bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fire spread probabilities for experimental beds composed of mixedwood boreal forest fuels
Authors: Dickinson M.B. , Johnson E.A. , Artiaga R.
Published: February 2013

Although fuel characteristics are assumed to have an important impact on fire regimes through their effects on extinction dynamics, limited capabilities exist for predicting whether a fire will spread in mixedwood boreal forest surface fuels. To improve predictive capabilities, we conducted 347 no-wind, laboratory test burns in surface fuels collected from the mixedwood boreal forest of Saskatchewan. The beds were composed of single fuel types of contrasting characteristics, including feather moss, aspen leaf litter, aspen and alder leaf litter, and twigs. Shredded wood (i.e., excelsior) was included for comparison. An extinction index and logistic model from the literature that balances heat sources and sinks performed well for excelsior, a fuel used to develop the model, but poorly for forest fuels. As a result, we used logistic regression to develop a model for forest fuels finding that fire spread was largely determined by the heat sink, heat of combustion, and fuel bed depth. We found close correspondence between our model and fire spread in an independent sample of beds composed of mixtures of mixedwood fuels (N = 59). Our model can serve as a means of analyzing the relative importance of fuels and weather on extinction dynamics during mixedwood boreal forest fires.
Analysis of RVE size based on three-dimensional fracture numerical network modelling and stochastic mathematics
Authors: Zhang Wen , Chen Jian-ping , Yuan Xiao-qing , Xu Pei-hua , Zhang Chen
Published: February 2013

A new method to study representative volume element (RVE) size is developed based on three-dimensional (3D) fracture numerical network modelling and a stochastic mathematical model. A 3D fracture numerical network is established, and the network factors that affect RVE size, such as fracture density, diameter, strike, and dip angle, are collected. This paper utilizes these four factors to obtain the RVE size based on the contingency table method. It is concluded that the side length of the RVE is 2–8 times larger than the average trace length. Fracture frequency is chosen to validate the RVE size through 3D fracture numerical network modelling. RVE size calculated through fracture frequency is consistent with the contingency table method. It is proven that the method for calculating RVE size through the contingency table method is feasible and credible.
Regional distribution of temperature in the Chalk of the western London Basin syncline
Authors: Pike Douglas , Banks David , Waters Alan , Robinson Vin K.
Published: February 2013

A set of fluid temperature logs from 54 boreholes in the Chalk aquifer of the western London Basin syncline has been interrogated. Subsurface temperatures in the shallower (<100 m) strata can be shown to be largely controlled by a combination of two factors: (1) depth, with an average gradient of
c
. 1.8 °C per 100 m; (2) ground surface elevation, with an altitude lapse rate of around 1.0–1.2 °C per 100 m. These factors alone are not sufficient to explain the elevated temperatures observed in the deeper strata at the eastern end of the study area, where the Chalk is overlain by greater thicknesses of Tertiary argillites and where a lower bulk vertical thermal conductivity is thought to be the most likely factor (although this cannot be conclusively proven with the existing dataset).
Engineering geology of sustainable risk-based contaminated land management
Authors: Nathanail C. P.
Published: February 2013

Optimal urban land reuse relies on appropriate, occasionally visionary, planning and a sound conceptual understanding of how the land will interact with engineering and thereby society. The current ecological footprint of
Homo sapiens
cannot be supported for long, and that of developed societies is becoming increasingly unacceptable worldwide. If we accept that you cannot successfully manage what you cannot understand, then we need to understand the land beneath our feet if we are to be judged wise stewards of it by succeeding generations.
Airborne geophysics: a novel approach to assist hydrogeological investigations at groundwater-dependent wetlands
Authors: Beamish David , Farr Gareth
Published: February 2013

This paper provides an assessment of existing airborne baseline geophysical data in relation to the hydrogeological characterization of protected groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems (wetlands) in Anglesey, Wales. The attenuation of the radiometric data identifies the main areas of water saturation in the very near surface. The radiometric data have the potential to identify additional areas where similar degrees of saturation exist. The data may therefore be used to help define extensions to existing site boundaries and to provide information in the assessment of new wetland areas. The radiometric data also show regional-scale transition from the Carboniferous Limestone in the east, important for water supply to the wetlands, to older more impermeable strata to the west. The conductivity data appear capable of mapping the lateral extent of clay accumulations, concealed below peat cover which can act as a confining layer to the bedrock aquifer. At the regional scale the data reveal the extent of a former Holocene lake system and the hydrogeological control of a Carboniferous limestone–sandstone contact. The data therefore provide a non-invasive spatially continuous, characterization of the sites, improving the understanding of their dynamic water balances and, potentially, guiding further ground assessments and invasive investigations.
The mass stiffness of residual dolomite from large surcharge trials
Authors: Jacobsz S. W.
Published: February 2013

In South Africa, the stiffness of dolomite residuum has traditionally been viewed as relatively low. For reasons of economy, available dolomite residuum stiffness data mostly stem from plate load tests on each of the materials forming the residual profile, typically chert gravels and wad, rather than on the actual mix of materials that typically occurs
in situ
. This paper presents back-calculated stiffness values from a series of large-scale surcharge trials carried out in Centurion, south of Pretoria, for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Project. It is shown that the mass stiffness of the residual dolomite profile is significantly higher than the traditionally recognized values of its constituents, allowing the viaducts for the Gautrain south of Pretoria to be founded on dolomite residuum instead of bedrock.
Observations on the impact of climate change on landform behaviour and geohazards in the Algerian Sahara
Authors: Lee E. M. , Fookes P. G. , Hart A. B.
Published: February 2013

Landscapes rarely reflect any one particular set of environmental conditions (process domain) or period of climate or geological change. Quaternary climate oscillations have left their imprint on desert landscapes such as the Sahara, where it is possible to define two main modes of desert behaviour since the Last Glacial Maximum, around 20 ka ago: an arid mode, dominated by ‘desert’ processes, and a humid mode, dominated by processes usually associated with semi-arid or temperate conditions. As the surface processes vary with the climate regime, so does the nature of the geohazard threat. Some hazards will change in magnitude and frequency as the climate shifts between humid and arid periods (e.g. wadi floods and associated channel erosion, salt aggressiveness), others will no longer be credible because of changes in sediment availability (e.g. stabilization of dunes by vegetation in humid periods) or sediment transport potential (e.g. mega-dunes are essentially stable under relatively weak interglacial wind regimes).
L4Android security framework on the Samsung galaxy S2
Authors: Lange Matthias , Liebergeld Steffen , Lackorzynski Adam , Warg Alexander , Danisevskis Janis , Nordholz Jan C.
Published: February 2013

There is a recent trend to use privately owned mobile devices in corporate environments. This poses serious threats on the security of corporate data. In this demo we show how we applied an efficient sandboxing mechanism to the Android software stack. This allows us to run multiple instances of Android securely isolated side-by-side on one device. We implemented a prototype on the Samsung Galaxy S2.
Smartphone-based traffic information system for sustainable cities
Authors: Manolopoulos V. , Tao S. , Rusu A. , Papadimitratos P.
Published: February 2013

Traffic Information Systems (TISs) can play a significant role towards creating sustainable cities through improved traffic conditions. The collection of reliable and rich information with low cost is paramount. The use of smartphones carried by individuals for future implementations of TISs present several advantages compared to traditional solutions. This demo integrates our results from previous work addressing challenges on traffic estimation for urban road networks and on security and privacy protection for such TISs.
Autonomous and distributed recruitment and data collection framework for opportunistic sensing
Authors: Tuncay Güliz Seray , Benincasa Giacomo , Helmy Ahmed
Published: February 2013

People-centric sensing is a novel approach that exploits the sensing capabilities offered by smartphones and the mobility of users to sense large scale areas without requiring the deployment of sensors in-situ. Given the ubiquitous nature of smartphones, people-centric sensing is a viable and efficient solution for crowdsourcing data. In this work, we propose a fully distributed, opportunistic sensing framework that involves two main components which both work in an ad hoc fashion: Recruitment and Data Collection. We analyzed the feasibility of our distributed approach for both components through preliminary simulations. The results show that our recruitment method is able to select 66% of the nodes that are appropriate for the sensing activity and 88% of the messages sent by these selected nodes reach the sink by using our data collection method.
Who learns what from the new human-computer interaction
Authors: Swanson E. Burton
Published: February 2013

A new human-computer interaction (HCI) in which narrow-form interaction with devices more seamlessly serves broader-form interaction among people and organizations, especially over the Web, marks an important phase of the information revolution of recent decades. Four forms of broad computer-mediated interaction are identified: informational, cooperational, transactional, and social. Who learns what from the new HCI varies significantly across forms. In addition to the parties to the interactions, third parties that facilitate them learn too, amplifying the overall process. The perspective of the new HCI provides a promising foundation for guiding and potentially uniting future information systems research.
A hybrid decision tree based methodology for event studies and its application to e-commerce initiative announcements
Authors: Andoh-Baidoo Francis Kofi , Osei-Bryson Kweku-Muata , Amoako-Gyampah Kwasi
Published: February 2013

The event study methodology has been applied in various business disciplines. This methodology typically has two goals: (1) to determine whether an event such as the announcement of an e-commerce initiative in the public media leads to cumulative abnormal returns (CAR); and (2) to examine the factors that influence the observed CAR. Most studies have used parametric statistical analysis in estimating CAR and regression for achieving the second goal. In this paper, we propose a hybrid methodology that involves using nonparametric statistical analysis to obtain the first goal, and the use of Decision Tree (DT) induction as a novel approach to reach the second goal. We apply the hybrid methodology to e-commerce announcements. The use of nonparametric analysis enables us to address some of the prior concerns of event study research in the e-commerce domain with regard to the limitations of short run event windows. The use of the novel DT-based approach leads to additional insights beyond what is reported in the literature through the examination of contingency effects. Specifically, our results indicate that the impact of Governance, Customer Type and Firm Type on CAR is contingent on the innovativeness of the e-commerce initiatives. Our study makes both methodological and theoretical contributions regarding the use of DT induction and nonparametric analysis in event studies especially in situations where prior studies present mixed results and where there are concerns about return variability. We present both research and managerial implications of the findings.
Genome Instability and Aging
Authors: Vijg Jan , Suh Yousin
Published: February 2013

Genome instability has long been implicated as the main causal factor in aging. Somatic cells are continuously exposed to various sources of DNA damage, from reactive oxygen species to UV radiation to environmental mutagens. To cope with the tens of thousands of chemical lesions introduced into the genome of a typical cell each day, a complex network of genome maintenance systems acts to remove damage and restore the correct base pair sequence. Occasionally, however, repair is erroneous, and such errors, as well as the occasional failure to correctly replicate the genome during cell division, are the basis for mutations and epimutations. There is now ample evidence that mutations accumulate in various organs and tissues of higher animals, including humans, mice, and flies. What is not known, however, is whether the frequency of these random changes is sufficient to cause the phenotypic effects generally associated with aging. The exception is cancer, an age-related disease caused by the accumulation of mutations and epimutations. Here, we first review current concepts regarding the relationship between DNA damage, repair, and mutation, as well as the data regarding genome alterations as a function of age. We then describe a model for how randomly induced DNA sequence and epigenomic variants in the somatic genomes of animals can result in functional decline and disease in old age. Finally, we discuss the genetics of genome instability in relation to longevity to address the importance of alterations in the somatic genome as a causal factor in aging and to underscore the opportunities provided by genetic approaches to develop interventions that attenuate genome instability, reduce disease risk, and increase life span.
The SAAAVE Act and Routine Ambulatory Medical Care Fail to Diagnose Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms prior to Rupture: A Single-Institution Experience
Authors: Eckroth-Bernard Kamell , Garvin Robert P. , Ryer Evan J. , Elmore James R. , Franklin David P.
Published: February 2013

Objectives. To demonstrate that routine ambulatory medical evaluation in the outpatient setting and current utilization of the Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act are inadequate methods to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) prior to rupture. Methods. A retrospective review was performed on patients with ruptured AAA (rAAA) at a single institution. All patients who were evaluated in an ambulatory care setting within 6 months of the date of rupture were identified, and clinical data were analyzed. Results. Between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2010, there were 149 patients with rAAA. Fifty-two of 149 (34.9%) patients were evaluated in the outpatient setting within 6 months prior to the date of rupture, and these patients form the basis of this study. Thirty-six of 52 (70%) patients were male, average age was 73.5 years, average BMI was 28, and average aneurysm diameter was 76 mm. Only 5/52 (9.6%) patients had physical exam findings suspicious for AAA. Only 9/52 (17%) would have been eligible for the screening abdominal ultrasound under the SAAAVE Act. Conclusions. Routine medical evaluation in the ambulatory care setting and current utilization of AAA screening methods are inadequate at detecting AAA in the at-risk population prior to rupture.
A Multibeam Antenna Array Based on Printed Rotman Lens
Authors: Zongxin Wang , Bo Xiang , Fei Yang
Published: February 2013

A compact printable multibeam antenna array is studied in this paper. The antenna system is composed of a printed Rotman lens and an antipodal dual elliptically tapered slot antenna array; both of the two components are studied, respectively, at first, and then integrated on a single printed circuit board to make up the integrated unit of the multibeam antenna array. Measured results of all components are presented.
Particle Size Variation and Prediction of Molecular Weight of Bi(III) Hydrolyzed Polymer Using Light Scattering Technique
Authors: Priyadarshini N. , Sampath M. , Kumar Shekhar , Mudali U. Kamachi
Published: February 2013

The present paper gives an overview of the hydrolysis reactions up to colloid formation of Bi(III) in aqueous nitric acid medium using light-scattering measurements. The hydrolysis products of Bi were polynuclear complexes such as dimers, pentamers, and the most important is the hexameric species. In the present investigation Bi3+ polymers were prepared by diluting different concentrations of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O solutions to pH 1 ± 0.1 by adding 0.1 M NaOH solution as it starts to precipitates at pH 1.4. The degree of polymerization was found to be 5-6 units. Particle size measurements were performed, and it has been found that particle size increases at high concentration of Bi due to aggregation. Refractive index measurements were also performed. The molecular weight of hydrolyzed polymeric species of Bi was determined by using Debye plot, and it was estimated as 1236 Da. The second virial coefficient was found to be 6.24 × 10−3 mLg−1 Da. The present investigation confirms that the predominant complex in the solution has 5-6 Bi atoms.
Consensus of Multiagent Systems with Sampled Information and Noisy Measurements
Authors: Tang Zhao-Jun , Huang Ting-Zhu , Shao Jin-Liang
Published: February 2013

We consider consensus problems of first-order multiagent systems with sampled information and noisy measurements. A distributed stochastic approximation type algorithm is employed to attenuate the measurement noises. We provide conditions under which almost sure strong consensus is guaranteed for fixed and switching directed network topologies. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Narrow Band Imaging with Magnification Can Pick Up Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma More Efficiently Than Lugol Chromoendoscopy in Patients after Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Asada-Hirayama Itsuko , Kodashima Shinya , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Ono Satoshi , Niimi Keiko , Mochizuki Satoshi , Konno-Shimizu Maki , Mikami-Matsuda Rie , Minatsuki Chihiro , Nakayama Chiemi , Takahashi Yu , Yamamichi Nobutake , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: February 2013

Aim. Little is known about the usefulness of narrow band imaging (NBI) for surveillance of patients after chemoradiotherapy for esophageal neoplasia. Its usefulness in detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) in these patients was retrospectively compared to Lugol chromoendoscopy. Patients and Methods. We assessed the diagnostic ability of NBI with magnification based on the biopsy specimens obtained from iodine-unstained lesions. Seventy-two iodine-unstained lesions were biopsied and consecutively enrolled for this study. The lesions were divided into NBI positive and NBI negative. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of NBI with magnification and PPV of Lugol chromoendoscopy was calculated using histological assessment as a gold standard. Results. Forty-six endoscopic examinations using NBI with magnification followed by Lugol chromoendoscopy were performed to 28 patients. The prevalence of SCC and HGIN was 21.4%. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of NBI were 100.0%, 98.5%, 85.7%, 100%, and 98.6%, respectively. On the contrary, PPV of Lugol chromoendoscopy were 8.3%. Compared to Lugol chromoendoscopy, NBI with magnification showed equal sensitivity and significantly higher PPV (). Conclusion. NBI with magnification would be able to pick up esophageal neoplasia more efficiently than Lugol chromoendoscopy in patients after chemoradiotherapy.
Comprehensive Literature Review: Recent Advances in Diagnosing and Managing Patients with Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Hannallah Jack , Rose Jessica , Guerrero Marlon A.
Published: February 2013

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas are a rare form of thyroid carcinomas; they display an intermediate behavior between well-differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. PDTCs are more aggressive than the well-differentiated, but less aggressive than the undifferentiated or anaplastic, forms. No clinical features can accurately diagnose poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Thus, the results of histocytology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetics tests aid in diagnosis. Given the aggressiveness of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas and the poor survival rates in patients who undergo surgery alone, a multimodality treatment approach is required. We conducted a comprehensive review of the current diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the management of patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas.
Nucleation and Growth Mechanism of Si Amorphous Film Deposited by PIAD
Authors: Li D. , Liu G. L. , Yang Y. , Wu J. H. , Huang Z. R.
Published: February 2013

The nanoscale Si films with the thickness of 2 nm, 5 nm, 10 nm, and 20 nm were deposited by plasma ion assisted deposition (PIAD) on glass substrate, in order to investigate the initial stage and the nucleation and growth mechanism of the Si film. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface topography of the as‐deposited Si film. The initial nucleation and growth process of the film was described. The continuous film had been already formed when the film thickness was 10 nm. The growth of the deposited Si film accorded with the Volmer‐Weber growth mode.
Existence and Multiplicity of Solutions to a Boundary Value Problem for Impulsive Differential Equations
Authors: He Chunyan , Liao Yongzhi , Li Yongkun
Published: February 2013

We investigate the existence and multiplicity of solutions to a boundary value problem for impulsive differential equations. By using critical point theory, some criteria are obtained to guarantee that the impulsive problem has at least one solution, at least two solutions, and infinitely many solutions. Some examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.
A TREM-1 Polymorphism A/T within the Exon 2 Is Associated with Pneumonia in Burn-Injured Patients
Authors: Rivera-Chávez Fernando A. , Huebinger Ryan M. , Burris Agnes , Liu Ming-Mei , Minei Joseph P. , Hunt John L. , Arnoldo Brett D. , Barber Robert C.
Published: February 2013

Background. The triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells (TREM-1) is a key mediator in the activation of the local inflammatory response during lung infections. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a functionally relevant TREM-1 single nucleotide polymorphism within the exon 2 (A→T) on the development of pneumonia in burn patients. Objective. To determine whether a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the exon 2 (A→T) in the TREM-1 gene is associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in burn-injured patients. Methods. 540 patients with ≥10% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injuries or inhalation injury were prospectively enrolled. The influence of a polymorphism (A→T) in exon 2 of the TREM-1 gene was evaluated for association with increased risk of pneumonia by logistic regression analysis. Measurements and Main Results. 209 patients met criteria for VAP. Multivariate regression analysis showed that, after adjustment for potential confounders, we found that carriage of the TREM-1 T allele is associated with more than a 3-fold increased risk of VAP (OR 6.3, 95% CI 4–9). Conclusions. A TREM-1 single nucleotide polymorphism within the exon 2 (A→T) is associated with the development of pneumonia in burn patients.
Experimental Investigation of an Index-Mismatched Multiphase Flow Using Optical Techniques
Authors: Coronado Diaz H. , Hugo Ronald J.
Published: February 2013

An experimental investigation of multiphase flow involving a liquid (water) and a gas (air) is performed. The results for three different scenarios are presented: fixed bubble, ascending bubble, and dispersed-bubble turbulent pipe flow. This study involves a comparison of statistical data collected using two sensing systems, a wavefront sensor and a high-speed video camera. A signal analysis technique based on signal attenuation is developed for data collected using the wavefront sensor. The three experiments performed provide experimental evidence that the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, operating on signal attenuation, is a viable method for the study of multiphase bubble flows.
Flow and Heat Transfer in a Liquid Film over a Permeable Stretching Sheet
Authors: Aziz R. C. , Hashim I. , Alomari A. K.
Published: February 2013

An analysis has been carried out to study the flow and heat transfer in a liquid film over a permeable stretching sheet. Using similarity transformations, the time-dependent boundary layer equations are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The resulting parameter problem and velocity as well as temperature fields are solved using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Analytic series solutions are given, and numerical results for velocity and the temperature profiles are presented through graphs of different values for pertinent parameter. The effects of unsteadiness parameter and permeability parameter on the velocity and temperature profiles are explored for different values of blowing or suction parameter.
Experimental Investigation on an Absorption Refrigerator Driven by Solar Cells
Authors: Chien Zi-Jie , Cho Hung-Pin , Jwo Ching-Song , Chien Chao-Chun , Chen Sih-Li , Chen Yen-Lin
Published: February 2013

This experiment is to study an absorption refrigerator driven by solar cells. Hand-held or carried in vehicle can be powered by solar energy in places without power. In the evenings or rainy days, it is powered by storage battery, and it can be directly powered by alternating current (AC) power supply if available, and the storage battery can be charged full as a backup supply. The proposed system was tested by the alternation of solar irradiance 550 to 700 W/m2as solar energy and 500ml ambient temperature water as cooling load. After 160 minutes, the proposal refrigerator can maintain the temperature at 5–8°C, and the coefficient of performance (COP) of NH3-H2O absorption refrigeration system is about 0.25. Therefore, this system can be expected to be used in remote areas for refrigeration of food and beverages in outdoor activities in remote and desert areas or long-distance road transportation of food or low temperature refrigeration of vaccine to avoid the deterioration of the food or the vaccines.
Effect of Caffeine‐Zn2+ System in Preventing Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Well Water
Authors: Rajam K. , Rajendran S. , Banu N. Nazeera
Published: February 2013

The inhibition efficiency (IE) of caffeine in controlling corrosion of carbon steel in well water in the absence and presence of Zn2+ has been evaluated by mass loss method. The formulation, consisting of 200 ppm of caffeine and 50 ppm Zn2+, offers 82% inhibition efficiency to carbon steel immersed in well water. Addition of malic acid increases inhibition efficiency of the caffeine‐Zn2+ system. The inhibition efficiency of caffeine‐Zn2+ and caffeine‐Zn2+‐malic acid system decreases with the increase in immersion period and increases with the increase in pH from 3 to 11. AC impedance spectra, SEM micrographs, and AFM studies reveal the formation of protective film on the metal surface. The film is found to be UV fluorescent.
A Simple and Efficient Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Xu Yunfeng , Fan Ping , Yuan Ling
Published: February 2013

Artificial bee colony (ABC) is a new population-based stochastic algorithm which has shown good search abilities on many optimization problems. However, the original ABC shows slow convergence speed during the search process. In order to enhance the performance of ABC, this paper proposes a new artificial bee colony (NABC) algorithm, which modifies the search pattern of both employed and onlooker bees. A solution pool is constructed by storing some best solutions of the current swarm. New candidate solutions are generated by searching the neighborhood of solutions randomly chosen from the solution pool. Experiments are conducted on a set of twelve benchmark functions. Simulation results show that our approach is significantly better or at least comparable to the original ABC and seven other stochastic algorithms.
New Optimality Conditions for a Nondifferentiable Fractional Semipreinvex Programming Problem
Authors: Chen Yi-Chou , Du Wei-Shih
Published: February 2013

We study a nondifferentiable fractional programming problem as follows:(P)minx∈Kf(x)/g(x)subject tox∈K⊆X,  hi(x)≤0,  i=1,2,…,m, whereKis a semiconnected subset in a locally convex topological vector spaceX,f:K→ℝ,g:K→ℝ+andhi:K→ℝ,i=1,2,…,m. Iff,-g, andhi,i=1,2,…,m, are arc-directionally differentiable, semipreinvex maps with respect to a continuous mapγ:[0,1]→K⊆Xsatisfyingγ(0)=0andγ′(0+)∈K, then the necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality of(P)are established.
Isolation of Resveratrol from Vitis Viniferae Caulis and Its Potent Inhibition of Human Tyrosinase
Authors: Park Jiaa , Boo Yong Chool
Published: February 2013

Tyrosinase (TYR) catalyzes rate-limiting reactions of cellular melanin synthesis, and its inhibitors are of commercial interest as potential skin whitening agents. However, the limited availability of human TYR makes the screening of TYR inhibitors difficult. To overcome this hurdle, we transformed nonmelanocytic human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells to express human TYR constitutively. Using these cells as a source of human TYR, the ethanolic extracts of 52 medicinal plants grown in Korea were tested for human TYR activity, and the extract of Vitis Viniferae Caulis (dried stems of the grape tree,Vitis viniferaL.) was found to inhibit human TYR activity potently. An active compound was isolated from this extract by solvent fractionation followed by liquid column chromatography and identified as resveratrol by spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses. Resveratrol was determined to be a highly potent inhibitor of human TYR (IC50=0.39 μg mL−1) as compared with p-coumaric acid (IC50=0.66 μg mL−1) and arbutin (IC50>100 μg mL−1) and inhibited melanin synthesis by human epidermal melanocytes at subtoxic concentrations. This study suggests that resveratrol and resveratrol-containing extracts of Vitis Viniferae Caulis have a potential use as skin whitening agents.
Corrosion Inhibition of Cu-Ni (90/10) Alloy in Seawater and Sulphide-Polluted Seawater Environments by 1,2,3-Benzotriazole
Authors: Boyapati Venkata Appa Rao , Kanukula Chaitanya Kumar
Published: February 2013

The inhibiting effect of 1,2,3-benzotriazole (BTAH) against the corrosion of Cu-Ni (90/10) alloy in seawater and seawater polluted with inorganic sulphide was studied by electrochemical impedance studies (EISs), potentiodynamic polarization studies, and cyclic voltammetric (CV) and weight-loss studies. Surface examination studies were carried out by X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). EIS studies have been carried out in seawater and 10 ppm of inorganic sulphide containing seawater in the absence and presence of BTAH at different concentrations, different immersion periods, and at different temperatures. Appropriate equivalent circuit model was used to calculate the impedance parameters. The potentiodynamic polarization studies inferred that BTAH functions as a mixed inhibitor. The impedance, polarization, and weight-loss studies showed that the inhibition efficiency of BTAH is in the range between 99.97 and 99.30% under different conditions. Cyclic voltammeric studies show the stability of the protective BTAH film even at anodic potentials of +550 mV versus Ag/AgCl. All these studies infer that BTAH functions as an excellent inhibitor for Cu-Ni (90/10) alloy in seawater and sulphide-polluted seawater. XPS and SEM-EDX studies confirm the presence of protective BTAH film on the alloy surface.
Optimal Control Problems for Nonlinear Variational Evolution Inequalities
Authors: Ju Eun-Young , Jeong Jin-Mun
Published: February 2013

We deal with optimal control problems governed by semilinear parabolic type equations and in particular described by variational inequalities. We will also characterize the optimal controls by giving necessary conditions for optimality by proving the Gâteaux differentiability of solution mapping on control variables.
Conductivity-Dependent Strain Response of Carbon Nanotube Treated Bacterial Nanocellulose
Authors: Farjana S. , Toomadj F. , Lundgren P. , Sanz-Velasco A. , Naboka O. , Enoksson P.
Published: February 2013

This paper reports the strain sensitivity of flexible, electrically conductive, and nanostructured cellulose which was prepared by modification of bacterial cellulose with double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The electrical conductivity depends on the modifying agent and its dispersion process. The conductivity of the samples obtained from bacterial cellulose (BNC) pellicles modified with DWCNT was in the range from 0.034 S·cm−1to 0.39 S·cm−1, and for BNC pellicles modified with MWCNTs it was from 0.12 S·cm−1to 1.6 S·cm−1. The strain-induced electromechanical response, resistance versus strain, was monitored during the application of tensile force in order to study the sensitivity of the modified nanocellulose. A maximum gauge factor of 252 was found from the highest conductive sample treated by MWCNT. It has been observed that the sensitivity of the sample depends on the conductivity of the modified cellulose.
Explicit Spectral Decimation for a Class of Self-Similar Fractals
Authors: Hernández Sergio A. , Menéndez-Conde Federico
Published: February 2013

The method of spectral decimation is applied to an infinite collection of self-similar fractals. The sets considered are a generalization of the Sierpinski Gasket to higher dimensions; they belong to the class of nested fractals and are thus very symmetric. An explicit construction is given to obtain formulas for the eigenvalues of the Laplace operator acting on these fractals.
Microstructures in Polymer Fibres for Optical Fibres, THz Waveguides, and Fibre-Based Metamaterials
Authors: Argyros Alexander
Published: February 2013

This paper reviews the topic of microstructured polymer fibres in the fields in which these have been utilised: microstructured optical fibres, terahertz waveguides, and fibre-drawn metamaterials. Microstructured polymer optical fibres were initially investigated in the context of photonic crystal fibre research, and several unique features arising from the combination of polymer and microstructure were identified. This lead to investigations in sensing, particularly strain sensing based on gratings, and short-distance data transmission. The same principles have been extended to waveguides at longer wavelengths, for terahertz frequencies, where microstructured polymer waveguides offer the possibility for low-loss flexible waveguides for this frequency region. Furthermore, the combination of microstructured polymer fibres and metals is being investigated in the fabrication of metamaterials, as a scalable method for their manufacture. This paper will review the materials and fabrication methods developed, past and current research in these three areas, and future directions of this fabrication platform.
A Study on the Tracking Problem in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Zhang Xing , Liu Bang , Tang Jinchuan
Published: February 2013

Vehicles have the characteristic of high mobility which makes vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) different from other mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), it is more difficult to establish an end-to-end route in VANETs, and the source and destination nodes keep moving fast from their original locations. To guarantee a data packet will finally be received by the destination node in VANETs, and the location of the destination node must be tracked constantly. Advanced Greedy Forwarding (AGF (Naumov et al. (2006))) is a good way to estimate the location of the destination node by taking advantage of the velocity vectors; however, a vehicle changes its velocity constantly, it would be very inaccurate to estimate the location of a vehicle via its initial velocity. In this paper, we study the tracking problem in VANETs and propose two solutions: area-based tracking (ABT) and parked vehicle-assisted tracking (PVAT). ABT works well when the delays in data transmission from source to destination are small, and PVAT works as a supplement of ABT and deals with the situation of which the delays are large. PVAT takes advantage of vehicular sensors to detect whether a vehicle is parking. Simulations show better results compared to AGF.
Hypercalcemia: An Unusual Manifestation of Uterine Leiomyoma
Authors: Garcha Amarinder Singh , Gumaste Purva , Cherian Sujith , Khanna Apurv
Published: February 2013

We present a case of hypercalcemia in a 79-year-old female likely secondary to uterine leiomyoma. To the best of our knowledge, hypercalcemia due to a benign tumor has only been described in five cases. Of these above five cases, uterine leiomyoma was thought to be the cause of hypercalcemia in three cases.
Freshwater Clam Extract Ameliorates Triglyceride and Cholesterol Metabolism through the Expression of Genes Involved in Hepatic Lipogenesis and Cholesterol Degradation in Rats
Authors: Laurent Thomas , Okuda Yuji , Chijimatsu Takeshi , Umeki Miki , Kobayashi Satoru , Kataoka Yutaro , Tatsuguchi Iwao , Mochizuki Satoshi , Oda Hiroaki
Published: February 2013

The freshwater clam (Corbiculaspp.) is a popular edible bivalve and has been used as a folk remedy for liver disease in Asia. As a Chinese traditional medicine, it is said that freshwater clam ameliorates alcoholic intoxication and cholestasis. In this study, to estimate the practical benefit of freshwater clam extract (FCE), we compared the effects of FCE and soy protein isolate (SPI) on triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism in rats. FCE and SPI lowered serum cholesterol, and FCE tended to reduce serum triglycerides. FCE enhanced fecal sterol excretion and hepatic mRNA levels ofCYP7A1andABCG5more substantially than SPI; however, both diets reduced hepatic cholesterol. Both of the diets similarly suppressed liver lipids improved Δ9-desaturated fatty acid profile, and FCE was associated with a reduction inFASandSCD1mRNA levels. Hepatic transcriptome analysis revealed that inhibition of lipogenesis-related gene expression may contribute to downregulation of hepatic triglycerides by FCE. FCE would have better potential benefits for preventing metabolic disorders, through greater improvement of metabolism of triglycerides and cholesterol, likely through a mechanism similar to SPI.
Low Temperature Dielectric Relaxation in Ba1−xBixTi1−xFexO3 System
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Dwivedi R. K. , Baboo S. , Parkash Om
Published: February 2013

We report on dielectric properties of polycrystalline Ba1−xBixTi1−xFexO3 (BBTF) ceramic system (x=0.02, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12, and 0.16). The materials were synthesized by solid state ceramic route. Solid solution formation has been confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction for compositions with x≤0.16. Crystal structure is tetragonal for x≤0.08 and cubic for x≥0.10. Microstructures show that the average grain size is less than one micrometer (1 μ). Dielectric behavior has been studied as a function of temperature (100 K–400 K) and frequency. Composition with x=0.02 exhibits diffuse phase transition. Compositions with x≥0.10 show ferroelectric relaxor behavior. This shows that diffuse ferroelectric transition behavior changes to relaxor type ferroelectric transition with increasing x. Plots of dielectric loss (D) versus temperature shows broad maxima which shift to high temperature with increasing frequency, dispersion in dielectric loss decreases with x below peak maxima and increases above. It may be attributed to Maxwell Wagner type relaxation process for low x (~0.02) and relaxation of nanopolar regions for x=0.16.
Guideline Adherence for Intrapartum Group B Streptococci Prophylaxis in Penicillin-Allergic Patients
Authors: Paccione Kimberly A. , Wiesenfeld Harold C.
Published: February 2013

Objective. To investigate adherence to the 2002 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for perinatal group B streptococci (GBS) prevention in penicillin-allergic obstetric patients.Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study of penicillin-allergic obstetric patients who tested positive for GBS and delivered at our institution in 2010. Electronic medical records were reviewed for the nature of the penicillin allergy, documentation of having previously tolerated cephalosporins, gestational age at delivery, type of delivery, antimicrobial sensitivity testing, and antibiotics administered. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing and “appropriate” antibiotic choice, which was determined using 2002 CDC guidelines, were analyzed.Results. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was administered in 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 93.5–99.5%) of patients, but it was considered appropriate in only 62.2% (95% CI 53.8–70.0%) of patients. Clindamycin was the most commonly used antibiotic, but 26.4% (95% CI 16.3–39.7%) of patients who received clindamycin did not have confirmation of susceptibility via antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Overall, the sensitivity testing was performed in only 65.5% (95% CI 56.2–73.7%) of patients in whom it was indicated.Conclusion. Compliance with CDC guidelines for performing antimicrobial sensitivity testing and choosing an appropriate antibiotic in GBS-positive penicillin-allergic women continues to be suboptimal. Institution of measures to increase adherence is necessary.
Acute Hemiparesis in a Child as a Presenting Symptom of Hemispheric Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy
Authors: Gold J. J. , Crawford J. R.
Published: February 2013

A 9-year-old girl with a several-month history of unilateral intermittent headaches presented to the hospital with worsening headaches and unsteadiness. Neurologic exam was positive for a mild right hemiparesis and right homonymous hemianopsia. Noncontrast computed tomography revealed an engorged sagittal and straight sinus with prominent cortical veins concerning an arteriovenous malformation and the patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Computed tomography angiogram demonstrated a left hemispheric vascular malformation, without evidence of dural arteriovenous fistula on conventional angiogram consistent with a diagnosis of cerebral proliferative angiopathy. There was no evidence of infarct on magnetic resonance imaging, and the patient’s symptoms were completely resolved within 24 hours. Cerebral proliferative angiopathy is a rare but important vascular malformation distinct from classic arteriovenous malformations that may present with stroke-like symptoms in childhood.
Holocarboxylase Synthetase 1 Physically Interacts with Histone H3 inArabidopsis
Authors: Chen Xi , Chou Hui-Hsien , Wurtele Eve Syrkin
Published: February 2013

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin required by all organisms, but only synthesized by plants and some bacterial and fungal species. As a cofactor, biotin is responsible for carbon dioxide transfer in all biotin-dependent carboxylases, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, and pyruvate carboxylase. Adding biotin to carboxylases is catalyzed by the enzyme holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS). Biotin is also involved in gene regulation, and there is some indication that histones can be biotinylated in humans. Histone proteins and most histone modifications are highly conserved among eukaryotes. HCS1 is the only functional biotin ligase inArabidopsisand has a high homology with human HCS. Therefore, we hypothesized that HCS1 also biotinylates histone proteins inArabidopsis. A comparison of the catalytic domain of HCS proteins was performed among eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and archaea, and this domain is highly conserved across the selected organisms. Biotinylated histones could not be identifiedin vivoby using avidin precipitation or two-dimensional gel analysis. However, HCS1 physically interacts withArabidopsishistone H3in vitro, indicating the possibility of the role of this enzyme in the regulation of gene expression.
MDM2 Small-Molecule Antagonist RG7112 Activates p53 Signaling and Regresses Human Tumors in Preclinical Cancer Models
Authors: Tovar Christian , Graves Bradford , Packman Kathryn , Filipovic Zoran , Xia Brian Higgins Mingxuan , Tardell Christine , Garrido Rosario , Lee Edmund , Kolinsky Kenneth , To Kwong-Him , Linn Michael , Podlaski Frank , Wovkulich Peter , Vu Binh , Vassilev Lyubomir T.
Published: February 2013

MDM2 negatively regulates p53 stability and many human tumors overproduce MDM2 as a mechanism to restrict p53 function. Thus, inhibitors of p53-MDM2 binding that can reactivate p53 in cancer cells may offer an effective approach for cancer therapy. RG7112 is a potent and selective member of the nutlin family of MDM2 antagonists currently in phase I clinical studies. RG7112 binds MDM2 with high affinity (KD ∼ 11 nmol/L), blocking its interactions with p53 in vitro. A crystal structure of the RG7112–MDM2 complex revealed that the small molecule binds in the p53 pocket of MDM2, mimicking the interactions of critical p53 amino acid residues. Treatment of cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 with RG7112 activated the p53 pathway, leading to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. RG7112 showed potent antitumor activity against a panel of solid tumor cell lines. However, its apoptotic activity varied widely with the best response observed in osteosarcoma cells with MDM2 gene amplification. Interestingly, inhibition of caspase activity did not change the kinetics of p53-induced cell death. Oral administration of RG7112 to human xenograft-bearing mice at nontoxic concentrations caused dose-dependent changes in proliferation/apoptosis biomarkers as well as tumor inhibition and regression. Notably, RG7112 was highly synergistic with androgen deprivation in LNCaP xenograft tumors. Our findings offer a preclinical proof-of-concept that RG7112 is effective in treatment of solid tumors expressing wild-type p53. Cancer Res; 73(8); 2587–97. ©2013 AACR.