bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CFD Simulation of the Discharge Flow from Standard Rushton Impeller
Authors: Kysela Bohuš , Konfršt Jiří , Fořt Ivan , Chára Zdeněk
Published: January 2014

The radial discharge jet from the standard Rushton turbine was investigated by the CFD calculations and compared with results from the Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) measurements. The Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach was employed with Sliding Mesh (SM) model of the impeller motion. The obtained velocity profiles of the mean ensemble-averaged velocity and r.m.s. values of the fluctuating velocity were compared in several distances from the impeller blades. The calculated values of mean ensemble-averaged velocities are rather in good agreement with the measured ones as well as the derived power number from calculations. However, the values of fluctuating velocities are obviously lower from LES calculations than from LDA measurements.
Quantum Radiation Properties of Dirac Particles in General Nonstationary Black Holes
Authors: Hua Jia-Chen , Huang Yong-Chang
Published: January 2014

Quantum radiation properties of Dirac particles in general nonstationary black holes in the general case are investigated by both using the method of generalized tortoise coordinate transformation and considering simultaneously the asymptotic behaviors of the first-order and second-order forms of Dirac equation near the event horizon. It is generally shown that the temperature and the shape of the event horizon of this kind of black holes depend on both the time and different angles. Further, we give a general expression of the new extra coupling effect in thermal radiation spectrum of Dirac particles which is absent from the thermal radiation spectrum of scalar particles. Also, we reveal a relationship that is ignored before between thermal radiation and nonthermal radiation in the case of scalar particles, which is that the chemical potential in thermal radiation spectrum is equal to the highest energy of the negative energy state of scalar particles in nonthermal radiation for general nonstationary black holes.
A Few Complex Equations Constituted by an Operator Consisting of Fractional Calculus and Their Consequences
Authors: Irmak Hüseyin , Frasin Basem Aref
Published: January 2014

A few complex (differential) equations constituted by certain operators consisting of fractional calculus are first presented and some of their comprehensive consequences relating to (analytic and) geometric function theory are then pointed out.
Some Properties on the Harmonic Index of Molecular Trees
Authors: Liu Shaoqiang , Li Jianxi
Published: January 2014

The harmonic index of a graph G is defined as the sum of weights 2/d(u)+d(v) of all edges uv of G, where d(u) denotes the degree of the vertex u in G. In this paper, some general properties of the harmonic index for molecular trees are explored. Moreover, the smallest and largest values of harmonic index for molecular trees with given pendent vertices are provided, respectively.
Serum Cytokeratin-18 Is Associated with NOX2-Generated Oxidative Stress in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
Authors: Del Ben M. , Polimeni L. , Baratta F. , Bartimoccia S. , Carnevale R. , Loffredo L. , Pignatelli P. , Violi F. , Angelico F.
Published: January 2014

Background & Aims. Hepatocyte apoptosis may play a role in progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver and oxidative stress seems one of the key mechanisms responsible for liver damage. The aim was to determine the association of oxidative stress with cytokeratin-18 M30 fragment levels, a marker of hepatocyte apoptosis.Methods.Steatosis severity was defined according to Hamaguchi’s echographic criteria in 209 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver. Serum cytokeratin-18, urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, soluble NOX2-derived peptide, and adiponectin were measured.Results.Serum cytokeratin-18 progressively increased with steatosis severity (from 169.5 (129.3/183.8) to 176 (140/190) and 180 (169.5/192.5)μIU/mL in mild, moderate, and severe steatosis, respectively;P<0.01). After stratification by cytokeratin-18 tertiles, a significant progression of body mass index, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, soluble NOX2-derived peptide, and of the prevalence of diabetes and severe steatosis was found, while HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin progressively decreased. A positive correlation between cytokeratin-18 and body mass index, HOMA-IR, Hamaguchi’s score, urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, and soluble NOX2-derived peptide and a negative correlation between cytokeratin-18 and HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin were found. Body mass index, adiponectin, and soluble NOX2-derived peptide were independent predictors of serum cytokeratin-18 levels (adjustedR2=0.36).Conclusion.We support an association between oxidative stress and severity of liver damage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver.
A New Fractal-Based Miniaturized Dual Band Patch Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting
Authors: Shrestha Sika , Lee Seong Ro , Choi Dong-You
Published: January 2014

The growth of wireless communications in recent years has made it necessary to develop compact, lightweight multiband antennas. Compact antennas can achieve the same performance as large antennas do with low price and with greater system integration. Dual-frequency microstrip antennas for transmission and reception represent promising approach for doubling the system capacity. In this work, a miniaturized dual band antenna operable at 2.45 and 5.8 GHz is constructed by modifying the standard microstrip patch antenna geometry into a fractal structure. In addition to miniaturization and dual band nature, the proposed antenna also removes unwanted harmonics without the use of additional filter component. Using a finite-element-method-based high frequency structure simulator (HFSS), the antenna is designed and its performance in terms of return loss, impedance matching, radiation pattern, and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is demonstrated. Simulation results are shown to be in close agreement with performance measurements from an actual antenna fabricated on an FR4 substrate. The proposed antenna can be integrated with a rectifier circuit to develop a compact rectenna that can harvest RF energy in both of these frequency bands at a reduction in size of 25.98% relative to a conventional rectangular patch antenna.
McHale Operation in Patients with Neglected Hip Dislocations: The Importance of Locking Plates
Authors: Eidelman Mark , Katzman Alexander , Zaidman Michael , Keren Yaniv
Published: January 2014

Neglected hip dislocation in patients with cerebral palsy is a challenge for the pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Many patients experience pain, limitation of hip motion, and sitting and hygiene problems. Arthrodesis, proximal femoral head resection, and subtrochanteric valgus osteotomy are effective salvage procedures for patients with painful hip dislocation and restricted hip motion when reconstruction of the hip is not possible. Osteopenia is one of the problems that can complicate the postoperative course in these patients. Postoperative cast immobilization may further worsen the osteopenia and can predispose to fractures of the femur after cast removal. Standard plating of the proximal osteotomy may not always provide adequate stability of the fixation. In order to prevent postoperative osteoporotic fractures we use locking plates, without casting. Since 2003 until 2011, we operated on 9 patients (14 hips) with painful neglected hip dislocations. The first three patients (five hips) were operated on using standard nonlocking plates. All other patients (nine hips) were operated on using locking plates. During the followup, the hardware failed in one of these cases. All patients treated with locking plates had not been casted postoperatively, and none had loss of fixation or fractures during the followup.
New Insights into the PPARγAgonists for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Jia Zhanjun , Sun Ying , Yang Guangrui , Zhang Aihua , Huang Songming , Heiney Kristina Marie , Zhang Yue
Published: January 2014

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe complication of diabetes and serves as the leading cause of chronic renal failure. In the past decades, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) based first-line therapy can slow but cannot stop the progression of DN, which urgently requests the innovation of therapeutic strategies. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), the synthetic exogenous ligands of nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ), had been thought to be a promising candidate for strengthening the therapy of DN. However, the severe adverse effects including fluid retention, cardiovascular complications, and bone loss greatly limited their use in clinic. Recently, numerous novel PPARγagonists involving the endogenous PPARγligands and selective PPARγmodulators (SPPARMs) are emerging as the promising candidates of the next generation of antidiabetic drugs instead of TZDs. Due to the higher selectivity of these novel PPARγagonists on the regulation of the antidiabetes-associated genes than that of the side effect-associated genes, they present fewer adverse effects than TZDs. The present review was undertaken to address the advancements and the therapeutic potential of these newly developed PPARγagonists in dealing with diabetic kidney disease. At the same time, the new insights into the therapeutic strategies of DN based on the PPARγagonists were fully addressed.
Completely Intracorporeal Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Ileovesicostomy
Authors: Dolat MaryEllen T. , Wade Greg , Grob B. Mayer , Hampton Lance J. , Klausner Adam P.
Published: January 2014

We present a report of a completely intracorporeal robotic-assisted laparoscopic ileovesicostomy with long term follow-up. The patient was a 55-year-old man with paraplegia secondary to tropical spastic paresis resulting neurogenic bladder dysfunction. The procedure was performed using a da Vinci Surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) and took 330 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 100 mL. The patient recovered without perioperative complications. He continues to have low pressure drainage without urethral incontinence over two years postoperatively.
One-Step Synthesis of Superparamagnetic Fe3O4@PANI Nanocomposites
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Jain Sapna
Published: January 2014

Monodisperse Fe3O4@PANI(Polyaniline) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized at ambient temperature via reverse microemulsion technique with the objective to gain control over the size and morphology of these nanocomposites. The present synthetic approach uses inexpansive FeCl3as a single iron source to prepare Fe3O4@PANI nanocomposites by the reverse microemulsion method. The obtained samples were characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. FTIR and X-ray diffractogram confirm the encapsulation of Fe3O4nanoparticles by PANI. Highly monodisperse spherical Fe3O4@PANI nanocomposites with an average diameter of 60 nm have been produced. The-synthesized nanocomposites exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature under applied field. Also a novel mechanism employing FeCl3as a single iron source polymerizing aniline and simultaneously forming Fe3O4is discussed.
Synthesis of Cr(III)-Morin Complex: Characterization and Antioxidant Study
Authors: Panhwar Qadeer K. , Memon Shahabuddin
Published: January 2014

The complex formation between Cr(III) and morin was carried out in methanol and confirmed by analytical characterization using UV-Vis, IR,1H NMR, and TG-DTA. UV-Vis shows significant bathochromic shift in benzoyl upon coordination as well as IR well illustrates the peak shift of C=O group and formation of a O–Cr(III) bond. Likewise,1H NMR studies clarify that Cr(III) metal ion replaces the 5OH proton hence; 5-hydroxy-4-keto site is employed by morin in chelation to form six-membered stable ring system out of three available chelating sites. In addition, TG-DTA denotes the presence of coordinated and crystalline water molecules. The melting point of the complex was found to be 389°C by DSC. In addition, Cr(III)-morin complex was found to be a more potent antioxidant than morin as evaluated by DPPH• and FRAP methods.
Bounds on Biomass Estimates and Energetic Consequences of Ctenophora in the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem
Authors: Ford Michael D. , Link Jason S.
Published: January 2014

Previous descriptions have noted that the stomach samples of spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, showed a major increase in the overall occurrence and hence implied abundance of Ctenophora. This apparent and persistent gelatinous zooplankton outbreak is increasingly more common in the world’s oceans. We briefly explore the energetic ramifications of ctenophores in the spiny dogfish diet, inferring that the presence of gelatinous zooplankton represents an ambient feeding strategy. Relative to other prey, ctenophores are not a high energy density prey item. However, given varying assumptions of the amount of ctenophores consumed, they may be an important staple in the diet of spiny dogfish. We also examine the utility of using spiny dogfish as a gelatinous zooplankton sampling device. Using five calculation methodologies, we provide bounds on potential abundance and biomass estimates of ctenophores in the Northeast U.S. shelf ecosystem. We then contextualize these findings relative to the implications for the Northeast U.S. and any large marine ecosystem.
Increased Levels of Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Peripheral Blood and Tumour Tissue of Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Authors: Khaled Yazan S. , Ammori Basil J. , Elkord Eyad
Published: January 2014

Pancreatic cancer (PC) often presents late with poor survival. While role of immunosuppressive cells in preclinical studies provided help to develop immunotherapeutic agents, these cells remain under investigation in PC. The aim of this study was to characterise the different subsets of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and evaluate their level and function in the circulation and tissue of PC patients. Significant increases in circulating and tumour-infiltrating granulocytic (Lin-HLA-DR-CD33+CD11b+CD15+), but not monocytic (Lin-HLA-DR-CD14+), MDSCs were detected in PC patients when compared with healthy donors and patients with chronic pancreatitis. The circulating MDSCs from PC patients expressed arginase 1, which represents their functional state. Blood levels of MDSCs showed no association with PC stage or preoperative levels of tumour markers. These findings provide a first characterisation of the phenotype of different subsets of peripheral and local MDSCs in PC patients and suggest that the frequency and contribution of these cells are predominantly granulocytic. This information demonstrates that MDSCs play a role in pancreatic cancer and future large validation studies may help in the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies to inhibit or eliminate MDSC function.
Dynamic Metabolic Footprinting Reveals the Key Components of Metabolic Network in YeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Chumnanpuen Pramote , Hansen Michael Adsetts Edberg , Smedsgaard Jørn , Nielsen Jens
Published: January 2014

Metabolic footprinting offers a relatively easy approach to exploit the potentials of metabolomics for phenotypic characterization of microbial cells. To capture the highly dynamic nature of metabolites, we propose the use of dynamic metabolic footprinting instead of the traditional method which relies on analysis at a single time point. Using direct infusion-mass spectrometry (DI-MS), we could observe the dynamic metabolic footprinting in yeastS. cerevisiaeBY4709 (wild type) cultured on 3 different C-sources (glucose, glycerol, and ethanol) and sampled along 10 time points with 5 biological replicates. In order to analyze the dynamic mass spectrometry data, we developed the novel analysis methods that allow us to perform correlation analysis to identify metabolites that significantly correlate over time during growth on the different carbon sources. Both positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI) modes were performed to obtain the complete information about the metabolite content. Using sparse principal component analysis (Sparse PCA), we further identified those pairs of metabolites that significantly contribute to the separation. From the list of significant metabolite pairs, we reconstructed an interaction map that provides information of how different metabolic pathways have correlated patterns during growth on the different carbon sources.
Non-GPS Data Dissemination for VANET
Authors: Na Nakorn Kulit , Rojviboonchai Kultida
Published: January 2014

Fast, reliable, and efficient data dissemination in VANET is a key of success for intelligent transportation system. This requires a broadcasting protocol which has efficient forwarder nodes and an efficient broadcasting mechanism. In this paper, we propose a self-decision algorithm that allows a node to know that it belongs to a member of connected dominating set or not. The algorithm is a combination of density based algorithm and topology based algorithm, called “DTA.” The algorithm does not require any geographical knowledge. Therefore, it can avoid violating a privacy issue. Moreover, the algorithm can resist inaccurate data than position-base algorithms that need high frequent beaconing for accurate data. The simulation results show that our algorithm provides the highest coverage results compared to existing solutions. We also propose a new broadcasting protocol, called “NoG.” NoG consists of a broadcasting mechanism, a waiting timeout mechanism, and a beaconing mechanism. The proposed protocol operates without any geographical knowledge and provides reliable and efficient data dissemination. The performance is evaluated with a realistic network simulator (NS-3). Simulation results show that NoG with DTA outperforms other existing protocols in terms of reliability and data dissemination speed.
Fuzzy Modeling and Control for a Class of Inverted Pendulum System
Authors: Zhang Liang , Chang Xiaoheng , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: January 2014

Focusing on the issue of nonlinear stability control system about the single-stage inverted pendulum, the T-S fuzzy model is employed. Firstly, linear approximation method would be applied into fuzzy model for the single-stage inverted pendulum. At the same time, for some nonlinear terms which could not be dealt with via linear approximation method, this paper will adopt fan range method into fuzzy model. After the T-S fuzzy model, the PDC technology is utilized to design the fuzzy controller secondly. Numerical simulation results, obtained by Matlab, demonstrate the well-controlled effectiveness based on the proposed method for the model of T-S fuzzy system and fuzzy controller.
A New Kernel-Based Fuzzy Level Set Method for Automated Segmentation of Medical Images in the Presence of Intensity Inhomogeneity
Authors: Rastgarpour Maryam , Shanbehzadeh Jamshid
Published: January 2014

Researchers recently apply an integrative approach to automate medical image segmentation for benefiting available methods and eliminating their disadvantages. Intensity inhomogeneity is a challenging and open problem in this area, which has received less attention by this approach. It has considerable effects on segmentation accuracy. This paper proposes a new kernel-based fuzzy level set algorithm by an integrative approach to deal with this problem. It can directly evolve from the initial level set obtained by Gaussian Kernel-Based FuzzyC-Means (GKFCM). The controlling parameters of level set evolution are also estimated from the results of GKFCM. Moreover the proposed algorithm is enhanced with locally regularized evolution based on an image model that describes the composition of real-world images, in which intensity inhomogeneity is assumed as a component of an image. Such improvements make level set manipulation easier and lead to more robust segmentation in intensity inhomogeneity. The proposed algorithm has valuable benefits including automation, invariant of intensity inhomogeneity, and high accuracy. Performance evaluation of the proposed algorithm was carried on medical images from different modalities. The results confirm its effectiveness for medical image segmentation.
Local Analysis of Human Cortex in MRI Brain Volume
Authors: Bourouis Sami
Published: January 2014

This paper describes a method for subcortical identification and labeling of 3D medical MRI images. Indeed, the ability to identify similarities between the most characteristic subcortical structures such as sulci and gyri is helpful for human brain mapping studies in general and medical diagnosis in particular. However, these structures vary greatly from one individual to another because they have different geometric properties. For this purpose, we have developed an efficient tool that allows a user to start with brain imaging, to segment the border gray/white matter, to simplify the obtained cortex surface, and to describe this shape locally in order to identify homogeneous features. In this paper, a segmentation procedure using geometric curvature properties that provide an efficient discrimination for local shape is implemented on the brain cortical surface. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and the validity of our approach.
PCAT-1, a Long Noncoding RNA, Regulates BRCA2 and Controls Homologous Recombination in Cancer
Authors: Prensner John R. , Chen Wei , Iyer Matthew K. , Cao Qi , Ma Teng , Han Sumin , Sahu Anirban , Malik Rohit , Wilder-Romans Kari , Navone Nora , Logothetis Christopher J. , Araujo John C. , Pisters Louis L. , Tewari Ashutosh K. , Canman Christine E. , Knudsen Karen E. , Kitabayashi Naoki , Rubin Mark A. , Demichelis Francesca , Lawrence Theodore S. , Chinnaiyan Arul M. , Feng Felix Y.
Published: January 2014

Impairment of double-stranded DNA break (DSB) repair is essential to many cancers. However, although mutations in DSB repair proteins are common in hereditary cancers, mechanisms of impaired DSB repair in sporadic cancers remain incompletely understood. Here, we describe the first role for a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in DSB repair in prostate cancer. We identify PCAT-1, a prostate cancer outlier lncRNA, which regulates cell response to genotoxic stress. PCAT-1 expression produces a functional deficiency in homologous recombination through its repression of the BRCA2 tumor suppressor, which, in turn, imparts a high sensitivity to small-molecule inhibitors of PARP1. These effects reflected a posttranscriptional repression of the BRCA2 3′UTR by PCAT-1. Our observations thus offer a novel mechanism of “BRCAness” in sporadic cancers. Cancer Res; 74(6); 1651–60. ©2014 AACR.
Sucrose Substitutes Affect the Cariogenic Potential of Streptococcus mutans Biofilms
Authors: Durso S.C. , Vieira L.M. , Cruz J.N.S. , Azevedo C.S. , Rodrigues P.H. , Simionato M.R.L.
Published: January 2014

Streptococcus mutans is considered the primary etiologic agent of dental caries and contributes significantly to the virulence of dental plaque, especially in the presence of sucrose. To avoid the role of sucrose on the virulence factors of S. mutans, sugar substitutes are commonly consumed because they lead to lower or no production of acids and interfere with biofilm formation. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of sugar substitutes in the cariogenic potential of S. mutans biofilms. Thus, in the presence of sucrose, glucose, sucralose and sorbitol, the biofilm mass was quantified up to 96 h, the pH of the spent culture media was measured, the expression of biofilm-related genes was determined, and demineralization challenge experiments were conduct in enamel fragments. The presence of sugars or sugar substitutes profoundly affected the expression of spaP, gtfB, gtfC, gbpB, ftf, vicR and vicX in either biofilm or planktonic cells. The substitution of sucrose induced a down-regulation of most genes involved in sucrose-dependent colonization in biofilm cells. When the ratio between the expression of biofilm and planktonic cells was considered, most of those genes were down-regulated in biofilm cells in the presence of sugars and up-regulated in the presence of sugar substitutes. However, sucralose but not sorbitol fulfilled the purpose of reducing the cariogenic potential of the diet since it induced the biofilm formation with the lowest biomass, did not change the pH of the medium and led to the lowest lesion depth in the cariogenic challenge.
Erosion Protection by Calcium Lactate/Sodium Fluoride Rinses under Different Salivary Flows in vitro
Authors: Borges Alessandra B. , Scaramucci Taís , Lippert Frank , Zero Domenick T. , Hara Anderson T.
Published: January 2014

This study investigated the effect of a calcium lactate prerinse on sodium fluoride protection in an in vitro erosion-remineralization model simulating two different salivary flow rates. Enamel and dentin specimens were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 8), according to the combination between rinse treatments - deionized water (DIW), 12 mM NaF (NaF) or 150 mM calcium lactate followed by NaF (CaL + NaF) - and unstimulated salivary flow rates - 0.5 or 0.05 ml/min - simulating normal and low salivary flow rates, respectively. The specimens were placed into custom-made devices, creating a sealed chamber on the specimen surface connected to a peristaltic pump. Citric acid was injected into the chamber for 2 min, followed by artificial saliva (0.5 or 0.05 ml/min) for 60 min. This cycle was repeated 4×/day for 3 days. Rinse treatments were performed daily 30 min after the 1st and 4th erosive challenges, for 1 min each time. Surface loss was determined by optical profilometry. KOH-soluble fluoride and structurally bound fluoride were determined in specimens at the end of the experiment. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (α = 0.05). NaF and CaL + NaF exhibited significantly lower enamel and dentin loss than DIW, with no difference between them for normal flow conditions. The low salivary flow rate increased enamel and dentin loss, except for CaL + NaF, which presented overall higher KOH-soluble and structurally bound fluoride levels. The results suggest that the NaF rinse was able to reduce erosion progression. Although the CaL prerinse considerably increased F availability, it enhanced NaF protection against dentin erosion only under hyposalivatory conditions.
Intraoperative Monitoring of Bladder and Internal Anal Sphincter Innervation: A Predictor of Erectile Function following Low Anterior Rectal Resection for Rectal Cancer? Results of a Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Kneist Werner , Kauff Daniel W. , Rubenwolf Peter , Thomas Christian , Hampel Christian , Lang Hauke
Published: January 2014

Background: The objective was to investigate whether two-dimensional intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of pelvic autonomic nerves has the potential to predict erectile function (EF) following surgery for rectal cancer. Methods: A consecutive series of 17 sexually active male rectal cancer patients undergoing IONM-based nerve-sparing low anterior rectal resection were evaluated prospectively. IONM was performed by electric stimulation of the pelvic splanchnic nerves with concomitant electromyography of the internal anal sphincter and cystomanometry. Sexual function was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Results: The degree of agreement between electromyography-based and cystomanometry-based IONM with postoperative EF was moderate and good (κ = 0.43 and κ = 0.66). Combined assessment yielded the best agreement (κ = 0.76) with sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value of 90%, negative predictive value of 86%, and overall accuracy of 88%, respectively, in terms of prediction of postoperative EF. Conclusion: The method may be suitable to predict male EF following rectal resection.
Lung Ultrasound in Community-Acquired Pneumonia and in Interstitial Lung Diseases
Authors: Reissig Angelika , Copetti Roberto
Published: January 2014

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of pneumonia in adults as well as in children. LUS is at least as accurate as chest radiography in diagnosing pneumonia. The most important parenchymal criterion is the positive air bronchogram within an echopoor area. Among pleural criteria, basal effusion was most often detected. The presence of multiple diffuse bilateral B-lines on lung examination indicates the interstitial syndrome (IS). For further differential diagnosis, an integrated consideration of history, clinical examination, LUS and echocardiography should be performed. LUS is an excellent tool for IS screening. Repeated LUS control examinations may reflect the dynamics of IS under therapy and so LUS may serve as a therapy guide.
No Mutations in the PSMC3IP Gene Identified in a Swedish Cohort of Women with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
Authors: Norling A. , Hirschberg A.L. , Karlsson L. , Rodriguez-Wallberg K.A. , Iwarsson E. , Wedell A. , Barbaro M.
Published: January 2014

Ovarian dysfunction before the age of 40 years, characterized by hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and presenting with either primary or secondary amenorrhea, is called primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). POI has a significant genetic component, but the specific genetic cause is often unknown. A novel candidate gene for POI, PSMC3IP, has recently been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate a group of patients with POI for possible PSMC3IP mutations. Therefore, DNA samples from 50 patients with POI of primarily Swedish origin were used in the study, 27 with secondary amenorrhea (median age of diagnosis 23 years) and 23 with primary amenorrhea. Control material consisting of DNA samples from 95 women without POI was used for investigation of novel sequence variants. All exons and intron/exon boundaries of the PSMC3IP gene were analyzed by PCR and sequencing. As a result, no pathogenic mutation in the PSMC3IP gene was detected in the cohort. A previously unreported variant, NM_016556.3:c.337+33A>G, was detected in heterozygous form in 1 patient with secondary amenorrhea, likely constituting a normal variant. Two reported single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the cohort at the expected frequency. In conclusion, PSMC3IP gene mutations are not common causes of POI in this Swedish cohort.
A Dual Role for SHH during Phallus Development in a Marsupial
Authors: Chew K.Y. , Pask A.J. , Hickford D. , Shaw G. , Renfree M.B.
Published: January 2014

The mammalian phallus arises from identical primordia in both sexes and is patterned in part by the key morphogen Sonic hedgehog (SHH). We have investigated SHH and other morphogens during phallus development in the tammar wallaby. In this marsupial, testis differentiation and androgen production occurs just after birth, but it takes a further 50-60 days before the phallus becomes sexually dimorphic. One day before birth, SHH was expressed in both sexes in the urethral epithelium. In males, there was a marked upregulation of SHH, GLI2, and AR at day 50 postpartum, a time when testicular androgen production falls. SHH, GLI2, and AR were downregulated in female pouch young treated with androstanediol from days 24-50, but not when treatments were begun at day 29, suggesting an early window of androgen sensitivity. SHH, GLI2, and AR expression in the phallus of males castrated at day 23 did not differ from controls, but there was an increase in SHH and GLI2 and a decrease in FGF8 and BMP4 expression when the animals were castrated at day 29. These results suggest that the early patterning by SHH is androgen-independent followed by an androgen-dependent window of sensitivity and a sharp rise in SHH expression after androgen withdrawal at day 50.
The Dynamics of Hurricane Risk Perception: Real-Time Evidence from the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Authors: Meyer Robert J. , Baker Jay , Broad Kenneth , Czajkowski Jeff , Orlove Ben
Published: January 2014

Findings are reported from two field studies that measured the evolution of coastal residents' risk perceptions and preparation plans as two hurricanes—Isaac and Sandy—were approaching the U.S. coast during the 2012 hurricane season. The data suggest that residents threatened by such storms had a poor understanding of the threat posed by the storms; they overestimated the likelihood that their homes would be subject to hurricane-force wind conditions but underestimated the potential damage that such winds could cause, and they misconstrued the greatest threat as coming from wind rather than water. These misperceptions translated into preparation actions that were not well commensurate with the nature and scale of the threat that they faced, with residents being well prepared for a modest wind event of short duration but not for a significant wind-and-water catastrophe. Possible causes of the biases and policy implications for improving hurricane warning communication are discussed.
Large-Eddy Simulations of Convective Boundary Layers over Flat and Urbanlike Surfaces
Authors: Park Seung-Bu , Baik Jong-Jin
Published: January 2014

The effects of urbanlike surfaces with a block array on the dry convective boundary layer (CBL) are numerically investigated using the parallelized large-eddy simulation model. Five cases representing a free CBL, a sheared CBL, and a strongly sheared CBL over flat surfaces, a sheared CBL over a block array, and a sheared CBL over a modeled canopy layer are simulated and compared. In the sheared CBL over a block array, mixed-layer flow is decelerated because of increased surface shear and horizontal convective rolls appear in the mixed layer. In contrast, convection cells and intermediate structures between cells and rolls occur in the free and sheared CBLs over flat surfaces, respectively. Horizontal convective rolls and the traces of block-induced turbulent eddies are detected in the spectral density fields of vertical velocity and in the vertical profiles of vertical velocity skewness in the sheared CBL over a block array. The decelerated mixed-layer flow in the sheared CBL over a block array leads to stronger wind shear in the entrainment zone than in the other cases, resulting in streamwise alternating updrafts and downdrafts there. While the contributions to vertical turbulent heat flux by rising cool air and sinking cool air are dominant in the free CBL, the contributions to vertical turbulent heat flux by sinking warm air and rising warm air increase as the wind shear in the entrainment zone increases. Because of enhanced turbulence activity and wavelike motions in the entrainment zone, the magnitude of entrainment heat flux in the CBL over a block array is larger than that in the other cases.
The Role of the Mean State of Arctic Sea Ice on Near-Surface Temperature Trends
Authors: van der Linden E. C. , Bintanja R. , Hazeleger W. , Katsman C. A.
Published: January 2014

Century-scale global near-surface temperature trends in response to rising greenhouse gas concentrations in climate models vary by almost a factor of 2, with greatest intermodel spread in the Arctic region where sea ice is a key climate component. Three factors contribute to the intermodel spread: 1) model formulation, 2) control climate state, and 3) internal climate variability. This study focuses on the influence of Arctic sea ice in the control climate on the intermodel spread in warming, using idealized 1% yr−1 CO2 increase simulations of 33 state-of-the-art global climate models, and combining sea ice–temperature relations on local to large spatial scales. On the Arctic mean scale, the spread in temperature trends is only weakly related to ice volume or area in the control climate, and is probably not dominated by internal variability. This suggests that other processes, such as ocean heat transport and meteorological conditions, play a more important role in the spread of long-term Arctic warming than control sea ice conditions. However, on a local scale, sea ice–warming relations show that in regions with more sea ice, models generally simulate more warming in winter and less warming in summer. The local winter warming is clearly related to control sea ice and universal among models, whereas summer sea ice–warming relations are more diverse, and are probably dominated by differences in model formulation. To obtain a more realistic representation of Arctic warming, it is recommended to simulate control sea ice conditions in climate models so that the spatial pattern is correct.
Impact of Variable Atmospheric and Oceanic Form Drag on Simulations of Arctic Sea Ice*
Authors: Tsamados Michel , Feltham Daniel L. , Schroeder David , Flocco Daniela , Farrell Sinead L. , Kurtz Nathan , Laxon Seymour W. , Bacon Sheldon
Published: January 2014

Over Arctic sea ice, pressure ridges and floe and melt pond edges all introduce discrete obstructions to the flow of air or water past the ice and are a source of form drag. In current climate models form drag is only accounted for by tuning the air–ice and ice–ocean drag coefficients, that is, by effectively altering the roughness length in a surface drag parameterization. The existing approach of the skin drag parameter tuning is poorly constrained by observations and fails to describe correctly the physics associated with the air–ice and ocean–ice drag. Here, the authors combine recent theoretical developments to deduce the total neutral form drag coefficients from properties of the ice cover such as ice concentration, vertical extent and area of the ridges, freeboard and floe draft, and the size of floes and melt ponds. The drag coefficients are incorporated into the Los Alamos Sea Ice Model (CICE) and show the influence of the new drag parameterization on the motion and state of the ice cover, with the most noticeable being a depletion of sea ice over the west boundary of the Arctic Ocean and over the Beaufort Sea. The new parameterization allows the drag coefficients to be coupled to the sea ice state and therefore to evolve spatially and temporally. It is found that the range of values predicted for the drag coefficients agree with the range of values measured in several regions of the Arctic. Finally, the implications of the new form drag formulation for the spinup or spindown of the Arctic Ocean are discussed.
Polar Lows over the Nordic Seas: Improved Representation in ERA-Interim Compared to ERA-40 and the Impact on Downscaled Simulations
Authors: Laffineur Thibaut , Claud Chantal , Chaboureau Jean-Pierre , Noer Gunnar
Published: January 2014

Polar lows are intense high-latitude mesocyclones that form during the cold season over open sea. Their relatively small-scale and short life span lead to a rather poor representation in model outputs and meteorological reanalyses. In this paper, the ability of the Interim European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) to represent polar lows over the Norwegian and Barents Sea is assessed, and a comparison with the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) is provided for three cold seasons (1999–2000 until 2001–02). A better representation in ERA-Interim is found, with 13 systems captured out of the 29 observed, against 6 in the case of ERA-40. Reasons for the lack of representation are identified. Unexpectedly, the representation of different polar low sizes does not appear to be linked to the resolution. Rather, it is the representation of synoptic conditions that appears to be essential. In a second part, a downscaling is conducted using the mesoscale model Méso-NH. For each observed polar low, a pair of simulations is performed: one initialized by ERA-Interim and the other one by ERA-40. An improvement is noted with 22 polar lows represented when ERA-Interim is used. Through a model-to-satellite approach, it is shown that even if polar lows are simulated, convective processes remain insufficiently represented. Wind speeds, which were underestimated in reanalyses, are nevertheless more realistic in the Méso-NH simulations. These results are supported by a spectral analysis of reanalyses and Méso-NH fields.
Dry Tropical Nights and Wet Extreme Heat in Beijing: Atypical Configurations between High Temperature and Humidity
Authors: Chen Ruidan , Lu Riyu
Published: January 2014

Generally, tropical nights [TN; minimum temperature (Tmin) ≥25°C] occur under wet air conditions, while extreme heat [EH; maximum temperature (Tmax) ≥35°C] occurs under dry air conditions. This can be explained by higher humidity favoring TN through reducing longwave radiation cooling, and lower humidity favoring EH through enhancing solar radiation at the surface. The present study focuses on the atypical phenomena of dry TN (30% of all TN days) and wet EH (20% of all EH days) in Beijing during July and August, 1979–2008. It was found that meteorological conditions, including large-scale circulations and specific humidity, exhibit a resemblance between typical (wet TN and dry EH) and atypical (dry TN and wet EH) cases. That is, the meteorological anomalies for dry TN are similar to those for dry EH, and the anomalies for wet EH are similar to those for wet TN. For instance, descending anomalies, which lead to lower humidity and are thus associated with dry EH, appear for more than 70% of dry TN cases. In addition, the persistence of high temperature from day to night, and from night to day, also contribute significantly to dry TN and wet EH, respectively. About 50% of dry TN days and about 70% of wet EH days are preceded by EH and TN, respectively. It can be concluded from these results that both meteorological conditions and temperature persistence contribute greatly to dry TN and wet EH.
Toward More Usable Electronic Voting
Authors: Campbell Bryan A. , Tossell Chad C. , Byrne Michael D. , Kortum Philip
Published: January 2014

Objective:

The goal of this research was to assess the usability of a voting system designed for smartphones.

Background:

Smartphones offer remote participation in elections through the use of pervasive technology. Voting on these devices could, among other benefits, increase voter participation while allowing voters to use familiar technology. However, the usability of these systems has not been assessed.

Method:

A mobile voting system optimized for use on a smartphone was designed and tested against traditional voting platforms for usability.

Results:

There were no reliable differences between the smartphone-based system and other voting methods in efficiency and perceived usability. More important, though, smartphone owners committed fewer errors on the mobile voting system than on the traditional voting systems.

Conclusion:

Even with the known limitations of small mobile platforms in both displays and controls, a carefully designed system can provide a usable voting method. Much of the concern about mobile voting is in the area of security; therefore, although these results are promising, security concerns and usability issues arising from mitigating them must be strongly considered.

Application:

The results of this experiment may help to inform current and future election and public policy officials about the benefits of allowing voters to vote with familiar hardware.
A new method of evaluating interfacial properties of a fiber/matrix composite
Authors: Budiman Bentang Arief , Takahashi Kosuke , Inaba Kazuaki , Kishimoto Kikuo
Published: January 2014

Interfacial debonding frequently initiates composite failure in a fiber/matrix composite. A single-fiber fragmentation test and its modifications can be used to evaluate interfacial properties. However, they still have accuracy problems due to fiber impurities and friction work. This paper presents a new method of evaluating interfacial properties using a stress contour of composite matrix. A single-fiber fragmentation test model was developed to simulate the stress contour. The interface was modeled as a cohesive zone model. Four characteristic lengths on the stress contour were found after conducting simulations with many interfacial properties values. The stress contour was then captured from the single-fiber fragmentation test employing a photo-elasticity technique and the four characteristic lengths were measured. Iteration in simulation involved changing interfacial properties until corresponding characteristic lengths from experiment and simulation were obtained. The results were compared with those obtained with existing methods and found to be reasonable.
Influence of dyestuffs on the crystallinity of a bacterial cellulose and a regenerated cellulose
Authors: Miyamoto Hitomi , Tsuduki Masaya , Ago Mariko , Yamane Chihiro , Ueda Mitsuo , Okajima Kunihiko
Published: January 2014

The crystal structures of bacterial cellulose (BC) obtained by cultivation of an Enterobacter species CJF 002 stock under the presence of direct, acid, and basic dyestuffs were examined. Optical microscopic observation showed that direct and basic dyestuffs stained BC samples but acid dyestuff did not. This suggests that direct and basic dyestuffs are contained within the resulting BC samples. Analysis of wide angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) data indicates that direct dyestuffs inhibited crystallization of BC at dyestuff concentration in culture media ( Cdye) of more than 0.05 wt% with lower angle shift of the diffraction peak for the (200) plane of BC, but almost no influence on BC crystallization in the case of basic dyestuff was observed. In addition, we investigated the crystallinity of regenerated cellulose (RC) from a cuprammonium solution and the reaction of RC with the dyestuffs. The dyestuffs had almost no impact on the crystallinity of RC even in cases where the samples showed staining. It was found that the apparent crystallite size of (110) and (020) in the RC samples with dyestuffs were slightly lower than that in the RC blank sample, while the apparent crystallite size of ([Formula: see text]) in the RC samples with dyestuffs retain the values at the same level as the RC blank sample. These results suggest that the cellulose molecular sheets held together by van der Waals interactions were the basic structure formed from RC and they probably retain their structure in the cuprammonium solution at relatively high concentrations of cellulose.
Race-Related Stress and Racial Identity as Predictors of African American Activism
Authors: Szymanski Dawn M. , Lewis Jioni A.
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine three forms of race-related stress (i.e., cultural, institutional, and individual) and six racial identity dimensions (i.e., Pre-Encounter Assimilation, Miseducation, and Self-Hatred, Immersion-Emersion Anti-White, and Internalization Afrocentricity and Multiculturalist Inclusive) as predictors of involvement in African American activism in a sample of 185 African American undergraduate women and men. When examined concurrently, these race-related variables accounted for more than one fourth of the variance in involvement in African American activism scores. Results indicated that cultural race-related stress, Immersion-Emersion Anti-White, Internalization Afrocentricity, and Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive were the only significant and unique positive predictors of involvement in African American activism. In addition, Internalization Afrocentricity attitudes mediated the cultural race-related stress → activism link and both Immersion-Emersion Anti-White and Internalization Afrocentricity attitudes mediated the institutional race-related stress → activism link.