bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Competition and Its Impact on Paid-Search Advertising
Authors: Yang Sha , Lu Shijie , Lu Xianghua
Published: October 2013

Paid search has become the mainstream platform for online advertising, further intensifying competition between advertisers. The main objective of this research is twofold. On the one hand, we want to understand, in the context of paid-search advertising, the effects of competition (measured by the number of ads on the paid-search listings) on click volume and the cost per click (CPC) of paid-search ads. On the other hand, we are interested in understanding the determinants of competition, that is, how various demand and supply factors affect the entry probability of firms and, consequently, the total number of entrants for a keyword. We regard each keyword as a market and build an integrative model consisting of three key components: (i) the realized click volume of each entrant as a function of the baseline click volume and the decay factor; (ii) the vector of realized CPCs of those entrants as a function of the decay factor and the order statistics of the value per click at an equilibrium condition; and (iii) the number of entrants, the product of the number of potential entrants multiplied by the entry probability; the entry probability is determined by the expected revenue (a function of expected click volume, CPC, and value per click) and the entry cost at the equilibrium condition of an incomplete information game. The proposed modeling framework entails several econometric challenges. To cope with these challenges, we develop a Bayesian estimation approach to make model inferences. Our proposed model is applied to a data set of 1,597 keywords associated with digital camera/video and their accessories with full information on competition. Our empirical analysis indicates that the number of competing ads has a significant impact on the baseline click volume, decay factor, and value per click. These findings help paid-search advertisers assess the impact of competition on their entry decisions and advertising profitability. In the counterfactual analysis, we investigate the profit implication of two polices for the paid-search host: raising the decay factor by encouraging consumers to engage in more in-depth search/click-through and providing coupons to advertisers.
Predicting Individual Behavior with Social Networks
Authors: Goel Sharad , Goldstein Daniel G.
Published: October 2013

With the availability of social network data, it has become possible to relate the behavior of individuals to that of their acquaintances on a large scale. Although the similarity of connected individuals is well established, it is unclear whether behavioral predictions based on social data are more accurate than those arising from current marketing practices. We employ a communications network of over 100 million people to forecast highly diverse behaviors, from patronizing an off-line department store to responding to advertising to joining a recreational league. Across all domains, we find that social data are informative in identifying individuals who are most likely to undertake various actions, and moreover, such data improve on both demographic and behavioral models. There are, however, limits to the utility of social data.In particular, when rich transactional data were available, social data did little to improve prediction.
A New Approach to the Pareto Stable Matching Problem
Authors: Kamiyama Naoyuki
Published: October 2013

In two-sided matching markets, the concept of stability proposed by Gale and Shapley is one of the most important solution concepts. In this paper, we consider a problem related to stability of a matching in a two-sided matching market with indifferences. It is known that stability does not guarantee Pareto efficiency in a two-sided matching market with indifferences. However, Erdil and Ergin proved that there always exists a stable and Pareto efficient matching in a many-to-one matching market with indifferences and gave a polynomial-time algorithm for finding it. Later on, Chen proved that there always exists a stable and Pareto efficient matching in a many-to-many matching market with indifferences and gave a polynomial-time algorithm for finding it. In this paper, we propose a new approach to the problem of finding a stable and Pareto efficient matching in a many-to-many matching market with indifferences. Our algorithm is an alternative proof of the existence of a stable and Pareto efficient matching in a many-to-many matching market with indifferences.
The MSOM Society Student Paper Competition: Extended Abstracts of 2000 Winners
Authors: Gallien Jérémie , Netessine Serguei , Lahmar Maher , Ergan Hakan , Savin Sergei V. , Fry Michael J.
Published: October 2013

Each year the Manufacturing and Service Operations Management (MSOM) Society of INFORMS conducts a student paper competition. In Volume 2, Issue 2 of M&SOM, we published the extended abstracts of the 1999 winners in the hopes that this could become an annual event. Our hopes have become a reality.

Sridhar Seshadri and Ravi Anupindi, New York University, cochaired the 2000 competition. The judges for the final round were Garrett van Ryzin, Columbia University; Yehuda Bassok, University of Southern California; and Michael Pinedo, New York University.

The first-prize winner received $400, while second prize received $200. Prizes were awarded at the INFORMS meeting in San Antonio, Texas in November 2000. All finalists received a $50.00 discount coupon redeemable at an “e-tailer.”

The winners and their faculty mentors were:

First Prize

Jérémie Gallien, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Faculty Mentor: Lawrence M. Wein, MIT

“Design and Analysis of a Smart Market for Industrial Procurement”

Second Prize

Serguei Netessine, University of Rochester

Faculty Mentors: Gregory Dobson and Robert A. Shumsky, University of Rochester

“Flexible Service Capacity: Optimal Investment and the Impact of Demand Correlation”

M&SOM would like to congratulate the winners as well as all five finalists. The extended abstracts of these papers follow.
KSGal6ST Is Essential for the 6-Sulfation of Galactose within Keratan Sulfate in Early Postnatal Brain
Authors: Hoshino Hitomi , Foyez Tahmina , Ohtake-Niimi Shiori , Takeda-Uchimura Yoshiko , Michikawa Makoto , Kadomatsu Kenji , Uchimura Kenji
Published: October 2013

Keratan sulfate (KS) comprises repeating disaccharides of galactose (Gal) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Residues of Gal and GlcNAc in KS are potentially modified with sulfate at their C-6 positions. The 5D4 monoclonal antibody recognizes KS structures containing Gal and GlcNAc, both 6-sulfated, and has been used most extensively to evaluate KS expression in mammalian brains. We previously showed that GlcNAc6ST1 is an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the 5D4 epitope in developing brain and in the adult brain, where it is induced after injury. It has been unclear which sulfotransferase is responsible for Gal-6-sulfation within the 5D4 KS epitope in developing brains. We produced mice deficient in KSGal6ST, a Gal-6-sulfotransferase. Western blotting and immunoprecipitation revealed that all 5D4-immunoreactivity to proteins, including phosphacan, were abolished in KSGal6ST-deficient postnatal brains. Likewise, the 5D4 epitope, expressed primarily in the cortical marginal zone and subplate and dorsal thalamus, was eliminated in KSGal6ST-deficient mice. Disaccharide analysis showed the loss of Gal-6-sulfate in KS of the KSGal6ST-deficient brains. Transfection studies revealed that GlcNAc6ST1 and KSGal6ST cooperated in the expression of the 5D4 KS epitope in HeLa cells. These results indicate that KSGal6ST is essential for C-6 sulfation of Gal within KS in early postnatal brains.
Effects of Curing and Test Conditions on the Salt Scaling Durability of Fly Ash Concrete
Authors: Riding Kyle A. , Bortz Brandon S.
Published: October 2013

Some specifications currently limit the amount of fly ash used in concrete exposed to de-icer salts and freezing conditions because of concerns over salt scaling durability. There is concern that the standard test method commonly used to assess concrete salt scaling performance, ASTM C672, is overly severe and not representative of field conditions. There is also concern that the use of fly ash as a mass replacement could lead to additional damage because of the higher paste volume that results from the lower specific gravity of fly ash relative to Portland cement. In this study, concrete mixtures with 40 % replacement by mass were tested according to ASTM C672 using a constant cementitious material mass and a constant paste volume. Specimens were tested at an outdoor field exposure site to test the severity of ASTM C672 and the effects of specimen size on salt scaling resistance. The experiments showed that the fly ash source has a large effect on the salt scaling resistance in laboratory testing, although the increase in cement paste volume from the mass replacement of cement did not correlate with decreased performance. Laboratory-size specimens showed much higher salt scaling than larger companion slabs cast from the same concrete batches.
The Effect of Crumb Rubber on Freeze-Thaw Durability of Portland Cement Concrete
Authors: Gadkar Shubhada , Rangaraju Prasada Rao
Published: October 2013

Scrap tires from automobiles create a significant waste stream all over the world, and their disposal needs a viable and environmentally friendly solution. Past research shows that the inclusion of rubber aggregates in concrete reduces its strength but may be useful for improving durability properties such as the freeze-thaw resistance of the concrete; however, comprehensive assessments of the size effects and ideal rubber type have not been fully undertaken. With an understanding of the factors that enable rubber particles to improve the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete, issues such as instability and loss of entrained air in conventionally air-entrained concretes may be addressed. In this study, we assessed the freeze-thaw durability of rubberized Portland cement concrete with the addition of two types of crumb rubber aggregates created via ambient and cryogenic processes. Also, three different sizes of crumb rubber aggregates at three different replacement levels, 8 %, 16 %, and 24 % by volume of fine aggregates, were used for concrete specimens. The results were compared with non-air-entrained concrete as well as air-entrained concrete without added rubber. Based on this investigation, it was concluded that the finer-sized particles of both types of crumb rubber at 16 % and 24 % replacement levels showed very good performance in improving the freeze-thaw durability of concrete without the need for conventional air entrainment.
A Novel Bearing Swivel Joint and a Universal Joint for Concrete Pull-Off Testing Using a Material Testing Machine
Authors: Giancaspro James , Millman Lauren , Goolabsingh Ryan , MacDonald Kimberley , Yang Q. D.
Published: October 2013

The overall goal of this short study was to integrate two pull-off coupling devices for concrete: a bearing swivel joint and a universal joint, into an existing material testing machine. Their performance was evaluated in terms of efficiency using setup duration and compared to that of a commercially available portable testing device. Fifty-three pull-off tests were conducted on concrete prisms in accordance with ASTM C1583-04. Our results indicate that the portable tester was most efficient (6 min/test), followed by the universal joint (16 min/test), and then the bearing swivel joint (22 min/test). An online movie, as referenced in the text, demonstrates the modified test procedure, and recommendations for improvements to the test method are briefly discussed. Future testing will evaluate the variability among test results from the three devices.
Sensing Mechanism of Self-Monitoring CNT Cementitious Composite
Authors: Sun Shengwei , Yu Xun , Han Baoguo
Published: October 2013

Owing to its outstanding sensing properties, mechanical properties, and durability, self-monitoring carbon nanotube (CNT) cementitious composite can serve as an intrinsic smart sensor for structural health monitoring and traffic detection. However, it is not clear at present what the origin of the sensing property of the self-monitoring CNT cementitious composite is. This paper discusses the nature of the sensing property of the composite measured with dc and ac circuits based on a commonly used conductive model of CNT cementitious composite and reveals the origin of the sensing property of the composite through experiments. Experimental results indicate that the sensing property of the composite mainly results from the change in contact resistance between adjacent CNTs under external force or deformation.
The Weighed Core Symptom Scale and Prediction of ADHD in Adults – Objective Measures of Remission and Response to Treatment with Methylphenidate
Authors: Edebol Hanna , Helldin Lars , Norlander Torsten
Published: October 2013

Objective:

Two measures of the response rate and the optimal treatment response for adult ADHD were evaluated using methylphenidate. The hypotheses were that Prediction of ADHD (PADHD) defines remission, the Weighed Core Symptom (WCS) scale registers direct effects of medication and that WCS may indicate the optimal dose level during titration.

Design:

PADHD and WCS were analyzed at baseline and after intake of low doses of either short-acting or modified-release formulations of methylphenidate, MPH (Study I), during titration with modified-release formulations of MPH (18/27, 36, 54, 72 mg) and at three months follow-up (Study II).

Patients:

Study I consisted of 63 participants (32 females) and Study II consisted of 10 participants (6 females) diagnosed with ADHD and who was to start with treatment.

Outcome measures:

Prediction of ADHD (PADHD) indicates the occurrence of ADHD (No, Yes) and the Weighed Core Symptom scale (WCS) quantifies ADHD from 0 to 100 (max-min).

Results:

The number of clinical cases of ADHD decreased after methylphenidate treatment according to PADHD. WCS increased (p < 0.001) from 9.75 (SD = 12.27) to 47.50 (SD = 29.75) with about 10 mg of methylphenidate (N = 63). During titration, symptoms improved after 18/27 mg and 36 mg of methylphenidate and baseline-follow up comparisons showed WCS increments (p = 0.005) from 31.00 (N = 10, SD = 26.85) to 69.00 (N = 10, SD = 22.34).

Conclusions:

PADHD defined remission and WCS measured therapeutic effects of methylphenidate in adult ADHD.
Aspiring to Zero Tuberculosis Deaths among Southern Africa's Miners: Is There a Way Forward?
Authors: Dharmadhikari Ashwin , Smith Jonathan , Nardell Edward , Churchyard Gavin , Keshavjee Salmaan
Published: October 2013

Tuberculosis notification rates among South African miners range from 4,000 to 7,000 per 100,000 people. These rates far exceed national tuberculosis notification rates for the general population. Tuberculosis mortality also surpasses deaths caused by mining accidents. These extraordinarily high rates of disease are unambiguously linked to a series of contributing factors, including exposure to silica dust, HIV infection, and poor working and living conditions. We argue that the only way to stop the transmission of this airborne disease is to treat the mine and its living quarters as one should any other congregate setting with individuals who have high rates of infection with drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. This means implementing interventions that have been demonstrated to stop the spread of tuberculosis over the last 60 years: immediate treatment of active tuberculosis, concurrent treatment of latent tuberculosis disease to reduce the burden of active cases, and appropriate management of patients infected with HIV. Because tuberculosis is also a social disease, biomedical interventions must be coupled with improved living and working conditions. Achieving zero deaths from tuberculosis in the mines is possible if a clear commitment is made to a strategy that recognizes and ameliorates the biological and social antecedents to this epidemic.
Human Trafficking, Labor Brokering, and Mining in Southern Africa: Responding to a Decentralized and Hidden Public Health Disaster
Authors: Steele Sarah
Published: October 2013

Many southern African economies are dependent on the extractive industries. These industries rely on low-cost labor, often supplied by migrants, typically acquired through labor brokers. Very little attention has so far been paid to trafficking of men into extractive industries or its connection with trafficked women in the region's mining hubs. Recent reports suggest that labor-brokering practices foster human trafficking, both by exposing migrant men to lack of pay and exploitative conditions and by creating male migratory patterns that generate demand for sex workers and associated trafficking of women and girls. While trafficking in persons violates human rights, and thus remains a priority issue globally, there is little or no evidence of an effective political response to mine-related trafficking in southern Africa. This article concludes with recommendations for legal and policy interventions, as well as an enhanced public health response, which if implemented would help reduce human trafficking toward mining sites.
Precarious Employment, Ill Health, and Lessons from History: The Case of Casual (Temporary) Dockworkers 1880–1945
Authors: Quinlan Michael
Published: October 2013

An international body of scientific research indicates that growth of job insecurity and precarious forms of employment over the past 35 years have had significant negative consequences for health and safety. Commonly overlooked in debates over the changing world of work is that widespread use of insecure and short-term work is not new, but represents a return to something resembling labor market arrangements found in rich countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Moreover, the adverse health effects of precarious employment were extensively documented in government inquiries and in health and medical journals. This article examines the case of a large group of casual dockworkers in Britain. It identifies the mechanisms by which precarious employment was seen to undermine workers and families' health and safety. The article also shows the British dockworker experience was not unique and there are important lessons to be drawn from history. First, historical evidence reinforces just how health-damaging precarious employment is and how these effects extend to the community, strengthening the case for social and economic policies that minimize precarious employment. Second, there are striking parallels between historical evidence and contemporary research that can inform future research on the health effects of precarious employment.
Assessing Decreased Sensation and Increased Sensory Phenomena in Diabetic Polyneuropathies
Authors: Dyck Peter J. , Herrmann David N. , Staff Nathan P. , Dyck P. James B.
Published: October 2013

Loss of sensation and increased sensory phenomena are major expressions of varieties of diabetic polyneuropathies needing improved assessments for clinical and research purposes. We provide a neurobiological explanation for the apparent paradox between decreased sensation and increased sensory phenomena. Strongly endorsed is the use of the 10-g monofilaments for screening of feet to detect sensation loss, with the goal of improving diabetic management and prevention of foot ulcers and neurogenic arthropathy. We describe improved methods to assess for the kind, severity, and distribution of both large- and small-fiber sensory loss and which approaches and techniques may be useful for conducting therapeutic trials. The abnormality of attributes of nerve conduction may be used to validate the dysfunction of large sensory fibers. The abnormality of epidermal nerve fibers/1 mm may be used as a surrogate measure of small-fiber sensory loss but appear not to correlate closely with severity of pain. Increased sensory phenomena are recognized by the characteristic words patients use to describe them and by the severity and persistence of these symptoms. Tests of tactile and thermal hyperalgesia are additional markers of neural hyperactivity that are useful for diagnosis and disease management.
Endothelial-Podocyte Crosstalk: The Missing Link Between Endothelial Dysfunction and Albuminuria in Diabetes
Authors: Siddiqi Ferhan S. , Advani Andrew
Published: October 2013

Although diabetes is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, most people with diabetic nephropathy will never develop ESRD but will instead die of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). The first evidence of kidney injury in diabetes is often microalbuminuria, itself also an independent risk marker for CVD. Although the two processes are closely associated, the recent failure of antialbuminuric therapies to affect CV outcomes has encouraged a reconsideration of how albuminuria may occur in diabetes and how increased urinary albumin excretion may be indicative of CV risk. The relationship between CVD and urinary albumin content (even within the normal range) is widely considered to reflect the common underlying pathology of endothelial dysfunction. At the same time, recent years have witnessed a growing appreciation that diabetic albuminuria commonly arises from damage to glomerular podocytes, specialized epithelial cells acting as the final barrier to macromolecular flow into the urinary filtrate. These superficially discordant paradigms can be assimilated by the emerging concept of endothelial-podocyte crosstalk across the glomerular filtration barrier, whereby the actions of one type of cell may profoundly influence the function of the other. The bidirectional nature of this paracrine network is illustrated by the actions of the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)/VEGF receptor-2 and activated protein C systems, among others. Identification of novel mediators of endothelial-podocyte crosstalk may lead to the development of more effective treatments for diabetic nephropathy and its sequelae.
Linear phase retrieval for real-time adaptive optics
Authors: Polo A. , Haber A. , Pereira S. F. , Verhaegen M. , Urbach H. P.
Published: October 2013

We developed a fast phase retrieval algorithm that is suitable for real-time applications such as adaptive optics. The phase retrieval model is developed by linearising the pupil function in the approximation of small aberrations and is valid for low-NA focused field. The linear model in conjunction with a particular choice for the position of the single out-of-focus measurement plane and an efficient control algorithm, significantly reduces the computation time for phase retrieval. The experimental results demonstrate the validity of the described approach for fast correction of aberrations.
Right test cycle
Authors: Editor The
Published: October 2013

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8987 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3
Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor – Histopathological and statistical analysis
Authors: Ghosh A , Gharti D Magar , Sathian B , Narasimhan R , Talwar Op
Published: October 2013

Background: Ovarian cancers are common among females. The ovarian tumors are classified according to its histogenesis. In the present study, we analyzed the germ cell ovarian tumors reported in our institute. Materials and Methods: This study was a hospital based retrospective study. All ovarian germ cell tumor reported from Jan 2001 to Feb 2013 were retrieved and analyzed. The specimens were routinely processed and the slides were stained with H&E and special stains wherever required. Results: A total of 340 cases of ovarian tumors were reported and 150 cases (44%) were of germ cell origin. We had 137 cases of benign and 13 cases of malignant germ cell tumors. Most common subtype was mature cystic teratoma comprising 125 cases. Among the malignant cases, the most common was immature teratoma (5 cases). Age range in our series was from 8 to 82 years (mean 28 years). The most common age group affected was 21-30 years. Most of the malignant cases (76.9%) were in less than 30 years. Among the malignant cases majority (84.6%) were more than 10 cm in size. None of the malignant germ cell tumors were bilateral. Conclusion: Among germ cell tumors of ovary, mature cystic teratoma is the most common tumor and malignant subtypes are uncommon. Malignant tumors tend to occur in younger age group. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8990 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 441-446
Granulomatous inflammation: A histopathological study
Authors: Adhikari RC , Shrestha KB , Sayami G
Published: October 2013

Background: Granulomatous inflammation is a special type of chronic inflammation that is being a manifestation of many infective, toxic, allergic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases and also conditions of unknown etiology. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 418 granulomatous lesions, diagnosed from January 2010 to December 2012 in the department of pathology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Results: The median age of the patients with granulomatous lesion was 29 years and the majority of the patients were in the age group of 20-29 yrs with slight male predominance. Majority of granulomas were seen in lymph nodes (41.1%), followed by skin & subcutis (22%), and bone & joints (11.5%). Tuberculosis was the most common cause of granuloma with 258 (61.7%) cases, followed by fungal infections, foreign body reaction, parasites and toxoplasmosis. Out of 258 cases of tuberculosis, lymph nodes were involved in 140 (54.26%) cases, followed by bone & joints (12.79%) and respiratory system (5.42%). The most common type of granuloma was epithelioid (83.5%), followed by epithelioid with suppuration and mixed inflammatory. Conclusion: The granulomatous lesion is common in third decade of life with slight male predominance. The commonest site is lymph node with tuberculosis being the most common cause and epithelioid being the most common type of granuloma. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8994   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 464-468
Myrid of histopathological features of malignancy in Xeroderma pigmentosum
Authors: Karki S , Pandey G , Bhattarai N
Published: October 2013

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder affecting 1 in 2,50,000 population. It shows genetic heterogeneity with at least ten different complementation groups identified which have different clinical presentations. They tend to have a more than 1000 fold increased risk of developing cancers in sun-exposed areas as a result of a DNA repair defect. This study presents a myriad of histopathological features of malignancies seen in individuals with this rare. Materials and Methods: Biopsies received from patients with a clinical diagnosis of Xeroderma Pigemntosa at the department of pathology, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, from April 2008 to June 2012 were included in the study. Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections were examined. Clinical history was retrieved from the computer data base of the department. Results: During the study period, a total of eleven cases of Xeroderma pigmentosum presented with a biopsied lesion. All of these were malignant lesions. No benign lesions were seen. The age range of these patients was 6-30years with a mean of 18.8 years. The male to female ratio was 4.5:1. The most common malignancy seen was squamous cell carcinoma 7/11 (63.6%) followed by basal cell carcinoma 2/11 (27.2%). A single case presented with basal cell carcinoma of face and melanoma of trunk. The frequently observed site of malignancy was skin of the face followed by conjunctiva. Conclusion: In our population, non melanotic skin cancers affecting the face are more common in young individuals with Xeroderma pigmentosum. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8996   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 472-475
Exploring the acute myeloid leukaemias
Authors: Thapa TB
Published: October 2013

The acute myeloid leukemias are genetically a diverse group of neoplasm with varied clinical behavior and response to treatment. Advances in immunophenotyping, cytogenetics and molecular genetics have resulted in better understanding of their genesis. Risk stratification of different variants is now emerging. Therapy strategies are now increasingly being developed considering the inherent biological behavior of the different subtypes. It is anticipated that in the future, deeper secrets of these once fatal diseases will be unraveled by advances in newer genomic techniques. It is hoped that future use of gene specific tailored therapy and strategies will result in longer survival in cases showing poorer prognosis at present. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9001 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 497-501
Pregnancy with papillary serous cyst neoplasmseries of three cases
Authors: Bhutoria BJ , Chattopadhyay S , Banerjee U , Jana N
Published: October 2013

Papillary serous neoplasm with pregnancy is a rare occurrence. Three such cases are presented here. In each case ovarian cyst was detected on ultrasonography when patients presented with non specific abdominal pain though there was no prior history or complaint on first antenatal visit. One is a papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma with capsular invasion in a twenty five year old woman and the other two are papillary serous tumour of borderline category in twenty and twenty three year old woman respectively. In the former pregnancy was terminated at 22 weeks followed by chemotherapy. In the other two cases pregnancy was continued and outcome was uneventful. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9003   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 505-508
Retroperitoneal pararenal castleman’s disease: a case report
Authors: Shrestha S , Nepal U , Lamichhane N , Chhetri P
Published: October 2013

Castleman’s diseas is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. We report a 28 years old woman with solitary Castleman’s disease in the left pararenal space. This case was diagnosed preoperatively as renal cell carcinoma. The patient underwent a radical nephrectomy with dissection of pararenal mass. Histopathological examination of the surgically resected specimen showed the hyaline vascular type of Castleman’s disease. A preoperative diagnosis of Castleman’s disease is difficult; therefore, a surgical resection and histopathological evaluation can provide an accurate diagnosis of tumor. Taking this case into consideration, we suggest that Castleman’s disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of renal tumors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9004 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 509-511
A Desire for Parsimony
Authors: Cookson Lawrence
Published: October 2013

An understanding of wildness is being developed as a quality of interactive processing that increases survival opportunities in nature. A link is made between the need to improve interactive quality for wildness, and cognitive desires and interests in art, music, religion and philosophy as these can also be seen as attempts to improve interactive quality internally and externally. Interactive quality can be improved through gains in parsimony, that is, simplifications in the organisation of skills. The importance of parsimony in evolution is discussed, along with indicators of an internal parsimony desire that experiences joy if achieved through processes such as insight and understanding. A mechanism for the production and measurement of the parsimony desire is proposed, based on the number of subcortical pleasure hotspots that can be stimulated at once within the ‘archipelago’ available in the limbic system.
Diffusion Dynamics with Changing Network Composition
Authors: Baños Raquel , Borge-Holthoefer Javier , Wang Ning , Moreno Yamir , González-Bailón Sandra
Published: October 2013

We analyze information diffusion using empirical data that tracks online communication around two instances of mass political mobilization that took place in Spain in 2011 and 2012. We also analyze protest-related communications during the year that elapsed between those protests. We compare the global properties of the topological and dynamic networks through which communication took place, as well as local changes in network composition. We show that changes in network structure underlie aggregated differences on how information diffused: an increase in network hierarchy is accompanied by a reduction in the average size of cascades. The increasing hierarchy affects not only the underlying communication topology but also the more dynamic structure of information exchange; the increase is especially noticeable amongst certain categories of nodes (or users). Our findings suggest that the relationship between the structure of networks and their function in diffusing information is not as straightforward as some theoretical models of diffusion in networks imply.
Influence of Different Tillage Systems and Weed Treatments in the Establishment Year on the Final Biomass Production of Short Rotation Coppice Poplar
Authors: Morhart Christopher , Sheppard Jonathan , Seidl Frieder , Spiecker Heinrich
Published: October 2013

In this study the influence of three different tillage systems in combination with eight varying weed treatments applied within the establishment year and its effect on the final above ground leafless biomass production (after the third growing season) of short rotation coppice poplar is presented. The three tillage systems included variants with ploughing and harrowing, variants with cultivation and ley cropping and variants without tillage. Weed treatments included the application of different herbicides, but also more environmentally sound variants such as mulching and the use of mulch materials to avoid the use of herbicides. To estimate the influence on final biomass production, regression analysis was undertaken using DBH as the predictor variable. Based on 1056 DBH measurements the biomass production of the different variants was compared. The interactions of tillage system and weed treatment on biomass yield were found to be statistically significant. Between tillage systems the ploughing variant displayed a better overall performance than the cultivation with ley crop variant and the variant without any tillage. Differing weed treatments reveal greater success for the whole area application of herbicides than band application, both being better than the use of mulch materials. These results suggest that the right tillage system in combination with effective chemical weed control is the key to the successful establishment of Short rotation coppice (SRC) poplar plantation following the principles of an integrated weed management approach. Furthermore, ecological variants such as ploughing in combination with the use of mulch materials and mechanical vegetation control between the rows could be a solution to reduce dependence on chemical control. However, this comes at the expense of a considerable loss in yield.
Tobacco Smoke Exposure during Childhood: Effect on Cochlear Physiology
Authors: Durante Alessandra , Pucci Beatriz , Gudayol Nicolly , Massa Beatriz , Gameiro Marcella , Lopes Cristiane
Published: October 2013

The rate of smoking in Brazil is about 18.8%. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is one of the major factors predisposing children to several hazardous health problems. The objective of the present research was to analyze the effect of tobacco smoke exposure during childhood on cochlear physiology by measuring the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) response levels. Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, was measured in 145 students’ (8–10 years old) urine. Sixty students indicated tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) (cotinine urine levels ≥ 5.0 ng/mL) and 85 did not. The evaluation of TEOAE of TSE students showed lower response levels, mainly on frequencies of 2.8 kHz on the right and left ears and 2.0 kHz on left ear and lower signal noise response levels, mainly on the 1.0 kHz and 1.4 kHz frequencies, when compared to controls that were not exposed to tobacco. The mean reduction observed in TEOAE of tobacco smoke exposure children was 2.1 dB SPL. These results have important implications on the damage to the cochlear structures and indicate a possible loss in hearing and hearing ability development.
User Experience Design in Professional Map-Based Geo-Portals
Authors: Resch Bernd , Zimmer Bastian
Published: October 2013

We have recently been witnessing the growing establishment of map-centered web-based geo-portals on national, regional and local levels. However, a particular issue with these geo-portals is that each instance has been implemented in different ways in terms of design, usability, functionality, interaction possibilities, map size and symbologies. In this paper, we try to tackle these shortcomings by analyzing and formalizing the requirements for map-based geo-portals in a user experience based approach. First, we propose a holistic definition the term of a “geo-portal”. Then, we present our approach to user experience design for map-based geo-portals by defining the functional requirements of a geo-portal, by analyzing previous geo-portal developments, by distilling the results of our empirical user study to perform practically-oriented user requirements, and finally by establishing a set of user experience design guidelines for the creation of map-based geo-portals. These design guidelines have been extracted for each of the main components of a geo-portal, i.e., the map, the search dialogue, the presentation of the search results, symbologies, and other aspects. These guidelines shall constitute the basis for future geo-portal developments to achieve standardization in the user-experience design of map-based geo-portals.
Bioactive Constituents from “Triguero” Asparagus Improve the Plasma Lipid Profile and Liver Antioxidant Status in Hypercholesterolemic Rats
Authors: Vázquez-Castilla Sara , De la Puerta Rocío , Garcia-Gimenez María , Fernández-Arche María , Guillén-Bejarano Rafael
Published: October 2013

We have previously shown that the Andalusian-cultivated Asparagus officinalis L. “triguero” variety produces hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects on rats. This asparagus is a rich source of phytochemicals although we hypothesized there would be some of them more involved in these functional properties. Thus, we aimed to study the effects of asparagus (500 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day) and their partially purified fractions in flavonoids (50 mg/kg bw/day), saponins (5 mg/kg bw/day) and dietary fiber (500 mg/kg bw/day) on oxidative status and on lipid profile in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. After 5 weeks treatment, plasma lipid values, hepatic enzyme activities and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured. With the exception of the saponin fraction (SF), the administration of lyophilized asparagus (LA), fiber fraction (FF), and flavonoid fraction (FVF) to hypercholesterolemic rats produced a significant hypolipidemic effect compare to a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). In addition, the LA and FVF groups exhibited a significant increase in enzyme activity from multiple hepatic antioxidant systems including: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and gluthatione reductase/peroxidase as well as a decrease in MDA concentrations compared to HCD group. These results demonstrate that “triguero” asparagus possesses bioactive constituents, especially dietary fiber and flavonoids, that improve the plasma lipid profile and prevent hepatic oxidative damage under conditions of hypercholesterolemia.
The Impacts of Weather and Conservation Programs on Vegetation Dynamics in China’s Loess Plateau
Authors: Yan Dong , De Beurs Kirsten , Fan Jianrong
Published: October 2013

We present an analysis of the impacts of weather change and large-scale vegetation conservation programs on the vegetation dynamics in China’s Loess Plateau from 2000 through 2009. We employed a multiple lines of evidence approach in which multi-scale data were used. We employed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 500 m to identify significant vegetation increases in the Loess Plateau since 2000. We found increases in NDVI for 48% of the Loess Plateau between 2000 and 2009. We were able to attribute up to 37.5% of the observed vegetation increases to weather change, vegetation conservation activities and crop yield increases. We demonstrate that the impact of vegetation conservation programs on vegetation change in the Loess Plateau is twofold. On the one hand, vegetation conservation programs target marginal lands. Thus, significant vegetation increases due to cropland conversion and afforestation can be found in these regions. On the other hand, intensified agricultural production can be found in croplands with suitable topography and well-established irrigation systems, which were not enrolled in conservation programs to offset the agricultural production loss caused by vegetation conservation programs elsewhere.
Peptide Conjugation via CuAAC ‘Click’ Chemistry
Authors: Ahmad Fuaad Abdullah , Azmi Fazren , Skwarczynski Mariusz , Toth Istvan
Published: October 2013

The copper (I)-catalyzed alkyne azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC) or ‘click’ reaction, is a highly versatile reaction that can be performed under a variety of reaction conditions including various solvents, a wide pH and temperature range, and using different copper sources, with or without additional ligands or reducing agents. This reaction is highly selective and can be performed in the presence of other functional moieties. The flexibility and selectivity has resulted in growing interest in the application of CuAAC in various fields. In this review, we briefly describe the importance of the structural folding of peptides and proteins and how the 1,4-disubstituted triazole product of the CuAAC reaction is a suitable isoster for an amide bond. However the major focus of the review is the application of this reaction to produce peptide conjugates for tagging and targeting purpose, linkers for multifunctional biomacromolecules, and reporter ions for peptide and protein analysis.
A Practical Approach for Extracting Tree Models in Forest Environments Based on Equirectangular Projections of Terrestrial Laser Scans
Authors: Eysn Lothar , Pfeifer Norbert , Ressl Camillo , Hollaus Markus , Grafl Andreas , Morsdorf Felix
Published: October 2013

Extracting 3D tree models based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) point clouds is a challenging task as trees are complex objects. Current TLS devices acquire high-density data that allow a detailed reconstruction of the tree topology. However, in dense forests a fully automatic reconstruction of trees is often limited by occlusion, wind influences and co-registration issues. In this paper, a semi-automatic method for extracting branching and stem structure based on equirectangular projections (range and intensity maps) is presented. The digitization of branches and stems is based on 2D maps, which enables simple navigation and raster processing. The modeling is performed for each viewpoint individually instead of using a registered point cloud. Previously reconstructed 2D-skeletons are transformed between the maps. Therefore, wind influences, orientation imperfections of scans and data gaps can be overcome. The method is applied to a TLS dataset acquired in a forest in Germany. In total 34 scans were carried out within a managed forest to measure approximately 90 spruce trees with minimal occlusions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the presented approach to extract tree models with a high completeness and correctness and provide an excellent input for further modeling applications.
Application of Collocated GPS and Seismic Sensors to Earthquake Monitoring and Early Warning
Authors: Li Xingxing , Zhang Xiaohong , Guo Bofeng
Published: October 2013

We explore the use of collocated GPS and seismic sensors for earthquake monitoring and early warning. The GPS and seismic data collected during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki (Japan) and the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah (Mexico) earthquakes are analyzed by using a tightly-coupled integration. The performance of the integrated results is validated by both time and frequency domain analysis. We detect the P-wave arrival and observe small-scale features of the movement from the integrated results and locate the epicenter. Meanwhile, permanent offsets are extracted from the integrated displacements highly accurately and used for reliable fault slip inversion and magnitude estimation.
An Energy Efficient Stable Election-Based Routing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Jin , Zhang Zhongqi , Xia Feng , Yuan Weiwei , Lee Sungyoung
Published: October 2013

Sensor nodes usually have limited energy supply and they are impractical to recharge. How to balance traffic load in sensors in order to increase network lifetime is a very challenging research issue. Many clustering algorithms have been proposed recently for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, sensor networks with one fixed sink node often suffer from a hot spots problem since nodes near sinks have more traffic burden to forward during a multi-hop transmission process. The use of mobile sinks has been shown to be an effective technique to enhance network performance features such as latency, energy efficiency, network lifetime, etc. In this paper, a modified Stable Election Protocol (SEP), which employs a mobile sink, has been proposed for WSNs with non-uniform node distribution. The decision of selecting cluster heads by the sink is based on the minimization of the associated additional energy and residual energy at each node. Besides, the cluster head selects the shortest path to reach the sink between the direct approach and the indirect approach with the use of the nearest cluster head. Simulation results demonstrate that our algorithm has better performance than traditional routing algorithms, such as LEACH and SEP.
Tumour‐derived exosomes as antigen delivery carriers in dendritic cell‐based immunotherapy for malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Mahaweni Niken M. , Kaijen‐Lambers Margaretha E.H. , Dekkers Jacqueline , Aerts Joachim G.J.V. , Hegmans Joost P.J.J.
Published: October 2013

Background

In 2001, it was postulated that tumour‐derived exosomes could be a potent source of tumour‐associated antigens (TAA). Since then, much knowledge is gained on their role in tumorigenesis but only very recently tumour‐derived exosomes were used in dendritic cell (DC)‐based immunotherapy. For this, DCs were cultured ex‐vivo and loaded with exosomes derived from immunogenic tumours such as melanoma or glioma and re‐administrated to induce anti‐tumour responses in primary and metastatic tumour mouse models. In contrast, malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a non‐immunogenic tumour and because only a few mesothelioma‐specific TAA are known to date, we investigated whether mesothelioma‐derived exosomes could be used as antigen source in DC‐based immunotherapy.

Methods

Mouse MM AB1 cells were used to generate tumour lysate and tumour‐derived exosomes. Tumour lysate was generated by 5 cycles of freeze–thawing followed by sonication of AB1 cells. Tumour exosomes were collected from the AB1 cell culture supernatant and followed a stepwise ultracentrifugation. Protein quantification and electron microscopy were performed to determine the protein amount and to characterise their morphology. To test whether MM derived exosomes are immunogenic and able to stimulate an anti‐tumoral response, BALB/c mice were injected with a lethal dose of AB1 tumour cells at day 0, followed by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of DCs loaded with tumour exosomes, DCs loaded with tumour lysate, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), at day 7.

Results

Mice which received tumour exosome‐loaded DC immunotherapy had an increased median and overall survival compared to mice which received tumour lysate‐loaded DC or PBS.

Conclusion

In this study, we showed that DC immunotherapy loaded with tumour exosomes derived from non‐immunogenic tumours improved survival of tumour bearing mice.