bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 10‐second sprint does not blunt hormonal counter‐regulation to subsequent hypoglycaemia
Authors: Paramalingam N. , Fournier P. A. , Davey R. J. , Roby H. C. , Smith G. J. , Shetty V. B. , Guelfi K. J. , Davis E. A. , Jones T. W.
Published: June 2017

Aim

To investigate whether a 10‐second (s) sprint impairs the counter‐regulatory response to subsequent hypoglycaemia.

Methods

Nine people (five male, four female) with Type 1 diabetes, aged 21.1 ± 4.5 years, performed a 10‐s rest or a 10‐s maximum‐effort sprint in random order on different days, while subjected to an euinsulinaemic‐euglycaemic clamp. This was followed by a hyperinsulinaemic‐hypoglycaemic glucose clamp 2.5 h later to induce hypoglycaemia for 40 min. At timed intervals, the counter‐regulatory hormonal responses to hypoglycaemia were measured. Blood pressure, heart rate and hypoglycaemic symptoms were also assessed.

Results

During the hypoglycaemic clamp, epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone and cortisol levels increased significantly from baseline, and their responses were similar after both rest and sprint conditions. In particular, plasma epinephrine rose eightfold, from 197 ± 103 pmol/l to 1582 ± 1118 pmol/l after the rest condition, and from 219 ± 119 pmol/l to 1900 ± 898 pmol/l after the sprint condition.

Conclusion

A 10‐s sprint is unlikely to blunt the subsequent hormonal counter‐regulation to hypoglycaemia in individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
Effect of pregnancy planning on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Wotherspoon A. C. , Young I. S. , Patterson C. C. , McCance D. R. , Holmes V. A. ,   the Diabetes and Pre‐eclampsia Intervention Trial (DAPIT) Study Group
Published: June 2017

Aims

To assess the effect of pregnancy planning on maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Pregnancy planning was assessed retrospectively in a cohort of women who participated in the Diabetes and Pre‐eclampsia Intervention Trial (DAPIT). Pregnancy planning was determined based on self‐report as to whether pregnancy was planned or unplanned. The effect of pregnancy planning on maternal and neonatal outcomes was examined, controlling for confounding variables.

Results

A total of 747 women were included in the study, of whom 39% considered their pregnancy unplanned. Characteristics associated with unplanned pregnancy included being younger (P<0.001), being a current smoker (P<0.001), being from a lower social class (P<0.001) and having higher HbA1c values prior to and throughout pregnancy (P≤0.005). Significantly fewer women with unplanned vs planned pregnancies received pre‐pregnancy counselling (24% vs 64%; P<0.001). Infants of women with unplanned pregnancies were more likely to be small for gestational age (<5th centile; P=0.004), to be admitted to the neonatal care unit (P=0.001) and to have a longer stay in hospital (P=0.01). Outcomes did not differ between the groups in relation to pre‐eclampsia, congenital malformations or a composite adverse outcome.

Conclusions

Risks associated with diabetes in pregnancy need to be highlighted to all women, their partners and families, and healthcare professionals. Further research is required to determine if these groups are fully aware of the risks associated with diabetes in pregnancy.
Comparing voluntary sustainability initiatives and product carbon footprinting in the food sector, with a particular focus on environmental impacts and developing countries
Authors: Plassmann Katharina
Published: June 2017

Two types of private voluntary standards used in the food sector are analyzed in this article. Namely, sustainability initiatives that encourage best practice management on farms for environmental, social and economic gains, and also product carbon footprints (PCFs) that estimate the climate impact of products across entire supply chains. Concern is sometimes voiced about the potential negative impacts of both on exports from developing countries, especially related to outcome‐based PCF initiatives which involve complex calculations and could present particular burdens for small producers. It is argued here that both approaches have a role to play in the conservation of our environment, though both have advantages and disadvantages. The article concludes with recommendations for policy‐makers and standard setters.
Managing financial constraints: undercapitalization and underwriting capacity in Spanish fire insurance
Authors: Gutiérrez González Pablo , Andersson Lars‐Fredrik
Published: June 2017

Reinsurance is a vital financial device for enhancing underwriting capacity, ceding risks, and mitigating financial distress. By supplying financial resources and services, reinsurance can facilitate growth and expansion in the insurance business. Focusing on the insurance sector in the emerging Spanish economy and using a novel dataset on fire insurance companies, this article examines the role of fire insurance in the national capital formation, the importance of reinsurance as a vehicle for expanding the country's domestic underwriting capacity, and how the import of capital impacted on the balance of payment, from the introduction of the first comprehensive legislation regarding insurance in 1908 to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. Considering the situation of undercapitalization, the singularities of the insurance market, and the changes in regulatory schemes, we find that foreign reinsurance became a key financial vehicle for increasing underwriting capacity in Spain. We also show the struggle of an emerging market to find ways to keep the balance of current accounts and raise capital when financial infrastructure was underdeveloped. The diffusion of reinsurance networks from the core of industrial western countries towards emerging economies was one of the mechanisms for financial modernization on a global scale.
Solving the multifunctionality dilemma in biorefineries with a novel hybrid mass–energy allocation method
Authors: Njakou Djomo Sylvestre , Knudsen Marie Trydeman , Parajuli Ranjan , Andersen Mikael Skou , Ambye‐Jensen Morten , Jungmeier Gerfried , Gabrielle Benoît , Hermansen John Erik
Published: June 2017

Processing biomass into multifunctional products can contribute to food, feed, and energy security while also mitigating climate change. However, biorefinery products nevertheless impact the environment, and this influence needs to be properly assessed to minimize the burden. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is often used to calculate environmental footprints of products, but distributing the burdens among the different biorefinery products is a challenge. A particular complexity arises when the outputs are a combination of energy carrying no mass, and mass carrying no energy, where neither an allocation based on mass nor on energy would be appropriate. A novel hybrid mass–energy (HMEN) allocation scheme for dealing with multifunctionality problems in biorefineries was developed and applied to five biorefinery concepts. The results were compared to results of other allocation methods in LCA. The reductions in energy use and GHG emissions from using the biorefinery's biofuels were also quantified. HMEN fairly distributed impacts among biorefinery products and did not change the order of the products in terms of the level of the pollution caused. The allocation factors for HMEN fell between mass and economic allocation factors and were comparable to energy allocation factors. Where the mass or the energy allocation failed to attribute burdens, HMEN addressed this shortcoming by assigning impacts to nonmass or to nonenergy products. Under the partitioning methods and regardless of the feedstock used, bioethanol reduced GHG by 72–98% relative to gasoline. The GHG savings were 196% under the substitution method, but no GHG savings occurred for sugar beet bioethanol under the surplus method. Bioethanol from cellulosic crops had lower energy use and GHG emissions than from sugar beet, regardless of the allocation method used. HMEN solves multifunctional problems in biorefineries and can be applied to other complex refinery systems. LCA practitioners are encouraged to further test this method in other case studies.
Serving many masters: Public accountability in private policy implementation
Authors: Thomann Eva , Hupe Peter , Sager Fritz
Published: June 2017

In recent decades, the introduction of market principles has transformed public service delivery into a hybrid. However, little is known about how these changes are reflected in the attitudes of private implementing agents: The hybridization literature neglects individuals, and street‐level bureaucracy research has disregarded hybridization. This article extends Hupe and Hill's () accountability regimes framework to introduce the market as an additional accountability regime alongside state, profession, and society. Using a configurational approach, the article explores how public and private food safety inspectors in Switzerland perceive the multiple norms for behavior stemming from their environment. Results suggest that the plural accountabilities of for‐profit street‐level bureaucrats can increase the dilemmas involved in their work. Under certain circumstances, for‐profit street‐level bureaucrats have particular difficulties reconciling rule pressure with market incentives and client demands. The extended accountability regimes framework fruitfully captures such dilemmas and helps identify suitable governance responses.
Prevalence of HIV‐1 transmitted drug resistance in the incarcerated population
Authors: Sapozhnikov J , Young JD , Patel M , Chiampas TD , Vaughn P , Badowski ME
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR)‐associated mutations among treatment‐naïve, incarcerated individuals with HIV‐1 infection in the USA as well as the class TDR and antiretroviral (ARV) mutations present at baseline.

Methods

Patients over the age of 18 years were included in the study if they had been diagnosed with HIV infection, if their HIV infection was managed through telemedicine and if they were incarcerated in the State of Illinois Department of Corrections between 10 July 2010 and 29 April 2016. Additionally, the patients were required to have a documented genotype and be ARV‐naïve. A medical chart review was conducted to assess demographic information, disease burden, and risk factors for acquiring the virus.

Results

The inclusion criteria were met for 105 patients. A total of 24 patients (23%) had a clinically significant mutation associated with resistance to any drug class. The prevalence of mutations conferring clinically significant resistance was 19% for nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), 18% for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and 4% for protease inhibitors (PIs). Five per cent of patients had dual‐class TDR to both NRTI and NNRTI drug classes and 2% of patients had mutations to both NNRTI and PI drug classes. There was no significant increase in the prevalence of clinically relevant drug resistance mutations based on demographics, burden of disease, or risk factors for acquiring the virus.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of TDR was identified in the ARV‐naïve incarcerated population. The results of this study indicate an increased prevalence of TDR in a largely unstudied incarcerated population, demonstrating the need for increased monitoring of resistance in HIV‐infected patients world‐wide.
Full‐field measurement of contact‐point and crack‐tip deformations in soda‐lime glass. Part‐I: Quasi‐static Loading
Authors: Sundaram Balamurugan M. , Tippur Hareesh V.
Published: June 2017

Transparent brittle ceramics such as soda‐lime glass pose unique challenges for performing full‐field optical measurement of deformations and stresses to characterize fracture and failure behaviors. Low fracture toughness coupled with high stiffness and elastic wave speeds are among the factors responsible for some of these challenges as deformations tend to be small and confined to an extremely small region near the stress concentrators. Need for strong birefringence, elaborate optics, or lack of sufficient measurement sensitivity are some of the factors against legacy techniques such as photoelasticity, optical interferometry, and speckle methods, respectively, to study soda‐lime glass. Motivated by these factors, the feasibility of Digital Gradient Sensing (DGS) method to measure crack‐tip and contact‐induced deformations in soda‐lime glass under quasi‐static loading is demonstrated. This first of a two parts paper demonstrates the applicability of DGS for the problem under quasi‐static loading condition. The optical measurements are used to evaluate the relevant parameters and compare with the analytical solutions. The second part of this study is focused on measuring contact‐point and crack‐tip deformations during impact‐induced stress wave loading.
Sinks for the Press: Cholera and the State Performance of Power at the Dominican Border
Authors: Mallon Andrews Kyrstin
Published: June 2017

Con el brote de cólera en Haití del 2010, el ejército dominicano restringió la inmigración, medicalizando los cuerpos de inmigrantes haitianos al incorporar las infraestructuras de salud pública al proceso de cruzar la frontera. Este artículo sostiene que la reacción del estado dominicano en la frontera al brote de cólera trataba no con una amenaza real de salud, sino con una actuación con la intención de reforzar diferencias entre los dos países de la Española. Al interpretar reacciones del ejército y de salud pública como actuaciones, sugiero que generó una narrativa estratégica en la cual el caos y la enfermedad haitiana chocaban contra proyecciones de control y salud en la República Dominicana. Al situar la frontera entre discursos de identidad nacional, seguridad de salud, y poder del estado, el estado dominicano restringió la frontera, legitimando la enajenación de los haitianos basada en un criterio de salud y reestructurando fidelidades económicas que se consideraba históricamente como amenazas a los proyectos de identidad nacional.
Conservative management of cervical ectopic pregnancy: Single‐center experience
Authors: Uludag Semih Zeki , Kutuk Mehmet Serdar , Aygen Ercan Mustafa , Sahin Yılmaz
Published: June 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the results of conservative treatment of cervical ectopic pregnancy (CEP).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all cervical ectopic pregnancies diagnosed at the present department between January 2010 and July 2015. Patients with CEP who were treated with either systemic or intra‐amniotic methotrexate (MTX) injection were included in the study.

Results

Ten CEP patients were identified. Median maternal age was 33 years (range, 23–40 years). Median gestational age at diagnosis was 47 days (range, 44–58 days). Before treatment, overall mean serum beta‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‐hCG) was 29 706.9 ± 19 695.2 mIU/mL. Mean gestational sac size was 29.0 ± 6.24 mm. Eight patients had viable fetuses with detected cardiac activity. Six patients were treated primarily with systemic MTX, and four were treated with local MTX injection. One patient in the systemic MTX injection group was switched to local MTX treatment due to severe oral ulceration and increasing β‐hCG titers after the fourth dose. One patient in the local treatment group had severe hemorrhage 7 days after local MTX. Three of six women achieved spontaneous pregnancy and gave birth to term, healthy infants after treatment.

Conclusion

Conservative treatment of CEP with both systemic and local MTX is generally successful with regard to maternal morbidity and reproductive function, but these patients must be closely followed due to the small but real risk of late hemorrhage.
The victims of hate crime and the principles of the criminal law
Authors: Bakalis Chara
Published: June 2017

There is an ongoing debate amongst hate crime scholars about the categories of victims that should be included within hate crime legislation. Some commentators argue that affording protection to groups based on predefined characteristics results in many victims being excluded from the legislation. They would prefer a more inclusive approach that would offer protection to a potentially limitless number of groups. This paper considers the question from a doctrinal perspective, and argues that a principled way of deciding the characteristics of hate crime is required. It will conclude that the core concern of hate crime legislation is with the furthering of the broader equality agenda and, as such, the victims of hate crime should form an exclusive group based on those characteristics protected under equality legislation. This approach can help provide a theoretical framework for hate crime legislation that can be more easily accommodated within criminal law principles.
Measuring the level of interstellar inheritance in the solar protoplanetary disk
Authors: Alexander Conel M. O'D. , Nittler Larry R. , Davidson Jemma , Ciesla Fred J.
Published: June 2017

The timing and extent to which the initial interstellar material was thermally processed provide fundamental constraints for models of the formation and early evolution of the solar protoplanetary disk. We argue that the nonsolar (solar Δ17O ≈ −29‰) and near‐terrestrial (Δ17O ≈ 0‰) O‐isotopic compositions of the Earth and most extraterrestrial materials (Moon, Mars, asteroids, and comet dust) were established very early by heating of regions of the disk that were modestly enriched (dust/gas ≥ 5–10 times solar) in primordial silicates (Δ17O ≈ −29‰) and water‐dominated ice (Δ17O ≈ 24‰) relative to the gas. Such modest enrichments could be achieved by grain growth and settling of dust to the midplane in regions where the levels of turbulence were modest. The episodic heating of the disk associated with FU Orionis outbursts were the likely causes of this early thermal processing of dust. We also estimate that at the time of accretion the CI chondrite and interplanetary dust particle parent bodies were composed of ~5–10% of pristine interstellar material. The matrices of all chondrites included roughly similar interstellar fractions. Whether this interstellar material avoided the thermal processing experienced by most dust during FU Orionis outbursts or was accreted by the disk after the outbursts ceased to be important remains to be established.
False Discovery Proportion Estimation by Permutations: Confidence for Significance Analysis of Microarrays
Authors: Hemerik Jesse , Goeman Jelle J.
Published: June 2017

Significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) is a highly popular permutation-based multiple-testing method that estimates the false discovery proportion (FDP): the fraction of false positive results among all rejected hypotheses. Perhaps surprisingly, until now this method had no known properties. This paper extends SAM by providing 1 − α upper confidence bounds for the FDP, so that exact confidence statements can be made. As a special case, an estimate of the FDP is obtained that underestimates the FDP with probability at most 0.5. Moreover, using a closed testing procedure, this paper decreases the upper bounds and estimates in such a way that the confidence level is maintained. We base our methods on a general result on exact testing with random permutations.
Effects of weak/non‐complement‐binding HLA antibodies on C1q‐binding
Authors: Hönger G. , Amico P. , Arnold M.‐L. , Spriewald B. M. , Schaub S.
Published: June 2017

It is unknown under what conditions and to what extent weak/non‐complement (C)‐binding IgG subclasses (IgG2/IgG4) can block C1q‐binding triggered by C‐binding IgG subclasses (IgG1/IgG3). Therefore, we investigated in vitro C1q‐binding induced by IgG subclass mixtures targeting the same HLA epitope. Various mixtures of HLA class II specific monoclonal antibodies of different IgG subclasses but identical V‐region were incubated with
HLA DRB1*07:01 beads and monitored for C1q‐binding. The lowest concentration to achieve maximum C1q‐binding was measured for IgG3, followed by IgG1, while IgG2 and IgG4 did not show appreciable C1q‐binding. C1q‐binding occurred only after a critical amount of IgG1/3 has bound and sharply increased thereafter. When both, C‐binding and weak/non‐C‐binding IgG subclasses were mixed, C1q‐binding was diminished proportionally to the fraction of IgG2/4. A 2‐ to 4‐fold excess of IgG2/4 inhibited C1q‐binding by 50%. Very high levels (10‐fold excess) almost completely abrogated C1q‐binding even in the presence of significant IgG1/3 levels that would usually lead to strong C1q‐binding. In sensitized renal allograft recipients, IgG subclass constellations with ≥ 2‐fold excess of IgG2/4 over IgG1/3 were present in 23/66 patients (34.8%) and overall revealed slightly decreased C1q signals. However, spiking of patient sera with IgG2 targeting a different epitope than the patient's IgG1/3 synergistically increased C1q‐binding. In conclusion, if targeting the same epitope, an excess of IgG2/4 is repressing the extent of IgG1/3 triggered C1q‐binding in vitro. Such IgG subclass constellations are present in about a third of sensitized patients and their net effect on C1q‐binding is slightly inhibitory.
Different DRB1*03:01‐DQB1*02:01 haplotypes confer different risk for celiac disease
Authors: Alshiekh S. , Zhao L. P. , Lernmark Å. , Geraghty D. E. , Naluai Å. T. , Agardh D.
Published: June 2017

Celiac disease is associated with the
HLA‐DR3‐DQA1*05:01‐DQB1*02:01 and
DR4‐DQA1*03:01‐DQB1*03:02 haplotypes. In addition, there are currently over 40 non‐HLA loci associated with celiac disease. This study extends previous analyses on different HLA haplotypes in celiac disease using next generation targeted sequencing.

Included were 143 patients with celiac disease and 135 non‐celiac disease controls investigated at median 9.8 years (1.4‐18.3 years). PCR‐based amplification of HLA and sequencing with Illumina MiSeq technology were used for extended sequencing of the HLA class II haplotypes HLA‐DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5, DQA1 and DQB1, respectively. Odds ratios were computed marginally for every allele and haplotype as the ratio of allelic frequency in patients and controls as ratio of exposure rates (RR), when comparing a null reference with equal exposure rates in cases and controls.

Among the extended HLA haplotypes, the strongest risk haplotype for celiac disease was shown for
DRB3*01:01:02 in linkage with
DQA1*05:01‐DQB1*02:01 (RR = 6.34; P‐value < .0001). In a subpopulation analysis,
DRB3*01:01:02‐DQA1*05:01‐DQB1*02:01 remained the most significant in patients with Scandinavian ethnicity (RR = 4.63; P < .0001) whereas
DRB1*07:01:01‐DRB4*01:03:01‐DQA1*02:01‐DQB1*02:02:01 presented the highest risk of celiac disease among non‐Scandinavians (RR = 7.94; P = .011).

The data also revealed 2 distinct celiac disease risk DR3‐DQA1*05:01‐DQB*02:01 haplotypes distinguished by either the DRB3*01:01:02 or DRB3*02:02:01 alleles, indicating that different DRB1*03:01‐DQB1*02:01 haplotypes confer different risk for celiac disease. The associated risk of celiac disease for
DR3‐DRB3*01:01:02‐DQA1*05:01‐DQB1*02:01 is predominant among patients of Scandinavian ethnicity.
Numerical Simulation of Evaporating Two-Phase Flow in a High-Aspect-Ratio Microchannel with Bends
Authors: Lee Junsik , Kim Junsub , Lim Hyungsoo , Bang Je Sung , Seo Jeong Min , Sohn Jeong Lak , Lee Jungho
Published: June 2017

Effusion cooling is one of the attractive methods for next generation high-efficient gas turbine which has a very hot gas temperature above 1,600oC. For higher effectiveness of the air cooling, the air-cooled flow through effusion-holes does not penetrate into the mainstream flow but still remains within freestream boundary layer. So the air-cooled surface temperature maintains at relatively lower than film cooling. Effusion cooling is generally known as operating in small effusion-hole size which is less than 0.2 mm. This study is intended to examine optimum effusion-hole size of the microscale effusion cooling through flow visualization. The air flow through effusion-holes is visualized using an oil atomizer, a DSPP laser-sheet illumination, and a high-speed CCD imaging. The visualized results show flow patterns and characteristics with different blowing ratio, BR = ρcUc / ρ∞U∞, (BR = 0.17 and 0.53) and effusion-hole size (D = 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm). The flow visualization condition is fixed at the mainstream Reynolds number of 10,000 and hole-to-hole spacing of 4 (S/D = 4). For larger effusion-hole of 1.0 mm [(a) and (b)], the effusion flow can penetrate into boundary layer which exhibits a film cooling. However the effusion flow is observed to be remained within boundary layer which shows an effusion cooling for smaller effusion-hole of 0.2 mm [(e) and (f)]. In case of (c) and (d), a series of vortical structure is also observed to be within the boundary layer along the effusion flat plate. Note that the effusion-hole size of 0.5 mm can be a candidate for making effusion cooling possible. [This work was supported by National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) grant funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Korea (Grant No. KIMM-NK203B).]
A Detailed Modular Governor-Turbine Model for Multiple-Spool Gas Turbine With Scrutiny of Bleeding Effect
Authors: Balaghi Enalou Hossein , Abbasi Soreshjani Eshagh , Rashed Mohamed , Shen Yeoh Seang , Bozhko Serhiy
Published: June 2017

Multiple-spool gas turbines are usually utilized for power supply in aircrafts, ships, and terrestrial electric utility plants. As a result, having a reliable model of them can aid with the control design process and stability analysis. Since several interconnected components are coupled both thermodynamically and through shafts, these engines cannot be modeled linearly as single shaft gas turbines. In this paper, intercomponent volume method (ICV) has been implemented for turbine modeling. A switched feedback control system incorporating bump-less transfer and antiwindup functionality is employed as governor for the engine. Validation with test results from a three spool gas turbine highlights high accuracy of turbine-governor model in various maneuvers. Results show that over-speed after load rejection is considerable due to the fact that in this arrangement, the power turbine (PT) is not coupled with the compressor which acts like a damper for single shaft gas turbines. To address this problem, bleed valves (mainly before combustion chamber) are used to arrest the over-speed by 20%. In addition, a switch is employed into the governor system to rapidly shift fuel to permissible minimum flow.
Tests and Modeling of a New Vibration Isolation and Suppression Device
Authors: Xu Zhao-Dong , Xu Yeshou , Yang Qianqiu , Xu Chao , Xu Feihong , Wang Cheng
Published: June 2017

Vibration is an environmental factor with hazardous effects on the instruments' precision, structural stability, and service life in engineering fields. Many kinds of energy dissipation devices have been invented to reduce the dynamic responses of structures and instruments due to environmental excitations. In this paper, a new kind of vibration isolation and suppression device with high damping performance, fine deformation recoverability, and bearing capacity for platform structures is developed, which is designed by considering the combination of the energy dissipation mechanisms of viscoelastic material, viscous fluid, and air spring. A series of dynamic properties tests on the device are carried out under different excitation frequencies and displacement amplitudes, and a mathematical model considering the coupling effects of energy dissipation of viscoelastic material, viscous liquid, and air spring is proposed. The research results indicate that the vibration isolation and suppression device has high damping capacity, and the proposed mathematical model can well describe the mechanical properties affected by excitation frequency and displacement amplitude.
Numerical Investigation of Creep–Fatigue Behavior in a Steam Turbine Inlet Valve Under Cyclic Thermomechanical Loading
Authors: Wang Weizhe , Xu Sihua , Liu Yingzheng
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the cyclic creep–fatigue interaction behavior in a steam turbine inlet valve under cyclic thermomechanical loading conditions. Three years and nine iterations of idealized startup–steady-state operation–shutdown process were chosen. The Ramberg–Osgood model, the Norton–Bailey law, and continuum damage mechanics were applied to describe the stress–strain behavior and calculate the damage. The strength of the steam valve revealed that significant stress variation mainly occurred at the joint parts between the valve diffuser and the adjust valve body, due to the combination of the enhanced turbulent flow and assembly force at these areas. The contact stress at the region of component assembly was sensitive to the cyclic loading at the initial iterations. The maximum decrease amplitude in the normalized contact stress between the second and the fourth iterations reached 0.12. The damage analysis disclosed that the notch of the deflector in the adjust valve had the maximum damage due to the stress concentration.
Reproduction and growth of the Southern Leopard Frog, Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius (Harlan, 1825), in Virginia: implications for seasonal shifts in response to global climate change
Authors: Hughes Daniel Frederick , Meshaka Jr. Walter , Delis Pablo R.
Published: June 2017

An examination of 750 museum specimens of the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) collected during 1938‐1989 from eastern Virginia (USA) provided comparative life‐history data from the northeastern portion of this species geographic range. Individuals were collected in all months except December. Testis size was largest and incidence of gravid females was highest during fall and spring. In both sexes, fat storage was lowest during late‐winter‐spring, which is indicative of increased activity and commencement of breeding. Incidence of food in stomachs was lowest in late winter and relatively high thereafter, especially in males. Geographic trends in five lifehistory traits were corroborated for the Southern Leopard Frog in this study, including breeding season, egg size, mean adult body size, sexual size dimorphism, and larval metamorphosis season. In response to hotter summers and milder winters, as predicted to occur with climate change, the reproductive characteristics for this species in Virginia will likely shift to resemble contemporary reproductive patterns of southern populations.
No correlation between headphone frequency response and retail price
Authors: Breebaart Jeroen
Published: June 2017

This study quantifies variability of measured headphone response patterns and aims to uncover any correlations between headphone type, retail price, and frequency response. For this purpose, the mean, variance, and covariance of the frequency magnitude responses were analyzed and correlated with headphone type and retail value. The results indicate that neither the measured response nor an attempt to objectively quantify perceived quality is related to price. On average, in-ear headphones have a slightly higher measured bass response than circumaural and supra-aural headphones. Furthermore, in-ear and circumaural headphones have a slightly lower deviation from an assumed target curve than supra-ear models. Ninety percent of the variance across all headphone measurements can be described by a set of six basis functions. The first basis function is similar to published target responses, while the second basis function represents a spectral tilt.
Efficacy of β-Lactam/β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations for the Treatment of Bloodstream Infection Due to Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hematological Patients with Neutropenia
Authors: Gudiol Carlota , Royo-Cebrecos Cristina , Abdala Edson , Akova Murat , Álvarez Rocío , Maestro-de la Calle Guillermo , Cano Angela , Cervera Carlos , Clemente Wanessa T. , Martín-Dávila Pilar , Freifeld Alison , Gómez Lucía , Gottlieb Thomas , Gurguí Mercè , Herrera Fabián , Manzur Adriana , Maschmeyer Georg , Meije Yolanda , Montejo Miguel , Peghin Maddalena , Rodríguez-Baño Jesús , Ruiz-Camps Isabel , Sukiennik Teresa C. , Tebe Cristian , Carratalà Jordi
Published: June 2017

β-Lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLIs) were compared to carbapenems in two cohorts of hematological neutropenic patients with extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) bloodstream infection (BSI): the empirical therapy cohort (174 patients) and the definitive therapy cohort (251 patients). The 30-day case fatality rates and other secondary outcomes were similar in the two therapy groups of the two cohorts and also in the propensity-matched cohorts. BLBLIs might be carbapenem-sparing alternatives for the treatment of BSI due to ESBLs in these patients.
Upregulation of Apoptosis Pathway Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of HIV-Infected Individuals with Antiretroviral Therapy-Associated Mitochondrial Toxicity
Authors: Foli Yram , Ghebremichael Musie , Li Min , Paintsil Elijah
Published: June 2017

A case-control study of the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on apoptosis pathway genes comprising 16 cases (HIV infected with mitochondrial toxicity) and 16 controls (HIV uninfected) was conducted. A total of 26 of 84 genes of the apoptosis pathway were differentially expressed. Two of the upregulated genes, DFFA and TNFRSF1A, classified 75% of study participants correctly as either a case or control. Thus, apoptosis may be in the causal pathway of ART-associated mitochondrial toxicity. These two genes could be markers for detecting and monitoring ART-induced mitochondrial toxicity.
Pharmacodynamic Optimization for Treatment of Invasive Candida auris Infection
Authors: Lepak Alexander J. , Zhao Miao , Berkow Elizabeth L. , Lockhart Shawn R. , Andes David R.
Published: June 2017

Candida auris
is an emerging multidrug-resistant threat. The pharmacodynamics of three antifungal classes against nine
C. auris
strains was explored using a murine invasive candidiasis model. The total drug median pharmacodynamic (PD) target associated with net stasis was a fluconazole AUC/MIC (the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h in the steady state divided by the MIC) of 26, an amphotericin B
C
max
/MIC (maximum concentration of drug in serum divided by the MIC) of 0.9, and a micafungin AUC/MIC of 54. The micafungin PD targets for
C. auris
were ≥20-fold lower than those of other
Candida
species in this animal model. Clinically relevant micafungin exposures produced the most killing among the three classes.
In Vitro
Antibiofilm Activity of Eucarobustol E against Candida albicans
Authors: Liu Rui-Huan , Shang Zhi-Chun , Li Tian-Xiao , Yang Ming-Hua , Kong Ling-Yi
Published: June 2017

Formyl-phloroglucinol meroterpenoids (FPMs) are important types of natural products with various bioactivities. Our antifungal susceptibility assay showed that one of the
Eucalyptus robusta
-derived FPMs, eucarobustol E (EE), exerted a strong inhibitory effect against
Candida albicans
biofilms at a concentration of 16 μg/ml. EE was found to block the yeast-to-hypha transition and reduce the cellular surface hydrophobicity of the biofilm cells. RNA sequencing and real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that exposure to 16 μg/ml of EE resulted in marked reductions in the levels of expressions of genes involved in hyphal growth (
EFG1
,
CPH1
,
TEC1
,
EED1
,
UME6
, and
HGC1
) and cell surface protein genes (
ALS3
,
HWP1
, and
SAP5
). Interestingly, in response to EE, genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis were downregulated, while the farnesol-encoding gene (
DPP3
) was upregulated, and these findings were in agreement with those from the quantification of ergosterol and farnesol. Combined with the obvious elevation of negative regulator genes (
TUP1
,
NRG1
), we speculated that EE's inhibition of carbon flow to ergosterol triggered the mechanisms of the negative regulation of hyphal growth and eventually led to biofilm inhibition.
Patient level cost of diabetes self-management education programmes: an international evaluation
Authors: Doyle Gerardine , O'Donnell Shane , Quigley Etáin , Cullen Kate , Gibney Sarah , Levin-Zamir Diane , Ganahl Kristin , Müller Gabriele , Muller Ingrid , Maindal Helle Terkildsen , Chang Wushou Peter , Van Den Broucke Stephan
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine the value of time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) in understanding the process and costs of delivering diabetes self-management education (DSME) programmes in a multicountry comparative study.

Setting

Outpatient settings in five European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, UK) and two countries outside Europe, Taiwan and Israel.

Participants

Providers of DSME programmes across participating countries (N=16) including healthcare professionals, administrators and patients taking part in DSME programmes.

Primary and secondary measures

Primary measure: time spent by providers in the delivery of DSME and resources consumed in order to compute programme costs. Secondary measures: self-report measures of behavioural self-management and diabetes disease/health-related outcomes.

Results

We found significant variation in costs and the processes of how DSME programmes are provided across and within countries. Variations in costs were driven by a combination of price variances, mix of personnel skill and efficiency variances. Higher cost programmes were not found to have achieved better relative outcomes. The findings highlight the value of TDABC in calculating a patient level cost and potential of the methodology to identify process improvements in guiding the optimal allocation of scarce resources in diabetes care, in particular for DSME that is often underfunded.

Conclusions

This study is the first to measure programme costs using estimates of the actual resources used to educate patients about managing their medical condition and is the first study to map such costs to self-reported behavioural and disease outcomes. The results of this study will inform clinicians, managers and policy makers seeking to enhance the delivery of DSME programmes. The findings highlight the benefits of adopting a TDABC approach to understanding the drivers of the cost of DSME programmes in a multicountry study to reveal opportunities to bend the cost curve for DSME.
PERIOD REGION DISTRIBUTIONS OF MCMULLEN FAMILY M SETS
Authors: LU ZHIXING , SUN YUANYUAN , HU XIAOPENG
Published: June 2017

In this study, the period-[Formula: see text] steady regions of McMullen family M sets are discussed. The calculation methods of the numbers of period-[Formula: see text] steady regions are presented and the center points and boundaries of period-1 are studied by complex dynamical system theory. In addition, the problem about the free critical points is discussed. The experimental results show that the free critical points do not influence the distributions of period-[Formula: see text] steady regions when [Formula: see text], which is proved theoretically.
Overexpression of Ubiquinol-Cytochrome c Reductase Core Protein 1 May Protect H9c2 Cardiac Cells by Binding with Zinc
Authors: Yi Tingting , Wu Xiaoxiao , Long Zonghong , Duan Guangyou , Wu Zhuoxi , Li Hong , Chen Huifang , Zhou Xiaoying
Published: June 2017

In several recent studies, proteomics analyses suggest that increase of ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (UQCRC1) is cardio-protective. However, direct evidence for this effect has not yet been obtained. Thus, the current study aimed to determine this effect and the mechanism underlying this effect. The results showed that overexpression of UQCRC1 protected H9c2 cardiac cells against in vitro simulated ischemia-reperfusion by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential and suppressing the expression of caspase-3. These protective effects were significantly enhanced by exogenous Zn2+ but completely abolished by Zn2+-selective chelator TPEN. Furthermore, the upregulation of UQCRC1 reduced the concentration of free Zn2+ in mitochondria, whereas the downregulation of UQCRC1 increased the concentration of free Zn2+ in mitochondria. In conclusion, the overexpression of UQCRC1 can protect H9c2 cardiac cells against simulated ischemia/reperfusion, and this cardio-protective effect is likely mediated by zinc binding.
Privacy-Preserving Meter Report Protocol of Isolated Smart Grid Devices
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Xie Hao
Published: June 2017

Smart grid aims to improve the reliability, efficiency, and security of the traditional grid, which allows two-way transmission and efficiency-driven response. However, a main concern of this new technique is that the fine-grained metering data may leak the personal privacy information of the customers. Thus, the data aggregation mechanism for privacy protection is required for the meter report protocol in smart grid. In this paper, we propose an efficient privacy-preserving meter report protocol for the isolated smart grid devices. Our protocol consists of an encryption scheme with additively homomorphic property and a linearly homomorphic signature scheme, where the linearly homomorphic signature scheme is suitable for privacy-preserving data aggregation. We also provide security analysis of our protocol in the context of some typical attacks in smart grid. The implementation of our protocol on the Intel Edison platform shows that our protocol is efficient enough for the physical constrained devices, like smart meters.
The Effects of 6 Months of Progressive High Effort Resistance Training Methods upon Strength, Body Composition, Function, and Wellbeing of Elderly Adults
Authors: Steele James , Raubold Kristin , Kemmler Wolfgang , Fisher James , Gentil Paulo , Giessing Jürgen
Published: June 2017

Purpose. The present study examined the progressive implementation of a high effort resistance training (RT) approach in older adults over 6 months and through a 6-month follow-up on strength, body composition, function, and wellbeing of older adults.Methods. Twenty-three older adults (aged 61 to 80 years) completed a 6-month supervised RT intervention applying progressive introduction of higher effort set end points. After completion of the intervention participants could choose to continue performing RT unsupervised until 6-month follow-up.Results. Strength, body composition, function, and wellbeing all significantly improved over the intervention. Over the follow-up, body composition changes reverted to baseline values, strength was reduced though it remained significantly higher than baseline, and wellbeing outcomes were mostly maintained. Comparisons over the follow-up between those who did and those who did not continue with RT revealed no significant differences for changes in any outcome measure.Conclusions. Supervised RT employing progressive application of high effort set end points is well tolerated and effective in improving strength, body composition, function, and wellbeing in older adults. However, whether participants continued, or did not, with RT unsupervised at follow-up had no effect on outcomes perhaps due to reduced effort employed during unsupervised RT.
A Study of IL-1β, MMP-3, TGF-β1, and GDF5 Polymorphisms and Their Association with Primary Frozen Shoulder in a Chinese Han Population
Authors: Chen Wenxiang , Meng Jia , Qian Hong , Deng Zhantao , Chen Shuo , Xu Haidong , Sun Wenshuang , Wang Yiying , Zhao Jianning , Bao Nirong
Published: June 2017

Primary frozen shoulder (PFS) is a common condition of uncertain etiology that is characterized by shoulder pain and restriction of active and passive glenohumeral motions. The pathophysiology involves chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the joint capsule. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at IL-1β, MMP3, TGF-β1, and GDF5 have been associated with risk of a variety of inflammatory diseases; however, no studies have examined these SNPs with susceptibility to PFS. We investigated allele and genotype frequencies of rs1143627 at IL-1β, rs650108 at MMP-3, rs1800469 at TGF-β1, and rs143383 at GDF5 in 42 patients with PFS and 50 healthy controls in a Chinese Han population. Serum samples from both cohorts were evaluated to determine the expression levels of IL-1β. We found that the IL-1β rs1143627 CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk of PFS compared to the TT genotype (P=0.022) and that serum IL-1β was expressed at a significantly higher level in the PFS cohort compared to that found in the control group (P<0.001). Our findings indicated no evidence of an association between rs650108, rs1800469, or rs143383 and PFS. IL-1β is associated with susceptibility to PFS and may have a role in its pathogenesis in a Chinese Han population.
Improvement of Arterial Wall Lesions in Parallel with Decrease of Plasma Pentraxin-3 Levels in a Patient with Refractory Takayasu Arteritis after Treatment with Tocilizumab
Authors: Iwagaitsu Shiho , Naniwa Taio
Published: June 2017

A 19-year-old Japanese woman with active Takayasu arteritis despite multiple conventional immunosuppressive therapies with glucocorticoids in combination with intravenous cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or infliximab with methotrexate and tacrolimus was successfully treated by switching from infliximab to intravenous tocilizumab. Worsening of claudication of the legs and elevated acute phase reactants, including plasma pentraxin-3 levels, were observed during combination therapy with infliximab. Computed tomography demonstrated increased wall thickening with contrast enhancement in the preexisting lesion of the descending aorta and the femoral arteries. After switching from infliximab to tocilizumab, plasma pentraxin-3 levels gradually decreased to the normal range in parallel with the improvement of claudication. Follow-up computed tomographic scans confirmed the marked improvement of these arterial lesions. Moreover, plasma pentraxin-3 level was increased in response to the worsening of claudication that occurred just after switching to a subcutaneous tocilizumab injection. Measurements of plasma pentraxin-3 might be useful for evaluation of the vascular wall inflammation and therapeutic efficacy even during biologic therapy targeting tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6.
Removal of Cd (II) from Aqueous Media by Adsorption onto Chemically and Thermally Treated Rice Husk
Authors: Hoyos-Sánchez María Camila , Córdoba-Pacheco Angie Carolina , Rodríguez-Herrera Luis Fernando , Uribe-Kaffure Ramiro
Published: June 2017

Chemically and thermally treated rice husks were evaluated as a potential decontaminant of toxic Cd (II) in aqueous media. Rice husk (RH), a by-product from rice milling, was chemically treated with HCl and NaOH. Then, thermal treatments to 300, 500, and 700°C were applied. The chemical composition and morphological characteristics of RH were evaluated by different techniques. The specific surface area analysis of RH samples by BET nitrogen adsorption method provided specific surface areas ranging from 6 to 14 m2/g. SEM, FTIR, and EDX analyses of RH were carried out to determine the surface morphology, functional groups involved in metal binding mechanism, and C/O and C/Si ratios, respectively. The maximum Cd (II) adsorption capacity was 28.27 mg/g at an optimum pH, 6.0. The kinetic studies revealed that adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.