bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection of Host Differentials for Elucidating Pathogenic Variation in Magnaporthe grisea Populations Adapted to Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)
Authors: Babu Talluri Kiran , Sharma Rajan , Thakur R. P. , Upadhyaya Hari D. , Reddy P. Narayan , Girish A. G.
Published: June 2015

Blast, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), is the most devastating disease of finger millet affecting production, utilization, and trade in Africa and Southeast Asia. An attempt was made to select a set of putative host differentials that can be used to determine virulence diversity in finger-millet-infecting populations of M. grisea. Thus, a differential set comprising eight germplasm accessions selected from finger millet core collection (IE 2911, IE 2957, IE 3392, IE 4497, IE 5091, IE 6240, IE 6337, and IE 7079) and a resistant (‘GPU 28’) and a susceptible (‘VR 708’) variety was developed. This differential set was used to study pathogenic variation in 25 isolates of M. grisea collected from Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh states in India. Based on the reaction (virulent = score ≥4 and avirulent = score ≤3 on a 1-to-9 scale) on host differentials, nine pathotypes were identified among 25 M. grisea isolates. Pathotype 9, represented by isolate Pg23 from Vizianagaram, was the most virulent because it could infect all of the host differentials except GPU 28. This study will be helpful in devising strategies for monitoring virulence change in M. grisea populations, and for identification of blast resistance in finger millet for use in disease resistance breeding programs.
Hybrid organic–inorganic porous semiconductor transducer for multi-parameters sensing
Authors: Caliò Alessandro , Cassinese Antonio , Casalino Maurizio , Rea Ilaria , Barra Mario , Chiarella Fabio , De Stefano Luca
Published: June 2015

Porous silicon (PSi) non-symmetric multi-layers are modified by organic molecular beam deposition of an organic semiconductor, namely the N,N′-1H,1H-perfluorobutyldicyanoperylene-carboxydi-imide (PDIF-CN
2
). Joule evaporation of PDIF-CN
2
into the PSi sponge-like matrix not only improves but also adds transducing skills, making this solid-state device a dual signal sensor for chemical monitoring. PDIF-CN
2
modified PSi optical microcavities show an increase of about five orders of magnitude in electric current with respect to the same bare device. This feature can be used to sense volatile substances. PDIF-CN
2
also improves chemical resistance of PSi against alkaline and acid corrosion.
The role of heterogeneity in contact timing and duration in network models of influenza spread in schools
Authors: Toth Damon J. A. , Leecaster Molly , Pettey Warren B. P. , Gundlapalli Adi V. , Gao Hongjiang , Rainey Jeanette J. , Uzicanin Amra , Samore Matthew H.
Published: June 2015

Influenza poses a significant health threat to children, and schools may play a critical role in community outbreaks. Mathematical outbreak models require assumptions about contact rates and patterns among students, but the level of temporal granularity required to produce reliable results is unclear. We collected objective contact data from students aged 5–14 at an elementary school and middle school in the state of Utah, USA, and paired those data with a novel, data-based model of influenza transmission in schools. Our simulations produced within-school transmission averages consistent with published estimates. We compared simulated outbreaks over the full resolution dynamic network with simulations on networks with averaged representations of contact timing and duration. For both schools, averaging the timing of contacts over one or two school days caused average outbreak sizes to increase by 1–8%. Averaging both contact timing and pairwise contact durations caused average outbreak sizes to increase by 10% at the middle school and 72% at the elementary school. Averaging contact durations separately across within-class and between-class contacts reduced the increase for the elementary school to 5%. Thus, the effect of ignoring details about contact timing and duration in school contact networks on outbreak size modelling can vary across different schools.
Common cancer in a wild animal: the California sea lion (
Zalophus californianus
) as an emerging model for carcinogenesis
Authors: Browning Helen M. , Gulland Frances M. D. , Hammond John A. , Colegrove Kathleen M. , Hall Ailsa J.
Published: June 2015

Naturally occurring cancers in non-laboratory species have great potential in helping to decipher the often complex causes of neoplasia. Wild animal models could add substantially to our understanding of carcinogenesis, particularly of genetic and environmental interactions, but they are currently underutilized. Studying neoplasia in wild animals is difficult and especially challenging in marine mammals owing to their inaccessibility, lack of exposure history, and ethical, logistical and legal limits on experimentation. Despite this, California sea lions (
Zalophus californianus
) offer an opportunity to investigate risk factors for neoplasia development that have implications for terrestrial mammals and humans who share much of their environment and diet. A relatively accessible California sea lion population on the west coast of the USA has a high prevalence of urogenital carcinoma and is regularly sampled during veterinary care in wildlife rehabilitation centres. Collaborative studies have revealed that genotype, persistent organic pollutants and a herpesvirus are all associated with this cancer. This paper reviews research to date on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of urogenital carcinoma in this species, and presents the California sea lion as an important and currently underexploited wild animal model of carcinogenesis.
The effect of foreign management and board membership on the performance of foreign acquired Turkish banks
Authors: Polovina Nereida , Peasnell Ken
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of appointing foreign directors on the foreign acquired Turkish banks. Based on the developments in the Turkish banking system and the distinctive features of the Turkish market, the authors examine the appointment of foreign directors in three different levels: as a CEO, chairman and board member. The authors analyse how the appointments of foreign directors in each of these three levels affects the profitability and strategies of foreign acquired banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the difference-in-difference (DID) model where the authors compare two groups: foreign acquired banks vs domestic banks for a five-year period. By applying the DID model, the authors aim to remove the time invariant individual characteristics of the banks that could be due to the permanent differences between the two groups, as well as biases from comparisons over time that could be due to trends.

Findings

– The authors find that the presence of the foreign chairman has a positive effect on the profitability of the foreign acquired bank and on the improvement of the income generated from interest activities, indicating that foreign chairman improves the monitoring of board of directors and brings new skills and experiences. Furthermore, foreign acquired banks are associated with an increase in the income generated from non-interest activities in the fifth year following their acquisitions, showing the introduction of new strategies. The change of the foreign acquired bank’s strategies in the fifth year after acquisition also suggests that it takes time to implement new strategies in a new environment.

Originality/value

– Though the effects of foreign board membership on bank’s performance have been previously discussed in literature, this study differentiates in that it distinguishes among different positions, e.g. chairman or CEO when examining the effect of a foreign director on a foreign acquired bank’s performance. In addition, the use of foreign acquired Turkish banks in the sample in this context adds to the general academic literature.
Heterogeneous investors and trading platforms competition
Authors: Oriol Nathalie , Rufini Alexandra , Torre Dominique
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider competition’s issues between European market firms, such as Euronext, and multilateral trading facilities, following Markets in Financial Instruments Directive’s enforcement. This new domestic competition is adding to the existing international competition among financial centers. While diversification of local trading services can improve the international competitiveness of a financial center, the fragmentation of order flows can harm its attractiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The theoretical setting analyzes the interaction between heterogeneous who experiment network externalities, and heterogeneous local trading services providers (alternative platforms and incumbent) in an international context. The authors compare two forms of organizations of the market: a consolidated market, and a fragmented market with alternative platforms – in both cases, in competition with a foreign universe.

Findings

– The results of this study point out the importance of the trade-off between diversification and externalities. With alternative platforms entry, enhanced competition decreases fees and redistributes informed investors between the foreign market and the domestic one. The increase of domestic platforms’ number then has more complex effects on externalities (of information and liquidity). When the liquidity externalities are low, the diversification of financial platforms increases the number of investors on domestic centers. When liquidity externalities are not negligible, despite the decrease of fees, this same diversification orientates more informed investors to the foreign center.

Originality/value

– This model is the first to analyze jointly the internal and international competition of trading platforms with heterogeneous investors.
Experiencing a domestic fire: an overview of key findings from a post incident research programme
Authors: Clark Andrew , Smith Jessica
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on a research project investigating people’s experiences of domestic fires in a Northern UK city region. Although there is much research exploring behaviours during fire incidents and identifying who, where and (to a lesser extent) why, fires occur, there is little understanding of people’s experiences of domestic fires. This includes how individuals come to reflect on and understand the incident; how they articulate how events unfolded leading up to, during and immediately post incident; and how experiencing an incident may influence an individual’s perception of fire risk or the possibility of him or her experiencing a further fire. This paper contributes to this understanding by providing an overview of key findings from a recent empirical research project.

Design/methodology/approach

– A participative, qualitative research design was developed in which Community Safety Advisors (CSAs) were trained in data collection and analysis techniques. CSAs undertook interviews with 72 individuals who had experienced a non-fatal domestic fire incident between 2012 and 2013. The interviews were transcribed and analysed by the authors in consultation with CSAs through a series of “action research” and “participative data analysis” workshops and events.

Findings

– The authors report on key findings from the study with respect to how people recollect the fire incident; their understanding of why it occurred and what could have been done to prevent it; and their reflections on how the incident may (or may not) have influenced their current views on fire and fire risk.

Research limitations/implications

– The research has a number of implications for research and policy. This includes greater understanding for the role of narrative data in understanding fire incidents and post incident reflections, as well as recognising the potential for fire and rescue services to widen their research and analysis agendas. Analysis also identifies the importance of clear communication in prevention strategies, including with respect to communicating the causes of fire and the “get out-stay out” message.

Originality/value

– The authors believe the research project to be one of the first, internationally, to record qualitative experiences of domestic fires and situate these experiences within a broader framework of fire risk. In presenting an overview of the findings here, the intention is to promote our learning to other researchers and practitioners in the fire-risk sector and beyond.
Moral conversations and askesis as tools for change within youth justice
Authors: Manders Gary
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of moral conversations (MCs) within the context of youth justice as a potential resource for the process of change towards desisting from crime among a group of young offenders. It is centred on engagement with the perceptions and values of youth offenders in seeking to engage and work effectively with them, to consider in what ways the art of MCs and using askesis or practice to develop oneself can enable or constrain young people in their endeavours.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 young offenders to ascertain their beliefs and values in relation to their attitude to offending.

Findings

– The research found that an examination of an individual’s worldview through a MC enables practitioners to identify the potential and motivation for change. It can identify both the enablers and barriers to change, and elicit a young person’s real attitudes to offending. Crucially, the research found that through this process individuals can begin to think more about the possibility of transformation and the steps needed to modify their offending behaviour, in order to move away from crime and to begin to implement an alternative future.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is based on a small sample of 40 young offenders. However, the findings suggest that further research should be conducted in this area.

Social implications

– The research raises questions about how the issue of beliefs and values in relation to young offenders is navigated within the youth justice system.

Originality/value

– The research examines an area of research that is often neglected and which has previously received little attention. The findings are of interest for academics and practitioners concerned with recidivism and the factors that contribute to changes in behaviour for young offenders.
Sorting Out the Health Risk in California's State‐Based Marketplace
Authors: Bindman Andrew B. , Hulett Denis , Gilmer Todd P. , Bertko John
Published: June 2015

Objective

To characterize the health risk of enrollees in California's state‐based insurance marketplace (Covered California) by metal tier, region, month of enrollment, and plan.

Data Source/Study Setting

2014 Open‐enrollment data from Covered California linked with 2012 hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visit records from statewide all‐payer administrative databases.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Chronic Illness and Disability Payment System (CDPS) health risk scores derived from an individual's age and sex from the enrollment file and the diagnoses captured in the hospitalization and ED records. CDPS scores were standardized by setting the average to 1.00.

Principal Findings

Among the 1,286,089 enrollees, 120,573 (9.4 percent) had at least one ED visit and/or a hospitalization in 2012. Higher risk enrollees chose plans with greater actuarial value. The standardized CDPS health risk score was 11 percent higher in the first month of enrollment (1.08; 99 percent CI: 1.07–1.09) than the last month (0.97; 99 percent CI: 0.97–0.97). Four of the 12 plans enrolled 91 percent of individuals; their average health risk scores were each within 3 percent of the marketplace's statewide average.

Conclusions

Providing health plans with a means to assess the health risk of their year 1 enrollees allowed them to anticipate whether they would receive or contribute payments to a risk‐adjustment pool. After receiving these findings as a part of their negotiations with Covered California, health plans covering the majority of enrollees decreased their initially proposed 2015 rates, saving consumers tens of millions of dollars in potential premiums.
Epitrix pubescens can cause damage to potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Authors: Highet F. , Pearson K.
Published: June 2015

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) has not been recorded as a host of Epitrix pubescens (Koch, 1803), a species of flea beetle present in Europe. However, anecdotal evidence was received of damage to potato leaves caused by flea beetles observed during inspections of potato crops and also on potato plants within a garden in France. Although potato may not act as a host for all life stages of this beetle, adults may feed on foliage and cause foliar symptoms similar to those caused by non‐native Epitrix species.
Country Life: Agricultural Technologies and the Emergence of New Rural Subjectivities
Authors: Bear Christopher , Holloway Lewis
Published: June 2015

Rural areas have long been spaces of technological experimentation, development and resistance. In the UK, this is especially true in the post‐second world war era of productivist food regimes, characterised by moves to intensification. The technologies that have developed have variously aimed to increase yields, automate previously manual tasks, and create new forms of life. This review focuses on the relationships between agricultural technologies and rural lives. While there has been considerable media emphasis on the material modification, and creation, of new rural lives through emerging genetic technologies, the review highlights the role of technologies in co‐producing new rural subjectivities. It does this through exploring relationships between agricultural technologies and gender, changing approaches to understanding and intervening in animal lives, and how automation shifts responsibility for productive work on farms. In each of these instances, even ostensibly mundane technologies can significantly affect what it is to be a farmer, a farm advisor or a farm animal. However, the review cautions against technological determinism, drawing on recent work from Science and Technology Studies to show that technologies do not simply reconfigure lives but are themselves transformed by the actors and activities with which they are connected. The review ends by suggesting avenues for future research.
Men's Perspectives on Their Role in Family Planning in Nyanza Province, Kenya
Authors: Withers Mellissa , Dworkin Shari L. , Onono Maricianah , Oyier Beryl , Cohen Craig R. , Bukusi Elizabeth A. , Newmann Sara J.
Published: June 2015

Research has indicated that gender dynamics—and in particular men's disapproval of family planning—have had an influence on the low levels of contraceptive use in sub‐Saharan Africa. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male approval. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with married men aged 20–66 (N = 106) in Kenya to explore FP perceptions. Men's disapproval of FP was associated with anxieties regarding male identity and gender roles. Men often distrusted FP information provided by their wives because they suspected infidelity or feared being viewed as “herded.” Men also feared that providers might pressure them into vasectomies or into disclosing extramarital sexual activity or HIV diagnoses to their wives. Suggested strategies include programs targeting couples jointly and FP education for men provided by male outreach workers. To encourage men's acceptance, community‐based programs directly targeting men are needed to reduce stigma and misconceptions and to increase awareness of the benefits of FP.
Artabotrys byrsophyllus and A. tipuliferus spp. nov. (Annonaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand
Authors: Turner I. M. , Utteridge T. M. A.
Published: June 2015

Two new species of Artabotrys (Annonaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand are described. Conservation assessments for the two new species are made.
Adhesion Considerations in Safe Braking Distance Calculations
Authors: Thurston David F.
Published: June 2015

The main objective in optimizing train control is to eliminate the waste associated with the use of “worst case” assumptions to calculate Safe Braking Distances (SBD). Worst case takes the most conservative approach to the determination of train stopping distance in order to provide adequate stopping distance under virtually all conditions. This leads to stopping distances that could be far more than actually required under the circumstances at the time the train is attempting to brake. Several factors are considered in SBD; however one variable that influences a great portion of this distance is adhesion. This paper investigates adhesion to illustrate this influence on SBD and uses empirical data from Light Rail Systems with various test conditions. The interaction of the train control and other vehicle borne systems with SBD calculation will also be investigated including slip/slide control and brake assurance.
Applying Topic Modeling to Railroad Grade Crossing Accident Report Text
Authors: Williams Trefor , Nelson Christie , Betak John
Published: June 2015

The FRA railroad grade crossing accident database contains text comment fields that may provide additional information about grade crossing accidents. New text mining algorithms provide the potential to automatically extract information from text that can enhance traditional numeric analyses. Topic modeling algorithms are statistical methods that analyze the words of original texts to automatically discover the themes that run through them. A frequently used topic-modeling algorithm is Latent Dirichlet Analysis (LDA). In this paper we will show several examples of how labeled LDA can be applied to the FRA grade crossing data to better understand categories of words and phrases that are associated with various types of grade crossing accidents.
The Use of Thermal Imagery for Intrusion Detection in a Public Transit Environment
Authors: Fitzmaurice Michael
Published: June 2015

Thermal imagery (or thermography) was once only used in military, scienfitic and industrial applications due to the cost and complexity of the equipment involved. Not anymore. Thermal imagery is now used in an ever growing range of applications. This paper will focus on the use of thermal imagery in public transit as a means for detecting intrusion into the train way. This paper will review the basics of thermal imagery, examine why its use is expanding, and assess its utility for public transit. A pilot demonstration program using thermal imagery for track intrusion detected will also be discussed.
VoLTE Performance in Railway Scenarios
Authors: Sniady Aleksander , Sønderskov Morten , Soler José
Published: June 2015

GSM-Railways (GSM-R) is the current standard for railway voice and data communication. GSM-R provides railway specific voice services, such as Railway Emergency Call (REC). GSM-R provides also the European Train Control System (ETCS), which offers in-cab signaling and Automatic Train Protection (ATP). Despite these features and services, GSM-R has various major shortcomings. Therefore, alternative technologies are considered to replace GSM-R and become the next generation railway mobile communication network. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a likely candidate for GSM-R replacement. LTE is more efficient, flexible and offers much higher capacity, which allows the railway network to provide new communication-based applications for railways. Most of the research on LTE in railways has been focused on data-based railway applications (ETCS signaling and other). Nevertheless, voice communication is still a crucial service for railways. Regardless of its advantages, LTE can only become a railway communication technology if it provides voice communication fulfilling railway requirements. This paper presents how Voice over LTE (VoLTE) can be used to build railway communication services. Examples of Railway Emergency Call and One-to-One Call are provided. Service performance, in terms of call setup times and voice transmission quality, is analyzed in simulation scenarios modelling two railway scenarios in Denmark.
Electrical Energy Storage Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of a Hybrid Electric Diesel and Electric Only Locomotive
Authors: Cleary Timothy , Ballew Brent
Published: June 2015

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing allows for scaled to full-scale evaluation of components without constructing full-scale vehicle prototypes. HIL is also a rapid means of performance evaluation of difficult to model components, in real-time simulation with up to full-scale components providing their own response in place of a model. HIL also provides a working tool for control algorithm refinements prior to full system integration. In hybrid and electric locomotive applications this is particularly important while choosing the battery chemistry and sizing the energy storage system. Energy storage HIL testing permits optimal sizing of battery power and energy density along with management algorithm tuning. In general, HIL provides insight into optimal locomotive powertrain design.

After the development of full EV and HEV locomotive models, battery component models were replaced with real-time interfaces to lead carbon and lithium cobalt batteries, which validated the battery models and helped tune vehicle controllers for direct application onto the vehicle platform.
Simulation of Longitudinal Train Dynamics: Case Studies Using the Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator (TEDS)
Authors: Stewart Monique F. , Punwani S. K. (John) , Andersen David R. , Booth Graydon F. , Singh Som P. , Prabhakaran Anand
Published: June 2015

Longitudinal dynamics influence several measures of train performance, including schedules and energy efficiency, stopping distances, run-in/run-out forces, etc. Therefore, an effective set of tools for studying longitudinal dynamics is essential to improving the safety and performance of train operations. Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator (TEDS) is a state-of-the-art software program designed and developed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), for studying and simulating train safety and performance, and can be used for modeling train performance under a wide variety of equipment, track, and operating configurations [1].

Several case studies and real-world applications of TEDS, including the investigation of multiple train make-up and train handling related derailments, a study of train stopping distances, evaluations of the safety benefits of Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes, Distributed Power operations, and a study of alternate train handling methodologies are described in this paper. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of using the appropriate simulation tools to quantify and enhance a better understanding of train dynamics, and the resultant safety benefits.
Best Compromise in Deadheading and Locomotive Fleet Size in Locomotive Assignment
Authors: Jaumard Brigitte , Tian Huaining , Finnie Peter
Published: June 2015

We propose to investigate the best compromise between the number of deadheading operations and the size of a locomotive fleet with respect to locomotive assignment. Deadheading is evaluated in terms of the number of deadheading locomotives, the deadheading mileage and the deadheading cost. Numerical results are presented on data sets of Canada Pacific Railway for different values of the locomotive size.
Influence of Spatial Variations of Track Stiffness on Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation
Authors: Nkundineza Celestin , Turner Joseph A.
Published: June 2015

The bending of rail due to the repeated loading from railcar wheels is a known source of rail fatigue. If rail stresses are sufficiently high, they can initiate and propagate fatigue cracks after repeated cyclic loading such that they ultimately result in rail failure. Previous analyses of stresses from wheel loads have primarily focused on track beds for which the track stiffness is assumed uniform across a length of many cross-ties. In reality, however, spatial variations of track stiffness are known to exist and are affected by many factors such as the weather. These stiffness variations can lead to stresses that are locally higher than those predicted using models based on uniform average track stiffness alone. The work presented here is focused on the influence of spatial variations of track stiffness along the rail with respect to the maximum stresses generated. A computational model of a rail on a set of cross-ties with a statistically varying stiffness is used to study the maximum stresses generated when the track stiffness is not spatially uniform. The mean and standard deviation of the local track stiffness are varied and the maximum stresses at various positions within the rail are examined. This computational procedure is repeated for an ensemble of local track stiffness profiles to acquire the needed statistics of the corresponding stresses. These stresses are then related to crack initiation and the expected rate of crack propagation relative to the given the statistics of the track stiffness. This work is anticipated to have application for rail maintenance and the scheduling of rail defect inspections.
Side Impact Testing and Analyses of Unpressurized Tank Cars
Authors: Kirkpatrick Steven W. , MacNeill Robert A. , Gonzalez Francisco , Rakoczy Przemyslaw
Published: June 2015

There has been significant research in recent years to analyze and improve the impact behavior and puncture resistance of railroad tank cars. Ultimately, the results of this work will be used by the Government regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada to establish performance-based testing requirements and to develop methods to evaluate the crashworthiness and structural integrity of different tank car designs.

This paper describes results of recent side impact testing and corresponding analyses using detailed finite element analyses (FEA). The test and analyses were performed to evaluate the side impact puncture performance of DOT-111 tank cars. The tank car was filled with water to approximately 97 percent of the volume. The tank was then sealed but not pressurized. The tank car was impacted at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. by a 297,125-pound ram car with 12-by 12-inch ram head fitted to the ram car impacted the tank center.

The analyses were on overall good agreement with the measured impact response. The lading was found to play a more significant role in the impact response than in previous testing and analyses of pressure tank cars. This is not surprising considering the reduced structural stiffness of the tanks compared to thicker pressure tank cars and the reduced effective stiffness from the initially unpressurized tank at impact. The smaller outage volume also contributes to a dramatic increase in the tank pressure as the dent formation reduces the tank volume and compresses the contents of the tank.
Hazmat Routing: Safety and Security Challenges
Authors: Gordon Gary A. , Young Richard R.
Published: June 2015

The railroad industry is being challenged by recent state regulations requiring the disclosure of routing information of trains carrying hazardous materials (hazmat) to the general public. While there is a need to know, the dissemination of such information is contrary to both industry practice and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules. The conundrum is that there needs to be disclosure to first responders, law enforcement, fusion centers and the like to ensure the security and safety of the public.

This paper addresses the rules regulating the movement and handling of hazmat, to include toxic inhalation hazard (TIH) material; government demands, particularly those at the state level to release the routes, commodities, and quantities to the general public; and the operational impacts and risks that could result. It then explores the security of how hazmat train routing information can be safeguarded while ensuring that first responders and affected communities have what is needed to address the risks and be able to effectively respond to incidents. The overlaps and conflicts found in the rules and regulations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) are also addressed.
A rapid noninvasive characterization of CT x‐ray sources
Authors: Randazzo Matt , Tambasco Mauro
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to generate spatially varying half value layers (HVLs) that can be used to construct virtual equivalent source models of computed tomography (CT) x‐ray sources for use in Monte Carlo CT dose computations.

Methods:

To measure the spatially varying HVLs, the authors combined a cylindrical HVL measurement technique with the characterization of bowtie filter relative attenuation (COBRA) geometry. An apparatus given the name “HVL Jig” was fabricated to accurately position a real‐time dosimeter off‐isocenter while surrounded by concentric cylindrical aluminum filters (CAFs). In this geometry, each projection of the rotating x‐ray tube is filtered by an identical amount of high‐purity (type 1100 H‐14) aluminum while the stationary radiation dose probe records an air kerma rate versus time waveform. The CAFs were progressively nested to acquire exposure data at increasing filtrations to calculate the HVL. Using this dose waveform and known setup geometry, each timestamp was related to its corresponding fan angle. Data were acquired using axial CT protocols (i.e., rotating tube and stationary patient table) at energies of 80, 100, and 120 kVp on a single CT scanner. These measurements were validated against the more laborious conventional step‐and‐shoot approach (stationary x‐ray tube).

Results:

At each energy, HVL data points from the COBRA‐cylinder technique were fit to a trendline and compared with the conventional approach. The average relative difference in HVL between the two techniques was 1.3%. There was a systematic overestimation in HVL due to scatter contamination.

Conclusions:

The described method is a novel, rapid, accurate, and noninvasive approach that allows one to acquire the spatially varying fluence and HVL data using a single experimental setup in a minimum of three scans. These measurements can be used to characterize the CT beam in terms of the angle‐dependent fluence and energy spectra along the bowtie filter direction, which can serve as input for accurate CT dose computations.
Science Signaling
Podcast: 9 June 2015
Authors: Salvesen Guy S. , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: June 2015

Arsenic trioxide treatment switches which SUMO variant is conjugated to an oncoprotein, thus triggering its degradation.
Oxidative inhibition of cofilin
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: June 2015

Cysteine oxidation inhibits cofilin activity in the leading edge of migrating cells.
Metabolites drive cell fate in the developing embryo
Authors: Prabakaran Sudhakaran
Published: June 2015

Mass spectrometry analysis of metabolites reveals functional differences in individual cells in the early developing embryo.
Endothelial Cell Toxicity of Vancomycin Infusion Combined with Other Antibiotics
Authors: Drouet Maryline , Chai Feng , Barthélémy Christine , Lebuffe Gilles , Debaene Bertrand , Décaudin Bertrand , Odou Pascal
Published: June 2015

French guidelines recommend central intravenous (i.v.) infusion for high concentrations of vancomycin, but peripheral intravenous (p.i.v.) infusion is often preferred in intensive care units. Vancomycin infusion has been implicated in cases of phlebitis, with endothelial toxicity depending on the drug concentration and the duration of the infusion. Vancomycin is frequently infused in combination with other i.v. antibiotics through the same administrative Y site, but the local toxicity of such combinations has been poorly evaluated. Such an assessment could improve vancomycin infusion procedures in hospitals. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were challenged with clinical doses of vancomycin over 24 h with or without other i.v. antibiotics. Cell death was measured with the alamarBlue test. We observed an excess cellular death rate without any synergistic effect but dependent on the numbers of combined infusions when vancomycin and erythromycin or gentamicin were infused through the same Y site. Incompatibility between vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam was not observed in our study, and rinsing the cells between the two antibiotic infusions did not reduce endothelial toxicity. No endothelial toxicity of imipenem-cilastatin was observed when combined with vancomycin. p.i.v. vancomycin infusion in combination with other medications requires new recommendations to prevent phlebitis, including limiting coinfusion on the same line, reducing the infusion rate, and choosing an intermittent infusion method. Further studies need to be carried out to explore other drug combinations in long-term vancomycin p.i.v. therapy so as to gain insight into the mechanisms of drug incompatibility under multidrug infusion conditions.
The Staphylococcus aureus Protein-Coding Gene
gdpS
Modulates
sarS
Expression via mRNA-mRNA Interaction
Authors: Chen Chuan , Zhang Xu , Shang Fei , Sun Haipeng , Sun Baolin , Xue Ting
Published: June 2015

Staphylococcus aureus
is an important Gram-positive pathogen responsible for numerous diseases ranging from localized skin infections to life-threatening systemic infections. The virulence of
S. aureus
is essentially determined by a wide spectrum of factors, including cell wall-associated proteins and secreted toxins that are precisely controlled in response to environmental changes. GGDEF domain protein from
Staphylococcus
(GdpS) is the only conserved staphylococcal GGDEF domain protein that is involved not in c-di-GMP synthesis but in the virulence regulation of
S. aureus
NCTC8325. Our previous study showed that the inactivation of
gdpS
generates an extensive change of virulence factors together with, in particular, a major Spa (protein A) surface protein. As reported,
sarS
is a direct positive regulator of
spa
. The decreased transcript levels of
sarS
in the
gdpS
mutant compared with the parental NCTC8325 strain suggest that
gdpS
affects
spa
through interaction with
sarS
. In this study, site mutation and complementary experiments showed that the translation product of
gdpS
was not involved in the regulation of transcript levels of
sarS
. We found that
gdpS
functioned through direct RNA-RNA base pairing with the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of
sarS
mRNA and that a putative 18-nucleotide region played a significant role in the regulatory process. Furthermore, the mRNA half-life analysis of
sarS
in the
gdpS
mutant showed that
gdpS
positively regulates the mRNA levels of
sarS
by contributing to the stabilization of
sarS
mRNA, suggesting that
gdpS
mRNA may regulate
spa
expression in an RNA-dependent pathway.
Diversity of Cyclic Di-GMP-Binding Proteins and Mechanisms
Authors: Chou Shan-Ho , Galperin Michael Y.
Published: June 2015

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) synthetases and hydrolases (GGDEF, EAL, and HD-GYP domains) can be readily identified in bacterial genome sequences by using standard bioinformatic tools. In contrast, identification of c-di-GMP receptors remains a difficult task, and the current list of experimentally characterized c-di-GMP-binding proteins is likely incomplete. Several classes of c-di-GMP-binding proteins have been structurally characterized; for some others, the binding sites have been identified; and for several potential c-di-GMP receptors, the binding sites remain to be determined. We present here a comparative structural analysis of c-di-GMP-protein complexes that aims to discern the common themes in the binding mechanisms that allow c-di-GMP receptors to bind it with (sub)micromolar affinities despite the 1,000-fold excess of GTP. The available structures show that most receptors use their Arg and Asp/Glu residues to bind c-di-GMP monomers, dimers, or tetramers with stacked guanine bases. The only exception is the EAL domains that bind c-di-GMP monomers in an extended conformation. We show that in c-di-GMP-binding signature motifs, Arg residues bind to the O-6 and N-7 atoms at the Hoogsteen edge of the guanine base, while Asp/Glu residues bind the N-1 and N-2 atoms at its Watson-Crick edge. In addition, Arg residues participate in stacking interactions with the guanine bases of c-di-GMP and the aromatic rings of Tyr and Phe residues. This may account for the presence of Arg residues in the active sites of every receptor protein that binds stacked c-di-GMP. We also discuss the implications of these structural data for the improved understanding of the c-di-GMP signaling mechanisms.
A rare case of intranasal vascular leiomyoma
Authors: Kim Ah-Young , Choi Myoung Su , Jang Dong Sik , Lee Ho Yun
Published: June 2015

Vascular leiomyoma (VL) is a solitary and rare form of leiomyoma that usually occurs in the skin or subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremities. Intranasal VL is extremely rare, probably due to the lack of smooth muscle in the nasal cavity. In this study, we report a case of a 70-year-old woman with VL of the inferior nasal turbinate. An endoscopic examination revealed a pinkish globular mass at the inferior turbinate. A preoperative CT scan exhibited a highly enhanced mass originating from the inferior turbinate, and haemangioma was suspected. The patient underwent complete excision of the mass endoscopically, and the histopathological report indicated that the mass was a VL. The tumour was determined to be negative for progesterone and estrogen receptors by immunohistochemical staining. The postoperative period was uneventful. There was no local recurrence during the 12-month follow-up period.
FRACTAL GEOMETRY ENABLES CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENT LUNG MORPHOLOGIES IN A MODEL OF EXPERIMENTAL ASTHMA
Authors: OBERT MARTIN , HAGNER STEFANIE , KROMBACH GABRIELE A. , INAN SELCUK , RENZ HARALD
Published: June 2015

Animal models represent the basis of our current understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and are of central importance in the preclinical development of drug therapies. The characterization of irregular lung shapes is a major issue in radiological imaging of mice in these models. The aim of this study was to find out whether differences in lung morphology can be described by fractal geometry. Healthy and asthmatic mouse groups, before and after an acute asthma attack induced by methacholine, were studied. In vivo flat-panel-based high-resolution Computed Tomography (CT) was used for mice's thorax imaging. The digital image data of the mice's lungs were segmented from the surrounding tissue. After that, the lungs were divided by image gray-level thresholds into two additional subsets. One subset contained basically the air transporting bronchial system. The other subset corresponds mainly to the blood vessel system. We estimated the fractal dimension of all sets of the different mouse groups using the mass radius relation (mrr). We found that the air transporting subset of the bronchial lung tissue enables a complete and significant differentiation between all four mouse groups (mean D of control mice before methacholine treatment: 2.64 ± 0.06; after treatment: 2.76 ± 0.03; asthma mice before methacholine treatment: 2.37 ± 0.16; after treatment: 2.71 ± 0.03; p < 0.05). We conclude that the concept of fractal geometry allows a well-defined, quantitative numerical and objective differentiation of lung shapes — applicable most likely also in human asthma diagnostics.
人情文化下的求助歷程與策略初探： 以經濟弱勢家戶為例
Authors: 王 篤強 , 白 叙民 , 徐 明心
Published: June 2015

人情文化下的求助歷程與策略是本文的核心。 在脫貧的實務工作中，我們常發現許多經濟弱勢者不願意開口請別人幫忙。 欠人家人情、覺得很丟臉、沒有面子等是從他們口中常聽見的原因。 但他們所顧慮的到底是什麼？ 為什麼不求助？ 上述說法背後又有什麼意義？ 我們一方面從求助行為和華人文化的理論觀點著手，為求助行為的意義、歷程、與詮釋提供概念。 再方面，我們回到實務工作中，以人情文化詮釋經濟弱勢家戶成員求助的歷程與策略，希望藉此可以作為社工規劃脫貧方案的參考，使經濟弱勢者在求助過程中減低求助的成本和阻礙，加快他們脫貧的步伐。
Enhanced Policy Adaptation Through Directed Explorative Learning
Authors: Vuga Rok , Nemec Bojan , Ude Aleš
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we propose an integrated policy learning framework that fuses iterative learning control (ILC) and reinforcement learning. Integration is accomplished at the exploration level of the reinforcement learning algorithm. The proposed algorithm combines fast convergence properties of iterative learning control and robustness of reinforcement learning. This way, the advantages of both approaches are retained while overcoming their respective limitations. The proposed approach was verified in simulation and in real robot experiments on three challenging motion optimization problems.
An Efficient Compact Finite Difference Method for the Solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation
Authors: Zhang Rongpei , Liu Jia , Zhao Guozhong
Published: June 2015

We present an efficient, unconditionally stable, and accurate numerical method for the solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We begin with an introduction on the gradient flow with discrete normalization (GFDN) for computing stationary states of a nonconvex minimization problem. Then we present a new numerical method, CFDM-AIF method, which combines compact finite difference method (CFDM) in space and array-representation integration factor (AIF) method in time. The key features of our methods are as follows: (i) the fourth-order accuracy in space andrth (r≥2) accuracy in time which can be achieved and (ii) the significant reduction of storage and CPU cost because of array-representation technique for efficient handling of exponential matrices. The CFDM-AIF method is implemented to investigate the ground and first excited state solutions of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the validity, accuracy, and efficiency of the CFDM-AIF method.
A Belief Rule-Based Safety Evaluation Approach for Complex Systems
Authors: Zhang Jun , Jiang Jiang , Chen Yingwu , Yang Kewei
Published: June 2015

Plenty of hazards underlie complex systems, which have negative effects on the normal functionality of engineering events. To minimize the uncertainty, a comprehensive preevent checkout is necessarily required to judge if the engineering events will be carried out successfully under current circumstance, through which further improvements can be made. A generic belief rule-based safety evaluation approach for large-scale complex systems is proposed. The overall system is firstly decomposed and filtered into the measurable attributes that may potentially contribute to uncertainty. Belief structure is then applied to measure the uncertainty of vagueness and incompleteness and represent heterologous information in a unified scheme. With this scheme, a rule base is established with all antecedents, consequents, and attributes presented in belief degrees, which is used to determine the relationship between attributes, aggregate the influences, and generate the final inference with evidential reasoning algorithm. In the end, an estimation of uncertainty is achieved in the representation of distribution. It describes how the systems perform with given conditions and sources. A numeric case in aerospace program is provided for feasibility illustration.
The Solution of Two-Phase Inverse Stefan Problem Based on a Hybrid Method with Optimization
Authors: Yu Yang , Luo Xiaochuan , Cui Haijuan
Published: June 2015

The two-phase Stefan problem is widely used in industrial field. This paper focuses on solving the two-phase inverse Stefan problem when the interface moving is unknown, which is more realistic from the practical point of view. With the help of optimization method, the paper presents a hybrid method which combines the homotopy perturbation method with the improved Adomian decomposition method to solve this problem. Simulation experiment demonstrates the validity of this method. Optimization method plays a very important role in this paper, so we propose a modified spectral DY conjugate gradient method. And the convergence of this method is given. Simulation experiment illustrates the effectiveness of this modified spectral DY conjugate gradient method.