bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROOF OF CONCEPT: DEVELOPING A PEER REVIEWED, EVIDENCE‐BASED, INTERACTIVE E‐LEARNING PROGRAMME
Authors: Sinclair Peter , Schoch Monica , Black Kirsten , Woods Matthew
Published: May 2011

Knowledge and skill acquisition related to vascular access are traditionally individual institutional educational initiatives. Australia currently has no national evidence based education programme for renal nurses. A survey of Australian and New Zealand Nephrology Educators’ conducted in 2009, identified the need for more effective and consistent delivery of clinical education for nurses using innovative, web‐based approaches supporting the tenets of e‐learning methodologies. This paper discusses the development, implementation and proposed evaluation of a peer reviewed Australasian e‐learning programme on buttonhole cannulation. It will further highlight the benefits of inter‐organisational partnerships and how these partnerships can facilitate positive change in teaching and learning practices. This project has unique characteristics that collectively provide value, distinction and innovation to nurses, patients and renal departments. As the e‐learning programme was founded on a platform of evidence‐based practice it is therefore easily transferable to an international context.
CATCHING BERKELEY'S SHADOW
Authors: STONEHAM TOM
Published: May 2011

abstract

Berkeley thinks that we only see the size, shape, location, and orientation of objects in virtue of the correlation between sight and touch. Shadows have all of these spatial properties and yet are intangible. In Seeing Dark Things (2008), Roy Sorensen argues that shadows provide a counterexample to Berkeley's theory of vision and, consequently, to his idealism. This paper shows that Berkeley can accept both that shadows are intangible and that they have spatial properties.
An independent review of studies of ‘energy medicine’ funded by the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Authors: Ernst Edzard , Seip Robert
Published: May 2011

The US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has frequently been criticised for funding research that is less than rigorous. Our aim was to review NCCAM‐funded clinical trials of ‘energy medicine’. We searched MEDLINE to locate all NCCAM‐funded studies of energy medicine. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers according to predefined criteria. Five RCTs were identified. Those with a low risk of bias showed no effect beyond placebo. Testing implausible treatments in clinical trials is wasteful and perhaps even detrimental.
Acupuncture may help with sleep apnoea
Authors: Barlas P , Freire AO
Published: May 2011

Freire AO, Sugai GCM, Togeiro SM, Mello LE, Tufik S.

Immediate effect of acupuncture on the sleep pattern of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Acupunct Med 2010; 28: 115–19.
Meta‐analysis of tai chi for fall prevention, fear of falling and balance
Authors: Wayne PM , Logghe IHJ
Published: May 2011

Logghe IHJ, Verhagen AP, Rademaker ACHJ, Bierma‐Zeinstra SMA, van Rossum E, Faber JM, Koes BW.

The effects of Tai Chi on fall prevention, fear of falling and balance in older people: a meta‐analysis.

Prev Med 2010; 51: 222–7.
Posteroanterior thoracic spinal stiffness does not change after manipulation in asymptomatic subjects
Authors: Lawrence DJ , Snodgrass S
Published: May 2011

Campbell BD, Snodgrass SJ.

The effect of spinal manipulation on posteroanterior thoracic stiffness.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010; 40: 685–93.
The reciprocal relationship between psychological contract fulfilment and employee performance and the moderating role of perceived organizational support and tenure
Authors: Conway Neil , Coyle‐Shapiro Jacqueline A.‐M.
Published: May 2011

This study investigated the reciprocal relationship between perceptions of psychological contract fulfilment and employee performance (sales made and sales targets), and whether this was moderated by the quality and length of the social exchange relationship captured, respectively, through perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational tenure. We used a sample of 146 sales advisors and a four‐point longitudinal design and found support for reciprocal links where performance predicted subsequent psychological contract fulfilment and vice versa. The strength of the relationship between performance and psychological contract fulfilment increased over time. The quality of the social exchange relationship (i.e., POS) moderated reciprocal links between sales made and sales targets met and perceptions of psychological contract fulfilment at earlier, but not later, time points. One way to interpret the findings is the changing nature of the unfolding relationship between support, psychological contract fulfilment, and performance, where a supportive relationship buffers failing to deliver at earlier time points, but at later time points employee performance and psychological contract fulfilment associate more strongly as both parties prioritize delivery.
Equivalent Elastic Constants of Truss Core Sandwich Plates
Authors: Wang Hong-Xia , Chung Samuel W.
Published: May 2011

A plate structure of a triangular truss core sandwiched by two panels is treated as an equivalent homogeneous laminated plate by obtaining equivalent anisotropic elastic constants. The equivalent elastic constants are obtained by considering generalized Hook’s law of a three dimensional elastic body with no a priori assumption and the equilibrium of a segment deformed by bending moments. To verify the accuracy of the equivalent elastic constants, a linear static analysis of sandwiched aluminum plates subjected to lateral pressure is carried out. The results of the finite element analysis applied to the equivalent laminated plates are compared with those of a NASTRAN analysis of the original structural layouts. The results are also compared with a closed-form solution, which simplifies the sandwiched plate as a homogeneous orthotropic thick plate continuum (Lok and Cheng, 2000, “Elastic Stiffness Properties and Behavior of Truss-Core Sandwich Panel,” J. Struct. Eng., 126(5), pp. 552–559). As the maximum deflections of three analyses agreed closely, one has assurance that the method of the homogeneous plate with equivalent elastic constants is valid and useful.
Preserved Feedforward But Impaired Top-Down Processes in the Vegetative State
Authors: Boly Melanie , Garrido Marta Isabel , Gosseries Olivia , Bruno Marie-Aurélie , Boveroux Pierre , Schnakers Caroline , Massimini Marcello , Litvak Vladimir , Laureys Steven , Friston Karl
Published: May 2011

Discerning the neural correlates of (un)consciousness sheds light on the mechanisms underlying vegetative states.
Interplay of Rotational, Relaxational, and Shear Dynamics in Solid
4
He
Authors: Pratt E. J. , Hunt B. , Gadagkar V. , Yamashita M. , Graf M. J. , Balatsky A. V. , Davis J. C.
Published: May 2011

Comprehensive measurements argue against the existence of the exotic supersolid quantum state of frozen helium.
Clonogenic Neoblasts Are Pluripotent Adult Stem Cells That Underlie Planarian Regeneration
Authors: Wagner Daniel E. , Wang Irving E. , Reddien Peter W.
Published: May 2011

A pluripotent adult stem cell underlies flatworms’ amazing regenerative ability.
Cholera Linked to U.N. Forces, But Questions Remain
Authors: Enserink Martin
Published: May 2011

A report from an independent panel leaves little doubt that United Nations peacekeeping forces from Nepal inadvertently introduced cholera to Haiti last fall, triggering an ongoing epidemic that has killed almost 5000.
Is It Time to Declutter the Dinosaur Roster?
Authors: Margottini Laura
Published: May 2011

Paleontologist Jack Horner thinks too many discoveries of supposedly new species of dinosaurs are actually duplicates of animals already on the books.
Homeland Security Science Chief Aims to Put House in Order
Authors: Bhattacharjee Yudhijit
Published: May 2011

Tara O'Toole, undersecretary of science and technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spoke to
Science
recently about her efforts to boost S&T's role in making the country more secure.
OutFOXing Tolerance in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Shum Anthony K.
Published: May 2011

Inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune disease can change the phenotype of T
reg
cells and impair their function.
Cytomegalovirus DNA Quantification Using an Automated Platform for Nucleic Acid Extraction and Real-Time PCR Assay Setup
Authors: Forman Michael , Wilson Andy , Valsamakis Alexandra
Published: May 2011

Analytical performance characteristics of the QIAsymphony RGQ system with artus cytomegalovirus (CMV) reagents were determined. Measurable range spanned 2.0 to ≥7.0 log
10
copies/ml. The detection limit was 23 copies/ml. Intrarun and interrun coefficients of variation were ≤2.1% at 3.0 and 5.0 log
10
copies/ml. In clinical specimens, RGQ values were ∼0.2 log
10
copies/ml higher than those in an assay using a BioRobot M48 extraction/manual reaction setup/7500 Real-Time PCR instrument. No cross-contamination was observed.
Method for Phenotypic Detection of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases in Enterobacter Species in the Routine Clinical Setting
Authors: Stuart James Cohen , Diederen Bram , al Naiemi Nashwan , Fluit Ad , Arents Niek , Thijsen Steven , Vlaminckx Bart , Mouton Johan W. , Leverstein-van Hall Maurine
Published: May 2011

In 271
Enterobacter
blood culture isolates from 12 hospitals, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) prevalence varied between 0% and 30% per hospital. High prevalence was associated with dissemination, indicating the potential relevance of infection control measures. Screening with cefepime or Vitek 2, followed by a cefepime/cefepime-clavulanate Etest, was an accurate strategy for ESBL detection in
Enterobacter
isolates (positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 99%).
Hepatitis C Virus Co-Opts Ras-GTPase-Activating Protein-Binding Protein 1 for Its Genome Replication
Authors: Yi Zhigang , Pan Tingting , Wu Xianfang , Song Wuhui , Wang Shanshan , Xu Yan , Rice Charles M. , MacDonald Margaret R. , Yuan Zhenghong
Published: May 2011

We recently reported that Ras-GTPase-activating protein-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) interacts with hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein (NS)5B and the 5′ end of the HCV minus-strand RNA. In the current study we confirmed these observations using immunoprecipitation and RNA pulldown assays, suggesting that G3BP1 might be an HCV replication complex (RC) component. In replicon cells, transfected G3BP1 interacts with multiple HCV nonstructural proteins. Using immunostaining and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that G3BP1 is colocalized with HCV RCs in replicon cells. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of G3BP1 moderately reduces established HCV RNA replication in HCV replicon cells and dramatically reduces HCV replication-dependent colony formation and cell-culture-produced HCV (HCVcc) infection. In contrast, knockdown of G3BP2 has no effect on HCVcc infection. Transient replication experiments show that G3BP1 is involved in HCV genome amplification. Thus, G3BP1 is associated with HCV RCs and may be co-opted as a functional RC component for viral replication. These findings may facilitate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCV genome replication.
Ribavirin Can Be Mutagenic for Arenaviruses
Authors: Moreno Héctor , Gallego Isabel , Sevilla Noemí , de la Torre Juan Carlos , Domingo Esteban , Martín Verónica
Published: May 2011

Arenaviruses include several important human pathogens, and there are very limited options of preventive or therapeutic interventions to combat these viruses. An off-label use of the purine nucleoside analogue ribavirin (1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-1-H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) is the only antiviral treatment currently available for arenavirus infections. However, the ribavirin antiviral mechanism action against arenaviruses remains unknown. Here we document that ribavirin is mutagenic for the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in cell culture. The mutagenic activity of ribavirin on LCMV was observed under single- and multiple-passage regimes and could not be accounted for by a decrease of the intracellular GTP pool promoted by ribavirin-mediated inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). Our findings suggest that the antiviral activity of ribavirin on arenaviruses might be exerted, at least partially, by lethal mutagenesis. Implications for antiarenavirus therapy are discussed.
Mutations in the Glycoprotein of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Affect Cytopathogenicity: Potential for Oncolytic Virotherapy
Authors: Janelle Valérie , Brassard Frédérick , Lapierre Pascal , Lamarre Alain , Poliquin Laurent
Published: May 2011

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been widely used to characterize cellular processes, viral resistance, and cytopathogenicity. Recently, VSV has also been used for oncolytic virotherapy due to its capacity to selectively lyse tumor cells. Mutants of the matrix (M) protein of VSV have generally been preferred to the wild-type virus for oncolysis because of their ability to induce type I interferon (IFN) despite causing weaker cytopathic effects. However, due to the large variability of tumor types, it is quite clear that various approaches and combinations of multiple oncolytic viruses will be needed to effectively treat most cancers. With this in mind, our work focused on characterizing the cytopathogenic profiles of four replicative envelope glycoprotein (G) VSV mutants. In contrast to the prototypic M mutant, VSV G mutants are as efficient as wild-type virus at inhibiting cellular transcription and host protein translation. Despite being highly cytopathic, the mutant G
6R
triggers type I interferon secretion as efficiently as the M mutant. Importantly, most VSV G mutants are more effective at killing B16 and MC57 tumor cells
in vitro
than the M mutant or wild-type virus through apoptosis induction. Taken together, our results demonstrate that VSV G mutants retain the high cytopathogenicity of wild-type VSV, with G
6R
inducing type I IFN secretion at levels similar to that of the M mutant. VSV G protein mutants could therefore prove to be highly valuable for the development of novel oncolytic virotherapy strategies that are both safe and efficient for the treatment of various types of cancer.
Screening of Escherichia coli Species Biodiversity Reveals New Biofilm-Associated Antiadhesion Polysaccharides
Authors: Rendueles Olaya , Travier Laetitia , Latour-Lambert Patricia , Fontaine Thierry , Magnus Julie , Denamur Erick , Ghigo Jean-Marc
Published: May 2011

Bacterial biofilms often form multispecies communities in which complex but ill-understood competition and cooperation interactions occur. In light of the profound physiological modifications associated with this lifestyle, we hypothesized that the biofilm environment might represent an untapped source of natural bioactive molecules interfering with bacterial adhesion or biofilm formation. We produced cell-free solutions extracted from
in vitro
mature biofilms formed by 122 natural
Escherichia coli
isolates, and we screened these biofilm extracts for antiadhesion molecules active on a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Using this approach, we showed that 20% of the tested biofilm extracts contained molecules that antagonize bacterial growth or adhesion. We characterized a compound, produced by a commensal animal
E. coli
strain, for which activity is detected only in biofilm extract. Biochemical and genetic analyses showed that this compound corresponds to a new type of released high-molecular-weight polysaccharide whose biofilm-associated production is regulated by the RfaH protein. We demonstrated that the antiadhesion activity of this polysaccharide was restricted to Gram-positive bacteria and that its production reduced susceptibility to invasion and provided rapid exclusion of
Staphylococcus aureus
from mixed
E. coli
and
S. aureus
biofilms. Our results therefore demonstrate that biofilms contain molecules that contribute to the dynamics of mixed bacterial communities and that are not or only poorly detected in unconcentrated planktonic supernatants. Systematic identification of these compounds could lead to strategies that limit pathogen surface colonization and reduce the burden associated with the development of bacterial biofilms on medical devices.

IMPORTANCE
We sought to demonstrate that bacterial biofilms are reservoirs for unknown molecules that antagonize bacterial adhesion. The use of natural strains representative of
Escherichia coli
species biodiversity showed that nonbiocidal antiadhesion polysaccharides are frequently found in mature biofilm extracts (bacterium-free suspensions which contain soluble molecules produced within the biofilm). Release of an antiadhesion polysaccharide confers a competitive advantage upon the producing strain against clinically relevant pathogens such as
Staphylococcus aureus
. Hence, exploring the biofilm environment provides a better understanding of bacterial interactions within complex communities and could lead to improved control of pathogen colonization.
Difficulties in interpretation of post-mortem microbiology results in unexpected infant death: evidence from a multidisciplinary survey
Authors: Pryce Jeremy W , Weber Martin A , Hartley John C , Ashworth Michael T , Malone Marian , Sebire Neil J
Published: May 2011

Background

Post-mortem (PM) microbiological investigations are recommended in cases of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), and infection is a recognised cause of such deaths, but no current evidence-based guidelines exist for the appropriate interpretation of results.

Aim

To assess interpretive difficulties using a targeted cross-specialty questionnaire.

Methods

109 consultant specialists involved in infant death management were given a questionnaire providing information on five hypothetical standardised SUDI cases, which differed only in their PM microbiology findings. Participants classified each case into categories: definite bacterial infection, probable bacterial infection, bacterial growth of uncertain significance and PM contamination.

Results

63 (57%) specialists responded. There was no clinical scenario in which complete concordance in interpretation of PM microbiology results was established among participants. In cases with pure growth of Group 2 pathogens such as Group B β-haemolyticStreptococcus, 96% of respondents agreed upon probable or definite bacterial infection. With mixed growth of Group 2 pathogens, 83% reported probable or definite bacterial infection. Growth of organisms such asStaphylococcus aureuscaused the most difficulty, with almost equal numbers of participants interpreting the finding as significant or non-significant. There were no consistent differences in interpretation between different specialist groups.

Conclusions

While there is general agreement in interpretation of PM microbiology findings in some SUDI scenarios, no consensus was achieved for any clinical setting, and variation in the presumed significance between specialists was apparent. In the absence of appropriate evidence-based guidelines, this has practical implications for the management of such deaths in a multidisciplinary setting.
The immunophenotype of osteoclasts and macrophage polykaryons
Authors: Maggiani F , Forsyth R , Hogendoorn P C W , Krenacs T , Athanasou N A
Published: May 2011

Aim

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells which are specialised to carry out lacunar bone resorption. Osteoclasts form part of the mononuclear phagocyte system, and immunophenotypic criteria for distinction from macrophage polykaryons include expression of CD51 (vitronectin receptor) and absence of HLA-DR and CD14.

Methods

The expression of CD14, CD163, HLA-DR and CD51 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of normal bone and neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of bone and soft tissue known to contain osteoclasts and macrophage polykaryons respectively was assessed immunohistochemically; the immunophenotype of osteoclast-like giant cells in a wide range of giant cell-containing bone lesions was similarly assessed.

Results

Both osteoclasts and macrophage polykaryons were found to express CD51. Macrophage polykaryons, but not osteoclasts, expressed CD14 and HLA-DR. CD51+/CD14−/HLA-DR-/CD163– giant cells were noted in all giant-cell lesions of bone, including giant cell tumour of bone, aneurysmal bone cyst, non-ossifying fibroma, chondroblastoma, telangiectatic osteosarcoma, chondromyxoid fibroma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis and brown tumour.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that CD51 expression alone is not sufficient for immunocytochemical identification of osteoclasts, which do not express the macrophage-associated antigens CD14 and HLA-DR. Giant cells in most giant cell-rich lesions of bone have an osteoclast phenotype, suggesting that they are formed from mononuclear phagocyte osteoclast precursors.
DEMPSTER–SHAFER EVIDENCE THEORY-BASED UPDATING RULE FOR CONTINUOUS OPINIONS AND DISCRETE ACTIONS
Authors: JIA FAN , XIE DI
Published: May 2011

The opinion of an individual about a given problem is determined by the quantity and the degree of certainty of knowledge mastered by the individual. The knowledge and information from other individuals might bring some conflicts with the individual's internal knowledge, which would make the individual become uncertain about its opinion. Based on Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory, a new opinion updating rule is proposed for individuals to form their opinion as the process of reasoning from the internal or the external knowledge in real life. Many computer simulations are conducted under different situations. It is found that the common phenomena such as consensus, fragment opinions can be observed among the individuals on square lattices during the evolution of opinion, and that information is spread from the higher certainty to the lower certainty, and the influence of opinion leaders become weaken during the spread of information, and the range of influence is determined by the threshold of individual acceptance of uncertainty of information.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF A NOVEL WEIGHTED NETWORK: SUBJECT CATEGORIES NETWORK
Authors: JIANG X. F.
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we construct a novel weighted network named subject categories network from the dataset of readers' borrowing lists in library. We empirically study the statistical properties and take the first step to uncover the topological structure of this network. Our results indicate that subject categories network is strongly heterogeneous and has a small world phenomenon. We also find that: (i) well-connected subjects are typically read more; (ii) subjects with large strength tend to bridge communities; (iii) those connections held large intensity preferably cluster together each other; (iv) it is likely that well-connected subjects have a majority of low-degree neighbors and are linked by edges with larger weights. Finally, through these results, we constructed a simple example of local structure for providing a framework to understand the hierarchies and organization principles in the subject categories system.
KINETIC ENERGY DRIVEN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, THE ORIGIN OF THE MEISSNER EFFECT, AND THE REDUCTIONIST FRONTIER
Authors: HIRSCH J. E.
Published: May 2011

Is superconductivity associated with a lowering or an increase of the kinetic energy of the charge carriers? Conventional BCS theory predicts that the kinetic energy of carriers increases in the transition from the normal to the superconducting state. However, substantial experimental evidence obtained in recent years indicates that in at least some superconductors the opposite occurs. Motivated in part by these experiments many novel mechanisms of superconductivity have recently been proposed where the transition to superconductivity is associated with a lowering of the kinetic energy of the carriers. However none of these proposed unconventional mechanisms explores the fundamental reason for kinetic energy lowering nor its wider implications. Here I propose that kinetic energy lowering is at the root of the Meissner effect, the most fundamental property of superconductors. The physics can be understood at the level of a single electron atom: kinetic energy lowering and enhanced diamagnetic susceptibility are intimately connected. We propose that this connection extends to superconductors because they are, in a very real sense, "giant atoms". According to the theory of hole superconductivity, superconductors expel negative charge from their interior driven by kinetic energy lowering and in the process expel any magnetic field lines present in their interior. Associated with this we predict the existence of a macroscopic electric field in the interior of superconductors and the existence of macroscopic quantum zero-point motion in the form of a spin current in the ground state of superconductors (spin Meissner effect). In turn, the understanding of the role of kinetic energy lowering in superconductivity suggests a new way to understand the fundamental origin of kinetic energy lowering in quantum mechanics quite generally. This provides a new understanding of "quantum pressure", the stability of matter and the origin of fermion anticommutation relations, it leads to the prediction that spin currents exist in the ground state of aromatic ring molecules, and that the electron wavefunction is double-valued, requiring a reformulation of conventional quantum mechanics.
APPROACH TO CREATE WEIGHTED SCALE-FREE NETWORKS: THE WEIGHT REDISTRIBUTION
Authors: MENG QING-KUAN , ZHU JIAN-YANG
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we provide a new approach to create weighted scale-free networks by the method of weight redistribution. In our model, from an Erdös and Rényi random graph, with every edge having the same weight one, along with the total number of vertices and the total weight of all edges constant, we redistribute the weight based on our rules. When the network is dynamically stabilized, we find that both the degree and the strength distributions of our model satisfy the power-law form respectively, with the exponents approximating one. To have the power-law exponents tunable, we give each vertex an intrinsic strength initially. When the improved model is dynamically stabilized, we find the power-law exponents become tunable. Numerical results verify our theoretical analysis.
ON THE Δ-UNKNOTTING NUMBER OF WHITEHEAD DOUBLES OF KNOTS
Authors: JANG HEE JEONG , LEE SANG YOUL , SEO MYOUNGSOO
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we give a bound for the Δ-unknotting number of a Whitehead double in terms of the unknotting number and a certain integral invariant of its companion knot. As applications, we show that the Δ-unknotting number of m-twisted Whitehead doubles of certain knots does not remember its companion knot, and is equal to the twist number m. We also give possible Δ-unknotting number of m-twisted Whitehead doubles whose companions are knots with unknotting number 1, certain twist knots, amphicheiral knots, and positive knots.
ON THE QUANTUM FILTRATION OF THE UNIVERSAL sl(2) FOAM COHOMOLOGY
Authors: CAPRAU CARMEN
Published: May 2011

We investigate the filtered theory corresponding to the universal sl(2) foam cohomology [Formula: see text] for links, where a, h ∈ ℂ. We show that there is a spectral sequence converging to [Formula: see text] which is invariant under the Reidemeister moves, and whose E1 term is isomorphic to Khovanov homology. This spectral sequence can be used to obtain from the foam perspective an analogue of the Rasmussen invariant and a lower bound for the slice genus of a knot.
AN EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE SET OF GRAPH-KNOTS AND THE SET OF HOMOTOPY CLASSES OF LOOPED GRAPHS
Authors: ILYUTKO DENIS PETROVICH
Published: May 2011

In the present paper we construct an equivalence between the set of graph-knots and the set of homotopy classes of looped graphs. Moreover, the graph-knot and the homotopy class constructed from a given knot are related by this equivalence. This equivalence is given by a simple formula.
CUBE NUMBER CAN DETECT CHIRALITY AND LEGENDRIAN TYPE OF KNOTS
Authors: MCCARTY BEN
Published: May 2011

For a knot K the cube number is a knot invariant defined to be the smallest n for which there is a cube diagram of size n for K. Examples of knots for which the cube number detects chirality are presented. An example is also presented of two Legendrian knots that, while topologically isotopic, are distinguished as Legendrian knots by cube number.
KNOTTED SURFACES AND EQUIVALENCIES OF THEIR DIAGRAMS WITHOUT TRIPLE POINTS
Authors: JABŁONOWSKI M.
Published: May 2011

The singularity set of a generic standard projection to the three space of a closed surface linked in four space, consists of at most three types: double points, triple points or branch points. We say that this generic projection image is p-diagram if it does not contain any triple point. Two p-diagrams of equivalent surface links are called p-equivalent if there exist a finite sequence of local moves, such that each of them is one of the four moves taken from the seven on the well known Roseman list, that connects only p-diagrams. It is natural to ask that whether any of two p-diagrams of equivalent surface links always p-equivalent? We introduce an invariant of p-equivalent diagrams and an example of linked surfaces that answers our question negatively.
UNIFIED MODELING OF SERVICE LOGIC WITH USER INTERFACES
Authors: ALEXANDER KRAEMER FRANK , BAHADUR KATHAYAT SURYA , BRÆK ROLV
Published: May 2011

We describe a method based on UML activities for the unified specification of collaborative service behavior and local user interfaces. The method enables a model-driven development process, which effectively combines the need to express service collaborations involving several components with the need to provide detailed operations for user interfaces. Our service models use activities as the primary building blocks that encapsulate self-contained functionalities. We show, how a complete distributed system can be decomposed into such building blocks, how this decomposition leads to a separation of user interface concerns from service collaboration concerns, and how they may be combined with an event-driven composition mechanism based on activity parameter nodes. We also demonstrate how different UI frameworks can be supported, and illustrate the method with a case study of a situated collaborative learning service.
GUEST EDITORS' INTRODUCTION
Authors: DE CASTRO VALERIA , VARA JUAN MANUEL , VAN DEN HEUVEL WILLEM-JAN
Published: May 2011

This article is an introduction to the Special Issue on Model-Driven Service Engineering. The issue contains three of the best papers selected from the 1st and 2nd International Workshop on Model-Driven Service Engineering (MoSE). In this introduction, we motivate and expose what we consider as boarding open research challenges coming from the combination of this two emerging disciplines such as Model-Driven Engineering and Service Engineering.
A 10-DEGREE OF FREEDOM EXOSKELETON REHABILITATION ROBOT WITH ERGONOMIC SHOULDER ACTUATION MECHANISM
Authors: CHEN WENBIN , XIONG CAIHUA , SUN RONGLEI , HUANG XIAOLIN
Published: May 2011

Due to the advantages of more intensiveness, long duration, repeatability, and task-orientation, robot-assistant training has become a promising technology in stroke rehabilitation. Regarding the upper extremity, the natural coordination called shoulder rhythm is the most challenge to the design of ergonomic shoulder exoskeleton. Based on kinematic analysis of movement of shoulder complex, a 10-degree-of-freedom (DoF) exoskeleton rehabilitation robot with six-DoF shoulder actuation mechanism driven by pneumatic muscle through Bowden cable transmitting force is proposed. The kinematic relationship between shoulder girdle motion and the humerus flexion/retroflexion and abduction/adduction was described. The compact mechanisms for cable tension and cable disconnect/connect respectively were proposed to realize the cable automatic tension and drive-unit/manipulating-unit detachment. In order to verify the manipulability of the proposed robot during assisting patient with performing activities of daily living (ADLs), the performance criteria, i.e., normalized dexterity measure and manipulability ellipsoid, are used to evaluate and compare with human upper extremity. The evaluated results confirm the ergonomic design of shoulder mechanism of the rehabilitation robot that can provide approximate dexterity of human upper extremity in ADLs.
A NOVEL ADAPTIVE NEURO-FUZZY UNSCENTED KALMAN FILTER FOR SLAM
Authors: HAVANGI RAMAZAN , TESHNEHLAB MOHAMMAD , NEKOUI MOHAMMAD ALI
Published: May 2011

Extended Kalman filter (EKF) has been used as a popular choice to solve simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem. However, SLAM algorithm based on EKF-SLAM has two serious drawbacks, namely the linear approximation of nonlinear functions and the calculation of Jacobin matrices. For solving these problems, SLAM algorithm based on unscented Kalman filter (UKF-SLAM) has been recently proposed. However, the performance of the UKF-SLAM and thus the quality of the estimation depends on the correct a priori knowledge of process and measurement noise covariance matrices respectively denoted by Qk and Rk. Imprecise knowledge of these statistics can cause significant degradation in performance. This article proposes the development of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy UKF (ANFUKF) for SLAM. The Adaptive neuro-fuzzy attempts to estimate the elements of Rk matrix in the UKF-SLAM algorithm at each sampling instant when measurement updating step is carried out. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) supervises the performance of the UKF-SLAM with the aim of reducing the mismatch between the theoretical and actual covariance of the innovation sequences. The free parameters of ANFIS are trained using the steepest gradient descent (GD) to minimize the differences of the actual value of the covariance of the residual with its theoretical value as much as possible. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
GLOBAL ATTRACTIVENESS OF DISCRETE-TIME EPIDEMIC OUTBREAK IN NETWORKS
Authors: WU QINGCHU , FU XINCHU , ZHU GUANGHU
Published: May 2011

Epidemic dynamics in networks have attracted a great deal of attention from researchers of many fields. In this paper, we mainly study the global behaviors of discrete-time epidemic model in heterogenous networks. By theoretical analysis, we show that the model can be characterized by the basic reproduction number R0. When R0 is smaller than unit, the disease-free equilibrium is globally stable, while R0 is larger than unit, the unique positive equilibrium is globally attractive.
MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF AN IMPROVED HEPATITIS B VIRUS MODEL
Authors: WANG LILI , XU RUI
Published: May 2011

A hepatitis B virus (HBV) model with standard incidence and the uninfected cells growing logistically is investigated. By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations, the local stability of the infection-free and infection equilibria is discussed, respectively. Further, the existence of an orbitally asymptotically stable periodic orbit is also studied. By means of the theory of competitive systems and compound matrices, sufficient conditions are derived for the global stability of the infection-free and infection equilibria, respectively. At last, numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the main results.
IMPULSIVE CONTROL IN MICROORGANISMS CONTINUOUS FERMENTATION
Authors: SHEN LIJUAN , FENG ENMIN , WU QIDI
Published: May 2011

This work presents the nonlinear dynamical system of continuous fermentation from glycerol to 1,3-propanediol. The impulsive control scheme of continuous culture is introduced. By employing impulsive control, Lyapunov's method and comparison technique, sufficient conditions are established for the asymptotical stability and synchronization of the dynamical system of continuous fermentation. The upper bound of the impulse interval is also estimated. An example will illustrate the effectiveness of the results in Sec. 4.
EFFECT OF SLIP AND MAGNETIC FIELD ON PERISTALTIC FLOW IN AN INCLINED CHANNEL WITH WALL EFFECTS
Authors: RAMANA KUMARI A. V. , RADHAKRISHNAMACHARYA G.
Published: May 2011

Peristaltic transport of a Newtonian incompressible fluid in the presence of applied magnetic field in an inclined channel with slip is investigated. A perturbation method of solution is obtained in terms of wall slope parameter and analytical expressions are derived for average velocity and stream function using Saffman slip condition. The effects of various relevant parameters on average velocity and stream line pattern have been studied. It is found that average velocity increases with slip and decreases with permeability and magnetic parameter.
PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION AND TERMINAL STEADY-STATE OPTIMIZATION FOR S SYSTEM IN MICROBIAL CONTINUOUS FERMENTATION
Authors: LI XIAOFANG , QU RONGNING
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we propose a special S system to describe the process of continuous glycerol fermentation to 1,3-propanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Some properties of solution for S system are discussed. Moreover, in order to identify the values of parameters such that S system can simulate the fermentation as exactly as possible, we develop a parameter identification model, and prove the identifiability of parameters. Numerical results show that the average relative error between computational value and experimental data is 20.0875% lower than 24.4225% in previous work, which demonstrates that S system is better in describing continuous fermentation. Finally, we present a terminal steady-state optimization model with state constraints. Optimization results show that the maximum volume yields of 1,3-propanediol at terminal moment increased from 114.3 to 124.911 mmolL-1h-1. The results provide reference for the commercial production of 1,3-propanediol.
STABILITY OF SVIR SYSTEM WITH RANDOM PERTURBATIONS
Authors: DENG CHAO , GAO HONGJUN
Published: May 2011

In this paper, the SVIR epidemic models with continuous vaccination strategies investigated by Liu, Takeuchi and Iwamo, [SVIR epidemic models with vaccination strategies, J. Theor. Biol.253 (2008) 1–11], allowing random fluctuation around the endemic equilibrium and the transmission rate β are analyzed. The equilibrium state of the model with random perturbation is locally asymptotically stable as shown by a Lyapunov stability analysis.
ON "THE POWER OF VERIFICATION QUERIES" IN UNCONDITIONALLY SECURE MESSAGE AUTHENTICATION
Authors: TONIEN DONGVU , SAFAVI-NAINI REIHANEH , WILD PETER
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we consider authentication codes where the adversary has access to a verification oracle. We formally study two attack games: offline attack and online attack. In an offline impersonation attack with verification query of order i, the adversary launches its attack through two stages. In the first stage — the query stage — the adversary can adaptively choose i distinct messages to query the verification oracle. The verification oracle will answer whether these queried messages are valid or invalid under the secret encoding rule agreed by the transmitter and the receiver. In the later stage — the spoofing stage — the adversary creates a fraudulent message which is different from all its queried messages and sends this message to the receiver. The adversary wins if the receiver accepts the fraudulent message as a valid message. In an online impersonation attack with verification query of order i, the adversary has i + 1 chances to query the verification oracle and wins as soon as one of the queries is a valid message. We make use of strategy trees, which allow optimal strategies in both attack games to be identified, to establish a number of relationships between the value of the two games. This allows us to formally prove a relationship between the value of the game when the adversary has i queries, and the one in which he does not have any. The relationship, though widely believed to be true, was only recently proved for computationally secure systems. Our result complements this latter work for the information theoretic setting.
Electro-oxidation of Some Phenolic Compounds by Electrogenerated O3 and by Direct Electrolysis at PbO2 Anodes
Authors: Amadelli Rossano , Samiolo Luca , Battisti Achille De , Velichenko Alexander B.
Published: May 2011

The oxidative degradation of phenolic compounds (4-chlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol) was studied using different electrochemical systems involving ozone formation at PbO2 anodes: (i) direct electrolysis at constant current; (ii) ex-situ use of O3 and (iii) combined use of anodically generated stream of O3/O2 fed into the cathode where H2O2 is electrogenerated by O2 reduction. We show that the latter advanced oxidation method gives the best results: it is a Fenton-type degradation of the target pollutants taking place in the cathodic compartment by reason of the highly oxidizing environment brought about by radicals that are formed mainly in the reactions of O3 with OH− and HO2
−.
Deletion of Drosophila muscle LIM protein decreases flight muscle stiffness and power generation
Authors: Clark Kathleen A. , Lesage-Horton Heather , Zhao Cuiping , Beckerle Mary C. , Swank Douglas M.
Published: May 2011

Muscle LIM protein (MLP) can be found at the Z-disk of sarcomeres where it is hypothesized to be involved in sensing muscle stretch. Loss of murine MLP results in dilated cardiomyopathy, and mutations in human MLP lead to cardiac hypertrophy, indicating a critical role for MLP in maintaining normal cardiac function. Loss of MLP in Drosophila ( mlp84B) also leads to muscle dysfunction, providing a model system to examine MLP's mechanism of action. Mlp84B-null flies that survive to adulthood are not able to fly or beat their wings. Transgenic expression of the mlp84B gene in the Mlp84B-null background rescues flight ability and restores wing beating ability. Mechanical analysis of skinned flight muscle fibers showed a 30% decrease in oscillatory power production and a slight increase in the frequency at which maximum power is generated for fibers lacking Mlp84B compared with rescued fibers. Mlp84B-null muscle fibers displayed a 25% decrease in passive, active, and rigor stiffness compared with rescued fibers, but no significant decrease in isometric tension generation was observed. Muscle ultrastructure of Mlp84B-null muscle fibers is grossly normal; however, the null fibers have a slight decrease, 11%, in thick filament number per unit cross-sectional area. Our data indicate that MLP contributes to muscle stiffness and is necessary for maximum work and power generation.
Differential effects of aging on estrogen negative and positive feedback
Authors: Shaw N. D. , Srouji S. S. , Histed S. N. , Hall J. E.
Published: May 2011

Recent studies have demonstrated an age-related decline in gonadotropins and a decrease in pituitary responsiveness to GnRH, indicating that aging influences the neuroendocrine components of the female reproductive axis independently of changes in ovarian function. To determine whether aging might also affect the luteinizing hormone (LH) negative and positive feedback responses to gonadal steroids, we administered a controlled, graded sex steroid infusion to 11 younger (45–56 yr) and nine older (70–80 yr) postmenopausal women (PMW) in whom endogenous ovarian steroids and peptides are uniformly low. The doses of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were chosen to mimic levels across the normal follicular phase and have been shown previously to induce negative followed by positive feedback on LH. Similar E2 and P levels were achieved in younger and older PMW ( P = 0.4 and 0.3, respectively) and produced a biphasic LH response in all subjects. The early decline in LH to 53% of baseline was not different in older vs. younger PMW. However, the positive feedback effect was attenuated in older compared with younger PMW (peak LH 144.4 ± 19.5 vs. 226.8 ± 22.3 IU/l, respectively, P = 0.01). In conclusion, these studies in PMW demonstrate preservation of short-term steroid negative and positive feedback in response to exogenous E2 and P with aging. Attenuation of positive feedback in older compared with younger PMW is consistent with previous reports of declining GnRH responsiveness with aging.
Altered contribution of RhoA/Rho kinase signaling in contractile activity of myometrium in leptin receptor-deficient mice
Authors: Harrod Jeremy S. , Rada Cara C. , Pierce Stephanie L. , England Sarah K. , Lamping Kathryn G.
Published: May 2011

In late gestation, enhanced myometrial contractility is mediated in part through increased Rho/Rho kinase. Since leptin, which is elevated in pregnancy and obesity, can directly depress myometrial function, we hypothesized that in leptin receptor-deficient mice, myometrial contractility would be greater in late pregnancy due to increased Rho/Rho kinase activity. To test this, we correlated RhoA and Rho kinase expression to contractility in myometrium from nonpregnant (NP) and late-pregnant (P18) heterozygous leptin receptor-deficient mice ( db/+) vs. wild-type (WT) mice. In NP mice, KCl-induced contractions were similar between WT and db/+ myometrium. However, the Rho kinase-dependent component of the contractions was greater in db/+ mice, along with an increased expression of Rho kinase. KCl-induced contractions increased in strength in myometrium from P18 WT and db/+ compared with NP. Although the contribution of Rho kinase to contractions was unchanged in P18 WT mice, it was decreased in P18 db/+ mice. The decrease in Rho kinase-dependent contractions in P18 db/+ mice coincided with reduced RhoA and Rho kinase expression relative to NP db/+. Addition of high-fat-induced abnormal glucose utilization prevented changes in Rho kinase function. We conclude that abnormal leptin signaling increases expression and function of Rho kinase to maintain contractile function in NP myometrium and that during pregnancy the contribution of RhoA and Rho kinase expression to myometrial function is reduced despite an increase in myometrial contractility. Thus, other signaling mechanisms appear to compensate when leptin signaling is reduced to maintain contractile function during pregnancy.
Motor cortical prediction of EMG: evidence that a kinetic brain-machine interface may be robust across altered movement dynamics
Authors: Cherian A. , Krucoff M. O. , Miller L. E.
Published: May 2011

During typical movements, signals related to both the kinematics and kinetics of movement are mutually correlated, and each is correlated to some extent with the discharge of neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1). However, it is well known, if not always appreciated, that causality cannot be inferred from correlations. Although these mutual correlations persist, their nature changes with changing postural or dynamical conditions. Under changing conditions, only signals directly controlled by M1 can be expected to maintain a stable relationship with its discharge. If one were to rely on noncausal correlations for a brain-machine interface, its generalization across conditions would likely suffer. We examined this effect, using multielectrode recordings in M1 as input to linear decoders of both end point kinematics (position and velocity) and proximal limb myoelectric signals (EMG) during reaching. We tested these decoders across tasks that altered either the posture of the limb or the end point forces encountered during movement. Within any given task, the accuracy of the kinematic predictions tended to be somewhat better than the EMG predictions. However, when we used the decoders developed under one task condition to predict the signals recorded under different postural or dynamical conditions, only the EMG decoders consistently generalized well. Our results support the view that M1 discharge is more closely related to kinetic variables like EMG than it is to limb kinematics. These results suggest that brain-machine interface applications using M1 to control kinetic variables may prove to be more successful than the more standard kinematic approach.