bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VARIABILITY IN THE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF THE PANCREAS IN HEALTHY DOGS COMPARED TO DOGS WITH HYPERADRENOCORTICISM
Authors: Granger L. Abbigail , Hilferty Michael , Francis Taylor , Steiner Jörg M. , Gaschen Lorrie
Published: April 2015

Anecdotally, an unusually hyperechoic pancreas can be found in seemingly healthy dogs on ultrasound examination and the prevalence and clinical significance of this finding is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of a hyperechoic and/or heterogenous pancreas in healthy dogs and correlate these findings to weight, age, and body condition score (BCS). An additional objective was to describe the prevalence of a hyperechoic and/or heterogenous pancreas in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism and compare this to the healthy dogs. Pancreata of 74 healthy dogs were evaluated prospectively and pancreatic echogenicity and echotexture were graded. Each dog's age, BCS, and weight were recorded. Dogs were screened for health by physical examination, serum chemistry panel, urine specific gravity, and a canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity assay. Pancreatic images for 92 dogs having hyperadrenocorticism were also reviewed and pancreatic echogenicity and echotexture were recorded. The prevalence of pancreatic hyperechogenicity in normal dogs was 7% (5 of 74) and heterogeneity was 40% (30 of 74). No correlation existed between pancreatic echogenicity and weight, age, or BCS (P> 0.1 for all sets). A statistically significant increase in the proportion of dogs having a hyperechoic pancreas was found in the hyperadrenocorticism sample of dogs (40%, 37 of 92,P< 0.0001). The underlying cause of pancreatic variability in the few healthy dogs and in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism is unknown and the varying appearance of the pancreas in these samples confounds interpretation of diseases such as chronic pancreatitis.
Compatibility of arithmetic and algebraic local constants (the case )
Authors: Nekovář Jan
Published: April 2015

We show that arithmetic local constants attached by Mazur and Rubin to pairs of self-dual Galois representations which are congruent modulo a prime number$p>2$are compatible with the usual local constants at all primes not dividing$p$and in two special cases also at primes dividing$p$. We deduce new cases of the$p$-parity conjecture for Selmer groups of abelian varieties with real multiplication (Theorem 4.14) and elliptic curves (Theorem 5.10).
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Dynamic Positioning in Level Ice
Authors: Metrikin Ivan , Kerkeni Sofien , Jochmann Peter , Løset Sveinung
Published: April 2015

Offshore operations in ice-covered waters are drawing considerable interest from both the public and private sectors. Such operations may require vessels to keep position during various activities, such as lifting, installation, crew change, evacuation, and possibly drilling. In deep waters, mooring solutions become uneconomical and, therefore, dynamic positioning (DP) systems are attractive. However, global loads from drifting sea ice can be challenging for stationkeeping operations of DP vessels. To address this challenge, the current paper investigates DP in level ice conditions using experimental and numerical approaches. The experimental part describes a set of ice model tests which were performed at the large ice tank of the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) in the summer and autumn of 2012. Experimental design, instrumentation, methods, and results are presented and discussed. The numerical part presents a novel model for simulating DP operations in level ice, which treats both the vessel and the ice floes as separate independent bodies with six degrees-of-freedom. The fracture of level ice is calculated on-the-fly based on numerical solution of the ice material failure equations, i.e., the breaking patterns of the ice are not precalculated. The numerical model is connected to a DP controller and the two systems interchange data dynamically and work in a closed-loop. The structures of the models, as well as the physical and mathematical assumptions, are discussed in the paper. Finally, several ice basin experiments are reproduced in the numerical simulator, and the results of the physical and numerical tests are compared and discussed.
Binge drinking for stress relief
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: April 2015

Binge drinking may contribute to long-term alcohol use by promoting anti-stress signaling in the brain.
Repurposing of the antihistamine chlorcyclizine and related compounds for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: He Shanshan , Lin Billy , Chu Virginia , Hu Zongyi , Hu Xin , Xiao Jingbo , Wang Amy Q. , Schweitzer Cameron J. , Li Qisheng , Imamura Michio , Hiraga Nobuhiko , Southall Noel , Ferrer Marc , Zheng Wei , Chayama Kazuaki , Marugan Juan J. , Liang T. Jake
Published: April 2015

Over-the-counter allergy drug chlorcyclizine was identified and characterized as an anti-HCV drug in vitro and in vivo.
Postsurgical adjuvant or metastatic renal cell carcinoma therapy models reveal potent antitumor activity of metronomic oral topotecan with pazopanib
Authors: Jedeszko Christopher , Paez-Ribes Marta , Di Desidero Teresa , Man Shan , Lee Christina R. , Xu Ping , Bjarnason Georg A. , Bocci Guido , Kerbel Robert S.
Published: April 2015

The combination of metronomic topotecan and pazopanib has potent antitumor effects in models of primary and metastatic renal cancer.
Key elements for nourishing the translational research environment
Authors: Volk Hans-Dieter , Stevens Molly M. , Mooney David J. , Grainger David W. , Duda Georg N.
Published: April 2015

Translation in an academic environment requires a support system—people, goals, models, partnerships, and infrastructures—that will push promising basic science and technology projects forward into the clinic.
Long-lasting stem cell–like memory CD8+T cells with a naïve-like profile upon yellow fever vaccination
Authors: Fuertes Marraco Silvia A. , Soneson Charlotte , Cagnon Laurène , Gannon Philippe O. , Allard Mathilde , Maillard Samia Abed , Montandon Nicole , Rufer Nathalie , Waldvogel Sophie , Delorenzi Mauro , Speiser Daniel E.
Published: April 2015

The yellow fever vaccine induces a CD8+T stem cell–like memory subset with a naïve-like profile that persists long term.
When Langerhans’ and Cajal’s worlds collide, diabetics win
Authors: Lemaire Mathieu
Published: April 2015

A new antidiabetic therapy has emerged from the demonstration that a neuronal receptor expressed on pancreatic β cells tightly regulates insulin secretion after glucose exposure.
Physical properties, electrical resistivity, and strength characteristics of carbonated silty soil admixed with reactive magnesia
Authors: Cai G.H. , Du Y.J. , Liu S.Y. , Singh D.N.
Published: April 2015

Soil electrical resistivity has been used quite extensively for assessing mechanical properties of chemically treated soils in the recent past. One of the most innovative applications of this technique could be in the field of ground improvement wherein carbonated reactive magnesia (MgO) is employed for treating soils. With this in view, a systematic study that targets the application of electrical resistivity to correlate physical and strength characteristics of the carbonated reactive MgO-admixed silty soil is initiated, and its details are presented in this manuscript. To achieve this, reactive MgO-admixed soils were carbonized by exposing them to CO2 for different durations, and subsequently their electrical resistivity and unconfined compressive strength were measured. In this context, the role of a parameter, the ratio of the initial water content of the virgin soil to reactive MgO content (designated as w0/c), has been highlighted. It has also been demonstrated that w0/c is able to correlate, uniquely and precisely, with the physicochemical parameters of the soils (viz., unit weight, water content at failure, porosity, degree of saturation, and soil pH), electrical resistivity, and unconfined compressive strength at various carbonation times. In addition, microstructural properties have been obtained from the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry analyses. These properties have been used to substantiate the findings related to the carbonation of the reactive MgO-admixed soils.
Low productivity of Chinook salmon strongly correlates with high summer stream discharge in two Alaskan rivers in the Yukon drainage
Authors: Neuswanger Jason R. , Wipfli Mark S. , Evenson Matthew J. , Hughes Nicholas F. , Rosenberger Amanda E.
Published: April 2015

Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations are declining for unknown reasons, creating hardship for thousands of stakeholders in subsistence and commercial fisheries. An informed response to this crisis requires understanding the major sources of variation in Chinook salmon productivity. However, simple stock–recruitment models leave much of the variation in this system’s productivity unexplained. We tested adding environmental predictors to stock–recruitment models for two Yukon drainage spawning streams in interior Alaska — the Chena and Salcha rivers. Low productivity was strongly associated with high stream discharge during the summer of freshwater residency for young-of-the-year Chinook salmon. This association was more consistent with the hypothesis that sustained high discharge negatively affects foraging conditions than with acute mortality during floods. Productivity may have also been reduced in years when incubating eggs experienced major floods or cold summers and falls. These freshwater effects — especially density dependence and high discharge — helped explain population declines in both rivers. They are plausible as contributors to the decline of Chinook salmon throughout the Yukon River drainage.
When central sequence C*-algebras have characters
Authors: Kirchberg Eberhard , Rørdam Mikael
Published: April 2015

We investigate C*-algebras whose central sequence algebra has no characters, and we raise the question if such C*-algebras necessarily must absorb the Jiang–Su algebra (provided that they also are separable). We relate this question to a question of Dadarlat and Toms if the Jiang–Su algebra always embeds into the infinite tensor power of any unital C*-algebra without characters. We show that absence of characters of the central sequence algebra implies that the C*-algebra has the so-called strong Corona Factorization Property, and we use this result to exhibit simple nuclear separable unital C*-algebras whose central sequence algebra does admit a character. We show how stronger divisibility properties on the central sequence algebra imply stronger regularity properties of the underlying C*-algebra.
Backreaction effects due to matter coupled higher derivative gravity
Authors: Joshi Lata Kh , Ramadevi P.
Published: April 2015

AdS-hydrodynamics has proven to be a useful tool for obtaining transport coefficients observed in the collective flow of strongly coupled fluids like quark gluon plasma (QGP). Particularly, the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density η/s obtained from elliptic flow measurements can be matched with the computation done in the dual gravity theory. The experimentally observed temperature dependence of η/s requires the study of scalar matter coupled AdS gravity including higher derivative curvature corrections. We obtain the backreaction to the metric for such a matter coupled AdS gravity in D-dimensional spacetime due to the higher derivative curvature corrections. Then, we present the backreaction corrections to shear viscosity η and entropy density s.
New realizations of 𝒩 = 2l-conformal Newton–Hooke superalgebra
Authors: Masterov Ivan
Published: April 2015

By applying Niederer-like transformation, we construct a representation of the 𝒩 = 2l-conformal Newton–Hooke (NH) superalgebra for the case of a negative cosmological constant in terms of linear differential operators as well as its dynamical realization. Another variant of 𝒩 = 2 supersymmetric Pais–Uhlenbeck oscillator for a particular choice of its frequencies is proposed. The advantages of such realizations as compared to their analogues introduced in [I. Masterov, J. Math. Phys.53, 072904 (2012)], are discussed.
Toward the stabilization of extra dimensions by brane dynamics
Authors: Kitazawa Noriaki
Published: April 2015

All the models of elementary particles and their interactions derived from String Theory involve a compact six-dimensional internal space. Its volume and shape should be fixed or stabilized, since otherwise massless scalar fields (moduli) reflecting their deformations appear in our four-dimensional space–time, with sizable effects on known particles and fields. We propose a strategy toward stabilizing the compact space without fluxes of three-form fields from closed strings. Our main motivation and goal is to proceed insofar as possible within conventional string worldsheet theory. As we shall see, D-branes with magnetic flux ("magnetized D-branes") and the forces between them can be used to this end. We investigate here some necessary ingredients: open string one-loop vacuum amplitudes between magnetized D-branes, magnetized D-branes fixed at orbifold singularities, and potential energies among such D-branes in the compact space that result from tree-level closed string exchanges.
Synthesis and characterization of Ni–Au bimetallic nanoparticles
Authors: Nik Roselina N. R. , Azizan A. , Hyie Koay Mei , Murad Mardziah Che , Abdullah Abdul Hakim
Published: April 2015

Bimetallic structure of nanoparticles is of great interest due to their extraordinary properties, especially in combining the specialty of the core and its shell. This work reports the effect of pH on the synthesis of Ni – Au (nickel–gold) bimetallic nanoparticles. The synthesis involves a two-step process where Ni nanoparticles were first synthesized using polyol method with hydrazine as the reducing agent. This was followed by the process of reducing [Formula: see text] to Au in the solution containing pre-prepared Ni to form Ni – Au bimetallic nanoparticles using sodium citrate as the reducing agent. The results obtained from Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) show that the process can possibly produce either core-shell structure, or mixture of Ni and Au nanoparticles. Magnetic property of core-shell structure investigated using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) demonstrated typical characteristic of ferromagnetic with an increased magnetization as compared to Ni nanoparticles. The saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc) were obtained as 19.1 emu/g and 222.3 Oe, respectively.
High-permittivity microwave dielectric ceramics based on (1 - x)(Li1/2Nd1/2)TiO3–xCaTiO3
Authors: Zhang Weijun , Chen Xingyu , Jia Aiqing , Bai Shuxin
Published: April 2015

Microwave (MW) dielectric ceramics in (1 - x)( Li 1/2 Nd 1/2) TiO 3–x CaTiO 3 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) composition were prepared through the conventional solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) indicated that the matrix phase was a continuous solid solution with orthorhombic perovskite structure. A minor amount of secondary phase was detected only in the composition of x = 0.7 and 0.8. The (1 - x)( Li 1/2 Nd 1/2) TiO 3–x CaTiO 3 ceramics showed a very high permittivity of 118–153 and reasonable Q × f0 values of 2360–5930 GHz as x increased from 0.2 to 0.8. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) of the samples increased with increasing x value and was approximately linearly proportional to εr. Bi 4 B 2 O 9 addition effectively tailored the τf of (1 - x)( Li 1/2 Nd 1/2) TiO 3–x CaTiO 3 ceramics to near zero at low temperature, and induced no degradation of Q × f0 value. The x = 0.3 composition with 20 wt .% Bi 4 B 2 O 9 addition sintered at 1050°C exhibited dielectric properties of εr = 112.4, Q × f0 = 2414 GHz and τf = 8.9 ppm/°C.
Ultrasonic gas alloy atomization under near-zero aspiration pressure
Authors: Yan Pengfei , Wang Deping , Yan Biao
Published: April 2015

In this paper, ultrasonic gas atomization (USGA) of Zn – Al under near-zero aspiration pressure was discussed. The protrusion length of delivery tube was modified to adjust the aspiration pressure. Under near-zero aspiration pressure, melt filming was observed by camera and more fine powders were produced. While under larger subambient aspiration pressure, melt filming was unavailable, corresponding to less fine powders. The results suggest that the position of the wake near the delivery tube can be optimized under near-zero aspiration. Less protrusion of delivery tube reduces the energy loss in gas flow deflection. Both facilitate to produce finer powders.
Thermoelectric properties of hole-doped Yb1-xPbxBaCo4O7+δ ceramics
Authors: Chen Yubo , Ma Runxiang , Wang Kunlun , Gao Feng , Hu Xing , Song Hongzhang
Published: April 2015

The effects of Pb doping on the thermoelectric (TE) properties of Yb 1-x Pb x BaCo4O7+δ (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1) ceramic samples prepared by the solid-state reaction method were investigated from 383 K to 973 K. The results showed that with increase of the Pb content, the electrical resistivity decreased remarkably, meanwhile the Seebeck coefficient decreased slightly, resulting in an enhancement of the power factor (PF). The effect of Pb doping on the thermal conductivity was insignificant. According to the PF and the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) value, the optimum Pb doping content was x = 0.08. The ZT value reached 0.12 at 973 K, being 69.5% higher than that of the sample without Pb doping.
New Sparse Facial Feature Description Model Based on Salience Evaluation of Regions and Features
Authors: Zhao Yue , Su Jianbo
Published: April 2015

Some regions (or blocks) and their affiliated features of face images are normally of more importance for face recognition. However, the variety of feature contributions, which exerts different saliency on recognition, is usually ignored. This paper proposes a new sparse facial feature description model based on salience evaluation of regions and features, which not only considers the contributions of different face regions, but also distinguishes that of different features in the same region. Specifically, the structured sparse learning scheme is employed as the salience evaluation method to encourage sparsity at both the group and individual levels for balancing regions and features. Therefore, the new facial feature description model is obtained by combining the salience evaluation method with region-based features. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves better performance with much lower feature dimensionality.
On semilocal, Bézout and distributive generalized power series rings
Authors: Mazurek Ryszard , Ziembowski Michał
Published: April 2015

Let R be a ring, and let S be a strictly ordered monoid. The generalized power series ring R[[S]] is a common generalization of polynomial rings, Laurent polynomial rings, power series rings, Laurent series rings, Mal'cev–Neumann series rings, monoid rings and group rings. In this paper, we examine which conditions on R and S are necessary and which are sufficient for the generalized power series ring R[[S]] to be semilocal right Bézout or semilocal right distributive. In the case where S is a strictly totally ordered monoid we characterize generalized power series rings R[[S]] that are semilocal right distributive or semilocal right Bézout (the latter under the additional assumption that S is not a group).
Performance Comparison of Variable Step Size Techniques of Sato and Godard-Based Blind Equalizer
Authors: Suthendran K. , Arivoli T.
Published: April 2015

The modern digital high speed wireless communication system demands quick convergence rate and low steady state error. The balancing between the demands can be achieved by opting step size. Thus, it is essential to define new algorithms to equalize channels and mitigate noise in communications. It is renowned that time varying step size blind equalization technique can speed up the convergence rate and minimize the misadjustment. This work presents a variable step size (VSS) approach based on godard blind equalization algorithm to resolve the conflict between the convergence rate and precision of the fixed step-size godard algorithm. The results of this projected approach is compared with the existing variable step size sato algorithm for a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) input symbol.
A chromium carbene (OC)5Cr=C(OEt)(–C≡C–Ph): Quantum mechanical study of molecular structure, HOMO–LUMO analysis, IR spectroscopy, natural bond orbital analysis
Authors: Ghiasi Reza
Published: April 2015

In this work, the structural, electronic properties, 13 C and 1 H NMR parameters and first hyperpolarizability of a chromium carbene ( OC )5 Cr = C ( OEt )(– C ≡ C – Ph ) complex were theoretically computed in gas phase and different solvents. Also, the solvent effect on structural parameters, frontier orbital energies, – C ≡ C – and C ≡ O stretching frequencies of complex has been carried out based on polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results indicate that the polarity of solvents has played a significant role on the structures and properties of complex. 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts were calculated by using the gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. In analyzing the structural characteristics of this structure, Cr – CO and Cr – C carbene bonds were identified and characterized in detail by topological parameters such as electron density ρ(r) and Laplacian of electron density ∇2ρ(r) from Bader's atom in molecules theory.
Numerical Simulation of Zonal Disintegration of the Surrounding Rock Masses Around a Deep Circular Tunnel Under Dynamic Unloading
Authors: Bi Jing , Zhou Xiao Ping
Published: April 2015

A new numerical method, which is called the General Particle Dynamics (GPD) method, is proposed to investigate the zonal disintegration mechanism of isotropic rock masses around a deep circular tunnel subjected to dynamic unloading as well as the stress distributions. A constitutive model based on the GPD method is developed to simulate the zonal disintegration phenomenon in deep rock masses. The number and size of fractured and nonfractured zones are determined using the nonlinear unified strength criterion. It is shown from the numerical results that the dynamic loads and high in situ stress are two dominant factors for the occurrence of zonal disintegration.
Effect of axial ligands on electronic structure andO2reduction by iron porphyrin complexes: Towards a quantitative understanding of the "push effect"
Authors: Samanta Subhra , Das Pradip Kumar , Chatterjee Sudipta , Dey Abhishek
Published: April 2015

Axial ligands play a dominating role in determining the electronic structure and reactivity of iron porphyrin active sites and synthetic models. Several properties unique to the cysteine bound heme enzyme, cytochrome P450, is attributed to the "push effect" of the thiolate axial ligand. In this mini-review the ground state electronic structure of iron porphyrins with imidazole, phenolate and thiolate complexes, derived using a combination of spectroscopy and DFT calculations, are discussed. The differences in kinetics and selectivity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), catalyzed by these iron porphyrin complexes with different axial ligands, help elucidate the varying push effects of the different axial ligands on oxygen activation by ferrous porphyrin. The spectroscopic and kinetic data help to develop a quantitative understanding of the "push effect" and, in particular, the electrostatic and covalent contributions to it.
Metal-induced dynamic conformational and fluorescence switch of quinone-appended Zn-porphyrin
Authors: Yamada Yasuyuki , Hiraga Kosuke , Tanaka Kentaro
Published: April 2015

In this report, we have designed and synthesized a novel switching molecule whose fluorescence can be switched via dynamic conformational change between expanded and shrunk states induced by metal complexation and decomplexation. The switching molecule is composed of three kinds of components, namely, a Zn 2+-porphyrin fluorophore, two quinone quenchers, and their linkers containing a 4,4′-bipyridine moiety. UV-vis and fluorescence titration studies revealed that metal complexation of the bipyridine units with Zn 2+ ions induced the dynamic structural change of the molecular shape and simultaneous enhancement of fluorescence of the Zn 2+-porphyrin fluorophore.
Mechanistic study of a manganese porphyrin catalyst for on-demand production of chlorine dioxide in water
Authors: Hicks Scott D. , Xiong Silei , Bougher Curt J. , Medvedev Grigori A. , Caruthers James , Abu-Omar Mahdi M.
Published: April 2015

A water-soluble manganese porphyrin complex was examined for the catalytic formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorite under ambient temperature at pH 5.00 and 6.90. Quantitative kinetic modeling allowed for the deduction of a mechanism that accounts for all experimental observations. Catalysis is initiated via an OAT (Oxygen Atom Transfer) reaction resulting in formation of a putative manganese(V) oxo species, which undergoes ET (Electron Transfer) with chlorite to form chlorine dioxide. As chlorine dioxide accumulates in solution, chlorite consumption slows down and ClO 2 reaches a maximum as the system reaches equilibrium. In phosphate buffer at pH 6.90, manganese(IV) oxo accumulates and its reaction with ClO 2 gives ClO 3-. However, at pH 5.00 acetate buffer proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) from chlorite to manganese(IV) oxo is fast and irreversible leading to chlorate formation only via the putative manganese(V) oxo species. These differences underscore how PCET rates affect reaction pathways and mechanism. The ClO 2 product can be collected from the aqueous reaction mixture via purging with an inert gas, allowing for the preparation of chlorine dioxide on-demand.
Japan at a Crossroads: Abe Shinzo's Politics and Abenomics
Authors: LAM Peng Er
Published: April 2015

In 2014, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo dominated Japanese politics. He successfully hiked the consumption tax in April and decisively won the Lower House Election in November. In an ideological tilt to the right, Abe also shifted Japan away from its post-war pacifism by making a cabinet decision to accept collective security. By paving the way for Japan to exercise military force through the assistance of third parties beyond its US ally, Abe will fundamentally change the role and identity of Japan in the post-Cold War era.
Shinzo Abe's Challenges for the New Growth Strategy and Tax Reform
Authors: GODO Yoshihisa , TONG Sarah Y
Published: April 2015

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made various announcements and actions under the names of the New Growth Strategy and the tax reform in 2014. None of them, however, seems adequate to place the Japanese economy on the path to sustainable growth. While Abe now enjoys political stability in the Diet, serious risks of excess liquidity and national bankruptcy are seemingly increasing in the Japanese economy.
Rocky Road Ahead for South Korea
Authors: CHOO Jaewoo
Published: April 2015

The year 2015 kicked off with South Korean President Park Geun-hye's approval rate taking a dive. Economically, for 2015 forecast, government-related think tanks offer favourable forecasts, but private institutions showed greater pessimism. Inter-Korean relations are likely to remain tumultuous. South Korea's relations with the United States are likely to remain strong and unshaken as the two had already kicked off the New Year by materialising the United States' long-sought military strategy involving Japan.
Positive long-term outcomes from presuckling calcium supplementation in lactating rats and the offspring
Authors: Suntornsaratoon Panan , Krishnamra Nateetip , Charoenphandhu Narattaphol
Published: April 2015

Adequate dietary calcium intake and the enhanced intestinal calcium absorption in lactating mothers have long been postulated to prevent maternal bone loss and benefit neonatal bone growth. We recently showed that calcium supplementation just before breastfeeding efficiently alleviated lactation-induced bone loss in dams as well as increased milk calcium concentration, which led to higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the newborns. Herein, we further elaborated in detail how presuckling calcium supplements worked in lactating rats and how they benefited bone growth in the offspring. As revealed by bone histomorphometry, presuckling supplement with calcium alone reduced the osteoclast surface and active erosion surface, leading to an increase in trabecular thickness without changes in trabecular separation or number in dams. The beneficial effects of presuckling calcium supplements, particularly the regimen containing glucose and galactose that enhanced intestinal calcium absorption, were found to last for 3 mo postweaning, although it could not restore estrogen-deficient osteopenia induced by ovariectomy. Regarding the neonatal benefits, pups nursed by calcium-supplemented dams exhibited increases in trabecular BMD, which could be observed even at the age of 27 wk. Bone elongation was also greater in pups of calcium-supplemented dams, which was due possibly to accelerated growth plate chondrocyte turnover. It could be concluded that calcium supplements markedly diminished the lactation-induced osteopenia in dams and positively affected BMD and bone elongation in growing rats. Therefore, presuckling calcium supplementation in lactating mothers is an effective strategy for promoting a long-lasting high bone density for both mother and the offspring.
ATGL-mediated triglyceride turnover and the regulation of mitochondrial capacity in skeletal muscle
Authors: Meex Ruth C. R. , Hoy Andrew J. , Mason Rachael M. , Martin Sheree D. , McGee Sean L. , Bruce Clinton R. , Watt Matthew J.
Published: April 2015

Emerging evidence indicates that skeletal muscle lipid droplets are an important control point for intracellular lipid homeostasis and that regulating fatty acid fluxes from lipid droplets might influence mitochondrial capacity. We used pharmacological blockers of the major triglyceride lipases, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase, to show that a large proportion of the fatty acids that are transported into myotubes are trafficked through the intramyocellular triglyceride pool. We next tested whether increasing lipolysis from intramyocellular lipid droplets could activate transcriptional responses to enhance mitochondrial and fatty acid oxidative capacity. ATGL was overexpressed by adenoviral and adenoassociated viral infection in C2C12 myotubes and the tibialis anterior muscle of C57Bl/6 mice, respectively. ATGL overexpression in C2C12 myotubes increased lipolysis, which was associated with increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-∂ activity, transcriptional upregulation of some PPAR∂ target genes, and enhanced mitochondrial capacity. The transcriptional responses were specific to ATGL actions and not a generalized increase in fatty acid flux in the myotubes. Marked ATGL overexpression (20-fold) induced modest molecular changes in the skeletal muscle of mice, but these effects were not sufficient to alter fatty acid oxidation. Together, these data demonstrate the importance of lipid droplets for myocellular fatty acid trafficking and the capacity to modulate mitochondrial capacity by enhancing lipid droplet lipolysis in vitro; however, this adaptive program is of minor importance when superimposing the normal metabolic stresses encountered in free-moving animals.
Bending Characteristics of Foldable Touch Display Panel with a Protection Structure Design
Authors: Cheng Hsien-Chie , Xu Wei-Heng , Chen Wen-Hwa , Wang Pi-Hsien , Chen Kuo-Feng , Chang Chih-Chia
Published: April 2015

The study proposes and demonstrates an enhancement of a touch display panel (TDP) through a polymer-based protection structure to achieve higher bendability and reliability. The bending performance of the TDP without or with the protection structure designs is addressed using three-dimensional geometry-nonlinear finite element analysis and mechanical testing. The elastic properties of the components in the TDP structure are derived from nanoindentation and uniaxial tensile/compressive testing. The calculated results are compared with each other and also against the experimental bending fatigue test data. At last, a design guideline and optimal factor setting for enhanced bending performance are sought through parametric FE analysis and Taguchi experimental design, respectively. The optimal design is compared with the original in terms of bending stress. The simulation results show that bending would create significant tensile and compressive bending stresses on the indium tin oxide/dielectric layers, which are the main cause of several commonly observed failures, such as thin film cracking and delamination, in a thin rigid film coating on a thick compliant substrate. It also turns out that a substrate with a lower stiffness has a better mechanical stability against bending stress.
Research on a Pulmonary Nodule Segmentation Method Combining Fast Self-Adaptive FCM and Classification
Authors: Liu Hui , Zhang Cai-Ming , Su Zhi-Yuan , Wang Kai , Deng Kai
Published: April 2015

The key problem of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of lung cancer is to segment pathologically changed tissues fast and accurately. As pulmonary nodules are potential manifestation of lung cancer, we propose a fast and self-adaptive pulmonary nodules segmentation method based on a combination of FCM clustering and classification learning. The enhanced spatial function considers contributions to fuzzy membership from both the grayscale similarity between central pixels and single neighboring pixels and the spatial similarity between central pixels and neighborhood and improves effectively the convergence rate and self-adaptivity of the algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve more accurate segmentation of vascular adhesion, pleural adhesion, and ground glass opacity (GGO) pulmonary nodules than other typical algorithms.
A Heuristic Procedure for the Outbound Container Relocation Problem during Export Loading Operations
Authors: Guerra-Olivares Roberto , González-Ramírez Rosa G. , Smith Neale R.
Published: April 2015

During export ship loading operations, it is often necessary to perform relocation movements with containers that interfere with access to the desired container in the ship loading sequence. This paper presents a real-time heuristic procedure for the container relocation problem employing reachstacker vehicles as container handling equipment. The proposed heuristic searches for good relocation coordinates within a set of nearby bays. The heuristic has a parameter that determines how far from the original bay a container may be relocated. The tradeoff between reducing relocation movements and limiting vehicle travel distances is examined and the performance of the heuristic is compared with a common practice in the smaller container terminals in Chile and Mexico. Finally, a mathematical model for the container relocation problem is presented.
Sb2S3Quantum-Dot Sensitized Solar Cells with Silicon Nanowire Photoelectrode
Authors: Hsieh You-Da , Lee Ming-Way , Wang Gou-Jen
Published: April 2015

We propose a novel quantum-dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) structure that employs a quantum dot/semiconductor silicon (QD/Si) coaxial nanorod array to replace the conventional dye/TiO2/TCO photoelectrode. We replaced the backlight input mode with top-side illumination and used a quantum dot to replace dye as the light-absorbing material. Photon-excited photoelectrons can be effectively transported to each silicon nanorod and conveyed to the counter electrode. We use two-stage metal-assisted etching (MAE) to fabricate the micro-nano hybrid structure on a silicon substrate. We then use the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method to synthesize a Sb2S3quantum dot on the surface of each silicon nanorod to form the photoelectrode for the quantum dot/semiconductor silicon coaxial nanorod array. We use a xenon lamp to simulate AM 1.5 G (1000 W/m2) sunlight. Then, we investigate the influence of different silicon nanorod arrays and CBD deposition times on the photoelectric conversion efficiency. When an NH (N-type with high resistance) silicon substrate is used, the QD/Si coaxial nanorod array synthesized by three runs of Sb2S3deposition shows the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of 0.253%. The corresponding short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor are 5.19 mA/cm2, 0.24 V, and 20.33%, respectively.
Sleep Deprivation and Oxidative Stress in Animal Models: A Systematic Review
Authors: Villafuerte Gabriel , Miguel-Puga Adán , Murillo Rodríguez Eric , Machado Sergio , Manjarrez Elias , Arias-Carrión Oscar
Published: April 2015

Because the function and mechanisms of sleep are partially clear, here we applied a meta-analysis to address the issue whether sleep function includes antioxidative properties in mice and rats. Given the expansion of the knowledge in the sleep field, it is indeed ambitious to describe all mammals, or other animals, in which sleep shows an antioxidant function. However, in this paper we reviewed the current understanding from basic studies in two species to drive the hypothesis that sleep is a dynamic-resting state with antioxidative properties. We performed a systematic review of articles cited in Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science until March 2015 using the following search terms:Sleep or sleep deprivation and oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, glutathione, nitric oxide, catalase or superoxide dismutase. We found a total of 266 studies. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 articles were included, which are presented and discussed in this study. The complex relationship between sleep duration and oxidative stress is discussed. Further studies should consider molecular and genetic approaches to determine whether disrupted sleep promotes oxidative stress.
Myeloablative Chemotherapy with Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Authors: Forlenza Christopher J. , Kushner Brian H. , Kernan Nancy , Boulad Farid , Magnan Heather , Wexler Leonard , Wolden Suzanne L. , LaQuaglia Michael P. , Modak Shakeel
Published: April 2015

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a rare, aggressive neoplasm, has a poor prognosis. In this prospective study, we evaluated the role of myeloablative chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplant in improving survival in DSRCT. After high-dose induction chemotherapy and surgery, 19 patients with chemoresponsive DSRCT underwent autologous stem cell transplant. Myeloablative chemotherapy consisted of carboplatin (400–700 mg/m2/day for 3 days) + thiotepa (300 mg/m2/day for 3 days) ± topotecan (2 mg/m2/day for 5 days). All patients were engrafted and there was no treatment-related mortality. Seventeen patients received radiotherapy to sites of prior or residual disease at a median of 12 weeks after transplant. Five-year event-free and overall survival were 11 ± 7% and 16 ± 8%, respectively. Two patients survive disease-free 16 and 19 years after transplant (both in complete remission before transplant). 14 patients had progression and died of disease at a median of 18 months following autologous transplant. These data do not justify the use of myeloablative chemotherapy with carboplatin plus thiotepa in patients with DSRCT. Alternative therapies should be considered for this aggressive neoplasm.
Design of a Novel UWB Omnidirectional Antenna Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Yu Chengyang , Xu Tanghong , Liu Changjun
Published: April 2015

A UWB E-plane omnidirectional microwave antenna is designed and fabricated for IEEE 802.11a communication system and microwave magnetron source system as a radiation monitor. A cooptimization method based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and FDTD software is presented. The presented PSO algorithm is useful in many industrial microwave applications, such as microwave magnetron design and other techniques with a high power level. The maximum measured relative bandwidth of 65% is achieved for the proposed antenna after a rapid and efficient optimization. Furthermore, the measured antenna polarization purity reaches about 20 dB at the communication C band. The PSO algorithm is a powerful candidate for microwave passive component design.
Possibility Intuitionistic Fuzzy Soft Expert Set Theory and Its Application in Decision Making
Authors: Selvachandran Ganeshsree , Salleh Abdul Razak
Published: April 2015

We propose the theory of possibility intuitionistic fuzzy soft expert theory and define some related concepts pertaining to this notion as well as the basic operations on this concept, namely, the complement, union, intersection, AND, and OR. The basic properties and relevant laws pertaining to this concept such as De Morgan’s laws are proved. Lastly, a generalized algorithm is introduced and applied to the concept of possibility intuitionistic fuzzy soft expert sets in hypothetical decision making problem.
Strategic Wholesale Pricing and Commonality Strategy in a Supply Chain with Quality Segmentation
Authors: Xu Tiantian , Xiao Tiaojun , Tian Chen
Published: April 2015

We develop two game models of a one-supplier and one-manufacturer supply chain to investigate the supplier’s strategic wholesale pricing decision and the manufacturer’s commonality strategy. The manufacturer has three commonality strategies for the high-end and low-end products: common high-quality component, common low-quality component, and dedicated components. We consider both wholesale price first scenario and commonality strategy first scenario. Under the wholesale price first scenario, we identify the range of each commonality strategy and find that (i) the common low-quality component strategy is harmful to the supplier; (ii) if the quality of low-quality component and the unit production cost of high-quality component are sufficiently low, the supplier induces the common high-quality component strategy by strategically decreasing the unit wholesale price of high-quality component, while if they are sufficiently high, the supplier induces the dedicated components strategy by increasing the unit wholesale price of high-quality component and decreasing that of low-quality one. Under the commonality strategy first scenario, the common low-quality component strategy may exist. By comparing the two scenarios, we find that (i) if the unit production cost of low-quality component is medium, the equilibrium outcomes under both scenarios are identical; (ii) there exists a first-mover advantage for the two players.
Gut Inflammation and Immunity: What Is the Role of the Human Gut Virome?
Authors: Focà Alfredo , Liberto Maria Carla , Quirino Angela , Marascio Nadia , Zicca Emilia , Pavia Grazia
Published: April 2015

The human virome comprises viruses that infect host cells, virus‐derived elements in our chromosomes, and viruses that infect other organisms, including bacteriophages and plant viruses. The development of high‐throughput sequencing techniques has shown that the human gut microbiome is a complex community in which the virome plays a crucial role into regulation of intestinal immunity and homeostasis. Nevertheless, the size of the human virome is still poorly understood. Indeed the enteric virome is in a continuous and dynamic equilibrium with other components of the gut microbiome and the gut immune system, an interaction that may influence the health and disease of the host. We review recent evidence on the viruses found in the gastrointestinal tract, discussing their interactions with the resident bacterial microbiota and the host immune system, in order to explore the potential impact of the virome on human health.
Evaluation of Bus Networks in China: From Topology and Transfer Perspectives
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhao Peng , Wang Yinhai , Yao Xiangming , Zhuge Chengxiang
Published: April 2015

With the development of the public transportation, bus network becomes complicated and hard to evaluate. Transfer time is a vital indicator to evaluate bus network. This paper proposed a method to calculate transfer times using Space P. Four bus networks in China have been studied in this paper. Some static properties based on graph theory and complex theory are used to evaluate bus topological structure. Moreover, a bus network evolution model to reduce transfer time is proposed by adding lines. The adding method includes four types among nodes with random choice, large transfer time, degree, and small degree. The results show that adding lines with nodes of small degree is most effective comparing with the other three types.
Mature Teratoma of the Temporal Bone in 3.5-Month-Old Baby Girl
Authors: Alqurashi Alshema , Bakry Essa , Straube Marta , Rickert Christian H. , Mir-Salim Parwis
Published: April 2015

Mature teratoma is a benign germ cell tumor rarely located in the temporal bone. We are reporting a case of a mature teratoma of the temporal bone in a healthy borne 3.5-month-old baby girl with a 2-day suggestive history of otitis media and polypoidal mass expulsing from the external auditory canal of the left ear. A definitive diagnosis is made after complete excision and histological examination of the tissue. Total surgical excision of the tumor is the treatment of choice.
Pathophysiological Role of Extracellular Purinergic Mediators in the Control of Intestinal Inflammation
Authors: Kurashima Yosuke , Kiyono Hiroshi , Kunisawa Jun
Published: April 2015

Purinergic mediators such as adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) are released into the extracellular compartment from damaged tissues and activated immune cells. They are then recognized by multiple purinergic P2X and P2Y receptors. Release and recognition of extracellular ATP are associated with both the development and the resolution of inflammation and infection. Accumulating evidence has recently suggested the potential of purinergic receptors as novel targets for drugs for treating intestinal disorders, including intestinal inflammation and irritable bowel syndrome. In this review, we highlight recent findings regarding the pathophysiological role of purinergic mediators in the development of intestinal inflammation.
Central Role of Gimap5 in Maintaining Peripheral Tolerance and T Cell Homeostasis in the Gut
Authors: Endale Mehari , Aksoylar H. Ibrahim , Hoebe Kasper
Published: April 2015

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is often precipitated by an abnormal immune response to microbiota due to host genetic aberrancies. Recent studies highlight the importance of the host genome and microflora interactions in the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation including IBD. Specifically, genome‐wide (GWAS) and also next‐generation sequencing (NGS)—including whole exome or genome sequencing—have uncovered a large number of susceptibility loci that predispose to autoimmune diseases and/or the two phenotypes of IBD. In addition, the generation of “IBD‐prone” animal models using both reverse and forward genetic approaches has not only helped confirm the identification of susceptibility loci but also shed critical insight into the underlying molecular and cellular pathways that drive colitis development. In this review, we summarize recent findings derived from studies involving a novel early‐onset model of colitis as it develops in GTPase of immunity‐associated protein 5‐ (Gimap5-) deficient mice. In humans, GIMAP5 has been associated with autoimmune diseases although its function is poorly defined. Here, we discuss how defects in Gimap5 function impair immunological tolerance and lymphocyte survival and ultimately drive the development of CD4+ T cell‐mediated early‐onset colitis.