bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Fluid-Based Squeeze Film Behaviour in Curved Porous-Rotating Rough Annular Plates and Elastic Deformation Effect
Authors: Shimpi M. E. , Deheri G. M.
Published: September 2012

Efforts have been directed to study and analyze the squeeze film performance between rotating transversely rough curved porous annular plates in the presence of a magnetic fluid lubricant considering the effect of elastic deformation. A stochastic random variable with nonzero mean, variance, and skewness characterizes the random roughness of the bearing surfaces. With the aid of suitable boundary conditions, the associated stochastically averaged Reynolds' equation is solved to obtain the pressure distribution in turn, which results in the calculation of the load-carrying capacity. The graphical representations establish that the transverse roughness, in general, adversely affects the performance characteristics. However, the magnetization registers a relatively improved performance. It is found that the deformation causes reduced load-carrying capacity which gets further decreased by the porosity. This investigation tends to indicate that the adverse effect of porosity, standard deviation and deformation can be compensated to certain extent by the positive effect of the magnetic fluid lubricant in the case of negatively skewed roughness by choosing the rotational inertia and the aspect ratio, especially for suitable ratio of curvature parameters.
A Balance Test for Chronic Perilymph Fistula
Authors: Hornibrook Jeremy
Published: September 2012

Perilymph fistula is defined as a leak of perilymph at the oval or round window. It excludes other conditions with “fistula” tests due to a dehiscent semicircular canal from cholesteotoma and the superior canal dehiscence syndrome. First recognized as a complication of stapedectomy, it then became apparent that head trauma and barotraumatic trauma from flying or diving could be a cause. Descriptions of “spontanenous” perilymph fistulas with no trauma history followed. It is likely that most perilymph fistula patients have a congential potential weakness of the otic capsule at the round or oval window. The vestibular symptoms have been assumed to be due to endolymphatic hydrops, but there is poor evidence. Their unilateral disequilibrium, nausea, and subtle cognitive problems suggest they are due to otolith disfunction and that these patients have a specific balance abnormality, unlike subjects with unilateral vestibular hypofuction. In this series of twenty patients with a confirmed fistula a logical simplification of Singleton's “eyes-closed turning” test predicted a PLF in twelve with a trauma history. In four no cause was found. In three a prior traumatic event was later recalled, but one patient had concealed it.
A Survey on Multipacket Reception for Wireless Random Access Networks
Authors: Lu Jia-Liang , Shu Wei , Wu Min-You
Published: September 2012

Multipacket reception (MPR) is the capability of simultaneous decoding of more than one packet from multiple concurrent transmissions. Continuous investigations on increasing the reception capability are giving new scientific contributions. In this paper, we provide an overview of MPR-related research work covering (1) the theoretically proved impacts and advantages of using MPR from a channel perspective to network capacity and throughput; (2) the various technologies that enable MPR from transmitter, transreceiver, and receiver perspectives; (3) previous work on protocol improvement to better exploit MPR. Indeed, MPR approaches have been applied in modern wireless mobile systems but the focus of this paper is to discuss MPR in random access wireless networks. Using MPR in such multihop environments calls for new adaptation on protocols, especially a cross-layer approach. To this end, we detail a scheduling method that targets full utilization of MPR capability.
Thermoelectric Characterization of Electronic Properties of GaMnAs Nanowires
Authors: Wu Phillip M. , Paschoal Waldomiro , Kumar Sandeep , Borschel Christian , Ronning Carsten , Canali Carlo M. , Samuelson Lars , Pettersson Håkan , Linke Heiner
Published: September 2012

Nanowires with magnetic doping centers are an exciting candidate for the study of spin physics and proof-of-principle spintronics devices. The required heavy doping can be expected to have a significant impact on the nanowires' electron transport properties. Here, we use thermopower and conductance measurements for transport characterization of Ga0.95Mn0.05As nanowires over a broad temperature range. We determine the carrier type (holes) and concentration and find a sharp increase of the thermopower below temperatures of 120 K that can be qualitatively described by a hopping conduction model. However, the unusually large thermopower suggests that additional mechanisms must be considered as well.
Design of an All‐Digital Synchronized Frequency Multiplier Based on a Dual‐Loop (D/FLL) Architecture
Authors: Assaad Maher , Alser Mohammed H.
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a new architecture for a synchronized frequency multiplier circuit. The proposed architecture is an all‐digital dual‐loop delay‐ and frequency‐locked loops circuit, which has several advantages, namely, it does not have the jitter accumulation issue that is normally encountered in PLL and can be adapted easily for different FPGA families as well as implemented as an integrated circuit. Moreover, it can be used in supplying a clock reference for distributed digital processing systems as well as intra/interchip communication in system‐on‐chip (SoC). The proposed architecture is designed using the Verilog language and synthesized for the Altera DE2‐70 development board. The experimental results validate the expected phase tracking as well as the synthesizing properties. For the measurement and validation purpose, an input reference signal in the range of 1.94–2.62 MHz was injected; the generated clock signal has a higher frequency, and it is in the range of 124.2–167.9 MHz with a frequency step (i.e., resolution) of 0.168 MHz. The synthesized design requires 330 logic elements using the above Altera board.
A Comparative Performance Analysis of Two Printed Circular Arrays for Power-Based Vehicle Localization Applications
Authors: Sharawi Mohammad S. , Sultan Farooq , Aloi Daniel N.
Published: September 2012

A comparative study of the performance characteristics of a printed 8-element V-shaped circular antenna array and an 8-element Yagi circular array operating at 2.45 GHz for vehicular direction finding applications is presented. Two operating modes are investigated; switched and phased modes. The arrays were fabricated on FR-4 substrates with 0.8 mm thickness. Measured and simulated results were compared. Radiation gain patterns were measured on a 1 m diameter ground plane that resembles the rooftop of a vehicle. The HPBW of the Yagi was found to be about 3° narrower than its V-shaped counterpart when measured above a reflecting ground plane and operated in switched mode. The printed V-shaped antenna array offers 2.5 dB extra gain compared to the printed Yagi array.
Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions
Authors: Cardoza Yasmin J. , Harris Gabriel K. , Grozinger Christina M.
Published: September 2012

Both biotic and abiotic factors can affect soil quality, which can significantly impact plant growth, productivity, and resistance to pests. However, the effects of soil quality on the interactions of plants with beneficial arthropods, such as pollinators, have not been extensively examined. We studied the effects of vermicompost (earthworm compost, VC) soil amendment on behavioral and physiological responses of pollinators to flowers and floral resources, using cucumbers,Cucumis sativus, as our model system. Results from experiments conducted over three field seasons demonstrated that, in at least two out of three years, VC amendment significantly increased visit length, while reducing the time to first discovery. Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) workers that fed on flowers from VC-amended plants had significantly larger and more active ovaries, a measure of nutritional quality. Pollen fractions of flowers from VC-grown plants had higher protein compared to those of plants grown in chemically fertilized potting soil. Nectar sugar content also tended to be higher in flowers from VC-grown plants, but differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, soil quality enhancement, as achieved with VC amendment in this study, can significantly affect plant-pollinator interactions and directly influences pollinator nutrition and overall performance.
Vibration Transmission of a Cylindrical Shell with an Interior Rectangular Plate with the Receptance Method
Authors: Zhao Zhimei , Sheng Meiping , Yang Yang
Published: September 2012

Vibration transmission characteristics of a cylindrical shell with a rectangular plate are discussed in this paper by the substructure receptance method. The system is divided into two substructures: the plate and the shell. After finding the theoretical receptance function of each substructure, the coupling equation of the combined system is solved by considering the continuity conditions at the joint between the plate and the shell. The numerical results are compared with the experimental ones to show the validity of the formulation. After that, effects of the plate's parameters on vibration transmission characteristics are discussed. The parameter study shows that it is important to avoid impedance matching for the plate and the shell in the design of suitable structures with low vibration and noise radiation characteristics.
Study on the Stochastic Chance‐Constrained Fuzzy Programming Model and Algorithm for Wagon Flow Scheduling in Railway Bureau
Authors: Liu Bin
Published: September 2012

The wagon flow scheduling plays a very important role in transportation activities in railway bureau. However, it is difficult to implement in the actual decision‐making process of wagon flow scheduling that compiled under certain environment, because of the interferences of uncertain information, such as train arrival time, train classify time, train assemble time, and flexible train‐size limitation. Based on existing research results, considering the stochasticity of all kinds of train operation time and fuzziness of train‐size limitation of the departure train, aimed at maximizing the satisfaction of departure train‐size limitation and minimizing the wagon residence time at railway station, a stochastic chance‐constrained fuzzy multiobjective model for flexible wagon flow scheduling problem is established in this paper. Moreover, a hybrid intelligent algorithm based on ant colony optimization (ACO) and genetic algorithm (GA) is also provided to solve this model. Finally, the rationality and effectiveness of the model and algorithm are verified through a numerical example, and the results prove that the accuracy of the train work plan could be improved by the model and algorithm; consequently, it has a good robustness and operability.
Monitoring Detrusor Oxygenation and Hemodynamics Noninvasively during Dysfunctional Voiding
Authors: Macnab Andrew J. , Stothers Lynn S. , Shadgan Babak
Published: September 2012

The current literature indicates that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have a heterogeneous pathophysiology. Pressure flow studies (UDSs) remain the gold standard evaluation methodology for such patients. However, as the function of the detrusor muscle depends on its vasculature and perfusion, the underlying causes of LUTS likely include abnormalities of detrusor oxygenation and hemodynamics, and available treatment options include agents thought to act on the detrusor smooth muscle and/or vasculature. Hence, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), an established optical methodology for monitoring changes in tissue oxygenation and hemodynamics, has relevance as a means of expanding knowledge related to the pathophysiology of BPH and potential treatment options. This methodological report describes how to conduct simultaneous NIRS monitoring of detrusor oxygenation and hemodynamics during UDS, outlines the clinical implications and practical applications of NIRS, explains the principles of physiologic interpretation of NIRS voiding data, and proposes an exploratory hypothesis that the pathophysiological causes underlying LUTS include detrusor dysfunction due to an abnormal hemodynamic response or the onset of oxygen debt during voiding.
Elderly Onset of Weakness in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Fee Dominic B.
Published: September 2012

A 77-year-old male is presented. He had onset of proximal weakness 10 years earlier. His course was slowly progressive. Despite having phenotypic features of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH), genetic testing for this was delayed because of his age of onset, lack of family history, and benign appearing muscle biopsy. This case is one of the oldest onset of weakness in genetically confirmed FSH and highlights the recognized expansion in phenotype that has occurred since the advent of genetic testing.
Implications of the Use of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A (eIF5A) for Prognosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shek Felix H. , Fatima Sarwat , Lee Nikki P.
Published: September 2012

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy and accounts for most of the total liver cancer cases. Lack of treatment options and late diagnosis contribute to high mortality rate of HCC. In eukaryotes, translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) to protein is a key process in protein biosynthesis in which initiation of translation involves interaction of different eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs), ribosome subunits and mRNAs. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is one of the eIFs involved in translation initiation and eIF5A2, one of its isoforms, is upregulated in various cancers including HCC as a result of chromosomal instability, where it resides. In HCC, eIF5A2 expression is associated with adverse prognosis such as presence of tumor metastasis and venous infiltration. Based on eIF5A2 functional studies, suppressing eIF5A2 expression by short interfering RNA alleviates the tumorigenic properties of HCC cellsin vitrowhile ectopic expression of eIF5A2 enhances the aggressiveness of HCC cellsin vivoandin vitroby inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, eIF5A2 is a potential prognostic marker as well as a therapeutic target for HCC.
Context-Aware Multicast Protocol for Emergency Message Dissemination in Vehicular Networks
Authors: Sebastian Alvin , Tang Maolin , Feng Yanming , Looi Mark
Published: September 2012

Road traffic accidents can be reduced by providing early warning to drivers through wireless ad hoc networks. When a vehicle detects an event that may lead to an imminent accident, the vehicle disseminates emergency messages to alert other vehicles that may be endangered by the accident. In many existing broadcast-based dissemination schemes,
emergency messages may be sent to a large number of vehicles in the area and can be propagated to only one direction. This paper presents a more efficient context-aware multicast protocol that disseminates messages only to endangered vehicles that may be affected by the emergency event. The endangered vehicles can be identified by calculating the interaction among vehicles based on their motion properties. To ensure fast delivery, the dissemination follows a routing path obtained by computing a minimum delay tree. The multicast protocol uses a generalized approach that can support any arbitrary road topology. The performance of the multicast protocol is compared with existing broadcast protocols by simulating chain collision accidents on a typical highway. Simulation results show that the multicast protocol outperforms the other protocols in terms of reliability, efficiency, and latency.
Budgetary Expenditure on Health and Human Development in India
Authors: Purohit Brijesh C.
Published: September 2012

This study aims at analyzing the differentials across rich and poor states and across rich and poorer strata and rural urban segments of 19 major Indian states. The study indicates that besides individual health financing policies of the respective state governments, there are significant disparities even between rural and urban strata and rich and poorer sections of the society. These are indicated by high inequality coefficients and an emerging pattern of life style second generation health problems as well as levels of utilization of both preventive and curative care both in public and private sectors. Our results emphasise that there is a need to increase public expenditure on health, improve efficiency in utilization of existing public facilities, and popularize government run health insurance schemes meant primarily for the poor. These steps may help to mitigate partly the inequitable outcomes.
An Efficient One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of Novel Sulfanyl Tetrazoles Using Ionic Liquids
Authors: Kanakaraju Sankari , Prasanna Bethanamudi , Chandramouli G. V. P.
Published: September 2012

An efficient, simple, and environmentally benign method for the synthesis of novel sulfanyl tetrazoles has been achieved by one‐pot three‐component reaction of phenacyl bromides/3‐(2‐bromoacetyl)coumarins with KSCN and NaN3 using [Bmim]BF4 ionic liquid. It could be reused and recycled for four runs without significant loss of product yield.
Effect of Counterion on the Solvatochromic Properties of Heteroleptic Chelate Copper(II) Complexes
Authors: Golchoubian Hamid , Fazilati Hakimeh
Published: September 2012

A series of heteroleptic chelate copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(L)(acac)]X where acac = acetylacetonate; L = N,N′-1,6-bis(2-fluorophenyl)-2,5-diazahexane;X=CIO4-,BPh4-,PF6-, andBF4-have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies, and molar conductance measurements. The prepared complexes are fairly soluble in a large number of organic solvents and show positive solvatochromism. Among the complexes [Cu(L)(acac)]ClO4, it is demonstrated the most solvatochromism. A multiparametric equation has been utilized to explain the solvent effect on the d-d transition of the complexes using SPSS/PC software. To explore the mechanism of interaction between solvent molecules and the complexes, different solvent parameters such as DN, AN,α,ET(30),π*, andβusing stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) method were employed. The results demonstrated that the donor power of the solvent plays the most important role in the solvatochromism of the compounds.
Carbon Nanotubes: A Review on Structure and Their Interaction with Proteins
Authors: Saifuddin N. , Raziah A. Z. , Junizah A. R.
Published: September 2012

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a nanostructure that can have a length‐to‐diameter ratio greater than 1,000,000. Techniques have been developed to produce nanotubes in sizeable quantities, including arc discharge, laser ablation, and chemical vapor deposition. Developments in the past few years have illustrated the potentially revolutionizing impact of nanomaterials, especially in biomedical imaging, drug delivery, biosensing, and the design of functional nanocomposites. Methods to effectively interface proteins with nanomaterials for realizing these applications continue to evolve. The high surface‐to‐volume ratio offered by nanoparticles resulted in the concentration of the immobilized entity being considerably higher than that afforded by other materials. There has also been an increasing interest in understanding the influence of nanomaterials on the structure and function of proteins. Various immobilization methods have been developed, and in particular, specific attachment of enzymes on carbon nanotubes has been an important focus of attention. With the growing attention paid to cascade enzymatic reaction, it is possible that multienzyme coimmobilization would be one of the next goals in the future. In this paper, we focus on advances in methodology for enzyme immobilization on carbon nanotubes.
Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas and Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Carr Brian I. , Guerra Vito , De Giorgio Massimo , Fagiuoli Stefano , Pancoska Petr
Published: September 2012

Background: Clinical phenotypes of small and large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are not well characterized. Aim: To evaluate the characteristics of small HCCs diagnosed by screening. Method: A cohort of 430 small HCCs that were diagnosed through screening, were dichotomized according to a size of ≤3 cm or >3 cm maximum tumor diameter and compared for radiological and blood-test parameters. Results: There were 330 males and 100 females. A higher percent of females had smaller tumors. The majority of patients had single tumors, but 15% of those with larger tumors had portal vein thrombosis (PVT) compared to 5% of those with smaller tumors. Significant differences between the tumor-size groups included alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values and platelet counts, with thrombocytopenia and elevated bilirubin levels being associated with smaller tumors. In comparing PVT-positive and PVT-negative patients, AFP levels and platelet counts were also significantly different between the 2 groups. A mean multinomial multiple logistic regression model was developed for maximum tumor diameter plus PVT. Conclusions: The finding of larger tumors being associated with normal platelets and bilirubin levels in comparison to smaller tumors having thrombocytopenia reveals 2 different patterns of HCC presentation.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Predicts Long-Term Motor Functional Outcome in Patients with Acute Supratentorial Intracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Wang Da-Ming , Li Jie , Liu Jian-Ren , Hu Hao-Yu
Published: September 2012

Background/Aim: It remains unclear how wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract (PT) in the acute phase of supratentorial intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) correlates with the long-term functional outcome. The aim of this study was to quantify and predict the long-term neuromotor outcome using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) during the early stages of ICH. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with a hemiparetic ICH were prospectively studied using DTI either within 3 days or at 2 weeks after onset. A region-of-interest-based analysis was performed for fractional anisotropy (FA) of the PT in the cerebral peduncle. The degree of paresis was assessed upon admission and at 6 months using paresis grading (PG), and the functional outcome was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The activities of daily living were evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: The FA values within 3 days and after 2 weeks of ICH onset were significantly decreased at the affected side (p = 0.001, reduced by 11%; p < 0.001, reduced by 14%, respectively), but the mean diffusivity at the same time points remained unchanged (p = 0.05 and p = 0.136, respectively). The ratio of the FA (rFA) at the affected side to that of the unaffected side within 3 days was negatively correlated with the PG (p < 0.001, r = –0.642), positively correlated with the FIM scores (p = 0.004, r = 0.532), and negatively correlated with the mRS scores at the end of follow-up (median = 17 months) (p = 0.010, r = –0.490). The rFA at 2 weeks was positively correlated with the FIM (p < 0.001, r = 0.661) and negatively correlated with mRS scores and PG at the end of follow-up (p < 0.001, r = –0.653; p < 0.001, r = –0.700). For both patients with good and poor outcomes based on the PG, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for rFA at 2 weeks was greater than the area under the ROC for rFA within 3 days, and the cutoff point for the rFA at 2 weeks was set at 0.875 (sensitivity 76%, specificity 89%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the use of DTI during the early stages of ICH may predict motor outcomes at 6 months after ICH. Moreover, as compared to use of DTI within 3 days of ICH onset, the application of DTI at 2 weeks after ICH could more accurately predict the motor outcomes and daily living activities of patients.
Left Ventricular Mass and Geometry in Adolescence
Authors: Hietalampi Hanna , Pahkala Katja , Jokinen Eero , Rönnemaa Tapani , Viikari Jorma S.A. , Niinikoski Harri , Heinonen Olli J. , Salo Pia , Simell Olli , Raitakari Olli T.
Published: September 2012

It is not known whether birth weight and early childhood growth are associated with the development of cardiac left ventricular mass (LVM) in healthy adolescents. Left ventricular growth and geometric remodeling may have long-term consequences on cardiovascular health later in life. We studied the determinants of LVM and patterns of geometric remodeling in adolescents with specific emphasis on birth size and growth in early childhood. Left ventricular measurements were obtained with echocardiography in 418 adolescents at the age of 15 years in a prospective atherosclerosis prevention study, Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP). Birth weight (
P=
0.0004), current pulse pressure (
P=
0.013), physical activity level (
P=
0.0024), weight (
P<
0.0001), and male sex (
P
<0.001) had an independent direct association with LVM in adolescents explaining 47% of the variation. Growth in early childhood was not associated with LVM in adolescents. Birth weight (
P=
0.0066), current weight (
P
<0.0001), and physical activity level (
P=
0.0017) were directly associated with left ventricular posterior wall thickness. Current weight was also directly associated with septal thickness (
P
<0.0001). Boys had a thicker septum than girls (
P=
0.0092). Normal relative wall thickness and increased left ventricular mass index (eccentric remodeling) (
P
<0.0001), as well as increase in both variables (concentric, increased LVM)
(P=
0.0003), were associated with higher body mass index. Our results indicate that birth weight has a long-lasting impact on LVM and normal body weight is beneficial for cardiac structure in adolescents.
Urinary Plasmin Activates Collecting Duct ENaC Current in Preeclampsia
Authors: Buhl Kristian B. , Friis Ulla G. , Svenningsen Per , Gulaveerasingam Ambika , Ovesen Per , Frederiksen-Møller Britta , Jespersen Bente , Bistrup Claus , Jensen Boye L.
Published: September 2012

In nephrotic syndrome, plasminogen is aberrantly filtered from plasma to the urinary space and activated along the tubular system. In vitro, plasmin increases ENaC current by proteolytic cleavage of the γ-subunit. It was hypothesized that preeclampsia is associated with plasmin-dependent ability of tubular fluid to activate ENaC. Urine was sampled from 16 preeclamptic (PE) patients and 17 normotensive pregnant women (Ctrl). Urine was analyzed for plasmin(ogen), creatinine, albumin, aldosterone, Na
+
, K
+
, proteolytic activity, and for its effect on inward current in cortical collecting duct cells (M1 cells) by whole-cell patch clamp. In PE, urine plasmin(ogen): creatinine ratio was elevated 40-fold (geometric mean, 160 versus 4 µg/g;
P
<0.0001) and urine aldosterone: creatinine ratio was suppressed to 25% of Ctrl (geometric mean, 27 versus 109 µg/g;
P
<0.001). A significant negative correlation was found in PE between urinary plasmin(ogen) and aldosterone (
P
<0.05). In PE, proteolytic activity was detected at 90 to 75 kD by gelatin zymography in 14 of 16 patients and confirmed by serine protease assay. Immunoblotting showed active plasmin in PE urine. Whole-cell inward current increased in M1 cells on exposure to urine from PE (173±21%; n=6;
P
<0.001). The increase in current was abolished by amiloride (2 μmol/L;
P
<0.001), α
2
-antiplasmin (1 μmol/L;
P
<0.001), and heat denaturation (
P
<0.001). Preeclampsia is associated with urinary excretion of plasmin(ogen) and plasmin-dependent activation of ENaC by urine. Proteolytic activation of ENaC by plasmin may contribute to Na
+
retention and hypertension in preeclampsia.
Genetic Variants in Arhgef11 Are Associated With Kidney Injury in the Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rat
Authors: Williams Jan M. , Johnson Ashley C. , Stelloh Cary , Dreisbach Albert W. , Franceschini Nora , Regner Kevin R. , Townsend Raymond R. , Roman Richard J. , Garrett Michael R.
Published: September 2012

A previous genetic analysis comparing the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat with the spontaneously hypertensive rat identified a major locus on chromosome 2 that influences proteinuria in the S rat. In the present study, blood pressure, proteinuria, and renal hemodynamics were evaluated in congenic strains with small segments of the protective spontaneously hypertensive rat genome on the S background. Proteinuria and renal function were significantly improved in the congenic strains compared with the S. The causative locus interval was narrowed to <375 kb on the basis of congenic strains, haplotype data, comparative mapping, and concordance with human genetic studies. Sequencing of the coding region of genes in this region identified 36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (13 nonsynonymous and 23 synonymous). Gene expression profiling indicated that only a few genes exhibited differential expression.
Arhgef11
,
Pear1
, and
Sh2d2
were identified as important candidate genes that may be linked to kidney injury in the S rat. In particular,
Arhgef11
plays an important role in the activation of the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway. Inhibition of this pathway using fasudil resulted in a significant reduction of proteinuria in treated S rats (compared with untreated S). However, no difference was observed between treated or untreated spontaneously hypertensive rat or congenic strains. The homologous region in humans was found to be associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate in the Candidate Gene Association Resource population. In summary, these findings demonstrate that allelic variants in
Arhgef11
, acting through the Rho-ROCK pathway, could influence kidney injury in the S as well as provide insight into human kidney disease.
Climatology-Calibrated Precipitation Analysis at Fine Scales: Statistical Adjustment of Stage IV toward CPC Gauge-Based Analysis
Authors: Hou Dingchen , charles Mike , Luo Yan , Toth Zoltan , Zhu Yuejian , Krzysztofowicz Roman , Lin Ying , Xie Pingping , Seo Dong-Jun , Pena Malaquias , Cui Bo
Published: September 2012

Two widely used precipitation analyses are the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) unified global daily gauge analysis and Stage IV analysis based on quantitative precipitation estimate with multisensor observations. The former is based on gauge records with a uniform quality control across the entire domain and thus bears more confidence, but provides only 24-h accumulation at ⅛° resolution. The Stage IV dataset, on the other hand, has higher spatial and temporal resolution, but is subject to different methods of quality control and adjustments by different River Forecasting Centers. This article describes a methodology used to generate a new dataset by adjusting the Stage IV 6-h accumulations based on available joint samples of the two analyses to take advantage of both datasets. A simple linear regression model is applied to the archived historical Stage IV and the CPC datasets after the former is aggregated to the CPC grid and daily accumulation. The aggregated Stage IV analysis is then adjusted based on this linear model and then downscaled back to its original resolution. The new dataset, named Climatology-Calibrated Precipitation Analysis (CCPA), retains the spatial and temporal patterns of the Stage IV analysis while having its long-term average and climate probability distribution closer to that of the CPC analysis. The limitation of the methodology at some locations is mainly associated with heavy to extreme precipitation events, which the Stage IV dataset tends to underestimate. CCPA cannot effectively correct this because of the linear regression model and the relative scarcity of heavy precipitation in the training data sample.
Observed Evolution of Northward-Propagating Intraseasonal Variation over the Western Pacific: A Case Study in Boreal Early Summer
Authors: Katsumata Masaki , Yamada Hiroyuki , Kubota Hisayuki , Moteki Qoosaku , Shirooka Ryuichi
Published: September 2012

This report describes the in situ observed evolution of the atmospheric profile during an event of the boreal summer intraseasonal variation (BSISV) in the tropical western Pacific Ocean. The convectively active region of the BSISV proceeded northward over the sounding and radar network. Over the array, the situation changed from a convectively inactive period to an active period. Inspection of the sounding data revealed the gradual moistening of the lower troposphere during the convectively inactive period. The sounding-derived heat and moisture budget analyses indicated that both the convective- and large-scale processes caused moistening of the lower and middle troposphere where the radar echo tops were observed most frequently. This study is the first to identify such a “preconditioning” process for the BSISV in the western Pacific using detailed in situ observational data. During the preconditioning, an increase in CAPE was observed, as in previous studies of the MJO. An increase of moisture in the boundary layer was responsible for the increase of CAPE. The large-scale horizontal convergence in the boundary layer may be a key factor to moisten the boundary layer through the convective-scale processes, as well as through the large-scale processes to moisten the lower and middle troposphere.
Impact of a Warm Ocean Eddy’s Circulation on Hurricane-Induced Sea Surface Cooling with Implications for Hurricane Intensity
Authors: Yablonsky Richard M. , Ginis Isaac
Published: September 2012

Upper oceanic heat content (OHC) in advance of a hurricane is generally superior to prestorm sea surface temperature (SST) for indicating favorable regions for hurricane intensification and maintenance. OHC is important because a hurricane’s surface winds mix the upper ocean and entrain cooler water into the oceanic mixed layer from below, subsequently cooling the sea surface in the region providing heat energy to the storm. For a given initial SST, increased OHC typically decreases the wind-induced sea surface cooling, and a warm ocean eddy (WCR) has a higher OHC than its surroundings, so conditions typically become more favorable for a hurricane to intensify when the storm’s core encounters a WCR. When considering hurricane intensity, however, one often-neglected aspect of a WCR is its anticyclonic circulation. This circulation may impact the location and magnitude of the hurricane-induced sea surface cooling. Using an ocean model, either prescribed hurricane wind stress or wind stress obtained via coupling to a hurricane model is applied to an initial ocean condition in which the SST is homogeneous, but a WCR is embedded in an otherwise horizontally homogeneous subsurface density field. Based on model experiments, when a WCR is located to the right of the storm track (in the Northern Hemisphere), the interaction of the WCR’s circulation with the hurricane-induced cold wake can cause increased sea surface cooling under the storm core and decreased storm intensity relative to the scenario where no WCR is present at all. Therefore, the presence of a WCR in advance of a hurricane sometimes creates a less favorable condition for hurricane intensification.
Cognitive Mapping in Persons Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Hughes Lynne C. , Keith Susan E. , Byars Allyn , Wiginton Kristin L.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the issues and perceptions of persons newly diagnosed (within last 3 months) with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this qualitative study, 16 adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were recruited, who completed a demographic, lifestyle, and diabetes management questionnaire and then were interviewed using cognitive mapping. Participants were asked to write words or phrases that came to mind when thinking about living with diabetes. From these words, common concepts were identified, grouped into clusters, and reduced into categories. Associations were sought between demographics and categories.

Results

A total of 260 Post-It notes were written, from which 123 concepts were identified and grouped into 24 clusters. The most frequent concept was eat, and the 3 most frequent clusters were food, negative emotions, and diabetes and its complications. The 9 categories, in order of frequency, were as follows: (1) need to (self-management), (2) concerns, (3) “I’m sick”, (4) emotional distress, (5) loss, (6) the no’s (limitations), (7) fears and complications, (8) have to (medical management), and (9) coping. Persons with a college education and a later interview date since diagnosis were associated with the concepts in the need to and have to categories. Concepts in the I’m sick category were associated with lower income and Hispanic ethnicity.

Conclusions

Diabetes educators should consider this holistic representation of the issues and perceptions reflected in the common concepts, clusters, and categories expressed by persons newly diagnosed with diabetes.
What is Television? An Introduction
Authors: Bratslavsky Lauren , Wasko Janet
Published: September 2012

This essay introduces the special issue based on What is Television? A Conference Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Television.
Communicating advanced cancer patients’ symptoms via the Internet: A pooled analysis of two randomized trials examining caregiver preparedness, physical burden, and negative mood
Authors: Chih Ming-Yuan , DuBenske Lori L , Hawkins Robert P , Brown Roger L , Dinauer Susan K , Cleary James F , Gustafson David H
Published: September 2012

Background:

Using available communication technologies, clinicians may offer timely support to family caregivers in managing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer at home.

Aim:

To assess the effects of an online symptom reporting system on caregiver preparedness, physical burden, and negative mood.

Design:

A pooled analysis of two randomized trials (NCT00214162 and NCT00365963) was conducted to compare caregiver outcomes at 6 and 12 months after intervention between two randomized, unblinded groups using General Linear Mixed Modeling. Caregivers in one group (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System-Only) were given access to an interactive cancer communication system, the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System. Those in the other group (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report) received access to Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System plus an online symptom reporting system called the Clinician Report. Clinicians of patients in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report group received e-mail alerts notifying them when a symptom distress was reported over a predetermined threshold.

Setting/participants:

Dyads ( n = 235) of advanced-stage lung, breast, and prostate cancer patients and their adult caregivers were recruited at five outpatient oncology clinics in the United States.

Results:

Caregivers in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report group reported less negative mood than those in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System-Only group at both 6 months ( p = 0.009) and 12 months ( p = 0.004). Groups were not significantly different on caregiver preparedness or physical burden at either time point.

Conclusions:

This study provides new evidence that by using an online symptom reporting system, caregivers may experience less emotional distress due to the Clinician Report’s timely communication of caregiving needs in symptom management to clinicians.
Determinants of property crime victims to report to the police in Taiwan
Authors: Sheu Chuen-Jim , Chiu Shu-Pin
Published: September 2012

The main purpose of this article is to examine the determinants that influence property crime victim reporting behavior using data collected from the 2005 National Crime Victimization Survey in Taiwan. By using a multi-stratified sampling procedure, data on 18,046 persons 12 years or older were collected through telephone interviews. We analyzed the determinants of victim reporting behavior and clarified the reasons for not reporting using five types of property crime − larceny, robbery, motorcycle theft, vehicle theft, and burglary, and constructed models to predict reporting for larceny, robbery, motorcycle theft, and burglary. We found that a very high percentage of vehicle theft was reported, approximately 94%, while larceny had the lowest reporting rate at 19.14%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that crime incident variables were the major influences on reporting behavior for larceny, robbery, motorcycle theft, and burglary. Personal variables had a significant impact only on both larceny and robbery. Finally, environmental variables only affected motorcycle theft. In addition, the main reason for not reporting was ‘minor crime, minor loss, or loss of property having been recovered,’ namely, victims’ subjective and objective perceptions of the level of incident severity were the dominant determinant of property victim reporting behavior.
Dynamic Transmission Modeling
Authors: Pitman Richard , Fisman David , Zaric Gregory S. , Postma Maarten , Kretzschmar Mirjam , Edmunds John , Brisson Marc
Published: September 2012

The transmissible nature of communicable diseases is what sets them apart from other diseases modeled by health economists. The probability of a susceptible individual becoming infected at any one point in time (the force of infection) is related to the number of infectious individuals in the population, will change over time, and will feed back into the future force of infection. These nonlinear interactions produce transmission dynamics that require specific consideration when modeling an intervention that has an impact on the transmission of a pathogen. Best practices for designing and building these models are set out in this paper.
Theorizing Scarcity
Authors: Panayotakis Costas
Published: September 2012

This article critically examines the neoclassical approach to scarcity as well as critiques of neoclassical economics that focus either on the formation of people’s wants (the demand side of scarcity) or on the production and distribution of the goods needed to satisfy these wants (the supply side). I argue that critiques of the neoclassical approach are right to emphasize the relationship between the determinants of scarcity and the economic system as a whole but are less convincing when they project the possibility of overcoming neoclassical scarcity altogether.

JEL Codes: A10, P10, Z13
New multidisciplinary design optimization approaches for launch vehicle design
Authors: Balesdent Mathieu , Bérend Nicolas , Dépincé Philippe
Published: September 2012

Launch vehicle design is a complex problem involving a series of disciplines. These disciplines present conflicting objectives and require multidisciplinary design optimization methods in order to handle the couplings and to make the search of compromises easier. Launch vehicle design problem is a specific multidisciplinary design optimization problem because it combines the optimizations of design and trajectory variables. In this article, we present a new multidisciplinary design optimization approach, called the StageWise decomposition for Optimal Rocket Design (SWORD). This method splits up the multidisciplinary design optimization process into different stages and transforms the initial multidisciplinary design optimization problem into the coordination of elementary ones. This method is compared to the standard multidisciplinary design optimization method (multidiscipline feasible method). In this article, we propose a new formulation of the SWORD method and a new dedicated optimization strategy. Results show that using a global search algorithm, the stagewise decomposition for optimal rocket design method allows to find a better optimum than multidiscipline feasible method. Furthermore, with the new proposed optimization strategy, the SWORD method does not require any initialization from the user, allows to quickly find feasible solutions and converge to an optimum in a limited computation time.
Assessment of retrofitting possibility of an Indian pulverized coal boiler for operation with Indian coals in oxy-coal combustion mode with CO2 sequestration
Authors: Jayanti S , Saravanan V , Sivaji S
Published: September 2012

Coal is the mainstay of electrical power generation in India. In this study, an experimental and theoretical assessment is made of the possibility of retrofitting an existing pulverized coal boiler for operation in oxy-coal mode. Experiments have been conducted using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis for a typical Indian coal to assess its reactivity under simulated oxy-coal combustion. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of a tangentially fired, 210 MWe pulverized coal boiler of a typical Indian design have been carried out with a typical Indian coal composition to study the relative effect of oxy-coal mode operation on the flow and heat transfer characteristics within the boiler. A process flow diagram has been developed for a 662 MWt power plant to include a retrofitted boiler and CO2 sequestration. It is concluded that a 70:30 volumetric mix of CO2 to O2 in the oxidizer composition will leave the essential features of the flow, temperature and heat transfer characteristics more or less unchanged, thus enabling retrofitting. An overall thermal efficiency loss of 11% is estimated for a retrofitted plant which delivers a flue gas which does not require chemical means of CO2 sequestration.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in individuals diagnosed as children with atypical autism: A Danish register study based on hospital diagnoses
Authors: Mouridsen Svend Erik , Isager Torben , Rich Bente
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence and types of diseases (International Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, 10th Edition codes K20–K93) relating to the gastrointestinal tract in a clinical sample of 89 individuals diagnosed as children with atypical autism/pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified with 258 controls from the general population. All participants were screened through the nationwide Danish National Hospital Register. The average observation time was 32.9 years, and mean age at the end of the observation period was 48.5 years. Among the 89 cases with atypical autism, a total of 22 (24.7%) were registered with at least one diagnosis of any disease of the gastrointestinal tract, against 47 of 258 (18.2%) in the comparison group (p = 0.22; odds ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval = 0.8–2.6). Without reaching statistical significance, the rate of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract was particularly high (odds ratio = 1.2) in those with intelligence quotient < 70. Overall, people with atypical autism had about the same frequency of gastric, intestinal and hepatic diseases as had controls.
Skills, credentials and their unequal reward in a heterogeneous global political economy
Authors: Dunn Bill
Published: September 2012

The article further investigates the relationship between returns to education and trade openness in developed and developing countries. It contests Babones’ interpretation of the divergent experiences in terms of the greater credentialism associated with education in poorer countries. It identifies an alternative explanation based on classical trade theory which is at least as convincing. However, it further argues that the heterogeneity of labour markets is greater than either model suggests and that the characteristics of specific national and regional economies, rather than globalization, might be primarily responsible for the interesting statistical differences.