bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Urok Practice: Metaphor of Bagos’ Mutuality and Solidarity
Authors: VECALDO RUDOLF T.
Published: October 2014

The Bagos of Casigayan, Tabuk, Kalinga who are migrants from the upland Ilocos Region have maintained an indigenous practice vital in maintaining group solidarity and in ensuring good life among its members. This socio-cultural practice is known as Urok, a formalized assistance (tulong) reflective of a good relationship (pannakikaddua) that underscores the tenets of cooperation, benevolence, unity and collective conscience. The study generally elicited information on issues regarding the performance of Urok and its crucial influence to individual and community life of the Bagos. Ethnographic research methods such as fieldwork, interviews and case analysis were used. Major concepts were unraveled using the theoretical lens of functionalism. Furthermore, the study reveals that the practice of Urok forms an indispensable fabric of the Bagos’ social life. It depicts that the Bagos are not only living together as a household but as a community of reciprocal relationship anchored on interdependent and institutionalized desire and willingness to extend assistance and consolation especially during trying moments of life. Finally, the study proffers that investigating the Bagos’ social values as reflected in their Urok is a living testimony that today’s search for indigenous Filipino social values emphasizing solidarity and mutuality still exists amidst the influences of modernization.Keywords: Social Science, Urok practice, indigenous Filipino character, descriptive qualitativedesign, Kalinga Province Philippines
The Scarborough Shoal Dispute: An Analysis of the Dispute Resolution Mechanisms under International Law
Authors: TATON RODEL A.
Published: October 2014

This comes at a time when the stand-off over the Scarborough Shoal has matured to the status of an international dispute. It involves rivaling claims on points of law or fact between the People’s Republic China (PRC) and the Republic of the Philippines (RP). PRC calls the shoal as Huangyan island while RP refers to it as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal as advanced and published in their respective governmental positions, albeit their claims for de facto sovereignty and territory. Employing mainly descriptive, historical, documentary and content analyses techniques, this dwells on (a) the character of Scarborough Shoal in the perspective of international law, (b) the conflicting claims of the PRC and RP with their respective governmental positions, (c) the mechanisms for settlement of an international dispute as provided for by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and (d) whether or not the Philippines can avail of the said remedies and how can the Scarborough Shoal be settled employing international law, rules and principles. The UNCLOS provides for a mechanism in Part XV, for settlement of disputes, ranging from the pacific modes of dispute settlement to resort to compulsory mechanisms entailing binding decisions. It is also provided that sans a choice of procedure, only Arbitration under Annex VII, the Hamburg Tribunal, is available, and this, the Philippines followed when it submitted its notification and statement of claims. Based on the international jurisprudence on related issues, there are rarely a winner and a loser. However, having studied the current situation principally in the light of the UNCLOS III, which favors the position of the Philippines, one is forced to recognize that oceans and their basic rules - droit de la mer- existed before UNCLOS. Certainly, the final settlement of the issues hereinbefore presented will go beyond the confines of UNCLOS.Keywords: Social Sciences, International disputes, Law of the Sea, descriptive design,Philippine-China Relations, UNCLOS, Philippines, Southeast Asia
The Dark Side of Capitalism: How it Made Boholanos Live Astray
Authors: GOLOSINO ERNESTO O.
Published: October 2014

The classical economists painted a beautiful picture about capitalism under the jargon globally known as laissez-faire. This doctrine hypnotized several societies as indexed by the globalization of commerce and at present the advent of economic integration. It is from these contentions that the researcher wanted to expose the not so famous side of capitalism as experienced by the Boholanos and ascertained the reasons behind the exclusivity of its benefits. To deliver the arguments anchored on neutrality, an intensive literature review was done to bring forward the glory and failure of capitalism. This was complemented by a field interview in order to take the views of the businessmen, the buyers, the government and the church. The results revealed the sterile role played by capitalism and the capitalists in general. The alluring fruits of free enterprise taste not only sweet but also sour. It was discovered that the promised benefits of trade failed to trickle down to all market players. In the case of Bohol, only the capitalists exclusively amassed greater wealth at the expense of the society. The bi-products of the economic transactions were unloaded to the ordinary citizen in the form of waste across all dimensions.Keywords: Economics, dark side of capitalism in Bohol, waste, negative spillover, Philippines
Enforcement and Violations of Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. No. 9003)
Authors: NABE NESTOR C.
Published: October 2014

Environmental laws are enacted for the purpose of protecting the environment. This study was conducted to determine the enforcement and violations involving Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. No. 9003) in Davao City, Philippines. A questionnaire was formulated based on the provisions of Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and distributed to the respondents. The respondents of this study were 256 barangay officials from 42 barangays in Davao City, Philippines. They were selected as respondents because they have direct observation on the enforcement and violations of the law in their areas of responsibility and the 42 barangays were chosen because they belong to the urban part of Davao City. The enforcement of selected provisions of the Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. No. 9003) in relation to the functions of a local government unit is high which means that the provisions are often complied while the enforcement against prohibited acts is often indicating frequent enforcement. The provision that was moderately enforced is failure of material recovery facilities to receive biodegradable wastes for composting.Keywords: Ecology and Conservation, Enforcement of Solid Waste Management Act, Quantitative Research, Philippines
Values Shifting Pattern Related to Family Processes and Functioning of the Select Respondents in the 5th District of Manila
Authors: CASTRO LORENA A.
Published: October 2014

Family plays a crucial role in instilling among members important values that promote good living. The study explored the changes that occurred among Filipino families as to values, beliefs, and practices from the past to present generation.Descriptive research design was used. Structured survey questionnaires andsemi-structured interviews were utilized to generate data. For test on correlation ofresponses, chi-square and z-test of proportion were utilized. The study reveals thatthere was a significant difference in the perceptions of parents, teachers and studentson positive values except for being concern to the environment and humility.However, there was no significant difference in their perceptions on negativeFilipino family values except for indulgence in vices and laziness. It is concluded that students, parents and teachers’ shifted values and that life’s ideals are all dependent on family relationship, generational trends, and significant others.Parents, older members of the family, and teachers should set a good example tothe young generation.Keywords: Values shifting patterns, family process, Filipino values, descriptivecorrelationaldesign,Philippines
New insights into crustal structure, Cenozoic magmatism, CO2 degassing, and seismogenesis in the southern Apennines and Irpinia region from local earthquake tomography
Authors: Improta Luigi , De Gori Pasquale , Chiarabba Claudio
Published: October 2014

We present high‐resolution Vp and Vp/Vs models of the southern Apennines (Italy) computed using local earthquakes recorded from 2006 to 2011 with a graded inversion scheme that progressively resolves the crustal structure, from the large scale of the Apennines belt to the local scale of the normal fault system. High‐Vp bodies defined in the upper crust and midcrust under the external Apennines are interpreted as extensive mafic intrusions revealing anorogenic magmatism episodes that broadened on the Adriatic domain during Paleogene. Under the mountain belt, a low‐Vp region, annular to the Neapolitan volcanic district, indicates the existence of a thermal/fluid anomaly in the midcrust, coinciding with a shallow Moho and diffuse degassing of deeply derived CO2. In the belt axial zone, low‐Vp/Vs gas‐pressurized rock volumes under the Apulian carbonates correlate to high heat flow, strong CO2‐dominated gas emissions of mantle origin, and shallow carbonate reservoirs with pressurized CO2 gas caps. We hypothesize that the pressurized fluid volumes located at the base of the active fault system influence the rupture process of large normal faulting earthquakes, like the 1980 Mw6.9 Irpinia event, and that major asperities are confined within the high‐Vp Apulian carbonates. This study confirms once more that preexisting structures of the Pliocene Apulian belt controlled the rupture propagation during the Irpinia earthquake. The main shock broke a ~30 km long, NE dipping seismogenic structure, whereas delayed ruptures (both the 20 s and the 40 s subevents) developed on antithetic faults, reactivating thrust faults located at the eastern edge of the Apulian belt.
The Impact of Coronagraphs
Authors: St. Cyr O. C. , Fleck B. , Davila J. M.
Published: October 2014

Given the grandeur of a total solar eclipse, it is likely that prehistoric humans marveled at the Sun's corona. Artificially rejecting light from the solar disk to see the million times fainter corona is a significant challenge, so it is not surprising that efforts to reproduce an eclipse were not successful until relatively recently.
Imaging of the early acceleration phase of the 2013–2014 Boso slow slip event
Authors: Fukuda Jun'ichi , Kato Aitaro , Obara Kazushige , Miura Satoshi , Kato Teruyuki
Published: October 2014

We analyze GPS and seismic data to examine the spatiotemporal evolution of a slow slip event (SSE) near Boso Peninsula, central Japan, from December 2013 to January 2014. The evolution of this SSE and its associated seismicity is divided into two distinct phases. Slip initially accelerated slowly with low slip rates, low propagation speeds, and no accompanying seismicity during the early phase and then accelerated more rapidly with higher slip rates, a higher propagation speed, and local earthquake swarm activity during the later phase. The seismicity was highly correlated in space and time with slip rate, suggesting that the swarm activity was triggered by stress loading due to the slow slip. The transition from the slow to faster phase shares some similarities with the nucleation of megathrust earthquakes inferred from foreshock activities, suggesting that SSEs may provide insights into the nucleation of large earthquakes.
A 3‐D spectral‐element and frequency‐wave number hybrid method for high‐resolution seismic array imaging
Authors: Tong Ping , Komatitsch Dimitri , Tseng Tai‐Lin , Hung Shu‐Huei , Chen Chin‐Wu , Basini Piero , Liu Qinya
Published: October 2014

We present a three‐dimensional (3‐D) hybrid method that interfaces the spectral‐element method (SEM) with the frequency‐wave number (FK) technique to model the propagation of teleseismic plane waves beneath seismic arrays. The accuracy of the resulting 3‐D SEM‐FK hybrid method is benchmarked against semianalytical FK solutions for 1‐D models. The accuracy of 2.5‐D modeling based on 2‐D SEM‐FK hybrid method is also investigated through comparisons to this 3‐D hybrid method. Synthetic examples for structural models of the Alaska subduction zone and the central Tibet crust show that this method is capable of accurately capturing interactions between incident plane waves and local heterogeneities. This hybrid method presents an essential tool for the receiver function and scattering imaging community to verify and further improve their techniques. These numerical examples also show the promising future of the 3‐D SEM‐FK hybrid method in high‐resolution regional seismic imaging based on waveform inversions of converted/scattered waves recorded by seismic array.
A friction to flow constitutive law and its application to a 2‐D modeling of earthquakes
Authors: Shimamoto Toshihiko , Noda Hiroyuki
Published: October 2014

Establishment of a constitutive law from friction to high‐temperature plastic flow has long been a challenging task for solving problems such as modeling earthquakes and plate interactions. Here we propose an empirical constitutive law that describes this transitional behavior using only friction and flow parameters, with good agreements with experimental data on halite shear zones. The law predicts steady state and transient behaviors, including the dependence of the shear resistance of fault on slip rate, effective normal stress, and temperature. It also predicts a change in velocity weakening to velocity strengthening with increasing temperature, similar to the changes recognized for quartz and granite gouge under hydrothermal conditions. A slight deviation from the steady state friction law due to the involvement of plastic deformation can cause a large change in the velocity dependence. We solved seismic cycles of a fault across the lithosphere with the law using a 2‐D spectral boundary integral equation method, revealing dynamic rupture extending into the aseismic zone and rich evolution of interseismic creep including slow slip prior to earthquakes. Seismic slip followed by creep is consistent with natural pseudotachylytes overprinted with mylonitic deformation. Overall fault behaviors during earthquake cycles are insensitive to transient flow parameters. The friction‐to‐flow law merges “Christmas tree” strength profiles of the lithosphere and rate dependency fault models used for earthquake modeling on a unified basis. Strength profiles were drawn assuming a strain rate for the flow regime, but we emphasize that stress distribution evolves reflecting the fault behavior. A fault zone model was updated based on the earthquake modeling.
Characteristics of fluid‐induced resonances observed during microseismic monitoring
Authors: Tary Jean Baptiste , van der Baan Mirko , Sutherland Bruce , Eaton David W.
Published: October 2014

Three groups of resonances are observed during a two‐stage hydraulic experiment recorded by 12 three‐component geophones. The injected fluid is composed of a slurry of mostly water and proppant plus some supercritical nitrogen. Resonance characteristics are estimated using an autoregressive model. Three resonance models are investigated: fluid‐filled cracks, nonlaminar fluid flow, and repetitive events in terms of anticipated resonance frequencies, quality factors, and amplitudes. The observed resonances are very stable and positively correlated with either the slurry flow or the nitrogen injection rate, which is in contradiction with the repetitive events and fluid‐filled crack models, respectively. Resonances obtained by numerical simulations of an unstable jet agree with the main characteristics of most observed resonances. Our observations suggest that variations in resonance frequencies are mainly driven by variations in fluid flow, whereas quality factors are more sensitive to the fluid composition through variations in nitrogen injection rate. This study also suggests that resonance frequencies and quality factors can provide complementary information for real‐time monitoring of fluid injection into reservoirs, for hydraulic stimulations, geothermal operations, carbon capture, and storage or fluid movement during volcano eruptions.
Time‐space modeling of the dynamics of Santorini volcano (Greece) during the 2011–2012 unrest
Authors: Saltogianni Vasso , Stiros Stathis C. , Newman Andrew V. , Flanagan Kelly , Moschas Fanis
Published: October 2014

The 2011–2012 unrest of Santorini (Thera) volcano (Aegean Sea, Greece) was associated with microseismicity confined to the Kameni Line (KL), a major tectonovolcanic lineament, and has been regarded as a single magmatic episode, produced by a spherical source derived from inversion of GPS data. However, such a source is a few kilometers away from the KL and cannot explain observed microseismicity. For this reason, we divided the unrest episode into five periods based on the fluctuations of seismicity and deformation rates and investigated the connection between seismicity and two spherical magmatic point sources for each period. Based on a new inversion algorithm and consistent GPS data, we recognized during the volcano unrest episode an unstable pattern of intrusions correlating with both the KL and Columbo Line (CL), a second major tectonovolcanic lineament. Intrusions correlating with CL appear relatively persistent, aseismic, small, and shallow, which is consistent with marine geophysical evidence for arrested shallow dykes and geodetic evidence from a previous inflation episode. During the two periods of intense seismicity, sources close to the KL, explaining seismicity, were obtained. This unstable pattern of intrusions explains both the well‐observed location and timing of seismicity as well as ground deformation and is consistent with results of an Okada‐type inversion for a sill and a dyke. The stress interactions between the two sources agree with Coulomb failure stress models. Santorini appears to be affected by concurrent offset magma pulses, and only recent activity from a magma pulse below the KL produced microseismic swarms.
Intermittency in a stochastic parameterization of nonorographic gravity waves
Authors: de la Cámara A. , Lott F. , Hertzog A.
Published: October 2014

A multiwave stochastic parameterization of nonorographic gravity waves (GWs), representing GWs produced by convection and a background of GWs in the midlatitudes, is tuned and tested against momentum fluxes derived from long‐duration balloon flights. The tests are done offline using data sets corresponding to the Southern Ocean during the Concordiasi campaign in 2010. We also adopt the limiting constraint that the drag produced by the scheme resembles that produced by a highly tuned spectral GW parameterization, the so‐called Hines scheme. Our results show that the parameterization can reproduce the momentum flux intermittency measured during the campaign, which is relevant since it strongly impacts on the vertical distribution of the GW drag. We also show that, at the altitude of the balloon flights, the momentum flux intermittency is in good part due to the GW sources: filtering by the background winds only becomes effective at much higher altitude. These results are based on bulk formulae for the GW momentum flux that could be used to replace our background GWs by GWs produced by fronts. Finally, the GW energy spectra built out of the stochastic scheme by averaging over a large ensemble of realizations are comparable to the classical vertical spectra of GWs, used today in globally spectral schemes. This indicates that multiwave and spectral schemes can be reconciled once a stochastic approach is used.
Strategy for Enhancing the Dielectric Constant of Organic Semiconductors Without Sacrificing Charge Carrier Mobility and Solubility
Authors: Torabi Solmaz , Jahani Fatemeh , Van Severen Ineke , Kanimozhi Catherine , Patil Satish , Havenith Remco W. A. , Chiechi Ryan C. , Lutsen Laurence , Vanderzande Dirk J. M. , Cleij Thomas J. , Hummelen Jan C. , Koster L. Jan Anton
Published: October 2014

Current organic semiconductors for organic photovoltaics (OPV) have relative dielectric constants (relative permittivities,εr) in the range of 2–4. As a consequence, Coulombically bound electron‐hole pairs (excitons) are produced upon absorption of light, giving rise to limited power conversion efficiencies. We introduce a strategy to enhanceεrof well‐known donors and acceptors without breaking conjugation, degrading charge carrier mobility or altering the transport gap. The ability of ethylene glycol (EG) repeating units to rapidly reorient their dipoles with the charge redistributions in the environment was proven via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Fullerene derivatives functionalized with triethylene glycol side chains were studied for the enhancement ofεrtogether with poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) and diketopyrrolopyrrole based polymers functionalized with similar side chains. The polymers showed a doubling ofεrwith respect to their reference polymers in identical backbone. Fullerene derivatives presented enhancements up to 6 compared with phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the reference. Importantly, the applied modifications did not affect the mobility of electrons and holes and provided excellent solubility in common organic solvents.
Materials Meets Concepts in Molecule‐Based Electronics
Authors: Ortmann Frank , Radke K. Sebastian , Günther Alrun , Kasemann Daniel , Leo Karl , Cuniberti Gianaurelio
Published: October 2014

In this contribution, molecular materials are highlighted as an important topic in the diverse field of condensed matter physics, with focus on their particular electronic and transport properties. A better understanding of their performance in various applications and devices demands for an extension of basic theoretical approaches to describe charge transport in molecular materials, including the accurate description of electron–phonon coupling. Starting with the simplest case of a molecular junction and moving on to larger aggregates of bulk organic semiconductors, charge‐transport regimes from ballistic motion to incoherent hopping, which are frequently encountered in molecular systems under respective conditions, are discussed. Transport features of specific materials are described through ab initio material parameters whose determination is addressed.
Stable isotopes (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur), diet, and anthropometry in urban Colombian women: Investigating socioeconomic differences
Authors: Bender Richard L. , Dufour Darna L. , Valenzuela Luciano O. , Cerling Thure E. , Sponheimer Matt , Reina Julio C. , Ehleringer James R.
Published: October 2014

Objectives

We conducted stable isotope and dietary analyses of women from higher and lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups in Cali, Colombia. The objectives were to test between‐group differences in stable isotope, dietary, and anthropometric characteristics, and to evaluate relationships between diet and stable isotope values.

Methods

Hair samples from 38 women (mean age 33.4) from higher and lower SES groups were analyzed for δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values. Dietary intake was assessed via 24‐h recalls. Anthropometric variables measured were body mass index, five body circumferences, and six skinfold thicknesses.

Results

Mean δ13C and δ15N values of the higher SES group (−16.4 and 10.3‰) were significantly greater than those of the lower SES group (−17.2 and 9.6‰;P < 0.01), but mean δ34S values did not differ significantly between groups (higher SES: 4.6‰; lower SES: 5.1‰). The higher SES group consumed a greater percentage of protein than the lower SES group (14% vs. 12% of energy;P = 0.03), but the groups did not differ in other dietary characteristics or in anthropometric characteristics. δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values were not correlated with intake of the dietary items predicted (sugars, animal‐source protein, and marine foods, respectively). The lower SES group was more variable in all three stable isotope values (P < 0.05), mirroring a trend toward greater dietary variability in this group.

Conclusions

Stable isotope values revealed a difference between SES groups that was not explained by the dietary data. The relationship between diet and stable isotope composition is complex. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:207–218, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Photocaged DNAzymes as a General Method for Sensing Metal Ions in Living Cells
Authors: Hwang Kevin , Wu Peiwen , Kim Taejin , Lei Lei , Tian Shiliang , Wang Yingxiao , Lu Yi
Published: October 2014

DNAzymes, which are sequences of DNA with catalytic activity, have been demonstrated as a potential platform for sensing a wide range of metal ions. Despite their significant promise, cellular sensing using DNAzymes has however been difficult, mainly because of the “always‐on” mode of first‐generation DNAzyme sensors. To overcome this limitation, a photoactivatable (or photocaged) DNAzyme was designed and synthesized, and its application in sensing ZnII in living cells was demonstrated. In this design, the adenosine ribonucleotide at the scissile position of the 8–17 DNAzyme was replaced by 2′‐O‐nitrobenzyl adenosine, rendering the DNAzyme inactive and thus allowing its delivery into cells intact, protected from nonspecific degradation within cells. Irradiation at 365 nm restored DNAzyme activity, thus allowing the temporal control over the sensing activity of the DNAzyme for metal ions. The same strategy was also applied to the GR‐5 DNAzyme for the detection of PbII, thus demonstrating the possible scope of the method.
Quantifying the Cribriform Plate: Influences of Allometry, Function, and Phylogeny in Carnivora
Authors: Bird Deborah J. , Amirkhanian Arsineh , Pang Benison , Van Valkenburgh Blaire
Published: October 2014

The small, perforated bony cup of the anterior cranial fossa called the cribriform plate (CP) is perhaps the best‐preserved remnant of olfactory anatomy in fossil mammal skulls. The CP and its myriad foramina record the passage of peripheral olfactory nerves from nasal cavity to olfactory bulb. Previous work has suggested that CP surface area reflects aspects of olfactory capacity (as inferred from habitat and observed behavior) in mammals. To further explore the utility of CP as a proxy for olfactory function, we designed novel, nondestructive digital methods to quantify CP morphology from dry skulls. Using CT scans and 3‐D imaging software, we quantified CP features from 42 species of Carnivora, a group that represents a wide spectrum of ecologies and sensory demands. Two metrics, CP surface area (CPSA) and cumulative CP foramina area (FXSA), scaled to skull length with negative allometry, and differed between aquatic and terrestrial species, with the former having reduced areas. Number of foramina (NF) was not correlated with skull length but tended to be greater in caniforms than feliforms. Both CPSA and FXSA are well correlated with ethmoturbinal surface area, a known osteological correlate of olfactory function. This suggests that CPSA and FXSA are useful proxies for olfactory ability, especially when studying fossils or skulls in which turbinals are not preserved. Total area of CP foramina (FXSA), an exacting measure of olfactory nerve endocasts, is tightly correlated with CPSA. Because of this, it may be desirable to use CPSA alone as a proxy given that it is easier to measure than FXSA.Anat Rec, 297:2080–2092, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Shrinking Anthropoid Nose, the Human Vomeronasal Organ, and the Language of Anatomical Reduction
Authors: Smith Timothy D. , Laitman Jeffrey T. , Bhatnagar Kunwar P.
Published: October 2014

Humans and most of our closest extant relatives, the anthropoids, are notable for their reduced “snout.” The striking reduction in facial projection is only a superficial similarity. All anthropoids, including those with long faces (e.g., baboons), have lost numerous internal projections (turbinals) and spaces (recesses). In sum, this equates to the loss of certain regions of olfactory mucosa in anthropoids. In addition, an accessory olfactory organ, the vomeronasal organ, is non‐functional or even absent in all catarrhine primates (humans, apes, monkeys). In this commentary, we revisit the concept of anatomical reductions as it pertains to the anthropoid nasal region. Certain nasal structures and spaces in anthropoids exhibit well‐known attributes of other known vestiges, such as variability in form or number. The cupular recess (a vestige of the olfactory recess) and some rudimentary ethmoturbinals constitute reduced structures that presumably were fully functional in our ancestors. Humans and at least some apes retain a vestige that is bereft of chemosensory function (while in catarrhine monkeys it is completely absent). However, the function of the vomeronasal system also includes prenatal roles, which may be common to most or all mammals. Notably, neurons migrate to the brain along vomeronasal and terminal nerve axons during embryogenesis. The time‐specific role of the VNO raises the possibility that our concept of functional reduction is too static. The vomeronasal system of humans and other catarrhine primates appears to qualify as a “chronological” vestige, one which fulfills part of its function during ontogeny, and then becomes lost or vestigial. Anat Rec, 297:2196–2204, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Networked Estimation of Multi‐Agent Systems Subject to Faults and Unreliable Information
Authors: Azizi S. M. , Khorasani K.
Published: October 2014

In this paper, a novel framework for networked estimation of multi‐agent systems subject to presence of actuator faults is proposed. This framework is developed based on the notion of sub‐observers where within a group of sub‐observers each sub‐observer estimates certain states that are conditioned on a given input, output, and other state information. We model the overall estimation process by a weighted estimation (WE) digraph. By selecting an appropriate path in the WE digraph, an assigned supervisor can select and configure a set of sub‐observers to successfully estimate all the system states. In the presence of large intermittent disturbances, noise, and faults certain sub‐observers may become invalid, and consequently the supervisor reconfigures the set of sub‐observers by selecting a new path in the estimation digraph such that the impacts of these uncertainties are confined to only the local estimators. This will prevent the propagation of uncertainties on the estimation performance of the entire multi‐agent system. Simulation results provided for a five satellite formation flight system in deep space confirm the validity and applicability of our proposed analytical work.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure alters osteoblast gene expression and craniofacial development in mice
Authors: Cray James J. , Weinberg Seth M. , Parsons Trish E. , Howie R. Nicole , Elsalanty Mohammed , Yu Jack C.
Published: October 2014

Background

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use in pregnancy has been linked to craniofacial birth defects. Little is known about the effects of serotonin or SSRIs on craniofacial development. Here, we provide evidence that citalopram (SSRI) alters the osteogenic profile of murine calvarial cells and leads to craniofacial dysmorphology.

Methods

We used mouse calvarial pre‐osteoblast cells (MC3T3‐E1) to study the biochemical profile (microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions) after treatment with a titrated dose of citalopram. We used C57BL‐6 wild‐type breeders to produce litters treated with a clinical dose of citalopram during the third trimester of pregnancy. We used micro‐computed tomography and morphometric measures to determine effects on craniofacial development.

Results

Controls included untreated cells and age matched untreated litters. We observed decreases in proliferation and increases in alkaline phosphatase activity after citalopram exposure. We confirmed altered expression of genes linked to osteogenesis including Ocn and significant increase in expression of Alp after 7 days of treatment. Our data suggest altered expression of several genes related to craniofacial development (Fgf2, Fgfr2, Tgfβr2 Irs1, Igf1) and statistically significant changes in expression for (Col2a1, Gdf6, Hmox1, and Notch1). We also observed changes in regulation of the serotonin pathway (Sert, Tph1, Tph2, Htr2a, Lrp5) after treatment with citalopram. After in utero exposure to citalopram, mice displayed shorter narrow snouts, more globular skulls and several craniofacial anomalies.

Conclusion

Our results provide confirmatory evidence that citalopram exposure is associated with cellular and morphological alterations of the craniofacial complex, which may have important implications for use during pregnancy. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:912–923, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increasing available NADH supply during succinic acid production by Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Zhou Zhihui , Wang Chen , Chen Yali , Zhang Kai , Xu Hongtao , Cai Heng , Chen Zhongjun
Published: October 2014

A critical factor in the biotechnological production of succinic acid with Corynebacterium glutamicum is the sufficient supply of NADH. It is conceivable that cofactor availability and the proportion of cofactor in the active form may play an important role in dictating the succinic acid yield. PntAB genes from Escherichia coli can directly catalyze the reversible hydride transfer and adjust the dynamic balance between NADP(H) and NAD(H). Hence, we studied the physiological effect of coenzyme systems by expressing the membrane‐bound transhydrogenase pntAB genes. We have shown experimentally that the pntAB genes could function as an alternative source of NADH. In an anaerobic fermentation with C. glutamicum NC‐3‐pntAB, a 16% higher succinic acid yield and a 57% higher production from glucose were obtained by pntAB expression. Moreover, the formation of by‐products was significantly decreased. The concomitant increase in the consumption of intracellular NADPH from 0.6 to 1.2 mmol/g CDW and the increased NADH/NAD+ ratio resulted from introduction of pntAB, suggesting that the membrane‐bound transhydrogenase converted excess NADPH to NADH for succinic acid production. Finally, we explored whether the transhydrogenase had different effects on the succinic acid formation on different carbon sources. The succinic acid yield was increased in the presence of pntAB by 16% on glucose, 7% on sucrose, and without large influence on fructose and xylose. The results of this study demonstrated that the effectiveness of cofactor manipulation could be a promising strategy applied in metabolic engineering. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:12–19, 2015
Customer's perceived value of waiting time for service events
Authors: Lin Yu‐Tse , Xia Kang‐Ning , Bei Lien‐Ti
Published: October 2014

The authors address the effects of money gain and loss on individually perceived value as predicted by prospect theory in a time gain‐and‐loss context. Three experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 results support the prospect theory concept of value function. According to Experiment 2 results, the amount of money involved exerted different impacts on individual perceptions—specifically, study participants preferred gaining $1 on one occasion to gaining 50 cents over two occasions and preferred losing $1 one time to losing 50 cents twice. Further, the combined results indicate that the study participants held different perceptions of the value of “short time” versus “little money”—that is, they preferred saving an extra 2 minutes on one occasion to saving 1 minute on two occasions and preferred waiting an extra 1 minute two times to waiting an extra 2 minutes one time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemistry, Properties, and in Vitro and in Vivo Applications of 2′‐O‐Methoxyethyl‐4′‐thioRNA, a Novel Hybrid Type of Chemically Modified RNA
Authors: Saito Yota , Hashimoto Yosuke , Arai Mai , Tarashima Noriko , Miyazawa Tadashi , Miki Kazuya , Takahashi Mayumi , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Yamazaki Naoshi , Matsuda Akira , Ishida Tatsuhiro , Minakawa Noriaki
Published: October 2014

We report the synthesis, properties, and in vitro and in vivo applications of 2′‐O‐methoxyethyl‐4′‐thioRNA (MOE‐SRNA), a novel type of hybrid chemically modified RNA. In its hybridization with complementary RNA, MOE‐SRNA showed a moderate improvement of Tm value (+3.4 °C relative to an RNA:RNA duplex). However, the results of a comprehensive comparison of the nuclease stability of MOE‐SRNA relative to 2′‐O‐methoxyethylRNA (MOERNA), 2′‐O‐methyl‐4′‐thioRNA (Me‐SRNA), 2′‐O‐methylRNA (MeRNA), 4′‐thioRNA (SRNA), and natural RNA revealed that MOE‐SRNA had the highest stability (t1/2>48 h in human plasma). Because of the favorable properties of MOE‐SRNA, we evaluated its in vitro and in vivo potencies as an anti‐microRNA oligonucleotide against miR‐21. Although the in vitro potency of MOE‐SRNA was moderate, its in vivo potency was significant for the suppression of tumor growth (similar to that of MOERNA).
New‐generation drug‐eluting stents reduce stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction: A propensity‐score‐adjusted analysis from the multicenter REAL registry (REgistro Regionale AngiopLastiche Dell'Emilia‐Romagna)
Authors: Vignali Luigi , Saia Francesco , Belotti Laura Maria Beatrice , Solinas Emilia , Guastaroba Paolo , Rubboli Andrea , Manari Antonio , Mehran Roxana , Ardissino Diego , De Palma Rossana
Published: October 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare long‐term clinical outcomes in patients treated with new‐generation drug‐eluting stent (DES) or early‐generation DES in a real‐world registry.

Background

New‐generation DESs have proved to be more effective and safer than early‐generation DES in randomized trials. However, the effects of new‐generation DES versus early‐generation DES in everyday clinical practice deserve further verification.

Methods

A propensity‐score and inverse‐probability weighted analysis of 5,332 patients undergoing DES implantation (2,557 new‐generation and 2,775 early‐generation) between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011 was performed, with a median follow‐up of 3 years. We assessed the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], and target vessel revascularization [TVR]), and angiographic stent thrombosis (ST) during follow‐up.

Results

At 3‐years, new‐generation DES in comparison with early‐generation DES were associated with a reduced risk of MI (5% versus 7.4%, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51–0.82, P = 0.0004) and angiographic ST (0.5% vs. 1.1%, HR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.17–0.72, P = 0.004), whereas, the risk of TVR (10.9% vs. 13.5%; HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84–1.16, P = 0.99) and overall MACE was not significantly different (19.2% vs. 22.4%, HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.83–1.07, P = 0.35).

Conclusions

Our data from a large all‐comers multicenter registry confirm that, in comparison with early‐generation DES, the use of new‐generation DES is associated with similar efficacy and increased long‐term safety, because of a reduced risk of ST and MI. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of a thermodynamic identification tool for CO2 capture by chemical absorption
Authors: Biget Anthony , Neveux Thibaut , Corriou Jean‐Pierre , Le Moullec Yann
Published: October 2014

The extended UNIQUAC model has been used for the representation of the thermodynamic behaviour of CO2 absorption in aqueous amine solutions. Based on available experimental data, an identification methodology has been developed to fit the extended‐UNIQUAC model parameters. In the scope of providing a robust methodology, a combination of two successive optimization methods has been chosen: a genetic algorithm and a quasi‐Newton method. The first quasi‐global method allows to screen the entire search space without a precise initialization, and provides an approximate solution which is then refined by the second local method.

The developed multi‐step regression strategy has been successfully applied to the H2O‐ monoethanolamine(MEA)‐CO2 system. The model gives a good agreement with the experimental vapour‐liquid equilibria for CO2 partial pressures and total pressures for all MEA concentrations and for a wide range of temperature with an average absolute relative deviation of around 20 %. Furthermore, the model predicts accurately literature data on excess enthalpy and bubble point of the system.

This identification procedure has been successfully extended on several ternary H2O‐amine‐CO2 solvent systems such as methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and 2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanol (AMP).

The wide variety of operating configurations and solvent types used and presented in this work proves the robustness and the efficiency of the developed identification method.
One step toward bridging the gap between theory and practice in moldable task scheduling with precedence constraints
Authors: Hunold Sascha
Published: October 2014

Because of the increasing number of cores of current parallel machines and the growing need for a concurrent execution of tasks, the problem of parallel task scheduling is more relevant than ever, especially under the moldable task model, in which tasks are allocated to a fixed number of processors before execution. Much research has been conducted to develop efficient scheduling algorithms for moldable tasks, both in theory and practice. The problem is that theoretical and practical approaches expose shortcomings, for example, many approximation algorithms only guarantee bounds under assumptions, which are unrealistic in practice, or most heuristics have not been rigorously compared with competing approximation algorithms. In particular, it is often assumed that the speedup function of moldable tasks is either non‐decreasing, sub‐linear, or concave. In practice, however, the resulting speedup of parallel programs on current hardware with deep memory hierarchies is most often neither non‐decreasing nor concave. We present a new algorithm for the problem of scheduling moldable tasks with precedence constraints for the makespan objective and for arbitrary speedup functions. We show through simulation that the algorithm not only creates competitive schedules for moldable tasks with arbitrary speedup functions but also outperforms other published heuristics and approximation algorithms for non‐decreasing speedup functions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptation of fluid model EULAG to graphics processing unit architecture
Authors: Rojek Krzysztof Andrzej , Ciznicki Milosz , Rosa Bogdan , Kopta Piotr , Kulczewski Michal , Kurowski Krzysztof , Piotrowski Zbigniew Pawel , Szustak Lukasz , Wojcik Damian Karol , Wyrzykowski Roman
Published: October 2014

The goal of this study is to adapt the multiscale fluid solver EULerian or LAGrangian framewrok (EULAG) to future graphics processing units (GPU) platforms. The EULAG model has the proven record of successful applications, and excellent efficiency and scalability on conventional supercomputer architectures. Currently, the model is being implemented as the new dynamical core of the COSMO weather prediction framework. Within this study, two main modules of EULAG, namely the multidimensional positive definite advection transport algorithm (MPDATA) and the variational generalized conjugate residual, elliptic pressure solver Generalized Conjugate Residual (GCR) are analyzed and optimized. In this paper, a method is proposed, which ensures a comprehensive analysis of the resource consumption including registers, shared, and global memories. This method allows us to identify bottlenecks of the algorithm, including data transfers between host and global memory, global and shared memories, as well as GPU occupancy. We put the emphasis on providing a fixed memory access pattern, padding as well as organizing computation in the MPDATA algorithm. The testing and validation of the new GPU implementation have been carried out based on modeling decaying turbulence of a homogeneous incompressible fluid in a triply‐periodic cube. Simulations performed using the standard version of EULAG and its new GPU implementation give similar solutions. Preliminary results show a promising increase in terms of computational efficiency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)
Authors: Burns Lynne E. , Frasier Timothy R. , Broders Hugh G.
Published: October 2014

Characterizing movement dynamics and spatial aspects of gene flow within a species permits inference on population structuring. As patterns of structuring are products of historical and current demographics and gene flow, assessment of structure through time can yield an understanding of evolutionary dynamics acting on populations that are necessary to inform management. Recent dramatic population declines in hibernating bats in eastern North America from white‐nose syndrome have prompted the need for information on movement dynamics for multiple bat species. We characterized population genetic structure of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, at swarming sites in southeastern Canada using 9 nuclear microsatellites and a 292‐bp region of the mitochondrial genome. Analyses of FST, ΦST, and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) found weak levels of genetic structure among swarming sites for the nuclear and mitochondrial genome (Global FST = 0.001, P < 0.05, Global ΦST = 0.045, P < 0.01, STRUCTURE K = 1) suggesting high contemporary gene flow. Hierarchical AMOVA also suggests little structuring at a regional (provincial) level. Metrics of nuclear genetic structure were not found to differ between males and females suggesting weak asymmetries in gene flow between the sexes. However, a greater degree of mitochondrial structuring does support male‐biased dispersal long term. Demographic analyses were consistent with past population growth and suggest a population expansion occurred from approximately 1250 to 12,500 BP, following Pleistocene deglaciation in the region. Our study suggests high gene flow and thus a high degree of connectivity among bats that visit swarming sites whereby mainland areas of the region may be best considered as one large gene pool for management and conservation.
Batf3‐dependent CD103+ dendritic cells are major producers of IL‐12 that drive local Th1 immunity against Leishmania major infection in mice
Authors: Martínez‐López María , Iborra Salvador , Conde‐Garrosa Ruth , Sancho David
Published: October 2014

The role of different DC subsets in priming and maintenance of immunity against Leishmania major (L. major) infection is debated. The transcription factor basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF‐like 3 (Batf3) is essential for the development of mouse CD103+ DCs and some functions of CD8α+ DCs. We found that CD103+ DCs were significantly reduced in the dermis of Batf3‐deficient C57BL/6 mice. Batf3−/− mice developed exacerbated and unresolved cutaneous pathology following a low dose of intradermal L. major infection in the ear pinnae. Parasite load was increased 1000‐fold locally and expanded systemically. Batf3 deficiency did not affect L. major antigen presentation to T cells, which was directly exerted by CD8α− conventional DCs (cDCs) in the skin draining LN. However, CD4+ T‐cell differentiation in the LN and skin was skewed to nonprotective Treg‐ and Th2‐cell subtypes. CD103+ DCs are major IL‐12 producers during L. major infection. Local Th1 immunity was severely hindered, correlating with impaired IL‐12 production and reduction in CD103+ DC numbers. Adoptive transfer of WT but not IL‐12p40−/− Batf3‐dependent DCs significantly improved anti‐L. major response in infected Batf3−/− mice. Our results suggest that IL‐12 production by Batf3‐dependent CD103+ DCs is crucial for maintenance of local Th1 immunity against L. major infection.