bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic versus static culture in international business: a study of Spanish banking in China
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Lopez‐Pascual Joaquín
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify two types of cultural perspective in cross‐cultural management studies: dynamic versus static perspectives, in particular their interaction in the international business of the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an exploratory approach using qualitative data. After two phases of data collection, the management by values concept is taken to identify both the manifested and latent levels of characteristics of these two different approaches to cross‐cultural management in international business.

Findings

The study results identify the characteristics of two cultural perspectives: dynamic versus static. Tables on static cultural comparison and the acculturation process illustrate their different natures and highlight their potential implications for further business and theoretical development.

Originality/value

The paper empirically identifies dynamic and static cultural perspectives in international business process, highlighting the relevance of distinguishing these two perspectives in the globalizing business world. The characteristics of dynamic and static culture illustrated build a base for further research in this line for international business and cross cultural management.
SAP155‐mediated c‐myc suppressor far‐upstream element‐binding protein‐interacting repressor splicing variants are activated in colon cancer tissues
Authors: Kajiwara Toshiko , Matsushita Kazuyuki , Itoga Sakae , Tamura Mai , Tanaka Nobuko , Tomonaga Takeshi , Matsubara Hisahiro , Shimada Hideaki , Habara Yasuaki , Matsuo Masafumi , Nomura Fumio
Published: October 2012

The c‐myc transcriptional suppressor, far‐upstream element (FUSE)‐binding protein (FBP)‐interacting repressor (FIR), is alternatively spliced in colorectal cancer tissue (Matsushita et al., Cancer Res 2006). Recently, the knockdown of SAP155 pre‐mRNA‐splicing factor, a subunit of SF3b, was reported to disturb FIR pre‐mRNA splicing and yield FIRΔexon2, an exon 2‐spliced variant of FIR, which lacks c‐myc repression activity. In the present study, novel splicing variants of FIR, Δ3 and Δ4, were also generated by SAP155 siRNA, and these variants were found to be activated in human colorectal cancer tissue. Furthermore, the expression levels of FIR variant mRNA were examined in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients and healthy volunteers to assess its potency for tumor detection. As expected, circulating FIR variant mRNA in the peripheral blood of cancer patients were significantly overexpressed compared to that in healthy volunteers. In particular, the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of FIR, FIRΔexon2 or FIRΔexon2/FIR, was greater than those of conventional carcinoembryonic antigen or carbohydrate antigen 19‐9. In addition, FIRΔexon2 or FIR mRNA expression in the peripheral blood was significantly reduced after operative removal of colorectal tumors. Thus, circulating FIR and FIRΔexon2 mRNA are potential novel screening markers for colorectal cancer testing with conventional carcinoembryonic antigen and or carbohydrate antigen 19‐9. Taken together, our results indicate that overexpression of FIR and its splicing variants in colorectal cancer directs feed‐forward or addicted circuit c‐myc transcriptional activation. Clinical implications for colorectal cancers of novel FIR splicing variants are also discussed in the present paper.
What is the burden of living with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) in 2012? A health‐related quality‐of‐life assessment in Finnish patients
Authors: Kluger Nicolas , Jokinen Martta , Krohn Kai , Ranki Annamari
Published: October 2012

Objective

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare disorder responsible for chronic candidiasis, a wide variety of autoimmune disorders and a risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oesophagus. We investigated the impairment of quality of life in our cohort of Finnish patients.

Subjects, design and measurement

In a postal survey, 26 patients with APECED responded to three self‐reported health‐related quality‐of‐life questionnaires: RAND‐36 (general health), RBDI (depression) and DLQI (dermatology life quality index).

Results

General health and vitality were the most affected items in our cohort. Male subjects presented higher impairment in emotional role limitations, social functioning, bodily pain, general mental health/emotional well‐being, energy/vitality and general health perceptions but without reaching statistical significance. The number of accumulated diseases in APECED was not associated with lower results. But, age and duration of APECED correlated with fatigue (P = 0·01), well‐being (P = 0·02) and general health (P = 0·03) impairment. Depressive symptoms affected 29% of the patients. There was a statistical negative correlation between RBDI score and age and duration of APECED. Hair loss, alopecia areata universalis especially, affected more severely the quality of life of female patients. Vitiligo and candidiasis did not have any significant impact on both the genders.

Conclusions

We report the first study on specific impairment of quality of life related to APECED in a cohort of adult Finnish patients. General health, emotional well‐being and vitality were the most diminished aspects of quality of life in our cohort. However, our results will need to be confirmed by additional controlled studies.
The relation between lymph node status and survival in Stage I–III colon cancer: results from a prospective nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lykke J. , Roikjær O. , Jess P. ,   The Danish Colorectal Cancer Group
Published: October 2012

Aim

This study involved a large nationwide Danish cohort to evaluate the hypothesis that a high lymph node harvest has a positive effect on survival in curative resected Stage I–III colon cancer and a low lymph node ratio has a positive effect on survival in Stage III colon cancer.

Method

Analysis of overall survival was conducted using a nationwide Danish cohort of patients treated with curative resection of Stage I–III colon cancer. All 8901 patients in Denmark diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon and treated with curative resection in the period 2003–2008 were identified from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG). The impact of lymph node count and lymph node ratio was analysed.

Results

Overall 5‐year survival was 56.8 and 66.6%, (P < 0.0001) for lymph node counts of fewer than 12 and 12 or more, respectively. The percentages of lymph node positive patients in the two groups were 29.8 and 40.3% (P < 0.0001), respectively.

When putting the Stage III patients into four subgroups according to the lymph node ratio (cut‐off points 1/12, 1/4 and 1/2) we found an overall 5‐year survival rate of 68.1, 57.2, 49.3 and 32.4% (P < 0.0001). Lymph node count and lymph node ratio were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

High lymph node count was associated with improved overall survival in colon cancer. Lymph node ratio was superior to N‐stage in differentiating overall survival in Stage III colon cancer. Stage migration was observed.
Overuse of paracetamol caffeine aspirin powders affects cerebral glucose metabolism in chronic migraine patients
Authors: Di W. , Shi X. , Zhu Y. , Tao Y. , Qi W. , Luo N. , Xiao Z. , Yi C. , Miao J. , Zhang A. , Zhang X. , Fang Y.
Published: October 2012

Background and purpose

Overuse of analgesic plays a prominent role in migraine chronification. Paracetamol caffeine aspirin (PCA) powders are commonly used in Chinese migraineurs. This study investigated the effects of the specific combination analgesic on cerebral glucose metabolism in chronic migraine (CM).

Methods

18F‐FDG‐PET was used to measure regional metabolism in all subjects. Brain metabolisms of CM patients with analgesic overuse (AO‐CM; n = 10), no analgesic overuse (NAO‐CM; n = 10), and no regimen (NR‐CM; n = 10) and 17 age‐ and gender‐matched normal controls (NC) were compared using statistical parametric mapping. Then, all patients underwent brain MRI analysis within 7 days after PET scans, as well as MMSE and MoCA scale for cognitive function tests.

Results

Glucose metabolic changes in CM patients taking different dosage of analgesic during headache‐free periods and clear distinctions in several brain regions were observed. Patients with AO‐CM exhibited significant metabolic reductions in thalamus, as well as increased metabolism in middle temporal gyrus and insula relative to NR‐CM and NAO‐CM. However, in these regions, no difference was observed in AO‐CM except for increased metabolism in the right insula relative to NC group.

Conclusions

Overusing PCA powders affects regional brain glucose metabolism in CM. Increased metabolism in the right insula may be associated with recurrently overusing of PCA powders.
Major life events and development of major depression in Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Rod N. H. , Bordelon Y. , Thompson A. , Marcotte E. , Ritz B.
Published: October 2012

Background and purpose

Non‐motor symptoms including depression are important features of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aim to address the relationship between major life events and depression amongst PD patients free of depressive symptoms at baseline.

Methods

New‐onset PD patients from California were recruited in 2001–2007 and followed up for 3–4 years. The participants (n = 221) were examined by neurologists and responded to comprehensive interviews that included major life events, social support, and coping measures from validated scales. Major depression was assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM‐IV depression module (SCID).

Results

More than half of all patients had experienced major life events since diagnosed with PD, and 22 patients developed a major depression. The number of life events was associated with risk of depression in an exposure‐dependent manner, with each additional event being associated with a 56% higher risk of depression (95% CI: 1.23–1.98). Most individual life events were associated with a two‐ to eight‐fold higher risk of depression. Patients with low social support or coping capacities seemed to be particularly susceptible to developing depression after experiencing major life events.

Conclusions

Life events play an important role for onset of depression in patients with PD; an effect that seems to be modulated by social support and coping capacities and these factors may therefore be important to assess in order to identify patients with PD at high risk of depression and provide effective interventions.
Anti‐tumour strategies aiming to target tumour‐associated macrophages
Authors: Tang Xiaoqiang , Mo Chunfen , Wang Yongsheng , Wei Dandan , Xiao Hengyi
Published: October 2012

Tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs) represent a predominant population of inflammatory cells that present in solid tumours. TAMs are mostly characterized as alternatively activated M2‐like macrophages and are known to orchestrate nearly all stages of tumour progression. Experimental investigations indicate that TAMs contribute to drug‐resistance and radio‐protective effects, and clinical evidence shows that an elevated number of TAMs and their M2 profile are correlated with therapy failure and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Recently, many studies on TAM‐targeted strategies have made significant progress and some pilot works have achieved encouraging results. Among these, connections between some anti‐tumour drugs and their influence on TAMs have been suggested. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in TAM‐targeted strategies for tumour therapy. Based on the proposed mechanisms, those strategies are grouped into four categories: (i) inhibiting macrophage recruitment; (ii) suppressing TAM survival; (iii) enhancing M1‐like tumoricidal activity of TAMs; (iv) blocking M2‐like tumour‐promoting activity of TAMs. It is desired that further attention be drawn to this research field and more effort be made to promote TAM‐targeted tumour therapy.
The DC‐HIL ligand syndecan‐4 is a negative regulator of T‐cell allo‐reactivity responsible for graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Chung Jin‐Sung , Tomihari Mizuki , Tamura Kyoichi , Kojima Tetsuhito , Cruz Ponciano D. , Ariizumi Kiyoshi
Published: October 2012

Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is the most important cause of mortality after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Allo‐reactive T cells are the major mediators of GVHD and the process is regulated by positive and negative regulators on antigen‐presenting cells (APC). Because the significance of negative regulators in GVHD pathogenesis is not fully understood, and having discovered that syndecan‐4 (SD‐4) on effector T cells mediates the inhibitory function of DC‐HIL on APC, we proposed that SD‐4 negatively regulates the T‐cell response to allo‐stimulation in acute GVHD, using SD‐4 knockout mice. Although not different from their wild‐type counterparts in responsiveness to anti‐CD3 stimulation, SD‐4−/− T cells lost the capacity to mediate the inhibitory function of DC‐HIL and were hyper‐reactive to allogeneic APC. Moreover, infusion of SD‐4−/− T cells into sub‐lethally γ‐irradiated allogeneic mice worsened mortality, with hyper‐proliferation of infused T cells in recipients. Although there my be little or no involvement of regulatory T cells in this model because SD‐4 deletion had no deleterious effect on T‐cell‐suppressive activity compared with SD‐4+/+ regulatory T cells. We conclude that SD‐4, as the T‐cell ligand of DC‐HIL, is a potent inhibitor of allo‐reactive T cells responsible for GVHD and a potentially useful target for treating this disease.
HLA‐DM: arbiter conformationis
Authors: Ferrante Andrea
Published: October 2012

The recognition by CD4+ T cells of peptides bound to class II MHC (MHCII) molecules expressed on the surface of antigen‐presenting cells is a key step in the initiation of an adaptive immune response. Presentation of peptides is the outcome of an intracellular selection process occurring in dedicated endosomal compartments involving, among others, an MHCII‐like molecule named HLA‐DM (DM). The impact of DM on the epitope selection machinery has been known for more than 15 years. However, the mechanism by which DM skews the presented repertoire in favour of kinetically stable complexes has remained elusive. Here, a review of the most recent observations in the field is presented, pointing to the possibility that DM decides the survival of a peptide–MHCII complex (pMHCII) on the basis of its conformational flexibility, which is a function of the ‘tightness’ of interaction between the peptide and the MHCII at a specific region of the binding site.
Combination peptide immunotherapy based on T‐cell epitope mapping reduces allergen‐specific IgE and eosinophilia in allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Mackenzie Karen J. , Fitch Paul M. , Leech Melanie D. , Ilchmann Anne , Wilson Claire , McFarlane Amanda J. , Howie Sarah E.M. , Anderton Stephen M. , Schwarze Jürgen
Published: October 2012

Peptide immunotherapy using soluble peptides containing allergen‐derived immunodominant T‐cell epitopes holds therapeutic promise for allergic asthma. Previous studies in BALB/c mice using the immunodominant peptide epitope of chicken ovalbumin (p323–339) have been unable to demonstrate therapeutic effects in ovalbumin‐induced allergic airway inflammation. We have previously shown that intravenous application of p323–339 can effectively tolerise p323–339‐reactive T cells in a non‐allergic model in C57BL/6 mice. This study aimed to assess the effects of using p323–339 immunotherapy in a C57BL/6 model of ovalbumin‐induced allergic airway inflammation, identify any additional epitopes recognized by the ovalbumin‐responsive T‐cell repertoire in C57BL/6 mice and assess the effects of combination peptide immunotherapy in this model. Ovalbumin‐reactive T‐cell lines were generated from ovalbumin‐immunized C57BL/6 mice and proliferative responses to a panel of overlapping peptides covering the ovalbumin sequence were assessed. Soluble peptides (singly or combined) were administered intravenously to C57BL/6 mice before the induction of ovalbumin‐induced allergic airway inflammation. Peptide immunotherapy using the 323–339 peptide alone did not reduce the severity of allergic airway inflammation. An additional immunodominant T‐cell epitope in ovalbumin was identified within the 263–278 sequence. Combination peptide immunotherapy, using the 323–339 and 263–278 peptides together, reduced eosinophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage and ovalbumin‐specific IgE, with apparent reductions in interleukin‐5 and interleukin‐13. Characterization of the T‐cell response to a model allergen has allowed the development of combination peptide immunotherapy with improved efficacy in allergic airway inflammation. This model holds important potential for future mechanistic studies using peptide immunotherapy in allergy.
HOW CAN PUBLIC SPENDING HELP YOU GROW? AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: Bayraktar Nihal , Moreno‐Dodson Blanca
Published: October 2012

Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are mixed. This paper suggests that the country sample selection and expenditure classification are important in explaining these conflicting results. The empirical analysis shows that the link between growth and public spending, especially its core component, is strong only for countries with macroeconomic stability and fast GDP per capita growth dynamics, which are also capable of using public funds for productive purposes.
An Overview of Developments in the Irish Economy over the Last Ten Years
Authors: McHale John
Published: October 2012

At the time of the first Lehigh University conference on the Irish economy in 2001, Irish real GDP was still growing at an annual rate of almost 6 per cent, following a decade where growth had averaged over 7 per cent. The ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy was showing signs of ageing – notably with inflation eroding competitiveness and with it Ireland’s attractiveness as a destination for FDI – but there was little sense of the ‘bubble economy’ that would fundamentally alter Irish economic fortunes over the following decade. The succeeding property‐driven economy did sustain high growth for another half decade or so, if not at the spectacular rates of the preceding half decade. But it also sowed the seeds for the financial and economic crisis that has so rocked the economy over the last three years. This paper sets the scene for the papers in the symposium with a review of the property boom, bubble and eventual bust. It also reviews the prospects for crisis resolution and export‐driven recovery.
Endotoxemia after high cutoff hemodialysis for treatment of patient with multiple myeloma can be prevented by using ultrapure dialysate: A case report
Authors: Gong Dehua , Ji Daxi , Zhang Kaiyue , Huang Xianghua , Huang Gaoyuan , Xu Bin , Liu Zhihong
Published: October 2012

To report endotoxemia presented in a case with multiple myeloma (MM) treated by high cutoff hemodialysis (HCO‐HD) being prevented by using ultrapure dialysate. A female inpatient with MM received six times HCO‐HD (HCO 2100 dialyzer) within 3 weeks after initiation of a chemotherapy based on vincristine + epirubicin + dexamethasone protocol. Conventional dialysate was used in the first three times and then changed to ultrapure dialysate due to elevation of body temperature after HCO‐HD. Free light chains (FLC) and endotoxin levels in blood and dialysate were monitored. After six times HCO‐HD, her serum FLC λ decreased from 4689 mg/L to 492.7 mg/L, with a trend of decline of serum creatinine. The clearance, reduction ratio, and removal amount of FLC λ was 38.4 mL/min, 71.0–85.2%, and 9.06–18.02 g, respectively, in the setting of dialysate flow rate 500 mL/min, while in the setting of dialysate flow rate 200 mL/min, the removal efficacy of FLC λ was lower than the former. A rise of body temperature up to 38.5°C after treatment and endotoxemia (endotoxin levels 0.122 EU/mL) was found when using conventional dialysate (endotoxin levels 0.112–0.145 EU/mL), but not seen after changing to ultrapure dialysate. Combined with appropriate chemotherapy, HCO‐HD can effectively remove and reduce blood FLC. Attention should be paid to the endotoxemia and the rise of temperature after treatment when conventional dialysate is used, which can be prevented by using ultrapure dialysate.
Previous encapsulation response enhances within individual protection against fungal parasite in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor
Authors: Krams Indrikis , Daukste Janina , Kivleniece Inese , Krama Tatjana , Rantala Markus J.
Published: October 2012

Immune defenses of insects show either broad reactions or specificity and durability of induced protection against attacking parasites and pathogens. In this study, we tested whether encapsulation response against nylon monofilament increases between two attempts of activation of immune system in mealworm beetles Tenebrio molitor, and whether previous exposure to nylon monofilament may also increase protection against an entomopathogenic fungus. We found that survival of beetles subjected to immune activation by nylon implant and subsequent fungal exposure a week later was significantly higher than survival of beetles which had been subjected to fungal infection only. This result suggests that previous immune activation by the nylon implant may be considered as broad spectrum “immune priming” which helps to fight not only the same intruder but also other parasites.
Winter pairs of ruddy shelducks at Lashihai Lake, southwest China
Authors: QUAN Ruichang , CUI Liangwei
Published: October 2012

It has been suggested that pairing behavior during winter in migratory ducks represents a trade‐off between costs (defense of the female) and benefits (early access to females). To investigate the benefits and costs for both sexes in wintering pairs of ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), we compared time budgets for paired males and females, and surveyed the sex ratio of the birds wintering at Lashihai Lake, southwest China. The behavior of the paired ruddy shelducks was monitored for 5 activity types: feeding, resting (including sleeping), preening, drinking and warning. Feeding was the most dominant activity. The feeding time of both sexes increased as the winter season progressed. However, the paired females always spent significantly more time feeding and less time warning than the paired males. Paired ruddy shelducks had access to better feeding grounds than unpaired individuals, resulting in a food benefit for paired individuals over single individuals. Because the sex ratio of the wintering population was strongly male biased (M:F = 1.44:1.00), the paired male also gained the benefit of accessing a female in advance of the breeding season.
Fertility control of Rattus nitidus using quinestrol: effects on reproductive organs and social behavior
Authors: LIU Quansheng , QIN Jiao , CHEN Qin , WANG Deng , SHI Dazhao
Published: October 2012

Fertility control has been identified by studies in the laboratory and the field as a more appropriate and long‐term control strategy for rodent pests than lethal control. In this study, we investigated the effects of quinestrol on mass of reproductive organs and on social behaviors in female and male Himalayan field rats (Rattus nitidus). A total of 16 adult females and 16 adult males were randomly assigned to 4 groups. One male and one female group were fed rice with 0.005% quinestrol by weight for 7 days, and another 2 groups were fed rice only. After 7 days, rats were assigned to 10 min dyadic encounters between groups, and investigation, aggression, defense and attack latency were quantified. All animals were killed on day 10, and reproductive organs were dissected and weighed. Dyadic encounter data showed that there were obvious changes in social behaviors of quinestrol‐treated rats. Quinestrol significantly inhibited the investigative behavior of quinestrol‐treated males toward control females in Rattus nitidus, but seldom affected investigation between control males and quinestrol‐treated females. Aggression of control females toward quinestrol‐treated males was higher than that of quinestrol‐treated females, and defense of quinestrol‐treated males toward control females was more remarkable than that of control males. Quinestrol remarkably decreased wet masses of epididymis and spermotophore in males and ovaries in females, but had no effect on wet masses of testes and uteri after quinestrol treatment. These results indicate that the anti‐fertility effects of quinestrol on R. nitidus are attributed to not only suppressing reproductive organs but also impacting social behaviors associated with territory defense and mate choice.
Molecular characterization of glutaredoxin 2 from Ostrinia furnacalis
Authors: AN Shiheng , ZHANG Ying , WANG Tiantian , LUO Meihao , LI Chaohai
Published: October 2012

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) play very important roles in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis. In the present study, the full‐length cDNA sequence encoding GRX2, named OfurGRX2 (GenBank accession no. GU393246), was obtained from Ostrinia furnacalis, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame of OfurGRX2 consists of 351 nucleotides encoding 116 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 12.6 kDa. Homolog research revealed that OfurGRX2 shares a common active site, CPYC/CPFC, with other insect counterparts. Expression profiles revealed that OfurGRX2 is a ubiquitous gene expressed in insect heads, fat bodies, epidermises, mid guts and muscles. The OfurGRX2 transcript peaked in 36‐h larvae of 4th instars, and then suddenly declined in the molting stage. Hormone treatment experiments revealed that 20‐hydroxyecodyson (20e) significantly induces the expression of the OfurGRX2 transcript, whereas juvenile hormone (JH) counteracts 20e effects. Adverse stress factors (including starvation, ultraviolet light, mechanical injury, Escherichia coli exposure, and high and low temperatures) dramatically induced OfurGRXGRX2 transcript expression, which confirmed for the first time that GRX2 play important roles in insecta during exposure to adverse environments.
Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) from Grenada, West Indies, and their Antimicrobial Susceptibility
Authors: Drake M. , Amadi V. , Zieger U. , Johnson R. , Hariharan H.
Published: October 2012

Cloacal swabs and caecal contents sampled from 58 cane toads (Bufo marinus) in St George’s parish, Grenada, during a 7‐month period in 2011 were examined by an enrichment and selective culture method for presence of Salmonella spp. Twenty‐four (41%) toads were positive for Salmonella spp. of which eight were Salmonella enterica serovar Javiana, and eight were S. enterica serovar Rubislaw. The other serovars were as follows: Montevideo, 6; Arechavaleta, 1; and serovar: IV:43:‐:‐, 1. The high frequency of isolation of serovar Javiana, an emerging human pathogen associated with several outbreaks in the recent years in the eastern United States, suggests a possible role for cane toads in transmission of this serovar. Although S. Rubislaw has been isolated from lizards, bats and cases of some human infections, there is no report of its carriage by cane toads, and in such high frequency. The rate of carriage of S. Montevideo, a cause for human foodborne outbreaks around the world was also over 10% in the 58 toads sampled in this study. The antimicrobial drug susceptibility tests against amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid, ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole showed that drug resistance is minimal and is of little concern. Antimicrobial resistance was limited to ampicillin and amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid in one isolate of S. Javiana and one isolate of S. Rubislaw. This is the first report of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibilities of various Salmonella serovars not identified previously in cane toads in Grenada, West Indies.
Integrated Outlet Guide Vane Design for an Aggressive S-Shaped Compressor Transition Duct
Authors: Walker A. D. , Barker A. G. , Carrotte J. F. , Bolger J. J. , Green M. J.
Published: October 2012

Within gas turbines the ability to design shorter aggressive S-shaped ducts is advantageous from a performance and weight saving perspective. However, current design philosophies tend to treat the S-shaped duct as an isolated component, neglecting the potential advantages of integrating the design with the upstream or downstream components. In this paper, such a design concept is numerically developed in which the upstream compressor outlet guide vanes are incorporated into the first bend of the S-shaped duct. Positioning the vane row within the first bend imparts a strong radial gradient to the pressure field within the vane passage. Tangential lean and axial sweep are employed such that the vane geometry is modified to exactly match the resulting inclined static pressure field. The integrated design is experimentally assessed and compared to a conventional nonintegrated design on a fully annular low speed test facility incorporating a single stage axial compressor. Several traverse planes are used to gather five-hole probe data which allow the flow structure to be examined through the rotor, outlet guide vane and within the transition ducts. The two designs employ almost identical duct geometry, but integration of the vane row reduces the system length by 21%. Due to successful matching of the static pressure field, the upstream influence of the integrated vane row is minimal and the rotor performance is unchanged. Similarly, the flow development within both S-shaped ducts is similar such that the circumferentially averaged profiles at duct exit are almost identical, and the operation of a downstream component would be unaffected. Overall system loss remains nominally unchanged despite the inclusion of lean and sweep and a reduction in system length. Finally, the numerical design predictions show good agreement with the experimental data thereby successfully validating the design process.
Effect of Tip Clearance on the Prediction of Nonsynchronous Vibrations in Axial Compressors
Authors: Drolet Martin , Vo Huu Duc , Mureithi Njuki W.
Published: October 2012

This work investigates the effect of tip clearance size and operating temperature on the predictions of the critical rotor speed at which nonsynchronous vibrations (NSV) can be encountered in a turbine engine axial flow compressor. It has been proposed that the tangential tip clearance flow, observed at high blade loading near stall, can act as an impinging resonant jet on the upcoming blades and could be the underlying physics behind NSV. A model, in the form of an equation to predict the critical blade tip speed at which NSV can occur, was proposed based on the Jet-Core Feedback Theory and was experimentally verified by Thomassin et al. (2008, “Experimental Demonstration to the Tip Clearance Flow Resonance Behind Compressor NSV,” Proceedings of GT2008: ASME Turbo Expo Power for Land, Sea and Air, Berlin, Germany, Jun. 9–13, Paper No. GT2008-50303). In the equation, a factor k that was called the “tip instability convection coefficient” was measured experimentally and found to be influenced by the tip clearance size and operating temperature. This factor has a significant impact on the accuracy of the NSV predictions obtained using the proposed model. This paper propose a numerical experiment to determine the effect of tip clearance size and temperature on k, in order to improve the critical NSV tip speed predictions using the proposed model. A review of the NSV model is presented along with the relevant background theory on the subject. Two different blade geometries are simulated to provide a generic approach to the study. The leakage flow velocity is calculated to estimate k and a correlation is proposed to model the behavior of the k parameter as a function of the tip clearance size. The latter was found to significantly improve the critical NSV speed predictions. The effect of operating temperature on k is also discussed. Finally, the variation of k with the aerodynamic loading is assessed and compared with available data in the literature to strengthen the generic nature of the results.
Experimental/Numerical Crossover Jet Impingement in an Airfoil Leading-Edge Cooling Channel
Authors: Elebiary K. , Taslim M. E.
Published: October 2012

Technological advancement in the gas turbine field demands high temperature gases impacting on the turbine airfoils in order to increase the output power as well as thermal efficiency. The leading edge is one of the most critical and life limiting sections of the airfoil which requires intricate cooling schemes to maintain a robust design. In order to maintain coherence with a typical external aerodynamic blade profile, cooling processes usually take place in geometrically-complex internal paths where analytical approaches may not provide a proper solution. In this study, experimental and numerical models simulating the leading-edge and its adjacent cavity were created. Cooling flow entered the leading-edge cavity through the crossover ports on the partition wall between the two cavities and impinged on the internal surface of the leading edge. Three flow arrangements were tested: (1) and (2) being flow entering from one side (root or tip) of the adjacent cavity and emerging from either the same side or the opposite side of the leading-edge cavity, and (3) flow entering from one side of the adjacent cavity and emerging from both sides of the leading-edge cavity. These flow arrangements were tested for five crossover-hole settings with a focus on studying the heat transfer rate dependency on the axial flow produced by upstream crossover holes (spent air). Numerical results were obtained from a three-dimensional unstructured computational fluid dynamics model with 1.1 × 106 hexahedral elements. For turbulence modeling, the realizable k-ε was employed in combination with the enhanced wall treatment approach for the near wall regions. Other available RANS turbulence models with similar computational cost did not produce any results in better agreement with the measured data. Nusselt numbers on the nose area and the pressure/suction sides are reported for jet Reynolds numbers ranging from 8000 to 55,000 and a constant crossover hole to the leading-edge nose distance ratio, Z/Dh, of 2.81. Comparisons with experimental results were made in order to validate the employed turbulence model and the numerically-obtained results. Results show a significant dependency of Nusselt number on the axial flow introduced by upstream jets as it drastically diminishes the impingement effects on the leading-edge channel walls. Flow arrangement has immense effects on the heat transfer results. Discrepancies between the experimental and numerical results averaged between +0.3% and −24.5%; however, correlation between the two can be clearly observed.
Aerothermal Performance of a Cooled Winglet at Engine Representative Mach and Reynolds Numbers
Authors: O’Dowd D. O. , Zhang Q. , He L. , Cheong B. C. Y. , Tibbott I.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the aerothermal performance of a cooled winglet tip under transonic conditions (exit Mach number of 1.0, and an exit Reynolds number of 1.27 × 106, based on axial chord). Spatially resolved heat transfer data and film cooling effectiveness data are obtained using the transient infrared thermography technique in the Oxford High-Speed Linear Cascade test facility. Aerodynamic loss data are obtained by traversing a specially made and calibrated three-hole pressure probe and a single-hole probe one axial chord downstream of the blade. Detailed contours of Nusselt number show that for an increase in tip clearance, with and without film cooling, and for coolant injection, for both tip clearances, the Nusselt number increases. Also the smaller tip clearance observes higher film cooling effectiveness overall. Detailed distributions of kinetic energy losses as well as pitch-wise averaged loss coefficients and loss coefficients at a mixed-out plane indicate that the size of the loss core associated with the over-tip leakage vortex decreases with cooling injection.
The Whole Annulus Computations of Particulate Flow and Erosion in an Axial Fan
Authors: Yang Hong , Boulanger Joan
Published: October 2012

Gas turbine engines operating in a hostile environment, polluted with sand or dust particles, are susceptible to erosion damage, mostly at the front axial fans and compressors. Accurately predicting the erosion pattern and rate due to sand ingestion is one of the major challenges faced by the transportation and power industries. Maintenance costs are scrutinized and intensive research efforts are currently deployed in predictive life assessment tools to minimize the overhaul down time. The conventional prediction methods were usually based on steady-state simulations of gas-phase flows through a single blade passage per blade row to reduce the computational cost. However, the multistage turbomachinery flows are intrinsically subject to unsteadiness, especially due to stator-rotor interactions, which may affect sand particle trajectories even if a one-way coupling method is considered. Furthermore, an unsteady stator-rotor interaction requires a whole-annulus model at great computational cost to avoid simplifications of the geometries or flow physics. To study the effects of the stator-rotor interaction on sand particle trajectories and erosion, an axial fan with inlet guide vanes is investigated, based on the whole annulus computations of both steady and unsteady gas-phase flows, each of which is then followed by a Lagrangian particle tracking step. A numerical algorithm for tracking particles driven by the unsteady gas-phase flow is presented. The comparison of the numerical predictions with the experimental data confirms the validity and necessity of the unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model in providing adequate predictions of sand erosion in the axial fan.
Comparison Between the Steady Performance of Double-Entry and Twin-Entry Turbocharger Turbines
Authors: Romagnoli Alessandro , Copeland Colin D. , Martinez-Botas Ricardo , Seiler Martin , Rajoo Srithar , Costall Aaron
Published: October 2012

Most boosting systems in internal combustion engines utilize “pulse turbocharging” to maximize the energy extraction by the turbine. An internal combustion engine with more than four cylinders has a significant overlap between the exhaust pulses which, unless isolated, can decrease the overall pulse energy and increase the engine pumping loss. Thus, it is advantageous to isolate a set of cylinders and introduce the exhaust gases into two or more turbine entries separately. There are two main types of multiple entry turbines depending on the method of flow division: the twin-entry and the double-entry turbine. In the twin-entry design, each inlet feeds the entire circumference of the rotor leading edge regardless of inlet conditions. In contrast, the double-entry design introduces the flow from each gas inlet into the rotor leading edge through two distinct sectors of the nozzle. This paper compares the performance of a twin and double-entry mixed flow turbine. The turbines were tested at Imperial College for a range of steady-state flow conditions under equal and unequal admission conditions. The performance of the turbines was then evaluated and compared to one another. Based on experimental data, a method to calculate the mass flow under unequal admission from the full admission maps was also developed and validated against the test results.
Film Cooling on Highly Loaded Blades With Main Flow Separation—Part I: Heat Transfer
Authors: Gomes Reinaldo A. , Niehuis Reinhard
Published: October 2012

Film cooling experiments were run at the high speed cascade wind tunnel of the University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich. The investigations were carried out with a linear cascade of highly loaded turbine blades. The main objectives of the tests were to assess the film cooling effectiveness and the heat transfer in zones with main flow separation. Therefore, the blades were designed to force the flow to detach on the pressure side shortly downstream of the leading edge and reattach at about half of the axial chord. In this zone, film cooling rows are placed among others for a reduction of the size of the separation bubble. The analyzed region on the blade is critical due to the high heat transfer present at the leading edge and at the reattachment line after the main flow separation. Film cooling can contribute to a reduction of the size of the separation bubble reducing aerodynamic losses, however, in general, it increases heat transfer due to turbulent mixing. The reduction of the size of the separation bubble might also be twofold, since it acts like a thermal insulator on the blade and reducing the size of the bubble might lead to a stronger heating of the blade. Film cooling should, therefore, take both into account: first, a proper protection of the surface and second, reducing aerodynamic losses, diminishing the extension of the main flow separation. While experimental results of the adiabatic film cooling effectiveness were shown in previous publications, the local heat transfer is analyzed in this paper. Emphasis is also placed upon analyzing, in detail, the flow separation process. Furthermore, the tests comprise the analysis of the effect of different outlet Mach and Reynolds numbers and film cooling. In part two of this paper, the overall film cooling effectiveness is addressed. Local heat transfer is still difficult to predict with modern numerical tools and this is especially true for complex flows with flow separation. Some numerical results with the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) show the capability of a commercial solver in predicting the heat transfer.
Temporal resolution analysis in frequency domain linear prediction
Authors: Ganapathy Sriram , Hermansky Hynek
Published: October 2012

Frequency domain linear prediction (FDLP) is a technique for auto-regressive modeling of Hilbert envelopes. In this letter, the resolution properties of the FDLP model are investigated using synthetic signals with impulses immersed in noise. The effect of various factors are studied which affect the temporal resolution and this analysis suggests ways to improve the resolution of the FDLP envelopes in noisy speech. The high resolution FDLP envelopes are used to derive robust features for phoneme recognition in noisy and reverberant speech. In these experiments, the FDLP features derived from high resolution envelopes provide significant improvements.
Emerging Economies, Enduring Partnerships
Authors: Onaral Banu
Published: October 2012

Mutually beneficial innovation alliances are built on belief in a joint mission and a shared vision for the future.
Computational Medicine: Translating Models to Clinical Care
Authors: Winslow Raimond L. , Trayanova Natalia , Geman Donald , Miller Michael I.
Published: October 2012

Computational medicine develops models that describe molecular networks, physiology, and anatomy in disease to improve personalized therapies.
My Thymus: Still Here When I Need You the Most
Authors: Obhrai Jagdeep S.
Published: October 2012

The thymus gets smaller during infection but still does its job.
Fungal Pathogens: Getting to “C-u”
Authors: Shrout Joshua D.
Published: October 2012

Virulence of the fungal pathogen
Cryptococcus neoformans
requires a specific copper uptake pathway.
“Playing Nice”: Transcription Factors in T
H
17 Cells
Authors: Zeki Amir A.
Published: October 2012

Computational and experimental analyses help us understand the T
H
17 cell transcriptional regulatory network.
NdgR, a Common Transcriptional Activator for Methionine and Leucine Biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Kim Songhee H. , Lee Bo-Rahm , Kim Ji-Nu , Kim Byung-Gee
Published: October 2012

We show here that NdgR, a known transcriptional activator of isopropylmalate dehydratase in actinomycetes, may have other targets in the cell. An in-frame deletion mutant of
ndgR
showed unexpectedly poor growth in defined minimal medium even in the presence of leucine. To our surprise, it was supplementation of cysteine and methionine that corrected the growth. Based on this, we propose that NdgR induces cysteine-methionine biosynthesis. Direct involvement of NdgR in the very last steps of methionine synthesis with methionine synthase (
metH
) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (
metF
) was examined. From a pulldown assay, it was seen that NdgR was enriched from crude cell lysates with a strong affinity to
metH
and
metF
upstream sequences. Direct physical interaction of NdgR with these targets was further examined with a gel mobility shift assay.
ndgR
,
leuC
,
metH
, and
metF
were inducible in M145 cells upon nutrient downshift from rich to minimal medium but were not induced in the
ndgR
knockout mutant. Taking these observations together, NdgR-dependent
metH-metF
expression would account for the abnormal growth phenotype of the
ndgR
mutant although there may be additional NdgR-dependent genes in the Cys-Met metabolic pathways. As the first transcriptional factor reported for regulating Cys-Met metabolism in
Streptomyces
, NdgR links two disparate amino acid families, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and sulfur amino acids, at the transcriptional level. Considering that Cys-Met metabolism is connected to mycothiol and one-carbon metabolism, NdgR may have broad physiological impacts.