bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of the interface between large-sized graphene and a flexible substrate
Authors: Xu Chaochen , Xue Tao , Guo Jiangang , Qin Qinghua , Wu Sen , Song Haibin , Xie Haimei
Published: April 2015

In this paper, the interfacial mechanical properties of large-sized monolayer graphene attached to a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate are investigated. Using a micro-tensile test and Raman spectroscopy, in situ measurements are taken to obtain the full-field deformation of graphene subjected to a uniaxial tensile loading and unloading cycle. The results of the full-field deformation are subsequently used to identify the status of the interface between the graphene and the substrate as one of perfect adhesion, one showing slide or partial debonding, and one that is fully debonded. The interfacial stress/strain transfer and the evolution of the interface from one status to another during the loading and unloading processes are discussed and the mechanical parameters, such as interfacial strength and interfacial shear strength, are obtained quantitatively demonstrating a relatively weak interface between large-sized graphene and PET.
Distinctive uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and positive magnetoresistance in (110)-oriented Fe3O4 films
Authors: Dho Joonghoe , Kim Byeong-geon , Ki Sanghoon
Published: April 2015

Magnetite (Fe3O4) films were synthesized on (110)-oriented MgO, MgAl2O4, and SrTiO3 substrates for comparative studies of the substrates' effects on magnetic and magnetoresistance properties of the films. For the [-110] direction, the hysteresis loops of the Fe3O4 film on MgAl2O4 exhibited a good squareness with the largest coercivity of ∼1090 Oe, and the ratio of remanent magnetization to saturation magnetization was ∼0.995. For the [001] direction, positive magnetoresistance in weak magnetic fields was most distinct for the (110) SrTiO3 substrate with the largest lattice mismatch. Positive magnetoresistance in the (110) Fe3O4 films was presumably affected by imperfect atomic arrangements at anti-phase boundaries.
On the lower bound of the internal energy of the one-component-plasma
Authors: Khrapak S. A. , Khrapak A. G.
Published: April 2015

A new simple yet accurate analytical estimate for the internal energy of the classical one-component-plasma is proposed. In the limit of weak coupling, it reduces to the Debye-Hückel result. In the opposite limit of strong coupling, the ion sphere approximation is recovered. The agreement with the accurate numerical results in the intermediate coupling regime is fairly good.
Magnetic behaviors of Co1−xZnxFe2O4 nano-particles
Authors: Huang Haibo , Zhang Yi , Huang Zonglin , Kou Zhaoxia , Yuan Xue , Ren Zhiyan , Zhai Ya , Du Jun , Zhai Hongru
Published: April 2015

A series of Co1−xZnxFe2O4 particulate nano-ferrites with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8, fabricated by the co-precipitation method, have been investigated. The lattice parameter is found to increase and particle size decreases with increasing x. Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature exhibits ferromagnetic hyperfine splitting sextet peaks with a doublet peak overlapping at its center as Zn contents x < 0.6, and only a single doublet as x ≥ 0.7. The fitting results of Mössbauer spectra reveal the occupation rule of nonmagnetic Zn2+ ions and superparamagnetic behavior. At room temperature, the superparamagnetic excitation plays an important role in the magnetic properties. The fitted hyperfine magnetic field of the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices decreases with increasing Zn content. The saturation magnetization and coercivity monotonously reduce to a small value. However, at low temperature of 5 K, the saturation magnetization (Ms) fully reflects the occupation of Zn ions. Zn substitutions that occupied first the tetrahedral sites cause the increase of magnetization when Zn content is below 0.4, while when Zn content is above 0.4, Zn substitutions occupied both the tetrahedral sites and the octahedral site, which leads to the decrease of magnetization.
Aging studies on micro-fabricated alkali buffer-gas cells for miniature atomic clocks
Authors: Abdullah S. , Affolderbach C. , Gruet F. , Mileti G.
Published: April 2015

We report an aging study on micro-fabricated alkali vapor cells using neon as a buffer gas. An experimental atomic clock setup is used to measure the cell's intrinsic frequency, by recording the clock frequency shift at different light intensities and extrapolating to zero intensity. We find a drift of the cell's intrinsic frequency of (−5.2 ± 0.6) × 10−11/day and quantify deterministic variations in sources of clock frequency shifts due to the major physical effects to identify the most probable cause of the drift. The measured drift is one order of magnitude stronger than the total frequency variations expected from clock parameter variations and corresponds to a slow reduction of buffer gas pressure inside the cell, which is compatible with the hypothesis of loss of Ne gas from the cell due to its permeation through the cell windows. A negative drift on the intrinsic cell frequency is reproducible for another cell of the same type. Based on the Ne permeation model and the measured cell frequency drift, we determine the permeation constant of Ne through borosilicate glass as (5.7 ± 0.7) × 10−22 m2 s−1 Pa−1 at 81 °C. We propose this method based on frequency metrology in an alkali vapor cell atomic clock setup based on coherent population trapping for measuring permeation constants of inert gases.
Rosiglitazone maleate increases weight gain and body fat content in growing lambs
Authors: Fahri F. T. , Clarke I. J. , Pethick D. W. , Warner R. D. , Dunshea F. R.
Published: April 2015

Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are synthetic orally active peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ligands used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ gene plays an important role in regulating fat cell development, energy balance, and lipid metabolism in adipose and skeletal muscle tissue. There is interest in pharmacologic or nutritional means that may complement genetic techniques to improve growth and carcass composition of lambs and the major aim of the present study was to determine whether TZD impact on growth performance and meat quality of growing lambs. An initial study with four cross-bred lambs confirmed that rosiglitazone maleate is absorbed after oral dosing for 7 days. A second study was conducted with 30 cross-bred lambs to investigate the effects of sex (ewe vs wether) and dose of orally administered rosiglitazone maleate (0, 8 and 24 mg/day) for 55 days on growth performance, body composition, plasma metabolites and insulin and meat quality. Feed intake tended to increase linearly with dose of TZD (1521, 1816 and 1878 g/day for 0, 8 and 24 mg/day, P = 0.07) over the entire study, and particularly during the second half of the study (P < 0.05). There were both linear (P = 0.05) and quadratic (P = 0.04) responses in average daily gain to TZD (215, 270 and 261 g/day) with the quadratic response being most pronounced over the second half of the study (P = 0.004). As a result of the increased feed intake back fat (9.4, 11.1 and 13.5 mm, P < 0.001) and carcass fat (27.5%, 29.2% and 30.1%, P = 0.05) increased linearly with dose of TZD. However, there was no effect of TZD on internal fat depots. Plasma non-esterified acid concentrations increased linearly (0.37, 0.39 and 0.41 mM, P = 0.01) whereas plasma insulin concentrations (23.2, 26.9 and 20.9 mU/L, P = 0.05) and the homeostatic model assessment (6.82, 7.73 and 5.98, P = 0.05) exhibited quadratic responses to TZD. There were no significant effects of TZD on muscle pH, temperature or colour although muscle pH was higher at any temperature in ewes (+ 0.05 of a pH unit, P = 0.036) than in wethers. In conclusion, these data confirm that rosiglitazone maleate was rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract of growing ruminant lambs and was metabolically active. Oral TZD treatment appeared to mitigate against the inhibitory effect of carcass fatness on feed intake but the additional energy consumed was in turn deposited as fat.
Biogeochemistry and geobotany of the serpentine soils of the Rezvanshahr area in northwestern Iran: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Mohtadi Ahmad , Ghaderian Seyed M.
Published: April 2015

Ultramafic rocks occur in many areas in Iran. These rocks consist predominantly of partly serpentinised peridotite. The Rezvanshahr area is one of the ultramafic areas in north-western Iran. It has an elevation of 1100–1700 m above sea level and an average rainfall of ~400 mm. In this study, soils and plants from this area were collected, identified and analysed for serpentine-associated metals. Analysis of the total acid-extractable elemental concentrations in the soil showed Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, Mg and Ca concentrations up to 1823, 727, 73, 2497, 47 778, 98 452 and 6440 μg g–1 soil DW respectively. In this study, 22 plant species belonging to 13 families were collected. The highest concentration of Ni (239 μg g–1 leaf DW) was found in Trifolium tricocephalum Pursh (Fabaceae). The highest concentrations of Cr (266 μg g–1) and Mn (332 μg g–1) were found in Trifolium clusii Godr. & Gren. (Fabaceae). The most significant positive correlations were found between Ni and Mn, and Ni and Co in soil samples. Polygonum persicaria Gray contained low concentrations of Ni, Cr and Co, and may possess exclusion mechanisms to restrict excessive metal uptake.
Methoxylated and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surface sediments from the southern Yellow Sea: spatial distribution and potential producers
Authors: Fan Ying , Lan Jing , Wang Jiaokai , Zhao Zongshan , Zhao Meixun , Jiang Guibin
Published: April 2015

Environmental context Methoxylated and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers are of increasing concern owing to their global distribution and potential ecological risks. We investigated the spatial distribution and sources of these brominated compounds in surface sediments from the southern Yellow Sea, China. The results suggest that marine phytoplankton may be the potential producers of these compounds, thereby providing new insights into their occurrence and provenance in marine environments. Abstract Methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) have recently caused worldwide concern; however, there have been very limited studies on their presence in marine sediments. In the present study, MeO-PBDEs, OH-PBDEs and phytoplankton biomarkers were determined in surface sediments from the southern Yellow Sea. MeO-PBDEs and OH-PBDEs are ubiquitous in southern Yellow Sea sediments, with total contents ranging from 43.0 to 571.4pgg–1 dry weight. High contents of these compounds mainly concentrated in the central southern Yellow Sea basin, and their spatial distributions generally presented a seaward-increasing trend. By comparing with total organic carbon and terrestrial organic matter contributions in sediments, these compounds were inferred to originate mainly from marine production rather than from terrigenous inputs. Statistical analysis shows that there are significant correlations between MeO-PBDEs, OH-PBDEs and phytoplankton biomarkers, indicating that MeO-PBDEs and OH-PBDEs are mainly natural compounds, and the phytoplankton are likely to be their potential producers in the southern Yellow Sea, especially for dinosterol.
Beginnings of Fruit Growing in the Old World  two generations later
Authors: Weiss Ehud
Published: April 2015

This paper reviews our current knowledge on Near-Eastern fruit tree domestication, and compares this to the data presented by Daniel Zohary and Pinhas Spiegel-Roy in their seminal paper “Beginnings of Fruit Growing in the Old World”, which was published in Science in 1975. In both papers, the data under consideration include discussion of archaeobotanical assemblages from representative sites across southwest Asia, as well as data provided by living plants – particularly by wild relatives of the crops concerned and molecular data of the crop plants and their wild relatives. On the one hand, it was found that many of Zohary and Spiegel-Roy's conclusions remain valid – the wild progenitors of domesticated fruit trees, olives, grapevine and dates were domesticated during the Chalcolithic period, and fig during the Early Bronze Age period. On the other hand, molecular data indicate that in both the olive and grapevine, genetic materials outside the Levant were later added to the domesticated stock, and that the center of domestication for grapes does not actually include Greece, but was actually only in the Levant; that figs were domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean, rather than all over the Mediterranean; and that Lower Mesopotamia is still a plausible center of date domestication, along with the southern Fertile Crescent oases.
Resources, mortality, and disease ecology: importance of positive feedbacks between host growth rate and pathogen dynamics
Authors: Smith Val H. , Holt Robert D. , Smith Marilyn S. , Niu Yafen , Barfield Michael
Published: April 2015

Resource theory and metabolic scaling theory suggest that the dynamics of a pathogen within a host should strongly depend upon the rate of host cell metabolism. Once an infection occurs, key ecological interactions occur on or within the host organism that determine whether the pathogen dies out, persists as a chronic infection, or grows to densities that lead to host death. We hypothesize that, in general, conditions favoring rapid host growth rates should amplify the replication and proliferation of both fungal and viral pathogens. If a host population experiences an increase in mortality, to persist it must have a higher growth rate, per host, often reflecting greater resource availability per capita. We hypothesize that this could indirectly foster the pathogen, which also benefits from increased within-host resource turnover. We first bring together in a short review a number of key prior studies which illustrate resource effects on viral and fungal pathogen dynamics. We then report new results from a semi-continuous cell culture experiment with SHIV, demonstrating that higher mortality rates indeed can promote viral proliferation. We develop a simple model that illustrates dynamical consequences of these resource effects, including interesting effects such as alternative stable states and oscillatory dynamics. Our paper contributes to a growing body of literature at the interface of ecology and infectious disease epidemiology, emphasizing that host abundances alone do not drive community dynamics: the physiological state and resource content of infected hosts also strongly influence host–pathogen interactions.
Modulation of dendritic cell alternative activation and function by the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid
Authors: Jones Lucy H. , Cook Peter C. , Ivens Alasdair C. , Thomas Graham, D. , Phythian-Adams Alexander T. , Allen Judith E. , MacDonald Andrew S.
Published: April 2015

The archetypal T h 2 cytokine IL-4 has previously been shown to alternatively activate murine macrophages and, more recently, dendritic cells (DCs) both in vitro and in vivo. IL-4 has also been shown to induce Aldh1a2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a2) expression in murine macrophages recruited to the peritoneal cavity. However, the influence of IL-4 on DC Aldh1a2 induction in vivo has not yet been addressed. In this work, we found that DCs show enhanced aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme activity in vivo , which led us to investigate the impact of the vitamin A metabolite all- trans retinoic acid (RA) on DC alternative activation and function. Antagonism of RA receptors reduced production of resistin-like molecule alpha by DCs responding to IL-4, while addition of exogenous RA enhanced production of this marker of alternative activation. Functionally, RA increased DC induction of CD4 + T-cell IL-10, while reducing CD4 + T-cell IL-4 and IL-13, revealing a previously unidentified role for RA in regulating the ability of alternatively activated DCs to influence T h 2 polarization.
Optimal Entry Point and Trajectory for Anterior C1 Lateral Mass Screw
Authors: Hu Yong , Dong Wei-xin , Spiker William Ryan , Yuan Zhen-shan , Sun Xiao-yang , Zhang Jiao , Xie Hui , Albert Todd J.
Published: April 2015

Study Design:

A radiographic analysis of the anatomy of the C1 lateral mass using computed tomography (CT) scans and Mimics software.

Objective:

To define the anatomy of the C1 lateral mass and make recommendations for optimal entry point and trajectory for anterior C1 lateral mass screws.

Summary of Background Data:

Although various posterior insertion angles and entry points for screw insertion have been proposed for posterior C1 lateral mass screws, no large series have been performed to assess the ideal entry point and optimal trajectory for anterior C1 lateral mass screw placement.

Materials and Methods:

The C1 lateral mass was evaluated using CT scans and a 3-dimensional imaging application (Mimics software). Measuring the space available for the anterior C1 lateral mass screw (SAS) at different camber angles from 0 to 30 degrees (5-degree intervals) was performed to identify the ideal camber angle of insertion. Measuring the range of sagittal angles was performed to calculate the ideal sagittal angle. Other measurements involving the height of the C1 lateral mass were also made.

Results:

The optimal screw entry point was found to be located on the anterior surface of the atlas 12.88 mm (±1.10 mm) lateral to the center of the anterior tubercle. This optimal entry point was found to be 6.81 mm (±0.59 mm) superior to the anterior edge of the atlas inferior articulating process. The mean ideal camber angle was 20.92 degrees laterally and the mean ideal sagittal angle was 5.80 degrees downward.

Conclusions:

These measurements define the optimal entry point and trajectory for anterior C1 lateral mass screws and facilitate anterior C1 lateral mass screw placement. A thorough understanding of the local anatomy may decrease the risk of injury to the spinal cord, vertebral artery, and internal carotid artery. Delineating the anatomy in each case with preoperative 3D CT evaluation is recommended.
R. A. Fisher, Lancelot Hogben, and the ‘Competition’ for the Chair of Social Biology at the London School of Economics in 1930: Correcting the Legend
Authors: Tabery James , Sarkar Sahotra
Published: April 2015

From 1930 to 1937 Lancelot Hogben FRS occupied the Chair of Social Biology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. According to standard histories of this appointment, he and R. A. Fisher FRS both applied for the position, but Hogben was selected over Fisher. The episode has received attention in large part because of the later prominence of the two figures involved. The surviving archival records, however, tell a remarkably different story. Neither Fisher nor Hogben was ever an official candidate for the chair. Indeed, Fisher seems not to have applied for the position at all, and Hogben was approached only behind the scenes of the official search. The purpose of this paper is to correct and complete the history of this episode.
Flow stabilization by subsurface phonons
Authors: Hussein M. I. , Biringen S. , Bilal O. R. , Kucala A.
Published: April 2015

The interaction between a fluid and a solid surface in relative motion represents a dynamical process that is central to the problem of laminar-to-turbulent transition (and consequent drag increase) for air, sea and land vehicles, as well as long-range pipelines. This problem may in principle be alleviated via a control stimulus designed to impede the generation and growth of instabilities inherent in the flow. Here, we show that phonon motion underneath a surface may be tuned to passively generate a spatio-temporal elastic deformation profile at the surface that counters these instabilities. We theoretically demonstrate this phenomenon and the underlying mechanism of frequency-dependent destructive interference of the unstable flow waves. The converse process of flow destabilization is illustrated as well. This approach provides a condensed-matter physics treatment to fluid–structure interaction and a new paradigm for flow control.
Testing for effects of climate change on competitive relationships and coexistence between two bird species
Authors: Stenseth Nils Chr. , Durant Joël M. , Fowler Mike S. , Matthysen Erik , Adriaensen Frank , Jonzén Niclas , Chan Kung-Sik , Liu Hai , De Laet Jenny , Sheldon Ben C. , Visser Marcel E. , Dhondt André A.
Published: April 2015

Climate change is expected to have profound ecological effects, yet shifts in competitive abilities among species are rarely studied in this context. Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and great tits (Parus major) compete for food and roosting sites, yet coexist across much of their range. Climate change might thus change the competitive relationships and coexistence between these two species. Analysing four of the highest-quality, long-term datasets available on these species across Europe, we extend the textbook example of coexistence between competing species to include the dynamic effects of long-term climate variation. Using threshold time-series statistical modelling, we demonstrate that long-term climate variation affects species demography through different influences on density-dependent and density-independent processes. The competitive interaction between blue tits and great tits has shifted in one of the studied sites, creating conditions that alter the relative equilibrium densities between the two species, potentially disrupting long-term coexistence. Our analyses show that long-term climate change can, but does not always, generate local differences in the equilibrium conditions of spatially structured species assemblages. We demonstrate how long-term data can be used to better understand whether (and how), for instance, climate change might change the relationships between coexisting species. However, the studied populations are rather robust against competitive exclusion.
Phenology of two interdependent traits in migratory birds in response to climate change
Authors: Kristensen Nadiah Pardede , Johansson Jacob , Ripa Jörgen , Jonzén Niclas
Published: April 2015

In migratory birds, arrival date and hatching date are two key phenological markers that have responded to global warming. A body of knowledge exists relating these traits to evolutionary pressures. In this study, we formalize this knowledge into general mathematical assumptions, and use them in an ecoevolutionary model. In contrast to previous models, this study novelty accounts for both traits—arrival date and hatching date—and the interdependence between them, revealing when one, the other or both will respond to climate. For all models sharing the assumptions, the following phenological responses will occur. First, if the nestling-prey peak is late enough, hatching is synchronous with, and arrival date evolves independently of, prey phenology. Second, when resource availability constrains the length of the pre-laying period, hatching is adaptively asynchronous with prey phenology. Predictions for both traits compare well with empirical observations. In response to advancing prey phenology, arrival date may advance, remain unchanged, or even become delayed; the latter occurring when egg-laying resources are only available relatively late in the season. The model shows that asynchronous hatching and unresponsive arrival date are not sufficient evidence that phenological adaptation is constrained. The work provides a framework for exploring microevolution of interdependent phenological traits.
Hoeflea olei sp. nov., a diesel-oil-degrading, anoxygenic, phototrophic bacterium isolated from backwaters and emended description of the genus Hoeflea
Authors: Rahul K. , Azmatunnisa M. , Sasikala Ch. , Ramana Ch.V.
Published: April 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, diesel-oil-degrading, rod-shaped bacterium (designated JC234T) was isolated from a water sample collected from diesel-oil-contaminated backwaters in Kerala, India. Strain JC234Twas oxidase- and catalase-positive, and grew at 20–35 °C and at pH 7–9. Cells contained bacteriochlorophyll-a, hydroxydemethylspheroidene and three unidentified carotenoids. Growth occurred under aerobic, microaerobic and phototrophic anaerobic conditions. Strain JC234Tcould utilize diesel-oil as a sole source of carbon and energy. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JC234Tbelonged to the genusHoefleawithin the familyPhyllobacteriaceae, and was closely related toHoeflea alexandriiAM1V30T(98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),Hoeflea halophilaJG120-1T(97.6 %) and other members of the genusHoeflea( < 96.4 %). Strain JC234Tshowed 22 ± 2 % and 28 ± 1.5 % DNA–DNA hybridization withHoeflea alexandriiKCTC 22096TandHoeflea halophilaKCTC 23107T, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain JC234Twas 54.3 mol %. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0and C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were the major polar lipids. Strain JC234Tcontained Q10 as the predominant ubiquinone. On the basis of morphological, physiological, genetic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomical analyses, we conclude that strain JC234Trepresents a novel species of the genusHoeflea, for which the nameHoefleaoleisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC234T( = KCTC 42071T = LMG 28200T). An emended description of the genusHoefleais also provided.
On the structure of population activity under fluctuations in attentional state
Authors: Ecker Alexander S , Denfield George H , Bethge Matthias , Tolias Andreas S
Published: April 2015

Attention is commonly thought to improve behavioral performance by increasing response gain and suppressing shared variability in neuronal populations. However, both the focus and the strength of attention are likely to vary from one experimental trial to the next, thereby inducing response variability unknown to the experimenter. Here we study analytically how fluctuations in attentional state affect the structure of population responses in a simple model of spatial and feature attention. In our model, attention acts on the neural response exclusively by modulating each neuron's gain. Neurons are conditionally independent given the stimulus and the attentional gain, and correlated activity arises only from trial-to-trial fluctuations of the attentional state, which are unknown to the experimenter. We find that this simple model can readily explain many aspects of neural response modulation under attention, such as increased response gain, reduced individual and shared variability, increased correlations with firing rates, limited range correlations, and differential correlations. We therefore suggest that attention may act primarily by increasing response gain of individual neurons without affecting their correlation structure. The experimentally observed reduction in correlations may instead result from reduced variability of the attentional gain when a stimulus is attended. Moreover, we show that attentional gain fluctuations – even if unknown to a downstream readout – do not impair the readout accuracy despite inducing limited-range correlations.
Sustainability and risk
Authors: Meins Erika , Sager Daniel
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify the relative contribution of sustainability criteria to property value risk.

Design/methodology/approach

– A discounted cash flow (DCF) model is used to assess the effect of a given set of 42 sustainability sub-indicators on property value. The anticipated demand for each sustainability sub-indicator is described by four future states of nature. Their impact on costs or revenue is estimated and included in the model. Subjective probability distributions describe the occurrence of the future states of nature. Monte Carlo simulations of the DCF model are then used to estimate the impact of an individual feature on the risk (volatility) of the property value distribution.

Findings

– The results for Switzerland show that “use of thermal energy” (29.3 per cent), followed by “access to public transportation” (16.3 per cent), “day light” (9.6 per cent) and “story height” (6.3 per cent) have the highest single impact on property value risk.

Practical implications

– The results are used for a risk-based weighting of a sustainability rating. The rating illustrates how sustainability criteria affect the risk of specific properties and are used as a basis for real estate investment decisions.

Originality/value

– In this paper, an effort is made to rigorously ground sustainability ratings in financial theory.
Examining the sentiment-return relationship in European real estate stock markets
Authors: Lang Stephan , Schaefers Wolfgang
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Recent studies in the field of behavioral finance have highlighted the importance of investor sentiment in the return-generating process for general equities. By employing an asset pricing framework, this paper aims to evaluate the performance of European real estate equities, based on their degree of sentiment sensitivity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a pan-European data set, we classify all real estate equities according to their sentiment sensitivity, which is measured relative to the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) of the European Commission. Based on their individual sentiment responsiveness, we form both a high- and low-sensitivity portfolio, whose returns are included in the difference test of the liquidity-augmented asset pricing model. In this context, we analyze the performance of sentiment-sensitive and sentiment-insensitive real estate equities with a risk-adjusted perspective over the period July 1995 to June 2012.

Findings

– While high-sensitivity real estate equities yield significantly higher raw returns than those with low-sensitivity, we find no evidence of risk-adjusted outperformance. This indicates that allegedly sentiment-driven return behavior is in fact merely compensation for taking higher fundamental risks. In this context, we find that sentiment-sensitive real estate equities are exposed to significantly higher market risks than sentiment-insensitive ones. Based on these findings, we conclude that a sentiment-based investment strategy, consisting of a long-position in the high-sensitivity portfolio and a short-position in the low-sensitivity one, does not generate a risk-adjusted profit.

Research limitations/implications

– Although this study sheds some light on investor sentiment in European real estate stock markets, further research could usefully concentrate on alternative sentiment proxies.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to disentangle the relationship between investor sentiment and European real estate stock returns.
Scanning system development and digital beam control method for electron beam selective melting
Authors: Guo Chao , Zhang Jing , Zhang Jun , Ge Wenjun , Yao Bo , Lin Feng
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to correct the beam deflection errors and beam defocus by using a digital scanning system. Electron beam selective melting (EBSM) is an additive manufacturing technology for metal parts. Beam deflection errors and beam defocus at large deflection angles would greatly influence the accuracy of the built parts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The 200 × 200 mm2 scanning area of the electron beam is discretized into 1001 × 1001 points arranged in array, based on which a digital scanning system is developed. To correct the deflection errors, the electron beam scans a 41 × 41 testing grid, and the corrective algorithm is based on the bilinear transformation from the grid points’ nominal coordinates to their measured coordinates. The beam defocus is corrected by a dynamic focusing method. A three-dimensional testing part is built with and without using the corrective algorithm, and their accuracies are quantitatively compared.

Findings

– The testing grid scanning result shows that the accuracy of the corrected beam deflection system is better than ± 0.2 mm and beam defocus at large deflection angles is eliminated visibly. The testing part built with using the corrective algorithm is of greater accuracy than the one built without using it.

Originality/value

– Benefiting from the digital beam control method, the model-to-part accuracy of the system is effectively improved. The digital scanning system is feasible in rapid manufacturing large and complex three-dimensional metal parts.
Phosphatidylinositol 4‐kinase III beta is the target of oxoglaucine and pachypodol (Ro 09‐0179) for their anti‐poliovirus activities, and is located at upstream of the target step of brefeldin A
Authors: Arita Minetaro , Philipov Stefan , Galabov Angel S.
Published: April 2015

In recent years, phosphatidylinositol 4‐kinase III beta (PI4KB) has emerged as a conserved target of anti‐picornavirus compounds. In the present study, PI4KB was identified as the direct target of the plant‐derived anti‐picornavirus compounds, oxoglaucine and pachypodol (also known as Ro 09‐0179). PI4KB was also identified as the target via which pachypodol interferes with brefeldin A (BFA)‐induced Golgi disassembly in non‐infected cells. Oxysterol‐binding protein (OSBP) inhibitor also has interfering activity against BFA. It seems that this interference is not essential for the anti‐poliovirus (PV) activities of BFA and PI4KB/OSBP inhibitors. BFA inhibited early to late phase PV replication (0 to 6 hr postinfection) as well as PI4KB inhibitor, but with some delay compared to guanidine hydrochloride treatment. In contrast with PI4KB/OSBP inhibitors, BFA inhibited viral nascent RNA synthesis, suggesting that BFA targets some step of viral RNA synthesis located downstream of the PI4KB/OSBP pathway in PV replication. Our results suggest that PI4KB is a major target of anti‐picornavirus compounds identified in vitro for their anti‐picornavirus activities and for some uncharacterized biological phenomena caused by these compounds, and that BFA and PI4KB/OSBP inhibitors synergistically repress PV replication by targeting distinct steps in viral RNA replication.
Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: A rare entity
Authors: Surendra Gajan , Shetty Umesh
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an auto‐inflammatory disease which is characterised by non‐infectious bone lesions at multiple sites which have a relapsing nature. Our aim is to examine the role of radiology in diagnosis and management of CRMO patients who have been managed at the Mater Children's Hospital.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of patients who have been managed with CRMO at the Mater Hospital since 2002. Inclusion criteria included a final diagnosis of CRMO. Exclusion criteria were a diagnosis more likely than CRMO. Medical images for each patient were evaluated for lesion features, location of lesion, number of bony lesions and whether or not the radiographic appearance would be characteristic of CRMO.

Results

Initially, 17 patients were included in the study; however, seven patients were excluded due to a more likely alternative diagnosis. In total, 24 lesions were detected; the most common anatomical sites were the spine (25%), feet (25%), ribs (16.7%) and femur (12.5%). Plain radiography lacked sensitivity, but it was important in initial screening and evaluating progress of lesions. MRI is important for targeted investigation and further evaluation of lesions. Bone scintigraphy is useful for detecting other affected sites. Due to the exposure to radiation, computed tomography is generally avoided.

Conclusions

The combination of imaging modalities plays a large role in CRMO diagnosis. CRMO lesions usually appear ill defined with no pathognomonic features. The distribution of bony lesions can aid diagnosis, with lower limbs and clavicles commonly affected.
Complex regional pain syndrome type I: a comprehensive review
Authors: Bussa M. , Guttilla D. , Lucia M. , Mascaro A. , Rinaldi S.
Published: April 2015

Background

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic painful disorder that usually develops after a minor injury to a limb. This topical review gives a synopsis of CRPS I and discusses the current concepts of our understanding of CRPS I in adults, the diagnosis, and treatment options based on the limited evidence found in medical literature. CRPS I is a multifactorial disorder. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms of CRPS I are classic and neurogenic inflammation, and maladaptive neuroplasticity. At the level of the central nervous system, it has been suggested that an increased input from peripheral nociceptors alters the central processing mechanisms.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using, as electronic bibliographic database, Medline from 1980 until 2014.

Results

An early diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment are necessary to prevent permanent disability.

Conclusions

The pharmacological treatment of CRPS I is empirical and insufficiently effective. Further research is needed regarding the therapeutic modalities discussed in the guidelines. Physical therapy is widely recommended as a first‐line treatment. The efficacy of local anesthetic sympathetic blockade as treatment for CRPS I is questionable.
Informed trading on debt covenant violations: the long and short of it
Authors: Zhu Yushu , Gippel Jennifer
Published: April 2015

We examine whether disclosure of complex information events reduces information asymmetry by investigating the long‐ and short‐term impact of firms' disclosure of debt covenant violations on the probability of informed trading. We argue debt covenant violation disclosures provide informed agents with a long window of opportunity to trade on their private information largely due to the uncertainty arising from the debt renegotiation process. We find the probability of informed trading is greater after the disclosure, particularly when the violation outcomes are unresolved or where there is concern about possible future violations.
Pregnancy outcomes of Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus defined by the IADPSG's but not by the 1999 WHO's criteria
Authors: Pan Lei , Leng Junhong , Liu Gongshu , Zhang Cuiping , Liu Huikun , Li Min , Tan Linglin , Tian Huiguang , Chan Juliana C. N. , Hu Gang , Yu Zhijie , Yang Xilin
Published: April 2015

Objective

To compare pregnancy outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) newly defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG)'s criteria vs GDM cases missed by a shift from the 1999 World Health Organization (WHO)'s criteria to the IADPSG's.

Methods

From 2010 to 2012, we recruited 17 808 women who registered within 12 weeks of gestation in Tianjin, China. All women underwent a 50‐g 1‐h glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24–28 weeks of gestation and further underwent a 75‐g 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if the GCT result was ≥7·8 mmol/l. Women were divided into four groups, i.e., GDM defined by both criteria, GDM defined by the IADPSG's only, GDM defined by the 1999 WHO's only and non‐GDM by either of them. Large for gestational age (LGA), macrosomia, pregnancy‐induced hypertension (PIH) and preterm birth were compared among the four groups. Logistic regression was used to control for confounders.

Results

The use of IADPSG's and the 1999 WHO's criteria detected that 7·7% (n = 1378) and 6·8% (n = 1206) of women had GDM, respectively, with 429 GDM newly identified and 257 women missed by a shift from the 1999 WHO's to the IADPSG's. The IADPSG's newly defined GDM had significantly increased risks of LGA (adjusted OR: 2·23, 95%CI: 1·36–3·64) and macrosomia (2·65, 95%CI: 1·50–4·66) than the 1999 WHO's only defined GDM cases.

Conclusions

A shift of the 1999 WHO's criteria to the IADPSG's diagnosed more GDM cases who had worse pregnancy outcomes than those cases missed.
Conditioned agency? The role of children in the audit of Swedish residential care
Authors: Pålsson David
Published: April 2015

At a policy level, governments increasingly stress the importance of children's rights and their ability to participate in decision‐making in child welfare services. An example of this is that the Swedish inspectorate targeting children in residential care is required to consult children and to take account of their opinions. This paper details a study exploring the influence that the inspectorate grants children and particularly how children's views influence the inspection process. The study draws on interviews and observations of inspectors as well as an analysis of a representative sample (n = 147) of documentation from inspections performed during 2012. The result indicates different inspectorial rationales, which in turn influence the importance children's opinions are assigned in the inspection process. Moreover, the findings demonstrate difficulties in giving children's views substantial impact on the inspection process. This can be attributed to the fact that most of the regulatory quality criteria used by the authority diverge from the aspects of care that children attach most importance to. The study adds empirical findings to how the participation of children is realized during inspection.
Disentangling racial and ethnic disparities in cerebral palsy
Authors: Oskoui Maryam
Published: April 2015

This commentary is on the original article by Durkin et al. on pages 835–843 of this issue.
Left Atrial Volume Index at Peak Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography Predicts the Extent of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Normal Resting Wall Motion
Authors: Abdel‐Salam Zainab , El‐Hammady Walid , Abdel‐Sattar Ahmed , Nammas Wail
Published: April 2015

Background

Left atrial volume indexed to body surface area (LAVI) measured at rest is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcome at long‐term follow‐up. We explored the value of LAVI measured at peak dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) to identify patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and to discriminate those with multivessel CAD.

Methods

We enrolled 100 patients of 134 consecutively screened patients without resting wall‐motion abnormalities (WMA) referred for DSE. LA volume was measured using the biplane area–length method at rest and at peak DSE. Significant coronary stenosis was defined as ≥50% obstruction of ≥1 sizable artery by coronary angiography.

Results

The mean age was 57.2 ± 10.6 years (55% males). Fifty‐six patients (56%) had significant CAD by coronary angiography: 28 (28%) had single‐vessel CAD, and 28 (28%) had multivessel CAD. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff value of stress‐induced LAVI that best discriminates significant CAD was 30.1 mL/m2. Using this cutoff value, significant CAD was identified with a sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity 95.5%, PPV 96%, and NPV 84%. The optimal cutoff value of stress‐induced LAVI that best discriminates multivessel CAD was 32.7 mL/m2. Using this cutoff value, multivessel CAD was identified with a sensitivity of 88.7%, specificity 96.5%, PPV 97%, and NPV 89%.

Conclusions

In symptomatic patients who underwent DSE for suspected CAD and had no resting WMA, LAVI measured at peak DSE predicted angiographically significant CAD with acceptable sensitivity and high specificity and predicted multivessel CAD with high sensitivity and specificity.
Two‐ and Three‐dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiographic Assessment of Tricuspid Valve Prolapse with Mid‐to‐Late Systolic Tricuspid Regurgitation
Authors: Elsayed Mahmoud , Thind Munveer , Nanda Navin C.
Published: April 2015

We present the two‐dimensional echocardiographic findings of tricuspid valve prolapse with mid‐to‐late systolic tricuspid regurgitation and describe the incremental value provided by live/real time three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. We also discuss a potential pitfall when assessing the severity of regurgitation in this setting.
Risk of liver cirrhosis in patients with tuberculosis: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Peng Yen‐Chun , Lin Cheng‐Li , Hsu Wan‐Yun , Chang Chi‐Sen , Yeh Hong‐Zen , Kao Chia‐Hung
Published: April 2015

Background

Most of the previous reports found cirrhosis patients with a high risk of subsequent tuberculosis (TB). However, data about the risk of developing liver cirrhosis in TB patients are limited. As a hepatitis endemic area, the risk of liver cirrhosis in patients with TB should be elucidated in Taiwan.

Methods

We conducted the study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with TB (n = 9339) were identified as the TB cohort and matched with a control (n = 37 356). Each study participant was followed until diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, loss of follow‐up, death, withdrawal from the insurance or until 31 December 2011.

Results

A cumulative incidence of liver cirrhosis in the TB cohort had a significantly higher risk for liver cirrhosis compared with the control (log‐rank test, P < 0·001). The overall incidence of liver cirrhosis was significantly higher in the TB group than in controls [3·83 vs. 2·02 per 1000 person‐year; crude hazard ratio (HR) = 1·88; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·59–2·23]. After controlling for age, gender and comorbidities, the risk was 1·79‐fold (95% CI = 1·50–2·14) higher in the TB group than in the controls. Analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression revealed that TB increased the risk of cirrhosis in patients with either hepatitis B (adjusted HR = 1·91; 95% CI = 1·05–3·47) or hepatitis C (adjusted HR = 2·56; 95% CI = 1·37–4·78).

Conclusion

An increased incidence of liver cirrhosis was observed among TB patients in Taiwan.
Functional expression of TRPV channels in T cells and their implications in immune regulation
Authors: Majhi Rakesh K. , Sahoo Subhransu S. , Yadav Manoj , Pratheek Belluru M. , Chattopadhyay Subhasis , Goswami Chandan
Published: April 2015

The importance of Ca2+ signalling and temperature in the context of T cell activation is well known. However, the molecular identities of key players involved in such critical regulations are still unknown. In this work we explored the endogenous expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels, a group of thermosensitive and non‐selective cation channels, in T cells. Using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that members belonging to the TRPV subfamily are expressed endogenously in the human T cell line Jurkat, in primary human T cells and in primary murine splenic T cells. We also demonstrate that TRPV1‐ and TRPV4‐specific agonists, namely resiniferatoxin and 4α‐phorbol‐12,13‐didecanoate, can cause Ca2+ influx in T cells. Moreover, our results show that expression of these channels can be upregulated in T cells during concanavalin A‐driven mitogenic and anti‐CD3/CD28 stimulated TCR activation of T cells. By specific blocking of TRPV1 and TRPV4 channels, we found that these TRPV inhibitors may regulate mitogenic and T cell receptor mediated T cell activation and effector cytokine(s) production by suppressing tumour necrosis factor, interleukin‐2 and interferon‐γ release. These results may have broad implications in the context of cell‐mediated immunity, especially T cell responses and their regulations, neuro‐immune interactions and molecular understanding of channelopathies.