bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient High-Rate Satellite Clock Estimation for PPP Ambiguity Resolution Using Carrier-Ranges
Authors: Chen Hua , Jiang Weiping , Ge Maorong , Wickert Jens , Schuh Harald
Published: November 2014

In order to catch up the short-term clock variation of GNSS satellites, clock corrections must be estimated and updated at a high-rate for Precise Point Positioning (PPP). This estimation is already very time-consuming for the GPS constellation only as a great number of ambiguities need to be simultaneously estimated. However, on the one hand better estimates are expected by including more stations, and on the other hand satellites from different GNSS systems must be processed integratively for a reliable multi-GNSS positioning service. To alleviate the heavy computational burden, epoch-differenced observations are always employed where ambiguities are eliminated. As the epoch-differenced method can only derive temporal clock changes which have to be aligned to the absolute clocks but always in a rather complicated way, in this paper, an efficient method for high-rate clock estimation is proposed using the concept of “carrier-range” realized by means of PPP with integer ambiguity resolution. Processing procedures for both post- and real-time processing are developed, respectively. The experimental validation shows that the computation time could be reduced to about one sixth of that of the existing methods for post-processing and less than 1 s for processing a single epoch of a network with about 200 stations in real-time mode after all ambiguities are fixed. This confirms that the proposed processing strategy will enable the high-rate clock estimation for future multi-GNSS networks in post-processing and possibly also in real-time mode.
Evaluation of Optical Detection Platforms for Multiplexed Detection of Proteins and the Need for Point-of-Care Biosensors for Clinical Use
Authors: Spindel Samantha , Sapsford Kim
Published: November 2014

This review investigates optical sensor platforms for protein multiplexing, the ability to analyze multiple analytes simultaneously. Multiplexing is becoming increasingly important for clinical needs because disease and therapeutic response often involve the interplay between a variety of complex biological networks encompassing multiple, rather than single, proteins. Multiplexing is generally achieved through one of two routes, either through spatial separation on a surface (different wells or spots) or with the use of unique identifiers/labels (such as spectral separation—different colored dyes, or unique beads—size or color). The strengths and weaknesses of conventional platforms such as immunoassays and new platforms involving protein arrays and lab-on-a-chip technology, including commercially-available devices, are discussed. Three major public health concerns are identified whereby detecting medically-relevant markers using Point-of-Care (POC) multiplex assays could potentially allow for a more efficient diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
A Cloud-Based Car Parking Middleware for IoT-Based Smart Cities: Design and Implementation
Authors: Ji Zhanlin , Ganchev Ivan , O'Droma Máirtín , Zhao Li , Zhang Xueji
Published: November 2014

This paper presents the generic concept of using cloud-based intelligent car parking services in smart cities as an important application of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. This type of services will become an integral part of a generic IoT operational platform for smart cities due to its pure business-oriented features. A high-level view of the proposed middleware is outlined and the corresponding operational platform is illustrated. To demonstrate the provision of car parking services, based on the proposed middleware, a cloud-based intelligent car parking system for use within a university campus is described along with details of its design, implementation, and operation. A number of software solutions, including Kafka/Storm/Hbase clusters, OSGi web applications with distributed NoSQL, a rule engine, and mobile applications, are proposed to provide ‘best’ car parking service experience to mobile users, following the Always Best Connected and best Served (ABC&S) paradigm.
Trends and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Sustainability in Eastern Anhui Province, China
Authors: Zhang Jian , Yang Guishan , Pu Lijie , Peng Buzhuo
Published: November 2014

This study analyzes and evaluates the status and long-term trend of regional economic sustainability in eastern Anhui Province, China. Based on the triangle model and the definition of economic sustainable development, this study evaluates the interrelationship among regional economic development, resource-energy consumption, environmental pollution, and ecological performance. The sustainable and comprehensive utilization situation in the study region from 1975–2012 is examined. The results show that in 2012, the comprehensive development in the study region had a general status in terms of sustainability. The sustainable development trend of the seven administrative subunits inside the region had a weak and general status in terms of sustainability, while the status of sustainability in the southeastern part of the region was better than that in the northwest. During the period from 1975–1998, the study region’s comprehensive development presented a trend of general sustainability. In the period from 1998–2012, the region experienced a trend of very strong sustainability in its development. These statuses and trends have a certain relationship with the study region’s strong economic development and environmental protection over the past 37 years. The triangle method, as an intuitive platform for illustrating sustainability status and trends in economic development, seems to hold promise as an analytical management tool given its simplicity, ease of use, and flexibility.
A Scale-Explicit Framework for Conceptualizing the Environmental Impacts of Agricultural Land Use Changes
Authors: Hale Iago , Wollheim Wilfred , Smith Richard , Asbjornsen Heidi , Brito André , Broders Kirk , Grandy A. , Rowe Rebecca
Published: November 2014

Demand for locally-produced food is growing in areas outside traditionally dominant agricultural regions due to concerns over food safety, quality, and sovereignty; rural livelihoods; and environmental integrity. Strategies for meeting this demand rely upon agricultural land use change, in various forms of either intensification or extensification (converting non-agricultural land, including native landforms, to agricultural use). The nature and extent of the impacts of these changes on non-food-provisioning ecosystem services are determined by a complex suite of scale-dependent interactions among farming practices, site-specific characteristics, and the ecosystem services under consideration. Ecosystem modeling strategies which honor such complexity are often impenetrable by non-experts, resulting in a prevalent conceptual gap between ecosystem sciences and the field of sustainable agriculture. Referencing heavily forested New England as an example, we present a conceptual framework designed to synthesize and convey understanding of the scale- and landscape-dependent nature of the relationship between agriculture and various ecosystem services. By accounting for the total impact of multiple disturbances across a landscape while considering the effects of scale, the framework is intended to stimulate and support the collaborative efforts of land managers, scientists, citizen stakeholders, and policy makers as they address the challenges of expanding local agriculture.
Measurement Method and Empirical Research on the Sustainable Development Capability of a Regional Industrial System Based on Ecological Niche Theory in China
Authors: Yin Hang , He Qing , Guo Tao , Zhu Jianxin , Yu Botao
Published: November 2014

From the analytical view of a recycling economy, the regional system achieves the goal of sustainable development through improving resource utilization efficiency, reducing energy consumption and ameliorating the quality of water and air. The regional economic system’s potential for sustainable development is significantly influenced by regional industrial operational efficiency, which measures the cost of ecology, environment, energy and resources accompanying the economic growth. It is vital for national and regional governments to accelerate harmonious development between products of industrial department, consumption of energy and pollutants discharged. Under the guidance of ecological niche theory and recycling economy theory, the theoretical analysis on efficient relations between regional industrial growth, energy consumption, resources utilization and environmental carrying capacity has been carried out from horizontal and vertical respects. Industrial operational efficiency and the sensitivity coefficient in response to the change of every input and output index can be calculated and critical factors, which restrict sustainable development capability, can be found out so that quantitative references could be provided for administrative decisions. As for the measurement method, a super efficiency mixed data envelopment analysis model, which wipes off self-limited condition and either contains both meeting cone characteristic indexes or not, has been established and applied. Statistics from 1993 to 2012 in China are collected to carry out empirical research. On the basis of further analysis, an adjustment strategy can be constituted to improve the capability for sustainable development.
Application of the SUSTAIN Model to a Watershed-Scale Case for Water Quality Management
Authors: Chen Chi-Feng , Sheng Ming-Yang , Chang Chia-Ling , Kang Shyh-Fang , Lin Jen-Yang
Published: November 2014

Low impact development (LID) is a relatively new concept in land use management that aims to maintain hydrological conditions at a predevelopment level without deteriorating water quality during land development. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) developed the System for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis Integration model (SUSTAIN) to evaluate the performance of LID practices at different spatial scales; however, the application of this model has been limited relative to LID modeling. In this study, the SUSTAIN model was applied to a Taiwanese watershed. Model calibration and verification were performed, and different types of LID facilities were evaluated. The model simulation process and the verified model parameters could be used in other cases. Four LID scenarios combining bioretention ponds, grass swales, and pervious pavements were designed based on the land characteristics. For the SUSTAIN model simulation, the results showed that pollution reduction was mainly due to water quantity reduction, infiltration was the dominant mechanism and plant interception had a minor effect on the treatment. The simulation results were used to rank the primary areas for nonpoint source pollution and identify effective LID practices. In addition to the case study, a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters was performed, showing that the soil infiltration rate was the most sensitive parameter affecting the LID performance. The objectives of the study are to confirm the applicability of the SUSTAIN model and to assess the effectiveness of LID practices in the studied watershed.
Turkey as a Destination: A Study of Sensory Brand Associations
Authors: Aziz Nergis , Kefallonitis Efstathios , Friedman Barry A.
Published: November 2014

This study explores Turkish sensory destination branding using the perceptions of US citizens that have or have not visited Turkey. Study participants had sensory brand associations of Turkey through smell, taste, sound, and sight. The most frequently mentioned associations were scent
and taste of food (47%), the sounds of busy urban areas (31%), the call to prayers (26%), and architectural sights (29%). Visitors associated Turkey with the scent of flowers, the taste of sweets and food, and the feel of cotton and silk to a significantly greater extent than nonvisitors.
Compared to nonvisitors, visitors also associated Turkey to a significantly greater extent with the architectural images, beaches, and mosques, as well as the sounds of busy urban areas, call to prayers, music, and people talking. In aggregate, these findings have implications for the destination
branding process.
The Preservation of Macau's Intangible Colonial Heritage: the Case of Patúa
Authors: Wong Cora Un In
Published: November 2014

The heritage literature by and large suggests that heritage, in both its tangible and intangible forms, possesses the power to confer cultural identity to people(s), and the desirability of preserving heritage is often justified along those lines. When it was enlisted into the Macau
Intangible Heritage List in 2012, Patúa became one of the special administrative region's 10 official intangible heritages. Patúa is a Luso–Asian Creole spoken by the “sons of the land” since the 16th century when Macau was founded by the Portuguese. It is widely
believed to be on its way to extinction. This article suggests that, in this instance, the difficulties of saving intangible heritage can be explained through rational human behavior amid political and demographic changes. It investigates whether Patúa still provides any degree of cultural
identity, either to the people of Macau at large or to the minority of its inhabitants for whom it really qualifies, historically speaking, as cultural heritage. It also explores the potential of Patúa as an ingredient of heritage products for tourists.
Hybrid spin-crossover nanostructures
Authors: Quintero Carlos M , Félix Gautier , Suleimanov Iurii , Sánchez Costa José , Molnár Gábor , Salmon Lionel , Nicolazzi William , Bousseksou Azzedine
Published: November 2014

This review reports on the recent progress in the synthesis, modelling and application of hybrid spin-crossover materials, including core–shell nanoparticles and multilayer thin films or nanopatterns. These systems combine, often in synergy, different physical properties (optical, magnetic, mechanical and electrical) of their constituents with the switching properties of spin-crossover complexes, providing access to materials with unprecedented capabilities.
Preparation and evaluation of cyclodextrin polypseudorotaxane with PEGylated liposome as a sustained release drug carrier
Authors: Hayashida Kayoko , Higashi Taishi , Kono Daichi , Motoyama Keiichi , Wada Koki , Arima Hidetoshi
Published: November 2014

Cyclodextrins (CDs) can form polypseudorotaxanes (PPRXs) with drugs or drug carriers possessing linear polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). On the other hand, PEGylated liposomes have been utilized as a representative anticancer drug carrier. However, little is known about the formation of CD PPRX with PEGylated liposome. In the present study, we first report the formation of CD PPRX with PEGylated liposome and evaluate it as a sustained release drug carrier. PEGylated liposome encapsulating doxorubicin was disrupted by the addition of α-CD. Meanwhile, γ-CD included two PEG chains and/or one bending PEG chain of PEGylated liposome and formed PPRX without the disruption of the membrane integrity of the PEGylated liposome. Moreover, the release of doxorubicin and/or PEGylated liposome encapsulating doxorubicin from the PPRX was prolonged in accordance with the matrix type release mechanism. These findings suggest the potential of γ-CD PPRX as sustained release carriers for PEGylated liposome products.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF SECOND ORDER IMPULSIVE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AT RESONANCE VIA VARIATIONAL APPROACH
Authors: Li Jin , Luo Jianlin , Wang Zaihong
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we study the existence of periodic solutions of second order impulsive dierential equations at resonance. We prove the existence of periodic solutions under a generalized Landesman{Lazer type condition by using variational method.
Checklist of butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Serra do Intendente State Park - Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Nery Izabella , Carvalho Natalia , Paprocki Henrique
Published: November 2014

In order to contribute to the butterflies’ biodiversity knowledge at Serra do Intendente State Park - Minas Gerais, a study based on collections using Van Someren-Rydon traps and active search was performed. In this study, a total of 395 butterflies were collected, of which 327 were identified to species or morphospecies. 263 specimens were collected by the traps and 64 were collected using entomological hand-nets; 43 genera and 60 species were collected and identified.
Les débats sur le « développement durable » au Brésil et en Argentine : l'émergence d'une perspective de transformation sociale
Authors: Dobrusin Bruno , Morena Edouard
Published: November 2014

L’Amérique latine s’appuie depuis plusieurs années sur un modèle de développement extractiviste, que l’arrivée des partis de gauche au gouvernement ne remet pas en cause. Bruno Dobrusin tente ici de donner quelques explications du soutien dont jouissent ces politiques, notamment chez les syndicats. Il met en avant les possibilités alternatives explorées par la Confédération des travailleurs Argentins (CTA), et met en évidence leurs limites.
Organisation du travail et politique nucléaire
Authors: Savage Larry , Soron Dennis
Published: November 2014

Larry Savage et Dennis Soron nous dévoilent dans cet article que la question du nucléaire n’est pas spécifiquement française. Il se produit autour de cet outil un attachement assez particulier, qu’on trouve dans peu d’autres domaines, mis à part peut-être la terre. Les auteurs montrent aussi que les réserves sont ancrées dans la perspective bien concrète de pouvoir perdre son emploi.
Improbables mais fécondes : les rencontres entre scientifiques critiques et syndicalistes dans les « années 1968 »
Authors: Bécot Renaud , Pessis Céline
Published: November 2014

Ce qu’il est convenu d’appeler le « consensus fordiste » désigne un régime économique reposant notamment sur une forte croissance, obtenue au moyen de « la science », générant des gains de productivité qui étaient largement partagés avec les travailleurs. Comme le présentent d’autres articles dans ce numéro cet arrangement institutionnel a joui d’une forte légitimité, engendrant ainsi une grande stabilité. Les années 1968 sont en France et dans d’autres pays industrialisés le moment d’une remise en cause qui à certains égards pouvait être jugée salutaire. Les formes concrètes prises par les mouvements sociaux ont conduit des populations habituellement séparées à se rencontrer et à échanger. Renaud Bécot et Céline Pessis examinent le cas des scientifiques critiques et des syndicalistes et exposent l’existence de différents lieux de rencontre, de la santé au travail aux alternatives rurales.
Le CHSCT-environnemental au croisement du droit à la santé et des mobilisations environnementales
Authors: Barnier Louis-Marie
Published: November 2014

Parmi les revendications de la CGT figure l’élargissement à l’environnement du champ de compétence des Comités d’hygiène, de sécurité et des conditions de travail (CHSCT), annonçant la prise en charge de cette dimension par les militants de terrain. La nouvelle loi d’avril 2013, qui crée un droit d’alerte environnemental pour les CHSCT ouvre à une telle perspective. C’est autour de la perception de l’environnement comme une donnée fondamentale de la santé au travail que s’opère cette jonction entre syndicalisme et écologie. Mais ceci exige du syndicalisme une transformation profonde de sa relation avec la société, quand il accepte le regard social sur les conditions et objectifs de production, lorsqu’il considère le mouvement associatif comme des partenaires dans sa confrontation avec les employeurs, ou en envisageant la santé au travail comme composante de la santé publique. Cet article se conclut par la nécessité pour le syndicalisme de se penser comme mouvement social.
Solidaires, syndicat de transformation sociale et écologique
Authors: Cottin-Marx Simon , Flipo Fabrice
Published: November 2014

Annick Coupé est une figure emblématique du milieu syndical. Elle a été longtemps la porte-parole de Solidaires, une organisation créée dans les années 2000, avec la volonté de construire un instrument de lutte, à la différence des grandes centrales qui tendaient à la cogestion ou l’accompagnement. Plus ouvert que d’autres sur les questions écologiques, l’entretien avec Annick Coupé montre aussi les limites dans lesquelles peuvent être accueillies les revendications dans ce domaine, par un syndicat de salariés.
Syndicalisme et écologie : en pratique
Authors: Flipo Fabrice , Grisoni Anahita , Morena Edouard
Published: November 2014

Bernard Saincy est président d’Innovation sociale conseil, cabinet tourné vers le secteur associatif et l’économie sociale et solidaire. Ancien syndicaliste CGT qu’il a représentée au Grenelle de l’environnement en 2007, il a participé aux nombreuses réunions tenues à cette occasion entre les représentants syndicaux et les associations environnementales. Il est aujourd’hui un observateur des tendances à l’œuvre dans les mouvements environnementaux et syndicaux et des alliances qui peuvent s’y nouer. Anabella Rosemberg est responsable des questions d’environnement et de santé au travail à la Confédération syndicale internationale (CSI), elle a participé au sommet de Rio sur l’économie verte en 2012.
Strategies Used by Older Adults to Maintain or Restore Attributed Dignity
Authors: Jacelon Cynthia S.
Published: November 2014

Dignity has been linked to the well-being of older adults. However, little is known about how older adults respond to perceived threats to their dignity. Nineteen community-dwelling older adults were interviewed regarding how they maintained their dignity. Grounded theory methods were used to identify (a) the characteristics of situations in which the dignity of older adults was threatened; (b) strategies used by older adults to defend their dignity; (c) variation in those strategies in relation to individual characteristics; and (d) similarities or differences among strategies used by community-dwelling and hospitalized older adults. Three types of strategies (i.e., introspective, interactive, and active) were identified. Although all individuals used all three types of strategies, each participant had a dominant style. Community-dwelling older adults exhibited greater breadth in their responses than their hospitalized counterparts. Understanding the strategies used by community-dwelling older adults with chronic health problems to maintain dignity may help health care providers develop interventions to protect the dignity of older adults.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2014; 7(6):273–283.]
OCT Angiography in Healthy Human Subjects
Authors: Matsunaga Douglas , Yi Jack , Puliafito Carmen A. , Kashani Amir H.
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To noninvasively evaluate the retinal microvasculature in healthy human subjects with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Cross-sectional, observational study of five healthy subjects. OCTA was performed on 3 × 3 mm
2
sections centered on the fovea, nasal macula, and temporal macula. Retinal vasculature was assessed within three horizontal slabs consisting of the inner, middle, and outer retina. The vasculature within each retinal slab was reconstructed using phase-based and intensity contrast-based algorithms and visualized as separate en face images.

RESULTS:

OCTA in healthy subjects demonstrates capillary networks consistent with previous histological studies. No retinal vessels were found in the outer retina. OCT angiography of the inner and middle retinal layers showed region-specific vascular patterns that consistently corroborated qualitative findings from past histological studies.

CONCLUSION:

OCTA generates high-resolution, noninvasive angiograms qualitatively similar to conventional fluorescein angiography. OCTA may serve as a bridge to assess some features of the retinal microvasculature between conventionally performed angiograms.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2014;45:510–515.]
Reduced-Fluence Photodynamic Therapy in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Nonresponsive to Ranibizumab
Authors: Byon Ik Soo , Kwon Han Jo , Kim Sung Il , Shin Min Kyu , Park Sung Who , Lee Ji Eun
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effect of reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) unresponsive to intravitreal ranibizumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Patients with PCV unresponsive to ranibizumab administered 3 months consecutively who then received reduced-fluence PDT were retrospectively surveyed. Nonresponders were defined as patients having no reduction in intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid after 3 consecutive treatments.

RESULTS:

In total, 22 of 104 eyes (21.2%) were non-responders, and 16 of 22 nonresponders received reduced-fluence PDT. Nine eyes achieved complete fluid resolution, and six had reduced but persistent fluid. In one eye, fluid persisted at 6 months despite an additional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection after reduced-fluence PDT. Mean macular thickness decreased significantly at 3 and 6 months after PDT, but the mean visual acuity was worse than baseline.

CONCLUSION:

Reduced-fluence PDT in nonresponders gradually decreased intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid over several months but did not maintain visual acuity.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2014;45:534–541.]
Adaptive Optics Imaging of Cone Mosaic Abnormalities in Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy
Authors: Mrejen Sarah , Pang Claudine E. , Sarraf David , Goldberg Naomi R. , Gallego-Pinazo Roberto , Klancnik James M. , Sorenson John A. , Yannuzzi Lawrence A. , Freund K. Bailey
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To assess the cone photoreceptor mosaic in acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) using adaptive optics (AO) imaging.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Four patients with AMN were evaluated retrospectively by near-infrared reflectance (IR) confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and a flood-illuminated retinal AO camera. Microperimetry was performed in one patient.

RESULTS:

The cone photoreceptor density was decreased at the level of the AMN lesions. The cone mosaic disruption appeared heterogeneous and more widespread than the lesion detected in the IR-SLO and SD-OCT images. The areas of cone loss correlated with SD-OCT and microperimetry. After resolution of the AMN lesion on IR-SLO, there was incomplete recovery of the cone photoreceptor mosaic.

CONCLUSION:

Cone photoreceptor damage and reconstitution were documented in vivo at the cellular level in AMN using AO imaging. AO imaging appeared more sensitive than combined IR-SLO and SD-OCT to detect and follow photoreceptor damage in patients with AMN.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2014;45:562–569.]
Loss of Lymph Node Fibroblastic Reticular Cells and High Endothelial Cells Is Associated with Humoral Immunodeficiency in Mouse Graft-versus-Host Disease
Authors: Suenaga Fumiko , Ueha Satoshi , Abe Jun , Kosugi-Kanaya Mizuha , Wang Yong , Yokoyama Akihiro , Shono Yusuke , Shand Francis H. W. , Morishita Yasuyuki , Kunisawa Jun , Sato Shintaro , Kiyono Hiroshi , Matsushima Kouji
Published: November 2014

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major risk factor for prolonged humoral immunodeficiency and vaccine unresponsiveness after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, the underlying mechanisms for this immunodeficiency are poorly understood. In this article, we describe previously overlooked impacts of GVHD on lymph node (LN) stromal cells involved in humoral immune responses. In major- and minor-mismatched mouse allo-HSCT models, recipients with CD8+ T cell–mediated GVHD suffered severe and irreversible damage to LN structure. These mice were susceptible to pathogenic infection and failed to mount humoral immune responses despite the presence of peripheral T and B cells. These humoral immune defects were associated with the early loss of fibroblastic reticular cells, most notably the CD157+ cell subset, as well as structural defects in high endothelial venules. The disruption to these LN stromal cells was dependent on alloantigens expressed by nonhematopoietic cells. Blockade of the Fas-FasL pathway prevented damage to CD157+ fibroblastic reticular cells and ameliorated LN GVHD. However, blockade of CD62L- or CCR7-dependent migration of CD8+ T cells to the LN was insufficient to prevent stromal cell injury. Overall, our results highlight GVHD-associated loss of functional stromal cells and LN GVHD as a possible explanation for the prolonged susceptibility to infectious disease that is experienced by allo-HSCT patients.
Myeloid Cell TRAF3 Regulates Immune Responses and Inhibits Inflammation and Tumor Development in Mice
Authors: Lalani Almin I. , Moore Carissa R. , Luo Chang , Kreider Benjamin Z. , Liu Yan , Morse Herbert C. , Xie Ping
Published: November 2014

Myeloid cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, are crucial players in innate immunity and inflammation. These cells constitutively or inducibly express a number of receptors of the TNFR and TLR families, whose signals are transduced by TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) molecules. In vitro studies showed that TRAF3 is required for TLR-induced type I IFN production, but the in vivo function of TRAF3 in myeloid cells remains unknown. In this article, we report the generation and characterization of myeloid cell–specific TRAF3-deficient (M-TRAF3−/−) mice, which allowed us to gain insights into the in vivo functions of TRAF3 in myeloid cells. We found that TRAF3 ablation did not affect the maturation or homeostasis of myeloid cells in young adult mice, even though TRAF3-deficient macrophages and neutrophils exhibited constitutive NF-κB2 activation. However, in response to injections with LPS (a bacterial mimic) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (a viral mimic), M-TRAF3−/− mice exhibited an altered profile of cytokine production. M-TRAF3−/− mice immunized with T cell–independent and –dependent Ags displayed elevated T cell–independent IgG3 and T cell–dependent IgG2b responses. Interestingly, 15- to 22-mo-old M-TRAF3−/− mice spontaneously developed chronic inflammation or tumors, often affecting multiple organs. Taken together, our findings indicate that TRAF3 expressed in myeloid cells regulates immune responses in myeloid cells and acts to inhibit inflammation and tumor development in mice.
Systemic Lentivirus-Mediated Delivery of Short Hairpin RNA Targeting Calcium Release–Activated Calcium Channel 3 as Gene Therapy for Collagen-Induced Arthritis
Authors: Liu Shuang , Kiyoi Takeshi , Takemasa Erika , Maeyama Kazutaka
Published: November 2014

Immune cells, including T cells, B cells, and osteoclasts, in conjunction with their associated cytokines, have been studied as primary molecular therapeutic targets for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The increase in cytosolic Ca2+ levels through the activation of store-operated Ca2+ release–activated channels (CRACs) is involved in mediating a disparate array of cellular responses by these immune cells. This study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of the regulation of Ca2+ entry in the treatment of RA. To moderately suppress Ca2+ entry via CRACs, we gene silenced CRACM3, which was induced by systemic application of specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) using a lentiviral-delivery system, in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The inflammatory responses were determined by measuring the levels of a panel of cytokines and chemokines in the joints and serum. Ag-specific responses were evaluated by determining the cytokine profile of T cells stimulated with autoantigen. We also analyzed the ability of specific CRACM3-shRNA to regulate mature osteoclast function in CIA mice. The therapeutic effect of lentiviral-delivered CRACM3-shRNA was associated with gene silencing of CRACM3, along with the successful biodistribution of the virus. Extracellular Ca2+ influx in the splenocytes, thymocytes, and knee joint synovial cells was moderately suppressed. Inflammatory responses and autoimmune responses were reduced by CRACM3 gene silencing. A decrease in mature osteoclast activity also was observed in CRACM3-shRNA–treated CIA mice. These results indicate that regulation of Ca2+ entry through lentivirus-mediated CRACM3 gene silencing is beneficial in the treatment of RA.
Cornea-Infiltrating and Lymph Node Dendritic Cells Contribute to CD4+ T Cell Expansion after Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Ocular Infection
Authors: Buela Kristine-Ann G. , Hendricks Robert L.
Published: November 2014

After HSV type 1 corneal infection, CD4+ T cells are expanded in the draining lymph nodes (DLNs) and restimulated in the infected cornea to regulate the destructive inflammatory disease herpes stromal keratitis (HSK). The contribution of cornea resident, cornea-infiltrating, and DLN resident dendritic cells (DC) to CD4+ T cell expansion in DLNs and restimulation in corneas is unknown. Cornea resident and cornea-infiltrating DCs were selectively depleted by timed local (subconjunctival) injection of diphtheria toxin (DT) into mice that express high-affinity DT receptors from the CD11c promoter. Corneal and DLN DCs were depleted by systemic (i.p.) DT treatment. We found that: 1) DCs that were resident in the cornea and DLNs at the time of infection or that migrate into the tissues during the first 24 h postinfection were not required for CD4+ T cell expansion; 2) DCs that infiltrated the cornea >24 h postinfection were responsible for most of the CD4+ T cell expansion measured in the DLNs at 3 and 7 d postinfection (dpi); 3) non–cornea-derived DCs that infiltrate the DLNs >24 h postinfection made a modest contribution to CD4+ T cell expansion at 3 dpi but did not contribute at 7 dpi; and 4) surprisingly, HSK development between 7 and 21 dpi did not require corneal DCs. DC-independent HSK development appears to reflect close interactions of CD4+ T cells with MHC class II+ corneal epithelial cells and macrophages in infected DC-depleted corneas.
Contributo alla conoscenza della biodiversità entomologica del Parco del Ticino: Cantharidae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea), Cleridae, Malachiidae e Dasytidae (Coleoptera, Cleroidea)
Authors: Liberti Gianfranco , Piccolino Danilo Mario
Published: November 2014

Vengono riportate le osservazioni effettuate dagli Autori nel Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino, riguardanti le famiglie Cantharidae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea), Cleridae, Malachiidae e Dasytidae (Coleoptera, Cleroidea), integrate coi dati provenienti da altre collezioni. Sono elencate 52 specie: 23 Cantharidae, 11 Malachiidae, 13 Dasytidae e 5 Cleridae. Per ogni specie vengono riportate le segnalazioni disponibili per il Parco e informazioni sulla distribuzione generale. Per due specie, Malthodes dispar e Malthodes recurvus, gli unici dati disponibili risalgono ad oltre 70 anni fa. Viene discussa la componente percentuale delle singole categorie corologiche nel territorio del Parco riferita alle famiglie in esame. Vengono infine confrontati i dati raccolti con quelli relativi alla Riserva Naturale di Bosco Fontana (Mantova).
Pathogenic effects of maternal antinuclear antibodies during pregnancy in women with lupus
Authors: Herrera-Esparza Rafael , Bollain-y-Goytia Juan José , Avalos-Díaz Esperanza
Published: November 2014

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects young women of childbearing age. Fertility rates in lupus patients depend on various factors, including disease activity, nephritis, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies; however, after lupus patients become pregnant, different factors may affect the course of pregnancy, such as the production of autoantibodies, pre-existing renal disease, and eclampsia, among others. The placenta is a temporary hemochorial organ that prevents immunological conflict due to exposure to alloantigens at the maternal-fetal interface; placental regulatory T cells play a major role in maternal-fetal tolerance. Typically, significant amounts of maternal IgG class antibodies cross the placenta and enter the fetal circulation. This transition depends on the distribution of Fc receptors along the syncytiotrophoblast. The production of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is a hallmark of lupus, and these autoantibodies can form immune complexes that are typically trapped in the placenta during gestation. However, the entry of ANA into the fetal circulation depends on the IgG-ANA concentration and the FcR placental density. Maternal antinuclear antibodies with anti-Ro or anti-La specificity might be pathogenic to the fetus if transfused by the placental pathway and could induce neonatal pathologies, such as neonatal lupus and congenital heart block. Here, we review the experimental and clinical data supporting a pathogenic role for maternal autoantibodies transmitted to the fetus
Nasofrontal dermoid with sinus tract upto the tip of the nose: A case report with review of the literature
Authors: Gandhi Ashok , Sundar I , Sharma Achal , Mittal R , Gandhi Sapna
Published: November 2014

Nasofrontal dermoid with sinus tract extending to the nasal tip is rare in adults. It is unique in its embryological origin, presentation, and management. Pathogenesis involves the incomplete obliteration of the developing neuroectoderm. A sinus opening with intermittent oily discharge is characteristic. Associated intracranial extension may lead to meningitis and brain abscess. We present a case of a 21-year-old adult having a nasofrontal sinus tract with intracranial extension who presented with recurrent episodes of meningitis and discuss the physical findings with relevance to embryology, elaborating on the importance and means of addressing the intracranial as well as extracranial components for complete treatment.
Aneurysm of azygos anterior cerebral artery: A report of two cases
Authors: Ghanta Rajesh , Kesanakurthy Murthy , Vemuri Varaprasad
Published: November 2014

Aneurysms of azygos anterior cerebral artery (ACA) are rare with very few cases reported in medical literature. We report here two cases of aneurysm of azygos ACA among 105 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The two aneurysms were successfully clipped by using the bifrontal basal interhemispheric approach.
Trans aqueductal, third ventricle – Cervical subarachnoid stenting: An adjuvant cerebro spinal fluid diversion procedure in midline posterior fossa tumors with hydrocephalus: The technical note and case series
Authors: Teegala Ramesh
Published: November 2014

Background: Persistent or progressive hydrocephalus is one of the complex problems of posterior fossa tumors associated with hydrocephalus. The author evaluated the effectiveness of single-stage tumor decompression associated with a stent technique (trans aqueductal third ventricle – Cervical subarachnoid stenting) as an adjuvant cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure in controlling the midline posterior fossa tumors with hydrocephalus. Materials and Methods: Prospective clinical case series of 15 patients was evaluated from July 2006 to April 2012. Fifteen clinicoradiological diagnosed cases of midline posterior fossa tumors with hydrocephalus were included in this study. All the tumors were approached through the cerebello medullary (telo velo tonsilar) fissure technique. Following the excision of the posterior fossa tumor, a sizable stent was placed across the aqueduct from the third ventricle to the cervical subarachnoid space. Results: There were nine male and six female patients with an average age of 23 years. Complete tumor excision could be achieved in 12 patients and subtotal excision with clearance of aqueduct in remaining three patients. Hydrocephalus was controlled effectively in all the patients. There were no stent-related complications. Conclusions: This study showed the reliability of single-stage tumor excision followed by placement of aqueductal stent. The success rate of this technique is comparable to those of conventional CSF diversion procedures. This is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for the management of persistent and or progressive hydrocephalus. This technique may be very useful in situations where the patient's follow-up is compromised and the patients who are from a poor economic background. Long-term results need further evaluation to assess the overall functioning of this stent technique.
Papillary tumor of pineal region: A rare entity
Authors: Patil Meena , Karandikar Manjiri
Published: November 2014

Pineal tumors comprise 0.4 - 1.0% of intracranial space-occupying lesions in adults. Papillary tumor of pineal region (PTPR) is a very rare entity. It has been newly described in WHO 2007 classification of brain tumors. Only a few case reports are available in the literature. We report a case of a 60 year-old female presenting with headache, giddiness and reduced vision. Imaging studies showed a pineal mass with areas of hemorrhage. All ventricles were normal. There was a past history of a pineal gland tumor excised 2 years ago. This case is being reported for its rarity and aggressiveness in the form of recurrence. Limited/available immunohistochemistry workup has been done.
Endoscopic inter laminar management of lumbar disease
Authors: Yadav Yad , Parihar Vijay , Kher Yatin , Bhatele Pushp
Published: November 2014

Discectomy for lumbar disc provides faster relief in acute attack than does conservative management. Long-term results of open, microscopy-, and endoscopy-assisted discectomy are same. Early results of endoscopy-assisted surgery are better as compared to that of open surgery in terms of better visualization, smaller incision, reduced hospital stay, better education, lower cost, less pain, early return to work, and rehabilitation. Although microscopic discectomy also has comparable advantages, endoscopic-assisted technique better addresses opposite side pathology. Inter laminar technique (ILT) and trans foraminal technique (TFT) are two main endoscopic approaches for lumbar pathologies. Endoscopy-assisted ILT can be performed in recurrent, migrated, and calcified discs. All lumbar levels including L5-S1 level, intracanalicular, foraminal disc, lumbar canal and lateral recess stenosis, multiple levels, and bilateral lesions can be managed by ILT. Migrated, calcified discs, L5-S1 pathology, lumbar canal, and lateral recess stenosis can be better approached by ILT than by TFT. Most spinal surgeons are familiar with anatomy of ILT. It can be safely performed in foramen stenosis and in uncooperative and anxious patients. There is less risk of exiting nerve root damage, especially in short pedicles and in presence of facet osteophytes as compared to TFT. On the other hand, ILT is more invasive than TFT with more chances of perforations of the dura matter, pseudomeningocele formation, and cerebrospinal fluid fistula in early learning curve. Obtaining microsurgical experience, attending workshops, and suitable patient selection can help shorten the learning curve. Once adequate skill is acquired, this procedure is safe and effective. The surgeon must be prepared to convert to an open procedure, especially in early learning curve. Spinal endoscopy is likely to achieve more roles in future. Endoscopy-assisted ILT is a safer alternative to the microscopic technique.
Le système d’Euler de Kato en famille (I)
Authors: Wang Shanwen
Published: November 2014

This article is the first article of a serie of articles on the generalization of Kato's Euler system. The main subject of this article is to construct a family of Kato's Euler systems and a family of Kato's explicit reciprocity laws over the weight space

\mathscr W

, which interpolate the corresponding classical objects.
A Sato–Tate law for GL (3)
Authors: Blomer Valentin , Buttcane Jack , Raulf Nicole
Published: November 2014

We consider statistical properties of Hecke eigenvalues

A_j(p, 1)

for fixed

p

as

\phi_j

runs through a basis of Hecke–Maaß cusp forms for the group

\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbb{Z})

. We show that almost all of them satisfy the Ramanujan conjecture at

p

and that their distribution is governed by the Sato–Tate law.
On minimal spheres of area 4$\pi$ and rigidity
Authors: Mazet Laurent , Rosenberg Harold
Published: November 2014

Let

M

be a complete Riemannian

3

-manifold with sectional curvatures between

0

and

1

. A minimal

2

-sphere immersed in

M

has area at least

4\pi

. If an embedded minimal sphere has area

4\pi

, then

M

is isometric to the unit

3

-sphere or to a quotient of the product of the unit

2

-sphere with

\mathbb R

, with the product metric. We also obtain a rigidity theorem for the existence of hyperbolic cusps. Let

M

be a complete Riemannian

3

-manifold with sectional curvatures bounded above by

-1

. Suppose there is a

2

-torus

T

embedded in

M

with mean curvature one. Then the mean convex component of

M

bounded by

T

is a hyperbolic cusp, \textit{i.e.}, it is isometric to

T \times \mathbb R

with the constant curvature

-1

metric:

e^{-2t}d\sigma_0^2+dt^2

with

d\sigma_0^2

a flat metric on

T

.
Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trials to Evaluate Adoption of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions and Their Combination in Rural Western Kenya
Authors: Christensen Garret , Dentz Holly N. , Pickering Amy J. , Bourdier Tomoé , Arnold Benjamin F. , Colford John M. , Null Clair
Published: November 2014

In preparation for a larger trial, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Benefits pilot study enrolled 72 villages and 499 subjects in two closely related randomized trials of WASH interventions in rural western Kenya. Intervention households received hardware and promotion for one of the following: water treatment, sanitation and latrine improvements, handwashing with soap, or the combination of all three. Interventions were clustered by village. A follow-up survey was conducted 4 months after intervention delivery to assess uptake. Intervention households were significantly more likely than controls to have chlorinated stored water (36–60 percentage point increases), covers over latrine drop holes (55–75 percentage point increases), less stool visible on latrine floors (16–47 percentage point reductions), and a place for handwashing (71–85 percentage point increases) with soap available (49–66 percentage point increases). The high uptake in all arms shows that combined interventions can achieve high short-term adoption rates if well-designed.
Influence of surface tension on two fluids shearing instability
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Kanjilal S.
Published: November 2014

Using extended Layzer's potential flow model, we investigate the effects of surface tension on the growth of the bubble and spike in combined Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The nonlinear asymptotic solutions are obtained analytically for the velocity and curvature of the bubble and spike tip. We find that the surface tension decreases the velocity but does not affect the curvature, provided surface tension is greater than a critical value. For a certain condition, we observe that surface tension stabilizes the motion. Any perturbation, whatever its magnitude, results stable with nonlinear oscillations. The nonlinear oscillations depend on surface tension and relative velocity shear of the two fluids. Received: 20 March 2014,  Accepted: 7 August 2014; Edited by: A. Marti; DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4279/PIP.060006Cite as: R Banerjee, S Kanjilal, Papers in Physics 6, 060006 (2014)