bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endosteal bone storage in young adults born small for gestational age – a study using peripheral quantitative computed tomography
Authors: Putzker Stephanie , Pozza Robert Dalla , Schwarz Hans Peter , Schmidt Heinrich , Bechtold Susanne
Published: September 2011

Objective  Poor growth early in life is associated with numerous adverse conditions including decreased bone mass. The aim is to investigate bone and body composition in young adults born small for gestational age (SGA).

Design  Observational study.

Participants  A total of 76 young adults born SGA (34f) at a mean age of 19·68 ± 0·5 years were enrolled.

Method  Bone mineral density (BMD), bone geometry and body composition were analysed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

Results  Adults born SGA had significantly lower z‐score for height (−0.86 ± 0·87), weight (−0·61 ± 0·78) and BMI (−0·38 ± 1·04) as well as fat cross‐sectional area (CSA) (−0·62 ± 0·80) compared with a healthy reference population (P < 0·05). Z‐scores for trabecular and cortical BMD were normal. After correction for reduced height, z‐scores for total CSA (−0·14 ± 1·11) and muscle CSA (−0·21 ± 0·99) were normal and medullary cavity (−0·71 ± 0·80) was reduced. Those with a birthweight of ≤1500 g had even lower height‐corrected z‐scores for medullary cavity (−1·12 ± 0·69) and total bone CSA (−0·58 ± 0·93) (P < 0·05). After adjustment for sex and weight, significant partial correlations were detectable between BMI at the age of 48 months and height‐corrected z‐scores for medullary cavity (r = 0·33, P = 0·020) and total CSA (r = 0·29, P = 0·04).

Conclusion  Environmental factors early in life seem to influence bone geometry in adulthood. Young adults born SGA have normal total bone CSA but smaller medullary cavity. Those with very low birthweight, however, show compromised bone size development that may alter bone stability later in life.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is highly associated with nontraumatic fractures in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kim Ji‐Hyun , Jung Mi‐Hyang , Lee Jung‐Min , Son Hyun‐Shik , Cha Bong‐Yun , Chang Sang‐Ah
Published: September 2011

Objective  Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at greater risk of bone fractures than nondiabetics. However, the risk factors for fractures in patients with diabetes have not been fully evaluated. This study was designed to evaluate the relative frequency of fractures at different sites and the diabetes‐associated factors that affect nontraumatic bone fracture in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients and design  This retrospective case–control study recruited 144 patients with type 2 diabetes, who presented with nontraumatic fractures between March 2004 and March 2009 and 150 age‐, gender‐, body mass index (BMI)‐ and duration of diabetes‐matched control subjects. Nontraumatic fractures were confirmed using patients’ medical records and radiological findings. All subjects were examined for their diabetes status and associated factors for fracture, including bone mineral density (BMD).

Results  Of 150 reported bone fractures, the hip was the most frequent fracture site (32·7%), followed by the upper extremity (19·3%). Nontraumatic fractures were associated with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, stroke history, previous fracture and insulin treatment (P < 0·05). In multivariate analyses, independently associated factors for bone fracture were diabetic peripheral neuropathy [odds ratio (OR) = 37·3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·46–652·57] and previous fracture (OR = 9·54, 95% CI = 1·18–77·37; P < 0·05).

Conclusions  The hip was the most frequent site of nontraumatic fracture, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy was significantly associated with an increased risk of nontraumatic fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Language supports for journal abstract writing across disciplines
Authors: Liou H.‐C. , Yang P.‐C. , Chang J.S.
Published: September 2011

Various writing assistance tools have been developed through efforts in the areas of natural language processing with different degrees of success of curriculum integration depending on their functional rigor and pedagogical designs. In this paper, we developed a system, WriteAhead, that provides six types of suggestions when non‐native graduate students of English from different disciplines are composing journal abstracts, and assessed its effectiveness. The method involved automatically building domain‐specific corpora of abstracts from the Web via domain names and related keywords as query expansions, and automatically extracting vocabulary and n‐grams from the corpora in order to offer writing suggestions. At runtime, learners' input in the writing area of the system actively triggered a set of corresponding writing suggestions. This abstract writing assistant system facilitates interactions between learners and the system for writing abstracts in an effective and contextualized way, by providing suggestions such as collocations or transitional words. For assessment of WriteAhead, we compared the writing performance of two groups of students with or without using the system, and adopted student perception data. Findings show that the experiment group wrote better, and most students were satisfied with the system concerning most suggestion types, as they can effectively compose quality abstracts through provided language supports from WriteAhead.
Effect of tick saliva on immune interactions between Borrelia afzelii and murine dendritic cells
Authors: SLÁMOVÁ M. , SKALLOVÁ A. , PÁLENÍKOVÁ J. , KOPECKÝ J.
Published: September 2011

Interaction between mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and Borrelia afzelii spirochetes was monitored on three different levels: phagocytosis of spirochetes by DCs, production of cytokines by Borrelia‐stimulated DCs and the ability of Borrelia‐exposed DCs to activate specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. The effect of Ixodes ricinus tick saliva on each of these interactions was examined. Tick saliva was shown to decrease the number of phagocytosing DCs. The ability of Borrelia‐exposed DCs to induce both proliferation and IL‐2 production by specific CD4+ T cells was significantly reduced by tick saliva. And surprisingly, we have shown an inhibitory effect of tick saliva on the production of both Th1 (TNF‐α and IL‐6) and Th2 (IL‐10) cytokines by DCs. Our data reveal a complex inhibitory effect of tick saliva on Borrelia–DCs interaction.
Anal cleansing practices and faecal contamination: a preliminary investigation of behaviours and conditions in schools in rural Nyanza Province, Kenya
Authors: McMahon Shannon , Caruso Bethany A. , Obure Alfredo , Okumu Fred , Rheingans Richard D.
Published: September 2011

Objective  To learn how children in rural schools in Nyando District, Kenya clean themselves after defecation.

Methods  Six focus group discussions were held with boys and girls ages 12–15 in three rural schools in mid‐2009. Parents were interviewed in one setting. In early 2010, a survey of head teachers was conducted in 114 schools in Nyanza Province, Kenya, to assess the provision of anal cleansing materials and handwashing water and soap in schools.

Results  Anal cleansing behaviour is linked with access to materials, age, social pressure, perceived personal risk of illness and emotional factors. Materials used for anal cleansing include schoolbook paper, leaves, grasses, stones, corncobs and one’s own hands. Students have knowledge gaps in terms of personal hygiene. They were forthcoming with information on their anal cleansing practices. Almost no schools budgeted for or provided anal cleansing materials regularly.

Conclusion  Anal cleansing is a necessary human activity. However, because of social taboos, there are few articles on the topic. School health plans overlook it as well. Researchers need to determine if and how current practices could harm child health to inform policy.
Tobacco smoking in China: Prevalence, disease burden, challenges and future strategies
Authors: ZHANG JING , OU JIA‐XIAN , BAI CHUN‐XUE
Published: September 2011

About one‐third of the world's tobacco is produced and consumed in China. Despite existing tobacco control policies and activities, the prevalence of smoking in China remains high with 350 million smokers and 740 million passive smokers. Furthermore, smoking rates in the young population and in females are increasing. The number of deaths attributed to tobacco use has reached 1.2 million per year, whereas the death toll is expected to rise to 2 million annually by 2025. Sociocultural factors favouring smoking initiation, lack of awareness among the public about the hazards of smoking, weak support from the government and strong resistance from the tobacco industry are major reasons for the lack of effectiveness of current tobacco control measures. Effective intervention efforts are urgently required. Commitments from the government are crucial in tobacco control. Firm action should be taken on tobacco control issues at multiple levels including a reduction in tobacco supply, increased tobacco taxation, increased education, tobacco advertising limitations, decreased second‐hand smoke exposure and smoking cessation support. The health‐care community should also play a leading role in anti‐tobacco campaigns and take a more active role in smoking cessation programmes.
Risk factors for colorectal anastomotic stenoses and their impact on quality of life: what are the lessons to learn?
Authors: Polese L. , Vecchiato M. , Frigo A. C. , Sarzo G. , Cadrobbi R. , Rizzato R. , Bressan A. , Merigliano S.
Published: September 2011

Aim  The aim of the study was to analyse the incidence of benign colorectal anastomotic stenoses in consecutive patients operated on in a single institution and to assess risk factors for their development. Their impact on quality of life was also evaluated.

Method  Patient characteristics, indications for surgery, surgical technique and postoperative complications were prospectively recorded. Stenosis was evaluated by rectoscopy at regular intervals, and patients were treated only if symptomatic. After at least 6 months following surgery, patients were asked to respond to the Short Form 36‐item quality‐of‐life questionnaire during a telephone interview.

Results  Of the original 211 patients considered, 195 underwent a follow‐up rectoscopy and were included in the study. Benign stenosis were found in 26 (13%), and 19 (73%) symptomatic patients were treated successfully (15 with endoscopic dilatation and four with radial diathermic surgical incisions). Risk factors for anastomotic stenosis according to univariate analysis were female sex, diverticulitis, mechanical anastomosis, and anastomosis located between 8 and 12 cm from the anal verge. The significant risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were diverticulitis (OR 5, P = 0.002) and mechanical anastomosis (OR 9, P = 0.04). The self‐perceived quality of life of patients with stenosis was significantly worse compared with controls.

Conclusion  Since diverticulitis and mechanical anastomosis are risk factors for anastomotic stenosis, surgeons should take this into account when they are considering what type of anastomotic technique to utilize.
Incidence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy: a community‐based prospective study in the province of Ferrara and in Copparo, Italy, 1996–2005
Authors: Casetta I. , Pugliatti M. , Faggioli R. , Cesnik E. , Simioni V. , Bencivelli D. , De Carlo L. , Granieri E.
Published: September 2011

Background:  The annual incidence of childhood and adolescence epilepsy ranges from 41 to 97 diagnoses per 100 000 people in western Countries, with a reported decline over time. We aimed at studying the incidence of epilepsy in children and adolescents (1 month to 14 years) and its temporal trend in the province of Ferrara, northern Italy.

Methods:  We implemented a community‐based prospective multi‐source registry. All children with newly diagnosed epilepsy in the period 1996–2005 were recorded.

Results:  The incidence rate of newly diagnosed epilepsy in the considered age range was 57 per 100 000 person‐years, (95% CI: 49.3–65.9), with a peak in the first year of life (109.4; 95% CI: 69.4–164.1), without differences between the two gender. The estimates were significantly lower than those observed previously (97.3; 95% CI: 81.9–115.7).

Conclusions:  Incidence rates for epilepsy in the Italian population aged 1 month to 14 years are in line with those of other European and Northern American Countries. The incidence of childhood epilepsy has declined over time in our area. A reduced impact of serious perinatal adverse events could partly explain the decline.
Effect of Dobutamine Combined With Intra‐Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation on Left Ventricular Function Early After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Experimental Study
Authors: Toumanidis Savvas Th. , Tsirikos Karapanos Nikolaos , Kottis George , Kaladaridou Anna , Bramos Dimitrios , Trikka Chrysanthi O. , Vasiladiotis Nikolaos , Zakopoulos Nikolaos , Moulopoulos Spyridon D.
Published: September 2011

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes left ventricular (LV) remodeling, which forms the substrate for its early and late complications. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of dobutamine or intra‐aortic balloon pumping (IABP), alone or in combination, on LV function in the early phase of an experimental AMI. In 18 pigs, AMI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). IABP or dobutamine infusion at a rate of 5 µg/kg/min, or a combination of the two, was applied immediately after ligation of the LAD. Echocardiographic measurements of the long and short LV axes were obtained before (baseline) and post LAD ligation and at the end of each intervention for 5, 15, and 30 min. The fractional shortening (FS) of both axes, as well as the ejection fraction (EF), was calculated. The combination of dobutamine with IABP increased the EF significantly after the AMI in comparison to dobutamine or IABP alone, and improved the stroke volume, cardiac output, and long axis FS in comparison to IABP alone. Dobutamine alone produced a significantly higher increase of EF in comparison to IABP alone. These results indicate that the combination of dobutamine with IABP may be useful during AMI.
Ethnic Peer Preferences Among Asian American Adolescents in Emerging Immigrant Communities
Authors: Kiang Lisa , Peterson Jamie Lee , Thompson Taylor L.
Published: September 2011

Growing diversity and evidence that diverse friendships enhance psychosocial success highlight the importance of understanding adolescents’ ethnic peer preferences. Using social identity and social contact frameworks, the ethnic preferences of 169 Asian American adolescents (60% female) were examined in relation to ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, and language proficiency. Adolescents with same‐ and mixed‐ethnic friends reported significantly greater ethnic centrality than those with mostly different‐ethnic friends. Adolescents with same‐ethnic friends reported significantly higher perceived discrimination and lower English proficiency than those with mixed‐ and different‐ethnic friends. Open‐ended responses were linked to quantitative data and provided further insight into specific influences on peer preferences (e.g., shared traditions, homophily). Results speak to the importance of cultural experiences in structuring the friendships and everyday lives of adolescents.
Classroom Goal Structures andHIVand Pregnancy Prevention Education in Rural High School Health Classrooms
Authors: Anderman Eric M. , Cupp Pamela K. , Lane Derek R. , Zimmerman Rick , Gray DeLeon L. , O'Connell Ann
Published: September 2011

Over 5,000 adolescents enrolled in required rural high school health courses reported their perceptions of mastery and extrinsic goal structures in their health classrooms. Data were collected from all students at three time points (prior toHIVand pregnancy instruction, 3 months after instruction, and 1 year after instruction). Results indicated that classroom goal structures were related to both proximal and distal knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and efficacy beliefs. Results in particular indicate that the perception of a mastery goal structure in health education classrooms fosters knowledge, improved attitudes, enhanced efficacy beliefs, and lower intentions to have sexual intercourse.
Lookback investigations of Babesia microti–seropositive blood donors: seven‐year experience in a Babesia‐endemic area
Authors: Johnson Stephanie T. , Cable Ritchard G. , Leiby David A.
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND: Human babesiosis in the United States is primarily attributable to infection with the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, Babesia microti. Transfusion‐transmitted Babesia (TTB) is a mounting blood safety concern; approximately 100 US cases of TTB have been reported since 1980. In response, market withdrawal (MW) and/or lookback (LB) has been advocated for cellular components derived from Babesia‐positive blood donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and selective polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of Connecticut donors was conducted from 1999 through 2005. MW/LB was initiated following established procedures on cellular components derived from IFA and/or PCR‐positive donors. Recipients of these associated components were offered IFA and PCR testing for B. microti.

RESULTS: A total of 208 seropositive donors were identified, with 474 donations and 656 cellular components subject to MW/LB. Sixty‐three recipients were tested for B. microti; eight (12.7%) were IFA and/or PCR positive. A significantly higher proportion of B. microti–positive recipients were identified by LB in 1999 to 2000 (5 of 15, 33.3%) than after implementation of seropositive donor deferral in 2001 (3 of 48, 6.3%). Significant differences in positive LBs were also found when comparing index (50% positive) to previous donations (7.3% positive), and when comparing demonstrably parasitemic to nonparasitemic donors, 33.3 and 2.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Recipients of components from B. microti–positive donors were infected via transfusion, with index donations from parasitemic donors posing the greatest transmission risk. This report of B. microti transmission detected through LB, coupled with ongoing TTB cases, indicates that interventions are needed to reduce transmission of B. microti to US blood recipients.
The alpha‐globin genotype does not influence sickle cell disease severity in a retrospective cross‐validation study of the pediatric severity score
Authors: Joly Philippe , Pondarré Corinne , Bardel Claire , Francina Alain , Martin Cyril
Published: September 2011

To validate the recently proposed pediatric severity score (PSS) for sickle cell disease (SCD), we retrospectively assembled clinical data from a cohort of 122 patients with SCD (105 S/S or S/β0‐thal. and 17 S/C) followed up for at least 2 years. Besides age and α‐ and β‐globin genotypes, four new parameters were also tested against the PSS: duration of data assembly, neonatal screening, use of transcranial Doppler ultrasound to prevent vasculopathies and β‐globin gene cluster haplotype. Once again, the PSS clearly differentiated patients by their β‐globin genotype (P = 0.004) but not by their age during data assembly (P = 0.159). But, surprisingly, alpha‐gene deletions were not associated with a lower PSS (P = 0.604), possibly reflecting the opposite effects of α‐thalassemia on global SCD severity. As for the newly tested parameters, the PSS appeared not to be influenced by the duration of data assembly (P = 0.071) and neonatal screening (P = 0.678) but rather by the introduction of transcranial Doppler ultrasound (P = 0.006). Moreover, the Senegal haplotype at the homozygous state may be associated with a lower PSS. Methodologically, our data globally confirm the usefulness of the PSS to identify major etiological factors of SCD gravity. Nevertheless, the score is surely underestimated for patients who have been switched to a chronic therapy before the main SCD complications. Biologically, our study questions about the exact influence of α‐thalassemia on global SCD severity.
Chemical Characterisation of Natural Ilmenite: A Possible New Reference Material
Authors: Donohue Patrick H. , Simonetti Antonio , Neal Clive R.
Published: September 2011

Seven ilmenite (FeTiO3) megacrysts derived from alnöite pipes (Island of Malaita, Solomon Islands) were characterised for their major and trace element compositions in relation to their potential use as secondary reference materials for in situ microanalysis. Abundances of thirteen trace elements obtained by laser ablation ICP‐MS analyses (using the NIST SRM 610 glass reference material) were compared with those determined by solution‐mode ICP‐MS measurements, and these indicated good agreement for most elements. The accuracy of the LA‐ICP‐MS protocol employed here was also assessed by repeated analysis of MPI‐DING international glass reference materials ML3B‐G and KL2‐G. Several of the Malaitan ilmenite megacrysts exhibited discrepancies between laser ablation and solution‐mode ICP‐MS analyses, primarily attributed to the presence of a titano‐magnetite exsolution phase (at the grain boundaries), which were incorporated solely in the solution‐mode runs. Element abundances obtained by LA‐ICP‐MS for three of the ilmenite megacrysts (CRN63E, CRN63H and CRN63K) investigated here had RSD (2s) values of < 20% and therefore can be considered as working values for reference purposes during routine LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of ilmenite.
Incentives and creativity: evidence from the academic life sciences
Authors: Azoulay Pierre , Graff Zivin Joshua S. , Manso Gustavo
Published: September 2011

Despite its presumed role as an engine of economic growth, we know surprisingly little about the drivers of scientific creativity. We exploit key differences across funding streams within the academic life sciences to estimate the impact of incentives on the rate and direction of scientific exploration. Specifically, we study the careers of investigators of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which tolerates early failure, rewards long‐term success, and gives its appointees great freedom to experiment, and grantees from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who are subject to short review cycles, predefined deliverables, and renewal policies unforgiving of failure. Using a combination of propensity‐score weighting and difference‐in‐differences estimation strategies, we find that HHMI investigators produce high‐impact articles at a much higher rate than a control group of similarly accomplished NIH‐funded scientists. Moreover, the direction of their research changes in ways that suggest the program induces them to explore novel lines of inquiry.
Optimal information transmission in a holdup problem
Authors: Goltsman Maria
Published: September 2011

This article examines the optimal contract in a bilateral trade model with unobservable relationship‐specific investment and renegotiation. In such a setting, a contract plays an additional role that it does not have in the standard holdup model, namely that of transmitting information between the parties. The article shows that a partial‐disclosure contract may be optimal and describes the optimal contract. If the investment is cooperative and the information between the trading parties is asymmetric, the optimal contract generally cannot result in the first best, but dispensing with either of these assumptions makes the first‐best achievable.
Disclosure standards for vertical contracts
Authors: Arya Anil , Mittendorf Brian
Published: September 2011

In this article, we investigate the welfare consequences of disclosure of vertical contracts. When much of retail competition is among products provided by a dominant supplier, disclosure provides a means through which the supplier can use its prices to coordinate the retail behavior of its wholesale customers. From the retail consumers' perspective, such coordination is unwanted, leading them to favor opacity of contracts. When retail competition is across brands made by different suppliers, disclosure becomes a conduit through which suppliers compete indirectly via their retail surrogates. Consumers welcome the increased competition accompanying such disclosures. In short, the efficacy of disclosure standards depends critically on the suppliers’ market reach and the relative intensity of intrabrand versus interbrand retail competition.
Economic and greenhouse gas costs of Miscanthus supply chains in the United Kingdom
Authors: Wang Shifeng , Wang Sicong , Hastings Astley , Pogson Mark , Smith Pete
Published: September 2011

Miscanthus has been identified as one of the most promising perennial grasses for renewable energy generation in Europe and the United States [Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 9 (2004) 433]. However, the decision to use Miscanthus depends to a considerable degree on its economic and environmental performance [Soil Use and Management 24 (2008) 235; Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 13 (2009) 1230]. This article assessed the spatial distribution of the economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) costs of producing and supplying Miscanthus in the UK. The average farm‐gate production cost of Miscanthus in the UK is estimated to be 40 £ per oven‐dried tonne (£ odt−1), and the average GHG emissions from the production of Miscanthus are 1.72 kg carbon equivalent per oven‐dried tonnes per year (kg CE odt−1 yr−1). The production cost of Miscanthus varies from 35 to 55 £ odt−1 with the lowest production costs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the highest costs in Scotland. Sensitivity analysis shows that yield of Miscanthus is the most influential factor in its production cost, with precipitation the most crucial input in determining yield. GHG emissions from the production of Miscanthus range from 1.24 to 2.11 kg CE odt−1 yr−1. To maximize the GHG benefit, Miscanthus should be established preferentially on croplands, though other considerations obviously arise concerning suitability and value of the land for food production.
Flow Transition Behavior of the Wetting Flow Between the Film Flow and Rivulet Flow on an Inclined Wall
Authors: Iso Yoshiyuki , Chen Xi
Published: September 2011

Gas-liquid two-phase interfacial flows, such as the liquid film flows (also known as wetting flows on walls), are observed in many industrial processes including absorption, desorption, distillation, and so on. The present study focuses on the characteristics of wetting flows, in particular the drastic transition between the film flow and rivulet flow, as the liquid flow rate and the wall surface texture treatments are varied. The three-dimensional gas-liquid two-phase interfacial flow (wetting flow) simulation is based on the volume of fluid (VOF) model. As the liquid flow rate is increased and then decreased, a hysteresis of the transition between the film flow and rivulet flow is discovered, which implies that the transition phenomenon depends primarily on the history of the change of interfacial surface shape (which affects the process of the flow pattern transition). The applicability and accuracy of the present numerical simulation is validated by using the existing experimental and theoretical studies. Further study on the effect of texture geometry shows that the surface texture treatments added on the wall can impede liquid channeling and increase the wetted area.
A Comparison Between Round Turbulent Jets and Particle-Laden Jets in Crossflow by Using Time-Resolved Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry
Authors: Diez F. J. , Torregrosa M. M. , Pothos S.
Published: September 2011

Time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (TR-ST-PIV) measurements were performed to compare the velocity and vorticity field, and the three-dimensional high intensity vorticity structures between a round turbulent single-phase jet and a particle-laden jet in crossflow. The experiments involved steady fresh water jet sources with a particle mass loading of ∼2.0% injected into steady fresh water crossflows. The TR-ST-PIV system was combined with a phase discrimination method that separates two-phase stereo PIV images into dispersed phase images and continuous phase images that are analyzed by using particle tracking velocimetry and stereo-PIV algorithms, respectively. The analysis shows the importance of phase separation for accurate velocity results. It provides instantaneous velocity fields where the dispersed phase preferentially concentrated in regions of low vorticity with the velocity not matching the continuous phase. The jet and the particle-laden jets trajectories are compared to each other and with results in the literature. Similarly, a comparison of mean velocity and vorticity fields between both flows suggest enhanced mixing in the particle-laden jet due to the effects of the dispersed phased which lowered the centerline velocities and enhanced the penetration in the cross-stream direction of the continuous phase. The Taylor’s frozen flow hypothesis is applied to reconstruct the 3D high intensity vorticity structures in a volume. The visualization of the three-dimensional structures corresponding to the intermediate scales of the flow shows slightly elongated structures preferentially aligned with the jet centerline axis.
Systemic mastocytosis: a gastroenterological perspective
Authors: Philpott Hamish , Gow Paul , Crowley Peter , Nandurkar Sanjay , Douglass Jo , Gibson Peter R.
Published: September 2011

A 53 year old woman presented with abnormal liver function tests and subsequently developed intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. There were no rash or anaphylactoid reactions. Endoscopic biopsies showed excessive density of eosinophils and immunohistochemical staining for tryptase revealed a florid mast cell infiltrate. A diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis was made by bone marrow biopsy. Systemic mastocytosis is a rare myeloid neoplasm often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms due usually to mediator release but may rarely represent organ infiltration. While endoscopic and routine biopsy appearances are non-specific, suggestive features should lead to staining for mast cell tryptase or CD 117. However, diagnose generally requires bone marrow biopsy. The prognosis in the majority of patients is good and supportive management only is required. For patients with aggressive disease, cytoreductive therapy may be needed.
ON ISOTOPISMS OF COMMUTATIVE PRESEMIFIELDS AND CCZ-EQUIVALENCE OF FUNCTIONS
Authors: BUDAGHYAN LILYA , HELLESETH TOR
Published: September 2011

A function F from Fpnto itself is planar if for any [Formula: see text] the function F(x+a)-F(x) is a permutation. CCZ-equivalence is the most general known equivalence relation of functions preserving planar property. This paper considers two possible extensions of CCZ-equivalence for functions over fields of odd characteristics, one proposed by Coulter and Henderson and the other by Budaghyan and Carlet. We show that the second one in fact coincides with CCZ-equivalence, while using the first one we generalize one of the known families of PN functions. In particular, we prove that, for any odd prime p and any positive integers n and m, the indicators of the graphs of functions F and F' from Fpnto Fpmare CCZ-equivalent if and only if F and F′ are CCZ-equivalent.

We also prove that, for any odd prime p, CCZ-equivalence of functions from Fpnto Fpm, is strictly more general than EA-equivalence when n ≥ 3 and m is greater or equal to the smallest positive divisor of n different from 1.
ON GUESS AND DETERMINE ANALYSIS OF RABBIT
Authors: FENG XIUTAO , SHI ZHENQING , WU CHUANKUN , FENG DENGGUO
Published: September 2011

Rabbit is a stream cipher proposed by M. Boesgaard et al., and has been selected into the final portfolio after three evaluation phases of the ECRYPT Stream Cipher Project (eSTREAM). So far only a few papers studied its security besides a series of white papers by the designers of Rabbit. Recently we presented a new idea to evaluate the security of a word-oriented stream cipher algorithm from a smaller data granularity instead of its original data granularity and applied it successfully to the stream cipher SOSEMANUK. In this work we apply the same idea to the Rabbit algorithm and analyze its security in resistance against the guess and determine attack from the view point of byte units. As a result, we present two new approaches of solving all xj,t+1' s and gj,t' s from the next-state function and the extraction scheme of Rabbit, whose complexities are 2166 and 2140.68 respectively, which are dramatically lower than those proposed by Lu et al. (2192 and 2174 resp.) at ISC 2008. Finally based on the above new results we propose a byte-based guess and determine attack on Rabbit, which only needs a small segment of known keystream to recover the whole internal state of Rabbit with time complexity 2242. Though the complexity of our attack is far higher than that of a brute force (2128), we believe that some new techniques adopted in this paper are of interest for future work on Rabbit.
AN EFFICIENT AND INFORMATION THEORETICALLY SECURE RATIONAL SECRET SHARING SCHEME BASED ON SYMMETRIC BIVARIATE POLYNOMIALS
Authors: TARTARY CHRISTOPHE , WANG HUAXIONG , ZHANG YUN
Published: September 2011

The design of rational cryptographic protocols is a recently created research area at the intersection of cryptography and game theory. In this paper, we propose a new m-out-of-n rational secret sharing scheme requiring neither the involvement of the dealer (except during the initial share distribution) nor a trusted mediator. Our protocol leads to a Nash equilibrium surviving the iterated deletion of weakly dominated strategies for m ≥ 4. Our construction is information theoretically secure and it is immune against backward induction attacks. Contrary to Kol and Naor who used a specific cryptographic primitive in their TCC'08 paper (namely, meaningful/meaningless encryption), the immunity of our scheme is based on the use of bivariate polynomials and one-time pads. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that such polynomials have been used for rational secret sharing. Our scheme is efficient and does not require any physical assumptions such as envelopes or ballot boxes. As most of existing rational protocols, our construction requires simultaneous broadcast channels. However, our proposed scheme does not require any computational assumption and it provides information theoretical security.
COUNTING SUBWORDS USING A TRIE AUTOMATON
Authors: ALAZEMI HAMED M. K. , ČERNÝ ANTON
Published: September 2011

We use the concept of trie (prefix tree) representation of a prefix-closed finite language L to design a simple nondeterministic automaton. Each computation of this trie automaton corresponds to a subword occurrence of a word from L in the input word. The matrix representation of the trie automaton leads to a fairly general extension of the original concept of the Parikh matrix from [7].
CHIRAL MAGNETIC EFFECT AND QCD PHASE TRANSITIONS WITH EFFECTIVE MODELS
Authors: FU WEI-JIE , LIU YU-XIN , WU YUE-LIANG
Published: September 2011

We study the influence of the chiral phase transition on the chiral magnetic effect. The chiral electric current density along the magnetic field, the electric charge difference between on each side of the reaction plane, and the azimuthal charged-particle correlations as functions of the temperature during the QCD phase transitions are calculated. It is found that with the decrease of the temperature, the chiral electric current density, the electric charge difference, and the azimuthal charged-particle correlations all get a sudden suppression at the critical temperature of the chiral phase transition, because the large quark constituent mass in the chiral symmetry broken phase quite suppresses the axial anomaly and the chiral magnetic effect. We suggest that the azimuthal charged-particle correlations (including the correlators divided by the total multiplicity of produced charged particles which are used in current experiments and another kind of correlators not divided by the total multiplicity) can be employed to identify the occurrence of the QCD phase transitions in RHIC energy scan experiments.
TANGENS HYPERBOLICUS APPROXIMATIONS OF THE SPATIAL MODEL OF FRICTION COUPLED WITH ROLLING RESISTANCE
Authors: KUDRA GRZEGORZ , AWREJCEWICZ JAN
Published: September 2011

In this paper, for the first time, the complete set of Tangens hyperbolicus approximations of model of dry friction coupled with rolling resistance for circular contact area between interacting bodies is proposed. The developed approximations are compared with corresponding Padé approximants of the first and second order well known from the literature and with the numerical solution of the exact integral model as well. It is shown that Tangens hyperbolicus approximants are closest to the exact solution. Then the approximated models are applied to the celtic stone dynamics, however with the significant simplifying assumption of circular contact between stone and the table, presenting differences between them again. Certain specific approximations and regularizations of the friction and rolling resistance models enabling and facilitating their application to the real problem are shown. The analysis of the response dependence on initial conditions is performed by the use of a special kind of diagram.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF A TIRE CONTACT SURFACE SHAPE IN TROLLEYBUS VERTICAL DYNAMICS
Authors: POLACH PAVEL , HAJŽMAN MICHAL
Published: September 2011

Vertical dynamic properties of the ŠKODA 21 Tr low-floor trolleybus were investigated on an artificial test track when driving with a real vehicle and when simulating driving with a multibody model on a virtual test track. Driving on the artificial test track was aimed at determining the vertical dynamic properties of the real trolleybus, and on such basis, the computer trolleybus models were verified. Time histories and extreme values of the relative deflections of air springs are monitored. The influence of the tire radial characteristics is determined on the basis of measurements on contact surfaces of different shapes that are evaluated.
METHODS OF QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE PROBLEM OF RIGID BODY MOTION IN MEDIUM
Authors: SAMSONOV VITALY A. , DOSAEV MARAT Z. , SELYUTSKIY YURY D.
Published: September 2011

The present paper describes the application of methods of qualitative analysis in the classical problem of rigid body motion in medium. Three particular problems are used as examples: bolides flight, galloping of aeroelastic constructions, and behavior of horizontal axis wind turbine. It is shown that this approach reveals the general properties of the behavior of objects studied, such as impossibility of translational deceleration of bolides and the presence of hysteretic phenomena in the operation of wind turbines.
SOME REMARKS ON BIFURCATION ANALYSIS OF A NONLINEAR VIBRATING SYSTEM EXCITED BY A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY MATERIAL (SMA)
Authors: PICCIRILLO VINÍCIUS , GÓES LUIZ CARLOS SANDOVAL , BALTHAZAR JOSE MANOEL
Published: September 2011

In this paper, the dynamical response of a coupled oscillator is investigated, taking in consideration the nonlinear behavior of a SMA spring coupling the two oscillators. Due to the nonlinear coupling terms, the system exhibits both regular and chaotic motions. The Poincaré sections for different sets of coupling parameters are verified.
AN ELASTICALLY SUPPORTED GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR SLENDER SYSTEM SUBJECTED TO A SPECIFIC LOAD IN RESPECT OF BIFURCATIONAL LOAD AND FREE VIBRATIONS
Authors: UZNY SEBASTIAN
Published: September 2011

The formulation of and solution to the problem of stability and free vibrations of a geometrically nonlinear column, supported at the loaded end by a spring with linear characteristics, are discussed in the paper. The considered system was subjected to a follower force directed towards the positive pole (load formulated by L. Tomski). The boundary problem was formulated using Hamilton's principle and the straightforward expansion method. A series of numerical simulations were based on the mathematical model. The distribution of internal forces in the column's elements and the bifurcation load dependent on the system's parameters were determined for the tangent problem. In the case of free vibrations, the characteristic curve in the plane, load — natural frequency, was assigned to different parameters of the considered system. Experimental research was carried out to confirm the accuracy of the assumed mathematical model. The above research relied on modal analysis and the determination of the natural frequency of the system for the chosen values of an external load.
MECHANICAL APPROACH IN THE STUDIES OF DNA BASE PAIR OSCILLATIONS
Authors: YAKUSHEVICH L. V. , GAPA S. , AWREJCEWICZ J.
Published: September 2011

The rotational oscillations of the DNA bases around the sugar-phosphate chains make an important contribution to the process of DNA base pairs opening that in turn plays a crucial role in the process of the DNA-protein recognition. As a result, the study of these oscillations helps to understand better the dynamical mechanisms of the biological activity of the DNA molecule. In this work, we study rotational oscillations of two coupled DNA bases that form a base pair: adenine-thymine (AT) or guanine-cytosine (GC). We show that the problem can be reduced to the mechanical problem of two coupled nonsymmetrical nonlinear pendulums oscillating in the horizontal plane. We obtain the Lagrange equations, estimate the values of the coefficients of the equations and use the results of estimations to construct the potential energy surface. We consider in detail the case of small amplitudes of angular displacements, find the general solution of corresponding Lagrange equations and present graphs using Maple 13.
ON REGULAR AND IRREGULAR NONLINEAR VIBRATIONS IN TORSIONAL DISCRETE-CONTINUOUS SYSTEMS
Authors: PIELORZ AMALIA , SADO DANUTA
Published: September 2011

The paper deals with regular and irregular nonlinear vibrations of discrete-continuous systems torsionally deformed. The systems consist of an arbitrary number of shafts connected by rigid bodies. In the systems, a local nonlinearity having a soft type characteristic is introduced. This nonlinearity is described by the polynomial of the third degree. General governing equations using the wave approach are derived for a multimass system. Detailed numerical considerations are presented for a two-mass system and a three-mass system. The possibility of occurrence of irregular vibrations is discussed on the basis of the Poincaré maps and bifurcation diagrams.
THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIPS ON THE LEGAL STRUCTURE AND LOCATION CHOICE OF NASCENT SOCIAL VENTURES
Authors: MEYSKENS MORIAH , CARSRUD ALAN L.
Published: September 2011

Social ventures are organized as nonprofit, for-profit or hybrid organizations whose primary purpose is to address unmet social needs and create social value. Partnerships are one of the key strategies employed by social ventures to gain resources. This study focuses on evaluating the role of partnerships on nascent social ventures participating in business plan competitions. The results suggest that partnerships are more important for nonprofit and hybrid social ventures than for for-profit social ventures. Findings also suggest that partnerships are more essential for social ventures operating in developing regions such as Africa, Asia and Latin America where institutional constraints are greater than in the United States or Canada. This study provides some empirical insight into how partnerships impact nascent social ventures operating with distinct legal structures and in different locations of operation.
AN EQUICONSISTENCY RESULT ON PARTIAL SQUARES
Authors: KRUEGER JOHN , SCHIMMERLING ERNEST
Published: September 2011

We prove that the following two statements are equiconsistent: there exists a greatly Mahlo cardinal; there exists a regular uncountable cardinal κ such that no stationary subset of κ+ ∩ cof (κ) carries a partial square.
Highly Conductive Redox-Couple Solid Polymer Electrolyte System: Blend-KI-I2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Gupta Ravindra Kumar , Rhee Hee-Woo
Published: September 2011

Ionic conductivity of a redox-couple solid polymer electrolyte system, () blend: [0.9KI : 0.1I2] with in weight fraction, is reported. A blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (abbreviated as PEO) and succinonitrile in equal weight fraction was used as a polymeric matrix instead of the PEO and succinonitrile because of its low-cost, electrical conductivity superior to the PEO, and thermal stability better than the succinonitrile. The electrolyte with showed ionic conductivity of S cm−1 and iodine ion diffusivity of nearly  cm2 s−1 at 25°C. The conductivity and diffusivity values were nearly two orders of magnitude higher than those of the PEO-KI-I2 due to the improved PEO crystallinity. It also exhibited dye-sensitized solar cell efficiency of 2.2% at 100 mW cm−2, which is twice of the cell prepared using the PEO-KI-I2 only.
Multiresolution Analysis Using Wavelet, Ridgelet, and Curvelet Transforms for Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: AlZubi Shadi , Islam Naveed , Abbod Maysam
Published: September 2011

The experimental study presented in this paper is aimed at the development of an automatic image segmentation system for classifying region of interest (ROI) in medical images which are obtained from different medical scanners such as PET, CT, or MRI. Multiresolution analysis (MRA) using wavelet, ridgelet, and curvelet transforms has been used in the proposed segmentation system. It is particularly a challenging task to classify cancers in human organs in scanners output using shape or gray-level information; organs shape changes throw different slices in medical stack and the gray-level intensity overlap in soft tissues. Curvelet transform is a new extension of wavelet and ridgelet transforms which aims to deal with interesting phenomena occurring along curves. Curvelet transforms has been tested on medical data sets, and results are compared with those obtained from the other transforms. Tests indicate that using curvelet significantly improves the classification of abnormal tissues in the scans and reduce the surrounding noise.
A New Class of Meromorphically Analytic Functions with Applications to the Generalized Hypergeometric Functions
Authors: Ghanim Firas , Darus Maslina
Published: September 2011

We introduce a new subclass of meromorphically analytic functions, which is defined by means of a Hadamard product (or convolution). A characterization property such as the coefficient bound is obtained for this class. The other related properties, which are investigated in this paper, include the distortion and the radius of starlikeness. We also consider several applications of our main results to the generalized hypergeometric functions.
Reduced ErbB4 Expression in Immune Cells of Patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Tynyakov-Samra Evgenia , Auriel Eitan , Levy-Amir Yifat , Karni Arnon
Published: September 2011

Background.There is an insufficient remyelination in the lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS). One of the factor that was found to promote remyelination is neuregulin-1 which is the ligand of ErbB4. Immune cells have been implicated in neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis.Aims.We studied the expression of ErbB4 in the immune cells of patients with relapsing remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls.Methods.ErB4 expression in immune cells was studied by flow cytometry without stimulation or with stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies or in the presence of interferon-g or TNF-αas well as by immunoprecipitation and Western blot, and its mRNA was studied by real-time PCR.Results.We found reduced levels of ErbB4 in the total PBMCs and in T cells, monocytes, and B cells of RR MS patients. Similarly, the ErbB4 RNA levels were reduced in the immune cells of patients with RR-MS. Stimulation via CD3 and CD28 significantly upregulated the expression of ErbB4 on immune cells healthy individuals. This effect was weaker in the patients group.Conclusion.ErbB4 may play a role in the proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, differentiation of oligodendrocytes, and remyelination, and, therefore, the reduced ErbB4 expression in immune cells of patients with RR-MS may contribute to insufficient remyelination that occurs in the disease.