bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviewer online engagement: the role of rank, well-being, and market helping behavior
Authors: Mosteller Jill , Mathwick Charla
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a retailer-managed ranking system on product reviewers’ well-being and its relationship to customer engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

– Content analysis of reviewers’ posts, generated over a six-month period following a critical incident involving a change in the reviewer ranking system, informs findings.

Findings

– Fulfilling needs for social relatedness, competency and autonomy may be critical aspects that underlie reviewer engagement. Findings explain how organic and hierarchical reviewing platform design elements may support or thwart psychological need fulfillment. Reviewers expressed positive well-being when system elements facilitated organic interactions between consumers and reviewers, fulfilling social relatedness and competency needs. Hierarchical design elements elicited mixed well-being sentiments. When reviewers used rank as a feedback mechanism to signal competency development, positive well-being emerged, whereas ranking features perceived as lacking in integrity or reducing one’s autonomy, evoked negative sentiments. A stimulus-organism-response framework, grounded in environmental psychology, provides the basis for the online reviewer engagement model. This study deepens understanding of online customer engagement by illustrating how a ranking system and social elements influence well-being and motive fulfilment, key psychological processes associated with engagement.

Research limitations/implications

– Highly engaged reviewers on one community platform inform findings, so results are not representative of all reviewers, but are relevant for conceptual purposes concerning critical incidents.

Practical implications

– Findings have implications for the design of recognition platforms created to support customer engagement in online reviewing communities.

Social implications

– Public ranking systems designed to recognize and reward reviewers can enhance as well as degrade consumer well-being within an online service environment.

Originality/value

– First empirical work to examine the value of consumer well-being as it relates to engagement within an online reviewing service context.
Non-custodial grandparent caregiving in Chinese families: implications for family dynamics
Authors: Leung Cynthia , Fung Barbara
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the needs and experiences of Chinese families where grandparents were involved in the non-custodial care of their grandchildren.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total five grandparent focus groups and three parent focus groups were conducted. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method.

Findings

– Though most grandparents enjoyed their grandparent roles, there were differences in the perception of the grandparent role between grandparents and parents. Both grandparents and parents reported intergenerational conflicts on the management of the grandchildren, which was distressing for both parties.

Practical implications

– It was suggested that grandparent training programmes might be a viable strategy to support families.

Originality/value

– The study provided insights into family dynamics in the context of grandparent caregiving, child development, as well as children's services.
Effects of temperature on consumer–resource interactions
Authors: Amarasekare Priyanga
Published: November 2014

Understanding how temperature variation influences the negative (e.g. self‐limitation) and positive (e.g. saturating functional responses) feedback processes that characterize consumer–resource interactions is an important research priority. Previous work on this topic has yielded conflicting outcomes with some studies predicting that warming should increase consumer–resource oscillations and others predicting that warming should decrease consumer–resource oscillations.

Here, I develop a consumer–resource model that both synthesizes previous findings in a common framework and yields novel insights about temperature effects on consumer–resource dynamics. I report three key findings. First, when the resource species' birth rate exhibits a unimodal temperature response, as demonstrated by a large number of empirical studies, the temperature range over which the consumer–resource interaction can persist is determined by the lower and upper temperature limits to the resource species' reproduction. This contrasts with the predictions of previous studies, which assume that the birth rate exhibits a monotonic temperature response, that consumer extinction is determined by temperature effects on consumer species' traits, rather than the resource species' traits.

Secondly, the comparative analysis I have conducted shows that whether warming leads to an increase or decrease in consumer–resource oscillations depends on the manner in which temperature affects intraspecific competition. When the strength of self‐limitation increases monotonically with temperature, warming causes a decrease in consumer–resource oscillations. However, if self‐limitation is strongest at temperatures physiologically optimal for reproduction, a scenario previously unanalysed by theory but amply substantiated by empirical data, warming can cause an increase in consumer–resource oscillations.

Thirdly, the model yields testable comparative predictions about consumer–resource dynamics under alternative hypotheses for how temperature affects competitive and resource acquisition traits. Importantly, it does so through empirically quantifiable metrics for predicting temperature effects on consumer viability and consumer–resource oscillations, which obviates the need for parameterizing complex dynamical models. Tests of these metrics with empirical data on a host–parasitoid interaction yield realistic estimates of temperature limits for consumer persistence and the propensity for consumer–resource oscillations, highlighting their utility in predicting temperature effects, particularly warming, on consumer–resource interactions in both natural and agricultural settings.
Effect of defatting on quality of meat and bone meal
Authors: Chang Ming , Xiao Jun , Liu Ruijie , Lu Liangzhong , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: November 2014

Meat and bone meal (MBM), a type of protein feed source, with high nutritional value, has been widely used as feed in China. In order to study the effect of defatting on the quality of MBM, MBM were defatted by hexane, and their basic nutritional components, color, flavor, protein characteristics, freshness indexes before and after defatting, were investigated. The crude protein content of the defatted MBM was increased from 54.5% to 61.2%, lysine content increased from 1.83 to 1.96%, pure protein content and in vitro digestibility of MBM were increased to 50.7% and 90.45%, respectively. Acid value decreased from 9.0 to 2.6 mg potassium hydroxide/g, and the color and flavor were also improved after defatting. Furthermore, volatile basic nitrogen content decreased from 60 to 40 mg/100 g and histamine content did not change significantly (decreasing from 20.1 to 19.6 mg/kg). Therefore, defatting treatment was good for the quality improvement of MBM.
Ileal digestibility of nutrients and amino acids in unfermented, fermented soybean meal and canola meal for weaning pigs
Authors: Upadhaya Santi D. , Kim In Ho
Published: November 2014

Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of energy, dry matter, nitrogen and amino acids and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of nitrogen and amino acids were evaluated in six weanling pigs ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc)) fed unfermented soybean meal (SM), yeast fermented soybean meal (SMY), bacillus fermented soybean meal (SMB), yeast and bacillus fermented soybean meal (SMYB), canola meal (CM) and nitrogen‐free diet. Pigs having body weights 17.00 ± 0.3 kg were surgically equipped with T‐cannulas of approximately 15 cm prior to the ileo‐cecal junction and randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments and a nitrogen‐free diet in 6 × 6 Latin squares. AID and SID of nitrogen (N) was greater (P < 0.05) in SMYB and SMB compared with SM and CM. AID and SID of amino acids such as, Lys (lysine) and Phe (phenylalanine) as well as total essential amino acids were greater (P < 0.05) in SMB and tended to be low in CM compared with SM. AID and SID of aspartic acid (Asp) and glycine (Gly) tended to be higher in SMB compared with SM and other diets except CM. In conclusion, fermentation of soybean meal by Bacillus showed better digestibility of amino acid and nutrients.
Attachment to Community and Civic and Political Engagement: A Case Study of Students
Authors: Boulianne Shelley , Brailey Michelle
Published: November 2014

Youth's low level of civic and political engagement may detrimentally affect the health of communities and the democratic system. This paper examines the role of community attachment in explaining youth's levels of civic and engagement. This examination requires an evaluation of existing measures of community attachment and their relevance for understanding youth's experiences. The paper uses a student sample, highlighting a group of youth who have a degree of variation in their experiences of community attachment. We find that subjective measures of community attachment are related to volunteering and voting, but the objective measure of community attachment, that is, years of residence, affects voting and not volunteering. Different mechanisms explain civic engagement versus political engagement. As such, different strategies are required to combat low levels of civic versus political engagement.

Le manque d'engagement civique et politique de la jeunesse peut avoir un effet néfaste sur la santé des communautés et sur le système démocratique. Cet article examine le rôle de l'appartenance communautaire pour expliquer le niveau de participation civique et politique des jeunes. Cette recherche nécessite une évaluation des mesures existantes de l'appartenance à une communauté et de leur pertinence pour la compréhension des expériences des jeunes. Cet article se base sur un groupe d'étudiants pour illustrer une population de jeunes avec un niveau d'attachement communautaire variable. Nous avons remarqué que les mesures subjectives de l'attachement à la communauté sont liées au bénévolat et au vote, alors que les mesures objectives de l'attachement, comme la durée de résidence, affecte le vote et non le bénévolat. De différents processus peuvent expliquer l'engagement civique par rapport à l'engagement politique. Ainsi, des stratégies différentes sont nécessaires pour lutter contre la faiblesse des niveaux de participation civique et politique.
Perineal hernia formation following extralevator abdominoperineal excision
Authors: Sayers A. E. , Patel R. K. , Hunter I. A.
Published: November 2014

Aim

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) has become increasingly used because of some evidence of improved oncological outcome. It is, however, thought to be associated with a higher incidence of perineal hernia formation, although the exact incidence is not known. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of perineal hernia after ELAPE.

Method

The case notes of patients over a 54‐month period were reviewed. The perineal closure technique, perineal complications and management plan were recorded.

Results

During the study period, 56 patients underwent ELAPE, of whom 24 (44%) developed a perineal wound complication. Primary perineal closure was performed with (eight patients) and without (32 patients) insertion of a biological mesh or myocutaneous flap. Perineal hernia was the commonest complication (26%) and occurred in nine (45%) of 20 patients who had a laparoscopic ELAPE.

Conclusion

Perineal hernia formation was the commonest perineal complication of ELAPE and occurred in nearly half of patients having a laparoscopic ELAPE.
BANKING AND PUBLIC POLICY: TOO BIG TO FAIL
Authors: Kaufman George G.
Published: November 2014

“Too big to fail” (TBTF) is a major policy issue in banking. Large bank failures may impose losses on depositors and creditors that may impose large collateral damage on other financial institutions and beyond. Regulators are frequently incentivized either to delay recognizing a bank's insolvency or fail the bank but protect its creditors against loss. This paper argues that, while there is wide agreement that the cost of protecting creditors in the resolution of large financial institutions is excessively high, it is difficult to prevent this practice for a number of reasons. Until these disagreements are settled, TBTF will survive. (JEL G01, G18, G28)
Identifying plant traits associated with topographic contrasts in a rugged and diverse region (Klamath‐Siskiyou Mts, OR, USA)
Authors: Copeland Stella M. , Harrison Susan P.
Published: November 2014

Rugged topography affects species distributions and community composition by creating contrasting mesic (cool, moist) and xeric (warm, dry) microclimates on adjacent slopes. This microclimatic heterogeneity is thought to have contributed to species survival during past climate fluctuations. Within a rugged and botanically rich region, we asked what functional, distributional, and/or biogeographic traits distinguished the species significantly associated with xeric or mesic microclimates. For each of 236 species in 4773 plots in the Klamath‐Siskiyou Mountains, we tested for significant associations with mesic or xeric topographic microclimates inferred from high‐resolution topographic variables. For the subset of species showing significant associations, we then compared their functional traits, biogeographic origins, and macroclimatic attributes to those of other species. We also tested the dependence of topographic associations on elevation, canopy cover, and soil type. Many species in the region (40%) showed significant tendencies to be found only in either mesic or xeric topography. ‘Mesic’ species tended to be of northern biogeographic origin and to have geographic ranges with higher mean precipitation; ‘xeric’ species had the opposite attributes. Species occurred more often in mesic microclimates when they occurred on low‐nutrient serpentine soils, and were more often found in xeric microclimates at high elevations. Functional traits such as specific leaf area were not significant predictors of species association with topographic microclimate. Biogeographic origins and the mean precipitation (rather than temperature) of species geographic ranges are the best indicators of species that are found in cool/moist northerly or hot/dry southerly microclimates.
Widening the ‘representation gap'? The implications of the ‘lobbying act’ for worker representation in the UK
Authors: Abbott Brian , Williams Steve
Published: November 2014

The Transparency of Lobbying, Non‐Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (the ‘Lobbying Act’) imposes tight restrictions on the campaigning and lobbying activities of civil society organisations in the UK, diminishing their capacity to represent the interests of working people and thus likely compounding the ‘representation gap’ within British workplaces. Along with austerity measures and employment law reforms, the legislation exemplifies the UK government's attempts to shift the balance of power further towards employers.
Commentary: A social environment approach to promotive and protective practice in childhood resilience – reflections on Ungar (2014)
Authors: Wessells Michael G.
Published: November 2014

The field of mental health and psychosocial support for children in humanitarian emergencies has been evolving rapidly. A decade ago, researchers and practitioners frequently took a deficits approach that emphasized problems such as trauma, particularly post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in zones of armed conflict. Assessments focused on PTSD and typically led to the provision of curative responses such as Western psychotherapies as the first response for the affected population. Practitioners expressed diverse concerns about this approach, including its narrow, medicalized definition of the problem (mental disorder), the unsustainability of the programs it generated, the relative inattention to the context, the privileging of individual over systemic approaches, and the lack of cultural sensitivity. For these and other reasons, humanitarian practitioners have increasingly favored a resilience approach that features the agency of children, families, and communities and seeks to build upon existing assets or strengths. Already there is evidence of the effectiveness of numerous interventions that embody a resilience approach. Yet resilience approaches have been limited by a lack of conceptual clarity and ongoing questions about how to assess and measure it. In this context, Michael Ungar's Practitioner Review is an important contribution to practice.
Diminazene Protects Corpus Cavernosum Against Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Injury
Authors: Fraga-Silva Rodrigo A. , Costa-Fraga Fabiana P. , Montecucco Fabrizio , Sturny Mikael , Faye Younoss , Mach François , Pelli Graziano , Shenoy Vinayak , da Silva Rafaela F. , Raizada Mohan K. , Santos Robson A.S. , Stergiopulos Nikolaos
Published: November 2014

Introduction

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key enzyme of the renin angiotensin system, which breaks down angiotensin II and forms angiotensin-(1–7). In erectile tissues, it has been documented that angiotensin II contributes to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED), while treatment with angiotensin-(1–7) improves penile erection. However, the expression and function of ACE2 in erectile tissues have never been investigated.

Aim

Here, we examined the expression of ACE2 in erectile tissues and its actions against hypercholesterolemia-induced corpus cavernosum (CC) injury.

Methods

Hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice, a well-known model of ED, were treated with diminazene aceturate (DIZE), an ACE2 activator compound, or vehicle for 3 weeks. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), collagen content, and protein expression of ACE2, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase (NADPH) subunits were evaluated in the penis of DIZE-treated and untreated ApoE−/− mice. Functional studies were performed in CC strips.

Main Outcome Measures

ACE2 expression and its role in modulating nitric oxide (NO)/ROS production and fibrosis within the CC of hypercholesterolemic mice were the main outcome measures.

Results

ACE2 was expressed in smooth muscle and endothelial cells of mouse CC. Interestingly, ACE2 was downregulated in penis of hypercholesterolemic mice with ED, suggesting a protective role of ACE2 on the CC homeostasis. In accordance with that, pharmacological ACE2 activation by DIZE treatment reduced ROS production and NADPH oxidase expression, and elevated nNOS and eNOS expression and NO bioavailability in the penis of ApoE−/− mice. Additionally, DIZE decreased collagen content within the CC. These beneficial actions of DIZE on the CC were not accompanied by improvements in atherosclerotic plaque size or serum lipid profile.

Conclusion

ACE2 is expressed in erectile tissue and its reduction is associated with hypercholesterolemia-induced ED. Additionally, treatment with DIZE improved hypercholesterolemia-induced CC injury, suggesting ACE2 as a potential target for treating ED.
Enantioselective pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in calves after intramuscular administration of a racemic mixture
Authors: Plessers E. , Watteyn A. , Wyns H. , Pardon B. , De Baere S. , De Backer P. , Croubels S.
Published: November 2014

The pharmacokinetic properties of ketoprofen were determined in 4‐week‐old calves after intramuscular (i.m.) injection of a racemic mixture at a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight. Due to possible enantioselective disposition kinetics and chiral inversion, the plasma concentrations of the R(−) and S(+) enantiomer were quantified separately, using a stereospecificHPLC‐UVassay. A distinct predominance of the S(+) enantiomer was observed, as well as significantly different pharmacokinetic parameters between R(−) and S(+) ketoprofen. More in specific, a greater value for the mean area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC0→∞) (46.92 ± 7.75 and 11.13 ± 2.18 μg·h/mL for the S(+) and R(−) enantiomer, respectively), a lower apparent clearance (Cl/F) (32.8 ± 5.7 and 139.0 ± 25.1 mL/h·kg for the S(+) and R(−) enantiomer, respectively) and a lower apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) (139 ± 14.7 and 496 ± 139.4 mL/kg for the S(+) and R(−) enantiomer, respectively) were calculated for the S(+) enantiomer, indicating enantioselective pharmacokinetics for ketoprofen in calves following i.m. administration.
Seed production temperature regulation of primary dormancy occurs through control of seed coat phenylpropanoid metabolism
Authors: MacGregor Dana R. , Kendall Sarah L. , Florance Hannah , Fedi Fabio , Moore Karen , Paszkiewicz Konrad , Smirnoff Nicholas , Penfield Steven
Published: November 2014

Environmental changes during seed production are important drivers of lot‐to‐lot variation in seed behaviour and enable wild species to time their life history with seasonal cues. Temperature during seed set is the dominant environmental signal determining the depth of primary dormancy, although the mechanisms though which temperature changes impart changes in dormancy state are still only partly understood.

We used molecular, genetic and biochemical techniques to examine the mechanism through which temperature variation affects Arabidopsis thaliana seed dormancy.

Here we show that, in Arabidopsis, low temperatures during seed maturation result in an increase in phenylpropanoid gene expression in seeds and that this correlates with higher concentrations of seed coat procyanidins. Lower maturation temperatures cause differences in coat permeability to tetrazolium, and mutants with increased seed coat permeability and/or low procyanidin concentrations are less able to enter strongly dormant states after exposure to low temperatures during seed maturation.

Our data show that maternal temperature signalling regulates seed coat properties, and this is an important pathway through which the environmental signals control primary dormancy depth.
Monitoring depth of anesthesia: from consciousness to nociception. A window on subcortical brain activity
Authors: Constant Isabelle , Sabourdin Nada
Published: November 2014

Anesthesia results from several inhibitor processes, which interact to lead to loss of consciousness, amnesia, immobility, and analgesia. The anesthetic agents act on the whole brain, the cortical and subcortical areas according to their receptor targets. The conscious processes are rather integrated at the level of the cortical neuronal network, while the nonconscious processes such as the nociception or implicit memory require subcortical processing. A reliable and meaningful monitoring of depth of anesthesia should provide assessment of these different processes. Besides the EEG monitoring which gives mainly information on cortical anesthetic effects, it would be relevant to have also a subcortical feedback allowing an assessment of nociception. Several devices have been proposed in this last decade, to give us an idea of the analgesia/nociception balance. Up to now, most of them are based on the assessment of the autonomic response to noxious stimulation. Among the emerging clinical devices, we can mention those which assess vascular sympathetic response (skin conductance), cardiac and vascular sympathetic response (surgical pleth index), parasympathetic cardiac response (analgesia nociception index), and finally the pupillometry which is based on the assessment of the pupillary reflex dilatation induced by nociceptive stimulations. Basically, the skin conductance might be the most adapted to assess the stress in the awake or sedated neonate, while the performances of this method appear disappointing under anesthesia. The surgical pleth index is still poorly investigated in children. The analgesia nociception index showed promising results in adults, which have to be confirmed, especially in children and in infants, and lastly pupillometry, which can be considered as reliable and reactive in children as in adults, but which is still sometimes complicated in its use.
Modelling the influence of land‐use changes on biophysical and biochemical interactions at regional and global scales
Authors: DEVARAJU N. , BALA G. , NEMANI R.
Published: November 2014

Land‐use changes since the start of the industrial era account for nearly one‐third of the cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In addition to the greenhouse effect of CO2 emissions, changes in land use also affect climate via changes in surface physical properties such as albedo, evapotranspiration and roughness length. Recent modelling studies suggest that these biophysical components may be comparable with biochemical effects. In regard to climate change, the effects of these two distinct processes may counterbalance one another both regionally and, possibly, globally. In this article, through hypothetical large‐scale deforestation simulations using a global climate model, we contrast the implications of afforestation on ameliorating or enhancing anthropogenic contributions from previously converted (agricultural) land surfaces. Based on our review of past studies on this subject, we conclude that the sum of both biophysical and biochemical effects should be assessed when large‐scale afforestation is used for countering global warming, and the net effect on global mean temperature change depends on the location of deforestation/afforestation. Further, although biochemical effects trigger global climate change, biophysical effects often cause strong local and regional climate change. The implication of the biophysical effects for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in agriculture and agroforestry sectors is discussed.
An Approach for Optimal Measurements Selection on Gas Turbine Engine Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Chen Min , Quan Hu Liang , Tang Hailong
Published: November 2014

Gas path fault diagnosis plays an important role in guaranteeing safe, reliable and cost-effective operation for gas turbine engines. Measurements selection is among the most critical issues for diagnostic method implementation. In this paper, an integration approach for optimal measurements selection, which combines finger print diagrams analysis, health parameters correlation analysis, performance estimation uncertainty index analysis and fault cases validation based on genetic algorithm, has been proposed and applied to assess the health condition of a two-spool split flow turbofan in test bed. First, mathematical description of an engine gas path fault diagnosis process was given and the influence coefficient matrix was also calculated based on a well calibrated nonlinear engine performance simulation model. Second, the number of combination candidates was reduced from 782 to 256 and three measurements were picked out using the finger print diagrams analysis and the health parameters correlation analysis. Then, the number of the combination candidates was further narrowed down to 13 using the performance estimation uncertainty index analysis. A nonlinear genetic algorithm fault diagnosis method was applied to test the diagnostic ability of the remaining measurement candidates. Finally, an optimal measurement combination was worked out which demonstrated the effectiveness of the integration approach. This integration approach for optimal measurements selection is also applicable to other type of gas turbine engines.
The Effect of Land Taper Angle on Trailing Edge Slot Film Cooling
Authors: Ling Julia , Elkins Christopher J. , Eaton John K.
Published: November 2014

Trailing edge slot film cooling is a widely used method of protecting the thin trailing edge of turbine blades from hot gas impingement. The structures that separate the slots, known as “lands,” come in a variety of configurations which can be broadly classified as either “tapered” or “straight.” This paper examines the effect of the land taper angle on the mixing of the coolant flow with the main flow by comparing three configurations: a case with straight lands, a previously reported case with slightly tapered lands, and a case with strongly tapered lands. In each case, the slot width and the land width at the plane of the slot exit are kept constant. For each configuration, the mean volumetric coolant concentration distribution and three-component velocity field were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. It is shown that the land taper angle has a strong effect on the mean flow features and coolant surface effectiveness. Furthermore, the impact of the lands configuration on the flow field and concentration distribution is seen not just in the cutback region, but also in the wake of the blade.
Effect of Intraspecimen Spatial Variation in Tissue Mineral Density on the Apparent Stiffness of Trabecular Bone
Authors: Kaynia Narges , Soohoo Elaine , Keaveny Tony M. , Kazakia Galateia J.
Published: November 2014

This study investigated the effects of intraspecimen variations in tissue mineral density (TMD) on the apparent-level stiffness of human trabecular bone. High-resolution finite element (FE) models were created for each of 12 human trabecular bone specimens, using both microcomputed tomography (μCT) and “gold-standard” synchrotron radiation μCT (SRμCT) data. Our results confirm that incorporating TMD spatial variation reduces the calculated apparent stiffness compared to homogeneous TMD models. This effect exists for both μCT- and SRμCT-based FE models, but is exaggerated in μCT-based models. This study provides a direct comparison of μCT to SRμCT data and is thereby able to conclude that the influence of including TMD heterogeneity is overestimated in μCT-based models.
Fast Computation Based on an Iterative Substructure Method for Three-Dimensional Simulation of Multipass Welding
Authors: Maekawa Akira , Serizawa Hisashi , Murakawa Hidekazu
Published: November 2014

An efficient and reliable numerical analysis for three-dimensional (3D) multipass welding simulation is proposed in this paper. A fast analysis method to calculate 3D residual stress distribution in the multipass welds using the iterative substructure method (ISM) was developed and validated using other numerical analysis and measurement results. First, the analysis results by the developed method were compared with those by a conventional method using a commercial finite element analysis code. The comparisons were made for the analysis accuracy and the computational speed of the residual stress analysis in a multipass welded pipe joint. Both sets of analysis results for residual stress agreed well with each other. Furthermore, it was clarified that the developed analysis method could calculate the residual stress in a shorter computing time than the conventional analysis method. Next, the residual stress of the pipe joint computed by the developed analysis method was compared with measurement results obtained using the strain gauge method, and the good analysis accuracy was shown. Consequently, these comparisons demonstrated that the developed method for multipass welding simulation based on the ISM could calculate the residual stress distribution much faster at high analysis accuracy even when the size of the welding problems, such as for multipass welding, was large.
Molten uranium dioxide structure and dynamics
Authors: Skinner L. B. , Benmore C. J. , Weber J. K. R. , Williamson M. A. , Tamalonis A. , Hebden A. , Wiencek T. , Alderman O. L. G. , Guthrie M. , Leibowitz L. , Parise J. B.
Published: November 2014

Uranium dioxide (UO
2
) is the major nuclear fuel component of fission power reactors. A key concern during severe accidents is the melting and leakage of radioactive UO
2
as it corrodes through its zirconium cladding and steel containment. Yet, the very high temperatures (>3140 kelvin) and chemical reactivity of molten UO
2
have prevented structural studies. In this work, we combine laser heating, sample levitation, and synchrotron x-rays to obtain pair distribution function measurements of hot solid and molten UO
2
. The hot solid shows a substantial increase in oxygen disorder around the lambda transition (2670 K) but negligible U-O coordination change. On melting, the average U-O coordination drops from 8 to 6.7 ± 0.5. Molecular dynamics models refined to this structure predict higher U-U mobility than 8-coordinated melts.
Molecular Epidemiology of Rotavirus in Cats in the United Kingdom
Authors: German A. C. , Iturriza-Gómara M. , Dove W. , Sandrasegaram M. , Nakagomi T. , Nakagomi O. , Cunliffe N. , Radford A. D. , Morgan K. L.
Published: November 2014

Rotaviruses are leading causes of gastroenteritis in the young of many species. Molecular epidemiological studies in children suggest that interspecies transmission contributes to rotavirus strain diversity in people. However, population-based studies of rotaviruses in animals are few. We investigated the prevalence, risk factors for infection, and genetic diversity of rotavirus A in a cross-sectional survey of cats housed within 25 rescue catteries across the United Kingdom. Morning litter tray fecal samples were collected during the winter and summer in 2012 from all pens containing kittens and a random sample of those housing adult cats. Group A rotavirus RNA was detected by real-time reverse transcription-PCR, and positive samples were G and P genotyped using nested VP4 and VP7 PCR assays. A total of 1,727 fecal samples were collected from 1,105 pens. Overall, the prevalence of rotavirus was 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 4.9%). Thirteen out of 25 (52%; 95% CI, 31.3 to 72.2%) centers housed at least one rotavirus-positive cat. The prevalence of rotavirus was associated with season (odds ratio, 14.8 [95% CI, 1.1 to 200.4];
P
= 0.04) but not age or diarrhea. It was higher during the summer (4.7%; 95% CI, 1.2 to 8.3%) than in winter (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.5%). Asymptomatic epidemics of infection were detected in two centers. G genotypes were characterized for 19 (33.3%) of the 57 rotavirus-positive samples and P genotypes for 36 (59.7%). Two rotavirus genotypes were identified, G3P[9] and G6P[9]. This is the first population-based study of rotavirus in cats and the first report of feline G6P[9], which questions the previous belief that G6P[9] in people is of bovine origin.
Global Displacement of Canine Parvovirus by a Host-Adapted Variant: Structural Comparison between Pandemic Viruses with Distinct Host Ranges
Authors: Organtini Lindsey J. , Allison Andrew B. , Lukk Tiit , Parrish Colin R. , Hafenstein Susan
Published: November 2014

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) emerged in 1978 and spread worldwide within 2 years. Subsequently, CPV-2 was completely replaced by the variant CPV-2a, which is characterized by four specific capsid (VP2) mutations. The X-ray crystal structure of the CPV-2a capsid shows that each mutation confers small local changes. The loss of a hydrogen bond and introduction of a glycine residue likely introduce flexibility to sites that control interactions with the host receptor, antibodies, and sialic acids.
Cellular Differentiation Regulator BLIMP1 Induces Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Reactivation in Epithelial and B Cells by Activating Transcription from both the R and Z Promoters
Authors: Reusch Jessica A. , Nawandar Dhananjay M. , Wright Kenneth L. , Kenney Shannon C. , Mertz Janet E.
Published: November 2014

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) maintains a lifelong latent infection within a subset of its host's memory B cells, while lytic EBV replication takes place in plasma cells and differentiated epithelial cells. Therefore, cellular transcription factors, such as BLIMP1, that are key mediators of differentiation likely contribute to the EBV latent-to-lytic switch. Previous reports showed that ectopic BLIMP1 expression induces reactivation in some EBV-positive (EBV
+
) B-cell lines and transcription from Zp, with all Z
+
cells in oral hairy leukoplakia being BLIMP1
+
. Here, we examined BLIMP1's role in inducing EBV lytic gene expression in numerous EBV
+
epithelial and B-cell lines and activating transcription from Rp. BLIMP1 addition was sufficient to induce reactivation in latently infected epithelial cells derived from gastric cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinomas, and normal oral keratinocytes (NOK) as well as some, but not all B-cell lines. BLIMP1 strongly induced transcription from Rp as well as Zp, with there being three or more synergistically acting BLIMP1-responsive elements (BRE) within Rp. BLIMP1's DNA-binding domain was required for reactivation, but BLIMP1 did not directly bind the nucleotide (nt) −660 Rp BRE. siRNA knockdown of BLIMP1 inhibited 12-
O
-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced lytic reactivation in NOK-Akata cells, cells that can be reactivated by R, but not Z. Thus, we conclude that BLIMP1 expression is both necessary and sufficient to induce EBV lytic replication in many (possibly all) EBV
+
epithelial-cell types, but in only a subset of EBV
+
B-cell types; it does so, at least in part, by strongly activating expression of both EBV immediately early genes,
BZLF1
and
BRLF1
.

IMPORTANCE
This study is the first one to show that the cellular transcription factor BLIMP1, a key player in both epithelial and B-cell differentiation, induces reactivation of the oncogenic herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) out of latency into lytic replication in a variety of cancerous epithelial cell types as well as in some, but not all, B-cell types that contain this virus in a dormant state. The mechanism by which BLIMP1 does so involves strongly turning on expression of both of the immediate early genes of the virus, probably by directly acting upon the promoters as part of protein complexes or indirectly by altering the expression or activities of some cellular transcription factors and signaling pathways. The fact that EBV
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cancers usually contain mostly undifferentiated cells may be due in part to these cells dying from lytic EBV infection when they differentiate and express wild-type BLIMP1.
GBF1- and ACBD3-Independent Recruitment of PI4KIIIβ to Replication Sites by Rhinovirus 3A Proteins
Authors: Dorobantu Cristina M. , Ford-Siltz Lauren A. , Sittig Simone P. , Lanke Kjerstin H. W. , Belov George A. , van Kuppeveld Frank J. M. , van der Schaar Hilde M.
Published: November 2014

PI4KIIIβ recruitment to Golgi membranes relies on GBF1/Arf and ACBD3. Enteroviruses such as poliovirus and coxsackievirus recruit PI4KIIIβ to their replication sites via their 3A proteins. Here, we show that human rhinovirus (HRV) 3A also recruited PI4KIIIβ to replication sites. Unlike other enterovirus 3A proteins, HRV 3A failed to bind GBF1. Although HRV 3A was previously shown to interact with ACBD3, our data suggest that PI4KIIIβ recruitment occurred independently of both GBF1 and ACBD3.
Aqueous misdirection in thyroid eye disease
Authors: Tripathy Devjyoti , Rao Aparna , Banerjee Aniruddha , Padhy Debananda
Published: November 2014

Secondary glaucoma in thyroid eye disease (TED) is attributed either to raised episcleral venous pressure or to mechanical compression induced trabecular meshwork damage by mucopolysaccharide deposition. While the mechanism for raised intraocular pressure (IOP) in TED is largely mechanical and is often evident during its active stage, our case presented with aqueous misdirection in the left eye during the inactive stage. Appropriate diagnostic tests should be ordered to diagnose cause of raised IOP, which would help determine appropriate treatment for the cause for secondary glaucoma in TED.
Market Participation and Dividend Clienteles
Authors: Rossi Marco
Published: November 2014

Asset allocation and market participation are intimately related investment decisions. Studies of dividend clienteles often attribute the positive relation between age and dividends to lack of self-control, but consumers with self-control problems are precisely those less likely to hold securities. Using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX), I model market participation and dividend preferences jointly and find evidence of self-selection bias in traditional regressions linking dividend preferences to investors' demographics. The positive relation between dividends and age is likely due to life-cycle considerations rather than to lack of self-control.
Counterparty Risk: A Review
Authors: Turnbull Stuart M.
Published: November 2014

This review provides formal definitions of the terms credit value adjustment (CVA) and debt value adjustment (DVA). Estimating these quantities requires modeling the probabilities of default and the loss given default, recognizing the dependence structure among all these inputs. In practice, marginal distributions are used and a copula function assumed. Although it has long been known that different copula functions can produce very different price estimates, keeping marginal distributions constant, there is little empirical evidence about the appropriate form of function to use for modeling default dependence. This review discusses the use of collateral for risk mitigation and its effects on CVA. Regulators have argued that standardized contracts should be cleared through central counterparties (CCPs). However, there are arguments against CCPs.
Marine mammals and Emperor penguins: a few applications of the Krogh principle
Authors: Kooyman Gerald
Published: November 2014

The diving physiology of aquatic animals at sea began 50 years ago with studies of the Weddell seal. Even today with the advancements in marine recording and tracking technology, only a few species are suitable for investigation. The first experiments were in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. In this paper are examples of what was learned in Antarctica and elsewhere. Some methods employed relied on willingness of Weddell seals and emperor penguins to dive under sea ice. Diving depth and duration were obtained with a time depth recorder. Some dives were longer than an hour and as deep as 600 m. From arterial blood samples, lactate and nitrogen concentrations were obtained. These results showed how Weddell seals manage their oxygen stores, that they become reliant on a positive contribution of anaerobic metabolism during a dive duration of more than 20 min, and that nitrogen blood gases remain so low that lung collapse must occur at about 25 to 50 m. This nitrogen level was similar to that determined in elephant seals during forcible submersion with compression to depths greater than 100 m. These results led to further questions about diving mammal's terminal airway structure in the lungs. Much of the strengthening of the airways is not for avoiding the “bends,” by enhancing lung collapse at depth, but for reducing the resistance to high flow rates during expiration. The most exceptional examples are the small whales that maintain high expiratory flow rates throughout the entire vital capacity, which represents about 90% of their total lung capacity.
Effects of Inoculum Amount, Initial pH, and Nicotine Load on the Set-Up of Bioaugmented System withPseudomonasSp. HF-1 to Treat Tobacco Wastewater
Authors: Zhang Kun , He Hong-zhen , Shen Dong-sheng , Zheng Xin , Zhou Zhou , Tao Xian-jun , Wang Mei-zhen
Published: November 2014

This study evaluated and optimized the influence of inoculum amount, initial pH, and nicotine load on the construction ofPseudomonassp. HF-1 bioaugmented system for tobacco wastewater treatment. The results demonstrated that the optimum condition for the set-up of strain HF-1 bioaugmented system was 1.10 mg/g (dry weight of strain HF-1/dry weight of activated sludge) of inoculum amount, initial pH 7.0, and 250–1000 mg/L nicotine load. Higher than 1.10 mg/g could lead to noncolonization of strain HF-1 in activated sludge and failure of set-up of this bioaugmented system. Higher than pH 8.0 could restrain the colonization of strain HF-1 in activated sludge. Even though strain HF-1 colonizes in the activated sludge when pH was above 8.0, the removal of nicotine and total organic carbon (TOC) was suppressed due to low activities of bacteria in the activated sludge. Nicotine load did not show inhibition effect on set-up of bioaugmented system, but the ability of TOC removal was restrained when the nicotine load was above 1000 mg/L. This work could offer vital parameters for the set-up of bioaugmented system to treat tobacco wastewater in engineering.
Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Healthcare Services: A New Approach to Evaluate Epidemiology of Renal Disease
Authors: Trifirò Gianluca , Sultana Janet , Giorgianni Francesco , Ingrasciotta Ylenia , Buemi Michele , Muscianisi Marco , Tari Daniele Ugo , Perrotta Margherita , Canale Valeria , Arcoraci Vincenzo , Santoro Domenico
Published: November 2014

Background.Screening-based CKD estimates may not provide a sufficient insight into the impact of CKD on the use of healthcare resources in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of “medicalized” CKD, that is, CKD requiring healthcare services, in an outpatient setting.Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements.This is a retrospective, longitudinal population-based study conducted in a large general practice setting in Southern Italy (Caserta) using a healthcare database. Over 2006–2011, all patients with a CKD diagnosis, either through CKD-related indications of use associated with drug prescriptions or through CKD-related hospital discharge diagnoses/procedures, were identified using this database. The prevalence of “medicalized” CKD in the general population of Caserta was estimated by age, gender, and calendar year.Results.Overall, 1,989 (1.3%) patients with a diagnosis of CKD were identified from 2006–2011 in the Caserta general population. The one year prevalence increased from 0.9% in 2006 to 1.6% in 2011, which is much lower compared to previous screening-based studies. The prevalence was slightly higher in males and increased significantly with advancing age (in 2011, 0.2% in ≤44 years old versus 9.2% in >80 years old).Conclusions.The findings of this study suggest that, in the general population, the prevalence of “medicalized” CKD is lower compared to the screening-based CKD prevalence.
Genetic Polymorphisms of Interleukin-1 Alpha and the Vitamin D Receptor in Mexican Mestizo Patients with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Cervin Serrano Salvador , González Villareal Dalia , Aguilar-Medina Maribel , Romero-Navarro Jose Guillermo , Romero Quintana Jose Geovanni , Arámbula Meraz Eliakym , Osuna Ramírez Ignacio , Picos-Cárdenas Veronica , Granados Julio , Estrada-García Iris , Sánchez-Schmitz Guzman , Ramos-Payán Rosalío
Published: November 2014

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the most common diagnosis in patients with back pain, a leading cause of musculoskeletal disability worldwide. Several conditions, such as occupational activities, gender, age, and obesity, have been associated with IDD. However, the development of this disease has strong genetic determinants. In this study, we explore the possible association between rs1800587 (c.-949C>T) of interleukin-1 alpha (IL1A) and rs2228570 (c.2T>V) and rs731236 (c.1056T>C) of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and the development of IDD in northwestern Mexican Mestizo population. Gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism, in two groups matched by age and gender: patients with symptomatic lumbar IDDn=100and subjects with normal lumbar-spine MRI-scansn=100. Distribution of the mutated alleles in patients and controls was 27.0% versus 28.0%P=0.455for T of rs1800587 (IL1A); 53.0% versus 58.0%P=0.183for V of rs2228570 (VDR); and 18.0% versus 21.0%P=0.262for C of rs731236 (VDR). Our results showed no association between the studied polymorphisms and IDD in this population. This is the first report on the contribution of gene polymorphisms on IDD in a Mexican population.