bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison Between Phase Number and Operation Mode of Multiphase Boost Chopper for Reducing Input Current Ripple
Authors: Toru Akihiro , Haga Hitoshi , Kondo Seiji
Published: June 2013

This paper describes the characteristics of a multiphase boost chopper on the basis of the difference between its phase number and operation mode. First, the paper presents a theoretical analysis of an input current ripple in a multiphase boost chopper controlled with CCM and DCM. For analyzing CCM, the input current ripple in an n‐phase boost chopper is expressed by a general formula using a duty ratio. This expression clarifies integrally the relations between the phase number and input current ripple. The current ripple in CCM is much lower than that in DCM for the tested four‐phase boost chopper. Furthermore, this paper presents a comparison between the converter efficiency and step response of a four‐phase boost chopper controlled in CCM or DCM. The efficiency in CCM is higher than that in DCM by 0.5%. The phase number affects the step response characteristics in CCM. However, it does not affect the step response characteristics in DCM. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 185(1): 57–66, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22398
Mechanical Properties and Thermal Endurance of Room‐Temperature‐Vulcanizing Silicone Compound with Reduced Environmental Impact
Authors: Cho Hiroaki , Ashida Yasunari , Nakamura Shuhei , Shimizu Wataru , Murakami Yasushi
Published: June 2013

Room‐temperature‐vulcanizing (RTV) elastic silicone usually employs organic tin compounds as a hardener. It is well known that they are strong biohazards. Thus, the European Union plans to regulate the use of organic tin compounds and to exclude them from industrial products until 2015. The authors have succeeded in making a substitute for organic tin compounds as a hardener for RTV elastic silicone by using titanium alkoxide and a carboxylate ester as the hardener and promoter, respectively. In this paper, composites of RTV elastic silicone made with silica particles and a silane coupling agent are studied based on the mechanical, heat‐resistive, and adhesive properties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 185(1): 1–8, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22421
DISCLOSING TOTAL WAITING TIMES FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE ENGLISH NHS USING LINKED HES DATA
Authors: Marques Elsa , Noble Sian , Blom Ashley W. , Hollingworth William
Published: June 2013

For the last decade, stringent monitoring of waiting time performance targets provided English hospitals with incentives to reduce official waiting times for elective surgery. It is less clear whether the total amount of time patients waited in secondary care, from first referral to outpatient clinic until treatment, has also fallen. We used Hospital Episode Statistics inpatient data for patients undergoing total joint replacement during a period of active monitoring of targets (between 2006/7 and 2008/9) and linked it to outpatient data to reconstruct patients' pathway in the 3 years before surgery and provide alternative measurements of waiting times. Our findings suggest that although official waiting times decreased drastically in our study period, total waiting time in secondary care has not declined. Patients with shorter official waits spent a longer time in a ‘work‐up’ period prior to inclusion in the official waiting list, and socio‐economic inequities persisted in waiting times for joint replacement. We found no evidence that target policies achieved efficiency gains during our study period. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dysfunctional CD39POS regulatory T cells and aberrant control of T-helper type 17 cells in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Grant Charlotte R. , Liberal Rodrigo , Holder Beth S. , Cardone John , Ma Yun , Robson Simon C. , Mieli-Vergani Giorgina , Vergani Diego , Longhi Maria Serena
Published: June 2013

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an important cause of severe liver disease and is associated with both quantitative and qualitative regulatory T-cell (Treg) impairments. Tregs express CD39, an ectonucleotidase responsible for extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis, culminating in the production of immunosuppressive adenosine. Here, we describe multiple CD39pos Treg defects that potentially contribute to the impaired immunoregulation that is characteristic of AIH. We have examined the frequency and phenotype of CD39pos Tregs by flow cytometry and measured their ectonucleotidase activity. The capacity of CD4posCD25high, CD4posCD25highCD39pos, and CD4posCD25highCD39neg subsets to suppress both proliferation of effector T cells and interleukin (IL)-17 production was evaluated. In AIH, CD39pos Tregs are decreased in frequency, exhibit limited adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate hydrolysis activity, and fail to suppress IL-17 production by effector CD4 T cells. Moreover, these CD39pos Tregs display a more proinflammatory profile in AIH, which is characterized by elevated CD127 positivity, and a greater propensity to produce interferon-gamma or IL-17 upon challenge with proinflammatory stimuli. Conclusions: In AIH, CD39pos Tregs are decreased in number, fail to adequately hydrolyze proinflammatory nucleotides and do not efficiently suppress IL-17 production by effector CD4 T cells. CD39pos Tregs show plasticity and are unstable upon proinflammatory challenge, suggesting that defective immunoregulation in AIH might result not only from reduced Treg number and function, but also from increased conversion of Tregs into effector cells. (HEPATOLOGY 2014;59:1007–1015)
Power‐law flow and heat transfer over an inclined square bluff body: effect of blockage ratio
Authors: Kumar A. , Dhiman A.K. , Bharti R.P.
Published: June 2013

Flow and heat transfer of non‐Newtonian power‐law fluids over an inclined square cylinder placed inside a channel are studied numerically at low Reynolds numbers. In particular, calculations are carried out for Reynolds number (Re) = 1–40; power‐law index (n) = 0.4–1 and blockage ratio (β) = 12.5–50% at a Prandtl number (Pr) = 50. An increase in blockage ratio results in an increase in the total drag coefficient and decrease in the wake length. The Strouhal number and the root mean square value of the lift coefficient increase with the increasing Reynolds number for the fixed values of blockage ratio and power‐law index. The average Nusselt number increases with power‐law index and/or blockage ratio. The maximum enhancement in heat transfer is approximately 49, 41, and 35% for the values of blockages of 50, 25, and 12.5%, respectively, as compared to the corresponding Newtonian value. The average Nusselt number for the inclined square cylinder (at α = 45°) is always greater than the average Nusselt number for the regular square cylinder (at α = 0). Finally, simple expressions of drag and Nusselt number have been established for the above range of settings. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res 43(2): 167‐196, 2014; Published online 20 June 2013 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.21071
Copper anode corrosion affects power generation in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Zhu Xiuping , Logan Bruce E.
Published: June 2013

Non‐corrosive, carbon‐based materials are usually used as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In some cases, however, metals have been used that can corrode (e.g. copper) or that are corrosion resistant (e.g. stainless steel, SS). Corrosion could increase current through galvanic (abiotic) current production or by increasing exposed surface area, or decrease current due to generation of toxic products from corrosion. In order to directly examine the effects of using corrodible metal anodes, MFCs with Cu were compared with reactors using SS and carbon cloth anodes. MFCs with Cu anodes initially showed high current generation similar to abiotic controls, but subsequently they produced little power (2 mW m‐2). Higher power was produced with microbes using SS (12 mW m‐2) or carbon cloth (880 mW m‐2) anodes, with no power generated by abiotic controls. These results demonstrate that copper is an unsuitable anode material, due to corrosion and likely copper toxicity to microorganisms. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Tibetan Plateau westerly forcing on the cloud amount over Sichuan Basin and the early Asian summer monsoon
Authors: Wu Chi‐Hua , Chou Ming‐Dah
Published: June 2013

Data show that a sizeable mechanical effect of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on the westerly, referred to as TP westerly forcing, is related to a sizeable midlevel cloud amount over Sichuan Basin (SB; centered near 30°N and 105°E) to the east of the TP. An investigation of the interannual variability of clouds over SB demonstrated that the TP westerly forcing closely correlates to the early Asian summer monsoon (ASM). When the monsoon commences in mid‐May, the East Asian upper tropospheric jet stream moves northward with a southwest‐northeast tilt; the tilt of the jet considerably influences the TP westerly forcing. Because of the stationary wave pattern superimposed on the westerly jet, the early ASM is substantially distinct by year. In the years the midlevel cloud amount in SB is sizeable (which corresponds to a strong TP westerly forcing), the tilt of the upper level jet increases, and the ascending southerly east of SB in 110°E–125°E strengthens. The warming of the troposphere in 110°E–125°E centered near 35°N corresponds to the westerly and southerly changes. Farther downstream in the 125°E–140°E region, the ascending southerly weakens. Correspondingly, an anomalous anticyclonic circulation occurs between SB and Japan, leading to a westward extension of the North Pacific high pressure in the lower troposphere and a reduction in precipitation of the early Mei‐Yu season. Coincidentally, the midtropospheric monsoon trough south of the TP weakens, implying a weak monsoon in both East Asia and South Asia. Furthermore, the weak monsoon continues through the early summer.
Tree‐ring‐based snowfall record for cold arid western Himalaya, India since A.D. 1460
Authors: Yadav Ram R. , Bhutiyani Mahendra R.
Published: June 2013

Understanding snowfall variations in high‐elevation cold arid regions of the western Himalaya is important as snowmelt water is the main source of water to meet the scores of socioeconomic needs. The ground‐based observational data, though limited to the last two decades, show decreasing snowfall, raising the concern of looming water scarcity in the region. The tree‐ring data of Himalayan cedar from a network of six moisture‐stressed sites, where snowmelt water is the sole source of soil moisture for tree growth, were used to develop the November–April snow water equivalent (SWE) extending back to A.D. 1460. The reconstruction revealed persistent severe droughts in the 1780s followed by the 1480s and relatively lesser magnitude droughts in the 1540s–1560s, 1740s, and early twentieth century. The pluvial conditions observed in 1948–1958 and 1986–1996 stand out over any other period of such duration. The SWE reconstruction revealed large‐scale spatial coherence with the corresponding month's Palmer Drought Severity Index over the western Himalayan region. Significant relationship observed between SWE reconstruction and January–March Chenab River flow revealed its potential utility in understanding water resource availability in the long‐term perspective.
Interannual variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall onset date at local scale
Authors: Moron Vincent , Robertson Andrew W.
Published: June 2013

Variability of Indian summer monsoon local‐scale onset dates is investigated at 1° spatial resolution by applying an agronomic definition (i.e. the first significant rains without a potentially crop‐threatening dry spell thereafter) to gridded observed daily rainfall data (1901–2004). Median onset dates are compared well with previous estimates. The inter‐quartile range varies from less than 2 weeks over the monsoon zone and Western Ghats, to about a month over the northwestern desert. A relationship between local‐scale rainfall onset date and regional‐scale indices of onset is demonstrated over the eastern part of the monsoon zone (i.e. approximately from Orissa and eastern Maharashtra to Western Bengal) and along the coast of the Arabian Sea; these regions are also found to exhibit significant correlations with Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature index in May. However, these relationships are found to be rather weak and geographically confined, which is attributed to low values of spatial coherence of local‐scale onset date variability. A weak relationship is also found between local‐scale onset date and the June–September seasonal rainfall total, while the latter is shown to be weakly more spatially coherent than local‐scale onset date over the monsoon zone, and thus slightly more potentially predictable.
Real‐time 3D magnetic resonance imaging of the pharyngeal airway in sleep apnea
Authors: Kim Yoon‐Chul , Lebel R. Marc , Wu Ziyue , Ward Sally L. Davidson , Khoo Michael C.K. , Nayak Krishna S.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of real‐time 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with simultaneous recording of physiological signals for identifying sites of airway obstruction during natural sleep in pediatric patients with sleep‐disordered breathing.

Methods

Experiments were performed using a three‐dimensional Fourier transformation (3DFT) gradient echo sequence with prospective undersampling based on golden‐angle radial spokes, and L1‐norm regularized iterative self‐consistent parallel imaging (L1‐SPIRiT) reconstruction. This technique was demonstrated in three healthy adult volunteers and five pediatric patients with sleep‐disordered breathing. External airway occlusion was used to induce partial collapse of the upper airway on inspiration and test the effectiveness of the proposed imaging method. Apneic events were identified using information available from synchronized recording of mask pressure and respiratory effort.

Results

Acceptable image quality was obtained in seven of eight subjects. Temporary airway collapse induced via inspiratory loading was successfully imaged in all three volunteers, with average airway volume reductions of 63.3%, 52.5%, and 33.7%. Central apneic events and associated airway narrowing/closure were identified in two pediatric patients. During central apneic events, airway obstruction was observed in the retropalatal region in one pediatric patient.

Conclusion

Real‐time 3D MRI of the pharyngeal airway with synchronized recording of physiological signals is feasible and may provide valuable information about the sites and nature of airway narrowing/collapse during natural sleep. Magn Reson Med 71:1501–1510, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Timing dependence of peripheral pulse‐wave‐triggered pulsed arterial spin labeling
Authors: Fushimi Yasutaka , Okada Tomohisa , Yamamoto Akira , Kanagaki Mitsunori , Fujimoto Koji , Togashi Kaori
Published: June 2013

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) has been developed into a useful technique that is capable of quantifying noninvasively local cerebral blood flow (CBF) using the water molecules in arterial blood as diffusible tracers. Pulsed ASL (PASL) is more strongly affected than continuous ASL (CASL) by cardiac pulsation, because the tag bolus is shorter than the cardiac cycle in most cases. No reports have yet clarified the effects of multiple cardiac phases on the quantification of CBF in PASL when triggering is used. Fourteen subjects participated in this study. Peripheral pulse‐wave‐triggered (PPWT)‐ASL was performed at various time points at the carotid artery (delay 0 ms, second point, foot, peak and tail) and compared with nontriggered (NT)‐ASL. Regions of interest (ROIs) were applied based on the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral artery (ACA, MCA, PCA) territories, and CBFs were compared among different time points and ROIs. PPWT‐ASL strongly affects CBF values compared with NT‐ASL in ACA and MCA territories, especially when measured at the foot of the carotid artery flow phase. CBF_NT was assumed to lie approximately between the minimum and maximum CBFs, with clear statistical significance in several ROIs at several time points of PPWT‐ASL, and CBF_NT was assumed to resemble ‘randomly triggered’ PPWT‐ASL. In conclusion, PPWT‐ASL strongly affects CBF values compared with NT‐ASL, particularly at the foot of the carotid artery flow in ACA and MCA territories. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pericardial adipose tissue and coronary artery calcification in the Multi‐ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Authors: McClain Jill , Hsu Fang , Brown Elizabeth , Burke Gregory , Carr John , Harris Tamara , Kritchevsky Stephen , Szklo Moyses , Tracy Russell , Ding Jingzhong
Published: June 2013

Objective:

To examine the relationship of pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) with coronary artery calcification in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Design and Methods:

The baseline cohort comprised 6,814 Caucasian (38%), African‐American (28%), Chinese American (12%), and Hispanic (22%) adults aged 45‐84, without known clinical cardiovascular disease. Cardiac CT was used to measure PAT (cm3) and calcification (Agatston score). We examined cross‐sectional associations of PAT with the presence (score >0) and severity (continuous score if >0) of calcification using prevalence ratio (PR) (n = 6,672) and linear regression (n = 3,362), respectively. Main models were adjusted for age, age2, gender, race/ethnicity, field site, smoking, physical activity, alcohol, and education.

Results:

PAT volume (adjusted for age, height, weight, and site) was greatest in Chinese males, whereas Black males had less PAT than all but Black females. PAT was associated with presence [PR per standard deviation (SD): 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.08)] and severity [difference in log Agatston score per SD: 0.15 (0.09, 0.21)] of calcification, but neither association varied by race/ethnicity. Adjustment for generalized adiposity attenuated but did not eliminate the associations. With further adjustment for traditional risk factors and inflammatory markers, only the association with severity remained statistically significant [PR: 1.02 (1.00, 1.04); difference: 0.10 (0.03, 0.17)]. Heterogeneity by sex was observed for the presence of calcification (PR in men: 1.04; in women: 1.08; P for interaction <0.0001).

Conclusion:

PAT was associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery calcification in this cohort, but neither association varied by race/ethnicity.
Electroretinographic detection of human brain dopamine response to oral food stimulation
Authors: Nasser J.A. , Parigi A. Del , Merhige K. , Wolper C. , Geliebter A. , Hashim S.A.
Published: June 2013

Objective:

The activity of dopamine‐dependent retinal signaling can be assessed using electroretinography. Response of this system to oral food stimulation might provide accessible insight into the brain dopamine response to oral stimuli as retinal dopamine concentration is dependent upon mid brain dopamine concentration was postulated.

Design and Methods:

Nine individuals had cone ERG (b wave) response to oral food stimulation and oral methylphenidate (MPH) administration measured on separate days, and completed self reported eating behavior questionnaires.

Results:

Significant and similar increases in b wave response to both stimuli (P = 0.012 and P = 0.042, MPH and food, respectively) and significant correlations of the food stimulated b wave amplitude with binge eating related behavior as measured by the Gormally Binge Eating Scale (r = 0.68, P = 0.044) and self‐reported trait hunger as measured by the Stunkard and Messick Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (r = 0.67, P = 0.048) were found.

Conclusion:

The significant increase in food stimulated dopamine dependent b wave amplitude and correlation with methylphenidate stimulated b wave amplitude suggest that ERG may offer a relatively inexpensive and accessible methodology for potentially assess dopaminergic responses to food and other externally applied stimuli that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases.
Alternative formulations of sorafenib for use in children
Authors: Navid Fariba , Christensen Robbin , Inaba Hiroto , Li Lie , Chen Zhaoyuan , Cai Xiangjun , Regel Joshua , Baker Sharyn D.
Published: June 2013

Background

Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antitumor activity. In most cases, the commercially available 200 mg tablet is not suitable for administration to children. We studied the chemical and physical stability of extemporaneously prepared formulations and evaluated the pharmacokinetic profile of cut tablets and smaller‐dosage capsules of sorafenib in children.

Procedure

Commercially available 200 mg tablets of sorafenib tosylate were used to prepare liquid suspensions of sorafenib in oil and Ora‐Plus®:Ora‐Sweet® solution, and to prepare 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 mg capsules. Plasma concentrations of sorafenib were measured in patients receiving capsules and cut tablets, using a validated HPLC‐based method with tandem mass spectrometric detection.

Results

At room temperature and under refrigeration, sorafenib concentrations in Ora Plus®:Ora Sweet® were highly variable (means ranging from 75% to 131% of the intended concentration of 50 mg/ml). In oil suspension, sorafenib concentrations were inconsistent during compounding. In contrast, all smaller‐dosage capsules, except the 5 mg capsule, were within 91–99% of the intended content and were stable at room temperature for at least 8 months. Sorafenib pharmacokinetic parameters in patients receiving capsules or cut tablets were consistent with those reported previously in adults and children receiving intact tablets.

Conclusions

Sorafenib is not stable in an oral suspension prepared from commercially available tablets, but compounded capsules in smaller‐dosage forms that can be sprinkled on food or cut tablets are alternatives for administration to children who need smaller doses based on body surface area or cannot swallow tablets. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1642–1646. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Micromechanical characterization of the interphase layer in semi‐crystalline polyethylene
Authors: Ghazavizadeh Akbar , Rutledge Gregory C. , Atai Ali A. , Ahzi Saïd , Rémond Yves , Soltani Nasser
Published: June 2013

The interphase layer in semi‐crystalline polyethylene is the least known constituent, compared to the amorphous and crystalline phases, in terms of mechanical properties. In this study, the Monte Carlo molecular simulation results for the interlamellar domain (i.e. amorphous+ interphases), reported in (Macromolecules 2006, 39, 439–447) are employed. The amorphous elastic properties are adopted from the literature and then two distinct micromechanical homogenization approaches are utilized to dissociate the interphase stiffness from that of the interlamellar region. The results of the two micromechanical approaches match perfectly. Interestingly, the dissociated interphase stiffness lacks the common feature of positive definiteness, which is attributed to its nature as a transitional domain between two coexisting phases. The sensitivity analyses reveal that this property is insensitive to the non‐orthotropic components of the interlamellar stiffness and the uncertainties existing in the interlamellar and amorphous stiffnesses. Finally, using the dissociated interphase stiffness, its effective Young's modulus is calculated, which compares well with the effective interlamellar Young's modulus for highly crystalline polyethylene, reported in an experimental study. This satisfactory agreement along with the identical results produced by the two micromechanical approaches confirms the validity of the new information about the interphase elastic properties in addition to making the proposed dissociation methodology quite reliable when applied to similar problems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1228–1243
Wet cough in children: Infective and inflammatory characteristics in broncho‐alveolar lavage fluid
Authors: Wurzel Danielle F. , Marchant Julie M. , Clark Julia E. , Masters I. Brent , Yerkovich Stephanie T. , Upham John W. , Chang Anne B.
Published: June 2013

Wet cough is a common feature of many disease processes affecting children. Our aim was to examine the relationships between cough nature, lower airway infection (bacterial, viral, and viral–bacterial) and severity of neutrophilic airway inflammation. We hypothesized that viral–bacterial co‐infection of the lower airway would be associated with wet cough and heightened neutrophilic airway inflammation. We prospectively recruited 232 children undergoing elective flexible bronchoscopy. Participants were grouped using a cough nature symptom‐based approach, into wet, dry or no cough groups. Broncho‐alveolar lavage (BAL) and clinical data, including presence, nature, and duration of cough and key demographic factors, were collected. Children with wet cough (n = 143) were more likely to have lower airway bacterial infection (OR 2.6, P = 0.001), viral infection (OR 2.04, P = 0.045) and viral–bacterial co‐infection (OR 2.65, P = 0.042) compared to those without wet cough. Wet cough was associated with heightened airway neutrophilia (median 19%) as compared to dry or no cough. Viral–bacterial co‐infection was associated with the highest median %neutrophils (33.5%) compared to bacteria only, virus/es only and no infection (20%, 18%, and 6%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Children with wet cough had higher rates of lower airway infection with bacteria and viruses. Maximal neutrophilic airway inflammation was seen in those with viral–bacterial co‐infection. Cough nature may be a useful indicator of infection and inflammation of the lower airways in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:561–568. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Application of a H‐Point Standard Addition Method for Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Chlorate and Bromate Impurities in Military Grade Ammonium Perchlorate
Authors: Reza Zarei Ali , Mardi Kobra , Chalavi Soheila
Published: June 2013

A H‐point standard addition method (HPSAM) was applied to simultaneously determinate chlorate and bromate in ammonium perchlorate. The method is based on the difference between their reaction rates with chloride in acidic media whereby methyl orange is used as spectrophotometric indicator. The reaction can be monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of methyl orange at 507 nm in the time range 50–250 s after initiation of the reaction with 1 s intervals. The results showed that chlorate and bromate can be determined simultaneously in the range 50–1000 and 50–2000 ng mL−1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to determinate chlorate and bromate impurities in military grade ammonium perchlorate. In addition, excellent agreement between this proposed method and standard methods was observed.
Twentieth century North Atlantic jet variability
Authors: Woollings Tim , Czuchnicki Camelia , Franzke Christian
Published: June 2013

Long records of the latitude and speed of the North Atlantic eddy‐driven jet stream since 1871 are presented from the newly available Twentieth Century Reanalysis. These jet variations underlie the variability associated with patterns such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and have considerable societal impact through variations in the prevailing westerly winds. While the NAO combines variations in the latitude and speed of the jet, these two characteristics are shown to have quite different seasonal cycles and interannual variability, suggesting that they may have different dynamical influences.

In general, the features exhibited in shorter records are shown to be robust, for example the strong skewness of the NAO distribution. Related to this is a clear multimodality of the jet latitude distribution, which suggests the existence of preferred positions of the jet. Decadal variations in jet latitude are shown to correspond to changes in the occurrence of these preferred positions. However, it is the speed rather than the latitude of the jet that exhibits the strongest decadal variability, and in most seasons this is clearly distinct from a white‐noise representation of the seasonal means. When viewed in this longer term context, the variations of recent decades do not appear unusual and recent values of jet latitude and speed are not unprecedented in the historical record.
Dynamical core model intercomparison project: Tracer transport test cases
Authors: Kent James , Ullrich Paul A. , Jablonowski Christiane
Published: June 2013

Three‐dimensional advection tests are required to assess the ability of transport schemes of dynamical cores to model tracer transport on the sphere accurately. A set of three tracer‐transport test cases for three‐dimensional flow is presented. The tests focus on the physical and numerical issues that are relevant to three‐dimensional tracer transport: positivity preservation, inter‐tracer correlations, horizontal–vertical coupling, order of accuracy and choice of vertical coordinate. The first test is a three‐dimensional deformational flow. The second test is a Hadley‐like global circulation. The final test is a solid‐body rotation test in the presence of rapidly varying orography. A variety of assessment metrics, such as error norms, convergence rates and mixing diagnostics, are used. The tests are designed for easy implementation within existing and developing dynamical cores and have been a cornerstone of the 2012 Dynamical Core Model Intercomparison Project (DCMIP). Example results are shown using the transport schemes in two dynamical cores: the Community Atmosphere Model finite‐volume dynamical core (CAM‐FV) and the cubed‐sphere finite‐volume MCore dynamical core.
Expression of a Distinct Set of Chemokine Receptors in Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells is Responsible for In Vitro Migration Toward Chemokines Appearing in the Major Pelvic Ganglion Following Cavernous Nerve Injury
Authors: Albersen Maarten , Berkers Joost , Dekoninck Philip , Deprest Jan , Lue Tom F. , Hedlund Petter , Lin Ching-Shwun , Bivalacqua Trinity J. , Van Poppel Hendrik , De Ridder Dirk , Van der Aa Frank
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) herald tremendous promise for clinical application in a wide range of injuries and diseases. Several preclinical reports demonstrate their efficacy in the treatment of cavernous nerve (CN) injury-induced erectile dysfunction in rats. It was recently illustrated that these effects were established as a result of ADSC migration to the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) where these cells induced neuroregeneration in loco.

Aims

The study aims to identify chemotactic factors in the MPG following injury and to match upregulated chemokines to their respective receptors in human ADSC on the genomic, structural, and functional levels.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), intracellular FACS, immunofluorescence microscopy, migration assays, and calcium imaging were used in this study.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcomes are chemokine expression in the MPG following CN injury, and the functional and structural presence of chemokine receptors in ADSC.

Results

CCR4, CX3CR1, and XCR1 are functionally and structurally present in human ADSC, and are activated by the chemokines CCL2, CX3CL1, and XCL1 respectively, which are upregulated in the MPG following CN injury. CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 (SDF1) are likely no major homing factors for ADSC. Expression of chemokine receptor mRNA in ADSC did not necessarily translate into receptor presence at the cell surface and/or functional activation of these receptors. Most of the expressed chemokine receptors were detected in the intracellular compartment of these cells.

Conclusions

We identified the ligand/chemokine receptor pairs CCL2/CCR4, CX3CL1/CX3CR1, and XCL1/XCR1 as potentially responsible for ADSC homing toward the MPG following CN injury. The intracellular localization of various chemokine receptors likely indicates redirecting of chemokine receptors to the cell surface under specific cellular conditions. Furthermore, modification of expression of these receptors at the genomic level may potentially lead to improved migration toward injury sites and thus enhancement of treatment efficacy.
Attributional tendencies in cultural explanations of M&A performance
Authors: Vaara Eero , Junni Paulina , Sarala Riikka M. , Ehrnrooth Mats , Koveshnikov Alexei
Published: June 2013

This paper focuses on managers' attributions of M&A performance. Our analysis indicates that there is a linear association between performance and attributions to cultural differences, which is moderated by prior experience. Furthermore, our results suggest that there is a curvilinear association between performance and attributions to managers' actions, but we found no support for the moderating effect of experience for this association. By substantiating these attributional tendencies, our results contribute to research on M&As and studies on attribution more generally. In particular, our study helps to put cultural differences in perspective and cautions researchers and practitioners alike to avoid simplistic explanations of M&A performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integration of collinear-type doubly unresolved counterterms in NNLO jet cross sections
Authors: Del Duca Vittorio , Somogyi Gábor , Trócsányi Zoltán
Published: June 2013

Abstract

In the context of a subtraction method for jet cross sections at NNLO accuracy in the strong coupling, we perform the integration over the two-particle factorised phase space of the collinear-type contributions to the doubly unresolved counterterms. We present the final result as a convolution in colour space of the Born cross section and of an insertion operator, which is written in terms of master integrals that we expand in the dimensional regularisation parameter.
Blood Utilization after Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Large Hospital Network
Authors: Chen Antonia F. , Klatt Brian A. , Yazer Mark H. , Waters Jonathan H.
Published: June 2013

Background

Since a study in orthopedic hip fracture patients demonstrated that a liberal hemoglobin (Hb) threshold does not improve patient morbidity and mortality relative to a restrictive Hb threshold, the standard of care in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) should be examined to understand the variability of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion following TJA.

Questions/purposes

The study aimed to answer the following questions: (1) What is the blood utilization rate after primary TJA for individual surgeons within a large hospital network? (2) What is the comparison of hospital charges, length of stay (LOS), and discharge locations among TJA patients who were and were not transfused?

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 3,750 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and 2,070 primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs), and data was retrospectively collected over a 15-month period on the number of RBCs transfused per patient, along with demographic and cost details. The number of patients who received at least 1 RBC unit and the number of RBCs transfused per patient was calculated and stratified by surgeon.

Results

In the postoperative period, 19.3% TKA patients and 38.5% THA patients received a RBC transfusion. Transfusion rates following TJA varied widely between surgeons (TKA 4.8–63.8%, THA 4.3–86.8%). Transfused TKA patients received an average of 1.65 ± 0.03 RBCs, and THA patients received an average of 1.97 ± 0.14 RBCs. LOS and hospital charges for blood transfusion patients were higher than nontransfused patients.

Conclusion

Blood utilization after primary TJA varies greatly among surgeons, suggesting that resources may be misallocated. These findings highlight the need to standardize RBC transfusion practice following TJA.
A Flexible Analysis Tool for the Quantitative Acoustic Assessment of Infant Cry
Authors: Reggiannini Brian , Sheinkopf Stephen J. , Silverman Harvey F. , Li Xiaoxue , Lester Barry M.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

In this article, the authors describe and validate the performance of a modern acoustic analyzer specifically designed for infant cry analysis.

Method

Utilizing known algorithms, the authors developed a method to extract acoustic parameters describing infant cries from standard digital audio files. They used a frame rate of 25 ms with a frame advance of 12.5 ms. Cepstral-based acoustic analysis proceeded in 2 phases, computing frame-level data and then organizing and summarizing this information within cry utterances. Using signal detection methods, the authors evaluated the accuracy of the automated system to determine voicing and to detect fundamental frequency (F0) as compared to voiced segments and pitch periods manually coded from spectrogram displays.

Results

The system detected F0with 88% to 95% accuracy, depending on tolerances set at 10 to 20 Hz. Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated very high accuracy at detecting voicing characteristics in the cry samples.

Conclusions

This article describes an automated infant cry analyzer with high accuracy to detect important acoustic features of cry. A unique and important aspect of this work is the rigorous testing of the system's accuracy as compared to ground-truth manual coding. The resulting system has implications for basic and applied research on infant cry development.
Precursors and Consequences of Phonemic Length Discrimination Ability Problems in Children With Reading Disabilities and Familial Risk for Dyslexia
Authors: Pennala Riitta , Eklund Kenneth , Hämäläinen Jarmo , Martin Maisa , Richardson Ulla , Leppänen Paavo H. T. , Lyytinen Heikki
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The authors investigated the importance of phonemic length discrimination ability on reading and spelling skills among children with reading disabilities and familial risk for dyslexia and among children with typical reading skills, as well as the role of prereading skills in reading and spelling development in children with reading disabilities.

Method

Finnish children with reading disabilities and discrimination problems (RDDP,
n
= 13), children with reading disabilities and typical discrimination abilities (RDTD,
n
= 27), and children with typical reading skills (TR,
n
= 140) were assessed between the ages of 1 and 6.5 years for language, phonological awareness, IQ, verbal memory, and rapid automatized naming. IQ, discrimination ability, and reading and spelling skills were assessed in the second grade. Statistical differences were examined at the group level.

Results

The RDDP group was poorer in spelling accuracy compared with the other groups. The RDDP group's prereading skills were poorer than those of the RDTD group. In regression analyses, the RDDP group's poor spelling skills were partially explained by their discrimination ability.

Conclusion

Prereading skills are connected to poor reading skills, but phonemic length discrimination ability plays a critical role in spelling accuracy problems among children with reading disabilities and with familial risk for dyslexia.
The Need for Nurse Training to Promote Improved Patient-Provider Communication for Patients With Complex Communication Needs
Authors: Downey Debora , Happ Mary Beth
Published: June 2013

Hospitalized patients across the age continuum often present with complex communication needs (CCN) due to motor, sensory, cognitive, and linguistic barriers they may experience during their admission. Although hospitals recognize the need to enhance communication to improve quality and safety for all patients, the emphasis has been primarily on improving ”care coordination” amongst the health care providers the patient encounters across all points of admission. Most hospitals have yet to focus on improving the patient-provider communication experience, especially for patients with CCN. However, this population no longer can be ignored, as new standards mandate efforts to improve communication for patients with CCN. Nurses, as the team members responsible for continuous care during hospital stays, and speech-language pathologists, as communication disorders specialists, are positioned distinctively to facilitate patient communication and prevent miscommunications between patients and care providers. This article highlights the need to enhance the patient-provider communication experience for patients with CCN. We review the state of nurse training for patients with CCN, discuss the role speech-language pathologists can play in developing and implementing nurse training protocols, and outline basic elements nurse training modules should include.
Physical‐layer transceiving techniques on data‐aided orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing towards seamless service on vehicular communications
Authors: Lin Chi‐Sheng , Lin Jia‐Chin
Published: June 2013

Frequency error, non‐ideal channel estimation (CE) and inefficient seamless road side unit (RSU) service are critical issues occurring in conventional systems that are completely specified by current IEEE 802.11p standards. This study investigates novel techniques for achieving accurate frequency offset compensation and effective CE and RSU selection for handover in signal‐overlapping areas. Recently, communications using data‐aided orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (DA‐OFDM), such as pseudo‐random‐postfix OFDM and time‐domain‐synchronous OFDM (TDS‐OFDM), have been actively studied because of their higher effectiveness, efficiency and better transmission quality. This study consists of three parts: (i) derivation of the maximum likelihood estimation for DA‐OFDM, (ii) design of an accurate RSU selection scheme and (iii) implementation of a superior TD CE technique. Performance comparisons between the conventional and the proposed techniques are conducted through comprehensive computer simulations.
Effect of avalanche photodiode and thermal noises on the performance of binary phase‐shift keying‐subcarrier‐intensity modulation/free‐space optical systems over turbulence channels
Authors: Luong Duy A. , Thang Truong C. , Pham Anh T.
Published: June 2013

In this study, the authors theoretically study the performance of direct‐detection free‐space optical communication systems using binary phase‐shift keying subcarrier‐intensity modulation and avalanche photodiode (APD). The system bit‐error rate and channel capacity are theoretically derived in cases of log‐normal and gamma‐gamma channel models for weak‐to‐moderate and moderate‐to‐strong atmospheric turbulence conditions, respectively. The authors quantitatively discuss the optimal values of the APD average gain, required transmitted optical power, and operating bit‐rate considering various turbulence conditions, APD shot noise and thermal noise. It is seen that, although the impact of turbulence is severe, a proper selection of APD average gain could significantly improve the system performance in both cases of turbulence channels. The optimal value of APD average gain remains almost the same for different levels of turbulence; nevertheless it varies significantly in accordance to the change of receiver noise temperature.
Linear oscillations of a supported bubble or drop
Authors: Vejrazka Jiri , Vobecka Lucie , Tihon Jaroslav
Published: June 2013

Shape oscillations of a spherical bubble or drop, for which part of its interface is fixed due to contact with a solid support, are studied analytically using variational methods. Linear oscillations and irrotational flow are assumed. The present analysis is parallel to those of Strani and Sabetta [“Free vibrations of a drop in partial contact with a solid support,” J. Fluid Mech. 141, 233–247 (1984)]10.1017/S0022112084000811; and Bostwick and Steen [“Capillary oscillations of a constrained liquid drop,” Phys. Fluids 21, 032108 (2009)]10.1063/1.3103344 but is also able to determine the response of bubbles or drops to movements imposed on their supports or to variations of their volumes. The analysis leads to equations of motion with a simple structure, from which the eigenmodes and frequency response to periodic forcing are easily determined.
Dielectric properties of Si3−
ξ
GeξN4 and Si3−ξCξN4: A density functional study
Authors: Ulman Kanchan , Sathiyanarayanan Rajesh , Pandey R. K. , Murali K. V. R. M. , Narasimhan Shobhana
Published: June 2013

Using first principles calculations, we have studied the dielectric properties of crystalline α- and β-phase silicon germanium nitrides and silicon carbon nitrides, A3−ξBξN4 (A = Si, B = Ge or C, ξ=0,1,2,3). In silicon germanium nitrides, both the high-frequency and static dielectric constants increase monotonically with increasing germanium concentration, providing a straightforward way to tune the dielectric constant of these materials. In the case of silicon carbon nitrides, the high-frequency dielectric constant increases monotonically with increasing carbon concentration, but a more complex trend is observed for the static dielectric constant, which can be understood in terms of competition between changes in the unit-cell volume and the average oscillator strength. The computed static dielectric constants of C3N4, Si3N4, and Ge3N4 are 7.13, 7.69, and 9.74, respectively.
Electrical injection Ga(AsBi)/(AlGa)As single quantum well laser
Authors: Ludewig P. , Knaub N. , Hossain N. , Reinhard S. , Nattermann L. , Marko I. P. , Jin S. R. , Hild K. , Chatterjee S. , Stolz W. , Sweeney S. J. , Volz K.
Published: June 2013

The Ga(AsBi) material system opens opportunities in the field of high efficiency infrared laser diodes. We report on the growth, structural investigations, and lasing properties of dilute bismide Ga(AsBi)/(AlGa)As single quantum well lasers with 2.2% Bi grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates. Electrically injected laser operation at room temperature is achieved with a threshold current density of 1.56 kA/cm2 at an emission wavelength of ∼947 nm. These results from broad area devices show great promise for developing efficient IR laser diodes based on this emerging materials system.
Theoretical and experimental studies on the electronic structure of crystalline and amorphous ZnSnO3 thin films
Authors: Lee Joohwi , Cho Deok-Yong , Jung Jisim , Ki Kim Un , Ho Rha Sang , Seong Hwang Cheol , Choi Jung-Hae
Published: June 2013

The influence of structural disorder on the electronic structure of amorphous ZnSnO3 was examined by ab-initio calculations. The calculation results are compared with the experimental results using as-deposited and annealed ZnSnO3 films grown by atomic layer deposition. The O K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thin-film transistors were employed in the experiment. The conduction band minima of amorphous and crystalline ZnSnO3 mainly consisted of Sn 5s state, while a higher non-uniform localization of these states was observed in the amorphous phase compared with the crystalline counterpart. The experimental results coincide well with the theoretical results.
Hierarchical dislocation nucleation controlled by internal stress in nanocrystalline copper
Authors: Guo Yong-Bo , Xu Tao , Li Mo
Published: June 2013

Dislocation nucleation is fundamental to mechanical properties of nanocrystalline (nc) materials. At grain size less than 100 nm, dislocations have been observed to nucleate predominantly from grain boundaries. Here, we report a process of dislocation generation originated hierarchically from different microstructural components in nc-copper from an atomistic simulation. We show that the sequential nucleation is dictated by the internal stress associated with the microstructural entities: First from the vertex points where internal stress is highest, next from triple junctions, and then from grain boundaries with lower internal stress. This connection suggests effective solutions for engineering mechanical properties of nc materials.