bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Web‐based stakeholder collaboration in flood risk management
Authors: Almoradie A. , Cortes V.J. , Jonoski A.
Published: October 2013

Development of flood risk management (FRM) plans and strategies should ideally be carried out in participatory processes through involvement of all stakeholders. Participation can be through collaboration with the experts and among stakeholders themselves, leading to identification of commonly agreed FRM measures or alternatives. Stakeholder participation, however, does not come without challenges and hindrances (e.g. limitation of financial resources, stakeholders' spatial distribution and their interest to participate). This article presents web‐based support tools for collaboration in FRM intended to address some of these challenges and hindrances. Following a conceptual framework, web‐based platforms for stakeholder participation through collaborative modelling are introduced. The framework and the platforms were applied in two real case studies, the Cranbrook catchment (London, UK) and the Alster catchment (Hamburg, Germany). The experiences of actual stakeholders in using the platform and the experiences in using general public licence technologies for development of the tools are also presented.
Lipid composition of some commonly consumed traditional Nigerian dishes
Authors: Onabanjo O. O. , Sanni S. A. , Afolabi W. A. O. , Oyawoye O. O. , Obanla O. O.
Published: October 2013

Background

Lipids in the diet have been associated with the rising prevalence of many chronic diseases. The present study aimed to provide information on total lipid, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents of some dishes consumed in northern, southern, western parts of Nigeria, as well as dishes generally consumed in all parts of Nigeria. This would result in a resource that would be used by nutritionists and dietitians in meal planning.

Methods

The present study is analytical in nature. The composite dishes included a blend of cereals, roots and tubers, legumes, fat and oil and vegetables and were analysed for total lipid, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents spectrophotometrically.

Results

Burabisko (a millet based dish) had the lowest free fatty acid (0.1 mg per 100 g) and cholesterol (1. 9 mg per 100 g) contents, yam with eggs (7.1 mg per 100 g) and miyan‐kuka with semovita (415.9 mg per 100 g) contained the highest amounts of free fatty acid and cholesterol, respectively. The total lipid and triacylglycerol content were lowest in gbegiri with eko (2.6 g per 100 g) and 3.1 mg per 100 g respectively. Stewed beans with fried plantain, however, had the highest total lipid (86.5 g per 100 g) content and yam with eggs had the highest triacylglycerol (122.5 mg per 100 g) contents. The moisture content of the dishes ranged between 59.68 and 81.73% in melon seed with vegetable soup and burabisko, respectively.

Conclusions

For the first time, we have provided the lipid profile of standardised traditional dishes consumed in Nigeria. These dishes contribute a significant proportion of lipids to the diet of Nigerians, which are essential for assessing the nutrient intake of Nigerians.
Array tomography
Authors: WACKER I. , SCHROEDER R.R.
Published: October 2013

In array tomography ordered, ribbon‐like assemblies of ultrathin serial sections are deposited on a solid substrate and imaged afterwards. The resulting images are then aligned and reconstructed into a three‐dimensional representation of the object. Depending on the preparation and labelling regime, different imaging modalities can be applied. When using light microscopy, the labelling with fluorescent markers would be the obvious choice, whereas the imaging in a scanning electron microscope would require impregnation with heavy metals. Depending on preparative constraints, the combination of diverse imaging modalities or truly correlative imaging is possible.
Attention network test: Assessment of cognitive function in chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Togo Fumiharu , Lange Gudrun , Natelson Benjamin H. , Quigley Karen S.
Published: October 2013

Information processing difficulties are common in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It has been shown that the time it takes to process a complex cognitive task, rather than error rate, may be the critical variable underlying CFS patients' cognitive complaints. The Attention Network Task (ANT) developed by Fan and colleagues may be of clinical utility to assess cognitive function in CFS, because it allows for simultaneous assessment of mental response speed, also called information processing speed, and error rate under three conditions challenging the attention system. Comparison of data from two groups of CFS patients (those with and without comorbid major depressive disorder; n = 19 and 22, respectively) to controls (n = 29) consistently showed that error rates did not differ among groups across conditions, but speed of information processing did. Processing time was prolonged in both CFS groups and most significantly affected in response to the most complex task conditions. For simpler tasks, processing time was only prolonged in CFS participants with depression. The data suggest that the ANT may be a task that could be used clinically to assess information processing deficits in individuals with CFS.
The Vagina Dialogues: Genital Self-Image and Communication with Physicians About Sexual Dysfunction and Dissatisfaction Among Jewish Patients in a Women's Health Clinic in Southern Israel
Authors: Yulevitch Aviva , Czamanski-Cohen Johanna , Segal David , Ben-Zion Izhak , Kushnir Talma
Published: October 2013

Introduction

The health-care system offers a variety of solutions for problems related to sexual dysfunction. To gain access to treatment options, women must be willing to discuss these issues with their physicians.

Aim

To examine the extent to which women discuss issues of sexual dysfunction with their physicians and to examine the contribution of aspects of sexual dysfunction, level of satisfaction, body image, and genital self-image to their comfort with communicating with physicians about these issues.

Methods

One hundred ten secular-appearing, Hebrew-speaking Jewish women waiting for a routine gynecological appointment at a clinic in southern Israel responded to a self-report questionnaire.

Main Outcome Measures

The Female Sexuality Function Index was used to assess sexual dysfunction, Gray's Modified Questionnaire to assess body image, and the Genital Self-Image Scale to assess genital self-image. We compiled a new measure to assess level of comfort in discussing sexual functioning and satisfaction with a physician.

Results

Forty-four percent of the women had discussed sexual functioning issues with a gynecologist. Of those, 91.7% reported that the gynecologist initiated the discussion. The proportion of participants who would consult a gynecologist about sexual dysfunction was 74.5%, but only 41% would consult a family physician. Half of the women would expect a gynecologist to initiate such consultations, but only 20% would expect a family physician to do so. In a multivariate regression analysis, genital self-image was the only significant predictor of women's comfort level with discussing sexual dysfunction with a gynecologist.

Conclusions

The respondents perceived the gynecologist, rather than the family physician, as an appropriate professional to consult regarding sexual dysfunction. However, they expected the gynecologist to initiate the discussion. Women with a positive genital self-image are more comfortable in consulting about sexual dysfunction. Gynecologists should be made aware of their significant role in eliciting women's cooperation in such consultations and in contributing to improving women's genital perception.
Lymphoma Immunophenotype of Dogs Determined by Immunohistochemistry, Flow Cytometry, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for Antigen Receptor Rearrangements
Authors: Thalheim L. , Williams L.E. , Borst L.B. , Fogle J.E. , Suter S.E.
Published: October 2013

Background

Immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry (FC), and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangements (PARR) are 3 widely utilized tests to determine immunophenotype in dogs with lymphoma (LSA).

Objectives

This study evaluated the ability of FC and PARR to correctly predict immunophenotype as defined by IHC and to determine the level of agreement among the 3 tests.

Animals

Sixty‐two dogs with lymphoma.

Methods

Retrospective study. Medical records were searched to identify dogs with LSA that had concurrent IHC, FC, and PARR performed. Immunophenotype results were categorized as B‐cell, T‐cell, dual immunophenotype (B‐ and T‐cell), or indeterminate. The results of FC and PARR were evaluated for correctly classifying B‐ and T‐cell LSA as compared with IHC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were evaluated in addition to concordance between each test.

Results

The sensitivity of FC was significantly higher than PARR for both B‐cell (91% versus 67%; P < 0.0072) and T‐cell (100% versus 75%; P < 0.0312) LSA. The percent agreement between FC and IHC was 94%, between PARR and IHC was 69%, between FC and PARR was 63%, and among all 3 tests was 63%.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Flow cytometry is superior to PARR in correctly predicting immunophenotype when evaluating lymph nodes from dogs already diagnosed with B‐ or T‐cell LSA. If fresh samples are not available for FC, PARR is an acceptable assay for determination of immunophenotype given its high specificity.
Evaluation of a Catalase‐Based Urine Test for the Detection of Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs and Cats
Authors: Kvitko‐White H.L. , Cook A.K. , Nabity M.B. , Zhang S. , Lawhon S.D.
Published: October 2013

Background

Bacterial infection of the urinary tract is a common disorder in dogs and cats. Although microscopic examination of urine sediment is routinely used to screen for infection, this test can lack sensitivity or require expertise. A reliable in‐clinic screening test would be a useful adjunct for the identification of dogs and cats with bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI).

Hypothesis

That a catalase‐based urine test (Accutest Uriscreen™) is a more sensitive screening test forUTIin dogs and cats than urine microscopic sediment examination.

Animals

One hundred and sixty client‐owned dogs and cats.

Methods

Surplus urine from animals presented to a veterinary teaching hospital was used in this prospective observational study. A routine urinalysis, aerobic bacterial culture, and the Uriscreen test were performed on cystocentesis samples. Sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for Uriscreen and microscopic sediment examination using culture results as the gold standard.

Results

Bacterial culture was positive in 27/165 (16.4%) samples. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for the Uriscreen were 89%, 71%, 3.0, and 0.15, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for urine sediment microscopic examination were 78%, 90%, 7.8, and 0.24, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The Uriscreen is a more sensitive screening test forUTIin dogs and cats than sediment examination; however, the urine sediment examination was more specific. A negative Uriscreen result helps excludeUTI; however, urine bacterial culture is still necessary to exclude or confirmUTIin all cases.
Flow cytometry‐based enrichment for cell shape mutants identifies multiple genes that influence Helicobacter pylori morphology
Authors: Sycuro Laura K. , Rule Chelsea S. , Petersen Timothy W. , Wyckoff Timna J. , Sessler Tate , Nagarkar Dilip B. , Khalid Fakhra , Pincus Zachary , Biboy Jacoby , Vollmer Waldemar , Salama Nina R.
Published: October 2013

The helical cell shape of Helicobacter pylori is highly conserved and contributes to its ability to swim through and colonize the viscous gastric mucus layer. A multi‐faceted peptidoglycan (PG) modification programme involving four recently characterized peptidases and two accessory proteins is essential for maintaining H. pylori's helicity. To expedite identification of additional shape‐determining genes, we employed flow cytometry with fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) to enrich a transposon library for bacterial cells with altered light scattering profiles that correlate with perturbed cell morphology. After a single round of sorting, 15% of our clones exhibited a stable cell shape defect, reflecting 37‐fold enrichment. Sorted clones with straight rod morphology contained insertions in known PG peptidases, as well as an insertion in csd6, which we demonstrated has ld‐carboxypeptidase activity and cleaves monomeric tetrapeptides in the PG sacculus, yielding tripeptides. Other mutants had only slight changes in helicity due to insertions in genes encoding MviN/MurJ, a protein possibly involved in initiating PG synthesis, and the hypothetical protein HPG27_782. Our findings demonstrate FACS robustly detects perturbations of bacterial cell shape and identify additional PG peptide modifications associated with helical cell shape in H. pylori.
Clinical and radiological correlation in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion
Authors: Ogata Toshiyasu , Takemoto Koichiro , Okawa Masakazu , Hamada Omi , Abe Hiroshi , Iwaasa Mitsutoshi , Higashi Toshio , Takano Koichi , Tsuboi Yoshio , Kitazono Takanari , Inoue Tooru
Published: October 2013

Aim

Although ischemic stroke in posterior stroke induces approximately one‐fifth of all strokes, basilar artery occlusion (BAO) and bilateral intracranial vertebral artery occlusion (BIVAO) are relatively rare. The present study was carried out to clarify the differences in clinical features between patients with ischemic stroke caused by BAO and BIVAO.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 17 patients with ischemic stroke caused by either BAO or BIVAO who were transferred to our emergency ward within 24 hours of onset. Intravenous and intra‐arterial thrombolysis, stenting, and medications were given according to the patient's age, underlying diseases, time from onset, stroke etiology, and degree of neurological symptoms. Patient background, underlying diseases, findings on admission, prior history of stroke, prior antithrombotic treatment, sites of infarction, treatment, and outcome at discharge were compared between patients with BAO and BIVAO.

Results

A total of 10 patients had BAO and seven had BIVAO. The stroke etiology was significantly different between the two groups; 60% of patients with BAO had cardioembolic stroke, whereas more than 70% of cases of BIVAO were induced by large artery atherosclerosis (P = 0.039). Although initial neurological deficits as evaluated by the National Institute of Health and Stroke Scale score differed (P = 0.005), the median modified Rankin Scale became similar at discharge (P = 0.42).

Conclusions

Ischemic stroke caused by BIVAO was frequently induced by large artery atherosclerosis, whereas that caused by BAO was categorized as cardioembolic stroke. Although patients with BIVAO had less severe disease than those with BAO on admission, both groups showed poor functional outcomes at discharge.
Pistillate flowers experience more pollen limitation and less geitonogamy than perfect flowers in a gynomonoecious herb
Authors: Mamut Jannathan , Xiong Ying‐Ze , Tan Dun‐Yan , Huang Shuang‐Quan
Published: October 2013

Gynomonoecy, a sexual system in which plants have both pistillate (female) flowers and perfect (hermaphroditic) flowers, occurs in at least 15 families, but the differential reproductive strategies of the two flower morphs within one individual remain unclear.

Racemes of Eremurus anisopterus (Xanthorrhoeaceae) have basal pistillate and distal perfect flowers. To compare sex allocation and reproductive success between the two flower morphs, we measured floral traits, pollinator preferences, and pollen movement in the field.

Pollen limitation was more severe in pistillate flowers; bee pollinators preferred to visit perfect flowers, which were also capable of partial self‐fertilization. Pollen‐staining experiments indicated that perfect flowers received a higher proportion of intra‐plant pollen (geitonogamy) than pistillate flowers. Plants with greater numbers of pistillate flowers received more outcross pollen. The differential reproductive success conformed with differential floral sex allocation, in which pistillate flowers produce fewer but larger ovules, resulting in outcrossed seeds.

Our flower manipulations in these nectarless gynomonoecious plants demonstrated that perfect flowers promote seed quantity in that they are more attractive to pollinators, while pistillate flowers compensate for the loss of male function through better seed quality. These results are consistent with the outcrossing‐benefit hypothesis for gynomonoecy.
Development and characterization of single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers from 454 transcriptome sequences in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)
Authors: Pootakham Wirulda , Uthaipaisanwong Pichahpuk , Sangsrakru Duangjai , Yoocha Thippawan , Tragoonrung Somvong , Tangphatsornruang Sithichoke
Published: October 2013

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) has recently emerged as the world's most important economic crop, with the world production of palm oil surpassing that of soybean. The utilization of palm oil as a feedstock in biodiesel production has triggered a dramatic rise in its global demand. In recent years, marker‐assisted selections have played a pivotal role in oil palm breeding programmes as they have several advantages over traditional breeding approaches. We have explored the possibility of developing single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in Elaeis guineensis using the 454‐derived transcriptomic sequence data. We have identified 823 putative SNP positions in silico using a set of highly stringent criteria. Forty‐six bi‐allelic SNP positions were validated by the traditional Sanger sequencing method. The polymorphism information contents (PICs) and the observed heterozygosity (HO) ranged from 0.066 to 0.375 and 0 to 0.928, respectively. These SNP markers will be useful for the construction of high‐density genetic maps (allowing the identification of commercially desirable quantitative trait loci), genetic variation studies and the population structure analyses in E. guineensis.
Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and homocysteine level in heart defects
Authors: Sahiner Umit M , Alanay Yasemin , Alehan Dursun , Tuncbilek Ergul , Alikasifoglu Mehmet
Published: October 2013

Background

While several single nucleotide polymorphisms are known to influence the metabolism of folate, the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene has been the most extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the MTHFR polymorphisms 1298A>C and 677C>T and congenital heart disease. In addition, the relationship between these gene polymorphisms and homocysteine level was determined in Turkish subjects.

Methods

Patients with non‐syndromic congenital heart defects who were admitted to the Pediatric Cardiology Unit at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between June 2002 and June 2003 were recruited for the study. A total of 163 children with congenital heart defects (mean age, 7.63 ± 6.03 years; M/F, 93/70) and 93 healthy controls were analyzed.

Results

When evaluated either separately or together, there were no differences in the frequency of MTHFR 677C>T or 1298A>C polymorphisms between the children with congenital heart defects and the control group. The results were the same when considering only conotruncal defects. Those with the 677C>T polymorphism had significantly lower homocysteine level (P = 0.004), but the 1298A>C polymorphism was not related to homocysteine level.

Conclusion

No relationship was found between congenital heart defects and 1298A>C or 677C>T polymorphisms. The 677C>T polymorphism was related to low homocysteine level. Because there is often much heterogeneity between populations, this study should be conducted in different populations and with larger numbers of participants.
Morality and a Scaffolding of Facts
Authors: Carter Drew
Published: October 2013

In reply to Michael Campbell, I reformulate my questions of Raimond Gaita, avoiding the expression “form of life”. I examine what might remove the need for my questions, before taking up Campbell's line of thought about what he calls the “inwardness” of moral concepts. Campbell helps to clarify the picture of moral concepts advanced by Wittgensteinian moral philosophers. But at a general level, the picture remains unclear where a grammar meets its scaffolding of facts. Some may find this unproblematic, and indeed unavoidable. But I remain unsure of this, and hope to provide at least a useful caution.
Seedling development in buckwheat and the discovery of the photomorphogenic shade‐avoidance response
Authors: Kutschera U. , Briggs W. R.
Published: October 2013

Numerous botanists of the early 19th century investigated the effect of sunlight on plant development, but no clear picture developed. One hundred and fifty years ago, Julius Sachs (1863) systematically analysed the light–plant relationships, using developing garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and seedlings of buckwheat (Fagopyron esculentum) as experimental material. From these studies, Sachs elucidated the phenomenon of photomorphogenesis (plant development under the influence of daylight) and the associated ‘shade‐avoidance response’. We have reproduced the classical buckwheat experiments of Sachs (1863) and document the original shade‐avoidance syndrome with reference to hypocotyl elongation and cotyledon development in darkness (skotomorphogenesis), white light and shade induced by a canopy of green leaves. In subsequent publications, Sachs elaborated his concepts of 1863 and postulated the occurrence of ‘flower‐inducing substances’. In addition, he argued that the shade‐avoidance response in cereals, such as wheat and maize, is responsible for lodging in crowded plant communities. We discuss these processes with respect to the red‐ to far‐red light/phytochrome B relationships. Finally, we summarise the phytochrome B–phytohormone (auxin, brassinosteroids) connection within the cells of shaded Arabidopsis plants, and present a simple model to illustrate the shade‐avoidance syndrome. In addition, we address the relationship between plant density and health of the corresponding population, a topic that was raised for the first time by Sachs (1863) in his seminal paper and elaborated in his textbooks.
Power Structure and Profitability in Assembly Supply Chains
Authors: Chen Lucy Gongtao , Ding Ding , Ou Jihong
Published: October 2013

This paper studies the impact of supply chain power structure on firms' profitability in an assembly system with one assembler and two suppliers. Two power regimes are investigated—in a Single Power Regime, a more powerful firm acts as the Stackelberg leader to decide the wholesale price but not the quantity whereas in a Dual Power Regime, both the price and quantity decisions are granted to the more powerful firm. Tallying the power positions of the three firms, for each power regime we study three power structures and investigate the system's as well as the firms' preference of power. We find that when the assembler is the most powerful firm among the three, the system‐wide profit is the highest and so is the assembler's profit. The more interesting finding is that, if the assembler is not the most powerful player in the system, more power does not necessarily guarantee her a higher profit. Similarly, a supplier's profit can also decrease with the power he has. These results contrast with the conclusion for serial systems, where a firm always prefers more power. We also find that when both suppliers are more (less) powerful than the assembler, it can be beneficial (indifferent) for everyone if the two suppliers merge into a mega supplier to make decisions jointly. When the assembler is more powerful than one supplier and less so than the other, it is always better for the system to have the two suppliers merge, and for each individual firm, merging is preferred if the firm becomes the more powerful party after merging.
Soliton Interactions for the Three‐Coupled Discrete Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations in the Alpha Helical Proteins
Authors: Sun Wen‐Rong , Tian Bo , Zhong Hui , Zhen Hui‐Ling
Published: October 2013

Three‐coupled discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which describe the dynamics of the three hydrogen bonding spines in the alpha helical proteins with the interspine coupling at the discrete level, are investigated. Binary Bell polynomials are applied to construct the bilinear forms and bilinear Bäcklund transformation of those equations. Propagation characteristics and interactions of the bound‐state solitons are discussed. Bound states of two and three bright solitons arise when all of them propagate in parallel. Elastic interaction between the bound‐state solitons and one bright soliton is given. Increase of the dipole‐dipole interaction energy can lead to the increase of the soliton velocity, that is, the one‐interaction period becomes shorter.
The Expression and Significance of TIPE2 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Asthmatic Children
Authors: Ma Y. , Liu X. , Wei Z. , Wang X. , Wang Z. , Zhong W. , Li Y. , Zhu F. , Guo C. , Zhang L. , Wang X.
Published: October 2013

Tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced protein‐8 like‐2 (TIPE2) is a newly identified immune negative regulator. The abnormal expression of TIPE2 has been found in several human inflammatory diseases. However, the expression level and clinical significance of TIPE2 in childhood asthma remain unclear. In this study, we detected TIPE2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 42 children with asthma and 39 healthy controls by RT‐PCR, qRT‐PCR and Western blot. We also detected the levels of serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil (EO), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and analysed the correlations of TIPE2 expression with IgE, EO, IL‐4 and IFN‐γ. The results showed that TIPE2 mRNA and protein expression were decreased in children with asthma compared with healthy controls. The levels of IgE, EO and IL‐4 in the children with asthma were obviously higher than those in normal controls, while the level of IFN‐γ in patients with asthma was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects. Furthermore, the expression level of TIPE2 mRNA was negatively correlated with IgE, EO and IL‐4. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between TIPE2 mRNA expression and serum IFN‐γ level. In conclusion, our data suggest that reduced TIPE2 expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of childhood asthma.
Association of Disease Severity with IL‐1 levels in Methotrexate‐treated Psoriasis Patients
Authors: Tamilselvi E. , Haripriya D. , Hemamalini M. , Pushpa G. , Swapna S.
Published: October 2013

Interleukin‐1 plays a key role in inflammation and keratinocyte activation. It is an important mediator in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques and may represent an attractive therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Methotrexate (MTX) on IL‐1 α and IL‐1 β levels in both plasma and skin biopsy of patients with psoriasis and to investigate their association with clinical disease activity. Forty‐five control subjects and 58 patients with psoriasis were recruited for this study. The patients were treated with 7.5 mg of MTX per week for 12 weeks. Folic acid was given at 5 mg once daily except on the day of MTX for 12 weeks. Blood samples and lesional skin biopsy were taken. Disease severity was assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. IL‐1 levels in plasma and skin biopsy were analysed using ELISA. PASI score declined significantly (P < 0.001) from day 0 to 12 weeks of MTX treatment. IL‐1 α level in plasma and skin biopsy was reduced at day 0 sample and elevated significantly (P < 0.001) after MTX treatment. IL‐1β level in plasma and skin biopsy was higher at day 0 sample and reduced significantly (P < 0.001) after MTX treatment. IL‐1α levels and PASI score showed inverse correlation score before and after treatment with MTX. Whereas IL‐1β levels showed positive correlation before and after treatment with MTX. Decreasing IL‐1β levels by MTXs in psoriasis may block the Th17 differentiation. This shows the therapeutic effect of MTX in controlling the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis.
Perceptions of adolescent bullying: Attributions of blame and responsibility in cases of cyber‐bullying
Authors: Morrow Allison , Downey Christina A.
Published: October 2013

Cyber‐bullying (where victims are targeted via online social networking or other electronic means) has gained increased attention in research and the broadcast media, but previous research has not investigated attribution of blame in such cyber‐bullying events. This experiment hypothesized that participants would assign higher ratings of blame to bullying perpetrators when the bullying situations were depicted as having highly foreseeable outcomes (vs. unforeseeable outcomes), and as occurring in school (vs. online). In addition, a significant interaction was predicted between outcome foreseeability and bullying situation, with highly foreseeable in‐school events being rated as the most predictable and attributable to the bully's actions. One‐hundred sixty‐three participants completed surveys containing demographic items, items regarding their past experiences of victimization, and one of four randomly‐assigned vignettes detailing a bullying situation (which participants rated). While hypotheses regarding outcome foreseeability were supported, no cyber‐bullying vs. in‐school main effects (or corresponding interaction effects) were detected. Implications for future research and practice, as well as study limitations, are discussed.
Achievement emotions in elementary, middle, and high school: How do students feel about specific contexts in terms of settings and subject‐domains?
Authors: Raccanello Daniela , Brondino Margherita , De Bernardi Bianca
Published: October 2013

The present work investigates students' representation of achievement emotions, focusing in context‐specific situations in terms of settings and subject‐domains, as a function of grade level. We involved 527 fourth‐, seventh‐, and eleventh‐graders, who evaluated ten discrete emotions through questionnaires, with reference to verbal language and mathematics, and different settings (class, homework, tests). Confirmatory multitrait‐multimethod analyses indicated higher salience of subject‐domains rather than settings for all the emotions; however, complexity of reality was best explained when also settings were accounted for. Analyses of variance revealed higher intensity of positive emotions for younger students, and the opposite pattern for older students; significant differences for most of the emotions based on the evaluative nature of settings, moderated by class levels; more intense positive emotions for mathematics and more intense negative emotions for Italian. Results are discussed considering their theoretical and applied relevance, corroborating previous literature on domain‐specificity.
On the effect of obesity on employment in the presence of observed and unobserved confounding
Authors: Radice Rosalba , Zanin Luca , Marra Giampiero
Published: October 2013

The aim of this paper was to estimate the effect of obesity on the employment probability for Italian men and women accounting for both observed and unobserved confounding. We use microdata collected by the Italian National Statistical Office for the year 2009 during a multi‐scope survey of Italian households. The employment–obesity relationship is estimated after controlling for observed confounding by using probit regression and a propensity score weighting approach. To control for both observed and unobserved confounding (endogeneity), a semiparametric recursive bivariate probit model is employed instead. Our findings suggest that obesity has a significant negative effect on the employment probability and that endogeneity might not be an important issue.
Assessment of Digital Image Correlation Measurement Accuracy in the Ultimate Error Regime: Main Results of a Collaborative Benchmark
Authors: Amiot F. , Bornert M. , Doumalin P. , Dupré J. ‐C. , Fazzini M. , Orteu J. ‐J. , Poilâne C. , Robert L. , Rotinat R. , Toussaint E. , Wattrisse B. , Wienin J. S.
Published: October 2013

We report on the main results of a collaborative work devoted to the study of the uncertainties associated with Digital image correlation techniques (DIC). More specifically, the dependence of displacement measurement uncertainties with both image characteristics and DIC parameters is emphasised. A previous work [Bornert et al. (2009) Assessment of digital image correlation measurement errors: methodology and results. Exp. Mech. 49, 353–370] dedicated to situations with spatially fluctuating displacement fields demonstrated the existence of an ‘ultimate error’ regime, insensitive to the mismatch between the shape function and the real displacement field. The present work is focused on this ultimate error. To ensure that there is no mismatch error, synthetic images of in‐plane rigid body translation have been analysed. Several DIC softwares developed by or in use in the French community have been used to explore the effects of a large number of settings. The discrepancies between DIC evaluated displacements and prescribed ones have been statistically analysed in terms of random errors and systematic bias, in correlation with the fractional part τ of the displacement component expressed in pixels. Main results are as follows: (i) bias amplitude is almost always insensitive to subset size, (ii) standard deviation of random error increases with noise level and decreases with subset size and (iii) DIC formulations can be split up into two main families regarding bias sensitivity to noise. For the first one, bias amplitude increases with noise while it remains nearly constant for the second one. In addition, for the first family, a strong dependence of random error with τ is observed for noisy images.
A novel HLA allele, HLA‐A*80:03, identified in a Brazilian individual
Authors: Fabreti‐Oliveira R. A. , Nascimento E. , Santos M. A.
Published: October 2013

The HLA‐A*80:03 allele differs from HLA*80:01:01:01 by two nucleotide substitutions at positions 559 and 560 in the exon 3.
EphA2 Signaling Following Endocytosis: Role of Tiam1
Authors: Boissier Pomme , Chen Jin , Huynh‐Do Uyen
Published: October 2013

Eph receptors and their membrane‐bound ligands, the ephrins, represent a complex subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Eph/ephrin binding can lead to various and opposite cellular behaviors such as adhesion versus repulsion, or cell migration versus cell‐adhesion. Recently, Eph endocytosis has been identified as one of the critical steps responsible for such diversity. Eph receptors, as many RTKs, are rapidly endocytosed following ligand‐mediated activation and traffic through endocytic compartments prior to degradation. However, it is becoming obvious that endocytosis controls signaling in many different manners. Here we showed that activated EphA2 are degraded in the lysosomes and that about 35% of internalized receptors are recycled back to the plasma membrane. Our study is also the first to demonstrate that EphA2 retains the capacity to signal in endosomes. In particular, activated EphA2 interacted with the Rho family GEF Tiam1 in endosomes. This association led to Tiam1 activation, which in turn increased Rac1 activity and facilitated Eph/ephrin endocytosis. Disrupting Tiam1 function with RNA interference impaired both ephrinA1‐dependent Rac1 activation and ephrinA1‐induced EphA2 endocytosis. In summary, our findings shed new light on the regulation of EphA2 endocytosis, intracellular trafficking and signal termination and establish Tiam1 as an important modulator of EphA2 signaling.
Morphometric evaluation of the fetal rat liver after maternal dexamethasone treatment: effect on the maturation of erythroid and megakaryocytic cells
Authors: Neves Flávia Macedo de Oliveira , Paccola Camila Cicconi , Miraglia Sandra Maria , Cipriano Ivone
Published: October 2013

Background

During pregnancy, glucocorticoids are frequently used to accelerate fetal lung maturation in preterm delivery. However, prenatal administration of glucocorticoids has been shown to affect organs such as fetal liver, an important hematopoietic organ during fetal development.

Objective

The aim of this study was to document the qualitative and quantitative changes in erythroid and megakaryocytic cell populations found in fetal livers as well as the hematology profile in neonates after maternal glucocorticoid treatment in rats.

Methods

Pregnant female Wistar rats were treated with dexamethasone 21‐phosphate from days 13 to 16 of gestation. On the 17th day of pregnancy, the fetuses were collected and their livers processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Glycol methacrylate‐embedded sections were stained with PAS to determine the erythroblast and megakaryocytic cell frequencies. Fetal liver pieces embedded in Spurr resin were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy for morphologic changes. A standard hematology profile was evaluated in neonatal rats.

Results

In the fetuses from treated dams, the total cell number of erythroid cells in livers was significantly reduced compared to control fetuses (P < .001), but erythroblasts did not present ultrastructural abnormalities. The degree of maturation in the megakaryocyte series tended to be increased. In neonates, there were elevated numbers of nucleated RBCs (P = .002), along with a higher HCT and HGB (P = .02). In addition, the platelet concentration was also significantly increased (P < .007).

Conclusion

These results suggest that maternal dexamethasone treatment has quantitative effects on erythroid and megakaryocytic cells in fetal liver and the neonatal hematology profile in rats.
Potential roles of ATP and local neurons in the monitoring of blood O2 content by rat aortic bodies
Authors: Piskuric N. A. , Zhang M. , Vollmer C. , Nurse C. A.
Published: October 2013

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How do aortic bodies monitor blood O2 content? We investigated whether ATP, known to be released from red blood cells during hypoxia, could contribute via interactions with local neurons.

What is the main finding and its importance?

In dissociated aortic body cultures from the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves, some local neurons expressed functional P2X2/3 purinoceptors and were electrically coupled; there was also the potential for cholinergic neurotransmission. Large molecules, such as Evans Blue, had easy access to local neurons via the circulation. We hypothesize that sensing of low blood O2 content may involve ATP release from red blood cells, leading to stimulation of local ‘sensory’ aortic body neurons.

Aortic bodies are arterial chemoreceptors presumed to monitor blood O2 content by unknown mechanisms, in contrast to their well‐studied carotid body counterparts, which monitor and /pH. We recently showed that rat aortic body chemoreceptors (type I cells), located at the left vagus–recurrent laryngeal nerve bifurcation, responded to and /pH in a manner similar to carotid body type I cells. These aortic bodies are uniquely associated with a group of local neurons, which are also sensitive to these stimuli. Here, we hypothesized that these local neurons may contribute to monitoring blood O2 content. During perforated patch recordings, ATP, known to be released from (carotid body) type I cells and red blood cells during hypoxia, induced inward currents and excited ∼45% of local neurons (EC50∼1 μm), mainly via heteromeric P2X2/3 purinoceptors. While ATP also induced a rise in intracellular [Ca2+] in a subpopulation of these neurons, almost all of them responded to nicotinic cholinergic agonists. During paired recordings, several juxtaposed neurons showed strong bidirectional electrical coupling, suggesting a local co‐ordination of electrical activity. Perfusion with Evans Blue dye resulted in labelling of aortic body paraganglia, suggesting they have ready access to circulatory factors, e.g. ATP released from red blood cells during hypoxia. When combined with confocal immunofluorescence, the dye‐labelled regions coincided with areas containing tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive type I cell clusters and P2X2‐positive nerve endings. We propose a working model whereby local neurons, red blood cells, ATP signalling and low blood flow contribute to the unique ability of the aortic body to monitor blood O2 content.
Ultrasonic Welding Simulations for Multiple Layers of Lithium-Ion Battery Tabs
Authors: Lee Dongkyun , Kannatey-Asibu Elijah , Cai Wayne
Published: October 2013

Ultrasonic welding is a solid-state bond created using ultrasonic energy. It has been used in the semiconductor industry for several decades, and more recently, in the automotive industry such as for lithium-ion battery welding. Although there existed numerical simulations for ultrasonic welding, the models were limited to two-layer and like materials stackups. In this study, finite element theories are introduced and simulation procedure is established for multiple sheets and dissimilar metal ultrasonic welding. The procedures require both abaqus/Standard and abaqus/Explicit to simulate the coupled mechanical-thermal phenomena over the entire weld duration with moderate computational cost. The procedure is verified and used to simulate selected specific cases involving multiple sheets and dissimilar materials, i.e., copper and aluminum. The simulation procedure demonstrates its capability to predict welding energy, distortion, and temperature distribution of the workpieces. Case studies of ultrasonic welding simulations for multiple layers of lithium-ion battery tabs are presented. The prediction leads to several innovative ultrasonic welding process designs for improved welding quality.
Pressure Compensator Design for a Swash Plate Axial Piston Pump
Authors: Mandal N. P. , Saha R. , Mookherjee S. , Sanyal D.
Published: October 2013

An in-line axial-piston swash-plate pump with pressure compensator is widely used for its fast speed of response and power economy. Although several simulation based design approaches exist to minimize issues like fluid-born noises, ample scope exists for more exhaustive design analysis. The most popular pressure compensator for a variable displacement pump with a spool valve actuating the control and bias cylinders has been taken up here. With an existing comprehensive flow dynamics model, an updated model for swiveling dynamics has been coupled. The dynamics also includes the force containment and friction effects on the swash plate. A design optimization has been accomplished for the pressure compensator. The target of the optimal design has been set as minimizing the transient oscillations of the swash plate, the compensator spool, pressures in the bias and control cylinders along with avoidance of both over-pressurization and cavitation in the bias cylinder. It has been found that the orifice diameters in the spring-side and at the metering port of the spool valve and in the backside of the bias cylinder have critical role in arriving at an optimum design. The study has led to a useful design procedure for a pressure compensated variable displacement pump.
Temperature and Entropy in Ideal Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence
Authors: Shebalin John V.
Published: October 2013

Fourier analysis of incompressible, homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence produces a model dynamical system on which to perform numerical experiments. Statistical methods are used to understand the results of ideal (i.e., nondissipative) MHD turbulence simulations, with the goal of finding those aspects that survive the introduction of dissipation. This statistical mechanics is based on a Boltzmannlike probability density function containing three “inverse temperatures,” one associated with each of the three ideal invariants: energy, cross helicity, and magnetic helicity. However, these inverse temperatures are seen to be functions of a single parameter that may defined as the “temperature” in a statistical and thermodynamic sense: the average magnetic energy per Fourier mode. Here, we discuss temperature and entropy in ideal MHD turbulence and their use in understanding numerical experiments and physical observations.
Novel Spacer Design Using Topology Optimization in a Reverse Osmosis Channel
Authors: Oh Seungjae , Wang Semyung , Park Minkyu , Ha Kim Joon
Published: October 2013

The objective of this study is to design spacers using topology optimization in a two-dimensional (2D) crossflow reverse osmosis (RO) membrane channel in order to improve the performance of RO processes. This study is the first attempt to apply topology optimization to designing spacers in a RO membrane channel. The performance was evaluated based on the quantity of permeate flux penetrating both the upper and lower membrane surfaces. Here, Navier–Stokes and convection-diffusion equations were employed to calculate the permeate flux. The nine reference models, consisting of combinations of circle, rectangle, and triangle shapes and zig-zag, cavity, and submerged spacer configurations were then simulated using finite element method so that the performance of the model designed by topology optimization could be compared to the reference models. As a result of topology optimization with the allowable pressure drop changes in the channel, characteristics required of the spacer design were determined. The spacer design based on topology optimization was then simplified to consider manufacturability and performance. When the simplified design was compared to the reference models, the new design displayed a better performance in terms of permeate flux and wall concentration at the membrane surface.
Theoretical and Experimental Research on a Pressure-Reducing Valve for a Water Hydraulic Vane Pump
Authors: Luo Liang , He Xiaofeng , Den Ben , Huang Xing
Published: October 2013

In order to control the high PV value between the vanes and the cam ring in a water hydraulic vane pump, a pressure-reducing valve with a constant pressure ratio was developed in this study. The pressure and leakage characteristics of the valve were theoretically analyzed by simulation and the experiments were also conducted based on the valve prototype. The theoretical analysis agrees well with the experimental results. Further, these results reveal that the pressure ratio of the valve decreases to the design value with the increasing working pressure. Additionally, the leakage of the valve rises simultaneously with the increasing working pressure and can be reduced significantly by decreasing the clearance between the valve body and the spool. The presented research not only proves the successful development of the pressure-reducing valve but also lays a foundation for the investigation of a high-pressure water hydraulic vane pump.