bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Match Injuries in English Youth Academy and Schools Rugby Union
Authors: Palmer-Green Deborah S. , Stokes Keith A. , Fuller Colin W. , England Michael , Kemp Simon P.T. , Trewartha Grant
Published: February 2013

Background:

Numerous injury epidemiology studies have reported injury patterns in senior rugby union, but investigations in youth rugby are limited.

Purpose:

To describe the nature of injuries resulting from match play within the English youth rugby union, including a comparison between 2 levels of play within the same age group: professional academy versus school rugby.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A 2-season (2006-2007 and 2007-2008) study obtained information on injuries sustained in male youth rugby union players (age, 16-18 years) from 12 English Premiership academies (n = 250) and 7 schools (n = 222). Match exposure (player-hours) and injury details were recorded.

Results:

Match injury incidence was 47 per 1000 player-hours for the academy and 35 per 1000 player-hours for the school groups; these rates were statistically different ( P = .026). The most common injury site was the lower limb and the most common injury type was a ligament sprain, with injuries to the knee and shoulder region resulting in the greatest burden of injury for both groups. The tackle event was the most common cause of match injury for both academy (51% of injuries) and school (57% of injuries) groups.

Conclusion:

Overall, the incidence of injury for youth rugby was lower than for previous studies in senior rugby, but injury patterns (location, type) and causes were similar. The study confirmed that match injury incidence was significantly greater in elite academy youth rugby union than schools rugby. The results suggest that the specific focus for injury risk management in youth rugby should be on players’ tackle technique and prevention strategies for knee and shoulder injuries.
Effect of the piezoelectric hysteretic behavior on the vibration-based energy harvesting
Authors: Silva Luciana L , Savi Marcelo A , Monteiro Paulo C , Netto Theodoro A
Published: February 2013

Vibration-based energy harvesting has received great attention over the last years. The evaluation of the power output of the energy harvesters for different excitation frequencies and amplitudes of vibration has an important role in the design of the devices. In this regard, a wide range of nonlinear effects is observed having considerable influence on the generated power. The main goal of this contribution is to investigate the effect of the piezoelectric hysteretic behavior on the vibration-based energy harvesters. An archetypal model is employed to this aim by considering a one-degree-of-freedom mechanical system coupled to an electrical circuit by a piezoelectric element. Different hysteretic behaviors are investigated by considering the Bouc–Wen model. Numerical simulations are carried out establishing a comparison among hysteretic, nonlinear, and linear piezoelectric behaviors showing their influence on system dynamics.
Accuracy of Citation and Quotation in Foot and Ankle Surgery Journals
Authors: Luo Ma , Li Charles Chuan , Molina Domingo , Andersen Clark R. , Panchbhavi Vinod K.
Published: February 2013

Background:

A recent review of technical editing of research suggests that over one third of references cited in articles in medical journals have some inaccuracies and one fifth of quotations to references in these articles are not accurate.

Methods:

Two hundred and forty-nine citation references and 408 quotes from 25 articles published in 5 orthopaedic journals were randomly selected to determine referencing accuracy. The presence of citation errors was examined by 1 of the authors while the presence of quotation errors was determined by 2 of the authors. Full copies of articles as well as the references were obtained to compare the accuracies.

Results:

The total citation error rate was 41% (103 out of 249 references), and the total quotation error rate was 20% (80 out of 408 quotes) for the 5 orthopaedic journals.

Conclusion:

Citation and quotation errors were still relatively common in orthopaedic journals. While we did not identify any factors associated with citation and quotation errors, the use of technical editing may reduce the amount of citation errors.

Clinical Relevance:

Readers and authors should be aware that many citations of studies are inaccurate and one should review the original source if it is to be used in another publication or to guide clinical treatment.
No Evidence for Inhibitory Deficits or Altered Reward Processing in ADHD
Authors: Demurie Ellen , Roeyers Herbert , Wiersema Jan R. , Sonuga-Barke Edmund
Published: February 2013

Objective: Cognitive and motivational factors differentially affect individuals with mental health problems such as ADHD. Here we introduce a new task to disentangle the relative contribution of inhibitory control and reward anticipation on task performance in children with ADHD and/or autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Method: Typically developing children, children with ADHD,  ASD, or both disorders worked during separate sessions for monetary or social rewards in go/no-go tasks with varying inhibitory load levels. Participants also completed a monetary temporal discounting (TD) task. Results: As predicted, task performance was sensitive to both the effects of anticipated reward amount and inhibitory load. Reward amount had different effects depending on inhibitory load level. TD correlated with inhibitory control in the ADHD group. Conclusion: The integration of the monetary incentive delay and go/no-go paradigms was successful. Surprisingly, there was no evidence of inhibitory control deficits or altered reward anticipation in the clinical groups.
Is ADHD a Risk Factor for High School Dropout? A Controlled Study
Authors: Fried Ronna , Petty Carter , Faraone Stephen V. , Hyder Laran L. , Day Helen , Biederman Joseph
Published: February 2013

Objective: This study examined whether ADHD was an independent contributor to grade retention when adjusting for IQ, learning disorders, and social class. Method: Outcome data was from participants in studies at Massachusetts General Hospital ( n = 404 ADHD, n = 349 controls) who underwent psychiatric interviews, socioeconomic status measures, and IQ testing. Results: 28% of individuals with ADHD repeated a grade compared with 7% of controls ( p < .001). Among participants with ADHD, social class, and IQ were significant predictors of high school dropout or repeated grade. An interaction effect of ADHD and gender was also found with females with ADHD having a higher risk ratio for repeated grade/dropout compared with males with ADHD. Conclusion: Participants with ADHD were significantly more likely to repeat a grade, adjusting for all other variables indicating the critical importance of early identification of ADHD to help mitigate adverse educational outcomes. (J. of Att. Dis. 2016; 20(5) 383-389)
Behavioral and Academic Progress of Children Displaying Substantive ADHD Behaviors in Special Education
Authors: Stoutjesdijk Regina , Scholte Evert M. , Swaab Hanna
Published: February 2013

Objective: Exploring differences in behavioral and academic progress between children displaying substantive ADHD behaviors ( M age of 9.4 years) in special schools ( n = 38) and in inclusive education ( n = 26). The contribution of pedagogical strategies to positive outcomes was also examined. Method: Measurements used were the Teachers’ Report Form, the Social Emotional Questionnaire, assessments of academic achievement, and the Pedagogical Methods Questionnaire. Mixed-model ANOVAs and Pearson’s correlations were used to analyze the data. Results: Significant progress was found regarding disorder-specific problem behavior and in all academic areas, but no interaction effect was found between time and setting. Correlations indicated that positive behavior reinforcement and emotional support are the pedagogical strategies that contributed most to behavioral adaptation. Conclusion: Children displaying substantive ADHD behaviors in both groups develop equally well in the areas of behavioral and academic functioning where significant progress was found.
Exploring hidden narratives: Conscript graffiti at the former military base of Kummersdorf
Authors: Merrill Samuel , Hack Hans
Published: February 2013

This article explores the cultural significance and interpretative potential of graffiti left by Soviet conscripts at Kummersdorf, a former military base in the German federal state of Brandenburg. The graffiti is framed as war art and its typology, distribution and content is studied in detail. In this way opportunities for further research are highlighted, as well as the potential for the graffiti to contribute to interpretative and conservation strategies. We demonstrate how the graffiti embodies multi-level interpretative narratives which can help to reveal hidden aspects of Soviet conscript life and cultural practices whilst alluding to global events and Soviet and Russian military policy. More generally, the article aims to promote the potential of graffiti and other forms of what is traditionally considered vandalism to contribute to the cultural significance and interpretation of heritage sites.
Non-bodies of knowledge: Anatomized remains from the Holden Chapel collection, Harvard University
Authors: Hodge Christina J.
Published: February 2013

In response to the violence of the Revolutionary War and affirming Enlightened philosophies, Harvard University founded its Medical School in 1783. Excavated materials from a trash feature at Holden Chapel, site of Harvard’s early medical lectures, include anatomized human remains. There, new regimes of medical authority were created through the manipulation of bodies via transgressive practices of dissection, display, and disposal. Existing studies of nineteenth-century cadavers strongly focus on their emotional and evidentiary qualities. Close attention should also be paid to instructional bodies. Instructional human remains, uncannily both subject and object, person and specimen, were distinct from other kinds of bodies – and distinctly troubling. The Holden collection historicizes concepts of the body, permits an archaeology of early medical authority, and destabilizes archaeologists’ usual approaches to human remains, corporeality, and the individual.
Framing spaces in places: Creating “respite spaces” in dementia care settings
Authors: Harnett Tove
Published: February 2013

Research on dementia care settings has primarily focused on routine aspects of life, including mealtimes, bathing procedures, etc. However, studies rarely explore how individuals with dementia interact in these settings during the intervals between routines. This study aimed to analyze how residents actively carved out spaces that provided temporary respite from institutional life, termed “framing respite spaces.” Ethnographic data was collected over five months in a dementia care setting in Sweden. Frame analysis was employed to investigate residents’ shared understanding of non-task-orientated situations. The results showed that individuals with dementia adjusted to institutional order, but also actively created respite spaces through conversation. Interestingly, individuals with dementia interpreted conversational cues and often acted logically according to a shared definition of the specific situation. These findings showed that looking beyond task-orientated interactions between staff and residents can provide a more detailed picture of everyday life in dementia care settings.
Contribution of methotrexate in precipitation of manic episode in bipolar affective disorder explored: a case report
Authors: Hariram Jayaraman , Jegan Yogaratnam
Published: February 2013

Bipolar affective disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of mania with or without, but commonly with, episodes of depression. It usually begins in adolescence and can cause enduring and substantial impairment if left untreated. It needs a long-term treatment with mood stabilizers to prevent relapses. Elevated or depressed mood relapses can be either primary or secondary. However, primary mood relapses can occur without a significant precipitating factor, more often tending to occur following stressful life events or discontinuation of mood stabilizer medications. Secondary mood relapses can be caused by many conditions, such as physical illnesses, substance misuse and medications. When a mental illness coexists with another physical illness and the treatment of one complicates the other, it adds complexity to the selection of appropriate pharmacological regime for either condition. In this paper, the authors present a case of bipolar affective disorder who had two episodes of mania likely precipitated by methotrexate, which were reversed by the withdrawal of the offending drug (methotrexate). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, to date there have been no published reports in the literature in which methotrexate, an immunosuppressive and a cytotoxic drug, precipitated a manic episode in a patient with bipolar affective disorder.
Nonverbal Displays of Shame Predict Relapse and Declining Health in Recovering Alcoholics
Authors: Randles Daniel , Tracy Jessica L.
Published: February 2013

Public shaming has long been thought to promote positive behavioral change. However, studies suggest that shame may be a detrimental response to problematic behavior because it motivates hiding, escape, and general avoidance of the problem. We tested whether shame about one’s past addictive drinking (measured via nonverbal displays and self-report) predicts future drinking behaviors and changes in health among newly recovering alcoholics (i.e., sober < 6.5 months; N = 105; Wave 2, n = 46), recruited from Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Results showed that nonverbal behavioral displays of shame expressed while discussing past drinking strongly predicted (a) the tendency to relapse over the next 3 to 11 months, (b) the severity of that relapse, and (c) declines in health. All results held controlling for a range of potential confounders (e.g., alcohol dependence, health, personality). These findings suggest that shame about one’s problematic past may increase, rather than decrease, future occurrences of problem behaviors.
Rapid activation receptor– or IL-2–induced lytic granule convergence in human natural killer cells requires Src, but not downstream signaling
Authors: James Ashley Mentlik , Hsu Hsiang-Ting , Dongre Prachi , Uzel Gulbu , Mace Emily M. , Banerjee Pinaki P. , Orange Jordan S.
Published: February 2013

Key Points

Src signals are required for specific receptor and cytokine activation–induced rapid reorientation of lytic granules to the MTOC in NK cells.
Circulatory hepcidin is associated with the anti-inflammatory response but not with iron or anemic status in childhood malaria
Authors: Burté Florence , Brown Biobele J. , Orimadegun Adebola E. , Ajetunmobi Wasiu A. , Afolabi Nathaniel K. , Akinkunmi Francis , Kowobari Olayinka , Omokhodion Samuel , Osinusi Kikelomo , Akinbami Felix O. , Shokunbi Wuraola A. , Sodeinde Olugbemiro , Fernandez-Reyes Delmiro
Published: February 2013

Key Points

Hepcidin rises more dramatically in mild malaria than in severe malaria. Hepcidin levels are linked to inflammation, not anemia, in severe malarial anemia and cerebral malaria.
Glutamate 83 and arginine 85 of helix H3 bend are key residues for FtsZ polymerization, GTPase activity and cellular viability of Escherichia coli: lateral mutations affect FtsZ polymerization and E. coliviability
Authors: Shin Jae Yen , Vollmer Waldemar , Lagos Rosalba , Monasterio Octavio
Published: February 2013

Background

FtsZ is an essential cell division protein, which localizes at the middle of the bacterial cell to mediate cytokinesis. In vitro, FtsZ polymerizes and induces GTPase activity through longitudinal interactions to form the protofilaments, whilst lateral interactions result within formation of bundles. The interactions that participate in the protofilaments are similar to its eukaryotic homologue tubulin and are well characterized; however, lateral interactions between the inter protofilaments are less defined. FtsZ forms double protofilaments in vitro, though the key elements on the interface of the inter-protofilaments remain unclear as well as the structures involved in the lateral interactions in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that the highly conserved negative charge of glutamate 83 and the positive charge of arginine 85 located in the helix H3 bend of FtsZ are required for in vitro FtsZ lateral and longitudinal interactions, respectively and for in vivo cell division.

Results

The effect of mutation on the widely conserved glutamate-83 and arginine-85 residues located in the helix H3 (present in most of the tubulin family) was evaluated by in vitro and in situ experiments. The morphology of the cells expressing Escherichia coli FtsZ (E83Q) mutant at 42°C formed filamented cells while those expressing FtsZ(R85Q) formed shorter filamented cells. In situ immunofluorescence experiments showed that the FtsZ(E83Q) mutant formed rings within the filamented cells whereas those formed by the FtsZ(R85Q) mutant were less defined. The expression of the mutant proteins diminished cell viability as follows: wild type > E83Q > R85Q. In vitro, both, R85Q and E83Q reduced the rate of FtsZ polymerization (WT > E83Q >> R85Q) and GTPase activity (WT > E83Q >> R85Q). R85Q protein polymerized into shorter filaments compared to WT and E83Q, with a GTPase lag period that was inversely proportional to the protein concentration. In the presence of ZipA, R85Q GTPase activity increased two fold, but no bundles were formed suggesting that lateral interactions were affected.

Conclusions

We found that glutamate 83 and arginine 85 located in the bend of helix H3 at the lateral face are required for the protofilament lateral interaction and also affects the inter-protofilament lateral interactions that ultimately play a role in the functional localization of the FtsZ ring at the cell division site.
Differential neutrophil gene expression in early bovine pregnancy
Authors: Kizaki Keiichiro , Shichijo-Kizaki Ayumi , Furusawa Tadashi , Takahashi Toru , Hosoe Misa , Hashizume Kazuyoshi
Published: February 2013

Background

In food production animals, especially cattle, the diagnosis of gestation is important because the timing of gestation directly affects the running of farms. Various methods have been used to detect gestation, but none of them are ideal because of problems with the timing of detection or the accuracy, simplicity, or cost of the method. A new method for detecting gestation, which involves assessing interferon-tau (IFNT)-stimulated gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), was recently proposed. PBL fractionation methods were used to examine whether the expression profiles of various PBL populations could be used as reliable diagnostic markers of bovine gestation.

Methods

PBL were collected on days 0 (just before artificial insemination), 7, 14, 17, 21, and 28 of gestation. The gene expression levels of the PBL were assessed with microarray analysis and/or quantitative real-time reverse transcription (q) PCR. PBL fractions were collected by flow cytometry or density gradient cell separation using Histopaque 1083 or Ficoll-Conray solutions. The expression levels of four IFNT-stimulated genes, interferon-stimulated protein 15 kDa (ISG15), myxovirus-resistance (MX) 1 and 2, and 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS1), were then analyzed in each fraction through day 28 of gestation using qPCR.

Results

Microarray analysis detected 72 and 28 genes in whole PBL that were significantly higher on days 14 and 21 of gestation, respectively, than on day 0. The upregulated genes included IFNT-stimulated genes. The expression levels of these genes increased with the progression of gestation until day 21. In flow cytometry experiments, on day 14 the expression levels of all of the genes were significantly higher in the granulocyte fraction than in the other fractions. Their expression gradually decreased through day 28 of gestation. Strong correlations were observed between the expression levels of the four genes in the granulocyte fractions obtained with flow cytometry and with density gradient separation.

Conclusions

The expression profiles of ISG15, MX1, MX2, and OAS1 could be a useful diagnostic biomarker of bovine gestation. Assessing the expression levels of these genes in a granulocyte fraction obtained with density gradient separation is a practical way of detecting gestation in cows within three weeks of insemination.
EphB2 signaling regulates lesion-induced axon sprouting but not critical period length in the postnatal auditory brainstem
Authors: Nakamura Paul A , Cramer Karina S
Published: February 2013

Background

Studies of developmental plasticity may provide insight into plasticity during adulthood, when neural circuitry is less responsive to losses or changes in input. In the mammalian auditory brainstem, globular bushy cell axons of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) innervate the contralateral medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) principal neurons. VCN axonal terminations in MNTB, known as calyces of Held, are very large and specialized for high-fidelity transmission of auditory information. Following unilateral deafferentation during postnatal development, VCN axons from the intact side form connections with novel targets, including the ipsilateral MNTB. EphB signaling has been shown to play a role in this process during the first postnatal week, but mechanisms involved in this reorganization during later developmental periods remain unknown.

Results

We found that EphB2 signaling reduces the number of induced ipsilateral projections to the MNTB after unilateral VCN removal at postnatal day seven (P7), but not after removal of the VCN on one side at P10, after the closure of the critical period for lesion-induced innervation of the ipsilateral MNTB.

Conclusions

Results from this study indicate that molecular mechanisms involved in the development of circuitry may also play a part in rewiring after deafferentation during development, but do not appear to regulate the length of critical periods for plasticity.
Analysis of kinetoplast cytochrome b gene of 16 Leishmania isolates from different foci of China: different species of Leishmania in China and their phylogenetic inference
Authors: Yang Bin-Bin , Chen Da-Li , Chen Jian-Ping , Liao Lin , Hu Xiao-Su , Xu Jia-Nan
Published: February 2013

Background

Leishmania species belong to the family Trypanosomatidae and cause leishmaniasis, a geographically widespread disease that infects humans and other vertebrates. This disease remains endemic in China. Due to the large geographic area and complex ecological environment, the taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationship of Chinese Leishmania isolates remain uncertain. A recent internal transcribed spacer 1 and cytochrome oxidase II phylogeny of Chinese Leishmania isolates has challenged some aspects of their traditional taxonomy as well as cladistics hypotheses of their phylogeny. The current study was designed to provide further disease background and sequence analysis.

Methods

We systematically analyzed 50 cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequences of 19 isolates (16 from China, 3 from other countries) sequenced after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a special primer for cyt b as well as 31 sequences downloaded from GenBank. After alignment, the data were analyzed using the maximum parsimony, Bayesian and netwok methods.

Results

Sequences of six haplotypes representing 10 Chinese isolates formed a monophyletic group and clustered with Leishmania tarentolae. The isolates GS1, GS7, XJ771 of this study from China clustered with other isolates of Leishmania donovani complex. The isolate JS1 was a sister to Leishmania tropica, which represented an L. tropica complex instead of clustering with L. donovani complex or with the other 10 Chinese isolates. The isolates KXG-2 and GS-GER20 formed a monophyletic group with Leishmania turanica from central Asia. In the different phylogenetic trees, all of the Chinese isolates occurred in at least four groups regardless of geographic distribution.

Conclusions

The undescribed Leishmania species of China, which are clearly causative agents of canine leishmaniasis and human visceral leishmaniasis and are related to Sauroleishmania, may have evolved from a common ancestral parasite that came from the Americas and may have split off earlier than the other old world Leishmania. Our results also suggest the following: the isolates GS7, GS1 and XJ771 occur as part of the L. donovani complex; the JS1 isolate is L. tropica; and the isolate GS-GER20 identified as Leishmania gerbilli is close to KXG-2 which is L. turanica.
Exogenous application of hydrogen sulfide donor attenuates inflammatory reactions through the L-selectin-involved pathway in the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction
Authors: Shimizu Kazuhiro , Ogawa Fumihide , Hara Toshihide , Yoshizaki Ayumi , Muroi Eiji , Yanaba Koichi , Akiyama Yuichiro , Yamaoka Toshifumi , Sato Shinichi
Published: February 2013

H2S donor attenuates inflammatory responses through the L-selectin involved pathway, in the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction.

H2S has been highlighted recently as an endogenous, gaseous signaling molecule, especially in inflammations. The deposition of IC induces an acute inflammatory response with tissue injury. To assess the roles of H2S in the IC-induced diseases, the cutaneous, reverse passive Arthus reaction was conducted using NaHS as a H2S donor. Furthermore, we conducted similar experiments using selectin−/− mice to determine the involvement of selectin molecules in the H2S-mediated pathway. Exogenous application of NaHS dramatically attenuated inflammatory reactions in WT mice associated with Arthus reaction. Namely, mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and neutrophil numbers were reduced significantly in the lesional skins of NaHS-treated WT mice relative to untreated ones. NaHS treatment significantly reduced these three parameters in the lesional skins of E- and P-selectin−/− mice but not in those of L-selectin−/− mice. Quite similar results were obtained in the blocking study using WT mice injected with mAb to E-, P-, and L-selectin. Our results indicated that the exogenous application of NaHS attenuates inflammatory responses in reverse passive Arthus reaction through a L-selectin-involved pathway but not through E- or P-selectin pathways.
Geotime: A 3D automatic tool for chronostratigraphic seismic interpretation and filtering
Authors: Guillon Sébastien , Keskes Noomane , Gallon Jonathan , Donias Marc
Published: February 2013

Chronostratigraphic seismic interpretation provides insight into basinal evolution. Because it maps the internal stratigraphic architecture, this method has been widely used for well placement optimization and reservoir model building. After many years of research at TOTAL, a software tool, called GeoTime, has been developed for automatic chronostratigraphic analysis of seismic data, particularly in complex geologic settings. This tool first creates automatically, from the seismic, a 3D isogeologic time volume which highlights all stratigraphic surfaces. Then a “3D Wheeler diagram” volume is obtained by segmenting the seismic volume into different depositional or nondepositional packages. This diagram provides better understanding of the spatial distribution of deposition through geologic time. Finally, this tool can be used to automatically or semi-automatically track chronostratigraphic surfaces.
Evaluation and joint inversion of TTI velocity models with walkaway VSP in deep-water offshore Angola
Authors: Zhu Jinming , Perkins Richard , Sen Pranab , Howe Sharon , Hiller Ewan , Clough James
Published: February 2013

We present a case study where a multitude of walkaway vertical seismic profiling (WVSP) data was employed in evaluating the accuracy of anisotropic velocity models used in a prestack depth migration (PSDM) project. We integrated the WVSP traveltimes with surface seismic PSDM residual moveout on migrated common-image gathers (CIG) in a joint inversion that determined the anisotropic model parameters. The resulting anisotropic model significantly reduces the mis-ties between the modeled and observed first arrivals in the various WVSP lines, in addition to the enhancement in CIG flatness and significant im-provement in imaging.
GEOPHYSICS BRIGHT SPOTS
Authors: Sun Yonghe
Published: February 2013

Microseismic, fracturing hazards are among the latest catchwords in the oil and gas industry. If you have missed the buzz, or if you haven't, you should check out the papers mentioned below from the January-February issue of Geophysics. One of them is a nice paper on statistical simulation of induced seismicity; another provides useful insights for processing CSEM data. I invite you to browse through the list of papers below recommended by the editors and the entire issue for the latest developments in exploration geophysics.
A Minimal Implementation of the AMBER-PAICS Interface for Ab Initio FMO-QM/MM-MD Simulation
Authors: Okamoto Takuya , Ishikawa Takeshi , Koyano Yoshiyuki , Yamamoto Norifumi , Kuwata Kazuo , Nagaoka Masataka
Published: February 2013

For the purpose of providing a realistic description of the reaction mechanisms in large molecular systems, we propose a quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) method combined with the ab initio fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method, i.e., the ab initio FMO-QM/MM method. By connecting a molecular dynamics (MD) program AMBER with an FMO program PAICS, we have implemented an AMBER-PAICS interface (AP-IF). Using the AP-IF, we demonstrate three example applications: (a) a hydrogen fluoride and water molecular clusters, (b) an alanine dipeptide in aqueous solution, and (c) a prion protein–GN8 complex. From these results, it is confirmed that the FMO-QM/MM method offers a good compromise between chemical accuracy and computational cost and enables us to obtain in ab initio quality the inter- and intramolecular interaction energies between molecules or residues in large molecular systems such as solution and biomolecule, by using the dynamics-based interfragment interaction energy (IFIE) analysis.
Patents and Innovation: Evidence from Economic History
Authors: Moser Petra
Published: February 2013

What is the optimal system of intellectual property rights to encourage innovation? Empirical evidence from economic history can help to inform important policy questions that have been difficult to answer with modern data: For example, does the existence of strong patent laws encourage innovation? What proportion of innovations is patented? Is this share constant across industries and over time? How does patenting affect the diffusion of knowledge? How effective are prominent mechanisms, such as patent pools and compulsory licensing, that have been proposed to address problems with the patent system? This essay summarizes results of existing research and highlights promising areas for future research.
The New Patent Intermediaries: Platforms, Defensive Aggregators, and Super-Aggregators
Authors: Hagiu Andrei , Yoffie David B
Published: February 2013

The patent market consists mainly of privately negotiated, bilateral transactions, either sales or cross-licenses, between large companies. There is no eBay, Amazon, New York Stock Exchange, or Kelley's Blue Book equivalent for patents, and when buyers and sellers do manage to find each other, they usually negotiate under enormous uncertainty: prices of similar patents vary widely from transaction to transaction and the terms of the transactions (including prices) are often secret and confidential. Inefficient and illiquid markets, such as the one for patents, generally create profit opportunities for intermediaries. We begin with an overview of the problems that arise in patent markets, and how traditional institutions like patent brokers, patent pools, and standard-setting organizations have sought to address them. During the last decade, a variety of novel patent intermediaries has emerged. We discuss how several online platforms have started services for buying and selling patents but have failed to gain meaningful traction. And new intermediaries that we call defensive patent aggregators and superaggregators have become quite influential and controversial in the technology industries they touch. The goal of this paper is to shed light on the role and efficiency tradeoffs of these new patent intermediaries. Finally, we offer a provisional assessment of how the new patent intermediary institutions affect economic welfare.
Of Smart Phone Wars and Software Patents
Authors: Graham Stuart , Vishnubhakat Saurabh
Published: February 2013

Among the main criticisms currently confronting the US Patent and Trademark Office are concerns about software patents and what role they play in the web of litigation now proceeding in the smart phone industry. We will examine the evidence on the litigation and the treatment by the Patent Office of patents that include software elements. We present specific empirical evidence regarding the examination by the Patent Office of software patents, their validity, and their role in the smart phone wars. More broadly, this article discusses the competing values at work in the patent system and how the system has dealt with disputes that, like the smart phone wars, routinely erupt over time, in fact dating back to the very founding of the United States. The article concludes with an outlook for systematic policymaking within the patent system in the wake of major recent legislative and administrative reforms. Principally, the article highlights how the US Patent Office acts responsibly when it engages constructively with principled criticisms and calls for reform, as it has during the passage and now implementation of the landmark Leahy–Smith America Invents Act of 2011.
Markets for Pollution Allowances: What Are the (New) Lessons?
Authors: Goulder Lawrence H
Published: February 2013

About 45 years ago a few economists offered the novel idea of trading pollution rights as a way of meeting environmental goals. Such trading was touted as a more cost-effective alternative to traditional forms of regulation, such as specific technology requirements or performance standards. The principal form of trading in pollution rights is a cap-and-trade system, whose essential elements are few and simple: first, the regulatory authority specifies the cap—the total pollution allowed by all of the facilities covered by the regulatory program; second, the regulatory authority distributes the allowances, either by auction or through free provision; third, the system provides for trading of allowances. Since the 1980s the use of cap and trade has grown substantially. In this overview article, I consider some key lessons about when cap-and-trade programs work well, when they perform less effectively, how they work compared with other policy options, and how they might need to be modified to address issues that had not been anticipated.
Sorption of Triclosan onto Tyre Crumb Rubber
Authors: López-Morales J. , Perales-Pérez O. , Román-Velázquez F.
Published: February 2013

The effectiveness of using tyre crumb rubber (TCR) as an adsorbent for the removal of triclosan (TCS) from aqueous solutions was evaluated as a function of pH through controlled batch experiments. Carbon black (CB) and styrene–butadiene polymer (SBP), which are the main components in TCR, were individually evaluated and their contribution in the sorption process was assessed. At pH 3, the maximum rate of adsorption of TCS onto TCR, CB and SBP was 89, 95 and 92%, respectively. The Freundlich model provided the best fit for the experimental data obtained, as indicated by the mean relative percent deviation modulus (P). Our study results indicate that the removal of TCS using SBP follows an absorption process. Maximum desorption rate of TCS from TCR was approximately 89%. Results of sorption/desorption experiments clearly indicated the viability of TCR to be reused without any significant loss in its sorption/desorption capacity.
Synthesis of Vegetable-Based Activated Carbons with Mixed Micro- and Mesoporosity for Use in Cigarette Filters
Authors: Dawson Elizabeth A. , Parkes Gareth M.B. , Branton Peter
Published: February 2013

Activated carbons with micropores for adsorption and filtration of the volatile constituents of mainstream cigarette smoke, together with mesopores for enhanced mass transport were prepared by a novel route. Treatment of coconut shell or other lignocellulosic precursors with aqueous NaOH, followed by thorough washing, charring and steam activation produced carbons with enhanced adsorption characteristics in smoking trials, compared with their microporous analogues. The mechanism of formation of these carbons is explained in terms of initial partial dissolution of the precursor in an aqueous alkali solution, followed by catalytic gasification of carbon in steam involving residual sodium.
Removal of Selenium and Arsenic Oxyanions Using Natural Goethite-Rich Iron Ore from Daitari, Orissa, India: Effect of Heat Treatment
Authors: Behera R.K. , Rout K. , Nayak B. , Das N.N.
Published: February 2013

Sorption capacities of raw and calcined goethite-rich iron ore (GRI) collected from Datari iron-ore mines in Orissa for the removal of As and Se oxyanions were investigated in this study. Thermally treated GRI at 300 °C (GRI-300), having the maximum surface area (49.5 m2/g) and pore volume (0.028 cm3/g), showed maximum uptake of As(III), As(V) and Se(IV) oxyanions from their aqueous solutions, which progressively decreased when the pH of the solution is increased. At pH 6.0 (approximately), 2.0 g/l GRI-300 dose could remove more than 90% of As(III), As(V) and Se(IV) from their aqueous solutions containing 0.215, 0.265 and 20 mg/l amounts of the compound, respectively. The presence of co-existing ions showed a significant decrease in the uptake of oxyanions by GRI-300 in (PO43– > Cl− > NO3−). The present set of data may be helpful to further asses the potential of readily available GRI to remove different toxic ions from contaminated waters.
A Consolidated Theory for Predicting Rain Noise
Authors: Griffin Daniel , Ballagh Keith
Published: February 2013

This paper presents a theory for rain noise prediction, consolidating discussions of drop impact on a plate and resulting work on rain noise predictions that is found in the literature. An objective of the consolidated theory is a robust engineering model which does not rely on complex computational techniques or lengthy computer simulation. The model described is compared to measured data to establish accuracy and reliability.
A Symphony Hall: L'Auditori Barcelona
Authors: Arau-Puchades Higini
Published: February 2013

This paper describes the design of the Concert Hall of Barcelona, called “L'Auditori”. The acoustical design of the project was finished in 1990 but it was built later and finally opened on 22nd March 1999. The acoustics of the concert hall have been very well received by audiences.

In this manuscript, we outline several acoustic features which had to be designed using old methods because the more modern systems had not yet been developed. However, construction was delayed nine years, which meant that new computer tools were available when work was coming to an end in 1990, it allowed us to carry out an overall review of many aspects of the design,

A very important issue that required years of research before we discovered the cause of the problem was that musicians could not hear themselves on stage, yet Gade's measurements of ST1 made in 2001 were comparable with those found in the best reference halls. In this paper we discuss this issue, and conclude that the musicians were correct.
A Comparison of Measurement Standard Methods for the Sound Insulation of Building Façades
Authors: Berardi Umberto
Published: February 2013

This paper focuses on the limits of measurement of the sound insulation of building façades at low frequencies. Three standard methods are compared mainly for the position of the equipment. In particular, the positions proposed by the international standard ISO 140-5 and the national standards ASTM E 966 (USA) and JIS A 1430 (Japan) are considered. The limits of measurement of the sound pressure level in front of the façade are investigated. Different placements of the external source and receiver are considered. Moreover, different placements of the receiver inside small rooms are compared by focusing on corner vs. center room positions. The uncertainties of room averaged sound pressure levels measured according to different standards are discussed. The problems of measurement of the reverberation time in small rooms and of sound insulation in irregular shaped rooms are introduced because these measurements present several critical challenges. Finally, suggestions to improve the future version of the ISO 140-5 are reported.
Prediction of Jet Noise for Realistic Flow Problems Using Large Eddy Simulation
Authors: Sinha Neeraj , Erwin James P.
Published: February 2013

A systematic procedure is described to predict the noise emissions from realistic aero-propulsive jets. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is used to compute the jet flowfield and coupled with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation for far-field noise predictions. A low-dissipation fifth-order upwind biased finite-volume reconstruction procedure is used along with selective fourth order inviscid flux blending. Higher order explicit time integrators are used for enhanced wave propagation. Also, non-contiguous block interfacing is employed to eliminate the traditional limitations of structured grid topologies for complex geometries. For simple jet configurations the LES/FW-H method is validated with University of Mississippi's National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) experimental measurements. Four unique and more realistic applications are then shown. The first is a hot faceted jet with lobed corrugations, followed by an over-expanded military gas turbine engine exhaust with and without chevrons. Then a twin jet impinging on a jet blast deflector is shown, and lastly are two high aspect-ratio nozzles, one with and one without a bevel. The LES/FW-H methodology is shown to produce reasonable agreement with experimental measurements at modest grid resolutions. Details are discussed about the selected example problems highlighting the challenges associated with applying the tools to realistic geometries and jet configurations.
Performance Efficient Jet Noise Reduction for Supersonic Nozzles
Authors: Murray Nathan E. , Jansen Bernard J.
Published: February 2013

The variable area, round, axisymmetric, supersonic exhaust nozzle for high performance military aircraft represents a remarkable technological achievement. These variable exhaust nozzles (VEN) utilize conic contraction and expansion sections and provide a simple mechanical means to control the throat-to-exhaust area ratio as a function of throttle input while maintaining structural and thermal integrity. Despite this admirable design, the result is a jet that unavoidably includes shockwaves both inside the nozzle and in the exhaust. The sharp throat radius provides the potential for flow separation which is exacerbated by shock-boundary-layer interactions within the nozzle resulting in reduced pressure recovery on the wall which translates into reduced thrust. A novel design, patented by Dr. John M. Seiner, is shown to eliminate shocks by altering the contour of the VEN seals. This results in the elimination of shock noise in the far-field spectra. The shape of the contoured seals provides the added benefit of generating streamwise vorticity which is evident in the reduction in mixing noise in the far-field spectra. Particle image velocimetry data is presented to demonstrate the enhanced mixing that is generated. Experimental evidence obtained at both model scale and full-scale demonstrates the ability to obtain 2–5 dB noise reduction with an optimized contoured seal design.
On Classification of Web Services Using Fuzzy Expert System
Authors: Almulla Mohammed A.
Published: February 2013

The evolution of the Internet from static Web pages into dynamic Web services raises a serious challenge of locating desired Web services. One possible way for Web services discovery is to classify Web services into different categories when they are published in a UDDI registry. This paper proposes a knowledge-based solution to the problem through the use of fuzzy expert systems. Our system automatically classifies Web services into specific domains through identifying key concepts/operations inside service textual documentations, and hence builds a lattice of classes of similar Web services. Results obtained by the system are compared with those computed by alternative methods.
Image Fusion of the Feature Level Based on Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Luo Xiaoqing , Wu Xiaojun , Zhang ZhangChen
Published: February 2013

A new image fusion algorithm of the feature level is proposed incorporating with quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization algorithm (QPSO) clustering in this paper. Wavelet decomposition is performed on the source images, clustering algorithm that incorporates the fuzzy C- means (FCM) into QPSO algorithm (QPSO-FCM) is developed to segment the image in the feature space formed by multi-channel Gabor filters, and then the weighting factors are constructed. Finally, the fused image is obtained by taking inverse wavelet transform. The QPSO has less parameters and higher convergent capability of the global optimization. So QPSO-FCM has a strong global searching capacity and avoids the local minimum problems of FCM. The performance of the image fusion method is evaluated using five criteria including root mean square error, peek-to-peek signal-to-noise ratio, entropy, cross entropy and mutual information. Owing to the improved the clustering effect, the evaluation results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the image fusion algorithm based on FCM.
Algorithm on Contourlet Domain in Detection of Road Cracks for Pavement Images
Authors: Zhibiao Shu , Yanqing Guo
Published: February 2013

In this paper we present a detection algorithm of road cracks in several directions and each layer for pavement images in contourlet domain. Firstly, a pavement image is converted to a grey-scale image which is decomposed by using contourlet transform. Then directionality and anisotropy are used to enhance the singular characteristic of the image by expanding all scale detail coefficients to the same size and combining the coefficients. The new approach avoids unreasonable evaluation result of classical unified crack index pavement distress evaluation method based on image tile. Experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper can detect pavement cracks effectively which is not affected by noise.
Diophantine Solutions Based Permutation for Image Encryption
Authors: Fouda J. S. Armand Eyebe , Effa J. Yves , Bodo Bertrand , Ali Maaruf
Published: February 2013

A permutation technique based on the resolution of the system of three independent Diophantine equations is presented. Each Diophantine equation parameters are two positive integers generated from a chaotic system. The resulting solutions are then used for rearranging the positions of the bits and pixels in the ciphered sequence. The performance of such a technique is compared to GRP and Xiang permutation algorithms. From this permutation algorithm an efficient chaos-based block cipher using a chaotic logistic map is proposed. Statistical analyses of this system show a high security level and non-propagation of errors.