bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Future of China's Rise: How China's Economic Growth Will Shift the Sino‐U.S. Balance of Power, 2010–2040
Authors: Vuving Alexander L.
Published: July 2012

The current debate over China's rise and the future of international primacy is polarized between two prevalent views: one foresees China becoming the world's largest economy and taking over the position of international primacy from the United States, whereas the other believes that the Chinese economy will falter as a result of structural imbalances and China will not become a superpower. Both predictions miss the mark. This study argues that notwithstanding the political will to rebalance the economy, China will continue to follow an investment‐intensive growth path, and despite the structural imbalances, this path will still be able to lead to Chinese economic primacy. But sheer economic size is not a good indicator of hard power. Using an organic combination of wealth and productivity as an indicator of hard power, the article shows how close the power competition between China and the United States will likely be and that Beijing may not be able to surpass Washington as a superpower.
Melt Homogenization and Self‐Organization in Chalcogenides‐Part II
Authors: Bhosle Siddhesh , Gunasekera Kapila , Boolchand Punit , Micoulaut Matthieu
Published: July 2012

The compositional variation of the non‐reversing enthalpy at Tg, ΔHnr(x), in GexSe100−x glasses decreases abruptly by an order of magnitude as x increases to xc(1) = 19.5(5)%, the rigidity transition, and then remains minuscule till x increases to xc(2) = 26.0(5)%, when the term abruptly increases by an order of magnitude as glasses become stressed‐rigid. The rigid but unstressed networks formed in between these two transitions represent the Intermediate Phase (IP). The square‐well like variation of ΔHnr(x), also known as the reversibility window develops sloping walls, then a triangular shape and eventually disappears as glasses of increasing heterogeneity are studied. The ΔHnr term ages over weeks outside the IP but not inside the IP. Raman line shapes of as‐quenched melts are quite similar to those of Tg‐cycled glasses for compositions in the IP, but not outside the IP– an optical analog of the thermal reversibility window. Variations of Molar volumes, display a global minimum in the IP and a pronounced increase outside that phase. Physical behavior of dry and homogeneous chalcogenide glasses that leads to sharp elastic and chemical phase transitions remains to be understood theoretically. The physics of network may be even more interesting than hitherto recognized.
Association of periodontitis with increased colonization by Prevotella nigrescens
Authors: Stingu Catalina‐Suzana , Schaumann Reiner , Jentsch Holger , Eschrich Klaus , Brosteanu Oana , Rodloff Arne C.
Published: July 2012

Aim

To estimate differences in the prevalence of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens in the subgingival plaque of patients with periodontitis (including aggressive and advanced chronic periodontitis) compared to healthy controls, and to search for significant associations with clinical status.

Methods

Sixteen patients and 16 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Interproximal plaque index, oral hygiene index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded. Samples of subgingival plaque were taken with paper points from four teeth of each individual and immediately plated on appropriate supplemented Columbia agar. Black pigmented colonies were identified with the Rapid ID32 A system, and further differentiated using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry. For the statistical analysis, chi‐squared test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test were used.

Results

Prevotella nigrescens was isolated from 10 patients and three controls, while P. intermedia was isolated from only two patients. P. nigrescens was found more frequently in the subgingival plaque of patients (P = 0.029), and was significantly associated with high values of clinical indices (P ≤ 0.025). Significant differences for P. intermedia were not found.

Conclusions

Periodontitis seems to be associated with increased coloniza‐tion with P. nigrescens. Whether or not it is a major pathogen needs to be determined.
Rapid determination of comparative drought tolerance traits: using an osmometer to predict turgor loss point
Authors: Bartlett Megan K. , Scoffoni Christine , Ardy Rico , Zhang Ya , Sun Shanwen , Cao Kunfang , Sack Lawren
Published: July 2012

1. Across plant species, drought tolerance and distributions with respect to water availability are strongly correlated with two physiological traits, the leaf water potential at wilting, that is, turgor loss point (πtlp), and the cell solute potential at full hydration, that is, osmotic potential (πo). We present methods to determine these parameters 30 times more rapidly than the standard pressure–volume (p–v) curve approach, making feasible community‐scale studies of plant drought tolerance.

2. We optimized existing methods for measurements of πo using vapour‐pressure osmometry of freeze‐thawed leaf discs from 30 species growing in two precipitation regimes, and developed the first regression relationships to accurately estimate pressure–volume curve values of both πo and πtlp from osmometer values.

3. The πo determined with the osmometer (πosm) was an excellent predictor of the πo determined from the p–v curve (πpv,r2 = 0·80). Although the correlation of πosm and πpv enabled prediction, the relationship departed from the 1 : 1 line. The discrepancy between the methods could be quantitatively accounted for by known sources of error in osmometer measurements, that is, dilution by the apoplastic water, and solute dissolution from destroyed cell walls. An even stronger prediction of πpv could be made using πosm, leaf density (ρ), and their interaction (r2 = 0·85, all P < 2 × 10−10).

4. The πosm could also be used to predict πtlp (r2 = 0·86). Indeed, πosm was a better predictor of πtlp than leaf mass per unit area (LMA; r2 = 0·54), leaf thickness (T; r2 = 0·12), ρ (r2 = 0·63), and leaf dry matter content (LDMC; r2 = 0·60), which have been previously proposed as drought tolerance indicators. Models combining πosm with LMA, T, ρ, or LDMC or other p–v curve parameters (i.e. elasticity and apoplastic fraction) did not significantly improve prediction of πtlp.

5. This osmometer method enables accurate measurements of drought tolerance traits across a wide range of leaf types and for plants with diverse habitat preferences, with a fraction of effort of previous methods. We expect it to have wide application for predicting species responses to climate variability and for assessing ecological and evolutionary variation in drought tolerance in natural populations and agricultural cultivars.
Dynamic Analysis of Circular Cylindrical Shells With General Boundary Conditions Using Modified Fourier Series Method
Authors: Dai Lu , Yang Tiejun , Li W. L. , Du Jingtao , Jin Guoyong
Published: July 2012

Dynamic behavior of cylindrical shell structures is an important research topic since they have been extensively used in practical engineering applications. However, the dynamic analysis of circular cylindrical shells with general boundary conditions is rarely studied in the literature probably because of a lack of viable analytical or numerical techniques. In addition, the use of existing solution procedures, which are often only customized for a specific set of different boundary conditions, can easily be inundated by the variety of possible boundary conditions encountered in practice. For instance, even only considering the classical (homogeneous) boundary conditions, one will have a total of 136 different combinations. In this investigation, the flexural and in-plane displacements are generally sought, regardless of boundary conditions, as a simple Fourier series supplemented by several closed-form functions. As a result, a unified analytical method is generally developed for the vibration analysis of circular cylindrical shells with arbitrary boundary conditions including all the classical ones. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is employed to find the displacement solutions. Several examples are given to demonstrate the accuracy and convergence of the current solutions. The modal characteristics and vibration responses of elastically supported shells are discussed for various restraining stiffnesses and configurations. Although the stiffness distributions are here considered to be uniform along the circumferences, the current method can be readily extended to cylindrical shells with nonuniform elastic restraints.
A Genetic Algorithms Method for Fitting the Generalized Bouc-Wen Model to Experimental Asymmetric Hysteretic Loops
Authors: Sireteanu Tudor , Giuclea Marius , Mitu Ana-Maria , Ghita Gheorghe
Published: July 2012

The Bouc-Wen class models are widely used to portray different types of hysteretic behavior. This paper presents an effective genetic algorithms-based method for fitting a generalized Bouc-Wen model, proposed by Song and Der Kiureghian [2006, “Generalized Bouc-Wen Model for Highly Asymmetric Hysteresis,” ASCE J. Eng. Mech., 132(6), p. 610618], to highly asymmetric experimental hysteretic loops. The performance function is based on integral relationships derived from the generalized Bouc-Wen differential equation for each of the six different phases of asymmetric hysteretic loops. The conditions, which must be satisfied by the model parameters to obtain closed and smooth hysteretic loops, are specified. The method is applied to fit the generalized Bouc-Wen model to hysteretic loops, which are obtained in laboratory experiments for a new type of mounts used for base isolation of forging hammers. By using a single degree of freedom (SDOF) system with the predicted hysteretic characteristics, a remarkably close agreement between the measured and simulated vibrations of hammer was obtained.
Use of Time-Series Predictive Models for Piezoelectric Active-Sensing in Structural Health Monitoring Applications
Authors: Figueiredo Eloi , Park Gyuhae , Farinholt Kevin M. , Farrar Charles R. , Lee Jung-Ryul
Published: July 2012

In this paper, time domain data from piezoelectric active-sensing techniques is utilized for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. Piezoelectric transducers have been increasingly used in SHM because of their proven advantages. Especially, their ability to provide known repeatable inputs for active-sensing approaches to SHM makes the development of SHM signal processing algorithms more efficient and less susceptible to operational and environmental variability. However, to date, most of these techniques have been based on frequency domain analysis, such as impedance-based or high-frequency response functions-based SHM techniques. Even with Lamb wave propagations, most researchers adopt frequency domain or other analysis for damage-sensitive feature extraction. Therefore, this study investigates the use of a time-series predictive model which utilizes the data obtained from piezoelectric active-sensors. In particular, time series autoregressive models with exogenous inputs are implemented in order to extract damage-sensitive features from the measurements made by piezoelectric active-sensors. The test structure considered in this study is a composite plate, where several damage conditions were artificially imposed. The performance of this approach is compared to that of analysis based on frequency response functions and its capability for SHM is demonstrated.
Prediction of Random Self Friction-Induced Vibrations in Uncertain Dry Friction Systems Using a Multi-Element Generalized Polynomial Chaos Approach
Authors: Nechak Lyes , Berger Sébastien , Aubry Evelyne
Published: July 2012

The prediction of self friction-induced vibrations is of major importance in the design of dry friction systems. This is known to be a challenging problem since dry friction systems are very complex nonlinear systems. Moreover, it has been shown that the friction coefficients admit dispersions depending in general on the manufacturing process of dry friction systems. As the dynamic behavior of these systems is very sensitive to the friction parameters, it is necessary to predict the friction-induced vibrations by taking into account the dispersion of friction. So, the main problem is to define efficient methods which help to predict friction-induced vibrations by taking into account both nonlinear and random aspect of dry friction systems. The multi-element generalized polynomial chaos formalism is proposed to deal with this question in a more general setting. It is shown that, in the case of friction-induced vibrations obtained from long time integration, the proposed method is efficient by opposite to the generalized polynomial chaos based method and constitutes an interesting alternative to the prohibitive Monte Carlo method.
Configuration of Building Façade Surface for Seasonal Selectiveness of Solar Irradiation—Absorption and Reflection
Authors: Naraghi Mohammad H. , Harant Adrien
Published: July 2012

A novel building façade surface configuration is proposed. This façade consists of grooved cavities that are configured in a manner that reflects summer (cooling season) insolation and absorbs winter (heating season) insolation. The effective absorptivities of the façade for various cavity reflectance characteristics, i.e., a wide range of diffuse and specular reflectance characteristics, are evaluated using a Monte Carlo model. It was determined that the best cavity surface reflectivity has fully diffuse surfaces and an absorptivity about 0.7. This reflectance characteristic of the cavities results in a small depth of the façade cavities and thicker divider wedge between adjacent cavities. The calculations in the present work are performed for a location proximate to the latitude of 41 deg N where both heating and cooling loads are significant. The same model can be applied to locations with different latitudes and building heating and cooling loads, which may result in slightly different cavity configurations and effective absorptivities.
A Green's Function for the Domain Bounded by Nonconcentric Spheres
Authors: Chen Jeng-Tzong , Lee Jia-Wei , Shieh Hung-Chih
Published: July 2012

The main result is the analytical derivation of Green's function for the domain bounded by nonconcentric spheres in terms of bispherical coordinates. Both surfaces, inner and outer boundaries, are specified by the Dirichlet boundary conditions. This work can be seen as an extension study for the Green's function of eccentric annulus derived by Heyda (1959, “A Green's Function Solution for the Case of Laminar Incompressible Flow Between Non-Concentric Circular Cylinders,” J. Franklin Inst., 267, pp. 25–34). To verify the solution, a semianalytical solution using the image method and a numerical solution using the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) are utilized for comparisons. Good agreement is made.
Damage Localization by Isolating the Part of the Response Due to the Damage Only
Authors: Dixit Akash , Hanagud Sathya
Published: July 2012

A new physical parameter is presented and it is applied to damage detection to address the two main challenges in the field of vibration-based structural health monitoring: the sensitivity of detection and the requirement of data of the baseline state. The parameter is also shown to be not affected by noise in the detection ambience. Assuming the damaged structure to be a linear system, its response can be expressed as the summation of the responses due to the undamaged and the damaged part. If the part of the response due to the damage is isolated, it forms what can be regarded as the damage signature. In this paper, the occurrence of damage signature is investigated when the damaged structure is excited at one of its natural frequencies, and it is called partial-mode contribution. The existence of damage signature as partial-mode contribution is first verified using an analytical derivation. Thereupon, its existence is ascertained using finite element models and by doing experiments. The limits of size of the damage that can be determined using the method are also investigated.
Noise-Corrected Estimation of Complex Modulus in Accord With Causality and Thermodynamics: Application to an Impact Test
Authors: Collet P. , Gary G. , Lundberg B.
Published: July 2012

Methods for estimation of the complex modulus generally produce data from which discrete results can be obtained for a set of frequencies. As these results are normally afflicted by noise, they are not necessarily consistent with the principle of causality and requirements of thermodynamics. A method is established for noise-corrected estimation of the complex modulus, subject to the constraints of causality, positivity of dissipation rate and reality of relaxation function, given a finite set of angular frequencies and corresponding complex moduli obtained experimentally. Noise reduction is achieved by requiring that two self-adjoint matrices formed from the experimental data should be positive semidefinite. The method provides a rheological model that corresponds to a specific configuration of springs and dashpots. The poles of the complex modulus on the positive imaginary frequency axis are determined by a subset of parameters obtained as the common positive zeros of certain rational functions, while the remaining parameters are obtained from a least squares fit. If the set of experimental data is sufficiently large, the level of refinement of the rheological model is in accordance with the material behavior and the quality of the experimental data. The method was applied to an impact test with a Nylon bar specimen. In this case, data at the 29 lowest resonance frequencies resulted in a rheological model with 14 parameters. The method has added improvements to the identification of rheological models as follows: (1) Noise reduction is fully integrated. (2) A rheological model is provided with a number of elements in accordance with the complexity of the material behavior and the quality of the experimental data. (3) Parameters determining poles of the complex modulus are obtained without use of a least squares fit.
Experimental Evaluation of the M-Integral in an Elastic-Plastic Material Containing Multiple Defects
Authors: Yu N. Y. , Li Q. , Chen Y. H.
Published: July 2012

An experimental technique for evaluation of the M-integral in an elastic-plastic material containing multiple defects is proposed by using digital image correlation (DIC). This technique makes direct use of the definition of M by experimentally evaluating the integrand of M at various points along a square contour and determining the integral by numerical integration. The nonlinear Ramberg–Osgood model is used to capture the elastic-plastic behavior such as the elastic-plastic stress and the total strain energy density in terms of the measured displacements by DIC used in an ARAMIS 4M instrument. Compared with the previous experimental method proposed by King and Herrmann (King and Herrmann, 1981, “Nondestructive Evaluation of the J and M Integrals,” ASME J. Appl. Mech., 48, pp. 83–87), the present technique could be suitable to measure the M-integral for the various complicated damages, specimen geometries, loading conditions, and material behaviors. The path-independence or path-dependence of the M-integral is investigated under small-scale and large-scale yielding conditions, respectively. It is found that the values of M are path independent when the contours entirely enclose the nonlinear plastic region near the multiple defects. In contrast, the path-dependence is concluded for an elastic-plastic solid under large-scale yielding condition when the contours have to pass through the plastic zone. This interesting path-dependence of the M-integral is consistent with numerical prediction via the finite element method and theoretical analysis developed in this paper.
Perfect Mechanical Sealing in Rough Elastic Contacts: Is It Possible?
Authors: Kudish IIya I. , Cohen Donald K. , Vyletel Brenda
Published: July 2012

Generally, it is assumed that under any applied force there will always be some gap between the surfaces in a contact of rough elastic surfaces, resulting in a discontinuous (i.e., multiply connected) contact. The presence of gaps along the line contact relates to the ability to form an adequate mechanical seal across an interface. This paper will demonstrate that for a twice continuously differentiable rough surface with sufficiently small asperity amplitude and/or sufficiently large applied load and/or sufficiently low material elastic modulus, singly connected contacts exist. The solution of a contact problem for a rough elastic half-plane and a perfectly smooth rigid indenter with sharp edges is considered. First, a problem with artificially created surface irregularity is considered and it is shown that, for such a surface, the contact region is always multiply connected. An exact solution of the problem for an indenter with sharp edges resulting in a singly connected contact region is considered and it is conveniently expressed in the form of a series in Chebyshev polynomials. A sufficient (not necessary) condition for a contact of an indenter with sharp edges and a rough elastic surface to be singly connected is derived. The singly connected contact condition depends on the surface microtopography, material effective elastic modulus, and applied load. It is determined that, in most cases, a normal contact of a twice continuously differentiable rough surface with sufficiently small asperity amplitude, sufficiently low material elastic modulus, and/or sufficiently large applied load is singly connected.
A Quantitative Comparison of Mechanical Blood Damage Parameters in Rotary Ventricular Assist Devices: Shear Stress, Exposure Time and Hemolysis Index
Authors: Fraser Katharine H. , Zhang Tao , Taskin M. Ertan , Griffith Bartley P. , Wu Zhongjun J.
Published: July 2012

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have already helped many patients with heart failure but have the potential to assist more patients if current problems with blood damage (hemolysis, platelet activation, thrombosis and emboli, and destruction of the von Willebrand factor (vWf)) can be eliminated. A step towards this goal is better understanding of the relationships between shear stress, exposure time, and blood damage and, from there, the development of numerical models for the different types of blood damage to enable the design of improved VADs. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to calculate the hemodynamics in three clinical VADs and two investigational VADs and the shear stress, residence time, and hemolysis were investigated. A new scalar transport model for hemolysis was developed. The results were compared with in vitro measurements of the pressure head in each VAD and the hemolysis index in two VADs. A comparative analysis of the blood damage related fluid dynamic parameters and hemolysis index was performed among the VADs. Compared to the centrifugal VADs, the axial VADs had: higher mean scalar shear stress (sss); a wider range of sss, with larger maxima and larger percentage volumes at both low and high sss; and longer residence times at very high sss. The hemolysis predictions were in agreement with the experiments and showed that the axial VADs had a higher hemolysis index. The increased hemolysis in axial VADs compared to centrifugal VADs is a direct result of their higher shear stresses and longer residence times. Since platelet activation and destruction of the vWf also require high shear stresses, the flow conditions inside axial VADs are likely to result in more of these types of blood damage compared with centrifugal VADs.
Multiscale Model Predicts Tissue-Level Failure From Collagen Fiber-Level Damage
Authors: Hadi Mohammad F. , Sander Edward A. , Barocas Victor H.
Published: July 2012

Excessive tissue-level forces communicated to the microstructure and extracellular matrix of soft tissues can lead to damage and failure through poorly understood physical processes that are multiscale in nature. In this work, we propose a multiscale mechanical model for the failure of collagenous soft tissues that incorporates spatial heterogeneity in the microstructure and links the failure of discrete collagen fibers to the material response of the tissue. The model, which is based on experimental failure data derived from different collagen gel geometries, was able to predict the mechanical response and failure of type I collagen gels, and it demonstrated that a fiber-based rule (at the micrometer scale) for discrete failure can strongly shape the macroscale failure response of the gel (at the millimeter scale). The model may be a useful tool in predicting the macroscale failure conditions for soft tissues and engineered tissue analogs. In addition, the multiscale model provides a framework for the study of failure in complex fiber-based mechanical systems in general.
Application of inline high resolution x-ray diffraction in monitoring Si/SiGe and conventional Si in SOI fin-shaped field effect transistor processes
Authors: Hung Pui Yee , Kasper Nikolai , Nadeau Jim , Ok Injo , Hobbs Chris , Vigliante Assunta
Published: July 2012

This study investigates the application of inline high resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) for process control of Si/SiGe and conventional Si on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) fin-shaped field effect transistors (FinFETs). HRXRD measurements were taken from test pads on production wafers; the process stages under study were pre- and post-fin etch. For the pre-etch stage, HRXRD monitors the Si or Si/Ge thickness, Ge concentration (%), and crystal quality. For thickness, HRXRD results matched the fin height from a corresponding device within 2 Å. When equipped with a 1D detector, the typical measurement time can be as short as 20 min. In the post-etch stage, HRXRD monitors fin pitch with a precision of 3 nm. The choice of diffraction plane has an impact on the signal-to-noise ratio. In particular, the asymmetric 113 reciprocal space map (RSM) has better signal-to-noise than 004 for monitoring Si fins; however, pitch data obtained from these two diffraction planes matches within the measurement precision. The etch process can induce relaxation along the fin height in the Si/SiGe hetero-epitaxial fin and has a deleterious impact on the device’s drive current. Although the RSM is sensitive to such relaxation, a nanobeam diffraction measurement is still needed for quantitative strain measurements. The results show inline HRXRD is a valuable tool for monitoring pre- and post-etch processes during FinFET production. It can track vital fin parameters, including fin height, pitch, and crystal quality, which determine the final device drive current. The measurement is nondestructive and can be taken directly from testing pads in production wafers; it therefore saves testing cost and time and alleviates reliance on destructive techniques like transmission electron microscopy.
Feedback Regulation of Transcriptional Termination by the Mammalian Circadian Clock PERIOD Complex
Authors: Padmanabhan Kiran , Robles Maria S. , Westerling Thomas , Weitz Charles J.
Published: July 2012

The Inner Workings of a Clock

Eukaryotic circadian clocks are built at least in part on transcriptional feedback loops, but the mechanisms underlying circadian feedback are poorly understood.

Padmanabhan
et al.

(p.
599
, published online 5 July) explored the transcriptional feedback mechanism at the heart of the mammalian circadian clock. The proteins PERIOD (PER) and CRYPTOCHROME suppress transcription of their own genes. PER complexes do so in part by recruiting a histone deacetylase to promoters of clock genes. But PER is also present on DNA in a complex with Senataxin, a helicase that functions in transcriptional termination. Senataxin appears to be inhibited in the PER complex, thus inhibiting termination and further reducing the rate of transcription.
Radio Detections During Two State Transitions of the Intermediate-Mass Black Hole HLX-1
Authors: Webb Natalie , Cseh David , Lenc Emil , Godet Olivier , Barret Didier , Corbel Stephane , Farrell Sean , Fender Robert , Gehrels Neil , Heywood Ian
Published: July 2012

Big Black Holes

Black holes come in two sizes: stellar-mass black holes, with masses just above that of the Sun, and supermassive black holes, with masses up to a billion times that of the Sun. The hyperluminous x-ray source HLX-1 in the spiral galaxy ESO 243-49 is the best candidate to host a black hole of intermediate mass.

Webb
et al.

(p.
554
, published online 5 July) now report the detection of transient radio emission from this source, which may represent a jet ejection event. The radio flares indicate a mass that is consistent with that of an intermediate mass black hole. Jets have been seen to emanate from both supermassive and stellar-mass black holes. Intermediate mass black holes thus seem to behave like other black holes.
Iceberg Alert for NIH
Authors: Bourne Henry R. , Lively Mark O.
Published: July 2012

A century ago, the unsinkable
Titanic
charged into a moonless night, full steam ahead. Today, unless it changes course to escape its own icebergs, the U.S. biomedical research enterprise hurtles toward a similar doom. The fiscal year 2012 budget of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) buys 18% less research than in 2004. On 2 January 2013, budget sequestration mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 could reduce NIH extramural funds still further, producing a staggering cumulative 41% decline in a single decade (in constant dollars, from 2004 to 2014), down to the level that NIH invested in 1997. In contrast, China's governmental support for biomedical research may double that of the United States, or even, in proportion to gross domestic product (GDP), quadruple it by 2017.
*
Germ cell tumour of the trachea
Authors: Gamalski Steven , Munoz Javier , Diaz-Kuan Alicia , Wollner Ira
Published: July 2012

A 28-year-old man presented with stridor and dyspnoea. Imaging showed a tracheal mass with severe narrowing of the subglottic airway. Histopathology was consistent with non-seminomatous germ cell tumour. The patient underwent cricotracheal resection and reconstruction of the trachea with tracheostomy. Subsequent positron emission tomography demonstrated new right upper lobe nodules. Postoperative chemotherapy was initiated using the VIP regimen (etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin). After four cycles of chemotherapy, CT of the thorax showed interval resolution of most of the pulmonary nodules. Thoracoscopy with right upper and lower lobe wedge resections was performed to remove the residual disease. The patient is currently disease-free and undergoing continued surveillance to assess for clinical, biochemical or radiographical evidence of disease recurrence.
Home environments of infants: relations with child development through age 3
Authors: Rijlaarsdam Jolien , Tiemeier Henning , Hofman Albert , Jaddoe Vincent W V , Mackenbach Johan P , Verhulst Frank C , Stevens Gonneke W J M
Published: July 2012

Background

This study aimed to examine prospective associations of young infants' home environments with expressive vocabulary delay and internalising and externalising problem scores independently of family socioeconomic status (SES) and national origin.

Methods

Prospective data from fetal life to age 3 were collected in a total of 2711 families participating in the Generation R Study, a longitudinal population-based cohort. Infants' home environments (ie, the learning environment and the physical environment) were assessed exclusively by observation in their first few months of life (mean age=3.38 months, SD=1.17). Internalising and externalising problems were measured at age 1.5 and 3; expressive vocabulary delay was assessed at age 2.5. Family socio-demographic characteristics, including SES variables and national origin, were measured during pregnancy.

Results

Lower quality learning environments of young infants, but not physical environments, were associated with expressive vocabulary delay and more internalising problems in toddlerhood independently of SES and national origin. Associations of SES and national origin with children's outcomes were reduced when the home environmental variables were added to the regression model.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that SES and national origin are reflected, to some degree, in the quality of infants' home environments. Some of the possible interpretations of these results are discussed together with their implications for the early identification of children at risk of impaired development.
Perceived and actual obesity in childhood and adolescence and risk of adult depression
Authors: Sanchez-Villegas Almudena , Field Alison E , O'Reilly Eilis J , Fava Maurizio , Gortmaker Steven , Kawachi Ichiro , Ascherio Alberto
Published: July 2012

Background

Obesity in childhood and adolescence has important health consequences, but its relation to risk of adult depression remains uncertain.

Objective

To examine the effect of perceived and actual obesity during childhood and adolescence on prevalence and incidence of adult depression risk.

Methods

Cohort study of 91 798 female registered nurses followed longitudinally for 12 years.

Results

As compared with lean women of the same age, women in the two highest categories of body shape at age 10 had both higher prevalence (OR=2.59, 95% CI 1.46 to 4.61) and incidence (OR=2.01, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.71) of depression. Similar results were obtained for body shape at age 20 (OR=3.43 for prevalence and OR=2.03 for incidence) and for body mass index (BMI) at age 18 (OR=2.92 for BMI ≥40 kg/m2). These associations remained significant after adjustment for multiple confounders.

Conclusion

These results indicate that childhood–adolescence obesity is a strong and independent risk factor for adult depression.
Novel use of the pipeline embolization device for reperfusion of the middle cerebral artery post surgical aneurysm clipping
Authors: Nyberg Eric MacKenzie , Chaudry M Imran , Turk Aquilla S , Turner Raymond D
Published: July 2012

We describe a case in which elective surgical clipping of an internal carotid artery terminus aneurysm resulted in compromised flow through the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA). Reperfusion was salvaged the following day with novel use of the pipeline embolization device to buttress open the MCA. We believe that mechanical properties unique to the pipeline device facilitated the success of the procedure.
Does specialty training prepare doctors for senior roles? A questionnaire study of new UK consultants
Authors: Morrow Gill , Burford Bryan , Redfern Nancy , Briel Ruth , Illing Jan
Published: July 2012

Aim

To measure new consultants' perceptions of their preparedness for different clinical and non-clinical aspects of the role of consultant.

Design

A cross-specialty questionnaire was developed and validated, containing items asking how well specialty training had prepared respondents for the role of consultant in a number of clinical and non-clinical areas. Responses were on a five-point Likert scale with a ‘Not relevant/no opinion’ box, and one free text section. Analysis was carried out on 10 scales derived from the questionnaire items through exploratory factor analysis.

Participants

Consultants who had completed their specialty training in the north of England between 2004 and 2009 and had held a substantive consultant post in the region for <5 years were sent questionnaires in late 2009.

Results

The effective response rate was 70.6% (211/299). Ten factors reflecting areas including clinical skills, communication skills, team and resource management were identified. Overall, higher scores were observed on factors relating to ‘providing care for individual patients’ rather than ‘having responsibility for the system of care’. The lowest scoring factors related to resource management and supervision, with mean scores falling below the scale midpoint. There were no significant differences between specialty groups, or on any demographic variables.

Conclusions

A questionnaire to measure new consultants' perceptions of how well their specialty training had prepared them for practice was developed and validated. Findings were similar across specialties, suggesting that training programmes in all areas need to integrate higher-level management skills into their curricula, alongside the development of clinical expertise.
MATHEMATICAL FACTS IN A PHYSICALIST ONTOLOGY
Authors: SZABÓ LÁSZLÓ E.
Published: July 2012

If physicalism is true, everything is physical. In other words, everything supervenes on, or is necessitated by, the physical. Accordingly, if there are logical/mathematical facts, they must be necessitated by the physical facts of the world. The aim of this paper is to clarify what logical/mathematical facts actually are and how these facts can be accommodated in a purely physical world.
GENERATING OF ADDITIONAL FORCE TERMS IN NEWTON EQUATION BY TWIST-DEFORMED HOPF ALGEBRAS AND CLASSICAL SYMMETRIES
Authors: DASZKIEWICZ MARCIN
Published: July 2012

We compare two ways of force terms generating in the model of nonrelativistic particle moving in the presence of constant field force [Formula: see text]. First of them uses the twist-deformed acceleration-enlarged Newton–Hooke quantum space-times while the second one incorporates the doubly enlarged Newton–Hooke transformations of classical space. Particularly, we find the conditions for which both the treatments provide the same force terms.
MULTI-QUBIT TRIGONOMETRIC STATES AND ENTANGLEMENT MONOTONES
Authors: FRYDRYSZAK ANDRZEJ M.
Published: July 2012

The formalism of functions of commuting nilpotent variables allows to describe multi-qubit pure states and their entanglement. The family of states defined by the generalized trigonometric η-functions is specially interesting from mathematical and physical point of view (it covers the set of physically interesting states, including: Werner states, cluster Werner states, GHZ states etc.). We analyze the behavior of two recently proposed symmetric entanglement monotones on the trigonometric states.
Boron-Induced Dramatically Enhanced Growth of Diamond Grains in Nanocrystalline Diamond/Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Composite Films Deposited by Coaxial Arc Plasma Deposition
Authors: Katamune Yūki , Ohmagari Shinya , Yoshitake Tsuyoshi
Published: July 2012

Boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond/hydrogenated amorphous carbon composite films were prepared by coaxial arc plasma deposition. The X-ray diffraction measurement exhibited that the diamond grain size is remarkably increased from 2 nm (undoped films) to 82 nm and the lattices of the grains are dilated accompanied by the incorporation of boron atoms into the lattices. The near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure showed a weak exciton peak of diamond due to the enlarged grains. The enhanced growth mechanism is discussed on the basis of a defect-induced diamond growth model.
Conditional deletion of menin results in antral G cell hyperplasia and hypergastrinemia
Authors: Veniaminova Natalia A. , Hayes Michael M. , Varney Jessica M. , Merchant Juanita L.
Published: July 2012

Antral gastrin is the hormone known to stimulate acid secretion and proliferation of the gastric corpus epithelium. Patients with mutations in the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 ( MEN1) locus, which encodes the protein menin, develop pituitary hyperplasia, insulinomas, and gastrinomas in the duodenum. We previously hypothesized that loss of menin leads to derepression of the gastrin gene and hypergastrinemia. Indeed, we show that menin represses JunD induction of gastrin in vitro. Therefore, we examined whether conditional deletion of Men1 ( Villin-Cre and Lgr5-EGFP-IRES-CreERT2), with subsequent loss of menin from the gastrointestinal epithelium, increases gastrin expression. We found that epithelium-specific deletion of Men1 using Villin-Cre increased plasma gastrin, antral G cell numbers, and gastrin expression in the antrum, but not the duodenum. Moreover, the mice were hypochlorhydric by 12 mo of age, and gastric somatostatin mRNA levels were reduced. However, duodenal mRNA levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1were decreased, and cell proliferation determined by Ki67 staining was increased. About 11% of the menin-deficient mice developed antral tumors that were negative for gastrin; however, gastrinomas were not observed, even at 12 mo of age. No gastrinomas were observed with conditional deletion of Men1 in the Lgr5 stem cells 5 mo after Cre induction. In summary, epithelium-specific deletion of the Men1 locus resulted in hypergastrinemia due to antral G cell hyperplasia and a hyperproliferative epithelium, but no gastrinomas. This result suggests that additional mutations in gene targets other than the Men1 locus are required to produce gastrin-secreting tumors.
Nitrogen Incorporation in TiO2: Does It Make a Visible Light Photo-Active Material?
Authors: Viswanathan B. , Krishanmurthy K. R.
Published: July 2012

The possibility of hydrogen production by photo-catalytic decomposition of water on titania has provided the incentive for intense research. Titania is the preferred semiconductor for this process, in spite of its large band gap (~3.2 eV) that restricts its utility only in the UV region. Various sensitization methodologies have been adopted to make titania to be active in the visible region. Doping of TiO2with nitrogen is one such method. The purpose of this presentation is to examine the state and location of nitrogen introduced in TiO2lattice and how far the shift of optical response to visible radiation can be beneficial for the observed photo-catalysis. The specific aspects that are discussed in this article are: (i) N-doped titania surface adopts a non-native configuration, though the bulk material is still in the native configuration of pure TiO2(ii) Though the nitrogen doped materials showed optical response in the visible region, the changes/improvements in photo-catalytic activity are only marginal in most of the cases. (iii) The exact chemical nature/state of the introduced nitrogen, and its location in titania lattice, substitutional and/or interstitial, is still unclear (iv) Is there a limit to the incorporation of nitrogen in the lattice of TiO2?
Synthesis of Block Copolymers of Varying Architecture Through Suppression of Transesterification during Coordinated Anionic Ring Opening Polymerization
Authors: Lipik Vitali T. , Abadie Marc J. M.
Published: July 2012

Well-defined di- and triblock copolymers consisting ofε-caprolactone (CL), L-lactide (LA), and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) were synthesized via “PLA first route” in coordinated anionic ring opening polymerization/copolymerization (CAROP) with tin (II) octoate as catalyst. The desired block structure was preserved by use of protective additiveα-methylstyrene by preventing the transesterification side-reactions. MALDI-TOF analysis revealed that the protection mechanism is associated withα-methylstyrene and tin (II) octoate complexation. Additionally, it was shown that use ofα-methylstyrene in ring opening polymerization allowed the formation of polyesters with high molar mass.
Composite Polylactic-Methacrylic Acid Copolymer Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Methotrexate
Authors: Sibeko Bongani , Choonara Yahya E. , du Toit Lisa C. , Modi Girish , Naidoo Dinesh , Khan Riaz A. , Kumar Pradeep , Ndesendo Valence M. K. , Iyuke Sunny E. , Pillay Viness
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop poly(lactic acid)-methacrylic acid copolymeric nanoparticles with the potential to serve as nanocarrier systems for methotrexate (MTX) used in the chemotherapy of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Nanoparticles were prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation technique employing a 3-Factor Box-Behnken experimental design strategy. Analysis of particle size, absolute zeta potential, polydispersity (Pdl), morphology, drug-loading capacity (DLC), structural transitions through FTIR spectroscopy, and drug release kinetics was undertaken. Molecular modelling elucidated the mechanisms of the experimental findings. Nanoparticles with particle sizes ranging from 211.0 to 378.3 nm and a recovery range of 36.8–86.2 mg (Pdl≤0.5) were synthesized. DLC values were initially low (12±0.5%) but were finally optimized to 98±0.3%. FTIR studies elucidated the comixing of MTX within the nanoparticles. An initial burst release (50% of MTX released in 24 hours) was obtained which was followed by a prolonged release phase of MTX over 84 hours. SEM images revealed near-spherical nanoparticles, while TEM micrographs revealed the presence of MTX within the nanoparticles. Stable nanoparticles were formed as corroborated by the chemometric modelling studies undertaken.
Acoustic Repertoire of the Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta fraterculus) and Individual Variation of Long-Distance Calls
Authors: Řeháková-Petrů Milada , Policht Richard , Peške Lubomír
Published: July 2012

We present the spectrographic description of the vocal repertoire of the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta fraterculus), a solitary living nocturnal primate for which a very limited information about acoustic communication exists to date. The majority of vocalizations were performed around sunset and, less frequently, at sunrise. We identified eight call types. Five calls recorded during communication between adults included three long-distance calls—loud call, smack-whistle, and whistle—then a soft locust-like chirp and a bird-like trill. Two other calls—cheep and twitter—were recorded during mother-infant communication. One distress call was emitted by adults during handling. All calls were performed in the 9752 Hz to more than 22 kHz frequency range. This study provides the first evidence of individual variation in the long-distance calls performed by tarsiers. Moreover, our study provides a basis for future comparison within as well as between tarsier species taxonomy. Bioacoustic methods can be used in monitoring of these cryptic species and determining their distribution range. Thus, bioacoustic studies can help to improve conservation strategies of different population/species.
Isolated Invasive Endomyocardial Cystic Echinococcosis Presenting with Heart Failure
Authors: Ercan Suleyman , Bosnak Vuslat , Yuce Murat , Davutoglu Vedat , Yavuz Fethi
Published: July 2012

Cardiac cysticechinococcosisis a rarely encountered parasitic infestation caused byEchinococcus granulasuslarvae. Cysticechinococcosishydatid composes 0.5–2% of all human cysticechinococcosiscases. Isolated cardiac involvement is very rare. Cardiac cysticechinococcosishydatid generally accompanies another organ involvement, however, it might be isolated as in the present case and although rare and it can cause heart failure. We present a case of isolated apical cardiac cysticechinococcosishydatid which leads to heart failure.
VLSI Architectures for Sliding‐Window‐Based Space‐Time Turbo Trellis Code Decoders
Authors: Passas Georgios , Freear Steven
Published: July 2012

The VLSI implementation of SISO‐MAP decoders used for traditional iterative turbo coding has been investigated in the literature. In this paper, a complete architectural model of a space‐time turbo code receiver that includes elementary decoders is presented. These architectures are based on newly proposed building blocks such as a recursive add‐compare‐select‐offset (ACSO) unit, A‐, B‐, Γ‐, and LLR output calculation modules. Measurements of complexity and decoding delay of several sliding‐window‐technique‐based MAP decoder architectures and a proposed parameter set lead to defining equations and comparison between those architectures.
Rapid Reduction of Alkenes and Alkynes over Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Sulfonated Porous Carbon
Authors: Shokrolahi Arash , Zali Abbas , Ghani Kamal
Published: July 2012

A novel method has been introduced for rapid reduction of alkenes and alkynes, which may be attractive for chemical industries. This method has some advantages such as simplicity and low cost of reactants. Pd supported on sulfonated porous carbon (SPC) was used as a new catalyst for reduction of alkenes and alkynes to the corresponding alkanes using sodium borohydride. The heterogeneous reaction was conducted in open air at room temperature to produce the desired saturated compounds in high yields (over 96%) and in short reaction time (15 minutes).