bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuselage boundary-layer refraction of fan tones radiated from an installed turbofan aero-engine
Authors: Gaffney James , McAlpine Alan , Kingan Michael J.
Published: March 2017

A distributed source model to predict fan tone noise levels of an installed turbofan aero-engine is extended to include the refraction effects caused by the fuselage boundary layer. The model is a simple representation of an installed turbofan, where fan tones are represented in terms of spinning modes radiated from a semi-infinite circular duct, and the aircraft's fuselage is represented by an infinitely long, rigid cylinder. The distributed source is a disk, formed by integrating infinitesimal volume sources located on the intake duct termination. The cylinder is located adjacent to the disk. There is uniform axial flow, aligned with the axis of the cylinder, everywhere except close to the cylinder where there is a constant thickness boundary layer. The aim is to predict the near-field acoustic pressure, and in particular, to predict the pressure on the cylindrical fuselage which is relevant to assess cabin noise. Thus no far-field approximations are included in the modelling. The effect of the boundary layer is quantified by calculating the area-averaged mean square pressure over the cylinder's surface with and without the boundary layer included in the prediction model. The sound propagation through the boundary layer is calculated by solving the Pridmore-Brown equation. Results from the theoretical method show that the boundary layer has a significant effect on the predicted sound pressure levels on the cylindrical fuselage, owing to sound radiation of fan tones from an installed turbofan aero-engine.
“I Know When I Did It, I Got Frustrated”: The Influence of ‘Living’ a Curriculum for Preservice Teachers
Authors: Dillon Michelle , Tannehill Deborah , O’Sullivan Mary
Published: March 2017

In addressing the theory-practice divide, this research provides valuable insight into preservice teachers’ (PSTs) learning through an experiential learning (EL) framework during teacher education. Utilizing an interpretivist approach, this study aims at providing insight on how PSTs link the manner in which they learned during teacher education to how they teach during school placement. Evidence suggested participants valued faciliating enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences for their students in the course of learning through an EL approach. Learning through an experiential approach provided the PSTs with confidence in what to teach. However, the PSTs also assumed their own students would have similar responses to the learning experiences they had themselves when completing tasks during teacher education. PSTs were limited in their ability to recognize student learning and in understanding student capacity for progression. Implications of the findings for teacher education are discussed.
A semisynthetic
Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotype 8 glycoconjugate vaccine
Authors: Schumann Benjamin , Hahm Heung Sik , Parameswarappa Sharavathi G. , Reppe Katrin , Wahlbrink Annette , Govindan Subramanian , Kaplonek Paulina , Pirofski Liise-anne , Witzenrath Martin , Anish Chakkumkal , Pereira Claney L. , Seeberger Peter H.
Published: March 2017

Automated glycan assembly enabled antibody reverse engineering to develop a semisynthetic carbohydrate–based vaccine against the highly virulent
Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotype 8.
A member of the gut mycobiota modulates host purine metabolism exacerbating colitis in mice
Authors: Chiaro Tyson R. , Soto Ray , Zac Stephens W. , Kubinak Jason L. , Petersen Charisse , Gogokhia Lasha , Bell Rickesha , Delgado Julio C. , Cox James , Voth Warren , Brown Jessica , Stillman David J. , O’Connell Ryan M. , Tebo Anne E. , Round June L.
Published: March 2017

Saccharomyces cerevisiae
induces purine metabolism in mouse intestinal epithelia, resulting in an exacerbation of colitis.
From MDS/AML to iPSC and back again
Authors: Jonas Brian A.
Published: March 2017

iPSC lines derived from MDS and AML patient samples can map clonal evolution, disease progression and regression, and identify disease stage–specific medication effects.
Identification of SERINC5-001 as the Predominant Spliced Isoform for HIV-1 Restriction
Authors: Zhang Xianfeng , Zhou Tao , Yang Jie , Lin Yumei , Shi Jing , Zhang Xihe , Frabutt Dylan A. , Zeng Xiangwei , Li Sunan , Venta Patrick J. , Zheng Yong-Hui
Published: March 2017

Among the five serine incorporator (SERINC) family members, SERINC5 (Ser5) was reported to strongly inhibit HIV-1 replication, which is counteracted by Nef.
Ser5
produces 5 alternatively spliced isoforms: Ser5-001 has 10 putative transmembrane domains, whereas Ser5-004, -005, -008a, and -008b do not have the last one. Here, we confirmed the strong Ser5 anti-HIV-1 activity and investigated its isoforms' expression and antiviral activities. It was found that
Ser5-001
transcripts were detected at least 10-fold more than the other isoforms by real-time quantitative PCR. When Ser5-001 and its two isoforms Ser5-005 and Ser5-008a were expressed from the same mammalian expression vector, only Ser5-001 was stably expressed, whereas the others were poorly expressed due to rapid degradation. In addition, unlike the other isoforms, which are located mainly in the cytoplasm, Ser5-001 is localized primarily to the plasma membrane. To map the critical determinant, Ser5 mutants bearing C-terminal deletions were created. It was found that the 10th transmembrane domain is required for Ser5 stable expression and plasma membrane localization. As expected, only Ser5-001 strongly inhibits HIV-1 infectivity, whereas the other Ser5 isoforms and mutants that do not have the 10th transmembrane domain show very poor activity. It was also observed that the Nef counteractive activity could be easily saturated by Ser5 overexpression. Thus, we conclude that Ser5-001 is the predominant antiviral isoform that restricts HIV-1, and the 10th transmembrane domain plays a critical role in this process by regulating its protein stability and plasma membrane targeting.

IMPORTANCE
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) express a small protein, Nef, to enhance viral pathogenesis
in vivo
. Nef has an important
in vitro
function, which is to make virus particles more infectious, but the mechanism has been unclear. Recently, Nef was reported to counteract a novel anti-HIV host protein, SERINC5 (Ser5). Ser5 has five alternatively spliced isoforms, Ser5-001, -004, -005, -008a, and -008b, and only Ser5-001 has an extra C-terminal transmembrane domain. We now show that the Ser5-001 transcripts are produced at least 10-fold more than the others, and only Ser5-001 produces stable proteins that are targeted to the plasma membrane. Importantly, only Ser5-001 shows strong anti-HIV-1 activity. We further demonstrate that the extra transmembrane domain is required for Ser5 stable expression and plasma membrane localization. These results suggest that plasma membrane localization is required for Ser5 antiviral activity, and Ser5-001 is the predominant isoform that contributes to the activity.
Viruses in the Oceanic Basement
Authors: Nigro Olivia D. , Jungbluth Sean P. , Lin Huei-Ting , Hsieh Chih-Chiang , Miranda Jaclyn A. , Schvarcz Christopher R. , Rappé Michael S. , Steward Grieg F.
Published: March 2017

Microbial life has been detected well into the igneous crust of the seafloor (i.e., the oceanic basement), but there have been no reports confirming the presence of viruses in this habitat. To detect and characterize an ocean basement virome, geothermally heated fluid samples (ca. 60 to 65°C) were collected from 117 to 292 m deep into the ocean basement using seafloor observatories installed in two boreholes (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program [IODP] U1362A and U1362B) drilled in the eastern sediment-covered flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Concentrations of virus-like particles in the fluid samples were on the order of 0.2 × 10
5
to 2 × 10
5
 ml
−1
(
n
= 8), higher than prokaryote-like cells in the same samples by a factor of 9 on average (range, 1.5 to 27). Electron microscopy revealed diverse viral morphotypes similar to those of viruses known to infect bacteria and thermophilic archaea. An analysis of virus-like sequences in basement microbial metagenomes suggests that those from archaeon-infecting viruses were the most common (63 to 80%). Complete genomes of a putative archaeon-infecting virus and a prophage within an archaeal scaffold were identified among the assembled sequences, and sequence analysis suggests that they represent lineages divergent from known thermophilic viruses. Of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-containing scaffolds in the metagenomes for which a taxonomy could be inferred (163 out of 737), 51 to 55% appeared to be archaeal and 45 to 49% appeared to be bacterial. These results imply that the warmed, highly altered fluids in deeply buried ocean basement harbor a distinct assemblage of novel viruses, including many that infect archaea, and that these viruses are active participants in the ecology of the basement microbiome.

IMPORTANCE
The hydrothermally active ocean basement is voluminous and likely provided conditions critical to the origins of life, but the microbiology of this vast habitat is not well understood. Viruses in particular, although integral to the origins, evolution, and ecology of all life on earth, have never been documented in basement fluids. This report provides the first estimate of free virus particles (virions) within fluids circulating through the extrusive basalt of the seafloor and describes the morphological and genetic signatures of basement viruses. These data push the known geographical limits of the virosphere deep into the ocean basement and point to a wealth of novel viral diversity, exploration of which could shed light on the early evolution of viruses.
Good response of an aggressive rare variant of signet ring cell carcinoma of prostate with hormonal therapy
Authors: Tiwari Deviprasad , Nayak Brusabhanu , Seth Amlesh
Published: March 2017

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the prostate is a rare entity, characterised by its aggressive nature and dismal prognosis. We report a case of an advanced SRCC of the prostate presenting as a large pelvic mass with obstructive uropathy and rectal involvement managed by complete androgen blockade. At 24 months follow-up, the patient has no evidence of progression or metastasis. Aggressive management with multimodality approach combining surgery, radiation and hormonal ablation can result in long disease-free survival in some patients, despite the aggressive nature of this disease.
Brunner's gland hamartoma: a rare cause of iron deficiency anaemia and report of an adapted colonic polyp resection technique
Authors: Judd Stephanie , Patel Suhag , Levi Edi , Antaki Fadi
Published: March 2017

A man aged 65 years presented with symptomatic anaemia without overt gastrointestinal bleeding. An oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed and he was found to have a large ulcerated pedunculated Brunner's gland hamartoma in the duodenal bulb. The polyp was resected using snare cautery in forward and retroflexed positions. Colonoscopy was also performed and a few diminutive polyps were resected. A year later, the patient returned for a surveillance EGD, and no residual polyp was noted. Haemoglobin and iron studies normalised within a few months after polypectomy, with resolution of symptoms.
Levetiracetam-induced eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: Fagan Aisling , Fuld Jonathan , Soon Elaine
Published: March 2017

Levetiracetam is widely regarded as a benign antiepileptic drug, compared to older antiepileptic medication. We report a case of eosinophilic pneumonia due to levetiracetam use in a non-smoking woman aged 59 years with no previous respiratory history. Our patient presented with exertional breathlessness and marked desaturation on exertion. She displayed ‘reverse bat-wing’ infiltrates on her chest radiograph and peripheral eosinophilia on a complete blood count. Her symptoms, radiology and peripheral eosinophilia resolved completely with cessation of levetiracetam and a course of prednisolone. This is the first report of isolated eosinophilic pneumonia due to levetiracetam. Other reports of levetiracetam-induced eosinophilia describe drug rash, eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome). Detection of pulmonary drug reactions requires a careful drug history and high index of suspicion. Identifying and reporting a causative agent is crucially important, as cessation of the drug is essential for resolution of the syndrome.
Hepatocolic fistula: a rare presentation of pyogenic liver abscess
Authors: Timbol Aeden Bernice G , Mondragon Karen Anjela M , Banez Virgilio P
Published: March 2017

A 58-year-old man was admitted due to a 4-month history of colicky right upper quadrant pain, intermittent fever, anorexia and weight loss. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showed an encapsulated, peripherally enhancing focus occupying the right liver lobe exhibiting capsular rupture and extension to the walls of the hepatic flexure. He immediately underwent emergency ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage and cultures of the purulent fluid later revealedEscherichia coli. A colonoscopy was then performed which showed a pinpoint opening with draining pus at the hepatic flexure. A fistulogram confirmed a fistulous tract arising from the inferior aspect of the abscess cavity, draining into the posterosuperior aspect of the hepatic flexure. He was started on intravenous antibiotics and after 1 week of decreasing output, a repeat ultrasound showed very minimal residual fluid. The percutaneous catheter drain was then removed after 2 weeks and the patient was discharged improved.
A preconsultation web-based tool to generate an agenda for discussion in diabetes outpatient clinics to improve patient outcomes (DIAT): a feasibility study
Authors: Ukoumunne Obioha C , Vaidya Bijay , Frost Julia , Anderson Rob , Argyle Catherine , Daly Mark , Harris-Golesworthy Faith , Harris Jim , Gibson Andy , Ingram Wendy , Pinkney Jon , Vickery Jane , Britten Nicky
Published: March 2017

Objective

To test the feasibility of running a randomised controlled trial of a preconsultation web-based intervention (Presenting Asking Checking Expressing (PACE-D)) to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes.

Design and setting

A feasibility study (with randomisation) conducted at outpatient diabetes clinics at two secondary care hospitals in Devon, UK.

Participants

People with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) attending secondary care general diabetes outpatient clinics.

Intervention

The PACE-D, a web-based tool adapted for patients with diabetes to use before their consultation to generate an agenda of topics to discuss with their diabetologist.

Outcomes

The percentage of eligible patients who were recruited and the percentage of participants for whom routine glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) data (the putative primary outcome) could be extracted from medical notes and who completed secondary outcome assessments via questionnaire at follow-up were reported.

Results

In contrast with the planned recruitment of 120 participants, only 71 participants were randomised during the 7-month recruitment period. This comprised 18.7% (95% CI 14.9% to 23.0%) of those who were eligible. Mean (SD) age of the participants was 56.5 (12.4) years and 66.2% had type 1 diabetes. Thirty-eight patients were randomised to the intervention arm and 33 to the control arm. HbA1c data were available for only 73% (95% CI 61% to 83%) of participants at the 6 months follow-up. The questionnaire-based data were collected for 66% (95% CI 54% to 77%) of the participants at 6 months follow-up. Participants reported that the PACE-D tool was easy to use.

Conclusions

A randomised controlled trial of the preconsultation web-based intervention as set out in our current protocol is not feasible without significant modification to improve recruitment and follow-up of participants. The study also provides insights into the feasibility and challenges of conducting complex intervention trials in everyday clinical practice.

Trial registration

ISRCTN75070242.
Association between perceived weight discrimination and physical activity: a population-based study among English middle-aged and older adults
Authors: Jackson Sarah E , Steptoe Andrew
Published: March 2017

Objective

To examine the association between perceived weight discrimination and physical activity in a large population-based sample.

Design

Data were from 2423 men and 3057 women aged ≥50 years participating in Wave 5 (2010/11) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants reported experiences of weight discrimination in everyday life and frequency of light, moderate and vigorous physical activities. We used logistic regression to test associations between perceived weight discrimination and physical activity, controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status and body mass index (BMI).

Results

Perceived weight discrimination was associated with almost 60% higher odds of being inactive (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.40, p=.028) and 30% lower odds of engaging in moderate or vigorous activity at least once a week (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.94, p=.017).

Conclusions

Independent of BMI, individuals who perceive unfair treatment on the basis of their weight are less physically active than those who do not perceive discrimination. This has important implications for the health and well-being of individuals who experience weight-based discrimination, and may also contribute to a cycle of weight gain and further mistreatment.
Qualitative analysis of young adult ENDS users' expectations and experiences
Authors: Hoek Janet , Thrul Johannes , Ling Pamela
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Despite extensive research into the determinants of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) uptake, few studies have examined the psychosocial benefits ENDS users seek and experience. Using a consumer ritual framework, we explored how ENDS users recreated or replaced smoking practices, and considered implications for smoking cessation.

Design

In-depth interviews; data analysed using thematic analysis.

Setting

Dunedin, New Zealand.

Participants

16 young adult ENDS users (age M=21.4, SD=1.9; 44% female).

Results

Participants reported using different ENDS to achieve varying outcomes. Some used ‘cigalikes’ to recreate a physically and visually similar experience to smoking; they privileged device appearance over nicotine delivery. In contrast, others used personally crafted mods to develop new rituals that differentiated them from smokers and showcased their technical expertise. Irrespective of the device they used, several former smokers and dual users of cigarettes and ENDS experienced strong nostalgia for smoking attributes, particularly the elemental appeal of fire and the finiteness of a cigarette. Non-smoking participants used ENDS to maintain social connections with their peers.

Conclusions

Participants used ENDS to construct rituals that recreated or replaced smoking attributes, and that varied in the emphasis given to device appearance, nicotine delivery, and social performance. Identifying how ENDS users create new rituals and the components they privilege within these could help promote full transition from smoking to ENDS and identify those at greatest risk of dual use or relapse to cigarette smoking.
Epidemiology of injuries in the Spanish national futsal male team: a five-season retrospective study
Authors: Martinez-Riaza Luis , Herrero-Gonzalez Helena , Lopez-Alcorocho Juan M , Guillen-Garcia Pedro , Fernandez-Jaen Tomas F
Published: March 2017

Background

Futsal started being played in 1930 and the number of futsal players has increased all over the world ever since. Nonetheless, despite the fact that Spain is one of the most relevant national teams worldwide, information on the incidence of injuries and their anthropometric characteristics is sparse in this country.

Aim

To analyse medical assistance provided to players in their prematch concentration camps with the Spanish national team over five seasons, from 2010–2011 to 2014–2015, and also to collect data regarding anthropometric characteristics.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective and detailed study of injuries players suffered over these five seasons. All variables were registered on an Excel spreadsheet and later analysed statistically.

Results

411 injuries were studied in total. The dominant somatotype was mesomorph and the injured pivots were both the most endomorphic and the most mesomorphic. The most injured body structure was the hamstring muscles, occurring due to training and intrinsic mechanisms, where fatigue was the most frequent diagnosis. Only a few complementary examinations were carried out and prematch withdrawal was rare.

Discussion

The skinfold test total sum was lower than that of the Spanish 11-a-side players or than that in the lower category futsal Spanish players. In various research studies analysing exclusively injuries occurring in matches, the most frequent injury is ligament injury by extrinsic mechanism. The body mass index was not a useful parameter when assessing players’ appropriate weight. Most injuries occurred in training sessions, mostly by intrinsic mechanism; the highest percentage of traumatic injuries occurred in official matches.
Injuries during the international floorball tournaments from 2012 to 2015
Authors: Pasanen Kati , Bruun Merita , Vasankari Tommi , Nurminen Minna , Frey Walter O
Published: March 2017

Background

Floorball is a running indoor team sport that has growing popularity worldwide. Some prospective studies have investigated injuries in national floorball leagues, but such studies at the international level are lacking.

Objective

To investigate the incidence and characteristics of injuries during 12 International Floorball Federation (IFF) events.

Methods

All top-level IFF events from 2012 to 2015 were included in the study. The IFF events were divided into the following groups: Men’s World Floorball Championships (2012 and 2014), Women’s World Floorball Championships (2013 and 2015), Men’s Champions Cup (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) and Women’s Champions Cup (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015). The team medical personnel prospectively recorded the injuries that occurred in games and practices. The time of exposure was calculated for entire teams based on the IFF statistics.

Results

Sixty-eight injuries were registered among 67 players. Sixty-five of the injuries occurred in games, resulting in an injury incidence of 21.24 per 1000 game hours (95% CI 16.13 to 26.35). There was no significant difference in the incidence of game injuries between females and males (incidence rate ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.11). The ankle was the most common site of injury (24%), followed by the head (18%) and the knee (18%). Almost half of the injuries (46%) involved joints or ligaments.

Conclusions

Risk of injury during IFF tournaments was lower than in many other team sports at the highest level of play. Preventive actions should focus on acute ankle and knee injuries as well as head and face injuries.
Leaky pipeline, gender bias, self-selection or all three? A quantitative analysis of gender balance at an international palliative care research conference
Authors: Sleeman Katherine E , Koffman Jonathan , Higginson Irene J
Published: March 2017

Objectives

The ‘leaky pipeline’ in academia is a clearly described phenomenon, but has not been examined in palliative care. We analysed the gender balance of speakers at the 9th World Research Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the proportion of women and men with senior academic visibility in palliative care conference programmes.

Methods

The final programme of the 2016 EAPC World Congress was examined, and the gender of each speaker was recorded. Presentations were assessed using a three-tier hierarchy of senior academic visibility: Free Communication sessions, Themed sessions and invited Plenaries (low to high). As there was only one Invited Plenary at EAPC 2016, we examined the gender balance at EAPC Plenaries from 2012 to 2016.

Results

Overall, the majority of speakers at EAPC 2016 (96/130, 73.8%) were women. The proportion of women was highest in the Free Communication sessions (84/107, 78.5%). In the Themed sessions, women made up just over half of speakers (12/22, 54.5%). In 2016, there was 1 invited Plenary speaker, a man. From 2012 to 2016, just 6 of 23 invited Plenary speakers at EAPC conferences have been women (26.1%) (χ2=25.4, p<0.001).

Conclusions

These data reject our null hypothesis and suggest that there is attrition of women along the academic pipeline in palliative care. Other factors such as self-selection (that women decline invitations to give talks) and unconscious gender bias need further exploration, as well as actions to address the imbalance.
Patients expectations and fulfilment of expectations before and after treatment for suspected coronary artery disease assessed with a newly developed questionnaire in combination with established health-related quality of life questionnaires
Authors: Odell Annika , Bång Angela , Andréll Paulin , Widell Charlotte , Fryklund Henrik , Kallryd Anders , Tygesen Hans , Grip Lars
Published: March 2017

Background

Clinical decision-making is often based on evidence of outcome after a specific treatment. Healthcare providers and patients may, however, have different perceptions and expectations of what to achieve from a certain healthcare measure.

Aims

To evaluate patients’ expectations, perceptions and health related quality of life (HRQoL) before a care process including coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease and to evaluate the fulfilment of these expectations in relation to established patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) 6 months later. Furthermore, an aim was to try to define meaningful patient reported experience measures (PREMs) in this population.

Methods

544 patients planned for coronary angiography completed a newly developed questionnaire to assess expectations and perceptions of treatment, the expectation questionnaire (ExpQ) and two established HRQoL questionnaires together with the established generic Short-Form 36 (SF36) and the disease specific Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ).

Results

Patients had before the intervention, in general, high expectations of improvement after investigation and treatment and there was a positive attitude towards life style changes, medication and participation in decision-making regarding their own treatment. Only, 56.4% of the patients, however, reported fulfilment of treatment expectations. Fulfilment of treatment expectations correlated strongly with improvement in HRQoL after the care process.

Conclusions

To measure patients ́ expectations and fulfilments of these may offer simple and meaningful outcomes to evaluate a healthcare process from a patient ́s perspective. To approach patients’ expectations may also strengthen patient involvement in the care process with the possibilities of both higher patient satisfaction and medical results of the treatment.
Impact of room temperature on pentacene thin film growth and electronic structure
Authors: Ji Ru-Ru , Wang Qi , Hu Jia-Xin , Duhm Steffen
Published: March 2017

The electronic structure and transport properties of organic thin films depend critically on the film structure. We have shown by means of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy that the growth of vacuum-sublimed pentacene on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates depends significantly on the room temperature and the substrate cleanness. At T = 291 K, all molecules adopt a flat lying orientation in the contact layer to a clean (vacuum-annealed) substrate, whereas at T = 303 K, some molecules are standing upright. On defect-rich substrates, the thin films are rather disordered for both temperatures and comprise standing and lying molecules.
Intensified environmental and density-dependent regulation of white perch recruitment after an ecosystem shift in the Hudson River Estuary
Authors: Gallagher Brian K. , Secor David H.
Published: March 2017

Long-term monitoring data were used to test whether the invasion of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Hudson River Estuary in 1991 altered the influence of density dependence and environmental conditions on life-stage transitions, growth, and partial migration in white perch (Morone americana). During the post-invasion period (1992–2013), we estimated standing stocks of white perch eggs, yolk-sac larvae (YSL), post-yolk-sac larvae (PYSL), young-of-the-year (YOY), and adults as well as indices of YOY growth and spatial distribution. A series of linear and nonlinear functions were employed to model life-stage transitions, while the effects of six environmental and density-dependent variables on YOY growth and partial migration were quantified. Comparisons to pre-invasion observations (1974–1991) indicated that egg–YSL, PYSL–YOY, and YOY–yearling transitions changed significantly after the invasion, while PYSL abundance developed a stronger negative effect on YOY growth. The PYSL–YOY transition became more sensitive to density dependence and freshwater flow from 1992 to 2013, which is consistent with diminished abundance and increased environmental sensitivity of the forage base in the Hudson River Estuary reported after the zebra mussel invasion.
Warming and elevated ozone differently modify needle anatomy of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Authors: Kivimäenpää Minna , Sutinen Sirkka , Valolahti Hanna , Häikiö Elina , Riikonen Johanna , Kasurinen Anne , Ghimire Rajendra P. , Holopainen Jarmo K. , Holopainen Toini
Published: March 2017

Acclimation of conifer needle anatomy to climate change is poorly understood. We studied needle anatomy, shoot gas exchange, current-year shoot length, and stem diameter growth in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings exposed to elevated ozone (1.35× to 1.5× ambient concentration) and elevated temperature (0.9–1.3 °C + ambient temperature) alone and in combination for two exposure seasons in two separate open-field experiments in central Finland. Pines grew also at two soil nitrogen levels. In spruce, warming increased mesophyll intercellular space and reduced gas exchange and shoot growth and made needles narrower and the epidermis and hypodermis thinner. In pine, warming made needles bigger, increased shoot and stem growth, stomatal row number, and proportions of vascular cylinder, phloem, and xylem and reduced the proportion of mesophyll. These responses indicate that pine benefited and spruce suffered from moderate warming. Ozone caused a thickening of epi- and hypo-dermis and a lower stomatal conductance in both species, reduced stomatal density in spruce, and increased proportions of phloem, xylem, and sclerenchyma and reduced growth in pine. Ozone responses suggest increased oxidative stress defense. Stomatal responses were affected by interactions of elevated temperature and ozone in both species. Nitrogen availability modified ozone and temperature responses, particularly in the vascular tissues in pine.
Variational study of atomic hydrogen excitation by proton impact at intermediate velocities: target continuum states contribution
Authors: Benmansour Nour El Houda , Bouserhane Adnane , Sahlaoui Mohammed , Lasri Boumediene , Bouamoud Mammar
Published: March 2017

The Schwinger variational principle is used to evaluate the cross section for the excitation and Balmer-α emission of the hydrogen atom. The target is projected by proton impact at energies between 2 and 200 keV. To describe the strong coupling between the excitation and capture channels at intermediate impact energies, the Coulomb wave function, that is, exact continuum states of the hydrogen atom, have been added in the expansion of the scattering wave function. From comparison with the available experimental data and other theoretical findings we remark that taking into account the continuum states of the target is a good choice to describe the capture states at medium and low velocities, thus making the variational approach given in this work an easy way to successfully study the excitation of atoms by ion impacts at intermediate velocities.
Biological effects of xenoestrogens and the functional mechanisms via genomic and nongenomic pathways
Authors: Xu Zhi-Xiang , Liu Jun , Gu Li-Peng , Huang Bin , Pan Xue-Jun
Published: March 2017

Xenoestrogens (XEs) are a class of substances that exert estrogenic effects by mimicking or blocking endogenous hormones. The sources, environmental behavior, and fate of typical XEs are described. XEs’ adverse developmental, metabolic, and immunological effects are then presented with respect to reproductive functions. The mechanisms underlying XEs’ genomic and nongenomic effects are reviewed. XEs can alter gene transcription by interfering with the functioning of conventional estrogen receptors, but they are also capable of activating multiple kinase signaling pathways that disrupt membrane-associated receptors, such as estrogen receptor alpha-36 (ERα36), estrogen receptor alpha-46 (ERα46), and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30). This review aims to provide insight into XEs’ environmental effects and to explore the prevention and treatment of their estrogenic effects based on sufficient comprehension of the mechanisms involved.
A Comparison of Big Data Frameworks on a Layered Dataflow Model
Authors: Misale Claudia , Drocco Maurizio , Aldinucci Marco , Tremblay Guy
Published: March 2017

In the world of Big Data analytics, there is a series of tools aiming at simplifying programming applications to be executed on clusters. Although each tool claims to provide better programming, data and execution models–for which only informal (and often confusing) semantics is generally provided–all share a common underlying model, namely, the Dataflow model. The model we propose shows how various tools share the same expressiveness at different levels of abstraction. The contribution of this work is twofold: first, we show that the proposed model is (at least) as general as existing batch and streaming frameworks (e.g., Spark, Flink, Storm), thus making it easier to understand high-level data-processing applications written in such frameworks. Second, we provide a layered model that can represent tools and applications following the Dataflow paradigm and we show how the analyzed tools fit in each level.
FINANCIAL STABILITY AND THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INTEGRATION IN SOUTH ASIA: EVIDENCE FROM TIME-SERIES DATA
Authors: NASREEN SAMIA , ANWAR SOFIA
Published: March 2017

Using the aggregate financial stability index (AFSI) which measures the gradual progression and changes in financial market stability, this paper empirically evaluates the impact of financial and economic integration on financial stability in South Asian countries using time-series data for the period 1980–2012. Auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) Bounds testing approach to cointegration is applied to ensure long-run relationship between variables. Bound F-test results confirm the long-run relationship between selected variables. The estimated results show that economic and financial integration has exerted a significant negative effect on financial stability in long run.
EFFICIENT SUPPLY OF HUMAN CAPITAL: ROLE OF COLLEGE MAJOR
Authors: CHO SUNGJIN , KAM JIHYE , LEE SOOHYUNG
Published: March 2017

This study examines the extent to which changing the composition of college majors among working-age population may affect the supply of human capital or effective labor supply. We use the South Korean setting, in which the population is rapidly aging, but where, despite their high educational attainment, women and young adults are still weakly attached to the labor market. We find that engineering majors have an advantage in various outcomes such as likelihood of being in the labor force, being employed, obtaining long-term position, and earnings, while Humanities and Arts/Athletics majors show the worst outcomes. We then conduct a back-of-the-envelope calculation of the impact of the recently proposed policy change to increase the share of engineering majors by 10% starting in 2017. Our calculation suggests that the policy change may have a positive but small impact on labor market outcomes.
Schedulability Analysis Towards Arbitrarily Activated Tasks in Mixed-Criticality Systems
Authors: Hu Biao , Huang Kai , Chen Gang , Cheng Long , Han Dongkun , Knoll Alois
Published: March 2017

The integration of mixed-critical tasks into a platform is an increasingly important trend in the design of real-time systems due to its efficient resource usage. With a growing variety of activation patterns considered in real-time systems, some of them capture arbitrary activation patterns. As a consequence, the existing scheduling approaches in mixed-criticality systems (MCs), which assume the sporadic tasks with implicit deadlines, have sometimes become inapplicable or are ineffective. In this paper, we extend the sporadically activated task model to the arbitrarily activated task model in MCs with the preemptive fixed-task-priority schedule. By using the event arrival curve to model task activations, we present the necessary and sufficient schedulability tests that are based on the well-established results from Real-Time Calculus. We propose to use the busy-window analysis to do the sufficient test because it has been shown to be tighter than the sufficient test of using Real-Time Calculus. According to our experimental results, for sporadic task sets, our proposed test can achieve the same performance as the state-of-the-art schedulability test. However, compared with the previous schedulability analysis of preemptive fixed-task-priority, our approaches can handle more general tasks with blocking, jitter, and arbitrary deadlines.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE SURFACE-DRIVEN CAPILLARY FLOW OF AQUEOUS MICROPARTICLE SUSPENSIONS IN THE MICROFLUIDIC LABORATORY-ON-A-CHIP SYSTEMS
Authors: MUKHOPADHYAY SUBHADEEP
Published: March 2017

In this work, total 1592 individual leakage-free polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microfluidic devices as laboratory-on-a-chip systems are fabricated by maskless lithography, hot embossing lithography, and direct bonding technique. Total 1094 individual Audio Video Interleave Files as experimental outputs related to the surface-driven capillary flow have been recorded and analyzed. The influence of effective viscosity, effect of surface wettability, effect of channel aspect ratio, and effect of centrifugal force on the surface-driven microfluidic flow of aqueous microparticle suspensions have been successfully and individually investigated in these laboratory-on-a-chip systems. Also, 5 micron polystyrene particles have been separated from the aqueous microparticle suspensions in the microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems of modified design with 98% separation efficiency, and 10 micron polystyrene particles have been separated with 100% separation efficiency. About the novelty of this work, the experimental investigations have been performed on the surface-driven microfluidic flow of aqueous microparticle suspensions with the investigations on the separation time in particle-size based separation mechanism to control these suspensions in the microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems. This research work contains a total of 10,112 individual experimental outputs obtained using total 30 individual instruments by author’s own hands-on completely during more than three years continuously. Author has performed the experimental investigations on both the fluid statics and fluid dynamics to develop an automated fluid machine.
On the fourth moment theorem for complex multiple Wiener–Itô integrals
Authors: Chen Yong , Liu Yong
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we give a product formula of Hermite polynomials and a relation between real Wiener–Itô chaos and complex Wiener–Itô chaos is shown. By this relation and the known multivariate extension of the fourth moment theorem for real multiple integrals, a fourth moment theorem (the Nualart–Peccati criterion) for complex Wiener–Itô multiple integrals is obtained.
THE DOSE OF THE THREAT MAKES THE RESISTANCE FOR COOPERATION
Authors: CETIN UZAY , BINGOL HALUK O.
Published: March 2017

We propose to reformulate the payoff matrix structure of Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) Game, by introducing threat and greed factors, and show their effect on the co-evolution of memory and cooperation. Our findings are as follows. (i) Memory protects cooperation. (ii) To our surprise, greater memory size is unfavorable to evolutionary success when there is no threat. In the absence of threat, subsequent generations lose their memory and are consequently invaded by defectors. (iii) In contrast, the presence of an appropriate level of threat triggers the emergence of a self-protection mechanism for cooperation, which manifests itself as an increase in memory size within subsequent generations. On the evolutionary level, memory size acts like an immune response of the generations against aggressive defection. (iv) Even more extreme threat results again in defection. Our findings boil down to the following: The dose of the threat makes the resistance for cooperation.
Enhanced thermal and pyroelectric properties in 0–3 TGS:PVDF composites doped with graphene for infrared application
Authors: Feng Xiaodong , Wang Minqiang , Li Le , Yang Zhi , Cao Minghui , Cheng Z.-Y.
Published: March 2017

Pyroelectric composites of triglycine sulfate (TGS)-polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) doped with graphene are studied. It is found that the graphene can effectively improve the polling efficiency and thermal property of the composites so that the infrared detective performance can be significantly improved. For example, by adding about 0.83 wt.% of graphene, the infrared detective property can be improved by more than 30%. It is also found that the size of the graphene plays a critical role on the property improvement. For example, the small-sized graphene prepared by ultrasonic exfoliation (UE) method is more effective than the big-sized graphene prepared by electrochemical exfoliation (EE) method.
Risk Management and Adaptation Transitions in New York City
Authors: Solecki William , Link Hildegaard , Garschagen Matthias
Published: March 2017

Local risk managers in New York City were keenly aware that the city’s residents, businesses, and infrastructure were vulnerable to significant flooding events before Hurricane Sandy hit in October 2016. The storm and its aftermath have influenced the structure of the city’s approach to risk management and urban development in many ways. The objective of this manuscript is to characterize the current risk management regime in New York City, how it is changing, and how it might shift with the further onset of climate change. More specifically, the paper addresses three basic questions: 1. How does current risk management policy in New York City intersect with climate change adaptation and urban development?; 2. Is there sentiment that transition to a new risk management paradigm is needed?; and 3. If transition is necessary, how will it be enabled or blocked by the current actors, organizations and policy-making networks for adaptation and risk management in the city? In the analysis we focus on examining the relative importance of a suite of possible factors and drivers. Two sources of data are reviewed and integrated. These include results from a workshop with local risk managers, and as well as face-to-face extended interviews with risk manager stakeholders and practitioners. The results indicate that there is significant need for a transition to wider and more comprehensive transformative adaptation policy but the means and opportunities to do is limited.
Early Carboniferous subduction-zone metamorphism preserved within the Palaeo-Tethyan Rasht ophiolites (western Alborz, Iran)
Authors: Rossetti Federico , Monié Patrick , Nasrabady Mohsen , Theye Thomas , Lucci Federico , Saadat Mohamad
Published: March 2017

A polyphase history of oceanic construction and consumption is documented by the distribution of the Tethyan ophiolitic suture zones in Iran. Despite the geodynamic significance of these suture zones, few modern petrological and geochronological data are available from these ophiolitic domains, hampering a full assessment of the timing, thermobaric regimes and palaeotectonic scenarios leading to oceanic suturing and continental assembly in Iran and, more in general, along the southern margin of Eurasia. In this paper, we describe a newly discovered HP ophiolite mélange within the Rasht ophiolites, at the NW termination of the Palaeo-Tethyan suture in Iran. Petrological investigations on the metamorphic units embedded within the ophiolite mélange are integrated with whole-rock geochemistry and Ar–Ar phengite geochronology to constrain the geotectonic setting of formation and to define the associated
P
–
T
–
t
paths. We provide evidence that the Rasht ophiolite domain corresponds to an exhumed subduction complex formed during Early Carboniferous (
c.
350 Ma) subduction of a branch of the Palaeo-Tethyan oceanic realm, with peak metamorphism equilibrated under blueschist- to eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions. Implications of these data for the palaeotectonic reconstruction during closure of the Palaeo-Tethyan ocean and the terminal collisional assembly along the southern margin of the Eurasia plate are also discussed.

Supplementary material:
Analytical methods and protocols are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3706852
Sex-specific differences in age-dependent progression of aortic dysfunction and related cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Al-Gburi Suzan , Deussen Andreas J. , Galli Roberta , Muders Michael H. , Zatschler Birgit , Neisser Anja , Müller Bianca , Kopaliani Irakli
Published: March 2017

Evidence of sex-specific differences in renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) and arterial pressure has been shown in many mammals, including spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Although SHRs have been used extensively as a leading experimental model of hypertension, the effects of sex-specific differences in RAS on aortic function and related cardiac remodeling during aging and hypertension have not been documented in detail. We examined structural and functional changes in aorta and heart of female and male SHRs at the ages of 5, 14, 29, and 36 wk. SHRs of both sexes were hypertensive from 14 wk. Aortic endothelial dysfunction and fibrosis, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and cardiac fibrosis were evident at the age of 29 wk in male SHRs but first appeared only at the age of 36 wk in female SHRs. There was a pronounced delay of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in the aorta and heart of female SHRs, which was associated with preservation of 40% more elastin and less extensive cardiac fibrosis than in males. At 5, 29, and 36 wk of age, female SHRs showed higher levels of aortic and myocardial AT2R and MasR mRNA and decreased ANG II-mediated aortic constriction. Although female SHRs had increased relaxation to AT2R stimulation at 5 and 29 wk compared with males, this difference disappeared at 36 wk of age. This study documents sex-specific differences in the temporal progression of aortic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy in SHRs, which are independent of arterial pressure and are apparently mediated by higher AT2R expression in the heart and aorta of female SHRs.