bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REDUCING MIGRATION-INDUCED MISSES IN AN OVER-SUBSCRIBED MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM
Authors: REZA SAJJID , BYRD GREGORY T.
Published: March 2013

In a large multiprocessor server platform using multicore chips, the scheduler often migrates a thread or process, in order to achieve better load balancing or ensure fairness among competing scheduling entities. Each migration incurs a severe performance impact from the loss of cache and Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) footprints and subsequent higher cache misses and page walks. Such impact is likely to be more severe in virtualized environments, where high over-subscription of CPUs is very common for server consolidation workloads or virtual desktop infrastructure deployment, causing frequent migrations and context switches. We demonstrate the performance benefit of preserving a portion of L2 cache—in particular, MRU cache lines—and warming the destination L2 cache by prefetching those cache lines under different migration scenarios. We observed a 1.5-27% reduction in CPI (cycles per instruction) following a migration. We also study the effectiveness of preserving TLB entries over a context switch or migration.
SIMULINK MODELING FOR CIRCUIT REPRESENTATION OF GRANULAR CHAINS
Authors: SELLAMI LOUIZA , NEWCOMB ROBERT W. , SEN SURAJIT
Published: March 2013

After a review of the coupled Newton's equations for a small alignment of grains with a fixed reflecting end wall, the equations are put into block diagrams of Simulink. Simulink simulations are given for 6 grain systems for cubic and Hertz intergrain potentials. The expected granular solitary waves are seen in the simulations. The block diagrams hence convert a single impulse into a traveling energy bundle of fixed width. This work forms the necessary first step for the eventual realization of the mathematical system represented by the granular chain as a Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuit.
NONLINEAR CONTROL FOR GAL REGULATORY NETWORK IN S. CEREVISIAE
Authors: YANG JINLIANG , GAO RUI , MENG MAX Q.-H.
Published: March 2013

Recently, applying control theory to regulate the intracellular mRNA level was introduced as a new direction for gene regulation. However, the high nonlinearity in the gene regulatory networks imposes significant challenges in control design. As a well understood benchmark example, the GAL regulatory network in S. cerevisiae was recently proposed as a test-bed system for validating theoretical control algorithms in cellular systems. A simple proportional feedback control approach was previously proposed for regulating the intracellular mRNA level in the GAL network, however, there were still limitations with its use to control the nonlinear GAL network. To improve the performance and effectiveness, this paper proposes an advanced nonlinear control strategy. The reduced mathematical model for the GAL network is reorganized into a nonlinear affine system. Then, a partial feedback linearization control approach was employed to regulate the concentration of a protein at a desired level. For validating the control approach in experimental studies, we choose Gal1p as a measurable output, instead of GAL1 mRNA used in the previous study. Simulation results demonstrate that this control approach can shorten the convergence time between states comparing with the proportional feedback control.
Network Analysis: An Integrative Approach to the Structure of Psychopathology
Authors: Borsboom Denny , Cramer Angélique O.J.
Published: March 2013

In network approaches to psychopathology, disorders result from the causal interplay between symptoms (e.g., worry → insomnia → fatigue), possibly involving feedback loops (e.g., a person may engage in substance abuse to forget the problems that arose due to substance abuse). The present review examines methodologies suited to identify such symptom networks and discusses network analysis techniques that may be used to extract clinically and scientifically useful information from such networks (e.g., which symptom is most central in a person's network). The authors also show how network analysis techniques may be used to construct simulation models that mimic symptom dynamics. Network approaches naturally explain the limited success of traditional research strategies, which are typically based on the idea that symptoms are manifestations of some common underlying factor, while offering promising methodological alternatives. In addition, these techniques may offer possibilities to guide and evaluate therapeutic interventions.
Social Anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Morrison Amanda S. , Heimberg Richard G.
Published: March 2013

Research on social anxiety and social anxiety disorder has proliferated over the years since the explication of the disorder through cognitive-behavioral models. This review highlights a recently updated model from our group and details recent research stemming from the (a) information processing perspective, including attention bias, interpretation bias, implicit associations, imagery and visual memories, and (b) emotion regulation perspective, including positive emotionality and anger. In addition, we review recent studies exploring the roles of self-focused attention, safety behaviors, and post-event processing in the maintenance of social anxiety. Within each area, we detail the ways in which these topics have implications for the treatment of social anxiety and for future research. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of how several of the areas reviewed contribute to our model of social anxiety disorder.
Brain stem representation of thermal and psychogenic sweating in humans
Authors: Farrell Michael J. , Trevaks David , Taylor Nigel A. S. , McAllen Robin M.
Published: March 2013

Functional MRI was used to identify regions in the human brain stem activated during thermal and psychogenic sweating. Two groups of healthy participants aged 34.4 ± 10.2 and 35.3 ± 11.8 years (both groups comprising 1 woman and 10 men) were either heated by a water-perfused tube suit or subjected to a Stroop test, while they lay supine with their head in a 3-T MRI scanner. Sweating events were recorded as electrodermal responses (increases in AC conductance) from the palmar surfaces of fingers. Each experimental session consisted of two 7.9-min runs, during which a mean of 7.3 ± 2.1 and 10.2 ± 2.5 irregular sweating events occurred during psychogenic (Stroop test) and thermal sweating, respectively. The electrodermal waveform was used as the regressor in each subject and run to identify brain stem clusters with significantly correlated blood oxygen level-dependent signals in the group mean data. Clusters of significant activation were found with both psychogenic and thermal sweating, but a voxelwise comparison revealed no brain stem cluster whose signal differed significantly between the two conditions. Bilaterally symmetric regions that were activated by both psychogenic and thermal sweating were identified in the rostral lateral midbrain and in the rostral lateral medulla. The latter site, between the facial nuclei and pyramidal tracts, corresponds to a neuron group found to drive sweating in animals. These studies have identified the brain stem regions that are activated with sweating in humans and indicate that common descending pathways may mediate both thermal and psychogenic sweating.
Deletion of cyclooxygenase-2 in the mouse increases arterial blood pressure with no impairment in renal NO production in response to chronic high salt intake
Authors: Stæhr Mette , Hansen Pernille B. L. , Madsen Kirsten , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Nüsing Rolf M. , Jensen Boye L.
Published: March 2013

Experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity attenuates the blood pressure increase during high NaCl intake by stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-mediated NO synthesis in the kidney medulla. COX-2−/−(C57BL6) an COX-2+/+mice were fed a diet with 0.004% (low salt, LS) or 4% (high salt, HS) NaCl for 18 days. Arterial blood pressure was recorded continuously using indwelling catheters. Food and water intake and diuresis were measured in metabolic cages. Urine osmolality and excretion of electrolytes, cGMP, cAMP, and NOx were determined, as well as plasma NOx and cGMP. There was a significant dependence of blood pressure on salt intake and genotype: COX-2−/−exhibited higher blood pressure than COX-2+/+both on HS and LS intake. COX-2+/+littermates displayed an increase in blood pressure on HS versus LS (102.3 ± 1.1 mmHg vs. 91.9 ± 0.9 mmHg) day and night. The mice exhibited significant blood pressure increases during the awake phase (night) that were larger in COX-2−/−on HS diet compared with COX-2+/+. Water intake, diuresis, Na+, and osmolyte excretions and NOx and cGMP excretions were significantly and similarly elevated with HS in COX-2−/−and COX-2+/+. In summary, C57BL6 mice exhibit a salt intake-dependent increase in arterial blood pressure with increased renal NO production. COX-2 activity has a general lowering effect on arterial blood pressure. COX-2 dampens NaCl-induced increases in arterial blood pressure in the awake phase. In conclusion, COX-2 activity attenuates the changes in nocturnal blood pressure during high salt intake, and COX-2 activity is not necessary for increased renal nitric oxide formation during elevated NaCl intake.
Preserving axosomatic spiking features despite diverse dendritic morphology
Authors: Hay Etay , Schürmann Felix , Markram Henry , Segev Idan
Published: March 2013

Throughout the nervous system, cells belonging to a certain electrical class (e-class)–sharing high similarity in firing response properties–may nevertheless have widely variable dendritic morphologies. To quantify the effect of this morphological variability on the firing of layer 5 thick-tufted pyramidal cells (TTCs), a detailed conductance-based model was constructed for a three-dimensional reconstructed exemplar TTC. The model exhibited spike initiation in the axon and reproduced the characteristic features of individual spikes, as well as of the firing properties at the soma, as recorded in a population of TTCs in young Wistar rats. When using these model parameters over the population of 28 three-dimensional reconstructed TTCs, both axonal and somatic ion channel densities had to be scaled linearly with the conductance load imposed on each of these compartments. Otherwise, the firing of model cells deviated, sometimes very significantly, from the experimental variability of the TTC e-class. The study provides experimentally testable predictions regarding the coregulation of axosomatic membrane ion channels density for cells with different dendritic conductance load, together with a simple and systematic method for generating reliable conductance-based models for the whole population of modeled neurons belonging to a particular e-class, with variable morphology as found experimentally.
The representation of tool and non-tool object information in the human intraparietal sulcus
Authors: Mruczek Ryan E. B. , von Loga Isabell S. , Kastner Sabine
Published: March 2013

Humans have an amazing ability to quickly and efficiently recognize and interact with visual objects in their environment. The underlying neural processes supporting this ability have been mainly explored in the ventral visual stream. However, the dorsal stream has been proposed to play a critical role in guiding object-directed actions. This hypothesis is supported by recent neuroimaging studies that have identified object-selective and tool-related activity in human parietal cortex. In the present study, we sought to delineate tool-related information in the anterior portions of the human intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and relate it to recently identified motor-defined and topographic regions of interest (ROIs) using functional MRI in individual subjects. Consistent with previous reports, viewing pictures of tools compared with pictures of animals led to a higher blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response in the left anterior IPS. For every subject, this activation was located lateral, anterior, and inferior to topographic area IPS5 and lateral and inferior to a motor-defined human parietal grasp region (hPGR). In a separate experiment, subjects viewed pictures of tools, animals, graspable (non-tool) objects, and scrambled objects. An ROI-based time-course analysis showed that tools evoked a stronger BOLD response than animals throughout topographic regions of the left IPS. Additionally, graspable objects evoked stronger responses than animals, equal to responses to tools, in posterior regions and weaker responses than tools, equal to responses to animals, in anterior regions. Thus the left anterior tool-specific region may integrate visual information encoding graspable features of objects from more posterior portions of the IPS with experiential knowledge of object use and function to guide actions.
State-based decoding of hand and finger kinematics using neuronal ensemble and LFP activity during dexterous reach-to-grasp movements
Authors: Aggarwal Vikram , Mollazadeh Mohsen , Davidson Adam G. , Schieber Marc H. , Thakor Nitish V.
Published: March 2013

The performance of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) that continuously control upper limb neuroprostheses may benefit from distinguishing periods of posture and movement so as to prevent inappropriate movement of the prosthesis. Few studies, however, have investigated how decoding behavioral states and detecting the transitions between posture and movement could be used autonomously to trigger a kinematic decoder. We recorded simultaneous neuronal ensemble and local field potential (LFP) activity from microelectrode arrays in primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsal (PMd) and ventral (PMv) premotor areas of two male rhesus monkeys performing a center-out reach-and-grasp task, while upper limb kinematics were tracked with a motion capture system with markers on the dorsal aspect of the forearm, hand, and fingers. A state decoder was trained to distinguish four behavioral states (baseline, reaction, movement, hold), while a kinematic decoder was trained to continuously decode hand end point position and 18 joint angles of the wrist and fingers. LFP amplitude most accurately predicted transition into the reaction (62%) and movement (73%) states, while spikes most accurately decoded arm, hand, and finger kinematics during movement. Using an LFP-based state decoder to trigger a spike-based kinematic decoder [ r = 0.72, root mean squared error (RMSE) = 0.15] significantly improved decoding of reach-to-grasp movements from baseline to final hold, compared with either a spike-based state decoder combined with a spike-based kinematic decoder ( r = 0.70, RMSE = 0.17) or a spike-based kinematic decoder alone ( r = 0.67, RMSE = 0.17). Combining LFP-based state decoding with spike-based kinematic decoding may be a valuable step toward the realization of BMI control of a multifingered neuroprosthesis performing dexterous manipulation.
Lung and Intestine: A Specific Link in an Ulcerative Colitis Rat Model
Authors: Liu Yuan , Wang Xin-Yue , Yang Xue , Jing Shan , Zhu Li , Gao Si-Hua
Published: March 2013

Background. To investigate the link and mechanisms between intestine and lung in the ulcerative colitis (UC) rat model.Materials and Methods. We used the UC rat model by immunological sensitization combined with local 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in 50% ethanol enema, observed dynamically animal general state and body weight, examined the histological and functional changes in the colon, lung, liver, and kidney tissues, and detected microvascular endothelium response towards inflammation characterized with the expression of iNOS, TXB2, P-selectin, ICAM-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in the colon and lung tissue.Results. Pulmonary function results suggested ventilator disorder, and pathological findings showed interstitial pneumonia. There were no significant changes in the liver and kidney function and histopathology. The colon and lung tissue iNOS, TXB2, P-selectin, ICAM-1, and VEGF-A expression of the model rats was significantly higher than the normal rats at both time points.Conclusions. Our study is the first to demonstrate the close association between the large intestine and lung in the immune-TNBS-ethanol-induced UC rat model. Different organs and tissues with the same embryonic origin may share the same pathological specificities in a disease. The present study provided a new way of thinking for pathological changes in clinical complex diseases manifested with multiorgan damage.
Measuring and Forecasting Volatility in Chinese Stock Market Using HAR-CJ-M Model
Authors: Huang Chuangxia , Gong Xu , Chen Xiaohong , Wen Fenghua
Published: March 2013

Basing on the Heterogeneous Autoregressive with Continuous volatility and Jumps model (HAR-CJ), converting the realized Volatility (RV) into the adjusted realized volatility (ARV), and making use of the influence of momentum effect on the volatility, a new model called HAR-CJ-M is developed in this paper. At the same time, we also address, in great detail, another two models (HAR-ARV, HAR-CJ). The applications of these models to Chinese stock market show that each of the continuous sample path variation, momentum effect, and ARV has a good forecasting performance on the future ARV, while the discontinuous jump variation has a poor forecasting performance. Moreover, the HAR-CJ-M model shows obviously better forecasting performance than the other two models in forecasting the future volatility in Chinese stock market.
Temporal Patterns of the Two-Dimensional Spatial Trends in Summer Temperature and Monsoon Precipitation of Bangladesh
Authors: Bhowmik Avit Kumar
Published: March 2013

Two climate indices, TXx and PRCPTOT, representing the summer maximum temperature and annual total monsoon precipitation, respectively, in Bangladesh were computed. The temperature and precipitation measurements from 34 meteorological stations during the temporal extent of 1948–2007 were applied for indices’ computation under thorough quality control. The spatial trends of the indices were analyzed by applying two-dimensional least square approach along latitudes and longitudes of the observation points. The temporal patterns of the spatial trends were identified by temporally interpolating them applying thin plate smoothing spline method. The analyses of TXx identified regional scale spatial trends in the east-west and south-north directions, which were increasing between 1948 and 1980s. After the 1980s the spatial trends started decreasing, and after 2000 the spatial trend along the south-north changed its direction to the north-south and continued until present. The analyses of the PRCPTOT identified spatial trends in the west-east and north-south directions, which were decreasing between 1948 and 1980s and thereafter increasing until present. About half of the spatial trends were significant in F-statistics at or more than 90% confidence level. Thus, the obtained results indicated a significant climatic shift within the regional scale of the country during the study period.
Preliminary Study on Physico-Chemical Parameters and Phytoplankton of Chiffa River (Blida, Algeria)
Authors: Hamaidi-Chergui Fella , Brahim Errahmani Mohamed , Benouaklil Fatouma , Hamaidi Mohand Said
Published: March 2013

The present study was carried out to determine the monthly variations of physico-chemical parameters in water samples from Chiffa river at Blida, North West of Algeria from April to August 2006. Water samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and the results showed their monthly variations as follows: pH 7.5-7.6, electrical conductivity 0.87–1.06 mS·cm−1, nitrate 0–7.00 mg·L−1, nitrite 0–0.28 mg·L−1, ammonia 0–0.03 mg·L−1, phosphate 0–0.94 mg·L−1, sodium 19.3–47.0 mg·L−1, chloride 35.7–52.0 mg·L−1, calcium 90.3–104.7 mg·L−1, magnesium 27.3–37.7 mg·L−1, organic matter 0.4–3.9 mg·L−1, chlorophyll a 0.7–132.3 mg·L−1, and bicarbonate 219.3–248.7 mg·L−1. The analyzed physico-chemical parameters were almost not exceeded the maximum permissible limit of WHO and Algerian Water Quality Guidelines. A total of 53 taxa belonging to 4 divisions have been identified, including Chlorophyta (52.83% of taxa), Bacillariophyta (28.30%), Cyanophyceae (16.98%), and Charophyta (1.89%).
Strongly Nonlinear Stochastic Processes in Physics and the Life Sciences
Authors: Frank T. D.
Published: March 2013

Strongly nonlinear stochastic processes can be found in many applications in physics and the life sciences. In particular, in physics, strongly nonlinear stochastic processes play an important role in understanding nonlinear Markov diffusion processes and have frequently been used to describe order-disorder phase transitions of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems. However, diffusion processes represent only one class of strongly nonlinear stochastic processes out of four fundamental classes of time-discrete and time-continuous processes evolving on discrete and continuous state spaces. Moreover, strongly nonlinear stochastic processes appear both as Markov and non-Markovian processes. In this paper the full spectrum of strongly nonlinear stochastic processes is presented. Not only are processes presented that are defined by nonlinear diffusion and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations but also processes are discussed that are defined by nonlinear Markov chains, nonlinear master equations, and strongly nonlinear stochastic iterative maps. Markovian as well as non-Markovian processes are considered. Applications range from classical fields of physics such as astrophysics, accelerator physics, order-disorder phase transitions of liquids, material physics of porous media, quantum mechanical descriptions, and synchronization phenomena in equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems to problems in mathematics, engineering sciences, biology, psychology, social sciences, finance, and economics.
Pricing and Allotment in a Sea-Cargo Supply Chain with Reference Effect: A Dynamic Game Approach
Authors: Xu Lei , Kannan Govindan , Yang Xiaoli , Li Jian , Zhao Xiukun
Published: March 2013

The contract between the carrier and forwarder is a long-term issue, and the repeated contract business makes the forwarder develop a reference point based on the contract prices, and this reference effect, to a large extent, affects the forwarder’s contract purchasing decisions. Based on that, this paper introduces the reference effect in the sea-cargo supply chain and studies a multiple-period contract problem between the carrier and the forwarder. It is found that when the capacity price in the spot market is less than the forwarder’s willingness-to-pay, the forwarder’s contract purchasing decision is not affected by the reference effect, only by the capacity price in the spot market, and the multiple-period contract problem can be simplified into a single-period game. In addition, the carrier’s optimal contract wholesale price approaches the capacity price in the spot market. Although, the forwarder’s contract purchasing decision depends upon the reference effect, it is difficult to derive the closed-form solution. Moreover, because of the risk in the spot market, the carrier tends to sell his/her capacity in the contract market. Finally, we employ the numerical simulation to study the carrier’s contract pricing decisions and the forwarder’s capacity purchasing decisions in two cases.
3D Heat Transfer Analysis of a Miniature Copper-Water Vapor Chamber with Wicked Pillars Array
Authors: Jiang Yong , Carbajal Gerardo , Sobhan C. B. , Li Ji
Published: March 2013

A three-dimensional analysis of the heat and mass transfer phenomena inside a vapor chamber is essential for correctly understanding its thermal performance limitations and structural optimization. This paper presents a complete three-dimensional numerical analysis and comparative study of two different miniature vapor chambers designs with identical external geometry and dimensions but different internal structures: one having a wicked pillar array and the other one without the wicked pillars array. The distribution of the wicked pillar array in the vapor core was aligned. Detailed comparative experimental results are also reported, which were performed to verify the calculations from the numerical simulations. It was found that the numerical and experimental results agree quite well, especially at high heat flux values. It is also observed that the vapor chamber with wicked pillars had a better thermal performance than the conventional design, with a 5% decrease in terms of total thermal resistance due to the added extra channels that allow a better flow of the working fluid to the evaporator surface. An insight into how improving the thermal performance of a vapor chamber is provided through the detailed three-dimensional numerical simulations.
The Linear Span of Projections in AH Algebras and for Inclusions ofC*-Algebras
Authors: Hoa Dinh Trung , Ho Toan Minh , Osaka Hiroyuki
Published: March 2013

In the first part of this paper, we show that an AH algebraA=lim→(Ai,ϕi)has the LP property if and only if every element of the centre ofAibelongs to the closure of the linear span of projections inA. As a consequence, a diagonal AH-algebra has the LP property if it has small eigenvalue variation in the sense of Bratteli and Elliott. The second contribution of this paper is that for an inclusion of unitalC*-algebrasP⊂Awith a finite Watatani index, if a faithful conditional expectationE:A→Phas the Rokhlin property in the sense of Kodaka et al., thenPhas the LP property under the condition thatAhas the LP property. As an application, letAbe a simple unitalC*-algebra with the LP property,αan action of a finite groupGontoAut(A). Ifαhas the Rokhlin property in the sense of Izumi, then the fixed point algebraAGand the crossed product algebraA ⋊α Ghave the LP property. We also point out that there is a symmetry on the CAR algebra such that its fixed point algebra does not have the LP property.
Chaos for Discrete Dynamical System
Authors: Wang Lidong , Liu Heng , Gao Yuelin
Published: March 2013

We prove that a dynamical system is chaotic in the sense of Martelli and Wiggins, when it is a transitive distributively chaotic in a sequence. Then, we give a sufficient condition for the dynamical system to be chaotic in the strong sense of Li-Yorke. We also prove that a dynamical system is distributively chaotic in a sequence, when it is chaotic in the strong sense of Li-Yorke.
Spinal Serotonergic and Opioid Receptors Are Involved in Electroacupuncture-Induced Antinociception at Different Frequencies on ZuSanLi (ST 36) Acupoint
Authors: Kuo Chi-Chung , Tsai Huei-Yann , Lin Jaung-Geng , Su Hong-Lin , Chen Yuh-Fung
Published: March 2013

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture-(EAc-) induced antinociception (EAA) at different currents and frequencies in rat spinal cord. We found that naloxone (0.05 μg i.t.) blocked EAA at different frequencies. Naltrindole (0.05 μg i.t.) blocked EAA on the 7th day after EAc of 100 Hz. 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine (100 μg i.t.) significantly inhibited EAA at different frequencies on the 7th day after EAc. Pindobind (0.5μg i.t.), a 5-HT1Aantagonist, notably attenuated EAA at different frequencies. Ketanserin (0.5 μg i.t.), inhibited EEA at a lower frequency (<10 Hz) than at a higher frequency (100 Hz). LY-278584 (0.5 μg i.t.) significantly inhibited EAA at a higher frequency (100 Hz) on the 7th day after EAc. The direction of effect of 8-OH-DPAT, on EAA was dependent on dosage. It had an inhibitory effect at a low dose (0.5 μg i.t.) and a high frequency (100 Hz) but enhanced EAA at a higher dose at lower frequencies (<10 Hz). DOI (10 μg, i.t.), did not affect EAA. These data indicate that the mechanism of EAA involves opioid receptors, and the serotonergic system, particularly,μ-,δ-opioid and 5-HT1A, 5-HT3receptors and it is also dependent on the EAc frequency.
Performance and Trends in Millimetre-Wave CMOS Oscillators for Emerging Wireless Applications
Authors: Voicu Marius , Pepe Domenico , Zito Domenico
Published: March 2013

This paper reports the latest advances on millimeter-wave CMOS voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). Current state-of-the-art implementations are reviewed, and their performances are compared in terms of phase noise and figure of merit. Low power and low phase noise LC-VCO and ring oscillator designs are analyzed and discussed. Design and performance trends over the last decade are provided and discussed. The paper shows how for the higher range of millimeter-waves (>60 GHz) the performances of ring oscillators become comparable with those of LC-VCOs.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Norwegian Cancer Survivors: Gender-Specific Prevalence and Associations for Use
Authors: Kristoffersen Agnete E. , Norheim Arne J. , Fønnebø Vinjar M.
Published: March 2013

The associations for CAM use are only occasionally differentiated by gender in populations where both male and female cancer survivors occur. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of CAM use in individuals with a previous cancer diagnosis and to investigate gender differences regard to factors associated with use. A total of 12982 men and women filled in a questionnaire with questions about life style and health issues. Eight hundred of those had a previous cancer diagnosis of whom 630 answered three questions concerning CAM use in the last 12 months. A total of 33.8% of all cancer survivors reported CAM use, 39.4% of the women and 27.9% of the men (). The relationship between the demographic variables and being a CAM user differed significantly between men and women with regard to age (), education (), and income (). Female CAM users were more likely to have a university degree than the nonusers, while male CAM users were more likely to have a lower income than the nonusers. According to this study, prevalence and factors associated with CAM use differ significantly between male and female survivors of cancer.
Reliability of Family Proxy Data for Studies of Malignant Mesothelioma: Results from the ATSDR Pilot Surveillance
Authors: Melnikova Natalia , Wu Jennifer , Kaye Wendy , Orr Maureen
Published: March 2013

Objective. To evaluate the validity of proxy interviews in obtaining information on persons with rapidly fatal diseases such as malignant mesothelioma (MM). Methods. Persons with MM diagnosed in 2002 through 2005 in New York and New Jersey and 1997–2004 in Wisconsin were eligible for inclusion in the project. Persons with MM and their family member proxy were interviewed using the same questionnaire designed by ATSDR to collect information on potential direct or indirect occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos, genetic, and health related malignancy predisposition, and exposure to tobacco products. Descriptive statistics and the McNemar/Durkalski test were used to analyze 33 matched pairs. Results. The overall study confirmed a generally high ability of proxies to give interviews of comparable quality and completeness when asked dichotomous questions. The reliability of information collected from proxies varied by topic and family relationship. Conclusions. Family proxy interviews, using dichotomous responses, can serve as an acceptable source of information about health and exposure-related risk factors for MM.
Prospective Study about the Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound for Predicting the Safety of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Early Gastric Cancer (T-HOPE 0801)
Authors: Kikuchi Daisuke , Iizuka Toshiro , Hoteya Shu , Yamada Akihiro , Furuhata Tsukasa , Yamashita Satoshi , Domon Kaoru , Nakamura Masanori , Matsui Akira , Mitani Toshifumi , Ogawa Osamu , Kaise Mitsuru
Published: March 2013

Background. Intraoperative bleeding is an important determinant for safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for predicting ESD safety.Methods. A total of 110 patients with EGC were divided into two groups based on EUS findings: group P, almost no blood vessels in submucosa, or ≤4 small vessels per field of view; group R, remaining patients. Primary endpoint was the decrease in Hb after ESD. Secondary endpoints included procedure time and the incidence of muscle injury and clip use.Results. A total of 89 patients were evaluated. Fifty were classified into group P and 39 into group R. Mean decrease in Hb was 0.27 g/dL in group P and 0.35 g/dL in group R, with no significant difference. Mean procedure time was significantly longer in group R (105.4 min) than in group P (65.5 min)(P<0.001). The incidence of muscle injury and clip use were significantly higher in group R (25.6%/48.7%) than in group P (8.0%/20.0%) (P=0.02/P=0.004).Conclusion. Preoperative EUS can predict procedure time and the incidence of muscle injury and clip use and is thus considered useful for predicting gastric ESD safety.
Contralateral Axillary Lymph Node Metastases at the Time of Primary Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Curative or Palliative Intent?
Authors: Zhou C. , Richir M. C. , Leenders M. W. H. , Langenhorst B. L. A. M. , Knol H. P. , Schreurs W. H.
Published: March 2013

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastases (CAMs) in breast cancer patients are uncommon. CAM can be found at the time of primary breast cancer diagnosis or following prior treatment of breast cancer as a recurrence. This distinction may have important implications for disease staging and treatment selection. We report the case of a premenopausal woman with synchronous CAM. Despite extensive multimodality treatment, a recurrence was found 27 months after primary surgery. We reviewed the literature on histopathological tumor characteristics associated with CAM, lymphatic drainage of the breast to other sites than the ipsilateral axilla, and outcome of cases with CAM. This case contradicts current conceptions that CAM only develops from tumors with poor histopathological features. Emerging evidence shows that altered lymphatics play a central role in development of synchronous CAM. It is precisely this etiology that supports the concept that synchronous CAM occurs by lymphatic spread and not by hematogenous spread. Although controversial, treatment of synchronous CAM (without evidence of distant metastases) should therefore be of curative intent.
Ineffective Erythropoiesis in β‐Thalassemia
Authors: Ribeil Jean-Antoine , Arlet Jean-Benoit , Dussiot Michael , Cruz Moura Ivan , Courtois Geneviève , Hermine Olivier
Published: March 2013

In humans, β‐thalassemia dyserythropoiesis is characterized by expansion of early erythroid precursors and erythroid progenitors and then ineffective erythropoiesis. This ineffective erythropoiesis is defined as a suboptimal production of mature erythrocytes originating from a proliferating pool of immature erythroblasts. It is characterized by (1) accelerated erythroid differentiation, (2) maturation blockade at the polychromatophilic stage, and (3) death of erythroid precursors. Despite extensive knowledge of molecular defects causing β‐thalassemia, less is known about the mechanisms responsible for ineffective erythropoiesis. In this paper, we will focus on the underlying mechanisms leading to premature death of thalassemic erythroid precursors in the bone marrow.
Stability of Impulsive Cohen-Grossberg Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays and Reaction-Diffusion Terms
Authors: Huang Jinhua , Liu Jiqing , Zhou Guopeng
Published: March 2013

This work concerns the stability of impulsive Cohen-Grossberg neural networks with time-varying delays and reaction-diffusion terms as well as Dirichlet boundary condition. By means of Poincaré inequality and Gronwall-Bellman-type impulsive integral inequality, we summarize some new and concise sufficient conditions ensuring the global exponential stability of equilibrium point. The proposed criteria are relevant to the diffusion coefficients and the smallest positive eigenvalue of corresponding Dirichlet Laplacian. In conclusion, two examples are illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness of our obtained results.
Nature and Nurture of Human Pain
Authors: Belfer Inna
Published: March 2013

Humans are very different when it comes to pain. Some get painful piercings and tattoos; others can not stand even a flu shot. Interindividual variability is one of the main characteristics of human pain on every level including the processing of nociceptive impulses at the periphery, modification of pain signal in the central nervous system, perception of pain, and response to analgesic strategies. As for many other complex behaviors, the sources of this variability come from both nurture (environment) and nature (genes). Here, I will discuss how these factors contribute to human pain separately and via interplay and how epigenetic mechanisms add to the complexity of their effects.
Rapid Screening of Drug-Protein Binding Using High-Performance Affinity Chromatography with Columns Containing Immobilized Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Li Ying-Fei , Zhang Xiao-Qiong , Hu Wei-Yu , Li Zheng , Liu Ping-Xia , Zhang Zhen-Qing
Published: March 2013

For drug candidates, a plasma protein binding (PPB) more than 90% is more meaningful and deserves further investigation in development. In the study, a high-performance liquid chromatography method employing column containing immobilized human serum albumin (HSA) to screen in vitro PPB of leading compounds was established and successfully applied to tested compounds. Good correlation (a coefficient correlation of 0.96) was attained between the reciprocal values (X) of experimentally obtained retention time of reference compounds eluted through HSA column and the reported PPB values (Y) with a correlation equation ofY=92.03−97.01X. The method was successfully applied to six test compounds, and the result was confirmed by the conventional ultrafiltration technique, and both yielded equal results. However, due to the particular protein immobilized to column, the method cannot be applied for all compounds and should be exploited judiciously based on the value of the logarithmic measure of the acid dissociation constant (pKa) as per the requirement. Ifα1-acid glycoprotein and other plasma proteins could be immobilized like HSA with their actual ratio in plasma to column simultaneously, the result attained using immobilized column may be more accurate, and the method could be applied to more compounds without pKa limitation.
Preparation of Baking‐Free Brick from Manganese Residue and Its Mechanical Properties
Authors: Wang Ping , Liu Dong-yan
Published: March 2013

The increasing amount of waste residue produced during the electrolytic preparation process of manganese has nowadays brought about serious environmental problems. The research on utilization of manganese slag has been a hot spot around the world. The utilization of manganese slag is not only environment friendly, but also economically feasible. In the current work, a summarization of the main methods to produced building materials from manganese slag materials was given. Baking‐free brick, a promising building material, was produced from manganese slag with the addition of quicklime and cement. The physical properties, chemical composition, and mechanical performances of the obtained samples were measured by several analyses and characterization methods. Then the influence of adding materials and molding pressure during the preparation of baking‐free brick samples on their compressive strength properties was researched. It is concluded that the baking‐free brick prepared from manganese residue could have excellent compressive strength performance under certain formula.
Pattern Formation in a Diffusive Ratio-Dependent Holling-Tanner Predator-Prey Model with Smith Growth
Authors: Yang Bo
Published: March 2013

The spatiotemporal dynamics of a diffusive ratio-dependent Holling-Tanner predator-prey model with Smith growth subject to zero-flux boundary condition are investigated analytically and numerically. The asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation around the positive equilibrium are shown; the conditions of Turing instability are obtained. And with the help of numerical simulations, it is found that the model exhibits complex pattern replication: stripes, spots-stripes mixtures, and spots Turing patterns.
Behavior of HPC with Fly Ash after Elevated Temperature
Authors: Shang Huai-Shuai , Yi Ting-Hua
Published: March 2013

For use in fire resistance calculations, the relevant thermal properties of high-performance concrete (HPC) with fly ash were determined through an experimental study. These properties included compressive strength, cubic compressive strength, cleavage strength, flexural strength, and the ultrasonic velocity at various temperatures (20, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500∘C) for high-performance concrete. The effect of temperature on compressive strength, cubic compressive strength, cleavage strength, flexural strength, and the ultrasonic velocity of the high-performance concrete with fly ash was discussed according to the experimental results. The change of surface characteristics with the temperature was observed. It can serve as a reference for the maintenance, design, and the life prediction of high-performance concrete engineering, such as high-rise building, subjected to elevated temperatures.
On the Formal Integrability Problem for Planar Differential Systems
Authors: Algaba Antonio , García Cristóbal , Giné Jaume
Published: March 2013

We study the analytic integrability problem through the formal integrability problem and we show its connection, in some cases, with the existence of invariant analytic (sometimes algebraic) curves. From the results obtained, we consider some families of analytic differential systems inℂ2, and imposing the formal integrability we find resonant centers obviating the computation of some necessary conditions.
Helicobacter pyloriInfection, Chronic Inflammation, and Genomic Transformations in Gastric MALT Lymphoma
Authors: Witkowska Magdalena , Smolewski Piotr
Published: March 2013

Nowadays, it is believed that the main role in the development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma playsHelicobacter pyloriinfection. This world-wide distributed bacteria is in charge of most cases of not only upper gastrointestinal tract disorders but also some of extragastric problems. Constant stimulation of the immune system causes a B-lymphocytes proliferation, which is considered to be responsible for the neoplastic transformation. On the other hand, there are 10%–20% of patients who do not respond toHelicobacter pylorieradication treatment. This group has often a chromosome translocation, which suggests that there is another unknown, so far, pathogenetic mechanism of MALT lymphoma. Majority of genetic abnormalities are connected with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which activates the uncontrolled proliferation of neoplastic cells. Translocations already described in studies are t(11;18)(q21;q21), which is the most common, t(14;18)(q32;q21), t(14;18)(q32;q21), and t(3;14)(p14.1;q32). This non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is an indolent type originated outside lymph nodes. In more than 50% of cases, it occurs in the stomach. Occasionally, it can be found in salivary and thyroid gland, lung, breast, bladder, skin, or any other place in the human body. This paper is a review of the current knowledge on etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and follow-up of gastric MALT lymphoma.
Local Projection-Based Stabilized Mixed Finite Element Methods for Kirchhoff Plate Bending Problems
Authors: Huang Xuehai
Published: March 2013

Based on stress-deflection variational formulation, we propose a family of local projection-based stabilized mixed finite element methods for Kirchhoff plate bending problems. According to the error equations, we obtain the error estimates of the approximation to stress tensor in energy norm. And by duality argument, error estimates of the approximation to deflection inH1-norm are achieved. Then we design an a posteriori error estimator which is closely related to the equilibrium equation, constitutive equation, and nonconformity of the finite element spaces. With the help of Zienkiewicz-Guzmán-Neilan element spaces, we prove the reliability of the a posteriori error estimator. And the efficiency of the a posteriori error estimator is proved by standard bubble function argument.
Duration of Intrapartum Antibiotics for Group B Streptococcus on the Diagnosis of Clinical Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Turrentine Mark A. , Greisinger Anthony J. , Brown Kimberly S. , Wehmanen Oscar A. , Mouzoon Melanie E.
Published: March 2013

Background. Infants born to mothers who are colonized with group B streptococcus (GBS) but received <4 hours of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) are at-risk for presenting later with sepsis. We assessed if <4 hours of maternal IAP for GBS are associated with an increased incidence of clinical neonatal sepsis.Materials and Methods. A retrospective cohort study of women-infant dyads undergoing IAP for GBS at ≥37-week gestation who presented in labor from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2007 was performed. Infants diagnosed with clinical sepsis by the duration of maternal IAP received (< or ≥4-hours duration) were determined.Results. More infants whose mothers received <4 hours of IAP were diagnosed with clinical sepsis, 13 of 1,149 (1.1%) versus 15 of 3,633 (0.4%), . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that treatment with ≥4 hours of IAP reduced the risk of infants being diagnosed with clinical sepsis by 65%, adjusted relative risk 0.35, CI 0.16–0.79, and .Conclusion. The rate of neonatal clinical sepsis is increased in newborns of GBS colonized mothers who receive <4 hours compared to ≥4 hours of IAP.
The Effect of Different Storage Conditions on the Physical Properties of Pigmented Medical Grade I Silicone Maxillofacial Material
Authors: Al-Dharrab Ayman A. , Tayel Seham B. , Abodaya Mona H.
Published: March 2013

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different storage solutions that simulate acidic, alkaline, and sebum conditiions on the physical properties of pigmented (colorant elastomer) cosmesil M511 maxillofacial prosthetic material. Materials and Methods. Sixty specimens were prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions and were tested before and after immersion of different storage conditions for six months at 37 °C. The following tests were performed: color changes (group I), solution absorption (group II), surface roughness (group III), and scanning electron microscopy (group IV). Results. There were no significant changes observed in the color and solution absorption tests while surface roughness revealed significant difference between control group and other testing storage medium groups, and this result was supported by SEM analysis that revealed limited surface changes. Conclusions. Cosmaseil material is an acceptable cross-linked formulation that withstands storage in different solutions with variable pH. The addition of pigment cannot vary the physical properties of these materials. Surface roughness test as well as SEM microscopic study showed moderate changes indicating a limited effect on the surface of the material.
On the General Consensus Protocol in Multiagent Networks with Double-Integrator Dynamics and Coupling Time Delay
Authors: Dong Tao , Liao Xiaofeng
Published: March 2013

This paper considers the problem of the convergence of the consensus algorithm for multiple agents in a directed network where each agent is governed by double-integrator dynamics and coupling time delay. The advantage of this protocol is that almost all the existing linear local interaction consensus protocols can be considered as special cases of the present paper. By combining algebraic graph theory and matrix theory and studying the distribution of the eigenvalues of the associated characteristic equation, some necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for reaching the second-order consensus. Finally, an illustrative example is also given to support the theoretical results.