bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absence of associations between influenza vaccines and increased risks of seizures, Guillain–Barré syndrome, encephalitis, or anaphylaxis in the 2012–2013 season
Authors: Kawai Alison Tse , Li Lingling , Kulldorff Martin , Vellozzi Claudia , Weintraub Eric , Baxter Roger , Belongia Edward A. , Daley Matthew F. , Jacobsen Steven J. , Naleway Allison , Nordin James D. , Lee Grace M.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

We conducted weekly surveillance for pre‐specified adverse events following receipt of the 2012–2013 influenza vaccines in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD).

Methods

For each outcome, risk intervals (i.e., period after vaccination with a potentially increased risk) were defined on the basis of biologic plausibility and prior literature. Seizures following inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) were monitored in children in three age groups (6–23 months, 24–59 months, and 5–17 years) using a self‐controlled risk interval design. We also monitored for Guillain–Barré syndrome, encephalitis, and anaphylaxis following IIV in patients ≥6 months of age using a cohort design with historical controls. In the risk intervals following live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), we collected weekly counts of Guillain–Barré syndrome, encephalitis, and anaphylaxis in patients ages 2–49. Among LAIV vaccinees, numbers of expected events based on rates in historical controls were calculated, adjusted for age and site.

Results

At the end of surveillance, approximately 3.6 million first doses of IIV and 250 000 first doses of LAIV had been administered in the VSD. No elevated risks were identified in risk intervals following 2012–2013 IIV, as compared with a self‐matched control interval or to historical controls. For each outcome, fewer than three events occurred in the risk interval following 2012–2013 LAIV, and we thus were unable to estimate measures of relative risks.

Conclusions

No increased risk was identified for any of the pre‐specified outcomes following 2012–2013 influenza vaccinations in the VSD. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
The effect of photoinitiator concentration and structures of RAFT macroinitiators on the memory effect of polymer dispersed liquid crystals
Authors: Lan Tian , Yang Wenjie , Peng Juan , Li Mingke , Wang Yinghan
Published: February 2014

The article aimed to decrease the memory effect of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) films, reversible additional‐fragmental chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was used to synthesize RAFT‐polystyrene (RAFT‐PS), which was a kind of RAFT macroinitiators and used to prepare PDLCs via photo polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS). Different RAFT agents were used to synthesize RAFT‐PS. The effect of photoinitiator concentration on the memory effect of these PDLCs was investigated, and the effect of structures of RAFT macroinitiators on the memory effect of the PDLCs was also discussed. The results showed that PDLC films with higher photoinitiator concentration and polymer matrix which had two rigid chains in two ends showed lower memory effect, which could be reduced from 10.9% to 2.5% in this experiment. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:8–13, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Cyclic polymers and catenanes by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)
Authors: Pangilinan Katrina , Advincula Rigoberto
Published: February 2014

The topologically interesting structures of cyclic polymers, catenanes and other macrocycles are of much interest for their unique chemical and physical properties. However, it is a challenge to design synthetic routes that afford controlled ring structures and connectivity, which is why the practical applications of these materials have not been explored. This review describes the advantages and disadvantages of ring expansion and ring closure methods for preparing cyclic polymers. This review also aims to provide a concise overview of the recent techniques of cyclization specifically by ring closure reactions from polymers grown primarily by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The ring closure techniques covered here are atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC), copper‐catalyzed Huisgen azide–alkyne cycloaddition, Diels–Alder cycloaddition and alkylation of carboxylate salts to form esters. Ring expansion and ring closure methods have also been used in the preparation of polymer catenanes. A combination of ATRP and ATRC has been applied to the synthesis of homopolymer and block copolymer catenanes using a supramolecular template with ATRP initiators.
Electrospun poly(aspartic acid) gel scaffolds for artificial extracellular matrix
Authors: Molnar Kristof , Juriga David , Nagy Peter M , Sinko Katalin , Jedlovszky‐Hajdu Angela , Zrinyi Miklos
Published: February 2014

Biocompatible synthetic polymer gel scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine were prepared by reactive electrospinning. Protein‐like nano‐ and microfibres from chemically crosslinked polysuccinimide were obtained. Fibrous poly(aspartic acid) gels with size similar to that of extracellular matrix were obtained by hydrolysis of the polysuccinimide gel fibres. The effects of process parameters on fibre morphology (diameter, swelling degree) and chemical structure were investigated. Sub‐micrometre‐sized biocompatible fibrous scaffolds from a poly(amino acid) is a novel approach with great promise in several biomedical applications due to the tailor‐made synthetic nature, extreme purity and possibility of production on a large scale. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Triallyl monomer bearing adamantane‐like core derived from naturally occurring myo‐inositol: Synthesis and polyaddition with dithiols
Authors: Sudo Atsushi , Sakue Tomio
Published: February 2014

This paper deals with a triallyl monomer bearing a rigid adamantane‐like core derived from myo‐inositol, a naturally occurring cyclic hexaol. The core structure of the monomer can be readily constructed by orthoesterification of myo‐inositol. The polyaddition of the triallyl monomer with dithiols based on the thermally induced radical thiol‐ene reaction gives the corresponding networked polymers. These networked polymers exhibit much higher thermal stability than the comparative networked polymers obtained from a triallyl monomer bearing less rigid cyclohexyl core. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1193–1199
XG‐102 administered to healthy male volunteers as a single intravenous infusion: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐escalating study
Authors: Deloche Catherine , Lopez‐Lazaro Luis , Mouz Sébastien , Perino Julien , Abadie Claire , Combette Jean‐Marc
Published: February 2014

The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of the JNK inhibitor XG‐102 in a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, sequential ascending dose parallel group Phase 1 Study. Three groups of male subjects received as randomly assigned ascending single XG‐102 doses (10, 40, and 80 μg/kg; 6 subjects per dose) or placebo (2 subjects per dose) as an intravenous (IV) infusion over 60 min. Safety and tolerability were assessed by physical examination, vital signs, electrocardiography, eye examination, clinical laboratory tests and adverse events (AEs). PK was analyzed using noncompartmental methods. All reported AEs were mild to moderate and neither their number nor their distribution by System Organ Class suggest a dose relationship. Only headache and fatigue were considered probably or possibly study drug related. Headache frequency was similar for active and placebo, consequently this was not considered to be drug related but probably to study conditions. The other examinations did not show clinically relevant deviations or trends suggesting a XG‐102 relationship. Geometric mean half‐life was similar among doses, ranging from 0.36 to 0.65 h. Geometric mean XG‐102 AUC0–last increased more than linearly with dose, 90% confidence intervals (CIs) did not overlap for the two highest doses. Geometric mean dose normalized Cmax values suggest a more than linear increase with dose but 90% CIs overlap. It may be concluded that XG‐102 single IV doses of 10–80 μg/kg administered over 1 h to healthy male subjects were safe and well tolerated.
Glyphosate‐resistant and glyphosate‐susceptible Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.): hyperspectral reflectance properties of plants and potential for classification
Authors: Reddy Krishna N , Huang Yanbo , Lee Matthew A , Nandula Vijay K , Fletcher Reginald S , Thomson Steven J , Zhao Feng
Published: February 2014

BACKGROUND

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) is a troublesome agronomic weed in the southern United States, and several populations have evolved resistance to glyphosate. This paper reports on spectral signatures of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) and glyphosate‐sensitive (GS) plants, and explores the potential of using hyperspectral sensors to distinguish GR from GS plants.

RESULTS

GS plants have higher light reflectance in the visible region and lower light reflectance in the infrared region of the spectrum compared with GR plants. The normalized reflectance spectrum of the GR and GS plants had best separability in the 400–500 nm, 650–690 nm, 730–740 nm and 800–900 nm spectral regions. Fourteen wavebands from within or near these four spectral regions provided a classification of unknown set of GR and GS plants, with a validation accuracy of 94% for greenhouse‐grown plants and 96% for field‐grown plants.

CONCLUSIONS

GR and GS Palmer amaranth plants have unique hyperspectral reflectance properties, and there are four distinct regions of the spectrum that can separate the GR from GS plants. These results demonstrate that hyperspectral imaging has potential application to distinguish GR from GS Palmer amaranth plants (without a glyphosate treatment), with future implications for glyphosate resistance management. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Toward single‐step anodic fabrication of monodisperse TiO2 nanotube arrays on non‐native substrates
Authors: Farsinezhad Samira , Dalrymple Ashley N. , Shankar Karthik
Published: February 2014

Shape irregularity and size dispersion exhibited by TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) is a disadvantage for size‐selective applications such as flow‐through membranes, cell differentiation and drug delivery, and for photonic applications such as photonic crystals and metallodielectric metamaterials, where size and shape dispersity are sources of defects and scattering. We show that achieving extremely smooth Ti films is more critical than a large Ti grain size in attaining highly ordered nanotube arrays with minimal dispersity in shape and size, and obtain the insight that uniform pore nucleation is determinative of the quality of the nanostructures that result following electrochemical anodization. TiO2 nanotubes formed by anodization of highly smooth Ti films on single crystal silicon wafers in electrolytes with high water concentrations had only circular pores with a narrow dispersion of pore diameters, and exhibited uniform cross‐sections along the tube‐axis. Pattern order was evaluated using 2D‐FFT analysis .

TiO2 nanotubes on Si wafers with a (a) narrow and (b) wide dispersion in shape and size.
Influence of the intrinsic length on p+‐i‐n+ Si nanowire avalanche photodetectors on flexible plastic substrates
Authors: Yang Kyungwhan , Kwak Kiyeol , Kim Sangsig
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we report the construction of avalanche photodetectors (APDs) consisting of p+‐type/intrinsic/n+‐type (p+‐i ‐n+) Si nanowires (NWs) on a flexible plastic substrate and investigate the photomultiplication characteristics of the APDs with different intrinsic lengths. The maximum avalanche gain and responsivity of the APDs excited by the 633 nm wavelength light are estimated to be 5.9×104 and 1.4×10–3 A/W, respectively, for an intrinsic length of 0.5 μm. The maximum avalanche gain is associated with an improvement of the photomultiplication properties and results in the efficient generation of photogenerated charge carriers in the intrinsic region of the Si NWs. Furthermore, the breakdown phenomena in our APDs in the flat and upwardly bent states are investigated. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Excellent uniformity on large diameter GaN on silicon LED wafer
Authors: Pinos Andrea , Tan Wei‐Sin , Chitnis Ashay , Nishikawa Atsushi , Groh Lars , Hu Cheng‐Yu , Murad Saad , Lutgen Stephan
Published: February 2014

We report on the crystal quality and on‐wafer device performance of GaN‐on‐Si LED wafers grown by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition on Si(111) substrates. Average XRD FWHM of 343 arcsec and 456 arcsec for the 002 and 102 reflections, respectively, are measured for GaN‐on‐Si template wafers and a dislocation density around 5×108 cm–2 is determined via etch pit density. Excellent electroluminescence uniformity for the 150 and 200 mm blue LED wafers was achieved. The standard deviation values measured across the wafer surface are 3.9% for the electroluminescence intensity, 0.6–0.8% for the peak wavelength and 1.3% for the forward voltage. The high uniformity confirms the viability of the GaN‐on‐Si technology on large substrate diameters for next generation LED manufacturing. The feasibility of a two‐step growth process for LED wafers on GaN‐on‐Si templates is demonstrated successfully and the issues of wafer to wafer uniformity and processing yield are discussed. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Epitaxial lateral overgrowth of thick semipolar {11$ \bar 2 $2} GaN by hydride vapor phase epitaxy
Authors: Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Furuya Hiroshi , Ueno Motohisa , Yamane Keisuke , Okada Narihito , Tadatomo Kazuyuki
Published: February 2014

A thick semipolar {11–22} GaN layer was grown on m ‐plane sapphire substrates by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). We succeeded in using epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) with a striped SiO2 mask to suppress crack generation, improve the flatness, and reduce the dark spot density in the semipolar {11–22} GaN layer. The ELO was performed at a growth rate of over 100 µm/h, and it was found that ELO using a SiO2 mask could be used to achieve high‐growth rate HVPE. Large hillocks were eliminated by using ELO. The dark spot density of the 2 mm {11–22} GaN layer grown by ELO was 2.7 × 107cm–2, which was one digit lower than that of a conventional GaN layer. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Logic functions based on optical bias controlled SiC tandem devices
Authors: Silva V. , Vieira M. A. , Vieira M. , Louro P. , Fantoni A. , Barata M.
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this paper is the design of an optoelectronic circuit based on a‐SiC technology, able to act simultaneously as a 4‐bit binary encoder or a binary decoder in a 4‐to‐16 line configurations and show multiplexer‐based logical functions. The device consists of a p‐i′(a‐SiC:H)‐n/p‐i(a‐Si:H)‐n multilayered structure produced by PECVD. To analyze it under information‐modulated wave (color channels) and uniform irradiation (background) four monochromatic pulsed lights (input channels): red, green, blue and violet shine on the device. Steady state optical bias was superimposed separately from the front and the back sides, and the generated photocurrent was measured.

Results show that the devices, under appropriate optical bias, act as reconfigurable active filters that allow optical switching and optoelectronic logic functions development providing the possibility for selective removal of useless wavelengths.The logic functions needed to construct any other complex logic functions are the NOT, and both or either an AND or an OR. Any other complex logic function that might be found can also be used as building blocks to achieve the functions needed for the retrieval of channels within the WDM communication link. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Blue light emitting diode exceeding 100% quantum efficiency
Authors: Piprek Joachim
Published: February 2014

InGaN/GaN light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are known to exhibit a strongly non‐uniform vertical carrier distribution within the multi‐quantum well (MQW) active region. We propose to eliminate “dark” quantum wells by insertion of multiple tunnel junctions into the MQW which allow for the repeated use of electrons and holes for photon generation. In good agreement with available measurements, we demonstrate by self‐consistent numerical simulation that such tunnel junction LED design promises quantum efficiencies as high as 250% as well as a strongly enhanced output power at high input power, compared to conventional LED concepts.

magnified image

Energy band diagram and photon emission rate for the proposed LED with four sets of two quantum wells separated by three tunnel junctions.

(© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Lagrangian investigation of hot and cold temperature extremes in Europe
Authors: Bieli Melanie , Pfahl Stephan , Wernli Heini
Published: February 2014

Since temperature extremes have a strong impact on environment and society, it is crucial to understand their underlying mechanisms. While their relationship to the large‐scale atmospheric circulation has been comprehensively investigated, the role of physical processes in the formation of air masses with extreme temperatures is less well understood. This study presents a Lagrangian analysis of the 0.1% most extreme six‐hourly hot and cold events in three European regions (UK, Central Europe, Balkans) for the time period 1989–2009. The results provide insight into typical transport patterns and physical processes (adiabatic compression, radiation, surface heat fluxes) occurring along the trajectories of extreme temperature air masses. Cold events in Europe are most frequently induced by advection of cold air masses from the Arctic and Russia. The transport to the target region is characterized by a temperature increase caused by adiabatic compression and, in the maritime setting of the UK, also by diabatic heating due to surface sensible heat fluxes. Despite the warming along the trajectories, the extremeness of the associated 2 m temperature increases, due to the dislocation of the air mass to regions with a milder climate. Hot events are generally associated with weaker horizontal transport, but strong adiabatic warming and local temperature increase caused by enhanced radiation and surface heat fluxes. This in situ warming is particularly strong in Central Europe. Evaluating the temperature evolution along the trajectories reveals that hot and cold extremes develop on a similar time‐scale of 2–3 days. This time‐scale is mostly set by physical processes for hot extremes and controlled by advective transport for cold extremes. The diagnostics applied in this study lead to an improved process understanding that can provide a basis for more accurate predictions of temperature extremes.
Proposal and practice of software process improvement framework – Toshiba's software process improvement history since 2000
Authors: Ogasawara Hideto , Kusanagi Takumi , Aizawa Minoru
Published: February 2014

For the effective promotion of software process improvement (SPI) activities in a large organization, it is necessary to establish an organizational structure and a deployment method for promotion and to develop training courses, support tools, and other materials. Even if an organizational promotion system is established, the SPI activities of each development department cannot be promoted effectively without an SPI community. To promote SPI activities throughout Toshiba Group, we organized a Corporate Software Engineering Process Group in April 2000. We also proposed an SPI framework. This framework extracts the features of organizations in which improvement activities were successful in the 1990s and combines them systematically. For over 10 years, we have been constructing Toshiba's SPI framework based on the SPI framework that we proposed and promoting process improvement activities using it. As a result, maturity levels were improved in many development departments, and the applicability of the SPI framework has been confirmed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Process mining support for Capability Maturity Model Integration‐based software process assessment, in principle and in practice
Authors: Samalikova J. , Kusters R. J. , Trienekens J. J. M. , Weijters A. J. M. M.
Published: February 2014

Currently used software process improvement methods such as the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) rely in their process assessments on information, which is gathered during interviews, in oral audit sessions, and from quality manuals and process standard reviews. Although valuable information about software processes can be gained in these assessments, the resulting data quality can be improved upon. This paper investigates the potential of process mining to support current software process assessment and improvement approaches. Based on an analysis of CMMI from a process mining perspective, particular CMMI model components are identified for which it is in principle possible to apply process mining techniques. Subsequently, criteria have been defined to select, with respect to these particular CMMI components, software processes for which process mining has an added value. These criteria have been applied in the selection of a particular ‘minable’ software process, that is, a change control process. Subsequently, the results of a case study from industrial practice, on the process mining of a change control board process, are used to illustrate that process mining can provide CMMI assessors with relevant information. This information reflects the actual or ‘real’ software processes in practice, and as such, it offers an excellent basis to support assessors in understanding the ‘actual’ software processes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fault masking as a service
Authors: Gülcü Koray , Sözer Hasan , Aktemur Barış , Ercan Ali Özer
Published: February 2014

In SOA, composite services depend on a set of partner services to perform their tasks. These partner services may become unavailable because of system and/or network faults, leading to an increased error rate for the composite service. In this paper, we propose an approach to prevent the occurrence of errors that result from the unavailability of partner services. We introduce an external Web service, dubbed Fault Avoidance Service (FAS), to which composite services can register at will. After registration, FAS periodically checks the partner links, detects unavailable partner services, and updates the composite service with available alternatives. Thus, in case of a partner service error, the composite service will have been updated before attempting an ill‐destined request. We provide mathematical analysis regarding the error rate and the false positive rate with respect to the monitoring frequency of FAS for two models. We obtained empirical results by conducting several tests on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud to evaluate our mathematical analyses. We also introduce an industrial case study for improving the quality of a service‐oriented system from the broadcasting and content delivery domain. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analyzing performance traces using temporal formulas
Authors: Ryckbosch Frederick , Diwan Amer
Published: February 2014

While profiling is invaluable for debugging performance problems that affect the common case, it is of little help in tracking performance problems that affect the slowest 1% of the operations (i.e., long‐tail latencies). For Web service providers, these long‐tail latencies affect both the cost of the service and the user experience. Because interactions between operations are often responsible for long‐tail latency, we must analyze fine‐grained traces to investigate their cause.

Unfortunately, analyzing traces is difficult because one needs to reason over long chains of events and because this reasoning often requires significant domain knowledge about what the event sequences mean. This paper shows how we can use formulas in linear‐temporal logic to analyze traces. Given these formulas, our system searches through traces to find matches for these formulas and extracts relevant information from the matches. We demonstrate that our system is scalable and enables us to investigate long‐tail performance problems at Google. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CCR7 Guides Migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cell to Secondary Lymphoid Organs: A Novel Approach to Separate GvHD from GvL Effect
Authors: Li Hong , Jiang YanMing , Jiang XiaoXia , Guo XiMin , Ning HongMei , Li YuHang , Liao Li , Yao HuiYu , Wang XiaoYan , Liu YuanLin , Zhang Yi , Chen Hu , Mao Ning
Published: February 2014

Inefficient homing of systemically infused mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) limits the efficacy of existing MSC-based clinical graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) therapies. Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) are the major niches for generating immune responses or tolerance. MSCs home to a wide range of organs, but rarely to SLOs after intravenous infusion. Thus, we hypothesized that targeted migration of MSCs into SLOs may significantly improve their immunomodulatory effect. Here, chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) gene, encoding a receptor that specifically guides migration of immune cells into SLOs, was engineered into a murine MSC line C3H10T1/2 by retrovirus transfection system (MSCs/CCR7). We found that infusion of MSCs/CCR7 potently prolonged the survival of GvHD mouse model. The infused MSCs/CCR7 migrate to SLOs, relocate in proximity with T lymphocytes, therefore, potently inhibited their proliferation, activation, and cytotoxicity. Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the early control of leukemia relapse. Although MSCs/CCR7 inhibited NK cell activity in vitro coculture, they did not impact on the proportion and cytotoxic capacities of NK cells in the peripheral blood of GvHD mice. In an EL4 leukemia cell loaded GvHD model, MSCs/CCR7 infusion preserved the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CCR7 guides migration of MSCs to SLOs and thus highly intensify their in vivo immunomodulatory effect while preserving the GvL activity. This exciting therapeutic strategy may improve the clinical efficacy of MSC based therapy for immune diseases. Stem Cells  2014;32:1890–1903
Low-Dose 6-Bromoindirubin-3′-oxime Induces Partial Dedifferentiation of Endothelial Cells to Promote Increased Neovascularization
Authors: Kohler Erin E. , Baruah Jugajyoti , Urao Norifumi , Ushio-Fukai Masuko , Fukai Tohru , Chatterjee Ishita , Wary Kishore K.
Published: February 2014

Endothelial cell (EC) dedifferentiation in relation to neovascularization is a poorly understood process. In this report, we addressed the role of Wnt signaling in the mechanisms of neovascularization in adult tissues. Here, we show that a low-dose of 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), a competitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, induced the stabilization of β-catenin and its subsequent direct interaction with the transcription factor NANOG in the nucleus of ECs. This event induced loss of VE-cadherin from the adherens junctions, increased EC proliferation accompanied by asymmetric cell division (ACD), and formed cellular aggregates in hanging drop assays indicating the acquisition of a dedifferentiated state. In a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, nuclear NANOG protein bound to the NANOG- and VEGFR2-promoters in ECs, and the addition of BIO activated the NANOG-promoter-luciferase reporter system in a cell-based assay. Consequently, NANOG-knockdown decreased BIO-induced NOTCH-1 expression, thereby decreasing cell proliferation, ACD, and neovascularization. In a Matrigel plug assay, BIO induced increased neovascularization, secondary to the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia, BIO augmented neovascularization that was coupled with increased expression of NOTCH-1 in ECs and increased smooth muscle α-actin+ cell recruitment around the neovessels. Thus, these results demonstrate the ability of a low-dose of BIO to augment neovascularization secondary to VEGF, a process that was accompanied by a partial dedifferentiation of ECs via β-catenin and the NANOG signaling pathway. Stem Cells  2014;32:1538–1552
Switch from Canonical to Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Mediates High Glucose-Induced Adipogenesis
Authors: Keats Emily C. , Dominguez James M. , Grant Maria B. , Khan Zia A.
Published: February 2014

Human bone marrow mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) are multipotent cells that play an essential role in endogenous repair and the maintenance of the stem cell niche. We have recently shown that high levels of glucose, conditions mimicking diabetes, cause impairment of MPCs, resulting in enhanced adipogenesis and suppression of osteogenesis. This implies that diabetes may lead to reduced endogenous repair mechanisms through altering the differentiation potential of MPCs and, consequently, disrupting the stem cell niche. Phenotypic alterations in the bone marrow of long-term diabetic patients closely resemble this observation. Here, we show that high levels of glucose selectively enhance autogenous Wnt11 expression in MPCs to stimulate adipogenesis through the Wnt/protein kinase C noncanonical pathway. This novel mechanism may account for increased bone marrow adipogenesis, severe bone loss, and reduced vascular stem cells leading to chronic secondary complications of diabetes. Stem Cells  2014;32:1649–1660
Neutralizing Problematic Frames in the Culture Wars: Anti‐Evolutionists Grapple with Religion
Authors: Silva Eric Orion
Published: February 2014

This article contributes to the literature on culture wars work by examining how anti‐evolutionists neutralize the framing of their position as religious. Their efforts are uncovered by analyzing 570 letters to the editor published in American newspapers in the months surrounding a nationally covered 2005 federal judicial decision on the legality of the Dover PA, school board's decision to undermine evolutionary theory in the classroom. Anti‐evolutionists neutralized the framing of their position as religious through the processes of selective acknowledgement and disagreement with the problematic framing. These findings provide insights into the anti‐evolutionist movement, the nature of the culture wars, and the basic ways in which problematic frames are neutralized. First, it shows how public anti‐evolutionist discourse has not followed its leaders' efforts to minimize the religious motivations of the movement. Second, the wide variety of neutralizations partially explains the persistence of many cultural disputes. Third, this study calls attention to the under theorized role of disagreement and agreement in undoing problematic definitions of the situation.
Cross‐layer optimized routing in wireless sensor networks with duty cycle and energy harvesting
Authors: Han Guangjie , Dong Yuhui , Guo Hui , Shu Lei , Wu Dapeng
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we propose a cross‐layer optimized geographic node‐disjoint multipath routing algorithm, that is, two‐phase geographic greedy forwarding plus. To optimize the system as a whole, our algorithm is designed on the basis of multiple layers' interactions, taking into account the following. First is the physical layer, where sensor nodes are developed to scavenge the energy from environment, that is, node rechargeable operation (a kind of idle charging process to nodes). Each node can adjust its transmission power depending on its current energy level (the main object for nodes with energy harvesting is to avoid the routing hole when implementing the routing algorithm). Second is the sleep scheduling layer, where an energy‐balanced sleep scheduling scheme, that is, duty cycle (a kind of node sleep schedule that aims at putting the idle listening nodes in the network into sleep state such that the nodes will be awake only when they are needed), and energy‐consumption‐based connected k‐neighborhood is applied to allow sensor nodes to have enough time to recharge energy, which takes nodes' current energy level as the parameter to dynamically schedule nodes to be active or asleep. Third is the routing layer, in which a forwarding node chooses the next‐hop node based on 2‐hop neighbor information rather than 1‐hop. Performance of two‐phase geographic greedy forwarding plus algorithm is evaluated under three different forwarding policies, to meet different application requirements. Our extensive simulations show that by cross‐layer optimization, more shorter paths are found, resulting in shorter average path length, yet without causing much energy consumption. On top of these, a considerable increase of the network sleep rate is achieved. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Avian response to conservation buffers in agricultural landscapes during winter
Authors: Evans Kristine O. , Burger L. Wes , Riffell Samuel K. , Smith Mark D. , Twedt Daniel J. , Wilson R. Randy , Vorisek Shawchyi , Rideout Catherine , Heyden Kate
Published: February 2014

Native herbaceous vegetation cover along row‐crop field edges (i.e., field buffers) increases breeding densities of many bird species. However, the effect of field buffers on bird species during the non‐breeding season is less understood. We compared density, avian richness, and avian conservation value on row‐crop fields containing buffers strategically designed for wildlife versus fields without buffers in 3 southeastern U.S. states during winter 2007 and 2008. Fields with buffers were enrolled in U.S. Department of Agriculture, Conservation Reserve Program practice Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds (CP33), which targets restoration of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and other upland bird species. Overall species richness did not differ on fields with buffers versus fields without buffers in 2007, but was 29% greater on fields with buffers in 2008. Swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana), song sparrows (M. melodia), field sparrows (Spizella pusilla), and red‐bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) had greater densities on fields with buffers compared with fields without buffers. Increasing field‐buffer width did not result in greater bird densities. Our results suggest a small change in primary land use (≈7%) produced a disproportionate population response by some grassland‐dependent and woodland bird species during winter. Because field buffers provide a direct source of winter food and cover resources, they may be a pragmatic means to provide critical non‐breeding habitat with little alteration of existing agricultural systems. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Stability and performance guarantees for model predictive control algorithms without terminal constraints
Authors: Pannek J. , Worthmann K.
Published: February 2014

A typical bottleneck of model predictive control algorithms is the computational burden in order to compute the receding horizon feedback law which is predominantly determined by the length of the prediction horizon. Based on a relaxed Lyapunov inequality we present techniques which allow us to show stability and suboptimality estimates for a reduced prediction horizon. In particular, the known structural properties of suboptimality estimates based on a controllability condition are used to cut the gap between theoretic stability results and numerical observations.
On some isoperimetric inequalities involving eigenvalues of symmetric free membranes
Authors: Enache Cristian , Philippin Gérard A.
Published: February 2014

This paper deals with the eigenvalues of the Neumann Laplacian on simply‐connected Lipschitz planar domains with some rotational symmetry. Our aim is to continue the investigations from Enache and Philippin [7] and derive new isoperimetric estimates for eigenvalues of higher order.
Cryopreservation in ART and concerns with contamination during cryobanking
Authors: Larman Mark G. , Hashimoto Shu , Morimoto Yoshiharu , Gardner David K.
Published: February 2014

The cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is vital to numerous fields of reproductive biology, including assisted human reproduction. With improved culture conditions, there are an increasing number of embryos to cryopreserve for potential use in subsequent cycles. Many of the gametes and embryos in human IVF are cryopreserved in open systems. Because liquid nitrogen is not sterile, concerns have been raised with regard to contamination from the liquid nitrogen and also cross‐contamination between patients’ germplasm. Human gamete and embryo cryopreservation are discussed, with recommendations on how to minimize and eliminate contamination, emphasizing the benefits of closed vitrification devices.
Specific Cx43 phosphorylation events regulate gap junction turnover in vivo
Authors: Solan Joell L. , Lampe Paul D.
Published: February 2014

Gap junctions, composed of proteins from the connexin gene family, are highly dynamic structures that are regulated by kinase‐mediated signaling pathways and interactions with other proteins. Phosphorylation of Connexin43 (Cx43) at different sites controls gap junction assembly, gap junction size and gap junction turnover. Here we present a model describing how Akt, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and src kinase coordinate to regulate rapid turnover of gap junctions. Specifically, Akt phosphorylates Cx43 at S373 eliminating interaction with zona occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) allowing gap junctions to enlarge. Then MAPK and src phosphorylate Cx43 to initiate turnover. We integrate published data with new data to test and refine this model. Finally, we propose that differential coordination of kinase activation and Cx43 phosphorylation controls the specific routes of disassembly, e.g., annular junction formation or gap junctions can potentially “unzip” and be internalized/endocytosed into the cell that produced each connexin.
Effects of Three Commonly-Used Diuretics on the Urinary Proteome
Authors: Li Xundou , Zhao Mindi , Li Menglin , Jia Lulu , Gao Youhe
Published: February 2014

Biomarker is the measurable change associated with a physiological or pathophysiological process. Unlike blood which has mechanisms to keep the internal environment homeostatic, urine is more likely to reflect changes of the body. As a result, urine is likely to be a better biomarker source than blood. However, since the urinary proteome is affected by many factors, including diuretics, careful evaluation of those effects is necessary if urinary proteomics is used for biomarker discovery. Here, we evaluated the effects of three commonly-used diuretics (furosemide, F; hydrochlorothiazide, H; and spirolactone, S) on the urinary proteome in rats. Urine samples were collected before and after intragastric administration of diuretics at therapeutic doses and the proteomes were analyzed using label-free liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Based on the criteria of P  ⩽ 0.05, a fold change ⩾2, a spectral count ⩾5, and false positive rate (FDR) ⩽1%, 14 proteins (seven for F, five for H, and two for S) were identified by Progenesis LC–MS. The human orthologs of most of these 14 proteins are stable in the healthy human urinary proteome, and ten of them are reported as disease biomarkers. Thus, our results suggest that the effects of diuretics deserve more attention in future urinary protein biomarker studies. Moreover, the distinct effects of diuretics on the urinary proteome may provide clues to the mechanisms of diuretics.
Meta-QC-Chain: Comprehensive and Fast Quality Control Method for Metagenomic Data
Authors: Zhou Qian , Su Xiaoquan , Jing Gongchao , Ning Kang
Published: February 2014

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has revolutionized and significantly impacted metagenomic research. However, the NGS data usually contains sequencing artifacts such as low-quality reads and contaminating reads, which will significantly compromise downstream analysis. Many quality control (QC) tools have been proposed, however, few of them have been verified to be suitable or efficient for metagenomic data, which are composed of multiple genomes and are more complex than other kinds of NGS data. Here we present a metagenomic data QC method named Meta-QC-Chain. Meta-QC-Chain combines multiple QC functions: technical tests describe input data status and identify potential errors, quality trimming filters poor sequencing-quality bases and reads, and contamination screening identifies higher eukaryotic species, which are considered as contamination for metagenomic data. Most computing processes are optimized based on parallel programming. Testing on an 8-GB real dataset showed that Meta-QC-Chain trimmed low sequencing-quality reads and contaminating reads, and the whole quality control procedure was completed within 20 min. Therefore, Meta-QC-Chain provides a comprehensive, useful and high-performance QC tool for metagenomic data. Meta-QC-Chain is publicly available for free at: http://computationalbioenergy.org/meta-qc-chain.html.
Long-Term Complications of Rattlesnake Bites: A Telephone Survey From Central California
Authors: Spano Susanne J. , Vohra Rais , Macias Fernando
Published: February 2014

Objective

The purpose of this institutional review board-approved, cross-sectional study was to identify residual symptoms and signs of envenomation reported by snakebite survivors via a telephone survey.

Methods

Victims of rattlesnake bite who were treated at a single hospital center during a 10-year period were contacted through a telephone survey. Study subjects were included through a diagnosis-based retrospective chart review of snakebite victims, and excluded if they did not receive rattlesnake antivenom. Data collection was done using a standardized form that included sections about residual, recurrent, or new pain, weakness, paresthesias, or other limitations of the bitten limb.

Results

We identified 46 snakebite cases including 5 of 46 “dry” bites. The remaining cases (41 of 46) all received Crofab. Interviews were completed for 31% of these patients (13 of 41), and the remainder were lost to follow-up. Most bites occurred in men (12 cases, 92% males) and on the arms (9 cases, 69%). Six of the 13 respondents (46%) reported residual symptoms from the bite. Persistent symptoms described included localized pain at the bite site (3 cases), numbness or paresthesias (2 cases), abnormal skin peeling and discoloration at the bite site (2 cases), and persistent weakness of the bitten extremity (1 case). Among patients reporting persistent symptoms, the bite-to-survey interval ranged from 7 months to 12 years, with a median interval of 4 years.

Conclusions

Our study population demonstrated a notable incidence (43%) of self-reported persistent symptoms related to their rattlesnake bites, although the overall level of disability from these injuries seems low.
How to Promote Order and Property Rights under Weak Rule of Law? An Experiment in Changing Dispute Resolution Behavior through Community Education
Authors: BLATTMAN CHRISTOPHER , HARTMAN ALEXANDRA C. , BLAIR ROBERT A.
Published: February 2014

Dispute resolution institutions facilitate agreements and preserve the peace whenever property rights are imperfect. In weak states, strengthening formal institutions can take decades, and so state and aid interventions also try to shape informal practices and norms governing disputes. Their goal is to improve bargaining and commitment, thus limiting disputes and violence. Mass education campaigns that promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are common examples of these interventions. We studied the short-term impacts of one such campaign in Liberia, where property disputes are endemic. Residents of 86 of 246 towns randomly received training in ADR practices and norms; this training reached 15% of adults. One year later, treated towns had higher resolution of land disputes and lower violence. Impacts spilled over to untrained residents. We also saw unintended consequences: more extrajudicial punishment and (weakly) more nonviolent disagreements. Results imply that mass education can change high-stakes behaviors, and improving informal bargaining and enforcement behavior can promote order in weak states.
Scandal Potential: How Political Context and News Congestion Affect the President's Vulnerability to Media Scandal
Authors: Nyhan Brendan
Published: February 2014

Despite its importance in contemporary American politics, presidential scandal is poorly understood within political science. Scholars typically interpret scandals as resulting from the disclosure of official misbehavior, but the likelihood and intensity of media scandals is also influenced by the political and news context. This article provides a theoretical argument for two independent factors that should increase the president's vulnerability to scandal: low approval among opposition party identifiers and a lack of congestion in the news agenda. Using new data and statistical approaches, I find strong support for both claims. These results suggest that contextual factors shape the occurrence of political events and how such events are interpreted.
Machiavel et la vertu intellectuelle de prudence : étude du chapitre XXV du Prince*
Authors: Duhamel Jérémie
Published: February 2014

Résumé.L'objectif de cet article est de souligner les limites de l'idée, fort répandue parmi les commentateurs de Machiavel, selon laquelle c'est dans la domination de la « fortuna » que la nature véritable de la « virtù » se révélerait. À partir d'une analyse approfondie du chapitre XXV duPrince, nous nous efforçons de montrer que la « virtù » est indissociable d'un monde que les individus ne peuvent s'empêcher de rendre instable et incertain. Notre hypothèse est que la prudence machiavélienne est caractérisée par une tension irréductible entre l'effort visant à contenir les effets délétères de l'imprévisibilité des « cose del mondo » et la reconnaissance des limites fondamentales des pouvoirs individuels et collectifs sollicités à cette fin.

Abstract.This article aims to show the limits of the idea, prevalent among Machiavellian scholars, that “virtù” reveals its true nature in the domination of “fortuna.” Through an in-depth analysis of chapter XXV ofThe Prince, we try to demonstrate that “virtù” is inseparable from a world that individuals render unstable and uncertain in spite of themselves. Our hypothesis is that Machiavellian prudence is characterized by an irreducible tension between the efforts undertaken to constrain the harmful effects of the unpredictable “cose del mondo” and the recognition of the constitutive limits of individual and collective powers employed to this end.