bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Operating characteristics of intense electron beam accelerator at different load conditions
Authors: Cheng Xin-Bing , Liu Jin-Liang , Hong Zhi-Qiang , Qian Bao-Liang 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAs the development of the pulsed power technology, high voltage pulse transformer (HVPT) is usually used instead of Marx generator as a charging device for the pulse forming line (PFL) of intense electron-beam accelerator (IEBA), and which make the IEBA compact. However, during the operation of the IEBA, the HVPT may be destroyed for the failure of electrical insulation and the over-voltage. So in this paper, the output voltage characteristics of IEBA, characteristics of the voltage at the output terminal of HVPT at four kinds of load conditions are analyzed, including load matching, load short, load open, and surface flashover in the vacuum chamber. It is found that load short, load open, and surface flashover in vacuum chamber will affect the voltage at the output terminal of HVPT, and an oscillation wave could be formed, which affect the electrical insulation of HVPT and decrease the lifetime of HVPT. Meanwhile, the waveform of the load voltage is also modified, especially at the conditions of load open and surface flashover in vacuum chamber. When the load is open, the amplitude of the output main pulse of IEBA is twice the charging voltage of BPFL. However, the amplitude of the output pulse of IEBA is modified by the voltage at the output terminal of HVPT, and the resistance of main switch channel has a great effect on the amplitude of the load voltage. When surface flashover occurs in the vacuum chamber, the pulse duration of the output voltage will be decreased. So, during the operation of IEBA, load short, load open and surface flashover in vacuum chamber should be avoided.
Sensor fusion-based dynamic positioning of ships using Extended Kalman and Particle Filtering
Authors: Rigatos Gerasimos G. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYThe paper examines the problem of dynamic ship positioning with the use of Kalman Filter- and Particle Filter-based sensor fusion algorithms. The proposed approach enables to estimate accurately the ship's state vector by fusing the vessel's position and heading measurements coming from on-board sensors together with distance measurements coming from sensors located at the coast (e.g. radar). The estimated state vector is used in turn, in a control loop, to regulate the horizontal position and heading of the vessel. The performance of dynamic positioning of the ship based on Kalman and Particle Filtering is evaluated through simulation experiments.
Epidemiological analysis of critically ill adult patients with pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in South Korea
Authors: HONG S. B. , CHOI E. Y. , KIM S. H. , SUH G. Y. , PARK M. S. , LEE M. G. , LIM J. , LEE H. K. , KIM S. C. , KIM S. J. , KIM K. U. , KWAK S. H. , KOH Y. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYA total of 245 patients with confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza were admitted to the intensive-care units of 28 hospitals (South Korea). Their mean age was 55·3 years with 68·6% aged >50 years, and 54·7% male. Nine were obese and three were pregnant. One or more comorbidities were present in 83·7%, and nosocomial acquisition occurred in 14·3%. In total, 107 (43·7%) patients received corticosteroids and 66·1% required mechanical ventilation. Eighty (32·7%) patients died within 30 days after onset of symptoms and 99 (40·4%) within 90 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the clinician's decision to prescribe corticosteroids, older age, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and nosocomial bacterial pneumonia were independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. In contrast with Western countries, critical illness in Korea in relation to 2009 H1N1 was most common in older patients with chronic comorbidities; nosocomial acquisition occurred occasionally but disease in obese or pregnant patients was uncommon.
International donor agencies’ incentive structures and foreign aid effectiveness
Authors: MONKAM NARA F. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:This paper examines in depth one of the potential causes of the low performance of foreign aid; in particular, the role incentive structures within international donor agencies could play in leading to ‘a push’ to disburse money. This pressure to disburse money is termed as the ‘Money-Moving Syndrome’ (MMS). The theoretical analysis in this paper relies on the principal–agent theory to explore how donor agencies' institutional incentive systems may affect the characteristics of an optimal and efficient incentive contract and thus give rise to the MMS. The basic framework of the principal–agent theory was innovatively adapted to fit the organizational settings of donor agencies. The model concludes that the extent to which a performance measure based on the amount of aid allocated within a specific period of time would lead to the MMS and affect aid effectiveness depends on the level of ‘institutional imperatives’, the degree of aid agency's accountability for effectiveness, the level of corruption in recipient countries and the degree of difficulty to evaluate development activities.
Simulation of in‐cloud icing events on Mount Washington with the GEM‐LAM
Authors: Yang Jing , Jones Kathleen F. , Yu Wei , Morris Robert 
Published: August 2012

In‐cloud icing on structures such as transmission lines and wind turbines is an important consideration both for design and operations. It often occurs in coastal areas and over high terrain, where there are virtually no systematic observations. The regional mesoscale model GEM‐LAM of the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) was used to model three historical icing events on Mount Washington, where observational data were available. These three events are representative of the most frequent low level wind directions for seven available observation periods. A newly developed sophisticated two‐moment microphysics scheme (Milbrandt‐Yau) is used in GEM‐LAM. The simulated cloud properties and other meteorological data are compared with near surface observational data. Simulation results from the 1‐km resolution run agree best with the observations, with an average RMSE (root mean square error) of 1.6°C for near surface temperature, 4.6 m s−1 for wind speed, 0.23 g m−3 for liquid water content, and 5.8 μm for the median volume droplet diameter. These simulated meteorological fields and cloud properties were used as inputs to a cylindrical sleeve icing model. The modeled icing rate from the GEM‐LAM simulated fields follows the temporal evolution of the observed one with average RMSE of 1.53 g m−1 min−1 compared to an average measured icing rate of 1.98 g m−1 min−1 for all the three cases.
A Numerical Investigation of Quasi-static Conditions for Granular Media
Authors: Modenese C. , Utili S. , Houlsby G.T. 
Published: August 2012

A numerical campaign by means of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) was carried out in order to investigate the accuracy of the assumption of quasi-static (QS) conditions in DEM experiments. The dimensionless inertial number, , was considered in order to assess the inertia of the system at both the peak and critical states of the material. DEM triaxial tests were run in a 3D periodic cell at increasing inertial number (e.g. loading rate). The classical Hert-Mindlin no-slip solution was employed at the contact level and grains were assigned with realistic properties of silica sands. Furthermore, a realistic wide particles size distribution was adopted.
Macroscopic observations show that the QS limit is not approached even for very small inertial numbers, i.e. I≈10−5, in contrast with the threshold identified by Roux and Combe (2010), i.e. I≤10−3. Nevertheless, the rate dependency of the mechanical response should be interpreted as a result of local dynamic effects (micro-inertial effects) rather than an indication of a time-dependent behaviour. Interestingly, such behaviour was only visible at very small strains, i.e. less than 3%, suggesting that different mechanisms may dominate at the particulate level at different stages of shearing.
The combined influence of inertia and confining stress was then studied in detail at the critical state. Results show that the influence of the applied pressure is non-negligible on the critical void ratio. Nevertheless, the opposite and counterintuitive behaviour is exhibited (i.e. higher void ratios for higher pressures) when a constant inertial number I≤10−3 is adopted. A modified definition of limiting inertial number, proportional to the speed of sound, is proposed which appears to produce results in agreement with the principles of critical state theory.
The effects of early‐age thermal manipulation and daily short‐term fasting on performance and body temperatures in broiler exposed to heat stress
Authors: Günal M. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of thermal manipulation at 5 days of age and short‐term fasting during the warmest part of the day on responses to prolonged heat stress of broilers. A total of 240‐day‐old Ross 308 female broiler chicks were divided into three groups: control, thermal manipulation (chicks were exposed to 36 °C for 24 h at 5 days of age) and short‐term fasting during the warmest part of the day (10.00–17.00 h). Prolonged heat stress was induced daily from 28 to 42 days by heating until the ambient temperature reached 32–35 °C between 10.00 and 17.00 h. Both thermal manipulation and short‐term fasting resulted in a decrease in rectal temperatures and haematocrit values at 35 and 41 days of age. Thermal manipulation improved body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion. However, short‐term fasting caused a reduction in body weight and a deterioration in feed conversion. Short‐term fasting lowered the percentages of carcass, whereas thermal manipulation highered breast yield. Both thermal manipulation and short‐term fasting decreased heart mass and abdominal fat.
Folic acid supplementation prevents the changes in hepatic promoter methylation status and gene expression in intrauterine growth‐retarded piglets during early weaning period
Authors: Jing‐bo L. , Ying Y. , Bing Y. , Xiang‐bing M. , Zhi‐qing H. , Guo‐quan H. , Hong C. , Dai‐wen C. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryDuring intrauterine life, genome interacts with maternal signals to influence the mRNA expression levels of specific genes persistently by regulating DNA methylation status. The objective of this study was to examine the responses of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha and gamma (PPARα and PPARγ) promoter methylation, mRNA expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and metabolite concentrations of intrauterine growth‐retarded (IUGR) piglets to dietary folic acid supplementation. According to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, 16 IUGR and 16 normal birth weight (NBW) piglets were fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg of folic acid from weaning (day 14) to day 35 of age. Triglycerides in hepatic tissue and plasma were significantly elevated in control diets‐fed IUGR piglets compared with NBW piglets but were decreased by dietary folic acid supplementation. Hepatic mRNA expression levels of GR, PPARα, PPARγ, fatty acid synthase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in IUGR piglets fed a control diet were significantly higher than that in NBW piglets, and promoter methylation status of GR, PPARα and PPARγ in IUGR piglets was reduced significantly compared with NBW piglets. However, the changes in gene expression and DNA methylation status of IUGR piglets were reversed by dietary folic acid supplementation. Hepatic DNA methyltransferase activity was greater with dietary folic acid supplementation regardless of birth weight. Taken together, these results demonstrated that folic acid supplementation during early period of life could prevent the changes of promoter methylation status and gene expressions in the liver of IUGR piglets.
A topical aqueous calcineurin inhibitor for the treatment of naturally occurring keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs
Authors: Gilger Brian C. , Wilkie David A. , Salmon Jacklyn H. , Peel Michael R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an aqueous calcineurin inhibitor, SCY‐641, in the treatment of naturally occurring canine immune‐mediated keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).Methods A randomized, double‐masked, placebo‐controlled clinical study of 56‐day duration was performed in dogs with naturally occurring immune‐mediated KCS assigned to treatment with either topical twice‐daily aqueous calcineurin inhibitor solution (SCY‐641) or artificial tears (placebo) by the study administrator. Clinical examination and Schirmer tear tests (STT) were performed prior to therapy and at days 7, 14, 28, and 56 after initiation of treatment.Results Twenty dogs were enrolled in the study with ten receiving placebo and 10 receiving SCY‐641 in one or both eyes. No adverse effects were noted with any treatment. There were no significant differences in mean STT values in dogs in group either at day 0 (prior to therapy) or after 7 days of treatment. At 14, 28, and 56 days after initiation of treatment, mean STT and increase in STT over baseline in dogs treated with SCY‐641 were significantly higher than in dogs treated with placebo (P < 0.04).Conclusions SCY‐641 was well tolerated by dogs with naturally occurring KCS, and by 14 days after initiating therapy, dogs treated with SCY‐641 had significantly higher STT than placebo‐treated dogs. These preliminary results indicate that topical SCY‐641, in a stable clear aqueous solution, is efficacious in a spontaneous model of KCS and warrants further evaluation as a treatment of immune‐mediated KCS.
Neuron‐specific non‐classical release of prothymosin alpha: a novel neuroprotective damage‐associated molecular patterns
Authors: Halder Sebok Kumar , Matsunaga Hayato , Ueda Hiroshi 
Published: August 2012

AbstractProthymosin alpha (ProTα), a nuclear protein devoid of signal sequence, has been shown to possess a number of cellular functions including cell survival. Most recently, we demonstrated that ProTα is localized in the nuclei of neurons, while it is found in both nuclei and cytoplasm in the astrocytes and microglia of adult brain. However, the cell type‐specific non‐classical release of ProTα under cerebral ischemia is yet unknown. In this study, we report that ProTα is non‐classically released along with S100A13 from neurons in the hippocampus, striatum and somatosensory cortex at 3 h after cerebral ischemia, but amlexanox (an anti‐allergic compound) reversibly blocks this neuronal ProTα release. We found that none of ProTα is released from astrocytes and microglia under ischemic stress. Indeed, ProTα intensity is increased gradually in astrocytes and microglia through 24 h after the cerebral ischemia. Interestingly, Z‐Val‐Ala‐Asp fluoromethyl ketone, a caspase 3 inhibitor, pre‐treatment induces ProTα release from astrocytes in the ischemic brain, but this release is reversibly blocked by amlexanox. However, Z‐Val‐Ala‐Asp fluoromethyl ketone as well as amlexanox has no effect on ProTα distribution in microglia upon cerebral ischemia. Taken together, these results suggest that only neurons have machineries to release ProTα upon cerebral ischemic stress in vivo.
Activation of platelet protein kinase C by ultraviolet light B mediates platelet transfusion–related acute lung injury in a two‐event animal model
Authors: Zhi Li , Chi Xuan , Gelderman Monique P. , Vostal Jaroslav G. 
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND: We recently reported that infusion of ultraviolet light B (UVB)‐exposed human platelets (HPs) can be the second event that mediates acute lung injury (ALI) in a two‐event mouse model of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (mTRALI). We have now identified changes in HPs induced by UVB light and responses of the recipient animal that mediate the mTRALI.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Effects of UVB on HPs were monitored by flow cytometry and aggregation. HPs exposed to UVB, with or without inhibitors to specific biochemical pathways, were infused into lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐primed severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. ALI was monitored by protein elevations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).RESULTS: UVB increased fibrinogen binding and potentiated HP aggregation. Infusion of UVB HPs into LPS‐primed SCID mice led to macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP‐2) elevations in plasma and BALF and resulted in ALI. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors prevented UVB‐induced HP changes in vitro and reduced MIP‐2 elevation and mTRALI in vivo. Blocking of fibrinogen binding to HP αIIbβ3 with c7E3 monoclonal antibody prevented mTRALI. MIP‐2 elevation in vivo in response to UVB HPs was essential for ALI since blocking of MIP‐2 receptor in vivo prevented mTRALI.CONCLUSION: PKC signaling mediates UVB‐induced HP fibrinogen binding and aggregation in vitro. The host animal responds to an infusion of UVB HPs by MIP‐2 elevation that mediates downstream mTRALI. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms in UVB HP–mediated mTRALI may provide insight into pulmonary adverse events reported with UV‐irradiated pathogen‐reduced platelets.
Electroanatomic Characterization and Ablation Outcome of Nonlesion Related Left Atrial Macroreentrant Tachycardia in Patients Without Obvious Structural Heart Disease
Authors: ZHANG JINLIN , TANG CHENG , ZHANG YONGHUA , HAN HONGWEI , LI ZHEN , SU XI 
Published: August 2012

Nonlesion Related Left Atrial Macroreentrant Tachycardia. Introduction: Descriptions for left atrial macroreentry tachycardia (LAMRT) in patients without obvious structural heart disease or previous surgery or catheter radiofrequency (RF) ablation have been sparse.
Methods and Results:
Ten of 226 patients (7 women, mean age 57 ± 14) with LAMRT underwent electroanatomic mapping and catheter ablation. None of the 10 patients had structural heart disease or history of previous surgery or catheter ablation. In all patients, the reentry circuits were located within a large low‐voltage (bipolar voltage ≤ 0.5 mV) area in left atrium (LA), which contained 2.6 ± 1.2 electrically silent areas (ESAs) and/or lines of double potentials (LDPs). The tachycardia circuit propagated through a narrow isthmus (<5 mm width) bounded by ESAs/LDPs and adjacent anatomical barriers (e.g., mitral annulus). In these isthmus, low amplitude (0.21 ± 0.05 mV), long‐duration (123 ± 14 milliseconds) fractionated electrograms were found in 8 tachycardias, accounting for 43 ± 5% of the tachycardia cycle length. In 2 other tachycardias without fractionated electrograms, the electrogram amplitude in the isthmus was extremely low (<0.1 mV). RF energy was delivered at the isthmuses and terminated all 10 tachycardias. After ablation, the original LAMRT was not inducible in all patients. During follow‐up (mean14 ± 10 months), 2 patients developed recurrence of ATs and were successfully ablated.
Conclusion:
Extensive scarring of the LA formed arrhythmogenic substrates of LAMRT in this group of patients. Ablation targeting these narrow, slow conduction zones eliminated atrial tachycardia in all patients. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 53‐59, January 2013)
Theories of Human Nature: Key Issues
Authors: Stenmark Mikael 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIssues about human nature are at the core of philosophy, but theories of human nature can be found in many academic disciplines and all humans have opinions and sometimes fairly strong opinions about who we are. We sometimes talk more specifically about, for instance, a Christian view of human nature and distinguish it from say the Blank Slate theory or a Darwinian understanding of human nature. But what is more exactly a theory of human nature? In this essay I survey a number of key issues which philosophers and other scholars have maintained that a theory of human nature, which pretends to be adequate and comprehensive, needs to address.
Development and Validation of QuEChERS Method for Estimation of Chlorantraniliprole Residue in Vegetables
Authors: Singh Balwinder , Kar Abhijit , Mandal Kousik , Kumar Rajinder , Sahoo Sanjay Kumar 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  An easy, simple and efficient analytical method was standardized and validated for the estimation of residues of chlorantraniliprole in different vegetables comprising brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, okra, and tomato. QuEChERS method was used for the extraction and cleanup of chlorantraniliprole residues on these vegetables. Final clear extracts of ethyl acetate were concentrated under vacuum and reconstituted into high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) grade acetonitrile, and residues were estimated using HPLC equipped with PDA detector system, C18 column and confirmed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC‐MS/MS), and high performance thin layer chromatograph (HPTLC). HPLC grade acetonitrile:water (80:20, v/v) was used as mobile phase @ 0.4 mL/min. Chlorantraniliprole presented distinct peak at retention time of 9.82 min. Consistent recoveries ranging from 85% to 96% for chlorantraniliprole were observed when samples were spiked at 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mg/kg levels. The limit of quantification of this method was worked out to be 0.10 mg/kg.Practical Application:  The QuEChERS sample preparation is suitable for determination of chlorantraniliprole in brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, okra and tomato and thus demonstrating the great versatility of this method. The proposed analytical method using liquid chromatography techniques for the determination of chlorantraniliprole in different vegetable matrices has been demonstrated to be sensitive, fast, precise, accurate, and robust and can be used to monitor chlorantraniliprole residues in different vegetables.
Plasma neurofilament pNF‐H concentration is not increased in acute equine grass sickness
Authors: STRATFORD C. H. , PEMBERTON A. , CAMERON L. , McGORUM B. C. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAlthough a presumptive diagnosis of acute grass sickness (AGS) can be made on the basis of clinical signs, a definitive ante mortem diagnosis currently requires histological examination of enteric ganglia. Development of an accurate noninvasive ante mortem diagnostic test is therefore warranted. The objective of this study was to determine whether quantification of the plasma concentrations of the heavily phosphorylated form of major neurofilament subunit NF‐H (pNF‐H), which mirror the degree of axonal degeneration in some human and animal neurodegenerative disorders, could distinguish AGS‐affected and control horses. The pNF‐H was quantified in plasma from 20 AGS cases and 20 control horses using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. Five AGS and 4 control samples had detectable pNF‐H concentrations (>0.0759 ng/ml). There was no significant intergroup difference in pNF‐H concentrations. It was concluded that plasma pNF‐H is not a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of AGS.