bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Price Regulations and Dark Pools on Financial Market Stability: An Investigation by Multiagent Simulations
Authors: Mizuta Takanobu , Kosugi Shintaro , Kusumoto Takuya , Matsumoto Wataru , Izumi Kiyoshi , Yagi Isao , Yoshimura Shinobu
Published: July 2015

We built an artificial market model and investigated the impact of large erroneous orders on financial market price formations. Comparing the case of consented large erroneous orders in the short term with that of continuous small erroneous orders in the long term, if amounts of orders are the same, we found that the orders induced almost the same price fall range. We also analysed effects of price variation limits for erroneous orders and found that price variation limits that employ a limitation term shorter than the time erroneous orders exist effectively prevent large price fluctuations. We also investigated effects of up‐tick rules, adopting the trigger method that the Japan Financial Services Agency adopted in November 2013.

We also investigated whether dark pools that never provide any order books stabilize markets or not using the model including one lit market, which provides all order books to investors, and one dark pool. We found that markets become more stable as the dark pool is increasingly used. We also found that using the dark pool more reduces the market impacts. However, if other investors’ usage rates of dark pools become too large, investors must use the dark pool more than other investors to avoid market impacts. When a tick size of a lit market is larger, dark pools are more useful to avoid market impacts. These results suggest that dark pools stabilize markets when the usage rate is under some threshold and negatively affect the market when the usage rate is over that threshold. Our simulation results suggest the threshold might be much larger than the usage rate in present real financial markets.

This study is the first to discuss whether or not several concrete and actually adoptable regulations, including those that have never been employed (e.g. price variation limits with various parameters), could prevent large fluctuations of market prices, including those beyond our experience, using artificial market simulations, and to discuss quantitatively how spreading of dark pools beyond our experience could affect market price formations using the artificial market simulations. In short, this study is the first study to comprehensively discuss how regulations and financial systems beyond our experience could affect price formations using the artificial market simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective β2‐AR Blockage Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Growth Through Regulation of EGFR‐Akt/ERK1/2 Signaling, G1‐Phase Arrest, and Apoptosis
Authors: Chin Chih‐Chien , Li Jhy‐Ming , Lee Kam‐Fai , Huang Yun‐Ching , Wang Kuan‐Chieh , Lai Hsiao‐Ching , Cheng Chih‐Chung , Kuo Yi‐Hung , Shi Chung‐Sheng
Published: July 2015

The stress‐upregulated catecholamines‐activated β1‐ and β2‐adrenergic receptors (β1/2‐ARs) have been shown to accelerate the progression of cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the underlying mechanism of the inhibition of β1/2‐ARs signaling for the treatment of CRC and elucidated the significance of β2‐AR expression in CRC in vitro and in clinical samples. The impacts of β1/2‐AR antagonists in CRC in vitro and CRC‐xenograft in vivo were examined. We found that repression of β2‐AR but not β1‐AR signaling selectively suppressed cell viability, induced G1‐phase cell cycle arrest, caused both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways‐mediated apoptosis of specific CRC cells and inhibited CRC‐xenograft growth in vivo. Moreover, the expression of β2‐AR was not consistent with the progression of CRC in vitro or in clinical samples. Our data evidence that the expression profiles, signaling, and blockage of β2‐AR have a unique pattern in CRC comparing to other cancers. β2‐AR antagonism selectively suppresses the growth of CRC accompanying active β2‐AR signaling, which potentially carries wild‐type KRAS, in vitro and in vivo via the inhibition of β2‐AR transactivated EFGR‐Akt/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Thus, β2‐AR blockage might be a potential therapeutic strategy for combating the progressions of β2‐AR‐dependent CRC. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 459–472, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beta Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation Suppresses Cell Migration in Association with Cell Cycle Transition in Osteoblasts—Live Imaging Analyses Based on FUCCI System
Authors: Katsumura Sakie , Ezura Yoichi , Izu Yayoi , Shirakawa Jumpei , Miyawaki Atsushi , Harada Kiyoshi , Noda Masaki
Published: July 2015

Osteoporosis affects over 20 million patients in the United States. Among those, disuse osteoporosis is serious as it is induced by bed‐ridden conditions in patients suffering from aging‐associated diseases including cardiovascular, neurological, and malignant neoplastic diseases. Although the phenomenon that loss of mechanical stress such as bed‐ridden condition reduces bone mass is clear, molecular bases for the disuse osteoporosis are still incompletely understood. In disuse osteoporosis model, bone loss is interfered by inhibitors of sympathetic tone and adrenergic receptors that suppress bone formation. However, how beta adrenergic stimulation affects osteoblastic migration and associated proliferation is not known. Here we introduced a live imaging system, fluorescent ubiquitination‐based cell cycle indicator (FUCCI), in osteoblast biology and examined isoproterenol regulation of cell cycle transition and cell migration in osteoblasts. Isoproterenol treatment suppresses the levels of first entry peak of quiescent osteoblastic cells into cell cycle phase by shifting from G1/G0 to S/G2/M and also suppresses the levels of second major peak population that enters into S/G2/M. The isoproterenol regulation of osteoblastic cell cycle transition is associated with isoproterenol suppression on the velocity of migration. This isoproterenol regulation of migration velocity is cell cycle phase specific as it suppresses migration velocity of osteoblasts in G1 phase but not in G1/S nor in G2/M phase. Finally, these observations on isoproterenol regulation of osteoblastic migration and cell cycle transition are opposite to the PTH actions in osteoblasts. In summary, we discovered that sympathetic tone regulates osteoblastic migration in association with cell cycle transition by using FUCCI system. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 496–504, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of 2‐Arylbenzothiazoles by Copper‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Three‐Component Reactions in Water
Authors: Xu Hualong , Luo Chun , Li Zhengkai , Xiang Haifeng , Zhou Xiangge
Published: July 2015

Copper‐catalyzed three‐component reactions of 2‐iodoanilines, benzylamines, and sulfur powder are reported to afford benzothiazoles in a simple one‐pot procedure by using water as solvent. A variety of 2‐arylbenzothiazoles were obtained in moderate to good yields up to 88%.
Hospitalist attitudes toward the assessment and management of dyspnea in patients with acute cardiopulmonary diseases
Authors: Stefan Mihaela S. , Au David H. , Mularski Richard A. , Krishnan Jerry A. , Naureckas Eduard T. , Carson Shannon S. , Godwin Patrick , Priya Aruna , Pekow Penelope S. , Lindenauer Peter K.
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Dyspnea is a common symptom in patients hospitalized with acute cardiopulmonary diseases. Routine assessment of dyspnea severity is recommended by clinical guidelines based on the evidence that patients are not treated consistently for dyspnea relief.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate attitudes and beliefs of hospitalists regarding the assessment and management of dyspnea.

DESIGN

Cross‐sectional survey.

SETTINGS

Nine hospitals in the United States.

MEASUREMENTS

Survey questions assessed the following domains regarding dyspnea: importance in clinical care, potential benefits and challenges of implementing a standardized assessment, current approaches to assessment, and how awareness of severity affects management. A 5‐point Likert scale was used to assess the respondent's level of agreement; strongly agree and agree were combined into a single category.

RESULTS

Of the 255 hospitalists invited to participate, 69.8% completed the survey; 77.0% agreed that dyspnea relief is an important goal when treating patients with cardiopulmonary conditions. Approximately 90% of respondents stated that awareness of dyspnea severity influences their decision to intensify treatment, to pursue additional diagnostic testing, and the timing of discharge. Of the respondents, 61.0% agreed that standardized assessment of dyspnea should be part of the vital signs, and 64.6% agreed that awareness of dyspnea severity influences their decision to prescribe opioids. Hospitalists who appreciated the importance of dyspnea in clinical practice were more likely to support the implementation of a standardized scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Most hospitalists believe that routine assessment of dyspnea severity would enhance their clinical decision making and patient care. Measurement and documentation of dyspnea severity may represent an opportunity to improve dyspnea management. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:724–730. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Outcome of small lung nodules missed on hybrid PET/MRI in patients with primary malignancy
Authors: Raad Roy A. , Friedman Kent P. , Heacock Laura , Ponzo Fabio , Melsaether Amy , Chandarana Hersh
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To assess outcomes of lung nodules missed on simultaneous positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) compared to the reference standard PET and computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with primary malignancy.

Materials and Methods

In all, 208 patients with primary malignancy undergoing clinically indicated (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT followed by PET/MRI were independently reviewed by two readers. Upon review of the thoracic station on PET/MRI and PET/CT, 89 non‐FDG avid small lung nodules in 43 patients were detected (by reader 1) only on the CT component of the PET/CT but were not identified on PET/MRI. Overall, 84 of these 89 nodules were examined on follow‐up imaging with PET/CT or chest CT. The remaining five nodules had no follow‐up imaging but had remote imaging available for comparison.

Results

Among the 84 nodules with follow‐up, three nodules (3%) in one patient progressed, 10 (12%) nodules partially/completely resolved, whereas 71 nodules (85%) remained stable. The five nodules without follow‐up were all stable since prior imaging of over 21 months.

Conclusion

The vast majority (97%) of small non‐FDG avid lung nodules missed on PET/MRI either resolved or remained stable on follow‐up, suggestive of benignity. PET/MRI remains a viable alternative imaging modality in oncology patients, despite its low sensitivity in detecting small lung nodules. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:504–511.
A fast and reliable detection of indigo in historic and prehistoric textile samples
Authors: Kramell Annemarie , Porbeck Frank , Kluge Ralph , Wiesner Andreas , Csuk René
Published: July 2015

We present a method requiring no sample preparation for the direct identification of indigoid colorants in tiny amounts in ancient historic fabrics using ASAP®‐MS. Exact determinations were completed in less than 1 min. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reliability of climate models for China through the IPCC Third to Fifth Assessment Reports
Authors: Jiang Dabang , Tian Zhiping , Lang Xianmei
Published: July 2015

Based on observation and reanalysis data, 77 coupled global climate models (GCMs) participating in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third (TAR), Fourth (AR4), and Fifth (AR5) Assessment Reports are evaluated in terms of their ability to simulate the mean state and year‐to‐year variability of surface air temperature at 2 m and precipitation over China and the climatological East Asian monsoon for the late decades of the 20th century. Results show that GCMs reliably reproduce the geographical distribution of the variables considered. Compared with observations, however, most GCMs have topography‐related cold biases (although these are smaller than those found in previous studies), excessive precipitation, an underestimated southeast–northwest precipitation gradient, an overestimated magnitude and spatial variability of the interannual variability of temperature and precipitation, and an inadequate strength of the East Asian monsoon circulation. Pairwise comparison reveals that GCMs continue to improve from the TAR via the AR4 to the AR5 for temperature, but have little change for precipitation and the East Asian monsoon. The ability of GCMs varies with season and is affected to certain degree by their horizontal resolutions. Both the arithmetic mean and the median of multiple GCMs are little affected by filtering GCMs in terms of their ability, and the multi‐model mean outperforms most of individual GCMs in every respect.
An estimate of anthropogenic heat emissions in China
Authors: Lu Yan , Wang Qin'geng , Zhang Yanyan , Sun Ping , Qian Yu
Published: July 2015

Anthropogenic heat emissions (AHEs) are a contributor to global climate change and may affect the climate and air quality in many ways. To gain a complete picture of AHEs in mainland China and to lay the groundwork for modelling of regional climate and the environment, AHEs from energy consumption and human metabolism were estimated, and an inventory was established with gridded distributions and profiles of temporal variations. This was based on the top–down inventory approach by using officially published statistical data. Results indicated that total AHE of the mainland was 1.2 × 1020 J·a−1, of which industry, transportation, buildings and human metabolism contributed 73.0, 11.6, 10.6 and 4.8%, respectively. Coal and electricity accounted for approximately 74% of the total emissions from energy consumption. The annual average heat flux of the mainland was 0.4 W·m−2, with a sharp difference between the eastern and western regions. Fluxes in the eastern regions were mostly between 0.5 and 20 W·m−2, and they were between 0 and 0.05 W·m−2 in the western regions. In urban or built‐up areas of typical cities, the heat fluxes may be much higher than the average for larger areas, typically ranging from 20 to 100 W·m−2. Region‐specific profiles of temporal variations will improve the inventory in the future, which can be applied to climatic and environmental models to obtain in‐depth knowledge of the effects of AHEs.
A high‐resolution, multi‐model analysis of Irish temperatures for the mid‐21st century
Authors: O'Sullivan John , Sweeney Conor , Nolan Paul , Gleeson Emily
Published: July 2015

There is a paucity of dynamically downscaled climate model output at a high resolution over Ireland, of temperature projections for the mid‐21st century. This study aims to address this shortcoming. A preliminary investigation of global climate model (GCM) data and high‐resolution regional climate model (RCM) data shows that the latter exhibits greater variability over Ireland by reducing the dominance of the surrounding seas on the climate signal. This motivates the subsequent dynamical downscaling and analysis of the temperature output from three high‐resolution (4–7 km grid size) RCMs over Ireland. The three RCMs, driven by four GCMs from CMIP3 and CMIP5, were run under different Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) and representative concentration pathway (RCP) future scenarios. Projections of mean and extreme temperature changes are considered for the mid‐century (2041–2060) and assessed relative to the control period of 1981–2000.

Analysis of the RCM data shows that annual mean temperatures are projected to rise between 0.4 and 1.8 °C above control levels by mid‐century. On a seasonal basis, results differ by forcing scenario. Future summers have the largest projected warming under RCP 8.5, where the greatest warming is seen in the southeast of Ireland. The remaining two high emission scenarios (SRESs A1B and A2) project future winters to have the greatest warming, with almost uniform increases of 1.5–2 °C across the island.

Changes in the bidecadal 5th and 95th percentile values of daily minimum and maximum temperatures, respectively, are also analysed. The greatest change in daily minimum temperature is projected for future winters (indicating fewer cold nights and frost days), a pattern that is consistent across all scenarios/forcings.

An investigation into the distribution of temperature under RCP 8.5 shows a strong summer increase compounded by increased variability, and a winter increase compounded by an increase in skewness.
Decreasing US aridity in a warming climate
Authors: Finkel J. M. , Canel‐Katz L. M. , Katz J. I.
Published: July 2015

The mean North American and world climates have warmed since the 19th century following the anthropogenic emission of large quantities of greenhouse gases. It has been suggested that this warming may increase the frequency or severity of droughts. We define a quantitative and objective aridity index that describes the precipitation forcing function of drought. Using the extensive historical database of precipitation records, we evaluate changes in the aridity in the 48 contiguous United States. The area‐averaged mean fractional rate of change of aridity of 1218 sites in the period 1893–2013 was (−6.6 ± 0.4) × 10− 4 per year; the 48 contiguous United States became less arid. The rate of decrease of aridity was roughly consistent with expectations from the Clausius–Clapeyron relation and the rate of warming. The fractional rate of change of aridity was nearly uncorrelated with the aridity itself, but there were regional differences: many Western and coastal Southeastern sites showed increasing aridity, but regions of rapidly decreasing aridity were found in a band 85∘–100∘W and the Northeast.
Spatiotemporal structures of rainfall over the Amazon basin derived from TRMM data
Authors: Hierro R. , Llamedo P. , de la Torre A. , Alexander P.
Published: July 2015

On the basis of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) daily accumulated rainfall data (3B42 v7 product) covering 16 years (1998–2013), the Amazon Basin (AB) time and space rainfall variability is analysed. Different behaviours of precipitation over AB are found to the north and south of 8°S when the longitudinal band 70°–50°W is considered. The sample is then split into northern and southern sectors with respect to 8°S, describing their monthly evolution as a function of longitude. The main spatial oscillation modes are isolated and analysed through continuous wavelet transform analysis. Intense spatial oscillations are found close to the western side of the studied region. Several temporal modes in different scales are detected within each sample. Two of them show scales longer than 12 months, which are probably associated with ENSO phases. Smaller scale oscillations, evaluated from daily data, are also found. The northern sector of AB shows more daily data variability than the southern one and seems to be more affected by large temporal processes than the southern sector.
Linking interannual variability in extreme Greenland blocking episodes to the recent increase in summer melting across the Greenland ice sheet
Authors: McLeod Jordan T. , Mote Thomas L.
Published: July 2015

Atmospheric blocking commonly occurs over the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, resulting from the development of persistent areas of high pressure that lead to warmer‐than‐average surface temperatures west of the high centre. While the variability and trends in anticyclonic circulation patterns (including blocking) over Greenland have been previously documented, an analysis of the most extreme blocking events within the observational record is lacking. In this study, a historical climatology of extreme Greenland blocking episodes (GBEs) from 1958 to 2013 is examined within the context of anomalous anticyclonic circulation patterns over the North Atlantic region during recent years. Based on a combination of the ERA‐40 (1958–1978) and ERA‐Interim (1979–2013) reanalysis data sets, the Greenland Blocking Index (GBI) is used to quantify 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies for the identification of extreme GBEs. The annual rate of extreme blocking days has doubled since 1958, reaching an average of approximately 20 days per year by 2013. The frequency and, to some extent, duration of extreme GBEs were unprecedentedly high from 2007 to 2013 compared to the 56‐year period of record, with a majority of the increase occurring during the spring (MAM) and summer (JJA). A multiple linear regression analysis reveals that interannual variability in extreme blocking and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) are the two predominant drivers of surface meltwater production across the entire Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), but Arctic sea ice extent and North Atlantic cyclone activity can also influence the extent of summer melting over portions of the GrIS. Thus, in addition to the larger‐scale atmospheric and oceanic variability, smaller‐scale features such as extratropical cyclones can play a significant role in modulating GrIS surface melting each summer.
Targeted individual prophylaxis offers superior risk stratification for cytomegalovirus reactivation after liver transplantation
Authors: Sood Siddharth , Haifer Craig , Yu Lijia , Pavlovic Julie , Gow Paul J. , Jones Robert M. , Visvanathan Kumar , Angus Peter W. , Testro Adam G.
Published: July 2015

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can reactivate following liver transplantation. Management of patients currently considered low risk based on pretransplant serology remains contentious, with universal prophylaxis and preemptive strategies suffering from significant deficiencies. We hypothesized that a CMV‐specific T cell assay performed early after transplant as part of a preemptive strategy could better stratify “low‐risk” (recipient seropositive) patients. We conducted a prospective, blinded, observational study in 75 adult recipients. QuantiFERON‐cytomegalovirus was performed both before and at multiple times after transplant. Low‐risk patients (n = 58) were monitored as per unit protocol and treatment was commenced if CMV > 1000 copies/mL (DNAemia). Twenty patients needed antiviral treatment for other reasons and were censored (mainly for rejection or herpes simplex virus infection); 19/38 (50%) of the remaining low‐risk patients developed DNAemia at mean 34.6 days after transplant. A week 2 result of <0.1 IU/mL was significantly associated with risk of subsequent DNAemia (hazard ratio [HR], 6.9; P = 0.002). The positive predictive value of 80% suggests these patients are inappropriately labeled low risk and are actually at high likelihood of CMV reactivation. A secondary cutoff of <0.2 IU/mL was associated with moderate risk (HR, 2.8; P = 0.01). In conclusion, a protocol based on a single early CMV‐specific T cell based assay would offer improved risk stratification and individualization of patient management after transplant. This could offer improved drug and service utilization and potentially result in significant improvements over both currently used protocols to manage supposedly low‐risk patients. Liver Transpl 21:1478‐1485, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
Reactivity Ratio Estimation in Non‐Linear Polymerization Models using Markov Chain Monte Carlo Techniques and an Error‐In‐Variables Framework
Authors: Mathew Manoj , Duever Thomas
Published: July 2015

Reactivity ratio estimation was carried out in various nonlinear models using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique and an error‐in‐variables (EVM) regression model. The implementation steps for three different polymerization case studies are discussed in detail and the results from this work are compared to previously used approximation methods. Approximation techniques that rely on linear regression theory are shown to produce inaccurate joint confidence regions (JCRs). Therefore, in this paper, we explore MCMC techniques that can be used to produce JCRs with correct shape and probability content. In addition, the paper illustrates how an EVM model can be used in tackling any type of regression problem, including multi‐response problems.
Laser polishing and laser form correction of fused silica optics
Authors: Heidrich S. , Willenborg E. , Weingarten C. , Temmler A.
Published: July 2015

With laser polishing, the roughness of ground glass surfaces can be significantly reduced. With process speeds up to 1 cm2/s independent of the processed surface shape, the resulting roughness is already sufficient for illumination optics. To further reduce the roughness, the polishing process itself will be optimized and moreover combined with a subsequent laser based form correction. Within this paper, results of laser polishing as well as laser form correction and combination of the two processes are presented and discussed.
Design surfaces by laser remelting
Authors: Temmler A. , Willenborg E. , Wissenbach K.
Published: July 2015

Molds and dies are used today in the manufacturing of a wide range of industrial products. They have a broad field of applications from the air and space technology, the automotive sector, to electrical engineering, to household products and consumer goods. The surface of a part or product strongly influences its properties and functions e.g. it's visual appearance. The gloss thereby reflects one of the most important properties of a surface when it comes to evaluate the visual appearance. Therefore, among others, in this paper the influence of laser polishing on the generated specular gloss is investigated for the hot work steel 1.2343 (AISI: H11). On the one hand laser polished surfaces are measured by WLI and investigated by a spectral analysis of surfaces roughness. A spectral analysis is achieved by a discrete convolution of the surface profile with a Gaussian loaded function similar to ISO 11562. On the other hand specular gloss measurements were carried out at 20°, 60° and 85°. For the experiments a fiber‐coupled solid state disc laser (Yb : YAG; Q‐switched) is used (PL,max = 550 W; repetition frequency: fP = 5–20 kHz, pulse duration: tP = 0,7–3,5 µs, pulsed and cw‐operation). In general, scanning velocity and average laser power are two crucial procedural parameters for laser polishing with significant influence on the resulting surface roughness. These procedural parameters are investigated systematically, while other procedural parameters, such as laser beam diameter dL = 250 µm and track offset dy = 25 µm were kept constant. By this a significant reduction of roughness was achieved, especially for the wavelength interval λ < 320 µm. A correlation between specular gloss of surfaces and the measured micro‐roughness is carried out. In order to make a systematic classification laser polished fields are compared to surfaces which were prepared by conventional mechanical manufacturing processes, such as turning, milling, grinding, high end manual polishing etc. Specular gloss shows a good exponential correlation with micro‐ and meso‐roughness were as macro roughness shows no significant influence on the specular gloss. Additionally, a complete process chain for selectively laser polishing of metallic surfaces was developed in order to apply different levels of gloss onto free formed work pieces. Selective laser polishing and the process chain are demonstrated for a free formed tool insert with leather textured surface, where only the indentations of the leather texture were laser polished selectively.
Cluster analysis of acoustic emission signals in pitting corrosion of low carbon steel
Authors: Bi H. , Li Z. , Hu D. , Toku‐Gyamerah I. , Cheng Y.
Published: July 2015

The pitting corrosion characteristics of low carbon steel specimens are studied by acoustic emission (AE) and electrochemical techniques, in a 3.0 wt.% NaCl solution acidified to pH 2.0. The acoustic emission signals generated by pitting corrosion are classified based on multiple acoustic emission parameters using K‐means clustering algorithm, then each classified signals are analyzed by acoustic emission parameters correlation plot and distribution with time. Furthermore, each acoustic source characteristics is extracted using Gabor wavelet transform (WT) in the time and frequency domain. An error back propagation (BP) artificial neural network (ANN) is trained according to the classified signals, so as to successfully identify the acoustic emission signals from parallel experiments. Experimental results show that the hydrogen bubble activation, oxidized film rupture and pit growth are typical acoustic emission sources in pitting corrosion process, which can be effectively classified by cluster analysis and recognized by back propagation neural network. The data gathered from laboratory tests combined with the real data from acoustic emission on‐line storage tank floor inspection can help to evaluate the bottom corrosion severity and interpreter the corrosion source, further to make the on‐site testing more reliable and reduce the risk.
Adipose‐derived stem cells protect against endoneurial cell death: Cell therapy for nerve autografts
Authors: Tomita Koichi , Nishibayashi Akimitsu , Yano Kenji , Hosokawa Ko
Published: July 2015

Background

One of the major problems with nerve grafts is that the survival of a graft segment, including endoneurial Schwann cells (SCs), is uncertain. We investigated whether the survival of nerve grafts is improved when adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) are incorporated into the grafts.

Methods

To examine the cell‐protective effects of ASCs on SCs in vitro, we used an indirect coculture system. In vivo effects of the incorporation of ASCs into grafts were examined using a graft model in the rat common peroneal nerve. Grafts were entubulated to isolate them from the surrounding tissues, mimicking the clinical conditions of a poorly vascularized recipient bed. Thirty‐six Lewis rats were divided into three groups, i.e., nerve graft only, entubulated nerve graft, and entubulated nerve graft + ASC transplantation. In each group, four rats and eight rats were used for short‐term (10 days) and long‐term (12 weeks) follow‐up study, respectively.

Results

After 24 hours of serum deprivation, the numbers of 7‐aminoactinomycin D, and TUNEL‐positive SCs significantly decreased when indirectly cocultured with ASCs (P < 0.01). When ASCs were transplanted to the epineurial layer of the grafts, the number of endoneurial TUNEL‐positive cells decreased significantly, as compared with grafts without ASCs, at 10 days postoperatively (P < 0.05). Postoperative walking track analysis showed that the ASC‐transplanted grafts showed significantly faster function recovery, as compared with grafts without ASCs (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that nerve autografts + ASC therapy could offer a new approach to obtaining optimal outcomes after peripheral nerve injury. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:474–480, 2015.
Adaptively optimized combination (AOC) of magnetic resonance spectroscopy data from phased array coils
Authors: Fang Liang , Wu Minjie , Ke Hengyu , Kumar Anand , Yang Shaolin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

MR spectroscopy (MRS) can benefit from multi‐element coil arrays with enhanced signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). However, how to combine the MRS data in an optimized way from a multi‐element coil array has been studied much less than MRI. A recently published method and routine combination methods have detrimental effects on SNR. We present herein a new method for optimal combination of multi‐coil MRS data.

Methods

Based on an analytical solution for maximizing the SNR of the combined spectrum, a new method called “adaptively optimized combination (AOC)” of MRS data from phased array coils was developed in which the inversion of the full noise correlation matrix was incorporated into the coil weighting coefficients. Simulations were carried out to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed AOC method in various noise scenarios. Validation experiments on human subjects were performed with different voxel locations and sizes on a 3T MRI scanner using an eight‐element phased array head coil.

Results

Compared with a recently published method (i.e., weighting with the ratio of signal to the square of noise) and routine methods, our proposed AOC method adaptively and robustly produced significant SNR improvement in the combined spectra.

Conclusion

The simulation and human experiments demonstrate that the proposed AOC method represents the theoretical optimal combination of MR spectroscopic data from multi‐element coil arrays. Magn Reson Med 75:2235–2244, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using the robust principal component analysis algorithm to remove RF spike artifacts from MR images
Authors: Campbell‐Washburn Adrienne E. , Atkinson David , Nagy Zoltan , Chan Rachel W. , Josephs Oliver , Lythgoe Mark F. , Ordidge Roger J. , Thomas David L.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Brief bursts of RF noise during MR data acquisition (“k‐space spikes”) cause disruptive image artifacts, manifesting as stripes overlaid on the image. RF noise is often related to hardware problems, including vibrations during gradient‐heavy sequences, such as diffusion‐weighted imaging. In this study, we present an application of the Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) algorithm to remove spike noise from k‐space. Methods: Corrupted k‐space matrices were decomposed into their low‐rank and sparse components using the RPCA algorithm, such that spikes were contained within the sparse component and artifact‐free k‐space data remained in the low‐rank component. Automated center refilling was applied to keep the peaked central cluster of k‐space from misclassification in the sparse component. Results: This algorithm was demonstrated to effectively remove k‐space spikes from four data types under conditions generating spikes: (i) mouse heart T1 mapping, (ii) mouse heart cine imaging, (iii) human kidney diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, and (iv) human brain DTI data. Myocardial T1 values changed by 86.1 ± 171 ms following despiking, and fractional anisotropy values were recovered following despiking of DTI data. Conclusion: The RPCA despiking algorithm will be a valuable postprocessing method for retrospectively removing stripe artifacts without affecting the underlying signal of interest. Magn Reson Med 75:2517–2525, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
A management architecture for client‐defined cloud storage services
Authors: Chung Jae Yoon , Ha Sangtae , Hong James Won‐Ki
Published: July 2015

Cloud service providers offer virtual resources to users, who then pay for as much as they use. High‐speed networks help to overcome the limitation of geographical distances between clients and cloud servers, which encourage users to adopt cloud storage services for data backup and sharing. However, users use only a few cloud storage services because of the complexity of managing multiple accounts and distributing data to store. In this paper, we propose the client‐defined management architecture (CLIMA) that redefines a storage service by coordinating multiple cloud storage services from clients. We address practical issues of coordinating multiple cloud service providers using a client‐based approach. We implement a prototype as a realization of CLIMA, which achieves both reliability and privacy protection using erasure code and higher performance by optimally scheduling data transmission. We use our prototype to evaluate the benefits of CLIMA on commercial cloud storage service providers. Finally, CLIMA empowers clients to increase the manageability and flexibility of cloud storage services. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A rotation‐free shell formulation using nodal integration for static and dynamic analyses of structures
Authors: Wang G. , Cui X. Y. , Li G. Y.
Published: July 2015

This paper proposed a rotation‐free thin shell formulation with nodal integration for elastic–static, free vibration, and explicit dynamic analyses of structures using three‐node triangular cells and linear interpolation functions. The formulation is based on the classic Kirchhoff plate theory, in which only three translational displacements are treated as the filed variables. Based on each node, the integration domains are further formed, where the generalized gradient smoothing technique and Green divergence theorem that can relax the continuity requirement for trial function are used to construct the curvature filed. With the aid of strain smoothing operation and tensor transformation rule, the smoothed strains in the integration domain can be finally expressed by constants. The principle of virtual work is then used to establish the discretized system equations. The translational boundary conditions are imposed same as the practice of standard finite element method, while the rotational boundary conditions are constrained in the process of constructing the smoothed curvature filed. To test the performance of the present formulation, several numerical examples, including both benchmark problems and practical engineering cases, are studied. The results demonstrate that the present method possesses better accuracy and higher efficiency for both static and dynamic problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two‐year outcomes on bone density and fracture incidence in patients with T2DM randomized to bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy
Authors: Maghrabi Adam H. , Wolski Kathy , Abood Beth , Licata Angelo , Pothier Claire , Bhatt Deepak L. , Nissen Steven , Brethauer Stacy A. , Kirwan John P. , Schauer Philip R. , Kashyap Sangeeta R.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To determine the 2‐year outcomes of Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) vs. intensive medical therapy (IMT) on lean body mass, total bone mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) measures from the STAMPEDE trial.

Methods

54 subjects (BMI: 36 ± 1 kg/m2, age: 48 ± 4 years) with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (HbA1c: 9.7 ± 2%) were randomized to IMT, RYGB, or SG and underwent DXA at baseline and at 1 and 2 years.

Results

At 2 years, the reduction in BMI was similar after RYGB and SG and was greater than IMT (P < 0.001). Lean mass was reduced by ∼10%, total bone mineral content reduced by ∼8%, and hip BMD reduced by ∼9% in both surgical groups and was significantly greater than IMT despite increases in vitamin D intake in all groups. The change in hip BMD correlated with weight loss (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) and changes in lean mass (r = 0.74, P < 0.0001) and leptin (r = 0.53, P < 0.0001). Peripheral fractures were self‐reported in RYGB (4/18 patients), SG (2/19 patients), and IMT (4/16 patients).

Conclusions

Surgically induced weight loss is associated with modest reductions in lean mass, bone mineral content, and BMD, despite calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients with T2DM. Awareness for bone loss is indicated for patients undergoing bariatric procedures.
Increased placental nutrient transport in a novel mouse model of maternal obesity with fetal overgrowth
Authors: Rosario Fredrick J. , Kanai Yoshikatsu , Powell Theresa L. , Jansson Thomas
Published: July 2015

Objective

To identify possible mechanisms linking obesity in pregnancy to increased fetal adiposity and growth, a unique mouse model of maternal obesity associated with fetal overgrowth was developed, and the hypothesis that maternal obesity causes up‐regulation of placental nutrient transporter expression and activity was tested.

Methods

C57BL/6J female mice were fed a control (C) or a high‐fat/high‐sugar (HF/HS) pelleted diet supplemented by ad libitum access to sucrose (20%) solution, mated, and studied at embryonic day 18.5.

Results

HF/HS diet increased maternal fat mass by 2.2‐fold (P < 0.01) and resulted in glucose intolerance with normal fasting glucose. Maternal circulating insulin, leptin, and cholesterol were increased (P < 0.05) whereas total and high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin was decreased (P < 0.05). HF/HS diet increased fetal weight (+18%, P = 0.0005). In trophoblast plasma membranes (TPM) isolated from placentas of HF/HS‐fed animals, protein expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 3, sodium‐coupled neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT) 2, and large neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) was increased. TPM System A and L amino acid transporter activity was increased in the HF/HS group.

Conclusions

Up‐regulation of specific placental nutrient transporter isoforms may constitute a mechanism underlying fetal overgrowth in maternal obesity.
Remodeling of plasma lipoproteins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Interleukin‐6 receptor‐alpha inhibition with tocilizumab
Authors: Lee Janet S. , Chapman M. John , Piraino Paolo , Lamerz Jens , Schindler Thomas , Cutler Paul , Dernick Gregor
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, mediated in part by elevated circulating interleukin‐6 levels and proinflammatory changes in plasma lipoproteins. We hypothesized that RA patients acquire inflammation‐induced modifications to the protein cargo of circulating lipoproteins that may be reversed by tocilizumab, an interleukin‐6 receptor‐alpha inhibitor.

Experimental design

Size‐exclusion chromatography and reverse‐phase protein arrays using 29 antibodies against 26 proteins were applied at baseline and after tocilizumab treatment to analyze the distributions of apolipoproteins, enzymes, lipid transfer proteins, and other associated proteins in plasma lipoprotein fractions from 20 women with RA.

Results

A 30% reduction in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)–associated serum amyloid A4 and complement C4 occurred with tocilizumab. Levels of C‐reactive protein, associated or comigrating with HDL and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) peaks, were reduced on treatment by approximately 80% and 24%, respectively. Reductions in lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2, lipoprotein (a), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein in the LDL fraction suggest reductions in LDL‐associated proatherogenic factors. Elevations in very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) enriched with apolipoprotein E were equally observed.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Tocilizumab treatment led to reductions in proinflammatory components and proatherogenic proteins associated with HDL. Whether changes in the proteome of VLDL, LDL, and HDL induced by anti‐inflammatory tocilizumab treatment in RA patients modify cardiovascular disease risk requires further investigation.
Trends in pesticide use on soybean, corn and cotton since the introduction of major genetically modified crops in the United States
Authors: Coupe Richard H , Capel Paul D
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Genetically modified (GM) varieties of soybean, corn and cotton have largely replaced conventional varieties in the United States. The most widely used applications of GM technology have been the development of crops that are resistant to a specific broad‐spectrum herbicide (primarily glyphosate) or that produce insecticidal compounds within the plant itself. With the widespread adoption of GM crops, a decline in the use of conventional pesticides was expected.

RESULTS

There has been a reduction in the annual herbicide application rate to corn since the advent of GM crops, but the herbicide application rate is mostly unchanged for cotton. Herbicide use on soybean has increased. There has been a substantial reduction in the amount of insecticides used on both corn and cotton since the introduction of GM crops.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed changes in pesticide use are likely to be the result of many factors, including the introduction of GM crops, regulatory restrictions on some conventional pesticides, introduction of new pesticide technologies and changes in farming practices. In order to help protect human and environmental health and to help agriculture plan for the future, more detailed and complete documentation on pesticide use is needed on a frequent and ongoing basis. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Place Attachment and Belonging among Educated Young Migrants and Returnees: the Case of Chaohu, China
Authors: Du Huimin
Published: July 2015

This article explores how geographic mobility is implicated in the process of bonding with place. By using data collected from a survey of a group of college graduates who grew up in Chaohu and left their hometown in their young adulthood, four types of migrants (Translocals, Departers, Aliens, and Settlers) and three types of returnees (the Trapped, the Bonded, and the Rooted) are classified. This research acknowledges the significance of traditional influences in people's bonds with places; meanwhile, it challenges the conservative view of seeing attachment/belonging to the homeland as universal and unconditioned. The findings also show that educated young migrants tend to have a greater desire to be integrated into the host city, and they are more prone to be accepted by the new socio‐spatial environment. Taken together, this study corroborates the idea that geographic mobility does not undermine place‐based attachment/belonging but tends to attenuate its intensity. Attachment/belonging is not necessarily limited to one single place; yet, attachment/belonging ascribed by birth still has an advantage over the attachment/belonging acquired by residence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Digital Trace Data in Supporting the Collection of Population Statistics – the Case for Smart Metered Electricity Consumption Data
Authors: Newing Andy , Anderson Ben , Bahaj AbuBakr , James Patrick
Published: July 2015

Debates over the future of the UK's traditional decadal census have led to the exploration of supplementary data sources, which could support the provision of timely and enhanced statistics on population and housing in small areas. This paper reviews the potential value of a number of commercial datasets before focusing on high temporal resolution household electricity load data collected via smart metering. We suggest that such data could provide indicators of household characteristics that could then be aggregated at the census output area level to generate more frequent official small area statistics. These could directly supplement existing census indicators or even enable development of novel small area indicators. The paper explores this potential through preliminary analysis of a ‘smart meter‐like’ dataset, and when set alongside the limited literature to date, the results suggest that aggregated household load profiles may reveal key household and householder characteristics of interest to census users and national statistical organisations. The paper concludes that complete coverage, quasi‐real time reporting, and household level detail of electricity consumption data in particular could support the delivery of population statistics and area‐based social indicators, and we outline a research programme to address these opportunities. © 2015 The Authors. Population, Space and Place published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.