bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of interview on decision making and selection of prospective veterinary undergraduate students
Authors: Hudson N. P. H. , Rhind S. M. , Shaw D. J. , Giannopoulos G. M. , Phillips C. A. , Mellanby R. J.
Published: July 2013

Interviews form part of the selection process in many veterinary programmes worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the interview on veterinary selection decisions. An admissions cycle of interviews of 181 shortlisted school‐leaving applicants to veterinary medicine was investigated. Selection panel pairs (from cohorts of 5 chairs and 11 cointerviewers) independently evaluated applicants before interview on the basis of their written application. Applicants were then interviewed and selectors repeated their evaluations, both independently and after joint discussion. Results of the preinterview and postinterview evaluations of the applicants were analysed statistically. There was slight to moderate agreement between the chair and cointerviewer on selection decisions/rankings taken before interview, but substantial agreement after interview. Agreement between postinterview decisions/rankings and consensus decisions/rankings postinterview was extremely high. Applicant attributes that had the most influence on selection decisions were: ‘communication skills’, ‘overall knowledge gained from work experience’ and ‘ability to think on their feet’. There was significantly more agreement possible between interviewers with regard to selection decisions based on interview assessment compared with preinterview assessment of written applications. This study suggests that interviews may be a useful and important aid in decision making for selecting the candidates perceived as most suitable for this veterinary programme.
Comparison of the mechanical hypoalgesic effects of five α2‐adrenoceptor agonists in donkeys
Authors: Lizarraga I. , Janovyak E.
Published: July 2013

Pharmacological pain management is necessary under many clinical situations, but in donkeys little information on analgesic drugs is available. This controlled, randomised, crossover, Latin‐square, operator‐blinded study aimed to assess and compare the hypoalgesic effects of intravenously administered saline and five α2‐adrenoceptor agonists on mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) in donkeys. Areas under the threshold change versus time curve values for 0–30, 30–60, 60–90 and 90–120 minutes postdrug administration were used to compare the effect of treatment. As compared with saline, which did not increase MNT, the overall degree of mechanical hypoalgesia induced by xylazine (1.1 mg/kg), detomidine (20 μg/kg), medetomidine (5 μg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (3.5 μg/kg) was limited to 0–60 minutes, and that of romifidine (100 μg/kg) to 0–120 minutes. Although there were no significant differences between the five α2‐adrenoceptor agonists during the first 30 minutes postadministration, hypoalgesia induced by xylazine and dexmedetomidine was significantly less intense than that achieved by detomidine and/or romifidine from 30 to 60 minutes. Differences in the overall degree of hypoalgesia induced by each of the α2‐adrenoceptor agonists may influence veterinary surgeons towards choosing a particular drug over others for a particular donkey patient.
ANALYSIS OF LOW-CARBON PRODUCTION CHAINS TOWARDS CHINA'S CO2 EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS FOR 2020
Authors: XIA YAN , FAN YING , WU JIE
Published: July 2013

Achieving China's carbon reduction targets for 2020 necessitates the consideration of integrated production chains (PCs) given that competition between sectors has been transformed into competition between PCs. This paper establishes an extended input–output (IO) model that calculates the cost multiplier transmission effect of emission reduction in low-carbon production chains (LCPCs). Empirical results show that in relation to PCs, the electricity power industry and urban residents are the key policy points in adjusting China's industrial structure. This paper suggests that policymakers consider the cost multiplier transmission effect imposed by upstream sectors to downstream industries.
MEASUREMENT OF THE THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENT OF AN Al-Mg ALLOY AT ULTRA-LOW TEMPERATURES
Authors: BASSAN M. , BUONOMO B. , CAVALLARI G. , COCCIA E. , D'ANTONIO S. , FAFONE V. , FOGGETTA L. G. , LIGI C. , MARINI A. , MAZZITELLI G. , MODESTINO G. , PIZZELLA G. , QUINTIERI L. , RONGA F. , VALENTE P.
Published: July 2013

We describe a result coming from an experiment based on an Al - Mg alloy (~5% Mg ) suspended bar hit by an electron beam and operated above and below the temperature of transition from superconducting to normal state of the material. The amplitude of the bar first longitudinal mode of oscillation, excited by the beam interacting with the bulk, and the energy deposited by the beam in the bar are the quantities measured by the experiment. These quantities, inserted in the equations describing the mechanism of the mode excitation and complemented by an independent measurement of the specific heat, allow us to determine the linear expansion coefficient α of the material. We obtain α = [(10.9±0.4)T+(1.3±0.1)T3]×10-10 K -1 for the normal state of conduction in the temperature interval 0.9 < T < 2 K and α = [(-2.45±0.60)+(-10.68±1.24)T +(0.13±0.01)T3]×10-9 K -1 for the superconducting state in the interval 0.3 < T< 0.8 K .
ON TANGLE DECOMPOSITIONS OF TWISTED TORUS KNOTS
Authors: MORIMOTO KANJI
Published: July 2013

In the present paper, we will show that for any integer n > 0 there are infinitely many twisted torus knots with n-string essential tangle decompositions, and that all those knots have essential tori in the exteriors.
UPPER BOUNDS FOR THE COMPLEXITY OF TORUS KNOT COMPLEMENTS
Authors: FOMINYKH EVGENY , WIEST BERT
Published: July 2013

We establish upper bounds for the complexity of Seifert fibered manifolds with nonempty boundary. In particular, we obtain potentially sharp bounds on the complexity of torus knot complements.
APPROXIMATE RELATIVISTIC κ-STATE SOLUTIONS TO THE DIRAC-HYPERBOLIC PROBLEM WITH GENERALIZED TENSOR INTERACTIONS
Authors: IKOT AKPAN N. , HASSANABADI H. , YAZARLOO B. H. , ZARRINKAMAR S.
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we present the approximate analytical solutions of the Dirac equation for hyperbolical potential within the frame work of spin and pseudospin symmetries limit including the newly proposed generalized tensor interaction (GTI) using the Nikiforov–Uvarov (NU) technique. We obtained the energy eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenfunction using the generalized parametric NU method. The numerical results of our work reveal that the presence of the GTI changes the degeneracy between the spin and pseudospin state doublets.
PUSH RECOVERY THROUGH WALKING PHASE MODIFICATION FOR BIPEDAL LOCOMOTION
Authors: ADIWAHONO ALBERTUS HENDRAWAN , CHEW CHEE-MENG , LIU BINGBING
Published: July 2013

Push recovery is an important capability for a biped to safely maneuver in a real dynamic environment. In this paper, a generalized push recovery scheme to handle pushes from any direction that may occur at any walking phase is developed. Using the concept of walking phase modification, a series of systematic push recovery scheme that takes into account the severity of the push is presented. The result is that a bipedal robot could adapt to pushes according to the magnitude of disturbance and determine the best course of action. A number of push recovery experiments with different walking phases and push directions have been carried out using a 12-DOF humanoid robot model in dynamic simulations. The versatility and potential of the overall scheme is also demonstrated with the bipedal robot balancing on an accelerating cart.
A PERSPECTIVE ON THE MAGIC SQUARE AND THE "SPECIAL UNITARY" REALIZATION OF REAL SIMPLE LIE ALGEBRAS
Authors: SANTANDER MARIANO
Published: July 2013

This paper contains the last part of the minicourse "Spaces: A Perspective View" delivered at the IFWGP2012. The series of three lectures was intended to bring the listeners from the more naive and elementary idea of space as "our physical Space" (which after all was the dominant one up to the 1820s) through the generalization of the idea of space which took place in the last third of the 19th century. That was a consequence of first the discovery and acceptance of non-Euclidean geometry and second, of the views afforded by the works of Riemann and Klein and continued since then by many others, outstandingly Lie and Cartan. Here we deal with the part of the minicourse which centers on the classification questions associated to the simple real Lie groups. We review the original introduction of the Magic Square "á la Freudenthal", putting the emphasis in the role played in this construction by the four normed division algebras ℝ, ℂ, ℍ, 𝕆. We then explore the possibility of understanding some simple real Lie algebras as "special unitary" over some algebras 𝕂 or tensor products 𝕂1 ⊗ 𝕂2, and we argue that the proper setting for this construction is not to confine only to normed division algebras, but to allow the split versions ℂ′, ℍ′, 𝕆′ of complex, quaternions and octonions as well. This way we get a "Grand Magic Square" and we fill in all details required to cover all real forms of simple real Lie algebras within this scheme. The paper ends with the complete lists of all realizations of simple real Lie algebras as "special unitary" (or only unitary when n = 2) over some tensor product of two *-algebras 𝕂1, 𝕂2, which in all cases are obtained from ℝ, ℂ, ℂ′, ℍ, ℍ′, 𝕆, 𝕆′ as sets, endowing them with a *-conjugation which usually but not always is the natural complex, quaternionic or octonionic conjugation.
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW OF TWO-STAGE VAPOR COMPRESSION HEAT PUMP SYSTEM
Authors: AIKINS KOJO ATTA , LEE SANG-HYEOK , CHOI JONG MIN
Published: July 2013

There is increasing demand for domestic and industrial refrigeration, space heating and air conditioning. Heat pump systems offer economical alternatives for recovering heat from different sources for use in these applications. As a renewable energy technology for sustainable environment, the heat pump's high efficiency and low environmental impact have already drawn a fair amount of attention all over the world. Some of these domestic and industrial applications require very low evaporating temperatures and very high condensing temperatures which induce high compressor pressure ratios beyond the practical range for single-stage heat pump cycles. These high pressure ratios also produce low coefficient of performance (COP) values and expose the compressor to high discharge temperature, low volumetric efficiency and damage. However, this challenge can be overcome by adopting two-stage heat pump cycles. In this paper, recent works on two-stage heat pump systems for various applications are reviewed. They include two-stage cycle with intercooling, two-stage cycle with refrigerant injection and two-stage cascade cycle. Research and innovative designs of systems that make use of these two-stage cycles have been able to get heat pumps to handle applications with lower and higher temperatures, while enhancing heating capacity up to 30% and COP up to 31%.
The design and implementation of a high-assurance forensic geology and police search following the discovery of the Staffordshire (Anglo Saxon) Gold Hoard
Authors: Donnelly Laurance
Published: July 2013

In 2009 a hoard of gold and silver objects was found in a ploughed field in Staffordshire, by a member of the public using a metal detector. The site was subjected to a detailed archaeological excavation and approximately 3940 items in total were found. Archaeologists interpreted the find as belonging to the Anglo Saxon age (seventh century AD) and probably comprising the military hilts and fixings from swords, helmets, shield, clothing and possibly books, chests and what is now thought to be a cross from the cover of a bible. Archaeologists considered that all hoard-related material that was recoverable at that time had been retrieved from the excavation. To confirm this, a forensic geology and police search was commissioned. This search provided a high level of assurance and was able to confirm that the original archaeological dig was likely to have found all/most of the buried gold that was reasonably and practicably recoverable at that time and buried in the top soil to a depth of 280 mm. In 2012, further items of interest were found in this field. These may have been buried at deeper levels or beyond the original excavation and were possibly brought to the surface by ploughing.
Provenance study on Eocene–Miocene sandstones of the Rakhine Coastal Belt, Indo-Burman Ranges of Myanmar: geodynamic implications
Authors: Naing T. T. , Bussien D. A. , Winkler W. H. , Nold M. , Von Quadt A.
Published: July 2013

The Indo-Burman Ranges (IBR) represent an accretionary wedge, which is the result of subduction of the Indian plate beneath the Asian plate. In the Rakhine Coastal Belt it comprises a thick stack of Cretaceous to Neogene turbiditic sediments and localized thrust sheets of oceanic plate mafics and pelagic sediments. We investigate Eocene–Miocene sandstones, aiming to reveal the provenance of the detrital material using modal framework grain, heavy mineral and detrital zircon analysis (U–Pb laser ablation ICP-MS dating, Hf isotope geochemistry and typology). The results show a predominant derivation of the clastic material from: (i) Late Cretaceous to Oligocene igneous rocks, which are often bimodal with a low number of zircons spanning the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary, and (ii) recycled orogenic terrane sources comprising ophiolitic rocks. Age corrected Hf isotope ratios confirm subduction-related mixed mantle-crust sources. We also observe minor reworking of older magmatic zircons. By comparing our obtained petrographic parameters and zircon characteristics with potential Himalayan, Indian continent and Burman margin sources we conclude a Burman margin and arc origin provenance. With regard to hydrocarbon exploration in the IBR, a forearc and trench basin system model linked with the Burman arc appears more appropriate for evaluating the petroleum system.

Supplementary material:

sandstone modal composition, heavy mineral contents, detrital zircon U–Pb LA-ICPMS dating and hafnium results are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18651
.
Climate-driven episodes of dune mobilization and barrier growth along the central coast of Portugal
Authors: Costas Susana , Brito Pedro , FitzGerald Duncan , Goble Ronald
Published: July 2013

Here, we explore the evolution of the coastal stretch between Mira Beach and Quiaios Beach in Portugal to understand how it adapted to climatic oscillations. To accomplish this, we integrate subsurface radar images, and sedimentological and chronological data, of the emerged coastal barrier. Our results show the installation and progradation of a stable barrier anchored to transgressive dunes 400 years ago. This is just the last pulse of barrier growth within a complex approximately 5000 year-long history of shoreline stability/instability. Episodes of inland dune mobility have been related to instabilities in the beach sediment budget driven by enhanced storminess and wave rotation around 4.25 and 1.14 ka ago. Conversely, lagoonal deposits documented in the literature suggest periods of relative barrier stability and growth around 4.3 and 2.7 cal ka BP. Wave and wind climate variability are driven by shifts in one of the major modes of atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Episodes of persistent positive mode of the NAO related to barrier growth and enhanced longshore sediment transport; those of persistent negative mode contributed to instabilities in the beach sediment budget and aeolian activity by enhancing storminess, but reduced effective longshore sediment transport.
Return of Individual Research Results and Incidental Findings: Facing the Challenges of Translational Science
Authors: Wolf Susan M.
Published: July 2013

The debate over return of individual research results and incidental findings to study participants is a key frontier in research ethics and practice. This is fundamentally a problem of translational science—a question of when information about an individual that is generated in research should be communicated for clinical attention, particularly as technologies such as whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing are increasingly used in clinical care. There is growing consensus that investigators should offer participants at least those individual findings of high clinical importance and actionability. Increasing attention to what information biobanks and secondary researchers owe people who provide data and specimens offers an opportunity to treat these source individuals as research partners. Cutting-edge issues include return of results in pediatric populations and return to kin and family, both before and after the death of the proband, as well as how to manage incidental findings in clinical sequencing. Progress will require an understanding of the continuum linking research and clinical care and developing standards and models for return.
Rapidly Developing Yeast Microcolonies Differentiate in a Similar Way to Aging Giant Colonies
Authors: Váchová Libuše , Hatáková Ladislava , Čáp Michal , Pokorná Michaela , Palková Zdena
Published: July 2013

During their development and aging on solid substrates, yeast giant colonies produce ammonia, which acts as a quorum sensing molecule. Ammonia production is connected with alkalization of the surrounding medium and with extensive reprogramming of cell metabolism. In addition, ammonia signaling is important for both horizontal (colony centre versus colony margin) and vertical (upper versus lower cell layers) colony differentiations. The centre of an aging differentiated giant colony is thus composed of two major cell subpopulations, the subpopulation of long-living, metabolically active and stress-resistant cells that form the upper layers of the colony and the subpopulation of stress-sensitive starving cells in the colony interior. Here, we show that microcolonies originating from one cell pass through similar developmental phases as giant colonies. Microcolony differentiation is linked to ammonia signaling, and cells similar to the upper and lower cells of aged giant colonies are formed even in relatively young microcolonies. A comparison of the properties of these cells revealed a number of features that are similar in microcolonies and giant colonies as well as a few that are only typical of chronologically aged giant colonies. These findings show that colony ageper seis not crucial for colony differentiation.
Evaluation of Potential Geographic Distribution for Large-Scale Photovoltaic System in Suburbs of China
Authors: Kawase Masashi , Okajima Keiichi , Uchiyama Yohji
Published: July 2013

Since China is the largest CO2emitting country in the world, photovoltaic (PV) systems are expected to be widely installed to reduce CO2emission. In general, available area for PV installation depends on urban area due to differences in land use and slope. Amount of electricity generated by a PV system also depends on urban area because of differences in solar irradiation and ambient temperature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the installation of large-scale PV systems in suburbs of China, taking these differences into consideration. We have used a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate amounts of installation capacity of large-scale PV systems, electricity generated, and CO2emission reduction by the installation capacity of large-scale PV systems in suburbs of Liaoning, Shanghai, Anhui, and Guangdong. In Liaoning, the amount of CO2emission reduction by the installation capacity of large-scale PV systems was estimated to be the largest, 3,058 kt-CO2/yr, due to its larger amount of the installation capacity, 2439.4 MW, than the amount of the installation capacity in other regions.
Circular Collaborative Beamforming for Improved Radiation Beampattern in WSN
Authors: Nik Abd Malik N. N. , Esa M. , Syed Yusof S. K. , Hamzah S. A. , Ismail M. K. H.
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a novel collaborative beamforming (CB) method of wireless sensor network (WSN) by organizing sensor node location in a circular arrangement. Appropriate selection of active CB nodes and cluster is needed each time to perform CB. The nodes are modeled in circular array location in order to consider it as a circular antenna array (CAA). This newly proposed circular collaborative beamforming (CCB) is further presented to solve two different objectives, that is, sidelobe level (SLL) suppression and first null beamwidth (FNBW). Analyses obtained are compared to those from previous work. The findings demonstrate a better CB performance of intelligent capability, and the difference is shown in normalized power characteristic.
Printed Modified Bow-Tie Dipole Antenna for DVB/WLAN Applications
Authors: Hung Ching-Chih , Peng Chia-Mei , Chen I-Fong
Published: July 2013

A printed modified bow-tie dipole antenna which consists of asymmetric-feed and inserted slots is presented to apply to the DVB and WLAN systems. This antenna combines omnidirectional radiation pattern, broad bandwidth, and band rejection in an easy way to fabricate. Experimental results of the constructed prototype indicate that the VSWR 2.5 : 1 bandwidths achieve 166.7%, 28.57%, and 23.63% at 660 MHz, 2450 MHz, and 5500 MHz, respectively.
Enhanced Oral Delivery of Docetaxel Using Thiolated Chitosan Nanoparticles: Preparation, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Saremi Shahrooz , Dinarvand Rassoul , Kebriaeezadeh Abbas , Ostad Seyed Nasser , Atyabi Fatemeh
Published: July 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate a nanoparticulate system with mucoadhesion properties composed of a core of polymethyl methacrylate surrounded by a shell of thiolated chitosan (Ch-GSH-pMMA) for enhancing oral bioavailability of docetaxel (DTX), an anticancer drug. DTX-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion polymerization method using cerium ammonium nitrate as an initiator. Physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles such as particle size, size distribution, morphology, drug loading, and entrapment efficiency were characterized. The pharmacokinetic study was carried out in vivo using wistar rats. The half-life of DTX-loaded NPs was about 9 times longer than oral DTX used as positive control. The oral bioavailability of DTX was increased to 68.9% for DTX-loaded nanoparticles compared to 6.5% for positive control. The nanoparticles showed stronger effect on the reduction of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of Caco-2 cell monolayer by opening the tight junctions. According to apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) results, the DTX-loaded NPs showed more specific permeation across the Caco-2 cell monolayer in comparison to the DTX. In conclusion, the nanoparticles prepared in this study showed promising results for the development of an oral drug delivery system for anticancer drugs.
Connectivity-Aware and Minimum Energy Dissipation Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Dahnil Dahlila Putri , Singh Yaswant Prasad , Ho Chin Kuan
Published: July 2013

This paper formulates an analytical model of energy dissipation in cluster-based wireless sensor networks for network connectivity. The proposed model constructs the analytic expression for the optimal cluster size for minimum energy dissipation. The same model is then applied to control the cluster size which is defined as number of nodes connected to a node (node degree) through transmission power control. The proposed approach constrains the cluster size through node's degree so that all cluster heads maintain a minimum node degree for network connectivity. The simulation results show the total energy dissipation in the network with respect to node's degree, and when cluster heads' degree is above a certain value (threshold), the network remains connected at many more rounds during the network operation.
Evaluation of Harmonic Content from a Tap Transformer Based Grid Connection System for Wind Power
Authors: Apelfröjd S. , Eriksson S.
Published: July 2013

Simulations done in MATLAB/Simulink together with experiments conducted at the Ångströms laboratory are used to evaluate and discuss the total harmonic distortion (THD) and total demand distortion (TDD) of a tap transformer based grid connection system. The grid connection topology can be used with different turbine and generator topologies and is here applied on a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and its operational scheme. The full variable-speed wind conversion system consists of a diode rectifier, DC link, IGBT inverter, LCL-filter, and tap transformer. The full variable-speed operation is enabled by the use of the different step-up ratios of the tap transformer. In the laboratory study, a full experimental setup of the system was used, a clone of the on-site PMSG driven by a motor was used, and the grid was replaced with a resistive load. With a resistive load, grid harmonics and possible unbalances are removed. The results show a TDD and THD below 5% for the full operating range and harmonic values within the limits set up by IEEE-519. Furthermore, a change in tap, going to a lower step-up ratio, results in a reduction in both THD and TDD for the same output power.
Risk Factors for Tube Shunt Exposure: A Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Koval Michael S. , El Sayyad Fouad F. , Bell Nicholas P. , Chuang Alice Z. , Lee David A. , Hypes Stephen M. , Grover Davinder S. , Baker Laura A. , Huddleston Stephen M. , Budenz Donald L. , Feldman Robert M.
Published: July 2013

Purpose. To evaluate potential risk factors for developing tube shunt exposure in glaucoma patients.Patients and Methods. Forty-one cases from 41 patients that had tube shunt exposure from 1996 to 2005 were identified from the Robert Cizik Eye Clinic and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Each case was matched with 2 controls of the same gender and with tube shunts implanted within 6 months of the index case. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine risk factors.Results. The study cohort includes a total of 121 eyes from 121 patients. The mean age was 63.6 ± 19.7 years, ranging from 1 to 96 years. The average time to exposure was 19.29 ± 23.75 months (range 0.36–85.74 months). Risk factors associated with tube exposure were Hispanic ethnicity (P=0.0115; OR = 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3–9.7), neovascular glaucoma (P=0.0064; OR = 28.5; 95% CI, 2.6–316.9), previous trabeculectomy (P=0.0070; OR = 5.3; 95% CI, 1.6–17.7), and combined surgery (P=0.0381; OR = 3.7; 95% CI, 1.1–12.7).Conclusions. Hispanic ethnicity, neovascular glaucoma, previous trabeculectomy, and combined surgery were identified as potential risk factors for tube shunt exposure. These potential risk factors should be considered when determining the indication for performing tube shunt implantation and the frequency of long-term followup.
Control of Traffic Intensity in Hyperexponential and Mixed Erlang Queueing Systems with a Method Based on SPRT
Authors: Zobu Müjgan , Sağlam Vedat
Published: July 2013

The control of traffic intensity is one of the important problems in the study of queueing systems. Rao et al. (1984) developed a method to detect changes in the traffic intensity in queueing systems of the and types based on the Sequential Probability Ratio Test (SPRT). In this paper, SPRT is theoretically investigated for two different phase-type queueing systems which consist of hyperexponential and mixed Erlang. Also, for testing against , Operating Characteristic (OC) and Average Sample Number (ASN) functions are obtained with numerical methods using multipoint derivative equations according to different situations of and type errors. Afterward, numerical illustrations for each model are provided with Matlab programming.
Multiangle Social Network Recommendation Algorithms and Similarity Network Evaluation
Authors: Hu Jinyu , Gao Zhiwei , Pan Weisen
Published: July 2013

Multiangle social network recommendation algorithms (MSN) and a new assessment method, called similarity network evaluation (SNE), are both proposed. From the viewpoint of six dimensions, the MSN are classified into six algorithms, including user-based algorithm from resource point (UBR), user-based algorithm from tag point (UBT), resource-based algorithm from tag point (RBT), resource-based algorithm from user point (RBU), tag-based algorithm from resource point (TBR), and tag-based algorithm from user point (TBU). Compared with the traditional recall/precision (RP) method, the SNE is more simple, effective, and visualized. The simulation results show that TBR and UBR are the best algorithms, RBU and TBU are the worst ones, and UBT and RBT are in the medium levels.
Detection of Bioactive Compounds in the Mucus Nets ofDendropoma maxima, Sowerby 1825 (Prosobranch Gastropod Vermetidae, Mollusca)
Authors: Klöppel Anne , Brümmer Franz , Schwabe Denise , Morlock Gertrud
Published: July 2013

The sessile suspension-feeding wormsnailDendropoma maxima, Sowerby 1825 (Vermetidae) secretes a mucus net to capture planktonic prey. The nets are spread out over the corals and often have remarkable deleterious effects on them like changes in growth form and pigmentation shifts not uncommonly resulting in tissue necrosis. Until now, there is no explanation for this phenomenon although the indication as well as theories about its genesis is mentioned in several publications. Vermetids are well studied concerning the intraspecific competition with neighboring individuals but not in their interaction with other taxa like corals or fish. We did extensivein situvideo recording and observed that fish avoided the plankton-load nets although several specialized taxa are known to be molluscivores, mucivores, and/or feed on plankton. As many molluscs use chemical weapons to combat feeding pressure and to defend themselves against predators, we screened empty and plankton-load mucus nets for potential bioactive metabolites. Bioactivity testing was performed with a recently developed system based on a chromatographic separation (high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)) and a bioassay with luminescent bacteriaVibrio fischeri. Thus, we found at least two active compounds exclusively accumulated by the wormsnails themselves. This is the first record of bioactive properties in the whole family of Vermetidae.
Links between Main Frequencies of Established Rotating Stall and Rotational Frequencies and/or Blade Passing Frequencies
Authors: Levy Yeshayahou , Modelevsky Asaf , Pismenny Joseph , Friedrichs Jens , Wulff Detlev
Published: July 2013

The ratios between the main frequency of rotating stall and rotational frequency may be considered in the form of exact ratios of small natural numbers if the pressure signals in compressors during rotating stall include the rotor rotation frequency component. During rotating stall in compressors with good rotor balancing (with absence of the rotational frequency component in the frequency characteristics of pressure signals), these ratios between the main frequency of rotating stall and rotational frequency are or are not in the form of ratios of small natural numbers. The experimentally received characteristics of power spectral density of pressure signals also show the presence of components with combinations of blade passing frequency and different harmonics of main rotating stall frequency.
Estradiol Solubility in Aqueous Systems: Effect of Ionic Concentrations, pH, and Organic Solvents
Authors: Carter John E. A. , Sluss Patrick M.
Published: July 2013

This study examined the effects of ionic strengths of NaCl (0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 M), pH (3, 7, and 11), and organic solvents (dichloromethane, diethyl ether, and methanol) on the extraction of estradiol at concentrations of 5.0 pg/mL in human serum. Methanol extracted almost 100% of the estradiol at a 5.0 pg/mL concentration, while ether and dichloromethane extracted only 73% or 70%, respectively, of the estradiol. The methanol extracted material was subjected to reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using 60% methanol and was found to elute at the same position as estradiol standard. These results suggest that methanol extraction of estradiol may prove useful in situations where estradiol occurs at concentration levels of ≥5.0 pg/mL, concentrations of great clinical significance in the detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Therapeutic Potential of Andrographolide Isolated from the Leaves ofAndrographis paniculataNees for Treating Lung Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Tung Yu-Tang , Chen Hsiao-Ling , Tsai Hsin-Chung , Yang Shang-Hsun , Chang Yi-Chun , Chen Chuan-Mu
Published: July 2013

Andrographolide is one of the major diterpene lactones found inAndrographis paniculataNees and exhibits remarkable inhibitory effects on various cancers. In this study, the antipulmonary cancer effects of andrographolide were studied in a lung tumor mouse model induced by human vascular endothelial growth factorA165(hVEGF-A165). These results demonstrated that andrographolide significantly reduced the expression of hVEGF-A165compared with a mock group in the Clara cells of the lungs. In addition, andrographolide also decreased tumor formation by reducing VEGF, EGFR, Cyclin A, and Cyclin B expression on the transcriptional and translational levels. These results indicated that andrographolide treatment on the overexpression of VEGF can arrest the cell cycle, which induced pulmonary tumors in transgenic mice. In conclusion, the antiangiogenesis and chemotherapeutic potential of andrographolide may provide a cure for pulmonary tumors in the future.
Variant of X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease Revealed by a SevereBurkholderia cepaciaInvasive Infection in an Infant
Authors: Lugo Reyes Saul Oswaldo , Mahlaoui Nizar , Prando Carolina , Blancas Galicia Lizbeth , Hubeau Marjorie , Blanche Stéphane , Picard Capucine , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Bustamante Jacinta
Published: July 2013

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by increased susceptibility to bacteria and fungi since early in life, caused by mutations in any of the five genes coding for protein subunits in NADPH oxidase. X-linked variant CGD can be missed during routine evaluation or present later in life due to hypomorphic mutations and a residual superoxide production. The case of a 10-month-old boy who died of pneumonia is reported. The isolation ofBurkholderia cepaciafrom his lung, together with a marginally low nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay (NBT), made us suspect and pursue the molecular diagnosis of CGD. A postmortem genetic analysis finally demonstrated CGD caused by a hypomorphic missense mutation with normal gp91phoxexpression. In a patient being investigated for unusually severe or recurrent infection, a high index of suspicion of immunodeficiency must be maintained.
Dynamic Compensation for Two-Axis Robot Wrist Force Sensors
Authors: Ma Junqing , Song Aiguo , Pan Dongcheng
Published: July 2013

To improve the dynamic characteristic of two-axis force sensors, a dynamic compensation method is proposed. The two-axis force sensor system is assumed to be a first-order system. The operation frequency of the system is expanded by a digital filter with backward difference network. To filter high-frequency noises, a low-pass filter is added after the dynamic compensation network. To avoid overcompensation, parameters of the proposed dynamic compensation method are defined by trial and error. Step response methods are utilized in dynamic calibration experiments. Compared to experiment data without compensation, the response time of the dynamic compensated data is reduced by 30%~40%. Experiments results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Tofacitinib
Authors: Ni Han , Moe Soe , Myint Kay Thi , Htet Aung
Published: July 2013

Since the introduction of immune modulators in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there has been hope that orally effective biologic agents would be developed. Tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, has become the first oral biologic to receive approval for use in active RA patients. This paper reviews the efficacy and safety profile of Tofacitinib at dosages of 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily. Remarkable improvement in terms of ACR 20 response and HAQ-DI score was noted at month 3 and month 6. DAS 28-4 ESR < 2.6 achievement was noticeably obvious at month 6 for both dosages. No significant serious adverse events, serious infections, neutropenia, or anaemia were observed compared to placebo. In fact, Tofacitinib 5 mg was even found to have significant protective effect of anaemia in the meta-analysis (P=0.004). Tofacitinib has a noticeable efficacy in controlling disease activity in RA with a manageable safety profile. However, longer studies are needed for its long-term safety profile.
Resolution Improvement in Stage-Scanning Electron Holography: Comparison with Conventional Electron Holography
Authors: Lei Dan , Mitsuishi Kazutaka , Harada Ken , Shimojo Masayuki , Ju Dongying , Takeguchi Masaki
Published: July 2013

Electron holography provides information on the phase and amplitude of electron wave passing through a specimen. The recently proposed stage-scanning electron holography technique should improve the spatial resolution of phase and amplitude images compared to the conventional electron holography based on the Fourier transformation method. To demonstrate the resolution improvement, cobalt nanoparticles were observed using the stage-scanning holography and the conventional holography, and significantly sharper images were obtained with the former technique.
A Rapid Transfer Alignment Method for SINS Based on the Added Backward-Forward SINS Resolution and Data Fusion
Authors: Liu Xixiang , Xu Xiaosu , Liu Yiting , Wang Lihui
Published: July 2013

Two viewpoints are given: (1) initial alignment of strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) can be fulfilled with a set of inertial sensor data; (2) estimation time for sensor errors can be shortened by repeated data fusion on the added backward-forward SINS resolution results and the external reference data. Based on the above viewpoints, aiming to estimate gyro bias in a shortened time, a rapid transfer alignment method, without any changes for Kalman filter, is introduced. In this method, inertial sensor data and reference data in one reference data update cycle are stored, and one backward and one forward SINS resolutions are executed. Meanwhile, data fusion is executed when the corresponding resolution ends. With the added backward-forward SINS resolution, in the above mentioned update cycle, the estimating operations for gyro bias are added twice, and the estimation time for it is shortened. In the ship swinging condition, with the “velocity plus yaw” matching, the effectiveness of this method is proved by the simulation.
A Connection between Basic Univalence Criteria
Authors: Tudor Horiana
Published: July 2013

We obtain a sufficient condition for the analyticity and the univalence of a class of functions defined by an integral operator. The well-known univalence criteria of Alexander, Noshiro-Warschawski, Nehari, Goluzin, Ozaki-Nunokawa, Becker, and Lewandowski would follow upon specializing the functions and the parameters involved in the main result. The results obtained not only reduce to those earlier works, but they also extend the previous results.
Data Mining Techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey
Authors: Mahmood Azhar , Shi Ke , Khatoon Shaheen , Xiao Mi
Published: July 2013

Recently, data management and processing for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has become a topic of active research in several fields of computer science, such as the distributed systems, the database systems, and the data mining. The main aim of deploying the WSNs-based applications is to make the real-time decision which has been proved to be very challenging due to the highly resource-constrained computing, communicating capacities, and huge volume of fast-changed data generated by WSNs. This challenge motivates the research community to explore novel data mining techniques dealing with extracting knowledge from large continuous arriving data from WSNs. Traditional data mining techniques are not directly applicable to WSNs due to the nature of sensor data, their special characteristics, and limitations of the WSNs. This work provides an overview of how traditional data mining algorithms are revised and improved to achieve good performance in a wireless sensor network environment. A comprehensive survey of existing data mining techniques and their multilevel classification scheme is presented. The taxonomy together with the comparative tables can be used as a guideline to select a technique suitable for the application at hand. Based on the limitations of the existing technique, an adaptive data mining framework of WSNs for future research is proposed.
The Effects of Bariatric Procedures versus Medical Therapy for Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Guo Xiaohu , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Mancai , Wei Fengxian , Zhang Yawu , Zhang Youcheng
Published: July 2013

Objective. To assess the effects of bariatric surgery versus medical therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods. The Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese biomedical literature database, and Wanfang database up to February 2012 were searched. The literature searches strategies contained terms (“diabetes*”, “surg*”, and “medic*” were used), combined with the medical subject headings. Randomized controlled trails (RCTs) of frequently used bariatric surgery for obese patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were performed according to the Cochrane standards.Results. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 170 patients in the bariatric surgery groups and 100 patients in the medical therapy group were selected. Compared with medical therapy, bariatric surgery for type 2 diabetes can significantly decrease the levels of HbA1c, FBG, weight, triglycerides, and the dose of hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering medicine, while increasing the rate of diabetes remission (RR = 9.74, 95%CI, (1.36, 69.66)) and the levels of high-density lipoprotein. However, there are no statistical differences in serious adverse events between the surgical and medical groups (RR = 1.23, 95%CI, (0.80, 1.87)).Conclusions. Surgical procedures were more likely to help patients achieve benefits than medical therapy alone. Further intensive RCTs of high-quality, multiple centers and long-term followup should be carried out to provide more reliable evidence.
Elk (Cervus elaphus) Seasonal Habitat Selection in a Heterogeneous Forest Structure
Authors: Popp Jesse N. , McGeachy David N. C. , Hamr Josef
Published: July 2013

Seasonal habitat selection by the reintroduced Burwash elk population, approximately 30 km south of Sudbury, Ontario, has been analysed in order to assist in the development of future management. Twenty-five adult females were radio-collared and tracked 1–3 times a week for 3 years. The most prominent patterns included selection of intolerant hardwood forests (trembling aspen, white birch, and balsam poplar) during all seasons, while Great Lakes-St. Lawrence pines (white and red pine dominated stands) were used less than expected based on availability for all seasons. The selection patterns are likely associated with seasonal climatic conditions and forage preferences. Because the selection behaviours displayed here varied greatly from other elk habitat studies, it is suggested that managers consider the importance of population-specific habitat studies before developing related strategies.
On the Stability of Nonautonomous Linear Impulsive Differential Equations
Authors: Wang JinRong , Li Xuezhu
Published: July 2013

We introduce two Ulam's type stability concepts for nonautonomous linear impulsive ordinary differential equations. Ulam-Hyers and Ulam-Hyers-Rassias stability results on compact and unbounded intervals are presented, respectively.
Multispark Discharge in Water as a Method of Environmental Sustainability Problems Solution
Authors: Barkhudarov E. M. , Kossyi I. A. , Kozlov Yu. N. , Temchin S. M. , Taktakishvili M. I. , Christofi Nick
Published: July 2013

Multispark discharge excited in water is described, and its useful physical and chemical properties are discussed in the light of some environmental issues. Discharge of such a type generates hot and dense plasmoids producing intense biologically active UV radiation and chemically active radicals, atoms, and molecules. Simultaneously, discharge creates strong hydrodynamic perturbations and cavitation bubbles. Particular attention is given to factors influencing on water purity with special reference to discharge application for effective sterilization of water and its cleaning of harmful chemicals. The gas discharges of this type show considerable promise as a means for solving some actual plasma-chemical problems. The above-mentioned discharge properties have been demonstrated in a series of laboratory experiments, which proved the efficiency of disinfection of potable and waste water, water cleaning of pesticide (herbicide) contaminations, and conversion (recovery) of natural methane.
A Numerical Method for Solving 3D Elasticity Equations with Sharp-Edged Interfaces
Authors: Wang Liqun , Hou Songming , Shi Liwei
Published: July 2013

Interface problems occur frequently when two or more materials meet. Solving elasticity equations with sharp-edged interfaces in three dimensions is a very complicated and challenging problem for most existing methods. There are several difficulties: the coupled elliptic system, the matrix coefficients, the sharp-edged interface, and three dimensions. An accurate and efficient method is desired. In this paper, an efficient nontraditional finite element method with nonbody-fitting grids is proposed to solve elasticity equations with sharp-edged interfaces in three dimensions. The main idea is to choose the test function basis to be the standard finite element basis independent of the interface and to choose the solution basis to be piecewise linear satisfying the jump conditions across the interface. The resulting linear system of equations is shown to be positive definite under certain assumptions. Numerical experiments show that this method is second order accurate in the L∞ norm for piecewise smooth solutions. More than 1.5th order accuracy is observed for solution with singularity (second derivative blows up).
Numerical Algorithms for the Fractional Diffusion-Wave Equation with Reaction Term
Authors: Ding Hengfei , Li Changpin
Published: July 2013

Two numerical algorithms are derived to compute the fractional diffusion-wave equation with a reaction term. Firstly, using the relations between Caputo and Riemann-Liouville derivatives, we get two equivalent forms of the original equation, where we approximate Riemann-Liouville derivative by a second-order difference scheme. Secondly, for second-order derivative in space dimension, we construct a fourth-order difference scheme in terms of the hyperbolic-trigonometric spline function. The stability analysis of the derived numerical methods is given by means of the fractional Fourier method. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to show that the numerical results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.