bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Adaptive Evolutionary Algorithm for UWB Microstrip Antennas Optimization Using a Machine Learning Technique
Authors: Silva Cláudio R. M. , Martins Sinara R.
Published: May 2013

This article presents an application of a machine learning technique to enhance a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm to estimate fitness function behaviors from a set of experiments made in laboratory to analyze a microstrip antenna used in ultra wideband wireless devices. These function behaviors are related to three objectives: bandwidth, return loss, and central frequency deviation. Each objective is used inside an aggregate adaptive weighted fitness function that estimates the behavior in the algorithm. The machine learning technique enabled a dynamic estimation of an aggregated compound fitness function and made it possible to a prototype algorithm to learn and adapt with a set of experiments stored in a web system repository. The final results were then compared with the ones obtained with a similar antenna modeled in a simulator program and with the ones of a real prototype antenna built from the optimal values obtained after the optimization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1864–1868, 2013
A Low‐Profile Circularly Polarized Short Backfire Antenna with High Impedance Surface
Authors: Yi Huan , Qu Shi‐Wei
Published: May 2013

In this article, high impedance surface (HIS) structures are used as a primary reflector of a short backfire antenna to reduce its profile. Crossed dipoles fed by a power divider with 90° phase shift are adopted as an exciter to realize circular polarization. It is demonstrated that the antenna profile can be reduced from 0.6 to 0.3 λ0 by using the HIS structures as a primary reflector. It also achieves a 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth of more than 25% with a standing‐wave ratio below 2, and the peak broadside gain is around 13.47 dBi with a 3‐dB gain bandwidth of 22.5%. The simulated and experimental results are presented and discussed in the end of this article. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1779–1784, 2013
A Small UWB CPW‐FED Monopole Antenna with Double Band‐Notch Property
Authors: Naser‐Moghadasi, Mohammad , Asadpor Loghman , Qotolo, Sajjad F. , Virdee Bal S.
Published: May 2013

A compact ultrawideband CPW‐fed monopole antenna is presented that includes dual band‐notch characteristics. The antenna consists of a modified V‐shaped patch with two resonant structures to create the required band‐notch function at the desired frequency bands to mitigate interference from WLAN and WiMAX systems. The band‐notch structures comprise of a rectangular‐shaped conductor backed plane and a rectangular‐shaped slot inserted within the antenna patch. The center frequency of the band‐notch can be varied prior to fabrication without affecting the antenna's overall characteristics. The antenna's performance was verified through measurements, which show that it operates across a large bandwidth between 2.9 and 12.7 GHz for VSWR <2 and provides band reject performance between 3.3–3.8 GHz and 5.2–5.8 GHz. The antenna's dimensions are 19.5 × 21 × 1 mm3. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1840–1845, 2013
Flexible Fabrication of Long‐Period Fiber Grating Devices Based on Erasing Effect by Controlled Co2 Laser Pulse Exposure
Authors: Cheng Baokai , Lan Xinwei , Huang Jie , Fang Xia , Xiao Hai
Published: May 2013

An easy way to flexibly fabricate special long‐period fiber grating (LPFG) devices by controlled CO2 laser pulses are presented in this paper. By controlling the pulse power and duration, consecutive exposures were made on an optical fiber to fabricate an LPFG. Existing LPFGs can also be erased or modified by applying CO2 laser exposures on specific grating sections. The erasing effect has been studied to fabricate special grating devices for various applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1735–1738, 2013
Design and Optimization of A Broadband X‐Band Bidirectional Amplifier
Authors: Donelli, Massimo , Saavedra, Carlos , Rukanuzzaman Md
Published: May 2013

This article presents the design of a simple and inexpensive X‐band bidirectional amplifier based on two microstrip quadrature hybrid rings and two low cost microwave monolithic integrated circuit monolithic amplifiers. Each subsystem of the amplifier was designed and optimized, by means of an optimization methodology to obtain the best performances. In particular, the design problem was recast as an optimization one by defining suitable cost functions that are then minimized with an evolutionary optimization technique, namely the particle swarm optimizer. An experimental prototype has been designed, developed, and measured. The obtained results demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed broadband bidirectional amplifier and envisage future and possible advances in the application of such devices for the development of advanced telecommunications systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1730–1735, 2013
A Wideband Multilayer Quasi‐Yagi Antenna with a Simplified Microstrip‐to‐CPS Transition Based on LTCC Technology
Authors: Wang Jinhong , Sang Lei , Wang Zhigang , Xu Ruimin , Yan Bo
Published: May 2013

In this article, a wideband multilayer quasi‐Yagi antenna using low temperature cofired ceramic technology is presented. The antenna is fed by a simplified microstrip‐to‐coplanar strip transition, which serves as balun and impedance transformer simultaneously. Multilayer directors are flared to direct the antenna propagation toward the end‐fire direction. Compared with the traditional planar quasi‐Yagi antenna, they can suppress the surface waves significantly and provide better director effect to improve the radiation performance. Furthermore, they excite multiple adjacent resonant modes to broaden the bandwidth. The measured results show that the proposed antenna achieves a wide bandwidth of 60% for S11 < −10 dB (26.8–49.8 GHz), better than 12 dB front‐to‐back ratio, smaller than 16 dB cross polarization and 4.5–6.9 dBi gain within the bandwidth. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1959–1963, 2013
Empirical Formulas For Designing Gap‐Waveguide Hybrid Ring Coupler
Authors: Yang Jian , Raza Hasan
Published: May 2013

A new type of hybrid ring coupler (or rat‐race coupler)—the gap‐waveguide ring hybrid has been developed in this work. The advantages of the new gap‐waveguide ring hybrid are low manufacturing cost since the good electrical contact between metal plates is not required, and lower transmission loss compared to microstrip line since there is no dielectric material needed. Therefore, the gap‐waveguide technology opens up a possibility of waveguide integration circuit from millimeter wave up to terahertz. We present an empirical formula for designing the gap‐waveguide ring hybrid based on simulated data and has been verified by measurements of a prototype of the ring hybrid realized at 16 GHz. The prototype has an operating frequency band of 2 GHz around 16 GHz, with a reflection coefficient below −10 dB and a phase difference between two output ports of 182° ± 2°. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1917–1920, 2013
Carrier‐Based Cmos Impulse Generator for Ultrawideband Vehicular Radar Application
Authors: Li, Ju‐Ching , Jung Sungyong , Kim Hyoung‐Soo , Gui Ping , Chung Hoon‐Ju
Published: May 2013

This article presents a CMOS ultrawideband (UWB) impulse generator using a 0.13‐μm CMOS technology for the application of UWB 22–29‐GHz vehicular radar. The proposed impulse generator has a pulse‐modulated carrier‐based architecture. The proposed design is power efficient and spectrum controllable with a frequency tuning range of 800 MHz. The output impulse has a pulse width less than 0.55 ns providing a high range resolution for the UWB vehicular radar systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1881–1887, 2013 10.1002/mop.27715
A Novel Monopole Antenna for Wireless Communication Systems and UWB Application
Authors: Sefidi, M. , Zehforoosh Y. , Moradi S.
Published: May 2013

In this article, a novel monopole antenna which consists of a radiating patch with two modified L‐shaped notches to achieve broad bandwidth is presented for various mobile communication services such as wireless broadband, wireless local area network, digital mobile broadcasting, and ultrawideband (UWB) applications. The proposed antenna is designed to operate over 2–11.2 GHz for S11 < −10 dB. Details of the proposed antenna design approach and measured results are also presented and discussed. The novel monopole antenna has wide band impedance bandwidth, compact size, and low fabrication cost, which are suitable for communication services and UWB application. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1856–1860, 2013
Feasibility Study of E‐band mm‐Wave for Gigabit point‐to‐point Wireless Communications
Authors: Geng Suiyan , Zhao Xiongwen
Published: May 2013

In this article, the performances of E‐band (81–86 GHz) millimeter‐wave for gigabit point‐to‐point wireless communications are studied based on experimental measurement data. Specifically, the E‐band link budget is provided by examining propagation path loss, shadow fading, and rain attenuations. A model of rain attenuation in E‐band is proposed and compared with ITU‐R recommendation model and measurement data. Communication link availability vs. coverage for different rainfall rates and antenna gain sets are investigated for providing useful information on design of systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1969–1972, 2013
A Fiber Optic Faint Pressure Sensor Used in High‐Temperature Environment
Authors: Jiang Ming
Published: May 2013

A fiber optic faint pressure sensor used in high‐temperature environment is presented and experimentally demonstrated. The bulky and ruggedized pressure sensor is an extrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometer manufactured with stainless steel. A pressure sensitivity of 7.1 pm/Pa and a pressure resolution of 1.39 Pa within the measurement range from 0 to 1500 Pa have been achieved. The temperature dependence of the sensor is also investigated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1891–1893, 2013
Evaluation of Nonmetallic Glued Joints Based on the Resolvable Transit Times of THz Waves
Authors: Thomas, Djeisson H. , Cordes Andrew H. , von der Weid J. P.
Published: May 2013

The quality of glued joints in nonmetallic samples was evaluated using a standard terahertz time domain spectroscopy system in the transmission configuration. We developed a method of modal analysis to complement the results obtained with those based on traditional parameters such as transmittance and spectral changes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1762–1765, 2013
Transmission Line Filters with Harmonic Parallel Foster Sections
Authors: Malherbe Johannes A. G. , Luus Pierre D. , Uys Johan C.
Published: May 2013

Conventional wideband bandstop filters use Cauer prototypes, but become nonrealizable with Kuroda–Levy transforms for bandwidths of 150% or more. Transmission line filters with harmonic stubs have been shown to be realizable at these bandwidths, but have limited performance ranges due to the fixed positions of the transmission zeros. In this article, two structures that use shunt Foster resonators that enable the shift of the transmission zeros are described. Simulated and measured properties show that greatly improved performance can be realized while not adding to the complexity of the structure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1724–1728, 2013
Erratum: Wideband High‐Gain Aperture Coupled Antenna for Ku Band Phased‐Array Systems
Authors: Bilgic Mustafa Murat , Yegin Korkut
Published: May 2013

Originally published Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1291–1295, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1975, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27738 (Original article DOI 10.1002/mop.27594)
Establishing disability weights from pairwise comparisons for a US burden of disease study
Authors: Rehm Jürgen , Frick Ulrich
Published: May 2013

To determine valid and reliable disability weights for a U.S. burden of disease study, a convenience sample of 68 clinical experts was recruited, including representatives from over 20 NIH institutes and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts were given various health state valuation tasks including pairwise comparison, ranking, and Person Trade Off. Materials consisted of standardized descriptions of 11 attributes per health state (Classification and Measurement System of Functional Health, CLAMES). Attributes comprised up to 5 ordinal levels of disability. All states were displayed either with or without health state labels. Health state descriptions were taken from an existing comprehensive Canadian system. Conditional Logistic (CLR) and Probit Regression (PR) were used to derive disability weights. CLR and PR converged in yielding stable regression weights to construct disability weights, with a correlation of 0.816. The overall test‐retest reliability amounted to 92.5% identical decisions. No significant difference was found for the presentation of health states with or without labels. A comparison of the expert valuations from our study with a standard gamble based valuation in the general population resulted in agreement of r = 0.61. The chosen methodology yielded valid and reliable and disability weights. As it is based on a modularized set of attributes, this methodology will allow derivation of disability weights on the basis of existing descriptions using the CLAMES. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
X‐Ray Tomography Imaging of Porous Polyolefin Particles in an Electron Microscope
Authors: Meisterová Lucie , Zubov Alexandr , Smolná Klára , Štěpánek František , Kosek Juraj
Published: May 2013

Advanced models of penetrant transport and reaction in spatially 3D porous polyolefin particles reconstructed from X‐ray µCT images require proper determination of particle morphology. Moreover, polyolefins exhibit a relatively low absorptivity for X‐rays, therefore their investigation using µCT can be difficult. In this paper, a low‐resolution µCT built into an SEM is used to examine how the µCT resolution and several user‐selected parameters associated with the scanning/reconstruction affect the resulting particle morphology. Using samples with known morphology and independent imaging techniques, the performance of the µCT device is critically assessed. Finally, a method suitable for the reliable reconstruction of polyolefin particles using low‐resolution µCT is proposed.

magnified image
Rapid acquisition of multifrequency, multislice and multidirectional MR elastography data with a fractionally encoded gradient echo sequence
Authors: Garteiser Philippe , Sahebjavaher Ramin S. , Ter Beek Leon C. , Salcudean Septimiu , Vilgrain Valérie , Van Beers Bernard E. , Sinkus Ralph
Published: May 2013

In MR elastography (MRE), periodic tissue motion is phase encoded using motion‐encoding gradients synchronized to an externally applied periodic mechanical excitation. Conventional methods result in extended scan time for quality phase images, thus limiting the broad application of MRE in the clinic. For practical scan times, researchers have been relying on one‐dimensional or two‐dimensional motion‐encoding, low‐phase sampling and a limited number of slices, and artifact‐prone, single‐shot, echo planar imaging (EPI) readout. Here, we introduce a rapid multislice pulse sequence capable of three‐dimensional motion encoding that is also suitable for simultaneously encoding motion with multiple frequency components. This sequence is based on a gradient‐recalled echo (GRE) sequence and exploits the principles of fractional encoding. This GRE MRE pulse sequence was validated as capable of acquiring full three‐dimensional motion encoding of isotropic voxels in a large volume within less than a minute. This sequence is suitable for monofrequency and multifrequency MRE experiments. In homogeneous paraffin phantoms, the eXpresso sequence yielded similar storage modulus values as those obtained with conventional methods, although with markedly reduced variances (7.11 ± 0.26 kPa for GRE MRE versus 7.16 ± 1.33 kPa for the conventional spin‐echo EPI sequence). The GRE MRE sequence obtained better phase‐to‐noise ratios than the equivalent spin‐echo EPI sequence (matched for identical acquisition time) in both paraffin phantoms and in vivo data in the liver (59.62 ± 11.89 versus 27.86 ± 3.81, 61.49 ± 14.16 versus 24.78 ± 2.48 and 58.23 ± 10.39 versus 23.48 ± 2.91 in the X, Y and Z components, respectively, in the case of liver experiments). Phase‐to‐noise ratios were similar between GRE MRE used in monofrequency or multifrequency experiments (75.39 ± 14.93 versus 86.13 ± 18.25 at 28 Hz, 71.52 ± 24.74 versus 86.96 ± 30.53 at 56 Hz and 95.60 ± 36.96 versus 61.35 ± 26.25 at 84Hz, respectively). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Faster strongly polynomial algorithms for the unbalanced transportation problem and assignment problem with monge costs
Authors: Vaidyanathan Balachandran
Published: May 2013

We consider a transportation problem where the cost matrix satisfies the Monge property. The problem has supply nodes N1(|N1| = n1), demand nodes N2(|N2| = n2), supply si ≥ 0 for i∈N1, and demand dj ≥ 0 for j∈N2(n = n1 + n2,m = n1n2). When the total supply is equal to the total demand, the problem can be solved in O(n) time using the northwest corner rule (Hoffman [10]). This algorithm and run‐time, however, do not extend to the unbalanced case, where the total supply is not equal to the total demand. The fastest strongly polynomial run‐time for the unbalanced transportation problem with Monge costs is O(nlog n(m + nlog n)), and for the unbalanced assignment problem (unit supplies and demands) with Monge costs is O(n(m + nlog n)). In this article, we describe a simple algorithm that solves the unbalanced transportation problem with Monge costs in O(mn1) time and the unbalanced assignment problem with Monge costs in O(m) time using elementary data structures. We also develop a faster implementation of the algorithm that utilizes a heap, a self‐balancing binary search tree, and dynamic trees, and solves the transportation problem with Monge costs in O(mlog n1) time. Our algorithms improve the run‐times for: (i) the unbalanced transportation problem with Monge costs by a factor of nlog n/log n1 or better and (ii) the unbalanced assignment problem with Monge costs by a factor of n or better. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2013
Complexity of a classical flow restoration problem
Authors: Nace Dritan , Pióro Michał , Tomaszewski Artur , Żotkiewicz Mateusz
Published: May 2013

In this article, we revisit a classical optimization problem occurring in designing survivable multicommodity flow networks. The problem, referred to as FR, assumes flow restoration that takes advantage of the so‐called stub release. As no compact linear programming (LP) formulation of FR is known and at the same time all known noncompact LP formulations of FR exhibit
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‐hard dual separation, the problem itself is believed to be
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‐hard, although without a proof. In this article, we study a restriction of FR (RFR) that assumes only elementary (cycle‐free) admissible paths—an important case virtually not considered in the literature. The two problems have the same noncompact LP formulations as they differ only in the definition of admissible paths: all paths (also those including cycles) are allowed in FR, while only elementary paths are allowed in RFR. Because of that, RFR is in general computationally more complex than FR. The purpose of this article, is three‐fold. First, the article reveals an interesting special case of RFR—the case with only one failing link—for which a natural noncompact LP formulation obtained by reducing the general RFR formulation still exhibits
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‐hard dual separation, but nevertheless this special case of RFR is polynomial. The constructed example of a polynomial multicommodity flow problem with difficult dual separation is of interest since, to our knowledge, no example of this kind has been known. In this article, we also examine a second special case of RFR, this time assuming two failing links instead of one, which turns out to be
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‐hard. This implies that problem RFR is
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‐hard in general (more precisely, for two or more failure states). This new result is the second contribution of the article. Finally, we discuss the complexity of FR in the light of our new findings, emphasizing the differences between RFR and FR. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2013
General election marketing—selling a can of beans, building a favours bank or managing an event?
Authors: Jackson Nigel
Published: May 2013

This paper applies three marketing approaches to identify a possible framework for analysing the 2010 general election. The first approach to be assessed is transactional, which is the traditional view of political marketing. The second approach is relationship marketing, of which there is some evidence that it has applied to politics. The third approach, experiential, has not yet been applied to the political context. As this is an exploratory research project, the data are collected from one small geographical area, Devon. Interviews were conducted with candidates in the 12 seats in this county to identify which, if any, of these three marketing approaches might apply to UK general elections. The article, argues that a hybrid approach to political marketing, drawing on all three approaches can potentially offer researchers a framework for understanding general election campaigns. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen shifts and benzene ring contractions in phenylenes
Authors: Pastor Michael B. , Kuhn Ariel J. , Nguyen Phuong T. , Santander Mitchell V. , Castro Claire , Karney William L.
Published: May 2013

Mechanisms of benzene ring contractions in phenylenes were studied using density functional and coupled cluster methods. Rearrangement of biphenylene to benzopentalene can proceed via a carbene route, by initial 1,2‐carbon shift followed by a 1,2‐hydrogen shift, with a CCSD(T)/cc‐pVDZ//B3LYP/6‐31G* barrier of ~77 kcal/mol. An alternative carbene pathway consisting of an initial 1,2‐hydrogen shift followed by a 1,2‐carbon shift has a slightly higher computed barrier of 79 kcal/mol. The preferred carbene mechanism is computed to have a barrier at least 25 kcal/mol lower than competing diradical mechanisms at the BD(T)/cc‐pVDZ level. The various possible benzene ring contractions in angular [3]phenylene are predicted to have barriers of 79–82 kcal/mol, with little preference for one pathway over the others. Thus, mechanistic proposals to explain pyrolysis products of angular [3]phenylene can reasonably invoke any of the four possible initial reaction modes via carbene intermediates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low socioeconomic status and mental health outcomes in colorectal cancer survivors: disadvantage? advantage? … or both?
Authors: Andrykowski Michael A. , Aarts Mieke J. , van de Poll‐Franse Lonneke V. , Mols Floortje , Slooter Gerrit D. , Thong Melissa S.Y.
Published: May 2013

Objective

The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and both positive and negative mental health (MH) outcomes in a population‐based sample of colorectal cancer survivors. On the basis of theoretical conceptualizations of trauma and posttraumatic growth, low SES was hypothesized to be positively associated with both greater negative MH outcomes (e.g., distress) and greater positive MH outcomes (e.g., growth).

Methods

Colorectal cancer survivors (n = 1300; 57% male; mean age 69.4 and 4.0 years post‐diagnosis) were recruited using a regional, population‐based cancer registry in the Netherlands and completed a questionnaire assessing current negative and positive MH outcomes. Low, medium, and high SES respondents were identified using an area‐level indicator of SES based on aggregated individual fiscal data on monetary home value and household income.

Results

Analysis of covariance and logistic regression analyses indicated that low SES was a risk factor for greater negative MH outcomes. Relative to high SES survivors, low SES survivors reported poorer status on nine indices of MH, and high SES survivors were about 50% less likely to report clinically important levels of anxiety and depression. Results provided partial support for the hypothesis low SES was a ‘risk’ factor for greater positive MH outcomes. Relative to high SES survivors, low SES survivors reported greater positive MH outcomes on 2 of 5 positive MH indices examined (Positive Self‐Evaluation, Meaning of Cancer).

Conclusions

Study findings are the first to suggest that low SES might increase the likelihood of both greater negative as well as positive MH outcomes in cancer survivors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and Reliability of a Clinician‐rated Instrument to Evaluate Function in Individuals with Shoulder Pain: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Roe Yngve , Haldorsen Benjamin , Svege Ida , Bergland Astrid
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is a common and disabling condition in the population. Interventions are often evaluated with patient‐rated outcome measures. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple clinician‐rated measure to detect difficulties in the execution of movement‐related tasks among patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.

Method

The steps in the scale development included a review of the clinical literature of shoulder pain to identify condition‐specific questionnaires, pilot testing, clinical testing and scale construction. Twenty‐one eligible items from thirteen questionnaires were extracted and included in a pilot test. All items were scored on a five‐point ordinal scale ranging from 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (cannot perform). Fourteen items were excluded after pilot testing because of difficulties in standardization or other practical considerations. The remaining seven items were included in a clinical test‐retest study with outpatients at a hospital. Of these, four were excluded because of psychometric reasons. From the remaining three items, a measure named Shoulder Activity Scale (summed score ranging from 3 to 15) was developed.

Results

A total of 33 men and 30 women were included in the clinical study; age range 27–80 years. The intraclass correlation coefficient results for inter‐rater reliability and test‐retest reliability were 0.80 (95% CI = 0.51–0.90) and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.58–0.84), respectively. The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were 1.19 and 3.32, respectively. The scale was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health second level categories lifting and carrying objects (d430), dressing (d540), hand and arm use (d445) and control of voluntary movement (b760).

Conclusion

The Shoulder Activity Scale showed acceptable reliability in a sample of outpatients at a hospital, rated by clinicians experienced in shoulder rehabilitation. The validity of the scale should be investigated in future studies before application to common practice. © 2013 The Authors. Physiotherapy Research International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Toxicological and biochemical response of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana after exposure to deltamethrin
Authors: Forlani Lucas , Juárez M Patricia , Lavarías Sabrina , Pedrini Nicolás
Published: May 2013

BACKGROUND

The chemical control of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans is endangered by the emergence of pyrethroid resistance. An effective alternative control tool is the use of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The effect of deltamethrin on fungal growth, gene expression and enzyme activity in relation to detoxification, antioxidant response and oxidative stress levels was studied to evaluate fungal tolerance to deltamethrin.

RESULTS

The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 50 µg deltamethrin/cm2. Cytochrome P450 genes were differentially expressed; cyp52X1 and cyp617N1 transcripts were > 2‐fold induced, followed by cyp655C1 (1.8‐fold). Minor effects were observed on genes encoding for other P450s, epoxide hydrolase and glutathione S‐transferase (GST). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes showed induction levels ≤ 2, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase genes were also induced ∼ 2–3‐fold and < 2‐fold, respectively. The activities of enzymes participating in the antioxidant defense system and phase II detoxification were also evaluated; SOD, CAT and GST activity showed significant differences with deltamethrin concentration. Lipid peroxidation levels and free proline content were also altered.

CONCLUSIONS

Beauveria bassiana GHA can be used combined with deltamethrin without significant metabolic detrimental effects. This combination will help optimizing the benefits and increasing the efficacy of vector control tools. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Inclined Tube‐Sheet Plastically Deformed Joints
Authors: Gonçalves Adriano , Alves Luis M. , Martins Paulo A. F.
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this paper is to provide readers with a broad understanding of inclined tube‐sheet joints produced by plastic deformation that will enable them to identify the major operating parameters, to determine the process window and to design tooling systems for producing strong, flexible, and environmentally friendly assemblies. The methodology draws upon the fundamentals of asymmetric local buckling of thin‐walled tubes subjected to axial compression and introduces two different process setups for assembling sheets to tubes at different inclination angles that can easily and effectively join dissimilar materials, at room temperature. The presentation is illustrated by selected test cases obtained from a comprehensive numerical and experimental research work. The overall content of the paper widens and enhances previous work published by the authors and is a step forward in joining sheets to tubes by plastic deformation. Potential applications of the proposed technology foster creative and innovative ideas in design for assembly for the benefit of those who work with sheets and tubes in daily practice.
An accurate forearm EMG signal classification method using two‐channel electrode
Authors: Sueaseenak Direk , Chanwimalueang Theerasak , Pintavirooj Chuchart , Sangworasil Manas
Published: May 2013

An accurate electromyography (EMG) classification algorithm to control a virtual hand prosthesis with 12 degrees of freedom using two surface EMG electrodes is presented in this paper. We propose the application of independent component analysis (ICA) for blind‐source separation of the EMG signals obtained from two electrodes. One of the problems affecting the EMG classification accuracy is the location dependence of the EMG signal due to the superposition of signals from multiple sources. ICA is used to separate the two signals obtained from two surface electrodes into two independent EMG signals prior to the feature extraction and classification processes. We demonstrate that the EMG classification accuracy can be improved using the ICA algorithm. We also propose a novel eigen‐based feature that is extracted from the short‐time Fourier transform (STFT) magnitude spectrum. Our new feature not only decreases feature dimensions but also performs better than other well‐known features. We also implement the EMG classification scheme on the virtual robot arm. The performance shows promising result as indicated by a decrease in the Davies–Bolden (DB) index after applying the ICA © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Women and adaptation
Authors: Alston Margaret
Published: May 2013

This article addresses the uneven impacts of climate change on women. To date, there has been a significant emphasis on climate science and technological solutions to aid mitigation and adaptation strategies. This has led to a form of global managerialism that presupposes that all people can adapt with the right resources and knowledge. In this article, it is argued that the differential impacts of climate change on women demand that climate actions and strategies require gender sensitivity and that further research on climate change, adaptations, and actions includes a gendered analysis. WIREs Clim Change 2013, 4:351–358. doi: 10.1002/wcc.232

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Values‐Based Approach to Vulnerability and Adaptation
ALREX‐elements and introns: two identity elements that promote mRNA nuclear export
Authors: Palazzo Alexander F. , Mahadevan Kohila , Tarnawsky Stefan P.
Published: May 2013

The mechanisms that dictate whether a particular mRNA is exported from the nucleus are still poorly defined. However, it has become increasingly clear that these mechanisms act to promote the expression of protein‐coding mRNAs over the high levels of spurious transcription that is endemic to most eukaryotic genomes. For example, mRNA processing events that are associated with protein‐coding transcripts, such as splicing, act as mRNA identity elements that promote nuclear export of these transcripts. Six years ago, we made the serendipitous discovery that regions within the open reading frame of an mRNA that encode short secretory or mitochondrial‐targeting peptides can also act as an mRNA identity element which promotes an alternative mRNA nuclear export (ALREX) pathway. These regions are enriched in protein coding genes and have particular features that can be used to identify this class of protein‐coding mRNA. In this article we review our current knowledge of how mRNA export evolved in response to particular events that occurred at the base of the eukaryotic tree. We will then focus on our current understanding of ALREX and compare its features to splicing‐dependent export, the main mRNA export pathway in metazoans. WIREs RNA 2013, 4:523–533. 10.1002/wrna.1176

This article is categorized under:

RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution

RNA Export and Localization > Nuclear Export/Import
Optimizing the basis of B → K * ℓ + ℓ − observables in the full kinematic range
Authors: Descotes-Genon Sébastien , Hurth Tobias , Matias Joaquim , Virto Javier
Published: May 2013

Abstract

We discuss the observables for theB→K*(→Kπ)ℓ+ℓ−decay, focusing on both CP-averaged and CP-violating observables at large and low hadronic recoil with special emphasis on their low sensitivity to form-factor uncertainties. We identify an optimal basis of observables that balances theoretical and experimental advantages, which will guide the New Physics searches in the short term. We discuss some advantages of the observables in the basis, and in particular their improved sensitivity to New Physics compared to other observables. We present predictions within the Standard Model for the observables of interest, integrated over the appropriate bins including lepton mass corrections. Finally, we present bounds on the S-wave contribution to the distribution coming from the$ B\to K_0^{*}{\ell^{+}}{\ell^{-}} $decay, which will help to establish the systematic error associated to this pollution.
Test-data generation for control coverage by proof
Authors: Cavalcanti Ana , King Steve , O’Halloran Colin , Woodcock Jim
Published: May 2013

Many tools can check if a test set provides control coverage; they are, however, of little or no help when coverage is not achieved and the test set needs to be completed. In this paper, we describe how a formal characterisation of a coverage criterion can be used to generate test data; we present a procedure based on traditional programming techniques like normalisation, and weakest precondition calculation. It is a basis for automation using an algebraic theorem prover. In the worst situation, if automation fails to produce a specific test, we are left with a specification of the compliant test sets. Many approaches to model-based testing rely on formal models of a system under test. Our work, on the other hand, is not concerned with the use of abstract models for testing, but with coverage based on the text of programs.
Mosaic tissue distribution of the tandem duplication of LAMP2 exons 4 and 5 demonstrates the limits of Danon disease cellular and molecular diagnostics
Authors: Majer Filip , Pelak Ondrej , Kalina Tomas , Vlaskova Hana , Dvorakova Lenka , Honzik Tomas , Palecek Tomas , Kuchynka Petr , Masek Martin , Zeman Jiri , Elleder Milan , Sikora Jakub
Published: May 2013

Alu‐mediated tandem duplication of exons 4 and 5 (g.15815_22218dup6404) is a novel mutation that has been detected in the LAMP2 gene (Xq24). This exon copy number variation was found in two brothers with the typical phenotype of Danon disease, including characteristic myocardial changes on magnetic resonance imaging. The 6.4 kb duplication was identified in both boys by a combination of exon dosage qPCR analyses and duplication breakpoint/junction mapping. The rearrangement results in a plethora of abnormal LAMP2 splicing variants and also in use of likely cryptic splice sites in the 3′ terminus of LAMP2 gene. Although we found minute amounts of normal LAMP2B and LAMP2A mRNAs, no protein was detectable in peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometry in both brothers. Uniquely, the fraction of LAMP2‐deficient granulocytes (0.06 %) assessed by flow cytometry in the patients’ asymptomatic mother substantially differed from the random distribution of X‐chromosome inactivation in her leukocytes. This discrepancy was later explained by molecular genetic methods as a consequence of mosaic distribution of the mutation in her somatic tissues. Altogether, we report a novel and mosaically distributed exon copy number rearrangement in the LAMP2 gene and comment on obstacles this genetic setup presents to the overall cellular and molecular diagnostic algorithm of Danon disease. Our observations of the mosaicism in the asymptomatic mother suggest that similarly affected females could be a potentially under‐diagnosed Danon disease carrier group and that LAMP2 flow cytometry, because of its supreme sensitivity, can be an efficient method for pedigree screening.
The Effect of Hand Massage on Preoperative Anxiety in Ambulatory Surgery Patients
Authors: Brand Leanne R. , Munroe Donna J. , Gavin Julie
Published: May 2013

Anxiety in patients awaiting surgery and diagnostic procedures in an ambulatory department can affect the patient's physiological and psychological well‐being and outcome. We conducted a quasi‐experimental study at a midwestern US community hospital to determine the effects of hand massage on patient anxiety in the ambulatory surgery setting. We also investigated whether adding the hand massage procedure affected the timing and flow of procedures. The results indicated that hand massage reduces anxiety for patients awaiting ambulatory surgery and outpatient procedures. Participants who received hand massage experienced lower anxiety levels than those who received customary nursing care. In addition, the performance of hand massage did not affect the flow or timing of procedures. Hand massage is an easy procedure for nurses to learn and administer, and it is within the scope of perioperative nursing practice.
Workplace Accommodations, Job Performance and Job Satisfaction Among Individuals with Sensory Disabilities
Authors: Dong Shengli , Guerette Amy R.
Published: May 2013

This study examined differences between requesters and non-requesters of workplace accommodations in their self-reported job performance and job satisfaction. Participants were 194 individuals with visual and hearing disabilities (females = 67.5%, visual = 53.2%) receiving rehabilitation and related services in the US. They completed a survey on their self-reported accommodation requests, job satisfaction and work performance. Chi square and ANOVA tests were used to compare and contrast the differences. Findings suggest participants with requested accommodations have higher levels on job performance and job satisfaction than non-requesters. Individuals who were more likely to request accommodations were associated with higher educational background, moderate disability severity and higher levels of workplace supports from employers and coworkers. They reported higher knowledge levels on Americans with Disabilities Act and accommodation procedures, and higher outcome expectations and self-efficacies in requesting accommodations. Requesting workplace accommodations is an interactive and multifaceted process that involves various biopsychosocial factors. Rehabilitation professionals should help individuals with sensory disabilities from biopsychosoical perspectives to enhance job accommodation and job satisfaction.
Perspective food addiction, caloric restriction, and dopaminergic neurotransmission
Authors: Stankowska Arwen Urrsula Malgorzata , Gjedde Albert
Published: May 2013

People attempt to change their lifestyle when obesity impairs their quality of life. The attempts often fail when multiple habits must be changed in unison. Here we explore relations among food addiction, the neurobiology of habits, and caloric restriction, when people seek to return to normal eating behaviour, with particular emphasis on the role of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Severely obese individuals have specific neurobiological characteristics in common with drug abusers, including low availability of dopamine receptors in the striatum, impaired neuronal responses to dopamine, and reduced activity in prefrontal regions of the cerebral cortex. The neurobiological characteristics suggest that obese people also have a pathological dependence in common with addicts, in the form of food addiction.

Malnutrition and dieting both relate to binge eating, possibly as a compensation for a reduced cognitive reward condition. The combination of caloric restriction and food addiction imparts a high risk of relapse as a result of further reduction of dopaminergic neurotransmission and the subsequent loss of reward. As with drugs of abuse, ingestion of large quantities of sugar in circumstances of uncontrolled eating increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. This and other evidence suggests that abuse of food is a habit learned by means of mechanisms centred in the basal ganglia, with an increased risk of relapse in the presence of associative amplifiers. This risk is predicted by the relationship between dopamine receptor availability in the striatum and sensation-seeking in the form of an inverted U, suggested by recent findings, consistent with two opposite states of hypodopaminergic and hyperdopaminergic neuromodulation.
Blazing Pelts and Burning Passions: Nationalism, Cultural Politics, and Spectacular Decommodification in Tibet
Authors: Yeh Emily T.
Published: May 2013

A few months after the fourteenth Dalai Lama stated at the Kalachakra Initiation Ceremony in India in January 2006 that Tibetans should cease wearing clothing lined with endangered animal skins, Tibetans across the Tibetan Plateau destroyed millions of yuan worth of otter, leopard, tiger, and other pelts. Outsiders' interpretations of these events have flattened out the complexity of participants' motivations, which included not only religious and national loyalty, but also concerns about inequality wrought by capitalist development, framed through a lens of modern Chinese history. This paper traces heated debates among Tibetans about the burnings, including their implications for Tibetans' global reputation, the survival of Tibetan culture, and the possibility of a moral economy in an era of deepening commodification. It also explores the embodied, visual, and performative elements of the burnings through participants' videos. The role of local filmmaking efforts in spreading the burnings makes the accompanying videos especially relevant.
South Thailand: Politics, Identity, and Culture
Authors: Scupin Raymond
Published: May 2013

There are approximately five million Muslims in Thailand (7 percent of the total population), with about 1.8 million in the southernmost provinces bordering on Malaysia. A considerable literature in history, anthropology, political science, international relations, and religious studies has been produced since January 4, 2004, when a violent Muslim insurgency dramatically erupted in the area. At that time over 100 Muslim insurgents raided an arms depot of the Fourth Army Engineers in Narathiwat Province. On January 22, in south Thailand, two Muslim young men on a motorcycle used a long knife to slit the throat of a sixty-four-year-old Buddhist monk, killing him. The monk had just returned from his early morning round of tham bun (alms-collecting extending merit to Buddhist families).
On Two New Nematodes of the Genus Spironoura (Oxyuroidea: Kathlaniidae) from a Ceylon Tortoise
Authors: Sathananthan A. H.
Published: May 2013

S. fernandoi and S. pillaii are described as new species and are shown to differ specifically from each other and from S. japonensis, the only other species that has been reported as having spines on the spicules.
A Correct Admixture: The Ambiguous Project of Civilising in Nineteenth-Century Greenland
Authors: Rud Søren
Published: May 2013

In 1879, the Danish Ministry of Domestic Affairs approved a proposal to construct a building in Copenhagen that was meant to function as a boarding house for Greenlanders while they were being educated in the metropole. The building, “Grønlænderhjemmet”, was used as a boarding house for Greenlanders in Denmark from 1880 until 1896, when the practice of sending Greenlandic men to Denmark for educational purposes came to a halt. While in use, “Grønlænderhjemmet” functioned as an instrument for the colonial administration, and the boarding house embodied a central aspect of the colonial administration's strategy for civilising Greenlanders: to control the civilising process in order to ensure that Greenlanders did not loose their connection with their Inuit background.
Study of ethylene kinetics during and after germination of sugar beet (Beta vulgarisL.) seeds and fruits
Authors: Abts Willem , Vissers Carolien , Vandenbussche Bert , De Proft Maurice M.P.
Published: May 2013

The interaction between ethylene production and seed germination of sugar beet (Beta vulgarisL.) was studied. For intact fruits, deoperculated fruits and true seeds, ethylene was only produced after the start of radicle emergence. Removal of the operculum or the whole pericarp, likely allowing better water uptake and gas exchange by the true seed, actually increased the time span between the start of radicle emergence and the beginning of ethylene production compared to intact fruits. ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid), AOA (aminooxyacetic acid), AIB (2-amino isobutyric acid) and STS (silver thiosulphate) in the imbibition medium did not influence the germination pattern. Based on these findings, the function of ethylene during the germination of sugar beet is uncertain.
Granulomatous tubercular myocarditis: a rare cause of heart failure in the young
Authors: Gupta Mohit D. , Yadav Neeraj , Palleda Girish M.
Published: May 2013

Granulomatous myocarditis is a rare disease of the heart. The present case highlights a potentially life-threatening and rare tubercular involvement of the myocardium in a young woman in the form of granulomas and abscess.