bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applicability of Tool Condition Monitoring Methods Used for Conventional Milling in Micromilling: A Comparative Review
Authors: Mandal Soumen
Published: April 2014

Micromilling is a contact based material removal process in which a rotating tool with nose radius in microns is fed over a stationary workpiece. In the process small amount of material gets chipped off from the workpiece. Due to continuous contact between tool and workpiece significant damage occurs to the cutting tools. Mitigating tool damage to make micromilling systems more reliable for batch production is the current research trend. In macroscale or conventional milling process a number of methods have been proposed for tool condition monitoring. Few of them have been applied for micromilling. This paper reviews different methods proposed and used in last two decades for monitoring the condition of micromilling tools. Applicability of tool condition monitoring methods used in conventional milling has been compared with the similar ones proposed for micromilling. Further, the challenges and opportunities on the applicability issues have been discussed.
Physical, Mineralogical, and Micromorphological Properities of Expansive Soil Treated at Different Temperature
Authors: Li Jian , Wu Xiyong , Hou Long
Published: April 2014

Different characterizations were carried out on unheated expansive soil and samples heated at different temperature. The samples are taken from the western outskirts of Nanning of Guangxi Province, China. In the present paper, the mineral and chemical composition and several essential physical parameters of unheated expansive soil are indicated by XRD and EDX analysis. Moreover, the structural transition and change of mechanical properties of samples heated in the range of room temperature to 140°C are proved by TG‐DTA and SEM observation. The mean particle diameter, density, hydraulic behaviors, and bond strength also have been investigated. The results indicate that, along with the loss of free water, physical absorbed water, and chemically bound water, the microstructure experiences some obvious change. In addition, the particle size and density both will increase rapidly before 100°C and undertake a slow growth or decline when higher than 100°C. The hydraulic behaviors and strength performance of unheated samples and the one heated at 100°C are given out as well. All these researches play fundamental role in the pollution prevention, modification, and engineering application of expansive soil.
Rice Breeding for High Grain Yield under Drought: A Strategic Solution to a Complex Problem
Authors: Dixit Shalabh , Singh Anshuman , Kumar Arvind
Published: April 2014

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect rice production in rainfed areas. Recent trends in climate change have predicted a further increase in drought intensity, making the development of new drought-tolerant rice cultivars critical to sustain rice production in this ecosystem. The use of grain yield as a selection criterion at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), through proper population development and precise phenotyping techniques, has allowed the development of several high-yielding rice cultivars that have been released in major rainfed rice-growing areas. This strategy has also allowed the identification of several major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that show large effects under drought across environments and genetic backgrounds. These QTLs are being pyramided together to develop drought-tolerant versions of popular drought-susceptible varieties. The near-isogenic lines (NILs) developed can replace the popular, high-yielding but drought-susceptible varieties in rainfed areas prone to drought. Additionally, these NILs serve as suitable genetic material for the study of molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying these QTLs. This may provide a better understanding of plant functions responsible for high grain yield under drought and lead to the identification of new traits and genes.
Childhood Adversities are Associated with Diabetes Management in Working Age in Finland
Authors: Pisto Lauri , Vadén Atte , Sillanmäki Lauri , Mattila Kari
Published: April 2014

Backgrounds. Research findings suggest that the mind can cause physical disease. To plan the best quality of care, general practitioner needs to understand an individual's health problems in physical, social, and psychological dimensions. This study sought to establish whether adverse life events occurring in childhood and adolescence are associated with diabetes.Methods. The cohort was collected from the health and social support (HeSSup) study—a postal follow-up survey of randomized working-aged Finns initiated in 1998. The response rate was 40.0% and the final cohort size 24057. Data on reimbursed diabetes medication during the years 1998–2006 were obtained from the Social Insurance Institute of Finland registers. Subjects were divided into insulin, tablet, combination therapy, and drug-naive groups together with a control group without diabetes. The prevalence of childhood adversities was assessed based on answers to six survey questions.Results. Childhood adversities showed predominant linkage to diabetes type 2 groups, especially to the combination therapy group requiring combined insulin and tablet treatment. No connection was found between childhood adversities and insulin use. Cumulative adversities did not markedly increase the association.Conclusions. Stressful events in childhood are associated with diabetes combination therapy in working age. The meaning of the relationship remains unsolved.
A High Molar Extinction Coefficient Ru(II) Complex Functionalized withcis-Dithiocyanato-bis-(9-anthracenyl-10-(2-methyl-2-butenoic acid)-1,10-phenanthroline): Potential Sensitizer for Stable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Adeloye Adewale O. , Ajibade Peter A.
Published: April 2014

New heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex was formulated as [Ru(L1)2(NCS)2], where L1= 9-anthracenyl-10-(2-methyl-2-butenoic acid)-1,10-phenanthroline was synthesized and its photophysical properties were studied and compared to previously reported analogue complex containing no anthracene moiety [Ru(L2)2(NCS)2], L2= (2-methyl-2-butenoic acid)-1,10-phenanthroline. The two complexes though exhibit very strong molar extinction coefficient values; however, [Ru(L1)2(NCS)2] shows better characteristic broad and intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption band and higher molar absorptivity coefficient at (λmax=522 nm,ε=6.60×104 M−1 cm−1) than that of [Ru(L2)2(NCS)2] complex, (λmax=446 nm,ε=4.82×104 M−1 cm−1). At room temperature, long wavelength emissions with strong intensity ratio centered at 660 nm were recorded for [Ru(L1)2(NCS)2] complex with a bathochromic shift (λem=700 nm) for [Ru(L2)2(NCS)2] complex. It was shown that the luminescence wavelength characteristic of the complexes may be a function relating to the increasing length ofπ-conjugation and/or molecular weight. A preliminary cyclic voltammetry of [Ru(L1)2(NCS)2] complex also exhibits good electroredox activity with oxidation potential of about 1.04 V, significantly better than other Ru(II) polypyridine complexes containing bidentate ligands.
S-Approximation: A New Approach to Algebraic Approximation
Authors: Hooshmandasl M. R. , Shakiba A. , Goharshady A. K. , Karimi A.
Published: April 2014

We intend to study a new class of algebraic approximations, called S-approximations, and their properties. We have shown that S-approximations can be used for applied problems which cannot be modeled by inclusion based approximations. Also, in this work, we studied a subclass of S-approximations, called Sℳ-approximations, and showed that this subclass preserves most of the properties of inclusion based approximations but is not necessarily inclusionbased. The paper concludes by studying some basic operations on S-approximations and counting the number of S-min functions.
Design of Immune-Algorithm-Based Adaptive Fuzzy Controllers for Active Suspension Systems
Authors: Shieh Ming-Yuan , Chiou Juing-Shian , Liu Ming-Tang
Published: April 2014

The aim of this paper is to integrate the artificial immune systems and adaptive fuzzy control for the automobile suspension system, which is regarded as a multiobjective optimization problem. Moreover, the fuzzy control rules and membership controls are then introduced for identification and memorization. It leads fast convergence in the search process. Afterwards, by using the diversity of the antibody group, trapping into local optimum can be avoided, and the system possesses a global search capacity and a faster local search for finding a global optimal solution. Experimental results show that the artificial immune system with the recognition and memory functions allows the system to rapidly converge and search for the global optimal approximate solutions.
Artificial Extracellular Matrices with Oversulfated Glycosaminoglycan Derivatives Promote the Differentiation of Osteoblast-Precursor Cells and Premature Osteoblasts
Authors: Hempel Ute , Preissler Carolin , Vogel Sarah , Möller Stephanie , Hintze Vera , Becher Jana , Schnabelrauch Matthias , Rauner Martina , Hofbauer Lorenz C. , Dieter Peter
Published: April 2014

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are components of the bone marrow stem cell niche and to a minor extent of mature bone tissue with important functions in regulating stem cell lineage commitment and differentiation. We anticipated that artificial extracellular matrices (aECM) composed of collagen I and synthetically oversulfated GAG derivatives affect preferentially the differentiation of osteoblast-precursor cells andearlyosteoblasts. A set of gradually sulfated chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan derivatives was used for the preparation of aECM. All these matrices were analysed with human bone marrow stromal cells to identify the most potent aECM and to determine the influence of the degree and position of sulfate groups and the kind of disaccharide units on the osteogenic differentiation. Oversulfated GAG derivatives with a sulfate group at the C-6 position of the N-acetylglycosamine revealed the most pronounced proosteogenic effect as determined by tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. A subset of the aECM was further analysed with different primary osteoblasts and cell lines reflecting different maturation stages to test whether the effect of sulfated GAG derivatives depends on the maturation status of the cells. It was shown that the proosteogenic effect of aECM was most prominent inearlyosteoblasts.
Endometrial Receptivity Profile in Patients with Premature Progesterone Elevation on the Day of hCG Administration
Authors: Haouzi Delphine , Bissonnette Laurence , Gala Anna , Assou Said , Entezami Frida , Perrochia Hélène , Dechaud Hervé , Hugues Jean-Noel , Hamamah Samir
Published: April 2014

The impact of a premature elevation of serum progesterone level, the day of hCG administration in patients under controlled ovarian stimulation during IVF procedure, on human endometrial receptivity is still debated. In the present study, we investigated the endometrial gene expression profile shifts during the prereceptive and receptive secretory stage in patients with normal and elevated serum progesterone level on the day of hCG administration in fifteen patients under stimulated cycles. Then, specific biomarkers of endometrial receptivity in these two groups of patients were tested. Endometrial biopsies were performed on oocyte retrieval day and on day 3 of embryo transfer, respectively, for each patient. Samples were analysed using DNA microarrays and qRT-PCR. The endometrial gene expression shift from the prereceptive to the receptive stage was altered in patients with high serum progesterone level (>1.5 ng/mL) on hCG day, suggesting accelerated endometrial maturation during the periovulation period. This was confirmed by the functional annotation of the differentially expressed genes as it showed downregulation of cell cycle-related genes. Conversely, the profile of endometrial receptivity was comparable in both groups. Premature progesterone rise alters the endometrial gene expression shift between the prereceptive and the receptive stage but does not affect endometrial receptivity.
On Determinantal Varieties of Hankel Matrices
Authors: Ballico Edoardo , Elia Michele
Published: April 2014

Let ℌ be a class of n×n Hankel matrices HA whose entries, depending on a given matrix A, are linear forms in n variables with coefficients in a finite field 𝔽q. For every matrix in ℌ, it is shown that the varieties specified by the leading minors of orders from 1 to n-1 have the same number qn-1 of points in 𝔽qn. Further properties are derived, which show that sets of varieties, tied to a given Hankel matrix, resemble a set of hyperplanes as regards the number of points of their intersections.
Friction Welding of Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys with Steel
Authors: Ambroziak Andrzej , Korzeniowski Marcin , Kustroń Paweł , Winnicki Marcin , Sokołowski Paweł , Harapińska Ewa
Published: April 2014

The paper presents our actual knowledge and experience in joining dissimilar materials with the use of friction welding method. The joints of aluminium and aluminium alloys with the different types of steel were studied. The structural effects occurring during the welding process were described. The mechanical properties using, for example, (i) microhardness measurements, (ii) tensile tests, (iii) bending tests, and (iv) shearing tests were determined. In order to obtain high-quality joints the influence of different configurations of the process such as (i) changing the geometry of bonding surface, (ii) using the interlayer, or (iii) heat treatment was analyzed. Finally, the issues related to the selection of optimal parameters of friction welding process were also investigated.
DRD3 Gene rs6280 Polymorphism May Be Associated with Alcohol Dependence Overall and with Lesch Type I Alcohol Dependence in Koreans
Authors: Kang Seung-Gul , Lee Bun-Hee , Lee Jun-Seok , Chai Young Gyu , Ko Kwang-Pil , Lee Heon-Jeong , Han Dal Mu Ri , Ji Hong , Jang Gyeong-Ho , Shin Hye Eun
Published: April 2014

Background: Several polymorphisms of the dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) gene are reported to be involved in the susceptibility to alcoholism. Although the DRD3 rs6280 (Ser9Gly) polymorphism plays an important role in various psychiatric disorders, findings regarding the association between this single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and alcohol dependence (AD) have been inconsistent. Therefore, the present study investigated the association between the DRD3 gene rs6280 polymorphism with AD and Lesch type I AD in Korean subjects. Methods: The DRD3 rs6280 SNP was genotyped in a case-control sample comprising 245 AD patients and 130 healthy controls (HCs). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores were also compared relative to genotype in all of the participants. Results: This SNP was significantly associated with both AD overall (χ2 = 10.09 and p = 0.001, and χ2 = 10.60 and p = 0.005, for the recessive and additive models, respectively) and with Lesch type I AD (χ2 = 11.70 and p = 0.001, and χ2 = 11.70 and p = 0.003, for the recessive and additive models, respectively). The allele frequency differed significantly (χ2 = 8.45, p = 0.004) between Lesch type I AD and HC subjects. The AUDIT total (F = 6.56, p = 0.011), hazardous alcohol use (F = 7.12, p = 0.008), dependence symptoms (F = 5.10, p = 0.025), and harmful alcohol use (F = 4.83, p = 0.029) scores were significantly higher in those who did not possess the S allele (genotype GG) than in those who did (genotypes SS ± SG). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the DRD3 rs6280 polymorphism is associated with the development of both AD overall and Lesch type I AD in Koreans.
A Case of Ovarian Paragonimiasis Mimicking Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Tantipalakorn Charuwan , Khunamornpong Surapan , Tongsong Theera
Published: April 2014

Background: The purpose of this report is to describe ovarian paragonimiasis, a rare form of lung fluke infestation, mimicking ovarian cancer. Case: A 47-year-old Thai woman presented with a pelvic mass. Imaging suggested ovarian cancer with pulmonary and hepatic metastases. She was scheduled for complete surgical staging. However, a frozen section revealed Paragonimus eggs in the enlarged ovarian mass. A total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed instead of complete staging. All other lesions were also proven later to be Paragonimus infestation. Postoperative treatment with antiparasitic drugs resulted in dramatic improvement, with nearly complete resolution of all lesions at 4 months of follow-up. Conclusion: This is an unusual case of ovarian paragonimiasis mimicking ovarian cancer, which is instructive and informative for differential diagnoses of pelvic masses.
Effects of the Volume of Processed Plasma on the Outcome, Arterial Pressure and Blood Procalcitonin Levels in Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Treated with Coupled Plasma Filtration and Adsorption
Authors: Berlot Giorgio , Agbedjro Antoinette , Tomasini Ariella , Bianco Francesco , Gerini Ugo , Viviani Marino , Giudici Fabiola
Published: April 2014

Aims: To understand how coupled plasma filtration and adsorption (CPFA) could influence the time course of the advanced stages of sepsis, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and norepinephrine dosage. Methods: Patients with severe sepsis and septic shock with ≥2 organ failures not responding to volume resuscitation and vasopressor infusion were treated with CPFA within 8 h of admission to the intensive care unit. Results: Thirty-nine patients were treated (median age: 63 years, median SAPS II score: 45) and 28 survived advanced sepsis. In the latter, the median MAP increased and the norepinephrine dosage decreased significantly after CPFA, whereas in the nonsurvivors these values did not change significantly. The volume of treated plasma was significantly higher in survivors than nonsurvivors. Conclusion: These results suggest a possible existence of a dose-response effect for CPFA. Future studies are therefore recommended to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment and to determine its best timing and intensity.
The Involvement of Glucocorticoids in Psychological Stress-Induced Exacerbations of Experimental Allergic Asthma
Authors: Okuyama Kaori , Dobashi Kazuhisa , Miyasaka Tomomitsu , Yamazaki Naoki , Kikuchi Toshiaki , Sora Ichiro , Takayanagi Motoaki , Kita Hirohito , Ohno Isao
Published: April 2014

Background: Psychological stress is associated with the aggravation of asthma symptoms. Glucocorticoids (GC), which are stress hormones released upon exposure to stress, have the potential to shift immune responses towards a predominant Th2 response by priming antigen-presenting cells to produce lower levels of IL-12 as well as reducing the development of regulatory T cells. However, the involvement of GC in psychological stress-induced exacerbations of allergic asthma has not yet been clarified. Methods: Sensitized mice were exposed to restraint stress followed by forced swimming stress, during which a GC receptor antagonist or a GC synthesis inhibitor was administered, and then antigen was inhaled. Corticosterone levels in the blood were measured in stressed and nonstressed mice. After antigen inhalation, the airway responses to aerosolized methacholine, epithelial mucus secretion and airway inflammation were evaluated, and the IL-13 contents in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured. Results: The exposure to stress significantly increased corticosterone levels. Allergic airway responses and the increase of IL-13 contents evoked by antigen inhalation were significantly higher in stressed mice than in nonstressed mice. The administration of a GC receptor antagonist and a GC synthesis inhibitor during stress exposure significantly reduced the exacerbation of the airway responses and the increase of IL-13 contents in stressed mice challenged with antigen. Conclusions: These results indicate that the increased release of GC upon exposure to stress has a priming effect on the aggravation of allergic airway responses following the exposure, suggesting a pathophysiological role for the neuroendocrine axis in linking psychological stress to asthma exacerbations.
Oxalate Quantification in Hemodialysate to Assess Dialysis Adequacy for Primary Hyperoxaluria
Authors: Tang Xiaojing , Voskoboev Nikolay V. , Wannarka Stacie L. , Olson Julie B. , Milliner Dawn S. , Lieske John C.
Published: April 2014

Background: Patients with primary hyperoxaluria (PH) overproduce oxalate which is eliminated via the kidneys. If end-stage kidney disease develops they are at high risk for systemic oxalosis, unless adequate oxalate is removed during hemodialysis (HD) to equal or exceed ongoing oxalate production. The purpose of this study was to validate a method to measure oxalate removal in this unique group of dialysis patients. Methods: Fourteen stable patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PH on HD were included in the study. Oxalate was measured serially in hemodialysate and plasma samples in order to calculate rates of oxalate removal. HD regimens were adjusted according to a given patient's historical oxalate production, amount of oxalate removal at dialysis, residual renal clearance of oxalate, and plasma oxalate levels. Results: After a typical session of HD, plasma oxalate was reduced by 78.4 ± 7.7%. Eight patients performed HD 6 times/week, 2 patients 5 times/week, and 3 patients 3 times/week. Combined oxalate removal by HD and the kidneys was sufficient to match or exceed endogenous oxalate production. After a median period of 9 months, pre-dialysis plasma oxalate was significantly lower than initially (75.1 ± 33.4 vs. 54.8 ± 46.6 mmol/l, p = 0.02). Conclusion: This methodology can be used to individualize the dialysis prescription of PH patients to prevent oxalosis during the time they are maintained on HD and to reduce risk of oxalate injury to a transplanted kidney.
Characterization of T Cell Epitopes in Bovine α-Lactalbumin
Authors: Meulenbroek Laura A.P.M. , den Hartog Jager Constance F. , Lebens Ans F.M. , Knulst André C. , Bruijnzeel-Koomen Carla A.F.M. , Garssen Johan , Knippels Léon M.J. , van Hoffen Els
Published: April 2014

Background: Recent studies have indicated that peptides containing T cell epitopes may be used for immunotherapy. While for several cow's milk allergens the T cell epitopes have been described, the T cell epitopes in the major allergen α-lactalbumin (α-LAC) are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the T cell epitopes in α-LAC. Methods: Nineteen synthetic peptides spanning α-LAC were obtained. Cow's milk-specific T cell lines (TCLs) of 46 subjects were generated and tested for their specificity for α-LAC. The lines responding to α-LAC were subsequently tested to determine their activation in response to the peptides. Results: More than half of the TCLs generated did not respond to α-LAC or lost their responsiveness during subsequent experiments, which indicates that α-LAC has low immunogenicity. Only 8 TCLs recognized 1 or more peptides. The recognition of the peptides was diverse and no major epitopes could be defined. Conclusion: The immunogenicity of α-LAC is very low compared to other major allergens in cow's milk. Moreover, there seems to be no dominant epitope present in the protein. Therefore, it seems unlikely that peptides of this protein can be used for immunotherapy.
Perceived Relevance of Gender-Specific Differences in Gastrointestinal Medicine and Surgery: Results of a Survey
Authors: Oertelt-Prigione Sabine , Klinger Carsten , Rau Beate ,   on behalf of the Working Group ‘Gender Medicine' within the German Society for General and Abdominal Surgery
Published: April 2014

Background: The recognition of the relevance of sex and gender differences in medicine has significantly increased in the last 20 years. Nonetheless, the implementation of these aspects into clinical practice still remains to be attained. In particular, while sex differences - which refer to biological attributes - are widely accepted, gender concepts - which include sociocultural and psychological properties - are frequently treated with diffidence. Methods: In December 2012 and January 2013, all members of the German Society for General and Abdominal Surgery (DGAV) were invited to participate in an online-based survey to determine the relevance and incorporation of sex and gender aspects in gastrointestinal medicine and surgery. Results: 493 (13.4%) of the 3,689 members of the DGAV participated in the survey. More than 50% of the participants reported including sex and gender aspects into consultation, diagnosis, and management at least occasionally. However, 44% reported no knowledge of the formal definition of ‘gender medicine', suggesting potential differences in the perception of the notion of gender. Conclusion: The participants of the survey demonstrated vast knowledge about sex differences, while gender attributes were generally neglected. Since gender features are critically relevant for prevention as well as during medical consultation, we suggest this area as a potential target for further training initiatives.
Hemomucin, an O-Glycosylated Protein on Embryos of the Wasp Macrocentrus cingulum That Protects It against Encapsulation by Hemocytes of the Host Ostrinia furnacalis
Authors: Hu Jian , Xu Qiuyun , Hu Shengfeng , Yu Xiaoqiang , Liang Zhikun , Zhang Wenqing
Published: April 2014

It is unclear how endoparasites passively evade their host's immune reactions in most parasite-host systems. Hemomucin from the parasitoid wasp Macrocentrus cingulum (McHEM) is a 97-kDa transmembrane protein containing 51 potential O-glycosylation sites that can be specifically recognized by Arachis hypogaea lectin. Mchem mRNA is highly expressed in M. cingulum eggs, morulae and secondary embryos, and McHEM protein is mainly located on the extraembryonic membrane of embryos. When secondary embryos of M. cingulum were transplanted into naïve larvae of their host, Ostrinia furnacalis, the embryos proliferated to generate dozens of embryos. However, more than 90% of these embryos were encapsulated by host hemocytes after blocking with anti-McHEM serum. Similarly, following knockdown of Mchem expression using double-stranded RNA encoding Mchem (dshem), many more embryos were encapsulated by host hemocytes after transplantation compared to controls (p < 0.01). Furthermore, approximately 70% of the embryos were encapsulated by host hemocytes following digestion with O-glycosidase, which specifically digests β-gal (1→3) linkages between GalNAc and Ser/Thr of proteins. Western blotting results showed that O-glycosidase digested McHEM into a smaller product. These results indicate that McHEM may protect embryos from being encapsulated by their host and that the McHEM sugar chains play an important role.
Statin therapy and thromboxane generation in patients with coronary artery disease treated with high-dose aspirin
Authors: Bliden Kevin P. , Singla Anand , Gesheff Martin G. , Toth Peter P. , Tabrizchi Ali , Ens Gordon , Guyer Kirk , Singh Mandeep , Franzese Christopher J. , Stapleton Dwight D. , Tantry Udaya S. , Gurbel Paul A.
Published: April 2014

Aspirin and statin therapy are mainstay treatments in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The relation between statin therapy, in vivo thromboxane (Tx) generation; a marker of inflammation, and blood thrombogenicity has never been explored. Urinary 11-dehydro (dh) TxB2 was determined in patients with suspected CAD on 325 mg daily aspirin therapy prior to undergoing cardiac catheterisation (n=281). Thrombogenicity was estimated by thrombelastographic measurement of thrombin-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (TIP-FCS) and lipids/lipoproteins were determined by vertical density gradient ultracentrifugation/ELISA. The influence of statin therapy and dose was analysed by the atorvastatin equivalent dose (5–10 mg, 20–40 mg, or 80 mg daily). Statin therapy (n=186) was associated with a dose-dependent reduction in urinary 11-dh TxB2 (p=0.046) that was independent of LDL and apo B100 levels but was strongly related to TIP-FCS (p=0.006). By multivariate analysis, no statin therapy (n=95) and female gender were independently associated with high urinary 11-dh TxB2 [OR=2.95 (0.1.57–5.50, p=0.0007); OR=2.25 (1.24–4.05, p=0.007)], respectively. In aspirin-treated patients, statin therapy was independently and inversely associated with inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Elevated 11-dh TxB2 was associated with a prothrombotic state indicated by high TIP-FCS. Our data suggest that measurement of urinary 11-dTxB2 may be a useful method to optimise statin dosing in order to reduce thrombotic risk.
Challenges of Decision Making Regarding Futility in a Randomized Trial
Authors: Yeatts Sharon D. , Martin Renee H. , Coffey Christopher S. , Lyden Patrick D. , Foster Lydia D. , Woolson Robert F. , Broderick Joseph P. , Di Tullio Marco R. , Jungreis Charles A. , Palesch Yuko Y.
Published: April 2014

Background and Purpose—

Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) III is a randomized, parallel arm trial comparing the approach of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator followed by endovascular treatment with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator alone in patients with acute ischemic stroke presenting <3 hours of symptom onset. The trial intended to enroll 900 subjects to ensure adequate statistical power to detect an absolute 10% difference in the percentage of subjects with good outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 at 3 months. In April 2012, after 656 subjects were randomized, further enrollment was terminated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke based on the prespecified criterion for futility using conditional power <20%.

Methods—

Conditional power was defined as the likelihood of finding statistical significance at the end of the study, given the accumulated data to date and with the assumption that a minimum hypothesized difference of 10% truly exists between the 2 groups. The evolution of study data leading to futility determination is described, including the interaction between the unblinded study statisticians and the Data and Safety Monitoring Board in the complex deliberation of analysis results.

Results—

The futility boundary was crossed at the trial’s fourth interim analysis. At this point, based on the conditional power criteria, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board recommended termination of the trial.

Conclusions—

Even in spite of prespecified interim analysis boundaries, interim looks at data pose challenges in interpretation and decision making, underscoring the importance of objective stopping criteria.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00359424.
A Syntactic Universal and Its Consequences
Authors: Biberauer Theresa , Holmberg Anders , Roberts Ian
Published: April 2014

This article investigates the Final-over-Final Constraint (FOFC): a head-initial category cannot be the immediate structural complement of a head-final category within the same extended projection. This universal cannot be formulated without reference to the kind of hierarchical structure generated by standard models of phrase structure. First, we document the empirical evidence: logically possible but crosslinguistically unattested combinations of head-final and head-initial orders. Second, we propose a theory, based on a version of Kayne’s (1994) Linear Correspondence Axiom, where FOFC is an effect of the distribution of a movement-triggering feature in extended projections, subject to Relativized Minimality.
Eliminating Rightward Movement: Extraposition as Flexible Linearization of Adjuncts
Authors: Hunter Tim , Frank Robert
Published: April 2014

We propose an account of adjunct extraposition that does not invoke rightward movement. Instead, the noncanonical placement of adjuncts at the right edge of a sentence arises from the very same mechanisms that allow adjuncts to behave flexibly with respect to basic constituency tests and to avoid reconstruction. The system we propose naturally explains the locality restrictions on extraposition and certain interactions between extraposition and movement, and dovetails with an analysis of how adjuncts semantically compose with their hosts.
An Ellipsis Approach to Contrastive Left-Dislocation
Authors: Ott Dennis
Published: April 2014

This article proposes a novel analysis of contrastive left-dislocation (CLD), according to which the left-dislocated XP is a remnant of clausal ellipsis. This analysis makes sense of the otherwise paradoxical fact that the dislocated XP shows connectivity into the clause it precedes, while other properties betray its clause-external status. The paradox is resolved by analyzing CLD as a juxtaposition of two parallel clauses, the first of which is reduced by deletion at PF. Akin to recent treatments of sluicing, fragment answers, split questions, and other phenomena, the analysis reduces CLD to an interplay of Ā-movement and ellipsis, thereby removing constructional residue from the theory of Universal Grammar.
Assessing Unaccusativity and Reflexivity: Using Focus Alternatives to Decide What Gets Which θ-Role
Authors: Sportiche Dominique
Published: April 2014

In reflexive constructions, two arguments corefer. This makes it hard to decide which argument bears which θ-role, and consequently to assess whether unaccusativity is involved. A new test is proposed using focus alternatives, which overcomes this difficulty and can also be used to assess reflexivity strength.
Visceral leishmaniasis control in Brazil: time to re-evaluate DDT?
Authors: Marcondes Carlos Brisola , Costa Carlos Henrique Nery
Published: April 2014

Controlling visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil has proven difficult for several reasons, including: 1) limitations in diagnosis and treatment, 2) the failure of the dog culling program, and 3) the short-term residual effect of pyrethroids against the main phlebotomine vectorLutzomyia longipalpis. The disease has become more widespread during the last three decades and it now occurs in 21 of the 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District, and even affects several state capitals and large cities. Although DDT has many environmental drawbacks and possible toxicity to animals, several countries still use this chemical in their public health programs due to its long-lasting effect. Therefore, this study aims to re-evaluate the use of DDT to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.
Timarcha Latreille: A strange beetle and a living fossil
Authors: Jolivet Pierre , George Poinar , Verma K.K.
Published: April 2014

The genusTimarchaseems unique among Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae by having plesiomorphic characters such as genitalia with a ring-like tegmen, covered with a setose parameral cap, together with apomorphic characters, including apterism and fused elytra. The distribution of this genus is also very peculiar: circum Mediterranean and northwestern American. Food selection also seems rather stict, comprising 8 families and 20 genera of plants. Two of the subgenera (MetallotimarchaandAmericanotimarcha) share one plant family, the Ericaceae. The plant family Rubiaceae is also shared between three subgenera:Timarcha,Timarchostoma andMetallotimarcha. Reflex bleeding among diurnal species, aposematism, thanatosis, stomatic regurgitation are means of defense against predators, but not against parasites and commensals. A very archaic genus, probably originating in early Mesozoic, with around 100 taxa, and 50 subspecies. Mutations remain very common in the group and new species are possibly still emerging.
Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: HAYAT MOHAMMAD , AHMAD ZUBAIR , KHAN FARMANUR REHMAN
Published: April 2014

This is the first major contribution to the fauna of the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The following new genus and 15 new species are described: Anagyrus azolus Hayat, sp. nov., A. raidahensis Hayat, sp. nov., Arabencyrtus qahtanii Hayat, gen. et sp. nov., Cerchysiella arabia Hayat, sp. nov., C. azeeza Hayat, sp. nov., Cheiloneurus arabiacus Hayat, sp. nov., Leptomastidea abyad Hayat, sp. nov., Mahencyrtus asirensis Hayat, sp. nov., Metaphycus albidus Hayat, sp. nov., Microterys axonis Hayat, sp. nov., Neastymachus bolus Hayat, sp. nov., N. ceelus Hayat, sp. nov., Ooencyrtus likinis Hayat, sp. nov., O. seronis Hayat, sp. nov., Zaomma astera Hayat, sp. nov. The following 27 genera are newly recorded from Saudi Arabia: Achalcerinys Girault, Aphycus Mayr, Apoleptomastix Kerrich, Callipteroma Motschulsky, Cerchysiella Girault, Cerchysius Westwood, Charitopus Foerster, Cheiloneurus Westwood, Coelopencyrtus Timberlake, Copidosoma Ratzeburg, Helegonatopus Perkins, Homalotylus Mayr, Lamennaisia Girault, Leptomastidea Mercet, Leptomastix Foerster, Mahencyrtus Masi, Mayridia Mercet, Microterys Thomson, Neastymachus Girault, Ooencyrtus Ashmead, Paraclausenia Hayat, Prionomastix Mayr, Prochiloneurus Silvestri, Rhopus Foerster, Syrphophagus Ashmead, Tyndarichus Howard, Zaomma Ashmead. The following 27 species are newly recorded from Saudi Arabia: Achalcerinys lindus (Mercet), Anagyrus gracilis (Hayat), A. shahidi Hayat, Aphycus secundus (Mercet), Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis (Girault), Callipteroma sexguttata Motschulsky, C. testacea Motschulsky, Cerchysius ugandensis Kerrich, Charitopus andalusicus Mercet, Cheiloneurus elegans (Dalman), C. quadricolor (Girault), Coelopencyrtus krishnamurtii (Mahdihassan), Comperiella aspidiotiphaga Subba Rao, Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead), Habrolepis obscura Compere & Annecke, Helegonatopus formosus (Mercet), Homalotylus flaminius (Dalman), Lamennaisia ambigua (Nees), L. nobilis (Nees), Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, L. tsukumiensis Tachikawa, Mayridia pulchra Mercet, Paraclausenia herbicola Hayat, Prochiloneurus aegyptiacus (Mercet), P. pulchellus Silvestri, Rhopus nigroclavatus (Ashmead), Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr). Eleven species belonging to the genera Anagyrus Howard, Charitopus, Helegonatopus, Mayridia, Metaphycus Mercet, Ooencyrtus, Prionomastix, Syrphophagus, and Tyndarichus, were not identified to species for the reasons given in the text. The known species treated in this paper, except for some well known species, are illustrated with suitable figures, and some species are either diagnosed or redescribed.
The genus Zambedania Mahunka 1972 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Pygmephoridae)—redescription of the type species Z. africana and descriptions of two new species from Africa and South America
Authors: CAMERIK ANNE M. , MAGOWSKI WOJCIECH Ł.
Published: April 2014

The type species of the genus Zambedania Mahunka, 1972 (Z. africana Mahunka, 1972) is redescribed based on the holotype collected from soil in Zimbabwe. Two new species are described and illustrated herewith: Z. madagascariana from Madagascar and Z. argentiniana from Argentina. The generic diagnosis of Zambedania is amended, and the key to its species is supplied. Morphology, taxonomy and biology of included species are briefly discussed. The first record of the genus being phoretic on a South American nemesiid spider is presented.
A new species of Pinnixa (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) associated with a tube worm, Chaetopterus cautus (Annelida: Polychaeta), from Tokyo Bay, Japan
Authors: KOMAI TOMOYUKI , NISHI EIJIROH , TARU MASANORI
Published: April 2014

A new species of the pea crab genus Pinnixa White, 1846 (Pinnotheridae), P. banzu n. sp., is described and illustrated on the basis of four specimens from Banzu, an estuary of the Obitsu River, Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. All the specimens examined were associated with the polychaete tube worm Chaetopterus cautus Marenzeller, 1879 (Chaetopteridae). The new species is very similar to P. chaetopterana Stimpson, 1860 from the western Atlantic, P. occidentalis Rathbun, 1894 from northwest North America, and P. rathbuni Sakai, 1934 from East Asia. It is distinguished from the latter three species by characters of the carapace, ambulatory legs, male abdomen, and male first gonopod. It is suggested that previous records reporting on the association of P. rathbuni with Chaetopterus tube worms might be actually referred to the new species.
The millipede genus Riukiaria Attems, 1938 in continental China, with descriptions of new species (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae)
Authors: Golovatch S. I.
Published: April 2014

Fresh collections of Diplopoda from China contain five new species of the large, East Asian, warm temperate to subtropical genus Riukiaria: R. martensi sp. nov., from Shaanxi Province, as well as R. belousovi sp. nov., R. kabaki sp. nov., R. korolevi sp. nov. and R. davidiani sp. nov. from Sichuan Province. A key is given to all eight Riukiaria species currently known to occur in mainland China, including R. tianmu (Tanabe, Ishii & Yin, 1996), comb. nov. ex Sinoria Tanabe, Ishii & Yin, 1996, the latter genus a new junior subjective synonym of Riukiaria, syn. nov.
Physical Mechanisms Related to Climate-Induced Drying of Two Semiarid Watersheds in the Southwestern United States
Authors: Rajagopal Seshadri , Dominguez Francina , Gupta Hoshin V. , Troch Peter A. , Castro Christopher L.
Published: April 2014

Water managers across the United States face the need to make informed policy decisions regarding long-term impacts of climate change on water resources. To provide a scientifically informed basis for this, the evolution of important components of the basin-scale water balance through the end of the twenty-first century is estimated. Bias-corrected and spatially downscaled climate projections, from phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3) of the World Climate Research Programme, were used to drive a spatially distributed Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model of hydrologic processes in the Salt–Verde basin in the southwestern United States. From the suite of CMIP3 models, the authors select a five-model subset, including three that best reproduce the historical climatology for the study region, plus two others to represent wetter and drier than model average conditions, so as to represent the range of GCM prediction uncertainty. For each GCM, data for three emission scenarios (A1B, A2, and B1) were used to drive the hydrologic model into the future. The projections of this model ensemble indicate a statistically significant 25% decrease in streamflow by the end of the twenty-first century. The primary cause for this change is due to projected decreases in winter precipitation accompanied by significant (temperature driven) reductions in storage of snow and increased winter evaporation. The results show that water management in central Arizona is highly likely to be impacted by changes in regional climate.
Nonlinear Equilibration of Baroclinic Instability: The Growth Rate Balance Model
Authors: Radko T. , Peixoto de Carvalho D. , Flanagan J.
Published: April 2014

A theoretical model is developed, which attempts to predict the lateral transport by mesoscale variability, generated and maintained by baroclinic instability of large-scale flows. The authors are particularly concerned by the role of secondary instabilities of primary baroclinically unstable modes in the saturation of their linear growth. Theory assumes that the fully developed equilibrium state is characterized by the comparable growth rates of primary and secondary instabilities. This assumption makes it possible to formulate an efficient algorithm for evaluating the equilibrium magnitude of mesoscale eddies as a function of the background parameters: vertical shear, stratification, beta effect, and bottom drag. The proposed technique is applied to two classical models of baroclinic instability—the Phillips two-layer model and the linearly stratified Eady model. Theory predicts that the eddy-driven lateral mixing rapidly intensifies with increasing shear and weakens when the beta effect is increased. The eddy transport is also sensitive to the stratification pattern, decreasing as the ratio of upper/lower layer depths in the Phillips model is decreased below unity. Theory is successfully tested by a series of direct numerical simulations that span a wide parameter range relevant for typical large-scale currents in the ocean. The spontaneous emergence of large-scale patterns induced by mesoscale variability, and their role in the cross-flow eddy transport, is examined using a suite of numerical simulations.
GSI-Based Four-Dimensional Ensemble–Variational (4DEnsVar) Data Assimilation: Formulation and Single-Resolution Experiments with Real Data for NCEP Global Forecast System
Authors: Wang Xuguang , Lei Ting
Published: April 2014

A four-dimensional (4D) ensemble–variational data assimilation (DA) system (4DEnsVar) was developed, building upon the infrastructure of the gridpoint statistical interpolation (GSI)-based hybrid DA system. 4DEnsVar used ensemble perturbations valid at multiple time periods throughout the DA window to estimate 4D error covariances during the variational minimization, avoiding the tangent linear and adjoint of the forecast model. The formulation of its implementation in GSI was described. The performance of the system was investigated by evaluating the global forecasts and hurricane track forecasts produced by the NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) during the 5-week summer period assimilating operational conventional and satellite data. The newly developed system was used to address a few questions regarding 4DEnsVar. 4DEnsVar in general improved upon its 3D counterpart, 3DEnsVar. At short lead times, the improvement over the Northern Hemisphere extratropics was similar to that over the Southern Hemisphere extratropics. At longer lead times, 4DEnsVar showed more improvement in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. The 4DEnsVar showed less impact over the tropics. The track forecasts of 16 tropical cyclones initialized by 4DEnsVar were more accurate than 3DEnsVar after 1-day forecast lead times. The analysis generated by 4DEnsVar was more balanced than 3DEnsVar. Case studies showed that increments from 4DEnsVar using more frequent ensemble perturbations approximated the increments from direct, nonlinear model propagation better than using less frequent ensemble perturbations. Consistently, the performance of 4DEnsVar including both the forecast accuracy and the balances of analyses was in general degraded when less frequent ensemble perturbations were used. The tangent linear normal mode constraint had positive impact for global forecast but negative impact for TC track forecasts.