bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observations of stress-dependent microstructural changes in cement-stabilized soil
Authors: Chen Huie , Chen Zongfang , Zhang Jun
Published: April 2015

Pore parameters of cement-stabilized soil samples were obtained by a mercury intrusion test to allow evaluation of the influence of microstructural characteristics on the macromechanical properties. Samples were subjected to a range of unconfined stresses (fractions of their unconfined compressive strength). Five characteristic pore size classes were determined (larger than 40 μm, 40–2.5 μm, 2.5–0.4 μm, 0.4–0.04 μm and less than 0.04 μm) and changes in the relative proportions of these classes were used to evaluate structural changes and the development of progressive failure of the cement-stabilized soils. The results show that in this cement-stabilized soil changes in applied stress have a significant effect on variations in micropore content. No obvious changes were observed in the proportions of larger pores during the initial loading stage. However, these proportions changed significantly as failure approached. The porosity of the samples showed a tendency to increase (dilatancy) after an initial decline.
Hyperglycemia in the absence of cilia accelerates cystogenesis and induces renal damage
Authors: Sas Kelli M. , Yin Hong , Fitzgibbon Wayne R. , Baicu Catalin F. , Zile Michael R. , Steele Stacy L. , Amria May , Saigusa Takamitsu , Funk Jason , Bunni Marlene A. , Siegal Gene P. , Siroky Brian J. , Bissler John J. , Bell P. Darwin
Published: April 2015

In polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the rate of cyst formation and disease progression is highly variable. The lack of predictability in disease progression may be due to additional environmental factors or pathophysiological processes called “third hits.” Diabetes is a growing epidemic, and recent studies suggest that PKD patients may be at an increased risk for this disease. We sought to determine if hyperglycemia enhances the initiation and rate of cystogenesis. Tamoxifen was administered to adult Ift88 conditional floxed allele mice to induce cilia loss in the presence of Cre. Subsequent administration of streptozotocin resulted in equivalent hyperglycemia in cilia+and cilia−mice. Hyperglycemia with loss of cilia increased the rate of cyst formation and cell proliferation. Structural and functional alterations in the kidney, including focal glomerular foot process effacement, interstitial inflammation, formation of primitive renal tubules, polyuria, and increased proteinuria, were also observed in hyperglycemic cilia−mice. Gene array analysis indicated enhanced Wnt and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition signaling in the kidney of hyperglycemic cilia−mice. These data show that hyperglycemia, in the absence of cilia, results in renal structural and functional damage and accelerates cystogenesis, suggesting that diabetes is a risk factor in the progression of PKD.
Discriminating evidence accumulation from urgency signals in speeded decision making
Authors: Hawkins Guy E. , Wagenmakers Eric-Jan , Ratcliff Roger , Brown Scott D.
Published: April 2015

The dominant theoretical paradigm in explaining decision making throughout both neuroscience and cognitive science is known as “evidence accumulation”—the core idea being that decisions are reached by a gradual accumulation of noisy information. Although this notion has been supported by hundreds of experiments over decades of study, a recent theory proposes that the fundamental assumption of evidence accumulation requires revision. The “urgency gating” model assumes decisions are made without accumulating evidence, using only moment-by-moment information. Under this assumption, the successful history of evidence accumulation models is explained by asserting that the two models are mathematically identical in standard experimental procedures. We demonstrate that this proof of equivalence is incorrect, and that the models are not identical, even when both models are augmented with realistic extra assumptions. We also demonstrate that the two models can be perfectly distinguished in realistic simulated experimental designs, and in two real data sets; the evidence accumulation model provided the best account for one data set, and the urgency gating model for the other. A positive outcome is that the opposing modeling approaches can be fruitfully investigated without wholesale change to the standard experimental paradigms. We conclude that future research must establish whether the urgency gating model enjoys the same empirical support in the standard experimental paradigms that evidence accumulation models have gathered over decades of study.
Generalized analog thresholding for spike acquisition at ultralow sampling rates
Authors: He Bryan D. , Wein Alex , Varshney Lav R. , Kusuma Julius , Richardson Andrew G. , Srinivasan Lakshminarayan
Published: April 2015

Efficient spike acquisition techniques are needed to bridge the divide from creating large multielectrode arrays (MEA) to achieving whole-cortex electrophysiology. In this paper, we introduce generalized analog thresholding (gAT), which achieves millisecond temporal resolution with sampling rates as low as 10 Hz. Consider the torrent of data from a single 1,000-channel MEA, which would generate more than 3 GB/min using standard 30-kHz Nyquist sampling. Recent neural signal processing methods based on compressive sensing still require Nyquist sampling as a first step and use iterative methods to reconstruct spikes. Analog thresholding (AT) remains the best existing alternative, where spike waveforms are passed through an analog comparator and sampled at 1 kHz, with instant spike reconstruction. By generalizing AT, the new method reduces sampling rates another order of magnitude, detects more than one spike per interval, and reconstructs spike width. Unlike compressive sensing, the new method reveals a simple closed-form solution to achieve instant (noniterative) spike reconstruction. The base method is already robust to hardware nonidealities, including realistic quantization error and integration noise. Because it achieves these considerable specifications using hardware-friendly components like integrators and comparators, generalized AT could translate large-scale MEAs into implantable devices for scientific investigation and medical technology.
Balance Function in High-Energy Collisions
Authors: Tawfik A. , Shalaby Asmaa G.
Published: April 2015

Aspects and implications of the balance functions (BF) in high-energy physics are reviewed. The various calculations and measurements depending on different quantities, for example, system size, collisions centrality, and beam energy, are discussed. First, the different definitions including advantages and even short-comings are highlighted. It is found that BF, which are mainly presented in terms of relative rapidity, and relative azimuthal and invariant relative momentum, are sensitive to the interaction centrality but not to the beam energy and can be used in estimating the hadronization time and the hadron-quark phase transition. Furthermore, the quark chemistry can be determined. The chemical evolution of the new-state-of-matter, the quark-gluon plasma, and its temporal-spatial evolution, femtoscopy of two-particle correlations, are accessible. The production time of positive-negative pair of charges can be determined from the widths of BF. Due to the reduction in the diffusion time, narrowed widths refer to delayed hadronization. It is concluded that BF are powerful tools characterizing hadron-quark phase transition and estimating some essential properties.
Influence of Surface Morphology on the Effective Lifetime and Performance of Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cell
Authors: Lien Shui-Yang , Cho Yun-Shao , Shao Yan , Hsu Chia-Hsun , Tsou Chia-Chi , Yan Wei , Han Pin , Wuu Dong-Sing
Published: April 2015

Different etching times are used to etch silicon wafers. Effects of surface morphology on wafer minority carrier lifetime, passivation quality, and heterojunction solar cell (HJ) performance are investigated. The numbers of mountains and valleys, defined as turning points, on wafer surfaces are used to explain the minority carrier lifetime variations. For a wafer with a smaller amount of turning points, hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) passivation quality can be comparable to ideal iodine-ethanol solution passivation. If the wafer has a notable amount of turning points, the carrier lifetime decreases as the a-Si:H layer will not be able to be well-deposited on turning points. Furthermore, the PC1D simulation indicates that an optimal device conversion efficiency of 21.94% can be achieved at an etching time of 60 min, where a best combination of short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage is obtained.
Heterovalent Cation Substitutional and Interstitial Doping in Semiconductor Sensitizers for Quantum Dot Cosensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Zhang Ningning , Zou Xiaoping , Gao Yanyan
Published: April 2015

Doped films of TiO2/PbS/CdS have been prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Bi- and Ag-doped-PbS quantum dot (QD) were produced by admixing Bi3+or Ag+during deposition and the existing forms of the doping element in PbS QD were analyzed. The results show that Bi3+entered the cube space of PbS as donor yielding interstitial doping Bi-doped-PbS QD, while Ag+replaced Pb2+of PbS as acceptor yielding substitutional doping Ag-doped-PbS QD. The novel Bi-doped-PbS/CdS and Ag-doped-PbS/CdS quantum dot cosensitized solar cell (QDCSC) were fabricated and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.4% and 2.2% was achieved, respectively, under full sun illumination.
RCTP: An Enhanced Routing Protocol Based on Collection Tree Protocol
Authors: Entezami Fariborz , Tunicliffe Martin , Politis Christos
Published: April 2015

Due to implementation of routing protocols in limited power supply devices in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), this paper presents and evaluates Rainbow Collection Tree Protocol (RCTP) as an enhanced version of Collection Tree Protocol (CTP). CTP is a lightweight, efficient, robust, and also reliable routing protocol for WSNs. CTP as a cross layer routing protocol is also a platform-independent protocol. It uses Trickle Algorithm to optimize the overhead cost and also makes it quickly adaptable to changes in topology. The basic foundation of CTP is on link quality identification and it uses expected transmission count (ETX). ETX is not stable during the time in real environments and ETX fluctuations cause the routing protocols to not work in optimum level. RCTP uses average expected transmission count (AETX) as link quality metric that has shown it is more stable than ETX. It also uses a new mechanism in parent selection to make it more accurate. Rainbow mechanism is used in RCTP to detect and route around connectivity nodes and avoid route through dead end paths. The Omnet++ has been used as a simulator and the results show RCTP performs more efficiently than CTP in dynamic and crowded environments.
High Doses of Caffeine during the Peripubertal Period in the Rat Impair the Growth and Function of the Testis
Authors: Park Minji , Choi Yuri , Choi Hyeonhae , Yim Ju-Yearn , Roh Jaesook
Published: April 2015

Prenatal caffeine exposure adversely affects the development of the reproductive organs of male rat offspring. Thus, it is conceivable that peripubertal caffeine exposure would also influence physiologic gonadal changes and function during this critical period for sexual maturation. This study investigated the impact of high doses of caffeine on the testes of prepubertal male rats. A total of 45 immature male rats were divided randomly into three groups: a control group and 2 groups fed 120 and 180 mg/kg/day of caffeine, respectively, via the stomach for 4 weeks. Caffeine caused a significant decrease in body weight gain, accompanied by proportional decreases in lean body mass and body fat. The caffeine-fed animals had smaller and lighter testes than those of the control that were accompanied by negative influences on the histologic parameters of the testes. In addition, stimulated-testosterone ex vivo production was reduced in Leydig cells retrieved from the caffeine-fed animals. Our results demonstrate that peripubertal caffeine consumption can interfere with the maturation and function of the testis, possibly by interrupting endogenous testosterone secretion and reducing the sensitivity of Leydig cells to gonadotrophic stimulation. In addition, we confirmed that pubertal administration of caffeine reduced testis growth and altered testis histomorphology.
Development and Prospect of Nanoarchitectured Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Bo , Xie Wenxu , Xiang Yong
Published: April 2015

This paper gives an overview of the development and prospect of nanotechnologies utilized in the solar cell applications. Even though it is not clearly pointed out, nanostructures indeed have been used in the fabrication of conventional solar cells for a long time. However, in those circumstances, only very limited benefits of nanostructures have been used to improve cell performance. During the last decade, the development of the photovoltaic device theory and nanofabrication technology enables studies of more complex nanostructured solar cells with higher conversion efficiency and lower production cost. The fundamental principles and important features of these advanced solar cell designs are systematically reviewed and summarized in this paper, with a focus on the function and role of nanostructures and the key factors affecting device performance. Among various nanostructures, special attention is given to those relying on quantum effect.
Minimum-Energy Wireless Real-Time Multicast by Joint Network Coding and Scheduling Optimization
Authors: Tan Guoping , Zhu Yandan , Li Yueheng , Zhang Lili , Xu Jing
Published: April 2015

For real-time multicast services over wireless multihop networks, to minimize the energy of transmissions with satisfying the requirements of a fixed data rate and high reliabilities, we construct a conflict graph based framework by joint optimizing network coding and scheduling. Then, we propose a primal-dual subgradient optimization algorithm by random samplingKmaximal stable sets in a given conflict graph. This method transforms the NP-hard scheduling subproblem into a normal linear programming problem to obtain an approximate solution. The proposed algorithm only needs to adopt centralized technique for solving the linear programming problem while all of the other computations can be distributed. The simulation results show that, comparing with the existing algorithm, this algorithm can not only achieve about 20% performance gain, but also have better performance in terms of convergence and robustness.
Probability Estimation in the Framework of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Evidence Theory
Authors: Song Yafei , Wang Xiaodan
Published: April 2015

Intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) evidence theory, as an extension of Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence to the intuitionistic fuzzy environment, is exploited to process imprecise and vague information. Since its inception, much interest has been concentrated on IF evidence theory. Many works on the belief functions in IF information systems have appeared. Although belief functions on the IF sets can deal with uncertainty and vagueness well, it is not convenient for decision making. This paper addresses the issue of probability estimation in the framework of IF evidence theory with the hope of making rational decision. Background knowledge about evidence theory, fuzzy set, and IF set is firstly reviewed, followed by introduction of IF evidence theory. Axiomatic properties of probability distribution are then proposed to assist our interpretation. Finally, probability estimations based on fuzzy and IF belief functions together with their proofs are presented. It is verified that the probability estimation method based on IF belief functions is also potentially applicable to classical evidence theory and fuzzy evidence theory. Moreover, IF belief functions can be combined in a convenient way once they are transformed to interval-valued possibilities.
The Fairness of Solidarity Bills under the Solidarity Value of Nowak and Radzik
Authors: Diffo Lambo Lawrence , Wambo Pierre
Published: April 2015

The solidarity value is a variant of the well-known Shapley value in which some sense of solidarity between the players is implemented allowing the disabled to receive help from the fortunate ones. We investigate on how fairly solidarity
expenses are shared. We discuss the unwanted side effect of someone paying undue solidarity contributions as far as reversing his condition from a privileged to a needy person. A deeper case study is conducted for two classes of TU games that we obtain by modeling two real world business contexts. Here, we trace all player to player transfers of funds that arise when solidarity actions are processed, and we answer the question of who settles the solidarity bills. Also, we obtain the threshold position of a player below which he gets solidarity help, but above which he instead pays out donation.
Hepatorenal Syndrome: Outcome of Response to Therapy and Predictors of Survival
Authors: Heidemann Jan , Bartels Christoph , Berssenbrügge Christoph , Schmidt Hartmut , Meister Tobias
Published: April 2015

Aim. Treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) in patients with liver cirrhosis is still challenging and characterized by a very high mortality. This study aimed to delineate treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with HRS intravenously treated with terlipressin.Methods. In this retrospective single-center cohort study, 119 patients (median [IQR]; 56.50 [50.75–63.00] years of age) with HRS were included. All patients were treated with terlipressin and human albumin intravenously. Those with response to treatment (n=65) were compared to the patient cohort without improvement (n=54). Patient characteristics and clinical parameters (Child stage, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, HRS type I/II, and initial MELD score) were retrieved. Univariate analysis of factors influencing the success of terlipressin therapy and Cox regression analysis of factors influencing survival was carried out.Results. One-month survival was significantly longer in the group of responders (p=0.048). Cox regression analysis identified age [Hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.05, 1.01–1.09, resp.], alcohol abuse [HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.11–8.38], duration of treatment [HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.96], and MELD score [HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.14] to be independent predictors of survival.Conclusions. Survival of HRS patients after treatment depends on age, etiology of liver disease, and the duration of treatment.
Resistive Switching Characteristics in TiO2/LaAlO3Heterostructures Sandwiched in Pt Electrodes
Authors: Cao Yuyuan , Di Qitao , Zhu Lin , Li Aidong , Wu Di
Published: April 2015

TiO2/LaAlO3(TiO2/LAO) heterostructures have been deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Resistive switching characteristics of Pt/TiO2/LAO/Pt have been studied and discussed in comparison with those of Pt/TiO2/Pt. It is observed that the switching uniformity and the ON/OFF resistance ratio can be greatly improved by introducing the LAO layer. The observed resistive switching characteristics are discussed as a function of LAO thickness and explained by the preferential formation and rupture of conductive filaments, composed of oxygen vacancies, in the LAO layer.
Temperature Dependent Variations of Phonon Interactions in Nanocrystalline Cerium Oxide
Authors: Dogra Pandey Sugandha , Singh Jasveer , Samanta K. , Dilawar Sharma Nita , Bandyopadhyay A. K.
Published: April 2015

The temperature dependent anharmonic behavior of the phonon modes of nanocrystalline CeO2 was investigated in the temperature range of 80–440 K. The anharmonic constants have been derived from the shift in phonon modes fitted to account for the anharmonic contributions as well as the thermal expansion contribution using the high pressure parameters derived from our own high pressure experimental data reported previously. The total anharmonicity has also been estimated from the true anharmonicity as well as quasiharmonic component. In the line‐width variation analysis, the cubic anharmonic term was found to dominate the quartic term. Finally, the phonon lifetime also reflected the trend so observed.
A Novel Loss-of-Sclerostin Function Mutation in a First Egyptian Family with Sclerosteosis
Authors: Fayez Alaaeldin , Aglan Mona , Esmaiel Nora , El Zanaty Taher , Abdel Kader Mohamed , El Ruby Mona
Published: April 2015

Sclerosteosis is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by increased bone density. Mutations inSOSTgene coding for sclerostin are linked to sclerosteosis. Two Egyptian brothers with sclerosteosis and their apparently normal consanguineous parents were included in this study. Clinical evaluation and genomic sequencing of theSOSTgene were performed followed by in silico analysis of the resulting variation. A novel homozygous frameshift mutation in theSOSTgene, characterized as one nucleotide cytosine insertion that led to premature stop codon and loss of functional sclerostin, was identified in the two affected brothers. Their parents were heterozygous for the same mutation. To our knowledge this is the first Egyptian study of sclerosteosis andSOSTgene causing mutation.
A Fuzzy Computing Model for Identifying Polarity of Chinese Sentiment Words
Authors: Wang Bingkun , Huang Yongfeng , Wu Xian , Li Xing
Published: April 2015

With the spurt of online user-generated contents on web, sentiment analysis has become a very active research issue in data mining and natural language processing. As the most important indicator of sentiment, sentiment words which convey positive and negative polarity are quite instrumental for sentiment analysis. However, most of the existing methods for identifying polarity of sentiment words only consider the positive and negative polarity by the Cantor set, and no attention is paid to the fuzziness of the polarity intensity of sentiment words. In order to improve the performance, we propose a fuzzy computing model to identify the polarity of Chinese sentiment words in this paper. There are three major contributions in this paper. Firstly, we propose a method to compute polarity intensity of sentiment morphemes and sentiment words. Secondly, we construct a fuzzy sentiment classifier and propose two different methods to compute the parameter of the fuzzy classifier. Thirdly, we conduct extensive experiments on four sentiment words datasets and three review datasets, and the experimental results indicate that our model performs better than the state-of-the-art methods.
Molecular Mechanism of Local Drug Delivery with Paclitaxel-Eluting Membranes in Biliary and Pancreatic Cancer: New Application for an Old Drug
Authors: Bang Sookhee , Jang Sung Ill , Lee Su Yeon , Baek Yi-Yong , Yun Jieun , Oh Soo Jin , Lee Chang Woo , Jo Eun Ae , Na Kun , Yang Sugeun , Lee Don Haeng , Lee Dong Ki
Published: April 2015

Implantation of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) is palliation for patients suffering from inoperable malignant obstructions associated with biliary and pancreatic cancers. Chemotherapeutic agent-eluting stents have been developed because SEMS are susceptible to occlusion by tumor in-growth. We reported recently that paclitaxel-eluting SEMS provide enhanced local drug delivery in an animal model. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which paclitaxel-eluting stents attenuate tumor growth. We investigated the signal transduction pathways underlying the antiproliferative effects of a paclitaxel-eluting membrane (PEM) implanted in pancreatic/cholangiocarcinoma tumor bearing nude mice. Molecular and cellular alterations were analyzed in the PEM-implanted pancreatic/cholangiocarcinoma xenograft tumors by Western blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. The quantities of paclitaxel released into the tumor and plasma were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Paclitaxel from the PEM and its diffusion into the tumor inhibited angiogenesis, which involved suppression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) through regulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1) and increased apoptosis. Moreover, implantation of the PEM inhibited tumor-stromal interaction-related expression of proteins such as CD44, SPARC, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and vimentin. Local delivery of paclitaxel from a PEM inhibited growth of pancreatic/cholangiocarcinoma tumors in nude mice by suppressing angiogenesis via the mTOR and inducing apoptosis signal pathway.
Interface Engineering and Gate Dielectric Engineering for High Performance Ge MOSFETs
Authors: Sun Jiabao , Lu Jiwu
Published: April 2015

In recent years, germanium has attracted intensive interests for its promising applications in the microelectronics industry. However, to achieve high performance Ge channel devices, several critical issues still have to be addressed. Amongst them, a high quality gate stack, that is, a low defect interface layer and a dielectric layer, is of crucial importance. In this work, we first review the existing methods of interface engineering and gate dielectric engineering and then in more detail we discuss and compare three promising approaches (i.e., plasma postoxidation, high pressure oxidation, and ozone postoxidation). It has been confirmed that these approaches all can significantly improve the overall performance of the metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) device.
Mixed Viral Infections Circulating in Hospitalized Patients with Respiratory Tract Infections in Kuwait
Authors: Essa Sahar , Owayed Abdullah , Altawalah Haya , Khadadah Mousa , Behbehani Nasser , Al-Nakib Widad
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of viral mixed detection in hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections and to evaluate the correlation between viral mixed detection and clinical severity. Hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections (RTI) were investigated for 15 respiratory viruses by using sensitive molecular techniques. In total, 850 hospitalized patients aged between 3 days and 80 years were screened from September 2010 to April 2014. Among the 351 (47.8%) patients diagnosed with viral infections, viral mixed detection was identified in 49 patients (14%), with human rhinovirus (HRV) being the most common virus associated with viral mixed detection (7.1%), followed by adenovirus (AdV) (4%) and human coronavirus-OC43 (HCoV-OC43) (3.7%). The highest combination of viral mixed detection was identified with HRV and AdV (2%), followed by HRV and HCoV-OC43 (1.4%). Pneumonia and bronchiolitis were the most frequent reason for hospitalization with viral mixed detection (9.1%). There were statistical significance differences between mixed and single detection in patients diagnosed with bronchiolitis (P=0.002) and pneumonia (P=0.019). Our findings might indicate a significant association between respiratory virus mixed detection and the possibility of developing more severe LRTI such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia when compared with single detection.
Design of Mobile Gateway for Implementation of Smart Work System
Authors: Oh Sang-Young , Kim Bong-Hyun
Published: April 2015

In the development of new technologies based on mobile system, there is a growing interest as a fundamental technology. In particular, in order to realize a mobile office and mobile phones, conferencing remote document is a technique that can realize smart network services solutions with enhanced real-time communication, real-time information sharing, and collaboration. Therefore, in this paper, the design meets the diverse needs of customers and the smart work platform mobile-based fast and conveniently it is trying to develop. For this reason, I have developed a mobile gateway that is based on the communication server construction OPEN API development, management of mobile ID, protocol design, and design of SSL/TLS security tunnel. Also, we developed a smart work platform that you apply this, you are trying to provide information systems environment of mobile company.
A Novel Way to Relate Ontology Classes
Authors: Choksi Ami T. , Jinwala Devesh C.
Published: April 2015

The existing ontologies in the semantic web typically have anonymous union and intersection classes. The anonymous classes are limited in scope and may not be part of the whole inference process. The tools, namely, the pellet, the jena, and the protégé, interpret collection classes as (a) equivalent/subclasses of union class and (b) superclasses of intersection class. As a result, there is a possibility that the tools will produce error prone inference results for relations, namely, sub‐, union, intersection, equivalent relations, and those dependent on these relations, namely, complement. To verify whether a class is complement of other involves utilization of sub‐ and equivalent relations. Motivated by the same, we (i) refine the test data set of the conference ontology by adding named, union, and intersection classes and (ii) propose a match algorithm to (a) calculate corrected subclasses list, (b) correctly relate intersection and union classes with their collection classes, and (c) match union, intersection, sub‐, complement, and equivalent classes in a proper sequence, to avoid error prone match results. We compare the results of our algorithms with those of a candidate reasoner, namely, the pellet reasoner. To the best of our knowledge, ours is a unique attempt in establishing a novel way to relate ontology classes.
KRASandBRAFMutation Detection: Is Immunohistochemistry a Possible Alternative to Molecular Biology in Colorectal Cancer?
Authors: Piton Nicolas , Borrini Francesco , Bolognese Antonio , Lamy Aude , Sabourin Jean-Christophe
Published: April 2015

KRASgenotyping is mandatory in metastatic colorectal cancer treatment prior to undertaking antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody therapy.BRAFV600E mutation is often present in colorectal carcinoma with CpG island methylator phenotype and microsatellite instability. Currently,KRASandBRAFevaluation is based on molecular biology techniques such as SNaPshot or Sanger sequencing. As molecular testing is performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, immunodetection would appear to be an attractive alternative for detecting mutations. Thus, our objective was to assess the validity of KRAS and BRAF immunodetection of mutations compared with the genotyping reference method in colorectal adenocarcinoma.KRASandBRAFgenotyping was assessed by SNaPshot. A rabbit anti-human KRAS polyclonal antibody was tested on 33 FFPE colorectal tumor samples with knownKRASstatus. Additionally, a mouse anti-human BRAF monoclonal antibody was tested on 30 FFPE tumor samples with knownBRAFstatus. KRAS immunostaining demonstrated both poor sensitivity (27%) and specificity (64%) in detectingKRASmutation. Conversely, BRAF immunohistochemistry showed perfect sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) in detecting V600E mutation. Although molecular biology remains the reference method for detectingKRASmutation, immunohistochemistry could be an attractive method for detectingBRAFV600E mutation in colorectal cancer.
An Improved Gyrocompass Alignment Method for Large Azimuth Misalignment
Authors: Gao Wei , Lu Baofeng , Yu Chunyang , Lan Haiyu
Published: April 2015

Due to the impact of the nonlinear factor caused by large azimuth misalignment, the conventional gyrocompass alignment method is hard to favorably meet the requirement of alignment speed under the condition of large azimuth misalignment of INS. In order to solve this problem, an improved gyrocompass alignment method is presented in this paper. The improved method is designed based on the nonlinear model for large azimuth misalignment and performed by opening the azimuth loop. The influence of the nonlinear factor on gyrocompass alignment will be reduced when opening the azimuth loop. Simulation and experimental results show that the initial alignment can be efficiently accomplished through using the improved method in the case of existing large azimuth misalignment, and in the same conditions, the alignment speed of the improved method is faster than that of the conventional one.
High-Electron-Mobility SiGe on Sapphire Substrate for Fast Chipsets
Authors: Kim Hyun Jung , Park Yeonjoon , Bae Hyung Bin , Choi Sang H.
Published: April 2015

High-quality strain-relaxed SiGe films with a low twin defect density, high electron mobility, and smooth surface are critical for device fabrication to achieve designed performance. The mobilities of SiGe can be a few times higher than those of silicon due to the content of high carrier mobilities of germanium (p-type Si: 430 cm2/V·s, p-type Ge: 2200 cm2/V·s, n-type Si: 1300 cm2/V·s, and n-type Ge: 3000 cm2/V·s at 1016per cm3doping density). Therefore, radio frequency devices which are made with rhombohedral SiGe onc-plane sapphire can potentially run a few times faster than RF devices on SOS wafers. NASA Langley has successfully grown highly ordered single crystal rhombohedral epitaxy using an atomic alignment of the[111]direction of cubic SiGe on top of the[0001]direction of the sapphire basal plane. Several samples of rhombohedrally grown SiGe onc-plane sapphire show high percentage of a single crystalline over 95% to 99.5%. The electron mobilities of the tested samples are between those of single crystals Si and Ge. The measured electron mobility of 95% single crystal SiGe was 1538 cm2/V·s which is between 350 cm2/V·s (Si) and 1550 cm2/V·s (Ge) at 6 × 1017/cm3doping concentration.
Influence of Substrate on Crystal Orientation of Large-Grained Si Thin Films Formed by Metal-Induced Crystallization
Authors: Toko Kaoru , Nakata Mitsuki , Okada Atsushi , Sasase Masato , Usami Noritaka , Suemasu Takashi
Published: April 2015

Producing large-grained polycrystalline Si (poly-Si) film on glass substrates coated with conducting layers is essential for fabricating Si thin-film solar cells with high efficiency and low cost. We investigated how the choice of conducting underlayer affected the poly-Si layer formed on it by low-temperature (500°C) Al-induced crystallization (AIC). The crystal orientation of the resulting poly-Si layer strongly depended on the underlayer material: (100) was preferred for Al-doped-ZnO (AZO) and indium-tin-oxide (ITO); (111) was preferred for TiN. This result suggests Si heterogeneously nucleated on the underlayer. The average grain size of the poly-Si layer reached nearly 20 µm for the AZO and ITO samples and no less than 60 µm for the TiN sample. Thus, properly electing the underlayer material is essential in AIC and allows large-grained Si films to be formed at low temperatures with a set crystal orientation. These highly oriented Si layers with large grains appear promising for use as seed layers for Si light-absorption layers as well as for advanced functional materials.
Updates in the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Mathew Christopher , Yunirakasiwi Anastasia , Sanjay Srinivasan
Published: April 2015

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which has multiple effects on different end-organs, including the retina. In this paper, we discuss updates on diabetic macular edema (DME) and the management options. The underlying pathology of DME is the leakage of exudates from retinal microaneurysms, which trigger subsequent inflammatory reactions. Both clinical and imaging techniques are useful in diagnosing, classifying, and gauging the severity of DME. We performed a comprehensive literature search using the keywords “diabetes,” “macula edema,” “epidemiology,” “pathogenesis,” “optical coherence tomography,” “intravitreal injections,” “systemic treatment,” “hypertension,” “hyperlipidemia,” “anemia,” and “renal disease” and collated a total of 47 relevant articles published in English language. The main modalities of treatment currently in use comprise laser photocoagulation, intravitreal pharmacological and selected systemic pharmacological options. In addition, we mention some novel therapies that show promise in treating DME. We also review systemic factors associated with exacerbation or improvement in DME.
The Investigation of Field Plate Design in 500 V High Voltage NLDMOS
Authors: Liu Donghua , Xu Xiangming , Jin Feng , Duan Wenting , Wang Huihui , Shi Jing , Yao Yuan , Hu Jun , Qian Wensheng , Wang Pengfei , Zhang David Wei
Published: April 2015

This paper presents a 500 V high voltage NLDMOS with breakdown voltage (VBD) improved by field plate technology. Effect of metal field plate (MFP) and polysilicon field plate (PFP) on breakdown voltage improvement of high voltage NLDMOS is studied. The coeffect of MFP and PFP on drain side has also been investigated. A 500 V NLDMOS is demonstrated with a 37 μm drift length and optimized MFP and PFP design. Finally the breakdown voltage 590 V and excellent on-resistance performance (Rsp= 7.88 ohm * mm2) are achieved.
Promoter Methylation of CDO1 Identifies Clear-Cell Renal Cell Cancer Patients with Poor Survival Outcome
Authors: Deckers Ivette A.G. , Schouten Leo J. , Van Neste Leander , van Vlodrop Iris J.H. , Soetekouw Patricia M.M.B. , Baldewijns Marcella M.L.L. , Jeschke Jana , Ahuja Nita , Herman James G. , van den Brandt Piet A. , van Engeland Manon
Published: April 2015

Purpose: In this era of molecular diagnostics, prediction of clear-cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) survival requires optimization, as current prognostic markers fail to determine individual patient outcome. Epigenetic events are promising molecular markers. Promoter CpG island methylation of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1), which was identified as prognostic marker for breast cancer, is studied as a potential marker for ccRCC survival.

Experimental Design: We collected primary tissues of 365 ccRCC cases identified within the prospective Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS). In this population-based series, CDO1 promoter methylation was observed in 124 of 324 (38.3%) patients with successful methylation-specific PCR analysis. Kaplan–Meier curves and Wilcoxon tests were used to evaluate 10-year ccRCC-specific survival. Cox regression analysis was used to obtain crude and multivariate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The relative prognostic value of multivariate models with and without CDO1 promoter methylation was compared using likelihood-ratio tests.

Results: Patients with CDO1 promoter methylation have a significantly poorer survival than those without (Wilcoxon P = 0.006). Differences in survival were independent of other prognostic factors, including age and sex (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.12–2.45) and TNM stage, tumor size, and Fuhrman grade (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.25–2.85). Multivariate models performed better with than without CDO1 promoter methylation status (likelihood-ratio P = 0.003). Survival curves were validated in an independent series of 280 ccRCC cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; Wilcoxon P < 0.001).

Conclusions: CDO1 promoter methylation may not substitute common prognostic makers to predict ccRCC survival, but offers additional, relevant prognostic information, indicating that it might be a novel molecular marker to determine ccRCC prognosis. Clin Cancer Res; 21(15); 3492–500. ©2015 AACR.
Dendritic Cells in Irradiated Mice Trigger the Functional Plasticity and Antitumor Activity of Adoptively Transferred Tc17 Cells via IL12 Signaling
Authors: Bowers Jacob S. , Nelson Michelle H. , Kundimi Sreenath , Bailey Stefanie R. , Huff Logan W. , Schwartz Kristina M. , Cole David J. , Rubinstein Mark P. , Paulos Chrystal M.
Published: April 2015

Purpose: The adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of CD8+ T cells is a promising treatment for advanced malignancies. Lymphodepletion before ACT enhances IFNγ+CD8+ T cell (Tc0)–mediated tumor regression. Yet, how lymphodepletion regulates the function and antitumor activity of IL17A+CD8+ T cells (Tc17) is unknown.

Experimental Design: To address this question, pmel-1 CD8+ T cells were polarized to secrete either IL17A or IFNγ. These subsets were then infused into mice with B16F10 melanoma that were lymphoreplete [no total body irradiation (TBI)], or lymphodepleted with nonmyeloablative (5 Gy) or myeloablative (9 Gy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) TBI. The activation of innate immune cells and function of donor T-cell subsets were monitored in recipient mice.

Results: Tc17 cells regress melanoma in myeloablated mice to a greater extent than in lymphoreplete or nonmyeloablated mice. TBI induced functional plasticity in Tc17 cells, causing conversion from IL17A to IFNγ producers. Additional investigation revealed that Tc17 plasticity and antitumor activity were mediated by IL12 secreted by irradiated host dendritic cells (DC). Neutralization of endogenous IL12 reduced the antitumor activity of Tc17 cells in myeloablated mice, whereas ex vivo priming with IL12 enhanced their capacity to regress melanoma in nonmyeloablated animals. This, coupled with exogenous administration of low-dose IL12, obviated the need for host preconditioning, creating curative responses in nonirradiated mice.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that TBI-induced IL12 augments Tc17 cell–mediated tumor immunity and underline the substantial implications of in vitro preparation of antitumor Tc17 cells with IL12 in the design of T-cell immunotherapies. Clin Cancer Res; 21(11); 2546–57. ©2015 AACR.
Wheat Amylase Trypsin Inhibitors as Nutritional Activators of Innate Immunity
Authors: Schuppan Detlef , Zevallos Victor
Published: April 2015

While the central role of an adaptive, T cell-mediated immune response to certain gluten peptides in celiac disease is well established, the innate immune response to wheat proteins remains less well defined. We identified wheat amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs), but not gluten, as major stimulators of innate immune cells (dendritic cells > macrophages > monocytes), while intestinal epithelial cells were nonresponsive. ATIs bind to and activate the CD14-MD2 toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) complex. This activation occurs both in vitro and in vivo after oral ingestion of purified ATIs or gluten, which is usually enriched in ATIs. Wheat ATIs represent a family of up to 17 proteins with molecular weights of around 15 kDa and a variable primary but conserved secondary structure characterized by 5 intrachain disulfide bonds and alpha helices. They mostly form di- and tetramers that appear to equally activate TLR4. Relevant biological activity is confined to ATIs in gluten-containing cereals, while gluten-free cereals display no or minimal activities. ATIs represent up to 4% of total wheat protein and are highly resistant to intestinal proteases. In line with their dose-dependent function as co-stimulatory molecules in adaptive immunity of celiac disease, they appear to play a role in promoting other immune-mediated diseases within and outside the GI tract. Thus, ATIs may be prime candidates of severe forms of non-celiac gluten (wheat) sensitivity.
Activating stimuli induce platelet microRNA modulation and proteome reorganisation
Authors: Nassa Giovanni , Filippo Maria Rosaria De , Giurato Giorgio , Ravo Maria , Rizzo Francesca , Conte Stefano , Pellegrino Grazia , Cirillo Plinio , Calabrò Paolo , Öhman Tiina , Nyman Tuula A. , Cimmino Giovanni , Tarallo Roberta , Weisz Alessandro , Golino Paolo
Published: April 2015

Platelets carry megakaryocyte-derived mRNAs whose translation efficiency before and during activation is not known, although this can greatly affect platelet functions, both under basal conditions and in response to physiological and pathological stimuli, such as those involved in acute coronary syndromes. Aim of the present study was to determine whether changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression occur in response to activating stimuli and whether this affects activity and composition of platelet transcriptome and proteome. Purified platelet-rich plasmas from healthy volunteers were collected and activated with ADP, collagen, or thrombin receptor activating peptide. Transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq revealed that platelet transcriptome remained largely unaffected within the first 2 hours of stimulation. In contrast, quantitative proteomics showed that almost half of > 700 proteins quantified were modulated under the same conditions. Global miRNA analysis indicated that reorganisation of platelet proteome occurring during activation reflected changes in mature miRNA expression, which therefore, appears to be the main driver of the observed discrepancy between transcriptome and proteome changes. Platelet functions significantly affected by modulated miRNAs include, among others, the integrin/cytoskeletal, coagulation and inflammatory-immune response pathways. These results demonstrate a significant reprogramming of the platelet miRNome during activation, with consequent significant changes in platelet proteome and provide for the first time substantial evidence that fine-tuning of resident mRNA translation by miRNAs is a key event in platelet pathophysiology.
Accumulation of tissue factor in endothelial cells induces cell apoptosis, mediated through p38 and p53 activation
Authors: Maraveyas Anthony , ElKeeb Azza , Collier Mary , Ettelaie Camille
Published: April 2015

We previously reported that high levels of tissue factor (TF) can induce cellular apoptosis in endothelial cells. In this study, TF-mediated mechanisms of induction of apoptosis were explored. Endothelial cells were transfected to express wild-type TF. Additionally, cells were transfected to express Asp253-substituted, or Ala253-substitued TF to enhance or prevent TF release, respectively. Alternatively, cells were pre-incubated with TF-rich and TF-poor microvesicles. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and the expression of cyclin D1, p53, bax and p21 were measured following activation of cells with PAR2-agonist peptide. Greatest levels of cell proliferation and cyclin D1 expression were observed in cells expressing wild-type or Asp253-substituted TF. In contrast, increased cellular apoptosis was observed in cells expressing Ala253-substituted TF, or cells pre-incubated with TF-rich microvesicles. The level of p53 protein, p53-phosphorylation at ser33, p53 nuclear localisation and transcriptional activity, but not p53 mRNA, were increased in cells expressing wild-type and Ala253-substituted TF, or in cells pre-incubated with TF-rich microvesicles. However, the expression of bax and p21 mRNA, and Bax protein were only increased in cells pre-incubated with TF-rich microvesicle and in cells expressing Ala253-substituted TF. Inhibition of the transcriptional activity of p53 using pifithrin-α suppressed the expression of Bax. Finally, siRNA- mediated suppression of p38α, or inhibition using SB202190 significantly reduced the p53 protein levels, p53 nuclear localisation and transcriptional activity, suppressed Bax expression and prevented cellular apoptosis. In conclusion, accumulation of TF within endothelial cells, or sequestered from the surrounding can induce cellular apoptosis through mechanisms mediated by p38, and involves the stabilisation of p53.