bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Programmed cell death pathways induced by early plant‐virus infection are determined by isolate virulence and stage of infection
Authors: Nyalugwe E. P. , Barbetti M. J. , Clode P. L. , Jones R. A. C.
Published: March 2016

Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways caused by Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection before symptom appearance were studied by light microscopy and electrolyte leakage following sap inoculation of Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard) TZ‐SMN‐44‐6 plants. Leaf responses to inoculation with avirulent (TuMV‐avir) and virulent (TuMV‐vir) isolates, and mock‐inoculation, were compared at 2, 20 and 52 h after inoculation (hai). The phenotypes induced were localized resistance (TuMV‐avir) and systemic susceptibility (TuMV‐vir). No visible TuMV symptoms were recorded in any inoculated plants during the 2–52 hai sampling period, but appeared as chlorotic spots in inoculated leaves at 5 days after inoculation. With TuMV‐vir alone, they were followed by systemic infection (mosaic). Dead cell number, deformation, percentage area and percentage integrated intensity, and conductivity of electrolyte leakage data, were analysed to examine their possible roles in stimulating cell death pathways. At 2 hai, dead cell number and percentage area were significantly greater for TuMV‐avir than TuMV‐vir infection or mock‐inoculation. Overall, isolate TuMV‐vir caused significantly greater cell deformation than TuMV‐avir, whereas wounding by mock‐inoculation had negligible effects. By 52 hai, isolate TuMV‐avir caused significantly greater electrolyte leakage than isolate TuMV‐vir or mock‐inoculation. This suggests both isolates triggered morphological changes consistent with apoptotic‐like PCD and necrosis‐like PCD that depended upon isolate virulence and stage of infection, respectively. These findings highlight how quantification of dead cell deformation and electrolyte leakage offer a new understanding of compatible and incompatible plant responses to early virus infection in plants.
New targeted therapies in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: getting to the heart of the problem
Authors: Marino Philip
Published: March 2016

See article, page 526
Approaches to the Estimation of the Local Average Treatment Effect in a Regression Discontinuity Design
Authors: O'Keeffe Aidan G. , Baio Gianluca
Published: March 2016

Regression discontinuity designs (RD designs) are used as a method for causal inference from observational data, where the decision to apply an intervention is made according to a ‘decision rule’ that is linked to some continuous variable. Such designs are being increasingly developed in medicine. The local average treatment effect (LATE) has been established as an estimator of the intervention effect in an RD design, particularly where a design's ‘decision rule’ is not adhered to strictly. Estimating the variance of the LATE is not necessarily straightforward. We consider three approaches to the estimation of the LATE: two‐stage least squares, likelihood‐based and a Bayesian approach. We compare these under a variety of simulated RD designs and a real example concerning the prescription of statins based on cardiovascular disease risk score.
Asymptotics and smoothing parameter selection for penalized spline regression with various loss functions
Authors: Yoshida Takuma
Published: March 2016

Penalized splines are used in various types of regression analyses, including non‐parametric quantile, robust and the usual mean regression. In this paper, we focus on the penalized spline estimator with general convex loss functions. By specifying the loss function, we can obtain the mean estimator, quantile estimator and robust estimator. We will first study the asymptotic properties of penalized splines. Specifically, we will show the asymptotic bias and variance as well as the asymptotic normality of the estimator. Next, we will discuss smoothing parameter selection for the minimization of the mean integrated squares error. The new smoothing parameter can be expressed uniquely using the asymptotic bias and variance of the penalized spline estimator. To validate the new smoothing parameter selection method, we will provide a simulation. The simulation results show that the consistency of the estimator with the proposed smoothing parameter selection method can be confirmed and that the proposed estimator has better behavior than the estimator with generalized approximate cross‐validation. A real data example is also addressed.
The Russian–Dutch Year of Friendship: Lgbti Rights as a Marker of Antagonism?
Authors: Jansen Hanna
Published: March 2016

This paper revisits the much‐reported political confrontations that took place between Russia and the Netherlands during the 2013 Dutch‐Russian ‘year of friendship’. It shows how Dutch media constructed an image of the Netherlands and Russia as representatives of conflicting cultural traditions on account of their different attitudes towards LGBTI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersexual) rights. Advancing from Mouffe's observation that politics is inherently oppositional, this paper aims to nuance such a dichotomous imagery by showing distinct commonalities between Russian and Dutch cultural regimes. In fact, Russian discourses are historically rooted in Soviet conceptions of cultural geography, and appeal to similar associations of anti‐colonial and anti‐elitist resistance. However, Dutch and Russian popularised discourses of cultural difference should be recognised as one of several dualisms that Europe and the Netherlands have inherited from the Cold War.
Anti‐Aspergillus immunoglobulin‐G testing in serum of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Erdmann J.‐H. , Graf B. , Blau I.W. , Fischer F. , Timm G. , Hemmati P. , Arnold R. , Penack O.
Published: March 2016

Background

Pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major clinical problem in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Acquisition of IA during allo‐HSCT by inhalation of spores is the rationale for the widespread use of air filtration systems. Recent data suggest that activation of fungal growth in already colonized patients is a relevant factor, and a recent study found a positive correlation of serum immunoglobulin responses against purified recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus proteins before allo‐HSCT with the incidence of IA after allo‐HSCT.

Methods

To investigate the clinical utility of this approach, we performed a prospective study. We used a commercially available and standardized assay for detection of anti‐Aspergillus immunoglobulin‐G (aA‐IgG) in serum (Platelia™ Aspergillus IgG) that has previously demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity.

Results

In a cohort of 104 allo‐HSCT recipients, we measured aA‐IgG and Aspergillus antigen serum levels before allo‐HSCT, and weekly during hospital stay. Overall prevalence of possible, probable, and proven IA during hospital stay was 10%, 6%, and 0%. We found no correlation between aA‐IgG levels before allo‐HSCT, or after allo‐HSCT, and the prevalence of IA during hospital stay. Furthermore, median aA‐IgG levels did not differ between patients with history of probable or proven IA, as compared to patients without history of IA.

Conclusions

Taken together, our data argue against the clinical utility of measuring aA‐IgG levels for diagnosis or prediction of IA in patients undergoing allo‐HSCT.
Hemovigilance survey of pathogen‐reduced blood components in the Warsaw Region in the 2009 to 2013 period
Authors: Łętowska Magdalena , Przybylska Zofia , Piotrowski Dariusz , Lachert Elżbieta , Rosiek Aleksandra , Rzymkiewicz Lech , Cardoso Marcia
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

In 2009 the Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology (PRT) was introduced to the routine blood component production of the Regional Blood Transfusion Center in Warsaw (RBTCW). The goal of this study was to investigate the safety of Mirasol‐treated blood components.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The accumulated passive hemovigilance data of Mirasol‐treated blood components collected at the RBTCW are presented and compared to historical and contemporary data. Furthermore, active hemovigilance data collected from patients with different hematologic disorders transfused with Mirasol‐treated or untreated blood components at the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (IHTM) are presented and discussed.

RESULTS

The adverse reaction (AR) reporting rate by hospitals to the RBTCW after the implementation of the Mirasol technology was 0.39% for Mirasol‐treated platelet concentrates (M‐PCs) and 0.05% for Mirasol‐treated fresh‐frozen plasma. When comparing contemporary rates of ARs recorded by RBTCW in the time period 2011 to 2012, no statistical difference was observed between Mirasol‐treated and untreated blood components. No serious AR was attributed to Mirasol‐treated components. At the IHTM a lower rate of ARs after transfusion of M‐PCs was observed than with untreated PCs. Despite the fact that very large amounts of Mirasol‐treated plasma have been transfused to patients with congenital or acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, no significant increase in AR rates was observed.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of blood components with the Mirasol PRT System has proven to be safe for patients and is not associated with increased rates and grades of adverse events in patients of hospitals in the Warsaw Region.
Efficacy and safety of pathogen‐reduced platelet concentrates in children with cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Trakhtman Pavel , Karpova Oksana , Balashov Dmitri , Kurnikova Elena , Pirumova Valentina , Starostin Nikolay , Rumiantsev Alexander
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

The safety of blood component transfusions is still of concern and the use of pathogen reduction (PR) methods is increasing. Limited data are available describing safety and efficacy of PR platelet (PLT) transfusions in children. We report the results of a retrospective evaluation of prophylactic transfusions of PR PLT units treated with riboflavin and ultraviolet light in pediatric patients with malignant disorders.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 137 patients (PR, 51; control, 86) and 432 transfusions (PR, 141; control, 291) with mean age of 11 years were evaluated. The primary clinical efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with bleeding on any day of PLT support. Secondary endpoints included 1‐ and 24‐hour PLT increments, corrected count increments (CCIs), and the number of days between PLT transfusions. Safety endpoints included number of posttransfusion adverse reactions.

RESULTS

The incidence of bleeding events, severity, and localization of bleeding sites did not differ between the study groups. Posttransfusion PLT counts and 1‐ and 4‐hour CCIs (12.25 ± 4.26 and 25.67 ± 7.11; p < 0.05; PR vs. control, respectively) and 18‐ to 24‐hour CCIs (9.41 ± 6.42 and 12.47 ± 6.25; p < 0.05) after transfusions were significantly lower in the PR group. Transfusion‐related adverse event rates did not differ between groups (8.3% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.73).

CONCLUSION

In spite of lower numerical increase in PLT count, the hemostatic efficacy and safety of PR PLT transfusions was comparable with the control group. Adverse event rates did not differ between groups, but the sample size was relatively small.
The effects of 22°C and 4°C storage of platelets on vascular endothelial integrity and function
Authors: Baimukanova Gyulnar , Miyazawa Byron , Potter Daniel R. , Gibb Stuart L. , Keating Sheila , Danesh Ali , Beyer Ashley , Dayter Yelena , Bruhn Roberta , Muench Marcus O. , Cap Andrew P. , Norris Philip J. , Spinella Philip , Cohen Mitchell , Pati Shibani
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Although a majority of the studies conducted to date on platelet (PLT) storage have been focused on PLT hemostatic function, the effects of 4°C PLTs on regulation of endothelial barrier permeability are still not known. In this study, we compared the effects of room temperature (22°C) stored and (4°C) stored PLTs on the regulation of vascular endothelial cell (EC) permeability in vitro and in vivo.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Day 1, Day 5, and Day 7 leukoreduced apheresis PLTs stored at 4 or 22°C were studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, PLT effects on EC permeability and barrier function, adhesion, and impedance aggregometry were investigated. In vivo, using a mouse model of vascular leak, attenuation of vascular leak and circulating PLT numbers were measured.

RESULTS

Treatment of EC monolayers with Day 5 or Day 7 PLTs, stored at both 22°C and 4°C, resulted in similar decreases in EC permeability on average. However, analysis of individual samples revealed significant variation that was donor dependent. Additional in vitro measurements revealed a decrease in inflammatory mediators, nonspecific PLT‐endothelial aggregation and attenuated loss of aggregation over time to TRAP, ASPI, ADP, and collagen with 4°C storage. In mice, while 22°C and 4°C PLTs both demonstrated significant protection against vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A)‐induced vascular leak 22°C PLTs exhibited increased protection compared to 4°C PLTs. Systemic circulating levels of 4°C PLTs were decreased compared to 22°C PLTs.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro, 4°C‐stored PLTs exhibit a greater capacity to inhibit EC permeability than 22°C‐stored PLTs. In vivo, 22°C PLTs provide superior control of vascular leak induced by VEGF‐A. This discrepancy may be due to increased clearance of 4°C PLTs from the systemic circulation.
Balancing the New and the Old: Precarious Workers’ Resistance in Rank and File Unionism in Argentina
Authors: Varela Paula
Published: March 2016

In this article, we want to examine the role played by precarious labor in the process of building up and consolidating rank and file unions in Argentina. We speculate about the interaction between precarious labor and union organization in the workplace; and about which elements allow this interaction. This analysis of the interaction (as opposed to the separation) of both processes emerges from our own empirical research, but also from the attempt to establish a theoretical prudence in the face of Social Science's tendency to create “new phenomena” and isolate them from their procedural frame. The academic logic paradigm of Segmentation (and its conformation of “case studies” in places where there are only fragmentary processes) forces us to look at precarious labor as a subject itself, dissociated from steady labor, thus separating it into different ways of organization and resistance. The re‐composition of rank and file trade unionism in Argentina shows gray areas in which the overlapping of precarious labor and steady labor in the same working area forced the interaction between the new and the old.
Interventions for Cardiovascular Patients with Type D Personality: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cao Xi , Wong Eliza M. L. , Chow Choi Kai , Cheng Li , Ying Chair Sek
Published: March 2016

Background

Cardiovasculardisease (CVD) is a major cause of death worldwide. Type D personality, a newly identified risk factor for cardiac outcomes, can deteriorate the health outcomes of CVD patients. Several interventional studies have been conducted on CVD patients with type D personality.

Aim

To provide the best available evidence of the effects and characteristics of interventions applied to cardiac patients with type D personality.

Methods

Experimental studies on the effects of interventions for cardiac patients with type D personality were reviewed. English and Chinese electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2014. The eligibility and quality of each article were reviewed by two independent reviewers. The outcomes of interest included psychological health (anxiety & depression), physical functioning, and quality of life. Data were synthesized in a narrative form rather than meta‐analysis because of the heterogeneity of studies and the insufficient data for statistical pooling.

Results

Four studies (one randomized controlled trial and three single‐group pre‐ and posttests) involving 967 cardiac patients were identified. The quality of included studies was moderate, with three studies rated as fair and one study rated as poor. Cardiac rehabilitation programs were the interventions identified in all the included studies, with main components of physical exercise, patient education, psychological intervention, and individual counseling. The findings of this review indicated that cardiac rehabilitation can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical functioning, and quality of life in cardiac patients with type D personality. The evidence of optimal duration, frequency of interventions, and length of each session was not established.

Linking Evidence to Action

This review provides preliminary evidence for the use of cardiac rehabilitation as an effective intervention to improve health outcomes in cardiac patients with type D personality. The optimal delivery format of the intervention for cardiac patients with type D personality needs to be explored.
Measurement and Modeling of Tissue Thermal Conductivity With Variable Water Content and Compression
Authors: Chastagner Matthew W. , Dodde Robert E. , Shih Albert J. , Li Wei , Chen Roland K.
Published: March 2016

The effects of water content and compression level on tissue thermal conductivity were studied. These effects are important in electrosurgery, as tissue is subjected to both compression and thermal heating. Ex vivo canine spleen tissue was used in this study. A thermal diffusion probe technique was employed to measure the tissue thermal conductivity in three different conditions. First, the tissue thermal conductivity with different water content levels was measured. The measured thermal conductivity decreased as the percentage of water within the tissue decreased. Second, the tissue thermal conductivity under compression, up to 77%, was measured and it showed a 9% reduction as the load was applied. Third, desiccated tissue was compressed, and the thermal conductivity was measured. The compression effect on thermal conductivity was less prominent in the desiccated tissue because less water was squeezed out due to compression. A three-phase Maxwell–Eucken model was developed to predict the tissue thermal conductivity for varying water content and compression levels. The model used the ratio of air, tissue fiber, and water to predict the thermal conductivity and showed a good agreement with the experimental data.
A Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Analysis Method for Multimedia Heat Conduction Problems
Authors: Gao Xiaowei , Hu Jinxiu , Huang Shizhang
Published: March 2016

In this paper, a new proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis method is proposed for numerical analysis of thermal mechanical engineering problems consisting of multiple media. After the creation of a heat conduction solution database for each medium, the “snapshot” approach of the POD technique is applied to facilitate reduced-order modeling (ROM) of the unsteady heat conduction behavior. The snapshot matrix is constructed medium by medium by collecting individual medium solutions at different instances in time through a columnwise manner. By means of expressing physical variables in terms of reduced modes at the individual medium level, a system of differential equations with respect to time is formed by utilizing the consistency conditions of the physical variables on interface boundaries. The solutions of the problem can be obtained by solving the system of equations at different time stops. Two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Using Nonlinear Kinematic Hardening Material Models for Elastic–Plastic Ratcheting Analysis
Authors: Rudolph Jürgen , Gilman Tim , Weitze Bill , Willuweit Adrian , Kalnins Arturs
Published: March 2016

Applicable design codes for power plant components and pressure vessels demand for a design check against progressive plastic deformation. In the simplest case, this demand is satisfied by compliance with shakedown rules in connection with elastic analyses. The possible noncompliance implicates the requirement of ratcheting analyses on elastic–plastic basis. In this case, criteria are specified on maximum allowable accumulated growth strain without clear guidance on what material models for cyclic plasticity are to be used. This is a considerable gap and a challenge for the practicing computer-aided engineering engineer. As a follow-up to two independent previous papers PVP2013-98150 ASME (Kalnins et al., 2013, “Using the Nonlinear Kinematic Hardening Material Model of Chaboche for Elastic-Plastic Ratcheting Analysis,” ASME Paper No. PVP2013-98150.) and PVP2014-28772 (Weitze and Gilman, 2014, “Additional Guidance for Inelastic Ratcheting Analysis Using the Chaboche Model,” ASME Paper No. PVP2014-28772.), it is the aim of this paper to close this gap by giving further detailed recommendation on the appropriate application of the nonlinear kinematic material model of Chaboche on an engineering scale and based on implementations already available within commercial finite element codes such as ANSYS® and ABAQUS®. Consistency of temperature-dependent runs in ANSYS® and ABAQUS® is to be checked. All three papers together constitute a comprehensive guideline for elastoplastic ratcheting analysis. The following issues are examined and/or referenced: (1) application of monotonic or cyclic material data for ratcheting analysis based on the Chaboche material model, (2) discussion of using monotonic and cyclic data for assessment of the (nonstabilized) cyclic deformation behavior, (3) number of backstress terms to be applied for consistent ratcheting results, (4) consideration of the temperature dependency (TD) of the relevant material parameters, (5) consistency of temperature-dependent runs in ANSYS® and ABAQUS®, (6) identification of material parameters dependent on the number of backstress terms, (7) identification of material data for different types of material (carbon steel, austenitic stainless steel) including the appropriate determination of the elastic limit, (8) quantification of conservatism of simple elastic-perfectly plastic (EPP) behavior, (9) application of engineering versus true stress–strain data, (10) visual checks of data input consistency, and (11) appropriate type of allowable accumulated growth strain. This way, a more accurate inelastic analysis methodology for direct practical application to real world examples in the framework of the design code conforming elastoplastic ratcheting check is proposed.
Enhancement of Free Vortex Filament Method for Aerodynamic Loads on Rotor Blades
Authors: Abedi Hamidreza , Davidson Lars , Voutsinas Spyros
Published: March 2016

The aerodynamics of a wind turbine is governed by the flow around the rotor, where the prediction of air loads on rotor blades in different operational conditions and its relation to rotor structural dynamics is one of the most important challenges in wind turbine rotor blade design. Because of the unsteady flow field around wind turbine blades, prediction of aerodynamic loads with high level of accuracy is difficult and increases the uncertainty of load calculations.

A free vortex wake method, based on the potential, inviscid and irrotational flow, is developed to study the aerodynamic loads. Since it is based on the potential, inviscid and irrotational flow, it cannot be used to predict viscous phenomena such as drag and boundary layer separation. Therefore it must be coupled to the tabulated airfoil data to take the viscosity effects into account. The results are compared with the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) [1] method and the GENUVP code [2] (see also the acknowledgments).
Effect of Free Stream Turbulence on Air Cooling of a Surrogate PV Panel
Authors: Iakovidis Frantzis , Ting David S.-K.
Published: March 2016

Flow over a heated flat plate (surrogate photovoltaic panel) was investigated experimentally in a closed loop wind tunnel to examine the influence of free stream turbulence intensity on the convection heat transfer coefficient. First, the near laminar (background turbulence intensity < 0.5%) free stream case was considered at velocities ranging from 4 to 10 m/s; this resulted in Reynolds numbers ranging from 1 × 105 to 2.4 × 105 based on the plate length. The turbulence free stream case was realized by installing an orificed perforated plate upstream to generate turbulence intensities of 4, 8 and 12% at the leading edge of the surrogate panel. Local heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number were determined along the span of the plate for each case; Nusselt number was presented in terms of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity. It was revealed that by increasing the turbulence intensity from 4% to 12% the rate of heat transfer increased up to ∼40%, such considerable increase can significantly improve performance of some applications such as PV panels.
Turbulence in Wind Turbine Wake: Effect of Atmospheric Forcings
Authors: Bhaganagar Kiran , Debnath Mithu
Published: March 2016

Large eddy simulation (LES) is used as a tool to understand the near-wake effects of large 5-MW, 3-blade horizontal-axis wind turbines (WT) in convective atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). The simulations are performed for two inline WT separated by distance of 2.5D (D is diameter of the rotor) in unstable ABL so that the downstream WT is operated under the wake of the upstream WT. The flow characteristics are analyzed in the wake regions behind WT to understand the flow physics. Tip and root vortices undergo vortex merging due to instability. Turbulent mixing layer that develops in the wake region is stronger for the downstream WT. The rate of growth/decay of the mean velocity and turbulence is much higher for WT2 than WT1. The time evolution of the wake of WT1 and WT2 revealed additional wake induced shear that contributes to faster turbulence diffusion which results in shrinking of the shear layer (in height) downstream. The average power output of WT2 is 40% lower than WT1 during unstable stratified atmospheric conditions.
Uncertainty Quantification of the RELAP5 Interfacial Friction Model in the Rod Bundle Geometry
Authors: Kinoshita Ikuo , Torige Toshihide , Yamada Minoru
Published: March 2016

An application of the Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) method is made to an analysis of the “Intentional depressurizaion of steam generator secondary side” which is an accident management procedure in a small-break loss-of-coolant accident (SBLOCA) with high pressure injection (HPI) system failure. RELAP5/MOD3.2 is used as the system analysis code. Interfacial friction in the core affects the two-phase mixture level and the distribution of the dispersed gas phase. This phenomenon is very important in terms of the influence its uncertainty has on the peak cladding temperature. The RELAP5/MOD3.2 code uses drift-velocity to describe the interfacial friction coefficients in vertical dispersed flow. The Chexal-Lellouche drift-flux correlation is used for the rod bundle geometry. In the present study, the RELAP5 model uncertainty was quantified regarding the interfacial friction coefficients in the rod bundle geometry by conducting numerical analyses of separate effect tests. As the separate effect tests, two-phase mixture level swell tests in the Thermal Hydraulic Test Facility (THTF) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) were used. After considering applicability to the SBLOCA, tests were selected for which conditions of pressures and rod powers were similar to PWR plant conditions. A total of 55 data were used. The model uncertainty parameter was defined as a multiplier for the interfacial friction coefficient. Numerical analyses were performed by adjusting the multiplier so that the predicted void fractions agreed with the experimental measured data. The resultant distribution of the multipliers represented the model uncertainty. The mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of this uncertainty distribution were 0.88, 0.55, 0.13 and 3.0, respectively.
Dynamic and Aeroelastic Analyses of a Wind Turbine Blade Modeled as a Thin-Walled Composite Beam
Authors: Yilmaz Serhat , Eken Seher , Kaya Metin O.
Published: March 2016

In this paper, dynamic and aeroelastic analysis of a wind turbine blade modeled as an anisotropic composite thin-walled box beam is carried out. The analytical formulation of the beam is derived for the flapwise bending, chordwise bending and transverse shear deformations. The derivation of both strain and kinetic energy expressions are made and the equations of motion are obtained by applying the Hamilton’s principle. The equations of motion are solved by applying the extended Galerkin method (EGM) for anti-symmetric lay-up configuration that is also referred as Circumferentially Uniform Stiffness (CUS). As a result various coupled vibration modes are exhibited. This type of beam features two sets of independent couplings: i) extension-torsion coupling, ii) flapwise/chordwise bending-flapwise/chorwise transverse shear coupling. For both cases, the natural frequencies are validated by making comparisons with the results in literature and effects of coupling, transverse shear, ply-angle orientation, and rotational speed on the natural frequencies are examined and the mode shapes of the rotating thin-walled composite beams are further obtained. Blade element momentum theory (BEMT) is utilized to model the wind turbine blade aerodynamics. After combining the structural and the aerodynamic models, the aeroelastic analysis are performed and flutter boundaries are obtained.
Effects of Alumina Nanoparticles Additives Into Jojoba Methyl Ester-Diesel Mixture on Diesel Engine Performance
Authors: Attia Ali M. A. , El-Seesy Ahmed I. , El-Batsh Hesham M. , Shehata Mohamed S.
Published: March 2016

Currently, using biofuels to operate diesel engines gets a great attention to the extent that it could replace the limited conventional fossil fuels. These fuels have a closed life cycle (renewable) and they have a remarkable effect on the global greenhouse phenomena. Moreover, the use of non-edible vegetable oils is considered a good choice after a suitable chemical and/or thermal treatment to convert them into esters. The use of jojoba oil shows a promising alternative fuel for conventional diesel fuel even there were unfavorable effects including power reduction. The wide spread usage of nano additives to improve the combustion quality may be a good solution for these problems. This study represents an experimental investigation to examine the effect of nano additives on diesel engine performance at variable operating conditions of load and speed. In this work, alumina nano-particles are added to a mixture of jojoba methyl ester (biodiesel) and conventional diesel fuel at the most recommended value (20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel) with different doses from 10 up to 50 mg/l. The received mixture is homogenized with an ultrasonicator mixer. It is found that, the appropriate nano-additives dose corresponding to optimal engine performance is about 30 mg/l. At this dose, the overall BSFC is reduced by about 6%, engine thermal efficiency is increased up to 7%, and all engine emissions have been reduced (NOx about 70%, CO about 75 %, smoke opacity about 5%, and UHC about 55 %) compared with the corresponding values obtained when only a blended fuel of 20% biodiesel is used.
Nondestructive cleaning of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 surface with ultraviolet light and ozone
Authors: Andersson Eric , Aurino Pier Paolo , Winkler Dag , Kalabukhov Alexei
Published: March 2016

The effect of ultraviolet light produced ozone and irradiation (UV/ozone) cleaning on the surface properties and interface electrical properties of 4 unit cell (uc) LaAlO3/SrTiO3 samples is examined. A standard photolithography process is used to contaminate the samples which are then cleaned in UV/ozone. Atomic force microscopy measurements show that the photoresist contaminated samples can be cleaned efficiently using this method. The surface roughness of the cleaned samples is comparable to that of the as-grown samples. Furthermore, electrical transport measurements show that the mobility decreases and the sheet carrier density increases for the contaminated samples, which also display indications of an onset to the Kondo effect. By removing the contaminants with UV/ozone cleaning, the mobility and sheet carrier density can be partially restored toward the as-grown values. The mobility is increased by about two times from ≈1000 cm2 V−1 s−1 for the contaminated samples to ≈2000 cm2 V−1 s−1 for the ozone cleaned ones.
Design guidelines for nanoscale vacuum field emission transistors
Authors: Kim Jungsik , Kim Jiwon , Oh Hyeongwan , Meyyappan M. , Han Jin-Woo , Lee Jeong-Soo
Published: March 2016

Nanoscale vacuum channel field emission transistors (VFETs) with different gate-structures, channel lengths, and emitter tip radii are comprehensively studied using technical computer-aided design simulation. With a multigate configuration, the operating gate voltage decreases and the transfer characteristics improve due to excellent gate controllability. The gate-all-around (GAA) VFET with short channel length and thin channel to gate distance would be most suitable for low power consumption and less sensitivity to device fluctuation. In order to further understand the impact of physical gate length on the on-current (Ion) and the gate leakage current in VFETs, full- and half-gate devices are compared. With shorter channel length and thinner channel to gate distance, the tunneling energy band becomes sensitive to the gate field, resulting in a more severe Ion fluctuation. The half-gate structure can mitigate the gate leakage current without sacrificing the on-current because the leakage current near the collector tip can be reduced in comparison to the full-gate structure. The GAA VFET also shows superior cut-off frequency performance resulting from high transconductance, compared with the single- and double-gate VFETs.
Validity of a Simple Method for Measuring Force-Velocity-Power Profile in Countermovement Jump
Authors: Jiménez-Reyes Pedro , Samozino Pierre , Pareja-Blanco Fernando , Conceição Filipe , Cuadrado-Peñafiel Víctor , González-Badillo Juan José , Morin Jean-Benoît
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

To analyze the reliability and validity of a simple computation method to evaluate force (F), velocity (v), and power (P) output during a countermovement jump (CMJ) suitable for use in field conditions and to verify the validity of this computation method to compute the CMJ force–velocity (F–v) profile (including unloaded and loaded jumps) in trained athletes.

Methods:

Sixteen high-level male sprinters and jumpers performed maximal CMJs under 6 different load conditions (0–87 kg). A force plate sampling at 1000 Hz was used to record vertical ground-reaction force and derive vertical-displacement data during CMJ trials. For each condition, mean F, v, and P of the push-off phase were determined from both force-plate data (reference method) and simple computation measures based on body mass, jump height (from flight time), and push-off distance and used to establish the linear F–v relationship for each individual.

Results:

Mean absolute bias values were 0.9% (± 1.6%), 4.7% (± 6.2%), 3.7% (± 4.8%), and 5% (± 6.8%) for F, v, P, and slope of the F–v relationship (SFv), respectively. Both methods showed high correlations for F–v-profile-related variables (r = .985–.991). Finally, all variables computed from the simple method showed high reliability, with ICC >.980 and CV <1.0%.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the simple method presented here is valid and reliable for computing CMJ force, velocity, power, and F–v profiles in athletes and could be used in practice under field conditions when body mass, push-off distance, and jump height are known.
Longitudinal Changes and Seasonal Variation in Body Composition in Professional Australian Football Players
Authors: Bilsborough Johann C. , Kempton Thomas , Greenway Kate , Cordy Justin , Coutts Aaron J.
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

To compare development and variations in body composition of early-, mid-, and late-career professional Australian Football (AF) players over 3 successive seasons.

Methods:

Regional and total-body composition (body mass [BM], fat mass [FM], fat-free soft-tissue mass [FFSTM], and bone mineral content [BMC]) were assessed 4 times, at the same time of each season—start preseason (SP), end preseason (EP), midseason (MS), and end season (ES)—from 22 professional AF players using pencil-beam dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Nutritional intake for each player was evaluated concomitantly using 3-d food diaries. Players were classified according to their age at the beginning of the observational period as either early- (<21 y, n = 8), mid- (21 to 25 y, n = 9), or late- (>25 y, n = 5) career athletes.

Results:

Early-career players had lower FFSTM, BMC, and BM than mid- and late-career throughout. FM and %FM had greatest variability, particularly in the early-career players. FM reduced and FFSTM increased from SP to EP, while FM and FFSTM decreased from EP to MS. FM increased and FFSTM decreased from MS to ES, while FM and FFSTM increased during the off-season.

Conclusions:

Early-career players may benefit from greater emphasis on specific nutrition and resistance-training strategies aimed at increasing FFSTM, while all players should balance training and diet toward the end of season to minimize increases in FM.
The Relationship Between Whole-Body External Loading and Body-Worn Accelerometry During Team-Sport Movements
Authors: Nedergaard Niels J. , Robinson Mark A. , Eusterwiemann Elena , Drust Barry , Lisboa Paulo J. , Vanrenterghem Jos
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

To investigate the relationship between whole-body accelerations and body-worn accelerometry during team-sport movements.

Methods:

Twenty male team-sport players performed forward running and anticipated 45° and 90° side-cuts at approach speeds of 2, 3, 4, and 5 m/s. Whole-body center-of-mass (CoM) accelerations were determined from ground-reaction forces collected from 1 foot–ground contact, and segmental accelerations were measured from a commercial GPS accelerometer unit on the upper trunk. Three higher-specification accelerometers were also positioned on the GPS unit, the dorsal aspect of the pelvis, and the shaft of the tibia. Associations between mechanical load variables (peak acceleration, loading rate, and impulse) calculated from both CoM accelerations and segmental accelerations were explored using regression analysis. In addition, 1-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to explore the relationships between peak segmental accelerations and CoM-acceleration profiles during the whole foot–ground contact.

Results:

A weak relationship was observed for the investigated mechanical load variables regardless of accelerometer location and task (R2 values across accelerometer locations and tasks: peak acceleration .08–.55, loading rate .27–.59, and impulse .02–.59). Segmental accelerations generally overestimated whole-body mechanical load. SPM analysis showed that peak segmental accelerations were mostly related to CoM accelerations during the first 40–50% of contact phase.

Conclusions:

While body-worn accelerometry correlates to whole-body loading in team-sport movements and can reveal useful estimates concerning loading, these correlations are not strong. Body-worn accelerometry should therefore be used with caution to monitor whole-body mechanical loading in the field.
Dalbavancin Activity When Tested against Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated in Medical Centers on Six Continents (2011 to 2014)
Authors: Jones Ronald N. , Schuchert Jason E. , Mendes Rodrigo E.
Published: March 2016

Dalbavancin, a novel lipoglycopeptide, was approved for use in 2014 by regulatory agencies in the United States and Europe for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections. The activity of dalbavancin was also widely assessed by determination of its activity against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
clinical isolates collected from patients on six continents monitored during two time intervals (2011 to 2013 and 2014). A total of 18,186 pneumococcal isolates were obtained from 49 nations and submitted to a monitoring laboratory as part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program for reference susceptibility testing. The potency of dalbavancin against
S. pneumoniae
was consistent across the years that it was monitored, with the MIC
50
and MIC
90
being 0.015 and 0.03 μg/ml, respectively, and all isolates were inhibited by ≤0.12 μg/ml. The activity of dalbavancin was not adversely influenced by nonsusceptibility to β-lactams (ceftriaxone or penicillin), macrolides, clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, or tetracyclines or multidrug resistance (MDR). Regional variations in dalbavancin activity were not detected, but
S. pneumoniae
strains isolated in the Asia-Pacific region were more likely to be nonsusceptible to penicillin and ceftriaxone as well as to be MDR than strains isolated in North or South America and Europe. Direct comparisons of potency illustrated that dalbavancin (MIC
50
and MIC
90
, 0.015 and 0.03 μg/ml, respectively) was 16-fold or more active than vancomycin (MIC
50
, 0.25 μg/ml), linezolid (MIC
50
, 1 μg/ml), levofloxacin (MIC
50
, 1 μg/ml), ceftriaxone (MIC
90
, 1 μg/ml), and penicillin (MIC
90
, 2 μg/ml). In conclusion, dalbavancin had potent and consistent activity against this contemporary (2011 to 2014) collection of
S. pneumoniae
isolates.
Oritavancin Activity Tested against Molecularly Characterized Staphylococci and Enterococci Displaying Elevated Linezolid MIC Results
Authors: Mendes Rodrigo E. , Farrell David J. , Sader Helio S. , Flamm Robert K. , Jones Ronald N.
Published: March 2016

Oritavancin (MIC
50/90
, 0.03/0.06 to 0.12 μg/ml) had potent activity against linezolid-resistant staphylococci, as well as
Enterococcus faecalis
and
Enterococcus faecium
(oritavancin MIC
50/90
, 0.015/0.12 μg/ml against both species). All linezolid-resistant isolates were inhibited by oritavancin at ≤0.12 μg/ml. These results confirmed the absence of cross-resistance between linezolid and oritavancin in staphylococci and enterococci.
Investigating the Extremes of Antibiotic Use with an Epidemiologic Framework
Authors: Scheetz Marc H. , Crew Page E. , Miglis Cristina , Gilbert Elise M. , Sutton Sarah H. , O'Donnell J. Nick , Postelnick Michael , Zembower Teresa , Rhodes Nathaniel J.
Published: March 2016

Benchmarks for judicious use of antimicrobials are needed. Metrics such as
d
efined
d
aily
d
oses (DDDs) and
d
ays
o
f
t
herapy (DOTs) quantify antimicrobial consumption. However, benchmarking with these metrics is complicated by interhospital variability. Thus, it is important for each hospital to monitor its own temporal consumption trends. Time series analyses allow trends to be detected; however, many of these methods are complex. We present simple regressive methods and caveats in using them to define potential antibiotic over- and underutilizations.
Little Polymorphism at the K13 Propeller Locus in Worldwide Plasmodium falciparum Populations Prior to the Introduction of Artemisinin Combination Therapies
Authors: Mita Toshihiro , Culleton Richard , Takahashi Nobuyuki , Nakamura Masatoshi , Tsukahara Takahiro , Hunja Carol W. , Win Zin Zayar , Htike Wah Win , Marma Aung S. , Dysoley Lek , Ndounga Mathieu , Dzodzomenyo Mawuli , Akhwale Willis S. , Kobayashi Jun , Uemura Haruki , Kaneko Akira , Hombhanje Francis , Ferreira Marcelo U. , Björkman Anders , Endo Hiroyoshi , Ohashi Jun
Published: March 2016

The emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
is of huge concern for the global effort toward malaria control and elimination. Artemisinin resistance, defined as a delayed time to parasite clearance following administration of artemisinin, is associated with mutations in the
Pfkelch13
gene of resistant parasites. To date, as many as 60 nonsynonymous mutations have been identified in this gene, but whether these mutations have been selected by artemisinin usage or merely reflect natural polymorphism independent of selection is currently unknown. To clarify this, we sequenced the
Pfkelch13
propeller domain in 581 isolates collected before (420 isolates) and after (161 isolates) the implementation of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), from various regions of endemicity worldwide. Nonsynonymous mutations were observed in 1% of parasites isolated prior to the introduction of ACTs. Frequencies of mutant isolates, nucleotide diversity, and haplotype diversity were significantly higher in the parasites isolated from populations exposed to artemisinin than in those from populations that had not been exposed to the drug. In the artemisinin-exposed population, a significant excess of dN compared to dS was observed, suggesting the presence of positive selection. In contrast, pairwise comparison of dN and dS and the McDonald and Kreitman test indicate that purifying selection acts on the
Pfkelch13
propeller domain in populations not exposed to ACTs. These population genetic analyses reveal a low baseline of
Pfkelch13
polymorphism, probably due to purifying selection in the absence of artemisinin selection. In contrast, various
Pfkelch13
mutations have been selected under artemisinin pressure.
Inhibitory Potential of Antifungal Drugs on ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters P-Glycoprotein, MRP1 to MRP5, BCRP, and BSEP
Authors: Lempers Vincent J. C. , van den Heuvel Jeroen J. M. W. , Russel Frans G. M. , Aarnoutse Rob E. , Burger David M. , Brüggemann Roger J. , Koenderink Jan B.
Published: March 2016

Inhibition of ABC transporters is a common mechanism underlying drug-drug interactions (DDIs). We determined the inhibitory potential of antifungal drugs currently used for invasive fungal infections on ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp), MRP1 to MRP5, BCRP, and BSEP
in vitro
. Membrane vesicles isolated from transporter-overexpressing HEK 293 cells were used to investigate the inhibitory potential of antifungal drugs (250 μM) on transport of model substrates. Concentration-inhibition curves were determined if transport inhibition was >60%. Fifty percent inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) for P-gp and BCRP were both 2 μM for itraconazole, 5 and 12 μM for hydroxyitraconazole, 3 and 6 μM for posaconazole, and 3 and 11 μM for isavuconazole, respectively. BSEP was strongly inhibited by itraconazole and hydroxyitraconazole (3 and 17 μM, respectively). Fluconazole and voriconazole did not inhibit any transport for >60%. Micafungin uniquely inhibited all transporters, with strong inhibition of MRP4 (4 μM). Anidulafungin and caspofungin showed strong inhibition of BCRP (7 and 6 μM, respectively). Amphotericin B only weakly inhibited BCRP-mediated transport (127 μM). Despite their wide range of DDIs, azole antifungals exhibit selective inhibition on efflux transporters. Although echinocandins display low potential for clinically relevant DDIs, they demonstrate potent
in vitro
inhibitory activity. This suggests that inhibition of ABC transporters plays a crucial role in the inexplicable (non-cytochrome P450-mediated) DDIs with antifungal drugs.