bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An online spatiotemporal prediction model for dengue fever epidemic inKaohsiung (Taiwan)
Authors: Yu Hwa‐Lung , Angulo José M. , Cheng Ming‐Hung , Wu Jiaping , Christakos George
Published: March 2014

The emergence and re‐emergence of disease epidemics is a complex question that may be influenced by diverse factors, including the space–time dynamics of human populations, environmental conditions, and associated uncertainties. This study proposes a stochastic framework to integrate space–time dynamics in the form of a Susceptible‐Infected‐Recovered (SIR) model, together with uncertain disease observations, into a Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) framework. The resulting model (BME‐SIR) can be used to predict space–time disease spread. Specifically, it was applied to obtain a space–time prediction of the dengue fever (DF) epidemic that took place in Kaohsiung City (Taiwan) during 2002. In implementing the model, the SIR parameters were continually updated and information on new cases of infection was incorporated. The results obtained show that the proposed model is rigorous to user‐specified initial values of unknown model parameters, that is, transmission and recovery rates. In general, this model provides a good characterization of the spatial diffusion of the DF epidemic, especially in the city districts proximal to the location of the outbreak. Prediction performance may be affected by various factors, such as virus serotypes and human intervention, which can change the space–time dynamics of disease diffusion. The proposed BME‐SIR disease prediction model can provide government agencies with a valuable reference for the timely identification, control, and prevention of DF spread in space and time.
Verification of energy dissipation rate scalability in pilot and production scale bioreactors using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Johnson Chris , Natarajan Venkatesh , Antoniou Chris
Published: March 2014

Suspension mammalian cell cultures in aerated stirred tank bioreactors are widely used in the production of monoclonal antibodies. Given that production scale cell culture operations are typically performed in very large bioreactors (≥ 10,000 L), bioreactor scale‐down and scale‐up become crucial in the development of robust cell‐culture processes. For successful scale‐up and scale‐down of cell culture operations, it is important to understand the scale‐dependence of the distribution of the energy dissipation rates in a bioreactor. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can provide an additional layer of depth to bioreactor scalability analysis. In this communication, we use CFD analyses of five bioreactor configurations to evaluate energy dissipation rates and Kolmogorov length scale distributions at various scales. The results show that hydrodynamic scalability is achievable as long as major design features (# of baffles, impellers) remain consistent across the scales. Finally, in all configurations, the mean Kolmogorov length scale is substantially higher than the average cell size, indicating that catastrophic cell damage due to mechanical agitation is highly unlikely at all scales. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:760–764, 2014
Attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to leaf tissue in response to infiltration conditions
Authors: Simmons Christopher W. , VanderGheynst Jean S. , Nitin N.
Published: March 2014

Transient expression of recombinant proteins in plant tissues following Agrobacterium‐mediated gene transfer is a promising technique for rapid protein production. However, transformation rates and transient expression levels can be sub‐optimal depending on process conditions. Attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to plant cells is an early, critical step in the gene transfer pathway. Bacterial attachment levels and patterns may influence transformation and, by extension, transient expression. In this study, attachment of A. tumefaciens to lettuce leaf tissue was investigated in response to varying infiltration conditions, including bacterial density, surfactant concentration, and applied vacuum level. Bacterial density was found to most influence attachment levels for the levels tested (108, 109, and 1010 CFU/mL), with the relationship between bacterial density and attachment levels following a saturation trend. Surfactant levels tested (Break‐Thru S240: 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 µL/L) also had a significant positive effect on bacterial attachment while vacuum level (5, 25, and 45 kPa) did not significantly affect attachment in areas exposed to bacteria. In planta transgene transient expression levels were measured following infiltration with 108, 109, and 1010 CFU/mL bacterial suspension. Notably, the highest attachment level tested led to a decrease in transient expression, suggesting a potential link between bacterial attachment levels and downstream phenomena that may induce gene silencing. These results illustrate that attachment can be controlled by adjusting infiltration conditions and that attachment levels can impact transgene transient expression in leaf tissue. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1137–1144, 2014
A practical strategy for using miniature chromatography columns in a standardized high‐throughput workflow for purification development of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Welsh John P. , Petroff Matthew G. , Rowicki Patricia , Bao Haiying , Linden Thomas , Roush David J. , Pollard Jennifer M.
Published: March 2014

The emergence of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies has created a need for faster and more efficient bioprocess development strategies in order to meet timeline and material demands. In this work, a high‐throughput process development (HTPD) strategy implementing several high‐throughput chromatography purification techniques is described. Namely, batch incubations are used to scout feasible operating conditions, miniature columns are then used to determine separation of impurities, and, finally, a limited number of lab scale columns are tested to confirm the conditions identified using high‐throughput techniques and to provide a path toward large scale processing. This multistep approach builds upon previous HTPD work by combining, in a unique sequential fashion, the flexibility and throughput of batch incubations with the increased separation characteristics for the packed bed format of miniature columns. Additionally, in order to assess the applicability of using miniature columns in this workflow, transport considerations were compared with traditional lab scale columns, and performances were mapped for the two techniques. The high‐throughput strategy was utilized to determine optimal operating conditions with two different types of resins for a difficult separation of a mAb monomer from aggregates. Other more detailed prediction models are cited, but the intent of this work was to use high‐throughput strategies as a general guide for scaling and assessing operating space rather than as a precise model to exactly predict performance. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:626–635, 2014
Continence and micturition: An anatomical basis
Authors: Shah Adarsh P. , Mevcha Amit , Wilby Daniel , Alatsatianos Anton , Hardman John C. , Jacques Steven , Wilton Joanne C.
Published: March 2014

Urinary incontinence remains an important clinical problem worldwide, having a significant socio‐economic, psychological, and medical burden. Maintaining urinary continence and coordinating micturition are complex processes relying on interaction between somatic and visceral elements, moderated by learned behavior. Urinary viscera and pelvic floor must interact with higher centers to ensure a functionally competent system. This article aims to describe the relevant anatomy and neuronal pathways involved in the maintenance of urinary continence and micturition. Review of relevant literature focusing on pelvic floor and urinary sphincters anatomy, and neuroanatomy of urinary continence and micturition. Data obtained from both live and cadaveric human studies are included. The stretch during bladder filling is believed to cause release of urothelial chemical mediators, which in turn activates afferent nerves and myofibroblasts in the muscosal and submucosal layers respectively, thereby relaying sensation of bladder fullness. The internal urethral sphincter is continuous with detrusor muscle, but its arrangement is variable. The external urethral sphincter blends with fibers of levator ani muscle. Executive decisions about micturition in humans rely on a complex mechanism involving communication between several cerebral centers and primitive sacral spinal reflexes. The pudendal nerve is most commonly damaged in females at the level of sacrospinous ligament. We describe the pelvic anatomy and relevant neuroanatomy involved in maintaining urinary continence and during micturition, subsequently highlighting the anatomical basis of urinary incontinence. Comprehensive anatomical understanding is vital for appropriate medical and surgical management of affected patients, and helps guide development of future therapies. Clin. Anat. 27:1275–1283, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epidemiology and survival of HPV‐related tonsillar carcinoma
Authors: Psychogios Georgios , Alexiou Christoph , Agaimy Abba , Brunner Kathrin , Koch Michael , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Tomppert Andrea , Iro Heinrich
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of human papilloma virus (HPV)‐positive cases in tonsillar carcinomas and investigate its development over the last decade. Further aim was to show the oncologic results in accord to HPV status and various treatment modalities. A retrospective study was conducted between 2000 and 2012 and included 275 patients treated for tonsillar carcinoma. P16 immunohistochemistry was used as a surrogate marker for HPV‐associated carcinogenesis. A total of 101 (36.7%) patients proved to be p16 positive and 174 p16 negative. 80.2% of the p16‐positive cases presented with T1‐2 tumor. Of the early‐stage patients, 79% of the p16‐positive and 52.3% of the p16‐negative presented with lymph node metastases. The percentage of p16‐positive patients increased from 23.2% in the period 2005–2007 to 58.6% in the period 2010–2012 in the whole population and from 30.9% to 76.9% in T1‐2 carcinomas. Early T‐category p16‐positive carcinomas had significantly better disease‐specific survival (92.4% vs. 75.5%, P = 0.007) and overall survival (OS, 79.6% vs. 54.3%, P < 0.001) compared to p16‐negative tumors. This study showed an increase in the percentage of p16‐positive patients in tonsillar carcinoma from 23.2% in the years between 2005 and 2007 to 58.6% between 2010 and 2012. The majority (80.2%) of p16‐positive patients presented with early T‐category tumor but most of these (79.0%) had also lymph node metastases. Nevertheless, p16‐positive patients had excellent oncologic results after surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy and could be considered for de‐escalation of treatment.
A novel method for fabric color transfer
Authors: Zheng Dejun
Published: March 2014

Fabric color design is a complex process in textiles and clothing industry. A new method for fabric color selection and transferring is proposed in this study. An automatic way to select the colors from the natural images is developed for fabric color design. Based on these colors, a fabric image is then used for color transferring. The fabric image is processed by a bias field estimation operation, and the membership function of the color deviations of the image has been obtained. According to the selected colors and the color membership function, the fabric image colors can be changed and transferred to a new image that preserves the similar texture appearance but with significantly different color effects. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 304–310, 2015
Self‐adaptive workload classification and forecasting for proactive resource provisioning
Authors: Herbst Nikolas Roman , Huber Nikolaus , Kounev Samuel , Amrehn Erich
Published: March 2014

As modern enterprise software systems become increasingly dynamic, workload forecasting techniques are gaining an importance as a foundation for online capacity planning and resource management. Time series analysis offers a broad spectrum of methods to calculate workload forecasts based on history monitoring data. Related work in the field of workload forecasting mostly concentrates on evaluating specific methods and their individual optimisation potential or on predicting QoS metrics directly. As a basis, we present a survey on established forecasting methods of the time series analysis concerning their benefits and drawbacks and group them according to their computational overheads. In this paper, we propose a novel self‐adaptive approach that selects suitable forecasting methods for a given context based on a decision tree and direct feedback cycles together with a corresponding implementation. The user needs to provide only his general forecasting objectives. In several experiments and case studies based on real‐world workload traces, we show that our implementation of the approach provides continuous and reliable forecast results at run‐time. The results of this extensive evaluation show that the relative error of the individual forecast points is significantly reduced compared with statically applied forecasting methods, for example, in an exemplary scenario on average by 37%. In a case study, between 55 and 75% of the violations of a given service level objective can be prevented by applying proactive resource provisioning based on the forecast results of our implementation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizing the scalability of a Web application on a multi‒core server
Authors: Hashemian Raoufehsadat , Krishnamurthy Diwakar , Arlitt Martin , Carlsson Niklas
Published: March 2014

The advent of multi‒core technology motivates new studies to understand how efficiently Web servers utilize such hardware. This paper presents a detailed performance study of a Web server application deployed on a modern eight‒core server. Our study shows that default Web server configurations result in poor scalability with increasing core counts. We study two different types of workloads, namely, a workload with intense TCP/IP related OS activity and the SPECweb2009 Support workload with more application‒level processing. We observe that the scaling behaviour is markedly different for these workloads, mainly because of the difference in the performance of static and dynamic requests. While static requests perform poorly when moving from using one socket to both sockets in the system, the converse is true for dynamic requests. We show that, contrary to what was suggested by previous work, Web server scalability improvement policies need to be adapted based on the type of workload experienced by the server. The results of our experiments reveal that with workload‒specific Web server configuration strategies, a multi‒core server can be utilized up to 80% while still serving requests without significant queuing delays; utilizations beyond 90% are also possible, while still serving requests with ‘acceptable’ response times. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asymmetric reproductive barriers and mosaic reproductive isolation: insights fromMisty lake–stream stickleback
Authors: Räsänen Katja , Hendry Andrew P.
Published: March 2014

Ecological speciation seems to occur readily but is clearly not ubiquitous – and the relative contributions of different reproductive barriers remain unclear in most systems. We here investigate the potential importance of selection against migrants in lake/stream stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from theMisty Lake system,Canada. This system is of particular interest because one population contrast (Lake vs.Outlet stream) shows very low genetic and morphological divergence, whereas another population contrast (Lake vs.Inlet stream) shows dramatic genetic and morphological divergence apparently without strong and symmetric reproductive barriers. To test whether selection against migrants might solve this “conundrum of missing reproductive isolation”, we performed a fully factorial reciprocal transplant experiment using 225 individually marked stickleback collected from the wild. Relative fitness of the different ecotypes (Lake,Inlet, andOutlet) was assessed based on survival and mass change in experimental enclosures. We found that Inlet fish performed poorly in the lake (selection against migrants in that direction), whereas Lake fish outperformed Inlet fish in all environments (no selection against migrants in the opposite direction). As predicted from their phenotypic and genetic similarity, Outlet and Lake fish performed similarly in all environments. These results suggest that selection against migrants is asymmetric and, together with previous work, indicates that multiple reproductive barriers contribute to reproductive isolation. Similar mosaic patterns of reproductive isolation are likely in other natural systems.
CD41 is a reliable identification and activation marker for murine basophils in the steady state and during helminth and malarial infections
Authors: Bakocevic Nadja , Claser Carla , Yoshikawa Soichiro , Jones Leigh Ann , Chew Samantha , Goh Chi Ching , Malleret Benoit , Larbi Anis , Ginhoux Florent , de Lafaille Maria Curotto , Karasuyama Hajime , Renia Laurent , Ng Lai Guan
Published: March 2014

Basophils, a rare leukocyte population in peripheral circulation, are conventionally identified as CD45intCD49b+FcεRI+ cells. Here, we show that basophils from blood and several organs of naïve wild‐type mice express CD41, the α subunit of αIIbβ3 integrin. CD41 expression on basophils is upregulated after in vivo IL‐3 treatment and during infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb). Moreover, CD41 can be used as a reliable marker for basophils, circumventing technical difficulties associated with FcεRI for basophil identification in a Nb infection model. In vitro anti‐IgE cross‐linking and IL‐3 basophil stimulation showed that CD41 upregulation positively correlates with augmented surface expression of CD200R and increased production of IL‐4/IL‐13, indicating that CD41 is a basophil activation marker. Furthermore, we found that infection with Plasmodium yoelii 17X (Py17x) induced a profound basophilia and using Mcpt8DTR reporter mice as a basophil‐specific depletion model, we verified that CD41 can be used as a marker to track basophils in the steady state and during infection. During malarial infection, CD41 expression on basophils is negatively regulated by IFN‐γ and positively correlates with increased basophil IL‐4 production. In conclusion, we provide evidence that CD41 can be used as both an identification and activation marker for basophils during homeostasis and immune challenge.
Teaching Ethical Decision Making: Helping Students Reconcile Personal and Professional Values
Authors: Ametrano Irene Mass
Published: March 2014

Because conflicts between personal and professional values can interfere with ethical decision making, a goal of counselor education must be helping students reconcile such conflicts. This article describes one counselor educator's experience teaching ethical decision making and the effects on student learning. Growth was observed in increased tolerance for ambiguity, awareness of how values influenced decision making, use of multiple factors in decision making, and emphasis on the welfare of clients. Implications for teaching and future research directions are discussed.
Personal and Professional Discord: Examining Religious Conservatism and Lesbian‐, Gay‐, and Bisexual‐Affirmative Counselor Competence
Authors: Bidell Markus P.
Published: March 2014

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) orientations can evoke strong reactions that are often based on personal beliefs that seemingly conflict with professional standards calling for LGB‐affirmative counseling. This study examined the relationship between religious conservatism and LGB‐affirmative counselor competence. Controlling for education level, political conservatism, and LGB interpersonal contact, the results indicate that, as religious conservatism increased, LGB competency significantly decreased. The strongest predictor of LGB‐affirmative counselor competency was religious fundamentalism, whereas multicultural course work was not a significant predictor.
A Conversation About the Intersection of Faith, Sexual Orientation, and Gender: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives
Authors: Balkin Richard S. , Watts Richard E. , Ali Saba R.
Published: March 2014

Recent challenges to counselor education and the ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, ) provided impetus for this article, which is focused on how 3 major Western religions address counseling and counselor training with diverse clients. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives are highlighted as related to counseling and training issues across faith, sexual orientation, and gender issues.
The Gender Identity Reflection and Rumination Scale: Development and Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Bauerband L. Andrew , Galupo M. Paz
Published: March 2014

The authors describe the development of the Gender Identity Reflection and Rumination Scale (GRRS), which measures rumination in the context of gender identity among transgender persons. GRRS items were formulated taking into account previous research on rumination, stigma stress, and identity processing. Two national U.S. samples were collected to investigate the psychometric properties of the GRRS, resulting in 3 factors of gender identity rumination: Reflection, Rumination, and Preoccupation With Others’ Perceptions.
Cooperativity and cluster growth patterns in acetonitrile: A DFT study
Authors: Remya Karunakaran , Suresh Cherumuttathu H.
Published: March 2014

Cooperativity in intermolecular interactions and cluster growth patterns of acetonitrile has been studied using M06L density functional theory. Cyclic, ladder‐type, stacked, cross‐stacked, and mixed patterns are studied. Total interaction energy (Eint) and interaction energy per monomer (Em) show maximum stability and cooperativity in stacked clusters followed by cross‐stacked ones. As cluster size increased, magnitude ofEmshowed significant increase. Compared toEmof dimer (−2.97 kcal/mol), the increase is 2.6‐fold for27mer. Higher stabilization in larger clusters is attributed to strong cooperativity in intermolecular CH···N and dipolar interactions. Enhanced cooperativity in stacked structures is supported by atoms‐in‐molecule electron density (ρ) data. Sum ofρat intermolecular bond critical points is the highest for stacked clusters. Further, area of negative‐valued molecular electrostatic potential is linearly related withEintand showed the lowest value in stacked followed by cross‐stacked clusters, indicating maximum utilization of lone pair density and maximum cooperativity in such growth patterns. A red shift in the average CN stretching frequencies with increase in the number of monomers and its direct correlation withEintin stacked clusters also supported their stability. Further, two known crystal patterns of acetonitrile (α and β) with 16 monomers are optimized and compared with the most stable hexadecamer pattern and are found to show lower values forEintandEmcompared to the latter. Based on this result, we predict the existence of a third crystal pattern for acetonitrile which will be more ordered and more stable than α and β forms. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TIED TOGETHER: BUILDING RELATIONAL WELL‐BEING AND REDUCING SOCIAL ISOLATION THROUGH PLACE‐BASED PARENT EDUCATION
Authors: Bess Kimberly D. , Doykos Bernadette
Published: March 2014

Recent research has begun to shed light on the role community organizations can play in fostering relational well‐being, particularly among low‐income parents living high‐poverty neighborhoods. However, less well understood are the organizational, programmatic, and neighborhood factors that contribute to the formation of new social network connections among participants in these settings or the nature of connections developed. This qualitative study examines the efforts of one neighborhood‐based human service organization to counter the effects of social isolation through a place‐based parent education initiative. Findings from 69 interviews suggest that for participants the program served as transformative learning environment that challenged existing narratives about public housing residents and fostered the development of a positive shared identity as parents. Formal structures and informal opportunities in the neighborhood supported the development and maintenance of new social connections and served as the foundation for an ongoing community of practice among participants.
Hermannsburg, 1929: Turning Aboriginal “Primitives” into Modern Psychological Subjects
Authors: Anderson Warwick
Published: March 2014

In 1929, the Lutheran mission at Hermannsburg (Ntaria), central Australia, became an extraordinary investigatory site, attracting an array of leading psychologists wishing to define the “primitive” mentality of the Arrernte, who became perhaps the most studied people in the British Empire and dominions. This is a story of how scientific knowledge derived from close encounters and fraught entanglements on the borderlands of the settler state. The investigators—Stanley D. Porteus, H. K. Fry, and Géza Róheim—represent the major styles of psychological inquiry in the early‐twentieth century, and count among the vanguard of those dismantling rigid racial typologies and fixed hierarchies of human mentality. They wanted to evaluate “how natives think,” yet inescapably they found themselves reflecting on white mentality too. They came to recognise the primitive as an influential and disturbing motif within the civilised mind—their own minds. These intense interactions in the central deserts show us how Aboriginal thinking could make whites think again about themselves—and forget, for a moment, that many of their research subjects were starving.
“Picturesque Incisiveness”: Explaining the Celebrity of James's Theory of Emotion
Authors: Wassmann Claudia
Published: March 2014

William James is the name that comes to mind when asked about scientific explanations of emotion in the nineteenth century. However, strictly speaking James's theory of emotion does not explain emotions and never did. Indeed, James contemporaries pointed this out already more than a hundred years ago. Why could “James’ theory” nevertheless become a landmark that psychologists, neuroscientists, and historians alike refer to today? The strong focus on James and Anglo‐American sources in historiography has overshadowed all other answers given to the question of emotion at the time of James. For that reason, the article returns to the primary sources and places James's work back into the context of nineteenth century brain research in which it developed.
Tamoxifen downregulates MxA expression by suppressing TLR7 expression in PBMCs of males infected with HCV
Authors: Fawzy Injie O. , Negm Mohamed , Ahmed Rasha , Esmat Gamal , Hamdi Nabila , Abdelaziz Ahmed I.
Published: March 2014

Gender discrepancies in immune response to HCV infections and during HCV therapy exist and previous findings including those from this research team indicate the female sex hormone, 17β‐estradiol (E2), to be one probable cause of such inconsistencies. Also, it was recently demonstrated that estrogen receptor modulator Tamoxifen (TAM) exerts an upmodulating/enhancing effect on the TLR7 and JAK‐STAT pathways in PBMCs of premenopausal females infected with HCV. Pursuing this work, a discrepancy was noticed in the results from male patients, therefore this study aimed to determine whether the effects of TAM previously observed in the PBMCs of women would hold true in PBMCs from males infected with HCV. Isolated PBMCs were pooled and relative expression of the TLR7 was quantified using RTqPCR. Sets of PBMCs were treated with exogenous interferon alpha (IFNα) or the TLR7 ligand, Imiquimod; these stimulations were performed with and without E2 and TAM pretreatment and the relative gene expressions of TLR7 and MxA were measured. Pretreatment with E2 and IFNα downregulated TLR7 (**P = 0.0080) and TAM further decreased this expression significantly (*P = 0.0284). TAM pretreatment also caused a significant downregulation in MxA expression in Imiquimod‐stimulated PBMCs (*P = 0.0218). In conclusion, TAM displays several paradoxical effects in PBMCs of males infected with HCV compared to those of females. Contrary to the previous study involving premenopausal females, in PBMCs of infected males TAM may decrease IFNα release as indicated by reduced MxA expression possibly via the suppression of TLR7 expression. J. Med. Virol. 86:1113–1119, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth
Authors: Vujević Slavko , Lovrić Dino , Balaž Zdenko
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a numerical procedure for computation of self and mutual impedance of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth. Procedure is based on an analytical expression for scalar potential distribution of an equipotential metal plate in homogeneous unbounded medium. The effect of the air–earth boundary condition is taken into account by the exact imaging method. The robustness and accuracy of the computation procedure is based on the combination of analytical integration and 1D and 2D Gaussian quadratures for solving integrals present in expressions for self and mutual ground impedances of metal plates. The attenuation and phase shift is taken into account approximately by introducing the attenuation‐phase shift factor. The numerical procedure developed for the computation of self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth is efficient, numerically stable and generally applicable. Numerical model developed for the computation of self and mutual ground impedances of cylindrical metal plates buried in homogeneous earth represents a basis of a wider numerical model for computation of ground fault current distribution in which grounding grids are approximated by metal cylindrical plates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
External and internal bone micro‐architecture in normal and Kienböck's lunates: A whole‐bone micro‐computed tomography study
Authors: Low Stephanie C. , Bain Gregory I. , Findlay David M. , Eng Kevin , Perilli Egon
Published: March 2014

Kienböck's disease is idiopathic osteonecrosis of the lunate, leading to its fracture and collapse. This study compares internal and external bone micro‐architecture of normal and fractured lunates (Kienböck's), by using high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3D) micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) on the whole bone of the two lunate types, and histology.

Fractured Kienböck‐diseased lunates were obtained from patients undergoing proximal‐row‐carpectomy, while normal cadaveric lunates served as controls. 3D‐micro‐CT‐imaging of control lunates revealed an encircling cortex surrounding trabecular bone. Trabeculae were arranged in a radial pattern, spanning from the distal to the proximal subchondral plate. Kienböck's lunates exhibited clear fracture lines, with fragmented bone, both proximally and distally, in areas the radially‐patterned trabeculae and enveloping cortex were absent, producing height loss. In trabecular bone, Kienböck's lunates revealed increased bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness and number, and decreased trabecular separation and structure model index. Histologically, Kienböck's lunates revealed osteonecrosis, as well as remodeling fronts with osteoblasts and osteoid surrounding bone marrow. Whole‐bone high‐resolution 3D examination of normal and Kienböck's diseased lunates contributes to a better understanding of micro‐architectural changes occurring in the pathology. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:826–833, 2014.
Survival and growth of foodborne pathogens in pesticide solutions routinely used in leafy green vegetables and tomato production
Authors: Dobhal Shefali , Zhang Guodong , Royer Tom , Damicone John , Ma Li Maria
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

The consumption of fresh produce has increased tremendously in the past few years as have outbreaks of foodborne illnesses associated with these commodities. Pesticides routinely used in crop production could influence the outcomes of foodborne pathogen contamination of fresh produce. Experiments were performed to determine the effects of pesticides on the survival and growth characteristics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. Eight commercial fungicides and insecticides commonly used for disease and insect pest control on leafy green vegetables and tomatoes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the pesticides tested, copper hydroxide, acetamiprid, cypermethrin and permethrin were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) inhibitory to pathogens while no effect was observed for chlorothalonil, flonicamid and methoxyfenozide. At the highest concentration tested (2.66%), azoxystrobin had a significant (P < 0.05) stimulatory effect on the growth of E. coli O157:H7 after 24 h incubation. The results indicated that some pesticides can stimulate the growth of human pathogens if contaminated water is used in their preparation, whereas others were likely to inhibit or reduce pathogen populations.

CONCLUSION

This information is helpful in mitigating the risk of microbial contamination in fresh produce, which is critical to public health and safety. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of Maillard reaction products on the physical and antimicrobial properties of edible films based on ε‐polylysine and chitosan
Authors: Wang Yingying , Liu Fuguo , Liang Chunxuan , Yuan Fang , Gao Yanxiang
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Edible films based on Maillard reaction products (MRPs) of ε‐polylysine and chitosan, without the use of any plasticiser, were prepared by solution casting. The effect of Maillard reaction parameters (reaction time and the ratio of polylysine/chitosan) of ε‐polylysine and chitosan on the structure, moisture content, water solubility, total colour difference and mechanical properties of edible films formed by MRPs were systematically evaluated.

RESULTS

Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that edible films prepared by the MRPs of ε‐polylysine and chitosan through the Maillard reaction exhibited a more compact and dense structure than those from the mixture of biopolymers without the presence of MRPs. The tensile strength and % elongation values of films from the mixture were decreased significantly with the rise of ε‐polylysine (P < 0.05). The moisture content of the films was not significantly affected by Maillard reaction, whereas water solubility was decreased and total colour difference was increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the extension of Maillard reaction time. In addition, antimicrobial activity of chitosan films against E. coli and S. aureus. could be achieved by incorporating ε‐polylysine into chitosan.

CONCLUSION

These films can ensure food quality and safety, especially for coating highly perishable foods, such as meat products. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Impacts of changing cropping pattern on virtual water flows related to crops transfer: a case study for the Hetao irrigation district, China
Authors: Liu Jing , Wu Pute , Wang Yubao , Zhao Xining , Sun Shikun , Cao Xinchun
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Analysis of cropping patterns is a prerequisite for their optimisation, and evaluation of virtual water flows could shed new light on water resources management. This study is intended to explore the effects of cropping pattern changes between 1960 and 2008 on virtual water flows related to crops transfer in the Hetao irrigation district, China.

RESULTS

(1) The sown area of crops increased at an average rate of 3.57 × 103 ha year−1 while the proportion of sown grain crops decreased from 92.83% in the 1960s to 50.22% in the 2000s. (2) Virtual water content decreased during the study period while net virtual water exports increased since the 1980s. (3) Assuming that the cropping pattern was constant and was equal to the average 1960s value, accumulated net virtual water export in 1980–2008 would have been 4.76 × 109 m3 greater than that in the actual cropping pattern scenario.

CONCLUSION

Cropping pattern changes in the Hetao irrigation district could not only be seen as resulting from the pursuit for higher economic returns, but also as a feedback response to limited water resources. A systematic framework is still needed for future cropping pattern planning by taking food security, continued agricultural expansion and other constraints into consideration. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Simultaneous brightness enhancement and wavelength conversion to the eye‐safe region in a high‐power diamond Raman laser
Authors: McKay Aaron , Kitzler Ondrej , Mildren Richard P.
Published: March 2014

Brightness enhancement in an external cavity diamond Raman laser designed for high power conversion of a neodymium (1064 nm) laser to the eye‐safe spectral region is reported. Using a multimode input beam pulsed at 36 kHz pulse repetition frequency, 16.2 W with 40% overall conversion efficiency was obtained at the second Stokes wavelength of 1485 nm. The output beam had a quality factor of which is a factor of 2.7 times lower than that of the input beam, resulting in a higher overall brightness. The output power, brightness, and brightness enhancement obtained represent significant advances in performance for Raman lasers as well as other competing kHz‐pulsed eye‐safe technologies.
Novel Composites from Eco‐Friendly Soy Flour/SBS Triblock Copolymer
Authors: Thakur Vijay Kumar , Grewell David , Thunga Mahendra , Kessler Michael R.
Published: March 2014

With the growing demand for bio‐based materials, the present study investigates the use of soy flour (SF) as potential reinforcement in thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Soy and poly(styrene‐butadiene‐styrene) triblock copolymer composite films are prepared using conventional thermoplastic polymer processing techniques. These composite films are investigated to evaluate the influence of SF concentration on the thermo‐mechanical and rheological properties. The results suggest that environmentally friendly soy flour reinforced thermoplastic elastomers exhibit excellent properties and offer great potential to replace traditional synthetic elastomeric materials.
Adhesives from Waste Protein Biomass for Oriented Strand Board Composites: Development and Performance
Authors: Mekonnen Tizazu H. , Mussone Paolo G. , Choi Phillip , Bressler David C.
Published: March 2014

The primary goal of this work was to develop a novel adhesive technology platform for oriented strand board (OSB) using waste animal protein extracts, as feedstock. In this research, a hazardous animal processing waste was thermally hydrolyzed, and the proteinaceous fractions were recovered and modified into an adhesive. The adhesive developed as such was formulated for OSB adhesion applications, and the OSB performance was also evaluated. Performance results showed that the OSB specimens made with up to 60% by weight of protein hydrolyzate based adhesive met the Canadian Standard Association (CSA O437.0–93) requirements for commercial applications. Based on the intermediate moisture resistance results observed, the recommended use of these boards could be for relatively low moisture environments.
Robust cardiac BOLD MRI using an fMRI‐like approach with repeated stress paradigms
Authors: Stalder Aurelien F. , Schmidt Michaela , Greiser Andreas , Speier Peter , Guehring Jens , Friedrich Matthias G. , Mueller Edgar
Published: March 2014

Purpose

Use repeated stress paradigms and an approach taken from neurological blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) to derive robust cardiac BOLD measurements.

Methods

Multiple‐repetition, single‐shot, electrocardiograph‐triggered, T2‐prepared BOLD balanced steady‐state free precession was performed during repeated long breath‐holds in 13 volunteers. Nonrigid motion correction was applied to the continuously acquired data and it was analyzed with a general linear model (GLM) taking into account the effects of the breath‐hold duration, RR interval, motion, and baseline variations. Both voxel‐ and region of interest‐based analyses were performed.

Results

The GLM model was able to isolate the component of the BOLD signal arising from the breath‐holds and separate it from the background effects due to the changing heart rate and motion. A significant (P < 0.05) BOLD signal increase was observed in the myocardium of healthy volunteers.

Conclusion

Using a recent elastic motion correction algorithm and adapted acquisition techniques, it was possible to apply fMRI‐like strategies for cardiac BOLD MRI in volunteers and derive robust BOLD measurements. The observed slight but significant oxygenation increase in the myocardium of volunteers might be explained by the vasodilator effect of increased CO2 concentration under apnea. Detection of such small physiological changes in volunteers performing breath‐holds demonstrates that the method could have potential in identifying low oxygenation regions in the myocardium of patients during stress tests. Magn Reson Med 73:577–585, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hospital admissions/visits associated with drug–drug interactions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Dechanont Supinya , Maphanta Sirada , Butthum Bodin , Kongkaew Chuenjid
Published: March 2014

Purpose

To estimate prevalences of hospital admissions/visits associated with actual drug–drug interactions (DDIs) and examine the effect of study design (prospective vs. retrospective), population (all ages or adults), and method of detecting DDIs on reported prevalences.

Methods

PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature plus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to October 2013 were searched for observational studies examining actual DDIs, in any language. The outcomes in this study were DDI prevalence rates in total populations, DDI prevalence rates in total adverse drug reaction patients, and frequency (%) of each pair of DDIs.

Results

Thirteen studies met our inclusion criteria. The median DDI prevalence rate for hospital admissions was 1.1% (367 DDI cases/47 976 patients, interquartile range [IQR] 0.4–2.4%). The median DDI prevalence rate for hospital visits was 0.1% (20 DDI cases/23 607 patients, IQR 0.0–0.3%). In adverse drug reaction patients, the median DDI prevalence rate for hospital admissions (308 DDI cases/1683 patients) and hospital visits (8 DDI cases/90 patients) were 22.2% (IQR 16.6–36.0%) and 8.9%, respectively. Medical record, interview, drug interaction screening program, adverse reaction report, and electronic medical record were identified as methods used for detecting DDIs. Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs were most commonly involved in hospital admission associated DDIs, whereas warfarin was frequently involved in DDIs detected at hospital visits as outpatients/emergencies.

Conclusions

Drug–drug interactions are a significant cause of hospital admissions and hospital visits. Improved DDI information gathering could help to reduce such adverse effects from DDIs, especially for patients using non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and warfarin. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrothermal Preparation of Photoluminescent Graphene Quantum Dots Characterized Excitation‐Independent Emission and its Application as a Bioimaging Reagent
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Xiao Xin , Zuo Xiaoxi , Liang Yong , Nan Junmin
Published: March 2014

Zero‐dimensional photoluminescent (PL) graphene quantum dots (GQDs) that can be used as the cell‐imaging reagent are prepared by a hydrothermal route using the graphene oxide (GO) as the carbon source. Under the optimized hydrothermal conditions, an initial hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.5 mg mL−1 at 180 °C for 120 min, the GO sheets can be cut into nanocrystals with lateral dimensions in the range of 1.5–5.5 nm and an average thickness of around 1.1 nm. The as‐prepared GQDs exhibit an abundance of hydrophilic hydroxy and carboxyl groups and emit bright blue luminescence with up‐conversion properties in a water solution at neutral pH. Most interestingly, they indicate excitation‐independent emission characteristics, and the surface state is demonstrated to have a key role in the PL properties. The fluorescence quantum yield of the GQDs is tested to be around 6.99% using quinine sulfate as a standard. In addition, the as‐prepared GQDs can enter into HeLa cells easily as a fluorescent imaging reagent without any further functionalization, indicating they are aqueous stability, biocompatibility, and promising for potential applications in biolabeling and solution state optoelectronics.
Respiratory severity score on day of life 30 is predictive of mortality and the length of mechanical ventilation in premature infants with protracted ventilation
Authors: Malkar Manish B. , Gardner William P. , Mandy George T. , Stenger Michael R. , Nelin Leif D. , Shepherd Edward G. , Welty Stephen E.
Published: March 2014

Objective

We tested the hypothesis that Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) on day of life 30 is predictive of mortality and length of mechanical ventilation in premature infants on prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed using the Nationwide Children's Hospital medical record and Vermont‐Oxford Network databases. The primary outcome variable was survival to hospital discharge and the secondary outcome was length of mechanical ventilation after day of life 30.

Results

We identified 199 neonates admitted to Nationwide Children's Hospital between 2004 and 2007 with birth weight less than 1,500 g that received prolonged mechanical ventilation in the first 30 days of their life. A total of 184 infants were included in the analysis, excluding 14 patients with congenital anomalies and one infant with incomplete data. RSS on day of life 30 was significantly greater in the group of infants that died compared to those that survived (P = 0.003, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.40]). Further analysis demonstrated that the maximum difference in mortality was obtained with a threshold RSS of 6. Of the 109 patients who had RSS less than 6 on day of life 30, mortality rate was 4.6% (5/109) while those greater than or equal to 6 had a mortality rate of 21.3% (16/75). Both Kaplan–Meier survival curves comparing mortality and length of mechanical ventilation in infants with RSS < 6 versus those with RSS ≥ 6 demonstrated strong associations between RSS on day of life 30 and survival (P = 0.002) and length of ventilation after day of life 30 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

RSS ≥ 6 on day of life 30 is associated with higher mortality and longer period of mechanical ventilation in premature infants requiring mechanical ventilation through 30 days of life. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:363–369. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.