bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autophagy is a critical regulator of memory CD8+ T cell formation
Authors: Puleston Daniel J , Zhang Hanlin , Powell Timothy J , Lipina Elina , Sims Stuart , Panse Isabel , Watson Alexander S , Cerundolo Vincenzo , Townsend Alain RM , Klenerman Paul , Simon Anna Katharina
Published: November 2014

During infection, CD8+ T cells initially expand then contract, leaving a small memory pool providing long lasting immunity. While it has been described that CD8+ T cell memory formation becomes defective in old age, the cellular mechanism is largely unknown. Autophagy is a major cellular lysosomal degradation pathway of bulk material, and levels are known to fall with age. In this study, we describe a novel role for autophagy in CD8+ T cell memory formation. Mice lacking the autophagy gene Atg7 in T cells failed to establish CD8+ T cell memory to influenza and MCMV infection. Interestingly, autophagy levels were diminished in CD8+ T cells from aged mice. We could rejuvenate CD8+ T cell responses in elderly mice in an autophagy dependent manner using the compound spermidine. This study reveals a cell intrinsic explanation for poor CD8+ T cell memory in the elderly and potentially offers novel immune modulators to improve aged immunity.
Structural basis of diverse membrane target recognitions by ankyrins
Authors: Wang Chao , Wei Zhiyi , Chen Keyu , Ye Fei , Yu Cong , Bennett Vann , Zhang Mingjie
Published: November 2014

Ankyrin adaptors together with their spectrin partners coordinate diverse ion channels and cell adhesion molecules within plasma membrane domains and thereby promote physiological activities including fast signaling in the heart and nervous system. Ankyrins specifically bind to numerous membrane targets through their 24 ankyrin repeats (ANK repeats), although the mechanism for the facile and independent evolution of these interactions has not been resolved. Here we report the structures of ANK repeats in complex with an inhibitory segment from the C-terminal regulatory domain and with a sodium channel Nav1.2 peptide, respectively, showing that the extended, extremely conserved inner groove spanning the entire ANK repeat solenoid contains multiple target binding sites capable of accommodating target proteins with very diverse sequences via combinatorial usage of these sites. These structures establish a framework for understanding the evolution of ankyrins' membrane targets, with implications for other proteins containing extended ANK repeat domains.
Evolving a 24-hr oscillator in budding yeast
Authors: Wildenberg Gregg A , Murray Andrew W
Published: November 2014

We asked how a new, complex trait evolves by selecting for diurnal oscillations in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We expressed yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) from a yeast promoter and selected for a regular alternation between low and high fluorescence over a 24-hr period. This selection produced changes in cell adhesion rather than YFP expression: clonal populations oscillated between single cells and multicellular clumps. The oscillations are not a response to environmental cues and continue for at least three cycles in a constant environment. We identified eight putative causative mutations in one clone and recreated the evolved phenotype in the ancestral strain. The mutated genes lack obvious relationships to each other, but multiple lineages change from the haploid to the diploid pattern of gene expression. We show that a novel, complex phenotype can evolve by small sets of mutations in genes whose molecular functions appear to be unrelated to each other.
Risco no disco: um estudo de caso da web novela brasileira
Authors:   Pontifícia Universidade de São Paulo (Brasil), Farias Coelho Patricia Margarida
Published: November 2014

Brazil is internationally known for its soap operas, which are exported to many countries worldwide. Due to Internet’s development, a new type of soap opera has emerged: Web soap opera, which presents changes not only in the broadcasting –currently done on the Internet– but also in its production. In this article, we aim to study these changes by using Operetv’s production Risco no disco, defining the profile of the new consumer-interactor and observing dialogical interactions among viewers performed in different digital platforms. For that purpose, we will use the bakhtinian concept of dialogism and genre (1978, 1997, 2006) and Santaella’s studies (2003, 2007, 2010a, 2010b) on the emerging media of the Internet. Given the peculiarities of this kind of soap opera and the interactions that internet allows, understanding this new media and its relationship with the digital universe is essential for communication and discourse studies.
El comunicador en el entorno digital
Authors:   Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá (Colombia), Barrios Rubio Andrés
Published: November 2014

La llegada de las nuevas tecnologías ha replanteado el papel del receptor y obliga a los comunicadores a establecer estrategias de comunicación para interactuar con él, y crear nichos, compartir vivencias y experiencias ya no de manera local, sino global. Este panorama implica un replanteamiento de la labor profesional de los comunicadores sociales – periodistas y su proceso de formación en la academia. De ahí que surja este estudio de caso descriptivo de tipo exploratorio relacional, en el que se recurrió a encuestas y entrevistas en profundidad con directores y actores del medio, con el fin de determinar el papel del comunicador en el entorno digital. El estudio deja como principal conclusión que hoy, más que dominar las herramientas tecnológicas, se debe tener claro el para qué de ellas y cómo emplearlas profesionalmente para responder a la instantaneidad, mayor cobertura y comunicación bidireccional del mundo de hoy.
Mediatización más allá de las democracias maduras: una propuesta tridimensional para medir la influencia de los medios en Brasil
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Brandão Angela
Published: November 2014

A partir del proceso de redemocratización en Brasil, mucho se ha escrito sobre el poder de los medios –y, más específicamente, de un grupo mediático– en el país. Sin embargo, su influencia sobre la política brasileña es tratada casi siempre desde un sentido socio-económico. En este trabajo, planteo que es necesario también tomar en cuenta la influencia del formato o modus operandi mediático en el hacer político, a partir del marco teórico conocido hoy día como mediatización. Pero, reconociendo que en nuevas democracias las líneas que separan los tipos de interferencia están muchas veces empañadas y difíciles de precisar, propongo sistematizar la medición de la influencia mediática en Brasil a partir de cuatro variables que se interrelacionan tridimensionalmente: mediatización, democratización, concentración y (des)regulación del sector. Por último, aplico el sistema de análisis propuesto al reciente episodio de selección de una norma digital en el país, defendiendo que la transición digital es una oportunidad única para comprender las relaciones entre medios y políticos.
Prensa online y tipos de lectores. Respuestas del público y lógicas de reconocimiento en los comentarios a las noticias del diario argentino La Nación
Authors:   Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina), Raimondo Anselmino Natalia
Published: November 2014

Este artículo examina, desde una mirada sociosemiótica, las distintas lógicas de respuesta de los lectores a la estrategia enunciativa de un periódico argentino online –el diario lanacion.com.ar, edición digital del matutino La Nación–, a partir de la indagación de las gramáticas de reconocimiento presentes en los comentarios a las noticias del medio. Como resultado del análisis de un total de 3578 comentarios de lectores, se identificaron constantes en las respuestas del público a la estrategia enunciativa de lanacion. com.ar, recurrencias significativas que permitieron inferir un conjunto de lógicas de reconocimiento, es decir, la discriminación de tipos de lectores: lector fiel integrado, lector fiel excluido, lector disidente, y lector crítico.
Más que un simple pulsar un botón: una reflexión sobre espectadores y la inmersión en los sistemas de publicidad omnipresente
Authors:   Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói (Brasil), Carrera Fernanda Ariane , Moreira de Oliveira Thaiane ,   Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói (Brasil)
Published: November 2014

Este trabalho busca refletir sobre os regimes de espectatorialidade nas experiências ofertadas pela ciberpublicidade. A partir do conceito de publicidade pervasiva – aquela que se faz com a participação do corpo do indivíduo/consumidor e com a apropriação dos espaços urbanos – busca-se discutir este consumo de experiências como um fenômeno social, destacando a relevância simbólica que o comportamento dos consumidores oferece à estratégia publicitária. Discute-se também acerca dos conceitos de participação e de imersão neste fenômeno, tendo como ponto de partida a experiência do consumidor nas campanhas. Para isso, analisam-se duas ações publicitárias: “Push to add drama”, da emissora TNT, da Bégica, e “Reignite your Va Va Voom” da Renault Clio, do Reino Unido.
Transmedialidad: series de ficción y redes sociales. El caso de Pulseras Rojas en el grupo oficial de Facebook (Antena 3. España)
Authors:   Universidad de Alicante (España), Tur-Viñes Victoria , Rodríguez Ferrándiz Raúl ,   Universidad de Alicante (España)
Published: November 2014

Analizamos el Facebook de la teleserie Pulseras Rojas emitida en España por Antena 3, en tanto recurso transmedia y fuente de oportunidades para estimular el engagement del espectador. Estudiamos el tráfico generado durante la emisión de la segunda temporada, entre julio y agosto de 2013. Siguiendo la propuesta de Askwith (2007), se pueden identificar siete modalidades de touchpoints, es decir, puntos de contacto con la narración, adicionales a la propia emisión televisiva: acceso expandido, contenido adaptado, contenido expandido, productos de marca, actividades relacionadas, interacción social e interactividad. El estudio exploratorio se basa en el análisis del contenido del grupo de la serie en Facebook e identifica las modalidades de touchpoints y sus resultados. Facebook se revela como un potente instrumento para involucrar al espectador, aunque la estrategia comunicativa de la cadena de televisión presenta una gestión incipiente, poco evolucionada, que desaprovecha el carácter interactivo y bidireccional de la red social.
Globalización y estructura de propiedad de las agencias publicitarias uruguayas
Authors:   Universidad de la República, Montevideo (Uruguay), Gascue Quiñones Alvaro
Published: November 2014

Desde los años ochenta, el sector de las agencias asociadas a redes transnacionales en el sistema de agencias publicitarias de Uruguay ha presentado un continuo crecimiento, en desmedro del sector de las netamente nacionales. El presente artículo es el resumen de una investigación que procura explicar esta realidad a partir del análisis de diversas fuentes documentales y trabajos académicos anteriores. Se concluye que en el proceso vivido han sido factores relevantes, y fuertemente relacionados entre sí, el potencial de innovación de cada uno de los sectores, su capacidad de superar las crisis económicas que ha vivido el país y que han tenido lugar en la mayor parte del mundo, y la calidad de sus carteras de clientes. Si bien la indagatoria se centró en Uruguay, es posible afirmar que algunas de sus conclusiones son válidas para el resto de los países de la región cuyas economías –en ese contexto– son relativamente pequeñas.
Géneros y formas de inserción publicitaria en la televisión española: regulación vs. práctica
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (España), García-Muñoz Núria , Plana Gina ,   Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (España), Ferrer Iliana ,   Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (España)
Published: November 2014

El proceso de digitalización ha forzado a las cadenas de toda Europa a reformular sus estrategias de financiación, y la publicidad y su regulación han adquirido un papel protagonista en muchos mercados. En España, uno de los países europeos con mayor índice de saturación publicitaria, la Ley 7/2010 General de la Comunicación Audiovisual del 31 de marzo establece los derechos y deberes de los programadores, proponiendo un marco legal manifiestamente más laxo que en otros países. Mediante un análisis de contenido, esta investigación identifica los géneros publicitarios y las modalidades de inserción presentes en las principales cadenas generalistas españolas, estudiando las tendencias y contrastando las prácticas profesionales con los principios que establece la normativa vigente. Los resultados evidencian el empleo de una amplia variedad de técnicas y sugieren la existencia de una determinada relación entre esta diversidad y la voluntad de los operadores de mantenerse dentro de la ley.
Grado de planificación y gestión estratégica en el proceso de branding en los clubes LFP en España
Authors:   Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (España), Mayorga Escalada Santiago
Published: November 2014

El contexto de crisis general y la grave situación económica que atraviesa el sector del fútbol profesional en España hace que se busquen nuevos modelos de financiación. Dentro de este entorno se hace necesario analizar el trabajo de branding que se desarrolla en los diferentes clubes que forman parte de la Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP). Una marca planificada de forma estratégica y gestionada de manera coherente, que investiga el mercado en el que opera y fideliza a sus públicos, se convierte en una marca reconocida, diferenciada, bien posicionada y que ofrece un valor añadido. Las percepciones que de los clubes tengan sus públicos crearán una determinada imagen que podrá traducirse en nuevas vías de financiación y más oportunidades de negocio dentro del mercado.
An Innovative Heuristic in Multi-Item Replenishment Problem for One Warehouse and N Retailers
Authors: Praharsi Yugowati , Nataliani Yessica , Wee Hui-Ming
Published: November 2014

Joint replenishment problem (JRP) is a type of inventory model which aims to minimize the total inventory cost consisting of major ordering cost, minor ordering cost and inventory holding cost. Different from previous papers, this study considers one warehouse, multi items and N retailers. An innovative heuristic approach is developed to solve the problem. In this paper, we consider a multi echelon inventory system and seek to find a balance between the order cost and the inventory holding costs at each installation. The computational results show that the innovative heuristic provides a near exact optimal solution, but is more efficient in terms of the computational time and the iteration number.
Credit Scoring Modeling
Authors: Halim Siana , Humira Yuliana Vina
Published: November 2014

It is generally easier to predict defaults accurately if a large data set (including defaults) is available for estimating the prediction model. This puts not only small banks, which tend to have smaller data sets, at disadvantage. It can also pose a problem for large banks that began to collect their own historical data only recently, or banks that recently introduced a new rating system. We used a Bayesian methodology that enables banks with small data sets to improve their default probability. Another advantage of the Bayesian method is that it provides a natural way for dealing with structural differences between a bank’s internal data and additional, external data. In practice, the true scoring function may differ across the data sets, the small internal data set may contain information that is missing in the larger external data set, or the variables in the two data sets are not exactly the same but related. Bayesian method can handle such kind of problem.
Dampak Implementasi Penggunaan Teknologi Manufaktur Tingkat Lanjut -Advanced Manufacturing Technology pada Kinerja UKM di Indonesia
Authors: Rahardjo Jani
Published: November 2014

In Indonesia, 99.8% of the businesses are SMEs. However, those SMEs only contribute to the 56.7% of the Indonesia GDP.  This happened, mainly due to the limitations of SMEs which use traditional technologies in the production process. Therefore, in 2014, the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Cooperation and Small Medium Entreprises launced a new strategic plan to empowering the SMEs by applying the Advanced Manufacting Technology (AMT). It is believed that by applying the AMT in the SMEs can increase productivities, expand the market share and raised national economic growth. This study, identified the used of AMT in the Indonesia SMEs, especially in foods, beverages, herbal and handicraft sectors. Additionally, it is also measured the impact of the used of AMT in the SMEs’ performaces. In this study, it is found that 76.6 % of the total sampel (253 SMEs) declared that they use the AMT. This indicates that the Indonesia SMEs have a clear operation mission, process production, high quality products and meet the customer’s satisfaction. It is also found that the percentage of the hard technology is higher than the soft technology. This showed that there is a large effort to increase the productivity in the process production. Finally, we found that the impact of the AMT used to the SMEs’ performance in the market share, profitability and organization performance is increased significantly.
Performansi Algoritma CODEQ dalam Penyelesaian Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Garside Annisa Kesy , Sudaningtyas Satya
Published: November 2014

Genetic Algorithm, Tabu Search, Simulated Annealing, and Ant Colony Optimization showed a good performance in solving vehicle routing problem. However, the generated solution of those algorithms was changeable regarding on the input parameter of each algorithm. CODEQ is a new, parameter free meta-heuristic algorithm that had been successfully used to solve constrained optimization problems, integer programming, and feed-forward neural network. The purpose of this research are improving CODEQ algorithm to solve vehicle routing problem and testing the performance of the improved algorithm. CODEQ algorithm is started with population initiation as initial solution, generated of mutant vector for each parent in every iteration, replacement of parent by mutant when fitness function value of mutant is better than parent’s, generated of new vector for each iteration based on opposition value or chaos principle, replacement of worst solution by new vector when fitness function value of new vector is better, iteration ceasing when stooping criterion is achieved, and sub-tour determination based on vehicle capacity constraint. The result showed that the average deviation of the best-known and the best-test value is 6.35%. Therefore, CODEQ algorithm is good in solving vehicle routing problem.
Pengembangan ModelVariable Review Period dengan Mempertimbangkan Order Crossover
Authors: Octavia Tanti , Felecia ,
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we propose a variable review period model using dynamic programming for order crossover problem. The proposed model is compared to an existing variable review period model and classical review period in terms of minimum inventory cost. The simulation is applied with six scenarios and sensitivity analysis is also done. The results show a variable review period model performs smaller inventory cost for small variation of lead-time compared to classical review period model. On the other hand, classical periodic review model is sensitive with the changes in the variation of demand distribution and service level. The proposed model gives the better solution compared to variable review period model for the six scenarios with the inventory cost saving as 11-42%. The sensitivity analysis for a variable review period model and a proposed model are applied and compared. From sensitivity analysis, it can be concluded variable review period with dynamic programming gives the best solution in terms of the changes of holding cost and ordering cost. It is also shown the smaller holding cost, the smaller percentage of inventory cost savings (between variable review model and the proposed model).
Aerosol effects on global land surface energy fluxes during 2003–2010
Authors: Liu Shaoqing , Chen Min , Zhuang Qianlai
Published: November 2014

Aerosols affect downward solar radiation, impacting the terrestrial ecosystem carbon dynamics and energy budget. Here we apply a coupled modeling framework of a terrestrial ecosystem model and an atmospheric radiative transfer model to evaluate aerosol direct radiative effects on the surface heat fluxes of global terrestrial ecosystems during 2003–2010. We find that aerosol loadings decrease the mean latent heat flux by 2.4 Wm−2 (or evapotranspiration by 28 mm) and sensible heat flux by 16 Wm−2. As a result, global mean soil moisture and water evaporative fraction have increased by 0.5% and 4%, respectively. Spatially, aerosol effects are significant in tropical forests and temperate broadleaf evergreen forests. This study is among the first quantifications of aerosols' effects on the heat fluxes of the global terrestrial ecosystems. The study further suggests that both direct and indirect aerosol radiative effects through aerosol‐cloud interactions should be considered to quantify the energy budget of the global terrestrial ecosystems.
The spectral dimension of longwave feedback in the CMIP3 and CMIP5 experiments
Authors: Huang Xianglei , Chen Xiuhong , Soden Brian J. , Liu Xu
Published: November 2014

Radiative feedback is normally discussed in terms of the change of broadband flux. Yet it has an intrinsic dimension of spectrum. A set of longwave (LW) spectral radiative kernels (SRKs) is constructed and validated in a similar way as the broadband radiative kernel. The LW broadband feedback derived using this SRK are consistent with those from the broadband radiative kernels. As an application, the SRK is applied to 12 general circulation models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 and 12 GCMs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 simulations to derive the spectrally resolved Planck, lapse rate, and LW water vapor feedback. The spectral details of the Planck feedback from different GCMs are essentially the same, but the lapse rate and LW water vapor feedback do reveal spectrally dependent difference among GCMs. Spatial distributions of the feedback at different spectral regions are also discussed. The spectral feedback analysis provides us another dimension to understand and evaluate the modeled radiative feedback.
Fluid‐induced earthquakes with variable stress drop
Authors: Lengliné O. , Lamourette L. , Vivin L. , Cuenot N. , Schmittbuhl J.
Published: November 2014

The static stress drop of an earthquake, which quantifies the ratio of seismic slip to the size of the rupture, is almost constant over several orders of magnitudes. Although variations are often observed, it is difficult, however, to attribute these variations either to a well‐defined phenomenon or simply to measurement uncertainty. In this study we analyze the static stress drop of earthquakes that occurred during a water circulation test in the Soultz‐sous‐Forêts, France, geothermal reservoir in 2010. During this circulation test, 411 earthquakes were recorded, the largest event having a magnitude MD2.3. We show that several earthquakes in the reservoir can be combined into groups of closely located similar repeating waveforms. We infer that the amplitudes, and hence magnitudes, vary between the repeaters although the waveforms and spectra are both similar in shape. We measure similar corner frequencies for these events despite their different magnitudes, suggesting a similar rupture size. Our results imply that events at the same location may exhibit stress drop variations by as much as a factor of 300. We interpret that this variation in stress drop is caused by fluid pressure at the interface reducing the normal stress. We also hypothesize that the observed variations reflect a transition from stable to unstable slip on the imaged asperities.
Joint bias correction of temperature and precipitation in climate model simulations
Authors: Li Chao , Sinha Eva , Horton Daniel E. , Diffenbaugh Noah S. , Michalak Anna M.
Published: November 2014

Bias correction of meteorological variables from climate model simulations is a routine strategy for circumventing known limitations of state‐of‐the‐art general circulation models. Although the assessment of climate change impacts often depends on the joint variability of multiple variables, commonly used bias correction methodologies treat each variable independently and do not consider the relationship among variables. Independent bias correction can therefore produce non‐physical corrections and may fail to capture important multivariate relationships. Here, we introduce a joint bias correction methodology (JBC) and apply it to precipitation (P) and temperature (T) fields from the fifth phase of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) model ensemble. This approach is based on a general bivariate distribution of P‐T and can be seen as a multivariate extension of the commonly used univariate quantile mapping method. It proceeds by correcting either P or T first and then correcting the other variable conditional upon the first one, both following the concept of the univariate quantile mapping. JBC is shown to not only reduce biases in the mean and variance of P and T similarly to univariate quantile mapping, but also to correct model‐simulated biases in P‐T correlation fields. JBC, using methods such as the one presented here, thus represents an important step in impacts‐based research as it explicitly accounts for inter‐variable relationships as part of the bias correction procedure, thereby improving not only the individual distributions of P and T, but critically, their joint distribution.
Search for a high‐altitude lunar dust exosphere using Clementine navigational star tracker measurements
Authors: Glenar David A. , Stubbs Timothy J. , Hahn Joseph M. , Wang Yongli
Published: November 2014

During the 1994 Clementine lunar mapping mission, portions of 25 orbits were dedicated to a search for lunar horizon glow (LHG) using the spacecraft star tracker navigation cameras. Previous putative detections of LHG were believed to result from forward scattering of sunlight by exospheric dust grains with radii ≈ 0.1 µm, observable above the limb from within the shadow of the Moon near orbital sunrise or sunset. We have examined star tracker image sequences from five Clementine orbits in which the limb occulted the Sun, and was at least partially shadowed from earthshine, minimizing the chance of stray light contamination. No LHG appears in the image data, or in any of the net brightness images, after subtraction of a reference zodiacal light model. However, some of the images display faint excess limb brightness that appears to be solar streamer structure. Therefore, we derive upper limits for the amount of dust in the lunar exosphere that could be hidden by these brightness fluctuations using a dust‐scattering simulation code and simple exponential dust profiles defined by surface concentration n0 and scale height H. Simulations using grains of radius 0.1 µm show that fluctuations in the observed excess brightness can be matched by a dust exosphere with a vertical column abundance n0H of 5–30 cm−2 and overlying mass <10−12 g cm−2. These dust upper limit estimates are highly dependent on assumed grain size due to the rapid increase in per‐grain brightness with grain radius.
Time Trends in Incidence, Clinical Features, and Cardiovascular Disease in Ankylosing Spondylitis Over Three Decades: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Wright Kerry A. , Crowson Cynthia S. , Michet Clement J. , Matteson Eric L.
Published: November 2014

Objective

To determine trends in the incidence and clinical presentation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors among patients with AS and compare the observed incidence of CVD with that predicted by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

Methods

A population‐based inception cohort of residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota age ≥18 years who fulfilled Modified New York Criteria for AS in 1980–2009 was assembled. Clinical features at presentation were recorded. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence rates and survival were estimated. Incident CVD and CV risk factors were identified. The 10‐year CVD risk was calculated using the FRS. Standardized incidence ratios (ratios of observed CVD in AS to that predicted by the FRS) were calculated.

Results

Eighty‐six patients were diagnosed with AS over the study period with an age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence of 3.1 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.5–3.8). The mean age at diagnosis was 35 years (range 19–69 years). Inflammatory back pain, seen in 90% of patients, was the most common presenting manifestation. The 10‐year mean ± SD cumulative incidence of CVD was 15.8% ± 6.1%, three times higher than the predicted events based on the FRS (standardized incidence ratio 3.01, 95% CI 1.35–6.69; P = 0.007). Overall survival was similar to the general population.

Conclusion

AS occurs in approximately 3 persons per 100,000 per year. Clinical features, extraarticular manifestations, and interval from symptom onset to diagnosis have remained constant in this population over the study period. The CVD risk in these patients is higher than expected and underestimated by the FRS.
Charge Separation Dynamics and Opto‐Electronic Properties of a Diaminoterephthalate‐C60 Dyad
Authors: Pittalis Stefano , Delgado Alain , Robin Jörg , Freimuth Lena , Christoffers Jens , Lienau Christoph , Rozzi Carlo Andrea
Published: November 2014

A novel dyad composed of a diaminoterephthalate scaffold, covalently linked to a fullerene derivative, is explored as a nanosized charge separation unit powered by solar energy. Its opto‐electronic properties are studied and the charge separation rate is determined. Simulations of the coupled electronic and nuclear dynamics in the Ehrenfest approximation are carried out on a sub 100 fs time scale after photoexcitation in order to gain insights about the mechanisms driving the charge separation. In particular, the role of vibronic coupling and of the detailed morphology are highlighted.
High‐Mobility ZnO Thin Film Transistors Based on Solution‐processed Hafnium Oxide Gate Dielectrics
Authors: Esro Mazran , Vourlias George , Somerton Christopher , Milne William I. , Adamopoulos George
Published: November 2014

The properties of metal oxides with high dielectric constant (k) are being extensively studied for use as gate dielectric alternatives to silicon dioxide (SiO2). Despite their attractive properties, these high‐k dielectrics are usually manufactured using costly vacuum‐based techniques. In that respect, recent research has been focused on the development of alternative deposition methods based on solution‐processable metal oxides. Here, the application of the spray pyrolysis (SP) technique for processing high‐quality hafnium oxide (HfO2) gate dielectrics and their implementation in thin film transistors employing spray‐coated zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconducting channels are reported. The films are studied by means of admittance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and field‐effect measurements. Analyses reveal polycrystalline HfO2 layers of monoclinic structure that exhibit wide band gap (≈5.7 eV), low roughness (≈0.8 nm), high dielectric constant (k ≈ 18.8), and high breakdown voltage (≈2.7 MV/cm). Thin film transistors based on HfO2/ZnO stacks exhibit excellent electron transport characteristics with low operating voltages (≈6 V), high on/off current modulation ratio (∼107) and electron mobility in excess of 40 cm2 V−1 s−1.
Composition limits in granulation with active component in the binder
Authors: Smrčka David , Schöngut Marek , Štěpánek František , Gregor Tomáš
Published: November 2014

The process of reactive granulation is considered. Sodium carbonate primary particles react with dodecyl‐benzenesulfonic acid droplets to form granules where the active component is an anionic surfactant formed by the reaction. The effect of primary particle size on the maximum binder/solids ratio was systematically investigated and found to be directly proportional to the specific surface area of the primary particles regardless of how this surface area was achieved—whether by monodisperse powders or bimodal powder mixtures. The effect of binder viscosity on the maximum binder capacity has shown a nontrivial behavior: while the maximum binder content increased with increasing binder viscosity for fine primary particles, the opposite trend was observed in the case of coarse primary particles. This behavior was explained by detailed studies of primary particle wetting and binder penetration into particle beds, as well as by microtomography analysis of the internal granule structure. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 395–406, 2015
Lewis‐Acid‐Catalyzed Direct Allylation of Electron‐Poor N‐Heterocyclic Amides through an Amide‐Aldehyde‐Alkene Condensation
Authors: Wang Xiao‐Xia , Quan Zheng‐Jun , Wang Xi‐Cun
Published: November 2014

We report a general protocol for the direct N‐allylation of electron‐poor N‐heterocyclic amides and sulfonamides via an amide‐aldehyde‐alkene condensation reaction catalyzed by a Lewis acid. This process has a broad substrate scope with respect to N‐heterocyclic amides including carbamates, carboxamides, and N‐methylsulfonamides, and provides efficient access to a variety of allylamine derivatives in good yield with high regioselectivity. The utility of this method was also demonstrated by the rapid synthesis of Naftifine from N‐methyl‐1‐naphthamide, paraformaldehyde, and styrene in one‐pot.
Neural function, injury, and stroke subtype predict treatment gains after stroke
Authors: Burke Quinlan Erin , Dodakian Lucy , See Jill , McKenzie Alison , Le Vu , Wojnowicz Mike , Shahbaba Babak , Cramer Steven C.
Published: November 2014

Objective

This study was undertaken to better understand the high variability in response seen when treating human subjects with restorative therapies poststroke. Preclinical studies suggest that neural function, neural injury, and clinical status each influence treatment gains; therefore, the current study hypothesized that a multivariate approach incorporating these 3 measures would have the greatest predictive value.

Methods

Patients 3 to 6 months poststroke underwent a battery of assessments before receiving 3 weeks of standardized upper extremity robotic therapy. Candidate predictors included measures of brain injury (including to gray and white matter), neural function (cortical function and cortical connectivity), and clinical status (demographics/medical history, cognitive/mood, and impairment).

Results

Among all 29 patients, predictors of treatment gains identified measures of brain injury (smaller corticospinal tract [CST] injury), cortical function (greater ipsilesional motor cortex [M1] activation), and cortical connectivity (greater interhemispheric M1–M1 connectivity). Multivariate modeling found that best prediction was achieved using both CST injury and M1–M1 connectivity (r2 = 0.44, p = 0.002), a result confirmed using Lasso regression. A threshold was defined whereby no subject with >63% CST injury achieved clinically significant gains. Results differed according to stroke subtype; gains in patients with lacunar stroke were best predicted by a measure of intrahemispheric connectivity.

Interpretation

Response to a restorative therapy after stroke is best predicted by a model that includes measures of both neural injury and function. Neuroimaging measures were the best predictors and may have an ascendant role in clinical decision making for poststroke rehabilitation, which remains largely reliant on behavioral assessments. Results differed across stroke subtypes, suggesting the utility of lesion‐specific strategies. ANN NEUROL 2015;77:132–145
Elektrochemie der Wasserstoffentwicklungsreaktion: Optimierung durch Korrelation von Experiment und Theorie
Authors: Zheng Yao , Jiao Yan , Jaroniec Mietek , Qiao Shi Zhang
Published: November 2014

Die elektrokatalytische Wasserstoffentwicklungsreaktion (HER) ist Gegenstand intensiver Studien. Sie ist der zentrale Schritt bei der Wasserspaltung und dient außerdem als Modellreaktion zur Erforschung der Mechanismen anderer elektrochemischer Mehrelektronenprozesse. Eine große Zahl von Elektrokatalysatoren für die HER wurde entwickelt, und jüngste Fortschritte lieferten tiefe Einblicke in die Elektrochemie der Reaktion. In diesem Kurzaufsatz nehmen wir eine kritische Bewertung der theoretischen und experimentellen Studien an HER‐Elektrokatalysatoren vor, mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf der Elektronenstruktur, der Oberflächenchemie und dem molekularen Design der Materialien. Wir zeigen, wie man durch wechselseitige Korrelation von theoretischen Studien und elektrochemischen Messungen zu einem besseren Verständnis der HER‐Elektrokatalyse auf atomarer Ebene gelangt. Grundlegende Konzepte der computerbasierten Quantenchemie und ihrer Beziehung zur experimentellen Elektrochemie werden vorgestellt und an einigen repräsentativen Beispielen erläutert.
A Mild Dihydrobenzooxaphosphole Oxazoline/Iridium Catalytic System for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Dialins
Authors: Qu Bo , Samankumara Lalith P. , Ma Shengli , Fandrick Keith R. , Desrosiers Jean‐Nicolas , Rodriguez Sonia , Li Zhibin , Haddad Nizar , Han Zhengxu S. , McKellop Keith , Pennino Scott , Grinberg Nelu , Gonnella Nina C. , Song Jinhua J. , Senanayake Chris H.
Published: November 2014

Air‐stable P‐chiral dihydrobenzooxaphosphole oxazoline ligands were designed and synthesized. When they were used in the iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized 1‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalenes under one atmosphere pressure of H2, up to 99:1 e.r. was obtained. High enantioselectivities were also observed in the reduction of the exocyclic imine derivatives of 1‐tetralones.
Elevated Levels of Pentraxin 3 in Systemic Sclerosis: Associations With Vascular Manifestations and Defective Vasculogenesis
Authors: Shirai Yuichiro , Okazaki Yuka , Inoue Yumiko , Tamura Yuichi , Yasuoka Hidekata , Takeuchi Tsutomu , Kuwana Masataka
Published: November 2014

Objective

To clarify the role of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a multifunctional pattern recognition protein that can suppress fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF‐2), in systemic sclerosis (SSc)–related vasculopathy.

Methods

We assessed 171 SSc patients and 19 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control subjects. Circulating PTX3 and FGF‐2 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and CD34+CD133+CD309+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were counted by flow cytometry. Correlations between PTX3 and FGF‐2 and the presence or future development of vascular manifestations, including digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. The effect of PTX3 on EPC differentiation was evaluated in proangiogenic cultures of mouse bone marrow cells in combination with colony formation assay.

Results

Circulating PTX3 and FGF‐2 levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than in healthy control subjects. PTX3 was elevated in SSc patients who had digital ulcers or PAH, while FGF‐2 was reduced in SSc patients with PAH. Multivariate analysis identified elevated PTX3 as an independent parameter associated with the presence of digital ulcers and PAH, and PTX3 levels were a useful predictor of future occurrences of digital ulcers. Reduced FGF‐2 was independently associated with the presence of PAH. EPC counts were significantly lower in patients with digital ulcers or PAH and correlated negatively with circulating PTX3 concentrations. Finally, PTX3 inhibited EPC differentiation in vitro.

Conclusion

In SSc patients, exposure to high concentrations of PTX3 may suppress EPC‐mediated vasculogenesis and promote vascular manifestations such as digital ulcers and PAH.
Function of the Th17/Interleukin‐17A Immune Response in Murine Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Schmidt Tilman , Paust Hans‐Joachim , Krebs Christian F. , Turner Jan‐Eric , Kaffke Anna , Bennstein Sabrina B. , Koyro Tobias , Peters Anett , Velden Joachim , Hünemörder Stefanie , Haag Friedrich , Steinmetz Oliver M. , Mittrücker Hans‐Willi , Stahl Rolf A. K. , Panzer Ulf
Published: November 2014

Objective

The CD4+ T cell immune response plays a pivotal role in the immunopathogenesis of human and experimental lupus nephritis, but the contribution of the Th17/interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) immune pathway to renal tissue injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize the function of the Th17/IL‐17A immune response in 2 murine models of lupus nephritis.

Methods

IL‐17A–deficient MRL/MPJ‐Faslpr/2J (MRL/lpr) mice were generated, and the clinical course of nephritis was monitored by assessing the levels of albuminuria, extent of renal tissue injury, and functional parameters. In addition, lupus‐prone (NZB × NZW)F1 (NZB/NZW) mice were treated with anti–IL‐17A and anti–interferon‐γ (anti‐IFNγ) antibodies, and their effects on the clinical course of lupus nephritis were assessed.

Results

Characterization of renal IL‐17A–producing and IFNγ‐producing T cells in MRL/lpr and NZB/NZW mice revealed low numbers of infiltrating CD3+IL‐17A+ cells. Renal IL‐17A was mainly produced by CD4/CD8 double‐negative CD3+ T cells and CD4+ Th17 cells. In contrast, the number of renal CD3+IFNγ+ cells continuously increased over time and largely consisted of typical CD4+ Th1 cells. IL‐17A deficiency did not affect the morphologic or functional parameters in MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis, nor did IL‐17A neutralization affect the clinical course of nephritis in NZB/NZW mice, but anti‐IFNγ treatment attenuated the severity of the disease.

Conclusion

The Th17/IL‐17A immune response plays no major role in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr and NZB/NZW mice. Thus, the results of this study do not support the hypothesis that IL‐17A targeting could be an intriguing new therapeutic approach for the management of proliferative lupus nephritis in SLE patients.
Parametric inference for multiple repairable systems under dependent competing risks
Authors: Somboonsavatdee Anupap , Sen Ananda
Published: November 2014

The focus of this article is on the analysis of repairable systems that are subject to multiple sources of recurrence. The event of interest at the system level is assumed to be caused by the earliest occurrence of a source, thereby conforming to a series system competing risks framework. Parametric inference is carried out under the power law process model that has found significant attention in industrial applications. Dependence among the cause‐specific recurrent processes is induced via a shared frailty structure. The theoretical inference results are implemented to a warranty database for a fleet of automobiles, for which the warranty repair is triggered by the failure of one of many components. Extensive finite‐sample simulation is carried out to supplement the asymptotic findings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bayesian semiparametric customer base segmentation of mobile phone users based on longitudinal traffic data
Authors: Scarpa Bruno
Published: November 2014

Customer segmentation is one of the most important purposes of customer base analysis for telecommunication companies. Because companies accumulate very large amounts of data on customer behavior, segmentation is typically achieved by profiling and clustering traffic behavior jointly with demographic data and contracts characteristics. Unfortunately, most algorithms and models used for segmentation do not take into account the longitudinal characteristics of data. In particular, in telecommunication traffic analysis, the importance of decreasing patterns of traffic in customers' lives is well known, and it is relevant to aggregate all clients with such a pattern, while other unknown clusters may be of interest for the marketing manager. Our approach to address this problem is based on specifying the distribution of functions as a mixture of a parametric hierarchical model describing the decreasing pattern segment and a nonparametric contamination that allows unanticipated curve shapes in subjects' traffic. The parametric component is chosen based on prior knowledge, while the contamination is characterized as a functional Dirichlet process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Site‐specific conjugation of an antibody‐binding protein catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase creates a multivalent protein conjugate with high affinity to IgG
Authors: Minamihata Kosuke , Goto Masahiro , Kamiya Noriho
Published: November 2014

Cross‐linking proteins offers an approach to enhance the distinct function of proteins due to the multivalent effect. In this study, we demonstrated the preparation of a multivalent antibody‐binding protein possessing high affinity to IgG by conjugating a number of antibody‐binding proteins using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐mediated protein conjugation method. By introducing a peptide tag containing a tyrosine (Y‐tag) to the C‐terminus of the model protein, a chimera protein of protein G and protein A (pG2pA), the Tyr residue in the Y‐tag was efficiently recognized by HRP and cross‐linked with each other to yield a pG2pA conjugate, composed of mainly two to three units of pG2pA. The cross‐linking occurred site specifically at the Tyr residue in the Y‐tag and introduction of the Y‐tag showed no effect on the function of pG2pA. The affinity of the Y‐tagged pG2pA conjugate against IgG clearly increased because of the multivalent effect, demonstrating the benefit of this protein cross‐linking reaction, which yields functional protein oligomers. Such multivalent protein conjugates created by this reaction should have potential to be used in ELISA and Western blotting applications in which highly sensitive detection of target molecules is desired.
Use of a pathway quality improvement care bundle to reduce mortality after emergency laparotomy
Authors: Huddart S , Peden C J , Swart M , McCormick B , Dickinson M , Mohammed M A , Quiney N , Hemmings V , Riga A , Belguamkar A , Zuleika M , White D , Corrigan L , Howes T , Richards S , Dalton S , Cook T , Kryztopik R , Cornwell A , Goddard J , Grifiths S , Frost F , Pigott A , Pittman J , Cossey L , Smart N , Daniels I
Published: November 2014

Background

Emergency laparotomies in the UK, USA and Denmark are known to have a high risk of death, with accompanying evidence of suboptimal care. The emergency laparotomy pathway quality improvement care (ELPQuiC) bundle is an evidence-based care bundle for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy, consisting of: initial assessment with early warning scores, early antibiotics, interval between decision and operation less than 6 h, goal-directed fluid therapy and postoperative intensive care.

Methods

The ELPQuiC bundle was implemented in four hospitals, using locally identified strategies to assess the impact on risk-adjusted mortality. Comparison of case mix-adjusted 30-day mortality rates before and after care-bundle implementation was made using risk-adjusted cumulative sum (CUSUM) plots and a logistic regression model.

Results

Risk-adjusted CUSUM plots showed an increase in the numbers of lives saved per 100 patients treated in all hospitals, from 6·47 in the baseline interval (299 patients included) to 12·44 after implementation (427 patients included) (P < 0·001). The overall case mix-adjusted risk of death decreased from 15·6 to 9·6 per cent (risk ratio 0·614, 95 per cent c.i. 0·451 to 0·836; P = 0·002). There was an increase in the uptake of the ELPQuiC processes but no significant difference in the patient case-mix profile as determined by the mean Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity risk (0·197 and 0·223 before and after implementation respectively; P = 0·395).

Conclusion

Use of the ELPQuiC bundle was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death following emergency laparotomy.