bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psicologia brasileira: uma análise de seu desenvolvimento
Authors: Borges-Andrade Jairo Eduardo , Bittencourt Bastos Antonio Virgílio , Abib Andery Maria Amalia Pie , Lobo Guzzo Raquel Souza , Araujo Trindade Zeidi
Published: December 2015

O presente trabalho apresenta uma análise crítica sobre o desenvolvimento do campo profissional da Psicologia no Brasil e da formação de seus profissionais nos níveis da Graduação e Pós-Graduação. Alguns estudos anteriores são utilizados para descrever aquele campo e esta formação e foram considerados para uma caracterização post facto. Este ensaio finaliza com a apresentação de subsídios para políticas que visem a formação e profissionalização de profissionais no país atendendo principais e urgentes demandas sociais e educacionais.
Sensibilidad, comportamiento de base segura y desarrollo sociocognitivo en centros de educación inicial en México
Authors: Salinas-Quiroz Fernando
Published: December 2015

La calidad del cuidado una variable es determinante en el desarrollo infantil temprano: en Centros de Educación Inicial (CEI), las interacciones Cuidador Secundario Profesional (CSP)-infante constituyen el núcleo de dicho proceso. El propósito de esta investigación fue evaluar la relación entre la sensibilidad de las CSP y el comportamiento de base segura de los infantes con su desarrollo sociocognitivo. Participaron 34 díadas CSP-infante de CEI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Se utilizó el MBQS, el AQS y la EECSC. Las CSP tuvieron niveles de sensibilidad adecuados (M=.59), pero los infantes no construyeron vínculos de apego con ellas (M=.26) debido al corto tiempo de interacción. Tanto la respuesta sensible activa-animada de las CSP (r=.51) como el comportamiento de base segura de los infantes (r=.40) se asociaron con su desarrollo sociocognitivo. Se sugiere que las CSP permanezcan con el mismo grupo de infantes durante toda su estancia en el CEI.
Three-Dimensional Strains in Human Posterior Sclera Using Ultrasound Speckle Tracking
Authors: Pavlatos Elias , Perez Benjamin Cruz , Morris Hugh J. , Chen Hong , Palko Joel R. , Pan Xueliang , Weber Paul A. , Hart Richard T. , Liu Jun
Published: December 2015

Intraocular pressure (IOP) induced strains in the peripapillary sclera may play a role in glaucoma progression. Using inflation testing and ultrasound speckle tracking, the 3D strains in the peripapillary sclera were measured in nine human donor globes. Our results showed that the peripapillary sclera experienced through-thickness compression and meridional stretch during inflation, while minimal circumferential dilation was observed when IOP was increased from 10 to 19 mmHg. The maximum shear was primarily oriented in the through-thickness, meridional cross sections and had a magnitude slightly larger than the first principal strain. The tissue volume had minimal overall change, confirming near-incompressibility of the sclera. Substantial strain heterogeneity was present in the peripapillary region, with local high strain areas likely corresponding to structural heterogeneity caused by traversing blood vessels. These 3D strain characteristics provide new insights into the biomechanical responses of the peripapillary sclera during physiological increases of IOP. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and investigate the role of these biomechanical characteristics in ocular diseases.
Internal Model Control–Proportional Integral Derivative–Fractional-Order Filter Controllers Design for Unstable Delay Systems
Authors: Titouche Kahina , Mansouri Rachid , Bettayeb Maamar , Al-Saggaf Ubaid M.
Published: December 2015

An analytical design for proportional integral derivative (PID) controller cascaded with a fractional-order filter is proposed for first-order unstable processes with time delay. The design algorithm is based on the internal model control (IMC) paradigm. A two degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) control structure is used to improve the performance of the closed-loop system. In the 2DOF control structure, an integer order controller is used to stabilize the inner-loop, and a fractional-order controller for the stabilized system is employed to improve the performance of the closed-loop system. The Walton–Marshall's method, which is applicable to quasi-polynomials, is then used to establish the internal stability condition of the closed-loop system (the fractional part of the controller in particular) and to seek the set of stabilizing proportional (P) or proportional-derivative (PD) controller parameters.
Dynamic High-Gain Observer to Estimate Pneumatic Actuator Temperatures
Authors: Ayadi A. , Hajji S. , Smaoui M. , Chaari A. , Farza M.
Published: December 2015

This paper deals with the estimation of the actuator temperature in an electropneumatic system. First, an appropriate nonlinear system that accounts for the actuator temperature dynamics is introduced. Then in order to overcome the difficulty of installing temperatures sensors in each chamber of the actuator, two nonlinear high-gain observers are proposed to provide online estimate of these temperatures. The gain of both observers can be tuned by the choice of a scalar design parameter. However, the design parameter is constant for the first observer and its choice has to satisfy a compromise between an accurate estimation of the state estimation and a satisfactory sensitivity of the observer with respect to the unavoidable output noise measurements. This difficulty is overcome in the second observer since the scalar design parameter is time varying and is governed by a Riccatti differential equation. The involved adaptation process of the design parameter is mainly driven by the power of the output observation error norm computed on a moving horizon window. Simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed observers and in particular to compare the performance of both observers, namely, the accuracy of the respective estimates and their sensitivity with respect to noise measurements.
Observer-Based Feedback Control of Networked Control Systems With Delays and Packet Dropouts
Authors: Zhu Qixin , Lu Kaihong , Zhu Yonghong
Published: December 2015

The observer-based feedback controller of a new linear networked control system (NCS) with both delays and packet dropouts is designed when the state information is not fully available. With the effects of transmission delays, NCSs are modeled as a discrete-time system with time-varying parameter. The occurrence of packet dropouts is modeled as a Bernoulli event in the NCSs. Under certain conditions, the observer-based controller is proved to render the corresponding NCSs exponentially mean-square stable based on Lyapunov stability theorem and matrix inequality theory. Finally, numerical simulations are included to demonstrate the theoretical results.
Preheats Effects on JP8 Reforming Under Volume Distributed Reaction Conditions
Authors: Scenna Richard , Gupta Ashwani K.
Published: December 2015

Conventional noncatalytic fuel reforming provides low efficiency, large amounts of char and tar and limited control on chemical composition of the syngas produced. The distributed reaction regime can be used to assist noncatalytic reforming. In this paper, volume distributed reaction technique is used to enhance reformate quality as compared to conventional noncatalytic reforming. This work examines the intermediate regimes between volume distributed reaction and conventional flame to reform JP8 with focus on the chemical and mixing time scales. Chemical time scales were controlled with air preheat temperatures while the mixing time scales were kept constant. Progressive shift toward distributed reaction regime resulted in higher quality reformate with increased amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the syngas, but with reduced acetylene concentrations and soot formation. Visible soot formation was observed on reactor walls only under the flamelets in eddies regime. Higher hydrogen and carbon monoxide without any catalyst for JP8 reformation offers significant advantages on cost-effective plant operation, reliability, and high yields of syngas. Air preheats of 600, 630, and 660 °C showed a distributed reaction regime wherein the Damkohler number was below the Damkohler criterion, and this condition provided high H2 and CO yields and no soot. At temperature of 690 °C, laminar flame thickness approximated the integral length scale (at the interface of distributed and traditional reforming flame) showed minor soot formation. At even higher temperature of 750 °C, conventional reforming occurred with increased soot observed.
Underdetermined reverberant acoustic source separation using weighted full-rank nonnegative tensor models
Authors: Al Tmeme Ahmed , Woo W. L. , Dlay S. S. , Gao Bin
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a fusion of K models of full-rank weighted nonnegative tensor factor two-dimensional deconvolution (K-wNTF2D) is proposed to separate the acoustic sources that have been mixed in an underdetermined reverberant environment. The model is adapted in an unsupervised manner under the hybrid framework of the generalized expectation maximization and multiplicative update algorithms. The derivation of the algorithm and the development of proposed full-rank K-wNTF2D will be shown. The algorithm also encodes a set of variable sparsity parameters derived from Gibbs distribution into the K-wNTF2D model. This optimizes each sub-model in K-wNTF2D with the required sparsity to model the time-varying variances of the sources in the spectrogram. In addition, an initialization method is proposed to initialize the parameters in the K-wNTF2D. Experimental results on the underdetermined reverberant mixing environment have shown that the proposed algorithm is effective at separating the mixture with an average signal-to-distortion ratio of 3 dB.
Enhancing cell kill in vitro from hyperthermia through pre-sensitizing with ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles
Authors: Ghoshal Goutam , Oelze Michael L.
Published: December 2015

Ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (MBs) were demonstrated to enhance cell kill from hyperthermia. Definity MBs were injected into wells containing 4T1 cells in culture media and scanned with 1-MHz ultrasound, an exposure duration of 30 s and a negative pressure of 0.5 or 1.3 MPa. Some cell samples were placed in a water bath heated to 42 °C for 5 min. Cell death was quantified. When combining MBs, ultrasound at 1.3 MPa and hyperthermia, more than 58.8% ± 7.21% of cells were nonviable. When exposed to hyperthermia alone or exposure to MBs and ultrasound but no hyperthermia, cell death was less than 10.1% ± 6.96% and 30.1% ± 10.8%, respectively.
Why we outlive our pets
Authors: Grimm David
Published: December 2015

Cats and dogs are revealing some surprising insights into how animals age.
Death–defying experiments
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: December 2015

Pushing the limits of life span in animals could someday help lengthen our own.
Single–base pair differences in a shared motif determine differential
Rhodopsin
expression
Authors: Rister Jens , Razzaq Ansa , Boodram Pamela , Desai Nisha , Tsanis Cleopatra , Chen Hongtao , Jukam David , Desplan Claude
Published: December 2015

Broad versus restricted expression

Color vision in fruit flies requires the restricted expression of light-sensing rhodopsins with different wavelength sensitivities in subsets of photoreceptors. However, all photoreceptors express factors that transduce and amplify the visual signal. Rister
et al.
found that the distinct expression patterns are determined by a highly tunable regulatory motif. Genes that are broadly expressed have a palindromic variant of the motif. Spatially restricted rhodopsin genes display single-base-pair changes that alter the symmetry of the palindrome and are critical for subtype-specific expression. These findings on the differential regulation of gene expression in fly photoreceptors have implications for the evolution of neuronal subtype diversity.

Science
, this issue p. 1258
Local flow regulation and irrigation raise global human water consumption and footprint
Authors: Jaramillo Fernando , Destouni Georgia
Published: December 2015

Local decisions with global consequences

Some estimates suggest that humanity has already exceeded our sustainable global water footprint: the balance between fresh water use and supply. It seems that the situation may be more unsustainable than we realize. Jaramillo and Destouni analyzed hydroclimatic data for 100 large basins dating back to 1901. Better accounting of local water use revealed larger than anticipated effects on the global water cycle. For example, local regulation of surface water flow and expanded regional irrigation activities have increased global evapotranspiration rates.

Science
, this issue p. 1248
Overcoming the electroluminescence efficiency limitations of perovskite light-emitting diodes
Authors: Cho Himchan , Jeong Su-Hun , Park Min-Ho , Kim Young-Hoon , Wolf Christoph , Lee Chang-Lyoul , Heo Jin Hyuck , Sadhanala Aditya , Myoung NoSoung , Yoo Seunghyup , Im Sang Hyuk , Friend Richard H. , Lee Tae-Woo
Published: December 2015

Brighter perovskite LEDs

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites such as methyl ammonium lead halides are attractive as low-cost light-emitting diode (LED) emitters. This is because, unlike many inorganic nanomaterials, they have very high color purity. Cho
et al.
made two modifications to address the main drawback of these materials, their low luminescent efficiency. They created nanograin materials lacking free metallic lead, which helped to confine excitons and avoid their quenching. The perovskite LEDs had a current efficiency similar to that of phosphorescent organic LEDs.

Science
, this issue p. 1222
Response to Comment on “Worldwide evidence of a unimodal relationship between productivity and plant species richness”
Authors: Fraser Lauchlan H. , Pärtel Meelis , Pither Jason , Jentsch Anke , Sternberg Marcelo , Zobel Martin
Published: December 2015

Laanisto and Hutchings claim that the local species pool is a more important predictor of local plant species richness than biomass and that when the species pool is considered, there is no hump-backed relationship between biomass and richness. However, we show that by calculating a more appropriate measure of species pool, community completeness, both regional and local processes shape local richness.
The mechanistic pathways of trophic interactions in human-occupied landscapes
Authors: Ford Adam T.
Published: December 2015

Field studies reveal more complicated relationships between African wild dogs, their prey, and the plants eaten by the prey than predicted by theory
Improving documentation within the acute stroke unit: Introducing a stroke specific clerking proforma
Authors: Patel Sungeen
Published: December 2015

The Royal College of Physicians outline the guidelines for acute stroke management, they highlight the importance of early identification to enable prompt and effective treatment. The first contact that a clinician has with a patient is usually at the point of clerking. The information obtained and impression formed are the key factors which determine the management plan. The documentation of the information gleaned is subsequently used by all of the medical team to determine the sequence of events from admission. It is crucial in determining any progression of symptoms, of particular importance in this group of patients in whom this can signify potentially fatal consequences. The quality of clerkings of patients admitted to the acute stroke unit in the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital was analysed and subjective data was obtained from the junior doctors involved in this process to determine how well these were being completed. Baseline measurements showed that junior doctors lacked confidence in this process and the initial audit demonstrated that only half of the recommended categories were being completed. To address this issue a stroke specific admission proforma was made and piloted on the ward. Following this, a re-audit was completed which showed a significant improvement in the quality of clerkings produced.
Nonlinear propagation of dust-ion-acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized dusty plasma with trapped particle distribution
Authors: Rahman O.
Published: December 2015

The nonlinear propagation of dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) solitary waves (SWs) in an unmagnetized four-component dusty plasma containing electrons and negative ions obeying vortex-like (trapped) velocity distribution, cold mobile positive ions and arbitrarily charged stationary dust has been theoretically investigated. The properties of small but finite amplitude DIASWs are studied by employing the reductive perturbation technique. It has been found that owing to the departure from the Maxwellian electron and Maxwellian negative ion distribution to a vortex-like one, the dynamics of such DIASWs is governed by a modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation which admits SW solution under certain conditions. The basic properties (speed, amplitude, width, etc.) of such DIASWs are found to be significantly modified by the presence of trapped electron and trapped negative ions. The implications of our results to space and laboratory dusty electronegative plasmas (DENPs) are briefly discussed.
First principle study on electronic structure, structural phase stability, optical and vibrational properties of Ba2ScMO6 (M = Nb, Ta)
Authors: Rameshe Balasubramaniam , Murugan Ramaswamy , Palanivel Balan
Published: December 2015

First principle calculations are performed to investigate the electronic structure, structural phase stability, optical and vibrational properties of double perovskite oxide semiconductors namely Ba2ScMO6 (M = Nb, Ta) in the cubic symmetry using WIEN2k. In order to study the ground state properties of these compounds, the total energies are calculated as a function of reduced volumes and fitted with Brich Murnaghan equation. The estimated ground state parameters are comparable with the available experimental data. Calculations of electronic band structure on these compounds reveal that both Ba2ScNbO6 and Ba2ScTaO6 exhibit a semiconducting behavior with a direct energy gap of 2.78 and 3.15 eV, respectively. To explore the optical transitions in these compounds, the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, optical absorption coefficient, real part of optical conductivity and the energy-loss function are calculated at ambient pressure and analyzed. The collective Raman active modes of the atoms of these materials are also calculated in order to understand the structural stability of these compounds.
Effects of frustration and cyclic exchange on the spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet within the self-consistent spin-wave theory
Authors: Rutonjski Milica S. , Pavkov-Hrvojević Milica V. , Berović Maja B.
Published: December 2015

The relevance of the quasi-two-dimensional spin-1/2 frustrated quantum antiferromagnet (AFM) due to its possibility of modeling the high-temperature superconducting parent compounds has resulted in numerous theoretical and experimental studies. This paper presents a detailed research of the influence of the varying exchange interactions on the model magnetic properties within the framework of self-consistent spin-wave theory based on Dyson–Maleev (DM) representation. Beside the nearest neighbor (NN) interaction within the plane, the planar frustration up to the third NNs, cyclic interaction and the interlayer coupling are taken into account. The detailed description of the elementary spin excitations, staggered magnetization, spin-wave velocity renormalization factor and ground state energy is given. The results are compared to the predictions of the linear spin-wave theory and when possible also to the second-order perturbative spin-wave expansion results. Finally, having at our disposal improved experimental results for the in-plane spin-wave dispersion in high-[Formula: see text] copper oxide La2CuO4, the self-consistent spin-wave theory (SCSWT) is applied to that compound in order to correct earlier obtained set of exchange parameters and high-temperature spin-wave dispersion.
Hyperbolic Chaos and Other Phenomena of Complex Dynamics Depending on Parameters in a Nonautonomous System of Two Alternately Activated Oscillators
Authors: Isaeva Olga B. , Kuznetsov Sergey P. , Sataev Igor R. , Savin Dmitry V. , Seleznev Eugene P.
Published: December 2015

We provide a multiparameter analysis of dynamics in a nonautonomous system of two alternately exciting self-oscillatory elements that are able to demonstrate a uniformly chaotic attractor of Smale–Williams type in the stroboscopic Poincaré map. Parameter space charts of regular and chaotic regimes are presented. Possible scenarios of the onset of hyperbolic chaos are discussed. The numerical studies are supplemented by experimental results obtained for a laboratory electronic device.
Remarks on Topological Entropy of Nonautonomous Dynamical Systems
Authors: Li Zhiming
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we give several classical definitions of topological entropy (on a noncompact and noninvariant subset) for nonautonomous dynamical system. Furthermore, their relationships are established.
Identification of the FitzHugh–Nagumo Model Dynamics via Deterministic Learning
Authors: Dong Xunde , Wang Cong
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a new method is proposed for the identification of the FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) model dynamics via deterministic learning. The FHN model is a classic and simple model for studying spiral waves in excitable media, such as the cardiac tissue, biological neural networks. Firstly, the FHN model described by partial differential equations (PDEs) is transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by using finite difference method. Secondly, the dynamics of the ODEs is identified using the deterministic learning theory. It is shown that, for the spiral waves generated by the FHN model, the dynamics underlying the recurrent trajectory corresponding to any spatial point can be accurately identified by using the proposed approach. Numerical experiments are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Hopf Bifurcation and Hidden Attractors of a Delay-Coupled Duffing Oscillator
Authors: Zhao Huitao , Lin Yiping , Dai Yunxian
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a delay-coupled Duffing equation is studied. By the characteristic roots technique, sufficient conditions are obtained for Hopf bifurcation occurrence. And the spatio-temporal patterns of the bifurcating periodic solutions are also obtained, some examples are given to demonstrate the theoretical analysis. Especially, the obtained numerical simulation results show that there are hidden attractors in this delayed system, which can coexist with stable equilibrium or stable bifurcating orbits.
Toward Online Control of Local Bifurcation in Power Systems via Network Topology Optimization
Authors: Wang Lei , Chiang Hsiao-Dong
Published: December 2015

This paper presents online methods for controlling local bifurcations of power grids with the goal of increasing bifurcation values (i.e. increasing load margins) via network topology optimization, a low-cost control. In other words, this paper presents online methods for increasing power transfer capability subject to static stability limit via switching transmission line out/in (i.e. disconnecting a transmission line or connecting a transmission line). To illustrate the impact of network topology on local bifurcations, two common local bifurcations, i.e. saddle-node bifurcation and structure-induced bifurcation on small power grids with different network topologies are shown. A three-stage online control methodology of local bifurcations via network topology optimization is presented to delay local bifurcations of power grids. Online methods must meet the challenging requirements of online applications such as the speed requirement (in the order of minutes), accuracy requirement and robustness requirement. The effectiveness of the three-stage methodology for online applications is demonstrated on the IEEE 118-bus and a 1648-bus practical power systems.
On the Stability of Spinning Functionally Graded Cantilevered Pipes Subjected to Fluid-Thermomechanical Loading
Authors: Eftekhari M. , Hosseini M.
Published: December 2015

This paper studies the thermomechanical stability of a cantilevered pipe spinning along its longitudinal axis and carrying an internal axial flow. The pipe, made of functionally graded materials (FGMs), is subjected to an axial force at the free end operating in a high temperature environment. It is modeled by the Rayleigh beam theory and is considered as a hollow thin-walled beam. The equation of motion, along with the boundary conditions, for the pipe is derived by using the extended Hamilton’s principle. Further, the extended Galerkin’s method (EGM) in conjunction with a proper representation of the displacements of the pipe is used to solve the eigenvalue problem. Depending upon the nature of the eigenvalues, i.e. real or complex-conjugate, the conditions for occurrence of instability by flutter or by divergence are derived. The effects of spin rate and velocity of fluid flow are studied on the stability regions, i.e. the critical flutter and divergence boundary, by the numerical method. Also, the effects of parameters, such as fluid mass ratio, compressive axial force, volume fraction index of the FGM and temperature gradient through the pipe thickness, are considered in developing the stability map for the spinning cantilever pipe. The results are compared with those available in the literature and good agreement has been achieved.
Unravelling the along-strike variability of the Angola–Gabon rifted margin: a mapping approach
Authors: Péron-Pinvidic Gwenn , Manatschal Gianreto , Masini Emmanuel , Sutra Emilie , Flament Jean Marie , Haupert Isabelle , Unternehr Patrick
Published: December 2015

We summarize here observations from the South Atlantic Angola–Gabon rifted margin. Our study was based on the interpretation of a selection of deep penetration depth-migrated seismic reflection profiles. We describe here the large-scale dip architecture of the margin under five structural domains (proximal, necking, distal, outer and oceanic) and list their characteristics. We investigated the necking domain further and discuss the architecture of the distal domain as a combination of hyper-extended crust and possible exhumed mantle. The mapping and characterization of these domains, at the margin-scale, allow us to illustrate the along-strike structural and stratigraphic variability of the margin. We interpret this variability as the result of a shift from an upper plate setting to a lower plate setting. This shift is either sharp, typified by a major regional normal fault on the northern flank of a residual hanging-wall block, identified offshore Cabinda–Zaire, or more diffuse to the south. First-order screening of conjugate profiles confirmed the segmentation and structural characteristics of the transfer zones. The dataset studied also allowed the identification of key sections that can be considered as type examples of upper plate and lower plate margins and which allow us to discuss the characteristics of these end-member settings.
Modulation of Chromatin by Noncoding RNA
Authors: Meller Victoria H. , Joshi Sonal S. , Deshpande Nikita
Published: December 2015

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are remarkably powerful, flexible, and pervasive cellular regulators. The involvement of these molecules in virtually all aspects of eukaryotic chromatin function is notable. Long and short ncRNAs play broadly complementary roles in these processes. Short ncRNAs underlie a programmable system of chromatin modification that silences mobile elements, identifies boundaries, and initiates the formation of constitutive heterochromatin in yeast. In contrast, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) enforce developmentally appropriate expression and switch gene expression programs. lncRNAs accomplish this through diverse mechanisms, but often by modulating the activity or localization of chromatin regulatory complexes. Both long and short ncRNAs play key roles in organization of complex genomes of higher eukaryotes, and their coordinated actions appear to underlie some of the more dramatic examples of epigenetic regulation. This review contrasts well-studied examples of chromatin regulation by RNA and introduces examples of coordination between these systems.
Understanding Metabolic Regulation at a Systems Level: Metabolite Sensing, Mathematical Predictions, and Model Organisms
Authors: Watson Emma , Yilmaz L. Safak , Walhout Albertha J.M.
Published: December 2015

Metabolic networks are extensively regulated to facilitate tissue-specific metabolic programs and robustly maintain homeostasis in response to dietary changes. Homeostatic metabolic regulation is achieved through metabolite sensing coupled to feedback regulation of metabolic enzyme activity or expression. With a wealth of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data available for different cell types across various conditions, we are challenged with understanding global metabolic network regulation and the resulting metabolic outputs. Stoichiometric metabolic network modeling integrated with “omics” data has addressed this challenge by generating nonintuitive, testable hypotheses about metabolic flux rewiring. Model organism studies have also yielded novel insight into metabolic networks. This review covers three topics: the feedback loops inherent in metabolic regulatory networks, metabolic network modeling, and interspecies studies utilizing Caenorhabditis elegans and various bacterial diets that have revealed novel metabolic paradigms.
Role of Smad3 in platelet-derived growth factor-C-induced liver fibrosis
Authors: Lee Jung Il , Wright Jocelyn H. , Johnson Melissa M. , Bauer Renay L. , Sorg Kristina , Yuen Sebastian , Hayes Brian J. , Nguyen Lananh , Riehle Kimberly J. , Campbell Jean S.
Published: December 2015

Chronic liver injury leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis, the end stage of chronic liver disease, is a leading cause of death worldwide and increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there is a lack of effective antifibrotic therapies to treat fibrosis and cirrhosis. Development of antifibrotic therapies requires an in-depth understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in inflammation and fibrosis after hepatic injury. Two growth factor signaling pathways that regulate liver fibrosis are transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). However, their specific contributions to fibrogenesis are not well understood. Using a genetic model of liver fibrosis, we investigated whether the canonical TGFβ signaling pathway was necessary for fibrogenesis. PDGF-C transgenic ( PDGF-C Tg) mice were intercrossed with mice that lack Smad3, and molecular and histological fibrosis was analyzed. PDGF-C Tg mice that also lacked Smad3 had less fibrosis and improved liver lobule architecture. Loss of Smad3 also reduced expression of collagen genes, which were induced by PDGF-C, but not the expression of genes frequently associated with hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. In vitro HSCs isolated from Smad3-null mice proliferated more slowly than cells from wild-type mice. Taken together, these findings indicate that PDGF-C activates TGFβ/Smad3 signaling pathways to regulate HSC proliferation, collagen production and ultimately fibrosis. In summary, these results suggest that inhibition of both PDGF and TGFβ signaling pathways may be required to effectively attenuate fibrogenesis in patients with chronic liver disease.
Beyond the point of no return: effects of visual distractors on saccade amplitude and velocity
Authors: Buonocore Antimo , McIntosh Robert D. , Melcher David
Published: December 2015

Visual transients, such as a bright flash, reduce the proportion of saccades executed, ∼60–125 ms after flash onset, a phenomenon known as saccadic inhibition (SI). Across three experiments, we apply a similar time-course analysis to the amplitudes and velocities of saccades. Alongside the expected reduction of saccade frequency in the key time period, we report two perturbations of the “main sequence”: one before and one after the period of SI. First, saccades launched between 30 and 70 ms, following the flash, were hypometric, with peak speed exceeding that expected for a saccade of similar amplitude. This finding was in contrast to the common idea that saccades have passed a “point of no return,” ∼60 ms before launching, escaping interference from distractors. The early hypometric saccades observed were not a consequence of spatial averaging between target and distractor locations, as they were found not only following a localized central flash ( experiment 1) but also following a spatially generalized flash ( experiment 2). Second, across experiments, saccades launched at 110 ms postflash, toward the end of SI, had normal amplitude but a peak speed higher than expected for that amplitude, suggesting increased collicular excitation at the time of launching. Overall, the results show that saccades that escape inhibition following a visual transient are not necessarily unaffected but instead, can reveal interference in spatial and kinematic measures.
A Green’s Function Approach for Dynamic Stress Analysis of Spherical Shell under the Isotropic Impact Load
Authors: Lv Jincheng , Zhang Shike , Yuan Xinsheng
Published: December 2015

A Green’s function approach is developed for the analytic solution of thick-walled spherical shell under an isotropic impact load, which involves building Green’s function of this problem by using the appropriate boundary conditions of thick-walled spherical shell. This method can be used to analyze displacement distribution and dynamic stress distribution of the thick-walled spherical shell. The advantages of this method are able(1)to avoid the superposition process of quasi-static solution and free vibration solution during decomposition of dynamic general solution of dynamics,(2)to well adapt for various initial conditions, and(3)to conveniently analyze the dynamic stress distribution using numerical calculation. Finally, a special case is performed to verify that the proposed Green’s function method is able to accurately analyze the dynamic stress distribution of thick-walled spherical shell under an isotropic impact load.
Conditions to Prolonged Release of Microencapsulated Carvacrol on Alginate Films as Affected by Emulsifier Type and PH
Authors: Matiacevich Silvia , Riquelme Natalia , Herrera María Lidia
Published: December 2015

Alginate from algal biomass is used as edible film and the incorporation of antimicrobial agents improves its performance to increase the shelf-life of fresh foods. However, environmental conditions and intrinsic properties of films influence their release. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the concentration and type of encapsulating agent and pH of emulsions on the physical and antimicrobial properties of alginate-carvacrol films. Films containing alginate, carvacrol as antimicrobial agent, and Tween 20 or trehalose (0.25 and 0.75% w/w) as encapsulating agents were obtained from suspensions at pH 4 and pH 8. Physical characterization of emulsions and films and antimicrobial properties (E. coliandB. cinerea) was evaluated. Results showed that droplets size depended on trehalose concentration, but emulsion stability depended on pH and type of encapsulating agent, being more stable samples with trehalose at pH 4. Although films with Tween 20 presented the highest opacity, they showed the best antimicrobial properties at initial time; however, during storage time, they lost their activity before samples with trehalose and relative humidity (RH) was the principal factor to influence their release. Therefore, sample formulated with 0.25% trehalose at pH 4 and stored at 75% RH had the best potential as edible film for fresh fruits.
The Prevalence of HIV in Cancer Patients at the Surgical Oncology Unit of Donka University Hospital of Conakry (Guinea)
Authors: Traore Bangaly , Bah Thierno Souleymane , Traore Fode Amara , Sow Mamadou Saliou , Diane Solomana , Keita Mamady , Cisse Mohamed , Koulibaly Moussa , Camara Naby Daouda
Published: December 2015

Aim. To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients seen at the surgical oncology unit of Donka (Conakry, Guinea).Method. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of HIV infection in cancer patients from May 2007 to December 2012. Social characteristics (age, gender, marital status, and education) and immune status (HIV type, CD4 count) were reviewed.Results. Out of 2598 cancer patients, 54 (2.1%) tested positive for HIV. There were 11 (20.4%) defining AIDS and 43 (79.6%) nondefining AIDS cancers. The most frequent cancers were breast (14) (26.0%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (6) (11.1%), liver (6) (11.1%), eye and annexes (6) (11.1%), and cervical cancer (5) (9.3%). These patients were female in 34 (63.0%) and had a median age of 39 years and body mass index was 20,3 Kg/m2. They were unschooled in 40 (74.1%) and married in 35 (64.8%). CD4 count showed a median of 317 cells/mL. Antiretroviral treatment was performed in 40 (74.1%).Conclusion. HIV prevalence is higher in patients in our unit of surgical oncology. Breast cancer was the most common in this association. A national survey of a large sample is needed to determine the true prevalence and impact of HIV on cancer prognosis.
Local Fractional Fourier Series Method for Solving Nonlinear Equations with Local Fractional Operators
Authors: Yang Yong-Ju , Wang Shun-Qin
Published: December 2015

We apply the local fractional Fourier series method for solving nonlinear equation with local fractional operators. This method is the coupling of the local fractional Fourier series expansion method with other methods, such as the Yang-Laplace transformation method and the local fractional power series method, which effectively separates the variables of partial differential equation. Some testing nonlinear equations and equation systems are given to demonstrate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed approach.
Humerus Diaphysis Fracture in a Newborn during Vaginal Breech Delivery
Authors: Kaya Baris , Daglar Korkut , Kirbas Ayse , Tüten Abdullah
Published: December 2015

While most obstetricians are familiar with fracture of the clavicle in newborns during birth, an unlucky minority of obstetricians has encountered long-bone fractures in newborns as well. This complication is traumatic not only for the neonate, but also for the family and the obstetrician; it is also difficult to explain. Fortunately, the long-term prognosis for fracture of the long bones is excellent. Both vaginal and cesarean breech deliveries and maneuvers can be responsible for birth traumas, including long-bone fractures. This case report presents a newborn with breech presentation delivered vaginally that resulted in humerus diaphysis fracture.
Metastatic Tumor of the Spermatic Cord in Adults: A Case Report and Review
Authors: Hirano Daisaku , Ohkawa Mizuho , Hasegawa Ryo , Okada Norimichi , Ishizuka Naoki , Kusumi Yoshiaki
Published: December 2015

Metastatic spermatic cord (SC) tumor is extremely rare. Recently, we experienced a case of late-onset metastatic SC tumor from cecal cancer. This case is a 68-year-old man presenting with a painless right SC mass. He had undergone a right hemicolectomy for cecal cancer 6 years ago. Radical orchiectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 were performed. No recurrence was found after one year of follow-up. We identified a total of 25 cases, including our case, on a literature search via PubMed from January 2000 to April 2015. The most frequent primary sites of the tumors metastasizing to the SC were the stomach (8 cases, 32%) and the colon (8 cases, 32%), next the liver (2 cases, 8%), and kidney (2 cases, 8%). The majority of the cases underwent radical orchiectomy for the metastatic tumors of the SC. Over half of the cases received adjuvant interventions based on the regimens for the primary tumors. Prognosis in the patients with metastatic tumor of the SC was unfavorable except for late-onset metastasis. In patients with a mass in the SC and a history of neoplasm, especially in gastrointestinal tract, the possibility of metastasis from the primary cancer should be considered.
Surgical Modification of the Murine Calvaria Osteolysis Model
Authors: Al-quhali Ali Mohammed , Sun Yu , Bai Xizhuang , Jin Zhe , Yu Guibo
Published: December 2015

The murine calvaria model has been adopted for evaluation of osteolysis and inflammation induced by polyethylene (PE) or metal wear debris. However, this model suffers from several complications. The purpose of our study is to introduce a surgical modification with lower complication rates, thus providing more accurate results. Forty C57/BL6 mice were divided into two groups, both receiving polyethylene particles. Surgical modifications were performed in group 1, and group 2 underwent traditional surgeries. The incidence of fluid leakage was recorded on the operative day. Curst formation, wound dehiscence, and bone exposure were recorded on day 7. Histological osteolysis was demonstrated by HE staining of tissue slices. Micro-CT was used for quantifying evaluation of osteolysis in two groups. Intraoperative fluid leakage was significantly reduced in group 1. Postoperative crust formation, wound dehiscence, and bone exposure were also significantly decreased in group 1. HE staining results revealed obvious osteolysis in group 1 and more obvious osteolysis in group 2. Bone volume fraction (BVF) was (0.32 ± 0.03) in group 1 compared to group 2 (0.24 ± 0.05). Bone mineral density (BMD) was (1.11 ± 0.03) in group 1 compared to group 2 (1.01 ± 0.02). Surgical modifications provide a reliable way for establishment of the murine calvaria osteolysis model.
Mitchell-Riley Syndrome: A Novel Mutation in RFX6 Gene
Authors: Zegre Amorim Marta , Houghton Jayne A. L. , Carmo Sara , Salva Inês , Pita Ana , Pereira-da-Silva Luis
Published: December 2015

A novel RFX6 homozygous missense mutation was identified in an infant with Mitchell-Riley syndrome. The most common features of Mitchell-Riley syndrome were present, including severe neonatal diabetes associated with annular pancreas, intestinal malrotation, gallbladder agenesis, cholestatic disease, chronic diarrhea, and severe intrauterine growth restriction. Perijejunal tissue similar to pancreatic tissue was found in the submucosa, a finding that has not been previously reported in this syndrome. This case associating RFX6 mutation with structural and functional pancreatic abnormalities reinforces the RFX6 gene role in pancreas development andβ-cell function, adding information to the existent mutation databases.
An Unusual Course of Metastatic Gastroesophageal Cancer
Authors: Smith William H. , Pintova Sofya , DiMaio Christopher J. , Manolas Panagiotis , Lee Dong-Seok , Hiotis Spiros P. , Kartsonis Maria , Holcombe Randall F. , Dharmarajan Kavita V.
Published: December 2015

We are reporting on a case of a 41-year-old woman who presented with metastatic gastroesophageal junction cancer and who achieved prolonged survival with a multimodal treatment approach. After initially experiencing robust response to chemotherapy, she was treated for distant recurrence with palliative radiation to the gastrohepatic and supraclavicular lymph nodes and subsequently, given her unusual near-complete response, with reirradiation to the abdomen with curative intent for residual disease. The case presented is unique due to the patient’s atypical treatment course, including technically difficult reirradiation to the abdomen, and the resulting prolonged survival despite metastatic presentation.
A Movement-Efficient Deployment Scheme Based on Information Coverage for Mobile Sensor Networks
Authors: Cheng Wei , Li Yong , Jiang Yi , Yin Xipeng
Published: December 2015

Covering the surveillance region is a key task for wireless sensor networks. For mobile sensors, the deployment of sensors at appropriate locations is the key issue for sufficient coverage of surveillance area, and efficient resource management of sensor network. Previous studies most utilize physical coverage model for developing deployment schemes, in that the sensor resources may be wasted during the deployment for coverage. In this paper, a novel movement-efficient deployment scheme for mobile sensor networks is proposed, which adapts the information coverage model and the classical potential field method. The performances of the proposed scheme are evaluated comparing to two other schemes in aspects of coverage rate, coverage hole rate, ideal moving distance, and actual moving distance through extensive simulations. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme performs better than these related schemes in both coverage and movement efficiency.
TGFβ Treatment Enhances Glioblastoma Virotherapy by Inhibiting the Innate Immune Response
Authors: Han Jianfeng , Chen Xilin , Chu Jianhong , Xu Bo , Meisen Walter H. , Chen Lichao , Zhang Lingling , Zhang Jianying , He Xiaoming , Wang Qi-En , Chiocca E. Antonio , Kaur Balveen , Caligiuri Michael A. , Yu Jianhua
Published: December 2015

Oncolytic viruses, including oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV), have produced provocative therapeutic responses in patients with glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor. Paradoxically, innate immune responses mediated by natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages/microglia appear to limit oHSV efficacy. Therefore, we investigated whether pretreatment with an immunosuppressive cytokine, TGFβ, might reverse these effects and thereby potentiate oHSV efficacy. TGFβ treatment of NK cells rendered them less cytolytic against oHSV-infected glioblastoma cells and stem-like cells in vitro. Furthermore, TGFβ treatment of NK cells, macrophages, or microglia increased viral titers of oHSV in cocultures with glioblastoma cells. In a syngeneic mouse model of glioblastoma, administering TGFβ prior to oHSV injection inhibited intracranial infiltration and activation of NK cells and macrophages. Notably, a single administration of TGFβ prior to oHSV therapy was sufficient to phenocopy NK-cell depletion and suppress tumor growth and prolong survival in both xenograft and syngeneic models of glioblastoma. Collectively, our findings show how administering a single dose of TGFβ prior to oncolytic virus treatment of glioblastoma can transiently inhibit innate immune cells that limit efficacy, thereby improving therapeutic responses and survival outcomes. Cancer Res; 75(24); 5273–82. ©2015 AACR.