bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case Study: What Doses of Amanita phalloides and Amatoxins Are Lethal to Humans?
Authors: Yilmaz Ismail , Ermis Fatih , Akata Ilgaz , Kaya Ertugrul
Published: October 2015

There are few data estimating the human lethal dose of amatoxins or of the toxin level present in ingested raw poisonous mushrooms. Here, we present a patient who intentionally ingested several wild collected mushrooms to assess whether they were poisonous. Nearly 1 day after ingestion, during which the patient had nausea and vomiting, he presented at the emergency department. His transaminase levels started to increase starting from hour 48 and peaking at hour 72 (alanine aminotransferase 2496 IU/L; aspartate aminotransferase 1777 IU/L). A toxin analysis was carried out on the mushrooms that the patient said he had ingested. With reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, an uptake of approximately 21.3 mg amatoxin from nearly 50 g mushroom was calculated; it consisted of 11.9 mg alpha amanitin, 8.4 mg beta amanitin, and 1 mg gamma amanitin. In the urine sample taken on day 4, 2.7 ng/mL alpha amanitin and 1.25 ng/mL beta amanitin were found, and there was no gamma amanitin. Our findings suggest that the patient ingested approximately 0.32 mg/kg amatoxin, and fortunately recovered after serious hepatotoxicity developed.
On the high trail: examining determinants of site use by the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia in Qilianshan, China
Authors: Alexander Justine S. , Shi Kun , Tallents Lucy A. , Riordan Philip
Published: October 2015

There is a need for simple and robust techniques for assessment and monitoring of populations of the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia to inform the development of action plans for snow leopard conservation. We explored the use of occupancy modelling to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic features on snow leopard site-use patterns. We conducted a camera trap survey across 480 km2 in Gansu Province, China, and used data from 60 camera traps to estimate probabilities of site use and detection using the single season occupancy model. We assessed the influence of three covariates on site use by snow leopards: elevation, the presence of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and the presence of human disturbance (distance to roads). We recorded 76 captures of snow leopards over 2,906 trap-days, representing a mean capture success of 2.62 captures per 100 trap-days. Elevation had the strongest influence on site use, with the probability of site use increasing with altitude, whereas the influence of presence of prey and distance to roads was relatively weak. Our findings indicate the need for practical and robust techniques to appraise determinants of site use by snow leopards, especially in the context of the limited resources available for such work.
Transcription factor and miRNA co-regulatory network reveals shared and specific regulators in the development of B cell and T cell
Authors: Lin Ying , Zhang Qiong , Zhang Hong-Mei , Liu Wei , Liu Chun-Jie , Li Qiubai , Guo An-Yuan
Published: October 2015

The maturation process of lymphocyte was related to many blood diseases, such as lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia. Many TFs and miRNAs were separately studied in the development of B and T cells. In this study, we aim to discover the TF and miRNA co-regulation and identify key regulators in the B and T cells maturation. We obtained the candidate genes, miRNAs and TFs for each stage of their maturation, then constructed the TF-miRNA-gene feed-forward loops (FFLs) for each stage by our previous methods. Statistical test for FFLs indicated their enrichment and significance. TF-miRNA co-regulatory networks for each stage were constructed by combining their FFLs. Hub analysis revealed the key regulators in each stage, for example, MYC, STAT5A, PAX5 and miR-17 ~ 92 in the transition of pro-B cells into pre-B cells. We also identified a few common regulators and modules in two stages of B cell maturation (e.g. miR-146a/NFKB1/BCL11A) and two stages of T cell maturation (e.g. miR-20/CCND2/SORL1), as well as some shared regulators in the early stages of both B and T cell development. Our network will help to increase understanding of mature process of B and T cell, as well as the related blood diseases.
Tunnelling anisotropic magnetoresistance due to antiferromagnetic CoO tunnel barriers
Authors: Wang K. , Sanderink J. G. M. , Bolhuis T. , van der Wiel W. G. , de Jong M. P.
Published: October 2015

A new approach in spintronics is based on spin-polarized charge transport phenomena governed by antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for AFM metals and semiconductors. We report tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) due to the rotation of antiferromagnetic moments of an insulating CoO layer, incorporated into a tunnel junction consisting of sapphire(substrate)/fcc-Co/CoO/AlOx/Al. The ferromagnetic Co layer is exchange coupled to the AFM CoO layer and drives rotation of the AFM moments in an external magnetic field. The results may help pave the way towards the development of spintronic devices based on AFM insulators.
Light-driven biocatalytic reduction of α,β-unsaturated compounds by ene reductases employing transition metal complexes as photosensitizers
Authors: Peers Martyn K. , Toogood Helen S. , Heyes Derren J. , Mansell David , Coe Benjamin J. , Scrutton Nigel S.
Published: October 2015

Efficient and cost effective nicotinamide cofactor regeneration is essential for industrial-scale bio-hydrogenations employing flavin-containing biocatalysts such as the Old Yellow Enzymes.
Relevant pH and lipase for in vitro models of gastric digestion
Authors: Sams Laura , Paume Julie , Giallo Jacqueline , Carrière Frédéric
Published: October 2015

Expressing gastric pH as a function of gastric emptying instead of time makes it possible to reduce the inter-individual variability and highlight the pH values that are the most relevant for testing meal digestion in the stomach.
A La2−xGdxZr2O7 layer deposited by chemical solution: a promising seed layer for the fabrication of high Jc and low cost coated conductors
Authors: Muguerra Hervé , Pescheux Anne-Claire , Meledin Alexander , Tendeloo Gustaaf Van , Soubeyroux Jean-Louis
Published: October 2015

We deposited La2−xGdxZr2O7 seed layers by a chemical solution method on a Ni–5%W substrate to study the influence of these layers on the growth process of a 60 nm-thick La2Zr2O7 layer.
Patient satisfaction with a hospital-based neuropsychology service
Authors: Foran Amie , Millar Elisa , Dorstyn Diana
Published: October 2015

Objective
The aim of the present study was to develop and pilot a measure of patient satisfaction that encompasses themes, activities, settings and interactions specific to the neuropsychological assessment process.

Methods
A focus group of out-patients (n = 15) was surveyed to identify the factors commonly associated with a satisfactory neuropsychological experience. Responses informed a purposely designed 14-item patient satisfaction scale (α = 0.88) that was completed by 66 hospital out-patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Results
Satisfaction with the neuropsychological assessment process was generally reported, with the testing phase (85%) rated significantly more favourably than the pre-assessment (79%) and feedback (70%) phases. Commentaries provided by 32 respondents identified interpersonal facilitators to a satisfactory neuropsychological assessment experience, but also dissatisfaction with physical aspects of the testing environment in addition to service availability.

Conclusions
The patient satisfaction scale can be used as a quality assurance tool to evaluate neuropsychological service delivery. Large-scale research is needed to confirm the scale’s psychometric properties. Further research may also include a broader perspective on the consumers’ experience of neuropsychological services.
Mealtime interruptions, assistance and nutritional intake in subacute care
Authors: Porter Judi , Wilton Anita , Collins Jorja
Published: October 2015

Protected mealtimes is an initiative to support increased nutritional intake for all hospitalised patients, particularly those who are malnourished. The increased focus on maximising independence of patients in the subacute setting may provide a supportive environment for implementing these strategies. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into subacute ward practices at mealtimes under usual conditions (i.e. at baseline) where no protected mealtimes policy was implemented. Participants were patients aged ≥65 years recruited from subacute care facilities at a large healthcare network in Victoria, Australia. Participants were observed at mealtimes and mid meals (i.e. morning tea, afternoon tea and supper) to determine daily energy and protein intake, provision of mealtime assistance and mealtime interruptions. Almost all participants received assistance when it was needed, with positive and negative interruptions experienced by 56.2% and 76.2% of participants, respectively. There was an energy deficit of approximately 2 MJ per day between average intake and estimated requirements. In conclusion, mealtime practices were suboptimal, with particularly high rates of negative interruptions. Protected mealtimes is one strategy that may improve the mealtime environment to support patients’ dietary intake. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate its implementation and effects.

What is known about this topic?
The mealtime environment on a hospital ward may influence the nutritional intake of patients. Protected mealtimes is a systems approach that aims to minimise negative interruptions and promote positive interruptions to enhance the nutritional intake and nutritional status of patients. Whilst the approach has been widely implemented, further evaluation of its fidelity and effects is required.

What does this paper add?
This observational research has determined the nutritional intake, provision of assistance and interruptions at mealtimes experienced by a cohort of subacute care patients under usual care conditions. An energy deficit of approximately 2MJ below estimated requirements was identified. Half of the participants received positive interruptions and the majority of participants requiring assistance received it, however the prevalence of negative interruptions was high. This pilot study has enabled a fully powered prospective study to be designed, exploring the implementation of protected mealtimes and its effects on nutritional intake of patients in the subacute setting.

What are the implications for practitioners?
The energy deficit that exists for patients in subacute care may lead to nutritional decline, and longer lengths of stay. There are opportunities to improve ward practices at mealtimes in the subacute setting to focus on nutritional care.
Consequences for overcrowding in the emergency room of a change in bed management policy on available in-hospital beds
Authors: Claret Pierre-Géraud , Boudemaghe Thierry , Bobbia Xavier , Stowell Andrew , Miard Élodie , Sebbane Mustapha , Landais Paul , De La Coussaye Jean-Emmanuel
Published: October 2015

Objective Emergency rooms play an important role by providing continuous access to healthcare 24 h a day, 7 days a week, but the lack of available hospital beds has become a major difficulty. Changing bed management policy could improve patient flow. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of a change in patient prioritisation on available beds. Methods The study consisted of a computerised bed management simulation based on day-by-day data collected from 1 to 31 January 2013 in a teaching hospital. Real hospital data were used to power the computer simulation. The scenarios tested were: (1) priority for emergency and surgery; (2) priority for emergency and medicine; (3) priority for planned admissions and surgery; and (4) priority for planned admissions and medicine. The results of these scenarios were compared with each other and to actual data. Results This study included 2347 patients. The scenario that proved to be the least efficient was the one that gave priority to emergency patients presenting with a medical condition. The scenario that exhibited the best efficiency was the one that gave priority to planned admissions and surgery. Conclusions Changing policies for hospital bed management is worth exploring to improve hospital patient flow and length of stay. What is known about the topic? The lack of available hospital beds is a major difficulty in managing patient flow in emergency rooms (ERs). The ER patient flow competes against a flow of planned hospital admissions for the same beds and the lack of a clearly defined policy on either prioritising ER patient flow over planned admissions or vice versa contributes to a disordered system. What does this paper add? We compared several simulated scenarios corresponding to different bed management policies. The scenario that gave priority to planned admissions and surgery gave the most suitable results. What are the implications for practitioners? Postponing scheduled surgical patients was not an efficient procedure to solve hospital overcrowding.
Frequent condom use with casual partners varies by sexual position among younger gay and bisexual men in New Zealand: national behavioural surveillance 2006–2011
Authors: Lachowsky Nathan J. , Saxton Peter J. W. , Hughes Anthony J. , Dickson Nigel P. , Milhausen Robin R. , Dewey Cate E. , Summerlee Alastair J. S.
Published: October 2015

Background
Condom promotion remains a cornerstone of HIV/STI control, but must be informed by evidence of uptake and address disparities in use. This study sought to determine the prevalence of, and demographic, behavioural and relational factors associated with, condom use during insertive and receptive anal intercourse with casual partners among younger gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) in New Zealand. Methods: The 2006–2011 national HIV behavioural surveillance data for YMSM aged 16–29 years was pooled. Separately for each sexual position, frequent (always/almost always) versus infrequent condom use was regressed onto explanatory variables using manual backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Three-quarters of YMSM reported frequent condom use during insertive (76.0%) and receptive (73.8%) anal intercourse. YMSM who were exclusively insertive were more likely to report frequent condom use than versatile YMSM. Factors positively associated with frequent condom use, irrespective of sexual position were: in-person versus web-based recruitment, testing HIV negative versus never testing or testing HIV positive, having no recent sex with women, reporting two to five versus one male sexual partner in the past 6 months, reporting no current regular partner, but if in a regular relationship, reporting a boyfriend-type versus fuckbuddy-type partner, and frequent versus infrequent regular partner condom use. Pacific ethnicity and less formal education were negatively associated with frequent condom use only during receptive anal intercourse. Conclusions: The findings from this study demonstrate that condom norms can be actively established and maintained among YMSM. Condom promotion efforts must increase YMSM’s capacity, agency and skills to negotiate condom use, especially for the receptive partner.
A verbal invitation and specimen collection on the spot are crucial to maximise sexually transmissible infection testing uptake in non-traditional settings
Authors: Hocking Jane S. , Goller Jane L. , Lim Megan S. C.
Published: October 2015

Non-traditional settings offer an opportunity to increase access to sexually transmissible infection testing for at-risk populations, but they have not yet proven to be an efficient option and current models are unlikely to be effective if scaled up.
Gradient estimate for a nonlinear heat equation on Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Jiang Xinrong
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we derive a local Hamilton type gradient estimate for a nonlinear heat equation on Riemannian manifolds. As its application, we obtain a Liouville type theorem.
The Diurnal Profile of Central Hemodynamics in a General Uruguayan
Population
Authors: Boggia José , Luzardo Leonella , Lujambio Inés , Sottolano Mariana , Robaina Sebastián , Thijs Lutgarde , Olascoaga Alicia , Noboa Oscar , Struijker-Boudier Harry A. , Safar Michel E. , Staessen Jan A.
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

No previous population study assessed the diurnal profile of central arterial properties.

METHODS

In 167 participants (mean age, 56.1 years; 63.5% women), randomly recruited in Montevideo, Uruguay, we used the oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph 24-h PWA monitor to measure peripheral and central systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and pulse (PP) pressures and central hemodynamics standardized to a heart rate of 75 bpm, including aortic pulse wave velocity, systolic augmentation (first/second peak × 100), and pressure amplification (peripheral PP/central PP).

RESULTS

Over 24 hours, day and night, peripheral minus central differences in SBP/DBP and in PP averaged 12.2/−1.1, 14.0/−0.7, and 9.7/0.2mm Hg and 12.6, 14.7, and 9.5mm Hg, respectively ( P < 0.001 except for nighttime DBP ( P = 0.38)). The central-to-peripheral ratios of SBP, DBP, and PP were 0.89, 1.00, and 0.70 unadjusted, but after accounting for anthropometric characteristics decreased to 0.74, 0.97, and 0.63, respectively, with strong influence of height for SBP and DBP and of sex for PP. From day (10–20h) to nighttime (0–6h), peripheral (−10.4/−10.5 mm Hg) and central (−6.0/−11.3mm Hg) SBP/DBP, pulse wave velocity (−0.7 m/s) and pressure amplification (−0.05) decreased ( P < 0.001), whereas central PP (+5.3mm Hg) and systolic augmentation (+2.3%) increased ( P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The diurnal rhythm of central pressure runs in parallel with that of peripheral pressure, but the nocturnal fall in SBP is smaller centrally than peripherally. pulse wave velocity, systolic augmentation, and pressure amplification loop through the day with high pulse wave velocity and pressure amplification but low systolic augmentation in the evening and opposite trends in the morning.
GERV: a statistical method for generative evaluation of regulatory variants for transcription factor binding
Authors: Zeng Haoyang , Hashimoto Tatsunori , Kang Daniel D. , Gifford David K.
Published: October 2015

Motivation: The majority of disease-associated variants identified in genome-wide association studies reside in noncoding regions of the genome with regulatory roles. Thus being able to interpret the functional consequence of a variant is essential for identifying causal variants in the analysis of genome-wide association studies.

Results: We present GERV (generative evaluation of regulatory variants), a novel computational method for predicting regulatory variants that affect transcription factor binding. GERV learns a k-mer-based generative model of transcription factor binding from ChIP-seq and DNase-seq data, and scores variants by computing the change of predicted ChIP-seq reads between the reference and alternate allele. The k-mers learned by GERV capture more sequence determinants of transcription factor binding than a motif-based approach alone, including both a transcription factor’s canonical motif and associated co-factor motifs. We show that GERV outperforms existing methods in predicting single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with allele-specific binding. GERV correctly predicts a validated causal variant among linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms and prioritizes the variants previously reported to modulate the binding of FOXA1 in breast cancer cell lines. Thus, GERV provides a powerful approach for functionally annotating and prioritizing causal variants for experimental follow-up analysis.

Availability and implementation: The implementation of GERV and related data are available at http://gerv.csail.mit.edu/.

Contact:  gifford@mit.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A-DaGO-Fun: an adaptable Gene Ontology semantic similarity-based functional analysis tool
Authors: Mazandu Gaston K. , Chimusa Emile R. , Mbiyavanga Mamana , Mulder Nicola J.
Published: October 2015

Summary: Gene Ontology (GO) semantic similarity measures are being used for biological knowledge discovery based on GO annotations by integrating biological information contained in the GO structure into data analyses. To empower users to quickly compute, manipulate and explore these measures, we introduce A-DaGO-Fun (ADaptable Gene Ontology semantic similarity-based Functional analysis). It is a portable software package integrating all known GO information content-based semantic similarity measures and relevant biological applications associated with these measures. A-DaGO-Fun has the advantage not only of handling datasets from the current high-throughput genome-wide applications, but also allowing users to choose the most relevant semantic similarity approach for their biological applications and to adapt a given module to their needs.

Availability and implementation: A-DaGO-Fun is freely available to the research community at http://web.cbio.uct.ac.za/ITGOM/adagofun. It is implemented in Linux using Python under free software (GNU General Public Licence).

Contact: gmazandu@cbio.uct.ac.za or Nicola.Mulder@uct.ac.za

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
iEnhancer-2L: a two-layer predictor for identifying enhancers and their strength by pseudo k-tuple nucleotide composition
Authors: Liu Bin , Fang Longyun , Long Ren , Lan Xun , Chou Kuo-Chen
Published: October 2015

Motivation: Enhancers are of short regulatory DNA elements. They can be bound with proteins (activators) to activate transcription of a gene, and hence play a critical role in promoting gene transcription in eukaryotes. With the avalanche of DNA sequences generated in the post-genomic age, it is a challenging task to develop computational methods for timely identifying enhancers from extremely complicated DNA sequences. Although some efforts have been made in this regard, they were limited at only identifying whether a query DNA element being of an enhancer or not. According to the distinct levels of biological activities and regulatory effects on target genes, however, enhancers should be further classified into strong and weak ones in strength.

Results: In view of this, a two-layer predictor called ‘iEnhancer-2L’ was proposed by formulating DNA elements with the ‘pseudo k-tuple nucleotide composition’, into which the six DNA local parameters were incorporated. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first computational predictor ever established for identifying not only enhancers, but also their strength. Rigorous cross-validation tests have indicated that iEnhancer-2L holds very high potential to become a useful tool for genome analysis.

Availability and implementation: For the convenience of most experimental scientists, a web server for the two-layer predictor was established at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/iEnhancer-2L/, by which users can easily get their desired results without the need to go through the mathematical details.

Contact:  bliu@gordonlifescience.org, bliu@insun.hit.edu.cn, xlan@stanford.edu, kcchou@gordonlifescience.org

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Plant phenological responses to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau: research status and challenges
Authors: Shen Miaogen , Piao Shilong , Dorji Tsechoe , Liu Qiang , Cong Nan , Chen Xiaoqiu , An Shuai , Wang Shiping , Wang Tao , Zhang Gengxin
Published: October 2015

Phenology studies the cycle of events in nature that are initiated and driven by an annually recurring environment. Plant phenology is expected to be one of the most sensitive and easily observable natural indicators of climate change. On the Tibetan Plateau (TP), an accelerated warming since the mid-1980s has resulted in significant environmental changes. These new conditions are accompanied by phenological changes that are characterized by considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Satellite remote sensing observed widespread advance in the start of the plant growing season across the plateau during the 1980s and 1990s but substantial delay over 2000–2011 in the southwest although it continued to advance in the northeast regions of the TP. Both observational studies and controlled experiments have revealed, to some extent, the positive role of higher preseason temperature and even more precipitation in advancing the leaf onset and first flowering date of the TP. However, a number of rarely visited research issues that are essential for understanding the role of phenology in ecosystem responses and feedback processes to climate change remain to be solved. Our review recommends that addressing the following questions should be a high priority. How did other phenological events change, such as flowering and fruiting phenology? What are the influences from environmental changes other than temperature and precipitation, including human activities such as grazing? What are the genetic and physiological bases of plants phenological responses? How does phenological change influence ecosystem structure and function at different scales and feedback to the climate system? Investigating these research questions requires, first of all, new data of the associated environmental variables, and consistent and reliable phenological observation using different methodologies (i.e. in situ observations and remote sensing).
Outsourcing and Offshoring of Professional Services
Authors: Sako Mari
Published: October 2015

This chapter analyzes the causes and consequences of outsourcing and offshoring by professional service firms (PSFs). Outsourcing and offshoring result from the same strategic drivers triggering firms to reconfigure their activities organizationally (make-or-buy) and geographically (onshore or offshore). The chapter reviews various economic and management theories that are relevant to outsourcing and offshoring, and makes links to professional services. It then discusses trends towards disaggregation and standardization of professional work, along with digital technology, as prerequisites for outsourcing and offshoring. The chapter homes in on PSFs, and argues that the mode of decisions over outsourcing and offshoring is affected by PSFs’ governance structure. It identifies reasons why professional partnerships make reluctant outsourcers and offshorers compared to managed professional business, and discusses the consequences of outsourcing and offshoring by PSFs, focusing on the ecology of professions, with non-professionals competing with professionals, and the disruptive nature of new entrants in business services.
Organizations and Occupations
Authors: Kirkpatrick Ian , Noordegraaf Mirko
Published: October 2015

This chapter poses a challenge to deep-rooted assumptions about the mutual exclusive nature of professions and organizations. It argues that while different traditions of research, from the sociology of professions and theories of professional organization, have frequently emphasized conflict, much of it also highlights the inter-dependency and co-evolution of occupations and organizations. In the second half of the chapter, the authors illustrate this perspective and explore how, in recent years, professionalism itself has become increasingly hybridized. This is due not only to the encroaching demands of organizations on professionals, but also to the way professionals themselves have sought to reorganize to ensure continued legitimacy and sustainability.
Effectiveness of DFS Tuning on Java Server Workload
Authors: Oi Hitoshi
Published: October 2015

Dynamic frequency scaling (DFS) is a feature commonly found in modern processors. It lowers the clock frequency of a core according to the load level and reduces the power consumption. In this paper, we present a case study of tuning DFS parameters on a platform with an AMD Phenom II X6 using the SPECjEnterprise2010 (jEnt10) and SPECjbb2005 (jbb05) as the workload. In jEnt10, a longer sampling period of core utilization (up to 1.5[Formula: see text]s) reduced the power by 6[Formula: see text]Watt at 25% load level. At 50% load level, combining it with an increased threshold level (98%) to switch the clock frequency further reduced the power consumption by up to 10[Formula: see text]Watt. In jbb05, stretching the sampling period was only effective up to 0.5[Formula: see text]s. The maximum reduction was observed at around 60% load level. Raising the threshold level was not effective for jbb05.
Proposal and Properties of Ring Oscillator-Based PUF on FPGA
Authors: Kodýtek Filip , Lórencz Róbert
Published: October 2015

This paper deals with design of physical unclonable functions (PUFs) based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The goal was to propose a cheap, efficient and secure device identification or even a cryptographic key generation based on PUFs. Therefore, a design of a ring oscillator (RO)-based PUF producing more output bits from each RO pair is presented. 24 Digilent Basys 2 FPGA boards (Spartan-3E) and 6 Digilent Nexys 3 FPGA boards (Spartan-6) were tested and statistically evaluated indicating suitability of the proposed design for device identification.

A stable PUF output is required for generating cryptographic keys. As post-processing technique to further improve the efficiency of this PUF design, we used Gray code on the obtained bits from RO pairs. Ultimately, the PUF design is combined with error correction code and together with Gray code is able to generate cryptographic keys of sufficient length.
Certain Study on Improvement of Bandwidth in 3GHz Microstrip Patch Antenna Designs and Implemented on Monostatic Radar Approach for Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Microwave Imaging System
Authors: Sakthisudhan K. , Saravana Kumar N.
Published: October 2015

A 3[Formula: see text]GHz class of an EF and [Formula: see text] shaped Microstrip Patch Antennas (MPAs) designed, simulated and fabricated has been presented in this paper. These simulated designs with appropriate parameters are implemented on the fabrication prototypes which have been validated with help of Agilent Microwave Analyzer (N99917A). These proposed MPAs and dielectric equivalent human breast model that have been validated using the different dielectric strengths of coupling mediums are presented. These MPAs and dielectric equivalent human breast model have been validated using the existing Debye test bed. The coverage and vector dimension of tumor tissues have been detected using the Monostatic radar approach in the EF and [Formula: see text] shaped MPAs-based existing Debye test bed setups. This paper conclude that Fractional Bandwidth (FBW) of EF shaped MPA is 26.79% greater than [Formula: see text] shaped MPA of 21.67%. Hence, the EF and [Formula: see text] shaped MPAs prototypes are suitable for breast cancer diagnosis systems. The prototypes’ depth, coverage and vector dimensions are presented in this paper.
Modified Quasi-Steady State Model of DC System for Transient Stability Simulation under Asymmetric Faults
Authors: Liu Jun , Wei Zhanhong , Fang Wanliang , Duan Chao , Hou Junxian , Xiang Zutao
Published: October 2015

As using the classical quasi-steady state (QSS) model could not be able to accurately simulate the dynamic characteristics of DC transmission and its controlling systems in electromechanical transient stability simulation, when asymmetric fault occurs in AC system, a modified quasi-steady state model (MQSS) is proposed. The model firstly analyzes the calculation error induced by classical QSS model under asymmetric commutation voltage, which is mainly caused by the commutation voltage zero offset thus making inaccurate calculation of the average DC voltage and the inverter extinction advance angle. The new MQSS model calculates the average DC voltage according to the actual half-cycle voltage waveform on the DC terminal after fault occurrence, and the extinction advance angle is also derived accordingly, so as to avoid the negative effect of the asymmetric commutation voltage. Simulation experiments show that the new MQSS model proposed in this paper has higher simulation precision than the classical QSS model when asymmetric fault occurs in the AC system, by comparing both of them with the results of detailed electromagnetic transient (EMT) model of the DC transmission and its controlling system.
On Two-Level State-Dependent Routing Polling Systems with Mixed Service
Authors: Zheng Guan , Zhijun Yang , Wenhua Qian , Min He
Published: October 2015

Based on priority differentiation and efficiency of the system, we consider anN+1queues’ single-server two-level polling system which consists of one key queue andNnormal queues. The novel contribution of the present paper is that we consider that the server just polls active queues with customers waiting in the queue. Furthermore, key queue is served with exhaustive service and normal queues are served with 1-limited service in a parallel scheduling. For this model, we derive an expression for the probability generating function of the joint queue length distribution at polling epochs. Based on these results, we derive the explicit closed-form expressions for the mean waiting time. Numerical examples demonstrate that theoretical and simulation results are identical and the new system is efficient both at key queue and normal queues.
Study on Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Hybrid GFRP
Authors: Baba Nor Bahiyah , Suhaimi Ahmad Syakirin , Mohd Amin Muhamad Asyraf , Mohd Alias
Published: October 2015

The paper discusses the mechanical and physical behaviour of hybrid glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP). Hybrid GFRP was fabricated by three different types of glass fibre, namely, 3D, woven, and chopped, which were selected and combined with mixture of polyester resin and hardener. The hybrid GFRP was investigated by varying three parameters which were the composite volume fractions, hybrid GFRP arrangement, and single type fibre. The hybrid GFRP was fabricated by using open mould hand lay-up technique. Mechanical testing was conducted by tensile test for strength and stiffness whereas physical testing was performed using water absorption and hardness. These tests were carried out to determine the effect of mechanical and physical behaviour over the hybrid GFRP. The highest volume fraction of 0.5 gives the highest strength and stiffness of 73 MPa and 821 MPa, respectively. Varying hybrid fibre arrangement which is the arrangement of chopped-woven-3D-woven-chopped showed the best value in strength of 66.2 MPa. The stiffness is best at arrangement of woven-chopped-woven-chopped-woven at 690 MPa. This arrangement also showed the lowest water absorption of 4.5%. Comparing the single fibre type, woven had overtaken the others in terms of both mechanical and physical properties.
Systemic and Ocular Hemodynamic Risk Factors in Glaucoma
Authors: Choi Jaewan , Kook Michael S.
Published: October 2015

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a multifactorial disease characterized by progressive retinal ganglion cell death and visual field loss. It is known that alterations in intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) can play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Impaired autoregulatory capacity of ocular blood vessels may render tissues vulnerable to OPP changes and potentially harmful tissue ischemia-reperfusion damage. Vascular risk factors should be considered more important in a subgroup of patients with POAG, and especially in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) with evidence of unphysiological BP response. For example, reduction of BP during the nighttime has an influence on OPP, and increased circadian OPP fluctuation, which might stand for unstable ocular blood flow, has been found to be the consistent risk factor for NTG development and progression. Central visual field may be affected more severely than peripheral visual field in NTG patients with higher 24-hour fluctuation of OPP. This review will discuss the current understanding of allegedly major systemic and ocular hemodynamic risk factors for glaucoma including systemic hypertension, arterial stiffness, antihypertensive medication, exaggerated nocturnal hypotension, OPP, and autonomic dysregulation.
Cementation of Glass-Ceramic Posterior Restorations: A Systematic Review
Authors: van den Breemer Carline R. G. , Gresnigt Marco M. M. , Cune Marco S.
Published: October 2015

Aim. The aim of this comprehensive review is to systematically organize the current knowledge regarding the cementation of glass-ceramic materials and restorations, with an additional focus on the benefits of Immediate Dentin Sealing (IDS).Materials and Methods. An extensive literature search concerning the cementation of single-unit glass-ceramic posterior restorations was conducted in the databases of MEDLINE (Pubmed), CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and EMBASE. To be considered for inclusion,in vitroandin vivostudies should compare different cementation regimes involving a “glass-ceramic/cement/human tooth” complex.Results and Conclusions. 88 studies were included in total. Thein vitrodata were organized according to the following topics: (micro)shear and (micro)tensile bond strength, fracture strength, and marginal gap and integrity. Forin vivostudies survival and quality of survival were considered.In vitrostudies showed that adhesive systems (3-step, etch-and-rinse) result in the best (micro)shear bond strength values compared to self-adhesive and self-etch systems when luting glass-ceramic substrates to human dentin. The highest fracture strength is obtained with adhesive cements in particular. No marked clinical preference for one specific procedure could be demonstrated on the basis of the reviewed literature. The possible merits of IDS are most convincingly illustrated by the favorable microtensile bond strengths. No clinical studies regarding IDS were found.
Retrobulbar Hemodynamics and Visual Field Progression in Normal Tension Glaucoma: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study
Authors: Kuerten D. , Fuest M. , Koch E. C. , Koutsonas A. , Plange N.
Published: October 2015

Purpose. Vascular risk factors are important factors in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The purpose of this research was to investigate retrobulbar hemodynamics and visual field progression in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).Patients and Methods. 31 eyes of 16 patients with NTG were included in a retrospective long-term follow-up study. Colour Doppler imaging was performed at baseline to determine various CDI parameters in the different retrobulbar vessels. The rate of visual field progression was determined using the Visual Field Index (VFI) progression rate per year (in %). To be included in the analysis, patients had at least 4 visual field examinations with a follow-up of at least 2 years.Results. Mean follow-up was 7.6 ± 4.1 years with an average of 10 ± 5 visual field tests. The mean MD (mean defect) at baseline was −7.61 ± 7.49 dB. The overall VFI progression was −1.14 ± 1.40% per year. A statistical significant correlation between VFI progression and the RI of the NPCA and PSV of the CRA was found.Conclusion. Long-term visual field progression may be linked to impaired retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with NTG only to a limited degree. Interpretation of the data for an individual patient seems to be limited due to the variability of parameters.
Fatal Injury of the Small Intestine during Retropubic Sling Placement
Authors: Kascak P. , Kopcan B.
Published: October 2015

We describe a case of injury of the small intestine in a patient who underwent placement of Align R retropubic urethral support system (BARD). Absence of characteristic symptoms of the bowel injury and peritonitis led to a rapid development of sepsis, multiple organ failure, and death. Although the placement of midurethral sling is a minimally invasive surgery, good diagnostic skills, proper evaluation of indications, safe performance of the procedure, and thorough postsurgical monitoring are paramount for safe and effective outcome of the surgery.
Effects of Physical (In)activity on Platelet Function
Authors: Heber Stefan , Volf Ivo
Published: October 2015

As platelet activation is closely related to the liberation of growth factors and inflammatory mediators, platelets play a central role in the development of CVD. Virtually all cardiovascular risk factors favor platelet hyperreactivity and, accordingly, also physical (in)activity affects platelet function. Within this paper, we will summarize and discuss the current knowledge on the impact of acute and habitual exercise on platelet function. Although there are apparent discrepancies regarding the reported effects of acute, strenuous exercise on platelet activation, a deeper analysis of the available literature reveals that the applied exercise intensity and the subjects’ cardiorespiratory fitness represent critical determinants for the observed effects. Consideration of these factors leads to the summary that (i) acute, strenuous exercise can lead to platelet activation, (ii) regular physical activity and/or physical fitness diminish or prevent platelet activation in response to acute exercise, and (iii) habitual physical activity and/or physical fitness also favorably modulate platelet function at physical rest. Notably, these effects of exercise on platelet function show obvious similarities to the well-recognized relation between exercise and the risk for cardiovascular events where vigorous exercise transiently increases the risk for myocardial infarction and a physically active lifestyle dramatically reduces cardiovascular mortality.
The Particle Filter Sample Impoverishment Problem in the Orbit Determination Application
Authors: Pardal Paula Cristiane Pinto Mesquita , Kuga Helio Koiti , de Moraes Rodolpho Vilhena
Published: October 2015

The paper aims at discussing techniques for administering one implementation issue that often arises in the application of particle filters: sample impoverishment. Dealing with such problem can significantly improve the performance of particle filters and can make the difference between success and failure. Sample impoverishment occurs because of the reduction in the number of truly distinct sample values. A simple solution can be to increase the number of particles, which can quickly lead to unreasonable computational demands, which only delays the inevitable sample impoverishment. There are more intelligent ways of dealing with this problem, such as roughening and prior editing, procedures to be discussed herein. The nonlinear particle filter is based on the bootstrap filter for implementing recursive Bayesian filters. The application consists of determining the orbit of an artificial satellite using real data from the GPS receivers. The standard differential equations describing the orbital motion and the GPS measurements equations are adapted for the nonlinear particle filter, so that the bootstrap algorithm is also used for estimating the orbital state. The evaluation will be done through convergence speed and computational implementation complexity, comparing the bootstrap algorithm results obtained for each technique that deals with sample impoverishment.
Cooling Effect of Crushed Rock-Based Embankment along the Chaidaer-Muli Railway
Authors: Chen Ji , Sheng Yu , Chou Yaling , Liu Lei , Zhang Bo
Published: October 2015

This paper presents an experimental study of the cooling effect of crushed rock-based embankment on slope wetlands along the Chaidaer-Muli Railway. The result shows that only the embankment shady side can be effectively cooled down in a warm permafrost region and the crushed rock-based embankment can cool the entire embankment in a cold permafrost region. The crushed rock-based embankment cannot eliminate the problems from the south-north slope. Slope wetland can influence the temperature field of the crushed rock-based embankment. On the uphill side, it will lead to degradation in some cases and development of permafrost in other cases, which depends on the topsoil water content and ground surface runoff. On the downhill side, it always leads to the warming of permafrost. For crushed rock-based embankment constructed on slope wetlands, it is necessary to adopt other stronger measures to eliminate the sunny-shady slope problems.
Validation of Screening Questions for Hyperacusis in Chronic Tinnitus
Authors: Schecklmann Martin , Lehner Astrid , Schlee Winfried , Vielsmeier Veronika , Landgrebe Michael , Langguth Berthold
Published: October 2015

Background.We investigated the validity of the two hyperacusis items of the TSCHQ (Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire) from the TRI (Tinnitus Research Initiative) database by comparing them with the German hyperacusis questionnaire GÜF.Methods.We investigated the association of the GÜF with the TSCHQ screening questions for both the sum score and the single items with correlation, contrast, principal component, and discriminant analysis in a sample of 161 patients with chronic tinnitus.Results.TSCHQ items and the GÜF total score were significantly associated with a special focus on fear and pain related hyperacusis. Factor analysis of the GÜF revealed the three factors “fear and pain related hyperacusis,” “hearing related problems,” and “problems in quality of life.” A discriminant analysis showed a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 71% of the TSCHQ items for the establishment of tinnitus patient subgroups with and without hyperacusis.Discussion.Both hyperacusis TSCHQ items can serve as screening questions with respect to self-reported hyperacusis in chronic tinnitus with a specific focus on fear and pain related hyperacusis. However, the multiple dimensions of hyperacusis should be considered for diagnosis and treatment in both scientific and clinical contexts.
Geometrical Applications of Split Octonions
Authors: Gogberashvili Merab , Sakhelashvili Otari
Published: October 2015

It is shown that physical signals and space-time intervals modeled on split-octonion geometry naturally exhibit properties from conventional (3 + 1)-theory (e.g., number of dimensions, existence of maximal velocities, Heisenberg uncertainty, and particle generations). This paper demonstrates these properties using an explicit representation of the automorphisms on split-octonions, the noncompact form of the exceptional Lie groupG2. This group generates specific rotations of (3 + 4)-vector parts of split octonions with three extra time-like coordinates and in infinitesimal limit imitates standard Poincare transformations. In this picture translations are represented by noncompact Lorentz-type rotations towards the extra time-like coordinates. It is shown how theG2algebra’s chirality yields an intrinsic left-right asymmetry of a certain 3-vector (spin), as well as a parity violating effect on light emitted by a moving quantum system. Elementary particles are connected with the special elements of the algebra which nullify octonionic intervals. Then the zero-norm conditions lead to free particle Lagrangians, which allow virtual trajectories also and exhibit the appearance of spatial horizons governing by mass parameters.
A New Binning Method for Metagenomics by One-Dimensional Cellular Automata
Authors: Lin Ying-Chih
Published: October 2015

More and more developed and inexpensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies allow us to extract vast sequence data from a sample containing multiple species. Characterizing the taxonomic diversity for the planet-size data plays an important role in the metagenomic studies, while a crucial step for doing the study is thebinningprocess to group sequence reads from similar species or taxonomic classes. The metagenomic binning remains a challenge work because of not only the various read noises but also the tremendous data volume. In this work, we propose an unsupervised binning method for NGS reads based on the one-dimensional cellular automaton (1D-CA). Our binning method facilities to reduce the memory usage because 1D-CA costs only linear space. Experiments on synthetic dataset exhibit that our method is helpful to identify species of lower abundance compared to the proposed tool.