bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semantic Challenges to Normative Realism
Authors: McPherson Tristram
Published: January 2013

Normative realists might be assumed to have few worries about semantics. After all, a realist might initially hope to simply adopt the best semantic theory about ordinary descriptive language. However, beginning with the non‐cognitivist appropriation of the open question argument, a number of philosophers have posed serious objections to the realist’s ability to offer a plausible semantic theory. This paper introduces the two most influential semantic challenges to normative realism: the open question argument, and the Moral Twin Earth argument. It explains the major replies to these challenges offered by realists, and locates these challenges within the broader debate over what sort of semantic theories might be plausible candidates for a normative realist to adopt.
Whither Integrity II: Integrity and Impartial Morality
Authors: Scherkoske Greg
Published: January 2013

The idea that impartial moral theories – consequentialism and Kantian ethics in particular – were objectionably hostile to a person’s integrity was famously championed by Bernard Williams nearly 40 years ago. That Williams’‘integrity objection’ has significantly shaped subsequent moral theorizing is widely acknowledged. It is less widely appreciated how this objection has helped shape recent thinking about the nature and value of integrity itself. This paper offers a critical survey of main lines of response to this objection.
Characterization of histidine‐aspartate kinase HK1 and identification of histidine phosphotransfer proteins as potential partners in a Populus multistep phosphorelay
Authors: Héricourt François , Chefdor Françoise , Bertheau Lucie , Tanigawa Mirai , Maeda Tatsuya , Guirimand Grégory , Courdavault Vincent , Larcher Mélanie , Depierreux Christiane , Bénédetti Hélène , Morabito Domenico , Brignolas Franck , Carpin Sabine
Published: January 2013

In poplar, we identified proteins homologous to yeast proteins involved in osmosensing multistep phosphorelay Sln1p‐Ypd1p‐Ssk1p. This finding led us to speculate that Populus cells could sense osmotic stress by a similar mechanism. This study focuses on first and second protagonists of this possible pathway: a histidine‐aspartate kinase (HK1), putative osmosensor and histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPt1 to 10), potential partners of this HK. Characterization of HK1 showed its ability to homodimerize in two‐hybrid tests and to act as an osmosensor with a kinase activity in yeast, by functional complementation of sln1Δ sho1Δ strain. Moreover, in plant cells, plasma membrane localization of HK1 is shown. Further analysis on HPts allowed us to isolate seven new cDNAs, leading to a total of 10 different HPts identified in poplar. Interaction tests showed that almost all HPts can interact with HK1, but two of them exhibit stronger interactions, suggesting a preferential partnership in poplar. The importance of the phosphorylation status in these interactions has been investigated with two‐hybrid tests carried out with mutated HK1 forms. Finally, in planta co‐expression analysis of genes encoding these potential partners revealed that only three HPts are co‐expressed with HK1 in different poplar organs. This result reinforces the hypothesis of a partnership between HK1 and these three preferential HPts in planta. Taken together, these results shed some light on proteins partnerships that could be involved in the osmosensing pathway in Populus.
Antimicrobial Resistance in Some Gram‐Negative Bacteria Isolated from the Bovine Ejaculate
Authors: Kilburn C , Rooks DJ , McCarthy AJ , Murray RD
Published: January 2013

Contents

The bacterial load and degree of antibiotic resistance present in untreated and antibiotic‐treated semen samples were investigated in five bulls standing at a cattle‐breeding centre. Bacterial load was determined by colony counts from semen samples cultured on brain heart infusion and nutrient agar plates. Antibiotic resistance in these bacteria was assessed by measuring the diameter of bacterial growth inhibition zones around discs containing different concentrations of antibiotics. Representative antibiotic‐resistant bacterial isolates were selected for identification. Untreated semen contained few culturable bacteria, and all were completely sensitive to gentamycin, spectinomycin and lincomycin: six of the isolates showed some resistance to tylosin. In semen to which antibiotics had been added as part of the routine production process, two isolates were sensitive to all of the antibiotics tested, and the remainder were resistant to all. Resistant Gram‐negative isolates that were identified included Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas spp. both in the class Gammaproteobacteria and a Sphingomonas sp. which is in the class Alphaproteobacteria.
Systems approach to tuberculosis vaccine development
Authors: Wang Charles C. , Zhu Bingdong , Fan Xionglin , Gicquel Brigitte , Zhang Ying
Published: January 2013

Tuberculosis is both highly prevalent across the world and eludes our attempts to control it. The current bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine has unreliable protection against adult pulmonary tuberculosis. As a result, tuberculosis vaccine development has been an ongoing area of research for several decades. Only recently have research efforts resulted in the development of several vaccine candidates that are further along in clinical trials. The majority of the barriers surrounding tuberculosis vaccine development are related to the lack of defined biomarkers for tuberculosis protective immunity and the lack of understanding of the complex interactions between the host and pathogen in the human immune system. As a result, testing various antigens discovered through molecular biology techniques have been only with surrogates of protection and do not accurately predict protective immunity. This review will address new discoveries in latency antigens and new next‐generation candidate vaccines that promise the possibility of sterile eradication. Also discussed are the potentially important roles of systems biology and vaccinomics in shortening development of an efficacious tuberculosis vaccine through utilization of high‐throughput technology, computer modelling and integrative approaches.
AGGLOMERATION AND SUB‐REGIONAL DISPARITIES UNDER DECENTRALIZATION: EVIDENCE OF SPATIAL CLUSTERING OF LAND VALUES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Authors: Capuno Joseph J.
Published: January 2013

Like other developing countries, the Philippines aims for balanced spatial development. This paper investigates the pattern of sub‐regional disparities by applying the global Moran I and local Moran Ii test statistics on land values data for 1986–2000. Overall, both provincial and city land values diverge spatially. Local clustering of land values is found only within and around Metro Manila. While the results suggest persistent agglomeration economies during the decentralization period, partly because of bias in the fiscal transfer system, they also indicate that other government policies were effective in promoting land values immediately outside Metro Manila.
Laggards or Leaders: Conservers of Traditional Agricultural Knowledge in Bolivia
Authors: Gilles Jere L. , Thomas Justin L. , Valdivia Corinne , Yucra Edwin S.
Published: January 2013

Many sustainable agricultural practices are based on local and traditional farming knowledge. This article examines the conservation and loss of three traditional practices in the Bolivian Altiplano that agronomic research has shown increase the resiliency of small farmers in the face of climate‐related risks. These practices are the use of manure, the use of local forecasts and risk‐management strategies, and the preservation of crop biodiversity. Although these practices are widely used today, farmers have been steadily abandoning them during the past decade. This article examines the characteristics of those who maintain and those who abandon traditional practices to see if the abandonment of local knowledge can be explained by the adoption‐diffusion literature. This research does not support the adoption‐diffusion literature; although the factors related to conservation are slightly different for each practice, the findings do not support the idea that young, educated, and wealthier farmers are more likely to reject local knowledge. Instead, off‐farm activities such as migration, employment, and trade seem to be related to the decline in local practices as each affects the availability of labor and the availability of people to learn these practices.
Estimating EQ-5D Weights from other Trial Outcome Measures for Use in Cost-Effectiveness Studies: An Example in Patients with Frozen Shoulder
Authors: Neilson Aileen R. , Craig Dawn , Richardson Gerry , Chuang Ling-Hsiang , McDaid Catriona
Published: January 2013

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) weights, such as EQ-5D, needed for conducting economic evaluations in frozen shoulder populations are currently lacking. The present study examines the feasibility of using mapping methodology to estimate HRQoL, obtain quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis to help inform decision-making.

Methods

Patient-level data from a randomized trial in a similar population were used to undertake a mapping exercise evaluating a variety of regression modelling techniques. The Short-Form-36 component summary scores and pain visual analogue scale scores were mapped to EQ-5D. The best fit model was selected and the predicted weights were used for estimating QALYs and cost-effectiveness results.

Results

The selected model explained 41% ( R2) of the variation in EQ-5D weights and the estimates for interventions ranged from 0.5025 to 0.6619 at baseline and from 0.6903 to 0.7600 at 3 months. The QALYs (gained) ranged from 0.1518 to 0.1715 and the estimates of cost-effectiveness were up to £400 per QALY for steroid injection compared to physical therapy with steroid injection.

Discussion

Few studies in frozen shoulder populations include HRQoL weights. We have shown that mapping can potentially take advantage of datasets in similar populations and estimate HRQoL outcomes and subsequently cost-effectiveness. The results may be uncertain but can be helpful in informing the discussion around cost-effectiveness and future areas of research.
Motives for physical activity among active and inactive persons in their mid‐30s
Authors: Aaltonen S. , Rottensteiner M. , Kaprio J. , Kujala U. M.
Published: January 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the motives for leisure‐time physical activity among active and inactive men and women in their mid‐30s. We used both cross‐sectional and longitudinal designs. Altogether, 2308 participants (mean age 33.9 years, 53.4% women) were identified from the population‐based FinnTwin16 Cohort. Physically active and inactive individuals were identified on the basis of their leisure‐time MET h/day. We evaluated participants' physical activity motivation with a modified version of the Recreational Exercise Motivation Measure. Comparisons between active and inactive individuals were analysed using the Wald test for equality of means, and effect sizes were calculated as Cohen's d. Motives related to mastery, physical fitness, social aspect of physical activity, psychological state, enjoyment, willingness to be fitter/look better than others, and appearance were significantly more important for the active than inactive participants. Conforming to others' expectations was the only item on which the inactive persons scored higher than active persons. The longitudinal results for physical activity were parallel to the cross‐sectional results. This study supports the view that motivation factors differ between active and inactive persons, and that intrinsic motives are associated with consistent leisure‐time physical activity.
Graduate Migration and Regional Familiarity
Authors: Venhorst Viktor A.
Published: January 2013

This paper provides insights into the spatial mobility patterns of young graduates in the Netherlands. Both home‐to‐HEI (higher education institution) as well as HEI‐to‐work mobility results in net flows towards the central economic region of the Netherlands. However, many graduates move within the larger central and peripheral regions and these flows are focused on cities. There is a strong regional component to graduate mobility as origins and destinations tend to be relatively close to the chosen HEI. Flows seem to be influenced by regional familiarity, with relatively many graduates moving back to familiar home regions. Often, a city's young graduate labour force and graduate residents have studied at a local HEI. Cities close to the economic core areas benefit from outflows of graduates from the largest employment centres.
Brain imaging in normal kids: a community‐based MRI study in Malawian children
Authors: Potchen M. J. , Kampondeni S. D. , Mallewa M. , Taylor T. E. , Birbeck G. L.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To collect normative MRI data for effective clinical and research applications. Such data may also offer insights into common neurological insults.

Methods

We identified a representative, community‐based sample of children aged 9–14 years. Children were screened for neurodevelopmental problems. Demographic data, medical history and environmental exposures were ascertained. Eligible children underwent the Neurologic Examination for Subtle Signs (NESS) and a brain MRI. Descriptive findings and analyses to identify risk factors for MRI abnormalities are detailed.

Results

One hundred and two of 170 households screened had age‐appropriate children. Two of 102 children had neurological problems – one each with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Ninety‐six of 100 eligible children were enrolled. Mean age was 11.9 years (SD 1.5), and 43 (45%) were boys. No acute MRI abnormalities were seen. NESS abnormalities were identified in 6 of 96 children (6%). Radiographic evidence of sinusitis in 29 children (30%) was the most common MRI finding. Brain abnormalities were found in 16 (23%): mild diffuse atrophy in 4 (4%), periventricular white matter changes/gliosis in 6 (6%), multifocal punctuate subcortical white matter changes in 2 (2%), vermian atrophy in 1 (1%), empty sella in 3 (3%) and multifocal granulomas with surrounding gliosis in 1 (1%). Having an abnormal MRI was not associated with age, sex, antenatal problems, early malnutrition, febrile seizures, an abnormal neurological examination or housing quality (all P values >0.05). No predictors of radiographic sinusitis were identified.

Conclusion

Incidental brain MRI abnormalities are common in normal Malawian children. The incidental atrophy and white matter abnormalities seen in this African population have not been reported among incidental findings from US populations, suggesting Malawi‐specific exposures may be the cause.
Prediction of the Temperature-Dependent Thermal Conductivity and Shear Viscosity for Rigid Water Models
Authors: Mao Yijin , Zhang Yuwen
Published: January 2013

The temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and shear viscosity of liquid water between 283 and 363 K are evaluated for eight rigid models with reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (RNEMD). In comparison with experimental data, five-site models (TIP5P and TIP5P-Ew) have apparent advantages in estimating thermal conductivities than other rigid water models that overestimate the value by tens of percent. For shear viscosity, no single model can reproduce all experimental data; instead, five- and four-site models show their own strength in a certain temperature range. Meanwhile, all of the current rigid models obtain lower values than experimental data when temperature is lower than 298 K, while the TIP5P and TIP5P-Ew models can relatively accurately predict the values over others at a temperature range from 298 to 318 K. At a higher temperature range shear viscosity of liquid water can be reproduced with a four-site model (TIP4P-2005, TIP4P-Ew) fairly well.
Solar Energy Harvesting Using Nanofluids-Based Concentrating Solar Collector
Authors: Khullar Vikrant , Tyagi Himanshu , Phelan Patrick E. , Otanicar Todd P. , Singh Harjit , Taylor Robert A.
Published: January 2013

Dispersing trace amounts of nanoparticles into common base-fluids has a significant impact on the optical as well as thermophysical properties of the base-fluid. This characteristic can be utilized to effectively capture and transport solar radiation. Enhancement of the solar irradiance absorption capacity leads to a higher heat transfer rate resulting in more efficient heat transfer. This paper attempts to introduce the idea of harvesting solar radiant energy through usage of nanofluid-based concentrating parabolic solar collectors (NCPSC). In order to theoretically analyze the NCPSC, it has been mathematically modeled, and the governing equations have been numerically solved using finite difference technique. The results of the model were compared with the experimental results of conventional concentrating parabolic solar collectors under similar conditions. It was observed that while maintaining the same external conditions (such as ambient/inlet temperatures, wind speed, solar insolation, flow rate, concentration ratio, etc.) the NCPSC has about 5–10% higher efficiency as compared to the conventional parabolic solar collector. Furthermore, parametric studies were carried out to discover the influence of various parameters on performance and efficiency. The following parameters were studied in the present study: solar insolation, incident angle, and the convective heat transfer coefficient. The theoretical results clearly indicate that the NCPSC has the potential to harness solar radiant energy more efficiently than a conventional parabolic trough.
Heat Transfer at Aluminum–Water Interfaces: Effect of Surface Roughness
Authors: Sam Huang H. , Varshney Vikas , Wohlwend Jennifer L. , Roy Ajit K.
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we studied the effect of microscopic surface roughness on heat transfer between aluminum and water by molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and macroscopic surface roughness on heat transfer between aluminum and water by finite element (FE) method. It was observed that as the microscopic scale surface roughness increases, the thermal boundary conductance increases. At the macroscopic scale, different degrees of surface roughness were studied by finite element method. The heat transfer was observed to enhance as the surface roughness increases. Based on the studies of thermal boundary conductance as a function of system size at the molecular level, a procedure was proposed to obtain the thermal boundary conductance at the mesoscopic scale. The thermal boundary resistance at the microscopic scale obtained by MD simulations and the thermal boundary resistance at the mesoscopic scale obtained by the extrapolation procedure can be included and implemented at the interfacial elements in the finite element method at the macroscopic scale. This provides us a useful model, in which different scales of surface roughness can be included, for heat transfer analysis.
Natural Convective Boundary-Layer Flow Over a Vertical Cylinder Embedded in a Porous Medium Saturated With a Nanofluid
Authors: Subba Reddy Gorla Rama , Khan Waqar
Published: January 2013

In this paper, a boundary layer analysis is presented for the natural convection past a vertical cylinder in a porous medium saturated with a nanofluid. Numerical results for friction factor, surface heat transfer rate, and mass transfer rate have been presented for parametric variations of the buoyancy ratio parameter Nr, Brownian motion parameter Nb, thermophoresis parameter Nt, and Lewis number Le. The dependency of the friction factor, surface heat transfer rate (Nusselt number), and mass transfer rate on these parameters has been discussed. The results indicate that as Nr, Nb, and Nt increase, the friction factor and heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) decrease. The mass transfer rate (Sherwood number) increases with Le, Nb, and Nt.
Stability of an Axial Thrust Self-Balancing System
Authors: Shimura Takashi , Kawasaki Satoshi , Uchiumi Masaharu , Kimura Toshiya , Hayashi Mitsuaki , Matsui Jun
Published: January 2013

Rocket pumps are characterized by high speed and high delivery pressure. Therefore, balancing of axial thrust acting on the rotor assembly is one of the most important factors. To realize complete axial thrust balancing, a balance piston-type axial-thrust self-balancing system is often used in rocket pumps. This axial thrust balance system acts dynamically as if it were a mass and spring system, although there is no mechanical spring. Sometimes, large amplitude axial vibration is observed in a liquid hydrogen turbopump. Too much vibration in the axial direction causes metal-to-metal rubbing, resulting in fatal accidents of rocket turbopumps. However, the cause of the vibration has not yet been clarified. In the present study, the self-balancing system was modeled by combining the mechanical structure and the fluid system in a calculation program of one-dimensional multidomain system analysis software. Stability of the system was investigated using this program and the possibility of existence of self-excited vibration was confirmed. Effects of geometry, fluids, viscous damping, radial pressure drop in the chamber, and orifice flow coefficients on the stability of the balance piston system were examined. As a result, it was concluded that large compressibility of liquid hydrogen was the cause of the large amplitude axial vibrations. With the results of analyses, methods to stabilize the system in order to suppress the axial vibration were suggested.
Performances and Flow Analysis in the Centrifugal Vortex Pump
Authors: Mihalić Tihomir , Guzović Zvonimir , Predin Andrej
Published: January 2013

Improvements to the characteristics of a centrifugal pump through the addition of a vortex rotor were investigated both experimentally and with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis. The idea behind that improvement is in creating so-called coherent structures of eddies and turbulence in the peripheral area of the vortex rotor mounted at the back side of centrifugal rotor. Research on the energy transformations in the centrifugal vortex pump in this work was carried out using numerical simulations of the flow in the centrifugal and the centrifugal vortex pump. Measurements of relevant parameters that describe the performance of pumps, at their physical models, were gained from experiments. The measurement results were used as experimental validation of numerical simulations. In contrast, flow visualization derived from the numerical simulation was used to interpret measurements. In deriving the experimental procedure, special care was taken with the flow measurements. The reason for this is in the fact that the flow measurements had the biggest influence on the overall measurement uncertainty. However, flow measurements were the most demanding with regards to the experiment design and in taking the measurement readings. This experimental-CFD research made it possible to undertake an assessment of vortex rotor contribution on the head of the centrifugal vortex pump. The influence of the vortex rotor on the efficiency of the centrifugal vortex pump was investigated by comparing it with the efficiency of the centrifugal pump with the same geometry. An analysis of the flow structure was conducted in order to better understand the energy transformations that are the result of the interaction between the flow from the channels of the centrifugal part of the centrifugal vortex rotor and vortices formed at the vortex part of the centrifugal vortex rotor as well as their interactions with the stator. It was shown that this additional energy significantly increases pump head while increasing pump stability. This synergetic work has demonstrated that while vortex rotor gives additional energy to the fluid particles, that did not enter stator due to the energy lack by changing their momentum; at the same time, some of the kinetic energy contained in the vortex rotor induced vortices is also added to those fluid particles.
Behavior and Quality Evaluation of Electroplastic Self-Piercing Riveting of Aluminum Alloy and Advanced High Strength Steel
Authors: Lou Ming , Li YongBing , Li YaTing , Chen GuanLong
Published: January 2013

The hybrid use of dissimilar lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloy and advanced high strength steel (AHSS), has become a critical approach to reduce the weight of ground transportation vehicles. Self-piercing riveting (SPR) as a preferred cold-forming fastening method is facing problems like weak interlocking and insufficient penetration, due to the reduced formability of AHSS. In this paper, a new process named electroplastic self-piercing riveting (EP-SPR) was proposed to reduce the deformation resistance of AHSS DP780, by applying a direct current (dc) to it during the riveting process. The influence of dc on force and displacement characteristics throughout the riveting process, joint physical attributes and quasi-static performances for two sheet combinations, e.g., AA6061-T6 to DP780 (combination 1) and DP780 to AA6061-T6 (combination 2), were studied and compared with the traditional SPR joints. The results showed that compared with the traditional SPR joints, the EP-SPR ones increased by 12.5% and 23.3% in tensile-shear strength and cross-tension strengths for combination 1, respectively. For combination 2, even though the EP-SPR joints decreased by 5.8% in tensile-shear strength, it could reduce the penetration risk of bottom AA6061-T6, and present a better energy absorption capability for the increased undercut amount. In addition, the corresponding cross-tension strength of EP-SPR joints still increases by 6.1%.
Fine Tuning Total Knee Replacement Contact Force Prediction Algorithms Using Blinded Model Validation
Authors: Lundberg Hannah J. , Knowlton Christopher , Wimmer Markus A.
Published: January 2013

The purpose of this study was to perform a blinded comparison of model predictions of total knee replacement contact forces to in vivo forces from an instrumented prosthesis during normal walking and medial thrust gait by participating in the “Third Grand Challenge Competition to Predict in vivo Knee Loads.” We also evaluated model assumptions that were critical for accurate force predictions. Medial, lateral, and total axial forces through the knee were calculated using a previously developed and validated parametric numerical model. The model uses equilibrium equations between internal and external moments and forces to obtain knee joint contact forces and calculates a range of forces at instances during the gait cycle through parametric variation of muscle activity levels. For 100 instances during a normal over-ground gait cycle, model root mean square differences from eTibia data were 292, 248, and 281 for medial, lateral, and total contact forces, respectively. For 100 instances during a medial thrust gait cycle, model root mean square differences from eTibia data were 332, 234, and 470 for medial, lateral, and total contact forces, respectively. The percent difference between measured and predicted peak total axial force was 2.89% at the first peak and 9.36% at the second peak contact force for normal walking and 3.94% at the first peak and 14.86% at the second peak contact force for medial thrust gait. After unblinding, changes to model assumptions improved medial and lateral force predictions for both gait styles but did not improve total force predictions. Axial forces computed with the model compared well to the eTibia data under blinded and unblinded conditions. Knowledge of detailed knee kinematics, namely anterior-posterior translation, appears to be critical in obtaining accurate force predictions.
Flexing Computational Muscle: Modeling and Simulation of Musculotendon Dynamics
Authors: Millard Matthew , Uchida Thomas , Seth Ajay , Delp Scott L.
Published: January 2013

Muscle-driven simulations of human and animal motion are widely used to complement physical experiments for studying movement dynamics. Musculotendon models are an essential component of muscle-driven simulations, yet neither the computational speed nor the biological accuracy of the simulated forces has been adequately evaluated. Here we compare the speed and accuracy of three musculotendon models: two with an elastic tendon (an equilibrium model and a damped equilibrium model) and one with a rigid tendon. Our simulation benchmarks demonstrate that the equilibrium and damped equilibrium models produce similar force profiles but have different computational speeds. At low activation, the damped equilibrium model is 29 times faster than the equilibrium model when using an explicit integrator and 3 times faster when using an implicit integrator; at high activation, the two models have similar simulation speeds. In the special case of simulating a muscle with a short tendon, the rigid-tendon model produces forces that match those generated by the elastic-tendon models, but simulates 2–54 times faster when an explicit integrator is used and 6–31 times faster when an implicit integrator is used. The equilibrium, damped equilibrium, and rigid-tendon models reproduce forces generated by maximally-activated biological muscle with mean absolute errors less than 8.9%, 8.9%, and 20.9% of the maximum isometric muscle force, respectively. When compared to forces generated by submaximally-activated biological muscle, the forces produced by the equilibrium, damped equilibrium, and rigid-tendon models have mean absolute errors less than 16.2%, 16.4%, and 18.5%, respectively. To encourage further development of musculotendon models, we provide implementations of each of these models in OpenSim version 3.1 and benchmark data online, enabling others to reproduce our results and test their models of musculotendon dynamics.
Articular Cartilage Wear Characterization With a Particle Sizing and Counting Analyzer
Authors: Oungoulian Sevan R. , Chang Stephany , Bortz Orian , Hehir Kristin E. , Zhu Kaicen , Willis Callen E. , Hung Clark T. , Ateshian Gerard A.
Published: January 2013

Quantitative measurements of cartilage wear have been challenging, with no method having yet emerged as a standard. This study tested the hypothesis that latest-generation particle analyzers are capable of detecting cartilage wear debris generated during in vitro loading experiments that last 24 h or less, by producing measurable content significantly above background noise levels otherwise undetectable through standard biochemical assays. Immature bovine cartilage disks (4 mm diameter, 1.3 mm thick) were tested against glass using reciprocal sliding under unconfined compression creep for 24 h. Control groups were used to assess various sources of contamination. Results demonstrated that cartilage samples subjected to frictional loading produced particulate volume significantly higher than background noise and contamination levels at all tested time points (1, 2, 6, and 24 h, p < 0.042). The particle counter was able to detect very small levels of wear (less than 0.02% of the tissue sample by volume), whereas no significant differences were observed in biochemical assays for collagen or glycosaminoglycans among any of the groups or time points. These findings confirm that latest-generation particle analyzers are capable of detecting very low wear levels in cartilage experiments conducted over a period no greater than 24 h.
Sex Differences in the Gut Microbiome Drive Hormone-Dependent Regulation of Autoimmunity
Authors: Markle Janet G. M. , Frank Daniel N. , Mortin-Toth Steven , Robertson Charles E. , Feazel Leah M. , Rolle-Kampczyk Ulrike , von Bergen Martin , McCoy Kathy D. , Macpherson Andrew J. , Danska Jayne S.
Published: January 2013

Mighty Male Microbes

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to an individual's susceptibility to autoimmune disease, but the specific environmental influences are not well characterized.

Markle
et al.

(p.
1084
, published online 17 January; see the Perspective by

Flak
et al.

) explored how microbial factors, in particular the gut microbiota, influence susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in mice. In the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes, female mice are significantly more susceptible to disease than males; however, this difference was not apparent under germ-free conditions. Transfer of cecal contents from male NOD mice to female NOD mice prior to disease onset protected against pancreatic islet inflammation, autoantibody production, and the development of diabetes and was associated with increased testosterone in female mice. Blocking androgen receptor activity abrogated protection. Thus, the microbiota may be able to regulate sex hormones and influence an individual's susceptibility to autoimmunity.
Anorexia nervosa and dialysis: we have no time when the body is so damaged!
Authors: Osório Eva , Milheiro Isabel , Brandão Isabel , Roma Torres António
Published: January 2013

Anorexia nervosa remains challenging to treat and difficult to prevent. Nearly 5% of affected individuals die of this disease and 20% develop a chronic eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa may be associated with several medical complications of varying severity, including dysfunction of the renal system. Though there are some reports of renal failure in patients with anorexia nervosa, few reports are available concerning patients who required maintenance dialysis. We report a case of a patient with long-term untreated anorexia nervosa-binge eating/purging type who started psychiatric treatment when in a life-threatening situation (renal failure requiring dialysis), with unsuccessful weight recovery while on dialysis and died of septicaemia. The mechanisms that seem to be involved in the development of end-stage renal disease in this patient and the challenges associated with her treatment are reviewed. Patients with anorexia nervosa should be carefully monitored to discover the subtle manifestations of early renal failure.
Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia due to moxifloxacin
Authors: Coker Timothy J
Published: January 2013

A 39-year-old woman with 1 day of oral petechiae, leg ecchymoses and epistaxis was found to have isolated thrombocytopenia. She had recently completed a 10-day course of moxifloxacin for an upper respiratory infection. On further questioning, she had developed thrombocytopenia 2 years earlier after a treatment course with moxifloxacin. After ruling out other causes, drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia due to moxifloxacin was diagnosed. Her platelets returned to normal range 15 days after finishing the medication.
Dilated cardiomyopathy and skeletal myopathy: presenting features of a laminopathy
Authors: Sims-Williams Hugh P , Nye Helen J , Walker Paul R
Published: January 2013

Mutations in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene cause significant disruption to skeletal and myocardial muscle, as well as nervous tissue. We describe a case illustrating varied manifestations of a LMNA mutation and the implications for diagnosis and management. We turn to several family studies that describe considerable phenotypic variation arising from LMNA mutations. The discussion focuses on educating the reader in recognition of potential presentations of LMNA mutations.
Neglected subtalar dislocation with unstable foot; to walk away or step our foot in?
Authors: Bajuri Mohd Yazid , Johan Rudy Reza , Bahari Syah Irwan
Published: January 2013

Chronic neglected subtalar dislocation associated with a non-union talar neck fracture is rare and never documented before. The lack of information from the literature on the optimal management prompted us to describe our experience in the management of this condition. We reported a case of a 57-year-old women presented with this injury. A satisfactory outcome was obtained using a tibio-talo-calcaneal arthrodesis through a plantar approach.
An unexpected diagnosis in a dyspnoeic patient with primary Sjogren syndrome
Authors: Rajani Ali Raza , Hussain Kosar , Baslaib Fahad Omar , Rao Kabad N S
Published: January 2013

We describe a case of a 50-year-old lady with newly diagnosed primary Sjogren syndrome who presented with severe pulmonary artery hypertension and pericardial effusion. She was managed by immunosuppressive agents and a combination of standard therapy for pulmonary hypertension. Our patient had a clinically significant involvement of cardio-pulmonary system that is atypical of this disease. Prompt recognition and management of this condition are extremely crucial as untreated cases carry a grave prognosis. However, the ideal treatment strategy is yet to be defined for this condition.
Primary abdominal muscle lymphoma
Authors: Matikas Alexios , Oikonomopoulou Dimitra , Tzannou Ifigeneia , Bakiri Maria
Published: January 2013

Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma accounts for <1% of all lymphomas; a fraction of these arise within the abdominal muscles. Here, we describe the case of an 84-year-old woman who presented with multiple painful abdominal masses that proved to be diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and we discuss the main features of the disease. Clinical differential diagnosis from soft tissue sarcoma can be extremely difficult. Therefore, accurate pathological diagnosis including optimal tissue processing and immunohistochemical staining is vital to ensuring proper treatment.
Neuroembolization of metastatic Merkel cell cancer to the face for treatment of Kasabach–Merritt syndrome
Authors: Lee Jason Huang , Roychowdhury Sudipta , Nissenblatt Michael J
Published: January 2013

Kasabach–Merritt syndrome is defined as a consumptive thrombocytopenia in the presence of a highly vascular tumor. Multiple treatment options, including transarterial embolization, have been described. We demonstrate that transarterial embolization is a viable option in the treatment of a rapidly progressive and debilitating Merkel cell tumor metastasizing to the head and neck presenting with Kasabach–Merritt syndrome.
Cancer cachexia: global awareness and guideline implementation on the web
Authors: Mauri Davide , Tsiara Anna , Valachis Antonis , Kalopita Konstantina , Tsali Lampriani , Tolis Panagiotis , Polyzos Nikolaos P
Published: January 2013

Background

Cancer cachexia is a common associate of cancer and has a negative impact on patients’ survival. Nonetheless, cancer cachexia assessment and management are frequently less than satisfactory in daily practice.

Aim

To scrutinise global cancer cachexia awareness and relative web guideline implementation among oncology societies.

Methods

Systematical identification of scientific and policymaker oncology societies and their guideline implementation on cancer cachexia. Assessment of the general level of awareness on cancer cachexia and evaluation of intercontinental and national variations on guideline implementation.

Results

144 000 web pages were scrutinised, and 275 oncology societies identified covering a large array of oncology setting (educational/clinical/research/policymaker); 71 were international (African, American, Asian, European, Oceania and Intercontinental), 110 belonged to the top 10 countries with the highest development index and 94 pertained to 10 countries with a long lasting tradition in medical oncology (not included in the top 10 high developed countries). Overall, only 10/275 web sites provided guidelines; six of them (2.2%) provided guidelines for physicians and four (0.7%) for patients. Half of the guidelines (4/10) were outdated. All guidelines for physicians reported references, while only one of the recommendations for patients reported references to support its sentences.

Conclusions

Cancer cachexia global awareness appears extremely low; guideline implementation on the web was inconsistent for any category analysed (nation vs continent vs international vs society type vs physician vs patient oriented) and for updating.
Theoretical studies of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycine, [EMIM][Gly], ionic liquid – water mixture — I. Prediction of the solvation and structural properties
Authors: Wu Yang , Zhang Li-Na , Li Jing-Rui , Zheng Xiao-Lin , Hong Mei
Published: January 2013

Gaussian-based HF/MP2 and DFT/B3LYP methods have been explored to study the microsolvation of glycine anion with water, [Gly]–(W)n, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycine ionic liquid (IL) with water, [EMIM][Gly](W)n, n = 1–6 and 12. The water molecules are either isolated or aggregated around [Gly]–and [EMIM][Gly]. Their electronic structures have been calculated clearly to verify the molecular state of H2O and the results were used to compare with experiments. The water effect on the interaction energies and local packing of [EMIM][Gly] is considered. We identified an important factor: the variation of [EMIM][Gly](W)npolarity with the different numbers of H2O. As the amount of H2O increases, the polar network is continuously broken up. The dipole moments are changed to be lowest when the H-bonding ability of [Gly]–is almost saturated. Meanwhile, the nonpolar groups of the cation form an enhanced aggregation. Such observation can provide initial insights for the experimental nanostructural evolution in the IL–water mixtures.
Effect of chemical bond parmeters on hardness, isomer shift, and dielectric constant of rare earth ferroborates
Authors: Chen Rongna , Gao Faming , Li Zhiping
Published: January 2013

The ionicity, average band gaps, and bond polarization of the rare earth iron ferroborates were calculated using the chemical bond dielectric theory of complex structural crystals. The environment factor defined by electron polarizabilities and covalency was employed to calculate Mössbauer isomer shift of the rare earth iron ferroborates. The calculated isomer shifts of EuFe3(BO3)4 and GdFe3(BO3)4 are in agreement with their experimental values. The hardnesses of rare earth iron ferroborates were predicted using Gao's model, which are also in agreement with the experimental values.
16O12C17O and 18O12C17O spectroscopy in the 1.2–1.25 μm region
Authors: Golebiowski D. , Herman M. , Lyulin O.
Published: January 2013

Near-infrared absorption spectra of a carbon dioxide sample enriched with oxygen-17 were recorded in the spectral range 1.2–1.25 μm. A high-resolution continuous scan Fourier transform interferometer fitted with a femto OPO/Idler laser source and cavity-enhanced absorption was used. The optimal root mean squared noise equivalent absorption was 1.2 × 10−10 cm−1Hz–1/2 per spectral element, corresponding to αmin = 10−8 cm−1. Two cold bands in 17O12C18O and one hot band in 16O12C17O were newly identified and rotationally analyzed. More lines than previously published (Lyulin et al. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 113, 2167 (2012)), were assigned in the observed bands of 12C17O2 and 16O12C17O. New upper state rotational constants were obtained from a band-by-band analysis.
The evolution of nutrition research
Authors: Isaak Cara K. , Siow Yaw L.
Published: January 2013

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but will rather cure and prevent disease with nutrition”. Thomas Edison's contemplation may come to fruition if the nutritional revolution continues in its current course. Two realizations have propelled the world into a new age of personalized nutrition: (i) food can provide benefits beyond its intrinsic nutrient content, and (ii) we are not all created equal in our ability to realize to these benefits. Nutrigenomics is concerned with delineating genomic propensities to respond to various nutritional stimuli and the resulting impact on individual health. This review will examine the current technologies utilized by nutrigeneticists, the available literature regarding nutrient-gene interactions, and the translation of this new awareness into public health.
The non-agoutimutation in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) selected for behavior
Authors: Gulevich R. , Oskina I. , Ilyina O. , Herbeck Yu. , Plyusnina I. , Trut L.
Published: January 2013

The frequency of aa homozygous descendants was studied in crosses of Aa heterozygous Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769)) parents selected for tame and aggressive behavior. First, Aa heterozygotes were obtained in crosses between tame homozygotes for the wild-type allele (AA) and aggressive homozygotes for the non-agouti allele (aa). The most tame and the most aggressive descendants were selected from the progeny of the Aa genotype by using the glove test. Then Aa rats were crossed among tame and among aggressive descendants, and the AA and Aa genotypes of grey descendants were identified by polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The segregation of descendants into the AA, Aa, and aa genotypes was cumulatively analyzed in five generations of selection with regard to the phenotypic manifestation of tame and aggressive behavior in their parents. The frequency of aa descendants in the progeny of mothers with low aggressive behavior scores was less than expected and less than in the progeny of mothers with high aggressive behavior scores.
DISTINGUISHABILITY OF NEUTRINO FLAVORS THROUGH THEIR DIFFERENT SHOWER CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: CHEN CHIH-CHING , CHEN PISIN , HU CHIA-YU , LAI K.-C.
Published: January 2013

We propose a new flavor identification method to distinguish mu and tau type ultra high energy cosmic neutrinos (UHECN). Energy loss of leptons in matter is an important information for the detection of neutrinos originated from high energy astrophysical sources. 50 years ago, Askaryan proposed to detect Cherenkov radiowave signals emitted from the negative charge excess of neutrino-induced particle shower. The theory of Cherenkov radiation under Fraunhofer approximation has been widely studied in the past two decades. However, at high energies or for high density materials, electromagnetic shower should be elongated due to the Landau-Pomeranchuck-Migdal (LPM) effect. As such the standard Fraunhofer approximation ceases to be valid when the distance between the shower and the detector becomes comparable with the shower length. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed recently to investigate this regime. Here we adopt the deduced relationship between the radio signal and the cascade development profile to investigate its implication to lepton signatures. Our method provides a straightforward technique to identify the neutrino flavor through the detected Cherenkov signals.
QUANTUM CORRECTIONS TO ENTROPIC GRAVITY
Authors: CHEN PISIN , WANG CHIAO-HSUAN
Published: January 2013

The entropic gravity scenario recently proposed by Erik Verlinde reproduced Newton's law of purely classical gravity yet the key assumptions of this approach all have quantum mechanical origins. As is typical for emergent phenomena in physics, the underlying, more fundamental physics often reveals itself as corrections to the leading classical behavior. So one naturally wonders: where is ℏ hiding in entropic gravity? To address this question, we first revisit the idea of holographic screen as well as entropy and its variation law in order to obtain a self-consistent approach to the problem. Next we argue that since the concept of minimal length has been invoked in the Bekenstein entropic derivation, the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP), which is a direct consequence of the minimal length, should be taken into consideration in the entropic interpretation of gravity. Indeed based on GUP it has been demonstrated that the black hole Bekenstein entropy area law must be modified not only in the strong but also in the weak gravity regime where in the weak gravity limit the GUP modified entropy exhibits a logarithmic correction. When applying it to the entropic interpretation, we demonstrate that the resulting gravity force law does include sub-leading order correction terms that depend on ℏ. Such deviation from the classical Newton's law may serve as a probe to the validity of entropic gravity.