bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost‐of‐illness of leg ulcers in the community
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Brocatti Leyla K , Rustenbach Stephan J , Schäfer Ines , Herberger Katharina
Published: October 2012

Leg ulcer management is complex, time‐consuming and of high socio‐economic importance. Data on cost‐of‐illness in leg ulcer care are sparse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost‐of‐illness in leg ulcer treatment in the metropolitan area of Hamburg. About 147 institutions involved in wound care participated in a cross‐sectional study. Patients consecutively recruited underwent a standardised interview and clinical examination. Main economic outcomes were direct, indirect and intangible costs from a societal perspective. Five hundred and two patients with a mean age of 71 years and mean wound duration of 9 years were enrolled. Annual total costs summed up to a mean of 9060€ /patient/year (8288€ direct, 772€ indirect costs). Direct costs carried by statutory health insurances amounted to 7680€ , patients themselves paid on average 607€. Leg ulcer is associated with high costs for health insurances, patients and the society. Exploratory predictor analyses suggest that early, interprofessional disease‐management could lower treatment costs.
On Modeling Weak Sinks in MODPATH
Authors: Abrams Daniel , Haitjema H. , Kauffman L.
Published: October 2012

Regional groundwater flow systems often contain both strong sinks and weak sinks. A strong sink extracts water from the entire aquifer depth, while a weak sink lets some water pass underneath or over the actual sink. The numerical groundwater flow model MODFLOW may allow a sink cell to act as a strong or weak sink, hence extracting all water that enters the cell or allowing some of that water to pass. A physical strong sink can be modeled by either a strong sink cell or a weak sink cell, with the latter generally occurring in low‐resolution models. Likewise, a physical weak sink may also be represented by either type of sink cell. The representation of weak sinks in the particle tracing code MODPATH is more equivocal than in MODFLOW. With the appropriate parameterization of MODPATH, particle traces and their associated travel times to weak sink streams can be modeled with adequate accuracy, even in single layer models. Weak sink well cells, on the other hand, require special measures as proposed in the literature to generate correct particle traces and individual travel times and hence capture zones. We found that the transit time distributions for well water generally do not require special measures provided aquifer properties are locally homogeneous and the well draws water from the entire aquifer depth, an important observation for determining the response of a well to non‐point contaminant inputs.
Closed‐Form Approximations for Two‐Dimensional Groundwater Age Patterns in a Fresh Water Lens
Authors: Greskowiak Janek , Röper Tania , Post Vincent E.A.
Published: October 2012

Simple closed‐form approximations are presented for calculating the steady‐state groundwater age distribution in two‐dimensional vertical cross sections of idealized fresh water lenses overlying salt water, for aquifers that are vertically semi‐infinite and of finite thickness. The approximations are developed on the basis of existing one‐dimensional analytical solutions for travel‐time calculation in fresh water lenses and approximate streamline formulations. The two‐dimensional age distributions based on the closed‐form solutions match convincingly with numerical simulations. As expected, notable deviations from the numerical solution are encountered at the groundwater flow divide and when submarine groundwater discharge occurs. Ratios of recharge over hydraulic conductivities are varied to explore how the magnitude of the deviations changes, and it is found that the approximate closed‐form solutions perform well over a range of conditions found in natural systems.
A new method of computing the vertebral heart scale by means of direct standardisation
Authors: Sánchez X. , Prandi D. , Badiella L. , Vázquez A. , Llabrés‐Díaz F. , Bussadori C. , Domènech O.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe and compare a simplified vertebral heart scale computation method (ObjectiveVHS) with the original Buchanan method (BuchananVHS).

Methods

The ObjectiveVHSwas compared to the BuchananVHSmethod in 42 dogs including 14 healthy dogs and 28 dogs with mitral insufficiency. For the ObjectiveVHS, the sum of the length of the long and short axes of the cardiac silhouette obtained in centimetres using a metric ruler was subsequently converted into units of vertebral length by means of a direct standardization method. The BuchananVHSwas obtained as previously described.

Results

No significant differences in vertebral heart scale values were found between the two methods in all dogs. There was a strong positive correlation (0·99) between ObjectiveVHSand BuchananVHS.

Clinical Significance

The use of a direct standardization method based on a unit conversion allows ‐computation of vertebral heart scale values without transposing long and short axes to the cranial edge ofT4.
Monetary Policy and Corporate Investment: Evidence from Chinese Micro Data
Authors: Huang Ying Sophie , Song Frank M. , Wang Yizhong
Published: October 2012

This paper investigates how a firm's characteristics restrict the influence of monetary policy changes on its investment behavior. Focusing on China's listed companies for a sample period from the first quarter of 2002 to the first quarter of 2011, we find that quantity‐oriented and price‐based monetary policies have heterogeneous impacts on corporate investment behavior, but the influence of monetary policies is constrained by the liquidity, inventory, size and asset–liability ratio of a firm. Firms with higher liquidity, lower inventory level and lower asset–liability ratios are less sensitive to the impact from two kinds of monetary policies. The larger the size of the firm, the less it is subject to influence from quantity‐oriented monetary policy; it responds more to price‐based monetary policy. The policy implication is that the monetary authorities should pay attention to the importance of policy‐making based on the monetary demand of microeconomic entities.
Product‐destination Portfolio and Dynamics by Firm Ownership and Trade Mode: Evidence from Chinese Industrial Exporters
Authors: Cheng Dazhong
Published: October 2012

Using matched firm‐level trade and production data over the period 2000–2006, we study the product‐destination portfolio and dynamics of Chinese industrial exporters and make a thorough comparison among four types of firms and between two kinds of trade modes. We find that ownership structure and trading modes do matter to the destination and product mix choices of Chinese industrial exporters. In particular, foreign firms' exports and processing trade tend to be more destination‐specific and products are more specialized. Therefore, foreign firms are more likely to maintain a particular link within a specific global supply chain.
Ownership Restructuring, Marketization and Wealth Inequality in Urban China: 1995 and 2002
Authors: He Xiaobin , Huang Zhuo
Published: October 2012

This paper proposes a property transformation perspective to examine the mechanisms of wealth accumulation and wealth inequality creation during China's post‐1978 transformation. It examines how enterprise ownership restructuring, marketization and state politics have resulted in greater wealth inequality between cadres and ordinary workers, between public sectors/organizations and private sectors/organizations. Mainly drawing on data from the Chinese Household Income Project conducted in 1995 and 2002, we find that the property transformation process has created greater wealth disparity among different occupational groups and among those working in different work organizations since the mid‐1990s. However, it is inconclusive whether non‐housing wealth or total household wealth are increasing at the same pace across different occupations and work organizations with the growing market penetration and the spread of privatization.
Renminbi Internationalization: Progress, Prospect and Comparison
Authors: Tung Chen‐yuan , Wang Guo‐chen , Yeh Jason
Published: October 2012

Using principal component analyses, this paper constructs two internationalization indices for the renminbi (RMB) and 32 other major currencies. We find that the RMB's currency internationalization degree index (CIDI) is still low, and far behind the 4 most important international currencies. In 2009, it was ranked 18th among all important international currencies. However, in terms of the currency internationalization prospect index (CIPI), the RMB has remained the world's fifth highest since 2006. Although it is still far behind the US dollar and the euro, surpassing the ranking of the yen and the pound is possible in the near future. The dramatic difference in the ranking between the CIDI and the CIPI is a result of China's tight capital account control, the usage continuity of international currency due to network externalities, and the narrow foreign exchange and imperfect financial markets. Hence, to a large degree, the RMB's potential as an international currency depends on China's capital account liberalization.
Strategic Interaction in Spending on Environmental Protection: Spatial Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Deng Huihui , Zheng Xinye , Huang Nan , Li Fanghua
Published: October 2012

In China, the responsibility of protecting the environment lies largely with local governments. Within the framework of spatial econometrics, we investigate empirically the consequence of such an institutional setting. Using city‐level data for China, the present study finds that city governments behave strategically in making spending decisions regarding environmental protection. This paper finds that a city government appears to cut its own spending as a response to the rise in environmental protection spending by its neighbors. Hence, environmental protection tends to be underprovided. As a result, we suggest that centralizing the environmental protection responsibility to a higher level of government would be beneficial in terms of controlling pollution in China.
Family Dynamics and Self‐Injury Behaviors: A Correlation Analysis
Authors: Halstead Ruth Ogden , Pavkov Thomas W. , Hecker Lorna L. , Seliner Michelle M.
Published: October 2012

This study tested the relationship between family dynamics and self‐injury. A total of 189 participants responded to a web‐based survey collecting information related to previous self‐injury behaviors and family dynamics. Participants were over 18 years old who had used self‐injury (intentionally harming themselves physically to relieve painful emotions without suicidal intent), but who had not used self‐injury for over a year. Results indicated that healthy family dynamics were negatively correlated and associated with higher scores of self‐injury behaviors. This study offers some evidence that family dynamics influence self‐injury behaviors. The implications for family therapy are discussed.
GeoLight – processing and analysing light‐based geolocator data in R
Authors: Lisovski Simeon , Hahn Steffen
Published: October 2012

Determining global position by light measurements (‘geolocation’) has revolutionised the methods used to track migratory birds throughout their annual cycle.

To date, there is no standard way of analysing geolocator data, making communication of analyses cumbersome and hampering the reproducibility of results.

We have, therefore, developed the R package GeoLight, which provides basic functions for all steps of determining global positioning and a new approach in analysing movement pattern.

Here, we briefly introduce and discuss the major functions of this package using example movement data of European hoopoe (Upupa epops).
The influence of narrative risk communication on feelings of cancer risk
Authors: Janssen Eva , van Osch Liesbeth , de Vries Hein , Lechner Lilian
Published: October 2012

Objective

Evidence is accumulating for the importance of feelings of risk in explaining cancer preventive behaviours, but best practices for influencing these feelings are limited. The aim of this experimental study was to compare the effects of narrative and non‐narrative risk communication about sunbed use on ease of imagination and feelings of cancer risk.

Design and methods

A total of 233 female sunbed users in the general Dutch population were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a narrative message (i.e., personal testimonial), a non‐narrative cognitive message (i.e., factual risk information using cognitive‐laden words), or a non‐narrative affective message (i.e., factual risk information using affective‐laden words). Ease of imagination and feelings of risk were assessed directly after the risk information was given (T1). Three weeks after the baseline session, feelings of risk were measured again (T2).

Results

The results revealed that sunbed users who were exposed to narrative risk information could better imagine themselves developing skin cancer and reported higher feelings of skin cancer risk at T1. Moreover, ease of imagination mediated the effects of message type on feelings of risk at T1 and T2.

Conclusion

The findings provide support for the effects of narrative risk communication in influencing feelings of cancer risk through ease of imagination. Cancer prevention programmes may therefore benefit from including narrative risk information. Future research is important to investigate other mechanisms of narrative information and their most effective content and format.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Evidence is growing for the importance of feelings of risk in explaining cancer preventive behaviours.

Narratives have increasingly been considered as an effective format for persuasive risk messages and studies have shown narrative risk communication to be effective in influencing cognitive risk beliefs.

What does this study add?

Increasing understanding of how feelings of cancer risk can be influenced since best practices for influencing these feelings are limited.

Extending knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of narrative effects on feelings of cancer risk (i.e., the mediating role of ease of imagination) using a non‐student sample.

The findings provide support for the effects of narrative risk communication in influencing feelings of cancer risk through ease of imagination.
Trade practices are main factors involved in the transmission of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia
Authors: Reichert M , Matras M , Skall H F , Olesen N J , Kahns S
Published: October 2012

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), caused by the novirhabdovirus viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), causes significant economic problems to European rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), production. The virus isolates can be divided into four distinct genotypes with additional subgroups. The main source of outbreaks in European rainbow trout farming is sublineage Ia isolates. Recently, this group of isolates has been further subdivided in to two subclades of which the Ia‐2 consists of isolates occurring mainly in Continental Europe outside of Denmark. In this study, we sequenced the full‐length G‐gene sequences of 24 VHSV isolates that caused VHS outbreaks in Polish trout farms between 2005 and 2009. All these isolates were identified as genotype Ia‐2; they divided however into two genetically distinct subgroups, that we name Pol I and Pol II. The Pol I isolates mainly caused outbreaks in the southern part of Poland, while Pol II isolates predominantly were sampled in the north of Poland, although it seems that they have been transmitted to other parts of the country. Molecular epidemiology was used for characterization of transmission pathways. This study shows that a main cause of virus transmission appears to be movement of fish. At least in Polish circumstances trading practices appear to have significant impact on spreading of VHSV infection.
Asp664 cleavage of amyloid precursor protein induces tau phosphorylation by decreasing protein phosphatase 2A activity
Authors: Park Seok Soon , Jung Hyun‐Jung , Kim Yoon‐Jeong , Park Tae Kwan , Kim Chaeyoung , Choi Heesun , Mook‐Jung In Hee , Koo Edward H. , Park Sun Ah
Published: October 2012

Caspase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been reported to be important in amyloid beta protein (Aβ)‐mediated neurotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. In this study, we explored the effect of caspase cleavage of APP on tau phosphorylation in relation to Aβ. We found that Asp664 cleavage of APP increased tau phosphorylation at Thr212 and Ser262 in N2A cells and primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Compared with wild‐type APP, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity was significantly increased when Asp664 cleavage was blocked by the D664A point mutation. Furthermore, we found that over‐expression of C31 reduced PP2A activity. C31 binds directly to the PP2A catalytic subunit, through the asparagine, proline, threonine, tyrosine (NPTY) motif, which is essential for C31‐induced tau hyperphosphorylation. However, it appears that the other fragment produced by Asp664 cleavage, Jcasp, modulates neither PP2A activity nor tau hyperphosphorylation. Asp664 cleavage and accompanying tau hyperphosphorylation were remarkably diminished by blockage of Aβ production using a γ‐secretase inhibitor. Taken together, our results suggest that Asp664 cleavage of APP leads to tau hyperphosphorylation at specific epitopes by modulating PP2A activity as a downstream of Aβ. Direct binding of C31 to PP2A through the C31‐NPTY domain was identified as a mechanism underlying this effect.
Mitogen‐ and stress‐activated kinases regulate progenitor cell proliferation and neuron development in the adult dentate gyrus
Authors: Choi Yun‐Sik , Karelina Kate , Alzate‐Correa Diego , Hoyt Kari R. , Impey Soren , Arthur J. Simon , Obrietan Karl
Published: October 2012

The neurogenic niche within the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus is a source of new neurons throughout life. Interestingly, SGZ proliferative capacity is regulated by both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. One outstanding question involves the molecular mechanisms that regulate both basal and inducible adult neurogenesis. Here, we examined the role of the MAPK‐regulated kinases, mitogen‐ and stress‐activated kinase (MSK)1 and MSK2. as regulators of dentate gyrus SGZ progenitor cell proliferation and neurogenesis. Under basal conditions, MSK1/2 null mice exhibited significantly reduced progenitor cell proliferation capacity and a corollary reduction in the number of doublecortin (DCX)‐positive immature neurons. Strikingly, seizure‐induced progenitor proliferation was totally blocked in MSK1/2 null mice. This blunting of cell proliferation in MSK1/2 null mice was partially reversed by forskolin infusion, indicating that the inducible proliferative capacity of the progenitor cell population was intact. Furthermore, in MSK1/2 null mice, DCX‐positive immature neurons exhibited reduced neurite arborization. Together, these data reveal a critical role for MSK1/2 as regulators of both basal and activity‐dependent progenitor cell proliferation and morphological maturation in the SGZ.
Melatonin enhances antioxidative enzyme gene expression (CAT, GPx, SOD), prevents their UVR‐induced depletion, and protects against the formation of DNA damage (8‐hydroxy‐2'‐deoxyguanosine) in ex vivo human skin
Authors: Fischer Tobias W. , Kleszczyński Konrad , Hardkop Lena H. , Kruse Nathalie , Zillikens Detlef
Published: October 2012

UV radiation (UVR) induces serious structural and functional alterations in human skin leading to skin aging and carcinogenesis. Reactive oxygen species are key players in UVR‐mediated photodamage and induce the DNA‐base‐oxidized, intermediate 8‐hydroxy‐2'‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG). Herein, we report the protective action of melatonin against UVR‐induced 8‐OHdG formation and depletion of antioxidative enzymes using ex vivo human full‐thickness skin exposed to UVR in a dose (0, 100, 300 mJ/cm2)‐ and time‐dependent manner (0, 24, 48 hr post‐UVR). Dynamics of depletion of antioxidative enzymes including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), or 8‐OHdG formation were studied by real‐time PCR and immunofluorescence/immunohistochemical staining. UVR‐treated skin revealed significant and immediate (0 hr 300 mJ/cm2) reduction of gene expression, and this effect intensified within 24 hr post‐UVR. Simultaneous increase in 8‐OHdG‐positive keratinocytes occurred already after 0 hr post‐UVR reaching 71% and 99% up‐regulation at 100 and 300 mJ/cm2, respectively (P < 0.001). Preincubation with melatonin (10−3 m) led to 32% and 29% significant reductions in 8‐OHdG‐positive cells and the prevention of antioxidative enzyme gene and protein suppression. Thus, melatonin was shown to play a crucial role as a potent antioxidant and DNA protectant against UVR‐induced oxidative damage in human skin.
Suitability of live yeast addition to alleviate the adverse effects due to the restriction of the time of access to feed in sheep fed only pasture
Authors: Pérez‐Ruchel A. , Repetto J. L. , Cajarville C.
Published: October 2012

The effect of yeast addition on intake and digestive utilization of pasture was studied in ovines under restricted time of access to forage. Eighteen wethers housed in metabolic cages and fed fresh forage (predominantly Lotus corniculatus) were randomly assigned to three treatments: forage available all day (AD); forage available only 6 h/day (R) and forage available only 6 h/day plus live Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (RY). Feed intake and digestibility, feeding behaviour, kinetics of passage, ruminal pH and ammonia concentration, nitrogen balance and microbial nitrogen synthesis (MNS) were determined in vivo, and ruminal liquor activity of animals was evaluated in vitro. Restricted animals consumed less than those fed all day but achieved more than 75% of the intake and spent less time ruminating (p = 0.014). Although animals without restriction consumed more feed, they had a lower rate of passage (p = 0.030). The addition of yeast did affect neither intake nor feeding behaviour, but increased digestibility. Organic matter digestibility tended to increase 11% by yeast addition (p = 0.051), mainly by a rise in NDF (27%, p = 0.032) and ADF digestibility (37%, p = 0.051). Ingested and retained N was lower in restricted animals, as MNS (p ≤ 0.045). The use of yeasts did not significantly change the N balance or MNS, but retained N tended to be higher in supplemented animals (p = 0.090). Neither ruminal pH nor ammonia concentrations were affected by the restriction, but restricted animals had a lower ruminal activity evidenced by a lower volume of gas (p = 0.020). The addition of yeast overcame this limitation, noted by a higher volume of gas of inocula from supplemented animals (p = 0.015). Yeast addition emerged as a useful tool to improve digestibility of forage cell walls in ovines under restricted time of access to forage.
Focus on invasive mucormycosis in paediatric haematology oncology patients: a series of 11 cases
Authors: Phulpin‐Weibel Aurélie , Rivier Alexandre , Leblanc Thierry , Bertrand Yves , Chastagner Pascal
Published: October 2012

Mucormycosis has emerged as an increasingly important infection in oncology centres with high mortality, especially in severely immunocompromised patients. We carried out a retrospective study of 11 children with mucormycosis treated in seven French oncology‐haematology paediatric wards during the period from 1991 to 2011. Lichtheimia corymbifera and Mucor spp. were the predominant pathogens. Treatment regimens included antifungal therapy, reversal of underlying predisposing risk factors and surgical debridement. Although mucormycosis is associated with high mortality, this infection could be cured in eight of our cases of severely immunocompromised paediatric cancer patients.
General anesthesia for intussusception reduction by enema
Authors: Purenne Emilien , Franchi‐Abella Stéphanie , Branchereau Sophie , Baujard Catherine , Benhamou Dan , Mazoit Jean‐Xavier
Published: October 2012

Objectives

Intussusception is the most frequent cause of bowel obstruction in children. Although enema is usually used as the initial treatment, surgery may be required in more than 50% of patients. General anesthesia (GA) has been suggested to increase the rate of enema success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether GA increases the success rate of reduction by air enema.

Methods

In this retrospective single‐center study from 1989 to the end of June 2008, patients receiving air enema for intussusception reduction were studied. Multivariable analysis using propensity score was performed to compare the success rate between patients receiving sedation or GA.

Results

The success rate of air enema increased from 72% in 1989 to the current rate of 90%. When time elapsed between first symptoms and enema was >12 h, the success rate decreased significantly (Odds Ratio 0.67 [0.56–0.81], P < 0.0001). When patients were matched by propensity score, GA significantly increased the likelihood of success (OR 5.66 [2.85–12.89], P = 0.013).

Conclusions

Air enema performed under GA allows intussusception reduction in more than 90% of patients.
Hearing dysfunction in heterozygous MitfMi‐wh/+ mice, a model for Waardenburg syndrome type 2 and Tietz syndrome
Authors: Ni Christina , Zhang Deming , Beyer Lisa A. , Halsey Karin E. , Fukui Hideto , Raphael Yehoash , Dolan David F. , Hornyak Thomas J.
Published: October 2012

The human deafness‐pigmentation syndromes, Waardenburg syndrome (WS) type 2a, and Tietz syndrome are characterized by profound deafness but only partial cutaneous pigmentary abnormalities. Both syndromes are caused by mutations in MITF. To illuminate differences between cutaneous and otic melanocytes in these syndromes, their development and survival in heterozygous Microphthalmia‐White (MitfMi‐wh/+) mice were studied and hearing function of these mice characterized. MitfMi‐wh/+ mice have a profound hearing deficit, characterized by elevated auditory brainstem response thresholds, reduced distortion product otoacoustic emissions, absent endocochlear potential, loss of outer hair cells, and stria vascularis abnormalities. MitfMi‐wh/+ embryos have fewer melanoblasts during embryonic development than their wild‐type littermates. Although cochlear melanocytes are present at birth, they disappear from the MitfMi‐wh/+ cochlea between P1 and P7. These findings may provide insight into the mechanism of melanocyte and hearing loss in human deafness‐pigmentation syndromes such as WS and Tietz syndrome and illustrate differences between otic and follicular melanocytes.
Photocycle of the LOV‐STAS Protein from the Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.
Authors: Chan Ruby H. , Lewis James W. , Bogomolni Roberto A.
Published: October 2012

Listeria monocytogenes, a food‐borne bacterial pathogen causing significant human mortality, propagates by expressing genes in response to environmental signals, such as temperature and pH. Listeria gene (lmo0799) encodes a protein homologous to the Bacillus subtilis YtvA, which has a flavin‐light, oxygen or voltage (LOV) domain and a Sulfate Transporters Anti‐Sigma factor antagonist (STAS) output domain that regulates transcription‐initiation factor Sigma B in the bacterial stress response upon exposure to light. This could be significant for the pathogenesis of listeriosis because Sigma B has been linked to virulence of Listeria, and the Listeria Lmo0799 protein has recently been identified as a virulence factor activated by blue light. We have cloned, expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and purified the full‐length LM‐LOV‐STAS protein. Although it exhibits photochemical activity similar to that of YtvA, LM‐LOV‐STAS lacks an almost universally conserved arginine in the flavin‐binding site, as well as another positively charged residue, a lysine in YtvA. The absence of these positive charges was found to destabilize retention of the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) chromophore in the LM‐LOV‐STAS protein, particularly at higher temperatures. The unusual sequence of the LM‐LOV‐STAS protein alters both spectral features and activation/deactivation kinetics, potentially expanding the sensory capacity of this LOV domain, e.g. to detect light plus cold.
Exploiting microRNA regulation for genetic engineering
Authors: Gentner B. , Naldini L.
Published: October 2012

RNA interference (RNAi) has been a landmark discovery in science. A typical application is to knock down the expression of endogenous genes by delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) into cells triggering the degradation of complementary mRNA. However, RNAi can also be exploited the other way round: making use of the huge diversity of endogenous microRNAs (miRNA), the expression of exogenously introduced genes tagged with artificial miRNA target sequences can be negatively regulated according to the activity of a given miRNA which can be tissue‐, lineage‐, activation‐ or differentiation stage specific. This has significantly expanded the regulatory potential of gene transfer vectors and will benefit both basic science and therapeutic applications. This review briefly introduces the reader to the technical basis for exploiting miRNA regulation, followed by a discussion of specific applications for miRNA‐regulated vectors/viruses in basic research, gene‐ and virotherapy.
Distinct HLA allele and haplotype distributions in four ethnic groups of China
Authors: Yao Y. , Shi L. , Tao Y. , Kulski J. K. , Lin K. , Huang X. , Xiang H. , Chu J. , Shi L.
Published: October 2012

Distinct human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele and haplotype distributions occur in the northern and southern Han populations of China. However, different ethnic groups in China show limited regional distributions for many HLA alleles and haplotypes. Therefore, it is necessary and meaningful to study the differences in HLA allele and haplotype distribution for northern and southern ethnic groups of China. A total of 428 unrelated individuals from the Lisu, Nu, Tu and Yugur ethnic populations were genotyped for HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C and ‐DRB1 alleles using the PCR‐Luminex typing method. The frequencies of HLA alleles and statistically inferred haplotypes were calculated. A total of 29 HLA‐A, 54 HLA‐B, 27 HLA‐C and 41 HLA‐DRB1 alleles were spread throughout these four populations with distinct allele and deduced haplotype frequencies between populations. Some alleles and deduced haplotypes exhibited significantly different distributions between northern (Tu and Yugur) and southern groups (Lisu and Nu). A phylogenetic tree and principal component analysis were used to compare the HLA polymorphism between our dataset and 19 other eastern and southeastern Asian populations. This analysis showed that Lisu and Nu belong to a cluster of southern ethnic groups, while Tu and Yugur are most closely related to other northern groups. Thus, distinct ethnic population histories were revealed by analyzing HLA allelic polymorphisms with the HLA profiles of the Lisu and Nu southern Chinese ethnic groups clearly different from the Tu and Yugur northern ethnic groups. The results will be useful for future association studies of infectious disease and contribute toward a more efficient search of organ/tissue matches for transplantation.
Economic Diplomacy and International Trade: ASEAN’s Quest to Value‐Claim
Authors: Selmier W. Travis , Oh Chang Hoon
Published: October 2012

Utilising economic diplomacy theory, this study specifies a statistical model to reveal ASEAN members’ capacity to negotiate better international trade outcomes. Examining imports into ASEAN members from 134 nations between 1980 and 2001, we find that ASEAN’s diplomats were able to pursue more ‘value‐claiming’ in economic diplomacy than expected. While our results support the commonly accepted view in economic diplomacy that smaller nations are pressured to accept trade outcomes desired by larger nations, we also find support for a new perspective: smaller nations obtain more favourable trade outcomes, as members of a regional trade bloc, which cannot be achieved as individual nations. We find that ASEAN’s conversion to a fully fledged regional trade agreement in 1992 significantly enhanced this capacity. This study adds a different perspective to the substantial literature examining cases in trade and economic diplomacy.
Positive association between a glutathione‐S‐transferase polymorphism and lymphoma in dogs
Authors: Ginn J. , Sacco J. , Wong Y. Y. , Motsinger‐Reif A. , Chun R. , Trepanier L. A.
Published: October 2012

Glutathione‐S‐transferase enzymes (GSTs) play an important role in the detoxification of environmental carcinogens. Defective GST genotypes are over‐represented in human cancers; in particular, low activity GSTT1 genotypes are risk factors for non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. We hypothesized that defective GSTT1 genotypes would be associated with lymphoma risk in dogs. To address this, we resequenced the exons, splice junctions, and 3′‐UTR of canine GSTT1 in dogs with lymphoma (n = 93) and age‐matched unaffected dogs (n = 86). Of 27 canine GSTT1 variants identified, the I2+28 G>A was significantly associated with lymphoma [odds ratio (OR) 6.26, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77–22.2], with the AA genotype found in 18.3% of affected dogs but only 3.5% of controls (P = 0.002). This intronic variant was predicted to perturb GSTT1 mRNA splicing, and may increase lymphoma risk by impairing detoxification of environmental chemicals. Confirmation of this finding in a larger population of dogs may support the inclusion of GSTT1 genotyping in epidemiologic studies of canine lymphoma risk.
Treatment of Uveal Melanoma by Nonthermal Irreversible Electroporation: Electrical and Bioheat Finite Element Model of the Human Eye
Authors: Mandel Yossi , Rubinsky Boris
Published: October 2012

Nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) is an new minimally invasive tissue ablation modality that uses high electric field pulses to produce irreversible permeation of the cell membrane (irreversible electroporation) while avoiding thermal damage and is applied to treat malignant tumors. This paper describes efforts to develop NTIRE as a new minimally invasive treatment modality for uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, and other ocular malignancies. The paper deals with a 3D mathematical simulation model of the eye that employs the simultaneous solution to the electric field equation and to the Pennes bioheat equation to predict the electric field in the eye as well as the rise in eye temperature in response to the application of a high power electric pulse. Treatment efficacy was defined as the fraction of tumor volume in which the electric field exceeded a predefined target field and treatment safety was calculated by the ratio of the electric field in the tumor to the electric field in the vitreous humor or in the macula. Results show that treatment efficacy and safety are criteria that can be used to optimize the NTIRE treatment protocol.
Flow in a Single Stage Centrifugal Fan With Vaneless Diffuser and Peripheral Louver Outlets
Authors: Li Hongmin
Published: October 2012

This paper presents an analysis on the air flows in a single stage centrifugal fan with a vaneless diffuser and peripheral louver outlets. The performance data of the fan are obtained experimentally. A numerical fluid flow model is developed. The agreements between the numerical and experimental results are reasonably good. The performances of the fan under various working conditions are explained by the flow structures and pressure distributions. Flow energy analysis shows that the major energy losses in the fan are the impeller loss, the diffuser loss, and the gap leakage loss. Suggestions on the design and application of fans with such architecture are given.
Thermal Analysis of a Water-Filled Micro Heat Pipe With Phase-Change Interfacial Resistance
Authors: Mun Hung Yew , Tio Kek-Kiong
Published: October 2012

The progressive evaporation and condensation processes in a micro heat pipe, with which high heat fluxes at the liquid–vapor interface are associated, render it a device of high thermal conductance. By coupling the phase-change interfacial resistance model with a mathematical model based on first principles for fluid flow and heat transfer, the axial temperature variations of the liquid and vapor phases as well as those of other field variables are characterized and analyzed. The findings provide a well-defined exposition of the validity of uniform-temperature assumption for the liquid and vapor phases in the analysis of micro heat pipes. In conjunction with the acquisition of liquid and vapor temperature profiles, the heat transfer characteristics of the evaporation process can be analyzed. The local evaporative heat transfer coefficient and heat flux are evaluated. The results indicate that both heat transfer coefficient and heat flux are of considerably high values, confirming that the heat transport capability of a micro heat pipe is dominated by the phase-change heat transfer at the liquid–vapor interface.
Geometric and Thermodynamic Optimization of a Heat Recovery Steam Generator: A Constructal Design
Authors: Norouzi E. , Mehrgoo M. , Amidpour M.
Published: October 2012

Heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is a critically important subsystem of a combined cycle. The global objective of a HRSG is to heat the stream of water. The HRSG is composed of three major sections, including an economizer, an evaporator, and a superheater. In this study, a water tube HRSG is considered and its main design features are deduced from the minimization of the entropy generation by using the constructal theory. Entropy generation is obtained by considering all irreversibilities associated with the processes. Considering the minimum total entropy generation as the objective function, the optimum parameters in the HRSG unit are derived by using the genetic algorithm method under the fixed total volume condition. In the present work, the number and arrangement of the tubes, the optimal diameters of tubes and spacing between adjacent tubes for three main sections, total length, width, and height of the HRSG unit and the water flow rate are significant features of the flow configuration inducted by the constructal design. Furthermore, the effect of changing in the size of the flow system on the flow architecture is determined.
Performance Characteristics of an Operating Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle
Authors: Conboy Thomas , Wright Steven , Pasch James , Fleming Darryn , Rochau Gary , Fuller Robert
Published: October 2012

Supercritical CO2 (S-CO2) power cycles offer the potential for better overall plant economics due to their high power conversion efficiency over a moderate range of heat source temperatures, compact size, and potential use of standard materials in construction. Sandia National Labs (Albuquerque, NM) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE-NE) are in the process of constructing and operating a megawatt-scale supercritical CO2 split-flow recompression Brayton cycle with contractor Barber-Nichols Inc. (Arvada, CO). This facility can be counted among the first and only S-CO2 power producing Brayton cycles anywhere in the world. The Sandia-DOE test-loop has recently concluded a phase of construction that has substantially upgraded the facility by installing additional heaters, a second recuperating printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE), more waste heat removal capability, higher capacity load banks, higher temperature piping, and more capable scavenging pumps to reduce windage within the turbomachinery. With these additions, the loop has greatly increased its potential for electrical power generation, and its ability to reach higher temperatures. To date, the loop has been primarily operated as a simple recuperated Brayton cycle, meaning a single turbine, single compressor, and undivided flow paths. In this configuration, the test facility has begun to realize its upgraded capacity by achieving new records in turbine inlet temperature (650 °F/615 K), shaft speed (52,000 rpm), pressure ratio (1.65), flow rate (2.7 kg/s), and electrical power generated (20 kWe). Operation at higher speeds, flow rates, pressures, and temperatures has allowed a more revealing look at the performance of essential power cycle components in a supercritical CO2 working fluid, including recuperation and waste heat rejection heat exchangers (PCHEs), turbines and compressors, bearings and seals, as well as auxiliary equipment. In this report, performance of these components to date will be detailed, including a discussion of expected operational limits as higher speeds and temperatures are approached.
Evaluation of Design Performance of the Semi-Closed Oxy-Fuel Combustion Combined Cycle
Authors: Yang H. J. , Kang D. W. , Ahn J. H. , Kim T. S.
Published: October 2012

This study aims to present various design aspects and realizable performance of the natural gas fired semi-closed oxy-fuel combustion combined cycle (SCOC-CC). The design parameters of the cycle are set up on the basis of the component technologies of today’s state-of-the-art gas turbines with a turbine inlet temperature between 1400 °C and 1600 °C. The most important part of the cycle analysis is the turbine cooling, which considerably affects the cycle performance. A thermodynamic cooling model is introduced in order to predict the reasonable amount of turbine coolant needed to maintain the turbine blade temperature of the SCOC-CC at the levels of those of conventional gas turbines. The optimal pressure ratio ranges of the SCOC-CC for two different turbine inlet temperature levels are researched. The performance penalty due to the CO2 capture is examined. The influences of the purity of the oxygen provided by the air separation unit on the cycle performance are also investigated. A comparison with the conventional combined cycle, adopting a postcombustion CO2 capture, is carried out, taking into account the relationship between the performance and the CO2 capture rate.
Size-Dependent Pull-In Instability of Hydrostatically and Electrostatically Actuated Circular Microplates
Authors: Ansari R. , Gholami R. , Mohammadi V. , Faghih Shojaei M.
Published: October 2012

This article is concerned with the development of a distributed model based on the modified strain gradient elasticity theory (MSGT), which enables us to investigate the size-dependent pull-in instability of circular microplates subjected to the uniform hydrostatic and nonuniform electrostatic actuations. The model developed herein accommodates models based on the classical theory (CT) and modified couple stress theory (MCST), when all or two material length scale parameters are set equal to zero, respectively. On the basis of Hamilton's principle, the higher-order nonlinear governing equation and corresponding boundary conditions are obtained. In order to linearize the nonlinear equation, a step-by-step linearization scheme is implemented, and then the linear governing equation is discretized along with different boundary conditions using the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method. In the case of CT, it is indicated that the presented results are in good agreement with the existing data in the literature. Effects of the length scale parameters, hydrostatic and electrostatic pressures, and various boundary conditions on the pull-in voltage and pull-in hydrostatic pressure of circular microplates are thoroughly investigated. Moreover, the results generated from the MSGT are compared with those predicted by MCST and CT. It is shown that the difference between the results from the MSGT and those of MCST and CT is considerable when the thickness of the circular microplate is on the order of length scale parameter.
Anthropogenic Heat Release Into the Environment
Authors: Wong Kaufui V. , Dai Yading , Paul Brian
Published: October 2012

This work is intended to systematically study an inventory of the anthropogenic heat produced. This research strives to present a better estimate of the energy generated by humans and human activities, and compare this estimate to the significant energy quantity with respect to climate change. Because the top of atmosphere (TOA) net energy flux was found to be 0.85 ± 0.15 W/m2 the planet is out of energy balance, as studied by the group from NASA in 2005. The Earth is estimated to gain 431 terawatts (TW) from this energy imbalance. This number is the significant heat quantity to consider when studying global climate change, and not the 78,300 TW, the absorbed part of the primary solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, as commonly cited and used at present in the literature. Based on energy supplied to the boilers (in the Rankine cycle) of at least 13 TW, body energy dissipated by 7 × 109 people and their domestic animals, the value of the total world anthropogenic heat production rate is 15.26 TW or 3.5% of the energy gain by the Earth. Based on world energy consumption and the energy dissipated by 7 × 109 people and their domestic animals, the value of the total world anthropogenic heat production rate is 19.7 TW or about 5% of the energy gain by the Earth. These numbers are significantly different from 13 TW. More importantly, the figures are 3.5–5% of the net energy gained by the Earth, and hence significant. The quantity is not 0.017% of the absorbed part of the main solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface and negligible.
Development Length in Planar Channel Flows of Newtonian Fluids Under the Influence of Wall Slip
Authors: Ferrás L. L. , Afonso A. M. , Alves M. A. , Nóbrega J. M. , Pinho F. T.
Published: October 2012

This technical brief presents a numerical study regarding the required development length (L=Lfd/H) to reach fully developed flow conditions at the entrance of a planar channel for Newtonian fluids under the influence of slip boundary conditions. The linear Navier slip law is used with the dimensionless slip coefficient k¯l=kl(μ/H), varying in the range 0<k¯l≤1. The simulations were carried out for low Reynolds number flows in the range 0<Re≤100, making use of a rigorous mesh refinement with an accuracy error below 1%. The development length is found to be a nonmonotonic function of the slip velocity coefficient, increasing up to k¯l≈0.1-0.4 (depending on Re) and decreasing for higher k¯l. We present a new nonlinear relationship between L, Re, and k¯l that can accurately predict the development length for Newtonian fluid flows with slip velocity at the wall for Re of up to 100 and k¯l up to 1.
Gene Detection With Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Arash B. , Wang Q. , Wu N.
Published: October 2012

The potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanosensors in detection of genes through a vibration analysis is investigated with molecular dynamics. The carbon nanotube based nanosensor under investigation is wrapped by a gene whose structure includes a single strand deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) with a certain number of distinct nucleobases. Different genes are differentiated or detected by identifying a differentiable sensitivity index that is defined to be the shifts of the resonant frequency of the nanotube. Simulation results indicate that the nanosensor is able to differentiate distinct genes, i.e., small proline-rich protein 2 A, small proline-rich protein 2B, small proline-rich protein 2D, and small proline-rich protein 2E, with a recognizable sensitivity. The research provides a rapid, effective, and practical method for detection of genes.