bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
QUASI-EXACTLY ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS OF TWO ELECTRONS IN VERTICALLY COUPLED RINGS
Authors: GUO GUANG-JIE , REN ZHONG-ZHOU , ZHOU BO , GUO XIAO-YONG
Published: November 2012

The model of two-electron interacting with the Coulomb potential in two vertically coupled concentric 1D rings is investigated by an analytical method. We show that the Schrödinger equation of relative part can be reduced to a five-term recurrence relation with starting values on both singlet and triplet sections. Under truncation conditions, closed polynomial solutions can be found with the particular values of the radius and the spatial separation between rings.
NONLINEAR PROPAGATION OF SOUND EMITTED BY HIGH SPEED WAVE PACKETS
Authors: AVITAL ELDAD J. , MUSAFIR RICARDO E. , KORAKIANITIS THEODOSIOS
Published: November 2012

Jet's sound-field emitted by a large scale source modeled as a wave packet is considered. Attention is given to nonlinear propagation effects caused by the source's supersonic Mach number and high amplitude. The approach of the Westervelt equation is adapted to derive a new set of weakly nonlinear sound propagation equations. An optimized Lax–Wendorff scheme is proposed for the newly derived equations. It is shown that these equations can be simulated using a time step close to the CFL limit even for high amplitudes unlike the conventional finite-difference simulation approach of the Westervelt equation. Two- and three-dimensional sound propagations were simulated for symmetric and asymmetric supersonic wave packets. It is seen that nonlinearity in the sound field is affected by the wave packet form, an effect that cannot be captured by a 1D propagation equation. High skewness in the pressure fluctuation and its time derivative were found near the Mach direction, showing crackle-like features. Pressure time history and frequency spectra are also investigated.
DYNAMICS OF A COUPLED CAVITY SYSTEM COMPOSED OF THREE CAVITIES
Authors: ZHONG ZHI-RONG , LIN XIU , ZHANG BIN , YANG ZHEN-BIAO
Published: November 2012

We study the one-excitation dynamics of a coupled cavity system composed of three cavities, each containing a two-level atom. By adjusting the atom–cavity detuning Δ, cavity–cavity hopping rate v and the initial atomic excitation residential, a wide variety of time-evolution behaviors can be realized. Under certain conditions, the two-atom maximally entangled states and three-atom W states can be obtained. The results provide a theoretical basis for the manipulation of quantum states in such a system and will contribute to the understanding of more complex systems.
Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization of a Non-Robertsonian Dicentric Chromosome 14;19 Identified in a Girl with Short Stature and Amenorrhea
Authors: Dutta Usha R. , Pidugu Vijaya Kumar , Dalal Ashwin
Published: November 2012

We report a 16-year-old girl who presented with short stature and amenorrhea. Initially the cytogenetic analysis showed the presence of a mosaic non-Robertsonian dicentric chromosome involving chromosomes 14 and 19. Subsequent molecular cytogenetic analysis by fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) using whole chromosome paints, centromeric probes, as well as gene specific probes confirmed the dicentric nature of the derivative chromosome and indicated that the rearrangement involved the short arms of both of these chromosomes. Furthermore, we also determined that the chromosome 19p13.3 breakpoint occurred within the terminal 1 Mb region. This is the first report of a mosaic non-Robertsonian dicentric chromosome involving chromosomes 14 and 19 with the karyotype determined as 45,XX,dic(14;19)(p11.2;p13.3)[35]/46,XX[15], and we suggest that the chromosome rearrangement could be the cause of clinical phenotype.
Sonochemical Synthesis of Er3+‐Doped ZnO Nanospheres with Enhanced Upconversion Photoluminescence
Authors: Geng Jun , Song Guang-Hui , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: November 2012

Er3+‐doped ZnO nanospheres have been synthesized via a sonochemical conversion process. The formation mechanism of these nanocrystals is connected with the sonochemical effect of ultrasound irradiation. The as‐prepared Er3+ doped ZnO nanospheres show enhanced photoluminescence and upconversion photoluminescence properties compared with pure ZnO.
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics and Distributions Time to Achieve a Given Level of a Stochastic Process for Energy of System
Authors: Ryazanov V. V.
Published: November 2012

In a previous paper (Ryazanov (2011)) with the joint statistical distribution for the energy and lifetime (time to achieve a given level of a stochastic process for energy of system) to derive thermodynamic relationships, clarifying similar expressions of extended irreversible thermodynamics we used an exponential distribution of lifetime. In this paper, we explore a more realistic expression for the distribution of time to achieve a given level of a stochastic process for energy of system (or relaxation times or lifetimes), and we analyse how such distribution affects the corresponding expressions of nonequilibrium entropy, temperature, and entropy production.
Traumatic Injury Causing Intraperitoneal Hemorrhage of an Occult Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Amin Arpit , Biswas Saptarshi , Baccay Francis
Published: November 2012

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-secreting tumor derived from chromaffin cells. The diagnosis is usually suggested by classic history in a symptomatic patient, presence of a strong family history in a patient, or discovery of an incidental mass on imaging in an asymptomatic patient. Traumatic hemorrhage into an occult pheochromocytoma presenting as hypovolemic shock is a rare presentation of pheochromocytoma. We report a case of a 48-year-old female, who presented in hypovolemic shock due to unilateral adrenal hemorrhage secondary to a fall from horse. Computed tomographic imaging revealed that the source of the hypovolemic shock was hemorrhagic right adrenal mass with active extravasation. The patient underwent emergent selective arterial embolization of right superior adrenal artery and a small adrenal branch from the right renal artery to control the hemorrhage. The patient subsequently progressed to sepsis and MODS, needing multiple surgical procedures and a protracted recovery in the ICU. In the ICU, the patient suffered from rapid cyclic fluctuation of her systolic blood pressure and was subsequently diagnosed with pheochromocytoma secondary to traumatic hemorrhage. We discuss this rare case along with the presentation and diagnostic workup of this critically ill patient with a previously undiagnosed pheochromocytoma.
Solar Neutrino Observables Sensitive to Matter Effects
Authors: Minakata H. , Peña-Garay C.
Published: November 2012

We discuss constraints on the coefficientAMSWwhich is introduced to simulate the effect of weaker or stronger matter potential for electron neutrinos with the current and future solar neutrino data. The currently available solar neutrino data leads to a boundAMSW=1.47+0.54−0.42(+1.88−0.82)at 1σ(3σ) CL, which is consistent with the Standard Model predictionAMSW=1. For weaker matter potential (AMSW<1), the constraint which comes from the flat8B neutrino spectrum is already very tight, indicating the evidence for matter effects. However for stronger matter potential (AMSW>1), the bound is milder and is dominated by the day-night asymmetry of8B neutrino flux recently observed by Super-Kamiokande. Among the list of observables of ongoing and future solar neutrino experiments, we find that (1) an improved precision of the day-night asymmetry of8B neutrinos, (2) precision measurements of the low-energy quasi-monoenergetic neutrinos, and (3) the detection of the upturn of the8B neutrino spectrum at low energies are the best choices to improve the bound onAMSW.
New Strategy for a Suitable Fast Stabilization of the Biomethanization Performance
Authors: Fernández-Güelfo L. A. , Álvarez-Gallego C. J. , Sales Márquez D. , Romero García L. I.
Published: November 2012

The start-up strategies for thermophilic anaerobic reactors usually consist of an initial mesophilic stage (35°C), with an approximate duration of 185 days, and a subsequent thermophilic stage (55°C), which normally requires around 60 days to achieve the system stabilizatio. During the first 8–10 days of the mesophilic stage, the reactor is not fed so that the inoculum, which is generally a mesophilic anaerobic sludge, may be adapted to the organic solid waste. Between mesophilic and thermophilic conditions the reactor is still not fed in an effort to prevent possible imbalances in the proces. As a consequence, the start-up and stabilization of the biomethanization performance described in the literature require, at least, around 245 days. In this sense, a new strategy for the start-up and stabilization phases is presented in this study. This approach allows an important reduction in the overall time necessary for these stages in an anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) operated at thermophilic-dry conditions for treating the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW): 60 days versus 245 days of conventional strategies. The new strategy uses modified SEBAC technology to adapt an inoculum to the OFMSW and the operational conditions prior to seeding the CSTR.
Plasmonic Nanostructure for Enhanced Light Absorption in Ultrathin Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: He Jinna , Fan Chunzhen , Wang Junqiao , Cheng Yongguang , Ding Pei , Liang Erjun
Published: November 2012

The performances of thin film solar cells are considerably limited by the low light absorption. Plasmonic nanostructures have been introduced in the thin film solar cells as a possible solution around this issue in recent years. Here, we propose a solar cell design, in which an ultrathin Si film covered by a periodic array of Ag strips is placed on a metallic nanograting substrate. The simulation results demonstrate that the designed structure gives rise to 170% light absorption enhancement over the full solar spectrum with respect to the bared Si thin film. The excited multiple resonant modes, including optical waveguide modes within the Si layer, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag stripes, and surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) arising from the bottom grating, and the coupling effect between LSPR and SPP modes through an optimization of the array periods are considered to contribute to the significant absorption enhancement. This plasmonic solar cell design paves a promising way to increase light absorption for thin film solar cell applications.
A Novel Evaluation Model for Hybrid Power System Based on Vague Set and Dempster‐Shafer Evidence Theory
Authors: Niu Dongxiao , Wei Yanan , Shi Yan , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: November 2012

Because clean energy and traditional energy have different advantages and disadvantages, it is of great significance to evaluate comprehensive benefits for hybrid power systems. Based on thorough analysis of important characters on hybrid power systems, an index system including security, economic benefit, environmental benefit, and social benefit is established in this paper. Due to advantages of processing abundant uncertain and fuzzy information, vague set is used to determine the decision matrix. Convert vague decision matrix to real one by vague combination ruleand determine uncertain degrees of different indexes by grey incidence analysis, then the mass functions of different comment set in different indexes are obtained. Information can be fused in accordance with Dempster‐Shafer (D‐S) combination rule and the evaluation result is got by vague set and D‐S evidence theory. A simulation of hybrid power system including thermal power, wind power, and photovoltaic power in China is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of the proposed design scheme. It can be clearly seen that the uncertainties in decision making can be dramatically decreased compared with existing methods in the literature. The actual implementation results illustrate that the proposed index system and evaluation model based on vague set and D‐S evidence theory are effective and practical to evaluate comprehensive benefit of hybrid power system.
Angiosarcoma of the Right Atrium Presenting as Syncope and Hemorrhagic Pericardial Tamponade
Authors: Sams V. G. , Tsapenko A. , Kravitz J. N. , Gaines T. E.
Published: November 2012

Angiosarcoma of the heart is a rare malignancy that can present in many ways. It is an important diagnosis to consider in patients presenting with otherwise unexplained tamponade-type symptoms. Here we present a case of a young male who presented with hemorrhagic tamponade and underwent resection of a large angiosarcoma of the right atrium. In this case, we describe the rare presentation of angiosarcoma with its diagnostic approaches, hospital course, clinical management, and discussion.
Performance Comparison of Symmetric and Offset Reflector Antennas Adaptively Illuminated by Novel Triple Mode Feedhorn
Authors: Sharma Satish K. , Thyagarajan Mukund R.
Published: November 2012

Parabolic symmetric and offset reflector antennas adaptively illuminated using a novel triple-mode feedhorn (TE11+TM01+TE21) with different mode combinations and impedance and radiation performances are presented. The combination of the radiating modes in a feedhorn with proper amplitude and fixed phase values helps in electronically pointing the main beam of the radiating patterns such as that obtained in a beam-steering antenna with limited beam-scan range. This type of radiation performance virtually creates a displaced phase center location for the feedhorn, which, consequently, adaptively illuminates the reflector antenna surface. Impedance-matching bandwidths are preserved for both reflector antennas similar to the case of feedhorn alone. The copolarization gain and peak cross-polarization levels are far better with the offset reflector antenna than the symmetric reflector antenna. Such reflector antennas find applications in ground moving target indicator (GMTI) and space based radars. The investigation results are solely computed using FEKO full-wave analysis tool.
A Study of the Granulomatous Responses Induced by Different Strains ofSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: Zuim Nádia Regina Borim , Allegretti Silmara Marques , Linhares Arício Xavier , Magalhães Luiz Augusto , Zanotti-Magalhães Eliana Maria
Published: November 2012

The increased pathogenesis of theSchistosoma mansoniBH strain compared with the SJ strain has been attributed to the number of granulomas formed in experimental infections, which increase the mortality in definitive hosts. The aim of the present study was to investigate the development of granulomas around the eggs of theS. mansoniBH and SJ strains and to determine whether this host reaction was strain specific. Four experimental groups were analyzed. Two groups contained mice inoculated in the caudal vein with eggs from theS. mansoniBH or SJ strains and the other two contained mice that were infected with cercariae of the BH strain prior to being inoculated with eggs. The number of granulomas per tissue area in the lungs and liver, as well as the size of the granulomas, was analyzed to characterize the response to schistosome infection. The largest granulomatous responses were observed around eggs of the BH strain. Granulomas covered a larger area in the lungs of mice that were previously infected with cercariae and subsequently inoculated with eggs of the BH strain. These results indicated that specific granulomatous responses occurred following an infection with the BH and SJ strains ofS. mansoni.
Enhanced Hemostatic Performance of Tranexamic Acid-Loaded Chitosan/Alginate Composite Microparticles
Authors: Li Donghong , Li Pengxi , Zang Jiatao , Liu Jiancang
Published: November 2012

Novel microparticles based on chitosan and sodium alginate were prepared using emulsification and cross-linking technologies. The spherical microparticles had a porous surface and a diameter of2~40 μm. In simulated body fluid, these microparticles quickly swelled but gradually degraded. The results of the MTT assay revealed that a slight inhibition of cell proliferation was observed on day 2 and then gradually decreased afterward. No cell morphology changes were observed. By loading tranexamic acid, the hemostatic performance of the microparticles was obviously improved. Using fast-acting styptic powder (Flashclot) as the control, the hemostatic efficiency was investigated in rabbits using a liver transection bleeding model. It was found that both Flashclot and the microparticles achieved hemostasis in3.07±0.84 min and2.48±0.88 min, respectively; however, the tranexamic acid-loaded microparticles stopped the bleeding in1.90±0.75 min (P<0.05). Additionally, Flashclot resulted in heat injury to the experimental livers, while the microparticles did not. Thus, with their biodegradability, safety, and superior hemostatic efficiency, tranexamic acid-loaded microparticles might be a promising new powdered hemostatic agent with a wide range of potential applications.
Mental Disorders Associated with Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs: A Register-Based Study
Authors: Karjalainen Karoliina , Lintonen Tomi , Joukamaa Matti , Lillsunde Pirjo
Published: November 2012

Background/Aims: Mental disorders are associated with driving under the influence (DUI), but the evidence is scarce and mostly focused on a limited group of repeat drunken drivers. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine which mental disorders were risk factors for DUI of alcohol only (DUIA), of illicit drugs (DUID) or of alcohol and psychoactive prescription drugs (DUIAP), and whether and how the risk differs over time. Methods: A register-based case-control study was conducted. Cases (n = 44,188) suspected by the police of DUI during 1997–2007 and controls (n = 45,148) were drawn from the general Finnish population. The official national register of hospital treatments was the data source for mental disorders. The effects of mental disorders on DUI were estimated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Substance use disorders increased the risk of DUI overall. Childhood- and adolescence-onset disorders were a strong predictor of DUID, and bipolar and depressive disorders predicted DUIAP. The risk was highest soon after hospital admission with a psychiatric diagnosis, but it decreased over time. Conclusions: Actions to prevent DUI should be developed and implemented during the treatment of mental disorders.
Canalith Repositioning Procedures among 965 Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Authors: Prokopakis E. , Vlastos I.M. , Tsagournisakis M. , Christodoulou P. , Kawauchi H. , Velegrakis G.
Published: November 2012

Background: Canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) has increasingly been utilized for the last 15 years for the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). We assess the short- and long-term efficacy of CRP on the treatment of patients with BPPV. Methods: Nine hundred sixty-five patients (481 men and 484 women, from 18 to 87 years of age) were enrolled in this prospective study during 1995–2010. Inclusion criteria were a patient history compatible with BPPV and a positive provocative maneuver (either Dix-Hallpike or Roll test). Reported duration of symptoms at the time of their first examination varied from 1 day to 18 months. Variants of the Epley and Barbeque maneuver were used for posterior and anterior canal involvement, and horizontal canal involvement, respectively. Short-term follow-up was obtained 48 h and 7 days after initial treatment, whereas long-term follow-up was obtained at repeated 6-month intervals. Results: Symptoms subsided immediately in 819 patients (85%) by the first CRP. Only 19 patients (2%) required CRP more than 3 times. Patients’ mean follow-up was 74 months; symptom recurrence was noted in 139 patients. A statistically significantly higher recurrence rate was noted in elderly people or those with head trauma or a history of vestibular neuropathy (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides class IV evidence that CRP remains an efficient and long-lasting noninvasive treatment for BPPV, especially for younger patients without a history of head trauma or vestibular neuropathy. Elderly people have a significantly higher recurrence rate requiring additional education to minimize potential morbidity of their falls.
Ultrasonographic Assessment of Nail in Psoriatic Disease Shows a Link between Onychopathy and Distal Interphalangeal Joint Extensor Tendon Enthesopathy
Authors: Aydin Sibel Zehra , Castillo-Gallego Concepción , Ash Zoe R. , Marzo-Ortega Helena , Emery Paul , Wakefield Richard J. , Wittmann Miriam , McGonagle Dennis
Published: November 2012

Objective: We compared ultrasonography (US) with the modified nail psoriasis severity index (mNAPSI) to investigate the nail plate, nail matrix and adjacent tendons in subjects with psoriatic nail disease and to test the hypothesis that nail involvement was specifically linked to extensor tendon enthesopathy. Methods: 86 psoriatic patients (169 nails) and 20 healthy controls (HC) (40 nails) were assessed with both the mNAPSI and US. The thickness of the nail plate, nail matrix region and adjacent extensor tendon were assessed and compared with physical examination findings. Results: A good agreement between clinical and sonographic nail findings was noted (kappa value = 0.52, p < 0.0001). Entheseal thickening of the extensor tendon on US was more frequent in patients with clinical nail disease compared to patients without clinical nail disease in both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (38 vs. 16%, p = 0.03, and 47 vs. 19%, p = 0.008, respectively). Nail thickness, nail matrix and adjacent skin thickness were higher in psoriatic patients compared to HC. Conclusion: US and clinical findings show good correlation for the assessment of the nail in psoriatic disease. The demonstration of extensor tendon enthesopathy in both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis supports the importance of enthesopathy in nail disease pathogenesis whether or not clinical arthritis is present.
Evaluation of Satellite-Based and Reanalysis Precipitation Data in the Tropical Pacific
Authors: Pfeifroth Uwe , Mueller Richard , Ahrens Bodo
Published: November 2012

Global precipitation monitoring is essential for understanding the earth’s water and energy cycle. Therefore, usage of satellite-based precipitation data is necessary where in situ data are rare. In addition, atmospheric-model-based reanalysis data feature global data coverage and offer a full catalog of atmospheric variables including precipitation. In this study, two model-based reanalysis products, the interim reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA-Interim) and NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), as well as two satellite-based datasets obtained by the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCP) and Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite Data (HOAPS) are evaluated. The evaluation is based on monthly precipitation in the tropical Pacific Ocean during the time period 1989–2005. Rain-gauge atoll station data provided by the Pacific Rainfall Database (PACRAIN) are used as ground-based reference. It is shown that the analyzed precipitation datasets offer temporal correlations ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 for absolute amounts and from 0.6 to 0.75 for monthly anomalies. Average monthly deviations are in the range of 20%–30%. GPCP offers the highest correlation and lowest monthly deviations with reference to PACRAIN station data. The HOAPS precipitation data perform in the range of the reanalysis precipitation datasets. In high native spatial resolution, HOAPS reveals deficiencies owing to its relatively sparse temporal coverage. This result emphasizes that temporal coverage is critical for controlling the performance of precipitation monitoring. Both reanalysis products show similar systematic behaviors in overestimating small and medium precipitation amounts and underestimating high amounts.
Lifting of Ambient Air by Density Currents in Sheared Environments
Authors: Davies-Jones Robert , Markowski Paul
Published: November 2012

Two aspects of vorticity associated with cold pools are addressed. First, tilting of horizontal vortex tubes by the updraft at a gust front has been proposed as a means of getting near-ground rotation and hence a tornado. Theory and a numerical simulation are used to show that this mechanism will not work because warm air parcels approaching the gust front decelerate in strong adverse pressure gradient. The near-surface horizontal vorticity available for upward tilting is greatly reduced by horizontal compression before it is tilted. Consequently, uplifting of vortex tubes produces little vertical vorticity near the ground.

Second, it is shown that the baroclinic vorticity generated at the leading edge of the cold pool is transported rearward in the vortex sheet along the interface between cold and warm air, and the barotropic vorticity associated with environmental shear is conserved along streamlines. Warm parcels away from the interface do not acquire baroclinic vorticity to offset their barotropic vorticity, as assumed in a theory for long-lived squall lines. The vortex sheet has a far-field effect on the circulation in the warm air. A steady-state vortex method is used to propose why there is a steady noncirculating density current only when a lid is present and at a specific height.
A Theory for the Lower-Tropospheric Structure of the Moist Isentropic Circulation
Authors: Laliberté Frédéric , Shaw Tiffany , Pauluis Olivier
Published: November 2012

A theoretical model describing the structure of the dry and moist isentropic circulations in the lower troposphere is derived. It decomposes the meridional flow in the troposphere into three contributions: a dry equatorward flow, a cold moist equatorward flow, and a warm moist poleward flow in the mixed layer. The model is based on observations of the meridional mass fluxes joint distribution in potential temperature and equivalent potential temperature. It updates an existing model of the dry circulation by emphasizing the role of moisture in the mixed layer. The model is used to derive an expression for the ratio of moist to dry circulation strengths and this expression is used to assess the influence of surface thermodynamics on the circulations. It predicts that the moist circulation should be between 1.5 and 2 times as strong as the dry circulation and that this relative strength should not increase indefinitely with increasing surface temperature variability. The model also yields an expression for the ratio of total meridional heat fluxes to meridional sensible heat fluxes. This expression indicates that while an increase in the total heat fluxes occurs when surface temperature variability increases (via an increase in latent heat flux), it cannot increase indefinitely. The results suggest that changes in surface thermodynamic conditions must be constrained to constrain changes in the meridional overturning circulation associated with a warming climate.
Influence of Continental Ice Retreat on Future Global Climate
Authors: Hu Aixue , Meehl Gerald A. , Han Weiqing , Yin Jianjun , Wu Bingyi , Kimoto Masahide
Published: November 2012

Evidence from observations indicates a net loss of global land-based ice and a rise of global sea level. Other than sea level rise, it is not clear how this loss of land-based ice could affect other aspects of global climate in the future. Here, the authors use the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3) to evaluate the potential influence of shrinking land-based ice on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and surface climate in the next two centuries under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) A1B scenario with prescribed rates of melting for the Greenland Ice Sheet, West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and mountain glaciers and ice caps. Results show that the AMOC, in general, is only sensitive to the freshwater discharge directly into the North Atlantic over the next two centuries. If the loss of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would not significantly increase from its current rate, it would not have much effect on the AMOC. The AMOC slows down further only when the surface freshwater input due to runoff from land-based ice melt becomes large enough to generate a net freshwater gain in the upper North Atlantic. This further-weakened AMOC does not cool the global mean climate, but it does cause less warming, especially in the northern high latitudes and, in particular, in Europe. The projected precipitation increase in North America in the standard run becomes a net reduction in the simulation that includes land ice runoff, but there are precipitation increases in west Australia in the simulations where the AMOC slows down because of the inclusion of land-based ice runoff.
Ergonomics Collaboration in the Oil and Gas Industry in Southeast Asia
Authors: Khalid Halimahtun M. , Helander Martin G.
Published: November 2012

Global workplaces and multinational organizations in the oil and gas industry have created an environment in which human factors/ergonomics professionals collaborate to solve office ergonomics and process control design problems for clients. The demand for ergonomics expertise is growing, but the supply of certified ergonomists is limited. The situation is acute in Southeast Asia (SEA), given the lack of ergonomics awareness, training, and certification. We present three challenges that required ergonomics interventions and collaboration among ergonomists. Two of the projects involved multinational companies operating in SEA and one, a national company with global operations.
Leviathan calling
Authors: du Gay Paul
Published: November 2012

A spectre has haunted many forms of ‘social’ explanation over the course of the last century – the spectre of anti-statism. For not a few sociologists and social theorists, the state has long been regarded as the medium of enslavement, the very antithesis of what they take to be ‘civil society’. Here the state is viewed as a cold monster whose conducts (impersonalism, coercion, indifference, authority – the list is potentially endless) need to be relentlessly exposed and critiqued for their malign influence on the ‘whole human being’ and on ‘society’, which is seen as a naturally occurring phenomenon. This article argues that this enduring opposition between state and civil society represents an unfortunate error, arising from a perverse tradition which would do away with the state. This problematic tradition was born in liberal and democratic ideas of civil society, was embodied in the romantic apotheosis of the purely and metapolitically social, was radicalized by Marxist designs for a society without a state, and culminated in Nazism and Communism. It has survived, however, frequently ‘in mufti’, into our own times and can be found in the social sciences, inter alia, in contemporary social constructionist analyses, such as those associated with certain Foucauldian analytics of ‘government’, and in the moralizing edicts of ‘cosmopolitanism’. Against this tradition, the article sees the state as a remarkable, if fragile, achievement, whose withering away does and will continue to bring forth (predictable) monsters. Rather than the antithesis of society, the state is the major vehicle of human liberty, of social peace and security, and, paradoxically, provides sanctuary for the political critics who attack it.
A simple method to enable patient-tailored treatment and to motivate the patient to change behaviour
Authors: Vercoulen Jan H.
Published: November 2012

In clinical practice and in self-management studies it appears that it is very difficult to change behaviour in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to achieve adequate self-management. In this respect the role of motivational processes is underestimated and rarely is specifically targeted in interventions. In this article, the fundamentals of motivational processes are discussed followed by a detailed description of the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument (NCSI) method. The NCSI method is a simple method that enables patient-tailored treatment and to motivate patients to adhere to treatment goals. The NCSI method consists of three distinct but highly integrated components: (1) a short instrument measuring many details of health status; (2) an intervention that helps to identify individual treatment goals and to motivate the patient to change his behaviour; (3) an automated monitoring system that simply identifies patients with new problems in health status of self-management. All components are embedded in a web-based application which enhances simplicity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the NCSI method. The NCSI method is illustrated by a case study.
On a new class of Hardy-type inequalities
Authors: Adeleke EO , Čižmešija A , Oguntuase JA , Persson L-E , Pokaz D
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we generalize a Hardy-type inequality to the class of arbitrary non-negative functions bounded from below and above with a convex function multiplied with positive real constants. This enables us to obtain new generalizations of the classical integral Hardy, Hardy-Hilbert, Hardy-Littlewood-Pólya, and Pólya-Knopp inequalities as well as of Godunova’s and of some recently obtained inequalities in multidimensional settings. Finally, we apply a similar idea to functions bounded from below and above with a superquadratic function.

MSC: 26D10, 26D15.
False discovery rates in spectral identification
Authors: Jeong Kyowon , Kim Sangtae , Bandeira Nuno
Published: November 2012

Automated database search engines are one of the fundamental engines of high-throughput proteomics enabling daily identifications of hundreds of thousands of peptides and proteins from tandem mass (MS/MS) spectrometry data. Nevertheless, this automation also makes it humanly impossible to manually validate the vast lists of resulting identifications from such high-throughput searches. This challenge is usually addressed by using a Target-Decoy Approach (TDA) to impose an empirical False Discovery Rate (FDR) at a pre-determined thresholdx% with the expectation that at mostx% of the returned identifications would be false positives. But despite the fundamental importance of FDR estimates in ensuring the utility of large lists of identifications, there is surprisingly little consensus on exactly how TDA should be applied to minimize the chances of biased FDR estimates. In fact, since less rigorous TDA/FDR estimates tend to result in more identifications (at higher 'true' FDR), there is often little incentive to enforce strict TDA/FDR procedures in studies where the major metric of success is the size of the list of identifications and there are no follow up studies imposing hard cost constraints on the number of reported false positives.

Here we address the problem of the accuracy of TDA estimates of empirical FDR. Using MS/MS spectra from samples where we were able to define afactualFDR estimator of 'true' FDR we evaluate several popular variants of the TDA procedure in a variety of database search contexts. We show that the fraction of false identifications can sometimes be over 10×higher than reported and may be unavoidably high for certain types of searches. In addition, we further report that the two-pass search strategy seems the most promising database search strategy.

While unavoidably constrained by the particulars of any specific evaluation dataset, our observations support a series of recommendations towards maximizing the number of resulting identifications while controlling database searches with robust and reproducible TDA estimation of empirical FDR.
The family of DOF transcription factors in Brachypodium distachyon: phylogenetic comparison with rice and barley DOFs and expression profiling
Authors: Hernando-Amado Sara , González-Calle Virginia , Carbonero Pilar , Barrero-Sicilia Cristina
Published: November 2012

Background

Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that have played a central role both in evolution and in domestication, and are major regulators of development in living organisms. Plant genome sequences reveal that approximately 7% of all genes encode putative TFs. The DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) TF family has been associated with vital processes exclusive to higher plants and to their close ancestors (algae, mosses and ferns). These are seed maturation and germination, light-mediated regulation, phytohormone and plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, etc. In Hordeum vulgare and Oryza sativa, 26 and 30 different Dof genes, respectively, have been annotated. Brachypodium distachyon has been the first Pooideae grass to be sequenced and, due to its genomic, morphological and physiological characteristics, has emerged as the model system for temperate cereals, such as wheat and barley.

Results

Through searches in the B. distachyon genome, 27 Dof genes have been identified and a phylogenetic comparison with the Oryza sativa and the Hordeum vulgare DOFs has been performed. To explore the evolutionary relationship among these DOF proteins, a combined phylogenetic tree has been constructed with the Brachypodium DOFs and those from rice and barley. This phylogenetic analysis has classified the DOF proteins into four Major Cluster of Orthologous Groups (MCOGs). Using RT-qPCR analysis the expression profiles of the annotated BdDof genes across four organs (leaves, roots, spikes and seeds) has been investigated. These results have led to a classification of the BdDof genes into two groups, according to their expression levels. The genes highly or preferentially expressed in seeds have been subjected to a more detailed expression analysis (maturation, dry stage and germination).

Conclusions

Comparison of the expression profiles of the Brachypodium Dof genes with the published functions of closely related DOF sequences from the cereal species considered here, deduced from the phylogenetic analysis, indicates that although the expression profile has been conserved in many of the putative orthologs, in some cases duplication followed by subsequent divergence may have occurred (neo-functionalization).
Rapid identification of a major diffusion/perfusion mismatch in distal internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke
Authors: Hakimelahi Reza , Yoo Albert J , He Julian , Schwamm Lee H , Lev Michael H , Schaefer Pamela W , González Ramon Gilberto
Published: November 2012

Background

We tested the hypothesis that in patients with occlusion of the terminal internal carotid artery and/or the proximal middle cerebral artery, a diffusion abnormality of 70 ml or less is accompanied by a diffusion/perfusion mismatch of at least 100%.

Methods

Sixty-eight consecutive patients with terminal ICA and/or proximal MCA occlusions and who underwent diffusion/perfusion MRI within 24 hours of stroke onset were retrospectively identified. DWI and mean transit time (MTT) volumes were measured. Prospectively, 48 consecutive patients were identified with the same inclusion criteria. DWI and time to peak (TTP) lesion volumes were measured. A large mismatch volume was defined as an MTT or TTP abnormality at least twice the DWI lesion volume.

Results

In the retrospective study, 49 of 68 patients had a DWI lesion volume ≤ 70 ml (mean 20.2 ml; SEM 2.9 ml). A DWI/MTT mismatch of > 100% was observed in all 49 patients (P < .0001). In the prospective study, there were 35/48 patients with DWI volumes ≤ 70 ml (mean 18.7 ml; SEM 3.0 ml). A mismatch > 100% was present in all 35 (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Acute stroke patients with major anterior circulation artery occlusion are exceedingly likely to have a major diffusion/perfusion mismatch if the diffusion lesion volume is 70 ml or less. This suggests that physiology-based patient assessments may be made using only vessel imaging and diffusion MRI as a simple alternative to perfusion imaging.
The effects of reminiscence therapy on depressive symptoms of Chinese elderly: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Ting-ji , Li Hui-jie , Li Juan
Published: November 2012

Background

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders with a high prevalence among the older adults. In recent years, after realizing some side effects of the antidepressants, non-pharmacological psychological treatments begin to attract accruing attention. Reminiscence therapy is one of the psychological treatments that specially designed for the elderly to improve their mental health status by recalling and assessing their existing memory. Though some studies indicate reminiscence therapy can be effective and beneficial for the mental health of elderly, the conclusions are not consistent yet. The aim of this research is to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy for Chinese elderly.

Methods

Sixty older adults (≥60 years of age) with mild to moderate depression will be randomly assigned to an experimental or a control condition. The participants in the experiment group will receive the reminiscence therapy under the Watt’s protocol with adaptation to Chinese Culture which consists of six weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. The control group will be treated as before. An assessor who is blind to intervention will conduct the measures before treatment, after treatment immediately, and three months after treatment.

Discussion

This study will provide the evidence whether the reminiscence therapy is effective to treat depressive symptoms of Chinese elderly. This research has been registered in the clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01553669).
Towards scalable production of a collagen-like protein from Streptococcus pyogenes for biomedical applications
Authors: Peng Yong Y , Howell Linda , Stoichevska Violet , Werkmeister Jerome A , Dumsday Geoff J , Ramshaw John A M
Published: November 2012

Background

Collagen has proved valuable as biomedical materials for a range of clinical applications, particularly in wound healing. It is normally produced from animal sources, such as from bovines, but concerns have emerged over transmission of diseases. Recombinant collagens would be preferable, but are difficult to produce. Recently, studies have shown that ‘collagens’ from bacteria, including Streptococcus pyogenes, can be produced in the laboratory as recombinant products, and that these are biocompatible. In the present study we have established that examples of bacterial collagens can be produced in a bioreactor with high yields providing proof of manufacture of this important group of proteins.

Results

Production trials in shake flask cultures gave low yields of recombinant product, < 1 g/L. Increased yields, of around 1 g/L, were obtained when the shake flask process was transferred to a stirred tank bioreactor, and the yield was further enhanced to around 10 g/L by implementation of a high cell density fed-batch process and the use of suitably formulated fully defined media. Similar yields were obtained with 2 different constructs, one containing an introduced heparin binding domain. The best yields, of up to 19 g/L were obtained using this high cell density strategy, with an extended 24 h production time.

Conclusions

These data have shown that recombinant bacterial collagen from S. pyogenes, can be produced in sufficient yield by a scalable microbial production process to give commercially acceptable yields for broad use in biomedical applications.
Treatment of human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Aurora kinase inhibitor PHA-739358 (Danusertib)
Authors: Fei Fei , Lim Min , Schmidhuber Sabine , Moll Jürgen , Groffen John , Heisterkamp Nora
Published: November 2012

Background

Treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemias (Ph-positive ALL) with clinically approved inhibitors of the Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase frequently results in the emergence of a leukemic clone carrying the T315I mutation in Bcr/Abl, which confers resistance to these drugs. PHA-739358, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, was reported to inhibit the Bcr/Abl T315I mutant in CML cells but no preclinical studies have examined this in detail in human ALL.

Results

We compared the sensitivity of human Bcr/Abl T315I, Bcr/Abl wild type and non-Bcr/Abl ALL cells to this drug. PHA-739358 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis independently of Bcr/Abl, the T315I mutation, or presence of the tumor suppressor p53, but the degree of effectiveness varied between different ALL samples. Since short-term treatment with a single dose of drug only transiently inhibited proliferation, we tested combination treatments of PHA-739358 with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor Lonafarnib, with vincristine and with dasatinib. All combinations reduced viability and cell numbers compared to treatment with a single drug. Clonogenic assays showed that 25 nM PHA-739358 significantly reduced the colony growth potential of Ph-positive ALL cells, and combined treatment with a second drug abrogated colony growth in this assay. PHA-739358 further effectively blocked Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase activity and Aurora kinase B in vivo, and mice transplanted with human Bcr/Abl T315I ALL cells treated with a 3x 7-day cycle of PHA-739358 as mono-treatment had significantly longer survival.

Conclusions

PHA-739358 represents an alternative drug for the treatment of both Ph-positive and negative ALL, although combined treatment with a second drug may be needed to eradicate the leukemic cells.
A new transform method in nabla discrete fractional calculus
Authors: Jarad Fahd , Kaymakçalan Billur , Taş Kenan
Published: November 2012

Starting from the definition of the Sumudu transform on a general nabla time scale, we define the generalized nabla discrete Sumudu transform. We obtain the nabla discrete Sumudu transform of Taylor monomials, fractional sums, and differences. We apply this transform to solve some fractional difference equations with initial value problems.

MSC:44A15, 44A55.
Application of acidic treated pumice as an adsorbent for the removal of azo dye from aqueous solutions: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Samarghandi Mohammad Reza , Zarrabi Mansur , sepehr Mohammad Noori , Amrane Abdeltif , Safari Gholam Hossein , Bashiri Saied
Published: November 2012

Colored effluents are one of the important environment pollution sources since they contain unused dye compounds which are toxic and less-biodegradable. In this work removal of Acid Red 14 and Acid Red 18 azo dyes was investigated by acidic treated pumice stone as an efficient adsorbent at various experimental conditions. Removal of dye increased with increase in contact time and initial dye concentration, while decreased for increment in solution temperature and pH. Results of the equilibrium study showed that the removal of AR14 and AR18 followed Freundlich (r2>0.99) and Langmuir (r2>0.99) isotherm models. Maximum sorption capacities were 3.1 and 29.7 mg/g for AR 14 and AR18, namely significantly higher than those reported in the literature, even for activated carbon. Fitting of experimental data onto kinetic models showed the relevance of the pseudo-second order (r2>0.99) and intra-particle diffusion (r2>0.98) models for AR14 and AR18, respectively. For both dyes, the values of external mass transfer coefficient decreased for increasing initial dye concentrations, showing increasing external mass transfer resistance at solid/liquid layer. Desorption experiments confirmed the relevance of pumice stone for dye removal, since the pH regeneration method showed 86% and 89% regeneration for AR14 and AR18, respectively.