bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A role for the DtxR family of metalloregulators in gram‐positive pathogenesis
Authors: Merchant A.T. , Spatafora G.A. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryGiven the central role of transition metal ions in a variety of biochemical processes, the colonization, survival, and proliferation of a bacterium within a host hinges upon its ability to overcome the metal ion deprivation that characterizes nutritional immunity. Metalloregulatory, or ‘metal‐sensing’ proteins have evolved in bacteria to mediate metal ion homeostasis by activating or repressing the expression of genes encoding metal ion transport systems upon binding their cognate metal ion. Yet increasing evidence in the literature supports an additional role for these metalloregulatory proteins in pathogenesis. Herein, we survey studies on the DtxR family of metalloregulators, namely DtxR (Cornyebacterium diphtheriae), SloR (Streptococcus mutans), MtsR (Streptococcus pyogenes), and MntR (Staphylococcus aureus) to describe how metalloregulation enables adaptive virulence gene expression within the mammalian host. This research has important implications for drug design, as the generation of hyper‐repressive metalloregulatory proteins may represent a mechanism by which to attenuate bacterial pathogenicity. The fact that metalloregulators are unique to prokaryotes makes these proteins especially attractive therapeutic targets.
Jobs, Institutions, and Beneficial Retirement
Authors: Lang Gerald 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAccording to Saul Smilansky's ‘Paradox of Beneficial Retirement’, many serving members of professions may have decisive integrity‐based reasons for retiring immediately. The Paradox of Beneficial Retirement holds that a below‐par performance in one's job does not require any outright incompetence, but may take a purely relational form, in which a good performance is not good enough if it would be improved upon by someone else who would be appointed instead. It is argued, in response, that jobs in the sectors Smilansky mentions are not merely positions to optimize the goals of the profession, but are professional careers in which there is the possibility of security and personal fulfilment. The article also explores connections between Smilansky's argument and G. A. Cohen's anti‐incentives argument against Rawls. It is suggested that both thinkers underappreciate the relationship between personal reasons and institutional reasons.
Cryptococcosis as an emerging systemic mycosis in dogs
Authors: Vorathavorn Victoria I. , Sykes Jane E. , Feldman David G. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo review the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical presentations of canine cryptococcosis that are of relevance to veterinary emergency and critical care veterinarians. Diagnosis, treatment, and public health considerations of the disease will also be discussed.EtiologyCryptococcosis is a multisystemic disease of dogs, with a predilection for the CNS, caused by encapsulated yeast species of the genus Cryptococcus. The 2 main pathogenic species are Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii (previously known as C. neoformans var. gattii). Cryptococcosis is an emerging disease in North America, with C. gattii gaining prominence as a cause of serious veterinary and human disease.DiagnosisDefinitive diagnosis is made by serologic (antigen) testing, culture, and identification of the organism using light microscopy. False negatives and false positives, while uncommon, can occur in dogs using commercially available antigen tests. Cytological examination demonstrates the organism in a majority of cases, although culture is more sensitive. Specific media are required to differentiate between C. neoformans and C. gattii.TherapyThe most commonly used antifungal drugs to treat canine cryptococcosis are azole antifungals and amphotericin B. Some strains of Cryptococcus are resistant to antifungal drugs, especially fluconazole. Cautious use of glucocorticoids in critically affected dogs with CNS presentations can improve outcome.PrognosisPrognosis is variable and depends on the severity of disease, underlying host immunocompetence, and financial constraints of the owner. Altered mental status in dogs with CNS cryptococcosis is a negative prognostic indicator.
α1,3Galactosyltransferase knockout pigs produce the natural anti‐Gal antibody and simulate the evolutionary appearance of this antibody in primates
Authors: Galili Uri 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundAnti‐Gal is the most abundant natural antibody in humans and Old World primates (apes and Old World monkeys). Its ligand, the α‐gal epitope (Galα1‐3Galβ1‐4GlcNAc‐R), is abundant in nonprimate mammals, prosimians and New World monkeys whereas it is absent in humans and Old World primates as a result of inactivation of the α1,3galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) gene in ancestral Old World primates, as recent as 20–28 million years ago. Since anti‐Gal has been a “forbidden” autoantibody for >140 million years of evolution in mammals producing α‐gal epitopes it was of interest to determine whether ancestral Old World primates could produce anti‐Gal once α‐gal epitopes were eliminated, i.e. did they carry anti‐Gal encoding immunoglobulin genes, or did evolutionary selection eliminate these genes that may be detrimental in mammals synthesizing α‐gal epitopes. This question was studied by evaluating anti‐Gal prodution in α1,3GT knockout (GT‐KO) pigs recently generated from wild‐type pigs in which the α‐gal epitope is a major self‐antigen.MethodsAnti‐Gal antibody activity in pig sera was assessed by ELISA, flow cytometry and complement mediated cytolysis and compared to that in human sera.ResultsThe study demonstrates abundant production of the natural anti‐Gal antibody in GT‐KO pigs at titers even higher than in humans. The fine specificity of GT‐KO pig anti‐Gal is identical to that of human anti‐Gal.ConclusionsPigs and probably other mammals producing α‐gal epitopes carry immunoglobulin genes encoding anti‐Gal as an autoantibody. Once the α‐gal epitope is eliminated in GT‐KO pigs, they produce anti‐Gal. These findings strongly suggest that similar to GT‐KO pigs, inactivation of the α1,3GT gene in ancestral Old World primates enabled the immediate production of anti‐Gal, possibly as a protective antibody against detrimental microbial agents carrying α‐gal epitopes.
THE LEGACY OF GORDON KAUFMAN: THEOLOGICAL METHOD AND ITS PRAGMATIC NORMS
Authors: Soneson Jerome P. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractI argue that the most significant contribution and legacy of Gordon Kaufman's work rests in his theological method. I limit my discussion to his methodological starting point, his concept of human nature, as he develops it in his book, In Face of Mystery. I show the relevance of this starting point for cultural and theological criticism by arguing two points: first, that this starting point embraces religious and cultural pluralism at its center, providing a framework for intercultural and interreligious discussion and cooperation, and second, that Kaufman's interpretation of religion that emerges out of this starting point embodies pragmatic criteria for evaluating and reconstructing alternative cultural and religious worldviews, so that they may function more adequately within the changing contexts of life.
LAW AND ETHICS IN ISLAMIC BIOETHICS: NONMALEFICENCE IN ISLAMIC PATERNITY REGULATIONS
Authors: Shabana Ayman 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn Islamic law paternity is treated as a consequence of a licit sexual relationship. Since DNA testing makes a clear distinction between legal and biological paternity possible, it challenges the continued correlation between paternity and marriage. This article explores the foundations of paternity regulations in the Islamic ethico‐legal tradition, with a particular focus on what is termed here “the licit sex principle,” and investigates the extent to which a harm‐based argument can be made either by appeal to or against Islamic paternity regulations. It argues that in Islamic bioethics the definition of harm and its boundaries is a function of both: (1) identification of legal and religious rights and the extent to which these rights are violated; and (2) balancing and reconciling perceived harm against both specific principles in relation to a given issue and also the overarching objectives of Islamic law. The article is divided into three main sections addressing the Islamic legal, ethical, and bioethical dimensions of paternity.
Going on Location Study for a Jack-Up Rig
Authors: Chakrabarti Partha 
Published: August 2013

A jack-up rig is in a floating condition in contrast with its elevated condition when it is on a field tow and going on or off location. In these conditions it is floating on its hull and is subjected to the sea waves like any other floating structure.
This paper investigates the behavior of a jack-up when it is going to a new location and lowers its legs for an eventual touch down at the seabed.
When a jack-up unit is in a transit condition either during a field move or during ocean tow, there is always a probability that it could be subjected to a storm. At a specific drilling location it has to lower its legs till touchdown. Although the operation is supposed to be performed in relatively calm weather, due to weather uncertainties it may not be possible to avoid some waves at the location. The mechanics of motions and loads imposed on the legs during this condition and the consequences of this on leg safety prior to touchdown has been previously examined in a paper by the author (OTC 7838, 1995) [1].
When the jack-up rig has to go off the location it has to extricate its legs while floating on the hull. During this process also it could be subjected to weather and consequent strength issues of the leg. This was examined in a previous paper (OMAE2007-29083) [2] by the author.
This paper intends to examine the in-between situation when the jack-up legs are at the point of touch down and being contacted by the seabed soil. In this condition if there is some wave, bottom impact would occur at the tip of spud can (TOC) due to the rig motions. The TOC would have both horizontal and vertical motions due to the wave. The magnitude of these motions, in addition to the wave height and period, would depend on the hull characteristics and the length of leg below the hull which is dictated by the water depth. When the TOC impacts the bottom, the resistance force will depend on the soil stiffness characteristics which vary with the soil type. The soil load-deformation behavior being non-linear makes the problem more complex. When the leg impacts the soil it sets up vibrations of the leg which depend on the mass of the leg and the spudcan and the leg length below the hull.
This paper analyses the problem for a given jack-up and finally recommends the limiting wave and motion condition for that unit. The limit depends on the leg length, wave period and soil properties. In this study, motions analyses of the floating structure are performed followed by non-linear dynamic analyses for the impact. This analysis is done for a few water depths and soil conditions to get an insight into the complex dynamic behavior. The limiting condition is compared with the traditional DNV criteria (Classification Notes 31.5) [3] usually followed by the industry.
The author believes that the methodology and results reported in this paper for a specific jack-up will help to understand the behavior of other jack-ups for a site specific condition as the same design methodology can be applied. This may lead to a more rational design and operational guidelines than available at present.
Experimental Studies of a Floating Cylindrical OWC WEC
Authors: Sheng Wanan , Flannery Brian , Lewis Anthony , Alcorn Raymond 
Published: August 2013

Oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converters (WECs) are a popular type of wave energy devices, due to their advantages over many other WECs. For example, OWC WECs normally have no moving components in sea water, and have a small torque and a high rotational speed for a certain power take-off. Practically, some foundation-type pioneer plants of OWC WECs have been very successful in generating electricity to grids continuously. In order to obtain higher yields of wave energy production, it is proposed to move the OWC WECs to open and deep water regions, and for the purposes of economics and reliability, the OWC WECs are designed to be floating devices, with a potential of utilizing the device motions to improve wave energy conversion capacity. To further understand the OWC WEC performances in waves, a floating cylindrical OWC has been designed and tested in an ocean wave tank. In the model test, five different size orifices are designed to represent different damping levels of the air flow. In the experimental study, a systematic series of tests in both regular and irregular waves has been conducted to help understand the hydrodynamics and aerodynamics of the generic OWC device.
In the model test, the interior water surface motion and the pressure in the air chamber are measured and based on them the primary power take-off by the device can be calculated. Alternatively, the power take-off can be calculated by the pressure measurement only or by the interior water surface measurement only due to the unique relation of the pressure drop and the airflow passing through the orifices. In addition, in the experiment, the motions of the floating structure have also been measured, from which it is possible to correlate the motions and the wave energy extraction.
As expected, the orifices exhibit a quadratic non-linear relation between pressure and the flowrate. Though simple, the orifice power take-off system may exhibit a similar flow feature to that of an impulse turbine, thus an appropriate model to the impulse turbine.
Potential Galloping Motions of Piggyback Pipeline Geometries in Strong Currents
Authors: Elegbede Adeshina , Gudmestad Ove T. 
Published: August 2013

Piggyback configurations of pipelines, such as a Direct Electrical Heating (DEH) cable mounted on production flowlines, are becoming a common occurrence in the offshore oil and gas industry and they have been observed to excite into a type of flow-induced vibration called galloping in the presence of strong currents at free span locations.
This work was aimed at studying potential flow induced galloping vibrations of piggyback type of pipelines commonly used on offshore installations in the oil and gas industry. Tests were carried out in a 12m long, 0.7m wide and 1.2m deep current flume tank located at the NTNU/SINTEF Hydrodynamic Laboratory in Trondheim, Norway. The tank has a test rig with cylinders suspended horizontally on a set of springs mounted on it. Reduced velocities were ranging from 4 to 15, depending on the equivalent diameter of the piggyback pair.
In this experimental work, the effects of different diameter ratios and the angle of attack of the flow on the cylinders arranged normal to the flow were investigated. Three different diameter ratio cases were investigated: D+0.5D, D+0.32D and D+0.25D. Attack angles 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150° and 180° were tested for these 3 diameter ratios giving a total of 21 test cases.
The results obtained show that, for all cases of diameters ratios, high response amplitude ratios, as high as 1.7, can occur at reduced velocities less than 10 when the angle of attack is at 90°. It was also observed that vibrations that are characteristic of galloping instabilities occurred at an attack angle of 180° for the D+0.5D and the D+0.32D configurations. For the D+0.25D case, the response amplitudes were similar to a VIV situation. Comparing the response of the different diameter ratios show that the largest pipeline to piggyback ratio gives the largest responses for all attack angles.
Qualification of Unbonded Dynamic Riser With Carbon Fiber Composite Armours
Authors: Lambert Anaïs , Do Anh-Tuan , Felix-Henry Antoine , Grosjean François 
Published: August 2013

The development of Ultra Deep Water (UDW) oil and gas fields, down to 3000 m and beyond, requires high specification flowline and riser systems. At these depths, the flexible pipes must withstand high axial loads and severe dynamic loadings generated by currents, waves and vessel motions. Moreover, the constraints generated by the dynamic loadings are often combined to corrosion issues linked to the presence of CO2 and H2S. In case of sour service application, the structural layers of a classical flexible pipe require the use of steel with reduced mechanical properties compared to a sweet service application. The combination of UDW and sour service applications consequently lead to a riser design of considerable top tension.
The main challenges of such applications are the suspended weight and the fatigue / corrosion performances.
Carbon fiber composite have demonstrated high specific strength and outstanding corrosion and fatigue damage resistance. The use of carbon fiber composite instead of conventional steel for the tensile armour layers of flexible pipes represents a great alternative for the development of UDW applications combined with sour service conditions.
Technip has been engaged for a number of years in the development and qualification program of Carbon Fiber Composite (CFC) Armour. In 2011, an important step has been passed with the successful realization of a full-scale tension-flexion dynamic test.
The program of the full-scale dynamic test is based on a representative Brazilian offshore project, a typical UDW application. The CFC prototype structure was designed considering a 9” gas export riser installed at a water depth of 2140m, in free hanging configuration. The riser is made of 2 parts: a top riser with CFC armours and a bottom riser with steel armours.
1.8 millions of cycles were performed without damage, combining internal pressure, tensile loading and bending cycling. The whole test was monitored by acoustic emission to detect the potential damage of the CFC armours.
After explaining the advantages of CFC structures compared to traditional steel structures, the paper will focus on the realization of the full-scale dynamic test program. It will detail the design and manufacture of the prototype structure, the construction of the test program representative of the offshore conditions first and then extended to more severe loadings. The paper will also present fatigue analysis and the construction of the CFC fatigue curves.
Optimization of Short-Crested Deterministic Wave Sequences via a Phase-Amplitude Iteration Scheme
Authors: Schmittner Christian , Hennig Janou 
Published: August 2013

For the deterministic investigation of rare phenomena like capsizing, broaching or wave impacts, methods for the generation of deterministic wave sequences are required. These wave sequences can be derived from full scale measurements, numerical simulations or other sources. Most methods for the generation of deterministic wave sequences rely as a backbone on linear wave theory for the upstream transformation of the wave train from the target position in the wave basin to the position of the wave maker. This implies that nonlinear wave effects are not covered to a full extend or completely neglected.
This paper presents the extension of a method for the generation of deterministic waves presented during OMAE 2009. The method improves the quality of the generated wave train via an experimental optimization. Based on a first wave sequence generated with linear wave theory and measured in the wave basin, the phases and amplitudes of the wave maker control signal are modified in frequency domain. The iteration scheme corrects for both shifts in time and in location resulting in an improved deterministic wave train at the target location. The method is extended to short-crested seas. The paper includes results of this method applied to a 3D wave basin.
Benefits of Ultrasonic Peening Treatment in Fatigue Improvement of Welded Elements
Authors: Kleiman Jacob , Kudryavtsev Yuri , Lugovskoy Alexander 
Published: August 2013

The Ultrasonic Peening (UP) is one of new and promising processes for fatigue life improvement of welded elements and structures. During the different stages of its development the UP process was also known as ultrasonic treatment (UT), ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT), ultrasonic impact peening (UIP). The beneficial effect of UP is achieved mainly by relieving of harmful tensile residual stresses and introducing of compressive residual stresses into surface layers of material, decreasing of stress concentration in weld toe zones and enhancement of mechanical properties of the surface layers of the material.
The results of fatigue testing of welded elements made of regular and high strength steels in as-welded condition and after application of UP will be presented. The yield strength of considered materials varied from 250–350 MPa to 700–1000 MPa. It is shown that UP is the most effective and economic technique for increasing of fatigue strength of welded elements in materials of different strength. These results also show a strong tendency of increased fatigue strength of welded elements after application of UP with the increase in mechanical properties of the material used. It allows using to a greater degree the advantages of the HSS in welded elements, subjected to fatigue loading.
Dynamic Selection of Ship Responses for Estimation of On-Site Directional Wave Spectra
Authors: Vincent Andersen Ingrid Marie , Storhaug Gaute 
Published: August 2013

Knowledge of the wave environment in which a ship is operating is crucial for most on-board decision support systems. Previous research has shown that the directional wave spectrum can be estimated by the use of measured global ship responses and a set of transfer functions determined for the specific ship. The approach can either be based on parametric or Bayesian (non-parametric) modelling, and in both cases a set of three ship responses usually provides the best estimation. The optimal response combination of three responses at any time depends on the environmental conditions and the operation of the ship. Since measurements of more than three responses are usually available, a quick, dynamic selection procedure of the three signals best suited for the wave spectrum estimation procedure is essential.
In the present paper the concept of a selection method based on a simple pre-estimate of the wave spectrum is suggested. The selection method needs to be robust for what reason a parameterised uni-directional, two-parameter wave spectrum is treated. The parameters included are the zero up-crossing period, the significant wave height and the main wave direction relative to the ship’s heading. The procedure basically seeks to minimise the difference between a set of spectral moments derived from a measured response spectrum and the corresponding response spectrum calculated from the parameterised wave spectrum and the transfer function for any given response. Subsequently, the three responses with the best overall agreement are selected for the actual estimation of the directional wave spectrum.
The transfer functions for the ship responses can be determined using different computational methods such as striptheory, 3D panel codes, closed form expressions or model tests. The uncertainty associated with transfer functions depends on the computational method used, relative heading, frequency and type of response. This uncertainty is conceptually taken into account in the selection procedure using the First Order Reliability Method (FORM).
However, specific assessment of the uncertainties has not been carried out, but is subject to later studies.