bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of CXCL13-CXCR5 Crosstalk Between Malignant Neuroblastoma Cells and Schwannian Stromal Cells in Neuroblastic Tumors
Authors: Del Grosso Federica , Coco Simona , Scaruffi Paola , Stigliani Sara , Valdora Francesca , Benelli Roberto , Salvi Sandra , Boccardo Simona , Truini Mauro , Croce Michela , Ferrini Silvano , Longo Luca , Tonini Gian Paolo
Published: June 2011

Neuroblastoma is a stroma-poor (SP) aggressive pediatric cancer belonging to neuroblastic tumors, also including ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma, two stroma-rich (SR) less aggressive tumors. Our previous gene-expression profiling analysis showed a different CXCL13 mRNA expression between SP and SR tumors. Therefore, we studied 13 SP and 13 SR tumors by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and we found that CXCR5b was more expressed in SP than in SR and CXCL13 was predominantly expressed in SR tumors. Then, we isolated neuroblastic and Schwannian stromal cells by laser capture microdissection and we found that malignant neuroblasts express CXCR5b mRNA, whereas Schwannian stromal cells express CXCL13. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that stroma expresses CXCL13 but not CXCR5. To better understand the role of CXCL13 and CXCR5 in neuroblastic tumors we studied 11 neuroblastoma cell lines and we detected a heterogeneous expression of CXCL13 and CXCR5b. Interestingly, we found that only CXCR5b splice variant was expressed in both tumors and neuroblastoma lines, whereas CXCR5a was never detected. Moreover, we found that neuroblastoma cells expressing CXCR5 receptor migrate toward a source of recombinant CXCL13. Lastly, neuroblastoma cells induced to glial cell differentiation expressed CXCL13 mRNA and protein. The chemokine released in the culture medium was able to stimulate chemotaxis of LA1–5S neuroblastoma cells. Collectively, our data suggest that CXCL13 produced by stromal cells may contribute to the generation of an environment in which the malignant neuroblasts are retained, thus limiting the possible development of metastases in patients with SR tumor. Mol Cancer Res; 9(7); 815–23. ©2011 AACR.
Motivations and Perceptions of Early Adopters of Personalized Genomics: Perspectives from Research Participants
Authors: Gollust S.E. , Gordon E.S. , Zayac C. , Griffin G. , Christman M.F. , Pyeritz R.E. , Wawak L. , Bernhardt B.A.
Published: June 2011

Background/Aims: To predict the potential public health impact of personal genomics, empirical research on public perceptions of these services is needed. In this study, ‘early adopters’ of personal genomics were surveyed to assess their motivations, perceptions and intentions. Methods: Participants were recruited from everyone who registered to attend an enrollment event for the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, a United States-based (Camden, N.J.) research study of the utility of personalized medicine, between March 31, 2009 and April 1, 2010 (n = 369). Participants completed an Internet-based survey about their motivations, awareness of personalized medicine, perceptions of study risks and benefits, and intentions to share results with health care providers. Results: Respondents were motivated to participate for their own curiosity and to find out their disease risk to improve their health. Fewer than 10% expressed deterministic perspectives about genetic risk, but 32% had misperceptions about the research study or personal genomic testing. Most respondents perceived the study to have health-related benefits. Nearly all (92%) intended to share their results with physicians, primarily to request specific medical recommendations. Conclusion: Early adopters of personal genomics are prospectively enthusiastic about using genomic profiling information to improve their health, in close consultation with their physicians. This suggests that early users (i.e. through direct-to-consumer companies or research) may follow up with the health care system. Further research should address whether intentions to seek care match actual behaviors.
Increased MicroRNA-1 and MicroRNA-133a Levels in Serum of Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Indicate Myocardial Damage
Authors: Kuwabara Yasuhide , Ono Koh , Horie Takahiro , Nishi Hitoo , Nagao Kazuya , Kinoshita Minako , Watanabe Shin , Baba Osamu , Kojima Yoji , Shizuta Satoshi , Imai Masao , Tamura Toshihiro , Kita Toru , Kimura Takeshi
Published: June 2011

Background—

Recently, elevation of circulating muscle-specific microRNA (miRNA) levels has been reported in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, it is still unclear from which part of the myocardium or under what conditions miRNAs are released into circulating blood. The purpose of this study was to identify the source of elevated levels of circulating miRNAs and their function in cardiovascular diseases.

Methods and Results—

Serum levels of miRNA (miR)-1 and miR-133a were increased significantly in patients not only with acute myocardial infarction but also with unstable angina pectoris and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy without elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase or cardiac troponin. MicroRNA microarray analysis of the heart from a mouse model of myocardial infarction indicated that the levels of miR-1, miR-133a, miR-208a, and miR-499 were significantly reduced in the infarcted myocardium. In situ hybridization of miR-133a also showed that miR-133a levels were very low in the infarcted and peri-infarcted myocardium. It has been shown that circulating miRNAs are localized inside exosomes, which are released after Ca
2+
stimulation. We stimulated H9c2 cardiomyoblasts with A23187 and measured miR-133a levels in the exosome fraction of the culture medium. A23187 induced a dose-dependent release of miR-133a, and significant elevation was observed only at concentrations where dead cells were detected. We also found that miR-133a–containing exosomes reduced the luciferase activity of 293FT cells transfected with an miR-133a sensor vector.

Conclusions—

These results suggest that elevated levels of circulating miR-133a in patients with cardiovascular diseases originate mainly from the injured myocardium. Circulating miR-133a can be used as a marker for cardiomyocyte death, and it may have functions in cardiovascular diseases.
Pyochelin isolated from Burkholderia arboris KRICT1 carried by pine wood nematodes exhibits phytotoxicity in pine callus
Authors: Le Dang Quang , Son Seung Wan , Cheon Hyang-Mi , Choi Gyung Ja , Choi Yong Ho , Jang Kyoung Soo , Lim Chi Hwan , Kim Jin-Cheol
Published: June 2011

Pine wilt disease is a very complex disease known to be caused by the pine
wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and its
accompanying bacteria. The phytotoxin-producing bacteria have been reported
to be involved in the development of pine wilt disease. In this study, we
attempted to characterise phytotoxins produced by Burkholderia
arboris KRICT1, which was carried by the pine wood nematode. It
produced phytotoxic compounds in the pine seedling assay, and the ethyl
acetate (EtOAc) layer of the fermentation broth of the strain displayed
phytotoxic activity on the pine callus of Pinus densiflora.
One active compound was isolated from the EtOAc layer by repeated Sephadex
LH-20 column chromatography and preparative TLC. Using mainly mass
spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the chemical
structure was determined to be that of pyochelin (a mixture of two
interconvertible diastereoisomers, pyochelin I and II). Pyochelin exposure
reduced the viability of pine callus. Compared with phenylacetic acid, a
phytotoxin produced by Bacillus spp. that was transmitted
by B. xylophilus in Japan, pyochelin showed much stronger
phytotoxicity. The results suggested that pyochelin might play a role in the
wilting process of pine wilt disease.
Two unusually slender nematode species of Trischistoma Cobb, 1913 (Enoplida: Tripylidae)
Authors: Andrássy István
Published: June 2011

Two new species of Trischistoma are described from Chile and differ from their relatives, and also from the majority of free-living continental nematodes, by their long and exceedingly slender body. Trischistoma tenuissimum sp. n. is characterised by a 4.0-4.2 mm long body, a = 94-112, presence of long post-vulval uterine sac, female tail 7.6 anal body diam. long, three weak precloacal papillae and 60 μm long spicules. Trischistoma subtilissimum sp. n. is 2.9-3.5 mm long with a = 123-146, has a very long post-vulval uterine sac, a female tail 12-14 anal body diam. long, 2-3 weak precloacal papillae and 38-40 μm long spicules.
Cervidellus sonorensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Cephalobidae) from the desert of Anza-Borrego, CA, USA
Authors: Ragsdale Erik J. , -Ocampo Manuel Mundo , Bumbarger Daniel J. , Baldwin James G.
Published: June 2011

Cervidellus sonorensis n. sp. is described from sand near
the roots of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) from
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA, USA. It is distinguished from others in
the genus by the combination of a greatly distended, guitar-shaped corpus
and the morphology of the lips and labial probolae. Distinctive features
include a large pharyngeal metacorpus with a double swelling, a knob-like
ledge at the base of each labial probola and lips with five filamentous
tines, the most apical of which are those closest to the primary axil. One
male individual was discovered in this parthenogenetic species. Characters
used to diagnose C. sonorensis n. sp. are not definitive
with respect to other genera and are probably plesiomorphic or convergent in
light of DNA-based phylogenetic hypotheses. The position of C.
sonorensis n. sp. and morphologically close congeners in
relation to species of Nothacrobeles and
Paracrobeles is discussed.
The Contribution of Orographically Driven Banded Precipitation to the Rainfall Climatology of a Mediterranean Region
Authors: Godart Angélique , Anquetin Sandrine , Leblois Etienne , Creutin Jean-Dominique
Published: June 2011

Studies carried out worldwide show that topography influences rainfall climatology. As in most western Mediterranean regions, the mountainous Cévennes–Vivarais area in France regularly experiences extreme precipitation that may lead to devastating flash floods. Global warming could further aggravate this situation, but this possibility cannot be confirmed without first improving the understanding of the role of topography in the regional climate and, in particular, for extreme rainfall events. This paper focuses on organized banded rainfall and evaluates its contribution to the rainfall climatology of this region. Stationary rainfall systems made up of such bands are triggered and enhanced by small-scale interactions between the atmospheric flow and the relief. Rainbands are associated with shallow convection and are also present in deep-convection events for specific flux directions. Such precipitation patterns are difficult to observe both with operational weather radar networks, which are not designed to observe low-level convection within complex terrain, and with rain gauge networks, for which gauge spacing is typically larger than the bandwidth. A weather class of banded orographic shallow-convection events is identified, and the contribution of such events to annual or seasonal precipitation over the region is assessed. Moreover, a method is also proposed to quantify the contribution of banded convection during specific deep-convection events. It is shown that even though these orographically driven banded precipitation events produce moderate precipitation intensities they have long durations and therefore represent a significant amount of the rainfall climatology of the region, producing up to 40% of long-term total precipitation at certain locations.
Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is a Major Determinant of Low Ankle-Brachial Index and Toe-Brachial Index in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Sheen Yi-Jing , Lin Jainn-Liang , Lee I-Te , Hsu Yuan-Nian , Li Tsai-Chung , Sheu Wayne Huey-Herng
Published: June 2011

We enrolled 1461 Taiwanese type 2 diabetic outpatients with ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) examinations, excluding participants with history of stroke, end-stage renal disease, malignancy, acute myocardial infarction, amputation, and overt calcification of the lower limbs (ABI >1.3). Ankle-brachial index values <0.9 were found in 2.8% of the patients and 5.7% had TBI <0.6. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 90 ± 33 mL/min per 1.73 m2) obtained from 473 patients correlated significantly with both ABI and TBI. Progressive eGFR decline was observed in 419 participants with normal ABI and TBI, 35 with normal ABI but low TBI, and 19 with low ABI and normal or low TBI ( P for trend <.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, age and eGFR were significantly associated with TBI and ABI. Low eGFR is associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes with mild to moderate renal insufficiency.
The Influence of Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome on Vascular Complications
Authors: Irzmański Robert , Śliwczyńska-Rodziewicz Dorota , Pawlicki Lucjan , Kowalski Jan
Published: June 2011

We assessed the influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) characteristics on vascular complications. The study included 108 patients (72 women and 36 men, age 57.0 ± 8.5 years) with MetS that was diagnosed according to International Diabetes Federation criteria. The prevalence of micro- and macrovascular complications was assessed: vascular changes in the fundus of the eye—72%, ischemic heart disease—54.9%, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 mL/min—38.9%, diabetic foot—5.55%, and cerebrovascular accident—3.7% of patients. A negative correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration, creatinine levels, and level of vascular changes in the fundus of the eye was found. Moreover, the level of obesity and fasting glucose level had positive correlation with the intensity of vascular changes in the fundus of the eye. Characteristics of MetS (obesity and fasting glucose level) have high impact on advancing vascular complications in these patients. High level of HDL-C decreases the intensity of vascular changes in patients with MetS.
The Role of Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Novo Giuseppina , Rizzo Manfredi , Carruba Salvatore La , Caruso Marco , Amoroso Gisella Rita , Balistreri Carmela Rita , Coppola Giuseppe , Evola Giovanna , Caruso Calogero , Assennato Pasquale , Novo Salvatore , Mancuso Dario
Published: June 2011

We assessed whether macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) levels are associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We studied 56 patients with AMI (mean age: 67 ± 12 years) and identified those with clinical (Killip class >II) or echocardiographic signs (ejection fraction ≤45%) of LVSD. We evaluated the established cardiovascular risk factors and measured several cardiovascular biomarkers, including M-CSF. Serum M-CSF concentrations (pg/mL) were significantly increased in patients with both clinical and echocardiographic signs of LVSD (460 ± 265 vs 290 ± 210, P = .0103 and 493 ± 299 vs 287 ± 174, P = .0028, respectively). We found a significant inverse association between M-CSF and ejection fraction ( r = −.351, P = .0079). Logistic regression analysis revealed that, among all evaluated clinical and biochemical parameters, the stronger predictor of LVSD was M-CSF (odds ratios 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.9, P = .0168). This is the first study reporting plasma M-CSF levels as independent determinants of low LV ejection fraction and clinical LV dysfunction in patients with AMI.
Macrophage Infiltration and Smooth Muscle Cells Content Associated With Haptoglobin Genotype in Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaques
Authors: Lioupis Christos , Barbatis Calypso , Lazari Paraskevi , Liasis Nikolaos , Klonaris Christos , Georgopoulos Sotirios , Andrikopoulos Vasilios , Bastounis Elias
Published: June 2011

We assessed the association between the haptoglobin (Hp) genotype and 2 common indicators of atherosclerotic plaque instability: macrophage infiltration and the smooth muscle cell (SMC) content. A total of 70 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy were included in the study. For immunohistochemical study the anti-CD68 and anti-a-actin antibodies were used on adjacent serial sections; 36 plaques from patients with the Hp 1-1 or 2-1 genotype and 34 plaques from patients with the Hp 2-2 genotype were analyzed. The macrophage content (CD68+) was significantly higher in the Hp 2-2 group compared with that in the Hp 1-1 or 2-1 group ( P < .001). In plaques from patients with diabetes, the SMC content was significantly lower in the Hp 2-2 group ( P = .034). Carotid plaques from diabetic patients with Hp 2-2 genotype had higher macrophage infiltration and lower SMC content. Both parameters are indicators of atherosclerotic plaque instability.
Measuring Dissent in Electoral Authoritarian Societies
Authors: Herron Erik S.
Published: June 2011

Although authoritarian regimes assert control over electoral processes, election returns can yield valuable information about dissent. Using election data from two votes in Azerbaijan, this article assesses hypotheses about the sources of antiregime results. The analysis indicates that dissenting votes may be produced by a combination of elite interference at the national and local levels, and through the expression of citizen preferences under the conditions of a limited choice set. Although results must be interpreted with care, authoritarian elections may provide useful insights into hidden elite conflict and/or citizen grievances. The approach to assessing dissenting votes described in the article not only yields information about Azerbaijan’s internal politics but also could be applied to elections in other electoral authoritarian states.
Using Quantile Regression to Understand Visitor Spending
Authors: Lew Alan A. , Ng Pin T.
Published: June 2011

A common approach to assessing visitor expenditures is to use least squares regression analysis to determine statistically significant variables on which key market segments are identified for marketing purposes. This was earlier done by Wang for survey data based on expenditures by Mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong. In this research note, this same data set was used to demonstrate the benefits of using quantile regression analysis to better identify tourist spending patterns and market segments. The quantile regression method measures tourist spending in different categories against a fixed range of dependent variables, which distinguishes between lower, medium, and higher spenders. The results show that quantile regression is less susceptible to influence by outlier values and is better able to target finer tourist spending market segments.
Using Emotional Solidarity to Explain Residents’ Attitudes about Tourism and Tourism Development
Authors: Woosnam Kyle M.
Published: June 2011

Research has neglected to consider the role residents’ feelings toward tourists play in formulating attitudes about tourism and tourism development. Following a two-step process (i.e., establishing a measurement model and structural path model), the Emotional Solidarity Scale (ESS) and its factors were used to predict levels of the Tourism Impact Attitude Scale (TIAS) and its factors. In confirming the factor structure for each scale, both were found to have high internal consistency (through composite reliability and maximal weighted alpha coefficients) and high validity (through convergent and discriminant validity). Collectively, each of the three ESS factors (welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding) significantly predicted the two TIAS factors (support for tourism development and contributions tourism makes to the community), with two exceptions. Implications are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.
Human Polymorphisms in the Glutathione Transferase Zeta 1/Maleylacetoacetate Isomerase Gene Influence the Toxicokinetics of Dichloroacetate
Authors: Shroads Albert L. , Langaee Taimour , Coats Bonnie S. , Kurtz Tracie L. , Bullock John R. , Weithorn David , Gong Yan , Wagner David A. , Ostrov David A. , Johnson Julie A. , Stacpoole Peter W.
Published: June 2011

Dichloroacetate (DCA), a chemical relevant to environmental science and allopathic medicine, is dehalogenated by the bifunctional enzyme glutathione transferase zeta (GSTz1)/maleylacetoacetate isomerase (MAAI), the penultimate enzyme in the phenylalanine/tyrosine catabolic pathway. The authors postulated that polymorphisms in GSTz1/MAAI modify the toxicokinetics of DCA. GSTz1/MAAI haplotype significantly affected the kinetics and biotransformation of 1,2‐13C‐DCA when it was administered at either environmentally (μg/kg/d) or clinically (mg/kg/d) relevant doses. GSTz1/MAAI haplotype also influenced the urinary accumulation of potentially toxic tyrosine metabolites. Atomic modeling revealed that GSTz1/MAAI variants associated with the slowest rates of DCA metabolism induced structural changes in the enzyme homodimer, predicting protein instability or abnormal protein‐protein interactions. Knowledge of the GSTz1/MAAI haplotype can be used prospectively to identify individuals at potential risk of DCA's adverse side effects from environmental or clinical exposure or who may exhibit aberrant amino acid metabolism in response to dietary protein.
Lack of Significant Effect of Bilastine Administered at Therapeutic and Supratherapeutic Doses and Concomitantly With Ketoconazole on Ventricular Repolarization: Results of a Thorough QT Study (TQTS) With QT‐Concentration Analysis
Authors: Tyl Benoît , Kabbaj Meriam , Azzam Sara , Sologuren Ander , Valiente Román , Reinbolt Elizabeth , Roupe Kathryn , Blanco Nathalie , Wheeler William
Published: June 2011

The effect of bilastine on cardiac repolarization was studied in 30 healthy participants during a multiple‐dose, triple‐dummy, crossover, thorough QT study that included 5 arms: placebo, active control (400 mg moxifloxacin), bilastine at therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses (20 mg and 100 mg once daily, respectively), and bilastine 20 mg administered with ketoconazole 400 mg. Time‐matched, triplicate electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded with 13 time points extracted predose and 16 extracted over 72 hours post day 4 dosing. Four QT/RR corrections were implemented: QTcB; QTcF; a linear individual correction (QTcNi), the primary correction; and a nonlinear one (QTcNnl). Moxifloxacin was associated with a significant increase in QTcNi at all time points between 1 and 12 hours, inclusively. Bilastine administration at 20 mg and 100 mg had no clinically significant impact on QTc (maximum increase in QTcNi, 5.02 ms; upper confidence limit [UCL] of the 1‐sided, 95% confidence interval, 7.87 ms). Concomitant administration of ketoconazole and bilastine 20 mg induced a clinically relevant increase in QTc (maximum increase in QTcNi, 9.3 ms; UCL, 12.16 ms). This result was most likely related to the cardiac effect of ketoconazole because for all time points, bilastine plasma concentrations were lower than those observed following the supratherapeutic dose.
Gambling on negativity: The promise of philosophy in Adorno’s thought
Authors: Melnyk Maureen
Published: June 2011

Against the common supposition that Adorno’s thinking remains caught in a distressing form of pessimism rendering it impotent in the face of modern capitalism and the fungibility of subjects, the article argues that the operation of negative dialectics inherently contains a productive moment that suggests the promise of a qualitatively different philosophy. Through an analysis that employs the multivalent senses of play at work in Adornian thinking — and particularly the notions of gamble, risk and chance — as its primary interpretive key, the article shows that this promise for a philosophy ‘to come’ is at work in the use of parataxis and the practice of constellating concepts; in the invocation of metaphysical experience and affective language; and in the descriptions of critical philosophy as engaged in a practice of ‘critique and rescue’ or ‘wounded healing’.
Trajectories of Marital Conflict Across the Life Course
Authors: Kamp Dush Claire M. , Taylor Miles G.
Published: June 2011

Using typologies outlined by Gottman and Fitzpatrick as well as institutional and companionate models of marriage, the authors conducted a latent class analysis of marital conflict trajectories using 20 years of data from the Marital Instability Over the Life Course study. Respondents were in one of three groups: high, medium (around the mean), or low conflict. Several factors predicted conflict trajectory group membership; respondents who believed in lifelong marriage and shared decisions equally with their spouse were more likely to report low and less likely to report high conflict. The conflict trajectories were intersected with marital happiness trajectories to examine predictors of high and low quality marriages. A stronger belief in lifelong marriage, shared decision making, and husbands sharing a greater proportion of housework were associated with an increased likelihood of membership in a high happiness, low conflict marriage, and a decreased likelihood of a low marital happiness group.
Geometric motion planning: The local connection, Stokes’ theorem, and the importance of coordinate choice
Authors: Hatton Ross L , Choset Howie
Published: June 2011

The locomotion of articulated mechanical systems is often complex and unintuitive, even when considered with the aid of reduction principles from geometric mechanics. In this paper, we present two tools for gaining insights into the underlying principles of locomotion: connection vector fields and connection height functions . Connection vector fields illustrate the geometric structure of the relationship between internal shape changes and the system body velocities they produce. Connection height functions measure the curvature of their respective vector fields and capture the net displacement over any cyclic shape change, or gait , allowing for the intuitive selection of gaits to produce desired displacements. Height function approaches have been previously attempted, but such techniques have been severely limited by their basis in a rotating body frame, and have only been useful for calculating planar rotations and infinitesimal translations. We circumvent this limitation by introducing a notion of optimal coordinates defining a body frame that rotates very little in response to shape changes, while still meeting the requirements of the geometric mechanics theory on which the vector fields and height functions are based. In these optimal coordinates, the height functions provide close approximations of the net displacement resulting from a broad selection of possible gaits.
Scene parsing using a prior world model
Authors: Hager Gregory D , Wegbreit Ben
Published: June 2011

We present a new paradigm for constructing a 3D model of a scene from images. Our approach makes strong use of a prior 3D model of the scene. Changes from scene to scene are regarded as a Markov dynamical system, which is described by a probabilistic transition model. From the prior 3D scene model, the model of scene change dynamics, and a newly acquired image, we compute the new 3D scene model which is most consistent with the observed image and the changes from the prior model. The use of a prior 3D scene model allows the method to deal with complex scenes, maintain hidden state, respect object persistence, perform object segmentation, and provides computational efficiencies. In this paper we formalize a mathematical framework for physically consistent 3D scene models, and changes to scene models that preserve physical consistency. From this framework, we first derive a generic scene model optimization algorithm for the general 3D scene interpretation problem, and we then present a polynomial time approximation for this algorithm. We detail the implementation of the algorithm for range images computed by stereo imaging, and present extensive experimental results on sequences of scenes containing dozens of objects and multiple changes from scene to scene.
Undulatory swimming in sand: experimental and simulation studies of a robotic sandfish
Authors: Maladen Ryan D , Ding Yang , Umbanhowar Paul B , Goldman Daniel I
Published: June 2011

A previous study of a sand-swimming lizard, the sandfish, revealed that it swims within granular media at speeds up to 0.4 body-lengths/cycle using body undulations (approximately a single period sinusoidal traveling wave) without limb use. Inspired by the organism, we develop a numerical model of a robot swimming in a simulated granular medium to guide the design of a physical device. Both in simulation and experiment the robot swims limblessly subsurface at speeds up to 0.3 body-lengths/cycle and, like the animal, increases its speed by increasing its oscillation frequency. The performance of the robot measured in terms of its wave efficiency η, the ratio of its forward speed to wave speed, is 0.34 ± 0.02 , within 8% of the simulation prediction. Both in simulation and experiment, η increases with increasing particle—particle friction but decreases with increasing body—particle friction. On a flat, rigid surface the robot fails to move forward, as expected, due to the frictional isotropy between the interacting surfaces. However, the surface and subsurface performance of the robot on low friction particles are comparable. Our work provides a validated simulation tool and the design of a robot that can move on or within yielding terrestrial substrates.
Linear dimensionality reduction in random motion planning
Authors: Dalibard Sébastien , Laumond Jean-Paul
Published: June 2011

In this paper we present a method to control random sampling in motion planning algorithms. The principle of the method is to use online the results of a probabilistic planner to describe the free space in which the planning takes place, by computing a principal component analysis (PCA). This method identifies the locally free directions of the free space. Given that description, our algorithm accelerates the progression along these favored directions. In this way, if the free space appears as a small volume around a sub-manifold of a high-dimensional configuration space, the method overcomes the usual limitations of probabilistic motion planning algorithms and finds a solution quickly. The presented method is theoretically analyzed and experimentally compared with known motion planners.
Closing the learning-planning loop with predictive state representations
Authors: Boots Byron , Siddiqi Sajid M , Gordon Geoffrey J
Published: June 2011

A central problem in artificial intelligence is to choose actions to maximize reward in a partially observable, uncertain environment. To do so, we must learn an accurate environment model, and then plan to maximize reward. Unfortunately, learning algorithms often recover a model that is too inaccurate to support planning or too large and complex for planning to succeed; or they require excessive prior domain knowledge or fail to provide guarantees such as statistical consistency. To address this gap, we propose a novel algorithm which provably learns a compact, accurate model directly from sequences of action-observation pairs. We then evaluate the learner by closing the loop from observations to actions. In more detail, we present a spectral algorithm for learning a predictive state representation (PSR), and evaluate it in a simulated, vision-based mobile robot planning task, showing that the learned PSR captures the essential features of the environment and enables successful and efficient planning. Our algorithm has several benefits which have not appeared together in any previous PSR learner: it is computationally efficient and statistically consistent; it handles high-dimensional observations and long time horizons; and, our close-the-loop experiments provide an end-to-end practical test.
Assessing optimal assignment under uncertainty: An interval-based algorithm
Authors: Liu Lantao , Shell Dylan A
Published: June 2011

We consider the problem of multi-robot task-allocation when robots have to deal with uncertain utility estimates. Typically an allocation is performed to maximize expected utility; we consider a means for measuring the robustness of a given optimal allocation when robots have some measure of the uncertainty (e.g. a probability distribution, or moments of such distributions). We introduce the interval Hungarian algorithm, a new algorithm that extends the classic Kuhn—Munkres Hungarian algorithm to compute the maximum interval of deviation, for each entry in the assignment matrix, which will retain the same optimal assignment. The algorithm has a worst-case time complexity of O( n4) ; we also introduce a parallel variant with O( n3) running time, which is able to exploit the concurrent computing capabilities of distributed multi-robot systems. This provides an efficient measurement of the tolerance of the allocation to the uncertainties and dynamics, for both a specific interval and a set of interrelated intervals. We conduct experiments both in simulation and with physical robots to validate the approach and to gain insight into the effect of location uncertainty on allocations for multi-robot multi-target navigation tasks.
Position of the Bony Bridge of Lateral Meniscal Transplants Can Affect Meniscal Extrusion
Authors: Choi Nam-Hong , Yoo Soon-Yong , Victoroff Brian N.
Published: June 2011

Background: There are several reported causes of midbody extrusion after lateral meniscal allograft transplantation. However, there are no reports studying the correlation between the position of the bony bridge and extrusion of the midbody after meniscal allograft transplantation.

Hypothesis: The position of the bony bridge of lateral meniscal allografts can affect meniscal extrusion.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent a lateral meniscal allograft transplantation using a fresh-frozen graft. The lateral meniscal allograft was prepared with a bony bridge. Postoperative evaluations of the meniscal allografts were performed using follow-up magnetic resonance imaging 6 months postoperatively. On the coronal view, extrusion was measured as the distance between the outer edge of the articular cartilage of the lateral tibial plateau and the outer edge of the meniscal allograft. On the axial view, the length of the entire tibial plateau (PL) and distance between the lateral edge of the lateral tibial plateau and center of the bony bridge (CB) were measured. Measurements of CB were divided by measurements of PL. The correlation test between CB/PL and extrusion was performed to determine whether the position of the bony bridge can affect extrusion of the midbody of meniscal allograft.

Results: The mean center of the bony bridge of the meniscal allograft (CB/PL) was positioned at 42.3% (range, 36.1%-49%; standard deviation [SD] = 3.6%) from the outer edge of the lateral tibial plateau. The mean extrusion of meniscal allografts was 3.2 mm (range, 0-6.5 mm; SD = 2.3). The amount of extrusion was correlated with the position of the bony bridge of the graft and the Pearson correlation coefficient was –.567 ( P = .003). The cut-off percentage above which extrusion did not occur was 42.05%.

Conclusion: The more closely the center of the bony bridge approached 50% of the entire tibial plateau, the less extrusion of the midbody occurred. Anatomic placement of the bony bridge of lateral meniscal allograft is imperative to prevent extrusion after lateral meniscal allograft transplantation.
Epidemiology of Patellar Tendinopathy in Elite Male Soccer Players
Authors: Hägglund Martin , Zwerver Johannes , Ekstrand Jan
Published: June 2011

Background: Patellar tendinopathy is common among athletes in jumping sports and in sports with prolonged repetitive stress of the knee extensor apparatus. The epidemiology in soccer is not well described.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate and describe the epidemiology of patellar tendinopathy in elite male soccer players and evaluate potential risk factors.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Between 2001 and 2009, the authors followed 51 European elite soccer clubs (2229 players) from 3 different cohorts: the Swedish First League cohort (SWE) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League cohort (UCL), both playing on natural grass; and the Artifical Turf cohort (ART), playing on third-generation artificial turf. Individual player exposure in training and matches and time-loss injuries were recorded.

Results: In total, 137 patellar tendinopathies were recorded, comprising 1.5% of all injuries and corresponding to an incidence of 0.12 injuries/1000 hours. Each season, 2.4% of players were affected, with most injuries (61%) resulting in absence up to 1 week or less. Twenty percent of tendinopathies were recurrent complaints. No significant difference in season prevalence (odds ratio [OR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.44; P = .74) or incidence (rate ratio [RR] 1.20; 95% CI, 0.82-1.75; P = .36) was observed between teams playing on artificial turf and natural grass, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that a high total exposure hours (OR, 1.02 per 10-hour increase; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04; P = .033) was a significant risk factor for patellar tendinopathy, and increased body mass was borderline significant (OR, 1.15 per 5-kg increase; 95% CI, 1.00-1.33; P = .055). In addition, 2 acute partial tendon ruptures were recorded, but no total rupture.

Conclusion: Although mainly mild in nature, patellar tendinopathy is a fairly common condition in elite soccer and the recurrence rate is high. Exposure to artificial turf did not increase the prevalence or incidence of injury. High total amount of exposure was identified as a risk factor for patellar tendinopathy.
The Influence of Valproic Acid and Carbamazepine Treatment on Serum Biotin and Zinc Levels and on Biotinidase Activity
Authors: Castro-Gago Manuel , Pérez-Gay Laura , Gómez-Lado Carmen , Castiñeiras-Ramos Daisy E. , Otero-Martínez Santiago , Rodríguez-Segade Santiago
Published: June 2011

We determined the serum concentration of biotin, zinc, antiepileptic drugs, and biotinidase enzyme activity in 20 children treated with valproic acid, in 10 children treated with carbamazepine, and in 75 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of biotin, and biotinidase enzyme activity between the patients treated with valproic acid, the patients treated with carbamazepine, and the control group. Zinc serum levels were lower in the patients treated with valproic acid and with carbamazepine than in the control group, but within the normal range. Hair loss was observed in 3 patients treated with valproic acid, with normal serum levels of biotin, zinc, and biotinidase activity, and the alopecia disappeared with the oral administration of biotin (10 mg/d) in 3 months. These results suggest that the treatment with valproic acid does not alter the serum levels of biotin, zinc, and biotinidase enzyme activity.
Can the Work–Life Movement Regain Its Balance?
Authors: Giancola Frank L.
Published: June 2011

The work–life discipline has been in a period of transformation in recent years for two reasons—no growth in the prevalence of major work–life programs and a decline in the number of work–life specialists. To reinvigorate the field, work–life leaders have changed its signature term, charter and organizational change strategies. The transformation’s success is doubtful because of disagreement over a central premise, a vast and disjointed charter that infringes on other human resources disciplines, and movement into the field by a stronger rival. It will survive, but in a smaller form, based primarily on the concept of workplace flexibility.
Assessing Compensation Statutes for the Wrongly Convicted
Authors: Norris Robert J.
Published: June 2011

As the discovery of wrongful convictions grows, so does concern in the legal community and public sphere about actual innocence. Though research on miscarriages of justice has grown tremendously, most has focused on the factors contributing to wrongful convictions, with relatively little attention paid to the post-release struggles of exonerees. Specifically, social scientists have not yet examined policies designed to assist the exonerated in their return to society. This study provides a content analysis of existing compensation statutes for the wrongly convicted. Results show that just more than half of American states have compensation statutes for exonerees, and the assistance offered varies tremendously from state to state. Assessing current statutes in comparison to a model standard indicates that whereas some jurisdictions provide fairly comprehensive packages, others offer little in the way of reentry assistance. The importance of such statutes and implications for the wrongly convicted are discussed.
Saving Society from the ‘Presumption of Reason’: Classical Conservative and New Right Anti-Welfarism in Post-War America
Authors: Barany Darren
Published: June 2011

This article clarifies some of the contradictions of post-war American conservatism. It chiefly investigates and critiques the traditionalist (i.e. classical) conservative origins of the anti-statism and anti-welfarism of the American New Right and some of the main outlets from which its ideas were mobilized during this period. This brief intellectual and political history explains some of the origins of the anti-statism and anti-left populism which are so visible in today’s conservative movement and which significantly inform contemporary policy discourse. The article concludes that while a fundamental contribution of the American New Right was that it successfully integrated variable forms of conservatism, which had benefited the conservative movement, both politically and ideologically, it had not yet adopted an analysis of poverty and welfare entitlements which highlighted the racial composition of the welfare rolls and behavior explanations for economic hardship. Nor had it yet problematized the changing American family structure.
A generalized similarity measure for similarity-based residual life prediction
Authors: You M-Y , Meng G
Published: June 2011

Equipment residual life (RL) prediction is one of the essential elements of condition-based maintenance. Recently, some efforts are targeted towards similarity-based RL prediction. Similarity-based RL prediction approaches can ease the burden of degradation modelling and perform long-term prediction, by predicting a system's RL using weighted RL of similar systems. In this article, a generalized similarity measure is proposed for a similarity-based RL prediction approach. By the proposed similarity measure, more weight is assigned to a system's most recent performance than to its former performance when measuring its similarity with other systems. The proposed similarity measure includes the conventional one as a special case, hence the name generalized similarity measure. The implementation results from (a) a numerical experiment based on a typical degradation model and (b) a case study of RL prediction of ball grid array solder joints in vibration environments provides evidence of the superiority of the generalized similarity measure, in terms of statistically more accurate prediction (i.e. smaller mean prediction error) close to system failure.
Experimental exergetic performance evaluation of a photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector and comparison with numerical simulation
Authors: Adeli M Mahdavi , Sobhnamayan F , Alavi M A , Farahat S , Sarhaddi F
Published: June 2011

In this article, the experimental exergetic performance assessment of a solar photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air collector is carried out. An experimental set-up for a PV/T air collector is built to measure its thermal and electrical parameters. A detailed energy and exergy analysis is fulfilled to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters, exergy components and exergy efficiency of a typical PV/T air collector. The thermal and electrical parameters of a PV/T air collector include solar cell temperature, back surface temperature, outlet air temperature, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, maximum power point voltage, maximum power point current, etc. A modified thermal and electrical model is used to increase the calculations precision of the thermal and electrical parameters. Furthermore, an improved equation for the exergy efficiency of a PV/T air collector is derived in terms of design and climatic parameters. A computer simulation program is also developed to calculate the thermal and electrical parameters. The results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. Finally, parametric studies have been carried out. It is observed that the improved exergy efficiency obtained in this article is in good agreement with the one given by the previous literature. It is also obtained that the average value of thermal efficiency, electrical efficiency, overall energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency are nearly about 15.59 per cent, 11 per cent, 48.58 per cent, and 10.74 per cent, respectively, on the course of experiments.
Testing the Role of Adolescent Sexual Initiation in Later-Life Sexual Risk Behavior
Authors: Huibregtse Brooke M. , Bornovalova Marina A. , Hicks Brian M. , McGue Matt , Iacono William
Published: June 2011

The consistent association between adolescent sexual initiation (ASI) and risky adult sexual behavior (RASB) has generally been assumed to indicate that ASI has a causal effect on RASB; consequently, it is assumed that delaying ASI will reduce RASB. Yet the ASI-RASB association might be better accounted for by some third variable. We evaluated the causal role of ASI (initiation of oral, anal, or vaginal sex at or before age 16) in influencing RASB in a longitudinal sample of 2,173 twins (followed from ages 11 to 24 or from ages 17 to 29) using two methods: the discordant-twin design and the propensity-score design. The former controlled for unmeasured genetic and shared environmental factors, and the latter controlled for measured nonshared environmental factors. We replicated the link between ASI and RASB reported in previous research, but results from the discordant-twin and propensity-score analyses suggested that this association is better explained by common genetic or environmental risk factors than as a causal effect. These findings suggest that preventing ASI is unlikely to reduce RASB.
How Do Speakers Resist Distraction?
Authors: Dhooge Elisah , Hartsuiker Robert J.
Published: June 2011

Even in the presence of irrelevant stimuli, word production is a highly accurate and fluent process. But how do speakers prevent themselves from naming the wrong things? One possibility is that an attentional system inhibits task-irrelevant representations. Alternatively, a verbal self-monitoring system might check speech for accuracy and remove errors stemming from irrelevant information. Because self-monitoring is sensitive to social appropriateness, taboo errors should be intercepted more than neutral errors are. To prevent embarrassment, speakers might also speak more slowly when confronted with taboo distractors. Our results from two experiments are consistent with the self-monitoring account: Examining picture-naming speed (Experiment 1) and accuracy (Experiment 2), we found fewer naming errors but longer picture-naming latencies for pictures presented with taboo distractors than for pictures presented with neutral distractors. These results suggest that when intrusions of irrelevant words are highly undesirable, speakers do not simply inhibit these words: Rather, the language-production system adjusts itself to the context and filters out the undesirable words.