bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Numerical Study of Liquefaction Induced Deformation on Caisson-Type Quay Wall Using a Partially Coupled Solution
Authors: Arablouei A. , Ghalandarzadeh A. , Mostafagharabaghi A. R. , Abedi K.
Published: February 2011

A partially coupled effective stress analysis is assessed in predicting the seismic performance of a caisson-type quay wall. Using a nonlinear finite difference program, a numerical study of shaking table tests, carried out at Tokyo University, is performed. In this paper, the formulation of an employed computational code is described, and the results of numerical simulation are compared with the measured records. The results demonstrate that the trend and magnitude of vertical and horizontal displacements of quay wall appear to be predicted reasonably well. The overall tendency is to overpredict the horizontal movement, but the vertical movement is underpredicted.
Effect of Separating Load Eccentricity on the Clamp Load Loss in a Bolted Joint Using a Strain Hardening Model
Authors: Nassar Sayed A. , Ganganala Mohan
Published: February 2011

A nonlinear model is proposed for studying the effect of the eccentricity of applied tensile forces on the clamp load loss in bolted joints that were initially tightened beyond the bolt elastic limit while the joint remained in the elastic range. A closed form solution is obtained for the amount of clamp load loss due to a cyclic separating force. The proposed model takes into account two sources of nonlinearity, namely, the strain hardening behavior of the yielded bolt material as well as the nonlinear deformation behavior of the clamped plates under an external separating load. After the initial tightening of the fastener past its elastic limit, the subsequent application of a tensile separating force on the joint tends to increase the fastener tension in a nonlinear fashion, and, simultaneously, reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint from its initial value. Upon the removal of the cyclic tensile load, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the residual fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the fastener tension is reduced from its preload due to its plastic elongation; simultaneously, a partial yet permanent loss in the clamp load level takes place. Excessive clamp load loss may lead to joint leakage, fastener loosening, or fatigue failure. For a known amplitude of the external cyclic tensile load, the increase in bolt tension and corresponding reduction in the joint clamp load are highly sensitive to the eccentricity of the tensile load (from the bolt center). Variables studied include the eccentricity value of the separating load, rate of strain hardening of the bolt material, compressive and tensile stiffness of the clamped plates, bolt stiffness, bolt preload, and magnitude of the separating tensile load.
Modeling the Blow-Blow Forming Process in Glass Container Manufacturing: A Comparison Between Computations and Experiments
Authors: Giannopapa C. G. , Groot J. A. W. M.
Published: February 2011

The blow-blow forming process is a widely used technique in glass container manufacturing (e.g., production of glass bottles and jars). This process typically takes few seconds and is characterized by large deformations and temperature gradients. In the work of Giannopapa (2008, “Development of a Computer Simulation Model for Blowing Glass Containers,” ASME J. Manuf. Sci. Eng., 130, p. 041003), the development of a computer simulation model for glass blowing was presented and demonstrated on dummy problems with an initially uniform glass temperature. The objective of this paper is to extend and further develop the simulation model to be used for industrial purposes. To achieve this, both steps of the blow-blow forming process of glass containers are simulated and tested against real industrial problems. In this paper, a nonuniform temperature distribution is considered for the blowing of the preform, which is reconstructed from temperature data provided by the industry. The model is validated by means of several examples regarding conservation properties, behavior of the flow, and comparison of the glass thickness with experimental measurements. Furthermore, by means of these examples, the sensitivity of the glass thickness to inaccuracies in the measurement and reconstruction of the initial temperature distribution is verified.
Active control of transmission loss with smart foams
Authors: Kundu Abhishek , Berry Alain
Published: February 2011

Smart foams combine the complimentary advantages of passive foam material and spatially distributed piezoelectric actuator embedded in it for active noise control applications. In this paper, the problem of improving the transmission loss of smart foams using active control strategies has been investigated both numerically and experimentally inside a waveguide under the condition of plane wave propagation. The finite element simulation of a coupled noise control system has been undertaken with three different smart foam designs and their effectiveness in canceling the transmitted wave downstream of the smart foam have been studied. The simulation results provide insight into the physical phenomenon of active noise cancellation and explain the impact of the smart foam designs on the optimal active control results. Experimental studies aimed at implementing the real-time control for transmission loss optimization have been performed using the classical single input/single output filtered-reference least mean squares algorithm. The active control results with broadband and single frequency primary source inputs demonstrate a good improvement in the transmission loss of the smart foams. The study gives a comparative description of the transmission and absorption control problems in light of the modification of the vibration response of the piezoelectric actuator under active control.
Specification of absorbed-sound power in the ear canal: Application to suppression of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions
Authors: Keefe Douglas H. , Schairer Kim S.
Published: February 2011

An insert ear-canal probe including sound source and microphone can deliver a calibrated sound power level to the ear. The aural power absorbed is proportional to the product of mean-squared forward pressure, ear-canal area, and absorbance, in which the sound field is represented using forward (reverse) waves traveling toward (away from) the eardrum. Forward pressure is composed of incident pressure and its multiple internal reflections between eardrum and probe. Based on a database of measurements in normal-hearing adults from 0.22 to 8 kHz, the transfer-function level of forward relative to incident pressure is boosted below 0.7 kHz and within 4 dB above. The level of forward relative to total pressure is maximal close to 4 kHz with wide variability across ears. A spectrally flat incident-pressure level across frequency produces a nearly flat absorbed power level, in contrast to 19 dB changes in pressure level. Calibrating an ear-canal sound source based on absorbed power may be useful in audiological and research applications. Specifying the tip-to-tail level difference of the suppression tuning curve of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions in terms of absorbed power reveals increased cochlear gain at 8 kHz relative to the level difference measured using total pressure.
Directionality of flexural intensity in orthotropic plates
Authors: Magliula Elizabeth A. , McDaniel J. Gregory
Published: February 2011

This work investigates composite plates and their ability to direct flexural intensity, which has important implications for noise and vibration control. It is well known that a composite plate supports a flexural wave whose wavenumber depends strongly on its angle of propagation. This suggests that a composite plate will direct more flexural intensity in some directions than others. The present work considers a thin multi-layered plate in which each layer is constructed from an orthotropic material and has a chosen orientation relative to the other layers. Such an approach may be used to design highly directive structures. An analysis is presented in which a two-dimensional Fourier transform is analytically applied to the equation of motion, yielding algebraic expressions for displacements and stress resultants. Next, a two-dimensional discrete inverse Fourier transform is applied to compute displacements and stress resultants at discrete locations. Flexural intensity is computed at these locations.
Acoustic response from a bubble pulsating near a fluid layer of finite density and thickness
Authors: Doinikov Alexander A. , Aired Leila , Bouakaz Ayache
Published: February 2011

A theory is developed that allows one to consider the dynamics of an acoustically induced bubble near a fluid layer of finite density and thickness. The theory reveals that, as far as the scattered field of a bubble in the far-field zone is concerned, the layer thickness is a very important factor because the behavior of the scattered field in the cases of infinite and finite layers is qualitatively different even if both layers are of the same density. The amplitude of the scattered pressure from a bubble pulsating in the vicinity of an infinite layer is larger than that for the same bubble in an unbounded fluid, while in the case of a finite layer, on the contrary, the amplitude of the scattered pressure for a bubble near the layer is smaller than that in an unbounded fluid. It is also shown that the higher the layer density, the greater the difference between the scattered pressure amplitudes for infinite and finite layers.
Perceptual learning and generalization resulting from training on an auditory amplitude-modulation detection task
Authors: Fitzgerald Matthew B. , Wright Beverly A.
Published: February 2011

Fluctuations in sound amplitude provide important cues to the identity of many sounds including speech. Of interest here was whether the ability to detect these fluctuations can be improved with practice, and if so whether this learning generalizes to untrained cases. To address these issues, normal-hearing adults (n = 9) were trained to detect sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM; 80-Hz rate, 3–4 kHz bandpass carrier) 720 trials/day for 6–7 days and were tested before and after training on related SAM-detection and SAM-rate-discrimination conditions. Controls (n = 9) only participated in the pre- and post-tests. The trained listeners improved more than the controls on the trained condition between the pre- and post-tests, but different subgroups of trained listeners required different amounts of practice to reach asymptotic performance, ranging from 1 (n = 6) to 4–6 (n = 3) sessions. This training-induced learning did not generalize to detection with two untrained carrier spectra (5 kHz low-pass and 0.5–1.5 kHz bandpass) or to rate discrimination with the trained rate and carrier spectrum, but there was some indication that it generalized to detection with two untrained rates (30 and 150 Hz). Thus, practice improved the ability to detect amplitude modulation, but the generalization of this learning to untrained cases was somewhat limited.
Finding good acoustic features for parrot vocalizations: The feature generation approach
Authors: Giret Nicolas , Roy Pierre , Albert Aurélie , Pachet François , Kreutzer Michel , Bovet Dalila
Published: February 2011

A crucial step in the understanding of vocal behavior of birds is to be able to classify calls in the repertoire into meaningful types. Methods developed to this aim are limited either because of human subjectivity or because of methodological issues. The present study investigated whether a feature generation system could categorize vocalizations of a bird species automatically and effectively. This procedure was applied to vocalizations of African gray parrots, known for their capacity to reproduce almost any sound of their environment. Outcomes of the feature generation approach agreed well with a much more labor-intensive process of a human expert classifying based on spectrographic representation, while clearly out-performing other automated methods. The method brings significant improvements in precision over commonly used bioacoustical analyses. As such, the method enlarges the scope of automated, acoustics-based sound classification.
Perceptual weighting of individual and concurrent cues for sentence intelligibility: Frequency, envelope, and fine structure
Authors: Fogerty Daniel
Published: February 2011

The speech signal may be divided into frequency bands, each containing temporal properties of the envelope and fine structure. For maximal speech understanding, listeners must allocate their perceptual resources to the most informative acoustic properties. Understanding this perceptual weighting is essential for the design of assistive listening devices that need to preserve these important speech cues. This study measured the perceptual weighting of young normal-hearing listeners for the envelope and fine structure in each of three frequency bands for sentence materials. Perceptual weights were obtained under two listening contexts: (1) when each acoustic property was presented individually and (2) when multiple acoustic properties were available concurrently. The processing method was designed to vary the availability of each acoustic property independently by adding noise at different levels. Perceptual weights were determined by correlating a listener’s performance with the availability of each acoustic property on a trial-by-trial basis. Results demonstrated that weights were (1) equal when acoustic properties were presented individually and (2) biased toward envelope and mid-frequency information when multiple properties were available. Results suggest a complex interaction between the available acoustic properties and the listening context in determining how best to allocate perceptual resources when listening to speech in noise.
Homoplasy: From Detecting Pattern to Determining Process and Mechanism of Evolution
Authors: Wake David B. , Wake Marvalee H. , Specht Chelsea D.
Published: February 2011

Understanding the diversification of phenotypes through time—“descent with modification”—has been the focus of evolutionary biology for 150 years. If, contrary to expectations, similarity evolves in unrelated taxa, researchers are guided to uncover the genetic and developmental mechanisms responsible. Similar phenotypes may be retained from common ancestry (homology), but a phylogenetic context may instead reveal that they are independently derived, due to convergence or parallel evolution, or less likely, that they experienced reversal. Such examples of homoplasy present opportunities to discover the foundations of morphological traits. A common underlying mechanism may exist, and components may have been redeployed in a way that produces the “same” phenotype. New, robust phylogenetic hypotheses and molecular, genomic, and developmental techniques enable integrated exploration of the mechanisms by which similarity arises.
Response to Comment on “Mantle Flow Drives the Subsidence of Oceanic Plates”
Authors: Adam Claudia , Vidal Valérie
Published: February 2011

Croon
et al
. challenge our conclusion that sea-floor depth variations are driven by the underlying mantle convection. We point out that, contrary to their claim, our data analysis is pertinent and that the sea-floor linear trend as the square root of the distance from the ridge is a robust observation. The mechanism responsible for this trend is an asthenospheric flow, faster than the overlying plate, which shapes the lithosphere structure.
mRNA Delivers the Goods
Authors: Ramamurthi Kumaran S.
Published: February 2011

In bacteria, RNAs contribute to the proper localization of the proteins they encode.
Deeper Tissue Imaging with Total Detection
Authors: Gratton Enrico
Published: February 2011

Optical images of tissue can be obtained from greater depth when multiphoton-excited fluorescence is collected from all around a sample.
Sulfur Surprises in Deep Geological Fluids
Authors: Manning Craig E.
Published: February 2011

Sulfur in hot, high-pressure water exists in an unexpected form, S
3
−
, that changes our understanding of processes as varied as ore formation and volcano degassing.
The Accelerator
Authors: Lander Eric S.
Published: February 2011

The human genome project might best be viewed as a “high-energy accelerator”—not of particles, but of scientific work and scientific imagination.
Fruits of Genome Sequences for Biology
Authors: Botstein David
Published: February 2011

It is nearly impossible for today's students to think about biology without DNA sequences
Digging Deep Into the Microbiome
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: February 2011

A new analysis of the gut microbes of 146 people, made possible by the lower cost and higher efficiency of DNA sequencing, is providing researchers a new way to evaluate which genes are "must-haves" for the microbes.
Researchers Use Weather Radar to Track Bat Movements
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: February 2011

A bat ecologist has discovered that the weather strongly affects the behavior of at least one bat species, she and her colleagues reported on 19 February at the AAAS annual meeting.
Recurrent Sepsis Caused by Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Rasmussen Magnus
Published: February 2011

I report that a 75-year-old man with severe atherosclerosis experienced two episodes of bacteremia with
Streptococcus pyogenes
of type
emm
87. Recurrent sepsis with
S. pyogenes
is extremely rare, and a foot ulcer was the suspected point of entry. The patient did not develop opsonizing antibodies to the isolate.
Multivariate Analyses Revealed Distinctive Features Differentiating Human and Cattle Isolates of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Japan
Authors: Lee Ken-ichi , French Nigel P. , Hara-Kudo Yukiko , Iyoda Sunao , Kobayashi Hideki , Sugita-Konishi Yoshiko , Tsubone Hirokazu , Kumagai Susumu
Published: February 2011

Genotypes of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) O157 isolated from humans and cattle were analyzed by uni- and multivariable logistic regression, and population structure methods, to gain insight into transmission and the nature of human infection. Eleven genotyping assays, including PCR typing of five virulence factors (stx1,stx2,stx2c,eae, andehxA) and a lineage-specific polymorphism assay using six markers (LSPA6), were considered in the analyses. The prevalence of thestx1,stx2, andstx2cvirulence factors was significantly different between human and cattle isolates. However, multivariable regression revealed that the presence of only thestx2gene was significantly associated with human isolates after controlling for confounding effects. LSPA6 typing demonstrated an apparent difference in the distribution of LSPA6 lineages between human and cattle isolates and a strong association betweenstxgenotypes and LSPA6 genotypes. Population genetics tools identified three genetically distinct clusters of STEC O157. Each cluster was characterized bystxgenotypes and LSPA6 genotypes. The human isolates typically comprised LSPA6 lineage I withstx1stx2strains and LSPA6 lineage I/II withstx2orstx2stx2cstrains. In contrast, the cattle isolates comprised LSPA6 lineage II strains withstx2corstx2stx2cstrains in addition to the clusters identified for the human isolates. Our analyses provide new evidence that thestx2gene is the most distinctive feature in human isolates compared to cattle isolates in Japan, and only a subset of the genetically diverse population isolated from cattle is involved in human illnesses. Our results may contribute to international comparisons and risk assessments of STEC O157.
Association of Src-Related Kinase Lyn with the Interleukin-2 Receptor and Its Role in Maintaining Constitutive Phosphorylation of JAK/STAT in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Transformed T Cells
Authors: Shuh Maureen , Morse Barry A. , Heidecker Gisela , Derse David
Published: February 2011

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and transformation are associated with an incremental switch in the expression of the Src-related protein tyrosine kinases Lck and Lyn. We examined the physical and functional interactions of Lyn with receptors and signal transduction proteins in HTLV-1-infected T cells. Lyn coimmunoprecipitates with the interleukin-2 beta receptor (IL-2Rβ) and JAK3 proteins; however, the association of Lyn with the IL-2Rβ and Lyn kinase activity was independent of IL-2 stimulation. Phosphorylation of Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) and signal transducers and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) proteins was reduced by treatment of cells with the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 or by ectopic expression of a dominant negative Lyn kinase protein.
N-Terminal Hemagglutinin Tag Renders Lysine-Deficient APOBEC3G Resistant to HIV-1 Vif-Induced Degradation by Reduced Polyubiquitination
Authors: Wang Yudi , Shao Qiujia , Yu Xianghui , Kong Wei , Hildreth James E. K. , Liu Bindong
Published: February 2011

APOBEC3G, a potent HIV-1 host restriction factor, is overcome by HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif), which induces its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Here we show that lysine-deficient APOBEC3G with an N-terminal hemagglutinin (HA) tag fusion (HA-A3G20K/R) was resistant to HIV-1 Vif-induced proteasomal degradation. HA-A3G20K/R molecules were packaged into wild-type HIV-1 particles, and HA-A3G20K/R drastically decreased wild-type HIV-1 reverse transcription products and infectivity. We also showed that the N terminus of A3G was a target of polyubiquitination induced by HIV-1 Vif. Thus, fusion of the HA tag to the N terminus of A3G20K/R reduced its polyubiquitination, the likely mechanism for the resistance of this protein to HIV-1 Vif-induced proteasomal degradation. Finding such ways to induce resistance of A3G to Vif may provide new approaches to anti-HIV/AIDS therapy.
Uncoupling Uncoating of Herpes Simplex Virus Genomes from Their Nuclear Import and Gene Expression
Authors: Rode Kathrin , Döhner Katinka , Binz Anne , Glass Mandy , Strive Tanja , Bauerfeind Rudolf , Sodeik Beate
Published: February 2011

Incoming capsids of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) enter the cytosol by fusion of the viral envelopes with host cell membranes and use microtubules and microtubule motors for transport to the nucleus. Upon docking to the nuclear pores, capsids release their genomes into the nucleoplasm. Progeny genomes are replicated in the nucleoplasm and subsequently packaged into newly assembled capsids. The minor capsid protein pUL25 of alphaherpesviruses is required for capsid stabilization after genome packaging and for nuclear targeting of incoming genomes. Here, we show that HSV-1 pUL25 bound to mature capsids within the nucleus and remained capsid associated during assembly and nuclear targeting. Furthermore, we tested potential interactions between parental pUL25 bound to incoming HSV-1 capsids and host factors by competing for such interactions with an experimental excess of cytosolic pUL25. Overexpression of pUL25, GFPUL25, or UL25GFP prior to infection reduced gene expression of HSV-1. Electron microscopy and
in situ
hybridization studies revealed that an excess of GFPUL25 or UL25GFP prevented efficient nuclear import and/or transcription of parental HSV-1 genomes, but not nuclear targeting of capsids or the uncoating of the incoming genomes at the nuclear pore. Thus, the uncoating of HSV-1 genomes could be uncoupled from their nuclear import and gene expression. Most likely, surplus pUL25 competed with important interactions between the parental capsids, and possibly between authentic capsid-associated pUL25, and cytosolic or nuclear host factors required for functional interaction of the incoming genomes with the nuclear machinery.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 Inhibits Gamma Interferon and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Expression
Authors: Schmidt Katharina , Wies Effi , Neipel Frank
Published: February 2011

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) carries four genes with homology to human interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). One of these IRFs, the viral interferon regulatory factor 3 (vIRF-3), is expressed in latently infected primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells and required for their continuous proliferation. Moreover, vIRF-3 is known to be involved in modulation of the type I interferon (IFN) response. We now show that vIRF-3 also interferes with the type II interferon system and antigen presentation to the adaptive immune system. Starting with an analysis of the transcriptome, we show that vIRF-3 inhibits expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules: small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of vIRF-3 in KSHV-infected PEL cell lines resulted in increased MHC II levels; overexpression of vIRF-3 in KSHV-negative B cells leads to downmodulation of MHC II. This regulation could be traced back to inhibition of class II transactivator (CIITA) transcription by vIRF-3. Reporter assays revealed that the gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-sensitive CIITA promoters PIV and PIII were inhibited by vIRF-3. Consistently, IFN-γ levels increased upon vIRF-3 knockdown in PEL cells. IFN-γ regulation by vIRF-3 was confirmed in reporter assays as well as by upregulation of typical IFN-γ target genes upon knockdown of vIRF-3 in PEL cells. In summary, we conclude that vIRF-3 contributes to the viral immunoevasion by downregulation of IFN-γ and CIITA and thus MHC II expression.
Environmental and Antigen Receptor-Derived Signals Support Sustained Surveillance of the Lungs by Pathogen-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
Authors: Lee Young-Tae , Suarez-Ramirez Jenny E. , Wu Tao , Redman Jason M. , Bouchard Keith , Hadley Gregg A. , Cauley Linda S.
Published: February 2011

Viral infections often gain access to the body of their host by exploiting areas of natural vulnerability, such as the semipermeable surfaces of mucosal tissues which are adapted for adsorption of nutrients and other diffusible molecules. Once the microbes have crossed the epithelial barrier, they can disperse to other tissues where eradication may not be possible. The best opportunity for successful immune intervention is immediately after infection while the pathogen is confined to a localized area of the body. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) which reside at the site where the infection begins can make an important contribution to immunity by reducing early dissemination of the infection. Because the lungs provide easy access points for many pathogens to enter the body, they require protection from many complementary mechanisms, including pathogen-specific cytotoxic T cells. In this study we show that an enduring response to pathogen-derived peptide antigens facilitates sustained surveillance of the lungs by pathogen-specific CTL during the recovery from influenza virus infection. Our studies show that these processed peptide antigens reinforce expression of two homing receptors (CD69 and CD103) which help recently activated virus-specific CTL colonize the lungs during a mild inflammatory response. We suggest that this requirement for prolonged antigen presentation to reinforce local CTL responses in the lungs explains why protective cellular immunity quickly declines following influenza virus infection and other viral infections that enter the body via mucosal tissues.
An intelligent decision support system for quantitative assessment of gastric atrophy
Authors: Al-Omari Faruq A , Matalka Ismail I , Al-Jarrah Mohammad A , Obeidat Fatima N , Kanaan Faisal M
Published: February 2011

Aims

To build an automated decision support system to assist pathologists in grading gastric atrophy according to the updated Sydney system.

Methods

A database of 143 biopsies was used to train and examine the proposed system. A panel of three experienced pathologists reached a consensus regarding the grading of the studied biopsies using the visual scale of the updated Sydney system. Digital imaging techniques were utilised to extract a set of discriminating morphological features that describe each atrophy grade sufficiently and uniquely. A probabilistic neural networks structure was used to build a grading system. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system, 66% of the biopsies (94 biopsy images) were used for training purposes and 34% (49 biopsy images) were used for testing and validation purposes.

Results

During the training phase, a 98.9% precision was achieved, whereas during testing, a precision of 95.9% was achieved. The overall precision achieved was 97.9%.

Conclusions

A fully automated decision support system to grade gastric atrophy according to the updated Sydney system is proposed. The system utilises advanced image processing techniques and probabilistic neural networks in conducting the assessment. The proposed system eliminates inter- and intra-observer variations with high reproducibility.
Current experience and attitudes to biomedical scientist cut-up: results of an online survey of UK consultant histopathologists
Authors: Simmons E J V , Sanders D S A , Carr R A
Published: February 2011

Aims

To assess the current utilisation of biomedical scientist (BMS) surgical specimen cut-up in the UK and attitudes of consultant histopathologists to the practice.

Methods

Email invitations were sent to all UK consultant histopathologists to participate in an online survey (SurveyMonkey) assessing attitudes to and utilisation of BMS surgical specimen cut-up.

Results

463 individual replies were received (35% response rate) from 1320 invitations to participate, covering 181 UK histopathology departments. A majority of the respondents were either fully in favour of BMS cut-up (52.7%), or in favour but with some reservation (46.2%). Only five respondents (1.1%) were completely opposed to BMS cut-up. 267 (57.7%) respondents reported that their BMS staff loaded biopsies only. 148 (32%) reported BMS cut-up of more complex benign specimens, and 83 (17.9%) reported BMS handling of orientated skin specimens. Only 39 (8.4%) reported that BMS staff in their departments currently cut-up larger cancer resections.

Conclusions

This survey is representative of current BMS cut-up practice in the UK. The majority of UK consultant histopathologists replying to this survey support BMS cut-up to some degree, but utilisation of BMS cut-up is rather limited and patchy at present. Cost, staffing constraints, perceived quality issues and individual consultant preferences are cited as reasons for limited uptake currently. Recognised benefits of promoting BMS cut-up include better use of consultant time, enhanced team working, BMS job satisfaction and career progression, and better adherence to standard operating procedures.
Disclosure of individual research results in clinico-genomic trials: challenges, classification and criteria for decision-making: Table 1
Authors: Kollek Regine , Petersen Imme
Published: February 2011

While an ethical obligation to report findings of clinical research to trial participants is increasingly recognised, the academic debate is often vague about what kinds of data should be fed back and how such a process should be organised. In this article, we present a classification of different actors, processes and data involved in the feedback of research results pertaining to an individual. In a second step, we reflect on circumstances requiring further ethical consideration. In regard to a concrete research setting—the one of clinico-genomic research—we discuss what kinds of difficulties have to be faced when returning individual research results to trial participants. In a last step, we elaborate on a stepwise model to trigger the individual feedback process. Hence, this paper gives guidance on how to feedback individual research results in a specific research setting and responds at the same time to new challenges in the debate on the duty to return individual research findings.
Horizontal deployment of an intracranial stent via an antegrade approach for coil embolization of a basilar apex aneurysm: technical note: Figure 1
Authors: Yashar Parham , Kan Peter T , Levy Elad I
Published: February 2011

The treatment of basilar apex aneurysms has progressively become more minimalistic in nature. Although initial coil embolizations were geared towards those aneurysms with a favorable neck to dome ratio, wide necked aneurysms have also been increasingly treated by the endovascular route. Several techniques have been described in the stent assisted coiling of basilar apex aneurysms, including the Y stent formation, waffle cone technique and horizontal stenting. Thus far, horizontal stenting has required access from a retrograde approach—namely, the posterior communicating artery. The authors describe a novel antegrade technique, through the basilar artery, for the deployment of a Neuroform-EZ stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts, USA) in a horizontal configuration across the neck of a basilar apex aneurysm. This approach allowed for the complete coil embolization of a wide necked basilar apex aneurysm.
ENTROPY OF COSMOLOGICAL BLACK HOLES AND THE GENERALIZED SECOND LAW IN THE PHANTOM-ENERGY-DOMINATED UNIVERSE
Authors: NOUICER KHIREDDINE
Published: February 2011

Adopting the thin layer improved brick wall method, we investigate the thermodynamics of a black hole embedded in a spatially flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe. We calculate the temperature and the entropy at every apparent horizon for arbitrary solution of the scale factor. We show that the temperature and entropy display a nontrivial behavior as functions of time. In the case of black holes immersed in a universe driven by phantom energy, we show that for specific ranges of the equation-of-state parameter and apparent horizons the entropy is compatible with the D-bound conjecture, and even the null, dominant and strong energy conditions are violated. In the case of accretion of phantom energy onto a black hole with small Hawking–Hayward quasi-local mass, we obtain an equation-of-state parameter in the range w ≤ -5/3, guaranteeing the validity of the generalized second law.
EFFECTS OF STANDARD AND MODIFIED GRAVITY ON INTERPLANETARY RANGES
Authors: IORIO L.
Published: February 2011

We numerically investigate the impact on the two-body range of several Newtonian and non-Newtonian dynamical effects for some Earth-planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) pairs, in view of the expected cm-level accuracy in some future planned or proposed interplanetary ranging operations. The general relativistic gravitomagnetic Lense–Thirring effect should be modeled and solved for in future accurate ranging tests of Newtonian and post-Newtonian gravity, because it falls within their measurability domain. It could a priori "imprint" the determination of some of the target parameters of the tests considered. Moreover, the ring of the minor asteroids, Ceres, Pallas, Vesta (and also many other asteroids if Mars is considered) and the trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) act as sources of nonnegligible systematic uncertainty on the larger gravitoelectric post-Newtonian signals from which it is intended to determine the parameters γ and β of the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism with very high precision (several orders of magnitude better than the current 10-4–10-5levels). Also, other putative, nonconventional gravitational effects, like a violation of the strong equivalence principle (SEP), a secular variation of the Newtonian constant of gravitation G, and the Pioneer anomaly, are considered. The presence of a hypothetical, distant planetary-sized body X could be detectable with future high-accuracy planetary ranging. Our analysis can, in principle, be extended to future interplanetary ranging scenarios in which one or more spacecrafts in heliocentric orbits are involved. The impact of fitting the initial conditions, and of the noise in the observations, on the actual detectability of the dynamical signatures investigated, which may be partly absorbed in the estimation process, should be quantitatively addressed in further studies.
A UNILATERAL PRICING POLICY AND THE STACKELBERG EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: OHNISHI KAZUHIRO
Published: February 2011

Cooper (1986) examines the equilibrium of the retroactive most-favored-customer pricing policy by using a two-period duopoly model. He shows that the most-favored-customer policy enables both firms to offer higher prices and to enjoy higher profits. Neilson and Winter (1992) show that even if one firm in a price-setting duopoly adopts the most-favored-customer policy, the equilibrium does not coincide with the Stackelberg solution. This paper introduces a pricing policy by using a one-period two-stage model and shows that if one firm in a price-setting duopoly adopts this policy, then the equilibrium coincides with the Stackelberg solution.
THE EXTENDED CORE OF A COOPERATIVE NTU GAME
Authors: KEIDING HANS , PANKRATOVA YAROSLAVNA
Published: February 2011

In this paper we propose an extension of the core of NTU games from its domain to a larger set of games satisfying a few conditions of well-behavedness. The solution concept is a rather straightforward generalization of the extended core of TU games introduced by Gomez [2003] and is shown to have similar properties. Also, a set of axioms for solutions of NTU games is presented which characterizes the extended core.
Transitional changes in arborescent lignophytes at the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary
Authors: Decombeix Anne-Laure , Meyer-Berthaud Brigitte , Galtier Jean
Published: February 2011

It is usually considered that after the extinction of the Devonian tree
Archaeopteri
s, no new arborescent lignophytes were established before the late Tournaisian. A reassessment of this pattern is presented here based on a three-fold approach: a re-evaluation of the taxic diversity of Tournaisian lignophyte trees based on descriptions of new plants from palaeotropical latitudes, a study of the patterns of phenotypic changes occurring among early lignophytes using a principal coordinate analysis and a phylogenetic analysis of the affinities of the arborescent taxa. The best supported results indicate that a substantial taxonomic and phenotypic diversity of arborescent lignophytes was already established in the first part of the Tournaisian, including some taxa that persisted until the Serpukhovian. Two genera may have originated in the Late Devonian and crossed the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary. Fewer originations and a decrease in phenotypic diversity occurred in the Viséan. The phenotypic distinctiveness of tree stems compared with those of other growth forms in the lignophytes is assessed. We propose a scenario in which the presence of lignophyte trees is continuous across the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary, with arborescent taxa distinct from
Archaeopteris
already present in the latest Devonian, possibly in upland floras, and diversifying significantly soon after the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary.

Supplementary material:

A list of taxa, characters and matrices used in the principal coordinate analysis and phylogenetic analysis is available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18447
.
Provenance and exhumation of an exotic eclogite-bearing nappe in the Caledonides: a U–Pb and Rb–Sr study of the Jæren nappe, SW Norway
Authors: Smit M.A. , Bröcker M. , Kooijman E. , Scherer E.E.
Published: February 2011

The provenance and exhumation history of paragneisses that enclose the 471–458 Ma eclogites in the Caledonian Jæren nappe, SW Norway, were constrained by performing U–Pb analysis on detrital zircon and Rb–Sr dating of mica. Zircon grains from four samples were analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, providing detrital U–Pb ages between 3130 and 620 Ma. These data suggest Laurentian provenance, implying the existence of an early Caledonian (Taconian) HP fragment of Laurentian crust in the southern Scandinavian Caledonides. Several rims and recrystallized zircon patches yielded U–Pb ages averaging at 469 ± 6 Ma (2σ). These are identical to the Lu–Hf ages of the eclogites and underscore the importance of Taconian metamorphism in this part of the Caledonides. The main phengite Rb–Sr age cluster at 424.4 ± 4.6 Ma provides time constraints on the amphibolite-facies recrystallization of former high-Si phengite. Five out of seven biotite Rb–Sr ages were identical, yielding a weighted mean age of 413.6 ± 2.6 Ma. Low-Si phengite and biotite in three samples gave
c
. 400 Ma ages. The Rb–Sr data record the mid-crustal emplacement of the exotic Jæren nappe and its subsequent unroofing along the western edge of Baltica during the backsliding and collapse of the Scandian orogenic front.

Supplementary material:

The sample locations, U–Pb isotope data and ages for zircon, and the phengite and biotite major element data are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18448
.
Stress-state evolution of the brittle upper crust during compressional tectonic inversion as defined by successive quartz vein types (High-Ardenne slate belt, Germany)
Authors: Van Noten Koen , Muchez Philippe , Sintubin Manuel
Published: February 2011

In the frontal part of the Rhenohercynian fold-and-thrust belt (High-Ardenne slate belt, Germany), two successive types of quartz veins, oriented normal and parallel to bedding respectively, are interpreted to reflect the early Variscan compressional tectonic inversion of the Ardenne–Eifel sedimentary basin. Fracturing and sealing occurred in Lower Devonian siliciclastic multilayers under very low-grade metamorphic conditions in a brittle upper crust. A geometrical and microthermometric analysis of these veins has helped to constrain the kinematic and pressure–temperature conditions of both vein types, allowing the reconstruction of the stress-state evolution in a basin during tectonic inversion. It is demonstrated that bedding-normal extension veins, which developed under low differential stresses and repeatedly opened and sealed (crack-seal) under near-lithostatic fluid pressures, reflect the latest stage of an extensional stress regime. Bedding-parallel veins, which developed at differential stresses that were still low enough to allow the formation of extension veins, cross-cut the bedding-normal veins and preceded the regional fold and cleavage development. These veins show a pronounced bedding-parallel fabric, reflecting bedding-normal uplift and bedding-parallel shearing under lithostatic to supra-lithostatic fluid pressures during the early stages of a compressional stress regime. This kinematic history corroborates that fluid overpressures are easy to maintain during compressional tectonic inversion at the onset of orogeny.
Late Palaeozoic terrestrial habitats and biotas: the effect of changing climates
Authors: Hilton Jason , Cleal Christopher J.
Published: February 2011

The 2009 Lyell Meeting held at the Geological Society, London, reviewed various aspects of the interrelationship between Late Palaeozoic habitats, biotas and climates. The following five papers are based on some of the presentations given at the meeting.
Interaction of ASIC1 and ENaC subunits in human glioma cells and rat astrocytes
Authors: Kapoor Niren , Lee William , Clark Edlira , Bartoszewski Rafal , McNicholas Carmel M. , Latham Cecelia B. , Bebok Zsuzsanna , Parpura Vladimir , Fuller Catherine M. , Palmer Cheryl A. , Benos Dale J.
Published: February 2011

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive of the primary brain tumors. These tumors express multiple members of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)/degenerin (Deg) family and are associated with a basally active amiloride-sensitive cation current. We hypothesize that this glioma current is mediated by a hybrid channel composed of a mixture of ENaC and acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) subunits. To test the hypothesis that ASIC1 interacts with αENaC and γENaC at the cellular level, we have used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) in live rat astrocytes transiently cotransfected with cDNAs for ASIC1-DsRed plus αENaC-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) or ASIC1-DsRed plus γENaC-YFP. TIRFM images show colocalization of ASIC1 with both αENaC and γENaC. Furthermore, using TIRFM in stably transfected D54-MG cells, we also found that ASIC1 and αENaC both localize to a submembrane region following exposure to pH 6.0, similar to the acidic conditions found in the core of a glioblastoma lesion. Using high-resolution clear native gel electrophoresis, we found that ASIC1 forms a complex with ENaC subunits which migrates at ≈480 kDa in D54-MG glioma cells. These data suggest that different ENaC/Deg subunits interact and could combine to form a hybrid channel that likely underlies the amiloride-sensitive current seen in human glioma cells.
Two-photon microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging reveal stimulus-induced intracellular Na+ and Cl− changes in cockroach salivary acinar cells
Authors: Lahn Mattes , Dosche Carsten , Hille Carsten
Published: February 2011

The intracellular ion homeostasis in cockroach salivary acinar cells during salivation is not satisfactorily understood. This is mainly due to technical problems regarding strong tissue autofluorescence and ineffective ion concentration quantification. For minimizing these problems, we describe the successful application of two-photon (2P) microscopy partly in combination with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to record intracellular Na+ and Cl− concentrations ([Na+]i, [Cl−]i) in cockroach salivary acinar cells. Quantitative 2P-FLIM Cl− measurements with the dye N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxy-quinolinium bromide indicate that the resting [Cl−]i is 1.6 times above the Cl− electrochemical equilibrium but is not influenced by pharmacological inhibition of the Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC) and anion exchanger using bumetanide and 4,4′-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid disodium salt. In contrast, rapid Cl− reuptake after extracellular Cl− removal is almost totally NKCC mediated both in the absence and presence of dopamine. However, in physiological saline [Cl−]i does not change during dopamine stimulation although dopamine stimulates fluid secretion in these glands. On the other hand, dopamine causes a decrease in the sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate tetra-ammonium salt (SBFI) fluorescence and an increase in the Sodium Green fluorescence after 2P excitation. This opposite behavior of both dyes suggests a dopamine-induced [Na+]i rise in the acinar cells, which is supported by the determined 2P-action cross sections of SBFI. The [Na+]i rise is Cl− dependent and inhibited by bumetanide. The Ca2+-ionophore ionomycin also causes a bumetanide-sensitive [Na+]i rise. We propose that a Ca2+-mediated NKCC activity in acinar peripheral cells attributable to dopamine stimulation serves for basolateral Na+ uptake during saliva secretion and that the concomitantly transported Cl− is recycled back to the bath.
Trans-spinal direct current stimulation modulates motor cortex-induced muscle contraction in mice
Authors: Ahmed Zaghloul
Published: February 2011

The present study investigated the effect of trans-spinal direct current (tsDC) on the firing rate, pattern, and amplitude of spontaneous activity of the tibial nerve and on the magnitude of cortically elicited triceps surae (TS) muscle contractions. The effect of combined tsDC and repetitive cortical electrical stimulation (rCES) on the amplitude of cortically elicited TS twitches was also investigated. Stimulation was applied by two disk electrodes (0.79 cm2): one was located subcutaneously over the vertebral column (T10–L1) and was used to deliver anodal DC (a-tsDC) or cathodal DC (c-tsDC) (density range: ± 0.64 to ± 38.2 A/m2), whereas the other was located subcutaneously on the lateral aspect of the abdomen and served as a reference. While the application of a-tsDC significantly increased the spike frequency and amplitude of spontaneous discharges compared with c-tsDC, c-tsDC made the spontaneous discharges more rhythmic. Cortically elicited TS twitches were depressed during a-tsDC and potentiated after termination. Conversely, cortically elicited TS twitches were enhanced during c-tsDC and depressed after termination. While combined a-tsDC and rCES produced similar effects as a-tsDC alone, combined c-tsDC and rCES showed the greatest increase in cortically elicited TS twitches. tsDC appears to be a powerful neurostimulation tool that can differentially modulate spinal cord excitability and corticospinal transmission.