bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineered variants of InlB with an additional leucine‐rich repeat discriminate between physiologically relevant and packing contacts in crystal structures of the InlB:MET complex
Authors: Niemann Hartmut H. , Gherardi Ermanno , Bleymüller Willem M. , Heinz Dirk W.
Published: August 2012

The physiological relevance of contacts in crystal lattices often remains elusive. This was also the case for the complex between the invasion protein internalin B (InlB) from Listeria monocytogenes and its host cell receptor, the human receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) MET. InlB is a MET agonist and induces bacterial host cell invasion. Activation of RTKs generally involves ligand‐induced dimerization of the receptor ectodomain. The two currently available crystal structures of the InlB:MET complex show the same arrangement of InlB and MET in a 1:1 complex, but different dimeric 2:2 assemblies. Only one of these 2:2 assemblies is predicted to be stable by a computational procedure. This assembly is mainly stabilized by a contact between the Cap domain of InlB from one and the Sema domain of MET from another 1:1 complex. Here, we probe the physiological relevance of this interaction. We generated variants of the leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) protein InlB by inserting an additional repeat between the first and the second LRR. This should allow formation of the 1:1 complex but disrupt the potential 2:2 complex involving the Cap‐Sema contact due to steric distortions. A crystal structure of one of the engineered proteins showed that it folded properly. Binding affinity to MET was comparable to that of wild‐type InlB. The InlB variant induced MET phosphorylation and cell scatter like wild‐type InlB. These results suggest that the Cap‐Sema interaction is not physiologically relevant and support the previously proposed assembly, in which a 2:2 InlB:MET complex is built around a ligand dimer.
Expression differences of circulating microRNAs in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer and low‐risk, localized prostate cancer
Authors: Nguyen Han Christine Ngoc , Xie Wanling , Yang Ming , Hsieh Chen‐Lin , Drouin Sarah , Lee Gwo‐Shu Mary , Kantoff Philip W.
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND

Recent studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs), small non‐coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression, may have potential for monitoring cancer status. We investigated circulating miRNAs in prostate cancer that may be associated with the progression of hormone‐sensitive primary tumors to metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after androgen deprivation therapy.

METHODS

Using genome‐wide expression profiling by TaqMan Human MicroRNA Arrays (Applied Biosystems) and/or quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, we compared the expression levels of miRNAs in serum samples from 28 patients of low‐risk localized disease, 30 of high‐risk localized disease and 26 of metastatic CRPC.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that serum samples from patients of low risk, localized prostate cancer and metastatic CRPC patients exhibit distinct circulating miRNA signatures. MiR‐375, miR‐378*, and miR‐141 were significantly over‐expressed in serum from CRPC patients compared with serum from low‐risk localized patients, while miR‐409‐3p was significantly under‐expressed. In prostate primary tumor samples, miR‐375 and miR‐141 also had significantly higher expression levels compared with those in normal prostate tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating miRNAs, particularly miR‐375, miR‐141, miR‐378*, and miR‐409‐3p, are differentially expressed in serum samples from prostate cancer patients. In the search for improved minimally invasive methods to follow cancer pathogenesis, the correlation of disease status with the expression patterns of circulating miRNAs may indicate the potential importance of circulating miRNAs as prognostic markers for prostate cancer progression. Prostate 73: 346–354, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ab‐Initio study of Helium‐small carbon cage systems
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Sheng Li
Published: August 2012

The traditional method for opening the electron shells of noble gas atoms involves a strong electronegative atom or group. However, this approach is limited to only heavy noble‐gas atoms, such as Kr and Xe. In this paper, we performed accurate calculations of He@C8H8 and He@C10H16 and showed the possibility of opening the electron shell of a light noble‐gas atom. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cognitive Appraisals, Coping and Depressive Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Bigatti Silvia M. , Steiner Jennifer L. , Miller Kathy D.
Published: August 2012

Depression in breast cancer patients and survivors is related to negative disease outcomes and worse quality of life. Factors that explain this depression can serve as targets of intervention. This study, guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress, examined the relationship between cognitive appraisals, coping strategies and depressive symptoms in a group of women with mostly advanced‐stage breast cancer (N = 65), who scored mostly within the normal range for depressive symptoms. Path analysis was used to determine the relationships among variables, measured with the Cognitive Appraisals of Illness Scale, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The results of the path analysis showed that higher appraisals of harm/loss and greater use of escape–avoidance coping predicted higher depressive symptoms. These findings enhance the prediction of depression among breast cancer patients and suggest the need to examine cognitive appraisals when attempting to understand depressive symptoms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RDB2RDF: A relational to RDF plug‐in for Eclipse
Authors: Marx Edgard , Salas Percy , Breitman Karin , Viterbo José , Casanova Marco Antonio
Published: August 2012

The process of transforming data stored in relational databases (RDBs) into sets of Resource Description Framework (RDF) triples is known as triplification or RDB2RDF. It consists of two consecutive operations, schema extraction and data conversion. Schema extraction is a process similar to creating an external schema, and contains a collection of database views. The data conversion is divided into two steps. The first step consists of deciding how to represent database schema concepts in terms of RDF classes and properties, defining an RDB2RDF mapping. The second step consists of the actual conversion of relational data to RDF data instances, based on the mapping previously defined. Although the schema extraction is very well understood, the data conversion operation is still murky. Indeed, the World Wide Web Consortium RDB2RDF Working Group has been working to define a standard language, called R2RML, to describe RDB2RDF mapping files. The definition of the R2RML, however, is still undergoing changes. In this paper, we introduce an Eclipse plug‐in that supports the entire conversion process. Its architecture takes into consideration the specificities of the triplification process by providing a modular structure that encapsulates the stable and well‐understood components separately from the volatile, change‐prone mapping strategies. The latter are accessible via a well‐defined interface to promote information hiding and separation of concerns and to facilitate evolution. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors Affecting Corporate Social Responsibility: An Empirical Study
Authors: Kalyar Masood Nawaz , Rafi Nosheen , Kalyar Awais Nawaz
Published: August 2012

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has captured significant attention of managers and executives especially at multinational and multi‐divisional firms. However, links between CSR's drivers (strategic planning, firm culture) and CSR have seen little or no empirical verification, particularly in South Asia. The present study aims to test two antecedents if they contribute in shaping firms' CSR. This study considers formal strategic planning and humanistic culture as drivers of CSR. Data were collected from CEOs of 800 randomly selected organizations in Pakistan, with 21.5% response rate. Results from hierarchical regression indicate that formal strategic planning and firm's humanistic culture, over and above the impact of formal strategic planning, are linked positively with CSR. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radical Normals: The Moral Career of Straight Parents as Public Advocates for Their Gay Children
Authors: Johnson J. L. , Best Amy L.
Published: August 2012

Sociological research has examined straight parents in “traditional” family arrangements who become gay rights activists, but pays insufficient attention to how this puzzling identity comes into being. Drawn from observations and interviews of parents participating in a local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) (2009 to 2010), this paper analyzes the parenting activities undertaken by straight parents of gay children as a moral career, involving stages of acceptance that can lead to eventual public advocacy. Paradoxically, these parents become radical normals through these stages; that is to say, they “do” the work of parenting by becoming gay rights advocates, motivated by commitments to conventional imperatives of loving and supporting a child. Using the conceptual scaffolding of the moral career, this paper identifies the mechanisms that move parents through these different career stages.
Believing Not Seeing: A Blind Phenomenology of Sexed Bodies
Authors: Friedman Asia M.
Published: August 2012

Vision plays a privileged role in social interaction and the construction of intersubjective reality. Given that one of sociology's tasks is to problematize the taken for granted, research that examines rarely foregrounded non‐visual modes of sensory perception is a powerful resource. This article draws on twenty‐seven interviews that explore blind people's perceptions of male and female bodies. I highlight several distinctive features of non‐visual sex attribution (salience, speed, and diachronicity), and argue that conceptions of sex as “self‐evident” primarily reflect visual perception. These findings suggest the need to explore the sociology of perception as a new approach to the sociology of the body, and more broadly highlight the role of sensory perception in the social construction of reality.
Studies on various structural system design options for twisted tall buildings and their performances
Authors: Moon Kyoung Sun
Published: August 2012

Employing twisted forms for tall buildings is a recent architectural phenomenon. This paper studies various structural system design options for twisted tall buildings and their performances based on lateral stiffness. Twisted tall buildings of various heights and rates of twist are designed with different types of contemporary tall building structural systems, such as diagrids, braced tubes and outrigger systems. The heights of the studied buildings range from 60 to 100 stories, and the rates of twist range from 0° to 3° per floor. As the rate of twist increases, the lateral stiffness of the tower decreases. The stiffness reduction rate caused by twisting is very much dependent upon the structural systems employed for twisted tall buildings. While an emphasis is placed on the structural performance of twisted tall buildings, other aspects, such as architectural and constructional issues, are also discussed holistically. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The first evidence of cholinesterases in skin mucus of carps and its applicability as biomarker of organophosphate exposure
Authors: Nigam Ashwini Kumar , Srivastava Nidhi , Rai Amita Kumari , Kumari Usha , Mittal Ajay Kumar , Mittal Swati
Published: August 2012

The presence of cholinesterase (ChE) activity in skin mucus of three carps, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo rohita, and Catla catla and its applicability as biomarker of the organophosphorus insecticide exposure were investigated. Biochemical characterization, using specific substrates and inhibitors, indicated that measured esterase activity in skin mucus was mainly owing to ChEs. Significant difference in the proportion of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities was observed in skin mucus of three carps. Enzyme kinetic analysis, using the substrate acetylthiocholine iodide revealed significantly high Vmax value in C. catla compared to that in L. rohita and C. mrigala. In contrast, Vmax value using the substrate butyrylthiocholine iodide was significantly high in C. mrigala than in L. rohita and C. catla. In vitro treatment of skin mucus of three carps, with the organophosphorus insecticide Nuvan®, showed strong inhibition of ChE activities. In vivo experiments conducted using C. mrigala and exposing the fish to the sublethal test concentrations (5 and 15 mg/L) of the insecticide also revealed significant inhibition of ChE activity in mucus. In C. mrigala, exposed to the sublethal test concentrations of the insecticide for 4 days and then kept for recovery for 16 days, mucus ChE activity recovered to the control level. Thus, ChE activity in skin mucus could be considered a good biomarker of the organophosphorus insecticide exposure to fish and a useful tool in monitoring environmental toxicity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 788–796, 2014.
Greenland climate change: from the past to the future
Authors: Masson‐Delmotte Valérie , Swingedouw Didier , Landais Amaëlle , Seidenkrantz Marit‐Solveig , Gauthier Emilie , Bichet Vincent , Massa Charly , Perren Bianca , Jomelli Vincent , Adalgeirsdottir Gudfinna , Hesselbjerg Christensen Jens , Arneborg Jette , Bhatt Uma , Walker Donald A. , Elberling Bo , Gillet‐Chaulet Fabien , Ritz Catherine , Gallée Hubert , van den Broeke Michiel , Fettweis Xavier , de Vernal Anne , Vinther Bo
Published: August 2012

Climate archives available from deep sea and marine shelf sediments, glaciers, lakes, and ice cores in and around Greenland allow us to place the current trends in regional climate, ice sheet dynamics, and land surface changes in a broader perspective. We show that, during the last decade (2000s), atmospheric and sea surface temperatures are reaching levels last encountered millennia ago, when northern high latitude summer insolation was higher due to a different orbital configuration. Records from lake sediments in southern Greenland document major environmental and climatic conditions during the last 10,000 years, highlighting the role of soil dynamics in past vegetation changes, and stressing the growing anthropogenic impacts on soil erosion during the recent decades. Furthermore, past and present changes in atmospheric and oceanic heat advection appear to strongly influence both regional climate and ice sheet dynamics. Projections from climate models are investigated to quantify the magnitude and rates of future changes in Greenland temperature, which may be faster than past abrupt events occurring under interglacial conditions. Within one century, in response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Greenland may reach temperatures last time encountered during the last interglacial period, approximately 125,000 years ago. We review and discuss whether analogies between the last interglacial and future changes are reasonable, because of the different seasonal impacts of orbital and greenhouse gas forcings. Over several decades to centuries, future Greenland melt may act as a negative feedback, limiting regional warming albeit with global sea level and climatic impacts.WIREs Clim Change2012 doi: 10.1002/wcc.186

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change
Evaluation of the effects of september hunting seasons on Canada geese in Nebraska
Authors: Groepper Scott R. , Vrtiska Mark P. , Powell Larkin A. , Hygnstrom Scott E.
Published: August 2012

Populations of temperate‐nesting Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have increased in Nebraska, USA, resulting in an increased number of nuisance and damage complaints. September hunting seasons were initiated in southeastern Nebraska in 2004 to reduce populations of Canada geese. We analyzed band recoveries from Canada geese banded in southeastern Nebraska during their hatch‐year (HY) or after‐hatch‐year (AHY) to determine whether September hunting seasons affected survival, harvest, and recovery rates. Survival analyses revealed that HY geese had higher survival than AHY geese (SAHY = 0.696, 95% CI = 0.679–0.713; SHY = 0.896, 95% CI = 0.786–0.953) and September seasons did not affect survival of geese in southeastern Nebraska. Geese banded in the geographic zone with the September seasons (southeastern Nebraska) had the same survival as did geese outside the hunt zone (northeastern Nebraska; S = 0.711, 95% CI = 0.666–0.752). September hunting seasons affected timing of band recovery; 23–49% of annual band recoveries occurred during the month of September. Prior to the initiation of the September seasons, the highest percent of recoveries occurred during November. The September seasons appeared to temporally redistribute harvest but did not reduce survival for populations of Canada geese in southeastern Nebraska. Continuation of the season may not be warranted, because management does not appear to be affecting AHY survival, which is needed to reduce the population. Additional or new methods are likely needed to control populations of temperate‐nesting Canada geese in Nebraska and managers should evaluate the effectiveness of these methods as they are implemented. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
The golden‐cheeked warbler: History of a conflict
Authors: Groce Julie E. , Smith Kathryn N. , Wilkins R. Neal , Wolfe David
Published: August 2012

Wildlife biologists are undoubtedly familiar with the decades‐long debate over the Endangered Species Act and the conflicts that often arise among people of differing interests when a species is listed as federally threatened or endangered. One example that made local and national headlines in the 1990s was the golden‐cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), which breeds exclusively in central Texas, USA, and primarily on private lands. The inclusion of the warbler on the federal endangered species list in 1990 prompted conflict between land developers, environmentalists, ranchers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Miscommunication and mistrust among the groups resulted in purposeful destruction of habitat and delayed or lost opportunities for species' conservation and scientific research. Now, 20 years later, we have taken the opportunity to review some of the events and conflicts surrounding the listing of the warbler such that a new generation of researchers and biologists can understand the progress made and identify where additional work may be needed. The significance of threatened and endangered species conservation varies among people and places; thus, there will be a continual need for agencies and biologists to develop relationships with local communities formed around understanding the values and motivations of all stakeholders, in an effort to limit conflict and create an atmosphere that promotes cooperative approaches to research on, and recovery of, at‐risk species. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Using impact assessment study designs for addressing impacts to species of conservation concern
Authors: Marshall Mike E. , Long Ashley M. , Farrell Shannon L. , Mathewson Heather A. , Morrison Michael L. , Newnam Cal , Wilkins R. Neal
Published: August 2012

Impact assessments are a valuable tool for investigating the effects of human‐induced and natural perturbations on ecosystems and wildlife, including species of conservation concern. The breeding range of the golden‐cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia), a federally endangered species, is located in a region with increasing development that includes housing, road construction and maintenance, and other land‐use conversions; along with wildfire, oak wilt, and other disturbances. Although many of these actions are assumed to have deleterious effects on warbler occurrence or fitness, there is limited research directly investigating impacts of these activities to date. Many of these threats cannot be investigated within a fully manipulative study framework because it is rarely possible or even appropriate to replicate treatments. We conducted impact assessment studies investigating the effects of military training and highway construction on the warbler. We use these studies to provide examples that demonstrate how common challenges in investigating impacts can be addressed during planning and implementation by using alternative study design and sampling strategies to effectively assess the impact of perturbations on species of interest. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Zr2N2Se: The First Zirconium(IV) Nitride Selenide by the Oxidation of Zirconium(III) Nitride with Selenium
Authors: Lissner Falk , Hack Bettina , Lerch Martin , Schleid Thomas
Published: August 2012

The oxidation of zirconium(III) nitride (ZrN) with suitable amounts of selenium (Se) in the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl) as flux yields small yellow brownish platelets of the first zirconium(IV) nitride selenide with the composition Zr2N2Se. The new compound crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P63/mmc (no. 194) with a = 363.98(2) pm, c = 1316.41(9) pm (c/a = 3.617) and two formula units per unit cell. The crystallographically unique Zr4+ cations are surrounded by three selenide and four nitride anions in the shape of a capped trigonal antiprism. The Se2– anions are coordinated by six Zr4+ cations as trigonal prism and the N3– anions reside in tetrahedral surrounding of Zr4+ cations. These [NZr4]13+ tetrahedra become interconnected via three edges each to form $\rm^{2}_{\infty}${[(NZr4/4)2]2+} double layers parallel to the (001) plane, which are held together by monolayers of Se2– anions.
Implications of a modified Higgs to diphoton decay width
Authors: Carena Marcela , Low Ian , Wagner Carlos E. M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Motivated by recent results from Higgs searches at the Large Hadron Collider, we consider possibilities to enhance the diphoton decay width of the Higgs boson over the Standard Model expectation, without modifying either its production rate or the partial widths in the WW and ZZ channels. Studying effects of new charged scalars, fermions and vector bosons, we find that significant variations in the diphoton width may be possible if the new particles have light masses of the order of a few hundred GeV and sizeable couplings to the Higgs boson. Such couplings could arise naturally if there is large mass mixing between two charged particles that is induced by the Higgs vacuum expectation value. In addition, there is generically also a shift in the Zγ partial width, which in the case of new vector bosons tends to be of similar magnitude as the shift in the diphoton partial width, but smaller in other cases. Therefore simultaneous measurements in these two channels could reveal properties of new charged particles at the electroweak scale.
Return of Genetic Results in the Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy Research Project
Authors: Siegfried Jill D. , Morales Ana , Kushner Jessica D. , Burkett Emily , Cowan Jason , Mauro Ana Clara , Huggins Gordon S. , Li Duanxiang , Norton Nadine , Hershberger Ray E.
Published: August 2012

The goal of the Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy (FDC) Research Project, initiated in 1993, has been to identify and characterize FDC genetic cause. All participating individuals have been consented for the return of genetic results, an important but challenging undertaking. Since the inception of the Project we have enrolled 606 probands, and 269 of these had 1670 family members also enrolled. Each subject was evaluated for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and pedigrees were categorized as familial or sporadic. The coding regions of 14 genes were resequenced in 311 to 324 probands in five studies. Ninety‐two probands were found to carry nonsynonymous rare variants absent in controls, and with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988 (CLIA) compliant protocols, relevant genetic results were returned to these probands and their consented relatives by study genetic counselors and physicians in 353 letters. In 10 of the 51 families that received results >1 year ago, at least 23 individuals underwent CLIA confirmation testing for their family's rare variant. Return of genetic results has been successfully undertaken in the FDC Research Project. This report describes the methods utilized in the process of returning research results. We use this information as a springboard for providing guidance to other genetic research groups and proposing future directions in this arena.
Diverging Destinies: Maternal Education and the Developmental Gradient in Time With Children
Authors: Kalil Ariel , Ryan Rebecca , Corey Michael
Published: August 2012

Using data from the 2003–2007 American Time Use Surveys (ATUS), we compare mothers’ (N = 6,640) time spent in four parenting activities across maternal education and child age subgroups. We test the hypothesis that highly educated mothers not only spend more time in active child care than less-educated mothers but also alter the composition of that time to suit children’s developmental needs more than less-educated mothers. Results support this hypothesis: not only do highly educated mothers invest more time in basic care and play when youngest children are infants or toddlers than when children are older, but differences across education groups in basic care and play time are largest among mothers with infants or toddlers; by contrast, highly educated mothers invest more time in management activities when children are 6 to 13 years old than when children are younger, and differences across education groups in management are largest among mothers with school-aged children. These patterns indicate that the education gradient in mothers’ time with children is characterized by a “developmental gradient.”
Religious Socialization among Malaysian Muslim Adolescents: A Family Structure Comparison
Authors: Krauss Steven Eric , Hamzah Azimi , Ismail Ismi Arif , Suandi Turiman , Hamzah Siti Rabaah , Dahalan Dzuhailmi , Idris Fazilah
Published: August 2012

Despite the plethora of research on correlates of adolescent religiosity, few studies have examined the contribution of socialization factors to adolescent religiosity in the context of non-Western Muslim samples from different family contexts. To address this gap, the current study explored the contribution of parenting (direct socialization) and community engagement (indirect socialization) factors on religiosity among 895 Malaysian Muslim high school students from single-/non-parent and two-parent families. T-test results showed that religiosity was higher for students from two-parent families than single-/non-parent parent homes. After controlling for (a) social desirability, (b) gender and (c) school type, the hypothesized factors of: parental attachment, parental religious socialization, parental supervision, youth organization involvement, school attachment, and mosque involvement significantly predicted religiosity for the full sample of students from both types of families. Hierarchical regression results further revealed that while both indirect and direct parental socialization factors were stronger predictors of religiosity for two-parent families than single-/non-parent families, direct parental socialization effects were more robust. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Dual functions of Arabidopsis sulfiredoxin: Acting as a redox‐dependent sulfinic acid reductase and as a redox‐independent nuclease enzyme
Authors: Chi Yong Hun , Kim Sun Young , Jung In Jung , Shin Mi Rim , Jung Young Jun , Park Jin Ho , Lee Eun Seon , Maibam Punyakishore , Kim Kang-San , Park Joung Hun , Kim Min Ji , Hwang Gwang Yong , Lee Sang Yeol
Published: August 2012

Based on the fact that the amino acid sequence of sulfiredoxin (Srx), already known as a redox‐dependent sulfinic acid reductase, showed a high sequence homology with that of ParB, a nuclease enzyme, we examined the nucleic acid binding and hydrolyzing activity of the recombinant Srx in Arabidopsis (AtSrx). We found that AtSrx functions as a nuclease enzyme that can use single‐stranded and double‐stranded DNAs as substrates. The nuclease activity was enhanced by divalent cations. Particularly, by point‐mutating the active site of sulfinate reductase, Cys (72) to Ser (AtSrx‐C72S), we demonstrate that the active site of the reductase function of AtSrx is not involved in its nuclease function.
Therapeutic Effects of Qigong in Patients with COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Xiao-Dan , Jin Hong-Zhu , Ng Bobby Hin-Po , Gu Yi-Huang , Wu Yun-Chuan , Lu Gan
Published: August 2012

Objective

This study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effects of health qigong (HQG) with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) exercise among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

A total of 132 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD but no serious comorbidities were randomly allocated to the HQG group (n = 51), PR group (n = 32), or medical treatment group (n = 35). The HQG group received 1 week of HQG training under the supervision of professional coaches, and were then encouraged to participate in a peer-led weekly practice group thrice a week, lasting 1 hour each time, for 6 months. The conventional PR group received the same amount of professional coaching on breathing and aerobic exercises, and peer-led walking or ball game groups. The medical treatment group only received health education on self-exercise. Baseline data were taken before randomization, and outcomes were ascertained at the 6-month follow-up by blinded assessors.

Results

Overall, 118 patients with complete data were recruited into the final analysis. Irrespective of disease stages, both HQG and PR groups showed improving trends across 6-minute walk test and quality of life scores, while the medical treatment group demonstrated either no improvements or some deteriorations. When comparing HQG with PR, HQG appeared to have better effects on decreasing the frequency of exacerbation for patients with GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stage I and maintaining a stable tumor necrosis factor-alpha level for patients of GOLD stage II.

Conclusion

This study solidifies the concept that both HQG and PR produce positive effects on subjective symptoms and functions among COPD patients, and also provided evidence that HQG can induce additional effects compared to conventional PR.
Need for a global obstetric fistula training strategy
Authors: Rushwan Hamid , Khaddaj Sinan , Knight Louise , Scott Rachel
Published: August 2012

Obstetric fistula is a complication of childbirth that often follows obstructed labor and is almost exclusive to low‐resource countries. The original Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 1990 Study) reported an incidence of 8.68 per 100 000 and a prevalence of 51.35 per 100 000 for women aged 15–44 years in low‐resource regions. The most cited global prevalence estimate is 2 million women. Although the global burden of obstetric fistula remains unclear, the number of women suffering from the condition is increasing, while surgical treatment remains limited. There are few experienced fistula surgeons and past surgical training approaches have been inconsistent. The Global Competency‐Based Fistula Surgery Training Manual developed by FIGO and partners contains a set curriculum and, to ensure its implementation, a global strategy and training program have been developed. This paper describes key elements of the training program and its implementation. The anticipated impact of the training program is a reduction in global morbidity caused by obstetric fistula.
Motion of red blood cells near microvessel walls: effects of a porous wall layer
Authors: Hariprasad Daniel S. , Secomb Timothy W.
Published: August 2012

A two-dimensional model is used to simulate the motion and deformation of a single mammalian red blood cell (RBC) flowing close to the wall of a microvessel, taking into account the effects of a porous endothelial surface layer (ESL) lining the vessel wall. Migration of RBCs away from the wall leads to the formation of a cell-depleted layer near the wall, which has a large effect on the resistance to blood flow in microvessels. The objective is to examine the mechanical factors causing this migration, including the effects of the ESL. The vessel is represented as a straight parallel-sided channel. The RBC is represented as a set of interconnected viscoelastic elements, suspended in plasma, a Newtonian fluid. The ESL is represented as a porous medium, and plasma flow in the layer is computed using the Brinkman approximation. It is shown that an initially circular cell positioned close to the ESL in a shear flow is deformed into an asymmetric shape. This breaking of symmetry leads to migration away from the wall. With increasing hydraulic resistivity of the layer, the rate of lateral migration increases. It is concluded that mechanical interactions of RBCs flowing in microvessels with a porous wall layer may reduce the rate of lateral migration and hence reduce the width of the cell-depleted zone external to the ESL, relative to the cell-depleted zone that would be formed if the interface between the ESL and free-flowing plasma were replaced by an impermeable boundary.
Absence of singular stretching of interacting vortex filaments
Authors: Hormoz Sahand , Brenner Michael P.
Published: August 2012

A promising mechanism for generating a finite-time singularity in the incompressible Euler equations is the stretching of vortex filaments. Here, we argue that interacting vortex filaments cannot generate a singularity by analysing the asymptotic dynamics of their collapse. We use the separation of the dynamics of the filament shape, from that of its core, to derive constraints that must be satisfied for a singular solution to remain self-consistent uniformly in time. Our only assumption is that the length scales characterizing filament shape obey scaling laws set by the dimension of circulation as the singularity is approached. The core radius necessarily evolves on a different length scale. We show that a self-similar ansatz for the filament shapes cannot induce singular stretching, due to the logarithmic prefactor in the self-interaction term for the filaments. More generally, there is an antagonistic relationship between the stretching rate of the filaments and the requirement that the radius of curvature of filament shape obeys the dimensional scaling laws. This suggests that it is unlikely that solutions in which the core radii vanish sufficiently fast to maintain the filament approximation exist.
Asymptotic analysis of the Boltzmann–BGK equation for oscillatory flows
Authors: Nassios Jason , Sader John E.
Published: August 2012

Kinetic theory provides a rigorous foundation for calculating the dynamics of gas flow at arbitrary degrees of rarefaction, with solutions of the Boltzmann equation requiring numerical methods in many cases of practical interest. Importantly, the near-continuum regime can be examined analytically using asymptotic techniques. These asymptotic analyses often assume steady flow, for which analytical slip models have been derived. Recently, developments in nanoscale fabrication have stimulated research into the study of oscillatory non-equilibrium flows, drawing into question the applicability of the steady flow assumption. In this article, we present a formal asymptotic analysis of the unsteady linearized Boltzmann–BGK equation, generalizing existing theory to the oscillatory (time-varying) case. We consider the near-continuum limit where the mean free path and oscillation frequency are small. The complete set of hydrodynamic equations and associated boundary conditions are derived for arbitrary Stokes number and to second order in the Knudsen number. The first-order steady boundary conditions for the velocity and temperature are found to be unaffected by oscillatory flow. In contrast, the second-order boundary conditions are modified relative to the steady case, except for the velocity component tangential to the solid wall. Application of this general asymptotic theory is explored for the oscillatory thermal creep problem, for which unsteady effects manifest themselves at leading order.
Convective effects and the role of quadrupole sources for aerofoil aeroacoustics
Authors: Wolf William R. , Azevedo João Luiz F. , Lele Sanjiva K.
Published: August 2012

The present investigation of aerofoil self-noise generation and propagation concerns the effects of mean flow and quadrupole sources on the broadband noise that arises from the interaction of turbulent boundary layers with the aerofoil trailing edge and the tonal noise that arises from vortex shedding generated by laminar boundary layers and trailing-edge bluntness. Compressible large-eddy simulations (LES) are conducted for a NACA0012 aerofoil with rounded trailing edge for four flow configurations with different angles of incidence, boundary layer tripping configurations and free-stream Mach numbers. The Reynolds number based on the aerofoil chord is fixed at ${\mathit{Re}}_{c} = 408\hspace{0.167em} 000$. The acoustic predictions are performed by the Ffowcs Williams & Hawkings (FWH) acoustic analogy formulation and incorporate convective effects. Surface and volume integrations of dipole and quadrupole source terms appearing in the FWH equation are performed using a three-dimensional wideband multi-level adaptive fast multipole method (FMM) in order to accelerate the calculations of aeroacoustic integrals. In order to validate the numerical solutions, flow simulation and acoustic prediction results are compared to experimental data available in the literature and good agreement is observed in terms of both aerodynamic and aeroacoustic results. For low-Mach-number flows, quadrupole sources can be neglected in the FWH equation and mean flow effects appear only for high frequencies. However, for higher speeds, convection effects are relevant for all frequencies and quadrupole sources have a more pronounced effect for medium and high frequencies. The convective effects are most readily observed in the upstream direction.
Momentum and energy of a solitary wave interacting with a submerged semi-circular cylinder
Authors: Klettner Christian A. , Eames Ian
Published: August 2012

The interaction of a weakly viscous solitary wave with a submerged semi-circular cylinder was examined using high-resolution two-dimensional numerical calculations. Two simulations were carried out: (a) as a baseline calculation, the propagation of a solitary wave over uniform depth; and (b) a solitary wave interacting with a submerged semi-circular cylinder. Large-scale simulations were performed to resolve the viscous boundary layers on the free surface, bottom and around the obstacle. Integral measures such as momentum and energy are analysed and compared against analytical approximations. For uniform depth, the loss in momentum and energy arises from the traction caused by the finite length of the domain bottom and the dissipation which is predominantly within the bottom boundary layer, respectively. The force on the cylinder is composed of (form) drag, inertial and hydrostatic components, the last factor arising from gradients in the height of the free surface. Morison’s semi-empirical equation is shown to provide a leading-order description of the force on the semi-circular cylinder. These elevated rates of change (momentum and energy) return to uniform depth values after a short period of time, indicating a localized effect of the obstacle. To interpret the flow field, vorticity, streamline and second invariant of the velocity gradient tensor plots were used to highlight relative thickness of boundary layers, vorticity distribution throughout the domain and stagnation points in the flow.
Transmission of acoustic-gravity waves through gas–liquid interfaces
Authors: Godin Oleg A. , Fuks Iosif M.
Published: August 2012

It was demonstrated recently that gas–liquid interfaces, which are usually almost perfect reflectors of acoustic waves, become anomalously transparent, and the power flux in the wave transmitted into the gas increases dramatically, when a compact sound source in the liquid approaches the interface within a fraction of the wavelength (Godin, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 97, 2006b, 164301). Powerful underwater explosions and certain natural sources, such as underwater landslides, generate very low-frequency waves in water and air, for which fluid buoyancy and compressibility simultaneously serve as restoring forces. In this paper, analysis of sound transmission through gas–liquid interfaces is extended to acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs) and applied to the air–water interface. It is found that, as for sound, the interface becomes anomalously transparent for sufficiently shallow compact sources of AGWs. Depending on the source type, the increase of a wave power flux into gas due to diffraction effects can reach several orders of magnitude. The physical mechanisms responsible for the anomalous transparency are discussed. Excitation of an interface wave by a point source in the liquid is shown to be an important channel of AGW transmission into the gas, which has no counterpart in the case of sound.
Crime Victimization and Political Participation
Authors: BATESON REGINA
Published: August 2012

Crime victimization is an important cause of political participation. Analysis of survey data from five continents shows that individuals who report recent crime victimization participate in politics more than comparable nonvictims. Rather than becoming withdrawn or disempowered, crime victims tend to become more engaged in civic and political life. The effect of crime victimization is roughly equivalent to an additional five to ten years of education, meaning that crime victimization ranks among the most influential predictors of political participation. Prior research has shown that exposure to violence during some civil wars can result in increased political participation, but this article demonstrates that the effect of victimization extends to peacetime, to nonviolent as well as violent crimes, and across most of the world. At the same time, however, crime victimization is sometimes associated with dissatisfaction with democracy and support for authoritarianism, vigilantism, and harsh policing tactics, especially in Latin America.
Vitamin D status of Irish adults: findings from the National Adult Nutrition Survey
Authors: Cashman Kevin D. , Muldowney Siobhan , McNulty Breige , Nugent Anne , FitzGerald Anthony P. , Kiely Mairead , Walton Janette , Gibney Michael J. , Flynn Albert
Published: August 2012

Previous national nutrition surveys in Irish adults did not include blood samples; thus, representative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) data are lacking. In the present study, we characterised serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Irish adults from the recent National Adult Nutrition Survey, and determined the impact of vitamin D supplement use and season on serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Of the total representative sample (n1500, aged 18+ years), blood samples were available for 1132 adults. Serum 25(OH)D was measured via immunoassay. Vitamin D-containing supplement use was assessed by questionnaire and food diary. Concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were compared by season and in supplement users and non-users. Year-round prevalence rates for serum 25(OH)D concentration < 30, < 40, < 50 and < 75 nmol/l were 6·7, 21·9, 40·1 and 75·6 %, respectively (11·1, 31·1, 55·0 and 84·0 % in winter, respectively). Supplement users had significantly higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations compared to non-users. However, 7·5 % of users had winter serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l. Only 1·3 % had serum 25(OH)D concentrations >125 nmol/l. These first nationally representative serum 25(OH)D data for Irish adults show that while only 6·7 % had serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l (vitamin D deficiency) throughout the year, 40·1 % had levels considered by the Institute of Medicine as being inadequate for bone health. These prevalence estimates were much higher during winter time. While vitamin D supplement use has benefits in terms of vitamin D status, at present rates of usage (17·5 % of Irish adults), it will have only very limited impact at a population level. Food-based strategies, including fortified foods, need to be explored.
Estimating remission from untreated major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Whiteford H. A. , Harris M. G. , McKeon G. , Baxter A. , Pennell C. , Barendregt J. J. , Wang J.
Published: August 2012

Background

Few studies have examined spontaneous remission from major depression. This study investigated the proportion of prevalent cases of untreated major depression that will remit without treatment in a year, and whether remission rates vary by disorder severity.

Method

Wait-list controlled trials and observational cohort studies published up to 2010 with data describing remission from untreated depression at ⩽2-year follow-up were identified. Remission was defined as rescinded diagnoses or below threshold scores on standardized symptom measures. Nineteen studies were included in a regression model predicting the probability of 12-month remission from untreated depression, using logit transformed remission proportion as the dependent variable. Covariates included age, gender, study type and diagnostic measure.

Results

Wait-listed compared to primary-care samples, studies with longer follow-up duration and older adult compared to adult samples were associated with lower probability of remission. Child and adolescent samples were associated with higher probability of remission. Based on adult samples recruited from primary-care settings, the model estimated that 23% of prevalent cases of untreated depression will remit within 3 months, 32% within 6 months and 53% within 12 months.

Conclusions

It is undesirable to expect 100% treatment coverage for depression, given many will remit before access to services is feasible. Data were drawn from consenting wait-list and primary-care samples, which potentially over-represented mild-to-moderate cases of depression. Considering reported rates of spontaneous remission, a short untreated period seems defensible for this subpopulation, where judged appropriate by the clinician. Conclusions may not apply to individuals with more severe depression.
Longitudinal predictors of Chinese word reading and spelling among elementary grade students
Authors: YEUNG PUI-SZE , HO CONNIE SUK-HAN , WONG YAU-KAI , CHAN DAVID WAI-OCK , CHUNG KEVIN KIEN-HOA , LO LAP-YAN
Published: August 2012

The longitudinal predictive power of four important reading-related skills (phonological skills, rapid naming, orthographic skills, and morphological awareness) to Chinese word reading and writing to dictation (i.e., spelling) was examined in a 3-year longitudinal study among 251 Chinese elementary students. Rapid naming, orthographic skills, and morphological awareness assessed in Grade 1 were significant longitudinal predictors of Chinese word reading in Grades 1 to 4. As for word spelling, rapid naming was the only significant predictor across grades. Morphological awareness was a robust predictor of word spelling in Grade 1 only. Phonological skills and orthographic skills significantly predicted word spelling in Grades 2 and 4. After controlling for autoregressive effects, morphological awareness and orthographic skills were the significant longitudinal predictors of Chinese word reading and word spelling, respectively. These findings reflected the impacts of the Chinese orthography on children's reading and spelling development.