bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological effect of light emission from gold nanoparticles on Si(111)
Authors: Lim Seong Joon , Jo Sungwoo , Lee Minjun , Kim Seong Heon , Kuk Young
Published: November 2014

The detection efficiency of a newly built photon detection system was measured using photons emitted from a scanning tunneling microscope junction. The efficiency was estimated from the instrumental yield and the geometry of the system on a clean Ag(111) surface using a measured photon map and a simultaneously measured topography image. The photon generation rates of gold three-dimensional (3D) islands and two-dimensional flat layers grown on a Si(111) surface were compared, and an enhanced photon generation rate was observed for the 3D island nanostructures.
Effect of helium pressure and flow rate on microplasma propagation along hollow-core fibers
Authors: Ji Longfei , Bi Zhenhua , Niu Jinhai , Zhang Xianhui , Zhou Renwu , Song Ying , Liu Jiahong , Liu Dongping
Published: November 2014

The effect of helium pressure and flow rate on the propagation of microplasmas obtained inside hollow-core fibers (HCFs) with their inner diameters of 100–2000 μm has been reported in this study. Measurements show that microplasma length, breakdown voltage, pulse durations, and pulse current are strongly dependent on He flow rate and He pressure ranging from 50 Pa to 1.0 atm. Comparison between experimental results and analytical mode shows that Townsend's model is valid for understanding the discharge process of microplasmas inside HCFs, where the wall effect has to be considered. Analysis indicates that long-lived metastable species (Hem*) from one previous discharge period can greatly contribute to the propagation of microplasmas along the microns-thick HCFs. An avalanche discharge model combined with the surface recombination of charged species has been used to explain the propagation of microplasma inside HCFs.
Iso‐uncertainty control in an experimental fluoroscopy system
Authors: Siddique S. , Fiume E. , Jaffray D. A.
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

X‐ray fluoroscopy remains an important imaging modality in a number of image‐guided procedures due to its real‐time nature and excellent spatial detail. However, the radiation dose delivered raises concerns about its use particularly in lengthy treatment procedures (>0.5 h). The authors have previously presented an algorithm that employs feedback of geometric uncertainty to control dose while maintaining a desired targeting uncertainty during fluoroscopic tracking of fiducials. The method was tested using simulations of motion against controlled noise fields. In this paper, the authors embody the previously reported method in a physical prototype and present changes to the controller required to function in a practical setting.

Methods:

The metric for feedback used in this study is based on the trace of the covariance of the state of the system, tr(C). The state is defined here as the 2D location of a fiducial on a plane parallel to the detector. A relationship between this metric and the tube current is first developed empirically. This relationship is extended to create a manifold that incorporates a latent variable representing the estimated background attenuation. The manifold is then used within the controller to dynamically adjust the tube current and maintain a specified targeting uncertainty. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, an acrylic sphere (1.6 mm in diameter) was tracked at tube currents ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 mA (0.033 s) at a fixed energy of 80 kVp. The images were acquired on a Varian Paxscan 4030A (2048 × 1536 pixels, ∼100 cm source‐to‐axis distance, ∼160 cm source‐to‐detector distance). The sphere was tracked using a particle filter under two background conditions: (1) uniform sheets of acrylic and (2) an acrylic wedge. The measured tr(C) was used in conjunction with a learned manifold to modulate the tube current in order to maintain a specified uncertainty as the sphere traversed regions of varying thickness corresponding to the acrylic sheets in the background.

Results:

With feedback engaged, the tracking error was found to correlate well with the specified targeting uncertainty. Tracking of the fiducial was found to be robust to changes in the attenuation presented by the varying background conditions. For a desired uncertainty of 5.0 mm, comparison of the feedback framework with a comparable system employing fixed exposure demonstrated dose savings of 29%.

Conclusions:

This work presents a relation between a state descriptor, tr(C), the x‐ray tube current used, and an estimate of the background attenuation. This relation is leveraged to modulate the tube current in order to maintain a desired geometric uncertainty during fluoroscopy. The authors’ work demonstrates the use of the method in a real x‐ray fluoroscopy system with physical motion against varying backgrounds. The method offers potential savings in imaging dose to patients and staff while maintaining tracking uncertainty during fluoroscopy‐guided treatment procedures.
Deformable image registration based automatic CT‐to‐CT contour propagation for head and neck adaptive radiotherapy in the routine clinical setting
Authors: Kumarasiri Akila , Siddiqui Farzan , Liu Chang , Yechieli Raphael , Shah Mira , Pradhan Deepak , Zhong Hualiang , Chetty Indrin J. , Kim Jinkoo
Published: November 2014

Purpose:

To evaluate the clinical potential of deformable image registration (DIR)‐based automatic propagation of physician‐drawn contours from a planning CT to midtreatment CT images for head and neck (H&N) adaptive radiotherapy.

Methods:

Ten H&N patients, each with a planning CT (CT1) and a subsequent CT (CT2) taken approximately 3–4 week into treatment, were considered retrospectively. Clinically relevant organs and targets were manually delineated by a radiation oncologist on both sets of images. Four commercial DIR algorithms, two B‐spline‐based and two Demons‐based, were used to deform CT1 and the relevant contour sets onto corresponding CT2 images. Agreement of the propagated contours with manually drawn contours on CT2 was visually rated by four radiation oncologists in a scale from 1 to 5, the volume overlap was quantified using Dice coefficients, and a distance analysis was done using center of mass (CoM) displacements and Hausdorff distances (HDs). Performance of these four commercial algorithms was validated using a parameter‐optimized Elastix DIR algorithm.

Results:

All algorithms attained Dice coefficients of >0.85 for organs with clear boundaries and those with volumes >9 cm3. Organs with volumes <3 cm3 and/or those with poorly defined boundaries showed Dice coefficients of ∼0.5–0.6. For the propagation of small organs (<3 cm3), the B‐spline‐based algorithms showed higher mean Dice values (Dice = 0.60) than the Demons‐based algorithms (Dice = 0.54). For the gross and planning target volumes, the respective mean Dice coefficients were 0.8 and 0.9. There was no statistically significant difference in the Dice coefficients, CoM, or HD among investigated DIR algorithms. The mean radiation oncologist visual scores of the four algorithms ranged from 3.2 to 3.8, which indicated that the quality of transferred contours was “clinically acceptable with minor modification or major modification in a small number of contours.”

Conclusions:

Use of DIR‐based contour propagation in the routine clinical setting is expected to increase the efficiency of H&N replanning, reducing the amount of time needed for manual target and organ delineations.
Invasive breast carcinoma cells from patients exhibit Mena
INV
- and macrophage-dependent transendothelial migration
Authors: Pignatelli Jeanine , Goswami Sumanta , Jones Joan G. , Rohan Thomas E. , Pieri Evan , Chen Xiaoming , Adler Esther , Cox Dianne , Maleki Sara , Bresnick Anne , Gertler Frank B. , Condeelis John S. , Oktay Maja H.
Published: November 2014

Analysis of cells in fine-needle aspirate biopsies reveals signals between breast cancer cells and macrophages that promote metastasis.
How to Enforce Monogamy
Authors: Berndt Jason D.
Published: November 2014

The male-derived steroid hormone 20E is transferred during mating to inhibit subsequent copulation by female malarial mosquitoes.
Building Bone with Nuclear Oxytocin Receptors
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: November 2014

The G protein–coupled receptor activated by oxytocin translocates to the nucleus to regulate genes involved in specifying osteoblasts.
Bone Drugs’ Cousins Treating Cancer
Authors: Nusinovich Yevgeniya
Published: November 2014

Lipophilic bisphosphonates combined with rapamycin inhibit the growth of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinomas in mouse models.
Human
COL7A1
-corrected induced pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Sebastiano Vittorio , Zhen Hanson Hui , Haddad Bahareh , Bashkirova Elizaveta , Melo Sandra P. , Wang Pei , Leung Thomas L. , Siprashvili Zurab , Tichy Andrea , Li Jiang , Ameen Mohammed , Hawkins John , Lee Susie , Li Lingjie , Schwertschkow Aaron , Bauer Gerhard , Lisowski Leszek , Kay Mark A. , Kim Seung K. , Lane Alfred T. , Wernig Marius , Oro Anthony E.
Published: November 2014

Patient-specific iPSCs were derived, corrected, and differentiated into human skin grafts for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
Changing the Mindset in Life Sciences Toward Translation: A Consensus
Authors: Duda Georg N. , Grainger David W. , Frisk Megan L. , Bruckner-Tuderman Leena , Carr Andrew , Dirnagl Ulrich , Einhäupl Karl Max , Gottschalk Stephen , Gruskin Elliott , Huber Christoph , June Carl H. , Mooney David J. , Rietschel Ernst Th. , Schütte Georg , Seeger Werner , Stevens Molly M. , Urban Robert , Veldman Alex , Wess Günther , Volk Hans-Dieter
Published: November 2014

Participants at the recent
Translate! 2014
meeting in Berlin, Germany, reached a consensus on the rate-limiting factor for advancing translational medicine.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis Proliferation Begins with NtrY/NtrX and PutA/GlnA Upregulation and CtrA Degradation Induced by Proline and Glutamine Uptake
Authors: Cheng Zhihui , Lin Mingqun , Rikihisa Yasuko
Published: November 2014

How the obligatory intracellular bacterium
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
begins to replicate upon entry into human monocytes is poorly understood. Here, we examined the potential role of amino acids in initiating intracellular replication. PutA converts proline to glutamate, and GlnA converts glutamate to glutamine.
E. chaffeensis
PutA and GlnA complemented
Escherichia coli
putA
and
glnA
mutants. Methionine sulfoximine, a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, inhibited
E. chaffeensis
GlnA activity and
E. chaffeensis
infection of human cells. Incubation of
E. chaffeensis
with human cells rapidly induced
putA
and
glnA
expression that peaked at 24 h postincubation.
E. chaffeensis
took up proline and glutamine but not glutamate. Pretreatment of
E. chaffeensis
with a proline transporter inhibitor (protamine), a glutamine transporter inhibitor (histidine), or proline analogs inhibited
E. chaffeensis
infection, whereas pretreatment with proline or glutamine enhanced infection and upregulated
putA
and
glnA
faster than no treatment or glutamate pretreatment. The temporal response of
putA
and
glnA
expression was similar to that of NtrY and NtrX, a two-component system, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed specific binding of recombinant
E. chaffeensis
NtrX (rNtrX) to the promoter regions of
E. chaffeensis putA
and
glnA
. Furthermore, rNtrX transactivated
E. chaffeensis putA
and
glnA
promoter-
lacZ
fusions in
E. coli
. Growth-promoting activities of proline and glutamine were also accompanied by rapid degradation of the DNA-binding protein CtrA. Our results suggest that proline and glutamine uptake regulates
putA
and
glnA
expression through NtrY/NtrX and facilitates degradation of CtrA to initiate a new cycle of
E. chaffeensis
growth.

IMPORTANCE
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is one of the most prevalent, life-threatening emerging infectious zoonoses in the United States. HME is caused by infection with
E. chaffeensis
, an obligatory intracellular bacterium in the order
Rickettsiales
, which includes several category B/C pathogens, such as those causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever and epidemic typhus. The limited understanding of the mechanisms that control bacterial growth within eukaryotic cells continues to impede the identification of new therapeutic targets against rickettsial diseases. Extracellular rickettsia cannot replicate, but rickettsial replication ensues upon entry into eukaryotic host cells. Our findings will provide insights into a novel mechanism of the two-component system that regulates
E. chaffeensis
growth initiation in human monocytes. The result is also important because little is known about the NtrY/NtrX two-component system in any bacteria, let alone obligatory intracellular bacteria. Our findings will advance the field’s current conceptual paradigm on regulation of obligatory intracellular nutrition, metabolism, and growth.
Infant suffocation in place of sleep: New Zealand national data 2002–2009
Authors: Hayman Rebecca M , McDonald Gabrielle , Baker Nick J de C , Mitchell Edwin A , Dalziel Stuart R
Published: November 2014

Background

Accidental suffocation during sleep, leading to death, has been described as due to overlay or wedging of infants, particularly in a bed-sharing situation. Bed sharing is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome but the mechanism of death is not clearly defined. Accidental suffocation may be one such mechanism.

Objective

To describe accidental suffocation deaths during sleep in New Zealand between 2002 and 2009.

Design

The New Zealand mortality database, which holds data collected by the Child Youth Mortality Review Committee and the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, was searched for potential deaths by accidental suffocation in infants less than 1 year of age. Deaths underwent a detailed analysis by demographic data and qualitative report.

Results

There were 48 deaths due to accidental suffocation between 2002 and 2009 in New Zealand, equating to a rate of 0.10 deaths per 1000 live births. The most common age at death was 1 month or under (n=11, 23%). Deaths were due to overlay (n=30, 63%) or wedging (n=18, 37%) and two-thirds (n=34, 71%) were in a bed-sharing situation. A quarter of deaths (n=12, 25%) occurred in makeshift bedding arrangements, some of which were away from home.

Conclusions

Accidental suffocation in bed was responsible for 48 preventable deaths. Prevention of these accidental deaths needs to focus on supporting changes in family behaviour with safety messages that are consistent, persistent and disseminated widely.
Osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap in subtotal nasal reconstruction
Authors: Moore Alexander Michael , Montgomery Jenny , McMahon Jeremy , Sheikh Saghir
Published: November 2014

A 66-year-old man presented with a large squamous cell carcinoma of the right nasal vestibule. He underwent partial rhinectomy and medial maxillectomy followed by staged reconstruction. Reconstruction of a full-thickness nasal defect requires repair of three distinct layers: the skin–soft tissue envelope, subsurface framework and intranasal lining. We report the first use in the UK of an osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap in the reconstruction of a subtotal nasal deficit. The skin of the radial forearm free flap was tubed to recreate the nasal lining and the radial bone reconstructed the dorsal contour of the nose. A full-thickness paramedian forehead flap supplied external coverage. The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap and forehead flap is a viable option for large nasal defects requiring reconstruction of framework, nasal lining and external covering.
Development of a small solid cerebellar haemangioblastoma into a large pseudocyst with a mural nodule in a patient without VHL; the importance of regular follow-up
Authors: Kim Hansol , Joo Jin-Deok , Kim Young-Hoon , Kim Chae-Yong
Published: November 2014

Haemangioblastomas (HBLs) are rare central nervous system tumours accounting for only 1.2–2.5% of all intracranial tumours. While most HBLs occur sporadically, 36–40% of cases are associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Owing to its benign nature, sporadic cases are usually detected only when symptoms occur due to mass effect. Thus, the natural history of HBLs has only been studied in association with VHL syndrome. We present a case of sporadic HBL with a rapid evolution of its small nodule into an enlarging mural nodule with a large pseudocyst that resulted in increased intracranial pressure. Craniotomy for complete tumour removal was performed and the patient fully recovered. This case implies a regular follow-up of HBL might be mandatory even in patients without VHL.
Comparing Antonovsky's sense of coherence scale across three UK post-industrial cities
Authors: Walsh David , McCartney Gerry , McCullough Sarah , Buchanan Duncan , Jones Russell
Published: November 2014

Objectives

High levels of ‘excess’ mortality (ie, that seemingly not explained by deprivation) have been shown for Scotland compared to England and Wales and, especially, for its largest city, Glasgow, compared to the similarly deprived English cities of Liverpool and Manchester. It has been suggested that this excess may be related to differences in ‘Sense of Coherence’ (SoC) between the populations. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether levels of SoC differed between these cities and whether, therefore, this could be a plausible explanation for the ‘excess’.

Setting

Three post-industrial UK cities: Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester.

Participants

A representative sample of more than 3700 adults (over 1200 in each city).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

SoC was measured using Antonovsky's 13-item scale (SOC-13). Multivariate linear regression was used to compare SoC between the cities while controlling for characteristics (age, gender, SES etc) of the samples. Additional modelling explored whether differences in SoC moderated city differences in levels of self-assessed health (SAH).

Results

SoC was higher, not lower, among the Glasgow sample. Fully adjusted mean SoC scores for residents of Liverpool and Manchester were, respectively, 5.1 (−5.1 (95% CI −6.0 to −4.1)) and 8.1 (−8.1 (−9.1 to −7.2)) lower than those in Glasgow. The additional modelling confirmed the relationship between SoC and SAH: a 1 unit increase in SoC predicted approximately 3% lower likelihood of reporting bad/very bad health (OR=0.97 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.98)): given the slightly worse SAH in Glasgow, this resulted in slightly lower odds of reporting bad/very bad health for the Liverpool and Manchester samples compared to Glasgow.

Conclusions

The reasons for the high levels of ‘excess’ mortality seen in Scotland and particularly Glasgow remain unclear. However, on the basis of these analyses, it appears unlikely that a low SoC provides any explanation.
The value of the white precursor cell channel (WPC) on the Sysmex XN-1000 analyser in a specialist paediatric hospital
Authors: Jones Amanda S , Tailor Hitesh , Liesner Ri , Machin Samuel J , Briggs Carol J
Published: November 2014

Background

Historically, haematology analyser flags for abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) show good sensitivity but lower specificity, causing unnecessary blood film reviews. While the WBC differential channel on Sysmex XE and XN instruments reports a combined flag for blasts/abnormal lymphocytes, the new white precursor cell channel (WPC) on the XN series has been introduced to separate this into a specific flag for either cell type or, if no abnormality, remove the flag entirely.

Aims

To compare the efficiency of abnormal WBC flags from the XN WPC to our existing analyser and determine whether WPC can reduce false positive flags and blood films required.

Methods

Abnormal WBC flags from the Sysmex XE-5000 and XN-1000 were compared to manual differential and blood film morphology on 300 K2EDTA samples from infants and children.

Results

The XN WPC flag for blasts was more sensitive and specific than flags indicating blasts on the XE-5000, with a reduction in false positives from 64% (XE) to 36% (XN). Overall efficiency of the WPC flag for abnormal lymphocytes was 94% vs 79% on the XE. WPC reduced false positive flags for blasts and abnormal lymphocytes on neonatal samples by 50%. Automatic reflex analysis by WPC correctly removed a false positive flag from the white cell differential channel on 46% of samples. Total abnormal WBC flags from XN WPC were less (73) than the XE-5000 (92).

Conclusions

XN WPC demonstrated superior efficiency of abnormal WBC flags on paediatric samples, compared to the XE-5000, with greater sensitivity and specificity of flagging, reducing blood films for review.
Clinic and ambulatory heart rates in patients with ischaemic heart disease and/or chronic heart failure taking rate-limiting medications: are they interchangeable?
Authors: Javed Omar , Koo Kenneth , El-Omar Omar , Allen Stuart , Squires Alexander , El-Omar Magdi
Published: November 2014

Background

The prognostic benefit from heart rate (HR) reduction in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and/or chronic heart failure (CHF) is now firmly established. Most decisions regarding initiation and/or dose adjustment of HR-limiting medications in such patients are based on clinic HR. Yet, this is a highly variable parameter that may not necessarily reflect HR control over the 24 h period.

Objective

To examine the level of agreement between mean clinic and mean ambulatory HRs in patients with IHD and/or CHF taking rate-limiting medications.

Methods

Prospective, observational study. Fifty patients with IHD and/or CHF who attended cardiology outpatient clinics at the Manchester Heart Centre and underwent same-day 24 h continuous ECG recording between March and October 2013 were included in the study. Mean clinic HR was compared with mean 24 h, daytime and night-time HRs. Limits-of-agreement plots were constructed to examine the relationship between the two HR measures in more detail.

Results

The mean clinic HR was numerically similar to the mean HRs of all ambulatory time periods examined. However, on Bland–Altman plots, the limits of agreement between clinic and ambulatory HR means were quite wide, with the mean clinic HR ranging between 10.93 and 13.58 bpm below and 8.4 and 18.15 bpm above the mean ambulatory HR.

Conclusions

Although numerically similar, the means of clinic and ambulatory HRs in patients with IHD and/or CHF display wide limits of agreement. As such, the two measures cannot be regarded as interchangeable.
Synthesis and properties of multiheaded and multitailed surfactants based on tripentaerythritol
Authors: Paul Nawal K. , Mercer Tyler , Al-Mughaid Hussein , Marangoni D. Gerrard , McAlduff Michael J. , Singh Kulbir , Grindley T. Bruce
Published: November 2014

The surface and self-assembly properties of a family of multiheaded, multitailed surfactants based on a tripentaerythritol backbone are described. Critical aggregation concentrations of these unusual surfactant systems have been determined from surface tension measurements; aggregate sizes in the presence and absence of a small amount of added electrolyte have been obtained via dynamic light scattering, and the morphologies of the aggregates were examined from electron microscopy measurements. In general, when compared to conventional ionic and two-headed surfactants (and other recently synthesized pentaerythritol derived surfactants from this group), these multiheaded surfactants exhibited some unusual trends in their aggregation behaviour and interesting aggregate structures in aqueous solution, as a function of alkyl chain length.
Toxicity of extracts from disposable chopsticks, toothpicks, and paper cups on L-929 cells
Authors: Li Juntao , Chen Sifan , Li Wenxue , Yang Guangyu , Zhu Wei
Published: November 2014

Objective: To evaluate the toxicity of extracts from disposable chopsticks, toothpicks, and paper cups on L-929 cells. Methods: We followed national standards to prepare the extracts from disposable chopsticks, toothpicks, and paper cups used for the cell culture media, and the morphology of L-929 cells was observed with an optical microscope. The loss rate for adherent cells was evaluated with the trypan blue exclusion method, and cell proliferation was determined using the WST-1 assay. Results: Compared with the control group, the cells cultured in media containing the extracts showed signs of apoptosis and necrosis after culturing for 4 or 7 days, and the loss rate for adherent cells was significantly increased (P < 0.05). An obvious decrease in cell viability was also observed (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The extracts from disposable chopsticks, toothpicks, and paper cups can affect the growth and proliferation of L-929 cells and are potentially toxic to humans.
Turbulent fluid-structure interaction of water-entry/exit of a rotating circular cylinder using SPH method
Authors: Ghazanfarian Jafar , Saghatchi Roozbeh , Gorji-Bandpy Mofid
Published: November 2014

This paper studies the two-dimensional (2D) water-entry and exit of a rotating circular cylinder using the Sub-Particle Scale (SPS) turbulence model of a Lagrangian particle-based Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The full Navier–Stokes (NS) equations along with the continuity have been solved as the governing equations of the problem. The accuracy of the numerical code is verified using the case of water-entry and exit of a nonrotating circular cylinder. The numerical simulations of water-entry and exit of the rotating circular cylinder are performed at Froude numbers of 2, 5, 8, and specific gravities of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.75, rotating at the dimensionless rates of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75. The effect of governing parameters and vortex shedding behind the cylinder on the trajectory curves, velocity components in the flow field, and the deformation of free surface for both cases have been investigated in detail. It is seen that the rotation has a great effect on the curvature of the trajectory path and velocity components in water-entry and exit cases due to the interaction of imposed lift and drag forces with the inertia force.
Universal horizons in maximally symmetric spaces
Authors: Bhattacharyya Jishnu , Mattingly David
Published: November 2014

Universal horizons in Hořava–Lifshitz gravity and Einstein-æther theory are the equivalent of causal horizons in general relativity and appear to have many of the same properties, including a first law of horizon thermodynamics and thermal radiation. Since universal horizons are infrared (IR) solutions of a putative power counting renormalizable quantum gravitational theory, fully understanding their thermodynamics will shed light on the interplay between black hole thermodynamics and quantum gravity. In this paper, we provide a complete classification, including asymptotic charges, of all four-dimensional static and spherically symmetric universal horizon solutions with maximally symmetric asymptotics — the equivalents of the Schwarzschild, Schwarzschild–de Sitter or Schwarzschild–anti-de Sitter spacetimes. Additionally, we derive the associated first laws for the universal horizon solutions. Finally, we prove that independent of asymptotic boundary conditions, any spherically symmetric solution in Hořava–Lifshitz gravity with a universal horizon is also a solution of Einstein-æther theory, thereby broadening and complementing the known equivalence region of the solution spaces.
Stochastic Dynamic Analysis of Structures with Spatially Uncertain Material Parameters
Authors: Sepahvand Kheirollah , Marburg Steffen
Published: November 2014

This paper investigates the uncertainty quantification in structural dynamic problems with spatially random variation in material and damping parameters. Uncertain and locally varying material parameters are represented as stochastic field by means of the Karhunen–Loève (KL) expansion. The stiffness and damping properties of the structure are considered uncertain. Stochastic finite element of structural modal analysis is performed in which modal responses are represented using the generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansion. Knowing the KL expansions of the random parameters, the nonintrusive technique is employed on a set of random collocation points where the structure deterministic finite element model is executed to estimate the unknown coefficients of the polynomial chaos expansions. A numerical case study is presented for a cantilever beam with random Young's modulus involving spatial variation. The proportional damping constants are estimated from the experimental modal analysis. The expected value, standard deviation, and probability distribution of the random eigenfrequencies and the damping ratios are evaluated. The results show high accuracy compared to the Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations with 3000 realizations. It is also demonstrated that the eigenfrequencies and the damping ratios are equally affected from material uncertainties.
Short Double Stranded DNA Alignment in the Melt of Flexible Polymers
Authors: Grigoryan Zareh A. , Karapetian Armen T.
Published: November 2014

It is shown that the molecules of double — stranded DNA form a liquid-crystaline ordered phase, depending on the value of parameter of Flory-Huggins, DNA aspect ratio, energy of attraction between the molecules of DNA and volume fraction of the flexible polymer. Liquid crystalline order formation in double-stranded DNA, immeresed in the polymeric matrix occurs with increase of the volume fraction of the flexible polymer. The orrdered phase formation in double-stranded DNA is governed by volume fraction of DNA and by temperature. The results clearly show the effect of the polymer matrix on the ordering in DNA molecules.
Multiscale Modeling Approach for Estimation of Pinhole Defects in Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Gupta A. K. , Harsha S. P.
Published: November 2014

In this paper, a multiscale modeling approach is proposed for studying the pinhole defects in double wall carbon nanotube (DWNT) reinforced polymer composites. Two configurations of DWNT i.e., armchair (5,5), (10,10) and zigzag (9,0), (16,0) are selected for the analyses wherein C–C bonds at atomic scale are modeled as Euler beam. The three-dimensional (3D) solid elements are used for matrix material and square representative volume element (RVE) is constructed for the nanocomposite. These composite materials consist of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that are uniformly distributed within the matrix. The presence of chemical covalent bonding between functionalized CNT and matrix are modeled as elastic crosslinks. The nonbonded van der Waals interactions between inner and outer wall are modeled as cohesive interaction elements. The influence of the pinhole defects on the nanocomposite are studied under axial load condition. It has been observed that with the increase in the number of atomic vacancies, the elastic modulus of the composite are reduced significantly. The effects of nanotube chirality and composite stiffness ratio on the elastic properties are also analyzed in the presence of pinhole defects.
Operation Strategy and Parametric Analysis of a CHP and a Tri-Generation System for Integrated Community
Authors: Choi Junwon , Yun Rin
Published: November 2014

Thermal efficiencies of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Tri-generation system, which are installed in a residential district and a general hospital, respectively, are investigated by using RETScreen. Economic feasibility and amount of CO 2 reduction are also estimated by comparing them with separate energy system, which separately supplies electricity, heating and cooling energy to consumer. When power generation capacity of the CHP system is changed from 26 to 40 MW, the efficiency is the highest at 26 MW. It is found that equity payback period is 5.7 years. Power generation capacity of the Tri-generation system for a general hospital was estimated to be 3.2 MW. Depending on the insulation amount of the building, profits and operating efficiency of the Tri-generation system are significantly changed. As an operating strategy, the type of following electricity load shows the highest thermal efficiency of 86%. When cost of electricity is raised by 10% and 20% of the present price, simple payback period is reduced from 5.2 years to 3.0 and 2.1 years, respectively.
Velocity and runout determination of a debris flow based on energy conservation: the Dongwopu debris flow in Tianjin, China
Authors: Zhang Wen , Chen Jianping , Wang Qing , Yan Jiyu , Guan Shuai , Chen Xueying , Wang Feifei
Published: November 2014

This paper focuses on a model that predicts the runout and velocity of the Dongwopu debris flow in Tianjin, China. Based on the law of energy-conservation, the established model primarily considers potential energy and energy loss in debris-flow movement. The present study discusses several stresses that could cause energy loss for debris flows, and the friction energy loss is emphasized. Ultimately, the analytical expressions of runout and velocity are established. The calculation results show that the velocity of the Dongwopu debris flow is 14 m s
-1
. At this velocity, the runout distance will not cause a threat to residents and engineering facilities in the area.
The price of stability of fair undirected broadcast games is constant
Authors: Bilò Vittorio , Flammini Michele , Moscardelli Luca
Published: November 2014

Bounding the price of stability of undirected network design games with fair cost allocation is a challenging open problem in the Algorithmic Game Theory research agenda. Even though the generalization of such games in directed networks is well understood in terms of the price of stability (it is exactly
H
n
, the
n
-th harmonic number, for games with
n
players), far less is known for network design games in undirected networks. The upper bound carries over to this case as well, while the best known lower bound is 2:245. For more restricted but interesting variants of such games, such as broadcast and multicast games, sublogarithmic upper bounds are known, while the best known lower bounds are 1:818 and 1:862, respectively. In this letter, we discuss a recent breakthrough in this field of research: an
O
(1) upper bound on the price of stability for undirected broadcast games.
Relaxing strategyproofness in one-sided matching
Authors: Mennle Timo , Seuken Sven
Published: November 2014

We consider the one-sided matching problem, where agents must be matched to indivisible objects. Our first result is a novel characterization of strategyproof mechanisms by three intuitive axioms. Furthermore, we introduce
partial strategyproofness
, a new relaxation of strategyproofness that bridges the gap between full and weak strategyproofness. Partial strategyproofness finds application in the incentive analysis of non-strategyproof mechanisms, such as Probabilistic Serial, different variants of the Boston mechanism, and hybrid mechanisms. In this letter, we summarize the main results from [Mennle and Seuken 2014a] and demonstrate how they can be used for the design and analysis of matching mechanisms.
Incentive compatible allocation without money
Authors: Cavallo Ruggiero
Published: November 2014

Mechanism design typically involves the use of monetary payments to incentivize truthful reporting of private information. But what if payments are impossible? This letter summarizes recent work on how lotteries and the threat of non-allocation can be leveraged to similar ends in single-item allocation settings with a secondary good that can serve a limited numéraire role.
Migration-aware WCET estimation for heterogeneous multi-cores
Authors: Munk Peter , Richling Jan
Published: November 2014

Heterogeneous Multi-Processor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoCs) are increasingly used in the embedded safety-critical domain with real-time constraints. Fault tolerance, temperature distribution, and energy management in such systems can be improved by reconfiguration mechanisms that rely on task migration. In order to serve a migration request while meeting all deadlines, the remaining worst-case execution time (WCET) must be known as tightly bound as possible. We show that scaling the WCET by a linear factor to compensate for migration between heterogeneous cores can lead to dangerous underestimations. Our approach is to split the WCET of a task into parts and derive the WCET for all parts on all individual core architectures. We present a formal model to show how the remaining WCET can be calculated as the sum of unprocessed parts. We differentiate between two levels of heterogeneity, namely same instruction set architecture (ISA) with different performance characteristics and different ISAs. We propose three implementation concepts to partition a task, calculate the remaining WCET, and perform the migration.
Re-configuration in SOA-based adaptive driver assistance systems
Authors: Wagner Marco , Zöbel Dieter , Meroth Ansgar
Published: November 2014

Unlike state-of-the-art Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) upcoming technologies may not base on a static software and system architecture. This is especially true for DAS for truck and trailer combinations were the components needed are distributed over both parts of the articulated vehicle. As a truck might be connected to different trailers changes are very common. In order to handle these changes at runtime the usage of Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) is a promising approach. Hereby the functionalities are encapsulated into Services which are re-composed whenever the system architecture changes. As the Services in such a system run on small embedded units traditional approaches to process the re-composition as known for example from the Web Services domain cannot be adopted directly. This paper discusses the different composition approaches published in recent years and suggests an algorithm suited for this class of systems.
CHROMOSOME
Authors: Buckl Christian , Geisinger Michael , Gulati Dhiraj , Ruiz-Bertol Fran J. , Knoll Alois
Published: November 2014

Developers of embedded systems are increasingly facing requirements concerning adaptivity. The term adaptivity covers several different aspects. In this paper, we present an innovative open-source run-time system that enables adding and removing applications and adapting to changes in the hardware topology while still guaranteeing traditional requirements of embedded systems such as real-time or safety. The system uses a data-centric approach to achieve a modular application design and to enable the interaction of application components created by independent developers. Using a requirements-centric approach, the system can reserve the resources such as processor time, memory or network bandwidth required by application components. New applications can only be added if enough resources are available. The paper details these concepts and presents the architecture of the run-time system.
Connectivity control in WSN based on fuzzy logic control
Authors: Huang Yuanjiang , del Toro Raúl M. , Martínez José-Fernán , Hernández Vicente , Haber Rodolfo
Published: November 2014

The connectivity of a wireless sensor network (WSN), specified as the percentage of nodes that are able to reach the base station (BS) that relays nodes data to other networks, has to be kept as high as possible, without either increasing significantly the energy consumption or worsening the WSN overall performance. Modelling accurately a WSN and designing a control system for accomplishing the desired network connectivity is an effortful task. In this paper, an approach based on fuzzy logic control is proposed, as it provides a better trade-off between accuracy, effort and time. The control system running in each node will manage both the communication range to guarantee a minimum number of neighbors called
node degree
, and the
node degree
itself, depending on the node's battery level at each moment. The fuzzy controller running in a node will monitor the own node's parameters, without flooding WSN with monitoring messages.
Dynamic bandwidth management in networked control systems using quantization
Authors: Maestrelli Rafael , Almeida Luis , Coutinho Daniel , Moreno Ubirajara
Published: November 2014

Modern networked control systems integrate multiple independent feedback control loops that require guaranteed bandwidth for timely operation. However, planning the distributed control systems considering worst-case requirements leads to expensive and inefficient designs. This motivated the development of dynamic rate adaptation as a technique to support higher integration in these systems while providing an efficient use of the network bandwidth. This bandwidth can also be managed by varying the quantization used in each loop but, surprisingly, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this approach has not been explored yet. In this work-in-progress paper, we propose managing the network bandwidth varying the number of bits used to represent the transmitted variables (sensor readings and actuation values) while keeping the loop rates constant. We present the basics of the quantization-based bandwidth management as well as a qualitative discussion on the pros and cons of this method.
Memory concepts for enabling adaptivity in distributed embedded systems
Authors: Schleiss Philipp , Zeller Marc , Weiss Gereon
Published: November 2014

Establishing cost and resource efficient dependability through means of adaptivity in safety-critical distributed embedded systems is a strenuous endeavour, as the varying requirements on resilience, control and efficiency across domains prohibits a single solution to suit all needs. To assist the process of determining a safe and efficient system architecture with satisfactory precision, this work exemplifies the importance of differentiation by only addressing distributed embedded systems that perform multiple functions with alternating levels of criticality. Further, they do not require full fail-operational behaviour, thus allowing to sacrifice less important functions in the pursuit of preserving safety. Herein, a dynamic instantiation and graceful degradation strategy is developed to subsequently study its effect on cost when implemented in conjunction with execute-in-place (NOR-flash) or block-addressable (NAND-flash) memory concepts. Even though NOR-flash is generally considered to be a better candidate for such systems, this qualitative research produces evidence that NAND-flash memory concepts are likely to financially outperform traditional architectures when considering adaptivity.
Diabetes and hyperlipidemia induce dysfunction of VSMCs: contribution of the metabolic inflammation/miRNA pathway
Authors: Li Tao , Yang Guang-ming , Zhu Yu , Wu Yue , Chen Xiang-yun , Lan Dan , Tian Kun-lun , Liu Liang-ming
Published: November 2014

Vascular endothelial cell injury is considered to be the major factor inducing vascular complications in metabolic diseases and plays an important role in other organ damage. With diabetic and hyperlipidemic rats and cultured VSMCs, the present study was aimed at investigating whether the early damage of VSMCs during metabolic diseases plays a critical role in vascular dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms and would be a promising treatment target. With diabetic and hyperlipidemic rats and cultured VSMCs, the changes and relationships of vascular relaxation and contractile function to the vital organ damage and the underlying mechanisms were investigated; meanwhile, the protective and preventive effects of lowering blood lipid and glucose and inhibition of diabetes and hyperlipidemia-induced vascular hyperreactivity were observed. Diabetic and hyperlipidemic rats presented hyperreactivity in vascular contractile response in the early stages. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia directly affected the contractile function of VSMCs. Early application of fasudil, a specific antagonist of Rho kinase, significantly alleviated diabetes and hyperlipidemia-induced organ damage by inhibiting vascular hyperreactivity. Diabetes and hyperlipidemia-induced inflammatory response could upregulate the expression of connexins and Rho kinase by selective downregulation of the expression of miR-10a, miR-139b, miR-206, and miR-222. These findings suggest that hyperglucose and lipid may directly impair VSMCs and induce vascular hyperreactivity in the early stages. Metabolic inflammation-induced changes in the miRNA-connexin/Rho kinase regulatory pathway are the main mechanism for vascular hyperreactivity and organ damage. Measures inhibiting vascular hyperreactivity are promising for the prevention of organ damage induced by metabolic diseases.
Anabolic responses to acute and chronic resistance exercise are enhanced when combined with aquatic treadmill exercise
Authors: Lambert Brad S. , Shimkus Kevin L. , Fluckey James D. , Riechman Steven E. , Greene Nicholas P. , Cardin Jessica M. , Crouse Stephen F.
Published: November 2014

Aquatic treadmill (ATM) running may simultaneously promote aerobic fitness and enhance muscle growth when combined with resistance training (RT) compared with land-treadmill (LTM) running. Therefore, we examined acute and chronic physiological responses to RT, concurrent RT-LTM, and concurrent RT-ATM. Forty-seven untrained volunteers (men: n = 23, 37 ± 11 yr, 29.6 ± 4.6 kg/m2; women: n = 24, 38 ± 12 yr, 27.53 ± 6.4 kg/m2) from the general population were tested for V̇o2max, body composition, and strength before and after training. All groups performed 12 wk of RT (2 wk, 3 × 8–12 sets at 60 to approximately 80% 1-repetition maximum). The RT-LTM and RT-ATM groups also performed 12 wk of LTM or ATM training (2 wk immediately post-RT and 1 wk in isolation, 60–85% V̇o2max, 250–500 kcal/session). Additionally, 25 subjects volunteered for muscle biopsy prior to and 24 h post-acute exercise before and after training. Stable isotope labeling (70%2H2O, 3 ml/kg) was utilized to quantify 24 h post-exercise myofibrillar fractional synthesis rates (myoFSR). Mixed-model ANOVA revealed that RT-ATM but not RT-LTM training produced greater chronic increases in lean mass than RT alone ( P < 0.05). RT-LTM training was found to elicit the greatest decreases in percent body fat (−2.79%, P < 0.05). In the untrained state, acute RT-ATM exercise elicited higher 24-h myoFSRs compared with RT (+5.68%/day, P < 0.01) and RT-LTM (+4.08%/day, P < 0.05). Concurrent RT-ATM exercise and training elicit greater skeletal muscle anabolism than RT alone or RT-LTM.
Material Properties of Wire for the Fabrication of Knotted Fences
Authors: Pons Dirk J. , Bayley Gareth , Tyree Christopher , Hunt Matthew , Laurenson Reuben
Published: November 2014

This paper describes the materials properties of galvanised fencing wire, as used in the fabrication of knotted wire fences. A range of physical properties are investigated: tensile strength, ductility in tension, Young’s modulus, three-point bending, and bending span. A range of commercially available wire products were tested. The results show that most, but not all, high tensile wire samples met the minimum tensile and ductility requirements. Young’s modulus results failed to provide any meaningful insights into wire quality. Flexural modulus results also failed to provide any insight into wire quality issues, with no statistically significant differences existing between acceptable and problematic wire batches. The implications are that premature fence failures are unlikely to be caused solely by reduced tensile properties. Existing test methods, including tensile strength and ductility, are somewhat incomplete, perhaps even unreliable, as measures of wire quality.