bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of asperities on fluid and thermal flow in a fracture: A coupled lattice Boltzmann study
Authors: Neuville A. , Flekkøy E. G. , Toussaint R.
Published: June 2013

The characteristics of the hydro‐thermal flow which occurs when a cold fluid is injected into a hot fractured bedrock depend on the morphology of the fracture. We consider a sharp triangular asperity, invariant in one direction, perturbing an otherwise flat fracture. We investigate its influence on the macroscopic hydraulic transmissivity and heat transfer efficiency, at fixed low Reynolds number. In this study, numerical simulations are done with a coupled lattice Boltzmann method that solves both the complete Navier‐Stokes and advection‐diffusion equations in three dimensions. The results are compared with those obtained under lubrication approximations which rely on many hypotheses and neglect the three‐dimensional (3‐D) effects. The lubrication results are obtained by analytically solving the Stokes equation and a two‐dimensional (integrated over the thickness) advection‐diffusion equation. We use a lattice Boltzmann method with a double distribution (for mass and energy transport) on hypercubic and cubic lattices. Beyond some critical slope for the boundaries, the velocity profile is observed to be far from a quadratic profile in the vicinity of the sharp asperity: the fluid within the triangular asperity is quasi‐static. We find that taking account of both the 3‐D effects and the cooling of the rock, are important for the thermal exchange. Neglecting these effects with lubrication approximations results in overestimating the heat exchange efficiency. The evolution of the temperature over time, toward steady state, also shows complex behavior: some sites alternately reheat and cool down several times, making it difficult to forecast the extracted heat.
Time‐averaged SO2 fluxes of subduction‐zone volcanoes: Example of a 32‐year exhaustive survey for Japanese volcanoes
Authors: Mori Toshiya , Shinohara Hiroshi , Kazahaya Kohei , Hirabayashi Jun‐ichi , Matsushima Takeshi , Mori Takehiko , Ohwada Michiko , Odai Masanobu , Iino Hideki , Miyashita Makoto
Published: June 2013

All available SO2 flux data for 32 years (1975–2006) of Japanese volcanoes, accounting for about 10% of the world's arc volcanoes, were compiled to evaluate the temporal variation of the flux of each volcano and to estimate the time‐averaged SO2 flux. The compiled data revealed that 6 volcanoes (Tokachi, Asama, Aso, Sakurajima, Satsuma‐Iwojima, and Suwanosejima volcanoes) out of 17 significantly degassing volcanoes usually contributed more than 94% of the total flux. The time‐averaged annual flux was 2.2 Tg a−1, which includes intense degassing of Miyakejima volcano after 2000, which raised the figure from 1.4 Tg a−1, indicating that a single huge emitter is capable of significantly skewing regional time‐averaged degassing totals and indicating that the time‐averaged flux assessments for infrequent huge emitters are important for accurate estimation. The regional SO2 flux distribution in cumulative frequency‐flux plot does not obey a power law distribution. It shows a roll‐off curve bending at about 500 t d−1, implying that it is misleading to assume the power law distribution for estimation of the global flux. Because the contribution of the major degassing volcanoes including the six volcanoes and additional sporadically degassing volcanoes during eruptive and posteruptive periods to the total flux is more than 95%, measurement of all large flux volcanoes can approximate the global flux.
Air‐sea gas transfer rate for the Southern Ocean inferred from 222Rn concentrations in maritime air and a global atmospheric transport model
Authors: Taguchi S. , Tasaka S. , Matsubara M. , Osada K. , Yokoi T. , Yamanouchi T.
Published: June 2013

Measurements of atmospheric 222Rn activity were made on board the icebreaker Shirase during the summers of 2004 and 2005, between 32°S and 69°S. Global atmospheric 3‐D model calculation of 222Rn were conducted using hypothetical emissions from ocean and land including the Antarctic continent. Oceanic emissions were estimated based on wind speed parameterizations from the literature and by using radium in the ocean as a surrogate of surface radon concentrations. Modeled results suggest that a significant part of the measured activities originate from a release from the ocean and the Antarctic continent. Based on regression analysis, we investigated the power‐law description of wind speed that best fits the measured concentrations. The correlation, root mean square errors, and emission from the Antarctic continent suggest that a 3.5 power law best fits the measured activities. However, the merit of this choice is not statistically significant, and the proportionality factor that scales a wind speed description with a flux depends on the dilution of radon in the mixing layer of the ocean. These weaknesses, therefore, pose a limitation for the application of the current parameterization to the other gases.
Multidimensional GC using planar microfluidic devices for the characterization of phenolic antioxidants in fuels
Authors: Luong Jim , Gras Ronda , Cortes Hernan J. , Shellie Robert A.
Published: June 2013

A multidimensional gas chromatographic approach using planar microfluidic devices for Deans switching has been developed and implemented for the characterization of sterically hindered phenolic compounds used as antioxidants in fuels. Detection and quantitation was conducted with MS in selected ion monitoring mode. A complete analysis is conducted in less than 15 min with precision greater than 5.5% at 1 and 25 ppm w/w (ppmw). LODs of 50 ppb w/w (ppbw) or better in selected ion monitoring mode and a linear range of 100 ppbw to 100 ppmw with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.998 were attained for all analytes. Unique to this analytical configuration is the use of a mass spectrometer capable of monitoring the column effluent from either dimension by incorporating a high‐temperature rotary valve and a three‐port planar microfluidic device. High‐molecular‐weight (C25–C40) fuel contaminants eluting from the first column can be selectively sent to the mass spectrometer for profile characterization in scan mode. These compounds would otherwise be retained substantially by the low‐phase‐ratio analytical column employed in the second dimension.
Comparative core fucosylation analysis of some major therapeutic antibody N‐glycans by direct infusion ESI‐MS and CE–LIF detection
Authors: Wang Yueju , Santos Marcia , Guttman András
Published: June 2013

The analysis of carbohydrate moieties of glycoprotein biopharmaceuticals is of high importance, especially because glycosylation changes can impact the biological effect of the drugs. In the case of monoclonal antibody therapeutics, the degree of core fucosylation significantly influences its effector function, thus should be closely monitored during the clone selection, development and manufacturing processes. MS analysis of labile sugar residues such as core fucosylation and terminal silylation may be misleading as such residues can break off during the ionization process or alter the ionization efficiency, both of which affect the results. In the case of monoclonal antibody therapeutics tailored for antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity function, core fucosylation should be kept minimal; therefore, close attention should be paid to the prevalence of this particular sugar residue. This paper reports on the core fucosylation analysis of some major immunoglobulin G N‐glycans by direct infusion ESI‐MS and CE–LIF. In comparison to the industry standard of CE–LIF, a lower degree of core fucosylated structures was found by ESI‐MS analysis, emphasizing the need to use orthogonal quantitative separation methods in addition to MS.
Decoupled modified characteristics finite element method for the time dependent Navier–Stokes/Darcy problem
Authors: Si Zhiyong , Wang Yunxia , Li Shishun
Published: June 2013

In this paper, a modified characteristics finite element method for the time dependent Navier–Stokes/Darcy problem with the Beavers–Joseph–Saffman interface condition is presented. In this method, the Navier–Stokes/Darcy equation is decoupled into two equations, one is the Navier–Stokes equation, the other is the Darcy equation, and the Navier–Stokes equation is solved by the modified characteristics finite element method. The theory analysis shows that this method has a good convergence property. In order to show the effect of our method, some numerical results was presented. The numerical results show that this method is highly efficient. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inequality‐based reliability estimates for complex systems
Authors: Hill Stacy D. , Spall James C. , Maranzano Coire J.
Published: June 2013

Full‐system testing for large‐scale systems is often infeasible or very costly. Thus, when estimating system reliability, it is desirable to use a method that uses subsystem tests, which are often less expensive and more feasible. This article presents a method for bounding full‐system reliabilities based on subsystem tests and, if available, full‐system tests. The method does not require that subsystems be independent. It accounts for dependencies through the use of certain probability inequalities. The inequalities provide the basis for valid reliability calculations while not requiring independent subsystems or full‐system tests. The inequalities allow for test information on pairwise subsystem failure modes to be incorporated, thereby improving the bound on system reliability. We illustrate some of the properties of the estimates via an example application. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2013
Rural Rickets: Vitamin D Deficiency in a Post‐Medieval Farming Community from the Netherlands
Authors: Veselka Barbara , Hoogland Menno L.P. , Waters‐Rist Andrea L.
Published: June 2013

Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency as a result of limited exposure to sunlight and inadequate diet. In the 19thcentury, rickets was endemic in most northern European cities. In post‐Medieval Netherlands, rickets is documented in low frequencies in a few urban samples, but has not been studied in contemporaneous rural populations. Beemster is a rural farming community in the Netherlands that was established in the 17thcentury upon drained land, with the Middenbeemster cemetery in use until 1866 AD. Ninety‐five individuals from the ages of 32 weeksin uteroto 15 years were examined for rickets in order to understand factors that can cause vitamin D deficiency in rural, non‐industrialized populations. To identify rickets in the Beemster sample, ten features were scored, with bending deformities of the lower limb and one other feature, or at least three non‐bending features, having to be present in order for diagnosis. Nine individuals (9.5%) had evidence of rickets—a high prevalence, especially for a rural community where ample sunlight was available. The two and three year old Beemster infants were most heavily affected with an age‐specific prevalence of 30.4%. Two three‐month‐old infants also had rickets. Some of the affected may have developed rickets secondarily, as a result of a different illness, but cultural practices including prolonged swaddling, occlusive clothing, and keeping the young indoors, are suggested to have contributed to this high rickets prevalence. Dietary variables including poor weaning foods and common episodes of malnutrition may have also contributed to vitamin D deficiency. This study demonstrates the value of careful analysis of pathological conditions in subadults and highlights that rickets was not only a disease of cities, but affected populations that would appear to have been at low risk, because of maladaptive cultural practices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal control of perpetual CPDO: minimal cash‐out probability and maximal conditional return
Authors: Yang Xiaoli , Liang Jin , Wu Yuan
Published: June 2013

In this paper, the optimal leverage function for a perpetual Constant Proportion Debt Obligation (CPDOs) is derived by solving a highly nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation with initial conditions. The model to minimize the default probability was built, then the optimal payoff under the condition of minimal default probability is also worked out. The stochastic optimal control theory is utilized to determine the optimal leverage function for the minimization of default probability. Then, the optimal upper bound of the leverage is chosen to obtain a perfect return of the investor. All the equations derived from the above problems have explicit solutions. Based on the solutions, numerical examples are provided, and the relationships between the optimal leverage, as well as the optimal upper bound, and the parameters in the problem, are shown in the figures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
European Non‐Invasive Trisomy Evaluation (EU‐NITE) study: a multicenter prospective cohort study for non‐invasive fetal trisomy 21 testing
Authors: Verweij E. J. , Jacobsson B. , van Scheltema P. A. , de Boer M. A. , Hoffer M. J. V. , Hollemon D. , Westgren M. , Song K. , Oepkes D.
Published: June 2013

Objective

To evaluate the performance of a directed non‐invasive prenatal testing method of cell‐free DNA analysis for fetal trisomy 21 (T21) by shipping the whole blood samples from Europe to a laboratory in the USA.

Methods

A European multicenter prospective, consecutive cohort study was performed enrolling pregnant women from Sweden and the Netherlands. Blood samples were drawn just prior to a planned of invasive diagnostic procedure in a population at increased risk for fetal T21 and then shipped to the USA without any blood processing. Chromosome‐selective sequencing was carried out on chromosome 21 with reporting high risk or low risk of T21. Karyotyping or rapid aneuploidy detection was used as the clinical reference standard.

Results

Of the 520 eligible study subjects, a T21 test result was obtained in 504/520 (96.9%). Risk assessment was accurate in 503/504 subjects (99.8%). There was one false negative result for T21 (sensitivity 17/18, 94.4%, and specificity 100%).

Conclusion

This is the first prospective European multicenter study showing that non‐invasive prenatal testing using directed sequencing of cell‐free DNA applied to blood samples shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, is highly accurate for assessing risk of fetal T21. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid prenatal diagnosis of common beta‐thalassemia mutations in Southeast Asia using pyrosequencing
Authors: Ho Sherry Sze Yee , Huan Pei Tee , Leow Gek Har , Ching Leng Kee , Chiu Lily , Law Hai Yang , Koay Evelyn S. C.
Published: June 2013

Objective

Current methods of prenatal diagnosis to detect beta‐thalassemia are Sanger sequencing and reverse dot blot. These methods are time‐consuming and can prolong assay turnaround time. We aim to develop a sensitive and rapid method to detect 27 beta‐thalassemia mutations using pyrosequencing.

Method

Pyrosequencing primer pairs and sequencing primers were designed to detect 27 most common beta‐thalassemia mutations found in Singapore. Pyrosequencing was performed on 191 DNA samples with known beta‐thalassemia mutations isolated from 143 peripheral blood and 48 prenatal samples (seven chorionic villus biopsies, 26 cultured amniocytes, 15 uncultured amniocytes). All mutations were validated with Sanger sequencing.

Results

Pyrosequencing identified 210 alleles with beta‐thalassemia mutations and 82 alleles without mutations with 100% sensitivity (lower 95% confidence interval [CI], 97.8%) and 100% specificity (lower 95% CI, 94.4%). All pyrosequences were concordant with Sanger‐based sequences. Pyrosequencing was able to detect DNA concentrations as low as 2 ng, obviating the need for cell culture in volume‐restricted samples. Sample receipt‐to‐report assay turnaround times were 16 to 18 h (Sanger sequencing) and 4 to 6 h (pyrosequencing).

Conclusion

Pyrosequencing is a rapid and sensitive method to detect common beta‐thalassemia mutations without the need for cell culture, thus reducing the assay turnaround time. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction of synthetic peptide octarphin (TPLVTLFK) with human blood lymphocytes
Authors: Nekrasova Yuliia N. , Navolotskaya Elena V.
Published: June 2013

The synthetic peptide octarphin (TPLVTLFK) corresponding to the sequence 12–19 of β‐endorphin, a selective agonist of non‐opioid β‐endorphin receptor, was labeled with tritium to specific activity of 29 Ci/mmol. The analysis of [3H]octarphin binding to human T and B lymphocytes separated from normal human blood revealed the existence of one type of high‐affinity binding sites (receptors): Kd 3.0 and 3.2 nM, respectively. Besides unlabeled octarphin, unlabeled β‐endorphin possessed the ability to inhibit the specific binding of [3H]octarphin to Т and B lymphocytes (Ki 1.9 and 2.2 nМ, respectively). Tests of the specificity of the receptors revealed that they are not sensitive to naloxone, α‐endorphin, γ‐endorphin, [Met5]enkephalin, and [Leu5]enkephalin. Thus, both T and B lymphocytes from normal human blood express non‐opioid receptor for β‐endorphin. Binding of the hormone to the receptor provides a fragment 12–19. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Penetrating Canada's industrial markets
Authors: Novick Harold J.
Published: June 2013

For many U.S. manufacturers, the Canadian marketplace can have a delightful incremental impact on the bottom line. And for low‐cost, fast penetration of the Canadian market, independent sales reps may be the best approach.
Silane modification of glass and silica surfaces to obtain equally oil‐wet surfaces in glass‐covered silicon micromodel applications
Authors: Grate Jay W. , Warner Marvin G. , Pittman Jonathan W. , Dehoff Karl J. , Wietsma Thomas W. , Zhang Changyong , Oostrom Mart
Published: June 2013

Wettability is a key parameter influencing capillary pressures, permeabilities, fingering mechanisms, and saturations in multiphase flow processes within porous media. Glass‐covered silicon micromodels provide precise structures in which pore‐scale displacement processes can be visualized. The wettability of silicon and glass surfaces can be modified by silanization. However, similar treatments of glass and silica surfaces using the same silane do not necessarily yield the same wettability as determined by the oil‐water contact angle. In this study, surface cleaning pretreatments were investigated to determine conditions that yield oil‐wet surfaces on glass with similar wettability to silica surfaces treated with the same silane, and both air‐water and oil‐water contact angles were determined. Borosilicate glass surfaces cleaned with standard cleaning solution 1 (SC1) yield intermediate‐wet surfaces when silanized with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), while the same cleaning and silanization yields oil‐wet surfaces on silica. However, cleaning glass in boiling concentrated nitric acid creates a surface that can be silanized to obtain oil‐wet surfaces using HMDS. Moreover, this method is effective on glass with prior thermal treatment at an elevated temperature of 400°C. In this way, silica and glass can be silanized to obtain equally oil‐wet surfaces using HMDS. It is demonstrated that pretreatment and silanization is feasible in silicon‐silica/glass micromodels previously assembled by anodic bonding, and that the change in wettability has a significant observable effect on immiscible fluid displacements in the pore network.
Hydraulic conductivity fields: Gaussian or not?
Authors: Meerschaert Mark M. , Dogan Mine , Van Dam Remke L. , Hyndman David W. , Benson David A.
Published: June 2013

Hydraulic conductivity (K) fields are used to parameterize groundwater flow and transport models. Numerical simulations require a detailed representation of the K field, synthesized to interpolate between available data. Several recent studies introduced high‐resolution K data (HRK) at the Macro Dispersion Experiment (MADE) site, and used ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) to delineate the main structural features of the aquifer. This paper describes a statistical analysis of these data, and the implications for K field modeling in alluvial aquifers. Two striking observations have emerged from this analysis. The first is that a simple fractional difference filter can have a profound effect on data histograms, organizing non‐Gaussian ln K data into a coherent distribution. The second is that using GPR facies allows us to reproduce the significantly non‐Gaussian shape seen in real HRK data profiles, using a simulated Gaussian ln K field in each facies. This illuminates a current controversy in the literature, between those who favor Gaussian ln K models, and those who observe non‐Gaussian ln K fields. Both camps are correct, but at different scales.
Effects of gender, media influences, and traditional gender role orientation on disordered eating and appearance concerns among Latino adolescents☆
Authors: Lopez Vera , Corona Rosalie , Halfond Raquel
Published: June 2013

This study examined the main and interaction effects of gender, traditional gender role orientation, and media‐influenced sociocultural values and ideals about appearance in a sample of 96 Latino adolescents controlling for age, country of origin, and BMI. Girls and less traditionally oriented youth reported significantly more disordered eating and appearance concerns than did boys and more traditionally oriented youth. Gender moderated the relationship between traditional gender role orientation and disordered eating and appearance concerns. Contrary to our hypothesis, media‐influenced sociocultural values and ideals about appearance did not significantly predict disordered eating and appearance concerns. However, the interaction between gender and sociocultural values and ideals about appearance was significant. Our findings highlight the importance of continued research on gender, media, and cultural influences as they relate to disordered eating and appearance concerns among Latino youth.
Immediate Use Steam Sterilization: It's All About the Process
Authors: Nania Paula
Published: June 2013

Proper reprocessing of surgical instrumentation assists in infection prevention efforts. Immediate use steam sterilization, previously known as flash sterilization, is an effective method of sterilization if it is performed according to manufacturers' validated instructions. Items that undergo immediate use steam sterilization are subject to the same cleaning and decontamination requirements that apply to preparing items for terminal sterilization, and manufacturers' instructions for use must be strictly followed. In 2009, The Joint Commission revised its position statement on flash sterilization and emphasized that three critical steps of reprocessing must be followed to ensure sterility (ie, cleaning and decontamination, sterilization, aseptic transfer) and that complete documentation must be available for each immediate use steam sterilization cycle so that the device is traceable to the patient if problems arise.
Whole‐Lung Lavage for Pediatric Patients With Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
Authors: DiFusco Leigh Ann , Verma Raj K.
Published: June 2013

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a chronic disorder of surfactant clearance from the alveoli. Its prevalence is rare, especially in the pediatric population. Although there is no cure for this condition, symptoms of PAP are managed most effectively through whole‐lung lavage (WLL). Perioperative RNs caring for children with PAP undergoing WLL in the OR should implement patient interventions to maintain vital signs and normothermia and preserve skin integrity. Additionally, perioperative RNs often are responsible for assembling closed‐drainage systems for WLL. Detailed procedural preference cards, targeted education sessions, and multidisciplinary collaboration are crucial for establishing a comprehensive plan of care for the pediatric patient with PAP undergoing WLL in the OR.
On the appropriate objective function for post‐disaster humanitarian logistics models
Authors: Holguín‐Veras José , Pérez Noel , Jaller Miguel , Van Wassenhove Luk N. , Aros‐Vera Felipe
Published: June 2013

The paper argues that welfare economic principles must be incorporated in post‐disaster humanitarian logistic models to ensure delivery strategies that lead to the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The paper's analyses suggest the use of social costs—the summation of logistic and deprivation costs—as the preferred objective function for post‐disaster humanitarian logistic models. The paper defines deprivation cost as the economic valuation of the human suffering associated with a lack of access to a good or service. The use of deprivation costs is evaluated with a review of the philosophy and the economic literature to identify proper foundations for their estimation; a comparison of different proxy approaches to consider human suffering (e.g., minimization of penalties or weight factors, penalties for late deliveries, equity constraints, unmet demands) and their implications; and an analysis of the impacts of errors in estimation. In its final sections, the paper conducts numerical experiments to illustrate the comparative impacts of using the proxy approaches suggested in the literature, and concludes with a discussion of key findings.
Proton acceleration by plasma wakefield driven by an intense proton beam
Authors: Yi Longqing , Shen Baifei , Ji Liangliang , Zhang Xiaomei , Wang Wenpeng , Xu Jiancai , Yu Yahong , Wang Xiaofeng , Shi Yin , Xu Zhizhan
Published: June 2013

Plasma wakefield excited by a short TeV-scale proton beam is investigated in the highly nonlinear regime. Analysis of the “bubble” field illustrates that transverse expelling force of the wakefield can be compensated by the attractive force, which originates from the co-propagating electrons within the proton bunch, leading to a collimation effect that stabilizes the beam propagation. The protons located in the beam tail can be well-confined and accelerated forward for a long distance. Two-dimensional simulations show that after a 1-TeV proton bunch propagating through plasma for a distance, several percentages of the protons achieve a remarkable energy gain. This scheme presents a potential that proton beams from conventional accelerators may gain considerable additional energy through plasmas wakefields.
John Voelcker: redefining his place in Team 10 and post-war British architectural culture
Authors: Frank Suzanne
Published: June 2013

The British architect John Voelcker (1927–72) was a founding member of the small international, avantgarde group, Team 10 (1953–81), an outgrowth of the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM). Voelcker was one of six authors of the document, ‘Doorn Manifesto’, a ‘Statement on Habitat’ that emphasised ‘vital human associations’. The Manifesto appeared in 1954, one year after Voelcker exhibited the ‘Zone’, his Architectural Association senior thesis and one of the first acknowledged Team 10 efforts, in Aix-en-Provence at the ninth CIAM meeting (1953). The Zone (on which he collaborated with Pat Crooke and Andrew Derbyshire between 1951 and 1952), as well as a north London dwelling that he designed for Humphrey Lyttelton (1957–58), and his contribution to agricultural vernacular building projects in Kent, are prototypical examples of Team 10's work. Voelcker's distance from the large-scale, analytical rationalism of CIAM and his interest in a socialminded vernacular aligned him with Team 10. Voelcker eventually published three articles on Team 10: the most notable one in Arena (1965), as well as another in Architects' Year Book (1957) and a third in Carré bleu (February 1960). These situate him plausibly as a historian of the group. In one of these essays Voelcker advocates an ‘open aesthetic’ that is not clearly defined, but that implicitly calls on architects to avoid imposing pre-ordained symbols and to include references to the past in their designs without, however, being rigidly imitative, as was the case, he argues, with the deleterious medieval features of Milan's Torre Velasca (1957) designed by BBPR.
Measuring Subjective Resilience despite Adversity due to Family, Peers and Teachers
Authors: Alonso-Tapia Jesús , Nieto Carmen , Ruíz Miguel A.
Published: June 2013

The objective of this study is to develop and validate a scale of subjective resilience for students 12–17 years old. Items covered adverse situations due to parents’, peers’ and teachers’ actions. The validation process included the analysis on the generalizability of the factor structure and of relationships of resilience scores with different kinds of protective and vulnerability factors -goal orientations and learning-oriented classroom motivational climate (CMC)-. A total of 471 students answered four questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analyses, reliability analysis and correlation and regression analyses were carried out. Results showed: (a) that factor structure was well defined; (b) that resilience scale had good reliability; (c) that scores correlated as expected with protective-vulnerability factors such as goal orientations and CMC defined by teachers’ teaching-patterns, and (d) that students’ attribution of perceived change in resilience to teachers’ work depended on the degree in which CMC was learning oriented. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Cardiovascular Response to Psychosocial Repeated Stress in Caregivers of Offspring with Schizophrenia
Authors: González-Bono Esperanza , de Andrés-Garcia Sara , Romero-Martínez Ángel , Moya-Albiol Luis
Published: June 2013

Taking care of offspring suffering a long-term illness such as schizophrenia is one of the more stressful life experiences. Care conditions may act as a protective factor in the health of the caregiver. The present study assesses heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and mood responses to psychosocial stress in 16 mothers receiving specialised support for the care of their offspring (CARE+) and in 11 mothers caring for their offspring without support (CARE−). The CARE− group take care of less functional and more symptomatic offspring; and display higher basal, but lower HR, responses after stress than the CARE+ group. No significant group effects were found for BP. For mood states, there were significant decreases in the anger subscale in the CARE− group that were not found in the CARE+ group. HR was related to active and passive coping styles, trait anxiety, and years spent providing care. In the total sample, other significant relationships between cardiovascular responses and life events and personality traits have been found. In sum, the data suggests that specialised support for patients may modulate cardiovascular responses to repeated stress in caregivers.
Speech Recognition and Subjective Perceptions of Neck-Loop FM Receivers With Cochlear Implants
Authors: Schafer Erin C. , Huynh Christy , Romine Denise , Jimenez Rebecca
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The goal of this investigation was to determine the potential benefit of using electromagnetically coupled frequency modulation (FM) neck-loop receivers to address common communication difficulties of adults and adolescents with cochlear implants (CIs).

Method

Fourteen participants with CIs used the neck-loop FM receiver for a trial period and participated in pre- and posttrial sessions consisting of speech-recognition-in-noise measures with and without the FM system and a subjective rating scale. Most participants also recorded their experiences during the FM-system trial period in a journal.

Results

The results suggested significantly improved speech recognition in noise with the neck-loop FM system before and after the trial period, with no changes in performance between test sessions. On average, the rating scale and journals revealed improvements with the FM system, relative to the CI alone, in noisy environments or situations at a distance from the primary talker or sound source.

Conclusion

The results of the study suggest that neck-loop FM receivers significantly improved speech recognition in noise and everyday listening challenges of people using the CIs in 2 separate test sessions. Additional research is warranted for other types of neck-loop receivers and CI sound processors.
Survey of Audiologists and Cerumen Management
Authors: Johnson Carole E. , Danhauer Jeffrey L. , Rice Emma N. , Fisher Sarah Kate
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Cerumen management (CM) is within the scope of practice of audiology, and the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) is now the entry-level degree for persons practicing the profession. However, little recent information is available about whether and how CM is presently being taught in AuD programs or even if and how audiologists are currently practicing CM. This study surveyed audiologists about their training for, experience with, opinions about, and practices involving CM.

Method

A questionnaire was designed for this study and was e-mailed with a link to Surveymonkey.com in April and May 2011 to 1,575 audiologists with AuD degrees, randomly sampled from the American Academy of Audiology's membership directory.

Results

The return rate was 29% (447 returned). Overall, 69% of these audiologists performed CM compared to only 29% reported in earlier studies. More audiologists in private practice (87%) performed CM than those in medical settings (65%). Almost half (48%) of the audiologists who had completed residential AuD programs believed that their training programs inadequately prepared them to perform CM.

Conclusion

More audiologists are performing CM than in the past. The respondents reported that they were inadequately trained in CM and believed that educational programs need to improve their coverage of CM.
Development of a Formative and Summative Assessment System for AuD Education
Authors: Emanuel Diana C. , Robinson Candace G. , Korczak Peggy
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This article provides an overview of a comprehensive assessment system that documents that students have obtained the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree.

Method

The individual components of the assessment system; rationale for development of each assessment; and grading criteria, outcomes measures, faculty commentary, missteps, and successes of the system are discussed.

Conclusion

Carefully planned and dynamic assessments can be integrated successfully into the AuD students' program of study with generally reasonable expectations for faculty workload. It is crucial for program directors to continually assess the system used to document student learning and to make modifications based on formal and informal feedback from students, faculty, alumni, evidence-based clinical practice, and clinical preceptors.
Design of compact dual‐band quadruple planar inverted‐F antenna
Authors: Tae H.S. , Oh K.S. , Lee W.S. , Moon S.M. , Yu J.W.
Published: June 2013

Presented is a new compact dual‐band quadruple planar inverted‐F antenna (QPIFA) radiating right‐hand circular polarisation characteristics. The size of the proposed dual‐band QPIFA is 35 × 35 × 10 mm3 and the experimental results exhibit a peak gain of 2.5/4.5 dBic and an axial ratio under 1.5 dB in two target frequencies.
Optimal controllability of 3‐composed siphons in a class of Petri nets
Authors: Hou Y.F. , Li Z.W. , Hong L. , Al‐Ahmari A.M.
Published: June 2013

A controllability condition of a siphon composed of three elementary ones in a class of Petri nets, namely S3PR, is developed. Under the condition, a maximally permissive liveness‐enforcing supervisor expressed by a set of monitors (control places) can be decided by an algorithm with polynomial complexity for an S3PR if every dependent siphon is m‐composed with m ≤ 3.
Reduced reference metric for compressed stereoscopic videos
Authors: Malekmohamadi H. , Fernando W.A.C. , Kondoz A.M.
Published: June 2013

A new reduced reference objective quality metric for stereoscopic video is proposed that incorporates spatial neighbouring information from grey‐level co‐occurrence matrices and edge properties. Extracted colour and depth features are combined unequally to maximise the performance of the proposed metric. The performance of this metric is validated through a series of subjective tests and the average correlation 0.82 is achieved when colour to depth importance ratio is near 0.80.
Birefringence treatment of non‐ideal optical microfibre coils for continuous Faraday rotation
Authors: Chen G.Y. , Brambilla G. , Newson T.P.
Published: June 2013

A flexible technique to periodically perturb the evolution of differential phase in birefringent optical microfibre is proposed. This conceptual demonstration offers a simple yet effective solution to rectify non‐ideal microfibre coil sensor heads for high‐performance current sensing.
Compact 50–62 GHz current‐reused low‐noise amplifier with gate‐drain transformer feedback
Authors: Feng Chen , Yu Xiaopeng , Lim Wei Meng , Gu Jiangmin , Sui Wenquan
Published: June 2013

A compact two‐stage 50–62 GHz low‐noise amplifier is proposed. Gate‐drain transformer feedback and the current‐reuse technique are employed to achieve input impedance matching, a low noise figure and low power dissipation simultaneously. The proposed low‐noise amplifier, implemented in the Global Foundries 65 nm CMOS process, exhibits a peak gain of 11.8 dB at 58.5 GHz and a minimum noise figure of 5.6 dB. It consumes 15.4 mW from 1.5 V supply with a small area of 0.12 mm2 including all testing pads.
Compact dual‐band bandpass filter with ultra‐wide upper‐stopband
Authors: Wei X.B. , Yue G.T. , Liao J.X. , Wang P. , Xu Z.Q. , Shi Y.
Published: June 2013

Proposed is a compact dual‐band bandpass filter (BPF) using stepped impedance resonators (SIRs). To improve the upper‐stopband of the proposed filter, tri‐section folded SIRs are used. By adjusting the impedance ratio and electronical length ratio of the tri‐section SIR, the out‐of‐band of the filter can be improved. A 2.09/2.62 GHz dual‐band experimental BPF has been designed and fabricated to demonstrate the proposed method. The measured results are in good agreement with the electromagnetic simulation. The spurious frequencies of the upper‐stopband are suppressed below 20 dB from 2.79 to 22.13 GHz. The circuit only occupies 0.29 λg × 0.13 λg.
Trapezoid UWB antenna with dual band‐notched characteristics for WiMAX/WLAN bands
Authors: Wang Junhui , Yin Yingzeng , Liu Xianglong , Wang Tuo
Published: June 2013

A trapezoid monopole antenna with dual band‐notched characteristics for UWB is presented. The antenna consists of a trapezoid patch and a rectangular ground plane. To realise dual notched‐band characteristics, a U‐shaped stub and a T‐shaped stub are embedded in two trapezoid slots of the radiation patch, respectively. The measured results show that the proposed dual notched‐bands planar has an impedance bandwidth of 3–11 GHz for VSWR < 2, except two frequency notched bands of 3.3–3.7 GHz (WiMAX band) and 5.15–5.825 GHz (WLAN band). Both the measured and simulated results of the proposed antenna are presented, indicating that the antenna is a good candidate for UWB applications.
Introduction to Focus Issue: Quantitative Approaches to Genetic Networks
Authors: Albert Réka , Collins James J. , Glass Leon
Published: June 2013

All cells of living organisms contain similar genetic instructions encoded in the organism's DNA. In any particular cell, the control of the expression of each different gene is regulated, in part, by binding of molecular complexes to specific regions of the DNA. The molecular complexes are composed of protein molecules, called transcription factors, combined with various other molecules such as hormones and drugs. Since transcription factors are coded by genes, cellular function is partially determined by genetic networks. Recent research is making large strides to understand both the structure and the function of these networks. Further, the emerging discipline of synthetic biology is engineering novel gene circuits with specific dynamic properties to advance both basic science and potential practical applications. Although there is not yet a universally accepted mathematical framework for studying the properties of genetic networks, the strong analogies between the activation and inhibition of gene expression and electric circuits suggest frameworks based on logical switching circuits. This focus issue provides a selection of papers reflecting current research directions in the quantitative analysis of genetic networks. The work extends from molecular models for the binding of proteins, to realistic detailed models of cellular metabolism. Between these extremes are simplified models in which genetic dynamics are modeled using classical methods of systems engineering, Boolean switching networks, differential equations that are continuous analogues of Boolean switching networks, and differential equations in which control is based on power law functions. The mathematical techniques are applied to study: (i) naturally occurring gene networks in living organisms including: cyanobacteria, Mycoplasma genitalium, fruit flies, immune cells in mammals; (ii) synthetic gene circuits in Escherichia coli and yeast; and (iii) electronic circuits modeling genetic networks using field-programmable gate arrays. Mathematical analyses will be essential for understanding naturally occurring genetic networks in diverse organisms and for providing a foundation for the improved development of synthetic genetic networks.
Excited-state free energy surfaces in solution: Time-dependent density functional theory/reference interaction site model self-consistent field method
Authors: Minezawa Noriyuki
Published: June 2013

Constructing free energy surfaces for electronically excited states is a first step toward the understanding of photochemical processes in solution. For that purpose, the analytic free energy gradient is derived and implemented for the linear-response time-dependent density functional theory combined with the reference interaction site model self-consistent field method. The proposed method is applied to study (1) the fluorescence spectra of aqueous acetone and (2) the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer reaction of ortho-hydroxybenzaldehyde in an acetonitrile solution.
Effects of sugars on the thermal stability of a protein
Authors: Oshima Hiraku , Kinoshita Masahiro
Published: June 2013

It is experimentally known that the heat-denaturation temperature of a protein is raised (i.e., its thermal stability is enhanced) by sugar addition. In earlier works, we proposed a physical picture of thermal denaturation of proteins in which the measure of the thermal stability is defined as the solvent-entropy gain upon protein folding at 298 K normalized by the number of residues. A multipolar-model water was adopted as the solvent. The polyatomic structures of the folded and unfolded states of a protein were taken into account in the atomic detail. A larger value of the measure implies higher thermal stability. First, we show that the measure remains effective even when the model water is replaced by the hard-sphere solvent whose number density and molecular diameter are set at those of real water. The physical picture is then adapted to the elucidation of the effects of sugar addition on the thermal stability of a protein. The water-sugar solution is modeled as a binary mixture of hard spheres. The thermal stability is determined by a complex interplay of the diameter of sugar molecules dC and the total packing fraction of the solution η: dC is estimated from the volume per molecule in the sugar crystal and η is calculated using the experimental data of the solution density. We find that the protein is more stabilized as the sucrose or glucose concentration becomes higher and the stabilization effect is stronger for sucrose than for glucose. These results are in accord with the experimental observations. Using a radial-symmetric integral equation theory and the morphometric approach, we decompose the change in the measure upon sugar addition into two components originating from the protein-solvent pair and protein-solvent many-body correlations, respectively. Each component is further decomposed into the excluded-volume and solvent-accessible-surface terms. These decompositions give physical insights into the microscopic origin of the thermal-stability enhancement by sugar addition. As an example, the higher stability of the native state relative to that of the unfolded state is found to be attributable primarily to an increase in the solvent crowding caused by sugar addition. Due to the hydrophilicity of sugar molecules, the addition of sugar by a larger amount or that with a larger molecular size leads to an increase in η which is large enough to make the solvent crowding more serious.
An inclusive view on biodiesel production by heterogeneous catalyst and its engine operational characteristics
Authors: Subramaniam D. , Murugesan A. , Avinash A.
Published: June 2013

This paper elucidates the maximum methyl ester conversion from free fatty acids of Punnai oil by acid-base catalyst. Conjointly performance emission and combustion characteristics of Punnai Methyl Ester biodiesel and its blends are discussed in detail. It was evident from the study that the maximum Free Fatty Acids to Fatty Acids of Methyl Esters conversion of around 93.4% was obtained by using heterogeneous catalyst. Concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the study to reduce the structural properties of untainted punnai oil. Brake Thermal Efficiency, Brake Specific Fuel Consumption, and Combustion Analysis were noted to be not much affected up to B30 blend. Lower CO and HC for Biodiesel-diesel blend were noted in the experimental study. In contrary, CO2, NOx, and smoke opacity showed an opposite trend, whose values increased with increase in biodiesel-diesel blends.
Effect of metal nanoparticles' contact angle on absorption of light in organic solar cell active layer
Authors: Kataria Devika , Kumar Iyer S. Sundar
Published: June 2013

The enhancement in optical absorption efficiency in solar cells due to incorporation of metal nano-particles (MNPs) may depend on their properties including their contact angles. By appropriately choosing the materials for MNPs and layer on which they are to be deposited, the contact angle may be tuned to maximise optical absorption resulting in higher power conversion efficiency solar cells. In this work, we show by simulation studies that the contact angle of the MNPs with the surface on which they are deposited affects the optical absorption enhancement in an organic solar cell. For poly 3-hexythiophene: phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend as the solar cell active layer, simulation studies for incident white light for constant projection area of MNP show that a 0° contact angle gives the highest enhancement in optical absorption. While the enhancement in absorption is observed to be higher for smaller wavelengths for smaller contact angles, the larger contact angle MNPs seems to help absorption in longer wavelengths.