bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and thermal stability of hybrid polymers using UV photopolymerization based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes
Authors: Bai Xuetao , Zhang Chunling , Liu Bo , Jiang Chunmei , Mu Jianxin
Published: May 2012

A series of hybrid polymers based on methacrylphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (MA-POSS) and methylmethacrylate (MMA) were rapidly synthesized via UV photopolymerization through a (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)diphenylphosphine oxide-initiated reaction. The structure and morphology of hybrid polymers were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed that the MA-POSS cage could be successfully incorporated into the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) chain. The obtained hybrid polymers had no obvious aggregation of MA-POSS. It can be concluded that MA-POSS were well-dispersed in the hybrid polymers. The thermal properties of PMMA–POSS hybrid polymers were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results show that the incorporation of POSS cage results in the enhancement of the glass transition temperature and the decomposition temperature of hybrid polymers as compared with PMMA polymers without MA-POSS.
Multidisciplinary studies in environmental archaeology with particular reference to China: An introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Zong Yongqiang , Chen Zhongyuan , Yu Zicheng
Published: May 2012

An important focus in research over the past decade is the relationship between climatic/environmental change and human cultural evolution during the Holocene. This decade saw an increasing number of natural scientists involved in this research, which led to debates and collaborations between natural scientists and archaeologists/anthropologists. This decade also witnessed an increase in multidisciplinary research across these subjects, which has improved significantly the understanding of the human–environment relationship. As part of this research drive, this Special Issue highlights the importance of multidisciplinary studies, mainly from China, on early rice agriculture, impacts of environmental change in Neolithic communities, and new approaches for environmental reconstruction.
Seeking “A Place Where One Belongs”
Authors: Lee Kumsun , Herrera C. Lourdes R. , Lee Setsuko , Nakamura Yasuhide
Published: May 2012

Purpose: The study examined the subjective life experiences of elderly first-generation Korean women living in Japan and investigated their adjustment to the local Japanese community. Design: The study group comprised 14 elderly Korean women residents at a Korean-oriented, insurance-based, day services center in midwestern Japan. They were interviewed in depth, and the data were analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach. Findings: The study designated the core category as “conservation of ethnic identity” and identified five subcategories: (a) loneliness, (b) returning to one’s homeland culture, (c) physical decline as a result of aging, (d) family ties, and (e) a place where one belongs. Conclusions: The results elucidated that although the participants had adapted to Japanese culture, they were strongly influenced by the memories of their hometowns and wished to return to their homeland. Implications for Practice: The study suggests that elderly immigrants need day care support that provides an environment where they can enjoy their culture.
Workshop on transitioning structural health monitoring technology to military platforms
Authors: Seaver Mark , Chattopadhyay Aditi , Papandreou-Suppapola Antonia , Kim Seung B , Kovvali Narayan , Farrar Charles R , Triplett Matt H , Derriso Mark M
Published: May 2012

Interest in structural health monitoring/management is attracting lots of attention across a spectrum that ranges from sensor developers to end users. The US military, in particular, is making a concerted effort to implement condition-based maintenance as a means of reducing the life cycle costs and improving availability of various weapon platforms. Despite this effort, the majority of installed health monitoring systems are limited to rotating machinery such as engines, transmissions, and other gear boxes. The goal of this workshop was to bring together representatives from military, industry, and academia covering the spectrum from hardware developers to end users and platform managers and have them discuss issues that must be addressed as structural health monitoring systems mature to the point that managers will implement them. This article describes those discussions and highlights important issues that need to be addressed as structural health monitoring systems make the transition from laboratory scale demonstrations to real-world use.
Natural frequency self-tuning energy harvester using a circular Halbach array magnetic disk
Authors: Wang Yu-Jen , Chen Chung-De , Sung Cheng-Kuo , Li Chien
Published: May 2012

A novel natural frequency self-tuning energy harvester is presented, which utilizes the presence of the nonlinearity model and the well-weighted swing disk to maximize the power output and the frequency bandwidth for a wheel rotating at any speed. Kinetic energy harvesters are frequency selective, meaning that they have high power transmission efficiency only when they are excited at their natural frequency. The well-weighted swing disk with nonlinear effects can render the energy harvester more broadband, that is, it has a more steady power generation at various wheel speeds than the ill-weighted swing disk has. We integrate magnets in a novel circular Halbach array and coils into the design to augment the magnetic strength on one side of the array where the coils are placed. Therefore, the gradient of the average magnetic flux density for the circular Halbach array disk is larger than that of the multipolar magnetic disk. The dynamic models with electromechanical couplings have been established and are analyzed. In the experiments, the power output of the prototype at an optimum external resistance was approximately 300–550 µW at about 200–500 rpm and precisely matches the numerical results.
Electromechanical dynamics and optimization of pectoral fin–based ionic polymer–metal composite underwater propulsor
Authors: Karthigan Ganesan , Mukherjee Sujoy , Ganguli Ranjan
Published: May 2012

Ionic polymer–metal composites are soft artificial muscle-like bending actuators, which can work efficiently in wet environments such as water. Therefore, there is significant motivation for research on the development and design analysis of ionic polymer–metal composite based biomimetic underwater propulsion systems. Among aquatic animals, fishes are efficient swimmers with advantages such as high maneuverability, high cruising speed, noiseless propulsion, and efficient stabilization. Fish swimming mechanisms provide biomimetic inspiration for underwater propulsor design. Fish locomotion can be broadly classified into body and/or caudal fin propulsion and median and/or paired pectoral fin propulsion. In this article, the paired pectoral fin–based oscillatory propulsion using ionic polymer–metal composite for aquatic propulsor applications is studied. Beam theory and the concept of hydrodynamic function are used to describe the interaction between the beam and water. Furthermore, a quasi-steady blade element model that accounts for unsteady phenomena such as added mass effects, dynamic stall, and the cumulative Wagner effect is used to obtain hydrodynamic performance of the ionic polymer–metal composite propulsor. Dynamic characteristics of ionic polymer–metal composite fin are analyzed using numerical simulations. It is shown that the use of optimization methods can lead to significant improvement in performance of the ionic polymer–metal composite fin.
A constitutive model for Fe-based shape memory alloy considering martensitic transformation and plastic sliding coupling: Application to a finite element structural analysis
Authors: Khalil Walid , Mikolajczak Alain , Bouby Céline , Zineb Tarak Ben
Published: May 2012

In this article, we propose a finite element numerical tool adapted to a Fe-based shape memory alloy structural analysis, based on a developed constitutive model that describes the effect of phase transformation, plastic sliding, and their interactions on the thermomechanical behavior. This model was derived from an assumed expression of the Gibbs free energy taking into account nonlinear interaction quantities related to inter- and intragranular incompatibilities as well as mechanical and chemical quantities. Two scalar internal variables were considered to describe the phase transformation and plastic sliding effects. The hysteretic and specific behavior patterns of Fe-based shape memory alloy during reverse transformation were studied by assuming a dissipation expression. The proposed model effectively describes the complex thermomechanical loading paths. The numerical tool derived from the implicit resolution of the nonlinear partial derivative constitutive equations was implemented into the Abaqus® finite element code via the User MATerial (UMAT) subroutine. After tests to verify the model for homogeneous and heterogeneous thermomechanical loadings, an example of Fe-based shape memory alloy application was studied, which corresponds to a tightening system made up of fishplates for crane rails. The results we obtained were compared to experimental ones.
Wideband vibro-impacting vibration energy harvesting using magnetoelectric transduction
Authors: Moss Scott D , McLeod Joshua E , Galea Steve C
Published: May 2012

This article reports on proof-of-concept experimental work carried out to demonstrate a wideband vibro-impacting energy harvesting approach based on a magnet/bearing arrangement coupled with a magnetoelectric transducer. The harvesting arrangement uses a Terfenol-D/Pz27 laminate transducer (disc with radius 5 mm) positioned between an oscillating spherical chrome-steel bearing and a rare earth magnet. The oscillating bearing steers magnetic field through the magnetoelectric transducer, generating an oscillating charge that can be harvested. A vibro-impacting arrangement between the oscillating bearing (radius 12.7 mm) and a pair of aluminium mechanical stops is designed to produce a wideband frequency response. For a 434 mG host acceleration, the vibro-impact mechanism produced a bandwidth of ∼7.2 Hz (between 6 and ∼13.2 Hz). The issue of damage to the mechanical stops caused by the vibro-impacting process is also explored and was demonstrated experimentally and theoretically to be inconsequential. This non-optimized wideband harvesting approach has demonstrated a generated power of 3.3 µW from a root mean square host acceleration of 180 m-g at 8.0 Hz.
Wake synergies enhance performance in aeroelastic vibration energy harvesting
Authors: Bryant Matthew , Mahtani Ranjeev L , Garcia Ephrahim
Published: May 2012

This study experimentally demonstrates that a closely spaced array of aeroelastic flutter energy harvesters can exploit synergistic wake interactions to outperform the same number of harvesters operating in isolation. The fluttering motion of each energy harvester imparts an oscillating vortex wake into the flow downstream of the device. Wind tunnel experiments with arrays of two and four flutter energy harvesters show that this wake structure has significant effects on the vibration amplitude, frequency, and power output of the trailing devices. These wake interaction effects are shown to vary with the stream-wise and cross-stream separation distance between the harvesters. Over a defined range of separations, an advantageous frequency lock-in between the devices arises. When this occurs, the trailing harvesters can extract additional energy from the wake of upstream harvesters, causing larger oscillation amplitudes and higher power output in the trailing devices. Experiments to characterize this variation in power output due to these wake interaction effects and to determine the optimal spacing of the energy harvesters are presented and discussed. Smoke-wire flow visualization is used to examine the wake structure and investigate the mechanism of the array interactions.
A survey of control strategies for simultaneous vibration suppression and energy harvesting via piezoceramics
Authors: Wang Ya , Inman Daniel J
Published: May 2012

This article presents a summary of passive, semipassive, semiactive, and active control methods for schemes using harvested energy as the main source of energy to suppress vibrations via piezoelectric materials. This concept grew out of the fact that energy dissipation effects resulting from energy harvesting can cause structural damping. First, the existing equivalent electromechanical modeling methods are reviewed for vibration-based energy harvesters using piezoelectric transducers. Modeling of base excitation cantilever beam ranges from lumped to distributed parameter formulations. The commonly used electrical power conditioning circuits and their optimization are also summarized and discussed. The energy dissipation from harvesting induces structural damping, and this leads to the concept of purely passive shunt damping. This article reviews the literature on vibration control laws along the lines of purely passive, semipassive, semiactive, and active control. The classification of pervious results is built on whether external power is supplied to the piezoelectric transducers. The focus is placed on recent articles investigating semipassive and semiactive control strategies derived from synchronized switching damping. However, whether or not the harvested energy is large enough to satisfy a vibration suppression requirement has become an important topic of research but has not yet specifically been addressed in previous studies. Hence, this survey also reviews the possible control methods aiming for less control energy consumption and addresses the potential application for simultaneous vibration control and energy harvesting.
Dynamic temperature measurements on a thermally activated self-healing ionomer
Authors: Haase Thomas , Rohr Ingmar , Thoma Klaus
Published: May 2012

An ionomer, which is able to self-heal the damage after ballistic impact of a projectile, was studied using dynamic puncture tests. A temperature increase in this polymer is a fundamental part of the self-healing process. Therefore, the temperature during the puncture tests was measured using embedded thermocouples. These adiabatic temperature measurements allow for some first conclusions about the processes that are involved in the heating of the material during an impact process.
Design equations for binary shape memory actuators under arbitrary external forces
Authors: Spaggiari Andrea , Spinella Igor , Dragoni Eugenio
Published: May 2012

This article presents the design equations for an on–off shape memory alloy actuator working against an external system of arbitrary constant forces. A binary shape memory alloy actuator is considered where a cursor is moved against both conservative and dissipative forces, which may be different during the push or pull phase. Three cases are analysed and differentiated in the way the bias force is applied to the primary shape memory alloy spring: using a constant force, a conventional spring or a second shape memory alloy spring. Closed-form dimensionless design equations are developed, which form the basis of a step-by-step procedure for an optimal design of the whole actuator.
Conceptual adaptive wing-tip design for pollution reductions
Authors: Daniele Elia , De Fenza Angelo , Vecchia Pierluigi Della
Published: May 2012

Most of the commercial long-range aircraft are equipped with winglet to decrease the induced drag thus saving more fuel; this feature can also be found on birds, but in conventional aircraft, the winglet device is fixed. Recent projects point toward advanced smart materials and telescopic wing-tip devices to obtain an adaptive morphing shape that gives, through performances improvement, a fuel consumption and so a pollutant reduction. In order to obtain pollution reductions via high aerodynamic efficiency, the design of a telescopic inflatable variable height wing-tip device has been addressed. The span variation is pursued toward a telescopic device that is linked to an inflatable system distributed in chord and along the base of tip, ready to be extruded according to flight conditions. The performance analysis has been conducted especially to evaluate range performance, which mainly provides the relation to fuel consumption. The hinged telescopic device gives the chance of obtaining variation in winglet span according to flight condition requirements in terms of stability and aerodynamic efficiency. The solution of the inflatable system would guarantee a more comfortable arrangement of deployment system and just minor surplus of weight compared to classical winglet solutions, with all the subsequent advantages.
Toward mechano-spintronics: Nanostructured magnetic multilayers for the realization of microcantilever sensors featuring wireless actuation for liquid environments
Authors: Chiolerio Alessandro , Ferrante Ivan , Ricci Alessandro , Marasso Simone , Tiberto Paola , Canavese Giancarlo , Ricciardi Carlo , Allia Paolo
Published: May 2012

Silicon microcantilevers are realized and tested using different ferromagnetic thin films as active actuators. The exploited design is optimized for operating the sensor in a liquid environment. Different magnetic materials are used as actuator elements: a soft layer of face-centered cubic Co, a hard layer of Co80Cr20 (subscript: atomic composition in percentage) and a (Co5Cu10)5 multilayer (superscript: thickness; subscript: number of repetitions). The thin film magnetizations are characterized both in the film plane and out of it. We characterize the devices in air and in water comparing piezoelectric and magnetic actuation, confirming that nanostructured magnetic multilayers represent a new and promising route to optimize the actuation of magnetic microcantilevers. Complete sets of dynamical measures, consisting of stability plots, are discussed. Finite element simulations performed with a commercial code and inherent to a static analysis of different magnetic microcantilevers are commented, casting more light on the importance of having a nanostructured actuator for a high-efficiency energy transfer. This opens the route to new challenging devices, where the spin arrangement at the nanoscale is used to induce either mechanical deformations or movements by effect of an electromagnetic field.
Response: Uses of History in Creating New Futures
Authors: Gambrill Eileen
Published: May 2012

Social work is a profession that draws (or should draw) on available knowledge in the disciplines as well as other sources including other professions in the pursuit of “the betterment of life conditions of individuals, groups, and communities.” An historical perspective illustrates opportunities taken and lost to harvest knowledge in pursuit of this aim. This, combined with a sociological view, suggests how we can make use of history in creating new futures including minimizing avoidable suffering. An agenda for forwarding a science-informed social work is suggested based on this perspective.
Biofuels Investments in Tanzania
Authors: Hultman Nathan E. , Sulle Emmanuel B. , Ramig Christopher W. , Sykora-Bodie Seth
Published: May 2012

After substantial global investments into biofuel production from 2005 to 2008, challenges to a sustainable and robust biofuel industry have become more apparent than many proponents have anticipated. Across country and development contexts, conflicts arose as plans to scale up production clashed with local preferences or national policies, and Southern Africa has been no exception. This article analyzes recent difficulties with biofuels projects in Tanzania before the background of the more successful experiences of Brazil and South Africa. We identify areas of incompatibility between local expectations, government policy, and investor incentives. An assessment of different biofuels business models shows that some—such as contract farming—may not be appropriate for Tanzania’s situation and that policies are necessary that can address the needs of both local and regional stakeholders and provide adequate incentives for investors to pursue sustainable biofuels production.
‘My daughter is a free woman, so she can’t marry a Muslim’: The gendering of ethno-religious boundaries
Authors: Clycq Noel
Published: May 2012

Discourses often uncover underlying social boundaries related to concepts such as ethnicity, gender and religion. By applying an intersectional approach, this article shows how the gendering of ethno-religious boundaries is central in the narratives of parents of Belgian, Italian and Moroccan origin, living in Flanders, Belgium. These processes are extremely salient when discourses on partner choice are discussed, as is the focal point in the current study. The construction of boundaries and identities are deeply influenced by dominant social representations. The results show how the construction and justification of boundaries can also have restrictive consequences for individuals. Parents want to restrict daughters for their own good, and exogamy seems to be the prerogative of sons.
Feminism and cultural and religious diversity in Opzij: An analysis of the discourse of a Dutch feminist magazine
Authors: Midden Eva
Published: May 2012

Mainstream western feminism is generally known as secular. Women in this movement have fought religious dogmas and paternalistic gender patterns in religious texts and traditions. However, for many women all over the world religion is also an important part of their lives. Some of them try to combine their religious beliefs and feminist ideals. For a long time, their discussions remained at the margins, but in the last few years, ‘mainstream’ feminists are forced to rethink their standpoint about religion. Many have chosen a critical approach towards the relationship between religion and emancipation, but others express the need to take into account differences between women in the definition of feminism and emancipation. This article analyses a popular Dutch feminist magazine and how it defines feminism in relation to religion and culture. The article undertakes an in-depth analysis of how the notions of religion, culture and feminism are interpreted and discussed in the Dutch feminist magazine Opzij. The concepts of experience, solidarity, emancipation and difference are central in the investigation.
The logics of Sisterhood: Intra-feminist debates in Swedish feminist zines
Authors: Payne Jenny Gunnarsson
Published: May 2012

This article explores how during the period of 1997 to 2003 the signifier of Sisterhood came to serve as an empty signifier within and among a number of small Swedish feminist grassroots publications (i.e. zines). It begins by positioning the Swedish feminist zine community within the larger context of so-called ‘second and third wave feminisms’ but argues at the same time that it is important to break with traditional feminist chronologies, and resist reductive generational narratives of feminist movement history. On the basis of this particular empirical case the article introduces an analytic of sexual logics as an alternative for analysing feminist discourse. From here the article goes on to investigate how the notion of Sisterhood has come to serve as an empty signifier within this specific community. It concludes with a more general discussion of the function of empty signifiers in relation to recent feminist discussions of Sisterhood.
From ‘saving women’ to ‘saving gays’: Rescue narratives and their dis/continuities
Authors: Bracke Sarah
Published: May 2012

This article traces not only some of the borrowings but also the differences between feminist and gay politics in the context of the post-1989 ‘multicultural debate’ and the hegemony of civilizational politics. This investigation is empirically grounded in one national context, that is, the Dutch case, which is exemplary when it comes to bringing politics of gender and sexuality to bear on national and cultural identity politics. The article recapitulates some insights on how feminist politics can get entangled with (neo)colonial and (neo)imperialist politics and traces these connections in a Dutch context. It goes on to review some of the forms homonationalism and homonostalgia take in the Netherlands. And it concludes with a discussion of the resemblances and differences between the ‘saving women’ and ‘saving gays’ narratives that inform civilizational modes of feminist and gay politics.
Value(s) Deferred
Authors: Dimitriadis Greg
Published: May 2012

This article examines the Penn State scandal, highlighting what has been lost to contemporary universities in the rise of nonacademic administration, the managed university, and the accompanying discourse of “excellence.”
Normal Crimes at Penn State
Authors: Altheide David L. , Johnson John M.
Published: May 2012

The child sexual molestation scandal at Penn State University reveals important distinctions between “normal crimes” and scandals, with the latter providing evidence of institutional or leadership corruption. The usual attempts at institutional containment of scandal prove difficult or impossible when narratives of fear are joined to significant cultural symbols, like children.
Provider and Patient Correlates of Provider Decisions to Recommend HCV Treatment to HIV Co-Infected Patients
Authors: Wagner Glenn , Osilla Karen Chan , Garnett Jeffrey , Ghosh-Dastidar Bonnie , Bhatti Laveeza , Witt Mallory , Goetz Matthew Bidwell
Published: May 2012

Despite low uptake of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among HIV co-infected patients, few studies have examined the factors that contribute to provider decisions to recommend treatment. Surveys of 173 co-infected patients and their primary care providers, as well as patient chart data, were collected at 3 HIV clinics in Los Angeles; 73% of the patients had any history of being recommended HCV treatment. Multivariate predictors of being offered treatment included being Caucasian, greater HCV knowledge, receiving depression treatment if depressed, and one’s provider having a lower weekly patient load and more years working at the study site. These findings suggest that provider decisions to recommend HCV treatment are influenced by patient factors including race and psychosocial treatment readiness, as well as characteristics of their own practice and treatment philosophy. With changes to HCV treatment soon to emerge, further evaluation of factors influencing treatment decisions is needed to improve HCV treatment uptake.
Vanishing Lung Syndrome and HIV Infection
Authors: Mani Deepthi , Guinee Donald G. , Aboulafia David M.
Published: May 2012

Persons with HIV infection have a higher risk of infectious pulmonary complications, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary fibrosis than individuals not infected with HIV. Herein, we describe the clinical course of a patient with longstanding and well-controlled HIV infection and multiple previous pneumothoraces who presented to medical attention with insidious onset of shortness of breath and was diagnosed with vanishing lung syndrome (VLS). The VLS or giant bullous emphysema is a distinct clinical syndrome characterized by large bullae, predominantly in the upper lobes, occupying at least one third of the hemithorax and compressing surrounding normal lung parenchyma. It is a progressive disorder that typically occurs in young men, the majority of whom are smokers. As people with HIV/AIDS are now surviving well into middle age and beyond, clinicians are more likely to encounter VLS and severe obstructive lung disease, which are potentially fatal but preventable conditions.
The Effect of Paternal Age on Fetal Birth Outcomes
Authors: Alio Amina P. , Salihu Hamisu M. , McIntosh Cheri , August Euna M. , Weldeselasse Hanna , Sanchez Emanny , Mbah Alfred K.
Published: May 2012

Research investigating the role of paternal age in adverse birth outcomes is limited. This population-based retrospective cohort study used the Missouri maternally linked data set from 1989 to 2005 to assess whether paternal age affects fetal birth outcomes: low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), stillbirth, and small size for gestational age (SGA). We examined these outcomes among infants across seven paternal age-groups (<20, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-45, and >45 years) using the generalized estimating equation framework. Compared with infants born to younger fathers (25-29 years), infants born to fathers aged 40 to 45 years had a 24% increased risk of stillbirth but a reduced risk of SGA. A 48% increased risk of late stillbirth was observed in infants born to advanced paternal age (>45 years). Moreover, advanced paternal age (>45 years) was observed to result in a 19%, 13%, and 29% greater risk for LBW, PTB, and VPTB (very preterm birth) infants, respectively. Infants born to fathers aged 30 to 39 years had a lower risk of LBW, PTB, and SGA, whereas those born to fathers aged 24 years or younger had an elevated likelihood of experiencing these same adverse outcomes. These findings demonstrate that paternal age influences birth outcomes and warrants further investigation.
Cities versus Online Travel Companies
Authors: Hamilton Arthur , Marshall S. Brooks , Hobson Hugh A.
Published: May 2012

This article examines suits by municipalities against online travel companies (OTCs) for not remitting the appropriate room occupancy tax. At issue is whether OTCs should collect tax on the amount they pay hotels for rooms or on the higher amount charged consumers. This article describes the business structure of OTCs as related to tax collection and discusses legal issues and recent court decisions as well as state and federal legislative proposals to address occupancy tax issues. At this time, it is not possible to cite a single rule that applies in all situations due to the numerous state and local laws and court holdings in relation to this matter. A key question involves whether OTCs are agents for hotels, as argued by many municipalities, or if instead the OTC acts as a personal shopper for would-be guests. In the agency model, the OTCs are in effect selling rooms subject to occupancy tax; while in the merchant model, the OTC would be providing a service, rather than rooms themselves, and the service would not be subject to occupancy taxes. A key element in the tax liability determination is the physical presence of a business. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has issued holdings on physical presence and other issues relating to occupancy taxes, the Court has not spoken on what constitutes physical presence. Lower courts have been divided on matters relating to occupancy taxes. Given conflicting holdings, the matter’s resolution may rest with the Supreme Court, if it chooses to hear this matter.
Categorizing the Spanish Accommodation Sector
Authors: Hernández-Lara Ana B. , Campa-Planas Fernando , Sánchez-Rebull M. Victoria
Published: May 2012

This work aims at clustering Spanish accommodation firms into representative groups and at determining the firm size indicators that characterize each group. By doing this, we strive to explain the different groups’ profitability by their firm size indicators, and conclude how such firm size indicators are useful to explain firms’ economic sustainability. We apply clustering and logistic regression analyses using year 2008 data from 197 firms to group Spanish accommodation firms in terms of their economic profitability and to determine the firm size indicators that characterize each group. These analyses show three groups of accommodation firms in Spain. Companies in the first group have a positive relationship of profits with operating revenues and assets, but a negative relationship of profits with the number of employees. Companies in the second group have profits positively influenced by the number of employees and negatively affected by assets. Finally, companies in the third group show a negative influence on profits exerted by operating revenues but are positively affected by the number of employees and assets. These findings can serve as a guide to know companies’ categories in the accommodation sector in terms of their economic profitability. This work also provides managers with useful information to improve the economic sustainability of these companies. This information could support strategic decisions about the competitive position of their firms and the volume of competitors with a similar economic profile.
Supporting Biomaterials for Articular Cartilage Repair
Authors: Duarte Campos Daniela Filipa , Drescher Wolf , Rath Björn , Tingart Markus , Fischer Horst
Published: May 2012

Orthopedic surgeons and researchers worldwide are continuously faced with the challenge of regenerating articular cartilage defects. However, until now, it has not been possible to completely mimic the biological and biochemical properties of articular cartilage using current research and development approaches. In this review, biomaterials previously used for articular cartilage repair research are addressed. Furthermore, a brief discussion of the state of the art of current cell printing procedures mimicking native cartilage is offered in light of their use as future alternatives for cartilage tissue engineering. Inkjet cell printing, controlled deposition cell printing tools, and laser cell printing are cutting-edge techniques in this context. The development of mimetic hydrogels with specific biological properties relevant to articular cartilage native tissue will support the development of improved, functional, and novel engineered tissue for clinical application.
Exposing the Gap Between What Is Possible and What Is Acceptable
Authors: Wilson Michelle , Aagard Steven D.
Published: May 2012

Mobile learning or m-learning is used on a daily basis, on every continent, in a plethora of ways. Yet, its awareness and implementation in the field of sonography education are lacking. Whether as a tool of formal education or a form of professional development, mobile learning has much to offer this diagnostic medical imaging field. This article defines the differences between electronic learning (e-learning) and m-learning, illustrates a few of the many opportunities this application holds to offer its stakeholders, and challenges sonography educators to begin using its value as an educational tool in their established curriculums.
Outcomes 5 years after response to rituximab therapy in children and adults with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Patel Vivek L. , Mahévas Matthieu , Lee Soo Y. , Stasi Roberto , Cunningham-Rundles Susanna , Godeau Bertrand , Kanter Julie , Neufeld Ellis , Taube Tillmann , Ramenghi Ugo , Shenoy Shalini , Ward Mary J. , Mihatov Nino , Patel Vinay L. , Bierling Philippe , Lesser Martin , Cooper Nichola , Bussel James B.
Published: May 2012

Treatments for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) providing durable platelet responses without continued dosing are limited. Whereas complete responses (CRs) to B-cell depletion in ITP usually last for 1 year in adults, partial responses (PRs) are less durable. Comparable data do not exist for children and 5-year outcomes are unavailable. Patients with ITP treated with rituximab who achieved CRs and PRs (platelets > 150 × 109/L or 50-150 × 109/L, respectively) were selected to be assessed for duration of their response; 72 adults whose response lasted at least 1 year and 66 children with response of any duration were included. Patients had baseline platelet counts < 30 × 109/L; 95% had ITP of > 6 months in duration. Adults and children each had initial overall response rates of 57% and similar 5-year estimates of persisting response (21% and 26%, respectively). Children did not relapse after 2 years from initial treatment whereas adults did. Initial CR and prolonged B-cell depletion predicted sustained responses whereas prior splenectomy, age, sex, and duration of ITP did not. No novel or substantial long-term clinical toxicity was observed. In summary, 21% to 26% of adults and children with chronic ITP treated with standard-dose rituximab maintained a treatment-free response for at least 5 years without major toxicity. These results can inform clinical decision-making.
Inhibition of the mTORC2 and chaperone pathways to treat leukemia
Authors: Zhang Fan , Lazorchak Adam S. , Liu Dou , Chen Fangping , Su Bing
Published: May 2012

Constitutive activation of the kinases Akt or protein kinase C (PKC) in blood cancers promotes tumor-cell proliferation and survival and is associated with poor patient survival. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 2 (mTORC2) regulates the stability of Akt and conventional PKC (cPKC; PKCα and PKCβ) proteins by phosphorylating the highly conserved turn motif of these proteins. In cells that lack mTORC2 function, the turn motif phosphorylation of Akt and cPKC is abolished and therefore Akt and cPKC protein stability is impaired. However, the chaperone protein HSP90 can stabilize Akt and cPKC, partially rescuing the expression of these proteins. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effects of inhibiting mTORC2 plus HSP90 in mouse and human leukemia cell models and show that the HSP90 inhibitor 17-allylaminogeldanamycin (17-AAG) preferentially inhibits Akt and cPKC expression and promotes cell death in mTORC2 deficient pre-B leukemia cells. Furthermore, we show that 17-AAG selectively inhibits mTORC2 deficient leukemia cell growth in vivo. Finally, we show that the mTOR inhibitors rapamycin and pp242 work together with 17-AAG to inhibit leukemia cell growth to a greater extent than either drug alone. These studies provide a mechanistic and clinical rationale to combine mTOR inhibitors with chaperone protein inhibitors to treat human blood cancers.
PHYLOViZ: phylogenetic inference and data visualization for sequence based typing methods
Authors: Francisco Alexandre P , Vaz Cátia , Monteiro Pedro T , Melo-Cristino José , Ramirez Mário , Carriço João A
Published: May 2012

Background

With the decrease of DNA sequencing costs, sequence-based typing methods are rapidly becoming the gold standard for epidemiological surveillance. These methods provide reproducible and comparable results needed for a global scale bacterial population analysis, while retaining their usefulness for local epidemiological surveys. Online databases that collect the generated allelic profiles and associated epidemiological data are available but this wealth of data remains underused and are frequently poorly annotated since no user-friendly tool exists to analyze and explore it.

Results

PHYLOViZ is platform independent Java software that allows the integrated analysis of sequence-based typing methods, including SNP data generated from whole genome sequence approaches, and associated epidemiological data. goeBURST and its Minimum Spanning Tree expansion are used for visualizing the possible evolutionary relationships between isolates. The results can be displayed as an annotated graph overlaying the query results of any other epidemiological data available.

Conclusions

PHYLOViZ is a user-friendly software that allows the combined analysis of multiple data sources for microbial epidemiological and population studies. It is freely available at http://www.phyloviz.net.
Genovar: a detection and visualization tool for genomic variants
Authors: Jung Kwang Su , Moon Sanghoon , Kim Young Jin , Kim Bong-Jo , Park Kiejung
Published: May 2012

Background

Along with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), copy number variation (CNV) is considered an important source of genetic variation associated with disease susceptibility. Despite the importance of CNV, the tools currently available for its analysis often produce false positive results due to limitations such as low resolution of array platforms, platform specificity, and the type of CNV. To resolve this problem, spurious signals must be separated from true signals by visual inspection. None of the previously reported CNV analysis tools support this function and the simultaneous visualization of comparative genomic hybridization arrays (aCGH) and sequence alignment. The purpose of the present study was to develop a useful program for the efficient detection and visualization of CNV regions that enables the manual exclusion of erroneous signals.

Results

A JAVA-based stand-alone program called Genovar was developed. To ascertain whether a detected CNV region is a novel variant, Genovar compares the detected CNV regions with previously reported CNV regions using the Database of Genomic Variants (DGV, http://projects.tcag.ca/variation) and the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database (dbSNP). The current version of Genovar is capable of visualizing genomic data from sources such as the aCGH data file and sequence alignment format files.

Conclusions

Genovar is freely accessible and provides a user-friendly graphic user interface (GUI) to facilitate the detection of CNV regions. The program also provides comprehensive information to help in the elimination of spurious signals by visual inspection, making Genovar a valuable tool for reducing false positive CNV results. Availability: http://genovar.sourceforge.net/.
Assessing and predicting protein interactions by combining manifold embedding with multiple information integration
Authors: Lei Ying-Ke , You Zhu-Hong , Ji Zhen , Zhu Lin , Huang De-Shuang
Published: May 2012

Background

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play crucial roles in virtually every aspect of cellular function within an organism. Over the last decade, the development of novel high-throughput techniques has resulted in enormous amounts of data and provided valuable resources for studying protein interactions. However, these high-throughput protein interaction data are often associated with high false positive and false negative rates. It is therefore highly desirable to develop scalable methods to identify these errors from the computational perspective.

Results

We have developed a robust computational technique for assessing the reliability of interactions and predicting new interactions by combining manifold embedding with multiple information integration. Validation of the proposed method was performed with extensive experiments on densely-connected and sparse PPI networks of yeast respectively. Results demonstrate that the interactions ranked top by our method have high functional homogeneity and localization coherence.

Conclusions

Our proposed method achieves better performances than the existing methods no matter assessing or predicting protein interactions. Furthermore, our method is general enough to work over a variety of PPI networks irrespectively of densely-connected or sparse PPI network. Therefore, the proposed algorithm is a much more promising method to detect both false positive and false negative interactions in PPI networks.
DNA-testing for BRCA1/2 prior to genetic counselling in patients with breast cancer: design of an intervention study, DNA-direct
Authors: Sie Aisha S , Spruijt Liesbeth , van Zelst-Stams Wendy AG , Mensenkamp Arjen R , Ligtenberg Marjolijn J , Brunner Han G , Prins Judith B , Hoogerbrugge Nicoline
Published: May 2012

Background

Current practice for patients with breast cancer referred for genetic counseling, includes face-to-face consultations with a genetic counselor prior to and following DNA-testing. This is based on guidelines regarding Huntington’s disease in anticipation of high psychosocial impact of DNA-testing for mutations in BRCA1/2 genes. The initial consultation covers generic information regarding hereditary breast cancer and the (im)possibilities of DNA-testing, prior to such testing. Patients with breast cancer may see this information as irrelevant or unnecessary because individual genetic advice depends on DNA-test results. Also, verbal information is not always remembered well by patients. A different format for this information prior to DNA-testing is possible: replacing initial face-to-face genetic counseling (DNA-intake procedure) by telephone, written and digital information sent to patients’ homes (DNA-direct procedure).

Methods/design

In this intervention study, 150 patients with breast cancer referred to the department of Clinical Genetics of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre are given the choice between two procedures, DNA-direct (intervention group) or DNA-intake (usual care, control group). During a triage telephone call, patients are excluded if they have problems with Dutch text, family communication, or of psychological or psychiatric nature. Primary outcome measures are satisfaction and psychological distress. Secondary outcome measures are determinants for the participant’s choice of procedure, waiting and processing times, and family characteristics. Data are collected by self-report questionnaires at baseline and following completion of genetic counseling. A minority of participants will receive an invitation for a 30 min semi-structured telephone interview, e.g. confirmed carriers of a BRCA1/2 mutation, and those who report problems with the procedure.

Discussion

This study compares current practice of an intake consultation (DNA-intake) to a home informational package of telephone, written and digital information (DNA-direct) prior to DNA-testing in patients with breast cancer. The aim is to determine whether DNA-direct is an acceptable procedure for BRCA1/2 testing, in order to provide customized care to patients with breast cancer, cutting down on the period of uncertainty during this diagnostic process.

Trial registration

The study is registered at the Dutch Trial Registry http://www.trialregister.nl (NTR3018).
Complete genome sequence of a highly divergent astrovirus isolated from a child with acute diarrhea
Authors: Finkbeiner Stacy R , Kirkwood Carl D , Wang David
Published: May 2012

Background

Astroviruses infect a variety of mammals and birds and are causative agents of diarrhea in humans and other animal hosts. We have previously described the identification of several sequence fragments with limited sequence identity to known astroviruses in a stool specimen obtained from a child with acute diarrhea, suggesting that a novel virus was present.

Results

In this study, the complete genome of this novel virus isolate was sequenced and analyzed. The overall genome organization of this virus paralleled that of known astroviruses, with 3 open reading frames identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORFs indicated that this virus is highly divergent from all previously described animal and human astroviruses. Molecular features that are highly conserved in human serotypes 1–8, such as a 3'NTR stem-loop structure and conserved nucleotide motifs present in the 5'NTR and ORF1b/2 junction, were either absent or only partially conserved in this novel virus.

Conclusion

Based on the analyses described herein, we propose that this newly discovered virus represents a novel species in the family Astroviridae. It has tentatively been named Astrovirus MLB1.