bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features, Intestinal Histopathology, and Outcome in Protein‐Losing Enteropathy in Yorkshire Terrier Dogs
Authors: Simmerson S.M. , Armstrong P.J. , Wünschmann A. , Jessen C.R. , Crews L.J. , Washabau R.J.
Published: January 2014

Background

A poorly understood protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE) disorder has been reported in Yorkshire Terrier dogs.

Objectives

To describe clinical features, intestinal histopathology, and outcome in Yorkshire Terrier dogs withPLE, and to identify variables predictive of outcome.

Animals

Thirty client‐owned Yorkshire Terrier dogs withPLE.

Methods

Retrospective study. Records of dogs with a diagnosis ofPLEwere reviewed. Intestinal histopathology was interpreted using the World Small Animal Veterinary Association gastrointestinal histopathology classification system. Discriminate analysis techniques were used to identify variables predictive of outcome.

Results

Females outnumbered males (20/30). Median age was 7 years (range 1–12). Common clinical signs were diarrhea (20/30), vomiting (11), ascites and abdominal distension (11), and respiratory difficulty (8). Histopathologic abnormalities included villous lymphatic dilatation, crypt lesions, villous stunting, and variable increases in cellularity of the lamina propria. All dogs were treated with glucocorticoids. Of 23 dogs with long‐term follow‐up, 9 had complete, and 3 had partial, resolution of signs, and 11 failed to respond to treatment. Median survival of responders was 44 months and of nonresponders was 12 months, with 4 dogs experiencing peracute death. Vomiting, monocytosis, severity of hypoalbuminemia, low blood urea nitrogen concentration, and villous blunting were predictive of survival <4 months.

Conclusions

In addition to classicGIsigns, Yorkshire Terriers withPLEoften show clinical signs associated with hypoalbuminemia and low oncotic pressure. Lymphatic dilatation, crypt lesions, and villous stunting are consistent histopathologic findings. Clinical outcomes are variable, but many dogs experience remission of clinical signs and prolonged survival.
Do Rich and Poor Behave Similarly in Seeking Legal Advice? Lessons from Taiwan in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Huang Kuo-Chang , Lin Chang-Ching , Chen Kong-Pin
Published: January 2014

A central concern of access-to-justice studies is whether the socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals can obtain effective assistance in dealing with their legal problems. Using the newly collected data from the 2011 Taiwan Survey, this article examines Taiwanese people's advice-seeking behavior in general and explores the effect of income in particular. This article finds that income had a significantly positive correlation with the likelihood of obtaining legal advice, but it has no impact on obtaining nonlegal advice. By contrast, education had little bearing on the decision to obtain legal advice, but it had a positive influence on seeking nonlegal advice. This article argues that although the gravity of problem was more influential than income on obtaining legal advice, the effect of income should not be easily dismissed. Moreover, the contrasting effect of education on obtaining nonlegal advice strongly suggests that its use was determined by people's knowledge of its existence and capability of accessing such service. To improve the disadvantaged's access to justice, care should be taken not only to increase publicly funded legal advice services but also to enhance the public's awareness of their availability.
The (Dis)Advantage of Certainty: The Importance of Certainty in Language
Authors: Corley Pamela C. , Wedeking Justin
Published: January 2014

How can legal decision makers increase the likelihood of a favorable response from other legal and social actors? To answer this, we propose a novel theory based on the certainty expressed in language that is applicable to many different legal contexts. The theory is grounded in psychology and legal advocacy and suggests that expressing certainty enhances the persuasiveness of a message. We apply this theory to the principal–agent framework to examine the treatment of Supreme Court precedent by the Federal Courts of Appeal. We find that as the level of certainty in the Supreme Court's opinion increases, the lower courts are more likely to positively treat the Court's decision. We then discuss the implications of our findings for using certainty in a broader context.
Recurrent Mycobacterium haemophilum in a renal transplant recipient
Authors: Ducharlet Kathryn , Murphy Caitlin , Tan Sven‐Jean , Dwyer Karen M , Goodman David , Aboltins Craig , Daffy John R , Langham Robyn G
Published: January 2014

Mycobacterium haemophilum is a rare isolate of non‐tuberculous Mycobacterium which has been reported to affect immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a 32‐year‐old renal transplant patient with M. haemophilum infection initially involving his left sinus which was treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy for thirteen months. Two weeks after cessation of antibiotics the infection rapidly recurred in his skin and soft tissues of his hands and feet. This case highlights the difficult diagnostic and therapeutic implications of atypical infections in transplant patients. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of relapsed M. haemophilum infection in a renal transplant recipient.
Extensive projections of myenteric serotonergic neurons suggest they comprise the central processing unit in the colon
Authors: Okamoto T. , Barton M. J. , Hennig G. W. , Birch G. C. , Grainger N. , Corrigan R. D. , Koh S. D. , Sanders K. M. , Smith T. K.
Published: January 2014

Background

5‐Hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT, serotonin) is an important regulator of colonic motility and secretion; yet the role of serotonergic neurons in the colon is controversial.

Methods

We used immunohistochemical techniques to examine their projections throughout the enteric nervous system and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) networks in the murine proximal to mid colon.

Key Results

Serotonergic neurons, which were mainly calbindin positive, occurred only in myenteric ganglia (1 per 3 ganglia). They were larger than nNOS neurons but similar in size to Dogiel Type II (AH) neurons. 5‐HT neurons, appeared to make numerous varicose contacts with each other, most nNOS neurons, Dogiel Type II/AH neurons and glial cells. 5‐HT, calbindin and nNOS nerve fibers also formed a thin perimuscular nerve plexus that was associated with ganglia, which contained both nNOS positive and negative neurons, which lay directly upon the submucosal pacemaker ICC network. Neurons in perimuscular ganglia were surrounded by 5‐HT varicosities. Submucous ganglia contained nNOS positive and negative neurons, and calbindin positive neurons, which also appeared richly supplied by serotonergic nerve varicosities. Serotonergic nerve fibers ran along submucosal arterioles, but not veins. Varicosities of serotonergic nerve fibers were closely associated with pacemaker ICC networks and with intramuscular ICC (ICC‐IM). 5‐HT2B receptors were found on a subpopulation of non‐5‐HT containing myenteric neurons and their varicosities, pacemaker ICC‐MY and ICC‐IM.

Conclusions & Inferences

Myenteric serotonergic neurons, whose axons exhibit considerable divergence, regulate the entire enteric nervous system and are important in coordinating motility with secretion. They are not just interneurons, as regularly assumed, but possibly also motor neurons to ICC and blood vessels, and some may even be sensory neurons.
Bolus retention in hiatal hernia identified by high‐resolution esophageal manometry with impedance
Authors: Shin G. H. , Sankineni A. , Parkman H. P.
Published: January 2014

Background

Esophageal acid retention in a hiatal hernia (HH) may play a role in gastro‐esophageal reflux. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of bolus retention (BR) in HH and to compare pressure profiles in patients with HH with BR in the hernia to those with bolus clearance (BC) through the hernia using high‐resolution esophageal manometry with impedance (HREMI).

Methods

Clinical HREMI studies with HH ≥1.5 cm were analyzed for lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and crural diaphragm (CD) pressures and pressure profiles during 12 saline swallows. Impedance was analyzed for swallow retention in the HH.

Key Results

Bolus retention in a HH was present in 35 of 53 (66%) patients with a HH. Patients with BR had overall lower pressure profiles including a lower basal LES pressure (14.8 ± 10.6 vs 28.9 ± 16.8 mmHg; p = 0.0001), LES‐CD gradient (6.8 ± 17.9 vs 20.6 ± 12.2 mmHg; p = 0.002), residual LES pressure (2.5 ± 4.6 vs 6.1 ± 12.2 mmHg; p = 0.017), amplitude of distal esophageal contractions (83.2 ± 38.8 vs 111.2 ± 42.8 mmHg; p = 0.020), and distal contractile integral (1487 ± 1016 vs 2608 ± 1221 mmHg‐cm‐sec; p = 0.001) compared to the BC group. Patients with BR were more likely to have a larger sized HH compared to the BC group (3.1 ± 1.6 vs 2.1 ± 0.6 cm; p = 0.016); similar pressure changes were found when the groups were divided up by HH sizes.

Conclusions & Inferences

Bolus retention was seen in 66% of patients with HH. Bolus retention in the HH was associated with larger HH size, lower LES pressure, and lower esophageal contractile pressures compared to those with BC.
Different outcomes for the MYB floral symmetry genes DIVARICATA and RADIALIS during the evolution of derived actinomorphy in Plantago
Authors: Reardon Wesley , Gallagher Pauline , Nolan Katie M. , Wright Hayley , Cardeñosa‐Rubio Maria Cruz , Bragalini Claudia , Lee Chui‐Sang , Fitzpatrick David A. , Corcoran Killian , Wolff Kirsten , Nugent Jacqueline M.
Published: January 2014

The gene network that specifies flower shape in Antirrhinum majus (bilateral floral symmetry or zygomorphy) includes two MYB‐class genes – RADIALIS (RAD) and DIVARICATA (DIV). RAD is involved in establishing the dorsal identity program and its role is to regulate the domain of activity of DIV (the ventral identity program) by restricting it to ventral regions of the flower.

Plantago is in the same family as Antirrhinum but has small, radially symmetrical (actinomorphic) flowers derived from a zygomorphic ancestral state. Here we investigate the MYB‐class floral symmetry genes and the role they have played in the evolution of derived actinomorphy in Plantago lanceolata.

A DIV ortholog (PlDIV) but no RAD ortholog was identified in P. lanceolata. PlDIV is expressed across all petals and stamens later in flower development, which is consistent with the loss of RAD gene function. PlDIV expression in anther sporogenous tissue also suggests that PlDIV was co‐opted to regulate cell proliferation during the early stages of pollen development.

These results indicate that evolution of derived actinomorphy in Plantago involved complete loss of dorsal gene function, resulting in expansion of the domain of expression of the ventral class of floral symmetry genes.
Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Patients with Chronic Chagas Disease and Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator
Authors: PEREIRA FRANCISCA TATIANA MOREIRA , ROCHA EDUARDO ARRAIS , MONTEIRO MARCELO DE PAULA MARTINS , NETO ALMINO CAVALCANTE ROCHA , DAHER ELISABETH DE FRANCESCO , SOBRINHO CARLOS ROBERTO MARTINS RODRIGUES , NETO ROBERTO DA JUSTA PIRES
Published: January 2014

Background/Objectives

Chronic Chagas heart disease (ChHD) is associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Little is known about the effectiveness of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) therapy in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ICD in patients with ChHD and to identify predictors of mortality and appropriate ICD shocks.

Methods

The cohort study included 65 patients with ChHD and ICD for primary and secondary prevention of sudden death. The Cox model was applied to evaluate the predictors of mortality, and survival was assessed by Kaplan‐Meier analysis.

Results

The median age was 56 ± 11.9 years. The median follow‐up was 40 ± 26.8 months. Among the patients 23 (36.5%) had appropriate shocks. A total of 13 (20%) patients died (6.1% of annual mortality rate), and there was no sudden death. In univariate Cox model, functional class IV (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–3.76; P = 0.034), primary prevention (HR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09–0.99; P = 0.048), lower education (HR = 2.51; 95% CI, 1.05–5.99; P = 0.038), and ejection fraction <30% (HR = 2.80; 95% CI, 1.09–7.18; P = 0.032) were predictors of worse prognosis (death). In the multivariate Cox model, an ejection fraction <30% and the low education remained predictors of poor prognosis. Predictors of appropriate shocks were not found.

Conclusions

The ICD was effective for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with chronic ChHD. An ejection fraction <30% and low education were predictors of poor prognosis.
Making Sense of Presidential Restraint: Foundational Arrangements and Executive Decision Making before the Civil War
Authors: Selinger Jeffrey S.
Published: January 2014

Most political scientists assume thatAmerican presidents seek to optimize their chances of reelection and to maximize their policy preferences in strategic negotiations with their rivals. Presidents, however, have also been pressed throughout history to restrain their self‐aggrandizing aims when confronted with what they take to be exigencies of governance. This article examines the governing challenges met by presidents of the early national and antebellum periods, and argues that the distinctive conditions of governance that defined the pre–Civil War polity motivated a pattern of unionist presidential restraint, prompting presidents to refrain from direct applications of federal coercion and to balance the interests of geographic sections of the Union. Presidents' preoccupation with unionism, this article argues, was ever present in this period. The article examines a diverse set of case studies to make this argument and concludes with a discussion of how changes wrought by the Civil War led to the emergence of new patterns of restraint exercised by subsequent generations ofAmerican presidents.
Opposition to the Theory ofPresidentialRepresentation:Federalists,Whigs, andRepublicans
Authors: Bailey Jeremy D.
Published: January 2014

This article considers the theory of presidential representation by examining its development from 1800 to 1864. In particular, it returns to the critics ofThomasJefferson,AndrewJackson, andAbrahamLincoln and presents new evidence that the concept of presidential representation not only remained contested throughout this period but also grew more entangled with rival claims of representation and alternative arguments for executive power. By exploring the early development of the theory of presidential representation, the article contributes to the ongoing scholarly task of classifying arguments about the foundations of executive power and attempts to link literatures regarding the constitutional and political sources of presidential power.
The Rise of Sunbelt Governors: Conservative Outsiders in the White House
Authors: Ambar Saladin M.
Published: January 2014

In memory of Alan Rosenthal

There have been two periods in American political development where governors and their particular brand of politics have held sway in the White House. The first period, occurring during the Progressive Era, was marked by presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, who brought their state‐honed reform agendas with them to the presidency. Three‐quarters of a century later, their push for greater federal authority over big business, machine politics, and ineffective direction of public policy at the local level, was met by fierce resistance from a different breed of governor‐presidents. Hailing from the Sunbelt, these governors sought to overturn the “Hudson” progressive model. The conservative (and at times moderate) presidential politics of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush exemplified a brand of outsider governance dedicated to ending “big government.” Among their accomplishments was the confirmation of the American governorship as a distinctly powerful institution for shaping presidential behavior. This article examines this latter cohort of governor‐presidents and the meaning they brought to “outsider” politics.
Deslorelin Implants in Pre‐pubertal Female Dogs: Short‐ and Long‐Term Effects on the Genital Tract
Authors: Marino G , Rizzo S , Quartuccio M , Macrì F , Pagano G , Taormina A , Cristarella S , Zanghì A
Published: January 2014

Contents

Deslorelin acetate is aGnRHagonist used for contraception in dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment of pre‐pubertal female dogs with deslorelin acetate implants, to better investigate the primary stimulatory effect of the drug and the long‐term effects on the genital tract, throughout repeated treatments. Sicilian hound female dogs (24) were randomly assigned to treated group, control group 1 and control group 2. First group bitches were implanted at 4.5, 9.0 and 13.5 months and monitored clinically, ultrasonographically and endocrinologically, throughout the study period (13.5 months). Control group 1 bitches were not implanted and clinically monitored for the same period. At 18 months, the animals underwent ovariohysterectomy, thus allowing evaluation of the internal genitalia. Control group 2 bitches were ovariohysterectomized at the age of 4.5 months. The suppression of oestrus was obtained in the treated group despite the fact that the first implant caused a modest increase in plasmatic levels of 17‐beta estradiol and an evident cornification of the vaginal mucosa cells (50–80%). Estradiol and progesterone were at baseline levels for the remaining study period, in which no other oestrous manifestations were observed. The external genitalia maintained a juvenile appearance. The ovaries, ultrasonographically, showed no follicular structures and stayed the same size. At 18 months, the genital tract was still juvenile with inactive small ovaries and a thin filiform uterus. Deslorelin suppressed ovarian activity in pre‐pubertal bitches, and oestrous induction was not observed despite the presence of the primary stimulatory effect of the drug. Juvenile genitalia were an expected side effect of the treatment.
Local Measurement of Stress–Strain Behaviour of Ductile Materials at Elevated Temperatures in a Split‐Hopkinson Tension Bar System
Authors: Vilamosa V. , Clausen A. H. , Fagerholt E. , Hopperstad O. S. , Børvik T.
Published: January 2014

A split‐Hopkinson tension bar system is modified to allow for measuring the stress–strain behaviour of ductile materials at large strains, high strain rates and elevated temperatures. The specimen is heated by induction, and a pyrometer provides a laser‐based temperature measurement that controls the testing temperature in a feed‐back loop. A high‐speed digital camera system and an edge detection algorithm are used to obtain local measures of strain after necking of the axisymmetric specimens. Using the local strain measurements and Bridgman's analytical formulas, it is feasible to find the equivalent stress–strain curve to fracture for different levels of strain rate and temperature. Thermal and thermo‐mechanical finite element simulations of the test set‐up are used to evaluate the validity of the proposed experimental method.
Anther and pollen development in the lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum) staminate flower
Authors: Munro Kaitlyn C. , Jackson Jeffrey R.M. , Hartling Ivan , Sumner Michael J. , Ross Friedman Cynthia M.
Published: January 2014

The lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Engelm., is a parasitic angiosperm that infects conifers in western Canadian forests. While production of viable pollen in anthers is critical to dwarf mistletoe reproduction, the few existing reports that examine staminate development in Arceuthobium are often incomplete or conflicting. The objective of this work was to investigate the developmental anatomy of anther and pollen of A. americanum using modern microscopy. We found that the microsporangium was toroidal from the outset and gave rise to a central peg-shaped sterile “columella” early in anther development. The endothecium was absent, the epidermis persisted as an “exothecium” fulfilling the role of the endothecium, and a primary parietal layer generated a secretory tapetum and middle layer. Thus, we suggest that a new category of anther wall development, the Arceuthobium type, be created. Microsporogenesis produced tetrahedral microspores via simultaneous cytokinesis and involved callose wall formation. Microgametogenesis resulted in round and atypical generative and vegetative nuclei. Additionally, the heterocolpate, echinate pollen grains, which were shed at the two-celled stage, were seen for the first time in their native state with environmental scanning electron microscopy. This work contributes to the understanding of A. americanum, the genus Arceuthobium, and angiosperms as a whole.
Predicting the structural condition of individual sanitary sewer pipes with random forests
Authors: Harvey Robert Richard , McBean Edward Arthur
Published: January 2014

Closed-circuit television inspections of sewer condition deterioration as required for proactive management are expensive and hence limited to portions of a sewer network. The data mining approach presented herein is shown capable of unlocking information contained within inspection records and enhances existing pipe inspection practices currently used in the wastewater industry. Predictive models developed using the random forests algorithm are found capable of predicting individual sewer pipe condition so that uninspected pipes in a sewer network with the greatest likelihood of being in a structurally defective condition state are identified for future rounds of inspection. Complications posed by imbalance between classes common within inspection datasets are overcome by first establishing the classification task in a binary format (where pipes are in either good or bad structural condition) and then using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve to establish alternative cutoffs for the predicted class probability. The random forests algorithm achieved a stratified test set false negative rate of 18%, false positive rate of 27% and an excellent area under the ROC curve of 0.81 in a case study application to the City of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The novel inclusion of condition information of pipes attached at either the upstream or downstream manholes of an individual pipe enhances the predictive power for bad pipes representing the minority class of interest (reducing the false negative rate to 11%, reducing the false positive rate to 25% and increasing the area under the ROC curve to 0.85). An area under the ROC curve >0.80 indicates random forests are an “excellent” choice for predicting the condition of individual pipes in a sewer network.
Forest radiative transfer models: which approach for which application?
Authors: Ligot Gauthier , Balandier Philippe , Courbaud Benoît , Claessens Hugues
Published: January 2014

Radiation is fundamental in forest ecosystem ecology as it drives plant photosynthesis, morphogenesis, and fluxes of carbon, water, and energy between soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere. Though all approaches of forest radiative transfer models (FRTM) share general properties, they differ greatly in terms of calibration parameters, required assumptions, and model objectives. They use different precision levels of canopy description (from one to three dimensions) and different mathematical relationships to model the attenuation of radiation through the canopy. To date, no general guideline has been given to help the modeler choose the approach that best suits his needs. We therefore reviewed evaluation, sensitivity, and performance of FRTMs recently reported in the literature. We quantified FRTM uncertainty and identified the most sensitive parameters relative to the modeling choices. Their advantages and drawbacks are discussed, and recommendations are made relative to application potential.
OPTIMAL ESTIMATION OF TOTAL PLANTAR FORCE FOR MONITORING GAIT IN DAILY LIFE ACTIVITIES WITH LOW-PRICE INSOLE SYSTEM
Authors: PU FANG , YANG YANG , FAN XIAOYA , LI SHUYU , LI YAN , LI DEYU , FAN YUBO
Published: January 2014

This study presented optimal estimation of total plantar force with a suitable sensor layout and a reliable equation for monitoring gait in daily life activities. The plantar pressure of 10 subjects during level walking was measured by Pedar® insoles at 100 Hz for establishing models and selecting the optimal one. Four types of virtual sensors with different sizes were designed. Stepwise linear regressions were performed to reconstruct total plantar force based on each particular type of virtual sensor. 14 models were established, which met the requirements of the explained variance of the regression model and the multicollinearity of the predictors. Estimated total plantar force from each model was compared with the real data from the Pedar® insoles. According to the correlation coefficient (R) and the root mean square error divided by the peak force (RMSE/PF), the optimal model had three sensors located under the heel and metatarsal. Another four subjects were used for validating the optimal model by performing level walking, running, vertical jump-landing, stair ascending and descending. For these five common activities, the correlation was high (R > 0.970) and the error was low (RMSE/PF < 10%). Therefore, this model can accurately estimate total plantar force in daily life activities.
DYNAMIC CONTACT ANALYSIS OF TOTAL HIP PROSTHESIS DURING STUMBLING CYCLE
Authors: SHANKAR S. , MANIKANDAN M.
Published: January 2014

The estimation of the hip joint contact stresses and contact pressure distribution during stumbling activities is a critical task for selecting the best material pair in the hip prosthesis design. This paper utilizes a three-dimensional finite element model of acetabular component to analyze the dynamic stumbling activity using ANSYS®. The present study investigates the maximum von Mises stress, contact pressure and deformation developed for different combinations of materials under the stumbling load condition. The different combination of bearing couplings considered for the analysis are metal in contact with plastic, metal on metal, metal on ceramic, ceramic on plastic, ceramic on metal and ceramic on ceramic combinations. The results concluded that the Alumina femoral head paired with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) cup reduces the maximum von Mises stress and maximum contact pressure developed between the interface regions when compared with other combinations. The obtained results are compared with the result of Hai-bo-Jiang et al., for available combinations, and higher correlation of 92% was found between the two results.
Hypermap-homology quantum codes
Authors: Leslie Martin
Published: January 2014

We introduce a new type of sparse CSS quantum error correcting code based on the homology of hypermaps. Sparse quantum error correcting codes are of interest in the building of quantum computers due to their ease of implementation and the possibility of developing fast decoders for them. Codes based on the homology of embeddings of graphs, such as Kitaev's toric code, have been discussed widely in the literature and our class of codes generalize these. We use embedded hypergraphs, which are a generalization of graphs that can have edges connected to more than two vertices.

We develop theorems and examples of our hypermap-homology codes, especially in the case that we choose a special type of basis in our homology chain complex. In particular the most straightforward generalization of the m × m toric code to hypermap-homology codes gives us a [(3/2)m2, 2, m] code as compared to the toric code which is a [2m2, 2, m] code. Thus we can protect the same amount of quantum information, with the same error-correcting capability, using less physical qubits.
Occupation-Level Income Shocks and Asset Returns: Their Covariance and Implications for Portfolio Choice
Authors: Davis Steven J. , Willen Paul
Published: January 2014

This paper develops and applies a simple graphical approach to portfolio selection that accounts for covariance between asset returns and an investor's labor income. Our graphical approach easily handles income shocks that are partly hedgable, multiple risky assets, many periods and life cycle considerations. We apply the approach to occupation-level components of individual income innovations estimated from repeated cross-sections of the current population survey. We characterize several properties of these innovations, including their covariance with aggregate equity returns, long-term bond returns, and returns on several other assets. Aggregate equity returns are uncorrelated with the occupation-level income innovations, but a portfolio formed on firm size is significantly correlated with income innovations for several occupations, and so are selected industry-level equity portfolios. An application of the theory to the empirical results shows (a) large predicted levels of risky asset holdings compared to observed levels, (b) considerable variation in optimal portfolio allocations over the life cycle, and (c) large departures from the two-fund separation principle.
JPCAM: A 1.2 GPIXEL CAMERA FOR THE J-PAS SURVEY
Authors: TAYLOR K. , MARÍN-FRANCH A. , LAPORTE R. , SANTORO F. G. , MARRARA L. , CEPA J. , CENARRO A. J. , CHUECA S. , CRISTOBAL-HORNILLOS D. , EDEROCLITE A. , GRUEL N. , MOLES M. , RUEDA F. , RUEDA S. , VARELA J. , YANES A. , BENITEZ N. , DUPKE R. , FERNÁNDEZ-SOTO A. , JORDEN P. , LOUSBERG G. , MOLINO BENITO A. , PALMER I. , MENDES DE OLIVEIRA C. , SODRÉ L.
Published: January 2014

JPCam is a 14-CCD mosaic camera, using the new e2v 9k-by-9k 10 μm-pixel 16-channel detectors, to be deployed on a dedicated 2.55 m wide-field telescope at the OAJ (Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre) in Aragon, Spain. The camera is designed to perform a Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) survey of the northern sky. The J-PAS survey strategy will use 54 relatively narrow-band (~ 13.8 nm) filters equi-spaced between 370 and 920 nm plus 3 broad-band filters to achieve unprecedented photometric red-shift accuracies for faint galaxies over ~8000 square degrees of sky. The cryostat, detector mosaic and read electronics, is being supplied by e2v under contract to J-PAS while the mechanical structure, housing the shutter and filter assembly, is being designed and constructed by a Brazilian consortium led by INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais). The cryostat is bridged to the telescope via a hexapod actuator system to maintain image quality across the field. Four sets of 14 filters are placed in the ambient environment, just above the dewar window but directly in line with the detectors, leading to a mosaic having ~ 10 mm gaps between each CCD. The massive 500 mm aperture shutter is expected to be supplied by the Bonn-Shutter UG. We will present an overview of JPCam, from the filter configuration through to the CCD mosaic camera. A brief outline of the main J-PAS science projects will be included.
Cooperative Mission Planning with Multiple UAVs in Realistic Environments
Authors: Geng L. , Zhang Y. F. , Wang Jingjing , Fuh Jerry Y. H. , Teo S. H.
Published: January 2014

In this paper, a mission planning system is developed for managing multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various capabilities to execute a series of missions over multiple targets. A target may need up to three tasks (i.e., classification, attack, and verification) to be carried out in sequence. The problem is addressed in two decision-making stages. First, the shortest feasible flying path for a UAV to fly between any pair of task locations is obtained using a customized A* algorithm. During the search, constraints such as collision avoidance from terrain, circumvention of flight prohibition zones, and the flying capabilities of UAVs are considered. In the second stage, with the obtained UAV flying paths between task locations, mission planning is modeled as a vehicle routing problem (VRP) with time window and precedence requirements. A genetic algorithm with a built-in mixed integer programming (MIP) solver is developed to solve the problem. The outputs of this proposed planning system include (1) task assignment among the UAVs, (2) mission execution schedule for each UAV, and (3) flying paths of the UAVs.
Nanoparticle-encapsulated doxorubicin enhances cryoablation of cancer stem-like cells
Authors: Rao Wei , Bellotti Adriano , Littrup Peter J. , Yu Jianhua , Lu Xiongbin , He Xiaoming
Published: January 2014

Cryoablation is a promising minimally invasive technology for cancer treatment. However, no study was reported concerning the effect of cryoablation on cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) that are capable of reinitiating tumor growth after conventional chemotherapy. Using a biomimetic 3D mammosphere model, we found that cryoablation alone could significantly but incompletely destroy CD44+CD133+ CSCs. Moreover, the combination of cryoablation and conventional chemotherapy using free doxorubicin (fDOX) does not significantly enhance destruction of the CSCs over the individual treatments. We develop a novel combined treatment of cryoablation and nanoparticle-encapsulated doxorubicin (nDOX) that is capable of achieving nearly complete elimination of the CSCs (from 16.6 to 0.6%). This is attributed in part to the much-enhanced uptake of nDOX (compared to fDOX) by the CSCs. Collectively, this study demonstrates the great potential of a combined therapy of cryoablation and nanodrug for improved cancer treatment by eliminating the root of cancer — the CSCs.
Pelvic Radiation Disease Management by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Prospective Study of 44 Patients
Authors: Ouaïssi Mehdi , Tran Stephanie , Mege Diane , Latrasse Vivien , Barthelemy Alain , Pirro Nicolas , Grandval Philippe , Lassey James , Sielezneff Igor , Sastre Bernard , Coulange Mathieu
Published: January 2014

Pelvic radiation disease (PRD) occurs in 2–11% of patients undergoing pelvic radiation for urologic and gynecologic malignancies. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has previously been described as a noninvasive therapeutic option for the treatment of PRD. the purpose of study was to analyze prospectively the results of HBOT in 44 consecutive patients with PRD who were resistant to conventional oral or topical treatments.Material and Methods. The median age of the cohort was 65.7 years (39–85). Twenty-seven percent of patients required blood transfusion (n=12). The median of delay between radiotherapy and HBOT was 26 months (3–175). We evaluated the results of HBOT, using SOMA-LENT Scale.Results. SOMA-LENT score was decreased in 59% of patient. The median of SOMA-LENT score before HBOT was significantly higher, being equal to 14 (0–36), than after HBOT with the SOMA-LENT score of 12 (0–38) (P=0.003). Tenesmus (P=0.02), bleeding (P=0.0001), and ulceration (P=0.001) significantly decreased after HBOT. Regarding patients with colostomy, 33% (n=4) benefited from colostomies closure. HBOT was generally well tolerated. Only one patient stopped precociously due to transient myopia.Conclusion. This study is in favor of the interest of HBOT in pelvic radiation disease treatment (PRD).
Decreasing Prevalence of Transfusion Transmitted Infection in Indian Scenario
Authors: Chandra Tulika , Rizvi S. Nishat Fatima , Agarwal Devisha
Published: January 2014

Transfusion transmitted infections are major problem associated with blood transfusion. Accurate estimates of risk of TTIs are essential for monitoring the safety of blood supply and evaluating the efficacy of currently employed screening procedures. The present study was carried out to assess the percentage of voluntary donors and replacement donors and to find out prevalence and changing trends of various TTIs blood donors in recent years. A study was carried out on blood units of voluntary and replacement donors which were collected from January 2008 to December 2012. On screening of 180,371 replacement units, seropositivity of transfusion transmitted disease in replacement donors was 0.15% in HIV, 1.67% in hepatitis B surface antigen, 0.49% in hepatitis C virus, 0.01% in VDRL, and 0.009% in malaria. Of 11,977 voluntary units, seropositivity of transfusion transmitted disease in voluntary donors was 0.08% in HIV, 0.24% in hepatitis B surface antigen, 0.001% in hepatitis C virus, 0.008% in VDRL (sexually transmitted disease), and 0.01% in malaria. From results it has been concluded that prevalence of transfusion transmitted infection (HIV, HBV, HCV, VDRL, and malaria) was more in replacement donors in comparison to voluntary donors. Extensive donor selection and screening procedures will help in improving the blood safety.
Design of Simplified Maximum-Likelihood Receivers for Multiuser CPM Systems
Authors: Bing Li , Bai Baoming
Published: January 2014

A class of simplified maximum-likelihood receivers designed for continuous phase modulation based multiuser systems is proposed. The presented receiver is built upon a front end employing mismatched filters and a maximum-likelihood detector defined in a low-dimensional signal space. The performance of the proposed receivers is analyzed and compared to some existing receivers. Some schemes are designed to implement the proposed receivers and to reveal the roles of different system parameters. Analysis and numerical results show that the proposed receivers can approach the optimum multiuser receivers with significantly (even exponentially in some cases) reduced complexity and marginal performance degradation.
Effects of Processing Parameters on the Synthesis of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3Nanopowders by Reactive High-Energy Ball Milling Method
Authors: Duc Van Nguyen
Published: January 2014

The effects of ball milling parameters, namely, the ball-to-powder mass ratio and milling speed, on the synthesis of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3nanopowders by high-energy ball milling method from a stoichiometric mixture containing Na2CO3, K2CO3, and Nb2O5were investigated in this paper. The results indicated that the single crystalline phase of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3was received in as-milled samples synthesized using optimized ball-to-powder mass ratio of 35 : 1 and at a milling speed of 600 rpm for 5 h. In the optimized as-milled samples, no remaining alkali carbonates that can provide the volatilizable potassium-containing species were found and (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3nanopowders were readily obtained via the formation of an intermediate carbonato complex. This complex was mostly transformed into (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3at temperature as low as 350°C and its existence was no longer detected at spectroscopic level when calcination temperature crossed over 700°C.
Determination of Volatile Compounds in Four Commercial Samples of Japanese Green Algae Using Solid Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Yamamoto Masayoshi , Baldermann Susanne , Yoshikawa Keisuke , Fujita Akira , Mase Nobuyuki , Watanabe Naoharu
Published: January 2014

Green algae are of great economic importance. Seaweed is consumed fresh or as seasoning in Japan. The commercial value is determined by quality, color, and flavor and is also strongly influenced by the production area. Our research, based on solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS), has revealed that volatile compounds differ intensely in the four varieties of commercial green algae. Accordingly, 41 major volatile compounds were identified. Heptadecene was the most abundant compound from Okayama (Ulva prolifera), Tokushima (Ulva prolifera), and Ehime prefecture (Ulva linza). Apocarotenoids, such as ionones, and their derivatives were prominent volatiles in algae from Okayama (Ulva prolifera) and Tokushima prefecture (Ulva prolifera). Volatile, short chained apocarotenoids are among the most potent flavor components and contribute to the flavor of fresh, processed algae, and algae-based products. Benzaldehyde was predominant in seaweed from Shizuoka prefecture (Monostroma nitidum). Multivariant statistical analysis (PCA) enabled simple discrimination of the samples based on their volatile profiles. This work shows the potential of SPME-GC-MS coupled with multivariant analysis to discriminate between samples of different geographical and botanical origins and form the basis for development of authentication methods of green algae products, including seasonings.
Contemporaneous and Lagged Effects of Life Domains and Substance Use: A Test of Agnew's General Theory of Crime and Delinquency
Authors: Ngo Fawn T. , Paternoster Raymond
Published: January 2014

This study presents a partial test of Agnew’s general theory of crime and delinquency. Relying on a sample of adolescents and employing measures of the self, family, school, and peers domains, this study examines the contemporaneous and lagged effects of these four life domains on the likelihood of consuming alcohol and using marijuana. This study also assesses the contemporaneous and lagged effects of the life domain variables on themselves and on one another. Overall, the results lend support for Agnew’s general theory. The results also reveal several notable puzzles and underscore the complexity of this potentially important contemporary theoretical perspective.
Induction of Epoxide Hydrolase, Glucuronosyl Transferase, and Sulfotransferase by Phenethyl Isothiocyanate in Male Wistar Albino Rats
Authors: Abdull Razis Ahmad Faizal , Mohd Noor Noramaliza , Konsue Nattaya
Published: January 2014

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is an isothiocyanate found in watercress as the glucosinolate (gluconasturtiin). The isothiocyanate is converted from the glucosinolate by intestinal microflora or when contacted with myrosinase during the chopping and mastication of the vegetable. PEITC manifested protection against chemically-induced cancers in various tissues. A potential mechanism of chemoprevention is by modulating the metabolism of carcinogens so as to promote deactivation. The principal objective of this study was to investigate in rats the effect of PEITC on carcinogen-metabolising enzyme systems such as sulfotransferase (SULT), N-acetyltransferase (NAT), glucuronosyl transferase (UDP), and epoxide hydrolase (EH) following exposure to low doses that simulate human dietary intake. Rats were fed for 2 weeks diets supplemented with PEITC at 0.06 µmol/g (low dose, i.e., dietary intake), 0.6 µmol/g (medium dose), and 6.0 µmol/g (high dose), and the enzymes were monitored in rat liver. At the Low dose, no induction of the SULT, NAT, and EH was noted, whereas UDP level was elevated. At the Medium dose, only SULT level was increased, whereas at the High dose marked increase in EH level was observed. It is concluded that PEITC modulates carcinogen-metabolising enzyme systems at doses reflecting human intake thus elucidating the mechanism of its chemoprevention.
Numerical Study of Natural Convection in Vertical Enclosures Utilizing Nanofluid
Authors: Alipanah M. , Ranjbar A. A. , Zahmatkesh A.
Published: January 2014

Enhancement of buoyancy-driven convection heat transfer within vertical cavities containing nanofluids subjected to different side wall temperatures and various aspect ratios is investigated. The computations are based on an iterative, finitevolume numerical procedure (SIMPLE) that incorporates the Boussinesq approximation to simulate the buoyancy term. With the base fluid being water, three different nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2, and Al2O3) are considered as the nanofluids. This study has been carried out for the pertinent parameters in the following ranges: the Rayleigh number, Raf = 105–107 and the volumetric fraction of nanoparticle between 0 and 5 percent. The results are presented for different length-to-height ratios varying from 0.1 to 1.0. The comparisons show that the mean Nusselt numbers and velocity magnitudes increase with volume fraction for the whole range of the Rayleigh numbers. The predictions show a noticeable heat transfer enhancement compared to pure fluid. It is also found that the heat transfer enhancement utilizing nanofluid is more pronounced at low aspect ratios than high aspect ratios. Moreover, the results depict that the addition of nanoparticles to the pure fluid has more effects at lower Rayleigh numbers.
Demonstration of Redox Potential ofMetschnikowia koreensisfor Stereoinversion of Secondary Alcohols/1,2-Diols
Authors: Meena Vachan Singh , Banoth Linga , Banerjee U. C.
Published: January 2014

The present work reports theMetschnikowia koreensis-catalyzed one-pot deracemization of secondary alcohols/1,2-diols and their derivatives with in vivo cofactor regeneration. Reaction is stereoselective and proceeds with sequential oxidation of (R)-secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones and the reduction of the ketones to (S)-secondary alcohols. Method is applicable to a repertoire of racemic aryl secondary alcohols and 1,2-diols establishing a wide range of substrate specificity ofM. koreensis. This ecofriendly method afforded the product in high yield (88%) and excellent optical purity (>98%ee), minimizing the requirement of multistep reaction and expensive cofactor.
Prevalence of Thyroid Autoimmunity in Children with Celiac Disease Compared to Healthy 12-Year Olds
Authors: van der Pals Maria , Ivarsson Anneli , Norström Fredrik , Högberg Lotta , Svensson Johan , Carlsson Annelie
Published: January 2014

Objectives. Studies have suggested a correlation between untreated celiac disease and risk for other autoimmune diseases. We investigated the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in 12-year-old children (i) with symptomatic celiac disease diagnosed and treated with a gluten-free diet, (ii) with screening-detected untreated celiac disease, and (iii) without celiac disease.Methods. Blood samples from 12632 children were collected. All celiac disease cases, previously diagnosed and newly screening-detected, were identified. Per case, 4 referents were matched. Blood samples were analyzed for autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb). The cut-off value for TPO positivity was set to 100 U/mL.Results. Altogether, 335 celiac disease cases were found. In the entire celiac disease group, 7.2% (24/335) had elevated titers of TPOAb compared to 2.8% (48/1695) of the referents. Among the previously diagnosed celiac disease cases, 7.5% (7/93, OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.4) was TPOAb positive and among screening-detected cases, 7.0% (17/242, OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5–4.6) was TPOAb positive.Conclusion. Children with celiac disease showed a higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity. We could not confirm the hypothesis that untreated celiac disease is associated with increased risk of developing thyroid autoimmunity. Early initiation of celiac disease treatment might not lower the risk for other autoimmune diseases.
Energy Detection in Multihop Cooperative Diversity Networks: An Analytical Study
Authors: Mughal M. O. , Marcenaro L. , Regazzoni C. S.
Published: January 2014

This work presents a study of detection performance of energy detector in relay-based multihop cooperative diversity networks operating over independent Rayleigh fading channels. In particular, upper bound average detection probability expressions are obtained for three scenarios: (i) multihop cooperative relay communication; (ii) multi-hop cooperative relay communication with direct link and maximum ratio combiner (MRC) at destination; and (iii) multi-hop cooperative relay communication with direct link and selection combiner (SC) at destination. Classical method of performance evaluation based on probability density function (PDF) of received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is used. Furthermore, an alternative series form representation of generalized Marcum- Q function is employed in order to simplify the ensuing mathematical derivations. Because the obtained detection probability expressions are in the form of infinite summation series, their respective truncation error bounds are also derived. In the end, analyses are validated with the help of simulations and several observations regarding the impact of different parameters on detector's performance are outlined.