bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the orientation dependence of grain boundary triple line energy in Cu
Authors: Zhao Bingbing , Shvindlerman Lasar , Gottstein Günter
Published: September 2014

Triple lines are the lines of intersection of three interfaces, either external interfaces or internal interfaces of a bulk material. They have been recognized as important microstructural features with specific kinetic and thermodynamic properties. Utilizing atomic force microscopy, the line tensions, i.e. the energy of grain boundary-free surface triple lines and grain boundary triple junctions for different crystallographic systems in copper were determined. The line tension of grain boundary triple junctions in copper was found to be positive and of the order of 10−9 J m−1. Junctions including low energy boundaries, twin boundaries and low angle boundaries revealed a substantially lower line tension than triple junctions comprised only of random high angle boundaries. A simple model based on a constant grain boundary energy density is proposed to account for the orientation dependence of triple line energy.
The superplasticity of friction stir processed Al-5Mg alloy with additions of scandium and zirconium
Authors: Smolej Anton , Klobčar Damjan , Skaza Brane , Nagode Aleš , Slaček Edvard , Dragojević Vukašin , Smolej Samo
Published: September 2014

The paper describes the effect of minor additions of scandium and zirconium on the superplastic behaviour of friction stir processed Al-5Mg based alloy. The measurements included the flow curves and tensile elongations of (in wt.%) Al-5Mg-0.1Zr, Al-5Mg-0.2Sc, and Al-5Mg-0.2Sc-0.15Zr alloys at initial strain rates ranging from 1 × 10−3 to 1 × 10−1 s−1, and at forming temperatures from 350 to 500°C. The inclusion of friction stir processing at tool rotation rates of 95 and 475 rpm considerably enhanced the superplastic behaviour of the Al-5Mg-0.2Sc-0.15Zr alloy, which was reflected in elongations without failure of over 1900%. Other friction stir processed alloys, treated at lower tool rotation rates, did not achieve superplasticity due to abnormal grain growth. The results yielded by the friction stir processed alloys are compared with the superplastic behaviour of the same alloys produced conventionally by cold rolling.
New Snapshot Generation Protocol for Travel Time Estimation in a Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Chen Chen , Kianfar Jalil , Edara Praveen
Published: September 2014

Connected vehicle technology offers great potential to improve the safety and the mobility of a transportation system. Probe data collection is one feature of connected vehicle technology in which vehicles collect information such as their location and speed. Probe data could be used to support various traffic management and traveler information applications. This paper presents the novel R2 protocol, used to collect probe data in a connected vehicle environment. The core principle of R2 protocol is to collect only vehicle snapshots when a significant change occurs in vehicle speed. Data from a connected vehicle simulation test bed in Boise, Idaho, and a real-world test bed in Oakland County, Michigan, were used to evaluate the proposed protocol. An average speed method and a method with its basis in the reconstruction of vehicle time–speed plots were used to estimate link travel time. Linear regression, cubic spline, and piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation were applied to reconstruct time–speed plots. The proposed R2 protocol was compared with three existing protocols: fixed 2-s, fixed 4-s, and SAE J2735. The results from the simulation test bed indicated that the R2 protocol not only outperformed the three protocols in error measurement but also required fewer snapshots to achieve the lower-error value. The snapshots recorded by the R2 protocol were 30%, 26%, and 4% lower than those recorded by the other three J2735 protocols. The Michigan test bed case study showed that the R2 protocol produced fewer errors and needed 11% fewer snapshots than the SAE J2735 protocol.
Safety Impacts of Intervehicle Warning Information Systems for Moving Hazards in Connected Vehicle Environments
Authors: Jeong Eunbi , Oh Cheol , Lee Gunwoo , Cho Hanseon
Published: September 2014

Driver inattentiveness is one of the critical factors that contribute to vehicle crashes. The intervehicle safety warning information system (ISWS) is a technology to enhance driver attentiveness by providing warning messages about upcoming hazards under the connected vehicle environments. A novel feature of the proposed ISWS is its capability to detect hazardous driving events, which are defined as moving hazards with a high potential to cause crashes. The study presented in this paper evaluated the potential effectiveness of the ISWS to reduce crashes and to mitigate traffic congestion. The study included a field experiment that documented actual vehicle maneuvering patterns of accelerations and lane changes, which were used to enhance the realism of simulation evaluations. Probe vehicles equipped with customized onboard units, which consisted of a GPS device, accelerometer, and gyro sensor, were used. A microscopic simulator, VISSIM, was used to simulate a driver's responsive behavior after warning messages were delivered. A surrogate safety assessment model was used to derive surrogate safety measures to evaluate the effectiveness of ISWS in terms of traffic safety. The results showed a reduced number of rear-end conflicts when the ISWS's market penetration rate (MPR) and the congestion level of the traffic conditions increased. The reduced number of rear-end conflicts was approximately 84.3%, with a 100% MPR under Level of Service D traffic conditions. Analysis of the standard deviation of speed showed that a reduction of 39.9% was achieved. The outcomes of this study could be valuable to derive smarter operational strategies for ISWS.
Connected Vehicle Systems
Authors: Holmes LaTanya M. , Harwood Leslie C. , Klauer Sheila G. , Doerzaph Zachary R.
Published: September 2014

As part of the Human Factors for Connected Vehicles program, the U.S. Department of Transportation has initiated activities to advance connectivity between vehicles (vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure). Connected vehicle system (CVS) driver interfaces have been proposed for a variety of vehicle-integrated and carry-in technologies. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the presentation of connected vehicle applications on three interfaces: integrated (e.g., in the center console), fixed to the windshield (e.g., an off-the-shelf navigation device), and mobile (e.g., cell phone). The display devices were used to present a range of safety-related and nonsafety-related CVS applications. The resulting driving performance was evaluated and analyzed. Results for the imminent safety application indicated that 67% of drivers complied with a red-light warning when they used the mobile device and that 92% of drivers complied with a red-light warning when they used either the fixed or the integrated display device. Of the eight remaining nonsafety-related applications tested, drivers looked significantly longer at the device when the information presented was not driving related. Drivers’ preference ratings also were significantly lower for information that was not driving related. These findings, combined with additional results presented in this paper, suggest that an unsecured mobile device may create safety and acceptance concerns when used as a part of a CVS.
Ethical Decision Making during Automated Vehicle Crashes
Authors: Goodall Noah J.
Published: September 2014

Automated vehicles have received much attention recently, particularly the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Urban Challenge vehicles, Google's self-driving cars, and various others from auto manufacturers. These vehicles have the potential to reduce crashes and improve roadway efficiency significantly by automating the responsibilities of the driver. Still, automated vehicles are expected to crash occasionally, even when all sensors, vehicle control components, and algorithms function perfectly. If a human driver is unable to take control in time, a computer will be responsible for precrash behavior. Unlike other automated vehicles, such as aircraft, in which every collision is catastrophic, and unlike guided track systems, which can avoid collisions only in one dimension, automated roadway vehicles can predict various crash trajectory alternatives and select a path with the lowest damage or likelihood of collision. In some situations, the preferred path may be ambiguous. The study reported here investigated automated vehicle crashing and concluded the following: (a) automated vehicles would almost certainly crash, (b) an automated vehicle's decisions that preceded certain crashes had a moral component, and (c) there was no obvious way to encode complex human morals effectively in software. The paper presents a three-phase approach to develop ethical crashing algorithms; the approach consists of a rational approach, an artificial intelligence approach, and a natural language requirement. The phases are theoretical and should be implemented as the technology becomes available.
Modeling and Analyzing Budget-Constrained Pavement Preservation Strategies
Authors: Rydholm Timothy C. , Luhr David R.
Published: September 2014

The Washington State pavement management system (WSPMS) has a long and well-known history of describing network condition, predicting necessary rehabilitation, and guiding the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) to the best possible value for pavements meeting an acceptable level of service. By definition, lowest life-cycle cost (LLCC) is the most economical way to manage roadways to a required level of service. What does an agency do when it is currently, and projected to be, funded at less than half of what LLCC calculations recommend? This deceptively difficult question reflects the situation that the Washington State DOT currently faces with its preservation budget. To assist the agency in answering this question, the WSPMS developed a tool called the Forecaster, allowing definition of a forecast scenario that enables the user to define a yearly budget with optional allocations, preservation techniques, prioritization of roadways and activities, and more, and analyzes the results of the forecast by using several different performance measures. Presented are an overview of the new WSPMS tool to create forecasts, a general overview of the forecast process, and the performance measures that the WSPMS gives to users to analyze the results of a forecast. Finally, several funding scenarios are compared by the expected performance measure outcomes, and a specific prioritization methodology is recommended for the severely constrained preservation budget of the Washington State DOT.
Using Enhanced Econometric Techniques to Verify the Service Life of Asset Interventions
Authors: Bardaka Eleni , Labi Samuel , Haddock John E.
Published: September 2014

In the current era, the highway environment is characterized by funding limitations, aging facilities, and increasing user expectations. In light of these trends, asset managers at most highway agencies have a fiduciary responsibility to apply management strategies and practices that not only are most cost-effective in a life-cycle context but also are in the best interests of taxpayers and highway users. To identify and implement effective rehabilitation strategies and practices, highway agencies need to verify information that was typically based on expert opinion, with reliable asset performance prediction tools and treatment service life estimates. This study provides an enhanced methodology to analyze pavement rehabilitation data and to develop estimates and ranges of treatment service lives. Pavement rehabilitation data typically consist of repeated measurements that form an unbalanced three-level nested structure, making analysis quite challenging. In this study, mixed linear modeling techniques are deployed to accommodate this structure and thus lead to less biased estimations compared with traditionally used approaches. The developed framework is applied to quantify the effectiveness of seven common rehabilitation treatments applied by the Indiana Department of Transportation in regard to their service lives and to validate the treatment service life values presented in the agency's current design manual.
Performance and Benefits of Michigan Department of Transportation's Capital Preventive Maintenance Program
Authors: Ram Prashant V. , Peshkin David G.
Published: September 2014

The Michigan Department of Transportation's (DOT) pavement preservation program dates back to 1992. In Michigan, pavement preservation is implemented primarily through the Michigan DOT's capital preventive maintenance (CPM) program, in which preventive maintenance treatments are used to protect existing pavement surfaces, to slow deterioration, and to correct surface deficiencies. An overall objective of the CPM program is to postpone major rehabilitation and reconstruction activities by extending the service life of pavements. Results of a study performed to calculate the benefits and costs of various preventive maintenance treatments used in the Michigan DOT's CPM program are presented. With benefit defined as the percentage increase in performance over a do-nothing or untreated pavement performance curve where data were available, benefits were calculated for preventive maintenance treatments. Benefit–cost ratios were calculated by unit cost, and permitted the comparison of the cost-effectiveness of similar treatments. The overall performance of the Michigan DOT's CPM program was also examined by comparing the life-cycle costs of a rehabilitation strategy to a preservation strategy with the use of a simplified approach. The outcome showed that the preservation strategy resulted in agency cost savings of approximately 25% per lane mile over a rehabilitation-only strategy. Findings from this study can be used to help the Michigan DOT improve its CPM project selection, treatment selection, and performance monitoring and modeling practices.
Bayesian Model for Predicting the Performance of Pavements Treated with Thin Hot-Mix Asphalt Overlays
Authors: Liu Litao , Gharaibeh Nasir G.
Published: September 2014

Recent studies suggest that thin hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay is one of the most frequently used preservation techniques for HMA pavements. This preservation treatment is often applied to address functional problems, such as roughness, raveling and weathering, and friction loss. A novel probabilistic model is provided for predicting the international roughness index (IRI) values of asphalt pavements treated with thin HMA overlay. The model consists of two tightly coupled components. The first component is a set of artificial neural networks responsible for predicting the IRI value of the existing pavement if no treatment is applied, and the second one is a set of Bayesian regression models responsible for predicting the reduction in IRI value owing to applying the thin HMA overlay. The model considers key design and material characteristics of both the existing pavement and the thin overlay, and site factors. The developed Bayesian models have less than 5% outliers (i.e., data points falling within either 2.5% tail area of model predictions), indicating high goodness of fit for these models. It is hoped that this IRI prediction model will enable pavement engineers to estimate the performance, service life, and life-cycle costs of thin HMA overlays.
Measured Anchor Rod Tightening of High-Mast Light Poles in Alaska
Authors: Hoisington David , Hoffman Jeff , Hamel Scott
Published: September 2014

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities owns and maintains 124 high-mast lighting poles (HMLPs) in south-central Alaska. Some of the anchor nuts that secured these poles, 100 ft and taller, to their foundations had been found to loosen without apparent cause. In this study, the axial force was measured in the 1½-in. (38-mm) diameter anchor rods of one HMLP during the tightening of new rods. These rods had a relatively low grip-length to diameter ratio of approximately 3. The force was measured by strain gauges mounted in a small hole along the anchor rod axis and a computer-controlled data acquisition system. The FHWA tightening procedure was followed. This included a snug-tight condition, followed by 60° of turn-of-the-nut method. The snug-tight condition was created by the full force of a workman pulling on a 24-in. (610-mm) wrench. A specified verification torque was applied to the nuts after 1 week to ensure adequate tension in the anchor rods. It was found that after the tightening procedure, the axial force in several of the 12 rods exceeded their yield capacity. In each rod that yielded, the axial force caused by the snug-tight condition was higher than the anticipated values. It was concluded that several variables contributed to the yielding. These included snug-tight axial loads that were higher than expected, effects of low grip-length to diameter ratios, and an unnecessarily large verification torque.
Spreadsheet Method of Forecasting the Cost of Sustaining a Set of Bridge Connections
Authors: Case Robert B.
Published: September 2014

A method is presented to estimate the cost of sustaining a set of bridge connections. The term “sustaining a bridge connection” means the rehabilitation, replacement, or both of an existing bridge to sustain the ability of users (drivers, pedestrians, etc.) to cross the given obstacle (river, creek, other roadway, etc.). The method was developed to estimate the cost of sustaining the bridge connections in Hampton Roads (southeastern Virginia) through the year 2040. After existing software was found to be a mismatch for the task, a simple, robust, spreadsheet method was developed to estimate costs—according to bridge age—on the basis of actual recent costs by bridge age. This method can be calibrated with local bridge cost and inventory data to apply it to estimating the cost of sustaining any set of bridge connections.
Selection of Appropriate Material, Construction Technique, and Structural System of Bridges by Use of Multicriteria Decision-Making Method
Authors: Balali Vahid , Mottaghi Amir , Shoghli Omidreza , Golabchi Mahmoud
Published: September 2014

Decision makers in the transportation industry search for a systematic approach to select an appropriate structural system, construction method, and material for bridges. Simple mathematical methodologies are needed to consider different stakeholders’ perspectives. With criteria that occur simultaneously in selecting appropriate material, construction technique, and structural system of bridges, invalid and unexpected results may occur from such complexity. The decision-making process is usually done subjectively by designers and requires much data and extensive experience in bridge design. To address these challenges and assume all substantial criteria within the framework, the PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation) multi-criteria decision-making method is used. It is not sensitive to the number and definition of the criteria. The PROMETHEE method is based on the pairwise comparison between alternatives for constructing an outranking relationship to show the degree of dominance of one alternative over another. A case study of the Kashkhan Bridge in Iran is presented to demonstrate implementation of the PROMETHEE method and show how such a decision-making methodology can assist experts in making informed decisions based on a set of comprehensive criteria in the conceptual design stage. Some novel and effective criteria in this study are combined and synthesized to select the appropriate superstructure. Criteria weights and preference and indifference thresholds are collected through questionnaires filled out by bridge experts. Results of the case study show that the most appropriate system for the Kashkhan Bridge is the box girder system with the balanced cantilever method and posttensioned concrete material.
Defect-Based Condition Assessment of Concrete Bridges
Authors: Moufti Sami A. , Zayed Tarek , Dabous Saleh Abu
Published: September 2014

Reliable bridge condition assessment is considered the first step, and perhaps one of the most essential elements, of an efficient bridge management system. This consideration stems from the fact that available assessment inputs are constantly interpreted for maintenance decisions and budget allocation to the deserving, intervention-needy bridges within a region's inventory. Thus, carrying out effective bridge assessment is vital to ensure the safety and sustainability of the bridge infrastructure. In practice, the evaluation of concrete bridges is mostly conducted on the basis of visual inspection, associated with considerable uncertainty and subjectivity inherent in human judgments. Additionally, conclusions are often drawn in the absence of a thorough review of critical factors. Therefore, to circumvent the existing limitations, this study proposes a fuzzy hierarchical evidential reasoning approach for detailed condition assessment of concrete bridges under uncertainty. The essence of this framework addresses the treatment and aggregation of detected bridge defect measurements systematically to establish an enhanced platform for reliable bridge assessment. The proposed approach is facilitated by a hierarchy structure that models the several levels of a concrete bridge under assessment: bridge components, structural elements, and, most particularly, the measured defects. A belief structure is employed to grasp probabilistic uncertainty (ignorance) in the assessment, while fuzzy uncertainty (subjectivity) is processed through a set of collectively exhaustive fuzzy linguistic variables. Eventually, the Dempster–Shafer theory is used within the suggested framework for accumulating supporting pieces of evidence toward a comprehensive and educated overall condition assessment.
A New Flavonoid Glycoside from the leaves of Eucalyptus Citriodora
Authors: Zou Xiaopeng , Huang Danying , Zhou Cuiliu , Li Lianmei , Chen Kecheng , Guo Ziying , Lin Sanqing , Yin Wenqing , Zhou Zhongliu
Published: September 2014

Citrioside A, a new flavonoid glycoside, has been isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of Eucalyptus citriodora, along with five flavonoid glycosides, reported for the first time from Eucalyptus citriodora. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and from literature values.
Neofipiperzine D, A New Prenylated Indole Alkaloid metabolite of the Fungus Neosartorya Fischeri
Authors: Chen Bing-Yu , Wang Zhen , Ying You-Min , Jiang Lu-Xi , Zhan Zha-Jun , Wang Jun-Lu , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2014

A new prenylated indole alkaloid, neofipiperzine D, was isolated from the cultures of Neosartorya fischeri, together with three known metabolites fumitremorgin C, ergosterol, and ergosterol peroxide. The structure of the new compound was established by detailed analysis of its spectroscopic data, especially 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data. In an in vitro assay, neofipiperzine D did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7, H1299, HUVEC, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines at a concentration of 20 μM.
One-Pot Site-Selective Sonogashira Cross-Coupling–Heteroannulation of the 2-Aryl-6,8-Dibromoquinolin-4(1H)-Ones: Synthesis of Novel 6-H-Pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]Quinolin-6-Ones
Authors: Mphahlele Malose J. , Oyeyiola Felix A.
Published: September 2014

The 2-aryl-6,8-dibromoquinolin-4(1 H)-ones were subjected to site-selective Sonogashira cross-coupling with terminal acetylenes as models for C sp2-C sp bond formation in the presence of Pd/C–PPh3 and CuI as catalysts and K2CO3 as a base in dioxane to afford the 2-substituted 4-aryl-8-bromo-4 H-pyrrolo[3,2,1- ij]quinolin-6-ones. These were, in turn, subjected to Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling with 4-fluorophenylboronic acid as coupling partner to afford the 2-substituted 4,8-diaryl-4 H-pyrrolo[3,2,1- ij]quinolin-6-ones.
The Synthesis of 3,4-Disubstituted Dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-One Under Metal-Free Conditions in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Sun Bin , Yang Jun , Wang Jitao , Mao Pu , Yang Liangru , Mai Wenpeng
Published: September 2014

A novel route toward 3,4-disubstituted dihydroquinolin-2(1 H)-ones via radical process has been developed in aqueous solution without metals. This method offers a new and simple route for the synthesis of skeleton of dihydroquinolin-2(1 H)-one in one step.
Waldbau und die Faustmann-Theorie
Authors: Coordes Renke
Published: September 2014

Silviculture and the Faustmann theory

The Faustmann model is the heart of a theory seeking to explain the management and evolution of forests as a social process. A weak spot of the theory, however, is its inability to model diverse silvicultural treatments of forest stands. Basically, the Faustmann model represents the management of trees in plantations alternating between clear-cuts and uniform regeneration. Probably the main limitation of the Faustmann model is its lack to address thinnings, which constitute a considerable part of the timber harvested, in particular in Central Europe. New developments within forestry economic theory, however, help interpreting the Faustmann model as a special case of a homogeneous and independent or else heterogeneous and interdependent forest management. With variable basic units and the introduction of interdependencies, any forest management regime can basically be analysed. Accordingly, thinnings in homogeneous stands might be understood as special cases of the management of mixed stands, which, in turn, represent a special case of uneven-aged management of stands and entire forests. First, the introduction of variable basic units and interdependencies is outlined, taking the example of thinnings. On this basis, the necessary adjustments and conclusions for mixed and uneven-aged forest stands are discussed, which finally allow for a general silvicultural model on an economic basis.
Introduction: Therapeutic Culture
Authors: Apperley Alan , Jacobs Stephen , Jones Mark
Published: September 2014

No abstract available.
An Historian’s Critique of Sustainability
Authors: Smythe Kathleen R.
Published: September 2014

The most common word-based image of sustainability is a balanced three-way relationship between the environment, society and the economy, sometimes portrayed as a triangle, sometimes as a Venn diagram. The idea is that if you consider all three equally you will have a sustainable outcome. After twenty years of use, however, it has yet to yield a radically different approach to policy, planning or business. The combination of abundant and cheap energy and an emphasis on production has resulted in the separation of economics from both social and biophysical worlds. The long-established practice of isolating the three elements makes re-associating them difficult. Even if it were possible, a more holistic approach to human welfare, both in relation to the natural and social worlds, is likely to bring societies closer to sustainability. The suggestion is that a framework that starts from the premise of providing meaningful work and meaningful lives will support the flourishing of other species as well as the human species.
Contesting ‘Environment’ Through the Lens of Sustainability: Examining Implications for Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Authors: Kopnina Helen
Published: September 2014

This article reflects on implications of presenting nature as a social construction, and of commodification of nature. The social construction of nature tends to limit significance of nature to human perception of it. Commodification presents nature in strict instrumental terms as ‘natural resources’, ‘natural capital’ or ‘ecosystem services’. Both construction and commodification exhibit anthropocentric bias in denying intrinsic value of non-human species. This article will highlight the importance of a deep ecology perspective, by elaborating upon the ethical context in which construction and commodification of nature occur. Finally, this article will discuss the implications of this ethical context in relation to environmental education (EE) and education for sustainable development (ESD).
Work at the Periphery: Issues of Tourism Sustainability in Jamaica
Authors: Johnson Lauren C.
Published: September 2014

The tourism industry in Jamaica, as elsewhere in the Caribbean, has provided government interests and tourism stakeholders with increasingly profitable economic benefits. The development and prosperity of the ‘all-inclusive’ vacation model has become a significant aspect of these benefits. Vacationers from North America and Europe are particularly attracted to tourism destinations providing resort accommodations that cater to foreign visitors, offering ‘safe spaces’ for the enjoyment of sun, sand, and sea that so many leisure-seekers desire. Safety and security are progressively becoming more relevant within the contexts of poverty, crime, and tourist harassment that are now commonplace in many of these island destinations. This model of tourism development, however, represents a problematic relationship between these types of hotels and the environmental, political, and economic interests of the communities in which they are located. The lack of linkage between tourist entities and other sectors, such as agriculture and transportation, leaves members of local communities out of the immense profits that are generated. Based on a review of relevant literature and ethnographic research conducted in one of Jamaica’s most popular resort towns, this paper considers the ways in which the sociocultural landscape of a specific place is affected by and responds to the demands of an overtly demanding industry. Utilizing an anthropological approach, I explore local responses to tourism shifts, and analyse recent trends in the tourism industry as they relate to the concept of sustainability.
High-Performance Integrated Virtual Environment (HIVE) Tools and Applications for Big Data Analysis
Authors: Simonyan Vahan , Mazumder Raja
Published: September 2014

The High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment (HIVE) is a high-throughput cloud-based infrastructure developed for the storage and analysis of genomic and associated biological data. HIVE consists of a web-accessible interface for authorized users to deposit, retrieve, share, annotate, compute and visualize Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) data in a scalable and highly efficient fashion. The platform contains a distributed storage library and a distributed computational powerhouse linked seamlessly. Resources available through the interface include algorithms, tools and applications developed exclusively for the HIVE platform, as well as commonly used external tools adapted to operate within the parallel architecture of the system. HIVE is composed of a flexible infrastructure, which allows for simple implementation of new algorithms and tools. Currently, available HIVE tools include sequence alignment and nucleotide variation profiling tools, metagenomic analyzers, phylogenetic tree-building tools using NGS data, clone discovery algorithms, and recombination analysis algorithms. In addition to tools, HIVE also provides knowledgebases that can be used in conjunction with the tools for NGS sequence and metadata analysis.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Surgical Site Infections in Women Undergoing Elective Caesarean Sections: A Pilot RCT
Authors: Chaboyer Wendy , Anderson Vinah , Webster Joan , Sneddon Anne , Thalib Lukman , Gillespie Brigid
Published: September 2014

Obese women undergoing caesarean section (CS) are at increased risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is growing in use as a prophylactic approach to prevent wound complications such as SSI, yet there is little evidence of its benefits. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed the effect of NPWT on SSI and other wound complications in obese women undergoing elective caesarean sections (CS) and also the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial. Ninety-two obese women undergoing elective CS were randomized in theatre via a central web based system using a parallel 1:1 process to two groups i.e., 46 women received the intervention (NPWT PICO™ dressing) and 46 women received standard care (Comfeel Plus® dressing). All women received the intended dressing following wound closure. The relative risk of SSI in the intervention group was 0.81 (95% CI 0.38–1.68); for the number of complications excluding SSI it was 0.98 (95% CI 0.34–2.79). A sample size of 784 (392 per group) would be required to find a statistically significant difference in SSI between the two groups with 90% power. These results demonstrate that a larger definitive trial is feasible and that careful planning and site selection is critical to the success of the overall study.
Myths and Realities Relating to Development of the Arterial Valves
Authors: Anderson Robert , Mohun Timothy , Spicer Diane , Bamforth Simon , Brown Nigel , Chaudhry Bill , Henderson Deborah
Published: September 2014

There is considerable confusion as to how best describe the components of the arterial valves. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that similar uncertainties apply to concepts for their development. In this review, we describe the anatomy of the arterial valves as seen in the postnatal heart. We suggest that their working components are best described as leaflets, housed in supporting arterial sinuses. The roots surrounding the leaflets, which are hinged in semilunar fashion, can then be defined as extending from a virtual ring at their base to the sinutubular junction. We also discuss the problems related to definition of the valvar “annulus”. Understanding the development of the arterial roots, which are formed in the central part of the embryonic outflow tract, is facilitated by considering the outflow tract itself as possessing three components, as opposed to the traditional “conus” and “truncus”. These three parts can be described as being distal, intermediate, and proximal. The distal part is separated to form the intrapericardial arterial trunks, while the proximal part becomes the ventricular outflow tracts. It is the intermediate component that houses the developing arterial valves, and their supporting valvar sinuses. The distal parts of the cushions that separate the outflow tract into aortic and pulmonary components, along with the intercalated cushions, excavate to form the leaflets. The walls of the sinuses are formed by growth of non-myocardial tissues from the heart-forming area. We then show how these features can be used to interpret the anatomy and development of congenitally malformed arterial valves.
Measuring Risk When Expected Losses Are Unbounded
Authors: Balbás Alejandro , Blanco Iván , Garrido José
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes a new method to introduce coherent risk measures for risks with infinite expectation, such as those characterized by some Pareto distributions. Extensions of the conditional value at risk, the weighted conditional value at risk and other examples are given. Actuarial applications are analyzed, such as extensions of the expected value premium principle when expected losses are unbounded.
Sun Simulators: Development of an Innovative Low Cost Film Filter
Authors: Presciutti Andrea , Asdrubali Francesco , Marrocchi Assunta , Broggi Alessandra , Pizzoli Giuliano , Damiani Alessio
Published: September 2014

Sun simulators are employed to test the performance of photovoltaic (PV) devices, according to the standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61215. Economical and technical analysis show that PV manufacturers need to integrate Sun simulators in the production process and, in particular, at the end of the production chain in order to measure the I-V curve and to evaluate the peak power of PV devices. Sun simulators need specific lamps to simulate the solar spectrum and a specific filter to simulate atmosphere absorbance. Such a filter can cost over €6 per square centimeter. The aim of this work is to develop an alternative filter. In particular, both chemical analysis and spectrophotometric measurements are carried out to evaluate if the Air Mass (AM) 1.5 G filter can be replaced by a cheaper material. Preliminary simulations show how specific compounds coated on a glass surface can absorb the Sun spectrum, such as the AM 1.5 filter, but with lower costs.
Le DSM et la politique
Authors: Landman Patrick
Published: September 2014

Le DSM depuis sa version III a promu une nouvelle langue, en rupture avec la clinique et athéorique. Cette nouvelle langue a entraîné des conséquences politiques : logique de la preuve, place de la médico-économie, évaluation, neuromania, conflits d’intérêts, négociations, rôle des experts et des usagers. Le mésusage des paradigmes du DSM sont de plus en plus évidents. La psychiatrie post-DSM est à construire avec une place pour la psychanalyse.
La actividad escultórica de Huguet Barxa. Nuevas perspectivas
Authors: Juan Vicens Antònia
Published: September 2014

Huguet Barxa (1427-1462) es uno de los escultores de la Baja Edad Media mallorquina más conocidos. No obstante, es una figura todavía un tanto enigmática y controvertida, por lo que respecta al conjunto de obra que se le atribuye. El presente artículo pretende ofrecer una nueva visión sobre la actividad escultórica de este autor. Se cuestionarán algunas hipótesis que tradicionalmente se habían aceptado como válidas, como la atribución del retablo de la Passio Imaginis, y se adscribirá a su catálogo un conjunto de obras que hasta hoy habían permanecido en el anonimato.
Los yunteros de Extremadura (Marqués de Villa-Alcázar, 1936): un eslabón recuperado del documental cinematográfico de la Segunda República
Authors: Poyato Sánchez Pedro
Published: September 2014

La reciente recuperación de Los yunteros de Extremadura, documental producido por el Instituto de Reforma Agraria en 1936, ha supuesto un paso más en la reconstrucción de la filmografía de la Segunda República, periodo crucial en la historia del documental del propaganda. Requerida por la Delegación de Propaganda en París, Los yunteros de Extremadura es, sin embargo, una película especialmente crítica con la República. El presente trabajo se ocupa de esta cuestión como también de la iconografía del filme y del interesante diálogo que este mantiene con Las Hurdes/ Tierra sin pan, de Luis Buñuel (1933/1936).
El Guernica en la calle durante la transición y los primeros años de la democracia
Authors: García García Isabel
Published: September 2014

Durante la dictadura y después de ésta, el Guernica devino símbolo no sólo de una búsqueda desesperada por la libertad perdida sino también de una búsqueda de identidad por parte del pueblo vasco. La Asociación de Artistas Plásticos de Madrid y el artista vasco Agustín Ibarrola desempeñaron un importante papel en este sentido. Este artículo reúne documentación inédita acerca de los artistas y sus murales, y contribuirá a añadir un nuevo significado sociopolítico del Guernica en los últimos años de la década de los setenta.
A Novel Method Using Blinatumomab for Efficient, Clinical-Grade Expansion of Polyclonal T Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy
Authors: Golay Josée , D’Amico Anna , Borleri Gianmaria , Bonzi Michela , Valgardsdottir Rut , Alzani Rachele , Cribioli Sabrina , Albanese Clara , Pesenti Enrico , Finazzi Maria Chiara , Quaresmini Giulia , Nagorsen Dirk , Introna Martino , Rambaldi Alessandro
Published: September 2014

Current treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients often results in life-threatening immunosuppression. Furthermore, CLL is still an incurable disease due to the persistence of residual leukemic cells. These patients may therefore benefit from immunotherapy approaches aimed at immunoreconstitution and/or the elimination of residual disease following chemotherapy. For these purposes, we designed a simple GMP-compliant protocol for ex vivo expansion of normal T cells from CLL patients’ peripheral blood for adoptive therapy, using bispecific Ab blinatumomab (CD3 × CD19), acting both as T cell stimulator and CLL depletion agent, and human rIL-2. Starting from only 10 ml CLL peripheral blood, a mean 515 × 106 CD3+ T cells were expanded in 3 wk. The resulting blinatumomab-expanded T cells (BET) were polyclonal CD4+ and CD8+ and mostly effector and central memory cells. The Th1 subset was slightly prevalent over Th2, whereas Th17 and T regulatory cells were <1%. CMV-specific clones were detected in equivalent proportion before and after expansion. Interestingly, BET cells had normalized expression of the synapse inhibitors CD272 and CD279 compared with starting T cells and were cytotoxic against CD19+ targets in presence of blinatumomab in vitro. In support of their functional capacity, we observed that BET, in combination with blinatumomab, had significant therapeutic activity in a systemic human diffuse large B lymphoma model in NOD-SCID mice. We propose BET as a therapeutic tool for immunoreconstitution of heavily immunosuppressed CLL patients and, in combination with bispecific Ab, as antitumor immunotherapy.
Innate Inflammation Induced by the 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase-1–KRAS–NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Aguilera-Aguirre Leopoldo , Bacsi Attila , Radak Zsolt , Hazra Tapas K. , Mitra Sankar , Sur Sanjiv , Brasier Allan R. , Ba Xueqing , Boldogh Istvan
Published: September 2014

8-Oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) is the primary enzyme for repairing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) via the DNA base excision repair pathway (OGG1-BER). Accumulation of 8-oxoG in the genomic DNA leads to genetic instability and carcinogenesis and is thought to contribute to the worsening of various inflammatory and disease processes. However, the disease mechanism is unknown. In this study, we proposed that the mechanistic link between OGG1-BER and proinflammatory gene expression is OGG1’s guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity, acquired after interaction with the 8-oxoG base and consequent activation of the small GTPase RAS. To test this hypothesis, we used BALB/c mice expressing or deficient in OGG1 in their airway epithelium and various molecular biological approaches, including active RAS pulldown, reporter and Comet assays, small interfering RNA–mediated depletion of gene expression, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunoblotting. We report that the OGG1-intiated repair of oxidatively damaged DNA is a prerequisite for GDP→GTP exchange, KRAS-GTP–driven signaling via MAP kinases and PI3 kinases and mitogen-stress–related kinase-1 for NF-κB activation, proinflammatory chemokine/cytokine expression, and inflammatory cell recruitment to the airways. Mice deficient in OGG1-BER showed significantly decreased immune responses, whereas a lack of other Nei-like DNA glycosylases (i.e., NEIL1 and NEIL2) had no significant effect. These data unveil a previously unidentified role of OGG1-driven DNA BER in the generation of endogenous signals for inflammation in the innate signaling pathway.
HbA2 Measurements in β-Thalassemia and in Other Conditions
Authors: Ivaldi Giovanni , Barberio Giuseppina , Harteveld Cornelis L. , Giordano Piero
Published: September 2014

Quite a few papers have been written on the significance of elevated hemoglobin (Hb) A2 as a parameter for the diagnosis of β-thalassemia trait, on the cutoff values to be used in diagnostics and on the significance and effects of factors reducing or elevating the expression of HbA2 and last but not least on the need for reliable measurement methods and precise calibrations with accurate standards. However, little has been published on the causes that elevate or reduce the HbA2 levels in β- and a-thalassemia and in other conditions. For a better understanding of the value of a precise measurement of this parameter we summarize and elucidate in this review the direct and indirect mechanisms that cause the variations in HbA2 expression and that influence the value of this parameter in particular conditions. We conclude by explaining the advantages and disadvantages of trusting on a precise measurement in the complete diagnostic contest.
Reactivation of Fetal Hemoglobin in Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Eridani Sandro , Avemaria Francesca , Mosca Andrea
Published: September 2014

Considerable attention has been recently devoted to mechanisms involved in the perinatal hemoglobin switch, as it was long ago established that the survival of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production in significant amount can reduce the severity of the clinical course in severe disorders like β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD). For instance, when β-thalassemia is associated with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) the disease takes a mild course, labeled as thalassemia intermedia. The same clinical amelioration occurs for the association between HPFH and SCD. As for the mechanism of this effect, some information has been obtained from the study of natural mutations at the human β-globin locus in patients with increased HbF, like the Corfu thalassemia mutations. Important evidence came from the discovery that drugs capable of improving the clinical picture of SCD, like decitabine ad hydroxycarbamide, are acting through the reactivation, to some extent, of HbF synthesis. The study of the mechanism of action of these compounds was followed by the identification of some genetic determinants, which promote this event. In particular, among a few genetic factors involved in this process, the most relevant appears the BCL11A gene, which is now credited to be able to silence γ-globin genes in the perinatal period by interaction with several erythroid-specific transcription factors and is actually considered as a barrier to HbF reactivation by known HbF inducing agents. Epigenetics is also a player in the process, mainly through DNA demethylation. This is certified by the recent demonstration that hypomethylating agents such as 5-azacytidine and decitabine, the first compounds used for HbF induction by pharmacology, act as irreversible inhibitors of demethyltransferase enzymes. Great interest has also been raised by the finding that several micro-RNAs, which act as negative regulators of gene expression, have been implicated in the progression of globin gene expression and, particularly, in the reactivation of γ-globin gene expression associated with increased HbF synthesis. Probably, this reactivation is achieved by post-transcriptional inhibition of BCL11A expression. Finally, attention is presently focused on a recently discovered BCL11A enhancer, essential for erythroid expression of BCL11A, which might become a therapeutic target for genome engineering in the β-hemoglobinopathies as its disruption affects only the erythropoietic lineage, without hurting other cell or tissue compartments.
International Federation of Head Neck Oncology Society 5th World Congress/American Head Neck Society 2014 update
Authors: Sharma Shilpi , Chaukar Devendra A.
Published: September 2014

Head neck cancer is an important health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Early detection and adequate treatment improve prognosis significantly. Thus creating awareness among clinicians is an important step toward control of head neck cancer and reducing its overall burden. We here provide an update on the International Federation of Head Neck Oncology Society/American Head Neck Society 2014 held between July 26, 2014 and July 30, 2014 in New York.