bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Timing, intensity, and duration of household food insecurity are associated with early childhood development in Kenya
Authors: Milner Erin M. , Fiorella Kathryn J. , Mattah Brian J. , Bukusi Elizabeth , Fernald Lia C.H. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis study examines the association between 3 dimensions of food insecurity (timing, intensity, and duration) and 3 domains of child development (gross motor, communication, and personal social). Longitudinal data from 303 households (n = 309 children) visited 9 times over 2 years were collected. Children in households experiencing severe food insecurity 3 months prior (timing) had significantly lower gross motor (β −0.14; 95% CI [0.27, −0.0033]; p = .045), communication (β −0.16; 95% CI [−0.30, −0.023]; p = .023), and personal social (β −0.20; 95% CI [−0.33, −0.073]; p = .002) Z‐scores, using lagged longitudinal linear models controlling for current food insecurity; these results were attenuated in full models, which included maternal education, household asset index, and child anthropometry. Children in households that experienced greater aggregate food insecurity over the past 2 years (intensity) had significantly lower gross motor (β −0.047; 95% CI [−0.077, −0.018]; p = .002), communication (β −0.042; 95% CI [−0.076, −0.0073]; p = .018), and personal social (β −0.042; 95% CI [−0.074, −0.010]; p = .010) Z‐scores; these results were also attenuated in full models. Children with more time exposed to food insecurity (duration) had significantly lower gross motor (β −0.050; 95% CI [−0.087, −0.012]; p = .010), communication (β −0.042; 95% CI [−0.086, 0.0013]; p = .057), and personal social (β −0.037; 95% CI [−0.077, 0.0039]; p = .076) Z‐scores; these results were no longer significant in full models. Our findings suggest that acute and chronic food insecurity and child development are related, but that many associations are attenuated with the inclusion of relevant covariates.
Inflammation and oxidative stress in corneal tissue in experimental keratitis due to Fusarium solani: Amelioration following topical therapy with voriconazole and epigallocatechin gallate
Authors: Ruban Vasanthakumar V. , Archana Philip T. , Sundararajan Mahalingam , Geraldine Pitchairaj , Thomas Philip A. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryCombined antifungal and antioxidant therapy may help to reduce oxidative stress in fungal keratitis. Experimental Fusarium solani keratitis was induced by application of F. solani conidia to scarified cornea (right eye) of 16 rabbits (another four rabbits were negative controls [Group I]). Five days later, F. solani‐infected animals began receiving hourly topical saline alone (Group II), voriconazole (10 mg/mL) alone (Group III), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 10 mg/mL) alone (Group IV) or voriconazole and EGCG (Group V). Twenty days post‐inoculation, corneal lesions were graded. After animal sacrifice, excised corneas underwent histopathological and microbiological investigations. Corneal tissue levels/activities of interleukin 1 beta (IL‐1β) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) gene mRNA transcripts, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were also measured. Clinical and histopathological scores (severity of corneal lesions; [P < .05]) and mean levels (P < .05) of IL‐1β and TNF‐α mRNA transcripts, MMP 2, MMP 9 and MDA were Group II > Groups IV and III > Groups V and I. Mean SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels (P < .05) were Group II < Groups IV and III < Groups V and I. Topical voriconazole with EGCG apparently reduces inflammation in experimental F. solani keratitis, as manifested by improved clinical, histological, microbiological and molecular parameters.
Association between change in serum bicarbonate and change in thyroid hormone levels in patients receiving conventional or more frequent maintenance haemodialysis
Authors: Molfino Alessio , Beck Gerald J , Li Minwei , Lo Joan C , Kaysen George A ,   for the FHN Investigators
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTAimCorrection of metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease has been associated with improvement in thyroid function. We examined whether changes in bicarbonate were associated with changes in thyroid function in patients with end‐stage renal disease receiving conventional or more frequent haemodialysis.MethodsIn the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Trials, the relationship between changes in serum bicarbonate, free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) was examined among 147 and 48 patients with endogenous thyroid function who received conventional (3×/week) or more frequent (6×/week) haemodialysis (Daily Trial) or who received conventional or more frequent nocturnal haemodialysis (Nocturnal Trial). Equilibrated normalized protein catabolic rate (enPCR) was examined to account for nutritional factors affecting both acid load and thyroid function.ResultsIncreasing dialysis frequency was associated with increased bicarbonate level. Baseline bicarbonate level was not associated with baseline FT3 and FT4. Change in bicarbonate level was not associated with changes in FT3 and FT4 in the Daily Trial nor for FT4 in the Nocturnal Trial (r ≤ 0.14, P > 0.21). While, a significant correlation between change in serum bicarbonate and change in FT3 (r = 0.44, P = 0.02) was observed in the Nocturnal Trial; findings were no longer significant after adjusting for change in enPCR (r = 0.37, P = 0.08). For participants with baseline bicarbonate <23 mmol/L, no association between change in bicarbonate and change in thyroid indices were seen in the Daily Trial; for the Nocturnal Trial, findings were also not significant for change in FT3 and the association between change in bicarbonate and change in FT4 (r = 0.54, P = 0.03) was no longer significant after adjusting for enPCR (r = 0.45, P = 0.11).ConclusionChanges in bicarbonate were not associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels after adjusting for enPCR, as a marker of nutritional status. Future studies should examine whether improvement in acid base status improves thyroid function in haemodialysis patients with evidence of thyroid hypofunction.
TIPS and the VIX: Spillovers from Financial Panic to Breakeven Inflation in an Automated, Nonlinear Modeling Framework
Authors: Stillwagon Josh R. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis paper examines the determinants of the breakeven inflation rate (BEI) on U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities. After controlling for several measures of liquidity, inflation expectations and inflation uncertainty; financial fear itself (proxied with the Volatility Index or VIX) remains a primary influence on BEI. To delve into the mechanism underlying this association, the VIX is decomposed, using intraday data, into conditional variance and the variance premium capturing risk aversion. Aside from the 2008 crisis, most of the effect emanated from the variance premium. Following the crisis, indicators of bank insolvency risk gain prominence as well. Lastly, an automated nonlinear model finds convex effects of variance, and diminishing returns to insolvency risk and liquidity.
Nowcasting Indian GDP
Authors: Bragoli Daniela , Fosten Jack 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNowcasting has become a useful tool for making timely predictions of gross domestic product (GDP) in a data‐rich environment. However, in developing economies this is more challenging due to substantial revisions in GDP data and the limited availability of predictor variables. Taking India as a leading case, we use a dynamic factor model nowcasting method to analyse these two issues. Firstly, we propose to compare nowcasts of the first release of GDP to those of the final release to assess differences in their predictability. Secondly, we expand a standard set of predictors typically used for nowcasting GDP with nominal and international series, in order to proxy the variation in missing employment and service sector variables in India. We find that the factor model improves over several benchmarks, including bridge equations, but only for the final GDP release and not for the first release. Also, the nominal and international series improve predictions over and above real series. This suggests that future studies of nowcasting in developing economies which have similar issues of data revisions and availability as India should be careful in analysing first‐ vs. final‐release GDP data, and may find that predictions are improved when additional variables from more timely international data sources are included.
Immunogenicity of a Glycoconjugate from Hydrazine‐Detoxified Lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O139
Authors: Fleischhackerová‐Slimáková A. , Korcová J. , Bystrický S. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA glycoconjugate (dLPS‐CBSA) from hydrazine‐detoxified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Vibrio cholerae O139 and BSA was used for immunization of BALB/c mice. The immunogenicity (concentration of induced IgG antibodies) of the conjugate was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The highest level of LPS‐specific IgGs was found in sera collected 2 weeks after the third immunization. Both IgM and IgG antibodies present in the anti‐V. cholerae O139‐specific sera showed long‐lasting vibriocidal activity. The glycoconjugate also stimulated production of IL‐4, IL‐6, IFNγ, TNFα and IL‐10. Immunization with the conjugate induced significant production of both Th1 and Th2 cytokine sets, indicating balanced Th1/Th2 immune response polarization. The quantitative analysis of total and LPS‐specific IgM and IgG antibodies production by B lymphocytes (from both the spleen and the bone marrow) was performed by ELISPOT assay. From the analysis of antibodies produced directly by B lymphocytes in the bone marrow (of dLPS‐CBSA immunized mice), we were able to identify the IgM‐IgG switch in the antibodies produced.
“Double carbapenem” and oral fosfomycin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by blaNDM‐harboring Enterobacteriaceae in kidney transplantation
Authors: Rosa Rossana , Rudin Susan D. , Rojas Laura J. , Hujer Andrea M. , Perez‐Cardona Armando , Perez Federico , Bonomo Robert A. , Martinez Octavio , Abbo Lilian M. , Camargo Jose F. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractInfections with carbapenemase‐producing carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacteriaceae represent an emergent problem worldwide. Treatment of infections caused by New Delhi metallo‐beta‐lactamase (NDM)‐harboring Enterobacteriaceae is particularly challenging as it frequently involves the use of nephrotoxic agents, which is problematic in kidney transplant recipients and non‐renal transplant patients with marginal kidney function. We present two cases of urinary tract infections caused by NDM‐harboring Enterobacteriaceae successfully treated with a combination of “double carbapenem” and oral fosfomycin.
Influence of catecholamines at different dosages on the function of the LiDCO sensor in isoflurane anesthetized horses
Authors: Hopster Klaus , Ambrisko Tamas D. , Kästner Sabine B. R. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the lithium dilution method for cardiac output (LiDCO) and bolus‐thermo‐dilution (BTD) measurements before and during infusion of dobutamine, dopamine, phenylephrine, or noradrenaline at 2 different doses in anesthetized horses and to examine the correlation between sensor voltages (saline–blood exposed) and possible measurement errors.DesignProspective experimental study.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsNine Warmblood horses.InterventionsFollowing 90 minutes of equilibration, 3 different doses of dobutamine (0.5–3 μg/kg/min), dopamine (1–5 μg/kg/min), phenylephrine (0.5–3 μg/kg/min), or noradrenaline (0.1–0.5 μg/kg/min) were administered for 15 minutes in anesthetized horses, and measurements using the LiDCO were performed at the lowest and highest doses. Pairs of LiDCO and BTD measurements were collected and sensor voltages exposed to blood and saline were measured before and at the end of each infusion period. Agreement between LiDCO and BTD was assessed with the Bland–Altman method.Measurement and Main ResultsThe biases (2 standard deviations) before infusion of dobutamine, dopamine, phenylephrine, and noradrenaline were 1.1 (5.7), 1.6 (7.3), 0.2 (6.6), and 1.5 (4.1) L/min, respectively, and minimally and nonsignificantly changed following low‐dose catecholamine infusions. Following infusion of higher doses, biases were significantly higher compared to baseline with 10.7 (7.8), 11.2 (11.9), 6.9 (11.7), and 3.5 (3.8) L/min, respectively. The difference between saline‐ and blood‐exposed sensor voltage decreased during infusion of high doses of catecholamines with correlations (rs = 0.62) between cardiac output differences and sensor voltage differences (saline‐blood).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that catecholamines could lead to overestimation in a dose‐dependent fashion in LiDCO measurements. Monitoring changes in sensor voltage differences (saline‐blood) is a valuable and clinically applicable tool to predict errors in LiDCO measurements.
Carbon source utilization‐based metabolic activity of Salmonella Oranienburg and Salmonella Saintpaul in river water
Authors: Medrano‐Félix José Andrés , Castro‐del Campo Nohelia , Peraza Garay Felipe de Jesús , Martínez‐Rodríguez Célida Isabel , Chaidez Cristóbal 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe presence of introduced or non‐native bacteria in river water can create a selective pressure due to their ability to overcome fluctuations in physicochemical conditions and carbon source availability. The carbon source concentrations (monosaccharides and polysaccharides), physicochemical parameters (turbidity, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand, temperature and pH) and metabolic activity of Salmonella Oranienburg and Saintpaul were determined in water from the central Sinaloa state rivers. This study's results revealed that the carbohydrate availability and physicochemical conditions of river water make it a suitable niche for the establishment of Salmonella serotypes. Metabolic profiles showed that Salmonella Typhimurium could consume a wide variety of carbon sources but only at moderate levels; in contrast, Salmonella Oranienburg and Salmonella Saintpaul demonstrated intense carbon source utilization of a limited diversity of carbon sources. Carbohydrates, amino acids and carboxylic acids were the metabolites most utilized by the environmental Salmonella strains, demonstrating their superior ability to adapt to and survive in river water.
Entropy Generation for Oscillatory Flow Inside Thermal-Lag Type Stirling Engine: Numerical Analysis
Authors: Hachem Houda , Gheith Ramla , Ben Nasrallah Sassi , Aloui Fethi 
Published: October 2017

The present paper investigates the heat characteristics of oscillatory piston-driven flow inside thermal-lag type Stirling engine. The geometry consists of a cylinder partially filled with a porous metal structure called regenerator, heated at the lateral wall on one side and cooled on the other side. Brinkman-Forchheimer-Lapwood extended Darcy model is assumed to simulate heat transfer within the regenerator.
A numerical model is used to evaluate average entropy generation rate in the regenerator depending on its characteristics (form factor Lr /Dr, porosity and material) and on the oscillatory flow characteristics (working fluid, rotational engine speed, hot end temperature and initial pressure). The output power of the thermal lag Stirling engine is estimated for different working conditions. Results show that, the two main contributors to entropy generation in the regenerator are: entropy due to heat transfer (imperfection loss, internal conduction loss) and entropy due to viscous friction. Regenerator design leading to minimum entropy generation was investigated.
DNS of Turbulent Bubbly Flows in Plane Channels Using the Front-Tracking Algorithm of TrioCFD
Authors: Bois G. , du Cluzeau A. 
Published: October 2017

Two-phase turbulence is studied using DNS of upward turbulent bubbly flows in a plane channel. Fully deformable monodispersed bubbles are tracked by the Front-Tracking algorithm implemented in TrioCFD code on the TRUST platform. Two sets of fluid properties are used. Firstly, two simulations are performed with virtual fluids at a low void fraction of 3% and for a Reynolds friction number of 127 to benchmark our code against [1]. Good agreements are obtained for both deformable and spherical cases. A third simulation closer to pressurized water reactor (PWR) conditions was performed at higher void fraction and Reynolds number to push the limits of DNS capabilities.
DNS results are averaged (i) to provide reference profiles for an up-scaling methodology towards RANS two-fluid models and (ii) to analyze the equilibrium between buoyancy, surface tension, viscous and turbulent shear at statistically steady-state. Surface tension forces and turbulence are essentials to capture the equilibrium. Their accurate modeling is the key to velocities and void fraction predictions in averaged codes. Our analysis reveals the important role of surface tension, not only in the determination of the bubble shapes, but also as a source of local imbalance of the momentum transfer between phases. More advanced models considering interfacial energy are necessary to predict these flows.
Pipe Inclination Effects on Slug Flow Characteristics of High Viscosity Oil-Gas Two-Phase Flow for Near Horizontal Pipes
Authors: Ekinci Samet , Aydin T. B. , Sarica C. , Pereyra E. , Kim T. 
Published: October 2017

An experimental study of the inclination angle (±2° from horizontal) effects on high viscosity oil and gas two-phase flow has been conducted, and the available multiphase flow models/correlations have been evaluated using the acquired data.
The effect of pipe inclination on the slug flow characteristics of highly viscous oil-gas two-phase flow was studied based on 1,040 data points covering a wide range of experimental conditions and liquid viscosities in a 50.8-mm-ID pipe at 2° downward and upward inclinations from horizontal. The oil viscosity ranged from 155 cP to 587 cP. Superficial liquid and gas velocities varied from 0.1 m/s to 0.8 m/s and from 0.1 m/s to 5 m/s, respectively. The basic two-phase flow parameters and slug flow characteristics have been analyzed and compared with the past studies conducted for near horizontal pipes.
Improving LPG Pump Efficiency by Considering Variant Physical-Properties of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Authors: Lara-Rodriguez G. , Begovich O. , Naredo J. L. 
Published: October 2017

In a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant, the gas is received, stored, and finally, pumped to tanker trucks for distribution to consumers. In the pumping stage, a reduction in the efficiency of the pump for values below the density of the LPG is observed. As an option to resolve this problem when pumping LPG with varying density, this analysis evaluates a temperature control system in the plant’s pipeline by means of the installation of heat exchange equipment, attempting to reduce the temperature of the LPG. The theoretical data that the density of the liquid corresponds to 0.540kg/m3 at 288.65K is taken into account, supposing that if the temperature of the liquid can be reduced, the density of the LPG can be increased, thus improving the efficiency of the pump.
In this research, a methodology of dimensional analysis is used to combine real operating conditions and simulations on commercial grade Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software; it is proposed to cool the liquid gas stored in the LPG plant during its trajectory from the storage spheres to the pumping equipment.
Therefore, the research being reported in this paper focuses on a modification to the LPG pumping process, installing a heat exchanger as an alternative or means to compensate for the loss of efficiency in LPG pumps and evaluating its application in the hydrocarbons industry.
Investigation on Pulsating Flow Effect of a Turbocharger Turbine
Authors: Ding Zhanming , Zhuge Weilin , Zhang Yangjun , Chen Hua , Martinez-Botas Ricardo 
Published: October 2017

Turbocharger turbines in internal combustion engines operate under highly pulsating flow conditions. The pulsating inflow has a complicated interaction with the turbine flow field and generates strong unsteadiness across the turbine stage, which produces oscillatory behavior and renders turbine performance distinct from that under steady conditions. However, the unsteady effect of the pulse flow is not considered when matching turbocharger turbines to engines due to the lack of effective simulation tools and unsteadiness criterion.
In this paper, a one-dimensional (1D) unsteady turbine model is proposed which could consider the volute curvature and preserve circumferential non-uniformity at rotor inlet. A parametric investigation of the response of a turbocharger turbine to inlet pulses is conducted based on the 1D model. The effects of various pulse parameters such as the amplitude, load, and frequency on the unsteady performance loops are studied. The influence of turbine operating conditions as the average inlet temperature and rotating speed on turbine unsteady performance is assessed. A dimensionless unsteadiness criterion Λ is used to correlate the relative importance of turbine unsteadiness. Results show that Λ is an effective criterion to judge the relative importance of unsteadiness. The investigation demonstrates turbine behaviors under different pulsating flow conditions, and strengthens the understanding of pulsating flow effect on turbine unsteady performance.
Reduction Method for the Secondary Flow Loss in Turbine Cascade
Authors: Mizuguchi S. , Kusano K. , Oyama H. , Kawata Y. 
Published: October 2017

The aerodynamic loss accounted to the secondary flow, or secondary loss, is one of the most prominent cause of the internal losses in turbine cascades. Secondary losses are mostly due to the interaction of Horse-Shoe Vortex and endwall crossflow. Authors have developed a so called endwall fence to reduce the secondary loss in gas turbine cascade by mitigating this interaction. However, the improvements resulting by the application of this method to a steam turbine cascade proved to be not so remarkable as for the gas turbine cascade.
By conducting total pressure measurements at the endwall, previous results showed that the stream wise evolution of the losses presents two peaks; Horse-Shoe Vortex peak and crossflow peak. The abovementioned endwall fence is blocks the Horse-Shoe Vortex, but its screening effect on the crossflow is not sufficient. So in this research the use of two kinds of fences is proposed to reduce the secondary loss: one is to block the pressure side leg of the Horse-Shoe Vortex, the second is to block and guide the crossflow, which starts from the middle of the blade passage, toward the outlet. Therefore, they are called respectively Horse-Shoe Vortex fence and crossflow fence.
The tests are carried out using the wind tunnel cascade and the test fences are made by 3D printer. The total loss is estimated by means of an automatically moving pitot tube located downstream the cascade. Many kinds of fences are tested and the optimum fence shape and position to minimize the secondary loss is obtained.