bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No association between obesity and post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage
Authors: Riechelmann H , Blassnigg E C , Profanter C , Greier K , Kral F , Bender B
Published: May 2014

Background:

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide. The impact of overweight on post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates in children and adults is unclear.

Methods:

Body mass index and post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage were evaluated in all patients treated with tonsillectomy within one year in a tertiary referral centre. Bleeding episodes were categorised according to the Austrian Tonsil Study.

Results:

Between June 2011 and June 2012, 300 adults and children underwent tonsillectomy. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage occurred in 55 patients. Of those, 29 were type A (history of blood in saliva only, no active bleeding), 15 were type B (active bleeding, treatment under local anaesthesia) and 11 were type C (active bleeding, treatment under general anaesthesia). The return to operating theatre rate was 3.7 per cent. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage was more frequent in adolescents and adults than in children. Overweight or obesity was positively correlated with age. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding was recorded in 11.1 per cent of underweight patients, 18.9 per cent of normal weight patients and 18.7 per cent of overweight patients (p = 0.7). Data stratification (according to age and weight) did not alter the post-tonsillectomy bleeding risk (p = 0.8).

Conclusion:

Overweight or obesity did not increase the risk of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage in either children or adults.
Zinc deficiency in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a pilot study
Authors: Özler G S
Published: May 2014

Objective:

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a common disease of the oral mucosa, affecting 20 per cent of the general population.1However, the aetiology of this disease is unknown. This is the first controlled study to compare zinc levels in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients with those of a well-matched, healthy, control population.

Methods:

Twenty-five patients with a history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis and 25 healthy people (control group) took part in the study. Patients aged between 20 and 40 years with recurrent oral aphthous ulcers less than 1 cm in diameter were included. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy and lactation, systemic disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Behçet's disease), any current medication (topical or systemic), dental surgery during the previous month and deficiencies in iron, folic acid or vitamin B1, B2, B6 or B12. Serum zinc levels were compared between patient and control groups.

Results:

Zinc deficiency was detected in 28 per cent of recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients and in 4 per cent of controls. The mean serum zinc level in the patient group was significantly lower than in the control group.

Conclusion:

These results suggest an association between zinc deficiency and recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
Refining the latent structure of neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia
Authors: Lam M. , Collinson S. L. , Eng G. K. , Rapisarda A. , Kraus M. , Lee J. , Chong S. A. , Keefe R. S. E.
Published: May 2014

Background.

Elucidating the cognitive architecture of schizophrenia promises to advance understanding of the clinical and biological substrates of the illness. Traditional cross-sectional neuropsychological approaches differentiate impaired from normal cognitive abilities but are limited in their ability to determine latent substructure. The current study examined the latent architecture of abnormal cognition in schizophrenia via a systematic approach.

Method.

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were carried out on a large neuropsychological dataset including the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, Continuous Performance Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Benton Judgment of Line Orientation Test, and Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence matrix reasoning derived from 1012 English-speaking ethnic Chinese healthy controls and 707 schizophrenia cases recruited from in- and out-patient clinics.

Results.

An initial six-factor model fit cognitive data in healthy and schizophrenia subjects. Further modeling, which accounted for methodological variance between tests, resulted in a three-factor model of executive functioning, vigilance/speed of processing and memory that appeared to best discriminate schizophrenia cases from controls. Factor analytic-derivedgestimands and conventionally calculatedgshowed similar case–control discrimination. However, agreement analysis suggested systematic differences between bothgindices.

Conclusions.

Factor structures derived in the current study were broadly similar to those reported previously. However, factor structures between schizophrenia subjects and healthy controls were different. Roles of factor analytic-derivedgestimands and conventional composite scoregwere further discussed. Cognitive structures underlying cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may prove useful for interrogating biological substrates and enriching effect sizes for subsequent work.
When did the consonantal skeleton of the Quran reach closure? Part I
Authors: Sinai Nicolai
Published: May 2014

The Islamic tradition credits the promulgation of a uniform consonantal skeleton (rasm) of the Quran to the third caliph ʿUthmān (r. 644–656). However, in recent years various scholars have espoused a conjectural dating of the Quran's codification to the time of ʿAbd al-Malik, or have at least maintained that the Islamic scripture was open to significant revision up untilc. 700ce. This two-part article proposes to undertake a systematic assessment of this hypothesis. The first instalment assesses the evidence adduced in favour of a late seventh-century closure of the Quranic text, including the interest which ʿAbd al-Malik's governor al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf reportedly took in the text. It is argued that neither the epigraphic nor the literary evidence examined is incompatible with the conventional dating of the Quranic text.
When did the consonantal skeleton of the Quran reach closure? Part II
Authors: Sinai Nicolai
Published: May 2014

The Islamic tradition credits the promulgation of a uniform consonantal skeleton (rasm) of the Quran to the third caliph ʿUthmān (r. 644–656). However, in recent years various scholars have espoused a conjectural dating of the Quran's codification to the time of ʿAbd al-Malik, or have at least taken the view that the Islamic scripture was open to significant revision up untilc. 700ce. The second instalment of this two-part article surveys arguments against this hypothesis. It concludes that as long as no Quranic passages with a distinct stylistic and terminological profile have been compellingly placed in a late seventh-century context, the traditional dating of the standardrasm(excepting certain orthographical features) to 650 or earlier ought to be our default view.
On transferability and contexts when using simulated grasp databases
Authors: Rytz Jimmy A. , Ellekilde Lars-Peter , Kraft Dirk , Petersen Henrik G. , Krüger Norbert
Published: May 2014

It has become a common practice to use simulation to generate large databases of good grasps for grasp planning in robotics research. However, the existence of a generic simulation context that enables the generation of high quality grasps that can be used in several different contexts such as bin-picking or picking objects from a table, has to our knowledge not yet been discussed in the literature.

In this paper, we investigate how well the quality of grasps simulated in a commonly used “generic” context transfers to a specific context, both, in simulation and in the real world.

We generate a large database of grasp hypotheses for several objects and grippers, which we then evaluate in different dynamic simulation contexts e.g., free floating (no gravity, no obstacles), standing on a table and lying on a table.

We present a comparison on the intersection of the grasp outcome space across the different contexts and quantitatively show that to generate reliable grasp databases, it is important to use context specific simulation.

We furthermore evaluate how well a state of the art grasp database transfers from two simulated contexts to a real world context of picking an object from a table and discuss how to evaluate transferability into non-deterministic real world contexts.
Dynamic balance optimization in biped robots: Physical modeling, implementation and tests using an innovative formula
Authors: Muscolo G. G. , Recchiuto C. T. , Molfino R.
Published: May 2014

In this paper, an analytical formula for the determination of the center of mass position in humanoid platforms is proposed and tested in a real humanoid robot. The formula uses the force-torque values obtained by the two force-torque sensors applied on the feet of the robot and the measured currents required from the motors to maintain balance as inputs. The proposed formula outputs the real center of mass position that minimizes the errors between real humanoid robots and virtual models. Data related to the Zero Moment Point positions and to the joint movements are compared with the target values, showing how the application of the proposed formula enables achieving better repeatability and predictability of the static and dynamic robot behaviour.
Change in agricultural land use constrains adaptation of national wildlife refuges to climate change
Authors: HAMILTON CHRISTOPHER M. , THOGMARTIN WAYNE E. , RADELOFF VOLKER C. , PLANTINGA ANDREW J. , HEGLUND PATRICIA J. , MARTINUZZI SEBASTIAN , PIDGEON ANNA M.
Published: May 2014

Land-use change around protected areas limits their ability to conserve biodiversity by altering ecological processes such as natural hydrologic and disturbance regimes, facilitating species invasions, and interfering with dispersal of organisms. This paper informs USA National Wildlife Refuge System conservation planning by predicting future land-use change on lands within 25 km distance of 461 refuges in the USA using an econometric model. The model contained two differing policy scenarios, namely a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario and a ‘pro-agriculture’ scenario. Regardless of scenario, by 2051, forest cover and urban land use were predicted to increase around refuges, while the extent of range and pasture was predicted to decrease; cropland use decreased under the business-as-usual scenario, but increased under the pro-agriculture scenario. Increasing agricultural land value under the pro-agriculture scenario slowed an expected increase in forest around refuges, and doubled the rate of range and pasture loss. Intensity of land-use change on lands surrounding refuges differed by regions. Regional differences among scenarios revealed that an understanding of regional and local land-use dynamics and management options was an essential requirement to effectively manage these conserved lands. Such knowledge is particularly important given the predicted need to adapt to a changing global climate.
Smoke-enhanced seed germination in Mediterranean Lamiaceae
Authors: Çatav Şükrü Serter , Küçükakyüz Köksal , Akbaş Kenan , Tavşanoğlu Çağatay
Published: May 2014

The role of smoke in fire-stimulated germination in the Mediterranean Basin has often been underestimated. A few records on smoke-enhanced germination are present in Mediterranean Lamiaceae species, but there is still a shortage of information to allow generalizations about this family to be made. To test the hypothesis that smoke enhances germination in Mediterranean Lamiaceae species, we performed a germination experiment, including aqueous smoke treatments in various concentrations (1:1, 1:10 and 1:100) on seven eastern Mediterranean Lamiaceae taxa. Six of the studied taxa (Lavandula stoechas, Origanum onites, Phlomis bourgaei, Stachys cretica ssp. smyrnaea, Satureja thymbra, Teucrium lamiifolium ssp. stachyophyllum) showed significant increments in germination percentage in at least one smoke treatment, as compared to the control. Moreover, L. stoechas, S. thymbra and T. lamiifolium ssp. stachyophyllum displayed faster germination in at least one smoke treatment than in the control. Of the species showing significant increments in germination percentages after aqueous smoke application, at least one single concentration of smoke solution did not stimulate germination, except in L. stoechas and S. thymbra which responded positively to all smoke treatments. Therefore, the concentration of aqueous smoke that improved germination was species-specific. Our results contribute to the current limited knowledge on smoke-enhanced germination in Mediterranean Lamiaceae, and support the idea that smoke is an important germination cue for this family.
Effects of great bustard (Otis tarda) gut passage on black nightshade (Solanumnigrum) seed germination
Authors: Bravo C. , Velilla S. , Bautista L.M. , Peco B.
Published: May 2014

Birds are important seed dispersers for fleshy fruits through their transportation of ingested seeds. The seeds of many species germinate faster and in greater proportions after passing through a digestive tract, although the effects of this passage vary amongst bird and plant species. Many factors determine the germination success of ingested seeds, such as seed scarification during the digestion process, the fertilizing effect of droppings and the removal of pulp surrounding the seeds. In central Spain, the great bustard (Otis tarda) may act as a disperser of European black nightshade (Solanum nigrum). We analysed the germination success of ingested and non-ingestedS. nigrumseeds. The fertilizing effect of bustard droppings and the disinhibition effect of the removal ofSolanumpulp on final germination percentage, germination speed and viability were also assessed. Although ingested seeds germinated faster than non-ingested seeds, the former showed a lower germination percentage than the latter: 80–87% versus 99%. Droppings and fruit pulp showed no effect on germination enhancement, except in one aspect: the germination speed of non-ingested seeds decreased when they were sprayed with a fruit extract. We confirm that seeds ingested by great bustards had lower germination success than non-ingested seeds. Although seed ingestion by great bustards reduced seedling emergence, the number of emerged seedlings was still quite large. Thus, great bustards may play a role as aS. nigrumseed dispersal vector.
VAGINAL MICROBIOME–PREGNANT HOST INTERACTIONS DETERMINE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF PRETERM LABOUR
Authors: CHANDIRAMANI MANJU , BENNETT PHILLIP R , BROWN RICHARD , LEE YUN S , MACINTYRE DAVID A.
Published: May 2014

Preterm birth (PTB) has a global prevalence of 11.1% accounting for almost 15 million babies born each year before 37 weeks of gestation. It is a risk factor in over 50% of all neonatal deaths, which amounts to 1.1 million deaths annually. Preterm birth, especially at early gestational ages is associated with a high risk of long-term morbidity in survivors. Despite much research effort, PTB rates continue to rise, placing immense financial and emotional burden on society. In the US, the annual societal economic cost associated with PTB is $26.2 billion with an average of $51,600 being spent per infant born preterm. Preterm labour (PTL) accounts for 70% of these births, of which 25% are preceded by preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes (PPROM).
THE RIGHTS OF MIGRATION
Authors: Grey Colin
Published: May 2014

This paper argues that neither a general right to exclude migrants nor a general right to migrate freely exists. The extent of the right to exclude or the right to migrate freely must instead, in the majority of cases, be determined indirectly by examining whether a given immigration law or policy would result in the violation of migrants’ basic rights. Therefore states’ right to exclude migrants is constrained by what the author calls the indirect principle of freedom of migration. Under this principle, if an immigration law or policy cannot be imposed without violating a migrant's basic rights, then the law or policy cannot be legitimately implemented. The argument for this principle is undertaken both conceptually and substantively. It is then defended against the objections that on the one hand, it may not have enough critical force, and on the other, it may be overly restrictive of states’ power to exclude migrants.
Transfer of Spanish grammatical gender to English: Evidence from immersed and non-immersed bilinguals
Authors: MORALES LUIS , PAOLIERI DANIELA , CUBELLI ROBERTO , BAJO M. TERESA
Published: May 2014

In this study we explored whether native Spanish speakers’ knowledge of grammatical gender in their native language (L1) affects speech production in a second language (L2) which lacks this feature (English). We selected Spanish–English bilinguals for testing who were immersed in either an L1 or an L2 context. Using a picture–word task, participants had to name pictures in their L2 while ignoring distractor words that could be either gender-congruent or gender-incongruent according to the Spanish translation. Results revealed that non-immersed participants were slower naming the pictures in the congruent condition, suggesting that bilingual people are influenced by knowledge about gender in their native language, even when producing utterances in a language in which this information does not apply. However, no such influence was observed for immersed bilinguals, suggesting that immersion environment attenuates access to the native language. We interpret our results as evidence of transfer effects between languages with different lexical systems, which seem to depend on language immersion.
Obese women less likely to have low serum ferritin, Nicaragua
Authors: Wendt Amanda S , Jefferds Maria E , Perrine Cria G , Halleslevens Patricia , Sullivan Kevin M
Published: May 2014

Objective

To examine the association between overweight and obesity and serum ferritin among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Nicaragua, considering the effect of α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), a marker of inflammation.

Design

We analysed data from the 2004–05 Nicaraguan Integrated Surveillance System for Nutrition Interventions. Three logistic regression models were analysed with low serum ferritin (<15 μg/l) as the dependent variable: (i) overweight or obese status and covariates; (ii) model 1 plus AGP; and (iii) model 1 restricted to only women with normal AGP levels (≤1·0 g/l).

Setting

Nicaragua.

Subjects

Included in this analysis were 832 non-pregnant mother/caregivers (15–49 years) surveyed in 2004–2005.

Results

In the sample, prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31·8 % and 19·2 %, respectively, and 27·6 % had low serum ferritin. In model 1, the adjusted OR of low serum ferritin was 0·74 (95 % CI 0·52, 1·05) for overweight women and 0·42 (95 % CI 0·26, 0·65) for obese women. In model 2, AGP was significantly independently associated with low serum ferritin (adjusted OR=0·56, 95 % CI 0·34, 0·92) while the adjusted OR for overweight and obesity were largely unchanged. Excluding women with elevated AGP did not appreciably affect the relationship between overweight or obesity and low serum ferritin (model 3).

Conclusions

Overall, in this population of reproductive-age women, obese women were less likely to have low serum ferritin levels, and this was independent of inflammation as measured by AGP.
Daily sodium consumption and CVD mortality in the general population: systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Poggio Rosana , Gutierrez Laura , Matta María G , Elorriaga Natalia , Irazola Vilma , Rubinstein Adolfo
Published: May 2014

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether elevated dietary Na intake could be associated with CVD mortality.

Design

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies representing the general population. The adjusted relative risks and their 95 % confidence intervals were pooled by the inverse variance method using random-effects models. Heterogeneity, publication bias, subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed.

Settings

MEDLINE (since 1973), Embase (since 1975), the Cochrane Library (since 1976), ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar (until September 2013) and secondary referencing were searched for inclusion in the study.

Subject

Eleven prospective studies with 229 785 participants and average follow-up period of 13·37 years (range 5·5–19 years).

Results

Higher Na intake was significantly associated with higher CVD mortality (relative risk=1·12; 95 % CI 1·06, 1·19). In the sensitivity analysis, the exclusion of studies with important relative weights did not significantly affect the results (relative risk=1·08; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·15). The meta-regression analysis showed that for every increase of 10 mmol/d in Na intake, CVD mortality increased significantly by 1 % (P=0·016). Age, hypertensive status and length of follow-up were also associated with increased CVD mortality.

Conclusions

Higher Na intake was associated with higher CVD mortality in the general population; this result suggests a reduction in Na intake to prevent CVD mortality from any cause.
Analytical Formulae for Calculation of X-Ray Detector Solid Angles in the Scanning and Scanning/Transmission Analytical Electron Microscope
Authors: Zaluzec Nestor J.
Published: May 2014

Closed form analytical equations used to calculate the collection solid angle of six common geometries of solid-state X-ray detectors in scanning and scanning/transmission analytical electron microscopy are presented. Using these formulae one can make realistic comparisons of the merits of the different detector geometries in modern electron column instruments. This work updates earlier formulations and adds new detector configurations.
Self-rating makes the difference: Identifying palliative care needs of patients feeling severely affected by multiple sclerosis
Authors: Strupp Julia , Golla Heidrun , Galushko Maren , Buecken Raphael , Ernstmann Nicole , Hahn Moritz , Pfaff Holger , Voltz Raymond
Published: May 2014

Objective:

People feeling severely affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) comprise a heterogeneous group, and this heterogeneity leads to very distinct needs and makes planning for needs difficult. To provide optimal care, it is important to identify specific needs in specific subgroups. Our objective was to identify the specific palliative care (PC) needs of patients who felt severely affected by the disease by analyzing their feeling (1) more or (2) less severely affected and their possible differences in expressed care needs.

Method:

A self-report questionnaire with 25 needs categories including 7 categories pertaining to care was applied to patients who felt severely affected by MS. An additional single question identified patients feeling more (≥7, median-split) and less (<7) severely affected. Differences were analyzed by chi-squared and Mann–Whitney U tests. The sample (N = 573) was composed of respondents who replied to an invitation by the German Multiple Sclerosis Society to participate in a survey on unmet needs of severely affected patients.

Results:

Of 573 patients (median age 51), 358 (62.48%) felt more severely affected. Compared to patients feeling less severely affected, they found the stress on their next of kin to be higher (p < 0.001), were in greater need of home visitation (p < 0.001), did not have permanent neurologists (p = 0.016), and felt that they visited them too rarely (p < 0.0001). They also needed more emotional support from their nursing care service (p = 0.006).

Significance of results:

A self-rating scale can identify two groups of patients with different care needs. These data may help shaping patient-centered support structures. Palliative care, with its multidisciplinary approach, might be one further option to meet the specific needs of patients and their relatives.
Physical conditions and chemistry of molecular gas in galactic centers
Authors: Aalto Susanne
Published: May 2014

Studying the molecular phase of the interstellar medium in galaxy nuclei is fundamental for the understanding of the onset and evolution of star formation and the growth of supermassive black holes. We can use molecules as observational tools exploiting them as tracers of chemical, physical and dynamical conditions. The molecular physical conditions in galaxy centers show large variety among galaxies, but in general the average gas densities (traced by e.g. HCN) and temperatures (probed by e.g. H2CO, NH3) are greater than in their disks. Molecular gas and dust is being funneled to the centers of galaxies by spiral arms, bars, and interactions - and one example of this is the minor merger NGC1614. Gas surface densities are also greater in galaxy nuclei and in extreme cases they become orders of magnitudes larger than what we find in the center of our own Milky Way. We can use IR excited molecular emission to probe the very inner regions of galaxies with deeply obscured nuclei where N(H2)>1024 cm−2 - for example the luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) NGC4418. Abundances of key molecules such as HCN, HCO+, HNC, HC3N, CN, H3O+ are important tools in identifying the nature of buried activity and its evolution. Standard astrochemical scenarios (including X-ray Dominated regions (XDRs) and Photon Dominated Regions (PDRs)) are briefly discussed in this review and how we can use molecules to distinguish between them. High resolution studies are often necessary to separate effects of excitation and radiative transfer from those of chemistry - one example is absorption and effects of stimulated emission in the ULIRG Arp220. The nuclear activity in luminous galaxies often drives outflows and winds and in some cases molecular gas is being entrained in the outflows. Sometimes the molecular gas is carrying the bulk of the momentum. We can study the structure and physical conditions of the molecular gas to constrain the mass outflow rates and the evolution and nature of the driving source and two examples are discussed here: NGC1377 and Mrk231.
The Galactic center: not an active galactic nucleus
Authors: An Deokkeun , Ramírez Solange V. , Sellgren Kris
Published: May 2014

We present 10 μm – 35μm Spitzer spectra of the interstellar medium in the central molecular zone (CMZ), the central 210 pc × 60 pc of the Galactic center (GC). We present maps of the CMZ in ionic and H2 emission, covering a more extensive area than earlier spectroscopic surveys in this region. We compare diagnostic line ratios measured in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to our data. Previous work shows that forbidden line ratios can distinguish star-forming galaxies from low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our GC line ratios agree with star-forming galaxies and not with LINERs or AGNs.
The new infrared diffuse interstellar bands in the Galactic center
Authors: Geballe T. R. , Najarro F. , de la Fuente D. , Figer D. F. , Adamson A. J. , Rawlings M. G.
Published: May 2014

The diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are a set of absorption features, some of which are broad (“diffuse”), that are formed in the diffuse ISM. Since their discovery nearly a century ago their numbers have increased to over 500. The strongest of these are known to be ubiquitous in the universe. There is general consensus that they are produced by large carbon-bearing molecules; however, no specific identification of any single DIB has survived scrutiny. The overwhelming majority of DIBs are at optical and very near infrared wavelengths. In 1990 two DIBs were identified in J-band spectra, at 1.18 μm and 1.31 μm by Joblin et al. (1990); until recently these were the longest wavelength examples known.
The thermal state of molecular clouds in the Galactic center: evidence for non-photon-driven heating
Authors: Ao Y. , Henkel C. , Menten K. M. , Requena-Torres M. A. , Stanke T. , Mauersberger R. , Aalto S. , Mühle S. , Mangum J.
Published: May 2014

We have used the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) 12 m telescope at 218 GHz to observe molecular clouds simultaneously in the JKaKc = 303→202, 322→221, and 321→220 transitions of para-H2CO to determine kinetic temperatures of the dense gas in the central molecular zone of the Galaxy. Gas kinetic temperatures for individual molecular clouds range from 55 to 125 K or even higher. The molecular clouds at high temperatures may be heated by turbulent dissipation and/or cosmic-rays.
An X-ray survey of the central molecular zone: variability of the FeKα emission line
Authors: Soldi Simona , Clavel Maïca , Goldwurm Andrea , Morris Mark R. , Ponti Gabriele , Terrier Régis , Trap Guillaume
Published: May 2014

The bulk of the FeKα emission detected in the central molecular zone (CMZ) is thought to be associated with reflection by the central molecular clouds of enhanced past emission from an external X-ray source, most likely Sgr A*. In order to follow the propagation of the reflected emission through the Galactic center (GC), we analyzed all XMM-Newton observations carried out from 2000 to 2012. Preliminary results indicate that while most of the regions that were bright at 6.4 keV in 2000–2001 have a significantly lower flux in 2012, a few other experienced a flux increase. We report for the first time a significant decrease of the FeKα emission in the Sgr C complex, supporting the reflection origin of the 6.4 keV emission detected in this region.
Opening again the debate: the transient nature of the circumnuclear disk
Authors: Requena-Torres M. A. , Mills E. A. C. , Güsten R. , Morris M. R. , Weiss A. , Martín-Pintado J. , Harris A.
Published: May 2014

Despite many investigations, the physical characteristics of the molecular gas in the Galactic center circumnuclear disk (CND) remain a topic of debate. Its mass is highly uncertain, between 104 (from dust) and 105–6 M⊙ (derived from gas tracers), and depending on the probe, density estimates for the dense clumps are 105–8 cm−3 and gas temperatures run from 50 to a few hundred K. The range of physical parameters leaves open many questions about the nature and fate of the CND. Using several ground-based observatories, together with Herschel and SOFIA, we have studied the physical conditions of the dense clumps using CO, HCN and HCO+, finding that most of them are transient. Their densities are not large enough for them to be gravitationally bound in the tidal field in the center of our Galaxy.
A radio survey of Galactic center clouds
Authors: Mills E. A. C. , Lang C. C. , Morris M. R. , Ott J. , Butterfield N. , Ludovici D. , Schmitz S. , Schmiedeke A.
Published: May 2014

We present a radio survey of molecules in a sample of Galactic center molecular clouds, including M0.25 + 0.01, the clouds near Sgr A, and Sgr B2. The molecules detected are primarily NH3 and HC3N; in Sgr B2-N we also detect non-metastable NH3, vibrationally-excited HC3N, torsionally-excited CH3OH, and numerous isotopologues of these species. 36 GHz Class I CH3OH masers are ubiquitous in these fields, and in several cases are associated with new NH3 (3,3) maser candidates. We also find that NH3 and HC3N are depleted or absent toward several of the highest dust column density peaks identified in submillimeter observations, which are associated with water masers and are thus likely in the early stages of star formation.
The Galactic center: a model for cosmic ray interactions in starburst galaxies?
Authors: Yoast-Hull T. , Gallagher J. S. , Zweibel E.
Published: May 2014

The Galactic center contains strong magnetic fields, high radiation fields, and dense molecular gas, as is also the case in starburst galaxies. The close proximity of the Galactic center allows for more and better observations of the interstellar medium than for extragalactic sources making it an ideal place for testing models for cosmic ray interactions. We compare our semi-analytic model for cosmic ray interactions to published data for both the Galactic center and the starburst galaxy NGC 253. We present the predicted radio and γ-ray spectra and compare the results with published measurements. In this way we provide a quantitative basis for assessing the degree to which the Galactic center resembles a starburst system.
Gas inflow and nuclear star formation in galaxies with non-axisymmetric bulges
Authors: Kim E. , Kim S. S. , Lee G.-H. , Lee M. G. , de Grijs R.
Published: May 2014

We present the dependence of the amount of nuclear star formation on the non-axisymmetry of a bulge of disk galaxies. For this, we use a volume-limited sample of spiral galaxies at 0.02 < = z < 0.055 from the SDSS DR7. Among 3173 final sample galaxies with an axis ratio b/a > 0.6 and a bulge fraction ranged in B/T <= 0.41, nuclear starburst galaxies are 10%. We find that a fraction of the nuclear starburst galaxies become higher when ellipticity of a bulge increases in early type galaxies. Also, the fraction increases clearly when early type galaxies are isolated and in low density region. Our results indicate that the non-axisymmetry of bulges assists gas to fall inside and affects the nuclear starburst process in disk galaxies.
A 3-D mid-infrared view of the central parsec
Authors: Moultaka J. , Eckart A. , Mužić K. , Sabha N.
Published: May 2014

We present a mid-infrared 3D view of the central parsec using ISAAC spectrograph (ESO/VLT) with its spectroscopic mode. We mapped the central parsec in L- and M-bands by using 27 and 21 slit positions, respectively, that allowed us to build two data cubes of the region in these spectral domains. We also use an original method to distinguish the contribution of the foreground extinction to the absorbed spectra from that of the local extinction in both wavelength ranges. We find that there are residual water and CO ices in the central parsec as well as hydrocarbons and gaseous CO implying very low temperatures of the order of tens of Kelvin in the local environment of Sgr A*.
Chemical differentiation in Sagittarius B2(N): first high resolution results
Authors: Corby J. F. , Jones P. A. , Cunningham M. R. , Remijan A. J.
Published: May 2014

Sgr B2 is an active high mass star forming region in the Galactic center and the pre-eminent interstellar source of organic chemistry. Newly available broad bandwidth radio interferometry data enables a spatially resolved study of the chemical environments within the Sgr B2(N) core. We present selections from a 30 - 50 GHz spectral line survey conducted with the ATCA.
On the origin of young stars at the Galactic center
Authors: Madigan Ann-Marie , Pfuhl Oliver , Levin Yuri , Gillessen Stefan , Genzel Reinhard , Perets Hagai B.
Published: May 2014

The center of our Galaxy is home to a massive black hole, Sgr A*, and a nuclear star cluster containing stellar populations of various ages. While the late type stars may be too old to have retained memory of their initial orbital configuration, and hence formation mechanism, the kinematics of the early type stars should reflect their original distribution. In this contribution we present a new statistic which uses directly-observable kinematic stellar data to infer orbital parameters for stellar populations, and is capable of distinguishing between different origin scenarios. We use it on a population of B-stars in the Galactic center that extends out to large radii (∼0.5 pc) from the massive black hole. We find that the high K-magnitude population (≲15 M⊙) form an eccentric distribution, suggestive of a Hills binary-disruption origin.
Forming misaligned stellar disks around a massive black hole: cloud infall in the Galactic center
Authors: Lucas William , Bonnell Ian , Davies Melvyn , Rice Ken
Published: May 2014

The innermost parsec around Sgr A* has been found to play host to two disks or streamers of O and W-R stars. They are misaligned by an angle approaching 90°. That the stars are approximately coeval indicates that they formed in the same event rather than independently. We have performed smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations of the infall of a single prolate cloud towards a massive black hole. As the cloud is disrupted, the large spread in angular momentum can, if conditions allow, lead to the creation of misaligned gas disks. In turn, stars may form within those disks. We are now investigating the origins of these clouds in the Galactic center (GC) region.
Hydrodynamical simulations of a compact source scenario for G2
Authors: Ballone A. , Schartmann M. , Burkert A. , Gillessen S. , Genzel R. , Fritz T. K. , Eisenhauer F. , Pfuhl O. , Ott T.
Published: May 2014

The origin of the dense gas cloud “G2” discovered in the Galactic center (Gillessen et al. 2012) is still a debated puzzle. G2 might be a diffuse cloud or the result of an outflow from an invisible star embedded in it. We present here detailed simulations of the evolution of winds on G2's orbit. We find that the hydrodynamic interaction with the hot atmosphere present in the Galactic center and the extreme gravitational field of the supermassive black hole must be taken into account when modeling such a source scenario. We also find that in this scenario most of the Brγ luminosity is expected to come from the highly filamentary densest shocked wind material. G2's observational properties can be used to constrain the properties of the outflow and our best model has a mass outflow rate of Ṁw=8.8 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1 and a wind velocity of vw = 50 km s−1. These values are compatible with those of a young TTauri star wind, as already suggested by Scoville & Burkert (2013).
The reflection of two past outbursts of Sagittarius A* observed by Chandra during the last decade
Authors: Clavel M. , Terrier R. , Goldwurm A. , Morris M. R. , Ponti G. , Soldi S. , Trap G.
Published: May 2014

The supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, Sagittarius A* has experienced periods of higher activity in the past. The reflection of these past outbursts is observed in the molecular material surrounding the black hole but reconstructing its precise lightcurve is difficult since the distribution of the clouds along the line of sight is poorly constrained.

Using Chandra high-resolution data collected from 1999 to 2011 we studied both the 6.4 keV and the 4–8 keV emission of the region located between Sgr A* and the Radio arc, characterizing its variations down to 15″ angular scale and 1-year time scale. The emission from the molecular clouds in the region varies significantly, showing either a 2-year peaked emission or 10-year linear variations. This is the first time that such fast variations are measured. Based on the cloud parameters, we conclude that these two behaviors are likely due to two distinct past outbursts of Sgr A* during which its luminosity rose to at least 1039 erg s−1.
Nonthermal filamentary radio features within 20 pc of the Galactic center
Authors: Morris M. R. , Zhao J.-H. , Goss W. M.
Published: May 2014

Deep imaging of the Sgr A complex at 6 cm wavelength with the B and C configurations of the Karl G. Jansky VLA† has revealed a new population of faint radio filaments. Like their brighter counterparts that have been observed throughout the Galactic center on larger scales, these filaments can extend up to ∼10 parsecs, and in most cases are strikingly uniform in brightness and curvature. Comparison with a survey of Paschen-α emission reveals that some of the filaments are emitting thermally, but most of these structures are nonthermal: local magnetic flux tubes illuminated by synchrotron emission. The new image reveals considerable filamentary substructure in previously known nonthermal filaments (NTFs). Unlike NTFs previously observed on larger scales, which tend to show a predominant orientation roughly perpendicular to the Galactic plane, the NTFs in the vicinity of the Sgr A complex are relatively randomly oriented. Two well-known radio sources to the south of Sgr A – sources E and F – consist of numerous quasi-parallel filaments that now appear to be particularly bright portions of a much larger, strongly curved, continuous, nonthermal radio structure that we refer to as the “Southern Curl”. It is therefore unlikely that sources E and F are Hii regions or pulsar wind nebulae. The Southern Curl has a smaller counterpart on the opposite side of the Galactic center – the Northern Curl – that, except for its smaller scale and smaller distance from the center, is roughly point-reflection symmetric with respect to the Southern Curl. The curl features indicate that some field lines are strongly distorted, presumably by mass flows. The point symmetry about the center then suggests that the flows originate near the center and are somewhat collimated.
Characteristics of millimeter variability of Sgr A*
Authors: Tsutsumi T. , Miyazaki A. , Tsuboi M.
Published: May 2014

We present the analysis of flux variations of Sgr A* at millimeter wavelengths based on the long-term monitoring project spanning over a decade using the Nobeyama Millimeter Array. We investigate basic characteristics of the flux variability using some standard parameterizations of the data. Such basic properties of the flux variations in the mm-regime can provide valuable information not only for its underlying mechanisms in general but also for understanding observed radio/mm flux measurements during an accretion event.
Effects of magnetic field on the runaway instability of relativistic accretion tori near a rotating black hole
Authors: Karas V. , Hamerský J.
Published: May 2014

Runaway instability operates in accretion tori around black holes, where it affects systems close to the critical (cusp overflowing) configuration. The runaway effect depends on the radial profile l(R) of the angular momentum distribution of the fluid, on the dimension-less spin a of the central black hole (|a| ≤ 1), and other factors, such as self-gravity. Here we discuss the role of runaway instability within a framework of an axially symmetric model of perfect fluid endowed with a purely toroidal magnetic field.
High-energy particles from SN-explosions near the Galactic center
Authors: Dorfi Ernst A. , Steiner Daniel
Published: May 2014

Several supernovae exploding in a compact cluster of massive stars generate a galactic outflow with embedded shock waves. Based on numerical simulations for an expanding superbubble above the Galactic center we find that these individual waves generated by the repeated SN-explosions, interact with each other and finally coalesce into a single strong shock at a distance of 5 kpc above the Galactic plane at about 5 ċ 106 years after outbreak. The resulting shock with a Mach number M ≃ 10 propagates up to 100 kpc in less than 108 years. The time-dependent mass an energy loss out of the superbubble affects the further evolution of the outflow. In such long lasting shock waves energetic particles can be accelerated above the knee of 1015 eV already near the galactic plane by a first-order Fermi-mechanism. The additional pressure gradients from such cosmic rays lead to further accelerations of the galactic outflow since these ultra-relativistic particles suffer less from adiabatic losses than the thermal gas.
The effect of known cardiovascular risk factors on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in school-aged children: a population based twin study
Authors: McCloskey K. , Sun C. , Pezic A. , Cochrane J. , Morley R. , Vuillermin P. , Burgner D. , Dwyer T. , Ponsonby A.-L.
Published: May 2014

Childhood cardiovascular risk factors affect vascular function long before overt cardiovascular disease. Twin studies provide a unique opportunity to examine the influence of shared genetic and environmental influences on childhood cardiovascular function. We examined the relationship between birth parameters, markers of adiposity, insulin resistance, lipid profile and blood pressure and carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), a validated non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness in a healthy cohort of school-aged twin children.

PWV was performed on a population-based birth cohort of 147 twin pairs aged 7–11 years. Fasting blood samples, blood pressure and adiposity measures were collected concurrently. Mixed linear regression models were used to account for twin clustering, within- and between-twin pair associations.

There were positive associations between both markers of higher adiposity, insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides and PWV, which remained significant after accounting for twin birth-set clustering. There was a positive association between both diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure and PWV in within-pair analysis in dizygotic, but not monozygotic twins, indicating genetic differences evident in dizygotic not monozygotic twins may affect these associations.

Increased blood pressure, triglycerides and other metabolic markers are associated with increased PWV in school-aged twins. These results support both the genetic and environmental contribution to higher PWV, as a marker of arterial stiffness, and reiterate the importance of preventing metabolic syndrome from childhood.
Using longitudinal imaging to map the ‘relapse signature’ of schizophrenia and other psychoses
Authors: Cropley V. L. , Pantelis C.
Published: May 2014

Brain imaging studies in schizophrenia have typically involved single assessment and cross-sectional designs, while longitudinal studies rarely incorporate more than two time points. While informative, these studies do not adequately capture potential trajectories of neurobiological change, particularly in the context of a changing clinical picture. We propose that the analysis of brain trajectories using multiple time points may inform our understanding of the illness and the effect of treatment. This paper makes the case for frequent serial neuroimaging across the course of schizophrenia psychoses and its application to active illness epsiodes to provide a detailed examination of psychosis relapse and remission.
Influence of vanadium concentration and temperature on the preparation of electrochromic thin films of ammonium intercalated vanadium(v) oxide xerogel nanoribbons
Authors: Najdoski Metodija , Koleva Violeta , Samet Aksu
Published: May 2014

A new and simple chemical method for deposition of thin films of ammonium intercalated V2O5·nH2O xerogels has been designed.
A highly sensitive nanoscale pH-sensor using Au nanoparticles linked by a multifunctional Raman-active reporter molecule
Authors: Lawson Latevi S. , Chan James W. , Huser Thomas
Published: May 2014

Chemical sensingviaSERS was achieved by synthesizing a multifunctional dithiol-reporter molecule with capabilities to link gold colloids and respond to pH.
Molecular modeling study of the recognition mechanism and enantioseparation of 4-hydroxypropranolol by capillary electrophoresis using carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector
Authors: Nascimento Clebio Soares , Lopes Juliana Fedoce , Guimarães Luciana , Borges Keyller Bastos
Published: May 2014

Elution order elucidation of 4-hydroxypropranolol by capillary electrophoresis and theoretical methods.
Large scale infrared imaging of tissue micro arrays (TMAs) using a tunable Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) based microscope
Authors: Bassan Paul , Weida Miles J. , Rowlette Jeremy , Gardner Peter
Published: May 2014

Chemical imaging in the field of vibrational spectroscopy is developing into a promising tool to complement digital histopathology.
Electroanalytical determination of bumetanide employing a biomimetic sensor for detection of doping in sports
Authors: Regina dos Santos Ruy Mayara , Carneiro Figueira Eduardo , Del Pilar Taboada Sotomayor Maria
Published: May 2014

This paper describes the development of a new method for the quantification of bumetanide in urine samples from athletes and in pharmaceutical formulations to detect doping, using a biomimetic sensor based on a biomimetic catalyst of the P450 enzyme.
Electrochemical detection of pathogenic bacteria by using a glucose dehydrogenase fused zinc finger protein
Authors: Lee Jinhee , Tatsumi Atsuro , Abe Koichi , Yoshida Wataru , Sode Koji , Ikebukuro Kazunori
Published: May 2014

We developed an electrochemical detection system for pathogenic bacteria by utilizing a glucose dehydrogenase-fused zinc finger protein (ZF-GDH), which could detect PCR products electrochemically without the need for DNA probe hybridization. Using ZF-GDH, we could specifically detect 10 copies of genomic DNA derived fromEscherichia coliO157.