bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm and Its Application in LQR Controller Optimization
Authors: Wang Haiquan , Liao Lei , Wang Dongyun , Wen Shengjun , Deng Mingcong
Published: April 2014

In order to get the optimal performance of controller and improve the design efficiency, artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm as a metaheuristic approach which is inspired by the collective foraging behavior of honey bee swarms is considered for optimal linear quadratic regulator (LQR) design in this paper. Furthermore, for accelerating the convergence speed and enhancing the diversities of population of the traditional ABC algorithm, improved solution searching approach is proposed creatively. The proposed approach refers to the procedure of differential mutation in differential evolutionary (DE) algorithm and produces uniform distributed food sources in employed bee phase to avoid local optimal solution. Meanwhile, during the onlooker bees searching stage where the solution search area has been narrowed by employed bees, new solutions are generated around the solution with higher fitness value to keep the fitness values increasing monotonously. The improved ABC algorithm is applied to the optimization of LQR controller for the circular‐rail double inverted pendulum system, and the simulation results show the effect on the proposed optimization problem.
The Terminal Hosoya Polynomial of Some Families of Composite Graphs
Authors: Deutsch Emeric , Rodríguez-Velázquez Juan Alberto
Published: April 2014

Let G be a connected graph and let Ω(G) be the set of pendent vertices of G. The terminal Hosoya polynomial of G is defined as TH(G,t)∶=∑x,y∈Ω(G):x≠ytdG(x,y), where dG(x,y) denotes the distance between the pendent vertices x and y. In this note paper we obtain closed formulae for the terminal Hosoya polynomial of rooted product graphs and corona product graphs.
Wind Turbine Pitch Control and Load Mitigation Using an L1 Adaptive Approach
Authors: Li Danyong , Song Yongduan , Cai Wenchuan , Li Peng , Karimi Hamid R.
Published: April 2014

We present an application of L1 adaptive output feedback control design to wind turbine collective pitch control and load mitigation. Our main objective is the design of an L1 output feedback controller without wind speed estimation, ensuring that the generator speed tracks the reference trajectory with robustness to uncertain parameters and time‐varying disturbances (mainly the uniform wind disturbance across the wind turbine rotor). The wind turbine model CART (controls advanced research turbine) developed by the national renewable energy laboratory (NREL) is used to validate the performance of the proposed L1 adaptive controller using the FAST (fatigue, aerodynamics, structures, and turbulence) code. A comparative study is also conducted between the proposed controller and the most popular methods in practice: gain scheduling PI (GSPI) controls and disturbance accommodating control (DAC) methods. The results show better performance of L1 output feedback controller over the other two methods. Moreover, based on the FAST software and LQR analysis in the reference model selection of L1 adaptive controller, tradeoff can be achieved between control performance and loads mitigation.
Preparation and Sintering Effect in Quartz-Barium Titanate Porous Ceramics and Permeability Modulation Using an Implanted Electrode
Authors: Suaste Gómez Ernesto , Flores Cuautle José de Jesús Agustín , Terán Jiménez Omar
Published: April 2014

Barium titanate and quartz mixed in different proportions were used to create porous piezoelectric ceramics. Three different sintering temperatures were used for the ceramics preparation; a nichrome wire was used as internal electrode in porous ceramics. Characteristics as porous area, porosity, and its relationship with quartz percentage and sintering temperatures were studied. Porous ceramics with an implanted electrode were created, by applying an alternating voltage in the internal electrode that controlled the liquid permeability coefficient, calculated by the Darcy Law.
Prevalence and Drug Resistance Patterns ofMycobacterium tuberculosisamong New Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Seyoum Berhanu , Demissie Meaza , Worku Alemayehu , Bekele Shiferaw , Aseffa Abraham
Published: April 2014

The study aimed at determining the prevalence and drug resistance patterns ofMycobacterium tuberculosisamong new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients visiting TB diagnosis and treatment facilities at selected health facilities in eastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2011 and May 2013. A total of 408 new adult pulmonary TB patients (≥ 18 years) were enrolled in this study. Three consecutive sputum samples (spot, morning, and spot) were collected from each patient and transported to the Armauer Hansen Research Institute TB laboratory located in Addis Ababa for culture on Lowenstein Jensen slant media. DST was performed on 357 (87.5%) of the patient samples for isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), ethambutol (E), and streptomycin (S) using the standard proportion method. The rate of resistance to any one drug was 23%. Any resistance to H, S, R, and E was 14%, 11.5%, 2.8%, and 0.3%, respectively. The highest proportion of monoresistance was observed against H (9.5%). MDRTB was detected in 1.1% of the patients. Any drug resistance was associated with HIV infection (COR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.905–7.222) (P= 0.000). Although the prevalence of MDRTB is relatively low in the study area, high prevalence of H resistance is a serious concern demanding close monitoring. Expanding diagnostic capacity for mycobacterial culture and DST is a vital step in this regard.
Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Aspects of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre
Authors: Huq A. K. M. Moyeenul , Jamal Jamia Azdina , Stanslas Johnson
Published: April 2014

Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre, belonging to Polygonaceae family, is a common weed found in most of the temperate countries including Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, and Japan. The plant is also referred to as “marsh pepper” or “smart weed.” It appears to be a useful herb with evidence‐based medicinal properties. The present work addresses the botanical description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of P. hydropiper. All plant parts have been commonly used in the traditional systems of medicines. Flavonoids are the major group of phytochemical components followed by drimane‐type sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids, as well as phenylpropanoids. Different extracts and plant parts showed remarkable pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antihelminth, antifeedant, cytotoxicity, anti‐inflammatory, antinociceptive, oestrogenicity, antifertility, antiadipogenicity, and neuroprotection. Mutagenicity and acute and subchronic toxicities of the plant were also reported. P. hydropiper has tremendous medicinal properties that could further be investigated for the development of evidence‐based herbal products.
Palmprint Based Multidimensional Fuzzy Vault Scheme
Authors: Liu Hailun , Sun Dongmei , Xiong Ke , Qiu Zhengding
Published: April 2014

Fuzzy vault scheme (FVS) is one of the most popular biometric cryptosystems for biometric template protection. However, error correcting code (ECC) proposed in FVS is not appropriate to deal with real-valued biometric intraclass variances. In this paper, we propose a multidimensional fuzzy vault scheme (MDFVS) in which a general subspace error-tolerant mechanism is designed and embedded into FVS to handle intraclass variances. Palmprint is one of the most important biometrics; to protect palmprint templates; a palmprint based MDFVS implementation is also presented. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme not only can deal with intraclass variances effectively but also could maintain the accuracy and meanwhile enhance security.
The Overlap of Dietary Supplement and Pharmaceutical Use in the MIDUS National Study
Authors: Kiefer David S. , Chase Joe C. , Love Gayle D. , Barrett Bruce P.
Published: April 2014

Introduction. In the United States, dietary supplement (DS) use is common, often takes place outside of the purview of health care providers, and may involve DS in combination with pharmaceuticals. This situation has led to concerns about interactions between DS and pharmaceuticals, as well as the risks from polypharmacy and polysupplement use. Methods. We used data from the Midlife in the US study (MIDUS 2 Survey) to examine DS and prescription pharmaceutical use in 3876 study participants in order to determine the demographics of high‐users (5 or more) of DS and pharmaceuticals and the presence of DS‐pharmaceutical co‐use. Results. Over 69% of study participants regularly used DS, 49.6% regularly used both DS and pharmaceuticals, and 6.3% and 8.7% were high‐users of pharmaceuticals and DS, respectively. High‐users of DS, pharmaceuticals, and either were more likely than the whole cohort to be female and of lower income. Conclusions. These findings corroborate those of other national studies with respect to the demographics of DS users but add new information about people at risk of DS‐pharmaceutical interactions, not an insignificant proportion of the population examined by this dataset.
Study on Telescope Gain Affected by a Multilevel Hybrid Mechanism in FAST
Authors: Chai Xiaoming , Fan Jin , Zhou Lanchuan , Peng Bo
Published: April 2014

This paper focuses on the telescope gain affected by a multilevel hybrid mechanism for the feed positioning in the five-hundred-meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST) project, which is based on the positioning accuracy analysis of the mechanism. First, error model for the whole mechanism is established and its physical meaning is clearly explained. Then two kinds of error sources are mainly considered: geometric errors and structural deformations. The positioning error over the mechanism's workspace is described by an efficient and intuitive approach. As the feed position error will lower the telescope gain, this influence is analyzed in detail. In the end, it is concluded that the design of the mechanism can meet the requirement of the telescope performance.
Strongly Secure Certificateless Signature Scheme Supporting Batch Verification
Authors: Fan Chun-I , Ho Pei-Hsiu , Tseng Yi-Feng
Published: April 2014

We propose a strongly secure certificateless signature scheme
supporting batch verification, which makes it possible for a verifier
to verify a set of signatures more efficiently than verifying them
one by one. In an identity‐based digital signature scheme, private key generator (PKG) knows each user′s signing key, so it can
generate a signature which is indistinguishable from the signature
generated by the user. This is a serious problem because the
property of signature nonrepudiation will not be achieved. In our
proposed scheme, it is impossible for PKG to produce a signature
which is indistinguishable from any signature produced by a user.
Compared with existing signature schemes with batch verification,
although our proposed scheme is not the most efficient one, it
achieves Girault′s level‐3 security, while the others have Girault′s
level‐1 or level‐2 security only. We also formally prove that the proposed
scheme is unforgeable and satisfies Girault′s level‐3 security based
on hard problems.
Spontaneous Superficial Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm in Behcet's Disease
Authors: Ugurlucan Murat , Sendil Selin , Sayin Omer Ali , Barburoglu Mehmet , Gok Emre , Turkyilmaz Gulsum , Basaran Murat , Alpagut Ufuk , Dayioglu Enver
Published: April 2014

Behcet’s disease is an autoimmune multisystemic disorder on vasculitis base. Cardiovascular involvement is the most important predictor of morbidity and mortality. The treatment should be planned carefully for pathologies requiring interventions. In our report, we present a 45-year-old patient with spontaneous superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm, our treatment strategy, and circumstances we faced.
A CT Reconstruction Algorithm Based on L1/2Regularization
Authors: Chen Mianyi , Mi Deling , He Peng , Deng Luzhen , Wei Biao
Published: April 2014

Computed tomography (CT) reconstruction with low radiation dose is a significant research point in current medical CT field. Compressed sensing has shown great potential reconstruct high-quality CT images from few-view or sparse-view data. In this paper, we use the sparser L1/2regularization operator to replace the traditional L1regularization and combine the Split Bregman method to reconstruct CT images, which has good unbiasedness and can accelerate iterative convergence. In the reconstruction experiments with simulation and real projection data, we analyze the quality of reconstructed images using different reconstruction methods in different projection angles and iteration numbers. Compared with algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) and total variance (TV) based approaches, the proposed reconstruction algorithm can not only get better images with higher quality from few-view data but also need less iteration numbers.
Adaptive Failure Identification for Healthcare Risk Analysis and Its Application on E-Healthcare
Authors: Chu Kuo-Chung , Hung Lun-Ping
Published: April 2014

To satisfy the requirement for diverse risk preferences, we propose a generic risk priority number (GRPN) function that assigns a risk weight to each parameter such that they represent individual organization/department/process preferences for the parameters. This research applies GRPN function-based model to differentiate the types of risk, and primary data are generated through simulation. We also conduct sensitivity analysis on correlation and regression to compare it with the traditional RPN (TRPN). The proposed model outperforms the TRPN model and provides a practical, effective, and adaptive method for risk evaluation. In particular, the defined GRPN function offers a new method to prioritize failure modes in failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). The different risk preferences considered in the healthcare example show that the modified FMEA model can take into account the various risk factors and prioritize failure modes more accurately. In addition, the model also can apply to a generic e-healthcare service environment with a hierarchical architecture.
Initial Coefficient Bounds for a General Class of Biunivalent Functions
Authors: Altınkaya Şahsene , Yalçın Sibel
Published: April 2014

We find estimates on the coefficients a2 and a3 for
functions in the function class Bλ,μ,ϕ. The results presented in this paper improve or generalize the recent work of Srutha Keerthi and Raja (2013).
Dual PD Control Regulation with Nonlinear Compensation for a Ball and Plate System
Authors: Galvan-Colmenares Sergio , Moreno-Armendáriz Marco A. , Rubio José de Jesús , Ortíz-Rodriguez Floriberto , Yu Wen , Aguilar-Ibáñez Carlos F.
Published: April 2014

The normal proportional derivative (PD) control is modified to a new dual form for the regulation of a ball and plate system. First, to analyze this controller, a novel complete nonlinear model of the ball and plate system is obtained. Second, an asymptotic stable dual PD control with a nonlinear compensation is developed. Finally, the experimental results of ball and plate system are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
On Hölder and Minkowski Type Inequalities
Authors: Chunaev Petr , Kvesić Ljiljanka , Pečarić Josip
Published: April 2014

We obtain inequalities of Hölder and Minkowski type with weights generalizing both the case of weights with alternating signs and the classical case of nonnegative weights.
Primary Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults as a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Embolism: An Up-to-Date Review of the Literature
Authors: Mirrakhimov Aibek E. , Ali Alaa M. , Barbaryan Aram , Prueksaritanond Suartcha , Hussain Nasir
Published: April 2014

Patients with nephrotic syndrome are at an increased risk for thrombotic events; deep venous thrombosis, renal vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism are quite common in patients with nephrotic syndrome. It is important to note that nephrotic syndrome secondary to membranous nephropathy may impose a greater thrombotic risk for unclear reasons. Increased platelet activation, enhanced red blood cell aggregation, and an imbalance between procoagulant and anticoagulant factors are thought to underlie the excessive thrombotic risk in patients with nephrotic syndrome. The current scientific literature suggests that patients with low serum albumin levels and membranous nephropathy may benefit from primary prophylactic anticoagulation. A thorough approach which includes accounting for all additional thrombotic risk factors is, therefore, essential. Patient counseling regarding the pros and cons of anticoagulation is of paramount importance. Future prospective randomized studies should address the question regarding the utility of primary thromboprophylaxis in patients with nephrotic syndrome.
Modelling the Influence of Awareness Programs by Media on the Drinking Dynamics
Authors: Huo Hai-Feng , Wang Qian
Published: April 2014

We develop a nonlinear mathematical model with the effect of awareness programs on the binge drinking. Due to the fact that awareness programs are capable of inducing behavioral changes in nondrinkers, we introduce a separate class by avoiding contacts with the heavy drinkers. Furthermore we assume that cumulative density of awareness programs increases at a rate proportional to the number of heavy drinkers. We establish some sufficient conditions for the stability of the alcohol free and the alcohol present equilibria and give some numerical simulations to explain our main result. Our results show that awareness programs is an effective measure in reducing alcohol problems.
A Multifrequency Radar System for Detecting Humans and Characterizing Human Activities for Short-Range Through-Wall and Long-Range Foliage Penetration Applications
Authors: Narayanan Ram M. , Smith Sonny , Gallagher Kyle A.
Published: April 2014

A multifrequency radar system for detecting humans and classifying their activities at short and long ranges is described. The short-range radar system operates within the S-Band frequency range for through-wall applications at distances of up to 3 m. It utilizes two separate waveforms which are selected via switching: a wide-band noise waveform or a continuous single tone. The long-range radar system operating in the W-Band millimeter-wave frequency range performs at distances of up to about 100 m in free space and up to about 30 m through light foliage. It employs a composite multimodal signal consisting of two waveforms, a wide-band noise waveform and an embedded single tone, which are summed and transmitted simultaneously. Matched filtering of the received and transmitted noise signals is performed to detect targets with high-range resolution, whereas the received single tone signal is used for the Doppler analysis. Doppler measurements are used to distinguish between different human movements and gestures using the characteristic micro-Doppler signals. Our measurements establish the ability of this system to detect and range humans and distinguish between different human movements at different ranges.
Urinary Tract Infection among Antiretroviral Therapy Users and Nonusers in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Debalke Serkadis , Cheneke Waqtola , Tassew Haimanot , Awol Mohammed
Published: April 2014

Background.The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced morbidity related with bacterial infection including urinary tract infection (UTI) among patients with HIV/AIDS. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of UTI and identify common bacterial etiologies among HIV/AIDS patients of ART users and nonusers in Jimma University Specialized Hospital.Methods.A comparative cross sectional study was conducted from September to December 2012 on 367 ART users and 114 nonuser patients attending ART clinic. Sociodemographic characteristics, associated factors, and urine samples were collected; culture, biochemical tests, Gram stain, and drug sensitivity tests were done.Results.Of 467 examined urine samples, 56 (12%) had significant bacterial growth. Forty-six (12.5%) of the cases were ART users and 10 (10%) were nonusers.E. coliwas the predominant isolate in both ART users (25 (54.3%)) and nonusers (6 (6%)). Majority of the bacterial isolates were from females. Most (>75%) of the isolates from both groups were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole but sensitive to norfloxacine, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol.Conclusion. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the prevalence of significant bacterial growth between ART users and nonusers. Therefore, it is recommended that UTI in both groups should be managed with drugs that show sensitivity.
A New Method for Predicting the Position of Gas Influx Based on PRP in Drilling Operations
Authors: Kong Xiangwei , Lin Yuanhua , Qiu Yijie
Published: April 2014

Accurately predicting the position of gas influx not only helps to analyze complex formation structure, but also can provide reference for taking effective measure, such as increasing mud density, increasing back pressure and casing packer, to suppress the gas influx. Predicting the accurate position of gas influx has been one of the urgent difficulties for drilling industry. With full consideration of the important factors such as the virtual mass force, viscous shear force, energy exchange, and narrow resistance, a new method for predicting the position of gas influx has been proposed based on pressure response time calculation. The gas equations of state (EOS), small perturbation theory, and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method (R-K4) are adopted to solve the model. Also, the pressure response time plate (PRP) which presents the corresponding relationship between position of gas influx and wellhead parameters by several pressure wave response curves calculated by computer programming is given. The results showed that the PRP is unique at different well depth and gas influx rate, and the position of gas influx can be accurately determined by PRP with known wellhead parameters and detected response time. Therefore, without the help of downhole tools, the accurate mathematical method for predicting the position of gas influx is completely feasible.
Design and Experiment of a Differential-Based Power Split Device
Authors: Zeng Xiaohua , Peng Yujun , Song Dafeng , Zheng Shuai , Wang Zhongda , Yang Nannan
Published: April 2014

Hybrid electric vehicles have excellent energy efficiency and emission performance. Power split device (PSD) is a key component that directly affects the control strategy of power systems, the economic consumption of fuel, and the dynamic performance of vehicles. A differential-based PSD was proposed in this paper. A traditional differential was taken as the prototype and a new design method is proposed to retrofit the differential into a PSD. First, a comprehensive approach that includes theoretical analysis and software simulation was used to analyze the possibility as well as the necessity of retrofitting the differential into PSD. Then the differential was retrofitted. Finally, finite element analysis and bench test were conducted. Results showed that applying the retrofitted differential as PSD is practicable.
A Small Molecule That Binds and Inhibits the ETV1 Transcription Factor Oncoprotein
Authors: Pop Marius S. , Stransky Nicolas , Garvie Colin W. , Theurillat Jean-Philippe , Hartman Emily C. , Lewis Timothy A. , Zhong Cheng , Culyba Elizabeth K. , Lin Fallon , Daniels Douglas S. , Pagliarini Raymond , Ronco Lucienne , Koehler Angela N. , Garraway Levi A.
Published: April 2014

Members of the ETS transcription factor family have been implicated in several cancers, where they are often dysregulated by genomic derangement. ETS variant 1 (ETV1) is an ETS factor gene that undergoes chromosomal translocation in prostate cancers and Ewing sarcomas, amplification in melanomas, and lineage dysregulation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Pharmacologic perturbation of ETV1 would be appealing in these cancers; however, oncogenic transcription factors are often deemed “undruggable” by conventional methods. Here, we used small-molecule microarray screens to identify and characterize drug-like compounds that modulate the biologic function of ETV1. We identified the 1,3,5-triazine small molecule BRD32048 as a top candidate ETV1 perturbagen. BRD32048 binds ETV1 directly, modulating both ETV1-mediated transcriptional activity and invasion of ETV1-driven cancer cells. Moreover, BRD32048 inhibits p300-dependent acetylation of ETV1, thereby promoting its degradation. These results point to a new avenue for pharmacologic ETV1 inhibition and may inform a general means to discover small molecule perturbagens of transcription factor oncoproteins. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(6); 1492–502. ©2014 AACR.
Meta-Analysis of Association between the -2578C/A Polymorphism of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes in Asians and Caucasians
Authors: Wang Hao , Cheng Jin-Wei , Zhu Li-Shuang , Wei Rui-Li , Cai Ji-Ping , Li You , Ma Xiao-Ye
Published: April 2014

Background and Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play an important role in the development and progress of diabetic retinopathy (DR). A number of case-control studies focused on the association between VEGF -2578C/A and risk for DR. But the results were not always consistent, so we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the precise association between this variant and risk for DR. Methods: All publications on the association between VEGF -2578C/A polymorphism and DR were searched in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, with the last report up to January 2013. This meta-analysis was assessed by Review Manager 5.1. Results: A total of 6 studies were involved in this meta-analysis, including 835 cases and 867 controls. Overall, we found a significant association between this polymorphism and DR (A vs. C: OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26-1.77, p < 0.00001; AA vs. CA + CC: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.94-1.68, p = 0.12; AA + CA vs. CC: OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.27-1.91, p < 0.00001; AA vs. CC: OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.20-2.32, p = 0.003; CA vs. CC: OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.21-1.87, p = 0.0002), but we did not find any significant association in Caucasians in subgroup analysis. The results were not materially altered after the studies which did not fulfill the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were excluded. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis supports the association between the VEGF -2578C/A polymorphism and DR, but not in the Caucasian population.
Incidence of Primary Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors in Childhood: A Regional Survey in Kumamoto Prefecture in Southern Japan
Authors: Makino Keishi , Nakamura Hideo , Yano Shigetoshi , Kuratsu Jun-ichi ,   Kumamoto Brain Tumor Research Group
Published: April 2014

Background/Aims: Central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNS-GCTs) are relatively rare. While their incidence was thought to be higher in East Asia than the USA, recent evidence suggests the difference between Japan and the USA is not statistically significant. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of pediatric primary CNS-GCTs in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Methods: We surveyed 6,615 new cases of primary intracranial tumors diagnosed in Kumamoto prefecture between 1989 and 2011. Among these, 251 (3.8%) occurred in patients younger than 15 years. The age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated by the direct method using 5-year age groupings; the incidence in the total Japanese population in the year 2000 was the standard. Results: During the 23-year period, 70 cases of primary GCT were diagnosed. Of these tumors, 31 (44.3%) arose in patients aged between 0 and 14 years (22 boys, 9 girls). Their tumor location was pineal in 45.2%; the other sites were nonpineal. There were more germinomas (64.5%) than nongerminomas (35.5%) in this group. The age-adjusted annual incidence rate was 0.45 cases (boys: 0.64, girls: 0.28) per 105 children. At 2.29, the ratio of CNS-GCTs was higher in these boys than girls. Our data showed higher rates than data from CBTRUS 2012 (0.18/105), SEER 2008 (0.15/105) and Germany (0.10/105). Conclusions: Our survey showed that the incidence of primary CNS-GCTs in children was higher in Kumamoto prefecture than in the USA and other Western countries, suggesting that racial backgrounds play a role.
Enhancement of Myocardial Function and Reduction of Injury with Levosimendan after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Pilot Study
Authors: Wu Xiushao , Wu Jing , Yan Xifu , Zhang Yanzhou
Published: April 2014

Objectives: To determine the short-term clinical effects of levosimendan in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with myocardial stunning after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The study population consisted of 30 patients with AMI who received emergency PCI and satisfied the inclusion criteria. Levosimendan was given as a continuous infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/min for 24 h, and the remaining 10 patients received placebo treatment. The patients were observed with invasive haemodynamic monitoring and were evaluated biochemically and echocardiographically before and after the drug infusion. Results: Following treatment, biochemical indices (not including creatine kinase and its MB fraction) were significantly lower in the levosimendan group than in the placebo group. Meanwhile, left-ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were significantly reduced in the levosimendan group, whereas the early-to-late diastolic velocities ratio, LV ejection fraction, cardiac index and cardiac power index were increased. Troponin I levels were reduced and fewer stunned and infarction segments were observed in the patients treated with levosimendan. Conclusions: Levosimendan can significantly improve the myocardium function of patients with myocardial stunning after PCI.
Regulation of Hepcidin-25 by Short- and Long-Acting rhEPO May Be Dependent on Ferritin and Predict the Response to rhEPO in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Takasawa Kazuya , Tomosugi Naohisa , Takaeda Chikako , Maeda Teiryo , Ueda Norishi
Published: April 2014

Background/Aims: We examined whether regulation of hepcidin-25 by short- or long-acting recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is dependent on ferritin and predicts the response to rhEPO in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Two studies with rhEPO were performed in 9 HD patients with a 2-year interval. Serum hepcidin-25 was measured at 0-18 h after intravenous epoetin-β (EPO) or methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin-β (PEG-EPO) administration and on days 3-7 after PEG-EPO. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin, transferrin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin (IL)-6 were analyzed before hepcidin measurement and 6 months after rhEPO. Based on the serum ferritin levels before hepcidin measurement, the patients in the two studies with EPO or PEG-EPO were combined into low (11; serum ferritin of <15.0 ng/ml) and high ferritin groups (7; serum ferritin of ≥15.0 ng/ml). The response of hepcidin-25 to rhEPO and the effect of rhEPO on anemia were compared between the groups. Results: The serum hepcidin-25 levels rose at 6-9 h and returned to the baseline at 18 h after EPO. They rose at 6-9 h, returned to the baseline at 18 h, and decreased on day 5-7 after PEG-EPO. Serum hepcidin-25 levels were low (<5.0 ng/ml) in the low ferritin group, but rose at 6-9 h after rhEPO in the high ferritin group. Serum transferrin levels were similar, and CRP and IL-6 were normal in both groups. Hb tended to increase in the low ferritin group, but it significantly decreased in the high ferritin group after rhEPO. Conclusion: Regulation of hepcidin-25 by rhEPO may be dependent on ferritin, affecting the response to rhEPO in HD patients.
Heparin Monotherapy or Bivalirudin During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Non–ST-Segment–Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes or Stable Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Bangalore Sripal , Pencina Michael J. , Kleiman Neal S. , Cohen David J.
Published: April 2014

Background—

The use of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin monotherapy in patients without ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction is not well defined.

Methods and Results—

The study population consisted of patients enrolled in the Evaluation of Drug-Eluting Stents and Ischemic Events (EVENT) registry with either non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes or stable ischemic heart disease, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with either unfractionated heparin or bivalirudin monotherapy. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for baseline characteristics. The primary bleeding (in-hospital composite bleeding—access site bleeding, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction major/minor bleeding, or transfusion) and primary (in-hospital death/myocardial infarction) and secondary ischemic outcomes (death/myocardial infarction/unplanned repeat revascularization at 12 months) were evaluated. Propensity score matching yielded 1036 patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes and 2062 patients with stable ischemic heart disease. For the non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome cohort, bivalirudin use was associated with lower bleeding (difference, −3.3% [−0.8% to −5.8%];
P
=0.01; number need to treat=30) without increase in either primary (difference, 1.2% [4.1% to −1.8%];
P
=0.45) or secondary ischemic outcomes, including stent thrombosis (difference, 0.0% [1.3% to −1.3%];
P
=1.00). Similarly, in the stable ischemic heart disease cohort, bivalirudin use was associated with lower bleeding (difference, −1.8% [−0.4% to −3.3%];
P
=0.01; number need to treat=53) without increase in either primary (difference, 0.4% [2.3% to −1.5%];
P
=0.70) or secondary ischemic outcomes, including stent thrombosis (difference, 0.0% [0.7% to −0.7%];
P
=1.00) when compared with unfractionated heparin monotherapy.

Conclusions—

Among patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes or stable ischemic heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, bivalirudin use during percutaneous coronary intervention when compared with unfractionated heparin monotherapy was associated with lower bleeding without significant increase in ischemic outcomes or stent thrombosis.
Sex-Related Differences of Acute Stroke Unit Care
Authors: Gattringer Thomas , Ferrari Julia , Knoflach Michael , Seyfang Leonhard , Horner Susanna , Niederkorn Kurt , Culea Valeriu , Beitzke Markus , Lang Wilfried , Enzinger Christian , Fazekas Franz
Published: April 2014

Background and Purpose—

Sex-related differences in quality of acute stroke care are an important concern with limited data available, specifically regarding stroke unit (SU) setting. We used the prospective nationwide Austrian SU registry to address this issue.

Methods—

Our analysis covered an 8-year time period (January 2005 to December 2012) during which all patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke admitted to 1 of 35 Austrian SU had been captured in the registry. These data were analyzed for age-adjusted preclinical and clinical characteristics and quality of acute stroke care in men and women. In addition, we assessed the outcome at 3 months in multivariate analysis.

Results—

A total of 47 209 individuals (47% women) had received SU care. Women were significantly older (median age: 77.9 versus 70.3 years), had higher pre-existing disability and more severe strokes. Correcting for age, no significant sex-related differences in quality of care were identified with comparable onset-to-door times, times to and rates of neuroimaging, as well as door-to-needle times and rates of intravenous thrombolysis (14.5% for both sexes). Despite equal acute stroke care and a comparable rate of neurorehabilitation, women had a worse functional outcome at 3-month follow-up (modified Rankin scale 3–5: odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [1.17–1.36]), but a lower mortality (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [0.78–0.88]) after correcting for confounders.

Conclusions—

We identified no disproportions in quality of care in the acute SU setting between men and women, but the outcome was significantly different. Further studies on the poststroke period including socioeconomic aspects are needed to clarify this finding.
Assessing the Performance of the Framingham Stroke Risk Score in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Cohort
Authors: McClure Leslie A. , Kleindorfer Dawn O. , Kissela Brett M. , Cushman Mary , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Howard George
Published: April 2014

Background and Purpose—

The most well-known stroke risk score is the Framingham Stroke Risk Score (FSRS), which was developed during the higher stroke risk period of the 1990s and has not been validated for blacks. We assessed the performance of the FSRS among participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study to determine whether it is useful in both blacks and whites.

Methods—

Expected annualized stroke rates from the FSRS were compared with observed stroke rates overall and within strata defined by FSRS risk factors (age, sex, systolic blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medications, diabetes mellitus, smoking, atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and prevalent coronary heart disease).

Results—

Among 27 748 participants stroke-free at baseline, 715 stroke events occurred over 5.6 years of follow-up. FSRS-estimated incidence rates of stroke were 1.6× higher than observed for black men, 1.9× higher for white men, 1.7× higher for black women, and 1.7× higher for white women. This overestimation was consistent among most subgroups of FSRS factors, although the magnitude of overestimation varied by the risk factor assessed.

Conclusions—

Although higher FSRS was associated with higher stroke risk, the FSRS overestimated the observed stroke rates in this study, particularly in certain subgroups. This may be because of temporal declines in stroke rates, secular trends in prevention treatments, or differences in populations studied. More accurate estimates of event rates are critical for planning research, including clinical trials, and targeting health-care efforts.
Order-2 Stability Analysis of Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Liu Qunfeng
Published: April 2014

Several stability analyses and stable regions of particle swarm optimization (PSO) have been proposed before. The assumption of stagnation and different definitions of stability are adopted in these analyses. In this paper, the order-2 stability of PSO is analyzed based on a weak stagnation assumption. A new definition of stability is proposed and an order-2 stable region is obtained. Several existing stable analyses for canonical PSO are compared, especially their definitions of stability and the corresponding stable regions. It is shown that the classical stagnation assumption is too strict and not necessary. Moreover, among all these definitions of stability, it is shown that our definition requires the weakest conditions, and additional conditions bring no benefit. Finally, numerical experiments are reported to show that the obtained stable region is meaningful. A new parameter combination of PSO is also shown to be good, even better than some known best parameter combinations.
The Decimal Effect: Behavioral and Neural Bases for a Novel Influence on Intertemporal Choice in Healthy Individuals and in ADHD
Authors: Fassbender Catherine , Houde Sebastien , Silver-Balbus Shayla , Ballard Kacey , Kim Bokyung , Rutledge Kyle J. , Dixon J. Faye , Iosif Ana-Maria , Schweitzer Julie B. , McClure Samuel M.
Published: April 2014

We identify a novel contextual variable that alters the evaluation of delayed rewards in healthy participants and those diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When intertemporal choices are constructed of monetary outcomes with rounded values (e.g., $25.00), discount rates are greater than when the rewards have nonzero decimal values (e.g., $25.12). This finding is well explained within a dual system framework for temporal discounting in which preferences are constructed from separate affective and deliberative processes. Specifically, we find that round dollar values produce greater positive affect than do nonzero decimal values. This suggests that relative involvement of affective processes may underlie our observed difference in intertemporal preferences. Furthermore, we demonstrate that intertemporal choices with rounded values recruit greater brain responses in the nucleus accumbens to a degree that correlates with the size of the behavioral effect across participants. Our demonstration that a simple contextual manipulation can alter self-control in ADHD has implications for treatment of individuals with disorders of impulsivity. Overall, the decimal effect highlights mechanisms by which the properties of a reward bias perceived value and consequent preferences.
Grasping Execution and Grasping Observation Activity of Single Neurons in the Macaque Anterior Intraparietal Area
Authors: Pani Pierpaolo , Theys Tom , Romero Maria C. , Janssen Peter
Published: April 2014

Primates use vision to guide their actions in everyday life. Visually guided object grasping is known to rely on a network of cortical areas located in the parietal and premotor cortex. We recorded in the anterior intraparietal area (AIP), an area in the dorsal visual stream that is critical for object grasping and densely connected with the premotor cortex, while monkeys were grasping objects under visual guidance and during passive fixation of videos of grasping actions from the first-person perspective. All AIP neurons in this study responded during grasping execution in the light, that is, became more active after the hand had started to move toward the object and during grasping in the dark. More than half of these AIP neurons responded during the observation of a video of the same grasping actions on a display. Furthermore, these AIP neurons responded as strongly during passive fixation of movements of a hand on a scrambled background and to a lesser extent to a shape appearing within the visual field near the object. Therefore, AIP neurons responding during grasping execution also respond during passive observation of grasping actions and most of them even during passive observation of movements of a simple shape in the visual field.
RETRACTED: Electrophysiological Evidence for Failures of Item Individuation in Crowded Visual Displays
Authors: Anderson David E. , Ester Edward F. , Klee Daniel , Vogel Edward K. , Awh Edward
Published: April 2014

By the request of the authors, the following two research articles will be retracted from the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience:

1. Anderson, D. E., Ester, E. F., Klee, D., Vogel, E. K., & Awh, E. (2014). Electrophysiological evidence for failures of item individuation in crowded visual displays. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26(10), 2298– 2309. https://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00649.

2. Anderson, D. E., Bell, T. A., & Awh, E. (2012). Polymorphisms in the 5-HTTLPR gene mediate storage capacity of visual working memory. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 24(5), 1069–1076. https://dx.doi. org/10.1162/jocn_a_00207.

On August 1, 2015, the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) announced a settlement agreement with David E. Anderson, the Respondent (http://ori.hhs.gov/content/ case-summary-anderson-david). On the basis of the Respondent’s admission and an analysis by the University of Oregon, ORI concluded that the Respondent had engaged in research misconduct by falsifying and/or fabricating data in four publications. Those publications were retracted immediately after the release of the ORI findings.

Since that time, additional problems have been discovered with Article 1 above. Data points shown in Figure 8 were removed without justification and in contradiction to the analytic approach described in the methods and results. In light of this discovery and of the previous ORI findings, authors Bell and Awh no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in Article 2. For these reasons, all authors on both articles (including the Respondent) have agreed to the retraction of Articles 1 and 2 above.
Spontaneous Neural Fluctuations Predict Decisions to Attend
Authors: Bengson Jesse J. , Kelley Todd A. , Zhang Xiaoke , Wang Jane-Ling , Mangun George R.
Published: April 2014

Ongoing variability in neural signaling is an intrinsic property of the brain. Often this variability is considered to be noise and ignored. However, an alternative view is that this variability is fundamental to perception and cognition and may be particularly important in decision-making. Here, we show that a momentary measure of occipital alpha-band power (8–13 Hz) predicts choices about where human participants will focus spatial attention on a trial-by-trial basis. This finding provides evidence for a mechanistic account of decision-making by demonstrating that ongoing neural activity biases voluntary decisions about where to attend within a given moment.
High repeatability of egg rejection in response to experimental brood parasitism in the American robin (Turdus migratorius)
Authors: Croston R. , Hauber M.E.
Published: April 2014

Repeatability is a measure of the amount of variation in a phenotype that is attributable to differences between individuals. This concept is important for any study of behaviour, as all traits of evolutionary interest must be repeatable in order to respond to selection. We investigated the repeatability of behavioural responses to experimental brood parasitism in American robins, a robust (100%) rejecter of parasitic brown-headed cowbird eggs. Because tests of repeatability require variation between individuals, we parasitized the same robin nests twice successively with model eggs dyed with colours known to elicit rejection at intermediate rates (58–70%). We calculated the repeatability of responses to parasitism, and used a generalized linear mixed model to also test for potentially confounding effects of ordinal date, presentation order, and clutch size. We found that repeatability in response to brood parasitism in this host species is high, and the best model predicting responses to sequential artificial parasitism includes only nest identity. This result is consistent with a critical assumption about egg rejection in this cowbird host as an evolved adaptation in response to brood parasitism.