bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of a high-resolution genetic linkage map and comparative genome analysis for the reef-building coral Acropora millepora
Authors: Wang Shi , Zhang Lingling , Meyer Eli , Matz Mikhail V
Published: November 2009

Background

Worldwide, coral reefs are in decline due to a range of anthropogenic disturbances, and are now also under threat from global climate change. Virtually nothing is currently known about the genetic factors that might determine whether corals adapt to the changing climate or continue to decline. Quantitative genetics studies aiming to identify the adaptively important genomic loci will require a high-resolution genetic linkage map. The phylogenetic position of corals also suggests important applications for a coral genetic map in studies of ancestral metazoan genome architecture.

Results

We constructed a high-resolution genetic linkage map for the reef-building coral Acropora millepora, the first genetic map reported for any coral, or any non-Bilaterian animal. More than 500 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed, most of which are transferable in populations from Orpheus Island and Great Keppel Island. The map contains 429 markers (393 gene-based SNPs and 36 microsatellites) distributed in 14 linkage groups, and spans 1,493 cM with an average marker interval of 3.4 cM. Sex differences in recombination were observed in a few linkage groups, which may be caused by haploid selection. Comparison of the coral map with other metazoan genomes (human, nematode, fly, anemone and placozoan) revealed synteny regions.

Conclusions

Our study develops a framework that will be essential for future studies of adaptation in coral and it also provides an important resource for future genome sequence assembly and for comparative genomics studies on the evolution of metazoan genome structure.
Genomic transcriptional profiling identifies a candidate blood biomarker signature for the diagnosis of septicemic melioidosis
Authors: Pankla Rungnapa , Buddhisa Surachat , Berry Matthew , Blankenship Derek M , Bancroft Gregory J , Banchereau Jacques , Lertmemongkolchai Ganjana , Chaussabel Damien
Published: November 2009

Background

Melioidosis is a severe infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a Gram-negative bacillus classified by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) as a category B priority agent. Septicemia is the most common presentation of the disease with a 40% mortality rate even with appropriate treatments. Better diagnostic tests are therefore needed to improve therapeutic efficacy and survival rates.

Results

We have used microarray technology to generate genome-wide transcriptional profiles (>48,000 transcripts) from the whole blood of patients with septicemic melioidosis (n = 32), patients with sepsis caused by other pathogens (n = 31), and uninfected controls (n = 29). Unsupervised analyses demonstrated the existence of a whole blood transcriptional signature distinguishing patients with sepsis from control subjects. The majority of changes observed were common to both septicemic melioidosis and sepsis caused by other infections, including genes related to inflammation, interferon-related genes, neutrophils, cytotoxic cells, and T-cells. Finally, class prediction analysis identified a 37 transcript candidate diagnostic signature that distinguished melioidosis from sepsis caused by other organisms with 100% accuracy in a training set. This finding was confirmed in 2 independent validation sets, which gave high prediction accuracies of 78% and 80%, respectively. This signature was significantly enriched in genes coding for products involved in the MHC class II antigen processing and presentation pathway.

Conclusions

Blood transcriptional patterns distinguish patients with septicemic melioidosis from patients with sepsis caused by other pathogens. Once confirmed in a large scale trial this diagnostic signature might constitute the basis of a differential diagnostic assay.
Conjugated Equine Estrogen Influence on Mammographic Density in Postmenopausal Women in a Substudy of the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Trial
Authors: McTiernan Anne , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Martin Christopher , Peck Jennifer David , Aragaki Aaron , Pisano Etta D. , Wang C.Y. , Johnson Karen C. , Manson JoAnn E. , Wallace Robert B. , Vitolins Mara Z. , Heiss Gerardo
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Increased mammographic density is associated with increased breast cancer risk and reduced sensitivity of screening mammography and is related to hormone exposure. However, the effects of conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs) alone on mammographic density in diverse racial/ethnic populations are not established. We examined the effect of CEE alone on mammographic density in a subsample of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial participants.

Patients and Methods

In the WHI trial, women were randomly assigned to daily CEE 0.625 mg or placebo. The effect of CEE on mammographic percent density was determined over 1 and 2 years in a stratified random sample of 435 racially and ethnically diverse participants from 15 of 40 WHI clinics.

Results

Use of CEE resulted in mean increase in mammographic percent density of 1.6 percentage points (95% CI, 0.8 to 2.4) at year 1 compared with a mean decrease of 1.0 percentage point (95% CI, −1.7 to −0.4) in the placebo group (P < .001). The effect persisted for 2 years, with a mean increase of 1.7 percentage points (95% CI, 0.7 to 2.7) versus a mean decrease of 1.2 percentage points (95% CI, −1.8 to −0.5; P < .001) in the hormone and placebo groups, respectively. These effects were greater in women age 60 to 79 years (P = .03 for interaction across age).

Conclusion

Use of CEE results in a modest but statistically significant increase in mammographic density that is sustained over at least a 2-year period. The clinical significance of the CEE effect on mammographic density remains to be determined.
Effective Strategies for Management of Hypertension After Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling Inhibition Therapy: Results From a Phase II Randomized, Factorial, Double-Blind Study of Cediranib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Langenberg Marlies H.G. , van Herpen Carla M.L. , De Bono Johann , Schellens Jan H.M. , Unger Clemens , Hoekman Klaas , Blum Hubert E. , Fiedler Walter , Drevs Joachim , Le Maulf Florence , Fielding Anitra , Robertson Jane , Voest Emile E.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Hypertension is a commonly reported adverse effect after administration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Cediranib is a highly potent and selective VEGF signaling inhibitor of all three VEGFRs. This study prospectively investigated hypertension management to help minimize dose interruptions/reductions to maximize cediranib dose intensity.

Patients and Methods

Patients (n = 126) with advanced solid tumors were randomly assigned to one of four groups: cediranib 30 or 45 mg/d with or without antihypertensive prophylaxis. All patients developing hypertension on cediranib treatment were treated with a standardized, predefined hypertension management protocol.

Results

Cediranib was generally well tolerated, and all groups achieved high-dose intensities in the first 12 weeks (> 74% in all groups). Antihypertensive prophylaxis did not result in fewer dose reductions or interruptions. Increases in blood pressure, including moderate and severe readings of hypertension, were seen early in treatment in all groups and successfully managed. Severe hypertension occurred in one patient receiving prophylaxis versus 18 in the nonprophylaxis groups. Overall, there were nine partial responses, and 38 patients experienced stable disease ≥ 8 weeks.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first prospective investigation of hypertension management during administration of a VEGF signaling inhibitor. All four regimens were well tolerated with high-dose intensities and no strategy was clearly superior. The current cediranib hypertension management protocol appears to be effective in managing hypertension compared with previous cediranib studies where no plan was in place, and early recognition and treatment of hypertension is likely to reduce the number of severe hypertension events. This protocol is included in all ongoing cediranib clinical studies.
Nodal Staging Score: A Tool to Assess Adequate Staging of Node-Negative Colon Cancer
Authors: Gönen Mithat , Schrag Deborah , Weiser Martin R.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Adequate nodal staging of colon cancer has been defined as pathologic examination of at least 12 lymph nodes. We sought to refine this definition by quantifying the likelihood that a pathologically node-negative patient has, indeed, no positive nodes.

Patients and Methods

Patients with stage I-III adenocarcinoma of the colon between 1994 and 2005 and had at least one lymph node pathologically examined were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (n = 131,953). We estimated the sensitivity of the pathologic staging of locoregional spread using a beta-binomial model and developed the nodal staging score (NSS), which is the probability that a patient is correctly staged as node negative. NSS is a function of T stage and the number of examined nodes.

Results

The probability of missing a positive node that is in fact truly present is 29.7% if five nodes are examined, 20.0% if eight are examined, and drops to 13.6% for 12 nodes are examined. An NSS of 90% can be achieved by examining a single node for T1 and four nodes for T2 tumors. To maintain similar levels of NSS for T3, 13 nodes need to be examined and for T4 lesions, 21 nodes need to be examined. Graphical and tabular tools are provided to facilitate calculation of NSS and treatment decision making in practice.

Conclusion

The minimum number of examined nodes for adequate staging depends on the T stage. The score we developed indicates the adequacy of nodal staging for patients with no positive nodes and can assist clinical decision making in the patient without nodal metastasis.
Improved centrifugal compressor impeller optimization with a radial basis function network and principle component analysis
Authors: Ma Y , Engeda A , Cave M , Liberti J-L Di
Published: November 2009

The development of a fast and reliable computer-aided design and optimization procedure for centrifugal compressors has attracted a great deal of attention both in the industry and in academia. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been widely used to create an approximate performance map to substitute the direct application of flow solvers in the optimization procedure. Although ANNs greatly decrease the computational time for the optimization, their accuracies still limit their applications. Furthermore, ANNs also bring errors to the final results. In this study, principal component analysis (PCA) or independent component analysis (ICA) is applied to transform the training database and make a radial basis function network (RBFN), a type of ANN, trained in a new coordinate system. The present study compares the accuracies of three different trained ANNs: RBFN, RBFN with PCA, and RBFN with ICA. Furthermore, the total performances of the centrifugal compressor impeller optimization procedures using these three different trained ANNs are compared. Genetic algorithm (GA) is used as an optimization method in the optimization procedure and influences of GA parameters on the optimization procedure performances are also studied. All results demonstrate that the application of PCA significantly increases the accuracy of trained ANN as well as the total performance of the centrifugal compressor impeller optimization procedure.
An investigation into machine pattern recognition based on time-frequency image feature extraction using a support vector machine
Authors: Li H , Zhou P , Zhang Z
Published: November 2009

In this article, a new method of pattern recognition for machine working conditions is presented that is based on time-frequency image (TFI) feature extraction and support vector machines (SVMs). In this study, the Hilbert time-frequency spectrum (HTFS) is used to construct TFIs because of its good performance in non-stationary and non-linear signal analysis. Cyclostationarity signal analysis is a pre-processing method for improving the performance of the HTFS in the construction of TFIs. Feature extraction for TFIs is investigated in detail to construct a feature vector for pattern recognition. Gravity centre and information entropy of TFIs are used to construct the feature vector for pattern recognition. SVMs are used for different working conditions classification by the constructed feature vector because of its powerful performance even for small samples. In the end, rolling bearing pattern recognition is used as an example to testify the effectiveness of this method. According to the result analysis, it can be concluded that this method will contribute to the development of preventative maintenance.
Fibre laser cutting: Beam absorption characteristics and gas-free remote cutting
Authors: Mahrle A , Lütke M , Beyer E
Published: November 2009

Laser cutting is still the most common industrial application of CO 2 laser systems but currently available high-power fibre lasers seem to be an attractive alternative to the established CO 2 laser sources for several cutting tasks. Practical experience has shown that fibre lasers enable significantly increased travel rates in the case of inert-gas fusion cutting. This advantage in achieving higher cutting speeds in comparison to CO 2 laser cutting is however a clear function of the sheet thickness to be cut. In the first part of this article, possible reasons for this experimental fact are derived from a thermodynamic analysis of the process with consideration of the specific beam absorption characteristics under cutting conditions. After that, in the second part, a quite new laser cutting variant, namely the gas-free remote cutting process that considerably benefits from the high beam quality of fibre laser systems, is presented.
Vibration-based fault diagnosis of slurry pump impellers using neighbourhood rough set models
Authors: Zhao X M , Hu Q H , Lei Y G , Zuo M J
Published: November 2009

Rough set models have been widely used as a method for feature selection in fault diagnosis. A neighbourhood rough set model can deal with both nominal and numerical features, but selecting the neighbourhood size for its application may be a challenge. In this article, the authors illustrate that using a common neighbourhood size for all features may overestimate or underestimate a feature's dependency degree. The neighbourhood rough set model is then modified by setting different neighbourhood sizes for different features. The modified model is applied to the fault diagnosis of slurry pump impellers. Results show that the chosen feature subsets generated by the modified neighbourhood rough set model can be physically explained by the corresponding flow patterns and can achieve higher classification accuracy than the raw feature subsets and the feature subsets generated by the original neighbourhood rough set model.
The pulsatile flow of Oldroyd-B fluid in a multi-stenosis artery with a time-dependent wall
Authors: Javadzadegan A , Fakhimghanbarzadeh B
Published: November 2009

In this study, the fundamental problem of unsteady blood flow in a tube with multi-stenosis is studied. An appropriate shape of the time-dependent multi-stenosis which is overlapping in the realm of formation of arterial narrowing is constructed mathematically. Blood is considered as a viscoelastic fluid characterized by the Oldroyd-B model. For the numerical solution of the problem, which is described by a coupled, non-linear system of partial differential equations (PDEs), with appropriate boundary conditions, the finite difference scheme is adopted. The solution is obtained by the development of an efficient numerical methodology based on the predictor—corrector method. The effects of parameters such as pulsatility, non-Newtonian properties and the flow time on the velocity components, the rate of flow, and the wall shear stress are investigated through their graphical representations quantitatively at the end of the paper in order to validate the applicability of the present improved mathematical model under consideration.
Aperture-domain processing and its applications in ultrasound imaging: A review
Authors: Wang S-L , Li P-C
Published: November 2009

This paper provides a review of advanced algorithms for ultrasound image formation and signal processing that are based on aperture-domain data (i.e. the data recorded by individual channels prior to beam summation). First aperture-domain data are defined and their properties described, then two specific examples of phase-aberration correction and vector velocity estimation are presented. For phase-aberration correction, sidelobe-reduction techniques based on the coherence of the received aperture-domain data were tested with clinical breast data; the mean improvements in the contrast and contrast-to-noise ratios were 6.9 dB and 23.2 per cent, respectively. For flow estimation, a conventional scanner can only estimate the flow velocity parallel to the beam axis. The proposed flow estimation technique uses aperture-domain data for two-dimensional flow-velocity estimation. The experimental results demonstrate that the estimation errors for the proposed technique are 2.18 per cent and 18.11 per cent in the axial and lateral velocity components, respectively. Other applications in which aperture-domain data can be used are also discussed.
A tutorial on ultrasonic physics and imaging techniques
Authors: Halliwell M
Published: November 2009

Ultrasound is a widely used modality for both therapy and diagnosis in medicine and biology. Currently, in the field of medical diagnosis, ultrasound is responsible for about one in five of all diagnostic images. The physical characteristics of medical ultrasound, along with its behaviour as it interacts with biological tissues, are described in this tutorial. The role of ultrasound in therapeutic and diagnostic applications is briefly described. In view of the importance of ultrasound as a medical imaging modality, the basic technological building blocks utilized in diagnostic ultrasound scanners are also described. Many of these topics are the subjects of other papers in this special issue where they are dealt with in more detail.
A nanometre-scale fibre-to-matrix interface characterization of an ultrasonically consolidated metal matrix composite
Authors: Friel R J , Harris R A
Published: November 2009

Future ‘smart’ structures have the potential to revolutionize many engineering applications. One of the possible methods for creating smart structures is through the use of shape memory alloy (SMA) fibres embedded into metal matrices. Ultrasonic consolidation (UC) allows the embedding of SMAs into metal matrices while retaining the SMA's intrinsic recoverable deformation property. In this work, NiTi SMA fibres were successfully embedded into an Al 3003 (0) matrix via the UC layer manufacturing process. Initially the plastic flow of the Al matrix and the degree of fibre encapsulation were observed using optical microscopy. Then microstructural grain and sub-grain size variation of the Al 3003 (0) matrix at the fibre—matrix interface, and the nature of the fibre—matrix bonding mechanism, were studied via the use of focused ion beam (FIB) cross-sectioning, FIB imaging, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical peel testing. The results show that the inclusion of the NiTi SMA fibres had a significant effect on the surrounding Al matrix microstructure during the UC process. Additionally, the fibre—matrix bonding mechanism appeared to be mechanical entrapment with the SMA surface showing signs of fatigue from the UC embedding process.
The effect of single and double austenitization temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and pitting corrosion of AISI 431 electron beam welds
Authors: Rajasekhar A , Madhusudhan Reddy G
Published: November 2009

The relative effects of single austenitization (SA) and double austenitization (DA) temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and pitting corrosion of electron beam welds of AISI 431 martensitic stainless steel were studied. The post weld heat treatments consist of austenitizing the weld samples for 1h at 1000 and 1050°C and double austenitizing at 1050 and 1000°C and air cooling followed by double tempering, i.e. tempering at both 670 and 600°C. The prior austenite grain size increased with an increase in austenitizing temperature from 1000 to 1050°C. Grain refinement resulted after DA. Parent metal grain size was coarser as compared to grain size in the weld zone in the respective conditions. Retained austenite content increased after DA. Undissolved carbides were observed in welds and parent metal austenitized up to 1000°C and they dissolved at austenitizing temperature1050°C. DA treatment resulted in the dissolution of most of the carbides. Coarsening of martensite laths was observed after tempering. DA after double tempering resulted in optimum mechanical properties, i.e. strength, hardness, and toughness. The pitting resistance of the DA-treated samples showed a considerable improvement over those obtained by either of the two SA treatments followed by double tempered conditions.
Molecular Theory Including Quantum Effects and Thermal Fluctuations
Authors: Shigeta Yasuteru
Published: November 2009

Recent progress in our theoretical developments and applications where thermal fluctuations and quantum effects are important are reviewed. We first show that motions of a confined atom coupled with a fullerene cage cause large thermal fluctuation of the effective charge on the confined atom and that the fluctuation is sensitive to applied temperature and the number of confined species. Second, two different approaches to treat nuclear quantum effects are discussed. One is non-Born–Oppenheimer (NBO) molecular theory, which is one of an extension of molecular orbital theory for electrons to nuclear motions. This method is suitable to describe static and stationary nuclear (vibrational) states so we apply this method to obtain vibrationally coupled electron density of a protonatable amino acid. We compare the obtained electron density through NBO treatment with conventional calculations. The other approach is referred as to quantum cumulant dynamics (QCD), which is a generalization of quantized Hamiltonian dynamics initially proposed by Prezhdo. This method is applied to vibrational analyses. The ordinary normal mode analysis (NMA) is extended to include quantum degrees of freedom based on QCD formalism, which gives a better description of the vibrational state, where ordinary NMA gives incorrect results. Vibrational frequencies of small molecules by the QCD simulation are compared with those by classical molecular dynamics (MD). It is found that QCD is superior to classical MD in that the results obtained by QCD are in good agreement with those by full quantum treatment. Finally the theoretical background of a real-space grid-based time-dependent density functional theory (RSTDDFT) is explained. This method is applied to solve a NBO problem by using an imaginary time propagator and electron dynamics driven by an off-resonant circularly polarized laser plus in addition to using a real time propagator. For the latter case, we investigate atom-centered dipole moment and induced current and detect the electronic fluctuation in a SiH4 molecule after irradiation.
Theoretical Investigations on How to Reproduce d–π Bonds: Transition-Metal Cation–Benzene Complex Calculations
Authors: Tsuneda Takao , Hirosawa Tsuyoshi , Nakatsuka Yutaka , Hirao Kimihiko
Published: November 2009

Reproducibilities of d–π bonds were investigated on calculating complexes of first-row transition-metal cation (M+) and benzene (Bz). Calculations were carried out for half-sandwich MBz+ and sandwich MBz2+ complexes with several types of density functional theories (DFTs) and single-configurational wave function theories (WFTs). As a result, it was concluded that electron correlations are required to give the binding energies of d–π bonds even qualitatively, and DFTs would reproduce d–π bonds with quantitative accuracies only if electron correlations and long-range exchange interactions were both taken into consideration in exchange-correlation functionals used. In MBz+ calculations, WFTs fairly underestimated the binding energies for early transition metals (M = Sc–Cr) because of multiconfigurational effects. In contrast, DFTs overestimated them for late transition metals (M = Fe–Cu) due to insufficient long-range interactions in exchange functionals. For MBz2+, DFTs and WFTs gave similar binding energies for MBz2+, although WFTs slightly overestimated them for late transition metals. Furthermore, it was suggested that the experimental binding energies of CrBz2+ and MnBz2+ are probably misestimated.
The Single- and Double-Strand Cleavage of DNA by a Cationic Dicobalt Complex by Visible Light
Authors: Shimakoshi Hisashi , Kaieda Takeshi , Hisaeda Yoshio
Published: November 2009

A one-pot synthesis of a new polycationic organo–dicobalt complex having dual cationic alkyl groups as radical sources is reported. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, 1H NMR, IR, and CSI-mass spectroscopies. CSI-MS afforded intact parent ion peak with labile cobalt–carbon bonds in the complex. The complex was photosensitive, and photocleavage of the cobalt–carbon bonds upon irradiation with visible light produced dual cationic carbon-centered radicals that were detected by EPR spin-trapping. Strong binding of the dicobalt complex with six cationic moieties toward DNA was confirmed by ethidium bromide displacement assays with Kapp = 3.2 × 107 M−1 at 298 K, the value was 100 times that of corresponding monocobalt complex with Kapp = 3.3 × 105 M−1. The dicobalt complex exhibited high ability for single- and double-strand DNA cleavage in comparison with that for the corresponding monocobalt complex under irradiation with visible light.
Structural Relationships among Methyl-, Dimethyl-, and Trimethylammonium Phosphododecatungstates
Authors: Busbongthong Suntharee , Ozeki Tomoji
Published: November 2009

Crystals of (CH3NH3)3[PW12O40]·2H2O (1), [(CH3)2NH2]3[PW12O40] (2), and [(CH3)3NH]3[PW12O40] (3) exhibit a similar packing of cations and anions, although they crystallize into different space group types, namely, and , respectively. Their structures were interpreted in terms of supergroup–subgroup relationships, revealing that the basic arrangements of cations and anions are primarily dominated by electrostatic interactions on which hydrogen bonds exert influences.
Preparation and Structures of New Azobenzene Derivatives with a 3-Guaiazulenylvinyl Group
Authors: Takekuma Shin-ichi , Fukuda Kenji , Minematsu Toshie , Takekuma Hideko
Published: November 2009

Wittig reactions of (E)-4-(4-methoxyphenyldiazenyl)benzaldehyde and (E)-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyldiazenyl]benzaldehyde with (3-guaiazulenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide in ethanol in the presence of sodium ethoxide at 25 °C for 24 h under argon give only E forms (E)-4-{(E)-4-[2-(3-guaiazulenyl)vinyl]phenyldiazenyl}methoxybenzene and (E)-N,N-dimethyl-4-{(E)-4-[2-(3-guaiazulenyl)vinyl]phenyldiazenyl}aniline in 71 and 73% yields. Comparative studies on spectroscopic properties and crystal structures of the two new extended π-electron systems with those of structurally related (and delocalized) π-electron systems (3-guaiazulenyl)[(E)-4-(4-methoxyphenyldiazenyl)phenyl]methylium ion and {(E)-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyldiazenyl]phenyl}(3-guaiazulenyl)methylium ion compounds are reported. Similarly, Wittig reaction of (E)-diphenyldiazene-4,4′-dicarbaldehyde with the same reagent under the same reaction conditions as the above affords only E forms (E)-4-{(E)-4-[2-(3-guaiazulenyl)vinyl]phenyldiazenyl}benzaldehyde and (E)-bis{(E)-4-[2-(3-guaiazulenyl)vinyl]phenyl}diazene in 7 and 24% yields. Furthermore, reaction of guaiazulene (=7-isopropyl-1,4-dimethylazulene) with (E)-diphenyldiazene-4,4′-dicarbaldehyde in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 30 min provides (E)-diphenyldiazene-4,4′-bis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) in 46% yield which upon reduction with NaBH4 in a mixed solvent of ethanol and acetonitrile at 25 °C for 30 min gives (E)-bis[4-(3-guaiazulenylmethyl)phenyl]diazene in 88% yield. Comparative studies of spectroscopic properties of a new extended π-electron system (E)-bis{(E)-4-[2-(3-guaiazulenyl)vinyl]phenyl}diazene with those of a new delocalized π-electron system (E)-diphenyldiazene-4,4′-bis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) are documented.
Radical Addition of Polyhaloalkanes to 2-Ethynyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane
Authors: Wada Tatsuya , Sumida Yuto , Kondoh Azusa , Yorimitsu Hideki , Oshima Koichiro
Published: November 2009

Radical addition of bromotrichloromethane to 2-ethynyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane takes place in the presence of a radical initiator in refluxing benzene. Perfluoroalkyl iodides undergo similar addition reactions. The addition reactions proceed in an anti fashion. The corresponding 1-halo-1-alkenylboronic esters are useful intermediates that undergo cross-coupling reactions.
Practice Abstracts
Authors: Denton Brian T.
Published: November 2009

The goal of “Practice Abstracts” is to present interesting, topical, and novel applications of operations research methodology to a wide range of industrial applications. “Practice Abstracts” are intended to provide Interfaces readers with short (2–4 page) descriptions of the most relevant aspects of operations research-based projects, in a form that is accessible to academics and practitioners in other organizations. Contributions should be sent for evaluation to the editor of “Practice Abstracts,” Brian T. Denton, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 376 Daniels Hall, North Carolina State University, 111 Lampe Drive, Campus Box 7906, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 (bdenton@ncsu.edu).
Book Reviews
Authors: Lev Benjamin
Published: November 2009

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. However, we do not review software. To submit a book for review, please send it to me at the above address. Although we cannot review all books because of space limitations, we do list all books that we receive. We commission all book reviews and do not accept unsolicited reviews. To become a reviewer, please send me your name, address, and specific areas of expertise. We encourage readers to suggest books for review or to ask publishers to send copies of such books.

The authors or editors of books we review in this issue are Bruce Golden, S. Raghavan, Edward Wasil, Stephen G. Powell, Robert J. Batt, and Berend Wierenga.
Location Theory Helps Solve a Double-Vision Problem
Authors: Francis Richard L.
Published: November 2009

Some basic concepts in location theory prove useful in solving a double-vision problem that involves a time-of-day effect. The p-median, p-center, and covering location models provide various options for solving such a problem.
LaSe1.85, CeSe1.83, NdSe1.83 and SmSe1.84 – four new rare earth metal polyselenides with incommensurate site occupancy and displacive modulation
Authors: Graf Christian , Doert Thomas
Published: November 2009

Crystals of the four new binary rare earth metal polyselenides LaSe1.85, CeSe1.83, NdSe1.83 and SmSe1.84 were obtained by flux reactions. Their two-dimensionally incommensurately modulated structures were solved from X-ray diffraction data. Structure models were established in super space group X4/n(–αβ0)(βα0)00 with modulation wave vectors
q

1 = –α

a
* + β

b
* and
q

2 = β

a
* + α

b
* and the centering vector (0, 0, 1/2, 1/2, 1/2). The unit cell parameters at T = 293 K are a = 4.216(1) Å and c = 17.048(2) Å for LaSe1.85, a = 4.178(1) Å and c = 16.942(3) Å for CeSe1.83, a = 4.123(1) Å and c = 16.792(2) Å for NdSe1.83 and a = 4.080(1) Å and c = 16.672(2) Å for SmSe1.84; the components of the modulation wave vectors are α = β = 0.292(1) for LaSe1.85 and CeSe1.83, and α = β = 0.293(1) for NdSe1.83 and SmSe1.84, respectively. The modulation originates from a site occupancy wave caused by defects in planar selenium layers coupled to a displacive modulation.
Involvement of the SLIT/ROBO pathway in follicle development in the fetal ovary
Authors: Dickinson Rachel E , Hryhorskyj Lynn , Tremewan Hannah , Hogg Kirsten , Thomson Axel A , McNeilly Alan S , Duncan W Colin
Published: November 2009

In humans and domestic mammals, pivotal processes in ovary development, including primordial follicle assembly, occur prenatally. These events are essential for determining fertility in adult life; however, they remain poorly understood at the mechanistic level. In mammals, the SLITs (SLIT1, SLIT2 and SLIT3) and their ROBO (ROBO1, ROBO2, ROBO3/RIG-1 and ROBO4/MAGIC ROBO) receptors regulate neural, leukocyte, vascular smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell migration. In addition, the SLIT/ROBO pathway has functional roles in embryonic development and in the adult ovary by inhibiting cell migration and promoting apoptosis. We therefore characterised follicle formation and investigated the expression and localisation of the ROBO/SLIT pathway in the ovine fetal ovary. Using RT-PCR, we identifiedSLIT2,SLIT3,ROBO1,ROBO2andROBO4in sheep ovaries harvested across gestation. The real-time quantitative PCR results implied thatROBO2expression andROBO4expression were elevated during the early stages of follicle formation and stayed abundant during primordial follicle maturation (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry examination demonstrated that ROBO1 was localised to the pre-granulosa cells, while ROBO2, ROBO4 and SLIT2 were expressed in the oocytes of the developing primordial follicle. This indicates that in the fetal ovary, SLIT–ROBO signalling may require an autocrine and paracrine interaction. Furthermore, at the time of increased SLIT–ROBO expression, there was a significant reduction in the number of proliferating oocytes in the developing ovary (P<0.0001). Overall, these results suggest, for the first time, that the SLIT–ROBO pathway is expressed at the time of follicle formation during fetal ovary development.
Caenorhabditis elegans unc-82 Encodes a Serine/Threonine Kinase Important for Myosin Filament Organization in Muscle During Growth
Authors: Hoppe Pamela E , Chau Johnnie , Flanagan Kelly A , Reedy April R , Schriefer Lawrence A
Published: November 2009

Mutations in the unc-82 locus of Caenorhabditis elegans were previously identified by screening for disrupted muscle cytoskeleton in otherwise apparently normal mutagenized animals. Here we demonstrate that the locus encodes a serine/threonine kinase orthologous to human ARK5/SNARK (NUAK1/NUAK2) and related to the PAR-1 and SNF1/AMP-Activated kinase (AMPK) families. The predicted 1600-amino-acid polypeptide contains an N-terminal catalytic domain and noncomplex repetitive sequence in the remainder of the molecule. Phenotypic analyses indicate that unc-82 is required for maintaining the organization of myosin filaments and internal components of the M-line during cell-shape changes. Mutants exhibit normal patterning of cytoskeletal elements during early embryogenesis. Defects in localization of thick filament and M-line components arise during embryonic elongation and become progressively more severe as development proceeds. The phenotype is independent of contractile activity, consistent with unc-82 mutations preventing proper cytoskeletal reorganization during growth, rather than undermining structural integrity of the M-line. This is the first report establishing a role for the UNC-82/ARK5/SNARK kinases in normal development. We propose that activation of UNC-82 kinase during cell elongation regulates thick filament attachment or growth, perhaps through phosphorylation of myosin and paramyosin. We speculate that regulation of myosin is an ancestral characteristic of kinases in this region of the kinome.
A Genetic Analysis of Mortality in Pigs
Authors: Varona Luis , Sorensen Daniel
Published: November 2009

An analysis of mortality is undertaken in two breeds of pigs: Danish Landrace and Yorkshire. Zero-inflated and standard versions of hierarchical Poisson, binomial, and negative binomial Bayesian models were fitted using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The objectives of the study were to investigate whether there is support for genetic variation for mortality and to study the quality of fit and predictive properties of the various models. In both breeds, the model that provided the best fit to the data was the standard binomial hierarchical model. The model that performed best in terms of the ability to predict the distribution of stillbirths was the hierarchical zero-inflated negative binomial model. The best fit of the binomial hierarchical model and of the zero-inflated hierarchical negative binomial model was obtained when genetic variation was included as a parameter. For the hierarchical binomial model, the estimate of the posterior mean of the additive genetic variance (posterior standard deviation in brackets) at the level of the logit of the probability of a stillbirth was 0.173(0.039) in Landrace and 0.202(0.048) in Yorkshire. The implications of these results from a breeding perspective are briefly discussed.
Day Case Cleft Lip Surgery in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Ugburo A. O. , Desalu I. , Adekola A. F. , Fadeyibi I. O.
Published: November 2009

Background:

The correction of cleft lip deformity has included overnight admission and postoperative ward admission from 5 to 7 days. In developing countries, increasing cost of treatment and medical insurance and shortage of bed space have led to a reduction in the length of hospitalization or its elimination for some cases of surgery.

Objective:

To assess the feasibility and complications associated with day case cleft lip surgery in our center.

Methods:

A prospective study of patients undergoing day case cleft lip repair at three hospitals from 1995 to 2005.

Results:

A total of 43 patients were seen. Twenty seven (63.8%) were treated as day case, and 16 (37.2%) were operated as inpatients. The mean age for patients treated as day case was 1.32 ± 1.45 years. Fifteen (55.6%) of these patients had severe associated nasal deformities, six (22.2%) had moderate nasal deformity, and four (14.83%) had mild nasal deformity. The only complication was a nasovestibular fistula that occurred in one of the day case patients. From 27 patients operated on as day cases, eight calls were received. Two (7.4%) mothers called to report febrile illness in their children on the first postoperative day. Two mothers (7.4%) reported excessive crying. The most frequent reason for postoperative consultation was obstruction of the modified nasal retainer, which occurred in four patients (14.8%).

Conclusion:

Day case surgery for cleft lip can be said to be safe, with a 2.3% rate of complications in selected patients. Day case surgery was a cheaper alternative to admission.
The Surgical Repair of Macrostomia
Authors: Fadeyibi I. O. , Ugburo A. O. , Ogunbanjo C. V. , Ilombu C. A. , Ademiluyi S. A.
Published: November 2009

Background:

Many surgical techniques have been described for the repair of macrostomia. However, most were designed for the repair of unilateral macrostomia. Most reports of repairs involved small numbers of patients. This has not allowed for evaluation of complications and comparison of various techniques.

Objective:

This study describes a modification of an older technique designed for unilateral macrostomia. Details of the operative technique used for the repair are described, along with the principles underlying the various steps.

Materials and Methods:

This study involves 13 patients operated for macrostomia using the same surgical technique. The patients were seen at a recent screening and mass surgery exercise for patients with orofacial and craniofacial deformities.

Results:

Eleven patients had bilateral macrostomia; two had unilateral macrostomia. No anesthetic or surgical complications occurred in any of the patients. All patients tolerated the procedure well. Oral continence and acceptable facial symmetry were restored in all patients, with minimal scarring.
Registry- and Clinic-Based Analyses of Birth Defects and Syndromes Associated with Cleft Lip/Palate in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Tan Tiong Yang , Amor David J. , Riley Merilyn , Halliday Jane , Kilpatrick Nicky , Simms Katrina , White Susan M.
Published: November 2009

Objective:

To study the birth defects and syndromes associated with cleft lip and/or cleft palate in children born from 2000 through 2002 in Victoria, Australia, comparing data from the birth defects registry and detailed clinical assessment.

Design, Setting, and Participants:

Data recorded in the Victorian Birth Defects Register were retrieved for all children with cleft lip and/or palate born from 2000 through 2002. In parallel, a cohort of children with clefts was recruited from the two cleft centers in Victoria. Clinical data were collected using structured parental interview, clinical/dysmorphologic examination, and file review.

Results:

Victorian Birth Defects Register records of 312 children with cleft lip and/or palate were identified, and 53 children were recruited for the clinical study. The clinical study found a higher proportion of nonisolated clefts than were listed in the registry; this was largely due to the more detailed assessment, but some selection bias was possible. Poor growth and developmental delay were most likely to predict the presence of other birth defects or a syndrome diagnosis in a child with cleft lip and/or palate. The clinical study led to modifications to 16/53 (30.2%) of records in the Victorian Birth Defects Register.

Conclusions:

This study provides complementary registry- and clinic-based data on cleft lip and/or palate–associated malformations and syndrome diagnoses in Australian children and emphasizes the value of having a clinician experienced in dysmorphology involved in cleft services with ongoing reporting to the Victorian Birth Defects Register.
Infant Orthopedics and Facial Growth in Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate until Six Years of Age (Dutchcleft)
Authors: Bongaarts Catharina A. M. , Prahl-Andersen Birte , Bronkhorst Ewald M. , Prahl C. , Ongkosuwito Edwin M. , Borstlap Wilfred A. , Kuijpers-Jagtman Anne M.
Published: November 2009

Objective:

To evaluate longitudinally the effect of infant orthopedics (IO) on dentofacial cephalometric variables in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients from 4 to 6 years of age.

Design:

Prospective two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial in three cleft palate centers in The Netherlands (Dutchcleft trial).

Patients:

Fifty-four children with complete UCLP.

Interventions:

Patients were divided randomly into two groups. Half of the patients (IO+) had IO until surgical closure of the soft palate at the age of ±52 weeks; the other half (IO−) received no intervention.

Mean Outcome Measures:

Cephalometric values representing soft tissue, hard tissue, and dental structures, measured on lateral headfilms made at 4 and 6 years of age.

Results:

In the IO+ group, 21 patients were analyzed; in the IO− group, 20 patients were analyzed at age 4 and 22 at age 6. No differences were found between IO+ and IO−, except for two measurements: The interincisal angle was larger and the mentolabial angle was smaller in the IO+ group.

Conclusions:

For infants with UCLP whose surgical management included soft palate repair at 12 months and delayed hard palate closure, cephalometric outcomes at ages 4 and 6 provide no indication for the type of IO used in this study.
Dental Evaluation of Kabuki Syndrome Patients
Authors: Teixeira Camila Santos , Silva Claudia Renata Leite , Honjo Rachel Sayuri , Bertola Débora Romeo , Albano Lílian Maria José , Kim Chong Ae
Published: November 2009

Kabuki syndrome is a genetic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by mental retardation, growth deficiency, and peculiar face (i.e., long palpebral fissures, eversion of the lateral third of the lower eyelids, prominent ears, and broad and depressed nasal tip). Oral manifestations commonly observed in Kabuki syndrome may comprise cleft lip/palate, bifid tongue and uvula, malocclusion, and dental abnormalities. We evaluated the dental findings of eight patients with Kabuki syndrome. One presented cleft palate; three presented caries; and seven had missing teeth, with the upper lateral incisors and inferior central incisors being the most commonly absent. All missing teeth were permanent, and there was no alteration of dental chronology or morphology. Because most patients had mixed dentition, the presence or absence of primary teeth was assessed through the parents’ reports. One patient presented an absent upper canine, which had not been reported previously in the literature. Dental findings may be helpful for clinical diagnosis, or they may be an additional finding to substantiate the diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome in children with mild phenotype.
Repaired Cleft Palate and Ventilation Tubes and Their Associations with Cholesteatoma in Children and Adults
Authors: Reiter Rudolf , Haase Stephan , Brosch Sibylle
Published: November 2009

Objective:

To determine the influence of ventilation tubes (VTs) on the formation of cholesteatoma and hearing in operated cleft palate patients with chronic ear problems.

Design:

Retrospective 72-month follow-up of 116 operated cleft palate patients.

Patients and Interventions:

Demographic data, clinical examination, and hearing were evaluated. The patients were divided according to age and type of cleft and subdivided in a subgroup with (VT+) or without ventilation tube (VT−).

Main Outcome Measures:

The effect of ventilation tubes (VT) on the incidence of cholesteatoma formation and degree of hearing loss in operated cleft palate patients with chronic ear problems.

Results:

The overall incidence of cholesteatoma was 15.5% (VT+, 14.0%; VT−, 16.7%; not significant). Bilateral hearing loss of >20 dB remained in 14.0% of the VT+ patients and in 22.7% of the VT− patients (p < .05). Submucous cleft palate (SM CP) adults (n  =  15) developed high rates of cholesteatoma and hearing loss of >20 dB (both 26.7%).

Conclusions:

Tube insertion had no influence on the development of cholesteatoma. Adults with submucous cleft palate especially require periodic otologic evaluation because they have Eustachian tube–related otologic disease and hearing loss at a higher rate than expected.
Optical Reconstruction of Computer-Generated Holograms
Authors: Yaroslavsky Leonid , Astola Jaakko
Published: November 2009

Computer-generated holograms are used as optical elements in optical setups. This chapter
analyses how methods of generating, encoding and recording computer-generated hologram affect the
results of their optical reconstruction.
Computer-Generated Holograms and 3D Visual Communication
Authors: Yaroslavsky Leonid , Astola Jaakko
Published: November 2009

This chapter is devoted to synthesis and application of computer-generated display
holograms for 3D visualization and communication. It introduces a computer generated hologram
based 3-D communication paradigm, discusses properties and limitations of human visual system
relevant to 3D visualization and describes several specific methods for synthesis of computer-generated
hologram capable of reproducing 3D sensation and possible approaches to designing 3D holographic
displays
Image Processing Methods
Authors: Yaroslavsky Leonid , Astola Jaakko
Published: November 2009

Work in digital holography always involves image processing, such as image denoising,
deblurring, resampling, geometrical transformation and alike. In this chapter, basic approaches and
methods of image processing most relevant to applications of digital holography are reviewed.