bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LIMIT CYCLE OSCILLATION PREDICTION AND CONTROL DESIGN METHOD FOR AEROELASTIC SYSTEM BASED ON NEW NONLINEAR REDUCED ORDER MODEL
Authors: CHEN GANG , LI YUE-MING , YAN GUI-RONG
Published: March 2011

When the amplitude of the oscillation of the unsteady flow is large or there is large perturbation relative to the mean background flow, the traditional proper orthogonal decomposition/reduced order model (POD/ROM) based on linearized time or frequency domain small disturbance solvers cannot capture the main nonlinear features well such as limit cycle oscillation (LCO), which is very dangerous for the structure. Therefore, the traditional linear ROMs are not good enough for limit cycles prediction and active control law design. A new nonlinear ROM based on dynamically nonlinear flow equation NPOD/ROM was investigated. The nonlinear second-order snapshot equation in time domain for POD basis construction is obtained from the Taylor series expansion of the flow solver. The simulation results indicate that the NPOD/ROM can capture LCO very well and is also very convenient for active control law design, while the traditional POD/ROM lose effectiveness.
NEW THREE-STEP ITERATIVE METHOD FOR SOLVING MIXED VARIATIONAL INEQUALITIES
Authors: BNOUHACHEM ABDELLAH , NOOR MUHAMMAD ASLAM , SHENG ZHAOHAN , AL-SAID EISA
Published: March 2011

In this paper, we suggest and analyze a new three-step iterative method for solving mixed variational inequalities. The new iterate is obtained by using a descent direction. We prove that the new method is globally convergent under suitable mild conditions. Our results can be viewed as significant extensions of the previously known results for mixed variational inequalities. Since mixed variational inequalities include variational inequalities as special cases, our method appears to be a new one for solving variational inequalities. Preliminary numerical experiments are included to illustrate the advantage and efficiency of the proposed method.
Inhomogeneous Barrier Height Analysis of (Ni/Au)–InAlGaN/GaN Schottky Barrier Diode
Authors: Subramaniyam Nagarajan , Sopanen Markku , Lipsanen Harri , Hong Chang-Hee , Suh Eun-Kyung
Published: March 2011

The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of (Ni/Au)–InAlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier diode (SBDs) have been measured in the temperature range of 297 to 473 K. Results have been interpreted based on the assumption of Gaussian distribution (GD) of barrier heights (BH) due to BH inhomogeneities at the interface. A modified Richardson plot gives the modified Schottky barrier height (ΦBO) and Richardson constantA*as 1.41 eV and 26 A cm-2K-2, respectively. The value of Richardson constant, 26 A cm-2K-2, is very close to the theoretical value of 29.1 A cm-2K-2. Therefore, the temperature dependence of the forwardI–Vcharacteristics of the (Ni/Au)–InAlGaN/GaN SBDs can be explained based on the thermionic emission mechanism with GD of BHs.
Multilayer InAs Quantum Dot with GaNAs Strain Compensation Layers Partly Inserted in a Thin Spacer Layer
Authors: Miyamoto Tomoyuki , Suzuki Ryoichiro , Sengoku Tomoyuki
Published: March 2011

Multilayer InAs quantum dot with a thin spacer prepared using a GaNAs strain compensation layer was investigated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The GaNAs tensile strained layer was inserted partly in the spacer without contacting with the compressively strained InAs dot and GaInAs cover layer. The stacking number of up to 5 with a thin spacer of 18 nm was realized at a wavelength of 1.4 µm without severe degradation of optical quality although a slight dot size increase in the upper layer was confirmed. The result indicates the advantageousness of GaNAs for a thin spacer structure of the multilayer quantum dot.
Thermalization Distance of Electrons Generated in Poly(4-hydroxystyrene) Film Containing Acid Generator upon Exposure to Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation
Authors: Kozawa Takahiro , Tagawa Seiichi
Published: March 2011

It is known that the chemical yield generated upon exposure to an ionizing radiation strongly depends on the thermalization distance of the electrons ejected through ionization. In this study, the acid yield upon exposure to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, the wavelength of which is 13.5 nm, was analyzed using a Monte Calro simulation of radiation-induced reactions. The thermalization distance in poly(4-hydroxystyrene), which is a typical backbone polymer of chemically amplified resists used for an ionizing radiation, was determined to be 3.2 ±0.6 nm. The reaction radius for the dissociative electron attachment to triphenylsulfonium triflate was also determined to be 0.70 ±0.08 nm.
Handwriting input system of chinese guqin notation
Authors: Ni Enzhi , Jiang Minjun , Ding Xiaojun , Zhou Changle
Published: March 2011

The guqin is an ancient Chinese musical instrument that has secured a key position in Chinese elite culture. The guqin has its own special notation composed of reduced characters. The input system of the guqin notation is necessary for digital storage and analysis of guqin notation. This article presents the first handwriting input system of guqin notation. This system adopts a radical-based approach. In this approach, the radicals of the input reduced character are extracted first. Next the layout template that best matches the character is found. The name of the character can then be interpreted according to the radicals and the matching layout template. Radical extraction is the key step of any radical-based approach. In this article a method of radical extraction for online cursive characters is proposed. Experimental results show that the approach is efficient and that the input system performs well.
Quality factors for dynamic evolution in composition-based distributed applications
Authors: Fung K. H. , Low G. C.
Published: March 2011

Dynamic evolution is a phenomenon by which applications can be upgraded without shutdown and restart. This capability improves service levels while minimising the loss of business revenue and is particularly important for a variety of mission critical distributed applications running around the clock. While quality plays an important role in information systems and their development, little attention has been paid in the literature to quality in dynamic evolution. This paper proposes a set of quality factors for dynamic evolution suitable for composition-based (e.g. service-oriented and component-based) distributed application development using a multi-step process for their incremental development and evaluation. An initial set of factors was developed from the relevant literature. This set of factors was evaluated for their perceived importance and extended by a web survey of experienced practitioners and researchers. A review of twelve relevant development methodologies was then conducted to further extend the revised set. The proposed set of factors can provide guidance for practitioners and researchers in developing, managing and/or testing distributed applications which can benefit from dynamic evolution. To demonstrate a use of the quality factors, an assessment was performed on the twelve methodologies to evaluate their extent of support for the extended set of quality factors, with results summarising their strengths and areas for improvement to support dynamic evolution.
Work exhaustion in information technology professionals
Authors: Rutner Paige , Riemenschneider Cindy , O'Leary-Kelly Anne , Hardgrave BIll
Published: March 2011

As the role of information technology (IT) in business grows and IT users become more technologically dependent, the IT professional is increasingly expected to work with individuals from other areas of the organization. Dealing with customers, either internal or external, brings the expectation that one will conform to societal, occupational, or organizational norms regarding the display of emotion. This paper examines the impact of emotional display expectations on work exhaustion in IT professionals. We find that the method that one uses to manage emotional reactions in the workplace impacts work exhaustion. Surface acting shows a strong, positive association with work exhaustion while deep acting shows no such relationship. We find that the perception of emotional display rules in the workplace affects the use of emotional management strategies, termed deep acting and surface acting. We also find that the necessity of dealing with other's emotions impacts the level of display rule expectations. The findings of this study offer important contributions to theory by exploring emotional labor expectations of IT professionals. This study also offers suggestions to management to help alleviate the stresses associated with common workplace interactions.
3D oceanographic data compression using 3D-ODETLAP
Authors: Li You , Lau Tsz-Yam , Stuetzle Christopher S. , Fox Peter , Franklin W. Randolph
Published: March 2011

This paper describes a 3D environmental data compression technique for oceanographic datasets. With proper point selection, our method approximates uncompressed marine data using an over-determined system of linear equations based on, but essentially different from, the Laplacian partial differential equation. Then this approximation is refined via an error metric. These two steps work alternatively until a predefined satisfying approximation is found.

Using several different datasets and metrics, we demonstrate that our method has an excellent compression ratio. To further evaluate our method, we compare it with 3D-SPIHT. 3D-ODETLAP averages 20% better compression than 3D-SPIHT on our eight test datasets, from World Ocean Atlas 2005. Our method provides up to approximately six times better compression on datasets with relatively small variance. Meanwhile, with the same approximate mean error, we demonstrate a significantly smaller maximum error compared to 3D-SPIHT and provide a feature to keep the maximum error under a user-defined limit.
Haptic-GIS
Authors: Jacob Ricky , Mooney Peter , Corcoran Padraig , Winstanley Adam C.
Published: March 2011

Haptic technology, or haptics, is a tactile feedback technology that takes advantage of our sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user through a device. Haptic enabled devices have recently gained much publicity in the computer games industry due to their ability to provide a more immersive experience. The use of haptic in the context of GIS and navigation assistance has not previously been considered. We present an overview of Haptic technologies and provide a commentary on how GIS and haptics may crossover and integrate. To demonstrate the potential of haptics for navigation assistance a simple case-study of using haptic feedback as a navigational assistant in pedestrian route planning software is presented. This case-study uses the OpenStreetMap(OSM) database and Cloudmade routing API.
Slope preserving lossy terrain compression
Authors: Xie Zhongyi , Franklin W. Randolph , Tracy Daniel M.
Published: March 2011

Accurate terrain representation with appropriate preservation of important terrain characteristics, especially slope steepness, is becoming more crucial and fundamental as the geographical models are becoming more complex. Based on our earlier success with Overdetermined Laplacian Partial Differential Equations (ODETLAP), which allows for compact yet accurate compression of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), we propose a new terrain compression technique that focuses on improving slope accuracy in compression of high resolution terrain data. With high slope accuracy and a high compression ratio, this technique will help geographical applications that require a high precision in slope yet also have strict constraints on data size. Our proposed technique has the following contribution: we modify the ODETLAP system by adding slope equations for some key points picked automatically so that we can compress the elevation without explicitly storing slope values. By adding these slope equations, we can perturb the elevation in such a way that when slope is computed from the reconstructed surface, they are accurate. Note we are not storing the slope explicitly, instead we only store the elevation difference at a few locations. Since the ultimate goal is to have a compact terrain representation, encoding is also an integral part of this research. We have used Run Length Encoding (RLE) and linear prediction in the past, which gave us substantial file size reduction. In addition to that, we also propose a Minimum Spanning Tree based encoding scheme that takes advantage of the spatial correlation between selected points. On a typical test, our technique is able to achieve a 1:10 compression at the cost of 4.23 degree of RMS slope error and 3.30 meters of RMS elevation error.
What we talk about when we talk with medical students
Authors: Joyner Michael J. , Charkoudian Nisha , Curry Timothy B. , Eisenach John H. , Wehrwein Erica A.
Published: March 2011

In this article, we review how we interact with medical students in our efforts to teach blood pressure regulation and systemic cardiovascular control along with related elements of respiratory and exercise physiology. Rather than provide a detailed lecture with key facts, we attempted to outline our approach to teaching integrative cardiovascular physiology to medical students, which includes five major themes. First, focus on questions versus answers and facts. We believe that this offers both the learner and teacher a number of advantages. Second, avoid teaching dogma in the name of clarity (i.e., heavy focus on teaching “facts” that have not yet been fully investigated). This is especially important because of the way knowledge evolves over time. Third, include laboratory-based experiences in human integrative physiology. Fourth, provide students with intellectual frameworks versus a list of “facts” to serve as a platform for question generation. Finally, focus on the role of integration and regulatory redundancy in physiology and the idea that physiology is a narrative that can help. In this article, we discuss the philosophy behind the themes outlined above and argue that questions, and not answers, are where the action is for both research and education.
Optogenetics in the teaching laboratory: using channelrhodopsin-2 to study the neural basis of behavior and synaptic physiology in Drosophila
Authors: Pulver Stefan R. , Hornstein Nicholas J. , Land Bruce L. , Johnson Bruce R.
Published: March 2011

Here we incorporate recent advances in Drosophila neurogenetics and “optogenetics” into neuroscience laboratory exercises. We used the light-activated ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and tissue-specific genetic expression techniques to study the neural basis of behavior in Drosophila larvae. We designed and implemented exercises using inexpensive, easy-to-use systems for delivering blue light pulses with fine temporal control. Students first examined the behavioral effects of activating glutamatergic neurons in Drosophila larvae and then recorded excitatory junctional potentials (EJPs) mediated by ChR2 activation at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Comparison of electrically and light-evoked EJPs demonstrates that the amplitudes and time courses of light-evoked EJPs are not significantly different from those generated by electrical nerve stimulation. These exercises introduce students to new genetic technology for remotely manipulating neural activity, and they simplify the process of recording EJPs at the Drosophila larval NMJ. Relatively little research work has been done using ChR2 in Drosophila , so students have opportunities to test novel hypotheses and make tangible contributions to the scientific record. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of student experiences suggest that these exercises help convey principles of synaptic transmission while also promoting integrative and inquiry-based studies of genetics, cellular physiology, and animal behavior.
Both type I and II IFN induce insulin resistance by inducing different isoforms of SOCS expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: Wada Tsutomu , Hoshino Masashi , Kimura Yukari , Ojima Minoru , Nakano Tetsuro , Koya Daisuke , Tsuneki Hiroshi , Sasaoka Toshiyasu
Published: March 2011

Although elevation of the blood glucose level is a causal adverse effect of treatment with interferon (IFN), the precise underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. We examined the effects of type I and type II IFN (IFN-β and IFN-γ) on insulin-induced metabolic signaling leading to glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. IFN-β suppressed insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 without affecting its expression, whereas IFN-γ reduced both the protein level and tyrosine phosphorylation. Although both IFNs stimulated phosphorylation of STAT1 (at Tyr701) and STAT3 (at Tyr705) after treatment for 30 min, subsequent properties of induction of the SOCS isoform were different. IFN-β preferentially induced SOCS1 rather than SOCS3, whereas IFN-γ strongly induced SOCS3 expression alone. In addition, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of either SOCS1 or SOCS3 inhibited insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, whereas the reduction of IRS-1 protein was observed only in SOCS3-expressed cells. Notably, IFN-β-induced SOCS1 expression and suppression of insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 were attenuated by siRNA-mediated knockdown of STAT1. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated expression of a dominant-negative STAT3 (F-STAT3) attenuated IFN-γ-induced SOCS3 expression, reduction of IRS-1 protein, and suppression of insulin-induced glucose uptake but did not have any effect on the IFN-β-mediated SOCS1 expression and inhibition of insulin-induced glucose uptake. Interestingly, pretreatment of IFN-γ with IL-6 synergistically suppressed insulin signaling, even when IL-6 alone had no significant effect. These results indicate that type I and type II IFN induce insulin resistance by inducing distinct SOCS isoforms, and IL-6 synergistically augments IFN-γ-induced insulin resistance by potentiating STAT3-mediated SOCS3 induction in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
The common African American polymorphism SCN5A-S1103Y interacts with mutation SCN5A-R680H to increase late Na current
Authors: Cheng Jianding , Tester David J. , Tan Bi-Hua , Valdivia Carmen R. , Kroboth Stacie , Ye Bin , January Craig T. , Ackerman Michael J. , Makielski Jonathan C.
Published: March 2011

The common polymorphism SCN5A-S1103Y (∼13% allelic frequency in African Americans) is a risk factor for arrhythmia, sudden unexplained death (SUD), and sudden infant death syndrome. Prompted by a case of autopsy-negative SUD in a 23-year-old African American man who collapsed while playing football, we hypothesized that S1103Y interacted with other SCN5A variants to pathologically modify sodium current ( INa). Mutational analysis of arrhythmia-associated genes in the victim revealed the variants SCN5A-R680H and SCN5A-S1103Y. These variants were made both separately and in the same cDNA construct of the alternative splice variant backgrounds (SCN5A-Q1077del and Q1077) and expressed in HEK293 cells. In the most abundant SCN5A-Q1077del, late INa for S1103Y alone was not significantly different from wild type (WT). However, late INa for R680H, R680H+S1103Y (coexpressed), and R680H/S1103Y (on the same cDNA) was increased 2.1-, 3.4-, and 3.6-fold, respectively, compared with WT. Intracellular acidosis (pH 6.7) increased late INa for S1103Y, R680H, R680H+S1103Y, and R680H/S1103Y by 2.2-, 2.4-, 5.0-, and 5.5-fold, respectively, compared with WT at pH 6.7. Expression in the less abundant SCN5A-Q1077 showed no increased late INa. This is the initial report of a functional interaction for the common polymorphism S1103Y with another mutation in the major transcript Q1077del of SCN5A. The “double hit” and environmental factor of acidosis may have converged to cause arrhythmic sudden death in this case.
PiLiMoT: A Modified Combination of LoLiMoT and PLN Learning Algorithms for Local Linear Neurofuzzy Modeling
Authors: Sarabi-Jamab Atiye , Araabi Babak N.
Published: March 2011

Locally linear model tree (LoLiMoT) and piecewise linear network (PLN) learning algorithms are two approaches in local linear neurofuzzy modeling. While both methods belong to the class of growing tree learning algorithms, they use different logics. PLN learning relies on training data, it needs rich training data set and no division test, so it is much faster than LoLiMoT, but it may create adjacent neurons that may lead to singularity in regression matrix. On the other hand, LoLiMoT almost always leads to acceptable output error, but it often needs more rules.
In this paper, to exploit the complimentary performance of both algorithms piecewise linear model tree (PiLiMoT) learning algorithm is introduced. In essence, PiLiMoT is a combination of LoLiMoT and PLN learning. The initially proposed algorithm is improved by adding the ability to merge previously divided local linear models, and utilizing a simulated annealing stochastic decision process to select a local model for splitting. Comparing to LoLiMoT and PLN learning, our proposed improved learning algorithm shows the ability to construct models with less number of rules at comparable modeling errors. Algorithms are compared through a case study of nonlinear function approximation. Obtained results demonstrate the advantages of combined modified method.
Impact of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Weight Loss, Glucose Homeostasis, and Comorbidities in Severely Obese Type 2 Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Nosso G. , Angrisani L. , Saldalamacchia G. , Cutolo P. P. , Cotugno M. , Lupoli R. , Vitolo G. , Capaldo B.
Published: March 2011

This study was undertaken to assess medium-term effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on body weight and glucose homeostasis in severely obese type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects. Twenty-five obese T2DM subjects (10 M/15 F, age45±9years, BMI48±8 kg/m2, M ± SD) underwent evaluation of anthropometric/clinical parameters and glucose homeostasis before, 3 and 9–15 months after LSG. Mean BMI decreased from48±8 kg/m2to40±9 kg/m2(P<.001) at 3 months and34±6 kg/m2(P<.001) at 9–15 months after surgery. Remission of T2DM (fasting plasma glucose < 126 mg/dL andHbA1c<6.5% in the absence of hypoglycemic treatment) occurred in all patients but one. There was a remarkable reduction in the percentage of patients requiring antihypertensive and hypolipidemic drugs. Our study shows that LSG is effective in producing a significant and sustained weight loss and improving glucose homeostasis in severely obese T2DM patients.
Optimal Hidden Node Area for Enhancing Routing Protocol Performance in IEEE 802.11 Multihop MANETs
Authors: Egbogah Emeka , Shi Liqi , Fapojuwo Abraham
Published: March 2011

The prevalence of hidden node areas in IEEE 802.11 multihop MANETs continues to hinder the performance of routing protocols. This letter presents an analytical model that relates the hidden node area to the hop distance between two communicating nodes. Unlike descriptions from the literature, we describe the hidden node area in terms of multiple layers and the different levels of interference contributed by each layer. We then develop mathematical expressions to determine the probability of successful delivery and end-to-end delay of a packet transmitted over multiple hops to a receiver node exposed to hidden nodes, as a function of hop distance. The numerical results show that decreasing the hop distance increases the probability of successful packet reception at a receiver, at the cost of increased end-to-end delay. However, using a specified delay objective, routing protocols can institute a hop distance threshold metric to limit the number of transmissions that produce collisions in the hidden node area and, thus, maximize their performance.
One Function—Multiple Mechanisms: The Manifold Activities of p53 as a Transcriptional Repressor
Authors: Böhlig Levin , Rother Karen
Published: March 2011

Maintenance of genome integrity is a dynamic process involving complex regulation systems. Defects in one or more of these pathways could result in cancer. The most important tumor‐suppressor is the transcription factor p53, and its functional inactivation is frequently observed in many tumor types. The tumor suppressive function of p53 is mainly attributed to its ability to regulate numerous target genes at the transcriptional level. While the mechanism of transcriptional induction by p53 is well characterized, p53‐dependent repression is not understood in detail. Here, we review the manifold mechanisms of p53 as a transcriptional repressor. We classify two different categories of repressed genes based on the underlying mechanism, and novel mechanisms which involve regulation through noncoding RNAs are discussed. The complete elucidation of p53 functions is important for our understanding of its tumor‐suppressor activity and, therefore, represents the key for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
Experimental Study on Diesel Spray Characteristics and Autoignition Process
Authors: Taşkiran Özgür Oğuz , Ergeneman Metin
Published: March 2011

The main goal of this study is to get the temporal and spatial spray evolution under diesel‐like conditions and to investigate autoignition process of sprays which are injected from different nozzle geometries. A constant volume combustion chamber was manufactured and heated internally up to 825 K at 3.5 MPa for experiments. Macroscopic properties of diesel spray were recorded via a high‐speed CCD camera by using shadowgraphy technique, and the images were analyzed by using a digital image processing program. To investigate the influence of nozzle geometry, 4 different types of divergent, straight, straight‐rounded, convergent‐rounded nozzles, were manufactured and used in both spray evolution and autoignition experiments. The internal geometry of the injector nozzles were obtained by using silicone mold method. The macroscopic properties of the nozzles are presented in the study. Ignition behaviour of different nozzle types was observed in terms of ignition delay time and ignition location. A commercial Diesel fuel, n‐heptane, and a mixture of hexadecane‐heptamethylnonane (CN65—cetane number 65) were used as fuels at ignition experiments. The similar macroscopic properties of different nozzles were searched for observing ignition time and ignition location differences. Though spray and ignition characteristics revealed very similar results, the dissimilarities are presented in the study.
Using Epidemiology and Genomics to Understand Osteosarcoma Etiology
Authors: Savage Sharon A. , Mirabello Lisa
Published: March 2011

Osteosarcoma is a primary bone malignancy that typically occurs during adolescence but also has a second incidence peak in the elderly. It occurs most commonly in the long bones, although there is variability in location between age groups. The etiology of osteosarcoma is not well understood; it occurs at increased rates in individuals with Paget disease of bone, after therapeutic radiation, and in certain cancer predisposition syndromes. It also occurs more commonly in taller individuals, but a strong environmental component to osteosarcoma risk has not been identified. Several studies suggest that osteosarcoma may be associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes important in growth and tumor suppression but the studies are limited by sample size. Herein, we review the epidemiology of osteosarcoma as well as its known and suspected risk factors in an effort to gain insight into its etiology.
Comparison of Methods for the Purification of Alpha‐1 Acid Glycoprotein from Human Plasma
Authors: McCurdy Teresa R. , Bhakta Varsha , Eltringham-Smith Louise J. , Gataiance Sharon , Fox-Robichaud Alison E. , Sheffield William P.
Published: March 2011

Alpha‐1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a highly glycosylated, negatively charged plasma protein suggested to have anti‐inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory activities. Purification of AGP could be simplified if methods that exploit its high solubility under chemically harsh conditions could be demonstrated to leave the protein in its native conformation. Procedures involving exposure of AGP to hot phenol or sulphosalicylic acid (SSA) were compared to solely chromatographic methods. Hot phenol‐purified AGP was more rapidly cleared from mice in vivo following intravenous injection than chromatographically purified AGP. In contrast, SSA‐purified AGP demonstrated an identical in vivo clearance profile and circular dichroism spectrum to chromatographically purified AGP. Similarly, no differences in susceptibility to enzymatic deglycosylation or reactivity with Sambucus nigra lectin were detected between AGP purified via the two methods. Incorporation of the SSA step in the purification scheme for AGP eliminated the need for a large (4 mL resin/mL of plasma) initial chromatographic step and simplified its purification without causing any detectable distortion in the conformation of the protein. Confirmation that this procedure is nondenaturing will simplify AGP purification and investigation of its possible biological roles in laboratory animals.
Coexistence of the Bandcount‐Adding and Bandcount‐Increment Scenarios
Authors: Avrutin Viktor , Schanz Michael , Schenke Björn
Published: March 2011

We investigate the structure of the chaotic domain of a
specific one‐dimensional piecewise linear map with one discontinuity. In this system, the region of “robust" chaos is embedded between two periodic domains. One of them is organized by the period‐adding scenario
whereas the other one by the period‐increment scenario with coexisting attractors. In the chaotic domain, the influence of both adjacent periodic domains leads to the coexistence of the recently discovered bandcount
adding and bandcount‐increment scenarios. In this work, we focus on the explanation of the overall structure of the chaotic domain and a description of the bandcount adding and bandcount increment scenarios.
Modern Breakthrough Technologies Enable New Applications Based on IMU Systems
Authors: Abbate Nunzio , Basile Adriano , Brigante Carmen , Faulisi Alessandro , La Rosa Fabrizio
Published: March 2011

This paper describes IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) platforms and their main target applications with a special focus on the 10-degree-of-freedom (10-DOF) inertial platform iNEMO and its technical features and performances. The iNEMO module is equipped with a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer, a 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, a 3-axis MEMS magnetometer, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. Furthermore, the Microcontroller Unit (MCU) collects measurements by the sensors and computes the orientation through a customized Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for sensor fusion.
Computation of Energy Release Rates for a Nearly Circular Crack
Authors: Nik Long Nik Mohd Asri , Koo Lee Feng , Eshkuvatov Zainidin K.
Published: March 2011

This paper deals with a nearly circular crack, Ω in the plane elasticity. The
problem of finding the resulting shear stress can be formulated as a hypersingular
integral equation over a considered domain, Ω and it is then transformed into a
similar equation over a circular region, D, using conformal mapping. Appropriate
collocation points are chosen on the region D to reduce the hypersingular integral
equation into a system of linear equations with (2N + 1)(N + 1) unknown coefficients,
which will later be used in the determination of energy release rate. Numerical
results for energy release rate are compared with the existing asymptotic solution
and are displayed graphically.
Effects of Phenolic Compounds of Fermented Thai Indigenous Plants on Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Chaiyasut Chaiyavat , Kusirisin Winthana , Lailerd Narissara , Lerttrakarnnon Peerasak , Suttajit Maitree , Srichairatanakool Somdet
Published: March 2011

We investigated the effects of antioxidant activity of fermentation product (FP) of five Thai indigenous products on oxidative stress in Wistar rats with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes type II. The rats were fed with placebo and with the FP (2 and 6 mL/kg body weight/day) for 6 weeks. Rutin, pyrogallol and gallic acid were main compounds found in the FP. Plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats receiving the higher dose of the FP increased less when compared to the diabetic control group as well as the group receiving the lower FP dose (13.1%, 29%, and 21.1%), respectively. A significant dose‐dependent decrease in plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (P < .05) was observed. In addition, the doses of 2 and 6 mL FP/kg/day decreased the levels of erythrocyte ROS in diabetic rats during the experiment, but no difference was observed when compared to the untreated diabetic rat group. Results imply that FP decreased the diabetes‐associated oxidative stress to a large extent through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The FP also improved the abnormal glucose metabolism slightly but the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, FP may be a potential therapeutic agent by reducing injury caused by oxidative stress associated with diabetes.
Quantitative Model for Efficient Temporal Targeting of Tumor Cells and Neovasculature
Authors: Kohandel M. , Haselwandter C. A. , Kardar M. , Sengupta S. , Sivaloganathan S.
Published: March 2011

The combination of cytotoxic therapies and antiangiogenic agents is emerging as a most promising strategy in the treatment of malignant tumors. However, the timing and sequencing of these treatments seem to play essential roles in achieving a synergic outcome. Using a mathematical modeling approach that is grounded on available experimental data, we investigate the spatial and temporal targeting of tumor cells and neovasculature with a nanoscale delivery system. Our model suggests that the experimental success of the nanoscale delivery system depends crucially on the trapping of chemotherapeutic agents within the tumor tissue. The numerical results also indicate that substantial further improvements in the efficiency of the nanoscale delivery system can be achieved through an adjustment of the temporal targeting mechanism.
Survival following Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander, Latina, and Non-Hispanic White Women Who Have Never Smoked
Authors: Gomez Scarlett L. , Chang Ellen T. , Shema Sarah J. , Fish Kari , Sison Jennette D. , Reynolds Peggy , Clément-Duchêne Christelle , Wrensch Margaret R. , Wiencke John L. , Wakelee Heather A.
Published: March 2011

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. Asian/Pacific Islander (API) and Latina women despite low smoking prevalence. This study examined survival patterns following non–small cell lung cancer in a population-based sample of lung cancer cases from the San Francisco Bay Area Lung Cancer Study (SFBALCS).

Methods: Women diagnosed with lung cancer from 1998 to 2003 and 2005 to 2008 and identified through the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry were telephone-screened for eligibility for the SFBALCS. The screener data were linked to the cancer registry data to determine follow-up. This analysis included 187 non-Hispanic (NH) white, 23 U.S.-born Latina, 32 foreign-born Latina, 30 U.S.-born API, and 190 foreign-born API never-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer and followed through 2008.

Results: All-cause survival was poorer among APIs [HR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.0–2.8) among U.S.-born APIs and HR = 1.2 (95% CI: 0.9–1.5) among foreign-born APIs] and Latinas [HR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2–3.6) among U.S.-born Latinas; HR = 1.4 (95% CI: 0.9–2.3) among foreign-born Latinas] relative to NH whites. These survival differences were not explained by differences in selected sociodemographic or clinical factors.

Conclusions: Further research should focus on factors such as cultural behaviors, access to or attitudes toward health care, and genetic variations as possible explanations for these striking racial/ethnic differences.

Impact: Latina and API female never-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer were up to two times more likely to die than NH whites, highlighting the need for additional research to identify the underlying reasons for the disparities and heightened clinical awareness. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(3); 545–54. ©2011 AACR.
The Effects of Body Mass Index on Changes in Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels and Prostate Volume Over 15 Years of Follow-up: Implications for Prostate Cancer Detection
Authors: Wallner Lauren P. , Morgenstern Hal , McGree Michaela E. , Jacobson Debra J. , St. Sauver Jennifer L. , Jacobsen Steven J. , Sarma Aruna V.
Published: March 2011

Objective: To investigate the association of body mass index (BMI) and BMI change with change in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and to assess the possible roles of PSA hemodilution and prostate volume in explaining the obesity and PSA association.

Methods: In 1990, a randomly selected cohort of Caucasian men, aged 40 to 79 years, from Olmsted County, Minnesota, completed questionnaires ascertaining demographic characteristics, current medical conditions, and medications biennially, with a subset undergoing blood draws and clinical examinations. Linear mixed models were used to predict annual changes and intercepts of individual changes in BMI, PSA, prostate volume, plasma volume, and PSA mass, adjusting for age in 545 men with at least 2 serial PSA, BMI, and prostate volume measurements.

Results: Baseline BMI was inversely associated with the annual percent change in PSA, adjusting for age, baseline PSA, and prostate volume and for the rates of change in BMI and prostate volume (β = −0.003, 95% CI: −0.006 to −0.0003). Baseline obesity was positively associated with mean baseline levels and the rate of change in prostate volume (P = 0.002) and plasma volume (both P < 0.001) but was not associated with either the mean baseline values or the rate of change in PSA mass.

Conclusions: Baseline obesity was associated with baseline PSA and prostate volume and with the rate of change in PSA over 15 years of follow-up.

Impact: The inverse association of obesity with prostate cancer diagnosis may be at least partly due to detection bias, which is due to larger prostate volumes and PSA hemodilution in obese men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(3); 501–8. ©2011 AACR.
Scientific Bias Arising from Sampling, Selective Recruitment, and Attrition: The Case for Improved Reporting
Authors: Demark-Wahnefried Wendy , Bowen Deborah J. , Jabson Jennifer M. , Paskett Electra D.
Published: March 2011

In human research, the ability to generalize study findings is incumbent not only on an accurate understanding of the study protocol and measures but also on a clear understanding of the study population. Differential recruitment and attrition has the potential of introducing bias and threatening the generalizability of study findings; yet, relatively few scientific publications report data on sampling, subject exclusion, and dropout. A 4-month census sampling (September–December 2009) of research articles and short communications in this journal (n = 116) was no exception. Among articles in which such data were appropriate to report, only 44% documented response rates, 53% described subjects who were excluded, and 10% performed analyses on enrollee versus nonenrollee differences; moreover, of the 17 longitudinal or intervention studies evaluated, only 3 of 17 reported dropout rates, and of those, only 2 of 3 reported reasons for dropout or an analysis that compared the characteristics of dropouts with those of completers. Given Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention's mission to enhance the dissemination of unbiased scientific findings, we propose that guidelines regarding sample description, as defined by CONSORT, STROBE, or STREGA, be adopted by our journal for both observational and interventional studies that accurately describe the study population from the point of contact. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(3); 415–8. ©2011 AACR.
EZH2-Dependent Suppression of a Cellular Senescence Phenotype in Melanoma Cells by Inhibition of p21/CDKN1A Expression
Authors: Fan Tao , Jiang Shunlin , Chung Nancy , Alikhan Ali , Ni Christina , Lee Chyi-Chia Richard , Hornyak Thomas J.
Published: March 2011

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins such as Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) are epigenetic transcriptional repressors that function through recognition and modification of histone methylation and chromatin structure. Targets of PcG include cell cycle regulatory proteins which govern cell cycle progression and cellular senescence. Senescence is a characteristic of melanocytic nevi, benign melanocytic proliferations that can be precursors of malignant melanoma. In this study, we report that EZH2, which we find absent in melanocytic nevi but expressed in many or most metastatic melanoma cells, functionally suppresses the senescent state in human melanoma cells. EZH2 depletion in melanoma cells inhibits cell proliferation, restores features of a cellular senescence phenotype, and inhibits growth of melanoma xenografts in vivo. p21/CDKN1A is activated upon EZH2 knockdown in a p53-independent manner and contributes substantially to cell cycle arrest and induction of a senescence phenotype. EZH2 depletion removes histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) from the CDKN1A transcriptional start site and downstream region, enhancing histone 3 acetylation globally and at CDKN1A. This results in recruitment of RNA polymerase II, leading to p21/CDKN1A activation. Depletion of EZH2 synergistically activates p21/CDKN1A expression in combination with the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A. Since melanomas often retain wild-type p53 function activating p21, our findings describe a novel mechanism whereby EZH2 activation during tumor progression represses p21, leading to suppression of cellular senescence and enhanced tumorigenicity. Mol Cancer Res; 9(4); 418–29. ©2011 AACR.
Specific Congenital Malformations after Exposure to Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin and 5-Fluorouracil during the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Leyder Mina , Laubach Monika , Breugelmans Maria , Keymolen Katelijn , De Greve Jacques , Foulon Walter
Published: March 2011

The treatment of pregnant women with chemotherapeutic drugs leads to congenital malformations in 10–20% of newborn children. We present a case of an ongoing 19-week-long pregnancy which was diagnosed in a 39-year-old woman who was being treated with CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy for an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast. After termination of the pregnancy, subsequent examination of the fetus revealed micrognathia and bilateral malformations of the hands and feet. The peak exposure of the fetus to the chemotherapeutic agents was in the 5th to 6th week of the pregnancy. Both the nature of the malformations and the timing of the administration of chemotherapy are similar to another case reported previously. We conclude that chemotherapy treatments with CEF in the 5th to 6th week of pregnancy specifically generate hand and foot abnormalities and micrognathia, which is consistent with an inhibition of proliferation, leading to cell death at this embryonic stage.
Induced Abortion and Relevant Factors among Women Seeking Abortion in Nanjing, China
Authors: Wu Shenghui , Tian Linwei , Xu Fei
Published: March 2011

Aims: This study aimed to determine the sociological characteristics of abortion seekers according to marital status and previous induced abortions in a major regional hospital in Nanjing, China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire in women seeking abortion at Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in China in 2003. Results: The average age of the participants was 26.0 ± 4.5 years. Of the 462 abortion seekers, 95.9% had one previous induced abortion. The majority (49.6%) of the ever-married women were in the age group of 25–29 while the majority (76.9%) of the unmarried women were aged 20–24 years. Unprotected intercourse (53.6%) and contraception failure (43.9%) were the primary reasons given for the current induced abortion for ever-married women. Unmarried women terminated their current pregnancies mainly because they did not want children (62.1%). Of the 182 unmarried subjects, 86.8% had psychological problems in their premarital pregnancy. Conclusions: Education and communication about sexual morality, contraception and reproductive health, as well as post-abortion counseling and services, especially for young women, are needed to reduce the rate of induced abortions.
Increased Nerve Density in Deep Infiltrating Endometriotic Nodules
Authors: Anaf V. , El Nakadi I. , De Moor V. , Chapron C. , Pistofidis G. , Noel J.-C.
Published: March 2011

Background/Aims: Deep infiltrating endometriosis is a very painful condition and the mechanism of pain is still poorly understood. Pain and hyperalgesia can partly be explained by an increased number of nerve structures in the painful lesion. In order to clarify this issue, we assessed the nerve density in deep infiltrating endometriotic nodules of the posterior vagina and in the adjacent healthy vaginal tissue of the same patient. Methods: A prospective clinical and pathological study of 31 cases of deep infiltrating vaginal endometriotic nodules was conducted. Fifteen patients were in the proliferative phase and 16 in the secretory phase. The nerve density was studied by immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibody NF against neurofilaments in deep infiltrating endometriosis and in the adjacent unaffected vaginal tissue in the proliferative and in the secretory phases. Neurofilaments constitute the main structural elements of neuronal axons and dendrites. Results: The nerve density was significantly different in the endometriotic nodule than in the adjacent unaffected vaginal tissue (p = 0.0013). The same significant difference was found between endometriotic nodules and the unaffected vagina in the proliferative phase (p = 0.009) and in the secretory phase (p = 0.04). This difference was not significant between the proliferative and the secretory phases in the endometriotic lesions and in the controls. Conclusions: We hypothesize that the significantly increased number of nerve structures in the endometriotic nodules may contribute to the occurrence of severe and neuropathic pain that characterizes these lesions
The Sequential Combination of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment and Well-Being Therapy in Cyclothymic Disorder
Authors: Fava Giovanni A. , Rafanelli Chiara , Tomba Elena , Guidi Jenny , Grandi Silvana
Published: March 2011

Background: There is a lack of controlled studies of psychological treatment of cyclothymic disorder. The aim of this investigation was to examine the benefits of the sequential combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and well-being therapy (WBT) compared to clinical management (CM) in DSM-IV cyclothymic disorder. Methods: Sixty-two patients with DSM-IV cyclothymic disorder were randomly assigned to CBT/WBT (n = 31) or CM (n = 31). Both CBT/WBT and CM consisted of ten 45-min sessions every other week. An independent blind evaluator assessed the patients before treatment, after therapy, and at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. The outcomes included total score of the change version of the Clinical Interview for Depression, and the Mania Scale. All analyses were performed on an intent-to-treat basis. Results: Significant differences were found in all outcome measures, with greater improvements after treatment in the CBT/WBT group compared to the CM group. Therapeutic gains were maintained at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. Conclusions: A sequential combination of CBT and WBT, which addresses both polarities of mood swings and comorbid anxiety, was found to yield significant and persistent benefits in cyclothymic disorder.