bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegan Triple-Ironman (Raw Vegetables/Fruits)
Authors: Leischik Roman , Spelsberg Norman
Published: January 2014

Endurance sport requires a healthy and balanced diet. In this case report we present the findings of an ultra-triathlete (three times Ironman, means 11.4 km swim, 540 km bike, 125 km run in 41:18 h as a whole) living on a raw vegan diet and having finished the competitions under these nutritional conditions. To this end, the vegan ultra triathlete and a control group of 10 Ironman triathletes of similar age living on a mixed diet were investigated, using echocardiography and spiroergometry. In addition, blood samples were taken from the vegan athlete both in the sporting season and in the off-season. The vegan athlete showed no signs of dietary deficiencies or impaired health. In comparison with the control group, the vegan athlete showed a higher oxygen intake at the respiratory compensation point. This case demonstrates that even top-class sporting performance, like that of a three-time Ironman, is possible on a vegan diet. Whether a vegan diet offers advantages or disadvantages for the performance of endurance athletes remains an open question.
Expression of a Mutantkcnj2Gene Transcript in Zebrafish
Authors: Leong Ivone U. S. , Skinner Jonathan R. , Shelling Andrew N. , Love Donald R.
Published: January 2014

Long QT 7 syndrome (LQT7, also known as Andersen-Tawil syndrome) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder that causes cardiac arrhythmias, periodic paralysis, and dysmorphic features. Mutations in the humanKCNJ2gene, which encodes for the subunit of the potassium inwardly-rectifying channel (IK1), have been associated with the disorder. The majority of mutations are considered to be dominant-negative as mutant proteins interact to limit the function of wild type KCNJ2 proteins. Several LQT7 syndrome mouse models have been created that vary in the physiological similarity to the human disease. To complement the LQT7 mouse models, we investigated the usefulness of the zebrafish as an alternative model via a transient approach. Initial bioinformatic analysis identified the zebrafish orthologue of the humanKCNJ2gene, together with a spatial expression profile that was similar to that of human. The expression of akcnj2-12transcript carrying an in-frame deletion of critical amino acids identified in human studies resulted in embryos that exhibited defects in muscle development, thereby affecting movement, a decrease in jaw size, pupil-pupil distance, and signs of scoliosis. These defects correspond to some phenotypes expressed by human LQT7 patients.
Modeling and Analysis of Coupling Performance of Dynamic Stiffness Models for a Novel Combined Radial‐Axial Hybrid Magnetic Bearing
Authors: Han Bangcheng , Zheng Shiqiang
Published: January 2014

The combined radial‐axial magnetic bearing (CRAMB) with permanent magnet creating bias flux can reduce the size, cost, and mass and save energy of the magnetic bearing. The CRAMB have three‐degree‐of‐freedom control ability, so its structure and magnetic circuits are more complicated compared to those of the axial magnetic bearing (AMB) or radial magnetic bearing (RMB). And the eddy currents have a fundamental impact on the dynamic performance of the CRAMB. The dynamic stiffness model and its cross coupling problems between different degrees of freedom affected for the CRAMB are proposed in this paper. The dynamic current stiffness and the dynamic displacement stiffness models of the CRAMB are deduced by using the method of equivalent magnetic circuit including eddy current effect, but the dynamic current stiffness of the RMB unit is approximately equal to its static current stiffness. The analytical results of an example show that the bandwidth of the dynamic current stiffness of the AMB unit and the dynamic displacement stiffness of the CRAMB is affected by the time‐varying control currents or air gap, respectively. And the dynamic current stiffness and the dynamic displacement stiffness between the AMB unit and the RMB unit are decoupled due to few coupling coefficients.
Comparison of Merging and Meta-Analysis as Alternative Approaches for Integrative Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Taminau Jonatan , Lazar Cosmin , Meganck Stijn , Nowé Ann
Published: January 2014

An increasing amount of microarray gene expression data sets is available through public repositories. Their huge potential in making new findings is yet to be unlocked by making them available for large-scale analysis. In order to do so it is essential that independent studies designed for similar biological problems can be integrated, so that new insights can be obtained. These insights would remain undiscovered when analyzing the individual data sets because it is well known that the small number of biological samples used per experiment is a bottleneck in genomic analysis. By increasing the number of samples the statistical power is increased and more general and reliable conclusions can be drawn. In this work, two different approaches for conducting large-scale analysis of microarray gene expression data—meta-analysis and data merging—are compared in the context of the identification of cancer-related biomarkers, by analyzing six independent lung cancer studies. Within this study, we investigate the hypothesis that analyzing large cohorts of samples resulting in merging independent data sets designed to study the same biological problem results in lower false discovery rates than analyzing the same data sets within a more conservative meta-analysis approach.
Heterotopic Triplet Pregnancy after In Vitro Fertilization with Favorable Outcome of the Intrauterine Twin Pregnancy Subsequent to Surgical Treatment of the Tubal Pregnancy
Authors: Felekis Theodoros , Akrivis Christodoulos , Tsirkas Panagiotis , Korkontzelos Ioannis
Published: January 2014

Heterotopic triplet pregnancy is an exceptionally rare medical condition. The broad use of assisted reproductive technologies has contributed to the increase of ectopic and subsequently heterotopic pregnancy rate, masking a life-threatening condition for the gravid and the intrauterine pregnancy. We describe a case of a woman with heterotopic triplets at 9+4gestational week following transfer of three embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization techniques. The ectopic tubal pregnancy was ruptured and salpingectomy was performed by laparotomy. The intrauterine pregnancy progressed to the delivery by cesarean section of two healthy twins at 36+2gestational age. Heterotopic triplets with tubal ectopic are a special diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the obstetrician. High index of suspicion and timely treatment by laparotomy or laparoscopy can preserve the intrauterine gestation with a successful outcome of the pregnancy.
Premedication with Oral Alprazolam and Melatonin Combination: A Comparison with Either Alone—A Randomized Controlled Factorial Trial
Authors: Pokharel Krishna , Tripathi Mukesh , Gupta Pramod Kumar , Bhattarai Balkrishna , Khatiwada Sindhu , Subedi Asish
Published: January 2014

We assessed if the addition of melatonin to alprazolam has superior premedication effects compared to either drug alone. A prospective, double blind placebo controlled trial randomly assigned 80 adult patients (ASA 1&2) with a Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for anxiety ≥3 to receive a tablet containing a combination of alprazolam 0.5 mg and melatonin 3 mg, alprazolam 0.5 mg, melatonin 3 mg, or placebo orally 90 min before a standard anesthetic. Primary end points were change in anxiety and sedation score at 15, 30, and 60 min after premedication, and number of patients with loss of memory for the five pictures shown at various time points when assessed after 24 h. One-way ANOVA, Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis and chi square tests were used as relevant. Combination drug produced the maximum reduction in anxiety VAS (3 (1.0–4.3)) from baseline at 60 min (P<0.05). Sedation scores at various time points and number of patients not recognizing the picture shown at 60 min after premedication were comparable between combination drug and alprazolam alone. Addition of melatonin to alprazolam had superior anxiolysis compared with either drugs alone or placebo. Adding melatonin neither worsened sedation score nor the amnesic effect of alprazolam alone. This study was registered, approved, and released from ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier number:NCT01486615.
Convoluted FractionalC-Semigroups and Fractional Abstract Cauchy Problems
Authors: Mei Zhan-Dong , Peng Ji-Gen , Gao Jing-Huai
Published: January 2014

We present the notion of convoluted fractionalC-semigroup, which is the generalization of convolutedC-semigroup in the Banach space setting. We present two equivalent functional equations associated with convoluted fractionalC-semigroup. Moreover, the well-posedness of the corresponding fractional abstract Cauchy problems is studied.
A Comparison of the Effects of Aerobic and Intense Exercise on the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk Marker Adipokines, Adiponectin and Retinol Binding Protein-4
Authors: Phillips Amy , Cobbold Christian
Published: January 2014

With a more sedentary population comes growing rates of obesity and increased type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. Exercise generally induces positive changes in traditional T2DM risk markers such as lipids, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity; however alterations in concentrations of many circulating cytokines and their respective receptors are also becoming apparent. These cytokines may be early-response health risk factors otherwise overlooked in traditional T2DM risk marker analysis. Plasma levels of two adipocyte-originating cytokines, adiponectin and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP-4), alter following exercise. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-insulin resistance roles and its secretion increases with physical activity, whilst elevated RBP-4 leads to increased insulin resistance, and secretion decreases with increasing physical activity; thus these plasma adipokine levels alter favourably following exercise. Although current data are limited, they do suggest that the more intense the exercise, the greater the positive effect on plasma RBP-4 levels, whilst lower intensity aerobic exercise may positively improve adiponectin concentrations. Therefore short-duration, high intensity training may provide a time-efficient alternative to the recommended 150 min moderate aerobic exercise per week in providing positive changes in RBP-4 and other traditional T2DM risk markers and due to increased compliance give greater health benefits over the longer term.
Rotatory Condition at Initial Stage of External Spline Rolling
Authors: Zhang Da-Wei , Zhao Sheng-Dun , Li Yong-Tang
Published: January 2014

In spline rolling process, the billet is mainly driven by frictional moment at initial forming stage that from starting rolling to billet/workpiece rotated half circle. If the rotation of billet is not normally driven by rolling die, then the motion between billet and rolling die is not coordinated, and then dividing precision of external spline will be reduced. Thus, the rotatory condition of rolled billet was established in this work. The rotatory condition for the rolling process of spline with even number of teeth is different from that with an odd number of teeth. However, the changing trends for both rotatory conditions are the same. The results indicated that (i) the rotatory condition can be improved when the friction between die and billet increases or the outside diameter of rolling die increases, (ii) the rotatory condition for odd number of teeth is better than that for even number of teeth, and (iii) the outside diameter of rolling die should be five times greater than the diameter of billet before rolling according to the rotatory condition. The reasonable decrement can be selected by comprehensive considering of rotatory condition and geometry of rolling die.
Hydrogen Bonds between Acidic Protons from Alkynes (C–H···O) and Amides (N–H···O) and Carbonyl Oxygen Atoms as Acceptor Partners
Authors: Baillargeon Pierre , Lussier Tommy , Dory Yves L.
Published: January 2014

Crystals of tert-butyl (2S)-2-(prop-2-yn-1-ylcarbamoyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (Boc-L-Pro-NHCH2CCH) have been obtained. The title compound crystallizes easily as sharp needles in orthorhombic system, space group P 21 21 21 with a = 9.2890(2), b = 9.7292(2), c = 15.7918(4) Å, V = 1427.18(6) Å3, and Z = 4. The main feature of the structure is the orientation of the carbamate and amide. Their dipoles add up and the molecule displays an electric dipole moment of 5.61 D from B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations. The antiparallel H bonding of amides and the alignment of dipoles induce columnar stacking (the dipole moment along the columnar a axis is 4.46 D for each molecule). The other components across the other axes are, therefore weaker, (3.17 D and 1.23 D along the b and c axes, resp.). The resulting anisotropic columns pack side by side, in an antiparallel fashion mostly by (alkyne) CH···O=C (carbamate) interactions.
Primary Healthcare Solo Practices: Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?
Authors: Pineault Raynald , Borgès Da Silva Roxane , Provost Sylvie , Beaulieu Marie-Dominique , Boivin Antoine , Couture Audrey , Prud'homme Alexandre
Published: January 2014

Introduction. Solo practices have generally been viewed as forming a homogeneous group. However, they may differ on many characteristics. The objective of this paper is to identify different forms of solo practice and to determine the extent to which they are associated with patient experience of care.Methods. Two surveys were carried out in two regions of Quebec in 2010: a telephone survey of 9180 respondents from the general population and a postal survey of 606 primary healthcare (PHC) practices. Data from the two surveys were linked through the respondent’s usual source of care. A taxonomy of solo practices was constructed (n=213), using cluster analysis techniques. Bivariate and multilevel analyses were used to determine the relationship of the taxonomy with patient experience of care.Results. Four models were derived from the taxonomy. Practices in the “resourceful networked” model contrast with those of the “resourceless isolated” model to the extent that the experience of care reported by their patients is more favorable.Conclusion. Solo practice is not a homogeneous group. The four models identified have different organizational features and their patients’ experience of care also differs. Some models seem to offer a better organizational potential in the context of current reforms.
Microcystin Contamination in Sea Mussel Farms from the Italian Southern Adriatic Coast following Cyanobacterial Blooms in an Artificial Reservoir
Authors: Rita De Pace , Valeria Vita , Silvia Bucci Maria , Pasquale Gallo , Milena Bruno
Published: January 2014

An experimental study was performed in 2009-2010 to investigate the polluting effect of eutrophic inland waters communicating with the sea coast. The study was planned after a heavy and long-lastingPlanktothrix rubescensbloom occurred in the Lake Occhito, an artificial reservoir. The waters of the reservoir flow into the southern Adriatic Sea, near several marine breeding ofMytilus galloprovincialismussels, a typical seafood from the Apulia region (Southern Italy). A monitoring study of water and mussels from the sea coast of northern Apulia region and on the Occhito reservoir was carried out over twelve months, to get more information regarding the contamination by cyanobacteria and related cyanotoxins. Elisa immunoassay analyses estimated total microcystin amounts from 1.73 to 256 ng/g in mussels, up to 0.61 μg/L in sea water and up to 298.7 μg/L in lake water. Analyses of some samples of free-living marine clams as well as of marine and freshwater fish proved microcystin contamination. Selective confirmatory analyses by LC/ESI-Q-ToF-MS/MS on some mussel samples identified the microcystin desMe-MC-RR as the major toxin; this compound has been reported in the literature as a specific marker toxin ofPlanktothrix rubescensblooms. Our study describes for the first time the direct relationship between environmental pollution and food safety, caused by seafood contamination from freshwater toxic blooms.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Chronic Kidney Disease—FGF23: A Key Molecule in the Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Jimbo Rika , Shimosawa Tatsuo
Published: January 2014

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of mortality, mainly from cardiovascular disease. Moreover, abnormal mineral and bone metabolism, the so-called CKD-mineral and bone disorder (MBD), occurs from early stages of CKD. This CKD-MBD presents a strong cardiovascular risk for CKD patients. Discovery of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has altered our understanding of CKD-MBD and has revealed more complex cross-talk and endocrine feedback loops between the kidney, parathyroid gland, intestines, and bone. During the past decade, reports of clinical studies have described the association between FGF23 and cardiovascular risks, left ventricular hypertrophy, and vascular calcification. Recent translational reports have described the existence of FGF23-Klotho axis in the vasculature and the causative effect of FGF23 on cardiovascular disease. These findings suggest FGF23 as a promising target for novel therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcomes of CKD patients.
Predictive Factors of Response to Biological Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: Towards Personalized Medicine
Authors: Daïen Claire I. , Morel Jacques
Published: January 2014

Many therapies are now available for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have an inadequate response to methotrexate including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, abatacept, tocilizumab, and rituximab. Clinical response to drugs varies widely between individuals. A part of this variability is due to the characteristics of the patient such as age, gender, concomitant therapies, body mass index, or smoking status. Clinical response also depends on disease characteristics including disease activity and severity and presence of autoantibodies. Genetic background, cytokine levels, and immune cell phenotypes could also influence biological therapy response. This review summarizes the impact of all those parameters on response to biological therapies.
GARCH‐Type Model with Continuous and Jump Variation for Stock Volatility and Its Empirical Study in China
Authors: Zhang Huannan , Lan Qiujun
Published: January 2014

On the basis of GARCH‐RV‐type model, we decomposed the realized volatility into continuous sample path variation and discontinuous jump variation, then proposed a new volatility model which we call the GARCH‐type model with continuous and jump variation (GARCH‐CJ‐type model). By using the 5‐minute high frequency data of HUSHEN 300 index in China, we estimated parameters of the GARCH‐type model, the GARCH‐RV‐type model, and the GARCH‐CJ‐type model and compared the three types of models’ predictive power to the future volatility. The results show that the realized volatility and the continuous sample path variation have certain predictive power for future volatility, but the discontinuous jump variation does not have that kind of function. What is more, the GARCH‐CJ‐type model has a more power to predict the future volatility than the other two types of models. Therefore, the GARCH‐CJ‐type model is much more useful for the research on the capital assets pricing, the derivative security valuation, and so on.
Effects of Full-Moon Definition on Psychiatric Emergency Department Presentations
Authors: Parmar Varinder S. , Talikowska-Szymczak Ewa , Downs Emily , Szymczak Peter , Meiklejohn Erin , Groll Dianne
Published: January 2014

Objectives. The lunar cycle is believed to be related to psychiatric episodes and emergency department (ED) admissions. This belief is held by both mental health professionals and the general population. Previous studies analyzing the lunar effect have yielded inconsistent results.Methods. ED records from two tertiary care hospitals were used to assess the impact of three different definitions of the full-moon period, commonly found in the literature. The full-moon definitions used in this study were 6 hours before and 6 hours after the full moon (a 12-hour model); 12 hours before and 12 hours after the full moon (a 24-hour model); and 24 hours before and after the day of the full moon (a 3-day model).Results. Different significant results were found for each full-moon model. Significantly fewer patients with anxiety disorders presented during the 12-hour and 24-hour models; however, this was not true of the 3-day model. For the 24-hour model, significantly, more patients presented with a diagnosis of personality disorders. Patients also presented with more urgent triage scores during this period. In the 3-day model, no significant differences were found between the full-moon presentations and the non-full-moon presentations.Conclusions. The discrepancies in the findings of full moon studies may relate to different definitions of “full moon.” The definition of the “full moon” should be standardized for future research.
An Improved Local Community Detection Algorithm Using Selection Probability
Authors: Xia Shixiong , Zhou Ranran , Zhou Yong , Zhu Mu
Published: January 2014

In order to find the structure of local community more effectively, we propose an improved local community detection algorithm ILCDSP, which improves the node selection strategy, and sets selection probability value for every candidate node. ILCDSP assigns nodes with different selection probability values, which are equal to the degree of the nodes to be chosen. By this kind of strategy, the proposed algorithm can detect the local communities effectively, since it can ensure the best search direction and avoid the local optimal solution. Various experimental results on both synthetic and real networks demonstrate that the quality of the local communities detected by our algorithm is significantly superior to the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Solution of the Nonlinear Mixed Volterra-Fredholm Integral Equations by Hybrid of Block-Pulse Functions and Bernoulli Polynomials
Authors: Mashayekhi S. , Razzaghi M. , Tripak O.
Published: January 2014

A new numerical method for solving the nonlinear mixed Volterra-Fredholm integral equations is presented. This method is based upon hybrid functions approximation. The properties of hybrid functions consisting of block-pulse functions and Bernoulli polynomials are presented. The operational matrices of integration and product are given. These matrices are then utilized to reduce the nonlinear mixed Volterra-Fredholm integral equations to the solution of algebraic equations. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique.
Association of Immune and Metabolic ReceptorsC5aRandC5L2with Adiposity in Women
Authors: Poursharifi Pegah , Rezvani Reza , Gupta Abhishek , Lapointe Marc , Marceau Picard , Tchernof André , Cianflone Katherine
Published: January 2014

Adipose tissue receptorsC5aRandC5L2and their heterodimerization/functionality and interaction with ligandsC5aand acylation stimulating protein (ASP) have been evaluated in cell and rodent studies. Their contribution to obesity factors in humans remains unclear. We hypothesized thatC5areceptors, classically required for host defense, are also associated with adiposity. Anthropometry and fasting blood parameters were measured in 136 women divided by body mass index (BMI): normal/overweight (≤30 kg/m2;n= 34), obese I (≤45 kg/m2;n= 33), obese II (≤51 kg/m2;n= 33), and obese III (≤80 kg/m2;n= 36). Subcutaneous and omental adipose tissueC5aRandC5L2expression were analysed.C5L2expression was comparable between subcutaneous and omental across all BMI groups. Plasma ASP and ASP/omentalC5L2expression increased with BMI (P< 0.001 andP< 0.01, resp.). While plasmaC5awas unchanged,C5aRexpression decreased with increasing BMI in subcutaneous and omental tissues (P< 0.01 andP< 0.05, resp.), with subcutaneous omental depots. OmentalC5L2/C5aRratio increased with BMI (P< 0.01) with correlations betweenC5L2/C5aRand waist circumference, HDL-C, and adiponectin. Tissue and BMI differences in receptors and ligands, particularly in omental, suggest relationship to metabolic disturbances and highlight adipose-immune interactions.
Resistance to Multiple Tuber Diseases Expressed in Somaclonal Variants of the Potato Cultivar Russet Burbank
Authors: Thangavel Tamilarasan , Steven Tegg Robert , Wilson Calum Rae
Published: January 2014

Multiple disease resistance is an aim of many plant breeding programs. Previously, novel somatic cell selection was used to generate potato variants of “Russet Burbank” with resistance to common scab caused by infection with an actinomycete pathogen. Coexpression of resistance to powdery scab caused by a protozoan pathogen was subsequently shown. This study sought to define whether this resistance was effective against additional potato tuber diseases, black scurf, and tuber soft rot induced by fungal and bacterial pathogens. Pot trials andin vitroassays with multiple pathogenic strains identified significant resistance to both tuber diseases across the potato variants examined; the best clone A380 showed 51% and 65% reductions in disease severity to tuber soft rot and black scurf, respectively, when compared with the parent line. The resistance appeared to be tuber specific as no enhanced resistance was recorded in stolons or stem material when challengedRhizoctonia solanithat induces stolon pruning and stem canker. The work presented here suggests that morphological characteristics associated with tuber resistance may be the predominant change that has resulted from the somaclonal cell selection process, potentially underpinning the demonstrated broad spectrum of resistance to tuber invading pathogens.
Identification of the Hydrogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Using Classic Integrated Geochemical Methods and Geostatistical Techniques, in Amol-Babol Plain, Iran
Authors: Sheikhy Narany Tahoora , Ramli Mohammad Firuz , Aris Ahmad Zaharin , Sulaiman Wan Nor Azmin , Juahir Hafizan , Fakharian Kazem
Published: January 2014

Hydrogeochemical investigations had been carried out at the Amol-Babol Plain in the north of Iran. Geochemical processes and factors controlling the groundwater chemistry are identified based on the combination of classic geochemical methods with geographic information system (GIS) and geostatistical techniques. The results of the ionic ratios and Gibbs plots show that water rock interaction mechanisms, followed by cation exchange, and dissolution of carbonate and silicate minerals have influenced the groundwater chemistry in the study area. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater show a shift from low mineralized Ca-HCO3, Ca-Na-HCO3, and Ca-Cl water types to high mineralized Na-Cl water type. Three classes, namely, C1, C2, and C3,have been classified using cluster analysis. The spatial distribution maps of Na+/Cl−, Mg2+/Ca2+, andCl-/HCO3-ratios and electrical conductivity values indicate that the carbonate and weathering of silicate minerals played a significant role in the groundwater chemistry on the southern and western sides of the plain. However, salinization process had increased due to the influence of the evaporation-precipitation process towards the north-eastern side of the study area.
Education and Unemployment Patterns for Young Workers with Job Experience in Spain
Authors: Acosta-Ballesteros Juan , Osorno-del Rosal M. del Pilar , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Olga M.
Published: January 2014

This paper analyzes the education and unemployment patterns for young workers with some experience in Spain at the beginning of the current economic crisis, using the ad hoc module of the Spanish Labour Force Survey 2009. The results clearly show that educational level and field of study are crucial when explaining the instability of the first job and the difficulty in obtaining another one. Specifically, the lower is the educational level, the greater is the risk of unemployment, not only because it is less likely to keep the first job, but also because it is harder to find another one. Moreover, considering the field of study at a given educational level, it is detected that graduates from health and welfare are the best positioned in the labour market (especially university degree holders). For the rest of fields of study, and despite the differences in the risk of unemployment are small, it is observed that the lowest level of unemployment corresponds to sciences and technology, followed by social sciences and the rest of fields. The education and unemployment patterns detected in the paper may be useful to guide both policy and individual decisions.
Dispatching a 19‐Unit Indian Utility System Using a Refined Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Jasper J. , Victoire T. Aruldoss Albert
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a differential evolution with neighborhood based mutation (DE‐NM) technique to solve Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) problem with valve point effects and multiple fuel options. A new mutation scheme based on neighborhood topology is presented with an aim to achieve the cost reduction together satisfying the dynamic behavior of the generating units over the considered time period. The neighborhood based mutation (NM) balances the exploration and exploitation of the search effort of differential evolution (DE) technique. The NM method enhances the convergence speed and the performance of the DE technique. The performance of the DE‐NM is tested on a 10‐unit and a real public Indian utility system with 19 generating units. Both the test systems are illustrated under different load patterns. The dispatch results obtained using the proposed method for the Indian system have considerably reduced the operating cost and optimized its operation.
Approaches for Modelling the Residual Service Life of Marine Concrete Structures
Authors: Rahimi Amir , Gehlen Christoph , Reschke Thorsten , Westendarp Andreas
Published: January 2014

This paper deals with the service life design of existing reinforced concrete structures in a marine environment. The general procedure of condition assessment for estimating the residual service life of structures before a repair measure is illustrated. For assessment of the residual service life of structures which have undergone a repair measure a simplified mathematical model of chloride diffusion in a 2-layer system is presented. Preliminary probabilistic calculations demonstrate the effect of various conditions on the residual service life. First studies of the chloride diffusion in a 2-layer system have been conducted using the finite element method. Results of a long-term exposure test are presented to illustrate the performance of two different repair materials. The distribution of residual chlorides after application of a repair material is being studied in laboratory investigations. The residual chlorides migrate from the concrete layer into the new layer immediately after the repair material has been applied to the concrete member. The content and gradient of residual chlorides, along with the thickness and the chloride ingress resistance of both the remaining and the new layer of cover, will determine the residual service life of the repaired structures.
Bilateral Florid Papillomatosis of the Nipple: An Unusual Indicator for Metachronous Breast Cancer Development—A Case Report
Authors: Sasi Walid , Banerjee Dibyesh , Mokbel Kefah , Sharma Anup K.
Published: January 2014

Adenoma or florid papillomatosis of the nipple (FPN) is a rare benign disease which has histopathological features similar to those of a mammary papillary carcinoma. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral florid papillomatosis of the nipple and breast cancer, with a literature review.
Modeling the Reflectance of the Lunar Regolith by a New Method Combining Monte Carlo Ray Tracing and Hapke’s Model with Application to Chang’E-1 IIM Data
Authors: Wong Un-Hong , Wu Yunzhao , Wong Hon-Cheng , Liang Yanyan , Tang Zesheng
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we model the reflectance of the lunar regolith by a new method combining Monte Carlo ray tracing and Hapke’s model. The existing modeling methods exploit either a radiative transfer model or a geometric optical model. However, the measured data from an Interference Imaging spectrometer (IIM) on an orbiter were affected not only by the composition of minerals but also by the environmental factors. These factors cannot be well addressed by a single model alone. Our method implemented Monte Carlo ray tracing for simulating the large-scale effects such as the reflection of topography of the lunar soil and Hapke’s model for calculating the reflection intensity of the internal scattering effects of particles of the lunar soil. Therefore, both the large-scale and microscale effects are considered in our method, providing a more accurate modeling of the reflectance of the lunar regolith. Simulation results using the Lunar Soil Characterization Consortium (LSCC) data and Chang’E-1 elevation map show that our method is effective and useful. We have also applied our method to Chang’E-1 IIM data for removing the influence of lunar topography to the reflectance of the lunar soil and to generate more realistic visualizations of the lunar surface.
High Grade Glioma Mimicking Voltage Gated Potassium Channel Complex Associated Antibody Limbic Encephalitis
Authors: Athauda Dilan , Delamont R. S. , Pablo-Fernandez E. De
Published: January 2014

Though raised titres of voltage gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex antibodies have been occasionally associated with extracranial tumours, mainly presenting as Morvan's Syndrome or neuromyotonia, they have not yet been reported to be associated with an intracranial malignancy. This is especially important as misdiagnosis of these conditions and delay of the appropriate treatment can have important prognostic implications. We describe a patient with a high grade glioma presenting with clinical, radiological, and serological features consistent with the diagnosis of VGKC antibody associated limbic encephalitis (LE). This is the first association between a primary brain tumour and high titre of VGKC complex antibodies. Clinicoradiological progression despite effective immunosuppressive treatment should prompt clinicians to look for alternative diagnoses. Further studies to elucidate a possible association between VGKC complex and other surface antigen antibodies with primary brain tumours should be carried out.
Determining Bounds on Assumption Errors in Operational Analysis
Authors: Bengtson Neal M.
Published: January 2014

The technique of operational analysis (OA) is used in the study of systems performance, mainly for estimating mean values of various measures of interest, such as, number of jobs at a device and response times. The basic principles of operational analysis allow errors in assumptions to be quantified over a time period. The assumptions which are used to derive the operational analysis relationships are studied. Using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions bounds on error measures of these OA relationships are found. Examples of these bounds are used for representative performance measures to show limits on the difference between true performance values and those estimated by operational analysis relationships. A technique for finding tolerance limits on the bounds is demonstrated with a simulation example.
Existence and Uniqueness Results for a Coupled System of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations with Antiperiodic Boundary Conditions
Authors: Zhang Huina , Gao Wenjie
Published: January 2014

This paper studies the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a coupled system of nonlinear fractional differential equations of orderα,β∈(4,5]with antiperiodic boundary conditions. Our results are based on the nonlinear alternative of Leray-Schauder type and the contraction mapping principle. Two illustrative examples are also presented.
A Comparative Study on Root Canal Repair Materials: A Cytocompatibility Assessment in L929 and MG63 Cells
Authors: Jiang Yuqing , Zheng Qinghua , Zhou Xuedong , Gao Yuan , Huang Dingming
Published: January 2014

Cytocompatibility of repair materials plays a significant role in the success of root canal repair. We conducted a comparative study on the cytocompatibility among iRoot BP Plus, iRoot FS, ProRoot MTA, and Super-EBA in L929 cells and MG63 cells. The results revealed that iRoot FS was able to completely solidify within 1 hour. iRoot BP Plus required 7-day incubation, which was much longer than expected (2 hours), to completely set. ProRoot MTA and Super-EBA exhibited a similar setting duration of 12 hours. All the materials except Super-EBA possessed negligiblein vitrocytotoxicity. iRoot FS had the best cell adhesion capacity in both L929 and MG63 cells. With rapid setting, negligible cytotoxicity, and enhanced cell adhesion capacity, iRoot FS demonstrated great potential in clinical applications. Future work should focus on longer-termin vitrocytocompatibility and anin vivoassessment.
eCOTS: Efficient and Cooperative Task Sharing for Large-Scale Smart City Sensing Application
Authors: Li Qingyu , Yang Panlong
Published: January 2014

With the pervasive use of mobile devices and increasingly computational ability, more concrete and deeper collaborations among mobile users are becoming possible and needed. However, most of the studies fail to consider load balancing requirement among mobile users. When tasks are unevenly distributed, the processing time as well as energy consumption will be extremely high on some devices, which will inevitably counterweight the benefits from incentive mechanism and task scheduling scheme. In this work, we propose eCOTS (Efficient and Cooperative Task Sharing for Large-scale Smart City Sensing Application). We leverage the “balls and bins” theory for task assignment, where d mobile users in contact range are investigated, and select the least loaded one among the d users. It has been proved that such simple case can effectively reduce the largest queueing length from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. Simulation and real-trace driven studies have shown that, eCOTS can effectively improve the balancing effects in typical network scenarios, even the energy level and computational capability are diverse. In simulation study, eCOTS can reduce the gap between the maximum and minimum queueing lengths up to 5× and over 2× in real trace data evaluations.
Control Efficacy of an EndophyticBacillus amyloliquefaciensStrain BZ6-1 against Peanut Bacterial Wilt,Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Wang Xiaobing , Liang Guobin
Published: January 2014

We aimed to isolate and identify endophytic bacteria that might have efficacy against peanut bacterial wilt (BW) caused byRalstonia solanacearum. Thirty-seven endophytic strains were isolated from healthy peanut plants inR. solanacearum-infested fields and eight showed antagonistic effects againstR. solanacearum. Strain BZ6-1 with the highest antimicrobial activity was identified asBacillus amyloliquefaciensbased on morphology, biochemistry, and 16S rRNA analysis. Culture conditions of BZ6-1 were optimized using orthogonal test method and inhibitory zone diameter in dual culture plate assay reached 34.2 mm. Furthermore, main antimicrobial substances of surfactin and fengycin A homologues produced by BZ6-1 were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Finally, pot experiments were adopted to test the control efficiency of BZ6-1 against peanut BW. Disease incidence decreased significantly from 84.5% in the control to 12.1% with addition of 15 mL (108cfu mL−1) culture broth for each seedling, suggesting the feasibility of strain BZ6-1 in the biological control of peanut plants BW.
The Convergence Study of the Homotopy Analysis Method for Solving Nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm Integrodifferential Equations
Authors: Ghanbari Behzad
Published: January 2014

We aim to study the convergence of the homotopy analysis method (HAM in short) for solving special nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm integrodifferential equations. The sufficient condition for the convergence of the method is briefly addressed. Some illustrative examples are also presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique. Comparison of the obtained results HAM with exact solution shows that the method is reliable and capable of providing analytic treatment for solving such equations.
Efficacy of Cefpodoxime with Clavulanic Acid in the Treatment of Recurrent Pyoderma in Dogs
Authors: Sudhakara Reddy B. , Nalini Kumari K. , Vaikunta Rao V. , Rayulu V. C.
Published: January 2014

In the present study on recurrent pyoderma, dogs with a history of more than three episodes of skin infections in a period of one year were selected. The associated conditions and (or) underlying factors revealed upon thorough investigation were demodicosis, Malassezia dermatitis, flea infestation, hypothyroidism, keratinization disorder (seborrhea), combination of Malassezia dermatitis and tick infestation, and a combination of scabies and tick infestation. Therapy was given with cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid along with appropriate simultaneous medication for the underlying associated conditions. In all the cases response to therapy was excellent. Improvement was noticed by 9 to 19 days and 17 to 21 days in recurrent superficial and deep pyoderma, respectively. In one dog, relapse occurred by 45 days due to the associated condition of hypothyroidism which was confirmed through laboratory findings. Cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid proved to be an effective, safe, and convenient antibiotic for the treatment of recurrent pyoderma in dogs without any side effects.
Equilibrium Isotherm Studies of Adsorption of Pigments Extracted from Kuduk-kuduk (Melastoma malabathricumL.) Pulp onto TiO2Nanoparticles
Authors: Kumara N. T. R. N. , Hamdan Nurulhayah , Petra Mohammad Iskandar , Tennakoon Kushan U. , Ekanayake Piyasiri
Published: January 2014

The adsorption of natural pigments onto TiO2nanoparticles was investigated. The pigments were extracted from the dark purple colored pulp of the berry-like capsule of Kuduk-kuduk (Melastoma malabathricumL.). The Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Sips isotherm models were used to analyze the equilibrium experimental data. Data correlated well with the Sips isotherm model, where the heterogeneity factor (n=0.24) indicated heterogeneous adsorption characteristics, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.0130 mg/g. The heterogeneous adsorption character was further supported by results obtained from zeta-potential measurements. When a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was sensitized with the extracted pigment, the photo-energy conversion efficiency was measured to be 0.83%, thus proving the suitability of Kuduk-kuduk fruit pulp as a sensitizer in DSSCs.
Rehabilitation after Amputation: Psychotherapeutic Intervention Module in Indian Scenario
Authors: Srivastava Kalpana , Chaudhury Suprakash
Published: January 2014

Psychological aspects of adjustment to amputation are varied and not addressed in the present treatment regime. There is no research evidence available of psychological intervention and outcome in Indian scenario. One hundred and seventy-three consecutive patients with limb amputations were randomly assigned to psychotherapeutic intervention module (PIM, study group) (n=90) and treatment as usual group (TAU, control group) (n=83). Patients with psychotic disorder were excluded from the study. Carroll Rating Scale for Depression (CRSD), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Amputees Body Image Scale (ABIS), and Impact of Event Scale (IES) along with specially designed information schedule were administered individually. Structured psychotherapeutic module was developed for the intervention. Patients in PIM group were given six therapy sessions, addressing the specific areas of concern. All patients were evaluated on the same tools after two months of therapy. Analysis showed that after treatment a significant reduction in scores was noted on CRSD, STAI, ABIS, and IES in the PIM group. On the TAU group a significant reduction was seen only in the ABIS. The psychological intervention module proposed by authors was efficacious in alleviating the psychological distress, depression, and anxiety and thus was vastly superior to the conventional method of management of amputees.
Investigating the Feasibility of Rapid MRI for Image-Guided Motion Management in Lung Cancer Radiotherapy
Authors: Sawant Amit , Keall Paul , Pauly Kim Butts , Alley Marcus , Vasanawala Shreyas , Loo Jr. Billy W. , Hinkle Jacob , Joshi Sarang
Published: January 2014

Cycle-to-cycle variations in respiratory motion can cause significant geometric and dosimetric errors in the administration of lung cancer radiation therapy. A common limitation of the current strategies for motion management is that they assume a constant, reproducible respiratory cycle. In this work, we investigate the feasibility of using rapid MRI for providing long-term imaging of the thorax in order to better capture cycle-to-cycle variations. Two nonsmall-cell lung cancer patients were imaged (free-breathing, no extrinsic contrast, and 1.5 T scanner). A balanced steady-state-free-precession (b-SSFP) sequence was used to acquire cine-2D and cine-3D (4D) images. In the case of Patient 1 (right midlobe lesion, ~40 mm diameter), tumor motion was well correlated with diaphragmatic motion. In the case of Patient 2, (left upper-lobe lesion, ~60 mm diameter), tumor motion was poorly correlated with diaphragmatic motion. Furthermore, the motion of the tumor centroid was poorly correlated with the motion of individual points on the tumor boundary, indicating significant rotation and/or deformation. These studies indicate that image quality and acquisition speed of cine-2D MRI were adequate for motion monitoring. However, significant improvements are required to achieve comparable speeds for truly 4D MRI. Despite several challenges, rapid MRI offers a feasible and attractive tool for noninvasive, long-term motion monitoring.
Studies on Adsorption of DNA on Functional Ultrathin Films of Cationic Surfactant
Authors: Poonia Monika , Pathak Anagh , Manjuladevi V. , Gupta R. K.
Published: January 2014

We have investigated the interaction of DNA with a highly ordered functional ultrathin layer of cationic surfactant, dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DOAB). The ultrathin film of DOAB is fabricated by Langmuir-Blodgett technique onto the pretreated quartz crystal wafers. The solution of DNA in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) is injected through a flow cell in a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) loaded with the functional ultrathin film. The QCM data indicate a slower kinetics (time constant  =  162.2 seconds) for the adsorption of DNA on DOAB layer as compared to PBS on DOAB. The surface morphology of the aggregation of DNA over the DOAB layer is investigated using atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM image indicates the trapping of DNA over the DOAB layer. Such trapping of DNA can be potentially employed in the field of genomics.
Retrofitting Transportation Network Using a Fuzzy Random Multiobjective Bilevel Model to Hedge against Seismic Risk
Authors: Gan Lu , Xu Jiuping
Published: January 2014

This paper focuses on the problem of hedging against seismic risk through the retrofit of transportation systems in large-scale construction projects (LSCP). A fuzzy random multiobjective bilevel programming model is formulated with the objectives of the retrofit costs and the benefits on two separate levels. After establishing the model, a fuzzy random variable transformation approach and fuzzy variable approximation decomposition are used to deal with the uncertainty. An approximation decomposition-based multi-objective AGLNPSO is developed to solve the model. The results of a case study validate the efficiency of the proposed approach.