bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydrodynamic Simulation and Optimization of an Oil Skimmer
Authors: Ni Shaoyu , Qiu Wei , Zhang Anran , Prior David 
Published: November 2013

Oil spills can cause severe environmental damage. In-situ burning or chemical dispersant methods can be used in many situations; however these methods are highly toxic and fail in slightly rough seas. In-situ burning also has to begin very quickly before the lighter, flammable components in the oil evaporate. Oil recovery techniques have also been developed to recover oil using skimmer equipment installed in ships. The challenges arise when a vessel is operated in heavy sea and current conditions. An oil skimmer has recently been developed by the Extreme Spill Technology (EST) Inc. for automated oil recovery using a vacuum device installed in a vessel. Initial tests have shown that the prototype vessel is efficient in oil recovery and it can potentially achieve high recovery efficiency in rough seas of both deepwater and shallow water.
The paper presents the numerical and experimental studies of the hydrodynamic performance of the vacuum tower installed in the oil skimmer developed by EST. The process of oil recovery by the vacuum mechanism is very complicated and involves multi-phase and multi-scale moving interfaces, including oil, water, atmospheric air and attenuate compressible air on the top part of the vacuum tower, and moving interface of oil slick, oil droplets and air bubbles of different scales. The recovery process was simplified into a three-phase flow problem involving oil, water and air and simulated by using a CFD method. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was employed to capture the moving surfaces between the fluid phases. Model tests were carried out to simulate the oil recovery process. Numerical results were compared with the experimental data. Studies were also extended to optimize the geometry of the tower for maximum oil recovery.
Driveability Analysis Techniques for Offshore Pile Installations
Authors: Webster Scott , Robinson Brent 
Published: November 2013

Pile driveability analyses for offshore platforms require a unique set of criteria, which may not normally be associated with other pile foundation installations. The selected hammers, pile makeup details and soil profile must be carefully reviewed, as these factors will determine if pile installations will be successful. The most important of the variables to establish is the expected Soil Resistance to Driving (SRD). Common practice is to relate the SRD to the Static Soil Resistance (SSR) which is normally provided based upon the American Petroleum Institute (API) methods of calculation or some variance based upon local site conditions and experience. In addition, due to the substantial use of hydraulic hammers hammer operating energies must be selected such that pile driving can be accomplished while avoiding pile damage.
Current procedures used for driveability analysis will be provided and the methods of parameter selection discussed in detail. These procedures, which have been used on several offshore projects in various offshore fields around the world, will be presented with the original driveability analysis and the recorded pile installation records. A method to determine the expected SRD will be discussed based upon the experience collected from these sites which are in numerous offshore fields worldwide. Four Case Studies are shown to validate the described methodology.
Prosodic Marking, Pitch and Intensity in Spontaneous Lexical Self-Repair in Dutch
Authors: Plug Leendert , Carter Paul 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
This paper presents results of a phonetic analysis of instances of lexical selfrepair drawn from a corpus of spontaneous Dutch speech. The analysis addresses questions concerning the phonetic details of prosodic marking in self-repair and its conditioning factors. In particular, it examines the relevance of semantic, temporal and frequency-related factors in modelling f0 and intensity measures and auditory judgements of whether repairs are prosodically marked. It addresses the extent to which observations made in studies using experimentally-elicited speech can be expected to generalise to repairs drawn from uncontrolled spontaneous speech. The results suggest that prosodic marking is rare in spontaneous lexical self-repair, and that semantic, temporal and frequency factors play a limited role only in conditioning speakers' choices for or against prosodic marking, although several weak tendencies can be observed.
HOXC9 directly regulates distinct sets of genes to coordinate diverse cellular processes during neuronal differentiation
Authors: Wang Xiangwei , Choi Jeong-Hyeon , Ding Jane , Yang Liqun , Ngoka Lambert C , Lee Eun J , Zha Yunhong , Mao Ling , Jin Bilian , Ren Mingqiang , Cowell John , Huang Shuang , Shi Huidong , Cui Hongjuan , Ding Han-Fei 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Cellular differentiation is characterized by the acquisition of specialized structures and functions, cell cycle exit, and global attenuation of the DNA damage response. It is largely unknown how these diverse cellular events are coordinated at the molecular level during differentiation. We addressed this question in a model system of neuroblastoma cell differentiation induced by HOXC9.

Results
We conducted a genome-wide analysis of the HOXC9-induced neuronal differentiation program. Microarray gene expression profiling revealed that HOXC9-induced differentiation was associated with transcriptional regulation of 2,370 genes, characterized by global upregulation of neuronal genes and downregulation of cell cycle and DNA repair genes. Remarkably, genome-wide mapping by ChIP-seq demonstrated that HOXC9 bound to 40% of these genes, including a large number of genes involved in neuronal differentiation, cell cycle progression and the DNA damage response. Moreover, we showed that HOXC9 interacted with the transcriptional repressor E2F6 and recruited it to the promoters of cell cycle genes for repressing their expression.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that HOXC9 coordinates diverse cellular processes associated with differentiation by directly activating and repressing the transcription of distinct sets of genes.
Adjunctive aerosolized colistin for multi-drug resistant gram-negative pneumonia in the critically ill: a retrospective study
Authors: Doshi Neha M , Cook Charles H , Mount Kari L , Stawicki Stanislaw P , Frazee Erin N , Personett Heather A , Schramm Garrett E , Arnold Heather M , Murphy Claire V 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
The incidence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative (GN) organisms including Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp has increased in the last decade, prompting re-evaluation of colistin for the management of these infections. Aerosolized colistin as an adjunct to intravenous therapy is a current option for the management of MDR-GN pneumonia, although data supporting this practice is limited. This study evaluates the efficacy of adjunctive aerosolized colistin in combination with intravenous colistin in critically ill patients with MDR-GN pneumonia.

Methods
A retrospective multi-center cohort analysis comparing critically ill patients with MDR-GN pneumonia who received intravenous colistin (IV) alone or in combination with adjunctive aerosolized colistin (IV/AER) with a primary endpoint of clinical cure at the end of colistin therapy. Secondary endpoints included microbiologic cure, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and hospital mortality. A post-hoc subgroup analysis was performed for patients with high quality cultures used for diagnosis of MDR-GN pneumonia. Dichotomous data were compared using Fisher’s exact test while the student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U test were used for continuous variables.

Results
Ninety-five patients met criteria for evaluation with 51 patients receiving IV and 44 receiving IV/AER. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Twenty patients (39.2%) receiving IV and 24 (54.5%) receiving IV/AER achieved clinical cure (p = 0.135). There was no difference in microbiologic cure rates between the IV and IV/AER colistin groups (40.7vs. 44.4%, p = 0.805). The IV group demonstrated a trend towards higher pneumonia attributable mortality (70.4 vs. 40%, p = 0.055). In the subgroup analysis of patients with high quality respiratory cultures, there was a significantly lower clinical cure rate for those in the IV group as compared to the IV/AER group (31.3 vs. 57.1%, p = 0.033).

Conclusions
Addition of aerosolized colistin to IV colistin may improve clinical cure and mortality for patients with MDR-GN pneumonia. Larger, prospective trials are warranted to confirm the benefit of adjunctive aerosolized colistin in critically ill patients with MDR-GN pneumonia.
Vitamin D-responsive SGPP2 variants associated with lung cell expression and lung function
Authors: Reardon Brian J , Hansen Joyanna G , Crystal Ronald G , Houston Denise K , Kritchevsky Stephen B , Harris Tamara , Lohman Kurt , Liu Yongmei , O’Connor George T , Wilk Jemma B , Mezey Jason , Gao Chuan , Cassano Patricia A 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Vitamin D is associated with lung health in epidemiologic studies, but mechanisms mediating observed associations are poorly understood. This study explores mechanisms for an effect of vitamin D in lung through an in vivo gene expression study, an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis in lung tissue, and a population-based cohort study of sequence variants.

Methods
Microarray analysis investigated the association of gene expression in small airway epithelial cells with serum 25(OH)D in adult non-smokers. Sequence variants in candidate genes identified by the microarray were investigated in a lung tissue eQTL database, and also in relation to cross-sectional pulmonary function in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study, stratified by race, with replication in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).

Results
13 candidate genes had significant differences in expression by serum 25(OH)D (nominal p < 0.05), and a genome-wide significant eQTL association was detected for SGPP2. In Health ABC, SGPP2 SNPs were associated with FEV1 in both European- and African-Americans, and the gene-level association was replicated in European-American FHS participants. SNPs in 5 additional candidate genes (DAPK1, FSTL1, KAL1, KCNS3, and RSAD2) were associated with FEV1 in Health ABC participants.

Conclusions

SGPP2, a sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase, is a novel vitamin D-responsive gene associated with lung function. The identified associations will need to be followed up in further studies.
St Gallen molecular subtypes in primary breast cancer and matched lymph node metastases - aspects on distribution and prognosis for patients with luminal A tumours: results from a prospective randomised trial
Authors: Falck Anna-Karin , Fernö Mårten , Bendahl Pär-Ola , Rydén Lisa 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
The St Gallen surrogate molecular subtype definitions classify the oestrogen (ER) positive breast cancer into the luminal A and luminal B subtypes according to proliferation rate and/or expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with differences in prognosis and chemo-responsiveness. Primary tumours and lymph node metastases might represent different malignant clones, but in the clinical setting only the biomarker profile of the primary tumour is used for selection of adjuvant systemic treatment. The present study aimed to classify primary breast tumours and matched lymph node metastases into luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes and compare the distributions.

Methods
Eighty-five patients with available tumour tissue from both locations were classified. The distribution of molecular subtypes in primary tumours and corresponding lymph node metastases were compared, and related to 5-year distant disease-free survival (DDFS).

Results
The St Gallen molecular subtypes were discordant between primary tumours and matched lymph node metastases in 11% of the patients (p = 0.06). The luminal A subtype in the primary tumour shifted to a subtype with a worse prognostic profile in the lymph node metastases in 7 of 45 cases (16%) whereas no shift in the opposite direction was observed (0/38) (p = 0.02). All subtypes had an increased hazard for developing distant metastasis during the first 5 years after diagnosis in both primary breast tumours and matched lymph node metastases, compared with the luminal A subtype.

Conclusion
The classification according to the St Gallen molecular subtypes in primary tumours and matched lymph node metastases, implicates a shift to a more aggressive subtype in synchronous lymph node metastases compared to the primary breast tumour. The selection of systemic adjuvant therapy might benefit from taking the molecular subtypes in the metastatic node into account.
Children’s sedentary behaviour: descriptive epidemiology and associations with objectively-measured sedentary time
Authors: Klitsie Tessa , Corder Kirsten , Visscher Tommy LS , Atkin Andrew J , Jones Andrew P , van Sluijs Esther MF 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Little is known regarding the patterning and socio-demographic distribution of multiple sedentary behaviours in children. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe the leisure-time sedentary behaviour of 9–10 year old British children, and 2) establish associations with objectively-measured sedentary time.

Methods
Cross-sectional analysis in the SPEEDY study (Sport, Physical activity and Eating behaviour: Environmental Determinants in Young people) (N=1513, 44.3% boys). Twelve leisure-time sedentary behaviours were assessed by questionnaire. Objectively-measured leisure-time sedentary time (Actigraph GT1M, <100 counts/minute) was assessed over 7 days. Differences by sex and socioeconomic status (SES) in self-reported sedentary behaviours were tested using Kruskal-Wallis tests. The association between objectively-measured sedentary time and the separate sedentary behaviours (continuous (minutes) and categorised into 'none’ 'low’ or 'high’ participation) was assessed using multi-level linear regression.

Results
Sex differences were observed for time spent in most sedentary behaviours (all p ≤ 0.02), except computer use. Girls spent more time in combined non-screen sedentary behaviour (median, interquartile range: girls: 770.0 minutes, 390.0-1230.0; boys: 725.0, 365.0 - 1182.5; p = 0.003), whereas boys spent more time in screen-based behaviours (girls: 540.0, 273.0 - 1050.0; boys: 885.0, 502.5 - 1665.0; p < 0.001). Time spent in five non-screen behaviours differed by SES, with higher values in those of higher SES (all p ≤ 0.001). Regression analyses with continuous exposures indicated that reading (β = 0.1, p < 0.001) and watching television (β = 0.04, p < 0.01) were positively associated with objectively-measured sedentary time, whilst playing board games (β = -0.12, p < 0.05) was negatively associated. Analysed in categorical form, sitting and talking (vs. none: 'low’ β = 26.1,ns; 'high’ 30.9, p < 0.05), playing video games (vs. none: 'low’ β = 49.1, p < 0.01; 'high’ 60.2, p < 0.01) and watching television (vs. lowest tertile: middle β = 22.2,ns; highest β = 31.9, p < 0.05) were positively associated with objectively-measured sedentary time whereas talking on the phone (vs. none: 'low’ β = -38.5, p < 0.01; 'high’ -60.2, p < 0.01) and using a computer/internet (vs. none: 'low’ β = -30.7, p < 0.05; 'high’ -4.2,ns) were negatively associated.

Conclusions
Boys and girls and children of different socioeconomic backgrounds engage in different leisure-time sedentary behaviours. Whilst a number of behaviours may be predictive of total sedentary time, collectively they explain little overall variance. Future studies should consider a wide range of sedentary behaviours and incorporate objective measures to quantify sedentary time where possible.
Patients’ socioeconomic status and their evaluations of primary care in Hong Kong
Authors: Owolabi Onikepe , Zhang Zhenzhen , Wei Xiaolin , Yang Nan , Li Haitao , Wong Samuel YS , Wong Martin CS , Yip Winnie , Griffiths Sian M 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundStrengthening primary care is key to Hong Kong’s ongoing health system reform. Primary care remains unregulated, private sector dominated and financed mainly out-of-pocket. This study sought to examine the association between patients’ socioeconomic status (SES), source of health payments and the quality of primary care they accessed to inform policy discussions.MethodsData was collected from 1,994 respondents in a stratified random telephone survey with a 68% response rate, using the validated primary care assessment tool (PCAT). Education, household-income and type of housing were selected as indicators of SES. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were created to examine associations between indicators of SES and scores of quality.ResultsHigher household-income was most significantly associated with better experiences of quality. Respondents with HK$ 15000–39999 (USD1934-5158) and HK$ 40000 (USD5159) and above were 47% (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10-1.96) and 2 times (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.38-3.09) more likely to experience better quality than the lowest-income group respectively. Income group HK$ 40000 (USD5159) and above was 84% more likely to have better utilization (OR 1.84, 95% CI (1.21-2.78), and 2 times more likely to receive better comprehensiveness (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.26-2.87). Patients who used only private insurance were 80% (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.20-2.68) more likely to experience better quality than those who paid out-of-pocket.ConclusionsOur results show that the quality of primary care experienced in HK tended to be higher for those who had higher income and private insurance, and were able to pay out-of-pocket for the care. This indicated that the inequality in primary care is likely to be related with the private dominated primary care system in Hong Kong. More public responsibility on primary health care should be sought for in HK and similar contexts to reduce the inequality in primary care.
Healthier choices in an Australian health service: a pre-post audit of an intervention to improve the nutritional value of foods and drinks in vending machines and food outlets
Authors: Bell Colin , Pond Nicole , Davies Lynda , Francis Jeryl Lynn , Campbell Elizabeth , Wiggers John 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Vending machines and shops located within health care facilities are a source of food and drinks for staff, visitors and outpatients and they have the potential to promote healthy food and drink choices. This paper describes perceptions of parents and managers of health-service located food outlets towards the availability and labelling of healthier food options and the food and drinks offered for sale in health care facilities in Australia. It also describes the impact of an intervention to improve availability and labelling of healthier foods and drinks for sale.

Methods
Parents (n = 168) and food outlet managers (n = 17) were surveyed. Food and drinks for sale in health-service operated food outlets (n = 5) and vending machines (n = 90) in health care facilities in the Hunter New England region of NSW were audited pre (2007) and post (2010/11) the introduction of policy and associated support to increase the availability of healthier choices. A traffic light system was used to classify foods from least (red) to most healthy choices (green).

Results
Almost all (95%) parents and most (65%) food outlet managers thought food outlets on health service sites should have signs clearly showing healthy choices. Parents (90%) also thought all food outlets on health service sites should provide mostly healthy items compared to 47% of managers. The proportion of healthier beverage slots in vending machines increased from 29% to 51% at follow-up and the proportion of machines that labelled healthier drinks increased from 0 to 26%. No outlets labelled healthier items at baseline compared to 4 out of 5 after the intervention. No changes were observed in the availability or labelling of healthier food in vending machines or the availability of healthier food or drinks in food outlets.

Conclusions
Baseline availability and labelling of healthier food and beverage choices for sale in health care facilities was poor in spite of the support of parents and outlet managers for such initiatives. The intervention encouraged improvements in the availability and labelling of healthier drinks but not foods in vending machines.
In vitro piperaquine susceptibility is not associated with the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene
Authors: Pascual Aurélie , Madamet Marilyn , Bertaux Lionel , Amalvict Rémy , Benoit Nicolas , Travers Dominique , Cren Julien , Taudon Nicolas , Rogier Christophe , Parzy Daniel , Pradines Bruno ,   The French National Reference Centre for Imported Malaria Study Group
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a new ACT that is administered as single daily dose for three days and has been demonstrated to be tolerated and highly effective for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Piperaquine was used alone to replace chloroquine as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in China in response to increasing chloroquine resistance in the 1970s. However, the rapid emergence of piperaquine-resistant strains that resulted in the cessation of its use in China in the 1980s, suggests that there is cross-resistance between piperaquine and chloroquine. Very few data are available on cross-resistance between piperaquine and chloroquine, and the data that do exist are often contradictory.

Methods
In total, 280 P. falciparum isolates, collected between April 2008 and June 2012 from patients hospitalized in France with imported malaria from a malaria-endemic country, were assessed ex vivo for piperaquine and chloroquine susceptibilities by using the standard 42-hour 3H-hypoxanthine uptake inhibition method. The chloroquine resistance-associated mutation K76T in pfcrt was also investigated for the 280 isolates.

Results
The IC50 for piperaquine ranged from 9.8 nM to 217.3 nM (mean = 81.3 nM. The IC50 for chloroquine ranged from 5.0 nM to 1,918 nM (mean = 83.6 nM. A significant but low correlation was observed between the Log IC50 values for piperaquine and chloroquine (r = 0.145, p < 0.001). However, the coefficient of determination of 0.021 indicates that only 2.1% of the variation in the response to piperaquine is explained by the variation in the response to chloroquine. The mean value for piperaquine was 74.0 nM in the Pfcrt K76 wild-type group (no = 125) and 87.7 nM in the 76 T mutant group (no = 155). This difference was not significant (p = 0.875, Mann Whitney U test).

Conclusions
The present work demonstrates that there was no cross-resistance between piperaquine and chloroquine among 280 P. falciparum isolates and that piperaquine susceptibility is not associated with pfcrt, the gene involved in chloroquine resistance. These results confirm the efficacy of piperaquine in association with dihydroartemisinin and support its use in areas in which parasites are resistant to chloroquine.