bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of intronic repetition of SLC26A4 gene with Hashimoto thyroiditis disease
Authors: BELGUITH-MAALEJ SALIMA , KALLEL RIHAB , MNIF MOUNA , ABID MOHAMED , AYADI HAMMADI , KACEM HASSEN HADJ
Published: March 2013

Intronic microsatellites repeats were implicated in the pathogenic mechanisms of several diseases. SLC26A4 gene, involved in the genetic susceptibility of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), harbours large non-coding introns. Using the tandem repeat finder (TRF) Software, two new polymorphic microsatellite markers, rs59736472 and rs57250751, located at introns 10 and 20, respectively, were identified. A case-control design including 308 patients affected with AITD (146 GD, 90 HT and 72 PIM) and 212 unmatched healthy controls were performed for each marker (rs59736472, D7S2459 and rs57250751). Furthermore, we used PHASE 2.0 version to reconstruct haplotypes, Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) and the Clump analysis program for multivariate analysis. The fluorescent genotyping revealed three alleles (106,112 and 115 bp) for rs57250751 and 12 alleles for both D7S2459 and rs59736472 ranging from 134 to 156 bp and from 144 to 168 bp, respectively. The case-control analysis confirmed the positive association of D7S2459 with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) disease previously reported. Moreover, a significant association was found only with rs59736472 and HT disease. Haplotype-specific analysis showed that the 140-148-115 haplotype may increase the risk of HT (χ2=9·8, 1 df, P=0·0017, OR=2·07, IC [1·27–3·36]). Consequently, considering the number of repetitions of both D7S2459 and rs59736472, we found 15 alleles ranging from 45 to 59 repetitions. The case-control analysis showed a significant association of the 55 repetition with HT disease (χ2=6·32, 1 df, pc=0·012, OR=1·74, IC [1·1–2·76]). In conclusion, we suggest the association of longer alleles of intron 10 of SLC26A4 gene with HT disease.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOUR AMONG MIGRANTS IN THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
Authors: RAO NEETA , JEYASEELAN L. , JOY ANNA , KUMAR V. SAMPATH , THENMOZHI M. , ACHARYA SMRITI
Published: March 2013

Studies among migrants show that they are more susceptible to HIV infection than the general population and thereby spread the epidemic from high prevalence to low prevalence areas. It is therefore critical to enhance the body of knowledge on factors associated with condom use among migrants. This study, conducted in 2009 in the State of Maharashtra, covers 4595 single in-migrants aged 15–49 years and aims at understanding the factors associated with non-use of condoms consistently. Information was collected using a Structured Interview Schedule covering demographic, socioeconomic profile, sexual history, knowledge, behaviour and stigma and discrimination indicators. Logistic regression analysis was used to understand the association between unprotected sex and various socio-demographic and environmental factors. The models were run using the Enter method. The goodness-of-fit of the model was assessed using Hosmer and Lemeshow chi-squared statistics. A significant association is observed between sex with sex workers and older migrants (>24 years), the literate, those who are mobile, unmarried, employed in the textile, quarry and construction industries, who often consume alcohol and who watch pornographic films. The factors associated with unprotected sex are age between 30 and 34 years and no literacy. Migrants who are mobile and consume alcohol show a significant association with unprotected sex. The findings suggest a need for a comprehensive HIV prevention programme including strategies to address the stressful work conditions. The prevention programmes should focus not only on skills for safer sex practices, but also on alcohol use reduction.
Molecular characterization of two insect nematode species (Oxyurida: Thelastomatidae) using small subunit (18S) ribosomal DNA sequence and secondary-structure analyses
Authors: Chaudhary A. , Singh N. , Singh H.S.
Published: March 2013

Nematodes of the family Thelastomatidae are parasitic in the alimentary tract of many arthropods, includingPeriplaneta americanaL. In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, two nematode species, namelyHammerschmidtiella indicusandThelastoma icemi, belonging to this family have been reported. In the present study, the molecular phylogeny of these two nematode species was derived using small subunit (18S) sequence and secondary-structure analyses. The small subunit sequence analyses were carried out to explore the validation and systematics of these species. Phylogenetic analyses were performed for primary sequence data as well as using neighbour-joining and maximum-parsimony approaches. In contrast, the inferred secondary structures for the two species, using free-energy modelling, showed structural identities. As well as this, motif sequences were also found to be a promising tool for nematode species identification. The study provides molecular characterization based on primary sequence data of the 18S ribosomal DNA region of the nematodes along with secondary-structure data and motif sequences for inferences at higher taxonomic levels.
Anisakid larvae in the liver of cod (Gadus morhua) L. from the southern Baltic Sea
Authors: Nadolna K. , Podolska M.
Published: March 2013

In the present investigation a sample of 490 cod (Gadus morhua) was examined from three regions in the southern Baltic Sea (the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ). Three species of anisakid nematodes with zoonotic potential, namely species ofContracaecum,AnisakisandPseudoterranova, were found in the liver of cod, withContracaecumbeing the most dominant species. The prevalence of infection was highest in the Western Baltic (22.5%) compared to the Central Baltic (10.4%) and the Gulf of Gdansk (3.4%). Generalized linear models (GLMs) were applied to analyse the prevalence of infection withAnisakissp. andContracaecumsp. relative to biological and spatial parameters. The effect of the sampling region, age and body length of the fish were significant in both GLMs. The effect of region was higher in the Western Baltic than in other regions. The prevalence of infection was correlated with the length of the fish and was higher in adult compared with sub-adult fish. These results suggest that the prevalence of infection with anisakid nematodes (especiallyContracaecumsp.) in cod sampled in Polish waters of the Baltic Sea has significantly increased compared with previous studies undertaken over the past few decades.
Molecular identification of species ofTaeniacausing bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia
Authors: Hailemariam Z. , Nakao M. , Menkir S. , Lavikainen A. , Iwaki T. , Yanagida T. , Okamoto M. , Ito A.
Published: March 2013

Bovine cysticercosis causing damage to the beef industry is closely linked to human taeniasis due toTaenia saginata. In African countries,Taeniaspp. from wildlife are also involved as possible sources of infections in livestock. To identify the aetiological agents of bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia, cysticerci were collected from 41 cattle slaughtered in the eastern and central areas during 2010–2012. A single cysticercus per animal was subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA sequencing of mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase subunit 1 gene, and the resultant sequence was compared with those of members of the genusTaenia. Although 38 out of 41 cysticerci (92.7%) were identified asT. saginata, three samples (7.3%) showed the hitherto unknown sequences ofTaeniasp., which is distantly related toTaenia solium,Taenia arctosandTaenia ovis. Old literatures suggest it to beTaenia hyaenae, but morphological identification of species could not be completed by observing only the larval samples.
From business process models to hierarchical task network planning domains
Authors: González-Ferrer Arturo , Fernández-Olivares Juan , Castillo Luis
Published: March 2013

Hierarchical Task Network (HTN) planning paradigm has been widely used during the last decade to model and solve planning and scheduling (P&S) problems, and it has proved to be very useful in the planning and coordination of human tasks. At the same time, Business Process Management (BPM) tools are being increasingly used in the modeling of organizations’ business practices and processes, but their life cycle has shown to have some shortages (as the possibility to obtain context-dependent plan instances). In this paper we present a methodology and software framework to translate Business Process Models into HTN P&S domains, in order to cover some of these deficiencies.
A socio-ecological perspective on behavioural interventions to influence food choice in schools: alternative, complementary or synergistic?
Authors: Moore Laurence , de Silva-Sanigorski Andrea , Moore Sue N
Published: March 2013

Objective

An increasing focus on legislation, policy and guidance on the nutritional content of school food has in part been in response to the limited impact of more behavioural or educational approaches. However, there is a risk that a sole focus on policy-level action may lead to neglect of the important contribution that more behavioural approaches can make as components of effective, coordinated, multilevel action to improve the dietary intake of schoolchildren. The current paper aims to highlight the potential importance of viewing alternative approaches as complementary or synergistic, rather than competing.

Design

The socio-ecological and RE-AIM frameworks are used to provide a theoretical rationale and demonstrate the importance of explicitly identifying the interdependence of policies, interventions and contextual structures and processes. School food case study evidence is used to exemplify how understanding and exploiting these interdependencies can maximise impact on dietary outcomes.

Setting

Case studies of trials in schools in the UK (South West England and Wales) and Australia (Victoria).

Subjects

Schoolchildren.

Results

The case studies provide examples to support the hypothesis that the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of school food policies and interventions can be maximised by understanding and exploiting the interdependence between levels in the socio-ecological framework.

Conclusions

Rather than being seen as competing alternatives, diverse approaches to improving the diets of schoolchildren should be considered in terms of their potential to be complementary and synergistic, acting at multiple levels to improve acceptability, fidelity, effectiveness and sustainability.
Factors associated with stunting and overweight in Amazonian children: a population-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Cobayashi Fernanda , Augusto Rosângela Aparecida , Lourenço Bárbara Hatzlhoffer , Muniz Pascoal Torres , Cardoso Marly Augusto
Published: March 2013

Objective

To examine the prevalence of stunting and overweight in children and identify demographic, socio-economic and maternal characteristics, as well as biochemical indicators, associated with these outcomes.

Design

A population-based, cross-sectional study was performed. Data from structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood and stool samples were used in Poisson regression models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) according to a hierarchical conceptual framework.

Setting

Acrelândia, western Brazilian Amazon.

Subjects

Children (n 1139) aged <10 years.

Results

Prevalence of stunting was 7·1 % (95 % CI 5·1, 9·6 %) and 3·7 % (95 % CI 2·4, 5·7 %) among children aged <5 years and ≥5 years, respectively; overweight was detected in 20·6 % (95 % CI 17·4, 24·2 %) and 9·4 % (95 % CI 7·2, 12·1 %) of children aged <5 years and ≥5 years, respectively. Among children <5 years of age, stunting was positively associated with the lowest maternal height tertile (PR = 3·09, 95 % CI 1·26, 7·63), low birth weight (PR = 2·70, 95 % CI 1·41, 5·19), diarrhoea for ≥3d (PR = 2·21, 95 % CI 1·03, 4·77) and geohelminth infections (PR = 2·53, 95 % CI 1·02, 6·13). Overweight in children <5 years of age was positively associated with caesarean delivery (PR = 1·45, 95 % CI 1·02, 2·06), birth weight ≥3500 g (PR = 1·82, 95 % CI 1·30, 2·55) and Fe deficiency (PR = 1·64, 95 % CI 1·07, 2·53). Among children aged ≥5 years, land or livestock ownership (PR = 1·85, 95 % CI 1·07, 3·22), maternal overweight (PR = 2·06, 95 % CI 1·23, 3·47), high C-reactive protein concentration (PR = 2·43, 95 % CI 1·26, 4·70), vitamin A deficiency (PR = 1·97, 95 % CI 1·13, 3·41) and high serum TAG concentration (PR = 2·16, 95 % CI 1·27, 3·68) were associated with overweight.

Conclusions

Overweight was more prevalent than stunting, being associated with higher household wealth, maternal overweight, caesarean delivery, high birth weight, micronutrient deficiencies and high TAG concentration. Improvements in maternal and child health care with sustainable access to healthy food are necessary to reduce short- and long-term health complications related to overweight in this population.
Associations among blood pressure, salt consumption and body weight status of students from south-western Ontario
Authors: Woodruff Sarah J , Fryer Katherine , Campbell Ty , Cole Mary
Published: March 2013

Objective

The purpose was to examine the associations among body weight status, blood pressure and daily Na intake among grade 7 students from south-western Ontario, Canada.

Design

Cross-sectional. Data were collected using the Food Behaviour Questionnaire, including a 24 h diet recall. Measured height and weight were used to determine BMI. Blood pressure was taken manually using mercury sphygmomanometers.

Setting

Twenty-six schools in south-western Ontario, Canada.

Subjects

Grade 7 students (n1068).

Results

Body weight status indicated 1 % were underweight, 56 % normal weight, 23 % overweight and 20 % were obese. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 108·3 (sd10·3) mmHg and 66·0 (sd7·5) mmHg, respectively, and mean Na intake was 2799 (sd1539) mg/d. Bivariate analyses suggested that SBP (P< 0·001) and DBP (P< 0·001) were significantly different by body weight status, yet no associations were observed for Na. Adjusted for gender, ethnicity and under-reporting, participants were more likely to be overweight/obese if they had higher SBP (v.lower: OR = 1·06, 95 % CI 1·05, 1·08,P< 0·001), higher DBP (v.lower: OR = 1·02, 95 % CI 1·00, 1·04,P= 0·043) and higher intakes of Na (3rdv.1st quartile: OR = 1·72, 95 % CI 1·14, 2·59,P= 0·009; 4thv.1st quartile: OR = 2·88, 95 % CI, 1·76, 4·73,P< 0·001).

Conclusions

High intakes of Na, coupled with high SBP and DBP, were associated with overweight and obesity status among the grade 7 sample from south-western Ontario, Canada.
Green tea and coffee consumption is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in a Japanese working population
Authors: Pham Ngoc Minh , Nanri Akiko , Kurotani Kayo , Kuwahara Keisuke , Kume Ayami , Sato Masao , Hayabuchi Hitomi , Mizoue Tetsuya
Published: March 2013

Objective

To examine the association between the consumption of green tea, coffee and caffeine and depressive symptoms.

Design

Cross-sectional study. Consumption of green tea and coffee was ascertained with a validated dietary questionnaire and the amount of caffeine intake was estimated from these beverages. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to compute odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals for depressive symptoms with adjustments for potential confounders.

Setting

Two workplaces in north-eastern Kyushu, Japan, in 2009.

Subjects

A total of 537 men and women aged 20–68 years.

Results

Higher green tea consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. Compared with participants consuming ≤1 cup/d, those consuming ≥4 cups green tea/d had a 51 % significantly lower prevalence odds of having depressive symptoms after adjustment for potential confounders, with significant trend association (Pfor trend = 0·01). Further adjustment for serum folate slightly attenuated the association. Coffee consumption was also inversely associated with depressive symptoms (≥2 cups/dv. <1 cup/d: OR = 0·61; 95 % CI 0·38, 0·98). Multiple-adjusted odds for depressive symptoms comparing the highest with the lowest quartile of caffeine consumption was OR = 0·57 (95 % CI 0·30, 1·05;Pfor trend = 0·02).

Conclusions

Results suggest that higher consumption of green tea, coffee and caffeine may confer protection against depression.
Architecture of the Subendothelial Elastic Fibers of Small Blood Vessels and Variations in Vascular Type and Size
Authors: Shinaoka Akira , Momota Ryusuke , Shiratsuchi Eri , Kosaka Mitsuko , Kumagishi Kanae , Nakahara Ryuichi , Naito Ichiro , Ohtsuka Aiji
Published: March 2013

Most blood vessels contain elastin that provides the vessels with the resilience and flexibility necessary to control hemodynamics. Pathophysiological hemodynamic changes affect the remodeling of elastic components, but little is known about their structural properties. The present study was designed to elucidate, in detail, the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of delicate elastic fibers in small vessels, and to reveal their architectural pattern in a rat model. The fine vascular elastic components were observed by a newly developed scanning electron microscopy technique using a formic acid digestion with vascular casts. This method successfully visualized the 3D architecture of elastic fibers in small blood vessels, even arterioles and venules. The subendothelial elastic fibers in such small vessels assemble into a sheet of meshwork running longitudinally, while larger vessels have a higher density of mesh and thicker mesh fibers. The quantitative analysis revealed that arterioles had a wider range of mesh density than venules; the ratio of density to vessel size was higher than that in venules. The new method was useful for evaluating the subendothelial elastic fibers of small vessels and for demonstrating differences in the architecture of different types of vessels.
Atomic-Scale Measurement of Structure and Chemistry of a Single-Unit-Cell Layer of LaAlO3 Embedded in SrTiO3
Authors: Jia Chun-Lin , Barthel Juri , Gunkel Felix , Dittmann Regina , Hoffmann-Eifert Susanne , Houben Lothar , Lentzen Markus , Thust Andreas
Published: March 2013

A single layer of LaAlO3 with a nominal thickness of one unit cell, which is sandwiched between a SrTiO3 substrate and a SrTiO3 capping layer, is quantitatively investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. By the use of an aberration-corrected electron microscope and by employing sophisticated numerical image simulation procedures, significant progress is made in two aspects. First, the structural as well as the chemical features of the interface are determined simultaneously on an atomic scale from the same specimen area. Second, the evaluation of the structural and chemical data is carried out in a fully quantitative way on the basis of the absolute image contrast, which has not been achieved so far in materials science investigations using high-resolution electron microscopy. Considering the strong influence of even subtle structural details on the electronic properties of interfaces in oxide materials, a fully quantitative interface analysis, which makes positional data available with picometer precision together with the related chemical information, can contribute to a better understanding of the functionality of such interfaces.
The evitability of autonomous robot warfare
Authors: Sharkey Noel E.
Published: March 2013

This is a call for the prohibition of autonomous lethal targeting by free-ranging robots. This article will first point out the three main international humanitarian law (IHL)/ethical issues with armed autonomous robots and then move on to discuss a major stumbling block to their evitability: misunderstandings about the limitations of robotic systems and artificial intelligence. This is partly due to a mythical narrative from science fiction and the media, but the real danger is in the language being used by military researchers and others to describe robots and what they can do. The article will look at some anthropomorphic ways that robots have been discussed by the military and then go on to provide a robotics case study in which the language used obfuscates the IHL issues. Finally, the article will look at problems with some of the current legal instruments and suggest a way forward to prohibition.
The myADHDportal.com Improvement Program: An Innovative Quality Improvement Intervention for Improving the Quality of ADHD Care Among Community-Based Pediatricians
Authors: Epstein Jeffery N. , Langberg Joshua M. , Lichtenstein Philip K. , Kolb Rebecca C. , Simon John O.
Published: March 2013

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed and disseminated clear evidence-based guidelines for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care, community-based pediatricians often have difficulty implementing these guidelines. New strategies are needed to improve the quality of care received by children with ADHD and to improve utilization of the AAP consensus guidelines by pediatricians. An evidence-based quality improvement intervention has been developed that effectively improves the quality of ADHD care delivered by community-based pediatricians. In order to facilitate widespread dissemination of this intervention model, the entire intervention has been modified for online delivery. The intervention is called the myADHDportal.com Improvement Program. The full functionality of this online intervention is described, including the collection of online ADHD rating scales from parents and teachers, and online communication between parents, teachers, and physicians. In addition, the Web portal integrates several innovative quality improvement features, including an online wizard for mapping ADHD patient flow, an online report card for monitoring quality of care, and an online wizard for guiding practices through the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle process. The combination of clinical utility and quality improvement tools facilitates delivery of quality ADHD care and reduces several of the obstacles to implementing AAP-recommended practice behaviors. Initial results with this intervention model are reviewed and goals for dissemination are described.
Pediatric Psychology Critical Care Consultation: An Emerging Subspecialty
Authors: Tunick Rachel A. , Gavin Jennifer Anne , DeMaso David R. , Meyer Elaine C.
Published: March 2013

As the field of pediatric psychology expands and evolves, pediatric critical care settings hold considerable promise for our profession. Although extensive mental health needs have been recognized in patients and families affected by care in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), specifics regarding the need for, utilization of, and nature of pediatric psychology services have not yet been systematically examined. The current study provides a descriptive analysis of all consecutive referrals to a pediatric psychology consultation service within the critical care setting of a large metropolitan pediatric medical center from January 2006 through December 2009. During the study period, 611 pediatric psychology referrals (4.6% of PICU admissions) were generated. Consultations were initiated by interdisciplinary staff and spanned a diverse and far-reaching range of behavioral health needs for patients and family members. Numerous factors were associated with increased need for pediatric psychology consultation, including longer than average hospitalizations, unanticipated critical care admissions, and previously healthy children who had sustained accidental trauma and those with new onset acute critical illness. Of note, the mortality rate within referred patients was significantly higher compared with the general PICU population, suggesting high need for pediatric psychology services during end-of-life care. Findings are discussed with respect to viable consultation models and training of pediatric psychologists who can function capably and confidently in the critical care setting.
Inpatient Pediatric Psychology Consultation-Liaison Program Development: 5-Year Practice Patterns and Implications for Trends in Health Care
Authors: Piazza-Waggoner Carrie , Roddenberry Angela , Yeomans-Maldonado Gloria , Noll Jennie , Ernst Michelle M.
Published: March 2013

The aim of the current study was to provide a detailed analysis of the practice patterns of an inpatient pediatric psychology consultation–liaison (CL) service over the first 5 years of development in order to further highlight the value of behavioral medicine in comprehensive, family-centered “medical home” models of care. A database was created detailing patient, referral concern and clinical intervention variables for all 1,749 consults completed during the 5-year period, and descriptive analyses were conducted. Referral concern and intervention data were examined separately for child versus caregiver targets, with referral concern data broken down further according to requesting medical team and intervention data broken down further according to referral concern. Financial data were also analyzed, particularly reimbursement rate and payment-per-full-time equivalent status. Consult demand and number of requesting medical teams increased over the 5-year period. Referral concerns differed across requesting medical teams. Primary interventions used reflected evidence-based care for both patients and caregivers. Payments per full-time equivalent also increased over the 5-year period. A CL service can provide components of evidence-based interventions to both patients and caregivers in the inpatient setting, and increasing capacity of behavioral health services can facilitate family-centered care approaches to comprehensive care provision, reflective of national trends in health care. Detailed analyses of practice patterns specific to medical teams and referral concerns can be used to strengthen business models supporting comprehensive care.
Behavioral Treatment for Adolescent Rumination Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Schroedl Rose Lucey , Alioto Anthony , Di Lorenzo Carlo
Published: March 2013

Rumination syndrome (RS) is a chronic condition in which the individual involuntarily regurgitates ingested food from the stomach to the mouth, where it is either expelled or reswallowed. Initially thought to be a disorder only found in cognitively impaired infants and adults, it is apparent that RS can also occur in otherwise healthy and cognitively intact adolescents. While there is no single effective medical intervention for RS, a number of behavioral interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing rumination in adolescents with RS. The current case report describes an integrative behavioral approach for reducing rumination in a 17-year-old female with RS. Follow-up assessment indicated a significant decrease of symptoms 18 months posttreatment. The benefits and limitations of the treatment model, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Separately doped upconversion-C60 nanoplatform for NIR imaging-guided photodynamic therapy of cancer cells
Authors: Liu Xiaomin , Zheng Min , Kong Xianggui , Zhang Youlin , Zeng Qinghui , Sun Zaicheng , Buma Wybren Jan , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2013

A highly efficient upconversion-C60 nanoplatform was demonstrated for NIR imaging-guided photodynamic therapy of cancer.
Unified architecture for 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7‐point DFTs based on Winograd Fourier transform algorithm
Authors: Qureshi F. , Garrido M. , Gustafsson O.
Published: March 2013

A unified hardware architecture that can be reconfigured to calculate 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7‐point DFTs is presented. The architecture is based on the Winograd Fourier transform algorithm and the complexity is equal to a 7‐point DFT in terms of adders/subtractors and multipliers plus only seven multiplexers introduced to enable reconfigurability. The processing element finds potential use in memory‐based FFTs, where non‐power‐of‐two sizes are required such as in DMB‐T.
Application of Cole‐Cole plot to study contact resistance of CNTs humidity sensor
Authors: Zhao Zhen‐Gang , Li Chuan
Published: March 2013

A new method to analyse the contact resistance of a carbon nanotubes (CNTs) humidity sensor is proposed. By analysing the Cole‐Cole plots of the sensor impedance, which was tested by an electrochemical workstation in different RH environments, the contact resistance could be achieved. According to this novel analytical method and the experimental data, the contact resistance of the sensor was about 5 Ω, which was much smaller than the resistance of the sensing film.
Spatiotemporal 3D motion vector filtering method for robust visual odometry
Authors: Kwon G.I. , Seo Y.H. , Yang H.‐S.
Published: March 2013

Most of the previous visual odometry methods cannot deal with a large independently moving object that takes up over 50% of the image area. To overcome this problem, the spatiotemporal filter is incorporated into the RANSAC method to filter out false match that occurrs by a large independently moving object. This spatiotemporal filter uses the current and previous motion vector's length and direction. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively rejects the motion vectors generated from large independently moving objects and improves the visual odometry accuracy.
Energy‐efficient charge‐recovery switching scheme for dual‐capacitive arrays SAR ADC
Authors: Li Y. , Zhang Z. , Lian Y.
Published: March 2013

Proposed is an energy‐efficient charge‐recovery switching scheme for a dual‐capacitive arrays successive approximation register (DCA‐SAR) analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC). With the use of the charge‐recovery technique in a fully differential DCA‐SAR architecture, the proposed switching scheme achieves 98.7 and 46.9% reduction in switching energy and area, respectively, while maintaining the switching energy constant for different output codes.
VCM‐based monotonic capacitor switching scheme for SAR ADC
Authors: Zhu Zhangming , Xiao Yu , Song Xiaoli
Published: March 2013

A novel energy‐efficient VCM‐based monotonic capacitor switching scheme for successive approximation register (SAR) analogue to‐digital converters (ADCs) is proposed. Based on the third reference voltage VCM and monotonic capacitor switching procedure, the proposed switching scheme achieves 97.66% less switching energy and 75% less number of capacitors over the conventional architecture, resulting in the most energy‐efficient switching scheme among the reported switching sequences.
Fast measurement of antenna pattern overlap matrix in reverberation chamber
Authors: Jamaly N. , Derneryd A.
Published: March 2013

Presented is a fast way for the measurement of the pattern overlap matrix in an arbitrary multi‐port antenna system by a reverberation chamber. This parameter is central for calculation of the spatial correlation between different elements with arbitrary terminations. To the authors' knowledge, this is the fastest method for the measurement of the pattern overlap matrix in a lossy structure.
Polar codes for distributed source coding
Authors: Önay S.
Published: March 2013

A polar coding method to construct a distributed source coding scheme which can achieve any point on the dominant face of the Slepian‐Wolf rate region for sources with uniform marginals is proposed. Source encoding and decoding operations are performed using efficient algorithms which makes practical implementation feasible. Simulation results are given to exhibit the performance of the presented method.
Applying probability control to cognitive CDMA communication system for anti‐interference
Authors: Hong Sheng , Zhang Bo , Yang Hongqi
Published: March 2013

The technique of cognitive code division multiple access (CCDMA) communication is attracting more and more attention. The existing researches use power control to suppress the interference, but it is not always optimal. Probability control is a recently introduced method that allows better mitigation of multiple access interference in CCDMA networks. In this reported work, probability control is applied to CCDMA for anti‐interference. It can be concluded that the performance reflected by the signal‐to‐noise‐plus‐interference ratio resulting from probability control is better than the one resulting from power control by numerical simulation results.
Noise reduction in magnetic resonance images using adaptive non‐local means filtering
Authors: Kang B. , Choi O. , Kim J.D. , Hwang D.
Published: March 2013

Proposed is a noise reduction method for magnetic resonance (MR) images. This method can be considered a new adaptive non‐local means filtering technique since different weights based on the edgeness of an image are applied. Unlike conventional noise reduction methods, which typically fail in preserving detailed information, the proposed method preserves fine structures while significantly reducing noise in MR images. For comparing the proposed method with other noise reduction methods, both a simulated ground truth data set and real MR images were used. The experiment shows that the proposed method outperforms conventional methods in terms of both restoration accuracy and quality.
Optical road‐ice detector operating in the near infrared
Authors: Colace L. , Santoni F. , Assanto G.
Published: March 2013

Introduced is an optical approach for the assessment of the road conditions due to various atmospheric perturbations, such as the presence of ice and rain. The technique is based on measuring the polarisation contrast in reflection, in conjunction with the intensity of the diffused light, in the near infrared.
Observation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in silica graded‐index multimode optical fibre based on pump‐probe technique
Authors: Hayashi N. , Mizuno Y. , Nakamura K.
Published: March 2013

Based on the pump‐probe technique (PPT), stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) was observed in a 100 m‐long silica graded‐index multimode optical fibre with the same core diameter as that of a perfluorinated graded‐index polymer optical fibre (PFGI‐POF) (=50 µm). The SBS threshold was measured to be ∼50 mW, which was much lower than 5.08 W, the SBS threshold obtained for the same fibre without the PPT. This result indicates that the PPT is useful even under multimode conditions and that the difficulty in observing SBS in PFGI‐POFs consists not in their physical problems but in their material problems (high propagation loss etc.).
Compact LTCC balanced bandpass filter using distributed‐element resonator
Authors: Chen J.‐X. , Shao C. , Lu Q.‐Y. , Tang H. , Bao Z.‐H.
Published: March 2013

Presented is a vertically and horizontally folded half‐wavelength resonator in a three‐dimension (3D) environment and its application to a balanced bandpass filter (BPF). Benefiting from the multilayered resonator based on the transmission line theory and low temperature co‐fired ceramic (LTCC) technology, the proposed balanced BPF can obtain compact size and good performance. For demonstration, a LTCC balanced BPF centred at 2.45GHz has been designed using the proposed resonator, and the size of the circuit is 6.0 × 5.0 × 1.6 mm3.
Feasibility demonstration of spectrum defragmentation in flexigrid optical network employing multi‐format and multi‐rate transmitter/receiver
Authors: Choi H.Y. , Tsuritani T. , Morita I.
Published: March 2013

The feasibility of spectrum defragmentation is demonstrated in a flexigrid optical network employing the multi‐format and multi‐rate transmitter and receiver. For efficient defragmentation, the push–pull defragmentation technique is improved with additional functionality, which tunes the occupied frequency slots as well as the centre frequency.
Ternary R2R DAC design for improved energy efficiency
Authors: Guerber J. , Venkatram H. , Gande M. , Moon U.
Published: March 2013

An R2R DAC using three digital input levels rather than two is proposed as well as a modified two‐level structure that emulates the three‐level DAC's benefits. This three‐level structure provides power reductions of 79% and linearity improvements due to matching of a factor of 2 over the two‐level case. Ideal implementation is also described in terms of the logic needed to code the DAC and the requirements of the additional third reference level.
Slot assignment strategy to reduce loss of capacity of contiguous‐slot path requests in flexible grid optical networks
Authors: Almeida R.C. , Santos A.F. , Assis K.D.R. , Waldman H. , Martins‐Filho J.F.
Published: March 2013

The performance improvement imparted by routing and spectrum assignment on flexible grid optical networks is a subject of current extensive investigation. Proposed is an efficient spectrum‐assignment algorithm based on reducing the loss of capacity of future bandwidth‐variable path requests. In all scenarios analysed the proposed algorithm outperformed currently investigated slot assignment algorithms.
Broadband Ka‐band 90° phase switch for radio astronomy
Authors: Villa E. , de la Fuente L. , Cagigas J. , Aja B. , Artal E.
Published: March 2013

A broadband 90° phase switch based on microstrip bandpass filters (BPFs) is presented. The phase shift expression is derived from the theoretical analysis of π‐network BPFs. The broadband behaviour is performed and validated in the Ka‐band focused on radioastronomy applications. The commutation between networks is achieved by a single‐pole double‐throw switch with negligible power consumption. Measured results show an average phase shift of 88° ± 6° in the frequency band from 24 to 37 GHz (more than 42% relative bandwidth), with an amplitude imbalance of around 0.5 dB. The return loss is better than 15 dB. Experimental results demonstrate its suitability to be used in broadband radio astronomy receivers.
Generalised Pareto distribution for extreme value modelling in electromagnetic compatibility
Authors: Kasmi C. , Hélier M. , Darces M. , Prouff E.
Published: March 2013

Statistical studies involved in risk management mainly focus on general tendencies which are considered as sufficient for non‐critical applications. This implies laying aside extreme events which may nonetheless be crucial to the security of critical facilities. In light of this observation, it is proposed here to follow the opposite approach and to focus on the extreme values statistics. In particular, it is argued that the approach highlights the benefit of the extremal types theorem from the electromagnetic compatibility point of view.
Telomerase Inhibition Studies of Novel Spiroketal-Containing Rubromycin Derivatives
Authors: Yuen Tsz-Ying , Ng Yu-Pong , Ip Fanny C. F. , Chen Jack L.-Y. , Atkinson Darcy J. , Sperry Jonathan , Ip Nancy Y. , Brimble Margaret A.
Published: March 2013

Twenty nine novel spiroketal derivatives related to the rubromycins were evaluated for their anti-telomerase activity using the real-time quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The parent compound γ-rubromycin exhibited the highest potency against human telomerase activity within the series. Modification of the spiroketal motif by the introduction of heteroatoms and substituents at different positions produced analogues with varying bioactivity. Variation at the isocoumarin subunit of the title compound resulted in weaker activity, indicative of its importance in telomerase inhibition.
Effects of row spacing and intercrop on maize grain yield and forage production of palisade grass
Authors: Borghi Émerson , Crusciol Carlos Alexandre Costa , Nascente Adriano Stephan , Mateus Gustavo Pavan , Martins Priscila Oliveira , Costa Ciniro
Published: March 2013

Intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) with perennial forage, such as palisade grass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf], provides large amounts of biomass that can be used as straw for no-tillage systems or as pasture for animal grazing. In addition, the use of narrow row spacing may increase maize grain yield. However, it is important to evaluate intercrops at different row spacing to avoid reductions in both maize and forage biomass production. The objectives of this field experiment during two growing seasons in Brazil were as follows: (1) to evaluate the influence of intercropping and row spacing on maize yield, leaf nutrient concentration, and plant population and development; and (2) to assess the influence of row spacing on palisade grass herbage mass and leaf nutrient concentration. The experimental design was a randomised complete block design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with eight replications. The treatments comprised two row spacing distances (0.45 and 0.90 m) and two crop management types (maize monoculture and intercropped with palisade grass). The nutrient concentrations in the leaves of the maize plants were in the ideal range for this crop under all conditions studied. Plant height, height of first ear, and number of grains per ear were higher with the narrow row spacing. Maize grain yield was similar in both crop management types (10 301 and 9745 kg ha–1 for monoculture maize and intercropped, respectively). However, maize grain yield at the narrow row spacing was higher than that obtained with the wide row spacing (9948 v. 8905 kg ha–1). In contrast, row spacing did not affect the nutrient level or quality (crude protein concentration) of palisade grass. The amount of dry matter (DM) from palisade grass was lower at maize harvesting (4.7 Mg ha–1) and 90 days after harvesting (6.9 Mg ha–1) under narrow spacing. However, the amount of DM was similar at both row spacings at 120 days after maize harvesting (9.2 Mg ha–1). When there is no problem with water and nutrient availability, the use of maize and palisade grass intercropping under both row spacing conditions (0.45 and 0.90 m) provides an option for the production of forage DM without reducing the maize grain yield.
The integration of activity in saline environments: problems and perspectives
Authors: Cheeseman John M.
Published: March 2013

The successful integration of activity in saline environments requires flexibility of responses at all levels, from genes to life cycles. Because plants are complex systems, there is no ‘best’ or ‘optimal’ solution and with respect to salt, glycophytes and halophytes are only the ends of a continuum of responses and possibilities. In this review, I briefly examine seven major aspects of plant function and their responses to salinity including transporters, secondary stresses, carbon acquisition and allocation, water and transpiration, growth and development, reproduction, and cytosolic function and ‘integrity’. I conclude that new approaches are needed to move towards understanding either organismal integration or ‘salt tolerance’, especially cessation of protocols dependent on sudden, often lethal, shock treatments and the embracing of systems level resources. Some of the tools needed to understand the integration of activity and even ‘salt stress’ are already in hand, such as those for whole-transcriptome analysis. Others, ranging from discovery studies of the nature of the cytosol to expanded tool kits for proteomic, metabolomic and epigenomic studies, still need to be further developed. After resurrecting the distinction between applied stress and the resultant strain and noting that with respect to salinity, the strain is manifest in changes at all -omic levels, I conclude that it should be possible to model and quantify stress responses.
Foraging ecology of an Australian salt-pan desert ant (genus Melophorus)
Authors: Schultheiss Patrick , Schwarz Sebastian , Cheng Ken , Wehner Rüdiger
Published: March 2013

Over the expanse of the salt lakes of the Lake Eyre basin lives a species of ant of the genus Melophorus (as yet unnamed), both on the edges of the salt-pan and on the salt-pan itself. Most of the foragers are small (~3.0–5.0 mm), but ~10% of the ants seen foraging are much larger (~7.0 mm) and may form a soldier caste. Foragers are thermophilic and show diurnal activity, displaying a single-peaked activity profile across the day, with activity time limited to 2–6 h at most each day (during the late-summer study period, 28 February to 28 March 2012). They forage largely for dead arthropods, but also occasionally bring home plant materials. Foraging success (not considering possible liquid food intake) is ~20%, resembling the success rate of their congener Melophorus bagoti, which inhabits cluttered environments. When displaced with food from a feeder, the ants head systematically and precisely in the feeder-to-nest direction, thus exhibiting path integration abilities involving celestial compass cues. The study of this species provides an interesting comparative perspective in contrasting desert ants of the same genus and thus genetic heritage inhabiting habitats differing in complexity of panoramic terrestrial cues as well as comparing ecologically similar species inhabiting the same type of habitat (in the present case, salt-pans) but differing in their phylogenetic relationships.
Martin Humphries: Attached to adhesion
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: March 2013

Humphries studies how interactions with the extracellular matrix influence cell phenotype.
Promoter- and RNA polymerase II–dependent hsp-16 gene association with nuclear pores in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Rohner Sabine , Kalck Veronique , Wang Xuefei , Ikegami Kohta , Lieb Jason D. , Gasser Susan M. , Meister Peter
Published: March 2013

Some inducible yeast genes relocate to nuclear pores upon activation, but the general relevance of this phenomenon has remained largely unexplored. Here we show that the bidirectional hsp-16.2/41 promoter interacts with the nuclear pore complex upon activation by heat shock in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Direct pore association was confirmed by both super-resolution microscopy and chromatin immunoprecipitation. The hsp-16.2 promoter was sufficient to mediate perinuclear positioning under basal level conditions of expression, both in integrated transgenes carrying from 1 to 74 copies of the promoter and in a single-copy genomic insertion. Perinuclear localization of the uninduced gene depended on promoter elements essential for induction and required the heat-shock transcription factor HSF-1, RNA polymerase II, and ENY-2, a factor that binds both SAGA and the THO/TREX mRNA export complex. After induction, colocalization with nuclear pores increased significantly at the promoter and along the coding sequence, dependent on the same promoter-associated factors, including active RNA polymerase II, and correlated with nascent transcripts.
Tail-anchored PEX26 targets peroxisomes via a PEX19-dependent and TRC40-independent class I pathway
Authors: Yagita Yuichi , Hiromasa Takahide , Fujiki Yukio
Published: March 2013

Tail-anchored (TA) proteins are anchored into cellular membranes by a single transmembrane domain (TMD) close to the C terminus. Although the targeting of TA proteins to peroxisomes is dependent on PEX19, the mechanistic details of PEX19-dependent targeting and the signal that directs TA proteins to peroxisomes have remained elusive, particularly in mammals. The present study shows that PEX19 formed a complex with the peroxisomal TA protein PEX26 in the cytosol and translocated it directly to peroxisomes by interacting with the peroxisomal membrane protein PEX3. Unlike in yeast, the adenosine triphosphatase TRC40, which delivers TA proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum, was dispensable for the peroxisomal targeting of PEX26. Moreover, the basic amino acids within the luminal domain of PEX26 were essential for binding to PEX19 and thereby for peroxisomal targeting. Finally, our results suggest that a TMD that escapes capture by TRC40 and is followed by a highly basic luminal domain directs TA proteins to peroxisomes via the PEX19-dependent route.