bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HYDRODYNAMIC TESTING OF A BIOLOGICAL SHARKSKIN REPLICA MANUFACTURED USING THE VACUUM CASTING METHOD
Authors: LUO YUEHAO , LIU YUFEI , ZHANG DE YUAN
Published: February 2015

Numerous facts have validated that sharkskin possesses the obvious drag reduction effect in certain turbulent flowing stations, and it has huge potential and important applications in the fields of agriculture, aerospace, industry, transportation, daily life and so on, which have attracted increased attention throughout the world. To meet the increasing requirements of practical applications, it has been progressively developing into an urgent problem to manufacture sharkskin surfaces with perfect forming quality and high drag-reducing effect. In this paper, the vacuum casting method is put forward to fabricate the drag-reducing surface with the real sharkskin morphology by eliminating the air bubbles from the bottom of sophisticated morphology in the pouring process. Meanwhile, a novel and facile “marking key point” method is explored and adopted to search for the corresponding biological sharkskin and negative template, a more convincing way to evaluate the replicating precision is systematically illustrated and the hydrodynamic experiment is carried out in the water tunnel. The results indicate that wall resistance over sharkskin surface replicated by the vacuum casting method can be decreased by about 12.5% compared with the smooth skin. In addition, the drag reduction mechanism hypotheses of sharkskin are generalized from different respects. This paper will improve the comprehension of the sharkskin fabrication method and expand biomimetic sharkskin technology into more applications in the fluid engineering.
IMPROVEMENT OF RETENTIVITY IN TiOx/HfOx BILAYER STRUCTURE FOR LOW POWER RESISTIVE SWITCHING MEMORY APPLICATIONS
Authors: SARKAR PRANAB KUMAR , ROY ASIM
Published: February 2015

This paper reports the bipolar resistive switching (BRS) characteristics in Al / Ti / TiO x/ HfO x/ Pt heterostructure during a DC sweep cycle with current compliance (CC) of 250 μA. The improvement in the switching performance in a CMOS compatible Al / Ti / TiO x/ HfO x/ Pt memory cell has been observed. The improvement is due to oxygen-rich HfO x layer insertion in simple metal-insulator-metal (MIM) sandwich structure. Analysis of current–voltage (I–V) characteristics revealed the trap-controlled space charge limited current (TC-SCLC) conduction mechanism is the most suitable mechanism signifying the dominant current conduction in all the bias regions and resistance states. Furthermore, this bilayer memory stack exhibits a tight distribution of switching parameters, good switching endurance up to 105 cycles, and good data retention of > 104 s at 85°C.
Stability Analyses of the Upper Chord Tubes of Light Gauge Steel–Oriented Strand Board Composite Truss Girders
Authors: Zhu Lanying , Yang Yuanzhang , Wang Zhijun , Song Mengli
Published: February 2015

Light Gauge Steel (LGS) square tube truss girders with Oriented Strand Board (OSB) have larger bending stiffness and flexural capacities than the LGS square tube girders without OSB. In this paper, one LGS square tube truss girder without OSB and five composite LGS truss girders with OSB were tested under monotonic static loading to study the effects of OSB arrangements and screw distributions on the failure mode and flexural capacities of composite girders. Test results show that the failure mode of LGS–OSB composite truss girders tends to be local buckling of the upper chord tubes, and the ultimate bearing capacities of the composite girders are controlled by the stability of the upper chord tubes. LGS–OSB composite truss girders have higher bearing capacities than the truss girders without OSB. The thicker the OSB is, the larger the bearing capacity is. With the same OSB thickness, the number of layers and the orientation of OSB have little influence on the bearing capacities of LGS–OSB composite truss girders. Considering material, geometry and contact nonlinearities, the experimental tests were simulated using ABAQUS, and the simulation results agree well with the test observations. Finally, in order to obtain the ultimate bearing capacities of LGS–OSB composite truss girders, the modified methods for determining the effective areas and inertia moments (or sectional moduli) of the upper chord tube are proposed according to AISI S100-2007 and GB50018-2002.
Asymptotic speed of spreading of a nonlocal delayed equation without quasimonotonicity
Authors: Pan Shuxia
Published: February 2015

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic speed of spreading of a nonlocal delayed equation, which does not satisfy the local quasimonotonicity. By constructing auxiliary undelayed equations, the asymptotic speed of spreading is established. In particular, for such a nonmonotonic equation, the asymptotic speed of spreading is the same as that in the corresponding undelayed equation.
Radiation May Indirectly Impair Growth Resulting in Reduced Standing Height via Subclinical Inflammation in Atomic-Bomb Survivors Exposed at Young Ages
Authors: Nakashima Eiji , Neriishi Kazuo , Hsu Wan-Ling
Published: February 2015

For young atomic-bomb (A-bomb) survivors, A-bomb radiation’s (total) effect on standing height is thought to comprise the sum of direct effect and indirect effect via inflammation. With the data of five inflammatory markers—white blood cell count, sialic acid, corrected erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), α1 globulin, and α2 globulin—obtained in adulthood during the period 1988 to 1992, a summary inflammatory index was constructed as a surrogate for the five subclinical inflammatory markers. For 3,327 A-bomb survivors exposed at ages of less than 25 years, a structural equation model was analyzed to measure direct radiation effects on adult height as well as mediating effect of radiation via inflammation on the height after adjustment for other risk factors, smoking, cancer, inflammatory disease, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. The mediation proportion of the radiation effect on height via inflammation was approximately 5% for both sexes for all ages, and indirect dose effects via inflammation were statistically significant for both sexes combined and for females exposed at ages 0 to 5 years. Indirect dose effects for all ages via sialic acid, corrected ESR, and α2 globulin were marginally significant for both sexes combined and for females. These proportions are likely underestimated.
Uterine Myxoid Leiomyosarcoma with Tumor Embolism Extending into the Right Atrium
Authors: Imai Hiromi , Yagi Hiroshi , Okugawa Kaoru , Kenjo Hironori , Ohgami Tatsuhiro , Kawano Yoshiaki , Kaneki Eisuke , Ichinoe Akimasa , Asanoma Kazuo , Yahata Hideaki , Sonoda Kenzo , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Kaku Tsunehisa , Kato Kiyoko
Published: February 2015

Uterine myxoid leiomyosarcoma (MLMS) is an extremely rare variant of uterine leiomyosarcoma; only 56 cases were reported from 1982 to 2013. Uterine MLMS is characterized by a myxoid appearance and highly malignant behavior. We herein report a case involving a 65-year-old woman with uterine MLMS with a large tumor embolism that reached the right atrium. A total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy, and tumor embolism resection with the use of a heart-lung machine were performed. Epirubicin-ifosfamide chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting led to reductions in both the tumor emboli and peritoneal dissemination. The patient retained a good quality of life for 10 months after the initial surgery. She then developed progressive disease despite treatment with pazopanib. She died of her disease 14 months after the initial surgery. Although complete surgical resection of the tumor is desirable, tumor reduction surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy might help to retain a good quality of life. This is the first reported case of a primary uterine MLMS with tumor emboli.
Facile Synthesis of Highly Dispersed WO3·H2O and WO3 Nanoplates for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Hu Wen-Hui , Han Guan-Qun , Dong Bin , Liu Chen-Guang
Published: February 2015

The highly dispersed WO3·H2O nanoplates have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal reaction assisted by citrate acid. WO3 nanoplates have been prepared by the calcination of as‐prepared WO3·H2O at 450°C. XRD data show that WO3·H2O and WO3 have good crystal structure and high purity. SEM images show that WO3·H2O and WO3 have the uniform nanoplates morphology with the edge length of about 100–150 nm. The selective absorbance of citrate acid with many OH groups onto [010] facet of tungsten oxide precursors can result in the controlled growth of WO3·H2O, thus leading to the good dispersion and small size of WO3·H2O nanoplates. The electrocatalytic activity of WO3·H2O and WO3 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been investigated in detail. The good electrocatalytic activity for HER has been obtained, which may be attributed to the good dispersion and small size of nanoplates. And the growth mechanisms of WO3·H2O and WO3 nanoplates have been discussed.
Predictors of Incisional Hernia after Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Chennamsetty Avinash , Hafron Jason , Edwards Luke , Pew Scott , Poushanchi Behdod , Hollander Jay , Killinger Kim A. , Coffey Mary P. , Peters Kenneth M.
Published: February 2015

Introduction.To explore the long term incidence and predictors of incisional hernia in patients that had RARP.Methods.All patients who underwent RARP between 2003 and 2012 were mailed a survey reviewing hernia type, location, and repair.Results.Of 577 patients, 48 (8.3%) had a hernia at an incisional site (35 men had umbilical), diagnosed at (median) 1.2 years after RARP (mean follow-up of 5.05 years). No statistically significant differences were found in preoperative diabetes, smoking, pathological stage, age, intraoperative/postoperative complications, operative time, blood loss, BMI, and drain type between patients with and without incisional hernias. Incisional hernia patients had larger median prostate weight (45 versus 38 grams;P=0.001) and a higher proportion had prior laparoscopic cholecystectomy (12.5% (6/48) versus 4.6% (22/480);P=0.033). Overall, 4% (23/577) of patients underwent surgical repair of 24 incisional hernias, 22 umbilical and 2 other port site hernias.Conclusion.Incisional hernia is a known complication of RARP and may be associated with a larger prostate weight and history of prior laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There is concern about the underreporting of incisional hernia after RARP, as it is a complication often requiring surgical revision and is of significance for patient counseling before surgery.
The Hybrid KICA-GDA-LSSVM Method Research on Rolling Bearing Fault Feature Extraction and Classification
Authors: Li Jiyong , Li Shunming , Chen Xiaohong , Wang Lili
Published: February 2015

Rolling element bearings are widely used in high-speed rotating machinery; thus proper monitoring and fault diagnosis procedure to avoid major machine failures is necessary. As feature extraction and classification based on vibration signals are important in condition monitoring technique, and superfluous features may degrade the classification performance, it is needed to extract independent features, so LSSVM (least square support vector machine) based on hybrid KICA-GDA (kernel independent component analysis-generalized discriminate analysis) is presented in this study. A new method named sensitive subband feature set design (SSFD) based on wavelet packet is also presented; using proposed variance differential spectrum method, the sensitive subbands are selected. Firstly, independent features are obtained by KICA; the feature redundancy is reduced. Secondly, feature dimension is reduced by GDA. Finally, the projected feature is classified by LSSVM. The whole paper aims to classify the feature vectors extracted from the time series and magnitude of spectral analysis and to discriminate the state of the rolling element bearings by virtue of multiclass LSSVM. Experimental results from two different fault-seeded bearing tests show good performance of the proposed method.
Cell Adhesion and Long-Term Survival of Transplanted Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Prerequisite for Cell Therapy
Authors: Lee Seahyoung , Choi Eunhyun , Cha Min-Ji , Hwang Ki-Chul
Published: February 2015

The literature provides abundant evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive resource for therapeutics and have beneficial effects in regenerating injured tissues due to their self-renewal ability and broad differentiation potential. Although the therapeutic potential of MSCs has been proven in both preclinical and clinical studies, several questions have not yet been addressed. A major limitation to the use of MSCs in clinical applications is their poor viability at the site of injury due to the harsh microenvironment and to anoikis driven by the loss of cell adhesion. To improve the survival of the transplanted MSCs, strategies to regulate apoptotic signaling and enhance cell adhesion have been developed, such as pretreatment with cytokines, growth factors, and antiapoptotic molecules, genetic modifications, and hypoxic preconditioning. More appropriate animal models and a greater understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of MSCs will be required for their successful clinical application. Nevertheless, the development of stem cell therapies using MSCs has the potential to treat degenerative diseases. This review discusses various approaches to improving MSC survival by inhibiting anoikis.
Aesthetic and Functional Rehabilitation of the Primary Dentition Affected by Amelogenesis Imperfecta
Authors: Marquezin Maria Carolina Salomé , Zancopé Bruna Raquel , Pacheco Larissa Ferreira , Gavião Maria Beatriz Duarte , Pascon Fernanda Miori
Published: February 2015

The objective of this case report was to describe the oral rehabilitation of a five-year-old boy patient diagnosed with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) in the primary dentition. AI is a group of hereditary disorders that affects the enamel structure. The patient was brought to the dental clinic complaining of tooth hypersensitivity during meals. The medical history and clinical examination were used to arrive at the diagnosis of AI. The treatment was oral rehabilitation of the primary molars with stainless steel crowns and resin-filled celluloid forms. The main objectives of the selected treatment were to enhance the esthetics, restore masticatory function, and eliminate the teeth sensitivity. The child was monitored in the pediatric dentistry clinic at four-month intervals until the mixed dentition stage. Treatment not only restored function and esthetic, but also showed a positive psychological impact and thereby improved perceived quality of life. The preventive, psychological, and curative measures of a young child with AI were successful. This result can encourage the clinicians to seek a cost-effective technique such as stainless steel crowns, and resin-filled celluloid forms to reestablish the oral functions and improve the child’s psychosocial development.
Classification and Synoptic Analysis of Subtropical Cyclones within the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: González-Alemán Juan J. , Valero Francisco , Martín-León Francisco , Evans Jenni L.
Published: February 2015

Since more research is needed on subtropical cyclones (STCs) formed within the North Atlantic eastern basin, this survey analyzes them from a synoptic point of view, on a climatological basis, with the main aims of studying their common features, complementing other studies of these storms in the North Atlantic, and aiding the forecasting community. Fifteen cases of STCs were identified during the period 1979–2011 by applying a set of criteria from two databases. Composite analysis reveals that an extratropical depression acts as a precursor when it is isolated from the westerlies and then suffers a deepening when becoming subtropical instead of decaying through occlusion. This process is accompanied by an atmospheric circulation, within the North Atlantic, whose main feature is characterized by notable departures from the climatological pattern with a statistically significant anomalous high pressure to the north of the STCs. Three conceptual models of synoptic pattern of subtropical cyclogenesis are derived and show that these departures appeared because the westerly circulation moves poleward and/or the flow has a great meridional component, with the possibility of a blocked flow pattern occurring. Moreover, the identified STCs predominantly formed in a highly sheared (>10 m s−1) environment with low sea surface temperature values (<25°C), which differs from the dominant features of STCs in the North Atlantic, especially within its western region. Finally, a recent (2010) STC, identified by the authors, is synoptically discussed in order to achieve a better interpretation of the general results.
Characteristics of Binary Tropical Cyclones Observed in the Western North Pacific for 62 Years (1951–2012)
Authors: Jang Wook , Chun Hye-Yeong
Published: February 2015

The statistical and dynamical characteristics of binary tropical cyclones (TCs) observed in the western North Pacific (WNP) for 62 years (1951–2012) are investigated by using best track and reanalysis data. A total of 98 binary TCs occurred with an annual average of 1.58. The occurrence frequency of binary TCs shows significant year-to-year variations and there are two peaks in the mid-1960s and early 1990s. Three-fourths (76.3%) of the binary TCs occurred between July and September, which is consistent with the high activity season of TCs in general. A relatively higher track density for binary TCs is present to the east of the maximum track density for total TCs. This result is likely due to the differences in the locations of genesis and environmental steering flow between binary and total TCs. The poleward steering flow, weaker vertical wind shear, and warmer sea surface temperature are pronounced for binary TCs, and these result in a longer lifetime of TCs, which can increase the chances that they would be detected as binary TCs. By applying the clustering analysis technique, six representative trajectories of the binary TCs are obtained. The transitional speed and recurving location are significantly different with respect to the clustered types. The trajectories of each type are strongly related to the temporal variations in the environmental steering flow and the location of the North Pacific high.
Pore-lining sudoite in Rotliegend sandstones from the eastern part of the Southern Permian Basin
Authors: Biernacka J .
Published: February 2015

Sudoite, an aluminium-rich di-trioctahedral chlorite, is known primarily from highgrade diagenetic/ low-temperature metamorphic Al-rich rocks and from hydrothermal deposits in Alrich terrains. This contribution reports a rare occurrence of pore-lining sudoite in Permian red beds from the eastern part of the Southern Permian Basin. Sudoite is a ubiquitous mineral in aeolian sandstones of the Eastern Erg, a large dune field buried in the subsurface of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, SW Poland. Sudoite crystals are arranged in a honeycomb texture and often associated with high-porosity intervals. It is concluded that sudoite crystallized at the expense of early diagenetic dioctahedral smectite at a temperature lower than 180°C under the influence of hot, Mgrich and K-poor fluids, which migrated from a basement and/or deep part of the basin upward through permeable aeolian sandstones and mixed with colder pore solutions. Tosudite was a likely intermediate phase in the smectite to sudoite conversion.
Synthesis and optical properties of composites based on ternary Zn1–xCdxS nanoparticles enclosed in a layered octosilicate
Authors: Chen Y. , Yu Z. , Yu G. , Yan Y.
Published: February 2015

In order to improve the optical properties and enhance the stability of Zn1–xCdxS nanoparticles, which are important optoelectrical materials, the ternary Zn1–xCdxS nanoparticles were enclosed in a layered octosilicate by a three-step process, namely (i) protonation of Naoctosilicate, (ii) ion-exchange in order to introduce Zn and Cd ions into the interlayer space, and (iii) addition of S2– to form Zn1–xCdxS particles in the interlayer space of the octosilicate. The basal spacing (~10 Å) of the final ZnCdS-Oct-n (n = 1, 2, 3, 4) composites noticeably increased in comparison with that of the precursor H-Oct (7.5 Å). This may be attributed to the incorporation of larger size Zn1–xCdxS particles into the interlayer space of H-Oct. The UV-visible spectra of the composites suggested that the transmission band-edges gradually shifted to low energy with increasing molar ratio of Cd/Zn. Moreover, the transmission band-edges of the composites are between those of layered Octosilicate, ZnS, and CdS. TEM observation confirmed that the size of Zn1–xCdxS nanoparticles enclosed in the layered silicate was about ~3–5 nm.
Discharge diagnoses versus medical record review in the identification of community-acquired sepsis
Authors: Wang Henry E , Addis Dylan R , Donnelly John P , Shapiro Nathan I , Griffin Russell L , Safford Monika M , Baddley John W
Published: February 2015

Introduction

We evaluated the accuracy of hospital discharge diagnoses in the identification of community-acquired sepsis and severe sepsis.

Methods

We reviewed 379 serious infection hospitalizations from 2003 to 2012 from the national population-based reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Through manual review of medical records, we defined criterion-standard community-acquired sepsis events as the presence of a serious infection on hospital presentation with ≥2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria. We also defined criterion-standard community-acquired severe sepsis events as sepsis with >1 sequential organ failure assessment organ dysfunction. For the same hospitalizations, we identified sepsis and severe sepsis events indicated by Martin et al. and Angus et al. International Classifications of Diseases 9th edition discharge diagnoses. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Martin and Angus criteria for detecting criterion-standard community-acquired sepsis and severe sepsis events.

Results

Among the 379 hospitalizations, there were 156 community-acquired sepsis and 122 community-acquired severe sepsis events. Discharge diagnoses identified 55 Martin-sepsis and 89 Angus-severe sepsis events. The accuracy of Martin-sepsis criteria for detecting community-acquired sepsis were: sensitivity 27.6%; specificity 94.6%; positive predictive value (PPV) 78.2%; negative predictive value (NPV) 65.1%. The accuracy of the Angus-severe sepsis criteria for detecting community-acquired severe sepsis were: sensitivity 42.6%; specificity 86.0%; PPV 58.4%; NPV 75.9%. Mortality was higher for Martin-sepsis than community-acquired sepsis (25.5% versus 10.3%, P = 0.006), as well as for Angus-severe sepsis than community-acquired severe sepsis (25.5 versus 11.5%, P = 0.002). Other baseline characteristics were similar between sepsis groups.

Conclusions

Hospital discharge diagnoses show good specificity but poor sensitivity for detecting community-acquired sepsis and severe sepsis. While sharing similar baseline subject characteristics as cases identified by hospital record review, discharge diagnoses selected for higher mortality sepsis and severe sepsis cohorts. The epidemiology of a sepsis population may vary with the methods used for sepsis event identification.
On some Mann’s type iterative algorithms
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Marino Giuseppe , Muglia Luigi , Alamri Badriah AS
Published: February 2015

First we present some interesting variants of Mann’s method. In the last section, we show that many existing results in the literature are concrete realizations of our general scheme under varying assumptions on the coefficients.
Common 4977 bp deletion and novel alterations in mitochondrial DNA in Vietnamese patients with breast cancer
Authors: Dimberg Jan , Hong Thai Trinh , Nguyen Linh Tu Thi , Skarstedt Marita , Löfgren Sture , Matussek Andreas
Published: February 2015

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been proposed to be involved in carcinogenesis and ageing. The mtDNA 4977 bp deletion is one of the most frequently observed mtDNA mutations in human tissues and may play a role in breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of mtDNA 4977 bp deletion in BC tissue and its association with clinical factors.

We determined the presence of the 4977 bp common deletion in cancer and normal paired tissue samples from 106 Vietnamese patients with BC by sequencing PCR products.

The mtDNA 4977 bp deletion was significantly more frequent in normal tissue in comparison with paired cancer tissue. Moreover, the incidence of the 4977 bp deletion in BC tissue was significantly higher in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive as compared with ER negative BC tissue. Preliminary results showed, in cancerous tissue, a significantly higher incidence of novel deletions in the group of patients with lymph node metastasis in comparison with the patients with no lymph node metastasis.

We have found 4977 bp deletion in mtDNA to be a common event in BC and with special reference to ER positive BC. In addition, the novel deletions were shown to be related to lymph node metastasis. Our finding may provide complementary information in prediction of clinical outcome including metastasis, recurrence and survival of patients with BC.
Surgical exploration and discovery program: Inaugural involvement of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery
Authors: Greene Brittany , Head Linden , Gawad Nada , Hamstra Stanley J , McLean Laurie
Published: February 2015

Background

There is significant variability in undergraduate Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OTOHNS) curricula across Canadian medical schools. As part of an extracurricular program delivered jointly with other surgical specialties, the Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) program presents an opportunity for medical students to experience OTOHNS. The purpose of this study is to review the participation and outcome of OTOHNS in the SEAD program.

Methods

The SEAD program is a two-week, 80-hour, structured curriculum that exposes first-year medical students to nine surgical specialties across three domains: (1) operating room observerships, (2) career discussions with surgeons, and (3) simulation workshops. During observerships students watched or assisted in surgical cases over a 4-hour period. The one-hour career discussion provided a specialty overview and time for students’ questions. The simulation included four stations, each run by a surgeon or resident; students rotated in small groups to each station: epistaxis, peritonsillar abscess, tracheostomy, and ear examination. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the program to evaluate changes in career interests; self-assessment of knowledge and skills was also completed following each simulation. Baseline and final evaluations were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test.

Results

SEAD participants showed significant improvement in knowledge and confidence in surgical skills specific to OTOHNS. The greatest knowledge gain was in ear examination, and greatest gain in confidence was in draining peritonsillar abscesses. The OTOHNS session received a mean rating of 4.8 on a 5-point scale and was the most popular surgical specialty participating in the program. Eight of the 18 participants were interested in OTOHNS as a career at baseline; over the course of the program, two students gained interest and two lost interest in OTOHNS as a potential career path, demonstrating the potential for helping students refine their career choice.

Conclusions

Participants were able to develop OTOHNS knowledge and surgical skills as well as refine their perspective on OTOHNS as a potential career option. These findings demonstrate the potential benefits of OTOHNS departments/divisions implementing observerships, simulations, and career information sessions in pre-clerkship medical education, either in the context of SEAD or as an independent initiative.
Constructing the social democratic developmental state in Africa: lessons from the “Global South”
Authors: Kieh George Klay
Published: February 2015

Since the dawn of the post-colonial era in the various regions of the “Global South,” including Africa, the appropriate role of the state in the development process has been a frontier issue. The resulting debate has revolved around two major trajectories: the minimalist state and the maximalist state. The former, shaped by the liberal cum neo-liberal Weltanschauung, posits that the state should have a limited role in socio-economic development—basically the creation of propitious conditions for the private accumulation of capital. Essentially, the suzerainty over the development process should rest with the “market” and its associated forces, particularly businesses. On the other hand, the maximalist state perspective asserts that the state should have a prominent role in the development process, including serving as the engine. Importantly, the debate has gone through various cycles, each dominated by the minimalist state paradigm.

In spite of the hegemony of the minimalist state perspective, several states in the “Global South” have experimented with various models of statedirigisme— the “developmental state:” authoritarian (e.g. Singapore and South Korea) and democratic (e.g. Botswana and Mauritius). Against this backdrop, using the lessons learned from the experiences of some of the states in the “Global South” that have experimented with variants of the developmental state model, this article concluded that the social democratic developmental state is the best trajectory for promoting human-centered democracy and development in Africa.
New donors, same old practices? South-South Cooperation of Latin American emerging donors
Authors: Robledo Carmen
Published: February 2015

Foreign development assistance has been widely used for the last 60 years. In spite of changing conditions in the geopolitical scene and the increasing number of new development actors, development assistance has retained its salience. Most countries around the globe are involved in the aid regime, either as recipients, as donors and frequently as both. Middle-income countries (MICs) that until recently were recipients of aid, today are rivalling traditional donors practices.

Despite MICs’ economic growth rates, the distribution of income is extremely unequal. Pockets of wealth are surrounded by oceans of poverty, and yet they are actively increasing their development assistance offer. If middle-income countries still have domestic challenges to overcome, why do they engage in the provision of development assistance? While some argue that MICs use it to advance foreign policy interests in the same way that traditional donors do, this work will put forward that elements unique to these countries, such as the desire to reaffirm themselves as global actors, strongly drive their South-South cooperation policies.

This paper aims to answer the question of why MICs offer development assistance through the study of Latin American cooperation policies. For this purpose, the author proposes to build a typology based on the motivations of traditional donors, which will facilitate the comparison of traditional and emerging donors’ practices. This analysis will be supported by a combination of IR approaches. The implications of this work include deeper understanding of the drivers of development assistance policies and providing elements to extend similar studies to other MICs.
Bulk modulus dispersion and attenuation in sandstones
Authors: Pimienta L. , Fortin J. , Guéguen Y.
Published: February 2015

We report experimental data on the frequency dependence of bulk elastic modulus in porous sandstones. A new methodology was developed to investigate the dispersion/attenuation phenomena on a rock’s bulk modulus [Formula: see text] for varying confining pressures in the range of 1–50 MPa and fluids of varying viscosities (i.e., air, glycerin, and water). This methodology combined (1) ultrasonic (i.e., [Formula: see text]) P- and S-wave velocity measurements, leading to the high-frequency (HF) [Formula: see text], (2) stress-strain measurements from forced periodic oscillations of confining pressure at low-frequency (LF) ranges (i.e., [Formula: see text]), leading to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and (3) pore-pressure measurement to document the induced fluid-flow in the LF range (i.e., [Formula: see text]). The stress-strain method was first checked using three standard samples: glass, gypsum, and Plexiglas samples. Over the frequency and pressure range of the apparatus [Formula: see text] was stable and accurate and the lowest measurable LF attenuation was [Formula: see text]. The methodology was applied to investigate Fontainebleau sandstone samples of 7% and 9% porosity. The [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] exhibited correlated variations, which also correlated with an experimental evidence of frequency-dependent fluid-flow out of the sample. Attenuation peaks as high as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are measured. The attenuation/dispersion measured under glycerin saturation was compared to Biot-Gassmann predictions. The overall behavior of one sample was consistent with a dispersion/attenuation characteristic of the drained/undrained transition. On the reverse, the other sample exhibited exotic behaviors as the measurements were underestimated by the drained/undrained transition and indicated a direct transition from drained to unrelaxed domain. These different behaviors were consistent with the values of the critical frequencies expected for the drained/undrained (i.e., [Formula: see text]) and relaxed/unrelaxed (i.e., [Formula: see text]) transitions.
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis: review of clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Barry Helen , Byrne Susan , Barrett Elizabeth , Murphy Kieran C. , Cotter David R.
Published: February 2015

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a form of encephalitis occurring primarily in women and associated with antibodies against NR1 or NR2 subunits of the NMDA receptor. As a potentially treatable differential for symptoms and signs seen in neurology and psychiatric clinics, clinicians practising across the lifespan should be aware of this form of encephalitis. Common clinical features include auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions, behavioural change (frequently with agitation), impaired consciousness, motor disturbance (ranging from dyskinesia to catatonia), seizures, and autonomic dysfunction. We present a review of the literature on the disorder, including its clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment and prognosis.
Turkey-Adjusted NGA-W1 Horizontal Ground Motion Prediction Models
Authors: Gülerce Zeynep , Kargoığlu Bahadır , Abrahamson Norman A.
Published: February 2015

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the differences between the Next Generation Attenuation: West-1 (NGA-W1) ground motion prediction models (GMPEs) and the Turkish strong ground motion data set and to modify the required pieces of the NGA-W1 models for applicability in Turkey. A comparison data set is compiled by including strong motions from earthquakes that occurred in Turkey and earthquake metadata of ground motions consistent with the NGA-W1 database. Random-effects regression is employed and plots of the residuals are used to evaluate the differences in magnitude, distance, and site amplification scaling. Incompatibilities between the NGA-W1 GMPEs and Turkish data set in small-to-moderate magnitude, large distance, and site effects scaling are encountered. The NGA-W1 GMPEs are modified for the misfit between the actual ground motions and the model predictions using adjustments functions. Turkey-adjusted NGA-W1 models are compatible with the regional strong ground motion characteristics and preserve the well-constrained features of the global models.
Assessment of Lactotroph Axis Functionality in Mice: Longitudinal Monitoring of PRL Secretion by Ultrasensitive-ELISA
Authors: Guillou Anne , Romanò Nicola , Steyn Frederik , Abitbol Karine , Le Tissier Paul , Bonnefont Xavier , Chen Chen , Mollard Patrice , Martin Agnès O.
Published: February 2015

The pattern of prolactin (PRL) secretion depends on the physiological state. Due to insufficient detection sensitivity of existing assays, the precise description of these patterns in mice is lacking. We described an ultrasensitive ELISA assay that can detect mouse PRL in small fractions of whole blood, allowing longitudinal studies of PRL secretion profiles in freely moving mice. Over a 24-hour period, males displayed no oscillation in PRL levels, whereas virgin and lactating females showed large pulses. Peaks of PRL secretion reached 30–40 ng/mL in lactating female mice and rarely exceeded 10 ng/mL in virgin females. These pulses of PRL in lactating females were associated with suckling. The return of pups after an experimental 12-hour weaning induced a pulse of PRL release, reaching 100 ng/mL. This approach also enabled us to assess the inhibitory tone from hypothalamic dopamine neurons on PRL secretion. We used a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist to relieve pituitary lactotrophs from the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic inhibitory tone and demonstrate a D2-induced PRL rise that can be used to evaluate both the secretory capacity of lactotrophs and the magnitude of the inhibitory tone on pituitary PRL release. We demonstrate that, although lactotroph function is altered to enhance chronic PRL output, their secretory response to acute stimulus is not modified during lactation and that chronic hyperprolactinemia is linked to a lower inhibitory tone. The combination of a sensitive PRL ELISA and administration of D2 receptor antagonist provide a unique opportunity to investigate the function and plasticity of the lactotroph axis in freely moving mice.
Salvador Roquet, María Sabina, and the Trouble withJipis
Authors: Dawson Alexander S.
Published: February 2015

While María Sabina has long been an iconic figure among drug enthusiasts and advocates for indigenous rights, her sometime collaborator Salvador Roquet remains largely unknown. This essay introduces the work of this iconoclastic psychiatrist and, in particular, his work with Sabina, highlighting their contributions to the world of psychedelic psychiatry and exploring the nature of their exchanges. Beyond examining the contours of the therapeutic method Roquet developed in part due to Sabina's teachings, the essay argues that their work together offers us a fascinating example of cross-cultural collaboration. Moreover, their mutual disdain for jipis introduces an alternative history of psychedelic drugs in Mexico — one in which the counterculture acted as a foil to those who believed that local, naturally occurring psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, datura, and ololiuqui were powerful medicines that needed to be respected, handled by experts, and used in carefully prescribed ways.
Synthesis of a A2B3-type Hyperbranched Copolymers Based on a 3-Armed Unimolecular 4-N-Methylbenzamide Pentamer and Poly(propylene oxide)
Authors: Masukawa Shinya , Kikkawa Takahiro , Fujimori Atsuhiro , Oishi Yoshiyuki , Shibasaki Yuji
Published: February 2015

A novel hyperbranched copolymer (HBCP), with a number-average molecular weight from 11000 to 25000, was successfully prepared by the direct condensation polymerization of a unimolecular 3-armed 4-N-methylbenzamide pentamer (TMA-3MAB5) as a hard segment (B3 monomer), with amine-functionalized poly(propylene oxide) (PPOx) (x: degree of polymerization, 32 or 64) (A2 monomer) at both ends as a soft segment, and investigated its possibility as a thermoplastic elastomer. The highly pure B3 molecule, TMA-3MAB5, was quantitatively obtained by the step-growth reaction of 4-(N-methylamino)benzoic acid (MAB) using thionyl chloride as the condensation reagent and trimesic acid (TMA) as the core molecule in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) at 20 °C for 0.5 h for each step. The HBCP showed two glass transitions corresponding to imperfectly segregated PPO-rich and polybenzamide hard segment-rich domains, and the film showed good mechanical properties (Young’s Modulus TM 0.25–4.0 MPa, elongation at break EB 133–1470%), which were controlled by the fraction of the hard segment.
50 years of Sign Systems Studies
Authors: Editors From the
Published: February 2015

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Flora da Bahia: Leguminosae – Aliança Chloroleucon (Mimosoideae: Ingeae)
Authors: Almeida Priscilla Gomes Cardoso de , Souza Elvia Rodrigues de , Queiroz Luciano Paganucci de
Published: February 2015

A floristic survey of the genera Blanchetiodendron, Chloroleucon and Leucochloron is presented for the state of Bahia, Brazil. Five species of Chloroleucon (C. acacioides, C. dumosum, C. extortum, C. foliolosum and C. tortum), two of Leucochloron (L. limae and L. minarum) and the only species of Blanchetiodendron (B. blanchetii) were recognised. Identification keys to genera and species, descriptions and comments for taxa, as well as illustrations and distribution maps of the species in Bahia, are presented.
PENGARUH JENIS ANODA PADA PROSES PEMULIHAN LOGAM NIKEL DARI TIRUAN AIR LIMBAH ELECTROPLATING MENGGUNAKAN SEL ELEKTRODEPOSISI
Authors: Dhaenudin Djaenudin , Syafila Mindriany , Kardena Edwan , Nurdin Isdiriayani
Published: February 2015

EFFECT OF ANODES TYPES ON NICKEL RECOVERY FROM SYNTHETIC ELECTROPLATING WASTE ELECTRODEPOSITION CELLS. A study concerning the recovery of nickel from electroplating wastewater artificial solution. The study was conducted with a batch system using electrodeposition cell consisting of two spaces separated by water hyacinth leaf, copper cathode plate, H2SO4 solution anolyte, catholyte solution of NiSO4 plus NaCl supporting electrolyte and anode varied. Electrodeposition performed at the direct current of 5V power for 4 hours each run. The research objective was to obtain the best anode in nickel electrodeposition process of electroplating waste artificial solution. Graphite, stainless steel type AISI 316 and the lead were used as a variation of the anode. Concentration of nickel in the catholyte at baseline 2200 mg/L. The results showed that the anode was a graphite anode with best value decreased by 72.44% nickel concentration, deposition of nickel on the cathode of 0.188 grams and specific energy values ​​of 6.1625 kWh/kg.nickel.   Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang pemulihan logam nikel dari larutan tiruan air limbah electroplating. Penelitian dilakukan dengan sistem batch menggunakan sel elektrodeposisi yang terdiri dari dua ruang yang dipisahkan dengan daun eceng gondok, katoda pelat tembaga, anolit larutan H2SO4, katolit larutan NiSO4 ditambah elektrolit pendukung larutan NaCl dan anoda divariasikan. Elektrodeposisi dilakukan pada listrik searah sebesar 5V selama 4 jam setiap tempuhan. Tujuan penelitian adalah memperoleh anoda terbaik pada proses elektrodeposisi nikel dari larutan tiruan limbah electroplating. Grafit, Stainless Steel  tipe AISI 316 dan timbal digunakan sebagai variasi jenis anoda. Konsentrasi nikel dalam katolit pada awal penelitian 2200 mg/L. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa anoda grafit merupakan anoda yang paling baik dengan nilai penurunan konsentrasi nikel sebesar 72,44%, deposisi nikel di katoda sebesar 0,188 gram dan nilai energi spesifik sebesar 6,1625  kWh/kg.nikel.
Blutkulturdiagnostik – Standards und aktuelle Entwicklungen/Blood culture diagnostics: standards and recent developments
Authors: Simon Michaela
Published: February 2015

Für Patienten mit Verdacht auf eine systemische Infektion ist die Entnahme von Blutkulturen zum Nachweis oder Ausschluss einer Blutstrominfektion unerlässlich. Eine optimale Blutkulturdiagnostik ist abhängig von Faktoren in der präanalytischen und analytischen Phase der Untersuchung. Um eine möglichst schnelle, sensitive und spezifische Diagnostik zu gewährleisten, sollten mindestens zwei Blutkulturpärchen durch separate Venenpunktionen unter aseptischen Bedingungen gewonnen werden. In der Analytik ist das Ziel, den Zeitraum zu verkürzen, der zwischen automatisch detektiertem Wachstumssignal einer bebrüteten Blutkulturflasche und Identifizierung sowie Empfindlichkeitstestung des angezüchteten Keimes liegt. Hierfür werden zunehmend massenspektrometrische und molekularbiologische Verfahren eingesetzt.
Fallbericht Meningokokken-Meningitis/Meningococcal meningitis: a case study
Authors: Schimanski Sven
Published: February 2015

Einleitung: Die Vorteile einer effizienten Labordiagnostik bei Infektionskrankheiten sollen exemplarisch anhand des dargestellten Falls gezeigt werden.

Methode: Kurzdarstellung eines Patientenfalls mit bakterieller Meningokokken-Meningitis.

Ergebnis und Schlussfolgerung: Der Fall unterstreicht die Bedeutung einer schnellen und umfassenden, in die Prozesse eines Notfalllabors integrierten Infektionsdiagnostik, auch im Hinblick auf nachgeschaltete und umfangreiche Untersuchungen des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes.
Zellfreie fetale DNA im mütterlichen Blut: neue Möglichkeiten in der pränatalen Diagnostik/Cell free fetal DNA in maternal blood: new possibilities in prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Stumm Markus , Wegner Rolf-Dieter , Hofmann Wera
Published: February 2015

Die zellfreie fetale DNA (cff-DNA) im mütterlichen Blut bietet viele neue Möglichkeiten der pränatalen genetischen Diagnostik. Im Gegensatz zu den etablierten invasiven Techniken der Chorionzottenbiopsie (CVS) und der Amniozentese (AC), die beide mit einem spezifischen Risiko (0,5–1%) einer eingriffsbedingten Fehlgeburt einhergehen, ist die Grundlage für die Gewinnung der cff-DNA eine einfache venöse Blutentnahme der Mutter, die keinerlei Risiko für den Embryo oder Feten darstellt. Damit bietet die cff-DNA die Möglichkeit einer risikofreien genetischen Diagnostik von bestehenden Schwangerschaften. Molekulargenetische Techniken werden schon seit längerer Zeit zum qualitativen Nachweis von spezifischen fetalen Sequenzen, wie paternal vererbten oder neu entstandenen (de novo) Mutationen, eingesetzt. Durch den Einsatz digitaler PCR und Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS) Technologien gelingt mittlerweile aber auch der sichere quantitative Nachweis von mutierten Allelen sowie von klinisch relevanten Aneuploidien (Trisomie 13, 18 und 21) aus fetaler DNA im mütterlichen Blut.
Übersicht über Labormethoden zur Überwachung innovativer Therapieregimes bei Multipler Sklerose/Overview of laboratory methods to monitor innovative treatment regimens in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kraus Jörg , Pilz Georg , Wipfler Peter , Holl Barbara , Oppermann Katrin , Golaszewski Stefan M. , Harrer Andrea
Published: February 2015

Die Einführung mehrerer neuer Therapien zur Behandlung der Multiplen Sklerose (MS) hat in den vergangenen Jahren die Situation vieler Betroffenen deutlich verbessert. Allerdings hat sich durch die neuen Medikamente auch das Spektrum von potenziellen Nebenwirkungen deutlich verbreitert. Dies führte zur Entwicklung neuer, mittlerweile gut etablierter und in der Routinediagnostik eingesetzter Laborparameter mit dem Ziel, die Qualität einer Immunbehandlung in Bezug auf die Wirksamkeit und vor allem die Nebenwirkungen zu verbessern. Es wird zunächst ein Überblick über wesentliche Aspekte der Pathogenese und der Therapie der MS gegeben. Im Weiteren werden die zum Teil neu etablierten Therapie-spezifischen Laborparameter der wichtigsten krankheitsmodifizierenden Medikamente vorgestellt, die im Alltag leicht verwechselt werden können und somit zu Irritationen und ungenügenden Aussagen führen. Daher ist der adäquate Einsatz der vorgestellten Biomarker essentiell und führt zu einer zusätzlichen Sicherheit im Umgang mit den MS-spezifischen Medikamenten.