bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permanent Pacemaker Insertion After CoreValve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Khawaja M.Z. , Rajani R. , Cook A. , Khavandi A. , Moynagh A. , Chowdhary S. , Spence M.S. , Brown S. , Khan S.Q. , Walker N. , Trivedi U. , Hutchinson N. , De Belder A.J. , Moat N. , Blackman D.J. , Levy R.D. , Manoharan G. , Roberts D. , Khogali S.S. , Crean P. , Brecker S.J. , Baumbach A. , Mullen M. , Laborde J.-C. , Hildick-Smith D.
Published: February 2011

Background—

Permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirement is a recognized complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We assessed the UK incidence of permanent pacing within 30 days of CoreValve implantation and formulated an anatomic and electrophysiological model.

Methods and Results—

Data from 270 patients at 10 centers in the United Kingdom were examined. Twenty-five patients (8%) had preexisting PPMs; 2 patients had incomplete data. The remaining 243 were 81.3±6.7 years of age; 50.6% were male. QRS duration increased from 105±23 to 135±29 milliseconds (
P
<0.01). Left bundle-branch block incidence was 13% at baseline and 61% after the procedure (
P
<0.001). Eighty-one patients (33.3%) required a PPM within 30 days. Rates of pacing according to preexisting ECG abnormalities were as follows: right bundle-branch block, 65.2%; left bundle-branch block, 43.75%; normal QRS, 27.6%. Among patients who required PPM implantation, the median time to insertion was 4.0 days (interquartile range, 2.0 to 7.75 days). Multivariable analysis revealed that periprocedural atrioventricular block (odds ratio, 6.29; 95% confidence interval, 3.55 to 11.15), balloon predilatation (odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 2.00 to 3.47), use of the larger (29 mm) CoreValve prosthesis (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 5.11), interventricular septum diameter (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.10 to 3.06), and prolonged QRS duration (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.61 to 7.40) were independently associated with the need for PPM.

Conclusion—

One third of patients undergoing a CoreValve transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure require a PPM within 30 days. Periprocedural atrioventricular block, balloon predilatation, use of the larger CoreValve prosthesis, increased interventricular septum diameter and prolonged QRS duration were associated with the need for PPM.
Endothelin-Converting Enzyme/Neutral Endopeptidase Inhibitor SLV338 Prevents Hypertensive Cardiac Remodeling in a Blood Pressure–Independent Manner
Authors: Kalk Philipp , Sharkovska Yuliya , Kashina Elena , von Websky Karoline , Relle Katharina , Pfab Thiemo , Alter Markus , Guillaume Philippe , Provost Daniel , Hoffmann Katrin , Fischer Yvan , Hocher Berthold
Published: February 2011

Hypertensive heart disease is a major contributor to cardiovascular mortality. Endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictive and profibrotic mediator produced by the endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE), whereas natriuretic peptides, degraded by the neutral endopeptidase (NEP), have diuretic, vasodilatory, and antifibrotic properties. Thus, combined ECE/NEP inhibition may halt hypertensive cardiac remodeling. This study examined effects of SLV338, a novel ECE/NEP inhibitor, on cardiac protection in experimental renovascular hypertension (2-kidney, 1-clip [2K1C]). Male rats were allocated to 5 groups: sham-operated rats, untreated animals with 2K1C, 2K1C animals treated with oral SLV338 (30 and 100 mg/kg per day), and 2K1C animals treated with oral losartan (20 mg/kg per day). Treatment duration was 12 weeks. Blood pressure was assessed every 4 weeks. At study end, hearts were taken for histology/computer-aided histomorphometry/immunohistochemistry. Pharmacological properties of SLV338 are described. SLV338 is a dual ECE/NEP inhibitor, as demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. In the 2K1C study, losartan lowered blood pressure by ≤46 mm Hg, whereas both dosages of SLV338 had no effect. However, SLV338 (both dosages) completely normalized cardiac interstitial fibrosis, perivascular fibrosis, myocyte diameter, and media:lumen ratio of cardiac arteries, as did losartan. Cardiac transforming growth factor-β1 expression was significantly enhanced in untreated 2K1C rats versus controls, whereas treatment with SLV338 and losartan prevented this effect. Taken together, dual ECE/NEP inhibitor SLV338 prevents cardiac remodeling to the same extent as losartan, but in a blood pressure–independent manner, in a rat model of renovascular hypertension. This effect is at least partially mediated via suppression of cardiac transforming growth factor-β1 expression.
Delayed-Mode Calibration of Hydrographic Data Obtained from Animal-Borne Satellite Relay Data Loggers
Authors: Roquet Fabien , Charrassin Jean-Benoit , Marchand Stephane , Boehme Lars , Fedak Mike , Reverdin Gilles , Guinet Christophe
Published: February 2011

A delayed-mode calibration procedure is presented to improve the quality of hydrographic data from CTD–Satellite Relay Data Loggers (CTD–SRDL) deployed on elephant seals. This procedure is applied on a dataset obtained with 10 CTD–SRDLs deployed at Kerguelen Islands in 2007. A comparison of CTD–SRDLs with a ship-based CTD system is first presented. A pressure-effect correction, linear with pressure, is deduced for both temperature and salinity measurements. An external field effect on the conductivity sensor is also detected, inducing an additional salinity offset. The salinity offset cannot be estimated directly from the ship-based CTD comparisons, because the attachment of the CTD–SRDL on the seal head modifies the magnitude of the external field effect. Two methods are proposed for estimating a posteriori the salinity offset. The first method uses the stable salinity maximum characterizing the Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW), sampled by seals foraging south of the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front. Where this approach is not possible, a statistical method of cross-comparison of CTD–SRDLs surface salinity measurements is used over the sluggish Northern Kerguelen Plateau. Accuracies are respectively estimated as ±0.02°C for temperature and ±0.1 for derived salinity without corrections. The delayed-mode calibration significantly improves the CTD–SRDL data, improving accuracies to ±0.01°C and ±0.03, respectively. A better salinity accuracy of ±0.02 is achieved when the LCDW method can be used. For CTD–SRDLs where ship-based CTD comparisons are not available, the expected accuracy would be ±0.02°C for temperature and ±0.04 for the derived salinity.
Evaluation of Model-Predicted Top-of-Atmosphere Radiation and Cloud Parameters over Africa with Observations from GERB and SEVIRI
Authors: Greuell Wouter , van Meijgaard Erik , Clerbaux Nicolas , Meirink Jan Fokke
Published: February 2011

This study compared the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model version 2 (RACMO) with satellite data by simultaneously looking at cloud properties and top-of-atmosphere (TOA) fluxes. This study used cloud properties retrieved from Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) data and TOA shortwave and longwave outgoing radiative fluxes measured by one of the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) sensors. Both SEVIRI and GERB resolve the diurnal cycle extremely well with 96 images per day. To test the physical parameterizations of the model, RACMO was run for a domain-enclosing Africa and part of the surrounding oceans. Simulations for July 2006, forced at the lateral boundaries by ERA-Interim reanalyses, show generally accurate positioning of the various cloud regimes but also some important model–observation differences, which the authors tried to reduce by altering model parameterizations. These differences are as follows: 1) TOA albedo differences in clear-sky regions like the Sahara and southern Africa. These differences were considerably reduced by prescribing the surface albedo from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data. 2) A considerable overestimation of outgoing longwave radiation within the continental ITCZ caused by the fact that modeled cirrus clouds are far too thin. 3) Underestimation by the model of cloud cover, condensed water path and albedo of the stratocumulus fields off the coast of Angola. The authors reduced these underestimations by suppressing the amount of turbulent mixing above the boundary layer, by prescribing droplet radii derived from SEVIRI data, and by assuming in-cloud horizontal homogeneity for the radiation calculations. 4) Overestimation by the model of the albedo of the trade wind cumulus fields over the Atlantic Ocean. This study argues that this overestimation is likely caused by a model overestimation of condensed water path. In general, the analyses demonstrate the power of the simultaneous evaluation of the TOA fluxes and cloud properties.
Rethinking the Ocean’s Role in the Southern Oscillation
Authors: Clement Amy , DiNezio Pedro , Deser Clara
Published: February 2011

The Southern Oscillation (SO) is usually described as the atmospheric component of the dynamically coupled El Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomenon. The contention in this work, however, is that dynamical coupling is not required to produce the SO. Simulations with atmospheric general circulation models that have varying degrees of coupling to the ocean are used to show that the SO emerges as a dominant mode of variability if the atmosphere and ocean are coupled only through heat and moisture fluxes. Herein this mode of variability is called the thermally coupled Walker (TCW) mode. It is a robust feature of simulations with atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) coupled to simple ocean mixed layers. Despite the absence of interactive ocean dynamics in these simulations, the spatial patterns of sea level pressure, surface temperature, and precipitation variability associated with the TCW are remarkably realistic. This mode has a red spectrum indicating persistence on interannual to decadal time scales that appears to arise through an off-equatorial trade wind–evaporation–surface temperature feedback and cloud shortwave radiative effects in the central Pacific. When dynamically coupled to the ocean (in fully coupled ocean–atmosphere GCMs), the main change to this mode is increased interannual variability in the eastern equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature and teleconnections in the North Pacific and equatorial Atlantic, though not all coupled GCMs simulate this effect.

Despite the oversimplification due to the lack of interactive ocean dynamics, the physical mechanisms leading to the TCW should be active in the actual climate system. Moreover, the robustness and realism of the spatial patterns of this mode suggest that the physics of the TCW can explain some of the primary features of observed interannual and decadal variability in the Pacific and the associated global teleconnections.
Regional Contrast of Mesoscale Convective System Structure prior to and during Monsoon Onset across South America
Authors: Rickenbach Thomas M. , Nieto-Ferreira Rosana , Barnhill Richard P. , Nesbitt Stephen W.
Published: February 2011

In this study, a 10-yr (1998–2007) climatology of observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite is used to study regional mechanisms of monsoon onset across tropical and subtropical South America. The approach is to contrast regional differences in the structure, intensity, and rainfall of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) prior to and after onset, in the context of thermodynamic conditions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. This is accomplished by analyzing the mean annual cycle time series, 10-yr frequency histograms, and 3-month-averaged values prior to and following onset in four regions of distinct rainfall variability. Observed MCS metrics and NCEP variables include lightning flash rate, convective rain fraction, height of the 30-dBZ isosurface, minimum 85-GHz polarization corrected temperature, and the fluxes of sensible and latent heat.

The west-central Amazon region had a distinct maximum of MCS intensity 2 months prior to the monsoon onset date of each region, which was well correlated with surface sensible heat flux, despite the observation that thermodynamic instability was greatest after onset. At the mouth of the Amazon, the dry season rainfall minimum, the premonsoon maximum in MCS intensity metrics, and monsoon onset were all delayed by 2–3 months relative to the west-central Amazon. This delay in the annual cycle and comparatively large difference in pre- versus postonset MCSs, combined with previous work, suggest that the slow migration of the Atlantic Ocean intertropical convergence zone controls onset characteristics at the mouth of the Amazon. All metrics of convective intensity in the tropical regions decreased significantly following onset. These results, in the context of previous studies, are consistent with the hypothesis that thermodynamic, land surface, and aerosol controls on MCS intensity operate in concert with each other to control the evolution of precipitation system structure from the dry season to the wet season. The other two regions [the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) and the south], associated with the well-documented dipole of intraseasonal rain variability, have a weaker and more variable annual cycle of all MCS metrics. This is likely related to the strong influence of baroclinic circulations and frontal systems in those regions. In the south, fewer but larger and more electrified MCSs prior to onset transition to more, smaller, and less electrified MCSs after onset, consistent with previous climatologies of strong springtime mesoscale convective complexes in that region.
Influence of ENSO on Tropical Cyclone Intensity in the Fiji Region
Authors: Chand Savin S. , Walsh Kevin J. E.
Published: February 2011

This study examines the variation in tropical cyclone (TC) intensity for different phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon in the Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga (FST) region. The variation in TC intensity is inferred from the accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), which is constructed from the 6-hourly Joint Typhoon Warning Center best-track data for the period 1985–2006. Overall, results suggest that ACE in the FST region is considerably influenced by the ENSO signal. A substantial contribution to this ENSO signal in ACE comes from the region equatorward of 15°S where TC numbers, lifetime, and intensity all play a significant role. However, the ACE–ENSO relationship weakens substantially poleward of 15°S where large-scale environmental variables affecting TC intensity are found to be less favorable during El Niño years than during La Niña years; in the region equatorward of 15°S, the reverse is true. Therefore, TCs entering this region poleward of 15°S are able to sustain their intensity for a longer period of time during La Niña years as opposed to TCs entering the region during El Niño years, when they decay more rapidly.
Multi-Time-Scale Climatic Variations over Eastern China and Implications for the South–North Water Diversion Project
Authors: Ren Guoyu , Liu Hongbin , Chu Ziying , Zhang Li , Li Xiang , Li Weijing , Chen Yu , Gao Ge , Zhang Yan
Published: February 2011

Middle and eastern routes of the South–North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) of China, which are approximately located within the area 28°–42°N and 110°–122°E, are being constructed. This paper investigates the past climatic variations on various time scales using instrumental and proxy data. It is found that annual mean surface air temperature has increased significantly during the past 50–100 years, and winter and spring temperatures in the northern part of the region have undergone the most significant changes. A much more significant increase occurs for annual mean minimum temperature and extreme low temperature than for annual mean maximum temperature and extreme high temperature. No significant trend in annual precipitation is found for the region as a whole for the last 50 and 100 years, although obvious decadal and spatial variation is detectable. A seesaw pattern of annual and summer precipitation variability between the north and the south of the region is evident. Over the last 100 years, the Haihe River basin has witnessed a significant negative trend of annual precipitation, but no similar trend is detected for the Yangtze and Huaihe River basins. Pan evaporation has significantly decreased since the mid-1960s in the region in spite of the fact that the trend appears to have ended in the early 1990s. The negative trend of pan evaporation is very significant in the plain area between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. There was a notable series of dry intervals lasting decades in the north of the region. The northern drought of the past 30 years is not the most severe in view of the past 500 years; however, the southern drought during the period from the 1960s to the 1980s may have been unprecedented. The dryness–wetness index (DWI) shows significant oscillations with periodicities of 9.5 and 20 years in the south and 10.5 and 25 years in the north. Longer periodicities in the DWI series include 160–170- and 70–80-yr oscillations in the north, and 100–150-yr oscillations in the south. The observed climate change could have implications for the construction and management of the SNWDP. The official approval and start of the hydro project was catalyzed by the severe multiyear drought of 1997–2003 in the north, and the operation and management of the project in the future will also be influenced by climate change—in particular by precipitation variability. This paper provides a preliminary discussion of the potential implications of observed climate change for the SNWDP.
Cyclonic Spirals in Tidally Accelerating Bottom Boundary Layers in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary
Authors: Wu Jiaxue , Liu Huan , Ren Jie , Deng Junjie
Published: February 2011

A velocity spiral in the tidally accelerating bottom boundary layer (BBL) was defined as a directional shear of the prevailing flow with the elevation and the tidal phase. However, so far there is no information on the spiral for the oscillatory BBL flows or a valid explanation for its origin, life history, and persistence. To investigate this rotating current in the tidally accelerating BBL flow, the authors performed instrumented tripod observations in the tidally energetic Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary. The tidal BBL flows may fall into three distinct regimes: (i) the quasi-steady phase in the peak tide; (ii) the accelerating–decelerating phase at the slack tide; and (iii) the transition between (i) and (ii), when a cyclonic spiral occurs only in the early–late ebb. The subcritical spiral, defined by a Froude number of the oscillatory BBL flow, may be analytically examined by unsteady linearized turbulent BBL equations. The spiral is formed under the momentum balance between local acceleration and bottom friction, independent of stratification conditions. The spiral consists of the “diffusive” and oscillatory boundary layers in the streamwise and spanwise direction, respectively. The streamwise spiral presents an exponential degradation (growth) in the decelerating (accelerating) ebb, indicating its limited life history over a tidal cycle. The transient in bottom stresses induced by the growth or the degradation of the spiral may be the mechanism for sediment trapping in the very little bed friction in the tidal estuary.
Validation and Interpretation of Adjoint-Derived Sensitivity Steering Vector as Targeted Observation Guidance
Authors: Chen Shin-Gan , Wu Chun-Chieh , Chen Jan-Huey , Chou Kun-Hsuan
Published: February 2011

The adjoint-derived sensitivity steering vector (ADSSV) has been proposed and applied as a guidance for targeted observation in the field programs for improving tropical cyclone predictability, such as The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment (THORPEX) Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC). The ADSSV identifies sensitive areas at the observing time to the steering flow at the verifying time through adjoint calculation. In addition, the ability of the ADSSV to represent signals of influence from synoptic systems such as the midlatitude trough and the subtropical high prior to the recurvature of Typhoon Shanshan (2006) has also been demonstrated.

In this study, the impact of initial perturbations associated with the high or low ADSSV sensitivity on model simulations is investigated by systematically perturbing initial vorticity fields in the case of Shanshan. Results show that experiments with the perturbed initial conditions located in the high ADSSV area (i.e., the midlatitude trough and the subtropical high) lead to more track deflection relative to the unperturbed control run than experiments with perturbations in the low sensitivity area. The evolutions of the deep-layer-mean steering flow and the direction of the ADSSV are compared to provide conceptual interpretation and validation on the physical meaning of the ADSSV. Concerning the results associated with the perturbed regions in high sensitivity regions, the variation of the steering flow within the verifying area due to the initial perturbations is generally consistent with that of the direction of the ADSSV. In addition, the bifurcation between the ADSSV and the steering change becomes larger with the increased integration time. However, the result for the perturbed region in the low-sensitivity region indicates that the steering change does not have good agreement with the ADSSV. The large initial perturbations to the low-sensitivity region may interact with the trough to the north due to the nonlinearity, which may not be accounted for in the ADSSV. Furthermore, the effect of perturbations specifically within the sensitive vertical layers is investigated to validate the vertical structure of the ADSSV. The structure of kinetic energy shows that the perturbation associated with the trough (subtropical high) specifically in the mid-to-upper (mid-to-lower) troposphere evolves similarly to that in the deep-layer troposphere, leading to comparable track changes. A sensitivity test in which perturbations are locally introduced in a higher-sensitivity area is conducted to examine the different impact as compared to that perturbed with the broader synoptic feature.
A systematic review of the terms used to refer to people who use mental health services: User perspectives
Authors: Dickens Geoff , Picchioni Marco
Published: February 2011

Objective: The terms used to refer to people who receive mental healthcare have been described as either potentially stigmatizing or empowering. This paper systematically reviews empirical studies of terminological usage in order to ascertain current knowledge.

Methods: Multiple databases were searched using the terms ‘patient’, ‘client’, ‘service user’ and ‘consumer’. Empirical, English language studies were included where an aim was to measure outcome related to the various terms used to describe or refer to people who use mental health services. Studies were assessed (i) against a hierarchy of evidence and (ii) using a 12-item checklist of methodological quality.

Results: The search resulted in the screening of 13,765 abstracts; full text versions of 69 papers were examined and 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified. All were cross-sectional surveys and all measured participant preference. Nine studies satisfied four or fewer quality markers. ‘Client’ and ‘patient’ were the terms preferred by study participants.

Conclusions: Despite a stream of debate in editorial columns and letters pages, it is unclear whether terminological use is important to the people who use mental health services. Preference is the sole outcome investigated empirically. Methodological rigour of extant study findings is largely questionable. Generalization and interpretation from included studies should be approached very cautiously.
Adding more fuel to the fire: An eye-tracking study of idiom processing by native and non-native speakers
Authors: Siyanova-Chanturia Anna , Conklin Kathy , Schmitt Norbert
Published: February 2011

Using eye-tracking, we investigate on-line processing of idioms in a biasing story context by native and non-native speakers of English. The stimuli are idioms used figuratively ( at the end of the day — ‘eventually’), literally ( at the end of the day — ‘in the evening’), and novel phrases ( at the end of the war). Native speaker results indicate a processing advantage for idioms over novel phrases, as evidenced by fewer and shorter fixations. Further, no processing advantage is found for figurative idiom uses over literal ones in a full idiom analysis or in a recognition point analysis. Contrary to native speaker results, non-native findings suggest that L2 speakers process idioms at a similar speed to novel phrases. Further, figurative uses are processed more slowly than literal ones. Importantly, the recognition point analysis allows us to establish where non-natives slow down when processing the figurative meaning.
Perioperative blood conservation strategies in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery: impact of non-autologous blood transfusion and surface-coated extracorporeal circuits
Authors: Gunaydin Serdar , McCusker Kevin , Vijay Venkatramana
Published: February 2011

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relative clinical and biomaterial effects of blood transfusions (Tx) and novel low-prime, surface-coated circuitry on perioperative outcome in a pediatric population undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Over a 12-month period, 80 patients weighing >10 kg undergoing ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair with CPB were prospectively randomized into two groups according to the type of CBP circuit used, then each randomized group was enrolled into two groups again, according to the need for transfusion (N=20): Group 1- Tx-free procedures on low-prime, surface-coated extracorporeal circuitry (FX05, Terumo); Group 2- procedures requiring Tx on coated circuitry; Group 3- Tx-free procedures with standard uncoated circuitry (D902, Sorin); Group 4 (Control)- procedures requiring Tx on uncoated circuitry. Blood samples were collected at baseline (T1), at the end of the CPB (T2) and 24 h (T3) postoperatively. rSO2 desaturation risk score >6000 (Invos, Somanetics) was calculated by multiplying rSO2 <50% by time.

Results: IL-6 levels (pg/ml) were significantly lower in Groups 1 and 3 versus control at T2 (13±4; 17±5 versus 33±8; p<0.05). CD11b/CD18 levels (%) were significantly lower in Group 1 (12±4) versus control (25±8) at T2 (p<0.05). Respiratory support time (h) was significantly less in Group 1 (11.4±6) versus control (19.8±7) (p<0.05). rSO2 desaturation risk >6000 (%) was 15.7±9 in Group 1 and 26.8±11 in control (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Allogenic Tx amplifies the CPB-related inflammatory response. It is feasible to do congenital procedures safely without Tx for patients weighing >10 kg by using combined blood management strategies.
Geographies of policy
Authors: Peck Jamie
Published: February 2011

The paper develops a geographical approach to the issues of policy transfer and transformation, taking the form of a critical dialogue with three literatures at the borderlands of political science, comparative institutionalism, and political sociology. Making the case for moving beyond rational-choice frameworks and essentialized, formalist representations of policy transfer, the paper advocates a social-constructivist understanding of policy mobilities-and-mutations, sensitive to the constitutive roles of spatiotemporal context.
Geographies of long-distance family migration
Authors: Smith Darren P.
Published: February 2011

Complex and uneven family geographies, and divisions between ‘family-absent’ and ‘family-dominated’ neighbourhoods, are emerging. A factor is processes of internal, long-distance family migration. To understand the linkages, theories of space and place need to be brought to the forefront of family migration scholarship. This is essential to integrate the effects of the geographic contingences of places of origin and destination, identifying how different gender, social class, sexuality and other relations are reconstituted and reproduced by family migration. Cooke’s (2008) proposal for the family to be effectively theorized within family migration needs to be extended to include a spatial turn.
Cutting government deficits: Economic science or class war?
Authors: Radice Hugo
Published: February 2011

The financial crisis of 2008 was widely blamed on reckless and predatory behaviour by the banks, and public debate therefore centred on supporting employment and reforming the financial system. But during 2010, the focus of attention has shifted to the deficits and debts of governments, which are widely believed to be excessive and unsustainable. It is argued here that cutting government deficits is not an economic necessity, but a strategy for justifying attacks on the living standards of workers and heading off reforms that might threaten the power of the ruling classes.
Who rules Iran? The June 2009 election and political turmoil
Authors: Morady Farhang
Published: February 2011

The tumultuous 2009 election in Iran demonstrated that Islam is not a homogenous religion, but rather it presents itself in different ways and is rooted within social classes. Indeed, the rupture within the ruling establishment between the populists and reformists shows that the Islamic Republic does not represent a 7th-century medieval ideology nor a radical regime with widespread support. How well the Islamic Republic will come out of this unscathed remains to be seen as the US-led sanctions increase economic and political pressure upon both the current ruling elites and the opposition.
Family Business and Market Orientation
Authors: Zachary Miles A. , McKenny Aaron , Short Jeremy Collin , Payne G. Tyge
Published: February 2011

Market orientation refers to the collection, dissemination, and utilization of market information that promotes a sustainable competitive advantage. Despite the contribution of the market orientation construct to both the strategic management and marketing literatures, little attention has been devoted to exploring how market orientation relates to family businesses and how these relationships might differ from nonfamily businesses. To address this gap and stimulate further research in this area of inquiry, this study develops and validates a market orientation measure using content analysis of CEO letters from the S&P 500 and tests for differences between family businesses and nonfamily businesses.
Methodological Issues in Measuring Group Learning
Authors: Goodman Paul S. , Dabbish Laura A.
Published: February 2011

This article examines current empirical approaches to group learning. It focuses on two central questions: Are these approaches really measuring group learning, and what critical issues should be resolved in future group-learning research? The rationale for this examination is threefold. First, the last 10 years have seen a substantial increase in research on group learning. As this literature accumulates, it is useful to do a critical review of the connection between the concept of group learning and its operational form. Second, there is a lack of clarity in how learning is operationalized—how researchers capture whether learning has occurred. The third rationale is to make explicit some of the features of group learning to serve as a guide for future research.
Heterogeneous deformation of Al single crystal: Experiments and finite element analysis
Authors: Ha Sangyul , Kim KiTae
Published: February 2011

This work combined experiments at the grain level with the constitutive modeling of a single crystal to investigate deformation behaviors of a pure aluminum single crystal oriented for a single slip. Simple compression of a [132] single crystal was conducted to obtain the macroscopic stress—strain response and observe the deformed shape of the sample. The evolution of the crystallographic orientation was measured by an electron backscattered diffraction system in a field emission scanning electron microscope. The heterogeneous in-plane surface deformation in a single crystal was calculated by using a digital image correlation technique. Finite element modeling based on a single crystal plasticity model agrees well with experimental results in an averaged sense, not at the individual dislocation level.
Extension and torsion of incompressible non-linearly elastic solid circular cylinders
Authors: Horgan Cornelius O , Murphy Jeremiah G
Published: February 2011

The problem of torsion superimposed on axial extension of a solid circular cylinder composed of an incompressible isotropic hyperelastic material has been extensively investigated in the literature on non-linear elasticity following the pioneering theoretical investigations of Rivlin. The classical results of Rivlin were given in terms of a general strain—energy density that depends on the principal invariants of the Cauchy—Green deformation tensor. Here we reformulate these results in terms of a general strain—energy density that depends on alternative invariants, namely the invariants of the stretch tensor. Such an approach was carried out in a paper in this journal by Rivlin for the special case of pure torsion. As was remarked there, this is a relatively straightforward procedure and is a viable alternative to development of the theory from first principles in terms of the invariants of the stretch tensor. As an illustrative example, we consider the well-known Varga model for incompressible materials. For this material model, it is shown that the stretched circular cylinder always tends to further elongate on twisting. The special case of pure torsion is also briefly considered. The resultant axial force necessary to maintain pure torsion is compressive for the Varga model. In the absence of such a force, the bar tends to elongate on twisting, reflecting the celebrated Poynting effect.
A narrative framework for management ideas: Disclosing the plots of knowledge management in a multinational company
Authors: Corbett-Etchevers Isabelle , Mounoud Eléonore
Published: February 2011

We extend research on management ideas by providing a narrative framework for studying how management ideas are consumed. We dwell upon Certeau’s (1984) work on the practice of consumption and Ricœur’s (1983) concept of emplotment. Specifically, we study, over a 20-year time period, how Cement Inc., a multinational company, adopted and used knowledge management (KM) ideas and practices. We disclose the consumption of KM at Cement Inc. through four plots that provide an account not only in terms of adopting and using, but also in terms of organizational and individual experiences. We show that knowledge management ideas are co-consumed through multiple, iterative, continuous emplotments, unfolding at multiple levels across time, people and practices.We argue that our narrative framework makes two contributions. First, it provides an integrative view of the consumption of management ideas and proves a helpful device for making sense of an enormous amount of data. Second, it allows unity as well as multiplicity in analysis of the consumption process: one story is told from many different perspectives and results in broader understanding.
The behaviour of political parties and MPs in the parliaments of the Weimar Republic
Authors: Hansen Martin Ejnar , Debus Marc
Published: February 2011

Analysing the roll-call votes of the MPs of the Weimar Republic we find: (1) that party competition in the Weimar parliaments can be structured along two dimensions: an economic left–right and a pro-/anti-democratic. Remarkably, this is stable throughout the entire lifespan of the Republic and not just in the later years and despite the varying content of votes across the lifespan of the Republic, and (2) that nearly all parties were troubled by intra-party divisions, though, in particular, the national socialists and communists became homogeneous in the final years of the Republic.
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive, Inattentive, and Sleep Symptoms in a 7-Year-Old With PDD-NOS
Authors: Rooney Mary , Alfano Candice A. , Walsh Karin S. , Parr Adair F.
Published: February 2011

The overlap in symptoms among autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in youth can present diagnostic challenges for clinicians and researchers. Accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment can be facilitated by ongoing assessment and close collaboration among members of a multidisciplinary team. Specific treatment guidelines for reducing anxiety and/or inattentive behaviors in children with a primary ASD diagnosis are currently lacking. This case provides an example of how an empirically supported treatment for anxiety, exposure with response prevention (E/RP), in conjunction with pharmacotherapy, can be effective in reducing anxiety and ritualistic/compulsive behaviors in ASDs. This case also exemplifies how attention to and treatment of sleep problems can improve inattentive symptoms and overall functioning.
Stories and Statistics: Describing a Mixed Methods Study of Effective Classroom Practice
Authors: Kington Alison , Sammons Pam , Day Christopher , Regan Elaine
Published: February 2011

The Effective Classroom Practice project aimed to identify key factors that contribute to effective teaching in primary and secondary phases of schooling in different socioeconomic contexts. This article addresses the ways in which qualitative and quantitative approaches were combined within an integrated design to provide a comprehensive methodology for the research purposes. Strategies for the study are discussed, followed by the challenges of combining complex statistics with individual stories, particularly in relation to the ongoing iteration between these different data sets, and issues of validity and reliability. The findings shed new light on the meanings and measurement of teachers’ effective classroom practice and the complex nature of, and relationships with, professional life phase, teacher identities, and school context.
Degradation mechanism of electrode tip during resistance spot welding of aluminium alloy sheets
Authors: Kondo M , Nagata H , Nishimura A , Kokawa H
Published: February 2011

This study investigated the electrode life and the electrode degradation characteristics during continuous resistance spot welding of aluminium alloy sheets. When a long welding time and dome radius type electrode were used, the electrode life was extended more than that when a short welding time and radius type electrode are used. The electrode tip is considered to degrade by the following mechanism: an Al–Cu alloy layer is formed at the electrode tip during continuous welding, and then it peels off from the electrode tip transferring to the surface of aluminium alloy sheet. Its peeling makes the electrode tip indented and finally the electrode tip flattens with increasing diameter of electrode tip. In order to eliminate the direct contact between electrode and worksheet, a special Cu foil insert device for resistance spot welding of aluminium alloy sheets was developed and an extremely long electrode life was achieved.
Effect of shoulder cavity and welding parameters on friction stir welding of thin copper sheets
Authors: Leal R M , Sakharova N , Vilaça P , Rodrigues D M , Loureiro A
Published: February 2011

The aim of this investigation was to study the influence of shoulder cavity and welding parameters on torque, defect formation, microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welds in very thin sheets of deoxidised copper. Three types of tools were used: a flat shoulder tool and two tools with conical shoulder cavities of 3 and 6° respectively. The welding parameters analysed were tool rotation and traverse speeds. It was observed that the torque, the microstructure and hardness and the formation of defects in the welds are influenced mainly by tool rotation speed and, to a lesser extent, by the traverse speed and shoulder cavity. The tensile properties of welds carried out at high rotation speeds are little affected by the shoulder cavity.
Influence of oxygen on weld geometry in fibre laser and fibre laser–GMA hybrid welding
Authors: Zhao L , Tsukamoto S , Arakane G , Sugino T , DebRoy T
Published: February 2011

The effect of oxygen on weld geometry during keyhole mode welding has been investigated by adding a small amount of oxygen to the shielding gas during fibre laser and fibre laser–gas metal arc hybrid welding. The results indicate that the penetration depth increases and the weld width decreases with increasing oxygen concentration. This effect is attributed to the formation of a deeper keyhole when oxygen is present. The addition of sulphur up to 1500 ppm in the molten pool has no significant effect on the penetration depth. This behaviour indicates that the Marangoni convection and surface tension are not the main reasons for the deeper weld penetration when oxygen is added to the shielding gas. The increase in the penetration depth owing to oxygen addition is consistent with the formation of CO by reaction between dissolved carbon and oxygen. Rapid generation of CO in the keyhole expands the keyhole and results in deeper weld penetration.
Effect of solidification mechanism on microstructure and mechanical properties of joint in TLP bonded Al2024‐T6 alloy
Authors: Mahmoudi Ghaznavi M , Ekrami A , Kokabi A H
Published: February 2011

Transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of Al2024‐T6 alloy, using gallium (Ga) interlayer, has been investigated. Bonding process was carried out at 470°C for 6 min, and homogenising temperature and time were 495°C and 2 h respectively. Conventional TLP bonding using Ga interlayer was not an appropriate method for joining of Al2024. In this method, the boundary between two Al2024 specimens was not fully eliminated during bonding because of solidification with planar front. In addition, bonding zone was depleted of copper, and as a result, tensile and shear strength of joint decreased to 200 and 110 MPa respectively. TLP bonding under temperature gradient offered very good results in bonding of Al2024. In this method, solidification mechanism change from planar to dendritic, and tensile and shear strength of joint increased to about 460 and 220 MPa respectively. Microstructure of bonding zone changed basically by changing solidification mechanism.
Brazing C/SiC composites and Nb with TiNiNb active filler metal
Authors: Liu Y Z , Zhang L X , Liu C B , Yang Z W , Li H W , Feng J C
Published: February 2011

C/SiC composites and Nb were vacuum brazed with the Ti39·4Ni39·4Nb21·2 alloy being the active filler metal. The mechanical properties of the filler material, the microstructure and the strength of brazing joints were investigated. The results showed that the filler TiNiNb alloy has a tensile strength of 860 MPa, an elongation of 51% and an elastic modulus of 78 GPa. Both Ti and Nb elements in the filler reacted with C/SiC during the brazing process, and a well bonded C/SiC–Nb joint was obtained. The ductile filler metal released the thermal stress in the joint. When the brazing was performed at 1220°C for 20 min, the shear strength of brazed joints reached 149, 120 and 73 MPa at 20, 600 and 800°C respectively.
Development of Ir based tool for friction stir welding of high temperature materials
Authors: Miyazawa T , Iwamoto Y , Maruko T , Fujii H
Published: February 2011

A friction stir welding (FSW) tool with high strength and high wear resistance at elevated temperature is needed to perform FSW of high temperature materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a welding tool suited for FSW of high temperature materials. It has been clarified that Ir is little oxidised at elevated temperatures and that the addition of Re within the solubility limit to Ir increases the recrystallisation temperature, the high temperature strength and the high temperature hardness of the Ir alloy. SUS304 stainless steel was successfully friction stir welded by an Ir–10 at‐%Re welding tool without significant wear.
Idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia: an interstitial lung disease associated with autoimmune disorders?
Authors: Romagnoli M. , Nannini C. , Piciucchi S. , Girelli F. , Gurioli C. , Casoni G. , Ravaglia C. , Tomassetti S. , Gurioli Ch. , Gavelli G. , Carloni A. , Dubini A. , Cantini F. , Chilosi M. , Poletti V.
Published: February 2011

Recent evidence suggests that idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP) is a distinct clinical entity amongst other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, and some data seem to suggest a possible pathogenetic role of autoimmunity. The aim of the present study was to assess if iNSIP might represent an early lung manifestation of an autoimmune disease.

After initial review of cases found in the medical records database by searching for the term “NSIP” (n = 63), 37 iNSIP cases were identified, and were re-evaluated using a dynamic integrated multidisciplinary approach.

27 cases with iNSIP were selected for the study. Mean±sdage at first respiratory symptom was 54.2±8 yrs, 70% were females, and 59% were never-smokers. At follow-up (mean±sd59.7±29 months, range 12–138 months), autoimmune diseases occurred in 14 (52%) patients, with seven (26%) cases of autoimmune thyroiditis, six (22%) of undifferentiated connective tissue disease and three (11%) of connective tissue disease. Patients developing autoimmune diseases were older and more frequently never-smoking females.

In >50% of patients diagnosed with iNSIP, evidence of autoimmune diseases develops within 2 yrs, suggesting a probable link between the clinical entity of iNSIP and autoimmune disorders.
mGluR5 positive modulators both potentiate activation and restore inhibition in NMDA receptors by PKC dependent pathway
Authors: Chen Hwei-Hsien , Liao Pei-Fei , Chan Ming-Huan
Published: February 2011

Background

In order to understand the interaction between the metabotropic glutamate subtype 5 (mGluR5) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, the influence of mGluR5 positive modulators in the inhibition of NMDA receptors by the noncompetitive antagonist ketamine, the competitive antagonist D-APV and the selective NR2B inhibitor ifenprodil was investigated.

Methods

This study used the multi-electrode dish (MED) system to observe field potentials in hippocampal slices of mice.

Results

Data showed that the mGluR5 agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), as well as the positive allosteric modulators 3-cyano-N-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl) benzamide (CDPPB) and 3,3'-difluorobenzaldazine (DFB) alone did not alter the basal field potentials, but enhanced the amplitude of field potentials induced by NMDA. The inhibitory action of ketamine on NMDA-induced response was reversed by CHPG, DFB, and CDPPB, whereas the blockade of NMDA receptor by D-APV was restored by CHPG and CDPPB, but not by DFB. Alternatively, activation of NMDA receptors prior to the application of mGluR5 modulators, CHPG was able to enhance NMDA-induced field potentials and reverse the suppressive effect of ketamine and D-APV, but not ifenprodil. In addition, chelerythrine chloride (CTC), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, blocked the regulation of mGluR5 positive modulators in enhancing NMDA receptor activation and recovering NMDA receptor inhibition. The PKC activator (PMA) mimicked the effects of mGluR5 positive modulators on enhancing NMDA receptor activation and reversing NMDA antagonist-evoked NMDA receptor suppression.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that the PKC-dependent pathway may be involved in the positive modulation of mGluR5 resulting in potentiating NMDA receptor activation and reversing NMDA receptor suppression induced by NMDA antagonists.