bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eosinophilic pulmonary granulomatosis in a young dog with prolonged remission after treatment
Authors: Katajavuori P. , Melamies M. , Rajamäki M. M.
Published: November 2012

A two‐year‐old Jack Russell terrier was presented for evaluation of chronic cough and exercise intolerance. Previous treatment with antibiotics and glucocorticoids had only partially ameliorated the clinical signs. During investigation, hypoxaemia, peripheral eosinophilia and an eosinophilic bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were noted. Thoracic radiographs revealed two ovoid clearly delineated soft‐tissue opacities, one in the caudal segment of the left cranial lung lobe (diameter 26 mm) and the other in the right cranial lung lobe (diameter 20 mm). These findings were verified by computed tomography, which identified an additional smaller lesion (diameter 16 mm) dorsally in the right caudal lobe. Ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration samples confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic pulmonary granulomatosis and treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine was initiated. Within 1 month, granulomas were no longer detectable radiographically. All medication was discontinued after 7 months and currently, after 2·5 years, the dog remains free of clinical signs. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first case report to describe prolonged remission from idiopathic canine eosinophilic pulmonary granulomatosis.
The historical biogeography of coral reef fishes: global patterns of origination and dispersal
Authors: Cowman Peter F. , Bellwood David R.
Published: November 2012

Aim

To use recently published phylogenies of three major reef fish families to explore global patterns of species origin and dispersal over the past 65 million years. The key questions are: when and where did reef fishes arise, and how has this shaped current biodiversity patterns?

Location

Biogeographic reconstructions were performed on globally distributed reef fish lineages. Patterns of lineage origination and dispersal were explored in five major biogeographic regions: the East Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Indo‐Australian Archipelago hotspot, and the Central Pacific.

Methods

A dispersal, extinction and cladogenesis (DEC) model implemented in Lagrange was used to infer the most likely biogeographic scenarios at nodes on chronograms of three diverse reef fish families (Labridae, Pomacentridae, Chaetodontidae). For the terminal branches ANOVA was used to compare patterns of origination on a regional and global scale. Patterns of origination and dispersal were examined within discrete time periods for the five biogeographic regions.

Results

Temporal examination of hypothetical ancestral lineages reveal a pattern of increasing isolation of the East Pacific and Atlantic regions from the Eocene, and the changing role of the Indo‐Australian Archipelago from a location of accumulating ranges in the Palaeo/Eocene, a centre of origination in the Miocene, to extensive expansion of lineages into adjacent regions from the Pliocene to Recent.

Main conclusions

While the East Pacific and Atlantic have a history of isolation, the Indo‐Australian Archipelago has a history of connectivity. It has sequentially and then simultaneously acted as a centre of accumulation (Palaeocene/Eocene onwards), survival (Eocene/Oligocene onwards), origin (Miocene onwards), and export (Pliocene/Recent) for reef fishes. The model suggests that it was the proliferation and expansion of lineages in the Indo‐Australian Archipelago (the Coral Triangle) during the Miocene that underpinned the current biodiversity in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Deep barriers, shallow divergences: reduced phylogeographical structure in the collared pika (Mammalia:Lagomorpha:Ochotona collaris)
Authors: Lanier Hayley C. , Olson Link E.
Published: November 2012

Aim

Pikas (Ochotonaspp.) are alpine specialists that show considerable morphological and genetic variation structured along latitudinal and elevational gradients. Recent studies ofNorthAmerican andAsian pikas have uncovered phylogeographical partitioning among separate mountain ranges and drainages, driven byQuaternary climate fluctuations. We tested the prediction that collared pikas (O. collaris) exhibit lower genetic diversity and less structure than other species of pika due to lower long‐term habitat stability.

Location

EasternBeringia (Alaska and north‐westernCanada).

Methods

We examined phylogeographical variation in the collared pika (O. collaris) throughout much of its known range using the mitochondrial cytochromebgene. Population divergence and genetic diversity were compared within and between mountain ranges. Genetic diversity was contrasted with current andPleistocene habitat fragmentation inferred from ecological niche models.

Results

Low but significant differentiation was evident between most populations ofO. collaris, with little haplotype sharing among populations and a single phylogeographical break separating a genetically distinct haplogroup in the south‐eastern part of its range. Variation was mostly structured within populations (as opposed to between populations or mountain ranges). When within‐species nucleotide diversity inO. collaris,O. princepsandO. curzoniaewas compared, genetic diversity was found to decline with increasing latitude.

Main conclusions

Populations ofO. collarisare less geographically structured and exhibit less variability than populations of eitherO. princepsorO. curzoniae. This pattern is better explained by the amount of availablePleistocene habitat predicted for each species than by current predicted habitat or population discontinuity. Collared pikas are currently considered to be a common species at low risk of extinction, but their habitat specificity, population subdivision, and low genetic variation may have consequences for their continued viability in a warming world.
Laminin‐γ1 chain and stress inducible protein 1 synergistically mediate PrPC‐dependent axonal growth via Ca2+ mobilization in dorsal root ganglia neurons
Authors: Santos Tiago G. , Beraldo Flavio H. , Hajj Glaucia N. M. , Lopes Marilene H. , Roffe Martin , Lupinacci Fernanda C. S. , Ostapchenko Valeriy G. , Prado Vania F. , Prado Marco A. M. , Martins Vilma R.
Published: November 2012

Prion protein (PrPC) is a cell surface glycoprotein that is abundantly expressed in nervous system. The elucidation of the PrPC interactome network and its significance on neural physiology is crucial to understanding neurodegenerative events associated with prion and Alzheimer's diseases. PrPC co‐opts stress inducible protein 1/alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (STI1/α7nAChR) or laminin/Type I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1/5) to modulate hippocampal neuronal survival and differentiation. However, potential cross‐talk between these protein complexes and their role in peripheral neurons has never been addressed. To explore this issue, we investigated PrPC‐mediated axonogenesis in peripheral neurons in response to STI1 and laminin‐γ1 chain‐derived peptide (Ln‐γ1). STI1 and Ln‐γ1 promoted robust axonogenesis in wild‐type neurons, whereas no effect was observed in neurons from PrPC‐null mice. PrPC binding to Ln‐γ1 or STI1 led to an increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels via distinct mechanisms: STI1 promoted extracellular Ca2+ influx, and Ln‐γ1 released calcium from intracellular stores. Both effects depend on phospholipase C activation, which is modulated by mGluR1/5 for Ln‐γ1, but depends on, C‐type transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels rather than α7nAChR for STI1. Treatment of neurons with suboptimal concentrations of both ligands led to synergistic actions on PrPC‐mediated calcium response and axonogenesis. This effect was likely mediated by simultaneous binding of the two ligands to PrPC. These results suggest a role for PrPC as an organizer of diverse multiprotein complexes, triggering specific signaling pathways and promoting axonogenesis in the peripheral nervous system.
Involvement of auxin pathways in modulating root architecture during beneficial plant–microorganism interactions
Authors: SUKUMAR POORNIMA , LEGUÉ VALÉRIE , VAYSSIÈRES ALICE , MARTIN FRANCIS , TUSKAN GERALD A. , KALLURI UDAYA C.
Published: November 2012

The community of researchers studying molecular plant‐microbe interactions under the banners of fundamental plant science, biofuel‐bioenergy, and crop productivity and sustainability research is expanding rapidly. The review summarizes multiple, separate lines of evidences linking auxin transport, signaling, and synthesis pathways to beneficial plant‐microbe interactions and modulations in host root architecture. Compelling physiology and functional genomics‐based evidence was found in support of a delicate and precise orchestration of distinct root phenotypic effects achieved via a shared auxin biosynthesis and signaling machinery involving signaling crosstalk. A hypothetical and simplified model on role of auxin in beneficial plant‐microbe interactions is presented, and outstanding research challenges and potential future directions are discussed.
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener's Granulomatosis) in Children: Report of Three Cases with Cutaneous Manifestations and Literature Review
Authors: Gajic‐Veljic Mirjana , Nikolic Milos , Peco‐Antic Amira , Bogdanovic Radovan , Andrejevic Sladjana , Bonaci‐Nikolic Branka
Published: November 2012

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), also known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a rare disease in childhood. Of 39 GPA patients that we diagnosed during a 20‐year period, only 3 (7.7%) were younger than 18 years. We report the course of GPA in three girls whose disease started at the ages of 16, 11, and 6 years. All had cutaneous manifestations: the first had necrotizing vasculitis, the second had palpable purpura, and the third had right upper‐eyelid edema and infiltration and proptosis caused by extraocular pseudotumor, initially histologically misdiagnosed as orbital immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐related disease. Unlike with skin vasculitis and glomerulonephritis, upper‐airway and orbital inflammation were resistant to immunosuppressive therapy. Our report emphasizes that children presenting with cutaneous vasculitis, chronic eyelid swelling, sinusitis, or hoarseness should be tested for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. We emphasize that the upper‐eyelid edema and infiltration, with histologic characteristics of orbital IgG4‐related disease, may be the initial presentation of localized GPA in children, a feature that, until now, has been described only in adults.
Investigation of the association between dietary intake, disease severity and airway inflammation in asthma
Authors: Berthon Bronwyn S. , Macdonald‐Wicks Lesley K. , Gibson Peter G. , Wood Lisa G.
Published: November 2012

Background and objective

Dietary intake is an important modifiable risk factor for asthma and may be related to disease severity and inflammation, through the effects of intake of anti‐oxidant‐rich foods and pro‐inflammatory nutrients. This study aimed to examine dietary intake in asthma in relation to asthma severity, lung function, inhaled corticosteroid use, leptin levels and inflammation.

Methods

Food frequency questionnaires, spirometry and hypertonic saline challenge were completed by 137 stable asthmatics and 65 healthy controls. Plasma leptin was analysed by immunoassay. Induced sputum differential cell counts were determined.

Results

Subjects with severe persistent asthma consumed more fat and less fibre as compared with healthy controls (odds ratio 1.04 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.07), P = 0.014) (odds ratio 0.94 (95% confidence interval: 0.90–0.99), P = 0.018). Among asthmatics, higher fat and lower fibre intakes were associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s and airway eosinophilia. Leptin levels were increased in both male and female asthmatics as compared with healthy controls. No association existed among asthmatics between corticosteroid use and dietary intake.

Conclusions

It was found that asthmatics within the subgroup of severe persistent asthma have a different pattern of dietary intake as compared with healthy controls, which was associated with lower lung function and increased airway inflammation.
Quality of life, coach behaviour and competitive anxiety in Winter Youth Olympic Games participants
Authors: Ledochowski Larissa , Unterrainer Christine , Ruedl Gerhard , Schnitzer Martin , Kopp Martin
Published: November 2012

Background

To ensure the highest technical performance, speed, safety, excellent control and to improve competitive performance, a successful regulation of competitive anxiety is necessary. Therefore, it seems crucial to identify factors influencing competitive anxiety of adolescent athletes. Research suggests that people reporting high quality of life are more capable to cope with stressful and challenging situations than others. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of quality of life, the involvement of parents in sports career and coach's leadership behaviour on competitive anxiety in Winter Youth Olympic Games participants.

Methods

During the first Winter Youth Olympic Games 2012 in Innsbruck/Austria, 662 (316 women) participants completed questionnaires and single items to assess quality of life, coach's leadership behaviour, parental involvement in sports career and competitive anxiety.

Results

Multiple regression analysis revealed positive influences of high quality of life and useful coach instruction on competitive anxiety.

Conclusions

The relationship between quality of life, coach behaviour and competitive anxiety in young elite athletes competing at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games should be considered in long-term programmes for reducing competitive stress.
Construction of recombinant lactobacilli expressing the core neutralizing epitope (COE) of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and a fusion protein consisting of COE andEscherichia coliheat-labile enterotoxin B, and comparison of the immune responses by orogastric immunization
Authors: Ge Jun-Wei , Liu Di-Qiu , Li Yi-Jing
Published: November 2012

The core neutralizing epitope (COE) region of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) plays an important role in the development of the subunit vaccine against PEDV infection. To enhance the vaccine’s immunogenicity, Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B (LTB) has usually been adopted as a molecular adjuvant. In this study, the COE and LTB–COE genes were engineered into the Lactobacillus –Escherichia coli shuttle vectors pSAPG1 (surface-displaying) and pSAPG2 (secreting) followed by electrotransformation into Lactobacillus casei (Lc) to yield the following recombinant strains: Lc:PG1-LTB-COE, Lc:PG2-LTB-COE, Lc:PG1-COE, and Lc:PG2-COE. Our results showed that mice immunized orogastrically with L. casei expressing COE or LTB–COE produced secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G with the ability to neutralize PEDV in sera and mucus. Moreover, higher levels of interleukin-4 and gamma interferon were also exhibited compared with negative control. These data displayed the tendency of Lc:PG2-LTB-COE > Lc:PG1-LTB-COE > Lc:PG2-COE > Lc:PG1-COE at the same time point. Taken together, LTB–COE is more suitable for Lactobacillus expressing system to engineer mucosal vaccine against PEDV infection.
phoRsequences as a phylogenetic marker to differentiate the species in theBacillus subtilisgroup
Authors: Guo Qinggang , Li Shezeng , Lu Xiuyun , Li Baoqing , Stummer Belinda , Dong Weixin , Ma Ping
Published: November 2012

Bacillus subtilis and its closely related species are indistinguishable from one another by morphological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequences. In this study, the partial phoR sequence was tested to determine the phylogenetic relationship of species in the B. subtilis group. Degenerate primers were developed according to the relatively conserved nucleotide sequences of phoR and the linked gene phoP in the B. subtilis group. The primers amplified a 1100 bp phoR fragment from strains representative of 6 species in the B. subtilis group. Based on the sequenced fragments, 26 type strains comprising these 6 species were clearly distinguished. At the intraspecies level, the phoR sequence similarities were 90%–100%, but at the interspecies level, the phoR sequence similarities were 32.8%–75%. Compared with the gyrB sequence, the phoR sequences showed a larger divergence especially at the interspecies levels. Therefore, the phoR sequence may be an efficient alternative marker for phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis of species in the B. subtilis group. Twenty-three Bacillus undomesticated isolates were tested for identification and phylogenetic analysis based on the phoR and gyrB sequences. The 23 isolates could be clearly delineated into 4 distinct groups, 10 as B. subtilis, 3 as B. mojavensis, 2 as B. atrophaeus, and 8 as B. amyloliquefaciens.
Characterization of the type III secretion associated low calcium response genes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633
Authors: Sarty Darren , Baker Noel T. , Thomson Euan L. , Rafuse Cheryl , Ebanks Roger O. , Graham Lori L. , Thomas Nikhil A.
Published: November 2012

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant human pathogen associated with gastroenteritis. Two V. parahaemolyticus type 3 secretion systems, T3SS-1 and T3SS-2, secrete effector proteins and have been implicated in host-cell cytotoxicity and enterotoxicity, respectively. Vibrio parahaemolyticus T3SS-1 substrates have been identified, although many predicted substrates (based on homologies) remain undetected in secreted fractions and therefore uncharacterized. We have experimentally developed and optimized a secretion assay protocol allowing for reliable and reproducible detection of V. parahaemolyticus T3SS-1 secreted proteins within culture supernatants. The presence of magnesium and absence of calcium were critical factors in promoting type III secretion of protein substrates. Proteomic approaches identified known V. parahaemolyticus secreted effectors in addition to previously unidentified proteins. Isogenic mutants in putative low calcium response genes were generated, and experiments further implicated the genes in secretion and V. parahaemolyticus-mediated host-cell cytotoxicity during infection. These approaches should be valuable towards future detailed genetic and biochemical analyses of T3SS-1 in V. parahaemolyticus.
A GENERALIZED STOCHASTIC PETRI-NET MODEL FOR PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND ALLOCATION OPTIMIZATION OF A PARTICULAR REPAIR SYSTEM
Authors: LI BINFENG , LI XIAOBIN , GUO WEIHONG , WU SU
Published: November 2012

This paper presents a generalized stochastic Petri-net model for performance analysis and allocation optimization of a repair system with interchangeable inventory. A repair system with interchangeable-inventory is an important type of repair-service, which features components that are assembled circularly with interchangeable-component inventory. Despite improved efficiency, major difficulties in model formulation and performance analysis arise due to a complex fork/join structure and the presence of interchangeable-component inventory. In this study, by applying a generalized stochastic Petri-net to model the fork/join structure and interchangeable inventory, a system with one overhaul center and one interchangeable-component repair shop was defined in the Petri-net by places, transitions and tokens. A performance analysis with single and multiple parameters and simulation experiments was performed according to the real field data of high-speed railway locomotives overhaul. With appropriate weights on each portion of the system resources, the optimal design scenario for the allocation of a specific repair system was achieved to control the overall expenditure.
VARIOUS MODELS MIMICKING THE SM HIGGS BOSON
Authors: CHANG JUNG , CHEUNG KINGMAN , TSENG PO-YAN , YUAN TZU-CHIANG
Published: November 2012

The new particle around 125 GeV observed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is almost consistent with the standard model (SM) Higgs boson, except that the diphoton decay mode may be excessive. We summarize a number of possibilities. While at the LHC the dominant production mechanism for the Higgs boson of SM and some other extensions is via the gluon fusion process, the alternative vector-boson fusion (VBF) is more sensitive to electroweak symmetry breaking. Using the well-known dijet-tagging technique to single out the VBF mechanism, we investigate potential of VBF to discriminate a number of models suggested to give an enhanced inclusive diphoton production rate.
MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AND FLOW BEHAVIOR OF TWIN-ROLL CAST AZ41 MAGNESIUM ALLOY DURING HOT COMPRESSION
Authors: LIU ZHIYI , CHEN XU , HOU YANHUI , KANG SUKBONG
Published: November 2012

Microstructural evolution and flow behavior of twin-roll cast AZ41 magnesium alloy during hot compression were characterized by employing deformation temperature of 300°C, 350°C and 400°C, and strain rate ranging from 10-3 to 10-2 s -1. When compressed at different temperature (300°C, 350°C and 400°C) and strain rate (10-3 and 10-2 s -1) all stress strain curves showed a flow softening behavior before strained to 0.51 due to dynamic recrystallization, even though concurrent twinning was quite active. Twinning contributed to the flow hardening behavior appeared during the end of hot compression (ε > 0.51) at a strain rate of 10-2 s -1 and elevated temperature (300°C, 350°C and 400°C) in spite of the softening effect of concurrently occurred dynamic recrystallization. TEM image showed that discontinuous recrystallization occurred when deformed at elevated temperature as high as 400°C and the strain rate ranging from 10-2 to 10-3 s -1. It is suggested that dislocation slip, twinning and recrystallization develop in a cyclic mode from initial stage to the end of hot compression.
DETECTION OF FRAME DUPLICATION FORGERY IN VIDEOS BASED ON SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSIS
Authors: LIN GUO-SHIANG , CHANG JIE-FAN
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we present a passive-blind scheme for detection of frame duplication forgery in videos. The scheme is a coarse-to-fine approach that is implemented in four stages: candidate segment selection, spatial similarity measurement, frame duplication classification, and post-processing. To screen and select duplicated candidates in the temporal domain, the histogram difference of two adjacent frames in the RGB color space is adopted as a feature. Then, to evaluate the similarity of two images, we use a block-based algorithm to measure the spatial correlation between the candidate segment and the corresponding frame in the query template. Based on the results of spatial and temporal analysis, we construct a classifier to detect duplicated clips. In addition, to deal with the partial detection problem, we develop a post-processing technique that examines and merges two adjacent detected candidates into a complete duplicated video clip. Our experiment results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can not only achieve detection of frame duplication forgery but also accurately detect and localize duplicated clips in different kinds of videos. The results also show that the scheme outperforms an existing method in terms of precision, recall, accuracy, and computation time.
SIGNATURE SEGMENTATION FROM MACHINE PRINTED DOCUMENTS USING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
Authors: MANDAL RANJU , ROY PARTHA PRATIM , PAL UMAPADA
Published: November 2012

Automatic signature segmentation from a printed document is a challenging task due to the nature of handwriting of the signatory, overlapping/touching of signature strokes with printed text, graphics, noise, etc. In this paper, we propose a two-stage approach for signature segmentation from a document page. In the first stage, a document is segmented into blocks and then blocks are classified into two classes: signature block and printed word block. Gradient-based features are used for block feature extraction and support vector machine classifier is used for block-wise classification. In the second stage, printed characters that may be present in isolated form or overlapped/touched with signature part are removed from signature blocks. From each of the detected signature blocks, the isolated printed characters (if exist) are removed using context information. To detect overlapping/touching printed stroke in a signature block, at first some hypothetical zones are detected where possible overlapping/touching may occur. Bounding box information of neighboring printed word block and local linearity of character strings near the signature blocks are used to detect hypothetical zones. Next, to detect the overlapping/touching printed strokes in hypothetical zones of a signature block, the corner points of contours obtained by Douglas and Peucker polygonal approximation algorithm and skeleton junction points are used. Finally, the touching strokes of signature are separated from text characters using the contour smoothness information near skeleton junction points. The experiment is performed in "Tobacco-800" dataset [The legacy tobacco document library (ltdl), available at http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/ , University of California, San Francisco, 2007.] and the results obtained from the experiment are promising.
SELF-HEALING DESIGN IN DEEP SCALED CMOS TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: LEE JANGJOON , BHAGAVATULA SRIKAR , BHUNIA SWARUP , ROY KAUSHIK , JUNG BYUNGHOO
Published: November 2012

CMOS technologies are suffering from increased variability due to process, supply voltage and temperature (PVT) variations as we enter the tens-of-nanometer regime. Analog and mixed-signal circuits have failed to effectively exploit the high-speed and low-noise properties that deep scaled CMOS technologies provide due to marginality issues. Large variations in leakage current and threshold voltage also make highly integrated digital designs challenging. In addition, device aging introduces a temporal dimension to variations in circuit performance. Consequently, there is an increasing need for a new design methodology that can provide high yield and reliability under severe parametric variations. Although several post-silicon calibration and repair strategies have been proposed to address the PVT variations, no coherent design strategy for a SoC has been developed so far. We espouse a self-healing technique based on real-time sensing and built-in feedback due to its inherent advantage of dynamic adaptation to temporal variations. This tutorial paper outlines our vision of improving marginalities in deep scaled CMOS technologies using a generic and systematic self-healing design including a system-level auto-correction algorithm. It also illustrates this methodology with design examples.
MODELING THE OVERSHOOTING EFFECT OF MULTI-INPUT GATE IN NANOMETER TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: DING LI , HUANG ZHANGCAI , JIANG MINGLU , KUROKAWA ATSUSHI , INOUE YASUAKI
Published: November 2012

With the advent of nanometer age in digital circuits, the overshooting time becomes an important component of gate delay for CMOS logic gates. However, there has been little attention paid to the research of the overshooting effect for multi-input gate in nanometer technologies until now. Therefore, in this paper, an effective model considering the overshooting effect of multi-input gate is presented. The experimental results using 32-nm PTM model reflect that the proposed model is accurate within 3.6% error compared with SPICE simulation results.
HAPTIC MODELING OF STOMACH FOR REAL-TIME PROPERTY AND FORCE ESTIMATION
Authors: SUN ZHENGLONG , WANG ZHENG , PHEE SOO JAY
Published: November 2012

Robotic devices are being employed in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures for diagnostics and surgery. However, force measurement, a very important factor for control and haptic feedback, becomes very challenging due to the strict size limitation of such devices and the flexible nature of the endoscope. This paper focuses on the modeling of the interior stomach wall for tool–tissue interactions from two perspectives: (1) If the interaction force between the robotic tool and the tissue can be measured, we utilize the force information to estimate the mechanical property of the stomach wall in real-time; given the force and position information, we would derive mathematically the only system model that can guarantee identifiability under arbitrary manipulation; (2) in the worst case scenario where force measurement is not available, we propose a viscoelastic model to restore force information solely based on position and motion information available from the robot. Ex-vivo experiments were performed on porcine stomach specimens to demonstrate the performance of the proposed models. Based on these findings, generalization and implementations of the modeling in real-time applications were discussed.
APPLICATION OF MODIFIED NANONATURALLY MONTMORILLONITE IN MONOCHLOROBENZENE REMEDIATION IN RIVER WATER
Authors: LIU CHEN , CHEN JUN-FENG , LI YUN , CHEN RONG-CHANG , ASAOKA SACHIO , YUAN GUO-LI
Published: November 2012

As the inland waterway transportation developed rapidly in China, the frequency of hazardous chemical leakage accidents is increasing every year. Such pollution to inland river environment has become a world-wide issue. Montmorillonite (Mont) is typical 2:1 layer type silicate clay and due to their special structure, it has been used in organic pollution removal process. In order to improve their ability in pollution adsorption, the pillared Mont was made in this work. Since the common toxic structure in most chemical pollutants is the halogen atom-benzene ring part, we select a typical compound Monochlorobenzene (MCB) as the aim contaminant. In this research, the original Mont, Na –Mont, TiO2 and TiO2 –Mont were prepared and used in MCB degradation experiment as catalysts. The influence of catalyst amount, promoter ( H2O2 ) amount, MCB concentration and reaction time to MCB removal rate were studied, respectively in detail.
EFFICIENT CONTROL OVER THE PORE STRUCTURE OF Fe3O4–nSiO2–mSiO2 CORE–SHELL NANOPARTICLES
Authors: LIU FENG , TIAN HUA , HE JUNHUI , LIU HONGYING
Published: November 2012

In this paper, magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles ( Fe 3 O 4–n SiO 2–m SiO 2) were synthesized using trimethylbenzene (TMB) as a swelling agent. These composite nanoparticles have a typical sandwich structure with a magnetic core, a nonporous silica middle layer and an ordered mesoporous silica outer shell. The experimental results indicate that the magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles have high specific surface area (510 m2/g), large pore size (3.8 nm) and pore volume (1.04 cm3/g). The thickness and pore structure of the out shell can also be easily tailored by adjusting the reaction conditions. The obtained nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements.
TRANSIENT STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION UPON THERMAL DEHYDRATION IN LAYERED-HECTORITE NANOPARTICLES
Authors: SATO KIMINORI , NUMATA KAZUOMI , FUJIMOTO KOICHIRO
Published: November 2012

To gain an insight into earthquake slip weakening due to thermal pressurization, microscopic molecular structures associated with water desorption are investigated for layered-hectorite nanoparticles by positronium (Ps) annihilation spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and time-resolved length-change measurement with high resolution dilatometry. The large macroscopic length change of ~ 6% occurs simultaneously with the formation of open spaces with the size of ~ 7 Å when water molecules are desorbed from the interlayer spaces.
FACILE SYNTHESIS OF COLLOIDAL PbS QUANTUM DOTS
Authors: LIU CHAO , JIANG YANG , HUANG JIAN , DUAN HONGYAN
Published: November 2012

Lead sulfide ( PbS ) quantum dots (QDs) capped with oleic acid and oleic amine were synthesized by using safe and innocuous sulfur powder as S source instead of the bis (trimethylsilyl) sulfide ((TMS)2S). QDs with size distribution from 20 nm to 3 nm were gained by controlling the experiment parameters such as heating temperature, capping agents and the growth time. The morphology and crystal structure of the as-prepared PbS QDs were characterized by (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). This method may offer a new route to synthesize PbS QDs for photovoltaic devices.
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF α-MoO3 NANORODS FOR NO2 DETECTION
Authors: BAI SHOULI , CHEN SONG , TIAN YUAN , LUO RUIXIAN , LI DIANQING , CHEN AIFAN
Published: November 2012

Thermodynamically stable molybdenum trioxide nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. The product exhibits high-quality, single-crystalline layered orthorhombic structure (α- MoO3 ), and aspect ratio over 20 by characterizations of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The growth mechanism of α- MoO3 nanorods can be understood by electroneutral and dehydration reaction, which is highly dependent on solution acidity and hydrothermal temperature. The sensing tests show that the sensor based on MoO3 nanorods exhibits high sensitivity to NO2 and is not interferred by CO and CH4 , which makes this kind sensor a competitive candidate for NO2 detection. The intrinsic sensing performance of MoO3 maybe arise from its nonstoichiometry of MoO3 owing to the presence of Mo5+ and oxygen vacancy in MoO3 lattice, which has been confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The sensing mechanism of MoO3 for NO2 is also discussed.
INNOVATION IN SMEs: A RACE WITH NO FINISH LINE
Authors: VAN ES ROB , VAN DER WAL HENK
Published: November 2012

This article describes the results of our long-term study into the innovative behavior of fifteen Dutch small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) that were considered promising in 1985. We asked ourselves the following two questions: (i) How did these companies develop while aiming for their innovation domain? (ii) What do the entrepreneurs perceive as the defining moments in this development?

As a general answer to the first question, we concluded that the innovative behavior of the companies essentially consisted of: technical and business process optimization, new types of collaboration, and renewing competencies and developing a fitting strategy. In short, we found that the non-technical innovation domains had greatly gained in importance. The answers to the second question showed us that corporate development was strongly affected by tensions related to growth, shifts in control over the company, and management. In most cases, such tensions negatively affected innovation.
BROADBAND QUANTUM CUTTING IN ZnO/Yb(Er)F3 OXY-FLUORIDE NANOCOMPOSITE PREPARED BY THERMAL OXIDATION METHOD
Authors: ZHANG WENTAO , XIAO SIGUO , YANG XIAOLIANG , JIN XIANGLIANG
Published: November 2012

Yb(Er)F3 nanoparticles absorbed with ZnO sheet were prepared via two-step co-precipitation method followed with thermal oxidation. In the ZnO / Yb(Er)F3 composite phosphor, ZnO can efficiently absorb ultraviolet photons of 250–380 nm and transfer its absorbed photon energy to Er 3+ ions in fluoride particles. A followed quantum cutting between Er 3+- Yb 3+ couples in the fluoride takes place, down-converting an absorbed ultraviolet photon into two photons of 650 nm and 980 nm radiations. The composite phosphor combines the wide wavelength absorption range and high absorption cross-section of ZnO with high quantum cutting efficiency of Er 3+- Yb 3+ co-doped fluoride, showing potential application in the enhancement of Si solar cell efficiency.
THE EMERGING CHALLENGE: THE VALIDITY OF COMPUTATIONAL ORGANIZATION MODEL AND METHODOLOGY
Authors: WANG HONGLI , LU YUNBO
Published: November 2012

The validity of the computational organization model is a necessary condition and also poses a bottleneck in computational organization theory development. Established on the frontline of computational organization theory, this paper provides an overall discussion on the difficulties in validation and validation methodology of the computational organization model. First, different from natural engineering system model, and also exceeding the traditional empirical method, the computational organization model is faced with various subjective and objective difficulties during the validation progress; second, in developing the situational validation methodology based on relationships among problem field, modeling purpose and referents, it is important for the computational organization model that the validation is conducted according to certain degree; third, the establishment of verification, validation and accreditation approach (VV&A), which is different from the natural engineering system, is an irresistible trend for future development of the computational organization model. Model validation should be focused on concept validation, operation validation, and data validation, as well as the principle of iterative validation approach and such validation should be conducted throughout the modeling process; finally, the validation of computational organization model should be the process to enhance people's confidence in the model. From the perspective of review, if the model is able to pass through all the validation tests, it is helpful for a better understanding of the model's ability, limitation and applicability. In this case, research from interdisciplinary experts is required urgently.
Biaxial Stress Simulation and Electrical Characterization of Triple-Gate SOI nMOSFETs
Authors: Bühler R. T. , Agopian P.G. D. , Simoen E. , Claeys C. , Martino J. A.
Published: November 2012

In this work we study unstrained and biaxially strained triple-gate SOI nMOSFETs by process and device numerical simulations and by electrical characterization. Emphasis is given to the total resistance and transconductance in devices with and without SEG (selective epitaxial growth) and variable fin dimensions. The influence of the fin dimensions on the stress effectiveness is analyzed through 3D process simulations, while the total resistance and transconductance are analyzed through dc measurements. The use of biaxial stress combined with the SEG technique resulted in an lower total resistance and a higher maximum transconductance.
Distinct Epigenetic Mechanisms DistinguishTMPRSS2–ERG Fusion-Positive and -Negative Prostate Cancers
Authors: Alumkal Joshi J. , Herman James G.
Published: November 2012

Summary: This issue of Cancer Discovery features an article that describes distinct epigenetic mechanisms that operate in TMPRSS2–ERG fusion-negative prostate cancers. This finding clarifies molecular features of these TMPRSS2–ERG fusion-negative tumors and may have implications for how to treat this prostate cancer subtype. Cancer Discov; 2(11); 979–81. ©2012 AACR.

Commentary on Börno et al., p. 1024.
Accuracy of emergency physician–performed ultrasonography in the diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis
Authors: Pomero Fulvio , Borretta Valentina , Bonzini Matteo , Melchio Remo , Douketis James D. , Fenoglio Luigi Maria , Dentali Francesco
Published: November 2012

Duplex ultrasound is the first-line diagnostic test for detecting lower limb deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) but it is time consuming, requires patient transport, and cannot be interpreted by most physicians. The accuracy of emergency physician–performed ultrasound (EPPU) for the diagnosis of DVT, when performed at the bedside, is unclear. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, aiming to provide reliable data on the accuracy of EPPU in the diagnosis of DVT. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (up to August 2012) were systematically searched for studies evaluating the accuracy of EPPU compared to either colour-flow duplex ultrasound performed by a radiology department or vascular laboratory, or to angiography, in the diagnosis of DVT. Weighted mean sensitivity and specificity and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a bivariate random-effects regression approach. There were 16 studies included, with 2,379 patients. The pooled prevalence of DVT was 23.1% (498 in 2,379 patients), ranging from 7.4% to 47.3%. Using the bivariate approach, the weighted mean sensitivity of EPPU compared to the reference imaging test was 96.1% (95%CI 90.6–98.5%), and with a weighted mean specificity of 96.8% (95%CI:94.6–98.1%). Our findings suggest that EPPU may be useful in the management of patients with suspected DVT. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Response to Reactions to Major Contribution
Authors: Falender Carol A. , Ellis Michael V. , Burnes Theodore R.
Published: November 2012

The authors responded to the commentaries on the Major Contribution, “Multicultural Clinical Supervision and Benchmarks: Empirical Support Informing Practice and Supervisor Training.” The commentaries provided a structure of consensus, critical questions, and requests for additional elaboration. The commentators advocated for the urgent need to move forward translating clinical supervision, a distinct professional competency, directly into training and practice in the United States. They also agreed on the essential multicultural framework and the imperative for empirical research to provide validation for the Competency Benchmarks as a developmental training schema. The authors also provided responses with regard to future directions for supervision and training parameters.
Rethinking Workplace Bullying as an Employment Relations Problem
Authors: Hutchinson Jacquie
Published: November 2012

Over the past three decades, a growing body of international literature points to a relationship between workplace bullying and certain changes to organizational and employment policies. Some of these changes include an increase in precarious employment, greater workloads, restructuring and downsizing, and the reduction in third-party intervention in workplace relations. However, while governments and many organizations have introduced policies in response to workplace bullying, there is little evidence that they have been successful in either the prevention or resolution of the problem. This article explores reasons for this apparent policy failure by reviewing workplace bullying literature and using data collected from interviews with policy actors in Australian public sector organizations. What emerges from these analyses is that prevailing theorizations and policy definitions emphasize the individual aspects of bullying and overlook the significance of organizational, employment and cultural factors. The article argues that narrow explanations of workplace bullying limit the capacity of policies to prevent or resolve the problem. Finally, the article concludes by suggesting that a multidisciplinary approach to understanding workplace bullying as a work and employment relations issue is a fundamental step in its prevention.
How Knowledge Shapes Collective Action: Professionalism, Market Closure and Bureaucracy in the Fields of University and Non-university Research
Authors: Pernicka Susanne , Lücking Stefan
Published: November 2012

Knowledge workers are often considered to prefer an individual rather than a collective articulation of their interests. This phenomenon is primarily explained by their individualistic orientation and power derived from possessing scarce knowledge. However, highly skilled work is a very heterogeneous field. In order to understand the diverse experiences of highly skilled employees and their attitudes towards collective action, this article proposes a model based on the juxtaposition of professional and knowledge work that entails three distinct logics of control over knowledge: professionalism, market closure and bureaucracy. The forms of collective action (i.e. intra-group solidarity, inter-group solidarity, no solidarity) are predicted to vary contingent on the prevailing position within a field. The model is illustrated by the example of university and non-university research in Austria. Professional self-control of scientific knowledge has been partly replaced by bureaucratic control of top management. This, in turn, mitigates power derived from professional knowledge. Unlike trade unions, collective action based on inter-group solidarity has been found to become more attractive. In non-university research organizations, the prevailing market logic entails employees using expertise or innovation to close a market and, hence, to refrain from acting collectively.
Are Casual and Contract Terms of Employment Hazardous for Mental Health in Australia?
Authors: Richardson Sue , Lester Laurence , Zhang Guangyu
Published: November 2012

The risk that flexible forms of employment are harmful to the health of workers is a major public health issue for the many countries, including Australia, where such forms of employment are common or have been growing. Casual, contract and part-time employment in Australia rose rapidly in the decade to 1998 and remains high at 40% of employees in 2011. We investigate the impacts on mental health of employment on these terms and of unemployment. We use nine waves of panel survey data and dynamic random-effects panel data regression models to estimate the impact on self-rated mental health of unemployment, and of employment on a part-time, casual or contract basis, compared with permanent full-time employment. We control for demographic and socio-economic characteristics, occupation, disabilities status, negative life events and the level of social support. We find almost no evidence that flexible employment harms mental health. Unemployed men (but not women) have significantly and substantially lower mental health. But among the employed, only men who are on fixed-term contracts, most especially graduates, have lower mental health than those who are employed on full-time permanent terms. Women have significantly higher mental health if they are employed full time on casual terms.
‘Thy Brother’s Keeper’: Witnessing as a Moral Presence in Group Analysis and Beyond. A Response to Farhad Dalal’s Foulkes Lecture
Authors: Berger Miriam
Published: November 2012

This article argues that witnessing is a stance of ‘being there’ as a lived, mindful presence that defines one’s human capacity to create a bond of mutual concern with an ‘other’. It is a vital constituent in the process of therapy and beyond. Witnessing is a commitment to acknowledge ‘real reality’ as well as one’s subjectivity; it is an essential part of mutual recognition, since it involves one’s responsibility to tell the truth and a readiness to face it; as such, witnessing is inherently moral. This article emphasizes the idea that witnessing is a matter of personal choice. The decision to speak out and ‘tell it’ in the group arena has a redeeming quality; it can break up the deadening silence of isolation, loneliness and suffering caused by wounding relationships.