bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of screening criteria for palliative care consultation in the MICU: a multihospital analysis
Authors: Zalenski Robert , Courage Cheryl , Edelen Alexandra , Waselewsky Denise , Krayem Hicham , Latozas Jordana , Kaufman David
Published: April 2014

Background

There are currently no comprehensive studies in critical care settings that have set out to examine the association of palliative care screening criteria with multiple, adverse patient outcomes.

Methods

A 7-item palliative care screen was developed from consensus reports. Medical intensive care unit (MICU) nurses at four hospitals screened patients upon admission during a 16-week period. Outcomes included percentage of patients screened and their percentage with consultations ordered. Patient screen scores were compared with mortality, hospice discharge and length of stay (LOS).

Results

During the period, 1071 patients were admitted to MICUs, of which, 59.3% were screened; 35.3% of patients screened positive. Patients with positive screens (n=225) were more likely to have a consult ordered (33.6% vs 3.4%; p<0.001), and likelihood of consult increased with higher screen scores. Patients with positive screens had significantly longer hospital and MICU LOS (p<0.001), and had increased risk of inpatient mortality (p<0.001) and hospice discharge (p<0.001). Criteria of ‘admission from a skilled nursing facility’ and ‘readmission to the ICU’ were significant predictors of LOS; ‘cancer,’ ‘post cardiac arrest,’ and ‘team perceived need’ were predictors of the composite variable of mortality/hospice discharge. ‘End-stage dementia’ and ‘intracranial bleed’ were not predictive of adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

Decisions on the appropriateness for palliative care consultation in the MICU can be aided using a trigger screen. We recommend the use of this screen be considered in the MICU with the suggested revisions. Additional studies are needed to determine if the use of the trigger screen is associated with improved clinical outcomes.
Mycotic aneurysm detection rates with cerebral angiography in patients with infective endocarditis
Authors: Hui Ferdinand K , Bain Mark , Obuchowski Nancy A , Gordon Steven , Spiotta Alejandro M , Moskowitz Shaye , Toth Gabor , Hussain Shazam
Published: April 2014

Background

Cerebral angiography remains the gold standard for the detection of mycotic aneurysms, and it has been estimated that ruptured mycotic aneurysms result in 5% of the neurological complications of patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Objective

To determine the diagnostic yield of cerebral angiography in the above patient population and to assess patient factors that might suggest greater or lesser utility.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients who underwent cerebral angiography with a diagnosis of IE or infected left ventricular assist device at the Cleveland Clinic between January 2003 and March 2010 in accordance with institutional review board guidelines. Chart and imaging review was performed.

Results

15/168 patients (8.9%) had mycotic aneurysms; 93.3% (14/15) of the patients with mycotic aneurysms presented with CNS hemorrhage and 66.7% (10/15) had acute ischemic findings. Of the 15 patients with mycotic aneurysms on angiography, seven underwent CT angiography and six underwent MR angiography, which showed mycotic aneurysms in three (42.9%) and two cases (one of which was questionable; 33.3%), respectively.

Conclusions

Patients with IE or similar sources of central bacterial emboli are prone to neurovascular complications. Approximately 9% of patients with IE at our institution who undergo cerebral angiography have mycotic aneurysms. Presentation with hemorrhage appears to be more predictive of aneurysm, as approximately 22% of patients with IE and hemorrhage were found to have an aneurysm compared with only 1% when hemorrhage was absent. Thus, patients with IE presenting with intracranial hemorrhage should undergo vascular imaging, preferably with cerebral angiography.
Balloon remodeling of complex anterior communicating artery aneurysms: technical considerations and complications
Authors: Moon Karam , Albuquerque Felipe C , Ducruet Andrew F , Crowley R Webster , McDougall Cameron G
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Reports of the limitations and feasibility of balloon remodeling for treatment of complex anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms are scarce.

Methods

Ninety-nine patients were treated with balloon-assisted coil embolization for ACoA aneurysms between August 2004 and October 2012. Records were reviewed for aneurysm characteristics, balloon trajectory (vessel and side), bilateral access, treatment-related complications, and aneurysm recurrence determined by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Morphological outcomes following treatment were categorized into Raymond class I, II, or III.

Results

Fifty-three aneurysms (53.5%) were unruptured and 46 (46.4%) were ruptured. Aneurysmal occlusion (Raymond I or II) was achieved in 89 patients (89.9%); three (3.0%) were incompletely embolized and treatment was aborted in six (6.1%). Balloon trajectories were from the A1 to either the ipsilateral or contralateral A2. In 17 cases (17.2%), bilateral A1 access was used to achieve balloon protection of the contralateral A2. In four cases (4.0%), balloon remodeling was aborted due to technical difficulty. There were 15 (15.2%) treatment-related complications; five (5.1%) were intraoperative ruptures, one of which resulted in a neurological deficit and another in death. All other complications were clinically silent, producing a permanent complication rate of 2.0%. Mean radiographic follow-up was 2.5 years, and six patients (6.1%) were retreated for recurrence or known remnant.

Conclusions

Balloon remodeling should be considered for broad-based complex ACoA aneurysms. This technique provides a high rate of aneurysm occlusion with an acceptable complication profile, and avoids the need for dual antiplatelet therapy. The balloon trajectory will depend on aneurysm morphology and bilateral access may be useful in selected cases.
Endovascular coil retrieval using a TrevoProVue stentriever
Authors: Kabbani Mouhammed R , Smith Angela , Leider Morgan
Published: April 2014

A 65-year-old man with a left cavernous internal carotid artery cerebral aneurysm experienced a premature detachment of the first framing coil (10 mm×40 cm Penumbra Complex Standard) during a coil embolization procedure. The coil herniated into the anterior cerebral artery and pericallosal artery. Multiple attempts to retrieve the coil using both a 2 and 4 mm Microsnare (Amplatz GooseNeck) failed. A Trevo ProVue retrievable stent was then used to retrieve the coil without any adverse events. This case report highlights a novel use of a stent for the removal of a foreign body from the cerebrovascular system.
Role of methyl group vitamins in hypothalamic development of food intake regulation in Wistar rats
Authors: Cho Clara E.
Published: April 2014

High multivitamin diets (HV; 10-fold AIN-93G) fed during pregnancy to Wistar rats produce offspring with increased food intake, obesity, and characteristics of metabolic syndrome. The hypothesis that methyl group vitamins in HV gestational and pup diets modify expression of the obesogenic phenotypes in the offspring through their effects on hypothalamic feeding pathways was tested by 4 studies. In studies 1 and 2, dams were fed the AIN-93G diet with recommended vitamin (RV), HV, high methyl vitamins (10-fold folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6) (HMethyl), or HV with normal folate (HVNF) and male offspring were weaned to a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In studies 3 and 4, dams were fed RV, HV, or high 10-fold folate (HFol), and male offspring were weaned to RV, HV, or HFol diets for 29 weeks. The results were as follows: (i) HV and HMethyl diets increased obesogenic phenotypes and altered hypothalamic regulation of food intake and metabolism concurrent with epigenetic effects on gene expression. (ii) Removing folate additions to the HV diet showed that folate contributes to the obesogenic phenotype in the offspring and epigenetic alterations in the hypothalamus that favour increased food intake. (iii) Matching pup diet vitamin content with that of the HV and HFol diet-fed dams prevented their increased food intake, body weight, and insulin resistance when weaned to the RV diet. (iv) Both HFol gestational and pup diets altered hypothalamic feeding pathways through DNA methylation, showing that epigenetic effects of these vitamins occur not only in utero but also postnatally. In conclusion, methyl group vitamins in HV gestational and pup diets modify expression of the obesogenic phenotypes and hypothalamic food intake regulatory systems in the Wistar rat offspring.
Ocean-scale connectivity and life cycle reconstruction in a deep-sea fish
Authors: Longmore Craig , Trueman Clive N. , Neat Francis , Jorde Per Erik , Knutsen Halvor , Stefanni Sergio , Catarino Diana , Milton James A. , Mariani Stefano
Published: April 2014

As human exploration and harvesting moves to the high seas, ecological understanding of the deep sea has become a priority, especially in those commercially exploited species whose life cycle, habitat use, and demographic structure remain poorly understood. Here we combine otolith trace element and stable isotope analyses with microsatellite data to investigate population structure and connectivity in the migratory deep-sea black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo), sampled along a latitudinal gradient spanning much of the known species range in the Northeast Atlantic. In each sampled life stage, otolith trace element and oxygen isotope compositions are similar among fish from different capture locations, but otolith compositions vary greatly between life stages. Oxygen isotope compositions indicate ontogenetic migrations from relatively warm water conditions during larval growth to cooler waters with increasing age. Analysis of microsatellite DNA also suggests lack of genetic structure among the areas sampled. The multidisciplinary approach employed collectively suggests that A. carbo individuals undergo an ocean-scale ontogenetic migration, beginning with spawning in southern, warm-water Macaronesian areas (potentially dominated by Madeira), followed by a large proportion of immature fish moving to and feeding on the continental slope in northern areas. The results lend the first conclusive evidence for defining the life-history circuit of this species and the perception of its stock structure across the North Atlantic.
Investigating spatial variation and temperature effects on maturity of female winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) using generalized additive models
Authors: Winton Megan V. , Wuenschel Mark J. , McBride Richard S.
Published: April 2014

Generalized additive models were used to investigate fine-scale spatial variation in female maturity across the three United States’ winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) stocks. The effect of temperature on maturity was also investigated. Maturity models explicitly incorporating spatial structure performed better than “traditional” methods incorporating spatial effects by aggregating data according to predefined stock boundaries. Models including temperature explained more of the variability in maturity than those based only on fish size or age but did not improve fit over models incorporating spatial structure. Based on the size- and age-at-maturity estimates from the spatially explicit models, distinct subareas were objectively identified using a spatially constrained clustering algorithm. The results suggested greater variation in size- and age-at-maturity within than between existing stock areas. The approach outlined here provides a method for identifying areas with different vital rates without the need to presume subjective boundaries.
K shell X-ray intensity ratios, K-Li, K-L, and K-M vacancy transfer probabilities of Ba and Tl following internal conversion process
Authors: Sreevidya P.V. , Gudennavar S.B. , Joseph Daisy , Bubbly S.G.
Published: April 2014

K shell X-rays of barium and thallium following internal conversion decay in Cs137 and Hg203, respectively, were detected using a Si(Li) X-ray detector coupled to PC-based 8k multichannel analyser employing the method suggested earlier by our group. The K shell X-ray intensity ratios and vacancy transfer probabilities for thallium and barium were calculated. The obtained results are compared with theoretical, semiempirical, and others’ experimental results obtained via photoionization as well as decay processes. The effects of beta decay and internal conversion on X-ray emission probabilities are discussed.
The formulation of dynamic Newtonian advanced gravity, DNAg
Authors: Worsley Andrew
Published: April 2014

In this paper we find that the equations for gravity can be adapted by defining the equations for the curvature of space–time in terms of geodesics. Using these equations, we translate this curvature back into equations for an advanced Newtonian force of gravity. Using worked examples, we can show that the advanced Newtonian equations give results that technically agree exactly with gravitational experiment. These equations also technically agree exactly with binary pulsar data. At the same time these gravitational equations resolve the difficulties with the formation of singularities. Importantly, advanced Newtonian gravity provides readily testable gravitational predictions, particularly in the vicinity of black holes.
A tale of two paradigms: the mutual incommensurability of ΛCDM and MOND
Authors: McGaugh Stacy S.
Published: April 2014

The concordance model of cosmology, ΛCDM, provides a satisfactory description of the evolution of the universe and the growth of large-scale structure. Despite considerable effort, this model does not at present provide a satisfactory description of small-scale structure and the dynamics of bound objects like individual galaxies. In contrast, MOND provides a unique and predictively successful description of galaxy dynamics, but is mute on the subject of cosmology. Here I briefly review these contradictory world views, emphasizing the wealth of distinct interlocking lines of evidence that went into the development of ΛCDM while highlighting the practical impossibility that it can provide a satisfactory explanation of the observed MOND phenomenology in galaxy dynamics. I also briefly review the baryon budget in groups and clusters of galaxies where neither paradigm provides an entirely satisfactory description of the data. Relatively little effort has been devoted to the formation of structure in MOND; I review some of what has been done. While it is impossible to predict the power spectrum of the microwave background temperature fluctuations in the absence of a complete relativistic theory, the amplitude ratio of the first to second peaks was correctly predicted a priori. However, the simple model that makes this predictions does not explain the observed amplitude of the third and subsequent peaks (3e, 4e, …). MOND anticipates that structure forms more quickly than in ΛCDM. This motivated the prediction that reionization would happen earlier in MOND than originally expected in ΛCDM, as subsequently observed. This also provides a natural explanation for massive, early clusters of galaxies and large, empty voids. However, it is far from obvious that the mass spectrum of galaxy clusters or the power spectrum of galaxies can be explained in MOND, two things that ΛCDM does well. Critical outstanding issues are the development of an acceptable relativistic parent theory for MOND, and the reality of the non-baryonic dark matter of ΛCDM. Do suitable dark matter particles exist, or are they a modern æther?
Passion fruit peel extract attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
Authors: Chilakapati Shanmuga Reddy , Serasanambati Mamatha , Manikonda Pavan Kumar , Chilakapati Damodar Reddy , Watson Ronald Ross
Published: April 2014

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive fatal lung disease characterized by excessive collagen deposition, with no effective treatments. We investigated the efficacy of natural products with high anti-inflammatory activity, such as passion fruit peel extract (PFPE), in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin to induce PF. Daily PFPE treatment significantly reduced loss of body mass and mortality rate in mice compared with those treated with bleomycin. While bleomycin-induced PF resulted in elevated total numbers of inflammatory cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on both days 7 and 21, PFPE administration significantly attenuated these phenomena compared with bleomycin group. On day 7, the decreased superoxide dismutase and myeloperoxidase activities observed in the bleomycin group were significantly restored with PFPE treatment. On day 21, enhanced hydroxyproline deposition in the bleomycin group was also suppressed by PFPE administration. PFPE treatment significantly attenuated extensive inflammatory cell infiltration and accumulation of collagen in lung tissue sections of bleomycin-induced mice on days 7 and 21, respectively. Our results indicate that administration of PFPE decreased bleomycin-induced PF because of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
A SIMPLE ARRAY VERSION OF M-HEAP
Authors: JUNG HAEJAE
Published: April 2014

Both the post-order heap and the M-heap have a full binary tree structure and have constant amortized insertion and O(logn) deletion time complexities.

This paper proposes a simple array version of the M-heap, called AM-heap. The AM-heap has a complete binary tree structure and its array indexing scheme is the same as the simple indexing scheme of the conventional binary heap. An insertion on an AM-heap takes constant amortized time and a deletion takes O(logn) time where n is the number of elements in an AM-heap. The AM-heap resolves the open problem that is to design an array version of the M-heap. Also, it is simpler than the post-order heap to implement and debug.
APPROXIMATING ASYMMETRIC TSP IN EXPONENTIAL TIME
Authors: GOLOVNEV ALEXANDER
Published: April 2014

Let G be a complete directed graph with n vertices and integer edge weights in range [0,M]. It is well known that an optimal Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) in G can be solved in 2n time and space (all bounds are given within a polynomial factor of the input length, i.e., poly(n, log M)) and this is still the fastest known algorithm. If we allow a polynomial space only, then the best known algorithm has running time 4nnlog n. For TSP with bounded weights there is an algorithm with 1.657n · M running time. It is a big challenge to develop an algorithm with 2n time and polynomial space. Also, it is well-known that TSP cannot be approximated within any polynomial time computable function unless P=NP.

In this short note we propose a very simple algorithm that, for any 0 < ε < 1, finds (1+ε)-approximation to asymmetric TSP in 2nε−1 time and ε−1 · poly(n, log M) space. Thereby, for any fixed ε, the algorithm needs 2n steps and polynomial space to compute (1 + ε)-approximation.
THE RANGES OF STATE COMPLEXITIES FOR COMPLEMENT, STAR, AND REVERSAL OF REGULAR LANGUAGES
Authors: JIRÁSKOVÁ GALINA
Published: April 2014

We examine the deterministic and nondeterministic state complexity of complements, stars, and reversals of regular languages. Our results are as follows:

(1) The nondeterministic state complexity of the complement of an n-state nfa language over a five-letter alphabet may reach each value from log n to 2n.

(2) The state complexity of the star (reversal) of an n-state dfa language over a growing alphabet may reach each value from 1 to [Formula: see text] (from log n to 2n, respectively).

(3) The nondeterministic state complexity of the star (reversal) of an n-state nfa binary language may reach each value from 1 to n + 1 (from n - 1 to n + 1, respectively).

We also obtain some partial results on the nondeterministic state complexity of complements of binary regular languages. As a bonus, we get an exponential number of values that are non-magic in the binary case.
Leptonic decays of vector mesons in a power-law potential model of independent quarks
Authors: Jena S. N. , Nanda P. K. , Sahoo S. , Panda P.
Published: April 2014

A relativistic power-law potential model of independent quarks is used to study the leptonic decays of neutral vector mesons. Here, the transition probability amplitude for leptonic decay of meson is determined from the momentum distribution function which is found from the assumption of a strong correlation existing between the momenta of quark and antiquark inside the meson. The model parameters are first determined from the application of the model to study the ground state spectra of ρ, ω, ϕ, ψ and ϒ mesons together with the radiative decay widths of mesons. The same model with no adjustable parameters is then used to evaluate the leptonic decay widths and the electromagnetic decay constants for the vector mesons ρ, ω, ϕ, ψ and ϒ. The calculated results are in remarkable agreement with the corresponding experimental values.
THE CARMA INTEREST RATE MODEL
Authors: ANDRESEN ARNE , BENTH FRED ESPEN , KOEKEBAKKER STEEN , ZAKAMULIN VALERIY
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we present a multi-factor continuous-time autoregressive moving-average (CARMA) model for the short and forward interest rates. This model is able to present an adequate statistical description of the short and forward rate dynamics. We show that this is a tractable term structure model and provides closed-form solutions to bond prices, yields, bond option prices, and the term structure of forward rate volatility. We demonstrate the capabilities of our model by calibrating it to a panel of spot rates and the empirical volatility of forward rates simultaneously, making the model consistent with both the spot rate dynamics and forward rate volatility structure.
AN ALGORITHM FOR CALCULATING THE SET OF SUPERHEDGING PORTFOLIOS IN MARKETS WITH TRANSACTION COSTS
Authors: LÖHNE ANDREAS , RUDLOFF BIRGIT
Published: April 2014

We study the explicit calculation of the set of superhedging portfolios of contingent claims in a discrete-time market model for d assets with proportional transaction costs. The set of superhedging portfolios can be obtained by a recursive construction involving set operations, going backward in the event tree. We reformulate the problem as a sequence of linear vector optimization problems and solve it by adapting known algorithms. The corresponding superhedging strategy can be obtained going forward in the tree. Examples are given involving multiple correlated assets and basket options. Furthermore, we relate existing algorithms for the calculation of the scalar superhedging price to the set-valued algorithm by a recent duality theory for vector optimization problems. The main contribution of the paper is to establish the connection to linear vector optimization, which allows to solve numerically multi-asset superhedging problems under transaction costs.
Mesh-Free Lower Bound Limit Analysis
Authors: Binesh S. M. , Gholampour A.
Published: April 2014

A novel numerical approach is developed for computing lower bound limit load in soil mechanics problems under plane strain condition. In the presented technique, there is no need to mesh in the traditional sense, and a lower bound solution is obtained. To develop the lower bound optimization problem, a statically admissible stress field is constructed by Shepard's shape functions in conjunction with the stabilized nodal integration scheme. The linearized Mohr–Coulomb criterion is adopted to satisfy the plastic admissibility of the generated stress field. The obtained optimization problem with a considerable reduced number of constraints has been solved by the linear programming technique. Based on the derived formulations, a computer code has been developed and the accuracy and efficiency of proposed method is demonstrated by solving some examples at the end of the paper.
A Fuzzy-Pod Based Estimation of Unsteady Mixed Convection in a Partition Located Cavity with Inlet and Outlet Ports
Authors: Selimefendigil Fatih , Öztop Hakan F.
Published: April 2014

In the present study, a novel approach based on Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and fuzzy clustering method is utilized to predict the flow field and heat transfer for the unsteady mixed convection in a square enclosure with two ventilation ports. An adiabatic thin fin is placed on the bottom wall of the cavity and all walls of the enclosure are kept at constant temperature. An oscillating velocity is imposed at the inlet port for a range of Strouhal numbers between 0.1 and 1. Reduced order models of the system are obtained with fuzzy-POD approach for Richardson number of 1 and 100. The estimation data set is obtained for Strouhal numbers 0.1 and 0.5, and the validation data set is obtained for Strouhal number of 0.25. A comparison of the modal coefficients obtained from the proposed approach compares well with the modal coefficients obtained by projecting the CFD data at Strouhal number of 0.25 onto the POD modes. The proposed approach is computationally efficient and the problem of numerical instability in the computation with the conventional Galerkin-POD approach can be circumvented.
SEMANTIC SEARCH OF SERVICES
Authors: HAO KE , SHEU PHILLIP C-Y , YAMAGUCHI HIROSHI
Published: April 2014

This paper addresses semantic search of Web services using natural language processing. First we survey various existing approaches, focusing on the fact that the expensive costs of current semantic annotation frameworks result in limited use of semantic search for large scale applications. We then propose a service search framework based on the vector space model to combine the traditional frequency weighted term-document matrix, the syntactical information extracted from a lexical database and a dependency grammar parser. In particular, instead of using terms as the rows in a term-document matrix, we propose using synsets from WordNet to distinguish different meanings of a word under different contexts as well as clustering different words with similar meanings. Also based on the characteristics of Web services descriptions, we propose an approach to identifying semantically important terms to adjust weightings. Our experiments show that our approach achieves its goal well.
DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF A LOUDSPEAKER DRIVEN 10-W COOLING POWER THERMOACOUSTIC REFRIGERATOR
Authors: PRASHANTHA B. G. , GOWDA M. S. GOVINDE , SEETHARAMU S. , NARASIMHAM G. S. V. L.
Published: April 2014

The design and optimization procedure for a loudspeaker driven 10-W cooling power thermoacoustic refrigerator components with a temperature difference of 120 K has been discussed using the linear thermoacoustic theory. The resonator losses are proportional to surface area and the optimum diameter ratio of small and large resonator tubes for minimum heat loss for a quarter-wavelength hemispherical ended resonator design is discussed. The hemispherical ended resonator design is further analytically optimized to increase COP, cooling effect at cold heat exchanger and power density by decreasing total resonator surface area and volume. An alternate convergent-divergent resonator design is proposed which is found to be more efficient compared to previous published designs. Resonator designs are tested with DeltaEC software, which predicts a lowest temperature of -48°C and -47°C for the improved hemispherical and convergent-divergent resonator designs, respectively. Theoretical results are in good agreement with DeltaEC results.
Hardware Acceleration for an Accurate Stereo Vision System Using Mini-Census Adaptive Support Region
Authors: Shan Yi , Hao Yuchen , Wang Wenqiang , Wang Yu , Chen Xu , Yang Huazhong , Luk Wayne
Published: April 2014

Domain of stereo vision is highly important in the fields of autonomous cars, video tolling, robotics, and aerial surveys. The specific feature of this domain is that we should handle not only the pixel-by-pixel 2D processing in one image but also the 3D processing for depth estimation by comparing information about a scene from several images with different perspectives. This feature brings challenges to memory resource utilization, because an extra dimension of data has to be buffered. Due to the memory limitation, few of previous stereo vision implementations provide both accurate and high-speed processing for high-resolution images at the same time.

To achieve domain-specific acceleration for stereo vision, the memory limitation has to be addressed. This article uses a Mini-Census ADaptive Support Region (MCADSR) stereo matching algorithm as a case study due to its high accuracy and representative operations in this domain. To relieve the memory limitation and achieve high-speed processing, the article proposes several efficient optimization methods including vertical-first cost aggregation, hybrid parallel processing, and hardware-friendly integral image. The article also presents a customizable system which provides both accurate and high-speed stereo matching for high-resolution images. The benefits of applying the optimization methods to the system are highlighted.

With the aforesaid optimization and specific customization implemented on FPGA, the demonstrated system can process 47.6 fps (frames per second) and 129 fps for video size of 1920 × 1080 with a large disparity range of 256 and 1024 × 768 with a disparity range of 128, respectively. Our results are up to 1.64 times better than previous work in terms of Million Disparity Estimation per second (MDE/s). For accuracy, the 7.65% overall average error rate outperforms current work which can provide real-time processing with this high-resolution and large disparity range.
Invasive Tightly-Coupled Processor Arrays
Authors: Hannig Frank , Lari Vahid , Boppu Srinivas , Tanase Alexandru , Reiche Oliver
Published: April 2014

We introduce a novel class of massively parallel processor architectures called invasive Tightly-Coupled Processor Arrays (TCPAs). The presented processor class is a highly parameterizable template which can be tailored before runtime to fulfill costumers' requirements such as performance, area cost, and energy efficiency. These programmable accelerators are well suited for domain-specific computing from the areas of signal, image, and video processing as well as other streaming processing applications. To overcome future scaling issues (e.g., power consumption, reliability, resource management, as well as application parallelization and mapping), TCPAs are inherently designed in way that they support self-adaptivity and resource awareness at hardware level. Here, we follow a recently introduced resource-aware parallel computing paradigm called invasive computing where an application can dynamically claim, execute, and release the resources. Furthermore, we show how invasive computing can be used as an enabler for power management. For the first time, we present a seamless mapping flow for TCPAs, based on a domain-specific language. Moreover, we outline a complete symbolic mapping approach. Finally, we support our claims by comparing a TCPA against an ARM Mali-T604 GPU in terms of performance and energy efficiency.
OCEAN
Authors: Sabry Mohamed M. , Atienza David , Catthoor Francky
Published: April 2014

Recent process technology advances trigger reliability issues that degrade the Quality-of-Service (QoS) required by embedded Systems-on-Chip (SoCs). To maintain the required QoS with acceptable overheads, we propose OCEAN, a novel cross-layer error mitigation.
OCEAN
enforces on-chip SRAMs reliability with a fault-tolerant buffer. We utilize this buffer to protect a portion of the processed data used to restore from runtime error. We optimally select the buffer size to minimize the energy overhead, with timing and area constraints.
OCEAN
achieves full error mitigation with 10.1% average energy overhead compared to base-line operation that does not include any error correction capability, and 65% energy savings, compared to a cross-layer error mitigation mechanism.
Regression Cube
Authors: Chan Yu-Hsuan , Correa Carlos D. , Ma Kwan-Liu
Published: April 2014

Scatterplots are commonly used to visualize multidimensional data; however, 2D projections of data offer limited understanding of the high-dimensional interactions between data points. We introduce an interactive 3D extension of scatterplots called the Regression Cube (RC), which augments a 3D scatterplot with three facets on which the correlations between the two variables are revealed by sensitivity lines and sensitivity streamlines. The sensitivity visualization of local regression on the 2D projections provides insights about the shape of the data through its orientation and continuity cues. We also introduce a series of visual operations such as clustering, brushing, and selection supported in RC. By iteratively refining the selection of data points of interest, RC is able to reveal salient local correlation patterns that may otherwise remain hidden with a global analysis. We have demonstrated our system with two examples and a user-oriented evaluation, and we show how RCs enable interactive visual exploration of multidimensional datasets via a variety of classification and information retrieval tasks. A video demo of RC is available.
Neuroscience meets cryptography
Authors: Bojinov Hristo , Sanchez Daniel , Reber Paul , Boneh Dan , Lincoln Patrick
Published: April 2014

Cryptographic systems often rely on the secrecy of cryptographic keys given to users. Many schemes, however, cannot resist coercion attacks where the user is forcibly asked by an attacker to reveal the key. These attacks, known as
rubber hose cryptanalysis
, are often the easiest way to defeat cryptography. We present a defense against coercion attacks using the concept of
implicit learning
from cognitive psychology. Implicit learning refers to learning of patterns without any conscious knowledge of the learned pattern. We use a carefully crafted computer game to allow a user to implicitly learn a secret password without them having any explicit or conscious knowledge of the trained password. While the trained secret can be used for authentication, participants cannot be coerced into revealing it since they have no conscious knowledge of it. We performed a number of user studies using Amazon's Mechanical Turk to verify that participants can successfully re-authenticate over time and that they are unable to reconstruct or even robustly recognize the trained secret.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Interactive Computational Visual Analytics
Authors: Chang Remco , Ebert David S. , Keim Daniel
Published: April 2014

This editorial introduction describes the aims and scope of
ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems
's special issue on interactive computational visual analytics. It explains why visual analytics is crucial to the growing needs surrounding data analysis, and it shows how the four articles selected for this issue reflect this theme.
Don't settle for eventual consistency
Authors: Lloyd Wyatt , Freedman Michael J. , Kaminsky Michael , Andersen David G.
Published: April 2014

Stronger properties for low-latency geo-replicated storage.
Our Eclectic Adventures in the Slower Eras of Photosynthesis: From New England Down Under to Biosphere 2 and Beyond
Authors: Osmond Barry
Published: April 2014

This is a tale of a career in plant physiological ecology that enjoyed the freedom to address photosynthetic physiology and biochemistry in leaves of plants from diverse environments. It was supported by block funding (now sadly a thing of the past) for research at the Australian National University, by grants during appointments in the United States and in Germany, and by Columbia University. It became a “career experiment” in which long-term, high-trust support for curiosity-driven plant biology in Australia, and at times in the United States, led to surprisingly innovative results. Although the rich diversity of short-term competitive grant opportunities in the United States sustained ongoing research, it proved difficult to mobilize support for more risky long-term projects. A decade after the closure of the Biosphere 2 Laboratory, this article highlights the achievements of colleagues in experimental climate change research from 1998 to 2003.
Posttranslationally Modified Small-Peptide Signals in Plants
Authors: Matsubayashi Yoshikatsu
Published: April 2014

Cell-to-cell signaling is essential for many processes in plant growth and development, including coordination of cellular responses to developmental and environmental cues. Cumulative studies have demonstrated that peptide signaling plays a greater-than-anticipated role in such intercellular communication. Some peptides act as signals during plant growth and development, whereas others are involved in defense responses or symbiosis. Peptides secreted as signals often undergo posttranslational modification and proteolytic processing to generate smaller peptides composed of approximately 10 amino acid residues. Such posttranslationally modified small-peptide signals constitute one of the largest groups of secreted peptide signals in plants. The location of the modification group incorporated into the peptides by specific modification enzymes and the peptide chain length defined by the processing enzymes are critical for biological function and receptor interaction. This review covers 20 years of research into posttranslationally modified small-peptide signals in plants.
Sensor spacing affects the tissue impedance spectra of rabbit ventricular epicardium
Authors: Waits Charlotte Mae K. , Barr Roger C. , Pollard Andrew E.
Published: April 2014

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that a complex composite impedance spectra develops when stimulation and recording of cardiac muscle with sufficiently fine spatial resolution in a four-electrode configuration is used. With traditional (millimeter scale) separations, the ratio between the recorded interstitial central potential difference and total supplied interstitial current is constant at all frequencies. This occurs because the fraction of supplied current that redistributes to the intracellular compartment depends on effective membrane resistance between electrodes, which is low, to a much greater extent than effective membrane capacitance. The spectra should therefore change with finer separations at which effective membrane resistance increases, as supplied current will remain primarily interstitial at lower frequencies and redistribute between compartments at higher frequencies. To test this hypothesis, we built arrays with sensors separated (d) by 804 μm, 452 μm, and 252 μm; positioned those arrays across myocyte axes on rabbit ventricular epicardium; and resolved spectra in terms of resistivity (ρt) and reactivity (χt) over the 10 Hz to 4,000 Hz range. With all separations, we measured comparable spectra with predictions from passive membrane simulations that used a three-dimensional structural framework in which intracellular, interstitial, and membrane properties were prescribed based on the limited data available from the literature. At the finest separation, we found mean ρtat 100 Hz and 4,000 Hz that lowered from 395 Ω-cm to 236 Ω-cm, respectively, with maximal mean χtof 160 Ω-cm. This experimental confirmation of spectra development in whole heart experiments is important because such development is central to achieve measurements of intracellular and interstitial passive electrical properties in cardiac electrophysiological experiments using only interstitial access.
Functional deficiencies of subsarcolemmal mitochondria in the type 2 diabetic human heart
Authors: Croston Tara L. , Thapa Dharendra , Holden Anthony A. , Tveter Kevin J. , Lewis Sara E. , Shepherd Danielle L. , Nichols Cody E. , Long Dustin M. , Olfert I. Mark , Jagannathan Rajaganapathi , Hollander John M.
Published: April 2014

The mitochondrion has been implicated in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Examination of cardiac mitochondria is complicated by the existence of spatially distinct subpopulations including subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM). Dysfunction to cardiac SSM has been reported in murine models of type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, subpopulation-based mitochondrial analyses have not been explored in type 2 diabetic human heart. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on cardiac mitochondrial function in the human patient. Mitochondrial subpopulations from atrial appendages of patients with and without type 2 diabetes were examined. Complex I- and fatty acid-mediated mitochondrial respiration rates were decreased in diabetic SSM compared with nondiabetic ( P ≤ 0.05 for both), with no change in IFM. Electron transport chain (ETC) complexes I and IV activities were decreased in diabetic SSM compared with nondiabetic ( P ≤ 0.05 for both), with a concomitant decline in their levels ( P ≤ 0.05 for both). Regression analyses comparing comorbidities determined that diabetes mellitus was the primary factor accounting for mitochondrial dysfunction. Linear spline models examining correlative risk for mitochondrial dysfunction indicated that patients with diabetes display the same degree of state 3 and electron transport chain complex I dysfunction in SSM regardless of the extent of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and hyperglycemia. Overall, the results suggest that independent of other pathologies, mitochondrial dysfunction is present in cardiac SSM of patients with type 2 diabetes and the degree of dysfunction is consistent regardless of the extent of elevated HbA1c or blood glucose levels.
Enhanced permeability responses to inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat venules: Rho-mediated alterations of actin cytoskeleton and VE-cadherin
Authors: Yuan Dong , Xu Sulei , He Pingnian
Published: April 2014

Diabetes is a progressive disease that often leads to microvascular complications. This study investigates the impact of diabetes on microvessel permeability under basal and inflammatory conditions. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used to mimic type 1 diabetes. Parallel experiments were conducted in intact mesenteric venules in normal rats and diabetic rats experiencing hyperglycemia for 2–3 wk. Microvessel permeability was determined by measuring hydraulic conductivity (Lp). The correlated changes in endothelial intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), adherens junctions, and cytoskeleton F-actin were examined with fluorescence imaging. Diabetic vessels showed moderately increased basal Lp, but upon platelet-activating factor (PAF) exposure, these vessels showed an ∼10-fold higher Lp increase than the normal vessels. Concomitantly, we observed higher increases in endothelial [Ca2+]i, enhanced stress fiber formation, vascular endothelial-cadherin separation, and larger gap formation between endothelial cells than those occurring in normal vessels. PAF receptor staining showed no significant difference between normal and diabetic vessels. The application of Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 did not affect PAF-induced increases in endothelial [Ca2+]i but significantly reduced PAF-induced Lp increases by 90% in diabetic vessels. The application of both Y27632 and nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor attenuated PAF-induced Lp increases more than using one inhibitor alone. Our studies indicate that diabetic conditions prime endothelial cells into a phenotype with increased susceptibility to inflammation without altering receptor expression and that the increased Rho activation and NO production play important roles in exaggerated permeability increases when diabetic vessels were exposed to inflammatory mediators, which may account for the exacerbated vascular dysfunction when diabetic patients are exposed to additional inflammation.
Predictors of Memory and Processing Speed Dysfunctions after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Winardi William , Kwan Aij-Lie , Wang Tse-Lun , Su Yu-Feng , Yen Chun-Po , Tsai Hung-Pei , Sheehan Jason , Su Chwen-Yng
Published: April 2014

Background. The aims of this study were to evaluate the predictive value of admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, duration of unconsciousness, neurosurgical intervention, and countercoup lesion on the impairment of memory and processing speed functions six months after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on a structural equation modeling.Methods. Thirty TBI patients recruited from Neurosurgical Department at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital were administered the Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III processing speed index to evaluate the memory and processing speed functions.Results. The study showed that GCS scores accounted for 40% of the variance in memory/processing speed. No significant predictive effects were found for the other three variables. GCS classification at the time of TBI seems to correspond moderately to the severity of memory/processing speed dysfunctions.Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that admission GCS score is a robust predictor of memory/processing speed dysfunctions after TBI. The results should be replicated with a large sample of patients with TBI, or be extended by examining other potential clinical predictors.
Enhanced Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism Favor Arsenic Tolerance inArtemisia annua, a Medicinal Plant as Revealed by Homology-Based Proteomics
Authors: Rai Rashmi , Pandey Sarita , Shrivastava Alok Kumar , Pandey Rai Shashi
Published: April 2014

This paper provides the first proteomic evidence of arsenic (As) tolerance and interactive regulatory network between primary and secondary metabolism in the medicinal plant,Artemisia annua. While chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic rate depicted mild inhibition, there was a significant enhancement in PSI activity, whole chain, ATP, and NADPH contents in 100 μM As treatments compared to the control plants. However, a decrease in the above variables was recorded under 150 μM treatments. Proteomic decoding of the survival strategy ofA. annuaunder As stress using 2-DE followed by MALDI-MS/MS revealed a total of 46 differentially expressed protein spots. In contrast to other plants where As inhibits photosynthesis,A. annuashowed appreciable photosynthetic CO2assimilation and allocation of carbon resources at 100 μM As concentration. While an increased accumulation of ATP synthase, ferredoxin-NADP(H) oxidoreductase, and FeS-rieske proteins supported the operation of cyclic electron transport, mdr ABC transporter protein andpcsgene might be involved in As detoxification. The most interesting observation was an increased accumulation ofLEAFYlike novel protein conceivably responsible for an early onset of flowering inA. annuaunder As stress. This study not only affirmed the role of energy metabolism proteins but also identified potential candidates responsible for As tolerance in plants.