bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piled footings – an alternative foundation system in expansive soils
Authors: Murty Varudu Ramana , Krishna Padavala Hari
Published: June 2012

The use of piled footings and lining panels in expansive soils was explored through detailed field studies carried out at a site near the north boundary of the National Institute of Technology, Warangal campus in India and also on the tail channel of Kakatiya canal at 257·902 km from the Sriram Sagar Project. The heave measurements were made for the consecutive four seasons of cyclic wetting and drying. From this study, it was found that the piled footings and lining panels have shown a marked decrease in heave, indicating their promising performance in swelling clays. Pile pullout tests were also carried out in the field to calculate the resisting force against the uplift load on the footings. The uplift load on footings was estimated based on the field swell pressure value of 210 kPa. It was also revealed that the heave is significantly decreased despite the wide gap between the uplift and resisting forces that was perhaps due to the sensitivity of heave to initial restraint offered by the pile shaft resistance. Two case studies, for which the proposed system of piled footings was used, are also included in this paper. These structures were observed to be crack free for the past 4 to 5 years and proved the merit of the technique.
The Use of Instruments by Iranian Endodontics and General Practioners
Authors: Elham Farokh Gisour , Sedigheh Zarmehi
Published: June 2012

Aim:

The current clinical practice of endodontics involves utilization of a variety of new technological advances and materials. Technologies available for use in endodontic offices today include battery or electric motors using NiTi rotary file systems, new generation of electronic apex locators (EALs), improved digital radiographic sensors, surgical microscopes, and ultrasonic units. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and use of newer technologies among Iranian dental practitioners.

Materials and methods:

The population under study included the dental practitioners participating in the 49th and 50th Congress of Dentistry, who were selected with a simple sampling method. Data was collected by questionnaires which were completed by the participants in an anonymous manner. The contingency table and chi-squared test were used for data analysis by SPSS 13.5 software.

Results:

A total of 700 dental practitioners participated in the study; NiTi rotary systems were used by 50.1%; electronic apex locators were often employed by 46.3%; 21.7% reported that ultrasonic units were often used. Only 1.1% frequently used surgical microscopes. Males and females differed with respect to the use of newer technologies (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Based on the results of the present study, it seems necessary for dentists to take part in continuing dental education programs related to the newer technologies to improve their knowledge and practice.
Analysts' Motives for Rounding EPS Forecasts
Authors: Dechow Patricia M. , You Haifeng
Published: June 2012

We investigate analysts' motives for rounding annual EPS forecasts (placing a zero or five in the penny location of the forecast). We first show that an intuitive reason for analysts to engage in rounding is in circumstances where the penny digit of the forecast is of less economic significance. By rounding, analysts reveal that their forecasts are not intended to be precise to the penny. We also show that analyst incentives impact the likelihood of rounding. Specifically, we predict that analysts will exert less effort forecasting earnings for firms that generate less brokerage or investment banking business since such firms create less value for the analysts' employers. As a consequence of this reduced effort and attention, the analyst will be more uncertain about the penny digit of the forecast and so will round. Our results are consistent with this prediction. One implication of our findings is that a rounded forecast is a simple and easily observable proxy for a more noisy measure of the market's expectation of earnings. Consistent with this implication, we show that rounded forecasts bias down earnings response coefficients at earnings announcements.
The dynamics of psychological contract between employee and organization. The analysis of selected factors
Authors: Mazur Karolina
Published: June 2012

The main purpose of this paper was the examination if the psychological contract between an employee and organization has a dynamic character and how the age and experience progress influences the contract in terms of contract content, values offered by employees and the contract breach. The paper consists of own research findings of the author. The group of 140 employees from high-tech industry were examined in period of 2010-2011. There was used a χ2 test in assessment of assumed relations. The research findings proved that the conditions of psychological contract changed with age of employee and his or her stage in the workplace. It refers to both parts of the contract. Values expected and values offered by employee evolves. The age and stage in the workplace change are also connected with change of employee perception of the type of contract breach. The research findings demonstrated that psychological contract is dynamic phenomenon.
Health Communication and Psychological Distress: Exploring the Language of Self-harm
Authors: Harvey Kevin , Brown Brian
Published: June 2012

Abstract:

This study explores adolescents’ accounts of self-harm with a view to elucidate the implications for health care practitioners seeking to administer care to teenagers in English. Drawing on a corpus of 1.6 million words from messages posted on a UK-hosted adolescent health Web site, analysis began by identifying a range of keywords relating to self-harm. The subsequent contextual examination of these keywords afforded a close description of the contributors’ experiences of self-harm and the factors that resulted in their self-injurious behaviours. A recurring theme was that of the habitual nature of self-harm, with the act being represented as a form of addiction over which they had little control. Self-harmers construct the phenomenon as particularly powerful, and the act is formulated as the only effective means of relief from emotional turmoil. If we are to increase parents and health professionals’ ability to respond to self-injury in the medium of English, close linguistic attention to individuals’ accounts of self-harm is valuable. Online health resources are also valuable means of eliciting concerns from distressed adolescents who are often reluctant to seek support from professionals face-to-face.
Inter-observer Agreement on a Checklist to Evaluate Scientific Publications in the Field of Animal Reproduction
Authors: Simoneit Céline , Heuwieser Wolfgang , Arlt Sebastian P.
Published: June 2012

This study's objective was to determine respondents' inter-observer agreement on a detailed checklist to evaluate three exemplars (one case report, one randomized controlled study without blinding, and one blinded, randomized controlled study) of the scientific literature in the field of bovine reproduction. Fourteen international scientists in the field of animal reproduction were provided with the three articles, three copies of the checklist, and a supplementary explanation. Overall, 13 responded to more than 90% of the items. Overall repeatability between respondents using Fleiss's κ was 0.35 (fair agreement). Combining the “strongly agree” and “agree” responses and the “strongly disagree” and “disagree” responses increased κ to 0.49 (moderate agreement). Evaluation of information given in the three articles on housing of the animals (35% identical answers) and preconditions or pretreatments (42%) varied widely. Even though the overall repeatability was fair, repeatability concerning the important categories was high (e.g., level of agreement=98%). Our data show that the checklist is a reasonable and practical supporting tool to assess the quality of publications. Therefore, it may be used in teaching and practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine. It can support training in systematic and critical appraisal of information and in clinical decision making.
Minimum Mutual Information and Non-Gaussianity Through the Maximum Entropy Method: Theory and Properties
Authors: Pires Carlos A. L. , Perdigão Rui A. P.
Published: June 2012

The application of the Maximum Entropy (ME) principle leads to a minimum of the Mutual Information (MI), I(X,Y), between random variables X,Y, which is compatible with prescribed joint expectations and given ME marginal distributions. A sequence of sets of joint constraints leads to a hierarchy of lower MI bounds increasingly approaching the true MI. In particular, using standard bivariate Gaussian marginal distributions, it allows for the MI decomposition into two positive terms: the Gaussian MI (Ig), depending upon the Gaussian correlation or the correlation between ‘Gaussianized variables’, and a non‑Gaussian MI (Ing), coinciding with joint negentropy and depending upon nonlinear correlations. Joint moments of a prescribed total order p are bounded within a compact set defined by Schwarz-like inequalities, where Ing grows from zero at the ‘Gaussian manifold’ where moments are those of Gaussian distributions, towards infinity at the set’s boundary where a deterministic relationship holds. Sources of joint non-Gaussianity have been systematized by estimating Ing between the input and output from a nonlinear synthetic channel contaminated by multiplicative and non-Gaussian additive noises for a full range of signal-to-noise ratio (snr) variances. We have studied the effect of varying snr on Ig and Ing under several signal/noise scenarios.
Membranes for Redox Flow Battery Applications
Authors: Prifti Helen , Parasuraman Aishwarya , Winardi Suminto , Lim Tuti Mariana , Skyllas-Kazacos Maria
Published: June 2012

The need for large scale energy storage has become a priority to integrate renewable energy sources into the electricity grid. Redox flow batteries are considered the best option to store electricity from medium to large scale applications. However, the current high cost of redox flow batteries impedes the wide spread adoption of this technology. The membrane is a critical component of redox flow batteries as it determines the performance as well as the economic viability of the batteries. The membrane acts as a separator to prevent cross-mixing of the positive and negative electrolytes, while still allowing the transport of ions to complete the circuit during the passage of current. An ideal membrane should have high ionic conductivity, low water intake and excellent chemical and thermal stability as well as good ionic exchange capacity. Developing a low cost, chemically stable membrane for redox flow cell batteries has been a major focus for many groups around the world in recent years. This paper reviews the research work on membranes for redox flow batteries, in particular for the all-vanadium redox flow battery which has received the most attention.
Effect of Acid and Base Catalyzed Hydrolysis on the Yield of Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Germinated Brown Rice (GBR)
Authors: Sani Ismaila Muhammad , Iqbal Shahid , Chan Kim Wei , Ismail Maznah
Published: June 2012

The influence of both acidic and basic hydrolysis on the yield, total phenolic content and antioxidative capacity of methanolic extract of germinated brown rice (GBR) was studied. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests were used for the measurement of antioxidant ability. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the TPC and DPPH radical scavenging assay results when comparing neutral with acidic and basic catalysed hydrolysis. The yield of the crude extract was slightly higher in acidic hydrolysis than in basic hydrolysis (p > 0.05). The TPC and TFC were highest in acidic hydrolysis. A significant correlation was observed between ABTS radical cation scavenging and FRAP. The antioxidant activity measured using DPPH radical scavenging assay showed high activity in acidic hydrolysis, while the ABTS radical cationscavenging activity and FRAP showed the highest values in basic hydrolysis. The samples were further evaluated using HPLC to determine the individual phenolic concentrations in different hydrolytic media contributing to the antioxidant effects. This study revealed that acidic and basic hydrolysis can improve the yield, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of germinated brown rice.
The Potential Therapeutic Efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in Children with Food Allergies
Authors: Berni Canani Roberto , Di Costanzo Margherita , Pezzella Vincenza , Cosenza Linda , Granata Viviana , Terrin Gianluca , Nocerino Rita
Published: June 2012

Food allergy (FA) continues to be a growing health concern for infants living in Western countries. The long-term prognosis for the majority of affected infants is good, with 80–90% naturally acquiring tolerance by the age of five years. However, recent studies suggest that the natural history of FA is changing, with an increasing persistence until later ages. The pathogenesis of FA as well as oral tolerance is complex and not completely known, although numerous studies implicate gut-associated immunity and enteric microflora, and it has been suggested that an altered composition of intestinal microflora results in an unbalanced local and systemic immune response to food allergens. In addition, there are qualitative and quantitative differences in the composition of gut microbiota between patients affected by FA and healthy infants. These findings prompted the concept that specific beneficial bacteria from the human intestinal microflora, designated probiotics, could restore intestinal homeostasis and prevent or alleviate allergy, at least in part by interacting with the intestinal immune cells.
Removal of Cholera Toxin from Aqueous Solution by Probiotic Bacteria
Authors: Heikkilä Jari E. , Nybom Sonja M. K. , Salminen Seppo J. , Meriluoto Jussi A. O.
Published: June 2012

Cholera remains a serious health problem, especially in developing countries where basic hygiene standards are not met. The symptoms of cholera are caused by cholera toxin, an enterotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. We have recently shown that human probiotic bacteria are capable of removing cyanobacterial toxins from aqueous solutions. In the present study we investigate the ability of the human probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (ATCC 53103) and Bifidobacterium longum 46 (DSM 14583), to remove cholera toxin from solution in vitro. Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG and Bifidobacterium longum 46 were able to remove 68% and 59% of cholera toxin from aqueous solutions during 18 h of incubation at 37 °C, respectively. The effect was dependent on bacterial concentration and L. rhamnosus GG was more effective at lower bacterial concentrations. No significant effect on cholera toxin concentration was observed when nonviable bacteria or bacterial supernatant was used.
Development of microsatellites in Machilus thunbergii (Lauraceae), a warm‐temperate coastal tree species in Japan
Authors: Kaneko Yuko , Lian Chunlan , Watanabe Shuntaro , Shimatani Ken‐ichiro , Sakio Hitoshi , Noma Naohiko
Published: June 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed and characterized in a typically coastal, widespread, and dominant tree species of the evergreen broadleaf forests, Machilus thunbergii, for comparison of the genetic diversity and structure of inland populations surrounding the ancient Lake Biwa and coastal populations in Japan.

• Methods and Results: Eighteen polymorphic microsatellites of this species were isolated using an improved technique for isolating codominant compound microsatellite markers. These isolated loci provided compound simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with polymorphisms of three to 19 alleles per locus, with an average of 10.9. The expected and observed within‐population heterozygosities ranged from 0.16 to 0.86 and from 0.13 to 0.72, respectively.

• Conclusions: These markers may be useful tools for further investigation of the population genetic structure and biogeographic history of M. thunbergii in the warm‐temperate zone of East Asia.
Pollinator‐mediated competition between two congeners, Limnanthes douglasii subsp. rosea and L. alba (Limnanthaceae)
Authors: Runquist Ryan D. Briscoe
Published: June 2012

• Premise of Study: Pollinator visits are essential for reproduction in many plants, yet interspecific movements of pollinators can also lead to competitive interactions between coflowering species. Pollination‐mediated reductions in fertility could potentially lead to exclusion of competing plant species, and may generate spatial variation in the associations among coflowering species across a landscape.

• Methods: I documented the potential for heterospecific pollen transfer to cause competitive interactions between two annual grassland species native to California, Limnanthes douglasii subsp. rosea and L. alba, two reproductively incompatible species that have broadly overlapping geographic ranges in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I observed pollinator movement in constructed arrays and controlled crosses in the greenhouse and field to investigate the consequences of heterospecific pollen transfer.

• Key Results: Pollinators move readily between species when they are presented together in experimental arrays. In the greenhouse, deposition of heterospecific pollen decreased fertility in both species. The decrease in seeds produced per flower was much more pronounced in L. d. rosea (90.6% reduction) than in L. alba (40.8% reduction). In field experiments, L. d. rosea plants that received pollen from heterospecific neighbors first showed >50% reduction in per‐flower fertility.

• Conclusions: Under natural pollination conditions, heterospecific pollen transfer has the ability to decrease the fertility of L. d. rosea when it occurs at low frequency in mixed stands. Accordingly, pollinator‐mediated competition may contribute to the locally disjunct distributions of these two species. It may also influence important restoration decisions in vernal pool habitats.
Multistep organic synthesis of modular photosystems
Authors: Sakai Naomi , Matile Stefan
Published: June 2012

Quite extensive synthetic achievements vanish in the online supporting information of publications on functional systems. Underappreciated, their value is recognized by experts only. As an example, we here focus in on the recent synthesis of multicomponent photosystems with antiparallel charge-transfer cascades in co-axial hole- and electron-transporting channels. The synthetic steps are described one-by-one, starting with commercial starting materials and moving on to key intermediates, such as asparagusic acid, an intriguing natural product, as well as diphosphonate “feet”, and panchromatic naphthalenediimides (NDIs), to finally reach the target molecules. These products are initiators and propagators for self-organizing surface-initiated polymerization (SOSIP), a new method introduced to secure facile access to complex architectures. Chemoorthogonal to the ring-opening disulfide exchange used for SOSIP, hydrazone exchange is then introduced to achieve stack exchange, which is a “switching” technology invented to drill giant holes into SOSIP architectures and fill them with functional π-stacks of free choice.
WHAT AFFECTS IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN BUILDINGS? AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN HONG KONG
Authors: Tam Vivian W. Y. , Hao Jane L. , Zeng S. X.
Published: June 2012

This paper examines the factors affecting the implementation of green buildings for the local construction industry. Questionnaire surveys and structural interviews were conducted to investigate the economical and social factors in the implementation of green buildings. From the survey results, the industry strongly believes that green building implementation is environment-friendly and can improve social values to the consumers. However, material costs, construction and transportation for green materials and green building features are more expensive than those for the conventional buildings. Four major factors affecting the existing limited implementation of green buildings were also discussed. Recommendations to improve the implementation of green buildings were also explored. This study can bring insights locally and around the world on how green buildings can be implemented to achieve environment-friendly, long-term cost saving and being recognized by the society and the consumers to reduce difficulties and burden encountered in the implementation.
GREENHOUSE LOCATING BASED ON ANP-COPRAS-G METHODS – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY BASED ON IRAN
Authors: Rezaeiniya Nahid , Zolfani Sarfaraz Hashemkhani , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras
Published: June 2012

The selection of a location among alternative locations is a multi criteria decision-making problem including both quantitative and qualitative criteria. In this paper, we describe the research and development of hybrid MCDM methods for greenhouse locating. Selection of the most appropriate location for investor is an important problem which requires assessment and analysis of several factors. The paper clarifies the structure of important criteria in greenhouse locating. The six factors identified were: labor, government, environment, physical condition, regional economy and raw materials. In this research, analysis network process (ANP) is applied to find the relative weights among the criteria and to emphasize the interdependent relationships, thus increasing the accuracy of our results COPRAS-G method is applied to rank for five regions in Amol city, in Iran. This article can be a guideline for investors to select the best location for greenhouses.
Microfracture for Treatment of Knee Cartilage Defects in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Salzmann Gian M. , Sah Bert-Ram , Schmal Hagen , Niemeyer Philip , Sudkamp Norbert P
Published: June 2012

Even though operative microfracture is the most frequent method for treatment of limited knee joint cartilage lesions among adults, data about ouctome in children and adolescents are rare. We performed a retrospective chart review and telephone interview to analyze for the clinical outcome following knee joint cartilage defect microfracturing among 10 children. Mean postoperative Lysholm was 92.1±9.9 and Tegner was 7.0±1.9. Clinical outcome differed across knee joint regions, as well as in dependence of varying pre-operative symptom duration, although this was not significant. Regression analysis did not reveal a significant impact of patient or defect characteristics on clinical outcome. Arthroscopic microfracturing for treatment of limited size symptomatic knee joint cartilage defects among children and adolescents is considered a reasonable surgical option. However, long-term outcome and larger patient cohorts are required.
Trabecular Variant of Juvenile Aggressive Ossifying Fibroma of Anterior Mandible
Authors: B. S. Manjunatha , Das Nagarajappa , Naik Saraswati , R. Gowramma
Published: June 2012

Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is an expansile intra-osseous lesion of the jaw that emulate odontogenic lesions frequently seen in patients under 15 years of age. They are histologically characterized by the presence of fibrous stromal cells along with mineralized tissues. Clinically, these are characterized by early age of onset, histological patterns, high rate of recurrence and the aggressive local behavior. The differential diagnosis of JOF with other fibro-osseous lesions of the jaw should be made along with an essential microscopic examination and be largely based on the character of the calcified products of the tumor. The purpose of this article is to present a rare clinical case of the trabecular type of JOF and to describe its clinical, radiological and histological characteristics. The clinician should be aware of this type of lesion in order to be able to distinguish this it from other fibrous lesions if encountered in routine practice and for appropriate treatment to be carried out.
The Spectrum of Non-Classical Diamond-Blackfan Anemia: A Case of Late Beginning Transfusion Dependency Associated to a New RPL5 Mutation
Authors: Farruggia Piero , Quarello Paola , Garelli Emanuela , Paolicchi Olivia , Ruffo Giovanni Battista , Cuccia Liana , Cannella Sonia , Bruno Giuseppa , D'Angelo Paolo
Published: June 2012

Diamond Blackfan anemia typically presents in infants and is often associated with many kinds of malformations. Severity of anemia often needs transfusional support in the first months of life. We describe here a patient with Diamond Blackfan anemia related to a RPL5 mutation. The patient had no physical abnormalities and experienced a very late onset of transfusion dependency.
A Dietary Supplement Containing Chlorophytum Borivilianum and Velvet Bean Improves Sleep Quality in Men and Women
Authors: McCarthy Cameron G. , Alleman Rick J. , Bell Zach W. , Bloomer Richard J.
Published: June 2012

Background

Impaired sleep quality is commonplace within industrialized societies, as evidenced by the increasing number of prescription sleep aids available. Certain herbal preparations have been suggested to provide a natural benefit to sleep; however, limited controlled data are available documenting this benefit. In the present study we tested the effect of an experimental dietary supplement, containing the active ingredients Chlorophytum borivilianum and Velvet bean, on sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Methods

Eighteen healthy and active men and women, with evidence of impaired sleep quality, consumed the supplement daily for 28 days. The PSQI was administered before and after the intervention period. As indicators of safety, resting heart rate and blood pressure were measured, and a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and lipid panel were determined.

Results

Sleep quality was influenced by the supplement, as evidenced by an improvement in every category of the PSQI questionnaire ( P < 0.05), with most category scores improving approximately 50% from pre to post intervention. No adverse outcomes were noted with use of the supplement, as indicated by no change in resting heart rate, blood pressure, or any bloodborne parameter.

Conclusions

An investigational dietary supplement containing the active ingredients Chlorophytum borivilianum and Velvet bean improves sleep quality in men and women. Additional placebo controlled trials are needed to corroborate these findings in individuals with self-reported sleeping difficulty.
Case study of the diurnal variability of chemically active species with respect to boundary layer dynamics during DOMINO
Authors: van Stratum B. J. H. , Vilà-Guerau de Arellano J. , Ouwersloot H. G. , van den Dries K. , van Laar T. W. , Martinez M. , Lelieveld J. , Diesch J.-M. , Drewnick F. , Fischer H. , Hosaynali Beygi Z. , Harder H. , Regelin E. , Sinha V. , Adame J. A. , Sörgel M. , Sander R. , Bozem H. , Song W. , Williams J. , Yassaa N.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. We study the interactions between atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dynamics and atmospheric chemistry using a mixed-layer model coupled to chemical reaction schemes. Guided by both atmospheric and chemical measurements obtained during the DOMINO (Diel Oxidant Mechanisms in relation to Nitrogen Oxides) campaign (2008), numerical experiments are performed to study the role of ABL dynamics and the accuracy of chemical schemes with different complexity: the Model for Ozone and Related chemical Tracers, version 4 (MOZART-4) and a reduced mechanism of this chemical system. Both schemes produce satisfactory results, indicating that the reduced scheme is capable of reproducing the O3-NOx-VOC-HOx diurnal cycle during conditions characterized by a low NOx regime and small O3 tendencies (less than 1 ppb per hour). By focusing on the budget equations of chemical species in the mixed-layer model, we show that for species like O3, NO and NO2, the influence of entrainment and boundary layer growth is of the same order as chemical production/loss. This indicates that an accurate representation of ABL processes is crucial in understanding the diel cycle of chemical species. By comparing the time scales of chemical reactive species with the mixing time scale of turbulence, we propose a classification based on the Damköhler number to further determine the importance of dynamics on chemistry during field campaigns. Our findings advocate an integrated approach, simultaneously solving the ABL dynamics and chemical reactions, in order to obtain a better understanding of chemical pathways and processes and the interpretation of the results obtained during measurement campaigns.
Parameterising secondary organic aerosol from α-pinene using a detailed oxidation and aerosol formation model
Authors: Ceulemans K. , Compernolle S. , Müller J.-F.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. A new parameter model for α-pinene secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is presented, based on simulations with the detailed model BOREAM (Biogenic hydrocarbon Oxidation and Related Aerosol formation Model). The parameterisation takes into account the influence of temperature, type of oxidant, NOx-regime, photochemical ageing and water uptake, and is suitable for use in global chemistry transport models. BOREAM is validated against recent photooxidation smog chamber experiments, for which it reproduces SOA yields to within a factor of 2 in most cases. In the simple chemical mechanism of the parameter model, oxidation of α-pinene generates peroxy radicals, which, upon reaction with NO or HO2, yield products corresponding to high or low-NOx conditions, respectively. The model parameters – i.e. the temperature-dependent stoichiometric coefficients and partitioning coefficients of 10 semi-volatile products – are obtained from simulations with BOREAM, including a prescribed diurnal cycle for the radiation, oxidant and emission levels, as well as a deposition sink for the particulate and gaseous products. The effects of photooxidative ageing are implicitly included in the parameterisation, since it is based on near-equilibrium SOA concentrations, obtained through simulations of a two-week period. In order to mimic the full BOREAM model results both during SOA build-up and when SOA has reached an equilibrium concentration, the revolatilisation of condensable products due to photochemical processes is taken into account through a fitted pseudo-photolysis reaction of the lumped semi-volatile products. Modelled SOA mass yields are about ten times higher in low-NOx than in high-NOx conditions, with yields of more than 50% in the low-NOx OH-initiated oxidation of α-pinene, considerably more than in previous parameterisations based on smog chamber experiments. Sensitivity calculations indicate that discrepancies between the full model and the parameterisation due to variations in assumed oxidant levels are limited, but that changes in the radiation levels can lead to larger deviations. Photolysis of species in the particulate phase is found to strongly reduce SOA yields in the full model. Simulations of ambient conditions at 17 different sites (using oxidant, radiation and meteorological data from a global chemistry-transport model) show that overall, the parameterisation displays only little bias (2%) compared with the full model, whereas averaged relative deviations amount to about 11%. Water uptake is parameterised using fitted activity coefficients, resulting in a good agreement with the full model.
Impact of postglacial warming on borehole reconstructions of last millennium temperatures
Authors: Rath V. , González Rouco J. F. , Goosse H.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. The investigation of observed borehole temperatures has proved to be a valuable tool for the reconstruction of ground surface temperature histories. However, there are still many open questions concerning the significance and accuracy of the reconstructions from these data. In particular, the temperature signal of the warming after the Last Glacial Maximum is still present in borehole temperature profiles. It is shown here that this signal also influences the relatively shallow boreholes used in current paleoclimate inversions to estimate temperature changes in the last centuries by producing errors in the determination of the steady state geothermal gradient. However, the impact on estimates of past temperature changes is weaker. For deeper boreholes, the curvature of the long-term signal is significant. A correction based on simple assumptions about glacial–interglacial temperature changes shows promising results, improving the extraction of millennial scale signals. The same procedure may help when comparing observed borehole temperature profiles with the results from numerical climate models.
Cosmic rays and stochastic magnetic reconnection in the heliotail
Authors: Desiati P. , Lazarian A.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Galactic cosmic rays are believed to be generated by diffusive shock acceleration processes in Supernova Remnants, and the arrival direction is likely determined by the distribution of their sources throughout the Galaxy, in particular by the nearest and youngest ones. Transport to Earth through the interstellar medium is expected to affect the cosmic ray properties as well. However, the observed anisotropy of TeV cosmic rays and its energy dependence cannot be explained with diffusion models of particle propagation in the Galaxy. Within a distance of a few parsec, diffusion regime is not valid and particles with energy below about 100 TeV must be influenced by the heliosphere and its elongated tail. The observation of a highly significant localized excess region of cosmic rays from the apparent direction of the downstream interstellar flow at 1–10 TeV energies might provide the first experimental evidence that the heliotail can affect the transport of energetic particles. In particular, TeV cosmic rays propagating through the heliotail interact with the 100–300 AU wide magnetic field polarity domains generated by the 11 yr cycles. Since the strength of non-linear convective processes is expected to be larger than viscous damping, the plasma in the heliotail is turbulent. Where magnetic field domains converge on each other due to solar wind gradient, stochastic magnetic reconnection likely occurs. Such processes may be efficient enough to re-accelerate a fraction of TeV particles as long as scattering processes are not strong. Therefore, the fractional excess of TeV cosmic rays from the narrow region toward the heliotail direction traces sightlines with the lowest smearing scattering effects, that can also explain the observation of a harder than average energy spectrum.
Implicit particle filtering for models with partial noise, and an application to geomagnetic data assimilation
Authors: Morzfeld M. , Chorin A. J.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Implicit particle filtering is a sequential Monte Carlo method for data assimilation, designed to keep the number of particles manageable by focussing attention on regions of large probability. These regions are found by minimizing, for each particle, a scalar function F of the state variables. Some previous implementations of the implicit filter rely on finding the Hessians of these functions. The calculation of the Hessians can be cumbersome if the state dimension is large or if the underlying physics are such that derivatives of F are difficult to calculate, as happens in many geophysical applications, in particular in models with partial noise, i.e. with a singular state covariance matrix. Examples of models with partial noise include models where uncertain dynamic equations are supplemented by conservation laws with zero uncertainty, or with higher order (in time) stochastic partial differential equations (PDE) or with PDEs driven by spatially smooth noise processes. We make the implicit particle filter applicable to such situations by combining gradient descent minimization with random maps and show that the filter is efficient, accurate and reliable because it operates in a subspace of the state space. As an example, we consider a system of nonlinear stochastic PDEs that is of importance in geomagnetic data assimilation.
STAT3‐Mediated astrogliosis protects myelin development in neonatal brain injury
Authors: Nobuta Hiroko , Ghiani Cristina A. , Paez Pablo M. , Spreuer Vilma , Dong Hongmei , Korsak Rose A. , Manukyan Armine , Li Jiaxi , Vinters Harry V. , Huang Eric J. , Rowitch David H. , Sofroniew Michael V. , Campagnoni Anthony T. , de Vellis Jean , Waschek James A.
Published: June 2012

Objective:

Pathological findings in neonatal brain injury associated with preterm birth include focal and/or diffuse white matter injury (WMI). Despite the heterogeneous nature of this condition, reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis are frequently observed. Thus, molecular mechanisms by which glia activation contribute to WMI were investigated.

Methods:

Postmortem brains of neonatal brain injury were investigated to identify molecular features of reactive astrocytes. The contribution of astrogliosis to WMI was further tested in a mouse model in genetically engineered mice.

Results:

Activated STAT3 signaling in reactive astrocytes was found to be a common feature in postmortem brains of neonatal brain injury. In a mouse model of neonatal WMI, conditional deletion of STAT3 in astrocytes resulted in exacerbated WMI, which was associated with delayed maturation of oligodendrocytes. Mechanistically, the delay occurred in association with overexpression of transforming growth factor (TGF)β‐1 in microglia, which in healthy controls decreased with myelin maturation in an age‐dependent manner. TGFβ‐1 directly and dose‐dependently inhibited the maturation of purified oligodendrocyte progenitors, and pharmacological inhibition of TGFβ‐1 signaling in vivo reversed the delay in myelin development. Factors secreted from STAT3‐deficient astrocytes promoted elevated TGFβ‐1 production in cultured microglia compared to wild‐type astrocytes.

Interpretation:

These results suggest that myelin development is regulated by a mechanism involving crosstalk between microglia and oligodendrocyte progenitors. Reactive astrocytes may modify this signaling in a STAT3‐dependent manner, preventing the pathological expression of TGFβ‐1 in microglia and the impairment of oligodendrocyte maturation. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:750–765
Kinetics of luminol sonochemiluminescence quenched by purines
Authors: Wang Jian , Lai Yongquan , Chen Meili , Jiang Zhou , Chen Guonan
Published: June 2012

A homogeneous chemiluminescence (CL) reaction was initiated by ultrasound irradiation. Luminol sonochemiluminescence (SCL) reaction kinetics were determined under pseudo‐first‐order conditions, and the reaction followed the model for simple rise–fall kinetics. In addition, SCL quenching reactions induced by purines were also investigated in which the interactions between luminol and purines were analysed using the Stern–Volmer (S‐V) mechanism. The results implied that the high rate constant of luminol CL quenched by purines may be attributed to ground state interactions originating from hydrogen bonding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mixing and Reactions in Microchannels – an Educational Approach Using the Internet
Authors: Adryan Philipp , Rößner Frank , Sleumer Konstantin , Schlüter Michael , Müller Claudia M. , Moritz Hans‐Ulrich , Pauer Werner , Sell Marc , Hameister Daniela , Höffer Diana , Illner Sabine , Kragl Udo , Brandenburg Gunnar , Räbiger Norbert
Published: June 2012

In many fields, microprocess technology is gaining significance and is increasingly finding its way into use in industrial production. However, specialist knowledge regarding reactions of compounds, mixing and downstream processes in microchannels is required, as experience from the ”︁macro world”︁ can only be applied in a limited way. The appropriate level of education required is still lacking. In this study, a number of educational experiments were set up focusing on mixing processes and emphasizing the significance of viscosity in mixing. Additionally liquid‐liquid extraction as an important downstream process was looked into as a student experiment. In order to make the training widely accessible, a web‐based education platform was established.
Bioinspired Ion‐Transport Properties of Solid‐State Single Nanochannels and Their Applications in Sensing
Authors: Tian Ye , Wen Liping , Hou Xu , Hou Guanglei , Jiang Lei
Published: June 2012

Biological ion channels are able to control ion‐transport processes precisely because of their intriguing properties, such as selectivity, rectification, and gating. Learning from nature, scientists have developed a promising system—solid‐state single nanochannels—to mimic biological ion‐transport properties. These nanochannels have many impressive properties, such as excess surface charge, making them selective; the ability to be produced or modified asymmetrically, endowing them with rectification; and chemical reactivity of the inner surface, imparting them with desired gating properties. Based on these unique characteristics, solid‐state single nanochannels have been explored in various applications, such as sensing. In this context, we summarize recent developments of bioinspired solid‐state single nanochannels with ion‐transport properties that resemble their biological counterparts, including selectivity, rectification, and gating; their applications in sensing are also introduced briefly.
Environmental diel variation, parasite loads, and local population structuring of a mixed‐mating mangrove fish
Authors: Ellison Amy , Wright Patricia , Taylor D. Scott , Cooper Chris , Regan Kelly , Currie Suzie , Consuegra Sofia
Published: June 2012

Genetic variation within populations depends on population size, spatial structuring, and environmental variation, but is also influenced by mating system. Mangroves are some of the most productive and threatened ecosystems on earth and harbor a large proportion of species with mixed‐mating (self‐fertilization and outcrossing). Understanding population structuring in mixed‐mating species is critical for conserving and managing these complex ecosystems. Kryptolebias marmoratus is a unique mixed‐mating vertebrate inhabiting mangrove swamps under highly variable tidal regimes and environmental conditions. We hypothesized that geographical isolation and ecological pressures influence outcrossing rates and genetic diversity, and ultimately determine the local population structuring of K. marmoratus. By comparing genetic variation at 32 microsatellites, diel fluctuations of environmental parameters, and parasite loads among four locations with different degrees of isolation, we found significant differences in genetic diversity and genotypic composition but little evidence of isolation by distance. Locations also differed in environmental diel fluctuation and parasite composition. Our results suggest that mating system, influenced by environmental instability and parasites, underpins local population structuring of K. marmoratus. More generally, we discuss how the conservation of selfing species inhabiting mangroves and other biodiversity hotspots may benefit from knowledge of mating strategies and population structuring at small spatial scales.
A study of lightning current distribution at a wind turbine foot: Influence on current measurements using a Rogowski coil
Authors: Yamamoto Kazuo , Ueda Naoya , Ametani Akihiro , Natsuno Daisuke
Published: June 2012

A Rogowski coil, used for measuring lightning current through a wind turbine generator system, is generally set up at the foot of a tower. In most wind turbines, there is an entrance at the foot of the tower, which leads to a flight of stairs or a ladder. When lightning strikes the wind turbine, the lightning current flows to the ground through the blades, nacelle, and tower. The current is shunted to the tower and the stairs/ladder at the foot of the tower, from where it may flow into the foundation and the earth. A Rogowski coil is usually set up at only the foot of a tower. The lightning current shunted to the stairs/ladder cannot be measured using the Rogowski. The installation position of the Rogowski coil depends on the construction of the stairs/ladder. In this study, the lightning current distribution at the foot of a tower is calculated using the FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) method, which is one of the methods used for numerical analyses of electromagnetic fields. We also studied the effect that the setup of the stairs/ladder and the resistivity of the ground have on the lightning current distribution. The results of the current distribution are very important for predicting the total current that flows through an existing wind turbine generator system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(4): 10–17, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22273
Detecting Association of Rare and Common Variants by Testing an Optimally Weighted Combination of Variants
Authors: Sha Qiuying , Wang Xuexia , Wang Xinli , Zhang Shuanglin
Published: June 2012

Next‐generation sequencing technology will soon allow sequencing the whole genome of large groups of individuals, and thus will make directly testing rare variants possible. Currently, most of existing methods for rare variant association studies are essentially testing the effect of a weighted combination of variants with different weighting schemes. Performance of these methods depends on the weights being used and no optimal weights are available. By putting large weights on rare variants and small weights on common variants, these methods target at rare variants only, although increasing evidence shows that complex diseases are caused by both common and rare variants. In this paper, we analytically derive optimal weights under a certain criterion. Based on the optimal weights, we propose a Variable Weight Test for testing the effect of an Optimally Weighted combination of variants (VW‐TOW). VW‐TOW aims to test the effects of both rare and common variants. VW‐TOW is applicable to both quantitative and qualitative traits, allows covariates, can control for population stratification, and is robust to directions of effects of causal variants. Extensive simulation studies and application to the Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 (GAW17) data show that VW‐TOW is more powerful than existing ones either for testing effects of both rare and common variants or for testing effects of rare variants only.
Right and left perisylvian cortex and left inferior frontal cortex mediate sentence‐level rhyme detection in spoken language as revealed by sparse fMRI
Authors: Hurschler Martina A. , Liem Franziskus , Jäncke Lutz , Meyer Martin
Published: June 2012

In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neural basis of auditory rhyme processing at the sentence level in healthy adults. In an explicit rhyme detection task, participants were required to decide whether the ending syllable of a metrically spoken pseudosentence rhymed or not. Participants performing this task revealed bilateral activation in posterior–superior temporal gyri with a much more extended cluster of activation in the right hemisphere. These findings suggest that the right hemisphere primarily supports suprasegmental tasks, such as the segmentation of speech into syllables; thus, our findings are in line with the “asymmetric sampling in time” model suggested by Poeppel (: Speech Commun 41:245–255). The direct contrast between rhymed and nonrhymed trials revealed a stronger BOLD response for rhymed trials in the frontal operculum and the anterior insula of the left hemisphere. Our results suggest an involvement of these frontal regions not only in articulatory rehearsal processes, but especially in the detection of a matching syllable, as well as in the execution of rhyme judgment. Hum Brain Mapp 34:3182–3192, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.