bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons from the Contraceptive CHOICE Project: the Hull long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) initiative
Authors: Trussell James , Guthrie Kate
Published: September 2014

Aim

To discover whether a hand-out explaining the benefits of intrauterine contraceptives (IUCs) and implants could increase their uptake in Hull, UK.

Methods

We developed a simple double-sided A4 hand-out. On one side was a script with pictures of copper and levonorgestrel IUCs next to a 20 pence coin and of an implant beside a hairgrip. On the other side was the three-tiered effectiveness chart published in the textbookContraceptive Technology. We implemented the project in family planning (FP), abortion and antenatal clinics and general practitioner (GP) surgeries. The plan was that the receptionist would give the hand-out to every woman and ask her to read it before seeing a clinician. We evaluated the hand-out in FP clinics and GP practices because routine electronic monitoring reports were available only for these locations.

Results

There was no impact in GP practices. There was no overall impact in FP clinics, with the exception of the service hub, in which there was an increase in the proportion of women receiving IUCs or implants of 15.0% between the periods October 2011–April 2012 and May 2012–November 2012 (p=0.0002). This clinic is open 6 days per week and has permanent sexual health staff on the reception desk. The proportion of women receiving IUCs or implants returned to baseline in December 2012–November 2013, when a change in clinic procedure to reduce waiting times caused staff to stop dispensing hand-outs.

Conclusions

This was not a formal study, so there was no research coordinator to monitor the project. We think that there was no impact among GPs because the project was not implemented by them. The project was poorly implemented at the four satellite FP clinics. Only the service hub implemented the project, where it had a clear impact. We conclude that when implemented as intended, this simple, very low-cost long-acting reversible contraception intervention was highly effective and also extremely cost effective.
Observations of grain-scale interactions and simulation of dry granular flows in a large-scale flume
Authors: Bryant Sarah K. , Take W. Andy , Bowman Elisabeth T.
Published: September 2014

A series of 30 tests on dry granular flows were performed using a large-scale flume under varying source volumes and basal friction conditions to capture grain-scale interactions and their impact on overall runout behaviour. These grain interactions and ultimately the flow regimes developed were found to be a function of material source volume and boundary roughness. The dimensionless inertial number was computed for each flow, but was found to be of limited utility except perhaps to define a general state (e.g., liquid regime) for the material due to the high slip velocity encountered in the granular flows. Using the depth-averaged “dynamic analysis” numerical model DAN, it was found that a single set of semi-empirically derived frictional parameters (i.e., specific to internal and basal friction conditions) was appropriate for matching the overall mobility of the experimental flows over a range of flow volumes and slope inclinations. However, these angles were found to be lower than those determined from laboratory interface friction tests, highlighting the importance of collisional stress transfer in the basal zone of the dry flowing landslides.
Evaluation of the cost of restoration of male fertility inBrassica napus
Authors: Montgomery Benjamin R. , Bailey Maia F. , Brown Gregory G. , Delph Lynda F.
Published: September 2014

Gynodioecy frequently results from the interplay of mitochondrial cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and nuclear fertility-restoration genes. Models suggest that maintaining cytonuclear gynodioecy requires that restorer genes incur a cost to fitness because otherwise they would increase toward fixation. Direct tests of costs of restorer alleles require knowledge of the underlying genetics of sex determination. We use a well characterized CMS system in Brassica napus L. to measure aspects of fitness in four lineages that vary in whether they carry the pol CMS gene or male-fertile cytoplasm (cam), and whether they carry the Rfp restorer of pol or Rfn restorer of the nap CMS gene. As expected, plants with pol CMS and only the Rfn restorer experienced reduced flower size, stamen length, and pollen counts. Plants with pol and the Rfp restorer showed incomplete restoration with shorter stamens than both lines with cam cytoplasm and reduced pollen counts compared with plants with cam cytoplasm and the Rfp restorer. Among plants with cam cytoplasm, pollen counts were higher for those with the Rfp than Rfn restorer, indicating a greater cost of restoration associated with Rfn. These results demonstrate that costs of restoration differ for the Rfn and Rfp alleles in B. napus.
Field growth performances of teak genotypes of different ages clonally produced by rooted cuttings, in vitro microcuttings, and meristem culture
Authors: Monteuuis Olivier , Goh Doreen Kim Soh
Published: September 2014

Teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) clonal forestry has lately become a reality thanks to the development of efficient techniques for mass clonally propagating true-to-type teak trees of various ages. Field trials were set up to assess the influence of teak genotypes of different ages and three clonal propagation techniques on field growth performances of teak clones. Significant differences (P < 0.0001) in height (H, from 11.9 to 17.5 m), diameter at breast height (D, from 11.8 to 18.9 cm), and volume (V, from 67.9 to 194.7 dm3) were observed 5 years after planting for clones produced by microcuttings from 6-month-old to 70-year-old teak ortets, regardless of their age. After 6.5 years of testing, H, D, and V performances of clones produced by rooted cuttings and microcuttings from 7-year-old teak trees were similar, notwithstanding clone × propagation method interactions. Five years after planting, clones produced by meristem culture from 7-year-old ortets had larger diameters and volumes than clones produced by microcuttings, whereas H varied according to clone × propagation method interaction. The various propagation methods used had no significant effect on mortality (<10%). The pros and cons of these techniques for mass clonally propagating teak genotypes of different ages were discussed.
Anti-depressant effect of hesperidin in diabetic rats
Authors: El-Marasy Salma A. , Abdallah Heba M.I. , El-Shenawy Siham M. , El-Khatib Aiman S. , El-Shabrawy Osama A. , Kenawy Sanaa A.
Published: September 2014

This study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of hesperidin (Hsp) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Additionally, the effect of Hsp on hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and brain monoamines in diabetic rats was also assessed. The Wistar rats in the experimental groups were rendered hyperglycaemic with a single dose of STZ (52.5 mg·(kg body mass)−1, by intraperitoneal injection). The normal group received the vehicle only. Hyperglycaemic rats were treated with Hsp (25.0, 50.0, or 100.0 mg·(kg body mass)−1·day−1, per oral) and fluoxetine (Flu) (5.0 mg·(kg body mass)−1·day−1, per oral) 48 h after the STZ injection, for 21 consecutive days. The normal and STZ control groups received the vehicle (distilled water). Behavioral and biochemical parameters were then assessed. When Hsp was administered to the STZ-treated rats, this reversed the STZ-induced increase in immobility duration in the forced swimming test (FST) and attenuated hyperglycaemia, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), increased reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6), and increased BDNF levels in the brain. Treatment with Hsp attenuated STZ-induced neurochemical alterations, as indicated by increased levels of monoamines in the brain, namely, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT). All of these effects of Hsp were similar to those observed with the established anti-depressant Flu. This study shows that Hsp exerted anti-depressant effect in diabetic rats, which may have been partly mediated by its amelioration of hyperglycaemia as well as its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, the enhancement of neurogenesis, and changes in the levels of monoamines in the brain.
Diboson production at LHC and Tevatron
Authors: Wang Jian ,   On behalf of the ATLAS, CMS, CDF, DØ Collaborations
Published: September 2014

The experimental results on physics of diboson production are reviewed. The measurements use pp collision at the LHC with center-of-mass energy [Formula: see text] and 8 TeV, and [Formula: see text] collision at the Tevatron with [Formula: see text]. These include measurements of Wγ, Zγ, WW, WZ and ZZ production. The results are compared with Standard Model predictions, and are interpreted in terms of constraints on charged and neutral anomalous triple gauge couplings.
Review of electron neutrino appearance oscillation experiments
Authors: Paolone V.
Published: September 2014

A review of νe appearance oscillation experiments is presented. The measurement of the appearance signal is of particular interest because this mode is sensitive to both θ13, δ CP and other mixing parameters. Using the value of θ13 measured by reactor neutrino experiments (disappearance studies) present and next generation appearance experiments can explore CP violation.
Selective Ensemble Based on Transformation of Classifiers Used SPCA
Authors: Xiong Lin , Mao Shasha , Jiao Licheng
Published: September 2014

The diversity and the accuracy are two important ingredients for ensemble generalization error in an ensemble classifiers system. Nevertheless enhancing the diversity is at the expense of decreasing the accuracy of classifiers, thus balancing the diversity and the accuracy is crucial for constructing a good ensemble method. In the paper, a new ensemble method is proposed that selecting classifiers to ensemble via the transformation of individual classifiers based on diversity and accuracy. In the proposed method, the transformation of classifiers is made to produce new individual classifiers based on original classifiers and the true labels, in order to enhance diversity of an ensemble. The transformation approach is similar to principal component analysis (PCA), but it is essentially different between them that the proposed method employs the true labels to construct the covariance matrix rather than the mean of samples in PCA. Then a selecting rule is constructed based on two rules of measuring the classification performance. By the selecting rule, some available new classifiers are selected to ensemble in order to ensure the accuracy of the ensemble with selected classifiers. In other words, some individuals with poor or same performance are eliminated. Particularly, a new classifier produced by the transformation is equivalent to a linear combination of original classifiers, which indicates that the proposed method enhances the diversity by different transformations instead of constructing different training subsets. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed method obtains the better performance than other methods, and the kappa-error diagrams also illustrate that the proposed method enhances the diversity compared against other methods.
Best values of parameters for interacting HDE with GO IR-cutoff in Brans–Dicke cosmology
Authors: Khodam-Mohammadi A. , Karimkhani E. , Sheykhi A.
Published: September 2014

We investigate the interacting holographic dark energy (HDE) with Granda–Oliveros (GO) infrared (IR)-cutoff in the framework of Brans–Dicke (BD) cosmology. We obtain the equation of state (EoS) parameter of HDE, wD, the effective EoS parameter w eff , the deceleration parameter q and the squared of sound speed [Formula: see text] in a flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) universe. We show that at late-time the cosmic coincidence problem can be alleviated. Also we show that for noninteracting case, HDE can give a unified dark matter–dark energy (DM–DE) profile in BD cosmology, except that it cannot solve the coincidence problem in the future. By studying the EoS parameter, we see that the phantom divide may be crossed. Using the latest observational data, we calculate the best values of the parameters for interacting HDE in BD framework. Computing the deceleration parameter implies that the transition from deceleration to the acceleration phase occurred for redshift z ≥ 0.5. Finally, we investigate the sound stability of the model, and find that HDE with Granda–Oliveros (GO)-cutoff in the framework of BD cosmology can lead to a stable DE-dominated universe favored by observations, provided we take β = 0.44 and b2 < 0.35. This is in contrast to HDE model in Einstein gravity which does not lead to a stable DE-dominated universe.
Associative Classification Approaches: Review and Comparison
Authors: Abdelhamid Neda , Thabtah Fadi
Published: September 2014

Associative classification (AC) is a promising data mining approach that integrates classification and association rule discovery to build classification models (classifiers). In the last decade, several AC algorithms have been proposed such as Classification based Association (CBA), Classification based on Predicted Association Rule (CPAR), Multi-class Classification using Association Rule (MCAR), Live and Let Live (L3) and others. These algorithms use different procedures for rule learning, rule sorting, rule pruning, classifier building and class allocation for test cases. This paper sheds the light and critically compares common AC algorithms with reference to the abovementioned procedures. Moreover, data representation formats in AC mining are discussed along with potential new research directions.
R&D COLLABORATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION
Authors: PIPPEL GUNNAR
Published: September 2014

The literature on the impact of R&D collaboration on innovation performance of firms suggests that R&D collaboration is not always beneficial. Therefore, a more detailed analysis of the effects of R&D collaboration is necessary. This paper investigates the relevance of R&D collaboration with different partner types on a firm's environmental innovation performance. Thereby, product related and process related environmental innovations are distinguished. Firm-level data from 2337 German firms are used in the regression analysis. The results suggest that R&D collaboration with suppliers, customers, universities, governmental research institutes, consultants, and other firms within the same corporate group is positively associated to a firm's process related environmental innovation performance. R&D collaboration with customers, suppliers, other firms within the same corporate group and consultants is positively associated with the development of environmental friendly products.
EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION: A 20-YEAR REVIEW OF EVOLUTION AND RECONCEPTUALISATION
Authors: ALMAHENDRA RANGGA , AMBOS BJÖRN
Published: September 2014

The exploration–exploitation tension has been resonated and applied in diverse areas of management research. Its applications have deviated substantially from the scope of organisational learning as originally proposed by March [(1991). Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71–87]. Scholars have developed set of definitions, new conceptualisations, and varied applications in rejuvenating the concept; and literatures on this topic seem do not significantly ensure a conclusive picture. It is still also unclear what are the antecedents and following scientific breakthroughs which may have led to the divergence of this construct.

This study offers an added value as it becomes the first to apply a bibliometric analysis, combined with fine-grained content analysis to attain a more comprehensive understanding on how the construct of exploration–exploitation have grown and evolved during the last 20 years. We attempt to grasp the structural pattern of citing behaviour and collective understanding among scholars, through conducting in-depth bibliographic review in a complete population of articles on this topic, published in leading journals following March [(1991). Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71–87].

This study identifies the intellectual base articles which form the basis of the exploration–exploitation and the turning point articles that shift the discussion into different directions.
Liquidation risk in the presence of Chapters 7 and 11 of the US bankruptcy code
Authors: Li Bin , Tang Qihe , Wang Lihe , Zhou Xiaowen
Published: September 2014

We aim at quantitatively measuring the liquidation risk of a firm subject to both Chapters 7 and 11 of the US bankruptcy code. The firm value is modeled by a general time-homogeneous diffusion process in which the drift and volatility are level dependent and can be easily adjusted to reflect the state changes of the firm. An explicit formula for the probability of liquidation is established, based on which we gain a quantitative understanding of how the capital structures before and during bankruptcy affect the probability of liquidation.
Numerical analysis of rating transition matrix depending on latent macro factor via nonlinear particle filter method
Authors: Nakagawa Hidetoshi , Takada Hideyuki
Published: September 2014

We propose a new nonlinear filtering model for a better estimation of credit rating transition matrix consistent with the hypothesis that rating transition intensities as well as dynamics of financial asset prices depend on some unobservable macroeconomic factor. We attempt a branching particle filter method to numerically obtain the conditional distribution of the latent factor. For an illustration, we analyze a rating transition history of Japanese enterprises. As a result, we realize that our model can capture some contagion effect of credit events and an interpolative role of financial market information on the rating transition intensities.
Dynamic alpha-stable method for CDO pricing
Authors: Li Hua , Yuan George , Chen Weina , Guo Li , Zhao Jianbin
Published: September 2014

The goal of this paper is to develop the dynamic alpha (α)-stable method for collateralized debt obligation (CDO) pricing based on the α-stable distributions, which will resolve the two issues caused by using traditional static factor copula method in the practice, which means when pricing CDOs, the traditional static factor Copula method does not only exhibit the correlation smile phenomenon which is not inconsistent with the model's assumption, but also cannot be used in pricing CDOs or credit portfolio derivatives for the underlying portfolio with different maturities. As the applications, we present calibration and empirical numerical results for iTraxx Europe Tranches quotes from the market data on March 30, 2007. Thus, our new method under the framework of the dynamic α-stable model is the way for CDO pricing in the practice, and should be useful for the risk management in the practice too.
Tectonometamorphic discontinuities in the Greater Himalayan Sequence: a local or a regional feature?
Authors: Montomoli Chiara , Carosi Rodolfo , Iaccarino Salvatore
Published: September 2014

The Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS) is one of the major tectonic units of the Himalaya running for more than 2400 km along-strike. It has been considered as a coherent tectonic unit bound by the South Tibetan Detachment (STD) and the Main Central Thrust (MCT). However, thrusts within it have been recognized in several places and have been mainly interpreted as out-of-sequence thrusts being active after the main phase of exhumation of the crystalline unit after the MCT activated. Recent integrated studies allow the recognition of several ductile shear zones in the core of the GHS, with top-to-the-SW-sense of shear (Higher Himalayan Discontinuity (HHD)). U–Th–Pb
in situ
monazite ages provide ages older than the MCT. Data on pressure and temperature evolution testify that these shear zones affected the tectonometamorphic evolution of the belt and different pressure and temperature conditions were recorded in the hanging wall and footwall of the HHD. The correlation of the WNW–ESE-trending HHD with other discontinuities recognized in the GHS led to the proposal that it is a tectonic feature running for several hundred kilometres, documented at the regional scale dividing the GHS in two different portions.
Urban Computing
Authors: Zheng Yu , Capra Licia , Wolfson Ouri , Yang Hai
Published: September 2014

Urbanization's rapid progress has modernized many people's lives but also engendered big issues, such as traffic congestion, energy consumption, and pollution. Urban computing aims to tackle these issues by using the data that has been generated in cities (e.g., traffic flow, human mobility, and geographical data). Urban computing connects urban sensing, data management, data analytics, and service providing into a recurrent process for an unobtrusive and continuous improvement of people's lives, city operation systems, and the environment. Urban computing is an interdisciplinary field where computer sciences meet conventional city-related fields, like transportation, civil engineering, environment, economy, ecology, and sociology in the context of urban spaces. This article first introduces the concept of urban computing, discussing its general framework and key challenges from the perspective of computer sciences. Second, we classify the applications of urban computing into seven categories, consisting of urban planning, transportation, the environment, energy, social, economy, and public safety and security, presenting representative scenarios in each category. Third, we summarize the typical technologies that are needed in urban computing into four folds, which are about urban sensing, urban data management, knowledge fusion across heterogeneous data, and urban data visualization. Finally, we give an outlook on the future of urban computing, suggesting a few research topics that are somehow missing in the community.
Using agent-based modeling and cultural algorithms to predict the location of submerged ancient occupational sites
Authors: Reynolds Robert G. , Salaymeh Areej , O'Shea John , Lemke Ashley
Published: September 2014

Some of the most pivotal questions in human history, such as the origins of early human culture, the spread of hominids out of Africa, and the colonization of New World necessitate the investigation of archaeological sites that are now under water. These contexts have unique potentials for preserving ancient sites without disturbance from later human occupation. The Alpena- Amberley Ridge (AAR) beneath modern Lake Huron in the North American Great Lakes offers unique evidence of prehistoric caribou hunters for a time period that is very poorly known on land.
Announcing the SIGAI early career researchers network and conference
Authors: Das Sanmay , Epstein Susan L. , Gil Yolanda
Published: September 2014

Any research field is as healthy as the new talent that it is able to attract, and AI is no exception. For this reason, AI conferences hold mentoring events for doctoral students and researchers in the early stages of their careers to support their advancement and connections to other researchers in the field. SIGAI holds one such event annually at the AAAI conference: the AAAI/SIGAI Doctoral Consortium. But we think that much more can be done, as these events are held once a year and do not necessarily cover all the topics that young researchers would want to.
Visualizing information networks
Authors: Rodriguez Manuel Gomez , Leskovec Jure
Published: September 2014

These networks visualize the way in which memes about Fukushima's earthquake propagate among blogs (in red) and mainstream media sites (in blue) at three different points in time (March 18, 2011; June 25, 2011; and October 13, 2011), as inferred by InfoPath. Infopath is a network inference algorithm that infers "who-copies- from-whom" from massive crawls of the Web. The inferred networks give insights about the position and roles various sites play in the spread of ideas over the Web as well as helping us understand how information pathways change over time. Infopath was developed by researchers at Stanford University and Max Planck Institute for Intellingent Systems. Learn more about it at http://snap.stanford.edu/infopath.
Assessing the understandability of a data warehouse logical model using a decision-tree approach
Authors: Gaur Hunny , Kumar Manoj
Published: September 2014

In recent years, Data Warehouses have become essential for researchers and organizations due to their ability to model the near future. For making strategic decisions, the information stored in a data warehouse must be of good quality. The information quality of a data warehouse can be enhanced by determining the data-model quality used for developing the data warehouse. Multidimensional models have been widely accepted as the foundation of data-modeling. Therefore, we believe that improving multi-dimensional model quality could improve the data warehouse quality. Several quality features (such as understandability, simplicity, maintainability, analyzability, coupling, cohesion etc.) have been defined by researchers for measuring the quality of data models. To judge Multidimensional model quality, metrics can be used as they provide a way for evaluating quality in an objective and consistent manner. A few researchers have proposed metrics for the data warehouse multidimensional model. Though, along with the proposal of metrics, they must be validated (theoretically and empirically) to prove their reliability and practical usefulness. This paper focuses on empirical validation of data warehouse logical model metrics using the data-mining machine-learning technique known as decision tree analysis. The results obtained indicate that a few of the proposed metrics are useful in judging the quality of the multidimensional logical model in terms of understandability.
An extensible and nested gesture for drawing tools
Authors: Mukul  , Jain Ajay , Chandra Mohit , Mahapatra Prabhat
Published: September 2014

This work introduces a two-finger gesture for invoking drawing tools on the fly while a user works on a touch app. The new gesture helps eliminate the need for using any command sequence from the application or the keyboard. The proposed gesture is programmable and can be associated with any type of tool, for example, the drawing brush or the eraser. The new gesture also has functionality for controlling and manipulating properties of the invoked tool. As a result, besides invoking the Brush tool or the Eraser tool, the new gesture provides additional control to the user to modify the size of the Brush tool or the Eraser tool on the fly. All this is done in a seamless manner and does not require the user to leave the drawing canvas.
In-out interaction complexity metrics for component-based software
Authors: Tiwari Umesh , Kumar Santosh
Published: September 2014

In the current state of software engineering, component-based software development is one of the most alluring paradigms for developing large and complex software products. In this software engineering methodology pre-engineered, pre-tested, context-based, adaptable, deployable software components are assembled according to a predefined architecture. Rather than developing a system from scratch, component-based software development emphasizes the integration of these components according to the user's requirements and specifications. In component-based software, the components interact to access and provide services and functionality to each other. Currently, the emphasis of industry and researchers is on developing impressive and efficient metrics and measurement tools to analyze the interaction complexity among these components. To represent the request and the response of services among components, we have used outgoing edges and incoming edges respectively. In this paper we have defined these interactions as In-Interactions and Out-Interactions. The metrics proposed in this paper are solely based on the interactions among the components. In this work some simple methods and metrics for computing the complexity of composable components are suggested. The metrics discussed in this paper include the computation of interaction complexities as Total-Interactions of a component, Total- Interactions of component-based software, Interaction-Ratio of a component, Interaction-Ratio of component-based software, Average- Interaction among components and Interaction-Percentage of components.
Towards bridging the twin peaks of requirements and architecture
Authors: Galster Matthias , Mirakhorli Mehdi , Cleland-Huang Jane , Franch Xavier , Burge Janet E. , Roshandel Roshanak , Avgeriou Paris
Published: September 2014

Requirements engineering (RE) and software architecture (SA) significantly affect software project success. In practice, requirements and architectural design impact each other. This relationship was the subject of the Fourth International Workshop on the Twin Peaks of Requirements and Architecture (TwinPeaks@ICSE 2014). Similar to previous editions of the TwinPeaks workshop series, we aimed at exploring the relationship between RE and SA in the broader context of nsoftware engineering, rather than in the isolated contexts of either RE or SA. We found that there are things that drive architectural design, in addition to functional and quality requirements (e.g., "architectural necessities" which are often overlooked and ignored by architects). We then identified new challenges related to intertwining requirements and architectures based on the current state of practice. Furthermore, we described solutions to bridging the requirements-architecture gap. These range from technical solutions (e.g., knowledge reuse) to solutions related to changing the mindset and the "way of thinking" of software engineers (e.g., software engineering education).
Quantifying software architecture quality report on the first international workshop on software architecture metrics
Authors: Nord Robert L. , Ozkaya Ipek , Koziolek Heiko , Avgeriou Paris
Published: September 2014

Architects of complex software systems face the challenge of how best to assess the achievement of quality attributes and other key drivers, how to reveal issues and risks early, and how to make decisions about architecture improvement. Software architecture quality has a large impact on this effort, but it is usually not assessed with quantitative measures. As the pace of software delivery and technology churn increases, organizations need guidance on how to meet the business goals of their software. There is an increasing need to provide ongoing insight into the quality of the system being developed. Additionally, it is highly desirable to improve feedback between development and deployment through measurable means for intrinsic quality, value, and cost. There is increasing attention to fields such as software analytics and empirical software engineering and measurement that can provide the theory, tooling, or inspiration to develop measurement and analysis frameworks for software architecture. This paper reports on the results of the First International Workshop on Software Architecture Metrics, where participants discussed challenges and opportunities in quantifying software architecture quality.
SIGACT news online algorithms column 24
Authors: van Stee Rob
Published: September 2014

In this column, I will discuss some recent papers in online algorithms. It is pleasing to see there were a number of papers about online algorithms in the top conferences this year. If I have missed your paper and you want to write about it or about any other topic in online algorithms, don't hesitate to contact me!
Cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, and prostanoid receptor EP2 in fluid flow shear stress-mediated injury in the solitary kidney
Authors: Srivastava Tarak , Alon Uri S. , Cudmore Patricia A. , Tarakji Belal , Kats Alexander , Garola Robert E. , Duncan R. Scott , McCarthy Ellen T. , Sharma Ram , Johnson Mark L. , Bonewald Lynda F. , El-Meanawy Ashraf , Savin Virginia J. , Sharma Mukut
Published: September 2014

Hyperfiltration subjects podocytes to increased tensile stress and fluid flow shear stress (FFSS). We showed a 1.5- to 2.0-fold increase in FFSS in uninephrectomized animals and altered podocyte actin cytoskeleton and increased synthesis of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) following in vitro application of FFSS. We hypothesized that increased FFSS mediates cellular changes through specific receptors of PGE2. Presently, we studied the effect of FFSS on cultured podocytes and decapsulated isolated glomeruli in vitro, and on solitary kidney in uninephrectomized sv129 mice. In cultured podocytes, FFSS resulted in increased gene and protein expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 but not COX-1, prostanoid receptor EP2 but not EP4, and increased synthesis and secretion of PGE2, which were effectively blocked by indomethacin. Next, we developed a special flow chamber for applying FFSS to isolated glomeruli to determine its effect on an intact glomerular filtration barrier by measuring change in albumin permeability ( Palb) in vitro. FFSS caused an increase in Palbthat was blocked by indomethacin ( P < 0.001). Finally, we show that unilateral nephrectomy in sv129 mice resulted in glomerular hypertrophy ( P = 0.006), increased glomerular expression of COX-2 ( P < 0.001) and EP2 ( P = 0.039), and increased urinary albumin excretion ( P = 0.001). Activation of the COX-2-PGE2-EP2 axis appears to be a specific response to FFSS in podocytes and provides a mechanistic basis for alteration in podocyte structure and the glomerular filtration barrier, leading to albuminuria in hyperfiltration-mediated kidney injury. The COX-2-PGE2-EP2 axis is a potential target for developing specific interventions to ameliorate the effects of hyperfiltration-mediated kidney injury in the progression of chronic kidney disease.
Transcriptional regulation of human organic anion transporter 1 by B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6
Authors: Wegner Waja , Burckhardt Gerhard , Henjakovic Maja
Published: September 2014

The human organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) is crucial for the excretion of organic anions in renal proximal tubular cells and has been classified as a clinically relevant transporter in the kidneys. Our previous study indicated that renal male-predominant expression of rat Oat1 and Oat3 appears to be regulated by transcription factor B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 (BCL6). The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of BCL6 on human OAT1 promoter and on the transcription of OAT1 mediated by hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (HNF-1α). Luciferase assays were carried out in opossum kidney (OK) cells transiently transfected with promoter constructs of OAT1, expression vectors for BCL6 and HNF-1α, and the empty control vectors. BCL6 and HNF-1α binding on OAT1 promoter was analyzed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Protein expression of HNF-1α was investigated by Western blot analysis. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce mutations into BCL6 and HNF-1α binding sites within the OAT1 promoter. BCL6 enhanced the promoter activity of OAT1 independently of predicted BCL6 binding sites but was dependent on HNF-1α response element and HNF-1α protein. Coexpression of BCL6 and HNF-1α induced an additive effect on OAT1 promoter activation compared with BCL6 or HNF-1α alone. BCL6 does not bind directly or indirectly to OAT1 promoter but increases the protein expression of HNF-1α and thereby indirectly enhances OAT1 gene transcription. BCL6 constitutes a promising candidate gene for the regulation of human OAT1 transcription and other renal and/or hepatic drug transporters that have been already shown to be activated by HNF-1α.
Oncogenic Properties of a Spermatogenic Meiotic Variant of Fer Kinase Expressed in Somatic Cells
Authors: Yaffe Etai , Hikri Elad , Elkis Yoav , Cohen Ortal , Segal Ariela , Makovski Adar , Varvak Alexander , Shpungin Sally , Nir Uri
Published: September 2014

The kinase Fer and its spermatogenic meiotic variant, FerT, are coexpressed in normal testes and cancerous tumors, but whether they exert related roles in spermatogenic or malignant cells has not been known. Here, we show that Fer and FerT reside in the mitochondria of spermatogenic cells and are harnessed to the reprogrammed mitochondria of colon carcinoma cells. Both kinases bound complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) in spermatogenic and in colon carcinoma cells, and silencing of either Fer or FerT was sufficient to impair the activity of this complex. Directed mitochondrial accumulation of FerT in nonmalignant NIH3T3 cells increased their ETC complex I activity, ATP production, and survival, contingent upon stress conditions caused by nutrient and oxygen deprivation. Strikingly, directed mitochondrial accumulation of FerT endowed nonmalignant cells with tumor-forming ability. Thus, recruitment of a meiotic mitochondrial component to cancer cell mitochondria highlights a pivotal role for reprogrammed mitochondria in tumorigenesis. Cancer Res; 74(22); 6474–85. ©2014 AACR.
Interpretation of the Skin Cancer Quality of Life Score: A Validated Quality of Life Questionnaire for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Authors: Vinding Gabrielle R. , Esmann Solveig , Olesen Anne B. , Hansen Lone B. , Christensen Karl B. , Jemec Gregor B.E.
Published: September 2014

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments are used increasingly. In order to assign clinical meaning to HRQoL scores, the interpretation of instruments is essential but lagging in dermatology. Objective: To establish a clinical interpretation of the Skin Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (SCQoL), a newly validated HRQoL instrument for patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), using an anchor-based method, and to test the responsiveness. Methods: Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to propose clinically meaningful cut-off scores for SCQoL including 101 patients with NMSC. Results: The following bands were established: score 0-3 corresponds to no impairment, 4-6 corresponds to mild impairment, 7-10 to moderate impairment and 11-27 to severe impairment of HRQoL. Testing the responsiveness shows a moderate effect size and significantly lower scores only for the domain emotion and the global item. Conclusion: Using proposed clinical cut-off scores for SCQoL may help clinicians in their decision-making, help monitoring clinical improvement and classify patients just as e.g. the Dermatology Life Quality Index can.
Evo-Devo and the Primate Isocortex: The Central Organizing Role of Intrinsic Gradients of Neurogenesis
Authors: Charvet Christine J. , Finlay Barbara L.
Published: September 2014

Spatial gradients in the initiation and termination of basic processes, such as cytogenesis, cell-type specification and dendritic maturation, are ubiquitous in developing nervous systems. Such gradients can produce a niche adaptation in a particular species. For example, the high density of photoreceptors and neurons in the ‘area centralis' of some vertebrate retinas result from the early maturation of its center relative to its periphery. Across species, regularities in allometric scaling of brain regions can derive from conserved spatial gradients: longer neurogenesis in the alar versus the basal plate of the neural tube is associated with relatively greater expansion of alar plate derivatives in larger brains. We describe gradients of neurogenesis within the isocortex and their effects on adult cytoarchitecture within and across species. Longer duration of neurogenesis in the caudal isocortex is associated with increased neuron number and density per column relative to the rostral isocortex. Later-maturing features of single neurons, such as soma size and dendritic spine numbers reflect this gradient. Considering rodents and primates, the longer the duration of isocortical neurogenesis in each species, the greater the rostral-to-caudal difference in neuron number and density per column. Extended developmental duration produces substantial, predictable changes in the architecture of the isocortex in larger brains, and presumably a progressively changed functional organization, the properties of which we do not yet fully understand. Many features of isocortical architecture previously viewed as species- or niche-specific adaptations can now be integrated as the natural outcomes of spatiotemporal gradients that are deployed in larger brains.
Anopheles gambiae Blood Feeding Initiates an Anticipatory Defense Response to Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Upton Leanna M. , Povelones Michael , Christophides George K.
Published: September 2014

Mosquitoes have potent innate defense mechanisms that protect them from infection by diverse pathogens. Much remains unknown about how different pathogens are sensed and specific responses triggered. Leucine-Rich repeat IMmune proteins (LRIMs) are a mosquito-specific family of putative innate receptors. Although some LRIMs have been implicated in mosquito immune responses, the function of most family members is largely unknown. We screened Anopheles gambiae LRIMs by RNAi for effects on mosquito infection by rodent malaria and found that LRIM9 is a Plasmodium berghei antagonist with phenotypes distinct from family members LRIM1 and APL1C, which are key components of the mosquito complement-like pathway. LRIM9 transcript and protein levels are significantly increased after blood feeding but are unaffected by Plasmodium or midgut microbiota. Interestingly, LRIM9 in the hemolymph is strongly upregulated by direct injection of the ecdysteroid, 20-hydroxyecdysone. Our data suggest that LRIM9 may define a novel anti-Plasmodium immune defense mechanism triggered by blood feeding and that hormonal changes may alert the mosquito to bolster its defenses in anticipation of exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
A Dual Comparative Approach: Integrating Lines of Evidence from Human Evolutionary Neuroanatomy and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Hanson Kari L. , Hrvoj-Mihic Branka , Semendeferi Katerina
Published: September 2014

The evolution of the human brain has been marked by a nearly 3-fold increase in size since our divergence from the last common ancestor shared with chimpanzees and bonobos. Despite increased interest in comparative neuroanatomy and phylogenetic methods, relatively little is known regarding the effects that this enlargement has had on its internal organization, and how certain areas of the brain have differentially expanded over evolutionary time. Analyses of the microstructure of several regions of the human cortex and subcortical structures have demonstrated subtle changes at the cellular and molecular level, suggesting that the human brain is more than simply a ‘scaled-up' primate brain. Ongoing research in comparative neuroanatomy has much to offer regarding our understanding of human brain evolution. Through analysis of the neuroanatomical phenotype at the level of reorganization in cytoarchitecture and cellular morphology, new data continue to highlight changes in cell density and organization associated with volumetric changes in discrete regions. An understanding of the functional significance of variation in neural circuitry can further be approached through studies of atypical human development. Many neurodevelopmental disorders cause disruption in systems associated with uniquely human features of cognition, including language and social cognition. Understanding the genetic and developmental mechanisms that underlie variation in the human cognitive phenotype can help to clarify the functional significance of interspecific variation. By uniting approaches from comparative neuroanatomy and neuropathology, insights can be gained that clarify trends in human evolution. Here, we explore these lines of evidence and their significance for understanding functional variation between species as well as within neuropathological variation in the human brain.
Crack Cocaine Users Show Differences in Genotype Frequencies of the 3′ UTR Variable Number of Tandem Repeats of the Dopamine Transporter Gene (DAT1/SLC6A3)
Authors: Stolf Anderson Ravy , Szobot Claudia M. , Halpern Ricardo , Akutagava-Martins Gláucia C. , Müller Diana , Guimaraes Luciano S.P. , Kessler Felix H.P. , Pechansky Flavio , Roman Tatiana
Published: September 2014

Background: Due to the mechanism of action of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in drug addiction, the DAT1 gene is a potential candidate for molecular studies. This paper aims to compare the prevalence of allele and genotype frequencies created by the 3′ UTR variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of this gene between crack cocaine users and controls. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 237 current adult crack cocaine abusers or dependents (DSM-IV TR criteria) from in- and outpatient clinics in southern Brazil and 205 community controls were compared. The subjects were evaluated using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview - short version, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. DNA samples were genotyped for the DAT1 3′ VNTR. Results: Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the frequency of the 10.10 genotype (the putative risk genotype) to those of other genotypes. A significant difference (p = 0.04, OR = 1.758, CI = 1.026-3.012) indicating an increased frequency of the 10.10 genotype in the cases (59.9%) compared to the controls (49.3%) was verified using clinical and demographic covariates. Conclusions: This is one of the first genetic association studies on crack cocaine users in the literature. The results suggest an influence of the DAT1 gene, namely the 3′ VNTR 10.10 genotype. However, more analyses will confirm and clarify its contribution as a possible risk factor for crack cocaine dependence.
Macrophage-Expressed Perforins Mpeg1 and Mpeg1.2 Have an Anti-Bacterial Function in Zebrafish
Authors: Benard Erica L. , Racz Peter I. , Rougeot Julien , Nezhinsky Alexander E. , Verbeek Fons J. , Spaink Herman P. , Meijer Annemarie H.
Published: September 2014

Macrophage-expressed gene 1 (MPEG1) encodes an evolutionarily conserved protein with a predicted membrane attack complex/perforin domain associated with host defence against invading pathogens. In vertebrates, MPEG1/perforin-2 is an integral membrane protein of macrophages, suspected to be involved in the killing of intracellular bacteria by pore-forming activity. Zebrafish have 3 copies of MPEG1; 2 are expressed in macrophages, whereas the third could be a pseudogene. The mpeg1 and mpeg1.2 genes show differential regulation during infection of zebrafish embryos with the bacterial pathogens Mycobacterium marinum and Salmonella typhimurium. While mpeg1 is downregulated during infection with both pathogens, mpeg1.2 is infection inducible. Upregulation of mpeg1.2 is partially dependent on the presence of functional Mpeg1 and requires the Toll-like receptor adaptor molecule MyD88 and the transcription factor NFκB. Knockdown of mpeg1 alters the immune response to M. marinum infection and results in an increased bacterial burden. In Salmonella typhimurium infection, both mpeg1 and mpeg1.2 knockdown increase the bacterial burdens, but mpeg1 morphants show increased survival times. The combined results of these two in vivo infection models support the anti-bacterial function of the MPEG1/perforin-2 family and indicate that the intricate cross-regulation of the two mpeg1 copies aids the zebrafish host in combatting infection of various pathogens.