bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of biochars and hydrochars produced from lignocellulosic and animal manure on fertility of a Mollisol and Entisol
Authors: Novak J. M. , Spokas K. A. , Cantrell K. B. , Ro K. S. , Watts D. W. , Glaz B. , Busscher W. J. , Hunt P. G.
Published: April 2014

Biochar and hydrochars (HC) are emerging soil fertility amendments; however, their ability to improve fertility levels in soils possessing vastly different pedogenic characteristics has not been well investigated. In this study, several plant and manure biochars and two blended HC applied at 3.84 g/kg (ca.10 t/ha) were incubated in pots containing a highly fertile‐Mollisol (Waukegan series; Sandy‐skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludoll) and an infertile Entisol (Margate series; Siliceous, hyperthermic, Mollic Psammaquent). During the 124–125 day laboratory incubations, pots were leached four times with deionized H2O with the leachates analysed for the concentrations of dissolved phosphorus (DP) and potassium (DK). After the incubations, both soils were analysed for fertility characteristics (i.e. pH, cation‐exchange capacity (CEC), and extractable P and K). In both soils after biochar additions, there were mixed pH and CEC responses. Both the Mollisol and Entisol treated with swine solid biochar had greater plant extractable P and K contents, which was reflective of the elevated P and K contents in the swine solid biochar. However, most biochars and HC additions to the Mollisol and Entisol had minimal impact on soil fertility characteristics indicating a low direct fertilization potential. These nutrient contents could be altered through feedstock blending to target a particular fertilizer requirement.
Applying STAAR Interventions in Incremental Bundles: Improving Post‐CABG Surgical Patient Care
Authors: Bates Ondrea L. , O'Connor Nancy , Dunn Deborah , Hasenau Susan M.
Published: April 2014

Background

Rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) is a contributing factor to higher‐than‐acceptable overall hospital readmission rates throughout the United States. CABG rehospitalizations are of such concern that they are specifically targeted for action in 2015 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010). The phenomenon of increasing readmission rates has prompted the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to devise the Triple Aim initiative and the STate Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations (STAAR) initiative to reduce 30‐day readmission rates nationally.

Aims

This study explored the impact of implementing STAAR interventions delivered as part of a quality improvement project in incremental bundles on 30‐day readmission rates and the experience of care in CABG patients. Specifically, the use of the teach‐back patient education method and the scheduling of follow‐up cardiology appointments prior to discharge using existing staff were examined.

Methods

A quantitative comparative study was conducted with 189 post‐CABG patients at a tertiary care facility in the United States over a 2‐year period, comparing outcomes between the group of patients prior to implementation of the STAAR interventions and those who later received them. Outcome variables included 30‐day readmission rate and patient perception of experience of care.

Results

The overall 30‐day readmission rate for CABG patients in the postintervention group was decreased to 12.0%, compared to 25.8% in the preintervention group. Of the demographic and health characteristics explored, only chronic lung disease was significantly related to 30‐day readmission rates, and only in the postintervention group.

Linking Evidence to Action

Thirty‐day readmission rates among CABG patients can be reduced and the experience of care can be enhanced through the use of targeted interventions utilizing existing staff and resources. The deliberate incremental implementation of bundled initiatives is an effective strategy in reducing 30‐day readmissions in post‐CABG patients.
Zoonotic Disease Surveillance – Inventory of Systems Integrating Human and Animal Disease Information
Authors: Wendt A. , Kreienbrock L. , Campe A.
Published: April 2014

Although 65% of recent major disease outbreaks throughout the world have a zoonotic origin, there is still a sharp division among the disciplines into the human and animal health sectors. In the last few decades, a global integrative concept, often referred to as ‘One Health’, has been strongly endorsed. Surveillance and monitoring efforts are major components for effective disease prevention and control. As human health and animal health are inextricably linked, it is assumed that a cross‐sectoral data interpretation of zoonotic disease information will improve their prevention, prediction and control. To provide an overview of existing systems throughout the world which integrate information from humans and animals on zoonotic diseases, a literature review was conducted. Twenty projects were identified and described regarding their concepts and realization. They all vary widely depending on their surveillance purpose, their structure and the source of information they use. What they have in common is that they quite often use data which have already been collected for another purpose. Therefore, the challenges of how to make use of such secondary data are of great interest.
Sensitivity Analysis and Numerical Stability Analysis of the Algorithms for Predicting the Performance of Turbines
Authors: Wei Ming , Wang Yonghong , Song Huafen
Published: April 2014

Sensitivity and numerical stability of an algorithm are two of the most important criteria to evaluate its performance. For all published turbine flow models, except Wang method, can be named the “top-down” method (TDM) in which the performance of turbines is calculated from the first stage to the last stage row by row; only Wang method originally proposed by Yonghong Wang can be named the “bottom-up” method (BUM) in which the performance of turbines is calculated from the last stage to the first stage row by row. To find the reason why the stability of the two methods is of great difference, the Wang flow model is researched. The model readily applies to TDM and BUM. How the stability of the two algorithms affected by input error and rounding error is analyzed, the error propagation and distribution in the two methods are obtained. In order to explain the problem more intuitively, the stability of the two methods is described by geometrical ideas. To compare with the known data, the performance of a particular type of turbine is calculated through a series of procedures based on the two algorithms. The results are as follows. The more the calculating point approaches the critical point, the poorer the stability of TDM is. The poor stability can even cause failure in the calculation of TDM. However, BUM has not only good stability but also high accuracy. The result provides an accurate and reliable method (BUM) for estimating the performance of turbines, and it can apply to all one-dimensional performance calculation method for turbine.
Application of Mono Leaf Spring as a Pipe Support
Authors: Ozmaian Javad
Published: April 2014

Leaf springs are one of the oldest forms of springing that is commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. It is simply adjusted by selecting proper type or number of flat bars. In this study, we are going to show how a mono steel leaf spring can be used as a flexible pipe support in a real situation. It is a cheap and reliable method of support; specifically for the huge pipes in remote areas that maintenance could consider as a big headache. To prove this idea, we will model and test the real situation by using FEA software.
Passive Control of Trapped Mode Resonance of Ducted Cavities
Authors: Bolduc M. , Elsayed M. , Ziada S.
Published: April 2014

Gas flow over ducted cavities can excite strong acoustic resonances within the confined volumes housing the cavities. When the wavelength of the resonant acoustic modes is comparable with, or smaller than, the cavity dimensions, these modes are referred to as trapped acoustic modes. The flow excitation mechanism causing the resonance of these trapped modes in axisymmetric shallow cavities has been investigated experimentally in a series of papers by Aly and Ziada (2010, “Flow-Excited Resonance of Trapped Modes of Ducted Shallow Cavities,” J. Fluids Struct., 26, pp. 92–120; 2011, “Azimuthal Behaviour of Flow-Excited Diametral Modes of Internal Shallow Cavities,” J. Sound Vib., 330, pp. 3666–3683; 2012, “Effect of Mean Flow on the Trapped Modes of Internal Cavities,” J. Fluids Struct., 33, pp. 70–84). In this paper, the same experimental set-up is used to investigate the effect of the upstream edge geometry on the acoustic resonance of trapped modes. The investigated geometries include sharp and rounded cavity corners, chamfering the upstream edge, and spoilers of different types and sizes. Rounding-off the cavity edges is found to increase the pulsation amplitude substantially, but the resonance lock-on range is delayed, i.e., it is shifted to higher flow velocities. Similarly, chamfering the upstream corner delays the onset of resonance, but maintains its intensity in comparison with that of sharp edges. Spoilers, or vortex generators, added at the upstream edge have been found to be the most effective means to suppress the resonance. However, the minimum spoiler size which is needed to suppress the resonance increases as the cavity size becomes larger.
Finite Element Simulation of Shielding/Intensification Effects of Primary Inclusion Clusters in High Strength Steels Under Fatigue Loading
Authors: Salajegheh Nima , Prasannavenkatesan R. , McDowell David L. , Olson Gregory B. , Jou Herng-Jeng
Published: April 2014

The change of potency to nucleate cracks in high cycle fatigue (HCF) at a primary nonmetallic inclusion in a martensitic gear steel due to the existence of a neighboring inclusion is computationally investigated using two-and three-dimensional elastoplastic finite element (FE) analyses. Fatigue indicator parameters (FIPs) are computed in the proximity of the inclusion and used to compare crack nucleation potency of various scenarios. The nonlocal average value of the maximum plastic shear strain amplitude is used in computing the FIP. Idealized spherical (cylindrical in 2D) inclusions with homogeneous linear elastic isotropic material properties are considered to be partially debonded, the worst case scenario for HCF crack nucleation as experimentally observed for similar systems (Furuya et al., 2004, “Inclusion-Controlled Fatigue Properties of 1800 Mpa-Class Spring Steels,” Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 35A(12), pp. 3737–3744; Harkegard, 1974, “Experimental Study of the Influence of Inclusions on the Fatigue Properties of Steel,” Eng. Fract. Mech., 6(4), pp. 795–805; Lankford and Kusenberger, 1973, “Initiation of Fatigue Cracks in 4340 Steel,” Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 4(2), pp. 553–559; Laz and Hillberry, 1998, “Fatigue Life Prediction From Inclusion Initiated Cracks,” Int. J. Fatigue, 20(4), pp. 263–270). Inclusion-matrix interfaces are simulated using a frictionless contact penalty algorithm. The fully martensitic steel matrix is modeled as elastic-plastic with pure nonlinear kinematic hardening expressed in a hardening minus dynamic recovery format. FE simulations suggest significant intensification of plastic shear deformation and hence higher FIPs when the inclusion pair is aligned perpendicular to the uniaxial stress direction. Relative to the reference case with no neighboring inclusion, FIPs decrease considerably when the inclusion pair aligns with the applied loading direction. These findings shed light on the anisotropic HCF response of alloys with primary inclusions arranged in clusters by virtue of the fracture of a larger inclusion during deformation processing. Materials design methodologies may also benefit from such cost-efficient parametric studies that explore the relative influence of microstructure attributes on the HCF properties and suggest strategies for improving HCF resistance of alloys.
Effects of Superhydrophobic and Superhydrophilic Surfaces on Heat Transfer and Oscillating Motion of an Oscillating Heat Pipe
Authors: Hao Tingting , Ma Xuehu , Lan Zhong , Li Nan , Zhao Yuzhe
Published: April 2014

The effects of superhydrophobic surface and superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic hybrid surface on the fluid flow and heat transfer of oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) were investigated in the paper. The inner surfaces of the OHPs were hydrophilic surface (copper), hybrid surface (superhydrophilic evaporation and superhydrophobic condensation section), and uniform superhydrophobic surface, respectively. Deionized water was used as the working fluid. Experimental results showed that superhydrophobic surface influenced the slug motion and thermal performance of OHPs. Visualization results showed that the liquid-vapor interface was concave in the OHP with copper surface. A thin liquid film existed between the vapor plug and the wall of the OHP. On the contrary, the liquid-vapor interface took a convex profile in the OHP with superhydrophobic surface and the liquid-vapor interface contact line length in the hybrid surface OHP was longer than that in the uniform superhydrophobic surface OHP. The liquid slug movements became stronger in the hybrid surface OHPs as opposed to the copper OHP, while the global heat transfer performance of the hybrid surface OHPs increased by 5–20%. Comparing with the copper OHPs, the maximum amplitude and velocity of the liquid slug movements in the hybrid surface OHPs increased by 0–127% and 0–185%, respectively. However, the maximum amplitude and velocity of the liquid slug movements in the uniform superhydrophobic OHPs was reduced by 0–100% and 0–100%, respectively. The partial dryout phenomenon took place in OHPs with uniform superhydrophobic surface. The liquid slug movements became weaker and the thermal resistance was increased by 10–35% in the superhydrophobic surface OHPs.
The Comparisons of Electrical Performance and Impedance Spectrum for Two Commercial Cells
Authors: Cheng Yung-Neng , Cheng Shih-Wei , Lee Ruey-Yi
Published: April 2014

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which is a kind of fuel cell (FC) converting chemical energy into electricity directly without mechanical parts, has potential for the clean and efficient power generation from a wide variety of fuels ranging from hydrocarbons to renewables and coal-derived fuels. The Institute of Nuclear Energy Research has been committed to developing the SOFC technology since 2003 and the cell test is one of the working items in the project. Cells are the most important components in an SOFC stack, which are responsible for the electrical output functioning, as the heart in the human body, to the stack. Before stacking, it is essential to examine and evaluate the electrical performance of the cells that could be used in our stacks. There are two commercial cells tested in this paper. For both cell A, an anode supported cell, and cell B, an electrolyte supported cell, the cells with a lower open circuit voltage at a higher operating temperature are contributed by the Nernst equation. The I-V curve for a lower operating temperature with a steeper slope at the low current zone is credited to the increase of activation polarization from the triple phase boundary. Comparison between cell A and cell B, the electrical performance of cell A is better than that of cell B due to cell A possessing a lower total resistance at the same operating temperature.
Advances in the Fabrication Processes and Applications of Wafer Level Packaging
Authors: Liu Peisheng , Wang Jinlan , Tong Liangyu , Tao Yujuan
Published: April 2014

Fast development of wafer level packaging (WLP) in recent years is mainly owing to the advances in integrated circuit fabrication process and the market demands for devices with high electrical performance, small form factor, low cost etc. This paper reviews the advances of WLP technology in recent years. An overall introduction to WLP is presented in the first part. The fabrication processes of WLP and redistribution technology are introduced in the second part. Reliability problems of WLPs, such as the strength of solder joints and reliability problems concerning fan-out WLPs are introduced in the third part. Typical applications of WLP technologies are discussed in the last part, which include the application of fan-out WLP, 3D packaging integrating with WLP technologies and its application in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
Experimental Study of Reasonable Drawdown Pressure of Horizontal Wells in Oil Reservoir With Bottom Water
Authors: Lu Chuan , Liu Huiqing , Zheng Qiang , Meng Qingbang
Published: April 2014

For the development of oil reservoir with bottom water, it is significant to analyze the impact of drawdown pressures on post water breakthrough performance of horizontal wells. Based on a small-scale and discretized physical simulation system, the impact of different drawdown pressures and the influence of changing drawdown pressures in different water cut stage have been discussed. The results show that for thin oil with relatively high viscosity (87.8 mPa.s), keeping a relatively large drawdown pressure in medium and low water cut stage is reasonable. But enlarging drawdown pressure in high water cut stage is harmful to increase ultimate oil recovery. For oil with further lower viscosity (21.4 mPa.s), adopting a small drawdown pressure and increasing it in medium and high water cut stage is reasonable. For the heavy oil (124.1 mPa.s), it is acceptable to enlarge drawdown pressure under the condition of low water cut period.
Laminar Flame Characteristics of Partially Premixed Prevaporized Palm Methyl Ester and Diesel Flames
Authors: Romero D. , Parthasarathy R. N. , Gollahalli S. R.
Published: April 2014

Palm methyl ester (PME) is a renewable biofuel that is produced by the transesterification of palm oil and is a popular alternative fuel used in the transportation sector, particularly in Asia. The objective of this investigation was to study the combustion characteristics of flames of prevaporized number 2 diesel and PME in a laminar flame environment at initial equivalence ratios of 2, 3, and 7 and to isolate the factors attributable to chemical structure of the fuel. The equivalence ratio was changed by altering the fuel flow rate, while maintaining the air flow rate constant. The global CO emission index of the PME flames was significantly lower than that of the diesel flames; however, the global NO emission index was comparable. The radiative fraction of heat release and the soot volume fraction were lower for the PME flames compared to those in the diesel flames. The peak temperatures were comparable in both flames at an equivalence ratio of 2, but at higher equivalence ratios, the peak temperatures in the PME flames were higher. The measurements highlight the differences in the combustion properties of biofuels and petroleum fuels and the coupling effects of equivalence ratio.
Computer Numerical Control Grinding Wheel Pose for Thinned/Notched Drill Points With Specifiable Secondary Cutting Edge and Characteristic Angles
Authors: Dain Lin Psang
Published: April 2014

Researchers commonly develop notched drill points with secondary cutting edges that have unusual specifications; however, mathematical models cannot comprehensively specify these thinned/notched drill points. In an earlier work (Lin, P. D., and Tzeng, C. S., 2007, “New Method for Determination of the Pose of the Grinding Wheel for Thinning Drill Points,” Int. J. Mach. Tools Manuf., 47(15), pp. 2218–2229), precise mathematical modeling for drill design and one-wheel grinding of ISO-standard drills with linear secondary cutting edges was presented. That model is expanded herein to drill points with a specifiable secondary cutting edge and characteristic angle distribution. Optionally, the entire cutting edge (primary, secondary, and chisel edges) can be provided with C1 continuity to eliminate stress concentration points. The mathematical background and modeling are summarized in this study. Experimental drills are produced and tested for verification and demonstration. The presented modeling technique allows subsequent researchers to exactly duplicate the drills, including the thinning/notching drill points, a capability that was previously unavailable. This system is useful for improved drill CAD and CNC software for the design, manufacture, reconditioning, and research of novel point design.
Envelope Surface Modeling and Tool Path Optimization for Five-Axis Flank Milling Considering Cutter Runout
Authors: Li Zhou-Long , Zhu Li-Min
Published: April 2014

Cutter runout is a common and inevitable phenomenon impacting the geometry accuracy in the milling process. However, most of the works on tool path planning neglect the cutter runout effect. In this paper, a new approach is presented to integrate the cutter runout effect into envelope surface modeling and tool path optimization for five-axis flank milling with a conical cutter. Based on the geometry model of cutter runout which consists of cutter axis and cutter tilt, an analytic expression of cutter edge combined with four runout parameters is derived. Then the envelope surface formed by each cutter edge is constructed using the envelope theory of sphere congruence. Due to the cutter runout effect, the envelope surfaces formed by the cutter edges are different from each other, and the valid envelope surface is the combination of these envelope surfaces which contribute to the final machined surface. To measure the machining errors, the geometry deviations between the valid envelope surface and the design surface are calculated with the distance function. On the basis of the differential property of the distance function, tool path optimization considering cutter runout is modeled as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, which can be solved by the branch-and-bound method. Finally, numerical examples are given to confirm the validity and efficiency of the proposed approach. The results show that the geometry errors induced by runout can be reduced significantly using the proposed method.
Irrelevant Location Information Influences Accuracy in Bowling
Authors: Braem Senne , Supply Stephanie , Roels Sanne P. , Notebaert Wim
Published: April 2014

Most cognitive control effects, although numerously reported in computer task studies, have rarely been tested outside the laboratory. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, we aimed to improve the ecological validity of a well-studied congruency effect. The Simon effect (Simon, 1969) is the observation that an irrelevant stimulus location can facilitate or impede task performance when it is congruent or incongruent with the response location. Secondly, we wanted to investigate the role of action experience on the Simon effect. In this study, experienced bowlers were asked to hit either the left- or rightmost pin, depending on the pitch of a tone. Irrelevant to the task, this tone could be presented in the congruent or incongruent ear. Our results demonstrate that the Simon effect can be observed outside the laboratory and that weekly training at bowling may help in shielding against irrelevant location stimuli.
Triceps Surae Stretch Reflex Modulation After a Mechanically Evoked Ankle Dorsiflexion During the Swing Phase of Human Running
Authors: Scohier Mikael , De Jaeger Dominique , Schepens Benedicte
Published: April 2014

The purpose of this study was to mechanically evoke a triceps surae stretch reflex during the swing phase of running, to study its within-the-step phase dependency. Seven participants ran on a treadmill at 2.8 m·s−1 wearing an exoskeleton capable of evoking a sudden ankle dorsiflexion. We measured the electromyographic activity of the soleus, medial and lateral gastrocnemii just after the perturbation to evaluate the triceps surae stretch reflex. Similar perturbations were also delivered at rest. Our results showed that the stretch reflex was suppressed during the swing phase of running, except in late swing where a late reflex response was observed. At rest, all triceps surae muscles showed an early reflex response to stretch. Our findings suggest that the triceps surae short/medium-latency stretch reflex cannot be evoked during swing phase and thus cannot contribute to the control of the locomotor pattern after aperturbation during this phase.
Acute Experimentally Induced Neck Pain Does Not Affect Fatigability of the Peripheral Biceps Brachii Muscle
Authors: Hung Laurie Y. , Maracle Emmalee , Srbely John Z. , Brown Stephen H.M.
Published: April 2014

Evidence has shown that upper limb muscles peripheral to the cervical spine, such as the biceps brachii, can demonstrate functional deficits in the presence of chronic neck pain. However, few studies have examined how neck pain can affect the fatigability of upper limb muscles; therefore we were motivated to investigate the effects of acutely induced neuropathic neck pain on the fatigability of the biceps brachii muscle during isometric contraction to exhaustion. Topical capsaicin was used to induce neck pain in 11 healthy male participants. Surface EMG signals were recorded from the biceps brachii during an isometric elbow flexion fatigue task in which participants held a weight equivalent to 30% of their MVC until exhaustion. Two experimental sessions, one placebo and one capsaicin, were conducted separated by two days. EMG mean power frequency and average normalized activation values were calculated over the course of the fatigue task. In the presence of pain, there was no statistically significant effect on EMG parameters during fatigue of the biceps brachii. These results demonstrate that acutely induced neuropathic neck pain does not affect the fatigability, under the tested conditions, of the biceps brachii.
How Can I Recover if You Won’t Let Me Sleep?
Authors: Stecker Eric C.
Published: April 2014

In a mouse model of myocardial infarction, a 5-day period of diurnal disruption led to impaired cardiac healing after myocardial infarction.
Biosynthesis of the Unique Wall Teichoic Acid of Staphylococcus aureus Lineage ST395
Authors: Winstel Volker , Sanchez-Carballo Patricia , Holst Otto , Xia Guoqing , Peschel Andreas
Published: April 2014

The major clonal lineages of the human pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
produce cell wall-anchored anionic poly-ribitol-phosphate (RboP) wall teichoic acids (WTA) substituted with
d
-Alanine and
N
-acetyl-
d
-glucosamine. The phylogenetically isolated
S. aureus
ST395 lineage has recently been found to produce a unique poly-glycerol-phosphate (GroP) WTA glycosylated with
N
-acetyl-
d
-galactosamine (GalNAc). ST395 clones bear putative WTA biosynthesis genes on a novel genetic element probably acquired from coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). We elucidated the ST395 WTA biosynthesis pathway and identified three novel WTA biosynthetic genes, including those encoding an α-
O
-GalNAc transferase TagN, a nucleotide sugar epimerase TagV probably required for generation of the activated sugar donor substrate for TagN, and an unusually short GroP WTA polymerase TagF. By using a panel of mutants derived from ST395, the GalNAc residues carried by GroP WTA were found to be required for infection by the ST395-specific bacteriophage Φ187 and to play a crucial role in horizontal gene transfer of
S. aureus
pathogenicity islands (SaPIs). Notably, ectopic expression of ST395 WTA biosynthesis genes rendered normal
S. aureus
susceptible to Φ187 and enabled Φ187-mediated SaPI transfer from ST395 to regular
S. aureus
. We provide evidence that exchange of WTA genes and their combination in variable, mosaic-like gene clusters have shaped the evolution of staphylococci and their capacities to undergo horizontal gene transfer events.

IMPORTANCE
The structural highly diverse wall teichoic acids (WTA) are cell wall-anchored glycopolymers produced by most Gram-positive bacteria. While most of the dominant
Staphylococcus aureus
lineages produce poly-ribitol-phosphate WTA, the recently described ST395 lineage produces a distinct poly-glycerol-phosphate WTA type resembling the WTA backbone of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Here, we analyzed the ST395 WTA biosynthesis pathway and found new types of WTA biosynthesis genes along with an evolutionary link between ST395 and CoNS, from which the ST395 WTA genes probably originate. The elucidation of ST395 WTA biosynthesis will help to understand how Gram-positive bacteria produce highly variable WTA types and elucidate functional consequences of WTA variation.
Mycobacterial RNA Polymerase Requires a U-Tract at Intrinsic Terminators and Is Aided by NusG at Suboptimal Terminators
Authors: Czyz Agata , Mooney Rachel A. , Iaconi Ala , Landick Robert
Published: April 2014

Intrinsic terminators, which encode GC-rich RNA hairpins followed immediately by a 7-to-9-nucleotide (nt) U-rich “U-tract,” play principal roles of punctuating and regulating transcription in most bacteria. However, canonical intrinsic terminators with strong U-tracts are underrepresented in some bacterial lineages, notably mycobacteria, leading to proposals that their RNA polymerases stop at noncanonical intrinsic terminators encoding various RNA structures lacking U-tracts. We generated recombinant forms of mycobacterial RNA polymerase and its major elongation factors NusA and NusG to characterize mycobacterial intrinsic termination. Using
in vitro
transcription assays devoid of possible mycobacterial contaminants, we established that mycobacterial RNA polymerase terminates more efficiently than
Escherichia coli
RNA polymerase at canonical terminators with imperfect U-tracts but does not terminate at putative terminators lacking U-tracts even in the presence of mycobacterial NusA and NusG. However, mycobacterial NusG exhibits a novel termination-stimulating activity that may allow intrinsic terminators with suboptimal U-tracts to function efficiently.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria rely on transcription termination to define and regulate units of gene expression. In most bacteria, precise termination and much regulation by attenuation are accomplished by intrinsic terminators that encode GC-rich hairpins and U-tracts necessary to disrupt stable transcription elongation complexes. Thus, the apparent dearth of canonical intrinsic terminators with recognizable U-tracts in mycobacteria is of significant interest both because noncanonical intrinsic terminators could reveal novel routes to destabilize transcription complexes and because accurate understanding of termination is crucial for strategies to combat mycobacterial diseases and for computational bioinformatics generally. Our finding that mycobacterial RNA polymerase requires U-tracts for intrinsic termination, which can be aided by NusG, will guide future study of mycobacterial transcription and aid improvement of predictive algorithms to annotate bacterial genome sequences.
Massive loculated pleural effusion in a patient with pancreatic pseudocyst due to alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Lam Stephen , Banim Paul
Published: April 2014

A 47-year-old man with a history of alcohol-related pancreatitis was admitted with dyspnoea due to a moderate right-sided pleural effusion. Diagnostic pleural tap showed an amylase of 6078 U/L. CT demonstrated a pancreatic pseudocyst with communication to the pleural cavity. Conservative medical management and chest drainage were started, but after 13 days the patient became acutely unwell with severe dyspnoea and worsening chest pain. Chest X-ray and subsequent CT demonstrated a massive pleural effusion with mediastinal shift. Ultrasound scan demonstrated loculation of the effusion requiring insertion of a large bore chest drain to relieve symptoms. He was transferred to a pancreaticobiliary centre, but subsequently made a good recovery without the need for a further procedure. This case highlights massive pleural effusion with subsequent loculation as a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis.
Certification for vision impairment: researching perceptions, processes and practicalities in health and social care professionals and patients
Authors: Boyce T , Leamon Shaun , Slade J , Simkiss P , Rughani S , Ghanchi Faruque
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To explore the patient experience, and the role of ophthalmologists and other health and social care professionals in the certification and registration processes and examine the main barriers to the timely certification of patients.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

Telephone interviews with health and social care professionals and patients in three areas in England.

Participants

43 health and social care professionals who are part of the certification or registration process. 46 patients certified as severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted) within the previous 12 months.

Results

Certification and registration are life changing for patients and the help they receive can substantially improve their lives. Despite this, ophthalmologists often found it difficult to ascertain when it is appropriate to certify patients, particularly for people with long-term conditions. Ophthalmologists varied in their comprehension of the certification process and many regarded certification as the ‘final stage’ in treatment. Administrative procedures meant the process of certification and registration could vary from a few weeks to many months. The avoidable delays in completing certification can be helped by Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLO).

Conclusions

A better understanding of the certification and registration processes can help improve standards of support and service provision for people who are severely sighted impaired or sight impaired. Better education and support are required for ophthalmologists in recognising the importance of timely referral for rehabilitative support through certification and registration. ECLOs can improve the process of certification and registration. Finally, better education is needed for patients on the benefits of certification and registration.
The role of gendered constructions of eating disorders in delayed help-seeking in men: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Räisänen Ulla , Hunt Kate
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To understand how young men recognise eating disorder (ED) symptoms and decide to seek help, and to examine their experiences of initial contacts with primary care.

Design

A qualitative interview study.

Setting

Men from across the UK were interviewed as part of a study of 39 young men's and women's experiences of having an ED.

Participants

10 men aged 16–25 years with various EDs including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Results

The widespread perception of EDs as uniquely or predominantly a female problem led to an initial failure by young men to recognise their behaviours as symptoms of an ED. Many presented late in their illness trajectory when ED behaviours and symptoms were entrenched, and some felt that opportunities to recognise their illness had been missed because of others’ lack of awareness of EDs in men. In addition, the men discussed the lack of gender-appropriate information and resources for men with EDs as an additional impediment to making sense of their experiences, and some felt that health and other professionals had been slow to recognise their symptoms because they were men.

Conclusions

Although increasingly common in young men, widespread cultural constructions of EDs as a ‘women's illness’ mean that men may fail to recognise ED symptoms until disordered behaviours become entrenched and less tractable to intervention. Men also report that such perceptions can affect the reactions of their families and friends, as well as health and educational professionals. Primary care professionals are well placed to challenge inappropriate perceptions of EDs.
Spatial analysis on human brucellosis incidence in mainland China: 2004–2010
Authors: Zhang Junhui , Yin Fei , Zhang Tao , Yang Chao , Zhang Xingyu , Feng Zijian , Li Xiaosong
Published: April 2014

Objectives

China has experienced a sharply increasing rate of human brucellosis in recent years. Effective spatial monitoring of human brucellosis incidence is very important for successful implementation of control and prevention programmes. The purpose of this paper is to apply exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods and the empirical Bayes (EB) smoothing technique to monitor county-level incidence rates for human brucellosis in mainland China from 2004 to 2010 by examining spatial patterns.

Methods

ESDA methods were used to characterise spatial patterns of EB smoothed incidence rates for human brucellosis based on county-level data obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP) in mainland China from 2004 to 2010.

Results

EB smoothed incidence rates for human brucellosis were spatially dependent during 2004–2010. The local Moran test identified significantly high-risk clusters of human brucellosis (all p values <0.01), which persisted during the 7-year study period. High-risk counties were centred in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and other Northern provinces (ie, Hebei, Shanxi, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces) around the border with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region where animal husbandry was highly developed. The number of high-risk counties increased from 25 in 2004 to 54 in 2010.

Conclusions

ESDA methods and the EB smoothing technique can assist public health officials in identifying high-risk areas. Allocating more resources to high-risk areas is an effective way to reduce human brucellosis incidence.
Radiation dose analysis of large and giant internal carotid artery aneurysm treatment with the pipeline embolization device versus traditional coiling techniques
Authors: Colby Geoffrey P , Lin Li-Mei , Nundkumar Neelesh , Jiang Bowen , Huang Judy , Tamargo Rafael J , Coon Alexander L
Published: April 2014

Background

Flow diversion is an effective and increasingly accepted method for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Additionally, the public has heightened concerns regarding radiation exposure from medical procedures. This study analyzes radiation dose and fluoroscopy time during treatment of large and giant proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms with the pipeline embolization device (PED) versus traditional coiling techniques.

Methods

Radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, and contrast dye administration were retrospectively analyzed in 55 patients undergoing endovascular treatment of aneurysms ≥10 mm from petrous to superior hypophyseal ICA segments. Patients were treated by either PED (37 patients) or traditional coiling techniques (18 patients). Aortic arch type and proximal ICA tortuosity were also assessed as markers of access difficulty.

Results

Average radiation dose with PED treatment was 2840±213 mGy and 4010±708 mGy with traditional coiling techniques (p=0.048; 29% decrease with PED). Mean fluoroscopy time for PED was 56.1±5.0 min and 85.9±11.9 min for coiling cases (p=0.0087; 35% decrease with PED). These benefits existed despite more difficult arch anatomy and a trend towards greater proximal vessel tortuosity in PED cases. Contrast dye amounts were also reduced by 37.5% in PED cases (75±6 mL) versus coiling cases (120±13 mL, p=0.0008).

Conclusions

Treatment of large and giant proximal ICA aneurysms using PED requires less radiation, less fluoroscopy time, and less contrast administration than standard coiling techniques. This further demonstrates the benefits of flow diversion for treatment of these aneurysms.
Necrotic enteritis in chickens: development of a straightforward disease model system
Authors: Alnassan A. A. , Kotsch M. , Shehata A. A. , Krüger M. , Daugschies A. , Bangoura B.
Published: April 2014

The interaction between Eimeria species and Clostridium perfringens was investigated in two different necrotic enteritis (NE) models: 120‐day‐old broilers were used in two separate experiments consisting of six groups (n=10) each. Besides controls, chickens were infected with coccidia on study day (SD) 18 (Eimeria maxima and Eimeria acervulina (experiment 1) or Eimeria tenella and Eimeria brunetti (experiment 2) and/or a NetB toxin positive C perfringens strain (both experiments: SD 14 or SD 22, respectively)). Body weight, feed intake, mortality rate, clinical disease, Eimeria species oocyst excretion and C perfringens counts were recorded. NE and coccidiosis specific lesion scores were assessed (SD 24 and SD 30). In coinfected groups, NE‐typical clinical signs occurred. Coccidiosis‐specific lesions were most severe in coinfected groups (significant for E tenella, P<0.05). Most pronounced NE lesions occurred in coinfected chickens compared with C perfringens monoinfected groups (experiment 2, C perfringens infections on SD 22: P<0.05). In experiment 2, E tenella antibody levels were (non‐significantly) higher in coinfected groups than in Eimeria species monoinfected groups. Thus, infection with E tenella and Eimeria brunetti followed by C perfringens inoculation is regarded as an easy to handle and suitable model for investigations into NE of chickens.
Brainstem auditory‐evoked response (BAER) in client‐owned pet ferrets with normal hearing
Authors: Piazza S. , Huynh M. , Cauzinille L.
Published: April 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of brainstem auditory‐evoked response (BAER) testing in pet ferrets in a clinical setting, and to describe a routine method and baseline data for normal hearing ferrets for future investigation of deafness in this species. Twenty‐eight clinically normal client‐owned ferrets were included. BAER measurements were recorded under general anaesthesia (isoflurane delivered by mask), from subcutaneously placed needle electrodes. A ‘click’ stimulus applied by insert earphone with an intensity of 90 dB sound pressure level (SPL) was used. The final BAER waveform represents an average of 500 successive responses. Morphology of the waveform was studied; amplitude and latency measures were determined and means were calculated. The BAER waveform of the normal ferret included 4 reproducible waves named I, II, III and V, as previously described in dogs and cats. Measurements of latencies are consistent with previous laboratory research using experimental ferrets. In the present study, a reliable routine protocol for clinical evaluation of the hearing function in the pet ferret was established. This procedure can be easily and safely performed in a clinical setting in ferrets as young as eight weeks of age. The prevalence of congenital deafness in ferrets is currently unknown but may be an important consideration, especially in ferrets with a white coat. BAER test is a useful screening for congenital deafness in this species.
Probing surface−complex interactions with the bis(4-thienylterpyridine)iron(II) complex anchored on TiO2 and gold nanoparticles
Authors: Assumpção Aline M.C. , Bonacin Juliano A. , Toma Sergio H. , Zamarion Vitor M. , Toma Henrique E.
Published: April 2014

The bis(4-thienylterpyridine)iron(II) complex was employed, in comparison with the 4-phenylterpyridine analogue, as a molecular probe for monitoring the surface plasmon interactions with gold nanoparticles. The two complexes exhibited distinct SERS responses, confirming the binding of the thienyl group to the gold nanoparticles. Their inclusion into β-cyclodextrin anchored on TiO2 surfaces provided a useful system for applications in UV dosimetry, based on the gradual bleaching of the violet-blue color under sunlight and air.
Concerning the relevant domain of the Faustmann model
Authors: Coordes Renke
Published: April 2014

This paper addresses the constraints that are often laid upon the tree value or timber volume function of analyses employing the Faustmann model. Frequently employed assumptions unnecessarily restrict the relevant domain in which maximal land expectation values can possibly occur such that boundary solutions may arise. The overly restrictive constraints might be set when growth functions are inadvertently treated as production functions.
Effects of open-range cattle grazing on deciduous tree regeneration, damage, and mortality following patch logging
Authors: Kaufmann Jillian , Bork Edward W. , Alexander Michael J. , Blenis Peter V.
Published: April 2014

The impact of summer cattle grazing on deciduous tree regeneration within uncut forests, clearcuts, partially harvested areas, and in-block haul road habitats was examined in four experimental pastures of central Alberta during 2008 and 2009. Sampling of 233 field plots, both inside and outside cattle exclosures, was used to document sapling densities, height, and type of damage. Tree densities (primarily aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)) differed among habitats but less so with exposure to cattle. Densities were greatest in clearcuts, followed by partially harvested areas and then uncut forest and haul roads. While exposure to cattle reduced total tree regeneration, sapling densities and sizes remained sufficient to meet postharvest standards for deciduous forest regeneration in Alberta, even with exposure to cattle. Cattle damage in harvested areas was primarily from browsing (≤3.2% of saplings), with proportionally more trees affected in uncut forests (8.6%). Browsing was particularly high on balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) (25%) during 2008. Although sapling damage increased with high cattle stocking in 2008 (to 10.5%), total mortality was limited to 15.5% through 2009. These findings show that despite cattle impacts to some saplings, damage levels were insufficient to alter deciduous regeneration, highlighting the compatibility of cattle grazing and sustainable forest management on public lands in this region.
AUTOMATED EXTRACTION OF PHOTOREALISTIC FACADE TEXTURES FROM SINGLE GROUND-LEVEL BUILDING IMAGES
Authors: SÜMER EMRE , TURKER MUSTAFA
Published: April 2014

An integrated approach is presented for the automatic extraction of photorealistic facade textures from single street-level building images. The initial facade texture is extracted using Watershed segmentation. The seed pixels (markers) to trigger the segmentation are located automatically both for the foreground (facade) and the background regions, and the segmentation is carried out repetitively until the facade texture is extracted. The extracted facade image is geometrically rectified using a developed automatic technique based on Hough transformation and interest point detection. The occluded areas on facade textures are restored by employing an image matching-based procedure. The approach was tested on two different datasets captured from the residential areas of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The datasets contain a total of 40 building facade images that were taken from the street-level. The results indicate that the facade textures are extracted adequately. For facade image extraction, an average quantitative accuracy of 83% was achieved. For rectification, 24 out of 40 buildings provided the positional error under 10 pixels at 95% confidence level. The subjective assessment of facade restoration yielded the mean rating value of 2.46 for the datasets used, in which the rating values are ranked between 1 for "Excellent" and 6 for "Unusable".
Nonassociative algebras and groups with property (T)
Authors: Zhang Zezhou
Published: April 2014

We extend the results of Ershov, Jaikin-Zaiprin, and Kassabov on property (T) to certain groups "coordinatized" by nonassociative algebras, thereby giving new examples of groups with property (T).
ℤ2-Graded Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of the Grassmann algebra
Authors: Centrone Lucio
Published: April 2014

We consider the infinite dimensional Grassmann algebra E over a field F of characteristic 0 or p, where p > 2, and we compute its ℤ2-graded Gelfand–Kirillov (GK) dimension as a ℤ2-graded PI-algebra.