bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heads I win; Tails you lose: Asymmetry in Exchange rate Pass-through into Import Prices
Authors: Brun-Aguerre Raphael , Fuertes Ana-Maria , Greenwood-Nimmo Matthew
Published: August 2016

We analyse exchange rate pass-through into import prices for a large group of 33 emerging and developed economies from 1980, quarter 1, to 2010, quarter 4. Our error correction models permit asymmetric pass-through for currency appreciations and depreciations over three horizons of interest: on impact, in the short run and in the long run. We find that depreciations are typically passed through more strongly than appreciations in the long run, suggesting that exporters may exert a degree of long-run pricing power. This asymmetry is stronger in economies which are more import dependent but is moderated by freedom to trade and a positive output gap. Given that this pass-through asymmetry is welfare reducing for consumers in the destination market, a key macroeconomic implication is that import-dependent economies, in particular, can benefit from trade liberalization.
HLA‐DRB1*16:39, a novel HLA‐DRB1*16 variant, discovered in a Taiwanese bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Hung J. H. , Lin P. Y.
Published: August 2016

One nucleotide substitution at residue 112 of the HLA‐DRB1*16:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐DRB1*16:39.
Is There a Free Lunch in Inference?
Authors: Rouder Jeffrey N. , Morey Richard D. , Verhagen Josine , Province Jordan M. , Wagenmakers Eric‐Jan
Published: August 2016

The field of psychology, including cognitive science, is vexed by a crisis of confidence. Although the causes and solutions are varied, we focus here on a common logical problem in inference. The default mode of inference is significance testing, which has a free lunch property where researchers need not make detailed assumptions about the alternative to test the null hypothesis. We present the argument that there is no free lunch; that is, valid testing requires that researchers test the null against a well‐specified alternative. We show how this requirement follows from the basic tenets of conventional and Bayesian probability. Moreover, we show in both the conventional and Bayesian framework that not specifying the alternative may lead to rejections of the null hypothesis with scant evidence. We review both frequentist and Bayesian approaches to specifying alternatives, and we show how such specifications improve inference. The field of cognitive science will benefit because consideration of reasonable alternatives will undoubtedly sharpen the intellectual underpinnings of research.
Identification and characterization of the missing phosphatase on the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sa Na , Rawat Renu , Thornburg Chelsea , Walker Kevin D. , Roje Sanja
Published: August 2016

Despite the importance of riboflavin as the direct precursor of the cofactors flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), the physiologically relevant catalyst dephosphorylating the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway intermediate 5‐amino‐6‐ribitylamino‐2,4(1H,3H) pyrimidinedione 5′‐phosphate (ARPP) has not been characterized from any organism. By using as the query sequence a previously identified plastidial FMN hydrolase AtcpFHy1 (At1g79790), belonging to the haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily, seven candidates for the missing ARPP phosphatase were found, cloned, recombinantly expressed, and purified. Activity screening showed that the enzymes encoded by AtcpFHy1, At4g11570, and At4g25840 catalyze dephosphorylation of ARPP. AtcpFHy1 was renamed AtcpFHy/PyrP1, At4g11570 and At4g25840 were named AtPyrP2 and AtGpp1/PyrP3, respectively. Subcellular localization in planta indicated that AtPyrP2 was localized in plastids and AtGpp1/PyrP3 in mitochondria. Biochemical characterization of AtcpFHy/PyrP1 and AtPyrP2 showed that they have similar Km values for the substrate ARPP, with AtcpFHy/PyrP1 having higher catalytic efficiency. Screening of 21 phosphorylated substrates showed that AtPyrP2 is specific for ARPP. Molecular weights of AtcpFHy/PyrP1 and AtPyrP2 were estimated at 46 and 72 kDa, suggesting dimers. pH and temperature optima for AtcpFHy/PyrP1 and AtPyrP2 were ~7.0–8.5 and 40–50°C. T‐DNA knockout of AtcpFHy/PyrP1 did not affect the flavin profile of the transgenic plants, whereas silencing of AtPyrP2 decreased accumulation of riboflavin, FMN, and FAD. Our results strongly support AtPyrP2 as the missing phosphatase on the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. The identification of this enzyme closes a long‐standing gap in understanding of the riboflavin biosynthesis in plants.
Design and validation of an MR‐conditional robot for transcranial focused ultrasound surgery in infants
Authors: Price Karl D. , Sin Vivian W. , Mougenot Charles , Pichardo Samuel , Looi Thomas , Waspe Adam C. , Drake James M.
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

Current treatment of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) involves cerebral shunt placement or an invasive brain surgery. Magnetic resonance‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) applied to the brains of pediatric patients presents an opportunity to treat IVH in a noninvasive manner, termed “incision‐less surgery.” Current clinical and research focused ultrasound systems lack the capability to perform neonatal transcranial surgeries due to either range of motion or dexterity requirements. A novel robotic system is proposed to position a focused ultrasound transducer accurately above the head of a neonatal patient inside an MRI machine to deliver the therapy.

Methods:

A clinical Philips Sonalleve MRgFUS system was expanded to perform transcranial treatment. A five degree‐of‐freedom MR‐conditional robot was designed and manufactured using MR compatible materials. The robot electronics and control were integrated into existing Philips electronics and software interfaces. The user commands the position of the robot with a graphical user interface, and is presented with real‐time MR imaging of the patient throughout the surgery. The robot is validated through a series of experiments that characterize accuracy, signal‐to‐noise ratio degeneration of an MR image as a result of the robot, MR imaging artifacts generated by the robot, and the robot's ability to operate in a representative surgical environment inside an MR machine.

Results:

Experimental results show the robot responds reliably within an MR environment, has achieved 0.59 ± 0.25 mm accuracy, does not produce severe MR‐imaging artifacts, has a workspace providing sufficient coverage of a neonatal brain, and can manipulate a 5 kg payload. A full system demonstration shows these characteristics apply in an application environment.

Conclusions:

This paper presents a comprehensive look at the process of designing and validating a new robot from concept to implementation for use in an MR environment. An MR conditional robot has been designed and manufactured to design specifications. The system has demonstrated its feasibility as a platform for MRgFUS interventions for neonatal patients. The success of the system in experimental trials suggests that it is ready to be used for validation of the transcranial intervention in animal studies.
Color standard display function: A proposed extension of DICOM GSDF
Authors: Kimpe Tom , Rostang Johan , Van Hoey Gert , Xthona Albert
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

Color images are being used more in medical imaging for a broad range of modalities and applications. While in the past, color was mostly used for annotations, today color is also widely being used for diagnostic purposes. Surprisingly enough, there is no agreed upon standard yet that describes how color medical images need to be visualized and how calibration and quality assurance of color medical displays need to be performed. This paper proposes color standard display function (CSDF) which is an extension of the DICOM GSDF standard toward color. CSDF defines how color medical displays need to be calibrated and how QA can be performed to obtain perceptually linear behavior not only for grayscale but also for color.

Methods:

The proposed CSDF algorithm uses DICOM GSDF calibration as a starting point and subsequently uses a color visual difference metric to redistribute colors in order to obtain perceptual linearity not only for the grayscale behavior but also for the color behavior. A clear calibration and quality assurance algorithm is defined and is validated on a wide range of different display systems.

Results:

A detailed description of the proposed CSDF calibration and quality assurance algorithms is provided. These algorithms have been tested extensively on three types of display systems: consumer displays, professional displays, and medical grade displays. Test results are reported both for the calibration algorithm as well as for the quantitative and visual quality assurance methods. The tests confirm that the described algorithm generates consistent results and is able to increase perceptual linearity for color and grayscale visualization. Moreover the proposed algorithms are working well on a wide range of display systems.

Conclusions:

CSDF has been proposed as an extension of the DICOM GSDF standard toward color. Calibration and QA algorithms for CSDF have been described in detail. The proposed algorithms have been tested on several types of display systems and the results confirm that CSDF largely increases the perceptual linearity of visualized colors, while at the same time remaining compliant with DICOM GSDF.
Determination of ocean surface wave shape from forward scattered sound
Authors: Walstead Sean P. , Deane Grant B.
Published: August 2016

Forward scattered sound from the ocean surface is inverted for wave shape during three periods: low wind, mix of wind and swell, and stormy. Derived wave profiles are spatially limited to a Fresnel region at or near the nominal surface specular reflection point. In some cases, the surface wave profiles exhibit unrealistic temporal and spatial properties. To remedy this, the spatial gradient of inverted waves is constrained to a maximum slope of 0.88. Under this global constraint, only surface waves during low wind conditions result in a modeled surface multipath that accurately matches data. The power spectral density of the inverted surface wave field saturates around a frequency of 8 Hz while upward looking SONAR saturates at 1 Hz. Each shows a high frequency spectral slope of −4 that is in agreement with various empirical ocean wave spectra. The improved high frequency resolution provided by the scattering inversion indicates that it is possible to remotely gain information about high frequency components of ocean waves. The inability of the inversion algorithm to determine physically realistic surface waves in periods of high wind indicates that bubbles and out of plane scattering become important in those operating scenarios.
Wavelet-transform-based active imaging of cavitation bubbles in tissues induced by high intensity focused ultrasound
Authors: Liu Runna , Xu Shanshan , Hu Hong , Huo Rui , Wang Supin , Wan Mingxi
Published: August 2016

Cavitation detection and imaging are essential for monitoring high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies. In this paper, an active cavitation imaging method based on wavelet transform is proposed to enhance the contrast between the cavitation bubbles and surrounding tissues. The Yang-Church model, which is a combination of the Keller-Miksis equation with the Kelvin-Voigt equation for the pulsations of gas bubbles in simple linear viscoelastic solids, is utilized to construct the bubble wavelet. Experiments with porcine muscles demonstrate that image quality is associated with the initial radius of the bubble wavelet and the scale. Moreover, the Yang-Church model achieves a somewhat better performance compared with the Rayleigh-Plesset-Noltingk-Neppiras-Poritsky model. Furthermore, the pulse inversion (PI) technique is combined with bubble wavelet transform to achieve further improvement. The cavitation-to-tissue ratio (CTR) of the best tissue bubble wavelet transform (TBWT) mode image is improved by 5.1 dB compared with that of the B-mode image, while the CTR of the best PI-based TBWT mode image is improved by 7.9 dB compared with that of the PI-based B-mode image. This work will be useful for better monitoring of cavitation in HIFU-induced therapies.
Emperor Yu's Great Flood
Authors: Montgomery David R.
Published: August 2016

Geological data provide support for a legendary flood in China ∼4000 years ago
Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Aspergillus
Authors: Powers-Fletcher Margaret V. , Hanson Kimberly E.
Published: August 2016

The direct detection of
Aspergillus
nucleic acid in clinical specimens has the potential to improve the diagnosis of aspergillosis by offering more rapid and sensitive identification of invasive infections than is possible with traditional techniques, such as culture or histopathology. Molecular tests for
Aspergillus
have been limited historically by lack of standardization and variable sensitivities and specificities. Recent efforts have been directed at addressing these limitations and optimizing assay performance using a variety of specimen types. This review provides a summary of standardization efforts and outlines the complexities of molecular testing for
Aspergillus
in clinical mycology.
A Novel SimpleProbe PCR Assay for Detection of Mutations in the 23S rRNA Gene Associated with Macrolide Resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium in Clinical Samples
Authors: Gossé Marianne , Lysvand Hilde , Pukstad Brita , Nordbø Svein Arne
Published: August 2016

Macrolide-resistant strains of
Mycoplasma genitalium
are an increasing problem throughout the world, and the implementation of a rapid and sensitive assay for mutation detection to guide treatment is needed. Macrolide-resistant strains have been shown to contain base substitutions in positions 2058 and 2059 (
Escherichia coli
numbering) in region V of the 23S rRNA gene. In this study, we present a SimpleProbe PCR followed by melting curve analysis to differentiate between macrolide-resistant mutants and wild types. The assay was performed on 159
Mycoplasma genitalium
-positive samples, and the results were compared with DNA sequencing. We also looked at the prevalence of macrolide-resistant strains in a Norwegian population. Of 139 samples characterized successfully by sequencing, 54 (39%) were wild types and 85 (61%) were mutants, consisting of 59 (42%) A2059G, 24 (17%) A2058G, 1 (1%) A2058T, and 1 (1%) A2059C mutation. The melting curve analysis correctly differentiated between wild-type and mutant strains in all cases, but it could not identify the different mutant types. The SimpleProbe PCR proved to be a simple, rapid, and reliable method for the detection of macrolide-resistant isolates of
Mycoplasma genitalium
in a clinical setting.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 5 Is an Important Surface Attachment Factor That Facilitates Entry of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Authors: Chan Che-Man , Chu Hin , Wang Yixin , Wong Bosco Ho-Yin , Zhao Xiaoyu , Zhou Jie , Yang Dong , Leung Sze Pui , Chan Jasper Fuk-Woo , Yeung Man-Lung , Yan Jinghua , Lu Guangwen , Gao George Fu , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: August 2016

The spike proteins of coronaviruses are capable of binding to a wide range of cellular targets, which contributes to the broad species tropism of coronaviruses. Previous reports have demonstrated that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) predominantly utilizes dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) for cell entry. However, additional cellular binding targets of the MERS-CoV spike protein that may augment MERS-CoV infection have not been further explored. In the current study, using the virus overlay protein binding assay (VOPBA), we identified carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) as a novel cell surface binding target of MERS-CoV. CEACAM5 coimmunoprecipitated with the spike protein of MERS-CoV in both overexpressed and endogenous settings. Disrupting the interaction between CEACAM5 and MERS-CoV spike with anti-CEACAM5 antibody, recombinant CEACAM5 protein, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of CEACAM5 significantly inhibited the entry of MERS-CoV. Recombinant expression of CEACAM5 did not render nonpermissive baby hamster kidney (BHK21) cells susceptible to MERS-CoV infection. Instead, CEACAM5 overexpression significantly enhanced the attachment of MERS-CoV to the BHK21 cells. More importantly, the entry of MERS-CoV was increased when CEACAM5 was overexpressed in permissive cells, which suggested that CEACAM5 could facilitate MERS-CoV entry in conjunction with DPP4 despite not being able to support MERS-CoV entry independently. Taken together, the results of our study identified CEACAM5 as a novel cell surface binding target of MERS-CoV that facilitates MERS-CoV infection by augmenting the attachment of the virus to the host cell surface.

IMPORTANCE
Infection with the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is associated with the highest mortality rate among all known human-pathogenic coronaviruses. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics against MERS-CoV infection. The identification of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) as a novel cell surface binding target of MERS-CoV advanced our knowledge on the cell binding biology of MERS-CoV. Importantly, CEACAM5 could potentiate the entry of MERS-CoV by functioning as an attachment factor. In this regard, CEACAM5 could serve as a novel target, in addition to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), in the development of antiviral strategies for MERS-CoV.
Neuroinvasion of α-Synuclein Prionoids after Intraperitoneal and Intraglossal Inoculation
Authors: Breid Sara , Bernis Maria E. , Babila Julius T. , Garza Maria C. , Wille Holger , Tamgüney Gültekin
Published: August 2016

α-Synuclein is a soluble, cellular protein that in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, forms pathological deposits of protein aggregates. Because misfolded α-synuclein has some characteristics that resemble those of prions, we investigated its potential to induce disease after intraperitoneal or intraglossal challenge injection into bigenic Tg(M83
+/−
:
Gfap
-luc
+/−
) mice, which express the A53T mutant of human α-synuclein and firefly luciferase. After a single intraperitoneal injection with α-synuclein fibrils, four of five mice developed paralysis and α-synuclein pathology in the central nervous system, with a median incubation time of 229 ± 17 days. Diseased mice accumulated aggregates of Sarkosyl-insoluble and phosphorylated α-synuclein in the brain and spinal cord, which colocalized with ubiquitin and p62 and were accompanied by gliosis. In contrast, only one of five mice developed α-synuclein pathology in the central nervous system after intraglossal injection with α-synuclein fibrils, after 285 days. These findings are novel and important because they show that, similar to prions, α-synuclein prionoids can neuroinvade the central nervous system after intraperitoneal or intraglossal injection and can cause neuropathology and disease.

IMPORTANCE
Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by the pathological presence of aggregated α-synuclein in cells of the nervous system. Previous studies have shown that α-synuclein aggregates made of recombinant protein or derived from brains of patients can spread in the central nervous system in a spatiotemporal manner when inoculated into the brains of animals and can induce pathology and neurologic disease, suggesting that misfolded α-synuclein can behave similarly to prions. Here we show that α-synuclein inoculation into the peritoneal cavity or the tongue in mice overexpressing α-synuclein causes neurodegeneration after neuroinvasion from the periphery, which further corroborates the prionoid character of misfolded α-synuclein.
Long-term changes in the heat–mortality relationship according to heterogeneous regional climate: a time-series study in South Korea
Authors: Heo Seulkee , Lee Eunil , Kwon Bo Yeon , Lee Suji , Jo Kyung Hee , Kim Jinsun
Published: August 2016

Objectives

Several studies identified a heterogeneous impact of heat on mortality in hot and cool regions during a fixed period, whereas less evidence is available for changes in risk over time due to climate change in these regions. We compared changes in risk during periods without (1996–2000) and with (2008–2012) heatwave warning forecasts in regions of South Korea with different climates.

Methods

Study areas were categorised into 3 clusters based on the spatial clustering of cooling degree days in the period 1993–2012: hottest cluster (cluster H), moderate cluster (cluster M) and cool cluster (cluster C). The risk was estimated according to increases in the daily all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality per 1°C change in daily temperature above the threshold, using a generalised additive model.

Results

The risk of all types of mortality increased in cluster H in 2008–2012, compared with 1996–2000, whereas the risks in all-combined regions and cooler clusters decreased. Temporal increases in mortality risk were larger for some vulnerable subgroups, including younger adults (<75 years), those with a lower education and blue-collar workers, in cluster H as well as all-combined regions. Different patterns of risk change among clusters might be attributable to large increases in heatwave frequency or duration during study periods and the degree of urbanisation in cluster H.

Conclusions

People living in hotter regions or with a lower socioeconomic status are at higher risk following an increasing trend of heat-related mortality risks. Continuous efforts are needed to understand factors which affect changes in heat-related mortality risks.
Does a mandibular overdenture improve nutrient intake and markers of nutritional status better than conventional complete denture? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yamazaki Toru , Martiniuk Alexandra LC , Irie Koichiro , Sokejima Shigeru , Lee Crystal Man Ying
Published: August 2016

Objectives

The need for denture treatment in public health will increase as the population ages. However, the impact of dentures on nutrition, particularly overdenture treatment, remains unclear although the physical and psychological effects are known. We investigated whether treatment with a mandibular implant supported overdenture improves nutrient intake and markers of nutritional status better than a conventional complete denture in edentulous patients.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible studies published up to April 2016. We included studies which compared the treatment effect of an overdenture to conventional denture on nutrition, in which primary outcomes included changes in intake of macronutrients and/or micronutrients and/or indicators of nutritional status. Two reviewers independently evaluated eligible studies and assessed the risk of bias. We used a fixed effects model to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI for change in body mass index (BMI), albumin and serum vitamin B12 between overdenture and conventional denture 6 months after treatment.

Results

Of 108 eligible studies, 8 studies involving 901 participants were included in the narrative appraisal. Four studies reported changes in markers of nutritional status and nutrient intake after treatment with a prosthetic, regardless of type. In a meta-analysis of 322 participants aged 65 years or older from three studies, pooled analysis suggested no significant difference in change in BMI between an overdenture and conventional denture 6 months after treatment (WMD=−0.18 kg/m2(95% CI −0.52 to 0.16)), and no significant difference in change in albumin or vitamin B12 between the two treatments.

Conclusions

The modifying effect of overdenture treatment on nutritional status might be limited. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of denture treatments.
Comparison of Second-Line Immunosuppressants for Childhood Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fu Hai-Dong , Qian Gu-Ling , Jiang Zheng-yang
Published: August 2016

Although, most patients respond initially to therapy for nephrotic syndrome, about 70% of patients have a relapse. Currently, there is no consensus about the most appropriate second-line agent in children who continue to suffer a relapse. This network meta-analysis was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of the commonly used immunosuppressive agents in second-line therapeutic agents (ie, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil) for refractory childhood nephrotic syndrome. MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched until October 17, 2015 using the following search terms: cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and childhood nephrotic syndrome. Randomized controlled trials, prospective 2-arm studies and cohort studies were included. 7 studies with 391 patients were included. Bayesian network meta-analysis found that treatment with mycophenolate mofetil had the greatest odds of relapse compared with tacrolimus (pooled OR=49.72, 95% credibility interval (CrI) 1.65 to 2483.32), cyclophosphamide (pooled OR=72.05, 95% CrI 1.44 to 13633.33) and cyclosporine (pooled OR=11.42, 95% CrI 1.03 to 131.60). Rank probability analysis found cyclophosphamide was the best treatment with the lowest relapse rate as compared with other treatments (rank probability=0.58), and tacrolimus was ranked as the second best (rank probability=0.38). Our findings support the use of cyclophosphamide and tacrolimus in treating children with relapsing nephrotic syndrome.
All-optical spin switching: A new frontier in femtomagnetism — A short review and a simple theory
Authors: Zhang G. P. , Latta T. , Babyak Z. , Bai Y. H. , George Thomas F.
Published: August 2016

Using an ultrafast laser pulse to manipulate the spin degree of freedom has broad technological appeal. It allows one to control the spin dynamics on a femtosecond time scale. The discipline, commonly called femtomagnetism, started with the pioneering experiment by Beaurepaire and coworkers in 1996, who showed subpicosecond demagnetization occurs in magnetic Ni thin films. This finding has motivated extensive research worldwide. All-optical helicity-dependent spin switching (AO-HDS) represents a new frontier in femtomagnetism, where a single ultrafast laser pulse can permanently switch spin without any assistance from a magnetic field. This review summarizes some of the crucial aspects of this new discipline: key experimental findings, leading mechanisms, controversial issues, and possible future directions. The emphasis is on our latest investigation. We first develop the all-optical spin switching (AOS) rule that determines how the switchability depends on the light helicity. This rule allows one to understand microscopically how the spin is reversed and why the circularly polarized light appears more powerful than the linearly polarized light. Then we invoke our latest spin-orbit coupled harmonic oscillator model to simulate single spin reversal. We consider both continuous wave (cw) excitation and pulsed laser excitation. The results are in a good agreement with the experimental result (a MatLab code is available upon request from the author). We then extend the code to include the exchange interaction among different spin sites. We show where the “inverse-Faraday field” comes from and how the laser affects the spin reversal nonlinearly. Our hope is that this review will motivate new experimental and theoretical investigations and discussions.
Mitigation Effect of Vertical Walls on a Wharf Model Subjected to Tsunami Bores
Authors: Chen Cheng , Melville Bruce W. , Nandasena N. A. K. , Shamseldin Asaad Y. , Wotherspoon Liam
Published: August 2016

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the mitigation effect of vertical walls on a wharf model subjected to tsunami bores. Dam-break waves were generated in a flume to simulate tsunami bore propagation, the bore characteristics were observed, and the tsunami pressures on vertical walls and a wharf model were measured. Results indicate different characteristics for bores traveling on wet-bed and dry-bed. The tsunami bore impact on a vertical wall was shown to exhibit four stages, and the time-history of the pressure exhibits three phases accordingly. Based on the law of conservation of energy, an equation for estimating the pressure exerted on the mid-point of the wall was proposed with coefficient of 1.8–2.4, and found to be suitable in this experimental range. Based on experimental data, an equation of the mitigation effect of vertical walls on tsunami was proposed as a function of the inundation depth, the wall height and the deck height. The predicted values from the equation are generally within [Formula: see text] of the measured values.
The global
Annulata
Events: review and new data from the Rheris Basin (northern Tafilalt) of SE Morocco
Authors: Hartenfels S. , Becker R. T.
Published: August 2016

A review of the literature shows that the Famennian global
Annulata
Event(s) can be recognized as a transgressive, often hypoxic and eutrophic, interval that interrupts an overall regressive eustatic trend in more than 40 regions of North America, Europe, North Africa, Asia and Australia. According to differences in palaeogeography, sedimentology and biota, these occurrences are assigned to 10 event settings. The first detailed data on facies, ammonoid and conodont faunas are presented for the Rheris Basin of the eastern Anti-Atlas (southern Morocco) and compared with previously studied sections of the adjacent Tafilalt Platform, Tafilalt Basin and Maider Basin. The rather argillaceous succession at El Gara resembles the Tafilalt Basin (Hassi Nebech section) in its lack of black shales/limestones and similar ammonoid and conodont assemblages. However, the
Sulcoclymenia sulcata
Zone (Upper Devonian III-C2) below the
Annulata
Events contains ammonoid taxa that are unique for all of the Anti-Atlas and North Africa:
Protornoceras ornatum
Dybczynski, 1913,
Genuclymenia
aff.
angelini
(Wedekind, 1908),
Protactoclymenia
aff.
implana
(Czarnocki, 1989) and ?
Pleuroclymenia
sp. juv. The first regional record of the marker conodont
Pseudopolygnathus granulosus
Ziegler, 1962 also distinguishes the pre-event assemblage. As in many other regions, there is a major decline in ammonoids well before the Lower
Annulata
Event, which suggests an episode of extreme oligotrophy. Both
Annulata
Events at El Gara are whitish-weathered marly shales with only small specimens of
Platyclymenia
and
Prionoceras
(
sensu lato
), which are also typical for the
annulata
Zone (UD IV-A) of other Tafilalt sections, but benthonic organisms are nearly absent. This suggests local low-oxygen conditions, but only a moderate production of organic carbon, insufficient for black shale formation, unlike many German sections or in the Maider Basin (section Mrakib). The latter region represents a deeper shelf basin that had much higher productivity and a unique ‘
Gundolficeras
–
Erfoudites
–
Protactoclymenia
–
Stenoclymenia
–
Guerichia
biofacies’ of the Lower
Annulata
Shale. The upper part of the
annulata
Zone at El Gara is characterized by
Platyclymenia
(
Platyclymenia
)
levata
n. sp. Other new taxa of the same zone in the Anti-Atlas are
Posttornoceras ascendens
n. sp. and
Stenoclymenia rectangula
n. sp. Whilst the ammonoid faunal overturn between UD III-C and UD IV-A was severe, the strong reduction in conodont diversity with the two
Annulata
Events was mostly (apart from two taxa) a palaeoecologically triggered, only episodic, feature. The comparison of the various Anti-Atlas
Annulata
Event beds and assemblages enables the distinction of event biofacies types, which reflect local differences of bathymetry, trophic conditions and seafloor ventilation.
Teaching Social Communication Skills Through Human-Agent Interaction
Authors: Tanaka Hiroki , Sakriani Sakti , Neubig Graham , Toda Tomoki , Negoro Hideki , Iwasaka Hidemi , Nakamura Satoshi
Published: August 2016

There are a large number of computer-based systems that aim to train and improve social skills. However, most of these do not resemble the training regimens used by human instructors. In this article, we propose a computer-based training system that follows the procedure of social skills training (SST), a well-established method to decrease human anxiety and discomfort in social interaction, and acquire social skills. We attempt to automate the process of SST by developing a dialogue system named the
automated social skills trainer
, which teaches social communication skills through human-agent interaction. The system includes a virtual avatar that recognizes user speech and language information and gives feedback to users. Its design is based on conventional SST performed by human participants, including defining target skills, modeling, role-play, feedback, reinforcement, and homework. We performed a series of three experiments investigating (1) the advantages of using computer-based training systems compared to human-human interaction (HHI) by subjectively evaluating nervousness, ease of talking, and ability to talk well; (2) the relationship between speech language features and human social skills; and (3) the effect of computer-based training using our proposed system. Results of our first experiment show that interaction with an avatar decreases nervousness and increases the user's subjective impression of his or her ability to talk well compared to interaction with an unfamiliar person. The experimental evaluation measuring the relationship between social skill and speech and language features shows that these features have a relationship with social skills. Finally, experiments measuring the effect of performing SST with the proposed application show that participants significantly improve their skill, as assessed by separate evaluators, by using the system for 50 minutes. A user survey also shows that the users thought our system is useful and easy to use, and that interaction with the avatar felt similar to HHI.
Communication-aware scheduling on an IMA architecture
Authors: Deroche Emilie , Scharbarg Jean-Luc , Fraboul Christian
Published: August 2016

Integrated modular Avionics (IMA or ARINC 651), as it is currently implemented in large aircrafts, uses a limited number of complex processors interconnected through a communication network (AFDX or ARINC 664). The allocation of avionics applications is done according a communicating partitions model (APEX or ARINC 653) needed for guaranteeing robust partitioning when sharing processors (TDMA like schedule) and communication network (APEX channel). On smaller aircrafts (such as helicopters) the objective (due to room and weight constraints) is to use les complex processors and consequently to increase their number. Implementing such a distributed IMA architecture leads to a global (more complex) integration problem, which is twofold. Allocation and scheduling of partitions on each shared processor as well as end-to-end communication delays among distributed partitions must be compatible in order to guarantee timing requirements of distributed avionics applications. This paper points out the complexity of composing the two aspects of this integration problem on different possible target architectures.
A systems of systems perspective on the internet of things
Authors: Lukkien Johan
Published: August 2016

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to extending the reach of the Internet into the physical world. The realization of IoT applications involves the integrated operation of many subsystems that retain their private function. This makes IoT application deployment and integration a Systems of Systems (SoS) problem. In this paper we collect SoS properties and characteristics from the literature in order to understand common integration problems in IoT better, for which we use two running examples. We show that in particular for safety critical systems there must be means to compute and predict integrated behavior based on specifications at interfaces. We give a general coordination architecture that supports this.
Annotation of dicom information
Authors: Vizza Patrizia , Cascini Giuseppe Lucio , Curia Rosario , Sisca Loredana , Aiello Filippo
Published: August 2016

Today, the management of medical information is related to specific systems of individual hospital wards and this solution does not allow the integration and portability of these information among clinical structures.

This is a two pages contribution describing a project that aims to define a general purpose system for the management of clinical information in oncology environment based on the annotation of DICOM images. The system integrates different diagnostic sources to support medical decision in care pathways definition and to facilitate the retrieval of information.
Application of IT in healthcare
Authors: Toor Rashmeet , Chana Inderveer
Published: August 2016

The key mission of Healthcare industry is improving lives through better healthcare solutions. Technical innovations in the last decade have led to solutions that are safe, cost effective, high-quality and easily accessible. A wide variety of computational techniques, storage techniques, softwares and tools are already shaping the future of healthcare. In this paper we have systematically reviewed the emerging trends of Information Technology (IT) in healthcare. Further, this paper elaborates on the impact of healthcare data, technological transformations and tools which will eventually merge and culminate into user-centric healthcare in near future. A total of 108 papers were analyzed, out of which 40 papers were identified to be relevant and further we classified 19 papers into four broad categories according to the technologies used. This paper also reveals issues in the current approaches and suggests possible future outcomes which will help researchers to gain ideas for further research.
Tensional homeostasis in endothelial cells is a multicellular phenomenon
Authors: Canović Elizabeth P. , Zollinger Alicia J. , Tam Sze Nok , Smith Michael L. , Stamenović Dimitrije
Published: August 2016

Mammalian cells of various types exhibit the remarkable ability to adapt to externally applied mechanical stresses and strains. Because of this adaptation, cells can maintain their endogenous mechanical tension at a preferred (homeostatic) level, which is essential for normal physiological functions of cells and tissues and provides protection against various diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer. Conventional wisdom is that the cell possesses the ability to maintain tensional homeostasis on its own. Recent findings showed, however, that isolated cells cannot maintain tensional homeostasis. Here we studied the effect of multicellular interactions on tensional homeostasis by measuring traction forces in isolated bovine aortic endothelial cells and in confluent and nonconfluent cell clusters of different sizes. We found that, in isolated cells, the traction field exhibited a highly dynamic and erratic behavior. However, in cell clusters, dynamic fluctuations of the traction field became attenuated with increasing cluster size, at a rate that was faster in nonconfluent than confluent clusters. The driving mechanism of attenuation of traction field fluctuations was statistical averaging of the noise, and the impeding mechanism was nonuniform stress distribution in the clusters, which resulted from intercellular force transmission, known as a “global tug-of-war.” These results show that isolated cells could not maintain tensional homeostasis, which confirms previous findings, and that tensional homeostasis is a multicellular phenomenon, which is a novel finding.
KATP channel deficiency in mouse FDB causes an impairment of energy metabolism during fatigue
Authors: Scott Kyle , Benkhalti Maria , Calvert Nicholas D. , Paquette Mathieu , Zhen Li , Harper Mary-Ellen , Al-Dirbashi Osama Y. , Renaud Jean-Marc
Published: August 2016

The skeletal muscle ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel is crucial in preventing fiber damage and contractile dysfunction, possibly by preventing damaging ATP depletion. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in energy metabolism during fatigue in wild-type and inwardly rectifying K+ channel (Kir6.2)-deficient (Kir6.2−/−) flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), a muscle that lacks functional KATP channels. Fatigue was elicited with one tetanic contraction every second. Decreases in ATP and total adenylate levels were significantly greater in wild-type than Kir6.2−/− FDB during the last 2 min of the fatigue period. Glycogen depletion was greater in Kir6.2−/− FDB for the first 60 s, but not by the end of the fatigue period, while there was no difference in glucose uptake. The total amount of glucosyl units entering glycolysis was the same in wild-type and Kir6.2−/− FDB. During the first 60 s, Kir6.2−/− FDB generated less lactate and more CO2; in the last 120 s, Kir6.2−/− FDB stopped generating CO2 and produced more lactate. The ATP generated during fatigue from phosphocreatine, glycolysis (lactate), and oxidative phosphorylation (CO2) was 3.3-fold greater in Kir6.2−/− than wild-type FDB. Because ATP and total adenylate were significantly less in Kir6.2−/− FDB, it is suggested that Kir6.2−/− FDB has a greater energy deficit, despite a greater ATP production, which is further supported by greater glucose uptake and lactate and CO2 production in Kir6.2−/− FDB during the recovery period. It is thus concluded that a lack of functional KATP channels results in an impairment of energy metabolism.
Activation of MEK/ERK signaling contributes to the PACAP-induced increase in guinea pig cardiac neuron excitability
Authors: Tompkins John D. , Clason Todd A. , Hardwick Jean C. , Girard Beatrice M. , Merriam Laura A. , May Victor , Parsons Rodney L.
Published: August 2016

Pituitary adenylate cyclase (PAC)-activating polypeptide (PACAP) peptides ( Adcyap1) signaling at the selective PAC1 receptor ( Adcyap1r1) participate in multiple homeostatic and stress-related responses, yet the cellular mechanisms underlying PACAP actions remain to be completely elucidated. PACAP/PAC1 receptor signaling increases excitability of neurons within the guinea pig cardiac ganglia, and as these neurons are readily accessible, this neuronal system is particularly amenable to study of PACAP modulation of ionic conductances. The present study investigated how PACAP activation of MEK/ERK signaling contributed to the peptide-induced increase in cardiac neuron excitability. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor PD 98059 blocked PACAP-stimulated phosphorylated ERK and, in parallel, suppressed the increase in cardiac neuron excitability. However, PD 98059 did not blunt the ability of PACAP to enhance two inward ionic currents, one flowing through hyperpolarization-activated nonselective cationic channels ( Ih) and another flowing through low-voltage-activated calcium channels ( IT), which support the peptide-induced increase in excitability. Thus a PACAP - and MEK/ERK-sensitive, voltage-dependent conductance(s), in addition to Ih and IT, modulates neuronal excitability. Despite prior work implicating PACAP downregulation of the KV4.2 potassium channel in modulation of excitability in other cells, treatment with the KV4.2 current blocker 4-aminopyridine did not replicate the PACAP-induced increase in excitability in cardiac neurons. However, cardiac neurons express the ERK target, the NaV1.7 sodium channel, and treatment with the selective NaV1.7 channel inhibitor PF-04856264 decreased the PACAP modulation of excitability. From these results, PACAP/PAC1 activation of MEK/ERK signaling may phosphorylate the NaV1.7 channel, enhancing sodium currents near the threshold, an action contributing to repetitive firing of the cardiac neurons exposed to PACAP.
Deletion of calponin 2 in macrophages attenuates the severity of inflammatory arthritis in mice
Authors: Huang Qi-Quan , Hossain M. Moazzem , Sun Wen , Xing Lianping , Pope Richard M. , Jin J.-P.
Published: August 2016

Calponin is an actin cytoskeleton-associated protein that regulates motility-based cellular functions. Three isoforms of calponin are present in vertebrates, among which calponin 2 encoded by the Cnn2 gene is expressed in multiple types of cells, including blood cells from the myeloid lineage. Our previous studies demonstrated that macrophages from Cnn2 knockout (KO) mice exhibit increased migration and phagocytosis. Intrigued by an observation that monocytes and macrophages from patients with rheumatoid arthritis had increased calponin 2, we investigated anti-glucose-6-phosphate isomerase serum-induced arthritis in Cnn2-KO mice for the effect of calponin 2 deletion on the pathogenesis and pathology of inflammatory arthritis. The results showed that the development of arthritis was attenuated in systemic Cnn2-KO mice with significantly reduced inflammation and bone erosion than that in age- and stain background-matched C57BL/6 wild-type mice. In vitro differentiation of calponin 2-null mouse bone marrow cells produced fewer osteoclasts with decreased bone resorption. The attenuation of inflammatory arthritis was confirmed in conditional myeloid cell-specific Cnn2-KO mice. The increased phagocytotic activity of calponin 2-null macrophages may facilitate the clearance of autoimmune complexes and the resolution of inflammation, whereas the decreased substrate adhesion may reduce osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. The data suggest that calponin 2 regulation of cytoskeleton function plays a novel role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis, implicating a potentially therapeutic target.
Carotid baroreflex control of heart rate is enhanced, while control of mean arterial pressure is preserved during whole body heat stress in young healthy men
Authors: Krnjajic Davor , Allen Dustin R. , Butts Cory L. , Keller David M.
Published: August 2016

Whole body heat stress (WBH) results in numerous cardiovascular alterations that ultimately reduce orthostatic tolerance. While impaired carotid baroreflex (CBR) function during WBH has been reported as a potential reason for this decrement, study design considerations may limit interpretation of previous findings. We sought to test the hypothesis that CBR function is unaltered during WBH. CBR function was assessed in 10 healthy male subjects (age: 26 ± 3; height: 185 ± 7 cm; weight: 82 ± 10 kg; BMI: 24 ± 3 kg/m2; means ± SD) using 5-s trials of neck pressure (+45, +30, and +15 Torr) and neck suction (−20, −40, −60, and −80 Torr) during normothermia (NT) and passive WBH (Δ core temp ∼1°C). Analyses of stimulus response curves (four-parameter logistic model) for CBR control of heart rate (CBR-HR) and mean arterial pressure (CBR-MAP), as well as separate two-way ANOVA of the hypotensive and hypertensive stimuli (factor 1: thermal condition, factor 2: chamber pressure), were performed. For CBR-HR, maximal gain was increased during WBH (−0.73 ± 0.11) compared with NT (−0.39 ± 0.04, mean ± SE, P = 0.03). In addition, the CBR-HR responding range was increased during WBH (33 ± 5) compared with NT (19 ± 2 bpm, P = 0.03). Separate analysis of hypertensive stimulation revealed enhanced HR responses during WBH at −40, −60, and −80 Torr (condition × chamber pressure interaction, P = 0.049) compared with NT. For CBR-MAP, both logistic analysis and separate two-way ANOVA revealed no differences during WBH. Therefore, in response to passive WBH, CBR control of heart rate (enhanced) and arterial pressure (no change) is well preserved.