bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adjoint-based approach for finding invariant solutions of Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Farazmand M.
Published: April 2016

We consider the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with periodic boundary conditions and time-independent forcing. For this type of flow, we derive adjoint equations whose trajectories converge asymptotically to the equilibrium and travelling-wave solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations. Using the adjoint equations, arbitrary initial conditions evolve to the vicinity of a (relative) equilibrium at which point a few Newton-type iterations yield the desired (relative) equilibrium solution. We apply this adjoint-based method to a chaotic two-dimensional Kolmogorov flow. A convergence rate of$100\,\%$is observed, leading to the discovery of$21$new steady-state and travelling-wave solutions at Reynolds number$Re=40$. Some of the new invariant solutions have spatially localized structures that were previously believed to exist only on domains with large aspect ratios. We show that one of the newly found steady-state solutions underpins the temporal intermittencies, i.e. high energy dissipation episodes of the flow. More precisely, it is shown that each intermittent episode of a generic turbulent trajectory corresponds to its close passage to this equilibrium solution.
Turbulence collapse in a suction boundary layer
Authors: Khapko T. , Schlatter P. , Duguet Y. , Henningson D. S.
Published: April 2016

Turbulence in the asymptotic suction boundary layer is investigated numerically at the verge of laminarisation using direct numerical simulation. Following an adiabatic protocol, the Reynolds number$Re$is decreased in small steps starting from a fully turbulent state until laminarisation is observed. Computations in a large numerical domain allow in principle for the possible coexistence of laminar and turbulent regions. However, contrary to other subcritical shear flows, no laminar–turbulent coexistence is observed, even near the onset of sustained turbulence. High-resolution computations suggest a critical Reynolds number$Re_{g}\approx 270$, below which turbulence collapses, based on observation times of$O(10^{5})$inertial time units. During the laminarisation process, the turbulent flow fragments into a series of transient streamwise-elongated structures, whose interfaces do not display the characteristic obliqueness of classical laminar–turbulent patterns. The law of the wall, i.e. logarithmic scaling of the velocity profile, is retained down to$Re_{g}$, suggesting a large-scale wall-normal transport absent in internal shear flows close to the onset. In order to test the effect of these large-scale structures on the near-wall region, an artificial volume force is added to damp spanwise and wall-normal fluctuations above$y^{+}=100$, in viscous units. Once the largest eddies have been suppressed by the forcing, and thus turbulence is confined to the near-wall region, oblique laminar–turbulent interfaces do emerge as in other wall-bounded flows, however only transiently. These results suggest that oblique stripes at the onset are a prevalent feature of internal shear flows, but will not occur in canonical boundary layers, including the spatially growing ones.
The evolution of a viscous thread pulled with a prescribed speed
Authors: Wylie J. J. , Bradshaw-Hajek B. H. , Stokes Y. M.
Published: April 2016

We examine the extension of an axisymmetric viscous thread that is pulled at both ends with a prescribed speed such that the effects of inertia are initially small. After neglecting surface tension, we derive a particularly convenient form of the long-wavelength equations that describe long and thin threads. Two generic classes of initial thread shape are considered as well as the special case of a circular cylinder. In these cases, we determine explicit asymptotic solutions while the effects of inertia remain small. We further show that inertia will ultimately become important only if the long-time asymptotic form of the pulling speed is faster than a power law with a critical exponent. The critical exponent can take two possible values depending on whether or not the initial minimum of the thread radius is located at the pulled end. In addition, we obtain asymptotic expressions for the solution at large times in the case in which the critical exponent is exceeded and hence inertia becomes important. Despite the apparent simplicity of the problem, the solutions exhibit a surprisingly rich structure. In particular, in the case in which the initial minimum is not at the pulled end, we show that there are two very different types of solution that exhibit very different extension mechanics. Both the small-inertia solutions and the large-time asymptotic expressions compare well with numerical solutions.
Optimum Design of Damped Vibration Absorber for Rotationally Periodic Structures
Authors: Ghaderi A. A. , Mohammadzadeh A. , Bahrami M. N.
Published: April 2016

In this study, a damped centrifugally driven order-tuned vibration absorber designed for vibration reduction in rotating flexible structures, bladed disk assemblies and blisk such as turbine blades, compressor and fan blades, pump and helicopter rotor bladesetc. during steady operation with constant speed and under engine order excitation (e.o excitation). Effect of mistuning is disregarded. System is assumed with fully cyclic symmetry. The disk is imposed as being rigid. Elastic behavior for blades is supposed. A model with two degree of freedom is extracted for the blades. Each blade is fitted with nominally identical damped order-tuned vibration absorber that is moved in a circular path. Aerodynamic damping and coupling effects between the blades are considered. Optimal values of parameters of the absorber, to suppress blade vibration especially in resonance condition, are derived by Genetic Algorithm (GA) and MATLAB software. H2optimization criterion is used. It is observed that with the deviation of each parameter from the optimal condition, the system response is moved away from the ideal design situation and all of the absorbers’ design parameters have definite effects on the system frequency response and on the dissipated energy during vibration. Therefore, ignorance of the effect of one of those parameters (which was happened in literature) affected the system response completely. Literature is reviewed and validity of the results is confirmed.
Experimental Study on Depositing Arch Jamming of Elliptical Disks in a Two-Dimensional Static Hopper
Authors: Lin Y.-J. , Fang C.
Published: April 2016

Depositing arch jamming of elliptical disks at the opening of a two-dimensional static hopper is studied experimentally. The hopper slope and opening width, and the aspect ratio of elliptical disks, are varied to determine their influence on the jamming probability. The jamming probability increases as the aspect ratio increases for gentle hopper slopes, while fluctuations of jamming probability appear for more steeper hopper slopes. Increasing hopper slope decreases the jamming probability in most cases. Most jamming arches result from the strong force chains along the shorter axes of elliptical disks. The disk number consisting of jamming arches decreases as the hopper slope increases. For smaller hopper openings, it decreases as the aspect ratio increases, whilst a nearly reverse tendency appears for elliptical disks with smaller aspect ratios. The study delivers a physical mechanism of jamming phenomena in depositing elliptical disks in a two- dimensional static hopper.
Electoral Competitiveness, Tax Bargaining and Political Incentives in Developing Countries: Evidence from Political Budget Cycles Affecting Taxation
Authors: Prichard Wilson
Published: April 2016

Studies of political budget cycles in developing countries have generally sought to inform understanding of short-term fiscal dynamics, but can also offer unique insight into broader political dynamics in developing countries. This article correspondingly employs markedly improved data in order to study the impact of elections on tax collection, and draw broader lessons. It shows that while electionsas a grouphave had no significant effect on tax collection, the subset ofcompetitive electionshas had a significant negative impact on pre-election tax collection; while this effect appears to be largest where incumbents are particularly unpopular. This provides powerful evidence that the impact of elections on political incentives in developing countries is conditioned by the existence of an electorally competitive opposition, while offering preliminary evidence that popular resistance to taxation by unpopular governments may be an important means by which taxpayers may generate pressure for improved governance.
Foreland-directed gravitational collapse along curved thrust fronts: insights from a minor thrust-related shear zone in the Umbria–Marche belt, central-northern Italy
Authors: PACE PAOLO , PASQUI VALERIA , TAVARNELLI ENRICO , CALAMITA FERNANDO
Published: April 2016

Gravitational collapse occurs during the mature evolution of orogenic belts, but its signature is difficult to discriminate in macroscopic structures from that of pre-, syn- or late-/post-orogenic extension, so reliable mesoscopic examples are particularly useful. A composite fabric developed along a lateral thrust ramp in the Apennines reveals mesoscopic normal faults that truncate the thrust surface, overprint the S-fabric and merge downwards in a foreland-directed splay, leaving the thrust footwall undeformed. These relationships indicate syn-/late-thrusting extension, which we interpret as induced by hanging-wall gravitational collapse. Our study provides critical constraints for reconstructing the kinematic evolution of collapsing thrust fronts.
Cosmopolitan Capitalism: Local State-Society Relations in China and India
Authors: Tsai Kellee S.
Published: April 2016

This article examines different patterns of “cosmopolitan capitalism” in three paired localities in China and India: (1) Zhejiang/Gujarat, (2) Zhongguancun/Bangalore, and (3) Guangdong/Kerala. The paired cases illustrate the attentiveness of the local state to transnational society and present varied expressions of the local developmental impact of remittances and return migration. Analytically, this article departs from conventional usages of both state and society by focusing on the local state in combination with a less territorial conception of society. The rationale for this dual definitional stretch—both downwards (local state) and outwards (transnational society)—has an empirical basis. First, the local government represents the day-to-day point of contact with “the state” for most people. Second, limiting the scope of “society” to populations currently residing within national borders unnecessarily excludes temporary migrants and diasporic communities who continue to identify with a locality. Theoretically, this article extends Albert Hirschman's classic categorical troika of “exit, voice, and loyalty” to the literature on new transnationalism.
REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN CHILD MARRIAGE IN BANGLADESH
Authors: Islam Md. Kamrul , Haque Md. Rabiul , Hossain Mohammad Bellal
Published: April 2016

This study aimed to investigate the regional variations in the prevalence of child marriage in Bangladesh with a view to providing recommendations for division-specific policy interventions. Data from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Substantial regional variations in child marriage were found in Bangladesh. Rangpur and Khulna had more than four times higher odds of child marriage than Sylhet (4.57 and 4.11 times, respectively). Barisal and Rajshahi had more than three times higher odds of child marriage than Sylhet (3.70 and 3.48 times, respectively). Chittagong and Dhaka had about two times odds of child marriage than Sylhet (1.98 and 2.67 times, respectively), even after controlling for selected socio-demographic, economic and cultural characteristics. Respondent’s education, employment status, husband’s education and wealth index were inversely associated with the prevalence of child marriage. The policy implications of these findings are discussed in the context of Bangladesh.
Tradition and Discipline: How should one read ancient Indian texts?
Authors: KOLLIPARA BHARANI
Published: April 2016

This is a review article of two recent books. The first is D. Venkat Rao'sCultures of Memory in South Asia: Orality, Literacy and the Problem of Inheritance; the second, Vishwa Adluri and Joydeep Bagchee'sThe Nay Science: A History of German Indology. Rao's conviction is that Indology has failed in its mandate. He claims that Indology so far has produced only European representations of India and not what should have been the choicest self-images of India's past. If Rao begins with a hostile tone towards Indology and expresses his intention to do something with India's texts without either relying on or having recourse to anything that belongs to the Indologist's ragbag, Adluri and Bagchee set out to expose what they refer to as Indology's ‘pretension’ to scientific method and objectivity in theirThe Nay Science, an unprecedented polemical history of German Indology. I divide this review into two parts: a critical examination ofThe Nay Science’s critique of German Indology and its commitment to a methodological reform, and a distilled critical account ofCultures of Memory’s approach to Indian textual traditions and the problems of such an approach. Finally, after examining the important challenges facing Indology, I'll make a case for how the philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre may help our understanding of the nature, dynamics, and the relevance of tradition in South Asia.
Blood parasites of penguins: a critical review
Authors: VANSTREELS RALPH ERIC THIJL , BRAGA ÉRIKA MARTINS , CATÃO-DIAS JOSÉ LUIZ
Published: April 2016

Blood parasites are considered some of the most significant pathogens for the conservation of penguins, due to the considerable morbidity and mortality they have been shown to produce in captive and wild populations of these birds. Parasites known to occur in the blood of penguins include haemosporidian protozoans (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus), piroplamid protozoans (Babesia), kinetoplastid protozoans (Trypanosoma), spirochete bacteria (Borrelia) and nematode microfilariae. This review provides a critical and comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge on these parasites, providing an overview of their biology, host and geographic distribution, epidemiology, pathology and implications for public health and conservation.
Leviathan No More: The Right of Nature and the Limits of Sovereignty in Hobbes
Authors: Hallenbrook Christopher R.
Published: April 2016

This article challenges the prevailing interpretations of Hobbes's thought as providing only minimal protection for the natural right of individuals in political society. Natural right requires the protection of not just the subjects' lives, but their ability to live commodiously, and as a result the protection that natural right receives in political society places substantive constraints on the actions of the sovereign. When those entrusted with sovereign power overstep this constraint, they cease to be sovereign and the former subjects are returned to the state of nature to seek protection as each judges fit. I develop the substance of commodious living more thoroughly than similar analyses and demonstrate that this understanding is not limited to Leviathan but can be found in Hobbes's earlier political work as well.
Madness and Political Philosophy: Beiner on Foucault
Authors: Planinc Emma
Published: April 2016

Beiner's discussion of Foucault is grounded in the effort to “deconstruct” Foucault's mask “as a mere historian” (152). Beiner unpacks Foucault's Panopticon of post-Enlightenment society which, in a dynamic of power/knowledge, crafts the soul in a “regime of surveillance and discipline” that “maintains the disciplined individual in his subjection” (155, 158). Beiner forcefully contends that behind Foucault's language in Discipline and Punish there must be some account of the human being that would prefer to be outside of this seemingly dystopic society—one that is entitled “not to be subject to such a regime of normalization and control” (153). There is something disingenuous, Beiner claims, about Foucault's fidelity to the idea that “his intellectual enterprise [as a historian] requires him to disavow the normative power of his own theorizing” (164). I propose an interpretation that will perhaps rescue Foucault from Beiner's accusation of disingenuousness, and simultaneously establish a kinship between Beiner's lament for political philosophy and Foucault's own. The proposal is that Foucault is a madman.
Dialogue with Six Critics
Authors: Beiner Ronald
Published: April 2016

Theory at its best should be a kind of friendship. Thinking is something one does on one's own; but having thought one's way to a set of theoretical positions, one exposes those intellectual commitments to the test of seeing how they stand up to friendly but challenging scrutiny. I'm grateful for the critical commentaries on my book featured in this symposium because they seem to me to have generated interesting and thoughtful responses to what I have written; but I'm no less grateful because they also nicely exemplify this spirit of dialogical friendship. In that way, they help to vindicate the enterprise of theory as I have just characterized it. These theorists are also my friends, and the friendship is constitutively grounded in a shared commitment to theory as a vocation.
When transparency doesn't mean ease: learning the meaning of resultative verb compounds in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: CHEN JIDONG
Published: April 2016

Children have to figure out the lexicalization of meaning components in learning verb semantics (e.g. Behrens, 1998; Gentner, 1982; Tomasello & Brooks, 1998). The meaning of an English state-change verb (e.g.break) is divided into two portions (i.e. cause and result), respectively encoded with a separate verb in a Mandarin resultative verb compound (RVC). The majority of Mandarin monomorphemic verbs do not specify any realization of a state change (likehunt), or only imply it (likewash) (Talmy, 2000). This study examines the acquisition of the constructional meaning of RVCs and the semantic division of labor between the component verbs. Four groups of Mandarin-learning children (aged 2;6, 3;6, 4;6, and 6;1) participated in an elicitation experiment. The results reveal that, although transparency in form facilitates their learning of the state-change meanings of RVCs, Mandarin children have difficulties in unpacking the meanings of individual verbs, revealing language-specific learning issues.
Developing, evaluating, and refining an automatic generator of diagnostic multiple choice cloze questions to assess children's comprehension while reading
Authors: MOSTOW JACK , HUANG YI-TING , JANG HYEJU , WEINSTEIN ANDERS , VALERI JOE , GATES DONNA
Published: April 2016

We describe the development, pilot-testing, refinement, and four evaluations of Diagnostic Question Generator (DQGen), which automatically generates multiple choice cloze (fill-in-the-blank) questions to test children's comprehension while reading a given text. Unlike previous methods, DQGen tests comprehension not only of an individual sentence but of the context preceding it. To test different aspects of comprehension, DQGen generates three types of distractors: ungrammatical distractors test syntax; nonsensical distractors test semantics; and locally plausible distractors test inter-sentential processing.

(1)

A pilot study of DQGen 2012 evaluated its overall questions and individual distractors, guiding its refinement into DQGen 2014.

(2)

Twenty-four elementary students generated 200 responses to multiple choice cloze questions that DQGen 2014 generated from forty-eight stories. In 130 of the responses, the child chose the correct answer. We define thedistractivenessof a distractor as the frequency with which students choose it over the correct answer. The incorrect responses were consistent with expected distractiveness: twenty-seven were plausible, twenty-two were nonsensical, fourteen were ungrammatical, and seven were null.

(3)

To compare DQGen 2014 against DQGen 2012, five human judges categorized candidate choices without knowing their intended type or whether they were the correct answer or a distractor generated by DQGen 2012 or DQGen 2014. The percentage of distractors categorized as their intended type was significantly higher for DQGen 2014.

(4)

We evaluated DQGen 2014 against human performance based on 1,486 similarly blind categorizations by twenty-seven judges of sixteen correct answers, forty-eight distractors generated by DQGen 2014, and 504 distractors authored by twenty-one humans. Surprisingly, DQGen 2014 did significantly better than humans at generating ungrammatical distractors and marginally better than humans at generating nonsensical distractors, albeit slightly worse at generating plausible distractors. Moreover, vetting DQGen 2014's output and writing distractors only when necessary would halve the time to write them all, and produce higher quality distractors.
Validity and calibration of the FFQ used in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study
Authors: Bassett Julie K , English Dallas R , Fahey Michael T , Forbes Andrew B , Gurrin Lyle C , Simpson Julie A , Brinkman Maree T , Giles Graham G , Hodge Allison M
Published: April 2016

Objective

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the FFQ administered to participants in the follow-up of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS), and to provide calibration coefficients.

Design

A random sample stratified by country of birth, age, sex and BMI was selected from MCCS participants. Participants completed two FFQ and three 24 h recalls over 1 year. Reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Validity coefficients (VC) were estimated from structural equation models and calibration coefficients obtained from regression calibration models.

Setting

Adults born in Australia, Greece or Italy.

Subjects

Nine hundred and sixty-five participants consented to the study; of these, 459 participants were included in the reliability analyses and 615 in the validity and calibration analyses.

Results

The FFQ showed good repeatability for twenty-three nutrients with ICC ranging from 0·66 to 0·80 for absolute nutrient intakes for Australian-born and from 0·51 to 0·74 for Greek/Italian-born. For Australian-born, VC ranged from 0·46 (monounsaturated fat) to 0·83 (Ca) for nutrient densities, comparing well with other studies. For Greek/Italian-born, VC were between 0·21 (Na) and 0·64 (riboflavin). Calibration coefficients for nutrient densities ranged from 0·39 (retinol) to 0·74 (Mg) for Australian-born and from 0·18 (Zn) to 0·54 (riboflavin) for Greek/Italian-born.

Conclusions

The FFQ used in the MCCS follow-up study is suitable for estimating energy-adjusted nutrients for Australian-born participants. However, its performance for estimating intakes is poorer for southern European migrants and alternative dietary assessment methods ought to be considered if dietary data are to be measured in similar demographic groups.
Time-to-treatment of mental disorders in a community sample of Dutch adolescents. A TRAILS study
Authors: Raven D. , Jörg F. , Visser E. , Oldehinkel A. J. , Schoevers R. A.
Published: April 2016

Aims.

Timely recognition and treatment of mental disorders with an onset in childhood and adolescence is paramount, as these are characterized by greater severity and longer persistence than disorders with an onset in adulthood. Studies examining time-to-treatment, also referred to as treatment delay, duration of untreated illness or latency to treatment, and defined as the time between disorder onset and initial treatment contact, are sparse and all based on adult samples. The aim of this study was to describe time-to-treatment and its correlates for any health care professional (any care) and secondary mental health care (secondary care), for a broad range of mental disorders, in adolescents.

Methods.

Data from the Dutch community-based cohort study TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS; N = 2230) were used. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was administered to assess DSM-IV disorders, the age of onset, and the age of initial treatment contact with any health care professional in 1584 adolescents of 18–20 years old. In total 43% of the adolescents (n = 675) were diagnosed with a lifetime DSM-IV disorder. The age of initial treatment contact with secondary care was based on administrative records from 321 adolescents without a disorder onset before the age of 10. Descriptive statistics, cumulative lifetime probability plots, and Cox regression analyses were used analyze time-to-treatment.

Results.

The proportion of adolescents who reported lifetime treatment contact with any care varied from 15% for alcohol dependence to 82% for dysthymia. Regarding secondary care, proportions of lifetime treatment contact were lower for mood disorders and higher for substance dependence. Time-to-treatment for any care varied considerably between and within diagnostic classes. The probability of lifetime treatment contact for mood disorders was above 90%, whereas for other mental disorders this was substantially lower. An earlier age of onset predicted a longer, and the presence of a co-morbid mood disorder predicted a shorter time-to-treatment in general. Disorder severity predicted a shorter time-to-treatment for any care, but not for secondary care. Time-to-treatment for secondary care was shorter for adolescents from low and middle socioeconomic background than for adolescents from a high socioeconomic background.

Conclusion.

Although the time-to-treatment was shorter for adolescents than for adults, it was still substantial, and the overall patterns were remarkably similar to those found in adults. Efforts to reduce time-to-treatment should therefore be aimed at children and adolescents. Future research should address mechanisms underlying time-to-treatment and its consequences for early-onset disorders in particular.
Size

Still

Matters, Although It Shouldn’t: The Debate on Small Cetaceans, IWC 65, and Monaco’s Resolution on Highly Migratory Cetaceans
Authors: Couzens Ed
Published: April 2016

This commentary is an update to an article in an earlier issue ofTransnational Environmental Law(E. Couzens, ‘Size Matters, Although It Shouldn’t: The IWC and Small Cetaceans. A Reply to Stephenson, Mooers and Attaran’ (2014) 3(2)Transnational Environmental Law, pp. 265–78) on the treatment of small cetaceans by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). That article discussed an unsuccessful proposal submitted by Monaco, at the 64thmeeting of the IWC in 2012, for a resolution on highly migratory cetaceans. Monaco renewed its proposal in 2014 and, on that occasion, did generate sufficient support for a resolution to give contracting parties to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling a mandate to initiate debate over small cetaceans in other fora. Following this IWC Resolution, in December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly included a clause proposed by Monaco in its Resolution on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. The nature of international law is such that it is difficult to force change without upsetting a delicate equilibrium. Monaco’s initiative, however, may provide significant momentum towards a solution for what remains the real and under-acknowledged problem that there is virtually no international law applicable to small and/or highly migratory cetaceans.
Hemoglobin Differences in Uncomplicated Monochorionic Twins in Relation to Birth Order and Mode of Delivery
Authors: Verbeek Lianne , Zhao Depeng P. , te Pas Arjan B. , Middeldorp Johanna M. , Hooper Stuart B. , Oepkes Dick , Lopriore Enrico
Published: April 2016

Aim:To determine the differences in hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the first 2 days after birth in uncomplicated monochorionic twins in relation to birth order and mode of delivery.Methods:All consecutive uncomplicated monochorionic pregnancies with two live-born twins delivered at our center were included in this retrospective study. We recorded Hb levels at birth and on day 2, and analyzed Hb levels in association with birth order, mode of delivery, and time interval between delivery of twin 1 and 2.Results:A total of 290 monochorionic twin pairs were analyzed, including 171 (59%) twins delivered vaginally and 119 (41%) twins born by cesarean section (CS). In twins delivered vaginally, mean Hb levels at birth and on day 2 were significantly higher in second-born twins compared to first-born twins: 17.8 versus 16.1 g/dL and 18.0 versus 14.8 g/dL, respectively (p< .01). Polycythemia was detected more often in second-born twins (12%, 20/166) compared to first-born twins (1%, 2/166;p< .01). Hb differences within twin pairs delivered by CS were not statistically or clinically significant. We found no association between inter-twin delivery time intervals and Hb differences.Conclusions:Second-born twins after vaginal delivery have higher Hb levels and more often polycythemia than their co-twin, but not when born by CS.
Narbenfreie Chirurgie: Wird eine Vision Realität? Viszeralchirurgie über natürliche Körperöffnungen
Authors: H. Lamm Sebastian , Zerz Andreas , C. Steinemann Daniel
Published: April 2016

Zusammenfassung. Nachdem sich die minimal-invasive Chirurgie etabliert hat, steht nun die weitere Reduktion des Zugangstraumas im Fokus. Denn trotz immer kleiner werdender Kamerasysteme und Instrumente braucht es zur Bergung und Wiederverbindung von Organen immer noch einen Bergeschnitt. Diesen zu vermeiden, ist Ziel von NOTES (natural orifice endoscopic surgery). So werden aus den heutigen laparoskopisch assistierten rein laparoskopische Eingriffe ohne Minilaparotomie. Der transvaginale Zugang ist der weltweit meistangewandte NOTES-Zugang. Die Akzeptanz bei den Patientinnen ist hoch. Die Machbarkeit der transvaginalen Cholezystektomie ist wissenschaftlich nachgewiesen und für die Frau im Vergleich zur herkömmlichen laparoskopischen Operation schmerzärmer, ohne Einfluss auf das Sexualleben und ohne zugangsbedingte Infektionen bei gleichzeitig geringerer Wundinfekt- und Narbenbruchrate. Bei der linksseitigen Kolonresektion steht nun mit dem transrektalen Zugang die NOTES-Chirurgie beiden Geschlechtern zur Verfügung.
Beziehungsgestaltung und deren Bedeutung für die Unterstützung von kindlichen Lernprozessen im Freispiel
Authors: Wadepohl Heike , Mackowiak Katja
Published: April 2016

Zusammenfassung. Die Gestaltung wertschätzender Beziehungen durch Fachkräfte gilt als grundlegend für die pädagogische Arbeit im Kindergarten und als wesentliche Bedingung für kindliche Lern- und Bildungsprozesse. Im Beitrag werden anhand von Videoaufnahmen des Freispiels von 88 Fachkräften die Qualität ihrer Beziehungsgestaltung erfasst und Zusammenhänge mit Interventionen zur Lernunterstützung analysiert. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass die Beziehungsqualität in den Gruppen hoch ausfällt; außerdem zeigen sich positive Zusammenhänge zur Lernprozessunterstützung im Allgemeinen, jedoch nicht in Bezug auf anspruchsvolle, kognitiv aktivierende Interventionen.
Icy Clouds May Counter Climate Warming Less Than Expected
Authors: Deatrick Elizabeth
Published: April 2016

A new analysis of cloud composition and behavior suggests that scientists have overestimated the ability of a type of mixed-phase ice-and-water cloud to mitigate climate change effects.
Steroid binding to Autotaxin links bile salts and lysophosphatidic acid signalling
Authors: Keune Willem-Jan , Hausmann Jens , Bolier Ruth , Tolenaars Dagmar , Kremer Andreas , Heidebrecht Tatjana , Joosten Robbie P. , Sunkara Manjula , Morris Andrew J. , Matas-Rico Elisa , Moolenaar Wouter H. , Oude Elferink Ronald P. , Perrakis Anastassis
Published: April 2016

Autotaxin (ATX) generates the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). ATX-LPA signalling is involved in multiple biological and pathophysiological processes, including vasculogenesis, fibrosis, cholestatic pruritus and tumour progression. ATX has a tripartite active site, combining a hydrophilic groove, a hydrophobic lipid-binding pocket and a tunnel of unclear function. We present crystal structures of rat ATX bound to 7α-hydroxycholesterol and the bile salt tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA), showing how the tunnel selectively binds steroids. A structure of ATX simultaneously harbouring TUDCA in the tunnel and LPA in the pocket, together with kinetic analysis, reveals that bile salts act as partial non-competitive inhibitors of ATX, thereby attenuating LPA receptor activation. This unexpected interplay between ATX-LPA signalling and select steroids, notably natural bile salts, provides a molecular basis for the emerging association of ATX with disorders associated with increased circulating levels of bile salts. Furthermore, our findings suggest potential clinical implications in the use of steroid drugs.
Discovery of a specific inhibitor of human GLUT5 by virtual screening and in vitro transport evaluation
Authors: George Thompson Alayna M. , Ursu Oleg , Babkin Petr , Iancu Cristina V. , Whang Alex , Oprea Tudor I. , Choe Jun-yong
Published: April 2016

GLUT5, a fructose-transporting member of the facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT, SLC2) family, is a therapeutic target for diabetes and cancer but has no potent inhibitors. We virtually screened a library of 6 million chemicals onto a GLUT5 model and identified N-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrophenyl]-1,3-benzodioxol-5-amine (MSNBA) as an inhibitor of GLUT5 fructose transport in proteoliposomes. MSNBA inhibition was specific to GLUT5; this inhibitor did not affect the fructose transport of human GLUT2 or the glucose transport of human GLUT1-4 or bacterial GlcPSe. In MCF7 cells, a human breast cancer cell line, MSNBA competitively inhibited GLUT5 fructose uptake with a KI of 3.2 ± 0.4 μM. Ligand docking, mutagenesis and functional studies indicate that MSNBA binds near the active site and inhibitor discrimination involves H387 of GLUT5. Thus, MSNBA is a selective and potent inhibitor of fructose transport via GLUT5, and the first chemical probe for this transporter. Our data indicate that active site differences in GLUT members could be exploited to further enhance ligand specificity.
Yeast Gdt1 is a Golgi-localized calcium transporter required for stress-induced calcium signaling and protein glycosylation
Authors: Colinet Anne-Sophie , Sengottaiyan Palanivelu , Deschamps Antoine , Colsoul Marie-Lise , Thines Louise , Demaegd Didier , Duchêne Marie-Clémence , Foulquier François , Hols Pascal , Morsomme Pierre
Published: April 2016

Calcium signaling depends on a tightly regulated set of pumps, exchangers and channels that are responsible for controlling calcium fluxes between the different subcellular compartments of the eukaryotic cell. We have recently reported that two members of the highly-conserved UPF0016 family, human TMEM165 and budding yeast Gdt1p, are functionally related and might form a new group of Golgi-localized cation/Ca2+ exchangers. Defects in the human protein TMEM165 are known to cause a subtype of Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation. Using an assay based on the heterologous expression of GDT1 in the bacterium Lactococcus lactis, we demonstrated the calcium transport activity of Gdt1p. We observed a Ca2+ uptake activity in cells expressing GDT1, which was dependent on the external pH, indicating that Gdt1p may act as a Ca2+/H+ antiporter. In yeast, we found that Gdt1p controls cellular calcium stores and plays a major role in the calcium response induced by osmotic shock when the Golgi calcium pump, Pmr1p, is absent. Importantly, we also discovered that, in the presence of a high concentration of external calcium, Gdt1p is required for glycosylation of carboxypeptidase Y and the glucanosyltransferase Gas1p. Finally we showed that glycosylation process is restored by providing more Mn2+ to the cells.
Ultra-Porous Nanoparticle Networks: A Biomimetic Coating Morphology for Enhanced Cellular Response and Infiltration
Authors: Nasiri Noushin , Ceramidas Anthony , Mukherjee Shayanti , Panneerselvan Anitha , Nisbet David R. , Tricoli Antonio
Published: April 2016

Orthopedic treatments are amongst the most common cause of surgery and are responsible for a large share of global healthcare expenditures. Engineering materials that can hasten bone integration will improve the quality of life of millions of patients per year and reduce associated medical costs. Here, we present a novel hierarchical biomimetic coating that mimics the inorganic constituent of mammalian bones with the aim of improving osseointegration of metallic implants. We exploit the thermally-driven self-organization of metastable core-shell nanoparticles during their aerosol self-assembly to rapidly fabricate robust, ultra-porous nanoparticle networks (UNN) of crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp). Comparative analysis of the response of osteoblast cells to the ultra-porous nanostructured HAp surfaces and to the spin coated HAp surfaces revealed superior osseointegrative properties of the UNN coatings with significant cell and filopodia infiltration. This flexible synthesis approach for the engineering of UNN HAp coatings on titanium implants provides a platform technology to study the bone-implant interface for improved osseointegration and osteoconduction.
Characterization of Environmental Dust in the Dammam Area and Mud After-Effects on Bisphenol-A Polycarbonate Sheets
Authors: Yilbas Bekir Sami. , Ali Haider , Al-Aqeeli Naseer , Khaled Mazen M. , Said Syed , Abu-Dheir Numan , Merah Necar , Youcef-Toumi Kamal , Varanasi Kripa K.
Published: April 2016

Owing to recent climate changes, dust storms are increasingly common, particularly in the Middle East region. Dust accumulation and subsequent mud formation on solid surfaces in humid environments typically have adverse effects on surface properties such as optical transmittance, surface texture and microhardness. This is usually because the mud, which contains alkaline and ionic species, adheres strongly to the surface, often through chemical bonds and is therefore difficult to remove. In this study, environmental dust and the after-effects of mud formed on a polycarbonate sheet, which is commonly used as a protective glass in photovoltaic cells. Ionic compounds (OH−) are shown to significantly affect the optical, mechanical and textural characteristics of the polycarbonate surface and to increase the adhesion work required to remove the dry mud from the polycarbonate surface upon drying. Such ability to modify characteristics of the polycarbonate surface could address the dust/mud-related limitations of superhydrophobic surfaces.
Prognostic impact of mutation profiling in patients with stage II and III colon cancer
Authors: Shen Yinchen , Han Xiaohong , Wang Jianfei , Wang Shuai , Yang Hongying , Lu Shih-Hsin , Shi Yuankai
Published: April 2016

Development of colorectal cancer (CRC) associates with accumulation of genetic mutations include the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. However, whether mutations in KRAS together with downstream factors BRAF, PIK3CA and NRAS impact prognosis is still unclear for stage II-III colon cancer. In the present study a total of 228 stage II-III colon cancer samples were retrospectively collected, KRAS (codons 12, 13 and 61), BRAF (exon 11 and exon 15), PIK3CA (exon 9 and exon 20) and NRAS (codons 12, 13 and 61) status was detected by Sanger sequencing, 37.89% (86/227) tumors harbored a KRAS mutation, 7.02% (16/228) harbored a BRAF mutation, 13.18% (29/220) harbored a PIK3CA mutation and 0.89% (2/224) harbored a NRAS mutation. NRAS mutations existed only in stage II colon cancer. Older groups harbored a higher KRAS and BRAF mutation (P < 0.05), PIK3CA (exon9) mutations appeared more common in worse differentiation tumors (P = 0.032). Moreover, PIK3CA (E545K) mutation was significantly associated with tumor recurrence (P = 0.031) and acted independently prognostic for poor OS (P = 0.044), while only in stage III colon cancer. KRAS, BRAF and NRAS mutations do not have major prognostic value in stage II and III colon cancer, subtypes of gene mutations should be further investigated for a better understanding in CRC.
Electrocatalytic performances of g-C3N4-LaNiO3 composite as bi-functional catalysts for lithium-oxygen batteries
Authors: Wu Yixin , Wang Taohuan , Zhang Yidie , Xin Sen , He Xiaojun , Zhang Dawei , Shui Jianglan
Published: April 2016

A low cost and non-precious metal composite material g-C3N4-LaNiO3 (CNL) was synthesized as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the air electrode of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. The composition strategy changed the electron structure of LaNiO3 and g-C3N4, ensures high Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio and more absorbed hydroxyl on the surface of CNL that can promote the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The composite catalyst presents higher activities than the individual components g-C3N4 and LaNiO3 for both ORR and OER. In non-aqueous Li-O2 batteries, CNL shows higher capacity, lower overpotentials and better cycling stability than XC-72 carbon and LaNiO3 catalysts. Our results suggest that CNL composite is a promising cathode catalyst for Li-O2 batteries.
Swift thermal steering of domain walls in ferromagnetic MnBi stripes
Authors: Sukhov Alexander , Chotorlishvili Levan , Ernst Arthur , Zubizarreta Xabier , Ostanin Sergey , Mertig Ingrid , Gross Eberhard K. U. , Berakdar Jamal
Published: April 2016

We predict a fast domain wall (DW) motion induced by a thermal gradient across a nanoscopic ferromagnetic stripe of MnBi. The driving mechanism is an exchange torque fueled by magnon accumulation at the DWs. Depending on the thickness of the sample, both hot-to-cold and cold-to-hot DW motion directions are possible. The finding unveils an energy efficient way to manipulate DWs as an essential element in magnetic information processing such as racetrack memory.
Generation of heterozygous fibrillin-1 mutant cloned pigs from genome-edited foetal fibroblasts
Authors: Umeyama Kazuhiro , Watanabe Kota , Watanabe Masahito , Horiuchi Keisuke , Nakano Kazuaki , Kitashiro Masateru , Matsunari Hitomi , Kimura Tokuhiro , Arima Yoshimi , Sampetrean Oltea , Nagaya Masaki , Saito Masahiro , Saya Hideyuki , Kosaki Kenjiro , Nagashima Hiroshi , Matsumoto Morio
Published: April 2016

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by abnormal formation of the extracellular matrix with an incidence of 1 in 3, 000 to 5, 000. Patients with Marfan syndrome experience poor quality of life caused by skeletal disorders such as scoliosis, and they are at high risk of sudden death from cardiovascular impairment. Suitable animal models of MFS are essential for conquering this intractable disease. In particular, studies employing pig models will likely provide valuable information that can be extrapolated to humans because of the physiological and anatomical similarities between the two species. Here we describe the generation of heterozygous fibrillin-1 (FBN1) mutant cloned pigs (+/Glu433AsnfsX98) using genome editing and somatic cell nuclear transfer technologies. The FBN1 mutant pigs exhibited phenotypes resembling those of humans with MFS, such as scoliosis, pectus excavatum, delayed mineralization of the epiphysis and disrupted structure of elastic fibres of the aortic medial tissue. These findings indicate the value of FBN1 mutant pigs as a model for understanding the pathogenesis of MFS and for developing treatments.
Alternative promoters of Peg3 with maternal specificity
Authors: Perera Bambarendage P. U. , Kim Joomyeong
Published: April 2016

Peg3 (paternally expressed gene 3) is an imprinted gene localized within an evolutionarily conserved 500-kb domain in human chromosome 19q13.4 and mouse proximal chromosome 7. In the current study, we have identified three alternative promoters for mouse Peg3 and one alternative promoter for human PEG3. These alternative promoters are localized within the 200-kb upstream region of human and mouse PEG3, which is well conserved and thus predicted to harbor several cis-regulatory elements for the PEG3 domain. In the mouse, two of these alternative promoters drive maternal-specific expression of Peg3 specifically in the hypothalamus of the adult brain, while the remaining third promoter drives bi-allelic expression of Peg3 with a paternal bias only in the neonatal-stage brain. In human, an alternative transcript is also detected at relatively very low levels in adult brain and placenta. Overall, the identification of alternative promoters in both mouse and human models suggests that these alternative promoters may be functionally selected features for the PEG3 imprinted domain during mammalian evolution.
Integrative transcriptome, proteome, phosphoproteome and genetic mapping reveals new aspects in a fiberless mutant of cotton
Authors: Ma Qi-Feng , Wu Chun-Hui , Wu Man , Pei Wen-Feng , Li Xing-Li , Wang Wen-Kui , Zhang Jinfa , Yu Ji-Wen , Yu Shu-Xun
Published: April 2016

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of fiber initiation in cotton (Gossypium spp.), an integrated approach combining transcriptome, iTRAQ-based proteome and genetic mapping was taken to compare the ovules of the Xuzhou 142 wild type (WT) with its fuzzless-lintless (fl) mutant at −3 and 0 day post-anthesis. A total of 1,953 mRNAs, 187 proteins and 131 phosphoproteins were differentially expressed (DE) between WT and fl and the levels of transcripts and their encoded proteins and phosphoproteins were highly congruent. A functional analysis suggested that the abundance of proteins were mainly involved in amino sugar, nucleotide sugar and fatty acid metabolism, one carbon pool for folate metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. qRT-PCR, Western blotting and enzymatic assays were performed to confirm the regulation of these transcripts and proteins. A molecular mapping located the lintless gene li3 in the fl mutant on chromosome 26 for the first time. A further in-silico physical mapping of DE genes with sequence variations between fl and WT identified one and four candidate genes in the li3 and n2 regions, respectively. Taken together, the transcript abundance, phosphorylation status of proteins at the fiber initiation stage and candidate genes have provided insights into regulatory processes underlying cotton fiber initiation.
Liprin-α1 is a regulator of vimentin intermediate filament network in the cancer cell adhesion machinery
Authors: Pehkonen Henna , von Nandelstadh Pernilla , Karhemo Piia-Riitta , Lepikhova Tatiana , Grenman Reidar , Lehti Kaisa , Monni Outi
Published: April 2016

PPFIA1 is located at the 11q13 region, which is one of the most commonly amplified regions in several epithelial cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and breast carcinoma. Considering the location of PPFIA1 in this amplicon, we examined whether protein encoded by PPFIA1, liprin-α1, possesses oncogenic properties in relevant carcinoma cell lines. Our results indicate that liprin-α1 localizes to different adhesion and cytoskeletal structures to regulate vimentin intermediate filament network, thereby altering the invasion and growth properties of the cancer cells. In non-invasive cells liprin-α1 promotes expansive growth behavior with limited invasive capacity, whereas in invasive cells liprin-α1 has significant impact on mesenchymal cancer cell invasion in three-dimensional collagen. Current results identify liprin-α1 as a novel regulator of the tumor cell intermediate filaments with differential oncogenic properties in actively proliferating or motile cells.