bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Membrane-Activated Switch to Bind Clathrin
Authors: Hurtley Stella M.
Published: July 2014

An autoinhibitory mechanism prevents clathrin recruitment by cytosolic AP2.
Interaction of Interferon Gamma-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species with Ceftazidime Leads to Synergistic Killing of Intracellular Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Mosovsky Kara , Silva Ediane , Troyer Ryan , Propst-Graham Katie , Dow Steven
Published: July 2014

Burkholderia pseudomallei
, a facultative intracellular pathogen, causes severe infections and is inherently refractory to many antibiotics. Previous studies from our group have shown that interferon gamma (IFN-γ) interacts synergistically with the antibiotic ceftazidime to kill bacteria in infected macrophages. The present study aimed to identify the underlying mechanism of that interaction. We first showed that blocking reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways reversed IFN-γ- and ceftazidime-mediated killing, which led to our hypothesis that IFN-γ-induced ROS interacted with ceftazidime to synergistically kill
Burkholderia
bacteria. Consistent with this hypothesis, we also observed that buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), another inducer of ROS, could substitute for IFN-γ to similarly potentiate the effect of ceftazidime on intracellular killing. Next, we observed that IFN-γ induced ROS-mediated killing of intracellular but not extracellular bacteria. On the other hand, ceftazidime effectively reduced extracellular bacteria but was not capable of intracellular killing when applied at 10 μg/ml. We investigated the exact role of IFN-γ-induced ROS responses on intracellular bacteria and notably observed a lack of actin polymerization associated with
Burkholderia
bacteria in IFN-γ-treated macrophages, which led to our finding that IFN-γ-induced ROS blocks vacuolar escape. Based on these results, we propose a model in which synergistically reduced bacterial burden is achieved primarily through separate and compartmentalized killing: intracellular killing by IFN-γ-induced ROS responses and extracellular killing by ceftazidime. Our findings suggest a means of enhancing antibiotic activity against
Burkholderia
bacteria through combination with drugs that induce ROS pathways or otherwise target intracellular spread and/or replication of bacteria.
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 7-Day Triple, 10-Day Sequential, and 7-Day Concomitant Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Hsu Ping-I , Wu Deng-Chyang , Chen Wen-Chi , Tseng Hui-Hwa , Yu Hsien-Chung , Wang Huay-Min , Kao Sung-Shuo , Lai Kwok-Hung , Chen Angela , Tsay Feng-Woei
Published: July 2014

With the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, the failure rate of the standard triple therapy for
Helicobacter pylori
infection is increasing. Sequential therapy and concomitant therapy have been recommended to replace standard triple therapy for
H. pylori
eradication in regions with high clarithromycin resistance. The aim of this prospective, randomized, and controlled study was to simultaneously assess the efficacies of 10-day sequential and 7-day concomitant therapies versus a 7-day standard triple therapy for treating
H. pylori
infection. Consecutive
H. pylori
-infected subjects were randomly assigned to a 7-day standard triple therapy (pantoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for 7 days), a 10-day sequential therapy (pantoprazole and amoxicillin for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole, clarithromycin, and metronidazole for a further 5 days), or a 7-day quadruple therapy (pantoprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole for 7 days).
H. pylori
status was confirmed 6 weeks after therapy. Three hundred seven
H. pylori
-infected participants were randomized to receive triple (
n
= 103), sequential (
n
= 102), or concomitant (
n
= 102) therapies. The eradication rates by an intention-to-treat analysis in the three treatment groups were 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.1% to 89.0%), 89.2% (95% CI, 83.2% to 95.2%), and 94.1% (95% CI, 89.5% to 98.7%). The seven-day concomitant therapy had a higher eradication rate than did the 7-day triple therapy (difference, 12.5%; 95% CI, 3.7% to 21.3%). There were no significant differences in the eradication rates between the sequential and standard triple therapies. All three treatments exhibited similar frequencies of adverse events (8.7%, 8.8%, and 13.7%, respectively) and drug compliance (99.0%, 98.0%, and 100.0%, respectively). In conclusion, the seven-day concomitant therapy is superior to the 7-day standard triple therapy for
H. pylori
eradication. Additionally, it is less complex than the 10-day sequential therapy because the drugs are not changed halfway through the treatment course. (This study has been registered at
ClinicalTrials.gov
under registration no. NCT1769365.)
Whole-Genome Assembly of Klebsiella pneumoniae Coproducing NDM-1 and OXA-232 Carbapenemases Using Single-Molecule, Real-Time Sequencing
Authors: Doi Yohei , Hazen Tracy H. , Boitano Matthew , Tsai Yu-Chih , Clark Tyson A. , Korlach Jonas , Rasko David A.
Published: July 2014

The whole-genome sequence of a carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain, PittNDM01, which coproduces NDM-1 and OXA-232 carbapenemases, was determined in this study. The use of single-molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing provided a closed genome in a single sequencing run.
K. pneumoniae
PittNDM01 has a single chromosome of 5,348,284 bp and four plasmids: pPKPN1 (283,371 bp), pPKPN2 (103,694 bp), pPKPN3 (70,814 bp), and pPKPN4 (6,141 bp). The contents of the chromosome were similar to that of the
K. pneumoniae
reference genome strain MGH 78578, with the exception of a large inversion spanning 23.3% of the chromosome. In contrast, three of the four plasmids are unique. The plasmid pPKPN1, an IncHI1B-like plasmid, carries the
bla
NDM-1
,
armA
, and
qnrB1
genes, along with tellurium and mercury resistance operons.
bla
NDM-1
is carried on a unique structure in which Tn
125
is further bracketed by IS
26
downstream of a class 1 integron. The IncFIA-like plasmid pPKPN3 also carries an array of resistance elements, including
bla
CTX-M-15
and a mercury resistance operon. The ColE-type plasmid pPKPN4 carrying
bla
OXA-232
is identical to a plasmid previously reported from France. SMRT sequencing was useful in resolving the complex bacterial genomic structures in the
de novo
assemblies.
In Vivo
Effect of Quaternized Chitosan-Loaded Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis Infection of the Tibial Metaphysis in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Tan Hong-lue , Ao Hai-yong , Ma Rui , Lin Wen-tao , Tang Ting-ting
Published: July 2014

Infection of open tibial fractures with contamination remains a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. Local use of antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads and blocks is a widely used procedure to reduce the risk of infection. However, the development of antibiotic-resistant organisms make the management of infection more difficult. Our
in vitro
study demonstrated that quaternized chitosan (hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan [HACC])-loaded PMMA bone cement exhibits strong antibacterial activity toward antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the
in vivo
antibacterial activity of quaternized chitosan-loaded PMMA. Twenty-four adult female New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. The right proximal tibial metaphyseal cavity was prepared, 10
7
CFU of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus epidermidis
was inoculated, and PMMA-only, gentamicin-loaded PMMA (PMMA-G), chitosan-loaded PMMA (PMMA-C), or HACC-loaded PMMA (PMMA-H) bone cement cylinders were inserted. During the follow-up period, the infections were evaluated using X rays on days 21 and 42 and histopathological and microbiological analyses on day 42 after surgery. Radiographic indications of bone infections, including bone lysis, periosteal reactions, cyst formation, and sequestral bone formation, were evident in the PMMA, PMMA-G, and PMMA-C groups but not in the PMMA-H group. The radiographic scores and gross bone pathological and histopathological scores were significantly lower in the PMMA-H group than in the PMMA, PMMA-G, and PMMA-C groups (
P
< 0.05). Explant cultures also indicated significantly less bacterial growth in the PMMA-H group than in the PMMA, PMMA-G, and PMMA-C groups (
P
< 0.01). We concluded that PMMA-H bone cement can inhibit the development of bone infections in this animal model inoculated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, thereby demonstrating its potential application for treatment of local infections in open fractures.
BB0238, a Presumed Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Containing Protein, Is Required during Borrelia burgdorferi Mammalian Infection
Authors: Groshong Ashley M. , Fortune Danielle E. , Moore Brendan P. , Spencer Horace J. , Skinner Robert A. , Bellamy William T. , Blevins Jon S.
Published: July 2014

The Lyme disease spirochete,Borrelia burgdorferi, occupies both a tick vector and mammalian host in nature. Considering the unique enzootic life cycle ofB. burgdorferi, it is not surprising that a large proportion of its genome is composed of hypothetical proteins not found in other bacterial pathogens.bb0238encodes a conserved hypothetical protein of unknown function that is predicted to contain a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a structural motif responsible for mediating protein-protein interactions. To evaluate the role ofbb0238during mammalian infection, abb0238-deficient mutant was constructed. Thebb0238mutant was attenuated in mice infected via needle inoculation, and complementation ofbb0238expression restored infectivity to wild-type levels.bb0238expression does not change in response to varying culture conditions, and thus, it appears to be constitutively expressed underin vitroconditions.bb0238is expressed in murine tissues during infection, though there was no significant change in expression levels among different tissue types. Localization studies indicate that BB0238 is associated with the inner membrane of the spirochete and is therefore unlikely to promote interaction with host ligands during infection.B. burgdorfericlones containing point mutations in conserved residues of the putative TPR motif of BB0238 demonstrated attenuation in mice that was comparable to that in thebb0238deletion mutant, suggesting that BB0238 may contain a functional TPR domain.
Tc52 Amino-Terminal-Domain DNA Carried by Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Induces Protection against a Trypanosoma cruzi Lethal Challenge
Authors: Matos Marina N. , Cazorla Silvia I. , Bivona Augusto E. , Morales Celina , Guzmán Carlos A. , Malchiodi Emilio L.
Published: July 2014

In this work we immunized mice with DNA encoding full-length Tc52 or its amino- or carboxy-terminal (N- and C-term, respectively) domain carried by attenuated
Salmonella
as a DNA delivery system. As expected,
Salmonella
-mediated DNA delivery resulted in low antibody titers and a predominantly Th1 response, as shown by the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1-specific antibodies. Despite modest expression of Tc52 in trypomastigotes, the antibodies elicited by vaccination were able to mediate lysis of the trypomastigotes in the presence of complement and inhibit their invasion of mammal cells
in vitro
. The strongest functional activity was observed with sera from mice immunized with
Salmonella
carrying the N-term domain (SN-term), followed by Tc52 (STc52), and the C-term domain (SC-term). All immunized groups developed strong cellular responses, with predominant activation of Th1 cells. However, mice immunized with SN-term showed higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), counterbalancing the inflammatory reaction, and also strong activation of Tc52-specific gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ
+
) CD8
+
T cells. In agreement with this, although all prototypes conferred protection against infection, immunization with SN-term promoted greater protection than that with SC-term for all parameters tested and slightly better protection than that with STc52, especially in the acute stage of infection. We conclude that the N-terminal domain of Tc52 is the section of the protein that confers maximal protection against infection and propose it as a promising candidate for vaccine development.
NifA- and CooA-Coordinated
cowN
Expression Sustains Nitrogen Fixation by Rhodobacter capsulatus in the Presence of Carbon Monoxide
Authors: Hoffmann Marie-Christine , Pfänder Yvonne , Fehringer Maria , Narberhaus Franz , Masepohl Bernd
Published: July 2014

Rhodobacter capsulatus
fixes atmospheric dinitrogen via two nitrogenases, Mo- and Fe-nitrogenase, which operate under different conditions. Here, we describe the functions in nitrogen fixation and regulation of the
rcc00574
(
cooA
) and
rcc00575
(
cowN
) genes, which are located upstream of the structural genes of Mo-nitrogenase,
nifHDK
. Disruption of
cooA
or
cowN
specifically impaired Mo-nitrogenase-dependent growth at carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations still tolerated by the wild type. The
cooA
gene was shown to belong to the Mo-nitrogenase regulon, which is exclusively expressed when ammonium is limiting. Its expression was activated by NifA1 and NifA2, the transcriptional activators of
nifHDK
. AnfA, the transcriptional activator of Fe-nitrogenase genes, repressed
cooA
, thereby counteracting NifA activation. CooA activated
cowN
expression in response to increasing CO concentrations. Base substitutions in the presumed CooA binding site located upstream of the
cowN
transcription start site abolished
cowN
expression, indicating that
cowN
regulation by CooA is direct. In conclusion, a transcription factor-based network controls
cowN
expression to protect Mo-nitrogenase (but not Fe-nitrogenase) under appropriate conditions.
A rare Lisfranc-type injury involving dorsal dislocation of the intermediate cuneiform
Authors: Kalraiya Ashish Jain , Vanhegan Ivor , Cheung Alan , Rudge Ben
Published: July 2014

Lisfranc injuries occur at the tarsometatarsal joint resulting from direct or indirect force to the midfoot. They account for only 0.2% of all fractures, with diagnoses easily missed on presentation. The resultant instability is often associated with significant morbidity to the patient. This report describes a Lisfranc injury sustained by a healthy gentleman who suffered indirect trauma to the foot when he fell from a standing height. Plain film radiographs and CT revealed dorsal dislocation of the intermediate cuneiform associated with fractures at the base of the third and fourth metatarsals. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation the following day. His Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) score improved from 16.3 1 week postoperatively to 58.7 6 months postoperatively. This report describes a rare injury pattern resulting from indirect, low-energy trauma. We provide a guide to appropriate radiological imaging and evaluation in the assessment of these complex injuries.
Transvenous approach for the treatment of direct carotid cavernous fistula following Pipeline embolization of cavernous carotid aneurysm: a report of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Lin Li-Mei , Colby Geoffrey P , Jiang Bowen , Pero Guglielmo , Boccardi Edoardo , Coon Alexander L
Published: July 2014

Flow diverters are increasingly used for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. A rare complication from flow diversion is delayed aneurysm rupture, which can lead to carotid–cavernous fistula (CCF) in the setting of cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs). Direct CCFs pose unique management challenges, given the lack of transarterial access to the fistula. We present two cases of direct CCFs following treatment of CCAs with the Pipeline embolization device (PED). Case 1 was a middle-aged patient with a symptomatic 10 mm wide-necked left CCA. Six weeks after PED treatment the patient developed diplopia secondary to direct CCF. Case 2 was a middle-aged patient with a symptomatic 17 mm left CCA treated with PED. One-month follow-up angiography demonstrated a direct CCF. Both patients underwent successful coil embolization of the CCF through a transvenous approach. Direct CCF formation following PED deployment for CCA is a rare complication. Parent vessel sacrifice may be avoided with transvenous occlusion of the fistula.
Vocal cord palsy anatomical changes and a foreign body mimicking malignancy
Authors: Turner Helen , Qureishi Ali , Silva Priy
Published: July 2014

A 74-year-old woman presented with a history of prolonged dysphonia, a red flag symptom for laryngeal cancer. Flexible nasal endoscopy revealed a lesion which looked suspicious for malignancy and therefore she went onto have a microlaryngoscopy and an attempt at biopsy. It was during this procedure that a foreign body was removed whole from a dilated laryngeal ventricle. We believe that some subtle anatomical changes caused by a pre-existing unilateral vocal cord palsy contributed to the impaction of this foreign body.
Dengue shock syndrome in an infant
Authors: Aurpibul Linda , Khumlue Punyawee , Issaranggoon na ayuthaya Satja , Oberdorfer Peninnah
Published: July 2014

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection affecting children and adults worldwide. In newborn infants, the dengue virus can cause diseases, especially in infants born to pregnant women hospitalised with dengue or postpartum women with fever. The authors report a case of a term newborn infant who presented with haemodynamic instability and thrombocytopaenia at the age of 7 days, without a history of clinical dengue infection in the mother. The physical examination revealed an afebrile and drowsy infant with a petechial rash all over the body and ecchymosis on both palms and soles. The authors confirmed the diagnosis using the dengue NS1 antigen on the first day of admission. The treatment included fluid management and platelet transfusion. The patient recovered well and was discharged from the hospital on the 10th day of hospitalisation.
LEARNING TO ASSEMBLE CLASSIFIERS VIA GENETIC PROGRAMMING
Authors: ACOSTA-MENDOZA NIUSVEL , MORALES-REYES ALICIA , ESCALANTE HUGO JAIR , GAGO-ALONSO ANDRÉS
Published: July 2014

This paper introduces a novel approach for building heterogeneous ensembles based on genetic programming (GP). Ensemble learning is a paradigm that aims at combining individual classifier's outputs to improve their performance. Commonly, classifiers outputs are combined by a weighted sum or a voting strategy. However, linear fusion functions may not effectively exploit individual models' redundancy and diversity. In this research, a GP-based approach to learn fusion functions that combine classifiers outputs is proposed. Heterogeneous ensembles are aimed in this study, these models use individual classifiers which are based on different principles (e.g. decision trees and similarity-based techniques). A detailed empirical assessment is carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Results show that the proposed method is successful at building very effective classification models, outperforming alternative ensemble methodologies. The proposed ensemble technique is also applied to fuse homogeneous models' outputs with results also showing its effectiveness. Therefore, an in-depth analysis from different perspectives of the proposed strategy to build ensembles is presented with a strong experimental support.
FRACTALITY EVIDENCE AND LONG-RANGE DEPENDENCE ON CAPITAL MARKETS: A HURST EXPONENT EVALUATION
Authors: OPREAN CAMELIA , TĂNĂSESCU CRISTINA
Published: July 2014

Since the existence of market memory could implicate the rejection of the efficient market hypothesis, the aim of this paper is to find any evidence that selected emergent capital markets (eight European and BRIC markets, namely Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Russia, India and China) evince long-range dependence or the random walk hypothesis. In this paper, the Hurst exponent as calculated by R/S fractal analysis and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis is our measure of long-range dependence in the series. The results reinforce our previous findings and suggest that if stock returns present long-range dependence, the random walk hypothesis is not valid anymore and neither is the market efficiency hypothesis.
MARKET MAKING AND PORTFOLIO LIQUIDATION UNDER UNCERTAINTY
Authors: NYSTRÖM KAJ , OULD ALY SIDI MOHAMED , ZHANG CHANGYONG
Published: July 2014

Market making and optimal portfolio liquidation in the context of electronic limit order books are of considerably practical importance for high frequency (HF) market makers as well as more traditional brokerage firms supplying optimal execution services for clients. In general, the two problems are based on probabilistic models defined on certain reference probability spaces. However, due to uncertainty in model parameters or in periods of extreme market turmoil, ambiguity concerning the correct underlying probability measure may appear and an assessment of model risk, as well as the uncertainty on the choice of the model itself, becomes important, as for a market maker or a trader attempting to liquidate large positions, the uncertainty may result in unexpected consequences due to severe mispricing. This paper focuses on the market making and the optimal liquidation problems using limit orders, accounting for model risk or uncertainty. Both are formulated as stochastic optimal control problems, with the controls being the spreads, relative to a reference price, at which orders are placed. The models consider uncertainty in both the drift and volatility of the underlying reference price, for the study of the effect of the uncertainty on the behavior of the market maker, accounting also for inventory restriction, as well as on the optimal liquidation using limit orders.
On the signless Laplacian spectral determination of the join of regular graphs
Authors: Xu Lizhen , He Changxiang
Published: July 2014

Let G be an r-regular graph with order n, and G ∨ H be the graph obtained by joining each vertex of G to each vertex of H. In this paper, we prove that G ∨ K2is determined by its signless Laplacian spectrum for r = 1, n - 2. For r = n - 3, we show that G ∨ K2is determined by its signless Laplacian spectrum if and only if the complement of G has no triangles.
Web Service Compositions with Fuzzy Preferences
Authors: Benouaret Karim , Benslimane Djamal , Hadjali Allel , Barhamgi Mahmoud , Maamar Zakaria , Sheng Quan Z.
Published: July 2014

Data-driven Web services build on service-oriented technologies to provide an interoperable method of interacting with data sources on top of the Web. Data Web services composition has emerged as a flexible solution to answer users’ complex queries on the fly. However, as the number of Web services on the Web grows quickly, a large number of candidate compositions that would use different (most likely competing) services may be used to answer the same query. User preferences are a key factor that can be used to rank candidate services/compositions and retain only the best ones. In this article, we present a novel approach for computing the top-
k
data service compositions based on user preferences. In our approach, we model user preferences using fuzzy sets and incorporate them into the composition query. We use an efficient RDF query rewriting algorithm to determine the relevant services that may be used to answer the composition query. We match the (fuzzy) constraints of the relevant services to those of the query and determine their matching degrees using a set of matching methods. We then rank-order the candidate services based on a fuzzification of Pareto dominance and compute the top-
k
data service compositions. In addition, we introduce a new method for increasing the diversity of returned top-
k
compositions while maintaining as much as possible the compositions with the highest scores. Finally, we describe the architecture of our system and present a thorough experimental study of our proposed techniques and algorithms. The experimental study demonstrates the efficiency and the effectiveness of our techniques in different settings.
"Linked data as background knowledge for information extraction on the web" by Ziqi Zhang, Anna Lisa Gentile and Isabelle Augenstein with Martin Vesely as coordinator
Authors: Zhang Ziqi , Gentile Anna Lisa , Augenstein Isabelle
Published: July 2014

Information Extraction (IE) is the technique for transforming textual data into structured representation that can be understood by machines. It is a crucial technique in enabling the Semantic Web, where increasing interest has been seen in recent years. This article reports recent progress in the LODIE project - Linked Open Data for Information Extraction, aimed at advancing Web IE to a new frontier by exploiting largely available, semantically annotated, Linked Open Data as background knowledge. We cover topics of wrapper induction, IE from semi-structured content such as tables and lists, and IE from free-text. We describe new challenges in the research and methods proposed to address them, together with summaries of recent evaluations showing encouraging results.
Guaranteeing end-to-end quality-of-service with a generic routing approach
Authors: Huang Jun , Duan Qiang , Chen Qianbin , Sun Yu , Tanaka Yoshiaki , Wang Wei
Published: July 2014

Quality-of-Service (QoS) provisioning plays a pivotal role in widespread deployment of new emerging services over the current Internet and is expected to be an indispensable attribute of future Internet. Though relevant progress has been made towards ensuring QoS, modeling and developing efficient algorithms for end-to-end QoS provisioning remain challenging problems in the current and future Internet infrastructure. In this paper, we address these challenging problems from a generic routing perspective, emphasizing modeling and algorithms as well as evaluation on end-to-end QoS provisioning. Specifically, we first model the common features of major technologies for end-to-end QoS provisioning in a "bottom-up" manner. Through the model, a set of end-to-end performance bounds that indicate the serving capability of substrates are obtained. Then we propose two routing algorithms based upon the model and performance bounds. The analysis on computational property of proposed algorithms proves that they are light-weighted and cost-effective. We also conduct thorough performance comparison between the proposed algorithms and previous best-known results in both theoretical and experimental ways. Our results show that the model and the algorithms developed in this paper are efficient and superior to other competitors, thus are applicable to the various networking systems for end-to-end QoS provisioning in current and future Internet.
An architecture for secure positioning in a UAV swarm using RSSI-based distance estimation
Authors: Yokoyama Roberto Sadao , Kimura Bruno Yuji Lino , dos Santos Moreira Edson
Published: July 2014

The widespread of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offers more opportunities for collaborative UAV swarm to optimise missions. The common application for UAV swarms are surveillance, path planning, airborne, and relay networks. Cooperative applications make use of the UAVs' locations to make decisions. However, the question of vulnerability to security must be considered when the system infers that there are benefits and rights based on the UAV's location. There is a risk that an attacker can cheat the system by claiming a false or inaccurate location to gain access to restricted resources or be engaged in malicious activities without detection. This makes the system be very sensitive and dependent on the trust of the node's geo-temporal information in a swarm. In this paper, we propose an architecture that uses a UAV wireless card to measure the distance between a UAV, called a
prover node
, and the set of
verifier nodes
closest to it. The architecture core is based on a multilateration algorithm, which is employed to estimate the prover's position. In a previous study, we applied image processing from a UAV payload stereo camera to measure the distances between the nodes. In this paper, we have extended the study to securing positioning in a UAV swarm by applying the fundamental principles of beaconing-based communication to calculate the distance between the nodes on the basis of the received signal strength indicator (RSSI). The simulation results showed that the correct position determined by RSSI was better than the image processing from stereo cameras. The degree of accuracy achieved from RSSI was greater than 99.6% in distances of up to 165
m
, while a similar degree of accuracy was limited up to 100
m
of the distance, when a high-definition stereo camera was used.
A path generation scheme for real-time green internet of things
Authors: Lu Yung-Feng , Wu Jun , Kuo Chin-Fu
Published: July 2014

Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to offer promising solutions to transform the operation and role of many existing systems such as transportation systems, manufacturing systems, and enables many applications in many domains. IoT aims to connect different things over the network. The goal of IoT is to provide a good and efficient service for many applications. A real-time IoT applications must react to stimuli from its environment within time intervals dictated by its environment. The instant when a result must be produced is called a deadline. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have recently used been in the limelight for many domains. The IoT can be explained as a general purpose sensor network. WSNs will constitute an integral part of the IoT paradigm, spanning many different application areas. Since sensor nodes usually are developed by low-cost hardware, one major challenge in the development of many sensor-network applications is to provide high-security features with limited resources. In this paper, we propose a path generation framework with deadline considerations for real-time query processing. To meet the deadline, the framework will assign the time budget to the routing path, and then, derive a feasible path with the assigned time budget. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed RTQP scheme, we construct a simulation model using ns 2.35. The performance of the RTQP scheme is compared with that of other related mechanisms, for which we have very encouraging results.
Analytical Approaches for Size and Mass Analysis of Large Protein Assemblies
Authors: Snijder Joost , Heck Albert J.R.
Published: July 2014

Analysis of the size and mass of nanoparticles, whether they are natural biomacromolecular or synthetic supramolecular assemblies, is an important step in the characterization of such molecular species. In recent years, electrospray ionization (ESI) has emerged as a technology through which particles with masses up to 100 MDa can be ionized and transferred into the gas phase, preparing them for accurate mass analysis. Here we review currently used methodologies, with a clear focus on native mass spectrometry (MS). Additional complementary methodologies are also covered, including ion-mobility analysis, nanomechanical mass sensors, and charge-detection MS. The literature discussed clearly demonstrates the great potential of ESI-based methodologies for the size and mass analysis of nanoparticles, including very large naturally occurring protein assemblies. The analytical approaches discussed are powerful tools in not only structural biology, but also nanotechnology.
Ambient Femtosecond Laser Vaporization and Nanosecond Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Flanigan Paul , Levis Robert
Published: July 2014

Recent investigations of ambient laser-based transfer of molecules into the gas phase for subsequent mass spectral analysis have undergone a renaissance resulting from the separation of vaporization and ionization events. Here, we seek to provide a snapshot of recent femtosecond (fs) duration laser vaporization and nanosecond (ns) duration laser desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry experiments. The former employs pulse durations of <100 fs to enable matrix-free laser vaporization with little or no fragmentation. When coupled to electrospray ionization, femtosecond laser vaporization provides a universal, rapid mass spectral analysis method requiring no sample workup. Remarkably, laser pulses with intensities exceeding 1013 W cm−2 desorb intact macromolecules, such as proteins, and even preserve the condensed phase of folded or unfolded protein structures according to the mass spectral charge state distribution, as demonstrated for cytochrome c and lysozyme. Because of the ability to vaporize and ionize multiple components from complex mixtures for subsequent analysis, near perfect classification of explosive formulations, plant tissue phenotypes, and even the identity of the manufacturer of smokeless powders can be determined by multivariate statistics. We also review the more mature field of nanosecond laser desorption for ambient mass spectrometry, covering the wide range of systems analyzed, the need for resonant absorption, and the spatial imaging of complex systems like tissue samples.
RPA Inhibition Increases Replication Stress and Suppresses Tumor Growth
Authors: Glanzer Jason G. , Liu Shengqin , Wang Ling , Mosel Adam , Peng Aimin , Oakley Greg G.
Published: July 2014

The ATR/Chk1 pathway is a critical surveillance network that maintains genomic integrity during DNA replication by stabilizing the replication forks during normal replication to avoid replication stress. One of the many differences between normal cells and cancer cells is the amount of replication stress that occurs during replication. Cancer cells with activated oncogenes generate increased levels of replication stress. This creates an increased dependency on the ATR/Chk1 pathway in cancer cells and opens up an opportunity to preferentially kill cancer cells by inhibiting this pathway. In support of this idea, we have identified a small molecule termed HAMNO ((1Z)-1-[(2-hydroxyanilino)methylidene]naphthalen-2-one), a novel protein interaction inhibitor of replication protein A (RPA), a protein involved in the ATR/Chk1 pathway. HAMNO selectively binds the N-terminal domain of RPA70, effectively inhibiting critical RPA protein interactions that rely on this domain. HAMNO inhibits both ATR autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of RPA32 Ser33 by ATR. By itself, HAMNO treatment creates DNA replication stress in cancer cells that are already experiencing replication stress, but not in normal cells, and it acts synergistically with etoposide to kill cancer cells in vitro and slow tumor growth in vivo. Thus, HAMNO illustrates how RPA inhibitors represent candidate therapeutics for cancer treatment, providing disease selectivity in cancer cells by targeting their differential response to replication stress. Cancer Res; 74(18); 5165–72. ©2014 AACR.
TALEN-Mediated Somatic Mutagenesis in Murine Models of Cancer
Authors: Zhang Shuyuan , Li Lin , Kendrick Sara L. , Gerard Robert D. , Zhu Hao
Published: July 2014

Cancer genome sequencing has identified numerous somatic mutations whose biologic relevance is uncertain. In this study, we used genome-editing tools to create and analyze targeted somatic mutations in murine models of liver cancer. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) were designed against β-catenin (Ctnnb1) and adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc), two commonly mutated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), to generate isogenic HCC cell lines. Both mutant cell lines exhibited evidence of Wnt pathway dysregulation. We asked whether these TALENs could create targeted somatic mutations after hydrodynamic transfection into mouse liver. TALENs targeting β-catenin promoted endogenous HCC carrying the intended gain-of-function mutations. However, TALENs targeting Apc were not as efficient in inducing in vivo homozygous loss-of-function mutations. We hypothesized that hepatocyte polyploidy might be protective against TALEN-induced loss of heterozygosity, and indeed Apc gene editing was less efficient in tetraploid than in diploid hepatocytes. To increase efficiency, we administered adenoviral Apc TALENs and found that we could achieve a higher mutagenesis rate in vivo. Our results demonstrate that genome-editing tools can enable the in vivo study of cancer genes and faithfully recapitulate the mosaic nature of mutagenesis in mouse cancer models. Cancer Res; 74(18); 5311–21. ©2014 AACR.
Non‐ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the United States: Contemporary Trends in Incidence, Utilization of the Early Invasive Strategy, and In‐Hospital Outcomes
Authors: Khera Sahil , Kolte Dhaval , Aronow Wilbert S. , Palaniswamy Chandrasekar , Subramanian Kathir Selvan , Hashim Taimoor , Mujib Marjan , Jain Diwakar , Paudel Rajiv , Ahmed Ali , Frishman William H. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Panza Julio A. , Fonarow Gregg C.
Published: July 2014

Background

There has been a paradigm shift in the definition of timing of early invasive strategy (
EIS
) for patients admitted with non‐
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction (
NSTEMI)
in the last decade. Data on trends of
EIS
for
NSTEMI
and associated in‐hospital outcomes are limited. Our aim is to analyze temporal trends in the incidence, utilization of early invasive strategy, and in‐hospital outcomes of
NSTEMI
in the United States.

Methods and Results

We analyzed the 2002–2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients ≥40 years of age with the principal diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
) and
NSTEMI
. Logistic regression was used for overall, age‐, sex‐, and race/ethnicity‐stratified trend analysis. From 2002 to 2011, we identified 6 512 372 patients with
AMI
. Of these, 3 981 119 (61.1%) had
NSTEMI
. The proportion of patients with
NSTEMI
increased from 52.8% in 2002 to 68.6% in 2011 (adjusted odds ratio [
OR;
per year], 1.055; 95% confidence interval [
CI],
1.054 to 1.056) in the overall cohort. Similar trends were observed in age‐, sex‐, and race/ethnicity‐stratified groups. From 2002 to 2011, utilization of
EIS
at day 0 increased from 14.9% to 21.8% (
P
trend
<0.001) and utilization of
EIS
at day 0 or 1 increased from 27.8% to 41.4% (
P
trend
<0.001). Risk‐adjusted in‐hospital mortality in the overall cohort decreased during the study period (adjusted
OR
[per year], 0.976; 95%
CI,
0.974 to 0.978).

Conclusions

There have been temporal increases in the proportion of
NSTEMI
and, consistent with guidelines, greater utilization of
EIS
. This has been accompanied by temporal decreases in in‐hospital mortality and length of stay.
Ensemble Transform with 3D Rescaling Initialization Method
Authors: Ma Juhui , Zhu Yuejian , Hou Dingchen , Zhou Xiaqiong , Peña Malaquias
Published: July 2014

The ensemble transform with rescaling (ETR) method has been used to produce fast-growing components of analysis error in the NCEP Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS). The rescaling mask contained in the ETR method constrains the amplitude of perturbations to reflect regional variations of analysis error. However, because of a lack of suitable three-dimensional (3D) analysis error estimation, in the operational GEFS the mask is based on the estimated analysis error at 500 hPa and is not flow dependent but changes monthly. With the availability of an ensemble-based data assimilation system at NCEP, a 3D mask can be computed. This study generates initial perturbations by the ensemble transform with 3D rescaling (ET_3DR) and compares the performance with the ETR. Meanwhile, the ET_3DR is also applied within the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) method (hereafter EnKF_3DR).

Results from a set of experiments indicate that the 3D mask suppresses perturbations less in unstable regions. Relative to the ETR, the large amplitudes of the ET_3DR initial perturbations at 500 hPa better reflect areas of baroclinic instability over the extratropics and deep convection over the tropics. Furthermore, the maxima of the vertical distribution for the ET_3DR initial perturbations correspond to the heights of the subtropical westerly and tropical easterly jet regions. Such perturbations produce faster spread growths. Results with EnKF_3DR also show benefits from an orthonormalization by the ensemble transform algorithm and amplitude constraint by the 3D mask rescaling. Thus, the EnKF_3DR forecasts outperform the EnKF.
‘Ego-dystonicity’ in homosexuality: An Indian perspective
Authors: Sebastian Maroky Ami , Ratheesh Aswin , Viswanath Biju , Math Suresh Bada , Chandrashekar Channapatna R , Seshadri Shekhar P
Published: July 2014

Background:

Homosexual persons are targets of verbal and physical abuse, discrimination and face legal disadvantages in many countries, including India. These external factors could play a role in determining discomfort with their sexuality.

Aims:

We ascertained the association between ego-dystonicity of sexual orientation and indices of perceived acceptance, stigma and awareness of possible normative lifestyles.

Methods:

Fifty-one self-identified adult homosexual men were assessed using online questionnaires that covered information including their socio-demographic details; a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) that measured their degree of discomfort with their sexuality; Reactions to Homosexuality Scale, Perceived Acceptance Scale, Modified China Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Stigma scale; and trait version of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. The participants were also asked to provide a written narrative of their experiences which influenced their comfort with their sexuality.

Results:

Discomfort with sexuality significantly correlated with education, acceptance by friends and family, legal disadvantages, awareness and accessibility to non-heteronormative lifestyles and support systems and trait affect. Only acceptance by friends and awareness showed significance on linear regression. Qualitative analyses revealed external attributions for discomfort.

Conclusions:

Modifying external factors, reducing legal restrictions and improving societal acceptance and support systems could reduce ‘ego-dystonicity’. ‘Ego-dystonicity’ as a determinant for psychiatric classification and intervention needs to be reexamined.
Thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites based on a cashew nut shell liquid matrix reinforced with bamboo fibers
Authors: Júnior AE Costa , Barreto ACH , Rosa DS , Maia FJN , Lomonaco D , Mazzetto SE
Published: July 2014

Cardanol–formaldehyde thermoset resin was reinforced with raw and chemically modified fibers of bamboo ( Bambusoideae). Modified fibers were treated with alkali solutions of NaOH (5% and 10%) and bleached with sodium hypochlorite NaClO/H2O (1:1) at 60℃–75℃. The biocomposites were fabricated with a hand lay-up technique. This study investigated the fibers microstructure before and after alkali treatment, as the interaction between matrix and reinforce by scanning electron microscopy. The Fourier transform infrared spectra allowed the identification of characteristic stretching frequencies attributed to the methyl groups of lignin. A considerable increase in thermal stability was observed in the materials studied, which was verified by thermogravimetric analysis and confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The tensile tests showed that the mechanical properties (tensile modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break) of bamboo fibers improved after alkali treatment, as well as the increase in the biodegradation in simulated soil, showing that the alkaline treatment acted removing the macro components of the fibers (lignin and hemicellose), making them more susceptible to the action of microorganisms.
An Analysis of a White Preservice Teacher’s Reflections on Race and Young Children Within an Urban School Context
Authors: Jackson Tambra O. , Bryan Michelle L. , Larkin Melissa L.
Published: July 2014

Building upon research that theorizes and documents students’ perceptions of race, racial attitudes, and treatment by teachers, this article explores the impact of resegregation on how children of Color see and experience race in schools, specifically in relation to their teachers. Drawing upon our interpretations of a White preservice teacher’s interactions with two African American elementary students, the students’ awareness of her race, and their subsequent “racialized” perceptions of her effectiveness as a teacher, we explore the domino effects of racial and economic segregation on young children’s schooling experiences, particularly as they relate to their relationships with teachers.
Linking the subcultures of physics: Virtual empiricism and the bonding role of trust
Authors: Reyes-Galindo Luis
Published: July 2014

This article draws on empirical material concerning the communication and use of knowledge in experimental physics and its relations to the culture of theoretical physics. The role that trust plays in these interactions is used to create a model of social distance between interacting theoretical and experimental cultures. This article thus seeks to reintroduce trust as a fundamental element in answering the problem of disunity in the sociology of knowledge.
Initial validation of the support mobilization for work stressors inventory
Authors: Lawrence Sandra A , Jordan Peter J , Callan Victor J
Published: July 2014

Although there has been significant research into coping with work stress, support mobilization has been largely overlooked. When workplace stressors adversely influence employees, they often turn to colleagues and supervisors for feedback and support. This article outlines the development of a new multidimensional measure of support mobilization: the Support Mobilization for Work Stressors (SMWS) inventory. Two studies revealed that the SMWS inventory shows evidence of reliability, factor structure dimensionality and replication across samples, convergent and discriminant validity with a perceived available support measure, and criterion-related validity with organizational outcomes. The 12-item inventory is rated with reference to three sources of support (supervisor, colleagues, non-work people), and assesses how often an employee has approached each of those sources to obtain four supportive functions (emotional, informational, instrumental, appraisal); thus producing 12 distinct support mobilization constructs.
Electro-elastic constants calculation of active piezoelectric damping composites by finite element method
Authors: Sun Yang , Li Zhaohui , Li Qihu
Published: July 2014

Currently, the active piezoelectric damping composites (APDC) with obliquely embedded piezoelectric rods have been considered as an effective means for controlling vibration and noise. How to model the unit cell of APDC with orientation angle between 0° and 90° that meets the theoretical restrictions and assumptions using finite element method (FEM) is a difficult problem that needs to be solved. In this paper, an alternative method to model the unit cell of APDC is proposed to overcome that difficulty. The effects of the orientation angle and the volume fraction of piezoelectric phase on the studied constants [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], e33, e34 and the electromechanical coupling coefficients are analyzed and some special and useful conclusions are summarized. The simulation results show good agreement with the theoretical and experimental results, which confirms the validity of the proposed alternative finite element method in modeling and analyzing the APDC.