bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient cellular fractionation improves RNA sequencing analysis of mature and nascent transcripts from human tissues
Authors: Zaghlool Ammar , Ameur Adam , Nyberg Linnea , Halvardson Jonatan , Grabherr Manfred , Cavelier Lucia , Feuk Lars
Published: November 2013

Background

The starting material for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) studies is usually total RNA or polyA+ RNA. Both forms of RNA represent heterogeneous pools of RNA molecules at different levels of maturation and processing. Such heterogeneity, in addition to the biases associated with polyA+ purification steps, may influence the analysis, sensitivity and the interpretation of RNA-seq data. We hypothesize that subcellular fractions of RNA may provide a more accurate picture of gene expression.

Results

We present results for sequencing of cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA after cellular fractionation of tissue samples. In comparison with conventional polyA+ RNA, the cytoplasmic RNA contains a significantly higher fraction of exonic sequence, providing increased sensitivity in expression analysis and splice junction detection, and in improved de novo assembly of RNA-seq data. Conversely, the nuclear fraction shows an enrichment of unprocessed RNA compared with total RNA-seq, making it suitable for analysis of nascent transcripts and RNA processing dynamics.

Conclusion

Our results show that cellular fractionation is a more rapid and cost effective approach than conventional polyA+ enrichment when studying mature RNAs. Thus, RNA-seq of separated cytosolic and nuclear RNA can significantly improve the analysis of complex transcriptomes from mammalian tissues.
The use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding: a population-based survey in Western Australia
Authors: Sim Tin Fei , Sherriff Jillian , Hattingh H Laetitia , Parsons Richard , Tee Lisa BG
Published: November 2013

Background

Main concerns for lactating women about medications include the safety of their breastfed infants and the potential effects of medication on quantity and quality of breast milk. While medicine treatments include conventional and complementary medicines, most studies to date have focused on evaluating the safety aspect of conventional medicines. Despite increasing popularity of herbal medicines, there are currently limited data available on the pattern of use and safety of these medicines during breastfeeding. This study aimed to identify the pattern of use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding in Perth, Western Australia, and to identify aspects which require further clinical research.

Methods

This study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire validated through two pilot studies. Participants were 18 years or older, breastfeeding or had breastfed in the past 12 months. Participants were recruited from various community and health centres, and through advertising in newspapers. Simple descriptive statistics were used to summarise the demographic profile and attitudes of respondents, using the SPSS statistical software.

Results

A total of 304 questionnaires from eligible participants were returned (27.2% response rate) and analysed. Amongst the respondents, 59.9% took at least one herb for medicinal purposes during breastfeeding, whilst 24.3% reported the use of at least one herb to increase breast milk supply. Most commonly used herbs were fenugreek (18.4%), ginger (11.8%), dong quai (7.9%), chamomile (7.2%), garlic (6.6%) and blessed thistle (5.9%). The majority of participants (70.1%) believed that there was a lack of information resources, whilst 43.4% perceived herbal medicines to be safer than conventional medicines. Only 28.6% of users notified their doctor of their decision to use herbal medicine(s) during breastfeeding; 71.6% had previously refused or avoided conventional medicine treatments due to concerns regarding safety of their breastfed infants.

Conclusions

The use of herbal medicines is common amongst breastfeeding women, while information supporting their safety and efficacy is lacking. This study has demonstrated the need for further research into commonly used herbal medicines. Evidence-based information should be available to breastfeeding women who wish to consider use of all medicines, including complementary medicines, to avoid unnecessary cessation of breastfeeding or compromising of pharmacotherapy.
Accumulated lipids rather than the rigid cell walls impede the extraction of genetic materials for effective colony PCRs in Chlorella vulgaris
Authors: Tear Crystal Jing Ying , Lim Chanyuen , Wu Jinchuan , Zhao Hua
Published: November 2013

Background

Failure of colony PCRs in green microalga Chlorella vulgaris is typically attributed to the difficulty in disrupting its notoriously rigid cell walls for releasing the genetic materials and therefore the development of an effective colony PCR procedure in C. vulgaris presents a challenge.

Results

Here we identified that colony PCR results were significantly affected by the accumulated lipids rather than the rigid cell walls of C. vulgaris. The higher lipids accumulated in C. vulgaris negatively affects the effective amplification by DNA polymerase. Based on these findings, we established a simple and extremely effective colony PCR procedure in C. vulgaris. By simply pipetting/votexing the pellets of C. vulgaris in 10 ul of either TE (10 mM Tris/1 mM EDTA) or 0.2% SDS buffer at room temperature, followed by the addition of 10 ul of either hexane or Phenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl Alcohol in the same PCR tube for extraction. The resulting aqueous phase was readily PCR-amplified as genomic DNA templates as demonstrated by successful amplification of the nuclear 18S rRNA and the chloroplast rbcL gene. This colony PCR protocol is effective and robust in C. vulgaris and also demonstrates its effectiveness in other Chlorella species.

Conclusions

The accumulated lipids rather than the rigid cell walls of C. vulgaris significantly impede the extraction of genetic materials and subsequently the effective colony PCRs. The finding has the potential to aid the isolation of high-quality total RNAs and mRNAs for transcriptomic studies in addition to the genomic DNA isolation in Chlorella.
A rapid cooperation-differentiated medium access control protocol with packet piggyback for multihop wireless networks
Authors: Li Yayan , Liu Kai , Liu Feng , Xu Zhen
Published: November 2013

To improve the efficiency of node cooperation and multiple access performance in multihop wireless networks, a rapid cooperation-differentiated medium access control (MAC) protocol is proposed. In the protocol, the helper selection process is divided into a priority differentiation phase and contention resolution phase for helpers with the same priority. A higher priority helper can choose an earlier minislot in the priority differentiation phase to send a busy tone. As a result, the protocol promptly selects all the highest priority helpers. The contention resolution phase for the same priority helpers can use any existing collision resolution scheme, such as the k-round elimination contention scheme. Helpers sending a busy tone first can proceed to the next round, while others, sensing the busy tone, subsequently withdraw from contention. Therefore, a unique optimal helper is selected from the highest priority helpers with high probability. A packet piggyback mechanism is also adopted, which allows a high data rate helper with its own data packets, to transmit these to their recipient without reservation. This significantly decreases the reservation overhead and effectively improves cooperation efficiency and channel utilization. Simulation results show that the maximum throughput of the proposed protocol is 39.6% and 9.6% higher than those of the cooperative MAC-aggregation (CoopMACA) and instantaneous relay-based cooperative MAC protocols, respectively, in a wireless local area network environment, and 40.8% and 31.9% higher, respectively, in an ad hoc network environment.
[COMMODE] a large-scale database of molecular descriptors using compounds from PubChem
Authors: Dander Andreas , Mueller Laurin AJ , Gallasch Ralf , Pabinger Stephan , Emmert-Streib Frank , Graber Armin , Dehmer Matthias
Published: November 2013

Background

Molecular descriptors have been extensively used in the field of structure-oriented drug design and structural chemistry. They have been applied in QSPR and QSAR models to predict ADME-Tox properties, which specify essential features for drugs. Molecular descriptors capture chemical and structural information, but investigating their interpretation and meaning remains very challenging.

Results

This paper introduces a large-scale database of molecular descriptors called COMMODE containing more than 25 million compounds originated from PubChem. About 2500 DRAGON-descriptors have been calculated for all compounds and integrated into this database, which is accessible through a web interface at http://commode.i-med.ac.at.
Gender difference in relationship between body mass index and development of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Komura Hiroshi , Nomura Ikuo , Kitamura Kazuo , Kuwasako Kenji , Kato Johji
Published: November 2013

Background

An epidemiological approach to preventing the development or progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is necessary, while few effective preventive measures are currently available. We conducted a community-based, cohort study to identify the factors associated with the development of CKD in the general population.

Methods

We examined 1876 local residents of a Japanese community who had an annual health check-up and, of those, 1506 residents judged not to have CKD (473 men and 1033 women) were followed for the development of CKD over 10 years.

Results

The numbers of male and female residents who developed CKD during the follow-up period were 167 (35.3%) and 299 (28.9%), respectively. As compared to those without CKD development, the residents who developed CKD were older, and had a higher body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and creatinine in both genders. The rate of CKD development in obese female residents was higher than in non-obese women, but such a difference was not noted in male residents. In addition to age and serum creatinine, we identified BMI as an independently significant factor for the development of CKD in women, but not in men.

Conclusions

Increased BMI is a significant risk factor for the development of CKD in women, and there seems to be a gender difference in the association between increased BMI and the development of CKD in the general population.
Transcriptional profiling of adult Drosophila antennae by high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Shiao Meng-Shin , Fan Wen-Lang , Fang Shu , Lu Mei-Yeh Jade , Kondo Rumi , Li Wen-Hsiung
Published: November 2013

Background

Antennae of fruit flies are the major organs responsible for detecting environmental volatiles, e.g., egg-laying substrates. An adult antenna contains many sensilla full of olfactory sensory neurons, where olfactory receptor (Or) genes are expressed. Each sensory neuron only expresses up to three receptors, making it difficult to estimate expression levels by conventional methods. In this study, we applied Illumina RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to study the expression levels of Or and other genes in fly antennae.

Results

RNA from approximately 1,200 pairs of adult antennae from each sex of Drosophila melanogaster was used to obtain the antennal transcriptome of each sex. We detected approximately 12,000 genes expressed in antennae of either sex. The most highly expressed genes included pheromone-binding genes, transmembrane transporter genes, and sensory reception genes. Among the 61 annotated Or genes, we observed 53 and 54 genes (approximately 90%) expressed (fragments per kilobase of exon per million fragments mapped (FPKM) > 0.05) in male and female antennae, respectively; approximately 25 genes were expressed with FPKM > 15. Compared to previous studies, which extracted RNA from the whole body or head and used microarrays, antenna-specific transcriptomes obtained by RNA-seq provided more reliable estimates of gene expression levels and revealed many lowly expressed genes. Ninty-one genes, including one odorant-binding protein (Obp) gene and four Or genes, were differentially expressed between male and female antennae. These sexually biased genes were enriched on the X chromosome and showed enrichment in different gene ontology categories for male and female flies. The present and previous data together suggest that a gene family with putative immune response functions is related to pheromone detection and involved in the courtship behavior of male flies.

Conclusions

Tissue-specific RNA-seq is powerful for detecting lowly expressed genes. Our study provides new insight into the expression of olfactory-related genes in Drosophila antennae.
Pangola grass as forage for ruminant animals: a review
Authors: Tikam Kanitta , Phatsara Chirawat , Mikled Choke , Vearasilp Therdchai , Phunphiphat Wirapon , Chobtang Jeerasak , Cherdthong Anusorn , Südekum Karl-Heinz
Published: November 2013

This review focuses on the introduction and investigation of pangola grass as a tropical forage species especially in Thailand. Pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud., synonym D. decumbens) is one of recent examples of grasses that have been successfully introduced to Southeast Asia and is often considered as one of the highest quality tropical grasses popularly grown as pasture. Pangola grass is utilized extensively as grass for animal grazing, hay and silage making. Its crude protein content is commonly in the order of 5 to 14% of dry matter and may exceed 15% of dry matter with young regrowth under high fertilization. It has been documented that the type and number of ruminants receiving pangola grass can determine the success of its use. Results obtained when pangola grass in fresh, hay or silage form was fed to ruminant animals as supplements showed better performances in body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield, meat quality, and milk yield and composition. In conclusion, pangola grass is a promising forage and a source of high quality feed for ruminant animals in tropical countries.
Cyr61 is involved in neutrophil infiltration in joints by inducing IL-8 production by fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhu Xianjin , Xiao Lianbo , Huo Rongfen , Zhang Jie , Lin Jinpiao , Xie Jun , Sun Songtao , He Yong , Sun Yue , Zhou Zhou , Shen Baihua , Li Ningli
Published: November 2013

Introduction

It is well known that neutrophils play very important roles in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and interleukin (IL)-8 is a critical chemokine in promoting neutrophil migration. We previously showed that increased production of Cyr61 by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in RA promotes FLS proliferation and Th17 cell differentiation, thus Cyr61 is a pro-inflammatory factor in RA pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the role of Cyr61 in neutrophil migration to the joints of RA patients.

Methods

RA FLS were treated with Cyr61 and IL-8 expression was analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA. The migration of neutrophils recruited by the culture supernatants was determined by the use of a chemotaxis assay. Mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were treated with anti-Cyr61 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), or IgG1 as a control. Arthritis severity was determined by visual examination of the paws and joint destruction was determined by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Signal transduction pathways in Cyr61-induced IL-8 production were investigated by real-time PCR, western blotting, confocal microscopy, luciferase reporter assay or chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay.

Results

We found that Cyr61 induced IL-8 production by RA FLS in an IL-1β and TNF-α independent pathway. Moreover, we identified that Cyr61-induced IL-8-mediated neutrophil migration in vitro. Using a CIA animal model, we found that treatment with anti-Cyr61 mAb led to a reduction in MIP-2 (a counterpart of human IL-8) expression and decrease in neutrophil infiltration, which is consistent with an attenuation of inflammation in vivo. Mechanistically, we showed that Cyr61 induced IL-8 production in FLS via AKT, JNK and ERK1/2-dependent AP-1, C/EBPβ and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Conclusions

Our results here reveal a novel role of Cyr61 in the pathogenesis of RA. It promotes neutrophil infiltration via up-regulation of IL-8 production in FLS. Taken together with our previous work, this study provides further evidence that Cyr61 plays a key role in the vicious cycle formed by the interaction between infiltrating neutrophils, proliferated FLS and activated Th17 cells in the development of RA.
Activation of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway Is Associated With Poor Survival in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With R-CHOP
Authors: Huang Xin , Meng Bin , Iqbal Javeed , Ding B. Belinda , Perry Anamarija M. , Cao Wenfeng , Smith Lynette M. , Bi Chengfeng , Jiang Chunsun , Greiner Timothy C. , Weisenburger Dennis D. , Rimsza Lisa , Rosenwald Andreas , Ott German , Delabie Jan , Campo Elias , Braziel Rita M. , Gascoyne Randy D. , Cook James R. , Tubbs Raymond R. , Jaffe Elaine S. , Armitage James O. , Vose Julie M. , Staudt Louis M. , McKeithan Timothy W. , Chan Wing C. , Ye B. Hilda , Fu Kai
Published: November 2013

Purpose

We previously reported that constitutive STAT3 activation is a prominent feature of the activated B-cell subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (ABC-DLBCL). In this study, we investigated whether STAT3 activation can risk stratify patients with DLBCL.

Patients and Methods

By an immunohistochemical method, we investigated phosphotyrosine STAT3 (PY-STAT3) expression from 185 patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Cell line-based siRNA experiments were also performed to generate an 11-gene, PY-STAT3 activation signature, which was used to study a previously published cohort of 222 patients with DLBCL. The STAT3 activation status determined by these two methods and by STAT3 mRNA levels were then correlated with survival.

Results

PY-STAT3 was detected in 37% of DLBCL and enriched in ABC-DLBCL cases (P = .03). PY-STAT3 positivity significantly correlated with poor overall survival (OS; P = .01) and event-free survival (EFS; P = .006). Similar observations were made for high levels of STAT3 mRNA. In multivariable analysis, PY-STAT3 status (P = .02), International Prognostic Index (P = .02), and BCL2 expression (P = .046) were independent prognosticators of OS in this cohort. Among the cell-of-origin subgroups, PY-STAT3 was associated with poor EFS among non–germinal center B-cell DLBCL cases only (P = .027). Similarly, the 11-gene STAT3 activation signature correlated with poor survival in the entire DLBCL cohort (OS, P < .001; EFS, P < .001) as well as the ABC-DLBCL subgroup (OS, P = .029; EFS, P = .025).

Conclusion

STAT3 activation correlated with poor survival in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP, especially those with tumors of the ABC-DLBCL subtype.
Validation of the 12-Gene Colon Cancer Recurrence Score in NSABP C-07 As a Predictor of Recurrence in Patients With Stage II and III Colon Cancer Treated With Fluorouracil and Leucovorin (FU/LV) and FU/LV Plus Oxaliplatin
Authors: Yothers Greg , O'Connell Michael J. , Lee Mark , Lopatin Margarita , Clark-Langone Kim M. , Millward Carl , Paik Soonmyung , Sharif Saima , Shak Steven , Wolmark Norman
Published: November 2013

Purpose

Accurate assessments of recurrence risk and absolute treatment benefit are needed to inform colon cancer adjuvant therapy. The 12-gene Recurrence Score assay has been validated in patients with stage II colon cancer from the Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9581 and Quick and Simple and Reliable (QUASAR) trials. We conducted an independent, prospectively designed clinical validation study of Recurrence Score, with prespecified end points and analysis plan, in archival specimens from patients with stage II and III colon cancer randomly assigned to fluorouracil (FU) or FU plus oxaliplatin in National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project C-07.

Methods

Recurrence Score was assessed in 892 fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens (randomly selected 50% of patients with tissue). Data were analyzed by Cox regression adjusting for stage and treatment.

Results

Continuous Recurrence Score predicted recurrence (hazard ratio for a 25-unit increase in score, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.50 to 2.55; P < .001), as well as disease-free and overall survival (both P < .001). Recurrence Score predicted recurrence risk (P = .001) after adjustment for stage, mismatch repair, nodes examined, grade, and treatment. Recurrence Score did not have significant interaction with stage (P = .90) or age (P = .76). Relative benefit of oxaliplatin was similar across the range of Recurrence Score (interaction P = .48); accordingly, absolute benefit of oxaliplatin increased with higher scores, most notably in patients with stage II and IIIA/B disease.

Conclusion

The 12-gene Recurrence Score predicts recurrence risk in stage II and stage III colon cancer and provides additional information beyond conventional clinical and pathologic factors. Incorporating Recurrence Score into the clinical context may better inform adjuvant therapy decisions in stage III as well as stage II colon cancer.
De Novo Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma With Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Gemcitabine, and Prednisolone in Patients With Cardiac Comorbidity: A United Kingdom National Cancer Research Institute Trial
Authors: Fields Paul A. , Townsend William , Webb Andrew , Counsell Nicholas , Pocock Christopher , Smith Paul , Jack Andrew , El-Mehidi Nadjet , Johnson Peter W. , Radford John , Linch David C. , Cunnningham David
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with cardiac comorbidity is problematic, because this group may not be able to receive anthracycline-containing chemoimmunotherapy. We designed a single-arm phase II multicenter trial of rituximab, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-GCVP) in patients considered unfit for anthracycline-containing chemoimmunotherapy because of cardiac comorbidity.

Patients and Methods

Sixty-one of 62 patients received R-GCVP, administered on day 1 with gemcitabine repeated on day 8 of a 21-day cycle. Median age was 76.5 years. All patients had advanced disease; 27 (43.5%) had left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤ 50%, and 35 (56.5%) had borderline ejection fraction of > 50% and comorbid cardiac risk factors such as ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension. Primary end point was overall response rate at the end of treatment.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (61.3%; 95% CI, 49.2 to 73.4) achieved disease response (complete response [CR], n = 18; undocumented/unconfirmed CR, n = 6; partial response, n = 14). Two-year progression-free survival for all patients was 49.8% (95% CI, 37.3 to 62.3), and 2-year overall survival was 55.8% (95% CI, 43.3 to 68.4). Thirty-four patients experienced grade ≥ 3 hematologic toxicity. There were 15 cardiac events, of which seven were grade 1 to 2, five were grade 3 to 4, and three were fatal, reflecting the poor cardiac status of the study population.

Conclusion

Our phase II multicenter trial showed that the R-GCVP regimen is an active, reasonably well-tolerated treatment for patients with DLBCL for whom anthracycline-containing immunochemotherapy was considered unsuitable because of coexisting cardiac disease.
Randomized, Multicenter, Phase II Study of CO-101 Versus Gemcitabine in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Including a Prospective Evaluation of the Role of hENT1 in Gemcitabine or CO-101 Sensitivity
Authors: Poplin Elizabeth , Wasan Harpreet , Rolfe Lindsey , Raponi Mitch , Ikdahl Tone , Bondarenko Ihor , Davidenko Irina , Bondar Volodymyr , Garin August , Boeck Stefan , Ormanns Steffen , Heinemann Volker , Bassi Claudio , Evans T.R. Jeffrey , Andersson Roland , Hahn Hejin , Picozzi Vince , Dicker Adam , Mann Elaina , Voong Cynthia , Kaur Paramjit , Isaacson Jeff , Allen Andrew
Published: November 2013

Purpose

Gemcitabine requires transporter proteins to cross cell membranes. Low expression of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) may result in gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). CO-101, a lipid-drug conjugate of gemcitabine, was rationally designed to enter cells independently of hENT1. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine whether CO-101 improved survival versus gemcitabine in patients with metastatic PDAC (mPDAC) with low hENT1. The study also tested the hypothesis that gemcitabine is more active in patients with mPDAC tumors with high versus low hENT1 expression.

Patients and Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to CO-101 or gemcitabine, after providing a metastasis sample for blinded hENT1 assessment. An immunohistochemistry test measuring tumor hENT1 was developed. To dichotomize the population, an hENT1 cutoff value was defined using primary PDAC samples from an adjuvant trial, and a high/low cutoff was applied. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) in the low hENT1 subgroup.

Results

Of 367 patients enrolled, hENT1 status was measured in 358 patients (97.5%). Two hundred thirty-two (64.8%) of 358 patients were hENT1 low. There was no difference in OS between treatments in the low hENT1 subgroup or overall, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.994 (95% CI, 0.746 to 1.326) and 1.072 (95% CI, 0.856 to 1.344), respectively. The toxicity profiles in both arms were similar. Within the gemcitabine arm, there was no difference in survival between the high and low hENT1 subgroups (HR, 1.147; 95% CI, 0.809 to 1.626).

Conclusion

CO-101 is not superior to gemcitabine in patients with mPDAC and low tumor hENT1. Metastasis hENT1 expression did not predict gemcitabine outcome.
Solvent-induced Controllable Self-assembly of Poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene)
Authors: Xiao Xueqing , Bai Weibin , Cai Lifang , Lin Jinhuo
Published: November 2013

The microspheres, nanowires, and butterfly-like structures of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene) were fabricated by a novel approach, namely, the nonsolvent vapor method (NSVM). The controlled formation of the micro- and nanostructures was well discussed, and the assembly model was proposed. A superhydrophobic film with butterfly-like structures was obtained. The NSVM was found to be useful in forming organic optoelectronic devices that were less sensitive to water. This led to a simple, rapid, and novel method for the formation of π-conjugated polymers without further functionalization.
Innovation considering Pollution Emission and Energy Input
Authors: Nie Pu-Yan
Published: November 2013

Based on existing pollution emission policies, this study addresses the relationship between innovation and energy input along with energy price. Both energy demand and innovative investment are characterized in this work. First, this paper argues that higher energy prices results in lower innovation investment in reduction of emission, higher innovation in production, lower energy demand and lower consumer surplus. Second, the increased effects of emissions on consumers yield lower innovation investment, lower energy demand and lower consumer surplus. Finally, policies for controlling emissions are also discussed in this study. Stricter policies for controlling emissions yield more innovative investments to reduce emissions and less investment to improve production efficiency, resulting in lower demand for energy and lower demand for and higher prices of products. In theory, this study develops the theory about multi-dimensional innovations and captures the relationship between innovative investments to reduce emissions and innovation to improve production efficiency.
Impact of Wind Speed Measurement Resolution on Estimated Capacity Factor and Electricity Production Cost
Authors: Akdağ Seyit Ahmet , Güler Önder
Published: November 2013

This paper presents the results of the estimated capacity factor differences of 55 wind turbines for nine resolutions of wind speed data. It is found that the utilization of low resolution mean wind speed data for energy output estimation may cause critical errors. Since wind speed is highly variable in time, utilization of low resolution mean wind speed data inevitably leads to a smoothing of the data, thus leading a loss of information and wind characteristics. The estimated capacity factor of wind turbines and the mean power density of a region can therefore change with data resolution. Noticeable capacity factor and wind power density differences were found among different resolution data sets. Therefore, high resolution mean wind speeds should be used when evaluating the economic and technical viability of wind energy project.
Experimental Investigation of Composite Moment Connections with External Stiffeners
Authors: Kang Chang-Hoon , Kim Young-Ju , Shin Kyung-Jae , Oh Young-Suk
Published: November 2013

This paper presents tensile behavior for Concrete-Filled Tubular (CFT) column to H-beam welded connections. These connections were reinforced externally with T-shaped stiffeners at the junction of column and beam. Tensile loading tests and analyses were carried out for the T-stiffener connections. The results demonstrated that the overall behavior and failure modes of all the specimens were governed mainly by the horizontal stiffeners rather than by the vertical stiffeners, while the vertical stiffener only played a role in transferring the load introduced from beam to column. In addition, a simple design method for the T-stiffeneris suggested, with consideration of the effects of the shear strength of the horizontal stiffener and yield line mechanism of the column flange. The prediction and test results are compared and they are in good agreement.
Experimental Study on the Welding Residual Stresses of Integral Joint Using Full-Scale Joint Model of a Steel Truss Bridge
Authors: Huang Y.H. , Wang R.H. , Zhang S.B. , Chen G.M. , Fu J.Y. , Wang T.Q.
Published: November 2013

In order to study the residual stress distribution of the welded integral joint of steel truss bridge, a full-scale model was fabricated with the same welding process, same material as the real bridge in the bridge workshop. The residual stress state and distributions of residual stresses in the full-scale model were measured using blind-hole strain-gage method. The tested results show that high residual stress is caused during the welding process and the maximum tensile residual stress may reach the yield strength of the steel. Longitudinal tensile residual stress appears in the regions near the welding bead and changes to compressive stress at a certain distance from the welding bead, with the maximum tensile residual stress being in the centre of the welding bead. In butt-welding between two plates with different thicknesses, the value of welding residual stress in the thinner plate is lower than that of the thicker one. The results presented in this paper would be useful as references for developing measures of reducing the residual stress of integral joint in the fabrication of a real bridge.
New Analytical Approach of Flexural Crack Width Estimation for Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Hong Sungnam , Ko Won-Jun , Park Sun-Kyu
Published: November 2013

This paper deals with the prediction of crack width for reinforced concrete structural members under pure bending. An analytical method is proposed to estimate the flexural crack width for reinforced concrete members. The proposed method utilizes conventional crack theory. Also, to consider stress conditions in tensile zone reinforced concrete members, a bond-slip relationship developed from axial tension tests was used. An analytical equation for the estimation of maximum crack width is formulated as a function of maximum bond stress. The validity, accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are obtained by comparing the analytical results with the experimental data, and major design codes, as well as a number of analytical solutions. The analytical results presented in this paper indicate that the proposed method can effectively estimate the flexural crack width of reinforced concrete members under bending.
Calibration of Strength Design of Pretensioned Flexural Concrete Members at Release
Authors: Deng Yaohua , Morcous George
Published: November 2013

Strength design method for pretensioned flexural concrete members at prestress release was developed in 2001 as a rational alternative to the working stress design method. Load and resistance factors for the developed strength design method were selected to match those used in similar applications (e.g., tied columns) without reliability-based calibration. The purpose of this paper is to present the calibration of resistance factors for the strength design of pretensioned flexural concrete members at release to achieve a target reliability index of 3.5. Resistance models were developed to capture material, fabrication, and professional uncertainty. Statistical parameters of load and resistance were obtained from the literature. Formulae for strength design at release were developed for rectangular and flanged sections in cases when top reinforcement is needed and when top reinforcement is not necessarily needed. Reliability analysis was conducted for several rectangular and inverted-T sections and resistance factors of 0.75 and 0.70 were recommended in light of the results for 5 ksi (34.5 MPa) and 8 ksi (55.2 MPa) concrete strengths, respectively. Moreover, a simplified design procedure was proposed to assist designers and producers in applying the strength design method at prestress release. Three design examples were also presented and compared against those designed using the working stress method.
A Note on Appointment Scheduling with Piecewise Linear Cost Functions
Authors: Ge Dongdong , Wan Guohua , Wang Zizhuo , Zhang Jiawei
Published: November 2013

We consider the problem of determining the optimal schedules for a given sequence of jobs on a single processor. The objective is to minimize the expected total cost incurred by job waiting and processor idling, where the job processing times are random variables. It is known in the prior literature that if the processing times are integers and the costs are linear functions satisfying a mild condition, then the problem can be solved in a polynomial number of expected cost evaluations. In this work, we extend the result to piecewise linear cost functions, which include many useful objective functions in practice. Our analysis explores the (hidden) dual network flow structure of the appointment scheduling problem and thus greatly simplifies that of prior work. We also find the number of samples needed to compute a near optimal solution when only some independent samples of processing times are known.
Quality Improvement in Austere Times: A Structured, Cost-Neutral Approach to Improving Note Documentation
Authors: Sahnan K , Bagenal J , Lintott P , Kreckler S
Published: November 2013

The 2009 National Confidential Enquiry into patient outcome and Death (NCEPOD)1 reported that poor documentation is commonplace in all aspects of the management of surgical patients. In today’s litigious climate, inadequate documentation is a growing medicolegal problem.2 In our own department, two ‘near miss’ events relating to poor operation note documentation triggered an improvement exercise in operation note quality. In both cases, poor legibility and the use of abbreviations hampered understanding of the operation note by junior medical staff.
Sensuous interfaces – Dancing Anima in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: East Ali
Published: November 2013

Sondra Fraleigh has described the body as bounded by skin and having form, yet merging, relational and metamorphic (Fraleigh 2012). In this article I draw on the making of a short four-minute film Anima (2005), co-directed by myself and videographer John Irwin, in order to discuss the ways that the intuitive sensuous soma may be presented in film. The purpose of the film was to explore ecological notions of perception, to engage the viewer in ‘relational seeing’ (Sewell 1999) and to lead the eye downwards and inwards in order that the viewer might perceive human skin and rock, seaweed and hair, land, ocean and body as the same yet distinct, separate and merging. At the same time, what is revealed in the film by the solo female dancer is the soma, whole and articulate, part of the ecology of place, and ‘place’ itself.
Estimating the ice thickness of mountain glaciers with a shape optimization algorithm using surface topography and mass-balance
Authors: Michel Laurent , Picasso Marco , Farinotti Daniel , Bauder Andreas , Funk Martin , Blatter Heinz
Published: November 2013

We present a shape optimization algorithm to estimate the ice thickness distribution within a two-dimensional, non-sliding mountain glacier, given a transient surface geometry and a mass-balance distribution. The approach is based on the minimization of the surface topography misfit at the end of the glacier's evolution in the shallow ice approximation of ice flow. Neither filtering of the surface topography where its gradient vanishes nor interpolation of the basal shear stress is involved. Novelty of the presented shape optimization algorithm is the use of surface topography and mass-balance only within a time-dependent Lagrangian approach for moving-boundary glaciers. On real-world inspired geometries, it is shown to produce estimations of even better quality in smaller time than the recently proposed steady and transient inverse methods. A sensitivity analysis completes the study and evinces the method's higher susceptibility to perturbations in the surface topography than in surface mass-balance or rate factor.
Ranging behavior and habitat use of the Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) in limestone habitats of Nonggang, China
Authors: Zhou Qihai , Wei Hua , Huang Zhonghao , Krzton Ali , Huang Chengming
Published: November 2013

Ranging behavior and habitat utilization are important indicators of ecological influences on individual behavior. We collected data on the ranging behavior and habitat use of two groups of Assamese macaques (
Implementation and analysis of an adaptive multilevel Monte Carlo algorithm
Authors: Hoel Håkon , von Schwerin Erik , Szepessy Anders , Tempone Raúl
Published: November 2013

We present an adaptive multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) method for
weak approximations of solutions to Itô stochastic
differential equations (SDE). The work [Oper. Res. 56 (2008), 607–617]
proposed and analyzed an MLMC method based on a hierarchy of uniform time
discretizations and control variates to reduce the computational
effort required by a single level Euler–Maruyama Monte
Carlo method from

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in [Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. Eng. 82, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (2012), 217–234]
and it also provides mathematical analysis of the improved algorithms.
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analysis.
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Electrical Stimulation of the Human Homolog of the Medial Superior Temporal Area Induces Visual Motion Blindness
Authors: Becker Hubertus G. T. , Haarmeier Thomas , Tatagiba Marcos , Gharabaghi Alireza
Published: November 2013

Despite tremendous advances in neuroscience research, it is still unclear how neuronal representations of sensory information give rise to the contents of our perception. One of the first and also the most compelling pieces of evidence for direct involvement of cortical signals in perception comes from electrical stimulation experiments addressing the middle temporal (MT) area and the medial superior temporal (MST) area: two neighboring extrastriate cortical areas of the monkey brain housing direction-sensitive neurons. Here we have combined fMRI with electrical stimulation in a patient undergoing awake brain surgery, to separately probe the functional significance of the human homologs, i.e., area hMT and hMST, on motion perception. Both the stimulation of hMT and hMST made it impossible for the patient to perceive the global visual motion of moving random dot patterns. Although visual motion blindness was predominantly observed in the contralateral visual field, stimulation of hMST also affected the ipsilateral hemifield. These results suggest that early visual cortex up to the stage of MT is not sufficient for the perception of global visual motion. Rather, visual motion information must be mediated to higher-tier cortical areas, including hMST, to gain access to conscious perception.
Role of Somatosensory Cortex in Visuospatial Attention
Authors: Balslev Daniela , Odoj Bartholomäus , Karnath Hans-Otto
Published: November 2013

The human somatosensory cortex (S1) is not among the brain areas usually associated with visuospatial attention. However, such a function can be presumed, given the recently identified eye proprioceptive input to S1 and the established links between gaze and attention. Here we investigated a rare patient with a focal lesion of the right postcentral gyrus that interferes with the processing of eye proprioception without affecting the ability to locate visual objects relative to her body or to execute eye movements. As a behavioral measure of spatial attention, we recorded fixation time during visual search and reaction time for visual discrimination in lateral displays. In contrast to a group of age-matched controls, the patient showed a gradient in looking time and in visual sensitivity toward the midline. Because an attention bias in the opposite direction, toward the ipsilesional space, occurs in patients with spatial neglect, in a second study, we asked whether the incidental coinjury of S1 together with the neglect-typical perisylvian lesion leads to a milder neglect. A voxelwise lesion behavior mapping analysis of a group of right-hemisphere stroke patients supported this hypothesis. The effect of an isolated S1 lesion on visual exploration and visual sensitivity as well as the modulatory role of S1 in spatial neglect suggest a role of this area in visuospatial attention. We hypothesize that the proprioceptive gaze signal in S1, although playing only a minor role in locating visual objects relative to the body, affects the allocation of attention in the visual space.
Body and Object Effectors: The Organization of Object Representations in High-Level Visual Cortex Reflects Body–Object Interactions
Authors: Bracci Stefania , Peelen Marius V.
Published: November 2013

The principles driving the functional organization of object representations in high-level visual cortex are not yet fully understood. In four human fMRI experiments, we provide evidence that the organization of high-level visual cortex partly reflects the degree to which objects are typically controlled by the body to interact with the world, thereby extending the body's boundaries. Univariate whole-brain analysis showed an overlap between responses to body effectors (e.g., hands, feet, and limbs) and object effectors (e.g., hammers, combs, and tennis rackets) in lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC) and parietal cortex. Region of interest analyses showed that a hand-selective region in left LOTC responded selectively to object effectors relative to a range of noneffector object control conditions (e.g., graspable objects, “act-on” objects, musical instruments). Object ratings showed that the strong response to object effectors in hand-selective LOTC was not due to general action-related object properties shared with these control conditions, such as hand priming, hand grasping, and hand-action centrality. Finally, whole-brain representational similarity analysis revealed that the similarity of multivoxel object response patterns in left lateral occipitotemporal cortex selectively predicted the degree to which objects were rated as being controlled by and extending the body. Together, these results reveal a clustering of body and object effector representations, indicating that the organization of object representations in high-level visual cortex partly reflects how objects relate to the body.
Changes in Brain Function Occur Years before the Onset of Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Beason-Held Lori L. , Goh Joshua O. , An Yang , Kraut Michael A. , O'Brien Richard J. , Ferrucci Luigi , Resnick Susan M.
Published: November 2013

To develop targeted intervention strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, we first need to identify early markers of brain changes that occur before the onset of cognitive impairment. Here, we examine changes in resting-state brain function in humans from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. We compared longitudinal changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), assessed by15O-water PET, over a mean 7 year period between participants who eventually developed cognitive impairment (n= 22) and those who remained cognitively normal (n= 99). Annual PET assessments began an average of 11 years before the onset of cognitive impairment in the subsequently impaired group, so all participants were cognitively normal during the scanning interval. A voxel-based mixed model analysis was used to compare groups with and without subsequent impairment. Participants with subsequent impairment showed significantly greater longitudinal rCBF increases in orbitofrontal, medial frontal, and anterior cingulate regions, and greater longitudinal decreases in parietal, temporal, and thalamic regions compared with those who maintained cognitive health. These changes were linear in nature and were not influenced by longitudinal changes in regional tissue volume. Although all participants were cognitively normal during the scanning interval, most of the accelerated rCBF changes seen in the subsequently impaired group occurred within regions thought to be critical for the maintenance of cognitive function. These changes also occurred within regions that show early accumulation of pathology in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that there may be a connection between early pathologic change and early changes in brain function.