bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Four Sections for Analyzing Running Mechanics Alterations During Repeated Treadmill Sprints
Authors: Girard Olivier , Brocherie Franck , Morin Jean-Benoit , Degache Francis , Millet Grégoire P.
Published: June 2015

We compared different approaches to analyze running mechanics alterations during repeated treadmill sprints. Thirteen active male athletes performed five 5-second sprints with 25 seconds of recovery on an instrumented treadmill. This approach allowed continuous measurement of running kinetics/kinematics and calculation of vertical and leg stiffness variables that were subsequently averaged over 3 distinct sections of the 5-second sprint (steps 2–5, 7–10, and 12–15) and for all steps (steps 2–15). Independently from the analyzed section, propulsive power and step frequency decreased with fatigue, while contact time and step length increased (P < .05). Except for step frequency, all mechanical variables varied (P < .05) across sprint sections. The only parameters that highly depend on running velocity (propulsive power and vertical stiffness) showed a significant interaction (P < .05) between the analyzed sections, with smaller magnitude of fatigue-induced change observed for steps 2–5. Considering all steps or only a few steps during early, middle, or late phases of 5-second sprints provides similar mechanical outcomes during repeated treadmill sprinting, although acceleration induces noticeable differences between the sections studied. Furthermore, quantifying mechanical alterations from the early acceleration phase may not be readily detectable, and is not recommended.
Complete Genome Sequence of Martelella endophytica YC6887, Which Has Antifungal Activity Associated with a Halophyte
Authors: Khan Ajmal , Khan Haji , Chung Eu Jin , Hossain Mohammad T. , Chung Young Ryun
Published: June 2015

Martelella endophytica
YC6887, which produces antifungal compounds against fungal and oomycete pathogens, was isolated from the root of a halophyte,
Rosa rugosa
, collected at a tidal flat in South Korea. Its full-genome sequence shows that it is a circular DNA, without a plasmid, of about 4.8 Mb in size.
Noncanonical Activation of β-Catenin by Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Zhou Yun , Sztukowska Maryta , Wang Qian , Inaba Hiroaki , Potempa Jan , Scott David A. , Wang Huizhi , Lamont Richard J.
Published: June 2015

Porphyromonas gingivalis
is an established pathogen in periodontal disease and an emerging pathogen in serious systemic conditions, including some forms of cancer. We investigated the effect of
P. gingivalis
on β-catenin signaling, a major pathway in the control of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Infection of gingival epithelial cells with
P. gingivalis
did not influence the phosphorylation status of β-catenin but resulted in proteolytic processing. The use of mutants deficient in gingipain production, along with gingipain-specific inhibitors, revealed that gingipain proteolytic activity was required for β-catenin processing. The β-catenin destruction complex components Axin1, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and GSK3β were also proteolytically processed by
P. gingivalis
gingipains. Cell fractionation and Western blotting demonstrated that β-catenin fragments were translocated to the nucleus. The accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus following
P. gingivalis
infection was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. A luciferase reporter assay showed that
P. gingivalis
increased the activity of the β-catenin-dependent TCF/LEF promoter.
P. gingivalis
did not increase Wnt3a mRNA levels, a finding consistent with
P. gingivalis
-induced proteolytic processing causing the increase in TCF/LEF promoter activity. Thus, our data indicate that
P. gingivalis
can induce the noncanonical activation of β-catenin and disassociation of the β-catenin destruction complex by gingipain-dependent proteolytic processing. β-Catenin activation in epithelial cells by
P. gingivalis
may contribute to a proliferative phenotype.
Murine Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Translocation
Authors: Green Sabrina I. , Ajami Nadim J. , Ma Li , Poole Nina M. , Price Roger E. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Maresso Anthony W.
Published: June 2015

Escherichia coli
is a major cause of life-threatening infections in patients with neutropenia, particularly those receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. In most cases, these infections originate from opportunistic strains living within the patient's gastrointestinal tract which then translocate to major organ systems. There are no animal models that faithfully recapitulate these infections, and, as such, the host or bacterial factors that govern this process remain unidentified. We present here a novel model of chemotherapy-induced bacterial translocation of
E. coli
. Oral gavage of BALB/c mice with a clinical isolate of extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) leads to stable and long-term colonization of the murine intestine. Following the induction of neutropenia with the chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide, ExPEC translocates from the intestine to the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys with concomitant morbidity in infected animals. Translocation can also occur in mice bearing mammary tumors, even in the absence of chemotherapy. Translocation of ExPEC is also associated with an increase of the diversity of bacterial DNA detected in the blood. This is the first report of a chemotherapy-based animal model of ExPEC translocation in cancerous mice, a system that can be readily used to identify important virulence factors for this process.
Halogravity traction in the preoperative treatment of scoliosis in twins with Marfan syndrome
Authors: Cimic Mislav , Crnogaca Kresimir , Vrdoljak Ozren , Bicanic Goran
Published: June 2015

We report on the influence of the duration of halogravity traction for achieving curve correction in monozygotic twins with Marfan syndrome who underwent posterior spinal fusion. Review of the medical charts and standard radiograph analysis of twin girls treated at our department was performed. Halogravity traction with a four-pin skull construct was applied for 3 weeks in twin A and for 2 weeks in twin B with a maximum of 20% body weight used. Both were on a 24-hours-day halogravity traction regime. Achieved thoracic curve correction after halogravity traction was 31% in twin A and 18% in twin B. Although less curve correction after traction was achieved in twin B, this had no significant implications on final postoperative curve correction. Halogravity traction can be a useful tool in the preoperative treatment of scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome if applied for 3 weeks. In order to avoid complications, we propose that lower weights be used with a starting weight of 1.5 kg increased by 1 kg daily until 20% body weight is reached.
Cervical dermatomal zona misdiagnosed as ulnar nerve entrapment
Authors: Şalçini Celal , Sunter Gülin , Gumustas Seyit Ali , Evrensel Alper
Published: June 2015

Herpes zoster is a secondary reactivation of primary contagious varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglia. While thoracic zona is common, cervical dermatomal zona is a rare segmental complication of herpes zoster and can be easily misdiagnosed as other diseases. This article describes a patient with initial neuralgia without dermatomal lesions that was treated as ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome until manifestation of herpetiform cutaneous lesions appeared. It is important that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of zoster infection when evaluating the onset of neuralgia in a dermatomal distribution in the upper limb, especially without rash.
Pubic apophysitis: a previously undescribed clinical entity of groin pain in athletes
Authors: Sailly Matthieu , Whiteley Rod , Read John W , Giuffre Bruno , Johnson Amanda , Hölmich Per
Published: June 2015

Background

Sport-related pubalgia is often a diagnostic challenge in elite athletes. While scientific attention has focused on adults, there is little data on adolescents. Cadaveric and imaging studies identify a secondary ossification centre located along the anteromedial corner of pubis beneath the insertions of symphysial joint capsule and adductor longus tendon. Little is known about this apophysis and its response to chronic stress.

Aim

We report pubic apophysitis as a clinically relevant entity in adolescent athletes.

Methods

The clinical and imaging findings in 26 highly trained adolescent football players (15.6 years±1.3) who complained of adductor-related groin pain were reviewed. The imaging features (X-ray 26/26, US 9/26, MRI 11/26, CT 7/26) of the pubic apophyses in this symptomatic group were compared against those of a comparison group of 31 male patients (age range 9–30 years) with no known history of groin pain or pelvic trauma, who underwent pelvic CT scans for unrelated medical reasons.

Results

All symptomatic subjects presented with similar history and physical findings. The CT scans of these patients demonstrated open pubic apophyses with stress-related physeal changes (widening, asymmetry and small rounded cyst-like expansions) that were not observed in the comparison group. No comparison subject demonstrated apophyseal maturity before 21 years of age, and immaturity was seen up to the age of 26 years.

Conclusions

This retrospective case series identifies pubic apophyseal stress (or ‘apophysitis’) as an important differential consideration in the adolescent athlete who presents with groin pain.
Systematic review: laparoscopic treatment of long-standing groin pain in athletes
Authors: Paajanen Hannu , Montgomery Agneta , Simon Thomas , Sheen Aali J
Published: June 2015

Objectives

No single aetiological factor has been proven to cause long-standing groin pain in athletes and no sole operative technique (either open or laparoscopic) has been shown to be the preferred method of repair. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether there are any differences in the return to full sporting activity following laparoscopic repair of groin pain in athletes.

Data sources

The minimal access approaches include laparoscopic transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) or endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) techniques. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS, UpToDate and the Cochrane Library databases. Series reporting laparoscopic repair (TAPP/TEP) of groin pain in adult (>18 years) athletes were included. The primary outcome was return to full sporting activity and secondary outcomes included percentage success rates and complications of operations.

Results

Only 18 studies fulfilled the search criteria with both laparoscopic and sports hernia repairs. The studies were mainly observational with some reporting comparative data, but no large randomised controlled trials were detected. The median return to sporting activity of 4 weeks (28 days) was the same for the TAPP as well as TEP techniques. No real difference in secondary outcome measures was shown. More reported cases to date in the literature used the TAPP technique compared with TEP repair (n=605 vs n=266).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic surgery for elite athlete groin pain is increasingly becoming more common with almost 1000 patients reported since 1997. No particular laparoscopic technique appears to offer any advantage over the other.
Regulation of cell differentiation and function by the euchromatin histone methyltranserfases G9a and GLP
Authors: Kramer Jamie M.
Published: June 2015

The euchromatin histone methyltransferases (EHMTs) are an evolutionarily conserved protein family that are known for their ability to dimethylate histone 3 at lysine 9 in euchromatic regions of the genome. In mammals there are two EHMT proteins, G9a, encoded by EHMT2, and GLP, encoded by EHMT1. EHMTs have diverse roles in the differentiation of different tissues and cell types and are involved in adult-specific processes like memory, drug addiction, and immune response. This review discusses recent findings from rodent and Drosophila models that are beginning to reveal the broad biological role and complex mechanistic functioning of EHMT proteins.
A robust coupled 2-D model for rapidly varying flows over erodible bed using central-upwind method with wetting and drying
Authors: Liu Xin , Sedano Julio Angel Infante , Mohammadian Abdolmajid
Published: June 2015

This paper aims to develop a robust two-dimensional coupled numerical model based on an unstructured mesh, which can simulate rapidly varying flows over an erodible bed involving wet–dry fronts that is a complex yet practically important problem. Using a modified spatial reconstruction based on the finite volume method, the well-balanced property is preserved, which is important for accurate and efficient simulation of morphological problems. In the present study, the central-upwind scheme is extended to simulation of bed erosion and sediment transport for the first time. It is demonstrated that the proposed scheme shows good accuracy and high efficiency. A modified shallow water system is adopted to improve the model. The shallow water equations, sediment transport equation and bed evolution equation are coupled in the governing system. Multiple test cases are employed to demonstrate the robustness, accuracy, and efficiency of the current model. Furthermore, with a field scale dam-break test case, the efficiency and accuracy of the central-upwind method is verified in comparison with other popular Riemann solvers. The effects of the additional source terms in the adopted modified shallow water equations are also investigated by comparing the numerical results with a laboratory study available in the literature. The proposed scheme can efficiently track wetting and drying interfaces while preserving stability in simulating the bed erosion near the wet-dry fronts. The added terms in shallow water equations can improve the accuracy of the simulation when intense sediment-exchange exists; the central-upwind method adopted in the current study shows great accuracy and efficiency compared with other popular solvers; the developed model is robust, efficient and accurate to deal with various challenging cases.
Quantifying the effects of stream habitat on populations of breeding Pacific salmon
Authors: Nelson Michelle C. , Hocking Morgan D. , Harding Jennifer N. , Harding Joel M.S. , Reynolds John D.
Published: June 2015

Recognizing the mechanisms by which environmental conditions drive population dynamics can greatly benefit conservation and management. For example, reductions in densities of spawning Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) have received considerable attention, but the role of habitat characteristics on population sizes of breeding salmon is not fully understood. We studied relationships between habitat characteristics and stream population densities of spawning chum (Oncorhynchus keta) and pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) salmon in 44 streams in the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia, Canada, with individual streams as the unit of comparison. Our results indicate that a small number of habitat characteristics are important in predicting population density of spawning chum and pink salmon in streams, namely pH for chum salmon and riparian slope and large wood volume for pink salmon. This is the largest multivariable comparison to examine habitat–population relationships in adult spawning salmon and may provide useful quantitative emphasis in guiding management.
A simple area-based model for predicting airborne LiDAR first returns from stem diameter distributions: an example study in an uneven-aged, mixed temperate forest
Authors: Spriggs Rebecca A. , Vanderwel Mark C. , Jones Trevor A. , Caspersen John P. , Coomes David A.
Published: June 2015

Tree size distributions are of fundamental importance in forestry. Airborne laser scanning (i.e., light detection and ranging, LiDAR) provides high-resolution information on canopy structure and may have potential as a tool for mapping and monitoring tree stem diameter distributions across forest landscapes. We present an area-based allometric model (with three levels of species specificity) that links ground-based plot data to the height distribution of LiDAR first returns, demonstrating the approach with survey data from a mixed, uneven-aged forest in central Ontario, Canada. Our model translates stem diameters into estimates of exposed crown area within 1 m height intervals; we then compared those estimates with the height distribution of LiDAR first returns. This basic approach gave reasonable goodness of fits (root mean squared error = 32%), but accuracy was improved by adding mechanistic features (root mean squared error = 17%) to adjust crown shapes and crown permeability and allow for crown overlap and gaps. The model showed no bias in predicting LiDAR returns in the mid to upper canopy (18–30 m) but tended to underestimate the returns from the understory level (2–8 m) and overestimate returns from the ground level and lower canopy (8–18 m). Our model represents an important contribution towards the remote mapping of tree size distributions by showing that LiDAR first returns can be accurately predicted from standard plot data via the inclusion of a few fundamental canopy properties.
Biometric Template Protection Using Spiral Cube: Performance and Security Analysis
Authors: Moujahdi Chouaib , Bebis George , Ghouzali Sanaa , Mikram Mounia , Rziza Mohammed
Published: June 2015

Personal authentication systems based on biometrics have given rise to new problems and challenges related to the protection of personal data, issues of less concern in traditional authentication systems. The irrevocability of biometric templates makes biometric systems very vulnerable to several attacks. In this paper we present a new approach for biometric template protection. Our objective is to build a non-invertible transformation, based on random projection, which meets the requirements of revocability, diversity, security and performance. In this context, we use the chaotic behavior of logistic map to build the projection vectors using a methodology that makes the construction of the projection matrix depend on the biometric template and its identity. The proposed approach has been evaluated and compared with Biohashing and BioPhasor using a rigorous security analysis. Our extensive experimental results using several databases (e.g., face, finger-knuckle and iris), show that the proposed technique has the ability to preserve and increase the performance of protected systems. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the security of the proposed approach is sufficiently robust to possible attacks keeping an acceptable balance between discrimination, diversity and non-invertibility.
On the number of links in a linearly embedded K3,3,1
Authors: Naimi Ramin , Pavelescu Elena
Published: June 2015

We show there exists a linear embedding of K3,3,1 with n nontrivial 2-component links if and only if n = 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
MODELING TRAFFIC FLUCTUATIONS AND CONGESTION ON A ROAD NETWORK
Authors: ANDREOTTI E. , BAZZANI A. , RAMBALDI S. , GUGLIELMI N. , FREGUGLIA P.
Published: June 2015

Statistical mechanics points out as fluctuations have a relevant role for systems near critical points. We study the effect of traffic fluctuations and the transition to congested states for a stochastic dynamical model of traffic on a road network. The model simulates a finite population that moves from one road to another according to random transition probabilities. In such a way, we mimic the traffic fluctuations due to the granular feature of traffic and the dynamics at the crossing points. Then the amplitude of traffic flow fluctuations is proportional to the average flow as suggested by empirical observations. Assuming a parabolic shaped flow-density relation, there exists an unstable critical point for the road dynamics and the system can perform a phase transition to a congested state, where some roads reach their maximal capacity. We apply a statistical physics approach to study the onset congestion and we characterize analytically the relation between the fluctuations amplitude and the appearance of congested nodes. We verify the results by means of numerical simulations on a Manhattan-like road network. Moreover we point out the existence of oscillating regimes, where traffic oscillations back propagate on the road network, whose onset depend sensitively from the traffic fluctuations and that have a strong influence on the hysteresis cycles of the systems when the traffic load is modulated. The comparison between the numerical simulations and the empirical traffic data recorded by an inductive-loop traffic detector system (MTS system) on the county roads of the Emilia Romagna region in Italy is shortly discussed.
Cosmological viable mimetic f(R) and f(R, T) theories via Noether symmetry
Authors: Momeni D. , Myrzakulov R. , Güdekli E.
Published: June 2015

Extended f(R) theories of gravity have been investigated from the symmetry point of view. We briefly has been investigated Noether symmetry of two types of extended f(R) theories: f(R, T) theory, in which curvature is coupled non-minimally to the trace of energy–momentum tensor Tμν and mimetic f(R) gravity, a theory with a scalar field degree of freedom, but ghost-free and with internal conformal symmetry. In both cases we write point-like Lagrangian for flat Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) cosmological background in the presence of ordinary matter. We have been shown that some classes of models existed with Noether symmetry in these viable extensions of f(R) gravity. As a motivated idea, we have been investigating the stability of the solutions and the bouncing and ΛCDM models using the Noether symmetries. We have been shown that in mimetic f(R) gravity bouncing and ΛCDM solutions are possible. Also a class of solutions with future singularities has been investigated.
Density-Aware Clustering Based on Aggregated Heat Kernel and Its Transformation
Authors: Huang Hao , Yoo Shinjae , Yu Dantong , Qin Hong
Published: June 2015

Current spectral clustering algorithms suffer from the sensitivity to existing noise and parameter scaling and may not be aware of different density distributions across clusters. If these problems are left untreated, the consequent clustering results cannot accurately represent true data patterns, in particular, for complex real-world datasets with heterogeneous densities. This article aims to solve these problems by proposing a diffusion-based Aggregated Heat Kernel (AHK) to improve the clustering stability, and a Local Density Affinity Transformation (LDAT) to correct the bias originating from different cluster densities. AHK statistically models the heat diffusion traces along the entire time scale, so it ensures robustness during the clustering process, while LDAT probabilistically reveals the local density of each instance and suppresses the local density bias in the affinity matrix. Our proposed framework integrates these two techniques systematically. As a result, it not only provides an advanced noise-resisting and density-aware spectral mapping to the original dataset but also demonstrates the stability during the processing of tuning the scaling parameter (which usually controls the range of neighborhood). Furthermore, our framework works well with the majority of similarity kernels, which ensures its applicability to many types of data and problem domains. The systematic experiments on different applications show that our proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art clustering algorithms for the data with heterogeneous density distributions and achieves robust clustering performance with respect to tuning the scaling parameter and handling various levels and types of noise.
A Large-Scale Evaluation of High-Impact Password Strength Meters
Authors: Carnavalet Xavier De Carné De , Mannan Mohammad
Published: June 2015

Passwords are ubiquitous in our daily digital lives. They protect various types of assets ranging from a simple account on an online newspaper website to our health information on government websites. However, due to the inherent value they protect, attackers have developed insights into cracking/guessing passwords both offline and online. In many cases, users are forced to choose stronger passwords to comply with password policies; such policies are known to alienate users and do not significantly improve password quality. Another solution is to put in place proactive password-strength meters/checkers to give feedback to users while they create new passwords. Millions of users are now exposed to these meters on highly popular web services that use user-chosen passwords for authentication. More recently, these meters are also being built into popular password managers, which protect several user secrets including passwords. Recent studies have found evidence that some meters actually guide users to choose better passwords—which is a rare bit of good news in password research. However, these meters are mostly based on ad hoc design. At least, as we found, most vendors do not provide any explanation for their design choices, sometimes making them appear as a black box. We analyze password meters deployed in selected popular websites and password managers. We document obfuscated source-available meters, infer the algorithm behind the closed-source ones, and measure the strength labels assigned to common passwords from several password dictionaries. From this empirical analysis with millions of passwords, we shed light on how the server end of some web service meters functions and provide examples of highly inconsistent strength outcomes for the same password in different meters, along with examples of many weak passwords being labeled as
strong
or even
excellent
. These weaknesses and inconsistencies may confuse users in choosing a stronger password, and thus may weaken the purpose of these meters. On the other hand, we believe these findings may help improve existing meters and possibly make them an effective tool in the long run.
Should We Use the Sample? Analyzing Datasets Sampled from Twitter’s Stream API
Authors: Wang Yazhe , Callan Jamie , Zheng Baihua
Published: June 2015

Researchers have begun studying content obtained from microblogging services such as Twitter to address a variety of technological, social, and commercial research questions. The large number of Twitter users and even larger volume of tweets often make it impractical to collect and maintain a complete record of activity; therefore, most research and some commercial software applications rely on samples, often relatively small samples, of Twitter data. For the most part, sample sizes have been based on availability and practical considerations. Relatively little attention has been paid to how well these samples represent the underlying stream of Twitter data. To fill this gap, this article performs a comparative analysis on samples obtained from two of Twitter’s streaming APIs with a more complete Twitter dataset to gain an in-depth understanding of the nature of Twitter data samples and their potential for use in various data mining tasks.
Relay Selection with Channel Probing in Sleep-Wake Cycling Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Naveen K. P. , Kumar Anurag
Published: June 2015

In geographical forwarding of packets in a large wireless sensor network (WSN) with sleep-wake cycling nodes, we are interested in the local decision problem faced by a node that has “custody” of a packet and has to choose one among a set of next-hop relay nodes to forward the packet toward the sink. Each relay is associated with a “reward” that summarizes the benefit of forwarding the packet through that relay. We seek a solution to this local problem, the idea being that such a solution, if adopted by every node, could provide a reasonable heuristic for the end-to-end forwarding problem. Toward this end, we propose a local relay selection problem consisting of a forwarding node and a collection of relay nodes, with the relays waking up sequentially at random times. At each relay wake-up instant, the forwarder can choose to probe a relay to learn its reward value, based on which the forwarder can then decide whether to stop (and forward its packet to the chosen relay) or to continue to wait for further relays to wake up. The forwarder’s objective is to select a relay so as to minimize a combination of waiting delay, reward, and probing cost. The local decision problem can be considered as a variant of the asset selling problem studied in the operations research literature. We formulate the local problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) and characterize the solution in terms of stopping sets and probing sets. We provide results illustrating the structure of the stopping sets, namely, the (lower bound) threshold and the stage independence properties. Regarding the probing sets, we make an interesting conjecture that these sets are characterized by upper bounds. Through simulation experiments, we provide valuable insights into the performance of the optimal local forwarding and its use as an end-to-end forwarding heuristic.
Multiview Sample Classification Algorithm Based on L1-Graph Domain Adaptation Learning
Authors: Lu Huibin , Hu Zhengping , Gao Hongxiao
Published: June 2015

In the case of multiview sample classification with different distribution, training and testing samples are from different domains. In order to improve the classification performance, a multiview sample classification algorithm based on L1-Graph domain adaptation learning is presented. First of all, a framework of nonnegative matrix trifactorization based on domain adaptation learning is formed, in which the unchanged information is regarded as the bridge of knowledge transformation from the source domain to the target domain; the second step is to construct L1-Graph on the basis of sparse representation, so as to search for the nearest neighbor data with self-adaptation and preserve the samples and the geometric structure; lastly, we integrate two complementary objective functions into the unified optimization issue and use the iterative algorithm to cope with it, and then the estimation of the testing sample classification is completed. Comparative experiments are conducted in USPS-Binary digital database, Three-Domain Object Benchmark database, and ALOI database; the experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, which improves the recognition accuracy and ensures the robustness of algorithm.
The Influence of DNA Configuration on the Direct Strand Break Yield
Authors: Bernal M. A. , deAlmeida C. E. , Incerti S. , Champion C. , Ivanchenko V. , Francis Z.
Published: June 2015

Purpose. To study the influence of DNA configuration on the direct damage yield. No indirect effect has been accounted for.Methods. The GEANT4-DNA code was used to simulate the interactions of protons and alpha particles with geometrical models of the A-, B-, and Z-DNA configurations. The direct total, single, and double strand break yields and site-hit probabilities were determined. Certain features of the energy deposition process were also studied.Results. A slight increase of the site-hit probability as a function of the incident particle linear energy transfer was found for each DNA configuration. Each DNA form presents a well-defined site-hit probability, independently of the particle linear energy transfer. Approximately 70% of the inelastic collisions and ~60% of the absorbed dose are due to secondary electrons. These fractions are slightly higher for protons than for alpha particles at the same incident energy.Conclusions. The total direct strand break yield for a given DNA form depends weakly on DNA conformation topology. This yield is practically determined by the target volume of the DNA configuration. However, the double strand break yield increases with the packing ratio of the DNA double helix; thus, it depends on the DNA conformation.
Minimum Cost Data Aggregation for Wireless Sensor Networks Computing Functions of Sensed Data
Authors: Chen Chao , Lee Kyogu , Park Joon-Sang , Baek Seung Jun
Published: June 2015

We consider a problem of minimum cost (energy) data aggregation in wireless sensor networks computing certain functions of sensed data. We use in-network aggregation such that data can be combined at the intermediate nodes en route to the sink. We consider two types of functions: firstly the summation-type which includessum,mean, andweighted sum, and secondly the extreme-type which includesmaxandmin. However for both types of functions the problem turns out to be NP-hard. We first show that, forsumandmean, there exist algorithms which can approximate the optimal cost by a factor logarithmic in the number of sources. Forweighted sumwe obtain a similar result for Gaussian sources. Next we reveal that the problem for extreme-type functions is intrinsically different from that for summation-type functions. We then propose a novel algorithm based on the crucial tradeoff in reducing costs between local aggregation of flows and finding a low cost path to the sink: the algorithm is shown to empirically find the best tradeoff point. We argue that the algorithm is applicable to many other similar types of problems. Simulation results show that significant cost savings can be achieved by the proposed algorithm.
Finding Robust Assailant Using Optimization Functions (FiRAO-PG) in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Shukla Piyush Kumar , Goyal Sachin , Wadhvani Rajesh , Rizvi M. A. , Sharma Poonam , Tantubay Neeraj
Published: June 2015

Wireless sensor network consists of hundreds or thousands of low cost, low power, and self-organizing tiny sensor nodes that are deployed within the sensor network. Sensor network is susceptible to physical attacks due to deprived power and restricted resource capability and is exposed to external environment for transmitting and receiving data. Node capture attack is one of the most menacing attack in the wireless sensor network and may be physically captured by an adversary for extracting confidential information regarding cryptographic keys, node’s unique id, and so forth, from its memory to eliminate the confidentiality and integrity of the wireless links. Node capture attack suffers from severe security breach and tremendous network cost. We propose an empirically designed multiple objectives node capture attack algorithm based on optimization functions as an effective solution against the attacking efficiency of node capture attack. Finding robust assailant optimization-particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm (FiRAO-PG) consists of multiple objectives: maximum node participation, maximum key participation, and minimum resource expenditure to find optimal nodes using PSO and GA. It will leverage a comprehensive tool to destroy maximum portion of the network realizing cost-effectiveness and higher attacking efficiency. The simulation results manifest that FiRAO-PG can provide higher fraction of compromised traffic than matrix algorithm (MA) so the attacking efficiency of FiRAO-PG is higher.
Therapeutically Targetable ALK Mutations in Leukemia
Authors: Maxson Julia E. , Davare Monika A. , Luty Samuel B. , Eide Christopher A. , Chang Bill H. , Loriaux Marc M. , Tognon Cristina E. , Bottomly Daniel , Wilmot Beth , McWeeney Shannon K. , Druker Brian J. , Tyner Jeffrey W.
Published: June 2015

Genome sequencing is revealing a vast mutational landscape in leukemia, offering new opportunities for treatment with targeted therapy. Here, we identify two patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose tumors harbor point mutations in the ALK kinase. The mutations reside in the extracellular domain of ALK and are potently transforming in cytokine-independent cellular assays and primary mouse bone marrow colony formation studies. Strikingly, both mutations conferred sensitivity to ALK kinase inhibitors, including the FDA-approved drug crizotinib. On the basis of our results, we propose that tumors harboring ALK mutations may be therapeutically tractable for personalized treatment of certain aggressive leukemias with ALK inhibitors. Cancer Res; 75(11); 2146–50. ©2015 AACR.
Pancreatic Cancer Combination Therapy Using a BH3 Mimetic and a Synthetic Tetracycline
Authors: Quinn Bridget A. , Dash Rupesh , Sarkar Siddik , Azab Belal , Bhoopathi Praveen , Das Swadesh K. , Emdad Luni , Wei Jun , Pellecchia Maurizio , Sarkar Devanand , Fisher Paul B.
Published: June 2015

Improved treatments for pancreatic cancer remain a clinical imperative. Sabutoclax, a small-molecule BH3 mimetic, inhibits the function of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Minocycline, a synthetic tetracycline, displays antitumor activity. Here, we offer evidence of the combinatorial antitumor potency of these agents in several preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. Sabutoclax induced growth arrest and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and synergized with minocycline to yield a robust mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent cytotoxicity. This combinatorial property relied upon loss of phosphorylated Stat3 insofar as reintroduction of activated Stat3-rescued cells from toxicity. Tumor growth was inhibited potently in both immune-deficient and immune-competent models with evidence of extended survival. Overall, our results showed that the combination of sabutoclax and minocycline was highly cytotoxic to pancreatic cancer cells and safely efficacious in vivo. Cancer Res; 75(11); 2305–15. ©2015 AACR.
New Strategies in Melanoma: Entering the Era of Combinatorial Therapy
Authors: Sullivan Ryan J. , Flaherty Keith T.
Published: June 2015

The treatment of metastatic melanoma has been revolutionized over the past decade as effective molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies entered the clinic. It is hoped that deeper insights into the characteristics of patients and tumors that are most responsive will allow more precise patient selection for these therapies while understanding mechanisms of resistance will facilitate the develop of rational combinations or next-generation agents aimed at novel targets. Clin Cancer Res; 21(11); 2424–35. ©2015 AACR.
Safety and Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of the First-in-Class Dual Action HER3/EGFR Antibody MEHD7945A in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Epithelial Tumors
Authors: Juric Dejan , Dienstmann Rodrigo , Cervantes Andres , Hidalgo Manuel , Messersmith Wells , Blumenschein George R. , Tabernero Josep , Roda Desamparados , Calles Antonio , Jimeno Antonio , Wang Xiaodong , Bohórquez Sandra Sanabria , Leddy Cecilia , Littman Catherine , Kapp Amy V. , Shames David S. , Penuel Elicia , Amler Lukas C. , Pirzkall Andrea , Baselga José
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The novel dual-action humanized IgG1 antibody MEHD7945A targeting HER3 and EGFR inhibits ligand-dependent HER dimer signaling. This phase I study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of MEHD7945A.

Experimental Design: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic epithelial tumors received escalating doses of MEHD7945A (1–30 mg/kg) every 2 weeks (q2w) until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. An expansion cohort was enrolled at the recommended phase II dose (14 mg/kg, q2w). Plasma samples, tumor biopsies, FDG-PET were obtained for assessment of pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic modulation downstream of EGFR and HER3.

Results: No dose-limiting toxicities or MEHD7945A-related grade ≥ 4 adverse events (AE) were reported in dose-escalation (n = 30) or expansion (n = 36) cohorts. Related grade 3 AEs were limited to diarrhea and nausea in the same patient (30 mg/kg). Related AEs in ≥20% of patients ≤24 hours after the first infusion included grade 1/2 headache, fever, and chills, which were managed with premedication and/or symptomatic treatment. Pharmacodynamic data indicated target inhibition in 25% of evaluable patients. Best response by RECIST included 2 confirmed partial responses in squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck (SCCHN) patients with high tumor tissue levels of the HER3 ligand heregulin; 14 patients had stable disease ≥8 weeks, including SCCHN (n = 3), colorectal cancer (n = 6), and non–small cell lung cancer (n = 3).

Conclusions: MEHD7945A was well-tolerated as single agent with evidence of tumor pharmacodynamic modulation and antitumor activity in SCCHN. Phase II studies were initiated with flat (nonweight-based) dosing at 1,100 mg q2w in SCCHN and colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 21(11); 2462–70. ©2015 AACR.
Hierarchical decision making: resource distribution exhibits stronger effect on crayfish dominance relationships and shelter occupation than prior social experience and resource ownership
Authors: Chibucos K. , Wofford S.J. , Moore P.A.
Published: June 2015

The outcome of agonistic interactions is critical to the acquisition of vital resources. These behaviours can be influenced by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and multi-faceted studies are necessary for ecologically relevant studies. The aim of this study was to combine the effects of past social experience, resource ownership, and the distribution of shelter resources to examine the combination of these effects on various measures of agonism in crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). Crayfish were assigned to one of three social conditioning treatments (naïve, subordinate, dominant) and then introduced to an arena where they were assigned to a resident or intruder treatment. An intruder shelter was then positioned 20, 60 or 120 cm from the resident shelter. We found that resource distribution (shelter distance) played a larger role in influencing agonistic behaviour than did past social experience or current social status.
Schmerzensgeld und actio iniuriarum aestimatoria
Authors: Wallinga Tammo
Published: June 2015

Compensation for non-pecuniary loss and the actio aestimatoria, The case of Van Kreuningen/Bessem. – In the case Van Kreuningen/Bessem of 1943, the Roman actio iniuriarum (aestimatoria) was used as an argument in favour of granting compensation for non-pecuniary loss. This is surprising for a number of reasons, not least because it was a penal action. In this article, the action and its value as an argument is studied in the wider context of the history of compensation for pain, suffering and disfigurement in Dutch law before and after the codification of 1838.
Practices and Knowledges
Authors: Rafudeen Auwais
Published: June 2015

Talal Asad argues that, in tradition, religion is embodied in practices geared to producing particular virtues. This cultivates a subjectivity profoundly different to that engendered by modernity with its view of religion as privatised belief. This essay elaborates this Asadian theme. But it also argues, as a corollary to this theme, that these practices and virtues produce new states of the self, that is, new “knowledges”, with their own metaphysic that implicitly challenges the metaphysic of modernity. In Islam, Sufism provides the vocabulary for these states of the self and our argument is illustrated by drawing upon the experiences of Sufi order members in South Africa.
What was the Trojan Horse?
Authors: Rand Harry
Published: June 2015

Few now believe the myth that Troy’s defenders succumbed to a booby-trapped wooden horse, which assumes both incredible Trojan stupidity and unlikely Greek confidence in their opponent’s witlessness. Indeed, Homer—who treated both Greeks and Trojans with dignity—barely mentions such a horse; the story of Troy’s downfall by the ruse of a great wooden horse derives from Quintus of Smyrna’s epic in fourteen books, part of the “Posthomerica.” Yet hints of the Great Horse were secreted in the Illiad and a slighted passage indicates that Homer’s listeners understood exactly what he was talking about. Subsequent misunderstanding arose when Homer’s exquisitely concise literary allusion was overlooked. Modern scholars trust that a siege machine, specifically some sort of battering ram, rumbled up to the walls of Troy. We can identify Homer’s own allusion to the horse, its probable function, its builder, and the origins of associating the horse with Poseidon.
The Good Word: Its Non-Covenant and Covenant Significance in the Old Testament
Authors: McAffee Matthew
Published: June 2015

The Old Testament expression ‘the good word’ has long been recognized for its significance in covenant nomenclature. However, the meaning of this phrase outside of covenant contexts has not been adequately explored in the scholarly discussion. In order to provide a more nuanced explanation of its meaning and development in the Old Testament, this study analyzes ‘the good word’ according to the following two-fold categorization: (1) those instances that evince a non-covenant context for the good word, and (2) those cases that appear within the framework of covenant language. As a secondary interest, limited attention is devoted to similar phraseology in the broader ancient Near Eastern context, providing a firm basis for assessing the extra-biblical parallels that have been proposed for ‘the good word’ in the Old Testament.
The Function of Place Naming in 2 Samuel 5–6: A Study in Collective Memory
Authors: Gilmour Rachelle
Published: June 2015

This article examines the function of place naming narratives in 2 Samuel 5–6 in light of collective memory theory. It investigates the interaction between the physical landscape and the text in Israel's memory of the consolidation of David's kingdom. Firstly, the function of the narratives as a ‘site of memory’ in the text is analysed. Place namings capture memories by using a concrete image to convey the abstract meaning of the surrounding text. Secondly, the site of memory in the text is a means of rehearsal for the site of memory in the physical landscape around Jerusalem, and vice versa. Finally, the place namings are written according to a ‘template’, which connects their meaning with other memories in Ancient Israel.
Elijah's Alleged Megalomania: Reading Strategies for Composite Texts, with 1 Kings 19 as an Example
Authors: Hadjiev Tchavdar S.
Published: June 2015

A number of recent literary readings of the Elijah's narratives have argued that the prophet is presented as selfish and disobedient. This is not a convincing interpretation of the final form of the text, which presents Elijah in positive light. These readings highlight a problem in the way narrative criticism is often practised, as it does not sufficiently take into account into account the composite nature of the biblical text. There are indeed oddities in 1 Kings 19 but it is very difficult to find satisfactory explanations for most of them on a purely literary level. A reading strategy needs to be adopted which recognizes that some of these may simply be the result of the text's pre-history and does not force upon them significance they were not meant to possess.
Organizational Behaviour Research in Rural Producers’ Cooperatives
Authors: Biswas Saswata Narayan
Published: June 2015

Cooperatives are important organizational forms helping millions of people, particularly in rural areas, to improve their socio-economic conditions. They are also unique in that they are member-centric business organizations with democratic control, where the shareholders are also users of their services. In this article, first, I discuss the importance of cooperatives as organizational forms, particularly the rural producers’ cooperatives (RPCs); second, analyze the research trends within the organizational behaviour (OB) area in the last one-and-half decade on RPCs; third, chart out directions for future research. The analysis suggests that cooperatives as organizational forms throw up special challenges to the OB researchers, as they are special types of organizations that incorporate business-like features of the investor-owned firms as well as the voluntary nature of nonprofits, thereby increasing the complexity of the context to make it an interesting area of research. For future research, OB researchers will have to go beyond the employee-centric research to include cooperative members as important constituent of the organization, specifically focussing on trust, commitment, organizational citizenship behaviour and leadership behaviour. The article identifies certain roadblocks in getting the attention of the researchers in the OB area and suggests certain ways to overcome these roadblocks.