bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Aspects of Exercise and Physical Activity in Childhood
Authors: Kipp Lindsay E.
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

A signature characteristic of positive youth development (PYD) programs is the opportunity to develop life skills, such as social, behavioral, and moral competencies, that can be generalized to domains beyond the immediate activity. Although context-specific instruments are available to assess developmental outcomes, a measure of life skills transfer would enable evaluation of PYD programs in successfully teaching skills that youth report using in other domains. The purpose of our studies was to develop and validate a measure of perceived life skills transfer, based on data collected with The First Tee, a physical activity-based PYD program.

Method:

In 3 studies, we conducted a series of steps to provide content and construct validity and internal consistency reliability for the life skills transfer survey (LSTS), a measure of perceived life skills transfer.

Results:

Study 1 provided content validity for the LSTS that included 8 life skills and 50 items. Study 2 revealed construct validity (structural validity) through a confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity by correlating scores on the LSTS with scores on an assessment tool that measures a related construct. Study 3 offered additional construct validity by reassessing youth 1 year later and showing that scores during both time periods were invariant in factor pattern, loadings, and variances and covariances. Studies 2 and 3 demonstrated internal consistency reliability of the LSTS.

Conclusion:

Results from 3 studies provide evidence of content and construct validity and internal consistency reliability for the LSTS, which can be used in evaluation research with youth development programs.
Biomechanics and Exercise
Authors: O’Brien Thomas D.
Published: March 2015

Children develop lower levels of muscle force, and at slower rates, than adults. While strength training in children is expected to reduce this differential, a synchronous adaptation in the tendon must be achieved to ensure forces continue to be transmitted to the skeleton with efficiency while minimizing the risk of strainrelated tendon injury. We hypothesized that resistance training (RT) would alter tendon mechanical properties in children concomitantly with changes in force production characteristics. Twenty prepubertal children (8.9 ± 0.3 years) were equally divided into control (nontraining) and experimental (training) groups. The training group completed a 10-week RT intervention consisting of 2-3 sets of 8-15 plantar flexion contractions performed twice weekly on a recumbent calf raise machine. Achilles tendon properties (cross-sectional area, elongation, stress, strain, stiffness and Young’s modulus), electromechanical delay (EMD; time between the onset of muscle activity and force), rate of force development (RFD; slope of the force-time curve) and rate of EMG increase (REI; slope of the EMG-time curve) were measured before and after RT. Tendon stiffness and Young’s modulus increased significantly after RT in the experimental group only (~29% and ~25%, respectively); all other tendon properties were not significantly altered, although there were mean decreases in both peak tendon strain and strain at a given force level (14% and 24%, respectively, n.s) which may have implications for tendon injury risk and muscle fiber mechanics. A ~13% decrease in EMD was found after RT for the experimental group which paralleled the increase in tendon stiffness (r = −0.59), however RFD and REI were unchanged. The present data show that the Achilles tendon adapts to RT in prepubertal children and is paralleled by a change in EMD, although the magnitude of this change did not appear to be sufficient to influence RFD. These findings are of potential importance within the context of the efficiency and execution of movement.
Childhood Obesity, Physical Activity, and Exercise
Authors: Nemet Dan
Published: March 2015

Importance:

Little evidence exists on which exercise modality is optimal for obese adolescents. Objective: To determine the effects of aerobic training, resistance training, and combined training on percentage body fat in overweight and obese adolescents.

Design, Setting, and Participants:

Randomized, parallel-group clinical trial at community-based exercise facilities in Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec), Canada, among previously inactive postpubertal adolescents aged 14-18 years (Tanner stage IV or V) with body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex or at or above the 85th percentile plus an additional diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular risk factor. Interventions: After a 4-week run-in period, 304 participants were randomized to the following 4 groups for 22 weeks: aerobic training (n = 75), resistance training (n = 78), combined aerobic and resistance training (n = 75), or nonexercising control (n = 76). All participants received dietary counseling, with a daily energy deficit of 250 kcal.

Main Outcomes and Measures:

The primary outcome was percentage body fat measured by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 6 months. We hypothesized that aerobic training and resistance training would each yield greater decreases than the control and that combined training would cause greater decreases than aerobic or resistance training alone.

Results:

Decreases in percentage body fat were −0.3 (95% CI, −0.9 to 0.3) in the control group, −1.1 (95% CI, −1.7 to −0.5) in the aerobic training group (p = .06 vs. controls), and −1.6 (95% CI, −2.2 to −1.0) in the resistance training group (p = .002 vs controls). The −1.4 (95% CI, −2.0 to −0.8) decrease in the combined training group did not differ significantly from that in the aerobic or resistance training group. Waist circumference changes were −0.2 (95% CI, −1.7 to 1.2) cm in the control group, −3.0 (95% CI, −4.4 to −1.6) cm in the aerobic group (p = .006 vs controls), −2.2 (95% CI −3.7 to −0.8) cm in the resistance training group (p = .048 vs controls), and −4.1 (95% CI, −5.5 to −2.7) cm in the combined training group. In per-protocol analyses (> 70% adherence), the combined training group had greater changes in percentage body fat (-2.4, 95% CI, −3.2 to −1.6) vs the aerobic group (-1.2; 95% CI, −2.0 to −0.5; p = .04 vs the combined group) but not the resistance group (-1.6; 95% CI, −2.5 to −0.8).

Conclusions and Relevance:

Aerobic, resistance, and combined training reduced total body fat and waist circumference in obese adolescents. In more adherent participants, combined training may cause greater decreases than aerobic or resistance training alone.
Cytokine Responses to Acute Intermittent Aerobic Exercise in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Nonsyndromic Obesity
Authors: Duran Andrea T. , Gertz Erik , Judelson Daniel A. , Haqq Andrea M. , Clark Susan J. , Tsang Kavin W. , Rubin Daniela
Published: March 2015

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), the best characterized form of syndromic obesity, presents with abnormally high fat mass. In children, obesity presents with low-grade systemic inflammation. This study evaluated if PWS and/or nonsyndromic obesity affected cytokine responses to intermittent aerobic exercise in children. Eleven children with PWS (11 ± 2 y, 45.4 ± 9.5% body fat), 12 children with obesity (OB) (9 ± 1 y, 39.9 ± 6.8% body fat), and 12 lean (LN) children (9 ± 1 y, 17.5 ± 4.6% body fat) participated. Children completed 10 2-min cycling bouts of vigorous intensity, separated by 1-min rest. Blood samples were collected preexercise (PRE), immediately postexercise (IP), and 15, 30, and 60 min into recovery to analyze possible changes in cytokines. In all groups, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were greater during recovery compared with PRE. PWS and OB exhibited higher IL-6 area under the curve (AUC) than LN (p < .01 for both). PWS demonstrated higher IL-8 AUC than LN (p < .04). IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ did not change with exercise (p > .05 for all). Results indicate that children with PWS respond with increased Il-6 and IL-8 concentrations to acute exercise similarly to controls. Excess adiposity and epigenetic modifications may explain the greater integrated IL-6 and IL-8 responses in PWS compared with controls.
MicroRNAs silence the noisy genome
Authors: Hoffman Yonit , Pilpel Yitzhak
Published: April 2015

Evolution may have selected for a dampening service for genes whose noise may have otherwise been too high

[Also see Report by

Schmiedel
et al.

]
Infants explore the unexpected
Authors: Schulz Laura
Published: April 2015

Infants are more likely to explore objects that behave in unexpected ways, such as passing through walls

[Also see Research Article by
Stahl and Feigenson
]
Use of Whole-Genome Phylogeny and Comparisons for Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay To Identify Sequence Type 36 Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Whistler Cheryl A. , Hall Jeffrey A. , Xu Feng , Ilyas Saba , Siwakoti Puskar , Cooper Vaughn S. , Jones Stephen H.
Published: April 2015

Vibrio parahaemolyticus
sequence type 36 (ST36) strains that are native to the Pacific Ocean have recently caused multistate outbreaks of gastroenteritis linked to shellfish harvested from the Atlantic Ocean. Whole-genome comparisons of 295 genomes of
V. parahaemolyticus
, including several traced to northeastern U.S. sources, were used to identify diagnostic loci, one putatively encoding an endonuclease (
prp
), and two others potentially conferring O-antigenic properties (
cps
and
flp
). The combination of all three loci was present in only one clade of closely related strains of ST36, ST59, and one additional unknown sequence type. However, each locus was also identified outside this clade, with
prp
and
flp
occurring in only two nonclade isolates and
cps
in four. Based on the distribution of these loci in sequenced genomes,
prp
identified clade strains with >99% accuracy, but the addition of one more locus increased accuracy to 100%. Oligonucleotide primers targeting
prp
and
cps
were combined in a multiplex PCR method that defines species using the
tlh
locus and determines the presence of both the
tdh
and
trh
hemolysin-encoding genes, which are also present in ST36. Application of the method
in vitro
to a collection of 94 clinical isolates collected over a 4-year period in three northeastern U.S. states and 87 environmental isolates revealed that the
prp
and
cps
amplicons were detected only in clinical isolates identified as belonging to the ST36 clade and in no environmental isolates from the region. The assay should improve detection and surveillance, thereby reducing infections.
Successful Combination of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Diagnostics and Targeted Deferred Neisseria gonorrhoeae Culture
Authors: Wind Carolien M. , de Vries Henry J. C. , Schim van der Loeff Maarten F. , Unemo Magnus , van Dam Alje P.
Published: April 2015

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are recommended for the diagnosis of
N. gonorrhoeae
infections because of their superior sensitivity. Increasing NAAT use causes a decline in crucial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance data, which rely on culture. We analyzed the suitability of the ESwab system for NAAT diagnostics and deferred targeted
N. gonorrhoeae
culture to allow selective and efficient culture based on NAAT results. We included patients visiting the STI Clinic Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 2013. Patient characteristics and urogenital and rectal samples for direct
N. gonorrhoeae
culture, standard NAAT, and ESwab were collected. Standard NAAT and NAAT on ESwab samples were performed using the Aptima Combo 2 assay for
N. gonorrhoeae
and
C. trachomatis
. Two deferred
N. gonorrhoeae
cultures were performed on NAAT-positive ESwab samples after storage at 4°C for 1 to 3 days. We included 2,452 samples from 1,893 patients. In the standard NAAT, 107 samples were
N. gonorrhoeae
positive and 284 were
C. trachomatis
positive. The sensitivities of NAAT on ESwab samples were 83% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75 to 90%) and 87% (95% CI, 82 to 90%), respectively. ESwab samples were available for 98 of the gonorrhea-positive samples. Of these, 82% were positive in direct culture and 69% and 56% were positive in the 1st and 2nd deferred cultures, respectively (median storage times, 27 and 48 h, respectively). Deferred culture was more often successful in urogenital samples or when the patient had symptoms at the sampling site. Deferred
N. gonorrhoeae
culture of stored ESwab samples is feasible and enables AMR surveillance. To limit the loss in NAAT sensitivity, we recommend obtaining separate samples for NAAT and deferred culture.
Combat-Related Pythium aphanidermatum Invasive Wound Infection: Case Report and Discussion of Utility of Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Farmer Aaron R. , Murray Clinton K. , Driscoll Ian R. , Wickes Brian L. , Wiederhold Nathan , Sutton Deanna A. , Sanders Carmita , Mende Katrin , Enniss Brent , Feig James , Ganesan Anuradha , Rini Elizabeth A. , Vento Todd J.
Published: April 2015

We describe a 22-year-old soldier with 19% total body surface area burns, polytrauma, and sequence- and culture-confirmed
Pythium aphanidermatum
wound infection. Antemortem histopathology suggested disseminated
Pythium
infection, including brain involvement; however, postmortem PCR revealed
Cunninghamella elegans
,
Lichtheimia corymbifera
, and
Saksenaea vasiformis
coinfection. The utility of molecular diagnostics in invasive fungal infections is discussed.
Us9-Independent Axonal Sorting and Transport of the Pseudorabies Virus Glycoprotein gM
Authors: Kratchmarov R. , Enquist L. W. , Taylor M. P.
Published: April 2015

Axonal sorting and transport of fully assembled pseudorabies virus (PRV) virions is dependent on the viral protein Us9. Here we identify a Us9-independent mechanism for axonal localization of viral glycoprotein M (gM). We detected gM-mCherry assemblies transporting in the anterograde direction in axons. Furthermore, unlabeled gM, but not glycoprotein B, was detected by Western blotting in isolated axons during Us9-null PRV infection. These results suggest that gM differs from other viral proteins regarding axonal transport properties.
Necrotising fasciitis secondary to perforated rectal adenocarcinoma presenting as a thigh swelling
Authors: Evans William David George , Winters Conchubhair , Amin Eshan
Published: March 2015

A 62-year-old man was admitted to the medical admissions ward with right thigh pain presumed to be a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Subsequent duplex ultrasonography excluded a DVT but noted the presence of a significant amount of subcutaneous gas. A plain film radiograph was performed with the same finding raising the possibility of necrotising fasciitis (NF). Only at this point was digital rectal examination performed revealing a large rectal mass oozing pus and blood. CT imaging showed thickening of the rectum consistent with a tumour with gas and fluid in the perirectal space extending to the anterolateral right femur. Despite aggressive debridement and treatment, the patient deteriorated and died 6 weeks later. This case should serve as a reminder to consider digital rectal examination and the occurrence of a rectal perforation in all patients who present with suspicious thigh swellings.
Suspected ovarian molar pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology conception: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Obeidi Nedaa , Tchrakian Nairi , Abu Saadeh Feras , Mocanu Edgar
Published: April 2015

A 32-year-old patient with primary infertility received in vitro fertilisation (IVF) therapy. Four weeks later she developed intermittent left iliac fossa pain. Transvaginal ultrasound showed an empty uterus and an adnexal mass adjacent to the right ovary. Serum β-human chronic gonadotropin was 33 492 IU/L. At laparoscopy a mass attached to right ovary, suggestive of a right ovarian ectopic pregnancy, was excised. Histological examination confirmed an ovarian ectopic gestation, but noted enlarged chorionic villi and trophoblastic atypia, which raised the suspicion of molar pregnancy. Subsequent p57 immunohistochemistry and DNA ploidy studies excluded a mole, however. Cases of suspected molar disease in ectopic pregnancy present a diagnostic challenge for both clinicians and histopathologists, and establishing a definitive diagnosis may be difficult.
Risk factors for groin injury in sport: an updated systematic review
Authors: Whittaker Jackie L , Small Claire , Maffey Lorrie , Emery Carolyn A
Published: April 2015

Background

The identification of risk factors for groin injury in sport is important to develop and implement injury prevention strategies.

Objective

To identify and evaluate the evidence examining risk factors for groin injury in sport.

Material and methods

Nine electronic databases were systematically searched to June 2014. Studies selected met the following criteria: original data; analytic design; investigated a risk factor(s); included outcomes for groin injury sustained during sport participation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed and two independent authors assessed the quality and level of evidence with the Downs and Black (DB) criteria and Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine model, respectively.

Results

Of 2521 potentially relevant studies, 29 were included and scored. Heterogeneity in methodology and injury definition precluded meta-analyses. The most common risk factors investigated included age, hip range of motion, hip adductor strength and height. The median DB score across studies was 11/33 (range 6–20). The majority of studies represented level 2 evidence (cohort studies) however few considered the inter-relationships between risk factors. There is level 1 and 2 evidence that previous groin injury, higher-level of play, reduced hip adductor (absolute and relative to the hip abductors) strength and lower levels of sport-specific training are associated with increased risk of groin injury in sport.

Conclusions

We recommended that investigators focus on developing and evaluating preparticipation screening and groin injury prevention programmes through high-quality randomised controlled trials targeting athletes at greater risk of injury.
Social support and the incidence and persistence of depression between antenatal and postnatal examinations in Turkey: a cohort study
Authors: Cankorur Vesile Senturk , Abas Melanie , Berksun Oguz , Stewart Robert
Published: April 2015

Objectives

This study aims to measure incidence and persistence of depression and to investigate the influence of self-reported antenatal social support and traditional/nuclear family structure on incidence and persistence of depression between the third trimester of pregnancy and following childbirth. We hypothesised that lower antenatal social support would be associated with incidence and persistence of case-level depressive symptoms and the family structure would have an effect on the incidence and persistence of depressive symptoms.

Settings

The cohort study described here was carried out in and around Ankara the capital of Turkey, because of the considerable heterogeneity of the population in terms of traditional Middle Eastern and ‘modern’ Western lifestyle and social environment. Samples were drawn from 20 urban and rural antenatal clinics (mainly primary care settings) within the geographic catchment.

Participants

Of 730 women recruited in their third trimester, 578 (79.2%) were re-examined between 2 and 6 months after childbirth. Exclusion criteria were as follows: aged younger than 18 years, illiteracy, significant health problems and refusal to participate.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Close Persons Questionnaire items enquired about relationships with the husband, mother and mother-in-law and depression was ascertained using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at the each assessments.

Results

In those followed, onset of postnatal depression occurred in 13.9% and persistence of antenatal depression in 49.7%. After adjustment, worse emotional support from the mother-in-law was significantly associated with postnatal depression incidence (OR=0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99) and worse emotional support from the husband with postnatal persistence (OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.96) of antenatal depression. Family structure was not a risk or modifying factor.

Conclusions

The incidence and persistence of postnatal depression in this Middle Eastern cohort were comparable to international findings. Certain family relationships predicted incidence and persistence of postnatal depression but no role of traditional/nuclear family structure was found.
Community-based physical activity interventions among women: a systematic review
Authors: Amiri Farahani Leila , Asadi-Lari Mohsen , Mohammadi Eesa , Parvizy Soroor , Haghdoost Ali Akbar , Taghizadeh Ziba
Published: April 2015

Objective

Review and assess the effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions among women aged 18–65 years.

Design

Systematic review

Methods

To find relevant articles, the researcher selected reports published in English between 1 January 2000 and 31 March 2013. Systematic search was to find controlled-trial studies that were conducted to uncover the effect of community-based interventions to promote physical activity among women 18–65 years of age, in which physical activity was reported as one of the measured outcomes. The methodological quality assessment was performed using a critical appraisal sheet. Also, the levels of evidence were assessed for the types of interventions.

Results

The literature search identified nine articles. Four of the studies were randomised and the others studies had high methodological quality. There was no evidence, on the basis of effectiveness, for social cognitive theory-based interventions and inconclusive evidence of effectiveness for the rest of interventions.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of community-based interventions for enhancing physical activity among women. There is a need for high-quality randomised clinical trials with adequate statistical power to determine whether multicomponent and community-based intervention programmes increase physical activity among women, as well as to determine what type of interventions have a more effective and sustainable impact on women's physical activity.
Invertebrate medicine for the general practitioner
Authors: Chitty John
Published: April 2015

Invertebrates are routinely kept in captivity, yet are rarely presented to veterinarians, who often have limited knowledge on these species. The range of invertebrates is wide, the size is generally small, and the conservation status can often be high. This article covers the basics of invertebrate medicine, focusing on terrestrial ‘pet’ species.
Biomolecular Computing Realized in Parallel Flow Systems: Enzyme-Based Double Feynman Logic Gate
Authors: Fratto Brian E. , Guz Nataliia , Katz Evgeny
Published: March 2015

An enzyme system organized in a flow device with three parallel channels was used to mimic a reversible Double Feynman Gate (DFG) with three input and three output signals. Reversible conversion of NAD+ and NADH cofactors was used to perform XOR logic operations, while biocatalytic oxidation of NADH resulted in Identity operation working in parallel. The first biomolecular realization of a DFG gate is promising for integrating into complex biomolecular networks operating in future unconventional biocomputing systems, as well as for novel biosensor applications.
Uncertainty in Time
Authors: Costa José Félix
Published: March 2015

The relation between scatters of time and energy is well known in Classical and Quantum Physics, but the interpretations of such relation are not well understood. What is the meaning of a time scatter in a measurement? What is the meaning of the correlated energy gap? Why should they combine to give a value greater or equal to a theoretical lower bound? In this paper, we discuss uncertainty in measurement from the computational point of view and introduce the archetype of a generic stochastic oracle to a Turing machine.
Performance evaluation of sea water heat exchanger installed in concrete structure of pontoon
Authors: Hwang Kwang-Il , Sim Young-Hoon , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: April 2015

At the viewpoint of energy saving and the increasing needs of seaside leisure activities in Korea, floating architecture is recently to be focused on, but it is in the early stage of technological development. Considering the features of floating structures that can float and move on sea and/or river, this study proposes Single-U type Sea Water Heat Exchanger (SWHEx) and Spring type SWHEx that installed into or outside the submerged concrete structure of pontoon, respectively. As the results from CFD and mock-up tests, it is found out that the mean temperature difference is 3°C between the inlet and outlet temperatures of working fluid which flows inside the Single-U type SWHEx and 1.5°C for Spring type SWHEx. Also it is clear that the heat exchange performance of Single-U type SWHEx is better than Spring type.
High density plasma etching of ultrananocrystalline diamond films in O2/CF4 and O2/SF6 inductively coupled plasmas
Authors: Park Jong Cheon , Kim Seong Hak , Kim Tae Gyu , Kim Jin Kon , Cho Hyun , Lee Byeong Woo
Published: April 2015

Inductively coupled plasma etching of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films was performed in O 2/ CF 4 and O 2/ SF 6 discharges. Higher etch rates were produced for the O 2/ SF 6 discharges and the films etched in the 10 O 2/5 CF 4 discharges retained smooth surface morphology similar to the unetched control sample. Al mask showed a good etch selectivity to the UNCD for both plasma chemistries and highly anisotropic pattern transfer with a vertical sidewall profile was achieved.
Study on underwater wireless communication system using LED
Authors: Son Hyun-Joong , Choi Hyeung-Sik , Tran Ngoc-Huy , Ha Ji-Hoon , Ji Dae-Hyeung , Kim Joon-Young
Published: April 2015

In this paper, a new variable-focus LED light device is developed for underwater communication. Usually used as an underwater lighting fixture, the LED light device in this study is utilized as an underwater communication device (UCD) by controlling the distance between light source and lens when communication is needed. A transmission and a receiving part of LED light for communication using photoelectric sensor and Fresnel lens are also developed. The communication system was tested in fresh water and sea water to verify its communication performance; results of which are presented in this study.
Cadmium indium selenide semiconducting nanofibers by single step electrochemical route
Authors: Wagh B. G. , Bhalerao Anuradha B. , Bulakhe R. N. , Lokhande C. D.
Published: April 2015

The growth of ternary semiconductor thin films of cadmium indium selenide nanofibers has been carried out from aqueous solution of cadmium sulphate, indium trichloride, and selenium dioxide by electrochemical route. These thin films have been further optimized using photoelectrochemical cell (PEC). Optimized thin film has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
In situ stress measurement of fiber reinforced composite in low temperature state by neutron diffraction
Authors: Nishida Masayuki , Jing Tian , Muslih M. Refai , Doi Taisei , Matsue Tatsuya , Hanabusa Takao
Published: April 2015

The tungsten fiber reinforced titanium composite ( W / Ti ) was produced by the spot welding method. The internal stress alteration of the W / Ti composite was measured by the neutron diffractometer, DN1, which had been installed at beam port #6 in National Nuclear Energy Agency Indonesia. The two-dimensional detector and cryostat system were mounted on the DN1 diffractometer, and the residual stress alterations were measured by the in situ neutron stress measurement technique under the cooling cycles from 300 K to 10 K. Residual stresses in tungsten fiber were investigated at several temperatures. In the longitudinal fiber direction, the thermal residual stresses of tungsten fiber became a large compressive state and represented the maximum value is about -950 MPa. The calculated results of the simple elastic model agreed with the experimental results of the in situ thermal stress measurement qualitatively. It is assumed that the stresses in the fiber longitudinal direction are the dominant stresses in the W / Ti composite.
Chemiresistive sensor based on polythiophene-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes for detection ofNO2
Authors: Gaikwad Sumedh , Bodkhe Gajanan , Deshmukh Megha , Patil Harshada , Rushi Arti , Shirsat Mahendra D. , Koinkar Pankaj , Kim Yun-Hae , Mulchandani Ashok
Published: April 2015

In the present investigation, a chemiresistive sensor based on conducting polythiophene-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for NO2detection has been reported. The SWNTs were aligned across 3 μm gap between two gold microelectrodes on Si / SiO2substrate. Alignment of SWNTs was carried out by using AC dielectrophoretic technique and it was confirmed by current–voltage (I–V) measurement. Aligned SWNTs were modified by conducting polythiophene using charge controlled potentiostatic deposition and it was confirmed by field-effect transistor (FET) and electrochemical measurements. Polythiophene-modified SWNT devices were used for the NO2detection in chemiresistive modality. This sensor exhibited very good linear response range from 10 ppb to 10 ppm.
High Performance Voltage-Mode Tunable All-Pass Section
Authors: Maheshwari S. , Agrawal D.
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a voltage-mode (VM) tunable all-pass section, employing a grounded capacitor and a newly introduced current conveyor with an extra X stage. The proposed all-pass filter uses grounded capacitor as the only passive component and benefits from high input and low output impedance. The proposed circuit exhibits eight performance features without trade-offs, as compared to carefully chosen 25 published works. The functionality of the proposed element is verified through PSPICE simulation using 0.25-μm process parameters. An application of second order is also incorporated.
On Binary-State Phyllosilicate Automata
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew
Published: April 2015

Phyllosilicate is a sheet of silicate tetrahedra bound by basal oxygens. A phyllosilicate automaton is a regular network of finite state machines, which mimics the structure of phyllosilicate. A node of a binary state phyllosilicate automaton takes states 0 and 1. A node updates its state in discrete time depending on a sum of states of its three (silicon nodes) or six (oxygen nodes) closest neighbors. We phenomenologically select the main types of patterns generated by phyllosilicate automata based on their shape: convex and concave hulls, almost circularly growing patterns, octagonal patterns, and those with dendritic growth; and, the patterns' interior: disordered, solid, labyrinthine. We also present the rules exhibiting traveling localizations.
A Low-Dimensional Principal Manifold as the "Attractor Backbone" of a Chaotic Beam System
Authors: Bollt Erik M. , Skufca Joseph D.
Published: April 2015

We model an elastic beam subject to a contact load which displaces under a chaotic external forcing, motivated by application of a ship carrying either a crane, or fluids in internal tanks. This model not only has rich dynamics and relevance in its own right, it gives rise to a Partial Differential Equation (PDE) whose solutions are chaotic, with an attractor whose points lie "near" a low-dimensional curve. This form identifies a data-driven dimensionality reduction which encapsulates a Cartesian product, approximately, of a principal manifold, corresponding to spatial regularity, against a temporal complex dynamics of the intrinsic variable of the manifold. The principal manifold element serves to translate the complex information at one site to all other sites on the beam. Although points of the attractor do not lie on the principal manifold, they lie sufficiently close that we describe that manifold as a "backbone" running through the attractor, allowing the manifold to serve as a suitable space to approximate behaviors.
Coupling Reduces Noise: Applying Dynamical Coupling to Reduce Local White Additive Noise
Authors: Kia Behnam , Kia Sarvenaz , Lindner John F. , Sinha Sudeshna , Ditto William L.
Published: April 2015

We demonstrate how coupling nonlinear dynamical systems can reduce the effects of noise. For simplicity we investigate noisy coupled map lattices and assume noise is white and additive. Noise from different lattice nodes can diffuse across the lattice and lower the noise level of individual nodes. We develop a theoretical model that explains this observed noise evolution and show how the coupled dynamics can naturally function as an averaging filter. Our numerical simulations are in excellent agreement with the model predictions.
Study on Unified Chaotic System-Based Wind Turbine Blade Fault Diagnostic System
Authors: Kuo Ying-Che , Hsieh Chin-Tsung , Yau Her-Terng , Li Yu-Chung
Published: April 2015

At present, vibration signals are processed and analyzed mostly in the frequency domain. The spectrum clearly shows the signal structure and the specific characteristic frequency band is analyzed, but the number of calculations required is huge, resulting in delays. Therefore, this study uses the characteristics of a nonlinear system to load the complete vibration signal to the unified chaotic system, applying the dynamic error to analyze the wind turbine vibration signal, and adopting extenics theory for artificial intelligent fault diagnosis of the analysis signal. Hence, a fault diagnostor has been developed for wind turbine rotating blades. This study simulates three wind turbine blade states, namely stress rupture, screw loosening and blade loss, and validates the methods. The experimental results prove that the unified chaotic system used in this paper has a significant effect on vibration signal analysis. Thus, the operating conditions of wind turbines can be quickly known from this fault diagnostic system, and the maintenance schedule can be arranged before the faults worsen, making the management and implementation of wind turbines smoother, so as to reduce many unnecessary costs.
Automatic Documentation of [Mined] Feature Implementations from Source Code Elements and Use-Case Diagrams with the REVPLINE Approach
Authors: Al-Msie'deen R. , Huchard M. , Seriai A.-D. , Urtado C. , Vauttier S.
Published: March 2015

Companies often develop a set of software variants that share some features and differ in others to meet specific requirements. To exploit the existing software variants as a Software Product Line (SPL), a Feature Model of this SPL must be built as a first step. To do so, it is necessary to define and document the optional and mandatory features that compose the variants. In our previous work, we mined a set of feature implementations as identified sets of source code elements. In this paper, we propose a complementary approach, which aims to document the mined feature implementations by giving them names and descriptions, based on the source code elements that form feature implementations and the use-case diagrams that specify software variants. The novelty of our approach is its use of commonality and variability across software variants, at feature implementation and use-case levels, to run Information Retrieval methods in an efficient way. Experiments on several real case studies (Mobile media and ArgoUML-SPL) validate our approach and show promising results.
Addressing Non-Functional Properties in Feature Models: A Goal-Oriented Approach
Authors: Noorian Mehdi , Asadi Mohsen , Bagheri Ebrahim , Du Weichang
Published: March 2015

Software Product Line (SPL) engineering is a systematic reuse-based software development approach which is founded on the idea of building software products using a set of core assets rather than developing individual software systems from scratch. Feature models are among the widely used artefacts for SPL development that mostly capture functional and operational variability of a system. Researchers have argued that connecting intentional variability models such as goal models with feature variability models in a target domain can enrich feature models with valuable quality and non-functional information. Interrelating goal models and feature models has already been proposed in the literature for capturing non-functional properties in software product lines; however, this manual integration process is cumbersome and tedious. In this paper, we propose a (semi) automated approach that systematically integrates feature models and goal models through standard ontologies. Our proposed approach connects feature model and goal model elements through measuring the semantic similarity of their annotated ontological concepts. Our work not only provides the means to systematically interrelate feature models and goal models but also allows domain engineers to identify and model the role and significance of non-functional properties in the domain represented by the feature model.
Characterizing the Problem of Developers' Assignment for Merging Branches
Authors: Costa Catarina , Figueiredo J. J. C. , Ghiotto Gleiph , Murta Leonardo
Published: March 2015

During the software development process, artifacts are constructed and manipulated by many developers working in parallel. A common practice to manage parallel development is the use of branches in the version control system. Usually, at some point, the merge of these branches may be necessary. This process can combine two independent and eventually long sequences of commits, which may have been performed by different developers. Conflicts resulting from the merge of parallel changes may arise. When these conflicts are not automatically solved by the version control system, the developers in charge of the merge process must act. Normally, the developers' knowledge regarding the changes performed in parallel is usually not taken into consideration when assigning developers to the merge task. With this in mind, the goal of this work is to characterize the problem of developers' assignment for merging branches. To do so, this work analyzed merge profiles of eight software projects and check if the development history is an appropriate source of information for identifying the key participants for collaborative merge. In addition, this work presents a survey on developers about what actions they take when they need to merge branches, and especially when a conflict arises during the merge.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF SURFACE-DRIVEN CAPILLARY FLOW IN PMMA MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES PREPARED BY DIRECT BONDING TECHNIQUE AND PASSIVE SEPARATION OF MICROPARTICLES IN MICROFLUIDIC LABORATORY-ON-A-CHIP SYSTEMS
Authors: MUKHOPADHYAY SUBHADEEP , BANERJEE J. P. , MATHUR ASHISH , TWEEDIE M. , MCLAUGHLIN J. A. , ROY SUSANTA SINHA
Published: March 2015

Proper bonding technique is investigated to achieve leakage-free surface-driven capillary flow in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microfluidic devices. SU-8-based silicon stamp is fabricated by maskless lithography. This stamp is used to produce PMMA microchannel structure by hot embossing lithography. A direct bonding technique is mainly employed for leakage-free sealing inside PMMA microfluidic devices. The effect of surface wettability on surface-driven capillary flow is also investigated in PMMA microfluidic devices. The separation of polystyrene microparticles in PMMA laboratory-on-a-chip systems is investigated with the reduction of separation time by air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma processing of channel surfaces. This study is useful to fabricate the microfluidic laboratory-on-a-chip systems and to understand the surface-driven capillary flow.
Susceptibility and radiometry data used for stratigraphic correlations: case study on Upper Triassic beds in Turkey
Authors: Mayrhofer Susanne , Lukeneder Alexander
Published: April 2015

A Julian/Tuvalian (=Lower/Upper Carnian) substage boundary within the Kasımlar Formation, recently detected at Aşağiyaylabel (Taurus Mountains, Turkey) by facies analyses and biostratigraphic ammonoid investigations, was additionally detected by magnetic susceptibility (MS) and radiometry data. The Aşağiyaylabel sequence, a key section concerning environmental changes during Early to Late Carnian time, represents a deepening sequence from platform carbonates to pelagic limestones and marls. The Julian/Tuvalian boundary strata can be correlated over wide areas due to a positive shift in MS values from 11–105×10
−6
SI (range AS I, KA IV) at the Lower Carnian sediments to 62–458×10
−6
SI (range AS I, KA IV) at the Upper Carnian sediments as well as in radiometry values from 21.35–83.27 nGy h
−1
(range AS I, KA IV) at the Lower Carnian sediments to 38.43–130.24 nGy h
−1
(range AS I, KA IV) at the Upper Carnian sediments. A second, smaller positive shift in MS occurs at the transition from shallow-water carbonates of the Kartoz Formation (−11 to 71×10
−6
SI; range AS I–KA II) into deeper-water carbonates from the base of the Kasımlar Formation (3–108×10
−6
SI; range AS I–KA II). This study presents the first MS and radiometry data from Lower to Upper Carnian sediments. They reliably reflect lithological changes and display a direct function of enhanced terrigenous input into marine sediment systems, most probably caused by variations in climatic conditions.
Age-related changes in thirst, salt appetite, and arterial blood pressure in response to aldosterone-dexamethasone combination in rats
Authors: Thunhorst Robert L. , Xue Baojian , Beltz Terry G. , Johnson Alan Kim
Published: April 2015

This work examined the effects of age on daily water and sodium ingestion and cardiovascular responses to chronic administration of the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone (ALDO) either alone or together with the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX). Young (4 mo), adult (12 mo), and aged (30 mo) male Brown Norway rats were prepared for continuous telemetry recording of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Baseline water and sodium (i.e., 0.3 M NaCl) intake, BP, and HR were established for 10 days. Then ALDO (60 μg/day sc) was infused alone, or together with DEX (2.5 or 20 μg/day sc), for another 10 days. Compared with baseline levels, ALDO stimulated comparable increases in daily saline intake at all ages. ALDO together with the higher dose of DEX (i.e., ALDO/DEX20) increased daily saline intake more than did ALDO, but less so in aged rats. Infusion of ALDO/DEX20 increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), and decreased HR, more than did infusion of ALDO. The changes in MAP in response to both treatments depended on age. For all ages, MAP and saline intake increased simultaneously during ALDO, while MAP always increased before saline intake did during ALDO/DEX20. Contrary to our predictions, MAP did not increase more in old rats in response to either treatment. We speculate that age-related declines in cardiovascular responses to glucocorticoids contributed to the attenuated increases in sodium intake in response to glucocorticoids that were observed in older animals.
Kidney adysplasia and variable hydronephrosis, a new mutation affecting the odd-skipped related 1 gene in the mouse, causes variable defects in kidney development and hydronephrosis
Authors: Davisson Muriel T. , Cook Susan A. , Akeson Ellen C. , Liu Don , Heffner Caleb , Gudis Polyxeni , Fairfield Heather , Murray Stephen A.
Published: April 2015

Many genes, including odd-skipped related 1 ( Osr1), are involved in regulation of mammalian kidney development. We describe here a new recessive mutation (kidney adysplasia and variable hydronephrosis, kavh) in the mouse that leads to downregulation of Osr1 transcript, causing several kidney defects: agenesis, hypoplasia, and hydronephrosis with variable age of onset. The mutation is closely associated with a reciprocal translocation, T(12;17)4Rk, whose Chromosome 12 breakpoint is upstream from Osr1. The kavh/kavh mutant provides a model to study kidney development and test therapies for hydronephrosis.
Optimizing a Lupus Autoantibody for Targeted Cancer Therapy
Authors: Noble Philip W. , Chan Grace , Young Melissa R. , Weisbart Richard H. , Hansen James E.
Published: April 2015

The specificity of binding by antibodies to target antigens is a compelling advantage to antibody-based cancer therapy, but most antibodies cannot penetrate cells to affect intracellular processes. Select lupus autoantibodies penetrate into cell nuclei, and the potential for application of these antibodies in cancer therapy is an emerging concept. Here, we show that a divalent lupus anti-DNA autoantibody fragment with enhancing mutations that increase its ability to penetrate cell nuclei and bind DNA causes accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks in and is highly and selectively toxic to cancer cells and tumors with defective homology-directed repair of DNA double-strand breaks. These findings provide proof of principle for the use of optimized lupus autoantibodies in targeted cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 75(11); 2285–91. ©2015 AACR.
CTLA-4+ Regulatory T Cells Increased in Cetuximab-Treated Head and Neck Cancer Patients Suppress NK Cell Cytotoxicity and Correlate with Poor Prognosis
Authors: Jie Hyun-Bae , Schuler Patrick J. , Lee Steve C. , Srivastava Raghvendra M. , Argiris Athanassios , Ferrone Soldano , Whiteside Theresa L. , Ferris Robert L.
Published: April 2015

The EGFR-targeted antibody cetuximab is effective against head and neck cancer (HNSCC), but in only 15% to 20% of patients, and the variability and extent of cetuximab-mediated cellular immunity is not fully understood. We hypothesized that regulatory T cells (Treg) may exert a functional and clinical impact on antitumor immunity in cetuximab-treated individuals. The frequency, immunosuppressive phenotype, and activation status of Treg and natural killer (NK) cells were analyzed in the circulation and tumor microenvironment of cetuximab-treated patients with HNSCC enrolled in a novel neoadjuvant, single-agent cetuximab clinical trial. Notably, cetuximab treatment increased the frequency of CD4+FOXP3+ intratumoral Treg expressing CTLA-4, CD39, and TGFβ. These Treg suppressed cetuximab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and their presence correlated with poor clinical outcome in two prospective clinical trial cohorts. Cetuximab expanded CTLA-4+FOXP3+ Treg in vitro, in part, by inducing dendritic cell maturation, in combination with TGFβ and T-cell receptor triggering. Importantly, cetuximab-activated NK cells selectively eliminated intratumoral Treg but preserved effector T cells. In ex vivo assays, ipilimumab targeted CTLA-4+ Treg and restored cytolytic functions of NK cells mediating ADCC. Taken together, our results argue that differences in Treg-mediated suppression contribute to the clinical response to cetuximab treatment, suggesting its improvement by adding ipilimumab or other strategies of Treg ablation to promote antitumor immunity. Cancer Res; 75(11); 2200–10. ©2015 AACR.