bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solving Adaptive Image Restoration Problems via a Modified Projection Algorithm
Authors: Yang Hao , Luo Xueping , Chen Leiting
Published: April 2016

We introduce a new general TV regularizer, namely, generalized TV regularization, to study image denoising and nonblind image deblurring problems. In order to discuss the generalized TV image restoration with solution-driven adaptivity, we consider the existence and uniqueness of the solution for mixed quasi-variational inequality. Moreover, the convergence of a modified projection algorithm for solving mixed quasi-variational inequalities is also shown. The corresponding experimental results support our theoretical findings.
Assessing Sensitivity of Hyperspectral Sensor to Detect Oils with Sea Ice
Authors: Liu Bingxin , Li Ying , Zhang Qiang , Han Liang
Published: April 2016

The reflectance of two commonly used oils, crude oil and diesel, is measured under various conditions: on a water surface, among pack ice, and on/beneath compact ice. The spectral characteristics of each oil are analyzed using the results from these measures. In conjunction with estimated noise thresholds of the sensor environment, the theoretical potential to identify oil is assessed for the hyperspectral Hyperion. The hyperspectral sensor is more sensitive to the crude oil than to diesel under all conditions. The visible and infrared bands, from 468 nm to 933 nm, are more suitable to identify the crude oil. In addition, when the background is pack ice, the infrared region from 1134 nm to 1326 nm is another potential useful zone. Through the visible-to-infrared bands, the sensitivity to the existence of diesel is inferior to that of crude oil. Relatively, the bands greater than 1134 nm have the potential to separate diesel from the water or sea ice. These characteristics and sensitivity of oil film in terms of ice and oil type can be effectively used to select suitable bands to distinguish oils from sea water and sea ice.
Promoting Motor Cortical Plasticity with Acute Aerobic Exercise: A Role for Cerebellar Circuits
Authors: Mang Cameron S. , Brown Katlyn E. , Neva Jason L. , Snow Nicholas J. , Campbell Kristin L. , Boyd Lara A.
Published: April 2016

Acute aerobic exercise facilitated long-term potentiation-like plasticity in the human primary motor cortex (M1). Here, we investigated the effect of acute aerobic exercise on cerebellar circuits, and their potential contribution to altered M1 plasticity in healthy individuals (age:24.8±4.1years). In Experiment   1, acute aerobic exercise reduced cerebellar inhibition (CBI) (n=10,p=0.01), elicited by dual-coil paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. In Experiment   2, we evaluated the facilitatory effects of aerobic exercise on responses to paired associative stimulation, delivered with a 25 ms (PAS25) or 21 ms (PAS21) interstimulus interval (n=16per group). Increased M1 excitability evoked by PAS25, but not PAS21, relies on trans-cerebellar sensory pathways. The magnitude of the aerobic exercise effect on PAS response was not significantly different between PAS protocols (interaction effect:p=0.30); however, planned comparisons indicated that, relative to a period of rest, acute aerobic exercise enhanced the excitatory response to PAS25(p=0.02), but not PAS21(p=0.30). Thus, the results of these planned comparisons indirectly provide modest evidence that modulation of cerebellar circuits may contribute to exercise-induced increases in M1 plasticity. The findings have implications for developing aerobic exercise strategies to “prime” M1 plasticity for enhanced motor skill learning in applied settings.
Preparation Methods for Improving PEEK’s Bioactivity for Orthopedic and Dental Application: A Review
Authors: Almasi Davood , Iqbal Nida , Sadeghi Maliheh , Sudin Izman , Abdul Kadir Mohammed Rafiq , Kamarul Tunku
Published: April 2016

There is an increased interest in the use of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) for orthopedic and dental implant applications due to its elastic modulus close to that of bone, biocompatibility, and its radiolucent properties. However, PEEK is still categorized as bioinert due to its low integration with surrounding tissues. Many studies have reported on methods to increase the bioactivity of PEEK, but there is still one-preparation method for preparing bioactive PEEK implant where the produced implant with desirable mechanical and bioactivity properties is required. The aim of this review is to present the progress of the preparation methods for improvement of the bioactivity of PEEK and to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the existing methods.
FPGA-Based Real-Time Moving Target Detection System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Application
Authors: Tang Jia Wei , Shaikh-Husin Nasir , Sheikh Usman Ullah , Marsono M. N.
Published: April 2016

Moving target detection is the most common task for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to find and track object of interest from a bird’s eye view in mobile aerial surveillance for civilian applications such as search and rescue operation. The complex detection algorithm can be implemented in a real-time embedded system using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This paper presents the development of real-time moving target detection System-on-Chip (SoC) using FPGA for deployment on a UAV. The detection algorithm utilizes area-based image registration technique which includes motion estimation and object segmentation processes. The moving target detection system has been prototyped on a low-cost Terasic DE2-115 board mounted with TRDB-D5M camera. The system consists of Nios II processor and stream-oriented dedicated hardware accelerators running at 100 MHz clock rate, achieving 30-frame per second processing speed for 640 × 480 pixels’ resolution greyscale videos.
Human Liver Stem Cells Suppress T‐Cell Proliferation, NK Activity, and Dendritic Cell Differentiation
Authors: Bruno Stefania , Grange Cristina , Tapparo Marta , Pasquino Chiara , Romagnoli Renato , Dametto Ennia , Amoroso Antonio , Tetta Ciro , Camussi Giovanni
Published: April 2016

Human liver stem cells (HLSCs) are a mesenchymal stromal cell‐like population resident in the adult liver. Preclinical studies indicate that HLSCs could be a good candidate for cell therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and the immunomodulatory properties of HLSCs on T‐lymphocytes, natural killer cells (NKs), and dendritic cells (DCs) in allogeneic experimental settings. We found that HLSCs inhibited T‐cell proliferation by a mechanism independent of cell contact and dependent on the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and on indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase activity. When compared with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), HLSCs were more efficient in inhibiting T‐cell proliferation. At variance with MSCs, HLSCs did not elicit NK degranulation. Moreover, HLSCs inhibited NK degranulation against K562, a NK‐sensitive target, by a mechanism dependent on HLA‐G release. When tested on DC generation from monocytes, HLSCs were found to impair DC differentiation and DCs ability to induce T‐cell proliferation through PGE2. This study shows that HLSCs have immunomodulatory properties similar to MSCs, but, at variance with MSCs, they do not elicit a NK response.
The Clinical Effect of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Lv Zheng-tao , Jiang Wen-xiu , Huang Jun-ming , Zhang Jin-ming , Chen An-min
Published: April 2016

Purpose. This study aims to determine the clinical efficacy of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted in five databases including PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Wanfang, and CNKI to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of acupuncture therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. Meta‐analysis was conducted using the RevMan version 5.3 software. Results. Six RCTs involving 362 subjects were included in our study. Compared with control groups, manual acupuncture (MA) was more effective in the improvement of apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index, hypopnea index, and mean SaO2. Electroacupuncture (EA) was better in improving the AHI and apnea index when compared with control treatment, but no statistically significant differences in hypopnea index and mean SaO2 were found. In the comparison of MA and nasal continuous positive airway pressure, the results favored MA in the improvement of AHI; there was no statistical difference in the improvement in mean SaO2. No adverse events associated with acupuncture therapy were documented. Conclusion. Compared to control groups, both MA and EA were more effective in improving AHI and mean SaO2. In addition, MA could further improve apnea index and hypopnea index compared to control.
Suicides and Suicide Attempts during Long-Term Treatment with Antidepressants: A Meta-Analysis of 29 Placebo-Controlled Studies Including 6,934 Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Braun Cora , Bschor Tom , Franklin Jeremy , Baethge Christopher
Published: April 2016

Background: It is unclear whether antidepressants can prevent suicides or suicide attempts, particularly during long-term use. Methods: We carried out a comprehensive review of long-term studies of antidepressants (relapse prevention). Sources were obtained from 5 review articles and by searches of MEDLINE, PubMed Central and a hand search of bibliographies. We meta-analyzed placebo-controlled antidepressant RCTs of at least 3 months' duration and calculated suicide and suicide attempt incidence rates, incidence rate ratios and Peto odds ratios (ORs). Results: Out of 807 studies screened 29 were included, covering 6,934 patients (5,529 patient-years). In total, 1.45 suicides and 2.76 suicide attempts per 1,000 patient-years were reported. Seven out of 8 suicides and 13 out of 14 suicide attempts occurred in antidepressant arms, resulting in incidence rate ratios of 5.03 (0.78-114.1; p = 0.102) for suicides and of 9.02 (1.58-193.6; p = 0.007) for suicide attempts. Peto ORs were 2.6 (0.6-11.2; nonsignificant) and 3.4 (1.1-11.0; p = 0.04), respectively. Dropouts due to unknown reasons were similar in the antidepressant and placebo arms (9.6 vs. 9.9%). The majority of suicides and suicide attempts originated from 1 study, accounting for a fifth of all patient-years in this meta-analysis. Leaving out this study resulted in a nonsignificant incidence rate ratio for suicide attempts of 3.83 (0.53-91.01). Conclusions: Therapists should be aware of the lack of proof from RCTs that antidepressants prevent suicides and suicide attempts. We cannot conclude with certainty whether antidepressants increase the risk for suicide or suicide attempts. Researchers must report all suicides and suicide attempts in RCTs.
A Genome-Wide Test of the Differential Susceptibility Hypothesis Reveals a Genetic Predictor of Differential Response to Psychological Treatments for Child Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Keers Robert , Coleman Jonathan R.I. , Lester Kathryn J. , Roberts Susanna , Breen Gerome , Thastum Mikael , Bögels Susan , Schneider Silvia , Heiervang Einar , Meiser-Stedman Richard , Nauta Maaike , Creswell Cathy , Thirlwall Kerstin , Rapee Ronald M. , Hudson Jennifer L. , Lewis Cathryn , Plomin Robert , Eley Thalia C.
Published: April 2016

Background: The differential susceptibly hypothesis suggests that certain genetic variants moderate the effects of both negative and positive environments on mental health and may therefore be important predictors of response to psychological treatments. Nevertheless, the identification of such variants has so far been limited to preselected candidate genes. In this study we extended the differential susceptibility hypothesis from a candidate gene to a genome-wide approach to test whether a polygenic score of environmental sensitivity predicted response to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in children with anxiety disorders. Methods: We identified variants associated with environmental sensitivity using a novel method in which within-pair variability in emotional problems in 1,026 monozygotic twin pairs was examined as a function of the pairs' genotype. We created a polygenic score of environmental sensitivity based on the whole-genome findings and tested the score as a moderator of parenting on emotional problems in 1,406 children and response to individual, group and brief parent-led CBT in 973 children with anxiety disorders. Results: The polygenic score significantly moderated the effects of parenting on emotional problems and the effects of treatment. Individuals with a high score responded significantly better to individual CBT than group CBT or brief parent-led CBT (remission rates: 70.9, 55.5 and 41.6%, respectively). Conclusions: Pending successful replication, our results should be considered exploratory. Nevertheless, if replicated, they suggest that individuals with the greatest environmental sensitivity may be more likely to develop emotional problems in adverse environments but also benefit more from the most intensive types of treatment.
Clinical Relevance of IgE to Profilin and/or Polcalcin in Pollen-Sensitized Patients
Authors: San Nicoló Marion , Braun Thomas , Eder Katharina , Berghaus Alexander , Gröger Moritz
Published: April 2016

Background: Component-resolved diagnostics is gaining importance in allergy diagnostics. Allergen extracts contain components with different rates of prevalence and clinical relevance, which can be subdivided at molecular level into major and minor allergens. Clinical complaints are usually triggered by major allergens, while the role of sensitization to the panallergens profilin and polcalcin still remains unclear. Methods: Eighty-six patients from southern Bavaria with sensitization to the panallergens profilin (Bet v 2/Phl p 12) and/or polcalcin (Bet v 4/Phl p 7) were examined in regard to their sensitization to the 4 main botanic denominations Betulaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae by skin prick test and measurement of specific immunoglobulin E antibodies to natural allergen extracts as well as major allergen components rPhl p 1/5, rBet v 1, rOle e 1 and nArt v 1. Sensitization was rated as clinically relevant or irrelevant depending on anamnesis or intranasal allergen challenge. Results: Regarding the 4 botanic denominations, there was no significant difference in the incidence of sensitization to the panallergens profilin, polcalcin or both. The sensitization pattern does not alter when subdividing the cohort into clinically relevant and silent sensitization. We did not find clinically symptomatic sensitization to panallergens without cosensitization to a major allergen. Conclusions: Our results suggest that sole sensitization to panallergens seems to have no clinical relevance in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Clinical complaints seem to be triggered manly by major allergens. Thus, component-resolved allergy diagnostics is crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of polysensitized patients.
Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group
Authors: Pasquali Sara K. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Farber Gregory K. , Bertoch David , Blume Elizabeth D. , Burns Kristin M. , Campbell Robert , Chang Anthony C. , Chung Wendy K. , Riehle-Colarusso Tiffany , Curtis Lesley H. , Forrest Christopher B. , Gaynor William J. , Gaies Michael G. , Go Alan S. , Henchey Paul , Martin Gerard R. , Pearson Gail , Pemberton Victoria L. , Schwartz Steven M. , Vincent Robert , Kaltman Jonathan R.
Published: April 2016

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a working group in January 2015 to explore issues related to an integrated data network for congenital heart disease research. The overall goal was to develop a common vision for how the rapidly increasing volumes of data captured across numerous sources can be managed, integrated, and analyzed to improve care and outcomes. This report summarizes the current landscape of congenital heart disease data, data integration methodologies used across other fields, key considerations for data integration models in congenital heart disease, and the short- and long-term vision and recommendations made by the working group.
Salvia wuana (Lamiaceae), a new name for S. pauciflora E. Peter
Authors: XIANG CHUN-LEI , HU GUO-XIONG , PENG HUA
Published: April 2016

The genus Salvia Linnaeus (1753: 253) contains about 1000 species (Alziar 1988–1993) and is distributed cosmopolitanly (Harley et al. 2004). The genus is by far the largest genus of Lamiaceae over the world, and the second largest of this family in China. Totally 85 species are recorded from China, of which 81 are native (Li & Hedge 1994, Hu et al. 2013, 2014, Hu & Peng 2015). Some species, such as S. coccinea Buc’hoz ex Etlinger (1777: 23) and S. tiliifolia Vahl (1794: 3), have successfully naturalized in China (Hu et al. 2013); while other species, e.g. S. splendens Sellow ex Wied-Neuwied (1820: 46), are widely cultivated in China.
First record and a new species of Metopiasoides Comellini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) from Peru
Authors: ASENJO ANGÉLICO
Published: April 2016

Metopiasoides jefersoni Asenjo, a new species, of the Neotropical pselaphine tribe Metopiasini, is described from Urubamba Valley in southeastern Peru (Cusco state). Major diagnostic features are illustrated.
Notes on the differences between Fredlanea and Eulachnesia, and description of a new species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Hemilophini)
Authors: GALILEO MARIA HELENA M. , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO
Published: April 2016

During the process of identification of some specimens sent to the late Ubirajara Ribeiro Martins de Souza by Miguel Angel Monné, we came across some problems involving the genera Fredlanea Martins & Galileo, 1996 and Eulachnesia Bates, 1872. Herein we try to make clearer the differences between those two closely related genera. Actually, only a single good and constant difference could be found between those genera, as shown below.
Revision of the genus Araneibatrus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)
Authors: Yin ZI-WEI , JIANG RI-XIN , STEINER HELMUT
Published: April 2016

The genus Araneibatrus Yin & Li, 2010 is placed as a senior subjective synonym of Tribasodellus Nomura & Yin, 2011, syn. n., resulting in A. callissimus (Nomura & Wang, 1991) comb. n. (= Tribasodellus callissimus). A revised diagnosis and a redescription of Araneibatrus are provided, and the generic limits of Araneibatrus are re-evaluated. Four new species collected in limestone caves are described from China and Laos: A. cellulanus sp. n. (China: Guangdong), A. grossepunctatus sp. n. (China: Hunan), A. pubescens sp. n. (China: Yunnan), and A. spinosus sp. n. (Laos: Oudomxay). All six known species are diagnosed, illustrated, keyed, and mapped.
Association of the female of Perdita (Xeromacrotera) cephalotes (Cresson), and a replacement name for Perdita bohartorum Parker (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)
Authors: PORTMAN ZACHARY M. , GRISWOLD TERRY , PITTS JAMES P.
Published: April 2016

The monotypic Perdita subgenus Xeromacrotera Timberlake is currently known only from the male sex. Here, the female of Perdita (Xeromacrotera) cephalotes (Cresson, 1878) is associated, resulting in two new junior synonyms of P. (X.) cephalotes: Perdita (Procockerellia) excellens Timberlake, 1958, new synonym and Perdita (Cockerellia) autumnalis Timberlake, 1977, new synonym. The true number of maxillary palpi are reported, and updated subgeneric and species diagnoses are provided. In addition, Perdita boharti Portman & Griswold, new name, is designated as a replacement name for the primary junior homonym P. bohartorum Parker, 1983 (not P. bohartorum Timberlake, 1956) and is assigned to the related subgenus Cockerellia Ashmead.
The Role of Crocodilians in Game Utilization Schemes in the Sadcc Region of Africa
Authors: Simbotwe Malumo Philip
Published: April 2016

Farming and ranching crocodiles has of late attracted much entrepreneural attention in Africa especially in the SADCC region of Southern Africa where crocodiles still occur in abundance. There are two main reasons for this sudden interest. 1) Crocodile farming and ranching is rewarding in both economic and commercial terms; and 2) the economic value of crocodiles provides a good argument in support of sustainable conservation of the crocodile.
After migration: Acculturation of attitudes towards homosexuality among Polish immigrants in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK
Authors: Röder Antje , Lubbers Marcel
Published: April 2016

Public opinion on homosexuality remains unfavourable in Poland, one of the main sending countries of migrants to Western Europe. This contrasts sharply with public opinion in many of the Western European receiving countries. Using data collected shortly after migration and in a second wave one and a half years later, this contribution investigates the extent to which Polish migrants’ anti-gay attitudes change over time. Focusing on four Western European countries (Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK), it examines factors that act as barriers and facilitators of acculturation. We find that intention to settle permanently and greater social integration in the host country are associated with greater acculturation, while the opposite is the case for religious involvement and negative attitudes about the host society.
Between ethnic options and ethnic boundaries – Recent Polish and Turkish migrants' identification with Germany
Authors: Diehl Claudia , Fischer-Neumann Marion , Mühlau Peter
Published: April 2016

We describe migrants' early patterns of identification with the receiving society and explain why these differ by migrants' origins. Using longitudinal data from a novel survey among recent immigrants from Poland and Turkey in Germany enables us to analyse the nexus between social assimilation, ethnic boundaries and identification more directly than previous studies.

Theoretically, we start out from assimilation theory and its assumption that migrants' identification with the receiving country is a consequence of their preceding social and cognitive assimilation and from the literature on ethnic boundaries.

Results suggest that Turkish new migrants start out with higher levels of identification with Germany than Poles. Over time, however, their national identification decreases while it increases for Poles. This is partly explained by the fact that Turkish migrants' social assimilation stagnates; more importantly, only Turks perceive more rather than less discrimination and value incompatibility over time.

While both groups' identificational integration with the receiving country thus starts out from different conditions, they do not show a fundamentally dissimilar pattern with respect to the consequences of assimilation and discrimination for their national identification. Yet, the negative impact of the latter is stronger for Turks than for Poles, reflecting the greater salience of ethnic boundaries for this group.
Hepcidin in the diagnosis of iron disorders
Authors: Girelli Domenico , Nemeth Elizabeta , Swinkels Dorine W.
Published: April 2016

The discovery of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin in 2001 has revolutionized our understanding of iron disorders, and its measurement should advance diagnosis/treatment of these conditions. Although several assays have been developed, a gold standard is still lacking, and efforts toward harmonization are ongoing. Nevertheless, promising applications can already be glimpsed, ranging from the use of hepcidin levels for diagnosing iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia to global health applications such as guiding safe iron supplementation in developing countries with high infection burden.
VCAM-1+ placenta chorionic villi-derived mesenchymal stem cells display potent pro-angiogenic activity
Authors: Du Wenjing , Li Xue , Chi Ying , Ma Fengxia , Li Zongjin , Yang Shaoguang , Song Baoquan , Cui Junjie , Ma Tao , Li Juanjuan , Tian Jianjian , Yang Zhouxin , Feng Xiaoming , Chen Fang , Lu Shihong , Liang Lu , Han Zhi-Bo , Han Zhong-Chao
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a heterogeneous cell population that is promising for regenerative medicine. The present study was designed to assess whether VCAM-1 can be used as a marker of MSC subpopulation with superior angiogenic potential.

Methods

MSCs were isolated from placenta chorionic villi (CV). The VCAM-1+/− CV-MSCs population were separated by Flow Cytometry and subjected to a comparative analysis for their angiogenic properties including angiogenic genes expression, vasculo-angiogenic abilities on Matrigel in vitro and in vivo, angiogenic paracrine activities, cytokine array, and therapeutic angiogenesis in vascular ischemic diseases.

Results

Angiogenic genes, including HGF, ANG, IL8, IL6, VEGF-A, TGFβ, MMP2 and bFGF, were up-regulated in VCAM-1+CV-MSCs. Consistently, angiogenic cytokines especially HGF, IL8, angiogenin, angiopoitin-2, μPAR, CXCL1, IL-1β, IL-1α, CSF2, CSF3, MCP-3, CTACK, and OPG were found to be significantly increased in VCAM-1+ CV-MSCs. Moreover, VCAM-1+CV-MSCs showed remarkable vasculo-angiogenic abilities by angiogenesis analysis with Matrigel in vitro and in vivo and the conditioned medium of VCAM-1+ CV-MSCs exerted markedly pro-proliferative and pro-migratory effects on endothelial cells compared to VCAM-1−CV-MSCs. Finally, transplantation of VCAM-1+CV-MSCs into the ischemic hind limb of BALB/c nude mice resulted in a significantly functional improvement in comparison with VCAM-1−CV-MSCs transplantation.

Conclusions

VCAM-1+CV-MSCs possessed a favorable angiogenic paracrine activity and displayed therapeutic efficacy on hindlimb ischemia. Our results suggested that VCAM-1+CV-MSCs may represent an important subpopulation of MSC for efficient therapeutic angiogenesis.
A novel method for banking stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth: lentiviral TERT immortalization and phenotypical analysis
Authors: Yin Zhanhai , Wang Qi , Li Ye , Wei Hong , Shi Jianfeng , Li Ang
Published: April 2016

Background

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have recently attracted attention as novel multipotential stem cell sources. However, their application is limited due to in vitro replicative senescence. Ectopic expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a promising strategy for overcoming this replicative senescence. Nevertheless, its potential application and the phenotype as well as tumorigenicity have never been assessed in SHED.

Methods

TERT expression was stably restored in SHED (TERT-SHED) isolated from healthy children aged 6–8 years using lentiviral transduction with a puromycin selection marker. The expression of TERT was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Surface markers of SHED were detected by flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess senescence-associated β-galactosidase, while CCK-8 methods were used to examine the proliferation capacity of SHED and TERT-SHED at different passages. Moreover, multilineage differentiation, karyotype, colony formation in soft agar, and tumor formation in nude mice of SHED and TERT-SHED were also examined.

Results

Lentiviral transduction induced stable TERT expression even in SHED at the 40th passage. TERT-SHED showed robust proliferation capacity and low concentration of β-galactosidase. Although they had some different biomarkers than early passage SHED, TERT-SHED at late passage showed similar mutilineage differentiation as TERT at early passage. Moreover, TERT-SHED at late passage showed normal karyotype, no soft agar colony formation, and no tumor formation in nude mice.

Conclusions

TERT-immortalized SHED may be a promising resource for stem-cell therapy, although attention should be paid to the biological behavior of the cells.
Feasibility of approximate broadband estimation of acoustic impedance profile from first principles and band-limited reflection data
Authors: Ghosh Santi Kumar , Mandal Animesh
Published: April 2016

Because seismic reflection data are band limited, acoustic impedance profiles derived from them are nonunique. The conventional inversion methods counter the nonuniqueness either by stabilizing the answer with respect to an initial model or by imposing mathematical constraints such as sparsity of the reflection coefficients. By making a nominal assumption of an earth model locally consisting of a stack of homogeneous and horizontal layers, we have formulated a set of linear equations in which the reflection coefficients are the unknowns and the recursively integrated seismic trace constitute the data. Drawing only on first principles, the Zoeppritz equation in this case, the approach makes a frontal assault on the problem of reconstructing reflection coefficients from band-limited data. The local layer-cake assumption and the strategy of seeking a singular value decomposition solution of the linear equations counter the nonuniqueness, provided that the objective is to reconstruct a smooth version of the impedance profile that includes only its crude structures. Tests on synthetic data generated from elementary models and from measured logs of acoustic impedance demonstrated the efficacy of the method, even when a significant amount of noise was added to the data. The emergence of consistent estimates of impedance, approximating the original impedance, from synthetic data generated for several frequency bands has inspired our confidence in the method. The other attractive outputs of the method are as follows: (1) an accurate estimate of the impedance mean, (2) an accurate reconstruction of the direct-current (DC) frequency of the reflectivity, and (3) an acceptable reconstruction of the broad outline of the original impedance profile. These outputs can serve as constraints for either more refined inversions or geologic interpretations. Beginning from the restriction of band-limited data, we have devised a method that neither requires a starting input model nor imposes mathematical constraints on the earth reflectivity and still yielded significant and relevant geologic information.
Modeling of pure acoustic wave in tilted transversely isotropic media using optimized pseudo-differential operators
Authors: Yan Jun , Liu Hong
Published: April 2016

Conventional modeling and imaging for tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media may suffer from numerical instabilities and shear artifacts due to the coupling of the P- and SV-wave modes in the coupled equations. On the contrary, the decoupled equations for TTI media provide a more stable solution due to the separated P- and S-wave modes. Because the decoupled equations involve complicated pseudo-differential operators in space, it is more convenient to apply the pseudo-spectral method to these equations. However, the second-order time-stepping scheme of the pseudo-spectral method may suffer from time-stepping errors and instabilities for a large time step. We have developed an optimized pseudo-differential operator (OPO) that incorporates not only the spectral evaluation of the pseudo-differential operator but also a temporal correction term that would effectively compensate the time-stepping errors associated with the time-wavenumber domain extrapolation of the wave equation. The OPO was constructed through multiplying the symbol of the OPO by the normalized pseudo-Laplacian operator, which contains a variable compensation velocity. It was efficiently solved through the low-rank decomposition. We have applied OPOs to solve the TTI decoupled equation to simulate the pure acoustic wave. Our 2D and 3D synthetic results demonstrate that the proposed method has high accuracy in time and space with relaxed stability conditions compared with the conventional pseudo-spectral method. The low rank of symbols of OPOs makes the proposed method more efficient than the dispersion relation-based low-rank wave extrapolation and pseudo-analytical methods.
Multiwavelet prestack Kirchhoff migration
Authors: Lin Luchun , Shi Baoping , An Ping
Published: April 2016

The problems of stretching and aliasing usually occur in prestack Kirchhoff migration. A multiwavelet-based approach is proposed to provide an alternative approach to resolve these problems. Two steps are involved in the multiwavelet-based algorithm: The first step is the decomposition of the seismic traces with a series of wavelets of different dominant frequencies. This step is based on the principle of basis pursuit and is enhanced for more accurate and sparse decomposition by adding an adaptive subdictionary that is associated with the minima and maxima of a seismic trace. The second step is wavelet migration based on the Kirchhoff formulation using a novel approach. The outer iteration is the wavelets of the input seismic traces, which ensures that an input wavelet is only used once in the entire migration process. This enables output of multiple migrated images of different wavelets of dominant frequency ranges, elimination of noisy images, and composition of images for specific interpretation and reservoir characterization purposes with very little extra computational cost. The stretching and aliasing problems are naturally resolved because interpolation on the seismic trace is not required in the migration. We tested the algorithm using a synthetic model with a dipping layer and a 2D real seismic section. We compared our results with results obtained by conventional Kirchhoff migration.
A method for low-frequency noise suppression based on mathematical morphology in microseismic monitoring
Authors: Li Huijian , Wang Runqiu , Cao Siyuan , Chen Yangkang , Huang Weilin
Published: April 2016

The frequency of microseismic data is higher than that of conventional seismic data. The range of effective frequency is usually from 100 to 500 Hz, and low-frequency noise is a common disturbance in downhole monitoring. Conventional signal analysis techniques, such as band-pass filters, have their limitation in microseismic data processing when the useful signals and noise share the same frequency band. We have developed a novel method to suppress low-frequency noise in microseismic data based on mathematical morphology theory that aims at distinguishing useful signals and noise according to their tiny differences of waveform. By choosing suitable structure elements, we have extracted low-frequency noise from a original data set. We first developed the fundamental principle of mathematical morphology and the formulation of our approach. Then, we used a synthetic data example that was composed of a Ricker wavelet and low-frequency noise to test the feasibility and performance of the proposed approach. Our results from the synthetic example indicate that the proposed approach can effectively suppress large-scale low-frequency noise while slightly decreasing the small-scale signals. Finally, we have applied the proposed approach to field microseismic data and obtained very encouraging results.
Estimation of primaries by sparse inversion with scattering-based multiple predictions for data with large gaps
Authors: Lin Tim T.Y. , Herrmann Felix J.
Published: April 2016

We have solved the estimation of primaries by sparse inversion problem for a seismic record with large near-offset gaps and other contiguous holes in the acquisition grid without relying on explicit reconstruction of the missing data. Eliminating the unknown data as an explicit inversion variable is desirable because it sidesteps possible issues arising from overfitting the primary model to the estimated data. Instead, we have simulated their multiple contributions by augmenting the forward prediction model for the total wavefield with a scattering series that mimics the action of the free surface reflector within the area of the unobserved trace locations. Each term in this scattering series involves convolution of the total predicted wavefield once more with the current estimated Green’s function for a medium without the free surface at these unobserved locations. It is important to note that our method cannot by itself mitigate regular undersampling issues that result in significant aliases when computing the multiple contributions, such as source-receiver sampling differences or crossline spacing issues in 3D acquisition. We have investigated algorithms that handle the nonlinearity in the modeling operator due to the scattering terms, and we also determined that just a few of the terms can be enough to satisfactorily mitigate the effects of near-offset data gaps during the inversion process. Numerical experiments on synthetic data found that the final derived method can significantly outperform explicit data reconstruction for large near-offset gaps, with a similar computational cost and better memory efficiency. We have also found on real data that our scheme outperforms the unmodified primary estimation method that uses an existing Radon-based interpolation of the near-offset gap.
Vertical seismic wave gradiometry: Application at the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth
Authors: Langston Charles A. , Ayele Mehari Melak
Published: April 2016

We have developed vertical seismic wave gradiometry (VSWG) to estimate velocity, impedance, and attenuation structure in the vicinity of boreholes using borehole array waveforms of check-shot explosions near the borehole head. We have extended wave gradiometry (WG) theory from a purely local relation of the wavefield and wavefield spatial gradient to one that incorporated the ray ansatz over the length of the borehole for a traveling wave in a vertically inhomogeneous medium. We checked the ray assumption against acoustic full-wave synthetic seismograms, and it was found to yield robust measures of the medium velocity. Anelastic attenuation and impedance structure trade off, but in cases of high anelastic attenuation, realistic bounds can be placed on the seismic impedance that effectively constrains the average attenuation. We have applied these methods to data collected at the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth borehole in central California in 2005, and we found that the WG velocity estimate agreed well with the borehole acoustic log and previously determined vertical seismic profile results based on traveltime analysis except at the bottom of the hole, where refraction on a near-vertical fault affected the data. The average [Formula: see text] is approximately 20 in the frequency band of 10–30 Hz, and it is required to yield realistic values of impedance in the local medium. Application of VSWG yields appropriate, smoothed velocity models that can be used as an end product or as a starting model for full-wave inversion.
On the nature of long-period long-duration seismic events detected during hydraulic fracturing
Authors: Zecevic Megan , Daniel Guillaume , Jurick Dana
Published: April 2016

Long-period long-duration (LPLD) seismic events are low-amplitude tremor-like seismic signals that have been observed in some microseismic monitoring data sets acquired during hydraulic fracturing operations. The LPLD events have been interpreted to be associated with slow slip along preexisting fractures presumed to either have high clay content or be misaligned with respect to the current-day principal stress directions. However, a recent study indicates that regional earthquakes, when recorded on vertical downhole monitoring arrays, have similar signal characteristics to LPLD events and that care must be taken when analyzing and interpreting such signals. Using data from a hydraulic fracturing microseismic data set in which LPLD events have previously been identified and well documented, together with data from the EarthScope Transportable USArray, we have investigated the hypothesis that the documented LPLD events were regional earthquakes. We have determined that the LPLD events corresponded with signals recorded on the USArray at distances of up to 350 km away from the injection well, although they were not listed in any regional earthquake catalog. The spatial coverage of the USArray allows the sources of many of the LPLD events to be relocated outside of the treatment well area and thus suggests that they are regional earthquakes of magnitude smaller than M2.5 rather than locally sourced events related to the hydraulic fracturing stimulation process.
Against Counterfactual Miracles
Authors: Dorr Cian
Published: April 2016

This essay considers how counterfactuals should be evaluated on the assumption that determinism is true. It argues against Lewis's influential view that if anything had happened that did not actually happen, the actual laws of nature would have been false, and defends the competing view that history would have been different—but only microscopically different—all the way back.
John Wolcot and “The Anecdotic Itch”: Peter Pindar, Biography, and Historiography in the 1780s
Authors: Moore Dafydd
Published: April 2016

John Wolcot, under his nom de plume of Peter Pindar, was one of the most popular satirists of the late eighteenth century. Today his work is primarily known for his anti-ministerial satires during the 1790s and discussed in terms of its radical credentials in ways that have narrowed our understanding of his achievement and interests. This essay reads three of Wolcot's key poems from the 1780s in terms of his focus on the use of anecdote in writing history and biography, and his self-conscious interest in writing about great men. In A Poetical and Congratulatory Epistle to James Boswell, Esq on his Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with the celebrated Dr Johnson (1786) and Bozzy and Piozzi, or, The British Biographers, A Town Eclogue (1786), Peter critiques the tendency of Johnson's biographers to represent him not through an account of his great work, but through trivial and undignified personal detail. In Instructions to a Celebrated Laureat; alias The Progress of Curiosity; alias A Birthday Ode; alias Mr Whitbread's Brewhouse (1787), Peter diagnoses the opposite problem in Thomas Warton's celebration of King George III, which treats an essential trivial figure as if he were a great one. In this way, Wolcot engages in significant cultural debates about the meaning and representation of greatness and significant achievement in the 1780s. Our appreciation of this engagement and the larger cultural debates into which it is keyed can broaden our sense of the questions it is possible to pose about Wolcot as a writer beyond those to do with his attitude to ministerial policy during the revolutionary period.
The Hesitant Modernity of John Dunton
Authors: Briggs Peter M.
Published: April 2016

Dunton's journalistic Athenian Mercury and his proto-novel A Voyage Round the World, both from 1691, imply through their strategies of presentation significantly different ideas of authorship. Experimenting with a participatory format that paired readers' questions on a variety of matters with editors' answers, Dunton enhanced the credibility of the Mercury by inventing a fictional “Athenian Society” of experts who pondered questions and provided answers. Published responses thus carried the weight of their collective authority. The Voyage used an opposite strategy, featuring two personal narrators who together recalled a fragmented history of their youth. This self-representation was harlequin-like—insistently informal, by turns irreverent or extravagant or facetious, based entirely on their changing whims. The eccentric world of their novel existed only as they imagined it. This article argues that in these publications, Dunton anticipated two modern authorial postures that have competed for literary predominance ever since—one based upon empirical reasoning and institutional authority for validation, the other insisting upon the authenticity of personal experience, self-constituted and self-sufficient. Dunton saw the advantage of both postures and did not choose between them.
Life form evolution in epidendroid orchids: Ecological consequences of the shift from epiphytism to terrestrial habit in Hexalectris
Authors: Sosa Victoria , Cameron Kenneth M. , Angulo Diego F. , Hernández-Hernández Tania
Published: April 2016

Great diversity of life forms has favored the colonization and dominance of angiosperms in almost every terrestrial habitat. This is certainly the case in the Orchidaceae, in which the diversity of life forms includes epiphytes, terrestrial geophytes and mycoheterotrophs. In this study we investigated the evolution of life form in tribe Epidendreae focusing on the clade comprised of Basiphyllaea, Bletia and Hexalectris. We estimated divergence dates, ancestral areas, patterns of niche evolution and divergence/convergence of climate preferences in order to understand whether shifts in climate preferences can be linked to the evolution of novel life forms, allowing species to extend their distribution ranges into novel habitats. Our analyses corroborated the shift from epiphytism to terrestrial life forms in Epidendreae, which occurred in a clade with Basiphyllaea‐Bletia‐Hexalectris that originated in Mexico and Central America from the Mid‐Eocene to the Oligocene, coincident with the origin of other aridity‐adapted plant groups. Dispersal occurred to North America, South America and the Antilles. Some small aridity‐adapted groups in Hexalectris diverged more recently in the Pliocene and Pleistocene when aridification in North America occurred. Of the climate variables analyzed, annual mean temperature, annual precipitation and precipitation of the wettest month were found to diverge for the terrestrial clade relative to values associated with the other Epidendreae clades. For niche evolution, Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck models indicated that the adaptive optima differed between epiphytes and terrestrial life forms, suggesting a shift of climatic niche between the terrestrial life form clade of Basiphyllaea‐Bletia‐Hexalectris and the rest of the clades with epiphyte life forms. We suggest that the shift to terrestrial life forms, most noticeable in Hexalectris, favored the colonization of novel habitats with a large range of temperatures, extending the distribution of this genus northward.
The Index Seminum: Seeds of change for seed exchange
Authors: Havinga Reinout , Kool Anneleen , Achille Frédéric , Bavcon Jože , Berg Christian , Bonomi Costantino , Burkart Michael , De Meyere Dirk , Hart Joke ’t , Havström Mats , Keßler Paul , Knickmann Barbara , Köster Nils , Martinez Rémy , Ostgaard Havard , Ravnjak Blanka , Scheen Anne-Cathrine , Smith Pamela , Smith Paul , Socher Stephanie A. , Vange Vibekke
Published: April 2016

Botanic gardens have been exchanging seeds through seed catalogues for centuries. In many gardens, these catalogues remain an important source of plant material. Living collections have become more relevant for genetic analysis and derived research, since genomics of non‐model organisms heavily rely on living material. The range of species that is made available annually on all seed lists combined, provides an unsurpassed source of instantly accessible plant material for research collections. Still, the Index Seminum has received criticism in the past few decades. The current exchange model dictates that associated data is manually entered into each database. The amount of time involved and the human errors occurring in this process are difficult to justify when the data was initially produced as a report from another database. The authors propose that an online marketplace for seed exchange should be established, with enhanced search possibilities and downloadable accession data in a standardised format. Such online service should preferably be supervised and coordinated by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). This manuscript is the outcome of a workshop on July 9th, 2015, at the European botanic gardens congress “Eurogard VII” in Paris, where the first two authors invited members of the botanic garden community to discuss how the anachronistic Index Seminum can be transformed into an improved and modern tool for seed exchange.