bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Climate Change on Ozone-Related Mortality in Sydney
Authors: Physick William , Cope Martin , Lee Sunhee
Published: January 2014

Coupled global, regional and chemical transport models are now being used with relative-risk functions to determine the impact of climate change on human health. Studies have been carried out for global and regional scales, and in our paper we examine the impact of climate change on ozone-related mortality at the local scale across an urban metropolis (Sydney, Australia). Using three coupled models, with a grid spacing of 3 km for the chemical transport model (CTM), and a mortality relative risk function of 1.0006 per 1 ppb increase in daily maximum 1-hour ozone concentration, we evaluated the change in ozone concentrations and mortality between decades 1996–2005 and 2051–2060. The global model was run with the A2 emissions scenario. As there is currently uncertainty regarding a threshold concentration below which ozone does not impact on mortality, we calculated mortality estimates for the three daily maximum 1-hr ozone concentration thresholds of 0, 25 and 40 ppb. The mortality increase for 2051–2060 ranges from 2.3% for a 0 ppb threshold to 27.3% for a 40 ppb threshold, although the numerical increases differ little. Our modeling approach is able to identify the variation in ozone-related mortality changes at a suburban scale, estimating that climate change could lead to an additional 55 to 65 deaths across Sydney in the decade 2051–2060. Interestingly, the largest increases do not correspond spatially to the largest ozone increases or the densest population centres. The distribution pattern of changes does not seem to vary with threshold value, while the magnitude only varies slightly.
Genistein Induces Increase in Fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3− Concentration, SLC26A6 and SLC4A4 (NBCe1)-B Expression in the Uteri of Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Chinigarzadeh Asma , Kasim Nor , Muniandy Sekaran , Kassim Normadiah , Salleh Naguib
Published: January 2014

Genistein has been reported to stimulate luminal HCO3− secretion. We hypothesized that genistein mediates this effect via SLC26A6 and SLC4A4 (NBCe1) transporters. Our study aimed to: investigate changes in uterine fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3− concentration and expression of uterine SLC26A6 and NBCe1 under genistein effect. Ovariectomized adult female rats received 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day genistein for a week with and without ICI 182780. A day after the last injection, in vivo uterine perfusion was performed to collect uterine fluid for Na+, HCO3− and pH determination. The animals were then sacrificed and uteri were removed for mRNA and protein expression analyses. SLC26A6 and NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B distribution were visualized by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Genistein at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day stimulates uterine fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3− concentration increase. Genistein at 100 mg/kg/day up-regulates the expression of SLC26A6 and SLC4A4 mRNA, which were reduced following concomitant ICI 182780 administration. In parallel, SLC26A6 and NBCe1-B protein expression were also increased following high dose genistein treatment and were localized mainly at the apical membrane of the luminal epithelia. SLC26A6 and NBCe1-B up-regulation by genistein could be responsible for the observed increase in the uterine fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3− concentration under this condition.
Serum Starvation-Induced Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Kv7.5 Expression and Its Regulation by Sp1 in Canine Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Lee Bo , Ryu Pan , Lee So
Published: January 2014

The KCNQ gene family, whose members encode Kv7 channels, belongs to the voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel group. The roles of this gene family have been widely investigated in nerve and muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated several characteristics of Kv7.5, which is strongly expressed in the canine osteosarcoma cell line, CCL-183. Serum starvation upregulated Kv7.5 expression, and the Kv7 channel opener, flupirtine, attenuated cell proliferation by arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase. We also showed that Kv7.5 knockdown helps CCL-183 cells to proliferate. In an effort to find an endogenous regulator of Kv7.5, we used mithramycin A to reduce the level of the transcription factor Sp1, and it strongly inhibited the induction of Kv7.5 in CCL-183 cells. These results suggest that the activation of Kv7.5 by flupirtine may exert an anti-proliferative effect in canine osteosarcoma. Therefore, Kv7.5 is a possible molecular target for canine osteosarcoma therapy.
Development of Microsatellite Markers in the Branched Broomrape Phelipanche ramosa L. (Pomel) and Evidence for Host-Associated Genetic Divergence
Authors: Le Corre Valérie , Reibel Carole , Gibot-Leclerc Stéphanie
Published: January 2014

Phelipanche ramosa is a parasitic plant that infects numerous crops worldwide. In Western Europe it recently expanded to a new host crop, oilseed rape, in which it can cause severe yield losses. We developed 13 microsatellite markers for P. ramosa using next-generation 454 sequencing data. The polymorphism at each locus was assessed in a sample of 96 individuals collected in France within 6 fields cultivated with tobacco, hemp or oilseed rape. Two loci were monomorphic. At the other 11 loci, the number of alleles and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 3 to 6 and from 0.31 to 0.60, respectively. Genetic diversity within each cultivated field was very low. The host crop from which individuals were collected was the key factor structuring genetic variation. Individuals collected on oilseed rape were strongly differentiated from individuals collected on hemp or tobacco, which suggests that P. ramosa infecting oilseed rape forms a genetically diverged race. The microsatellites we developed will be useful for population genetics studies and for elucidating host-associated genetic divergence in P. ramosa.
Mechanisms of Low-Energy Operation of XCT-SOI CMOS Devices—Prospect of Sub-20-nm Regime
Authors: Omura Yasuhisa , Sato Daiki
Published: January 2014

This paper describes the performance prospect of scaled cross-current tetrode (XCT) CMOS devices and demonstrates the outstanding low-energy aspects of sub-30-nm-long gate XCT-SOI CMOS by analyzing device operations. The energy efficiency improvement of such scaled XCT CMOS circuits (two orders higher) stems from the “source potential floating effect”, which offers the dynamic reduction of effective gate capacitance. It is expected that this feature will be very important in many medical implant applications that demand a long device lifetime without recharging the battery.
The Influence of Grain Interactions on the Plastic Stability of Heterophase Interfaces
Authors: Mayeur Jason , Beyerlein Irene , Bronkhorst Curt , Mourad Hashem
Published: January 2014

Two-phase bimetal composites contain both grain boundaries and bi-phase interfaces between dissimilar crystals. In this work, we use a crystal plasticity finite element framework to explore the effects of grain boundary interactions on the plastic stability of bi-phase interfaces. We show that neighboring grain interactions do not significantly alter interface plastic stability during plane strain compression. The important implications are that stable orientations at bimetal interfaces can be different than those within the bulk layers. This finding provides insight into bi-phase microstructural development and suggests a pathway for tuning interface properties via severe plastic deformation.
Rapid Growth of Nanostructured Diamond Film on Silicon and Ti–6Al–4V Alloy Substrates
Authors: Samudrala Gopi , Vohra Yogesh , Walock Michael , Miles Robin
Published: January 2014

Nanostructured diamond (NSD) films were grown on silicon and Ti–6Al–4V alloy substrates by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). NSD Growth rates of 5 µm/h on silicon, and 4 µm/h on Ti–6Al–4V were achieved. In a chemistry of H2/CH4/N2, varying ratios of CH4/H2 and N2/CH4 were employed in this research and their effect on the resulting diamond films were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. As a result of modifying the stock cooling stage of CVD system, we were able to utilize plasma with high power densities in our NSD growth experiments, enabling us to achieve high growth rates. Substrate temperature and N2/CH4 ratio have been found to be key factors in determining the diamond film quality. NSD films grown as part of this study were shown to contain 85% to 90% sp3 bonded carbon.
Characterization of Thermo-Mechanical and Fracture Behaviors of Thermoplastic Polymers
Authors: Ghorbel Elhem , Hadriche Ismail , Casalino Giuseppe , Masmoudi Neila
Published: January 2014

In this paper the effects of the strain rate on the inelastic behavior and the self-heating under load conditions are presented for polymeric materials, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamide (PA66). By a torsion test, it was established that the shear yield stress behavior of PMMA, PC, and PA66 is well-described by the Ree-Eyring theory in the range of the considered strain rates. During the investigation, the surface temperature was monitored using an infrared camera. The heat release appeared at the early stage of the deformation and increased with the strain and strain rate. This suggested that the external work of deformation was dissipated into heat so the torsion tests could not be considered isothermal. Eventually, the effect of the strain rate on the failure modes was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.
High-Caloric and Chocolate Stimuli Processing in Healthy Humans: An Integration of Functional Imaging and Electrophysiological Findings
Authors: Asmaro Deyar , Liotti Mario
Published: January 2014

There has been a great deal of interest in understanding how the human brain processes appetitive food cues, and knowing how such cues elicit craving responses is particularly relevant when current eating behavior trends within Westernized societies are considered. One substance that holds a special place with regard to food preference is chocolate, and studies that used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and event-related potentials (ERPs) have identified neural regions and electrical signatures that are elicited by chocolate cue presentations. This review will examine fMRI and ERP findings from studies that used high-caloric food and chocolate cues as stimuli, with a focus on responses observed in samples of healthy participants, as opposed to those with eating-related pathology. The utility of using high-caloric and chocolate stimuli as a means of understanding the human reward system will also be highlighted, as these findings may be particularly important for understanding processes related to pathological overeating and addiction to illicit substances. Finally, research from our own lab that focused on chocolate stimulus processing in chocolate cravers and non-cravers will be discussed, as the approach used may help bridge fMRI and ERP findings so that a more complete understanding of appetitive stimulus processing in the temporal and spatial domains may be established.
Statistical Analysis of the Progressive Failure Behavior for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites under Tensile Loading
Authors: Wang Fang , Ding Jun , Chen Zhiqian
Published: January 2014

An analytical approach with the help of numerical simulations based on the equivalent constraint model (ECM) was proposed to investigate the progressive failure behavior of symmetric fiber-reinforced composite laminates damaged by transverse ply cracking. A fracture criterion was developed to describe the initiation and propagation of the transverse ply cracking. This work was also concerned with a statistical distributions of the critical fracture toughness values with due consideration given to the scale size effect. The Monte Carlo simulation technique coupled with statistical analysis was applied to study the progressive cracking behaviors of composite structures, by considering the effects of lamina properties and lay-up configurations. The results deduced from the numerical procedure were in good agreement with the experimental results obtained for laminated composites formed by unidirectional fiber reinforced laminae with different orientations.
Burned Area Mapping in the North American Boreal Forest Using Terra-MODIS LTDR (2001–2011): A Comparison with the MCD45A1, MCD64A1 and BA GEOLAND-2 Products
Authors: Ruiz José , Lázaro José , Cano Isabel , Leal Pedro
Published: January 2014

An algorithm based on a Bayesian network classifier was adapted to produce 10-day burned area (BA) maps from the Long Term Data Record Version 3 (LTDR) at a spatial resolution of 0.05° (~5 km) for the North American boreal region from 2001 to 2011. The modified algorithm used the Brightness Temperature channel from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) band 31 T31 (11.03 μm) instead of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) band T3 (3.75 μm). The accuracy of the BA-LTDR, the Collection 5.1 MODIS Burned Area (MCD45A1), the MODIS Collection 5.1 Direct Broadcast Monthly Burned Area (MCD64A1) and the Burned Area GEOLAND-2 (BA GEOLAND-2) products was assessed using reference data from the Alaska Fire Service (AFS) and the Canadian Forest Service National Fire Database (CFSNFD). The linear regression analysis of the burned area percentages of the MCD64A1 product using 40 km × 40 km grids versus the reference data for the years from 2001 to 2011 showed an agreement of R2 = 0.84 and a slope = 0.76, while the BA-LTDR showed an agreement of R2 = 0.75 and a slope = 0.69. These results represent an improvement over the MCD45A1 product, which showed an agreement of R2 = 0.67 and a slope = 0.42. The MCD64A1, BA-LTDR and MCD45A1 products underestimated the total burned area in the study region, whereas the BA GEOLAND-2 product overestimated it by approximately five-fold, with an agreement of R2 = 0.05. Despite MCD64A1 showing the best overall results, the BA-LTDR product proved to be an alternative for mapping burned areas in the North American boreal forest region compared with the other global BA products, even those with higher spatial/spectral resolution.
Comparison of Piezoresistive Monofilament Polymer Sensors
Authors: Melnykowycz Mark , Koll Birgit , Scharf Dagobert , Clemens Frank
Published: January 2014

The development of flexible polymer monofilament fiber strain sensors have many applications in both wearable computing (clothing, gloves, etc.) and robotics design (large deformation control). For example, a high-stretch monofilament sensor could be integrated into robotic arm design, easily stretching over joints or along curved surfaces. As a monofilament, the sensor can be woven into or integrated with textiles for position or physiological monitoring, computer interface control, etc. Commercially available conductive polymer monofilament sensors were tested alongside monofilaments produced from carbon black (CB) mixed with a thermo-plastic elastomer (TPE) and extruded in different diameters. It was found that signal strength, drift, and precision characteristics were better with a 0.3 mm diameter CB/TPE monofilament than thick (~2 mm diameter) based on the same material or commercial monofilaments based on natural rubber or silicone elastomer (SE) matrices.
A One-Versus-All Class Binarization Strategy for Bearing Diagnostics of Concurrent Defects
Authors: Ng Selina , Tse Peter , Tsui Kwok
Published: January 2014

In bearing diagnostics using a data-driven modeling approach, a concern is the need for data from all possible scenarios to build a practical model for all operating conditions. This paper is a study on bearing diagnostics with the concurrent occurrence of multiple defect types. The authors are not aware of any work in the literature that studies this practical problem. A strategy based on one-versus-all (OVA) class binarization is proposed to improve fault diagnostics accuracy while reducing the number of scenarios for data collection, by predicting concurrent defects from training data of normal and single defects. The proposed OVA diagnostic approach is evaluated with empirical analysis using support vector machine (SVM) and C4.5 decision tree, two popular classification algorithms frequently applied to system health diagnostics and prognostics. Statistical features are extracted from the time domain and the frequency domain. Prediction performance of the proposed strategy is compared with that of a simple multi-class classification, as well as that of random guess and worst-case classification. We have verified the potential of the proposed OVA diagnostic strategy in performance improvements for single-defect diagnosis and predictions of BPFO plus BPFI concurrent defects using two laboratory-collected vibration data sets.
Coumarin-Based Fluorescent Probes for Dual Recognition of Copper(II) and Iron(III) Ions and Their Application in Bio-Imaging
Authors: García-Beltrán Olimpo , Cassels Bruce , Pérez Claudio , Mena Natalia , Núñez Marco , Martínez Natalia , Pavez Paulina , Aliaga Margarita
Published: January 2014

Two new coumarin-based “turn-off” fluorescent probes, (E)-3-((3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)amino)-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (BS1) and (E)-3-((2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)amino)-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (BS2), were synthesized and their detection of copper(II) and iron(III) ions was studied. Results show that both compounds are highly selective for Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions over other metal ions. However, BS2 is detected directly, while detection of BS1 involves a hydrolysis reaction to regenerate 3-amino-7-hydroxycoumarin (3) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, of which 3 is able to react with copper(II) or iron(III) ions. The interaction between the tested compounds and copper or iron ions is associated with a large fluorescence decrease, showing detection limits of ca. 10−5 M. Preliminary studies employing epifluorescence microscopy demonstrate that Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions can be imaged in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with the tested probes.
The Influence of Perceived Corporate Sustainability Practices on Employees and Organizational Performance
Authors: Choi Yongrok , Yu Yanni
Published: January 2014

Most previous studies on corporate sustainability (corporate social responsibility) practices tend to focus on external stakeholders and outcomes. However, the influence of CSR practices on employees remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examine the influence of CSR practices on employees’ attitudes and behaviors. We investigate the mediation effect of employees’ attitudes and behaviors on the relationship between CSR practices and organizational performance. The empirical results indicate that employees’ perceptions of CSR practices have a positive impact on their organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior. The organizational citizenship behavior partially mediates the relationship between CSR practices and organizational performance, whereas organizational commitment indirectly mediates the relationship only through organizational citizenship behavior. This study also raises some important implications based on the empirical results.
Cryo‐electron microscopy of extracellular vesicles in fresh plasma
Authors: Yuana Yuana , Koning Roman I. , Kuil Maxim E. , Rensen Patrick C. N. , Koster Abraham J. , Bertina Rogier M , Osanto Susanne
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are phospholipid bilayer‐enclosed vesicles recognized as new mediators in intercellular communication and potential biomarkers of disease. They are found in many body fluids and mainly studied in fractions isolated from blood plasma in view of their potential in medicine. Due to the limitations of available analytical methods, morphological information on EV in fresh plasma is still rather limited.

Objectives

To image EV and determine the morphology, structure and size distribution in fresh plasma by cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM).

Methods

Fresh citrate‐ and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)‐anticoagulated plasma or EV isolated from these plasmas were rapidly cryo‐immobilized by vitrification and visualized by cryo‐EM.

Results

EV isolated from fresh plasma were highly heterogeneous in morphology and size and mostly contain a discernible lipid bilayer (lipid vesicles). In fresh plasma there were 2 types of particles with a median diameter of 30 nm (25–260 nm). The majority of these particles are electron dense particles which most likely represent lipoproteins. The minority are lipid vesicles, either electron dense or electron lucent, which most likely represent EV. Lipid vesicles were occasionally observed in close proximity of platelets in citrate and EDTA‐anticoagulated platelet‐rich plasma. Cryo‐electron tomography (cryo‐ET) was employed to determine the 3D structure of platelet secretory granules.

Conclusions

Cryo‐EM is a powerful technique that enables the characterization of EV in fresh plasma revealing structural details and considerable morphological heterogeneity. Only a small proportion of the submicron structures in fresh plasma are lipid vesicles representing EV.
Physalin H from Solanum nigrum as an Hh signaling inhibitor blocks GLI1–DNA-complex formation
Authors: Arai Midori A , Uchida Kyoko , Sadhu Samir K , Ahmed Firoj , Ishibashi Masami
Published: January 2014

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling plays an important role in embryonic development, cell maintenance and cell proliferation. Moreover, Hh signaling contributes to the growth of cancer cells. Physalins are highly oxidized natural products with a complex structure. Physalins (1–7) were isolated from Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae) collected in Bangladesh by using our cell-based assay. The isolated physalins included the previously reported Hh inhibitors 5 and 6. Compounds 1 and 4 showed strong inhibition of GLI1 transcriptional activity, and exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines with an aberrant activation of Hh signaling. Compound 1 inhibited the production of the Hh-related proteins patched (PTCH) and BCL2. Analysis of the structures of different physalins showed that the left part of the physalins was important for Hh inhibitory activity. Interestingly, physalin H (1) disrupted GLI1 binding to its DNA binding domain, while the weak inhibitor physalin G (2) did not show inhibition of GLI1-DNA complex formation.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE FLEXURAL AND SHEAR ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE BEAMS REIN FORCED WITH GLASS FIBER -REINFORCED (GFRP) BARS / STIKLO PLUOŠTO ARMATŪRA ARMUOTŲ SIJŲ, IŠANKSTINIO ĮTEMPIMO ĮTAKOS LAIKOMAJAI GALIAI IR STANDUMUI EKSPERIMENTINIS TYRIMAS
Authors: Atutis Edgaras , Budvytis Marius , Atutis Mantas
Published: January 2014

The paper analyzes experimental studies examining the flexuraland shear analysis of the beams reinforced with GFRP bars. Atesting program consisted of two beams reinforced with longitudinalprestressed GFRP tendons, two beams reinforced withlongitudinal GFRP bars and two beams reinforced with longitudinalsteel reinforcement and shear reinforcement of GFRP bars.The experimental flexural and shear strength of concrete beamswere compared with theoretical strength calculated according toa number of design recommendations, and the significance ofprestressing for deflection and cracking was analyzed.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje nagrinėjami sijų, armuotų stiklo pluošto armatūra, eksperimentiniai tyrimai, kuriuose buvo nagrinėjama šių sijų laikomoji galia statmenajame ir įstrižajame pjūviuose. Buvo bandomos dvi sijos, armuotos išilgine iš anksto įtempta stiklo pluošto armatūra, dvi sijos armuotos neįtemptąja stiklo pluošto armatūra, dvi sijos armuotos plienine išilgine armatūra ir skersine stiklo pluošto armatūra. Gautos statmenojo ir įstrižojo pjūvio laikomosios galios palyginamos su įvairiomis projektavimo normomis ir rekomendacijomis, analizuojama išankstinio įtempimo reikšmė sijų lenkiamajam standumui.
HEATING PROCESSES OF THE AXLE-BOXES OF ROLLING-STOCK ON RAILWAY TRACK CURVES / RIEDMENŲ AŠIDĖŽIŲ ŠILUMOKAITOS PROCESAI VAŽIUOJANT GELEŽINKELIO KREIVĖMIS
Authors: Lunys Olegas , Bureika Gintautas
Published: January 2014

The article deals with the heating process of the axle-boxes ofrolling stock when the train is in motion and discusses the forcesacting on the wheel-set when rolling stock moves along the trackcurves. The paper analyses scientific publications relevant tothe forces acting on the wheel-set of rolling stock and focuseson the axle-box heating process. The article also discusses theresults of theoretical studies on wheel-set forces that affect theheat exchange process of axle-boxes for a railway vehicle. Theresearch has determined a change in heating temperatures ofdifferent axle-boxes of rolling stock and reasons for their variationsand tendencies. The paper has estimated an effect of thetrain running along the track curves on the heating intensity ofthe axle-box. Finally, valid conclusions and recommendationshave been provided.

Santrauka

Straipnyje nagrinėjamas geležinkelio riedmenų ašidėžių kaitimo procesas, važiuojant traukiniui, ir aširatį veikiančios jėgos, riedmenims važiuojant geležinkelio kreivėmis. Atlikta mokslinių publikacijų, kuriose nagrinėjamos riedmenų aširačius veikiančios jėgos bei ašidėžių šilumokaitos procesas, apžvalga. Išnagrinėti aširačius veikiančių jėgų įtakos riedmenų ašidėžių šilumokaitos procesui teorinių tyrimų rezultatai. Tyrimo metu nustatytos skirtingų tipų riedmenų ašidėžių kaitimo temperatūrų dinamika, jų kitimo priežastys bei tendencijos. Išnagrinėta traukinio važiavimo geležinkelio kreivėmis įtaka ašidėžių kaitimo intensyvumui. Pabaigoje pateiktos išvados.
Comparison of dexmedetomidine and lignocaine on attenuation of airway and pressor responses during tracheal extubation
Authors: Sharma Vivek , Prabhakar Hemanshu , Rath Girija , Bithal Parmod
Published: January 2014

Background: Haemodynamic stability and rapid emergence after general anaesthesia used in spinal surgery is a common practice, the goal of which is to permit early neurological motor and sensory examination. Extubation is almost always associated with hypertension, increased airway response and arrhythmias. We have compared the effects of the α-2 agonist Dexmedetomidine and Lignocaine given at the end of the procedure on attenuation of airway and pressor responses following tracheal extubation. This study is a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Materials and Methods: Sixty ASA I-III patients, aged 18-70 years, scheduled to undergo spinal surgery at the level of thoracic, lumbar or sacral region were randomly divided into three groups. Balanced general anaesthesia comprising standard procedures and drugs were used for monitoring, induction and maintenance. At the last skin suture, inhalation anaesthetic was discontinued. After turning the patient supine and return of spontaneous efforts, in Group D Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg, in Group L Lignocaine 1.5 mg/kg and in Group P normal saline (10 ml) were administered as bolus intravenously over 60 seconds. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures and heart rate were recorded before intravenous administration and also every minute for 3 minutes, at 5, 10 and 15 minutes post-extubation. Duration of emergence and extubation were noted and attenuation of airway response and quality of extubation was evaluated on cough grading. Results: Mean arterial pressures and heart rate were higher in Group L and Group P than in Group D but not statistically significant. The duration of emergence, extubation and recovery were comparable in all the groups (P > 0.05). Extubation Quality Scores was 1 in 80%, 2 in 20% in Group D; in Group L, the quality scores were 1 for 55%, 2 for 45% and I Group P 1 for 35%, 2 for 45% and 3 for 20% of the patients. The requirement of rescue analgesia was also less and after prolonged time in Group D than in Group L and Group P (P < 0.05). None of the patients in all three groups showed respiratory depression, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting or shivering. There was occurrence of hypertension for the initial 3 minutes of administration of drug in 10 (50%) of patients in Group D (Dexmedetomidine) group. Conclusion: Without interfering in emergence and extubation times, attenuation of pressor response is comparable between Dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg and Lignocaine 1.5 mg/kg but airway response is much better controlled allowing a smooth easy extubation providing a more comfortable recovery and early neurological examination following spinal surgeries.
Educational Effects of a Tailored Leaflet Addressing Drinking during Pregnancy
Authors: Toyama Natsumi , Sudo Noriko
Published: January 2014

Objective

To examine the educational effects of a tailored leaflet on current drinking behavior, thoughts about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and knowledge of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) among pregnant women.

Design

Intervention.

Participants

We recruited pregnant women who were participating in maternity classes held at five municipal health centers in Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo in Japan.

Methods

Questionnaires were administered before and after distribution of either a tailored or a non-tailored leaflet and again after the women delivered their babies.

Results

More women read the non-tailored leaflet than the tailored one; this was because they felt they could read the non-tailored leaflet immediately. As for educational effects, the tailored leaflet was not superior to the non-tailored one in changing the women's behavior, thoughts, or knowledge.

Conclusion

It is more important for health education leaflets to seem easy to read in terms of volume than to be tailored.
Intense Exercise Increases Protein Oxidation in Spleen and Liver of Mice
Authors: Kobayashi Yukiko , Nakatsuji Aki , Aoi Wataru , Wada Sayori , Kuwahata Masashi , Kido Yasuhiro
Published: January 2014

Studies have indicated that sports anemia is mainly associated with intravascular hemolysis induced by exercise. We hypothesized that such exercise-induced hemolysis leads to oxidative damage due to an increase in free iron caused by hematocyte destruction. Thirty-one male ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a rested control group, an intense-exercise group, and a group rested for 24 hours after intense exercise. The serum haptoglobin level of the intense-exercise group decreased compared with that of the rested control group, suggesting hemolysis. Tissue iron and protein carbonyl levels in the liver were increased after exercise, and the protein carbonyl level in the spleen on the day after exercise was significantly increased compared with that of the resting state. These results suggest that the spleen and liver, where extravascular hemolysis occurs, were subjected to oxidative modification by the free iron, which was released from large numbers of hemocytes that were destroyed due to the intense exercise.
Phytoplanktonic response to contrasted Saharan dust deposition events during mesocosm experiments in LNLC environment
Authors: Ridame C. , Dekaezemacker J. , Guieu C. , Bonnet S. , L'Helguen S. , Malien F.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. The response of the phytoplanktonic community (primary production and algal biomass) to contrasted Saharan dust events (wet and dry deposition) was studied in the framework of the DUNE "a DUst experiment in a low-Nutrient, low-chlorophyll Ecosystem" project. We simulated realistic dust deposition events (10 g m−2) into large mesocosms (52 m3). Three distinct experimental dust additions were conducted in June 2008 (DUNE-1-P: simulation of a wet deposition, DUNE-1-Q: simulation of a dry deposition) and 2010 (DUNE-2-R1, -R2: simulation of 2 successive wet depositions) in the northwestern oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. No changes in primary production (PP) and chlorophyll a concentration (Chl a) were observed after a dry deposition event while a wet deposition event resulted in a rapid (24 h after dust additions), strong (up 2.4 fold) and long (at least a week duration) increase in PP and Chl a. We show that in addition to being a source of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), simulated wet deposition events were also a significant source of NO3− (net increases up to +9.8 μM NO3− at 0.1 m depth) to the nutrient depleted surface waters due to cloud processes and mixing with anthropogenic species such as HNO3. The dry deposition event was shown to be a negligible source of NO3−. By transiently increasing DIP and NO3− concentrations in P-N starved surface waters, wet deposition of Saharan dust was able to relieve the potential N or NP co-limitation of the phytoplanktonic activity. Due to the higher input of NO3− relative to DIP, a wet deposition event resulted in a strong increase in the NO3−/DIP ratio from initially < 6 to over 150 at the end of the DUNE-2-R1 experiment suggesting a switch from an initial N or NP co-limitation towards a severe P limitation. We also show that the contribution of new production to PP increased after wet dust deposition events from initially 15% to 60–70% 24 h after seeding, indicating a switch from a regenerated-production based system to a new-production based system. DUNE experiments show that wet and dry dust deposition events induce contrasted responses of the phytoplanktonic community due to differences in the atmospheric supply of bioavailable new nutrients. Our results from original mesocosm experiments demonstrate that atmospheric dust wet deposition greatly influences primary productivity and algal biomass in LNLC environments, changes nutrient stocks and alters the NO3−/DIP ratio leading to a switch in the nutrient limitation of the phytoplanktonic activity.
Evaluation of the quality and appropriateness of medical prescriptions in the hospital discharge report
Authors: Tamayo Rodríguez Maria Encarnacion , González Valverde Francisco Miguel , Madrigal de Torres Manuel , Pérez Fernández Pedro , Osuna Carrillo de Albornoz Eduardo
Published: January 2014

Objectives: The aim of this research has been to evaluate: (a) the frequency of the use of non-standard terms in medical prescriptions; (b) the proportion of “new drugs of irrelevant therapeutic value” or medication of low therapeutic utility (LTU); and (c) the use of Generic Pharmaceutical Specialties (GPS). Materials and methods: Descriptive transversal observational study with analytical components over the hospital discharge reports issued in a year. The main variables of the results were: a) the proportion of prescriptions with abbreviations, symbols or expressions of non-recommended doses in the discharge report, b) the frequency of prescriptions of pharmaceutical specialties without the relevant contribution (NRPS), c) the proportion of LTU medication in the hospital discharge reports, d) the frequency of GPS or, if they are not available, the Common International Denomination (CID) of the active ingredient in the discharge reports, and e) the mean cost per prescribed medication in the hospital discharge report. Results: A total of 854 discharge reports have been studied containing 4,055 medical prescriptions. A considerable number (38.8%) of the medical prescriptions in the discharge report have used abbreviations and non-recommended symbols for dose expression. The prescription of new drugs of irrelevant therapeutic value reached 2.8% while the prescription of pharmaceutical products of LTU was 2.1%. Only 13.8% of the prescriptions were carried out as an active ingredient. The mean cost per prescription was 17.3 euros (SD = 31.34). Conclusions: Appropriateness in the prescription of medication at hospital discharge is considered to be not satisfactory and our results are consistent with other previously published reports. However, there are frequent errors in the prescription of medication and given the demonstrated relationship between errors and possible adverse effects, it is necessary to introduce programs to raise awareness about the importance of the introduction of safe practices in the medical prescriptions of the hospital discharge report.
Regards croisés sur les processus de construction d’une identité professionnelle policière en France et au Québec
Authors: Alain1 Marc , Rousseau Michel , Desrosiers Dave
Published: January 2014

La question du réaménagement des représentations qu’un apprenant se fait du métier qu’il a choisi fait maintenant partie d’un corpus de connaissances connu sous l’appellation de la socialisation professionnelle. De manière générale, c’est a posteriori que ces réaménagements, leur amplitude et leur forme sont étudiés, en analysant les discours des représentants d’une ou de plusieurs professions. Il est, en effet, beaucoup plus rare de documenter ces mêmes réaménagements en temps réel, soit en suivant les parcours de socialisation au moment où ils se déroulent. Il est encore plus rare, également, qu’un dispositif de recherche longitudinal sur cohorte fasse l’objet d’une réplication dans un autre contexte. C’est cet exercice qui a été réalisé à dix ans d’intervalle en France, lieu de l’enquête originale, et au Québec par la suite. S’il ne nous appartient pas comme tel de tenter la comparaison des contextes français et québécois du métier de policier, en revanche, le fait de disposer ainsi de deux corpus de données d’enquête de socialisation professionnelle distincts nous donnera l’occasion de faire émerger les processus génériques communs de ce qui semble être plus spécifique à l’un ou l’autre des deux contextes.
Directeurs de sécurité en entreprise et consommation de la sécurité. Étude exploratoire canadienne
Authors: Mulone1 Massimiliano
Published: January 2014

Cette étude exploratoire traite de certaines logiques de consommation sur le marché de la sécurité, et plus précisément du rôle qu’y jouent les directeurs de sécurité en entreprise. En effet, alors qu’indubitablement la sécurité est aujourd’hui en partie produite sous la forme d’un bien de consommation, force est de constater que le savoir cumulé sur les dynamiques du marché au travers duquel cette sécurité est produite présente un déséquilibre certain : les producteurs de sécurité marchandée ont ainsi été largement plus étudiés que les consommateurs. Or, comprendre le fonctionnement du marché nécessite autant de se pencher sur les mécanismes de l’offre que sur ceux de la demande, objet du présent article. À partir d’une dizaine d’entretiens semi-directifs avec les responsables des départements de sécurité auprès de grandes entreprises (celles-ci faisant partie, avec l’État, des deux plus importants clients de l’industrie), il a été possible d’apporter un certain éclairage sur les dynamiques qui sous-tendent la demande dans le marché de la sécurité. Comparant leur fonction à celle de consultant, les directeurs de sécurité en entreprise se présentent ainsi comme des producteurs de la demande. Les données mettent aussi de l’avant le rôle crucial joué par le capital social. Enfin, il apparaît que la sécurité consommée par l’entreprise s’apparenterait plus à une pratique qu’à une fin en soi.
Des expériences affectives et sexuelles en situation de rue1
Authors: Côté Philippe-Benoit , Blais Martin , Bellot Céline , Manseau Hélène
Published: January 2014

Cette étude a pour objectif de comprendre comment les jeunes construisent leurs expériences affectives et sexuelles en situation de rue à Montréal. Des entrevues individuelles ont été réalisées auprès de 32 jeunes âgés de 18 à 27 ans en situation de rue (18 femmes, 14 hommes). Les témoignages ont été analysés à partir d’une méthode typologique (Schnapper, 2005) qui a permis d’identifier cinq figures d’expériences affectives et sexuelles en situation de rue : la valorisation de la réussite criminelle, le retrait, la survie, l’engagement et l’envahissement par la drogue. L’analyse des témoignages montre que les jeunes des figures du retrait et de l’engagement s’investissent affectivement avec leurs partenaires, tandis que ceux des figures de la valorisation de la réussite criminelle et de la survie décrivent plutôt une instrumentalisation de leurs partenaires. La figure de l’envahissement par la drogue illustre, quant à elle, l’emprise de la consommation de drogues qui pousse les jeunes vers une marchandisation de la sexualité pour répondre à leur dépendance aux substances. Cette étude permet donc de nuancer une conception homogène et menaçante de la situation de rue en faisant voir comment les jeunes mobilisent de diverses façons leurs expériences affectives et sexuelles pour améliorer leur situation de vie.
Quadrant/octant sequencing and the role of coherent structures in bed load sediment entrainment
Authors: Keylock Christopher J. , Lane Stuart N. , Richards Keith S.
Published: January 2014

To permit the tracking of turbulent flow structures in an Eulerian frame from single‐point measurements, we make use of a generalization of conventional two‐dimensional quadrant analysis to three‐dimensional octants. We characterize flow structures using the sequences of these octants and show how significance may be attached to particular sequences using statistical mull models. We analyze an example experiment and show how a particular dominant flow structure can be identified from the conditional probability of octant sequences. The frequency of this structure corresponds to the dominant peak in the velocity spectra and exerts a high proportion of the total shear stress. We link this structure explicitly to the propensity for sediment entrainment and show that greater insight into sediment entrainment can be obtained by disaggregating those octants that occur within the identified macroturbulence structure from those that do not. Hence, this work goes beyond critiques of Reynolds stress approaches to bed load entrainment that highlight the importance of outward interactions, to identifying and prioritizing the quadrants/octants that define particular flow structures.
Splay fault triggering by great subduction earthquakes inferred from finite element models
Authors: Li Shaoyang , Moreno Marcos , Rosenau Matthias , Melnick Daniel , Oncken Onno
Published: January 2014

We have investigated the influence that megathrust earthquake slip has on the activation of splay faults using a 2‐D finite element method (FEM), taking into account the effects of gravity and variations in the frictional strength properties of splay faults. We simulated both landward‐dipping and seaward‐dipping splay fault geometries, and imposed depth‐variable slip distributions of subduction events. Our results indicate that the two types of splay fault exhibit a similar behavior, with variations in frictional properties along the faults affecting only the seismic magnitude. The triggering process is controlled by a critical depth. Megathrust slip concentrated at depths shallower than the critical depth will favor normal displacement, while megathrust slip concentrated at depths deeper than the critical depth is likely to result in reverse motion. Our results thus provide a useful tool for predicting the activation of secondary faults and may have direct implications for tsunami hazard research.
Slip rate and tremor genesis in Cascadia
Authors: Wech Aaron G. , Bartlow Noel M.
Published: January 2014

At many plate boundaries, conditions in the transition zone between seismogenic and stable slip produce slow earthquakes. In the Cascadia subduction zone, these events are consistently observed as slow, aseismic slip on the plate interface accompanied by persistent tectonic tremor. However, not all slow slip at other plate boundaries coincides spatially and temporally with tremor, leaving the physics of tremor genesis poorly understood. Here we analyze seismic, geodetic, and strainmeter data in Cascadia to observe for the first time a large, tremor‐generating slow earthquake change from tremor‐genic to silent and back again. The tremor falls silent at reduced slip speeds when the migrating slip front pauses as it loads the stronger adjacent fault segment to failure. The finding suggests that rheology and slip‐speed‐regulated stressing rate control tremor genesis, and the same section of fault can slip both with and without detectable tremor, limiting tremor's use as a proxy for slip.
An extreme coronal mass ejection and consequences for the magnetosphere and Earth
Authors: Tsurutani Bruce T. , Lakhina Gurbax S.
Published: January 2014

A “perfect” interplanetary coronal mass ejection could create a magnetic storm with intensity up to the saturation limit (Dst ~ −2500 nT), a value greater than the Carrington storm. Many of the other space weather effects will not be limited by saturation effects, however. The interplanetary shock would arrive at Earth within ~12 h with a magnetosonic Mach number ~45. The shock impingement onto the magnetosphere will create a sudden impulse of ~234 nT, the magnetic pulse duration in the magnetosphere will be ~22 s with a dB/dt of ~30 nT s−1, and the magnetospheric electric field associated with the dB/dt ~1.9 V m−1, creating a new relativistic electron radiation belt. The magnetopause location of 4 RE from the Earth's surface will allow expose of orbiting satellites to extreme levels of flare and ICME shock‐accelerated particle radiation. The results of our calculations are compared with current observational records. Comments are made concerning further data analysis and numerical modeling needed for the field of space weather.
Low‐altitude electron acceleration due to multiple flow bursts in the magnetotail
Authors: Nakamura R. , Karlsson T. , Hamrin M. , Nilsson H. , Marghitu O. , Amm O. , Bunescu C. , Constantinescu V. , Frey H. U. , Keiling A. , Semeter J. , Sorbalo E. , Vogt J. , Forsyth C. , Kubyshkina M. V.
Published: January 2014

At 10:00 UT on 25 February 2008, Cluster 1 spacecraft crossed the near‐midnight auroral zone, at about 2 RE altitude, while two of the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms (THEMIS) spacecraft, THD and THE, observed multiple flow bursts on the near‐conjugate plasma sheet field lines. The flow shear pattern at THEMIS was consistent with the vortical motion at duskside of a localized flow channel. Coinciding in time with the flow bursts, Cluster 1 observed bursts of counterstreaming electrons with mostly low energies (≤441 eV), accompanied by short time scale (<5 s) magnetic field disturbances embedded in flow‐associated field‐aligned current systems. This conjugate event not only confirms the idea that the plasma sheet flows are the driver of the kinetic Alfvén waves accelerating the low‐energy electrons but is a unique observation of disturbances in the high‐altitude auroral region relevant to the multiple plasma sheet flows.
Relationship of channel steepness to channel incision rate from a tilted and progressively exposed unconformity surface
Authors: Oskin M. E. , Burbank D. W. , Phillips F. M. , Marrero S. M. , Bookhagen B. , Selander J. A.
Published: January 2014

We examine the relationship of channel steepness to incision rate from channels eroding into a previously tilted, planar, and progressively exhumed unconformity surface. Channel and unconformity slopes are measured from a suite of channels developed on erosionally resistant Paleozoic limestone exhumed by the removal of Cenozoic sediments from the Baybeiche Range bordering the Naryn basin in the western Tian Shan. The compiled data set, sampling 5 orders of magnitude of upstream drainage area (0.03 to 227 km2), is used to derive the exponent, n, relating channel steepness to channel incision rate and the ratio, K/V, of the rate constant for channel incision of the resistant substrate, K, to the erosion rate, V, of the cover strata. We show that for a typical value of intrinsic concavity (slope‐area exponent, θ=0.5), erosion rates that are proportional to specific stream power (n=1) satisfy the data set. However, valley width data suggest that the intrinsic concavity is higher (θ=0.8) and that incision data can also be fit if erosion is proportional to basal shear stress (n=2/3). Our results do not support values of n significantly greater than one. Using36Cl exposure age dating of the unconformity surface, we independently demonstrate that the Cenozoic cover strata have been progressively stripped downward from the unconformity surface at a vertical rate of 1 to 2 m/kyr. Using V=1 m/kyr, we constrain the rate constant, K, to between 6 ± 1 and 9 ± 2 ×10−4kyr−1 for incision of resistant limestone bedrock in this field setting.