bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiologic Frailty As a Sign of Accelerated Aging Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study
Authors: Ness Kirsten K. , Krull Kevin R. , Jones Kendra E. , Mulrooney Daniel A. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Green Daniel M. , Chemaitilly Wassim , Smith Webb A. , Wilson Carmen L. , Sklar Charles A. , Shelton Kyla , Srivastava Deo Kumar , Ali Sabeen , Robison Leslie L. , Hudson Melissa M.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

Frailty, a phenotype reported among 9.9% of individuals 65 years old and older (9.6% of women; 5.2% of men), has not been assessed among adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We estimated the prevalence of frailty and examined associations with morbidity and mortality.

Methods

Participants included 1,922 CCS at least 10 years from original cancer diagnosis (men, 50.3%; mean age, 33.6 ± 8.1 years) and a comparison population of 341 participants without cancer histories. Prefrailty and frailty were defined as two and ≥ three of the following conditions: low muscle mass, self-reported exhaustion, low energy expenditure, slow walking speed, and weakness. Morbidity was defined as grade 3 to 4 chronic conditions (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0). Fisher's exact tests were used to compare, by frailty status, percentages of those with morbidity. In a subset of 162 CCS who returned for a second visit, Poisson regression was used to evaluate associations between frailty and new onset morbidity. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate associations between frailty and death.

Results

The prevalence of prefrailty and frailty were 31.5% and 13.1% among women and 12.9% and 2.7% among men, respectively, with prevalence increasing with age. Frail CCS were more likely than nonfrail survivors to have a chronic condition (82.1% v 73.8%). In models adjusted for existing chronic conditions, baseline frailty was associated with risk of death (hazard ratio, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.2) and chronic condition onset (relative risk, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2).

Conclusion

The prevalence of frailty among young adult CCS is similar to that among adults 65 years old and older, suggesting accelerated aging.
Orexin Restores Aging-Related Brown Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Male Mice
Authors: Sellayah Dyan , Sikder Devanjan
Published: November 2013

The aging process causes an increase in percent body fat, but the mechanism remains unclear. In the present study we examined the impact of aging on brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity as potential cause for the increase in adiposity. We show that aging is associated with interscapular BAT morphologic abnormalities and thermogenic dysfunction. In vitro experiments revealed that brown adipocyte differentiation is defective in aged mice. Interscapular brown tissue in aged mice is progressively populated by adipocytes bearing white morphologic characteristics. Aged mice fail to mobilize intracellular fuel reserves from brown adipocytes and exhibit deficiency in homeothermy. Our results suggest a role for orexin (OX) signaling in the regulation of thermogenesis during aging. Brown fat dysfunction and age-related assimilation of fat mass were accelerated in mice in which OX-producing neurons were ablated. Conversely, OX injections in old mice increased multilocular morphology, increased core body temperature, improved cold tolerance, and reduced adiposity. These results argue that BAT can be targeted for interventions to reverse age-associated increase in fat mass.
Cell-intrinsic drivers of dendrite morphogenesis
Authors: Puram Sidharth V. , Bonni Azad
Published: November 2013

The proper formation and morphogenesis of dendrites is fundamental to the establishment of neural circuits in the brain. Following cell cycle exit and migration, neurons undergo organized stages of dendrite morphogenesis, which include dendritic arbor growth and elaboration followed by retraction and pruning. Although these developmental stages were characterized over a century ago, molecular regulators of dendrite morphogenesis have only recently been defined. In particular, studies in Drosophila and mammalian neurons have identified numerous cell-intrinsic drivers of dendrite morphogenesis that include transcriptional regulators, cytoskeletal and motor proteins, secretory and endocytic pathways, cell cycle-regulated ubiquitin ligases, and components of other signaling cascades. Here, we review cell-intrinsic drivers of dendrite patterning and discuss how the characterization of such crucial regulators advances our understanding of normal brain development and pathogenesis of diverse cognitive disorders.
A small molecule screen identifies a novel compound that induces a homeotic transformation inHydra
Authors: Glauber Kristine M. , Dana Catherine E. , Park Steve S. , Colby David A. , Noro Yukihiko , Fujisawa Toshitaka , Chamberlin A. Richard , Steele Robert E.
Published: November 2013

Developmental processes such as morphogenesis, patterning and differentiation are continuously active in the adult Hydra polyp. We carried out a small molecule screen to identify compounds that affect patterning in Hydra. We identified a novel molecule, DAC-2-25, that causes a homeotic transformation of body column into tentacle zone. This transformation occurs in a progressive and polar fashion, beginning at the oral end of the animal. We have identified several strains that respond to DAC-2-25 and one that does not, and we used chimeras from these strains to identify the ectoderm as the target tissue for DAC-2-25. Using transgenic Hydra that express green fluorescent protein under the control of relevant promoters, we examined how DAC-2-25 affects tentacle patterning. Genes whose expression is associated with the tentacle zone are ectopically expressed upon exposure to DAC-2-25, whereas those associated with body column tissue are turned off as the tentacle zone expands. The expression patterns of the organizer-associated gene HyWnt3 and the hypostome-specific gene HyBra2 are unchanged. Structure-activity relationship studies have identified features of DAC-2-25 that are required for activity and potency. This study shows that small molecule screens in Hydra can be used to dissect patterning processes.
A SMART Software Package for Maintenance Optimisation of Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Sinha Yashwant , Steel John A. , Andrawus Jesse A. , Gibson Karen
Published: November 2013

Offshore Wind Turbine (OWT) maintenance costs in between 20 – 35% of the lifetime power generation cost. Many techniques and tools that are being developed to curtail this cost are challenged by the stochastic climatic conditions of offshore location and the wind energy market. A generic and OWT centric software packages that can smartly adapt to the requirement of any offshore wind farm and optimise its maintenance, logistics and spares-holding while giving due consideration to offshore climate and market conditions will enable OWT operators to centralise their operation and maintenance planning and make significant cost reductions. This work aims to introduce the idea of a comprehensive tool that can meet the above objectives, and give examples of data and functions required. The package uses wind turbine condition monitoring data to anticipate component failure and proposes a time and maintenance implementation strategies that is developed as per the requirements of HSE and government regulations for working in the offshore locations and at heights. The software database contains key failure analysis data that will be an invaluable asset for future researchers, turbine manufacturers and operators, that will optimise OWT power generation cost and better understand OWT working. The work also lists some prevalent tools and techniques developed by industries and researchers for the wind industry.
Annoyance Evaluation of Subway Interior Noise Based on Psychoacoustical Indices
Authors: Liu N.N. , Wang Y.S. , Shi L.
Published: November 2013

The subjective and objective method of sound quality evaluation (SQE) in respect of subway interior noise is discussed in this paper. A sample subway of Shanghai Metro Line 9 is considered. The noise signals at four locations and two sets of dummy head heights are measured under three common working conditions of the subway. The measured noises are subjectively evaluated for annoyance values by using the grouped pair-comparison method. Several objective psychoacoustical parameters of these samples are calculated. Accordingly, a mathematical model of sound annoyance is established by using the correlation analysis and multi-dimensional linear regression method, in which the loudness, sharpness, etc., are taken as the variables. The experimental verifications show that there has a strong correlation between the model predicted and subjectively evaluated results, which suggest a good prediction accuracy of the newly presented model.
A novel pseudoderivative-based mutation operator for real-coded adaptive genetic algorithms
Authors: Kanwal Maxinder S , Ramesh Avinash S , Huang Lauren A
Published: November 2013

Recent development of large databases, especially those in genetics and proteomics, is pushing the development of novel computational algorithms that implement rapid and accurate search strategies. One successful approach has been to use artificial intelligence and methods, including pattern recognition (e.g. neural networks) and optimization techniques (e.g. genetic algorithms). The focus of this paper is on optimizing the design of genetic algorithms by using an adaptive mutation rate that is derived from comparing the fitness values of successive generations. We propose a novel pseudoderivative-based mutation rate operator designed to allow a genetic algorithm to escape local optima and successfully continue to the global optimum. Once proven successful, this algorithm can be implemented to solve real problems in neurology and bioinformatics. As a first step towards this goal, we tested our algorithm on two 3-dimensional surfaces with multiple local optima, but only one global optimum, as well as on the N-queens problem, an applied problem in which the function that maps the curve is implicit. For all tests, the adaptive mutation rate allowed the genetic algorithm to find the global optimal solution, performing significantly better than other search methods, including genetic algorithms that implement fixed mutation rates.
Where Does Our Interest in Venezuela Come From?
Authors: Hinz Krzysztof Jacek
Published: November 2013

Until recently, very few people in the world heard of Venezuela. It was known that the seventh largest country in Latin America had a relatively well-established democracy, was friendly to immigrants, and rich in natural resources. And that was basically it – since the beginning of 1958 and the fall of the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, when Venezuela entered the path to democratic development, it has not fed the world press with any sensational news. From a detached, European perspective, with its often distorted Euro-centric point of view, there has been nothing special about Venezuela to distinguish it from among other Latin American countries.
Popular Catholic Education in Venezuela
Authors: SJ F. Javier Duplá
Published: November 2013

To a Polish reader, Venezuela is far away, despite the globalized world in which we live. The same is true in reverse: few Venezuelans know where to locate Poland on a map of Europe. However that fact does not prevent us from taking this opportunity to – by using the cont of this volume – build bridges between the two countries. There can be several pillars upon which to build, the most important of which is the common Catholic religious culture that we share. A historical tour will help explain the importance of Catholic education provided in the educational institutions dependent on the Catholic Church.
Gamete-Type Dependent Crossover Interference Levels in a Defined Region ofCaenorhabditis elegansChromosome V
Authors: Gabdank Idan , Fire Andrew Z
Published: November 2013

In certain organisms, numbers of crossover events for any single chromosome are limited (“crossover interference”) so that double crossover events are obtained at much lower frequencies than would be expected from the simple product of independent single-crossover events. We present a number of observations during which we examined interference over a large region of Caenorhabditis elegans chromosome V. Examining this region for multiple crossover events in heteroallelic configurations with limited dimorphism, we observed high levels of crossover interference in oocytes with only partial interference in spermatocytes.
Structure, Agency, Complexity Theory and Interdisciplinary Research in Education Studies
Authors: Smith John A.
Published: November 2013

This article argues that Education Studies needs to develop its existing interdisciplinarity understanding of structures and agencies by giving greater attention to the modern process theories of self-organisation in the physical, biological, psychological and social sciences, sometimes given the umbrella term ‘complexity theory’. The relation of humans to the biosphere is topicalised, including the social role of the emotions presented by evolutionary psychology and learning theory. Further, Education Studies is seen as a suitable discipline for bringing these concerns into the broader intellectual culture and the curriculum. A number of proposals for reform are presented in the conclusion.
Effects of Differences in National Culture on Auditors' Judgments and Decisions: A Literature Review of Cross-Cultural Auditing Studies from a Judgment and Decision Making Perspective
Authors: Nolder Christine , Riley Tracey J.
Published: November 2013

Motivated by the growing cultural diversity of new hires in audit firms, this paper reviews the literature on cross-cultural differences in auditors' judgment and decision making (JDM). The overarching aim of the review is to summarize the current state of knowledge and compare our understanding of cross-cultural auditors' JDM with the broader cross-cultural JDM research in psychology to stimulate applied research. We develop a framework that categorizes those auditor judgments and decisions most likely affected by cross-cultural differences. The categories include auditors' confidence, risk and probability judgments, risk decisions, conflict decisions, and ethical judgments. We contribute to the cross-cultural audit research in four ways. First, we provide a framework by which future research can be synthesized within auditing and compared with psychology. Second, we recommend specific research questions to respond to both the gaps in extant literature and the changing multicultural environment of audit firms. Third, we advocate for an alternative theoretical approach beyond the examination of cultural traits. Finally, we argue that bicultural auditors represent an unexplored boundary condition on prior findings that warrants more immediate attention from audit researchers.
PMS6MC: A Multicore Algorithm for Motif Discovery
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Shibdas , Sahni Sartaj , Rajasekaran Sanguthevar
Published: November 2013

We develop an efficient multicore algorithm, PMS6MC, for the (l; d)-motif discovery problem in which we are to find all strings of length l that appear in every string of a given set of strings with at most d mismatches. PMS6MC is based on PMS6, which is currently the fastest single-core algorithm for motif discovery in large instances. The speedup, relative to PMS6, attained by our multicore algorithm ranges from a high of 6.62 for the (17,6) challenging instances to a low of 2.75 for the (13,4) challenging instances on an Intel 6-core system. We estimate that PMS6MC is 2 to 4 times faster than other parallel algorithms for motif search on large instances.
Overlays with Preferences: Distributed, Adaptive Approximation Algorithms for Matching with Preference Lists
Authors: Georgiadis Giorgos , Papatriantafilou Marina
Published: November 2013

A key property of overlay networks is the overlay nodes’ ability to establish connections (or be matched) to other nodes by preference, based on some suitability metric related to, e.g., the node’s distance, interests, recommendations, transaction history or available resources. When there are no preference cycles among the nodes, a stable matching exists in which nodes have maximized individual satisfaction, due to their choices, however no such guarantees are currently being given in the generic case. In this work, we employ the notion of node satisfaction to suggest a novel modeling for matching problems, suitable for overlay networks. We start by presenting a simple, yet powerful, distributed algorithm that solves the many-to-many matching problem with preferences. It achieves that by using local information and aggregate satisfaction as an optimization metric, while providing a guaranteed convergence and approximation ratio. Subsequently, we show how to extend the algorithm in order to support and adapt to changes in the nodes’ connectivity and preferences. In addition, we provide a detailed experimental study that focuses on the levels of achieved satisfaction, as well as convergence and reconvergence speed.
Unfolding Thermodynamics of Cysteine-Rich Proteins and Molecular Thermal-Adaptation of Marine Ciliates
Authors: Cazzolli Giorgia , Škrbić Tatjana , Guella Graziano , Faccioli Pietro
Published: November 2013

Euplotes nobilii and Euplotes raikovi are phylogenetically closely allied species of marine ciliates, living in polar and temperate waters, respectively. Their evolutional relation and the sharply different temperatures of their natural environments make them ideal organisms to investigate thermal-adaptation. We perform a comparative study of the thermal unfolding of disulfide-rich protein pheromones produced by these ciliates. Recent circular dichroism (CD) measurements have shown that the two psychrophilic (E. nobilii) and mesophilic (E. raikovi) protein families are characterized by very different melting temperatures, despite their close structural homology. The enhanced thermal stability of the E. raikovi pheromones is realized notwithstanding the fact that these proteins form, as a rule, a smaller number of disulfide bonds. We perform Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in a structure-based coarse-grained (CG) model to show that the higher stability of the E. raikovi pheromones is due to the lower locality of the disulfide bonds, which yields a lower entropy increase in the unfolding process. Our study suggests that the higher stability of the mesophilic E. raikovi phermones is not mainly due to the presence of a strongly hydrophobic core, as it was proposed in the literature. In addition, we argue that the molecular adaptation of these ciliates may have occurred from cold to warm, and not from warm to cold. To provide a testable prediction, we identify a point-mutation of an E. nobilii pheromone that should lead to an unfolding temperature typical of that of E. raikovi pheromones.
Multiscale Mesoscopic Entropy of Driven Macroscopic Systems
Authors: Grmela Miroslav , Grazzini Giuseppe , Lucia Umberto , Yahia L'Hocine
Published: November 2013

How do macroscopic systems react to imposed external forces? Attempts to answer this question by a general principle have a long history. The general feeling is that the macroscopic systems in their reaction to imposed external forces follow some kind of optimization strategy in which their internal structure is changed so that they offer the least possible resistance. What is the potential involved in such optimization? It is often suggested that it is entropy or entropy production. But entropy is a potential arising in thermodynamics of externally unforced macroscopic systems. What exactly shall we understand by a mesoscopic entropy of externally driven systems and how shall we find it for a specific macroscopic system?
Polynomial Regressions and Nonsense Inference
Authors: Ventosa-Santaulària Daniel , Rodríguez-Caballero Carlos
Published: November 2013

Polynomial specifications are widely used, not only in applied economics, but also in epidemiology, physics, political analysis and psychology, just to mention a few examples. In many cases, the data employed to estimate such specifications are time series that may exhibit stochastic nonstationary behavior. We extend Phillips’ results (Phillips, P. Understanding spurious regressions in econometrics. J. Econom. 1986, 33, 311–340.) by proving that an inference drawn from polynomial specifications, under stochastic nonstationarity, is misleading unless the variables cointegrate. We use a generalized polynomial specification as a vehicle to study its asymptotic and finite-sample properties. Our results, therefore, lead to a call to be cautious whenever practitioners estimate polynomial regressions.
Small Molecule Binding, Docking, and Characterization of the Interaction between Pth1 and Peptidyl-tRNA
Authors: Hames Mary , McFeeters Hana , Holloway W. , Stanley Christopher , Urban Volker , McFeeters Robert
Published: November 2013

Bacterial Pth1 is essential for viability. Pth1 cleaves the ester bond between the peptide and nucleotide of peptidyl-tRNA generated from aborted translation, expression of mini-genes, and short ORFs. We have determined the shape of the Pth1:peptidyl-tRNA complex using small angle neutron scattering. Binding of piperonylpiperazine, a small molecule constituent of a combinatorial synthetic library common to most compounds with inhibitory activity, was mapped to Pth1 via NMR spectroscopy. We also report computational docking results, modeling piperonylpiperazine binding based on chemical shift perturbation mapping. Overall these studies promote Pth1 as a novel antibiotic target, contribute to understanding how Pth1 interacts with its substrate, advance the current model for cleavage, and demonstrate feasibility of small molecule inhibition.
Opportunities for Live Cell FT-Infrared Imaging: Macromolecule Identification with 2D and 3D Localization
Authors: Mattson Eric , Aboualizadeh Ebrahim , Barabas Marie , Stucky Cheryl , Hirschmugl Carol
Published: November 2013

Infrared (IR) spectromicroscopy, or chemical imaging, is an evolving technique that is poised to make significant contributions in the fields of biology and medicine. Recent developments in sources, detectors, measurement techniques and speciman holders have now made diffraction-limited Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging of cellular chemistry in living cells a reality. The availability of bright, broadband IR sources and large area, pixelated detectors facilitate live cell imaging, which requires rapid measurements using non-destructive probes. In this work, we review advances in the field of FTIR spectromicroscopy that have contributed to live-cell two and three-dimensional IR imaging, and discuss several key examples that highlight the utility of this technique for studying the structure and chemistry of living cells.
ADAR Enzyme and miRNA Story: A Nucleotide that Can Make the Difference
Authors: Tomaselli Sara , Bonamassa Barbara , Alisi Anna , Nobili Valerio , Locatelli Franco , Gallo Angela
Published: November 2013

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes convert adenosine (A) to inosine (I) in double-stranded (ds) RNAs. Since Inosine is read as Guanosine, the biological consequence of ADAR enzyme activity is an A/G conversion within RNA molecules. A-to-I editing events can occur on both coding and non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small regulatory RNAs of ~20–23 nucleotides that regulate several cell processes by annealing to target mRNAs and inhibiting their translation. Both miRNA precursors and mature miRNAs undergo A-to-I RNA editing, affecting the miRNA maturation process and activity. ADARs can also edit 3' UTR of mRNAs, further increasing the interplay between mRNA targets and miRNAs. In this review, we provide a general overview of the ADAR enzymes and their mechanisms of action as well as miRNA processing and function. We then review the more recent findings about the impact of ADAR-mediated activity on the miRNA pathway in terms of biogenesis, target recognition, and gene expression regulation.
Usefulness of Plasma YKL-40 in Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Severity in Patients
Authors: Wang Hsiang-Ling , Hsiao Pei-Ching , Tsai Hsiu-Ting , Yeh Chao-Bin , Yang Shun-Fa
Published: November 2013

Plasma YKL-40 level has been reported as playing a significant role in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the correlation between plasma level of YKL-40 and the severity of CAP has not been reported. This study identifies the relationship between plasma level changes of the YKL-40 gene in adult patients hospitalized with CAP. The ELISA was used to measure the plasma YKL-40 level from 61 adult CAP patients before and after antibiotic treatment and from 60 healthy controls. The plasma YKL-40 levels were significantly increased in patients with CAP compared to normal controls. Moreover, the plasma concentration of YKL-40 correlated with the severity of CAP based on the pneumonia severity index (PSI) score (r = 0.630, p < 0.001), the CURB-65 (confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, BP, age 65 years) score (r = 0.640, p < 0.001), the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (r = 0.539, p < 0.001) and length of hospital stay (r = 0.321, p = 0.011), respectively. In conclusion, plasma YKL-40 may play a role in the diagnosis and clinical assessment of CAP severity, which could potentially guide the development of treatment strategies.
Tuning Fluidic Resistance via Liquid Crystal Microfluidics
Authors: Sengupta Anupam
Published: November 2013

Flow of molecularly ordered fluids, like liquid crystals, is inherently coupled with the average local orientation of the molecules, or the director. The anisotropic coupling—typically absent in isotropic fluids—bestows unique functionalities to the flowing matrix. In this work, we harness this anisotropy to pattern different pathways to tunable fluidic resistance within microfluidic devices. We use a nematic liquid crystalline material flowing in microchannels to demonstrate passive and active modulation of the flow resistance. While appropriate surface anchoring conditions—which imprint distinct fluidic resistances within microchannels under similar hydrodynamic parameters—act as passive cues, an external field, e.g., temperature, is used to actively modulate the flow resistance in the microfluidic device. We apply this simple concept to fabricate basic fluidic circuits, which can be hierarchically extended to create complex resistance networks, without any additional design or morphological patterning of the microchannels.
A Bone-Thickness Map as a Guide for Bone-Anchored Port Implantation Surgery in the Temporal Bone
Authors: Guignard Jérémie , Arnold Andreas , Weisstanner Christian , Caversaccio Marco , Stieger Christof
Published: November 2013

The bone-anchored port (BAP) is an investigational implant, which is intended to be fixed on the temporal bone and provide vascular access. There are a number of implants taking advantage of the stability and available room in the temporal bone. These devices range from implantable hearing aids to percutaneous ports. During temporal bone surgery, injuring critical anatomical structures must be avoided. Several methods for computer-assisted temporal bone surgery are reported, which typically add an additional procedure for the patient. We propose a surgical guide in the form of a bone-thickness map displaying anatomical landmarks that can be used for planning of the surgery, and for the intra-operative decision of the implant’s location. The retro-auricular region of the temporal and parietal bone was marked on cone-beam computed tomography scans and tridimensional surfaces displaying the bone thickness were created from this space. We compared this method using a thickness map (n = 10) with conventional surgery without assistance (n = 5) in isolated human anatomical whole head specimens. The use of the thickness map reduced the rate of Dura Mater exposition from 100% to 20% and suppressed sigmoid sinus exposures. The study shows that a bone-thickness map can be used as a low-complexity method to improve patient’s safety during BAP surgery in the temporal bone.
Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Sand-Mat Layer above Soft Ground
Authors: Park Jong-Beom , Park Hyun-Soo , Kim Daehyeon
Published: November 2013

In order to improve the bearing capacity of soft ground for the purpose of getting trafficability of construction vehicles, the reinforcement of geosynthetics for sand-mat layers on soft ground has often been used. As the strength of the geosynthetics increases, and the sand-mat system becomes stronger, the bearing capacity of sand-mat systems will be increased. The depths of geosynthetics, reinforced in sand-mat layers, were varied with respect to the width of footing. The tensile strengths of geosynthetics were also varied to evaluate the effect of reinforcement on the bearing capacity of soft ground. The dispersion angles, with varying sand-mat thicknesses, were also determined in consideration of the tensile strength of geosynthetics and the depths of reinforcement installations. The bearing capacity ratios, with the variation of footing width and reinforced embedment depth, were determined for the geosynthetics-only, reinforced soft ground, 1-layer sand-mat system and 2-layer sand-mat system against the non-reinforced soft ground. From the test results of various models, a principle that better explains the concept of geosynthetic reinforcement has been found. On the basis of this principle, a new bearing capacity equation for practical use in the design of geosynthetically reinforced soft ground has been proposed by modifying Yamanouchi’s equation.
Gluten-Free Diet in Children: An Approach to a Nutritionally Adequate and Balanced Diet
Authors: Penagini Francesca , Dilillo Dario , Meneghin Fabio , Mameli Chiara , Fabiano Valentina , Zuccotti Gian
Published: November 2013

Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the cornerstone treatment for celiac disease (CD). GFD implies a strict and lifelong elimination from the diet of gluten, the storage protein found in wheat, barley, rye and hybrids of these grains, such as kamut and triticale. The absence of gluten in natural and processed foods, despite being the key aspect of GFD, may lead to nutritional consequences, such as deficits and imbalances. The nutritional adequacy of GFD is particularly important in children, this the age being of maximal energy and nutrient requirements for growth, development and activity. In recent years, attention has focused on the nutritional quality of gluten-free products (GFPs) available in the market. It is well recognized that GFPs are considered of lower quality and poorer nutritional value compared to the gluten-containing counterparts. The present review focuses on the nutritional adequacy of GFD at the pediatric age, with the aim being to increase awareness of the potential complications associated with this diet, to identify strategies in order to avoid them and to promote a healthier diet and lifestyle in children with CD.
Assessing Quality Outcome Measures in Children with Coeliac Disease—Experience from Two UK Centres
Authors: Ross Alexander , Shelley Helen , Novell Kim , Ingham Elizabeth , Callan Julia , Heuschkel Robert , Morris Mary-Anne , Zilbauer Matthias
Published: November 2013

Improved diagnosis of coeliac disease has increased incidence and therefore burden on the health care system. There are no quality outcome measures (QOM) in use nationally to assess hospital management of this condition. This study applied QOM devised by the East of England paediatric gastroenterology network to 99 patients reviewed at two tertiary hospitals in the Network, to assess the quality of care provided by nurse led and doctor led care models. The average performance across all QOM was 96.2% at Addenbrooke’s Hospital (AH), and 98.7% at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (NNUH), whilst 95% (n = 18) of QOM were met. Patient satisfaction was high at both sites (uptake of questionnaire 53 of 99 patients in the study). The study showed a comparably high level of care delivered by both a nurse and doctor led service. Our quality assessment tools could be applied in the future by other centres to measure standards of care.
Fraunhofer Lidar Prototype in the Green Spectral Region for Atmospheric Boundary Layer Observations
Authors: Wu Songhua , Song Xiaoquan , Liu Bingyi
Published: November 2013

A lidar detects atmospheric parameters by transmitting laser pulse to the atmosphere and receiving the backscattering signals from molecules and aerosol particles. Because of the small backscattering cross section, a lidar usually uses the high sensitive photomultiplier and avalanche photodiode as detector and uses photon counting technology for collection of weak backscatter signals. Photon Counting enables the capturing of extremely weak lidar return from long distance, throughout dark background, by a long time accumulation. Because of the strong solar background, the signal-to-noise ratio of lidar during daytime could be greatly restricted, especially for the lidar operating at visible wavelengths where solar background is prominent. Narrow band-pass filters must therefore be installed in order to isolate solar background noise at wavelengths close to that of the lidar receiving channel, whereas the background light in superposition with signal spectrum, limits an effective margin for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement. This work describes a lidar prototype operating at the Fraunhofer lines, the invisible band of solar spectrum, to achieve photon counting under intense solar background. The photon counting lidar prototype in Fraunhofer lines devised was used to observe the atmospheric boundary layer. The SNR was improved 2-3 times by operating the lidar at the wavelength in solar dark lines. The aerosol extinctions illustrate the vertical structures of aerosol in the atmospheric boundary over Qingdao suburban during summer 2011.
A Novel Porphyrin-Containing Polyimide Nanofibrous Membrane for Colorimetric and Fluorometric Detection of Pyridine Vapor
Authors: Lv Yuanyuan , Zhang Yani , Du Yanglong , Xu Jiayao , Wang Junbo
Published: November 2013

A novel zinc porphyrin-containing polyimide (ZPCPI) nanofibrous membrane for rapid and reversible detection of trace amounts of pyridine vapor is described. The membrane displays a distinct color change, as well as dramatic variations in absorption and fluorescent emission spectra, upon exposure to pyridine vapor. This condition allows the detection of the analyte at concentrations as low as 0.041 ppm. The vapochromic and spectrophotometric responses of the membrane are attributed to the formation of the ZPCPI-pyridine complex upon axial coordination. From surface plasmon resonance analysis, the affinity constant of ZPCPI-pyridine complex was calculated to be (3.98 ± 0.25) × 104 L·mol−1. The ZPCPI nanofibrous membrane also showed excellent selectivity for pyridine vapor over other common amines, confirming its applicability in the manufacture of pyridine-sensitive gas sensors.
Two Novel Measurements for the Drive-Mode Resonant Frequency of a Micromachined Vibratory Gyroscope
Authors: Wang Ancheng , Hu Xiaoping , Luo Bing , Jiang Mingming , He Xiaofeng , Tang Kanghua
Published: November 2013

To investigate the drive-mode resonance frequency of a micromachined vibratory gyroscope (MVG), one needs to measure it accurately and efficiently. The conventional approach to measure the resonant frequency is by performing a sweep frequency test and spectrum analysis. The method is time-consuming and inconvenient because of the requirements of many test points, a lot of data storage and off-line analyses. In this paper, we propose two novel measurement methods, the search method and track method, respectively. The former is based on the magnitude-frequency characteristics of the drive mode, utilizing a one-dimensional search technique. The latter is based on the phase-frequency characteristics, applying a feedback control loop. Their performances in precision, noise resistivity and efficiency are analyzed through detailed simulations. A test system is implemented based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and experiments are carried out. By comparing with the common approach, feasibility and superiorities of the proposed methods are validated. In particular, significant efficiency improvements are achieved whereby the conventional frequency method consumes nearly 5,000 s to finish a measurement, while only 5 s is needed for the track method and 1 s for the search method.
Impact of Antidepressants on Cytokine Production of Depressed Patients in Vitro
Authors: Munzer Alexander , Sack Ulrich , Mergl Roland , Schönherr Jeremias , Petersein Charlotte , Bartsch Stefanie , Kirkby Kenneth , Bauer Katrin , Himmerich Hubertus
Published: November 2013

The interplay between immune and nervous systems plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of depression. In depressive episodes, patients show increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. There is limited information on the effect of antidepressant drugs on cytokines, most studies report on a limited sample of cytokines and none have reported effects on IL-22. We systematically investigated the effect of three antidepressant drugs, citalopram, escitalopram and mirtazapine, on secretion of cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22 and TNF-α in a whole blood assay in vitro, using murine anti-human CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3, and 5C3 monoclonal antibody against CD40, to stimulate T and B cells respectively. Citalopram increased production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-22. Mirtazapine increased IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-22. Escitalopram decreased IL-17 levels. The influence of antidepressants on IL-2 and IL-4 levels was not significant for all three drugs. Compared to escitalopram, citalopram led to higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22; and mirtazapine to higher levels of IL-1β, IL-17, IL-22 and TNF-α. Mirtazapine and citalopram increased IL-22 production. The differing profile of cytokine production may relate to differences in therapeutic effects, risk of relapse and side effects.
Magnitude Frequency Analysis of Small Floods Using the Annual and Partial Series
Authors: Keast David , Ellison Joanna
Published: November 2013

Flood frequency analysis using partial series data has been shown to provide better estimates of small to medium magnitude flood events than the annual series, but the annual series is more often employed due to its simplicity. Where partial series average recurrence intervals are required, annual series values are often “converted” to partial series values using the Langbein equation, regardless of whether the statistical assumptions behind the equation are fulfilled. This study uses data from Northern Tasmanian stream-gauging stations to make empirical comparisons between annual series and partial flood frequency estimates and values provided by the Langbein equation. At T = 1.1 years annual series estimates were found to be one third the magnitude of partial series estimates, while Langbein adjusted estimates were three quarters the magnitude of partial series estimates. The three methods converged as average recurrence interval increased until there was no significant difference between the different methods at T = 5 years. These results suggest that while the Langbein equation reduces the differences between the quantile estimates of annual maxima derived from annual maxima series and partial duration series flood frequency estimates, it does not provide a suitable alternative method to using partial series data. These results have significance for the practical estimation of the magnitude-frequency of small floods.
Perceptions of Water Ownership, Water Management, and the Responsibility of Providing Clean Water
Authors: Noga Jacqueline , Wolbring Gregor
Published: November 2013

Perceptions of water and water related issues still render many under-researched topics. This study aims to further our knowledge regarding people’s perceptions of water and our understanding about the different ways individuals use water. The authors asked the question: Does the way an individual perceives water (i.e., as a commodity, a human right, private resource, public resource and/or natural resource) influence consumption and conservation of water, and sentiments towards control and allocation of water? An exploratory online questionnaire was designed to generate qualitative and quantitative data of survey participants’ perceptions, beliefs and actions towards water issues, such as overconsumption and scarcity. Data analysis included comparison of the quantitative data regarding the non-statistical association between how an individual perceives water and the individual’s beliefs, as well as qualitative analysis of the comments using an iterative pattern coding technique. One hundred and sixty four individuals participated in the survey (75% completion rate) and over 430 comments were made. Themes that emerged from the comments included: responsibility, scarcity, the value of water, knowledge gained and education needed. Comparison of the different perceptions of water revealed that different perceptions of what water is resulted in different beliefs about what the cost of water should be. These findings have implications for future water use, including what needs to change in order to increase appreciation for water issues.
Tendencias recientes en la extracción de metales
Authors: Regel-Rosocka M. , Alguacil F. J.
Published: November 2013

Después de casi 70 años de uso práctico, la extracción líquido-líquido o extracción con disolventes es una técnica de separación muy evolucionada, utilizándose a escala industrial en el beneficio de metales obtenidos de diversas materias primas. Sin embargo, con el agotamiento de los recursos naturales y el aumento de depósitos minerales de más difícil acceso, restricciones medio ambientales, etc., ha aumentado el interés, tanto desde el punto de vista económico como social, en la recuperación de los metales contenidos en materiales secundarios (baterías, chatarras electrónicas). En muchos casos, la extracción líquido-líquido y debido a sus características operacionales, se considera como la mejor tecnología disponible respecto a la separación de disoluciones metálicas multielementales. Este trabajo considera algunos de estos anteriores estudios y presenta la situación actual de la tecnología en cuanto a investigaciones y desarrollos, describiendo algunas de las más recientes plantas industriales en funcionamiento, detallando la planta Skorpion (Namibia) para la obtención de zinc, así como investigaciones encaminadas a la eliminación de cesio de efluentes radioactivos. También se presentan algunas de las propuestas encaminadas a la separación-recuperación de metales de materiales secundarios (por ejemplo, cobalto). Por último, se describe el uso emergente de los iones líquidos como agentes de extracción de los metales como una forma de introducción a este fascinante campo de aplicación de la tecnología y de estos compuestos. A pesar de sus detractores, la extracción líquido-líquido se posiciona en estos primeros años del siglo XXI como la tecnología líder en la separación de metales.
Path Planning and Visualizing for Maintenance Simulation of Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Yan GuangWei , Li Miao
Published: November 2013

During the refueling period of a nuclear power plant, the plant needs to be checked and maintained carefully. The maintenance procedure is dangerous to the maintenance personnel because of the radiation in the plant. To train maintenance personnel and decrease the radiation dose received by them, we designed a maintenance simulation system of nuclear power plant by means of virtual reality technology. A virtual nuclear power plant scene which includes equipments, pipes, rooms and virtual maintenance people is built. The activities of the virtual maintenance person are simulated through the three-dimensional (3D) animation technology. The radiation fields in the plant are showed through a color plane rendering method. To find the optimal maintenance path that has the smallest cumulative radiation dose in the radiation environment, an improved ant colony algorithm is proposed. The designed system can help to train the maintenance personnel and to increase the safety of the maintenance procedure of the nuclear power plant.
Surficial Geology of Saint-sylvestre map area, Quebec
Authors: Gadd N R
Published: November 2013

The Saint-Sylvestre map-area lies across the boundary between the Eastern Quebec Uplands (northwest half of the area) and the Sutton anticlinorium (southea st half) which forms a steepsided range of hills known as the Notre Dame Mountains. The mountains rise to
2290 feet (695 m) a.s.l. in the area which is 1500 feet (455 m) above the general level of the Eastern Quebec Uplands. The apical segment of the St. Lawrence Lowland at Quebec city a few miles north of the map-area is much lower. Total relief between the Lowland areas around Quebec city and the
Notre Dame Mountains is roughly 2000 feet (600 m). Till of Laurentide provenance. i.e. with lithology showing abundance of erratics from Laurentian Shield areas north of St. Lawrence River is typical of the area. Colour and texture of the till vary with those of underlying intensely folded
thin-bedded Paleozoic rocks. With few exceptions colour texture and lithology trains in the basal till extend southeastward from outcrops showing that glaciers involved in their deposition moved from northwest to southeast crossing the regional bedrock structure at approximately right angles. The
Highland Front morainic system type section lies against the north-facing flank of Notre Dame Mountains. Lithology of the dominant ice-contact stratified drift like that of regional till. shows northern provenance. Lacustrine sediments were ponded in north-sloping valleys on the north flank of Notre
Dame Mountains by ice that built the Highland Front system. The ponded sediments occupy depressions in terrain that has been striated by a late northward movement of ice but that was ice free during deposition of the lacustrine sediment. It is concluded therefore that the northward ice movement
predates formation of the Highland Front moraine and associated ice-marginal lakes.
A short history of ocean acidification science in the 20th century: a chemist's view
Authors: Brewer P. G.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. This review covers the development of ocean acidification science, with an emphasis on the creation of ocean chemical knowledge, through the course of the 20th century. This begins with the creation of the pH scale by Sørensen in 1909 and ends with the widespread knowledge of the impact of the "High CO2 Ocean" by then well underway as the trajectory along the IPCC scenario pathways continues. By mid-century the massive role of the ocean in absorbing fossil fuel CO2 was known to specialists, but not appreciated by the greater scientific community. By the end of the century the trade-offs between the beneficial role of the ocean in absorbing some 90% of all heat created, and the accumulation of some 50% of all fossil fuel CO2 emitted, and the impacts on marine life were becoming more clear. This paper documents the evolution of knowledge throughout this period.