bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Islamic preaching and women’s spectatorship in West Java
Authors: Millie Julian
Published: May 2011

In the urban villages of Bandung, the capital city of the Indonesian province of West Java, many Muslim women routinely attend between four and six oratorical and/or pedagogical events per week. This article analyses this participation by observing the forms and patterns of these women’s spectatorship, specifically observing their mobility, the interaction between their life‐cycles and their participation habits, the gendered embodiment of Islamic knowledge they display, the effect of hegemonic masculinities, and preaching performances which treat them not only as Muslims intent on increasing their Islamic knowledge, but also as pleasure‐taking subjects. The article concludes that the conduct and management of preaching events intended for mixed audiences are highly sensitive to women’s spectatorship and warns against the assumption that Islamic practice is a punishing sphere of patriarchy. In fact, when the influence of women’s spectatorship on the conduct and management of such preaching events is appreciated, West Java’s preaching events appear as a feminised domain.
Recommendation of lamivudine‐to‐entecavir switching treatment in chronic hepatitis B responders: Randomized controlled trial
Authors: Matsuura Kentaro , Tanaka Yasuhito , Kusakabe Atsunori , Hige Shuhei , Inoue Jun , Komatsu Masashi , Kuramitsu Tomoyuki , Hirano Katsuharu , Ohno Tomoyoshi , Hasegawa Izumi , Kobashi Haruhiko , Hino Keisuke , Hiasa Yoichi , Nomura Hideyuki , Sugauchi Fuminaka , Nojiri Shunsuke , Joh Takashi , Mizokami Masashi
Published: May 2011

Aim:  In the 2007–2008 guidelines of the study group (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan), lamivudine (LAM)‐continuous treatment was recommended in patients treated with LAM for more than 3 years who maintained hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA less than 2.6 log copies/mL, because in these patients LAM resistance might exist and switching treatment to entecavir (ETV) might cause ETV resistance. However, there was no evidence on whether switching treatment to ETV‐ or LAM‐continuous treatment was better in those patients. In the present study, we performed a randomized controlled trial of LAM‐to‐ETV switching treatment.

Methods:  Twenty‐seven patients treated with LAM for more than 3 years whose HBV DNA levels were less than 2.6 log copies/mL were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups, LAM‐continued group or switching to ETV group. Then, we examined incidence of virological breakthrough (VBT) and breakthrough hepatitis (BTH) in each group.

Results:  There was no BTH in any of the patients. VBT was observed in six patients of the LAM group (6/15, 40%), and no patient of the ETV group (0/11, 0%) (P = 0.02). The differences of the proportion of cumulated VBT using a log–rank test with Kaplan–Meier analysis were significant between the LAM and ETV groups (P = 0.025).

Conclusion:  In patients treated with LAM for more than 3 years maintaining HBV DNA less than 2.6 log copies/mL, switching treatment to ETV is recommended at least during the 2 years' follow‐up period.
Where are my quadrats? Positional accuracy in fieldwork
Authors: Dodd Mike
Published: May 2011

1. There has been much written about sampling design, spatial scale and the need for permanent plots in long‐term monitoring but very few authors have considered how to locate and re‐find positions in the field accurately. Indeed, many attempts at re‐sampling exact positions set up many years previously have failed.

2. Various field measurement systems were compared including 50‐m tape, consumer‐grade GPS, total‐station theodolite and differential GPS.

3. Both total station and differential GPS were able to measure and relocate quadrats accurately to within a few centimetres over distances of hundreds of metres or more.

4. Of over 500 1 × 1 m vegetation monitoring quadrats set out and location re‐recorded by differential GPS at sites across UK, only 1% had positional errors of more than 0·2 m. None of these quadrat locations relied on permanent markers. Differential GPS has the advantage of speed and delivering coordinates in latitude/longitude or local coordinate system directly.

5. Accurately located quadrats can be resurveyed many years in the future just using the original coordinates without worrying about ‘permanent’ markers that rarely turn out to be truly permanent. If more researchers used these techniques, then there is huge potential for establishing networks of accurate long‐term monitoring positions, which could provide information on a wide range of topics, such as vegetation dynamics and environmental change even if these were not the original research objectives.
Comparison of seed phenolic extraction and assay methods
Authors: Granger Kristen L. , Gallagher Robert S. , Fuerst E. Patrick , Alldredge J. Richard
Published: May 2011

1. Phenolic acids have been found to play a role in seed persistence traits such as dormancy and resistance to microbial decay, and so accurate methods for their quantification are needed to study the ecological significance of these compounds.

2. The goal of this study was to compare three different spectrophotometric assays and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the extraction and quantification of phenolic compounds in seeds. Total phenolic concentrations in the seeds of wild oat, broadleaf plantain and common lambsquarters were determined according to the methods recommended for the total polyphenol content assay, the orthodihydroxyphenol assay and the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) assay, and compared to totals determined through GC/MS.

3. The spectrophotometric methods were found to consistently overestimate the total phenolic concentrations when compared to totals indicated by GC/MS. The total concentrations indicated by GC/MS analysis ranged from as low as 0·005% of the spectrophotometric totals indicated by the total polyphenol content assay to 12% of the totals indicated by the FCR assay.

4. Ferulic acid, p‐coumaric acid and vanillic acid were among the most abundant simple phenolics in the seeds, with ferulic acid accounting for as much as 56% of the total phenolic composition in the hulls of wild oat seeds.

5. Bound phenolics also constituted a large proportion of the total phenolic concentration (up to 98%) although only one method extracted them.

6. The results suggest that to get an accurate determination of the simple phenolic content of seed material, GC/MS analysis, along with the use of calibration curves and internal standards, is needed.
How do clients experience reliving as part of trauma‐focused cognitive behavioural therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder?
Authors: Shearing Vanessa , Lee Deborah , Clohessy Sue
Published: May 2011

Objectives. Reliving is an integral part of trauma‐focused cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT), a recommended treatment for post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a convincing evidence base supporting its use. However, the literature suggests that clinicians are reluctant to use reliving in therapy. The aim of this study was to explore participants’ experiences of undergoing reliving as part of CBT for PTSD in order to further clinicians’ understanding of client experiences of reliving.

Design. This was a qualitative study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and the transcripts analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) (Smith, Jarman, & Osborn, 1999).

Method. Seven participants who had completed the reliving component of trauma‐focused CBT in the previous month were recruited through therapists working in specialist trauma services, and semi‐structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide. The transcripts were analyzed using IPA to enable the research questions to be addressed.

Results. Three super‐ordinate themes and 11 subordinate themes were developed to reflect participants’ common and distinct experiences. The three super‐ordinate themes were ‘overcoming ambivalence’, ‘painful but achievable’, and ‘positive change’.

Conclusions. This study provided useful information about participants’ experiences of reliving during CBT for PTSD. Clinical implications regarding the therapeutic relationship, preparing clients for reliving, and the impact of reliving were suggested. Implications for future research were identified including extending the score of the study, exploring differences in participants’ experiences, and exploring unexpected findings.
Research in developmental psychology on gender and relationships: Reflections on the past and looking into the future
Authors: Leaper Campbell
Published: May 2011

Recent historical trends and current directions in the study of children's gender and relationships are reviewed using Maccoby and Jacklin's (1974) The Psychology of Sex Differences as a reference point. Since the publication of Maccoby and Jacklin's review, researchers have questioned the extent and the magnitude of gender differences in social behaviour as well as the degree to which parents play a primary role in gender development. More attention is now paid to the impact of gender‐segregated peer groups and other social relationships (e.g., friendships, romantic relationships) as well as cognitive‐motivational and biological processes. Furthermore, the role of the larger social‐structural context is addressed in studies of sexism and gender bias during childhood and adolescence. Recommendations for future research are offered.
Hole Crack Problems in Infinite Elastic Plate in Tension
Authors: Yan Xiangqiao , Liu Baoliang
Published: May 2011

This paper deals with crack(s) emanating from a hole in infinite elastic plate in tension. Such a crack problem is called a hole crack problem for short. By extending Buckner’s principle suited for a crack to a hole crack problem in infinite plate in tension, here, the original problem (the hole crack problem in infinite plate in tension) is divided into a homogeneous problem (the one without hole crack) subjected to remote loads and a hole crack problem in an unloaded body with applied tractions on the surfaces of the hole and crack. Thus, the results in terms of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) can be obtained by considering the latter problem, which is analyzed easily by means of a hybrid displacement discontinuity (a boundary element method) proposed recently by Yan. Numerical examples are included to illustrate that the numerical approach is very simple and effective for analyzing the hole crack problem in infinite plate in tension. By using the proposed approach, three hole crack problems (i.e., a pair of cracks emanating from an elliptical hole, a pair of cracks emanating from a rhombus hole, and a crack emanating from a triangular hole in infinite plate in tension) are analyzed in detail. By changing the hole geometry form and the hole geometry parameters and by comparing the SIFs of the hole crack problem with those of the center crack problem, the effect of the hole geometry form and the hole geometry parameters on the SIFs is revealed. It is found that a hole has a shielding and an amplifying effect on the SIFs of crack(s) emanating from the hole. The shielding and amplifying effects varied with the hole geometry form and the hole geometry parameters.
Identification of the Cause of Variability of Probability of Failure for Burst Models Recommended by Codes/Standards
Authors: Hasan Mainul , Khan Faisal , Kenny Shawn
Published: May 2011

Failure probability of oil and gas pipelines due to external corrosion defects can be estimated using corrosion growth model and the evaluation of remaining strength. Codes/standards have been developed for the assessment of the remaining strength of corroded pipeline. The remaining strength and the operating pressure were considered to develop the limit state equation and consequently the failure probability of the burst models recommended by codes/standards. In the present paper, comparative analyses of the failure probability estimated by the codes/standards were conducted, using Monte Carlo simulation and first order second moment methods. The analysis revealed that the failure probability of the burst models recommended by codes/standards varies significantly for the same defects size. The study further explored the cause of variability in failure probabilities. The study observed that different defect shape specifications (rectangular, parabolic, etc.) and different stress concentration factor derivations (different contributions of l) for burst pressure estimation are responsible for high variability in the probability of failure. It is important to reduce variability to ensure unified risk-based design approach considering any codes/standards.
Effects of Pressure Ratio and Rotational Speed on Leakage Flow and Cavity Pressure in the Staggered Labyrinth Seal
Authors: Li Zhigang , Li Jun , Yan Xin , Feng Zhenping
Published: May 2011

Effects of pressure ratio and rotational speed on the leakage flow and cavity pressure characteristics of the rotating staggered labyrinth seal were investigated by means of experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The rotating seal test rig with turbine flowmeter and pressure measuring instruments was utilized to investigate the leakage flow of the staggered labyrinth seal at eight pressure ratios and five rotational speeds. The repeatability of the experimental data was demonstrated by three times measurements at different pressure ratios and fixed rotational speed. The three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and standard k-ε turbulent model were also applied to study the leakage flow characteristics of the staggered labyrinth seal at the experimental conditions. The validation of the numerical approach was verified through comparison of the experimental data. The detailed flow field in the staggered labyrinth seal was illustrated according to the numerical simulations. The experimental and numerical results show that the leakage flow coefficient increases with increasing pressure ratio at the fixed rotational speed and is more sensitive to the smaller pressure ratio. The influence of rotational speed on the leakage flow coefficient is not obvious in the present rotational speed limitations. The cavity pressure coefficient in the staggered labyrinth seal decreases and is significantly influenced by the cavity structure along the flow direction.
Helical Shift Mechanics of Rubber V-Belt Variators
Authors: Sorge Francesco , Cammalleri Marco
Published: May 2011

A very common configuration of V-belt variators for motorcycles considers the correction of the belt tensioning depending on the resistant torque by means of suitable helical-shaped tracks allowing the driven half-pulleys to close/open. The theoretical model for belt-pulley coupling is rather complex for this configuration, where one half-pulley may run in advance and the other one behind with respect to the belt, and requires the repeated numerical solution of a strongly nonlinear differential system by a sort of shooting technique, until all the operating conditions are fulfilled (angular contact extent, torque, and axial force). After solving the full equations, the present study develops closed-form approximations, which are characterized by an excellent correspondence with the numerical plots, and suggests a simple and practical formulary for the axial thrust as a function of the torque and of the tension level. Then, the results of a theoretical–experimental comparison are also reported, and they indicate a fine agreement between the model and the real operation.
Optimal Dimensioning for Parallel Manipulators: Workspace, Dexterity, and Energy
Authors: Altuzarra Oscar , Pinto C. , Sandru B. , Hernandez A.
Published: May 2011

In mechanism design and in the particular case of the parallel manipulator, most optimization problems involve simultaneously optimizing more than one objective function. In this paper, a method to identify Pareto-optimal solutions for the design of low-mobility parallel manipulators is presented. A 4-degree-of-freedom symmetric parallel manipulator for Schönflies-motion generation is taken as a case study. The design goals used are workspace volume and manipulator dexterity based on a dispersion weighted Frobenius norm. In addition, an expression for energy per cycle has been defined for different types of trajectory to evaluate the power drive. Finally, the set of Pareto-optimal solutions of the design parameters are represented in the design parameter space.
Bi-level Approach to Vehicle Component Layout With Shape Morphing
Authors: Dong Hong , Guarneri Paolo , Fadel Georges
Published: May 2011

Engineering research into packing problems has been widely undertaken in recent years. The use of component shape morphing in layout design has, however, received little attention. Shape morphing is required for fitting a component of sufficient size in a limited space while optimizing the overall performance objectives of the vehicle and improving design efficiency. To morph components that can have arbitrary shapes in layout design, a mass-spring physical model-based morphing method is proposed and implemented. Vehicle layout design with shape morphing is a multi-objective, multilevel problem with a large number of design variables. To solve this large scale problem, decomposition is adopted. At the system level, the overall performance objectives are optimized with respect to locations and orientations of components. At the component level, deformable objects are morphed to fit in the available space. A vehicle underhood layout design problem is demonstrated to illustrate the proposed approach.
Improved Screw–Nut Interface Model for High-Performance Ball Screw Drives
Authors: Okwudire Chinedum E.
Published: May 2011

Emerging applications of ball screw drives such as semiconductor inspection, fiber optic alignment, medical equipment, and miniature robotic actuators typically make use of ball screws that are compact, stiff, and precise. Existing models for the screw–nut interface stiffness of ball screw drives are however unable to accurately describe the dynamics of compact and stiff ball screws because they are derived based on the assumption that the portion of the screw within the nut is rigid. This paper proposes a new screw–nut interface stiffness model, which incorporates the elastic deformation of the screw within the nut using Timoshenko beam shape functions. The new model is shown, via simulation and experiments, to provide more accurate predictions of the natural frequencies of compact and stiff ball screw/nut assemblies compared to the existing models. It is therefore more suitable for use in the design simulation/evaluation of high-performance ball screw drives where compactness and rigidity are required.
High quality m-plane GaN grown under nitrogen-rich conditions by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Sawicka Marta , Feduniewicz-Żmuda Anna , Turski Henryk , Siekacz Marcin , Grzanka Szymon , Kryśko Marcin , Dzięcielewski Igor , Grzegory Izabella , Skierbiszewski Czesław
Published: May 2011

Homoepitaxial growth of m-plane GaN (11¯00) as a function of substrate miscut and temperature was studied by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE). The authors demonstrate that it is possible to obtain high-quality GaN on the m-plane under nitrogen-rich conditions at 730 °C. This is in contrast to the c-plane where three-dimensional growth mode is observed under the same conditions. They find a strong growth anisotropy and describe GaN (11¯00) surface morphology dependence on the sample miscut direction. The results indicate that by introducing a sample miscut toward ⟨112¯6¯⟩ one may expect parallel atomic steps when growing under nitrogen-rich conditions at 730 °C by PAMBE.
Massive ex Vivo Expansion of Human Natural Regulatory T Cells (T
regs
) with Minimal Loss of in Vivo Functional Activity
Authors: Hippen Keli L. , Merkel Sarah C. , Schirm Dawn K. , Sieben Christine M. , Sumstad Darin , Kadidlo Diane M. , McKenna David H. , Bromberg Jonathan S. , Levine Bruce L. , Riley James L. , June Carl H. , Scheinberg Phillip , Douek Daniel C. , Miller Jeffrey S. , Wagner John E. , Blazar Bruce R.
Published: May 2011

A good manufacturing grade–compatible approach generates massive numbers of natural regulatory T cells that retain suppressive function in vivo.
Functional Regulatory T Cells Produced by Inhibiting Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Type 3 Prevent Allograft Rejection
Authors: Feng Gang , Nadig Satish N. , Bäckdahl Liselotte , Beck Stephan , Francis Ross S. , Schiopu Alexandru , Whatcott Andrew , Wood Kathryn J. , Bushell Andrew
Published: May 2011

A clinically approved agent can generate ex vivo graft-reactive, functional mouse and human regulatory T cells.
Snipping Away at Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Gesty-Palmer Diane
Published: May 2011

Genome-wide linkage analysis reveals association between mucus production and pulmonary fibrosis.
“Captain, Shields Are Down, We Can’t Survive Another Hit”
Authors: Tridandapani Srini
Published: May 2011

Short bursts of ultrasound pulses can break the blood-brain barrier, allowing drugs to pass through.
Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Variant Analysis of E6, E7, and L1 Genes and Long Control Region in Identification of Cervical Carcinomas in Patients in Northeast China
Authors: Shang Qinglong , Wang Yan , Fang Yong , Wei Lanlan , Chen Sijia , Sun Yuhui , Li Baoxin , Zhang Fengmin , Gu Hongxi
Published: May 2011

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) plays a cardinal role in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. HPV 16 has intratypic variants which show different geographical distributions and different oncogenic potentials. To analyze the presence of sequence variations of HPV 16 variants in northeast China, 71 cervical carcinomas were identified by HPV typing. HPV 16-positive specimens were analyzed by PCR-directed sequencing in the E6, E7, and L1 genes and the LCR (long control region). The variation data were compared with those of neighboring districts. In this hospital-based study, HPV 16 was the most common type (73.24%). In HPV 16-positive specimens, 67.31% belonged to the European (E) lineage, while 32.69% were Asian (As) variants. The Asian-American (AA), African-1 (Af-1), African-2 (Af-2), and northern American (NA) lineages were not detected. The most frequently observed variation sites were T178G (32.69%) in E6; A647G (34.62%), G666A (38.46%), and T846C (32.69%) in E7; C6826T (36.17%) and G7060A (61.70%) in L1; and G7521A (98.08%) in the LCR. The most prevalent amino acid variations were D25E in E6 and N29S in E7. In addition, 28 novel variations of HPV 16 were reported. Some covariations between different genes were obtained. In this study, HPV 16 variants belonged to the European lineage and the Asian lineage. Compared with neighboring districts, the distribution of HPV 16 variants in northeast China had a typical pattern. As the first report on HPV 16 variants in northeast China, it should be helpful for designing a HPV vaccine and HPV vaccination program in China.
The Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans Autoinduces Hyphal Morphogenesis by Raising Extracellular pH
Authors: Vylkova Slavena , Carman Aaron J. , Danhof Heather A. , Collette John R. , Zhou Huaijin , Lorenz Michael C.
Published: May 2011

pH homeostasis is critical for all organisms; in the fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
, pH adaptation is critical for virulence in distinct host niches. We demonstrate that beyond adaptation,
C. albicans
actively neutralizes the environment from either acidic or alkaline pHs. Under acidic conditions, this species can raise the pH from 4 to >7 in less than 12 h, resulting in autoinduction of the yeast-hyphal transition, a critical virulence trait. Extracellular alkalinization has been reported to occur in several fungal species, but under the specific conditions that we describe, the phenomenon is more rapid than previously observed. Alkalinization is linked to carbon deprivation, as it occurs in glucose-poor media and requires exogenous amino acids. These conditions are similar to those predicted to exist inside phagocytic cells, and we find a strong correlation between the use of amino acids as a cellular carbon source and the degree of alkalinization. Genetic and genomic approaches indicate an emphasis on amino acid uptake and catabolism in alkalinizing cells. Mutations in four genes,
STP2
, a transcription factor regulating amino acid permeases,
ACH1
(acetyl-coenzyme A [acetyl-CoA] hydrolase),
DUR1
,
2
(urea amidolyase), and
ATO5
, a putative ammonia transporter, abolish or delay neutralization. The pH changes are the result of the extrusion of ammonia, as observed in other fungi. We propose that nutrient-deprived
C. albicans
cells catabolize amino acids as a carbon source, excreting the amino nitrogen as ammonia to raise environmental pH and stimulate morphogenesis, thus directly contributing to pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE
Candida albicans
is the most important fungal pathogen of humans, causing disease at multiple body sites. The ability to switch between multiple morphologies, including a rounded yeast cell and an elongated hyphal cell, is a key virulence trait in this species, as this reversible switch is thought to promote dissemination and tissue invasion in the host. We report here that
C. albicans
can actively alter the pH of its environment and induce its switch to the hyphal form. The change in pH is caused by the release of ammonia from the cells produced during the breakdown of amino acids. This phenomenon is unprecedented in a human pathogen and may substantially impact host physiology by linking morphogenesis, pH adaptation, carbon metabolism, and interactions with host cells, all of which are critical for the ability of
C. albicans
to cause disease.
Requirement of Replication Checkpoint Protein Kinases Mec1/Rad53 for Postreplication Repair in Yeast
Authors: Gangavarapu Venkateswarlu , Santa Maria Sergio R. , Prakash Satya , Prakash Louise
Published: May 2011

DNA lesions in the template strand block the replication fork. In
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, replication through DNA lesions occurs via a Rad6/Rad18-dependent pathway where lesions can be bypassed by the action of translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases η and ζ or by Rad5-mediated template switching. An alternative Rad6/Rad18-independent but Rad52-dependent template switching pathway can also restore the continuity of the replication fork. The Mec1/Rad53-dependent replication checkpoint plays a crucial role in the maintenance of stable and functional replication forks in yeast cells with DNA damage; however, it has remained unclear which of the lesion bypass processes requires the activation of replication checkpoint-mediated fork stabilization. Here we show that postreplication repair (PRR) of newly synthesized DNA in UV-damaged yeast cells is inhibited in the absence of Mec1 and Rad53 proteins. Since TLS remains functional in cells lacking these checkpoint kinases and since template switching by the Rad5 and Rad52 pathways provides the alternative means of lesion bypass and requires Mec1/Rad53, we infer that lesion bypass by the template switching pathways occurs in conjunction with the replication fork that has been stabilized at the lesion site by the action of Mec1/Rad53-mediated replication checkpoint.

IMPORTANCE
Eukaryotic cells possess mechanisms called checkpoints that act to stop the cell cycle when DNA replication is halted by lesions in the template strand. Upon stalling of the ongoing replication at the lesion site, the recruitment of Mec1 and Rad53 kinases to the replication ensemble initiates the checkpoint wherein Mec1-mediated phosphorylation of Rad53 activates the pathway. A crucial role of replication checkpoint is to stabilize the replication fork by maintaining the association of DNA polymerases with the other replication components at the stall site. Our observations that Mec1 and Rad53 are required for lesion bypass by template switching have important implications for whether lesion bypass occurs in conjunction with the stalled replication ensemble or in gaps that could have been left behind the newly restarted forks. We discuss this important issue and suggest that lesion bypass in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
cells occurs in conjunction with the stalled replication forks and not in gaps.
The psychological distress of the young driver: a brief report
Authors: Scott-Parker Bridie , Watson Barry , King Mark J , Hyde Melissa K
Published: May 2011

The objective of the research was to explore the role of psychological distress in the self-reported risky driving of young novice drivers. A cross-sectional online survey incorporating Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale and the Behaviour of Young Novice Drivers Scale was completed by 761 tertiary students aged 17-25 years with an intermediate (Provisional) driving licence in Queensland, Australia, between August and October 2009. Regression analyses revealed that psychological distress uniquely explained 8.5% of the variance in young novices' risky driving, with adolescents experiencing psychological distress also reporting higher levels of risky driving. Psychological distress uniquely explained a significant 6.7% and 9.5% of variance in risky driving for males and females respectively. Medical practitioners treating adolescents who have been injured through risky behaviour need to be aware of the potential contribution of psychological distress, while mental health professionals working with adolescents experiencing psychological distress need to be aware of this additional source of potential harm. The nature of the causal relationships linking psychological distress and risky driving behaviour are not yet fully understood, indicating a need for further research so that strategies such as screening can be investigated.
Epidermal growth factor receptor status in early stage breast cancer is associated with cellular proliferation but not cross-talk
Authors: Stebbing Justin , Thiyagarajan Arun , Surendrakumar Veena , Payne Rachel , Krell Jonathan , Szydlo Richard , Peston David , Lewis Jacqueline S , Coombes R Charles , Shousha Sami
Published: May 2011

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a therapeutic target in a number of settings in solid malignancies, but its role in breast cancer has remained unclear and controversial. In 810 primary breast cancers derived from patients suitable for cytotoxic chemotherapy, EGFR was prospectively measured and interactions with tumour and clinical correlates were tested to observe whether postulated cross-talk mechanisms are likely to modulate breast cancer metastasis and proliferation. A minority (79 tumours, 9.8%) were EGFR positive; in a multivariate analysis the likelihood of being EGFR positive was significantly increased for patients with grade 3 disease, compared with grade 1 (OR 15.6; 95% CI 2 to 122, p=0.0001), and for oestrogen receptor-negative status compared with positive (OR 24.1; 95% CI 12.7 to 46.00, p=0.0001). EGFR expression may play a role in breast cancer proliferation, but appears unlikely to modify tumour pathology via postulated mechanisms of oestrogen receptor/EGFR-mediated cross-talk.
Readiness for legally literate medical practice? Student perceptions of their undergraduate medico-legal education
Authors: Preston-Shoot Michael , McKimm Judy , Kong Wing May , Smith Sue
Published: May 2011

Medical councils increasingly require graduates to understand law and to practise medicine mindful of the legal rules. In the UK a revised curriculum for medical law and ethics has been published. However, coverage of law in medical education remains variable and doubts exist about how far students acquire legal knowledge and skills in its implementation. This survey of students in two UK medical schools measured their law learning and their confidence in using this knowledge. Concept maps and a self-audit questionnaire were used to capture students' understanding and perceptions of this knowledge domain and self-assessments of their legal knowledge and skills. A large sample was achieved across first, second and final year students. Students agree that a sound understanding of law is essential to being a good doctor. Their perceptions of law are generally positive but the interface between the legal rules and codes of medical ethics creates difficulty. In some areas students offer relatively confident self-assessments of their legal knowledge and skills for practising law. However, levels of confidence in other areas of their law learning raise doubts about the degree to which they can advocate for and protect their patients. Conclusions are drawn about the effectiveness of students' law learning and recommendations made for further research.
A simple and relatively painless technique for hysterosalpingography, using a thin catheter and closing the cervix with the vaginal speculum: a pilot study
Authors: Mansour Ragaa , Nada Adel , El-Khayat Waleed , Abdel-Hak Ahmed , Inany Hisham
Published: May 2011

Objective

To evaluate the use of a thin catheter for hysterosalpingography (HSG) for reducing the pain experienced during the procedure.

Methods

Infertile women undergoing tubal patency tests were randomised into two groups. In the study group (n=66) a thin catheter originally designed for intrauterine insemination was used to inject the dye. Leakage of the dye was prevented using a vaginal speculum to press on the portiovaginalis of the cervix. The control group (n=23) underwent HSG using the standard metal cannula. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the level of pain immediately after the procedure. The main outcome measures were the level of pain experienced by the patient during the procedure and the efficacy of the new technique.

Results

The mean (±SD) VAS was 11.2±3.1 in the study group and 54.7±10.1 in the metal cannula group (p<0.0001). During the dye injection, the VAS was 10.3±5.2 in the study group compared to 64.1±17.3 in the metal cannula group (p<0.0001). The new technique was successful in filling the uterine cavity with the dye and studying the fallopian tubes.

Conclusions

Using a thin catheter for HSG and pressing on the cervix with the vaginal speculum to prevent leakage of the dye is a successful method to study the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, and it significantly reduces the pain as compared to a metal cannula.
DIRAC STRUCTURES OF OMNI-LIE ALGEBROIDS
Authors: CHEN ZHUO , LIU ZHANG JU , SHENG YUNHE
Published: May 2011

Omni-Lie algebroids are generalizations of Alan Weinstein's omni-Lie algebras. A Dirac structure in an omni-Lie algebroid 𝔇E ⊕ 𝔍E is necessarily a Lie algebroid together with a representation on E. We study the geometry underlying these Dirac structures in the light of reduction theory. In particular, we prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between reducible Dirac structures and projective Lie algebroids in [Formula: see text]; we establish the relation between the normalizer NL of a reducible Dirac structure L and the derivation algebra Der (b (L)) of the projective Lie algebroid b(L); we study the cohomology group H •(L, ρL) and the relation between NL and H 1(L, ρL); we describe Lie bialgebroids using the adjoint representation; we study the deformation of a Dirac structure L, which is related with H 2(L, ρL).
AN SL2(ℂ) ALGEBRO-GEOMETRIC INVARIANT OF KNOTS
Authors: LI WEIPING , WANG QINGXUE
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we define a new algebro-geometric invariant of three-manifolds resulting from Dehn surgery along a hyperbolic knot complement in S3. We establish a Casson-type invariant for these three-manifolds. In the last section, we explicitly calculate the character variety of the figure-eight knot and discuss some applications, as well as the computation of our new invariants for some three-manifolds resulting from Dehn surgery along the figure-eight knot.
KdV GEOMETRIC FLOWS ON KÄHLER MANIFOLDS
Authors: SUN XIAOWEI , WANG YOUDE
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we define a kind of KdV (Korteweg–de Vries) geometric flow for maps from a real line ℝ or a circle S1 into a Kähler manifold (N, J, h) with complex structure J and metric h as the generalization of the vortex filament dynamics from a real line or a circle. By Hasimoto transformation, we find that the KdV geometric flow on a Riemann surface of constant Gauss curvature is just classical complex-valued mKdV equation. From the view point of geometric analysis we show that the Cauchy problems of KdV flow on a Kähler manifold admits a unique local solution in suitable Sobolev spaces. In the case the target manifold (N, J, h) with complex structure J and metric h is a certain type of locally Hermitian symmetric space, we show that the KdV flow exists globally by exploiting the conservation laws and semi-conservation law of KdV flow.
ESTIMATES FOR J-CURVES AS SUBMANIFOLDS
Authors: FISH JOEL W.
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we develop some basic analytic tools to study compactness properties of J-curves (i.e. pseudoholomorphic curves) when regarded as submanifolds. Incorporating techniques from the theory of minimal surfaces, we derive an inhomogeneous mean curvature equation for such curves by establishing an extrinsic monotonicity principle for nonnegative functions f satisfying Δf ≥ -c2f, we show that curves locally parametrized as a graph over a coordinate tangent plane have all derivatives a priori bounded in terms of curvature and ambient geometry, and we thus establish ϵ-regularity for the square length of their second fundamental forms. These results are all provided for J-curves either with or without Lagrangian boundary and hold in almost all Hermitian manifolds of arbitrary even dimension (i.e. Riemannian manifolds for which the almost complex structure is an isometry).
RANK ONE CONNECTIONS ON ABELIAN VARIETIES
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL , HURTUBISE JACQUES , RAINA A. K.
Published: May 2011

Let A be a complex abelian variety. The moduli space [Formula: see text] of rank one algebraic connections on A is a principal bundle over the dual abelian variety A∨ = Pic 0(A) for the group [Formula: see text]. Take any line bundle L on A∨; let [Formula: see text] be the algebraic principal [Formula: see text]-bundle over A∨ given by the sheaf of connections on L. The line bundle L produces a homomorphism [Formula: see text]. We prove that [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to the principal [Formula: see text]-bundle obtained by extending the structure group of the principal [Formula: see text]-bundle [Formula: see text] using this homomorphism given by L. We compute the ring of algebraic functions on [Formula: see text]. As an application of the above result, we show that [Formula: see text] does not admit any nonconstant algebraic function, despite the fact that it is biholomorphic to (ℂ*)2 dim A implying that it has many nonconstant holomorphic functions.
THE GEOMETRY AND ARITHMETIC OF A CALABI–YAU SIEGEL THREEFOLD
Authors: CYNK S. , FREITAG E. , SALVATI MANNI R.
Published: May 2011

In this paper we treat in details a Siegel modular variety [Formula: see text] that has a Calabi–Yau model, [Formula: see text]. We shall describe the structure of the ring of modular forms and its geometry. We shall illustrate two different methods of producing the Hodge numbers. The first uses the definition of [Formula: see text] as the quotient of another known Calabi–Yau variety [Formula: see text]. In this case we will get the Hodge numbers considering the action of the group on a crepant resolution [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. The second, purely algebraic geometric, uses the equations derived from the ring of modular forms and is based on determining explicitly the Calabi–Yau model [Formula: see text] and computing the Picard group and the Euler characteristic.
LOCALLY COMPACT OBJECTS IN EXACT CATEGORIES
Authors: PREVIDI LUIGI
Published: May 2011

We identify two categories of locally compact objects on an exact category [Formula: see text]. They correspond to the well-known constructions of the Beilinson category [Formula: see text] and the Kato category [Formula: see text]. We study their mutual relations and compare the two constructions. We prove that [Formula: see text] is an exact category, which gives to this category a very convenient feature when dealing with K-theoretical invariants, and study the exact structure of the category [Formula: see text] of Tate spaces. It is natural therefore to consider the Beilinson category [Formula: see text] as the most convenient candidate to the role of the category of locally compact objects over an exact category. We also show that the categories [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] of countably indexed ind/pro-objects over any category [Formula: see text] can be described as localizations of categories of diagrams over [Formula: see text].
LOCAL STRUCTURE OF MODULI SPACES
Authors: MACHU FRANCOIS-XAVIER
Published: May 2011

We provide a sketch of the GIT construction of the moduli spaces for the three classes of connections: the class of meromorphic connections with fixed divisor of poles D and its subclasses of integrable and integrable logarithmic connections. We use the Luna Slice Theorem to represent the germ of the moduli space as the quotient of the Kuranishi space by the automorphism group of the central fiber. This method is used to determine the singularities of the moduli space of connections in some examples.
DOUBLE KNOT SURGERIES TO S4 AND S2 × S2
Authors: AKBULUT SELMAN
Published: May 2011

It is known that S4 is a union of two fishtails, and S2 × S2 is a union of two cusps (glued along their boundaries). Here we prove that for any choice of knots K, L ⊂ S3 the knot surgery operations [Formula: see text] and S2 × S2 ⇝ (S2 × S2)K, L along both of these fishtails and cusps, respectively, do not change the diffeomorphism type of these manifolds.
STABLE BUNDLES OF RANK 2 WITH FOUR SECTIONS
Authors: GRZEGORCZYK I. , MERCAT V. , NEWSTEAD P. E.
Published: May 2011

This paper contains results on stable bundles of rank 2 with space of sections of dimension 4 on a smooth irreducible projective algebraic curve C. There is a known lower bound on the degree for the existence of such bundles; the main result of the paper is a geometric criterion for this bound to be attained. For a general curve C of genus 10, we show that the bound cannot be attained, but that there exist Petri curves of this genus for which the bound is sharp. We interpret the main results for various curves and in terms of Clifford indices and coherent systems. The results can also be expressed in terms of Koszul cohomology and the methods provide a useful tool for the study of the geometry of the moduli space of curves.
POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION, LOCAL POLYNOMIAL CONVEXITY, AND DEGENERATE CR SINGULARITIES — II
Authors: BHARALI GAUTAM
Published: May 2011

We provide some conditions for the graph of a Hölder-continuous function on [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a closed disk in ℂ, to be polynomially convex. Almost all sufficient conditions known to date — provided the function (say F) is smooth — arise from versions of the Weierstrass Approximation Theorem on [Formula: see text]. These conditions often fail to yield any conclusion if rank ℝDF is not maximal on a sufficiently large subset of [Formula: see text]. We bypass this difficulty by introducing a technique that relies on the interplay of certain plurisubharmonic functions. This technique also allows us to make some observations on the polynomial hull of a graph in ℂ2 at an isolated complex tangency.
ON THE DEGENERATE CENTER PROBLEM
Authors: GINÉ JAUME
Published: May 2011

In this work, it is proved that any degenerate center is limit of a [Formula: see text] linear type center and when the degenerate center has an analytic first integral then it is limit of an analytic linear type center. A new method to detect integrability developed in [Giné & Santallusia, 2011] is applied to the degenerate center problem. Moreover, a review of the most important recent contributions to the degenerate center problem is given.
QUANTUM FIELDS WITH MODIFIED DISPERSION RELATIONS IN CURVED SPACES
Authors: MAZZITELLI FRANCISCO DIEGO
Published: May 2011

We discuss the renormalization procedure for quantum scalar fields with modified dispersion relations in curved spacetimes. We consider two different ways of introducing modified dispersion relations: through the interaction with a dynamical temporal vector field, as in the context of the Einstein–Aether theory, and breaking explicitly the covariance of the theory, as in Hǒrava–Lifshitz gravity. Working in the weak field approximation, we show that the general structure of the counterterms depends on the UV behavior of the dispersion relations and on the mechanism chosen to introduce them.
UNDECIDABILITY AS SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF MEASUREMENT: FUNDAMENTAL CRITERION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EVENTS
Authors: GAMBINI RODOLFO , GARCÍA-PINTOS LUIS PEDRO , PULLIN JORGE
Published: May 2011

In recent papers we put forth a new interpretation of quantum mechanics, colloquially known as "the Montevideo interpretation". This interpretation is based on taking into account fundamental limits that gravity imposes on the measurement process. As a consequence one has that situations develop where a reduction process is undecidable from an evolution operator. When such a situation is achieved, an event has taken place. In this paper we sharpen the definition of when and how events occur; more precisely we give sufficient conditions for the occurrence of events. We probe the new definition in an example. In particular we show that the concept of undecidability used is not "FAPP" (for all practical purposes), but fundamental.
NONCOMMUTATIVE GEOMETRY SPECTRAL ACTION AS A FRAMEWORK FOR UNIFICATION: INTRODUCTION AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL/COSMOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
Authors: SAKELLARIADOU MAIRI
Published: May 2011

I will summarize Noncommutative Geometry Spectral Action, an elegant geometrical model valid at unification scale, which offers a purely gravitational explanation of the Standard Model, the most successful phenomenological model of particle physics. Noncommutative geometry states that close to the Planck energy scale, spacetime has a fine structure and proposes that it is given as the product of a four-dimensional continuum compact Riemaniann manifold by a tiny discrete finite noncommutative space. The spectral action principle, a universal action functional on spectral triples which depends only on the spectrum of the Dirac operator, applied to this almost commutative product geometry, leads to the full Standard Model, including neutrino mixing which has Majorana mass terms and a see-saw mechanism, minimally coupled to gravity. It also makes various predictions at unification scale. I will review some of the phenomenological and cosmological consequences of this beautiful and purely geometrical approach to unification.
MODIFIED STEREOLOGICAL METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND LEAVES AND AN EXAMPLE OF ITS APPLICATION
Authors: ZORIĆ LANA , LUKOVIĆ JADRANKA , MATIĆ-KEKIĆ SNEŽANA , MERKULOV LJILJANA
Published: May 2011

Stereology, an interdisciplinary field that enables three-dimensional interpretation of planar sections, contains several methods for evaluation of quantitative parameters. The existing leaf sampling procedures were modified and adapted for compound, trifoliate leaves. The similar sampling method could also be applied on other types of compound leaves. Using Trifolium species as model species, we suggested the new way of application of this method in agronomy — precise determination of volume densities of indigestible lignified tissues (which determines forage digestibility), and of chlorenchyma and intercellulars (important for the photosynthesis). Comparison of the results obtained by classic anatomical analysis of leaf cross sections with the results of stereological analysis showed that both methods could be successfully applied for analysis of compact tissues (epidermis, vascular and mechanical). For the tissues that contained intercellulars (palisade and spongy), stereological method gave more precise results, as it enabled separate determination of volume density of intercellulars. A further advantage is that several leaf segments are analyzed and observed from four different angles. The obtained results opened new possibilities of application of stereological method in botanical and agricultural research, especially in prediction of digestibility and nutritional value of forages.