bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Identity‐Processing Styles Among Young Adults: A Longitudinal Study of Socialization Factors and Consequences for Financial Capabilities
Authors: SHIM SOYEON , SERIDO JOYCE , BOSCH LESLIE , TANG CHUANYI
Published: January 2013

Using identity theory as a basis for conceptualizing and clustering the financial identity‐processing styles of young adults, this study examines antecedent socialization factors and consequent financial capabilities associated with those clusters. Using two‐timed longitudinal surveys (N = 1,511) of college students, we proposed and confirmed three financial identity‐processing styles, resembling Berzonsky's three identity‐processing styles (i.e., informational, normative, and diffused‐avoidant). Labeled Pathfinders, Followers and Drifters: these three clusters were profiled with respect to their socialization factors and financial capabilities. We concluded that identity theory can be applied to the financial domain, financial identity‐processing styles are influenced by socialization factors (e.g., parents, learning), and these styles have consequences for individuals' financial capabilities (financial knowledge, self‐efficacy, attitudes, and behaviors). Insights from this study may inform the design and implementation of effective financial parenting, financial education and intervention programs, and identify those young adults who may benefit from education and intervention efforts.
Association between adherence to and persistence with atypical antipsychotics and psychiatric relapse among US Medicaid-enrolled patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Panish Jessica , Karve Sudeep , Candrilli Sean D , Dirani Riad
Published: January 2013

Objective

Assess association between adherence and persistence with second-generation oral antipsychotics (SGOAs), psychiatric-related relapse and healthcare utilization among patients with schizophrenia experiencing two or more psychiatric-related relapses.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the US Medicaid Multi-State Database for 2004–2008. Patients with schizophrenia (aged 18–64) with two or more psychiatric-related relapses within 1 year after SGOA initiation were selected. Associations between a dichotomous measure of adherence and persistence with SGOAs and psychiatric-related relapse and healthcare utilization were assessed using unadjusted and covariate-adjusted regression models. No adjustment was made for multiplicity.

Key findings

Study cohort consisted of 3714 patients with mean age of 42.6 years. Overall, 45% of patients were adherent and 50% persistent with SGOAs. Unadjusted and covariate-adjusted analysis results suggested the 12-month psychiatric-related relapse rate was lower among adherent/persistent patients versus non-adherent patients (unadjusted mean: 3.85 versus 4.13; P < 0.001; covariate-adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR): 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–0.94) and non-persistent patients (unadjusted mean: 3.81 versus 4.21; P < 0.001; covariate-adjusted IRR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.84–0.92). Compared with non-persistent patients, persistent patients had significantly lower rates of all-cause inpatient admissions (IRR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.82–0.93) and emergency department visits (IRR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.73–0.85).

Conclusions

Although SGOAs have proven efficacy in lowering the rate of psychiatric-related relapses, lower adherence and persistence rates may be an inhibiting factor in achieving optimal benefits from SGOAs. Future research is needed to assess whether newer antipsychotics with less-frequent dosing may improve adherence among patients with schizophrenia.
Induction of interferon‐λ contributes to Toll‐like receptor‐3‐activated hepatic stellate cell–mediated hepatitis C virus inhibition in hepatocytes
Authors: Wang Y. , Li J. , Wang X. , Ye L. , Zhou Y. , Ho W.
Published: January 2013

There is limited information about the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in liver innate immunity against hepatitis C virus (HCV). We thus examined whether HSC can produce antiviral factors that inhibit HCV replication in human hepatocytes. HSC expressed functional Toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR‐3), which could be activated by its ligand, polyinosine‐polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), leading to the induction of interferon‐λ (IFN‐λ) at both mRNA and protein levels. TLR‐3 signalling of HSC also induced the expression of IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF‐7), a key regulator of IFN signalling pathway. When HCV JFH‐1‐infected Huh7 cells were co‐cultured with HSC activated with poly I:C or incubated in media conditioned with supernatant (SN) from poly I:C‐activated HSC, HCV replication was significantly suppressed. This HSC SN action on HCV inhibition was mediated through IFN‐λ, which was evidenced by the observation that antibody to IFN‐λ receptors could neutralize the HSC‐mediated anti‐HCV effect. The role of IFN‐λ in HSC‐mediated anti‐HCV activity is further supported by the observation that HSC SN treatment induced the expression of IRF‐7 and IFN‐stimulated genes (ISGs), OAS‐1 and MxA in HCV‐infected Huh7 cells. These observations indicate that HSC may be a key regulatory bystander, participating in liver innate immunity against HCV infection using an IFN‐λ‐dependent mechanism.
Does the Broad Public Want to Consolidate Public Debt? – The Role of Fairness and of Policy Credibility
Authors: Stix Helmut
Published: January 2013

This paper employs information obtained from a public opinion survey to analyze why voters differ in their demand for fiscal consolidation, i.e. why some voters support and others oppose a reduction of public debt levels. Results demonstrate that preferences for consolidation vary considerably across individuals along economically informed dimensions. First, voters behave rationally in the sense that self‐interest matters. Second, voters care for their children (but this motive seems less important than one might presume). Third, voters care strongly for how the consolidation burden is distributed among the current generation – this is at least as important as the intergenerational aspect. Forth, the lack of credibility of fiscal policy plans is a serious impediment to voters' support for consolidation. These results imply that fiscal consolidation plans should be “fair” and that the imposition of credible fiscal policy rules could increase voters' support of consolidations.
The Place of Rawls in Political and Ethical Theory
Authors: Mandle Jon
Published: January 2013

The work of John Rawls is central to contemporary political philosophy. A Theory of Justice provides a model for the justification of substantive principles of justice, and it defends principles that reject utilitarianism. Ultimately, justification is a matter of what the participants in a relationship or an institution can justify to one another. Unlike utilitarianism, which assumes that there is one good that it is the job of morality to maximize, Rawls holds that there are multiple conceptions of the good associated with different individuals. Furthermore, he holds that there are multiple principles of morality associated with different relationships and institutions. His principles of justice are designed for one of these—the basic structure of society. They establish a moral minimum that all members of a society owe to one another, but additional principles are required to govern other special relationships.
How has Philosophical Applied Ethics Progressed in the Past Fifty Years?
Authors: Steinbock Bonnie
Published: January 2013

Applied ethics is relatively new on the philosophical scene, having grown out of the various civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the student demand that college courses be relevant. Even today, there are those who think that there are no philosophically interesting practical ethical questions, and that applied ethics is not a branch of philosophy at all. This article rejects that view, both because some of the most interesting and respectable philosophers in the world have worked in applied ethics and because applied ethics has been the source of many difficult conceptual questions in theoretical ethics and even metaphysics. These include the grounds for moral status, human identity, how to conceive rights in general and the right to life in particular, the question whether existence itself can be a harm (the nonidentity problem), and the nature of moral principles.
A Minimalist Theory of Truth
Authors: Armour‐Garb Bradley
Published: January 2013

This article, after briefly discussing Alfred Tarski's influential theory of truth, turns to a more recent theory of truth, a deflationary, or minimalist, theory. One of the chief elements of a deflationary, or minimalist, theory of truth is that it replaces the question of what truth is with the question of what “true” does. After setting out the central features of the minimalist theory of truth, the article explains the motivation for opting for such a position. In addition, it provides some reasons for thinking that such a theory of truth is “minimal” or “deflationary” in the way that contemporary truth theorists have claimed it to be.
Postmodernism: A Feminist Critique
Authors: Kostikova Anna
Published: January 2013

In this article the author suggests that progress in philosophy can be conceived through contemporary French theories that propose a new, polysemantic way of thinking. Postmodern philosophy has tried to renew the meaning of the subject, of the subject's identity, and of language and communication. The author believes that the postmodern, feminist approach to those concepts represents significant progress in philosophy. It is, in fact, exactly in the context of feminism—conceived of not just as a women's sociopolitical or scientific activity but as a broad theoretical approach to many areas—that Western philosophy has acquired its most explicit and adequate meaning. A crucial example here is the new historicophilosophical analysis of the concept of gender. The author appeals to Lipovetsky, Lacan, Derrida, Kristeva, and other thinkers to show how postmodern feminism helps to overcome the binary vision of the contemporary world and the dichotomic composition of earlier philosophical thought.
Philosophy of Mind, Past and Present
Authors: Vasilyev Vadim V.
Published: January 2013

This article attempts to summarize a few criteria of progress in philosophy—clarifying problems; rejecting false theories; opening new perspectives in familiar fields; inventing new arguments or thought experiments; and so on—and to apply them to contemporary philosophy of mind. As a result, the article concludes that while some progress was obvious in the past fifty years, there is much work yet to be done. It then tries to outline a transformation of conceptual analysis needed for further developments in this field. The author argues that conceptual analysis might be revived if it is treated as a clarification of the relations among our natural beliefs.
Experimental Philosophy: A Methodological Critique
Authors: Woolfolk Robert L.
Published: January 2013

This article offers a critique of research practices typical of experimental philosophy. To that end, it presents a review of methodological issues that have proved crucial to the quality of research in the biobehavioral sciences. It discusses various shortcomings in the experimental philosophy literature related to (1) the credibility of self‐report questionnaires, (2) the validity and reliability of measurement, (3) the adherence to appropriate procedures for sampling, random assignment, and handling of participants, and (4) the meticulousness of study reporting. It argues that the future standing of experimental philosophy will hinge upon improvements in research methods.
Divergence of expression pattern contributed to neofunctionalization of duplicated HD‐Zip I transcription factor in barley
Authors: Sakuma Shun , Pourkheirandish Mohammad , Hensel Goetz , Kumlehn Jochen , Stein Nils , Tagiri Akemi , Yamaji Naoki , Ma Jian Feng , Sassa Hidenori , Koba Takato , Komatsuda Takao
Published: January 2013

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) spikes are developmentally switched from two‐rowed to six‐rowed by a single recessive gene, six‐rowed spike 1 (vrs1), which encodes a homeodomain‐leucine zipper I class transcription factor. Vrs1 is a paralog of HvHox2 and both were generated by duplication of an ancestral gene. HvHox2 is conserved among cereals, whereas Vrs1 acquired its current function during the evolution of barley. It was unclear whether divergence of expression pattern or protein function accounted for the functionalization of Vrs1.

Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of protein functions and gene expression between HvHox2 and Vrs1 to clarify the functionalization mechanism.

We revealed that the transcriptional activation activity of HvHOX2 and VRS1 was conserved. In situ hybridization analysis showed that HvHox2 is localized in vascular bundles in developing spikes, whereas Vrs1 is expressed exclusively in the pistil, lemma, palea and lodicule of lateral spikelets. The transcript abundance of Vrs1 was > 10‐fold greater than that of HvHox2 during the pistil developmental stage, suggesting that the essential function of Vrs1 is to inhibit gynoecial development. We demonstrated the quantitative function of Vrs1 using RNAi transgenic plants and Vrs1 expression variants. Expression analysis of six‐rowed spike mutants that are nonallelic to vrs1 showed that Vrs1 expression was up‐regulated by Vrs4, whereas HvHox2 expression was not.

These data demonstrate that the divergence of gene expression pattern contributed to the neofunctionalization of Vrs1.
SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH genes, regulators of auxin biosynthesis, are involved in leaf vein development in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Baylis Tammy , Cierlik Izabela , Sundberg Eva , Mattsson Jim
Published: January 2013

Leaves depend on highly developed venation systems to collect fixed carbon for transport and to distribute water. We hypothesized that local regulation of auxin biosynthesis plays a role in vein development. To this effect, we assessed the role of the SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH (SHI/STY) gene family, zinc‐finger transcription factors linked to regulation of auxin biosynthesis, in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf vein development.

Gene functions were assessed by a combination of high‐resolution spatio‐temporal expression analysis of promoter‐marker lines and phenotypic analysis of plants homozygous for single and multiple mutant combinations.

The SHI/STY genes showed expression patterns with variations on a common theme of activity in incipient and developing cotyledon and leaf primordia, narrowing to apices and hydathode regions. Mutant analysis of single to quintuple mutant combinations revealed dose‐dependent defects in vein patterning affecting multiple vein traits, most notably in cotyledons.

Here we demonstrate that local regulation of auxin biosynthesis is an important aspect of leaf vein development. Our findings also support a model in which auxin synthesized at the periphery of primordia affects vein development.
Photoresponsive Cross‐linked Polymeric Particles for Phototriggered Burst Release
Authors: Wang Zhen , Yu Lili , Lv Cong , Wang Peng , Chen Yedong , Tang Xinjing
Published: January 2013

We synthesized a series of cross‐linked photoresponsive polymeric particles with photolabile monomers and cross‐linkers through miniemulsion polymerization. These particles are quite stable in dark, while light irradiation caused the breakage of particles and the efficient release of encapsulated contents up to 95% based on Nile red fluorescence. Photoswitches of particle systems were confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM and colorimetry. Particle uptake and triggered release in RAW264.7 cells were confirmed by fluorescein diacetate loaded particles.
Long‐term effects of using oral care aides at a nursing home for elderly dependent residents—a pilot study
Authors: Wårdh Inger M. , Wikström Maude B.
Published: January 2013

The oral health status of elderly dependent residents is reported to be poor, as well as difficult to describe. Analysis of oral microbial flora has been suggested as a suitable measurement method. Oral care aides have been shown to have a positive influence on oral health care in nursing. The outcome of an intervention with oral care aides was followed during a two‐year period by recording: (a) the proportion of opportunistic microorganisms and bacteria associated with caries (b) whether oral hygiene assistance were given to the residents or not, and (c) individual experiences concerning oral health care among the staff involved. The oral flora and the amount of oral hygiene assistance improved throughout the entire study period, but staff interviews revealed that it took two years for good cooperation and prophylactic routines to be established. An unexpected finding was the positive correlation (p = .0005) between a high proportion of the opportunistic microorganisms and death within one year.
Peripheral Monocyte Expression of the Chemokine Receptors CCR2, CCR5 and CXCR3 is Altered at Parturition in Healthy Women and in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Björkander S. , Heidari‐Hamedani G. , Bremme K. , Gunnarsson I. , Holmlund U.
Published: January 2013

Monocytes are precursors of macrophages and recruited to the uterus throughout pregnancy to perform important immunological functions. In this study, we hypothesized that pregnant women have reduced peripheral monocyte expression of chemokine receptors and alterations in PBMC responses to microbial stimuli as an adaption to pregnancy and that these changes are less pronounced in women with autoimmunity. We therefore investigated the chemokine receptor expression, migratory behaviour and responses to microbial stimulation of peripheral monocytes from pregnant women at parturition (n = 13) and from non‐pregnant women (n = 9). In addition, we compared healthy pregnant women with women suffering from SLE (n = 5), a condition with pronounced systemic inflammation increasing the risk for pregnancy complications. We demonstrate that peripheral monocytes are affected by pregnancy with reduced percentages of CCR2+, CCR5+ and CXCR3+ monocytes of both classical (CD16−) and inflammatory (CD16+) subsets and that the trophoblast‐secreted chemokine CCL2/MCP‐1 recruited monocytes of both subsets in vitro. Further, PBMCs from pregnant women had a divergent response to microbial stimulation with lower CCL5/RANTES and higher CCL2/MCP‐1 secretion compared with non‐pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women had lower basal PBMC‐secretion of CCL5/RANTES and higher basal secretion of IL‐10 and CCL2/MCP‐1. Interestingly, the women with SLE responded similar to pregnancy as did healthy women with lower percentages of CCR2+, CCR5+ and CXCR3+ monocytes. However, they had increased expression of CCR5 on CD16+ monocytes and heightened PBMC‐secretion of CCL5/RANTES. In conclusion, our data indicate that monocyte chemokine receptor expression and the chemokine milieu during pregnancy are tightly regulated to support pregnancy.
Aberrantly Decreased Levels of NKG2D Expression in Children with Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Ge X. , Li C.‐R. , Yang J. , Wang G.‐B.
Published: January 2013

This study is designed to investigate the changes of NKG2D expression on CD8+T cells and CD3−CD56+NK cells in Kawasaki disease (KD). NKG2D/NKG2A expression on CD3−CD56+NK cells and CD8+T lymphocytes, and NKG2D ligands such as major histocompatibility complex I chain‐related molecules A(MICA) and UL‐16‐binding proteins (ULBP‐1) expression on CD14+ mononuclear cells (MC) were analysed by flow cytometry in patients with KD. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in CD14+ cells. Plasma cytokine [IL‐7, IL‐12, IL‐15, interferon (IFN)‐γ and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β] concentrations were measured by ELISA. The levels of NKG2D on NK cells and CD8+T cells expression in acute phase of KD were significantly lower than those in normal controls (P < 0.05), and the levels of NKG2D expression in the patients with coronary artery lesion (KD‐CAL+) were lower than those in patients with KD‐CAL−. There was an upregulated tendency after treatment with IVIG. We found higher expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines from MC, such as IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α in patients with KD compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The concentrations of IL‐7 and IL‐15 were significantly decreased in acute phase of KD (P < 0.05) and to some extent elevated after therapy with IVIG (P < 0.05), while antagonistic cytokines like IFN‐γ were increased in acute phase of KD (P < 0.05) and reduced after therapy with IVIG (P < 0.05). These results suggest that aberrantly decreased levels of NKG2D expression on NK cells and CD8+T cells might be one of the factors led to disturbed immunological function in patients with KD. Cytokines milieu could be important factors causing reduced expression of NKG2D.
A Patch‐based Cellular Automaton for Simulating Land‐use Changes at Fine Spatial Resolution
Authors: Wang Fang , Marceau Danielle J.
Published: January 2013

While cellular automata have become popular tools for modeling land‐use changes, there is a lack of studies reporting their application at very fine spatial resolutions (e.g. 5 m resolution). Traditional cell‐based CA do not generate reliable results at such resolutions because single cells might only represent components of land‐use entities (i.e. houses or parks in urban residential areas), while recently proposed entity‐based CA models usually ignore the internal heterogeneity of the entities. This article describes a patch‐based CA model designed to deal with this problem by integrating cell and object concepts. A patch is defined as a collection of adjacent cells that might have different attributes, but that represent a single land‐use entity. In this model, a transition probability map was calculated at each cell location for each land‐use transition using a weight of evidence method; then, land‐use changes were simulated by employing a patch‐based procedure based on the probability maps. This CA model, along with a traditional cell‐based model were tested in the eastern part of the Elbow River watershed in southern Alberta, Canada, an area that is under considerable pressure for land development due to its proximity to the fast growing city of Calgary. The simulation results for the two models were compared to historical data using visual comparison, Ksimulation indices, and landscape metrics. The results reveal that the patch‐based CA model generates more compact and realistic land‐use patterns than the traditional cell‐based CA. The Ksimulation values indicate that the land‐use maps obtained with the patch‐based CA are in higher agreement with the historical data than those created by the cell‐based model, particularly regarding the location of change. The landscape metrics reveal that the patch‐based model is able to adequately capture the land‐use dynamics as observed in the historical data, while the cell‐based CA is not able to provide a similar interpretation. The patch‐based approach proposed in this study appears to be a simple and valuable solution to take into account the internal heterogeneity of land‐use classes at fine spatial resolutions and simulate their transitions over time.
Short‐term exercise training enhances functional sympatholysis through a nitric oxide‐dependent mechanism
Authors: Jendzjowsky Nicholas G. , DeLorey Darren S.
Published: January 2013

Key points

Sympathetic nervous system activity causes tonic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle. Vasoactive molecules released from the active skeletal muscle and/or endothelium have been shown to inhibit sympathetic vasoconstriction, a phenomenon defined as functional sympatholysis.

A definitive mechanism responsible for functional sympatholysis has yet to be identified; however, nitric oxide (NO) appears to be involved.

It is unknown whether exercise training alters the inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction and NO‐mediated sympatholysis in resting and contracting skeletal muscle.

The present findings demonstrate that short‐term exercise training augments functional sympatholysis in a training‐intensity‐dependent manner through a NO‐dependent mechanism. These novel findings advance our understanding of the effects of exercise training on the regulation of sympathetic vasoconstriction in resting and contracting skeletal muscle.

Abstract  We tested the hypothesis that short‐term mild‐ (M) and heavy‐intensity (H) exercise training would enhance sympatholysis through a nitric oxide (NO)‐dependent mechanism. Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 36) were randomly assigned to sedentary (S) or to M (20 m min−1 5% gradient) or H exercise training groups (40 m min−1 5% gradient). Rats assigned to M and H groups trained on 5 days week−1 for 4 weeks, with the volume of training being matched between groups. Rats were anaesthetized and instrumented for stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic chain and the measurement of arterial blood pressure and femoral artery blood flow. The triceps surae muscle group was stimulated to contract rhythmically at 30 and 60% of maximal contractile force (MCF). The percentage change of femoral vascular conductance (%FVC) in response to sympathetic stimulation delivered at 2 and 5 Hz was determined at rest and during contraction at 30 and 60% MCF. The vascular response to sympathetic stimulation was reduced as a function of MCF in all rats (P < 0.05). At 30% MCF, the magnitude of sympatholysis (%FVC rest – contraction; Δ%FVC) was greater in H compared with M and S groups (Δ%FVC at 2 Hz, S, 9 ± 5; M, 11 ± 8; and H, 18 ± 7; and Δ%FVC at 5 Hz, S, 6 ± 6; M, 12 ± 9; and H, 18 ± 7; P < 0.05) and was greater in H and M compared with S at 60% MCF (Δ%FVC at 2 Hz, S, 15 ± 5; M, 25 ± 3; and H, 36 ± 6; and Δ%FVC at 5 Hz, S, 22 ± 6; M, 33 ± 9; and H, 39 ± 9; P < 0.05). Blockade of NO synthase did not alter the magnitude of sympatholysis in S during contraction at 30 or 60% MCF. In contrast, NO synthase inhibition diminished sympatholysis in H at 30% MCF and in M and H at 60% MCF (P < 0.05). The present findings indicate that short‐term exercise training augments sympatholysis in a training‐intensity‐dependent manner and through an NO‐dependent mechanism.
Subpopulation‐specific patterns of intrinsic connectivity in mouse superficial dorsal horn as revealed by laser scanning photostimulation
Authors: Kosugi Masafumi , Kato Go , Lukashov Stanislav , Pendse Gautam , Puskar Zita , Kozsurek Mark , Strassman Andrew M.
Published: January 2013

Key points

Sensory neurons that detect painful and non‐painful stimulation of body tissues have axons that project to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where their terminations are partially segregated into superficial (I–II) and deep (III–IV) dorsal horn laminae, respectively.

The dorsal horn contains many excitatory and inhibitory interneurons whose axons synapse on other dorsal horn neurons to enhance or suppress sensory transmission.

This study used a localized stimulation technique (laser scanning photostimulation) for high‐resolution mapping of synaptic connections between dorsal horn interneurons, in an in vitro‘slice’ preparation of the mouse lumbar spinal cord.

Some neurons in superficial layers of the dorsal horn have long dendrites that extend ventrally into deeper layers of the dorsal horn, and these neurons can receive excitatory or inhibitory synaptic input from neurons in the deeper layers.

These interlaminar connections may be involved in interactions between transmission of signals underlying painful versus non‐painful sensations.

Abstract  The primary goal of this study was to map the transverse distribution of local excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs to mouse lamina I spinal dorsal horn neurons, using laser scanning photostimulation. A sample of lamina II neurons was also studied for comparison. Lamina I neurons received excitatory synaptic input from both laminae I–II and the outer part of III–IV, especially the II/III border region, while the inhibitory input zones were mostly confined within I–II. The excitatory synaptic input zones showed a pronounced medial asymmetry, which was correlated with a matching asymmetry in the dendritic fields of the neurons. Inhibitory input from laminae III–IV was found in a subpopulation of neurons occupying a highly restricted zone, essentially one cell layer thick, immediately below the lamina I/II border, with morphological and physiological properties that were distinct from other laminar populations in the superficial dorsal horn, and that suggest a critical role in interlaminar communication. This subpopulation also received excitatory input from laminae III–IV. Within this subpopulation, inhibitory III–IV input was correlated with the presence of long ventral dendrites. Correlations between the distribution of synaptic input zones and dendritic fields support the concept that interlaminar communication is mediated in part via contacts made onto ventrally extending dendrites of superficial laminae neurons. The results point to the presence of cell type specificity in dorsal horn circuitry, and show how the study of connectivity can itself help identify previously unrecognized neuronal populations.
A critical re‐evaluation of the specificity of action of perivagal capsaicin
Authors: Browning K. N. , Babic T. , Holmes G. M. , Swartz E. , Travagli R. A.
Published: January 2013

Key points

Perivagal application of capsaicin (1% solution) is considered to cause selective degeneration of vagal afferent (sensory) C fibres and has been used extensively to examine the site of action of many gastrointestinal (GI) neuropeptides.

The actions of both capsaicin and GI neuropeptides may not be restricted to vagal afferent fibres, however, as other non‐sensory neurones displayed sensitivity to capsaicin and brainstem microinjections of these neuropeptides induce GI effects similar to those obtained upon systemic application.

The present study used immunohistochemical, biophysical and functional approaches to test the hypothesis that perivagal capsaicin induces degeneration of vagal efferents controlling GI functions.

Our data indicate that perivagal application of capsaicin induces degeneration of vagal efferent motoneurones and decreased vagal motor responses. Treatment with perivagal capsaicin cannot therefore be considered selective for vagal afferent C fibres and, consequently, care is needed when using perivagal capsaicin to assess the mechanism of action of GI neuropeptides.

Abstract  Perivagal application of capsaicin (1% solution) is considered to cause a selective degeneration of vagal afferent C fibres and has been used extensively to examine the site of action of many gastrointestinal (GI) neuropeptides. The actions of both capsaicin and GI neuropeptides may not be restricted to vagal afferent fibres, however, as other non‐sensory neurones have displayed sensitivity to capsaicin and brainstem microinjections of these neuropeptides induce GI effects similar to those obtained upon systemic application. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that perivagal capsaicin induces degeneration of vagal efferents controlling GI functions. Experiments were conducted 7–14 days after 30 min unilateral perivagal application of 0.1–1% capsaicin. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that, as following vagotomy, capsaicin induced dendritic degeneration, decreased choline acetyltransferase but increased nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) neurones. Electrophysiological recordings showed a decreased DMV input resistance and excitability due, in part, to the expression of a large conductance calcium‐dependent potassium current and the opening of a transient outward potassium window current at resting potential. Furthermore, the number of DMV neurones excited by thyrotrophin‐releasing hormone and the gastric motility response to DMV microinjections of TRH were decreased significantly. Our data indicate that perivagal application of capsaicin induced DMV neuronal degeneration and decreased vagal motor responses. Treatment with perivagal capsaicin cannot therefore be considered selective for vagal afferent C fibres and, consequently, care is needed when using perivagal capsaicin to assess the mechanism of action of GI neuropeptides.
Hippocampal and cerebellar mossy fibre boutons – same name, different function
Authors: Delvendahl Igor , Weyhersmüller Annika , Ritzau‐Jost Andreas , Hallermann Stefan
Published: January 2013

Abstract  Over a century ago, the Spanish anatomist Ramón y Cajal described ‘mossy fibres’ in the hippocampus and the cerebellum, which contain several presynaptic boutons. Technical improvements in recent decades have allowed direct patch‐clamp recordings from both hippocampal and cerebellar mossy fibre boutons (hMFBs and cMFBs, respectively), making them ideal models to study fundamental properties of synaptic transmission. hMFBs and cMFBs have similar size and shape, but each hMFB contacts one postsynaptic hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neuron, while each cMFB contacts ∼50 cerebellar granule cells. Furthermore, hMFBs and cMFBs differ in terms of their functional specialization. At hMFBs, a large number of release‐ready vesicles and low release probability (<0.1) contribute to marked synaptic facilitation. At cMFBs, a small number of release‐ready vesicles, high release probability (∼0.5) and rapid vesicle reloading result in moderate frequency‐dependent synaptic depression. These presynaptic mechanisms, in combination with faster postsynaptic currents of cerebellar granule cells compared with hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons, enable much higher transmission frequencies at cMFB compared with hMFB synapses. Analysing the underling mechanisms of synaptic transmission and information processing represents a fascinating challenge and may reveal insights into the structure–function relationship of the human brain.
Flow Rate Optimization of a Linear Concentrating Photovoltaic System
Authors: Kerzmann Tony , Schaefer Laura
Published: January 2013

The world is facing an imminent energy supply crisis. In order to sustain and increase our energy supply in an environmentally conscious manner, it is necessary to advance renewable technologies. An area of recent interest is in concentrating solar energy systems that use very high efficiency solar cells. Much of the recent research in this field is oriented toward three dimensional high concentration systems, but this research focused on a two dimensional linear concentrating photovoltaic (LCPV) system combined with an active cooling and waste heat recovery system. The LCPV system serves two major purposes: it produces electricity and the waste heat that is collected can be used for heating purposes. There are three parts to the LCPV simulation. The first part simulates the cell cooling and waste heat recovery system using a model consisting of heat transfer and fluid flow equations. The second part simulates the GaInP/GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cell output so as to calculate the temperature-dependent electricity generation. The third part of the simulation includes a waste heat recovery model which links the LCPV system to a hot water storage system. Coupling the multijunction cell model, waste heat recovery model and hot water storage system model gives an overall integrated system that is useful for system design, optimization, and acts as a stepping stone for future multijunction cell photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems simulation. All of the LCPV system components were coded in Engineering Equation Solver V8.425 (EES) and were used to evaluate a 6.2 kWp LCPV system under actual weather and solar conditions for the Phoenix, AZ, region. This evaluation was focused on obtaining an optimum flowrate, so as to produce the most electrical and heat energy while reducing the amount of parasitic load from the fluid cooling system pump. Under the given conditions, it was found that an optimal cooling fluid flowrate of 4 gal/min (2.52×10-4m3/s) would produce and average of 45.9 kWh of electricity and 15.9 kWh of heat energy under Phoenix conditions from July 10–19, 2005. It was also found that the LCPV system produced an average of $4.59 worth of electrical energy and displaced $0.79 worth of heat energy, while also displacing a global warming potential equivalent of 0.035 tons of CO2 per day. This simulation uses system input parameters that are specific to the current design, but the simulation is capable of modeling the LCPV system under numerous other conditions.
Binary and Ternary Nitrate Solar Heat Transfer Fluids
Authors: Coscia Kevin , Elliott Tucker , Mohapatra Satish , Oztekin Alparslan , Neti Sudhakar
Published: January 2013

Current heat transfer fluids for concentrated solar power applications are limited by their high temperature stability. Other fluids that are capable of operating at high temperatures have very high melting points. The present work is aimed at characterizing potential solar heat transfer fluid candidates that are likely to be thermally stable (up to 500 °C) with a lower melting point (∼100 °C). Binary and ternary mixtures of nitrates have the potential for being such heat transfer fluids. To characterize such eutectic media, both experimental measurements and analytical methods resulting in phase diagrams and other properties of the fluids are essential. Solidus and liquidus data have been determined using a differential scanning calorimeter over the range the compositions for each salt system and mathematical models have been derived using Gibbs Energy minimization. The Gibbs models presented in this paper sufficiently fit the experimental results as well as providing accurate predictions of the eutectic compositions and temperatures for each system. The methods developed here are expected to have broader implications in the identification of optimizing new heat transfer fluids for a wide range of applications, including solar thermal power systems.
Lifetime Estimation of a Photovoltaic Module Subjected to Corrosion Due to Damp Heat Testing
Authors: Laronde R. , Charki A. , Bigaud D.
Published: January 2013

In this paper, a methodology is presented for estimating the lifetime of a photovoltaic (PV) module. Designers guarantee an acceptable level of power (80% of the initial power) up to 25 yr for solar panels without having sufficient feedback to validate this lifetime. Accelerated life testing (ALT) can be carried out in order to determine the lifetime of the equipment. Severe conditions are used to accelerate the ageing of components and the reliability is then deduced in normal conditions, which are considered to be stochastic rather than constant. Environmental conditions at normal operations are simulated using IEC 61725 standard and meteorological data. The mean lifetime of a crystalline-silicon photovoltaic module that meets the minimum power requirement is estimated. The main results show the influence of lifetime distribution and Peck model parameters on the estimation of the lifetime of a photovoltaic module.
Model Selection Among Physics-Based Models
Authors: Hombal V. K. , Mahadevan S.
Published: January 2013

The optimal solution of a design optimization problem is dependent on the predictive models used to evaluate the objective and constraints. Since different models give different predictions and can yield different design decisions, when more than one model is available, the choice of model used to represent the objectives/constraints of the design becomes important. This paper addresses the problem of model selection among physics-based models during the prediction stage, which is in contrast to model selection during the calibration and validation stages, and therefore affects design under uncertainty. Model selection during calibration addresses the problem of selecting the model that is likely to provide the best generalization of the calibration data over the entire domain. Model selection during the validation stage examines the validity of a calibrated model by comparing its predictions against the validation data. This paper presents an approach that allows for model selection during the prediction stage, which selects the “best” model for each prediction point. The proposed approach is based on the estimation of the model prediction error under stationary/nonstationary uncertainty. By selecting the best model at each prediction point, the proposed approach partitions the input domain of the models into nonoverlapping regions. The effects of measurement noise, sparseness of validation data, and model prediction uncertainty are included in deriving a probabilistic selection criterion for model selection. The effects of these uncertainties on the classification errors are analyzed. The proposed approach is demonstrated for the problem of selecting between two parametric models for energy dissipation in a mechanical lap joint under dynamic loading, and for the problem of selecting fatigue crack growth models.
A New Design Approach for Rapid Evaluation of Structural Modifications Using Neural Networks
Authors: Demirkan O. , Olceroglu E. , Basdogan I. , Özgüven H. N.
Published: January 2013

Design optimization of structural systems is often iterative, time consuming and is limited by the knowledge of the designer. For that reason, a rapid design optimization scheme is desirable to avoid such problems. This paper presents and integrates two design methodologies for efficient conceptual design of structural systems involving computationally intensive analysis. The first design methodology used in this paper is structural modification technique (SMT). The SMT utilizes the frequency response functions (FRFs) of the original model for the reanalysis of the structure that is subjected to structural modification. The receptances of the original structure are coupled with the dynamic stiffness of the components that are added to or removed from the original structure to perform the structural modification. Then, the coupled matrices are used to calculate the mobility matrices of the modified structure in an efficient way. The second design methodology used in this paper is neural networks (NN). Once sufficient input and output relationships are obtained through SMT, a NN model is constructed to predict the FRF curves of the system for further analysis of the system performance while experimenting different design parameters. The input–output sets used for training the network are increased by applying an interpolation scheme to improve the accuracy of the NN model. The performance of the proposed method integrated through SMT and NN technique is demonstrated on a rectangular plate to observe the effect of the location and thickness of stiffeners on the frequency response of the structure. It is observed that both methods combined with the proposed interpolation scheme work very efficiently to predict the dynamic response of the structure when modifications are required to improve the system performance.
Definition of a JA-2 Equivalent Propellant to be Produced by Continuous Solventless Extrusion
Authors: Manning Thelma G. , Leone Joseph , Zebregs Martijn , Ramlal Dinesh R. , van Driel Chris A.
Published: January 2013

In order to eliminate residual solvents in ammunition and to reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere, the U.S. Army ARDEC has teamed with TNO in developing a new process for the production of solventless propellant for tank ammunition. To reduce the costs of solventless propellants production, shear roll mill and continuous extrusion processing was investigated. As described in this paper JA-2 a double base propellant cannot be processed without solvent by the extrusion process. An alternative JA-2 equivalent propellant was defined. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the manufacturing of this propellant by solventless continuous twin screw extrusion processing while maintaining gun performance characteristics of conventional JA-2 propellant. This is elucidated by explicitly researching the relationship between interior ballistic properties of the gun propellant and utilizing a continuous manufacturing process. Processing conditions were established, and the propellant was manufactured accordingly. The extruded propellant has the desired properties, which resulted in a comparable gun performance as the conventional JA-2 propellant.
Nanometer scale high-aspect-ratio trench etching at controllable angles using ballistic reactive ion etching
Authors: Cybart Shane A. , Roediger Peter , Ulin-Avila Erick , Wu Stephen M. , Wong Travis J. , Dynes Robert C.
Published: January 2013

The authors demonstrate a low pressure reactive ion etching process capable of patterning nanometer scale angled sidewalls and three dimensional structures in photoresist. At low pressure, the plasma has a large dark space region where the etchant ions have very large highly directional mean free paths. Mounting the sample entirely within this dark space allows for etching at angles relative to the cathode with minimal undercutting, resulting in high-aspect ratio nanometer scale angled features. By reversing the initial angle and performing a second etch, the authors create three-dimensional mask profiles.
Influence of secondary electrons in high-energy electron beam lithography
Authors: Raghunathan Ananthan , Hartley John G.
Published: January 2013

The effect of secondary electrons in electron beam lithography is investigated based on a technique called point exposure distribution measurements. This technique involves printing a series of dots at different exposure doses using a high contrast electron beam resist. The experimental results indicate that the secondary electrons are the most likely cause for exposure events. The secondary electrons generated due to forward scattering also limit the highest achievable resolution. An analytical model is developed here based on the physics governing secondary electron generation and transport. The model is able to predict the dependence of dose on the observed diameter to within a reasonable accuracy. The experimental results were verified with the model at both 100 and 50 keV.
Modulation of Ni valence in p-type NiO films via substitution of Ni by Cu
Authors: Chen Wei-Yu , Jeng Jiann-Shing , Huang Kuo-Lun , Chen Jen-Sue
Published: January 2013

10 and 18 at. % copper incorporated NiO films were deposited by reactively sputtering from Ni targets covered with Cu strips of different sizes. A change in the valence of Ni from Ni2+ to Ni3+ is found by x-ray absorption near edge structure analysis after incorporating Cu into the films. All NiO films exhibit p-type conductivity, either without or with Cu additives. However, as compared with the pure NiO films, the carrier concentration of the films incorporating Cu increases, while the resistivity and mobility decrease. This study not only discusses the connections among the physical properties of the NiO films with different Cu contents but also clarifies the role of Cu additives in the NiO films.