bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging host–Leishmania interactions: significance in visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Forestier C.‐L.
Published: June 2013

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that is associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from self‐healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections, which primarily depends on the parasite species. In visceral leishmaniasis (VL), as opposed to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), parasites that infect host cells at the sand fly bite site have the striking ability to disseminate to visceral organs where they proliferate and persist for long periods of time. Imaging the dynamics of the host–Leishmania interaction in VL provides a powerful approach to understanding the mechanisms underlying host cell invasion, Leishmania dissemination and persistence within visceral organs and, to dissecting the immune responses to infection. Therefore, by allowing the visualization of the critical steps involved in the pathogenesis of VL, state‐of‐the‐art microscopy technologies have the great potential to aid in the identification of better intervention strategies for this devastating disease. In this review, we emphasize the current knowledge and the potential significance of imaging technologies in understanding the infection process of visceralizing Leishmania species. Then, we discuss how application of innovative microscopy technologies to the study of VL will provide rich opportunities for investigating host–parasite interactions at a previously unexplored level and elucidating visceral disease‐promoting mechanisms.
Reforming Property Rights Institutions in Developing Countries: CanFDIInflows Help?
Authors: Ganiou Mijiyawa Abdoul'
Published: June 2013

This paper analyses factors that can facilitate property rights institutions reform in developing countries (DC). Inspired by the works ofNorth andWeingast (Journal ofEconomicHistory, 49, 1989, 803) andAcemoglu et al. (AmericanEconomicReview, 95, 2005a, 546; 2008) relating to the process of institutional reforms inEngland during the seventeenth century,Iassume thatFDIinflows could contribute to property rights reform inDCthat are initially endowed with a minimum of effective institutions of constraints on the executive (i.e. effective institutions of checks and balances). Using five‐year panel data over the period 1970–2005 with a sample of 80DC, and after correcting for endogeneity,Ifind that conditioned on the initial level of constraints on the executive, the effect ofFDIinflows on the probability of reforming property rights is positive and significant. The minimum level of constraints on the executive necessary for the catalytic role ofFDIinflows in reforming property rights institutions is 3.6. Only 20 out of the 80DCin the sample have this minimum level of constraints on the executive. Among the 20 countries five are in sub‐SaharanAfrica.
First Detection of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius ST68 from Hospitalized Equines in Spain
Authors: Gómez‐Sanz E. , Simón C. , Ortega C. , Gómez P. , Lozano C. , Zarazaga M. , Torres C.
Published: June 2013

Eight coagulase‐positive staphylococci from equines with different pathologies obtained between 2005 and 2011 were investigated. Isolates were characterized by different molecular techniques (spa‐, agr‐, MLST), and clonal relatedness of strains was investigated by ApaI and SmaI PFGE. Anti‐microbial resistance and virulence profiles were determined. Six isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, and two as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Of these, four isolates were methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ST398 and one S. pseudintermedius was mecA positive and typed as ST68. One MRSA ST398 strain was isolated in 2005 and might be one of the earliest MRSA ST398 descriptions in Spain. All 5 mecA‐positive strains were multidrug resistant and were isolated from hospitalized equines. Three MRSA ST398 strains carried the recently described transposon Tn559 within the chromosomal radC gene. The mecA‐positive S. pseudintermedius ST68 strain was also multidrug resistant and harboured the erm(B)‐Tn5405‐like element. This ST68 strain presented a clear susceptible phenotype to oxacillin and cefoxitin regardless of the presence of an integral and conserved mecA gene and mecA promoter, which enhances the need for testing the presence of this gene in routine analysis to avoid treatment failures. These data reflect the extended anti‐microbial resistance gene acquisition capacities of both bacterial species and evidence their pathogenic properties. The first detection of MRSA ST398 and S. pseudintermedius ST68 in horses in Spain is reported.
Optimum Jet-to-Plate Spacing of Inline Impingement Heat Transfer for Different Crossflow Schemes
Authors: Xing Yunfei , Weigand Bernhard
Published: June 2013

A nine-by-nine jet array impinging on a flat plate at Reynolds numbers from 15,000 to 35,000 has been studied by the transient liquid crystal method. The spacing between the impingement plate and target plate is adjusted to be 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 jet diameters. The effect of jet-to-plate spacing has been investigated for three jet-induced crossflow schemes, referred as minimum, medium, and maximum crossflow, correspondingly. The local air jet temperature is measured at several positions on the impingement plate to account for an appropriate reference temperature of the heat transfer coefficient. The jet-to-plate spacing, H/d = 3, is found to be better than the others for all the crossflow schemes. Jet-to-plate spacings H/d = 1 and H/d = 2 result in a sudden decrease in the stagnation zone. The large jet-to-plate spacings H/d = 4 and H/d = 5 could not provide higher heat transfer performance with higher crossflow.
Solidification of Two-Dimensional Viscous, Incompressible Stagnation Flow
Authors: Abbassi Ali Shokrgozar , Rahimi Asghar B.
Published: June 2013

The history of the study of fluid solidification in stagnation flow is limited to a few cases. Among these few studies, only some articles have considered the fluid viscosity and yet pressure variations along the thickness of the viscous layer have not been taken into account and the energy equation has been assumed to be one-dimensional. In this study the solidification of stagnation flows is modeled as an accelerated flat plate moving toward an impinging fluid. The unsteady momentum equations, taking the pressure variations along viscous layer thickness into account, are reduced to ordinary differential equations by the use of proper similarity variables and are solved by using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta integrating method at each prescribed interval of time. In addition, the energy equation is numerically solved at any step for the known velocity and the problem is presented in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate. Comparisons of these solutions are made with existing special ranges of past solutions. The fluid temperature distribution, transient velocity component distribution, and, most important of all the rate of solidification or the solidification front are presented for different values of nondimensional Prandtl and Stefan numbers. The results show that an increase of the Prandtl numbers (up to ten times) or an increase of the heat diffusivity ratios (up to two times) causes a decrease of the ultimate frozen thickness by almost half, while the Stefan number has no effect on this thickness and its effect is only on the freezing time.
Galerkin Solution of Stochastic Reaction-Diffusion Problems
Authors: Ávila da Silva C. R. , Beck André Teófilo , Franco Admilson T. , de Suarez Oscar A.
Published: June 2013

In this paper, the Galerkin method is used to obtain numerical solutions to two-dimensional steady-state reaction-diffusion problems. Uncertainties in reaction and diffusion coefficients are modeled using parameterized stochastic processes. A stochastic version of the Lax–Milgram lemma is used in order to guarantee existence and uniqueness of the theoretical solutions. The space of approximate solutions is constructed by tensor product between finite dimensional deterministic functional spaces and spaces generated by chaos polynomials, derived from the Askey–Wiener scheme. Performance of the developed Galerkin scheme is evaluated by comparing first and second order moments and probability histograms obtained from approximate solutions with the corresponding estimates obtained via Monte Carlo simulation. Results for three example problems show very fast convergence of the approximate Galerkin solutions. Results also show that complete probability densities (histograms) of the responses are correctly approximated by the developed Galerkin basis.
Performance of the Iridium Oxide (IrO2)-Modified Titanium Bipolar Plates for the Light Weight Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Wang Szu-Hua , Lui Wai-Bun , Peng Jinchyau , Zhang Jin-Sheng
Published: June 2013

In this current study, we are attempting to build up a light weight and corrosion resistant bipolar plate for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. A titanium bipolar plate substrate has been chosen as the base metal due to its low cost, simplicity to manufacture into stampable bipolar plates, and its light weight. Our goal is to obtain a smaller and lighter weight single fuel cell is to sinter titanium with a corrosion resistant material. Iridium oxide (IrO2) was investigated. The cell performance of the iridium oxide-sintered bipolar plates is close to and even better than the proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with graphite and pure titanium bipolar plates at low operating temperature with low and high membrane humidiﬁer temperatures, respectively. Iridium oxide-sintered titanium bipolar plates can be employed to produce fuel cells with light weight and low sintering cost, ideal for portable applications.
Development of Dual-Cell Structured Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack
Authors: Song Hwa-Seob , Hong Jong-Chul , Jang Gyu-Jin , Son Hui-Jeong , Han Seong-Ho
Published: June 2013

In this study, Hyosung demonstrates how a dual-cell structured polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) can guarantee the development of a stack with enlarged active area and cost innovation without a change in electrochemical performance and operation conditions. The insertion of insulation part within the bipolar plate and divided membrane electrode assemblies allowed the two individual cells in single layer. This enables the development of highly cost effective stack for PEMFC of a 1 kW class for residential power generators. The decrease in the number of layers can be represented as a cost reduction. We developed a stack of 24 layers with 48 cells, 48 V at open circuit voltage (OCV) and achieved a performance rating of 0.75 V per cell at 250 mA/cm2.
Preparation of Electrocatalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Cathodes From Au-Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles Synthesized by Simultaneous Aqueous-Phase Reduction
Authors: Yamaguchi Wataru , Tai Yutaka
Published: June 2013

Electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathodes were prepared using Au-Pt core-shell nanoparticles. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-protected core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by simultaneous aqueous-phase reduction of Au and Pt, and they were deposited on carbon black support material. The catalyst powder was thermally processed in air to remove PVP, since the protecting polymers prevent nanoparticles from directly contacting the support material as well as reactant molecules. To avoid sintering during the thermal treatment, the effects of temperature and processing time on sintering were carefully examined. It was found that PVP was selectively oxidized and removed at 170 °C in air without notable damages to the other components of the catalyst. Stability of the core-shell catalyst in water was improved after the removal of PVP. The oxidation state of the Pt shell was found to be very close to zero. The thus-prepared Au-Pt core-shell catalyst for a PEFC cathode exhibited mass activity that was 20% higher than that of pure Pt catalyst.
Robust Identification of Three-Dimensional Thumb and Index Finger Kinematics With a Minimal Set of Markers
Authors: Nataraj Raviraj , Li Zong-Ming
Published: June 2013

This study presents a methodology to determine thumb and index finger kinematics while utilizing a minimal set of markers. The motion capture of skin-surface markers presents inherent challenges for the accurate and comprehensive measurement of digit kinematics. As such, it is desirable to utilize robust methods for assessing digit kinematics with fewer markers. The approach presented in this study involved coordinate system alignment, locating joint centers of rotation, and a solution model to estimate three-dimensional (3-D) digit kinematics. The solution model for each digit was based on assumptions of rigid-body interactions, specific degrees of freedom (DOFs) at each located joint, and the aligned coordinate system definitions. Techniques of inverse kinematics and optimization were applied to calculate the 3-D position and orientation of digit segments during pinching between the thumb and index finger. The 3-D joint center locations were reliably fitted with mean coefficients of variation below 5%. A parameterized form of the solution model yielded feasible solutions that met specified tolerance and convergence criteria for over 85% of the test points. The solution results were intuitive to the pinching function. The thumb was measured to be rotated about the CMC joint to bring it into opposition to the index finger and larger rotational excursions (>10 deg) were observed in flexion/extension compared to abduction/adduction and axial rotation for all joints. While the solution model produced results similar to those computed from a full marker set, the model facilitated the usage of fewer markers, which inherently lessened the effects of passive motion error and reduced the post-experimental effort required for marker processing.
Healing Ligaments Have Shorter Lifetime and Greater Strain Rate During Fatigue Than Creep at Functional Stresses
Authors: Thornton Gail M. , Bailey Soraya J.
Published: June 2013

Healing ligaments have compromised strength, which makes them susceptible to damage during daily activities at normal functional stresses. Daily activities expose ligaments to cyclic (fatigue) and static (creep) loading. A gap injury was created in the midsubstance of both hindlimb medial collateral ligaments of 40 female 1-year-old New Zealand White rabbits. After a 14-week healing interval, medial collateral ligament gap scars were exposed to long-term fatigue and creep loading over a range of functional force/stress levels. Lifetime and strain behavior were compared during fatigue and creep. The contribution of time-dependent mechanisms to fatigue lifetime was modeled using creep data. Fatigue-loaded healing ligaments had shorter lifetime, greater steady-state strain rate and greater increase in strain at 0.8 h than creep-loaded healing ligaments. The actual fatigue lifetime was less than the predicted fatigue lifetime which was derived from time-dependent damage alone, indicating an important role for cycle-dependent damage mechanisms in healing ligaments during fatigue loading. Cyclic loading decreased lifetime and increased strain rate and strain prior to rupture compared to static loading in healing ligaments. These findings suggest that, after a ligament injury, more care should be taken when exercises result in cyclic loading rather than static loading of the healing ligament even at functional stresses.
Compressive Follower Load Influences Cervical Spine Kinematics and Kinetics During Simulated Head-First Impact in an in Vitro Model
Authors: Saari Amy , Dennison Christopher R. , Zhu Qingan , Nelson Timothy S. , Morley Philip , Oxland Thomas R. , Cripton Peter A. , Itshayek Eyal
Published: June 2013

Current understanding of the biomechanics of cervical spine injuries in head-first impact is based on decades of epidemiology, mathematical models, and in vitro experimental studies. Recent mathematical modeling suggests that muscle activation and muscle forces influence injury risk and mechanics in head-first impact. It is also known that muscle forces are central to the overall physiologic stability of the cervical spine. Despite this knowledge, the vast majority of in vitro head-first impact models do not incorporate musculature. We hypothesize that the simulation of the stabilizing mechanisms of musculature during head-first osteoligamentous cervical spine experiments will influence the resulting kinematics and injury mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to document differences in the kinematics, kinetics, and injuries of ex vivo osteoligamentous human cervical spine and surrogate head complexes that were instrumented with simulated musculature relative to specimens that were not instrumented with musculature. We simulated a head-first impact (3 m/s impact speed) using cervical spines and surrogate head specimens (n = 12). Six spines were instrumented with a follower load to simulate in vivo compressive muscle forces, while six were not. The principal finding was that the axial coupling of the cervical column between the head and the base of the cervical spine (T1) was increased in specimens with follower load. Increased axial coupling was indicated by a significantly reduced time between head impact and peak neck reaction force (p = 0.004) (and time to injury (p = 0.009)) in complexes with follower load relative to complexes without follower load. Kinematic reconstruction of vertebral motions indicated that all specimens experienced hyperextension and the spectrum of injuries in all specimens were consistent with a primary hyperextension injury mechanism. These preliminary results suggest that simulating follower load that may be similar to in vivo muscle forces results in significantly different impact kinetics than in similar biomechanical tests where musculature is not simulated.
Fluid-Structure Interaction Model of Aortic Valve With Porcine-Specific Collagen Fiber Alignment in the Cusps
Authors: Marom Gil , Peleg Mor , Halevi Rotem , Rosenfeld Moshe , Raanani Ehud , Hamdan Ashraf , Haj-Ali Rami
Published: June 2013

Native aortic valve cusps are composed of collagen fibers embedded in their layers. Each valve cusp has its own distinctive fiber alignment with varying orientations and sizes of its fiber bundles. However, prior mechanical behavior models have not been able to account for the valve-specific collagen fiber networks (CFN) or for their differences between the cusps. This study investigates the influence of this asymmetry on the hemodynamics by employing two fully coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models, one with asymmetric-mapped CFN from measurements of porcine valve and the other with simplified-symmetric CFN. The FSI models are based on coupled structural and fluid dynamic solvers. The partitioned solver has nonconformal meshes and the flow is modeled by employing the Eulerian approach. The collagen in the CFNs, the surrounding elastin matrix, and the aortic sinus tissues have hyperelastic mechanical behavior. The coaptation is modeled with a master-slave contact algorithm. A full cardiac cycle is simulated by imposing the same physiological blood pressure at the upstream and downstream boundaries for both models. The mapped case showed highly asymmetric valve kinematics and hemodynamics even though there were only small differences between the opening areas and cardiac outputs of the two cases. The regions with a less dense fiber network are more prone to damage since they are subjected to higher principal stress in the tissues and a higher level of flow shear stress. This asymmetric flow leeward of the valve might damage not only the valve itself but also the ascending aorta.
Dose calculation for electron therapy using an improved LBR method
Authors: Gebreamlak Wondesen T. , Tedeschi David J. , Alkhatib Hassaan A.
Published: June 2013

Purpose:

To calculate the percentage depth dose (PDD) of any irregularly shaped electron beam using a modified lateral build‐up ratio (LBR) method.

Methods:

Percentage depth dose curves were measured using 6, 9, 12, and 15 MeV electron beam energies for applicator cone sizes of 6 × 6, 10 × 10, 14 × 14, and 20 × 20 cm2. Circular cutouts for each cone were prepared from 2.0 cm diameter to the maximum possible size for each cone. In addition, three irregular cutouts were prepared.

Results:

The LBR for each circular cutout was calculated from the measured PDD curve using the open field of the 14 × 14 cm2 cone as the reference field. Using the LBR values and the radius of the circular cutouts, the corresponding lateral spread parameter [σR(z)] of the electron shower was calculated. Unlike the commonly accepted assumption that σR(z) is independent of cutout size, it is shown that its value increases linearly with circular cutout size (R). Using this characteristic of the lateral spread parameter, the PDD curves of irregularly shaped cutouts were calculated. Finally, the calculated PDD curves were compared with measured PDD curves.

Conclusions:

In this research, it is shown that the lateral spread parameter σR(z) increases with cutout size. For radii of circular cutout sizes up to the equilibrium range of the electron beam, the increase of σR(z) with the cutout size is linear. The percentage difference of the calculated PDD curve from the measured PDD data for irregularly shaped cutouts was under 1.0% in the region between the surface and therapeutic range of the electron beam. Similar results were obtained for four electron beam energies (6, 9, 12, and 15 MeV).
Annual Review of Biophysics
Authors: Hatzis Christos
Published: June 2013

Annual Review of Biophysics Rees D. Dill K., Williamson J., Annual Reviews Palo Alto, CA, 2010. 581 pp. (hardcover), ISBN: 978‐0‐8243‐1839‐0, © 2013 Doody's Review Service. Doody's Review Service
On the subjective responses based on the auditory-brain model in relation to the factors extracted from the interaural cross-correlation mechanism and the auto-correlation mechanism of sound fields
Authors: Sato Shin-ichi
Published: June 2013

Based on the auditory-brain model for subjective responses, the author investigated the relationship between several important subjective attributes of the sound field and the orthogonal factors that are extracted from both of the interaural cross-correlation function and the autocorrelation function. There are three significant findings. (1) The apparent source width (ASW) is described by two orthogonal spatial factors: the IACC and the width of the interaural cross-correlation function (WIACC). The scale value of ASW is formulated by superpositioning two terms: the 3/2 power of the IACC and the 1/2 power of the WIACC. (2) The most preferred delay time of a single reflection for a cello soloist can be calculated by the amplitude of the reflection and the minimum value of the effective duration of the running autocorrelation function of the music motifs played by the cellist. (3) From subjective preference tests by paired-comparison method, for different source locations on the stage in an actual concert hall, the subjective preference can be calculated using four orthogonal factors and the interaural time delay of the IACC (IACC). When the IACC is not obtained at = 0IACC, the preference scores decrease rapidly due to an image shift or an unbalanced sound field. Results agree well with the subjective preference obtained by use of simulated sound fields when = 0IACC.

Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando

Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained from Shin-ichi Sato, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501 Japan. E-mail address: satos@kobe-u.ac.jp.
Maintaining intelligibility at high speech intensities: Evidence of lateral inhibition in the lower auditory pathway
Authors: Bashford James A. , Warren Richard M. , Lenz Peter W.
Published: June 2013

Three experiments examined the intelligibility enhancement produced when noise bands flank high intensity narrowband speech. Enhancement was unaffected by noise gating (experiment 1), ruling out peripheral adaptation as a source, and was also unaffected by interaural decorrelation of noise bands flanking diotic speech (experiment 2), indicating that enhancement occurs prior to binaural processing. These results support previous suggestions that intelligibility loss at high intensities is reduced by lateral inhibition in the cochlear nuclei. Results from a final experiment suggest that this effect is only ipsilateral, implicating a specific population of inhibitory neurons.
Is non-operative management feasible for splenic injury due to colonoscopy?
Authors: Guner Ali , Kaya Umit , Kece Can , Kucuktulu Uzer
Published: June 2013

Colonoscopy is a widely used diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. While it is a relatively safe procedure, there is a risk of some complications. Splenic injury after colonoscopy is a very rare but a life-threatening complication; around 105 cases have been reported in the literature so far. Owing to the rarity of this complication, no management standards were defined. In the literature, most of the patients were managed with operative intervention and less frequently with observation. We report a case of splenic injury and massive hemoperitoneum due to colonoscopy treated non-operatively.
Aggressive secondary surgery for local recurrence of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Shimoike Norihiro , Fujikawa Takahisa , Maekawa Hisatsugu , Tanaka Akira
Published: June 2013

We report two cases of locally recurrent pancreatic cancer treated with repeated resection. In both cases, local recurrence was found in the cut end of the remnant pancreas after initial pancreatic resection, and total remnant pancreatectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and long-term survival was achieved. Aggressive repeated surgical resection could improve the prognosis of selected patients who are suffering from local recurrence of pancreatic cancer, and can be considered as a treatment option.
Bimaxillary presentation of central ossifying fibroma: a unique aggressive entity
Authors: Desai Kiran , Gupta Kavita , Manjunatha B S , Palan Soniya
Published: June 2013

Central ossifying fibroma is a benign neoplasm, having slow growing nature. Some rare lesions show very aggressive nature, multifocal appearance and reach up to a very massive size. So, these kinds of cases require special attention for their treatment. A unique case of central ossifying fibroma with aggressive nature, multifocal appearance is reported. This case shows growth both in maxilla and mandible with maxillary lesion massive in size involving maxillary sinus. There have not been any such cases reported so far in the literature showing bimaxillary growth of ossifying fibroma.
Simplified design and precautionary measures in fabrication of a feeding obturator for a newborn with cleft lip and palate
Authors: Dubey Alok , Mujoo Sheetal , Khandelwal Vishal , Nayak Prathibha Anand
Published: June 2013

The immediate problem to be addressed in a new born with cleft lip and palate is the interference of feeding. Here we present a case of cleft lip and palate for which a feeding obturator was made to facilitate feeding till the defect could be surgically repaired. The design was modified by placing orthodontic wire on the acrylic plate for attaching the ties of mouth mask. Different precautionary measures undertaken while making impression for infant have also been described. Feeding appliance improved the sucking ability of the infant. The attachment of mouth-mask ties help in easy retrieval of the obturator intraorally in case of airway obstruction.
Search engine optimisation to improve your visibility online
Authors: Samuel Susie
Published: June 2013

Search engines are a fundamental part of the way most people use the internet, so search engine optimisation, which improves a website's position in the search results, can have a huge impact on the online visibility of a business. Susie Samuel explains how search engine optimisation works and how it can increase the volume and quality of traffic to a vet's webpage.
Liver disease in rabbits
Authors: Meredith Anna
Published: June 2013

Many disease conditions of the rabbit can affect the liver, and a variety of clinical signs may indicate a diagnosis of liver impairment, either as a primary or secondary condition. However, clinical signs are often non‐specific and it may be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis of liver disease in practice. This article describes the clinical signs and diagnostic tests used in making a diagnosis of liver disease in rabbits, and discusses specific liver diseases and their management.
Diseases in camelids 1. Common presentations
Authors: Whitehead Claire
Published: June 2013

An increasing number of practitioners in the UK are being asked to see South American camelids (mainly llamas and alpacas). There are now just under 28,000 registered alpacas in the country, mostly concentrated in the south, although they are scattered across the regions. It is the veterinary surgeon's responsibility to take steps to familiarise themselves with any species under their care. This article considers some of the more common disease presentations that are seen in camelids in the UK. A second article, to be published in a subsequent issue ofIn Practice, will focus on common disease presentations seen in young camelids.
Glucose intolerance induced by glucocorticoid excess is further impaired by co-administration with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate in rats
Authors: Nunes Everson A. , Gonçalves-Neto Luiz M. , Ferreira Francielle B.D. , dos Santos Cristiane , Fernandes Luiz C. , Boschero Antonio C. , Calder Philip C. , Rafacho Alex
Published: June 2013

Glucocorticoid (GC) excess alters glucose homeostasis and promotes modifications in murinometric and anthropometric parameters in rodents and humans, respectively. β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, has been proposed as a nutritional strategy for preventing muscle wasting, but few data regarding its effects on glucose homeostasis are available. Here, we analyzed whether the effects of GC excess on glucose homeostasis may be attenuated or exacerbated by the concomitant ingestion of HMB. Adult Wistar rats (90-days-old) were assigned to four groups: (1) vehicle treated (Ctl), (2) dexamethasone (DEX) treated (Dex), (3) HMB treated (Hmb), and (4) DEX plus HMB treated (DexHmb). Dex groups received DEX (1 mg·kg body weight (BW)−1, intraperitoneal) for 5 consecutive days. HMB groups ingested HMB (320 mg·kg BW−1, oral gavage) for the same 5 days. HMB ingestion did not attenuate the effects of DEX on food intake and body weight loss, changes in masses of several organs, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance (p > 0.05). In fact, in DexHmb rats, there was increased fasting glycemia and exacerbated glucose intolerance with the main effect attributed to DEX treatment (p < 0.05). HMB exerted no attenuating effect on plasma triacylglycerol levels from DexHmb rats, but it seems to attenuate the lipolysis induced by β-adrenergic stimulation (20 μmol·L−1isoproterenol) in fragments of retroperitoneal adipose tissue from DexHmb rats. Therefore, HMB does not attenuate the diabetogenic characteristics of GC excess. In fact, the data suggest that HMB may exacerbate GC-induced glucose intolerance.
Moderate-intensity exercise affects perceived hunger and fullness but not appetite-related hormones in late pregnancy
Authors: Guelfi Kym J. , Halse Rhiannon E.
Published: June 2013

The effect of exercise on appetite and appetite-related hormones during pregnancy is not known. This study found that 30 min of moderate-intensity stationary cycling transiently attenuated hunger and increased fullness in late gestational women (n = 12). Exercise did not affect perceived appetite or appetite-related hormones in response to subsequent caloric consumption. These observations suggest that appetite responses do not intrinsically compensate for the additional energy expenditure induced by exercise, at least in the short term.
Integrated, age-structured, length-based stock assessment model with uncertain process variances, structural uncertainty, and environmental covariates: case of Central Baltic herring
Authors: Mäntyniemi Samu , Uusitalo Laura , Peltonen Heikki , Haapasaari Päivi , Kuikka Sakari
Published: June 2013

We developed a generic, age-structured, state-space stock assessment model that can be used as a platform for including information elicited from stakeholders. The model tracks the mean size-at-age and then uses it to explain rates of natural and fishing mortality. The fishery selectivity is divided to two components, which makes it possible to model the active seeking of the fleet for certain sizes of fish, as well as the selectivity of the gear itself. The model can account for uncertainties that are not currently accounted for in state-of-the-art models for integrated assessments: (i) The form of the stock–recruitment function is considered uncertain and is accounted for by using Bayesian model averaging. (ii) In addition to recruitment variation, process variation in natural mortality, growth parameters, and fishing mortality can also be treated as uncertain parameters. The use of the model is exemplified in the context of participatory modelling where stakeholders have specified how environmental variables affect the stock dynamics of Central Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras).
WAVELET MULTIFRACTAL DETRENDED FLUCTUATION ANALYSIS OF ENCRYPTION AND DECRYPTION MATRICES
Authors: MURGUÍA J. S. , MEJÍA CARLOS M. , VARGAS-OLMOS C. , RAMÍREZ-TORRES M. T. , ROSU H. C.
Published: June 2013

In this paper, we study in detail the multifractal features of the main matrices of an encryption system based on a rule-90 cellular automaton. For this purpose, we consider the scaling method known as the wavelet transform multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (WT-MFDFA). In addition, we analyze the multifractal structure of the matrices of different dimensions, and find that there are minimal differences in all the examined multifractal quantities such as the multifractal support, the most frequent singularity exponent, and the generalized Hurst exponent.
BRST-INVARIANT DEFORMATIONS OF GEOMETRIC STRUCTURES IN TOPOLOGICAL FIELD THEORIES
Authors: BYTSENKO A. A. , CHAICHIAN M. , TUREANU A. , WILLIAMS F. L.
Published: June 2013

We study a Lie algebra of formal vector fields Wn with its application to the perturbative deformed holomorphic symplectic structure in the A-model, and a Calabi–Yau manifold with boundaries in the B-model. A relevant concept in the vertex operator algebra and the BRST cohomology is that of the elliptic genera (the one-loop string partition function). We show that the elliptic genera can be written in terms of spectral functions of the hyperbolic three-geometry (which inherits the cohomology structure of BRST-like operator). We show that equivalence classes of deformations are described by a Hochschild cohomology theory of the DG-algebra [Formula: see text], which is defined to be the cohomology of (-1)n Q + d Hoch . Here, [Formula: see text] is the initial nondeformed BRST operator while ∂ deform is the deformed part whose algebra is a Lie algebra of linear vector fields gl n. We discuss the identification of the harmonic structure (HT•(X);HΩ•(X)) of affine space X and the group [Formula: see text] (the HKR isomorphism), and bulk-boundary deformation pairing.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CUBIC AlxGa1-xN ALLOY
Authors: HADJI S. , BERRAH S. , ABID H.
Published: June 2013

In this paper, we present numerical calculations based on the full potential augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within the local density approximation (LDA) to study the optical properties of the ternary alloy Al x Ga 1-x N . The shape of the dielectric function, the refractive index, and the absorption coefficient versus photon energy were presented. From the results, we deduce the possibility of this alloy to be used in the optoelectronic and photovololtaic area.
BOUND SOLITONS AND BREATHERS FOR THE GENERALIZED COUPLED NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER–MAXWELL–BLOCH SYSTEM
Authors: GUO RUI , HAO HUI-QIN , ZHANG LING-LING
Published: June 2013

The generalized coupled nonlinear Schrödinger–Maxwell–Bloch system can be used to describe the propagation of optical solitons in a nonlinear light guide doped with the two-level resonant atoms. In this paper, by virtue of the Darboux transformation, bound solitons and two types of breathers for the generalized coupled nonlinear Schrödinger–Maxwell–Bloch system are generated. Furthermore, the interaction scenario between bound solitons and propagation characteristics of the breathers are discussed.
COMPARISON OF OPEN SOURCE TOOLS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Authors: PEREIRA ANDRÉ MARQUES , GONÇALVES RAFAEL QUEIROZ , VON WANGENHEIM CHRISTIANE GRESSE , BUGLIONE LUIGI
Published: June 2013

Software projects often fail, because they are not adequately managed. The establishment of effective and efficient project management practices still remains a key challenge to software organizations. Striving to address these needs, "best practice" models, such as, the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) or the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), are being developed to assist organizations in improving project management. Although not required, software tools can help implement the project management process in practice. In order to provide comprehensive, low-cost tool support for project management, specifically, for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in this paper we compare the most popular free/open-source web-based project management tools with respect to their compliance to PMBOK and CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV). The results of this research can be used by organizations to make decisions on tool adoptions as well as a basis for evolving software tools in alignment with best practices models.
TWISTED TORUS KNOTS WITH ESSENTIAL TORI IN THEIR COMPLEMENTS
Authors: LEE SANGYOP
Published: June 2013

A twisted torus knot is a torus knot with a number of full-twists on some adjacent strands. In this paper, we show that if a twisted torus knot is a satellite knot then the number of full-twists is generically at most two.
DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT SOLID ADSORBENT SURFACES ADSORPTION MECHANISMS BASED ON A SEQUENTIAL DECOMPOSITION OF ISOTHERMS
Authors: HUMPOLA PABLO D. , ODETTI HECTOR S. , FLORES ETHEL S. E. , VICENTE JOSE LUIS
Published: June 2013

In order to analyze the adsorption capacities of different solid substrates, we present a multi-step method to separately study the isotherm at different pressure ranges (steps). The method is based on simple gas isotherm measurements (nitrogen, methane, carbon dioxide, argon, and oxygen) and is tested to describe the adsorption process and characterize a graphitized surface (GCB) and two different granular activated carbons (GAC). The GCB isotherms are described as a sum of Fowler-Guggenheim-Langmuir shifted curves; isotherm behaviors are quite similar at different temperatures, but change below a certain threshold. In GAC the first steps show the same adsorption characteristics at low pressures (Dubinin's description), but this behavior changes at higher pressure regimes, which allows one to elucidate how heterogeneous the surfaces are or how strong the interactions between adsorbed molecules are for this marginal adsorption to occur. We tested different approaches (from BET multilayer to Aranovich) and found quite different features. We finally conclude that if the description of the adsorption on complex substrates, such as those presented here, is carried using only one model, e. g. Dubinin in case of GACs, the resulting characteristics of the adsorbent would be very biased.
FABRICATION OF UNIFORM AND COMPACT ZnO THIN FILMS BY LANGMUIR–BLODGETT METHOD
Authors: FENG QIAN , TANG DONGYAN , YU ZAIQIAN , GU SHUO , JIANG ENYING
Published: June 2013

In this paper, stearic acid/ Zn2+ monolayer were formed at air–water interface and then multilayers were deposited onto a glass slide by Langmuir–Blodgett method. After annealing at 300°C for 0.25 h and 550°C for 2 h, ZnO thin films were fabricated. The optimized parameters for monolayer formation and multilayers deposition were determined by the surface pressure-surface area (Π-A) isotherm and transfer ratio (t.r.), respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction showed that multilayers changed into ZnO thin films with hexagonal structure and of high crystallization after annealing at high temperature. The observation of SEM images indicated that ZnO thin films had a uniform and flat surface with compact arrangement.
AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH FOR THERMAL STABILITY ANALYSIS OF TWO-LAYER TIMOSHENKO BEAMS
Authors: KOMIJANI M. , REDDY J. N. , ESLAMI M. R. , BATENI M.
Published: June 2013

This study deals with the thermal buckling behavior of two-layer shear-deformable beams with partial interaction between the layers. The Timoshenko kinematics are considered for both layers and the shear connection is represented by a continuous relationship between the interface shear flow and the corresponding slip. Geometrically nonlinear behavior based on the von Kármán simplification of the Green strain tensor is accounted in the formulation. A set of differential equations is obtained from a general 2D bifurcation analysis using the aforementioned assumptions. The stability equations are obtained on the basis of the adjacent equilibrium criterion. It is shown that, due to the existence of the stretching–bending coupling effect in the composite beams, the bifurcation state occurs only for beams with both edges clamped.
BOUNDING THE NUMBER OF IRREDUCIBLE CHARACTER DEGREES OF A FINITE GROUP IN TERMS OF THE LARGEST DEGREE
Authors: LEWIS MARK L. , MORETÓ ALEXANDER
Published: June 2013

We conjecture that the number of irreducible character degrees of a finite group is bounded in terms of the number of prime factors (counting multiplicities) of the largest character degree. We prove that this conjecture holds when the largest character degree is prime and when the character degree graph is disconnected.
EXTERNAL ZONOTOPAL ALGEBRA
Authors: LI NAN , RON AMOS
Published: June 2013

Zonotopal algebra studies pairs of dual algebraic structures that are associated with a linear matroid X and are connected to corresponding dual geometries. Both the geometry and the algebra encode in their statistics combinatorial properties of the matroid. We provide in this paper a general, unified, framework for the chapter in zonotopal algebra that is known as external. The approach is critically based on employing simultaneously the two dual algebraic constructs and invokes the underlying matroidal and geometric structures in an essential way.
A SUFFICIENT AND NECESSARY CONDITION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 3-BAND DUAL TREE COMPLEX WAVELET
Authors: SHEN ZHENG WEI
Published: June 2013

To desire expectable applications in image processing, the construction of 3-band dual tree complex wavelet is a meaningful and constructive topic. In this paper, a sufficient and necessary condition 2π/3-periodic of phase difference between the prime and dual filter banks is proposed. With this condition, it is proposed that the phase function θl(ω) of wavelet filters can be uniquely determined by the phase function θ0(ω) of the scaling filters. Imposed on a necessary constraint to θ0(ω), phase function θl(ω) can be obtained which results in the analytical of the 3-band dual tree complex wavelet. Furthermore, the complex filter banks are obtained using the wavelet matrix factorization approach. Then the dual tree 3-band complex wavelet is analytical that indicates approximately shift invariance property. In addition, it also has more direction selectivity because there are more sub-bands than dyadic wavelet transform is frequency domain.
WHOLE-BODY MOTION GENERATION OF ANDROID ROBOT USING MOTION CAPTURE AND NONLINEAR CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION
Authors: KIM JUNG-YUP , KIM YOUNG-SEOG
Published: June 2013

This paper describes a whole-body motion generation scheme for an android robot using motion capture and an optimization method. Android robots basically require human-like motions due to their human-like appearances. However, they have various limitations on joint angle, and joint velocity as well as different numbers of joints and dimensions compared to humans. Because of these limitations and differences, one appropriate approach is to use an optimization technique for the motion capture data. Another important issue in whole-body motion generation is the gimbal lock problem, where a degree of freedom at the three-DOF shoulder disappears. Since the gimbal lock causes two DOFs at the shoulder joint diverge, a simple and effective strategy is required to avoid the divergence. Therefore, we propose a novel algorithm using nonlinear constrained optimization with special cost functions to cope with the aforementioned problems. To verify our algorithm, we chose a fast boxing motion that has a large range of motion and frequent gimbal lock situations as well as dynamic stepping motions. We then successfully obtained a suitable boxing motion very similar to captured human motion and also derived a zero moment point (ZMP) trajectory that is realizable for a given android robot model. Finally, quantitative and qualitative evaluations in terms of kinematics and dynamics are carried out for the derived android boxing motion.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE CHANGE ON THE RADIAL BREATHING MODE FREQUENCY OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES
Authors: GHAVANLOO ESMAEAL , FAZELZADEH S. AHMAD
Published: June 2013

In this paper, the effect of environmental temperature on the radial breathing mode (RBM) frequency of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with arbitrary chirality is investigated. The analytical formulation is developed which can link the frequency to the geometrical parameters of the SWCNT and environmental temperature. Good agreement between the present results and existing experimental data is found. The results show that the predicted RBM frequencies of the SWCNTs decrease with increasing of temperature. The softening of the C–C force constants in the SWCNT is responsible for the temperature-induced downshift in the RBM frequencies.
LOW-DOSE RECOMBINANT VACCINE ANTIGEN DELIVERY BY ENGINEERED OUTER MEMBRANE VESICLES
Authors: ROSENTHAL JOSEPH , LEUNG TIFFANY , DELISA MATTHEW , PUTNAM DAVID
Published: June 2013

The use of engineered antigen carriers to optimize the immune response to recombinant subunit vaccines has seen great advances in recent years. Optimization can take several forms, such as facilitating stimulation of certain immune cells or amplifying the adjuvancy effect of the vaccine formulation. In this paper, we applied dose/response analysis to demonstrate the ability of outer membrane vesicle (OMV) antigen carriers derived from engineered Escherichia coli to produce strong antigen-specific immune responses to a model antigen at a significantly decreased antigen load compared to an industry standard alum-based control. Inflammopathology and histological analysis of extended studies further supported a capacity to enhance immune cell recruitment locally at the injection site while decreasing inflammation and eliminating injection site scaring. The results indicate a strong potential for OMV-based vaccines as recombinant antigen delivery vehicles, affording strong immunogenicity at low doses with a broadly applicable platform for recombinant subunit antigen inclusion.