bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid responses of mesophyll conductance to changes of CO2 concentration, temperature and irradiance are affected by N supplements in rice
Authors: Xiong Dongliang , Liu Xi , Liu Limin , Douthe Cyril , Li Yong , Peng Shaobing , Huang Jianliang
Published: April 2015

Photosynthesis in C3 plants is significantly limited by mesophyll conductance (gm), which can vary with leaf anatomical traits and nitrogen (N) supplements. Several studies have investigated the response of gm to N supplements; however, none examined the implications of N supplements on the response of gm to rapid environmental changes. Here we investigated the effect of N supplement on gm and the response of gm to change of CO2, temperature and irradiance in rice. High N supplement (HN) increased mesophyll cell wall surface area and chloroplast surface area exposed to intercellular airspace per leaf area, and reduced cell wall thickness. These changes resulted in increased gm. The gm of leaves with HN was more sensitive to changes in CO2 concentration, temperature and irradiance. The difference in leaf structural features between low N supplement and HN indicates that a rapid change in gm is related to the regulation of diffusion through biological membranes rather than leaf structural features. These results will contribute to an understanding of the determinants of gm response to rapid changes in environmental factors.
Arabidopsis thaliana CML25 mediates the Ca2+ regulation of K+ transmembrane trafficking during pollen germination and tube elongation
Authors: Wang Shuang‐Shuang , Diao Wen‐Zhu , Yang Xue , Qiao Zhu , Wang Mei , Acharya Biswa R. , Zhang Wei
Published: April 2015

The concentration alteration of cytosolic‐free calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) is a well‐known secondary messenger in plants and plays important roles during pollen grain germination and tube elongation. Here we demonstrate that CML25, a member of calmodulin‐like proteins, has Ca2+‐binding activity and plays a role in pollen grain germination, tube elongation and seed setting. CML25 transcript was abundant in mature pollen grains and pollen tubes, and its product CML25 protein was primarily directed to the cytoplasm. Two independent CML25 loss‐of‐function T‐DNA insertion mutants suffered a major reduction in both the rate of pollen germination and the elongation of the pollen tube. Also, pollen grains of cml25 mutants were less sensitive to the external K+ and Ca2+ concentration than wild‐type pollen. The disruption of CML25 increased the [Ca2+]cyt in both the pollen grain and the pollen tube, which in turn impaired the Ca2+‐dependent inhibition of whole‐cell inward K+ currents in protoplasts prepared from these materials (pollen grain and pollen tube). Complementation of cml25‐1 mutant resulted in the recovery of wild‐type phenotype. Our findings indicate that CML25 is an important transducer in the Ca2+‐mediated regulation of K+ influx during pollen germination and tube elongation.
Silencing a key gene of the common symbiosis pathway in Nicotiana attenuata specifically impairs arbuscular mycorrhizal infection without influencing the root‐associated microbiome or plant growth
Authors: Groten Karin , Nawaz Ali , Nguyen Nam H. T. , Santhanam Rakesh , Baldwin Ian T.
Published: April 2015

While the biochemical function of calcium and calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is well studied, and plants impaired in the expression of CCaMK are known not to be infected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in glasshouse studies, the whole‐plant and ecological consequences of CCaMK silencing are not well understood. Here we show that three independently transformed lines of Nicotiana attenuata plants silenced in CCaMK (irCCaMK) are neither infected by Rhizophagus irregularis in the glasshouse nor by native fungal inoculum in the field. The overall fungal community of field‐grown roots did not differ significantly among empty vector (EV) and the transgenic lines, and the bacterial communities only showed minor differences, as revealed by the alpha‐diversity parameters of bacterial OTUs, which were higher in EV plants compared with two of the three transformed lines, while beta‐diversity parameters did not differ. Furthermore, growth and fitness parameters were similar in the glasshouse and field. Herbivory‐inducible and basal levels of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid did not differ among the genotypes, suggesting that activation of the classical defence pathways are not affected by CCaMK silencing. Based on these results, we conclude that silencing of CCaMK has few, if any, non‐target effects.
Hypoelectrolytic isoosmotic solution for infusion prevents saline‐induced ultrastuructural artifacts of renal biopsy specimens
Authors: Nakamura Yasuhiro , McNamara Keely M. , Onodera Shin , Kitamoto Yasunori , Kisu Kiyomi , Shibahara Yukiko , Kurosu Akira , Sasano Hironobu , Sato Hiroshi , Joh Kensuke
Published: April 2015

Artifacts in the process of specimen preparation are frequent in ultrastructural evaluation of renal biopsy. We hypothesized that the common practice of wrapping kidney biopsy specimens in saline‐soaked gauze to prevent the drying of the specimens could be the major factor of artifacts. In this study, whole kidneys from two male Sprague‐Dawley rats were used. Before fixation, fresh small cubes of kidney tissue were macerated in saline (Saline group) or hypoelectrolytic isoosmotic solution for infusion (HISI group) (Sorita T3 or SOLDEM 3A) for 10 or 30 min. Then, the specimens were processed by 1% OsO4 in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and embedded by EPON 812 for ultramicroscopic analysis. In the Saline group, ultrastructural examination revealed swollen podocyte, swollen capillary protuberance of the mesangium into the glomerular capillary loop, tubular cells with swollen mitochondria and microvilli, and the smooth muscle cells in the arteriolar wall with marked vacuolar degeneration were detected after 10 min maceration in saline and these findings become more pronounced after 30 min maceration. However, in the HISI group, these artifacts were not identified or limited within 30 min. It is postulated that HISI solution could prevent the artifacts, and be used for soaking and wrapping instead of physiologic saline solution.
Optimal Descending Mechanisms for Constrained Procurement
Authors: Gupta Shivam , Chen Wei , Dawande Milind , Janakiraman Ganesh
Published: April 2015

Descending mechanisms for procurement (or, ascending mechanisms for selling) have been well‐recognized for their simplicity from the viewpoint of bidders—they require less bidder sophistication as compared to sealed‐bid mechanisms. In this study, we consider procurement under each of two types of constraints: (1) Individual/Group Capacities: limitations on the amounts that can be sourced from individual and/or subsets of suppliers, and (2) Business Rules: lower and upper bounds on the number of suppliers to source from, and on the amount that can be sourced from any single supplier. We analyze two procurement problems, one that incorporates individual/group capacities and another that incorporates business rules. In each problem, we consider a buyer who wants to procure a fixed quantity of a product from a set of suppliers, where each supplier is endowed with a privately known constant marginal cost. The buyer's objective is to minimize her total expected procurement cost. For both problems, we present descending auction mechanisms that are optimal mechanisms. We then show that these two problems belong to a larger class of mechanism design problems with constraints specified by polymatroids, for which we prove that optimal mechanisms can be implemented as descending mechanisms.
Incentive Contracts for Managing a Project with Uncertain Completion Time
Authors: Tang Christopher S. , Zhang Kairen , Zhou Sean X.
Published: April 2015

We examine two time‐related incentive project management contracts (C1 and C2 contracts) when the manager conducts a reverse auction. Under the C1 contract, the contractor with the lowest bid price wins; however, the manager imposes a linear and symmetric incentive/disincentive for early/late completion according to a pre‐specified due date. Under the C2 contract, the winning contractor has the lowest composite score that is based on the quoted price and the quoted due date; however, in addition to the linear and symmetric penalty/incentive, the contractor is subject to an additional penalty for late completion. While the C2 contract is more sophisticated than the C1 contract (in terms of the number of decisions that each party has to make), our analysis reveals that, unless the project is truly urgent, the more complicated C2 contract adds no value to the manager— the simple C1 contract will suffice.
The Impact of Limited Supply on a Firm's Bundling Strategy
Authors: Cao Qingning , Stecke Kathryn E. , Zhang Jun
Published: April 2015

A firm's two‐product bundling decision is examined when the supply of one product is limited and consumer valuations are normally distSteckeributed. The firm can choose to sell products separately and/or through a bundle. We find that the impact of limited supply on a firm's bundling decision depends on the correlation between the consumer valuations of the two products as well as the symmetry level of the two products in terms of their attractiveness (how much they are valued by consumers). When the valuation correlation is high and the symmetry level of the two products is low, limited supply can drive bundling. When the valuation correlation is low or the symmetry level is high, limited supply can drive no bundling. When the attractiveness of both products are low or the valuation correlation is very high, limited supply has no impact on a firm's bundling decision: The firm should not bundle for all supply levels.

This study offers a new driver for product bundling: the limited supply of a product. The existing bundling literature suggests that a firm should bundle symmetric products that have a low consumer valuation correlation, when bundling is driven by consumer valuation heterogeneity reduction. In contrast, when bundling is driven by limited supply, a firm should bundle asymmetric products with a high consumer valuation correlation. The benefit of supply‐driven bundling depends on the severity of supply limitation. When supply limitation is moderate, bundling creates value by expanding the market of the less attractive product. When supply limitation is severe, bundling enables a firm to extract a higher margin from the less attractive product.
Municipal Groundwater Management: Optimal Allocation and Control of a Renewable Natural Resource
Authors: Murali Karthik , Lim Michael K. , Petruzzi Nicholas C.
Published: April 2015

We study a municipal groundwater management problem to determine optimal allocation and control policies in the presence of water transfer opportunities. We establish and characterize threshold polices governing export or import decisions of a given municipality. In the spirit of the Triple Bottom Line (3BL), we ascertain that exporting (importing) water through a water market defined by an exogenous export/import price is detrimental (beneficial) to both society and the environment within the municipality. In contrast, fixed quantity trading between two municipalities defined by an endogenously negotiated export/import price can have positive as well as negative impacts from a global 3BL perspective. In particular, typical trading scenarios that occur between municipalities can be detrimental to the environment. We also study the implications of privatization, and find that a privatized municipality would be more (less) likely to export (import) water as compared to its non‐privatized counterpart, resulting in negative implications for society within the municipality. However, if exports are banned, privatization can benefit the environment by mitigating the damage caused by the extraction differential, a phenomenon analogous to the green paradox. Moreover, careful and restricted privatization of municipalities can lead to positive global 3BL impacts from fixed quantity trading.
A Mixed‐Method Approach to Extracting the Value of Social Media Data
Authors: Chan Hing Kai , Wang Xiaojun , Lacka Ewelina , Zhang Min
Published: April 2015

In the last decade, social media platforms have become important communication channels between businesses and consumers. As a result, a lot of consumer‐generated data are available online. Unfortunately, they are not fully utilized, partly because of their nature: they are unstructured, subjective, and exist in massive databases. To make use of these data, more than one research method is needed. This study proposes a new, multiple approach to social media data analysis, which counteracts the aforementioned characteristics of social media data. In this new approach the data are first extracted systematically and coded following the principles of content analysis, after a comprehensive literature review has been conducted to guide the coding strategy. Next, the relationships between codes are identified by statistical cluster analysis. These relationships are used in the next step of the analysis, where evaluation criteria weights are derived on the basis of the social media data through probability weighting function. A case study is employed to test the proposed approach.
Meiotic recombination hotspots – a comparative view
Authors: Choi Kyuha , Henderson Ian R.
Published: April 2015

During meiosis homologous chromosomes pair and undergo reciprocal genetic exchange, termed crossover. Meiotic recombination has a profound effect on patterns of genetic variation and is an important tool during crop breeding. Crossovers initiate from programmed DNA double‐stranded breaks that are processed to form single‐stranded DNA, which can invade a homologous chromosome. Strand invasion events mature into double Holliday junctions that can be resolved as crossovers. Extensive variation in the frequency of meiotic recombination occurs along chromosomes and is typically focused in narrow hotspots, observed both at the level of DNA breaks and final crossovers. We review methodologies to profile hotspots at different steps of the meiotic recombination pathway that have been used in different eukaryote species. We then discuss what these studies have revealed concerning specification of hotspot locations and activity and the contributions of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Understanding hotspots is important for interpreting patterns of genetic variation in populations and how eukaryotic genomes evolve. In addition, manipulation of hotspots will allow us to accelerate crop breeding, where meiotic recombination distributions can be limiting.
A neural circuitry that emphasizes spinal feedback generates diverse behaviours of human locomotion
Authors: Song Seungmoon , Geyer Hartmut
Published: April 2015

Key points

It is often assumed that central pattern generators, which generate rhythmic patterns without rhythmic inputs, play a key role in the spinal control of human locomotion.

We propose a neural control model in which the spinal control generates muscle stimulations mainly through integrated reflex pathways with no central pattern generator.

Using a physics‐based neuromuscular human model, we show that this control network is sufficient to compose steady and transitional 3‐D locomotion behaviours, including walking and running, acceleration and deceleration, slope and stair negotiation, turning, and deliberate obstacle avoidance.

The results suggest feedback integration to be functionally more important than central pattern generation in human locomotion across behaviours.

In addition, the proposed control architecture may serve as a guide in the search for the neurophysiological origin and circuitry of spinal control in humans.

Neural networks along the spinal cord contribute substantially to generating locomotion behaviours in humans and other legged animals. However, the neural circuitry involved in this spinal control remains unclear. We here propose a specific circuitry that emphasizes feedback integration over central pattern generation. The circuitry is based on neurophysiologically plausible muscle‐reflex pathways that are organized in 10 spinal modules realizing limb functions essential to legged systems in stance and swing. These modules are combined with a supraspinal control layer that adjusts the desired foot placements and selects the leg that is to transition into swing control during double support. Using physics‐based simulation, we test the proposed circuitry in a neuromuscular human model that includes neural transmission delays, musculotendon dynamics and compliant foot–ground contacts. We find that the control network is sufficient to compose steady and transitional 3‐D locomotion behaviours including walking and running, acceleration and deceleration, slope and stair negotiation, turning, and deliberate obstacle avoidance. The results suggest feedback integration to be functionally more important than central pattern generation in human locomotion across behaviours. In addition, the proposed control architecture may serve as a guide in the search for the neurophysiological origin and circuitry of spinal control in humans.
Mitigation of tracheobronchomalacia with 3D-printed personalized medical devices in pediatric patients
Authors: Morrison Robert J. , Hollister Scott J. , Niedner Matthew F. , Mahani Maryam Ghadimi , Park Albert H. , Mehta Deepak K. , Ohye Richard G. , Green Glenn E.
Published: April 2015

Patient-specific, image-based design coupled with 3D biomaterial printing produced personalized implants for treatment of collapsed airways in patients with tracheobronchomalacia.
Arterial microanatomy determines the success of energy-based renal denervation in controlling hypertension
Authors: Tzafriri Abraham R. , Keating John H. , Markham Peter M. , Spognardi Anna-Maria , L. Stanley James R. , Wong Gee , Zani Brett G. , Highsmith Debby , O’Fallon Patrick , Fuimaono Kristine , Mahfoud Felix , Edelman Elazer R.
Published: April 2015

Local tissue anatomy determines the success of renal nerve ablation and explains its variable effects on blood pressure.
Checkpoint inhibitors continue to check out
Authors: Marson Alexander
Published: April 2015

Three articles are the latest clinical evidence of efficacy for anti–PD-1 antibodies as treatment for advanced melanoma and non–small cell lung cancer.
Implementing a structured education program for children with diabetes: lessons learnt from an integrated process evaluation
Authors: Sawtell Mary , Jamieson Liz , Wiggins Meg , Smith Felicity , Ingold Anne , Hargreaves Katrina , Khatwa Meena , Brooks Lucy , Thompson Rebecca , Christie Deborah
Published: April 2015

Background

There is recognition of an urgent need for clinic-based interventions for young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus that improve glycemic control and quality of life. The Child and Adolescent Structured Competencies Approach to Diabetes Education (CASCADE) is a structured educational group program, using psychological techniques, delivered primarily by diabetes nurses. Composed of four modules, it is designed for children with poor diabetic control and their parents. A mixed methods process evaluation, embedded within a cluster randomized control trial, aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and perceived impact of CASCADE.

Methods

28 pediatric diabetes clinics across England participated and 362 children aged 8–16 years, with type 1 diabetes and a mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 8.5 or above, took part. The process evaluation used a wide range of research methods.

Results

Of the 180 families in the intervention group, only 55 (30%) received the full program with 53% attending at least one module. Only 68% of possible groups were run. Staff found organizing the groups burdensome in terms of arranging suitable dates/times and satisfactory group composition. Some staff also reported difficulties in mastering the psychological techniques. Uptake, by families, was influenced by the number of groups run and by school, work and other commitments. Attendees described improved: family relationships; knowledge and understanding; confidence; motivation to manage the disease. The results of the trial showed that the intervention did not significantly improve HbA1c at 12 or 24 months.

Conclusions

Clinic-based structured group education delivered by staff using psychological techniques had perceived benefits for parents and young people. Staff and families considered it a valuable intervention, yet uptake was poor and the burden on staff was high. Recommendations are made to inform issues related to organization, design, and delivery in order to potentially enhance the impact of CASCADE and future programs.

Current Controlled Trials

ISRCTN52537669.
Does quality of life improve in octogenarians following cardiac surgery? A systematic review
Authors: Abah Udo , Dunne Mike , Cook Andrew , Hoole Stephen , Brayne Carol , Vale Luke , Large Stephen
Published: April 2015

Objectives

Current outcome measures in cardiac surgery are largely described in terms of mortality. Given the changing demographic profiles and increasingly aged populations referred for cardiac surgery this may not be the most appropriate measure. Postoperative quality of life is an outcome of importance to all ages, but perhaps particularly so for those whose absolute life expectancy is limited by virtue of age. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to clarify and summarise the existing evidence regarding postoperative quality of life of older people following cardiac surgery. For the purpose of this review we defined our population as people aged 80 years of age or over.

Methods

A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, trial registers and conference abstracts was undertaken to identify studies addressing quality of life following cardiac surgery in patients 80 or over.

Results

Forty-four studies were identified that addressed this topic, of these nine were prospective therefore overall conclusions are drawn from largely retrospective observational studies. No randomised controlled data were identified.

Conclusions

Overall there appears to be an improvement in quality of life in the majority of elderly patients following cardiac surgery, however there was a minority in whom quality of life declined (8–19%). There is an urgent need to validate these data and if correct to develop a robust prediction tool to identify these patients before surgery. Such a tool could guide informed consent, policy development and resource allocation.
Public health implications of molecular point-of-care testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in remote primary care services in Australia: a qualitative study
Authors: Natoli L , Guy R J , Shephard M , Whiley D , Tabrizi S N , Ward J , Regan D G , Badman S G , Anderson D A , Kaldor J , Maher L
Published: April 2015

Objectives

With accurate molecular tests now available for diagnosis of chlamydia and gonorrhoea (Chlamydia trachomatis(CT)/Neisseria gonorrhoeae(NG)) at the point-of-care (POC), we aimed to explore the public health implications (benefits and barriers) of their integration into remote primary care in Australia.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposively selected group of 18 key informants reflecting sexual health, primary care, remote Aboriginal health and laboratory expertise.

Results

Participants believed that POC testing may decrease community prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and associated morbidity by reducing the time to treatment and infectious period and expediting partner notification. Also, POC testing could improve acceptability of STI testing, increase testing coverage and result in more targeted prescribing, thereby minimising the risk of antibiotic resistance. Conversely, some felt the immediacy of diagnosis could deter certain young people from being tested. Participants also noted that POC testing may reduce the completeness of communicable disease surveillance data given the current dependence on reporting from pathology laboratories. Others expressed concern about the need to maintain and improve the flow of NG antibiotic sensitivity data, already compromised by the shift to nucleic acid-based testing. This is particularly relevant to remote areas where culture viability is problematic.

Conclusions

Results indicate a high level of support from clinicians and public health practitioners for wider access to CT/NG POC tests citing potential benefits, including earlier, more accurate treatment decisions and reductions in ongoing transmission. However, the data also highlight the need for new systems to avoid adverse impact on disease surveillance.

Trial registration number

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613000808741.
The stability of weight status through the early to middle childhood years in Australia: a longitudinal study
Authors: Wheaton Nikita , Millar Lynne , Allender Steven , Nichols Melanie
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To investigate the sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with incidence, persistence or remission of obesity in a longitudinal sample of Australian children aged 4–10 years.

Setting

Nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC).

Participants

The sample for this analysis included all children in the Kinder cohort (aged 4–5 years at wave 1) who participated in all four waves of LSAC (wave 1, 2004, aged 4–5 years; wave 2, 2006, aged 6–7 years; wave 3, 2008, aged 8–9 years and wave 4, 2010, aged 10–11 years). Of the 4983 children who participated in the baseline (wave 1) survey, 4169 (83.7%) children completed all four waves of data collection.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Movement of children between weight status categories over time and individual-level predictors of weight status change (sociodemographic characteristics, selected dietary and activity behaviours).

Results

The study found tracking of weight status across this period of childhood. There was an inverse association observed between socioeconomic position and persistence of overweight/obesity. Sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit and vegetable intake and screen time appeared to be important predictors of stronger tracking.

Conclusions

Overweight and obesity established early in childhood tracks strongly to the middle childhood years in Australia, particularly among children of lower socioeconomic position and children participating in some unhealthy behaviour patterns.
Identification of stroke during the emergency call: a descriptive study of callers’ presentation of stroke
Authors: Berglund Annika , von Euler Mia , Schenck-Gustafsson Karin , Castrén Maaret , Bohm Katarina
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To evaluate symptoms presented by the caller during emergency calls regarding stroke, and to assess if symptoms in the Face-Arm-Speech-Time Test (FAST) are related to identification of stroke.

Setting

Emergency calls to the Emergency Medical Communication Center (EMCC) concerning patients discharged with stroke diagnosis in a large teaching hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, in January–June 2011.

Participants

The emergency calls of 179 patients who arrived at hospital by ambulance, and who were discharged with a stroke diagnosis and consented to participate were included in the study.

Outcome measures

Frequencies of stroke symptoms presented and a comparison of symptoms presented in calls with dispatch code stroke or other dispatch code.

Results

Of the 179 emergency calls analysed, 64% were dispatched as ‘Stroke’. FAST symptoms, that is, facial or arm weakness or speech disturbances, were presented in 64% of the calls and were spontaneously revealed in 90%. Speech disturbance was the most common problem (54%) in all calls, followed by fall/lying position (38%) and altered mental status (27%). For patients with dispatch codes other than stroke, the dominating problem presented was a fall or being in a lying position (66%), followed by speech disturbance (31%) and altered mental status (25%). Stroke-specific symptoms were more common in patients dispatched as stroke. FAST symptoms were reported in 80% of patients dispatched as stroke compared with 35% in those dispatched as something else.

Conclusions

This study implicates that fall/lying position and altered mental status could be considered as possible symptoms of stroke during an emergency call. Checking for FAST symptoms in these patients might uncover stroke symptoms. Future studies are needed to evaluate if actively asking for FAST symptoms in emergency calls presenting falls or a lying position can improve the identification of stroke.

Trial registration number

Stroke2010/703-31/2.
Influence of lifestyle on theFAIM2promoter methylation between obese and lean children: a cohort study
Authors: Wu Lijun , Zhao Xiaoyuan , Shen Yue , Huang Guimin , Zhang Meixian , Yan Yinkun , Hou Dongqing , Meng Linghui , Liu Junting , Cheng Hong , Mi Jie
Published: April 2015

Objective

An obesity-related gene, Fas apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 (FAIM2), is regulated by nutritional state and the methylation levels of theFAIM2promoter are significantly associated with obesity. Lifestyle factors, such as sedentary behaviour and physical activity, might modify epigenetic patterns that have been related to obesity. Whether the molecular mechanisms by whichFAIM2affects obesity are involved in lifestyle is unclear. This study investigates the potential differences of theFAIM2promoter methylation with sedentary behaviour and physical activity in obese and lean children.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Institute of Pediatrics in China.

Participants

59 obese cases and 39 lean controls aged 8–18 years recruited from a cross-sectional survey of children from Beijing in 2013.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

TheFAIM2promoter methylation was quantified using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Sedentary behaviour and physical activity were investigated using a questionnaire. The influences of different lifestyles on methylation variations in obese and lean children were examined by multiple linear regression.

Results

The methylation levels at seven CpG sites of theFAIM2promoter were significantly associated with sedentary behaviour, especially the methylation levels at site −975, site −413, sites −362 and −360, and sites −353 and −349 (p=0.00004, 0.00009, 0.0006 and 0.00005, respectively). There were significant differences between the methylation levels at four CpG sites in obese and lean participants with high or moderate physical activity level <150 min/week.

Conclusions

This study provides the first evidence that there are significant differences in the associations of theFAIM2promoter methylation with sedentary behaviour and physical activity between obese and lean children. Our results suggest that lifestyle may possibly be mediating the process of theFAIM2involved in obesity.
Dynamic Feature Subspaces Selection for Decision in a Nonstationary Environment
Authors: He Xiyan , Beauseroy Pierre , Smolarz André
Published: April 2015

The presence of noise, loss of information or feature nonstationarity in data is the limiting factor for many machine learning decision systems. Previous research has shown that relevant feature selection may be helpful to alleviate the impact of these possible perturbations. This paper presents a dynamical feature subspaces selection method based on ensembles of one-class Support Vector Machine (SVM), with the objective to optimize the performance of a decision system in such a nonstationary environment. Our method is predicated on the assumption that only the performance of the classifiers using perturbed features is degraded. We propose a mechanism for constructing an ensemble of classifiers based on a large number of feature subspaces generated from the initial full-dimensional space. In the phase of classification, the ensemble system is capable to select adaptively feature subspaces which are supposed to be immune to the nonstationary disturbance and to make the final decision by combining the individual decisions of classifiers built in these subspaces. One characteristic of this method is that we use the one-class SVM ensemble to accomplish simultaneously the tasks of feature subspace selection and classification. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been demonstrated through the experiments conducted in the context of textured image classification.
Keyword Visual Representation for Image Retrieval and Image Annotation
Authors: Nguyen Nhu Van , Boucher Alain , Ogier Jean-Marc
Published: April 2015

Keyword-based image retrieval is more comfortable for users than content-based image retrieval. Because of the lack of semantic description of images, image annotation is often used a priori by learning the association between the semantic concepts (keywords) and the images (or image regions). This association issue is particularly difficult but interesting because it can be used for annotating images but also for multimodal image retrieval. However, most of the association models are unidirectional, from image to keywords. In addition to that, existing models rely on a fixed image database and prior knowledge. In this paper, we propose an original association model, which provides image-keyword bidirectional transformation. Based on the state-of-the-art Bag of Words model dealing with image representation, including a strategy of interactive incremental learning, our model works well with a zero-or-weak-knowledge image database and evolving from it. Some objective quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the model are proposed, in order to highlight the relevance of the method.
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Power Geometric Bonferroni Means and Their Application to Multiple Attribute Group Decision Making
Authors: He Yingdong , He Zhen , Jin Chao , Chen Huayou
Published: April 2015

The geometric Bonferroni mean (GBM) can capture the interrelationships between input arguments, which is an important generalization of Bonferroni mean (BM). In this paper, we combine geometric Bonferroni mean (GBM) with the power geometric average (PGA) operator under intuitionistic fuzzy environment and present the intuitionistic fuzzy geometric power Bonferroni mean (IFPGBM) and the weighted intuitionistic fuzzy power geometric Bonferroni mean (WIFPGBM). The desirable properties of these new extensions of Bonferroni mean and their special cases are investigated. We list the detailed steps of multiple attribute group decision making with the developed IFPGBM or WIFPGBM, and give a comparison of the new extensions of Bonferroni mean by this paper with the corresponding existing intuitionistic fuzzy Bonferroni means. Finally, examples are illustrated to show the validity and feasibility of the new approaches.
Benefiting feature selection by the discovery of false irrelevant attributes
Authors: Chao Lidia S. , Wong Derek F. , Chen Philip C. L. , Ng Wing W. Y. , Yeung Daniel S.
Published: April 2015

The ordinary feature selection methods select only the explicit relevant attributes by filtering the irrelevant ones. They trade the selection accuracy for the execution time and complexity. In which, the hidden supportive information possessed by the irrelevant attributes may be lost, so that they may miss some good combinations. We believe that attributes are useless regarding the classification task by themselves, sometimes may provide potentially useful supportive information to other attributes and thus benefit the classification task. Such a strategy can minimize the information lost, therefore is able to maximize the classification accuracy. Especially for the dataset contains hidden interactions among attributes. This paper proposes a feature selection methodology from a new angle that selects not only the relevant features, but also targeting at the potentially useful false irrelevant attributes by measuring their supportive importance to other attributes. The empirical results validate the hypothesis by demonstrating that the proposed approach outperforms most of the state-of-the-art filter based feature selection methods.
Is China Trying to Push the U.S. out of East Asia?
Authors: Wang Dong
Published: April 2015

One of the key questions for understanding the future trajectory of regional order is whether or not China is trying to push the United States out of East Asia and build a China-dominated regional order. Some Western analysts accuse China of pursuing the Monroe Doctrine and excluding the United States from the region. This article argues that the Western discourse of China practicing the Monroe Doctrine is a misplaced characterization of China's behavior. Rather than having intention of pushing the United States out of East Asia and build a China-dominated regional order, China is pursuing a hedging strategy that aims at minimizing strategic risks, increasing freedom of action, diversifying strategic options, and shaping the U.S.' preferences and choices. This can be exemplified in five issue areas: China's ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and China's foreign policy activism, China-Russia relations, the Conference on Interactions and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the New Asian Security Concept, as well as China-U.S. relations. Beijing has explicitly acknowledged the U.S. predominance in the international system and reiterated its willingness to participate in and reform the existing system. It concludes by suggesting that, for a more peaceful future to emerge in East Asia, the United States and China, as an incumbent power and a rising power, will have to accommodate each other, and negotiate and renegotiate the boundaries of their relative power, as well as their respective roles in the future regional order where Beijing and Washington would learn to share responsibilities and leadership.
Facilitation of cutaneous inputs during the planning phase of gait initiation
Authors: Mouchnino Laurence , Fontan Aurélie , Tandonnet Christophe , Perrier Joy , Saradjian Anahid H. , Blouin Jean , Simoneau Martin
Published: April 2015

It has been shown that during the planning of a voluntary movement the transmission of cutaneous afferent inputs to the somatosensory cortex is attenuated shortly before the motor output as well as during movement execution. However, it is not known whether the sensory suppression observed during the planning phase (i.e., before any movement execution) is a systemic phenomenon or whether it is dependent on movement context. For example, movements such as step initiation are controlled based on information received from cutaneous receptors in the feet. Because afferent information emerging from these receptors is critical for movement initiation, we hypothesized that suppression of these inputs may not occur during the planning phase prior to gait initiation. To examine this hypothesis we measured the cortical response to somatosensory stimulation during the planning phase of step initiation and during movement execution. Sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation was assessed by measuring the amplitude of the cortical somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP, over the Cz electrode) following electrical stimulations of the plantar sole of one foot. Two stimulations were provided during the planning phase of a step movement and two stimulations during movement execution. It was found that the P50-N80 SEP was facilitated in the early planning phase (−700 ms before motor execution) compared with when participants remained still (control standing task). This mechanism might contribute to an enhanced perception of cutaneous input leading to a more accurate setting of the forces to be exerted onto the ground to shift the body's weight toward the supporting side prior to foot-off.
Effect of Extended-Release Niacin/Laropiprant Combination on Plasma Adiponectin and Insulin Resistance in Chinese Patients with Dyslipidaemia
Authors: Hu Miao , Yang Ya-Ling , Masuda Daisaku , Yamashita Shizuya , Tomlinson Brian
Published: April 2015

Objectives. This study examined whether the increase of adiponectin associated with extended-release (ER) niacin/laropiprant combination attenuates the adverse effect of niacin on glucose and insulin resistance in Hong Kong Chinese patients with dyslipidaemia.Methods. Patients(N=121)were treated with ER niacin/laropiprant 1 g/20 mg for 4 weeks and then the dose was doubled for an additional 8 weeks. Measurements of fasting lipids, glucose, insulin, and adiponectin were performed at baseline and during the study.Results. There were significant(P<0.001)increases in glucose (9.4 ± 13.1%), insulin (70.2 ± 91.0%), HOMA-IR (87.8 ± 103.9%), and adiponectin (169.3 ± 111.6%). The increase in adiponectin was significantly associated with increase in glucose(r=0.221,P<0.05), insulin(r=0.184,P<0.05), and HOMA-IR(r=0.237,P<0.01)and the association remained significant after adjustment for changes in body weight or body fat mass.Conclusion. Treatment with ER niacin/laropiprant led to a significant increase in adiponectin levels but worsening of glucose levels and insulin resistance, and the increase in adiponectin and insulin resistance were correlated suggesting the increase in adiponectin did not ameliorate the deterioration in insulin resistance. Clinical trial is registered with number on WHO-ICTRP:ChiCTR-ONC-10001038.
Two-Stage Revision Arthroplasty for Periprosthetic Hip Infection: Mean Follow-Up of Ten Years
Authors: Chen Szu-Yuan , Hu Chi-Chien , Chen Chun-Chieh , Chang Yu-Han , Hsieh Pang-Hsin
Published: April 2015

Background. Two-stage revision hip arthroplasty is the gold standard for treatment of patients with chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but few studies have reported outcomes beyond short-term follow-up.Methods. A total of 155 patients who underwent two-stage revision arthroplasty for chronic PJI in 157 hips were retrospectively enrolled in this study between January 2001 and December 2010. The mean patient age was 57.5 years, the mean prosthetic age was 3.6 years, and the interim interval was 17.8 weeks. These patients were followed up for an average of 9.7 years.Results. At the latest follow-up, 91.7% of the patients were free of infection. The mean Harris hip score improved significantly from 28.3 points before operation to 85.7 points at the latest follow-up. Radiographically, there was aseptic loosening of the stem or acetabular components in 4 patients. In the multivariate survival analysis using a Cox regression model, repeated debridement before final reconstruction, an inadequate interim period, bacteriuria or pyuria, and cirrhosis were found to be the independent risk factors for treatment failure.Conclusion. Our data show that two-stage revision hip arthroplasty provides reliable eradication of infection and durable reconstruction of the joint in patients with PJI caused by a variety of pathogens.
Solitary Waves of the Schrödinger Lattice System with Nonlinear Hopping
Authors: Cheng Ming
Published: April 2015

This paper is concerned with the nonlinear Schrödinger lattice with nonlinear hopping. Via variation approach and the Nehari manifold argument, we obtain two types of solution: periodic ground state and localized ground state. Moreover, we consider the convergence of periodic solutions to the solitary waves.
Mitochondria-Targeted Protective Compounds in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases
Authors: Fernández-Moriano Carlos , González-Burgos Elena , Gómez-Serranillos M. Pilar
Published: April 2015

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles that regulate both metabolic and apoptotic signaling pathways; their most highlighted functions include cellular energy generation in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), regulation of cellular calcium homeostasis, balance between ROS production and detoxification, mediation of apoptosis cell death, and synthesis and metabolism of various key molecules. Consistent evidence suggests that mitochondrial failure is associated with early events in the pathogenesis of ageing-related neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Mitochondria-targeted protective compounds that prevent or minimize mitochondrial dysfunction constitute potential therapeutic strategies in the prevention and treatment of these central nervous system diseases. This paper provides an overview of the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, with particular attention toin vitroandin vivostudies on promising endogenous and exogenous mitochondria-targeted protective compounds.
Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycaemia in a Turner Syndrome with Ring (X)
Authors: Cappella Michela , Graziani Vanna , Pragliola Antonella , Sensi Alberto , Hussain Khalid , Muratori Claudia , Marchetti Federico
Published: April 2015

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a group of clinically, genetically, and morphologically heterogeneous disorders characterized by dysregulation of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. HH can either be congenital genetic hyperinsulinism or associated with metabolic disorder and syndromic condition. Early identification and meticulous management of these patients is vital to prevent neurological insult. There are only three reported cases of HH associated with a mosaic, r(X) Turner syndrome. We report the four cases of an infant with a mosaic r(X) Turner genotype and HH responsive to diazoxide therapy.
The Rarest of the Rare: Crossed Fused Renal Ectopia of the Superior Ectopia Type
Authors: Akdogan Leyla , Oguz Ali Kemal , Ergun Tarkan , Ergun Ihsan
Published: April 2015

Crossed fused renal ectopia is a rare congenital anomaly of the urinary system where one kidney crosses over to opposite side and the parenchyma of the two kidneys fuse. Herein, we present an atypical CFRE case whose renal anatomy does not exactly match any of the already defined CFRE types. Both of the kidneys are ectopic with the crossed ectopic right kidney lying superiorly and fused to the upper pole of the left kidney. Renal arteries were originating from the common iliac arteries. A focal 90% stenosis was observed on the right main renal artery. The patient is borderline hypertensive.
The Relationship between Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Hypertension in a Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Geiger Sarah Dee , Shankar Anoop
Published: April 2015

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), characterized by abnormal respiratory patterns or inadequate quantity of ventilation, is common in adults. A positive association between SDB and hypertension has been established, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. One void in the literature concerns the role of race/ethnicity in the association between SDB and hypertension. In this context, a cross-sectional study was performed on 6,783 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008. Participants were ≥age 20 and free from cardiovascular disease. The outcome of interest was hypertension, defined as ≥140 mmHg systolic blood pressure (BP), and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic BP or antihypertensive medication use. Self-reported SDB was positively associated with hypertension, independent of confounders such as depression, diabetes, cholesterol levels, and body mass index, among others. The association persisted in subgroup analyses by gender, with a stronger association among males than females, as well as by race/ethnicity, with non-Hispanic blacks displaying the strongest association. In the multivariable-adjusted model, compared to a sleep summary score of zero (referent), the OR (95% CI) of hypertension for non-Hispanic blacks was 1.34 (0.98–1.83) for a sleep summary score of 1, 1.44 (1.06–1.97) for a score of 2 and 3.72 (1.98–7.00) for a score of >3;p-trend< 0.0001. SDB was positively associated with hypertension in a large, nationally representative sample of US adults. Along with being prevalent, SDB is also treatable. Therefore, our results are important for minority race/ethnic groups who typically experience a higher baseline for negative health outcomes.