bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nondestructive spectroscopic and petrochemical investigations of Paleoarchean spherule layers from the ICDP drill core BARB5, Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa
Authors: Fritz Jörg , Tagle Roald , Ashworth Luisa , Schmitt Ralf Thomas , Hofmann Axel , Luais Béatrice , Harris Phillip D. , Hoehnel Desirée , Özdemir Seda , Mohr‐Westheide Tanja , Koeberl Christian
Published: October 2016

A Paleoarchean impact spherule‐bearing interval of the 763 m long International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) drill core BARB5 from the lower Mapepe Formation of the Fig Tree Group, Barberton Mountain Land (South Africa) was investigated using nondestructive analytical techniques. The results of visual observation, infrared (IR) spectroscopic imaging, and micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (μXRF) of drill cores are presented. Petrographic and sedimentary features, as well as major and trace element compositions of lithologies from the micrometer to kilometer‐scale, assisted in the localization and characterization of eight spherule‐bearing intervals between 512.6 and 510.5 m depth. The spherule layers occur in a strongly deformed section between 517 and 503 m, and the rocks in the core above and below are clearly less disturbed. The μXRF element maps show that spherule layers have similar petrographic and geochemical characteristics but differences in (1) sorting of two types of spherules and (2) occurrence of primary minerals (Ni‐Cr spinel and zircon). We favor a single impact scenario followed by postimpact reworking, and subsequent alteration. The spherule layers are Al2O3‐rich and can be distinguished from the Al2O3‐poor marine sediments by distinct Al‐OH absorption features in the short wave infrared (SWIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared images can cover tens to hundreds of square meters of lithologies and, thus, may be used to search for Al‐OH‐rich spherule layers in Al2O3‐poor sediments, such as Eoarchean metasediments, where the textural characteristics of the spherule layers are obscured by metamorphism.
Genetic basis for variation in salinity tolerance between stickleback ecotypes
Authors: Kusakabe Makoto , Ishikawa Asano , Ravinet Mark , Yoshida Kohta , Makino Takashi , Toyoda Atsushi , Fujiyama Asao , Kitano Jun
Published: October 2016

Adaptation to different salinities can drive and maintain divergence between populations of aquatic organisms. Anadromous and stream ecotypes of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are an excellent model to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying osmoregulation divergence. Using a parapatric pair of anadromous and stream stickleback ecotypes, we employed an integrated genomic approach to identify candidate genes important for adaptation to different salinity environments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of plasma sodium concentrations under a seawater challenge experiment identified a significantQTLon chromosome 16. To identify candidate genes within thisQTL, we first conductedRNA‐seq and microarray analysis on gill tissue to find ecotypic differences in gene expression that were associated with plasma Na+levels. This resulted in the identification of ten candidate genes. QuantitativePCRanalysis on gill tissue of additional Japanese stickleback populations revealed that the majority of the candidate genes showed parallel divergence in expression levels. Second, we conducted whole‐genome sequencing and found five genes that are predicted to have functionally important amino acid substitutions. Finally, we conducted genome scan analysis and found that eight of these candidate genes were located in genomic islands of high differentiation, suggesting that they may be under divergent selection. The candidate genes included those involved inATPsynthesis and hormonal signalling, whose expression or amino acid changes may underlie the variation in salinity tolerance. Further functional molecular analysis of these genes will reveal the causative genetic and genomic changes underlying divergent adaptation.
Genome‐wide sequence data suggest the possibility of pollinator sharing by host shift in dioecious figs (Moraceae, Ficus)
Authors: Wachi Nakatada , Kusumi Junko , Tzeng Hsy‐Yu , Su Zhi‐Hui
Published: October 2016

The obligate mutualism of figs and fig‐pollinating wasps has been one of the classic models used for testing theories of co‐evolution and cospeciation due to the high species‐specificity of these relationships. To investigate the species‐specificity between figs and fig pollinators and to further understand the speciation process in obligate mutualisms, we examined the genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of four closely related fig‐pollinating wasp species (Blastophaga nipponica, Blastophaga taiwanensis, Blastophaga tannoensis and Blastophaga yeni) in Japan and Taiwan using genome‐wide sequence data, including mitochondrial DNA sequences. In addition, population structure was analysed for the fig wasps and their host species using microsatellite data. The results suggest that the three Taiwanese fig wasp species are a single panmictic population that pollinates three dioecious fig species, which are sympatrically distributed, have large differences in morphology and ecology and are also genetically differentiated. Our results illustrate the first case of pollinator sharing by host shift in the subgenus Ficus. On the other hand, there are strict genetic codivergences between allopatric populations of the two host–pollinator pairs. The possible processes that produce these pollinator‐sharing events are discussed based on the level and pattern of genetic differentiation in these figs and fig wasps.
Structurally diverse dehydroshikimate dehydratase variants participate in microbial quinate catabolism
Authors: Peek James , Roman Joseph , Moran Graham R. , Christendat Dinesh
Published: October 2016

Quinate and shikimate can be degraded by a number of microbes. Dehydroshikimate dehydratases (DSDs) play a central role in this process, catalyzing the conversion of 3‐dehydroshikimate to protocatechuate, a common intermediate of aromatic degradation pathways. DSDs have applications in metabolic engineering for the production of valuable protocatechuate‐derived molecules. Although a number of Gram‐negative bacteria are known to catabolize quinate and shikimate, only limited information exists on the quinate/shikimate catabolic enzymes found in these organisms. Here, we have functionally and structurally characterized a putative DSD designated QuiC1, which is present in some pseudomonads. The QuiC1 protein is not related by sequence with previously identified DSDs from the Gram‐negative genus, Acinetobacter, but instead shows limited sequence identity in its N‐terminal half with fungal DSDs. Analysis of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa quiC1 gene knock‐out demonstrates that it is important for growth on either quinate or shikimate. The structure of a QuiC1 enzyme from P. putida reveals that the protein is a fusion of two distinct modules: an N‐terminal sugar phosphate isomerase‐like domain associated with DSD activity and a novel C‐terminal hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase‐like domain. The results of this study highlight the considerable diversity of enzymes that participate in quinate/shikimate catabolism in different microbes.
Counterpossibles in Science: The Case of Relative Computability
Authors: Jenny Matthias
Published: October 2016

I develop a theory of counterfactuals about relative computability, i.e. counterfactuals such as

If the validity problem were algorithmically decidable, then the halting problem would also be algorithmically decidable,

which is true, and

If the validity problem were algorithmically decidable, then arithmetical truth would also be algorithmically decidable,

which is false. These counterfactuals arecounterpossibles, i.e. they have metaphysically impossible antecedents. They thus pose a challenge to the orthodoxy about counterfactuals, which would treat them as uniformly true. What's more, I argue that these counterpossibles don't just appear in the periphery of relative computability theory but instead they play an ineliminable role in the development of the theory. Finally, I present and discuss a model theory for these counterfactuals that is a straightforward extension of the familiar comparative similarity models.
Lateral gene transfer, bacterial genome evolution, and the Anthropocene
Authors: Gillings Michael R.
Published: October 2016

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) has significantly influenced bacterial evolution since the origins of life. It helped bacteria generate flexible, mosaic genomes and enables individual cells to rapidly acquire adaptive phenotypes. In turn, this allowed bacteria to mount strong defenses against human attempts to control their growth. The widespread dissemination of genes conferring resistance to antimicrobial agents has precipitated a crisis for modern medicine. Our actions can promote increased rates of LGT and also provide selective forces to fix such events in bacterial populations. For instance, the use of selective agents induces the bacterial SOS response, which stimulates LGT. We create hotspots for lateral transfer, such as wastewater systems, hospitals, and animal production facilities. Conduits of gene transfer between humans and animals ensure rapid dissemination of recent transfer events, as does modern transport and globalization. As resistance to antibacterial compounds becomes universal, there is likely to be increasing selection pressure for phenotypes with adverse consequences for human welfare, such as enhanced virulence, pathogenicity, and transmission. Improved understanding of the ecology of LGT could help us devise strategies to control this fundamental evolutionary process.
Psychosocial changes following transition to an aged care home: qualitative findings from Iran
Authors: Zamanzadeh Vahid , Rahmani Azad , Pakpour Vahid , Chenoweth Lynnette Lorraine , Mohammadi Eesa
Published: October 2016

Aims and objectives

The study explored the psychosocial effects of transitioning from home to an aged care home for older Iranian people.

Background

Moving from one's own home to a communal aged care home is challenging for older people and may give rise to numerous psychosocial responses. The extent and intensity of such changes have rarely been explored in Middle Eastern countries.

Design

Data were collected through purposive sampling by in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 20 participants (17 people living in aged care homes and three formal caregivers). All the interviews were recorded and typed, and conventional qualitative content analysis was used, eliciting common themes.

Results

There were four common themes: communication isolation, resource change, monotone institutional life and negative emotional response. Participants lost their previous support systems when transitioning to an aged care home and were not able to establish new ones. Routine care was provided by formal caregivers with little attention to individual needs, and minimal support was given to help maintain the older person's independence. These losses gave rise to negative emotions in some of the participants, depending on their previous lifestyle and accommodation arrangements.

Conclusions

The extent and intensity of psychosocial changes occurring in most of the participants following their transition to an aged care home indicates the need for a review of Iranian aged care services.

Implications for practice

To assist older Iranian people adapt more readily when making the transition to aged care home and to meet their unique psychosocial needs, a family‐centred approach to service delivery is recommended.
Principal component analysis as an alternative treatment for morphometric characters: phylogeny of caseids as a case study
Authors: Brocklehurst Neil , Romano Marco , Fröbisch Jörg
Published: October 2016

In a recent study, the phylogeny of Caseidae (a herbivorous family of Palaeozoic synapsids belonging to the paraphyletic grade known as pelycosaurs) was analysed with a dataset employing more than three hundred continuous morphological characters in an effort to follow the principles of total evidence. Continuous characters are a source of great debate, with disagreements surrounding their suitability for and treatment in phylogenetic analysis. A number of shortcomings were identified in the handling of continuous characters in this study of caseids, including the use of gap weighting to discretize the characters and potential issues with redundancy and character non‐independence. Therefore, an alternative treatment for these characters is suggested here. First, rather than using gap weighting, the continuous characters were analysed in the program TNT, in which the raw values can be treated as continuous rather than discrete. Second, prior to the phylogenetic analysis, the continuous characters were subjected to a log‐ratio principal component analysis, and then the principal components were included in the character matrix rather than the raw ratios. Analysing the original data in TNT produced little difference in the results, but using the principal components as continuous characters resulted in alternative positions for Caseopsis agilis, Ennatosaurus tecton and Caseoides sanangeloensis. The differences are judged to be due to the reduced redundancy of the characters, the smaller number of principal components not overwhelming the discrete characters and the use of a scaling method which allows principal components with a higher variance to have a greater influence on the analysis. The positions of highly fragmentary fossils depended heavily on the method used to treat the missing characters in the principal component analysis, and so the method proposed here is not recommended for analysing very incomplete taxa.
Managing Chemicals under REACH ‘Hybridity’: Progress and Problems in the Implementation Process
Authors: Paleari Susanna
Published: October 2016

The Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is the most important piece of European Union legislation for the management of chemicals. It is characterized by a hybrid nature, as it combines traditional and new governance approaches. This article reviews REACH hybrid features and analyses how they are affecting the implementation process. It concludes that the search for increased flexibility and participation within a traditional form of governance has contributed, through a learning process, to managing REACH complexity and developing practical solutions to improve implementation. However, it also causes uncertainty and inefficiency, especially when flexibility masks substantial problems that have been postponed by decision makers to the implementation phase.
Petrology and Geochemistry of the Banded Iron Formation of the Kuluketage Block, Xinjiang, NW China: Implication for BIF Depositional Setting
Authors: Wang Xiangdong , Lv Xinbiao , Cao Xiaofeng , Yuan Qian , Wang Yifan , Liu Wen , Ruan Banxiao
Published: October 2016

The Kuluketage block, located in the northeast Tarim craton, is one of the largest Precambrian blocks in the Xinjiang province. Recently, many banded iron formation (BIF)‐type (Superior‐type) deposits have been discovered in the western part of the Kuluketage block. These deposits occurred in the Paleoproterozoic Shayiti Formation, Xingditage Group, which has a nearly E–W distribution in the southern Xinger and Xingdi faults. Tremolite biotite schist and quartzite are the main wall rocks. The geochemical characteristics of schist indicate that the BIFs occurred in a passive continental margin environment. The LA–ICP–MS zircon 206Pb/238U ages of BIF and late syenite are 1945 ± 10 Ma(MSWD = 0.77) (weighted average age) and 1974 ± 27 Ma(MSWD = 1.05) (upper intercept age), respectively, indicating that the BIFs occurred in the Paleoproterozoic. In addition, the approximately 1.9 Ga magmatic and metamorphic events are consistent with the global‐scale 2.1–1.8 Ga collisional orogen events which are associated with the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent. The geochemical characteristics show that magnetite and quartz are dominant components (total content, 91.65–98.22 wt.%), and the Zr(Nb) and TiO2, Zr(Nb) and Al2O3 and Zr and Y/Ho display strongly positive correlations, illustrating the addition of crustal materials into the chemical precipitate of the original BIFs. The higher Zr, Nb and Al2O3 contents and a lower Y/Ho ratio of the Kuluketage BIFs indicate a higher terrigenous detrital component contaminant compared to BIFs of North China Craton (NCC). The rare earth and yttrium (REY) distribution patterns show a slight LREE enrichment and weak Eu positive anomaly features, indicating that the source of Fe and Si of the Kuluketage BIFs is mainly from the contribution of low‐temperature hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust. In addition, along with the decreasing BIF depositional age, the declining of Eu anomaly values reflects the increasing importance of low‐temperature hydrothermal solutions relative to high‐temperature hydrothermal solutions. Moreover, no Ce anomalies in studied BIFs, NCC and Xinyu BIFs are attributed to relative reducing environmental condition when the original BIFs precipitated.
Is job performance independent from career success? A conceptual distinction between competence and agency
Authors: Mollaret Patrick , Miraucourt Delphine
Published: October 2016

Adopting a social approach to social judgment, we conducted five studies to validate a conceptual distinction between agency and competence traits. Studies 1–3 revealed that competence traits (e.g., skillful) are associated with job performance, whereas agentic traits (e.g., ambitious) are associated with career success. Study 4 showed that only agency predicted the amount of money people are likely to earn: the more a given trait was considered as agentic, the more it was associated with high monetary values. Study 5 highlighted the predominance of agency traits over competence traits in the evaluation of an employee applying for a promotion. Nevertheless, participants asserted that competence was the main criterion they used to judge the applicant. Implications of the conceptual distinction between agency and competence for social cognition are discussed.
The rising importance of local government in the United States: Recent research and challenges for sociology
Authors: Lobao Linda
Published: October 2016

Local governments have gained increasing responsibilities for public well‐being according to a variety of social science literatures. The rise of the local state is often seen as a part of a broader process of state‐rescaling or downward shift in national governance under neoliberal development. Yet attention to local government lags in political sociology, which conventionally elevates the national federal state as its object of interest. I summarize four recent bodies of literature that address the new role of local governments. Taken together, these literatures speak to different sides of the debate about whether the rise of local government is detrimental to citizens' well‐being. I explain how greater sociological attention to the local state can contribute to this debate as well as inform political sociologists' understanding of the U.S. nation‐state itself and provide directions for future research.
Criminology and war: where are we going and where have we been?
Authors: DiPietro Stephanie M.
Published: October 2016

Although the metaphor of war (e.g., the war on terror, war on crime, war on drugs) figures prominently in contemporary criminological discourse, criminologists have generally lagged behind other disciplines in studying the reality of war and its implications for crime, punishment, and ideology. In this essay, I first consider potential reasons for criminology's limited role in studying war and make the case for why war warrants a more central place in criminological discourse. Subsequently, I trace some of criminology's early contributions to the study of war in two domains—(a) legal responses to war and (b) the link between war and crime—and reflect upon ways in which the discipline can both broaden its purview and draw from its own intellectual history to engage more critically with the subject of war.
Exploring Public Attitudes to Welfare over the Longue Durée: Re‐examination of Survey Evidence from Beveridge, Beatlemania, Blair and Beyond
Authors: Hudson John , Lunt Neil , Hamilton Charlotte , Mackinder Sophie , Meers Jed , Swift Chelsea
Published: October 2016

It is commonly argued that public support for the welfare state is in long‐term decline in the UK. Evidence from the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) is typically cited to support this claim, but it only stretches back to 1983. Few would disagree that the Thatcher years offered an unusual socio‐political‐economic context, which raises a question over whether the BSA's early 1980s baseline provides a misleading view on support for the welfare state over the longue durée. In this article, we explore this issue, piecing together data from the Beveridge era through to the present day, drawing on data from contemporary studies and surveys; opinion polls; and historical government surveys and reports. Our method is undoubtedly a ‘second best approach’, making use of often limited historical data, which means we remain cautious in offering bold findings. However, we argue there is some evidence to suggest the 1980s were an unusual moment, suggesting the decline in support for welfare is less dramatic than analysis of the BSA might make it seem, but also that support for the welfare state during the postwar consensus years was likely more equivocal than we often believe it to be from today's perspective, perhaps reflecting a tendency to reify this period as a ‘golden age’ of welfare and so underplaying the complexity of the politics of social policy in the pre‐BSA period.
A review of visual soil evaluation techniques for soil structure
Authors: Emmet‐Booth J. P. , Forristal P. D. , Fenton O. , Ball B. C. , Holden N. M.
Published: October 2016

Soil structure forms a key component of soil quality, and its assessment by semi‐quantitative visual soil evaluation (VSE) techniques can help scientists, advisors and farmers make decisions regarding sampling and soil management. VSE techniques require inexpensive equipment and generate immediate results that correlate well with quantitative measurements of physical and biochemical properties, highlighting their potential utility. We reviewed published VSE techniques and found that soils of certain textures present problems and a lack of research into the influence of soil moisture content on VSE criteria. Generally, profile methods evaluate process interactions at specific locations within a field, exploring both intrinsic aspects and anthropogenic impacts. Spade methods focus on anthropogenic characteristics, providing rapid synopses of soil structure over wider areas. Despite a focus on structural form, some methods include criteria related to stability and resiliency. Further work is needed to improve existing methods regarding texture influences, on‐farm sampling procedures and more holistic assessments of soil structure.
Export Competitiveness of Developing Countries and US Trade Policy
Authors: Hakobyan Shushanik
Published: October 2016

This paper examines the impact of the revocation of tariff exemptions on exports of developing countries using data from cases of the Competitive Needs Limits (CNL), a feature of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Competitive Needs Limits are arguably imposed on ‘super competitive’ GSP beneficiaries who no longer need the preferential treatment, and aim to reserve the GSP benefits for other GSP eligible countries. The findings suggest that being excluded from the GSP as a result of a CNL induces a large and significant drop in US imports from affected countries, both in value and as a share of total US imports, and much of their market share is captured by non‐GSP countries, contrary to the policy objectives of CNLs.
Transudate or exudate: can lactate dehydrogenase activity in canine and feline effusions help to differentiate between the 2?
Authors: Smuts Celia M. , Mills Jennifer N. , Gaál Tibor
Published: October 2016

Background

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity is often measured in human effusions to help in differentiating between transudates and exudates. Few studies have been performed using effusion samples from animals.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to determine whether LDH can be used to differentiate between transudative and exudative effusions in dogs and cats (including postmortem samples), and whether there is a difference between different laboratory methods of LDH measurement.

Methods

Lactate dehydrogenase activity was measured in canine and feline effusions that were submitted to the Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital Clinical Pathology Laboratory over approximately 12 months using 2 wet and one dry chemistry methods, including 10 effusions collected postmortem. Results were compared to classification using traditional methods for effusion types.

Results

Lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in exudates than in transudates, significantly different depending on the method of measurement, and significantly higher in all effusions collected postmortem. An LDH effusion:serum ratio of < 0.5 was associated with transudates. There was no significant difference between samples collected into EDTA or plain serum tubes, in frozen and thawed samples, or after storage at 4°C for 3–7 days.

Conclusions

Measurement of LDH activity may be useful in helping to differentiate between transudates and exudates in cats and dogs. The method of measurement must be known and kept consistent if cutoff values are to be used. The LDH activity was increased in all effusions collected from animals after death, potentially invalidating its use postmortem.
Molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity in renal physiology and pathophysiology
Authors: Gumz Michelle L.
Published: October 2016

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

This brief symposium report is focused on the molecular and physiological evidence that supports a key role for the circadian clock in the regulation of kidney function.

What advances does it highlight?

Progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of the kidney clock is reviewed here, including new results from global ‘omics’ studies and candidate gene approaches. The molecular kidney clock is a master regulator of gene expression that affects renal electrolyte and drug handling as well as blood pressure.

In this brief review, an overview of the molecular and physiological evidence for the kidney clock and the implications for the regulation of renal physiology and pathophysiology are presented. Accumulating evidence suggests that the molecular circadian clock acts as a master regulator of gene expression in the kidney. Global transcriptomic approaches have revealed the important finding that there are thousands of genes in the kidney subject to regulation by the molecular clock. Candidate gene approaches have also yielded information regarding regulation of renal sodium transport genes by the molecular clock. To date, the evidence linking the molecular kidney clock to rhythmic renal function provides strong support for the concept that circadian control of gene expression underlies rhythms in physiological function.
Modeling of Oscillating Control Surfaces Using Overset-Grid-Based Navier–Stokes Equations Solver
Authors: Guruswamy Guru P.
Published: October 2016

A modular procedure is presented to simulate moving control surfaces within an overset grid environment using the Navier–Stokes equations. Gaps are modeled by locally shearing the wing grids instead of using separate grids to model gaps. Grid movements for control surfaces are defined through a separate module, which is driven by an external grid generation tool. Results are demonstrated for a wing with a part-span control surface. Grids for the test case are determined from detailed grid sensitivity studies based on both nonoscillating and oscillating cases. Steady and, for the first time, unsteady pressures from overset grid computations are validated with wind tunnel data. This paper addresses the current needs of high-fidelity flow modeling to design advanced active-controls.
Shaping the Frequency Response of Electromechanical Resonators Using a Signal Interference Control Topology
Authors: Geesey Bryce A. , Wetherton Blake A. , Bajaj Nikhil , Rhoads Jeffrey F.
Published: October 2016

The recent study of signal interference circuits, which find its origins in earlier work related to active channelized filters, has introduced new methods for shaping the frequency response of electrical systems. This paper seeks to extend this thread of research by investigating the frequency response shaping of electromechanical resonators which are embedded in feedforward, signal interference control architectures. In particular, mathematical models are developed to explore the behavior of linear resonators that are embedded in two prototypical signal interference control topologies, which can exhibit a variety of qualitatively distinct frequency domain behaviors with component-level tuning. Experimental approaches are then used to demonstrate the proposed designs' utility.
Automated Design for Microfluid Flow Sculpting: Multiresolution Approaches, Efficient Encoding, and CUDA Implementation
Authors: Stoecklein Daniel , Davies Michael , Wubshet Nadab , Le Jonathan , Ganapathysubramanian Baskar
Published: October 2016

Sculpting inertial fluid flow using sequences of pillars is a powerful method for flow control in microfluidic devices. Since its recent debut, flow sculpting has been used in novel manufacturing approaches such as microfiber and microparticle design, flow cytometry, and biomedical applications. Most flow sculpting applications can be formulated as an inverse problem of finding a pillar sequence that results in a desired fluid transformation. Manual exploration and design of pillar sequences, while useful, have proven infeasible for finding complex flow transformations. In this work, we extend our automated optimization framework based on genetic algorithms (GAs) to rapidly design micropillar sequences that can generate arbitrary user-defined fluid flow transformations. We design the framework with the following properties: (a) a parameter encoding that respects locality to ensure fast convergence and (b) a multiresolution approach that accelerates convergence while maintaining accuracy. The framework also utilizes graphics processing unit (GPU) architecture via NVIDIA's CUDA for function evaluations. We package this framework in a user-friendly and freely available software suite that enables the larger microfluidics community to utilize these developments. We also demonstrate the framework's capability to rapidly design arbitrary fluid flow shapes across multiple microchannel aspect ratios.
Parametrically Excited Electrostatic MEMS Cantilever Beam With Flexible Support
Authors: Pallay Mark , Towfighian Shahrzad
Published: October 2016

Parametric resonators that show large amplitude of vibration are highly desired for sensing applications. In this paper, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) parametric resonator with a flexible support that uses electrostatic fringe fields to achieve resonance is introduced. The resonator shows a 50% increase in amplitude and a 50% decrease in threshold voltage compared with a fixed support cantilever model. The use of electrostatic fringe fields eliminates the risk of pull-in and allows for high amplitudes of vibration. We studied the effect of decreasing boundary stiffness on steady-state amplitude and found that below a threshold chaotic behavior can occur, which was verified by the information dimension of 0.59 and Poincaré maps. Hence, to achieve a large amplitude parametric resonator, the boundary stiffness should be decreased but should not go below a threshold when the chaotic response will appear. The resonator described in this paper uses a crab-leg spring attached to a cantilever beam to allow for both translation and rotation at the support. The presented study is useful in the design of mass sensors using parametric resonance (PR) to achieve large amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio.
A Study on Force and Lubrication Characteristics of Ball Piston in Eccentric Ball Piston Pump
Authors: Xu Lu , Wei Chao , Jing Chongbo , Liu Jianhao
Published: October 2016

Ball piston is an essential design element in eccentric ball piston pump. The objective of this paper is to investigate the dynamic force and lubrication characteristics of the ball piston. In this study, a tribodynamic model of the ball piston is proposed. The model couples the elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of ball–ring pair and the elastohydrodynamic model of ball–cylinder pair with the dynamic model of the ball piston. The interaction between tribological behavior and dynamic performance and the effects of centrifugation and structural deformation of the ball piston are considered. The pressure distributions and film profiles of the ball–ring pair and ball–cylinder pair are calculated. The dynamic normal contact forces and friction forces are analyzed. The friction torque loss and mechanical efficiency of the whole pump are obtained by combing the tribodynamic model of the ball piston with a simplified friction torque model of cylinder-valve shaft pair. A test bench is established for validating the simulation results. The results show that the normal contact force of the ball–ring pair waves in each stroke, and in discharge stroke, the contact force is much bigger than that in suction stoke because of loading force, while the friction force changes very little for the ball sliding in the outer ring. Comparing with the average friction force of the ball–ring pair, the average friction force of the ball–cylinder pair is small, which reflects that the ball–ring pair is more prone to wear. For the ball–ring friction pair, when the load increases, the secondary contact pressure peak appears, the profile of film presents a horseshoe shape, and the classical shrinkage appears at the outlet of contact region. For the ball–cylinder pair, the film pits and the contact pressure jumps at the entrance of contact region for the heavy load and the high shear stain of film. In addition, the friction torque presents a nonlinear growth trend with the increasing working pressure
Influence of Impact Location on the Plastic Response and Failure of Rectangular Cross Section Tubes Struck Transversely by a Hemispherical Indenter1
Authors: Liu Bin , Guedes Soares C.
Published: October 2016

Drop weight impact tests and numerical simulations have been performed to examine the plastic behavior and failure of clamped rectangular cross section tubes subjected to transverse loads. The selected indenter is a hemisphere with diameter of 20 mm. The tube lengths are 125 and 250 mm, and they are struck at the midspan and the quarter-span. The impact point along the width direction is located at the central position and displaced 10 mm from the center, respectively. The results show that the impact location affects strongly the plastic behavior and failure of the tubes. The impact location displaced along the width increases the energy absorbing capability of the tubes accompanied with an asymmetrical deformation mode. The experimentally recorded force–displacement responses and failure modes show good agreement with the numerical simulations, performed by the LS-DYNA finite-element code. The numerical results show the process of crack initiation and propagation and provide the details to analyze the structural plastic deformation and failure of the tubular specimens under transverse loads. The impact characteristics of the rectangular tubes are well presented based on the relevant failure modes observed in beams, plates, and circular tubes. Moreover, the influence of the impact location on the strength of tube specimens is characterized, and the collapse mechanism of rectangular tubes is described.
Preclinical and clinical assessment of inhaled levodopa for OFF episodes in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lipp Michael M. , Batycky Richard , Moore Jerome , Leinonen Mika , Freed Martin I.
Published: October 2016

A levodopa powder delivered by a breath-actuated inhaler produced a rapid increase in plasma drug concentrations and improved motor function during OFF episodes in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Anti-VEGF therapy induces ECM remodeling and mechanical barriers to therapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases
Authors: Rahbari Nuh N. , Kedrin Dmitriy , Incio Joao , Liu Hao , Ho William W. , Nia Hadi T. , Edrich Christina M. , Jung Keehoon , Daubriac Julien , Chen Ivy , Heishi Takahiro , Martin John D. , Huang Yuhui , Maimon Nir , Reissfelder Christoph , Weitz Jurgen , Boucher Yves , Clark Jeffrey W. , Grodzinsky Alan J. , Duda Dan G. , Jain Rakesh K. , Fukumura Dai
Published: October 2016

Anti-VEGF therapy enhances mechanical barriers to therapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases by increasing hyaluronan deposition.
Peering inside the mind: Imaging brain activity with advanced diffuse optical tomography
Authors: Evans Conor L.
Published: October 2016

An advance in diffuse optical tomography enables three-dimensional imaging of brain activity
SNAPPy solution for fighting drug-resistant bacteria
Authors: Ulery Bret D.
Published: October 2016

Peptide polymer nanoparticles disrupt the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and serve as broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
An elusive cause of perianal pain in a patient with Hirschsprung's disease
Authors: Perungo Thirumaraichelvan , John Grifson Johnrose , Amudhan Anbazhagan , Devy Gounder Kannan
Published: October 2016

A 23-year-old woman presented to the outpatients department with symptoms of acute onset perianal pain of 2 weeks’ duration and constipation. She was a known case of Hirschsprung's disease and was operated on in infancy. Rectal examination ruled out acute fissure or perianal sepsis, and subsequent colonoscopy was normal. Because of persistent symptoms, she was evaluated further by imaging which revealed a presacral lesion closely abutting the nerve roots, suggesting the possibility of a nerve sheath tumour. The tumour was excised by the perineal route, and surprisingly the histopathology report revealed an epidermoid (sebaceous) cyst. Presacral tumours are very rare lesions which most colorectal surgeons never come across in their careers. Tumours range from indolent, to benign, to more aggressive malignant lesions. Usually the symptoms are non-specific and surgical excision remains the best treatment. Multidisciplinary team work is needed for most of these cases.
Prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria in ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonatal intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Erfani Yousef , Rasti Arezoo , Janani Leila
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and potentially lethal problem among mechanically ventilated neonates in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The main pathogenic bacteria of VAP in NICUs are Gram-negative pathogens, which show a general decline in sensitivities to commonly used antibiotics, but their true prevalence is not known.

Methods and analysis

We aim to provide a systematic review of studies measuring the prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria in VAP in NICUs. We will search PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE and the ISI Web of Science, as well as the Google Scholar search engine with no restriction on language. Full copies of articles will be identified by a defined search strategy and will be considered for inclusion against predefined criteria. Study selection and data extraction will be performed by 2 independent reviewers. Statistical analysis will include the identification of data sources and documentation of estimates, as well as the application of the random-effects and fixed-effects meta-analysis models. This will allow us to aggregate prevalence estimates and account for between-study variability in calculating the overall pooled estimates and 95% CI for the prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria in VAP in NICUs. Heterogeneity will be evaluated using the I2and χ2statistical tests to determine the extent of variation in effect estimates due to heterogeneity rather than chance. Publication bias and data synthesis will be assessed by funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests using STATA software V.13. This systematic review protocol was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 Statement.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical issues are predicted. These findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

CRD42016036048.
Estimating the burden of injury in urban and rural Sudan in 2008
Authors: Abdalla Safa , Ahmed Suad , Swareldahab Zeinab , Bhalla Kavi
Published: October 2016

Background

Sudan has been undergoing demographic and social changes that could have a tangible impact on population injury rates. However, reliable estimates of injury epidemiology are lacking. We aimed to estimate injury incidence and mortality in urban and rural Sudan, using existing data sources.

Methods

We used the 2008 national census mortality data with mortuary data to construct unintentional and intentional injury mortality estimates in urban and rural areas. We estimated incidence of non-fatal injuries using the Sudan Household Health Survey 2010. Uncertainty analysis was carried out to construct 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for the final estimates.

Findings

Overall injury death rate was estimated at 109 (95% UI 83–142) per 100 000 per year, 94 (66–129) per 100 000 in urban populations and 117 (95% UI 86–157) per 100 000 in rural populations. Injuries accounted for 12% of all male deaths and 6% of all female deaths, but more than half of the deaths among young men aged 20–34 years. Urban injury rates were higher among males but lower among females than rural injury rates. Road traffic injuries were the major cause of fatal injury in urban Sudan, but other causes accounted for the majority of non-fatal injuries nationally.

Conclusions

Road traffic injuries should remain a priority for the country but better data are needed for rural Sudan. To that end, investment in existing data collection systems is essential. Our method can be applied in other countries with a similar data availability pattern.
Harmonisation of full blood count reports, recommendations of the French-speaking cellular haematology group (GFHC)
Authors: Trimoreau Franck , Galoisy Anne-Cécile , Geneviève Franck , Bardet Valérie , Cornet Edouard , Hurst Jean-Pierre , Lesesve Jean-François , Leymarie Vincent , Lusina Daniel , Perez Benoite , Cahn Jean-Yves , Damaj Gandhi , Ugo Valérie , Troussard Xavier
Published: October 2016

Aims

To propose recommendations related to the presentation, content and formulation of full blood count analysis reports.

Methods

Strong professional agreement among a group of experts from the French-Speaking Cellular Haematology Group (GFHC) was obtained.

Results

The following two proposals emerged from the consensus: (1) stratification of comments into three parts upon the discovery of an anomaly in blood cell analysis and (2) selection and/or redefinition of the terms recommended for designating the cell types found in normal and pathological peripheral blood.

Conclusions

The recommendations can help biologists who are currently undergoing the process of accreditation.
Effects of caffeine on endurance capacity and psychological state in young females and males exercising in the heat
Authors: Suvi Silva , Timpmann Saima , Tamm Maria , Aedma Martin , Kreegipuu Kairi , Ööpik Vahur
Published: October 2016

Acute caffeine ingestion is considered effective in improving endurance capacity and psychological state. However, current knowledge is based on the findings of studies that have been conducted on male subjects mainly in temperate environmental conditions, but some physiological and psychological effects of caffeine differ between the sexes. The purpose of this study was to compare the physical performance and psychological effects of caffeine in young women and men exercising in the heat. Thirteen male and 10 female students completed 2 constant-load walks (60% of thermoneutral peak oxygen consumption on a treadmill until volitional exhaustion) in a hot-dry environment (air temperature, 42 °C; relative humidity, 20%) after caffeine (6 mg·kg–1) and placebo (wheat flour) ingestion in a double-blind, randomly assigned, crossover manner. Caffeine, compared with placebo, induced greater increases (p < 0.05) in heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentrations in both males and females but had no impact on rectal or skin temperatures or on walking time to exhaustion in subjects of either gender. Caffeine decreased (p < 0.05) ratings of perceived exertion and fatigue in males, but not in females. In females, but not in males, a stronger belief that they had been administered caffeine was associated with a shorter time to exhaustion. In conclusion, acute caffeine ingestion increases HR and blood lactate levels during exercise in the heat, but it has no impact on thermoregulation or endurance capacity in either gender. Under exercise-heat stress, caffeine reduces ratings of perceived exertion and fatigue in males but not in females.
Evaluation of harvest strategies for pelagic sharks taking ecological characteristics into consideration: an example for North Pacific blue shark
Authors: Kai Mikihiko , Yokoi Hiroki
Published: October 2016

We have developed a population dynamics model that considers the spatial segregation by sex and ontogenetic stages of pelagic sharks. The model was used to evaluate the performance of harvest strategies based on ecological characteristics. We proposed five harvest strategies for longline fisheries based on the ecological characteristics of blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the North Pacific. Management objectives for depleted populations are to increase yield to the level that provides maximum sustainable yield through increases in biomass without collapsing the fishery. Deterministic and stochastic analyses were undertaken. We determined that the harvest of male sharks was robust to uncertainty of environmental changes, reducing the likelihood of fishery collapse and stabilizing yield and mean biomass. The harvest of male sharks was also robust to the uncertainties of biological parameters such as natural mortality and steepness. These results suggested that if there was no sperm limitation or impact on the mating behavior of the species, the harvest of males would be the most appropriate harvest strategy for blue shark in the North Pacific.
Effects of Coulomb-like potential on γ-rigid prolate nuclei considering minimal length formalism
Authors: Alimohammadi M. , Hassanabadi H. , Sobhani H.
Published: October 2016

We determine the energy eigenvalues and eigenstates of the Bohr Hamiltonian for [Formula: see text]-rigid prolate nuclei with the Coulomb-like potential in minimal length formalism. We first show corresponding Hamiltonian of [Formula: see text]-rigid prolate nuclei then investigate the effects of minimal length parameter in energy levels and obtain the transition rates. Ordinary results are recovered for the vanishing minimal length parameter and for the clarity of our results, some instructive graphs have been prepared.
The highly radiopure NaI(Tl) DAMA/LIBRA setup
Authors: Bernabei R. , Belli P. , Incicchitti A. , Mattei A. , Cappella F. , Cerulli R. , Dai C. J. , Ma X. H. , Ye Z. P.
Published: October 2016

The [Formula: see text] 250 kg highly radiopure NaI(Tl) DAMA/LIBRA apparatus, presently running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the I.N.F.N. is described.
The electronics and DAQ system in DAMA/LIBRA
Authors: Belli P. , Bussolotti A. , Caracciolo V. , Cerulli R. , Dai C. J. , Ma X. H.
Published: October 2016

The read-out, the electronics and the DAQ systems used during DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 is described. Moreover, the improvements of the phase2 towards lower software energy threshold are outlined.