bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decadal Δ17O record of tropospheric CO2: Verification of a stratospheric component in the troposphere
Authors: Thiemens Mark H. , Chakraborty Subrata , Jackson Teresa L.
Published: May 2014

For quantification and prediction of global warming due to anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, high‐resolution determination of carbon cycle reservoir size and rates of exchange is vital. Isotope ratio measurements of 13C and 18O in CO2 have proven their utility in resolving the carbon cycle. Here we report a long‐term record of triple oxygen isotopic composition of tropospheric CO2. A presence of a steady state stratospheric component (Δ17O = ln[(δ17O + 1) − 0.522 ln(δ18O + 1)] = 0.08 ± 0.04‰) is observed in tropospheric CO2 after modeling via a long‐term spline fit of the record, adding an additional technique for quantification of CO2 fluxes. The δ18O of CO2 (measured as O2 for oxygen triple isotopic composition) from the present study is compared to the measurements of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography CO2 network (measured as CO2 for δ13C and δ18O) and found to be comparable. We note that the triple oxygen isotopic signal (Δ17O) significantly decreased to 0.02 ± 0.02‰ from the steady state value of 0.08 ± 0.04‰ during the 1997–1999 time period. The possible causes for this depletion are evaluated and discussed. An enhanced role of global primary productivity, facilitating water‐CO2 isotope exchange is possible, and future measurements and modeling strategies may develop this further.
Comprehensive ecosystem model‐data synthesis using multiple data sets at two temperate forest free‐air CO2 enrichment experiments: Model performance at ambient CO2 concentration
Authors: Walker Anthony P. , Hanson Paul J. , De Kauwe Martin G. , Medlyn Belinda E. , Zaehle Sönke , Asao Shinichi , Dietze Michael , Hickler Thomas , Huntingford Chris , Iversen Colleen M. , Jain Atul , Lomas Mark , Luo Yiqi , McCarthy Heather , Parton William J. , Prentice I. Colin , Thornton Peter E. , Wang Shusen , Wang Ying‐Ping , Warlind David , Weng Ensheng , Warren Jeffrey M. , Woodward F. Ian , Oren Ram , Norby Richard J.
Published: May 2014

Free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments provide a remarkable wealth of data which can be used to evaluate and improve terrestrial ecosystem models (TEMs). In the FACE model‐data synthesis project, 11 TEMs were applied to two decadelong FACE experiments in temperate forests of the southeastern U.S.—the evergreen Duke Forest and the deciduous Oak Ridge Forest. In this baseline paper, we demonstrate our approach to model‐data synthesis by evaluating the models' ability to reproduce observed net primary productivity (NPP), transpiration, and leaf area index (LAI) in ambient CO2 treatments. Model outputs were compared against observations using a range of goodness‐of‐fit statistics. Many models simulated annual NPP and transpiration within observed uncertainty. We demonstrate, however, that high goodness‐of‐fit values do not necessarily indicate a successful model, because simulation accuracy may be achieved through compensating biases in component variables. For example, transpiration accuracy was sometimes achieved with compensating biases in leaf area index and transpiration per unit leaf area. Our approach to model‐data synthesis therefore goes beyond goodness‐of‐fit to investigate the success of alternative representations of component processes. Here we demonstrate this approach by comparing competing model hypotheses determining peak LAI. Of three alternative hypotheses—(1) optimization to maximize carbon export, (2) increasing specific leaf area with canopy depth, and (3) the pipe model—the pipe model produced peak LAI closest to the observations. This example illustrates how data sets from intensive field experiments such as FACE can be used to reduce model uncertainty despite compensating biases by evaluating individual model assumptions.
Hyporheic transport and biogeochemical reactions in pool‐riffle systems under varying ambient groundwater flow conditions
Authors: Trauth Nico , Schmidt Christian , Vieweg Michael , Maier Uli , Fleckenstein Jan H.
Published: May 2014

At the interface between stream water, groundwater, and the hyporheic zone (HZ), important biogeochemical processes that play a crucial role in fluvial ecology occur. Solutes that infiltrate into the HZ can react with each other and possibly also with upwelling solutes from the groundwater. In this study, we systematically evaluate how variations of gaining and losing conditions, stream discharge, and pool‐riffle morphology affect aerobic respiration (AR) and denitrification (DN) in the HZ. For this purpose, a computational fluid dynamics model of stream water flow is coupled to a reactive transport model. Scenarios of variations of the solute concentration in the upwelling groundwater were conducted. Our results show that solute influx, residence time, and the size of reactive zones strongly depend on presence, magnitude, and direction of ambient groundwater flow. High magnitudes of ambient groundwater flow lower AR efficiency by up to 4 times and DN by up to 3 orders of magnitude, compared to neutral conditions. The influence of stream discharge and morphology on the efficiency of AR and DN are minor, in comparison to that of ambient groundwater flow. Different scenarios of O2 and NO3 concentrations in the upwelling groundwater reveal that DN efficiency of the HZ is highest under low upwelling magnitudes accompanied with low concentrations of O2 and NO3. Our results demonstrate how ambient groundwater flow influences solute transport, AR, and DN in the HZ. Neglecting groundwater flow in stream‐groundwater interactions would lead to a significant overestimation of the efficiency of biogeochemical reactions in fluvial systems.
Navigating financial and supply reliability tradeoffs in regional drought management portfolios
Authors: Zeff Harrison B. , Kasprzyk Joseph R. , Herman Jonathan D. , Reed Patrick M. , Characklis Gregory W.
Published: May 2014

Rising development costs and growing concerns over environmental impacts have led many communities to explore more diversified water management strategies. These “portfolio”‐style approaches integrate existing supply infrastructure with other options such as conservation measures or water transfers. Diversified water supply portfolios have been shown to reduce the capacity and costs required to meet demand, while also providing greater adaptability to changing hydrologic conditions. However, this additional flexibility can also cause unexpected reductions in revenue (from conservation) or increased costs (from transfers). The resulting financial instability can act as a substantial disincentive to utilities seeking to implement more innovative water management techniques. This study seeks to design portfolios that employ financial tools (e.g., contingency funds and index insurance) to reduce fluctuations in revenues and costs, allowing these strategies to achieve improved performance without sacrificing financial stability. This analysis is applied to the development of coordinated regional supply portfolios in the “Research Triangle” region of North Carolina, an area comprising four rapidly growing municipalities. The actions of each independent utility become interconnected when shared infrastructure is utilized to enable interutility transfers, requiring the evaluation of regional tradeoffs in up to five performance and financial objectives. Diversified strategies introduce significant tradeoffs between achieving reliability goals and introducing burdensome variability in annual revenues and/or costs. Financial mitigation tools can mitigate the impacts of this variability, allowing for an alternative suite of improved solutions. This analysis provides a general template for utilities seeking to navigate the tradeoffs associated with more flexible, portfolio‐style management approaches.
Characterizing magnetofossils from first‐order reversal curve (FORC) central ridge signatures
Authors: Heslop David , Roberts Andrew P. , Chang Liao
Published: May 2014

The central ridge structure of a first‐order reversal curve (FORC) distribution is indicative of uniaxial noninteracting single domain magnetic particles, which provides the opportunity to identify and characterize biogenic magnetic mineral remains (magnetofossils) in sediments. Recent studies have shown that magnetofossils are widespread in the geological record and that they carry useful environmental information and contribute to paleomagnetic recording, which makes it essential to quantify how these biogenic components contribute to the magnetic properties of sediments. We present results from six sedimentary sequences whose magnetic mineral assemblages contain a significant magnetofossil contribution. Using principal component analysis, we find that the central ridge properties exhibit both intra‐sequnce and inter‐sequence variability that may be ascribed to external environmental factors. While samples from individual sediment sequences tend to cluster together, there is a continuum of inter‐sequence behavior that appears to be related to a variety of magnetofossil properties. We demonstrate the complexity of biogenic magnetic components in sedimentary environments, but also the power and potential of FORC central ridges for understanding magnetic mixtures and unraveling environmental information.
Dayside episodic ion outflow from Martian magnetic cusps and/or magnetosheath boundary motion associated with plasma oscillations
Authors: Duru F. , Gurnett D. A. , Morgan D. D. , Lundin R. , Duru I. H. , Winningham J. D. , Frahm R. A.
Published: May 2014

The radar sounder on the Mars Express Spacecraft is able to make measurements of electron densities in the Martian ionosphere from both local electron plasma oscillations and remote soundings. A study of thousands of orbits shows that in some cases the electron plasma oscillations disappear and reappear abruptly near the upper boundary of the dayside ionosphere. In some cases, the Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA‐3) data show clear evidence of upwardly accelerated ionospheric ions, on interconnected magnetic field lines. In other cases, ASPERA‐3 data show that when the plasma oscillations disappear, the spacecraft is in the magnetosheath and when they return, the ionospheric plasma reappears. These intermittent appearances of plasma suggest the multiple crossings of the magnetosheath boundary. The motion of the boundary or plasma clouds and ionospheric streamers (a relatively narrow strip of plasma attached to the ionosphere) can cause these multiple crossings.
Dynamic auroral storms on Saturn as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope
Authors: Nichols J. D. , V.Badman S. , Baines K. H. , Brown R. H. , Bunce E. J. , Clarke J. T. , Cowley S. W. H. , Crary F. J. , Dougherty M. K. , Gérard J.‐C. , Grocott A. , Grodent D. , Kurth W. S. , Melin H. , Mitchell D. G. , Pryor W. R. , Stallard T. S.
Published: May 2014

We present observations of significant dynamics within two UV auroral storms observed on Saturn using the Hubble Space Telescope in April/May 2013. Specifically, we discuss bursts of auroral emission observed at the poleward boundary of a solar wind‐induced auroral storm, propagating at ∼330% rigid corotation from near ∼01 h LT toward ∼08 h LT. We suggest that these are indicative of ongoing, bursty reconnection of lobe flux in the magnetotail, providing strong evidence that Saturn's auroral storms are caused by large‐scale flux closure. We also discuss the later evolution of a similar storm and show that the emission maps to the trailing region of an energetic neutral atom enhancement. We thus identify the auroral form with the upward field‐aligned continuity currents flowing into the associated partial ring current.
The atmospheric anomalies associated with the drought over the Yangtze River basin during spring 2011
Authors: Lu Er , Liu Siyuan , Luo Yali , Zhao Wei , Li Hui , Chen Hongxing , Zeng Yingting , Liu Peng , Wang Xiaomin , Higgins R. Wayne , Halpert Mike S.
Published: May 2014

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin (MLRY) suffered a once‐in‐a‐50‐year drought during the spring of 2011. The abnormality of the atmospheric circulation in the spring is characterized by the deeper‐than‐normal trough over East Asia and the northwest Pacific while stronger‐than‐normal high‐pressure system over the west, which results in a stronger‐than‐normal meridional circulation. Meanwhile, the western Pacific subtropical high is weaker than normal and retreats to the east, so the spring monsoonal moist air from lower latitudes is relatively weak. The anomalous northerly wind in higher latitudes suppresses the northward motion of the moist air and brings dry air to the MLRY. The northerly wind also suppresses the northward motion of warm air and brings cold air to the MLRY. So finally, the air over the MLRY is drier, but colder than normal, which is different from many other droughts. The coldness of the air plays a negative role to the drought. Results from comparing the Cq and CT, the measures of the changes in moisture and temperature between this spring and the normal spring defined based on the tight precipitation‐relative humidity relation, indicate that the dryness of the air is much stronger than the coldness, and the air over the MLRY thus maintains a lower‐than‐normal relative humidity. The animation of daily Cq and CT shows that dry and cold air moves from the northwest to the MLRY in a manner of low‐frequency oscillation.
Manufacturing: An Introduction to Production Technology, Quality Assurance, and
SCM
Authors: Ueda Naoki
Published: May 2014

This chapter gives a brief overview and description of production technology for electronic control unit (
ECU
) production using an engine
ECU
as a representative example of an
ECU
and also summarizes quality assurance approaches and methods during
ECU
production. Supplier chain management, which is an essential part of production activities, is also outlined in view of significant supply issues that have surfaced in recent years.
3D Micro‐Extrusion of Graphene‐based Active Electrodes: Towards High‐Rate AC Line Filtering Performance Electrochemical Capacitors
Authors: Nathan‐Walleser Teressa , Lazar Ion‐Matei , Fabritius Martin , Tölle Folke Johannes , Xia Qi , Bruchmann Bernd , Venkataraman Shyam S. , Schwab Matthias Georg , Mülhaupt Rolf
Published: May 2014

A facile one‐step printing process by 3D micro‐extrusion affording binder‐free thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) based electrochemical capacitors (ECs) that display high‐rate performance is presented. Key intermediates are binder‐free TRGO dispersion printing inks with concentrations up to 15 g L−1. This versatile printing technique enables easy fabrication of EC electrodes, useful in both aqueous and non‐aqueous electrolyte systems. The as‐prepared TRGO material with high specific surface area (SSA) of 593 m2 g−1 and good electrical conductivity of ≈16 S cm−1 exhibits impressive charge storage performances. At 100 and 120 Hz, ECs fabricated with TRGO show time constants of 2.5 ms and 2.3 ms respectively. Very high capacitance values are derived at both frequencies ranging from 3.55 mF cm−2 to 1.76 mF cm−2. Additionally, these TRGO electrodes can be charged and discharged at very high voltage scan rates up to 15 V s−1 yielding 4 F cm−3 with 50% capacitance retention. Electrochemical performance of TRGO electrodes in electrolyte containing tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate and acetonitrile (TEABF4‐ACN) yields high energy density of 4.43 mWh cm−3 and power density up to 42.74 kW cm−3, which is very promising for AC line filtering application and could potentially substitute state of the art electrolytic capacitor technology.
Three‐Dimensional Printing of Elastomeric, Cellular Architectures with Negative Stiffness
Authors: Duoss Eric B. , Weisgraber Todd H. , Hearon Keith , Zhu Cheng , Small Ward , Metz Thomas R. , Vericella John J. , Barth Holly D. , Kuntz Joshua D. , Maxwell Robert S. , Spadaccini Christopher M. , Wilson Thomas S.
Published: May 2014

Three‐dimensional printing of viscoelastic inks to create porous, elastomeric architectures with mechanical properties governed by the ordered arrangement of their sub‐millimeter struts is reported. Two layouts are patterned, one resembling a “simple cubic” (SC)‐like structure and another akin to a “face‐centered tetragonal” (FCT) configuration. These structures exhibit markedly distinct load response with directionally dependent behavior, including negative stiffness. More broadly, these findings suggest the ability to independently tailor mechanical response in cellular solids via micro‐architected design. Such ordered materials may one day replace random foams in mechanical energy absorption applications.
Comparative Studies on Optical, Redox, and Photovoltaic Properties of a Series of D–A–D and Analogous D–A Chromophores
Authors: Zitzler‐Kunkel André , Lenze Martin R. , Schnier Tobias , Meerholz Klaus , Würthner Frank
Published: May 2014

A series of new symmetrical donor‐acceptor‐donor (D−A−D) dyes based on s‐indacene‐1,3,5,7(2H,6H)‐tetraone as an acceptor unit containing varying electron donating moieties and analogous donor‐acceptor (D−A) chromophores with indane‐1,3‐dione as an acceptor are synthesized. By employing these two sets of dyes, the influence of a scaffold change from unsymmetric push‐pull (D−A) to symmetrical (D−A−D) systems on optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties are explored. Detailed comparative studies reveal favorable optical characteristics and considerably decreased bandgaps for the D−A−D dyes compared to those of the reference D−A chromophores. Accordingly, the evaluation of the present dyes as donor materials in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells in combination with fullerene derivatives PC61BM or PC71BM as acceptors afforded significantly improved performance for devices based on D−A−D blends (up to a factor of 4 compared to the respective D‐A reference) with power conversion efficiencies of up to 2.8%. In less polar solvents such as toluene, some of the novel D−A−D chromophores exhibit unexpectedly high fluorescence quantum yields Φem of up to unity, in striking contrast to their weakly fluorescent D‐A counterparts.
Inflammation‐Induced Drug Release by using a pH‐Responsive Gas‐Generating Hollow‐Microsphere System for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis
Authors: Chung Ming‐Fan , Chia Wei‐Tso , Liu Hung‐Yi , Hsiao Chun‐Wen , Hsiao Hsu‐Chan , Yang Chih‐Man , Sung Hsing‐Wen
Published: May 2014

In the conventional treatment of osteomyelitis, the penetration of antibiotics into the infected bone is commonly poor. To ensure that the local antibiotic concentration is adequate, this work develops an injectable calcium phosphate (CP) cement in which is embedded pH‐responsive hollow microspheres (HMs) that can control the release of a drug according to the local pH. The HMs are fabricated using a microfluidic device, with a shell of poly(d,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) and an aqueous core that contains vancomycin (Van) and NaHCO3. At neutral pH, the CP/HM cement elutes a negligible concentration of the drug. In an acidic environment, the NaHCO3 that is encapsulated in the HMs reacts with the acid rapidly to generate CO2 bubbles, disrupting the PLGA shells and thereby releasing Van locally in excess of a therapeutic threshold. The feasibility of using this CP/HM cement to treat osteomyelitis is studied using a rabbit model. Analytical results reveal that the CP/HM cement provides highly effective local antibacterial activity. Histological examination further verifies the efficacy of the treatment by the CP/HM cement. The above findings suggest that the CP/HM cement is a highly efficient system for the local delivery of antibiotics in the treatment of osteomyelitis.
High‐Performance Semitransparent Tandem Solar Cell of 8.02% Conversion Efficiency with Solution‐Processed Graphene Mesh and Laminated Ag Nanowire Top Electrodes
Authors: Yusoff Abd. Rashid bin Mohd , Lee Seung Joo , Shneider Fabio Kurt , da Silva Wilson Jose , Jang Jin
Published: May 2014

A high‐performance semitransparent tandem solar cell that uses solution‐processed graphene mesh and laminated Ag NW as a transparent anode and cathode, respectively, is demonstrated. The laminated top electrode can be deposited without causing any damage to the underneath organic solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies of 8.02% and 6.47% are obtained when the light is projected from the solution‐processed graphene mesh and laminated AgNW, respectively. The performance of the tandem cell is found to be comparable to a tandem solar cell fabricated using commercially available indium tin oxide. These findings offer a high‐performance device and open a new pathway in searching for a potential replacement to the frequently used transparent conducting electrodes.
Forty‐five year trends in overweight and obesity in an indigenous arctic inuit society in transition and spatiotemporal trends
Authors: Andersen Stig , Rex Karsten Fleischer , Noahsen Paneeraq , Sørensen Hans Christian Florian , Larsen Nicolai Hardenberg , Mulvad Gert , Laurberg Peter
Published: May 2014

Objectives

Overweight and obesity associate with increased morbidity and premature death. Westernization of societies heralds rising obesity rates. A steep increase in body mass index (BMI) and overweight in Greenland from 1963 to 1998 led us to follow‐up on height, weight, BMI, and rates of overweight among populations in Greenland and assess time trends between different stages of transition.

Methods

BMI was calculated from height and weight measured on Inuit and non‐Inuit aged 50 through 69 years surveyed in 1963, 1998, and 2008 in Ammassalik district in East Greenland and in 1998 and 2008 in the capital Nuuk in West Greenland.

Results

A total of 1,186 were surveyed in 1963 (52 men/63 women), 1998 (309/226), and 2008 (297/239). BMI increased with time (P < 0.001; 1963/1998/2008 23.3/24.3/26.2 kg/m2). In addition, BMI increased with urbanization in Inuit men (P = 0.001; settlements/town/city, in 1998, 23.9/24.9/25.5 kg/m2; in 2008, 25.0/26.0/27.0 kg/m2) while not in Inuit women (P = 0.18). The number of overweight Inuit (BMI >27 kg/m2) increased with time in men (4.0/25.6/33.2% in 1963/1998/2008, P = 0.001) and in women (13.6/30.7/37.3%, P = 0.001). BMI was above 30 kg/m2 in 2.0/10.8/17.5% of all Inuit men in 1963/1998/2008 (P = 0.003) and in 8.3%/23.0/24.5% of all Inuit women (P = 0.02) respectively.

Conclusions

Overweight and obesity rates rise with time and with societal transition in Greenland. Settlements and town are catching up with the city where the rate of increase is diminishing, although there were gender differences. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:511–517, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Revisiting the daily human birth pattern: Time of delivery at casa de maternidad in Madrid (1887–1892)
Authors: Varea Carlos , Fernández‐Cerezo Susana
Published: May 2014

Objectives

Among the ancestral characteristics of the primate group to which Homo sapiens belongs we find a pattern of daytime physical activity, but one notable exception is birthing which usually begins with night‐time labor. In populations with a moderate or high level of medicalized labor, there is evidence that the medical preferences interfere with the underlying biological mechanism for the circadian pattern of human birth.

Methods

This study analyses the hourly patterns of 4,599 single live births in the House of Maternity in Madrid between 1887 and 1892, a period of very limited obstetric intervention and without the influence of artificial lighting. In order to determine the influence of natural light on labor, two periods of maximum and minimum light have been established around the summer and winter solstices of the years in question.

Results

A clear circadian pattern of births emerges, with very early morning and early morning births dominating, and a sharp drop from midday until nightfall. The hourly distribution on both solstices follows this pattern, but with a clear peak shift: in winter, there is a greater concentration of deliveries in the early morning, whereas in the summer, the highest concentration is between 8 and 12 in the morning.

Conclusions

The results confirm that non‐intervened human birth has a clear diurnal cycle, with a higher incidence of deliveries in the early morning or morning. The shift in distribution during the winter and summer solstices seems to confirm the effect of light on the labor process. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:707–709, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Questions of khoesan continuity: Dental affinities among the indigenous holocene peoples of South Africa
Authors: Irish Joel D. , Black Wendy , Sealy Judith , Ackermann Rebecca Rogers
Published: May 2014

The present report follows up on the findings of previous research, including recent bioarchaeological study of well‐dated Khoesan skeletal remains, that posits long term biological continuity among the indigenous peoples of South Africa after the Pleistocene. The Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System was used to record key crown, root, and intraoral osseous nonmetric traits in six early‐through‐late Holocene samples from the Cape coasts. Based on these data, phenetic affinities and an identification of traits most important in driving intersample variation were determined using principal components analysis and the mean measure of divergence distance statistic. To expand biological affinity comparisons into more recent times, and thus preliminarily assess the dental impact of disproportionate non‐Khoesan gene flow into local peoples, dental data from historic Khoekhoe and San were also included. Results from the prehistoric comparisons are supportive of population continuity, though a sample from Matjes River Rockshelter exhibits slight phenetic distance from other early samples. This and some insignificant regional divergence among these coastal samples may be related to environmental and cultural factors that drove low‐level reproductive isolation. Finally, a close affinity of historic San to all samples, and a significant difference of Khoekhoe from most early samples is reflective of documented population history following immigration of Bantu‐speakers and, later, Europeans into South Africa. Am J Phys Anthropol 155:33–44, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Allergen cross‐reactivity in allergic rhinitis and oral‐allergy syndrome: a bioinformatic protein sequence analysis
Authors: Platt Michael , Howell Sara , Sachdeva Ricky , Dumont Charles
Published: May 2014

Background

Clinical allergy cross‐reactivity that is seen with related inhalant allergens or between unrelated inhalant allergens and foods in oral allergy syndrome (OAS) remains poorly understood. The goal of this study is to determine whether clinical cross‐reactivity can be identified from primary protein sequences in allergy epitopes and food proteins.

Methods

High‐throughput analysis was performed by assembling all known allergy epitopes within the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB; http://www.iedb.org) for 5 common species from 5 inhalant allergen subclasses and comparing their protein sequences to each other, as well as to sequences of intact proteins from known cross‐reactive foods in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory–European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL‐EBI) protein database (http://www.uniprot.org) that have been implicated in OAS. Computational methods were employed to allow for exact matching, gaps, and similar amino acids using multiple algorithms. A phylogenetic tree was created to determine evolutionary relationships between cross‐reactive epitopes in OAS.

Results

Twenty‐three common inhalant allergens had 4429 unique epitopes; the 19 foods implicated in OAS had 9497 protein sequences. The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) algorithm identified interclass and intraclass sequence similarities for the 5 inhalant allergy classes with high similarity for mites, grasses, and trees. Analysis of OAS proteins identified 104 matches to inhalant allergy epitopes that are known to cross‐react. The phylogenetic tree displayed relationships that mostly followed organism phylogeny.

Conclusion

Use of primary protein sequences was successful in explaining clinical allergy cross‐reactivity. Clinical correlation is needed for use of these epitopes as diagnostic or therapeutic entities for patients with cross‐reactive allergic disease.
Normobaric hypoxia and symptoms of acute mountain sickness: Elevated brain volume and intracranial hypertension
Authors: Lawley Justin S. , Alperin Noam , Bagci Ahmet M. , Lee Sang H. , Mullins Paul G. , Oliver Samuel J. , Macdonald Jamie H.
Published: May 2014

Objective

The study was undertaken to determine whether normobaric hypoxia causes elevated brain volume and intracranial pressure in individuals with symptoms consistent with acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Methods

Thirteen males age = (26 (sd 6)) years were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (12% O2) and normoxia (21% O2). After 2 and 10 hours, AMS symptoms were assessed alongside ventricular and venous vessel volumes, cerebral blood flow, regional brain volumes, and intracranial pressure, using high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

In normoxia, neither lateral ventricular volume (R2 = 0.07, p = 0.40) nor predominance of unilateral transverse venous sinus drainage (R2 = 0.07, p = 0.45) was related to AMS symptoms. Furthermore, despite an increase in cerebral blood flow after 2 hours of hypoxia (hypoxia vs normoxia: Δ148ml/min−1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 58 to 238), by 10 hours, when AMS symptoms had developed, cerebral blood flow was normal (Δ−51ml/min−1, 95% CI = −141 to 39). Conversely, at 10 hours brain volume was increased (Δ59ml, 95% CI = 8 to 110), predominantly due to an increase in gray matter volume (Δ73ml, 95% CI = 25 to 120). Therefore, cerebral spinal fluid volume was decreased (Δ−40ml, 95% CI = −67 to −14). The intracranial pressure response to hypoxia varied between individuals, and as hypothesized, the most AMS‐symptomatic participants had the largest increases in intracranial pressure (AMS present, Δ7mmHg, 95% CI = −2.5 to 17.3; AMS not present, Δ−1mmHg, 95% CI = −3.3 to 0.5). Consequently, there was a significant relationship between the change in intracranial pressure and AMS symptom severity (R2 = 0.71, p = 0.002).

Interpretation

The data provide the strongest evidence to date to support the hypothesis that the “random” nature of AMS symptomology is explained by a variable intracranial pressure response to hypoxia. ANN NEUROL 2014;75:890–898
Stroke risk after nonstroke emergency department dizziness presentations
Authors: Kerber Kevin A. , Zahuranec Darin B. , Brown Devin L. , Meurer William J. , Burke James F. , Smith Melinda A. , Lisabeth Lynda D. , Fendrick A. Mark , McLaughlin Thomas , Morgenstern Lewis B.
Published: May 2014

Objective

Acute stroke is a serious concern in emergency department (ED) dizziness presentations. Prior studies, however, suggest that stroke is actually an unlikely cause of these presentations. Lacking are data on short‐ and long‐term follow‐up from population‐based studies to establish stroke risk after presumed nonstroke ED dizziness presentations.

Methods

From May 8, 2011 to May 7, 2012, patients ≥45 years of age presenting to EDs in Nueces County, Texas, with dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance were identified, excluding those with stroke as the initial diagnosis. Stroke events after the ED presentation up to October 2, 2012 were determined using the BASIC (Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi) study, which uses rigorous surveillance and neurologist validation. Cumulative stroke risk was calculated using Kaplan–Meier estimates.

Results

A total of 1,245 patients were followed for a median of 347 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 230–436 days). Median age was 61.9 years (IQR = 53.8–74.0 years). After the ED visit, 15 patients (1.2%) had a stroke. Stroke risk was 0.48% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.22–1.07%) at 2 days, 0.48% (95% CI = 0.22–1.07%) at 7 days, 0.56% (95% CI = 0.27–1.18%) at 30 days, 0.56% (95% CI = 0.27–1.18%) at 90 days, and 1.42% (95% CI = 0.85–2.36%) at 12 months.

Interpretation

Using rigorous case ascertainment and outcome assessment in a population‐based design, we found that the risk of stroke after presumed nonstroke ED dizziness presentations is very low, supporting a nonstroke etiology to the overwhelming majority of original events. High‐risk subgroups likely exist, however, because most of the 90‐day stroke risk occurred within 2 days. Vascular risk stratification was insufficient to identify these cases. ANN NEUROL 2014;75:899–907
Substrate Activity Screening with Kinases: Discovery of Small‐Molecule Substrate‐Competitive c‐Src Inhibitors
Authors: Breen Meghan E. , Steffey Michael E. , Lachacz Eric J. , Kwarcinski Frank E. , Fox Christel C. , Soellner Matthew B.
Published: May 2014

Substrate‐competitive kinase inhibitors represent a promising class of kinase inhibitors, however, there is no methodology to selectively identify this type of inhibitor. Substrate activity screening was applied to tyrosine kinases. By using this methodology, the first small‐molecule substrates for any protein kinase were discovered, as well as the first substrate‐competitive inhibitors of c‐Src with activity in both biochemical and cellular assays. Characterization of the lead inhibitor demonstrates that substrate‐competitive kinase inhibitors possess unique properties, including cellular efficacy that matches biochemical potency and synergy with ATP‐competitive inhibitors.
Analysis of variations in porosity of metal crosslinked collagen matrix
Authors: Sathish Murali , Raghava Rao Jonnalagadda , Fathima Nishter Nishad
Published: May 2014

The fundamental knowledge of the porous nature of crosslinked collagen matrix such as tanned leather is an aid to design appropriate chemicals for leather making. It would also help to target a particular area of matrix to improve its uniformity and other functional properties. The purpose of this study is to analyze the variations in pore sizes of chromium crosslinked collagen matrix, chrome tanned leather, from different animal species and different areas of the same species. In this study, chrome tanned leather from goat and sheep were investigated for surface area, pore size, and distribution. Thermoporometry results show that average pore radius of goat leather is around 2–30 nm and that of sheep is 2–20 nm. Nitrogen adsorption result shows that average surface area of goat (8.24 m2/g) leather is higher than sheep (6.73 m2/g), but the average pore diameter of goat (289 nm) is smaller than sheep (385 nm) leather. It has been found that more numbers of smaller pores are present in goat than sheep leather and all the leather samples including goat and sheep obeyed type‐III adsorption isotherm. Capillary flow porometry analysis gives the smallest, largest, and mean‐flow‐diameter of through‐pores. The average size of largest throat pore diameter of sheep (1313 nm) is smaller than that of goat (1385 nm) leather. In general, the pore volume distribution of sheep leather is higher than that of goat leather. Morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy shows that pore mouth of goat is deeper than that of sheep. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40835.
Polyaniline‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of toxic dye from wastewater
Authors: Mahto Triveni Kumar , Chowdhuri Angshuman Ray , Sahu Sumanta Kumar
Published: May 2014

A novel and inexpensive approach was adopted to develop a magnetic nanocomposite for the adsorption of cationic dye from an aqueous solution. This nanocomposite, which was based on a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocore, was functionalized with a hydrophilic coating of polyaniline (PANI). The nanoparticle size, colloidal stability, surface chemistry, and magnetic properties were studied extensively by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The polymeric functionalized magnetic nanocomposite had an average core size of 20–40 nm and a shell size of 6–10 nm. To evaluate the potential of such nanocomposites for dye adsorption, malachite green (MG) was exposed with different operational parameters, such as the pH, temperature, initial concentration of the dye, contact time, and reusability. The rate of the adsorption followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics with the adsorption isotherm fit the Langmuir isotherm model well. The maximum adsorption capacity was 240 mg of MG/g of adsorbent. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40840.
Electroactive behavior assessment of poly(acrylic acid)‐graphene oxide composite hydrogel in the detection of cadmium
Authors: Bejarano‐Jiménez Areli , Escobar‐Barrios Vladimir A. , Kleijn J. Mieke , Ortíz‐Ledón Cesar A. , Cházaro‐Ruiz Luis F.
Published: May 2014

Super absorbent polymers of acrylic acid‐graphene oxide (PAA‐GO) were synthesized with different percentage of chemical neutralization (0, 10, and 20%) of the acrylic acid monomer before its polymerization. The influence of their swelling and adsorption/desorption capacity of cadmium ions in aqueous solutions were studied and revealed that the GO enables greater mechanical stability in the materials. The PAA hydrogels, with the same degrees of neutralization, were also prepared without GO to compare with the composites. Additionally, carbon paste electrodes (CPE) modified with the composites PAA‐GO were used to asses and compare their adsorption properties with cadmium(II). The anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) peak, in the differential pulse voltammetry mode, for cadmium oxidation was found to be influenced by the presence of GO into the polymer, and also by their percentage of neutralization. The accumulation of cadmium(II) on the surface of the modified CPEs was performed under open‐circuit conditions taking an account the preconcentration time of the metal cation. The presence of GO enhances the electrical signal of the electrodes in short times of immersion in cadmium(II) solutions. This property contributed to get linear responses of the CPEs modified with the composites, which were influenced by their degrees of neutralization. The PAA‐GO 10N electrode with 10% of neutralization combined the influence of GO and the degree of neutralization in the same matrix, and also showed good performance in terms of its mechanical stability, it was chosen for preliminary studies on the selectivity of the electrode toward Zn(II) and Cu(II). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40846.
Evaluating dissection in the gross anatomy course: Correlation between quality of laboratory dissection and students outcomes
Authors: Nwachukwu Chika , Lachman Nirusha , Pawlina Wojciech
Published: May 2014

Anatomy learned by active exploration through dissection has many proven benefits including improvement of anatomic knowledge. Decreased laboratory time may affect the quality of dissection and ultimately lower student performance in anatomy translating to lower knowledge acquisition. The aim of this study was to determine whether the quality of students' dissection in teams correlates with their performance in the gross anatomy course. Quality of dissections for each team enrolled in a gross anatomy course at Mayo Medical School was evaluated biweekly using a five‐point rubric based on course learning objectives. Assessment of anatomic knowledge was based on sequential laboratory practice practical examination scores, achievements on daily audience response system (ARS) quizzes, and final practical, written, and National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) Gross Anatomy and Embryology Subject Examinations. Twelve teams comprising 48 students were included in the study. There was a positive correlation between dissection quality and practice practical examination score (R = 0.83) and a negative correlation between dissection quality and ARS quizzes (R = −0.985). Dissection teams with a passing score on their dissection evaluations (>70%) performed better on their final examinations. Based on an end of course survey, students agreed that dissection evaluations should continue to be a part of the course. This study showed that better quality of dissection was associated with higher scores on practice practical examinations, final practical, written, and NBME examinations. The study demonstrated a positive correlation between dissection evaluations, accompanied by formative feedback during the course, and higher scores on final course assessments. Anat Sci Educ 8: 45–52. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.
Team‐based learning in the gross anatomy laboratory improves academic performance and students' attitudes toward teamwork
Authors: Huitt Tiffany W. , Killins Anita , Brooks William S.
Published: May 2014

As the healthcare climate shifts toward increased interdisciplinary patient care, it is essential that students become accomplished at group problem solving and develop positive attitudes toward teamwork. Team‐based learning (TBL) has become a popular approach to medical education because of its ability to promote active learning, problem‐solving skills, communication, and teamwork. However, its documented use in the laboratory setting and physical therapy education is limited. We used TBL as a substitute for one‐third of cadaveric dissections in the gross anatomy laboratories at two Doctor of Physical Therapy programs to study its effect on both students' perceptions and academic performance. We surveyed students at the beginning and completion of their anatomy course as well as students who had previously completed a traditional anatomy course to measure the impact of TBL on students' perceptions of teamwork. We found that the inclusion of TBL in the anatomy laboratory improves students' attitudes toward working with peers (P < 0.01). Non‐TBL students had significantly lower attitudes toward teamwork (P < 0.01). Comparison of academic performance between TBL and non‐TBL students revealed that students who participated in TBL scored significantly higher on their first anatomy practical examination and on their head/neck written examination (P < 0.001). When asked to rate their role in a team, a 10.5% increase in the mean rank score for Problem Solver resulted after the completion of the TBL‐based anatomy course. Our data indicate that TBL is an effective supplement to cadaveric dissection in the laboratory portion of gross anatomy, improving both students' grades and perceptions of teamwork. Anat Sci Educ 8: 95–103. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.
Terminology registries for knowledge organization systems: Functionality, use, and attributes
Authors: Golub Koraljka , Tudhope Douglas , Zeng Marcia Lei , Žumer Maja
Published: May 2014

Terminology registries (TRs) are a crucial element of the infrastructure required for resource discovery services, digital libraries, Linked Data, and semantic interoperability generally. They can make the content of knowledge organization systems (KOS) available both for human and machine access. The paper describes the attributes and functionality for a TR, based on a review of published literature, existing TRs, and a survey of experts. A domain model based on user tasks is constructed and a set of core metadata elements for use in TRs is proposed. Ideally, the TR should allow searching as well as browsing for a KOS, matching a user's search while also providing information about existing terminology services, accessible to both humans and machines. The issues surrounding metadata for KOS are also discussed, together with the rationale for different aspects and the importance of a core set of KOS metadata for future machine‐based access; a possible core set of metadata elements is proposed. This is dealt with in terms of practical experience and in relation to the Dublin Core Application Profile.
A new algorithm for product image search based on salient edge characterization
Authors: Li Yuhua , Xu Songhua , Luo Xiaonan , Lin Shujin
Published: May 2014

Visually assisted product image search has gained increasing popularity because of its capability to greatly improve end users' e‐commerce shopping experiences. Different from general‐purpose content‐based image retrieval (CBIR) applications, the specific goal of product image search is to retrieve and rank relevant products from a large‐scale product database to visually assist a user's online shopping experience. In this paper, we explore the problem of product image search through salient edge characterization and analysis, for which we propose a novel image search method coupled with an interactive user region‐of‐interest indication function. Given a product image, the proposed approach first extracts an edge map, based on which contour curves are further extracted. We then segment the extracted contours into fragments according to the detected contour corners. After that, a set of salient edge elements is extracted from each product image. Based on salient edge elements matching and similarity evaluation, the method derives a new pairwise image similarity estimate. Using the new image similarity, we can then retrieve product images. To evaluate the performance of our algorithm, we conducted 120 sessions of querying experiments on a data set comprised of around 13k product images collected from multiple, real‐world e‐commerce websites. We compared the performance of the proposed method with that of a bag‐of‐words method (Philbin, Chum, Isard, Sivic, & Zisserman, 2008) and a Pyramid Histogram of Orientated Gradients (PHOG) method (Bosch, Zisserman, & Munoz, 2007). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the performance of example‐based product image retrieval.
Internet information triangulation: Design theory and prototype evaluation
Authors: Wijnhoven Fons , Brinkhuis Michel
Published: May 2014

Many discussions exist regarding the credibility of information on the Internet. Similar discussions happen on the interpretation of social scientific research data, for which information triangulation has been proposed as a useful method. In this article, we explore a design theory—consisting of a kernel theory, meta‐requirements, and meta‐designs—for software and services that triangulate Internet information. The kernel theory identifies 5 triangulation methods based on Churchman's inquiring systems theory and related meta‐requirements. These meta‐requirements are used to search for existing software and services that contain design features for Internet information triangulation tools. We discuss a prototyping study of the use of an information triangulator among 72 college students and how their use contributes to their opinion formation. From these findings, we conclude that triangulation tools can contribute to opinion formation by information consumers, especially when the tool is not a mere fact checker but includes the search and delivery of alternative views. Finally, we discuss other empirical propositions and design propositions for an agenda for triangulator developers and researchers. In particular, we propose investment in theory triangulation, that is, tools to automatically detect ethically and theoretically alternative information and views.