bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of renewable hydrogen by reformation of biofuels
Authors: Panagiotopoulou Paraskevi , Papadopoulou Christina , Matralis Haris , Verykios Xenophon
Published: October 2013

Environmental concerns and sustainability issues dictate the production of energy carriers from renewable resources. Hydrogen is thought to be the most appropriate energy carrier in this respect, especially in combination with fuel cell technologies and distributed power generation schemes. Although renewable hydrogen can be produced from excess renewable electricity, this approach imposes difficulties related to storage, handling, and transportation. The use of biomass has been proposed for production of renewable hydrogen. The most effective way is to utilize biofuels as intermediates in the hydrogen and power production sequence. Appropriate biofuels are bioethanol, biogas, bio‐oil, and glycerol. These molecules can be catalytically reformed, most efficiently with steam, at elevated temperatures, to yield hydrogen and carbon dioxide. For this purpose, appropriate catalysts have been developed, which exhibit high activity, selectivity toward hydrogen production and long‐term stability. Stability of operation is very critical as deposition of coke on the catalyst surface is thermodynamically feasible and kinetically favorable in many cases and operating envelopes. Although noble metals are active and rather resistant to coke deposition, they are rare and expensive. Nickel and other transition metals have been investigated and significant research efforts have been extended to improve catalytic characteristics by appropriate choice of support material, metal dispersion, and additives in the metal or the carrier phases. Furthermore, elucidation of mechanistic aspects of the reformation reactions, other reactions which occur in sequence or in parallel as well as carbon deposition routes, is also utilized toward the development of appropriate catalytic materials and processes.

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Science and Materials

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Science and Materials
Injectable foams for regenerative medicine
Authors: Prieto Edna M. , Page Jonathan M. , Harmata Andrew J. , Guelcher Scott A.
Published: October 2013

The design of injectable biomaterials has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Many injectable biomaterials, such as hydrogels and calcium phosphate cements (CPCs), have nanoscale pores that limit the rate of cellular migration and proliferation. While introduction of macroporosity has been suggested to increase cellular infiltration and tissue healing, many conventional methods for generating macropores often require harsh processing conditions that preclude their use in injectable foams. In recent years, processes such as porogen leaching, gas foaming, and emulsion‐templating have been adapted to generate macroporosity in injectable CPCs, hydrogels, and hydrophobic polymers. While some of the more mature injectable foam technologies have been evaluated in clinical trials, there are challenges remaining to be addressed, such as the biocompatibility and ultimate fate of the sacrificial phase used to generate pores within the foam after it setsin situ. Furthermore, while implantable scaffolds can be washed extensively to remove undesirable impurities, all of the components required to synthesize injectable foams must be injected into the defect. Thus, every compound in the foam must be biocompatible and noncytotoxic at the concentrations utilized. As future research addresses these critical challenges, injectable macroporous foams are anticipated to have an increasingly significant impact on improving patient outcomes for a number of clinical procedures.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
Detecting short‐term responses to weekend recreation activity: Desert bighorn sheep avoidance of hiking trails
Authors: Longshore Kathleen , Lowrey Chris , Thompson Daniel B.
Published: October 2013

To study potential effects of recreation activity on habitat use of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), we placed Global Positioning System collars on 10 female bighorn sheep within the Wonderland of Rocks–Queen Mountain region of Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), California, USA, from 2002 to 2004. Recreation use was highest from March to April and during weekends throughout the year. Daily use of recreation trails was highest during midday. By comparing habitat use (slope, ruggedness, distance to water, and distance to recreation trails) of female bighorn sheep on weekdays versus weekends, we were able to detect short‐term shifts in behavior in response to recreation. In a logistic regression of bighorn sheep locations versus random locations for March and April, female locations at midday (1200 hours) were significantly more distant from recreation trails on weekends compared with weekdays. Our results indicate that within this region of JOTR, moderate to high levels of human recreation activity may temporarily exclude bighorn females from their preferred habitat. However, the relative proximity of females to recreation trails during the weekdays before and after such habitat shifts indicates that these anthropogenic impacts were short‐lived. Our results have implications for management of wildlife on public lands where the co‐existence of wildlife and recreational use is a major goal. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Overexpression of NADH-dependent fumarate reductase improves d-xylose fermentation in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Salusjärvi Laura , Kaunisto Sanna , Holmström Sami , Vehkomäki Maija-Leena , Koivuranta Kari , Pitkänen Juha-Pekka , Ruohonen Laura
Published: October 2013

Deviation from optimal levels and ratios of redox cofactors NAD(H) and NADP(H) is common when microbes are metabolically engineered. The resulting redox imbalance often reduces the rate of substrate utilization as well as biomass and product formation. An example is the metabolism of d-xylose by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains expressing xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase encoding genes from Scheffersomyces stipitis. This pathway requires both NADPH and NAD+. The effect of overexpressing the glycosomal NADH-dependent fumarate reductase (FRD) of Trypanosoma brucei in d-xylose-utilizing S. cerevisiae alone and together with an endogenous, cytosol directed NADH-kinase (POS5Δ17) was studied as one possible solution to overcome this imbalance. Expression of FRD and FRD + POS5Δ17 resulted in 60 and 23 % increase in ethanol yield, respectively, on d-xylose under anaerobic conditions. At the same time, xylitol yield decreased in the FRD strain suggesting an improvement in redox balance. We show that fumarate reductase of T. brucei can provide an important source of NAD+ in yeast under anaerobic conditions, and can be useful for metabolic engineering strategies where the redox cofactors need to be balanced. The effects of FRD and NADH-kinase on aerobic and anaerobic d-xylose and d-glucose metabolism are discussed.
Systematic review of the efficacy and tolerability of Clozapine in the treatment of youth with early onset schizophrenia
Authors: Schneider C. , Corrigall R. , Hayes D. , Kyriakopoulos M. , Frangou S.
Published: October 2013

Background

The use of clozapine (CLZ) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia is well established in adults. However, it is seldom used in youth with early onset schizophrenia (EOS) largely because of lack of clarity about its risk benefit ratio. This review synthesises and evaluates available evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of CLZ in EOS with the aim to assist clinical decision-making.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the primary literature on the clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) observed during CLZ treatment in EOS. We also identified relevant practice guidelines and summarised current guidance.

Results

CLZ showed superior efficacy than other antipsychotics in treating refractory EOS patients; short-term clinical trials suggest an average improvement of 69% on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale that was sustained during long-term follow-up (up to 9 years). No fatalities linked to CLZ treatment were reported. Sedation and hypersalivation were the most common complaints, reported by over 90% of patients. Other common ADRs (reported in 10-60% of patients) were enuresis, constipation, weight gain, and non-specific EEG changes. Less common ADRs (reported in 10-30% of patients) were akathisia, tachycardia and changes in blood pressure. Neutropenia was reported in 6–15% of cases but was usually transient while agranulocytosis was rare (< 0.1%). Seizures were also uncommon (< 3%). Metabolic changes were relatively common (8–22%) but emergent diabetes was not frequently observed (< 6%). Overall the rate of discontinuation was low (3–6%). Current guidelines recommend the use of CLZ in EOS patients who have failed to respond to two adequate trials with different antipsychotics and provide detailed schedules of assessments to evaluate and assess potential ADRs both prior to initiation and throughout CLZ treatment.

Conclusion

Available data although limited in terms of number of studies are consistent in demonstrating that CLZ is effective and generally safe in the treatment of refractory EOS provided patients are regularly monitored
Limit sets of stable cellular automata
Authors: BALLIER ALEXIS
Published: October 2013

We study limit sets of stable cellular automata from a symbolic dynamics point of view, where they are a special case of sofic shifts admitting a steady epimorphism. We prove that there exists a right-closing almost-everywhere steady factor map from one irreducible sofic shift onto another one if and only if there exists such a map from the domain onto the minimal right-resolving cover of the image. We define right-continuing almost-everywhere steady maps, and prove that there exists such a steady map between two sofic shifts if and only if there exists a factor map from the domain onto the minimal right-resolving cover of the image. To translate this into terms of cellular automata, a sofic shift can be the limit set of a stable cellular automaton with a right-closing almost-everywhere dynamics onto its limit set if and only if it is the factor of a full shift and there exists a right-closing almost-everywhere factor map from the sofic shift onto its minimal right-resolving cover. A sofic shift can be the limit set of a stable cellular automaton reaching its limit set with a right-continuing almost-everywhere factor map if and only if it is the factor of a full shift and there exists a factor map from the sofic shift onto its minimal right-resolving cover. Finally, as a consequence of the previous results, we provide a characterization of the almost of finite type shifts (AFT) in terms of a property of steady maps that have them as range.
Topographic controls on gravity currents in porous media
Authors: Pegler Samuel S. , Huppert Herbert E. , Neufeld Jerome A.
Published: October 2013

We present a theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of gravity currents in porous media with variations in the topography over which they flow, motivated in part by the sequestration of carbon dioxide in saline aquifers. We consider cases where the height of the topography slopes upwards in the direction of the flow and is proportional to the$n\text{th} $power of the horizontal distance from a line or point source of a constant volumetric flux. In two-dimensional cases with$n\gt 1/ 2$, the current evolves from a self-similar form at early times, when the effects of variations in topography are negligible, towards a late-time regime that has an approximately horizontal upper surface and whose evolution is dictated entirely by the geometry of the topography. For$n\lt 1/ 2$, the transition between these flow regimes is reversed. We compare our theoretical results in the case$n= 1$with data from a series of laboratory experiments in which viscous glycerine is injected into an inclined Hele-Shaw cell, obtaining good agreement between the theoretical results and the experimental data. In the case of axisymmetric topography, all topographic exponents$n\gt 0$result in a transition from an early-time similarity solution towards a topographically controlled regime that has an approximately horizontal free surface. We also analyse the evolution over topography that can vary with different curvatures and topographic exponents between the two horizontal dimensions, finding that the flow transitions towards a horizontally topped regime at a rate which depends strongly on the ratio of the curvatures along the principle axes. Finally, we apply our mathematical solutions to the geophysical setting at the Sleipner field, concluding that topographic influence is unlikely to explain the observed non-axisymmetric flow.
Experimental evidence of new three-dimensional modes in the wake of a rotating cylinder
Authors: Radi A. , Thompson M. C. , Rao A. , Hourigan K. , Sheridan J.
Published: October 2013

A recent numerical study by Rao et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 717, 2013, pp. 1–29) predicted the existence of several previously unobserved linearly unstable three-dimensional modes in the wake of a spinning cylinder in cross-flow. While linear stability analysis suggests that some of these modes exist for relatively limited ranges of Reynolds numbers and rotation rates, this may not be true for fully developed nonlinear wakes. In the current paper, we present the results of water channel experiments on a rotating cylinder in cross-flow, for Reynolds numbers $200\leqslant \mathit{Re}\leqslant 275$ and non-dimensional rotation rates $0\leqslant \alpha \leqslant 2. 5$. Using particle image velocimetry and digitally post-processed hydrogen bubble flow visualizations, we confirm the existence of the predicted modes for the first time experimentally. For instance, for $\mathit{Re}= 275$ and a rotation rate of $\alpha = 1. 7$, we observe a subharmonic mode, mode C, with a spanwise wavelength of ${\lambda }_{z} / d\approx 1. 1$. On increasing the rotation rate, two modes with a wavelength of ${\lambda }_{z} / d\approx 2$ become unstable in rapid succession, termed modes D and E. Mode D grows on a shedding wake, whereas mode E consists of streamwise vortices on an otherwise steady wake. For $\alpha \gt 2. 2$, a short-wavelength mode F appears localized close to the cylinder surface with ${\lambda }_{z} / d\approx 0. 5$, which is presumably a manifestation of centrifugal instability. Unlike the other modes, mode F is a travelling wave with a spanwise frequency of ${\mathit{St}}_{3D} \approx 0. 1$. In addition to these new modes, observations on the one-sided shedding process, known as the ‘second shedding’, are reported for $\alpha = 5. 1$. Despite suggestions from the literature, this process seems to be intrinsically three-dimensional. In summary, our experiments confirm the linear predictions by Rao et al., with very good agreement of wavelengths, symmetries and the phase velocity for the travelling mode. Apart from this, these experiments examine the nonlinear saturated state of these modes and explore how the existence of multiple unstable modes can affect the selected final state. Finally, our results establish that several distinct three-dimensional instabilities exist in a relatively confined area on the $\mathit{Re}$–$\alpha $ parameter map, which could account for their non-detection previously.
Reversals in Wine Auction Prices
Authors: McManus Ginette , Sharma Rajneesh , Tezel Ahmet
Published: October 2013

This paper investigates reversals in wine auction prices following a series of strong positive and negative returns. Using the Chicago Wine Company's auction data, we find evidence of reversals after extreme wine price changes. There is a clear asymmetry in the market reaction to wine price increases and declines. Wine price declines after strong price increases are not, in general, as significant as wine price increases after strong price declines. The strongest reversal occurs for wines that have declined in price by more than 30 percent. (JEL Classifications: D44, G14)
Seeking Observable Imprints of Small-Scale Structure on the Properties of Dark Matter Haloes
Authors: Power C.
Published: October 2013

The characteristic prediction of the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model of cosmological structure formation is that the Universe should contain a wealth of small-scale structure—low-mass dark matter haloes and subhaloes. However, galaxy formation is inefficient in their shallow potential wells and so we expect these low-mass haloes and subhaloes to be dark. Can we tell the difference between a Universe in which these low-mass haloes are present but dark and one in which they never formed, thereby providing a robust test of the CDM model? We address this question using cosmological N-body simulations to examine how properties of low-mass haloes that are potentially accessible to observation, such as their spatial clustering, rate of accretions and mergers onto massive galaxies, and the angular momentum content of massive galaxies, differ between a fiducial ΛCDM model and dark matter models in which low-mass halo formation is suppressed. Adopting an effective cut-off mass scale Mcut below which small-scale power is suppressed in the initial conditions, we study dark matter models in which Mcut varies between 5×109h−1M⊙ and 1011h−1M⊙, equivalent to the host haloes of dwarf and low-mass galaxies. Our results show that both the clustering strength of low-mass haloes around galaxy-mass primaries and the rate at which they merge with these primaries are sensitive to the assumed value of Mcut; in contrast, suppressing low-mass halo formation has little influence on the angular momentum content of galaxy-mass haloes—it is the quiescence or violence of a halo's assembly history that has a more marked effect. However, we expect that measuring the effect on spatial clustering or the merger rate is likely to be observationally difficult for realistic values of Mcut, and so isolating the effect of this small-scale structure would appear to be remarkably difficult to detect, at least in the present day Universe.
I Don't Care to Belong to Any Club That Will Have Me as a Member: Empirical Analysis of Municipal Mergers
Authors: Saarimaa Tuukka , Tukiainen Janne
Published: October 2013

The efficiencyof local public goods provision and the functioning of local democracy crucially depend on the size and number of local jurisdictions. This article empirically analyzes voluntary municipal mergers in Finland. Our main focus is on aspects that have been somewhat neglected in prior empirical work: whether local democracy considerations, representation and voter preferences are involved in shaping the resulting municipal structure. The main results imply that some municipalities are forced to merge due to fiscal pressure and have to trade off political power to be accepted by their partners. The study also finds that the median voter's distance from services matters, while population size does not. The latter, somewhat surprising, observation is possibly explained by existing municipal co-operation, which already exhausts potential economies of scale.
Lost in Translation? Nonstate Actors and the Transnational Movement of Procedural Law
Authors: Brake Benjamin , Katzenstein Peter J.
Published: October 2013

In recent years U.S. legal norms and practices reconfigured important elements of how law is thought of and practiced in both common and civil law countries around the world. With specific focus on the spread of American procedural practices (class action and pretrial discovery), this article applies a transactional view of law that emphasizes the private practice of law and nonstate actors. Such an approach highlights important aspects of world politics overlooked by traditional analyses of international legalization, conventionally understood as the direct spread of law by and among states. We find that the movement of law is a dynamic process involving diffusion, translation, and the repeated transnational exchanges of legal actors. Through our examination of this process, we offer insights into how aspects of American law moved into unlikely jurisdictions to reshape legal theory, pedagogy, procedure, and the organizing structure of the legal profession.
Effect of storage and preservation of milk samples on the response of microbial inhibitor tests
Authors: Llopis Milagro Borràs , Marugón Marta Roca , Althaus Rafael Lisandro , Pons Maria Pilar Molina
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of storage time (4 °C) on milk samples and the use of azidiol as preservative on the results of microbial inhibitor tests used to detect antimicrobials in milk. For this purpose, 16 milk bulk samples divided into two aliquots, preservative-free and with azidiol, spiked with 12 concentrations of amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G and oxytetracycline, were used. The milk samples were analysed using the BRT MRL, Delvotest MCS Accelerator and Eclipse 100 at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h stored at 4 °C. The logistic regression model was applied to study the effect of storage time (ST), preservative (P) and their interaction (ST×P). At a concentration equivalent to the Detection Limit (DL), the positive results of microbial inhibitor tests do not remain stable during storage time. These results are more reproducible if samples are stored with a preservative. At Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) concentration microbial inhibitor tests can detect penicillin for up to 72 h of storage. For oxytetracycline, the BRT MRL and Delvotest MCS tests presents DL exceeding the MRL, therefore they are not sensitivity to this tetracycline (0% positive results). By contrast Eclipse 100, whose DL is lower than the MRL, gave 100% positive results during the 72 h storage period. It can be concluded that it would be convenient to store milk samples with azidiol at 4 °C and to carry out analyses within the first 48 h since milk sampling.
Effect of feeding goats with distilled and non-distilled thyme leaves (Thymus zygis subp. gracilis) on milk and cheese properties
Authors: Boutoial Khalid , García Victor , Rovira Silvia , Ferrandini Eduardo , Abdelkhalek Oussama , López María Belén
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding goats with distilled and non-distilled thyme leaves (Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis) on the physicochemical composition and technological properties of pasteurised goat milk, and on the physicochemical composition, phenolic content, oxidative stability, microbiology, sensory and texture profile of Murcia al Vino goat cheese. One group of goats was fed the basal diet (control), the second and third groups were fed with different levels of distilled (10 and 20%) or non-distilled (3·75 and 7·5%) thyme leaves. Goat milk physicochemical composition was significantly affected by the substitution of 7·5% of basal goat diet with non-distilled thyme leaves (increase in fat, protein, dry matter and PUFA content), while goat milk clotting time was increased significantly by the introduction of 20% distilled thyme leaves, which reduces its technological suitability. Microbiology, sensory and texture profiles were not affected by the introduction of distilled thyme leaves. The introduction of distilled and non-distilled thyme leaves as an alternative feed to diet can lead to an inhibition of lipids oxidation. The introduction of distilled and non-distilled thyme leaves into goat's diet can be successfully adopted as a strategy to reduce feeding costs and to take advantage of the waste from the production of essential oils, minimising waste removing costs and the environmental impact.
Transoral robotic resection of lingual thyroid: case report
Authors: Teo E H C , Toh S-T , Tay H-N , Han H-J
Published: October 2013

Objective:

We present a case of large, symptomatic lingual thyroid which was successfully and safely removed via a transoral approach, using the da Vinci robotic system, in an academic medical centre in Singapore.

Case report:

A 17-year-old female adolescent presented with a large lingual thyroid causing upper airway obstruction. She underwent robotic, minimally invasive, transoral resection using the da Vinci system. Post-operative recovery was uneventful; she was able to commence oral feeding almost immediately, and was discharged from hospital on the fourth post-operative day.

Conclusion:

It is surgically feasible and safe to undertake transoral robotic resection of a large lingual thyroid. This approach may allow faster recovery and shorter hospitalisation for patients. Surgical safety requires a full understanding of the intralingual neurovascular anatomy.
Contribution to the understanding of the cycle of the protozoan parasite Marteilia refringens
Authors: ARZUL I. , CHOLLET B. , BOYER S. , BONNET D. , GAILLARD J. , BALDI Y. , ROBERT M. , JOLY J. P. , GARCIA C. , BOUCHOUCHA M.
Published: October 2013

The paramyxean parasite Marteilia refringens infects several bivalve species including European flat oysters Ostrea edulis and Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Sequence polymorphism allowed definition of three parasite types ‘M’, ‘O’ and ‘C’ preferably detected in oysters, mussels and cockles respectively. Transmission of the infection from infected bivalves to copepods Paracartia grani could be experimentally achieved but assays from copepods to bivalves failed. In order to contribute to the elucidation of the M. refringens life cycle, the dynamics of the infection was investigated in O. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and zooplankton over one year in Diana lagoon, Corsica (France). Flat oysters appeared non-infected while mussels were infected part of the year, showing highest prevalence in summertime. The parasite was detected by PCR in zooplankton particularly after the peak of prevalence in mussels. Several zooplanktonic groups including copepods, Cladocera, Appendicularia, Chaetognatha and Polychaeta appeared PCR positive. However, only the copepod species Paracartia latisetosa showed positive signal by in situ hybridization. Small parasite cells were observed in gonadal tissues of female copepods demonstrating for the first time that a copepod species other than P. grani can be infected with M. refringens. Molecular characterization of the parasite infecting mussels and zooplankton allowed the distinguishing of three Marteilia types in the lagoon.
TRAPPED BY NATURE: PROVINCIAL GRAIN YIELDS IN SPAIN IN THE MID 18TH CENTURY
Authors: Santiago-Caballero Carlos
Published: October 2013

This paper estimates original yields for five grains in thirty-three provinces of Spain in the mid-18th century. We observe a strong heterogeneity between the provinces with yields being considerably higher in the north of the country than in the south-east. Although average yields in Spain were below those in other countries of north-western Europe, the provinces in the north achieved yields not far behind the most advanced agricultural regions of the world. The heterogeneity of yields across Spain can be explained by the different climatic conditions in each province. Although all the provinces improved their yields in the long term, the differences between the provinces remained stable until the modernisation of Spanish agriculture around the mid-20th century.
Aerobic Activity Preferences among Older Canadians: A Time Use Perspective
Authors: Spinney Jamie E. L.
Published: October 2013

Une population physiquement active jouit de nombreux avantages pour la santé. Cette étude visait à découvrir les préférences de l’activité aérobie chez les Canadiens âgés. Quatre cycles de données indiquant l’usage national représentatif de temps ont été fusionnées avec des informations sur la dépense d’énergie pour déterminer les taux de participation et le temps consacré en dix activités aérobiques les plus fréquemment rapportées. Les activités préférés sont dominées par les tâches ménagères (15% à 30%, la participation d’environ deux heures par jour), la marche de loisirs (15% a 30%, la parti-cipation d’environ une heure par jour), et le transport actif (généralement moins de 5% de participation pendant moins de trente minutes par jour). Bien que plusieurs modifications ont été révelées dans les préferences de Canadiens plus âgés pour les activités aérobiques au cours des trois dernières décennies, la prévalence de tâches domestiques vise à l’importance des politiques qui soutiennent que les Canadiens plus âgés resteront dans leurs maisons, alors que la popularité de la marche suggère que le potentiel de rester « piétonnier » doit être pris en compte dans la conception des quartiers.
‘Buenos Aires beat’: a topography of rock culture in Buenos Aires, 1965–1970
Authors: TROLLIET ANA SÁNCHEZ
Published: October 2013

In this article, I examine the rise of ‘countercultural rock’ in the city of Buenos Aires between 1965 and 1970. Through the identification, mapping and analysis of real and imaginary spaces, I analyse how rock occupied the city both materially and symbolically. This dual approach to the study of the production, circulation and consumption of rock music enables us to understand a paradox which spanned those formative years: although it was postulated as the genre of modern Buenos Aires, its aesthetic was geared towards constructing an anti-urban account that favoured escape towards idealized natural environments.
Undernutrition affects embryo quality of superovulated ewes
Authors: Abecia J.A. , Forcada F. , Palacín I. , Sánchez-Prieto L. , Sosa C. , Fernández-Foren A. , Meikle A.
Published: October 2013

To determine the effect of undernutrition on embryo production and quality in superovulated sheep, 45 ewes were allocated into two groups to be fed diets that provided 1.5 (control, C; n = 20) or 0.5 (low nutrition, L; n = 25) times daily requirements for maintenance, from oestrous synchronization with intravaginal sponges to embryo collection. Embryos were collected 7 days after the onset of oestrus (day 0). Low nutrition resulted in lower live weight and body condition at embryo collection (P < 0.05). Diet (P < 0.01) and day of sampling (P < 0.001) significantly affected plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and insulin concentrations. Plasma leptin concentrations decreased on day 7 only in L ewes. A significant effect of dietary treatment (P < 0.05) and day (P < 0.0001) was observed on plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I concentrations. The number of recovered oocytes and embryos did not differ between the groups (L: 15.4 ± 0.4; C: 12.4 ± 0.4). Recovery rate was lower (P < 0.05) in the L (60%) than in the C group (73%). The total number of embryos and number of viable-transferable embryos (5.0 ± 0.3 and 3.4 ± 0.3 embryos, respectively) of the L group were lower (P < 0.1) when compared with controls (8.4 ± 0.4 and 6.2 ± 0.4 embryos, respectively). Undernutrition during the period of superovulation and early embryonic development reduced total and viable number of embryos. These effects might be mediated by disruption of endocrine homeostasis, oviduct environment and/or oocyte quality.
Temporality in British young women's magazines: food, cooking and weight loss
Authors: Spencer Rosemary J , Russell Jean M , Barker Margo E
Published: October 2013

Objective

The present study examines seasonal and temporal patterns in food-related content of two UK magazines for young women focusing on food types, cooking and weight loss.

Design

Content analysis of magazines from three time blocks between 1999 and 2011.

Setting

Desk-based study.

Subjects

Ninety-seven magazines yielding 590 advertisements and 148 articles.

Results

Cluster analysis of type of food advertising produced three clusters of magazines, which reflected recognised food behaviours of young women: vegetarianism, convenience eating and weight control. The first cluster of magazines was associated with Christmas and Millennium time periods, with advertising of alcohol, coffee, cheese, vegetarian meat substitutes and weight-loss pills. Recipes were prominent in article content and tended to be for cakes/desserts, luxury meals and party food. The second cluster was associated with summer months and 2010 issues. There was little advertising for conventional foods in cluster 2, but strong representation of diet plans and foods for weight loss. Weight-loss messages in articles focused on short-term aesthetic goals, emphasising speedy weight loss without giving up nice foods or exercising. Cluster 3 magazines were associated with post-New Year and 2005 periods. Food advertising was for everyday foods and convenience products, with fewer weight-loss products than other clusters; conversely, article content had a greater prevalence of weight-loss messages.

Conclusions

The cyclical nature of magazine content – indulgence and excess encouraged at Christmas, restraint recommended post-New Year and severe dieting advocated in the summer months – endorses yo-yo dieting behaviour and may not be conducive to public health.
Early state of spruce somatic embryos in native state observed using the ESEM and Cryo-SEM
Authors: Nedela V. , Hrib J. , Havel L. , Runstuk J.
Published: October 2013

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
Calcium Release in Response to Local Nanomechancial Shear Stress Delivered by an AFM Tip
Authors: Modulevsky D.J. , Bukoreshtliev N.V. , Pelling A.E.
Published: October 2013

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
Male labor force participation and social security in Mexico
Authors: AGUILA EMMA
Published: October 2013

Labor force participation among Mexican males in their early retirement years (60–64 years of age) has decreased in recent decades, from 94.6% in 1960 to 65.2% in 2010. Similar trends are evident elsewhere in Latin America, and have occurred in the developed world. Such trends pose challenges to the financial sustainability of social security systems as working-age populations decrease and those in retirement increase both because of demographic trends and decisions to take early retirement. In this study, we find that the Mexican social security system provides incentives to retire early. The retirement incentives of the Mexican social security system affect retirement behavior, and may be one of the main contributors to early retirement decisions, particularly for lower-income populations. We simulated the effect of the reform from a pay-as-you-go to the new Personal Retirement Accounts (PRA) system and we find that the PRA system also provides incentives for early retirement. Further analysis is needed to assess the financial sustainability of the social security system and financial security in old age for the largest cohorts in Mexico that will begin to retire by 2040.
Balance artistry: The healthy parent's role in the family when the other parent is in the palliative phase of cancer — Challenges and coping in parenting young children
Authors: Aamotsmo Trude , Bugge Kari E.
Published: October 2013

Objectives:

The aim of this review was to provide a systematic overview of knowledge on how advanced cancer in a parent impacts the healthy parent's role in a family with children aged 6–12 years, and the types of help that they require in order to cope. Despite the large number of families living with a parent affected by cancer, the literature is limited concerning the needs and outcomes for the healthy parents and their need for support in managing their children's needs, when the partner is seriously ill or is in the palliative phase of cancer.

Method:

Comprehensive literature searches were undertaken by systematically searching for qualitative articles published during the period 1989–2009. The quality assessment was evaluated using a predefined “checklist to assess qualitative research.”

Results:

Seven articles met our eligibility criteria. Four distinct themes emerged that describe the healthy parent's role in the family, whose life is now characterized by uncertainty and who is attempting to maintain a balance between the needs of their children, the patient, and themselves: (1) new roles without a script, (2) attempting to maintain a safe and normal life, (3) feeling alone even within the family, and (4) support to help young family members.

Significance of results:

The present review provides new knowledge and insight into how healthy parents manage the challenges in parenting young children, coping with their everyday lives, and taking on new roles when their partner has advanced cancer or is dying. The healthy parent cannot balance the needs of all family members. To reach the goals of palliative care, nurses and other health professionals are encouraged to offer the patient, the healthy parent, and the children practical and emotional support.
DYNAMIC CONSEQUENCE AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Authors: FRANCO ANDRÉS CORDÓN , DITMARSCH HANS VAN , NEPOMUCENO ANGEL
Published: October 2013

In van Benthem (2008), van Benthem proposes a dynamic consequence relation defined as${\psi _1}, \ldots ,{\psi _n}{ \models ^d}\phi \,{\rm{iff}}{ \models ^{pa}}[{\psi _1}] \ldots [{\psi _n}]\phi ,$where the latter denotes consequence in public announcement logic, a dynamic epistemic logic. In this paper we investigate the structural properties of a conditional dynamic consequence relation$\models _{\rm{\Gamma }}^d$extending van Benthem’s proposal. It takes into account a set of background conditions Γ, inspired by Makinson (2003) wherein Makinson calls this reasoning ‘modulo’ a set Γ. In the presence of common knowledge, conditional dynamic consequence is definable from (unconditional) dynamic consequence. An open question is whether dynamic consequence is compact. We further investigate a dynamic consequence relation for soft instead of hard announcements. Surprisingly, it shares many properties with (hard) dynamic consequence. Dynamic consequence relations provide a novel perspective on reasoning about protocols in multi-agent systems.
Optimized hyper beamforming of receiving linear antenna arrays using Firefly algorithm
Authors: Ram Gopi , Mandal Durbadal , Kar Rajib , Ghoshal Sakti Prasad
Published: October 2013

In this paper, an optimized hyper beamforming method is presented based on a hyper beam exponent parameter for receiving linear antenna arrays using a new meta-heuristic search method based on the Firefly algorithm (FFA). A hyper beam is derived from the sum and difference beam patterns of the array, each raised to the power of a hyper beam exponent parameter. As compared to the conventional hyper beamforming of the linear antenna array, FFA applied to the hyper beam of the same array can achieve much more reduction in sidelobe level (SLL) and improved first null beam width (FNBW), keeping the same value of the hyper beam exponent. As compared to the uniformly excited linear antenna array with inter-element spacing of λ/2, conventional non-optimized hyper beamforming and optimal hyper beamforming of the same obtained by real-coded genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization and Differential evolution, FFA applied to the hyper beam of the same array can achieve much greater reduction in SLL and same or less FNBW, keeping the same value of the hyper beam exponent parameter. The whole experiment has been performed for 10-, 14-, and 20-element linear antenna arrays.
Soft truncation thresholding for gene set analysis of RNA-seq data: Application to a vaccine study
Authors: Fridley Brooke L. , Jenkins Gregory D. , Grill Diane E. , Kennedy Richard B. , Poland Gregory A. , Oberg Ann L.
Published: October 2013

Gene set analysis (GSA) has been used for analysis of microarray data to aid the interpretation and to increase statistical power. With the advent of next-generation sequencing, the use of GSA is even more relevant, as studies are often conducted on a small number of samples. We propose the use of soft truncation thresholding and the Gamma Method (GM) to determine significant gene set (GS), where a generalized linear model is used to assess per-gene significance. The approach was compared to other methods using an extensive simulation study and RNA-seq data from smallpox vaccine study. The GM was found to outperform other proposed methods. Application of the GM to the smallpox vaccine study found the GSs to be moderately associated with response, including focal adhesion (p = 0.04) and extracellular matrix receptor interaction (p = 0.05). The application of GSA to RNA-seq data will provide new insights into the genomic basis of complex traits.
Effect of incident energy on the configuration of Fe–Al nanoparticles, a molecular dynamics simulation of impact deposition
Authors: Yang Jianyu , Hu Wangyu , Tang Jianfeng
Published: October 2013

The impact deposition of Al (or Fe) atoms on the rhombohedron of Fe (or the truncated octahedron of Al) nanoparticles is investigated by performing a molecular dynamics simulation using the embedded atom method.
Recent advances in pre-clinical mouse models of COPD
Authors: Vlahos Ross , Bozinovski Steven
Published: October 2013

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a major incurable global health burden and will become the third largest cause of death in the world by 2020. It is currently believed that an exaggerated inflammatory response to inhaled irritants, in particular cigarette smoke, causes progressive airflow limitation. This inflammation, where macrophages, neutrophils and T-cells are prominent, leads to oxidative stress, emphysema, small airways fibrosis and mucus hypersecretion. The mechanisms and mediators that drive the induction and progression of chronic inflammation, emphysema and altered lung function are poorly understood. Current treatments have limited efficacy in inhibiting chronic inflammation, do not reverse the pathology of disease and fail to modify the factors that initiate and drive the long-term progression of disease. Therefore there is a clear need for new therapies that can prevent the induction and progression of COPD. Animal modelling systems that accurately reflect disease pathophysiology continue to be essential to the development of new therapies. The present review highlights some of the mouse models used to define the cellular, molecular and pathological consequences of cigarette smoke exposure and whether they can be used to predict the efficacy of new therapeutics for COPD.
Spontaneous emission and collection efficiency enhancement of single emitters in diamond via plasmonic cavities and gratings
Authors: Choy Jennifer T. , Bulu Irfan , Hausmann Birgit J. M. , Janitz Erika , Huang I-Chun , Lončar Marko
Published: October 2013

We demonstrate an approach, based on plasmonic apertures and gratings, to enhance the radiative decay rate of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond while simultaneously improving their collection efficiency. Our structures are based on metallic resonators formed by surrounding sub-wavelength diamond nanoposts with a silver film, which can enhance the spontaneous emission rate of an embedded NV center. However, the collection efficiency of emitted photons remains low due to losses to surface plasmons and reflections at the diamond-air interface. In this work, we mitigate photon losses into these channels by incorporating grating structures into the plasmonic cavity system.
The test-particle induced inhomogeneous direct correlation functions and extensions of Widom's theorem: Impacts on the incremental chemical potentials and high-order correlation functions
Authors: Lee Lloyd L.
Published: October 2013

We develop the potential distributions of several test particles to obtain a hierarchy of the nonuniform singlet direct correlation functions (s-DCFs). These correlation functions are interpreted as the segmental chemical potentials or works of insertion of successive test particles in a classical fluid. The development has several interesting consequences: (i) it extends the Widom particle insertion formula to higher-order theorems, the first member gives the chemical potential as in the original theorem, the second member gives the incremental energy for dimer formation, with higher members giving the energies for forming trimers,tetramers, etc. (ii) The second and third order s-DCFs can be related to the cavity distribution functions y(2) and y(3) in the liquid-state theory. Thus we can express the triplet cavity function y(3) in terms of these s-DCFs in an exact form. This enables us to calculate, as an illustration of the above theoretical developments, the numerical values of the s-DCFs via Monte Carlo (MC) simulation data on hard spheres. We use these data to critically analyze the commonly used approximations, the Kirkwood superposition (KSA) and the linear approximation (LA) for triplet correlation functions. An improved rule over KSA and LA is proposed for triplet hard spheres in the rolling-contact configurations.(iii) The s-DCFs are naturally suited for analyzing the chain-incremental Ansatz or hypothesis in the calculation of the chemical potentials of polymeric chain molecules. The first few segments of a polymer chain have been shown from extensive Monte Carlo simulations to not obey this Ansatz. By examining the insertion energies of successive segments through the s-DCFs, we are able to quantitatively decipher the decay of the segmental chemical potentials for at least the first three segments. Comparison with MC data on 4-mer and 8-mer hard-sphere fluids shows commensurate behavior with the s-DCFs. In addition, an analytical density functional theory is derived, through the potential distribution theorem, for obtaining these nonuniform direct correlation functions.
Topology of conical/surface intersections among five low-lying electronic states of CO2: Multireference configuration interaction calculations
Authors: Zhou Bo , Zhu Chaoyuan , Wen Zhenyi , Jiang Zhenyi , Yu Jianguo , Lee Yuan-Pern , Lin Sheng Hsien
Published: October 2013

Multi-reference configuration interaction with single and double excitation method has been utilized to calculate the potential energy surfaces of the five low-lying electronic states 1A1, 1A2, 3A2, 1B2, and 3B2 of carbon dioxide molecule. Topology of intersections among these five states has been fully analyzed and is associated with double-well potential energy structure for every electronic state. The analytical potential energy surfaces based on the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method have been utilized for illustrating topology of surface crossings. Double surface seam lines between 1A1 and 3B2 states have been found inside which the 3B2 state is always lower in potential energy than the 1A1 state, and thus it leads to an angle bias collision dynamics. Several conical/surface intersections among these five low-lying states have been found to enrich dissociation pathways, and predissociation can even prefer bent-geometry channels. Especially, the dissociation of O(3P) + CO can take place through the intersection between 3B2 and 1B2 states, and the intersection between 3A2 and 1B2 states.