bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRUCTURAL INSIGHT INTO THE POLYMORPHISM OF NNQNTF PROTOFIBRIL: IMPORTANCE OF INTERFACIAL WATER, POLAR AND AROMATIC RESIDUES
Authors: LU YAN , XI WENHUI , WEI GUANGHONG
Published: July 2013

Polymorphism is widely observed in amyloid fibrils associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Recent experimental study reported that fibrils formed by the segment NNQNTF of elk prion protein exhibited facial polymorphism with the two β-sheets either in back-to-back (BB) or in face-to-face (FF) packing arrangement. In the BB packing, the side chains of N2, N4 and F6 are interdigitated to form steric zipper, while in the FF packing, the side chains of N1, Q3 and T5 form the interdigitated interface. In this study, we investigate the water-mediated assembly of two preformed β-sheets and the physical interactions that stabilize the two different fibrils using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Multiple MD simulations have been carried out by starting from FF or BB packing of two β-sheets according to the facial polymorphism revealed by X-ray microcrystallography. For both packing patterns, we observe that the assembly of β-sheets is mediated by water molecules in the interface between β-sheets, leading to a long-lived protofibrils with wet interface prior to the formation of dry amyloid fibrils. Detailed structural analysis shows that besides the side chain steric zipper interactions, intra-sheet hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking interactions play an important role on the stabilization of the protofibril with BB packing, while the intra-sheet and inter-sheet hydrogen bonding interactions are crucial for the formation of BB protofibril. These findings provide insights into the mechanism that lead to the facial polymorphism of NNQNTF fibrils.
A GENERAL ANISOTROPIC ETCHING STRATEGY FOR THE FABRICATION OF TUBE-LIKE OR MESOPOROUS SINGLE CRYSTAL TiO2
Authors: WEI YUN , PAN HAO , QIAN JIESHU , ZHOU XINGFU
Published: July 2013

A general anisotropic etching strategy is proposed here for the synthesis of four types of novel TiO 2 materials with versatile tube-like and single-crystalline mesoporous micro-nanostructures. All the tube-like TiO 2 materials have V-shaped inner structure and the mesoporous products have high single-crystallinity. In the fabrication process, etching agents and titanium sources play vital role in determining the morphology of the TiO 2 products. This opens a door toward facile fabrication of tube-like or single-crystalline mesoporous nanomaterials via anisotropic etching route.
CONVERGENCE OF A CLASS OF TOEPLITZ TYPE MATRICES
Authors: BOSE ARUP , GANGOPADHYAY SREELA , SAHA KOUSHIK
Published: July 2013

We use the method of moments to study the spectral properties in the bulk for finite diagonal large dimensional random and non-random Toeplitz type matrices via the joint convergence of matrices in an appropriate sense. As a consequence we revisit the famous limit theorem of Szegö for non-random symmetric Toeplitz matrices.
Dissecting Quantitative Traits in Mice
Authors: Mott Richard , Flint Jonathan
Published: July 2013

Progress in complex trait mapping in mice has been accelerated by the development of new populations suited to high-resolution mapping and by statistical methodologies that control for population structure. When combined with newly acquired catalogs of sequence variation in inbred strains, the genetic architecture of these new populations makes it possible to dissect complex traits down to the level of single variants. These analyses have shown not only that complex traits are caused by multiple contributing loci but also that each locus is likely due to the combined effects of multiple causal DNA variants. In combination with new rapid methods for producing transgenic mice that make it efficient to test candidate genes and variants, these advances significantly enhance the mouse genetics toolbox for dissecting quantitative traits.
Marsupials in the Age of Genomics
Authors: Graves Jennifer A. Marshall , Renfree Marilyn B.
Published: July 2013

Marsupials are “alternative mammals” that differ from eutherians most spectacularly in their mode of reproduction and sexual differentiation. They represent a 160-million-year-old isolate from the more numerous eutherians, making them particularly valuable for comparative genome studies that enlarge and enhance our understanding of the function and evolution of the mammalian genome. The genomes of three sequenced marsupial species are similar in size to those of mice and humans but show informative differences in base composition and repetitive elements. Small differences in gene sets and gene families between marsupials and eutherians may relate to physiological and environmental differences. Marsupial karyotypes are highly conserved in chromosome numbers, sizes, and G-banding patterns, and an ancestor with a 2n = 14 karyotype can be deduced. Marsupial sex chromosomes, partly homologous to those of eutherians, represent the ancestral therian XY pair. Epigenetic regulation of X inactivation in marsupials differs markedly from that of eutherians and has apparently retained an ancient silencing mechanism. Genomic imprinting of a smaller set of genes occurs in the marsupial placenta and, uniquely, in the mammary gland.
(Un)Ethical Behavior in Organizations
Authors: Treviño Linda Klebe , den Nieuwenboer Niki A. , Kish-Gephart Jennifer J.
Published: July 2013

This review spotlights research related to ethical and unethical behavior in organizations. It builds on previous reviews and meta-analyses of the literature on (un)ethical behavior in organizations and discusses recent advances in the field. The review emphasizes how this research speaks to the influence of the organizational context on (un)ethical behavior, proceeding from a more macro to a more micro view on (un)ethical behavior and covering ethical infrastructures, interpersonal influences, individual differences, and cognitive and affective processes. The conclusion highlights opportunities for future research.
The Environmental Consequences of Subsidized Risk Management and Disaster Assistance Programs
Authors: Smith Vincent H. , Goodwin Barry K.
Published: July 2013

Federal subsidized crop insurance has been a major fixture of US agricultural policies for the past several decades. In recent years, the program has expanded rapidly and now constitutes the largest and most expensive agricultural subsidy initiative in the United States. Similar programs have been introduced around the world. All these programs have one common denominator: Absent generous subsidies, participation is minimal. Such subsidies introduce the potential for a wide range of distortions. Intensive margin distortions may result from moral hazard as insured growers alter their production practices. Distortions at the extensive margin may arise as acreage decisions reflect the presence of subsidized risk management, resulting in lands with alternative uses being planted to crops. A range of environmental effects may arise as a result of these distortions. Not all those effects are negative, because subsidized insurance may result in less intensive use of chemical and fertilizer inputs. We review the history and operation of the current program and discuss the options currently being deliberated for future crop insurance programs.
Modulation of Neurological Deficits and Expression of Glutamate Receptors during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis after Treatment with Selected Antagonists of Glutamate Receptors
Authors: Sulkowski Grzegorz , Dąbrowska-Bouta Beata , Strużyńska Lidia
Published: July 2013

The aim of our investigation was to characterize the role of group I mGluRs and NMDA receptors in pathomechanisms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the rodent model of MS. We tested the effects of LY 367385 (S-2-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine, a competitive antagonist of mGluR1), MPEP (2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine, an antagonist of mGluR5), and the uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists amantadine and memantine on modulation of neurological deficits observed in rats with EAE. The neurological symptoms of EAE started at 10-11 days post-injection (d.p.i.) and peaked after 12-13 d.p.i. The protein levels of mGluRs and NMDA did not increase in early phases of EAE (4 d.p.i.), but starting from 8 d.p.i. to 25 d.p.i., we observed a significant elevation of mGluR1 and mGluR5 protein expression by about 20% and NMDA protein expression by about 10% over the control at 25 d.p.i. The changes in protein levels were accompanied by changes in mRNA expression of group I mGluRs and NMDARs. During the late disease phase (20–25 d.p.i.), the mRNA expression levels reached 300% of control values. In contrast, treatment with individual receptor antagonists resulted in a reduction of mRNA levels relative to untreated animals.
Skin Disorders among Elder Patients in a Referral Center in Northern Iran (2011)
Authors: Darjani Abbas , Mohtasham-Amiri Zahra , Mohammad Amini Kiarash , Golchai Javad , Sadre-Eshkevari Shahryar , Alizade Narges
Published: July 2013

Background. Geriatric health care has become a worldwide concern, but a few statistical studies were carried out about skin diseases in this age group. In this study, we set out to determine the frequency as well as the age and gender distribution of dermatological diseases in geriatric patients.Materials and Methods. In a cross-sectional study, all patients over 60 years who were accepted to department of dermatology in north of Iran participated in this study. Baseline information and clinical examination were done by a group of dermatologists. Biopsy, Pathological and laboratory methods were used in order to confirm the diagnosis.Results. 440 patients were accepted to the department that 232 patients were male (52.7%). Benign neoplasm was as the common skin disease among patients (65%), followed by erythemo-squamous (35.3%) and precancerous lesions (26.1%). The most common precancerous lesion was actinic keratosis (24.3%). BCC by 8.8% was the most prevalent skin carcinoma. Pruritus was the common problem in other dermatological disease (22%).Conclusion. Skin disorders especially precancerous lesion are among those important health problems in elderly patients in this geographic area. Increasing general awareness about risk factors of these diseases and doing more researches in other regions are highly recommended.
An Augmented Classical Least Squares Method for Quantitative Raman Spectral Analysis against Component Information Loss
Authors: Zhou Yan , Cao Hui
Published: July 2013

We propose an augmented classical least squares (ACLS) calibration method for quantitative Raman spectral analysis against component information loss. The Raman spectral signals with low analyte concentration correlations were selected and used as the substitutes for unknown quantitative component information during the CLS calibration procedure. The number of selected signals was determined by using the leave‐one‐out root‐mean‐square error of cross‐validation (RMSECV) curve. An ACLS model was built based on the augmented concentration matrix and the reference spectral signal matrix. The proposed method was compared with partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) using one example: a data set recorded from an experiment of analyte concentration determination using Raman spectroscopy. A 2‐fold cross‐validation with Venetian blinds strategy was exploited to evaluate the predictive power of the proposed method. The one‐way variance analysis (ANOVA) was used to access the predictive power difference between the proposed method and existing methods. Results indicated that the proposed method is effective at increasing the robust predictive power of traditional CLS model against component information loss and its predictive power is comparable to that of PLS or PCR.
Acquired Carotid-Jugular Fistula: Its Changing History and Management
Authors: Caldarelli Claudio , Biricotti Marco , Materazzi Gabriele , Spinelli Claudio , Spisni Roberto
Published: July 2013

Purpose. To highlight the changes that have come about in recent years in the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired carotid-jugular fistulas. Methods. We present a review of the literature on acquired carotid-jugular fistulas (CJFs), which includes studies from World Wars I and II up to today and a retrospective analysis of the lesion reports published in the period 2000–2012, with an update of Talwar's table. The case study of one patient suffering from an untreated, long-standing CJF recently treated by us is also presented and included in the updated table. Results. Thanks to early treatment of acute lesions by reconstructive and endovascular surgery, incidence of posttraumatic carotid-jugular fistulas is decreasing, while the number of iatrogenic ones due to medical advances is concomitantly increasing, specifically because of the ever more widespread use of central venous catheters for venous pressure monitoring, parenteral nutrition, and hemodialysis. Conclusion. Although such lesions seem destined to diminish in the future thanks to the above-mentioned diagnostic and therapeutic advances, the increasing number of internal jugular vein catheterizations performed worldwide implies that physicians will still be dealing with carotid-jugular fistulas for many years to come.
Activation of MITF by Argan Oil Leads to the Inhibition of the Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase Expressions in B16 Murine Melanoma Cells
Authors: Villareal Myra O. , Kume Sayuri , Bourhim Thouria , Bakhtaoui Fatima Zahra , Kashiwagi Kenichi , Han Junkyu , Gadhi Chemseddoha , Isoda Hiroko
Published: July 2013

Argan (Argania spinosaL.) oil has been used for centuries in Morocco as cosmetic oil to maintain a fair complexion and to cure skin pimples and chicken pox pustules scars. Although it is popular, the scientific basis for its effect on the skin has not yet been established. Here, the melanogenesis regulatory effect of argan oil was evaluated using B16 murine melanoma cells. Results of melanin assay using B16 cells treated with different concentrations of argan oil showed a dose-dependent decrease in melanin content. Western blot results showed that the expression levels of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1), and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) proteins were decreased. In addition, there was an increase in the activation of MITF and ERK1/2. Real-time PCR results revealed a downregulation ofTyr,Trp1,Dct, andMitfmRNA expressions. Argan oil treatment causes MITF phosphorylation which subsequently inhibited the transcription of melanogenic enzymes, TYR and DCT. The inhibitory effect of argan oil on melanin biosynthesis may be attributed to tocopherols as well as the synergistic effect of its components. The results of this study provide the scientific basis for the traditionally established benefits of argan oil and present its therapeutic potential against hyperpigmentation disorders.
Dose Verification in Intensity Modulation Radiation Therapy: A Fractal Dimension Characteristics Study
Authors: Wu Jia-Ming , Kuo Chung-Ming , Chen Ching-Jiang
Published: July 2013

Purpose.This study describes how to identify the coincidence of desired planning isodose curves with film experimental results by using a mathematical fractal dimension characteristic method to avoid the errors caused by visual inspection in the intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT).Methods and Materials.The isodose curves of the films delivered by linear accelerator according to Plato treatment planning system were acquired using Osiris software to aim directly at a single interested dose curve for fractal characteristic analysis. The results were compared with the corresponding planning desired isodose curves for fractal dimension analysis in order to determine the acceptable confidence level between the planning and the measurement.Results.The film measured isodose curves and computer planning curves were deemed identical in dose distribution if their fractal dimensions are within some criteria which suggested that the fractal dimension is a unique fingerprint of a curve in checking the planning and film measurement results. The dose measured results of the film were presumed to be the same if their fractal dimension was within 1%.Conclusions.This quantitative rather than qualitative comparison done by fractal dimension numerical analysis helps to decrease the quality assurance errors in IMRT dosimetry verification.
The Number of Limit Cycles of a Polynomial System on the Plane
Authors: Liu Chao , Han Maoan
Published: July 2013

We perturb the vector fieldx˙=-yC(x,y),y˙=xC(x,y)with a polynomial perturbation of degreen, whereC(x,y)=(1-y2)m, and study the number of limit cycles bifurcating from the period annulus surrounding the origin.
Midpoint Derivative-Based Closed Newton-Cotes Quadrature
Authors: Zhao Weijing , Li Hongxing
Published: July 2013

A novel family of numerical integration of closed Newton-Cotes quadrature rules is presented which uses the derivative value at the midpoint. It is proved that these kinds of quadrature rules obtain an increase of two orders of precision over the classical closed Newton-Cotes formula, and the error terms are given. The computational cost for these methods is analyzed from the numerical point of view, and it has shown that the proposed formulas are superior computationally to the same order closed Newton-Cotes formula when they reduce the error below the same level. Finally, some numerical examples show the numerical superiority of the proposed approach with respect to closed Newton-Cotes formulas.
Design of an Attitude and Heading Reference System Based on Distributed Filtering for Small UAV
Authors: Zhao Long , Wang Qing Yun
Published: July 2013

A development procedure for a low-cost attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) based on the distributed filter has been proposed. The AHRS consists of three single-axis accelerometers, three single-axis gyroscopes, and one 3-axis digital compass. The initial attitude estimation is readily accomplished by using the complementary filtering. The attitude estimation for UAV flying in the real time is realized by using the three low orders EKF. The validation results show that the estimated orientations of the developed AHRS are within the acceptable region, and AHRS can give a stabilized attitude and heading information for a long time.
Fabrication of Transparent Conductive Zinc Oxide Co-Doped with Fluorine and Zirconium Thin Solid Films by Ultrasonic Chemical Pyrolysis: Effects of Precursor Solution Aging and Substrate Temperature
Authors: Castañeda Luis
Published: July 2013

Highly transparent, conducting zinc oxide [ZnO] thin films co-doped with fluorine and zirconium have been deposited on glass substrates by the ultrasonic chemical spraying technique. The effects of aging of the starting solution and substrate temperature on the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the ZnO:F:Zr films have been studied. The resistivity of the films decreases with the aging time of the starting solution until the seventeenth day reaching a minimum of about 1.2×10−2 Ω cm and then increases. Though all the samples are of polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite type and grow preferentially with (002) plane parallel to the substrate, their morphology depends strongly on the aging time of the reaction solution. The optical transmittance of all the films remained around 80% in the visible spectral range. These highly transparent, low resistive thin films are expected to be highly useful as transparent electrodes in the fabrication of thin film solar cells.
Reinforcement Learning Based Artificial Immune Classifier
Authors: Karakose Mehmet
Published: July 2013

One of the widely used methods for classification that is a decision‐making process is artificial immune systems. Artificial immune systems based on natural immunity system can be successfully applied for classification, optimization, recognition, and learning in real‐world problems. In this study, a reinforcement learning based artificial immune classifier is proposed as a new approach. This approach uses reinforcement learning to find better antibody with immune operators. The proposed new approach has many contributions according to other methods in the literature such as effectiveness, less memory cell, high accuracy, speed, and data adaptability. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated by simulation and experimental results using real data in Matlab and FPGA. Some benchmark data and remote image data are used for experimental results. The comparative results with supervised/unsupervised based artificial immune system, negative selection classifier, and resource limited artificial immune classifier are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed new method.
FPGA Implementation of Real-Time Ethernet for Motion Control
Authors: Youdong Chen , Chunxiang Xing , Yong Tao , Kai Sun
Published: July 2013

This paper provides an applicable implementation of real-time Ethernet named CASNET, which modifies the Ethernet medium access control (MAC) to achieve the real-time requirement for motion control. CASNET is the communication protocol used for motion control system. Verilog hardware description language (VHDL) has been used in the MAC logic design. The designed MAC serves as one of the intellectual properties (IPs) and is applicable to various industrial controllers. The interface of the physical layer is RJ45. The other layers have been implemented by using C programs. The real-time Ethernet has been implemented by using field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology and the proposed solution has been tested through the cycle time, synchronization accuracy, and Wireshark testing.
Adaptive Sliding-Mode Tracking Control for a Class of Nonholonomic Mechanical Systems
Authors: Sun Wei
Published: July 2013

This paper investigates the problem of finite-time tracking control for nonholonomic mechanical systems with affine constraints. The control scheme is provided by flexibly incorporating terminal sliding-mode control with the method of relay switching control and related adaptive technique. The proposed relay switching controller ensures that the output tracking error converges to zero in a finite time. As an application, a boat on a running river is given to show the effectiveness of the control scheme.
Formation of Silicon/Carbon Core‐Shell Nanowires Using Carbon Nitride Nanorods Template and Gold Catalyst
Authors: Jamal Ilyani Putri , Chong Su Kong , Chan Kee Wah , Othman Maisara , Abdul Rahman Saadah , Aspanut Zarina
Published: July 2013

In this experiment, silicon/carbon (Si/C) core‐shell nanowires (NWs) were synthesized using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) coated carbon nitride nanorods (CN NRs) as a template. To begin with, the Au NPs coated CN NRs were prepared by using plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition assisted with hot‐wire evaporation technique. Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirms the C–N bonding of the CN NRs, while X‐ray diffraction pattern indicates the crystalline structure of the Au NPs and amorphous structure of the CN NRs. The Au NPs coated CN NRs were thermally annealed at temperature of 800°C in nitrogen ambient for one hour to induce the growth of Si/C core‐shell NWs. The growth mechanism for the Si/C core‐shell NWs is related to the nitrogen evolution and solid‐liquid‐solid growth process which is a result of the thermal annealing. The formation of Si/C core‐shell NWs is confirmed by electron spectroscopic imaging analysis.
Expression of Tra2βin Cancer Cells as a Potential Contributory Factor to Neoplasia and Metastasis
Authors: Best Andrew , Dagliesh Caroline , Ehrmann Ingrid , Kheirollahi-Kouhestani Mahsa , Tyson-Capper Alison , Elliott David J.
Published: July 2013

The splicing regulator proteins SRSF1 (also known as ASF/SF2) and SRSF3 (also known as SRP20) belong to the SR family of proteins and can be upregulated in cancer. TheSRSF1gene itself is amplified in some cancer cells, and cancer-associated changes in the expression ofMYCalso increaseSRSF1gene expression. Increased concentrations of SRSF1 protein promote prooncogenic splicing patterns of a number of key regulators of cell growth. Here, we review the evidence that upregulation of the SR-related Tra2βprotein might have a similar role in cancer cells. TheTRA2Bgene encoding Tra2βis amplified in particular tumours including those of the lung, ovary, cervix, stomach, head, and neck. BothTRA2BRNA and Tra2βprotein levels are upregulated in breast, cervical, ovarian, and colon cancer, and Tra2βexpression is associated with cancer cell survival. TheTRA2Bgene is a transcriptional target of the protooncogene ETS-1 which might cause higher levels of expression in some cancer cells which express this transcription factor. Known Tra2βsplicing targets have important roles in cancer cells, where they affect metastasis, proliferation, and cell survival. Tra2βprotein is also known to interact directly with the RBMY protein which is implicated in liver cancer.
Lightweight and Scalable Intrusion Trace Classification Using Interelement Dependency Models Suitable for Wireless Sensor Network Environment
Authors: Kang Dae-Ki
Published: July 2013

We present a lightweight and scalable method for classifying network and program traces to detect system intrusion attempts. By employing interelement dependency models to overcome the independence violation problem inherent in the Naive Bayes learners, our method yields intrusion detectors with better accuracy. For efficient and lightweight counting of n-gram features without losing accuracy, we use a k-truncated generalized suffix tree ( k-TGST) for storing n-gram features. The k-TGST storage mechanism enables us to scale up the classifiers, which cannot be easily achieved by Support-Vector-Machine- (SVM-) based methods that require implausible computing power and resources for accuracy. Experimental results on a set of practical benchmark datasets show that our method is scalable up to 20-gram with consistent accuracy comparable to SVMs.
Superwideband Bandwidth Extension Using Normalized MDCT Coefficients for Scalable Speech and Audio Coding
Authors: Lee Young Han , Choi Seung Ho
Published: July 2013

A bandwidth extension (BWE) algorithm from wideband to superwideband (SWB) is proposed for a scalable speech/audio codec that uses modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) coefficients as spectral parameters. The superwideband is first split into several subbands that are represented as gain parameters and normalized MDCT coefficients in the proposed BWE algorithm. We then estimate normalized MDCT coefficients of the wideband to be fetched for the superwideband and quantize the fetch indices. After that, we quantize gain parameters by using relative ratios between adjacent subbands. The proposed BWE algorithm is embedded into a standard superwideband codec, the SWB extension of G.729.1 Annex E, and its bitrate and quality are compared with those of the BWE algorithm already employed in the standard superwideband codec. It is shown from the comparison that the proposed BWE algorithm relatively reduces the bitrate by around 19% with better quality, compared to the BWE algorithm in the SWB extension of G.729.1 Annex E.
The Effects of Menorrhagia on Women’s Quality of Life: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Gokyildiz Sule , Aslan Ergul , Beji Nezihe Kizilkaya , Mecdi Meltem
Published: July 2013

Objective. The purpose of this study is to identify menstruation characteristics of the women and the effects of menorrhagia on women’s quality of life. Methods. The study was designed as a descriptive, case-control one. Results. Of the women in the case group, 10.9% stated that their menstrual bleeding was severe and very severe before complaints while 73.2% described bleeding as severe or very severe after complaints. Among those who complained about menorrhagia, 46.7% pointed that they used hygienic products that are more protective than regular sanitary pads. Women also stated that their clothes, bed linens, and furniture got dirty parallel to the severity of the bleeding. In all subscales of SF-36 scale, quality of life of the women in the menorrhagia group was significantly lower than the ones in the control group (). Conclusion. Menorrhagia has negative effects on women’s quality of life. Therefore, quality of life of the women consulting the clinics with menorrhagia complaint should be investigated and effective approaches should be designed.
Access to Basic HIV-Related Services and PrEP Acceptability among Men Who Have sex with Men Worldwide: Barriers, Facilitators, and Implications for Combination Prevention
Authors: Ayala George , Makofane Keletso , Santos Glenn-Milo , Beck Jack , Do Tri D. , Hebert Pato , Wilson Patrick A. , Pyun Thomas , Arreola Sonya
Published: July 2013

Introduction. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV globally. Easily accessible combination HIV prevention strategies, tailored to the needs of MSM, are needed to effectively address the AIDS pandemic. Methods and Materials. We conducted a cross-sectional study among MSM (n=3748) from 145 countries from April to August 2012. Using multivariable random effects models, we examined factors associated with acceptability of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and access to condoms, lubricants, HIV testing, and HIV treatment. Results. Condoms and lubricants were accessible to 35% and 22% of all respondents, respectively. HIV testing was accessible to 35% of HIV-negative respondents. Forty-three percent of all HIV-positive respondents reported that antiretroviral therapy was easily accessible. Homophobia, outness, and service provider stigma were significantly associated with reduced access to services. Conversely, community engagement, connection to gay community, and comfort with service providers were associated with increased access. PrEP acceptability was associated with lower PrEP-related stigma, less knowledge about PrEP, less outness, higher service provider stigma, and having experienced violence for being MSM. Conclusions. Ensuring HIV service access among MSM will be critical in maximizing the potential effectiveness of combination approaches, especially given the interdependence of both basic and newer interventions like PrEP. Barriers and facilitators of HIV service access for MSM should be better understood and addressed.
Proof of Concept Study: Relating Infarct Location to Stroke Disability in the NINDS rt-PA Trial
Authors: Phan Thanh G. , Demchuk Andrew , Srikanth Velandai , Silver Brian , Patel Suresh C. , Barber Philip A. , Levine Steven R. , Hill Michael D. ,   The NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study Group
Published: July 2013

Background: The summed Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) for noncontrast head CT scan represents the extent of early brain ischemia and has been shown to be useful for predicting stroke outcome. The ASPECTS template contains information on anatomical location which so far has not been used in analysis. This may not have been done because adjacent brain regions have related functions and share vascular territory. The task of relating neurological deficit to infarct localization requires brain imaging analysis tools which deal with this issue of relatedness or collinearity. We have previously used partial least squares with penalized logistic regression (PLR) to handle this problem of collinearity. A disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be performed at the bedside and requires processing and analysis in the imaging laboratory. PLR is a simpler analytic tool compared to partial least squares with PLR for dealing with this issue of relatedness (collinearity). It provides results in terms of β coefficients related to specific infarct locations in a manner that is intuitively understood by clinicians. In this exploratory analysis, we hypothesized that infarct location as represented by the individual ASPECTS region may be independently related to disability. Methods: ASPECTS from CT scans of patients in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) Study were obtained. Due to the collinearity between the ASPECTS regions, we used PLR to determine the independent associations of exposures (rt-PA), demographic variables (age and sex), and imaging (ASPECTS location) with poor outcome as defined by a modified Rankin Scale score of >2. Results: In 607/624 subjects with ASPECTS readings, variables significantly associated with poor outcome included: interactions between ASPECTS M6 region (primary motor cortex/parietal lobe) and age (p = 0.004), lentiform nucleus and age (p = 0.007), and blood sugar level and age (p = 0.01). The model suggested that older age or involvement of either M6 or lentiform nucleus slightly increased the odds of disability. However, the predominant effect was driven by rt-PA which reduced the odds of poor disability (OR 0.597, 95% CI 0.425-0.838, p = 0.003). This may potentially explain why certain patients have smaller gains from rt-PA treatments. Conclusion: At an older age, specific infarct locations may be associated with a poorer outcome in this exploratory re-analysis of the NINDS rt-PA Study.
Bütschli Dynamic Droplet System
Authors: Armstrong Rachel , Hanczyc Martin
Published: July 2013

Dynamical oil-water systems such as droplets display lifelike properties and may lend themselves to chemical programming to perform useful work, specifically with respect to the built environment. We present Bütschli water-in-oil droplets as a model for further investigation into the development of a technology with living properties. Otto Bütschli first described the system in 1898, when he used alkaline water droplets in olive oil to initiate a saponification reaction. This simple recipe produced structures that moved and exhibited characteristics that resembled, at least superficially, the amoeba. We reconstructed the Bütschli system and observed its life span under a light microscope, observing chemical patterns and droplet behaviors in nearly three hundred replicate experiments. Self-organizing patterns were observed, and during this dynamic, embodied phase the droplets provided a means of introducing temporal and spatial order in the system with the potential for chemical programmability. The authors propose that the discrete formation of dynamic droplets, characterized by their lifelike behavior patterns, during a variable window of time (from 30 s to 30 min after the addition of alkaline water to the oil phase), qualify this system as an example of living technology. The analysis of the Bütschli droplets suggests that a set of conditions may precede the emergence of lifelike characteristics and exemplifies the richness of this rudimentary chemical system, not only for artificial life investigations but also for possible real-world applications in architectural practice.
Living in Living Cities
Authors: Gershenson Carlos
Published: July 2013

This article presents an overview of current and potential applications of living technology to some urban problems. Living technology can be described as technology that exhibits the core features of living systems. These features can be useful to solve dynamic problems. In particular, urban problems concerning mobility, logistics, telecommunications, governance, safety, sustainability, and society and culture are presented, and solutions involving living technology are reviewed. A methodology for developing living technology is mentioned, and supraoptimal public transportation systems are used as a case study to illustrate the benefits of urban living technology. Finally, the usefulness of describing cities as living systems is discussed.
The Contributions of Immigrants to American Culture
Authors: Hirschman Charles
Published: July 2013

The standard account of American immigration focuses on the acculturation and assimilation of immigrants and their children to American society. This analysis typically ignores the significant contributions of immigrants to the creation of American culture through the performing arts, sciences, and other cultural pursuits. Immigrants and their children are not born with more creative talents than native-born citizens, but their selectivity and marginality may have pushed and pulled those with ability into high-risk career paths that reward creative work. The presence of large numbers of talented immigrants in Hollywood, academia, and the high-tech industries has pushed American institutions to be more meritocratic and open to innovation than they would be otherwise.
The Illegality Trap: The Politics of Immigration & the Lens of Illegality
Authors: Jones-Correa Michael , de Graauw Els
Published: July 2013

The focus on undocumented immigrants in contemporary U.S. immigration debates, often at the expense of other immigration issues, has led to an illegality trap. This situation has serious negative consequences for both U.S. immigration policy and immigrants, including an overwhelming emphasis on enforcement; legislative gridlock and the failure of comprehensive immigration reform; constitutional conflict resulting from tensions between national, state, and local approaches to dealing with undocumented immigration; and the puzzling absence of federal policies addressing immigrant integration. This essay argues for a reframing of “illegality” as a contingent rather than categorical status, building on the insights of Plyler v. Doe and notions of implied contract and attachment to U.S. society. Doing so, we contend, will shift the terms of the immigration debate, enabling more fruitful policy discussions about both immigration and immigrant integration.
Isentropic Analysis of Convective Motions
Authors: Pauluis Olivier M. , Mrowiec Agnieszka A.
Published: July 2013

This paper analyzes the convective mass transport by sorting air parcels in terms of their equivalent potential temperature to determine an isentropic streamfunction. By averaging the vertical mass flux at a constant value of the equivalent potential temperature, one can compute an isentropic mass transport that filters out reversible oscillatory motions such as gravity waves. This novel approach emphasizes the fact that the vertical energy and entropy transports by convection are due to the combination of ascending air parcels with high energy and entropy and subsiding air parcels with lower energy and entropy. Such conditional averaging can be extended to other dynamic and thermodynamic variables such as vertical velocity, temperature, or relative humidity to obtain a comprehensive description of convective motions. It is also shown how this approach can be used to determine the mean diabatic tendencies from the three-dimensional dynamic and thermodynamic fields.

A two-stream approximation that partitions the isentropic circulation into a mean updraft and a mean downdraft is also introduced. This offers a straightforward way to identify the mean properties of rising and subsiding air parcels. The results from the two-stream approximation are compared with two other definitions of the cloud mass flux. It is argued that the isentropic analysis offers a robust definition of the convective mass transport that is not tainted by the need to arbitrarily distinguish between convection and its environment, and that separates the irreversible convective overturning from oscillations associated with gravity waves.
Atlantic Hurricanes and Climate Change. Part II: Role of Thermodynamic Changes in Decreased Hurricane Frequency
Authors: Mallard Megan S. , Lackmann Gary M. , Aiyyer Anantha
Published: July 2013

A method of downscaling that isolates the effect of temperature and moisture changes on tropical cyclone (TC) activity was presented in Part I of this study. By applying thermodynamic modifications to analyzed initial and boundary conditions from past TC seasons, initial disturbances and the strength of synoptic-scale vertical wind shear are preserved in future simulations. This experimental design allows comparison of TC genesis events in the same synoptic setting, but in current and future thermodynamic environments. Simulations of both an active (September 2005) and inactive (September 2009) portion of past hurricane seasons are presented.

An ensemble of high-resolution simulations projects reductions in ensemble-average TC counts between 18% and 24%, consistent with previous studies. Robust decreases in TC and hurricane counts are simulated with 18- and 6-km grid lengths, for both active and inactive periods. Physical processes responsible for reduced activity are examined through comparison of monthly and spatially averaged genesis-relevant parameters, as well as case studies of development of corresponding initial disturbances in current and future thermodynamic conditions. These case studies show that reductions in TC counts are due to the presence of incipient disturbances in marginal moisture environments, where increases in the moist entropy saturation deficits in future conditions preclude genesis for some disturbances. Increased convective inhibition and reduced vertical velocity are also found in the future environment. It is concluded that a robust decrease in TC frequency can result from thermodynamic changes alone, without modification of vertical wind shear or the number of incipient disturbances.
What Caused the Winter Drought in Western Nepal during Recent Years?*,+
Authors: Wang Shih-Yu , Yoon Jin-Ho , Gillies Robert R. , Cho Changrae
Published: July 2013

Western Nepal has experienced consecutive and worsening winter drought conditions since 2000, culminating in a severe drought episode during 2008/09. In this study, the meteorological conditions and a historical perspective of the winter droughts in western Nepal were analyzed using instrumental records, satellite observations, and climate model simulations. Meteorological diagnosis using atmospheric reanalysis revealed that 1) winter drought in western Nepal is linked to the Arctic Oscillation and its decadal variability, which initiates a tropospheric short-wave train across Eurasia and South Asia; and that 2) the persistent warming of the Indian Ocean likely contributes to the suppression of rainfall through enhanced local Hadley circulation. Simulations from the phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) sets of historical single-forcing experiments indicated that the increased loading of anthropogenic aerosols is also a compounding factor in the precipitation decline during the later decades. It is therefore conceivable that the recent spells of decadal drought in Nepal are symptomatic of both natural variability and anthropogenic influences. Given the observations that winter precipitation has declined to near zero while groundwater has hardly been replenished, appropriate management of western Nepal's water resources is both critical and necessary.
Southward Eddy Heat Transport Occurring along Southern Flanks of the Kuroshio Extension and the Gulf Stream in a 1/10° Global Ocean General Circulation Model
Authors: Aoki Kunihiro , Minobe Shoshiro , Tanimoto Youichi , Sasai Yoshikazu
Published: July 2013

The present study investigates meridional heat transport induced by oceanic mesoscale variability in the World Ocean using a ° global ocean general circulation model (OGCM) running on the Earth Simulator. The results indicate prominent poleward eddy heat transport around the western boundary currents and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and equatorward eddy heat transport in the equatorial region, consistent with the previous studies using coarse-resolution OGCMs. Such poleward eddy heat transport in midlatitude oceans suggests that the eddies act to reduce meridional background temperature gradients across the currents, as would be expected based on baroclinic instability. Interestingly, however, along the southern flanks of the eastward jets of the Kuroshio Extension and the Gulf Stream, southward eddy heat transport occurs in subsurface layers. This is likely due to the southward migration of warm water cores originating from southern areas adjacent to these currents. Southward movement of these cores is caused by interactions with unsteady meanders and cold eddies detaching from the meanders. The potential impact on biological production in the subtropical surface layers of these southward-traveling warm water cores is also discussed.
The Ethics of Paediatric Trials: Questions of Procedure and of Substance
Authors: Petrini Carlo
Published: July 2013

One of the more frequently debated questions about the ethics of research with children is that of informed consent. This raises a twofold problem: the legally valid consent given by the person or persons exercising parental authority, and the consent of the minor when he or she has adequate decision-making capacity. Another ethically important issue is the weighing of risks and benefits. Any assessment of the benefits will embrace the controversial problem of balancing the direct benefits to the individual and the social benefits to other children in similar medical circumstances deriving from increased knowledge. The highly significant questions of risk and of the advancement of knowledge are often – perhaps too emphatically – taken together with that of consent, as though the existence of legally valid consent and, where possible, the assent of the minor were sufficient to justify exposing a child to serious or probable risks.
The crusade against corruption in Hong Kong in the 1970s: Governor MacLehose as a zealous reformer or reluctant hero?
Authors: Yep Ray
Published: July 2013

The creation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in February 1974 was arguably one of the most important developments in Hong Kong since 1945. Not only did major corruption syndicates disappear from the fabric of public administration in the colony, but the popular acceptance of bribery as a component of social life also faded away. Sir Murray MacLehose, who served as Governor of Hong Kong between 1971 and 1982, was regarded by locals as the maverick behind this miracle. This article argues, however, that the genesis of the ICAC could be better understood as a product of the cumulative efforts of MacLehose and his predecessors. The initiative should also be considered in the political context of the rising tension between London and the local community. In a way, the establishment of the ICAC helped pre-empt London’s intervention in this matter. Also, despite a public appearance of unbridled support for the crusade against corruption, MacLehose’s resolve was severely tested during the early years of the ICAC, and he did contemplate moderating the operation of the Commission, even before the partial amnesty in 1977.
Chinese eco-cities: A perspective of land-speculation-oriented local entrepreneurialism
Authors: Shiuh-Shen Chien
Published: July 2013

This article aims to critically review the recent phenomenon of eco-cities in China which has captured the attention of the city authorities since the 2000s. At the time of writing, more than 200 eco-city projects have been proposed, are under construction, or have even been partly or fully implemented. Many of these eco-cities are not retro-fitted development plans in the downtown areas but are new large-scale land development projects on the outskirts of municipalities. The impetus behind the current Chinese ‘new-town-style’ eco-cities can be viewed as the third round of post-Mao land development isomorphism. The first – development zones – took place in the 1980s, and the second – college towns – started from the late 1990s. In the post-Mao context, Chinese local entrepreneurialism, which is characterized by (1) inter-scalar strategies to formally and informally pursue projects and (2) novel discourses that seek to legitimize projects, is actually motivated by land finance. Therefore, Chinese eco-cities driven by land-speculation-oriented local entrepreneurialism are very likely to be yet another manifestation of spatial development fervour, which contributes to further local extra-budgetary revenue and generates social conflict as opposed to sustainable development.