bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Project Success and Executive Sponsor Behaviors: Empirical Life Cycle Stage Investigations
Authors: Kloppenborg Timothy J. , Tesch Debbie , Manolis Chris
Published: March 2014

The role of the executive sponsor in achieving project success is important, yet rarely addressed. Recent research identifies behaviors that constitute the role of the executive project sponsor and evaluates how such behavior affects project success during different project stages. This study answers two research questions: (1) Does the relative importance of executive sponsor behavior vary significantly at different project stages? And (2) Does the relative importance of project success dimensions vary significantly within and across the different stages of completion? Results provide knowledge that will help executive sponsors decide how to invest their limited time and resources.
Structure and specificity of an antibody targeting a proteolytically cleaved IgG hinge
Authors: Malia Thomas J. , Teplyakov Alexey , Brezski Randall J. , Luo Jinquan , Kinder Michelle , Sweet Raymond W. , Almagro Juan C. , Jordan Robert E. , Gilliland Gary L.
Published: March 2014

The functional role of human antihinge (HAH) autoantibodies in normal health and disease remains elusive, but recent evidence supports their role in the host response to IgG cleavage by proteases that are prevalent in certain disorders. Characterization and potential exploitation of these HAH antibodies has been hindered by the absence of monoclonal reagents. 2095‐2 is a rabbit monoclonal antibody targeting the IdeS‐cleaved hinge of human IgG1. We have determined the crystal structure of the Fab of 2095‐2 and its complex with a hinge analog peptide. The antibody is selective for the C‐terminally cleaved hinge ending in G236 and this interaction involves an uncommon disulfide in VL CDR3. We probed the importance of the disulfide in VL CDR3 through engineering variants. We identified one variant, QAA, which does not require the disulfide for biological activity or peptide binding. The structure of this variant offers a starting point for further engineering of 2095‐2 with the same specificity, but lacking the potential manufacturing liability of an additional disulfide. Proteins 2014; 82:1656–1667. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Repeat prescribing: 10 tips to develop a safer system
Authors: Price Liz
Published: March 2014

Failure of repeat prescribing systems can contribute to patient harm. Here, the author suggests 10 tips to be incorporated into general practice systems to help prevent avoidable risks.
What can commissioners do to improve the use of medicines?
Authors: Mason Jonathan
Published: March 2014

Our series on adherence with prescribed medications considers how it can be improved and the cost of wasted medicines reduced. Here, Jonathan Mason describes the approaches that CCGs can take to improve the use of medicines.
Dopant profiling in silicon nanowires measured by scanning capacitance microscopy
Authors: Bassani Franck , Periwal Priyanka , Salem Bassem , Chevalier Nicolas , Mariolle Denis , Audoit Guillaume , Gentile Pascal , Baron Thierry
Published: March 2014

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with axial doping junctions were synthesized via the Au‐catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth method with the use of HCl. In this work, dopant profiling from three axially doped SiNWs with p–i, p–n and n–i–p junctions were investigated using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM). It turns out that observed doping contrasts in SEM are also affected by the surface roughness and sample charging. In contrast, SCM allows us to delineate with sub‐10 nm resolution the electrical junctions and provides a relative value of the doping concentration in each segment of the NW. SCM clearly evidences the expected doping regions within these SiNWs thanks to the addition of HCl during the growth that strongly prevents shell overgrowth. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Preliminary Laboratory Study of Initial Copper Release from Dredge Residuals
Authors: Karim M. A. , Bunch Barry W. , Schroeder Paul R.
Published: March 2014

A preliminary laboratory study was conducted to investigate the impact of different residual types and sediment surface roughness on copper contaminant fluxes to the water column. Sediments from Torch Lake, Michigan served as the test samples. These sediments are mining by‐products with elevated Cu levels. Six experiments were run during which the sediments were conditioned to simulate different forms of residuals. During these experiments, the water column above the sediments was circulated via peristaltic pumping or orbital shaking and the total and dissolved Cu levels were monitored periodically for 15 days. Dissolved Cu levels indicated that during the first 48 hr the water column concentrations approached equilibrium for all six cases. Total Cu levels increased with time and did reach equilibrium but were more susceptible to fluctuations in water column suspended solids levels. Analysis of the resulting dissolved Cu data indicated that the resulting water column Cu concentrations differed with sediment surface and residual type. The highest dissolved Cu water column concentrations were observed for a roughened surface with a larger surface area. The lowest water column dissolved Cu levels were observed for the case with sediment slurry placed over clean sand. The dissolved Cu levels in the water column for all six simulated conditions were several orders higher than the USEPA ambient water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*
Scenario‐Based Evaluation of Commercially Available Cleaning Robots for Collection of Bacillus Spores from Environmental Surfaces
Authors: Lee Sang Don , Calfee M. Worth , Mickelsen Leroy , Clayton Matt , Touati Abderrahmane
Published: March 2014

The cleaning robots, a vacuum‐based robot (R2) and a wetted‐wipe‐based robot (R4), were evaluated in this study to determine their effectiveness for sampling Bacillus atrophaeus spores. The tests were designed to evaluate the benefit of robot sampling on large areas with two different contamination scenarios: a high‐concentration, low spatial extent contamination (hot spot) and a low concentration, high spatial extent contamination (widely dispersed). The hot spot tests were conducted with the high spore contamination (approximately 107 colony forming units [CFUs]) on a limited area (30.5 cm × 30.5 cm), 2 percent of the entire test. The widely dispersed tests were conducted with approximately 0.1 CFUs/cm2 for floor laminate and approximately 10 CFUs/cm2 for carpet surfaces. The widely dispersed tests distributed spores across the test surface and covered approximately 40 percent of the entire test area. The test results showed that both robots successfully sampled a large quantity of spores from carpet and floor laminate surfaces for both test scenarios. Robot performance is discussed in the context of currently used surface sampling methods. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*
H ∞  ∕ H −  LPV solutions for fault detection of aircraft actuator faults: Bridging the gap between theory and practice
Authors: Henry D. , Cieslak J. , Zolghadri A. , Efimov D.
Published: March 2014

The work presented in this paper is undertaken within the European FP7 funded Advanced Fault Diagnosis for Sustainable Flight Guidance and Control (ADDSAFE) project. The goal is to propose new fault detection and fault diagnosis techniques that could significantly help developing environmentally‐friendlier aircraft. In this paper, LPV model‐based fault detection schemes are proposed and compared for robust and early detection of faults in aircraft control surfaces servo‐loop. The proposed methodologies are based on a slight modification of the H ∞  ∕ H_ LPV optimization techniques proposed in [1] and [2] for systems modelled in, first polytopic manner, second linear fractional representation fashion. Both the methods aim at designing fault detection filters with enhanced fault transmission H −  gain and large h ∞  nuisance attenuation. A complete Monte Carlo campaign from a high representative simulator, provided by Airbus as a part of the ADDSAFE project, demonstrates the potential of the proposed techniques. It is shown that both the proposed fault detection schemes can be embedded within the structure of in‐service monitoring systems as a part of the Flight Control Computer software. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gradient‐free method for distributed multi‐agent optimization via push‐sum algorithms
Authors: Yuan Deming , Xu Shengyuan , Lu Junwei
Published: March 2014

This paper studies the problem of minimizing the sum of convex functions that all share a common global variable, each function is known by one specific agent in the network. The underlying network topology is modeled as a time‐varying sequence of directed graphs, each of which is endowed with a non‐doubly stochastic matrix. We present a distributed method that employs gradient‐free oracles and push‐sum algorithms for solving this optimization problem. We establish the convergence by showing that the method converges to an approximate solution at the expected rate of , where T is the iteration counter. A numerical example is also given to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
L2‐gain fault tolerant control of singular Lipschitz systems in the presence of actuator saturation
Authors: Zuo Zhiqiang , Wang Yijing , Yang Wenlong
Published: March 2014

In this paper, the L2‐gain fault tolerant control for a class of singular systems in the presence of Lipschitz nonlinearity and actuator saturation is investigated. Both fixed‐gain controller and adaptive controller are designed such that the closed‐loop system is regular, impulse‐free, and stable. In contrast with our previous work where the saturation avoidance method is adopted, here we resort to the saturation allowance approach to tackle this issue. As a result, the obtained criterion guaranteeing the regularity, impulse‐free, and stability properties does not involve information about the initial state a prior comparing with our previous results. Moreover, the structural constraint on the feedback control gain is removed. An optimization algorithm is formulated to find the largest disturbance tolerance capability. In addition, the L2‐gain performance of the closed‐loop system is also addressed based on the aforementioned results. An example is given to validate the theoretical results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fault detection and isolation of electrical induction motors via LPV fault observers: A case study
Authors: Casavola Alessandro , Gagliardi Gianfranco
Published: March 2014

An application of a recently proposed fault detection and isolation (FDI) design methodology for linear parameter varying (LPV) systems is presented which concerns the robust detection of stator windings faults of an electrical induction motor regulated by a speed controller. On the basis of a detailed nonlinear mathematical model of the motor, it is shown how, based on a judicious convex interpolation of a family of linearized models, a quasi‐linear parameter varying (quasi‐LPV) approximation capable to catch most of the nonlinearities of the model can be achieved and can directly be used for synthesizing LPV‐FDI observers. The design methodology consists in solving a multi‐objective convex linear matrix inequalities optimization problem where disturbance rejection and fault sensitivity are traded‐off in suitable frequency regions. The resulting diagnostic observer is gain‐scheduled and uses a set of motor variables, assumed measurable online, as a scheduling vector. The effectiveness of the LPV‐FDI framework is illustrated in a final numerical example. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards cross‐layer approaches to coping with misbehavior in mobile ad hoc networks: an anatomy of reputation systems
Authors: Wang Shuzhen , Zhang Zonghua , Naït‐Abdesselam Farid
Published: March 2014

In mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), the nodes need to cooperate each other to establish multi‐hop routes for out‐of‐range wireless communication. However, some of them may not always behave normally, either behaving selfishly for saving computational resource or maliciously for compromising communication protocols. Regardless of intents, such misbehavior would lead to the degradation of network performance. It is therefore important to design appropriate mechanisms to ensure that network performance could be maintained at an acceptable level in the presence of misbehaving nodes. But the open nature of MANETs makes such designs challenging. Reputation system has been widely recognized as an effective approach, which associates the behavior of nodes with its reputation, which is calculated by specifying and quantifying the observations of interest with respect to predefined performance metrics. More interestingly, the observations can be obtained and integrated from multiple layers, facilitating cross‐layer analysis. This paper intends to take a deep look into several well‐studied reputation systems and examine their operational characteristics in terms of modeling approaches and redemption techniques, with an objective to identify their capabilities in terms of misbehavior detection coverage and blind spots. Furthermore, such an anatomy allows us to better understand the failure curses of the deployment and operation of reputation systems in MANETs, so as to improve their performance by adopting effective countermeasures.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimisation‐based collaborative determination of component trustworthiness in service compositions
Authors: Elshaafi Hisain , Botvich Dmitri
Published: March 2014

In service‐oriented environments, service providers orchestrate distributed services from other providers to create new composite enterprise services. A component service can be invoked jointly by several distributed composite service providers. However, because a composite service is provided to the consumers as an integrated service, when failures or dissatisfaction of the consumers occurs, it is not possible to directly identify the untrustworthy component. In this paper, we describe a collaborative trustworthiness determination approach using optimisation that can provide a solution to selecting trustworthy component service constructs based on monitoring and consumer quality of experience reporting of existing composite services from peer providers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental passive eavesdropping of Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication voice communications through low‐cost software‐defined radios
Authors: Sanchez Ignacio , Baldini Gianmarco , Shaw David , Giuliani Raimondo
Published: March 2014

The flexibility of software‐defined radio (SDR) technology has been proposed to support various applications from the dynamic usage of the radio frequency spectrum to the implementation of radio access technologies in the commercial and military domain. A new generation of low‐cost SDR devices has emerged in the last few years, opening new possibilities to implement inexpensive security attacks against radio protocols and systems. Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (DECT) is a European Telecommunications Standards Institute standard for short‐range cordless communications with a worldwide installed base. In this paper, we survey the state of art for the application of low‐cost SDRs to the security domain, and we describe a complete implementation of a passive eavesdropping attack against DECT digital voice communication, where the DECT communication is not encrypted. The framework, which implements the attack, has been deployed on two different types of low‐cost SDR platforms to show the flexibility and extendibility of the implementation. The performance of the framework has been evaluated on the basis of different parameters and different approaches, and the experimental results are presented in the paper. The framework has demonstrated its effectiveness to implement an eavesdropping attack against DECT even at great distances with low‐cost equipment.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Binary variable multiple‐model multiple imputation to address missing data mechanism uncertainty: application to a smoking cessation trial
Authors: Siddique Juned , Harel Ofer , Crespi Catherine M. , Hedeker Donald
Published: March 2014

The true missing data mechanism is never known in practice. We present a method for generating multiple imputations for binary variables, which formally incorporates missing data mechanism uncertainty. Imputations are generated from a distribution of imputation models rather than a single model, with the distribution reflecting subjective notions of missing data mechanism uncertainty. Parameter estimates and standard errors are obtained using rules for nested multiple imputation. Using simulation, we investigate the impact of missing data mechanism uncertainty on post‐imputation inferences and show that incorporating this uncertainty can increase the coverage of parameter estimates. We apply our method to a longitudinal smoking cessation trial where nonignorably missing data were a concern. Our method provides a simple approach for formalizing subjective notions regarding nonresponse and can be implemented using existing imputation software. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multivariatetnonlinear mixed‐effects models for multi‐outcome longitudinal data with missing values
Authors: Wang Wan‐Lun , Lin Tsung‐I
Published: March 2014

The multivariate nonlinear mixed‐effects model (MNLMM) has emerged as an effective tool for modeling multi‐outcome longitudinal data following nonlinear growth patterns. In the framework of MNLMM, the random effects and within‐subject errors are assumed to be normally distributed for mathematical tractability and computational simplicity. However, a serious departure from normality may cause lack of robustness and subsequently make invalid inference. This paper presents a robust extension of the MNLMM by considering a joint multivariatetdistribution for the random effects and within‐subject errors, called the multivariatetnonlinear mixed‐effects model. Moreover, a damped exponential correlation structure is employed to capture the extra serial correlation among irregularly observed multiple repeated measures. An efficient expectation conditional maximization algorithm coupled with the first‐order Taylor approximation is developed for maximizing the complete pseudo‐data likelihood function. The techniques for the estimation of random effects, imputation of missing responses and identification of potential outliers are also investigated. The methodology is motivated by a real data example on 161 pregnant women coming from a study in a private fertilization obstetrics clinic in Santiago, Chile and used to analyze these data. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Quantitative Study of the Intracellular Dynamics of Fluorescently Labelled Glyco‐Gold Nanoparticles via Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
Authors: Murray Richard A. , Qiu Yuan , Chiodo Fabrizio , Marradi Marco , Penadés Soledad , Moya Sergio E.
Published: March 2014

The dynamic behaviour of gold nanoparticles functionalised with glucose (Glc‐Au NPs) has been studied here by means of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Meaningful data on the state of aggregation and dynamics of Glc‐Au NPs fluorescently‐labelled with HiLyte Fluor647 (Glc‐Au‐Hi NPs) in the intracellular environment were obtained. Moreover, the work presented here shows that FCS can be used to visualise the presence of single NPs or NP aggregates following uptake and to estimate, locally, NP concentrations within the cell. FCS measurements become possible after applying a “prebleaching” methodology, when the immobile NP fraction has been effectively removed and thus significant FCS data has been recorded. In this study, Glc‐Au‐Hi NPs have been incubated with HepG2 cells and their diffusion time in the intracellular environment has been measured and compared with their diffusion value in water and cell media.
A Monte Carlo simulation study of wind turbine loads in thunderstorm downbursts
Authors: Nguyen Hieu Huy , Manuel Lance
Published: March 2014

The simulation of thunderstorm downbursts and associated loads on a utility‐scale wind turbine is the focus of this study. Using a deterministic–stochastic hybrid model, downburst‐related wind fields are generated separately from non‐turbulent and turbulent parts. The non‐turbulent part builds on available analytical models developed from field data that include recorded downburst events; the turbulent part is simulated as a stochastic process using standard turbulence power spectral density functions and coherence functions adjusted by information on parameters such as the downburst's translation velocity. Key thunderstorm downburst‐related parameters include the maximum radial velocity, the height and radial distance to the maximum radial velocity, the downburst intensity, the downburst translation velocity and the downburst translation direction. In addition, the streamwise ambient (environmental) velocity and the downburst touchdown location relative to the wind turbine are also important in turbine load computation. A utility‐scale 5‐MW wind turbine model is selected, and loads are generated using stochastic simulation of the aeroelastic response. Information available in the literature on recorded downbursts is used to define the cases studied. A single downburst simulation and associated turbine response simulation is first discussed to illustrate loads computation and highlight downburst‐related parameters of interest. Next, a Monte Carlo simulation study is performed to investigate the influence of touchdown locations and translation direction on turbine extreme loads. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantifying the contribution of wind farms to distribution network reliability
Authors: Blake S. , Taylor P. , Dent C. , Miller D.
Published: March 2014

The reliability of power supply to distribution network customers can be increased by embedded generation, including wind farms. The value of this increase in reliability needs to be evaluated, and national standards such as the Great Britain security of supply standard P2/6 seek to do so. This paper appraises the capacity credit evaluation methodology in P2/6 and outlines an alternative methodology to integrate generation with load more effectively, taking into account the topology, loading and reliability of the surrounding network. It concludes that under certain circumstances, the presence of embedded wind generation can allow the deferral of costly network reinforcement projects but that the time for which reinforcement can reasonably be deferred is a function not only of the generators themselves but also of the surrounding network. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A word of caution about biological inference – Revisiting cysteine covalent state predictions
Authors: Tüdős Éva , Mészáros Bálint , Fiser András , Simon István
Published: March 2014

The success of methods for predicting the redox state of cysteine residues from the sequence environment seemed to validate the basic assumption that this state is mainly determined locally. However, the accuracy of predictions on randomized sequences or of non‐cysteine residues remained high, suggesting that these predictions rather capture global features of proteins such as subcellular localization, which depends on composition. This illustrates that even high prediction accuracy is insufficient to validate implicit assumptions about a biological phenomenon. Correctly identifying the relevant underlying biochemical reasons for the success of a method is essential to gain proper biological insights and develop more accurate and novel bioinformatics tools.
Inhibition of malignant phenotypes of human osteosarcoma cells by a gene silencer, a pyrrole–imidazole polyamide, which targets an E‐box motif
Authors: Taniguchi Masashi , Fujiwara Kyoko , Nakai Yuji , Ozaki Toshinori , Koshikawa Nobuko , Toshio Kojima , Kataba Motoaki , Oguni Asako , Matsuda Hiroyuki , Yoshida Yukihiro , Tokuhashi Yasuaki , Fukuda Noboru , Ueno Takahiro , Soma Masayoshi , Nagase Hiroki
Published: March 2014

Gene amplification and/or overexpression of the transcription factor c‐MYC, which binds to the E‐box sequence (5′‐CACGTG‐3′), has been observed in many human tumors. In this study, we have designed 5 pyrrole–imidazole (PI) polyamides recognizing E‐box, and found that, among them, Myc‐6 significantly suppresses malignant phenotypes of human osteosarcoma MG63 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, knockdown of the putative Myc‐6 target MALAT1 encoding long noncoding RNA remarkably impaired cell growth of MG63 cells. Collectively, our present findings strongly suggest that Myc‐6 exerts its tumor‐suppressive ability at least in part through the specific down‐regulation of MALAT1.
Evaluation of Fluid Bolus Administration Rates Using Ruggedized Field Intravenous Systems
Authors: Morgan Theodore R.
Published: March 2014

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate 2 ruggedized field intravenous (IV) systems currently in use by US military medics and to determine their effect on fluid bolus administration rates.

Methods

A series of 500 mL fluid boluses consisting of either Lactated Ringer’s solution or Hextend were delivered to 2 artificial intravenous training arms using a standard 18G catheter (control) and 2 separate ruggedized field IV systems. Fluid boluses were delivered under both gravity force and pressure infusion (constant 300 mm Hg), and total bolus times were recorded.

Results

Using Lactated Ringer’s solution, the standard IV system took a mean time of 9:33 minutes (95% CI: 9:13–9:54) to deliver a 500 mL fluid bolus whereas the 2 ruggedized field systems took mean times of 14:50 minutes (95% CI: 14:00–15:40) and 12:20 minutes (95% CI: 11:54–12:45). Using Hextend, the mean bolus time for the control system was 24:39 minutes (95% CI: 22:47–26:32). The 2 ruggedized field systems required an average of 49:32 minutes (95% CI: 48:07–50:58) and 39:46 minutes (95% CI: 37:30–42:01) to deliver an equivalent bolus. Pressure infusion significantly increased flow rate in all systems.

Conclusions

Ruggedized field IV systems can significantly delay fluid bolus rates. In instances where ruggedized field systems are deemed necessary, pressure infusion devices should be considered to overcome the constrictive effects of the ruggedized system.
Poly-l-Arginine Topical Lotion Tested in a Mouse Model for Frostbite Injury
Authors: Auerbach Lauren J. , DeClerk Brittney K. , Garrison Fathman C. , Gurtner Geoffrey C. , Auerbach Paul S.
Published: March 2014

Background

Frostbite injury occurs when exposure to cold results in frozen tissue. We recently reported a novel mouse model for frostbite injury to be used in screening potentially therapeutic drugs and other modalities.

Objective

We used the mouse skin frostbite model to evaluate the effect of poly-l-arginine contained in lotion (PAL) applied topically to involved skin.

Methods

Sixty mice were studied in a randomized, double-blind method. Standardized 2.9-cm-diameter circles were tattooed on the mouse dorsum. Magnets snap frozen in dry ice (–78.5°C) were used to create a frostbite injury on skin within the circle as a continuous 5-minute freeze. Mice were treated with prefreeze placebo, postthaw placebo, combined prefreeze and postthaw placebo, prefreeze with PAL, postthaw with PAL, or combined prefreeze and postthaw with PAL. Appearance, healing rate, tissue loss, and histology were recorded until the wounds were healed.

Results

Application of PAL before inducing frostbite injury resulted in decreased tissue loss as compared with other treatment conditions.

Conclusions

Applying PAL topically to frostbitten mouse skin caused decreased tissue loss. Poly-l-arginine should be studied further to determine whether it is a beneficial therapeutic modality for frostbite injury.
Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent flow in a rotating channel with a sudden expansion
Authors: Lamballais Eric
Published: March 2014

The effects of spanwise rotation on the channel flow across a symmetric sudden expansion are investigated using direct numerical simulation. Four rotation regimes are considered with the same Reynolds number$\mathit{Re}=5000$and expansion ratio$\mathit{Er}=3/2$. Upstream from the expansion, inflow turbulent conditions are generated realistically for each rotation rate through a very simple and efficient technique of recycling without the need for any precursor calculation. As the rotation is increased, the flow becomes progressively asymmetric with stabilization (destabilization) effects on the cyclonic (anticyclonic) side, respectively. These rotation effects, already present in the upstream channel, lead further downstream to an increase (reduction) of the separation size behind the cyclonic (anticyclonic) step. In the cyclonic separation, the free-shear layer created behind the step corner leads to the formation of large-scale spanwise vortices that become increasingly two-dimensional as the rotation is increased. Conversely, in the anticyclonic region, the turbulent structures in the separated layer are more elongated in the streamwise direction and also more active in promoting reattachment. For the highest rotation rate, a secondary separation is observed further downstream in the anticyclonic region, leading to the establishment of an elongated recirculation bubble that deflects the main flow towards the cyclonic wall. The highest level of turbulent kinetic energy is obtained at high rotation near the cyclonic reattachment in a region where stabilization effects are expected. The phenomenological model of absolute vortex stretching is found to be useful in understanding how the rotation influences the dynamics in the various regions of the flow.
Spanwise-localized solutions of planar shear flows
Authors: Gibson J. F. , Brand E.
Published: March 2014

We present several new spanwise-localized equilibrium and travelling-wave solutions of plane Couette and channel flows. The solutions exhibit concentrated regions of vorticity that are centred over low-speed streaks and flanked on either side by high-speed streaks. For several travelling-wave solutions of channel flow, the vortex structures are concentrated near the walls and form particularly isolated and elemental versions of coherent structures in the near-wall region of shear flows. One travelling wave appears to be the invariant solution corresponding to a near-wall coherent structure educed from simulation data by Jeong et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 332, 1997, pp. 185–214) and analysed in terms of transient growth modes of streaky flow by Schoppa & Hussain (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 453, 2002, pp. 57–108). The solutions are constructed by a variety of methods: application of windowing functions to previously known spatially periodic solutions, continuation from plane Couette to channel flow conditions, and from initial guesses obtained from turbulent simulation data. We show how the symmetries of localized solutions derive from the symmetries of their periodic counterparts, analyse the exponential decay of their tails, examine the scale separation and scaling of their streamwise Fourier modes, and show that they develop critical layers for large Reynolds numbers.
Dynamic Modeling and Experimental Validating of Large Semi-Rigid Structures
Authors: Li D.-X. , Liu W. , Sun X.-Y.
Published: March 2014

A new type of large semi-rigid solar array structure with a new structural concept of rigid-flexible combination has developed for space application. Due to the good features of large scale and lightweight, such structure can well satisfy to the large power requirements of spacecraft and thus has drawn increasing attention recently. However, its structural weakness of inherently flexibility makes low frequency vibrations happen much easier. It is highly required to obtain an accurate dynamic model for predicting the dynamic characteristics of this kind of semi-rigid space structure. Because this structure is composed of different components that have quite different stiffness properties respectively, it is very difficult to build up an accurate dynamic model of this complex structure. In this paper, a novel analytical dynamic model is developed for solving this problem. To validate the correctness of the proposed model, experiment studies are conducted. By comparing the simulation results with experimental results, it can be concluded that this dynamic modeling method presented in the paper is credible. The present study is significant for the structural construction and application of this special structure.
Analysis of the prognostic significance of lymph node related characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients presenting with pre- or intra-operative evidence of cervical lymph node metastases
Authors: Soudry E , Hilly O , Preis M , Hadar T , Segal K , Bachar G , Feinmesser R
Published: March 2014

Objective:

To identify the prognostic significance of specific lymph node related characteristics for disease persistence and recurrence in patients with pre- or intra-operative evidence of neck metastases and no other risk factors.

Method and results

Sixty-eight patients were identified; 50 per cent had persistent or recurrent disease. All underwent the same treatment strategy. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the patient- or tumour-related parameters when patients with and without persistence or recurrence were compared. Patients with recurrent or persistent disease had significantly larger (>3 cm) metastatic lymph nodes, but there were no differences regarding other lymph node related parameters (i.e. number, extracapsular extension, number of lymph nodes with extracapsular extension, and central vs lateral neck location). On multivariate analysis, however, none of the parameters were predictive of persistent or recurrent disease.

Conclusion:

In papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with no other risk factors, pre- or intra-operative evidence of cervical metastases was associated with a very high rate of disease persistence or recurrence. Specific lymph node characteristics were not shown to have prognostic significance.
Should elective neck dissection be routinely performed in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy?
Authors: Pezier T F , Nixon I J , Scotton W , Joshi A , Guerrero-Urbano T , Oakley R , Jeannon J-P , Simo R
Published: March 2014

Background:

The prevalence of occult neck metastasis in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy remains unclear, and there is controversy regarding whether elective neck dissection should routinely be performed.

Method:

A retrospective case note review of 32 consecutive patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy in a tertiary centre was performed, in order to correlate pre-operative radiological staging with histopathological staging.

Results:

The median patient age was 61 years (range, 43–84 years). With regard to lymph node metastasis, 28 patients were pre-operatively clinically staged (following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) as node-negative, 1 patient was staged as N1, two patients as N2c and one patient as N3. Fifty-two elective and seven therapeutic neck dissections were performed. Pathological analysis up-staged two patients from clinically node-negative (following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) to pathologically node-positive (post-surgery). No clinically node-positive patients were down-staged. More than half of the patients suffered a post-operative fistula.

Conclusion:

Pre-operative neck staging had a negative predictive value of 96 per cent. Given the increased complications associated with neck dissection in the salvage setting, consideration should be given to conservative management of the neck in clinically node-negative patients (staged following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy).
Diasporic Memories and Conceptual Geography in Post-colonial Hong Kong
Authors: CHIN ANGELINA Y.
Published: March 2014

This paper explores how the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has been trying to incorporate post-1997 Hong Kong into the framework of a Greater China. The construction of two ‘narratives’ are examined: the grand narrative of Chinese history in secondary school textbooks in Hong Kong; and the development of a new regional framework of the Pearl River Delta. The first narrative, which focuses on the past, signals the PRC government's desire to inculcate through education a deeper sense of collective identity as patriotic citizens of China amongst residents of Hong Kong. The second narrative, which represents a futuristic imagining of a regional landscape, rewrites the trajectory of Hong Kong by merging the city with the Pearl River Delta region. However, these narrative strategies have triggered ambivalent responses from people in Hong Kong, especially the generations born after 1980. In their discursive battles against merging with the mainland, activists have sought to instil a collective memory that encourages a counter-imagination of a particular kind of Hong Kong that draws from the pre-1997 past. This conflict pits activists and their supporters against officials in the local government working to move Hong Kong towards integration with greater Guangdong and China at large. But the local resistance discourses are inadequate because they are constrained by their own parochial visions and colonial nostalgia.
The politics of redistribution in local governments: the effect of gender representation on welfare spending in California counties
Authors: Park Sanghee
Published: March 2014

This research explores the impact of gender representation at the state and local levels on redistributive choices. This research also examines whether female officeholders moderate the impact of the local economy and institution on welfare spending. Hypotheses are tested across 58 counties in California over ten years, between 2001 and 2010. According to the fixed effect models, women in state legislature had a positive effect on local welfare spending, while women on county boards had no significant effect. However, a positive moderating effect of women on county boards during economic hardship was found. Three categories of control variables include institutional factors, such as the introduction of Proposition 1A and county home rule; political factors, such as the political preference of each county’s residents and strength of non-profit organisations; and socio-economic factors, such as intergovernmental revenue, unemployment rate and demographics. Counties with more intergovernmental revenue and supporters of Democratic presidential candidates are likely to spend more on welfare services.
Hand-eye servo and impedance control for manipulator arm to capture target satellite safely
Authors: Ma Gan , Jiang Zhihong , Li Hui , Gao Junyao , Yu Zhangguo , Chen Xuechao , Liu Yun-Hui , Huang Qiang
Published: March 2014

A crucial problem is the risk that a manipulator arm would be damaged by twisting or bending during and after contacting a target satellite. This paper presents a solution to minimize the risk of damage to the arm and thereby enhance contact performance. First, a hand-eye servo controller is proposed as a method for accurately tracking and capturing a target satellite. Next, a motion planning strategy is employed to obtain the best-fit contacting moments. Also, an impedance control law is implemented to increase protection during operation and to ensure more accurate compliance. Finally, to overcome the challenge of verifying algorithms for a space manipulator while on the ground, a novel experimental system with a 6-DOF (degree of freedom) manipulator on a chaser field robot is presented and implemented to capture a target field robot; the proposed methods are then validated using the experimental platform.
SOME CONVEXITY PROPERTIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF LOWER k-RECORD VALUES WITH EXTENSIONS
Authors: Alimohammadi Mahdi , Alamatsaz Mohammad Hossein , Cramer Erhard
Published: March 2014

Unimodality and strong unimodality of the distribution of ascendingly ordered random variables have been extensively studied in the literature, whereas these properties have not received much attention in the case of descendingly ordered random variates. In this paper, we show that log concavity of the reversed hazard rate implies that of the density function. Using this fundamental result, we establish some convexity properties of such random variables. To do this, we first provide a counterexample showing that a claim of Basak & Basak [7] about the lower record values is not valid. Then, we provide conditions under which unimodality properties of the distribution of lower k-record values would hold. Finally, some extensions to dual generalized order statistics in both univariate and multivariate cases are discussed.
The impact of climate change on agricultural net revenue: a case study in the Fouta Djallon, West Africa
Authors: Wood Stephen A. , Mendelsohn Robert O.
Published: March 2014

Continental-scale economic analysis suggests that changes in climate conditions are associated with lower agricultural net revenue in sub-Saharan Africa. Specific locations, however, may not reflect this overall trend due to variation in baseline climate, soils, and socioeconomic factors that are difficult to model at large scales. The economic effect of changes in climate conditions on agricultural revenue in particular places in sub-Saharan Africa remains largely unknown. To test this effect, we study an area of West Africa with high climate variation over a small geographic area. We find that higher temperatures and precipitation lower agricultural revenues in the more important rainy season but increase revenues in the less important cool, dry season.
Impact of a Smarter Lunchroom intervention on food selection and consumption among adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a residential school setting
Authors: Hubbard Kristie L , Bandini Linda G , Folta Sara C , Wansink Brian , Eliasziw Misha , Must Aviva
Published: March 2014

Objective

To assess whether a Smarter Lunchroom intervention based on behavioural economics and adapted for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities would increase the selection and consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and reduce the selection and consumption of refined grains.

Design

The 3-month intervention took place at a residential school between March and June 2012. The evaluation employed a quasi-experimental, pre–post design comparing five matched days of dietary data. Selection and plate waste of foods at lunch were assessed using digital photography. Consumption was estimated from plate waste.

Setting

Massachusetts, USA.

Subjects

Students (n 43) aged 11–22 years with intellectual and developmental disabilities attending a residential school.

Results

Daily selection of whole grains increased by a mean of 0·44 servings (baseline 1·62 servings, P = 0·005) and refined grains decreased by a mean of 0·33 servings (baseline 0·82 servings, P = 0·005). The daily consumption of fruits increased by a mean of 0·18 servings (baseline 0·39 servings, P = 0·008), whole grains increased by 0·38 servings (baseline 1·44 servings, P = 0·008) and refined grains decreased by a mean of 0·31 servings (baseline 0·68 servings, P = 0·004). Total kilojoules and total gram weight of food selected and consumed were unchanged. Fruit (P = 0·04) and vegetable (P = 0·03) plate waste decreased.

Conclusions

A Smarter Lunchroom intervention significantly increased whole grain selection and consumption, reduced refined grain selection and consumption, increased fruit consumption, and reduced fruit and vegetable plate waste. Nudge approaches may be effective for improving the food selection and consumption habits of adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Visualization of the Coalescence of Bismuth Nanoparticles
Authors: Niu Kai-Yang , Liao Hong-Gang , Zheng Haimei
Published: March 2014

Coalescence is a significant pathway for the growth of nanostructures. Here we studied the coalescence of Bi nanoparticles in situ by liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The growth of Bi nanoparticles was initiated from a bismuth neodecanoate precursor solution by electron beam irradiation inside a liquid cell under the TEM. A significant number of coalescence events occurred from the as-grown Bi nanodots. Both symmetric coalescence of two equal-sized nanoparticles and asymmetric coalescence of two or more unequal-sized nanoparticles were analyzed along their growth trajectories. Our observation suggests that two mass transport mechanisms, i.e., surface diffusion and grain boundary diffusion, are responsible for the shape evolution of nanoparticles after a coalescence event.
CULTS OF PERSONALITY
Authors: Wells George A.
Published: March 2014

The nineteenth century saw frequent appeals to the idea of a redeemer personality, a heroic leader – musings which culminated in the cults devoted to Hitler and Stalin. This article shows that the self-assertion of leaders can stimulate the self-abasement of the followers on whom they depend (and vice versa), and discusses in what circumstances such an interplay becomes dominant in a society, and with what advantages and disadvantages for it.
VOTING YOUR WAY INTO A SLUM: SINGAPORE'S ELECTION DILEMMA
Authors: Phan Jason
Published: March 2014

There is an unusual region in Singapore called Hougang, whose residents have collectively rejected lavish, State-funded, urban renewal offers. As they have been doing so for more than two decades, Hougang stands out for its aged flats and amenities in one of the richest countries in the world. This curious situation arose from the Singapore Government's stance that urban renewal of electoral constituencies should depend on political affiliation. This essay looks at the ethics of the situation.
TALKING TO OURSELVES? ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY AND THE PUBLIC SPHERE
Authors: Norris Chris
Published: March 2014

This essay takes a hard look at the current state of much academic (mainly analytic) philosophy and sets out to diagnose where things have gone wrong. It offers a sharply critical assessment of the prevailing narrowness, cliquishness, linguistic inertness, like-mindedness, intellectual caution, misplaced scientism, over-specialisation, guild mentality, lack of creative or inventive flair, and above all the self-perpetuating structures of privilege and patronage that have worked to produce this depressing situation. On the constructive side I suggest how a belated encounter with developments beyond its cultural-professional horizons – including certain aspects of ‘continental’ philosophy – might bring large (and reciprocal) benefits. I also offer some tentative ideas as to what ‘creativity’ could or should mean as applied to philosophical thinking and writing.
SHOULD WE GIVE MONEY TO BEGGARS?
Authors: Moen Ole Martin
Published: March 2014

In this paper it is argued that we should not give money to beggars. Rather than spending our welfare budget on the people whom we happen to pass by on the street, we should spend it on those who are genuinely poor and who can be helped the most with each pound that we give. A pound given to a beggar in a Western country, it is argued, is a pound spent on someone who – in a global perspective – is relatively well off. That pound, if spent better, could have rescued the life of a starving child in another part of the world.