bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening and Correlating Data on Heat Transfer to Fluids at Supercritical Pressure
Authors: Jackson J. Derek
Published: December 2015

A simple criterion for screening experimental data on turbulent heat transfer in vertical tubes to identify those not significantly influenced by buoyancy was proposed by the author many years ago and found to work quite well for water and air at normal pressures. However, it was recognized even then that the ideas on which the criterion was based were too simplistic to be suitable for use in the case of fluids at supercritical pressure. With the passage of time and tremendous advancement in data processing capability using present-day computers, it is now possible to contemplate adopting a refined approach specifically designed to be suitable for such fluids. The present paper describes a semi-empirical model of buoyancy-influenced heat transfer to fluids at supercritical pressure, which takes careful account of nonuniformity of fluid properties. It provides a criterion for determining the conditions under which buoyancy influences are negligibly small. Thus, the extensive databases now available on heat transfer to fluids at supercritical pressure can be reliably screened to eliminate those affected by such influences. Then, the many correlation equations that have been proposed for forced convection heat transfer can be evaluated in a reliable manner. These equations mostly relate Nusselt number to Reynolds number, Prandtl number, and simple property ratio correction terms. Thus, they should be evaluated using only experimental data that are definitely not influenced by buoyancy. A further outcome of the present paper is that it might now prove possible to correlate the buoyancy-influenced data in such databases and fit the equation for mixed convection heat transfer yielded by the model to the correlated data. If this can be done, it will represent a major advancement in terms of providing thermal analysts with a valuable new tool.
High aspect ratio nanoimprinted grooves of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) control the length and direction of retraction fibers during fibroblast cell division
Authors: Su Yi-Hsuan , Chiang Po-Chieh , Cheng Li-Jing , Lee Chau-Hwang , Swami Nathan S. , Chou Chia-Fu
Published: December 2015

Retraction fibers (RFs) determine orientation of the cell division axis and guide the spreading of daughter cells. Long and unidirectional RFs, which are especially apparent during mitosis of cells in three-dimensional (3D) environments, enable improved control over cell fate, following division. However, 3D gel environments lack the cues necessary for predetermining the orientation of RFs to direct tissue architecture. While patterning of focal adhesion regions by microcontact printing can determine orientation of the RFs through enhancing focal adhesion numbers along particular directions, the RFs remain short due to the two-dimensional culture environment. Herein, the authors demonstrate that nanoimprinted grooves of polylactic acid glycolic acid (PLGA) with a high aspect ratio (A.R. of 2.0) can provide the cues necessary to control the direction of RFs, as well as enable the maintenance of long and unidirectional RFs as observed within 3D cultures, while the same is not possible with PLGA grooves of lower A.R. (1.0 or lower). Based on enhanced levels of contact guidance of premitotic fibroblast protrusions at high A.R. grooves and deeper levels of focal adhesion due to filopodia extensions into these grooves, it is suggested that submicron (800 nm width) PLGA grooves with A.R. of 2 are capable of supporting mechanical forces from cell protrusions to a greater depth, thereby enabling the maintenance of the protrusions as long and unidirectional RFs during cell division. Given the scalability and versatility of nanoimprint techniques, the authors envision a platform for designing nanostructures to direct tissue regeneration and developmental biology.
Magnetic and electronic properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/h-YMnO3 bilayer
Authors: Kumar Manish , Choudhary R. J. , Phase D. M.
Published: December 2015

La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/h-YMnO3 (h ∼ hexagonal) bilayer thin films are grown using pulsed laser deposition technique and magnetic/band-offset measurements are performed to explore the magnetic/electronic properties. The bilayer displays the signatures of the ferromagnetic (FM) La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 layer and antiferromagnetic (AFM) h-YMnO3 layer. The uncompensated spins at the interface of FM/AFM layers caused exchange bias effect. The vertical and horizontal shift in field cooled isothermal magnetization curves below the AFM transition temperature shows dependence on the sign of the cooling magnetic field. Type-II band alignment at the interface of bilayer is realized through valence band offset and conduction band offset values estimated from the photoemission results.
Maximum entropy inference of seabed attenuation parameters using ship radiated broadband noise
Authors: Knobles D. P.
Published: December 2015

The received acoustic field generated by a single passage of a research vessel on the New Jersey continental shelf is employed to infer probability distributions for the parameter values representing the frequency dependence of the seabed attenuation and the source levels of the ship. The statistical inference approach employed in the analysis is a maximum entropy methodology. The average value of the error function, needed to uniquely specify a conditional posterior probability distribution, is estimated with data samples from time periods in which the ship-receiver geometry is dominated by either the stern or bow aspect. The existence of ambiguities between the source levels and the environmental parameter values motivates an attempt to partially decouple these parameter values. The main result is the demonstration that parameter values for the attenuation (α and the frequency exponent), the sediment sound speed, and the source levels can be resolved through a model space reduction technique. The results of this multi-step statistical inference developed for ship radiated noise is then tested by processing towed source data over the same bandwidth and source track to estimate continuous wave source levels that were measured independently with a reference hydrophone on the tow body.
Intrauterine death at term in a cocaine user detained under the Mental Health Act
Authors: Petrosellini Chiara , Hameed Aisha
Published: December 2015

We report the case of a 31-year-old woman who presented at 23 weeks gestation following a mixed overdose of medication. She was detained under the Mental Health Act 1983/2007 for ongoing suicidal ideation and heavy cocaine use. She had a normal nuchal scan, and unremarkable anomaly and growth scans at 19, 29, 32 and 34 weeks. At 40 weeks, an ultrasound scan confirmed fetal demise. A macerated male stillborn was delivered by forceps. Women with mental health and substance misuse problems may have reduced awareness of fetal movements, and they may be poor historians or frequent attenders for non-specific symptoms. It is crucial that these factors do not influence the ability of clinicians to thoroughly investigate symptoms and promptly identify obstetric complications.
Subacute, tetracycline-responsive, granulomatous osteomyelitis in an adult man, consistent with Q fever infection
Authors: Bayard Cornelia , Dumoulin Alexis , Ikenberg Kristian , Günthard Huldrych F
Published: December 2015

Osteomyelitis due toCoxiella burnetiiinfection is a rare condition in adults. We report the case of a healthy young man presenting with subacute osteomyelitis of the left cheek bone, evolving gradually after an episode of acute febrile illness. Histological evaluation confirmed subacute granulomatous inflammation. Despite antibody titres not reaching the standard cut-off for chronic Q fever (phase I IgG 1/160, phase II IgG 1/2560), osteomyelitis was radiologically and histologically confirmed. A 6-month course of doxycycline/hydroxychloroquine brought clinical and radiological cure while various conventional antibiotic treatments had failed to improve the clinical condition. Currently, at 6-month follow-up, no relapse has occurred and antibody titres have declined. A shorter course of doxycycline/hydroxychloroquine than that used for chronic Q fever osteomyelitis may be sufficient to treat subacute Q fever osteomyelitis in some cases.
A mild form of rituximab-associated lung injury in two adolescents treated for nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Spatafora Mario , Bellini Tommaso , Giordano Carmela , Ghiggeri Gian Marco
Published: December 2015

Rituximab is used as a steroid/calcineurin inhibitor-saving agent in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Safety is a crucial issue for justifying widespread use of the drug in this clinical setting. Rituximab-associated lung injury (RALI) is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication in oncohaematological and rheumatological patients, while it has only been anecdotally reported in association with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (2 cases described, 1 with fatal outcome). We describe a benign form of RALI occurring in two adolescents treated with rituximab (single pulse of 375 mg/m2) for nephrotic syndrome. Before treatment, the patients were in good clinical condition while receiving a combination of steroids and calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, case 1 and cyclosporine, case 2). The two patients developed full blown RALI (ie, ground-glass lesions on CT, negative bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and deficit in diffusion lung CO transfer), 14 and 40 days after rituximab infusion, respectively. Recovery was rapid and complete after administering steroids in case 1 and with no therapy in case 2. We conclude that RALI may occur in stable non-immunocompromised patients with nephrotic syndrome and its frequency may be higher than expected. Clinical presentation may be mild and resolve after steroids, suggesting hypersensitivity as the main mechanism. Rapid recognition and prompt steroid therapy, if needed, are mandatory for resolution.
Targeted case finding for dementia in primary care: Surrey Downs dementia diagnosis project
Authors: Kallumpuram Sen , Sudhir Kumar CT , Khan Bilal , Gavins Victoria , Khan Aalia , Iliffe Steve
Published: December 2015

Currently less than half of the estimated number of people with dementia in England receive a formal diagnosis of dementia or have contact with specialist dementia services. Case finding focused on high risk groups may be an effective way to identify the undiagnosed. This joint Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group and Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust quality improvement project aimed to increase the rate of dementia diagnosis across Surrey Downs using specialist link nurses (SLNs).

Thirty three GP surgeries covering the entire Surrey Downs area took part in the project. Individuals at high risk of developing dementia were identified from GP electronic disease registers, and were offered screening at their GP practices by SLNs, using a combination of mini cognitive test (Mini-Cog) and functional assessment questionnaire (FAQ). Suitable individuals who screened positive were seen by their GP and where appropriate referred to secondary care services for further evaluation.

Based on the presence of risk factors, 6657 (11.9%) people were identified from a total population of 55 845 over 65s, and 1980 (29.7%) completed the screening assessment. Three hundred and fifty eight (18.1%) individuals screened positive and were referred to their GP, who referred 205 (57.2%) of them to the memory services for further assessment. Of those referred, 164 (80%) had a comprehensive specialist assessment. Forty one (20%) declined further assessment, and their GPs were informed.

The mean age of the cohort who completed the comprehensive assessment was 82.3 years (SD=4.26), and were predominantly white and male. Fifty four (32.9%) had mild cognitive disorder (MCD), and 101 (61.6%) patients were diagnosed with dementia. The most common dementia was mixed type (43; 42.6%), followed by Alzheimer’s dementia (32; 31.7%). The most common risk factor among patients with cognitive impairment (MCD or dementia) was hypertension (69; 44.5 %), followed by ischemic heart disease (64, 41.3%).

Nurse led case finding for cognitive impairment in a high risk population identifies people with dementia who are not yet formally diagnosed. The combined use of brief instruments to assess cognitive functioning and functional capabilities is helpful in identifying individuals with possible dementia.
Injury patterns of rear seat occupants in frontal impact: an in-depth crash investigation study
Authors: Beck Ben , Bilston Lynne E , Brown Julie
Published: December 2015

Objective

Rear seat occupants are now at a higher risk of injury relative to front seat occupants and there is a need for enhanced protection. This study aimed to examine the pattern of injury, injury mechanisms and injury sources to restrained motor vehicle rear seat occupants involved in a frontal impact.

Methods

Cases involving restrained rear seat occupants aged 9 years and older involved in frontal crashes were prospectively collected from in-depth crash investigations collected in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, between 2000 and 2010. Structured occupant and driver interviews were conducted to ascertain crash parameters, medical records were reviewed and detailed injury descriptions were recorded using the abbreviated injury scale (AIS). Vehicle and scene inspections were also conducted and injury sources determined.

Results

The dataset included 29 rear seat occupants aged 9–80 years. AIS2+ injuries were most commonly observed in the chest and abdomen. Chest injuries were more commonly observed in older occupants, while abdominal and thoracolumbar spine injuries were mostly observed in younger occupants. The seat belt was the most common source of injury to rear seat occupants.

Conclusions

The seat belt is the most common source of injury to rear seat passengers in frontal impact with variations in injury with age. There is a need to provide appropriate belt fit and better control seat belt loads for rear seat passengers. This could be achieved, at least in part, with existing technologies currently used in front seat positions, although novel technologies may also be useful.
All Wales Injury Surveillance System revised: development of a population-based system to evaluate single-level and multilevel interventions
Authors: Lyons Ronan A , Turner Samantha , Lyons Jane , Walters Angharad , Snooks Helen A , Greenacre Judith , Humphreys Ciaran , Jones Sarah J
Published: December 2015

Background

Injury surveillance has been established since the 1990s, but is still largely based upon single-source data from sentinel sites. The growth of electronic health records and developments in privacy protecting linkage technologies provide an opportunity for more sophisticated surveillance systems.

Objective

To describe the evolution of an injury surveillance system to support the evaluation of interventions, both simple and complex in terms of organisation.

Methods

The paper describes the evolution of the system from one that relied upon data only from emergency departments to one that include multisource data and are now embedded in a total population privacy protecting data linkage system. Injury incidence estimates are compared by source and data linkage used to aid understanding of data quality issues. Examples of applications, challenges and solutions are described.

Results

The age profile and estimated incidence of injuries recorded in general practice, emergency departments and hospital admissions differ considerably. Data linkage has enabled the evaluation of complex interventions and measurement of longer-term impact of a wide range of exposures.

Conclusions

Embedding injury surveillance within privacy protecting data linkage environment can transform the utility of a traditional single-source surveillance system to a multisource system. It also facilitates greater involvement in the evaluation of simple and complex healthcare and non-healthcare interventions and contributes to the growing evidence basis underlying the science of injury prevention and control.
Burden Calculator: a simple and open analytical tool for estimating the population burden of injuries
Authors: Bhalla Kavi , Harrison James E
Published: December 2015

Background

Burden of disease and injury methods can be used to summarise and compare the effects of conditions in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Burden estimation methods are not inherently complex. However, as commonly implemented, the methods include complex modelling and estimation.

Objectives

To provide a simple and open-source software tool that allows estimation of incidence-DALYs due to injury, given data on incidence of deaths and non-fatal injuries. The tool includes a default set of estimation parameters, which can be replaced by users.

Development of the software tool

The tool was written in Microsoft Excel. All calculations and values can be seen and altered by users. The parameter sets currently used in the tool are based on published sources.

Using the software tool

The tool is available without charge online athttp://calculator.globalburdenofinjuries.org. To use the tool with the supplied parameter sets, users need to only paste a table of population and injury case data organised by age, sex and external cause of injury into a specified location in the tool. Estimated DALYs can be read or copied from tables and figures in another part of the tool.

Conclusions

In some contexts, a simple and user-modifiable burden calculator may be preferable to undertaking a more complex study to estimate the burden of disease. The tool and the parameter sets required for its use can be improved by user innovation, by studies comparing DALYs estimates calculated in this way and in other ways, and by shared experience of its use.
The quinone-binding site ofAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidanssulfide: quinone oxidoreductase controls both sulfide oxidation and quinone reduction
Authors: Zhang Yanfei , Qadri Ali , Weiner Joel H.
Published: December 2015

Sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) is a peripheral membrane enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of sulfide and the reduction of ubiquinone. Ubiquinone binds to a conserved hydrophobic domain and shuttles electrons from a noncovalent flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor to the membrane-bound quinone pool. Utilizing the structure of decylubiquinone bound to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans SQR, we combined site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic approaches to analyze quinone binding. SQR can reduce both benzoquinones and naphthoquinones. The alkyl side-chain of ubiquinone derivatives enhances binding to SQR but limits the enzyme turnover. Pentachlorophenol and 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide are potent inhibitors of SQR with apparent inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.46 μmol·L−1and 0.58 μmol·L−1, respectively. The highly conserved amino acids surrounding the quinone binding site play an important role in quinone reduction. The phenyl side-chains of Phe357 and Phe391 sandwich the benzoquinone head group and are critical for quinone binding. Importantly, conserved amino acids that define the ubiquinone-binding site also play an important role in sulfide oxidation/flavin reduction.
Frontal bones of non-avian theropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian–?Campanian) Bostobe Formation of the northeastern Aral Sea region, Kazakhstan
Authors: Averianov Alexander
Published: December 2015

Three theropod taxa have been identified based on isolated frontal bones from the Santonian–?Campanian Bostobe Formation at the Shakh-Shakh locality, in the northeastern Aral Sea region of Kazakhstan. A frontal referable to Ornithomimosauria indet. is distinct in having a slightly pronounced cerebral dome. A frontal of an unidentified therizinosaur resembles the element in Erlikosaurus (Cenomanian—Turonian of Mongolia) in most features, but it differs in having an anterolateral prong along the orbital rim, a less-developed facet for contact with the prefrontal, and a larger depression for the cerebral hemisphere. A frontal identifiable as Troodontidae indet. differs from that of Troodon (Campanian—Maastrichtian of North America) and resembles that of the Mongolian Campanian Gobivenator in having a larger supratemporal fossa and the anterior process of the parietals wedged between the frontals. This specimen is the first reliable record for Troodontidae from the Bostobe Formation.
Current-Mode nth-Order Filter Based on a Minimal Component
Authors: Cao Meili , He Haizhen , Lin Hairong , Peng Hao , Zhu Bohui
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a new active current-mode (CM) minimal component, cascaded current differencing unit (CCDU) and a CM nth-order filter based on the CCDU have been presented. The proposed CCDU simplifies the design of the CM nth-order filter circuit considerably. The proposed nth-order circuit, which adopts only an active component and n grounded capacitors, can simultaneously realize low-pass (LP), band-pass (BP) and high-pass (HP) filter responses. It enjoys the simple configuration and is suitable for integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. PSPICE simulations and experimental tests for CM third-order filter based on this structure have also been conducted and the results have good agreement with the theoretical analysis.
BLESSING IN DISGUISE? COPING STRATEGIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS FOLLOWING INVOLUNTARY JOB LOSS
Authors: ABEBE MICHAEL A. , WELBOURNE JENNIFER L.
Published: December 2015

A growing body of research in entrepreneurship has explored the personality and social determinants of entrepreneurial intentions (EI). Most empirical work in this area has emphasized the “pull” approach to EI, which focuses on the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. In contrast, the “push” approach to EI, which explains EI as a function of displacing events in one’s life, has received little scholarly attention. This study contributes to the “push” approach to EI by examining involuntary job loss as a specific situational factor that influences EI. This study investigates whether problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies predict EI among individuals who have experienced involuntary job loss. Furthermore, we test whether entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) mediates the relationship between coping and EI. Using a sample of 266 individuals who had experienced recent involuntary job loss, we found that the use of problem-focused coping strategies was positively associated with EI and that this relationship was mediated by ESE. On the other hand, the use of emotion-focused coping strategies to manage job loss was unrelated to EI. Overall, our findings highlight the role of problem-focused coping in effectively managing the impacts of involuntary job loss.
The Pitfalls of Deciding Whether a Quantum Channel is (Conjugate) Degradable and How to Avoid Them
Authors: Brádler Kamil
Published: December 2015

To decide whether a quantum channel is degradable is relatively easy: one has to find at least one example of a degrading quantum channel. But in general, no conclusive criterion exists to show the opposite. Using elementary methods we derive a necessary and sufficient condition to decide under what circumstances the conclusion is unambiguous. The findings lead to an extension of the antidegradability region for qubit and qutrit transpose depolarizing channels. In the qubit case we reproduce the known results for the class of qubit depolarizing channels (due to their equivalence). One of the consequences is that the optimal qubit and qutrit asymmetric cloners possess a single-letter quantum capacity formula. We also investigate the ramifications of the criterion for the search of exclusively conjugate degradable channels.
Significance of the
Paralia sulcata
fossil record in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the SE Asia marginal seas over the Last Glacial Cycle
Authors: Zhang Jinpeng , Tomczak Michał , Li Chao , Witkowski Andrzej , Qiu Yan , Chen Hongjun , Gao Hongfang
Published: December 2015

Paralia sulcata
(Ehr.) Cleve, a common diatom microfossil species in shelf and adjacent deep-sea sediments, is becoming potentially useful in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions due to its coarsely silicified exoskeleton being well preserved in sediments. This paper presents the distributions of
P. sulcata
in sediment cores from the SE Asian marginal seas taken from formerly published and original materials.
Paralia sulcata
achieved variable abundance in the glacial–interglacial sediment analysed, showing spatial changes in the core profiles of the South China Sea, with lower abundances during the last glacial stage and higher values in the post-glacial. Conversely, in the East China Sea, it attains lower abundances during the Holocene, while higher ones in last glacial stage. Over a short timescale, variations in the abundance of this species responded quickly to the climatic and oceanographic fluctuations. We illustrate a ‘seesaw’ effect that its high abundances revealed in the East China Sea at 15–11 cal ka BP, whereas this occurred during period 11–8 cal ka BP in the South China Sea. The rapid increase in abundance of this species in the South China Sea is interpreted as an indication of a plausible link with the opening of the Taiwan Strait and the general coastal water circulation pattern during deglaciation.
Fence Placement for Legacy Data-Race-Free Programs via Synchronization Read Detection
Authors: Mcpherson Andrew J. , Nagarajan Vijay , Sarkar Susmit , Cintra Marcelo
Published: December 2015

Shared-memory programmers traditionally assumed Sequential Consistency (SC), but modern systems have relaxed memory consistency. Here, the trend in languages is toward Data-Race-Free (DRF) models, where, assuming annotated synchronizations and the program being well-synchronized by those synchronizations, the hardware and compiler guarantee SC. However, legacy programs lack annotations, so even well-synchronized (legacy DRF) programs aren’t recognized. For legacy DRF programs, we can significantly prune the set of memory orderings determined by automated fence placement by automatically identifying synchronization reads. We prove our rules for identifying them conservatively, implement them within LLVM, and observe a 30% average performance improvement over previous techniques.
Optimizing Control Transfer and Memory Virtualization in Full System Emulators
Authors: Hong Ding-Yong , Hsu Chun-Chen , Chou Cheng-Yi , Hsu Wei-Chung , Liu Pangfeng , Wu Jan-Jan
Published: December 2015

Full system emulators provide virtual platforms for several important applications, such as kernel and system software development, co-verification with cycle accurate CPU simulators, or application development for hardware still in development. Full system emulators usually use dynamic binary translation to obtain reasonable performance. This paper focuses on optimizing the performance of full system emulators. First, we optimize performance by enabling classic control transfer optimizations of dynamic binary translation in full system emulation, such as indirect branch target caching and block chaining. Second, we improve the performance of memory virtualization of cross-ISA virtual machines by improving the efficiency of the software translation lookaside buffer (software TLB). We implement our optimizations on QEMU, an industrial-strength full system emulator, along with the Android emulator. Experimental results show that our optimizations achieve an average speedup of 1.98X for ARM-to-X86-64 QEMU running SPEC CINT2006 benchmarks with train inputs. Our optimizations also achieve an average speedup of 1.44X and 1.40X for IA32-to-X86-64 QEMU and AArch64-to-X86-64 QEMU on SPEC CINT2006. We use a set of real applications downloaded from Google Play as benchmarks for the Android emulator. Experimental results show that our optimizations achieve an average speedup of 1.43X for the Android emulator running these applications.
The Polyhedral Model of Nonlinear Loops
Authors: Sukumaran-Rajam Aravind , Clauss Philippe
Published: December 2015

Runtime code optimization and speculative execution are becoming increasingly prominent to leverage performance in the current multi- and many-core era. However, a wider and more efficient use of such techniques is mainly hampered by the prohibitive time overhead induced by centralized data race detection, dynamic code behavior modeling, and code generation. Most of the existing Thread Level Speculation (TLS) systems rely on naively slicing the target loops into chunks and trying to execute the chunks in parallel with the help of a centralized performance-penalizing verification module that takes care of data races. Due to the lack of a data dependence model, these speculative systems are not capable of doing advanced transformations, and, more importantly, the chances of rollback are high. The polyhedral model is a well-known mathematical model to analyze and optimize loop nests. The current state-of-art tools limit the application of the polyhedral model to static control codes. Thus, none of these tools can generally handle codes with while loops, indirect memory accesses, or pointers. Apollo (Automatic POLyhedral Loop Optimizer) is a framework that goes one step beyond and applies the polyhedral model dynamically by using TLS. Apollo can predict, at runtime, whether the codes are behaving linearly or not, and it applies polyhedral transformations on-the-fly. This article presents a novel system that enables Apollo to handle codes whose memory accesses and loop bounds are not necessarily linear. More generally, this approach expands the applicability of the polyhedral model at runtime to a wider class of codes. Plugging together both linear and nonlinear accesses to the dependence prediction model enables the application of polyhedral loop optimizing transformations even for nonlinear code kernels while also allowing a low-cost speculation verification.
Adaptive Correction of Sampling Bias in Dynamic Call Graphs
Authors: Lee Byeongcheol
Published: December 2015

This article introduces a practical low-overhead adaptive technique of correcting sampling bias in profiling dynamic call graphs. Timer-based sampling keeps the overhead low but sampling bias lowers the accuracy when either observable call events or sampling actions are not equally spaced in time. To mitigate sampling bias, our adaptive correction technique weights each sample by monitoring time-varying spacing of call events and sampling actions. We implemented and evaluated our adaptive correction technique in Jikes RVM, a high-performance virtual machine. In our empirical evaluation, our technique significantly improved the sampling accuracy without measurable overhead and resulted in effective feedback directed inlining.
Calpain activation by ROS mediates human ether-a-go-go-related gene protein degradation by intermittent hypoxia
Authors: Wang N. , Kang H. S. , Ahmmed G. , Khan S. A. , Makarenko V. V. , Prabhakar N. R. , Nanduri J.
Published: December 2015

Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels conduct delayed rectifier K+ current. However, little information is available on physiological situations affecting hERG channel protein and function. In the present study we examined the effects of intermittent hypoxia (IH), which is a hallmark manifestation of sleep apnea, on hERG channel protein and function. Experiments were performed on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, which express hERG protein. Cells were exposed to IH consisting of alternating cycles of 30 s of hypoxia (1.5% O2) and 5 min of 20% O2. IH decreased hERG protein expression in a stimulus-dependent manner. A similar reduction in hERG protein was also seen in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells from IH-exposed neonatal rats. The decreased hERG protein was associated with attenuated hERG K+ current. IH-evoked hERG protein degradation was not due to reduced transcription or increased proteosome/lysomal degradation. Rather it was mediated by calcium-activated calpain proteases. Both COOH- and NH2-terminal sequences of the hERG protein were the targets of calpain-dependent degradation. IH increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), calpain enzyme activity, and hERG protein degradation, and all these effects were prevented by manganese-(111)-tetrakis-(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin pentachloride, a membrane-permeable ROS scavenger. These results demonstrate that activation of calpains by ROS-dependent elevation of [Ca2+]i mediates hERG protein degradation by IH.
Phenotypic and functional characterization of two bovine mammary epithelial cell lines in 2D and 3D models
Authors: Arévalo Turrubiarte Magdalena , Perruchot Marie-Hélène , Finot Laurence , Mayeur Frédérique , Dessauge Frédéric
Published: December 2015

Immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cells (BME-UV1) and immortalized bovine mammary alveolar cells (MAC-T) have been extensively used as in vitro cell models to understand milk production in dairy cows. Precise knowledge about their phenotype and performance remains, however, unknown. This study aims to characterize MAC-T and BME-UV1 profiles when cultured in two-dimensional adherent, three-dimensional adherent (Matrigel), and three-dimensional no adherent [ultralow attachment (ULA)] supports. MAC-T and BME-UV1 were compared according to their proliferation capacities and to specific cell surface markers CD24, CD326 [epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)], CD10, and integrin CD49f (α-6). Cytokeratin (CK14 and CK19), signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, and other proteins (occludin and cadherin-1) were analyzed. BME-UV1 in ULA support expressed higher CD49f marker. A different intensity of CD49 staining allowed the discrimination between the two cell lines in adherent condition. CD10, EpCAM, and CK19 expressions show that BME-UV1 cells have luminal capacity, while MAC-T has a myoepithelial profile with a high expression of CK14. BME-UV1 cells possess a closer committed progenitor profile due to their higher expression in aldehyde dehydrogenase and EpCAM. We observed that BME-UV1 cells have a better capacity to form spherical structures, mammospheres, in Matrigel than MAC-T, which was confirmed by the higher mammosphere area. In the ULA condition, BME-UV1 proliferated over the 6 days of culture. Taken together, our results clearly confirm the BME-UV1 luminal profile and MAC-T ductal/myoepithelial-like phenotype.
Oral administration of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors impairs GPVI-mediated platelet function
Authors: Rigg Rachel A. , Aslan Joseph E. , Healy Laura D. , Wallisch Michael , Thierheimer Marisa L. D. , Loren Cassandra P. , Pang Jiaqing , Hinds Monica T. , Gruber András , McCarty Owen J. T.
Published: December 2015

The Tec family kinase Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) plays an important signaling role downstream of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs in hematopoietic cells. Mutations in Btk are involved in impaired B-cell maturation in X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and Btk has been investigated for its role in platelet activation via activation of the effector protein phospholipase Cγ2 downstream of the platelet membrane glycoprotein VI (GPVI). Because of its role in hematopoietic cell signaling, Btk has become a target in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma; the covalent Btk inhibitor ibrutinib was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of these conditions. Antihemostatic events have been reported in some patients taking ibrutinib, although the mechanism of these events remains unknown. We sought to determine the effects of Btk inhibition on platelet function in a series of in vitro studies of platelet activation, spreading, and aggregation. Our results show that irreversible inhibition of Btk with two ibrutinib analogs in vitro decreased human platelet activation, phosphorylation of Btk, P-selectin exposure, spreading on fibrinogen, and aggregation under shear flow conditions. Short-term studies of ibrutinib analogs administered in vivo also showed abrogation of platelet aggregation in vitro, but without measurable effects on plasma clotting times or on bleeding in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that inhibition of Btk significantly decreased GPVI-mediated platelet activation, spreading, and aggregation in vitro; however, prolonged bleeding was not observed in a model of bleeding.
Mini-review: regulation of the renal NaCl cotransporter by hormones
Authors: Rojas-Vega Lorena , Gamba Gerardo
Published: December 2015

The renal thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter, NCC, is the major pathway for salt reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule. The activity of this cotransporter is critical for regulation of several physiological variables such as blood pressure, serum potassium, acid base metabolism, and urinary calcium excretion. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous hormone-signaling pathways regulate NCC activity to maintain homeostasis. In this review, we will provide an overview of the most recent evidence on NCC modulation by aldosterone, angiotensin II, vasopressin, glucocorticoids, insulin, norepinephrine, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and parathyroid hormone.
Hyperpolarization-independent maturation and refinement of GABA/glycinergic connections in the auditory brain stem
Authors: Lee Hanmi , Bach Eva , Noh Jihyun , Delpire Eric , Kandler Karl
Published: December 2015

During development GABA and glycine synapses are initially excitatory before they gradually become inhibitory. This transition is due to a developmental increase in the activity of neuronal potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2), which shifts the chloride equilibrium potential ( ECl) to values more negative than the resting membrane potential. While the role of early GABA and glycine depolarizations in neuronal development has become increasingly clear, the role of the transition to hyperpolarization in synapse maturation and circuit refinement has remained an open question. Here we investigated this question by examining the maturation and developmental refinement of GABA/glycinergic and glutamatergic synapses in the lateral superior olive (LSO), a binaural auditory brain stem nucleus, in KCC2-knockdown mice, in which GABA and glycine remain depolarizing. We found that many key events in the development of synaptic inputs to the LSO, such as changes in neurotransmitter phenotype, strengthening and elimination of GABA/glycinergic connection, and maturation of glutamatergic synapses, occur undisturbed in KCC2-knockdown mice compared with wild-type mice. These results indicate that maturation of inhibitory and excitatory synapses in the LSO is independent of the GABA and glycine depolarization-to-hyperpolarization transition.
KATPChannels in the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Foster Monique N. , Coetzee William A.
Published: December 2015

KATPchannels are integral to the functions of many cells and tissues. The use of electrophysiological methods has allowed for a detailed characterization of KATPchannels in terms of their biophysical properties, nucleotide sensitivities, and modification by pharmacological compounds. However, even though they were first described almost 25 years ago (Noma 1983, Trube and Hescheler 1984), the physiological and pathophysiological roles of these channels, and their regulation by complex biological systems, are only now emerging for many tissues. Even in tissues where their roles have been best defined, there are still many unanswered questions. This review aims to summarize the properties, molecular composition, and pharmacology of KATPchannels in various cardiovascular components (atria, specialized conduction system, ventricles, smooth muscle, endothelium, and mitochondria). We will summarize the lessons learned from available genetic mouse models and address the known roles of KATPchannels in cardiovascular pathologies and how genetic variation in KATPchannel genes contribute to human disease.
Unusual Presentation of Recurrent Early Stage Endometrial Carcinoma 28 Years after Primary Surgery
Authors: Franchello Alessandro , Fronda Gianruggero , Deiro Giacomo , Fiore Alessia , Cassine Davide , Molinaro Luca , Chiusa Luigi , Galati Sara , Resegotti Andrea , Silvestri Stefano
Published: December 2015

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common neoplasia of female genital tract. The prognosis of early stage disease (FIGO I and FIGO II) is excellent: recurrence after surgery is less than 15%, most of which are reported within 3 years after primary treatment. Herein we report a case of late rectal recurrence from FIGO Ib endometrial adenocarcinoma. Patient had also familiar and personal history of colonic adenocarcinoma and previous findings of microsatellite instability (MSI); molecular analysis evidenced heterozygotic somatic mutation in MLH1 gene. Twenty-eight years after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoovariectomy, a rectal wall mass was detected during routine colonoscopy. Patients underwent CT scan, pelvic MRI, and rectal EUS with FNA: histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed differentiated carcinoma cells of endometrial origin. No neoadjuvant treatment was planned and low rectal anterior resection with protective colostomy was performed; histology confirmed rectal lesion as metastasis from endometrial carcinoma. Recurrence of early stage endometrial carcinoma after a long period from primary surgery is possible. It is important to keep in mind this possibility in order to set a correct diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm, including preoperative immunohistochemical staining, and to plan a prolonged follow-up program.
Efficiency Enhancement of Gallium Arsenide Photovoltaics Using Solution‐Processed Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Light Scattering Layers
Authors: Kang Yangsen , Liang Dong , Mehra Saahil , Huo Yijie , Chen Yusi , Christoforo Mark G. , Salleo Alberto , Harris James S.
Published: December 2015

We demonstrate a high‐throughput, solution‐based process for subwavelength surface texturing of a III‐V compound solar cell. A zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle ink is spray‐coated directly on top of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cell. The nanostructured ZnO films have demonstrated antireflection and light scattering properties over the visible/near‐infrared (NIR) spectrum. The results show a broadband spectral enhancement of the solar cell external quantum efficiency (EQE), a 16% enhancement of short circuit current, and a 10% increase in photovoltaic efficiency.
Influential Factors and Synergies for Radiation-Gene Therapy on Cancer
Authors: Lin Mei , Huang Junxing , Shi Yujuan , Xiao Yanhong , Guo Ting
Published: December 2015

Radiation-gene therapy, a dual anticancer strategy of radiation therapy and gene therapy through connecting radiation-inducible regulatory sequence to therapeutic gene, leading to the gene being induced to express by radiation while radiotherapy is performed and finally resulting in a double synergistic antitumor effect of radiation and gene, has become one of hotspots in the field of cancer treatment in recent years. But under routine dose of radiation, especially in the hypoxia environment of solid tumor, it is difficult for this therapy to achieve desired effect because of low activity of radiation-inducible regulatory elements, low level and transient expression of target gene induced by radiation, inferior target specificity and poor biosecurity, and so on. Based on the problems existing in radiation-gene therapy, many efforts have been devoted to the curative effect improvement of radiation-gene therapy by various means to increase radiation sensitivity or enhance target gene expression and the expression’s controllability. Among these synergistic techniques, gene circuit, hypoxic sensitization, and optimization of radiation-induced sequence exhibit a good application potential. This review provides the main influential factors to radiation-gene therapy on cancer and the synergistic techniques to improve the anticancer effect of radiation-gene therapy.
Temporal Changes in the Quality of Acute Stroke Care in Five National Audits across Europe
Authors: Hillmann Steffi , Wiedmann Silke , Fraser Alec , Baeza Juan , Rudd Anthony , Norrving Bo , Asplund Kjell , Niewada Maciej , Dennis Martin , Hermanek Peter , Wolfe Charles D. A. , Heuschmann Peter U.
Published: December 2015

Background.Data on potential variations in delivery of appropriate stroke care over time are scarce. We investigated temporal changes in the quality of acute hospital stroke care across five national audits in Europe over a period of six years.Methods.Data were derived from national stroke audits in Germany, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, and England/Wales/Northern Ireland participating within the European Implementation Score (EIS) collaboration. Temporal changes in predefined quality indicators with comparable information between the audits were investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate adherence to quality indicators over time.Results.Between 2004 and 2009, individual data from 542,112 patients treated in 538 centers participating continuously over the study period were included. In most audits, the proportions of patients who were treated on a SU, were screened for dysphagia, and received thrombolytic treatment increased over time and ranged from 2-fold to almost 4-fold increase in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy in 2009 compared to 2004.Conclusions.A general trend towards a better quality of stroke care defined by standardized quality indicators was observed over time. The association between introducing a specific measure and higher adherence over time might indicate that monitoring of stroke care performance contributes to improving quality of care.
Optical Characterization of Zinc Modified Bismuth Silicate Glasses
Authors: Parmar Rajesh , Hooda J. , Kundu R. S. , Punia R. , Kishore N.
Published: December 2015

The optical characterization of glass samples in the system 40SiO2·xZnO · (60-x)Bi2O3withx=0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 prepared by conventional melt-quench technique has been carried out in the light of Hydrogenic Excitonic Model (HEM). The absorption coefficient spectra show good agreement with theoretical HEM for the present glass system and the values of different parameters likeEg,R,Γ1,Γc, andCohave been estimated from fitting of this model. The values of energy band gap estimated from fitting of HEM with experimental data are in good agreement with those obtained from Tauc’s plot for direct transitions. The band gap energy is found to increase with increase of ZnO content. The decrease in values of Urbach energy with increase in ZnO content indicates a decrease in defect concentration in the glass matrix on addition of ZnO content. Optical constantsnandkobeyk-kconsistency and the dielectric response of the studied glass system is similar to that obtained for Classical Electron Theory of Dielectric Materials. The calculated values of the metallization criterion (M) show that the synthesized glasses may be good candidates for new nonlinear optical materials.
An Optimization Model for Inventory System and the Algorithm for the Optimal Inventory Costs Based on Supply-Demand Balance
Authors: Jiang Qingsong , Xing Wei , Hou Ruihuan , Zhou Baoping
Published: December 2015

In order to investigate the inventory optimization of circulation enterprises, demand analysis was carried out firstly considering supply-demand balance. Then, it was assumed that the demand process complied with mutually independent compound Poisson process. Based on this assumption, an optimization model for inventory control of circulation enterprises was established with the goal of minimizing the average total costs in unit time of inventory system. In addition, the optimal computing algorithm for inventory costs was presented. Meanwhile, taking the agricultural enterprises in Aksu, Xinjiang, China, for example, the researchers conducted numerical simulation and sensitivity analysis. Through constantly adjusting and modifying the parameters values in model, the optimal stock and the optimal inventory costs were obtained. Therein, the numerical results showed that the uncertainty of lead time greatly influenced the optimal inventory strategy. Besides, it was demonstrated that the research results provided a valuable reference for the agricultural enterprises in terms of optimal management for inventory system.