bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Microsoft Excel Application for Automatically Building Historical Geography GIS Maps
Authors: Polczynski Michael , Polczynski Mark
Published: January 2013

The ability to visualize location and time information on satellite‐generated maps using geographic information systems (GIS) such as Google Earth has enabled researchers with limited mapping expertise to use GIS for a wide range of applications. GIS holds special benefits for research in historical geography involving visualization of events and time‐based changes in geographical information. This article describes a Microsoft Excel VBA application which automatically converts information contained in a Microsoft Excel workbook into a.kml (Keyhole Markup Language) file suitable for display by mapping systems such as Google Earth. The application requires no knowledge of KML or Excel VBA. An example illustrates how the application can be used to trace the Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe.
Dracunculiasis, Proximity, and Risk: Analyzing the Location of Guinea Worm Disease in a GIS
Authors: Royal Nathaniel
Published: January 2013

Dracunculus medinesis is a waterborne parasite that has afflicted human populations for millennia. It is spread to new water bodies by the travel activities of the humans it affects. This study analyzes the relationship between Guinea worm incidence and its proximity to features of the built and natural environment to identify any apparent relationships. The study examines the Tillabéri region in the country Niger where there was a reemergence in the number of cases of Guinea worm in 2003. It is found that population centers with Guinea worm infected individuals are often within two kilometers of nomadic herding routes.
Response patterns to interactive SMS health education quizzes at two sites in Uganda: a cohort study
Authors: de Lepper Anne M. , Eijkemans Marinus J. C. , van Beijma Hajo , Loggers Jan Willem , Tuijn Coosje J. , Oskam Linda
Published: January 2013

Objective

The use of mobile phones can improve and strengthen (preventive) health care in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We aimed to retrospectively assess the response patterns of participants in free SMS health education quizzes in Uganda.

Methods

Study participants were employees of two companies and their community networks. We investigated how quickly individuals responded to quiz question(s) and assessed possible influencing factors. Cox regression and anova analyses were used.

Results

Fifty percentage of responders answered within 50 min. The response chance declined with every additional day after sending an incentive via SMS (Hazard Ratio 0.993, CI 95% 0.981–0.984). Quiz topics influenced both participation rates and response time. Response time was shortest for questions on HIV and sexual behaviour. Response rates were high for HIV (79%) and malaria (78.4%), but only 37.4% for demographic topics. Network providers had a substantial effect on response behaviour.

Conclusion

Interactive SMS programs are a fast method to reach the target population and incentives increase response rates. The most important factor influencing response time and participation rate is the network provider. Future research should focus on developing evidence‐based guidelines for the design, implementation and evaluation of SMS‐based interventions.
Fatigue and Crack Growth in 7050-T7451 Aluminum Alloy Under Constant- and Variable-Amplitude Loading
Authors: Newman, James C. , Shaw Justin W. , Annigeri Balkrishna S. , Ziegler Brett M.
Published: January 2013

The 7050 aluminum alloy is used in many aerospace structural applications. Previous studies have identified that fatigue cracks develop very rough crack-surface profiles, which cause very high crack-closure levels due to a combination of plasticity, roughness and debris. Previously, tests were conducted on compact, C(T), specimens to generate crack-growth-rate data from threshold to near fracture over a wide range in stress ratios (R). New threshold testing methods, based on compression precracking, were used to generate the data in the near-threshold regime. The plasticity-induced crack-closure model, FASTRAN, was used to correlate the data over a wide range in stress ratios and crack-growth rates from threshold to near fracture. To account for the very high crack-closure levels, a very low constraint factor, like plane-stress conditions, had to be used in the model. In addition, the crack-opening loads were measured during these tests using a local strain-gauge method to generate another ΔKeff-rate curve. These two curves differed only in the near-threshold regime. Herein, fatigue-crack-growth tests were conducted on C(T) specimens under spike overloads and simulated aircraft spectrum loading. Fatigue tests were also conducted on single-edge-notch bend (SEN(B)), specimens over a wide range in loading conditions (constant amplitude and three aircraft spectra). All specimens were machined from a single forged block of 7050-T7451. However, no residual stresses were measured in both the SEN(B) and C(T) specimens. Two European standard spectra were used, but modified to have only tension-tension loading. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the two different effective stress-intensity factor curves for making crack-growth and fatigue-life predictions. Small-crack theory was used to make fatigue-life predictions using inclusion-particle sizes from the literature. Fatigue predictions on the SEN(B) specimens agreed fairly well (±30%) using a 12-micrometer semicircular initial flaw located at the semicircular-edge notch under all loading conditions, except the model was unconservative (factor of three) on one of the severe aircraft spectra (Mini-TWIST+, Level 1). For the C(T) specimens subjected to single-spike overloads, the life-prediction code also produced much more retardation than observed in the tests. However, the predicted crack-length-against-cycles under the Mini-Falstaff+ spectrum were only about 15% longer than the tests. The discrepancy under the single-spike overloads and the severe aircraft spectra was suspected to be caused by the low constraint factor and/or crack paths meandering around overload plastic zones. Ideally, a roughness-induced crack-closure model; in addition to the plasticity model, would be needed to obtain more reasonable results.
Effect of Initial Temperature on the Interior Ballistics of a 120-mm Mortar System
Authors: Martin Heath T. , Boyer Eric , Kuo Kenneth K.
Published: January 2013

In this study, the effect of the initial temperature of a 120-mm mortar system on its interior ballistics was investigated using four different experiments: temperature-conditioned closed bomb firings for determining the temperature sensitivity of the ignition cartridge's M48 double-base propellant and instrumented firings of temperature-conditioned flash tubes, ignition cartridges, and an instrumented mortar simulator (IMS). The results of these experiments reveal that, for initial temperatures of –12 °C and greater, the mortar system and its subcomponents exhibited regular initial-temperature-dependent behavior, with increasing initial temperature causing monotonically increasing propellant burning rates and monotonically decreasing ignition delays, which produce monotonically increasing system pressures and pressure differentials in the flashtube, ignition cartridge, and IMS. However, some anomalous behavior was discovered for temperatures around –46 °C. At this initial temperature, the closed bomb firings indicated that brittle fracture of the M48 propellant granules used in the ignition cartridge occurs. This phenomenon explains the occurrence in the IMS firings of dramatically increased variation in pressure-time behavior and projectile muzzle velocity for charge 4 firings as compared to higher temperatures, as well as the occurrence of maximum tube pressures for –46 °C firings, being greater than those for 21 °C firings for charge 0. However, one of the –47 °C closed bomb firings does not exhibit evidence of grain fracture and yet produces a higher propellant burning rate than the –12 °C firings, suggesting that a fundamental change in reaction kinetics or flame structure is occurring at extremely low temperatures. This supposition is bolstered by evidence of a liquid layer existing on the surface of M48 propellant granules ejected from the ignition cartridge during the –46 °C firings—a phenomenon that does not occur at the higher initial temperatures and is not theorized to occur in double-base solid propellant combustion. Based on the flash tube experiments alone, the flash tube was determined to have a weak effect on the initial-temperature-dependent behavior of the mortar system; however, IMS testing with two different flash tube configurations revealed significant differences in longitudinal pressure wave amplitude and projectile muzzle velocity in charge 4 firings between the two configurations at –46 °C, suggesting that the uniformity of combustion product discharge from the flash tube could significantly affect the performance of the mortar at low temperatures.
Complex Aerodynamics Behavior of High Spin APFSDS Projectile
Authors: Cayzac Roxan , Carette Eric , Heddadj Settie
Published: January 2013

The supersonic aerodynamics of a high spin armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot projectile (APFSDS) is numerically and experimentally investigated. Classically, using a 120 mm smooth bore gun, the value of the nondimensional steady spin rate of the inflight APFSDS projectile is about 0.01. In our case, a medium caliber APFSDS projectile is fired using a rifled barrel gun. The initial nondimensional spin rate, which is, with the Mach and the Reynolds numbers, the third similitude parameter governing the projectile aerodynamics, is significantly greater and about 0.09. Complex aerodynamics and flight dynamics were found and are detailed in the paper. In particular, the side force and moment evolutions with spin rate and angle of attack reflect a highly nonlinear behavior of the Magnus effect. The numerical predictions are mainly based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and URANS (Unsteady RANS) equations. Flight tests have been performed in an aeroballistics corridor. The exterior ballistics of the projectile was investigated using a yaw cards method, the experimental results are analyzed using a 6DOF flight dynamics model. The comparison between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computations and flight tests results is satisfactory. CFD computations show, for the first time at our knowledge, that a roll-pitch coupling may appear.
Optimizing the Stacking Sequence in Dual-Purpose Body Armors
Authors: Horsfall Ian , Watson Celia H. , Champion Steve M.
Published: January 2013

Many police body armor systems are dual purpose, offering both ballistic and knife resistance by combining a flexible ballistic textile pack with a stiffer knife resistant layer. The two types of protection differ in materials and mechanisms such that each individual component may help or interfere with the function of the other. This paper investigates the effect on knife and ballistic penetration resistance when a single thin metal plate was placed at various different positions within an aramid textile armor pack. Two metallic layers were used: aluminum 7075 and commercial purity titanium; these had similar areal densities and were positioned in the front, middle, and back of a 20 layer pack of woven Kevlar® 49. An instrumented drop weight machine was used to deliver a repeatable knife blade impact at comparable energy levels to those specified in the UK Home Office test standards for knife resistance. Ballistic tests were used to determine the V50 ballistic limit velocity against typical 9 mm and 0.357 Magnum handgun threats. Against a stabbing threat, it was found that positioning the metal plate in the middle of the pack provided the greatest resistance to knife penetration by a factor of almost two, while a plate at the front of the pack provided less resistance and plates positioned at the rear of the pack provided the least resistance to penetration. Against the ballistic threat, the penetration resistance of the textile pack can be significantly improved when a metal plate is at the front of the pack, while for all other positions the effect is negligible. However, this effect is sensitive to both the ammunition type and the metal plate composition. When the metal plate is positioned at the rear of the pack there is a significant decrease in the back-face deformation of the armor pack although, again, this effect is only present for certain ammunition and metal combinations. The overall effect of combining soft and hard elements was that specific performance parameters could be substantially increased by the correct combination. There were no significant negative effects, however, in a number of cases, the combined systems performance was no greater than that of a single element type, despite the added weight.
Numerical modeling of wind turbine aerodynamic noise in the time domain
Authors: Lee Seunghoon , Lee Seungmin , Lee Soogab
Published: January 2013

Aerodynamic noise from a wind turbine is numerically modeled in the time domain. An analytic trailing edge noise model is used to determine the unsteady pressure on the blade surface. The far-field noise due to the unsteady pressure is calculated using the acoustic analogy theory. By using a strip theory approach, the two-dimensional noise model is applied to rotating wind turbine blades. The numerical results indicate that, although the operating and atmospheric conditions are identical, the acoustical characteristics of wind turbine noise can be quite different with respect to the distance and direction from the wind turbine.
Converging on Syx
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: January 2013

Two opposing signals controlling endothelial cell permeability converge on the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor Syx.
Inhibiting Hippo
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: January 2013

Orthologs of the mammalian nutrient sensor AMPK inhibit Hippo signaling in
Drosophila
.
Human Cartilage Repair with a Photoreactive Adhesive-Hydrogel Composite
Authors: Sharma Blanka , Fermanian Sara , Gibson Matthew , Unterman Shimon , Herzka Daniel A. , Cascio Brett , Coburn Jeannine , Hui Alexander Y. , Marcus Norman , Gold Garry E. , Elisseeff Jennifer H.
Published: January 2013

A photoactive hydrogel is used in combination with microfracture to heal cartilage defects in patients.
Proteins Needed to Activate a Transcriptional Response to the Reactive Oxygen Species Singlet Oxygen
Authors: Nam Tae-Wook , Ziegelhoffer Eva C. , Lemke Rachelle A. S. , Donohue Timothy J.
Published: January 2013

Singlet oxygen (
1
O
2
) is a reactive oxygen species generated by energy transfer from one or more excited donors to molecular oxygen. Many biomolecules are prone to oxidation by
1
O
2
, and cells have evolved systems to protect themselves from damage caused by this compound. One way that the photosynthetic bacterium
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
protects itself from
1
O
2
is by inducing a transcriptional response controlled by ChrR, an anti-σ factor which releases an alternative sigma factor, σ
E
, in the presence of
1
O
2
. Here we report that induction of σ
E
-dependent gene transcription is decreased in the presence of
1
O
2
when two conserved genes in the σ
E
regulon are deleted, including one encoding a cyclopropane fatty acid synthase homologue (RSP2144) or one encoding a protein of unknown function (RSP1091). Thus, we conclude that RSP2144 and RSP1091 are each necessary to increase σ
E
activity in the presence of
1
O
2
. In addition, we found that unlike in wild-type cells, where ChrR is rapidly degraded when
1
O
2
is generated, turnover of this anti-σ factor is slowed when cells lacking RSP2144, RSP1091, or both of these proteins are exposed to
1
O
2
. Further, we demonstrate that the organic hydroperoxide
tert
-butyl hydroperoxide promotes ChrR turnover in both wild-type cells and mutants lacking RSP2144 or RSP1091, suggesting differences in the ways different types of oxidants increase σ
E
activity.

IMPORTANCE
Oxygen serves many crucial functions on Earth; it is produced during photosynthesis and needed for other pathways. While oxygen is relatively inert, it can be converted to reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroy biomolecules, cause disease, or kill cells. When energy is transferred to oxygen, the ROS singlet oxygen is generated. To understand how singlet oxygen impacts cells, we study the stress response to this ROS in
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
, a bacterium that, like plants, generates this compound as a consequence of photosynthesis. This paper identifies proteins that activate a stress response to singlet oxygen and shows that they act in a specific response to this ROS. The identified proteins are found in many free-living, symbiotic, or pathogenic bacteria that can encounter singlet oxygen in nature. Thus, our findings provide new information about a stress response to a ROS of broad biological, agricultural, and biomedical importance.
Intraoperative myocardial infarction: Kounis syndrome provoked by latex allergy
Authors: Marcoux Veronica , Nosib Shravan , Bi Henry , Brownbridge Brian
Published: January 2013

We report the case of a 43-year-old man with anaphylactic shock and concurrent ST-elevation myocardial infarction during a planned inguinal hernia surgery. This event occurred shortly after introduction of latex into the surgical field. Coronary angiography revealed a 70% occlusive lesion in the right coronary artery. Further discussion with the patient revealed a potential latex allergy. Skin prick testing showed marked sensitisation to latex. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with the type II variant of Kounis syndrome.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in a young man with unprovoked haematemesis
Authors: Shahnazarian Vahe , Fazio Laura
Published: January 2013

This case involves a 27-year-old Hispanic man who presented to the emergency department with two episodes of haematemesis with no other associated symptoms. In addition, he has no medical history, denies alcohol abuse, denies non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and has never experienced these episodes before. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy evaluation showed a large gastric mass, and histological results obtained from several biopsies of the mass supported a diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumour. His abdominal CT scan also supported this finding. However, the unprovoked haematemesis and young age of the patient does not fit the typical presentation of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.
Delirium in an adult acute hospital population: predictors, prevalence and detection
Authors: Ryan Daniel James , O'Regan Niamh Annmarie , Caoimh Ronán Ó , Clare Josie , O'Connor Marie , Leonard Maeve , McFarland John , Tighe Sheila , O'Sullivan Kathleen , Trzepacz Paula T , Meagher David , Timmons Suzanne
Published: January 2013

Background

To date, delirium prevalence and incidence in acute hospitals has been estimated from pooled findings of studies performed in distinct patient populations.

Objective

To determine delirium prevalence across an acute care facility.

Design

A point prevalence study.

Setting

A large tertiary care, teaching hospital.

Patients

311 general hospital adult inpatients were assessed over a single day. Of those, 280 had full data collected within the study's time frame (90%).

Measurements

Initial screening for inattention was performed using the spatial span forwards and months backwards tests by junior medical staff, followed by two independent formal delirium assessments: first the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) by trained geriatric medicine consultants and registrars, and, subsequently, the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R98) by experienced psychiatrists. The diagnosis of delirium was ultimately made using DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) criteria.

Results

Using DSM-IV criteria, 55 of 280 patients (19.6%) had delirium versus 17.6% using the CAM. Using the DRS-R98 total score for independent diagnosis, 20.7% had full delirium, and 8.6% had subsyndromal delirium. Prevalence was higher in older patients (4.7% if <50 years and 34.8% if >80 years) and particularly in those with prior dementia (OR=15.33, p<0.001), even when adjusted for potential confounders. Although 50.9% of delirious patients had pre-existing dementia, it was poorly documented in the medical notes. Delirium symptoms detected by medical notes, nurse interview and patient reports did not overlap much, with inattention noted by professional staff, and acute change and sleep-wake disturbance noted by patients.

Conclusions

Our point prevalence study confirms that delirium occurs in about 1/5 of general hospital inpatients and particularly in those with prior cognitive impairment. Recognition strategies may need to be tailored to the symptoms most noticed by the detector (patient, nurse or primary physician) if formal assessments are not available.
Can the London 2012 Olympics ‘inspire a generation’ to do more physical or sporting activities? An overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Mahtani Kamal Ram , Protheroe Joanne , Slight Sarah Patricia , Demarzo Marcelo Marcos Piva , Blakeman Thomas , Barton Christopher A , Brijnath Bianca , Roberts Nia
Published: January 2013

Objective

To examine if there is an increased participation in physical or sporting activities following an Olympic or Paralympic games.

Design

Overview of systematic reviews.

Methods

We searched the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, DARE, SportDISCUS and Web of Knowledge databases. In addition, we searched for ‘grey literature’ in Google, Google scholar and on the International Olympic Committee websites. We restricted our search to those reviews published in English. We used the AMSTAR tool to assess the methodological quality of those systematic reviews included.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was evidence for an increased participation in physical or sporting activities. Secondary outcomes included public perceptions of sport during and after an Olympic games, barriers to increased sports participation and any other non-sporting health benefits.

Results

Our systematic search revealed 844 citations, of which only two matched our inclusion criteria. The quality of these two reviews was assessed by three independent reviewers as ‘good’ using the AMSTAR tool for quality appraisal. Both reviews reported little evidence of an increased uptake of sporting activity following an Olympic Games event. Other effects on health, for example, changes in hospital admissions, suicide rates and drug use, were cited although there was insufficient evidence to see an overall effect.

Conclusion

There is a paucity of evidence to support the notion that hosting an Olympic games leads to an increased participation in physical or sporting activities for host countries. We also found little evidence to suggest other health benefits. We conclude that the true success of these and future games should be evaluated by high-quality, evidence-based studies that have been commissioned before, during and following the completion of the event. Only then can the true success and legacy of the games be established.
Left ventricular assist device withdrawal: an ethical discussion
Authors: McLean Sarah , Dhonnchu Tara Ni , Mahon Niall , McQuillan Regina , Gordijn Bert , Ryan Karen
Published: January 2013

Specialist palliative care (SPC) services are increasingly integrated with chronic heart failure (CHF) services. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) represent an advance in the management of advanced CHF, but may pose ethical challenges for SPC services providing care to this population.

The patient received an LVAD as ‘bridge-to-heart-transplant,’ but subsequently experienced multiple cerebral haemorrhages, resulting in neurological deficits, and severe functional impairment. The risk of further cerebral events precluded ongoing anticoagulation, and she was transferred to an SPC inpatient unit for symptom control and end-of-life care. Following discussion within the multi-disciplinary team and with the patient's family, LVAD support was withdrawn, and the patient died peacefully. This piece reviews the ethical considerations that informed decision-making, in particular, autonomy, informed consent and futility. In addition, the question of the nature of LVADs is debated and how the perceptions of the patient, and others, of the device may influence decision-making around withdrawal of treatment.
The SPEED study: initial clinical evaluation of the Penumbra novel 054 Reperfusion Catheter
Authors: Frei Don , Gerber Johannes , Turk Aquilla , McPherson Malia , Heck Don , Hui Ferdinand , Joseph Gregory , Jahan Reza , Miskolczi Laszlo , Carpenter Jeffrey , Grobelny Thomas , Goddard Jim , Turner Raymond D , Huddle Dan , Bellon Richard , Chaudry Imran
Published: January 2013

Background and purpose

Revascularization of acute ischemic stroke from a large vessel occlusion continues to be a challenge with current thrombectomy devices. The purpose of the SPEED study was to report the safety and effectiveness of the Penumbra 054 Reperfusion Catheter System in revascularizing large vessel occlusions.

Methods

In this retrospective multicenter study, data were collected from patients with angiographic evidence of large vessel occlusion treated with the Penumbra 054 device as the intended primary therapy. Clinical outcome data were collected with 90-day follow-up and the results were compared with those from the Penumbra Pivotal trial.

Results

Eighty-seven target vessels in 86 consecutive patients treated with the Penumbra 054 device were included. The Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2 or 3 revascularization rate was 91% compared with a reported 82% in the Penumbra Pivotal trial. This was accomplished in a median time of 20 min compared with 45 min in the Penumbra Pivotal trial (p<0.0001). Eighteen (21%) patients experienced an intracranial hemorrhage of which 12 (14%) were symptomatic. Good neurologic outcome (modified Rankin scores ≤ 2) at 90-day follow-up was achieved in 34.9% of patients compared with 25% reported in the Penumbra Pivotal trial. All-cause mortality was 25.6%.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the Penumbra 054 is a fast, safe and effective revascularization tool for patients experiencing ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusive disease. Improvements in speed and effectiveness of revascularization probably contributed to improved outcomes.
Strong modulation of nutrient distribution in Alnus glutinosa as a function of the actinorhizal symbiosis
Authors: Bélanger Pier-Anne , Bellenger Jean-Philippe , Roy Sébastien
Published: January 2013

Micro- and macro-nutrient acquisition by plants and microorganisms is a cornerstone for their survival and has a direct impact on biogeochemical cycling. In this study, we investigated, in controlled conditions, how the availability of exogenous nitrate impacted nutrient acquisition and distribution in black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in the presence, or absence, of its nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont (Frankia sp.). Our findings show that alder physiology and distribution of nutrients between aerial and root tissues were strongly influenced by the presence of the symbiont. In both nodulated and non-nodulated alders, root allocation and total plant biomass were positively correlated, except when nodulated alders were subjected to low nitrate conditions (≤15 ppm). Alders receiving 45 ppm exogenous nitrate had a less developed actinorhizal symbiosis. These findings reflect the importance of root exploration in relation to plant dependence to exogenous nitrate. Nutrient composition of alder aerial tissues, in particular molybdenum, was significantly altered in the presence of Frankia. In the context of plant leaf-litter mutualism involving metals and N exchange, our findings of high Mo and P translocation to shoots of non-nodulated alders underscores how the state of the symbiosis in actinorhizal plants can influence the biogeochemical cycling of elements.
Quinidine elicits proarrhythmic changes in ventricular repolarization and refractoriness in guinea-pig
Authors: Osadchii Oleg E.
Published: January 2013

Quinidine is a class Ia Na+ channel blocker that prolongs cardiac repolarization owing to the inhibition of IKr, the rapid component of the delayed rectifier current. Although quinidine may induce proarrhythmia, the contributing mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study examined whether quinidine may set proarrhythmic substrate by inducing spatiotemporal abnormalities in repolarization and refractoriness. The monophasic action potential duration (APD), effective refractory periods (ERPs), and volume-conducted electrocardiograms (ECGs) were assessed in perfused guinea-pig hearts. Quinidine was found to produce the reverse rate-dependent prolongation of ventricular repolarization, which contributed to increased steepness of APD restitution. Throughout the epicardium, quinidine elicited a greater APD increase in the left ventricular chamber compared with the right ventricle, thereby enhancing spatial repolarization heterogeneities. Quinidine prolonged APD to a greater extent than ERP, thus extending the vulnerable window for ventricular re-excitation. This change was attributed to increased triangulation of epicardial action potential because of greater APD lengthening at 90% repolarization than at 30% repolarization. Over the transmural plane, quinidine evoked a greater ERP prolongation at endocardium than epicardium and increased dispersion of refractoriness. Premature ectopic beats and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia were observed in 50% of quinidine-treated heart preparations. In summary, abnormal changes in repolarization and refractoriness contribute greatly to proarrhythmic substrate upon quinidine infusion.
QUEUE RESOURCE REALLOCATION STRATEGY FOR TRAFFIC SYSTEMS IN SCALE-FREE NETWORK
Authors: ZHANG SHUAI , LIANG MAN-GUI , JIANG ZHONG-YUAN , LI HUI-JIA
Published: January 2013

In real communication systems, each node has a finite queue length to store packets due to physical constraints. In this paper, we propose a queue resource allocation strategy for traffic dynamics in scale-free networks. With a finite resource of queue, the allocation of queue length on node i is based on Bi, where Biis the generalized betweenness centrality of node i. The overall traffic capacity of a network system can be evaluated by the critical packet generating rate (Rc). Through the use of the proposed queue allocation scheme for the shortest path protocol and efficient routing protocol, our strategy performs better than the uniform queue length allocation strategy, which is demonstrated by a larger value of the critical generating rate. We also give a method to estimate the network traffic capacity theoretically.
THE WISHART SHORT RATE MODEL
Authors: GNOATTO ALESSANDRO
Published: January 2013

We consider a short rate model, driven by a stochastic process on the cone of positive semidefinite matrices. We derive sufficient conditions ensuring that the model replicates normal, inverse or humped yield curves.
HERMITE BINOMIAL TREES: A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR DERIVATIVES PRICING
Authors: LECCADITO ARTURO , TOSCANO PIETRO , TUNARU RADU S.
Published: January 2013

Edgeworth binomial trees were applied to price contingent claims when the underlying return distribution is skewed and leptokurtic, but with the limitation of working only for a limited set of skewness and kurtosis values. Recently, Johnson binomial trees were introduced to accommodate any skewness-kurtosis pair, but with the drawback of numerical convergence issues in some cases. Both techniques may suffer from non-exact matching of the moments of distribution of returns. A solution to this limitation is proposed here based on a new technique employing Hermite polynomials to match exactly the required moments. Several numerical examples illustrate the superior performance of the Hermite polynomials technique to price European and American options in the context of jump-diffusion and stochastic volatility frameworks and options with underlying asset given by the sum of two lognormally distributed random variables.
MECHANISMS FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROXYL-RADICAL-INDUCED CYTOSINE HYDROPEROXIDES: A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY
Authors: CHEN ZE-QIN , XUE YING
Published: January 2013

Hydroxyl-radical-induced damage to cytosine leads to a multitude of base modifications, which contribute to the natural processes of aging, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. The stable products resulting from the main hydroxyl-radical-induced cytosine hydroperoxide, 5-hydroxy-6-hydroperoxyl-5,6-dihydrocytosine (5-OH-6-OOH-DHC), have been mapped out in the present work for the first time using ab initio calculations. Optimized geometries of all stationary structures in the gas phase were determined at the MP2 and B3LYP using the 6-31G(d) basis set and at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory. Energies were also determined at the G3MP2 level of theory. Meanwhile, full optimization of all stationary points were also performed in aqueous solution at the B3LYP/CPCM/6-31G(d) level of theory to evaluate the solvent effect. Three distinct possible pathways, pathways A–C, were evaluated. For pathway C, four channels, channels D–G, were characterized in turn. In each pathway, both the direct and the water-mediated processes were considered. The calculated results clearly manifest that (i) pathway C is kinetically favored over pathways A and B and is the most energetically feasible decomposition process of 5-OH-6-OOH-DHC; (ii) for pathway C, channels D, E and G are energetically feasible mechanisms and 6,7-dihydroxy-[1,3,5]triazepane-2,4-dione, 1-carbamoyl-2-oxo-4,5-dihydroxyimidazolidine, and biuret therefore are predicted to be the kinetically favored decomposition products of 5-OH-6-OOH-DHC; (iii) channel G may be kinetically favored over channels D and E and have the highest possibility to occur; (iv) the thermal decomposition of 5-OH-6-OOH-DHC can be significantly promoted by the presence of one explicit water molecule. Apart from characterizing the experimental products well, the main striking result of the present DFT computational study is the identification of a new theoretical optimum decomposition product, i.e. 6,7-dihydroxy-[1,3,5]triazepane-2,4-dione. The data and insights presented here have elucidated the chemical properties of 5-OH-6-OOH-DHC in free radical reactions and should facilitate to assess their mutagenic features.
A SMOOTHED FEM (S-FEM) FOR HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
Authors: XUE B. Y. , WU S. C. , ZHANG W. H. , LIU G. R.
Published: January 2013

By smoothing, via various ways, the compatible strain fields of the standard finite element method (FEM) using the gradient smoothing technique, a family of smoothed FEMs (S-FEMs) has been developed recently. The S-FEM possesses the advantages of both mesh-free methods and the standard FEM and works well with triangular and tetrahedral background cells and elements. Intensive theoretical investigations have shown that the S-FEM models can achieve numerical solutions for many important properties, such as the upper bound solution in strain energy, free from volumetric locking, insensitive to the distortion of the background cells, super-accuracy and super-convergence in displacement or stress solutions or both. Engineering problems, including complex heat transfer problems, have also been analyzed with better accuracy and efficiency. This paper presents the general formulation of the S-FEM for thermal problems in one, two and three dimensions. To examine our formulation, some computational results are compared with those obtained using other established means.
OPTICAL DETERMINATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC SHELLS AROUND NANOPARTICLES: APPLICATION TO SILVER NANOPARTICLES
Authors: MAURER T. , ABDELLAOUI N. , GWIAZDA A. , ADAM P.-M. , VIAL A. , BIJEON J.-L. , CHAUMONT D. , BOUREZZOU M.
Published: January 2013

We present a simple method to prove the presence of an organic shell around silver nanoparticles (NPs). This method is based on the comparison between optical extinction measurements of isolated NPs and Mie calculations predicting the expected wavelength of the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance of the NPs with and without the presence of an organic layer. This method was applied to silver NPs which seemed to be well protected from oxidation. Further experimental characterization via surface enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements allowed to identify this protective shell as ethylene glycol. Combining LSPR and SERS measurements could thus give proof of both presence and identification for other plasmonic NPs surrounded by organic shells.
PREDICTING SUBCHLOROPLAST LOCATIONS OF PROTEINS BASED ON THE GENERAL FORM OF CHOU'S PSEUDO AMINO ACID COMPOSITION: APPROACHED FROM OPTIMAL TRIPEPTIDE COMPOSITION
Authors: LIN HAO , DING CHEN , YUAN LU-FENG , CHEN WEI , DING HUI , LI ZI-QIANG , GUO FENG-BIAO , HUANG JIAN , RAO NI-NI
Published: January 2013

Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis. The subchloroplast locations of proteins are correlated with their functions. With the availability of a great number of protein data, it is highly desired to develop a computational method to predict the subchloroplast locations of chloroplast proteins. In this study, we proposed a novel method to predict subchloroplast locations of proteins using tripeptide compositions. It first used the binomial distribution to optimize the feature sets. Then the support vector machine was selected to perform the prediction of subchloroplast locations of proteins. The proposed method was tested on a reliable and rigorous dataset including 259 chloroplast proteins with sequence identity ≤ 25%. In the jack-knife cross-validation, 92.21% envelope proteins, 93.20% thylakoid membrane, 52.63% thylakoid lumen and 85.00% stroma can be correctly identified. The overall accuracy achieves 88.03% which is higher than that of other models. Based on this method, a predictor called ChloPred has been built and can be freely available from http://cobi.uestc.edu.cn/people/hlin/tools/ChloPred/ . The predictor will provide important information for theoretical and experimental research of chloroplast proteins.
IMMERSIVE VR VISUALIZATIONS BY VFIVE PART 2: APPLICATIONS
Authors: KAGEYAMA AKIRA , OHNO NOBUAKI , KAWAHARA SHINTARO , KASHIYAMA KAZUO , OHTANI HIROAKI
Published: January 2013

VFIVE is a scientific visualization application for CAVE-type immersive virtual reality (VR) systems. The source codes are freely available. VFIVE is used as a research tool in various VR systems. It also lays the groundwork for developments of new visualization software for CAVEs. In this paper, we pick up five CAVE systems in four different institutions in Japan. Applications of VFIVE in each CAVE system are summarized. Special emphases will be placed on scientific and technical achievements made possible by VFIVE.
Evolution of B Cell Immunity
Authors: Parra David , Takizawa Fumio , Sunyer J. Oriol
Published: January 2013

Two types of adaptive immune strategies are known to have evolved in vertebrates: the VLR-based system, which is present in jawless organisms and is mediated by VLRA and VLRB lymphocytes, and the BCR/TCR-based system, which is present in jawed species and is provided by B and T cell receptors expressed on B and T cells, respectively. Here we summarize features of B cells and their predecessors in the different animal phyla, focusing the review on B cells from jawed vertebrates. We point out the critical role of nonclassical species and comparative immunology studies in the understanding of B cell immunity. Because nonclassical models include species relevant to veterinary medicine, basic science research performed in these animals contributes to the knowledge required for the development of more efficacious vaccines against emerging pathogens.
Cognitive Interventions Targeting Brain Plasticity in the Prodromal and Early Phases of Schizophrenia
Authors: Fisher Melissa , Loewy Rachel , Hardy Kate , Schlosser Danielle , Vinogradov Sophia
Published: January 2013

Several important paradigm shifts have occurred in the field of schizophrenia treatment, including an increased focus on early detection, the development of preemptive interventions, and the view of schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by decreased efficiency and abnormal connectivity in cortical and subcortical neural networks. In this review, we briefly describe some of the neural impairments that contribute to the development of schizophrenia, with an emphasis on the impact of stress and trauma on cognitively vulnerable neural systems. We then present current data on two behavioral interventions that target these critical risk factors and that aim to preempt the onset of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals or improve the clinical course in recent-onset schizophrenia: cognitive therapy and computerized cognitive training.
Parameter Estimation in Food Science
Authors: Dolan Kirk D. , Mishra Dharmendra K.
Published: January 2013

Modeling includes two distinct parts, the forward problem and the inverse problem. The forward problem—computing y(t) given known parameters—has received much attention, especially with the explosion of commercial simulation software. What is rarely made clear is that the forward results can be no better than the accuracy of the parameters. Therefore, the inverse problem—estimation of parameters given measured y(t)—is at least as important as the forward problem. However, in the food science literature there has been little attention paid to the accuracy of parameters. The purpose of this article is to summarize the state of the art of parameter estimation in food science, to review some of the common food science models used for parameter estimation (for microbial inactivation and growth, thermal properties, and kinetics), and to suggest a generic method to standardize parameter estimation, thereby making research results more useful. Scaled sensitivity coefficients are introduced and shown to be important in parameter identifiability. Sequential estimation and optimal experimental design are also reviewed as powerful parameter estimation methods that are beginning to be used in the food science literature.
Role of Nrf2 in Oxidative Stress and Toxicity
Authors: Ma Qiang
Published: January 2013

Organismal life encounters reactive oxidants from internal metabolism and environmental toxicant exposure. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species cause oxidative stress and are traditionally viewed as being harmful. On the other hand, controlled production of oxidants in normal cells serves useful purposes to regulate signaling pathways. Reactive oxidants are counterbalanced by complex antioxidant defense systems regulated by a web of pathways to ensure that the response to oxidants is adequate for the body's needs. A recurrent theme in oxidant signaling and antioxidant defense is reactive cysteine thiol–based redox signaling. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an emerging regulator of cellular resistance to oxidants. Nrf2 controls the basal and induced expression of an array of antioxidant response element–dependent genes to regulate the physiological and pathophysiological outcomes of oxidant exposure. This review discusses the impact of Nrf2 on oxidative stress and toxicity and how Nrf2 senses oxidants and regulates antioxidant defense.
A Conversation with Paul Greengard
Authors: Greengard Paul , Nestler Eric J.
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Paul Greengard was born in New York City in 1925. After completing high school, he served three years in the US Navy during World War II and then completed his bachelor's degree at Hamilton College where he majored in physics and mathematics. He obtained a PhD in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University in 1953 and pursued postdoctoral training with Wilhelm Feldberg at the National Institute for Medical Research in England. After eight years as head of biochemistry at Geigy, and sabbaticals at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vanderbilt University, he joined the Yale University faculty as a full professor of pharmacology in 1968. While he was at Yale, Greengard's laboratory performed groundbreaking research, which demonstrated a role for cyclic nucleotides, protein kinases and protein phosphatases, and their protein substrates in the regulation of synaptic transmission. In 1983, Greengard moved to The Rockefeller University, where he has since served as the Vincent Astor Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. Greengard's paradigm-shifting research has continued at Rockefeller and has informed our understanding and possible treatment of a host of brain disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. He is the author of more than 950 research articles and reviews. Greengard has received numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000, the Metropolitan Life Foundation Award for Medical Research, The National Academy of Sciences Award in Neuroscience, the Ralph W. Gerard Prize in Neuroscience for the Society for Neuroscience, and the Karolinska Institutet's Bicentennial Gold Medal. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

The following interview was conducted on May 29, 2012.
Charge Transport at the Metal-Organic Interface
Authors: Chen Shaowei , Zhao Zhenhuan , Liu Hong
Published: January 2013

This review focuses on the impacts of metal-organic interfacial bonding interactions on the charge-transport dynamics involved in molecular junctions as well as organically capped nanoparticles. Whereas mercapto derivatives have been used extensively as the ligands of choice to functionalize metal and nanoparticle surfaces with the formation of metal-thiolate interfacial bonds, recent studies show that metal-carbon covalent linkages may be fabricated by the deliberate design and selection of functional moieties. With enhanced electronic interactions between metals and organic ligands, the interfacial contact resistance diminishes drastically, leading to the emergence of unprecedented optical and electronic properties of the junctions and nanoparticles. These mechanistic insights are of fundamental significance in the development of molecule- and nanoparticle-based electronic devices, in particular, in light of the diverse metal-nonmetal bonding interactions that have been extensively observed in organometallic chemistry.
Promoting Healthy Outcomes Among Youth with Multiple Risks: Innovative Approaches
Authors: Greenberg Mark T. , Lippold Melissa A.
Published: January 2013

Adolescent behavior problems such as substance use, antisocial behavior problems, and mental health problems have extremely high social costs and lead to overburdened mental health and juvenile justice systems in the United States and Europe. The prevalence of these problems is substantial, and at-risk youth often present with a combination of concerns. An understanding of risk and protective factors at multiple levels, including the child, family, peer, school, and community, has influenced intervention development. At the individual and family levels, the most effective and cost-effective programs work intensively with youth and their families or use individual and group cognitive-behavioral approaches. However, there is a paucity of careful studies of effective policies and programs in the juvenile justice system. Research is needed that focuses on adoption, financing, implementation, and sustainable use of evidence-based programs in public service systems. In addition, the field needs to understand better for whom current programs are most effective to create the next generation of more effective and efficient programs.