bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel nonsense mutation in MSX1 causes tooth agenesis with cleft lip in a Chinese family
Authors: Liang Jia , Zhu Lingling , Meng Liuyan , Chen Dong , Bian Zhuan
Published: June 2012

Tooth agenesis is one of the most common developmental disorders in humans. Previous studies have attributed non‐syndromic tooth agenesis to mutations in several genes, including MSX1, PAX9, EDA, and AXIN2. In this study, we investigated a Chinese family with tooth agenesis combined with cleft lip. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples of all available family members. Candidate genes MSX1 and PAX9 were amplified by the PCR and directly sequenced. A novel heterozygous mutation at c.C565T, exon 2 of MSX1, was identified in affected members. To analyze the effect of the nonsense mutation on MSX1 expression, vectors containing wild‐type and mutated MSX1 were constructed and transfected into COS7 cell lines. Real‐time PCR showed that the mRNA expression of the mutated MSX1 was dramatically reduced compared with that of the wild‐type MSX1. Our findings suggest that the nonsense mutation in MSX1 might have resulted in rapid degradation of the mutated transcript and caused the phenotype of tooth agenesis with cleft lip in the Chinese family.
Cell proliferation and apoptosis in the fusion of human primary and secondary palates
Authors: Vukojevic Katarina , Kero Darko , Novakovic Josip , Kalibovic Govorko Danijela , Saraga‐Babic Mirna
Published: June 2012

The markers of cell proliferation (Ki‐67) and apoptosis [caspase‐3, TdT‐mediated biotin–dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL)] and the expression of syndecan‐1 and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) were analyzed immunohistochemically in 11 developing human palates, from developmental weeks 6 to 10. During fusion of the primary palate, the proportion of proliferating cells decreased from 42 to 32% and the proportion of apoptotic cells decreased from 11 to 7% in the medial‐edge epithelium. At later stages, the proportions of both types of cells decreased in the ectomesenchyme, except for proliferating cells in its non‐condensing part. At developmental weeks 9–10, the epithelial seam in the secondary palate comprised 28% proliferative cells and 5% apoptotic cells. While condensing ectomesenchyme contained more apoptotic cells than proliferating cells, the opposite was observed for the non‐condensing ectomesenchyme. Co‐expression of syndecan‐1 and Hsp70 was detected in cells budding from the epithelial seam. Our study indicates similar principles for human primary palate and secondary palate fusion, and parallel persistence of proliferation and apoptotic activity. While proliferation enables growth and fusion of different palatal primordia, apoptosis results in the removal of of large numbers epithelial cells at the fusion point. The disintegration of seam remnants seems to be executed through the processes of change in protein content and cell migration, probably leading to cell death as their final outcome.
Oral health‐related perceptions, attitudes, and behavior in relation to oral hygiene conditions in an adolescent population
Authors: Ericsson Jessica S. , Östberg Anna‐Lena , Wennström Jan L. , Abrahamsson Kajsa H.
Published: June 2012

The aim was to analyze oral health‐related perceptions, attitudes, and behavior in relation to oral hygiene conditions among 19‐yr‐old Swedish subjects. A random sample of 506 individuals was clinically examined regarding oral hygiene conditions and provided questionnaire‐based information on oral health‐related perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Higher scores of plaque and gingivitis were significantly related to the following perceptions: (i) a less favorable oral health situation, (ii) a lower satisfaction with the esthetic appearance of the teeth, (iii) more frequent gingival bleeding during toothbrushing, (iv) less favorable self‐care of the teeth, (v) a lower possibility to impact on own oral health, (vi) a lower importance of cleaning the teeth, and (vii) a lower importance of good oral health conditions. More favorable oral hygiene conditions and more positive perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards oral health were found among female subjects than among male subjects. In conclusion, adolescents with high scores of plaque and gingivitis had less positive perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards oral health than those with more favorable oral hygiene conditions.
Effect of nicotine on growth and metabolism of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Huang Ruijie , Li Mingyun , Gregory Richard L.
Published: June 2012

Streptococcus mutans is a key contributor to dental caries. Smokers have a higher number of caries‐affected teeth than do nonsmokers, but the association among tobacco, nicotine, caries, and S. mutans growth has not been investigated in detail. Seven S. mutans strains – UA159, UA130, 10449, A32‐2, NG8, LM7, and OMZ175 – were used in the present study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), planktonic cell growth, biofilm formation, metabolism, and structure (determined using scanning electron microscopy) of the seven strains treated with different concentrations of nicotine (0–32 mg ml−1) were investigated. The MIC, MBC, and MBIC were 16 mg ml−1 (0.1 M), 32 mg ml−1 (0.2 M), and 16 mg ml−1 (0.1 M), respectively, for most of the S. mutans strains. Growth of planktonic S. mutans cells was significantly repressed by 2.0–8.0 mg ml−1 of nicotine. Biofilm formation and metabolic activity of S. mutans was increased in a nicotine‐dependent manner up to 16.0 mg ml−1 of nicotine. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that S. mutans treated with a high concentration of nicotine a had thicker biofilm and more spherical bacterial cells. In summary, nicotine enhances S. mutans biofilm formation and biofilm metabolic activity. These results suggest that smoking can increase the development of caries by fostering increased formation of S. mutans biofilm on tooth surfaces.
Pre‐operative assessment of basal cell carcinoma dimensions using high frequency ultrasonography and its correlation with histopathology
Authors: Nassiri‐Kashani Mansour , Sadr Bardia , Fanian Ferial , Kamyab Kambiz , Noormohammadpour Pedram , Shahshahani Mostafa Mirshams , Zartab Hamed , Naghizadeh Mohammad‐Mehdi , Sarraf‐Yazdy Maryam , Firooz Alireza
Published: June 2012

Introduction

High frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) is a non‐invasive, low risk method which can provide real‐time visual information regarding different processes in cutaneous tissue. The goal of this study is to compare the accuracy of HFUS in determining depth and width of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions compared with histopathology as a reference standard.

Methods

The depth and width of 56 primary BCCs in various locations were measured in vivo using the ultrasound system device Digital Taberna Promedica (Luneburg, FRG DUB 20 Ultrasound Scanner), with a 50‐MHz hand‐held transducer and compared with the depth and width reported in histopathologic examination of these lesions after complete excision. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated using a one‐way ANOVA table to compare measured dimensions for the same tumors with the two diagnostic methods.

Results

The mean depth of tumor in HFUS (1353.68 ± 656.456 microns) was lower than the amount measured by the dermatopathologist (1560.71 ± 1044.323 microns). However, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The means of largest diameter of tumors in HFUS and pathology were 5996.77 ± 2271.783 and 3891.07 ± 1995.452 microns, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a low correlation in diameter (r = 0.27, P < 0.05) and a moderate correlation in depth (r = 0.45, P < 0.001) of BCCs between these two methods.

Conclusion

HFUS may be a useful method to assess the dimensions of BCC prior to surgery.
Analysis of aging effects on chemical property of human hair by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Kim Kyung Sook , Park Hun‐Kuk
Published: June 2012

Background

In the previous work, we investigated the aging effect on morphology and mechanical property of the hair by using atomic force microscopy.

Objectives

The effects of aging on chemical properties of human hair were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy.

Methods

Healthy hair samples with no diseases were collected from 60 Koreans (30 males and 30 females) and they were grouped by age: 1–10, 11–20, 21–30, 31–40, 41–50, and 51–60 years.

Results

The characteristic parameters of FT‐IR absorbance bands including center frequency, half width, height, and area were analyzed using the Gaussian model. To quantitatively analyze the chemical composition of hair, the height and area of all bands in the spectra were normalized to the amide I centered at 1652–1659 and 1654–1658 cm−1, for male and female hairs, respectively. In all male and female hairs, the spectra of specific components of the hair keratin showed to have the same dependence on aging. The center positions of the bands arising from amide A, CH
3 mode, and amide I were altered by aging. The female hair contains more cystein than the male hair. Changes in the amount of amide II and amide A by aging were more significant in male hair than in female hair.

Conclusions

The changes in chemical components of the hair according to the ages were shown at the inflection point at 30 s.
Do we need soil moisture measurements in the vegetation–environment studies in wetlands?
Authors: Hájek Michal , Hájková Petra , Kočí Martin , Jiroušek Martin , Mikulášková Eva , Kintrová Kateřina
Published: June 2012

Questions

Water level parameters are normally used as explanatory variables in ecological studies, but soil moisture may be more causally connected with species composition. Can measurements of volumetric soil moisture in vertical profiles using electromagnetic sensors improve vegetation–environment analyses in fens and bogs? Are there inter‐habitat differences in water level–moisture relationships that could explain different sensitivities of particular vegetation types to water level changes?

Location

Calcareous fens, poor fen grasslands, poor fens and ombrotrophic bogs in the Czech Republic.

Methods

Monitoring of soil moisture (Profile Probe PR2), water level, pH and electrical conductivity of the water; measurements of soil pH and organic carbon; vascular plant and bryophyte data sampling; Pearson's correlations; ANOVA with post‐hoc tests; PCA of environmental factors; CCA and partial CCA that controlled for the effects of pH, conductivity, and year and region of sampling; Monte Carlo permutation tests.

Results

The median volumetric soil moisture correlated with the log‐transformed organic carbon concentration. This correlation was particularly strong when all vegetation types were merged or when poor fens and poor fen grasslands were analysed separately. The latter vegetation types further displayed the strongest correlations between water level and uppermost soil moisture. Calcareous fens had the highest water level and the lowest correlation between water level and soil moisture. In bog profiles the moisture continuously increased downwards and its variability over time correlated with water level fluctuation less strongly than in the case of
Sphagnum fens. The median water level explained most variation in species data in all cases, except for separately analysed poor fen grasslands, whose variation was best explained by soil organic carbon. Moisture characteristics became insignificant whenever water level was included into the forward selection model.

Conclusions

In fens and bogs, water level still describes hydrological conditions better than directly measured moisture, and serves as a useful proxy of complex environmental conditions related to the hydrological regime, especially in
Sphagnum fens with a shallow peat layer. Our results validate existing knowledge of species–environment relationships based on water table measurements.
Causes for the unimodal pattern of biomass and productivity in alpine grasslands along a large altitudinal gradient in semi‐arid regions
Authors: Wang Zhong , Luo Tianxiang , Li Ruicheng , Tang Yanhong , Du Mingyuan
Published: June 2012

Questions

How can we understand the limitations to plant growth at high altitudes? Our aim was to test the hypotheses that for alpine grasslands along a large altitudinal gradient in semi‐arid regions, plant growth is mainly limited by drought at low altitudes but by low temperature at high altitudes, resulting in a unimodal pattern of biomass and productivity associated with an optimal combination of temperature and precipitation. Such knowledge is important to understanding the response of alpine ecosystems to climate change.

Location

We conducted a 5‐yr livestock exclosure experiment along the south‐facing slope of the Nyaiqentanglha Mountains, central Tibetan Plateau.

Methods

We measured above‐ and below‐ground biomass, species richness, leaf δ13C and water potential, and related climate and soil variables across 42 fenced and unfenced quadrats near seven HOBO weather stations along the slope. The vegetation changed from alpine steppe‐meadow at 4390–4500 m to alpine meadow at 4600–5210 m.

Results

Total above‐ and below‐ground biomass across fenced and unfenced quadrats increased with increasing altitude up to 4950–5100 m, and then decreased above 5100 m. Altitudinal trends in leaf δ13C and water potential of dominant species also showed a unimodal pattern corresponding to that of vegetation biomass. Total above‐ and below‐ground biomass as well as sedge above‐ground biomass all showed a quadratic relationship with mean temperatures and the ratio of growing season precipitation (GSP) to ≥5 °C accumulated temperature (AccT; R2 = 0.83−0.88, P < 0.001). In general, above‐ and below‐ground biomass increased with increasing water availability when the GSP/AccT ratio was lower than the threshold level of 0.80–0.84, but decreased when the GSP/AccT ratio was higher than this threshold level. No significant relationship was found between residuals of above‐ground biomass and species richness after removing the effects of climate factors on both stand variables.

Conclusions

The results support our hypotheses, further suggesting a threshold of water limitation that is consistent with the model prediction over the Tibetan Plateau. Species richness per se appears to weakly affect community‐level productivity. The response of alpine grasslands to climate warming may vary with altitude because of altitudinal shifts in factors limiting plant growth.
Scaling, Linking, and Reporting in a Periodic Assessment System
Authors: Mislevy Robert J. , Zwick Rebecca
Published: June 2012

A new entry in the testing lexicon is through‐course summative assessment, a system consisting of components administered periodically during the academic year. As defined in the Race to the Top program, these assessments are intended to yield a yearly summative score for accountability purposes. They must provide for both individual and group proficiency estimates and allow for the measurement of growth. They must accommodate students who vary in their patterns of curricular exposure. Because they are meant to provide actionable information to teachers they must be instructionally sensitive, so item‐operating characteristics can be expected to change relative to one another as a function of patterns of curricular exposure. This paper discusses methodology one can draw upon to tackle this ambitious collection of inferences. We consider a modeling framework that consists of an item response theory component and a population component, as in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and show how performance and growth could be expressed in terms of expected performance on a market basket of tasks. We discuss conditions under which modeling simplifications might be possible and discuss studies that would be needed to fit models, estimate parameters, and evaluate data requirements.
THE ECOLOGY OF GANG TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES*
Authors: BRANTINGHAM P. JEFFREY , TITA GEORGE E. , SHORT MARTIN B. , REID SHANNON E.
Published: June 2012

Within any type of system, the actors in the system inevitably compete over resources. With competition comes the possibility of conflict. To minimize such effects, actors often will partition the system into geographic territories. It is against the larger ecological backdrop of competition and conflict that we examine territory formation among urban street gangs. Although previous studies have examined the social and built environment where gangs form, and how the presence of a gang influences local levels of violence, we know little about how competitive interactions are tied to the formation and maintenance of gang territories. We use formal spatial Lotka–Volterra competition models to derive hypotheses about competition‐driven territory formation. By using data on 563 between‐gang shootings, involving 13 rival street gangs in the Hollenbeck Policing Division of Los Angeles, we show that violence strongly clusters along the boundaries between gangs in a way that is quantitatively predicted by the theory. The results suggest that even weak competitive interactions between gangs are sufficient to drive gang territory formation without recourse to other processes or assumptions.
In and Out of the Ethnic Economy: A Longitudinal Analysis of Ethnic Networks and Pathways to Economic Success across Immigrant Categories
Authors: Roth Wendy D. , Seidel Marc-David L. , Ma Dennis , Lo Eiston
Published: June 2012

The economic benefits to immigrants of taking jobs in ethnic workplaces, relative to the open economy, are heavily debated. We examine longitudinally differences across immigrant categories in how the choice of ethnic or non-ethnic workplace influences the ethnic composition of social networks and how these factors impact immigrants’ economic success. Using the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada, with data 6 months, 2 years, and 4 years after arrival, we find support for both sides of the ethnic economy debate when it is qualified by immigrant category. While economic immigrants benefit from non-ethnic workplaces, family immigrants face economic penalties in the open economy and do better in ethnic workplaces. We argue that policies sorting immigrants into visa categories do much of the work of leading them into segmented paths of incorporation.
Juridical Framings of Immigrants in the United States and France: Courts, Social Movements, and Symbolic Politics
Authors: Kawar Leila
Published: June 2012

This study reexamines the engagement of U.S. and French courts with immigration politics, aiming to provide a fuller accounting of how law and immigration politics shape one another. Jurisprudential principles are placed in national and historical context, elucidating the role of rights-oriented legal networks in formulating these arguments during the 1970s and early 1980s. The analysis traces how these judicial constructions of immigrants subsequently contributed to catalyzing a transformation of immigration politics in both countries. Immigrant rights jurisprudence is shown to be produced by, as well as productive of, broader political values, agendas, and identities.
Spurred to Action or Retreat? The Effects of Reception Contexts on Naturalization Decisions in Los Angeles
Authors: Cort David A.
Published: June 2012

Undocumented immigration has been linked to a wave of anti-immigrant legislation during the early 1990s. California led the way by passing Proposition 187, which many suspect led legal immigrants to naturalize. No research has confirmed this suspicion. I argue that the years before, during, and after the legislation's passage and the strength of the labor market represent two contexts of reception in which immigrants reside, which determine naturalization decisions. Event history models show that California's naturalization rates dramatically increased after the legislation's passage, a pattern that is most pronounced among Latinos, while rates declined during difficult times, a pattern more pronounced among Asians. Thus, Latinos’ naturalization rates are affected more by the state policy climate, while Asians rates are affected more by long-term economic health.
Negotiating Languages in Immigrant Families
Authors: Medvedeva Maria
Published: June 2012

This study is about the multifaceted nature of language use in immigrant families. Following earlier explorations of language in the segmented assimilation framework and using adolescent and parental data from the 1995 wave of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, this article examines how adolescents’ use of English with their parents relates to their proficiency in English and ethnic languages, and their personal language preferences, as well as their parents’ language proficiency and use. The findings suggested that adolescent language choice in child–parent interactions reflected the family's ways to negotiate the distinct linguistic repertoires of immigrant parents and their children. The adolescent use of English was not necessarily associated with social and emotional estrangement between generations. Even when adolescents generally preferred English, they were less likely to use English in child–parent interactions if their parents, particularly their mothers, were less proficient in English. On the other hand, adolescents were more likely to speak English to their parents if their mothers were proficient in English, regardless of what language parents used with the children. Parents who spoke to their children in English likely responded to their children's doubts about their ethnic language proficiency and were linguistically and emotionally ready to make that transition.
Human skeletal muscle feed arteries: evidence of regulatory potential
Authors: Ives S. J. , Andtbacka R. H. I. , Park S.‐Y. , Donato A. J. , Gifford J. R. , Noyes R. D. , Lesniewski L. A. , Richardson R. S.
Published: June 2012

Aim

Recently, it has been recognized that human skeletal muscle feed arteries can be harvested during exploratory surgery for melanoma. This approach provides vessels for in vitro study from a wide spectrum of relatively healthy humans. Although, the regulatory role of skeletal muscle feed arteries in rodent models has been documented, whether such vessels in humans possess this functionality is unknown.

Methods

Therefore, skeletal muscle feed arteries (~950 μm OD) from 10 humans (48 ± 4, 27–64 years) were studied using pressure myography. Vessel function was assessed using potassium chloride (KCl), phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) concentration–response curves (CRCs) to characterize non‐receptor and receptor‐mediated vasoconstriction as well as endothelium‐dependent and independent vasodilation respectively. To understand the physiological relevance of the diameter changes as a result of pharmacological stimulation, the estimated conductance ratio (CR) was calculated.

Results

Vessel function protocols revealed significant vasoconstriction in response to PE and KCl (35 ± 6; 43 ± 9%vasoconstriction, respectively) and significant vasodilation with ACh and SNP (85 ± 7; 121 ± 17% vasodilation, respectively). Both PE and KCl significantly reduced the CR (0.26 ± 0.05 and 0.23 ± 0.07, respectively), whereas ACh and SNP increased the CR (2.56 ± 0.10 and 5.32 ± 1.3, respectively).

Conclusion

These novel findings provide evidence that human skeletal muscle feed arteries are capable of generating significant diameter changes that would translate into significant changes in vascular conductance. Thus, human skeletal muscle feed arteries likely play a significant role in regulating vascular conductance and subsequently blood flow in vivo.
Ultraviolet Spectral Reflectance of Ceiling Tiles, and Implications for the Safe Use of Upper‐Room Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation
Authors: Wengraitis Stephen , Reed Nicholas G.
Published: June 2012

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation can be used to prevent airborne transmission of infectious diseases. A common application is to irradiate upper‐room areas, by passing air from the lower room into the irradiated zone. Well‐designed systems do not expose people directly; however, some UV radiation may be reflected off ceiling tiles and wall paints into the lower room. Lower room exposure should be limited to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value of 6 mJ·cm−2 of 254 nm radiation per day. To limit the lower room exposure, the reflectance of upper‐room surfaces must not be high. The reflective properties of wall paints have been studied, but less is known about the UV reflectance of ceiling tiles. Using a double monochromator spectroradiometer and an integrating sphere reflectance attachment, the UV spectral reflectance of 37 ceiling tiles was measured from 200 to 400 nm. The reflectances varied from 0.020 to 0.822 in this range, and from 0.035 to 0.459 at 254 nm, the main wavelength emitted by upper room low‐pressure mercury germicidal lamps. These data were then used to estimate an 8 h exposure based on several simplified workplace scenarios. The implications for workplace safety are then discussed.
A Comparative Study of Five Reference Materials and the Lombard Meteorite for the Determination of the Platinum‐Group Elements and Gold by LA‐ICP‐MS
Authors: Gilbert Sarah , Danyushevsky Leonid , Robinson Philip , Wohlgemuth‐Ueberwasser Cora , Pearson Norman , Savard Dany , Norman Marc , Hanley Jacob
Published: June 2012

A range of independently characterised reference materials (RMs) for LA‐ICP‐MS, used for the determination of the platinum‐group elements (PGE) and Au in a sulfide matrix, were analysed and compared: 8b, PGE‐A, NiS‐3, Po727‐T1, Po724‐T and the Lombard meteorite. The newly developed RM NiS‐3 was used as the RM for the calibration of all LA‐ICP‐MS analyses and the measured concentrations of the other RMs compared against their published concentrations. This data were also used to assess the consistency of concentrations calibrated against the different RMs. It was found that Po727‐T1 and 8b produced results that were comparable, within uncertainty, for all elements. Po727‐T1 also produced consistent results with NiS‐3 for all elements. All other RMs showed differences for some elements, especially Ru in Po724‐T, and Os, Ir and Au in PGE‐A. The homogeneity of the PGE and Au in each RM was assessed, by comparing the precision of multiple LA‐ICP‐MS spot analyses with the average uncertainty of the signal. Po724‐T, Po727‐T1 and the Lombard meteorite were found to be homogeneous for all elements, but 8b, PGE‐A and NiS‐3 were heterogeneous for some elements. This is the first direct comparison between a range of independently characterised PGE and Au LA‐ICP‐MS RMs.
Sphenomandibular ankylosis and its access through zygomatic arch osteotomy
Authors: Verma D.K.
Published: June 2012

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is a very debilitating condition. A case report of a 12‐year‐old girl with ankylosis between the mandibular notch and the skull base is presented. Trauma was identified as the probable cause. Al Kayat and Bramley approach followed by osteotomy and lateral swing of the zygomatic arch gained extraoral access to the site. Osteotomy of the bony mass was done between the mandibular notch and the skull base. The patient had good mouth opening at 1‐year follow up.
The relationship between bite force and oral sensation during biting in molars
Authors: Ogura R , Kato H , Okada D , Foxton RM , Ikeda M , Miura H
Published: June 2012

Background:  In prosthodontic treatment, the occlusal form should be designed such that bite force is applied at the position that has higher load‐bearing capacity and is comfortable for the patient. The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in bite force and occlusal sensation with different loading positions on the occlusal surface.

Methods:  Twelve healthy subjects were recruited for this study. Bite force and occlusal sensation were measured at five loading points on the upper and lower left first molars. Occlusal sensation was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results:  Bite forces on the lingual side of the upper first molar and the buccal side of the lower first molar were significantly higher and VAS scores were significantly lower, i.e. the subjects felt less discomfort during biting on the buccal side of the upper first molar and the lingual side of the lower first molar compared to the other side of each molar.

Conclusions:  Loading on the occlusal surfaces of the functional cusps of the upper and lower first molars produces more load‐bearing capacity and is more comfortable than loading on the non‐functional cusps.
Context length and reading novel words: An eye‐movement investigation
Authors: Wochna Kacey L. , Juhasz Barbara J.
Published: June 2012

The current study investigated the effects of context length on the processing of novel words. Participants read real adjectives or novel words embedded in either sentence or paragraph contexts while their eye movements were recorded. The results extend the literature on novel word reading by exploring the time‐course of word processing using realistic contexts derived from existing sources. Eye‐movement measures demonstrated that readers were very sensitive to the presence of novel words. Novel words were more likely to be fixated and had longer reading times than real words. In addition, words in sentence contexts had longer gaze durations than words in paragraphs. The effect of novelty on reading the target word did not vary as a function of the context length. While performance on the surprise post‐test did not demonstrate significant word learning, participants did report higher confidence in correct responses than incorrect, suggesting that some learning took place.
Description of Methods for the Eigenvalue Analysis of Railroad Vehicles Including Track Flexibility
Authors: Escalona José L. , Chamorro Rosario , Recuero Antonio M.
Published: June 2012

The stability analysis of railroad vehicles using eigenvalue analysis can provide essential information about the stability of the motion, ride quality, or passengers’ comfort. The eigenvalue analysis follows three steps: calculation of steady motion, linearization of the equations of motion, and eigenvalue calculation. This paper deals with different numerical methods that can be used for the eigenvalue analysis of multibody models of railroad vehicles that can include deformable tracks. Depending on the degree of nonlinearity of the model and coordinate selection, different methodologies can be used. A direct eigenvalue analysis is used to analyze the vehicle dynamics from the differential-algebraic equations of motion written in terms of a set of constrained coordinates. As an alternative, the equations of motion can be obtained in terms of independent coordinates taking the form of ordinary differential equations. This procedure requires more computations, but the interpretation of the results is straightforward.
A Discrete Element Approach to Model Breakable Railway Ballast
Authors: Ergenzinger Christian , Seifried Robert , Eberhard Peter
Published: June 2012

A discrete element approach to assess degradation processes in ballast beds is presented. Firstly, a discrete element model describing strength and failure of strong rock is introduced. For this purpose a granular solid is created by bonding of adjacent particles. A method to define angular ballast stones made from the granular solid is proposed. The strength of these stones is evaluated by compression between parallel platens. Comparing these results to published experimental data yields very good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement. Finally, the failure of aggregates of breakable stones is investigated by simulation of oedometric compression tests and indentation of a sleeper into a ballast bed.
Three-Dimensional Effects on an Oscillating-Foil Hydrokinetic Turbine
Authors: Kinsey Thomas , Dumas Guy
Published: June 2012

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic losses are assessed in this investigation for a foil oscillating sinusoidally in a combined heave and pitch motion with large amplitudes. Simulations are performed using a unsteady Reynolds-Averaged-Navier-Stokes (URANS) solver on an oscillating foil in a power-extraction mode; thus acting as a hydrokinetic turbine at high Reynolds number. Foils of various aspect ratios (span to chord length ratio) are considered, both with and without endplates for one representative operation point. Hydrodynamic forces and extracted power are compared with results from the equivalent two-dimensional (2D) computations. It is found that the relative drop of performance (cycle-averaged power extracted) due to 3D hydrodynamic losses can be limited to 10% of the 2D prediction when endplates are used on a foil of aspect ratio greater than ten. The practical consideration of an oscillating-foil hydrokinetic turbine operating in an imperfectly-aligned upstream water flow is also addressed with simulations considering an upstream flow at a yaw angle up to 30° with respect to the foil chord line. Effects on performance are found to be proportional to the projected kinetic energy flux.
Design, Simulation, and Testing of Energy Harvesters With Magnetic Suspensions for the Generation of Electricity From Freight Train Vibrations
Authors: De Pasquale Giorgio , Somà Aurelio , Zampieri Nicolò
Published: June 2012

The constant spread of commercial trades on railways demand development of alternative diagnostic systems, which are suitable to applications without electric supply and convenient for the industrial development and diffusion, which means low cost, good reliability, and high integrability. Similarly, it is possible to install navigation and traceability systems (for instance, by the use of global positioning systems—GPS—transmitters) to control on demand the travel history of the train and even that of each coach separately. Recent studies demonstrated the possibility to generate directly onboard the electric power needed to the supply of simple diagnostic systems based on low power sensors and integrated wireless transmission modules. The design of this kind of generators is based on the idea of converting the kinetic energy of train vibration to electric energy, through appropriate energy harvesters containing electromechanical transducers dimensioned ad hoc. The goal of this work is to validate the design procedure for energy harvesters addressed to the railway field. The input vibration source of the train has been simulated through numerical modeling of the vehicle and the final harvester prototype has been tested on a scaled roller rig. The innovative configuration of magnetic suspended proof mass is introduced in the design to fit the input vibration spectra of the vehicle. From the coupled study of the harvester generator and the vehicle, the effective output power of the device is predicted by means of a combination of experimental and simulation tests. The generator demonstrated the ability to supply a basic sensing and transceiving node by converting the kinetic energy of a train vibration in normal traveling conditions. The final device package is 150 × 125 × 95 mm, and its output voltage and current are 2.5 V and 50 mA, respectively, when the freight train velocity is 80 km/h. The corresponding output power is almost 100 mW.
Numerical Simulation of Bubble Transport in a Bifurcating Microchannel: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Poornima J. , Vengadesan S.
Published: June 2012

In this paper, we present the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of bubble transport in a first generation bifurcating microchannel. In the present study, the human arteriole is modeled as a two-dimensional (2D) rectangular bifurcating microchannel. The microchannel is filled with blood and a single perfluorocarbon (PFC) bubble is introduced in the parent channel. The simulations are carried out to identify the lodging and dislodging pressures for two nondimensional bubble sizes, Ld (ratio of the dimensional bubble length to the parent tube diameter), that is for Ld = 1 and Ld = 2. Subsequently, the bubble transport and splitting behavior due to the presence of symmetry and asymmetry in the daughter channels of the microchannel is studied for these bubble sizes. The splitting behavior of the bubble under the effect of gravity is also assessed and reported here. For the symmetric bifurcation model, the splitting ratio (SR) (ratio of bubble volume in bottom daughter channel to bubble volume in top daughter channel), of the bubble was found to be 1. For the asymmetric model, the splitting ratio was found to be less than 1. The loss in the bubble volume in the asymmetric model was attributed to surface tension effects and the resistance offered by the flow, which led to the bubble sticking and sliding along the walls of the channel. With the increase in roll angle, Φ (angle which the plane makes with the horizontal to study the effects of gravity), there was a decline in the splitting ratio.
Investigation of the Effects of Dynamic Change in Curvature and Torsion on Pulsatile Flow in a Helical Tube
Authors: Selvarasu N. K. C. , Tafti Danesh K.
Published: June 2012

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the world, making the understanding of hemodynamics and the development of treatment options imperative. The effect of motion of the coronary artery due to the motion of the myocardium is not extensively studied. In this work, we focus our investigation on the localized hemodynamic effects of dynamic changes in curvature and torsion. It is our objective to understand and reveal the mechanism by which changes in curvature and torsion contribute towards the observed wall shear stress distribution. Such adverse hemodynamic conditions could have an effect on circumferential intimal thickening. Three-dimensional spatiotemporally resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pulsatile flow with moving wall boundaries were carried out for a simplified coronary artery with physiologically relevant flow parameters. A model with stationary walls is used as the baseline control case. In order to study the effect of curvature and torsion variation on local hemodynamics, this baseline model is compared to models where the curvature, torsion, and both curvature and torsion change. The simulations provided detailed information regarding the secondary flow dynamics. The results suggest that changes in curvature and torsion cause critical changes in local hemodynamics, namely, altering the local pressure and velocity gradients and secondary flow patterns. The wall shear stress (WSS) varies by a maximum of 22% when the curvature changes, by 3% when the torsion changes, and by 26% when both the curvature and torsion change. The oscillatory shear stress (OSI) varies by a maximum of 24% when the curvature changes, by 4% when the torsion changes, and by 28% when both the curvature and torsion change. We demonstrate that these changes are attributed to the physical mechanism associating the secondary flow patterns to the production of vorticity (vorticity flux) due to the wall movement. The secondary flow patterns and augmented vorticity flux affect the wall shear stresses. As a result, this work reveals how changes in curvature and torsion act to modify the near wall hemodynamics of arteries.
Complete Genome Sequence of a New Circular DNA Virus from Grapevine
Authors: Krenz Björn , Thompson Jeremy R. , Fuchs Marc , Perry Keith L.
Published: June 2012

A novel circular DNA virus sequence is reported from grapevine. The corresponding genomic organization, coding potential, and conserved origin of replication are similar to those of members of the family
Geminiviridae
, but the genome of 3,206 nucleotides is 4% larger than the largest reported geminiviral genome and shares only 50% overall sequence identity.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Avian Paramyxovirus
Authors: Briand François-Xavier , Henry Aurélie , Massin Pascale , Jestin Véronique
Published: June 2012

We report here the complete genome of a new avian paramyxovirus (APMV-11) isolated from common snipes. Sequence data from this virus showed that it has the largest genome of APMV and unusual P gene mRNA editing.
Complete Genome Sequence of an H10N8 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from a Live Bird Market in Southern China
Authors: Jiao Peirong , Cao Lan , Yuan Runyu , Wei Liangmeng , Song Yafen , Shen Dan , Gong Lang , Luo Kaijian , Ren Tao , Liao Ming
Published: June 2012

An H10N8 avian influenza virus (AIV), designated A/Duck/Guangdong/E1/2012 (H10N8), was isolated from a duck in January 2012. This is first report that this subtype of AIV was isolated from a live bird market (LBM) in Guangdong Province in southern China. Furthermore, the complete genome of this strain was analyzed. The availability of genome sequences is helpful to further investigations of epidemiology and molecular characteristics of AIV in southern China.
Complete Genome Sequence of Vibrio vulnificus Bacteriophage SSP002
Authors: Lee Hyun Sung , Choi Slae , Choi Sang Ho
Published: June 2012

Vibrio vulnificus
phages are abundant in coastal marine environments, shellfish, clams, and oysters. SSP002, a
V. vulnificus
-specific bacteriophage, was isolated from oysters from the west coast of South Korea. In this study, the complete genome of SSP002 was sequenced and analyzed for the first time among the
V. vulnificus
-specific bacteriophages.
Genome Assembly of Bell Pepper Endornavirus from Small RNA
Authors: Sela Noa , Luria Neta , Dombrovsky Aviv
Published: June 2012

The family
Endornaviridae
infects diverse hosts, including plants, fungi, and oomycetes. Here we report for the first time the assembly of bell pepper endornavirus by next-generation sequencing of viral small RNA. Such a population of small RNA indicates the activation of the viral immunity silencing machinery by this cryptic virus, which probably encodes a novel silencing suppressor.
Complete Genomic Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Phage SE2
Authors: Tiwari Birendra R. , Kim Shukho , Kim Jungmin
Published: June 2012

Salmonella enterica
serovar Enteritidis has remained a major food-borne pathogen in humans. We isolated a virulent
S. enterica
serovar Enteritidis bacteriophage, SE2, which belongs to the family
Siphoviridae
. Phage SE2 could lyse
S. enterica
serovar Enteritidis PT-4, and its virulence was maintained even at ambient temperature. The genomic sequence of phage SE2 was composed of 43,221 bp with close similarity to those of
Salmonella
phage SETP3 and
Salmonella
phage SS3e. The strong and stable lytic activity of this phage might enable its use as a therapeutic or biocontrol agent against
S. enterica
serovar Enteritidis.
Complete Genome Sequence of Cronobacter sakazakii Temperate Bacteriophage phiES15
Authors: Lee Ju-Hoon , Choi Younho , Shin Hakdong , Lee Junghyun , Ryu Sangryeol
Published: June 2012

While most phage genome studies have been focused on the virulent phages, the inducible temperate bacteriophage genome study provides more detailed information about the interaction between the host strain and the phage. To study this interaction in detail, UV-induced phiES15 bacteriophage was isolated from the host strain
Cronobacter sakazakii
ES15 and its genome was completely sequenced. Here we announce the genome sequence of phiES15 and report major findings from the annotation.
Full Genome Sequence of a Recombinant H5N1 Influenza Virus from a Condor in Southern China
Authors: Jiao Peirong , Yuan Runyu , Song Yafen , Wei Liangmeng , Ren Tao , Liao Ming , Luo Kaijian
Published: June 2012

In this study, we report the first genomic information on an H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolated from a condor in Guangdong Province in southern China in 2003. Full genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses show that it is a recombinant virus containing genome segments derived from the Eurasia and North America gene pools. This will be useful for analyses of the evolution of H5N1 AIV in southern China.
FACTORIZATION OF THE EFFECTIVE ACTION IN THE IIB MATRIX MODEL
Authors: ASANO YUHMA , KAWAI HIKARU , TSUCHIYA ASATO
Published: June 2012

We study the low-energy effective action of the IIB matrix model in the derivative interpretation, where the diffeomorphism invariance is manifest and arbitrary manifolds are described by matrices. We show that it is expressed as a sum of terms, each of which is factorized into a product of diffeomorphism invariant action functionals: [Formula: see text]. Each action functional si is an ordinary local action of the form [Formula: see text], where Oi(x) is a scalar operator. This is also true for the background consisting of block diagonal matrices. In this case, the effective action can be interpreted as describing a multiverse where the universes described by the blocks are connected by wormholes.
ON 4-DIMENSIONAL 2-HANDLEBODIES AND 3-MANIFOLDS
Authors: BOBTCHEVA IVELINA , PIERGALLINI RICCARDO
Published: June 2012

We show that for any n ≥ 4 there exists an equivalence functor [Formula: see text] from the category [Formula: see text] of n-fold connected simple coverings of B3× [0, 1] branched over ribbon surface tangles up to certain local ribbon moves, and the cobordism category [Formula: see text] of orientable relative 4-dimensional 2-handlebody cobordisms up to 2-deformations. As a consequence, we obtain an equivalence theorem for simple coverings of S3branched over links, which provides a complete solution to the long-standing Fox–Montesinos covering moves problem. This last result generalizes to coverings of any degree results by the second author and Apostolakis, concerning respectively the case of degree 3 and 4. We also provide an extension of the equivalence theorem to possibly non-simple coverings of S3branched over embedded graphs. Then, we factor the functor above as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is an equivalence functor to a universal braided category [Formula: see text] freely generated by a Hopf algebra object H. In this way, we get a complete algebraic description of the category [Formula: see text]. From this we derive an analogous description of the category [Formula: see text] of 2-framed relative 3-dimensional cobordisms, which resolves a problem posed by Kerler.
COSMOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF A VECTOR FIELD MODEL
Authors: SADATIAN S. DAVOOD
Published: June 2012

We have studied a DGP-inspired braneworld scenario where the idea of Lorentz invariance violation has been combined into a specifying preferred frame that embed a dynamical normal vector field to brane. We propose the Lorentz violating DGP brane models with enough parameters can explain crossing of phantom divide line. Also we have considered the model for proper cosmological evolution that is according to the observed behavior of the equation of state. In other view point, we have described a Rip singularity solution of model that occur in this model.
THE MODULI SPACE OF 1|1-DIMENSIONAL COMPLEX ASSOCIATIVE ALGEBRAS
Authors: BODIN DEREK , DECLEENE CHRISTOPHER , HAGER WILLIAM , OTTO CAROLYN , PENKAVA MICHAEL , PHILLIPSON MITCH , STEINBACH RYAN , WEBER ERIC
Published: June 2012

In this paper, we study the moduli space of 1|1-dimensional complex associative algebras. We give a complete calculation of the cohomology of every element in the moduli space, as well as compute their versal deformations.
A NOTE ON LEFSCHETZ FIBRATIONS ON COMPACT STEIN 4-MANIFOLDS
Authors: AKBULUT SELMAN , ARIKAN M. FIRAT
Published: June 2012

Loi–Piergallini and Akbulut–Ozbagci showed that every compact Stein surface admits a Lefschetz fibration over the disk D2 with bounded fibers. In this note we give a more intrinsic alternative proof of this result.