bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Astrogliosis Promotes Functional Recovery of Completely Transected Spinal Cord Following Transplantation of hESC-Derived Oligodendrocyte and Motoneuron Progenitors
Authors: Lukovic Dunja , Valdés-Sanchez Lourdes , Sanchez-Vera Irene , Moreno-Manzano Victoria , Stojkovic Miodrag , Bhattacharya Shomi S. , Erceg Slaven
Published: October 2013

Spinal cord injury results in neural loss and consequently motor and sensory impairment below the injury. Reactive astrocytes contribute to formation of glial scar, thus impeding axonal regeneration, through secretion of extracellular matrix molecules, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). In this study, we analyze lesion site tissue to reveal the possible mechanism underlying the functional recovery after cell transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) and motoneuron progenitors (MP) and propose that transplanted cells increase astrogliosis through the regenerative signaling pathways activated in the host tissue that may crucial for restoring locomotor ability. We show that the transplantation of hESC-derived OPC and MP promotes astrogliosis, through activation of Jagged1-dependent Notch and Jak/STAT signaling that support axonal survival. The transplanted cells in synergism with reactive astrocytes create permissive environment in which the expression of detrimental genes (Cspg, Tenascins, and genes involved in SLIT/ROBO signaling) was significantly decreased while expression of beneficial ones (Laminins and Fibronectin) was increased. According to our data, this mechanism is activated in all transplantation groups independently of the level of locomotor recovery. These results indicate that modifying the beneficial function of reactive astrocytes could be a feasible therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury in future. Stem Cells  2014;32:594–599
TLR Ligands Stimulation Protects MSC from NK Killing
Authors: Giuliani Massimo , Bennaceur-Griscelli Annelise , Nanbakhsh Arash , Oudrhiri Noufissa , Chouaib Salem , Azzarone Bruno , Durrbach Antoine , Lataillade Jean-Jacques
Published: October 2013

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a fundamental role in allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease through their immunosuppressive abilities. Recently, Toll-like receptors (TLR) have been shown to modulate MSC functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of several TLR ligands on the interaction between MSC and natural killer (NK) cells. Our results show that TLR-primed adult bone marrow and embryonic MSC are more resistant than unprimed MSC to IL-2-activated NK-induced killing. Such protection can be explained by the modulation of Natural Killer group 2D ligands major histocompatibility complex class I chain A and ULBP3 and DNAM-1 ligands by TLR-primed MSC. These results indicate that MSCs are able to adapt their immuno-behavior in an inflammatory context, decreasing their susceptibility to NK killing. In addition, TLR3 but not TLR4-primed MSC enhance their suppressive functions against NK cells. However, the efficiency of this response is heterogeneous, even if the phenotypes of different analyzed MSC are rather homogeneous. The consequences could be important in MSC-mediated cell therapy, since the heterogeneity of adult MSC responders may be explored in order to select the more efficient responders. Stem Cells  2014;32:290–300
Nuclear Akt2 Opposes Limbal Keratinocyte Stem Cell Self-Renewal by Repressing a FOXO-mTORC1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Saoncella Stefania , Tassone Beatrice , Deklic Erika , Avolio Fabio , Jon Cristina , Tornillo Giusy , Luca Elisa , Iorio Enzo , Piva Roberto , Cabodi Sara , Turco Emilia , Paolo Pandolfi Pier , Calautti Enzo
Published: October 2013

Signals downstream of Akt can either favor or oppose stem cell (SC) maintenance, but how this dual role can be achieved is still undefined. Using human limbal keratinocyte stem cells (LKSCs), a SC type used in transplantation therapies for corneal regeneration, we show that Akt signaling is prominent in SC populations both in vivo and in vitro, and that Akt1 promotes while Akt2 opposes SC self-renewal. Noteworthy, loss of Akt2 signaling enhances LKSC maintenance ex vivo, whereas Akt1 depletion anticipates SC exhaustion. Mechanistically, the antagonistic functions of Akt1 and Akt2 in SC control are mainly dictated by their differential subcellular distribution, being nuclear Akt2 selectively implicated in FOXO inhibition. Akt2 downregulation favors LKSC maintenance as a result of a gain of FOXO functions, which attenuates the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex one signaling via tuberous sclerosis one gene induction, and promotes growth factor signaling through Akt1. Consistently, Akt2 deficiency also enhances limbal SCs in vivo. Thus, our findings reveal distinct roles for nuclear versus cytosolic Akt signaling in normal epithelial SC control and suggest that the selective Akt2 inhibition may provide novel pharmacological strategies for human LKSC expansion in therapeutic settings and mechanistic research. Stem Cells  2014;32:754–769
Brief Report: Dclk1 Deletion in Tuft Cells Results in Impaired Epithelial Repair After Radiation Injury
Authors: May Randal , Qu Dongfeng , Weygant Nathaniel , Chandrakesan Parthasarathy , Ali Naushad , Lightfoot Stanley A. , Li Linheng , Sureban Sripathi M. , Houchen Courtney W.
Published: October 2013

The role of Dclk1+ tuft cells in the replacement of intestinal epithelia and reestablishing the epithelial barrier after severe genotoxic insult is completely unknown. Successful restoration requires precise coordination between the cells within each crypt subunit. While the mechanisms that control this response remain largely uncertain, the radiation model remains an exceptional surrogate for stem cell-associated crypt loss. Following the creation of Dclk1-intestinal-epithelial-deficient Villin-Cre;Dclk1flox/flox mice, widespread gene expression changes were detected in isolated intestinal epithelia during homeostasis. While the number of surviving crypts was unaffected, Villin-Cre;Dclk1flox/flox mice failed to maintain tight junctions and died at approximately 5 days, where Dclk1flox/flox mice lived until day 10 following radiation injury. These findings suggest that Dclk1 plays a functional role critical in the epithelial restorative response. Stem Cells  2014;32:822–827
Concise Review: Sowing the Seeds of a Fruitful Harvest: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization
Authors: Hoggatt Jonathan , Speth Jennifer M. , Pelus Louis M.
Published: October 2013

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative option for a number of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. As the use of hematopoietic transplant has expanded, so too has the source of stem and progenitor cells. The predominate source of stem and progenitors today, particularly in settings of autologous transplantation, is mobilized peripheral blood. This review will highlight the historical advances which led to the widespread use of peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation, with a look toward future enhancements to mobilization strategies. Stem Cells  2013;31:2599–2606
Seventh Annual NOAA‐Industry Space Weather Summit Meets
Authors: Intriligator Devrie S.
Published: October 2013

Key Points

7th Annual Meeting of NOAA‐Industry Space Weather Summit
The Future of Spacecraft Radiation Design: A Workshop at Aberystwyth University, UK, 28–30 November 2012
Authors: Grande M. , Knight T. M.
Published: October 2013

Key Points

Future of Spacecraft Radiation design
Interpretive Asymmetry, Retrospective Inquiry and the Explication of Action in an Incident of Friendly Fire
Authors: Mair Michael , Elsey Chris , Watson Patrick G. , Smith Paul V.
Published: October 2013

Video Abstract
Argumentation and participation patterns in general chemistry peer‐led sessions
Authors: Kulatunga Ushiri , Moog Richard S. , Lewis Jennifer E.
Published: October 2013

This article focuses on the use of Toulmin's argumentation scheme to investigate the characteristics of student group argumentation in Peer‐Led Guided Inquiry sessions for a General Chemistry I course. A coding scheme based on Toulmin's [Toulmin [1958] The uses of argument. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press] argumentation model was used for identifying arguments during group work without instructor intervention. A modification of the framework developed by Erduran et al. [Erduran, Simon, & Osborne [2004] Science Education, 88(6), 915–933] for characterizing arguments was employed that considered both the strength of the argument and whether an argument contained contributions from one or more than one student. Data were collected by video recording weekly peer‐led sessions with a focus on two small groups. Analysis of this video data with the coding scheme and the framework revealed that students were mostly engaged in co‐constructed arguments, with more than one student providing evidence and reasoning during group activities. Students often supported their claims with data and warrants but rarely offered backings. That is, they supported their answers with evidence and reasoning but did not often elaborate on their reasoning or further validate their explanations. However, the percentage of arguments containing backings increased when arguments contained contributions from more than one student rather than being presented by one individual. Another significant finding is that students were able to resolve wrong claims through argumentation without peer leader intervention, an indication of independent learning. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50: 1207–1231, 2013
Exploring high school biology students' engagement with more and less epistemologically considerate texts
Authors: Kloser Matthew
Published: October 2013

Texts play an integral role in science research and science classrooms yet biology textbooks have traditionally failed to reflect the epistemic elements of the discipline such as justification of claims and visual representations of empirical data. This study investigates high school biology students' reading experiences when engaging more and less epistemologically considerate (EC) texts. Using a think aloud and interview protocol of 24 high school biology students who represent a range of prior achievement in English/language arts and science, this study explores students' perceived comprehension of, interest in, and trust in more and less EC biology texts and their accompanying visual representations. Results indicate that components unique to the EC texts greatly influenced students' reading experiences. Students' higher levels of interest and trust in the validity of the EC texts resulted from epistemic elements that are highly valued in science, namely, the empirical data embedded in charts and graphs. Furthermore, students most frequently cited the texts' epistemic components as helpful to their perceived comprehension. The data suggest that when compared to traditional textbook accounts, more EC texts can serve as levers in high school biology classrooms for improving students' confidence in comprehending texts, for increasing interest in science content, and for better aligning students' justification of trusting a particular source with what is considered a more sophisticated scientific epistemological stance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50: 1232–1257, 2013
Conducting causal effects studies in science education: Considering methodological trade‐offs in the context of policies affecting research in schools
Authors: Taylor Joseph , Kowalski Susan , Wilson Christopher , Getty Stephen , Carlson Janet
Published: October 2013

This paper focuses on the trade‐offs that lie at the intersection of methodological requirements for causal effect studies and policies that affect how and to what extent schools engage in such studies. More specifically, current federal funding priorities encourage large‐scale randomized studies of interventions in authentic settings. At the same time, policies that require schools to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) on state achievement tests make it risky for them to participate in trials of unproven interventions. Researchers attempting to balance rigorous study designs with the pressures felt by school districts must thoughtfully balance validity threats that are introduced in the negotiations with those districts. In this article, we draw on our experience conducting several randomized trials to discuss how these factors can be balanced. Specifically, we discuss necessary trade‐offs in causal effects studies related to statistical power, measurement sensitivity, research ethics, minimizing bias, and addressing the interests of all stakeholders. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50: 1127–1141, 2013
Novel fault‐location method for overhead electrical distribution systems
Authors: Alwash Shamam Fadhil , Ramachandaramurthy Vigna Kumaran
Published: October 2013

The implementation of a fault‐location methodology in an electrical utility is dependent on the accuracy and ability of the method in locating all fault types. However, meeting these requirements is not an easy task. This paper presents a novel fault‐location algorithm based on a new formulation for faults in overhead distribution systems. A single fault‐location equation has been derived to provide a unified solution for any fault type. This is in contrast with other methods that use one equation for each fault type. The proposed method does not require the identification of the fault type; only the fundamental values of the voltages and currents that are measured at the substation terminal are required to solve the proposed fault‐location equation. An overhead 11‐kV, 21‐bus, real‐life radial distribution feeder is simulated to evaluate and test the viability of the proposed method using the PSCAD/EMTDC software. The results indicate that the proposed method gives high accuracy and can be implemented with the available technology. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reversed signal propagation BDD based low‐power pass‐transistor logic synthesis
Authors: Bhuvaneswari Thangavel , Prasad Vishnuvajjula Charan , Singh Ajay Kumar
Published: October 2013

Binary decision diagrams (BDDs) are the most frequently used data structure for the representation and manipulation of Boolean functions in the area of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) CAD. In this paper, we propose the reversed‐signal‐propagation (RSP) BDD‐based low‐power pass‐transistor logic (PTL) synthesis. In RSP BDD, the signal flow direction is opposite to that of the forward BDD. So the power supply is taken as a root node and the terminal nodes 0 and 1 represent the function in its normal and complement form. We propose an efficient way to construct the multi‐output function RSP BDD and its PTL realization. Simulation results of the proposed method give lower power consumption and high performance as a result of reduced switching activity than the existing techniques. The power improvement is about 70–80% compared to the existing techniques. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preference modeling for personalized retrieval based on browsing history analysis
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: October 2013

Personalized retrieval aims at meeting the personalized information need of users, in which preference modeling is of great importance. The user's preference can be revealed via user specification and relevance feedback, both of which require extra effort from the user and are inevitably labor intensive. In this paper, we propose a novel preference modeling algorithm based on browsing history analysis for personalized retrieval. Based on the browsing log, we explore the user's interest in both fields and field values and accumulatively update the preference model. Given a query, the relevant retrieval results can spontaneously be ranked according to their corresponding preference score without any extra user interference. Advanced settings are subsequently discussed to further improve the algorithm for practical use. Experimental results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithm over previous work. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of electric field stimulation timing on calcium dynamics of cultured cardiomyocytes
Authors: Miyashita Leo , Takayama Yuzo , Haga Tatsuya , Suzuki Takafumi , Mabuchi Kunihiko
Published: October 2013

In this article, in order to propose the effective and low‐intensity stimulation method for cardiomyocyte, electric field stimulation was applied to cultured cardiomyocytes, and its responses were recorded and analyzed in term of applied timing by calcium imaging. As a result, we confirmed that electric field stimulation after peak of calcium transients (late‐phase stimulation) lengthened the full width at third maximum of calcium transient cycles temporarily. By optimizing the applied timing, electric field stimulation would be more effective method for controlling cardiomyocyte dynamics. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Association between reduced fetal movements at term and abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices
Authors: Pagani G. , D'Antonio F. , Khalil A. , Akolekar R. , Papageorghiou A. , Bhide A. , Thilaganathan B.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To evaluate the association between second‐trimester uterine artery (UtA) Doppler pulsatility index (PI) with reduced fetal movements (RFM) and adverse pregnancy outcome at term.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies referred for routine antenatal care at a fetal medicine unit over a 5‐year period. UtA Doppler indices were obtained at the time of the routine anomaly scan between 19 and 23 weeks' gestation to assess the risk for pre‐eclampsia. All episodes of RFM within 1 month of the expected date of delivery were recorded. Regression and sensitivity analyses were used to assess the relationship between UtA‐PI with RFM, small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetuses and stillbirth after 36 weeks' gestation.

Results

Overall, 17 649 pregnancies were included in the analysis, of which 742 presented with RFM, 1494 gave birth to an SGA newborn and 53 were complicated by stillbirth after 36 weeks' gestation. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant and independent association between UtA‐PI and RFM (odds ratio (OR), 5.03 (95% CI, 4.21–6.01); P < 0.001), SGA (OR 2.41 (95% CI, 2.09–2.79); P < 0.001) and stillbirth (OR 1.55 (95% CI, 1.21–1.98); P< 0.001). The association between UtA‐PI and SGA was significantly stronger in women presenting with RFM than in the rest of the cohort (P < 0.001). Similarly the association between UtA‐PI and RFM was significantly stronger in those pregnancies complicated by stillbirth (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Compared with normal pregnancies, those complicated by RFM, SGA and stillbirth at term had higher UtA‐PI at 19–23 weeks' gestation. These findings support the assertion that RFM at term is independently related to placental dysfunction and subsequent risk for SGA and stillbirth. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development: a case study of Bangladesh
Authors: Ayers Jessica M. , Huq Saleemul , Faisal Arif M. , Hussain Syed T.
Published: October 2013

The close linkages between climate change adaptation and development have led to calls for addressing the two issues in an integrated way. ‘Mainstreaming’ climate information, policies and measures into ongoing development planning and decision‐making has been proposed as one solution, seen as making more sustainable, effective and efficient use of resources than designing and managing climate policies separately from ongoing development activities. But what does mainstreaming look like in practice? This article explores the process of mainstreaming, drawing on the country case study of Bangladesh, one of the countries that have made significant progress on adaptation planning and mainstreaming. The article begins by making the case for mainstreaming, by exploring the linkages and trade‐offs between adaptation and development and describing the various approaches to mainstreaming from the literature. Second, it considers how to implement mainstreaming in practice, reviewing an existing four‐step framework. Examining this framework against the plethora of mainstreaming experiences in Bangladesh, the article considers how the framework can be used as a tool for assessing the progress of mainstreaming progress in Bangladesh. The article concludes that while the framework is useful for considering some of the preconditions necessary for getting mainstreaming underway, experiences of mainstreaming in Bangladesh reflect a much more complex patchwork of processes and stakeholders that need to be taken into consideration in further research on this topic. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:37–51. doi: 10.1002/wcc.226

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Knowledge and Action in Development
NIMBYism revisited: public acceptance of wind energy in the United States
Authors: Petrova Maria A.
Published: October 2013

The acronym NIMBY, known to stand for ‘Not‐In‐My‐Back‐Yard’, generally describes resistance to siting specific projects close to one's area of residence while exhibiting acceptance of similar projects elsewhere. As wind energy continues to be recognized as a successful technology for meeting renewable energy targets and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, the siting of wind turbines is a growing challenge that policy makers, facility planners, and wind developers face. The most often cited motivations for public support and opposition are reviewed here with a focus on wind energy developments in the United States. The purpose is to present the existing state of research on community responses to wind energy and to answer the following questions: What motivates support and opposition to facility siting, and in particular to wind energy facilities? Does the literature provide substantial evidence that NIMBYism is the determining motivation for opposition in the United States and, by extension, does the term's widespread use help to explain opposition? What mechanisms have been proposed for ‘overcoming’ NIMBYism, if it is present? This paper, following the recommendations of other social scientists, provides a collective call for a significant course shift: rather than proposing strategies to ‘overcome’ opposition, research should focus on proposing how to make siting successful. Drawing on a review of the relevant literature, the ‘ENUF’ framework—which stands for ‘Engage, Never use NIMBY, Understand, and Facilitate’—is introduced as a step in that direction. WIREs Clim Change 2013, 4:575–601. doi: 10.1002/wcc.250

This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses

The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Policies, Instruments, Lifestyles, Behavior
Climate change and Australia
Authors: Head Lesley , Adams Michael , McGregor Helen V. , Toole Stephanie
Published: October 2013

Australia has had a variable and mostly arid climate as long as humans have been on the continent. Historically observed trends toward increased warming, with rainfall increases in many tropical areas and rainfall decreases in many temperate areas, are projected to continue. Impacts will be geographically variable but mostly negative for biodiversity, agriculture, and infrastructure. Extreme events such as bushfires and floods will increase in frequency and intensity, concentrated in summer. With an economy heavily dependent on coal for domestic electricity generation and as an export commodity, Australians are high per capita contributors to anthropogenic climate change. A quarter‐century of steps to mitigation led in 2012 to a carbon price that has the long‐term potential to shift the economy toward more renewable energy sources. However as in other parts of the world this change has come too late, and is proceeding too slowly, to avoid significant climate change. A heritage of indigenous adaptation, strong volunteer cultures, and contemporary cultural diversity provide Australia with considerable adaptive capacity for gradual changes, but the nation is underprepared for sudden or step changes. We identify four pressing research and policy needs focused on such changes: (1) systematic attention to processes and impacts of negative transformative change, or worst‐case scenarios, (2) improve forecasts of year‐to‐year rainfall and climate variability, focusing on processes and climate drivers that may change in response to higher greenhouse gases, (3) identification and engagement of diverse cross‐cultural resources, and (4) articulation of alternative governance mechanisms that can interact dynamically with strong government. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:175–197. doi: 10.1002/wcc.255

This article is categorized under:

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > National Reviews
Improved auxiliary particle filter‐based synchronization of chaotic Colpitts circuit and its application to secure communication
Authors: Shi Zhiguo , Bi Songjie , Zhang Hongtao , Lu Rongxing , Shen Xuemin (Sherman)
Published: October 2013

In this paper, we propose a synchronization scheme based on an improved auxiliary particle filter (IAPF) for chaotic Colpitts circuit and conduct an experimental study on the synchronization performance with application to secure communications. Specifically, with the synchronization scheme, when the chaotic signals generated by an analog Colpitts circuit are transmitted through a nonideal channel, the distorted signals are processed digitally by the novelly designed IAPF at the receiver, in order to obtain the synchronized signals of the transmitter circuit. Experimental results indicate that synchronization can be achieved over both the additive white Gaussian noise channel and the multipath fading channel with low signal‐to‐noise ratio, even if there exist severe circuit parameter mismatches between the transmitter and the receiver. Furthermore, a chaos‐masking secure communication system is constructed and verified over both the additive white Gaussian noise channel and the multipath fading channel, and the bit error rate is evaluated versus different signal‐to‐noise ratios and symbol periods. It is shown that the achievable bit error rate can reach the order of magnitude of 10 − 4 without error correction coding techniques. In addition, security analysis demonstrates that the proposed chaotic secure communication system is resistant to the brute‐force attack. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Age‐related decline in divided‐attention: from theoretical lab research to practical real‐life situations
Authors: Fraser Sarah , Bherer Louis
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this advanced review is to provide readers with an up‐to‐date synopsis of age‐related changes in divided‐attention abilities. An interdisciplinary approach is taken, supplying readers with evidence from very structured laboratory studies and findings from more ecological research studies that target real‐life divided‐attention situations (i.e., walking and talking). The review goes beyond the reported age‐related declines in divided‐attention abilities and offers the reader an overview of current cognitive (dual‐task) training findings which suggest that these declines can be diminished with training. The contents of this review and the future directions proposed demonstrate that divided‐attention research and its recent application to aging and mobility has become a major and fast growing scientific field of investigation.WIREs Cogn Sci2013, 4:623–640. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1252

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Attention

Psychology > Development and Aging

Neuroscience > Cognition
The thalamus: gateway to the mind
Authors: Ward Lawrence M.
Published: October 2013

The thalamus of the brain is far more than the simple sensory relay it was long thought to be. From its location at the top of the brain stem it interacts directly with nearly every part of the brain. Its dense loops into and out of cortex render it functionally a seventh cortical layer. Moreover, it receives and sends connections to most subcortical areas as well. Of course it does function as a very sophisticated sensory relay and thus is of vital importance to perception. But also it functions critically in all mental operations, including attention, memory, and consciousness, likely in different ways for different processes, as indicated by the consequences of damage to its various nuclei as well as by invasive studies in nonhuman animals. It plays a critical role also in the arousal system of the brain, in emotion, in movement, and in coordinating cortical computations. Given these important functional roles, and the dearth of knowledge about the details of its nonsensory nuclei, it is an attractive target for intensive study in the future, particularly in regard to its role in healthy and impaired cognitive functioning. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:523–545. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1256

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction

Neuroscience > Cognition

Neuroscience > Physiology
Judgment: a cognitive processing perspective
Authors: Pachur Thorsten , Bröder Arndt
Published: October 2013

Historically, judgment research has been mainly concerned with identifying regularities in sensation (e.g., discriminability laws) and assessing judgment accuracy. More recently, the focus has shifted toward specifying the information processing mechanisms underlying judgment and modeling them, for example, as cognitive strategies. We contrast this strategy approach with previous prominent research programs on judgment and provide an overview of various process‐level accounts that have been proposed in terms of computational models (e.g., compensatory and noncompensatory cue‐abstraction strategies, evidence accumulation, exemplar processing, and parallel constraint satisfaction). Importantly, empirical investigations show that the cognitive processes underlying judgment differ considerably as a function of the individual's cognitive capacity and characteristics of the task environment (e.g., information cost, cognitive capacity, cue inter‐correlations, relationship between cues and the to‐be‐judged criterion). We argue that these systematic contingencies in strategy use can be understood as adaptive responses to costs in learning, information acquisition, and strategy execution.WIREs Cogn Sci2013, 4:665–681. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1259

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making
Energy storage sizing for wind power: impact of the autocorrelation of day‐ahead forecast errors
Authors: Haessig Pierre , Multon Bernard , Ahmed Hamid Ben , Lascaud Stéphane , Bondon Pascal
Published: October 2013

The availability of day‐ahead production forecast is an important step toward better dispatchability of wind power production. However, the stochastic nature of forecast errors prevents a wind farm operator from holding a firm production commitment. In order to mitigate the deviation from the commitment, an energy storage system connected to the wind farm is considered. One statistical characteristic of day‐ahead forecast errors has a major impact on storage performance: errors are significantly correlated along several hours. We thus use a data‐fitted autoregressive model that captures this correlation to quantify the impact of correlation on storage sizing.

With a Monte Carlo approach, we study the behavior and the performance of an energy storage system using the autoregressive model as an input. The ability of the storage system to meet a production commitment is statistically assessed for a range of capacities, using a mean absolute deviation criterion. By parametrically varying the correlation level, we show that disregarding correlation can lead to an underestimation of a storage capacity by an order of magnitude. Finally, we compare the results obtained from the model and from field data to validate the model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent developments in expectation‐maximization methods for analyzing complex data
Authors: Ng Shu‐Kay
Published: October 2013

The expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm is highly popular in computational statistics because it possesses a number of desirable properties such as reliable global convergence, numerical stability, and simplicity of implementation. More complex data are now increasingly prevalent across many application areas in a wide scope of scientific fields. These data could exhibit a hierarchical or longitudinal structure and involve atypical and/or asymmetric observations. The application of theEMalgorithm in the analysis of these complex data presents significant challenges to existingEMmethods. It is because the models developed often lead to intractable expectation‐steps or complicated maximization‐steps in order to model the correlation between hierarchical data and/or the skewness of asymmetric observations. This paper discusses recent advanced developments inEMmethods to overcome these barriers in handling complex problems.WIREs Comput Stat2013, 5:415–431. doi: 10.1002/wics.1277

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > EM Algorithm

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Monte Carlo Methods
Analysis and mining of online social networks: emerging trends and challenges
Authors: Bhat Sajid Yousuf , Abulaish Muhammad
Published: October 2013

Social network analysis (SNA) is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to the analysis and modeling of relations and diffusion processes among various objects in nature and society, and other information/knowledge processing entities with an aim of understanding how the behavior of individuals and their interactions translates into large‐scale social phenomenon. Because of exploding popularity of online social networks and availability of huge amount of user‐generated content, there is a great opportunity to analyze social networks and their dynamics at resolutions and levels not seen before. This has resulted in a significant increase in research literature at the intersection of the computing and social sciences leading to several techniques for social network modeling and analysis in the area of machine learning and data mining. Some of the current challenges in the analysis of large‐scale social network data include social network modeling and representation, link mining, sentiment analysis, semantic SNA, information diffusion, viral marketing, and influential node mining. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2013, 3:408–444. doi: 10.1002/widm.1105

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Web Mining

Commercial, Legal, and Ethical Issues > Social Considerations

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering
Market Basket Analysis algorithms with MapReduce
Authors: Woo Jongwook
Published: October 2013

The MapReduce approach has been popular in computing large scale data since Google implemented its platform on Google Distributed File Systems (GFS) followed by Amazon Web Service (AWS) providing the Apache Hadoop platform in inexpensive computing nodes. Map/Reduce motivates to redesign and convert the existing sequential algorithms to MapReduce as restricted parallel programming so that the paper proposes Market Basket Analysis algorithm with MapReduce as well as apriority property. Two algorithms are proposed by adapting an existing Apriori‐algorithm and building a simple algorithm that sorts data sets and converts it to (key, value) pairs to fit with MapReduce. It is executed on Amazon EC2 Map/Reduce platform. The experimental results show that the Apriori‐algorithm does not perform as well as the simple algorithm. Using the simple algorithm, the code with Map/Reduce increases the performance by adding more nodes, but at a certain point there is a bottleneck that does not allow further performance gain. It is believed that the operations of distributing, aggregating, and reducing data in Map/Reduce, cause the bottleneck. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2013, 3:445–452. doi: 10.1002/widm.1107

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Association Rules

Application Areas > Business and Industry

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Big Data Mining
Solute carrier family SLC41: what do we really know about it?
Authors: Fleig Andrea , Schweigel‐Röntgen Monika , Kolisek Martin
Published: October 2013

The 41st family of solute carriers (SLC41) comprises three members A1, A2, and A3, which are distantly homologous to bacterial Mg2+ channel MgtE. SLC41A1 was recently characterized as being an Na+/Mg2+ exchanger (NME; a predominant cellular Mg2+‐efflux system). Little is known about the exact function of SLC41A2 and SLC41A3, although, these proteins have also been linked to Mg2+ transport in human (animal) cells. The molecular biology (including membrane topology, cellular localization, transcriptomics, and proteomics) of SLC41A2 and SLC41A3 compared with SLC41A1 has only been poorly explored. Significantly more data with regard to function, functional regulation, involvement in cellular signaling, complex‐forming ability, spectrum of binding partners, and involvement in the pathophysiology of human diseases are available for SLC41A1. Three recent observations namely the identification of the null mutation, c.698G>T, in SLC41A1 underlying the nephronophthisis‐like phenotype, the recognition of a putative link between SLC41A1 and Parkinson's disease, and the observation that nearly 55% of preeclamptic placental samples overexpress SLC41A1, marks the protein as a possible therapeutic target of these diseases. A potential role of the SLC41 family of Mg2+ transporters in the pathophysiology of human diseases is further substantiated by the finding that SLC41A3 knockout mice develop abnormal locomotor coordination. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2013. doi: 10.1002/wmts.95

Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.

For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Biomimetic materials design for cardiac tissue regeneration
Authors: Dunn David A. , Hodge Alexander J. , Lipke Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2013

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. In the absence of sufficient numbers of organs for heart transplant, alternate approaches for healing or replacing diseased heart tissue are under investigation. Designing biomimetic materials to support these approaches will be essential to their overall success. Strategies for cardiac tissue engineering include injection of cells, implantation of three‐dimensional tissue constructs or patches, injection of acellular materials, and replacement of valves. To replicate physiological function and facilitate engraftment into native tissue, materials used in these approaches should have properties that mimic those of the natural cardiac environment. Multiple aspects of the cardiac microenvironment have been emulated using biomimetic materials including delivery of bioactive factors, presentation of cell‐specific adhesion sites, design of surface topography to guide tissue alignment and dictate cell shape, modulation of mechanical stiffness and electrical conductivity, and fabrication of three‐dimensional structures to guide tissue formation and function. Biomaterials can be engineered to assist in stem cell expansion and differentiation, to protect cells during injection and facilitate their retention and survival in vivo, and to provide mechanical support and guidance for engineered tissue formation. Numerous studies have investigated the use of biomimetic materials for cardiac regeneration. Biomimetic material design will continue to exploit advances in nanotechnology to better recreate the cellular environment and advance cardiac regeneration. Overall, biomimetic materials are moving the field of cardiac regenerative medicine forward and promise to deliver new therapies in combating heart disease. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2014, 6:15–39. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1241

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Cardiovascular Disease

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
Understanding engineered nanomaterial skin interactions and the modulatory effects of ultraviolet radiation skin exposure
Authors: Jatana Samreen , DeLouise Lisa A.
Published: October 2013

The study of engineered nanomaterials for the development of technological applications, nanomedicine, and nano‐enabled consumer products is an ever‐expanding discipline as is the concern over the impact of nanotechnology on human environmental health and safety. In this review, we discuss the current state of understanding of nanomaterial skin interactions with a specific emphasis on the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) skin exposure. Skin is the largest organ of the body and is typically exposed to UVR on a daily basis. This necessitates the need to understand how UVR skin exposure can influence nanomaterial skin penetration, alter nanomaterial systemic trafficking, toxicity, and skin immune function. We explore the unique dichotomy that UVR has on inducing both deleterious and therapeutic effects in skin. The subject matter covered in this review is broadly informative and will raise awareness of potential increased risks from nanomaterial skin exposure associated with specific occupational and life style choices. The UVR‐induced immunosuppressive response in skin raises intriguing questions that motivate future research directions in the nanotoxicology and nanomedicine fields. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2014, 6:61–79. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1244

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Impacts of long‐term reclaimed water irrigation on soil salinity accumulation in urban green land in Beijing
Authors: Chen Weiping , Lu Sidan , Pan Neng , Jiao Wentao
Published: October 2013

Irrigation with reclaimed water is becoming a common practice in many cities around the word. One of the main concerns regarding the use of reclaimed water in urban green land is soil salinity accumulation. Field investigations in the seven parks of Beijing were conducted to study the accumulation of soil salinity under different reclaimed water irrigation history. The accumulation trend and distribution pattern of soil salinity in a 100 cm soil profile were evaluated by the ENVIRO‐GRO model. Field investigation results showed that average soil salinity in the plots irrigated with reclaimed water was higher than that irrigated with tap water by 19.2% at the depth of 0–20 cm. Difference of average soil salinities at the depth of 0–20 cm between field measurement and model simulation was quite small, less than 15.0%. Under irrigation water salinity of 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 dS/m, simulated annually average soil salinity decreased/increased from initial value of 1.62 dS/m, to 1.53, 2.75, and 4.66 dS/m, respectively, at the equilibrium state. Accumulation of soil salinity in clay loam was 3 times of that in sandy loam. A mild to moderate soil salinization could appear under higher irrigation water salinity, lower irrigation water amount, and heavy soil texture. Irrigation practices and soil hydraulic properties were dominated factors affecting soil salt accumulation. It is not recommended to use water‐saving irrigation and irrigate on heavy soils as well as plant with a salinity stress threshold less than 1.85 dS/m under reclaimed water irrigation in Beijing.
Ribonuclease III mechanisms of double‐stranded RNA cleavage
Authors: Nicholson Allen W.
Published: October 2013

Double‐stranded(ds) RNA has diverse roles in gene expression and regulation, host defense, and genome surveillance in bacterial and eukaryotic cells. A central aspect of dsRNA function is its selective recognition and cleavage by members of the ribonuclease III (RNase III) family of divalent‐metal‐ion‐dependent phosphodiesterases. The processing of dsRNA by RNase III family members is an essential step in the maturation and decay of coding and noncoding RNAs, including miRNAs and siRNAs. RNase III, as first purified from Escherichia coli, has served as a biochemically well‐characterized prototype, and other bacterial orthologs provided the first structural information. RNase III family members share a unique fold (RNase III domain) that can dimerize to form a structure that binds dsRNA and cleaves phosphodiesters on each strand, providing the characteristic 2 nt, 3′‐overhang product ends. Ongoing studies are uncovering the functions of additional domains, including, inter alia, the dsRNA‐binding and PAZ domains that cooperate with the RNase III domain to select target sites, regulate activity, confer processivity, and support the recognition of structurally diverse substrates. RNase III enzymes function in multicomponent assemblies that are regulated by diverse inputs, and at least one RNase III‐related polypeptide can function as a noncatalytic, dsRNA‐binding protein. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the mechanisms of catalysis and target site selection of RNase III family members, and also addresses less well understood aspects of these enzymes and their interactions with dsRNA. WIREs RNA 2014, 5:31–48. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1195

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs
Photo sensors increase likelihood of detection of expelled vaginal implant transmitters
Authors: Cherry Michael J. , Nelson Melinda A. , Warren Robert J. , Conner L. Mike
Published: October 2013

Vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) are small radiotransmitters implanted in the vaginal canal of adult female ungulates following the breeding season. Immediately prior to parturition, the VIT is expelled and a temperature sensor causes the pulse rate to change from 40 pulses/minute to 80 pulses/minute, thereby indicating a parturition event to researchers. Climatic conditions can affect the performance of VITs; therefore, in collaboration with Advanced Telemetry Systems, we developed and evaluated a VIT equipped with both temperature and photo sensors. We used publicly available data on ambient temperature and daylight during June–August 2011 (i.e., the generalized ungulate parturition season) for 35 sites across the United States to predict improvement in performance achieved by the inclusion of a photo sensor. Mean predicted improvement below the 40th and 35th parallel of latitude is 33% and 43%, respectively. Unlike the temperature sensor, the photo sensor activates immediately when ambient light is ≥0.01 lux, improving the resolution of temporal parturition data and associated neonate search protocols. © 2013 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society