without such symptoms to report unprotected intercourse. In contrast, sexually active adolescent boys with clinically significant PTS symptoms were less likely than those without such symptoms to report unprotected intercourse. Research is needed to 1) understand the mechanisms linking PTS and RSB, 2) further explore gender differences reported here, and 3) inform RSB interventions in this high‐risk population.
V. On some Evidence of there being a Reversal of the Beds near Whitecliff Bay, Isle of Wight
Authors: Whitaker William
Published: July 2013

In the well-known section at Whitecliff Bay the Chalk and the various Tertiary beds are seen to succeed one another in regular order northwards; and the dip, at first very high, so that the beds are almost vertical, decreases in that direction.
A Conversation on The Wooster Group's Troilus and Cressida with the RSC
Authors: LeCompte Elizabeth , Valk Kate , Shevtsova Maria
Published: July 2013

Elizabeth LeCompte and Kate Valk here discuss with Maria Shevtsova The Wooster Group's work with the Royal Shakespeare Company on Troilus and Cressida and the challenges posed for them by this joint venture. The project was initially proposed by Rupert Goold, but was brought to fruition by playwright Mark Ravenhill, his first directing experience. Troilus and Cressida was part of the World Shakespeare Festival, during which all Shakespeare's plays were performed by different companies from countries across the globe. The Festival, four years in the making and spanning eight months, was part of the cultural programme of the Olympic Games held in London in 2012. Troilus and Cressida was first performed at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 3 to 18 August 2012, and then at the Riverside Studios in London from 24 August to 8 September. This conversation took place at the Riverside Studios on 30 August 2012, and pairs with the discussion of The Wooster Group's Hamlet, the company's first Shakespeare production, published in NTQ 114 (May 2013). Maria Shevtsova holds the Chair in Drama and Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London and is co-editor of New Theatre Quarterly. Her most recent book is the co-authored Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Directing (2013).
Information Processing and Proactive Interference in Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Marton Klara , Campanelli Luca , Eichorn Naomi , Scheuer Jessica , Yoon Jungmee
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Increasing evidence suggests that children with specific language impairment (SLI) have a deficit in inhibition control, but research isolating specific abilities is scarce. The goal of this study was to examine whether children with SLI differ from their peers in resistance to proactive interference under different conditions.

Method

An information processing battery with manipulations in interference was administered to 66 children (SLI, age-matched peers, and language-matched controls). In Experiment 1, previously relevant targets were used as distractors to create conflict. Experiment 2 used item repetitions to examine how practice strengthens word representations and how the strength of a response impacts performance on the following item.

Results

Children with SLI performed similarly to their peers in the baseline condition but were more susceptible to proactive interference than the controls in both experimental conditions. Children with SLI demonstrated difficulty suppressing irrelevant information, made significantly more interference errors than their peers, and showed a slower rate of implicit learning.

Conclusion

Children with SLI show weaker resistance to proactive interference than their peers, and this deficit impacts their information processing abilities. The coordination of activation and inhibition is less efficient in these children, but future research is needed to further examine the interaction between these two processes.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170429
On the small divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils
Authors: Bin J. H. , Ma W. J. , Allinger K. , Wang H. Y. , Kiefer D. , Reinhardt S. , Hilz P. , Khrennikov K. , Karsch S. , Yan X. Q. , Krausz F. , Tajima T. , Habs D. , Schreiber J.
Published: July 2013

We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from nanometer thick diamond-like carbon foils irradiated by a linearly polarized intense laser with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle) of 2° are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the divergence angle in comparison to the results from μm thick targets. Similar features are reproduced in two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with parameters representing our experiments, indicating a strong influence from the electron density distribution on the divergence of protons. Our comprehensive experimental study reveals grand opportunities for using nm foils in experiments that require high ion flux and small divergence.
Second-order resummed thermodynamic perturbation theory for central-force associating potential: Multi-patch colloidal models
Authors: Kalyuzhnyi Y. V. , Marshall B. D. , Chapman W. G. , Cummings P. T.
Published: July 2013

We propose a second-order version of the resummed thermodynamic perturbation theory for patchy colloidal models with arbitrary number of multiply bondable patches. The model is represented by the hard-sphere fluid system with several attractive patches on the surface and resummation is carried out to account for blocking effects, i.e., when the bonding of a particle restricts (blocks) its ability to bond with other particles. The theory represents an extension of the earlier proposed first order resummed thermodynamic perturbation theory for central force associating potential and takes into account formation of the rings of the particles. In the limiting case of singly bondable patches (total blockage), the theory reduces to Wertheim thermodynamic perturbation theory for associating fluids. Closed-form expressions for the Helmholtz free energy, pressure, internal energy, and chemical potential of the model with an arbitrary number of equivalent doubly bondable patches are derived. Predictions of the theory for the model with two patches appears to be in a very good agreement with predictions of new NVT and NPT Monte Carlo simulations, including the region of strong association.
Role of substrate crystallographic characteristics on structure and properties of rutile TiO2 epilayers
Authors: Bayati M. R. , Molaei R. , Budai J. D. , Narayan R. J. , Narayan J.
Published: July 2013

To investigate heterostructures of interest for catalytic applications, we integrated rutile TiO2 epitaxial thin films with Al2O3(0001), Al2O3(101¯0), and Al2O3(011¯2) substrates and studied structure and properties of the epilayers as a function of the crystallographic characteristics of the substrate. The epitaxial relationship across the film/substrate interfaces was established as (100)rutile‖(0001)c-sapphire and [001]rutile‖[101¯0]c-sapphire, (001)rutile‖[101¯0)m-sapphire, and [100]rutile‖[0001]m-sapphire, (101)rutile‖(011¯2)r-sapphire and [010]rutile‖(011¯2)r-sapphire. The origin and the relaxation mechanism of stress and strain for each heterostructure were studied in detail. It was revealed that large lattice misfit strains relax easily even if the primary slip system is not active due to the epitaxial alignment between the film and substrate and orientation of the in-plane stresses. We also showed that even small misfit strains can relax provided that the primary slip system is active. The origin of the residual strains in the epilayers was found to be primarily due to thermal misfit and defect/impurity strains. In addition, the decomposition rate of 4-chlorophenol by the rutile/sapphire heterostructures under ultraviolet illumination was measured. The (001)-plane was found to be the most photoactive face of rutile TiO2, while the (100)-plane showed the lowest photocatalytic activity. The difference in the photochemical characteristics was attributed to the atomic arrangement on different crystallographic surface planes.
Moving to the Suburbs: Demand-Side Driving Forces of Suburban Growth in China
Authors: Shen Jie , Wu Fulong
Published: July 2013

The existing literature contextualizes China's suburban growth with market-oriented reform and emphasizes the role of local entrepreneurial government. However, studies on the demand-based factors are still lacking. Drawing upon a random survey undertaken in Songjiang, an outer suburban district of Shanghai, this paper investigates the demand-side driving forces of suburban growth in China: Ie, who the suburban residents are, what has driven them to move to the suburbs, and how their differences have shaped suburban space. With local natives, residents from central districts and migrants from other places as their major resident groups, Chinese suburbs illustrate a case where diverse population and types of development are juxtaposed. While migrants have flocked to the suburbs for employment opportunities, the residential moves of the other two groups, even though in some cases involuntary, are more likely to be associated with consumption considerations. Notably, alongside the emergence of single-family villas and gated communities, the pursuit of suburban living ideals has begun to play a role in China, though it is confined to only a few extremely rich families rather than the masses. In addition, three patterns of suburbs characterized by different types of households and developments—white-collar suburbs, migrant suburbs, and well-planned new towns—are identified.
Community-level phenological response to climate change
Authors: Ovaskainen Otso , Skorokhodova Svetlana , Yakovleva Marina , Sukhov Alexander , Kutenkov Anatoliy , Kutenkova Nadezhda , Shcherbakov Anatoliy , Meyke Evegeniy , Delgado Maria del Mar
Published: July 2013

Climate change may disrupt interspecies phenological synchrony, with adverse consequences to ecosystem functioning. We present here a 40-y-long time series on 10,425 dates that were systematically collected in a single Russian locality for 97 plant, 78 bird, 10 herptile, 19 insect, and 9 fungal phenological events, as well as for 77 climatic events related to temperature, precipitation, snow, ice, and frost. We show that species are shifting their phenologies at dissimilar rates, partly because they respond to different climatic factors, which in turn are shifting at dissimilar rates. Plants have advanced their spring phenology even faster than average temperature has increased, whereas migratory birds have shown more divergent responses and shifted, on average, less than plants. Phenological events of birds and insects were mainly triggered by climate cues (variation in temperature and snow and ice cover) occurring over the course of short periods, whereas many plants, herptiles, and fungi were affected by long-term climatic averages. Year-to-year variation in plants, herptiles, and insects showed a high degree of synchrony, whereas the phenological timing of fungi did not correlate with any other taxonomic group. In many cases, species that are synchronous in their year-to-year dynamics have also shifted in congruence, suggesting that climate change may have disrupted phenological synchrony less than has been previously assumed. Our results illustrate how a multidimensional change in the physical environment has translated into a community-level change in phenology.
Indel and Carryforward Correction (ICC): a new analysis approach for processing 454 pyrosequencing data
Authors: Deng Wenjie , Maust Brandon S. , Westfall Dylan H. , Chen Lennie , Zhao Hong , Larsen Brendan B. , Iyer Shyamala , Liu Yi , Mullins James I.
Published: July 2013

Motivation: Pyrosequencing technology provides an important new approach to more extensively characterize diverse sequence populations and detect low frequency variants. However, the promise of this technology has been difficult to realize, as careful correction of sequencing errors is crucial to distinguish rare variants (∼1%) in an infected host with high sensitivity and specificity.

Results: We developed a new approach, referred to as Indel and Carryforward Correction (ICC), to cluster sequences without substitutions and locally correct only indel and carryforward sequencing errors within clusters to ensure that no rare variants are lost. ICC performs sequence clustering in the order of (i) homopolymer indel patterns only, (ii) indel patterns only and (iii) carryforward errors only, without the requirement of a distance cutoff value. Overall, ICC removed 93–95% of sequencing errors found in control datasets. On pyrosequencing data from a PCR fragment derived from 15 HIV-1 plasmid clones mixed at various frequencies as low as 0.1%, ICC achieved the highest sensitivity and similar specificity compared with other commonly used error correction and variant calling algorithms.

Availability and implementation: Source code is freely available for download at http://indra.mullins.microbiol.washington.edu/ICC. It is implemented in Perl and supported on Linux, Mac OS X and MS Windows.

Contact:  jmullins@uw.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
First Report of Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus Infecting Sweet Cherry Trees in Korea
Authors: Cho I. S. , Choi G. S. , Choi S. K. , Seo E. Y. , Lim H. S.
Published: July 2013

Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV), an unassigned member in the family Betaflexiviridae, has been reported in sweet cherry in North America, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, China, and Chile. The virus causes brown, angular necrotic spots, shot holes on the leaves, gum blisters, and necrosis of the bark in several cultivars (1). During the 2012 growing season, 154 sweet cherry trees were tested for the presence of CNRMV by RT-PCR. Samples were randomly collected from 11 orchards located in Gyeonggi and Gyeongsang provinces in Korea. RNA was extracted from leaves using the NucliSENS easyMAG system (bioMérieux, Boxtel, The Netherlands). The primer pair CGRMV1/2 (2) was used to amplify the coat protein region of CNRMV. Although none of the collected samples showed any notable symptoms, CNRMV PCR products of the expected size (949 bp) were obtained from three sweet cherry samples from one orchard in Gyeonggi province. The PCR products were cloned into a pGEM-T easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced. BLAST analyses of the three Korean sequences obtained (GenBank Accession Nos. AB822635, AB822636, and AB822637) showed 97% nucleotide sequence identity with a flowering cherry isolate from Japan (EU188439), and shared 98.8 to 99.6% nucleotide and 99.6 to 100% amino acid similarities to each other. The CNRMV positive samples were also tested for Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Cherry mottle leaf virus (CMLV), Cherry rasp leaf virus (CRLV), Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV), Cherry virus A (CVA), Little cherry virus 1 (LChV-1), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) by RT-PCR. One of the three CNRMV-positive samples was also infected with CVA. To confirm CNRMV infection by wood indexing, Prunus serrulata cv. Kwanzan plants were graft-inoculated with chip buds from the CNRMV-positive sweet cherry trees. At 3 to 4 weeks post-inoculation, the Kwanzan plants showed quick decline with leaves wilting and dying; CNRMV infection of the indicators was confirmed by RT-PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CNRMV infection of sweet cherry trees in Korea. Screening for CNRMV in propagation nurseries should minimize spread of this virus within Korea.

References: (1) R. Li and R. Mock. Arch. Virol. 153:973, 2008. (2) R. Li and R. Mock. J. Virol. Methods 129:162, 2005.
Design of composite scaffolds and three-dimensional shape analysis for tissue-engineered ear
Authors: Cervantes Thomas M. , Bassett Erik K. , Tseng Alan , Kimura Anya , Roscioli Nick , Randolph Mark A. , Vacanti Joseph P. , Hadlock Theresa A. , Gupta Rajiv , Pomerantseva Irina , Sundback Cathryn A.
Published: July 2013

Engineered cartilage is a promising option for auricular reconstruction. We have previously demonstrated that a titanium wire framework within a composite collagen ear-shaped scaffold helped to maintain the gross dimensions of the engineered ear after implantation, resisting the deformation forces encountered during neocartilage maturation and wound healing. The ear geometry was redesigned to achieve a more accurate aesthetic result when implanted subcutaneously in a nude rat model. A non-invasive method was developed to assess size and shape changes of the engineered ear in three dimensions. Computer models of the titanium framework were obtained from CT scans before and after implantation
.
Several parameters were measured including the overall length, width and depth, the minimum intrahelical distance and overall curvature values for each beam section within the framework. Local curvature values were measured to gain understanding of the bending forces experienced by the framework structure
in situ
. Length and width changed by less than 2%, whereas the depth decreased by approximately 8% and the minimum intrahelical distance changed by approximately 12%. Overall curvature changes identified regions most susceptible to deformation. Eighty-nine per cent of local curvature measurements experienced a bending moment less than 50 µN-m owing to deformation forces during implantation. These quantitative shape analysis results have identified opportunities to improve shape fidelity of engineered ear constructs.
The appraisal of ICT and non‐ICT capital projects
Authors: Lefley Frank
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify current practice in respect of the appraisal of both information communication technology (ICT) and non‐ICT capital investments, and to elicit the opinions of senior executives on the various issues concerning such investment practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research based on data from a postal questionnaire, designed around a factual and attitudinal survey.

Findings

This research presents evidence of the financial and risk assessment models used by practitioners in the appraisal of both ICT and non‐ICT capital projects. It shows that there was no significant difference between ICT and non‐ICT appraisals in this respect. It does, however, show that there are significant differences between the two types of projects in respect to other important appraisal/evaluation issues. It also uncovers important issues regarding ICT globalisation, project champions, post audits and appraisal teams.

Research limitations/implications

This research does not identify the approach adopted, or the models used, to appraise strategic issues. This is an area for future research.

Practical implications

This research presents data that will assist both practitioners and academics in a greater understanding of the appraisal of both ICT and non‐ICT projects, which will pave the way to better decision making in the future.

Originality/value

It is believed that this is possibly the only survey to simultaneously address the appraisal issues concerning both ICT and non‐ICT projects.
The Determinants of RBA Target Rate Decisions: A Choice Modelling Approach
Authors: Smales Lee A.
Published: July 2013

This article examines the determinants of Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) target rate decisions in the period following the introduction of inflation targeting (1993–2012). A choice modelling approach reveals asymmetry in RBA policy such that the RBA is more concerned about inflation rising above the target band, and the threshold for cutting rates is greater than that required to hike rates. While there is evidence of the RBA following mandated objectives, the likelihood of rate reductions has increased following the appointment of Glenn Stevens, although his term as Governor has coincided with extraordinary economic conditions.
Quercetin Suppresses Intracellular ROS Formation, MMP Activation, and Cell Motility in Human Fibrosarcoma Cells
Authors: Lee Dong Eun , Chung Min‐Yu , Lim Tae Gyu , Huh Won Bum , Lee Hyong Joo , Lee Ki Won
Published: July 2013

Cell metastasis is a major cause of death from cancer and can arise from excessive levels of oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the natural flavonoid quercetin can inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and ‐9 activities through the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, an event expected to lead to the inhibition of cell motility. To induce sustained ROS formation, cells were treated with phenazine methosulfate (PMS; 1 μM). Noncytotoxic concentrations of quercetin inhibited PMS‐induced increases in cell motility in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. While nearly 100% of cells were observed to migrate after 24 h of PMS treatment, quercetin significantly (P < 0.01) suppressed this effect. We also found that quercetin, up to 10 μg/mL, attenuated PMS‐induced MMP‐2 activation. We then investigated whether the decreased levels of MMP‐2 activation could be attributable to lower levels of ROS formation by quercetin. We found that quercetin treatments significantly attenuated PMS‐induced ROS formation (P < 0.01) and resulted in decreased cell motility associated with a reduction in MMP‐2 and ‐9 activitiy in HT1080 cells, even in the absence of PMS treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that quercetin inhibits cell motility via the inhibition of MMP activation in HT1080 cells in the presence and absence of PMS. This is likely to be a result of the suppression of intracellular ROS formation by quercetin.
Allogeneic transplantation in the UK: an aggregation of marginal gains?
Authors: Thomson Kirsty J. , Peggs Karl S.
Published: July 2013

A number of advances in clinical practice that are considered routine in modern allogeneic transplant programmes lack definitive supporting evidence, partly because they may offer modest incremental benefits that are difficult to demonstrate in a statistically robust manner given the relatively small cohorts of patients who undergo such procedures. Nevertheless, these marginal gains probably contribute therapeutically meaningful overall benefit, particularly when aggregated. We review the evidence for a number of these practices in terms of impact on transplant outcomes, with particular reference to the setting of T cell depletion as widely practiced in the United Kingdom, including high resolution tissue typing, surveillance for and therapy of infectious complications, chimerism‐directed immune modulation and more sensitive monitoring for residual or progressive disease.
Development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnostics and impact on prognosis
Authors: Sunela Kaisa L. , Lehtinen Eero T. , Kataja Matti J. , Kujala Paula M. , Soimakallio Seppo , Kellokumpu‐Lehtinen Pirkko‐Liisa I.
Published: July 2013

Objective

To evaluate imaging methods and prognoses between small renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and larger tumours according to the era of diagnostics.

Patients and Methods

In all, 784 consecutive patients diagnosed with RCC between 1964 and 1997 at the Pirkanmaa Hospital District in Finland were included.

Patients were divided into two groups: tumours of ≤3.0 and >3.0 cm in diameter.

Prognosis was analysed according to the era of diagnostics: (i) pre‐computed tomography (CT) and pre‐ultrasound (US), (ii) US era and (iii) CT era.

Results

Small tumours became more common: in the pre‐CT and pre‐US era, only 4.4% of tumours were small; however, in the CT era 16% were small tumours.

More diagnostic methods were used in studying small tumours.

CT proved to be the most reliable method, although it was actually better at diagnosing large tumours.

Relapses occurred less frequently among patients with small tumours; more than half of the tumours that developed distant metastases (16.0%) already evinced them at the time of diagnosis. There were no relapses after 14 years of follow‐up among small tumours, whereas large tumours relapsed within that time. RCC was the cause of death in 14.9% of patients with small tumours vs 50.7% with large tumours.

The best prognosis was among patients with small tumours diagnosed with CT.

Conclusion

Among patients with small tumours, prognosis has improved along with better diagnostics, although some showed relapse during a surveillance period of up to 14 years.
Sex differences in incubation behaviour but not mortality risk in a threatened shorebird
Authors: Burns Fiona , McCulloch Neil , Dos Remedios Natalie , Bolton Mark , Szekely Tamas
Published: July 2013

Sex‐related variation in survival is common in birds and, as it influences effective population size and population growth, is important for conservation and species management. Here we assessed incubation behaviour and sex‐related survival in a threatened sexually monomorphic shorebird, the St Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae. Males incubated at night, the period of highest activity of cats, which are likely to be predators of breeding birds. In spite of behavioural differences between the sexes, adult survival was not significantly different between males and females, suggesting that sex‐biased behaviour need not lead to sex‐related survival, and thus behavioural differences may not impact upon the adult sex ratio.
The optimal age of sown field margins for breeding farmland birds
Authors: Zollinger Jean‐Luc , Birrer Simon , Zbinden Niklaus , Korner‐Nievergelt Fränzi
Published: July 2013

The Europe‐wide decline in the populations and diversity of farmland birds has not been stopped despite dedicated conservation efforts such as agri‐environment schemes (AES). The main reason for the lack of success of AES is considered to be their low ecological quality and insufficient area. Understanding the effects of different management strategies on the ecological quality of AES is therefore important. Here, we investigate the relationship between breeding bird density and species richness and the age of sown field margins, a widely used type of AES, in southwestern Switzerland. Territories of breeding birds were mapped on 67 field margins between 2004 and 2011. Territory densities (for eight species) and species richness were analysed in relation to age of the field margin. A general negative correlation between size of the field margin and territory density indicated that territory density was higher when the birds could forage in adjacent cultivated land. Territory densities and species richness increased up to an age of 4–6 years after sowing, depending on the species, and declined thereafter. The results suggest that the co‐occurrence of newly sown margins and margins over 3 years old will have a positive effect on breeding bird densities and species diversity.
Modelling growth of Lactobacillus plantarum and shelf life of vacuum‐packaged cooked chopped pork at different temperatures
Authors: Dalcanton Francieli , Pérez‐Rodríguez Fernando , Posada‐Izquierdo Guiomar Denisse , de Aragão Gláucia M. F. , García‐Gimeno Rosa María
Published: July 2013

Lactobacillus plantarum growth in a vacuum‐packaged cooked meat product under different storage temperatures (4, 10 and 16 °C) and the relation between the microorganism growth and sensory quality were investigated. The Gompertz model was fitted to experimental counts of L. plantarum showing a good fitting to growth curves at different temperatures. A root‐square secondary model and linear model were satisfactorily fitted to estimated growth rates () and lag times (), respectively. The sensory attributes (colour, flavour, taste, appearance) were also evaluated due to their importance to the global quality (Q). The sensory deterioration was detected several days after L. plantarum reached the stationary phase, that is, 59, 45 and 25 days for 4, 10 and 16 °C, respectively. According to results, sensory deterioration was related to time when microorganism reached late stationary phase, phenomenon known as ‘delayed change’.
Inhibition deficits in individuals with intellectual disability: a meta‐regression analysis
Authors: Bexkens A. , Ruzzano L. , Collot d' Escury‐Koenigs A. M. L. , Van der Molen M. W. , Huizenga H. M.
Published: July 2013

Background

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are characterised by inhibition deficits; however, the magnitude of these deficits is still subject to debate. This meta‐analytic study therefore has two aims: first to assess the magnitude of inhibition deficits in ID, and second to investigate inhibition type, age, IQ and the presence/absence of comorbid problems as potential moderators of effect sizes.

Method

Twenty‐eight effect sizes comparing ID and age matched normal controls on inhibition tasks were included in a random effects meta‐regression. Moderators were age, IQ, inhibition type and presence/absence of comorbid disorder.

Results

The analysis showed a medium to large inhibition deficit in ID. Inhibition type significantly moderated effect size, whereas age and comorbid disorder did not. IQ significantly moderated effect size indicating increasing effect size with decreasing IQ, but only in studies that included a sample of ID participants with mean IQ > 70. The analysis indicated comparable deficits in behavioural inhibition and interference control, but no significant deficits in cognitive inhibition and motivational inhibition.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ID is characterised by a medium to large inhibition deficit in individuals with ID. ID seems not to be characterised by deficits in cognitive and motivational inhibition, which might indicate that distinct processes underlie distinct inhibition capacities.
A Comparison of Two Soldering Techniques on the Misfit of Bar‐Retained Implant‐Supported Overdentures
Authors: Alvarez Angel , Lafita Pedro , de Llanos Hector , Gago Angel , Brizuela Aritza , Ellacuria Joseba J.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study was conducted to measure and compare the effect of the soldering method (torch soldering or ceramic furnace soldering) used for soldering bars to bar‐retained, implant‐supported overdentures on the fit between the bar gold cylinder and implant transgingival abutment.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐two overdenture implant bars were manufactured and screw retained into two Bränemark implants, which were attached to a cow rib. The bars were randomly distributed in two groups: a torch‐soldering group and a porcelain‐furnace soldering group. Then all bars were cut and soldered using a torch and a ceramic furnace. The fit between the bar gold cylinders and implant transgingival abutments was measured with a light microscope on the opposite side to the screw tightening side before and after the bar soldering procedure. The data obtained were statistically processed for paired and independent data.

Results

The average misfit for all bars before soldering was 33.83 to 54.04 μm. After cutting and soldering the bars, the misfit increased up to a range of 71.74 to 78.79 μm. Both before and after the soldering procedure, the bars soldered using a torch showed a higher misfit when compared to the bars soldered using a porcelain furnace. After the soldering procedure, the misfit was slightly lower on the left side of the bars, which had been soldered using a ceramic furnace.

Conclusions

According to our data, the soldering of bars using the torch or furnace oven soldering techniques does not improve the misfit of one‐piece cast bars on two implants. The lower misfit was obtained using the porcelain furnace soldering technique.
Agreement of the Serum Spec fPL™ and 1,2‐O‐Dilauryl‐Rac‐Glycero‐3‐Glutaric Acid‐(6′‐Methylresorufin) Ester Lipase Assay for the Determination of Serum Lipase in Cats with Suspicion of Pancreatitis
Authors: Oppliger S. , Hartnack S. , Riond B. , Reusch C.E. , Kook P.H.
Published: July 2013

Background

Serum lipase activities measured by catalytic assays are claimed to be of limited utility for diagnosing pancreatitis in cats. The Spec fPL assay currently is believed the most sensitive test; however, studies comparing different lipase assays are lacking. 1,2‐o‐dilauryl‐rac‐glycero‐3‐glutaric acid‐(6′‐methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) assay for the determination of lipase activity has been evaluated in dogs, but no information is available in cats.

Objectives

To investigate the agreement of DGGR‐lipase activity and Spec fPL concentration in cats with clinical signs consistent with pancreatitis.

Animals

Two hundred fifty‐one client‐owned cats.

Methods

DGGR‐lipase activity and Spec fPL concentration measured from the same blood sample in cats undergoing investigation for pancreatitis. The agreement between DGGR‐lipase and Spec fPL at different cutoffs was assessed using Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for 31 cases where pancreatic histopathology was available.

Results

DGGR‐lipase (cutoff, 26 U/L) and Spec fPL (cutoff, >5.3 μg/L) had a κ of 0.68 (standard error [SE] 0.046). DGGR‐lipase (cutoff, 26 U/L) and Spec fPL (cutoff, >3.5 μg/L) had a κ of 0.60 (SE, 0.05). The maximum κ at a Spec fPL cutoff >5.3 μg/L was found when the DGGR‐lipase cutoff was set >34 U/L and calculated as 0.755 (SE, 0.042). Sensitivity and specificity were 48% and 63% for DGGR‐lipase (cut‐off, 26 U/L) and 57% and 63% for Spec fPL (>5.3 μg/L), respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Both lipase assays agreed substantially. DGGR assay seems a useful and cost‐efficient method compared to the Spec fPL test.
Concomitant alpha‐synuclein pathology in an autopsy case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis presenting with orthostatic hypotension and cardiac arrests
Authors: Yamada Takehiro , Itoh Kyoko , Matsuo Koushun , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Hosokawa Youhei , Koizumi Takashi , Shiga Kensuke , Mizuno Toshiki , Nakagawa Masanori , Fushiki Shinji
Published: July 2013

A 74‐year‐old man gradually developed muscular weakness in the upper extremities, followed by dyspnea and dysarthria over a 6‐month period. He was admitted to our facility and diagnosed as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on clinical and neurophysiological findings. Two months later, transtracheal positive pressure ventilation (TPPV) was started. During his clinical course, orthostatic hypotension occurred a few times. He also had two episodes of transient cardiac arrest, and he died 15 months after disease onset. At autopsy, the brain, weighing 850 g, showed diffuse cortical atrophy, preferentially involving the frontal lobes. Microscopic findings included severe loss of neurons in the motor cortex, the motor nuclei of the brainstem and the anterior horns of the spinal cord, and mild loss of axons and myelin in the corticospinal tract. Trans‐activation response DNA protein 43 (TDP‐43) immunoreactive cytoplasmic inclusions, the pathognomonic findings for ALS, were noted in the nucleus facialis, nucleus ambiguus, and in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. In addition, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites were found in the brainstem and in the nucleus intermediolateralis of the thoracic cord. The concomitant alpha‐synuclein pathology may have been partly related to possible autonomic dysfunction underlying the two episodes of cardiac arrest.
Jasmonate induction of the monoterpene linalool confers resistance to rice bacterial blight and its biosynthesis is regulated by JAZ protein in rice
Authors: TANIGUCHI SHIDUKU , HOSOKAWA‐SHINONAGA YUMI , TAMAOKI DAISUKE , YAMADA SHOKO , AKIMITSU KAZUYA , GOMI KENJI
Published: July 2013

Jasmonic acid (JA) is involved in the regulation of host immunity in plants. Recently, we demonstrated that JA signalling has an important role in resistance to rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) in rice. Here, we report that many volatile compounds accumulate in response to exogenous application of JA, including the monoterpene linalool. Expression of linalool synthase was up‐regulated by JA. Vapour treatment with linalool induced resistance to Xoo, and transgenic rice plants overexpressing linalool synthase were more resistance to Xoo, presumably due to the up‐regulation of defence‐related genes in the absence of any treatment. JA‐induced accumulation of linalool was regulated by OsJAZ8, a rice jasmonate ZIM‐domain protein involving the JA signalling pathway at the transcriptional level, suggesting that linalool plays an important role in JA‐induced resistance to Xoo in rice.
Effects of hematocrit and red blood cell–independent viscosity on canine thromboelastographic tracings
Authors: Brooks Aimee C. , Guillaumin Julien , Cooper Edward S. , Couto C. Guillermo
Published: July 2013

Background

It is well established that hematocrit (Hct) influences whole blood thromboelastography (TEG) tracings. Previous studies showed hypercoagulable TEG tracings in anemic patients despite clinical expectations that anemia often prolongs bleeding. TEG is a viscoelastic assessment of clot kinetics, and Hct is the main determinant of whole blood viscosity. TEG changes in anemia may be an in vitro artifact due to Hct effect on blood viscosity rather than true in vivo changes in hemostasis. The effect of changes in whole blood viscosity on TEG independent of Hct is not well understood.

Study Design and Methods

Twenty‐one blood samples from seven dogs were manipulated to produce one of three Hct conditions (45, 20, and 10%). Each was tested in two situations: viscosity adjusted to normal by adding alginate (ALG) or dilution with equal volume of saline (SAL). Both samples were analyzed with TEG simultaneously.

Results

Twenty percent Hct plus ALG and 10% Hct plus ALG were significantly more viscous than their SAL counterparts (p = 0.0156). Ten percent Hct plus SAL, 20% Hct plus SAL, and 45% Hct plus SAL all had different viscosities (p = 0.006). Twenty percent Hct plus SAL and 10% Hct plus SAL had significantly shorter K and higher angle, MA, and G compared to their ALG counterparts as well as 45% Hct plus SAL (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

ALG samples with low Hct, normal viscosity showed hypocoagulable tracings, whereas SAL samples with low Hct, low viscosity showed hypercoagulable tracings. TEG variables are influenced by whole blood viscosity altered with ALG, independently of Hct.
Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Measurements in High Solidity Pin Fin Cooling Arrays With Incremental Replenishment
Authors: Busche Mitch L. , Moualeu Leolein P. , Chowdhury Nafiz , Tang Clement , Ames Forrest E.
Published: July 2013

Leading edge heat loads on turbine airfoils can be reduced by increasing the diameter of the leading edge. The lower external heat transfer and more generous curvature may allow for cooling this region internally. Large diameter leading edge regions are expected to exhibit a relatively broad region with nearly constant heat transfer. However, the ability of internal passages to cool a surface diminishes with distance as cooling air picks up thermal energy within the passage. Two novel internal cooling geometries have been designed and tested, which incrementally replenish cooling air by using impingement holes distributed along the array. These cooling methods have been compared to a baseline high solidity passage in terms of both array heat transfer and pressure drop. Heat transfer rates and pressure drop have been determined on a row by row basis to provide a means to assess their ability to sustain adequate cooling levels across the entire leading edge region. The authors believe turbine airfoil designs integrating large diameter leading edge regions with properly designed internal passages have the potential to eliminate showerhead cooling arrays in many industrial gas turbine applications. This change is especially beneficial in environments where fuel or air impurities have the potential to clog leading edge showerhead cooling arrays. Heat transfer and pressure drop measurements were acquired in a bench scale test rig. Reynolds numbers ranged from approximately 5000 to 60,000 for the constant height channel arrays based on the pin diameter and the local maximum average velocity across a row. The high solidity pin fin arrays have an axial spacing (X/D) of 1.074 and a cross channel spacing (S/D) of 1.625. The constant section pin fin arrays have channel height to diameter ratios of 0.5. Each array has eight rows of pins with six pins per row in a staggered arrangement. Heat transfer testing was conducted using a constant temperature boundary condition.
Numerical-Experimental Confrontation in the Simulation of Tool/Abradable Material Interaction
Authors: Batailly Alain , Cuny Marion , Legrand Mathias , Philippon Sylvain
Published: July 2013

In turbomachinery, depositing abradable coatings along the circonference of casings is recognized as a robust solution which combines the adjustment of operating clearances with the reduction of nonrepairable damages potentially affecting the rotating blades. Accordingly, the modeling of the removal process experienced by these materials is of growing industrial importance. Based on a numerical strategy detailed in a previous publication by the authors, the present study aims at describing the mechanical behavior of abradable coatings used within turbomachines in the context of translational high-speed interactions with a rigid tool. The developed plastic constitutive law macroscopically capturing the abradable material removal is first enriched to account for its strain rate dependence. Then, a sensitivity analysis with respect to a few parameters of interest is conducted and calibration of the numerical investigation with existing experimental data validates the proposed approach. Finally, the strain-rate dependence of the viscoplastic law implemented within a full numerical three-dimensional rotor/stator interaction is addressed. Results reveal that viscoplastic terms have minor effects in turbomachinery interactions.