bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Convergence Rates of Convex Regression in Multiple Dimensions
Authors: Lim Eunji
Published: May 2014

We consider a least squares estimator for estimating a convex function f*: [0, 1]d → ℝ with bounded subgradients. A rate at which the sum of squared differences between the estimator and the true function f* converges to zero is computed. This work sheds light on computing the convergence rate of the multidimensional convex regression estimator.
On Theoretical and Empirical Aspects of Marginal Distribution Choice Models
Authors: Mishra Vinit Kumar , Natarajan Karthik , Padmanabhan Dhanesh , Teo Chung-Piaw , Li Xiaobo
Published: May 2014

In this paper, we study the properties of a recently proposed class of semiparametric discrete choice models (referred to as the marginal distribution model (MDM)), by optimizing over a family of joint error distributions with prescribed marginal distributions. Surprisingly, the choice probabilities arising from the family of generalized extreme value models of which the multinomial logit model is a special case can be obtained from this approach, despite the difference in assumptions on the underlying probability distributions. We use this connection to develop flexible and general choice models to incorporate consumer and product level heterogeneity in both partworths and scale parameters in the choice model. Furthermore, the extremal distributions obtained from the MDM can be used to approximate the Fisher's information matrix to obtain reliable standard error estimates of the partworth parameters, without having to bootstrap the method. We use simulated and empirical data sets to test the performance of this approach. We evaluate the performance against the classical multinomial logit, mixed logit, and a machine learning approach that accounts for partworth heterogeneity. Our numerical results indicate that MDM provides a practical semiparametric alternative to choice modeling.

This paper was accepted by Eric Bradlow, special issue on business analytics.
An Empirical Analysis of Digital Music Bundling Strategies
Authors: Danaher Brett , Huang Yan , Smith Michael D. , Telang Rahul
Published: May 2014

We use panel data on digital song and album sales coupled with a quasi-random price experiment to determine own- and cross-price elasticities for songs and albums. We then develop a structural model of consumer demand to estimate welfare under various policy relevant counterfactual scenarios. This approach represents an early application of the “big data” management paradigm within the media industries and provides managers with detailed guidance on optimal pricing and marketing strategies for digital music. Our results show that tiered pricing coupled with reduced album pricing increases revenue to the labels by 18% relative to uniform pricing policies traditionally preferred by digital marketplaces while also increasing consumer surplus by 23%. Thus, optimal tiered pricing can yield a Pareto improvement over the prior status quo. Additionally, our results indicate that even without tiered pricing, unbundling albums outperforms “album-only” pricing policies that dominated the era of physical CD/cassette sales.

This paper was accepted by Alok Gupta, special issue on business analytics.
Technical Note—Optimal Structural Results for Assemble-to-Order Generalized M-Systems
Authors: Nadar Emre , Akan Mustafa , Scheller-Wolf Alan
Published: May 2014

We consider an assemble-to-order generalized M-system with multiple components and multiple products, batch ordering of components, random lead times, and lost sales. We model the system as an infinite-horizon Markov decision process and seek an optimal policy that specifies when a batch of components should be produced (i.e., inventory replenishment) and whether an arriving demand for each product should be satisfied (i.e., inventory allocation). We characterize optimal inventory replenishment and allocation policies under a mild condition on component batch sizes via a new type of policy: lattice-dependent base stock and lattice-dependent rationing.
The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems
Authors: Postnov Konstantin A. , Yungelson Lev R.
Published: May 2014

We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Mergings of compact-star binaries are expected to be the most important sources for forthcoming gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy. In the first part of the review, we discuss observational manifestations of close binaries with NS and/or BH components and their merger rate, crucial points in the formation and evolution of compact stars in binary systems, including the treatment of the natal kicks, which NSs and BHs acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common envelope phase of binary evolution, which are most relevant to the merging rates of NS-NS, NS-BH and BH-BH binaries. The second part of the review is devoted mainly to the formation and evolution of binary WDs and their observational manifestations, including their role as progenitors of cosmologically-important thermonuclear SN Ia. We also consider AM CVn-stars, which are thought to be the best verification binary GW sources for future low-frequency GW space interferometers.
Atitudes e Práticas dos Professores Face à Inclusão de Alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais
Authors: Silva Maria Deolinda Oliveira , Ribeiro Célia , Carvalho Anabela
Published: May 2014

Num momento em que questões como inclusão educativa, atitudes e práticas inclusivas têm tido evidência crescente, nomeadamente no ensino básico, é necessário atender à diversidade, como uma fonte enriquecedora do processo educativo, uma vez que a partir dela se pode idealizar a educação como uma via propícia para concretizar princípios de igualdade. Assim, importa perceber se os professores estão a conseguir uma efetiva flexibilização e diferenciação de práticas inclusivas nas escolas. Neste contexto, a presente investigação assenta na problemática:quais as atitudes e práticas dos professores dos 2º e 3º ciclos face à inclusão de crianças e jovens com Necessidades Educativas Especiais (NEE) na sala de aula? Através de uma metodologia de investigação quantitativa, com a aplicação de um questionário a 105 docentes dos 2.º e 3.º ciclos de três Agrupamentos de Escolas do Concelho de Viseu, encontrámos dados que confirmam as atitudes e práticas dos professores favoráveis à inclusão de alunos com NEE. Constata‑se que são os professores do sexo masculino e os que têm uma formação complementar à de base, bem como aqueles que apresentam entre seis a dez anos de serviço e com o mesmo tempo de experiência com NEE os que regem, de forma mais frequente, as suas atitudes e práticas pelo conceito de educação inclusiva. Pode‑se concluir que as práticas existentes na escola se guiam por atitudes inclusivas havendo, contudo, ainda um caminho a percorrer para melhorar o que é proclamado para a educação inclusiva.
Descolonizar la educación desde la crianza
Authors: Contreras Salinas Sylvia , Ramírez Pavelic Mónica
Published: May 2014

Recibido 10 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 28 de enero de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014

Este ensayo busca problematizar algunas transformaciones que se imponen a la educación en la actualidad, en el marco de los debates de deconstrucción de la educación colonizadora versus una educación definida como crianza. Crianza que, desde la perspectiva del diálogo de saberes y la práctica “otra” que implica la interculturalidad, retoma una educación que se desarrolla en múltiples espacios, en una expansión del saber gestado en la experiencia cotidiana, social, histórica y personal de las comunidades. Desde esta premisa, el presente texto ha sido construido con hilos discursivos, destacándose las palabras de Juan, un campesino de la zona central de Chile; pues desde la proposición foucaultiana, la fuerza y el sentido de los discursos estaría dado por las posiciones de poder; por ello, se apuesta a poner en circulación el pensamiento de un ser humano situado, inmerso en el cotidiano mundo de lo biótico.
Pedagogía saludable: Despertar de un nuevo nodo
Authors: Castillo Cedeño Ileana , Castillo Cedeño Rocío , Flores Davis Luz Emilia , Miranda Cervantes Giselle
Published: May 2014

Recibido 6 de noviembre de 2013 • Corregido 22 de febrero de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014

Este escrito pretende recuperar la visión de pedagogía en la vida, en tanto experiencia y proceso que dignifica la alegría, el amor, la ecología, el ocio, la libertad y la esperanza, como opciones que posibilitan rutas para un trabajo pedagógico que genere salud.  El posicionamiento teórico se asume desde un paradigma holístico para concluir que la crisis planetaria que genera grandes y persistentes problemas de salud: personales, sociales y planetarios; es posible de pugnar, desde una pedagogía saludable, la cual  constituye un desafío creativo, amoroso y esperanzador para la convivencia de las diversas formas de vida. El término pedagogía saludable surge así de la necesidad de establecer una relación dialógica entre pedagogía y salud, a partir de visiones renovadas que conlleven al surgimiento de un nuevo nodo.  El derecho a la salud y el derecho a la educación se asumen generalmente de manera independiente uno del otro. No obstante, la intersección entre ambos puede significar un gran reto y una importante revelación.
Dilemas morales para contextos rurales: Construcción y validación en básica secundaria de una institución educativa colombiana
Authors: Barragán Santos Fabio Enrique , Arias Rey Agustín David
Published: May 2014

Recibido 8 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 28 de febrero de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014Este artículo se deriva de un trabajo de investigación cuyo propósito central fue construir y validar dilemas morales para estudiantes de contextos rurales. En una primera fase, la profesora recopiló situaciones morales de interés para sus estudiantes; en la segunda, los investigadores diseñaron dilemas atendiendo a criterios predeterminados, y en una tercera la profesora desarrolló nueve dilemas en el aula. En esta última fase el equipo analizó la información de videos, carteleras y hojas de trabajo del estudiantado, diario de campo de la profesora y registros de observación de los investigadores. Así se llegó a los resultados: quince dilemas morales; de los cuales se llevaron a la práctica nueve, y seis de aquellos resultaron válidos. Los tres que fueron declarados no válidos son susceptibles de afinamiento, gracias a los aprendizajes que la experiencia le deja al equipo en cuanto a la construcción misma de los dilemas, al desempeño de los estudiantes frente a los dilemas y al rol docente en el desarrollo de dilemas en el aula. Así se abre un panorama rico en problemas de investigación diversos relacionadas con los dilemas morales.
Implementación del aprendizaje colaborativo durante el Laboratorio de Cálculos Farmacéuticos Aplicados en la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Costa Rica
Authors: Mora Román Juan José
Published: May 2014

Recibido 16 de setiembre de 2013 • Corregido 31 de enero de 2014 • Aceptado 9 de abril de 2014 En la actualidad, existe un problema en la Facultad de Farmacia referente a la existencia de poca o nula comunicación entre el estudiantado en un mismo curso o nivel académico. El aprendizaje colaborativo es una estrategia metodológica que va más allá de un simple trabajo en grupo, debido a que se forman equipos pequeños que, luego de haber recibido las indicaciones del personal docente, intercambian conocimiento y trabajan en una asignación hasta que todas las personas que conforman el grupo la han comprendido y finalizado, aprendiendo mediante la colaboración. Los elementos principales de este aprendizaje incluyen: el diseño intencional, mediante la estructuración de actividades por parte del personal académico, la colaboración a través de un compromiso activo de todas las personas del grupo de trabajo y la enseñanza significativa mediante el incremento y la profundización de los conocimientos individuales y colectivos en relación con un determinado tema. Por esta razón, se realizó esta experiencia didáctica durante tres sesiones del Laboratorio de Cálculos Farmacéuticos Aplicados (FA-2023) en el segundo semestre de 2012. En ellas, los grupos de estudiantes se dividieron en parejas y se les asignaron tareas particulares que debían ser cumplidas antes, durante y después de cada sesión de laboratorio. Para determinar el resultado de la estrategia empleada, se observaron las calificaciones obtenidas por parte de la totalidad de los grupos (24 estudiantes) en los exámenes cortos y los reportes de dichas sesiones, y se compararon frente a las calificaciones obtenidas en ambos rubros en las sesiones en las cuales no se usó el aprendizaje colaborativo. También, se empleó la encuesta, específicamente un cuestionario, para conocer la opinión estudiantil con respecto a esta estrategia metodológica. Para el análisis de los datos, se llevó a cabo un análisis sociodemográfico para la edad y el sexo, y un análisis descriptivo con distribución de frecuencias para el resto de las preguntas del cuestionario. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una experiencia muy enriquecedora tanto desde la perspectiva docente como del estudiantado. Por ello, es necesaria y recomendable la implementación de esta estrategia para los procesos de formación en todos los niveles de educación en el país.
Sistematización teórica sobre la competencia investigativa
Authors: Estrada Molina Odiel
Published: May 2014

Recibido 24 de octubre de 2013 • Corregido 13 de marzo de 2014 • Aceptado 2 de abril de 2014Es un artículo de revisión bibliográfica donde se evidencia que la formación de competencia en la educación superior ha tomado mayor auge en el siglo XXI, y una de las competencias en las cuales se ha trabajado es la investigativa. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una sistematización teórica a partir de 1999-2013 acerca de las investigaciones existentes para la formación y desarrollo de la competencia investigativa en la educación superior, partiendo de su concepto, y las relaciones entre cada uno de sus componentes y dimensiones. Para la realización de la investigación se utilizaron como método investigativo el histórico-lógico y el analítico-sintético y como técnica el análisis documental de 40 investigaciones presentadas por autores europeos, asiáticos y americanos (América del Norte y América del Sur). En el trabajo se presenta un análisis pedagógico de los resultados obtenidos en la investigación, se identifican fortalezas y debilidades, y además se proponen una serie de consideraciones pedagógicas a tener en cuenta para la formación y desarrollo de dicha competencia. El principal resultado que se obtuvo es que no se ha logrado integrar completamente un componente profesional y otro tecnológico a la estructura de la competencia investigativa.
Comparison of multivariate classification and regression methods for the indoor radon measurements
Authors: Maletic Dimitrije , Udovicic Vladimir , Banjanac Radomir , Jokovic Dejan , Dragic Aleksandar , Veselinovic Nikola , Filipovic Jelena
Published: May 2014

We present the results of a test usage of multivariate methods, as developed
for data analysis in high-energy physics and implemented in the toolkit for
multivariate analysis software package, in our analysis of the dependence of
the variation of indoor radon concentration on climate variables. The method
enables the investigation of the connections of the wide spectrum of climate
variables with radon concentrations. We find that multivariate classification
and regression methods work well, giving new information and indications,
which may be helpful in further research of the variation of radon
concentration in indoor spaces. The method may also lead to considerable
prediction power of the variations of indoor radon concentrations based on
the knowledge of climate variables only.
A new approach to targetry and cyclotron production of 45Ti by proton irradiation of 45Sc
Authors: Fazaeli Yousef , Aboudzadeh Mohammadreza , Aardaneh Khosro , Kakavand Tayyeb , Bayat Fatemeh , Yousefi Kamran
Published: May 2014

Titanium-45 with a half-life of 3.09 hours decays by emission of positrons
(85%) and the electron capture process (15%). These properties make this
radionuclide useful in the diagnosis of tumors by positron emission
tomography. In this study, after having considered the excitation functions
for the 45Sc(p, n)45Ti reaction using TALYS and ALICE/ASH codes and after the
comparison with other experimental data, 45Ti was produced by dint of the
pressing method and a newly designed and manufactured shuttle and capsule,
resulting in an experimental yield of 403.3 MBq/mAh. Essential target
thickness and physical yield were calculated. The scandium oxide target was
irradiated at a 20 mA current and a 21 MeV proton beam energy for 1 hour.
Electrical characterization of commercial NPN bipolar junction transistors under neutron and gamma irradiation
Authors: OO Myo , Rashid Nahrul , Karim Julia , Mohamed Zin , Rahim Rosminazuin , Azman Amelia , Hasbullah Nurul
Published: May 2014

Electronics components such as bipolar junction transistors, diodes, etc.
which are used in deep space mission are required to be tolerant to
extensive exposure to energetic neutrons and ionizing radiation. This paper
examines neutron radiation with pneumatic transfer system of TRIGA Mark-II
reactor at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. The effects of the gamma radiation
from Co-60 on silicon NPN bipolar junction transistors is also be examined.
Analyses on irradiated transistors were performed in terms of the
electrical characteristics such as current gain, collector current and base
current. Experimental results showed that the current gain on the devices
degraded significantly after neutron and gamma radiations. Neutron radiation
can cause displacement damage in the bulk layer of the transistor structure
and gamma radiation can induce ionizing damage in the oxide layer of
emitter-base depletion layer. The current gain degradation is believed to be
governed by the increasing recombination current in the base-emitter
depletion region.
‘For all the outcasts of this world’: Song and Dance in Brendan Behan's An Giall and The Hostage
Authors: Hawkins Maureen S.G.
Published: May 2014

In Brendan Behan's An Giall and The Hostage, song and dance establish atmosphere and character, comment ironically on the action, relate the characters to one another in a union of society's outcasts, and valorize life, love, healthy and open sexuality, and mutual comfort over the rules and regulations (and those who live by them) of a repressive, hypocritical, moribund, even murderous society. Thus, they provide a thematic structural underpinning, supporting and, at the same time, commenting on the essential unity of the plays' actions as they guide the audience's response to their themes. In An Giall, the counterpoise of religion, destructive nationalism, and life-celebrating songs and dances subtly establishes and develops its central theme: the doomed struggle of youth, love, and joy to survive in a death-oriented society. In The Hostage, the increased reliance on song and dance to convey more diverse and subtle political concerns leads to greater complexity in their use. Not only do they establish atmosphere, theme, and character; link and divide characters; undercut sentimentality and hypocrisy; satirise society; and celebrate love, sexuality, youth, and fun; but, in doing so, they provide a unity of purpose and theme for the play which replaces the more traditional unity of action.
The Role of Histidine-Proline-Rich Glycoprotein as Zinc Chaperone for Skeletal Muscle AMP Deaminase
Authors: Ranieri-Raggi Maria , Moir Arthur , Raggi Antonio
Published: May 2014

Metallochaperones function as intracellular shuttles for metal ions. At present, no evidence for the existence of any eukaryotic zinc-chaperone has been provided although metallochaperones could be critical for the physiological functions of Zn2+ metalloenzymes. We propose that the complex formed in skeletal muscle by the Zn2+ metalloenzyme AMP deaminase (AMPD) and the metal binding protein histidine-proline-rich glycoprotein (HPRG) acts in this manner. HPRG is a major plasma protein. Recent investigations have reported that skeletal muscle cells do not synthesize HPRG but instead actively internalize plasma HPRG. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) performed on fresh preparations of rabbit skeletal muscle AMPD provided evidence for a dinuclear zinc site in the enzyme compatible with a (μ-aqua)(μ-carboxylato)dizinc(II) core with two histidine residues at each metal site. XAS on HPRG isolated from the AMPD complex showed that zinc is bound to the protein in a dinuclear cluster where each Zn2+ ion is coordinated by three histidine and one heavier ligand, likely sulfur from cysteine. We describe the existence in mammalian HPRG of a specific zinc binding site distinct from the His-Pro-rich region. The participation of HPRG in the assembly and maintenance of skeletal muscle AMPD by acting as a zinc chaperone is also demonstrated.
Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography for Clinical Gastroenterology
Authors: Tsai Tsung-Han , Fujimoto James , Mashimo Hiroshi
Published: May 2014

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a real-time optical imaging technique that is similar in principle to ultrasonography, but employs light instead of sound waves and allows depth-resolved images with near-microscopic resolution. Endoscopic OCT allows the evaluation of broad-field and subsurface areas and can be used ancillary to standard endoscopy, narrow band imaging, chromoendoscopy, magnification endoscopy, and confocal endomicroscopy. This review article will provide an overview of the clinical utility of endoscopic OCT in the gastrointestinal tract and of recent achievements using state-of-the-art endoscopic 3D-OCT imaging systems.
An Optimal Reactive Power Control Strategy for a DFIG-Based Wind Farm to Damp the Sub-Synchronous Oscillation of a Power System
Authors: Zhao Bin , Li Hui , Wang Mingyu , Chen Yaojun , Liu Shengquan , Yang Dong , Yang Chao , Hu Yaogang , Chen Zhe
Published: May 2014

This study presents the auxiliary damping control with the reactive power loop on the rotor-side converter of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind farms to depress the sub-synchronous resonance oscillations in nearby turbogenerators. These generators are connected to a series capacitive compensation transmission system. First, the damping effect of the reactive power control of the DFIG-based wind farms was theoretically analyzed, and a transfer function between turbogenerator speed and the output reactive power of the wind farms was introduced to derive the analytical expression of the damping coefficient. The phase range to obtain positive damping was determined. Second, the PID phase compensation parameters of the auxiliary damping controller were optimized by a genetic algorithm to obtain the optimum damping in the entire subsynchronous frequency band. Finally, the validity and effectiveness of the proposed auxiliary damping control were demonstrated on a modified version of the IEEE first benchmark model by time domain simulation analysis with the use of DigSILENT/PowerFactory. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that this derived damping factor expression and the condition of the positive damping can effectively analyze their impact on the system sub-synchronous oscillations, the proposed wind farms reactive power additional damping control strategy can provide the optimal damping effect over the whole sub-synchronous frequency band, and the control effect is better than the active power additional damping control strategy based on the power system stabilizator.
Satellite Galaxy Velocity Dispersions in the SDSS and Modified Gravity Models
Authors: Moffat John , Toth Viktor
Published: May 2014

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) provides data on several hundred thousand galaxies. The precise location of these galaxies in the sky, along with information about their luminosities and line-of-sight (Doppler) velocities, allows one to construct a three-dimensional map of their location and estimate their line-of-sight velocity dispersion. This information, in principle, allows one to test dynamical gravity models, specifically models of satellite galaxy velocity dispersions near massive hosts. A key difficulty is the separation of true satellites from interlopers. We sidestep this problem by not attempting to derive satellite galaxy velocity dispersions from the data, but instead incorporate an interloper background into the mathematical models and compare the result to the actual data. We find that due to the presence of interlopers, it is not possible to exclude several gravitational theories on the basis of the SDSS data.
The Impact of Parental Knowledge and Tanning Attitudes on Sun Protection Practice for Young Children in Germany
Authors: Gefeller Olaf , Li Jiang , Uter Wolfgang , Pfahlberg Annette
Published: May 2014

Public health campaigns have improved knowledge on UVR-associated skin cancer risk and increased sun protection awareness. However, tanned skin is still a common beauty ideal. The relationship between knowledge, attitudes and protective behavior is not fully understood yet. A population-based survey was thus performed in the district of Erlangen involving 2,619 parents of 3- to 6-year old children. By means of a self-administered standardized questionnaire parental knowledge about risk factors for skin cancer, their attitudes towards tanning and details of protective measures taken for their children were assessed. The study analyzed specifically the impact of parental tanning attitudes on sun-protective measures for their children while controlling for parental knowledge about skin cancer risk factors. While parental knowledge was significantly (inversely) associated with agreement to the statement “Tanned skin is healthy skin”, this was not the case for “Tanning makes me look better”. Overall, tanning affirmative attitudes were inversely associated with protective measures taken for the children, whereas parental knowledge had a positive impact on sun protection at the beach only. Multivariable analyses provided evidence for an effect of parental attitude on protective behavior independent of parental knowledge. Tanning attitudes and tanned skin as the misguided ideal of beauty need to be addressed in future public health campaigns to enhance the effectiveness of preventive activities in changing sun protective behavior.
Huperzine A Ameliorates Cognitive Deficits in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Mao Xiao-Yuan , Cao Dan-Feng , Li Xi , Yin Ji-Ye , Wang Zhi-Bin , Zhang Ying , Mao Chen-Xue , Zhou Hong-Hao , Liu Zhao-Qian
Published: May 2014

The present study was designed to probe the effects of Huperzine A (HupA) on diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) using a streptozotocin (STZ)-injected rat model. Diabetic rats were treated with HupA (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) for seven weeks. Memory functions were evaluated by the water maze test. Nissl staining was selected for detecting neuronal loss. Protein and mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. The activities of choline acetylase (ChAT), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 were measured using corresponding kits. After seven weeks, diabetic rats exhibited remarkable reductions in: body weight, percentage of time spent in target quadrant, number of times crossing the platform, ChAT and BDNF levels, SOD, GSH-Px and CAT accompanied with increases in neuronal damage, plasma glucose levels, escape latency, mean path length, AChE, MDA level as well as CAT, NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Supplementation with HupA significantly and dose-dependently reversed the corresponding values in diabetes. It is concluded that HupA ameliorates DACD via modulating BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
Importance of Kupffer Cells in the Development of Acute Liver Injuries in Mice
Authors: Tsutsui Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: May 2014

Kupffer cells reside within the liver sinusoid and serve as gatekeepers. They produce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and other biologically important molecules upon the engagement of pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors. Kupffer cell-ablated mice established by in vivo treatment with clodronate liposomes have revealed many important features of Kupffer cells. In this paper, we review the importance of Kupffer cells in murine acute liver injuries and focus on the following two models: lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury, which is induced by priming with Propionibacterium acnes and subsequent challenge with LPS, and hypercoagulability-mediated acute liver failure such as that in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis. Kupffer cells are required for LPS sensitization induced by P. acnes and are a major cellular source of interleukin-18, which induces acute liver injury following LPS challenge. Kupffer cells contribute to Con A-induced acute liver failure by initiating pathogenic, intrasinusoidal thrombosis in collaboration with sinusoidal endothelial cells. The mechanisms underlying these models may shed light on human liver injuries induced by various etiologies such as viral infection and/or abnormal metabolism.
Information Management for Intelligent Retail Environment: The Shelf Detector System
Authors: Frontoni Emanuele , Mancini Adriano , Zingaretti Primo , Placidi Valerio
Published: May 2014

Shelf-out-of-stock is one of the leading motivations of technology innovation in the shelf of the future. The Shelf Detector project described in this paper aims to solve the problem of data knowledge in the shelf-out-of-stock problem. This paper is mainly focused on the information layer of the system and main novelties illustrated in this work are in the information field demonstrating the huge number of insights that can be derived from the use of such a tool able to gather data in real time from the store. The tool presented is the first being installed for a long time in a high number of stores and products, demonstrating the ability to gather data and extract interesting insights. This paper aims to demonstrate the feasibility and the scalability of our system in providing a high number of data and interesting insights for store and marketing teams. The cloud based architecture developed and tested in this project is a key feature of our system together with the ability to collect data from a distributed sensor network.
Wayside Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on a Data-Driven Doppler Effect Eliminator and Transient Model Analysis
Authors: Liu Fang , Shen Changqing , He Qingbo , Zhang Ao , Liu Yongbin , Kong Fanrang
Published: May 2014

A fault diagnosis strategy based on the wayside acoustic monitoring technique is investigated for locomotive bearing fault diagnosis. Inspired by the transient modeling analysis method based on correlation filtering analysis, a so-called Parametric-Mother-Doppler-Wavelet (PMDW) is constructed with six parameters, including a center characteristic frequency and five kinematic model parameters. A Doppler effect eliminator containing a PMDW generator, a correlation filtering analysis module, and a signal resampler is invented to eliminate the Doppler effect embedded in the acoustic signal of the recorded bearing. Through the Doppler effect eliminator, the five kinematic model parameters can be identified based on the signal itself. Then, the signal resampler is applied to eliminate the Doppler effect using the identified parameters. With the ability to detect early bearing faults, the transient model analysis method is employed to detect localized bearing faults after the embedded Doppler effect is eliminated. The effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis strategy is verified via simulation studies and applications to diagnose locomotive roller bearing defects.
Applications of Optical Interferometer Techniques for Precision Measurements of Changes in Temperature, Growth and Refractive Index of Materials
Authors: Bommareddi Rami
Published: May 2014

Optical metrology techniques used to measure changes in thickness; temperature and refractive index are surveyed. Optical heterodyne detection principle and its applications for precision measurements of changes in thickness and temperature are discussed. Theoretical formulations are developed to estimate crystal growth rate, surface roughness and laser cooling/heating of solids. Applications of Michelson and Mach-Zehnder interferometers to measure temperature changes in laser heating of solids are described. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used to measure refractive index and concentration variations of solutions in crystal growth experiments. Additionally, fluorescence lifetime sensing and fluorescence ratio method are described for temperature measurement. For all the above techniques, uncertainty calculations are included.
Viruses and Tetraspanins: Lessons from Single Molecule Approaches
Authors: Dahmane Selma , Rubinstein Eric , Milhiet Pierre-Emmanuel
Published: May 2014

Tetraspanins are four-span membrane proteins that are widely distributed in multi-cellular organisms and involved in several infectious diseases. They have the unique property to form a network of protein-protein interaction within the plasma membrane, due to the lateral associations with one another and with other membrane proteins. Tracking tetraspanins at the single molecule level using fluorescence microscopy has revealed the membrane behavior of the tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 in epithelial cell lines, providing a first dynamic view of this network. Single molecule tracking highlighted that these 2 proteins can freely diffuse within the plasma membrane but can also be trapped, permanently or transiently, in tetraspanin-enriched areas. More recently, a similar strategy has been used to investigate tetraspanin membrane behavior in the context of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this review we summarize the main results emphasizing the relationship in terms of membrane partitioning between tetraspanins, some of their partners such as Claudin-1 and EWI-2, and viral proteins during infection. These results will be analyzed in the context of other membrane microdomains, stressing the difference between raft and tetraspanin-enriched microdomains, but also in comparison with virus diffusion at the cell surface. New advanced single molecule techniques that could help to further explore tetraspanin assemblies will be also discussed.
A New Method for Urban Storm Flood Inundation Simulation with Fine CD-TIN Surface
Authors: Li Zhifeng , Wu Lixin , Zhu Wei , Hou Miaole , Yang Yizhou , Zheng Jianchun
Published: May 2014

Urban storm inundation, which frequently has dramatic impacts on city safety and social life, is an emergent and difficult issue. Due to the complexity of urban surfaces and the variety of spatial modeling elements, the lack of detailed hydrological data and accurate urban surface models compromise the study and implementation of urban storm inundation simulations. This paper introduces a Constrained Delaunay Triangular Irregular Network (CD-TIN) to model fine urban surfaces (based on detailed ground sampling data) and subsequently employs a depression division method that refers to Fine Constrained Features (FCFs) to construct computational urban water depressions. Storm-runoff yield is placed through mass conservation to calculate the volume of rainfall, runoff and drainage. The water confluences between neighboring depressions are provided when the water level exceeds the outlet of a certain depression. Numerical solutions achieved through a dichotomy are introduced to obtain the water level. Therefore, the continuous inundation process can be divided into different time intervals to obtain a series of inundation scenarios. The main campus of Beijing Normal University (BNU) was used as a case study to simulate the “7.21” storm inundation event to validate the usability and suitability of the proposed methods. In comparing the simulation results with in-situ observations, the proposed method is accurate and effective, with significantly lower drainage data requirements being obtained. The proposed methods will also be useful for urban drainage design and city inundation emergency preparations.
Trends in new particle formation in eastern Lapland, Finland: effect of decreasing sulfur emissions from Kola Peninsula
Authors: Kyrö E.-M. , Väänänen R. , Kerminen V.-M. , Virkkula A. , Petäjä T. , Asmi A. , Dal Maso M. , Nieminen T. , Juhola S. , Shcherbinin A. , Riipinen I. , Lehtipalo K. , Keronen P. , Aalto P. P. , Hari P. , Kulmala M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. The smelter industry in Kola Peninsula is the largest source of anthropogenic SO2 in the Arctic part of Europe and one of the largest within the Arctic domain. Due to socio-economic changes in Russia, the emissions have been decreasing especially since the late 1990s resulting in decreased SO2 concentrations close to Kola in eastern Lapland, Finland. At the same time, the frequency of new particle formation days has been decreasing distinctively at SMEAR I station in eastern Lapland, especially during spring and autumn. We show that sulfur species, namely sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid, have an important role in both new particle formation and subsequent growth and that the decrease in new particle formation days is a result of the reduction of sulfur emissions originating from Kola Peninsula. In addition to sulfur species, there are many other quantities, such as formation rate of aerosol particles, condensation sink and nucleation mode particle number concentration, which are related to the number of observed new particle formation (NPF) days and need to be addressed when linking sulfur emissions and NPF. We show that while most of these quantities exhibit statistically significant trends, the reduction in Kola sulfur emissions is the most obvious reason for the rapid decline in NPF days. Sulfuric acid explains approximately 20–50% of the aerosol condensational growth observed at SMEAR I, and there is a large seasonal variation with highest values obtained during spring and autumn. We found that (i) particles form earlier after sunrise during late winter and early spring due to high concentrations of SO2 and H2SO4; (ii) several events occurred during the absence of light, and they were connected to higher than average concentrations of SO2; and (iii) high SO2 concentrations could advance the onset of nucleation by several hours. Moreover, air masses coming over Kola Peninsula seemed to favour new particle formation.
On the stratigraphic integrity of leaf-wax biomarkers in loess paleosols
Authors: Häggi C. , Zech R. , McIntyre C. , Zech M. , Eglinton T. I.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate reconstructions based on molecular proxies, such as those derived from leaf-wax biomarkers, in loess-paleosol sequences represent a promising line of investigation in Quaternary research. The main premise of such reconstructions is the synsedimentary deposition of biomarkers and dust, which has become a debated subject in recent years. This study uses two independent approaches to test the stratigraphic integrity of leaf-wax biomarkers: (i) long-chain n-alkanes and fatty acids are quantified in two sediment-depth profiles in glacial till on the Swiss Plateau, consisting of a Holocene topsoil and the underlying B and C horizons. Since glacial sediments are initially very poor in organic matter, significant amounts of leaf-wax biomarkers in the B and C horizons of those profiles would reflect postsedimentary root-derived or microbial contributions. (ii) Compound-specific radiocarbon measurements are conducted on n-alkanes and n-alkanoic (fatty) acids from several depth intervals in the loess section "Crvenka", Serbia, and the results are compared to independent estimates of sediment age. We find extremely low concentrations of plant-wax n-alkanes and fatty acids in the B and C horizons below the topsoils in the sediment profiles. Moreover, compound-specific radiocarbon analysis yields plant-wax 14C ages that agree well with published luminescence ages and stratigraphy of the Serbian loess deposit. Both approaches confirm that postsedimentary, root-derived or microbial contributions are negligible in the two investigated systems. The good agreement between the ages of odd and even homologues also indicates that reworking and incorporation of fossil leaf waxes is not particularly relevant either.
Coupling the high complexity land surface model ACASA to the mesoscale model WRF
Authors: Xu L. , Pyles R. D. , Paw U K. T. , Chen S. H. , Monier E.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) is coupled with the Advanced Canopy–Atmosphere–Soil Algorithm (ACASA), a high complexity land surface model. Although WRF is a state-of-the-art regional atmospheric model with high spatial and temporal resolutions, the land surface schemes available in WRF are simple and lack the capability to simulate carbon dioxide, for example, the popular NOAH LSM. ACASA is a complex multilayer land surface model with interactive canopy physiology and full surface hydrological processes. It allows microenvironmental variables such as air and surface temperatures, wind speed, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration to vary vertically. Simulations of surface conditions such as air temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity from WRF–ACASA and WRF–NOAH are compared with surface observation from over 700 meteorological stations in California. Results show that the increase in complexity in the WRF–ACASA model not only maintains model accuracy, it also properly accounts for the dominant biological and physical processes describing ecosystem-atmosphere interactions that are scientifically valuable. The different complexities of physical and physiological processes in the WRF–ACASA and WRF–NOAH models also highlight the impacts of different land surface and model components on atmospheric and surface conditions.
Droplet activation parameterization: the population splitting concept revisited
Authors: Morales Betancourt R. , Nenes A.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. In this work we postulate, implement and evaluate modifications to the "population splitting" concept introduced by Nenes and Seinfeld (2003) for calculation of water condensation rates in droplet activation parameterizations. The modifications introduced here lead to an improved accuracy and precision of the parameterization-derived maximum supersaturation, smax, and droplet number concentration, Nd, as determined by comparing against those of detailed numerical simulations of the activation process. A numerical computation of the first-order derivatives ∂ Nd/∂ χj of the parameterized Nd to input variables χj was performed, and compared against the corresponding parcel model derived sensitivities, providing a thorough evaluation of the impacts of the introduced modifications in the parameterization ability to respond to aerosol characteristics. The proposed modifications require only minor changes for their numerical implementation in existing codes based on the population splitting concept.
Uncertainty in runoff based on Global Climate Model precipitation and temperature data – Part 1: Assessment of Global Climate Models
Authors: McMahon T. A. , Peel M. C. , Karoly D. J.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Two key sources of uncertainty in projections of future runoff for climate change impact assessments are uncertainty between Global Climate Models (GCMs) and within a GCM. Uncertainty between GCM projections of future climate can be assessed through analysis of runs of a given scenario from a wide range of GCMs. Within GCM uncertainty is the variability in GCM output that occurs when running a scenario multiple times but each run has slightly different, but equally plausible, initial conditions. The objective of this, the first of two complementary papers, is to reduce between-GCM uncertainty by identifying and removing poorly performing GCMs prior to the analysis presented in the second paper. Here we assess how well 46 runs from 22 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) GCMs are able to reproduce observed precipitation and temperature climatological statistics. The performance of each GCM in reproducing these statistics was ranked and better performing GCMs identified for later analyses. Observed global land surface precipitation and temperature data were drawn from the CRU 3.10 gridded dataset and re-sampled to the resolution of each GCM for comparison. Observed and GCM based estimates of mean and standard deviation of annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, mean monthly precipitation and temperature and Köppen climate type were compared. The main metrics for assessing GCM performance were the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency index and RMSE between modelled and observed long-term statistics. This information combined with a literature review of the performance of the CMIP3 models identified the following five models as the better performing models for the next phase of our analysis in assessing the uncertainty in runoff estimated from GCM projections of precipitation and temperature: HadCM3 (Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research), MIROCM (Center for Climate System Research (The University of Tokyo), National Institute for Environmental Studies, and Frontier Research Center for Global Change), MIUB (Meteorological Institute of the University of Bonn, Meteorological Research Institute of KMA, and Model and Data group), MPI (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology) and MRI (Japan Meteorological Research Institute).
Statistical similarity between high energy charged particle fluxes in near-earth space and earthquakes
Authors: Wang P. , Chang Z. , Wang H. , Lu H.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. It has long been noticed that rapid short-term variations of high energy charged particle fluxes in near-Earth space occur more frequently several hours before the main shock of earthquakes. Physicists wish that this observation supply a possible precursor of strong earthquakes. Based on DEMETER data, we investigate statistical behaviors of flux fluctuations for high energy charged particles in near-Earth space. Long-term clustering, scaling, and universality in the temporal occurrence are found. There is high degree statistical similarity between high energy charged particle fluxes in near-Earth space and earthquakes. Thus, the observations of the high energy particle fluxes in near-Earth space may supply a useful tool in the study of earthquakes.
Rickettsia and Borrelia Prevalence Study among Ticks in Georgia
Authors: Zghenti E. , Sukhiashvili R. , Khmaladze E. , Tsertsvadze N. , Pisarcik Sarah , Imnadze P.
Published: May 2014

The primary goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of Rickettsia and Borellia in ticks collected from different regions of Georgia.
Success in Revitalizing Weekly Disease Surveillance System in Zimbabwe Using Cell-phone Mediated Data Transmission, 2009-2013
Authors: Chidawanyika Henry , Nyika Ponesai , Katiyo Joshua , Sox Anthony , Chokuda Tongai , Peter Kilmarx , Gonese Elizabeth , Tapfumanei Ottias , Mukwiza Robson
Published: May 2014

Innovative approach to revitalizing Disease Surveillance System in Zimbabwe using cell-phone mediated data transmission has been a huge success. Cell phones have been successfully integrated into disease surveillance system resulting in expansion of surveillance coverage, improved completeness and timeliness. Decision makers are now able to access disease surveillance data in near real-time.