bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vibrio cholerae-Induced Inflammation in the Neonatal Mouse Cholera Model
Authors: Bishop Anne L. , Patimalla Bharathi , Camilli Andrew
Published: April 2014

Vibrio cholerae
is the causative agent of the acute diarrheal disease of cholera. Innate immune responses to
V. cholerae
are not a major cause of cholera pathology, which is characterized by severe, watery diarrhea induced by the action of cholera toxin. Innate responses may, however, contribute to resolution of infection and must be required to initiate adaptive responses after natural infection and oral vaccination. Here we investigated whether a well-established infant mouse model of cholera can be used to observe an innate immune response. We also used a vaccination model in which immunized dams protect their pups from infection through breast milk antibodies to investigate innate immune responses after
V. cholerae
infection for pups suckled by an immune dam. At the peak of infection, we observed neutrophil recruitment accompanied by induction of KC, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), NOS-2, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-17a. Pups suckled by an immunized dam did not mount this response. Accessory toxins RtxA and HlyA played no discernible role in neutrophil recruitment in a wild-type background. The innate response to
V. cholerae
deleted for cholera toxin-encoding phage (CTXϕ) and part of
rtxA
was significantly reduced, suggesting a role for CTXϕ-carried genes or for RtxA in the absence of cholera toxin (CTX). Two extracellular
V. cholerae
DNases were not required for neutrophil recruitment, but DNase-deficient
V. cholerae
caused more clouds of DNA in the intestinal lumen, which appeared to be neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), suggesting that
V. cholerae
DNases combat NETs. Thus, the infant mouse model has hitherto unrecognized utility for interrogating innate responses to
V. cholerae
infection.
Functional Antibodies against VAR2CSA in Nonpregnant Populations from Colombia Exposed to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax
Authors: Gnidehou Sedami , Doritchamou Justin , Arango Eliana M. , Cabrera Ana , Arroyo Maria Isabel , Kain Kevin C. , Ndam Nicaise Tuikue , Maestre Amanda , Yanow Stephanie K.
Published: April 2014

In pregnancy, parity-dependent immunity is observed in response to placental infection with
Plasmodium falciparum
. Antibodies recognize the surface antigen, VAR2CSA, expressed on infected red blood cells and inhibit cytoadherence to the placental tissue. In most settings of malaria endemicity, antibodies against VAR2CSA are predominantly observed in multigravid women and infrequently in men, children, and nulligravid women. However, in Colombia, we detected antibodies against multiple constructs of VAR2CSA among men and children with acute
P. falciparum
and
Plasmodium vivax
infection. The majority of men and children (>60%) had high levels of IgGs against three recombinant domains of VAR2CSA: DBL5ε, DBL3X, and ID1-ID2. Surprisingly, these antibodies were observed only in pregnant women, men, and children exposed either to
P. falciparum
or to
P. vivax
. Moreover, the anti-VAR2CSA antibodies are of high avidity and efficiently inhibit adherence of infected red blood cells to chondroitin sulfate A
in vitro
, suggesting that they are specific and functional. These unexpected results suggest that there may be genotypic or phenotypic differences in the parasites of this region or in the host response to either
P. falciparum
or
P. vivax
infection outside pregnancy. These findings may hold significant clinical relevance to the pathophysiology and outcome of malaria infections in this region.
Novel Pneumocystis Antigen Discovery Using Fungal Surface Proteomics
Authors: Zheng Mingquan , Cai Yang , Eddens Taylor , Ricks David M. , Kolls Jay K.
Published: April 2014

Pneumonia due to the fungus
Pneumocystis jirovecii
is a life-threatening infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients. The inability to culture the organism as well as the lack of an annotated genome has hindered antigen discovery that could be useful in developing novel vaccine- or antibody-based therapies as well as diagnostics for this infection. Here we report a novel method of surface proteomics analysis of
Pneumocystis murina
that reliably detected putative surface proteins that are conserved in
Pneumocystis jirovecii
. This technique identified novel CD4
+
T-cell epitopes as well as a novel B-cell epitope, Meu10, which encodes a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein thought to be involved in ascospore assembly. The described technique should facilitate the discovery of novel target proteins for diagnostics and therapeutics for
Pneumocystis
infection.
A Putative Regulatory Genetic Locus Modulates Virulence in the Pathogen Leptospira interrogans
Authors: Eshghi Azad , Becam Jérôme , Lambert Ambroise , Sismeiro Odile , Dillies Marie-Agnès , Jagla Bernd , Wunder Elsio A. , Ko Albert I. , Coppee Jean-Yves , Goarant Cyrille , Picardeau Mathieu
Published: April 2014

Limited research has been conducted on the role of transcriptional regulators in relation to virulence in
Leptospira interrogans
, the etiological agent of leptospirosis. Here, we identify an
L. interrogans
locus that encodes a sensor protein, an anti-sigma factor antagonist, and two genes encoding proteins of unknown function. Transposon insertion into the gene encoding the sensor protein led to dampened transcription of the other 3 genes in this locus. This lb139 insertion mutant (the lb139
−
mutant) displayed attenuated virulence in the hamster model of infection and reduced motility
in vitro
. Whole-transcriptome analyses using RNA sequencing revealed the downregulation of 115 genes and the upregulation of 28 genes, with an overrepresentation of gene products functioning in motility and signal transduction and numerous gene products with unknown functions, predicted to be localized to the extracellular space. Another significant finding encompassed suppressed expression of the majority of the genes previously demonstrated to be upregulated at physiological osmolarity, including the sphingomyelinase C precursor Sph2 and LigB. We provide insight into a possible requirement for transcriptional regulation as it relates to leptospiral virulence and suggest various biological processes that are affected due to the loss of native expression of this genetic locus.
Peroneal nerve involvement as initial manifestation of primary systemic vasculitis
Authors: Ripellino Paolo , Varrasi Claudia , Maldi Elena , Cantello Roberto
Published: March 2014

We report a case of two patients with foot drop due to peroneal nerve infarct as early sign of two different forms of primary systemic vasculitides: a predominantly small-vessel p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive vasculitis (microscopic polyangiitis) and a predominantly medium-vessel vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa).
White coat, patient gown
Authors: Wellbery Caroline , Chan Melissa
Published: April 2014

Much has been written about the symbolic function of the white coat: its implications of purity, its representation of authority and professionalism, and its role in consolidating a medical hierarchy. By contrast, the medical literature has paid almost no attention to the patient gown. In this article, we argue that in order to understand the full implications of the white coat in the doctor–patient relationship, we must also take into account patients’ dress, and even undress. We explore contemporary artistic images of white coat and patient gown in order to reveal the power differential in the doctor–patient relationship. Artistic representations capture some of the cultural ambivalence surrounding the use of the white coat, which confers professional status on its wearer, while undermining his or her personal identity. At the other end of the sartorial spectrum, hospital gowns also strip wearers of their identity, but add to this an experience of vulnerability. Although compelling reasons for continuing to wear the white coat in circumscribed settings persist, physicians should be mindful of its hierarchical implications. Ample room remains for improving patients’ privacy and dignity by updating the hospital gown.
Condition of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) overstory and regeneration at three stages of the emerald ash borer invasion wave
Authors: Burr Stephen J. , McCullough Deborah G.
Published: March 2014

Assessing emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) impacts in North American forests is essential for projecting future species composition of stands invaded by this phloem-feeding pest. We surveyed all species of overstory trees and regeneration in 2010 and 2011 in 24 forested sites with a major component of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), representing the Core, Crest, and Cusp of the A. planipennis invasion wave across southern Michigan. By 2011, an average of 78.6% ± 0.10%, 44.8% ± 0.11%, and 19.8% ± 0.07% of overstory ash trees representing 87%, 57%, and 14% of the total ash basal area had been killed in Core, Crest, and Cusp sites, respectively. Green ash seedlings, saplings, and recruits were abundant in all sites, but newly germinated ash seedlings were absent in Core sites and scarce in Crest sites. Canopy gaps resulting from current ash decline and mortality increased available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and sapling growth in Crest sites, but PAR was low in Core and Cusp sites. Lateral ingrowth of non-ash overstory trees has largely filled canopy gaps in Core sites, and there was little evidence of green ash recruitment into the overstory. Green ash appears unlikely to persist as a dominant species in forests invaded by A. planipennis.
Adaptive controller for a biomimetic underwater vehicle
Authors: Plamondon Nicolas , Nahon Meyer
Published: April 2014

Aqua is an underwater biomimetic vehicle designed and built at McGill University that uses six oscillating paddles to produce control and propulsion forces. These oscillating paddles provide a time-periodic thrust. Using an existing dynamics model of the vehicle and a numerical simulation, an adaptive controller was developed to provide trajectory tracking capabilities to the vehicle. The performance of the controller was first assessed on a dynamics simulation using different trajectories in roll and pitch. The same controller was then tested experimentally in the Caribbean Sea. We found that the adaptive controller was able to track the roll angle with good accuracy, while the tracking error in the pitch motion was more significant.
Marine mammal sightings by analysts of digital imagery versus aerial surveyors: a preliminary comparison
Authors: Koski William R. , Thomas Tannis A. , Funk Dale W. , Macrander A. Michael
Published: April 2014

Sightings of marine mammals made by protected species observers (PSOs) on manned aircraft were compared to sightings obtained from later review of high-definition (HD) video and digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera imagery covering the same swaths and collected concurrent with the PSO observations. If the data were comparable, future similar surveys could be conducted with unmanned aerial systems or manned aircraft without PSOs. Two reviews were conducted on the DSLR images: one used image enhancement and scanned the images at full resolution of the cameras (detailed review) and the other flashed images at one ninth resolution on monitors for three to four seconds using a slide show format to simulate the view a PSO would have out an airplane window. Image reviewers saw fewer animals in HD video than did PSOs but sample sizes were small. During detailed review of DSLR imagery, reviewers saw similar numbers of cetaceans and polar bears and slightly more pinnipeds as compared to PSOs. PSOs saw more animals than the quick review found, but changes to the quick review process are suggested that will increase detection rates. Additional data are required to confirm the results presented here and to determine whether photographic versus PSO detections are similar across varying survey conditions.
Implementing low cost two-person supervisory control for small unmanned aerial systems
Authors: Terwilliger Brent A. , Ison David
Published: April 2014

Commercially off-the-shelf remote control (RC) model aircraft have been used as a base platform for the development of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). Such designs have included use of first person view (FPV), inertial measurement units, and autopilot systems. Recommended guidelines established for operation of FPV recreational RC aircraft have applicability to operation of sUAS, when use of consistent components and platforms are considered. The purpose of this research was to examine existing literature, guidance, regulations, and other influencing factors to assess the necessity of redundancy management practices to identify recommended control stratagem, processes and procedures, operational criteria, and design of a proof of concept system to operate sUAS with optimal safety and operational benefits within recommended and legislated boundaries. Qualitative content analysis techniques were used to perform a literature review, while a survey of applicable technology (e.g., equipment, components, and software) was used in the development of a proof of concept system. The results were identification of a recommended supervisory control framework, a simulated supervisory control system, a physical proof of concept system, and a series of recommendations relating to considerations and potential follow-up research to better understand the limitations, constraints, and applicable benefits in the actual operation environment.
The importance of being integrable: Out of the paper, into the lab
Authors: Batchelor Murray T.
Published: April 2014

The scattering matrix (S-matrix), relating the initial and final states of a physical system undergoing a scattering process, is a fundamental object in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The study of factorized S-matrices, in which many-body scattering factorizes into a product of two-body terms to yield an integrable model, has long been considered the domain of mathematical physics. Many beautiful results have been obtained over several decades for integrable models of this kind, with far reaching implications in both mathematics and theoretical physics. The viewpoint that these were only toy models changed dramatically with brilliant experimental advances in realizing low-dimensional quantum many-body systems in the lab. These recent experiments involve both the traditional setting of condensed matter physics and the trapping and cooling of atoms in optical lattices to engineer and study quasi-one-dimensional systems. In some cases the quantum physics of one-dimensional systems is arguably more interesting than their three-dimensional counterparts, because the effect of interactions is more pronounced when atoms are confined to one dimension. This article provides a brief overview of these ongoing developments, which highlight the fundamental importance of integrability.
Dielectric behavior and phase transition in [111]-oriented PIN–PMN–PT single crystals under dc bias
Authors: Wan Yuhui , Li Zhenrong , Ma Ming , Li Fei , Xu Zhuo , Fan Shiji , Yao Xi
Published: March 2014

Temperature and electric field dependences of the dielectric behavior and phase transition for [111]-oriented 0.23PIN–0.52PMN–0.25PT (PIN-PMN–0.25PT) and 0.24PIN–0.43PMN–0.33PT (PIN–PMN–0.33PT) single crystals were investigated over a temperature range from -100°C to 250°C using field-heating (FH) dielectric measurements. The transition phenomenon from ferroelectric microdomain to macrodomain was found in rhombohedra (R) phase region in the single crystals under dc bias. This transition temperature Tf of micro-to-macrodomain is sensitive to dc bias and move quickly to lower temperature with increasing dc bias. The phase transition temperatures in the two single crystals shift toward high temperature and the dielectric permittivities at the phase transition temperature decrease with increasing dc bias. Especially, the phase transition peaks are gradually broad in PIN–PMN–0.33PT single crystal with the increasing dc bias. Effects of dc bias on the dielectric behavior and phase transition in PIN–PMN–PT single crystals are discussed.
Read-Performance Optimization for Deduplication-Based Storage Systems in the Cloud
Authors: Mao Bo , Jiang Hong , Wu Suzhen , Fu Yinjin , Tian Lei
Published: April 2014

Data deduplication has been demonstrated to be an effective technique in reducing the total data transferred over the network and the storage space in cloud backup, archiving, and primary storage systems, such as VM (virtual machine) platforms. However, the performance of restore operations from a deduplicated backup can be significantly lower than that without deduplication. The main reason lies in the fact that a file or block is split into multiple small data chunks that are often located in different disks after deduplication, which can cause a subsequent read operation to invoke many disk IOs involving multiple disks and thus degrade the read performance significantly. While this problem has been by and large ignored in the literature thus far, we argue that the time is ripe for us to pay significant attention to it in light of the emerging cloud storage applications and the increasing popularity of the VM platform in the cloud. This is because, in a cloud storage or VM environment, a simple read request on the client side may translate into a restore operation if the data to be read or a VM suspended by the user was previously deduplicated when written to the cloud or the VM storage server, a likely scenario considering the network bandwidth and storage capacity concerns in such an environment.

To address this problem, in this article, we propose SAR, an SSD (solid-state drive)-Assisted Read scheme, that effectively exploits the high random-read performance properties of SSDs and the unique data-sharing characteristic of deduplication-based storage systems by storing in SSDs the unique data chunks with high reference count, small size, and nonsequential characteristics. In this way, many read requests to HDDs are replaced by read requests to SSDs, thus significantly improving the read performance of the deduplication-based storage systems in the cloud. The extensive trace-driven and VM restore evaluations on the prototype implementation of SAR show that SAR outperforms the traditional deduplication-based and flash-based cache schemes significantly, in terms of the average response times.
Efficient hosted interpreters on the JVM
Authors: Savrun-Yeniçeri Gülfem , Zhang Wei , Zhang Huahan , Seckler Eric , Li Chen , Brunthaler Stefan , Larsen Per , Franz Michael
Published: April 2014

Many guest languages are implemented using the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) as a host environment. There are two major implementation choices: custom compilers and so-called hosted interpreters. Custom compilers are complex to build but offer good performance. Hosted interpreters are comparatively simpler to implement but until now have suffered from poor performance.

We studied the performance of hosted interpreters and identified common bottlenecks preventing their efficient execution. First, similar to interpreters written in C/C++, instruction dispatch is expensive on the JVM. Second, Java’s semantics require expensive runtime exception checks that negatively affect array performance essential to interpreters.

We present two optimizations targeting these bottlenecks and show that the performance of optimized interpreters increases dramatically: we report speedups by a factor of up to 2.45 over the Jython interpreter, 3.57 over the Rhino interpreter, and 2.52 over the JRuby interpreter, respectively. The resulting performance is comparable with that of custom compilers. Our optimizations are enabled by a few simple annotations that require only modest implementation effort; in return, performance increases substantially.
CSTutor
Authors: Buchanan Sarah , Laviola Joseph J.
Published: April 2014

We present CSTutor, a sketch-based interface designed to help students understand data structures, specifically Linked Lists, Binary Search Trees, AVL Trees, and Heaps. CSTutor creates an environment that seamlessly combines a user’s sketched diagram and code. In each of these data structure modes, the user can naturally sketch a data structure on the canvas just as they would on a white board. CSTutor analyzes the user’s diagrams in real time, and automatically generates code in a separate code view to reflect any changes the user has made. Additionally, the code can also be edited and any new code changes will animate the data structure drawn on the canvas. The connection between the data structure drawn on the canvas and the code implementation is intended to bridge the gap between the conceptual diagram of a data structure and the actual implementation. We also present the results of two semester-long studies using CSTutor in a CS1 course. The results indicate that students preferred CSTutor and were more engaged using it than a standard whiteboard lecture; however, results were mixed in quiz and exam performance.
A Crafts-Oriented Approach to Computing in High School
Authors: Kafai Yasmin B. , Lee Eunkyoung , Searle Kristin , Fields Deborah , Kaplan Eliot , Lui Debora
Published: April 2014

In this article, we examine the use of electronic textiles (e-textiles) for introducing key computational concepts and practices while broadening perceptions about computing. The starting point of our work was the design and implementation of a curriculum module using the LilyPad Arduino in a pre-AP high school computer science class. To understand students’ learning, we analyzed the structure and functionality of their circuits and program code as well as their design approaches to making and debugging their e-textile creations and their views of computing. We also studied students’ changing perceptions of computing. Our discussion addresses the need for and design of scaffolded challenges and the potential for using crafts materials and activities such as e-textiles for designing introductory courses that can broaden participation in computing.
Optimal Lower Bounds for Locality-Sensitive Hashing (Except When q is Tiny)
Authors: O’Donnell Ryan , Wu Yi , Zhou Yuan
Published: April 2014

We study lower bounds for Locality-Sensitive Hashing (LSH) in the strongest setting: point sets in {0,1}
d
under the Hamming distance. Recall that H is said to be an (
r
,
cr
,
p
,
q
)-sensitive hash family if all pairs
x
,
y
∈ {0,1}
d
with dist(
x
,
y
) ≤
r
have probability at least
p
of collision under a randomly chosen
h
∈ H, whereas all pairs
x
,
y
∈ {0, 1}
d
with dist(
x
,
y
) ≥
cr
have probability at most
q
of collision. Typically, one considers
d
→ ∞, with
c
> 1 fixed and
q
bounded away from 0.

For its applications to approximate nearest-neighbor search in high dimensions, the quality of an LSH family H is governed by how small its
ρ
parameter
ρ
= ln(1/
p
)/ln(1/
q
) is as a function of the parameter
c
. The seminal paper of Indyk and Motwani [1998] showed that for each
c
≥ 1, the extremely simple family H = {
x
↦
x
i
:
i
∈ [
d
]} achieves
ρ
≤ 1/
c
. The only known lower bound, due to Motwani et al. [2007], is that
ρ
must be at least (
e
1/c
- 1)/(
e
1/c
+ 1) ≥ .46/
c
(minus
o
d
(1)). The contribution of this article is twofold. (1) We show the “optimal” lower bound for
ρ
: it must be at least 1/
c
(minus
o
d
(1)). Our proof is very simple, following almost immediately from the observation that the noise stability of a boolean function at time
t
is a log-convex function of
t
. (2) We raise and discuss the following issue: neither the application of LSH to nearest-neighbor search nor the known LSH lower bounds hold as stated if the
q
parameter is tiny. Here, “tiny” means
q
= 2
-Θ(d)
, a parameter range we believe is natural.
Evaluation of web-specific goal oriented requirements language models with quantitative reasoning
Authors: Chawla Shailey , Srivastava Sangeeta , Bedi Punam
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we propose to evaluate Web-specific Goal Driven Models to choose amongst various design alternatives, deal with conflicts, check completeness and reaffirm the sanity of the model. The work is based on Web specific User Requirements Notation (WebURN), which is an enhancement of a goal and scenario based standard, User Requirements Notation (URN). We present the forward reasoning approach for finding the satisfaction level of the root/parent goals from the sub-goals in the goal model. The Quantitative Reasoning method called Forward Reasoning and Evaluation: Numeric (FREN) is apt when enough domain knowledge is there and precise results are expected. We propose a Quantitative Reasoning and Evaluation approach in this paper wherein the requirements engineer has an estimate of the satisfaction level of tasks and knows the priorities of various goals and sub-goals. The rules for propagation of satisfaction values from the leaves to the root level goals are specified in detail. The approach is then applied to the Web-specific Goal driven Requirements models for evaluation. The methodology has been implemented in the WebURN tool, built upon Microsoft Visio for editing and analyzing the WebURN diagrams. The results of evaluations are also compared with other prominent approaches in the area of Goal oriented Requirements Engineering. The methodology used for evaluation enables choice amongst design alternatives, resolves conflicts automatically and incorporates the role of priority in making design decisions.
Predicate-aware, makespan-preserving software pipelining of scheduling tables
Authors: Carle Thomas , Potop-Butucaru Dumitru
Published: April 2014

We propose a software pipelining technique adapted to specific hard real-time scheduling problems. Our technique optimizes both computation throughput and execution cycle makespan, with makespan being prioritary. It also takes advantage of the predicated execution mechanisms of our embedded execution platform. To do so, it uses a reservation table formalism allowing the manipulation of the execution conditions of operations. Our reservation tables allow the double reservation of a resource at the same dates by two different operations, if the operations have exclusive execution conditions. Our analyses can determine when double reservation is possible even for operations belonging to different iterations.
How to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking
Authors: Su Ao-Jan , Hu Y. Charlie , Kuzmanovic Aleksandar , Koh Cheng-Kok
Published: April 2014

Search engines have greatly influenced the way people access information on the Internet, as such engines provide the preferred entry point to billions of pages on the Web. Therefore, highly ranked Web pages generally have higher visibility to people and pushing the ranking higher has become the top priority for Web masters. As a matter of fact, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has became a sizeable business that attempts to improve their clients’ ranking. Still, the lack of ways to validate SEO’s methods has created numerous myths and fallacies associated with ranking algorithms.

In this article, we focus on two ranking algorithms, Google’s and Bing’s, and design, implement, and evaluate a ranking system to systematically validate assumptions others have made about these popular ranking algorithms. We demonstrate that linear learning models, coupled with a recursive partitioning ranking scheme, are capable of predicting ranking results with high accuracy. As an example, we manage to correctly predict 7 out of the top 10 pages for 78% of evaluated keywords. Moreover, for content-only ranking, our system can correctly predict 9 or more pages out of the top 10 ones for 77% of search terms. We show how our ranking system can be used to reveal the relative importance of ranking features in a search engine’s ranking function, provide guidelines for SEOs and Web masters to optimize their Web pages, validate or disprove new ranking features, and evaluate search engine ranking results for possible ranking bias.
Textual and Content-Based Search in Repositories of Web Application Models
Authors: Bislimovska Bojana , Bozzon Alessandro , Brambilla Marco , Fraternali Piero
Published: April 2014

Model-driven engineering relies on collections of models, which are the primary artifacts for software development. To enable knowledge sharing and reuse, models need to be managed within repositories, where they can be retrieved upon users’ queries. This article examines two different techniques for indexing and searching model repositories, with a focus on Web development projects encoded in a domain-specific language. Keyword-based and content-based search (also known as query-by-example) are contrasted with respect to the architecture of the system, the processing of models and queries, and the way in which metamodel knowledge can be exploited to improve search. A thorough experimental evaluation is conducted to examine what parameter configurations lead to better accuracy and to offer an insight in what queries are addressed best by each system.
User interfaces for smart things -- A generative approach with semantic interaction descriptions
Authors: Mayer Simon , Tschofen Andreas , Dey Anind K. , Mattern Friedemann
Published: April 2014

With ever more everyday objects becoming “smart” due to embedded processors and communication capabilities, the provisioning of intuitive user interfaces to control smart things is quickly gaining importance. We present a model-based interface description scheme that enables automatic, modality-independent user interface generation. User interface description languages based on our approach carry enough information to suggest intuitive interfaces while still being easily producible for developers. This is enabled by describing the atomic interactive components of a device and capturing the semantics of interactions with the device. We propose a taxonomy of abstract sensing and actuation primitives and present a smartphone application that can act as a ubiquitous device controller. An evaluation of the mobile application in a laboratory setup, home environments, and an educational setting as well as the results of a user study highlight the accessibility of the proposed scheme for application developers and its suitability for controlling smart devices.
"Geo-social media analytics: exploring and exploiting geo-social experience from crowd-sourced lifelogs" by R. Lee, S. Wakamiya, and K. Sumiya with Ching-man Au Yeung as coordinator
Authors: Lee Ryong , Wakamiya Shoko , Sumiya Kazutoshi
Published: April 2014

Geo-social media represents geo-tagged crowd-sourced media emerged from the wide-spread dissemination of smartphones and the availability of social media during daily social activities. Nowadays, with such novel media as a fertile ground to observe a variety of social phenomena, we can explore geo-social knowledge with the unprecedented scale of crowd lifelogs. In this article, we will overview our pioneering work that has been conducted to explore and exploit geo-social knowledge utilizing geo-tagged twitter data. In our study, we established a model to look into crowd behavior and mental status that are observed from local twitter data. Based on our novel perspective to examine the macro-scale crowd lifestyle patterns, we attempted to explore and exploit three types of geo-social knowledge; local event detectio , urban area characterization, and crowd sense of distance in urban space. In the conclusion, we will summarize our contribution to take advantages of the explosively growing geo-social media and briefly describe our future direction.
"Learning to rank for information retrieval from user interactions" by K. Hofmann, S. Whiteson, A. Schuth, and M. de Rijke with Martin Vesely as coordinator
Authors: Hofmann Katja , Whiteson Shimon , Schuth Anne , de Rijke Maarten
Published: April 2014

In this article we give an overview of our recent work on online learning to rank for information retrieval (IR). This work addresses IR from a reinforcement learning (RL) point of view, with the aim to enable systems that can learn directly from interactions with their users. Learning directly from user interactions is difficult for several reasons. First, user interactions are hard to interpret as feedback for learning because it is usually biased and noisy. Second, the system can only observe feedback on actions (e.g., rankers, documents) actually shown to users, which results in an exploration-exploitation challenge. Third, the amount of feedback and therefore the quality of learning is limited by the number of user interactions, so it is important to use the observed data as effectively as possible. Here, we discuss our work on interpreting user feedback using probabilistic interleaved comparisons, and on learning to rank from noisy, relative feedback.
Transglutaminase Regulation of Cell Function
Authors: Eckert Richard L. , Kaartinen Mari T. , Nurminskaya Maria , Belkin Alexey M. , Colak Gozde , Johnson Gail V. W. , Mehta Kapil
Published: April 2014

Transglutaminases (TGs) are multifunctional proteins having enzymatic and scaffolding functions that participate in regulation of cell fate in a wide range of cellular systems and are implicated to have roles in development of disease. This review highlights the mechanism of action of these proteins with respect to their structure, impact on cell differentiation and survival, role in cancer development and progression, and function in signal transduction. We also discuss the mechanisms whereby TG level is controlled and how TGs control downstream targets. The studies described herein begin to clarify the physiological roles of TGs in both normal biology and disease states.
Thyroid Hormone Regulation of Metabolism
Authors: Mullur Rashmi , Liu Yan-Yun , Brent Gregory A.
Published: April 2014

Thyroid hormone (TH) is required for normal development as well as regulating metabolism in the adult. The thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms, α and β, are differentially expressed in tissues and have distinct roles in TH signaling. Local activation of thyroxine (T4), to the active form, triiodothyronine (T3), by 5′-deiodinase type 2 (D2) is a key mechanism of TH regulation of metabolism. D2 is expressed in the hypothalamus, white fat, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and skeletal muscle and is required for adaptive thermogenesis. The thyroid gland is regulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). In addition to TRH/TSH regulation by TH feedback, there is central modulation by nutritional signals, such as leptin, as well as peptides regulating appetite. The nutrient status of the cell provides feedback on TH signaling pathways through epigentic modification of histones. Integration of TH signaling with the adrenergic nervous system occurs peripherally, in liver, white fat, and BAT, but also centrally, in the hypothalamus. TR regulates cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism through direct actions on gene expression as well as cross-talk with other nuclear receptors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), liver X receptor (LXR), and bile acid signaling pathways. TH modulates hepatic insulin sensitivity, especially important for the suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis. The role of TH in regulating metabolic pathways has led to several new therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders. Understanding the mechanisms and interactions of the various TH signaling pathways in metabolism will improve our likelihood of identifying effective and selective targets.
Sinc-Chebyshev Collocation Method for a Class of Fractional Diffusion-Wave Equations
Authors: Mao Zhi , Xiao Aiguo , Yu Zuguo , Shi Long
Published: April 2014

This paper is devoted to investigating the numerical solution for a class of fractional diffusion-wave equations with a variable coefficient where the fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. The approach is based on the collocation technique where the shifted Chebyshev polynomials in time and the sinc functions in space are utilized, respectively. The problem is reduced to the solution of a system of linear algebraic equations. Through the numerical example, the procedure is tested and the efficiency of the proposed method is confirmed.
Influences of Urban Expansion on Urban Heat Island in Beijing during 1989–2010
Authors: Qiao Zhi , Tian Guangjin , Zhang Lixiao , Xu Xinliang
Published: March 2014

Beijing has experienced rapid urbanization and associated urban heat island (UHI) effects. This study aimed at analyzing the impact of urban form on UHI in Beijing using TM/ETM images between 1989 and 2010. Spatial analysis was proposed to explore the relationships between area, compactness ratio, the gravity centers of urban land, and UHI. The UHI in Beijing spatially represented a “NE-SW” spindle. The land surface temperature (LST) was higher in south than in north. Urban Heat Island Ratio Index (URI) was well interrelated with urban land area in different zones. Under the similar urban land area condition, UHI and compactness ratio of urban land were in positive correlation. The moving direction of the UHI gravity center was basically in agreement with urban land sprawl. The encroachment of urban land on suburban land is the leading source of UHI effect. The results suggest that urban design based on urban form would be effective for regulating the thermal environment.
Effect of Ultrasonication on Physical Properties of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate
Authors: Parashos Peter , Phoon Amanda , Sathorn Chankhrit
Published: April 2014

Aim. To evaluate the effect on physical properties of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) of using direct hand compaction during placement and when using hand compaction with indirect ultrasonic activation with different application times.Methods. One hundred acrylic canals were obturated in 3 increments with MTA in sample sizes of 10. One group was obturated by hand with an endodontic plugger and the remainder obturated with indirect ultrasonic application, with times ranging from 2 seconds to 18 seconds per increment. Microhardness values, dye penetration depths, and radiographs of the samples were evaluated.Results. As ultrasonic application time per increment increased, microhardness values fell significantly(P<0.001)while dye penetration values increased(P<0.001). Microhardness of MTA ultrasonicated for 2 seconds was significantly higher than hand compaction(P=0.03). Most radiographic voids were visible in the hand-compacted group(P<0.001), which also had higher dye penetration depths than the 2-second ultrasonicated samples. Ultrasonication of MTA for 10–18 seconds resulted in significantly more voids than 2–8 seconds of ultrasonication(P=0.02).Conclusion. The use of ultrasonics with MTA improved the compaction and flow of MTA, but excessive ultrasonication adversely affected MTA properties. A time of 2 seconds of ultrasonication per increment presented the best compromise between microhardness values, dye penetration depths, and lack of radiographic voids.
Thailand Momentum on Policy and Practice in Local Legislation on Dengue Vector Control
Authors: Bhumiratana Adisak , Intarapuk Apiradee , Chujun Suriyo , Kaewwaen Wuthichai , Sorosjinda-Nunthawarasilp Prapa , Koyadun Surachart
Published: April 2014

Over a past decade, an administrative decentralization model, adopted for local administration development in Thailand, is replacing the prior centralized (top-down) command system. The change offers challenges to local governmental agencies and other public health agencies at all the ministerial, regional, and provincial levels. A public health regulatory and legislative framework for dengue vector control by local governmental agencies is a national topic of interest because dengue control program has been integrated into healthcare services at the provincial level and also has been given priority in health plans of local governmental agencies. The enabling environments of local administrations are unique, so this critical review focuses on the authority of local governmental agencies responsible for disease prevention and control and on the functioning of local legislation with respect to dengue vector control and practices.
Enhancement of VEGF on Axial Vascularization of Nano-HA/Collagen/PLA Composites: A Histomorphometric Study on Rabbits
Authors: Chang Xiao , Wang Hai , Wu Zhihong , Lian Xiaojie , Cui Fuzhai , Weng Xisheng , Yang Bo , Qiu Guixing , Zhang Baozhong
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the nanohydroxyapatite/collagen/poly(L-lactic acid) (nHAC/PLA) composite is suitable to be compounded with VEGF to enhance the axial vascularization in vivo. Thirty rabbits were divided into 2 groups of 15 animals each. In control group, a nHAC/PLA scaffold slice was vascularized axially by an inserted ligated femoral arteriovenous (AV) bundle in the animal. In experimental group, a slice compounded with VEGF gel was applied. The rabbits were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks after surgery; the specimens of scaffold slices underwent histomorphometric examination; analysis of the microvessel density (MVD) of both groups was done. The combination with VEGF (Group B) did not enhance the vascularization in early phase (2 and 6 weeks,P>0.05) but worked in later phase (10 weeks,P<0.05). The data of the experiment demonstrated the suitability of the nHAC/PLA composite as carrier for the growth factor VEGF, enabling its sustained release in bioactive form with enough binding efficacy.
Axiomatic Characterizations of IVF Rough Approximation Operators
Authors: Yu Guangji
Published: March 2014

This paper is devoted to the study of axiomatic characterizations of IVF rough approximation operators. IVF approximation spaces are investigated. The fact that different IVF operators satisfy some axioms to guarantee the existence of different types of IVF relations which produce the same operators is proved and then IVF rough approximation operators are characterized by axioms.
Optimization of Extraction and Enrichment of Steroidal Alkaloids from Bulbs of CultivatedFritillaria cirrhosa
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Wang Shu , Du Qingdan , Wang Nanyi , Liu Simei , Wang Xiaoxia , Jiang Jinghui
Published: April 2014

The bulbs of cultivatedFritillaria cirrhosa(BCFC) are used in China both for food and folk medicine due to its powerful biological activities. The aim of this study is to optimize the extraction and enrichment conditions of alkaloids from BCFC. Firstly, the orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize and evaluate four variables (ethanol concentration, solid-liquid ratio, extraction time, and temperature). Thereafter, resin adsorption was as a means to enrich alkaloids. Among 16 tested resins, H-103 resin presented higher adsorption capacity and desorption ratio. The equilibrium experimental data of the adsorption of total alkaloids, imperialine, and peimisine were well-fitted to the pseudo-first-order kinetics model, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models. Finally, in order to optimize the parameters for purifying alkaloids, dynamic adsorption and desorption tests were carried out. After one run treatment with H-103 resin, the contents of total alkaloids, imperialine, and peimisine in the product were 21.40-, 18.31-, and 22.88-fold increased with recovery yields of 94.43%, 90.57%, and 96.16%, respectively.
Late-Onset Bowel Strangulation due to Reduction En Masse of Inguinal Hernia
Authors: Watanobe Ikuo , Yoshida Noritoshi , Watanabe Shin , Maruyama Toshirou , Ihara Atsushi , Kojima Kuniaki
Published: April 2014

Incarcerated inguinal hernia is often encountered by surgeons in daily practice. Although rare, hernial reduction en masse is a potential complication of manual reduction of an incarcerated hernia. Manual reduction was performed in a case of Zollinger classification type VII (combined type) hernia in which the indirect hernia portion included an incarcerated small intestine. This procedure caused hernial reduction en masse, but this went unnoticed, and the remaining portion of the direct hernia in the inguinal region was treated surgically by the anterior approach. Because the incarcerated small bowel that had been reduced en masse was not completely obstructed, the patient’s general condition was not greatly affected, and he was able to resume eating. Twenty days after surgery, he developed sudden abdominal pain as a result of gastrointestinal perforation. When performing manual reduction of an incarcerated hernia in cases after self-reduction over a long period, the clinician should always be aware of the possibility of reduction en masse.
Epidemic of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in New Zealand Remains Unexplained
Authors: Cox Brian , Liu Chih-Wei , Sneyd Mary J. , Cameron Claire M.
Published: April 2014

Background. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) incidence rates have increased considerably in New Zealand.Methods. Incidence and mortality rates for NHL from 1981 to 2010 were calculated. Trends in age-specific rates were analysed and age-period-cohort models fitted to explore generation-specific changes in incidence and mortality.Results. NHL incidence increased by 67% for men and 74% for women between the 1981–1985 and 2006–2010 time periods in New Zealand. For women born about 1936 and men born about 1946, NHL incidence and mortality have diverged suggesting an improved prognosis for recent generations.Conclusion. The strong generation effects suggest that an exposure before 25 years of age is of major importance in determining the lifetime risk of NHL in New Zealand. NHL incidence rates in New Zealand will continue to increase in the future and probably more in females than males, as generations with increased risk age. Current hypotheses for the cause of NHL do not explain the trends observed. A decline in the prevalence of a protective factor may have also contributed to these trends. Examination of trends for subtypes of NHL and innovative testable hypotheses that may explain these trends are needed.
Impaired Urine Dilution Capability in HIV Stable Patients
Authors: Belloso Waldo H. , de Paz Sierra Mariana , Navarro Matilde , Sanchez Marisa L. , Perelsztein Ariel G. , Musso Carlos G.
Published: March 2014

Renal disease is a well-recognized complication among patients with HIV infection. Viral infection itself and the use of some antiretroviral drugs contribute to this condition. The thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop (TALH) is the tubule segment where free water clearance is generated, determining along with glomerular filtration rate the kidney’s ability to dilute urine.Objective. We analyzed the function of the proximal tubule and TALH in patients with HIV infection receiving or not tenofovir-containing antiretroviral treatment in comparison with healthy seronegative controls, by applying a tubular physiological test, hyposaline infusion test (Chaimowitz’ test).Material & Methods. Chaimowitz’ test was performed on 20 HIV positive volunteers who had normal renal functional parameters. The control group included 10 healthy volunteers.Results. After the test, both HIV groups had a significant reduction of serum sodium and osmolarity compared with the control group. Free water clearance was lower and urine osmolarity was higher in both HIV+ groups. Proximal tubular function was normal in both studied groups.Conclusion. The present study documented that proximal tubule sodium reabsorption was preserved while free water clearance and maximal urine dilution capability were reduced in stable HIV patients treated or not with tenofovir.
Role of Autofluorescence in Inflammatory/Infective Diseases of the Retina and Choroid
Authors: Samy Ahmed , Lightman Sue , Ismetova Filis , Talat Lazha , Tomkins-Netzer Oren
Published: April 2014

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) has recently emerged as a novel noninvasive imaging technique that uses the fluorescent properties of innate fluorophores accumulated in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to assess the health and viability of the RPE/photoreceptor complex. Recent case reports suggest FAF as a promising tool for monitoring eyes with posterior uveitis helping to predict final visual outcome. In this paper we review the published literature on FAF in these disorders, specifically patterns in infectious and noninfectious uveitis, and illustrate some of these with short case histories.