bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio‐temporal variations of double‐couple aftershock mechanisms and possible volumetric earthquake strain
Authors: Ross Z. E. , Ben‐Zion Y. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe analyze spatio‐temporal patterns in rotation angles of double‐couple–constrained mechanisms of aftershocks of the 1992 Landers earthquake. The rotation angles provide information on the distribution of source geometries in different regions of space and time with respect to the mainshock focal mechanism. The results indicate that the mechanisms of the early aftershocks are more scattered and less aligned with the mainshock than those of the long‐term events. This is most pronounced around the northern end of the Landers rupture, least pronounced around the central section, and intermediate around the southern end of the rupture. The relatively large scatter and misalignment of the mean rotation angles of the early focal mechanisms around the edges of the Landers rupture suggest possible volumetric earthquake strain in these regions. The results may reflect isotropic source terms produced by dynamic generation of rock damage. Synthetic tests indicate that the observed differences in the rotation distributions of the early and long‐term events around the end regions of the Landers rupture can result from neglecting in the inversion process isotropic components that are 0.03–0.15 of the total event moments.
Evolution of line charge density of steadily‐developing upward positive leaders in triggered lightning
Authors: Chen Mingli , Zheng Dong , Du Yaping , Zhang Yijun 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe present an approach for retrieving the temporal and spatial evolution of the charge density and the current of a steadily‐developing upward leader based on ground observations of electrical fields and high speed camera images of two upward positive leaders initiated by a classical rocket‐triggered lightning before the wire disintegration. For a period of a few milliseconds, for the upward leader segments developing above altitude about 200 m, we obtained the leader speed, calculated the leader charge density and the leader current. For the two leaders, both the leader speed and the charge density, hence the leader current, showed a trend of increase as the leader propagated upward. There was a good consistency in the variation trend between the calculated leader current and the leader channel brightness. The leader current calculated agreed well with the current measured at the channel base, indicating that our proposed model for retrieving the leader charge density is effective and reliable.
Witness Vetting: What Determines Detectives' Perceptions of Witness Credibility?
Authors: McClure Kimberley A. , Myers Jill Joline , Keefauver Kyla M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractDuring the course of a criminal investigation witness vetting, a detective's process of determining the credibility and weight of witness information, can lead to errors in an investigation that can go virtually unchallenged. Witness confidence, opportunity to view, and type of information proffered were examined in relation to detective inferences about witness reliability, accuracy, and probable cause to arrest. Experiment 1 involved 39 sworn law enforcement officers, and experiment 2 involved 43 sworn law enforcement officers and 86 mock detectives. Participants viewed a digital recording depicting a witness describing a gas station robbery (Experiment 1) or a campus mugging (Experiment 2). Witness confidence and detectives' inferences about culprit information influenced the vetting process and lent credibility to a confident witness whose accuracy was objectively unknown. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that sworn law enforcement are comparable with untrained observers in their use of social inference cues (i.e. confidence) in determining witness credibility; however, social inference can be assuaged by the rational, rule‐governed, decision framework established for witness vetting. Social inference processes inherent in the detective‐witness dyad is influenced by legal procedures in vetting witness information. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sectioning the medial patellofemoral ligament alters patellofemoral joint kinematics and contact mechanics
Authors: Stephen Joanna M. , Kader Deiary , Lumpaopong Punyawan , Deehan David J. , Amis Andrew A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractMedial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) disruption may alter patellofemoral joint (PFJ) kinematics and contact mechanics, potentially causing pain and joint degeneration. In this controlled laboratory study, we investigated the hypothesis that MPFL transection would change patellar tracking and PFJ contact pressures and increase the distance between the attachment points of the MPFL. Eight fresh frozen dissected cadaveric knees were mounted in a rig with the quadriceps and ITB loaded to 205 N. An optical tracking system measured joint kinematics, and pressure sensitive film between the patella and trochlea measured PFJ contact pressures. Length patterns of the distance between the femoral and patellar attachments of the MPFL were measured using a suture led to a linear displacement transducer. Measurements were repeated with the MPFL intact and following MPFL transection. A significant increase in the distance between the patellar and femoral MPFL attachment points was noted following transection (p < 0.05). MPFL transection resulted in significantly increased lateral translation and lateral tilt of the patella in early flexion (p < 0.05). Peak and mean medial PFJ contact pressures were significantly reduced and peak lateral contact pressures significantly elevated in early knee flexion following MPFL transection (p < 0.05). MPFL transection resulted in significant alterations to PFJ tracking and contact pressures, which may affect articular cartilage health. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1423–1429, 2013
Single walled carbon nanotube composites for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Gupta Ashim , Woods Mia D. , Illingworth Kenneth David , Niemeier Ryan , Schafer Isaac , Cady Craig , Filip Peter , El‐Amin Saadiq F. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to develop single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLAGA) composites for orthopedic applications and to evaluate the interaction of human stem cells (hBMSCs) and osteoblasts (MC3T3‐E1 cells) via cell growth, proliferation, gene expression, extracellular matrix production and mineralization. PLAGA and SWCNT/PLAGA composites were fabricated with various amounts of SWCNT (5, 10, 20, 40, and 100 mg), characterized and degradation studies were performed. Cells were seeded and cell adhesion/morphology, growth/survival, proliferation and gene expression analysis were performed to evaluate biocompatibility. Imaging studies demonstrated uniform incorporation of SWCNT into the PLAGA matrix and addition of SWCNT did not affect the degradation rate. Imaging studies revealed that MC3T3‐E1 and hBMSCs cells exhibited normal, non‐stressed morphology on the composites and all were biocompatible. Composites with 10 mg SWCNT resulted in highest rate of cell proliferation (p < 0.05) among all composites. Gene expression of alkaline phosphatase, collagen I, osteocalcin, osteopontin, Runx‐2, and Bone Sialoprotein was observed on all composites. In conclusion, SWCNT/PLAGA composites imparted beneficial cellular growth capabilities and gene expression, and mineralization abilities were well established. These results demonstrate the potential of SWCNT/PLAGA composites for musculoskeletal regeneration and bone tissue engineering (BTE) and are promising for orthopedic applications. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1374–1381, 2013
Common and rare alleles of the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, associated with Tourette's disorder
Authors: Moya Pablo R. , Wendland Jens R. , Rubenstein Liza M. , Timpano Kiara R. , Heiman Gary A. , Tischfield Jay A. , King Robert A. , Andrews Anne M. , Ramamoorthy Samanda , McMahon Francis J. , Murphy Dennis L. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTTo evaluate the hypothesis that functionally over‐expressing alleles of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene (solute carrier family 6, member 4, SLC6A4) are present in Tourette's disorder (TD), just as we previously observed in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), we evaluated TD probands (N = 151) and controls (N = 858). We genotyped the refined SERT‐linked polymorphic region 5‐HTTLPR/rs25531 and the associated rs25532 variant in the SLC6A4 promoter plus the rare coding variant SERT isoleucine‐to‐valine at position 425 (I425V). The higher expressing 5‐HTTLPR/rs25531 LA allele was more prevalent in TD probands than in controls (χ2 = 5.75; P = 0.017; odds ratio [OR], 1.35); and, in a secondary analysis, surprisingly, it was significantly more frequent in probands who had TD alone than in those who had TD plus OCD (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.0006; OR, 2.29). Likewise, the higher expressing LAC haplotype (5‐HTTLPR/rs25531/rs25532) was more frequent in TD probands than in controls (P = 0.024; OR, 1.33) and also in the TD alone group versus the TD plus OCD group (P = 0.0013; OR, 2.14). Furthermore, the rare gain‐of‐function SERT I425V variant was observed in 3 male siblings with TD and/or OCD and in their father. Thus, the cumulative count of SERT I425V becomes 1.57% in OCD/TD spectrum conditions versus 0.15% in controls, with a recalculated, family‐adjusted significance of χ2 = 15.03 (P < 0.0001; OR, 9.0; total worldwide genotyped, 2914). This report provides a unique combination of common and rare variants in one gene in TD, all of which are associated with SERT gain of function. Thus, altered SERT activity represents a potential contributor to serotonergic abnormalities in TD. The present results call for replication in a similarly intensively evaluated sample. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society
Ultrashort echo time bi‐component analysis of cortical bone—a field dependence study
Authors: Li Shihong , Chang Eric Y. , Bae Won C. , Chung Christine B. , Gao Song , Bao Shanglian , Bydder Graeme M. , Hua Yanqing , Du Jiang 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of differing field strength on the
of cortical bone at 1.5 T and 3 T.MethodsUltrashort echo time pulse sequences were used to study six bovine and nine human bone samples at 1.5 T and 3 T using single‐ and bi‐component
analysis.ResultsOn average, the bound water
of bovine bone decreased by 16% (from 0.32 ms at 1.5 T to 0.27 ms at 3 T, P < 0.01) and the bound water
of human bone decreased by 21% (from 0.42 ms at 1.5 T to 0.33 ms at 3 T, P < 0.01) at the higher field strength. The free water
of bovine bone decreased by 50% (from 4.23 ms at 1.5 T to 2.12 ms at 3 T, P < 0.001) and the free water
of human bone decreased by 68% (from 7.65 ms at 1.5 T to 2.46 ms at 3 T, P < 0.001) at the higher field strength. Bound and free water fractions showed only minor change with field strength in bovine (< 2%, P > 0.05) and human bone (< 4%, P > 0.05).ConclusionUltrashort echo time bi‐component analysis provides consistent bound and free water fractions at 1.5 T and 3 T, thereby allowing field‐independent comparisons. Magn Reson Med 71:1075–1081, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assessment of slope stability in cohesive soils due to a rainfall
Authors: Pietruszczak S. , Haghighat E. 
Published: April 2013

SUMMARYThe primary focus in this work is on proposing a methodology for the assessment of stability of natural/engineered slopes in clayey soils subjected to water infiltration. In natural deposits of fine‐grained soils, the presence of water in the vicinity of minerals results in an interparticle bonding. This effect cannot be easily quantified as it involves complex chemical interactions at the micromechanical level. Here, the evolution of strength properties, including the apparent cohesion resulting from initial suction at the irreducible fluid saturation, is described by employing the framework of chemoplasticity. The paper provides first the formulation of the problem; this involves specification of the constitutive relation, development of an implicit return mapping scheme, and the outline of a coupled transient formulation. The framework is then applied to examine the stability of a slope subjected to a prolonged period of intensive rainfall. It is shown that the water infiltration may trigger the loss of stability resulting from the degradation of material properties. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finding the extreme Z‐eigenvalues of tensors via a sequential semidefinite programming method
Authors: Hu Shenglong , Huang Zheng‐Hai , Qi Liqun 
Published: April 2013

SUMMARYIn this paper, we first introduce the tensor conic linear programming (TCLP), which is a generalization of the space TCLP. Then an approximation method, by using a sequence of semidefinite programming problems, is proposed to solve the TCLP. In particular, we reformulate the extreme Z‐eigenvalue problem as a special TCLP. It gives a numerical algorithm to compute the extreme Z‐eigenvalue of an even order tensor with dimension larger than three, which improves the literature. Numerical experiments show the efficiency of the proposed method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The geographic concentration of us adult obesity prevalence and associated social, economic, and environmental factors
Authors: Slack Tim , Myers Candice A. , Martin Corby K. , Heymsfield Steven B. 
Published: April 2013

ObjectiveThis study used spatial statistical methods to test the hypotheses that county‐level adult obesity prevalence in the United States is (1) regionally concentrated at significant levels, and (2) linked to local‐level factors, after controlling for state‐level effects.MethodsData were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other secondary sources. The units of analysis were counties. The dependent variable was the age‐adjusted percentage of adults who were obese in 2009 (body mass index >30 kg/m2).ResultsThe prevalence of county‐level obesity varied from 13.5% to 47.9% with a mean of 30.3%. Obesity prevalence across counties was not spatially random: 15.8% belonged to high‐obesity regions and 13.5% belonged to low‐obesity regions. Obesity was positively associated with unemployment, outpatient healthcare visits, physical inactivity, female‐headed families, black populations, and less education. Obesity was negatively correlated with physician numbers, natural amenities, percent ≥65 years, Hispanic populations, and larger population size. A number of variables were notable for not reaching significance after controlling for other factors, including poverty and food environment measures.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate the importance of local‐level factors in explaining geographic variation in obesity prevalence, and thus hold implications for geographically targeted interventions to combat the obesity epidemic.
The significance of the second trimester sonographic soft markers in pregnancies after normal first trimester screening
Authors: Kaijomaa Marja , Ulander Veli‐Matti , Ryynanen Markku , Stefanovic Vedran 
Published: April 2013

What's already known about this topic?

Fetuses with soft markers have slightly increased risk of aneuploidy in high‐risk pregnancies. The value of soft markers after normal first trimester screening in general obstetric population is still conflicting.What does this study add?

Soft markers have very limited or no value in screening for aneuploidy in singleton pregnancies after normal first trimester screening and without a priori high‐risk for aneuploidy.
Brand name or generic? What are the health professionals prescribed for treating diabetes? A longitudinal analysis of the National Health Insurance reimbursement database
Authors: Liou Wen‐Shyong , Hsieh Shu‐Ching , Chang Wai‐Yuan , Wu Grace Hui‐Min , Huang Hsu‐Shan , Lee Chuanfang 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis study aimed to explore whether physicians prescribe more brand‐name oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) for diabetic patients with medical training background (MP) than for general patients (GP).Research design and methodsA longitudinal analysis of 1 000 000 National Health Insurance cohorts of 1998–2008 was conducted. Univariate and multivariate models were performed to assess the associations of the outcome (the ratio of brand‐name/generic odds in the MP group to that in the GP group) and the covariates, including patient medical training background, characteristics of patient, prescriber, and medical settings, and market competition. A generalized estimating equation method was used to control the dependency of longitudinal data.ResultsA total of 46 850 diabetic patients were prescribed with 2 703 149 OHA prescriptions during the study period. Compared with GP, MP had 1.37 times greater odds of being prescribed with brand‐name instead of generic OHA, among whom pharmacists and physicians had the highest odds ratios of 2.78 (95%CI, 1.05–7.36) and 1.68 (95%CI, 0.99–2.85), respectively. Patients' diabetes severity, prescribers' level of experience, medical settings that were publicly owned, had a higher accreditation level, and were located in a higher urbanized area, lower market competition, and earlier dates of prescription were positively associated with brand‐name prescription. Among all medical sub‐specialties, cardiologists were more likely to prescribe brand‐name OHA.ConclusionsThis study is the first to demonstrate how a patients' medical training background, in addition to the characteristics of patients, prescribers, and medical settings, and market competition might influence physicians' prescribing choice of brand‐name or generic OHA. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simulation study to compare three self‐controlled case series approaches: correction for violation of assumption and evaluation of bias
Authors: Hua Wei , Sun Guoying , Dodd Caitlin N. , Romio Silvana A. , Whitaker Heather J. , Izurieta Hector S. , Black Steven , Sturkenboom Miriam C. J. M. , Davis Robert L. , Deceuninck Genevieve , Andrews N. J. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTPurposeThe assumption that the occurrence of outcome event must not alter subsequent exposure probability is critical for preserving the validity of the self‐controlled case series (SCCS) method. This assumption is violated in scenarios in which the event constitutes a contraindication for exposure. In this simulation study, we compared the performance of the standard SCCS approach and two alternative approaches when the event‐independent exposure assumption was violated.MethodsUsing the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines and Guillain‐Barré syndrome as a model, we simulated a scenario in which an individual may encounter multiple unordered exposures and each exposure may be contraindicated by the occurrence of outcome event. The degree of contraindication was varied at 0%, 50%, and 100%. The first alternative approach used only cases occurring after exposure with follow‐up time starting from exposure. The second used a pseudo‐likelihood method.ResultsWhen the event‐independent exposure assumption was satisfied, the standard SCCS approach produced nearly unbiased relative incidence estimates. When this assumption was partially or completely violated, two alternative SCCS approaches could be used. While the post‐exposure cases only approach could handle only one exposure, the pseudo‐likelihood approach was able to correct bias for both exposures.ConclusionsViolation of the event‐independent exposure assumption leads to an overestimation of relative incidence which could be corrected by alternative SCCS approaches. In multiple exposure situations, the pseudo‐likelihood approach is optimal; the post‐exposure cases only approach is limited in handling a second exposure and may introduce additional bias, thus should be used with caution. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isotactic poly(propylene‐co‐1‐pentene‐co‐1‐hexene) terpolymers: Synthesis, molecular characterization, and evidence of the trigonal polymorph
Authors: García‐Peñas Alberto , Gómez‐Elvira José M. , Pérez Ernesto , Cerrada María L. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTTerpolymers based on propylene with 1‐pentene and 1‐hexene as comonomeric units are satisfactorily synthesized using a metallocene catalyst. Thus, several terpolymers are prepared with distinct overall compositions in comonomers as well as three different 1‐pentene/1‐hexene ratios at a given composition to evaluate the influence on polymerization activity, intrinsic viscosity, and microstructural details. The new trigonal δ polymorph is observed in those quenched terpolymers with a global content in comonomers of about 14 mol %, independently of the ratio between both comonomers. However, preliminary results indicate a profound influence of that ratio on the crystallization rate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3251–3259
Nonlinear depression of the lower critical solution temperatures in aqueous solutions of thermo‐sensitive random copolymers
Authors: Kojima Hiroyuki , Tanaka Fumihiko 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTWe develop a theoretical model of cooperative hydration to clarify the molecular origin of the observed nonlinear depression of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in the aqueous solutions of thermosensitive random copolymers and find the monomer composition at which LCST shows a minimum. Phase diagrams of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐N,N‐diethylacrylamide) copolymer solutions are theoretically derived on the basis of the theory of cooperative hydration by introducing the microscopic structure parameter η which characterizes the distribution of the monomer sequences along the chains. We compared them with the experimental data of LCST of random copolymers with various monomer compositions and also of the diblock copolymers with equimolar monomer composition. The transition temperature shifts to lower than those of homopolymer counterparts when the monomer sequence of the chains has an alternative tendency. On the contrary, for the blocky polymers such as diblock copolymers, the transition temperature remains almost the same as those of the homopolymers. Thus, the nonlinear effect in phase separation appears when the average block length of the copolymers is shorter than the average sequence length of the cooperative hydration. The degree of hydration is calculated as a function of the temperature and polymer concentration for varied distribution of the copolymer compositions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1112–1123