bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutropenia and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio in a healthy Korean population: race and sex should be considered
Authors: Kweon O. J. , Lee M.‐K. , Kim H.‐J. , Chung J.‐W. , Choi S.‐H. , Kim H. R.
Published: March 2016

Introduction

We evaluated the prevalence and severity of asymptomatic neutropenia in a healthy Korean population according to sex and age. We explored normal neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in an asymptomatic Korean population and the association of these ratios with biomarkers related to inflammation, rheumatoid disease, and glucose metabolism.

Methods

We analyzed complete blood cell counts in 83 740 subjects who participated in a routine health check‐up program. NLR and PLR were compared to age, rheumatoid factor, C‐reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting glucose levels.

Results

Of the entire study population, 7.48% exhibited neutropenia; 8.61% of females and 6.69% of males. The neutropenia was more severe in females compared to males (P < 0.01). Median NLR and PLR values were 1.53 and 121.07, respectively. An inverse relationship was observed between NLR and age, but no differences were seen between sexes. CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fasting glucose level were significantly correlated with NLR.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that the normal range of absolute neutrophil counts should be adjusted and cutoff values for neutropenia should be re‐established according to sex and race. NLR and PLR cutoff values for disease evaluation should be established separately according to race and age.
What Is It Like to Be an Alien?
Authors: Matravers Matt
Published: March 2016

This brief article is concerned with an aspect of Jonathan Glover's book, Alien Landscapes?. After reflecting a little on the book as a whole, the question that is taken up is, ‘Why might a book that seeks to help those without mental disorders understand what they are like “from the inside” be of interest to laymen and practitioners in the criminal law?’. One answer lies in part in the way that ‘what it is like from the inside’ might interact with judgements of criminal responsibility. Taking its cue from examples used by Glover the article considers, and puts pressure on, the ‘dual view’ he proposes: that when dealing with those with mental disorders we should treat them as responsible agents in the sense of not withholding from them Strawson's ‘reactive attitudes’, while nevertheless accepting that their personalities and behaviours are the results of large doses of ‘bad luck’.
Sex ratio and gamete size across eastern North America in Dictyostelium discoideum, a social amoeba with three sexes
Authors: Douglas T. E. , Strassmann J. E. , Queller D. C.
Published: March 2016

Theory indicates that numbers of mating types should tend towards infinity or remain at two. The social amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum, however, has three mating types. It is therefore a mystery how this species has broken the threshold of two mating types, but has not increased towards a much higher number. Frequency‐dependent selection on rare types in combination with isogamy, a form of reproduction involving gametes similar in size, could explain the evolution of multiple mating types in this system. Other factors, such as drift, may be preventing the evolution of more than three. We first looked for evidence of isogamy by measuring gamete size associated with each type. We found no evidence of size dissimilarities between gametes. We then looked for evidence of balancing selection, by examining mating type distributions in natural populations and comparing genetic differentiation at the mating type locus to that at more neutral loci. We found that mating type frequency varied among the three populations we examined, with only one of the three showing an even sex ratio, which does not support balancing selection. However, we found more population structure at neutral loci than the mating type locus, suggesting that the three mating types are indeed maintained at intermediate frequencies by balancing selection. Overall, the data are consistent with balancing selection acting on D. discoideum mating types, but with a sufficiently weak rare sex advantage to allow for drift, a potential explanation for why these amoebae have only three mating types.
Transgenerational effects of nutrition are different for sons and daughters
Authors: Zizzari Z. V. , van Straalen N. M. , Ellers J.
Published: March 2016

Food shortage is an important selective factor shaping animal life‐history trajectories. Yet, despite its role, many aspects of the interaction between parental and offspring food environments remain unclear. In this study, we measured developmental plasticity in response to food availability over two generations and tested the relative contribution of paternal and maternal food availability to the performance of offspring reared under matched and mismatched food environments. We applied a cross‐generational split‐brood design using the springtail Orchesella cincta, which is found in the litter layer of temperate forests. The results show adverse effects of food limitation on several life‐history traits and reproductive performance of both parental sexes. Food conditions of both parents contributed to the offspring phenotypic variation, providing evidence for transgenerational effects of diet. Parental diet influenced sons’ age at maturity and daughters’ weight at maturity. Specifically, being born to food‐restricted parents allowed offspring to alleviate the adverse effects of food limitation, without reducing their performance under well‐fed conditions. Thus, parents raised on a poor diet primed their offspring for a more efficient resource use. However, a mismatch between maternal and offspring food environments generated sex‐specific adverse effects: female offspring born to well‐fed mothers showed a decreased flexibility to deal with low‐food conditions. Notably, these maternal effects of food availability were not observed in the sons. Finally, we found that the relationship between age and size at maturity differed between males and females and showed that offspring life‐history strategies in O. cincta are primed differently by the parents.
Children with autism respond differently to spontaneous, elicited and deferred imitation
Authors: Heimann M. , Nordqvist E. , Strid K. , Connant Almrot J. , Tjus T.
Published: March 2016

Background

Imitation, a key vehicle for both cognitive and social development, is often regarded as more difficult for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than for children with Down syndrome (DS) or typically developing (TD) children. The current study investigates similarities and differences in observed elicited, spontaneous and deferred imitation using both actions with objects and gestures as imitation tasks in these groups.

Methods

Imitation among 19 children with autism was compared with 20 children with DS and 23 TD children matched for mental and language age.

Results

Elicited imitation resulted in significantly lower scores for the ASD group compared with the other two groups, an effect mainly carried by a low level of gesture imitation among ASD children. We observed no differences among the groups for spontaneous imitation. However, children with ASD or DS displayed less deferred imitation than the TD group. Proneness to imitate also differed among groups: only 10 (53%) of the children with autism responded in the elicited imitation condition compared with all children with DS and almost all TD children (87%).

Conclusions

These findings add to our understanding of the kind of imitation difficulties children with ASD might have. They also point to the necessity of not equating various imitation measures because these may capture different processes and be differently motivating for children with autism.
Hybrid photoacoustic and optical imaging of pigments in vegetative tissues
Authors: TSEREVELAKIS GEORGE J. , TSAGKARAKI MARGARITA , ZACHARAKIS GIANNIS
Published: March 2016

Pigments in vegetative tissues have been a subject of intense research during the previous decades, since they play an active role in several molecular mechanisms regarding plants’ physiology and function. Towards this direction, the imaging modality that has been extensively employed and represents the state of the art for mapping pigments’ distribution is confocal microscopy. Despite the advantage of a high spatial resolution however, confocal microscopy provides a rather limited imaging depth and requires necessarily strong fluorescence properties from the specimen under observation. To overcome such limitations, we propose a hybrid, photoacoustic and optical imaging methodology for the delineation of various vegetative pigments, such as chlorophylls, anthocyanins and betalains in different plant species. The superior sensitivity and the high contrast complementarity of the hybrid technique, render it a powerful alternative to the conventional fluorescence imaging modalities, significantly expanding the current state of the art.
Father's Migration and Leaving the Parental Home in Rural Mozambique
Authors: Chae Sophia , Hayford Sarah R. , Agadjanian Victor
Published: March 2016

Migration is an increasingly common global phenomenon and has important implications for the well‐being of family members left behind. Although extensive research has examined the impact of parental labor migration on school‐age children, less is known about its effect on adolescents. In this study, the authors used longitudinal survey data collected in rural Mozambique (N = 515) to assess the association between father's migration and adolescent children's leaving the parental home, an important component of the transition to adulthood. The results showed that father's migration delays home‐leaving for adolescent girls and that these effects are not mediated by school enrollment. The results for boys were inconclusive. The authors also found that remittances and longer durations of paternal migration were negatively associated with the transition out of the home. On the basis of the findings, they argue that father's migration delays girls' marriage.
GABAergic signaling in the rat pineal gland
Authors: Yu Haijie , Benitez Sergio G. , Jung Seung‐Ryoung , Farias Altamirano Luz E. , Kruse Martin , Seo Jong Bae , Koh Duk‐Su , Muñoz Estela M. , Hille Bertil
Published: March 2016

Pinealocytes secrete melatonin at night in response to norepinephrine released from sympathetic nerve terminals in the pineal gland. The gland also contains many other neurotransmitters whose cellular disposition, activity, and relevance to pineal function are not understood. Here, we clarify sources and demonstrate cellular actions of the neurotransmitter γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry of the gland and electrical recording from pinealocytes. GABAergic cells and nerve fibers, defined as containing GABA and the synthetic GAD67, were identified. The cells represent a subset of interstitial cells while the nerve fibers were distinct from the sympathetic innervation. The GABAA receptor subunit α1 was visualized in close proximity of both GABAergic and sympathetic nerve fibers as well as fine extensions among pinealocytes and blood vessels. The GABAB1 receptor subunit was localized in the interstitial compartment but not in pinealocytes. Electrophysiology of isolated pinealocytes revealed that GABA and muscimol elicit strong inward chloride currents sensitive to bicuculline and picrotoxin, clear evidence for functional GABAA receptors on the surface membrane. Applications of elevated potassium solution or the neurotransmitter acetylcholine depolarized the pinealocyte membrane potential enough to open voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels leading to intracellular calcium elevations. GABA repolarized the membrane and shut off such calcium rises. In 48–72‐h cultured intact glands, GABA application neither triggered melatonin secretion by itself nor affected norepinephrine‐induced secretion. Thus, strong elements of GABA signaling are present in pineal glands that make large electrical responses in pinealocytes, but physiological roles need to be found.
Reducing ICD Test Shocks with a Simplified Upper Limit of Vulnerability
Authors: PITTARO MICHAEL , DEFORGE WILLIAM , KROLL MARK W.
Published: March 2016

Background

Determination of an adequate defibrillation safety margin or defibrillation threshold can be a challenge in patients with implantable defibrillators (ICDs). The upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) has been shown to be highly correlated with measured defibrillation thresholds. The peak of the latest peaking monophasic T wave measured from the pacing spike of the induction train of S1 via the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) is generally accepted to approximate the vulnerable period of the cardiac cycle.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single electrogram‐derived coupling interval could provide an accurate determination of the vulnerable period for a simplified test method to approximate the defibrillation safety margin.

Methods

We used a single electrogram‐derived coupling interval for the timing of the T shock. We compared the measured intracardiac electrogram coupling interval to the latest peaking T wave on the surface ECG.

Results

A total of 72 patients were studied: single‐chamber ICD (n = 28), dual‐chamber ICD (n = 26), or cardiac resynchronization therapy‐defibrillator (n = 18). The coupling intervals were greater on the electrograms versus the surface ECG: 365 ms ± 27 versus 347 ms ± 26 (P < 0.0001). Almost all of the patients tested, 69/72 (96%), were indeed defibrillated with the T‐shock energy that failed to induce ventricular fibrillation (VF). Only three (4%) of the patients failed the hypothesis when 500 V failed to induce VF but subsequently also failed to defibrillate a forced induction of VF.

Conclusions

A simplified ULV testing protocol, using a single electrogram channel, accurately separates low from high defibrillation threshold testing patients.
Floral colours in a world without birds and bees: the plants of Macquarie Island
Authors: Shrestha M. , Lunau K. , Dorin A. , Schulze B. , Bischoff M. , Burd M. , Dyer A. G.
Published: March 2016

We studied biotically pollinated angiosperms on Macquarie Island, a remote site in the Southern Ocean with a predominately or exclusively dipteran pollinator fauna, in an effort to understand how flower colour affects community assembly. We compared a distinctive group of cream‐green Macquarie Island flowers to the flora of likely source pools of immigrants and to a continental flora from a high latitude in the northern hemisphere. We used both dipteran and hymenopteran colour models and phylogenetically informed analyses to explore the chromatic component of community assembly. The species with cream‐green flowers are very restricted in colour space models of both fly vision and bee vision and represent a distinct group that plays a very minor role in other communities. It is unlikely that such a community could form through random immigration from continental source pools. Our findings suggest that fly pollination has imposed a strong ecological filter on Macquarie Island, favouring floral colours that are rare in continental floras. This is one of the strongest demonstrations that plant–pollinator interactions play an important role in plant community assembly. Future work exploring colour choices by dipteran flower visitors would be valuable.
Latino Attitudes About Surrogate Representation in the United States*
Authors: Schildkraut Deborah J.
Published: March 2016

Objective

Determine the effects of linked fate, group identification, perceptions of discrimination, and acculturation on Latino attitudes about surrogate representation, which occurs when elected officials represent people outside of their electoral constituency.

Methods

Analysis of public opinion data to determine whether Latinos feel that Latino‐elected officials from other states represent them and assess which Latinos are more or less likely to feel this way.

Results

Linked fate and identifying primarily with one's national origin group, instead of as an American, enhance the perception of surrogate representation. Less‐acculturated Latinos are also more likely to look to surrogates for representation. Perceiving that one has been a victim of discrimination, on the other hand, alienates Latinos from co‐ethnic representatives, making them less likely to feel represented by surrogates.

Conclusion

Many Latinos without descriptive representation still feel represented via surrogates, but high rates of perceptions of discrimination are a cause for concern.
Foundations of Intonational Meaning: Anatomical and Physiological Factors
Authors: Gussenhoven Carlos
Published: March 2016

Like non‐verbal communication, paralinguistic communication is rooted in anatomical and physiological factors. Paralinguistic form‐meaning relations arise from the way these affect speech production, with some fine‐tuning by the cultural and linguistic context. The effects have been classified as “biological codes,” following the terminological lead of John Ohala's Frequency Code. Intonational morphemes, though arguably non‐arbitrary in principle, are in fact heavily biased toward these paralinguistic meanings. Paralinguistic and linguistic meanings for four biological codes are illustrated. In addition to the Frequency Code, the Effort Code, and the Respiratory Code, the Sirenic Code is introduced here, which is based on the use of whispery phonation, widely seen as being responsible for the signaling and perception of feminine attractiveness and sometimes used to express interrogativity in language. In the context of the evolution of language, the relations between physiological conditions and the resulting paralinguistic and linguistic meanings will need to be clarified.
How do we implement Day 6 and Day 7 platelets at a hospital‐based transfusion service?
Authors: Dunbar Nancy M. , Dumont Larry J. , Szczepiorkowski Zbigniew M.
Published: March 2016

Regulations surrounding blood components are designed to maintain safety, purity, and potency of products used for transfusion and further manufacture. These regulations evolve in response to risks and available options to reduce risk. Recent updates to the Code of Federal Regulations require transfusion services to take steps to control bacterial contamination of platelets (PLTs) using Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved or cleared devices and to identify contaminating organisms and notify the donor if the organism is likely to represent an endogenous infection. The recently published FDA draft guidance describing bacterial testing to enhance the safety and availability of PLTs outlined the steps for hospital transfusion services to extend apheresis PLT dating for up to 7 days. Newly cleared storage containers and a bacterial detection device labeled as a “safety measure” now provide the opportunity for hospital transfusion service to implement routine use of Day 6 and Day 7 PLTs. As one of the first adopters of this approach, we provide a detailed description of our own implementation process including the required update to our FDA registration, supplier agreement modification, laboratory information system changes, and process modifications necessary to support this practice change.
Revisiting the physiological roles of SGLTs and GLUTs using positron emission tomography in mice
Authors: Sala‐Rabanal Monica , Hirayama Bruce A. , Ghezzi Chiara , Liu Jie , Huang Sung‐Cheng , Kepe Vladimir , Koepsell Hermann , Yu Amy , Powell David R. , Thorens Bernard , Wright Ernest M. , Barrio Jorge R.
Published: March 2016

Key points

Glucose transporters are central players in glucose homeostasis.

There are two major classes of glucose transporters in the body, the passive facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) and the secondary active sodium‐coupled glucose transporters (SGLTs).

In the present study, we report the use of a non‐invasive imaging technique, positron emission tomography, in mice aiming to evaluate the role of GLUTs and SGLTs in controlling glucose distribution and utilization.

We show that GLUTs are most significant for glucose uptake into the brain and liver, whereas SGLTs are important in glucose recovery in the kidney.

This work provides further support for the use of SGLT imaging in the investigation of the role of SGLT transporters in human physiology and diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

The importance of sodium‐coupled glucose transporters (SGLTs) and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) in glucose homeostasis was studied in mice using fluorine‐18 labelled glucose molecular imaging probes and non‐invasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The probes were: α‐methyl‐4‐[F‐18]‐fluoro‐4‐deoxy‐d‐glucopyranoside (Me‐4FDG), a substrate for SGLTs; 4‐deoxy‐4‐[F‐18]‐fluoro‐d‐glucose (4‐FDG), a substrate for SGLTs and GLUTs; and 2‐deoxy‐2‐[F‐18]‐fluoro‐d–glucose (2‐FDG), a substrate for GLUTs. These radiolabelled imaging probes were injected i.v. into wild‐type, Sglt1–/–, Sglt2–/– and Glut2–/– mice and their dynamic whole‐body distribution was determined using microPET. The distribution of 2‐FDG was similar to that reported earlier (i.e. it accumulated in the brain, heart, liver and kidney, and was excreted into the urinary bladder). There was little change in the distribution of 2‐FDG in Glut2–/– mice, apart from a reduction in the rate of uptake into liver. The major differences between Me‐4FDG and 2‐FDG were that Me‐4FDG did not enter the brain and was not excreted into the urinary bladder. There was urinary excretion of Me‐4FDG in Sglt1–/– and Sglt2–/– mice. However, Me‐4FDG was not reabsorbed in the kidney in Glut2–/– mice. There were no differences in Me‐4FDG uptake into the heart of wild‐type, Sglt1–/– and Sglt2–/– mice. We conclude that GLUT2 is important in glucose liver transport and reabsorption of glucose in the kidney along with SGLT2 and SGLT1. Complete reabsorption of Me‐4FDG from the glomerular filtrate in wild‐type mice and the absence of reabsorption in the kidney in Glut2–/– mice confirm the importance of GLUT2 in glucose absorption across the proximal tubule.
Evolution Mechanisms of Thermal Shock Cracks in Ceramic Sheet
Authors: Xu Xianghong , Lin Zhongkang , Sheng Shilong , Yuan Wenjun
Published: March 2016

Knowledge of crack initiation, propagation, and corresponding thermal shock failure evolution is prerequisite for effective maintenance of civil engineering so as to avoid disaster. Experimental analysis of the cracking in the ceramic sheets subsequent to water quenching has been conducted. Based on statistical mesoscopic damage mechanics, it was revealed that there are four stages in the process of thermal shock evolution of ceramics subjected to water quenching. The multiple cracks interaction mechanism has been analyzed from the viewpoint of the evolution of the elastic strain energy and stress intensity factor.
A Simulation Framework for Virtual Prototyping of Robotic Exoskeletons
Authors: Agarwal Priyanshu , Neptune Richard R. , Deshpande Ashish D.
Published: March 2016

A number of robotic exoskeletons are being developed to provide rehabilitation interventions for those with movement disabilities. We present a systematic framework that allows for virtual prototyping (i.e., design, control, and experimentation (i.e. design, control, and experimentation) of robotic exoskeletons. The framework merges computational musculoskeletal analyses with simulation-based design techniques which allows for exoskeleton design and control algorithm optimization. We introduce biomechanical, morphological, and controller measures to optimize the exoskeleton performance. A major advantage of the framework is that it provides a platform for carrying out hypothesis-driven virtual experiments to quantify device performance and rehabilitation progress. To illustrate the efficacy of the framework, we present a case study wherein the design and analysis of an index finger exoskeleton is carried out using the proposed framework.
Enhancement of Centrifugal Compressor Operating Range by Control of Inlet Recirculation With Inlet Fins
Authors: Tamaki Hideaki , Unno Masaru , Tanaka Ryuuta , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Ishizu Yohei
Published: March 2016

The operating points of a turbocharger compressor tend to approach or cross its surge line while an engine is accelerating, particularly under low-engine speed conditions, hence the need for an acceptable surge margin under low compressor-speed conditions. A method shifting the stability limit on a compressor low-speed line toward a lower flow rate is expected and inlet recirculation is often observed in a centrifugal compressor with a vaneless diffuser near a surge and under a low compressor-speed condition. First, examples of inlet recirculation were introduced in this paper, whereupon the effect of inlet recirculation on compressor characteristic was discussed by 1D consideration and the potential shown for growth of inlet recirculation to destabilize compressor operations. Accordingly, this study focused on suppressing the effect of inlet recirculation on compressor characteristics using small fins mounted in a compressor-inlet pipe, and examining whether they enhance the compressor operating range under low-speed conditions. Small fins are known as inlet fins in this paper. According to test results, they showed great promise in enhancing the compressor operating range during inlet recirculation. Besides, attempts were also made to investigate the qualitative effect of inlet fins on flow fields using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the disadvantages of inlet fins were also discussed.
Evolution of the derivative skewness for nonlinearly propagating waves
Authors: Reichman Brent O. , Muhlestein Michael B. , Gee Kent L. , Neilsen Tracianne B. , Thomas Derek C.
Published: March 2016

The skewness of the first time derivative of a pressure waveform, or derivative skewness, has been used previously to describe the presence of shock-like content in jet and rocket noise. Despite its use, a quantitative understanding of derivative skewness values has been lacking. In this paper, the derivative skewness for nonlinearly propagating waves is investigated using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. Analytical expressions for the derivative skewness of an initially sinusoidal plane wave are developed and, along with numerical data, are used to describe its behavior in the preshock, sawtooth, and old-age regions. Analyses of common measurement issues show that the derivative skewness is relatively sensitive to the effects of a smaller sampling rate, but less sensitive to the presence of additive noise. In addition, the derivative skewness of nonlinearly propagating noise is found to reach greater values over a shorter length scale relative to sinusoidal signals. A minimum sampling rate is recommended for sinusoidal signals to accurately estimate derivative skewness values up to five, which serves as an approximate threshold indicating significant shock formation.
Physical Activity Is Associated With Greater Visuospatial Cognitive Functioning Regardless of the Level of Cognitive Load in Elderly Adults
Authors: Wang Chun-Hao , Tsai Chia-Liang
Published: March 2016

The study aimed to investigate the effects of regular physical activity on visuospatial cognition in elderly adults, and to further understand the potential neural mechanisms underpinning such effects. We assessed 24 physically active elderly adults and 24 sedentary counterparts using behavioral and neuroelectric measures during a visuospatial cognitive task with different levels of cognitive load. The results showed that the active group had higher behavioral accuracy along with greater P3 amplitudes, regardless of the level of cognitive load. Moreover, the correlation results revealed that physical activity levels were positively associated with accuracy performance in both conditions, while being correlated with frontal P3 amplitudes in the high cognitively demanding condition. However, no significant effects were observed in terms of P3 latency and contingent negative variation. These findings suggest that regular physical activity might be part of an effective lifestyle to attenuate the trajectory of age-related cognitive declines, thus increasing the likelihood of individuals becoming high-functioning older adults.
Metabolic Engineering of Mortierella alpina for Enhanced Arachidonic Acid Production through the NADPH-Supplying Strategy
Authors: Hao Guangfei , Chen Haiqin , Gu Zhennan , Zhang Hao , Chen Wei , Chen Yong Q.
Published: March 2016

NADPH is known to be a key cofactor required for fatty acid synthesis and desaturation. Various enzymatic reactions can generate NADPH. To determine the effect of NADPH sources on lipogenesis, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and malic enzyme (ME) were overexpressed in
Mortierella alpina
. Our results showed that G6PD2 had the most significant effect on fatty acid synthesis, with a 1.7-fold increase in total fatty acid, whereas ME2 was more effective in desaturation, with a 1.5-fold increase in arachidonic acid (AA) content over control. Co-overexpression of G6PD2 and ME2 improved both fatty acid synthesis and desaturation. Within 96 h of fermentation using the fed-batch method, the co-overexpressing strain accumulated AA at a productivity of 1.9 ± 0.2 g/(liter · day), which was 7.2-fold higher than that in the
M. alpina
control that was cultured in a flask.

IMPORTANCE
This study proved that the pentose phosphate pathway is the major NADPH contributor during fatty acid synthesis in
M. alpina
. The NADPH sources may be differently responsible for fatty acid synthesis or desaturation. Co-overexpression of G6PD2 and ME2 significantly increases AA production.
Short-term exercise training improves flow-mediated dilation and circulating angiogenic cell number in older sedentary adults
Authors: Landers-Ramos Rian Q. , Corrigan Kelsey J. , Guth Lisa M. , Altom Christine N. , Spangenburg Espen E. , Prior Steven J. , Hagberg James M.
Published: March 2016

Cardiovascular disease risk increases with age due, in part, to impaired endothelial function and decreased circulating angiogenic cell (CAC) number and function. We sought to determine if 10 days of aerobic exercise training improves endothelial function, CAC number, and intracellular redox balance in older sedentary adults. Eleven healthy subjects (4 men, 7 women), 61 ± 2 years of age participated in 60 min of aerobic exercise at 70% maximal oxygen consumption for 10 consecutive days while maintaining body weight. Before and after training, endothelial function was measured as flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and fasting blood was drawn to enumerate 3 CAC subtypes. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in CD34+ CACs were measured using fluorescent probes and reinforced via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Flow-mediated dilation improved significantly following training (10% ± 1.3% before vs. 16% ± 1.4% after training; P < 0.05). Likewise, CD34+/KDR+ number increased 104% and KDR+ number increased 151% (P < 0.05 for both), although CD34+ number was not significantly altered (P > 0.05). Intracellular NO and ROS levels in CD34+ CACs were not different after training (P > 0.05 for both). Messenger RNA expression of SOD1, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and NADPH oxidase 2 and neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 in CD34+ CACs was not significantly altered with training (P > 0.05). In conclusion, 10 consecutive days of aerobic exercise increased flow-mediated dilation and CAC number in older, previously sedentary adults, but did not affect intracellular redox balance in CD34+ CACs. Overall, these data indicate that even short-term aerobic exercise training can have a significant impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Using woody genera for phytogeographic regionalization at a medium scale: a case study of Italy
Authors: Abbate Giovanna , Scassellati Elisabetta , Bonacquisti Sandro , Iberite Mauro , Latini Marta , Giuliani Alessandro
Published: March 2016

We present a phytogeographic regionalization based on native woody flora, identifying the most useful taxonomic level, geographic variables, and orographic pattern, selecting Italy as a case study. We generated seven distance matrices among the 20 administrative regions, and using Pearson’s correlation coefficients and PCA, we verified whether distances between regions were invariant across the different sampling strategies. Once this invariance was established, we focused on genera representation. We defined two orographic indices and performed Kruskal–Wish multidimensional scaling and K-means clustering to assess Italy’s phytogeographic regionalization. A major north–south and a minor east–west gradient described the relationships between regions. Floristic diversity was strongly correlated with the region’s orography, with hills being the most important orographic feature that increased plant diversity; the effect of the orographic patterns was independent from the geographic clines observed. Despite the coarse scale, our phytogeographic regionalization comprising six clusters (variables = 133 woody genera) was consistent with previous ones based on the endemic flora (variables = 1371 units) or on bioclimatic approaches. In particular, the phytogeographic uniqueness of Northern and peninsular Italy, and of Sardinia Island, was confirmed. The next step will be to test our method at a finer scale.
Unusual preservation of the trace fossil Conostichus in middle Silurian carbonate facies of Indiana, USA
Authors: Thomka James R. , Bantel Thomas E. , Tomin Marissa J.
Published: March 2016

The long-ranging, plug-shaped ichnofossil Conostichus, attributed to solitary polypoid cnidarians, is most commonly described in the Paleozoic from fine-grained siliciclastic sediments, with few descriptions from carbonate settings. The few described examples of putative Conostichus preserved in carbonate sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic age are essentially conical masses lacking recognizable external radial or longitudinal structures. Herein, we describe the occurrence of well-preserved examples of this ichnogenus within middle Silurian (Wenlock: Sheinwoodian) carbonate sedimentary rocks of the Massie Formation from southeastern Indiana, USA. These specimens represent isolated apical discs of Conostichus with prominent radiating physal impressions displaying duodecimal symmetry. Interestingly, well-preserved specimens co-occur with relatively poorly preserved (“typical carbonate”) specimens. The factors responsible for this unusual taphonomic state are unclear, but the most likely explanation is that exceptionally preserved specimens represent burrows that were somehow infilled, at least in their apical terminations, with fine-grained carbonate sediment, enhancing preservational fidelity. In contrast, other burrows had their apical regions passively filled with larger carbonate particles that could not preserve fine details. This occurrence indicates that early Paleozoic carbonate sediments are capable of preserving Conostichus, and potentially other ichnofossils, in similar modes to later Paleozoic siliciclastic deposits.
Cryopreservation ofPrunus padusseeds: emphasising the significance of Bayesian methods for data analysis
Authors: Popova Elena , Moltchanova Elena , Han Sim Hee , Saxena Praveen , Kim Du Hyun
Published: March 2016

Conservation of Prunus padus L., a tree of high ecological and pharmacological importance, has been evaluated by storing seeds at subzero (−20 °C and −80 °C) and cryogenic (−196 °C) temperatures for various durations. The effect of the seed’s water content (WC) ranging from 3.5% to 21.1%, fresh weight basis, and the effect of cooling and rewarming procedures on seed viability was investigated. Emergence of seedlings was observed for 40%–55% of the noncryopreserved seeds, with no significant effect of WC. The same seedling emergence was recorded for seeds cryopreserved by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen within the WC range of 3.5%–15.0%. Seeds rehydrated above 17% WC were unable to tolerate cryopreservation. Seedling emergence was not affected by cooling regime but decreased by 10% after stepwise rewarming compared with rapid rewarming in a water bath or on air. No reduction in seedling emergence was recorded after storage at −20 °C, −80 °C, and −196 °C for 1 h, 1 week, and 1 month. We recommend seed storage at subzero or cryogenic temperatures as an effective conservation option for P. padus and possibly other Prunus species. We also demonstrated high effectiveness and reliability of Bayesian statistical methods for analyzing binomial data such as the data obtained in seed conservation experiments.
A Randomized Scheduling Algorithm for Multiprocessor Environments Using Local Search
Authors: Mishra Abhishek , Mishra Pramod Kumar
Published: March 2016

The LOCAL(A, B) randomized task scheduling algorithm is proposed for fully connected multiprocessors. It combines two given task scheduling algorithms (A, and B) using local neighborhood search to give a hybrid of the two given algorithms. Objective is to show that such type of hybridization can give much better performance results in terms of parallel execution times. Two task scheduling algorithms are selected: DSC (Dominant Sequence Clustering as algorithm A), and CPPS (Cluster Pair Priority Scheduling as algorithm B) and a hybrid is created (the LOCAL(DSC, CPPS) or simply the LOCAL task scheduling algorithm). The LOCAL task scheduling algorithm has time complexity O(|V||E|(|V |+|E|)), where V is the set of vertices, and E is the set of edges in the task graph. The LOCAL task scheduling algorithm is compared with six other algorithms: CPPS, DCCL (Dynamic Computation Communication Load), DSC, EZ (Edge Zeroing), LC (Linear Clustering), and RDCC (Randomized Dynamic Computation Communication). Performance evaluation of the LOCAL task scheduling algorithm shows that it gives up to 80.47 % improvement of NSL (Normalized Schedule Length) over other algorithms.
Infinite single-particle bandwidth of a Mott–Hubbard insulator
Authors: Freericks J. K. , Cohn J. R. , van Dongen P. G. J. , Krishnamurthy H. R.
Published: March 2016

The conventional viewpoint of the strongly correlated electron metal-insulator transition is that a single band splits into two upper and lower Hubbard bands at the transition. Much work has investigated whether this transition is continuous or discontinuous. Here we focus on another aspect and ask the question of whether there are additional upper and lower Hubbard bands, which stretch all the way out to infinity — leading to an infinite single-particle bandwidth (or spectral range) for the Mott insulator. While we are not able to provide a rigorous proof of this result, we use exact diagonalization studies on small clusters to motivate the existence of these additional bands, and we discuss some different methods that might be utilized to provide such a proof. Even though the extra upper and lower Hubbard bands have very low total spectral weight, those states are expected to have extremely long lifetimes, leading to a nontrivial contribution to the transport density of states for [Formula: see text] transport and modifying the high temperature limit for the electrical resistivity.
Tuning g-factor of electrons through spin–orbit coupling in GaAs/AlGaAs conical quantum dots
Authors: Prabhakar Sanjay , Melnik Roderick
Published: March 2016

We investigate band structures of [Formula: see text] three-dimensional conical quantum dots (QDs). In particular, we explore the influence of the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit couplings in the variation of effective [Formula: see text]-factor of electrons in such QDs. We demonstrate that the interplay between the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit couplings can provide further insight into underlying physical phenomena and assist in the design of quantum logic gates for the application in spintronic devices.
Improve angular dependence of emission intensity in top-emitting organic light-emitting devices by using curved surfaces as substrates
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Yang Tong , Ou Xiali , Gao Qiang
Published: March 2016

We have demonstrated an effective way to suppress the viewing angle dependence of the emission intensity of top-emitting organic light-emitting devices (TOLEDs) by fabricating devices on curved surfaces. From this approach, curved light emission surface has been obtained and TOLEDs with curved surface exhibit a relatively dispersed light emission pattern. As a result, the variation of emission intensity with viewing angles can be relieved. In addition, we can almost observe the same luminance and efficiency in OLEDs with and without curved surface light emission.
The Strategic Approaches for a New Typology of Firm Patent Portfolios
Authors: Yang Qin , Minutolo Marcel C.
Published: March 2016

Patents play an important role for companies to achieve competitive advantage. There is an increased recognition of the importance of patent portfolios as a key to achieve competitive advantage as opposed to any one patent. Hence, some researchers suggest that the true values of patents lie in the aggregation of some related patents rather than their individual worth. In addition, as firms increase their technological diversification so too do their patent portfolios. On the basis of portfolio theory, we build a typology of four types of patent portfolios characterized on the dimensions of technology coherence and synergistic economic value: black, cloud, star and constellation portfolios. Then, according to the characteristics of each type of portfolio, we propose that different strategic approaches should be applied to manage them to achieve superior performance. Further, we suggest that different types of patent portfolios have different effects on firms’ long-term and short-term performances in dynamic environments. Our paper enriches our understanding of the role that patent portfolios play to achieve superior firm performance by linking the management of firm-level resources to value creation in uncertain environments; and also provides important insights into future trends in the patent portfolios strategy in dynamic environments.
Reducibility of Stress-Based Workability Diagram to Strain-Based Workability Diagram
Authors: Vilotic Dragisa , Alexandrov Sergei , Ivanisevic Aljosa , Milutinovic Mladomir
Published: March 2016

The strain-based and stress-based workability diagrams are often used to predict the initiation of ductile fracture in metal forming. The strain-based workability diagram is restricted to free surface fracture and postulates that the initiation of fracture is independent of the strain path. It is shown in the present paper that under these conditions the strain-based workability diagram is identical to the stress-based workability diagram. Using an available stress-based workability diagram the strain-based workability diagram is found in a much larger domain in the space of two in-surface principal strains as compared to the typical domain covered by standard tests used to determine strain-based workability diagrams. Two feasible tests are designed to determine the complete strain-based workability diagram.
Autotuning Runtime Specialization for Sparse Matrix-Vector Multiplication
Authors: Yilmaz Buse , Aktemur Bariş , Garzarán MaríA J. , Kamin Sam , Kiraç Furkan
Published: March 2016

Runtime specialization is used for optimizing programs based on partial information available only at runtime. In this paper we apply autotuning on runtime specialization of Sparse Matrix-Vector Multiplication to predict a best specialization method among several. In 91% to 96% of the predictions, either the best or the second-best method is chosen. Predictions achieve average speedups that are very close to the speedups achievable when only the best methods are used. By using an efficient code generator and a carefully designed set of matrix features, we show the runtime costs can be amortized to bring performance benefits for many real-world cases.
Evolutionary art
Authors: de Vega F. Fernández , Cruz C. , Hernández P. , Navarro L. , Albarrán V. , Espada L.
Published: March 2016

Evolutionary Algorithms have been frequently employed as a means for artistic creation and design, in which human artists guide the creative process, through aesthetic and conceptual evaluation, and computers are in charge of applying more repetitive genetic operations. The success of this interactive version of the evolutionary algorithm is well documented, although researchers are still struggling to find a way for properly encoding good aesthetic measures. But other possibilities exist for computer mediated artistic creation, such as applying an opposite approach: instead of allowing human beings to guide the artistic process, we could establish the main evolutionary algorithm steps as a path to be followed by human artists, such that every step is performed by his hands and brains, while the evolutionary algorithm is the framework that dictates how to progress.
Towards the evolution of things
Authors: Eiben A. E. , Smith J. E.
Published: March 2016

Evolutionary Computing has received major exposure this year. Nature, the top dog of scientific journals, devoted a full-length review article to this field [1]. Evolutionary algorithms have been around for about three decades, without obtaining such high profile coverage, so what changed?
Performance evaluation of RUNT algorithm
Authors: Chishiro Hiroyuki , Takasu Masayoshi , Ueda Rikuhei , Yamasaki Nobuyuki
Published: March 2016

This paper evaluates the performance of Reduction to Uniprocessor Transformation (RUNT) with Voltage and Frequency Scaling, called Static RUNT (S-RUNT) and Dynamic RUNT (D-RUNT), respectively. Simulation results show that how to assign tasks to servers in RUNT influences energy consumption and the worst-fit heuristic is the best in many cases. In addition, the idle task assignment policy saves more energy consumption in D-RUNT and D-RUNT outperforms S-RUNT if the actual case execution time of each task is shorter than its worst case execution time.
Supporting virtualization standard for network devices in RTEMS real-time operating system
Authors: Kim Jin-Hyun , Lee Sang-Hun , Jin Hyun-Wook
Published: March 2016

The virtualization technology is attractive for modern embedded systems in that it can ideally implement resource partitioning but also can provide transparent software development environments. Although hardware emulation overheads for virtualization have been reduced significantly, the network I/O performance in virtual machine is still not satisfactory. It is very critical to minimize the virtualization overheads especially in real-time embedded systems, because the overheads can change the timing behavior of real-time applications. To resolve this issue, we aim to design and implement the device driver of the standardized virtual network device, called virtio, over RTEMS real-time operating system. Our virtio device driver can be portable across different Virtual Machine Monitors (VMMs) because our implementation is compliant with the standard. The measurement results clearly show that our virtio can achieve comparable performance to the virtio implemented in Linux while reducing memory consumption for network buffers.