bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unaltered Oxytocin and Vasopressin Plasma Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia After 4 Months of Daily Treatment with Intranasal Oxytocin
Authors: Busnelli M. , Dagani J. , de Girolamo G. , Balestrieri M. , Pini S. , Saviotti F.M. , Scocco P. , Sisti D. , Rocchi M. , Chini B.
Published: December 2015

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been proposed as a treatment for a number of neuropsychiatric disorders characterised by impaired social behaviour, including schizophrenia. Although several studies have reported the chronic administration of OXT to be safe and tolerable, its effects on circulating levels of OXT, as well as the related neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP), have not been assessed. In the present study, in a within‐subjects cross‐over, double‐blind, randomised controlled trial, we assayed the plasma levels of OXT and AVP in 31 patients with schizophrenia who were treated daily for 4 months with 40 IU of intranasal OXT or placebo. Our data indicate a mean ± SD baseline OXT concentration of 1.62 ± 0.68 pg/ml, as determined by radioimmunoassay, which did not display any significant variation after chronic treatment with OXT or placebo. Similarly, the mean ± SD baseline AVP value of 2.40 ± 1.26 pg/ml remained unchanged. The present study also assessed cardiovascular and body fluid indicators (osmolality, plasma sodium concentration and systolic blood pressure), as well as a parameter for food intake (body mass index), with all observed to remain stable. By reporting that daily treatment with 40 IU of intranasal OXT or placebo for 4 months does not impact on OXT and AVP plasma levels, nor on cardiovascular, body fluids and food intake parameters, the present study represents an important step towards developing OXT as a safe treatment.
THE MEANING OF FAILED REPLICATIONS: A REVIEW AND PROPOSAL
Authors: Clemens Michael A.
Published: December 2015

The welcome rise of replication tests in economics has not been accompanied by a consensus standard for determining what constitutes areplication. A discrepant replication, in current usage of the term, can signal anything from an unremarkable disagreement over methods to scientific incompetence or misconduct. This paper proposes a standard for classifying one study as a replication of some other study. It is a standard that places the burden of proof on a study to demonstrate that it should have obtained identical results to the original, a conservative standard that is already used implicitly by many researchers. It contrasts this standard with decades of unsuccessful attempts to harmonize terminology, and argues that many prominent results described as replication tests should not be described as such. Adopting a conservative standard like this one can improve incentives for researchers, encouraging more and better replication tests.
Search Costs and Investment in Quality
Authors: Fishman Arthur , Levy Nadav
Published: December 2015

In this paper we analyze how lower search costs affect firms' incentives to invest in quality. We identify two conflicting effects. On the one hand, lower search costs increase incentives to invest in quality by eroding the market share of low quality firms and increasing the market share of high quality firms. On the other hand, by intensifying price competition, lower search costs adversely affect high quality firms more than low quality firms. The net effect of a change in the search cost on quality is shown to depend on the initial quality distribution. There is a critical value such that, if the proportion of high quality firms is initially below this value, lower search costs increase this proportion, whereas if the initial quality is above this value, lower search cost decreases the proportion of high quality firms. We show that our results are consistent with a ‘superstar effect.’
Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced MRI in Low‐Grade Versus Anaplastic Oligodendrogliomas
Authors: Arevalo‐Perez Julio , Kebede Amanuel A. , Peck Kyung K. , Diamond Eli , Holodny Andrei I. , Rosenblum Marc , Rubel Jennifer , Gaal Joshua , Hatzoglou Vaios
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Low‐grade and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas are often difficult to differentiate on the basis of conventional MR imaging characteristics. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI can assess tumor microvasculature and has demonstrated utility for predicting glioma grade and prognosis in primary brain tumors. The aim of our study was to evaluate the performance of plasma volume (Vp) and volume transfer coefficient (Ktrans) derived from DCE MRI in differentiating between grade II and grade III oligodendrogliomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty‐four consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed oligodendroglioma (World Health Organization grade II, n = 14 and grade III, n = 10) were retrospectively assessed. Pretreatment DCE MRI was performed and regions of interest were manually drawn around the entire tumor volume to calculate Vp and Ktrans. The Mann‐Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed to compare pharmacokinetic parameters between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The Vpmean values for grade III oligodendrogliomas were significantly higher (P = .03) than those for grade II oligodendrogliomas. The Ktransmean values were higher in grade III lesions, but the difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P > .05). Based on ROC analysis, the Vpmean (area under curve = .757, SD = .1) cut‐off value that provided the best combination of high sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between grade II and III oligodendrogliomas was 2.35 (P < .03).

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest the DCE MRI parameter Vpmean can noninvasively differentiate between grade II and grade III oligodendrogliomas.
The Role of ADC‐Based Thermometry in Measuring Brain Intraventricular Temperature in Children
Authors: Wagner Matthias W. , Stern Steven E. , Oshmyansky Alexander , Huisman Thierry A. G. M. , Poretti Andrea
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To determine the feasibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)‐based thermometry to assess intraventricular temperature in children.

METHODS

ADC maps were generated from diffusion tensor imaging data, which were acquired with diffusion gradients along 20 noncollinear directions using a b‐value of 1000 s/mm2. The intraventricular temperature was calculated based on intraventricular ADC values and the mode method as previously reported. The calculated intraventricular temperature was validated with an estimated brain temperature based on temporal artery temperature measurements. We included 120 children in this study (49 females, 71 males, mean age 6.63 years), 15 consecutive children for each of the following age groups: 0‐1, 1‐2, 2‐4, 4‐6, 6‐8, 8‐10, 10‐14, and 14‐18 years. Forty‐three children had a normal brain MRI and 77 children had an abnormal brain scan. Polynomial fitting to the temperature distribution and subsequent calculation of mode values was performed. A correlation coefficient and a coefficient of determination were calculated between ADC calculated temperatures and estimated brain temperatures. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the two temperature measures.

RESULTS

ADC‐based intraventricular temperatures ranged between 31.5 and 39.6 °C, although estimated brain temperatures ranged between 36.3 and 38.1 °C. The difference between the temperatures is larger for children with more than 8,000 voxels within the lateral ventricles compared to children with less than 8,000 voxels. The correlation coefficient between ADC‐based temperatures and the estimated brain temperatures is .1, the respective R2 is .01 indicating that 1% of the changes in estimated brain temperatures are attributable to corresponding changes in ADC‐based temperature measurements (P = .275).

CONCLUSIONS

ADC‐based thermometry has limited application in the pediatric population mainly due to a small ventricular size.
A strong conservative tendency in HBV transcriptase (RT): a majority of natural RT mutations derived from the S gene
Authors: Li Hu , Song Xiao‐Fei , Hu Ting‐Ting , Ren Hong , Hu Peng
Published: December 2015

Background & Aims

Little is known about natural mutations in the HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) region. Our study aimed to characterize the natural RT mutation along the natural course of chronic Hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

Sixty CHB patients (immune‐tolerant phase, IT, n = 20; immune‐active phase, IA, n = 20 and inactive carriers phase, IC, n = 20) were selected from the Focal study, including 25 subjects with median 18 months follow‐up. Mutations were evaluated at both RT and main S protein encoding region by clone‐based sequencing.

Results

The HBV RT quasispecies had significant lower heterogeneity in IT than IA and IC phases (P < 0.05), but not between IA and IC phases (P > 0.05). Limited heterogeneity over time was further confirmed in a longitudinal study. Locations of RT mutations were primarily located in the interdomians and the lowest in functional domains in each phase. Mutations in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) I epitopes (IT, 0.95%; IA, 1.31%; IC, 1.28%, P < 0.05) and HLA II epitopes (IT, 0.70%; IA, 0.90%; IC, 1.45%, P < 0.01) varied significantly over time. More frequent mutations were detected in the ORF of S gene from the same clones (HBsAg vs. RT: IT, 75 vs. 45; IA, 83 vs. 64; IC, 80 vs. 65). The majority of RT mutations were shared with genetic changes in the main S gene.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that HBV RT showed a strong conservative tendency and a majority of their natural mutations were derived from the same genetic changes in the S gene.
Activated mutant forms of PIK3CA cooperate with RasV12 or c‐Met to induce liver tumour formation in mice via AKT2/mTORC1 cascade
Authors: Wang Chunmei , Che Li , Hu Junjie , Zhang Shanshan , Jiang Lijie , Latte Gavinella , Demartis Maria I. , Tao Junyan , Gui Bing , Pilo Maria G. , Ribback Silvia , Dombrowski Frank , Evert Matthias , Calvisi Diego F. , Chen Xin
Published: December 2015

Background & Aims

Activating mutations of PIK3CA occur in various tumour types, including human hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms whereby PIK3CA contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis remain poorly understood.

Methods

PIK3CA mutants H1047R or E545K were hydrodynamically transfected, either alone or in combination with NRasV12 or c‐Met genes, in the mouse liver.

Results

Overexpression of H1047R or E545K alone was able to induce AKT/mTOR signalling in the mouse liver, leading to hepatic steatosis. However, none of the mice developed liver tumours over long term. In contrast, H1047R or E545K cooperated with NRasV12 or c‐Met to rapidly induce liver tumour formation in mice. At the molecular level, all the tumour nodules displayed activation of AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK cascades. Ablation of AKT2 significantly inhibited hepatic steatosis induced by H1047R or E545K and carcinogenesis induced by H1047R/c‐Met or E545K/c‐Met. Furthermore, tumourigenesis induced by H1047R/c‐Met was abolished in conditional Raptor knockout mice.

Conclusions

Both H1047R and E545K are able to activate the AKT/mTOR pathway. An intact AKT2/mTOR complex 1 cascade is required for tumourigenesis induced by H1047R/c‐Met or E545K/c‐Met in the liver.
Predicting forest management effects on oak–rodent mutualisms
Authors: Morán‐López Teresa , Wiegand Thorsten , Morales Juan Manuel , Valladares Fernando , Díaz Mario
Published: December 2015

Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus are the main dispersers of acorns in highly managed Mediterranean holm‐oak woodlands. Mice mobilize and cache acorns to store them for winter consumption. They carry acorns away from potential competitors, face predation risks during mobilization, and cache acorns in areas where pilfering risks are low. However, mice can act either as net predators or as moderately efficient dispersers, depending on the way landscape management affects intraspecific competition for acorns and shelter availability. To assess the influence of landscape structure and mouse behavior on acorn dispersal, we developed an agent‐based model (ABM) that translates forest management into changes in key environmental factors driving mouse foraging decisions.

The model was able to predict accurately acorn dispersal patterns in a wide range of forest management practices based on information on forest habitat availability, stem density and shrub cover. Sensitivity analysis revealed that caching rates emerged from the interplay between intraspecific competition for seeds and predation risk accepted during mobilization. It also showed that intraspecific competition for acorns decreased with increasing habitat loss (due to positive edge effects on acorn production) while landscape resistance to mouse movements increased. As a result, the net benefits of caching declined and acorn predation became the dominant strategy. Finally, we assessed the effects of shrub encroachment as a management practice to enhance dispersal services in savanna‐like landscapes (dehesas). The model predicted non‐linear responses with a 65% threshold of shrub cover needed to achieve relatively high levels of acorn dispersal. This value may not be compatible with the traditional exploitation of dehesas (livestock rearing). Our study shows that integrated approaches that combine environmental change driven by management with behavioral responses of dispersers improve our understanding of the causes of recruitment bottlenecks, and are useful tools for evaluating conservation strategies aimed at enhancing dispersal services.
Rhizobacteria activates (+)‐δ‐cadinene synthase genes and induces systemic resistance in cotton against beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Authors: Zebelo Simon , Song Yuanyuan , Kloepper Joseph W. , Fadamiro Henry
Published: December 2015

Gossypol is an important allelochemical produced by the subepidermal glands of some cotton varieties and important for their ability to respond to changing biotic stress by exhibiting antibiosis against some cotton pests. Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are root‐colonizing bacteria that increase plant growth and often elicit defence against plant pathogens and insect pests. Little is known about the effect of PGPR on cotton plant–insect interactions and the potential biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which PGPR enhance cotton plant defence. Here, we report that PGPR (Bacillusspp.) treated cotton plants showed significantly higher levels of gossypol compared with untreated plants. Similarly, the transcript levels of the genes (i.e. (+)‐δ‐cadinene synthase gene family) involved in the biosynthesis of gossypol were higher in PGPR‐treated plants than in untreated plants. Furthermore, the levels of jasmonic acid, an octadecanoid‐derived defence‐related phytohormone and the transcript level of jasmonic acid responsive genes were higher in PGPR‐treated plants than in untreated plants. Most intriguingly,Spodoptera exiguashowed reduced larval feeding and development on PGPR‐treated plants. These findings demonstrate that treatment of plants with rhizobacteria may induce significant biochemical and molecular changes with potential ramifications for plant–insect interactions.
Non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol as a cardiovascular risk screening tool in children
Authors: Miyazaki Ayumi , Oguri Ayako , Ichida Fukiko
Published: December 2015

Background

Non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C) is now recognized as a strong predictive factor for cardiovascular disease in adults, but there have been few reports on non‐HDL‐C in children.

Methods

A total of 5853 4th and 7th grade schoolchildren were included in the screening for lifestyle‐related disease from 2010 to 2011 in Takaoka City. The children underwent anthropometric measurements and non‐fasting blood tests to measure total cholesterol (TC), HDL‐C, triglyceride (TG), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). The relationship between percent overweight and each lipid level was analyzed, and children above the 97th percentile level with respect to both TC (220 mg/dL) and non‐HDL‐C (152 mg/dL) were compared and assessed. The relationship between non‐HDL‐C and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was also analyzed among 150 obese children.

Results

Non‐HDL‐C positively correlated with percent overweight and TG rather than did TC (r = 0.273, 0.360 vs 0.118, 0.179, all P < 0.001). In the screening using TC criteria, several subjects with increased HDL‐C were miscategorized as hyperlipidemic, whereas none were miscategorized using the non‐HDL‐C criteria. The sensitivity of the identification of increased LDL‐C was lower when the criteria for TC were used rather than the criteria for non‐HDL‐C (80.8% vs 98.3%). Among obese children, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased significantly and was accompanied by an increase in non‐HDL‐C (P = 0.009).

Conclusion

Instead of TC, non‐HDL‐C would serve as a better and useful cardiovascular risk screening tool for lifestyle‐related disease in school children.
Bubbly and cystic appearance in chronic lung disease: Is this diagnosed as Wilson–Mikity syndrome?
Authors: Namba Fumihiko , Fujimura Masanori , Tamura Masanori
Published: December 2015

Wilson–Mikity syndrome (WMS) was first reported in 1960 by Wilson and Mikity. They described preterm infants who developed areas of cystic emphysema in the first month of life with subsequent progression to chronic lung disease (CLD) of infancy, although these infants did not exhibit early respiratory distress, such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This condition was widely accepted over the next 20 years, but WMS is now rarely mentioned and is commonly considered an anachronism. In Japan, CLD is classified into six types according to the presence of RDS and/or intrauterine inflammation and appearance on chest X‐ray. One type of CLD (type III, which accounts for 13.5% of all CLD) is defined as history of intrauterine inflammation and the typical bubbly and cystic appearance on chest X‐ray described in the original report of WMS. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether WMS exists or whether WMS is relatively common only in Japan and not in other countries. It is important, however, to distinguish this type of CLD from other types because the strategy for the prevention or treatment of CLD should be different according to its origin, cause, and risk factors.
Probable mechanism of sexual dimorphism in insulin control of Drosophila heat stress resistance
Authors: Gruntenko Nataly E. , Karpova Evgenia K. , Burdina Elena V. , Adonyeva Natalya V. , Andreenkova Olga V. , Alekseev Alexander A. , Rauschenbach Inga Y.
Published: December 2015

Adult males of Drosophila species (Drosophila melanogaster L. and Drosophila virilis) show a lower tolerance to heat stress compared with females. The present study investigates the effects of RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of the insulin‐like receptor in the corpus allatum of D. melanogaster males on dopamine metabolism and content, heat stress resistance and juvenile hormone metabolism. In male flies, the knockdown of insulin‐like receptor in the corpus allatum is shown to change metabolism of juvenile hormone but not dopamine. It is also shown that knockdown of the insulin‐like receptor in the corpus allatum results in a decrease of heat stress resistance in females but not males, and that juvenile hormone rescues this decrease. The results suggest that at least one of the ways in which insulin‐like growth factors affect heat stress resistance is by successive mediation through juvenile hormone and dopamine, which could lead to sexual dimorphism in the trait.
Fiber‐Optic Probes for Small‐Scale Measurements of Scalar Irradiance
Authors: Rickelt Lars Fledelius , Lichtenberg Mads , Trampe Erik Christian Løvbjerg , Kühl Michael
Published: December 2015

A new method for producing fiber‐optic microprobes for scalar irradiance (=fluence rate) measurements is described. Such fine‐scale measurements are important in many photobiological disciplines. With the new method, it is possible to cast spherical 30–600 μm wide light integrating sensor tips onto tapered or untapered optical fibers. The sensor tip is constructed by first casting a clear polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) sphere (~80% of the size of the final probe tip diameter) onto the optical fiber via dip‐coating. Subsequently, the clear sphere is covered with light diffusing layers of PMMA mixed with TiO2 until the fiber probe exhibits a satisfactory isotropic response (typically ±5–10%). We also present an experimental setup for measuring the isotropic response of fiber‐optic scalar irradiance probes in air and water. The fiber probes can be mounted in a syringe equipped with a needle, facilitating retraction of the spherical fiber tip. This makes it, e.g. possible to cut a hole in cohesive tissue with the needle before inserting the probe. The light‐collecting properties of differently sized scalar irradiance probes (30, 40, 100, 300 and 470 μm) produced by this new method were compared to probes produced with previously published methods. The new scalar irradiance probes showed both higher throughput of light, especially for blue light, as well as a better isotropic light collection over a wide spectral range. The new method also allowed manufacturing of significantly smaller scalar irradiance microprobes (down to 30 μm tip diameter) than hitherto possible, and such sensors allow minimally invasive high‐resolution scalar irradiance measurements in thin biofilms, leaves and animal tissues.
Medical thoracoscopy: Survey of current practice—How successful are medical thoracoscopists at predicting malignancy?
Authors: Hallifax Robert J. , Corcoran John P. , Psallidas Ioannis , Rahman Najib M.
Published: December 2015

Use of medical thoracoscopy by respiratory physicians is increasing. This survey of experienced thoracoscopists was conducted to establish current practice of medical thoracoscopy and physicians' opinion of theoretical cases using 20 video clips. Results suggest an increasing trend towards day‐case thoracoscopy but that caution is required when making diagnosis on macroscopic appearance: malignant and benign disease could only be differentiated in 59% of cases, and trapped lung is difficult to predict at thoracoscopy.
Multilayer Asymptotic Solution for Wetting Fronts in Porous Media with Exponential Moisture Diffusivity
Authors: Budd Christopher J. , Stockie John M.
Published: December 2015

We study the asymptotic behavior of sharp front solutions arising from the nonlinear diffusion equation , where the diffusivity is an exponential function . This problem arises, for example, in the study of unsaturated flow in porous media where θ represents the liquid saturation. For physical parameters corresponding to actual porous media, the diffusivity at the residual saturation is so that the diffusion problem is nearly degenerate. Such problems are characterized by wetting fronts that sharply delineate regions of saturated and unsaturated flow, and that propagate with a well‐defined speed. Using matched asymptotic expansions in the limit of large β, we derive an analytical description of the solution that is uniformly valid throughout the wetting front. This is in contrast with most other related analyses that instead truncate the solution at some specific wetting front location, which is then calculated as part of the solution, and beyond that location, the solution is undefined. Our asymptotic analysis demonstrates that the solution has a four‐layer structure, and by matching through the adjacent layers, we obtain an estimate of the wetting front location in terms of the material parameters describing the porous medium. Using numerical simulations of the original nonlinear diffusion equation, we demonstrate that the first few terms in our series solution provide approximations of physical quantities such as wetting front location and speed of propagation that are more accurate (over a wide range of admissible β values) than other asymptotic approximations reported in the literature.
Visualization of the Evaporating Liquid-Vapor Interface in Micropillar Arrays
Authors: Antao Dion S. , Adera Solomon , Farias Edgardo , Raj Rishi , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: December 2015

We captured interesting static and dynamic behavior of the liquid-vapor interface in well-defined silicon micropillar arrays during thermally driven evaporation of water from the microstructured surface. The 3-D shape of the meniscus was characterized via laser interferometry where bright and dark fringes result from the interference of incident and reflected monochromatic light due to a variable thickness thin liquid film (FIG. 1). During steady state evaporation experiments, water was supplied to the sample with a syringe pump at 10 μL/min. FIG. 2a and 2b show a SEM image of a typical fabricated micropillar array and a schematic of the experimental setup, respectively.

When water wicks through the micropillar array, the meniscus in a unit cell (four pillars in FIG. 1) assumes an equilibrium shape depending on the location from the liquid source/reservoir and the ambient conditions (ambient evaporation at Qin = 0 W). At this point, the meniscus is pinned at the top of the pillars. As the evaporation rate increases due the applied heat flux, the meniscus increases in curvature, thus increasing the capillary pressure to sustain the higher evaporation rate. This is evidenced by the increasing number of fringes in the unit cell when Qin is increased (0 W, 0.11 W, 0.44 W, and 0.99 W, FIG. 1a-1d respectively). Beyond a maximum curvature, the meniscus de-pins from the pillar top surface and recedes within the unit cell. This occurs when the capillary pressure generated at this curvature, cannot balance the viscous loss resulting from flow through the micropillar array. We observed that this receding shape was independent of the applied heat, and only depended on the micropillar array geometry and the intrinsic wettability of the material. Representative meniscus profiles along the diagonal direction of the unit cell obtained from image analysis of FIG. 1 at various Qin are shown in FIG. 2c.
Thermal wave imaging of microelectronics
Authors: Goni Miguel , Schmidt Aaron J.
Published: December 2015

Thermal waves can reveal thermal properties of different layers forming a multilayer structure. If the thickness of each layer is known, specific ranges of thermal wave frequencies can be implemented to study the thermal response of a specific number of layers and eventually extract the thermal properties of individual layers. As a first approach this idea can be simplified by means of the thermal penetration depth parameter, δ. The thermal penetration depth is defined as, δ=k/πCf, where k and C are respectively the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of the material carrying the thermal wave and f is the frequency of the thermal wave. From this expression it can be seen how it is possible to constrain the material thermal response to a desired depth by controlling the frequency. Thus, using high enough frequencies, the top layer properties would be measured first. Decreasing the thermal wave frequency by an appropriate amount would include the next layer in the thermal response. Since the properties of the first layer are now known, it would be possible to extract the properties of the current layer. The measurement would continue in a similar fashion for the remaining layers. Frequency domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) can be used to generate thermal waves. In this technique, a periodically modulated continuous wave laser (red pump beam) provides the periodic heat flux input into the material while a second laser (green probe beam) monitors the surface temperature through a proportional change of the surface reflectivity. The measured value is the phase lag (degrees) between the incoming thermal wave and the surface temperature response. In this study, an FDTR system was used in conjunction with a piezo stage to obtain thermal images of two different multilayer structures. The first one consisted of a CPU chip formed mainly by layers of SiO2 and Cu. The second case consisted of a TFT LCD screen from a mobile device. Regarding the CPU chip, the low frequency thermal wave travelled well past the second layer of Cu wires and provided thermal information about the bottom layers of the chip. In contrast, the high frequency wave could not penetrate through the second layer, which resulted in a more sensitive response upon the Cu wires close to the surface. A similar phenomenon occurred with the LCD screen. In this case the top layer was a glass layer used to sandwich the liquid crystal and the second layer is composed of the ITO electrodes that provide the electric field. It can be observed how the high frequency wave did not penetrate through the top glass layer providing no thermal information about the bottom layer as opposed to the low frequency wave, which clearly shows the ITO electrodes. The estimated thermal penetration depths displayed on top of each image were calculated using the equation provided before with known thermal properties of SiO2, Cu and ITO.
Interpreting attenuation at different excitation amplitudes to estimate strain-dependent interfacial rheological properties of lipid-coated monodisperse microbubbles
Authors: Xia Lang , Porter Tyrone M. , Sarkar Kausik
Published: December 2015

Broadband attenuation of ultrasound measured at different excitation pressures being different raises a serious theoretical concern, because the underlying assumption of linear and independent propagation of different frequency components nominally requires attenuation to be independent of excitation. Here, this issue is investigated by examining ultrasound attenuation through a monodisperse lipid-coated microbubble suspension measured at four different acoustic excitation amplitudes. The attenuation data are used to determine interfacial rheological properties (surface tension, surface dilatational elasticity, and surface dilatational viscosity) of the encapsulation according to three different models. Although different models result in similar rheological properties, attenuation measured at different excitation levels (4–110 kPa) leads to different values for them; the dilatation elasticity (0.56 to 0.18 N/m) and viscosity (2.4 × 10−8 to 1.52 × 10−8 Ns/m) both decrease with increasing pressure. Numerically simulating the scattered response, nonlinear energy transfer between frequencies are shown to be negligible, thereby demonstrating the linearity in propagation and validating the attenuation analysis. There is a second concern to the characterization arising from shell properties being dependent on excitation amplitude, which is not a proper constitutive variable. It is resolved by arriving at a strain-dependent rheology for the encapsulation. The limitations of the underlying analysis are discussed.
Assessment of Performance-Related Experiences: An Individualized Approach
Authors: Ruiz Montse C. , Hanin Yuri , Robazza Claudio
Published: December 2015

In this investigation we describe an individualized approach in the assessment of athletes’ experiences associated with successful and poor performances. Two studies were conducted to develop a profiling procedure to assess eight modalities of performance-related states. In Study 1, six high-level athletes assessed their states before most successful and unsuccessful performances using a preliminary 71-item stimulus list developed by a panel of four emotion researchers. They also rated the intensity of their states on a modified Borg’s CR-10 scale. In Study 2, five top-level divers assessed their states before multiple dives (three successful and three unsuccessful) using a revised 74-item list. The perceived impact on performance was also examined using an open-ended question. Individual profiles reflected two typical curves discriminating successful and unsuccessful performances. High individual variability in item content and intensity was found. Athletes reported a wide range of interrelated experiences associated with their performances. Our findings support the practical utility of individualized profiling to assess athletes’ performance-related states.
Sudden cardiac arrest as a presentation of Brugada syndrome unmasked by thyroid storm
Authors: Korte Anna K M , Derde Lennie , van Wijk Jeroen , Tjan David H
Published: December 2015

An 18-year-old man suffered a sudden cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation and was successfully resuscitated. He had neither a medical nor family history of cardiac disease/sudden death, but was known to have Graves’ disease, for which he was treated with radioactive iodine. Recently, block-and-replacement therapy had been discontinued to evaluate thyroid functioning. On admission, thyroid hormone levels were markedly elevated, suggesting thyroid storm due to residual Graves’ disease. The patient was treated with propylthiouracil, hydrocortisone and Lugol solution. ECG showed repolarisation patterns suggestive of an underlying type 1 Brugada syndrome (BS). These findings were confirmed by an additional ajmaline test. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted to prevent future arrhythmias. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy 9 months later and recovered completely. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a sudden cardiac arrest as a presentation of BS unmasked by thyroid storm.
Parental migration patterns and risk of depression and anxiety disorder among rural children aged 10–18 years in China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shen Min , Gao Jing , Liang Zenzen , Wang Youjie , Du Yukai , Stallones Lorann
Published: December 2015

Objectives

This study aims to explore the prevalence of depression and anxiety in left-behind children, and to identify patterns of parents’ migration and relative factors associated with depression and anxiety risk in this population.

Setting

A cross-sectional survey using a school-based sample was conducted in Puyang, Hebei, North China in December 2012.

Participants

2283 students aged 10–18 years.

Main outcome measures

Parental migration status, depression and anxiety disorder.

Results

61.2% of participants were left-behind children. The prevalence rate of depression among left-behind children with both parents migrating (14.2%) was higher than that of children with one parent migrating (11.7%) and no parent migrating (12.6%). The prevalence rate of anxiety disorder for children with no parent migrating (25.1%) was higher than that for children living with one or neither parent (22.2% and 22.0%). The risk factors for depression were low-level social support (OR=3.46, 95% CI 2.00 to 6.01), average academic performance (OR=2.37, 95% CI 1.7 to 3.3) and low academic performance (OR=3.01, 95% CI 1.92 to 4.72), staying up late (OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.39), having difficulty falling asleep (OR=2.04, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.82) and being an only child (OR=1.73, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.89). The factors associated with anxiety disorder were being female (OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.66), being in high school (OR=1.8, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.36), physical abuse (OR=1.5, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.15), having difficulty falling asleep (OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.10) and low-level social support (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.28) and middle-level social support (OR=1.82, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.56).

Conclusions

Parents’ migration was not associated with depression and anxiety in rural children aged 10–18 years, but academic performance at school, sleep problems and lack of social support were associated with depression and anxiety.
Modified Delay Scheduling: A Heuristic Approach for Hadoop Scheduling to Improve Fairness and Response Time
Authors: Gopalan N. P. , Suresh S.
Published: December 2015

Hadoop is a widely used open source implementation of MapReduce which is a popular programming model for parallel processing large scale data intensive applications in a cloud environment. Sharing Hadoop clusters has a tradeoff between fairness and data locality. When launching a local task is not possible, Hadoop Fair Scheduler (HFS) with delay scheduling postpones the node allocation for a while to a job which is to be scheduled next as per fairness to achieve high locality. This waiting becomes waste when the desired locality could not be achieved within a reasonable period. In this paper, a modified delay scheduling in HFS is proposed and implemented in Hadoop. It avoids the aforementioned waiting of delay scheduler if achieving locality is not possible. Instead of blindly waiting for a local node, the proposed algorithm first estimates the time to wait for a local node for the job and avoids waiting wherever achieving locality is not possible within the predefined delay threshold while accomplishing same locality. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by extensive experiments and it has been observed that the algorithm works significantly better in terms of response time and fairness achieving up to 20% speedup and up to 38% fairness in certain cases.
Brief Overview of C. N. Yang’s 13 Important Contributions to Physics
Authors: Shi Yu
Published: December 2015

We give a brief overview of Professor Chen Ning Yang’s 13 important contributions to physics, especially his contributions to gauge theory. The great impact of his relevant papers is analyzed. Commentary is made on Yang’s distinctive style and trailblazing role in the history of physics.
Analysis of B0 → Ds−∗K+ decay
Authors: Asadi Amin , Mehraban Hossein
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we analyzed the decay [Formula: see text] within QCD factorization (QCDF) and final state interaction (FSI) methods. At first, we consider the QCDF approach, where the final states are a pseudoscalar meson and vector meson. Then, we consider the FSI method where the intermediate states are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] via the exchange of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] to improve the branching ratio. The above intermediate states are calculated by using the QCDF method. In the FSI effects, the results of our calculations depend on [Formula: see text] as the phenomenological parameter. The experimental branching ratio of this decay is [Formula: see text]. Our results in QCDF approach is [Formula: see text], and with [Formula: see text], the improved branching ratio is [Formula: see text].
Tunable phase control of slow and fast light propagation in a slab doped by four-level quantum dot nanostructure
Authors: Jafarzadeh Hossein , Sangachin Elnaz Ahmadi , Asadpour Seyyed Hossein
Published: December 2015

Tunable phase control of the slow and fast light propagation through a defect slab medium doped by four-level InGaN/GaN quantum dot structure is demonstrated. By solving the Schrödinger and Poisson’s equations self-consistently, a spherical InGaN quantum dot with GaN barrier shell which can interact by terahertz (THz) signal field is designed numerically. It is found that the phase variation of THz signal field imparts the tunability in the group velocity of the transmitted and reflected pulses through a dielectric slab.
A New System of Face Recognition: Using Fuzziness and Sparsity
Authors: Tan Yuanpeng , Cao Feilong , Miaomiao Cai Miaomiao Cai
Published: December 2015

In this article, a new human face recognition scheme is proposed. The proposed system is based on the sparsity and fuzziness, and utilizes independent component analysis (ICA). The scheme includes four parts: a fuzzy comprehensive judgment model for estimating whether the information carried by training samples is enough or not, a proper edge extraction operator to discover more hidden information for single image, ICA feature extractor, and a sparse representation model for correlation coefficient calculation to classify testing samples. In view of the intrinsic patterns of gray information distribution of face images, a weighted fuzzy distance for judgement model and cluster analysis is proposed. The new proposed method is tested on ORL, FERET and UMIST databases. The experiment results demonstrate and illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method and the effective performances on recognition rate.
A New Point of View for Fuzzy Numbers and Their Defuzzification
Authors: Adillon Romà , Jorba Lambert
Published: December 2015

In this paper we develop a new graphical representation of fuzzy numbers, which we then employ to propose a geometrical approach to their defuzzification. The calculations involved in the proposed method and the resultant representation use Moore's semiplane for intervals and therefore are far simpler than those involved in other approaches.

We start by representing triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy numbers in Moore's semiplane. Then we extend this work to any fuzzy number. Although this extension has to be undertaken in [Formula: see text], it preserves all the properties we study for trapezoidal and triangular fuzzy numbers in Moore's semiplane.
Quantum-Logic Synthesis of Hermitian Gates
Authors: Arabzadeh Mona , Houshmand Mahboobeh , Sedighi Mehdi , Zamani Morteza Saheb
Published: December 2015

In this article, the problem of synthesizing a general Hermitian quantum gate into a set of primary quantum gates is addressed. To this end, an extended version of the Jacobi approach for calculating the eigenvalues of Hermitian matrices in linear algebra is considered as the basis of the proposed synthesis method. The quantum circuit synthesis method derived from the Jacobi approach and its optimization challenges are described. It is shown that the proposed method results in multiple-control rotation gates around the
y
axis, multiple-control phase shift gates, multiple-control NOT gates, and a middle diagonal Hermitian matrix, which can be synthesized to multiple-control Pauli
Z
gates. Using the proposed approach, it is shown how multiple-control
U
gates, where
U
is a single-qubit Hermitian quantum gate, can be implemented using a linear number of elementary gates in terms of circuit lines with the aid of one auxiliary qubit in an arbitrary state.
Extraction of the Quad Layout of a Triangle Mesh Guided by Its Curve Skeleton
Authors: Usai Francesco , Livesu Marco , Puppo Enrico , Tarini Marco , Scateni Riccardo
Published: December 2015

Starting from the triangle mesh of a digital shape, that is, mainly an articulated object, we produce a coarse quad layout that can be used in character modeling and animation. Our quad layout follows the intrinsic object structure described by its curve skeleton; it contains few irregular vertices of low degree; it can be immediately refined into a semiregular quad mesh; it provides a structured domain for UV mapping and parametrization. Our method is fast, one-click, and does not require any parameter setting. The user can steer and refine the process through simple interactive tools during the construction of the quad layout.
Predicting Appearance from Measured Microgeometry of Metal Surfaces
Authors: Dong Zhao , Walter Bruce , Marschner Steve , Greenberg Donald P.
Published: December 2015

The visual appearance of many materials is created by micro-scale details of their surface geometry. In this article, we investigate a new approach to capturing the appearance of metal surfaces without reflectance measurements, by deriving microfacet distributions directly from measured surface topography. Modern profilometers are capable of measuring surfaces with subwavelength resolution at increasingly rapid rates. We consider both wave- and geometric-optics methods for predicting BRDFs of measured surfaces and compare the results to optical measurements from a gonioreflectometer for five rough metal samples. Surface measurements are also used to predict spatial variation, or texture, which is especially important for the appearance of our anisotropic brushed metal samples.

Profilometer-based BRDF acquisition offers many potential advantages over traditional techniques, including speed and easy handling of anisotropic, highly directional materials. We also introduce a new generalized normal distribution function, the ellipsoidal NDF, to compactly represent nonsymmetric features in our measured data and texture synthesis.
How to Put Through Your Agenda in Collective Binary Decisions
Authors: Alon Noga , Bredereck Robert , Chen Jiehua , Kratsch Stefan , Niedermeier Rolf , Woeginger Gerhard J.
Published: December 2015

We consider the following decision-making scenario: a society of voters has to find an agreement on a set of proposals, and every single proposal is to be accepted or rejected. Each voter supports a certain subset of the proposals—the
favorite ballot
of this voter—and opposes the remaining ones. He accepts a ballot if he supports more than half of the proposals in this ballot. The task is to decide whether there exists a ballot approving a specified number of selected proposals (agenda) such that all voters (or a strict majority of them) accept this ballot.

We show that, on the negative side, both problems are NP-complete, and on the positive side, they are fixed-parameter tractable with respect to the total number of proposals or with respect to the total number of voters. We look into further natural parameters and study their influence on the computational complexity of both problems, thereby providing both tractability and intractability results. Furthermore, we provide tight combinatorial bounds on the worst-case size of an accepted ballot in terms of the number of voters.
Demo hour
Authors: Jeong Hayeon , Saakes Daniel , Lee Uichin , Esteves Augusto , Velloso Eduardo , Bulling Andreas , Masai Katsutoshi , Sugiura Yuta , Ogata Masa , Kunze Kai , Inami Masahiko , Sugimoto Maki , Rathnayake Anura , Dias Tilak
Published: December 2015

Demos at UBICOMP 2015 provided researchers with an opportunity to present their latest cutting-edge research, but also early implementations, prototypes, work-in-progress systems, and commercial products. At UBICOMP, demos offer a chance for authors to engage the attendees and media representatives at a personal level and let them see, touch, and experience the future of ubicomp.

Itiro Siio and Sidhant Gupta, UBICOMP 2015 Demo Chairs
Testing Conformity to the Real-Time Annex
Authors: Burns A. , Wellings A. J.
Published: December 2015

In this paper we consider the many features of the Real-Time annex that are not as yet covered in ACATS. We identify a number of tests, but note that for the real-time programmer many of the crucial features of the annex cannot be validated by the type of tests found in ACATS.
Interrupts, Timing Events and Dispatching Domains
Authors: Wellings A. J. , Burns A.
Published: December 2015

This paper proposes extensions to the Ada interrupt handling facilities to allow the dispatching domain of handlers to be set, where this is supportable by the underlying platform.
Discrete-Time Orthogonal Spline Collocation Method for One-Dimensional Sine-Gordon Equation
Authors: Ding Xiaoquan , Meng Qing-Jiang , Yin Li-Ping
Published: December 2015

We present a discrete-time orthogonal spline collocation scheme for the one-dimensional sine-Gordon equation. This scheme uses Hermite basis functions to approximate the solution throughout the spatial domain on each time level. The convergence rate with orderO(h4+τ2)inL2norm and stability of the scheme are proved. Numerical results are presented and compared with analytical solutions to confirm the accuracy of the presented scheme.
Enucleation of a Giant Hemangioma of Liver: Old School Revisited
Authors: ChandraBose Karpagavel , Ramanujam A. , Muthu Yega
Published: December 2015

Hemangiomas are the most frequent benign hepatic tumours and are usually found in patients aged between 40 and 60 years, more frequently in women. In 30–35% of patients, the lesions are multiple. If the lesions are larger than 4–10 cm, they are coined as “giant” hemangioma. Here, we present a case of giant hemangioma treated with enucleation of the lesion and the advantages of the procedure.