bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evolving role of lyophilized plasma in remote damage control resuscitation in the French Armed Forces Health Service
Authors: Sailliol Anne , Martinaud Christophe , Cap Andrew P. , Civadier Corinne , Clavier Benoit , Deshayes Anne‐Virginie , Mendes Anne‐Christine , Pouget Thomas , Demazeau Nicolas , Chueca Marine , Martelet François‐Régis , Ausset Sylvain
Published: January 2013

Freeze‐dried plasma was developed by the US Army for the resuscitation of combat casualties during World War II. The French Military Blood Institute began producing French lyophilized plasma (FLYP) in 1949, in accordance with French blood product guidelines. Since 2010, a photochemical pathogen inactivation process has been implemented to reduce the remaining transfusion‐related infectious risk. All quality controls for this procedure verify that the hemostatic properties of FLYP are conserved. FLYP is compatible with all blood types, can be stored at room temperature for 2 years, and its reconstitution requires less than 6 minutes. As a result, FLYP allows quick delivery of all the coagulation proteins and the application of a 1:1 ratio of FLYP and red blood cells in the context of a massive transfusion. Hemovigilance data collected in France since 1994 have included FLYP. Results indicate no reporting of infection related to the use of FLYP. Clinical monitoring with a focus on hemostasis was implemented in 2002 and expanded in 2010. The data, obtained from overseas operations, confirmed the indications, the safety and the clinical efficacy of FLYP. Further research is needed to determine specific indications for FLYP in the therapeutic management of civilian patients with severe hemorrhage.
The early use of fibrinogen, prothrombin complex concentrate, and recombinant‐activated factor VIIa in massive bleeding
Authors: Fries Dietmar
Published: January 2013

Background

Coagulopathy related to massive bleeding has a multifactorial aetiology. Coagulopathy is related to shock and blood loss including consumption of clotting factors and platelets and hemodilution. Additionally hyperfibrinolysis, hypothermia, acidosis, and metabolic changes affect the coagulation system. The aim of any hemostatic therapy is to control bleeding and minimize blood loss and transfusion requirements. Transfusion of allogeneic blood products as well as the presence of coagulopathy cause increased morbidity and mortality.

Study Design and Methods

This paper presents a short review on new treatment strategies of coagulopathy, related to massive blood loss.

Results

Paradigms are actively changing and there is still shortage of data. However, there is increasing experience and evidence that “target controlled algorithms” using point‐of‐care monitoring devices and coagulation factor concentrates are more effective compared to transfusion of fresh frozen plasma, independently of the individual clinical situation.

Conclusion

Future treatment of coagulopathy associated with massive bleeding can be based on an individualized point‐of‐care guided rational use of coagulation factor concentrates such as fibrinogen, prothrombin complex concentrate, and recombinant factor VIIa. The timely and rational use of coagulation factor concentrates may be more efficacious and safer than ratio‐driven use of transfusion packages of allogeneic blood products.
Fresh whole blood use by forward surgical teams in Afghanistan is associated with improved survival compared to component therapy without platelets
Authors: Nessen Shawn C. , Eastridge Brian J. , Cronk Daniel , Craig Robert M. , Berséus Olle , Ellison Richard , Remick Kyle , Seery Jason , Shah Avani , Spinella Philip C.
Published: January 2013

Background

In Afghanistan, a substantial portion of resuscitative combat surgery is performed by US Army forward surgical teams (FSTs). Red blood cells (RBCs) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are available at these facilities, but platelets are not. FST personnel frequently encounter high‐acuity patient scenarios without the ability to transfuse platelets. An analysis of the use of fresh whole blood (FWB) at FSTs therefore allows for an evaluation of outcomes associated with this practice.

Study Design and Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed in prospectively collected data from all transfused patients at six FSTs from December 2005 to December 2010. Univariate analysis was performed, followed by two separate propensity score analyses. In‐hospital mortality was predicted with the use of a conditional logistic regression model that incorporated these propensity scores. Subset analysis included evaluation of patients who received uncrossmatched Type O FWB compared with those who received type‐specific FWB.

Results

A total of 488 patients received a blood transfusion. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or Glasgow Coma Scale in those who received or did not receive FWB. Injury Severity Scores were higher in patients transfused FWB. In our adjusted analyses, patients who received RBCs and FFP with FWB had improved survival compared with those who received RBCs and FFP without FWB. Of 94 FWB recipients, 46 FWB recipients (49%) were given uncrossmatched Type O FWB, while 48 recipients (51%) received type‐specific FWB. There was no significant difference in mortality between patients that received uncrossmatched Type O and type‐specific FWB.

Conclusions

The use of FWB in austere combat environments appears to be safe and is independently associated with improved survival to discharge when compared with resuscitation with RBCs and FFP alone. Mortality was similar for patients transfused uncrossmatched Type O compared with ABO type‐specific FWB in an austere setting.
Electroosmotic Flow of Viscoelastic Fluids Through a Slit Microchannel With a Step Change in Wall Temperature
Authors: Sadeghi Arman , Veisi Hadi , Hassan Saidi Mohammad , Asghar Mozafari Ali
Published: January 2013

Thermally developing electroosmotically generated flow of two viscoelastic fluids, namely the PTT and FENE-P models, through a slit microchannel is considered. Both the viscous dissipation and Joule heating effects are taken into account and a step change in wall temperature is considered to represent physically conceivable thermal entrance conditions. Expressions for the dimensionless temperature and Nusselt number in the form of infinite series are presented. In general, the resultant eigenvalue problem is solved numerically; nevertheless, an analytical solution is presented for the regions close to the entrance. A parametric study reveals that increasing amounts of the Peclet number result in higher wall heat fluxes. The results also indicate higher wall heat fluxes for non-Newtonian fluids in comparison with Newtonian fluids and the difference is increased with increasing the level of elasticity. Furthermore, based on the value of the dimensionless Joule heating parameter, the Nusselt number may be either an increasing or a decreasing function of the axial coordinate or even both of them in the presence of a singularity point. The viscous heating effects are also found to be negligible.
Experimental Study of the Instationary Flow Between Two Ducted Counter-Rotating Rotors
Authors: Nouri H. , Danlos A. , Ravelet F. , Bakir F. , Sarraf C.
Published: January 2013

The purpose of this work is to study experimentally the aerodynamic characteristics of a subsonic counter-rotating axial-flow fans system operating in a ducted configuration. The fans of diameter D=375 mm were designed to match the specification point using an original iterative method: the front rotor blade cascade is designed with a conventional inverse method, setting the radial distribution of the Euler work. The through-flow is then computed using an axisymmetric and radial equilibrium assumption, with empirical models of losses. The rear rotor is not conventional but is designed to straighten the radial profile of the tangential velocity. The design of the front rotor is then modified until the stage meets the requirements. The experimental setup is arranged such that the rotation rate of each fan is independently controlled and that the axial distance between the rotors can be varied from 17% to 310% of the midspan chord length. Systematic measurements of the global performances and local measurements of the velocity field and of the wall pressure fluctuations are performed, in order to first validate the design method, and to explore the effects of the two specific free parameters of the system, the axial spacing and the ratio of rotation rates. The results show that the efficiency is strongly increased compared to a conventional rotor or to a rotor-stator stage. The developed design method slightly overpredicts the pressure rise and slightly underpredicts the best ratio of rotation rates. Flow angle measurements downstream of the stage show that the outflow is not completely straightened at the design point. Finally, the system is highly efficient on a wide range of flow rates and pressure rises: this system has thus a very flexible use, with a large patch of high efficient operating points in the parameter space.
Determination of Pressure Profiles Behind Projectiles During Interior Ballistic Cycle
Authors: Micković Dejan , Jaramaz Slobodan , Elek Predrag , Jaramaz Dragana , Micković Dušan
Published: January 2013

The determination of pressure profiles behind a projectile has been a subject of investigations for more than 70 years. For lumped parameter models it was especially important to determine the pressure on the projectile base, pressure on the chamber base, and pressure for the propellant burning law. In the paper two analytical methods and one numerical method are considered. The analytical methods of proportionate expansion and two-phase mixture are studied. Pressure profiles are also computed numerically by TWO Phase Interior Ballistics (TWOPIB) code, which is based on the model of two-phase flow of solid propellant and its products of combustion, treated as separate phases with appropriate conservation laws and interactions between phases. Through comparison with experimental results on the real weapon system TWOPIB code showed great advantages over analytical methods.
Mathematical Description of Projectile Shot Exit Dynamics (Set-Forward)
Authors: Carlucci D. E. , Frydman A. M. , Cordes J. A.
Published: January 2013

The dynamics or “ringing” of a projectile structure at gun-muzzle exit has been observed to cause a large number of electronics failures in projectiles as well as possible safety concerns with respect to components impacting one another or structural components of the projectile coming apart. Current numerical tools allow accurate calculation of the muzzle exit event given that the engineer understands the forces acting on the projectile. Dynamic response of a structure is well understood by persons working in the field; however, engineers who do not regularly deal with dynamic analyses generally have difficulty interpreting results from both analyses and tests. This paper details the mathematics associated with this event so that the engineer confronted with a dynamics related issue can have a reference for understanding and interpretation. The results of a simple model show that accelerometer data should be used with caution and the support of a finite element analysis of the projectile structure with the proper pressure decay is usually necessary. Recommendations for use of measured acceleration data for modeling and simulation are provided.
What’s Be Happen? The discourse of reggae lyrics thirty years on
Authors: Turner Elizabeth Anne
Published: January 2013

This article discusses Whats’ Be Happen, New Zealand’s first reggae album, which was released by the band Herbs in July 1981. The lyrics and adopted ‘message music’ constitute a nexus that connects, marks and speaks of salient political events and social issues in the 1970s and early 1980s. These divided New Zealand society at the time, and have helped shape opinion and New Zealanders’ sense of their identity. The lyrics refer in particular to protests against the loss of Māori ancestral lands; the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa; the conflict between loss of Pacific Island identity and roots, and material ambitions in New Zealand, as well as the day to day experiences and police treatment of urban Māori and Pacific Island people.
Regulation of Online Social Network Studies
Authors: Shapiro R. Benjamin , Ossorio Pilar N.
Published: January 2013

How should research studying adolescent players of online educational games be conducted responsibly?
Strong, Light, Multifunctional Fibers of Carbon Nanotubes with Ultrahigh Conductivity
Authors: Behabtu Natnael , Young Colin C. , Tsentalovich Dmitri E. , Kleinerman Olga , Wang Xuan , Ma Anson W. K. , Bengio E. Amram , ter Waarbeek Ron F. , de Jong Jorrit J. , Hoogerwerf Ron E. , Fairchild Steven B. , Ferguson John B. , Maruyama Benji , Kono Junichiro , Talmon Yeshayahu , Cohen Yachin , Otto Marcin J. , Pasquali Matteo
Published: January 2013

Optimizing Carbon Nanotubes

Shorter carbon nanotubes are easier to make, but, when assembled into fibers, the resulting fiber properties are much poorer than might be predicted by theory. Conversely, longer carbon nanotubes have much better properties but are harder to process.

Behabtu
et al.

(p.
182
) combined the best of both worlds through scalable wet spinning method, in which they dissolved longer carbon nanotubes and then spun them into fibers that showed excellent strength, stiffness, and thermal conductivity.
Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Chronic Disease: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Tabas Ira , Glass Christopher K.
Published: January 2013

A number of widespread and devastating chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, have a pathophysiologically important inflammatory component. In these diseases, the precise identity of the inflammatory stimulus is often unknown and, if known, is difficult to remove. Thus, there is interest in therapeutically targeting the inflammatory response. Although there has been success with anti-inflammatory therapy in chronic diseases triggered by primary inflammation dysregulation or autoimmunity, there are considerable limitations. In particular, the inflammatory response is critical for survival. As a result, redundancy, compensatory pathways, and necessity narrow the risk:benefit ratio of anti-inflammatory drugs. However, new advances in understanding inflammatory signaling and its links to resolution pathways, together with new drug development, offer promise in this area of translational biomedical research.
It's a Wonderful Gift
How Species Interact
Altering the Standard View on Trophic Ecology

by Roger Arditi and Lev R. Ginzburg

Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012. 184 pp. $59, £40. ISBN 9780199913831.
Authors: Peterson Rolf O.
Published: January 2013

Contesting the generally accepted models of predator-prey dynamics, Arditi and Ginzburg marshal evidence for their ratio-dependent alternative.
Water-Responsive Polymer Composites on the Move
Authors: Kim Hyoki , Kwon Sunghoon
Published: January 2013

Films swollen by wet surfaces curl up and store mechanical energy that can be converted into electricity for powering small devices.

[Also see Report by

Ma
et al.

]
Specialized But Flexible
Authors: Knaden Markus , Hansson Bill S.
Published: January 2013

Hawk moths are specialized to recognize the odors from specific plants but can learn to recognize and follow other plant odors.

[Also see Report by

Riffell
et al.

]
Developmental Refining of Neuroglial Signaling?
Authors: Grosche Antje , Reichenbach Andreas
Published: January 2013

A change in glutamate receptor expression in adult glial cells advances the current model of how glia regulate neuronal activity.

[Also see Report by

Sun
et al.

]
Funding Innovative Science
Authors: Hyman Anthony A.
Published: January 2013

It is a well-known problem: a junior research group leader must somehow compete against the seniors, who have larger laboratories, good funding, and clout with the journals. Furthermore, in the normal grant system, preliminary data requirements make it hard to start new directions in research. Beginning scientists must build on their postdoctoral work, which forces them to continue along already-trodden paths. Once a laboratory has been established, it is reasonable for the reviewers of competitive grant applications to look for evidence of an investigator's likely success in the form of “preliminary results.” But beginning group leaders should be judged only by their demonstrated excellence and their creativity in finding new directions. Such a change would greatly stimulate innovation.
Sequestration Takes Aim at Federal Science Spending
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: January 2013

The battle over the fiscal cliff is far from over for U.S. scientists.
Making a Selfish Generation by Fiat
Authors: Hvistendahl Mara
Published: January 2013

Researchers have attempted to measure the degree to which the one-child policy has shaped the personalities of Chinese 20- and 30-somethings.
The Children's Study: Unmet Promises
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: January 2013

Having spent about $1 billion over the past decade, a U.S. study of environmental influences on children's health is still trying to define its methods. Critics say it has gone astray; advocates say it is on track at last.
An Alphavirus Vector-Based Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Induces a Rapid and Protective Immune Response in Macaques That Differs Qualitatively from Immunity Induced by Live Virus Infection
Authors: White Laura J. , Sariol Carlos A. , Mattocks Melissa D. , Wahala M. P. B. Wahala , Yingsiwaphat Vorraphun , Collier Martha L. , Whitley Jill , Mikkelsen Rochelle , Rodriguez Idia V. , Martinez Melween I. , de Silva Aravinda , Johnston Robert E.
Published: January 2013

Despite many years of research, a dengue vaccine is not available, and the more advanced live attenuated vaccine candidate in clinical trials requires multiple immunizations with long interdose periods and provides low protective efficacy. Here, we report important contributions to the development of a second-generation dengue vaccine. First, we demonstrate that a nonpropagating vaccine vector based on Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP) expressing two configurations of dengue virus E antigen (subviral particles [prME] and soluble E dimers [E85]) successfully immunized and protected macaques against dengue virus, while antivector antibodies did not interfere with a booster immunization. Second, compared to prME-VRP, E85-VRP induced neutralizing antibodies faster, to higher titers, and with improved protective efficacy. Third, this study is the first to map antigenic domains and specificities targeted by vaccination versus natural infection, revealing that, unlike prME-VRP and live virus, E85-VRP induced only serotype-specific antibodies, which predominantly targeted EDIII, suggesting a protective mechanism different from that induced by live virus and possibly live attenuated vaccines. Fourth, a tetravalent E85-VRP dengue vaccine induced a simultaneous and protective response to all 4 serotypes after 2 doses given 6 weeks apart. Balanced responses and protection in macaques provided further support for exploring the immunogenicity and safety of this vaccine candidate in humans.
Toll-Like Receptor 9 in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Fails To Detect Parvoviruses
Authors: Mattei Lisa M. , Cotmore Susan F. , Li Lei , Tattersall Peter , Iwasaki Akiko
Published: January 2013

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) recognizes genomes of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses in the endosome to stimulate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). However, how and if viruses with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomes are detected by pDCs remain unclear. Here we have shown that despite the ability of purified genomic DNA to stimulate TLR9 and despite the ability to enter TLR9 endosomes, ssDNA viruses of the
Parvoviridae
family failed to elicit an interferon (IFN) response in pDCs.
Changes in economic difficulties and subsequent sickness absence: a prospective register-linkage study
Authors: Lallukka Tea , Lahelma Eero , Rahkonen Ossi
Published: January 2013

Objectives

People's economic difficulties are associated with their health, but consequences of changes in economic difficulties are less understood. We aimed to examine the associations between changes in economic difficulties and subsequent sickness absence while considering socioeconomic circumstances and other covariates.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Helsinki, Finland.

Participants

Municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland (n=3859), who were respondents to the baseline (2000–2002) and follow-up (2007) questionnaire surveys and had register-based follow-up data on sickness absence until the end of 2010.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Self-certified short (1–3 days) and medically certified intermediate (4–14 days) and long (15+ days) sickness absence spells were examined using employer's personnel register data.

Results

Persistent frequent economic difficulties predicted short (rate ratios (RR) 1.66 95% CI 1.49 to 1.86), intermediate (RR 2.13 95% CI 1.85 to 2.45) and long (RR 2.18 95% CI 1.75 to 2.70) sickness absence spells. Increasing economic difficulties similarly predicted sickness absence spells. The risks were somewhat stronger the longer the absence, and remained although attenuated somewhat after full adjustment. Weak risks were found also for persistent occasional economic difficulties and decreasing economic difficulties, and they attenuated further after full adjustments.

Conclusions

Changes in economic difficulties predict subsequent sickness absence even after considering income, baseline health and other covariates. Thus economic difficulties should be considered when addressing causes of sickness absence.
Combined food intake and exercise unmask different hormonal responses in lean and obese children
Authors: Aucouturier Julien , Thivel David , Isacco Laurie , Fellmann Nicole , Chardigny Jean-Michel , Duclos Martine , Duché Pascale
Published: January 2013

Our purpose was to investigate the effect of obesity in prepubertal children on the hormonal response to exercise performed under different conditions of nutrient availability. Prepubertal obese (age, 10.3 ± 1.8 years; %body fat, 36.1 ± 6.1; n = 9) and lean (age, 9.2 ± 1.6 years; %body fat, 22.2 ± 4.1; n = 7) children completed 2 experimental sessions in which they performed a 30 min of cycling exercise at 50% of their maximal aerobic power either 1 h (T1h) or 3 h (T3h) after a standardized breakfast. Plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), and IGFBP-3 levels were assessed at baseline and after exercise. Urine was collected during the sessions, and catecholamine and glucocorticoid excretions were analyzed. A significant time effect was observed for IGFBP-1; postexercise levels decreased in lean and obese children (p ≤ 0.001). IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were not affected by obesity or food intake combined with exercise. In lean children, urinary excretion rates of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, and cortisone were significantly higher during the sessions than during the overnight resting period; in obese children, only epinephrine in T1h was significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Our study indicates that the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and sympathetic adrenal medullary axis was similar in lean and obese children, based on measurement under resting conditions, but response to exercise performed in postprandial conditions was altered in obese children for both axes. In addition, exercise in the postprandial state elicited a decrease in IGFBP-1 plasma levels, whereas IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were not significantly altered.
TEMPERATURE OF ELECTRON FLUCTUATIONS IN AN ACCELERATED VACUUM
Authors: LABUN LANCE , RAFELSKI JOHANN
Published: January 2013

The electron vacuum fluctuations measured by [Formula: see text] do not vanish in an externally applied electric field ℰ. For an exactly constant field, that is for vacuum fluctuations in presence of a constant accelerating force, we show that [Formula: see text] has a Boson-like structure with spectral state density tanh -1(E/m) and temperature T M = eℰ/mπ = av/π. Considering the vacuum fluctuations of 'classical' gyromagnetic ratio g = 1 particles we find Fermi-like structure with the same spectral state density at a smaller temperature T1 = av/2π which corresponds to the Unruh temperature of an accelerated observer.
INHOMOGENEOUS BAROTROPIC FRW COSMOLOGIES IN CONFORMAL TIME
Authors: ROSU HARET C. , KHMELNYTSKAYA KIRA V.
Published: January 2013

It is known that the barotropic FRW system of differential equations for zero cosmological constant can be reduced to simple harmonic oscillator (HO) differential equations in the conformal time variable. This is due to the fact that the Hubble rate parameter in conformal time is the solution of a simple Riccati equation of constant coefficients. In previous works, we have used this mathematical result to set the barotropic HO equations in the nonrelativistic supersymmetric approach by factorizing them. If a constant additive parameter, denoted by S, is added to the common Riccati solution of these supersymmetric partner cosmologies one obtains inhomogeneous barotropic cosmologies with periodic singularities in their spatial curvature indices that are counterparts of the non-shifted supersymmetric partners. The zero-mode solutions of these cyclic singular cosmologies are reviewed here as a function of real and imaginary shift parameter. We also notice the modulated zero modes obtained by using the general Riccati solution and comment on their cosmological application.
Root Cause Analysis: Using Theory of Constraints Application to Measure the Impact of Employee Demographics on the Adoption of Information Technology Equipment
Authors: Urhuogo Irikefe , Williams Victor , Hart David W.
Published: January 2013

This paper uses Theory of Constraints (TOC) improvement questions to measure how employees' demographics influence their adoption of various Information Technology Equipments (ITEs) in organisations. Survey questions in the form of a Likert scale are prepared to address these possible effects. The number of total participants was 216 and they were from two universities: Argosy University, Atlanta campus; and Brigham Young University, Provo campus. The research question for this study asked how the factors of age, gender, race, and education level positively or negatively influence employees' attitudes toward ITE adoption at their place of employment. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was computed to assess the relationships and the Kruskal–Wallis and the Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the independent groups. The results suggested that there was a correlation among age, race and education level and indicated that age negatively correlates with employees' level of comfort with ITE use. There was a statistically significant difference at the 0.01 level between White and Black participants.
A THREE-DIMENSIONAL BEAM ELEMENT UNDERGOING FINITE ROTATIONS BASED ON SLOPES AND DISTANCE MEASURES
Authors: LOPEZ SALVATORE
Published: January 2013

A geometrically nonlinear formulation for three-dimensional beam elements in the hypotheses of large rotations and small strains is presented. In this formulation, based on the total Lagrangian description, the use of the rotation parameters is bypassed. Complex manipulations required to obtain conservative descriptions and well-posed transformation matrices are avoided. In particular, slopes and distances are used instead of rotation parameters to compute the nonlinear representations of the strain measures in the inertial frame of reference. Numerical tests have been carried out to validate the developed technique in the frame structures context.
HOW DO HIGH, MEDIUM, AND LOW TECH FIRMS INNOVATE? A SYSTEM OF INNOVATION (SI) APPROACH
Authors: ROTABA ZIAD , BEAUDRY CATHERINE
Published: January 2013

In the past decade, the innovation literature has mainly targeted high-tech (HT) sectors due to their higher return on investment and important role in building new societies and economies. While the HT sector is still of a leading importance, whether medium and low tech (LMT) sectors should be equivalently considered when analyzing long term economic growth, in both leading and catching up economies, is a fundamental question. This paper is our second milestone comparing HT and LMT sectors from an innovation perspective, using a National System of Innovation (NSI) approach. The general aim of this paper is to find the main principles that govern the difference between the two industrial segments (HT and LMT) while controlling for supranational boundaries. In order to measure the effect of NSI, countries are divided into two groups: leading and catching up economies. Our results suggest that, with respect to HT, leading economies can be considered as innovators, while catching up economies are the imitators. Furthermore, HT in leading economies relies on product modularity to outsource various components probably to firms in catching up economies. Catching ups are putting greater emphasis on universities to produce knowledge. In addition, firms in catching up economies benefit from high accessibility to funds in order to grow various industrial sectors, especially LMT. The role of institutions and governments with respect to regulatory policies, intellectual property protections are of high importance for firms in catching up economies, especially in LMT. As a result of those important steps, the various agents in catching up economies have achieved sustainable growth, notably in LMT. In contrast, the same growth is observed for HT for firms in leading economies. Our results suggest that catching up countries are strategizing for this sectoral evolution, renewal, and transformation process for both sectors, but with a stronger emphasis on LMT.
MINIMAL ZERO-SUM SEQUENCES OF LENGTH FOUR OVER FINITE CYCLIC GROUPS II
Authors: LI YUANLIN , PENG JIANGTAO
Published: January 2013

Let G be a finite cyclic group. Every sequence S over G can be written in the form S = (n1g)⋅…⋅(nlg) where g ∈ G and n1, …, nl ∈ [1, ord (g)], and the index ind (S) of S is defined to be the minimum of (n1+⋯+nl)/ ord (g) over all possible g ∈ G such that 〈g〉 = G. An open problem on the index of length four sequences asks whether or not every minimal zero-sum sequence of length 4 over a finite cyclic group G with gcd (|G|, 6) = 1 has index 1. In this paper, we show that if G = 〈g〉 is a cyclic group with order of a product of two prime powers and gcd (|G|, 6) = 1, then every minimal zero-sum sequence S of the form S = (g)(n2g)(n3g)(n4g) has index 1. In particular, our result confirms that the above problem has an affirmative answer when the order of G is a product of two different prime numbers or a prime power, extending a recent result by the first author, Plyley, Yuan and Zeng.
SYMMETRIC HOMOGENEOUS DIOPHANTINE EQUATIONS OF ODD DEGREE
Authors: REYNYA M. A.
Published: January 2013

An elementary approach for finding non-trivial parametric solutions to homogeneous symmetric Diophantine equations of odd degree in sufficiently many variables is presented. The method is based on studying a model case of quintic symmetric Diophantine equations in six variables. We prove that every symmetric form of odd degree n ≥ 5 in 6 ⋅ 2n - 5 variables has a rational parametric solution depending on 2n-8 parameters. We also present a solution to a problem of Waring type: if F(x1,…, xN) is a symmetric form of odd degree n ≥ 5 in N = 6 ⋅ 2n-4 variables, then for any q ∈ ℚ the equation F(xi) = q has a rational parametric solution depending on 2n - 6 parameters.
TWISTS OF AUTOMORPHIC L-FUNCTIONS AT THE CENTRAL POINT
Authors: BUI H. M.
Published: January 2013

We study the nonvanishing of twists of automorphic L-functions at the center of the critical strip. Given a primitive character χ modulo D satisfying some technical conditions, we prove that the twisted L-functions L(f.χ, s) do not vanish at s = ½ for a positive proportion of primitive forms of weight 2 and level q, for large prime q. We also investigate the central values of high derivatives of L(f.χ, s), and from that derive an upper bound for the average analytic rank of the studied L-functions.
AN ASYMPTOTIC FOR THE NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS TO LINEAR EQUATIONS IN PRIME NUMBERS FROM SPECIFIED CHEBOTAREV CLASSES
Authors: KANE DANIEL M.
Published: January 2013

We extend results relating to Vinogradov's three primes theorem to provide asymptotic estimates for the number of solutions to a given linear equation in three or more prime numbers under the additional constraint that each of the primes involved satisfies specialized Chebotarev conditions. In particular, we show that such solutions can be expected to exist unless a solution would violate some local constraint.
Novel role for the transient potential receptor melastatin 4 channel in guinea pig detrusor smooth muscle physiology
Authors: Smith Amy C. , Hristov Kiril L. , Cheng Qiuping , Xin Wenkuan , Parajuli Shankar P. , Earley Scott , Malysz John , Petkov Georgi V.
Published: January 2013

Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, including the Ca2+-activated monovalent cation-selective TRP melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel, have been recently identified in the urinary bladder. However, their expression and function at the level of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) remain largely unexplored. In this study, for the first time we investigated the role of TRPM4 channels in guinea pig DSM excitation-contraction coupling using a multidisciplinary approach encompassing protein detection, electrophysiology, live-cell Ca2+ imaging, DSM contractility, and 9-phenanthrol, a recently characterized selective inhibitor of the TRPM4 channel. Western blot and immunocytochemistry experiments demonstrated the expression of the TRPM4 channel in whole DSM tissue and freshly isolated DSM cells with specific localization on the plasma membrane. Perforated whole cell patch-clamp recordings and real-time Ca2+ imaging experiments with fura 2-AM, both using freshly isolated DSM cells, revealed that 9-phenanthrol (30 μM) significantly reduced the cation current and decreased intracellular Ca2+ levels. 9-Phenanthrol (0.1–30 μM) significantly inhibited spontaneous, 0.1 μM carbachol-induced, 20 mM KCl-induced, and nerve-evoked contractions in guinea pig DSM-isolated strips with IC50 values of 1–7 μM and 70–80% maximum inhibition. 9-Phenanthrol also reduced nerve-evoked contraction amplitude induced by continuous repetitive electrical field stimulation of 10-Hz frequency and shifted the frequency-response curve (0.5–50 Hz) relative to the control. Collectively, our data demonstrate the novel finding that TRPM4 channels are expressed in guinea pig DSM and reveal their critical role in the regulation of guinea pig DSM excitation-contraction coupling.
Expression of conventional and novel glucose transporters, GLUT1, -9, -10, and -12, in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Pyla Rajkumar , Poulose Ninu , Jun John Y. , Segar Lakshman
Published: January 2013

Intimal hyperplasia is characterized by exaggerated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Enhanced VSMC growth is dependent on increased glucose uptake and metabolism. Facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) are comprised of conventional GLUT isoforms (GLUT1–5) and novel GLUT isoforms (GLUT6–14). Previous studies demonstrate that GLUT1 overexpression or GLUT10 downregulation contribute to phenotypic changes in VSMCs. To date, the expression profile of all 14 GLUT isoforms has not been fully examined in VSMCs. Using the proliferative and differentiated phenotypes of human aortic VSMCs, the present study has determined the relative abundance of GLUT1–14 mRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Twelve GLUT mRNAs excluding GLUT7 and GLUT14 were detectable in VSMCs. In the proliferative phenotype, the relative abundance of key GLUT mRNAs was GLUT1 (∼43%) > GLUT10 (∼26%) > GLUT9 (∼13%) > GLUT12 (∼4%), whereas in the differentiated phenotype the relative abundance was GLUT10 (∼28%) > GLUT1 (∼25%) > GLUT12 (∼20%) > GLUT9 (∼14%), together constituting 86–87% of total GLUT transcripts. To confirm the expression of key GLUT proteins, immunoblot and immunocytochemical analyses were performed using GLUT isoform-specific primary antibodies. The protein bands characteristic of GLUT1, -9, -10, and -12 were detected in VSMCs in parallel with respective positive controls. In particular, GLUT1 protein expression showed different molecular forms representative of altered glycosylation. While GLUT1 protein displayed a predominant distribution in the plasma membrane, GLUT9, -10, and -12 proteins were mostly distributed in the intracellular compartments. The present study provides the first direct evidence for GLUT9 and GLUT12 expression in VSMCs in conjunction with the previously identified GLUT1 and GLUT10.
Apelin retards the progression of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Day Robert T. , Cavaglieri Rita C. , Feliers Denis
Published: January 2013

Apelin and its receptor APJ have pleiotropic effects in mice and humans and play a protective role in cardiovascular diseases at least partially by inhibiting oxidative stress. Our objective was to study the effect of apelin on the progression of kidney disease in mice with established type 1 diabetes. Ove26 mice with type 1 diabetes received daily subcutaneous injections of apelin for 2 or 14 wk. APJ localizes in the glomeruli and blood vessels of kidneys. Renal APJ expression was reduced in diabetic mice but increased after treatment with apelin. Apelin treatment did not affect glycemia, body weight, or blood pressure in diabetic mice. Whole kidney and glomerular hypertrophy, as well as renal inflammation, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression, NF-κB activation, and monocyte infiltration, was inhibited after short and long treatment with apelin. Apelin administration significantly reduced albuminuria at 6 mo. Short treatment with apelin was sufficient to reverse the downregulation of the antioxidant enzyme catalase. Expression of angiotensin II and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) in kidneys from diabetic mice treated was not affected by apelin. These findings show for the first time that apelin exerts a protective effect on the diabetic kidney. Short administration is sufficient to reduce kidney and glomerular hypertrophy as well as renal inflammation, but prolonged treatment is required to improve albuminuria. This effect was independent of the activation of the renin angiotensin system but correlated with upregulation of the antioxidant catalase. Apelin may represent a novel tool to treat diabetic nephropathy.
A comparison between the technical absorbent and ventilated capsule methods for measuring local sweat rate
Authors: Morris Nathan B. , Cramer Matthew N. , Hodder Simon G. , Havenith George , Jay Ollie
Published: January 2013

This study assessed the accuracy of the technical absorbent (TA) method for measuring local sweat rate (LSR) relative to the well-established ventilated capsule (VC) method during steady-state and nonsteady-state sweating using large and small sample surface areas on the forearm and midback. Forty participants (38 males and two females) cycled at 60% peak oxygen consumption for 75 min in either a temperate [22.3 ± 0.9°C, 32 ± 17% relative humidity (RH)] or warm (32.5 ± 0.8°C, 29 ± 7% RH) environment. Simultaneous bilateral comparisons of 5-min LSR measurements using the TA and VC methods were performed for the back and forearm after 10, 30, 50, and 70 min. LSR values, measured using the TA method, were highly correlated with the VC method at all time points, irrespective of sample surface area and body region (all P < 0.001). On average, ∼79% of the variability observed in LSR measured with the VC method was described by the TA method. The mean difference in absolute LSR using the TA method (TA-VC with 95% confidence intervals) was −0.23 [−0.30,−0.16], −0.11 [−0.21,0.00], −0.03 [−0.14,+0.08], and +0.02 [−0.07,+0.11] mg·cm−2·min−1 after 10, 30, 50, and 70 min of exercise, respectively. Duplicate LSR measurements within each method during steady-state sweating were highly correlated (TA: r = 0.96, P < 0.001, n = 20; VC: r = 0.97, P < 0.001, n = 20) with a mean bias of +0.07 ± 0.14 and +0.01 ± 0.10 mg·cm−2·min−1 for TA and VC methods, respectively. The mean smallest detectable difference in LSR was 0.12 and 0.05 mg·min−1·cm−2 for TA and VC methods, respectively. These data support the TA method as a reliable alternative for measuring the rate of sweat appearance on the skin surface.
Permeation and block of TRPV1 channels by the cationic lidocaine derivative QX-314
Authors: Puopolo Michelino , Binshtok Alexander M. , Yao Gui-Lan , Oh Seog Bae , Woolf Clifford J. , Bean Bruce P.
Published: January 2013

QX-314 ( N-ethyl-lidocaine) is a cationic lidocaine derivative that blocks voltage-dependent sodium channels when applied internally to axons or neuronal cell bodies. Coapplication of external QX-314 with the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 protein (TRPV1) agonist capsaicin produces long-lasting sodium channel inhibition in TRPV1-expressing neurons, suggestive of QX-314 entry into the neurons. We asked whether QX-314 entry occurs directly through TRPV1 channels or through a different pathway (e.g., pannexin channels) activated downstream of TRPV1 and whether QX-314 entry requires the phenomenon of “pore dilation” previously reported for TRPV1. With external solutions containing 10 or 20 mM QX-314 as the only cation, inward currents were activated by stimulation of both heterologously expressed and native TRPV1 channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. QX-314-mediated inward current did not require pore dilation, as it activated within several seconds and in parallel with Cs-mediated outward current, with a reversal potential consistent with PQX-314/ PCs = 0.12. QX-314-mediated current was no different when TRPV1 channels were expressed in C6 glioma cells, which lack expression of pannexin channels. Rapid addition of QX-314 to physiological external solutions produced instant partial inhibition of inward currents carried by sodium ions, suggesting that QX-314 is a permeant blocker. Maintained coapplication of QX-314 with capsaicin produced slowly developing reduction of outward currents carried by internal Cs, consistent with intracellular accumulation of QX-314 to concentrations of 50–100 μM. We conclude that QX-314 is directly permeant in the “standard” pore formed by TRPV1 channels and does not require either pore dilation or activation of additional downstream channels for entry.
Active recognition enhances the representation of behaviorally relevant information in single auditory forebrain neurons
Authors: Knudsen Daniel P. , Gentner Timothy Q.
Published: January 2013

Sensory systems are dynamic. They must process a wide range of natural signals that facilitate adaptive behaviors in a manner that depends on an organism's constantly changing goals. A full understanding of the sensory physiology that underlies adaptive natural behaviors must therefore account for the activity of sensory systems in light of these behavioral goals. Here we present a novel technique that combines in vivo electrophysiological recording from awake, freely moving songbirds with operant conditioning techniques that allow control over birds' recognition of conspecific song, a widespread natural behavior in songbirds. We show that engaging in a vocal recognition task alters the response properties of neurons in the caudal mesopallium (CM), an avian analog of mammalian auditory cortex, in European starlings. Compared with awake, passive listening, active engagement of subjects in an auditory recognition task results in neurons responding to fewer song stimuli and a decrease in the trial-to-trial variability in their driven firing rates. Mean firing rates also change during active recognition, but not uniformly. Relative to nonengaged listening, active recognition causes increases in the driven firing rates in some neurons, decreases in other neurons, and stimulus-specific changes in other neurons. These changes lead to both an increase in stimulus selectivity and an increase in the information conveyed by the neurons about the animals' behavioral task. This study demonstrates the behavioral dependence of neural responses in the avian auditory forebrain and introduces the starling as a model for real-time monitoring of task-related neural processing of complex auditory objects.
(0, 2)-Graphs and Root Systems
Authors: Brouwer Andries E. , Chastkofsky Leonard
Published: January 2013

We construct (0, 2)-graphs from root systems with simply laced diagram and study their properties.
Removal of Pb from Water by Adsorption on Apple Pomace: Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics Studies
Authors: Chand Piar , Pakade Yogesh B.
Published: January 2013

The adsorption‐influencing factors such as pH, dose, and time were optimized by batch adsorption study. A 0.8 g dose, 4.0 pH, and 80 min of contact time were optimized for maximum adsorption of Pb on AP. The adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were well fitted to the data obtained with values of qmax (16.39 mg/g; r2 = 0.985) and K (16.14 mg/g; r2 = 0.998), respectively. The kinetics study showed that lead adsorption follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics with correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.999 for all of the concentration range. FTIR spectra also showed that the major functional groups like polyphenols (–OH) and carbonyl (–CO) were responsible for Pb binding on AP. The thermodynamic parameters as ΔG, ΔH (33.54 J/mol), and ΔS (1.08 J/mol/K) were also studied and indicate that the reaction is feasible, endothermic, and spontaneous in nature.
Third Order Universal Filter Using Single Operational Transresistance Amplifier
Authors: Ghosh Mourina , Paul Sajal K. , Ranjan Rajiv Kumar , Ranjan Ashish
Published: January 2013

This paper proposes a multi-input single-output (MISO) third order voltage mode (VM) universal filter using only one operational transresistance amplifier (OTRA). The proposed circuit realizes low-pass, high-pass, all-pass, band-pass, and notch responses from the same topology. The PSPICE Simulation results using 0.5 μm CMOS technology agree well with the theoretical design.
On the Iterated Exponent of Convergence of Solutions of Linear Differential Equations with Entire and Meromorphic Coefficients
Authors: Bouabdelli Rabab , Belaïdi Benharrat
Published: January 2013

We investigate the zeros of the difference of the derivative of solutions of the higher-order linear differential equationsf(k)+Ak-1(z)f(k-1)+⋯+A1(z)f′+A0(z)f=0and small functions, whereA0(z),…,Ak-1(z)are entire or meromorphic functions of finite iteratedporder.
Real-Time Ultrasound-Guided Spinal Anaesthesia: A Prospective Observational Study of a New Approach
Authors: Conroy P. H. , Luyet C. , McCartney C. J. , McHardy P. G.
Published: January 2013

Identification of the subarachnoid space has traditionally been achieved by either a blind landmark-guided approach or using prepuncture ultrasound assistance. To assess the feasibility of performing spinal anaesthesia under real-time ultrasound guidance in routine clinical practice we conducted a single center prospective observational study among patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery. A spinal needle was inserted unassisted within the ultrasound transducer imaging plane using a paramedian approach (i.e., the operator held the transducer in one hand and the spinal needle in the other). The primary outcome measure was the success rate of CSF acquisition under real-time ultrasound guidance with CSF being located in 97 out of 100 consecutive patients within median three needle passes (IQR 1–6). CSF was not acquired in three patients. Subsequent attempts combining landmark palpation and pre-puncture ultrasound scanning resulted in successful spinal anaesthesia in two of these patients with the third patient requiring general anaesthesia. Median time from spinal needle insertion until intrathecal injection completion was 1.2 minutes (IQR 0.83–4.1) demonstrating the feasibility of this technique in routine clinical practice.