bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responsible Personal Finance: The Role of Conscientiousness in Bank and Pension Savings in Chile
Authors: Kausel Edgar E. , Hansen Erwin , Tapia Pablo
Published: November 2015

We investigate the role of trait conscientiousness, from the Big Five personality traits, in explaining individual saving behavior. Conscientiousness is a disposition to be responsible and pursue non‐immediate goals; thus, we expect this trait to positively predict saving behavior. Using a nationally representative survey from Chile, we find the expected effect of conscientiousness on pension and bank savings.
Stress measurement among charge nurses: developing a cross‐cultural tool
Authors: Admi Hanna , Eilon Yael , Renker Paula , Unhasuta Krongdai
Published: November 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to develop a cross‐cultural tool for the measurement of stress among charge nurses in general hospitals.

Background

Studies of the specific stressors unique to different nursing roles are few, particularly those related to hospital charge nurses. The Charge Nurse Stress Questionnaire is a well‐validated Israeli‐developed scale. However, it has not been tested cross‐culturally.

Design

A descriptive methodological study was conducted in Israel, Ohio and Thailand.

Method

A total of 2616 nurses from 23 hospitals (small to large size) completed the questionnaire between 2011–2013. The questionnaire was translated into English and Thai. To establish tool validity and reliability, content validity, internal consistency reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed.

Results

Analyses resulted in a final abbreviated version of the questionnaire with 25 items and four stress subscales. Internal consistency for the subscales indicated very good internal consistency.

Conclusions

We developed a self‐reported, cross‐cultural, valid and reliable tool for evaluating the specific stressors of the role of charge nurses. A rigorous assessment of charge nurse stress provides a good basis for planning tailored stress reduction interventions. It is recommended to further use the tool in different settings across different countries.
Within‐species reproductive costs affect the asymmetry of satyrization in Drosophila
Authors: Yassin A. , David J. R.
Published: November 2015

Understanding how species interactions influence their distribution and evolution is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Theory suggests that asymmetric reproductive interference, in which one species induces higher reproductive costs on another species, may be more important in delimiting species boundaries than interspecific competition over resources. However, the underlying mechanisms of such asymmetry remain unclear. Here, we test whether differences in within‐species reproductive costs determine the between‐species asymmetry of costs using three allopatric Drosophila species belonging to the melanogaster subgroup. Our results support this hypothesis, especially in a pair of insular species. Males of one species that induce costs to their conspecific females led to a 5‐fold increase of heterospecific females mortality with dead flies bearing spectacular large melanized wounds on their genitalia. Males of the other species were harmful neither to their conspecific nor heterospecific females. Comparative studies of within‐species reproductive costs may therefore be a valuable tool for predicting between‐species interactions and community structures.
IFRS and Secrecy: Assessing Accounting Value Relevance Across Africa
Authors: Hillier David , Hodgson Allan , Ngole Shaban
Published: November 2015

We examine the value relevance of accounting across several African countries and test whether IFRS improved the value association of earnings and equity book values. We report a stronger valuation association between accounting and stock prices in African countries classified as having a secrecy culture. This increases after IFRS and more so for earnings. On the other hand, IFRS induced a stronger increase in the book value coefficient in the less secretive and more developed South African market. We surmise that the more conceptual focus of IFRS induced an increased demand for higher‐quality accounting professionals, which had a filtering‐down effect of improving quality information flow and breaking down the secrecy culture. Our research highlights the diverse impacts of IFRS and the role of culture, asset markets and accounting professionalism, in driving the relevance of accounting components across Africa.
Does Short Selling Enhance the Allocational Role of Stock Price? Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Jiang Li , Pang Lei
Published: November 2015

We investigate the real effect of short selling on corporate investments and, in particular, examine whether short selling improves managerial learning from stock prices in making investment decisions. We find that short selling improves investment sensitivity to stock price, most likely through a channel that short selling increases stock price informativeness. Using the lifting of uptick rule for index arbitrageurs and market makers as an exogenous shock to short selling intensity, we confirm the causal effect of short selling on managerial learning. Overall, our evidence suggests that short selling enhances the role of stock price in resource allocation.
Interaction between hepatic membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase and acireductone dioxygenase 1 regulates hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Chang M.‐L. , Huang Y.‐H. , Cheng J.‐C. , Yeh C.‐T.
Published: November 2015

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) binds to and regulates the function of tetraspanin‐enriched microdomains. It also physically interacts with claudin‐1 and acireductone dioxygenase 1 (ADI1), both associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell entry. Here, we examined hepatic expression of MT1‐MMP, ADI1 and claudin‐1 as well as their physical interaction in relation to serum or intrahepatic HCV‐RNA levels. A total of 104 liver biopsies obtained from chronic hepatitis C patients and 84 liver tissues obtained from noncancerous parts of surgically removed HCV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma were analysed. Positive cytoplasmic ADI1 in liver biopsies was associated with higher serum HCV‐RNA levels (P = 0.009). Positive MT1‐MMP and ADI1 interaction assessed by co‐immunoprecipitation was associated with lower tissue HCV‐RNA levels (P = 0.009). Hepatic HCV‐RNA levels were positively associated with ADI1 levels in the MT1‐MMP and ADI1 co‐immunoprecipitates (P = 0.030). Overexpression of MT1‐MMP in Huh7.5 cells suppressed cell entry of HCV pseudoparticles as well as HCVcc infection. The suppression effect could be reversed by co‐expression of ADI1 in a dose‐dependent manner. In summary, clinical and cell‐based experiments suggested that physical interaction between MT1‐MMP and ADI1 led to suppression of HCV infection. This inhibitory effect could be reversed by ADI1 overexpression.
Pharmacokinetics of procaterol in thoroughbred horses
Authors: Kusano K. , Nomura M. , Toju K. , Ishikawa Y. , Minamijima Y. , Yamashita S. , Nagata S.
Published: November 2015

Procaterol (PCR) is a beta‐2‐adrenergic bronchodilator widely used in Japanese racehorses for treating lower respiratory disease. The pharmacokinetics of PCR following single intravenous (0.5 μg/kg) and oral (2.0 μg/kg) administrations were investigated in six thoroughbred horses. Plasma and urine concentrations of PCR were measured using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Plasma PCR concentration following intravenous administration showed a biphasic elimination pattern. The systemic clearance was 0.47 ± 0.16 L/h/kg, the steady‐state volume of the distribution was 1.21 ± 0.23 L/kg, and the elimination half‐life was 2.85 ± 1.35 h. Heart rate rapidly increased after intravenous administration and gradually decreased thereafter. A strong correlation between heart rate and plasma concentration of PCR was observed. Plasma concentrations of PCR after oral administration were not quantifiable in all horses. Urine concentrations of PCR following intravenous and oral administrations were quantified in all horses until 32 h after administration. Urine PCR concentrations were not significantly different on and after 24 h between intravenous and oral administrations. These results suggest that the bioavailability of orally administrated PCR in horses is very poor, and the drug was eliminated from the body slowly based on urinary concentrations. This report is the first study to demonstrate the pharmacokinetic character of PCR in thoroughbred horses.
US exceptionalism and UK localism? Cross-border insolvency law in comparative perspective
Authors: McCormack Gerard
Published: November 2015

This paper addresses how the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency has been implemented and interpreted in the US and the UK. The Model Law has attained a measure of international acceptance and is intended to achieve greater efficiencies in the administration of insolvency cases with transnational dimensions. But different manners of implementation in different countries and differing interpretations may hinder the prospects for harmonisation and coordination of laws. The paper will address in particular whether US interpretations differ from those in the UK and whether the US decisions are so infused with ‘American exceptionalism’ that they cannot be relied upon as sure guides in other countries.
Evaluation of Nd:YAG laser device efficacy on onychomycosis: a case series of 30 patients
Authors: Helou J. , Maatouk I. , Hajjar M. A. , Moutran R.
Published: November 2015

Until recently, pharmacologic molecules have been the only available treatments for onychomycosis. Laser treatments were introduced for recurrent or resistant cases or in patients in whom oral treatments are contra‐indicated. Some devices were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) is used for onychomycosis as a short‐pulse or a long‐pulse system. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of the short‐pulse Nd:YAG in treating onychomycosis, its side effects, cure rates, and 12‐month recurrence rates. Efficacy was evaluated based on a subjective measure of patient satisfaction on a scale from 1 to 10, and an objective measure based on the results of the mycologic cultures. Medical records of 30 patients were reviewed. Ages ranged from 22 to 85, with a mean of 44. Mycologic cure at 12 months was not achieved in 5 patients (16.67%) who had received laser treatment. None of these patients showed any signs of clinical improvement. Twenty patients (66.67%) were completely cured at 12 months, with corroborating negative mycologic cultures. The remaining five patients (16.67%) had discordance between their clinical cure status and their mycologic cultures. Side effects were reported by 7 patients out of 30 (33%): pain within 48 hours of the treatment session, burning sensation in the treated nail bed area. Our primary end point of negative mycologic cultures at 12 months was seen in 24 out of 30 (80%) of our patients. Similar culture cure rates have not been reported before, not even with systemic treatments with oral antifungals. However, few limitations should warrant us (False‐negative results in fungal cultures; time limitation; sample size…). Still, we propose that this alternative should be offered for patients in whom antifungals are contraindicated or for patients previously treated, but not cured by oral antifungals, and in elderly and polymedicated patients.
Neurodegeneration in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and motor neurone disease associated with expansions in C9orf72 is linked to TDP‐43 pathology and not associated with aggregated forms of dipeptide repeat proteins
Authors: Davidson Y. , Robinson A. C. , Liu X. , Wu D. , Troakes C. , Rollinson S. , Masuda‐Suzukake M. , Suzuki G. , Nonaka T. , Shi J. , Tian J. , Hamdalla H. , Ealing J. , Richardson A. , Jones M. , Pickering‐Brown S. , Snowden J. S. , Hasegawa M. , Mann D. M. A.
Published: November 2015

Aims

A hexanucleotide expansion in C9orf72 is the major genetic cause of inherited behavioural variant Frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and motor neurone disease (MND), although the pathological mechanism(s) underlying disease remains uncertain.

Methods

Using antibodies to poly‐GA, poly‐GP, poly‐GR, poly‐AP and poly‐PR proteins, we examined sections of cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellum and spinal cord, from 20 patients with bvFTD and/or MND bearing an expansion in C9orf72 for aggregated deposits of dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR).

Results

Antibodies to poly‐GA, poly‐GP and poly‐GR detected numerous rounded cytoplasmic inclusions (NCI) within granule cells of hippocampal dentate gyrus and those of the cerebellum, as well as ‘star‐burst’ shaped NCI in pyramidal neurones of CA3/4 region of hippocampus. NCI were uncommon in Purkinje cells, and only very rarely seen in anterior horn cells. Poly‐PA antibody detected occasional NCI within CA3/4 neurones alone, whereas poly‐PR antibody did not identify any NCI but immunostained the nucleus of anterior horn cells, CA3/4 neurones and Purkinje cells, in patients with or without expansion in C9orf72, as well as in normal controls. Poly‐GA antibody generally detected more DPR than poly‐GP, which in turn was greater than poly‐GR. All patients with bvFTD + MND or MND showed plentiful p62/TDP‐43 positive inclusions in remaining anterior horn cells.

Conclusion

Degeneration and loss of anterior horn cells associated with expansions in C9orf72 occurs in the absence of DPR, and implies that changes involving loss of nuclear staining for and a cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP‐43 are more likely to be the cause of this.
Factors underlying genotypic differences in the induction of photosynthesis in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]
Authors: Soleh Mochamad Arief , Tanaka Yu , Nomoto Yuko , Iwahashi Yu , Nakashima Keiichiro , Fukuda Yasuko , Long Stephen P. , Shiraiwa Tatsuhiko
Published: November 2015

Crop leaves are subject to continually changing light levels in the field. Photosynthetic efficiency of a crop canopy and productivity will depend significantly on how quickly a leaf can acclimate to a change. One measure of speed of response is the rate of photosynthesis increase toward its steady state on transition from low to high light. This rate was measured for seven genotypes of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. After 10 min of illumination, cultivar ‘UA4805’ (UA) had achieved a leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn) of 23.2 μmol · m−2 · s−1, close to its steady‐state rate, while the slowest cultivar ‘Tachinagaha’ (Tc) had only reached 13.0 μmol · m−2 · s−1 and was still many minutes from obtaining steady state. This difference was further investigated by examining induction at a range of carbon dioxide concentrations. Applying a biochemical model of limitations to photosynthesis to the responses of Pn to intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), it was found that the speed of apparent in vivo activation of ribulose‐1:5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was responsible for this difference. Sequence analysis of the Rubisco activase gene revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms that could relate to this difference. The results show a potential route for selection of cultivars with increased photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light.
Genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Sphaceloma rosarum (teleomorph Elsinoë rosarum) causing spot anthracnose on roses
Authors: Bagsic I. , Linde M. , Debener T.
Published: November 2015

Roses produced or grown in the field, as well as pot‐grown and cut roses, are attacked by different fungal pathogens causing leaf spot diseases. The incorrect identification and scoring of these pathogens and the lack of information about their genetic and pathotype diversity hamper resistance breeding. This is especially true for the hemibiotrophic ascomycete Sphaceloma rosarum, which is often confused with other fungi. Here for the first time, the genetic variability between isolates at both the molecular and morphological level is analysed. Eighty leaf spot samples were collected from different rose genotypes at five different locations, and 15 single conidial isolates established. All of the samples showed high morphological similarities to the reference isolate CBS 213.33 that was obtained from a public repository. By sequencing a part of the large subunit (LSU) of the 28S ribosomal RNA and phylogenetic analysis, high sequence similarities were shown to other Sphaceloma species for 13 of the isolates and the CBS reference. One of the isolates clustered with Septoria species and another clustered with Seimatosporium species. UPGMA clustering with 145 polymorphic AFLP markers resulted in five distinct groups in the majority rule consensus tree for the 14 S. rosarum isolates, including the CBS reference. Jaccard similarities ranged from 0·31 to 0·91. A detached leaf assay using a differential set of five rose genotypes led to the classification of the five tested isolates as five distinct pathotypes. Therefore, grouping depending on the avirulence gene diversity was clearly different from clustering using selectively neutral AFLP markers that were evenly distributed throughout the genome.
Mesophyll conductance plays a central role in leaf functioning of Oleaceae species exposed to contrasting sunlight irradiance
Authors: Fini Alessio , Loreto Francesco , Tattini Massimiliano , Giordano Cristiana , Ferrini Francesco , Brunetti Cecilia , Centritto Mauro
Published: November 2015

The ability to modify mesophyll conductance (gm) in response to changes in irradiance may be a component of the acclimation of plants to shade‐sun transitions, thus influencing species‐specific distributions along light‐gradients, and the ecological niches for the different species. To test this hypothesis we grew three woody species of the Oleaceae family, the evergreen Phillyrea latifolia (sun‐requiring), the deciduous Fraxinus ornus (facultative sun‐requiring) and the hemi‐deciduous Ligustrum vulgare (shade tolerant) at 30 or 100% sunlight irradiance. We show that neither mesophyll conductance calculated with combined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques (gm) nor CO2 assimilation significantly varied in F. ornus because of sunlight irradiance. This corroborates previous suggestions that species with high plasticity for light requirements, do not need to undertake extensive reorganization of leaf conductances to CO2 diffusion to adapt to different light environments. On the other hand, gm steeply declined in L. vulgare and increased in P. latifolia exposed to full‐sun conditions. In these two species, leaf anatomical traits are in part responsible for light‐driven changes in gm, as revealed by the correlation between gm and mesophyll conductance estimated by anatomical parameters (gmA). Nonetheless, gm was greatly overestimated by gmA when leaf metabolism was impaired because of severe light stress. We show that gm is maximum at the light intensity at which plant species have evolved and we conclude that gm actually plays a key role in the sun and shade adaptation of Mediterranean species. The limits of gmA in predicting mesophyll conductance are also highlighted.
The Theory and Practice of Welfare Partnerships: The Case of the Cultural Sector
Authors: McCall Vikki , Rummery Kirstein
Published: November 2015

Partnership working in the welfare state has moved from the margins to the mainstream in terms of achieving policy objectives. Drawing on interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical developments in the field, this article presents a framework for analyzing welfare partnerships that give precedence to the issues of trust and interdependence. This article presents findings from a study of local authority museum services in Scotland, England and Wales to test this framework. A series of case studies revealed that partnerships have been driven by a number of factors including policy, power, funding and people. Partnerships could gain services credibility, but trust and interdependence were compromised by conflictual and unequal relationships. Partnerships were often short term, lacked ongoing maintenance plans and limited by their type of funding. The article proposes that further analysis of the level of individual agency at ground level be considered when thinking about partnerships in the cultural sector.
Disabling Ideas – Disabling Policies: The Case of Disability Employment Policy in the Newly Established Israeli State
Authors: Holler Roni
Published: November 2015

By integrating a social perspective of disability with an ideational approach to social policy, the present study seeks to illuminate the central role of ideas in shaping disability policy. Using employment policy towards civilian disabled people in the newly established Israeli State (1948–65) as a case study, this examination highlights the key role played by the Israeli welfare system in excluding disabled people and structuring the disability category. This case illustrates how the paradigmatic perception of disability, loaded with patronizing attitudes towards the new Mizrachi immigrants, operated both as ‘cognitive locks’ and as a means for gradual yet transformative change. It is argued that this kind of ideational change is best identified and interpreted by assuming that paradigms are relational in nature.
Biphasic decay of the Ca transient results from increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca leak
Authors: Sankaranarayanan Rajiv , Li Yatong , Greensmith David J. , Eisner David A. , Venetucci Luigi
Published: November 2015

Key points

Ca leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor (RyR) reduces the amplitude of the Ca transient and slows its rate of decay.

In the presence of β‐adrenergic stimulation, RyR‐mediated Ca leak produces a biphasic decay of the Ca transient with a fast early phase and a slow late phase.

Two forms of Ca leak have been studied, Ca‐sensitising (induced by caffeine) and non‐sensitising (induced by ryanodine) and both induce biphasic decay of the Ca transient.

Only Ca‐sensitising leak can be reversed by traditional RyR inhibitors such as tetracaine.

Ca leak can also induce Ca waves. At low levels of leak, waves occur. As leak is increased, first biphasic decay and then slowed monophasic decay is seen. The level of leak has major effects on the shape of the Ca transient.

In heart failure, a reduction in Ca transient amplitude and contractile dysfunction can by caused by Ca leak through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca channel (ryanodine receptor, RyR) and/or decreased activity of the SR Ca ATPase (SERCA). We have characterised the effects of two forms of Ca leak (Ca‐sensitising and non‐sensitising) on calcium cycling and compared with those of SERCA inhibition. We measured [Ca2+]i with fluo‐3 in voltage‐clamped rat ventricular myocytes. Increasing SR leak with either caffeine (to sensitise the RyR to Ca activation) or ryanodine (non‐sensitising) had similar effects to SERCA inhibition: decreased systolic [Ca2+]i, increased diastolic [Ca2+]i and slowed decay. However, in the presence of isoproterenol, leak produced a biphasic decay of the Ca transient in the majority of cells while SERCA inhibition produced monophasic decay. Tetracaine reversed the effects of caffeine but not of ryanodine. When caffeine (1 mmol l−1) was added to a cell which displayed Ca waves, the wave frequency initially increased before waves disappeared and biphasic decay developed. Eventually (at higher caffeine concentrations), the biphasic decay was replaced by slow decay. We conclude that, in the presence of adrenergic stimulation, Ca leak can produce biphasic decay; the slow phase results from the leak opposing Ca uptake by SERCA. The degree of leak determines whether decay of Ca waves, biphasic or monophasic, occurs.
Modular Design for a Single-Phase Manifold Mini/Microchannel Cold Plate
Authors: Zhou Feng , Liu Yan , Liu Yanghe , Joshi Shailesh N. , Dede Ercan M.
Published: November 2015

The present work is related to the design of a manifold mini/microchannel heat sink with high modularity and performance for electronics cooling, utilizing two well established (i.e., jet impingement and channel flow) cooling technologies. A manifold system with cylindrical connection tubes and tapered inserts is designed for uniform coolant distribution among different channels and easy manufacturing of the whole cooling device. The design of the insert provides freedom to manipulate the flow structure within each manifold section and balance the cooling performance and required pumping power for the cold plate. Due to the optimized tapered shape of the insert inlet branches, fluid flows more uniformly through the entire heat sink fin region leading to uniform heat sink base temperatures. Extending the design of the heat sink fin structure from the mini to microscale, and doubling of the number of insert inlet/outlet branches, results in an 80% increase in the cooling performance, from 30 kW/(m2 · K) to 54 kW/(m2 · K), with only a 0.94 kPa added pressure drop penalty. The present cold plate design also provides flexibility to assemble manifold sections in different configurations to reach different flow structures, and thus different cooling performance, without redesign. The details of the modular manifold and possible configurations of a cold plate comprising three manifold sections are shown herein. A conjugate flow and heat transfer three-dimensional (3D) numerical model is developed for each configuration of the cold plate to demonstrate the merits of each modular design. Parallel flow configurations are used to satisfy a uniform cooling requirement from each module, and it is shown that “U-shape” parallel flow “base” configuration cools the modules more uniformly than a “Z-shape” flow pattern due to intrinsic pressure distribution characteristics. A serial fluid flow configuration requires the minimum coolant flow rate with a gradually increasing device temperature along the flow direction. Two mixed (i.e., parallel + serial flow) configurations achieve either cooling performance similar to the U-shape configuration with slightly more than half of the coolant flow rate, or cooling of a specific module to a much lower temperature level. Generally speaking, the current cold plate design significantly extends its application to different situations with distinct cooling requirements.
Nonslipping Contact Between a Mismatch Film and a Finite-Thickness Graded Substrate
Authors: Peijian Chen , Shaohua Chen , Yin Yao
Published: November 2015

The contact behavior of an elastic film subjected to a mismatch strain on a finite-thickness graded substrate is investigated, in which the contact interface is assumed to be nonslipping and the shear modulus of the substrate varies exponentially in the thickness direction. The Fourier transform method is adopted in order to reduce the governing partial differential equations to integral ones. With the help of numerical calculation, the interfacial shear stress, the internal normal stress in the film and the stress intensity factors are predicted for cases with different material parameters and geometric ones, including the modulus ratio of the film to the substrate, the inhomogeneous feature of the graded substrate, as well as the profile of the contacting film. All the physical predictions can be used to estimate the potential failure modes of the film–substrate interface. Furthermore, it is found that the result of a finite-thickness model is significantly different from the prediction of a generally adopted half-plane one. The study should be helpful for the design of film–substrate systems in real applications.
A New MPPT Algorithm for Vehicle Integrated Solar Energy System
Authors: Nakir Ismail , Durusu Ali , Akca Hakan , Ajder Ali , Ayaz Ramazan , Ugur Enes , Tanrioven Mugdesem
Published: November 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered as a support unit and eco-friendly energy source for the electric vehicles. If the surface of the electric vehicle is covered by PV cells, it is possible to store considerable amount of energy in the battery system. In this study, different maximum power point trackers (MPPT) with different maximum power point (MPP) tracking algorithms have been tested on a PV structure moving according to a predefined motion loop. Compatibility of each algorithm to moving systems, such as electric vehicles, is presented in a real experimental environment. As a result of these experiments, positive factors in each algorithm have been defined and a new MPP tracking algorithm convenient for moving vehicle has been proposed. The proposed MPPT algorithm shows a better performance than other MPPT algorithms under fast varying radiations. However, proposed algorithm brings slightly higher costs compared to usage of other MPPT algorithms since it requires the measurement of solar irradiance. The developed algorithm is described in detail and comparative analysis and performance evaluation with other algorithms are presented.
Acoustic properties of vowel production in prelingually deafened Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implants
Authors: Yang Jing , Brown Emily , Fox Robert A. , Xu Li
Published: November 2015

The present study examined the acoustic features of vowel production in Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implants (CIs). The subjects included 14 native Mandarin-speaking, prelingually deafened children with CIs (2.9–8.3 yr old) and 60 age-matched, normal-hearing (NH) children (3.1–9.0 years old). Each subject produced a list of monosyllables containing seven Mandarin vowels: [i, a, u, y, ɤ, ʅ, ɿ]. Midpoint F1 and F2 of each vowel token were extracted and normalized to eliminate the effects of different vocal tract sizes. Results showed that the CI children produced significantly longer vowels and less compact vowel categories than the NH children did. The CI children's acoustic vowel space was reduced due to a retracted production of the vowel [i]. The vowel space area showed a strong negative correlation with age at implantation (r = −0.80). The analysis of acoustic distance showed that the CI children produced corner vowels [a, u] similarly to the NH children, but other vowels (e.g., [ʅ, ɿ]) differently from the NH children, which suggests that CI children generally follow a similar developmental path of vowel acquisition as NH children. These findings highlight the importance of early implantation and have implications in clinical aural habilitation in young children with CIs.
Transmission of ultrasonic waves at oblique incidence to composite laminates with spring-type interlayer interfaces
Authors: Ishii Yosuke , Biwa Shiro
Published: November 2015

The transmission characteristics of ultrasonic waves at oblique incidence to composite laminates are analyzed theoretically by the stiffness matrix method. The analysis takes into account the presence of thin resin-rich regions between adjacent plies as spring-type interfaces with normal and shear stiffnesses. The amplitude transmission coefficient of longitudinal wave through a unidirectional laminate immersed in water is shown to be significantly influenced by the frequency, the interlayer interfacial stiffnesses, and the incident angle. Using Floquet's theorem, the dispersion relation of the infinitely extended laminate structure is calculated and compared to the transmission coefficient of laminates of finite thickness. This reveals that the ranges of frequency and interfacial stiffnesses where the Floquet waves lie in the band-gaps agree well with those where the transmission coefficient of the finite layered structure is relatively small, indicating that the band-gaps appear even in the laminate with a finite number of plies. The amplitude transmission coefficient for an 11-ply carbon-epoxy unidirectional composite laminate is experimentally obtained for various frequencies and incident angles. The low-transmission zones observed in the experimental results, which are due to the critical angle of the quasi-longitudinal wave and the Bragg reflection, are shown to be favorably compared with the theory.
Optimized vector sound intensity measurements with a tetrahedral arrangement of microphones in a spherical shell
Authors: Sondergaard Thomas , Wille Morten
Published: November 2015

Recent times have seen the introduction of small spherical arrays whose usefulness as sound intensity probes is the focus of this paper. The presented probe consists of a spherical shell, 30 mm in diameter, housing four 14 in. microphones arranged in a regular tetrahedral configuration. Classical formulae may be used to estimate the sound intensity vector, as may methods based on spherical harmonics decomposition. Results are shown to be comparable to those obtained from classical sound intensity probes. The existence of an analytical model for a plane wave's diffraction about a sphere provides a means for adopting common optimization techniques for potentially improving the intensity vector estimate, however. This paper examines the validity of non-linear least squares optimization in conjunction with the proposed spherical sound intensity probe when placed in the following sound fields: (1) a simple plane wave; (2) a plane wave corrupted by noise; and (3) multiple incident plane waves. Under certain conditions, the probe is shown to greatly extend the operational frequency range of classical sound intensity probes. The optimization algorithm is found to lack robustness against deviations from plane wave conditions, however.
Pacific Rim mathematicians coaxed from their ivory towers
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: November 2015

Programs to yoke mathematics to industrial needs are booming across the Asia-Pacific region.
Evidence gaps and ethical review of multicenter studies
Authors: Ervin Ann-Margret , Taylor Holly A. , Meinert Curtis L. , Ehrhardt Stephan
Published: November 2015

Empirical research is needed to guide federal policy
Dust observations at orbital altitudes surrounding Mars
Authors: Andersson L. , Weber T. D. , Malaspina D. , Crary F. , Ergun R. E. , Delory G. T. , Fowler C. M. , Morooka M. W. , McEnulty T. , Eriksson A. I. , Andrews D. J. , Horanyi M. , Collette A. , Yelle R. , Jakosky B. M.
Published: November 2015

Dust is common close to the martian surface, but no known process can lift appreciable concentrations of particles to altitudes above ~150 kilometers. We present observations of dust at altitudes ranging from 150 to above 1000 kilometers by the Langmuir Probe and Wave instrument on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft. Based on its distribution, we interpret this dust to be interplanetary in origin. A comparison with laboratory measurements indicates that the dust grain size ranges from 1 to 12 micrometers, assuming a typical grain velocity of ~18 kilometers per second. These direct observations of dust entering the martian atmosphere improve our understanding of the sources, sinks, and transport of interplanetary dust throughout the inner solar system and the associated impacts on Mars’s atmosphere.
The ecology of the microbiome: Networks, competition, and stability
Authors: Coyte Katharine Z. , Schluter Jonas , Foster Kevin R.
Published: November 2015

What makes the gut microbiome stable?

Classically, we think of our microbiome as stable, benign, and cooperative. Recent experimental work is beginning to unpick essential functions that can be attributed to the stable microbiota of humans. To be able to manipulate the microbiome to improve health, we need to understand community structure and composition and we need models to quantify and predict stability. Coyte
et al.
applied concepts and tools from community ecology to gut microbiome assembly. Independently developed models converged on a surprising answer: A high diversity of species is likely to coexist stably when the system is dominated by competitive, rather than cooperative, interactions.

Science
, this issue p.
663
How to isolate americium
Authors: Soderquist Chuck
Published: November 2015

An electrolytic process enables isolation of the radioactive element americium from used nuclear fuel

[Also see Report by

Dares
et al.

]
A Subset of CD4/CD8 Double-Negative T Cells Expresses HIV Proteins in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: DeMaster Laura K. , Liu Xiaohe , VanBelzen D. Jake , Trinité Benjamin , Zheng Lingjie , Agosto Luis M. , Migueles Stephen A. , Connors Mark , Sambucetti Lidia , Levy David N. , Pasternak Alexander O. , O'Doherty Una
Published: November 2015

A major goal in HIV eradication research is characterizing the reservoir cells that harbor HIV in the presence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reseed viremia after treatment is stopped. In general, it is assumed that the reservoir consists of CD4
+
T cells that express no viral proteins. However, recent findings suggest that this may be an overly simplistic view and that the cells that contribute to the reservoir may be a diverse population that includes both CD4
+
and CD4
−
cells. In this study, we directly infected resting CD4
+
T cells and used fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and fiber-optic array scanning technology (FAST) to identify and image cells expressing HIV Gag. We found that Gag expression from integrated proviruses occurred in resting cells that lacked surface CD4, likely resulting from Nef- and Env-mediated receptor internalization. We also extended our approach to detect cells expressing HIV proteins in patients suppressed on ART. We found evidence that rare Gag
+
cells persist during ART and that these cells are often negative for CD4. We propose that these double-negative α/β T cells that express HIV protein may be a component of the long-lived reservoir.

IMPORTANCE
A reservoir of infected cells persists in HIV-infected patients during antiretroviral therapy (ART) that leads to rebound of virus if treatment is stopped. In this study, we used flow cytometry and cell imaging to characterize protein expression in HIV-infected resting cells. HIV Gag protein can be directly detected in infected resting cells and occurs with simultaneous loss of CD4, consistent with the expression of additional viral proteins, such as Env and Nef. Gag
+
CD4
−
cells can also be detected in suppressed patients, suggesting that a subset of infected cells express proteins during ART. Understanding the regulation of viral protein expression during ART will be key to designing effective strategies to eradicate HIV reservoirs.
Does physical exposure throughout working life influence chair-rise performance in midlife? A retrospective cohort study of associations between work and physical function in Denmark
Authors: Møller Anne , Reventlow Susanne , Hansen Åse Marie , Andersen Lars L , Siersma Volkert , Lund Rikke , Avlund Kirsten , Andersen Johan Hviid , Mortensen Ole Steen
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Our aim was to study associations between physical exposures throughout working life and physical function measured as chair-rise performance in midlife.

Methods

The Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank (CAMB) provided data about employment and measures of physical function. Individual job histories were assigned exposures from a job exposure matrix. Exposures were standardised to ton-years (lifting 1000 kg each day in 1 year), stand-years (standing/walking for 6 h each day in 1 year) and kneel-years (kneeling for 1 h each day in 1 year). The associations between exposure-years and chair-rise performance (number of chair-rises in 30 s) were analysed in multivariate linear and non-linear regression models adjusted for covariates.

Results

Mean age among the 5095 participants was 59 years in both genders, and, on average, men achieved 21.58 (SD=5.60) and women 20.38 (SD=5.33) chair-rises in 30 s. Physical exposures were associated with poorer chair-rise performance in both men and women, however, only associations between lifting and standing/walking and chair-rise remained statistically significant among men in the final model. Spline regression analyses showed non-linear associations and confirmed the findings.

Conclusions

Higher physical exposure throughout working life is associated with slightly poorer chair-rise performance. The associations between exposure and outcome were non-linear.
Automated PCR detection ofBRAFmutations in colorectal adenocarcinoma: a diagnostic test accuracy study
Authors: Colling Richard , Wang Lai Mun , Soilleux Elizabeth
Published: November 2015

Background

Testing forBRAFmutations in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is important in the screening pathway for Lynch syndrome and is of prognostic value to guide management. This is a diagnostic accuracy study of the Idylla system, a novel and automated alternative PCR system.

Methods

100 consecutive formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded CRC resection cases were tested forBRAFmutations using the Idylla automated platform and compared with standard (Cobas) PCR.

Results

The sensitivity of the IdyllaBRAFtest was 100% and the specificity was 96%. Only one discordant Idylla positive/standard PCR negative result occurred and on Droplet Digital PCR demonstrated a mutation not identified by traditional PCR in this case.

Conclusion

This study has validated the Idylla system forBRAFtesting in CRC and demonstrated a possibly greater sensitivity, in addition to cost effectiveness and shorter turnaround time, when compared with standard PCR.
Consequences of endocarditis in an adult cow with a ventricular septal defect
Authors: Sherwin Virginia , Baiker Kerstin , Wapenaar Wendela
Published: November 2015

The clinical and pathological findings in a nine‐year‐old cow with a pre‐existing ventricular septal defect and clinical signs of an increased tendency of haemorrhage and lameness, developing into recumbency, are described. On clinical examination, primary and secondary haemostasis defects were evident, along with hindlimb lameness with no indication of an underlying musculoskeletal or neurological cause. There was pyrexia of unknown origin. Clinical haematology revealed a thrombocytopenia. Because of worsening of clinical signs, the cow was euthanased. On postmortem examination, a subaortal perimembranous ventricular septal defect with a prolapsed right aortic cusp and a vegetative endocarditis were found, along with histological evidence of systemic microthrombi. The bacteraemia associated with the endocarditis along with the microthrombi resulted most likely in disseminated intra vascular coagulopathy. The lameness is thought to have been due to arterial thromboembolism in the distal limb following the release of a microthrombus from the endocarditis lesion.
Non-flat extension of flat vector bundles
Authors: Biswas Indranil , Heu Viktoria
Published: November 2015

We construct a pair [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a holomorphic vector bundle over a compact Riemann surface and [Formula: see text] a holomorphic subbundle, such that both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] admit holomorphic connections, but [Formula: see text] does not.
Two different modes of oscillation in a gene transcription regulatory network with interlinked positive and negative feedback loops
Authors: Karmakar Rajesh
Published: November 2015

We study the oscillatory behavior of a gene regulatory network with interlinked positive and negative feedback loop. The frequency and amplitude are two important properties of oscillation. The studied network produces two different modes of oscillation. In one mode (mode-I), frequency of oscillation remains constant over a wide range of amplitude and in the other mode (mode-II) the amplitude of oscillation remains constant over a wide range of frequency. Our study reproduces both features of oscillations in a single gene regulatory network and shows that the negative plus positive feedback loops in gene regulatory network offer additional advantage. We identified the key parameters/variables responsible for different modes of oscillation. The network is flexible in switching between different modes by choosing appropriately the required parameters/variables.
Jets in heavy ion collisions at the LHC
Authors: Roland Christof
Published: November 2015

In this document I present a brief review of the concepts of jet physics employed in heavy ion physics. Fast partons originating from scatterings with large momentum transfer are produced at very short time-scales and subsequently propagate through the strongly interacting medium produced in the collisions of heavy nuclei. They feature the only experimental handle available to directly study the interaction of a well defined probe and the medium. Consequently they are ideally suited to investigate the nature of the medium produced in these collisions and the mechanism of interaction between the medium and the partons. The experimental methods necessary to reconstruct jets originating from fragmenting partons in the environment of high particle multiplicity heavy ion collisions will be discussed. Physics observables suited to investigate the parton medium interaction will be introduced and a summary of recent results on jet physics in heavy ion collisions is presented.
On the deformed cat state: Generating scheme via amplitude dispersion and the analysis of nonclassical features
Authors: Amellal H. , Meslouhi A. , Hassouni Y.
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we propose a simple scheme for generating a deformed cat state based on a dissipative amplitude interaction between an anharmonic oscillator and a special modified bosonic group. The nonclassical properties of the superposition result exhibit an interesting behavior depending on the input parameters. Finally, we discuss some prominent possibilities in creating a generalized Bell state, resulting from an approximate displacement operator under a beam splitter interaction.
Elastic response of DNA molecules under the action of interfacial traction and stretching: An elastic thin rod model
Authors: Xiao Ye , Huang Zaixing , Qiang Lei , Gao Jun
Published: November 2015

In a multivalent salt solution, a segment of DNA is modeled as an elastic rod subjected to the interfacial traction. The shooting method is used to calculate the equilibrium configurations of condensed DNA under the action of the longitudinal end-force and interfacial traction simultaneously. The results show that the shapes of DNA are mainly determined by the competition between the interfacial energy and elastic strain energy of stretching. The change of end-to-end distance with the longitudinal end-force is consistent with the worm-like chain (WLC) model. The higher the concentration is, the stronger the condensation of DNA.
Identities of sum of two PI-algebras in the case of positive characteristic
Authors: Kaygorodov Ivan , Lopatin Artem A. , Popov Yury
Published: November 2015

We consider the following question posted by Beidar and Mikhalev in 1995 for an associative ring [Formula: see text]: is it true that if the subrings [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] satisfy polynomial identities, then [Formula: see text] also satisfies a polynomial identity? Over a field of positive characteristic we establish new conditions on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] that guarantee a positive answer to the question. We find upper and low bounds on the degrees of identities of [Formula: see text].