bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soot Formation and Flame Characterization of an Aero-Engine Model Combustor Burning Ethylene at Elevated Pressure
Authors: Peter Geigle Klaus , Hadef Redjem , Meier Wolfgang
Published: September 2013

Swirl-stabilized, nonpremixed ethylene/air flames were investigated at pressures up to 5 bar to study the effect of different operating parameters on soot formation and oxidation. Focus of the experiments was the establishment of a database describing well-defined flames, serving for validation of numerical simulation. Good optical access via pressure chamber windows and combustion chamber windows enables application of laser-induced incandescence to derive soot volume fractions after suitable calibration. This results in ensemble averaged, as well as instantaneous soot distributions. Beyond pressure, parameters under study were the equivalence ratio, thermal power, and amount of oxidation air. The latter could be injected radially into the combustor downstream of the main reaction zone through holes in the combustion chamber posts. Combustion air was introduced through a dual swirl injector whose two flow rates were controlled separately. The split of those air flows provided an additional parameter variation. Nominal power of the operating points was approximately 10 kW/bar leading to a maximum power of roughly 50 kW, not including oxidation air.
Edge-Compositions of 3D Surfaces
Authors: Sung Cynthia , Demaine Erik D. , Demaine Martin L. , Rus Daniela
Published: September 2013

Origami-based design methods enable complex devices to be fabricated quickly in plane and then folded into their final 3D shapes. So far, these folded structures have been designed manually. This paper presents a geometric approach to automatic composition of folded surfaces, which will allow existing designs to be combined and complex functionality to be produced with minimal human input. We show that given two surfaces in 3D and their 2D unfoldings, a surface consisting of the two originals joined along an arbitrary edge can always be achieved by connecting the two original unfoldings with some additional linking material, and we provide a polynomial-time algorithm to generate this composite unfolding. The algorithm is verified using various surfaces, as well as a walking and gripping robot design.
On the Evaluation of Vorticity Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Velocity Measurements
Authors: Garcia J. , Larose E. , Pibarot P. , Kadem L.
Published: September 2013

Vorticity and vortical structures play a fundamental role affecting the evaluation of energetic aspects (mainly left ventricle work) of cardiovascular function. Vorticity can be derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging velocity measurements. However, several numerical schemes can be used to evaluate the vorticity field. The main objective of this work is to assess different numerical schemes used to evaluate the vorticity field derived from CMR velocity measurements. We compared the vorticity field obtained using direct differentiation schemes (eight-point circulation and Chapra) and derivate differentiation schemes (Richardson 4* and compact Richardson 4*) from a theoretical velocity field and in vivo CMR velocity measurements. In all cases, the effect of artificial spatial resolution up-sampling and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on vorticity computation was evaluated. Theoretical and in vivo results showed that the eight-point circulation method underestimated vorticity. Up-sampling evaluation showed that the artificial improvement of spatial resolution had no effect on mean absolute vorticity estimation but it affected SNR for all methods. The Richardson 4* method and its compact version were the most accurate and stable methods for vorticity magnitude evaluation. Vorticity field determination using the eight-point circulation method, the most common method used in CMR, has reduced accuracy compared to other vorticity schemes. Richardson 4* and its compact version showed stable SNR using both theoretical and in vivo data.
Numerical and Experimental Study of Temperature Field for Double Electrode Gas Metal Arc Welding
Authors: Shi Yu , Han Rihong , Huang Jiankang , Yan Shao
Published: September 2013

Based on the features of double electrode gas metal arc welding (DE-GMAW), a new hybrid heat-source model for DE-GMAW was proposed. Using this heat-source model, the temperature fields of DE-GMAW with different welding parameters were simulated. According to the simulation results with different welding parameters, the influence of welding parameters to the heat input to base metal in DE-GMAW were analyzed. To verify the rationality of the hybrid heat-source model of DE-GMAW, the simulation results of the temperature field were compared with the experimental results with same welding parameters. The research results indicate that under the same total current, the heat input to base metal decrease gradually with the increase of by-pass current. In addition, the closer to the welding line from the measured point the greater decrease rate of the heat input to base metal. By the study and comparison of the thermal cycle curve of measured points, the simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. These results indicate that the calculated temperature field is accurate and the hybrid heat-source model is rational.
Annealing of Compression Molded Aspherical Glass Lenses
Authors: Tao Bo , He Peng , Shen Lianguan , Yi Allen
Published: September 2013

Residual stresses and refractive index of molded glass lenses are important quality indicators of their optical performance. In this research, the control of residual stresses and refractive index variation of molded glass lenses were experimentally investigated by postmolding annealing. Residual stresses were quantitatively measured using a circular polariscope. Refractive index was reconstructed and calculated by an optical setup based on Mach–Zehnder interferometer. In addition, geometry of the aspherical surface of lens was also evaluated before and after annealing. The comparison between the measured results before and after annealing showed that residual stresses and refractive index variation were well controlled and the shape of the aspherical surface was largely retained. This comprehensive experimental study demonstrated a suggestion to improve quality of the compression molded glass lens by postmolding annealing for high-precision optical applications.
A Forward-Backward Data Processing Method for the Experimental Results of Reciprocating Motion
Authors: Chu Hsiao-Yeh , Lin Jen Fin , Li Yi-Ting , Hsieh Hung-Tai , Chen Guan-Lin , Tsai Ping-Hsueh
Published: September 2013

This study develops the forward-backward processing method to deal with a huge number of data collected from a long test duration at a low sampling rate. Applications of this method, in addition to the proper choice of the ratio of the frequencies of the reciprocating motion and the sampling rate and the choice of the optimum subdivision number in a cycle, are able to obtain a smooth reborn profile with a high degree of accuracy from the huge number of sampling data. This reborn profile is obtained by averaging the data mapped into every subdivision of this cycle. In order to identify the qualified cycles in the reciprocating motions, which are able to map all the sampling data in these cycles into a cycle, the starting-point criterion is also developed. This present method has been proven to be really effective when applied to the experimental results of friction coefficient and electrical contact resistance collected in a dry wear test.
Development of a Practical Design Guide for Balcony Acoustic Treatments
Authors: Naish Daniel A. , Tan Andy C. C. , Demirbilek F. Nur
Published: September 2013

Balcony acoustic treatments can be demonstrated to provide important benefits in reducing road traffic noise within the balcony space and consequently internally for any adjacent room. The actual effect on road traffic noise is derived from a multitude of variables that can be broadly categorized into (a) acoustical and (b) geometrical for two distinct propagation volumes being (i) the street space, and (ii) the balcony space. A series of recent research activities in this area has incorporated the use of a combined image and diffuse source model, which can be used to predict the effect of balconies on road traffic noise for large number of scenarios. This paper investigates and presents a method and capability to summarize predictive data into user friendly guidelines aimed for use by acoustical professionals and architects and possible implementation in building design policies for environmental noise. The paper concludes with a presentation of the likely format of a potential design guide.
Localisation of Sound Sources on Aircraft in Flight
Authors: Siller Henri A.
Published: September 2013

This paper presents beamforming techniques for source localization on aicraft in flight with a focus on the development at DLR in Germany. Fly-over tests with phased arrays are the only way to localize and analyze the different aerodynamic and engine sources of aircraft in flight. Many of these sources cannot be simulated numerically or in wind-tunnel tests because they they are either unknown or they cannot be resolved properly in model scale. The localization of sound sources on aircraft in flight is performed using large microphone arrays. For the data analysis, the source signals at emission time are reconstructed from the Doppler-shifted microphone data using the measured flight trajectory. Standard beamforming techniques in the frequency domain cannot be applied due transitory nature of the signals, so the data is usually analyzed using a classical beamforming algorithm in the time domain. The spatial resolution and the dynamic range of the source maps can be improved by calculating a deconvolution of the sound source maps with the point spread function of the microphone array. This compensates the imaging properties of the microphone array by eliminating side lobes and aliases. While classical beamfoming yields results that are more qualitative by nature, the deconvolution results can be used to integrate the acoustic power over the different source regions in order to obtain the powers of each source. ranking of the sources. These results can be used to rank the sources, for acoustic trouble shooting, and to assess the potential of noise abatement methods.
Dynamic Behavior of Rolling Tires Under Different Operating Conditions
Authors: Vercammen S. , González Díaz C. , Kindt P. , Thiry C. , Middelberg J. , Leyssens J.
Published: September 2013

Although tire/road noise and tire vibration phenomena have been studied for decades, there are still some missing links in the process of accurately predicting and controlling the overall tire/road noise and vibration. An important missing link is represented by the effect of rolling on the dynamic behavior of a tire. Consequently, inside the European seventh framework program, an industry-academia partnership project, named TIRE-DYN, has been founded between KU Leuven, Goodyear and LMS International. By means of experimental and numerical analyses, the effects of rolling on the tire dynamic behavior are quantified.

This paper presents the results of vibration measurements on a rotating tire with an embedded accelerometer. Modal parameters of the rolling tire are estimated from an operational modal analysis. In addition, the dispersion curves, which give detailed insight in the wave propagation behavior of a structure, are analyzed for the rolling tire. The goal of these analyses is to deepen the understanding on the influence of rolling on the tire dynamic behavior.
Development of Particle Velocity Transfer Path Analysis
Authors: Inoue Akira , Tanabe Yosuke
Published: September 2013

The transfer path analysis (TPA) in terms of sound pressure has been implemented for decades in many application areas, such as car, train and construction machine. In this article, we propose a transfer path analysis where particle velocity is employed as the measure of TPA. Sound pressure is a scalar quantity, while particle velocity, which is the other fundamental quantity of sound, is a vector quantity. The phase differences among particle velocity vector components have to be generally considered. For TPA, not only the six degrees-of-freedom of each path motion, but also the three degrees-of-freedom of the particle velocity at the receiver location have to be considered together for an effective path rank ordering. We first propose the formulation of the particle velocity transfer path analysis where the same formulation of the standard sound pressure transfer path analysis is assumed to hold true for each direction of particle velocity. In order to verify the proposed particle velocity transfer path analysis, we carry out an experiment using a simple test box structure. As a result we have found that the error in the particle velocity vector synthesis is acceptably small, and is as small as the error in the standard sound pressure synthesis, which indicates that the same synthesis method can be employed. We then perform rank ordering of the particle velocity transmission paths. Here, a simple method of path rank ordering is applied. Lastly, we briefly discuss sound energy as a measure of TPA.
Sound Power Measurements in the Near Field of Transformers
Authors: Ertl Michael , Landes Hermann
Published: September 2013

The international standard for the determination of the sound power level of transformers allows both the sound pressure and the sound intensity measurement method. Since the sound measurements take place in the reactive near-field next to the vibrating transformer tank walls, local disturbances influence the sound field characteristics at the measurement positions. As a result, the measured mean sound power level differs commonly up to 6dB at comparative measurements with both methods.

Beyond these near field effects, the influence of an industrial measurement environment (background sound sources, hard-reflecting floor, semi-reverberant walls, and standing waves) to the sound pressure and sound intensity field characteristics is investigated. Hereby, numerical analyses based on 3D-FEM with consideration of the fluid-structure-coupling are used. The measured sound level differences can be re-produced and clarified in numerical analyses.
Application of the Ritz Method to the Optimization of Vibrating Structures
Authors: McDaniel J. Gregory , Wixom Andrew S.
Published: September 2013

This work presents an application of the Ritz Method to the optimization of vibrating structures. The optimization problems considered here involve local design choices made in various regions of the structure in hopes of improving the vibration characteristics of the structure. In order to find the global optimum, one must perform an exhaustive search over all combinations of such choices. Even a modest number of design choices may give rise to a large number of combinations, so that an exhaustive search becomes computationally intensive. In the present work, the Ritz Method is employed to efficiently compute cost functions related to the vibration characteristics of the structure. Since the Ritz Method is based on integral expressions of the potential and kinetic energies of the structure, one may naturally divide these integrals over regions of the structure. In doing so, the concept of substructuring appears naturally in the formulation without explicitly considering boundary conditions between regions. This advantage, combined with the well-known convergence properties of the Ritz Method, provide for a computationally efficient approach for optimization problems. Numerical examples related to the optimization of a vibrating plate illustrate the approach.
Design of a Variable Thickness Plate to Focus Bending Waves
Authors: Schiller Noah H. , Lin Sz-Chin Steven , Cabell Randolph H. , Huang Tony Jun
Published: September 2013

This paper describes the design of a thin plate whose thickness is tailored in order to focus bending waves to a desired location on the plate. Focusing is achieved by smoothly varying the thickness of the plate to create a type of lens, which focuses structure-borne energy. Damping treatment can then be positioned at the focal point to efficiently dissipate energy with a minimum amount of treatment. Numerical simulations of both bounded and unbounded plates show that the design is effective over a broad frequency range, focusing traveling waves to the same region of the plate regardless of frequency. This paper also quantifies the additional energy dissipated by local damping treatment installed on a variable thickness plate relative to a uniform plate.
Acoustic Performance of Louvred Facades for Brisbane Domestic Airport: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Butera Frank , Hewett Keith
Published: September 2013

Maximising cross ventilation is a low energy method of naturally ventilating and providing heating and cooling to deep plan spaces. Significant reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases can be achieved through minimising the use of mechanical systems in regions with climatic conditions that support the use of natural ventilation. Arup has provided input into the design of a louvered facade for the control of external noise for Brisbane Domestic Airport. A full scale prototype facade was constructed and noise transmission loss measurements were undertaken. The results indicate that significant noise reduction can be achieved to enable compliance with the internal noise limits for airport terminals, whilst using natural ventilation. The findings from this research will directly benefit building designers and innovators in the pursuit of achieving sustainable building design.
Correlation Between a Questionnaire About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and SPL of Portable Music Players of High School and University Students
Authors: Hodoshima Nao
Published: September 2013

The risk of noise-induced hearing loss has been increased for young generations. Several studies pointed out that one reason is listening to digital audio players with a sound pressure level that leads to damage to hearing. This study conducted a questionnaire on 209 high school and university students living in Tokyo about their current situation regarding noise-induced hearing loss. The questionnaire includes the frequency of earphones/headphones usage, noise exposure, self-reported hearing conditions and hearing-related lifestyle. This study also measured A-weighted equivalent sound pressure levels of digital audio players that the students have with normal playback volume. The results showed that more than 90% of the subjects use earphones/headphones, and about 50% use them daily. 58% of the subjects use them while commuting, meaning that they listen to music in noisy trains and buses. 16% of the subjects reported that they have experienced hearing problems such as tinnitus symptoms and listening difficulties, but none of them have sought medical advice. The measured sound pressure level varied from 40 to 90 dBA, and 15% of the data was over 80 dBA. The results show the need for showing young people the importance of hearing protection and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.
Characterization of a constrained paired‐view technique in iterative reconstruction for breast tomosynthesis
Authors: Wu Gang , Mainprize James G. , Yaffe Martin J.
Published: September 2013

Purpose:

The order in which the projection views are employed in the reconstruction of tomosynthesis by iterative algorithms, such as simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique and maximum likelihood, has a strong effect on the rate of convergence, accuracy, and the edge‐blurring artifacts in the reconstructed image. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize and evaluate the effects of ordering schemes on image quality for breast tomosynthesis reconstruction and to explore a new constrained paired‐view technique that could provide reduction of reconstruction artifacts. In this work, the authors compared several different ordering schemes and characterized the image quality and the formation of out‐of‐plane artifacts. Furthermore, a new normalization method is presented. It produces more accurate reconstructions with reduced artifacts comparing to the standard method of sequential ordering.

Methods:

In addition to visual assessment of image quality, several indices such as the signal‐difference‐to‐noise ratio, the artifact‐spread function, and the lesion detectability (d′) were computed to quantitatively evaluate the effect of ordering scheme. The sets of breast tomosynthesis projection images were simulated for reconstruction; one set had uniform background (white noise only) and the other two contained both anatomic background and quantum noise. Clinical breast images were also studied for comparison.

Results:

The authors have quantified the image quality in reconstructed slices for a range of tumor sizes. The authors’ proposed method provides better performance for all of the metrics tested (contrast, d′, and the level of artifacts) both for the uniform phantom case and in the presence of anatomical structure.

Conclusions:

The paired projection normalization provides better performance in the image quality of the reconstructed slices, and results in a lower level of artifacts in the Z direction. This implies that even a relatively simple method like the “side‐to‐side” sequence, which pairs two symmetrical projections with equal angular distance from the central projection, would achieve better reconstructed image quality than the conventional “step‐by‐step” method, which uses sequential projections one after another.
Cancer risk estimates from radiation therapy for heterotopic ossification prophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Mazonakis Michalis , Berris Theoharris , Lyraraki Efrossyni , Damilakis John
Published: September 2013

Purpose:

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a frequent complication following total hip arthroplasty. This study was conducted to calculate the radiation dose to organs‐at‐risk and estimate the probability of cancer induction from radiotherapy for HO prophylaxis.

Methods:

Hip irradiation for HO with a 6 MV photon beam was simulated with the aid of a Monte Carlo model. A realistic humanoid phantom representing an average adult patient was implemented in Monte Carlo environment for dosimetric calculations. The average out‐of‐field radiation dose to stomach, liver, lung, prostate, bladder, thyroid, breast, uterus, and ovary was calculated. The organ‐equivalent‐dose to colon, that was partly included within the treatment field, was also determined. Organ dose calculations were carried out using three different field sizes. The dependence of organ doses upon the block insertion into primary beam for shielding colon and prosthesis was investigated. The lifetime attributable risk for cancer development was estimated using organ, age, and gender‐specific risk coefficients.

Results:

For a typical target dose of 7 Gy, organ doses varied from 1.0 to 741.1 mGy by the field dimensions and organ location relative to the field edge. Blocked field irradiations resulted in a dose range of 1.4–146.3 mGy. The most probable detriment from open field treatment of male patients was colon cancer with a high risk of 564.3 × 10−5 to 837.4 × 10−5 depending upon the organ dose magnitude and the patientˈs age. The corresponding colon cancer risk for female patients was (372.2–541.0) × 10−5. The probability of bladder cancer development was more than 113.7 × 10−5 and 110.3 × 10−5 for males and females, respectively. The cancer risk range to other individual organs was reduced to (0.003–68.5) × 10−5.

Conclusions:

The risk for cancer induction from radiation therapy for HO prophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty varies considerably by the treatment parameters, organ site in respect to treatment volume and patientˈs gender and age. The presented risk estimates may be useful in the follow‐up studies of irradiated patients.
Multiple line arrays for the characterization of aeroacoustic sources using a time-reversal method
Authors: Mimani A. , Doolan C. J. , Medwell P. R.
Published: September 2013

This letter investigates the use of multiple line arrays (LAs) in a Time-Reversal Mirror for localizing and characterizing multipole aeroacoustic sources in a uniform subsonic mean flow using a numerical Time-Reversal (TR) method. Regardless of the original source characteristics, accuracy of predicting the source location can be significantly improved using at least two LAs. Furthermore, it is impossible to determine the source characteristics using a single LA, rather a minimum of two are required to establish either the monopole or dipole source nature, while four LAs (fully surrounding the source) are required for characterizing a lateral quadrupole source.
Deafness and Misbehavior
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: September 2013

In mutant mice, severe ear dysfunction is associated with motor hyperactivity.
PTTH Induces Photophobia
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: September 2013

A single neuropeptide controls both wandering and light avoidance behaviors in fruit fly larvae.
Painful Subversion of the Host Defense
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: September 2013

Bacteria have two mechanisms for directly activating pain-sensing (nociceptive) neurons.
Co-opting a Tumor Predator to Provide Life Support
Authors: Margolin Adam A.
Published: September 2013

Tumor cells acquire resistance to anti-VEGF therapy by mobilizing immune cells through an IL-17–mediated paracrine signaling network.
Escherichia coli Biofilms Have an Organized and Complex Extracellular Matrix Structure
Authors: Hung Chia , Zhou Yizhou , Pinkner Jerome S. , Dodson Karen W. , Crowley Jan R. , Heuser John , Chapman Matthew R. , Hadjifrangiskou Maria , Henderson Jeffrey P. , Hultgren Scott J.
Published: September 2013

Bacterial biofilms are ubiquitous in nature, and their resilience is derived in part from a complex extracellular matrix that can be tailored to meet environmental demands. Although common developmental stages leading to biofilm formation have been described, how the extracellular components are organized to allow three-dimensional biofilm development is not well understood. Here we show that uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) strains produce a biofilm with a highly ordered and complex extracellular matrix (ECM). We used electron microscopy (EM) techniques to image floating biofilms (pellicles) formed by UPEC. EM revealed intricately constructed substructures within the ECM that encase individual, spatially segregated bacteria with a distinctive morphology. Mutational and biochemical analyses of these biofilms confirmed curli as a major matrix component and revealed important roles for cellulose, flagella, and type 1 pili in pellicle integrity and ECM infrastructure. Collectively, the findings of this study elucidated that UPEC pellicles have a highly organized ultrastructure that varies spatially across the multicellular community.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria can form biofilms in diverse niches, including abiotic surfaces, living cells, and at the air-liquid interface of liquid media. Encasing these cellular communities is a self-produced extracellular matrix (ECM) that can be composed of proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. The ECM protects biofilm bacteria from environmental insults and also makes the dissolution of biofilms very challenging. As a result, formation of biofilms within humans (during infection) or on industrial material (such as water pipes) has detrimental and costly effects. In order to combat bacterial biofilms, a better understanding of components required for biofilm formation and the ECM is required. This study defined the ECM composition and architecture of floating pellicle biofilms formed by
Escherichia coli
.
Novel Role for the Streptococcus pneumoniae Toxin Pneumolysin in the Assembly of Biofilms
Authors: Shak Joshua R. , Ludewick Herbert P. , Howery Kristen E. , Sakai Fuminori , Yi Hong , Harvey Richard M. , Paton James C. , Klugman Keith P. , Vidal Jorge E.
Published: September 2013

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is an important commensal and pathogen responsible for almost a million deaths annually in children under five. The formation of biofilms by
S. pneumoniae
is important in nasopharyngeal colonization, pneumonia, and otitis media. Pneumolysin (Ply) is a toxin that contributes significantly to the virulence of
S. pneumoniae
and is an important candidate as a serotype-independent vaccine target. Having previously demonstrated that a
luxS
knockout mutant was unable to form early biofilms and expressed less
ply
mRNA than the wild type, we conducted a study to investigate the role of Ply in biofilm formation. We found that Ply was expressed in early phases of biofilm development and localized to cellular aggregates as early as 4 h postinoculation.
S. pneumoniae ply
knockout mutants in D39 and TIGR4 backgrounds produced significantly less biofilm biomass than wild-type strains at early time points, both on polystyrene and on human respiratory epithelial cells, cultured under static or continuous-flow conditions. Ply’s role in biofilm formation appears to be independent of its hemolytic activity, as
S. pneumoniae
serotype 1 strains, which produce a nonhemolytic variant of Ply, were still able to form biofilms. Transmission electron microscopy of biofilms grown on A549 lung cells using immunogold demonstrated that Ply was located both on the surfaces of pneumococcal cells and in the extracellular biofilm matrix. Altogether, our studies demonstrate a novel role for pneumolysin in the assembly of
S. pneumoniae
biofilms that is likely important during both carriage and disease and therefore significant for pneumolysin-targeting vaccines under development.

IMPORTANCE
The bacterium
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(commonly known as the pneumococcus) is commonly carried in the human nasopharynx and can spread to other body sites to cause disease. In the nasopharynx, middle ear, and lungs, the pneumococcus forms multicellular surface-associated structures called biofilms. Pneumolysin is an important toxin produced by almost all
S. pneumoniae
strains, extensively studied for its ability to cause damage to human tissue. In this paper, we demonstrate that pneumolysin has a previously unrecognized role in biofilm formation by showing that strains without pneumolysin are unable to form the same amount of biofilm on plastic and human cell substrates. Furthermore, we show that the role of pneumolysin in biofilm formation is separate from the hemolytic activity responsible for tissue damage during pneumococcal diseases. This novel role for pneumolysin suggests that pneumococcal vaccines directed against this protein should be investigated for their potential impact on biofilms formed during carriage and disease.
Hepatic hydrothorax in the absence of ascites
Authors: Sukcharoen Kittiya , Dixon Steven , Mangat Kamarjit , Stanton Andrew
Published: September 2013

A previously well 66-year-old woman presented with a recurrent transudative right-sided pleural effusion. A nodular liver with coarse echotexture was demonstrated on ultrasound and subsequent MRI found hepatocellular carcinoma. In the absence of cardiopulmonary disease and significant protein uria, the recurrent pleural effusion was presumed to be hepatic hydrothorax despite the absence of ascites or other clinical features of chronic liver disease. The patient is currently awaiting liver transplantation.
Randomised controlled trial comparing hypnotherapy versus gabapentin for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study
Authors: MacLaughlan David Shannon , Salzillo Sandra , Bowe Patrick , Scuncio Sandra , Malit Bridget , Raker Christina , Gass Jennifer S , Granai C O , Dizon Don S
Published: September 2013

Objectives

To compare the efficacy of hypnotherapy versus gabapentin for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors, and to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a clinical trial comparing a drug with a complementary or alternative method (CAM).

Design

Prospective randomised trial.

Setting

Breast health centre of a tertiary care centre.

Participants

15 women with a personal history of breast cancer or an increased risk of breast cancer who reported at least one daily hot flash.

Interventions

Gabapentin 900 mg daily in three divided doses (control) compared with standardised hypnotherapy. Participation lasted 8 weeks.

Outcome measures

The primary endpoints were the number of daily hot flashes and hot flash severity score (HFSS). The secondary endpoint was the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS).

Results

27 women were randomised and 15 (56%) were considered evaluable for the primary endpoint (n=8 gabapentin, n=7 hypnotherapy). The median number of daily hot flashes at enrolment was 4.5 in the gabapentin arm and 5 in the hypnotherapy arm. HFSS scores were 7.5 in the gabapentin arm and 10 in the hypnotherapy arm. After 8 weeks, the median number of daily hot flashes was reduced by 33.3% in the gabapentin arm and by 80% in the hypnotherapy arm. The median HFSS was reduced by 33.3% in the gabapentin arm and by 85% in the hypnotherapy arm. HFRDIS scores improved by 51.6% in the gabapentin group and by 55.2% in the hypnotherapy group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups.

Conclusions

Hypnotherapy and gabapentin demonstrate efficacy in improving hot flashes. A definitive trial evaluating traditional interventions against CAM methods is feasible, but not without challenges. Further studies aimed at defining evidence-based recommendations for CAM are necessary.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00711529).
Validation of healthcare administrative data for the diagnosis of epilepsy
Authors: Franchi C , Giussani G , Messina P , Montesano M , Romi S , Nobili A , Fortino I , Bortolotti A , Merlino L , Beghi E ,   and the EPIRES Group
Published: September 2013

Background

Administrative databases have become an important tool to monitor diseases. Patients with epilepsy could be traced using disease-specific codes and prescriptions, but formal validation is required to obtain an accurate case definition. The aim of the study was to correlate administrative data on epilepsy with an independent source of patients with epilepsy in a district of Lombardy, Northern Italy, from 2000 to 2008.

Methods

Data of nearly 320 600 inhabitants in the district of Lecco collected from the Drug Administrative Database of the Lombardy Region were analysed. Among them were included patients who fulfilled the International Classification of Diseases 9 (ICD-9) codes and/or the disease-specific exemption code for epilepsy and those who had at least one EEG record and took antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as monotherapy or in variable combinations. To ascertain epilepsy cases, 11 general practitioners (GPs) with 15 728 affiliates were contacted. Multiple versions of the diagnostic algorithm were developed using different logistic regression models and all combinations of the four independent variables.

Results

Among the GP affiliates, 71 (4.5/1000) had a gold standard diagnosis of epilepsy. The best and most conservative algorithm included EEG and selected treatment schedules and identified 61/71 patients with epilepsy (sensitivity 85.9%, CI 76.0% to 92.2%) and 15 623/15 657 patients without epilepsy (specificity 99.8%,CI 99.7% to 99.8%). The positive and negative predictive values were 64.2% and 99.9%. Sensitivity (86.7%) and the positive predictive value (68.4%) increased only slightly when patients with single seizures were included.

Conclusions

A diagnostic algorithm including EEG and selected treatment schedules is only moderately sensitive for the detection of epilepsy and seizures. These findings apply only to the Northern Italian scenario.
Ambient air pollution and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy
Authors: Xu Xiaohui , Hu Hui , Ha Sandie , Roth Jeffrey
Published: September 2013

Background

Ambient air pollution has been implicated in the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, evidence of the association between air pollution and HDP is still limited, and the effects of gaseous air pollutants on HDP and their time windows of exposure have not been well studied.

Methods

We used the Florida birth registry data to investigate the associations between air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM2.5, O3and CO) and the risks of HDP in 22 041 pregnant women in Jacksonville, Florida, USA from 2004 to 2005. Further, we examined whether air pollution exposure during different time windows defined by trimesters and the entire pregnancy had different effects on HDP.

Results

The single-pollutant logistic regression model showed that exposure to four pollutants during the full pregnancy period was significantly associated with prevalence of HDP after adjusting for covariates: NO2(OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.35), PM2.5(OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43), SO2(OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.25) and CO (OR=1.12, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.22) per IQR increase. Similar effects were observed when first trimester exposure to NO2, SO2and CO, and second trimester exposures to PM2.5were examined. Consistent results were confirmed in multiple-pollutant models.

Conclusions

This study suggests that exposure to high levels of air pollution during early pregnancy and the full gestational period was associated with increased prevalence of HDP in Florida, USA.
PP10 Green and Black Tea for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): A Cochrane Systematic Review
Authors: Hartley L C , Flowers N , Holmes J , Clarke A , Stranges S , Hooper L , Rees K
Published: September 2013

Background

There is increasing evidence that both green and black tea are beneficial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.

Objective

Determine the effects of green and black tea on the primary prevention of CVD.

Methods

The following electronic databases were searched with no language restrictions from their inception to October 2012: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and trial registers. Included studies fulfilled the following criteria: study design - RCTs, participants - free of CVD (includes those at high risk), intervention – Green tea, Black tea or tea extracts, comparator – no intervention or placebo, outcomes – diagnosis of CVD or change in the risk factor profile for CVD (blood pressure, lipids). Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, assessed shortlisted studies for formal inclusion/exclusion, abstracted data and assessed methodological quality.

Results

Database searching resulted in1733 hits of which 130 went forward for formal inclusion/exclusion. Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Five trials examined green tea extracts and four examined black tea extracts. No studies reported cardiovascular events. Black tea extracts were found to produce statistically significant reductions in LDL cholesterol (mean difference -0.46mmol/l [95% CI -0.54, -0.39]) and blood pressure (SBP - mean difference -1.85mmHG [-32.6, -0.44]; DBP - mean difference -1.32mmHG [-2.7, -0.06]), but only a small number of trials contributed to each analysis and studies were at some risk of bias. Green tea extracts were also found to produce statistically significant reductions in total cholesterol (mean difference -0.65 mmol/l [-0.81, -0.50]), LDL cholesterol (mean difference -0.58 mmol/l [-0.87, -0.28]) and blood pressure (SBP - mean difference -3.43 mmHG [-4.54, -2.31]), but only three studies contributed to each analysis. When both tea types were analysed together they showed favourable effects on LDL cholesterol (mean difference -0.47 mmol/l [-0.54, -0.40]) and blood pressure (SBP - mean difference -2.27 mmHG [-3.44, -1.11]; DBP mean difference -2.60 mmHG [-3.46, -1.73]).

Conclusion

There are very few long term studies examining the intake of green or black tea for the primary prevention of CVD. The limited evidence suggests that tea has favourable effects on CVD risk factors, but due to the small number of trials contributing to each analysis the results should be treated with caution and further high quality trials with longer term follow-up are needed to confirm this.
Interpretation of increased deformation rate in aquifer IV due to groundwater pumping in Shanghai
Authors: Shen Shui-Long , Ma Lei , Xu Ye-Shuang , Yin Zhen-Yu
Published: September 2013

Shanghai is a typical example of a region in China suffering from severe land subsidence. Previous investigations have shown that land subsidence is strongly related to groundwater pumping in both the temporal and spatial domains. A series of field investigations shows that the deformation rate of aquifer IV (AqIV) has increased, contributing significantly to the total subsidence in Shanghai. To predict the deformation behavior of AqIV in Shanghai due to groundwater pumping, four different models have been applied in this study: (i) a model based on groundwater flow theory, (ii) an elastic model based on Cauchy mechanics, (iii) a creep model incorporated into Cauchy mechanics, and (iv) a recently proposed land subsidence model by Budhu based on Cosserat mechanics. Based on a number of assumptions, Budhu’s concept was extended to consider the time-dependent behavior of groundwater potential in aquifers and the consolidation behavior of overburdened aquitards. The calculated results of AqIV’s deformation were compared with the field-measured data. The results show that when using groundwater flow theory and Cauchy mechanics, it is difficult to predict the increased deformation rate of the sandy layers in aquifers even when the creep behavior is incorporated into the calculation. However, Budhu’s method based on Cosserat mechanics can predict this increased deformation rate well. The predicted result indicates that increased deformation of aquifer IV is due to volumetric contraction caused by shear stress rather than the creep of aquifer sand. The phenomenon of deformation delay in aquifers can also be interpreted with the proposed model.
Infrared spectroscopic characterization of hydrogen-bonded propylene oxide − ethanol and propylene oxide − 2-fluoroethanol complexes isolated in solid neon matrices
Authors: Ali Osama Y. , Jewer Elyse , Fridgen Travis D.
Published: September 2013

The infrared absorption spectra of hydrogen-bonded complexes of propylene oxide with either ethanol or 2-fluoroethanol have been recorded in neon matrices. Mixtures of propylene oxide and ethanol or propylene oxide and 2-fluoroethanol vapors were mixed with an excess of neon gas and deposited onto a KBr substrate at 4.2 K. The results indicate that hydrogen-bonded complexes were formed with propylene oxide as the hydrogen bond acceptor and either ethanol or 2-fluoroethanol as the hydrogen bond donors. The features assigned to the O−H stretch were red-shifted by 175 and 193 cm−1 for the ethanol- and 2-fluoroethanol-containing complexes, respectively. The difference in red shifts can be accounted for due to the greater acidity of 2-fluroethanol. Deuterium isotope experiments were conducted to help confirm the assignment of the O–H stretch for the complexes. As well, structures and infrared spectra were calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) calculations and were used to compare with the experimental spectra. A “scaling equation” rather than a scaling factor was used and is shown to greatly increase the utility of the calculations when comparing with experimental spectra. An examination of the O–H stretching red shifts for many hydrogen-bound complexes reveals a relationship between the shift and the difference between the acidity of the hydrogen bond donor and the basicity of the hydrogen bond acceptor (the enthalpy of proton transfer). Both hydrogen-bonded complexes and proton-bound complexes appear to have a maximum in the reduced frequency value that corresponds to complexes where the hydrogen/proton are equally shared between the two bases.
Concrete pavement rehabilitation procedure using resonant rubblization technology and mechanical–empirical based overlay design
Authors: Qiu Xin , Ling Jianming , Wang Feng
Published: September 2013

Reflective cracking distresses frequently occur on the hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay due to the movements of the underlying Portland cement concrete (PCC). Rubblization was proven in North America to be an effective approach among slab fracturing technologies for solving the premature reflective cracking problem. This paper presents the procedure of applying the rubblization technology in HMA overlay design in a research effort in China to develop the Chinese standard. In the study, the validity of rubblization was analyzed by a trench survey and sieve tests; the layer moduli of the composite subgrade and rubblized concrete slab were determined using FWD and plate bearing tests and a conversion chart; the thickness design for the HMA overlay over the rubblized PCC pavement was conducted using a Chinese version mechanistic–empirical design process; and finally the in-service monitoring over the pavements built using the developed procedure was conducted to test the validity of the procedure.
American lobster dynamics in a brave new ocean
Authors: Steneck Robert S. , Wahle Richard A.
Published: September 2013

Dynamic food webs and climate are changing lobster ecology and management. American lobsters (Homarus americanus) evolved in the North Atlantic under conditions of intense predation from large finfish such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Lobster’s relatively extended brood period and large larval size result in high per capita pelagic phase survival, which, coupled with settlement habitat selection for predator refugia, contributes to the species’ high lifetime reproductive success. However, the western North Atlantic is an extremely low diversity ecosystem prone to booms and busts. Extirpation of coastal predators released past constraints on lobster population growth such that lobster landings increased three- to five-fold since 1980 in Canada and the US. Climate change may stress lobsters in some regions and enhance stocks elsewhere, but it also facilitates warm-water species distribution shift northward. As lobster population densities and water temperatures increase, so do risks and consequences of disease. In the future we must expect the unexpected. “Equilibrium” conditions on which traditional fisheries management depends simply do not exist. This creates new challenges for managing this species regionally and into the future.
Community centrality for node's influential ranking in complex network
Authors: Cai Biao , Tuo Xian-Guo , Yang Kai-Xue , Liu Ming-Zhe
Published: September 2013

Some tiny party of influential nodes may highly affect spread of information in complex networks. For the case of very high time complexity in the shortest path computation of global centralities, making use of local community centrality to identify influential nodes is an open and possible problem. Compared to degree and local centralities, a five-heartbeat forward community centrality is proposed in this paper, in which a five-step induced sub-graph of certain node in the network will be achieved. Next, we induce the minimal spanning tree (MMT) of the sub-graph. Finally, we take the sum of all weights of the MMT as community centrality measurement that needs to be the influential ranking of the node. We use the susceptible, infected and recovered (SIR) model to evaluate the performance of this method on several public test network data and explore the forward steps of community centrality by experiments. Simulative results show that our method with five steps can identify the influential ranking of nodes in complex network as well.
PROBING ANOMALOUS HZZ COUPLINGS AT THE LHeC
Authors: ÇAKIR I. T. , ÇAKIR O. , SENOL A. , TASCI A. T.
Published: September 2013

We examine the sensitivity to anomalous couplings of the Higgs boson to neutral gauge bosons in a model-independent way at the Large Hadron electron Collider (LHeC). We have obtained the constraints on anomalous couplings for HZZ vertex via the process e-p→e-HqX. We find the accessible limits on the CP-conserving coupling bZ as (-0.12,0.43) and (-0.10,0.33), while the limits on CP-violating coupling βZ as (-0.32,0.32) and (-0.24,0.24) at the electron beam energy Ee = 60 GeV and Ee = 140 GeV , respectively.