bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The association between positive outcome expectancies and avoidance in predicting the outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy for major depressive disorder
Authors: Renaud Jesse , Russell Jennifer J. , Myhr Gail
Published: August 2012

Objectives: Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), individual differences in the effectiveness of CBT have been observed. Preliminary evidence suggests that positive outcome expectancies for treatment predict better therapy outcomes (Constantino, Arnkoff, Glass, & Smith, 2011); however, researchers have not examined whether avoidance, an important predictor of depressive symptoms (Ottenbreit & Dobson, 2004), may play an important role in this association. In the present study, we examined whether the association between positive outcome expectancies and therapy outcome is associated with patients' levels of avoidance.

Design: Data were collected as part of a prospective, longitudinal study.

Methods: The sample consisted of 51 patients diagnosed with MDD who underwent CBT. Prior to treatment, clinicians rated patients on their levels of avoidance and positive outcome expectancies. A self‐report rating of positive outcome expectancies was also obtained, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) was completed pre‐ and post‐treatment. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between positive outcome expectancies and avoidance for predicting changes in depressive symptoms after CBT.

Results: For patients with lower levels of positive outcome expectancies, lower levels of avoidance predicted greater improvement after CBT and higher levels of avoidance predicted poorer treatment outcomes.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the impact that lower positive outcome expectancies have on therapy outcome can be attenuated if patients do not avoid dealing with emotionally difficult material in session.

Practitioner Points

The detrimental effects of lower positive outcome expectancies for therapy may be lessened in patients who do not demonstrate avoidance at the outset of therapy.

Clinicians’ early reinforcement of patient engagement in therapy may help patients increase their positive outcome expectancies for treatment.

The importance of avoidance and lower positive outcome expectancies has only been examined in patients referred for cognitive behavioural therapy in a University Teaching Unit and the findings may not apply to other psychotherapies in other contexts.

The interaction between avoidance and positive outcome expectancies has only been examined in patients with major depressive disorder and the findings may not extend to patients with other psychological disorders.
A cryptic BAP1 splice mutation in a family with uveal and cutaneous melanoma, and paraganglioma
Authors: Wadt Karin , Choi Jiyeon , Chung Joon‐Yong , Kiilgaard Jens , Heegaard Steffen , Drzewiecki Krzysztof T. , Trent Jeffrey M. , Hewitt Stephen M. , Hayward Nicholas K. , Gerdes Anne‐Marie , Brown Kevin M.
Published: August 2012

Inactivating germ line BRCA1‐associated protein‐1 (BAP1) mutations have recently been reported in families with uveal or cutaneous malignant melanoma (UMM, CMM), mesothelioma, and meningioma. Although apparently predisposing to a wide range of tumors, the exact tumor spectrum associated with germ line BAP1 mutations has yet to be established. Here, we report a novel germ line BAP1 splice mutation, c.1708C>G (p.Leu570fs*40), in a multiple‐case Danish UMM family with a spectrum of other tumors. Whole‐exome sequencing identified an apparent missense mutation of BAP1 in UMM, CMM, as well as paraganglioma, breast cancer, and suspected mesothelioma cases in the family. Bioinformatic analysis and splicing assays demonstrated that this mutation creates a strong cryptic splice donor, resulting in aberrant splicing and a truncating frameshift of the BAP1 transcript. Somatic loss of the wild‐type allele was also confirmed in the UMM and paraganglioma tumors. Our findings further support BAP1 as a melanoma susceptibility gene and extend the potential predisposition spectrum to paraganglioma.
Heligmosmoides polygyrus fourth stages induce protection against DSS‐induced colitis and change opioid expression in the intestine
Authors: DONSKOW‐ŁYSONIEWSKA K. , MAJEWSKI P. , BRODACZEWSKA K. , JÓŹWICKA K. , DOLIGALSKA M.
Published: August 2012

Primary exposure of mice to the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection reduces inflammation in an experimental model of colitis. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate whether the reduced inflammation provoked by H. polygyrus L4 larvae in BALB/c mice treated with dextran sulphate sodium is associated with changed expression of opioids in the small intestine and colon. Colitis was induced by 5% Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) oral administration for 3 days before oral infection with 200 infective larvae (L3) H. polygyrus until the end of the experiment, 6 days post‐infection. Clinical disease symptoms were monitored daily. The expressions of proopiomelanocortin POMC1, MOR1 (Oprm1) – opioid receptor and β‐endorphin were determined by RT‐PCR, Western blot and immunoassay, respectively, in the colon and small intestine of mice. RT‐PCR analysis of colon tissues showed up‐regulation of the expression of POMC and MOR1 opioid‐dependent genes in mice with DSS‐induced colitis. H. polygyrus L4 larvae inhibited DSS‐induced colitis symptoms that were correlated with increased IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐6, myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration, macrophages infiltration and MOR1, POMC and β‐endorphin increased expression in the small intestine and inhibition of those in the colon.
Neurocardiac dysregulation and neurogenic arrhythmias in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease
Authors: Kiriazis Helen , Jennings Nicole L. , Davern Pamela , Lambert Gavin , Su Yidan , Pang Terence , Du Xin , La Greca Luisa , Head Geoffrey A. , Hannan Anthony J. , Du Xiao‐Jun
Published: August 2012

Key points

Heart disease has been attributed as a major cause of death in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). While little is known about cardiac complication(s) in HD, dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) may play a role.

Using a mouse model of HD, we demonstrated that even from an early HD phase, there was enhanced sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activities, leading to an unstable heart beat, various arrhythmias and, ultimately, sudden arrhythmic death.

Greater numbers of active neurons were found in brain regions important for autonomic regulation in HD mice, suggesting a centrally mediated mechanism that was underlying the ANS‐cardiac dysfunction.

Our findings provide insight into a likely neurocardiac cause of death in HD, and warrant further clinical investigation.

Abstract  Huntington's disease (HD) is a heritable neurodegenerative disorder, with heart disease implicated as one major cause of death. While the responsible mechanism remains unknown, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction may play a role. We studied the cardiac phenotype in R6/1 transgenic mice at early (3 months old) and advanced (7 months old) stages of HD. While exhibiting a modest reduction in cardiomyocyte diameter, R6/1 mice had preserved baseline cardiac function. Conscious ECG telemetry revealed the absence of 24‐h variation of heart rate (HR), and higher HR levels than wild‐type littermates in young but not older R6/1 mice. Older R6/1 mice had increased plasma level of noradrenaline (NA), which was associated with reduced cardiac NA content. R6/1 mice also had unstable R–R intervals that were reversed following atropine treatment, suggesting parasympathetic nervous activation, and developed brady‐ and tachyarrhythmias, including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and sudden death. c‐Fos immunohistochemistry revealed greater numbers of active neurons in ANS‐regulatory regions of R6/1 brains. Collectively, R6/1 mice exhibit profound ANS‐cardiac dysfunction involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic limbs, that may be related to altered central autonomic pathways and lead to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Composite Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes as Memory Devices and Logic Gates
Authors: Lee Richard K. F. , Hill James M.
Published: August 2012

In this study, we propose a new nanocomputer component. We investigate the mechanics of a multiwalled carbon nanotube, comprising two symmetrically placed inner tubes and a moveable tube of radius intermediate to the larger and the two smaller tubes. The larger tube has the two fixed smaller tubes located at its ends, and the moveable tube is assumed to be controlled by an applied voltage difference. The tube radii are purposely chosen so that electrons can jump from one tube to another and a current can flow from the larger tube to the moveable one and finally to one of the smaller tubes. The interaction energy for the system is obtained assuming the Lennard-Jones potential together with the continuum approximation. As expected, the system has two symmetrically placed equal minimum energy locations (i.e., the total interaction energies take on minimum values) and by adopting different electrical circuits, the design gives rise to the possibility of using the device either as a memory device or as logic gates. By applying a voltage input to produce an external electrical field and another voltage input to provide a charge on the moving tube, the moving tube provides an output signal which we assume is registered on a meter that is capable of measuring either voltage or charge. We present the basic design rules for such devices and we establish their feasibility for practical realization.
Preparation and Mechanico-Optical Properties of Ultraviolet-Curable Transparent Polyurethane Elastomer Nanocomposites
Authors: Zoromba M. Sh. , Bassyouni M. , Dahshan A.
Published: August 2012

Nanotechnology is presently seen as one of the most promising approaches in the field of materials science toward the development of advanced materials for future engineering applications. We report on the preparation of transparent elastomer based on polyurethane–PEG400/PEG2000–acrylate copolymers. UV curing was pursued. In order to render the polymer hydrophilic, a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain is used as the polyol portion of the polyurethane. The molecular weight of the PEG chain was matrix from PEG2000 g/mol and PEG400 at 1:3 ratio, respectively. An aliphatic di-isocyanate, namely, isophorone di-isocyanate (IPDI), was used to obtain transparent samples. A PEG-IPDI polymer was produced in the first step. 2-hydoxyethyl acrylate (HEA) was added to react with the excess of IPDI. Dibutyltin dilaureate (DBTL) was employed as the catalyst for formation of the urethane bond. Cross-linking occurred via free radical polymerization of the acrylate group. Nano dry silica powder (Aerosil R7200) is economical and widely used in the industry. The nanoparticles were dispersed in the polyurethane solution in the presence of photo-initaitor by using Ultra-Turrax homogenizer, and the resulting polyurethane nanocomposite solution was molded in the mold glass at room temperature. UV curing was achieved in few seconds. It is noticed that the inorganic filler can be used up to 5% (wt/wt) without affecting the transparency of the polyurethane elastomer sheets. Nanocomposites showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties at 3% (wt/wt). Optical absorption measurements show that the fundamental absorption edge obeys Tauc’s relation for the allowed nondirect transition. Optical band gap (Eg) of the polyurethane (PU)/Aerosil R7200 nanocomposites decreases with the increase of nanosilica content from 1% to 5%. Good mechanical and optical properties make the polyurethane nanocomposites good candidate for different applications such as thin film coating and photovoltaic.
Preferred Position and Orientation of Anticancer Drug Cisplatin During Encapsulation Into Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Ansari R. , Kazemi E. , Mahmoudinezhad E. , Sadeghi F.
Published: August 2012

Cisplatin is one of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy drugs to treat different types of cancers. However, this anticancer drug has a number of side effects such as kidney and nerve damages, anaphylactic reactions, hearing loss, nausea, and vomiting that strongly restrict its function. In the present study, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are used as protective drug carriers which can decrease these severe side effects to some extent. Using the hybrid discrete-continuum model in conjunction with Lennard-Jones potential, new semi-analytical expressions in terms of single integrals are given to evaluate van der Waals (vdW) potential energy and interaction force between an offset cisplatin and a SWCNT. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted to validate the results of such a hybrid approach. The preferred location and orientation of cisplatin while entering SWCNTs are determined. It is shown that the equilibrium condition of the drug may be affected by the radius of nanotube, the orientation of cisplatin, and the distance between the central molecule of the drug (Pt) and the left end of nanotube. Furthermore, the influence of equilibrium condition on the distributions of vdW interactions is investigated.
Enzyme adsorption on polymer-based confined bioinspired biosensing surface
Authors: Palacio Manuel L. B. , Bhushan Bharat
Published: August 2012

Biosensor stability and performance are known to benefit from the nanoscale confinement of its immobilized protein or enzyme components due to its ability to mimic the natural environment of these biomolecules. In this study, the enzyme cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was adsorbed on pores created on polystyrene-block-polymethyl methacrylate films. A combination of fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy analysis reveals the presence of ChOx on the polystyrene domain pores. Absorbance measurements on a cholesterol solution exposed to the enzyme deposited on the block copolymer reveal the occurrence of catalysis. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of immobilizing enzymes in a polymer-derived bioinspired platform that can be utilized for biosensing applications.
Prescription Of Medicated Feedingstuffs
Authors: McDonald Janis
Published: August 2012

This article, by Janis McDonald of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), sets out advice on best practice in using medicated feedingstuffs prescriptions. It has been produced by the VMD in the light of concerns that procedures for completing medicated feedingstuffs prescriptions may not always be being followed correctly.
MODELING OF PARTICLE SIZE SEGREGATION: CALIBRATION USING THE DISCRETE PARTICLE METHOD
Authors: THORNTON ANTHONY , WEINHART THOMAS , LUDING STEFAN , BOKHOVE ONNO
Published: August 2012

Over the last 25 years a lot of work has been undertaken on constructing continuum models for segregation of particles of different sizes. We focus on one model that is designed to predict segregation and remixing of two differently sized particle species. This model contains two dimensionless parameters: Sr, a measure of the segregation rate, and Dr, a measure of the strength of diffusion. These, in general, depend on both flow and particle properties and one of the weaknesses of the model is that these dependencies are not predicted. They have to be determined by either experiments or simulations.

We present steady-state, periodic, chute-flow simulations using the discrete particle method (DPM) for several bi-disperse systems with different size ratios. The aim is to determine one parameter in the continuum model, i.e. the segregation Péclet number (ratio of the segregation rate to diffusion, Sr/Dr) as a function of the particle size ratio.

Reasonable agreement is found; but, also measurable discrepancies are reported; mainly, in the simulations a thick pure phase of large particles is formed at the top of the flow. Additionally, it was found that the Péclet number increases linearly with the size ratio for low values, but saturates to a value of approximately 7.7.
Acupuncture Intervention in Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Study
Authors: Shen Peng-Fei , Kong Li , Ni Li-Wei , Guo Hai-Long , Yang Sha , Zhang Li-Li , Zhang Zhi-Long , Guo Jia-Kui , Xiong Jie , Zhen Zhong , Shi Xue-Min
Published: August 2012

Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and few pharmacological therapies show benefits in ischemic stroke. In this study, 290 patients aged 40–75 years old with first onset of acute ischemic stroke (more than 24 hours but within 14 days) were treated with standard treatments, and then were randomly allocated into an intervention group (treated with resuscitating acupuncture) and a control group (treated using sham-acupoints). Primary outcome measures included Barthel Index (BI), relapse and death up to six months. For the 290 patients in both groups, one case in the intervention group died, and two cases in the control group died from the disease (p = 0.558). Six patients of the 144 cases in the intervention group had relapse, whereas 34 of 143 patients had relapse in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean values for BI at six months were 70.25 ± 20.37 and 57.43 ± 19.61 for the two groups, respectively (p < 0.01). Acupuncture resulted in a significant difference between the two groups for the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), not at two weeks (7.03 ± 3.201 vs. 8.13 ± 3.634; p = 0.067), but at four weeks (4.15 ± 2.032 vs. 6.35 ± 3.131, p < 0.01). The Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS) at four weeks showed more improvement in the intervention group than that in the control group (9.40 ± 4.51 vs. 13.09 ± 5.80, p < 0.001). Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) at six months was higher in the intervention group (166.63 ± 45.70) than the control group (143.60 ± 50.24; p < 0.01). The results of this clinical trial showed a clinically relevant decrease of relapse in patients treated with resuscitating acupuncture intervention by the end of six months, compared with needling at the sham-acupoints. The resuscitating acupuncture intervention could also improve self-care ability and quality of life, evaluated with BI, NIHSS, CSS, Oxford Handicap Scale (OHS), and SS-QOL.
REMARKS ON THE CURCI–FERRARI MODEL
Authors: LAVROV PETER M.
Published: August 2012

We study a dependence of Green's functions for the Curci–Ferrari model on the parameter resembling the gauge parameter in massless Yang–Mills theories. It is shown that the on-shell generating functional of vertex functions (effective action) depends on this parameter.
MASSIVE GRAVITONS DARK MATTER SCENARIO REVISITED
Authors: LEE HYUNG WON , KIM KYOUNG YEE , MYUNG YUN SOO
Published: August 2012

We reexamine the massive graviton dark matter scenario (MGCDM) which was recently considered as an alternative to dark energy models. When introducing the native and effective equations of state (EoS), it is shown that there is no phantom phase in the evolution toward the far past. Also we show that the past accelerating phase arises from the interaction between massive graviton and cold dark matter.
COMMENTS ON SCALE INVARIANT BUT NONCONFORMAL SUPERSYMMETRIC FIELD THEORIES
Authors: NAKAYAMA YU
Published: August 2012

We investigate a possibility of scale invariant but nonconformal supersymmetric field theories from a perturbative approach. The explicit existence of monotonically decreasing a-function that generates beta-functions as a gradient flow provides a strong obstruction for such a possibility at two-loop order. We comment on the "discovery" of scale invariant but nonconformal renormalization group trajectories via a "change of scheme" in (4-ϵ) dimension proposed in literatures.
EXPLANATION OF COMPOSITE FERMION STRUCTURE IN FRACTIONAL QUANTUM HALL SYSTEMS
Authors: JACAK JANUSZ , GONCZAREK RYSZARD , JACAK LUCJAN , JÓŹWIAK IRENEUSZ
Published: August 2012

The topological explanation of the origin of Laughlin correlations in 2D charged systems under strong magnetic fields is formulated. Formal, self-consistent mathematical model of originally identified cyclotron braid subgroups is given in order to fully describe fundamentals of fractional quantum Hall effect, retrieve Laughlin correlations and point physical conditions which stand behind mysterious composite fermion structure. The new complete implementation of composite fermion basing on the first principles, without involving any artificial constructions (with flux-tubes or vortices) supply an explanation of previous models of composite fermions. Presented approach can lead to some corrections of numerical results in energy minimizations made within the traditional formulation of composite fermion model. Authors also identify the relations of FQHE in cyclotron braid terms within newly developing area of topological insulators and optical lattices. The prerequisites needed for formation of the fractional state are identified beyond the traditionally assumed factors, like the flat band condition and the interaction presence. The role of high mobility of carriers is highlighted in agreement with the experimental observations. Description, in terms of cyclotron braid subgroups, of the nature of yet unexplained novel experiments in Hall 2D systems including graphene is provided as well.
CHALLENGES IN APPLICATION OF A MONTE CARLO METHOD TO STUDY AN EXCITON CONFINED IN AlGaAs/GaAs SINGLE QUANTUM WELL
Authors: SOLAIMANI M. , IZADIFARD M. , ARABSHAHI H. , SARKARDEI R.
Published: August 2012

In this work, we have studied some computational aspects of a Monte Carlo method applied to an exciton which is confined in an AlGaAs/GaAs single quantum well. The computational pseudo-code and effect of its computational parameters like number of the Monte Carlo sampling points on a physical quantity like exciton binding energy are investigated. Then the CPU time under the change of such computational parameters are calculated. Finally, the exciton binding energy and errors of different methods of approximating the effective two dimensional coulomb potential for these systems are compared.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL PHONONIC CRYSTAL SLABS BORDERED WITH ASYMMETRIC UNIFORM LAYERS
Authors: ZHANG HONG-BO , CHEN JIU-JIU , HAN XU
Published: August 2012

We investigate theoretically the propagation of Lamb waves in a one-dimensional phononic crystal (PC) slabs bordered with asymmetric uniform layers based on the supercell plane wave expansion (SC-PWE) method. The validity is proved by using the finite-element (FE) method with Comsol Multiphysics 3.5a. The effect of changing the thickness of substrate and superstrate on the variation of the band gap width and frequency are studied when the total thickness of the loading layers is fixed. We also investigate the property of band gap maps by changing the total thickness or the material of the loading layers. The results show that the band structure can be tuned by changing the material or the thickness of the substrate or the superstrate. These structures may be used as filters and acoustic sensors.
MODELING OF TRAPPING INDUCED THRESHOLD VOLTAGE SHIFT DEPENDENCY ON A TIME-VARYING GATE BIAS IN THIN-FILM TRANSISTORS
Authors: JUNG TAEHO
Published: August 2012

The author has developed a discrete model for simulation to calculate the threshold voltage (VT) shift caused by charge trapping and detrapping in a thin film transistor (TFT) under a time-varying bias. The model divides continuous states into discrete states and simplifies tunneling among the discrete states to keep track of their occupancies. The simulation is carried out for a TFT that has traps in the gate dielectric uniformly distributed perpendicular to the semiconductor/dielectric interface and the results account for the stretched-exponential time dependence of VT shift.
AUTONOMOUS BEHAVIORS OF GRAPHICAL AVATARS BASED ON MACHINE LEARNING
Authors: HE YUESHENG , TANG YUAN YAN
Published: August 2012

Graphical avatars have gained popularity in many application domains such as three-dimensional (3D) animation movies and animated simulations for product design. However, the methods to edit avatars' behaviors in the 3D graphical environment remained to be a challenging research topic. Since the hand-crafted methods are time-consuming and inefficient, the automatic actions of the avatars are required. To achieve the autonomous behaviors of the avatars, artificial intelligence should be used in this research area. In this paper, we present a novel approach to construct a system of automatic avatars in the 3D graphical environments based on the machine learning techniques. Specific framework is created for controlling the behaviors of avatars, such as classifying the difference among the environments and using hierarchical structure to describe these actions. Because of the requirement of simulating the interactions between avatars and environments after the classification of the environment, Reinforcement Learning is used to compute the policy to control the avatar intelligently in the 3D environment for the solution of the problem of different situations. Thus, our approach has solved problems such as where the levels of the missions will be defined and how the learning algorithm will be used to control the avatars. In this paper, our method to achieve these goals will be presented. The main contributions of this paper are presenting a hierarchical structure to control avatars automatically, developing a method for avatars to recognize environment and presenting an approach for making the policy of avatars' actions intelligently.
RELIABILITY OF OPTIMAL LINEAR PROJECTION OF GROWING SCALE-FREE NETWORKS
Authors: EROLA PAU , BORGE-HOLTHOEFER JAVIER , GOMEZ SERGIO , ARENAS ALEX
Published: August 2012

Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is a technique based on linear projection theory, which has been frequently used for data analysis. It constitutes an optimal (in the sense of least squares) decomposition of a matrix in the most relevant directions of the data variance. Usually, this information is used to reduce the dimensionality of the data set in a few principal projection directions, this is called Truncated Singular Value Decomposition (TSVD). In situations where the data is continuously changing, the projection might become obsolete. Since the change rate of data can be fast, it is an interesting question whether the TSVD projection of the initial data is reliable. In the case of complex networks, this scenario is particularly important when considering network growth. Here we study the reliability of the TSVD projection of growing scale-free networks, monitoring its evolution at global and local scales.
ADAPTIVE GROWING NETWORKS COEVOLVING WITH THE SPREAD OF DISEASES
Authors: GUERRA BENIAMINO , GÓMEZ-GARDEÑES JESÚS , LATORA VITO
Published: August 2012

We study the evolution of an adaptive network whose growth occurs simultaneously to the propagation of a disease. The dynamics of the network growth is entangled to the spread of the disease, since the probability for a node in the network to get new links depends on its healthy or infected state. We analyze the influence that such coupling mechanism has both on the diffusion of the disease and on the structure of the growing networks. Our results point out that a strong interplay between network growth and disease spreading produces networks with degree–degree correlations and nontrivial clustering patterns.
HIERARCHICAL MULTIRESOLUTION METHOD TO OVERCOME THE RESOLUTION LIMIT IN COMPLEX NETWORKS
Authors: GRANELL CLARA , GÓMEZ SERGIO , ARENAS ALEX
Published: August 2012

The analysis of the modular structure of networks is a major challenge in complex networks theory. The validity of the modular structure obtained is essential to confront the problem of the topology-functionality relationship. Recently, several authors have worked on the limit of resolution that different community detection algorithms have, making impossible the detection of natural modules when very different topological scales coexist in the network. Existing multiresolution methods are not the panacea for solving the problem in extreme situations, and also fail. Here, we present a new hierarchical multiresolution scheme that works even when the network decomposition is very close to the resolution limit. The idea is to split the multiresolution method for optimal subgraphs of the network, focusing the analysis on each part independently. We also propose a new algorithm to speed up the computational cost of screening the mesoscale looking for the resolution parameter that best splits every subgraph. The hierarchical algorithm is able to solve a difficult benchmark proposed in [Lancichinetti & Fortunato, 2011], encouraging the further analysis of hierarchical methods based on the modularity quality function.
NOISE-INDUCED UP/DOWN DYNAMICS IN SCALE-FREE NEURONAL NETWORKS
Authors: GRAU-MOYA JORDI , PONS ANTONIO J. , GARCIA-OJALVO JORDI
Published: August 2012

Cortical neuronal networks are known to exhibit regimes of dynamical activity characterized by periods of elevated firing (up states) separated by silent phases (down states). Here, we show that up/down dynamics may emerge spontaneously in scale-free neuronal networks, provided an optimal amount of noise acts upon all network nodes. Our conclusions are drawn from numerical simulations of networks of subthreshold integrate-and-fire neurons, connected to each other according to a scale-free topology. We study the structure of the up/down regime both in time and in terms of the node degree. We also examine whether localized random perturbations applied to specific network nodes are able to generate up/down dynamics, showing that this regime arises when noisy inputs are applied to low-degree (nonhub) network nodes, but not when they act upon network hubs.
ON LINEAR n-COLORINGS FOR KNOTS
Authors: HAYASHI CHUICHIRO , HAYASHI MIWA , OSHIRO KANAKO
Published: August 2012

If a knot has the Alexander polynomial not equivalent to 1, then it is linearly n-colorable. By means of such a coloring, such a knot is given an upper bound for the minimal quandle order, i.e. the minimal order of a quandle with which the knot is quandle colorable. For twist knots, we study the minimal quandle orders in detail.
HUMAN GAIT BEHAVIOR INTERPRETATION BY A MOBILE HOME HEALTHCARE ROBOT
Authors: NERGUI MYAGMARBAYAR , YOSHIDA YUKI , YU WENWEI
Published: August 2012

The ultimate goal of this study is to develop autonomous mobile home healthcare robots which closely monitor and evaluate the patients' motor function, and their at-home training therapy process, providing automatically calling for medical personnel in emergency situations. The robots to be developed will bring about cost-effective, safe and easier at-home rehabilitation to most motor-function impaired patients (MIPs), and meanwhile, relieve therapists from great burden in canonical rehabilitation. In order to achieve this goal, we have developed the following programs/algorithms for monitoring human activities and recognizing human behaviors: (1) control programs for a mobile robot to track and follow a human subject by three different viewpoints; (2) algorithms for analyzing lower limb joint angles from RGB-D images from a Kinect sensor setup at a mobile robot; and (3) algorithms for recognizing human gait behavior. In (1), side viewpoint, front/back viewpoint and a middle angle viewpoint (between two former viewpoints) tracking were developed. In (2), depth image compensation with colored markers was implemented to deal with the skeleton point extraction error caused by mixing-up and frame flying of depth image during tracking and following human subjects by the mobile robot. In (3), we have proposed a hidden Markov model (HMM) based human behavior recognition using lower limb joint angles and trunk angle. Experimental results showed that joint trajectory could be measured and analyzed with high accuracy compared to a motion tracking system, and human behavior could be recognized from the joint trajectory.
THE DYNAMICS AND EVOLUTIONARY STABILITY OF CULTURES OF CORRUPTION: THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSES
Authors: MUELLER GEORG P.
Published: August 2012

This article analyzes different cultures of corruption with regard to their evolutionary stability, i.e. their ability to annihilate small disturbances in the equilibria between corrupt and noncorrupt agents. The article starts with the development of an evolutionary model of the interactions between corrupt and noncorrupt citizens and functionaries of the state, which is subsequently explored by formal analyses and computer simulation. It turns out that zero-corruption is always evolutionarily stable, whereas pervasive corruption displays only conditional evolutionary stability and thus is empirically rare. Between these two extremes there is organized bureaucratic corruption, which is in most cases quasi-stable with fluctuations around an equilibrium representing the coexistence of corrupt and noncorrupt agents. Empirical analyses of corruption data from 89 countries seem to corroborate these theoretical insights.
H2 ADSORPTION ON LiB (001) SURFACE: A FIRST PRINCIPLES CALCULATION
Authors: ZHANG WEI-BIN , WU WEI-DONG , CHENG XIN-LU , WANG XUE-MIN , WANG HAI-PING , AN XIN-YOU
Published: August 2012

The adsorption behavior of H2 on the LiB (001) surface was investigated with density functional theory (DFT) method. It was found that the site of H2 adsorbed on the Li-B bridge II was easier than the other four sites ( Li top, B top, hollow vertical and Li-B bridge I). H2 adsorbed on the Li-B bridge II site was a strong chemical adsorption. The adsorption energy was 2.190 eV, and the H , B atoms exhibited covalent characteristics, the H – H atoms have a little interaction, and the H2 was 0.331 Å below the surface of Li-B bridge II. The charge density, band structure, totals and partial density of states were calculated utilizing the first principle method. These calculations showed that the H interacted with the surface atoms, and partially saturated the dangling bonds with the surface atoms. The interaction between H and the surface atoms were mainly attributed to the H 1 s, B 2 s and B 2 p states. The calculated band gap was 0.075 eV and 0.199 eV before and after adsorption.
THEORETICAL STUDY OF MECHANISM FOR THE ATMOSPHERIC REACTION CF3CHFO2 + NO
Authors: WENG YA-NA , YAN XIAO-JUAN , LI SHU-JIN
Published: August 2012

The mechanism of the reaction CF3CHFO2 + NO was investigated using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT). The optimized geometries for all stationary points on the reaction energy surface were calculated using MP2 and B3LYP methods with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. Single-point energy calculations were performed using the coupled cluster method with single, double and perturbative triple configurations, CCSD(T). The most important energy minima on the potential energy surface (PES) were found corresponding to two conformers of the peroxynitrite association adducts, cis- CF3CHFOONO and trans- CF3CHFOONO , and the nitrate, CF3CHFONO2 . The radical pairs ( CF3CHFO + NO2 ) and the nitrate are formed through the breaking of the peroxy bond of trans- CF3CHFOONO and the rearrangement of cis- CF3CHFOONO , respectively. The nitrate can be decomposed to carbonylated species ( CF3CHO or CF3CFO ), nitryl fluoride (NO2F), nitrous acid (HONO), and radical pairs ( CF3CHFO + NO2 ), which are of potential atmospheric importance.
CONTROL OF A COMPLIANT HUMANOID ROBOT IN DOUBLE SUPPORT PHASE: A GEOMETRIC APPROACH
Authors: CERDA GUSTAVO MEDRANO , DALLALI HOUMAN , BROWN MARTIN
Published: August 2012

Enhancing energy efficiency of bipedal walking is an important research problem that has been approached by design of recently developed compliant bipedal robots such as CoMan. While compliance leads to energy efficiency, it also complicates the walking control system due to further under-actuated degrees of freedom (DoF) associated with the compliant actuators. This problem becomes more challenging as the constrained motion of the robot in double support is considered. In this paper this problem is approached from a multi-variable geometric control aspect to systematically account for the compliant actuators dynamics and constrained motion of the robot in double support phase using a detailed electro-mechanical model of CoMan. It is shown that the formulation of constraint subspace is non-trivial in the case of non-rigid robots. A step-wise numerical algorithm is provided and the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated via simulation, using a ten DoF model of CoMan.
REAL-TIME ANALYSIS OF LARGE ASTRONOMICAL IMAGES
Authors: KUEHN K. , HUPE R.
Published: August 2012

Forthcoming instruments designed for high-cadence large-area surveys, such as the Dark Energy Survey and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, will generate several GB of data products every few minutes during survey operations. Since such surveys are designed to operate with minimal observer interaction, automated real-time analysis of these large images is necessary to ensure uninterrupted production of science-quality data. We describe a software infrastructure suite designed to support such surveys, focusing particularly on ImageHealth, a tool for near-real-time processing of large images. These image manipulation and analysis algorithms were applied to simulated data from the Dark Energy Survey, as well as observed data collected by the Y4KCam on the CTIO 1 m telescope and the Mosaic camera on the Blanco telescope. The accuracy and speed of the ImageHealth code in particular were benchmarked against results from SourceExtractor, a standard image analysis tool ubiquitous in the astronomical community. ImageHealth is shown to provide comparable accuracy to SourceExtractor when examining bright objects in the focal plane, but with significantly shorter execution time. Based on the importance of real-time analysis in reaching the Dark Energy Survey's science goals, ImageHealth and other aspects of this analysis package were incorporated (in modified form) into the Survey Image System Process Integration, the Dark Energy Camera software control environment. The original ImageHealth code, however, is completely instrument-independent, and is freely available for use within other observational data-taking environments.
SIGWEB annual report
Authors: Harper Simon
Published: August 2012

The last year has been an exciting one for SIGWEB. From the sponsorship of the large Web Science Conference, to that of the small Social Network Working Group; from the increase in student travel sponsorship (to $25,000pa), to our increasing volunteer effort; the SIG has been at work at all levels of our domain.

We have forged links with multiple (≈20) conferences and workshops across our field, building a better website for our members, changing our bylaws to cement our relationship with our conferences, while still maintaining our low membership dues. In short, it has been an active and productive year.

However, we have faced some challenges too, with a small reduction in membership numbers (to 535). But, we have an increasing funds balance (to $560,000), and are still increasing the amount we have to spend on each member, from $590 last year to $618 this year; with member benefits of: Reduced rates at SIGWEB sponsored, co-sponsored, and co-operating events; Free access to ACM DL content of events sponsored by SIGWEB; Reduced subscription rates to New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia; Free subscription to the SIGWEB members email list, with calls, advance and final event programs; and news of interest to the community posted regularly; we still have an excellent membership offering.

In short SIGWEB has successfully expanded its range of conference sponsorships, is working hard on membership and volunteer development and benefits, and is financially healthy with a solid leadership.
Degenrative Fibroid and Sclerosing Peritonitis
Authors: Critchley Michael , Bagley John , Iqbal Pervis
Published: August 2012

Sclerosing peritonitis is a rare condition characterised by ascites, peritoneal and bowel wall thickening. Causes reported in the literature include luteal ovarian the comas, peritoneal dialysis, peritoneal chemotherapy and liver cirrhosis. We report an interesting case of a woman presenting with diarrhoea, abdominal distension, ascites and pleural effusion. She was subsequently diagnosed with Sclerosing Peritonitis caused by a degenerating fibroid which was successfully treated by Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingoophrectomy.
Predictive Models of Gene Regulation from High-Throughput Epigenomics Data
Authors: Althammer Sonja , Pagès Amadís , Eyras Eduardo
Published: August 2012

The epigenetic regulation of gene expression involves multiple factors. The synergistic or antagonistic action of these factors has suggested the existence of an epigenetic code for gene regulation. Highthroughput sequencing (HTS) provides an opportunity to explore this code and to build quantitative models of gene regulation based on epigenetic differences between specific cellular conditions. We describe a new computational framework that facilitates the systematic integration of HTS epigenetic data. Our method relates epigenetic signals to expression by comparing two conditions. We show its effectiveness by building a model that predicts with high accuracy significant expression differences between two cell lines, using epigenetic data from the ENCODE project. Our analyses provide evidence for a degenerate epigenetic code, which involves multiple genic regions. In particular, signal changes at the 1st exon, 1st intron, and downstream of the polyadenylation site are found to associate strongly with expression regulation. Our analyses also show a different epigenetic code for intron-less and intron-containing genes. Our work provides a general methodology to do integrative analysis of epigenetic differences between cellular conditions that can be applied to other studies, like cell differentiation or carcinogenesis.
Interval Oscillation Criteria for Super‐Half‐Linear Impulsive Differential Equations with Delay
Authors: Guo Zhonghai , Zhou Xiaoliang , Wang Wu-Sheng
Published: August 2012

We study the following second‐order super‐half‐linear impulsive differential equations with delay [r(t)φγ(x′(t))]′ + p(t)φγ(x(t − σ)) + q(t)f(x(t − σ)) = e(t), t ≠ τk, x(t+) = akx(t), x′(t+) = bkx′(t),
t = τk, where t ≥ t0 ∈ ℝ, φ*(u) = |u|*−1u, σ is a nonnegative constant, {τk} denotes the impulsive moments sequence with τ1 < τ2 < ⋯<τk < ⋯, lim k→∞τk = ∞, and τk+1 − τk > σ. By some classical inequalities, Riccati transformation, and two classes of functions, we give several interval oscillation criteria which generalize and improve some known results. Moreover, we also give two examples to illustrate the effectiveness and nonemptiness of our results.
A Generalization of Itô′s Formula and the Stability of Stochastic Volterra Integral Equations
Authors: Li Wenxue , Liu Meng , Wang Ke
Published: August 2012

It is well known that Itô’s formula is an essential tool in stochastic analysis. But it cannot be used for general stochastic Volterra integral equations (SVIEs). In this paper, we first introduce the concept of quasi‐Itô process which is a generalization of well‐known Itô process. And then we extend Itô’s formula to a more general form applicable to some kinds of SVIEs. Furthermore, the stability in probability for some SVIEs is analyzed by the generalized Itô’s formula. Our work shows that the generalized Itô’s formula is powerful and flexible to use in many relevant fields.
Theoretical Analysis for a Class of Rheonomous Affine Constraints on Configuration Manifolds—Part II: Foliation Structures and Integrating Algorithms
Authors: Kai Tatsuya
Published: August 2012

This paper investigates foliation structures of configuration manifolds and develops integrating algorithms for a class of constraints that contain the time variable, called A‐rheonomous affine constrains. We first present some preliminaries on the A‐rheonomous affine constrains. Next, theoretical analysis on foliation structures of configuration manifolds is done for the respective three cases where the A‐rheonomous affine constrains are completely integrable, partially integrable, and completely nonintegrable. We then propose two types of integrating algorithms in order to calculate independent first integrals for completely integrable and partially integrable A‐rheonomous affine constrains. Finally, a physical example is illustrated in order to verify the availability of our new results.
Recent Developments of Reflectarray Antennas for Reconfigurable Beams Using Surface-Mounted RF-MEMS
Authors: Carrasco Eduardo , Barba Mariano , Arrebola Manuel , Encinar Jose A.
Published: August 2012

Some of the most recent developments in reconfigurable reflectarrays using surface-mounted RF-MEMS, which have been developed at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, are summarized in this paper. The results include reconfigurable elements based on patches aperture-coupled to delay lines in two configurations: single elements and gathered elements which form subarrays with common phase control. The former include traditional aperture-coupled elements and a novel wideband reflectarray element which has been designed using two stacked patches. The latter are proposed as a low cost solution for reducing the number of electronic control devices as well as the manufacturing complexity of large reflectarrays. The main advantages and drawbacks of the grouping are evaluated in both pencil and shaped-beam antennas. In all the cases, the effects of the MEMS switches and their assembly circuitry are evaluated when they are used in a 2-bit phase shifter which can be extended to more bits, demonstrating that the proposed elements can be used efficiently in reconfigurable-beam reflectarrays.
Adaptation of Ritchie's Method for Parasites Diagnosing with Minimization of Chemical Products
Authors: Anécimo Régis Silva , Tonani Karina A. A. , Fregonesi Brisa Maria , Mariano Ana Paula , Ferrassino Marinês D. B. , Trevilato Tânia M. B. , Rodrigues Roberta Braga , Segura-Muñoz Susana I.
Published: August 2012

Latin America, Africa, and Asia present wide dissemination and high prevalence rates of waterborne parasitic diseases, which is a strong indicative of the fragility of public sanitation systems. In this context, parasitological analyses represent extremely relevant instruments. Several parasite diagnosis methods exist, among which Ritchie’s method (1948) stands out. This method uses formaldehyde and ether, two reagents of toxicological importance that can cause damages to environmental and occupational health. The present study aimed to compare Ritchie’s method modified by Régis Anécimo, without use of solvents, with the traditional Ritchie’s method, routinely used for helminth and protozoa diagnosing in Brazil. Some changes were introduced in the modified method, such as controlled increase of water temperature used after stool dilution and substitution of formaldehyde and ether by a neutral detergent before material centrifugation for observation of parasites. In examined samples by both methods, multiple infections were commonly observed; the modified method presented a similar sensitivity to identify the parasites. The development of analytic diagnosis methods that minimize the use of chemical products like ether and formaldehyde represents an important tool to prevent occupational diseases among exposed professionals, as well as to preserve environmental quality through the use of clean techniques.