bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconfigurable Mechanisms From the Intersection of Surfaces
Authors: López-Custodio P. C. , Rico J. M. , Cervantes-Sánchez J. J. , Pérez-Soto G. I.
Published: November 2015

The method of intersection of surfaces generated by kinematic dyads is applied to obtain mechanisms that are able to shift from one mode of motion to another. Then a mobility analysis shows that the singularities of the generated surfaces can be used to obtain mechanisms which can change their number of degrees-of-freedom depending on its configuration. The generator dyads are connected as usually done by a spherical pair. However, in the cases shown in this contribution the three-degrees-of-freedom of the spherical pair are not all necessary to keep the kinematic chain closed and movable, and the spherical pair can be substituted by either a pair of intersecting revolute joints or a single revolute joint. This substitution can be obtained by means of two methods presented in this contribution.
Modeling and Analysis of Gear-Shifting Process of Motor-Transmission Coupled Drive System
Authors: Chen Hongxu , Cheng Xiaoxiao , Tian Guangyu
Published: November 2015

Motor-transmission coupled drive system is attractive for battery and hybrid electric vehicles. In such a system, the motor rotor is directly connected to the transmission input shaft and the active-synchronization technique is implemented to assist the speed synchronization; therefore, the gear-shifting characteristics are different from those of traditional manual and automated mechanical transmissions. In this work, we present a methodology for modeling the gear-shifting process and analyzing its characteristics in a motor-transmission coupled drive system. We treat the engaging of sleeve and desired clutch gear as a two-phase process—sleeve first interacting with synchro ring and then with clutch gear, respectively, and investigate all possible interaction ways in each phase. The movement of each part is governed by multibody dynamics, and the speed jumps caused by shifting impacts are described using the Poisson coefficient of restitution. We then develop a hybrid automaton (HA) model to couple the continuous-time evolutions and the discrete transitions of state variables, which cover all interaction ways of sleeve, synchro ring, and clutch gear. Based on this model, we carry out simulations in matlab to analyze the effects of two control parameters—the relative rotational speed of sleeve and desired clutch gear, and the shifting force—on shifting performance. Simulation and bench test results show that the optimal control parameters are located in the domain where the relative rotational speed is negative with small absolute value, which means the sleeve will not be locked out by synchro ring and can engage with the desired clutch gear smoothly.
Multidecadal increase in North Atlantic coccolithophores and the potential role of rising CO
2
Authors: Rivero-Calle Sara , Gnanadesikan Anand , Del Castillo Carlos E. , Balch William M. , Guikema Seth D.
Published: November 2015

Passing an acid test

Calcifying marine organisms will generally find it harder to make and maintain their carbonate skeletons as increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO
2
acidify the oceans. Nevertheless, some types of organisms will be damaged more than others, and some may even benefit from higher CO
2
levels. Coccolithophores are a case in point, because their photosynthetic ability is strongly carbon-limited. Rivero-Calle
et al.
show that the abundance of coccolithophores in the North Atlantic has increased by up to 20% or more in the past 50 years (see the Perspective by Vogt). Thus, this major phytoplankton functional group may be able to adapt to a future with higher CO
2
concentrations.

Science
, this issue p.
1533
; see also p.
1466
A radio jet from the optical and x-ray bright stellar tidal disruption flare ASASSN-14li
Authors: van Velzen S. , Anderson G. E. , Stone N. C. , Fraser M. , Wevers T. , Metzger B. D. , Jonker P. G. , van der Horst A. J. , Staley T. D. , Mendez A. J. , Miller-Jones J. C. A. , Hodgkin S. T. , Campbell H. C. , Fender R. P.
Published: November 2015

Transient radio jet from a black hole

When a star passes too close to a supermassive black hole, it gets ripped apart by the gravitational forces. This causes a tidal disruption flare as the material falls into the black hole. van Velzen
et al.
monitored one such flare with radio telescopes and found evidence for a transient relativistic jet launched by the black hole (see the Perspective by Bower). Larger jets are a feature of active galactic nuclei and have a profound effect on their host galaxy, but are poorly understood. The results will aid our understanding of how black holes “feed” and of the processes governing jet formation.

Science
, this issue p.
62
; see also p.
30
Ultrahigh power factor and thermoelectric performance in hole-doped single-crystal SnSe
Authors: Zhao Li-Dong , Tan Gangjian , Hao Shiqiang , He Jiaqing , Pei Yanling , Chi Hang , Wang Heng , Gong Shengkai , Xu Huibin , Dravid Vinayak P. , Uher Ctirad , Snyder G. Jeffrey , Wolverton Chris , Kanatzidis Mercouri G.
Published: November 2015

Heat conversion gets a power boost

Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat into electricity, but often achieve high conversion efficiencies only at high temperatures. Zhao
et al.
tackle this problem by introducing small amounts of sodium to the thermoelectric SnSe (see the Perspective by Behnia). This boosts the power factor, allowing the material to generate more energy while maintaining good conversion efficiency. The effect holds across a wide temperature range, which is attractive for developing new applications.

Science
, this issue p.
141
; see also p.
124
Sudden cardiac death associated with physical exertion in the US military, 2005–2010
Authors: Smallman Darlene P , Webber Bryant J , Mazuchowski Edward L , Scher Ann I , Jones Sam O , Cantrell Joyce A
Published: November 2015

Background

Sudden cardiac death associated with physical exertion (SCD/E) is a complicated pathophysiological event. This study aims to calculate the incidence rate of SCD/E in the US military population from 2005 to 2010, to characterise the demographic and cardiovascular risk profiles of decedents, and to evaluate aetiologies of and circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Methods

Perimortem and other relevant data were collected from the Armed Forces Medical Examiners Tracking System, Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, and Defense Medical Epidemiology Database for decedents meeting SCD/E case definition. Incidence rates were calculated and compared using negative binomial regression.

Results

The incidence of SCD/E in the Active Component (ie, full-time active duty) US military from 2005 to 2010 was 1.63 per 100 000 person-years (py): 0.98 and 3.84 per 100 000 py in those aged <35 and ≥35 years, respectively. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death overall (55%) and in the ≥35-year age group (78%), whereas the leading cause of death in the <35-year age group (31%) could not be precisely determined and was termed idiopathic SCD/E (iSCD/E). SCD/E was more common in males than females (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 5.28, 95% CI 2.16 to 12.93) and more common in blacks than whites (IRR=2.60, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.72). All female cases were black.

Conclusions

From 2005 to 2010, the incidence of SCD/E in US military members aged <35 years was similar to most reported corresponding civilian SCD rates. However, the leading cause of death was iSCD/E and not cardiomyopathy. Improved surveillance and age-based prevention strategies may reduce these rates.
Effects of exercise and manual therapy on pain associated with hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Beumer Lucy , Wong Jennie , Warden Stuart J , Kemp Joanne L , Foster Paul , Crossley Kay M
Published: November 2015

Aim

To explore the effects of exercise (water-based or land-based) and/or manual therapies on pain in adults with clinically and/or radiographically diagnosed hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed, with patient reported pain assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) or the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale. Data were grouped by follow-up time (0–3 months=short term; 4–12 months=medium term and; >12 months=long term), and standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs were used to establish intervention effect sizes. Study quality was assessed using modified PEDro scores.

Results

19 trials were included. Four studies showed short-term benefits favouring water-based exercise over minimal control using the WOMAC pain subscale (SMD −0.53, 95% CI −0.96 to −0.10). Six studies supported a short-term benefit of land-based exercise compared to minimal control on VAS assessed pain (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.70 to −0.29). There were no medium (SMD −0.23, 95% CI −0.48 to 0.03) or long (SMD −0.22, 95% CI −0.51 to 0.06) term benefits of exercise therapy, or benefit of combining exercise therapy with manual therapy (SMD −0.38, 95% CI −0.88 to 0.13) when compared to minimal control.

Conclusions

Best available evidence indicates that exercise therapy (whether land-based or water-based) is more effective than minimal control in managing pain associated with hip OA in the short term. Larger high-quality RCTs are needed to establish the effectiveness of exercise and manual therapies in the medium and long term.
Visual and refractive outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction for the correction of myopia: 1-year follow-up
Authors: Kamiya Kazutaka , Shimizu Kimiya , Igarashi Akihito , Kobashi Hidenaga
Published: November 2015

Objective

To assess the 1 year clinical outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism using a 500 kHz femtosecond laser system.

Methods

This prospective study evaluated 52 eyes of 39 consecutive patients (31.8±6.9 years, mean age±SD) with spherical equivalents of −4.11±1.73 D (range, −1.25 to −8.25 D) who underwent SMILE for myopia and myopic astigmatism. Preoperatively, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, we assessed the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability, corneal endothelial cell loss and the adverse events of the surgery.

Results

The logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) uncorrected distance visual acuity and LogMAR corrected distance visual acuity were −0.16±0.11 and −0.22±0.07, respectively, 1 year postoperatively. At 1 year, all eyes were within±0.5 D of the targeted correction. Manifest refraction changes of −0.05±0.32 D occurred from 1 week to 1 year postoperatively (p=0.20, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The endothelial cell density was not significantly changed from 2804±267 cells/mm2preoperatively to 2743±308 cells/mm21 year postoperatively (p=0.12). No vision-threatening complications occurred during the observation period.

Conclusions

SMILE performed well in the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism, and no significant change in endothelial cell density or any other serious complications occurred throughout the 1-year follow-up period, suggesting its viability as a surgical option for the treatment of such eyes.
Obesity in pregnancy: infant health service utilisation and costs on the NHS
Authors: Morgan Kelly L , Rahman Muhammad A , Hill Rebecca A , Khanom Ashrafunnesa , Lyons Ronan A , Brophy Sinead T
Published: November 2015

Objective

To estimate the direct healthcare cost of infants born to overweight or obese mothers to the National Health Service in the UK.

Design

Retrospective prevalence-based study.

Setting

Combined linked anonymised electronic data sets on a cohort of mother–child pairs enrolled on the Growing Up in Wales: Environments for Healthy Living (EHL) study. Infants were categorised according to maternal early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI): healthy weight mother (18.5≤BMI<25 kg/m2; n=342), overweight mother (25≤BMI≤29.9 kg/m2; n=157) and obese mother (BMI≥30; n=110).

Participants

609 singleton pregnancies with available health service records and an antenatal maternal BMI.

Primary outcome measure

Total health service utilisation and direct healthcare costs for providing these services in the year 2012–2013. Costs are calculated as cost of the infant (no maternal costs considered) and are related to health service usage from birth to age 1 year.

Results

A strong association existed between healthcare usage cost and BMI (p<0.001). Mean total costs were 72% higher among children born to obese mothers (rate ratio (RR) 1.72, 95% CI 1.71 to 1.73) compared with infants born to healthy weight mothers. Higher costings were attributed to a significantly greater number (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.84) and duration (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.37 to 1.74) of inpatient visits and a higher number of general practitioner visits (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.16). Total mean additional resource cost was estimated at £65.13 for infants born to overweight mothers and £1138.11 for infants born to obese mothers, when compared with infants of healthy weight mothers.

Conclusions

Increasingly infants born to mothers with high BMIs consume additional health service resources in the first year of life; this was apparent across inpatient and general practitioner services. Considering both maternal and infant health service use, interventions that cost less than £2310 per person in reducing obesity early pregnancy could be cost-effective.
Social epidemiology of excess weight and central adiposity in older Indians: analysis of Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)
Authors: Samal Sudipta , Panigrahi Pinaki , Dutta Ambarish
Published: November 2015

Objectives

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity, represented by extra body weight and abdominal circumference, among older Indians; and to characterise the social pattern of obesity and measure the magnitude of hypertension attributable to it.

Setting

A nationally representative sample of older Indians was selected from 6 Indian states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra and Karnataka, as a part of the multicountry Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE).

Participants

Indians aged 50 years or more (n=7273) were included in the first wave of the SAGE (2010), which we used in our study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome measures included excess weight (EW), defined by body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2, and central adiposity (CA), defined by waist circumference >90 cm for men and >80 cm for women. The secondary outcome included hypertension, defined by systolic blood pressure >139 or diastolic blood pressure >79 mm Hg, or by those receiving antihypertensive medications.

Results

14% of older Indians possessed EW, whereas 35% possessed CA; 50.9% of the wealthier third and 27.7% of the poorer two-thirds have CA; the proportions being 69.1% and 46.2%, respectively, in older women. Mostly wealth (adjusted OR for CA: 4.36 (3.23 to 5.95) and EW: 4.39 (3.49 to 5.53)), but also urban residence, privileged caste, higher education, white-collared occupation and female gender, were important determinants. One of 17 older Indians overall and 1 of 18 in the poorer 70% suffered from CA-driven hypertension, independent of BMI.

Conclusions

The problem of CA and its allied diseases is already substantial and expected to rise across all socioeconomic strata of older Indians, though currently, CA affects the privileged more than the underprivileged, in later life. Population-based promotion of appropriate lifestyles, with special emphasis on women, is required to counteract prosperity-driven obesity before it becomes too entrenched and expensive to uproot.
Role of development partners in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programming in post-reform times: a qualitative study from Pakistan
Authors: Pervaiz Farrah , Shaikh Babar Tasneem , Mazhar Arslan
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Despite certain reforms undertaken in Pakistan to reorient its health system, the health-related millennium goals lagged behind many neighbouring and regional countries. This study was conducted to understand the implications of government reforms including the devolution on the National Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programme; and to determine donors’ and development partners’ current and prospective role in the post-reform scenario.

Setting

The donor agencies based in the federal capital Islamabad, as well as the federal and provincial government offices involved in the financing, design, oversight and implementation of various MNCH initiatives in Pakistan, were included in the sample.

Participants

A descriptive qualitative study based on individual in-depth interviews with representatives from donor agencies and government offices (8 each) involved in programmes directly related to the MNCH sector.

Results

The reforms are denounced as deficient in terms of detailed planning and operationalisation of the vertical programmes including that for MNCH. The government had to face coordination challenges with the provinces, which has affected donor engagement and funding mechanisms to a great deal. Investment in MNCH, population and nutrition has been the topmost priority of development partners in Pakistan. Their contributions towards health systems also include assistance in developing and implementing provincial health sector strategies, establishment of Health Sector Reform Units and investments in service delivery, research and advocacy.

Conclusions

Any health sector reform must be complemented by a roll-out strategy, including robust support to the provincial health systems and to their capacity building. Development partners must align and coordinate their strategies with provinces to stabilise the MNCH programme in Pakistan. More coordination between the different tiers of the government and the donors could streamline MNCH partnership in post-reform times.
‘Cognitive biases plus’: covert subverters of healthcare evidence
Authors: Seshia Shashi S , Makhinson Michael , Young G Bryan
Published: November 2015

The evidence-based medicine (EBM) paradigm has been associated with many benefits, but there have also been ‘some negative consequences’. In part, the consequences may be attributable to: (1) limitations in some of the tenets of EBM, and (2) flawed or unethical decisions in healthcare related organisations. We hypothesise that at the core of both is a cascade of predominantly unconscious cognitive processes we have syndromically termed ‘cognitive biases plus’, with conflicts of interest (CoIs) as crucial elements. CoIs (financial, and non-financial including intellectual) catalyse self-serving bias and a cascade of other ‘cognitive biases plus’ with several reinforcing loops. Authority bias, herd effect, scientific inbreeding, replication publication biases, and ethical violations (especially subtle statistical), are key contributors to the cascade; automation biases through uncritical use of statistical software and applications (apps) of preappraised sources of evidence at point of care, may be other increasingly important factors. The ‘cognitive biases plus’ cascade which involves several intricately connected healthcare-related organisations has the potential to facilitate, compound and entrench flaws in the paradigm, evidence and decisions that converge to inform person-centered healthcare. Our reasoning is based on observational data and opinion. However, the susceptibility of all humans to ‘cognitive biases plus’ makes our hypothesis plausible. Individual and collective fallibility may be minimised and the quality of healthcare decisions (including those related to improving EBM) enhanced by being conscious of our vulnerability and open-minded to the ‘outside view’.
The test characteristics of physician clinical gestalt for determining the presence and severity of anaemia in patients seen at the emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania
Authors: Sawe Hendry Robert , Mfinanga Juma A , Mwafongo Victor , Reynolds Teri A , Runyon Michael S
Published: November 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the test characteristics of clinical gestalt for detecting the presence and severity of anaemia in emergency department patients at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled a convenience sample of emergency department patients who had a complete blood count ordered by the treating physician in the course of their clinical care. Physicians recorded their impression of the presence and severity of anaemia before viewing the laboratory results. To assess interobserver agreement, a second physician provided their blinded gestalt impression of the patient's haemoglobin level.

Results

We enrolled 216 patients and complete data were available for 210 patients (97%), 59% male, median age 30 years. The range of measured haemoglobin values was 1.5–15.4 g/dL. The physicians rated anaemia mild or absent in 74 (35%), moderate in 72 (34%) and severe in 64 patients (30%). These estimates were significantly concordant with the laboratory haemoglobin measurements (Kendall's τ b=0.63, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.69, p<0.0001). The test characteristics of physician gestalt estimates for severe anaemia were: sensitivity 64% (95% CI 53% to 74%), specificity 91% (95% CI 85% to 96%), positive likelihood ratio of 7.4 (95% CI 4.2 to 13.3) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.40 (0.3 to 0.5). The weighted Cohen's κ for interobserver agreement between physicians on the gestalt estimate of the degree of anaemia was 0.87 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.98).

Conclusion

Physicians’ estimates of the severity of anaemia were significantly concordant with laboratory haemoglobin measurements. Sensitivity of the gestalt estimate for severe anaemia was moderate. Interobserver agreement was ‘almost perfect’.
Prevalence of hypertension subtypes in 2011 and the trends from 1991 to 2011 among Chinese adults
Authors: Qi Su-Fen , Zhang Bing , Wang Hui-Jun , Yan Jing , Mi Ying-Jun , Liu Dian-Wu , Tian Qing-Bao
Published: November 2015

Background

This study aims to estimate the current prevalence and trends of hypertension subtypes among Chinese adults from 1991 to 2011.

Methods

We analysed the measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure among adults aged ≥18 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 1991–2011. The prevalence was age-adjusted to the 2010 census of Chinese adults.

Results

The adjusted prevalence in 2011 was 20.9% (95% CI 20.2% to 21.6%) of hypertension, 3.30% (95% CI 2.99% to 3.62%) of isolated systolic hypertension, 4.44% (95% CI 4.08% to 4.80%) of isolated diastolic hypertension, 4.11% (95% CI 3.76% to 4.46%) of systolic–diastolic hypertension and 9.01% (95% CI 8.51% to 9.51%) of current use of antihypertensive medication, respectively. From 1991 to 2011, the prevalence increased from 15.6% to 20.9% for hypertension (p<0.001) and from 3.04% to 3.30% for isolated systolic hypertension (p<0.001). However, the prevalence decreased from 4.77% to 4.44% for isolated diastolic hypertension (p=0.023) and from 5.27% to 4.11% for systolic–diastolic hypertension (p<0.001). Consistent with these findings, the percentage of current use of antihypertensive medication increased from 2.55% to 9.01%, which accounted for approximately 43.1% of the total number of cases in 2011. Importantly, only 36.9% (equivalent to 17.5% of the total number of hypertensive people) of cases of current use of antihypertensive medication were adequately controlled.

Conclusions

Both the prevalence of hypertension and the percentage of current use of antihypertensive medication significantly increased from 1991 to 2011. Currently, about one-fifth of Chinese adults are hypertensive; however, only 17.5% of hypertension is controlled.
Predictive value of autoantibodies from anti-CCP2, anti-MCV and anti-human citrullinated fibrinogen tests, in early rheumatoid arthritis patients with rapid radiographic progression at 1 year: results from the ESPOIR cohort
Authors: Degboé Yannick , Constantin Arnaud , Nigon Delphine , Tobon Gabriel , Cornillet Martin , Schaeverbeke Thierry , Chiocchia Gilles , Nicaise-Roland Pascale , Nogueira Leonor , Serre Guy , Cantagrel Alain , Ruyssen-Witrand Adeline
Published: November 2015

Objectives

We compared the ability of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP2), against mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) and against citrullinated fibrinogen (AhFibA) to predict 1 year rapid radiographic progression (RRP; total Sharp score variation ≥5 points), in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We analysed 566 patients from the ESPOIR cohort with early RA fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria at year 1. We assayed the 3 anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) tests on baseline sera. We compared the performance of these 3 ACPA tests to predict first-year RRP, by comparing areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs). We assessed the 1 year RRP risk by ACPA titres. We used a logistic multivariate regression to analyse RRP risk in terms either of ACPA positivity or titre: high (>3 times the N cut-off) and low (1 to 3N).

Results

145 patients displayed RRP. Areas under the ROCs were similar (0.60) for the 3 tests. High ACPA titres were associated with 1 year RRP, whatever the test was, and with similar ORs. Low+ anti-MCV titres were not associated with 1-year RRP, whereas low+ anti-CCP2 titres (p=0.0226) and low+ AhFibA titres (p=0.0332) were significantly associated. In multivariate analysis, 1 year RRP was associated with anti-CCP2 positivity (p<0.0001), AhFibA positivity (p<0.0001) and high anti-MCV titres (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Anti-CCP2 antibodies and AhFibA were predictive of 1 year RRP in early RA whatever their titre was, whereas only high anti-MCV antibody titres were predictive, potentially making them more discriminant to predict 1 year RRP risk.
Cyanoethylation of cyclodextrin derivatives
Authors: Ghosh Ramprasad , Bhowmick Moulimala , Zhang Ping , Ling Chang-Chun
Published: November 2015

The synthesis of novel cyanoethylated cyclodextrin derivatives from previously prepared intermediates is described. It was found the alcohols at the primary face of cyclodextrins readily react to add to acrylonitrile, but similar additions from hydroxyl groups of the secondary face appear to be more difficult. The obtained cyanides could be reduced to form the corresponding amines.
Uncovering adaptive versus acclimatized alterations in standard metabolic rate in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Authors: Leadley Todd A. , McLeod Anne M. , Johnson Timothy B. , Heath Daniel , Drouillard Ken G.
Published: November 2015

Standard metabolic rates (SMR) were measured in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) collected from two locations of the Detroit River, North America, representative of highly contaminated and uncontaminated areas. Measurements of SMR were completed within 10 days of fish collections (acute trials), for fish held in a common pond environment for 1 year (clearance trials) and for F1 generation fish raised in the pond environment (F1 study). SMRs were significantly higher (26%) in fish from the contaminated area during acute trials. Both populations showed large decreases in SMR (49% to 52%) following clearance; however, differences between populations were still evident. There were no significant differences in SMRs between populations for F1 fish. This study demonstrates that Detroit River brown bullheads from contaminated areas have higher metabolic rates than fish from clean locations, and this metabolic effect is retained for long durations after fish are placed in a common environment. The loss of metabolic differences in F1 offspring indicates that the observed differences in SMR were acclimation-based and not adaptive or related to maternal effects.
Evidence of the occurrence of structural chromosome changes at the initial diploid diversification of the autopolyploid Turnera sidoides L. (Passifloraceae) complex
Authors: Roggero Luque Juan M. , Moreno E.M. Sara , Kovalsky I. Evelin , Seijo J. Guillermo , Solís Neffa Viviana G.
Published: November 2015

Turnera sidoides is an autopolyploid complex of obligate outcrossing perennial herbs. It includes five subspecies and five morphotypes in which diploid to octoploid cytotypes were found. Based on phenetic analyses of the complex and karyotype data of polyploid cytotypes, it has been hypothesized that morphological and chromosome differentiation of T. sidoides occurred at the diploid level. To test this hypothesis, we present the first detailed chromosome analysis of diploid populations of three subspecies and four morphotypes. CMA+/DAPI− bands were restricted to secondary constrictions (except in the andino morphotype) and varied in number and position among taxa. By contrast, DAPI staining was uniform in all the materials investigated. The number and position of 45S rDNA loci were coincident with the CMA+/DAPI− bands associated with secondary constrictions. Only one pair of 5S rDNA loci was detected in all the taxa (except in subsp. holosericea), but its position was variable. The identified chromosome markers varied among the three subspecies analyzed, but they were more conserved among the morphotypes of subsp. pinnatifida. Cluster analysis of these chromosome markers supports the current taxonomic arrangement of diploids and demonstrates that structural chromosome changes would have led or accompanied the initial differentiation of T. sidoides at the diploid level.
THE MACROECONOMICS OF A DELAYED RECOVERY FROM THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH
Authors: ANDERSEN THOMAS BARNEBECK , MALCHOW-MØLLER NIKOLAJ
Published: November 2015

This paper compares Denmark's growth performance to that of the other 18 non-Eurozone OECD economies during 2008–2013. Denmark is the only country with a fixed exchange-rate regime; all the other 18 countries have flexible exchange rates, mostly as part of an inflation-targeting (IT) framework. At the same time, Denmark is the worst growth performer of all. Our analysis indicates that the lack of monetary policy independence is central to understanding the meager Danish performance. Monetary easing during 2008–2009 is an important predictor of economic growth during 2008–2013, and Denmark, having outsourced monetary policy to the ECB, did not pursue monetary easing as aggressively as most other countries. In fact, the Danish Central Bank was forced to raise its policy interest rate in 2008Q4 in order to defend the euro-peg. Overall, the Danish experience serves as a reminder that fixed exchange rates can be quite taxing on economic growth in the aftermath of a huge negative shock.
Relativistic persistent currents in ideal Aharonov–Bohm rings
Authors: Cotăescu Ion I. , Băltăţeanu Doru-Marcel , Cotăescu Ion
Published: November 2015

The exact solutions of the complete Dirac equation for fermions moving in ideal Aharonov–Bohm rings are used for deriving the exact expressions of the relativistic partial currents. It is shown that as in the nonrelativistic case, these currents can be related to the derivative of the fermion energy with respect to the flux parameter. A specific relativistic effect is the saturation of the partial currents for high values of the total angular momentum. Based on this property, the total relativistic persistent current at T = 0 is evaluated giving its analytical expression and showing how this depends on the ring parameters.
Optimization of Area and Delay for Implementation of the Composite Field Advanced Encryption Standard S-Box
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Wu Ning , Zhou Fang , Ge Fen
Published: November 2015

Among different implementations of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) S-box, the implementation based on composite field arithmetic (CFA) has the smallest size. In this study, to eliminate the redundant gates in the implementation of CFA-based S-box, a new optimization algorithm named common subexpression elimination (CSE)–shortest critical path constructing (SCPC) algorithm is proposed. The CSE–SCPC algorithm combines an efficient CSE technology with the SCPC method, therefore not only area cost but also the delays are taken into account in the optimization process. For facilitating the search of common subexpressions (CSs), the main operation of CFA-based S-box — the multiplicative inverses (MI) over galois field (GF)((2[Formula: see text] — is divided into six parts and each part is expressed by logical expressions directly. Furthermore, the parts with same input are classified into the same group, as there are CSs among them. Each part of the S-box is optimized by the CSE–SCPC algorithm. For the MI over GF((2[Formula: see text], both the CSs in each part and the CSs among the parts are eliminated by the CSE–SCPC algorithm. Compared to the previous works, our design has not only the minimal area cost but also the shorter critical path in both theoretical computing evaluation and experimental evaluation.
Rock Physics Modeling of Unconsolidated Sands: Accounting for Partial Friction Grain Contacts and Heterogeneous Stress Field
Authors: Li Hui , Han De-Hua
Published: November 2015

A partial friction heterogeneity model of a random-compacted granular pack can be formulated using two parameters ([Formula: see text],[Formula: see text] to account for (1) macroscopic stress heterogeneity distribution of grain packs and (2) microscopic partial friction on the area of grain contact. This proposed partial friction heterogeneity model indicates that surface friction between grain contact is nonignorable, which results in tangential loading path being irreversible. Meanwhile, the tangential stress causes partial sliding on grain contact surface. Macroscopically, the effective shear modulus increases when either fraction of partial slip grain contacts or micro-friction on the area of grain contacts increases.
VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION IN FEMALE NURSES: THE EFFECTS ON SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D, AND NON-SPECIFIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN
Authors: Alavi Negin Masoudi , Madani Mahla , Taghizadeh Mohsen , Sharif Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2015

Purpose: To investigate the effect of weekly single high dose vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and non-specific musculoskeletal pain in female nurses. Methods: In this prospective study in Kashan/Iran, from April 1, 2014, through September 30, 2014, the 150 nurses with vitamin D deficiency received the weekly pearls of 50,000 units of vitamin D3 for 10 weeks. The serum level of 25(OH)D was measured before and after supplement therapy. The subjects were also asked to complete the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. All analyses were conducted with SPSS version 16. Results: After 10 weeks of intervention there was [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D. The 82 nurses (54.7%) had 25(OH)D in normal range, while the 68 nurses (45.3%) were still vitamin D deficient. Weight could explain 15.4% increase in 25(OH)D. Before intervention 135 (90%), of nurses reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one region, after intervention this number decreased to 72.7%. There was a statistically significant improvement in musculoskeletal pain in neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back, hips/tights, knees, and ankles/feet after intervention. Conclusions: The weekly single high dose of vitamin D for 10 weeks could resolve vitamin D deficiency in about half of the patients. Patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain might benefit from vitamin D supplementation.
BIOMECHANICS OF POSITIVE INTRATHORACIC PRESSURE AND ITS EFFECTS ON LEFT VENTRICULAR FILLING IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS
Authors: ZHANG XIAO-YONG , ZHANG XUE-MEI , DING YU-ZENG , LV XIU-HUA
Published: November 2015

This study aims to explore the biomechanics of positive intrathoracic pressure and its effects on left ventricle (LV) filling in healthy subjects. 30 healthy subjects were enlisted to perform a Valsalva maneuver (VM) with a load of 40[Formula: see text]mmHg lasted 10[Formula: see text]s. LV filling parameters were measured by echocardiography at rest and at 10[Formula: see text]s during the VM. Compared with the at rest values, LV early inflow velocity (E) decreased significantly ([Formula: see text]), late inflow velocity (A) decreased insignificantly ([Formula: see text]), while the E/A ratio decreased significantly ([Formula: see text]) after 10[Formula: see text]s of the strain phase of the VM. LV septal early tissue velocity ([Formula: see text]) and lateral early tissue velocity ([Formula: see text]) of the mitral did not change ([Formula: see text]), while the [Formula: see text] ratio and the [Formula: see text] ratio decreased significantly ([Formula: see text] after 10[Formula: see text]s during the VM. Based on these results, biomechanical analysis suggests that the effects of positive intrathoracic pressure on the LV free wall impede LV diastolic motion, which may be one of the factors contributing to a decrease in E and the E/A ratio. Positive intrathoracic pressure also increases the flow resistance of the LV and pulmonary vasculature, which may contribute to a decrease in E, the [Formula: see text] ratio, and the [Formula: see text] ratio.
Knowledge Sharing in Enterprise Business Simulative Games: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Rui Zhang , El-Den Jamal , Qianzhu Chen
Published: November 2015

Enterprise Simulative Games are commonly introduced to students at universities as means of exposing them to real world business challenges. They are designed to challenge the students’ previously acquired knowledge and expertise. They aim to improve the students’ general business and enterprise management skills. Success in the game is a reflection of effective “constant” interactions among the students in the groups as well as the proper use of the diverse knowledge possessed by the members and/or disseminated by the CEO and the lecturers. In addition, effective sharing of what they know is integral to winning over the other groups. This is essential for their success in the game. It is anticipated that the increase in the sharing of knowledge during the game activities increases the groups’ chances of having competitive edge over their peers. In this research, we investigated the effects of organisational context, motivational factors and personal characteristics on the knowledge sharing during the students’ participation in the simulative games. Based on data analysis methods, the research findings demonstrated that these factors have positive effects on the knowledge shared among group members in groups. The paper also found that individual characteristics increase the knowledge sharing if it is coupled with motivational factors rather than individual characteristics alone.
NOD-2 and TLR-4 Signaling Reinforces the Efficacy of Dendritic Cells and Reduces the Dose of TB Drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Khan Nargis , Pahari Susanta , Vidyarthi Aurobind , Aqdas Mohammad , Agrewala Javed N.
Published: November 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading killer infectious diseases. TB patients are inflicted with devastating side effects and the toxicity of a lengthy drug regime, accentuating an urgent need to explore newer and safer treatment methods. Recently, an improved understanding of host-pathogen interaction has opened new avenues for TB treatment, including immunotherapy. This has emboldened us to devise a novel strategy to restrict Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) growth by activating dendritic cells (DCs) through the NOD-2 and TLR-4 molecules of innate immunity. Triggered DCs show a robust release of cytokines and nitric oxide, autophagy and improved migration towards the lymph nodes, and consequently impede the intracellular survival of Mtb. Of note, this approach enhanced the efficacy of TB drugs by reducing their dose to a 5-fold lesser concentration than recommended. In vivo administration of ligands of NOD-2 (NOD-2L) and TLR-4 (TLR-4L) substantially increased the pool of effector memory CD4 and CD8 T cells. Additionally, NOD-2L and TLR-4L, in conjunction with the reduced dose of isoniazid, substantially declined the Mtb burden in the lungs. In the future, adjunct therapy involving NOD-2L, TLR-4L and TB drugs may have enough potential to reduce the dose and duration of treatment of TB patients.
Silencing Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 and 2 Inhibits Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Invasion and Migration
Authors: Gu Yonghao , Ke Genjie , Wang Lin , Gu Qihong , Zhou Enliang , He Qin , Wang Shiying
Published: November 2015

Purpose: Proliferative retinal angiogenesis may severely impair the retina. Previous studies have indicated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in the process of retinal angiogenesis. In this study, we suppressed MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression with RNA interference (RNAi) and then observed the inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). Methods: Small interfering RNAs against MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were synthesized. After transfection, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in HRMECs was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Cell migration and invasion were measured with a migration assay and a scratch wound assay, respectively. Results: RNAi against MMP-2 and MMP-9 successfully inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HRMECs. MMP-2 and MMP-9 knockdown could inhibit the invasion and migration of HRMECs. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the RNAi approach towards MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be a potentially effective therapeutic method for the treatment of proliferative retinal angiogenesis.
Sudden Visual Deterioration as the First Symptom of Chronic Kidney Failure
Authors: Pociej-Marciak Weronika , Karska-Basta Izabella , Kuźniewski Marek , Kubicka-Trząska Agnieszka , Romanowska-Dixon Bożena
Published: November 2015

Purpose: We report here a unique case of a sudden loss of vision as the first symptom of an advanced chronic nephropathy. Methods and Results: A 25-year-old man was referred to the Department of Ophthalmology with sudden visual deterioration presumptively diagnosed as bilateral retinitis. The patient had never been under any medical care before and had never had any clinical signs of any chronic disease. He underwent an ophthalmic examination with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Based on the clinical features, OCT scans and systemic blood pressure (BP) assessment (225/145 mm Hg), the patient was definitely diagnosed with hypertensive retinopathy and choroidopathy due to hypertensive crisis. After urgent diagnostic procedures, the patient was diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease at stage 5 in the course of chronic glomerulonephritis. Immediately, a renal replacement therapy was started and the patient was qualified for renal transplantation. Conclusion: Adolescents with an unclear picture of retinal lesions, who have neither a history nor clinical signs of a systemic disease, should undergo careful systemic screening with BP assessment. A sudden deterioration of vision may be the first symptom of a previously undiagnosed severe systemic disease (very rare chronic) that requires immediate treatment.
Increased Sympathetic Renal Innervation in Hemodialysis Patients Is the Anatomical Substrate of Sympathetic Hyperactivity in End‐Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Mauriello Alessandro , Rovella Valentina , Anemona Lucia , Servadei Francesca , Giannini Elena , Bove Pierluigi , Anselmo Alessandro , Melino Gerry , Di Daniele Nicola
Published: November 2015

Background

Renal denervation represents an emerging treatment for resistant hypertension in patients with end‐stage renal disease, but data about the anatomic substrate of this treatment are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the morphological basis of sympathetic hyperactivity in the setting of hemodialysis patients to identify an anatomical substrate that could warrant the use of this new therapeutic approach.

Methods and Results

The distribution of sympathetic nerves was evaluated in the adventitia of 38 renal arteries that were collected at autopsy or during surgery from 25 patients: 9 with end‐stage renal disease on dialysis (
DIAL
group) and 16 age‐matched control nondialysis patients (
CTRL
group). Patients in the
DIAL
group showed a significant increase in nerve density in the internal area of the peri‐adventitial tissue (within the first 0.5 mm of the beginning of the adventitia) compared with the
CTRL
group (4.01±0.30 versus 2.87±0.28×mm
2
,
P
=0.01). Regardless of dialysis, hypertensive patients with signs of severe arteriolar damage had a greater number of nerve endings in the most internal adventitia, and this number was significantly higher than in patients without hypertensive arteriolar damage (3.90±0.36 versus 2.87±0.41×mm
2
,
P
=0.04), showing a correlation with hypertensive arteriolar damage rather than with hypertensive clinical history.

Conclusions

The findings from this study provide a morphological basis underlying sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with end‐stage renal disease and might offer useful information to improve the use of renal denervation in this group of patients.
Description of Malenchus sexlineatus n. sp., new records of three known species of Malenchus Andrássy, 1968 (Nematoda: Tylenchidae) and notes on amphidial aperture development
Authors: Qing Xue , Sánchez-Monge Alcides , Janssen Toon , Couvreur Marjolein , Bert Wim
Published: November 2015

A new species, Malenchus sexlineatus n. sp., discovered from the Philippines, is described based on morphological and molecular data. The new species is unusual in the genus by having six lateral lines. Malenchus sexlineatus n. sp. is distinguished from M. williamsi, the only other species in the genus with six lateral lines (based on currently available SEM data), by a shorter body of 278 (270-288) vs 452 (425-495) μm, shorter stylet (7.0 (6.2-7.5) vs 11-12 μm), narrower annulations (0.8 (0.7-0.8) vs 1.2-1.6 μm), lateral field comprising one elevated ridge in LM vs six well-separated incisures (resembling the lateral lines in Cephalenchus) in LM, the presence of S-shaped vs straight amphidial apertures, and vulval flaps absent or only one annuli long vs distinct. By having an exceptionally short body, M. sexlineatus n. sp. comes close to M. parvus, M. bryanti and M. acarayensis. However, there are significant differences in the lateral lines, annuli width and most morphometric ratios. Three known species, namely M. exiguus, M. nanellus and M. pachycephalus, all being first records and first representative from China, are characterised by morphological data. The new species was placed in a robustly supported clade containing two other Malenchus spp. and M. exiguus. Interestingly, M. pressulus was placed in a separate, unresolved phylogenetic position. However, the phylogenetic position of these clades could not be resolved within Tylenchidae. The shapes of the amphidial aperture and fovea within Malenchus are also compared and its possible developmental process is illustrated and discussed.
Choosing a Pastor for the Day—Representations of the Pastor in a Contemporary Context
Authors: Johansen Kirstine Helboe , Nielsen Marie Vejrup
Published: November 2015

This article examines representations of pastoral authority among mainstream church members in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. We argue that the study of a possible crisis in ministry must include the church members’ perspective. Drawing on theories of societal and cultural changes and focusing on the concepts of increased individual choice, subjective turn and authenticity, as well as Weber’s typology of authority, we analyse the findings of a qualitative study among wedding couples in Denmark and a supplementary quantitative study among adult participants in a special church service for children. The findings indicate that church members evaluate the pastor either as a pre-established church representative or based on a more direct evaluation of personal qualities, but in both cases the evaluation places emphasis on the importance of the relationship between church member and pastor. We conclude that the representation of pastoral authority can be described as ‘relational authority’.