bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of a Switch-Off Time Variation Problem of a Fast Switching Valve
Authors: Scheidl Rudolf , Gradl Christoph , Kogler Helmut , Foschum Paul , Plöckinger Andreas
Published: November 2014

In a series of experiments the peak current during switch on of a fast switching valve, which was found to be out of tolerances with respect to some armature dimensions, was varied to realize different switch on times. Despite the fact that the holding current was identical for all cases and the time between switch on and off was very long, the valve’s switch off time showed an unexpected dependency on the switch on peak current value. This paper presents an explanation of this phenomenon by coarse mathematical models, demonstrating that the manufacturing error in combination with friction, skewness, and fluid stiction are responsible for this behavior.
Experimental Validation of a Soft Switch for a Virtually Variable Displacement Pump
Authors: Beckstrand Brandon K. , Van De Ven James D.
Published: November 2014

As an alternative to a variable displacement pump, a fixed displacement pump can be made to function as a virtually variable displacement unit by using a high-speed valve to pulse-width modulate the flow, creating a switch-mode circuit. A major drawback of switch-mode circuits is throttling and compressibility energy losses during valve transitions. One method of minimizing these losses is soft switching, where the flow that would normally be throttled across the high speed valve during transitions is absorbed in a small variable volume chamber. The concept for a novel soft switch mechanism that uses the pressure signal at the exit of the pump to release a lock on the soft switch chamber was previously presented. This paper describes the soft switch concept in more detail and outlines a numerical model used to predict and optimize soft switch operation. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate proper operation of the soft switch lock-release mechanism.
A Novel Pressure-Controlled Hydro-Mechanical Transmission
Authors: Wang Feng , Stelson Kim A.
Published: November 2014

A novel pressure-controlled hydro-mechanical transmission (PHMT) is studied in this paper. The PHMT consists of a pressure-controlled hydraulic transmission (PCT) and a variable displacement hydraulic motor. The PCT functions like a conventional hydrostatic transmission (HST) but has a different form. It uses a double-acting vane pump with a floating ring. By coupling the floating ring to an output shaft, the vane pump becomes a hydraulic transmission. The PCT combines the pumping and motoring functions in one unit, making it much simpler than a conventional HST. By controlling the pressure in the PCT, the output shaft torque and speed can be adjusted. By feeding the PCT control flow to a variable displacement motor coupled to the PCT output shaft, a PHMT is constituted. In this paper, the fundamental principle of the PHMT is studied. To demonstrate its advantage, the PHMT is applied to a fan drive system and the transmission efficiency is compared to a conventional HST. Preliminary experimental results show that the input power of the fan drive system with a PHMT is lower than that with an HST given the same output fan speed and torque.
Shape‐based motion correction in dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI for quantitative assessment of renal function
Authors: Liu Wenyang , Sung Kyunghyun , Ruan Dan
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

To incorporate a newly developed shape‐based motion estimation scheme into magnetic resonance urography (MRU) and verify its efficacy in facilitating quantitative functional analysis.

Methods:

The authors propose a motion compensation scheme in MRU that consists of three sequential modules: MRU image acquisition, motion compensation, and quantitative functional analysis. They designed two sets of complementary experiments to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. In the first experiment, dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MR images were acquired from three sedated subjects, from which clinically valid estimates were derived and served as the “ground truth.” Physiologically sound motion was then simulated to synthesize image sequences influenced by respiratory motion. Quantitative assessment and comparison were performed on functional estimates of Patlak number, glomerular filtration rate, and Patlak differential renal function without and with motion compensation against the ground truth. In the second experiment, the authors acquired a temporal series of noncontrast MR images under free breathing from a healthy adult subject. The performance of the proposed method on compensating real motion was evaluated by comparing the standard deviation of the obtained temporal intensity curves before and after motion compensation.

Results:

On DCE‐MR images with simulated motion, the generated relative enhancement curves exhibited large perturbations and the Patlak numbers of the left and right kidney were significantly underestimated up to 35% and 34%, respectively, compared with the ground truth. After motion compensation, the relative enhancement curves exhibited much less perturbations and Patlak estimation errors reduced within 3% and 4% for the left and right kidneys, respectively. On clinical free‐breathing MR images, the temporal intensity curves exhibited significantly reduced variations after motion compensation, with standard deviation decreased from 30.3 and 38.2 to 8.3 and 11.7 within two manually selected regions of interest, respectively.

Conclusions:

The developed motion compensation method has demonstrated its ability to facilitate quantitative MRU functional analysis, with improved accuracy of pharmacokinetic modeling and quantitative parameter estimations. Future work will consider performing more intensive clinical verifications with sophisticated pharmacokinetic models and generalizing the proposed method to other quantitative DCE analysis, such as on liver or prostate function.
Organ localization: Toward prospective patient‐specific organ dosimetry in computed tomography
Authors: Segars W. P. , Rybicki K. , Norris Hannah , Frush D. , Samei E.
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

With increased focus on radiation dose from medical imaging, prospective radiation dose estimates are becoming increasingly desired. Using available populations of adult and pediatric patient phantoms, radiation dose calculations can be catalogued and prospectively applied to individual patients that best match certain anatomical characteristics. In doing so, the knowledge of organ size and location is a required element. Here, the authors develop a predictive model of organ locations and volumes based on an analysis of adult and pediatric computed tomography (CT) data.

Methods:

Fifty eight adult and 69 pediatric CT datasets were segmented and utilized in the study. The maximum and minimum points of the organs were recorded with respect to the axial distance from the tip of the sacrum. The axial width, midpoint, and volume of each organ were calculated. Linear correlations between these three organ parameters and patient age, BMI, weight, and height were determined.

Results:

No statistically significant correlations were found in adult patients between the axial width, midpoint, and volume of the organs versus the patient age or BMI. Slight, positive linear trends were found for organ midpoint versus patient weight (max r2 = 0.382, mean r2 = 0.236). Similar trends were found for organ midpoint versus height (max r2 = 0.439, mean r2 = 0.200) and for organ volume versus height (max r2 = 0.410, mean r2 = 0.153). Gaussian fits performed on probability density functions of the adult organs resulted in r2‐values ranging from 0.96 to 0.996. The pediatric patients showed much stronger correlations overall. Strong correlations were observed between organ axial midpoint versus age, height, and weight (max r2 = 0.842, mean r2 = 0.790; max r2 = 0.949, mean r2 = 0.894; and max r2 = 0.870, mean r2 = 0.847, respectively). Moderate linear correlations were also observed for organ axial width versus height (max r2 = 0.772, mean r2 = 0.562) and for organ volume versus height (max r2 = 0.781, mean r2 = 0.601).

Conclusions:

Adult patients exhibited small variations in organ volume and location with respect to height and weight, but no meaningful correlation existed between these parameters and age or BMI. Once adulthood is reached, organ morphology and positioning seem to remain static. However, clear trends are evident between pediatric organ locations versus age, height, and weight. Such information can be incorporated into a matching methodology that may provide the highest probability of representing the anatomy of a patient undergoing a clinical exam to prospectively estimate the radiation dose.
Exploring Mentoring Functions Within the Sport Management Academy: Perspectives of Mentors and Protégés
Authors: Beres Jacqueline L. , Dixon Jess C.
Published: November 2014

Mentoring has typically been studied in business environments, with fewer studies focusing on academic contexts and even fewer in the field of sport management. This study examined the mentoring relationships, and specifically the mentoring functions that occurred among sport management doctoral dissertation advisors (mentors) and their doctoral students (protégés). Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 13 individuals. Participants collectively described examples of all of Kram’s (1988) mentoring functions, with coaching, counseling, and exposure and visibility cited most frequently. Fewer instances of protection and direct sponsorship were mentioned, although there was evidence of considerable indirect sponsorship. Protégés provided more examples of role modeling as compared with their mentors, and the entire process of completing a doctoral degree can be viewed as a challenging assignment. A discussion of these findings within the context of the relevant previous academic literature and suggestions for future research are also provided.
From Great Expectations to Realistic Career Outlooks: Exploring Changes in Job Seeker Perspectives Following Realistic Job Previews in Sport
Authors: Todd Samuel Y. , Magnusen Marshall , Andrew Damon P. S. , Lachowetz Tony
Published: November 2014

Realistic job previews (RJPs) occur when both positive and negative information about a job is presented to a potential applicant. Because job seekers in the sport industry sometimes target opportunities based upon their personal affection for particular sports/sport organizations, the presentation of realistic information about the actual work could be key. The purpose of this two study, quasi-experimental research design was to examine the effect of RJPs on job seekers’ levels of attraction to sport job openings, perceptions of person-job fit, and job acceptance intentions. Study 1 results suggested job seekers’ acceptance intentions and attraction to the job changed after the job seeker encountered realistic information. Study 2 results suggested job seekers’ acceptance intentions and perceived job fit changed after encountering an RJP where perceived prestige was a factor. Thus, RJPs appear to influence the attractiveness, acceptability, and perceived fit of a job opening in sport.
Development of Sport Management Scholars Through Sequential Experiential Mentoring: Apprenticeship Concepts in the Professional Training and Development of Academics
Authors: Ferris Gerald R. , Perrewé Pamela L.
Published: November 2014

The sport management field has witnessed tremendous growth just in the past couple of decades, with more programs in universities at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. Because there is keen competition for jobs at all levels, but particularly at the Ph.D. level in university faculty positions, and the lack of material published on how best to train, develop, and prepare doctoral students, this article focused on developing a combined apprenticeship and mentoring perspective on Ph.D. training, and discussed some of the specific features of that pedagogical approach. Hopefully, these ideas will help educators in sport management doctoral programs with their educational endeavors.
Convergent Bacterial Microbiotas in the Fungal Agricultural Systems of Insects
Authors: Aylward Frank O. , Suen Garret , Biedermann Peter H. W. , Adams Aaron S. , Scott Jarrod J. , Malfatti Stephanie A. , Glavina del Rio Tijana , Tringe Susannah G. , Poulsen Michael , Raffa Kenneth F. , Klepzig Kier D. , Currie Cameron R.
Published: November 2014

The ability to cultivate food is an innovation that has produced some of the most successful ecological strategies on the planet. Although most well recognized in humans, where agriculture represents a defining feature of civilization, species of ants, beetles, and termites have also independently evolved symbioses with fungi that they cultivate for food. Despite occurring across divergent insect and fungal lineages, the fungivorous niches of these insects are remarkably similar, indicating convergent evolution toward this successful ecological strategy. Here, we characterize the microbiota of ants, beetles, and termites engaged in nutritional symbioses with fungi to define the bacterial groups associated with these prominent herbivores and forest pests. Using culture-independent techniques and the
in silico
reconstruction of 37 composite genomes of dominant community members, we demonstrate that different insect-fungal symbioses that collectively shape ecosystems worldwide have highly similar bacterial microbiotas comprised primarily of the genera
Enterobacter
,
Rahnella
, and
Pseudomonas
. Although these symbioses span three orders of insects and two phyla of fungi, we show that they are associated with bacteria sharing high whole-genome nucleotide identity. Due to the fine-scale correspondence of the bacterial microbiotas of insects engaged in fungal symbioses, our findings indicate that this represents an example of convergence of entire host-microbe complexes.

IMPORTANCE
The cultivation of fungi for food is a behavior that has evolved independently in ants, beetles, and termites and has enabled many species of these insects to become ecologically important and widely distributed herbivores and forest pests. Although the primary fungal cultivars of these insects have been studied for decades, comparatively little is known of their bacterial microbiota. In this study, we show that diverse fungus-growing insects are associated with a common bacterial community composed of the same dominant members. Furthermore, by demonstrating that many of these bacteria have high whole-genome similarity across distantly related insect hosts that reside thousands of miles apart, we show that these bacteria are an important and underappreciated feature of diverse fungus-growing insects. Because of the similarities in the agricultural lifestyles of these insects, this is an example of convergence between both the life histories of the host insects and their symbiotic microbiota.
Bioinformatic Genome Comparisons for Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Assignments Using
Aeromonas
as a Test Case
Authors: Colston Sophie M. , Fullmer Matthew S. , Beka Lidia , Lamy Brigitte , Gogarten J. Peter , Graf Joerg
Published: November 2014

Prokaryotic taxonomy is the underpinning of microbiology, as it provides a framework for the proper identification and naming of organisms. The “gold standard” of bacterial species delineation is the overall genome similarity determined by DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH), a technically rigorous yet sometimes variable method that may produce inconsistent results. Improvements in next-generation sequencing have resulted in an upsurge of bacterial genome sequences and bioinformatic tools that compare genomic data, such as average nucleotide identity (ANI), correlation of tetranucleotide frequencies, and the genome-to-genome distance calculator, or
in silico
DDH (
is
DDH). Here, we evaluate ANI and
is
DDH in combination with phylogenetic studies using
Aeromonas
, a taxonomically challenging genus with many described species and several strains that were reassigned to different species as a test case. We generated improved, high-quality draft genome sequences for 33
Aeromonas
strains and combined them with 23 publicly available genomes. ANI and
is
DDH distances were determined and compared to phylogenies from multilocus sequence analysis of housekeeping genes, ribosomal proteins, and expanded core genes. The expanded core phylogenetic analysis suggested relationships between distant
Aeromonas
clades that were inconsistent with studies using fewer genes. ANI values of ≥96% and
is
DDH values of ≥70% consistently grouped genomes originating from strains of the same species together. Our study confirmed known misidentifications, validated the recent revisions in the nomenclature, and revealed that a number of genomes deposited in GenBank are misnamed. In addition, two strains were identified that may represent novel
Aeromonas
species.

IMPORTANCE
Improvements in DNA sequencing technologies have resulted in the ability to generate large numbers of high-quality draft genomes and led to a dramatic increase in the number of publically available genomes. This has allowed researchers to characterize microorganisms using genome data. Advantages of genome sequence-based classification include data and computing programs that can be readily shared, facilitating the standardization of taxonomic methodology and resolving conflicting identifications by providing greater uniformity in an overall analysis. Using
Aeromonas
as a test case, we compared and validated different approaches. Based on our analyses, we recommend cutoff values for distance measures for identifying species. Accurate species classification is critical not only to obviate the perpetuation of errors in public databases but also to ensure the validity of inferences made on the relationships among species within a genus and proper identification in clinical and veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
Prevalence and management of gastrointestinal manifestations in Silver–Russell syndrome
Authors: Marsaud Céline , Rossignol Sylvie , Tounian Patrick , Netchine Irène , Dubern Béatrice
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Silver–Russell syndrome (SRS) is an imprinted disorder characterised by intrauterine growth retardation, relative macrocephaly, failure to thrive, typical facial phenotype and frequent body asymmetry. Feeding difficulties are frequently noted, but no study described evolution of gastrointestinal signs during infancy and their management in SRS. The aim of this study was to describe these abnormalities in a large cohort of children with SRS.

Design

We included 75 patients (median age 24.3 months (5.1–135.2)) in the study. We retrospectively analysed nutritional status before growth hormone therapy, the frequency of gastrointestinal signs, such as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), vomiting, constipation and feeding difficulties, and nutritional management.

Results

Maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 7 was found in 10 patients and 11p15 hypomethylation in 65 patients. Malnutrition (defined as a weight/expected weight for height ratio <80%) was detected in 70% of the children. Gastrointestinal signs were found in 77%, including severe vomiting before the age of 1 year in 50% of cases, persistent vomiting from the age of 1 year in 29% of cases and constipation in 20% of cases. Severe GER was diagnosed in 55% of children by 24 h oesophageal pH-metry. Feeding difficulties were described in 65% of cases, with indications for dietary enrichment in 49%. Enteral nutrition by gastrostomy was indicated in 22% of cases.

Conclusions

Digestive signs (GER, constipation) and malnutrition are frequent in children with SRS. The systematic exploration and management of these signs are crucial to improve the nutritional status of these children before initiating growth hormone therapy.
Summertime and the patient is itchy
Authors: Tabner Andrew , McQueen Carl , Hewitt Susanne
Published: November 2014

A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 36 h history of a painful, itchy maculopapular rash and associated vesicles to his arms and neck. He had no history of exposure to new chemicals or hygiene products and no significant medical history. His physiological observations were normal and systemic examination was unremarkable. On close inspection the rash was noted to be present only on areas of skin exposed while wearing a polo shirt. On further questioning it transpired that he had been gardening 12 h prior to the development of the rash. A diagnosis of phytophotodermatitis was made. The patient was discharged with chlorphenamine, simple analgesia and the advice to wear a long-sleeved t-shirt and sunscreen when gardening in future. Phytophotodermatitis is a cutaneous reaction caused by contact with light-sensitising compounds found in plants and exposure to ultraviolet A radiation. It is self-limiting and can be managed symptomatically.
Bilateral adrenal haemorrhagic infarction in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Godfrey Rebecca Louise , Clark James , Field Benjamin
Published: November 2014

A 68-year-old woman with antiphospholipid syndrome presented with a 3-day history of bilateral loin pain, vomiting, fever and confusion. On examination she was febrile, hypotensive and tachycardic. Investigations revealed raised inflammatory markers, renal impairment and hyponatraemia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed two well-defined heterogeneous areas bilaterally in the region of the adrenal glands. This prompted serum cortisol measurement and a CT of the abdomen. Cortisol was low in the context of sepsis at 48 nmol/L, and CT confirmed bilateral heterogeneous adrenal pathology. The patient was managed for septic shock and adrenal insufficiency. She was recognised to have several risk factors for haemorrhagic infarction of the adrenals: antiphospholipid syndrome, sepsis, postoperative state and anticoagulant therapy. She was discharged well on glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid therapy and a repeat CT at 4 weeks confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral adrenal infarct and haemorrhage.
Health literacy issues in the care of Chinese American immigrants with diabetes: a qualitative study
Authors: Leung Angela Yee Man , Bo Ai , Hsiao Hsin-Yi , Wang Song Song , Chi Iris
Published: November 2014

Objectives

To investigate why first-generation Chinese immigrants with diabetes have difficulty obtaining, processing and understanding diabetes related information despite the existence of translated materials and translators.

Design

This qualitative study employed purposive sampling. Six focus groups and two individual interviews were conducted. Each group discussion lasted approximately 90 min and was guided by semistructured and open-ended questions.

Setting

Data were collected in two community health centres and one elderly retirement village in Los Angeles, California.

Participants

29 Chinese immigrants aged ≥45 years and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year.

Results

Eight key themes were found to potentially affect Chinese immigrants' capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand diabetes related health information and consequently alter their decision making in self-care. Among the themes, three major categories emerged: cultural factors, structural barriers, and personal barriers.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity when working with first-generation Chinese immigrants with diabetes. Implications for health professionals, local community centres and other potential service providers are discussed.
On the sub-KP hierarchy and its constraints, revisited
Authors: Zuo Dafeng , Zhang Ling , Chen Qing
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we are interested in a series of sub-hierarchies of the KP hierarchy introduced by Date et al. in [4], which we call the ℬ𝒞r-KP hierarchy for r ∈ ℤ≥0. In a unified way, we construct additional symmetries of the ℬ𝒞r-KP hierarchy and show that all of them form a [Formula: see text]-algebra. Then, we introduce the constrained ℬ𝒞r-KP hierarchy, and construct its additional symmetries and show that all of them form a Witt algebra.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Obesity: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Multicenter, Prospective Trial
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Chang Bai , Chen Xin-Yan , Zhou Shui-Ping , Zhen Zhong , Zhang Lan-Lan , Sun Xin , Zhou Yuan , Xie Wan-Qing , Liu Hong-Fang , Xu Yuan , Kong Yi , Zhou Li-Bo , Lian Feng-Mei , Tong Xiao-Lin
Published: November 2014

Obesity is a serious medical problem worldwide. As a holistic therapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may have a potential in obesity management. In this controlled trial, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Xin-Ju-Xiao-Gao-Fang (XJXGF), a TCM herbal formulation, in 140 obese subjects over a 24-week period. The XJXGF formula mainly consists of rhubarb, coptis, semen cassia, and citrus aurantium. Subjects with body mass index (BMI) 28–40 kg/m2 were recruited at 5 centers in China. We assessed the changes in subjects' body weight, its related parameters, and the reduction of insulin resistance (IR) after administration of XJXGF formula or low-dose XJXGF (10% of the XJXGF formula, as control). After 24-week treatment, among participants in the XJXGF formula group and low-dose XJXGF group, the mean ± SE changes in the body weight were -3.58 ± 0.48 and -1.91 ± 0.38 kg, respectively (p < 0.01). The changes in the IR-index of two groups were -2.65 ± 1.04 and -1.58 ± 1.3, respectively (p < 0 .05). There were no serious adverse events reported during the 24-week trial. Participants reported 7 minor adverse events, 4 in the XJXGF formula group and 3 in the low-dose XJXGF group (p = 0.578). Future studies are needed to investigate the clinical utility of this TCM formulation in the treatment of obese subjects.
Superconducting state in a circular SQUID shaped mesoscopic film
Authors: Barba-Ortega J. , Aguilar Jose L. , González Jesús D.
Published: November 2014

Using a thin-film approach to the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau theory, we have studied the magnetization and order parameter profile in a thin mesoscopic superconductor in the so-called SQUID geometry. Our sample is circular with a hole at the center connected to the outer rim by a very thin slit. We have also studied the influence of the boundary conditions in the thin slit on the magnetization curve of the sample.
Quality assessment of modeled protein structure using physicochemical properties
Authors: Rana Prashant Singh , Sharma Harish , Bhattacharya Mahua , Shukla Anupam
Published: November 2014

Physicochemical properties of proteins always guide to determine the quality of the protein structure, therefore it has been rigorously used to distinguish native or native-like structure from other predicted structures. In this work, we explore nine machine learning methods with six physicochemical properties to predict the Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Template Modeling (TM-score), and Global Distance Test (GDT_TS-score) of modeled protein structure in the absence of its true native state. Physicochemical properties namely total surface area, euclidean distance (ED), total empirical energy, secondary structure penalty (SS), sequence length (SL), and pair number (PN) are used. There are a total of 95,091 modeled structures of 4896 native targets. A real coded Self-adaptive Differential Evolution algorithm (SaDE) is used to determine the feature importance. The K-fold cross validation is used to measure the robustness of the best predictive method. Through the intensive experiments, it is found that Random Forest method outperforms over other machine learning methods. This work makes the prediction faster and inexpensive. The performance result shows the prediction of RMSD, TM-score, and GDT_TS-score on Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) as 1.20, 0.06, and 0.06 respectively; correlation scores are 0.96, 0.92, and 0.91 respectively; R2 are 0.92, 0.85, and 0.84 respectively; and accuracy are 78.82% (with ± 0.1 err), 86.56% (with ± 0.1 err), and 87.37% (with ± 0.1 err) respectively on the testing data set. The data set used in the study is available as supplement at http://bit.ly/RF-PCP-DataSets .
Importance of Touch for Conveying Affection in a Multimodal Interaction with a Small Humanoid Robot
Authors: Cooney Martin D. , Nishio Shuichi , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: November 2014

To be accepted as a part of our everyday lives, companion robots will require the capability to communicate socially, recognizing people's behavior and responding appropriately. In particular, we hypothesized that a humanoid robot should be able to recognize affectionate touches conveying liking or dislike because (a) a humanoid form elicits expectations of a high degree of social intelligence, (b) touch behavior plays a fundamental and crucial role in human bonding, and (c) robotic responses providing affection could contribute to people's quality of life. The hypothesis that people will seek to affectionately touch a robot needed to be verified because robots are typically not soft or warm like humans, and people can communicate through various other modalities such as vision and sound. The main challenge faced was that people's social norms are highly complex, involving behavior in multiple channels. To deal with this challenge, we adopted an approach in which we analyzed free interactions and also asked participants to rate short video-clips depicting human–robot interaction. As a result, we verified that touch plays an important part in the communication of affection from a person to a humanoid robot considered capable of recognizing cues in touch, vision, and sound. Our results suggest that designers of affectionate interactions with a humanoid robot should not ignore the fundamental modality of touch.
Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of chiral bornane[2,3-b]pyrazino-fused [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrins
Authors: Filatov Maksim S. , Trukhina Olga N. , Rodríguez-Morgade M. Salomé , Islyaikin Mikhail K. , Koifman Oscar I. , Torres Tomas
Published: November 2014

First chiral bornane[2,3-b]pyrazino-fused [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrins were prepared by a crossover condensation of R-(+)- or S-(–)-bornane[2′,3′-b]-2,3-dicyanopyrazine and 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole using two different methods. R-(+)- and S-(–)-enantiomers were characterized by their optical rotations and circular dichroism spectra, showing a mirror image relationship with respect to [θ] = 0. Regioisomers with C1 and C3 symmetry of R-(+)-[30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrin have been separated using HPLC CHIRALPACK IC analytical column, allowing their unambiguous identification and characterization.
Contemplating Transport Characteristics by Augmenting the Length of Molecule
Authors: Kaur Milanpreet , Sawhney Ravinder Singh , Engles Derick
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we contemplated the transport characteristics of a single molecular device junction by augmenting the length of the molecule in the scattering region. The molecules considered here belongs to class of alkanedithiols ( C n H 2n+2 S 2). Specifically, we used a tight binding semi-empirical model to compute the transport characteristics of butanedithiol, pentanedithiol, hexanedithiol and heptanedithiol connected to semi-infinite gold electrodes through thiol anchoring elements. The exploration of transport properties of considered alkanes was completed for different bias voltages within the sphere of Keldysh's Non Equilibrium Green's Function (NEGF) and Extended Hückel Theory (EHT), for studying the self-consistent steady-state solution, analyzing the out-of-equilibrium electron distribution, and the behavior of the self-consistent potential. We perceived that the current and conductance retrenches with aggravation with the increase in length of the molecule with exhibition of single electron tunneling. We observed that the coupling regime shifts from strong coupling to weak for higher order alkanedithiols and the transmission is function of evenness or oddness of the carbon atoms forming an alkane.
Merging Query Results From Local Search Engines for Georeferenced Objects
Authors: Dragut Eduard C. , Dasgupta Bhaskar , Beirne Brian P. , Neyestani Ali , Atassi Badr , Yu Clement , Meng Weiyi
Published: November 2014

The emergence of numerous online sources about local services presents a need for more automatic yet accurate data integration techniques. Local services are georeferenced objects and can be queried by their locations on a map, for instance, neighborhoods. Typical local service queries (e.g., “French Restaurant in The Loop”) include not only information about “what” (“French Restaurant”) a user is searching for (such as cuisine) but also “where” information, such as neighborhood (“The Loop”). In this article, we address three key problems: query translation, result merging and ranking. Most local search engines provide a (hierarchical) organization of (large) cities into neighborhoods. A neighborhood in one local search engine may correspond to sets of neighborhoods in other local search engines. These make the query translation challenging. To provide an integrated access to the query results returned by the local search engines, we need to combine the results into a single list of results.

Our contributions include: (1) An integration algorithm for neighborhoods. (2) A very effective business listing resolution algorithm. (3) A ranking algorithm that takes into consideration the user criteria, user ratings and rankings. We have created a prototype system, Yumi, over local search engines in the restaurant domain. The restaurant domain is a representative case study for the local services. We conducted a comprehensive experimental study to evaluate Yumi. A prototype version of Yumi is available online.
Improved metabolic regulation is associated with retinoblastoma protein gene haploinsufficiency in mice
Authors: Petrov Petar D. , Ribot Joan , Palou Andreu , Luisa Bonet M.
Published: November 2014

Retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is involved in the control of energy metabolism, and its inactivation protects mice against high-fat diet-induced diabesity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that partial deficiency in the Rb gene could confer metabolic advantages in front of acute challenges to metabolism and as mice age on a regular diet. Rb haploinsufficient (Rb+/−) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were studied from weaning and characterized at 1.5–2.5 mo of age (young adults) and 6–7.5 mo of age (mature adults). Whereas no differences in body weight or composition were observed at young age, mature adult Rb+/− mice were leaner than WT littermates, displaying 36% reduced body fat content. At both ages studied, Rb+/− mice displayed improved blood lipids, enhanced sensitivity to the blood glucose-lowering effect of insulin and to the anorectic effect of leptin, and a reduced respiratory exchange ratio, indicative of an increased use of fatty acids as a fuel. Insulin sensitivity and oral fat tolerance were better maintained with age in the Rb+/− than the WT mice. Mature adult Rb+/− mice displayed gene expression changes consistent with increased fatty acid oxidation in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle and paramount signs of browning in the inguinal white adipose tissue. In conclusion, Rb haploinsufficiency provides metabolic advantages in front of acute metabolic stressors and ameliorates body fat gain and metabolic impairments that normally accompany transition from young to mature adult age.
The Impact of Traffic-Induced Bridge Vibration on Rapid Repairing High-Performance Concrete for Bridge Deck Pavement Repairs
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Shuo , Wang Qizhi , Yuan Wei , Chen Mingzhang , Hao Xiaotian , Ma Shuai , Liang Xuanyu
Published: November 2014

Based on forced vibration tests for high-performance concrete (HPC), the influence of bridge vibration induced by traveling vehicle on compressive strength and durability of HPC has been studied. It is concluded that 1 d and 2 d compressive strength of HPC decreased significantly, and the maximum reduction rate is 9.1%, while 28 d compressive strength of HPC had a slight lower with a 3% maximal drop under the action of two simple harmonic vibrations with 2 Hz, 3 mm amplitude, and 4 Hz, 3 mm amplitude. Moreover, the vibration had a slight effect on the compressive strength of HPC when the simple harmonic vibration had 4 Hz and 1 mm amplitude; it is indicated that the amplitude exerts a more prominent influence on the earlier compressive strength with the comparison of the frequency. In addition, the impact of simple harmonic vibration on durability of HPC can be ignored; this shows the self-healing function of concrete resulting from later hydration reaction. Thus, the research achievements mentioned above can contribute to learning the laws by which bridge vibration affects the properties of concrete and provide technical support for the design and construction of the bridge deck pavement maintenance.
Effect on Intraocular Pressure of Switching from Latanoprost and Travoprost Monotherapy to Timolol Fixed Combinations in Patients with Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Authors: Igarashi Ryoko , Togano Tetsuya , Sakaue Yuta , Yoshino Takaiko , Ueda Jun , Fukuchi Takeo
Published: November 2014

Purpose. To evaluate the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of switching from latanoprost and travoprost monotherapy to timolol fixed combinations in Japanese patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).Methods. 27 NTG patients (54 eyes) were compared IOP, superficial punctuate keratitis (SPK) scores, and conjunctival injection scores in eyes treated with prostaglandin (PG) or PG analog/beta-blocker (PG/b) fixed-combination 6 months after the change in therapy.Results. The mean baseline intraocular pressure was17.4±1.59 mmHg in eyes receiving PG therapy only and17.4±1.69 mmHg in eyes switched to PG/b. Switching to fixed combination therapy from PG monotherapy, the mean IOP was13.1±1.79 mmHg(P<0.001)  (-24.71% reduction from baseline) at 6 months. The mean conjunctival injection score was 0.69 for eyes on PG monotherapy and 0.56 for eyes on fixed combination therapy(P=0.028). The mean SPK scores were 0.46 and 0.53. This difference was not statistically significant(P=0.463).Conclusions. Switching from PG monotherapy to PG/b fixed combination therapy for NTG resulted in a greater intraocular pressure reduction than PG alone without increasing the number of instillations.
Metacercarial Infection of Wild Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Brazil
Authors: Pinto Hudson A. , Mati Vitor L. T. , Melo Alan L.
Published: November 2014

Fingerlings ofOreochromis niloticuscollected in an artificial urban lake from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were evaluated for natural infection with trematodes. Morphological taxonomic identification of four fluke species was performed inO. niloticusexamined, and the total prevalence of metacercariae was 60.7% (37/61).Centrocestus formosanus, a heterophyid found in the gills, was the species with the highest prevalence and mean intensity of infection (31.1% and 3.42 (1–42), resp.), followed by the diplostomidAustrodiplostomum compactum(29.5% and 1.27 (1-2)) recovered from the eyes. Metacercariae ofDrepanocephalussp. andRibeiroiasp., both found in the oral cavity of the fish, were verified at low prevalences (8.2% and 1.6%, resp.) and intensities of infection (only one metacercaria of each of these species per fish). These species of trematodes are reported for the first time inO. niloticusfrom South America. The potential of occurrence of these parasites in tilapia farming and the control strategies are briefly discussed.
l-Arginine Depletion Blunts Antitumor T-cell Responses by Inducing Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells
Authors: Fletcher Matthew , Ramirez Maria E. , Sierra Rosa A. , Raber Patrick , Thevenot Paul , Al-Khami Amir A. , Sanchez-Pino Dulfary , Hernandez Claudia , Wyczechowska Dorota D. , Ochoa Augusto C. , Rodriguez Paulo C.
Published: November 2014

Enzymatic depletion of the nonessential amino acid l-Arginine (l-Arg) in patients with cancer by the administration of a pegylated form of the catabolic enzyme arginase I (peg-Arg I) has shown some promise as a therapeutic approach. However, l-Arg deprivation also suppresses T-cell responses in tumors. In this study, we sought to reconcile these observations by conducting a detailed analysis of the effects of peg-Arg I on normal T cells. Strikingly, we found that peg-Arg I blocked proliferation and cell-cycle progression in normal activated T cells without triggering apoptosis or blunting T-cell activation. These effects were associated with an inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in activated T cells, but not with significant alterations in mitochondrial oxidative respiration, which thereby regulated survival of T cells exposed to peg-Arg I. Further mechanistic investigations showed that the addition of citrulline, a metabolic precursor for l-Arg, rescued the antiproliferative effects of peg-Arg I on T cells in vitro. Moreover, serum levels of citrulline increased after in vivo administration of peg-Arg I. In support of the hypothesis that peg-Arg I acted indirectly to block T-cell responses in vivo, peg-Arg I inhibited T-cell proliferation in mice by inducing accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). MDSC induction by peg-Arg I occurred through the general control nonrepressed-2 eIF2α kinase. Moreover, we found that peg-Arg I enhanced the growth of tumors in mice in a manner that correlated with higher MDSC numbers. Taken together, our results highlight the risks of the l-Arg–depleting therapy for cancer treatment and suggest a need for cotargeting MDSC in such therapeutic settings. Cancer Res; 75(2); 275–83. ©2014 AACR.
Notch1 Mutations Are Drivers of Oral Tumorigenesis
Authors: Izumchenko Evgeny , Sun Kai , Jones Sian , Brait Mariana , Agrawal Nishant , Koch Wayne , McCord Christine L. , Riley David R. , Angiuoli Samuel V. , Velculescu Victor E. , Jiang Wei-Wen , Sidransky David
Published: November 2014

Disruption of NOTCH1 signaling was recently discovered in head and neck cancer. This study aims to evaluate NOTCH1 alterations in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and compare the occurrence of these mutations in Chinese and Caucasian populations. We used a high-throughput PCR-based enrichment technology and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to sequence NOTCH1 in 144 samples collected in China. Forty-nine samples were normal oral mucosa from patients undergoing oral surgery, 45 were oral leukoplakia biopsies, and 50 were chemoradiation-naïve OSCC samples with 22 paired-normal tissues from the adjacent unaffected areas. NOTCH1 mutations were found in 54% of primary OSCC and 60% of premalignant lesions. Importantly, almost 60% of patients with leukoplakia with mutated NOTCH1 carried mutations that were also identified in OSCC, indicating an important role of these clonal events in the progression of early neoplasms. We then compared all known NOTCH1 mutations identified in Chinese patients with OSCC with those reported in Caucasians to date. Although we found obvious overlaps in critical regulatory NOTCH1 domains alterations and identified specific mutations shared by both groups, possible gain-of-function mutations were predominantly seen in Chinese population. Our findings demonstrate that premalignant lesions display NOTCH1 mutations at an early stage and are thus bona fide drivers of OSCC progression. Moreover, our results reveal that NOTCH1 promotes distinct tumorigenic mechanisms in patients from different ethnical populations. Cancer Prev Res; 8(4); 277–86. ©2014 AACR.

See related perspectives, p. 259 and p. 262
Metastatic Choriocarcinoma Presenting in a Gravid Woman
Authors: Byrd Kevin , Seay Rachel , Bechert Charles J. , Maxwell G. Larry , Bicher Annette
Published: November 2014

Choriocarcinoma coexistent with an intrauterine pregnancy is rare and requires decisions affecting mother and child to treat this aggressive tumor. An instance of this situation is presented to highlight clinical circumstances that warrant departure from accepted dogma. Pathologic aspects of choriocarcinoma are also discussed. Diagnosis of choriocarcinoma during an otherwise normal pregnancy requires a high index of suspicion and consideration of unconventional diagnostic maneuvers.
Successful Obstetric Management of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cozzolino Mauro , Perelli Federica , Corioni Serena , Carpinella Gerardo , Mecacci Federico
Published: November 2014

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic myocardial disorder characterized by the replacement of myocardium by fibro-adipose tissue. The proper obstetric management of this disease remains unclear due to the lack of an adequate number of cases reported in the literature. We report the successful management of a pregnant patient with ARVC. A female patient with ARVC presented to our hospital at 9 weeks of gestation. Before pregnancy, she was treated with bisoprolol, which resulted in a reduction in extrasystoles and she never developed palpitations. Periodical cardiological examinations showed clinical stability, and the only therapeutic change consisted of an increase in the bisoprolol dosage. She delivered at term by elective cesarean section. We decided that avoiding changes in the chronic therapy of our patient was the best management because she had reached clinical stability before pregnancy and discontinuation of therapy may pose an addition risk. In our opinion, cesarean section was the best mode of delivery in our ARVC patient to avoid the stress of labor, which may raise heart rate and cause arrhythmia. Our experience and the case reports in the literature suggest that pregnancy is tolerated in female patients with ARVC, but they need to be monitored during pregnancy by a multidisciplinary team.
Intravitreal Ranibizumab and/or Dexamethasone Implant for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Nghiem-Buffet Sylvia , Fajnkuchen Franck , Buffet Marc , Ayrault Sandrine , Le Gloahec-Lorcy Anna , Grenet Typhaine , Delahaye-Mazza Corinne , Quentel Gabriel , Cohen Salomon Y.
Published: November 2014

Purpose: To investigate the outcome of intravitreal ranibizumab and/or dexamethasone implant treatment for treatment of macular edema (ME) secondary to central or branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO or BRVO) in a clinical setting. Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients followed for at least 6 months. Data recorded included the type of occlusion, initial and final visual acuity, and number of injections. Results: Sixty-five patients were included, 26 had CRVO and 39 BRVO. Mean (±SD) follow-up duration was 16 (±7.7) months. Twenty-four (36.9%) patients received ranibizumab in monotherapy, 19 patients (29.3%) dexamethasone in monotherapy, and 22 patients (33.8%) received successively both treatments. In dexamethasone-treated patients, mean (±SD) visual acuity gain was 5.8 ± 10.7 letters for BRVO and 16.8 ± 15.6 letters for CRVO. In ranibizumab-treated patients, mean (±SD) visual acuity gain was 9.2 ± 10 letters for BRVO and 18.2 ± 20.5 letters for CRVO. Conclusion: Both intravitreal ranibizumab and dexamethasone intravitreal implant could be used as first-line therapy for patients with ME secondary to retinal vein occlusion.