bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimising lubricated friction coefficient by surface texturing
Authors: de la Guerra Ochoa E , Otero J Echávarri , Tanarro E Chacón , Morgado P Lafont , Lantada A Díaz , Munoz-Guijosa JM , Sanz JL Muñoz
Published: November 2013

Surface texturing has proved to be a very useful tool for expanding the behaviour under hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic regimes instead of mixed or boundary lubrication regimes, and therefore for reducing the friction coefficient under high-load low-speed conditions. This article presents the texturing of different copper test-samples using photolithography and chemical etching to measure the friction coefficient using a point contact machine. The effects of texture size, texturing density, the initial roughness of the samples and the operating conditions have all been studied. Some combinations of texturing density and texture size achieve up to 30% reduction in the friction coefficient. Taking into account experimental data, artificial neural networks are used as a tool for both predicting and optimising the friction coefficient on the textured surface for any given operating condition.
Reliability-based design optimization of fluid–solid interaction problems
Authors: Jang Hong-Lae , Cho Hyunkyoo , Choi Kyung K , Cho Seonho
Published: November 2013

Using a sampling-based reliability-based design optimization method, we present a shape reliability-based design optimization method for coupled fluid–solid interaction problems. For the fluid–solid interaction problem in arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation, a coupled variational equation is derived from a steady state Navier–Stokes equation for incompressible flows, an equilibrium equation for geometrically nonlinear solids, and a traction continuity condition at interfaces. The fluid–solid interaction problem is solved using the finite element method and the Newton–Raphson scheme. For the fluid mesh movement, we formulated and solved a pseudo-structural sub-problem. The shape of the solid is modeled using the Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surface, and the coordinate components of the control points are selected as random design variables. The sensitivity of the probabilistic constraint is calculated using the first-order score functions obtained from the input distributions and from the Monte Carlo simulation on the surrogate model constructed by using the Dynamic Kriging method. The sequential quadratic programming algorithm is used for the optimization. In two numerical examples, the proposed optimization method is applied to the shape design problems of solid structure which is loaded by prescribed fluid flow, and this proves that the sampling-based reliability-based design optimization can be successfully utilized for obtaining a reliable optimum design in highly nonlinear multi-physics problems.
Artificial intelligence approach for the prediction of heat transfer coefficient in boiling over tube bundles
Authors: Swain Abhilas , Das Mihir Kumar
Published: November 2013

The determination of heat transfer coefficient plays an important role in optimal designing of heat transfer equipments as it directly affects the heat surface area and thereby the weight and cost of the equipment. Thus, prediction of heat transfer coefficient with minimum error reduces the exhaustive experimental work. Therefore, the prime objective of the present work is the application of computational intelligence methods for improving the prediction accuracy of heat transfer coefficient in flow boiling over tube bundles. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) are applied to predict the flow boiling heat transfer coefficient as output, taking pressure, pitch of the bundle, heat flux, mass flux and vapour quality as input. The performance of different derivatives of neural network such as multilayer perceptron, general regression neural network and radial basis network (RBF) is studied with varying the parameter. The ANFIS is tested with different types and number of membership functions for the prediction of flow boiling heat transfer coefficient. These methods are found to be better for predicting the flow boiling heat transfer coefficient than conventional correlations.
Evaluation of elastic constants of A3003 honeycomb core with varying hexagonal cell geometries through finite element approach
Authors: Rajkumar S , Ravindran D , Sharma Ramesh S , Raghupathy VP
Published: November 2013

Aluminum honeycomb core is one of the most sought after material for the sandwich panel for light weight applications. While the aluminum face sheet is isotropic, the honeycomb core assumes orthotropic characteristics due to its configuration and strenuous load transfer paths. It is now well established that stiffness, dynamic, and low velocity impact response of the honeycomb core sandwich panel are critically dependent on the elastic constants of the core. An attempt is made to determine the elastic constants of orthotropic core through finite element approach simulating the load transfer and fixity boundary conditions likely to be prevalent in the unit cell of the honeycomb core. The cell wall thickness and the cell shape dictated by plastic bending limitations have also been simulated to determine their influence on the elastic constants. Further, the cell wall thickness and the bend radius have been varied and their influence on orthotropic elastic constants has been determined. The results of the study have been compared with analytical solutions proposed by researchers. The finite element procedure evolved is a simple, efficient, and quick solution methodology to accurately predict elastic constants of honeycomb core depicting the exact cell size and shape.
Emotionally Troubled Teens’ Help-Seeking Behaviors
Authors: Strunk Catherine M. , Sorter Michael T. , Ossege Julianne , King Keith A.
Published: November 2013

Many school-based suicide prevention programs do not show a positive impact on help-seeking behaviors among emotionally troubled teens despite their being at high risk for suicide. This study is a secondary analysis of the Surviving the Teens® program evaluation to determine its effect on help-seeking behaviors among troubled youth. Results showed significant increases in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent to Communicate with Important Others Regarding Emotional Health Issues subscale ( p < .0005) from pretest to 3-month follow-up. There was a significant increase ( p = .006) in mean scores of the Behavioral Intent Regarding Help-Seeking Behaviors when Suicidal subscale from pretest to posttest, but not at 3-month follow-up. Also, there was a significant increase ( p = .016) in mean scores in the item “I would tell an adult if I was suicidal” from pretest to 3-month follow-up. These findings suggest that the Surviving the Teens program has a positive effect on help-seeking behaviors in troubled youth.
White Blood Cell Subtypes and Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio in Prediction of Coronary Thrombus Formation in Non-ST-Segment Elevated Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Yilmaz Mustafa , Tenekecioglu Erhan , Arslan Burhan , Bekler Adem , Ozluk Ozlem Arican , Karaagac Kemal , Agca Fahriye Vatansever , Peker Tezcan , Akgumus Alkame
Published: November 2013

Leukocytes are reported as crucial not only for plaque activation but also in thrombus formation in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). Among the markers of inflammation, in coronary artery disease neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to have the greatest predictive power of poor outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the association of NLR with coronary thrombus in patients with non-ST-segment elevated ACSs (NST-ACSs). A total of 251 patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of NST-ACS including non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris. Coronary angiographies were performed. In 167 patients, coronary thrombus was detected. Between the patient groups with and without coronary thrombus, neutrophil count, platelet count, and NLR are significantly increased, and lymphocyte count is significantly decreased in the group with coronary thrombus as compared to patient group without coronary thrombus. Leukocyte count and NLR may give an indication about the presence of coronary thrombus. In NST-ACS, blood parameters may give valuable information about the status of the coronary arteries.
Thrombomodulin is a Strong Predictor of Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome in Patients With Sepsis
Authors: Mihajlovic Dunja M. , Lendak Dajana F. , Draskovic Biljana G. , Mikic Aleksandra S. Novakov , Mitic Gorana P. , Cebovic Tatjana N. , Brkic Snezana V.
Published: November 2013

Background:

Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are not recommended for routine laboratory investigation of the outcome prognosis and prediction of the course of sepsis.

Methods:

A total of 60 patients who fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis were included in our study. Development of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in the first 48 hours was assessed. Differences between groups of patients with sepsis were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test and by Kruskal-Wallis test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the joint effect of different predictors.

Results:

Level of thrombomodulin was significantly higher in group of patients with MODS than without MODS ( P = .015). Levels of antithrombin ( P = .026) and protein C ( P = .035) were significantly lower in patients with MODS. Level of thrombomodulin was the strongest predictor in MODS development in first 48 hours ( P = .028).

Conclusion:

The level of thrombomodulin not only was able to distinguish the severity of sepsis but also was a significant predictor of MODS development.
Is There Any Association Between Thrombosis and Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Levels in Patients With Vitamin D Deficiency?
Authors: Topaloglu Oya , Arslan Muyesser Sayki , Karakose Melia , Ucan Bekir , Ginis Zeynep , Cakir Evrim , Akkaymak Esra Tutal , Sahin Mustafa , Ozbek Mustafa , Cakal Erman , Delibasi Tuncay
Published: November 2013

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and hemostatic factors like tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI).

Methods:

Patients who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels measured were included. Coagulation and hemostatic parameters were evaluated. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on 25(OH)D3 levels as group 1 (25(OH)D3 < 10 ng/mL, n = 25), group 2 (25(OH)D3 = 10-19.9 ng/mL, n = 22), and group 3 (25(OH)D3 ≥ 20 ng/mL, n = 28).

Results:

A total of 75 patients with a mean age of 39 (range 18-57) years were included in the study. Prothrombin time was longer in group 3 than in group 2 ( P = .043). The TFPI levels were higher in group 3 than in the other groups ( P < .001). There was a strong positive correlation between 25(OH)D3 and TFPI levels ( r = .47, P < .001).

Conclusion:

Further studies are needed for evaluation of the role of TFPI in hemostasis and thrombotic process in patients with vitamin D deficiency.
The life, death, and attempted rebirth of bevacizumab in breast cancer
Authors: Seddon Amanda N , Cuellar Sandra , Haaf Christina M
Published: November 2013

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women. In recent years, there has been immense drug discovery and development in the field of breast cancer. Most recently, the role of vascular endothelial growth factor has moved to the treatment forefront with bevacizumab immersed into the literature as well as the media. Bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor FDA approved for the treatment of other cancers, was first studied in metastatic breast cancer. Its use in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative metastatic breast cancer ultimately failed to show an improvement in overall survival in landmark trials (E2100, AVADO, RIBBON-1 and RIBBON-2) despite its positive impact on progression-free survival. The role is yet to be determined in triple negative breast cancer as well as in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. Trends begin to emerge as bevacizumab is combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs in terms of toxicities. The addition of bevacizumab is associated with an increase in the dose-limiting toxicities of the drugs combined in the regimen. As previous literature suggest, hypertension and proteinuria were also seen with the addition of bevacizumab, both of which are known adverse events. Lastly, there is a trend towards increased incidence of heart failure when bevacizumab is combined with another cardiotoxic medication, doxorubicin. This toxicity has been shown to be reversible in the majority of the cases and has a low incidence in the currently published literature.
Complement Activation and Liver Impairment in Trichloroethylene-Sensitized BALB/c Mice
Authors: Zhang Jiaxiang , Zha Wansheng , Wang Feng , Jiang Tao , Xu Shuhai , Yu Junfeng , Zhou Chengfan , Shen Tong , Wu Changhao , Zhu Qixing
Published: November 2013

Our recent studies have shown that trichloroethylene (TCE) was able to induce multisystem injuries in the form of occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis, including skin, kidney, and liver damages. However, the role of complement activation in the immune-mediated liver injury is not known. This study examined the role of complement activation in the liver injury in a mouse model of TCE-induced sensitization. Treatment of female BALB/c mice with TCE under specific dosing protocols resulted in skin inflammation and sensitization. Skin edema and erythema occurred in TCE-sensitized groups. Trichloroethylene sensitization produced liver histopathological lesions, increased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase activities, and the relative liver weight. The concentrations of serum complement components C3a-desArg, C5a-desArg, and C5b-9 were significantly increased in 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour sensitization-positive groups treated with TCE and peaked in the 72-hour sensitization-positive group. Depositions of C3a, C5a, and C5b-9 into the liver tissue were also revealed by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence further verified high C5b-9 expression in 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour sensitization-positive groups in response to TCE treatment. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction detected C3 messenger RNA expression in the liver, and this was significantly increased in 24-hour and 48-hour sensitization-positive groups with a transient reduction at 72 hours. These results provide the first experimental evidence that complement activation may play a key role in the generation and progression of immune-mediated hepatic injury by exposure to TCE.
Pain, mindfulness, and spirituality: A randomized controlled trial comparing effects of mindfulness and relaxation on pain-related outcomes in migraineurs
Authors: Feuille Margaret , Pargament Ken
Published: November 2013

In order to examine mindfulness as an intervention for pain, 107 migraineurs, predominantly college students, were randomly assigned to brief training in standardized mindfulness, spiritualized mindfulness, and simple relaxation instructions. After 2 weeks of daily practice, participants completed the cold-pressor task while practicing their assigned technique, and their experience of the task was assessed. Among the 74 study-completers, standardized mindfulness led to significantly reduced pain-related stress relative to simple relaxation, providing modest support for the utility of mindfulness in pain management. Pain-related outcomes in the spiritualized mindfulness condition were similar to those of standardized mindfulness, though spirituality did appear to enhance mindful awareness.
Experiential knowledge of disability, impairment and illness: The reproductive decisions of families genetically at risk
Authors: Boardman Felicity
Published: November 2013

As the capacities of Reproductive Genetic Technologies expand, would-be parents face an increasing number of reproductive decisions regarding testing and screening for different conditions. Several studies have acknowledged the role that ‘experiential knowledge of disability’ plays in arriving at decisions around the use of these technologies; however, there is a lack of clarity within this literature as to what constitutes ‘experiential knowledge of disability’ and an over-reliance on medical diagnoses as a shorthand to describe different types of experience. Drawing on both social model of disability theory and the literature on chronic illness, this article presents an analysis of data from an in-depth qualitative interview study with 64 people with an inheritable condition in their family, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and reports their views around reproduction and Reproductive Genetic Technologies. An experiential typology is presented which demonstrates the way in which experiences of ‘disability’, ‘embodied experiences of impairment’ or ‘embodied experiences of illness, death and bereavement’ are strategically privileged in accounts of reproductive decisions, in order to validate reproductive decisions taken, and, specifically, justify use (or non-use) of Reproductive Genetic Technologies. By highlighting the experiential categories within which participants embedded their reproductive decisions, this article draws attention to the porous and collapsible nature of diagnostic categories in the context of reproductive decision-making and genetic risk, and suggests new ways of researching ‘experiential knowledge of disability’ within these contexts which are able to account for the various contours of the embodied lived reality of life with ‘disability’.
Is it live or is it timeshifted, streamed or downloaded? Watching television in the era of multiple screens
Authors: Bury Rhiannon , Li Johnson
Published: November 2013

The viewing of television programming on screens other than a television set has become increasingly common. This article discusses the different modes of viewing that have emerged as a result of timeshifting, downloading, streaming and mobile technologies. Using data collected from an online survey ( n = 671) over a six-month period in 2010–2011, we present a descriptive and inferential statistical analysis of both traditional and emerging modes of viewing. We also examine whether significant differences exist across three demographic variables: gender, age and country or region of residence. Our findings show that while the majority of viewing still takes place in front of a television screen, the computer has achieved secondary screen status among North Americans and equal status among younger viewers and Europeans. Viewing on a mobile device remains minimal across all demographics.
Looking at picturebook covers multimodally: the case of two-Mum and two-Dad picturebooks
Authors: Sunderland Jane , Mcglashan Mark
Published: November 2013

Picturebooks featuring same-sex parents, although growing in number, remain underexplored. In this article, the authors look at the covers of four such picturebooks, in particular at the representation of the co-parents and the multimodal workings of image and text. They ask: ‘How can the multimodal relationship between image and written text (the title) on the covers of picturebooks featuring same-sex parents best be described and explained?’ This study is timely in that the image–text relationship is a contested one. Drawing on the notions of modal affordance and epistemological commitment and the Hallidayan functional grammar category of enhancement, the authors use Theo van Leeuwen’s (2008, 1996) Social Actors frameworks, in particular the Visual Representation frameworks, to show that image and text (the title) are not commensurate in the meanings they communicate. Further, rather than one mode being merely supportive of the other, image and text, here, are ‘mutually enhancing’ (see Unsworth and Cléirigh’s contribution to The Routledge Handbook of Multimodal Analysis, edited by Carey Jewitt, 2011). In these picturebooks, gay identities and practices can be – and indeed need to be read through an appreciation of this mutual enhancement, rather than through image or text (title) alone or in parallel. The authors propose that mutual enhancement may be characteristic of a sometime transgressive genre such as picturebooks featuring gay parents.
Switching control of an underwater glider with independently controllable wings
Authors: Caiti Andrea , Calabrò Vincenzo , Geluardi Stefano , Grammatico Sergio , Munafò Andrea
Published: November 2013

The dynamic, control-oriented model of an underwater glider with independently controllable wings is presented. The onboard vehicle’s actuators are a ballast tank and two hydrodynamic wings. A control strategy is proposed to improve the vehicle’s maneuverability. In particular, a switching control law, together with a backstepping feedback scheme, is designed to limit the energy-inefficient actions of the ballast tank and hence to enforce efficient maneuvers. The case study considered here is an underwater vehicle with hydrodynamic wings behind its main hull. This unusual structure is motivated by the recently introduced concept of the underwater wave glider, which is a vehicle capable of both surface and underwater navigation. The proposed control strategy is validated via numerical simulations, in which the simulated vehicle has to perform three-dimensional path-following maneuvers.
Nonlinear dynamic characteristics of journal bearing–rotor system considering the pitching and rolling motion for marine turbo machinery
Authors: Guanghui Zhang , Shupeng Liu , Ruixian Ma , Zhansheng Liu
Published: November 2013

Rotating machinery in marine engine systems experiences the base excitation and the additional gyroscopic moment from the pitching and rolling motion of the ship. For some cases, the motion can cause the rotor system damage. The nonlinear model of the journal bearing–rotor system for marine turbo machinery considering the pitching and rolling motion is established by coupling the basement motion and nonlinear oil film force together. Then the nonlinear dynamic characteristics for the system with the unbalanced mass are studied. By employing the Newmark method, the dynamic response of the rotor-bearing system is simulated. The orbit diagram, spectrum diagram, waterfall diagram, amplitude versus rotating speed diagram and the bifurcation diagram are obtained. The effect of the pitching and rolling motion on the journal bearing–rotor system is investigated. The results indicate that the additional stiffness matrix, additional gyroscopic and additional exciting force vector will act on the journal bearing–rotor system, which are generated from the pitching and rolling motion for marine turbo machinery. The dynamic characteristics of the system such as destabilizing angular velocity will be changed by affecting the nonlinear oil film force.
Daylight and health: A review of the evidence and consequences for the built environment
Authors: Aries MBC , Aarts MPJ , van Hoof J
Published: November 2013

Daylight has been associated with multiple health advantages. Some of these claims are associations, hypotheses or beliefs. This review presents an overview of a scientific literature search on the proven effects of daylight exposure on human health. Studies were identified with a search strategy across two main databases. Additionally, a search was performed based on specific health effects. The results are diverse and either physiological or psychological. A rather limited statistically significant and well-documented scientific proof for the association between daylight and its potential health consequences was found. However, the search based on specific health terms made it possible to create a first subdivision of associations with daylight, leading to the first practical implementations for building design.
Gendered Campaign Strategies in U.S. Elections
Authors: Windett Jason Harold
Published: November 2013

This research examines the impact of gender on gubernatorial and senate candidates’ issue prioritization. I argue that women running for statewide office prefer to play against gender stereotypes in their issue priorities at the outset of their campaigns, so they do not appear as a strictly “female” candidate. Instead, women will only run a “gendered campaign” in response to male candidates doing so first. I put forth a dynamic theory of gendered interaction that asserts that male candidates facing female opponents will attempt to force women to campaign on stereotypical “feminine issues.” The campaign interaction between male and female candidates for office puts women in a precarious situation in which they must decide whether to respond to their male opponent or continue their “masculine” campaign strategy. I demonstrate that the gender of candidates directly influences the types of issues and strategies that each candidate pursues on the campaign trail.
Political Spending and Shareholder Wealth
Authors: Burns Natasha , Jindra Jan
Published: November 2013

We examine the impact of the Citizens United decision on firm value. While the value of U.S. firms do not respond significantly to the Citizens United decision on average, we find evidence that firms in industries subject to more extensive regulation react significantly and positively to the announcement. We also find evidence consistent with Justice John Paul Stevens’ argument that the Court decision will affect state laws. Specifically, our results indicate that firms that are headquartered in states with more stringent limits on political spending by corporations respond positively to the announcement.
The effect of neurotensin in human keratinocytes – implication on impaired wound healing in diabetes
Authors: Moura Liane IF , Cruz Maria T , Carvalho Eugénia
Published: November 2013

Diabetic foot ulcers are an important complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by chronic, non-healing ulcers resulting from poor proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, thus impairing a correct re-epithelialization of wounded tissues. This healing process can be modulated by neuropeptides released from peripheral nerves; however, little is known regarding the role of neurotensin (NT) as a modulator of human keratinocyte function under hyperglycemic conditions. Therefore, this work is focused on the effect of NT in human keratinocytes, under normal and hyperglycemic conditions at different functional levels, namely NT receptors, cytokine, and growth factor expression, as well as proliferation and migration. Human keratinocyte cells were maintained at either 10/30 mM glucose and treated with or without NT (10 nM). The results show that NT did not affect keratinocyte viability. In addition, NT and all NT receptor expression levels were significantly reduced by hyperglycemia; however, NT treatment stimulated expression of NT and neurotensin receptor 2 (NTR2) while neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR1) and neurotensin receptor 3 (NTR3) expression levels were unchanged. Keratinocyte proliferation was not affected by NT and hyperglycemia, while cell migration was reduced by NT treatment.

These results demonstrated that hyperglycemic conditions strongly impaired endogenous NT and NTR2 expression in keratinocytes. Despite the addition of exogenous NT to stimulate the endogenous NT and NTR2 expression, these changes do not translate into functional modifications on keratinocytes, particularly in terms of migration, proliferation, and production of cytokines or growth factors. These results suggest that NT production by keratinocytes may exert a paracrine effect on other skin cells, namely fibroblasts, macrophages, and dendritic cells for correct wound healing.
Lessons Learned From Endovascular Management of Ureteroarterial Fistula
Authors: Muradi Akhmadu , Yamaguchi Masato , Idoguchi Koji , Okada Takuya , Nomura Yoshikatsu , Okita Yutaka , Sugimoto Koji
Published: November 2013

Stent graft placement for ureteroarterial fistula is the preferred treatment. However, some pitfalls may occur during the procedure. Chronic inflammation process will induce longer adhesion area between artery and ureter, which results in unusual fistula site and rigid iliac arteries. This further leads to difficulty in advancing the endograft delivery system, even when access route is large enough. Multiple attempts to pass the iliac artery may result in “incidental” mechanical provocative angiography with subsequent massive bleeding. These suggested us not only to be careful and prepared but also to consider that angiography after inserting the delivery system could give additional information on the exact fistula site.
Evaluation of a Minimally Invasive Image-Guided Surgery System for Hepatic Ablation Procedures
Authors: Hammill Chet W. , Clements Logan W. , Stefansic James D. , Wolf Ronald F. , Hansen Paul D. , Gerber David A.
Published: November 2013

Background. The Explorer Minimally Invasive Liver (MIL) system uses imaging to create a 3-dimensional model of the liver. Intraoperatively, the system displays the position of instruments relative to the virtual liver. A prospective clinical study compared it with intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) in laparoscopic liver ablations. Methods. Patients undergoing ablations were accrued from 2 clinical sites. During the procedures, probes were positioned in the standard fashion using iUS. The position was synchronously recorded using the Explorer system. The distances from the probe tip to the tumor boundary and center were measured on the ultrasound image and in the corresponding virtual image captured by the Explorer system. Results. Data were obtained on the placement of 47 ablation probes during 27 procedures. The absolute difference between iUS and the Explorer system for the probe tip to tumor boundary distance was 5.5 ± 5.6 mm, not a statistically significant difference. The absolute difference for probe tip to tumor center distance was 8.6 ± 7.0 mm, not statistically different from 5 mm. Discussion. The initial clinical experience with the Explorer MIL system shows a strong correlation with iUS for the positioning of ablation probes. The Explorer MIL system is a promising tool to provide supplemental guidance information during laparoscopic liver ablation procedures.
Condom Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Male-to-Female Transgenders in Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Safika Iko , Johnson Timothy P. , Cho Young Ik , Praptoraharjo Ignatius
Published: November 2013

This article examined differences in condom use during anal intercourse among men who have sex with men (MSM) and male-to-female transgender women in Jakarta, Indonesia. A cross-sectional design, structured interviews, and hierarchical linear modeling were used to examine condom use among MSM recruited from entertainment places (EPs; e.g., discotheques/dance clubs/karaoke bars), massage parlors (MPs), and among transgender women who congregated and/or sought sexual partners on streets/parks (S/P). The sample consisted of 91, 97, and 114 of MSM-EP, MSM-MP, and transgender-S/P, respectively. Respondents reported on 641 unique sexual partner encounters, which were “nested” within 302 respondents. Reported condom use was high, 66%, 84%, and 83% for MSM-EP, MSM-MP, and transgender-S/P, respectively, and varied across type of respondent. At the individual level, depressive symptoms and history of physical abuse during childhood and adulthood were associated with lower condom use ( p < .05). By contrast, having a higher level of education was associated with more condom use ( p < .05). At the partner level, condom use was associated with type of partners and the use of club drugs before sex. HIV-prevention efforts should take into account the multilevel determinants of condom use within these populations.
Critical practice leadership in post-compulsory education
Authors: Elliott Geoffrey
Published: November 2013

This article questions why leaders in post-compulsory education tend not to view leadership research positively or utilise it in improving their practice. Drawing on the theoretical literature of educational management and leadership, and the current political and economic context of post-compulsory education, it proposes a new direction of critical practice leadership informed by advanced practitioner research. Challenging assumptions about leadership practice and leadership research creates an opportunity for an ethical and practical perspective for leadership practitioners and a distinctive contribution to the field of leadership theory and research by resisting the false dualism between theory and practice.
Can a school-based intervention increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption in the home setting?
Authors: Taylor Charlotte , Darby Helena , Upton Penney , Upton Dominic
Published: November 2013

Aims

Although previous research has shown the Food Dudes programme increases children’s fruit and vegetable consumption at school, the evidence for the effectiveness in the home setting is more equivocal. The school environment is identified as a logical setting for targeting children’s fruit and vegetable consumption; however, to produce sustainable changes in behaviour, it is equally important that interventions target consumption in the home setting. This study aimed to establish whether the Food Dudes intervention can influence home consumption of fruit and vegetables and the extent to which any changes in eating behaviour following the intervention were maintained in the long term.

Methods

A total of 34 children aged 4–11 years from eight primary schools (four intervention and four control groups) in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, completed a 7-day photographic food diary at baseline (prior to the intervention), a 3-month follow-up (post-intervention) and a 12-month follow-up.

Results

The Food Dudes programme did not influence either short- or long-term changes in children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables at home during weekdays or at the weekend.

Conclusions

The Food Dudes programme had no effect on changing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption in the home environment. Further development of the programme could consider how parental and home environmental factors may be combined with the principles of the Food Dudes programme to influence children’s fruit and vegetable consumption in this setting.
Maintenance treatment after induction therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: latest evidence and clinical implications
Authors: Gentzler Ryan D. , Patel Jyoti D.
Published: November 2013

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death in the industrialized world. Despite significant progress in early stage disease, survival rates for advanced disease remain low. Maintenance therapy is a treatment strategy that has been investigated extensively in NSCLC. Therapies that have been studied in this setting in randomized trials to date include chemotherapy and molecularly targeted agents. Following the development of multiple new agents that show activity in NSCLC and have a tolerable side-effect profile, there has been increasing interest in utilizing them to maintain response to initial therapy after treatment with platinum-based doublets. Two effective strategies have evolved: continuation and switch maintenance. Despite improvements in progression-free survival and often overall survival on multiple clinical trials, there remains considerable controversy around this treatment paradigm. Here, we briefly outline the evolution of this treatment strategy and examine the available data, including recently updated data from the PARAMOUNT, AVAPERL, and PointBreak maintenance trials. Ultimately, the decision to use maintenance chemotherapy requires a nuanced discussion between the patient and physician that adequately assesses benefits of prolonged therapy and impact in terms of toxicity, quality of life, and financial cost.
Kevin’s Predicaments
Authors: Craig Geoffrey
Published: November 2013

This article grounds the concept of political celebrity in the contexts of the differentiated media or journalistic field, and it also investigates the functions of political celebrity in the exercise of political leadership where individuals must negotiate the relationship between the political and media fields. Through a discussion of the changing political fortunes of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the power of political celebrity is attributed to particular structural negotiations between the political and media fields, and also to exploitations of the temporality of political cycles, and the ephemerality of the currency of political celebrity. It is also argued that political celebrity is an unstable phenomenon, partly because it encapsulates a tension between different conceptualizations of subjectivity, where the positing of an autonomous, authentic self competes with a more situational and performative understanding of the self and that this latter understanding of political celebrity is exacerbated in the contexts of post-broadcast democracy.
Preventing Cooperative Knowledge Production From Falling Apart
Authors: Theandersson Christer , Rolandsson Bertil
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this article is to analyze why work life representatives are engaging themselves in joint knowledge production with academia. We intend to deepen our understanding of how the practitioners’ trust in academia is constituted, that is what trust-building practices conditions their trust. The article is based on interviews with practitioners who are cooperating with a Swedish research center. The result indicates that practitioners’ trust in cooperation is based on a combination of different trust-building practices, among which the academy as a dependable supplier of objective and authoritative knowledge production is still important. At the same time, practitioners’ trust is also dependent on the existence of shared and integrated knowledge production relevant to their professions. The main conclusion of the study is that academia has to manage a set of different conditions demanding that different trust-building practices be combined and managed for trust to be maintained.
Participation Bias Assessment in Three High-Impact Journals
Authors: Keeble Claire , Barber Stuart , Law Graham Richard , Baxter Paul D.
Published: November 2013

Studies into participation bias have examined participation trends, where it occurs, the factors affecting it, and methods to try to reduce it. However, some authors only discuss participation bias at the end of the study, some acknowledge it and apply a method to try to reduce it, while others ignore it or dismiss it as negligible. Issues of three high-impact epidemiology journals were examined; 81 articles were read and reviewed for potential participation bias. Categories were used to classify the approach taken to participation bias and the results recorded. Of the 81 articles considered, 42 (51%) were eligible and could have suffered from participation bias. It was found that 57% of these articles ignored the effects of participation bias, while 17% only considered it briefly in the discussion. Few articles (22%) attempted to reduce the participation bias, with over half of these using unsuitable methods (55%). This review highlights how participation bias is often not considered and hence the conclusions drawn from these studies may not be correct.
Performance and Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in X-Games Skiers and Snowboarders
Authors: Erickson Brandon J. , Harris Joshua D. , Fillingham Yale A. , Cvetanovich Greg L. , Bhatia Sanjeev , Bach Bernard R. , Bush-Joseph Charles A. , Cole Brian J.
Published: November 2013

Background:

Skiing and snowboarding have become increasingly popular since the inception of the winter X-Games in 1997.

Purpose:

To determine (1) rate of return to sport (RTS) to the winter X-Games following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and (2) performance upon RTS following ACL reconstruction.

Hypotheses:

There is a high rate of RTS to the winter X-Games in subjects undergoing ACL reconstruction. There is no difference in performance upon RTS following ACL reconstruction versus preinjury.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Skiers and snowboarders competing in the winter X-Games who tore their ACL and underwent ACL reconstruction between 1997 and 2012 were evaluated. Athlete data were extracted from winter X-Games media websites, ESPN, injury reports, player profiles/biographies, and press releases. All athlete, knee, and surgical demographic data were analyzed. RTS and performance as it related to the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals won both pre- and postoperatively in the X-Games were analyzed.

Results:

Fifteen skiers (19 knees) and 10 snowboarders (10 knees) were analyzed. There were 13 males and 12 females, with a mean subject age of 22.6 ± 4.45 years. The rate of RTS in the X-Games following ACL reconstruction was 80% overall (20/25 subjects). The rate of RTS in winter X-Games following ACL reconstruction in skiers was 87% (13/15 subjects) and in snowboarders was 70% (7/10 subjects). The rate of RTS in winter X-Games following ACL reconstruction in males and females was 85% (11/13 subjects) and 75% (9/12 subjects), respectively. The rate of revision ACL reconstruction due to ACL tear following primary ACL reconstruction was 4% (1/25 subjects). There were more left- than right-sided tears (18 vs 11). Skiers and snowboarders competed in the X-Games for 3.84 ± 2.73 and 3.40 ± 2.84 years prior to ACL reconstruction and 2.56 ± 2.06 and 7.29 ± 3.30 years after ACL reconstruction, respectively. Skiers earned 22 medals prior to ACL reconstruction (9 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze) and 24 medals after ACL reconstruction (16 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze). Snowboarders earned 7 medals prior to ACL reconstruction (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and 19 medals after ACL reconstruction (7 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze).

Conclusion:

Winter X-Games skiers and snowboarders have a high rate of RTS after ACL reconstruction. Skiers earned a similar number of medals preinjury and postsurgery, while snowboarders earned more medals following surgery.
Ultrasonic irradiation assisted electroless Ni–P coating on magnesium alloy
Authors: Ban C. L. , Shao X. , Wang L. P.
Published: November 2013

Ultrasonic irradiation (UI) is applied to assist the electroless plating (EP) Ni–P coating on a magnesium alloy substrate. The results show that under UI, the Ni–P coating becomes smooth, compact, has refined grains and is free of cracks and pores, leading to significant improvement in the coating corrosion resistance. The crystallinity of the coating is also improved by UI, transforming from amorphous state to mixture of amorphous and nanocrystalline one.
The liver: conductor of systemic iron balance
Authors: Meynard Delphine , Babitt Jodie L. , Lin Herbert Y.
Published: November 2013

Iron is a micronutrient essential for almost all organisms: bacteria, plants, and animals. It is a metal that exists in multiple redox states, including the divalent ferrous (Fe2+) and the trivalent ferric (Fe3+) species. The multiple oxidation states of iron make it excellent for electron transfer, allowing iron to be selected during evolution as a cofactor for many proteins involved in central cellular processes including oxygen transport, mitochondrial respiration, and DNA synthesis. However, the redox cycling of ferrous and ferric iron in the presence of H2O2, which is physiologically present in the cells, also leads to the production of free radicals (Fenton reaction) that can attack and damage lipids, proteins, DNA, and other cellular components. To meet the physiological needs of the body, but to prevent cellular damage by iron, the amount of iron in the body must be tightly regulated. Here we review how the liver is the central conductor of systemic iron balance and show that this central role is related to the secretion of a peptide hormone hepcidin by hepatocytes. We then review how the liver receives and integrates the many signals that report the body’s iron needs to orchestrate hepcidin production and maintain systemic iron homeostasis.
A new approach to G-metric and related fixed point theorems
Authors: Asadi Mehdi , Karapınar Erdal , Salimi Peyman
Published: November 2013

Very recently, Samet et al. and Jleli and Samet reported that most of fixed point results in the context of G-metric space, defined by Sims and Zead, can be derived from the usual fixed point theorems on the usual metric space. In this paper, we state and prove some fixed point theorems in the framework of G-metric space that cannot be obtained from the existence results in the context of associated metric space.
Applications of Kato’s inequality for n-tuples of operators in Hilbert spaces, (II)
Authors: Dragomir Sever S , Cho Yeol Je , Kim Young-Ho
Published: November 2013

In this paper, by the use of famous Kato’s inequality for bounded linear operators, we establish some new inequalities for n-tuples of operators and apply them to functions of normal operators defined by power series as well as to some norms and numerical radii that arise in multivariate operator theory. They provide a natural continuation of the results in previous paper with (I) in the title.

MSC: 47A50, 47A63.
Ordering the oriented unicyclic graphs whose skew-spectral radius is bounded by 2
Authors: Chen Ping-Feng , Xu Guang-Hui , Zhang Li-Pu
Published: November 2013

Let

S
(

G
σ

)

be the skew-adjacency matrix of an oriented graph

G
σ

with n vertices, and let

λ
1

,

λ
2

,
…
,

λ
n

be all eigenvalues of

S
(

G
σ

)

. The skew-spectral radius

ρ
s

(

G
σ

)

of

G
σ

is defined as

max
{
|

λ
1

|
,
|

λ
2

|
,
…
,
|

λ
n

|
}

. A connected graph, in which the number of edges equals the number of vertices, is called a unicyclic graph. In this paper, the structure of oriented unicyclic graphs whose skew-spectral radius does not exceed 2 is investigated. We order all the oriented unicyclic graphs with n vertices whose skew-spectral radius is bounded by 2.

MSC:05C50, 15A18.
Sex-specific aspects of endogenous retroviral insertion and deletion
Authors: Gemmell Patrick , Hein Jotun , Katzourakis Aris
Published: November 2013

Background

We wish to understand how sex and recombination affect endogenous retroviral insertion and deletion. While theory suggests that the risk of ectopic recombination will limit the accumulation of repetitive DNA in areas of high meiotic recombination, the experimental evidence so far has been inconsistent. Under the assumption of neutrality, we examine the genomes of eighteen species of animal in order to compute the ratio of solo-LTRs that derive from insertions occurring down the male germ line as opposed to the female one (male bias). We also extend the simple idea of comparing autosome to allosome in order to predict the ratio of full-length proviruses we would expect to see under conditions of recombination linked deletion or otherwise.

Results

Using our model, we predict the ratio of allosomal to autosomal full-length proviruses to lie between

3

2

and

2

3

under increasing male bias in mammals and between 1 and 2 under increasing male bias in birds. In contrast to our expectations, we find that a pattern of male bias is not universal across species and that there is a frequent overabundance of full-length proviruses on the allosome beyond the ratios predicted by our model.

Conclusions

We use our data as a whole to argue that full-length proviruses should be treated as deleterious mutations or as effectively neutral mutations whose persistence in a full-length state is linked to the rate of meiotic recombination and whose origin is not universally male biased. These conclusions suggest that retroviral insertions on the allosome may be more prolific and that it might be possible to identify mechanisms of replication that are enhanced in the female sex.