bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental Risk: Evidence from Large Nonright-Handed Samples
Authors: Vlachos Filippos , Gaillard Francois , Vaitsis Kiriazis , Karapetsas Argiris
Published: July 2013

The aim of the present study is twofold. First, we tested the view that individuals who do not develop a typically strong behavioral laterality are distributed differentially among the two genders across age. Second, we examined whether left handedness and mixed handedness are associated with an elevated risk of some developmental or cognitive deficits. A special recruitment procedure provided norms of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) copy from large samples of left-handed () and mixed-handed () compared to right-handed () schoolchildren and adults (). This graphic task was considered as reflective of the growth of visual-spatial skills and impairment at copying as a developmental risk. Subjects’ hand preference was assessed by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Data analysis indicated that (1) the trend towards consistent right handedness is sex related. Girls are clearly ahead of boys in this lateralization process, and boys are overrepresented in mixed-handed subjects. The greater prevalence of mixed-handed boys compared to girls decreases with age. (2) Performance on drawing the ROCF varies according to age and handedness groups. Mixed-handed subjects scored worse in all age groups. The results are discussed in relation to the hormonal-developmental, neuropathological, and learning theories of lateralization.
Nonrigid Image Registration in Digital Subtraction Angiography Using Multilevel B-Spline
Authors: Nejati Mansour , Sadri Saeid , Amirfattahi Rassoul
Published: July 2013

We address the problem of motion artifact reduction in digital subtraction angiography (DSA) using image registration techniques. Most of registration algorithms proposed for application in DSA, have been designed for peripheral and cerebral angiography images in which we mainly deal with global rigid motions. These algorithms did not yield good results when applied to coronary angiography images because of complex nonrigid motions that exist in this type of angiography images. Multiresolution and iterative algorithms are proposed to cope with this problem, but these algorithms are associated with high computational cost which makes them not acceptable for real-time clinical applications. In this paper we propose a nonrigid image registration algorithm for coronary angiography images that is significantly faster than multiresolution and iterative blocking methods and outperforms competing algorithms evaluated on the same data sets. This algorithm is based on a sparse set of matched feature point pairs and the elastic registration is performed by means of multilevel B-spline image warping. Experimental results with several clinical data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
The World Bank and the Building of Local Institutionality in Senegal: A Path toward Municipal Adjustment
Authors: Ndongo Mebometa , Klein Juan-Luis
Published: July 2013

This paper examines the impacts of municipal adjustment strategies on territorial governance in Africa, with specific reference to Senegal, as the result of the action of the World Bank. The paper identifies the process through which the World Bank is reconfiguring the system of actors and changing the local institutional environment to embody its philosophy of governance modernization. The paper shows how the local actor is brought to contribute to the new focus on governance and the reshaping of local institutions, which together comprise a type of urban development that aligns with the tenets of globalization.
Impact of Arsenic Toxicity on Black Gram and Its Amelioration Using Phosphate
Authors: Srivastava Saumya , Sharma Yogesh Kumar
Published: July 2013

The toxicity of arsenic in soil and ground water is one of the most important environmental problems particularly in South-East Asia. Arsenic-polluted irrigation water creates hazard in soil environment and also in crop quality. In the present study, response of black gram (Vigna mungoL.) to arsenic with or without phosphate application was investigated. Arsenic-treated plants showed reduction in their growth and pigment content. Arsenic significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, and level of proline showing oxidative stress. Arsenic toxicity was associated with an increase in the activities of antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase whereas catalase activity decreased at higher arsenic dose. Joint application of phosphate with arsenic resulted in significant alterations in most of the parameters tested under the purview of arsenic treatment alone which lead to better growth in black gram.
Traumatic Brain Injury in Qatar: Age Matters—Insights from a 4‐Year Observational Study
Authors: El-Matbouly Moamena , El-Menyar Ayman , Al-Thani Hassan , Tuma Mazin , El-Hennawy Hany , AbdulRahman Husham , Parchani Ashok , Peralta Ruben , Asim Mohammad , El-Faramawy Ahmed , Zarour Ahmad , Latifi Rifat
Published: July 2013

Background. Overall traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence and related death rates vary across different age groups. Objectives. To evaluate the incidence, causes, and outcome of TBI in adolescents and young adult population in Qatar. Method. This was a retrospective review of all TBIs admitted to the trauma center between January 2008 and December 2011. Demographics, mechanism of injury, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed in different age groups. Results. A total of 1665 patients with TBI were admitted; the majority were males (92%) with a mean age of 28 ± 16 years. The common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle crashes and falls from height (51% and 35%, resp.). TBI was incidentally higher in young adults (34%) and middle age group (21%). The most frequent injuries were contusion (40%), subarachnoid (25%), subdural (24%), and epidural hemorrhage (18%). The mortality rate was 11% among TBI patients. Mortality rates were 8% and 12% among adolescents and young adults, respectively. The highest mortality rate was observed in elderly patients (35%). Head AIS, ISS, and age were independent predictors for mortality. Conclusion. Adolescents and adults sustain significant portions of TBI, whereas mortality is much higher in the older group. Public awareness and injury prevention campaigns should target young population.
Gallstone Ileus of the Colon: Leave No Stone Unturned
Authors: Salemans P. B. , Vles G. F. , Fransen S. , Vliegen R. , Sosef M. N.
Published: July 2013

A case of gallstone ileus of the colon with illustrative pictures is presented, making the physicians more aware of this rare entity. Furthermore, the use of imaging modalities for diagnosis and decision making in management strategy is discussed.
Age-Related Changes in Hepatic Activity and Expression of Detoxification Enzymes in Male Rats
Authors: Vyskočilová Erika , Szotáková Barbora , Skálová Lenka , Bártíková Hana , Hlaváčová Jitka , Boušová Iva
Published: July 2013

Process of aging is accompanied by changes in the biotransformation of xenobiotics and impairment of normal cellular functions by free radicals. Therefore, this study was designed to determine age-related differences in the activities and/or expressions of selected drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes in young and old rats. Specific activities of 8 drug-metabolizing enzymes and 4 antioxidant enzymes were assessed in hepatic subcellular fractions of 6-week-old and 21-month-old male Wistar rats. Protein expressions of carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) and glutathioneS-transferase (GST) were determined using immunoblotting. Remarkable age-related decrease in specific activities of CYP2B, CYP3A, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase was observed, whereas no changes in activities of CYP1A2, flavine monooxygenase, aldo-keto reductase 1C, and antioxidant enzymes with advancing age were found. On the other hand, specific activity of CBR1 and GST was 2.4 folds and 5.6 folds higher in the senescent rats compared with the young ones, respectively. Interindividual variability in CBR1 activity increased significantly with rising age. We suppose that elevated activities of GST and CBR1 may protect senescent rats against xenobiotic as well as eobiotic electrophiles and reactive carbonyls, but they may alter metabolism of drugs, which are CBR1 and especially GSTs substrates.
Design Example of Useful Memory Latency for Developing a Hazard Preventive Pipeline High-Performance Embedded-Microprocessor
Authors: Cheng Ching-Hwa
Published: July 2013

The existence of structural, control, and data hazards presents a major challenge in designing an advanced pipeline/superscalar microprocessor. An efficient memory hierarchy cache-RAM-Disk design greatly enhances the microprocessor's performance. However, there are complex relationships among the memory hierarchy and the functional units in the microprocessor. Most past architectural design simulations focus on the instruction hazard detection/prevention scheme from the viewpoint of function units. This paper emphasizes that additional inboard memory can be well utilized to handle the hazardous conditions. When the instruction meets hazardous issues, the memory latency can be utilized to prevent performance degradation due to the hazard prevention mechanism. By using the proposed technique, a better architectural design can be rapidly validated by an FPGA at the start of the design stage. In this paper, the simulation results prove that our proposed methodology has a better performance and less power consumption compared to the conventional hazard prevention technique.
Application of Lie Symmetry Analysis and Simplest Equation Method for Finding Exact Solutions of Boussinesq Equations
Authors: Jafari Hossein , Kadkhoda Nematollah , Khalique Chaudry Massod
Published: July 2013

The Lie symmetry approach with simplest equation method is used to construct exact solutions of the bad Boussinesq and good Boussinesq equations. As the simplest equation, we have used the equation of Riccati.
Diagnosis and Management of Epileptic Encephalopathies in Children
Authors: Jain Puneet , Sharma Suvasini , Tripathi Manjari
Published: July 2013

Epileptic encephalopathies refer to a group of disorders in which the unremitting epileptic activity contributes to severe cognitive and behavioral impairments above and beyond what might be expected from the underlying pathology alone, and these can worsen over time leading to progressive cerebral dysfunction. Several syndromes have been described based on their electroclinical features (age of onset, seizure type, and EEG pattern). This review briefly describes the clinical evaluation and management of commonly encountered epileptic encephalopathies in children.
Fabrication and Electrical Characterization of Translucent Bi12TiO20Ceramics
Authors: Santos D. J. , Barbosa L. B. , Silva R. S. , Macedo Z. S.
Published: July 2013

The production of high-density Bi12TiO20ceramics, their transmission spectrum, and impedance features are reported. The samples were synthesized at 700°C/6 h and sintered at 800°C/3 h. This procedure yielded translucent ceramics with relative density of99.2±0.5% and average grain size of3.1±1.6 μm. Samples with 0.5 mm thickness were translucent with optical transmission of about 30% at 800 nm. The electrical and dielectric properties of the high-density ceramics were studied and compared with those measured for samples with lower density and also with the literature about Bi12TiO20single crystals. The activation energy for the conduction process in high-density ceramic was 0.99 eV, and the dielectric permittivity was 40 at 200°C. These values are comparable to those reported for single crystals.
Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Robust Position Controller for an Electrohydrostatic Actuator Using Adaptive Antiwindup Sliding Mode Scheme
Authors: Lee Ji Min , Park Sung Hwan , Kim Jong Shik
Published: July 2013

A robust control scheme is proposed for the position control of the electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) when considering hardware saturation, load disturbance, and lumped system uncertainties and nonlinearities. To reduce overshoot due to a saturation of electric motor and to realize robustness against load disturbance and lumped system uncertainties such as varying parameters and modeling error, this paper proposes an adaptive antiwindup PID sliding mode scheme as a robust position controller for the EHA system. An optimal PID controller and an optimal anti‐windup PID controller are also designed to compare control performance. An EHA prototype is developed, carrying out system modeling and parameter identification in designing the position controller. The simply identified linear model serves as the basis for the design of the position controllers, while the robustness of the control systems is compared by experiments. The adaptive anti‐windup PID sliding mode controller has been found to have the desired performance and become robust against hardware saturation, load disturbance, and lumped system uncertainties and nonlinearities.
Nonsingular Einsteinian Cosmology: How Galactic Momentum Prevents Cosmic Singularities
Authors: Epstein Kenneth J.
Published: July 2013

It is shown how Einstein's equation can account for the evolution of the universe without an initial singularity and can explain the inflation epoch as a momentum dominated era in which energy from matter and radiation drove extremely accelerated expansion of space. It is shown how an object with momentum loses energy to the expanding universe and how this energy can contribute to accelerated spatial expansion more effectively than vacuum energy, because virtual particles, the source of vacuum energy, can have negative energy, which can cancel any positive energy from the vacuum. Radiation and matter with momentum have positive but decreasing energy in the expanding universe, and the energy lost by them can contribute to accelerated spatial expansion between galactic clusters, making dark energy a classical effect that can be explained by general relativity without quantum mechanics, and, as (13) and (15) show, without an initial singularity or a big bang. This role of momentum, which was overlooked in the Standard Cosmological Model, is the basis of a simpler model which agrees with what is correct in the old model and corrects what is wrong with it.
Metabolic and Clinical Consequences of Hyperthyroidism on Bone Density
Authors: Gorka Jagoda , Taylor-Gjevre Regina M. , Arnason Terra
Published: July 2013

In 1891, Von Recklinghausen first established the association between the development of osteoporosis in the presence of overt hyperthyroidism. Subsequent reports have demonstrated that BMD loss is common in frank hyperthyroidism, and, to a lesser extent, in subclinical presentations. With the introduction of antithyroid medication in the 1940s to control biochemical hyperthyroidism, the accompanying bone disease became less clinically apparent as hyperthyroidism was more successfully treated medically. Consequently, the impact of the above normal thyroid hormones in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis may be presently underrecognized due to the widespread effective treatments. This review aims to present the current knowledge of the consequences of hyperthyroidism on bone metabolism. The vast number of recent papers touching on this topic highlights the recognized impact of this common medical condition on bone health. Our focus in this review was to search for answers to the following questions. What is the mechanisms of action of thyroid hormones on bone metabolism? What are the clinical consequences of hyperthyroidism on BMD and fracture risk? What differences are there between men and women with thyroid disease and how does menopause change the clinical outcomes? Lastly, we report how different treatments for hyperthyroidism benefit thyroid hormone-induced osteoporosis.
Numerical Taxonomy of Species in the Genus Mallomonas (Chrysophyta) from China
Authors: Feng Jia , Xie Shulian
Published: July 2013

Mallomonas is one of the biggest genera of Chrysophyta. In total, 37 species and 2 varieties have been recorded in China. Because of their narrow ecological optimum, species of this genus are considered as valuable bioindicators. However, taxonomy of Mallomonas remains unclear. We studied the numerical taxonomy of all the species and varieties recorded in China using Ward’s method and the furthest neighbor method based on 52 morphological characters. Shown in the phylogenetic trees, those species could be divided into two major clusters. One cluster includes 5 small clusters and another includes 2. The results of numerical taxonomy are partially consistent with the traditional ones with some divergences. Furthermore, the diversity of silicified scales including shapes and structures was confirmed as the most important character for identification of Mallomonas species.
Isolation and Identification of Free-Living Amoebae from Tap Water in Sivas, Turkey
Authors: Coşkun Kübra Açıkalın , Özçelik Semra , Tutar Lütfi , Elaldı Nazif , Tutar Yusuf
Published: July 2013

The present work focuses on a local survey of free-living amoebae (FLA) that cause opportunistic and nonopportunistic infections in humans. Determining the prevalence of FLA in water sources can shine a light on the need to prevent FLA related illnesses. A total of 150 samples of tap water were collected from six districts of Sivas province. The samples were filtered and seeded on nonnutrient agar containingEscherichia colispread. Thirty-three (22%) out of 150 samples were found to be positive for FLA. The FLA were identified by morphology and by PCR using 18S rDNA gene. The morphological analysis and partial sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene revealed the presence of three different species,Acanthamoeba castellanii,Acanthamoeba polyphaga, andHartmannella vermiformis.Naegleria fowleri,Balamuthia mandrillaris, orSappiniasp. was not isolated during the study. AllA. castellaniiandA. polyphagasequence types were found to be genotype T4 that contains most of the pathogenicAcanthamoebastrains. The results indicated the occurrence and distribution of FLA species in tap water in these localities of Sivas, Turkey. Furthermore, the presence of temperature tolerantAcanthamoebagenotype T4 in tap water in the region must be taken into account for health risks.
Glass Frit Dissolution Influenced by Material Composition and the Water Content in Iodide/Triiodide Electrolyte of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Jensen Katrine Flarup , Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Veurman Welmoed , Brandt Henning , Im Chan , Wilde Jürgen , Hinsch Andreas , Lee Jae-Joon
Published: July 2013

To ensure long-term stable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and modules, a hermetic sealing is required. This research investigates the chemical stability ofI-/I3-redox electrolyte and four different glass frits (GFs). Sintered GF layers were openly exposed to nonaqueous redox electrolyte and redox electrolyte with 1, 5, and 10 wt% H2O in thin, encapsulated cells. The change inI3−absorbance was assigned to a reaction between the GF andI-/I3-electrolyte and was used to evaluate the chemical stability of the different GFs. TheI3−absorbance change was monitored over 100 days. Two out of the four GFs were unstable when H2O was added to the redox electrolyte. The H2O caused metal ion leaching which was determined from EDX analysis of the inorganic remains of electrolyte samples. A GF based on Bi2O3–SiO2–B2O3with low bond strength leached bismuth into electrolyte and formed theBiI3-complex. A ZnO–SiO2–Al2O3-based GF also became unstable when H2O was added to the redox electrolyte. Leaching of zinc ions due to exchange with H+resulted in the formation of a zinc-iodine compound which causedI3−depletion. By applying the test design to different types of GFs, the material suitability in the DSC working environment was investigated.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects ofHyptis albidaChloroform Extract on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Peritoneal Macrophages
Authors: Sánchez Miranda Elizabeth , Pérez Ramos Julia , Fresán Orozco Cristina , Zavala Sánchez Miguel Angel , Pérez Gutiérrez Salud
Published: July 2013

We examined the effects of a chloroform extract ofHyptis albida(CHA) on inflammatory responses in mouse lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced peritoneal macrophages. Our findings indicate that CHA inhibits LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). During the process, levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) increased in the mouse peritoneal macrophages; however, the extract suppressed them significantly. These results provide novel insights into the anti-inflammatory actions of CHA and support its potential use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Modeling Asymmetric Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid in Symmetric Planar Sudden Expansion Geometry Based on User-Defined Function in FLUENT CFD Package
Authors: Zheng Zhi-Ying , Li Feng-Chen , Yang Juan-Cheng
Published: July 2013

Through embedding an in-house subroutine into FLUENT code by utilizing the functionalization of user-defined function provided by the software, a new numerical simulation methodology on viscoelastic fluid flows has been established. In order to benchmark this methodology, numerical simulations under different viscoelastic fluid solution concentrations (with solvent viscosity ratio varied from 0.2 to 0.9), extensibility parameters ([Formula: see text]), Reynolds numbers (0.1 ≤ Re ≤ 100), and Weissenberg numbers (0 ≤ Wi ≤ 20) are conducted on unsteady laminar flows through a symmetric planar sudden expansion with expansion ratio of 1: 3 for viscoelastic fluid flows. The constitutive model used to describe the viscoelastic effect of viscoelastic fluid flow is FENE-P (finitely extensive nonlinear elastic-Peterlin) model. The numerical simulation results show that the influences of elasticity, inertia, and concentration on the flow bifurcation characteristics are more significant than those of extensibility. The present simulation results including the critical Reynolds number for which the flow becomes asymmetric, vortex size, bifurcation diagram, velocity distribution, streamline, and pressure loss show good agreements with some published results. That means the newly established method based on FLUENT software platform for simulating peculiar flow behaviors of viscoelastic fluid is credible and suitable for the study of viscoelastic fluid flows.
Tocotrienol Attenuates Stress-Induced Gastric Lesions via Activation of Prostaglandin and Upregulation of COX-1 mRNA
Authors: Nur Azlina Mohd Fahami , Kamisah Yusof , Chua Kien Hui , Qodriyah Hj Mohd Saad
Published: July 2013

The present study aims to distinguish the effect of tocotrienol on an important gastric protective factor, prostaglandin E2(PGE2), in stress-induced gastric injury. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each. Two control groups were fed commercial rat diet, and two treatment groups were fed the same diet but with additional dose of omeprazole (20 mg/kg) or tocotrienol (60 mg/kg). After 28 days, rats from one control group and both treated groups were subjected to water-immersion restraint stress for 3.5 hours once. The rats were then sacrificed, their stomach isolated and gastric juice collected, lesions examined, and gastric PGE2content and cyclooxygenase (COX) mRNA expression were determined. Both the regimes significantly attenuated the total lesion area in the stomach compared to the control. Gastric acidity, which was increased in stress, was significantly reduced in rats supplemented with omeprazole and tocotrienol. The PGE2content was also significantly higher in the rats given tocotrienol supplementation compared to the control followed by an increase in COX-1 mRNA expression. We conclude that tocotrienol supplementation protected rat gastric mucosa against stress-induced lesions possibly by reducing gastric acidity and preserving gastric PGE2by increasing COX-1 mRNA.
Formulation and Mathematical Optimization of Controlled Release Calcium Alginate Micro Pellets of Frusemide
Authors: Ghosh Amitava , Chakraborty Prithviraj
Published: July 2013

Objective. Frusemide loaded calcium alginate micropellets, an oral microparticulate delivery system, was statistically optimized exhibiting prolonged therapeutic action minimizing its adverse effects.Methods. Ionotropic Gelation technique was adopted employing 32Factorial designs and keeping the entire process free from organic solvents. Physicochemical and the release characteristics of the prepared formulations were studied, keeping variations only in sodium alginate (primary polymer) and Acrycoat E30D (copolymer) dispersion.Result. Sodium alginate was predominant over Acrycoat E30D in all batches. Nonadditives or interaction was observed to be insignificant. Multiple regressions produced second-order polynomial equation, and the predictive results obtained were validated with high degree of correlation. Thein vivostudy applauded that optimized calcium alginate micropellets of frusemide can produce a much greater diuretic effect over an extended period of 24 hours.Conclusion. This study reveals that the potential of a single dose of the mathematically optimized micro pellets of frusemide formulation is sufficient in the management of peripheral edema and ascites in congestive heart failure and as well in the treatment of chronic hypertension, leading to better patient compliance, and can be produced with minimum experimentation and time, proving far more cost-effective formulation than the conventional methods of formulating dosage forms.
Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders among Secondary School Saudi Female Teachers
Authors: Darwish Magdy A. , Al-Zuhair Shatha Z.
Published: July 2013

Objective. This study was conducted to estimate prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal pain disorders among secondary school Saudi female teachers in Al-Khobar area and the psychodemographic and psychosocial factors that may affect them. Material and Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted using sample of secondary schools teachers (governmental and private school) in Al-Khobar area, Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Result. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain disorders was 79.17%. Main sites of pain were lower back (63.8%) followed by shoulder (45.4%), neck (42.1%), leg (40.0%), wrist (16.2%), and elbow joint (10.0%). Factors that showed significant relationship were type of school (p value 0.038), age (p value 0.002), weight (p value 0.007), number of children (p value 0.006), shoe type (p value 0.000), teaching years (p value 0.003), and working daily hours (p value 0.027). Conclusion. Secondary school female teachers showed high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain disorders in most anatomic sites, namely, the back, shoulder, neck, legs, wrist, and elbow joint. Risk factors associated with significant pain were type of school, age, weight, number of children, and number of teaching years.
Zn (II) and Cu (II) Halide Complexes of Poly(propylene amine) Dendrimer Analysed by Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies
Authors: Grabchev Ivo , Boyaci Ismail Hakki , Tamer Ugur , Petkov Ivan
Published: July 2013

Two nondestructive and complementary spectral methods as infrared and Raman spectroscopies have been used for characterizations of poly(propylene amine) dendrimers comprising 1,8-naphthalimide units in the dendrimer periphery and their metal complexes with Cu2+ at Zn2+ ions.
Varicocele and a Vascular Tumor in the Testis
Authors: Kraft Christoph , Janzen Jan
Published: July 2013

A 50-year-old man presented a rare morphological constellation: a left-sided varicocele (stage 3) and a vascular rich Sertoli cell tumor.
The Age-Related Changes in Cartilage and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Li YongPing , Wei XiaoChun , Zhou JingMing , Wei Lei
Published: July 2013

Osteoarthritis (OA) is closely associated with aging, but its underlying mechanism is unclear. Recent publications were reviewed to elucidate the connection between aging and OA. With increasing OA incidence, more senior people are facing heavy financial and social burdens. Age-related OA pathogenesis is not well understood. Recently, it has been realized that age-related changes in other tissues besides articular cartilage may also contribute to OA development. Many factors including senescence-related secretory phenotypes, chondrocytes’ low reactivity to growth factors, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, and abnormal accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may all play key roles in the pathogenesis of age-related OA. Lately, epigenetic regulation of gene expression was recognized for its impact on age-related OA pathogenesis. Up to now, few studies have been reported about the role of miRNA and long-noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in age-related OA. Research focusing on this area may provide valuable insights into OA pathogenesis. OA-induced financial and social burdens have become an increasingly severe threat to older population. Age-related changes in noncartilage tissue should be incorporated in the understanding of OA development. Growing attention on oxidative stress and epigenetics will provide more important clues for the better understanding of the age-related OA.
Optimized Hyper Beamforming of Linear Antenna Arrays Using Collective Animal Behaviour
Authors: Ram Gopi , Mandal Durbadal , Kar Rajib , Ghoshal Sakti Prasad
Published: July 2013

A novel optimization technique which is developed on mimicking the collective animal behaviour (CAB) is applied for the optimal design of hyper beamforming of linear antenna arrays. Hyper beamforming is based on sum and difference beam patterns of the array, each raised to the power of a hyperbeam exponent parameter. The optimized hyperbeam is achieved by optimization of current excitation weights and uniform interelement spacing. As compared to conventional hyper beamforming of linear antenna array, real coded genetic algorithm (RGA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution (DE) applied to the hyper beam of the same array can achieve reduction in sidelobe level (SLL) and same or less first null beam width (FNBW), keeping the same value of hyperbeam exponent. Again, further reductions of sidelobe level (SLL) and first null beam width (FNBW) have been achieved by the proposed collective animal behaviour (CAB) algorithm. CAB finds near global optimal solution unlike RGA, PSO, and DE in the present problem. The above comparative optimization is illustrated through 10‐, 14‐, and 20‐element linear antenna arrays to establish the optimization efficacy of CAB.
Prospective Study of Breakfast Eating and Incident Coronary Heart Disease in a Cohort of Male US Health Professionals
Authors: Cahill Leah E. , Chiuve Stephanie E. , Mekary Rania A. , Jensen Majken K. , Flint Alan J. , Hu Frank B. , Rimm Eric B.
Published: July 2013

Background—

Among adults, skipping meals is associated with excess body weight, hypertension, insulin resistance, and elevated fasting lipid concentrations. However, it remains unknown whether specific eating habits regardless of dietary composition influence coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The objective of this study was to prospectively examine eating habits and risk of CHD.

Methods and Results—

Eating habits, including breakfast eating, were assessed in 1992 in 26 902 American men 45 to 82 years of age from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer. During 16 years of follow-up, 1527 incident CHD cases were diagnosed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for CHD, adjusted for demographic, diet, lifestyle, and other CHD risk factors. Men who skipped breakfast had a 27% higher risk of CHD compared with men who did not (relative risk, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.53). Compared with men who did not eat late at night, those who ate late at night had a 55% higher CHD risk (relative risk, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–2.29). These associations were mediated by body mass index, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. No association was observed between eating frequency (times per day) and risk of CHD.

Conclusions—

Eating breakfast was associated with significantly lower CHD risk in this cohort of male health professionals.
Pathological Ventricular Remodeling
Authors: Burchfield Jana S. , Xie Min , Hill Joseph A.
Published: July 2013

Despite declines in heart failure morbidity and mortality with current therapies, rehospitalization rates remain distressingly high, substantially affecting individuals, society, and the economy. As a result, the need for new therapeutic advances and novel medical devices is urgent. Disease-related left ventricular remodeling is a complex process involving cardiac myocyte growth and death, vascular rarefaction, fibrosis, inflammation, and electrophysiological remodeling. Because these events are highly interrelated, targeting a single molecule or process may not be sufficient. Here, we review molecular and cellular mechanisms governing pathological ventricular remodeling.
Introduction: The Institutional Fragmentation of Global Environmental Governance: Causes, Consequences, and Responses
Authors: Zelli Fariborz , van Asselt Harro
Published: July 2013

This article introduces a special issue on the expanding research agenda on institutional fragmentation. The term refers to the growing diversity and challenges to coordination among private and public norms, treaties, and organizations that address a given issue area of international politics. International relations scholars increasingly address this phenomenon, framing it with alternative concepts like regime complexes or polycentricity. A considerable part of the existing debate remains focused on whether a centralized or polycentric governance architecture is preferable. Instead, as this special issue shows, domains of global environmental governance—like climate change, biological diversity, renewable energy, and forestry—are already fragmented. It is time to address new, more pertinent questions and help advance institutionalist research on this phenomenon. We introduce four major research themes for analyzing the fragmentation of different domains of global environmental governance: taking stock, causes, consequences, and responses.
Fragmentation in Global Energy Governance: Explaining the Creation of IRENA
Authors: Van de Graaf Thijs
Published: July 2013

In 2009, a group of member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) spearheaded the creation of a new international organization, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), despite the fact that the IEA had been working on renewables for decades. Why would states create an overlapping organization, thus advancing the overall degree of fragmentation? Drawing on the work of Mansfield and Moravcsik, this article provides an explanation based on domestic preferences and institutional capture. Viewed thus, IRENA was part of an institutional hedging strategy instigated by domestic actors in Germany and allied states to counter the IEA's alleged normative bias toward the fossil and nuclear energy industries with a wider set of alternative energy options. The article suggests that, depending on the domestic preferences of a set of states capable to innovate, the transaction costs associated with institutional reform may surmount those of institutional creation.
Legitimacy in an Era of Fragmentation: The Case of Global Climate Governance
Authors: Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen Sylvia I. , McGee Jeffrey
Published: July 2013

Studies grounded in regime theory have examined the effectiveness of “minilateral” climate change forums that have emerged outside of the UN climate process. However, there are no detailed studies of the legitimacy of these forums or of the impacts of their legitimacy on effectiveness and governance potential. Adopting the lens of legitimacy, we analyze the reasons for the formation of minilateral climate change forums and their recent role in global climate governance. We use Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen and Vihma's analytical framework for international institutions to examine three minilateral climate forums: the Asia-Pacific Partnership, the Major Economies Meetings, and the G8 climate process. These forums have significant deficits in their source-based, process-based, and outcome-based legitimacy, particularly when compared to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. If assessed purely on grounds of effectiveness, the minilateral forums might be easily dismissed as peripheral to the UN climate process. However, they play important roles by providing sites for powerful countries to shape the assumptions and expectations of global climate governance. Thus, the observed institutional fragmentation allows key states to use minilateral forums to shape the architecture of global climate governance.
Fragmented International Governance of Arctic Offshore Oil: Governance Challenges and Institutional Improvement
Authors: Humrich Christoph
Published: July 2013

The governance architecture in the Arctic region is subject to broad public and academic debate. Existing governance arrangements are not considered sufficient to minimize risks and impacts from Arctic offshore oil activities. These governance arrangements are fragmented between law of the sea norms, numerous regulatory conventions, and non-legally binding guidelines produced by the Arctic Council, an informal body of the eight Arctic states. While the benign form of cooperative fragmentation seems to prevail, specific governance challenges exist. The nature of these governance challenges and political feasibility considerations suggest an enabling joint management approach for the architecture of Arctic governance.
Managing Institutional Complexity and Fragmentation: The Nagoya Protocol and the Global Governance of Genetic Resources
Authors: Oberthür Sebastian , Pożarowska Justyna
Published: July 2013

This article explores the impact of the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity on the complex of international institutions involved in the governance of access to, and benefit sharing from, genetic resources. Conceptually, we develop an interplay management perspective that focuses on the governance of institutional complexes and their internal division of labor by means of collective decisions within the elemental institutions. We seek to understand interplay management with reference to constellations of actors' interests and power, as well as institutional factors (commitments, inter-institutional consistency). We argue that the strength of status-quo forces led to the Nagoya Protocol consolidating and clarifying (rather than changing) the existing interinstitutional division of labor. The analysis demonstrates the difficulty of changing existing inter-institutional balances, yet suggests that a consolidation of an inter-institutional equilibrium can induce important new, pathdependent developments in fragmented governance architectures.
Commentary: On Fragmentation, Differentiation, and Coordination
Authors: Zürn Michael , Faude Benjamin
Published: July 2013

This commentary takes up conceptual issues raised in the introduction. Discussing the contributions to this volume, we offer three points. First, the concept of fragmentation needs theoretical clarification, which can be provided to some extent by sociological differentiation theory. We suggest a typology of different types of fragmentation. Second, differentiation theory helps to improve understanding of the different causes of fragmentation. Third, a high level of institutional differentiation is an important characteristic of modernity at many levels of politics. It is not fragmentation per se, but rather the (lack of) coordination of fragmented or differentiated institutions, that is a problem for global governance.
The taxonomic status of Deroceras hesperium Pilsbry, 1944 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Agriolimacidae), a species of conservation concern in Oregon, USA
Authors: ROTH BARRY , JADIN ROBERT , JADIN ROBERT
Published: July 2013

Two native species of the slug genus Deroceras Rafinesque, 1820, have been identified in samples from Fremont–Winema National Forest and other national forests in the Pacific Northwest of the United States: (a) Deroceras laeve (Müller, 1774), common and widespread in North America (Pilsbry, 1948); and (b) Deroceras hesperium Pilsbry, 1944, thought to have a more restricted distribution and considered a species of special status by the US Forest Service and US Bureau of Land Management. Since at least 2004 the two species have been identified in previous samples on the basis of external appearance and features of the reproductive system. The localities for the two species are distributed in a mosaic, seemingly haphazard, pattern within the forests. Most samples previously examined and identified by author BR were assignable in toto to one or the other species, but both D. hesperium and D. laeve were identified in a sample from John Spring, Klamath County, Oregon. Specimens from central and southern Oregon counties represented an extension of the published range of D. hesperium southward from Oswego Lake, Clackamas County (Pilsbry, 1948; Branson, 1977).
A new species of Dolomedes Latreille, 1804 (Araneae: Lycosoidea: Pisauridae) from Madagascar
Authors: DA SILVA ESTEVAM L. CRUZ , GRISWOLD CHARLES E.
Published: July 2013

The genus Dolomedes Latreille, 1804 present a very wide range of distribution on every continent except Antarctica (Platnick 2013) However, only one species has been reported from Madagascar, Dolomedes saccalavus Strand, 1907, which is unfortunately based on a juvenile specimen and was destroyed in wartime. We consider this a nomen dubium.
Tetracanthella doftana sp. nov. (Collembola, Isotomidae) from Romania, with a key to Carpathian Tetracanthella Schött, 1891
Authors: FIERA CRISTINA , KONIKIEWICZ MARTA , SKARŻYŃSKI DARIUSZ
Published: July 2013

A new species of the Tetracanthella pilosa group is described from Romanian Carpathians. T. doftana sp. nov. is similar to T. andalusiaca Deharveng, 1987. They differ by the number of sublobal hairs, size of macrochaetae and distribution. A key to Carpathian Tetracanthella Schött, 1891 species is also given.
Psammochthoniidae n. fam., a paedomorphic family of oribatid mites (Oribatida: Enarthronota) from sandy soil in Thailand, Brazil and the USA
Authors: FUANGARWORN MARUT , NORTON ROY A.
Published: July 2013

A new genus and species of enarthronote oribatid mite, Psammochthonius kethleyi n. g., n. sp., is described and illustrated based on adult and immature specimens collected from coastal sandy soil in Thailand (Phang-nga), Brazil (São Paulo) and the USA (Mississippi). Analysis shows that it is a member of Hypochthonioidea, but not of any named family, so the monobasic family Psammochthoniidae n. fam. is proposed. Traits that are unique among hypochthonioid mites include an adult body length under 250 μm, a functionally trichoid body form (postpedal flexing), strong lateral displacement of setae in row e, which insert on a unique form of transverse scissure, subcapitular stenarthry, leg IV vestiges and a possible precocious genital swelling in the larva, apparent absence of an anal segment, and a highly regressed leg setation. The latter two, and some other traits that were previously unknown in Hypochthonioidea, suggest that Psammochthoniidae represents the first clearly paedomorphic lineage in this diverse superfamily. Like all other known hypochthonioid mites, P. kethleyi appears to be thelytokous.
Aerosol Effects of the Condensation Process on a Convective Cloud Simulation
Authors: Seiki Tatsuya , Nakajima Teruyuki
Published: July 2013

Using a nonhydrostatic model with a double-moment bulk cloud microphysics scheme, the authors introduce an aerosol effect on a convective cloud system by accelerating the condensation and evaporation processes (the aerosol condensational effect). To evaluate this effect, the authors use an explicit condensation scheme rather than the saturation adjustment method and propose a method to isolate the aerosol condensational effect. This study shows that the aerosol condensational effect not only accelerates growth rates but also increases cloud water, even though the degree of the acceleration of evaporation exceeds that of condensation. In the early developing stage of the convective system, increased cloud water is, in turn, linked to ice-phase processes and modifies the ice water path of anvil clouds and the ice cloud fraction. In the mature stage, although the aerosol condensational effect has a secondary role in dynamical feedbacks when combined with other aerosol effects, the degree of modulation of the cloud microphysical parameters by the aerosol condensational effect continues to be nonnegligible. These findings indicate that feedback mechanisms, such as latent heat release and the interaction of various aerosol effects, are important in convective cloud systems that involve ice-phase processes.
Analysis of Resolved and Parameterized Vertical Transports in Convective Boundary Layers at Gray-Zone Resolutions
Authors: Shin Hyeyum Hailey , Hong Song-You
Published: July 2013

The gray zone of a physical process in numerical models is defined as the range of model resolution in which the process is partly resolved by model dynamics and partly parameterized. In this study, the authors examine the grid-size dependencies of resolved and parameterized vertical transports in convective boundary layers (CBLs) for horizontal grid scales including the gray zone. To assess how stability alters the dependencies on grid size, four CBLs with different surface heating and geostrophic winds are considered. For this purpose, reference data for grid-scale (GS) and subgrid-scale (SGS) fields are constructed for 50–4000-m mesh sizes by filtering 25-m large-eddy simulation (LES) data.

As relative importance of shear increases, the ratio of resolved turbulent kinetic energy increases for a given grid spacing. Vertical transports of potential temperature, momentum, and a bottom-up diffusion passive scalar behave in a similar fashion. The effects of stability are related to the horizontal scale of coherent large-eddy structures that change in the different stability. The subgrid-scale vertical transport of heat and the bottom-up scalar are divided into a nonlocal mixing owing to the coherent structures and remaining local mixing. The separate treatment of the nonlocal and local transports shows that the grid-size dependency of the SGS nonlocal flux and its sensitivity to stability predominantly determine the dependency of total (nonlocal plus local) SGS transport.
On the Sensitivity of Field Reconstruction and Prediction Using Empirical Orthogonal Functions Derived from Gappy Data
Authors: Taylor Marc H. , Losch Martin , Wenzel Manfred , Schröter Jens
Published: July 2013

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is commonly used in the climate sciences and elsewhere to describe, reconstruct, and predict highly dimensional data fields. When data contain a high percentage of missing values (i.e., gappy), alternate approaches must be used in order to correctly derive EOFs. The aims of this paper are to assess the accuracy of several EOF approaches in the reconstruction and prediction of gappy data fields, using the Galapagos Archipelago as a case study example. EOF approaches included least squares estimation via a covariance matrix decomposition [least squares EOF (LSEOF)], data interpolating empirical orthogonal functions (DINEOF), and a novel approach called recursively subtracted empirical orthogonal functions (RSEOF). Model-derived data of historical surface chlorophyll-a concentrations and sea surface temperature, combined with a mask of gaps from historical remote sensing estimates, allowed for the creation of true and observed fields by which to gauge the performance of EOF approaches. Only DINEOF and RSEOF were found to be appropriate for gappy data reconstruction and prediction. DINEOF proved to be the superior approach in terms of accuracy, especially for noisy data with a high estimation error, although RSEOF may be preferred for larger data fields because of its relatively faster computation time.