bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A pivotal role of bone remodeling in granulocyte colony stimulating factor induced hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells mobilization
Authors: Li Sidan , Zhai Qiongli , Zou Dehui , Meng Hengxing , Xie Zhenqing , Li Changhong , Wang Yafei , Qi Junyuan , Cheng Tao , Qiu Lugui
Published: October 2012

The majority of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside in bone marrow (BM) surrounded by a specialized environment, which governs HSPC function. Here we investigated the potential role of bone remodeling cells (osteoblasts and osteoclasts) in homeostasis and stress‐induced HSPC mobilization. Peripheral blood (PB) and BM in steady/mobilized state were collected from healthy donors undergoing allogeneic transplantation and from mice treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), parathyroid hormone (PTH), or receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANKL). The number and the functional markers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were checked by a series of experiments. Our data showed that the number of CD45−Ter119− osteopontin (OPN)+ osteoblasts was significantly reduced from 4,085 ± 135 cells/femur on Day 0 to 1,032 ± 55 cells/femur on Day 5 in mice (P = 0.02) and from 21.38 ± 0.66 on Day 0 to 14.78 ± 0.65 on Day 5 in healthy donors (P < 0.01). Decrease of osteoblast number leads to reduced level of HSPC mobilization regulators stromal cell‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1), stem cell factor (SCF), and OPN. The osteoclast number at bone surface (OC.N/B.s) was significantly increased from 1.53 ± 0.12 on Day 0 to 4.42 ± 0.46 on Day 5 (P < 0.01) in G‐CSF‐treated mice and from 0.88 ± 0.20 on Day 0 to 3.24 ± 0.31 on Day 5 (P < 0.01) in human. Serum TRACP‐5b level showed a biphasic trend during G‐CSF treatment. The ratio of osteoblasts number per bone surface (OB.N/B.s) to OC.N/B.s was changed after adding PTH plus RANKL during G‐CSF treatment. In conclusion, short term G‐CSF treatment leads to reduction of osteoblasts and stimulation of osteoclasts, and interrupting bone remodeling balance may contribute to HSPC mobilization. J. Cell. Physiol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesenchymal stem cells contribute to endogenous FVIII:c production
Authors: Sanada Chad , Kuo Chung‐Jung , Colletti Evan J. , Soland Melisa , Mokhtari Saloomeh , Knovich Mary Ann , Owen John , Zanjani Esmail D. , Porada Christopher D. , Almeida‐Porada Graça
Published: October 2012

Besides the liver, it has been difficult to identify which organ(s) and/or cellular component(s) contribute significantly to the production of human FVIII:c (FVIII). Thus far, only endothelial cells have been shown to constitute a robust extrahepatic source of FVIII, possibly explaining both the diverse presence of FVIII mRNA in the body, and the observed increase in FVIII levels during liver failure. Here, we investigate whether human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), ubiquitously present in different organs, could also contribute to FVIII production. MSC isolated from human lung, liver, brain, and bone marrow expressed FVIII message as determined by quantitative‐RT‐PCR. Using an antibody specific for FVIII, confocal microscopy, and umbilical cord‐derived endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a negative control, we demonstrated that, in MSC, FVIII protein was not stored in granules; rather, it localized to the perinuclear region. Furthermore, functional FVIII was detected in MSC supernatants and cell lysates by aPTT and chromogenic assays. These results demonstrate that MSC can contribute at low levels to the functional FVIII pool, and advance the understanding of the physiology of FVIII production and secretion. J. Cell. Physiol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cerebrospinal fluid miRNA profile in HIV‐encephalitis
Authors: Pacifici Marco , Delbue Serena , Ferrante Pasquale , Jeansonne Duane , Kadri Ferdous , Nelson Steve , Velasco‐Gonzalez Cruz , Zabaleta Jovanny , Peruzzi Francesca
Published: October 2012

MicroRNAs are short non‐coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by translational repression. Because of their high stability in intracellular as well as extracellular environments, miRNAs have recently emerged as important biomarkers in several human diseases. However, they have not been tested in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HIV‐1 positive individuals. Here, we present results of a study aimed at determining the feasibility of detecting miRNAs in the CSF of HIV‐infected individuals with and without encephalitis (HIVE). We also evaluated similarities and differences between CSF and brain tissue miRNAs in the same clinical setting. We utilized a high throughput approach of miRNA detection arrays and identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the frontal cortex of three cases each of HIV+, HIVE, and HIV− controls, and CSF of 10 HIV‐positive and 10 HIV‐negative individuals. For the CSF samples, the group of HIV+ individuals contained nine cases of HIV‐associated neurological disorders (HAND) and, among those, four had HIVE. All the HIV‐negative samples had non‐viral acute disseminate encephalomyelitis. A total of 66 miRNAs were found differentially regulated in HIV+ compared to HIV− groups. The greatest difference in miRNA expression was observed when four cases of HIVE were compared to five non‐HIVE cases, previously normalized with the HIV‐negative group. After statistical analyses, 11 miRNAs were fund significantly up‐regulated in HIVE. Although more clinical samples should be examined, this work represents the first report of CSF miRNAs in HIV‐infection and offers the basis for future investigation. J. Cell. Physiol. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dysphonia and dermatomyositis: An unusual manifestation
Authors: Wood Megan Wilson , McNeill Elena , Mims J. Whit , Wright S. Carter
Published: October 2012

We report a case of a 39‐year‐old female with a recent diagnosis of dermatomyositis and dysphonia. Dermatomyositis is a connective tissue disease with multisystem involvement: cardiac, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic are the most common. While dermatomyositis affects thousands of individuals in the United States, laryngeal involvement has only been described in a single case report to date.
Inhibition of starch digestion by the green tea polyphenol, (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate
Authors: Forester Sarah C. , Gu Yeyi , Lambert Joshua D.
Published: October 2012

Scope

Green tea has been shown to ameliorate symptoms of metabolic syndrome in vivo. The effects could be due, in part, to modulation of postprandial blood glucose levels.

Methods and results

We examined the effect of coadministration of (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG, 100 mg/kg, i.g.) on blood glucose levels following oral administration of common corn starch (CCS), maltose, sucrose, or glucose to fasted CF‐1 mice. We found that cotreatment with EGCG significantly reduced postprandial blood glucose levels after administration of CCS compared to control mice (50 and 20% reduction in peak blood glucose levels and blood glucose area under the curve, respectively). EGCG had no effect on postprandial blood glucose following administration of maltose or glucose, suggesting that EGCG may modulate amylase‐mediated starch digestion. In vitro, EGCG noncompetitively inhibited pancreatic amylase activity by 34% at 20 μM. No significant change was induced in the expression of two small intestinal glucose transporters (GLUT2 and SGLT1).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that EGCG acutely reduces postprandial blood glucose levels in mice when coadministered with CCS and this may be due in part to inhibition of α‐amylase. The relatively low effective dose of EGCG makes a compelling case for studies in human subjects.
Calorimetric Estimation Employing the Unscented Kalman Filter for a Batch Emulsion Polymerization Reactor
Authors: Rincón Franklin David , Esposito Marcelo , de Araújo Pedro Henrique Hermes , Sayer Claudia , Le Roux Galo Antonio Carrillo
Published: October 2012

Reaction calorimetry is a very useful tool to monitor exothermic polymerization reactions as it is based on the estimation of the heat generated by the reaction. The objective of this work is to analyze the performance of an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for online monitoring of batch vinyl acetate emulsion polymerization reactions. Reactions are performed in isoperibolic and isothermal conditions. The UKF is compared to an extended Kalman filter that has a very poor performance. The results show that the UKF is able to provide good estimates for the conversion, for the reactor and jacket temperatures, for the overall heat transfer coefficient between the reaction medium and the jacket, and for the heat loss from the jacket to the surroundings.

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Two‐phase dynamic analysis by material point method
Authors: Jassim Issam , Stolle Dieter , Vermeer Pieter
Published: October 2012

This paper extends the material point method to analyze coupled dynamic, two‐phase boundary‐valued problems via a velocity formulation, in which solid and fluid phase velocities are the variables. Key components of the proposed approach are the adoption of Verruijt's sequence of update steps when integrating over time and the enhancement of volumetric strains. The connection between fractional step method and the time‐stepping algorithm presented in this paper is addressed.

Enhancement of volumetric strains allows lower order variations in pressure and mitigates spurious pressure fields and locking that plague low‐order finite‐element implementations.

A stress averaging technique to smoothen stress variations is proposed, and the local damping procedure adopted by FLAC is extended to handle two‐phase problems. Special Kelvin‐Voigt boundaries are developed to suppress reflections at artificial boundaries. Idealized examples are presented to demonstrate the capability of the proposed framework to accurately capture the physics of wave propagation, consolidation and wave attack on a sea dike. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The microbiome in wound repair and tissue fibrosis
Authors: Scales Brittan S , Huffnagle Gary B
Published: October 2012

Bacterial colonization occurs in all wounds, chronic or acute, and the break in epithelium integrity that defines a wound impairs the forces that shape and constrain the microbiome at that site. This review highlights the interactions between bacterial communities in the wound and the ultimate resolution of the wound or development of fibrotic lesions. Chronic wounds support complex microbial communities comprising a wide variety of bacterial phyla, genera, and species, including some fastidious anaerobic bacteria not identified using culture‐based methods. Thus, the complexity of bacterial communities in wounds has historically been underestimated. There are a number of intriguing possibilities to explain these results that may also provide novel insights into changes and adaptation of bacterial metabolic networks in inflamed and wounded mucosa, including the critical role of biofilm formation. It is well accepted that the heightened state of activation of host cells in a wound that is driven by the microbiota can certainly lead to detrimental effects on wound regeneration, but the microbiota of the wound may also have beneficial effects on wound healing. Studies in experimental systems have clearly demonstrated a beneficial effect for members of the gut microbiota on regulation of systemic inflammation, which could also impact wound healing at sites outside the gastrointestinal tract. The utilization of culture‐independent microbiology to characterize the microbiome of wounds and surrounding mucosa has raised many intriguing questions regarding previously held notions about the cause and effect relationships between bacterial colonization and wound repair and mechanisms involved in this symbiotic relationship.
Establishing physician to patient ratios and predicting workforce needs for Canadian pediatric hematology‐oncology programs
Authors: Halton Jacqueline M. , Hand Jack , Byron Patricia , Strother Douglas , Blanchette Victor ,   for the C17 Council of Canadian Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Transplantation Directors
Published: October 2012

Background

A Human Resources (HR) Committee of C17, the national network of Canadian academic pediatric hematology/oncology programs, obtained comprehensive data enabling analysis and planning for the physician workforce. This study establishes physician to patient ratios and predicts workforce needs for Canadian pediatric hematology/oncology programs.

Procedures

Over a 10‐year period, six surveys were sent to the 17 pediatric tertiary care centers treating children with cancer and blood disorders. Data were obtained on physician demographics, full time equivalent (FTE) positions, and time spent in clinical, research, education, and administrative activities. Survey results were debated at the C17 national meetings to obtain consensus on workload ratios.

Results

Since 1999, the pediatric hematologist/oncologist workforce has increased from 71 FTE (43 oncology, 20 hematology, 8 BMT) to 109.5 FTE positions (69.7 oncology, 29.4 hematology, and 10.4 BMT). The median age of pediatric hematologists/oncologists increased from 46 years to 52 years and the male to female ratio changed from 1.8:1 to 0.9:1. The 2011 job profile showed the median time spent on activities was 60% clinical, 15% education, 15% research, and 10% administration. After assessing workload, models of care, and optimal physician FTE per program, the C17 HR Committee recommended a ratio of one oncologist per 15 newly diagnosed patients with malignancy and a ratio of one BMT physician per 15 transplants. For every 2.5 oncologists, a 1.0 hematologist is the minimum required.

Conclusion

Physician staffing ratios for pediatric hematology/oncology programs have been established and should be adopted across Canadian academic institutions as a standard. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 564–569. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HPLC Determination of the Major Active Flavonoids and GC–MS Analysis of Volatile Components of Dysphania graveolens (Amaranthaceae)
Authors: Álvarez‐Ospina Harry , Rivero Cruz Isabel , Duarte Georgina , Bye Robert , Mata Rachel
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Dysphania graveolens is used mainly in Mexican traditional medicine against gastrointestinal ailments. Previous investigations revealed that its flavonoids are important active principles; however, there is not a reliable and accurate analytical method for determining these compounds in the crude drug or preparations of the plant. In addition, its volatile chemical composition remains unknown.

Objective

The main goals were to develop a validated HPLC method for quantifying the active flavonoids (pinostrobin (1), pinocembrin (2) and chrysin (3)) of D. graveolens and to establish its volatile composition.

Methodology

Separation was carried out on a Licrospher100 RP18 column with a linear gradient acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid and aqueous 0.1% formic acid. Accuracy was determined by spiking the crude drug with the standards, the recoveries were between 99% and 101%. A systematic description of the volatile components of D. graveolens was assessed via GC–MS using headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS–SPME) and hydrodistillation extraction methods.

Results

The developed HPLC method represented a powerful technique for the quality control of D. graveolens allowing the quantification of the three active flavonoids. For each compound a linear response was evaluated within the range of 0.5–2.0 mg/mL for pinostrobin (1), 0.25–1.25 mg/mL for pinocembrin (2) and 0.05–0.5 mg/mL for chrysin (3). According to SPME the major components in D. graveolens were p‐cymene (84.85%) and eucalyptol (11.26%). On the other hand, the essential oil had eucalyptol (42.89%) and p‐cymene (16.51%) and did not contain ascaridol. Thus the most relevant volatile components in the species were monoterpenoids. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radical ring‐opening polymerization of five‐membered cyclic vinyl sulfone using p‐toluenesulfonyl halides
Authors: Tanaka Shimon , Furusho Yoshio , Endo Takeshi
Published: October 2012

Radical ring‐opening polymerizations of a five‐membered cyclic vinyl sulfone monomer, 2‐vinylthiolane‐1,1‐dioxide (VTDO), was carried out by using p‐toluenesulfonyl iodide (TosI) and bromide (TosBr) as radical initiators, and the corresponding ring‐opened polymer (PVTDO) was obtained. Both TosI and TosBr were found to work as the radical initiators for the polymerization of VTDO in bulk. The use of TosI gave PVTDOs with a broad, multimodal distribution of molecular weight in low yields. When 10 mol % of TosBr was employed, the isolated yield of PVTDO reached 49%, and the obtained PVTDO had a relatively narrow, monomodal molecular weight distribution of 1.8 with an Mn of 4100. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Flexible parametric joint modelling of longitudinal and survival data
Authors: Crowther Michael J. , Abrams Keith R. , Lambert Paul C.
Published: October 2012

The joint modelling of longitudinal and survival data is a highly active area of biostatistical research. The submodel for the longitudinal biomarker usually takes the form of a linear mixed effects model. We describe a flexible parametric approach for the survival submodel that models the log baseline cumulative hazard using restricted cubic splines. This approach overcomes limitations of standard parametric choices for the survival submodel, which can lack the flexibility to effectively capture the shape of the underlying hazard function. Numerical integration techniques, such as Gauss–Hermite quadrature, are usually required to evaluate both the cumulative hazard and the overall joint likelihood; however, by using a flexible parametric model, the cumulative hazard has an analytically tractable form, providing considerable computational benefits. We conduct an extensive simulation study to assess the proposed model, comparing it with a B‐spline formulation, illustrating insensitivity of parameter estimates to the baseline cumulative hazard function specification. Furthermore, we compare non‐adaptive and fully adaptive quadrature, showing the superiority of adaptive quadrature in evaluating the joint likelihood. We also describe a useful technique to simulate survival times from complex baseline hazard functions and illustrate the methods using an example data set investigating the association between longitudinal prothrombin index and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis, showing greater flexibility and improved stability with fewer parameters under the proposed model compared with the B‐spline approach. We provide user‐friendly Stata software. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A unified inference procedure for a class of measures to assess improvement in risk prediction systems with survival data
Authors: Uno Hajime , Tian Lu , Cai Tianxi , Kohane Isaac S. , Wei L.J.
Published: October 2012

Risk prediction procedures can be quite useful for the patient's treatment selection, prevention strategy, or disease management in evidence‐based medicine. Often, potentially important new predictors are available in addition to the conventional markers. The question is how to quantify the improvement from the new markers for prediction of the patient's risk in order to aid cost–benefit decisions. The standard method, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, to measure the added value may not be sensitive enough to capture incremental improvements from the new markers. Recently, some novel alternatives to area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, such as integrated discrimination improvement and net reclassification improvement, were proposed. In this paper, we consider a class of measures for evaluating the incremental values of new markers, which includes the preceding two as special cases. We present a unified procedure for making inferences about measures in the class with censored event time data. The large sample properties of our procedures are theoretically justified. We illustrate the new proposal with data from a cancer study to evaluate a new gene score for prediction of the patient's survival. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Testing Temperature on Retained Austenite Stability of Cold Rolled CMnSi Steels Treated by Quenching and Partitioning Process
Authors: Feng Weijun , Wu Zhibing , Wang Li , Speer John G.
Published: October 2012

The effect of testing temperature on retained austenite (RA) stability of industrially cold rolled CMnSi sheet steel treated by quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process has been investigated by observing the deformation and transformation behavior of RA at different testing temperatures. Uniaxial tensile properties at different temperatures were determined and a correlation between RA stability and mechanical properties were also established. Ultimate tensile strength increases monotonously when temperature decreases, while total elongation reaches an optimum value between 0 and 20°C, where RA exhibits the greatest TRIP effect. Work hardening rate was calculated to decrease through three different stages in an oscillation manner, leading to significant enhancement in both strength and ductility. The kinetic of deformation‐induced martensite transformation is also studied and the stability of RA can be evaluated by comparing the kinetic parameter β.
Occupying Syria under the French Mandate
Authors: Neep Daniel
Published: October 2012

What role does military force play during a colonial occupation? The answer seems obvious: coercion crushes local resistance, quashes political dissent and consolidates the dominance of the occupying power. However, as this discerning and theoretically rigorous study suggests, violence can have much more ambiguous consequences. Set in Syria during the French Mandate from 1920 to 1946, the book explores a turbulent period in which conflict between armed Syrian insurgents and French military forces not only determined the strategic objectives of the colonial state, but also transformed how the colonial state organised, controlled and understood Syrian society, geography and population. In addition to the coercive techniques, the book shows how civilian technologies such as urban planning and engineering were also commandeered in the effort to undermine rebel advances. Colonial violence had a lasting effect in Syria, shaping a peculiar form of social order that endured well after the French occupation.
The Boreal Owl
Authors: Korpimäki Erkki , Hakkarainen Harri
Published: October 2012

Widespread in North American forest regions including the Rocky Mountains, the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) was once the most numerous predatory bird in Eurasian boreal forests. Synthesising the results of unique long-term studies of Boreal Owls, this book explores hunting modes, habitats and foods, prey interactions, mating and parental care, reproduction, dispersal, survival and mortality, population regulation and conservation in boreal forests. Providing a detailed introduction to the species, the authors study the complex interactions of Boreal Owls with their prey species. They examine the inter-sexual tug-of-war over parental care, and the behavioural and demographic adaptations to environmental conditions that predictably and markedly fluctuate both seasonally and multi-annually. They also question whether Boreal Owls are able to time their reproductive effort to maximise lifetime reproductive success. Discussing the effect of modern forestry practices on owl populations, the book also examines how Boreal Owls could be managed to sustain viable populations.
Britten's Unquiet Pasts
Authors: Wiebe Heather
Published: October 2012

Examining the intersections between musical culture and a British project of reconstruction from the 1940s to the early 1960s, this study asks how gestures toward the past negotiated issues of recovery and renewal. In the wake of the Second World War, music became a privileged site for re-enchanting notions of history and community, but musical recourse to the past also raised issues of mourning and loss. How was sound figured as a historical object and as a locus of memory and magic? Wiebe addresses this question using a wide range of sources, from planning documents to journalism, public ceremonial and literature. Its central focus, however, is a set of works by Benjamin Britten that engaged both with the distant musical past and with key episodes of postwar reconstruction, including the Festival of Britain, the Coronation of Elizabeth II and the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral.
Barriers to Peace in Civil War
Authors: Cunningham David E.
Published: October 2012

Civil wars vary greatly in their duration. This book argues that conflicts are longer when they involve more actors who can block agreement (veto players) and identifies specific problems that arise in multi-party bargaining. Quantitative analysis of over 200 civil wars since World War II reveals that conflicts with more of these actors last much longer than those with fewer. Detailed comparison of negotiations in Rwanda and Burundi demonstrates that multi-party negotiations present additional barriers to peace not found in two party conflicts. In addition, conflicts with more veto players produce more casualties, are more likely to involve genocide and are followed by shorter periods of peace. Because they present many barriers to peace, the international community has a poor track record of resolving multi-party conflicts. David Cunningham shows that resolution is possible in these wars if peace processes are designed to address the barriers that emerge in multi-party conflicts.
Governance of biodiversity in Poland before and after the accession to the EU: the tale of two roads
Authors: NIEDZIAŁKOWSKI KRZYSZTOF , PAAVOLA JOUNI , JĘDRZEJEWSKA BOGUMIŁA
Published: October 2012

Accession of the Central and Eastern European countries to the European Union involved considerable institutional changes in the field of environmental governance that undermined existing policy practices. Such changes in biodiversity governance are examined through two case studies from Poland concerning road development schemes in ecologically sensitive areas. Documentary material and semi-structured interviews are analysed and interpreted in light of the policy arrangement approach and historical institutionalism. After the EU accession there was a rapid shift from a government-monopolized arrangement towards a multi-level governance arrangement with regard to conflicts between infrastructure and natural areas. Previously, the government controlled practically all aspects of environmental policymaking, despite potential routes for greater involvement of non-state actors. Only the formal rules of Natura 2000 and environmental impact assessment, guarded by a coalition of powerful supranational bodies, non-governmental organizations and scientists, changed the pattern of governmental policy-making. New policy arrangements have increased capacity and legitimacy in the implementation of the European Union rules.
High supersaturation inside cirrus in well‐developed tropical tropopause layer over Indonesia
Authors: Inai Y. , Shibata T. , Fujiwara M. , Hasebe F. , Vömel H.
Published: October 2012

The relationship between relative humidity and cirrus clouds in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) is investigated using balloon‐borne cryogenic frostpoint hygrometers (CFH) and quasi‐collocated measurements of space‐borne Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) over Biak (1.17°S, 136.06°E) and Kototabang (0.20°S, 100.32°E) both in Indonesia in Januaries 2007 and 2008. At Kototabang, thin layers of high supersaturation, up to ∼160% in relative humidity with respect to ice (RHi), are often observed co‐existing with cirrus clouds at altitudes of ∼15–18 km. At Biak, RHi inside cirrus is around 100% or less without large supersaturation layers, and most clouds are limited to altitudes below 16 km. We found that the presence and the degree of supersaturation may strongly depend on the phases of large‐scale disturbances such as the MJO rather than geographical difference.
Consequences of negative ions for Titan's plasma interaction
Authors: Ledvina Stephen A. , Brecht Stephen H.
Published: October 2012

A hybrid particle code has been used to examine how Titan's interaction with Saturn's magnetosphere is affected by the presence of negative ions in Titan's ionosphere. The simulations self‐consistently include a version of Titan's ionosphere represented by 8 generic positive ion species, over 40 ion‐neutral chemical reactions, ion‐neutral collisions and Hall and Pederson conductivities. A model consisting of 6 generic negative ion species is also included. The presence of negative ions is found to alter the conductivity of Titan's ionosphere, changing the loss rates of the ionospheric species and modifying the topology of Titan's ion tail.
Second order statistics of selection combining receiver over κ‐μfading channels subject to co‐channel interferences
Authors: Stefanović Mihajlo , Panić Stefan R. , Stefanović Dušan , Nikolić Bojana , Cvetković Aleksandra
Published: October 2012

Radio propagation performances in interference‐limited faded environment are studied in this paper. Selection combining (SC) based on signal‐to‐interference ratio (SIR) overκ‐μfading channels is performed. Probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the received SIR are determined. Based on the results obtained for PDF and CDF, infinite‐series expressions are derived for the output level crossing rate (LCR) and average fade duration (AFD). These second order statistical measures are regarded as necessary for supporting technical documentation in every radio communication link design. Influences of various system parameters such as fading severity and the number of co‐channel interferences affecting these measures are graphically presented and discussed.
Long-time behavior of a two-layer model of baroclinic quasi-geostrophic turbulence
Authors: Farhat Aseel , Lee Panetta R. , Titi Edriss S. , Ziane Mohammed
Published: October 2012

We study a viscous two-layer quasi-geostrophic beta-plane model that is forced by imposition of a spatially uniform vertical shear in the eastward (zonal) component of the layer flows, or equivalently a spatially uniform north-south temperature gradient. We prove that the model is linearly unstable, but that nonlinear solutions are bounded in time by a bound which is independent of the initial data and is determined only by the physical parameters of the model. We further prove, using arguments first presented in the study of the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky equation, the existence of an absorbing ball in appropriate function spaces, and in fact the existence of a compact finite-dimensional attractor, and provide upper bounds for the fractal and Hausdorff dimensions of the attractor. Finally, we show the existence of an inertial manifold for the dynamical system generated by the model's solution operator. Our results provide rigorous justification for observations made by Panetta based on long-time numerical integrations of the model equations.
Nanostructures synthesis by femtosecond laser ablation of glasses
Authors: Vipparty D. , Tan B. , Venkatakrishnan K.
Published: October 2012

In this article, we investigate the variations in ablation dynamics that result in diverse nanostructures on SiO2 based glass samples. A three-dimensional fibrous nanoparticle agglomerate was observed on sodalime glass when exposed to femtosecond laser irradiation. The fused nanoparticles have diameters ranging from 30 nm to 70 nm. Long continuous nanofibers of extremely high aspect ratio (certain fibers up to 100 000:1) were obtained by exposing silica glass surface to femtosecond laser irradiation at MHz repetition rate in air. A nanostructure assembly comprising of nanofiber and nanoparticle agglomerates was also observed by ablating silica glass. From our experimental analysis, it was determined that variation in bandgap and material composition alters ablation dynamics and dictates the response of glass to femtosecond laser irradiation, ultimately leading to the formation of structures with varying morphology on silica and sodalime glass. The possible underlying mechanisms that produce such nanostructures on glass specimens have also been explored.
THz rotational spectrum of H2F+
Authors: Amano T. , Matsushima F. , Shiraishi T. , Shinozuka C. , Fujimori R. , Kawaguchi K.
Published: October 2012

In view of recent tremendous advance in astronomical observations in the submillimeter to THz region brought by the Herschel space craft, laboratory high-resolution spectroscopic investigations in that frequency region into unstable molecules, in particular, light hydride ions, are urgently needed. As a part of such endeavor, rotational transitions of H2F+ were observed in the THz-region by using a tunable far-infrared spectrometer. These newly detected lines together with the submillimeter-wave lines obtained previously and the combination differences derived from infrared vibration-rotation lines were subject to a least-squares analysis that yielded a set of molecular constants with much better accuracy. The measured and predicted THz transition frequencies should prove to be a useful probe into detection of interstellar H2F+.
Ghost imaging lidar via sparsity constraints
Authors: Zhao Chengqiang , Gong Wenlin , Chen Mingliang , Li Enrong , Wang Hui , Xu Wendong , Han Shensheng
Published: October 2012

For remote sensing, high-resolution imaging techniques are helpful to catch more characteristic information of the target. We extend pseudo-thermal light ghost imaging to the area of remote imaging and propose a ghost imaging lidar system. The experimental results demonstrate that the real-space image of a target at about 1.0 km range with 20 mm resolution is achieved by ghost imaging via sparsity constraints (GISC) technique. The characters of GISC technique compared to the existing lidar systems are also discussed.
Crystallographic direction dependence of direct current field induced strain and phase transitions in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-x%BaTiO3 single crystals near the morphotropic phase boundary
Authors: Luo Chengtao , Ge Wenwei , Zhang Qinhui , Li Jiefang , Luo Haosu , Viehland D.
Published: October 2012

The crystallographic dependence of the DC electric (E) field induced strain and phase transition in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-5.6%BaTiO3 (NBT-5.6%BT) single crystals has been investigated. An induced transition between pseudocubic and tetragonal structures was observed under E = 10 kV/cm for fields applied along the 〈001〉 direction, whereas an induced transition between pseudocubic and rhombohedral structures was observed when the E-field was applied along 〈111〉. Our results show near the morphotropic phase boundary that the phase stability of NBT-x%BT is dependent on the crystallographic direction along which E was applied.
Exploiting piezoelectric charge for high performance graded InGaN nanowire solar cells
Authors: Golam Sarwar A. T. M. , Myers R. C.
Published: October 2012

The effect of piezoelectric charge on the performance of p-GaN/n-InGaN abrupt and graded heterojunction nanowire solar cells is investigated by numerical simulation. In abrupt junctions, piezoelectric charge increases the energy barrier height for hole transport into GaN, resulting in poor overall efficiency. Incorporation of a linearly graded junction improves the performance by removing the valence band barrier. Grading distributes the strain field over a wider region than in an abrupt junction. Both spontaneous and piezoelectric charge boost the efficiency by generating polarization-induced p-type conductivity. A maximum overall efficiency of ∼21% is predicted considering the effect of polarization charge.
Growth factor expression pattern of homologous feeder layer for culturing buffalo embryonic stem cell-like cells
Authors: Sharma Ruchi , George Aman , Kamble Nitin M. , Chauhan Manmohan S. , Singla Suresh , Manik Radhey S. , Palta Prabhat
Published: October 2012

The present study examined the expression profile of buffalo fetal fibroblasts (BFF) used as a feeder layer for embryonic stem (ES) cell-like cells. The expression of important growth factors was detected in cells at different passages. Mitomycin-C inactivation increased relative expression levels of ACTIVIN-A, TGF-β1, BMP-4 and GREMLIN but not of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). The expression level of ACTIVIN-A, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) and FGF-2 was similar in buffalo fetal fibroblast (BFF) cultured in stem cell medium (SCM), SCM + 1000 IU mL–1 leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), SCM + 5 ng mL–1 FGF-2 or SCM + LIF + FGF-2 for 24 h whereas GREMLIN expression was higher in FGF-2-supplemented groups. In spent medium, the concentration of ACTIVIN-A was higher in FGF-2-supplemented groups whereas that of TGF-β1 was similar in SCM and LIF + FGF-2, which was higher than when either LIF or FGF-2 was used alone. Following culture of ES cell-like cells on a feeder layer for 24 h, the TGF-β1 concentration was higher with LIF+FGF-2 than with LIF or FGF-2 alone which, in turn, was higher than that in SCM. In the LIF + FGF-2 group, the concentration of TGF-β1 was lower and that of ACTIVIN-A was higher in spent medium at 24 h than at 48 h of culture. These results suggest that BFF produce signalling molecules that may help in self-renewal of buffalo ES cell-like cells.
EXPLAINING VARIATION IN WORK ETHIC IN EUROPE
Authors: Stam Kirsten , Verbakel Ellen , De Graaf Paul M.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents unique descriptive and explanatory analyses of cross-national variation in work ethic in 44 European countries (European Values Study 2008). A strong work ethic is the conviction that people have a moral duty to work. To explain differences in the adherence of the work ethic between countries two alternative theories are tested: modernisation theory and social institutional theory. Modernisation theory hypothesises that richer, more highly educated and urbanised countries have a weaker work ethic. Alternatively, social institutional theory predicts that countries' religious heritage, generosity of the welfare state and political history can explain differences in work ethic between countries. Multilevel regression models on an unprecedented set of 44 countries show that the modernisation hypotheses are supported. With regard to institutions, it is shown that work ethic is stronger in countries with an Islamic and Orthodox heritage as compared to a Protestant and Catholic heritage and in ex-communist countries and countries with less generous welfare states. When both theories are tested simultaneously, variance decomposition suggests that social institutional theory has more explanatory power than modernisation theory. Religious heritage is shown to be the most important factor to explain variation in work ethic between countries. Thus, although our modern societies become increasingly secularised, religious heritage still impacts our norms and values about work in a significant manner.
Does General Anesthesia Increase the Diagnostic Yield of Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration of Pancreatic Masses?
Authors: Ootaki Chiyo , Stevens Tyler , Vargo John , You Jing , Shiba Ayako , Foss Joseph , Borkowski Raymond , Maurer Walter
Published: October 2012

Background

: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of the pancreas has become the preferred method for tissue diagnosis for pancreatic solid masses. The yield of EUS-FNA in this setting is influenced by multiple factors. We hypothesized that general anesthesia (GA) may improve EUS-FNA yield by improving patient cooperation and stillness during the procedure. Our objective was to assess the association between the sedation method employed and the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA.

Methods

: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving consecutive patients who received EUS-FNA for diagnosis of a solid pancreatic mass at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH) gastrointestinal endoscopy units from 2007 to 2009. We compared the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA between patients receiving GA provided by an anesthesiologist (GA group) and patients receiving conscious sedation (CS) provided by a qualified registered nurse (CS group).

Results

: Of 371 patients, a cytological diagnosis was obtained in 73/88 patients (83%) in the GA group and 206/283 patients (73%) in the CS group. Anesthesiologist-delivered GA was associated with an increased odds of having a successful diagnosis as compared with CS (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 2.56 [1.27-5.17], P = 0.01). However, the incidence of complication during or after the procedure was not different between the groups (P > 0.99).

Conclusions

: Anesthesiologist-delivered GA was associated with a significantly higher diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA. GA should be considered a preferred sedation method for EUS-FNA of a solid pancreatic mass.
A special issue of abstracted articles on industrial and commercial training
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: October 2012

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of the Industrial and Commercial Training is split into six sections covering abstracts under the following headings:Education/Graduates/Students; Training/Learning Techniques; Skills Training; Management Development;
Career/Human Resources Development; Training Technology.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Sandelands Eric
Published: October 2012

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of Employee Relations is split into seven sections covering abstracts under the following headings:
Design of Work; Performance, Productivity and Motivation; Patterns of Work; Pay, Incentives and Pensions; Career/Manpower Planning ; Industrial Relations and Participation; Health and Safety.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: October 2012

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of Employee Relations is split into seven sections covering abstracts under the following headings:
Design of work; Performance, productivity and motivation; Patterns of work; Pay, incentives and pensions; Career/manpower planning, recruitment; Industrial relations and participation; Health and safety.
Nations' income inequality predicts ambivalence in stereotype content: How societies mind the gap
Authors: Durante Federica , Fiske Susan T. , Kervyn Nicolas , Cuddy Amy J. C. , Akande Adebowale (Debo) , Adetoun Bolanle E. , Adewuyi Modupe F. , Tserere Magdeline M. , Ramiah Ananthi Al , Mastor Khairul Anwar , Barlow Fiona Kate , Bonn Gregory , Tafarodi Romin W. , Bosak Janine , Cairns Ed , Doherty Claire , Capozza Dora , Chandran Anjana , Chryssochoou Xenia , Iatridis Tilemachos , Contreras Juan Manuel , Costa‐Lopes Rui , González Roberto , Lewis Janet I. , Tushabe Gerald , Leyens Jacques‐Philippe , Mayorga Renée , Rouhana Nadim N. , Castro Vanessa Smith , Perez Rolando , Rodríguez‐Bailón Rosa , Moya Miguel , Morales Marente Elena , Palacios Gálvez Marisol , Sibley Chris G. , Asbrock Frank , Storari Chiara C.
Published: October 2012

Income inequality undermines societies: The more inequality, the more health problems, social tensions, and the lower social mobility, trust, life expectancy. Given people's tendency to legitimate existing social arrangements, the stereotype content model (SCM) argues that ambivalence―perceiving many groups as either warm or competent, but not both―may help maintain socio‐economic disparities. The association between stereotype ambivalence and income inequality in 37 cross‐national samples from Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and Africa investigates how groups' overall warmth‐competence, status‐competence, and competition‐warmth correlations vary across societies, and whether these variations associate with income inequality (Gini index). More unequal societies report more ambivalent stereotypes, whereas more equal ones dislike competitive groups and do not necessarily respect them as competent. Unequal societies may need ambivalence for system stability: Income inequality compensates groups with partially positive social images.
Improved glycaemic control with vildagliptin added to insulin, with or without metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kothny W. , Foley J. , Kozlovski P. , Shao Q. , Gallwitz B. , Lukashevich V.
Published: October 2012

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin 50 mg bid as add‐on therapy to insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

This is a multicentre, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel group, clinical trial in T2DM patients inadequately controlled by stable insulin therapy, with or without metformin. Patients received treatment with vildagliptin 50 mg bid or placebo for 24 weeks.

Results

In all, 449 patients were randomized to vildagliptin (n = 228) or placebo (n = 221). After 24 weeks, the difference in adjusted mean change in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between vildagliptin and placebo was −0.7 ± 0.1% (p < 0.001) in the overall study population, −0.6 ± 0.1% (p < 0.001) in the subgroup also receiving metformin and −0.8 ± 0.2% (p < 0.001) in the subgroup without metformin. Vildagliptin therapy was well tolerated and had a similarly low incidence of hypoglycaemia compared with placebo (8.4 vs. 7.2%, p = 0.66) in spite of improved glycaemic control, and was not associated with weight gain. (+0.1 vs. −0.4 kg).

Conclusions

Vildagliptin 50 mg bid added to insulin significantly reduced HbA1c in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled by insulin, with or without metformin. Vildagliptin was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to placebo. These results were achieved without weight gain or an increase in hypoglycaemia incidence or severity in spite of improved glycaemic control.
Life cycle assessment of eucalyptus short rotation coppices for bioenergy production in southern France
Authors: Gabrielle Benoît , Nguyen The Nicolas , Maupu Pauline , Vial Estelle
Published: October 2012

Short rotation coppices (SRC) are considered prime candidates for biomass production, yielding good‐quality feedstock that is easy to harvest. Besides technical, social and economical aspects, environmental issues are important to be taken into account when developing SRC. Here, we evaluated the environmental impacts of delivering 1 GJ of heat from eucalyptus SRC using life cycle assessment (LCA), based on management scenarios involving different rotations lengths, fertilizer input rates, stem densities and harvest methods. Compared to equivalent fossil chains, all eucalyptus scenarios achieved savings of fossil energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the 80–90% range, and had generally lower impacts, except for eutrophication. The 3 year rotation scenario was the most energy and GHG‐intensive, whereas manual felling for the longer rotations resulted in twofold larger photochemical ozone impacts compared to the other scenarios. Transportation of wood chips and fertilization were the top two contributors to the impacts, the latter being more important with the shorter rotation lengths due to the evergreen character of eucalyptus. The possibility of including ecosystem carbon dynamics was also investigated, by translating the temporary sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in the above and belowground biomass of eucalyptus as CO2 savings using various published equivalence factors. This offset the life cycle GHG emissions of heat provision from eucalyptus SRC by 70–400%.