bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No evidence for consistent long‐term growth stimulation of 13 tropical tree species: results from tree‐ring analysis
Authors: Groenendijk Peter , van der Sleen Peter , Vlam Mart , Bunyavejchewin Sarayudh , Bongers Frans , Zuidema Pieter A.
Published: April 2015

The important role of tropical forests in the global carbon cycle makes it imperative to assess changes in their carbon dynamics for accurate projections of future climate–vegetation feedbacks. Forest monitoring studies conducted over the past decades have found evidence for both increasing and decreasing growth rates of tropical forest trees. The limited duration of these studies restrained analyses to decadal scales, and it is still unclear whether growth changes occurred over longer time scales, as would be expected if CO2‐fertilization stimulated tree growth. Furthermore, studies have so far dealt with changes in biomass gain at forest‐stand level, but insights into species‐specific growth changes – that ultimately determine community‐level responses – are lacking. Here, we analyse species‐specific growth changes on a centennial scale, using growth data from tree‐ring analysis for 13 tree species (~1300 trees), from three sites distributed across the tropics. We used an established (regional curve standardization) and a new (size‐class isolation) growth‐trend detection method and explicitly assessed the influence of biases on the trend detection. In addition, we assessed whether aggregated trends were present within and across study sites. We found evidence for decreasing growth rates over time for 8–10 species, whereas increases were noted for two species and one showed no trend. Additionally, we found evidence for weak aggregated growth decreases at the site in Thailand and when analysing all sites simultaneously. The observed growth reductions suggest deteriorating growth conditions, perhaps due to warming. However, other causes cannot be excluded, such as recovery from large‐scale disturbances or changing forest dynamics. Our findings contrast growth patterns that would be expected if elevated CO2 would stimulate tree growth. These results suggest that commonly assumed growth increases of tropical forests may not occur, which could lead to erroneous predictions of carbon dynamics of tropical forest under climate change.
Validity of the Family Quality of Life Survey‐2006
Authors: Perry Adrienne , Isaacs Barry
Published: April 2015

Background

Family Quality of Life (FQOL) is an important construct in the Intellectual Disabilities field. Several measures exist, including one developed by an international group, the Family Quality of Life Survey‐2006 (FQOLS‐2006; Brown et al.2006). However, the psychometric properties of this measure have yet to be fully investigated. This study was designed to examine its concurrent validity compared to the well established Beach Center FQOL Scale.

Materials and Methods

In a sample of 62 families of school‐aged Canadian children with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder, both the FQOLS‐2006 and the Beach Center FQOL scale were administered and the scores compared.

Results

The total scores of the two measures were strongly correlated, as were particular subscales that would be expected to correlate. However, there were several surprising correlations as well.

Conclusions

The FQOLS‐2006 shows good concurrent validity relative to the Beach Center scale, although some domains show unexpected relationships, suggesting further research is needed.
Dispersal and ecological traits explain differences in beta diversity patterns of European beetles
Authors: Gómez‐Rodríguez Carola , Freijeiro Andrea , Baselga Andrés
Published: April 2015

Aim

Disentangling the contributions of niche and dispersal processes as species distribution drivers is crucial from both theoretical and practical standpoints. We investigated whether niche‐related and dispersal‐related functional traits of 19 beetle clades were good predictors of beta diversity patterns across continental European countries.

Location

Continental Europe.

Methods

We quantified the overall compositional heterogeneity (a measure of multiple‐site dissimilarity) of each beetle clade in continental Europe and assessed its relationship with body size and the proportion of wingless species as proxies for dispersal ability. Overall compositional heterogeneity was also compared with trophic and habitat preferences of clades as proxies for their ecological specialization. Additionally, beta diversity patterns were characterized as a multivariate pairwise dissimilarity matrix among pairs of countries for each beetle clade. We assessed whether differences among these pairwise structures were related to dispersal ability or the ecological specialization of clades. The turnover and nestedness‐resultant components of compositional dissimilarity were calculated separately for all analyses.

Results

The dispersal ability and ecological specialization explained a large proportion (> 70%) of the variation in overall compositional heterogeneity but a lower proportion (c. 40%) of the variation in the multivariate pairwise structures. Remarkably, the explained variation was shared between both sets of predictors in the case of overall compositional heterogeneity but was independently related to dispersal ability or ecological specialization for the multivariate pairwise structure analysis.

Main conclusions

These results suggest a tight relationship between ecological specialization, dispersal ability and compositional heterogeneity of European beetle clades. However, the specific patterns of dissimilarities between pairs of countries seem to be determined independently by either ecological or dispersal processes and seem to be subject to other unmeasured factors.
Influence of past and future climate changes on the distribution of three Southeast Asian murine rodents
Authors: Latinne Alice , Meynard Christine N. , Herbreteau Vincent , Waengsothorn Surachit , Morand Serge , Michaux Johan R.
Published: April 2015

Aim

We tested the influence of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and the potential effect of future climate change on Southeast Asian small mammal distributions using two forest‐dwelling (Leopoldamys herberti and Leopoldamys sabanus) and one karst (Leopoldamys neilli) endemic rodent species as models.

Location

Southeast Asia.

Methods

We used presence–absence data of genetically identified individuals, bioclimatic variables and species distribution modelling techniques to predict potential distributions of the three studied species under current, past [Last Interglacial (LIG) and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)] and future conditions. We applied a variety of modelling techniques and then used consensus techniques to draw up robust maps of potential distribution ranges at all stages.

Results

According to our models, these three Leopoldamys species did not experience significant range contraction during the LGM. Our models revealed substantial range contraction during the LIG for L. herberti in northern Indochina, while its distribution expanded in southern Indochina. Evidence of a southward range expansion during that period was also obtained for L. neilli, whereas L. sabanus remained widely distributed in insular Southeast Asia but experienced a range contraction on the Thai‐Malay Peninsula. The two future climate change scenarios used predicted that large climatically suitable areas would still be available in the future for the three species.

Main conclusions

Our model predictions contradict the well‐established hypothesis that Southeast Asian forest‐dwelling species were confined to small refugia during the LGM. Moreover, our results suggest that some Southeast Asian taxa may have been distributed in their refugial state during the LIG rather than the LGM. This could be because of vegetation changes that may have occurred at that time as a result of the increased seasonality observed during the LIG. These Pleistocene refugia may have been localized in northern Indochina but our study also revealed that southern Indochina could provide major potential refugia.
Focal Arrhythmia Ablation Determined by High‐Resolution Noninvasive Maps: Multicenter Feasibility Study
Authors: HOCINI MÉLÈZE , SHAH ASHOK J. , NEUMANN THOMAS , KUNISS MALTE , ERKAPIC DAMIR , CHAUMEIL ARNAUD , COPLEY SHAHNAZ‐JAMIL , LIM PHANG BOON , KANAGARATNAM PRAPA , DENIS ARNAUD , DERVAL NICOLAS , DUBOIS RÉMI , COCHET HUBERT , JAIS PIERRE , HAISSAGUERRE MICHEL
Published: April 2015

Rapid Mapping and Ablation Using a Novel Platform

Introduction

A noninvasive 3D mapping technique (ECVUE™, CardioInsight Inc., Cleveland) maps the origin and mechanisms of various arrhythmias without catheterizing the heart.

Methods

Thirty‐three patients (3 centers, mean 45.0 ± 14.6 years,) with symptomatic premature ventricular complexes (24 PVCs), focal atrial tachycardias (2 ATs), and manifest accessory pathways (7 WPW syndromes) were prospectively explored using 3D, noninvasive bedside electrocardiomapping. The location of origin of the focal arrhythmia was first determined using noninvasive mapping. Subsequently, a stimulus artifact was delivered at this site to confirm and evaluate the precise location of the mapped focal origin. The procedural parameters and clinical efficacy were studied.

Results

Ablation was successful in 32/33 (97%) patients (PVCs: 13 right, 10 left, 1 septal; WPW: 3 left, 3 right; ATs: 2 left) without complications. The time from catheterization to permanent arrhythmia elimination/termination, RF duration, skin‐to‐skin procedural duration, and fluoroscopic exposure were median 16, 3.98, 71, and 11.9 minutes (for n = 29), respectively. At mean 24.7 ± 3.7 months of follow‐up, 31 patients remain arrhythmia‐free after a single procedure. One patient (right WPW syndrome) required repeat ablation 1 month later. One patient had recurrence of PVCs and is now deceased. The cumulative radiation (CT scan and fluoroscopy) exposure was median 7.57 mSv.

Conclusion

ECVUETM is a noninvasive tool allowing rapid preprocedural localization of focal arrhythmia and enables the electrophysiologist with highly specific information to direct RF delivery at the source of the arrhythmia with minimal intracardiac mapping.
Low Levels of a Urinary Biomarker of Dietary Polyphenol Are Associated with Substantial Cognitive Decline over a 3‐Year Period in Older Adults: The Invecchiare in Chianti Study
Authors: Rabassa Montserrat , Cherubini Antonio , Zamora‐Ros Raul , Urpi‐Sarda Mireia , Bandinelli Stefania , Ferrucci Luigi , Andres‐Lacueva Cristina
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To investigate the association between total urinary polyphenols (TUPs) and total dietary polyphenols (TDPs) and cognitive decline in an older population.

Design

The Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) study, a cohort study with 3 years of follow‐up.

Setting

Tuscany, Italy.

Participants

Individuals without dementia aged 65 and older (N = 652).

Measurements

TUP and TDP concentrations were analyzed at baseline using the Folin‐Ciocalteu assay and a validated food frequency questionnaire, respectively. Cognition was assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Trail‐Making Test (TMT) at baseline and after 3 years of follow‐up. Substantial cognitive decline was defined as a reduction in MMSE score of three or more points and an increase of at least 29 seconds on the TMT Part A (TMT‐A) and 68 seconds on the TMT Part B (TMT‐B) (the worst 10% of the distribution of decline) or as test discontinued because of multiple mistakes on the TMT A and B at follow‐up.

Results

Higher TUP levels were associated with lower risk of substantial cognitive decline on the MMSE (odds ratio (OR) comparing extreme tertiles = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34–0.85, P‐trend = .008) and on the TMT‐A (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.28–0.96, P‐trend = .03), but not on TMT‐B in a logistic regression model that adjusted for baseline cognitive score and potential confounding factors. TDP did not affect the development of substantial cognitive decline in either test.

Conclusion

High concentrations of polyphenols, a nutritional biomarker of polyphenol intake, were associated with lower risk of substantial cognitive decline in an older population studied over a 3‐year period, suggesting a protective effect against cognitive impairment.
Risk of Pneumonia in New Users of Cholinesterase Inhibitors for Dementia
Authors: Lai Edward Chia‐Cheng , Wong Monera B. , Iwata Isao , Zhang Yinghong , Hsieh Cheng‐Yang , Kao Yang Yea‐Huei , Setoguchi Soko
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To compare the risk of pneumonia in older adults receiving donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine for dementia.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare databases.

Participants

Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older who newly initiated cholinesterase inhibitor therapy between 2006 and 2009.

Measurements

Pneumonia, defined as the presence of a diagnosis code for pneumonia as the primary diagnosis on an inpatient claim or on an emergency department claim followed by dispensing of appropriate antibiotics. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of pneumonia. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative pneumonia definitions and adjustments using high‐dimensional propensity scores to test the robustness of the results.

Results

The mean age of 35,570 new users of cholinesterase inhibitors (30,174 users of donepezil, 1,176 users of galantamine, 4,220 users of rivastigmine) was 82; 75% were women, and 82% were white. The cumulative incidence of pneumonia was 51.9 per 1,000 person‐years. The risk of pneumonia for rivastigmine users was 24% lower than that of donepezil users (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.60–0.93). Risk in galantamine users (HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.62–1.23) was not significantly different from risk in donepezil users. Results of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were similar to the primary results.

Conclusion

The risk of pneumonia was lower in individuals receiving rivastigmine than in those receiving donepezil. Additional studies are needed to confirm the findings of pneumonia risk between the oral and transdermal forms of rivastigmine and in users of galantamine.
Incidence and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women: A prospective study in Maanshan city, Anhui Province, China
Authors: Li Xiu‐De , Tong Fei , Zhang Xiu‐Jun , Pan Wei‐Jun , Chen Mao‐Lin , Wang Cheng‐Cheng , Li Xiang , Gao Guo‐Peng , Sun Liang , Sun Ye‐Huan
Published: April 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women.

Material and Methods

Prospective data from a cohort of 668 pregnant women were used to identify potential risk factors for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy by Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

A total of 204 incident cases of bacterial vaginosis were diagnosed in 274.8 woman‐years of follow‐up. The bacterial vaginosis incidence rate was 0.74 per 1 woman‐year and median prevalence during follow‐up was 15.6%. In the adjusted model, changing underwear nearly everyday, miscarriage history, urinary tract infection during follow‐up, husbands' education level, and concurrent trichomoniasis and candidiasis remained significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis (adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval were 1.87 [1.26–2.77]; 2.96 [1.96–4.47]; 2.41 [1.05–5.49]; 0.50 [0.32–0.77]; 1.82 [1.02–3.25]; 1.88 [1.30–2.70], respectively).

Conclusion

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can be affected by many factors, and some are indirectly acting factors. Further prospective studies that include a larger sample size and more information on the development of bacterial vaginosis are needed.
Effect of the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae on ligature‐induced periodontitis in rats
Authors: Garcia V. G. , Knoll L. R. , Longo M. , Novaes V. C. N. , Assem N. Z. , Ervolino E. , de Toledo B. E. C. , Theodoro L. H.
Published: April 2015

Background and Objective

This study assessed the effects of the local use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as monotherapy and as an adjuvant to the mechanical treatment of ligature‐induced periodontitis in rats.

Material and Methods

Periodontitis was induced in 72 rats via the installation of a ligature around the mandibular first molar. After 7 d, the ligature was removed and the rats were placed in one of the following groups: no treatment (C; n = 18); scaling and root planing (SRP; n = 18); local irrigation with probiotics (PRO; n = 18); and SRP followed by local irrigation with probiotics (SRP/PRO; n = 18). Six rats from each group were killed at 7, 15 and 30 d. The histological characteristics, alveolar bone loss (ABL) and immunolabeling of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1β), interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and TRAP on the furcation area of the first molar were assessed.

Results

The PRO group showed features of acceleration of the tissue‐repair process during the entire experiment. On day 15, there was less ABL in the SRP/PRO group compared with the C group. There were fewer TRAP‐positive cells in the SRP and SRP/PRO groups at 30 d. There was less immunostaining for TNF‐α in the PRO and SRP/PRO groups and less immunostaining for IL‐1β in the PRO group. However, there was more immunostaining for IL‐10 in the PRO group on day 15.

Conclusion

Local use of the probiotic did not result in any adverse effects on periodontal tissues. When used as monotherapy or as an adjuvant, the probiotic was effective at controlling periodontitis in rats.
Dialect, power and politics: standard English and adolescent identities
Authors: Brady Jude
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the official requirement for the promotion of standard English using Bourdieu's concepts of the production and reproduction of legitimate language. It explores the political drive behind the demand for this standard dialect in England and, through a survey on the views of fifty‐two 14 and 15 year olds, analyses the impact that this is having on adolescent identities in an inner‐city London school. The students perceive non‐standard English as a vehicle through which they can express their ‘true’ selves and construct a collective teenage identity. They use language to construct a division between themselves as teenagers and the adult ‘others’. Although the students do not necessarily want to use non‐standard English in the classroom, or with their teachers, educators need to consider how to afford pupils access to the ‘official language’, which grants privilege and power, without devaluing the identities which they may associate with other dialect forms. The final part of the paper explores the value of Cummin's concept of ‘transformative pedagogy’ (2002) in relation to the study of dialect with adolescents.
MHC class II‐assortative mate choice in European badgers (Meles meles)
Authors: Sin Yung Wa , Annavi Geetha , Newman Chris , Buesching Christina , Burke Terry , Macdonald David W. , Dugdale Hannah L.
Published: April 2015

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a crucial role in the immune system, and in some species, it is a target by which individuals choose mates to optimize the fitness of their offspring, potentially mediated by olfactory cues. Under the genetic compatibility hypothesis, individuals are predicted to choose mates with compatible MHC alleles, to increase the fitness of their offspring. Studies of MHC‐based mate choice in wild mammals are under‐represented currently, and few investigate more than one class of MHC genes. We investigated mate choice based on the compatibility of MHC class I and II genes in a wild population of European badgers (Meles meles). We also investigated mate choice based on microsatellite‐derived pairwise relatedness, to attempt to distinguish MHC‐specific effects from genomewide effects. We found MHC‐assortative mating, based on MHC class II, but not class I genes. Parent pairs had smaller MHC class II DRB amino acid distances and smaller functional distances than expected from random pairings. When we separated the analyses into within‐group and neighbouring‐group parent pairs, only neighbouring‐group pairs showed MHC‐assortative mating, due to similarity at MHC class II loci. Our randomizations showed no evidence of genomewide‐based inbreeding, based on 35 microsatellite loci; MHC class II similarity was therefore the apparent target of mate choice. We propose that MHC‐assortative mate choice may be a local adaptation to endemic pathogens, and this assortative mate choice may have contributed to the low MHC genetic diversity in this population.
Influencing factors on the cord‐blood donation of post‐partum women
Authors: Kim Miok , Han Seungchul , Shin Minho
Published: April 2015

This study aims to identify the factors on the cord‐blood donation of Korean post‐partum women, who may store, donate, or discard their infant's cord blood. This descriptive research assesses the level of knowledge and attitude of post‐partum women in Korea, regarding cord blood and its usage. The participants in this study were 320 post‐partum women of which 109 stored, 34 donated, and 177 discarded their cord blood. The knowledge level of women who donated or stored their cord blood was higher than that of those who discarded. The attitude level of the women who donated was higher than that of those who stored or discarded. Knowledge, attitude, income, and source of information were the factors on the cord‐blood donation; high knowledge, high attitude, low income, and information source from mass media contributes to cord‐blood donation. In order to promote the cord‐blood donation, it is necessary to develop guidelines for cord‐blood education to improve the knowledge and attitudes of child‐bearing women and healthcare professionals.
Complementarity in nutrient foraging strategies of absorptive fine roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across 14 coexisting subtropical tree species
Authors: Liu Bitao , Li Hongbo , Zhu Biao , Koide Roger T. , Eissenstat David M. , Guo Dali
Published: April 2015

In most cases, both roots and mycorrhizal fungi are needed for plant nutrient foraging. Frequently, the colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi seems to be greater in species with thick and sparsely branched roots than in species with thin and densely branched roots. Yet, whether a complementarity exists between roots and mycorrhizal fungi across these two types of root system remains unclear.

We measured traits related to nutrient foraging (root morphology, architecture and proliferation, AM colonization and extramatrical hyphal length) across 14 coexisting AM subtropical tree species following root pruning and nutrient addition treatments.

After root pruning, species with thinner roots showed more root growth, but lower mycorrhizal colonization, than species with thicker roots. Under multi‐nutrient (NPK) addition, root growth increased, but mycorrhizal colonization decreased significantly, whereas no significant changes were found under nitrogen or phosphate additions. Moreover, root length proliferation was mainly achieved by altering root architecture, but not root morphology.

Thin‐root species seem to forage nutrients mainly via roots, whereas thick‐root species rely more on mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, the reliance on mycorrhizal fungi was reduced by nutrient additions across all species. These findings highlight complementary strategies for nutrient foraging across coexisting species with contrasting root traits.
Vitamin D Deficiency After Oral Retinoid Therapy for Ichthyosis
Authors: Neema Shekhar , Mukherjee Sweta , Vasudevan Biju , Verma Rajesh , Moorchung Nikhil , Chatterjee Manas
Published: April 2015

Oral retinoids are being increasingly used to treat ichthyotic disorders in children. We report on two children with ichthyotic disorders who developed unusual manifestations after they were started on oral retinoids. The first case is a 10‐year‐old girl with nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma and the second is a 2‐year‐old girl with lamellar ichthyosis. The child with ichthyosiform erythroderma developed features of rickets within months of initiation of systemic retinoids. Her baseline examination before initiation of oral retinoids was normal. The second patient with lamellar ichthyosis was found to have low vitamin D levels after 6 months of retinoid therapy, and prompt supplementation reversed the levels in 2 months. These cases are being reported to bring attention to the probable need for initiation of vitamin D supplementation with systemic retinoid therapy in ichthyotic disorders in children.
Down the Line: Assessing the Trajectory of Energy Policy Research Development
Authors: Kester John , Moyer Rachael , Song Geoboo
Published: April 2015

In light of the impassioned debate regarding various aspects of global climate change, as well as the demand for reliable energy supply for swift economic recovery and stable economic growth in recent years, contemporary policy research on issues concerning energy and natural resources has gained more traction than at any other time in recent history. In this article, we attempt to characterize the recent trends of such research endeavors while reviewing related articles published in major scholarly journals in public policy and related fields of study between 2010 and early 2014. We found that the subtleties of recent energy policy studies revolve around issues pertaining to nuclear energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and hydraulic fracturing operations, while such studies use diverse theoretical and methodological approaches in analyzing various facets of energy policy process ranging from issue framing and agenda setting, to policy formulation and diffusion, to policy evaluation and feasibility assessment. We conclude this article by discussing future research directions of energy policy issues.
Presenile onset of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 presenting with conspicuous psychiatric symptoms and widespread anti‐expanded polyglutamine antibody‐ and fused in sarcoma antibody‐immunopositive pathology
Authors: Iwasaki Yasushi , Mori Keiko , Ito Masumi , Mimuro Maya , Yoshida Mari
Published: April 2015

A 50‐year‐old Japanese man showed slowly progressive gait disturbance and dysarthria. Neurological examination 5 years after onset revealed slow eye movement with nystagmus as well as limb and truncal ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy of the cerebellum and brainstem. Because genetic examination revealed CAG repeat expansion of the ataxin‐1 gene, the patient was diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Ten years after onset, he showed psychiatric symptoms with cognitive impairment, and antipsychotic drugs were administered. As psychiatric symptoms gradually worsened, particularly with regard to resisting nursing care and shouting, the doses of the drugs were increased. Although the clinicopathologic findings were generally identical to previously reported spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 cases with the exception of the conspicuous psychiatric symptoms, there are two notable immunohistochemical findings. Firstly, numerous anti‐expanded polyglutamine antibody‐immunopositive neuronal inclusions were extensively observed, including in the cerebral cortex and limbic system, but not in the Purkinje cells. Secondly, anti‐fused in sarcoma antibody‐immunopositive intranuclear inclusions were extensively observed. We posit that the anti‐expanded polyglutamine antibody‐immunopositive neuronal inclusions and possibly the anti‐fused in sarcoma antibody‐immunopositive inclusions, particularly those in the neocortex and limbic system, may correspond to the psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment that were observed in the patient.
Hypochondriasis as an early manifestation of dementia with Lewy bodies: an autopsied case report
Authors: Fujishiro Hiroshige , Iritani Shuji , Sekiguchi Hirotaka , Habuchi Chikako , Torii Youta , Matsunaga Shinji , Ozaki Norio , Yoshida Mari , Fujita Kiyoshi
Published: April 2015

Discrepancies between clinical and pathological diagnoses of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) may occur because the full disease progression remains unclear, especially during the early stage. Herein, we report the case of a 78‐year‐old Japanese man with hypochondriasis who had autopsy‐confirmed limbic‐type DLB pathology. He exhibited no core clinical features of DLB. We attempted to identify the clinicopathological correlations in the early stages of DLB. At the age of 77, he became hypochondriacal and exhibited progressive cognitive decline after the death of his wife. He was concerned about his poor physical condition, but hospital examinations did not identify any overtly abnormal findings. At 78 years of age, he consulted a neurologist with complaints of facial numbness and irritability. Neurological examination revealed no overt abnormality, and he scored 21 points on the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed mild bilateral ventricular enlargement. The patient was clinically diagnosed as having possible Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 1 month after his consult, he died of acute pneumonia in a psychiatric hospital to which he had been admitted for severe aggressive behaviour. He exhibited no core clinical features pointing towards a clinical diagnosis of DLB. Neuropathological investigation revealed limbic‐type Lewy body disease with concurrent minimum Alzheimer‐type pathology, which corresponds to high‐likelihood DLB pathology based on the Third Consortium DLB pathological criteria. The patient had minimum nigral degeneration, which is consistent with the absence of parkinsonism. This autopsied case suggests that some DLB patients exhibit hypochondriasis in the early stage of the disease, even if they lack the core clinical features of DLB.
Nitrous oxide emissions from dairy farm effluent applied to a New Zealand pasture soil
Authors: Li J. , Luo J. , Shi Y. , Lindsey S. , Houlbrooke D. , Ledgard S.
Published: April 2015

A field experiment on permanent ryegrass–white clover pasture at AgResearch's Ruakura dairy farm near Hamilton, New Zealand quantified nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from different types of dairy effluent applied to soil at three seasons and evaluated the potential of dicyandiamide (DCD) (a nitrification inhibitor) to decrease gaseous N2O emissions. Fresh or stored manure and farm dairy effluent (FDE; from dairy shed washings), with or without DCD (10 kg/ha), were applied at approximately 100 kg N/ha to plots on a well‐drained soil on volcanic parent material. A field chamber technique was used to measure N2O emissions. Application of manure or FDE, both in fresh and stored forms, to pasture generally increased N2O emissions. Overall N2O emission factors (EF) varied between 0.01% and 1.87%, depending on application season and effluent type. EFs in spring and autumn were greater than those in summer (P < 0.05). Among the effluents, N2O EFs were largest from fresh FDE (1.65%) during the spring measurement period, stored manure (1.87%) during the autumn and stored FDE (0.25%) during the summer. DCD was effective in decreasing N2O EFs from fresh FDE, fresh manure, stored FDE and stored manure by 40–80%, 69–76%, 24–84% and 60–70%, respectively. DCD reduced N2O emissions during the spring and autumn seasons more effectively than in the summer season.
ABNORMAL IMAGING FINDINGS OF THE FEMORAL THIRD TROCHANTER IN 20 HORSES
Authors: Shields Georgette E. , Whitcomb Mary Beth , Vaughan Betsy , Wisner Erik R.
Published: April 2015

Injuries involving the femoral third trochanter are an uncommon but important source of equine lameness; however, clinical localization can be challenging. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasonographic and scintigraphic findings in a group of horses with presumed third trochanter injury. Medical records of an equine referral hospital were searched from 2004–2014, and 20 horses met the inclusion criteria. Lesions consistent with third trochanter fracture were identified with ultrasound in 14/20 horses. Onset of lameness was acute (11), insidious (2), or unknown (1). All but one horse was lame at presentation, ranging from Grade 2–4/5. Ultrasound was the primary diagnostic modality in 5/14 horses with fragmentation, while scintigraphic findings of intense (3), moderate (5), and mild (1) increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) prompted ultrasonographic examinations in 9/14 fractured horses. A nondisplaced fracture was suspected in an additional horse with intense IRU and negative ultrasound findings. In the remaining five horses, imaging findings included only mild IRU. Lameness was localized to other regions in these cases. Six of 12 fractured horses with available outcome data were returned to function after a prolonged rehabilitation of 8–18 months. Scintigraphic findings helped to direct focused ultrasound exams in the majority of fracture cases. Horses with evidence of third trochanter fracture had similar clinical characteristics to that reported for pelvic fractures and authors therefore recommend ultrasonographic examination of both regions, especially when scintigraphy is unavailable. Prognosis for return to function in horses of the current study was less favorable than previously reported.
Non-destructive Micro-structural Characterization of Metallic Specimens with a Portable X-ray Diffraction based Residual Stress Analyzer
Authors: Ganesh P. , Nagpure D. C. , Kaul Rakesh , Gupta R. K. , Kukreja L. M.
Published: April 2015

Non-destructive characterization of surface microstructure of an engineering component is an important parameter to assess its fitness to function in the given service conditions. The paper describes various case studies performed in authors’ laboratory involving use of portable X-ray diffraction based residual stress analysis system to examine and understand the micro-structural state of the investigated surface. A significant decrease in full width at half maximum (FWHM) of gamma(311) diffraction peak from about 4.2° in the cold worked state to about 2.5° in the annealed/surface melted state was recorded for austenitic stainless steel. In case of 0.4% carbon steel there is sharp increase in FWHM of alpha(211) diffraction peak from about 2° in the as received condition to about 5-6° in the laser hardened condition. Crystallographic texture developed during electro-plating of chromium on stainless steel, could be detected from the strong intensity of alpha (211) peak of chromium at about 19° to the surface normal with respect to all other X-ray inclination angles (ѱ) during residual stress measurement. The results show that FWHM and intensity variation of the diffraction peak are two sensitive parameters for characterization of surface microstructure. Change in FWHM has been used to detect machining-induced cold deformation and evolution of re-crystallized grains in austenitic stainless steel and formation of hard martensite in laser transformation hardened ferritic steel. Variation in the intensity of diffracted peak with respect to X-ray inclination angle provided valuable information regarding crystallographic texture in hard chrome plated deposits.
The Corrosion Behavior of 9Cr Ferritic–Martensitic Heat-Resistant Steel in Water and Chloride Environment
Authors: Zhang Z. , Singh P. M. , Hu Z. F.
Published: April 2015

The corrosion behavior of 9Cr ferritic–martensitic heat-resistant steel was investigated in water and chloride environment at room temperature (RT). The results of linear polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiodynamics (PD) polarization tests on long-term exposure show that 9Cr ferritic–martensitic steel has weaker corrosion resistance and greater pitting corrosion tendency in higher chloride concentrations. Corresponding scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation displays that higher concentration chloride promotes the pitting initiation. During long-term exposure, pitting susceptibility decreases, the average pit size increases, and the density declines in higher chloride concentrations. Pits in the grains and along the grain boundaries are observed by optical microscope (OM), and it indicates that inclusions in grains and carbide particles at grain boundaries are the sites susceptible to pitting initiation.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Filament Front Deformation for Direct-Print
Authors: Noman Hasan Muhammad , Vatani Morteza , Chandy Abhilash , Choi Jae-Won
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this research is to perform an investigation of continuously dispensed material (or filament) deformation during dispensing. Depending on the material properties, and the process parameters the deformation behavior of the filament changes, so as the formation of the filament front (the front face of the filament, i.e., dispensing material). The focus of this investigation is the study of the evolution of the filament shape for Newtonian fluid experimentally and computationally. The experimental analysis has been performed with commercially available monomers with the help of a screw driven micro dispensing system installed on a high precision xyz translation stage. The imaging system consists of a high resolution CMOS camera. The developed computational model utilizes an adaptive quadtree spatial discretization with piecewise–linear geometrical volume–of–fluid (VOF) method for calculating the volume fraction for this multiphase problem. The model employs the continuum–surface–force model for formulating the surface tension, whereas the height function (HF) to estimate the curvature for tracking the evolution of the filament shape during the deformation. The computational model has been developed using an open source solver, Gerris Flow Solver. The considered governing and process parameters for this investigation are Froude number (Fr), Reynolds number (Re), gap ratio (GR), and velocity ratio (VR). The VR is the ratio of travel velocity to dispensing velocity. The GR is the ratio of filament height to filament diameter. Results have been presented as the interface contour for the filament front. The investigation shows that the results found from the developed model have a good agreement with experimental results, and the deformation phenomena is greatly influenced by the variation of the governing parameters.
Unified Kinematics Analysis and Low-Velocity Driving Optimization for Parallel Hip Joint Manipulator
Authors: Wang Song-Tao , Cheng Gang , Yang De-Hua , Yang Jian-Hua
Published: April 2015

Unified modeling for the kinematics analysis of a parallel hip joint manipulator (PHJM) is proposed, and structural parameters of the PHJM are optimized based on the unified model for obtaining low-velocity driving performance. Based on the finite element theory, a unified model for kinematics analysis is established, and the Monte Carlo method is subsequently proposed to solve the workspace for the PHJM. To optimize the workspace, a 6 surface-14 point (6 S-14 P) method is proposed to judge whether the workspace includes the task space. The structural parameters are further optimized to obtain low-velocity driving performance, and the motion performances of the PHJM with the optimal parameter are numerically simulated. The velocity simulation results demonstrate that the maximum relative velocity of the PHJM with the optimal parameter decreases by 23.2%. The unified kinematics analysis and low-velocity driving optimization effectively improve the performance for the PHJM and enrich the optimization theory for parallel manipulators with high velocities and given tasks.
Dynamic Behavior of Carbon Fiber Explosion Containment Vessels
Authors: Dong Qi , Hu Bayi
Published: April 2015

The dynamic behavior of carbon fiber containment vessels subjected to internal blast loading is studied. The experimental observation of dynamic response of carbon fiber cylindrical shells is presented, in which failure modes of structures are especially concerned. The load-bearing capability and scale effect of carbon fiber cylindrical shells are discussed. Carbon fiber cylindrical shells demonstrate better explosion-resistant performance than that of glass fiber cylindrical shells for the specific types of tests and shell configurations investigated. The current study may contribute to the further understanding on the design and application of carbon fiber containment vessels.
Influence of sand density and retaining wall stiffness on three-dimensional responses of tunnel to basement excavation
Authors: Ng C.W.W. , Shi Jiangwei , Mašín David , Sun Huasheng , Lei G.H.
Published: April 2015

Basement excavation inevitably causes stress changes in the ground, leading to soil movements that may affect the serviceability and safety of adjacent tunnels. Despite paying much attention to the basement–tunnel interaction, previous research has mainly focused on the influence of tunnel location in relation to the basement, tunnel stiffness, and excavation geometry. The effects of sand density and basement wall stiffness on nearby tunnels due to excavation, however, have so far been neglected. A series of three-dimensional centrifuge tests were thus carried out in this study to investigate these effects on the complex basement–tunnel interaction. Moreover, three-dimensional numerical analyses and a parametric study by adopting a hypoplastic sand model were conducted to improve the fundamental understanding of this complex problem, and calculation charts were developed as a design tool. When the basement was constructed directly above the existing tunnel, excavation-induced heave and strain were more sensitive to a change in soil density in the transverse direction than that in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel. Because a looser sand possesses smaller soil stiffness around the tunnel, the maximum tunnel elongation and transverse tensile strain increased by more than 20% as the relative sand density decreased by 25%. Moreover, the tensile strain induced along the longitudinal direction was insensitive to the stiffness of the retaining wall, but the tensile strain induced along the transverse direction was significantly reduced by a stiff wall. When the basement was constructed at the side of the existing tunnel, the use of a diaphragm wall reduced the maximum settlements and tensile strains induced in the tunnel by up to 22% and 58%, respectively, compared with the use of a sheet pile wall. Under the same soil density and wall stiffness, excavation-induced maximum movement and tensile strains in the tunnel located at a side of the basement were about 30% of the measured values in the tunnel located directly beneath the basement centre.
Ghosts from ghosts in the BRST formalism
Authors: McKeon D.G.C.
Published: April 2015

We show that the Hamiltonian HQ, introduced in the course of BRST analysis of a gauge theory, may in fact be associated with an action that itself is gauge invariant. This action can then be treated using the BRST formalism. We illustrate this by considering the spinning particle and the first-order Einstein–Hilbert action in 1 + 1 dimensions.
Formation of ground and excited hydrogen atoms in proton–caesium inelastic scattering
Authors: Elkilany S.A.
Published: April 2015

The inelastic scattering of a proton with a caesium atom is treated for the first time as a three-channel problem within the framework of the improved coupled static approximation with the assumption that the ground (1s state) and excited (2s state) hydrogen formation channels are open for seven values of the total angular momentum, [Formula: see text] at energies between 50 and 500 keV. The Green’s function iterative numerical method is used to obtain the computer code to calculate iterative partial cross sections. This can be done through calculating the reactance matrix at different values of considered energies to obtain the transition matrix that gives partial and total cross sections. Present results give reasonable agreement with previous results.
Multiparticle localization for disordered systems on continuous space via the fractional moment method
Authors: Fauser Michael , Warzel Simone
Published: April 2015

We investigate the spectral and dynamical localization of a quantum system of n particles on ℝd which are subject to a random potential and interact through a pair potential which may have infinite range. We establish two conditions which ensure spectral and dynamical localization near the bottom of the spectrum of the n-particle system: (i) localization is established in the regime of weak interactions supposing one-particle localization, and (ii) localization is also established under a Lifshitz-tail type condition on the sparsity of the spectrum. In case of polynomially decaying interactions, we provide an upper bound on the number of particles up to which these conditions apply.
Gap Junctions as Common Cause of High-Frequency Oscillations and Epileptic Seizures in a Computational Cascade of Neuronal Mass and Compartmental Modeling
Authors: Helling Robert M. , Koppert Marc M. J. , Visser Gerhard H. , Kalitzin Stiliyan N.
Published: April 2015

High frequency oscillations (HFO) appear to be a promising marker for delineating the seizure onset zone (SOZ) in patients with localization related epilepsy. It remains, however, a purely observational phenomenon and no common mechanism has been proposed to relate HFOs and seizure generation. In this work we show that a cascade of two computational models, one on detailed compartmental scale and a second one on neural mass scale can explain both the autonomous generation of HFOs and the presence of epileptic seizures as emergent properties. To this end we introduce axonal–axonal gap junctions on a microscopic level and explore their impact on the higher level neural mass model (NMM). We show that the addition of gap junctions can generate HFOs and simultaneously shift the operational point of the NMM from a steady state network into bistable behavior that can autonomously generate epileptic seizures. The epileptic properties of the system, or the probability to generate epileptic type of activity, increases gradually with the increase of the density of axonal–axonal gap junctions. We further demonstrate that ad hoc HFO detectors used in previous studies are applicable to our simulated data.
Tunguska dark matter ball
Authors: Froggatt C. D. , Nielsen H. B.
Published: April 2015

It is suggested that the Tunguska event in June 1908 was due to a cm-large ball of a condensate of bound states of 6 top and 6 antitop quarks containing highly compressed ordinary matter. Such balls are supposed to make up the dark matter as we earlier proposed. The expected rate of impact of this kind of dark matter ball with the earth seems to crudely match a time scale of 200 years between the impacts. The main explosion of the Tunguska event is explained in our picture as material coming out from deep within the earth, where it has been heated and compressed by the ball penetrating to a depth of several thousand km. Thus the effect has some similarity with volcanic activity as suggested by Kundt. We discuss the possible identification of kimberlite pipes with earlier Tunguska-like events. A discussion of how the dark matter balls may have formed in the early universe is also given.