bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic cells play switcheroo
Authors: Whitehead Kathryn A.
Published: June 2016

Pancreatic exocrine cells are reprogrammed into insulin-producing cells following the delivery of a trio of transcription factor mRNAs.
Completion of the Entire Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle in Vero Cells Derived from Monkey Kidney
Authors: Murayama Asako , Sugiyama Nao , Wakita Takaji , Kato Takanobu
Published: June 2016

A hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell culture system incorporating the JFH-1 strain and the human hepatoma cell line HuH-7 enabled the production of infectious HCV particles. Several host factors were identified as essential for HCV replication. Supplementation of these factors in nonhepatic human cell lines enabled HCV replication and particle production. Vero cells established from monkey kidney are commonly used for the production of vaccines against a variety of viruses. In this study, we aimed to establish a novel Vero cell line to reconstruct the HCV life cycle. Unmodified Vero cells did not allow HCV infection or replication. The expression of microRNA 122 (miR-122), an essential factor for HCV replication, is notably low in Vero cells. Therefore, we supplemented Vero cells with miR-122 and found that HCV replication was enhanced. However, Vero cells that expressed miR-122 still did not allow HCV infection. We supplemented HCV receptor molecules and found that scavenger receptor class B type I (SRBI) was essential for HCV infection in Vero cells. The supplementation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a host factor important for virus production, enabled the production of infectious virus in Vero cells. Finally, we created a Vero cell line that expressed the essential factors miR-122, SRBI, and ApoE; the entire HCV life cycle, including infection, replication, and infectious virus production, was completed in these cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR-122, SRBI, and ApoE were necessary and sufficient for the completion of the entire HCV life cycle in nonhuman, nonhepatic Vero cells.

IMPORTANCE
HCV is a major cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide, and an effective prophylactic HCV vaccine is needed. For safety reasons, the current HCV cell culture system using HuH-7 cells, which was established from a hepatocellular carcinoma, is not suitable for the production of a vaccine against HCV. A robust HCV production system using non-cancer-derived cells is indispensable for this purpose. In this study, we wanted to establish a novel HCV cell culture system using Vero cells, which are widely used in the production of vaccines against different viruses. We identified the minimum essential host factors for the completion of the entire HCV life cycle in Vero cells to develop a novel HCV cell culture system. A cell culture system that uses Vero cells will be useful not only for HCV vaccine production but also for the further elucidation of the mechanisms of various HCV-host interactions.
Differing Efficacies of Lead Group A Streptococcal Vaccine Candidates and Full-Length M Protein in Cutaneous and Invasive Disease Models
Authors: Rivera-Hernandez Tania , Pandey Manisha , Henningham Anna , Cole Jason , Choudhury Biswa , Cork Amanda J. , Gillen Christine M. , Ghaffar Khairunnisa Abdul , West Nicholas P. , Silvestri Guido , Good Michael F. , Moyle Peter M. , Toth Istvan , Nizet Victor , Batzloff Michael R. , Walker Mark J.
Published: June 2016

Group A
Streptococcus
(GAS) is an important human pathogen responsible for both superficial infections and invasive diseases. Autoimmune sequelae may occur upon repeated infection. For this reason, development of a vaccine against GAS represents a major challenge, since certain GAS components may trigger autoimmunity. We formulated three combination vaccines containing the following: (i) streptolysin O (SLO), interleukin 8 (IL-8) protease (
Streptococcus pyogenes
cell envelope proteinase [SpyCEP]), group A streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCPA), arginine deiminase (ADI), and trigger factor (TF); (ii) the conserved M-protein-derived J8 peptide conjugated to ADI; and (iii) group A carbohydrate lacking the
N
-acetylglucosamine side chain conjugated to ADI. We compared these combination vaccines to a “gold standard” for immunogenicity, full-length M1 protein. Vaccines were adjuvanted with alum, and mice were immunized on days 0, 21, and 28. On day 42, mice were challenged via cutaneous or subcutaneous routes. High-titer antigen-specific antibody responses with bactericidal activity were detected in mouse serum samples for all vaccine candidates. In comparison with sham-immunized mice, all vaccines afforded protection against cutaneous challenge. However, only full-length M1 protein provided protection in the subcutaneous invasive disease model.

IMPORTANCE
This set of experiments demonstrates the inherent variability of mouse models for the characterization of GAS vaccine candidate protective efficacy. Such variability poses an important challenge for GAS vaccine development, as advancement of candidates to human clinical trials requires strong evidence of efficacy. This study highlights the need for an open discussion within the field regarding standardization of animal models for GAS vaccine development.
Viruses Infecting a Freshwater Filamentous Cyanobacterium (
Nostoc
sp.) Encode a Functional CRISPR Array and a Proteobacterial DNA Polymerase B
Authors: Chénard Caroline , Wirth Jennifer F. , Suttle Curtis A.
Published: June 2016

Here we present the first genomic characterization of viruses infecting
Nostoc
, a genus of ecologically important cyanobacteria that are widespread in freshwater. Cyanophages A-1 and N-1 were isolated in the 1970s and infect
Nostoc
sp. strain PCC 7210 but remained genomically uncharacterized. Their 68,304- and 64,960-bp genomes are strikingly different from those of other sequenced cyanophages. Many putative genes that code for proteins with known functions are similar to those found in filamentous cyanobacteria, showing a long evolutionary history in their host. Cyanophage N-1 encodes a CRISPR array that is transcribed during infection and is similar to the DR5 family of CRISPRs commonly found in cyanobacteria. The presence of a host-related CRISPR array in a cyanophage suggests that the phage can transfer the CRISPR among related cyanobacteria and thereby provide resistance to infection with competing phages. Both viruses also encode a distinct DNA polymerase B that is closely related to those found in plasmids of
Cyanothece
sp. strain PCC 7424,
Nostoc
sp. strain PCC 7120, and
Anabaena variabilis
ATCC 29413. These polymerases form a distinct evolutionary group that is more closely related to DNA polymerases of proteobacteria than to those of other viruses. This suggests that the polymerase was acquired from a proteobacterium by an ancestral virus and transferred to the cyanobacterial plasmid. Many other open reading frames are similar to a prophage-like element in the genome of
Nostoc
sp. strain PCC 7524. The
Nostoc
cyanophages reveal a history of gene transfers between filamentous cyanobacteria and their viruses that have helped to forge the evolutionary trajectory of this previously unrecognized group of phages.

IMPORTANCE
Filamentous cyanobacteria belonging to the genus
Nostoc
are widespread and ecologically important in freshwater, yet little is known about the genomic content of their viruses. Here we report the first genomic analysis of cyanophages infecting filamentous freshwater cyanobacteria, revealing that their gene content is unlike that of other cyanophages. In addition to sharing many gene homologues with freshwater cyanobacteria, cyanophage N-1 encodes a CRISPR array and expresses it upon infection. Also, both viruses contain a DNA polymerase B-encoding gene with high similarity to genes found in proteobacterial plasmids of filamentous cyanobacteria. The observation that phages can acquire CRISPRs from their hosts suggests that phages can also move them among hosts, thereby conferring resistance to competing phages. The presence in these cyanophages of CRISPR and DNA polymerase B sequences, as well as a suite of other host-related genes, illustrates the long and complex evolutionary history of these viruses and their hosts.
Thermus
and the Pink Discoloration Defect in Cheese
Authors: Quigley Lisa , O’Sullivan Daniel J. , Daly David , O’Sullivan Orla , Burdikova Zuzana , Vana Rostislav , Beresford Tom P. , Ross R. Paul , Fitzgerald Gerald F. , McSweeney Paul L. H. , Giblin Linda , Sheehan Jeremiah J. , Cotter Paul D.
Published: June 2016

Pink discoloration in cheese is a defect affecting many cheeses throughout the world, leading to significant financial loss for the dairy industry. Despite decades of research, the cause of this defect has remained elusive. The advent of high-throughput, next-generation sequencing has revolutionized the field of food microbiology and, with respect to this study, provided a means of testing a possible microbial basis for this defect. In this study, a combined 16S rRNA, whole-genome sequencing, and quantitative PCR approach was taken. This resulted in the identification of
Thermus
, a carotenoid-producing thermophile, in defect-associated cheeses and the recreation of the problem in cheeses to which
Thermus
was added. This finding has the potential to lead to new strategies to eliminate this defect, and our method represents an approach that can be employed to investigate the role of microbes in other food defects of unknown origin.
Haemodynamic instability secondary to cardiac involvement by lymphoma
Authors: Lal Kumar Siddharth , Tariq Rana Zouveenoor , Okwuosa Tochi
Published: June 2016

Cardiac involvement in lymphomas is not uncommon, but it is often missed due to the variability in its presentation. We present a case of bradycardia and complete heart block resulting in haemodynamic instability in a patient with recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management of such patients is crucial and requires a high index of suspicion. Our patient required temporary pacemaker implantation and intravenous corticosteroid therapy. His complete heart block and bradycardia eventually resolved after a course of radiation therapy.
Development and preliminary psychometric properties of the Care Experience Feedback Improvement Tool (CEFIT)
Authors: Beattie Michelle , Shepherd Ashley , Lauder William , Atherton Iain , Cowie Julie , Murphy Douglas J
Published: June 2016

Objective

To develop a structurally valid and reliable, yet brief measure of patient experience of hospital quality of care, the Care Experience Feedback Improvement Tool (CEFIT). Also, to examine aspects of utility of CEFIT.

Background

Measuring quality improvement at the clinical interface has become a necessary component of healthcare measurement and improvement plans, but the effectiveness of measuring such complexity is dependent on the purpose and utility of the instrument used.

Methods

CEFIT was designed from a theoretical model, derived from the literature and a content validity index (CVI) procedure. A telephone population surveyed 802 eligible participants (healthcare experience within the previous 12 months) to complete CEFIT. Internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach's α. Principal component analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure and determine structural validity. Quality criteria were applied to judge aspects of utility.

Results

CVI found a statistically significant proportion of agreement between patient and practitioner experts for CEFIT construction. 802 eligible participants answered the CEFIT questions. Cronbach's α coefficient for internal consistency indicated high reliability (0.78). Interitem (question) total correlations (0.28–0.73) were used to establish the final instrument. Principal component analysis identified one factor accounting for 57.3% variance. Quality critique rated CEFIT as fair for content validity, excellent for structural validity, good for cost, poor for acceptability and good for educational impact.

Conclusions

CEFIT offers a brief yet structurally sound measure of patient experience of quality of care. The briefness of the 5-item instrument arguably offers high utility in practice. Further studies are needed to explore the utility of CEFIT to provide a robust basis for feedback to local clinical teams and drive quality improvement in the provision of care experience for patients. Further development of aspects of utility is also required.
Who actually receives cell phone use while driving citations and how much are these laws enforced among states? A descriptive, cross-sectional study
Authors: Rudisill Toni M , Zhu Motao
Published: June 2016

Objectives

While numerous cell phone use while driving laws have been passed among states, little information exists regarding who gets cited for these traffic infractions and how much these laws are enforced at the state-level within the USA.

Design

Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

Setting

14 states and the District of Columbia.

Participants

Those receiving cell phone use while driving citations within included states from 2007 to 2013.

Primary outcome

Demographic characteristics of cited drivers were assessed. Rates of infractions per 100 000 licensed in-state drivers per year for various cell phone use while driving violations were calculated.

Results

Drivers were cited for hand-held use violations (n=2.5 million) more than texting (n=14 682) or young driver all cell phone bans (n=342). Among states that provided data for all traffic violations, cell phone use while driving citations comprised 1% of all written citations. Regardless of ban type, males (68.2%) were cited more frequently than females. Drivers 25–64 years of age (90.8%) were more likely to be cited for hand-held phone use. The average yearly rate of infractions per 100 000 licensed in-state drivers from 2010–2013 was 5.8 for texting bans, 2607 for hand-held bans, and 9954 for any traffic violation.

Conclusions

Among cited drivers, age and sex differences existed by the type of ban violated. State-level enforcement appeared sparse. Due to the potential serious consequences of cell phone use while driving in the USA, more enforcement and targeted public safety campaigns are likely needed.
Ovarian cancer screening: could you recommend it? No
Authors: Gérvas Juan
Published: June 2016

Last December,The Lancetpublished the final results of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). The summary of the study, distributed in advance, was misleading and the exaggeration was translated in news all over the world. This author reviewed the results and highlights that the UKCTOCS is just one more randomised controlled trial demonstrating that screening reduces neither ovarian cancer-specific mortality nor all-cause mortality.
Short-term green tea extract supplementation attenuates the postprandial blood glucose and insulin response following exercise in overweight men
Authors: Martin Brian J. , MacInnis Martin J. , Gillen Jenna B. , Skelly Lauren E. , Gibala Martin J.
Published: June 2016

Green tea extract (GTE) ingestion improves glucose homeostasis in healthy and diabetic humans, but the interactive effect of GTE and exercise is unknown. The present study examined the effect of short-term GTE supplementation on the glycemic response to an oral glucose load at rest and following an acute bout of exercise, as well as substrate oxidation during exercise. Eleven sedentary, overweight men with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥5.6 mmol·L−1 (age, 34 ± 13 years; body mass index = 32 ± 5 kg·m−2; FPG = 6.8 ± 1.0; mean ± SD) ingested GTE (3× per day, 1050 mg·day–1 total) or placebo (PLA) for 7 days in a double-blind, crossover design. The effects of a 75-g glucose drink were assessed on 4 occasions during both GTE and PLA treatments: On days 1 and 5 at rest, and again following an acute bout of exercise on days 3 and 8. The glycemic response was assessed via an indwelling continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and venous blood draws. At rest, 1-h CGM glucose area under the curve was not different (P > 0.05), but the postexercise response was lower after GTE versus PLA (330 ± 53 and 393 ± 65 mmol·L−1·min−1, main effect of treatment, P < 0.05). The 1-h postprandial peaks in venous blood glucose (8.6 ± 1.6 and 9.8 ± 2.2 mmol·L−1) and insulin (96 ± 59 and 124 ± 68 μIU·ml−1) were also lower postexercise with GTE versus PLA (time × treatment interactions, P < 0.05). In conclusion, short-term GTE supplementation did not affect postprandial glucose at rest; however, GTE was associated with an attenuated glycemic response following a postexercise oral glucose load. These data suggest that GTE might alter skeletal muscle glucose uptake in humans.
Influence ofLactobacillus buchnerias silage additive and forage:concentrate ratio on the growth performance, fatty acid profile inlongissimusmuscle, and meat quality of beef cattle
Authors: Rabelo C.H.S. , Basso F.C. , McAllister T.A. , Lage J.F. , Gonçalves G.S. , Lara E.C. , Oliveira A.A. , Berchielli T.T. , Reis R.A.
Published: June 2016

Our objective was to investigate Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage additive and the forage:concentrate (F:C) ratio on growth performance and meat quality of finishing beef cattle. The trial was a 2 (corn silage untreated or inoculated with L. buchneri) × 2 (two F:C ratios, 60:40 or 40:60) factorial. Bulls fed a 40:60 F:C diet containing inoculated silage had greater dry matter (DM) intake (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P = 0.029) compared with other treatments. DM (P = 0.02) and neutral detergent digestibility (P < 0.01) were depressed by inoculation of corn silage with L. buchneri. Thiobarbituric acid concentration in meat increased (P < 0.01) by 15% in bulls fed the 60:40 F:C diet compared with the 40:60 F:C diet. Inoculation of silage increased (P = 0.02) the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids. Compared with the 60:40 F:C diet, the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.03) and omega-6 fatty acids (P = 0.02) increased in longissimus muscle by 23% and 26%, respectively, in bulls fed the 40:60 F:C diet. Inoculation of corn silage with L. buchneri inconsistently improved the growth performance and meat traits of finishing bulls consuming diets differing in F:C.
Inter- and intra-genetic diversity in the Polish Konik horse: implications for the conservation program
Authors: Szwaczkowski Tomasz , Greguła-Kania Monika , Stachurska Anna , Borowska Alicja , Jaworski Zbigniew , Gruszecki Tomasz M.
Published: June 2016

The main objective of the study was to determine the genetic diversity in the Polish Konik (PK) population in the context of a currently conducted conservation program. A total of 94 horses of 16 PK dam lines currently distinguished by breeders were considered. Pedigree analyses were carried out for the whole population of PK registered in the studbook. Basic molecular parameters were estimated. The average group linkage clustering method was used based on the Euclidean similarity measurements between the lines. The allele frequency of 17 microsatellites was used to determine Euclidean distances. Inbreeding coefficients were extracted from the additive relationship matrix. Moreover, some pedigree parameters were estimated. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.48 to 0.76. The expected heterozygosity estimated for the dam lines was higher. PIC values were higher than 0.6 in all the lines. Fis ranged from –0.19 to 0.28, whereas Fit and Fst varied between 0.12 and 0.41 and 0.12 and 0.29, respectively. Minor dissimilarity distances existed for some dam lines. The inbreeding level was 9.3%. The average number of discrete generation equivalents reached 6.85. The majority of the dam lines are not genetically differentiated. Hence, a revision of the breeding strategy seems to be necessary.
History of the Hays Converter
Authors: Fleming Allison L. , Hays Daniel P. , Moore Stephen , Plastow Graham , Miller Stephen P.
Published: June 2016

The Hays Converter breed of beef cattle was developed in Alberta, Canada, by Harry Hays in the 1950s. Hays combined specific individuals of the Hereford, Holstein, and Brown Swiss breeds to create an animal with exceptional growth and maternal abilities. In 1975, it became the first breed of cattle developed in Canada to be recognized under the Canadian Livestock Pedigree Act. The breed still exists in small numbers across Canada and represents an important part of Canadian agriculture history.
On the combustion heat originating in spin angular momentum that validates the chemical force theory of bonding
Authors: Kidd R. Garth
Published: June 2016

Heat generated in combustion reactions, when converted into a vectored force, provides the dynamics for thermodynamics. By combining enthalpy data measured calorimetrically with atomization enthalpies coming out of molecular spectroscopy, it is shown here that the heat liberated during typical hydrocarbon combustion is but the last 25% of the bond-forming potential energy with which free atoms are endowed. In short-lived free atoms, this potential energy is manifest as spin angular momentum. This study introduces a new per-atom theory of chemical bonding based on the chemical force law. Codified in this law is the fact that the intramolecule attractive force exerted by an atom upon its bonded neighbor is directly proportional to the free atom’s spin angular momentum and inversely proportional to the atom’s bonded radius. In the context of the other four fundamental forces maintaining structural integrity in material systems, the chemical force is a lot stronger than the gravitational force, stronger than the van der Waals force, weaker than the electromagnetic force, and a lot weaker than the nuclear strong force. Spin–orbit coupling in the heaviest transition metal atoms enhances the strength of the chemical force. The chemical force law successfully models per-atom chemical bond strengths throughout the periodic table. It also shows that a horizontal Newtonian force F = m(a) originates in atomic spin angular momentum.
Effect of nitrogen rate and fertilizer nitrogen source on physiology, yield, grain quality, and nitrogen use efficiency in corn
Authors: Biswas Dilip K. , Ma Bao-Luo
Published: June 2016

A two-year (2010–2011) field experiment was undertaken to examine the effect of nitrogen (N) rate (0, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha−1) and N source (urea, calcium ammonium nitrate; ammonium sulphate) on canopy reflectance, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, yield, grain quality, and N-use efficiency in corn. However, the physiological observations were made only in 2011. We found that stover biomass was unaffected by higher N rate beyond 150 kg N ha−1 in both years. Higher N rates did not provide a yield advantage as compared to 150 kg N ha−1 in 2010, but the highest grain yield was produced with 200 kg N ha−1 in 2011. The higher grain yield by N application was attributed to a greater kernel size in both years. Corn stover [N] was found to increase with increasing N rates in both years. Kernel [N] only responded to the high N rate in 2010. There was no change in the kernel density as affected by N rate in both years. An increased N addition resulted in a decrease in both N-uptake efficiency and agronomic-N use efficiency in both years. There was an inconsistent effect of N source on yield and N use efficiency indices in the corn over two years.
Fepchecker: An Automatic Model Checker for Verifying Fairness and Non-Repudiation of Security Protocols in Web Service
Authors: Li Xiaohong , Xu Jiayi , Xu Guangquan , Hao Jianye , Li Xiaoru , Feng Zhiyong , Gao Honghao
Published: June 2016

Ensuring the fairness and non-repudiation in the security exchange protocol of web service is critical. Model checking is often used for automatic verification for the security properties of protocol. However, the current model checker tools cannot support formalizing protocols with cryptographic primitives, specifying properties with linear temporal logic (LTL) and automatically generating resilient intruder model simultaneously and the application range of them is severely limited. To solve this problem, a model checker Fepchecker is proposed to verify the fairness and non-repudiation properties, which are critical features in security exchange protocols. Firstly, applied pi-calculus is extended to specify the protocols, and the LTL assertion is used for precisely describing fairness and non-repudiation. Secondly, an intruder model is applied to construct their behavior sequences automatically and the protocol sessions and message pattern are used to alleviate the states explosion problem. Thirdly, in our model checking algorithm, the fairness and non-repudiation properties are verified based on Labeled Transition System (LTS) semantics model and the MakeOneMove method is used to explore the state space on-the-fly in the verification process. Finally, Fepchecker is applied to verify six representative protocols and the results show that Fepchecker can effectively verify their fairness and non-repudiation properties.
An Evolutionary Method for the Formal Specification Construction of Service-Based Software
Authors: Miao Weikai , Wang Xi
Published: June 2016

Service-based software (SBS) modeling is considered as a promising way to develop high-quality service-based systems. One major challenge of this methodology is how to effectively utilize existing software services in the process of system modeling to ensure the reliability of the system while reducing the development cost. In this paper, we propose an evolutionary method for the formal specification construction of SBS to tackle this problem. Initial requirements are gradually transformed into a formal design specification through three steps during which existing services are discovered, filtered, selected and adopted. Candidate services are discovered through a keyword-based searching. Then the services are analyzed from both the structural and behavioral perspectives for filtering. A specification-based testing technique is exploited to rigorously determine which candidate services are finally selected. The selected services are incorporated into the formal design model of the system. We present a case study that was conducted for evaluating the usability of the method. We have also developed a prototype tool for supporting the method to be applied in practice.
QoS Prediction for Web Service Recommendation with Network Location-Aware Neighbor Selection
Authors: Yin Yuyu , Aihua Song , Min Gao , Yueshen Xu , Shuoping Wang
Published: June 2016

Web service recommendation is one of the key problems in service computing, especially in the case of a large number of service candidates. The QoS (quality of service) values are usually leveraged to recommend services that best satisfy a user’s demand. There are many existing methods using collaborative filtering (CF) to predict QoS missing values, but very limited works can leverage the network location information in the user side and service side. In real-world service invocation scenario, the network location of a user or a service makes great impact on QoS. In this paper, we propose a novel collaborative recommendation framework containing three novel prediction models, which are based on two techniques, i.e. matrix factorization (MF) and network location-aware neighbor selection. We first propose two individual models that have the capability of using the user and service information, respectively. Then we propose a unified model that combines the results of the two individual models. We conduct sufficient experiments on a real-world dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that our models achieve higher prediction accuracy than baseline models, and are not sensitive to the parameters.
Markov Chain-Like Model for Prediction Service Based on Improved Hierarchical Particle Swarm Optimization Cluster Algorithm
Authors: Liao Zhifang , Liu Min , Song Tianhui , Kuang Li , Zhang Yan , Liao Zhining
Published: June 2016

Since web pages visited by users contain a variety of data resources and the clustering algorithms frequently used for web data do not take the heterogeneous nature into account when processing the heterogeneous data, this paper proposes a new algorithm, namely IHPSOC algorithm, to cluster web log data on the basis of web log mining. Based on particle swarm optimization (PSO), IHPSOC algorithm clusters the web log data through particle swarm iteration. Based on clustering results, this paper establishes Markov chain-like models which create a corresponding Markov chain for users in each different category so as to predict the web resources in users’ need. The results of the experiments show that the proposed model gives better predication.
Vibration of Heavy String Tethered to Mass–Spring System
Authors: Wang C. Y. , Wang C. M. , Freund R.
Published: June 2016

This paper is concerned with the vibration of a heavy string tethered to a mass–spring system which is a model for tower crane or gantry crane. The governing equation of motion of the aforementioned problem is solved analytically and exact closed-form characteristic solutions for the natural frequencies are presented. These exact solutions would serve as benchmarks for models which may be more complex than the basic vibration problem considered. Moreover, we investigate the effect of the string-mass pendulum as a flexible dynamic vibration absorber. Such a problem is important in vibration control, and is investigated analytically for the first time. It is found that the effect of the bottom mass is to decrease the amplitude of the string in general. The effect of increased forcing frequency increases the number of nodal points on the string. In most cases, the amplitude of the top mass is reduced.
Brownian Emitters
Authors: Tsekov Roumen
Published: June 2016

A Brownian harmonic oscillator, which dissipates energy either by friction or via emission of electromagnetic radiation, is considered. This Brownian emitter is driven by the surrounding thermo-quantum fluctuations, which are theoretically described by the fluctuation–dissipation theorem. It is shown how the Abraham–Lorentz force leads to dependence of the half-width on the peak frequency of the oscillator amplitude spectral density. It is found that for the case of a charged particle moving in vacuum at zero temperature, its root-mean-square velocity fluctuation is a universal constant, equal to roughly 1/18 of the speed of light. The relevant Fokker–Planck and Smoluchowski equations are also derived.
Intersection numbers in the curve complex via subsurface projections
Authors: Watanabe Yohsuke
Published: June 2016

A classical inequality which is due to Lickorish and Hempel says that the distance between two curves in the curve complex can be measured by their intersection number. In this paper, we show a converse version; the intersection number of two curves can be measured by the sum of all subsurface projection distances between them. As an application of this result, we obtain a coarse decreasing property of the intersection numbers of the multicurves contained in tight multigeodesics. Furthermore, by using this property, we give an algorithm for determining the distance between two curves in the curve complex. Indeed, such algorithms have also been found by Birman–Margalit–Menasco, Leasure, Shackleton, and Webb: we will briefly compare our algorithm with some of their algorithms, for detailed quantitative comparison of all known algorithms including our algorithm, we refer the reader to the paper of Birman–Margalit–Menasco [1].
Theoretical analysis of dynamic property for piezoelectric cantilever triple-layer benders with large piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients
Authors: Gong Li Jiao , Pan Cheng Liang , Pan Qiao Sheng , Feng Zhi Hua
Published: June 2016

Ferroelectric single crystals, such as PZN-PT, provide novel prospects in piezoelectric bending devices such as actuators, sensors or energy harvesters because of their extraordinarily large piezoelectric coefficients. However, large errors may occur in some analyses on electromechanical behaviors using the conventional models. We find the bending rigidity of piezoelectric composited bender is affected not only by thickness, width and the modulus of elasticity of the different layers but also electromechanical coupling coefficients (EMCCs) of the piezoelectric material and the larger EMCCs mean more marked effect. This paper focuses on the derivation of the applied input excitation and output response characteristics in the circular frequency domain for piezoelectric cantilever triple-layer benders (PCTBs), taking into account the secondary piezoelectric effect. Analytic dynamic descriptions of such actuators and transducers are obtained. Based on the presented models dynamic features of PCTB composed of PZN-8%PT are calculated, and numerical results coincide with simulations using the finite element method (FEM).
Matrix Multiplication Over Word-Size Modular Rings Using Approximate Formulas
Authors: Boyer Brice , Dumas Jean-Guillaume
Published: June 2016

Bini-Capovani-Lotti-Romani approximate formula (or border rank) for matrix multiplication achieves a better complexity than Strassen’s matrix multiplication formula. In this article, we show a novel way to use the approximate formula in the special case where the ring is
Z
/
p
Z
. In addition, we show an implementation à la FFLAS--FFPACK, where
p
is a word-size modulo, that improves on state-of-the-art
Z
/
p
Z
matrix multiplication implementations.
Incentives, Gamification, and Game Theory: An Economic Approach to Badge Design
Authors: Easley David , Ghosh Arpita
Published: June 2016

Gamification is growing increasingly prevalent as a means to incentivize user engagement of social media sites that rely on user contributions.
Badges
, or equivalent rewards, such as top-contributor lists that are used to recognize a user's contributions on a site, clearly appear to be valued by users who actively pursue and compete for them. However, different sites use different badge
designs
, varying how, and for what, badges are awarded. Some sites, such as StackOverflow, award badges for meeting fixed levels of contribution. Other sites, such as Amazon and Y! Answers, reward users for being among some top set of contributors on the site, corresponding to a competitive standard of performance. Given that users value badges, and that contributing to a site requires effort, how badges are designed will affect the incentives—therefore the participation and effort—elicited from strategic users on a site.

We take a game-theoretic approach to badge design, analyzing the incentives created by widely used badge designs in a model in which winning a badge is valued, effort is costly, and potential contributors to the site endogenously decide whether or not to participate, and how much total effort to put into their contributions to the site. We analyze equilibrium existence, as well as equilibrium participation and effort, in an absolute standards mechanism
M
α
in which badges are awarded for meeting some
absolute
level of (observed) effort, and a
relative
standards mechanism
M
ρ
corresponding to competitive standards, as in a top-ρ contributor badge. We find that equilibria always exist in both mechanisms, even when the value from winning a badge depends endogenously on the number of other winners. However,
M
α
has zero-participation equilibria for standards that are too high, whereas all equilibria in
M
ρ
elicit nonzero participation for all possible ρ,
provided
that ρ is specified as a fixed number rather than as a fraction of actual contributors (note that the two are not equivalent in a setting with endogenous participation). Finally, we ask whether or not a site should explicitly announce the number of users winning a badge. The answer to this question is determined by the curvature of the value of winning the badge as a function of the number of other winners.
The Power of an Example
Authors: Ron Dana , Tsur Gilad
Published: June 2016

We study a basic problem of approximating the size of an unknown set
S
in a known universe
U
. We consider two versions of the problem. In both versions, the algorithm can specify subsets
T
⊆
U
. In the first version, which we refer to as the
group query
or
subset query
version, the algorithm is told whether
T
∩
S
is nonempty. In the second version, which we refer to as the
subset sampling
version, if
T
∩
S
is nonempty, then the algorithm receives a uniformly selected element from
T
∩
S
. We study the difference between these two versions in both the case that the algorithm is adaptive and the case in which it is nonadaptive. Our main focus is on a natural family of allowed subsets, which correspond to intervals, as well as variants of this family.
The Hidden Dividends of Microservices
Authors: Killalea Tom
Published: June 2016

Microservices are an approach to building distributed systems in which services are exposed only through hardened APIs; the services themselves have a high degree of internal cohesion around a specific and well-bounded context or area of responsibility, and the coupling between them is loose. Such services are typically simple, yet they can be composed into very rich and elaborate applications. The effort required to adopt a microservices-based approach is considerable, particularly in cases that involve migration from more monolithic architectures. The explicit benefits of microservices are well known and numerous, however, and can include increased agility, resilience, scalability, and developer productivity. This article identifies some of the hidden dividends of microservices that implementers should make a conscious effort to reap.
The expansion of adult stem/progenitor cells and their marker expression fluctuations are linked with pituitary plastic adaptation during gestation and lactancy
Authors: Vaca Alicia Maldré , Guido Carolina Beatriz , Sosa Liliana del Valle , Nicola Juan Pablo , Mukdsi Jorge , Petiti Juan Pablo , Torres Alicia Ines
Published: June 2016

Extensive evidence has revealed variations in the number of hormone-producing cells in the pituitary gland, which occur under physiological conditions such as gestation and lactancy. It has been proposed that new hormone-producing cells differentiate from stem cells. However, exactly how and when this takes place is not clear. In this work, we used immunoelectron microscopy to identify adult pituitary stem/progenitor cells (SC/P) localized in the marginal zone (MZ), and additionally, we detected GFRa2-, Sox2-, and Sox9-positive cells in the adenoparenchyma (AP) by fluorescence microscopy. Then, we evaluated fluctuations of SC/P mRNA and protein level markers in MZ and AP during gestation and lactancy. An upregulation in stemness markers was shown at term of gestation (AT) in MZ, whereas there were more progenitor cell markers in the middle of gestation and active lactancy. Concerning committed cell markers, we detected a rise in AP at beginning of lactancy (d1L). We performed a BrdU uptake analysis in MZ and AP cells. The highest level of BrdU uptake was observed in MZ AT cells, whereas in AP this was detected in d1L, followed by a decrease in both the MZ and AP. Finally, we detected double immunostaining for BrdU-GFRa2 in MZ AT cells and BrdU-Sox9 in the AP d1L cells. Taken together, we hypothesize that the expansion of the SC/P niche took place mainly in MZ from pituitary rats in AT and d1L. These results suggest that the SC niche actively participates in pituitary plasticity during these reproductive states, contributing to the origin of hormone cell populations.
Crosstalk between Vitamin D Metabolism, VDR Signalling, and Innate Immunity
Authors: Lin Rui
Published: June 2016

The primary function of vitamin D is to regulate calcium homeostasis, which is essential for bone formation and resorption. Although diet is a source of vitamin D, most foods are naturally lacking vitamin D. Vitamin D is also manufactured in the skin through a photolysis process, leading to a process called the “sunshine vitamin.” The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), is biosynthesised in the kidney through the hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol by the CYP27B1 enzyme. It has been found that several immune cells express the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP27B1; of the latter, synthesis is determined by several immune-specific signals. The realisation that vitamin D employs several molecular mechanisms to regulate innate immune responses is more recent. Furthermore, evidence collected from intervention studies indicates that vitamin D supplements may boost clinical responses to infections. This review considers the current knowledge of how immune signals regulate vitamin D metabolism and how innate immune system function is modulated by ligand-bound VDR.
Fire‐Needle Moxibustion for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang Yidan , Xie Xiaohua , Zhu Xiaoyue , Chu Minjie , Lu Yihua , Tian Tian , Zhuang Xun , Jiang Liying
Published: June 2016

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of fire‐needle moxibustion as an intervention in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods. An updated meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on fire‐needle moxibustion in treating KOA was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang database, and the Chinese Medical Database (CNKI) since their inception through March 2016. The meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results. Thirteen RCTs were identified in the systematic study which consisted of 1179 participants. Fire‐needle moxibustion treatment group had a statistical significance on recovery rate as well as recovery and marked‐improvement rate compared with control group. Subgroup analysis indicated that there was significant difference between fire‐needle moxibustion group and control group. However, GRADE analysis indicated that the quality of evidence for all outcomes was relatively low. Only two of 13 studies reported adverse reactions (difficulty in movement and intolerance of cold). Conclusion. This meta‐analysis suggests that fire‐needle moxibustion is more effective than control group in symptom management of KOA. Further high quality trials should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of fire‐needle moxibustion on KOA.
Carbon Sequestration in Tropical and Subtropical Plant Species in Collaborative and Community Forests of Nepal
Authors: Mandal Ram Asheshwar , Jha Pramod Kumar , Dutta Ishwar Chandra , Thapa Utsab , Karmacharya Siddhi Bir
Published: June 2016

Different plant species have different capacity of carbon sequestration but it is not assessed yet in Nepal. Therefore, this study was done to assess the species-wise carbon sequestration in two periods in forests. Three collaborative and three community forests were selected for the study. The selected forests were surveyed using GPS and mapped and stratified into tree, pole, and regeneration. Specifically 32, 33, and 31 samples were collected from Banke-Maraha, Tuteshwarnath, and Gadhanta-Bardibash collaborative forests, respectively, while 30, 25, and 22 samples were collected from Chureparwati, Buddha, and Chyandanda community forests correspondingly. The sample plots were of 25 m×20 m for tree strata. The diameter and height of plants were measured and samples were collected for three consecutive years. The estimated carbon stock ofShorea robustawas the highest 35.93 t ha−1in 2011 which was slightly decreased to 34.43 t ha−1in 2012 and reached 32.02 t ha−1in 2013 in Banke-Maraha collaborative forest but it was the least 7.97, 8.92, and 10.29 t ha−1in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively, in Chyandanda community forest. The highest carbon sequestration was recorded about 5.02 t ha−1ofShorea robustain Chyandanda community forest in between t2013and t2012.
A Biphasic Pleural Tumor with Features of an Epithelioid and Small Cell Mesothelioma: Morphologic and Molecular Findings
Authors: Hackman Sarah , Hammer Richard D. , Layfield Lester
Published: June 2016

Malignant mesotheliomas are generally classified into epithelioid, sarcomatoid, desmoplastic, and biphasic types with rare reports of a small cell form. These small cell variants display some morphologic overlap with desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) which generally occur within the abdominal cavity of young males and are defined by a characteristic t(11;22)(p13;q12) translocation. However, there are rare reports of DSRCTs lacking this translocation. We present a 78-year-old man with a pleura-based biphasic neoplasm with features of both epithelioid mesothelioma and a small cell blastema-like neoplasm. The epithelioid portion showed IHC reactivity for pan cytokeratin, CK5/6, D2-40, and calretinin and the small cell portion marked with CD99, pan cytokeratin, WT1, FLI1, S100, CD200, MyoD1, and CD15. Fluorescence in situ hybridization testing for the t(11;22)(p13;q12) translocation disclosed loss of theEWSR1gene in 94% of tumor cell nuclei, but there was no evidence of the classic translocation. Array based-comparative genomic hybridization (a-CGH) confirmed the tumor had numerous chromosome copy number losses, including 11p15.5-p11.12 and 22q12.1-q13.33, with loss of theEWSR1andWT1gene regions. Herein, we report novel complex CGH findings in a biphasic tumor and review the molecular genetic alterations in both mesothelioma and DSRCTs.
Interactions of Delta Shock Waves for Zero-Pressure Gas Dynamics with Energy Conservation Law
Authors: Cai Wei , Zhang Yanyan
Published: June 2016

We study the interactions of delta shock waves and vacuum states for the system of conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy in zero-pressure gas dynamics. The Riemann problems with initial data of three piecewise constant states are solved case by case, and four different configurations of Riemann solutions are constructed. Furthermore, the numerical simulations completely coinciding with theoretical analysis are shown.
A Dynamic Linear Hashing Method for Redundancy Management in Train Ethernet Consist Network
Authors: Nie Xiaobo , Wang Lide , Wang Baohua , Liu Biao , Shen Ping
Published: June 2016

Massive transportation systems like trains are considered critical systems because they use the communication network to control essential subsystems on board. Critical system requires zero recovery time when a failure occurs in a communication network. The newly published IEC62439-3 defines the high-availability seamless redundancy protocol, which fulfills this requirement and ensures no frame loss in the presence of an error. This paper adopts these for train Ethernet consist network. The challenge is management of the circulating frames, capable of dealing with real-time processing requirements, fast switching times, high throughout, and deterministic behavior. The main contribution of this paper is the in-depth analysis it makes of network parameters imposed by the application of the protocols to train control and monitoring system (TCMS) and the redundant circulating frames discarding method based on a dynamic linear hashing, using the fastest method in order to resolve all the issues that are dealt with.
Potential Roles of Amiloride-Sensitive Sodium Channels in Cancer Development
Authors: Xu Siguang , Liu Cui , Ma Yana , Ji Hong-Long , Li Xiumin
Published: June 2016

The ENaC/degenerin ion channel superfamily includes the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and acid sensitive ionic channel (ASIC). ENaC is a multimeric ion channel formed by heteromultimeric membrane glycoproteins, which participate in a multitude of biological processes by mediating the transport of sodium (Na+) across epithelial tissues such as the kidney, lungs, bladder, and gut. Aberrant ENaC functions contribute to several human disease states including pseudohypoaldosteronism, Liddle syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and salt-sensitive hypertension. Increasing evidence suggests that ion channels not only regulate ion homeostasis and electric signaling in excitable cells but also play important roles in cancer cell behaviors such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Indeed, ENaCs/ASICs had been reported to be associated with cancer characteristics. Given their cell surface localization and pharmacology, pharmacological strategies to target ENaC/ASIC family members may be promising cancer therapeutics.