bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Dynamic Processes in Ball Bearings with Defects
Authors: Bogdevičius Marijonas , Skrickij Viktor
Published: March 2013

The paper considers the dynamics of ball bearings with defects. A mathematical model of a ball bearing with defects is offered. The performed theoretical and experimental investigations of ball bearings with defects are described. Five cases of various defects are investigated, including the defective outer race, the defective inner race, the defective rolling element, the defective inner and outer races, the rolling element and a separator, the worn-out ball bearing.
Optimal Design of System of Cross-Beams
Authors: Aryassov Gennadi , Zhigailov Sergei
Published: March 2013

The aim of this paper is to create a method for reduction of constructive weights of system of cross-beams (grillages) optimizing its elements. The study has practical application and aimed primarily to companies who design civil and industrial buildings, different types of mechanical constructions, vehicle industry, etc.
The Parametric Optimization of Structure Mass of Swept Wing in Compliance to Stiffness and Strength Boundary Conditions
Authors: Kachel Stanisław
Published: March 2013

The paper presents the method suitable for optimization of parameters and applied to design aircraft subassemblies on the example of a swept wing. It outlines the assumptions that are necessary to develop a mathematical model and describes constraints that served as the basis to develop an algorithm and describe the corresponding procedures in the GRIP (Graphics Interactive Programming) language that is a part of the CAD/CAM/CAE Unigraphics system. The further part of the study comprises discussion how the wing parameters and the mass functional are affected by rigidity constraints and strength constraints. The algorithm for designing of aircraft components was finally developed with inputs to the multi-criteria design process Web Modelling [ of an aircraft body. The study also included initial assumptions to algorithms originally developed by the author and dedicated to modelling of components incorporated into aircraft structures.
Concept of Locomotion Mobile Undercarriage Structure Control for the Path Tracking
Authors: Miková Ľubica , Trebuňa František , Kelemen Michal
Published: March 2013

The article deals with the proposal structure of undercarriages mobile robot GTR 2010 control. Functional model of the undercarriages mobile robot GTR2010 should be able to carry out active tracking of desired path for achieving a goal and get over obstacles in unstructured environments.
Fuel Cells for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Authors: Grzeczka Grzegorz , Polak Adam
Published: March 2013

A long-distance performance is a significant parameter for mobile platforms. A key condition is a highly efficient source of energy. Fuel cells, i.e. electrochemical devices, capable of direct conversion of chemical energy accumulated in fuel into electrical energy, occurred to be relevant. In this paper there were presented the results of the analysis pertaining to the volumetric requirements of the system exploiting the fuel cell that is capable of ensuring the running time comparable with that of conventionally used rechargeable batteries.
Delta Robot Design
Authors: Březina Lukas , Holub Michal , Cintula Ladislav , Kovar Jiri
Published: March 2013

The article proposes an approach to the development of a Delta robot which is the most frequently used robot with a parallel kinematic structure for industrial fast pick and place applications. The approach is model based and it summarizes important steps for the successful design of a Delta robot for the given application including description of the kinematics, multi-body dynamics modelling and flexible bodies notes. This is demonstrated on the particular Delta robot developed at Brno University of Technology (BUT).
HILS for the Design of Three-Wheeled Mobile Platform Motion Surveillance System with a Use of Energy Performance Index
Authors: Kaliński Krzysztof J. , Buchholz Cezary
Published: March 2013

Current tendency in mechatronic design requires the use of comprehensive development of an environment, which gives the possibility to prototype, design, simulate and integrate with dedicated hardware. The paper discusses the Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulations (HILS) mechatronic technique [, used during the design of the surveillance system based on energy performance index [. The presented test configuration (physical controller emulated virtual research object) allows authors to verify responses (in the LabVIEW [) of the mobile platform model, to the optimal control commands (torques), generated by the Real Time controller. Defined energy performance index, supported by the correction velocities, controls the emulated platform while moving along three different trajectories. The demonstrated test results are compared with desired values obtained during numerical computation process of kinematic and dynamic equations of the presented model. The authors investigation of the HILS affected final optimisation of the motion surveillance system design. Real time requirements enforced authors to decrease sampling time of control command (signal generation frequency) and establish high performance execution strategy for on-line algorithm (algorithm execution performed both in Real Time processor and in the FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array) [. The performed simulations confirmed that the HILS is a powerful technique, which improves system design making that more efficient and low cost consuming.
Mechatronics Systems of Autonomous Transport Vehicle
Authors: Stania Marek
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this paper is to present the development and realization of the elaborate mechatronic systems, having its main application in the logistic industry. The innovative, patented steering system is its unique feature. The steerage is based on the torque difference between the drive wheels. This solution allows for the unlimited maneuverability during the motion of the vehicle.
Attitudes towards music as a means of therapy: can it help to overcome depression and/or cardiovascular disease?
Authors: Giannouli Vaitsa
Published: March 2013

 

 
Managing corporate identities of non-profit organisations in the social welfare sector
Authors: Holtzhausen Lida
Published: March 2013

Present-day South Africa is characterised by many societal and developmental issues, such as HIV awareness and prevention, child-headed households, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, violence and victim aid. However, it is widely acknowledged that government alone cannot address these issues effectively. The role of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in addressing social and development issues is increasingly emphasised. NPOs work at grass-roots level and they can therefore, on the whole, identify societal vulnerabilities and risks earlier than the government sector. However, due to the economic recession, NPOs operate in a competitive environment where an increasing number of NPOs rely on a small number of donors and other resources. NPOs should therefore differentiate themselves from the competition in order to obtain public legitimacy and funding. Corporate identity management is important for NPOs to fulfil their role in social welfare and thus contribute to disaster risk reduction. The exploratory nature of this study dictates a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews with management of five NPOs in the social welfare sector were conducted in order to provide an answer to the study’s research question: ‘To what extent do NPOs in the social welfare sector practise corporate identity management, in order to prevent and address social welfare risks?’ The research found that NPOs do not realise the full potential of managing their corporate identities. NPOs therefore do not take advantage of a strong and distinct corporate identity which would allow them to ensure their ability to assess, address, reduce and/or alleviate vulnerabilities and disaster risks.
How Lipschitz Functions Characterize the Underlying Metric Spaces
Authors: Li Lei , Wang Ya-Shu
Published: March 2013

LetXandYbe metric spaces andE,Fbe Banach spaces. Suppose that bothXandYare realcompact, or bothE, Fare realcompact. The zero set of a vector-valued function ƒ is denoted byz(ƒ). A linear bijection T between local or generalized Lipschitz vector-valued function spaces is said to preserve zero-set containments or nonvanishing functions if

respectively. Every zero-set containment preserver, and every nonvanishing function preserver when dimE= dimF<+∞, is a weighted composition operator. We show that the mapτ:Y→Xis a locally (little) Lipschitz homeomorphism.
Last interglacial temperature evolution – a model inter-comparison
Authors: Bakker P. , Stone E. J. , Charbit S. , Gröger M. , Krebs-Kanzow U. , Ritz S. P. , Varma V. , Khon V. , Lunt D. J. , Mikolajewicz U. , Prange M. , Renssen H. , Schneider B. , Schulz M.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. There is a growing number of proxy-based reconstructions detailing the climatic changes that occurred during the last interglacial period (LIG). This period is of special interest, because large parts of the globe were characterized by a warmer-than-present-day climate, making this period an interesting test bed for climate models in light of projected global warming. However, mainly because synchronizing the different palaeoclimatic records is difficult, there is no consensus on a global picture of LIG temperature changes. Here we present the first model inter-comparison of transient simulations covering the LIG period. By comparing the different simulations, we aim at investigating the common signal in the LIG temperature evolution, investigating the main driving forces behind it and at listing the climate feedbacks which cause the most apparent inter-model differences. The model inter-comparison shows a robust Northern Hemisphere July temperature evolution characterized by a maximum between 130–125 ka BP with temperatures 0.3 to 5.3 K above present day. A Southern Hemisphere July temperature maximum, −1.3 to 2.5 K at around 128 ka BP, is only found when changes in the greenhouse gas concentrations are included. The robustness of simulated January temperatures is large in the Southern Hemisphere and the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. For these regions maximum January temperature anomalies of respectively −1 to 1.2 K and −0.8 to 2.1 K are simulated for the period after 121 ka BP. In both hemispheres these temperature maxima are in line with the maximum in local summer insolation. In a number of specific regions, a common temperature evolution is not found amongst the models. We show that this is related to feedbacks within the climate system which largely determine the simulated LIG temperature evolution in these regions. Firstly, in the Arctic region, changes in the summer sea-ice cover control the evolution of LIG winter temperatures. Secondly, for the Atlantic region, the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific, possible changes in the characteristics of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation are crucial. Thirdly, the presence of remnant continental ice from the preceding glacial has shown to be important when determining the timing of maximum LIG warmth in the Northern Hemisphere. Finally, the results reveal that changes in the monsoon regime exert a strong control on the evolution of LIG temperatures over parts of Africa and India. By listing these inter-model differences, we provide a starting point for future proxy-data studies and the sensitivity experiments needed to constrain the climate simulations and to further enhance our understanding of the temperature evolution of the LIG period.
On precipitation measurements collected by a weather radar and a rain gauge network
Authors: Sebastianelli S. , Russo F. , Napolitano F. , Baldini L.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Many phenomena (such as attenuation and range degradation) can influence the accuracy of rainfall radar estimates. They introduce errors that increase as the distance from radar increases, thereby decreasing the reliability of radar estimates for applications that require quantitative precipitation estimation. The present paper evaluates radar error as a function of the range, in order to correct the rainfall radar estimates. The radar is calibrated utilizing data from the rain gauges. Then, the G/R ratio between the yearly rainfall amount measured in each rain gauge position during 2008 and the corresponding radar rainfall amount is calculated against the slant range. The trend of the G/R ratio shows two behaviours: a concave part due to the melting layer effect close to the radar location and an almost linear, increasing trend at greater distances. A best fitting line is used to find an adjustment factor, which estimates the radar error at a given range. The effectiveness of the methodology is verified by comparing pairs of rainfall time series that are observed simultaneously by collocated rain gauges and radar. Furthermore, the variability of the adjustment factor is investigated at the scale of event, both for convective and stratiform events. The main result is that there is not a univocal range error pattern, as it also depends on the characteristics of the considered event. On the other hand, the adjustment factor tends to stabilize itself for time aggregations of the order of one year or greater.
Sex-Related Difference in Nitric Oxide Metabolites Levels after Nephroprotectant Supplementation Administration against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rat Model: The Role of Vitamin E, Erythropoietin, or N-Acetylcysteine
Authors: Nematbakhsh Mehdi , Pezeshki Zahra
Published: March 2013

Background. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration in serum is altered by cisplatin (CP), and NO influences CP-induced nephrotoxicity. The effect of nephroprotectant agent supplementation (vitamin E, human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), or n-acetylcysteine (NAC)) on the NO metabolites levels after CP administration in the two genders was determined. Methods. Sixty-four adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups. Male and female rats in different groups received vehicle (saline), CP (7 mg/kg) alone, CP plus EPO (100 IU/kg), CP plus vitamin E (250 mg/kg), and CP plus NAC (600 mg/kg). CP was administrated as a single dose, but the supplementations were given for a period of 7 days. Results. In male rats, the serum levels of total NO metabolites (NOx) and nitrite were increased significantly (P<0.05) by CP. However, vitamin E significantly reduced the serum levels of these metabolites, which was increased by administration of CP (P<0.05), and such findings were not observed for female rats. The EPO or NAC did not influence NO metabolites neither in male rats nor in female rats.
Conclusion. Although vitamin E, EPO, and NAC are reported to be nephroprotectant agents against CP-induced nephrotoxicity, only vitamin E could reduce the level of all NO metabolites only in male rats.
K rozvoji interkulturní komunikační kompetence studentů učitelství anglického jazyka
Authors: Kostková K.
Published: March 2013

Cílem studie je představit výzkumné šetření v oblasti hodnocení rozvoje interkulturní komunikační kompetence (dále ICC1) u studentů učitelství anglického jazyka pro základní školy v rámci studijního předmětu Intercultural Communicative Competence. Fenomén interkulturality klade nové nároky nejen na pedagogickou praxi, ale i výzkum. Zaměřujeme se tedy na tematiku interkulturní výchovy a vzdělávání s klíčovým cílem rozvoje ICC. Předpokladem pro výzkumné uchopení problematiky je konceptualizace konstruktu ICC a jeho následná didaktizace, tj. rozvoj a hodnocení. V rámci realizovaného výzkumného šetření jsme využili kvantitativního i kvalitativního přístupu ke sběru i analýze dat; jako techniky sběru dat byl využit dotazník YOGA Form a ohniskové skupiny, jejichž transkripty byly podrobeny obsahové analýze. Výzkumný soubor tvořilo 17 studentů učitelství anglického jazyka (15 žen a 2 muži; průměrný věk: 24 let). Cílem výzkumného šetření bylo odhalit, zda u studentů na základě absolvování studijního předmětu Intercultural Communicative Competence došlo k rozvoji jednotlivých dimenzí ICC a pokud ano, tak jakých dimenzí a v jaké míře. Výsledky výzkumu potvrdily, že u studentů došlo k rozvoji všech dimenzí ICC, avšak v různé míře. Signifikantní rozvoj byl zaznamenán v oblasti dimenzí znalostí a dovedností. V rámci dimenze povědomí a postojové pak došlo k iniciaci rozvojových tendencí, což s ohledem na obtížnost jejich didaktizace hodnotíme kladně, jelikož i podpora rozvoje reflektivního potenciálu studentů ve vztahu k rozvoji ICC (i iniciaci toho rozvoje) hraje důležitou roli. Na základě výsledků výzkumu diskutujeme možné implikace těchto výstupů, tj. zejména rozvoj dimenze znalostní a dovednostní, pro teorii i praxi.
Studies in Liocranidae (Araneae): a new afrotropical genus featuring a synapomorphy for the Cybaeodinae
Authors: Bosselaers Jan , Jocqué Rudy
Published: March 2013

Cteniogaster, a new genus of small ground spiders is described from Kenya and Tanzania. It encompasses seven new species, three of which are known from both sexes: C. toxarchus sp. nov., the type species, C. conviva sp. nov. and C. hexomma sp. nov. Three species are known from females only: C. lampropus sp. nov., C. sangarawe sp. nov. and C. taxorchis sp. nov. and one only from males: C. nana sp. nov. The new genus can be recognised by the presence of a posterior ventral abdominal field of strong setae and anterior lateral spinnerets with enlarged piriform gland spigots in males. A cladistic analysis attributes the genus to Liocranidae, Cybaeodinae. The results of the analysis performed do not produce an unequivocal autapomorphy for Liocranidae, but provide a combination of non-homoplasious character changes that offers significant potential for recognising genera as Liocranidae. Moreover, robust apomorphies are determined within Liocranidae for the subfamilies Liocraninae and Cybaeodinae. Based on these findings Toxoniella Warui & Jocqué, 2002 is transferred from Gallieniellidae to Liocranidae, Cybaeodinae. Jacaena Thorell, 1897, Plynnon Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and Teutamus Thorell, 1890 are transferred to Corinnidae, Phrurolithinae and Montebello Hogg, 1914 to Gnaphosidae. Itatsina Kishida, 1930 is synonymised with Prochora Simon, 1886.
Politics and Defence Research in the Cold War
Authors: Turner Jonathan
Published: March 2013

The Defence Research Board (DRB) of Canada is an ideal case study for the operation and organization of science in government. The history of the DRB demonstrates the ebb and flow of government interest in science and defence from 1947 to 1977. This paper traces defence research through its most transformative events: demobilization, the Korean War, the International Geophysical Year, the Glassco Commission, the 1964 White Paper, integration and unification of the Department of National Defence, internal reviews, the 1971 White Paper, the Management Review Group, and the Lamontagne Committee. This sequence of transformative events reveals the importance of politics and personalities to decision-making, and the difficult alliance of scientists with soldiers.
Science in the City: Contesting the City Architect’s Office in Toronto
Authors: Hull James
Published: March 2013

The City of Toronto experienced a major dispute over the functions of the office of the City Architect in the years just before World War One. Running through the dispute was the issue of science in the City. Did the City need, in the administration of technicalities and the addressing of technical questions, persons with a greater degree of scientific competency—as distinct from more traditionally trained personnel? Rhetorically, the question too was posed of whether “science” or “politics” should guide technical questions in the city’s business. The outcomes included a reorganized office of the City Architect, a new City Architect with stronger academic and professional credentials, a solemn promise from City Council to avoid interfering in his work and a building code which caught up with new practices in reinforced concrete construction.
Performing Strategic Science in the Public Interest: Updating the Policy Debate Regarding Government Science
Authors: Kinder Jeff , Welsh Frank
Published: March 2013

The performance of science and technology (S&T) activities in the federal government has long been supported as a means of advancing innovation and economic objectives as well as of addressing public policy and regulatory needs. As Canada’s science and innovation system has matured, however, the federal government’s relative contribution to Canada’s overall performance of research and development has declined significantly—from about 30% (of total spending) in 1971 to under 9% today. Throughout this period, a dominant policy theme with respect to government S&T has been to migrate these activities from government into the private or academic sectors. The authors trace this history and argue that science policy thinking regarding federally-performed S&T must evolve with the changing position of government laboratories in Canada’s science and innovation system. A case is made for maintaining an adequate S&T capacity within the federal government in order to deliver on unique public interest roles.
L’impact de la taille des firmes industrielles sur la courbe de Kuznets environnementale : le cas des émissions de SO2 en Chine
Authors: Larivière Jean-Michel , He Jie
Published: March 2013

L’intensité de pollution inférieure des firmes de grande taille et leurs moindres coûts marginaux de réduction des émissions demeurent un fait largement documenté dans la littérature empirique. En poursuivant les intuitions de Merlevede et al. (2006), nous examinons l’hypothèse qu’avec l’accroissement du développement économique, la présence de firmes industrielles de taille supérieure (en moyenne) devient négativement associée aux émissions de SO2 en raison de l’avantage comparatif des grandes firmes à réduire leurs émissions polluantes à un moindre coût marginal. La courbe de Kuznets environnementale (CKE) est l’instrument par lequel nous comparons l’impact de la présence de grandes firmes sur les émissions de SO2 par habitant pour 29 provinces et villes chinoises. Pour vérifier la robustesse des résultats, trois différents indicateurs de taille sont retenus. Même si les estimations tendent à confirmer que les firmes de grande taille sont associées à une meilleure performance environnementale, les résultats demeurent fortement sensibles au choix de la forme fonctionnelle.
Pôles de convergence, gains dynamiques de l’intégration économique et monétaire en Afrique de l’Ouest : une approche en termes de clusters
Authors: Semedo Gervasio , Gautier Laurent , Bensafta Kamel Malik
Published: March 2013

L’expérience européenne avec la création du marché unique et jusqu’à l’avènement du traité de Maastricht a montré que le pragmatisme politique et l’adoption de règles transparentes, constituent des moyens de réduire les fractures structurelles entre pays. Toutefois, l’élargissement à de nouveaux pays membres, le relâchement de la discipline budgétaire, l’asymétrie des pays aux chocs, la pression des marchés, les politiques budgétaires différenciées des pays membres en Europe, ont montré avec la crise de la dette du Portugal, de l’Irlande, de la Grèce et de l’Espagne, que sans direction claire dans la coordination des politiques économiques, l’adoption d’une monnaie unique peut aboutir à des limites de tout processus d’intégration économique et monétaire. Les zones monétaires connaissent ainsi des cycles de réussite, de contrainte et d’exposition à des risques d’éclatement, si des mesures politiques adaptées ne sont pas prises pour anticiper les conséquences des politiques dites de cavalier seul; le fédéralisme est une issue souhaitable pour éviter cette mauvaise issue.

Sur la base des règles proches du traité de Maastricht et de la théorie des zones monétaires optimales combinées dans une approche en termes declusters, nous construisons une grille de lecture pour analyser l’hétérogénéité structurelle des pays de la Communauté économique des États d’Afrique de l’Ouest. En utilisant la méthode de la classification ascendante hiérarchique (CAH), nous identifions des sous-groupes homogènes entre pays ouclustersdésirant former une union monétaire ou des pôles de convergences. Dans la perspective de l’intégration monétaire, ces pôles peuvent tout d’abord s’entendre sur des accords de paiement et de compensation puis étendre l’expérience à une monnaie commune jusqu’à l’unification monétaire.

Ce travail examine tout d’abord le bien-fondé du regroupement économique et monétaire et identifie deux groupes : l’un relativement homogène – Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA), Cap-Vert, Ghana – et l’autre en voie de consolidation à plus long terme. Dans l’optique d’établir une monnaie unique, des recommandations de politiques économiques pour chacun desclustersidentifiés sont proposées.
Le mariage à l’épreuve : les défis du partenariat de même sexe et de la procréation médicalement assistée en Suisse1
Authors: Engeli Isabelle , Roca i Escoda Marta
Published: March 2013

Afin de rendre compte des luttes définitionnelles qui visent à transformer ou à préserver le sens du mariage en tant qu’institution de l’hétérosexualité, cet article examine deux débats clés qui ont récemment mis à l’épreuve l’institution du mariage en Suisse : l’institutionnalisation juridique des couples de même sexe avec l’adoption de la loi fédérale sur le partenariat et la préservation du schéma familial hétérosexuel avec la loi fédérale sur la procréation médicalement assistée. Ce texte défend que pour saisir l’évolution du sens politique accordé au mariage et à la famille dans les débats sur le partenariat homosexuel, il convient d’étudier le processus d’institutionnalisation des couples homosexuels dans une temporalité longue prenant place sur différentes scènes législatives.
Quand la justice tisse des liens : la (re)construction de la filiation dans les décisions portant sur la procréation assistée au Canada
Authors: L’Espérance Audrey
Published: March 2013

Le recours à la procréation assistée a révélé l’inadéquation de certaines lois canadiennes sur la famille quand il est question de reconnaître légalement la formation de noyaux familiaux non traditionnels tels que les familles homoparentales ou pluriparentales. Cet article traite de cette problématique en établissant comment la famille issue de la procréation assistée est construite légalement au Canada et argumente que, en l’absence d’action législative adéquate, les tribunaux de première instance sont intervenus afin de tisser des solutions légales au statut de ces familles. Au Canada, l’établissement de la filiation dans des contextes exceptionnels est toujours porté vers les tribunaux provinciaux afin qu’ils dénouent les conflits entre parents ou établissent formellement la filiation des enfants nés par procréation assistée. Dans ce contexte, les cours provinciales de première instance (re)construisent la filiation selon trois tendances pancanadiennes identifiées par l’auteure. Les principes légaux associés à la parentalité, au projet parental et à l’égalité des enfants et des parents sont redéfinis afin d’offrir aux tribunaux des ancrages leur permettant de justifier la reconnaissance légale et institutionnelle de nouveaux noyaux familiaux.
La juridification ou le droit comme matrice de l’action collective : la revendication du droit au mariage entre personnes du même sexe
Authors: Paternotte David
Published: March 2013

Les rapports entre action collective des minorités et droit ont souvent été décrits à partir de la notion de judiciarisation. Cet article propose un autre regard, mettant en lumière le phénomène de juridification. Celui-ci insiste sur le caractère matriciel acquis par le droit dans l’action collective. À partir de l’exemple de la revendication de l’ouverture du mariage par les couples de même sexe en Belgique, en France et en Espagne, il montre que le droit peut occuper une place centrale sans que les mouvements sociaux étudiés n’aient intensivement recours à l’action judiciaire. Le droit apparaît en amont, comme une matrice à partir de laquelle les revendications sont formulées. Dans le cadre de la revendication du mariage, ce phénomène est étroitement lié à l’adoption d’une définition de l’égalité en tant qu’inverse de la discrimination. Ce rapport spécifique au droit ne se limite pas à la question du mariage et traduit des mutations plus profondes des mouvements gais et lesbiens. Quatre changements sont examinés : l’engagement militant de professionnels du droit, un changement de génération militante, l’institutionnalisation et la professionnalisation du mouvement, sa transnationalisation et la transformation de la notion de droits humains.
Advances in Lectin Microarray Technology: Optimized Protocols for Piezoelectric Print Conditions
Authors: Pilobello Kanoelani T. , Agrawal Praveen , Rouse Richard , Mahal Lara K.
Published: March 2013

Lectin microarray technology has been used to profile the glycosylation of a multitude of biological and clinical samples, leading to new clinical biomarkers and advances in glycobiology. Lectin microarrays, which include >90 plant lectins, recombinant lectins, and selected antibodies, are used to profile N‐linked, O‐linked, and glycolipid glycans. The specificity and depth of glycan profiling depends upon the carbohydrate‐binding proteins arrayed. The current set targets mammalian carbohydrates including fucose, high mannose, branched and complex N‐linked, α‐ and β‐galactose and GalNAc, α‐2,3‐ and α‐2,6‐sialic acid, LacNAc, and Lewis X epitopes. Previous protocols have described the use of a contact microarray printer for lectin microarray production. Here, an updated protocol that uses a non‐contact, piezoelectric printer, which leads to increased lectin activity on the array, is presented. Optimization of print and sample hybridization conditions and methods of analysis are discussed. Curr. Protoc. Chem. Biol. 5:1‐23 © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Carpal Coalition
Authors: DeFazio Michael V. , Cousins Benjamin J. , Miversuski Roberto Augusto , Cardoso Roy
Published: March 2013

Background

Carpal coalition is a relatively common, yet poorly recognized, anomaly that may present independently or in association with syndromic or metabolic disorders. While largely asymptomatic, symptoms may manifest secondary to biomechanical stress at the site of fusion. The purpose of this report is to describe 103 cases of carpal synostosis and provide a review of the etiology, classification, and clinical significance of intercarpal fusion.

Method

Retrospective review of medical and radiographic records was conducted on all patients with identified carpal coalitions, between 2008 and 2012, at our institution. Demographic and historical data regarding trauma, infection, documented joint disease, and prior wrist symptomatology were analyzed for each case, and radiographic evaluation of carpal alignment was performed.

Results

A total of 103 cases of carpal coalition, among 85 individuals, were reviewed. All cases presented asymptomatically with the highest proportion noted among individuals of African-Caribbean descent. The most frequent variant in our study population was lunate–triquetral coalition, which was present in 92 of the 103 identified cases. None of the cases evaluated in this study demonstrated clinical or radiographic evidence of carpal mal-alignment or instability.

Conclusion

The results of our investigation demonstrate that carpal coalition presented most frequently among individuals of African-Caribbean descent. While the prevalence of this condition has yet to be studied specifically in Hispanic and African-Caribbean populations, our findings may reflect the genetic linkage between these and certain West African populations. To our knowledge, this represents the largest clinical series of carpal coalition in the English literature.
The role of contingent self‐worth in the relation between victimization and internalizing problems in adolescents☆
Authors: Ghoul Assia , Niwa Erika Y. , Boxer Paul
Published: March 2013

Peer victimization can challenge mental health, yet limited research has considered contingent self‐worth as a moderator of that relation. This study examined the relation of peer victimization to major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia during adolescence, and contingent self‐worth as a hypothesized moderator of those relations. Self‐report data from adolescents (N = 716; Mage = 15.95; 94% ethnic/racial minority; 63% female) illustrated that peer victimization and contingent self‐worth had significant additive effects on internalizing problems. Moderation analyses suggested that higher levels of contingent self‐worth amplify the effect of victimization on internalizing problems. For social phobia, this effect appeared to be salient only for boys. Peer victimization and bullying are receiving increased national attention and these results underscore the impact of victimization on adolescent mental health. However, interventions targeting self‐worth as a possible protective factor should be cautious not to over‐emphasize externalities in the maintenance of self‐worth.
A semi-invertible operator Oseledets theorem
Authors: GONZÁLEZ-TOKMAN CECILIA , QUAS ANTHONY
Published: March 2013

Semi-invertible multiplicative ergodic theorems establish the existence of an Oseledets splitting for cocycles of non-invertible linear operators (such as transfer operators) over an invertible base. Using a constructive approach, we establish a semi-invertible multiplicative ergodic theorem that for the first time can be applied to the study of transfer operators associated to the composition of piecewise expanding interval maps randomly chosen from a set of cardinality of the continuum. We also give an application of the theorem to random compositions of perturbations of an expanding map in higher dimensions.
Sharp polynomial bounds on the number of Pollicott–Ruelle resonances
Authors: DATCHEV KIRIL , DYATLOV SEMYON , ZWORSKI MACIEJ
Published: March 2013

We give a sharp polynomial bound on the number of Pollicott–Ruelle resonances. These resonances, which are complex numbers in the lower half-plane, appear in expansions of correlations for Anosov contact flows. The bounds follow the tradition of upper bounds on the number of scattering resonances and improve a recent bound of Faure and Sjöstrand. The complex scaling method used in scattering theory is replaced by an approach using exponentially weighted spaces introduced by Helffer and Sjöstrand in scattering theory and by Faure and Sjöstrand in the theory of Anosov flows.
Quillen's work on the Adams Conjecture
Authors: Dwyer W. G.
Published: March 2013

In the 1960's and 1970's, the Adams Conjecture figured prominently both in homotopy theory and in geometric topology. Quillen sketched one way to attack the conjecture and then proved it with an entirely different line of argument. Both of his approaches led to spectacular and beautiful new mathematics.
Milk fatty acid variability: effect of some candidate genes involved in lipid synthesis
Authors: Marchitelli Cinzia , Contarini Giovanna , De Matteis Giovanna , Crisà Alessandra , Pariset Lorraine , Scatà Maria Carmela , Catillo Gennaro , Napolitano Francesco , Moioli Bianca
Published: March 2013

In this work, the genetic variation of milk FA was investigated in three different bovine breeds, the Jersey, the Piedmontese and the Valdostana, and at different lactation stages. All animals were genotyped for 21 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms located within nine candidate genes involved in lipid synthesis: diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 and 2 (DGAT1, 2); stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD); growth hormone receptor (GHR); fatty acid synthase (FASN); acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACAD); fatty acid binding protein (FABP4); lipoprotein lipase (LPL); and leptin gene (LEP). The highest milk-fat Jersey breed also showed the highest content of saturated FA. Throughout lactation, the breeds showed a similar variation in the FA, with a decrease in the short-chain, this was accompanied by a general increase in the long chain FA at the end of lactation. The increase in long chain saturated FA was particularly evident in the case of the Jersey. The effect ofSCDgene on the C14 desaturation index was confirmed; theDGAT1gene was polymorphic only in the Jersey breed, but its effect was confirmed only on milk fat content; three further potential candidate genes were identified: first, theFABP4gene, which was found to influence medium and long chain FA in all the breeds, but not the desaturation indices; second, theFASNgene, which was found to influence the amount of PUFA in the Piedmontese and the Valdostana, and third, theLPLgene, which was found to affect fat content in the Piedmontese.
Alzheimer's disease drug development: translational neuroscience strategies
Authors: Cummings Jeffrey L. , Banks Sarah J. , Gary Ronald K. , Kinney Jefferson W. , Lombardo Joseph M. , Walsh Ryan R. , Zhong Kate
Published: March 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an urgent public health challenge that is rapidly approaching epidemic proportions. New therapies that defer or prevent the onset, delay the decline, or improve the symptoms are urgently needed. All phase 3 drug development programs for disease-modifying agents have failed thus far. New approaches to drug development are needed. Translational neuroscience focuses on the linkages between basic neuroscience and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic products that will improve the lives of patients or prevent the occurrence of brain disorders. Translational neuroscience includes new preclinical models that may better predict human efficacy and safety, improved clinical trial designs and outcomes that will accelerate drug development, and the use of biomarkers to more rapidly provide information regarding the effects of drugs on the underlying disease biology. Early translational research is complemented by later stage translational approaches regarding how best to use evidence to impact clinical practice and to assess the influence of new treatments on the public health. Funding of translational research is evolving with an increased emphasis on academic and NIH involvement in drug development. Translational neuroscience provides a framework for advancing development of new therapies for AD patients.
Binge eating in adults: prevalence and association with obesity, poor self-rated health status and body dissatisfaction
Authors: de França Giovanny Vinícius Araújo , Gigante Denise Petrucci , Olinto Maria Teresa Anselmo
Published: March 2013

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of episodes of binge eating and to assess potential associations with nutritional status, satisfaction with current body weight, self-rated health status and self-rated body weight.

Design

A cross-sectional population-based study. Binge eating was assessed using adapted questions from the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns and was defined as binging one or more times over the last 3 months before the interview.

Setting

City of Pelotas, southern Brazil.

Subjects

Individuals (n2097) aged 20–59 years.

Results

The prevalence of binge eating and recurrent binge eating was 7·9 % and 2·7 %, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, obesity, fair/poor self-rated health status and body dissatisfaction remained strongly associated with binge eating.

Conclusions

The study showed a high prevalence of binge eating among adults in Pelotas, being higher among younger women, the obese and those who desired to weigh less. The current results are informative, but longitudinal studies would be needed to demonstrate the causal relationship between these events.
Prevalence of iron deficiency states and risk of haemoconcentration during pregnancy according to initial iron stores and iron supplementation
Authors: Arija Victoria , Ribot Blanca , Aranda Núria
Published: March 2013

Objective

To describe the prevalence of iron depletion (ID), iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and risk of haemoconcentration during pregnancy and at delivery and to assess the influence of initial Fe stores and Fe supplementation on that prevalence.

Design

Longitudinal study.

Setting

Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus (Catalonia, Spain).

Subjects

Two hundred and eighty-five pregnant women. Serum ferritin and Hb were measured in the first, second and third trimesters and at delivery. Women were classified according to initial Fe stores as ID or no ID (serum ferritin ≥12 μg/l) and according to Fe supplement use as supplemented or non-supplemented.

Results

Initial ID was 16·2 %. At delivery, 45·7 % had ID, 13·5 % IDA and 13·3 % had risk of haemoconcentration. Initial ID and non-supplemented groups had significantly higher prevalences of ID and IDA and lower risk of haemoconcentration at delivery than the other groups. In the multiple logistic models, no initial ID and Fe supplementation exerted a protective effect against ID at delivery (adjusted OR = 0·28; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·58 and adjusted OR = 0·39; 95 % CI 0·22, 0·69, respectively). Moderate Fe supplementation did not seem to clearly prevent IDA (adjusted OR = 0·91; 95 % CI 0·42, 1·96) or to enhance the haemoconcentration (adjusted OR = 1·42; 95 % CI 0·58, 3·50).

Conclusions

The prevalence of ID and IDA was high in late pregnancy in healthy pregnant women, particularly in those with initial ID and/or those not taking supplements. Starting pregnancy with no ID and/or taking moderate Fe supplementation decreased the likelihood of ID at delivery. The risk of haemoconcentration was high at delivery, but did not seem to be promoted by Fe supplementation. Further research is necessary to determine the most appropriate nutritional advice for pregnant women.
An algebraic approach to the openness conjecture of Demailly and Kollár
Authors: Jonsson Mattias , Mustaţă Mircea
Published: March 2013

We reduce the openness conjecture of Demailly and Kollár on the singularities of plurisubharmonic functions to a purely algebraic statement.
Actin Assembly Takes Off Like a Rocket!
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W. , Salisbury Jeffrey L.
Published: March 2013

Actin filament assembly occurs in all eukaryotic cells and involves a delicate balance between factors that promote assembly and factors that inhibit assembly. Filament assembly begins with a process of nucleation and then proceeds via elongation. Filament assembly in vivo requires nucleation and elongation factors to overcome barriers that could either bind actin monomers to inhibit nucleation or “cap” the ends of elongating filaments. The formation of most cellular actin structures depends on two or more such factors, which may interact directly. The interaction between two factors that initiate nucleation and promote assembly has recently been demonstrated by Dennis Breitsprecher, Richa Jaiswal, Jeffrey Bombardier, Christopher Gould, Jeff Gelles, and Bruce Goode. Interestingly, the model of these factors in action (Figure 1) resembles a rocket launcher!
Equipment Funding Opportunities and Strategies for Success (Part 4)
Authors: Càrdenas-Navia Isabel
Published: March 2013

I am here to talk about the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and our funding opportunities. I will start with introductory slides because I'm not sure how familiar this audience is with our organization. ONR supports science and technology for the Navy, and you might think “How do I fit into this?” We have a two-billion-dollar portfolio for research. Some of this is sort of off-the-shelf, early stuff, the quick reaction. Then we have acquisition enablers. These two categories are short-term technologies. I'm going to talk about discovery and invention, which is the long-term basic research we support. It's about 40% of our portfolio or $900 million. The timeframe is basic research, and it covers our national naval responsibilities, and education and outreach, which is about 40% of our research, $900,000. In discovery and invention, we do research in naval-relevant areas. So our mission is very different from NSF and NIH, which are more broadly scientific-based.
X-ray Microscopy in your Lab
Authors: Lyman Charles
Published: March 2013

Using X rays to produce magnified images of objects has been a goal for 150 years. Ever since Ernst Abbe declared in 1873 that light microscope resolution was limited by the wavelength of light, the search was on for a microscopy medium with a wavelength shorter than visible light (<500 nm). When Roentgen discovered X rays in 1895, it was thought that the new medium may have been found. Soon it was clear, however, that it was not easy to construct a physical lens for X rays because the rays penetrated all lens construction materials. X-ray “radiography images” of a few times magnification were possible but only as projection images, formed as X rays from millimeter-sized sources traveled in straight lines through the specimen to be captured on film. Unfortunately, even in the best cases, useful magnification was limited by the relatively large “point source” of X rays and the large grain size of X-ray film (both about 0.1–1.0 mm).
The Children’s Health & Illness Recovery Program (CHIRP): Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents With Chronic Pain and Fatigue
Authors: Carter Bryan D. , Kronenberger William G. , Threlkeld Brooke , Townsend Aimee , Pruitt Alexandria
Published: March 2013

Our goal was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a manualized treatment (CHIRP) for pediatric patients with chronic painful and fatiguing medical conditions in reducing symptoms and improving functioning. Participants included 26 clinical referrals with chronic pain and/or fatigue between the ages of 11 and 19, and their parent/guardian, who attended a 12-session manualized treatment employing a cognitive–behavioral systems-based intervention, along with strong advocacy for school-based accommodations. Pre- and postintervention ratings of pain, fatigue, and functional disability were obtained, along with helpfulness ratings in improving symptoms and functioning. Participants and parents reported highly favorable ratings of the helpfulness of the intervention in improving symptoms and overall daily functioning. Both participants and their parents reported significant improvements in pain, fatigue and functional disability. Pilot data indicate the CHIRP intervention appears to demonstrate considerable promise as an effective treatment for improving functioning in pediatric patients with these chronic conditions. Further controlled clinical trails are being planned.
Pressure and temperature effects on intermolecular vibrational dynamics of ionic liquids
Authors: Penna Tatiana C. , Faria Luiz F. O. , Matos Jivaldo R. , Ribeiro Mauro C. C.
Published: March 2013

Low frequency Raman spectra of ionic liquids have been obtained as a function of pressure up to ca. 4.0 GPa at room temperature and as a function of temperature along the supercooled liquid and glassy state at atmospheric pressure. Intermolecular vibrations are observed at ∼20, ∼70, and ∼100 cm−1 at room temperature in ionic liquids based on 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations. The component at ∼100 cm−1 is assigned to librational motion of the imidazolium ring because it is absent in non-aromatic ionic liquids. There is a correspondence between the position of intermolecular vibrational modes in the normal liquid state and the spectral features that the Raman spectra exhibit after partial crystallization of samples at low temperatures or high pressures. The pressure-induced frequency shift of the librational mode is larger than the other two components that exhibit similar frequency shifts. The lowest frequency vibration observed in a glassy state corresponds to the boson peak observed in light and neutron scattering spectra of glass-formers. The frequency of the boson peak is not dependent on the length scale of polar/non-polar heterogeneity of ionic liquids, it depends instead on the strength of anion–cation interaction. As long as the boson peak is assigned to a mixing between localized modes and transverse acoustic excitations of high wavevectors, it is proposed that the other component observed in Raman spectra of ionic liquids has a partial character of longitudinal acoustic excitations.