bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detached eddy simulations for high speed axial flow fuel pumps with swept and straight blade impellers
Authors: Tao Ran , Xiao Ruofu , Wang Fujun 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
High speed axial flow pumps are widely used in aircraft fuel systems. Conventional axial flow pumps often generate radial secondary flows at partial-load conditions which influence the flow structure and form a “saddle-shaped” region in the Q-H curve that can destabilize the operation. Thus, the “saddle-shaped” Q-H region must be eliminated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
The swept stacking method is often used for radial flow control in turbo-machinery impeller blade design. Hence, this study uses the swept stacking method to design a high speed axial flow pump. The detached eddy simulation method and experiments are used to compare the performance of a swept blade impeller in a high speed axial fuel pump with the original straight blade impeller. Both the pump performance and internal flow characteristics are studied.

Findings
The results show separation vortices in the impeller with the straight blade design at partial-load conditions that are driven by the rotating centrifugal force to gather near the shroud. The swept geometry provides an extra force which is opposite to the rotating centrifugal force that creates a new radial equilibrium which turns the flow back towards the middle of the blade which eliminates the vortices and the “saddle-shaped” Q-H region. The swept blade impeller also improves the critical cavitation performance. Analysis of the pressure pulsations shows that the swept blade design does not affect the stability.

Originality/value
This study is the initial application of swept blades for axial flow liquid pumps. The results show how the swept stacking changes the radial equilibrium of the high density, high viscosity flow and the effects on the mass transfer and pressure pulsations. The swept blade effectively improves the operating stability of high speed fuel pumps.
Do non-staggered board elections matter to earnings quality and the value relevance of earnings and book value?
Authors: Chiang Shuling , Kleinman Gary , Lee Picheng 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of non-staggered voting for members of the board of directors on earnings quality and the value relevance of earnings and book value.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a sample of Taiwanese firms whose board was elected as a whole every three years from 2003 to 2013. The authors used multiple regression analysis to test whether board of directors elections and corporate governance affected earnings quality and the value relevance of earnings and book value.FindingsThe authors found that elections led to lower earnings quality, but better corporate governance led to greater earnings quality. In the presence of board elections, earnings have reduced value relevance but book value had increased value relevance. Finally, given board elections, the relative value relevance of earnings and book value on stock price was not fully moderated by strong corporate governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe results presented here indicate the importance of better corporate governance in diffusing suspicions of management occasioned by the use of discretionary accruals in years in which board elections take place. Better corporate governance regimes led to a more positive relationship of discretionary accruals to earnings persistence, even in the presence of directorial elections. Similarly, better corporate governance regimes led to a more positive relationship between earnings per share and stock prices. Limitations include the restriction of the testing locale to Taiwan. That said, many companies around the globe use non-staggered board elections. Accordingly, these results suggest issues of importance to corporate governance advocates beyond Taiwan as well.Originality/valueThis study deepens the field’s understanding of the impact of corporate governance arrangements and schedules for electing board of directors’ members on issues of interest to stockholders.
The Optimization of Electrophoresis on a Glass Microfluidic Chip and its Application in Forensic Science
Authors: Han Jun P. , Sun Jing , Wang Le , Liu Peng , Zhuang Bin , Zhao Lei , Liu Yao , Li Cai X. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMicrofluidic chips offer significant speed, cost, and sensitivity advantages, but numerous parameters must be optimized to provide microchip electrophoresis detection. Experiments were conducted to study the factors, including sieving matrices (the concentration and type), surface modification, analysis temperature, and electric field strengths, which all impact the effectiveness of microchip electrophoresis detection of DNA samples. Our results showed that the best resolution for ssDNA was observed using 4.5% w/v (7 M urea) lab‐fabricated LPA gel, dynamic wall coating of the microchannel, electrophoresis temperatures between 55 and 60°C, and electrical fields between 350 and 450 V/cm on the microchip‐based capillary electrophoresis (μCE) system. One base‐pair resolution could be achieved in the 19‐cm‐length microchannel. Furthermore, both 9947A standard genomic DNA and DNA extracted from blood spots were demonstrated to be successfully separated with well‐resolved DNA peaks in 8 min. Therefore, the microchip electrophoresis system demonstrated good potential for rapid forensic DNA analysis.
A rapid method for selecting suitable animal species for studying pathogen interactions with plasma protein ligands in vivo
Authors: Naudin Clément , Schumski Ariane , Salo‐Ahen Outi M. H. , Herwald Heiko , Smeds Emanuel 
Published: February 2017

SummarySpecies tropism constitutes a serious problem for developing relevant animal models of infection. Human pathogens can express virulence factors that show specific selectivity to human proteins, while their affinity for orthologs from other species can vary significantly. Suitable animal species must be used to analyse whether virulence factors are potential targets for drug development. We developed an assay that rapidly predicts applicable animal species for studying virulence factors binding plasma proteins. We used two well‐characterized Staphylococcus aureus proteins, SSL7 and Efb, to develop an ELISA‐based inhibition assay using plasma from different animal species. The interaction between SSL7 and human C5 and the binding of Efb to human fibrinogen and human C3 was studied. Affinity experiments and Western blot analyses were used to validate the assay. Human, monkey and cat plasma interfered with binding of SSL7 to human C5. Binding of Efb to human fibrinogen was blocked in human, monkey, gerbil and pig plasma, while human, monkey, gerbil, rabbit, cat and guinea pig plasma inhibited the binding of Efb to human C3. These results emphasize the importance of choosing correct animal models, and thus, our approach is a rapid and cost‐effective method that can be used to prevent unnecessary animal experiments.
Revealing the Diversity of Natural Hydrologic Regimes in California with Relevance for Environmental Flows Applications
Authors: Lane Belize A. , Dahlke Helen E. , Pasternack Gregory B. , Sandoval‐Solis Samuel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAlterations to flow regimes for water management objectives have degraded river ecosystems worldwide. These alterations are particularly profound in Mediterranean climate regions such as California with strong climatic variability and riverine species highly adapted to the resulting flooding and drought disturbances. However, defining environmental flow targets for Mediterranean rivers is complicated by extreme hydrologic variability and often intensive water management legacies. Improved understanding of the diversity of natural streamflow patterns and their spatial arrangement across Mediterranean regions is needed to support the future development of effective flow targets at appropriate scales for management applications with minimal resource and data requirements. Our study addresses this need through the development of a spatially explicit reach‐scale hydrologic classification for California. Dominant hydrologic regimes and their physio‐climatic controls are revealed, using available unimpaired and naturalized streamflow time‐series and generally publicly available geospatial datasets. This methodology identifies eight natural flow classes representing distinct flow sources, hydrologic characteristics, and catchment controls over rainfall‐runoff response. The study provides a broad‐scale hydrologic framework upon which flow‐ecology relationships could subsequently be established towards reach‐scale environmental flows applications in a complex, highly altered Mediterranean region.
Cannabis use and symptom severity in individuals at ultra high risk for psychosis: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Carney R. , Cotter J. , Firth J. , Bradshaw T. , Yung A. R. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveWe aimed to assess whether individuals at ultra high risk (UHR) for psychosis have higher rates of cannabis use and cannabis use disorders (CUDs) than non‐UHR individuals and determine whether UHR cannabis users have more severe psychotic experiences than non‐users.MethodWe conducted a meta‐analysis of studies reporting cannabis use in the UHR group and/or positive or negative symptoms among UHR cannabis users and non‐users. Logit event rates were calculated for cannabis use, in addition to odds ratios to assess the difference between UHR and controls. Severity of clinical symptoms in UHR cannabis users and non‐users was compared using Hedges’ g.ResultsThirty unique studies were included (UHR n = 4205, controls n = 667) containing data from cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies, and randomised control trials. UHR individuals have high rates of current (26.7%) and lifetime (52.8%) cannabis use, and CUDs (12.8%). Lifetime use and CUDs were significantly higher than controls (lifetime OR: 2.09; CUD OR: 5.49). UHR cannabis users had higher rates of unusual thought content and suspiciousness than non‐users.ConclusionUltra high risk individuals have high rates of cannabis use and CUDs, and cannabis users had more severe positive symptoms. Targeting substance use during the UHR phase may have significant benefits to an individual's long‐term outcome.
Regulatory T cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cell‐dependent asthma
Authors: Aron J. L. , Akbari O. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractGroup 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a recently identified group of cells with the potent capability to produce Th2‐type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐5 and IL‐13. Several studies suggest that ILC2s play an important role in the development of allergic diseases and asthma. Activation of pulmonary ILC2s in murine models lacking T and B cells induces eosinophilia and airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR), which are cardinal features of asthma. More importantly, numerous recent studies have highlighted the role of ILC2s in asthma persistence and exacerbation among human subjects, and thus, regulation of pulmonary ILC2s is a major area of investigation aimed at curbing allergic lung inflammation and exacerbation. Emerging evidence reveals that a group of regulatory T cells, induced Tregs (iTregs), effectively suppress the production of ILC2‐driven, pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐5 and IL‐13. The inhibitory effects of iTregs are blocked by preventing direct cellular contact or by inhibiting the ICOS‐ICOS‐ligand (ICOSL) pathway, suggesting that both direct contact and ICOS‐ICOSL interaction are important in the regulation of ILC2 function. Also, cytokines such as IL‐10 and TGF‐β1 significantly reduce cytokine secretion by ILC2s. Altogether, these new findings uncover iTregs as potent regulators of ILC2 activation and implicate their utility as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of ILC2‐mediated allergic asthma and respiratory disease.
Physical activity outside of organised sports is associated with functional performance
Authors: Tocci Noah , Howell David R. , Sugimoto Dai , Stracciolini Andrea , Morse Jen , Meehan William P. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimThe purpose of this study was to determine whether high levels of strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports are associated with better functional test performance.MethodsYouth athletes (n = 445, mean = 14.2 ± 2.5 years) reported their frequency of strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports. The functional performance tests: vertical jump height, pro agility test time, estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), front plank time and postural stability were measured and compared between groups.ResultsAthletes in the five or more times a week group demonstrated faster pro agility times (5.37 ± 0.43 seconds) than the never group (5.59 ± 0.56 seconds; p = 0.002) and the 1–4 times a week group (5.52 ± 0.47 seconds; p = 0.005). The five or more times a week group demonstrated higher mean vertical jump height (42.9 ± 13.3 vs. 40.3 ± 10.8 cm; p = 0.009) and higher estimated VO2 max (48.1 vs. 45.6 mL/kg/minute; p = 0.001) than the 1–4 times a week group.ConclusionYouth athletes who engaged in strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports five or more times a week performed best on functional performance tests.
Cerebral amyloidoma is characterized by B‐cell clonality and a stable clinical course
Authors: Heß Katharina , Purrucker Jan , Hegenbart Ute , Brokinkel Benjamin , Berndt Rouven , Keyvani Kathy , Monoranu Camelia M. , Löhr Mario , Reifenberger Guido , Munoz‐Bendix Christopher , Kalla Jörg , Groß Justus , Schick Uta , Kollmer Jennifer , Klapper Wolfram , Röcken Christoph , Hasselblatt Martin , Paulus Werner 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAmyloidomas are rare amyloid‐containing lesions, which may also occur in the central nervous system. Etiology, pathogenesis and clinical course are poorly understood. To gain more insight into the biology of cerebral amyloidoma, they aimed to characterize its histopathological, molecular and clinical features in a retrospective series of seven patients. FFPE tissue specimens were examined using immunohistochemistry, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) for light chains kappa and lambda as well as an IgH gene clonality analysis. Follow‐up information was gathered by reviewing patient records and imaging results. Median age of the three males and four females was 50 years (range: 35–53 years). All cerebral amyloidomas were located supratentorially and were classified as lambda light chain amyloidosis (AL‐λ; n = 6) and kappa light chain amyloidosis (AL‐κ; n = 1) on immunohistochemistry and CISH. B‐cell clonality was confirmed by IgH gene clonality assay in all cases examined. After a median follow‐up of 21 months, all patients were alive and showed stable disease. No progression to systemic disease was observed. In conclusion, their data suggest that cerebral amyloidoma is a local disease characterized by B‐cell clonality and associated with a stable clinical course.
Age of Bilingual Exposure Is Related to the Contribution of Phonological and Semantic Knowledge to Successful Reading Development
Authors: Jasińska Kaja K. , Petitto Laura‐Ann 
Published: February 2017

Bilingual children's reading as a function of age of first bilingual language exposure (AoE) was examined. Bilingual (varied AoE) and monolingual children (N = 421) were compared in their English language and reading abilities (6–10 years) using phonological awareness, semantic knowledge, and reading tasks. Structural equation modeling was applied to determine how bilingual AoE predicts reading outcomes. Early exposed bilinguals outperformed monolinguals on phonological awareness and word reading. Phonology and semantic (vocabulary) knowledge differentially predicted reading depending on the bilingual experience and AoE. Understanding how bilingual experiences impact phonological awareness and semantic knowledge, and in turn, impact reading outcomes is relevant for our understanding of what language and reading skills are best to focus on, and when, to promote optimal reading success.
Migrant status and childhood hospitalizations for asthma and other wheezing disorders
Authors: Leung J. Y. Y. , Leung G. M. , Schooling C. M. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundIn developed Western settings, asthma is more prevalent among second‐generation compared to first‐generation migrants. However, these studies are difficult to interpret as they include migrants of various ethnicities and countries of origin.ObjectiveWe assessed the association of parental migrant status with wheezing disorders among children born in Hong Kong, a developed non‐Western setting, where many children have migrant parents from mainland China of the same ethnicity.MethodsWe used Cox regression to examine the adjusted associations of parental migrant status with time to first public hospital admission for asthma, bronchitis and bronchiolitis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Version Clinical Modification 466, 490 and 493) from 9 days to 12 years in a population‐representative birth cohort of 8327 Chinese children in Hong Kong.ResultsHaving both parents as migrants was associated with higher risk of hospitalization for asthma and other wheezing disorders, compared to both parents being Hong Kong born (hazard ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.60 from 9 days to 6 years), adjusted for type of hospital at birth, parental history of allergies, mother's age at birth, father's age at birth and highest parental education.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceIn the unique, non‐Western context of Hong Kong, second‐generation migrants had higher risk of hospitalization for childhood wheezing disorders compared to the native population, particularly before 6 years of age. Further study is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms involved.
H1‐antihistamine‐refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria: it's worse than we thought – first results of the multicenter real‐life AWARE study
Authors: Maurer M. , Staubach P. , Raap U. , Richter‐Huhn G. , Bauer A. , Ruëff F. , Jakob T. , Yazdi A. S. , Mahler V. , Wagner N. , Lippert U. , Hillen U. , Schwinn A. , Pawlak M. , Behnke N. , Chaouche K. , Chapman‐Rothe N. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundMost data on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) originate from highly selected patient populations treated at specialized centres. Little is known about CSU patient characteristics and the burden of CSU in routine clinical practice. AWARE (A World‐wide Antihistamine‐Refractory chronic urticaria patient Evaluation) is an ongoing global study designed to assess chronic urticaria in the real‐life setting.ObjectiveTo describe the baseline characteristics of the first 1539 German AWARE patients with H1‐antihistamine‐refractory CSU.MethodsThis prospective non‐interventional study included patients (18–75 years) with a diagnosis of H1‐antihistamine‐refractory CSU for > 2 months. Baseline demographic and disease characteristics, comorbidities, and pharmacological treatments were recorded. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), chronic urticaria QoL questionnaire (CU‐Q2oL), and angioedema QoL questionnaire (AE‐QoL, in cases of angioedema). Previous healthcare resource utilization and sick leave data were collected retrospectively.ResultsBetween March and December 2014, 1539 patients were assessed in 256 sites across Germany. The percentage of females, mean age, and mean body mass index were 70%, 46.3 years, and 27 kg/m2, respectively. The mean urticaria control test score was 7.9, one in two patients had angioedema, and the most frequent comorbidities were chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU; 24%), allergic rhinitis (18.2%), hypertension (18.1%), asthma (12%), and depression (9.5%). Overall, 57.6% of patients were receiving at least one pharmacological treatment including second‐generation H1‐antihistamines (46.3%), first‐generation H1‐antihistamines (9.1%), and corticosteroids (15.8%). The mean DLQI, total CU‐Q2oL, and total AE‐QoL scores were 8.3, 36.2, and 46.8, respectively. CSU patients reported frequent use of healthcare resources, including emergency services (29.7%), general practitioners (71.9%), and additional allergists or dermatologists (50.7%).Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThis study reveals that German H1‐antihistamine‐refractory CSU patients have high rates of uncontrolled disease, angioedema, and comorbid CIndU, are undertreated, have impaired QoL, and rely heavily on healthcare resources.
The clinical and immunological effects of Pru p 3 sublingual immunotherapy on peach and peanut allergy in patients with systemic reactions
Authors: Gomez F. , Bogas G. , Gonzalez M. , Campo P. , Salas M. , Diaz‐Perales A. , Rodriguez M. J. , Prieto A. , Barber D. , Blanca M. , Torres M. J. , Mayorga C. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundThe peach non‐specific lipid transfer protein, Pru p 3, is the primary sensitizer in fruits and responsible for severe reactions in the Mediterranean area. Peach allergy is frequently associated with other allergies such as peanut. Therefore, it is important to assess how specific immunotherapy to Pru p 3 could affect both peach and peanut tolerance.ObjectivesTo evaluate peach and peanut desensitization and immunological changes after 1 year of Pru p 3 sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with systemic allergic reactions to peach and/or peanut.MethodsForty‐eight peach allergic patients, 36 treated with SLIT and 12 non‐treated, were monitored for 12 months. Treated patients were subclassified as peanut allergic (Group A), sensitized (Group B) or tolerant (Group C). SLIT effect was evaluated by skin prick test (SPT) reactivity and food challenge. Immunological changes were evaluated by monitoring sIgE and sIgG4 levels and basophil reactivity.ResultsAfter 1 year of SLIT, the weal area in SPT significantly decreased and a significant increase in peach threshold in treated patients was observed (P < 0.001). Patients in Group A showed a significant decrease in peanut SPT weal area and an increase in peanut threshold (P < 0.001). Immunological changes were observed in treated patients only, with a significant decrease in sIgE and a parallel increase in sIgG4, sIgG4/sIgE and basophil reactivity for both Pru p 3 and Ara h 9.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceAfter 1 year, Pru p 3 SLIT induces both desensitization and immunological changes not only for peach but also for other food allergens relevant in the induction of severe reactions such as peanut.