bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic Effect of [Ru(III) + Ir(III)] in N-Bromosuccinimide Reaction with Certain Aliphatic Ketones: A Kinetic Study
Authors: Giridhar Reddy P. , Ramesh K. , Shylaja S. , Rajanna K. C. , Kandlikar S.
Published: December 2012

Dramatic rate enhancements have been observed in the oxidation of acetone (MMK), ethyl methyl ketone (EMK), and isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of a mixture of metal ions [Ru(III) + Ir(III)]. The rate of oxidation in the the [Ru(III) + Ir(III)] system is much faster than either in the Ru(III) or in Ir(III) catalyzed system. The order in [NBS] was found to be zero both in catalyzed as well as uncatalyzed reactions. However, the order in [ketone] changed from unity to a fractional one in metal ion catalyzed systems. On the basis of kinetic features, the most plausible mechanism involving the oxidation of [Ir(III)-ketone] by Ru(III) to give [Ir(V)-ketone] and Ru(I) in the rate limiting step is proposed. Ru(I) thus formed is oxidized by NBS to Ru(III) in a fast step is discussed and individual rate parameters were evaluated.
Minimax Theorems for Set‐Valued Mappings under Cone‐Convexities
Authors: Lin Yen-Cherng , Ansari Qamrul Hasan , Lai Hang-Chin
Published: December 2012

The aim of this paper is to study the minimax theorems for set‐valued
mappings with or without linear structure. We define several kinds of cone‐convexities
for set‐valued mappings, give some examples of such set‐valued mappings,
and study the relationships among these cone‐convexities. By using our minimax
theorems, we derive some existence results for saddle points of set‐valued mappings.
Some examples to illustrate our results are also given.
An Improved Model for Headway‐Based Bus Service Unreliability Prevention with Vehicle Load Capacity Constraint at Bus Stops
Authors: Chen Weiya , Yang Chunhua , Feng Fenling , Chen Zhiya
Published: December 2012

This paper presents an improved model for improving headway‐based bus route service reliability at bus stops using real‐time preventive operation control, taking into account dynamic interaction among random passenger demand, stochastic driving conditions of route segments, and vehicle load capacity constraint. In this model, the real‐time information of passenger demand and vehicle operation is involved to predict the imminent unacceptable headway deviation, in the case of which some in‐time preventive control strategies are deployed according to the given control rules. As a case study, a single fixed bus route with high‐frequency services was simulated and different scenarios of real‐time preventive operation control were performed. Headway adherence and average passenger wait time were used to measure bus service reliability. The results show that the improved model is closer to the real bus route service, and using real‐time information to predict potential service unreliability and trigger in‐time preventive control can reduce bus bunching and avoid big gap.
Novel Vascular Malformation in an Affected Newborn with Deletion Del(4)(q31.3)
Authors: de León Ojeda Norma Elena , Soriano-Torres Michel , Cabrera Mercedes J. , Benítez Ramos Dunia Bárbara
Published: December 2012

We report on a newborn male patient with a terminal deletion in the long arm of the chromosome 4 with a congenital heart defect unreported before in association with this syndrome. The patient had multiple congenital anomalies including a pointed duplicated fingernail, low set posteriorly rotated ears, large anterior fontanel, micrognathia, glabellar capillary vascular malformation, and Interrupted Aortic Arch type C. The patient died due to multiple congenital malformations; a peripheral chromosome analysis showed 46, XY, del(4)(q31.3)de novo. The only reported case with the same deletion was a male newborn that exhibited the pattern of minor anomalies of deletion 4q31 syndrome. The parents were cytogenetically normal. We compare clinical signs to other cases with a deletion in long arm of chromosome 4.
A Trend‐Switching Financial Time Series Model with Level‐Duration Dependence
Authors: Wang Qingsheng , Ling Aifan , Huang Tao , Jiang Yong , Chen Min
Published: December 2012

The financial time series model that can capture the nonlinearity and asymmetry of stochastic process has been paid close attention for a long time. However, it is still open to completely
overcome the difficult problem that motivates our researches in this paper. An asymmetric and nonlinear model with the change of local trend depending on local high‐low turning point process is first proposed in this paper. As the point process can be decomposed into the two different processes, a high‐low level process and an up‐down duration process, we then establish the so‐called trend‐switching model which depends on both level and duration (Trend‐LD). The proposed model can predict efficiently the direction and magnitude of the local trend of a time series by incorporating the local high‐low turning point information. The numerical results on six indices in world stock markets show that the proposed Trend‐LD model is suitable for fitting the market data and able to outperform the traditional random walk model.
Numerical Oscillations Analysis for Nonlinear Delay Differential Equations in Physiological Control Systems
Authors: Wang Qi , Wen Jiechang
Published: December 2012

This paper deals with the oscillations of numerical solutions for the nonlinear delay differential equations in physiological control systems. The exponential θ‐method is applied to p′(t) =  β0ωμp(t − τ)/(ωμ + pμ(t − τ)) − γp(t) and it is shown that the exponential θ‐method has the same order of convergence as that of the classical θ‐method. Several conditions under which the numerical solutions oscillate are derived. Moreover, it is proven that every nonoscillatory numerical solution tends to positive equilibrium of the continuous system. Finally, the main results are illustrated with numerical examples.
The Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor in Brain Functions: An Update
Authors: Guimond Marie-Odile , Gallo-Payet Nicole
Published: December 2012

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the main active product of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), mediating its action via two major receptors, namely, the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor and the type 2 (AT2) receptor. Recent results also implicate several other members of the renin-angiotensin system in various aspects of brain functions. The first aim of this paper is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the properties and signaling of the AT2receptor, its expression in the brain, and its well-established effects. Secondly, we will highlight the potential role of the AT2receptor in cognitive function, neurological disorders and in the regulation of appetite and the possible link with development of metabolic disorders. The potential utility of novel nonpeptide selective AT2receptor ligands in clarifying potential roles of this receptor in physiology will also be discussed. If confirmed, these new pharmacological tools should help to improve impaired cognitive performance, not only through its action on brain microcirculation and inflammation, but also through more specific effects on neurons. However, the overall physiological relevance of the AT2receptor in the brain must also consider the Ang IV/AT4receptor.
Remote Subcutaneous Needling to Suppress the Irritability of Myofascial Trigger Spots: An Experimental Study in Rabbits
Authors: Fu Zhonghua , Hsieh Yueh-Ling , Hong Chang-Zern , Kao Mu-Jung , Lin Jaung-Geng , Chou Li-Wei
Published: December 2012

Objective. To obtain electrophysiological effects of Fu’s subcutaneous needling (FSN) on needling distance by assessment of endplate noise (EPN) recorded from the myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs) in rabbit skeletal muscle.Method. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits weighing 2.5–3.0 kg were randomly divided into two groups as follows: proximal needling (PN) group and distal needling (DN) group. The needling procedure followed the instructions described by the inventor of FSN, including needling insertion and swaying movement. The amplitudes of EPN on the MTrS region of BF muscle were recorded as an index of MTrS irritability. Random sampling of EPN tracings were taken for further analyses before, during, and after FSN treatment.Results. In PN and DN groups, the trends of EPN amplitude alterations were similar at conditions before, during, and after FSN treatment. The degree of reduction in the EPN amplitude in PN group was significantly higher than that in DN group. There were no significant changes in EPN amplitudes in the MTrS of contralateral BF without FSN intervention either in DN or PN group.Conclusion. The irritability of proximal MTrSs could be modulated after ipsilateral FSNs. The placement of FSN may affect the effectiveness of suppression of irritability of MTrSs.
On the Homology Theory of Operator Algebras
Authors: Noreldeen Alaa Hassan
Published: December 2012

We investigate the cyclic homology and free resolution effect of a commutative unital Banach algebra. Using the free resolution operator, we define the relative cyclic homology of commutative Banach algebras. Lemmas and theorems of this investigation are studied and proved. Finally, the relation between cyclic homology and relative cyclic homology of Banach algebra is deduced.
Atypical Clinical Presentation of Isolated Extraocular Muscle Sarcoid
Authors: So Wing Lung Alvin , Hardy Thomas G. , McKelvie Penelope
Published: December 2012

A case of painless isolated extraocular muscle sarcoid and a literature review are presented. The atypical features in our case include a lack of overt inflammatory symptoms and signs, such as pain, ptosis, and diplopia. The presentation of minimal symptoms without improvement warrant a biopsy to establish the diagnosis and to administer appropriate treatment in order to prevent potential long-term complications from sarcoidosis.
Modified High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Abdominally Obese and Normal-Weight Rats Developed High Plasma Free Fatty Acid and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Cao Li , Liu Xuehui , Cao Hongyi , Lv Qingguo , Tong Nanwei
Published: December 2012

Introduction. Metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) individuals have metabolic features of overt obesity, and abdominal adiposity is common in them. Animal models of MONW individuals are lacking. We aimed to develop an abdominally obese and normal-weight (AONW) rat model.Methods and Results. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed chow or a modified high-sucrose (HS) diet for 20 weeks. The HS diet induced increased visceral adipose tissue without increased body weight, reduced glucose disposal rates, and increased hepatic glucose output during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, increased plasma glucose during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and increased plasma free fatty acids. Hepatic lipidosis and hepatocyte mitochondria swelling were found in HS rats through light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; similar impairments were not observed in muscle. RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1αincreased in muscle of HS rats, while expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A, glucose transporter type 4, and insulin receptor substrate-1 did not change significantly.Conclusion. AONW rats developed metabolic disorders seen in MONW individuals. Steatosis, mitochondrial morphologic changes, and insulin resistance were more serious in liver than in muscle. Genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function changed in less impaired muscle.
New Herz Type Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin Spaces with Variable Exponents
Authors: Dong Baohua , Xu Jingshi
Published: December 2012

The authors establish the boundedness of vector-valued Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator in Herz spaces with variable exponents. Then new Herz type Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces with variable exponents are introduced. Finally, characterizations of these new spaces by maximal functions are given.
Cytokine and Chemokine Profile in Individuals with Different Degrees of Periportal Fibrosis due toSchistosoma mansoniInfection
Authors: De Souza Robson Da Paixão , Cardoso Luciana Santos , Lopes Giuseppe Tittoni Varela , Almeida Maria Cecília F. , Oliveira Ricardo Riccio , Alcântara Leda Maria , Carvalho Edgar M. , Araujo Maria Ilma
Published: December 2012

Periportal fibrosis in schistosomiasis has been associated to the host immune response to parasite antigens. We evaluated the immune response inS. mansoniinfected individuals with different degrees of periportal fibrosis. Cytokine and chemokines were measured in serum and in supernatants of PBMC cultures stimulated with the soluble adult worm (SWAP) or egg (SEA) antigens, using a sandwich ELISA. The levels of IL-5 in response to SEA were higher in individuals with moderate to severe fibrosis (310.9 pg/mL) compared to individuals without fibrosis (36.8 pg/mL;P=0.0418). There was also a higher production of TNF-αin cultures stimulated with SWAP in patients with insipient fibrosis (1446 pg/mL) compared to those without fibrosis (756.1 pg/mL;P=0.0319). The serum levels of IL-13 and MIP-1αwere higher in subjects without fibrosis than in those with moderate to severe fibrosis. However a positive association between serum levels of IL-13, TNF-α, MIP-1α, and RANTES andS. mansoniparasite burden was found. From these data we conclude that IL-5 and TNF-αmay participate in liver pathology in schistosomiasis. The positive association between IL-13, TNF-α, MIP-1α, and RANTES with parasite burden, however, might predict the development of liver pathology.
Radiation-Associated Fracture Nonunion of the Clavicle Treated with Locking Plate Fixation and Autologous Bone Grafting
Authors: Niikura Takahiro , Lee Sang Yang , Sakai Yoshitada , Nishida Kotaro , Kuroda Ryosuke , Kurosaka Masahiro
Published: December 2012

We describe a case of radiation-associated fracture nonunion of the clavicle, which was treated by locking plate fixation and autologous bone grafting. The patient was a 67-year old man who received 70 Gy radiation therapy to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Eight years later, he suffered a pathological fracture of the right clavicle. One year after the fracture, surgical treatment was performed due to persistent pain and weakness. Radiographs demonstrated atrophic nonunion. Bone scan demonstrated hot uptake at both ends of the fractured bone. MRI demonstrated a formation of pseudoarthrosis with fluid collection and suggested bone marrow edema at both ends of the fracture fragments. In surgery, fibrous pseudoarthrosis tissue was excised and both ends of the fracture fragments were refreshed to identify bleeding. Open reduction and internal fixation using a 7-hole locking plate and autologous bone grafting were performed. Successful bony union was obtained 1 year postoperatively, and no adverse events were observed up to 52 months after the operation. Our case suggests that a locking plate provides sufficient fixation and autologous bone grafting is effective in enhancing bone healing in a radiation-associated fracture nonunion of the clavicle in which it is difficult to achieve bony union.
Nanomechanical Characterization of Canine Femur Bone for Strain Rate Sensitivity in the Quasistatic Range under Dry versus Wet Conditions
Authors: Lee Kun-Lin , Baldassarri Marta , Gupta Nikhil , Pinisetty Dinesh , Janal Malvin N. , Tovar Nick , Coelho Paulo G.
Published: December 2012

As a strain rate-dependent material, bone has a different mechanical response to various loads. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of water and different loading/unloading rates on the nanomechanical properties of canine femur cortical bone. Six cross-sections were cut from the diaphysis of six dog femurs and were nanoindented in their cortical area. Both dry and wet conditions were taken into account for three quasistatic trapezoid profiles with a maximum force of 2000 μN (holding time = 30 s) at loading/unloading rates of 10, 100, and 1000 μN/s, respectively. For each specimen,254±9(mean ± SD) indentations were performed under different loading conditions. Significant differences were found for the elastic modulus and hardness between wet and dry conditions (P<0.001). No influence of the loading/unloading rates was observed between groups except for the elastic modulus measured at 1000 μN/s rate under dry conditions (P<0.001) and for the hardness measured at a rate of 10 μN/s under wet conditions (P<0.001). Therefore, for a quasistatic test with peak load of 2000 μN held for 30 s, it is recommended to nanoindent under wet conditions at a loading/unloading rate of 100–1000 μN/s, so the reduced creep effect allows for a more accurate computation of mechanical properties.
On the Security of Some Aggregate Signature Schemes
Authors: Kang Baoyuan
Published: December 2012

Aggregate signature scheme proposed by Boneh, Gentry, Lynn, and Shacham allows n signatures on n distinct messages from n distinct users to aggregate a single signature that convince any verifier that n users did indeed sign the n messages, respectively. The main benefit of such schemes is that they allow bandwidth and computational savings. In this paper, we question about whether the existing aggregate signature schemes satisfy the basic property that they can convince any verifier that every user indeed signed the message which should be signed by him. We show that Rückert et al.’s scheme, and Shim’s scheme do not satisfy the property. As a comparison, we investigate Boneh et al.’s scheme and show that under the assumption that each signer correctly signs one message, Boneh et al.’s scheme satisfies this property under two users′ setting. Furthermore, we propose the concept of inside attack on aggregate signatures and give an improved aggregate signature scheme based on Shim’s scheme. We also prove that the improved scheme is secure against inside attack.
Finite‐SNR Diversity‐Multiplexing Tradeoff for Cooperative Transmissions with Opportunistic Network Coding
Authors: Li Guoyou , Zhou Yajian , Zhou Jingxian , Zheng Kangfeng , Yang Yixian
Published: December 2012

We present a multiuser cooperative transmission scheme with opportunistic network coding (CTONC), which can improve system performance. In contrast to direct transmission and conventional cooperative transmission, the CTONC allows the relay node to decide whether or not to help do cooperation and employ network coding based on the limited feedback from the destinations. It will not help a transmission pair unless its direct transmission fails. This enables CTONC to make efficient use of the degrees of freedom of the channels. We derive and analyze the diversity‐multiplexing tradeoff for the CTONC over Rayleigh fading channels at finite signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs). Theoretical analysis and numerical results show that the proposed scheme achieves better performance gain in terms of average mutual information, outage probability, and finite‐SNR diversity‐multiplexing tradeoff.
GaN Schottky Diode with TiW Electrodes on Silicon Substrate Based on AlN/AlGaN Buffer Layer
Authors: Chang Sheng-Po
Published: December 2012

We report the fabrication of GaN Schottky photodiodes (PDs) on Si(111) substrates coated with an AlN/AlGaN buffer multilayer. It was found that their dark current was much smaller than that of identical devices prepared on sapphire substrates. With an incident wavelength of 359 nm, the maximum responsivity of the n−‐GaN Schottky photodetectors with TiW contact electrodes was 0.1544 A/W, corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 53.4%. For a given bandwidth of 1 kHz and bias of 5 V, the resultant noise equivalent power (NEP) of n−‐GaN Schottky photodetectors with TiW electrodes was 1.033 × 10−12 W, corresponding to a detectivity (D*) of 1.079 × 1012 cm‐Hz0.5 W−1.
Bizarre Parosteal Osteochondromatous Proliferation (Nora’s Lesion) of the Hand: A Report of Two Atypical Cases
Authors: Barrera-Ochoa Sergi , Lluch Alex , Gargallo-Margarit Albert , Pérez Manuel , Vélez Roberto
Published: December 2012

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP), also called Nora’s lesion, is an unusual, benign, bony lesion frequently found in the hand. Originally, two of the key radiological features used to describe such lesions were: (1) a lack of corticomedullar continuity and (2) an origin from the periosteal aspect of an intact cortex. The authors present 2 unique cases of histologically proven BPOP in which the integrity of the cortex was affected. In the first case there was medullary continuity, and in the second case there was saucerization of the underlying cortical bone. The authors support that simple X-ray evaluation is insufficient to diagnose BPOP in atypical cases. Careful axial CT scanning or MRI may prove helpful. Taking into account these new notions, histopathology gains greater importance as a diagnostic tool for this particular group of entities.
Devaney Chaos and Distributional Chaos in the Solution of Certain Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Barrachina Xavier , Conejero J. Alberto
Published: December 2012

The notion of distributional chaos has been recently added to the study of the linear
dynamics of operators and C0‐semigroups of operators. We will study this notion of chaos for some
examples of C0‐semigroups that are already known to be Devaney chaotic.
Appennino: A GIS Tool for Analyzing Wildlife Habitat Use
Authors: Ferretti Marco , Foi Marco , Paci Gisella , Tosi Walter , Bagliacca Marco
Published: December 2012

The aim of the study was to test Appennino, a tool used to evaluate the habitats of animals through compositional analysis. This free tool calculates an animal’s habitat use within the GIS platform for ArcGIS and saves and exports the results of the comparative land uses to other statistical software. Visual Basic for Application programming language was employed to prepare the ESRI ArcGIS 9.x utility. The tool was tested on a dataset of 546 pheasant positions obtained from a study carried out in Tuscany (Italy). The tool automatically gave the same results as the results obtained by calculating the surfaces in ESRI ArcGIS, exporting the data from the ArcGIS, then using a commercial spreadsheet and/or statistical software to calculate the animal’s habitat use with a considerable reduction in time.
Study on Nanostructures Induced by High‐Current Pulsed Electron Beam
Authors: Gao Bo , Hao Yi , Tu Ganfeng , Wu Wenyuan
Published: December 2012

Four techniques using high‐current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) were proposed to obtain surface nanostructure of metal and alloys. The first method involves the distribution of several fine Mg nanoparticles on the top surface of treated samples by evaporation of pure Mg with low boiling point. The second technique uses superfast heating, melting, and cooling induced by HCPEB irradiation to refine the primary phase or the second phase in alloys to nanosized uniform distributed phases in the matrix, such as the quasicrystal phase Mg30Zn60Y10 in the quasicrystal alloy Mg67Zn30Y3. The third technique involves the refinement of eutectic silicon phase in hypereutectic Al‐15Si alloys to fine particles with the size of several nanometers through solid solution and precipitation refinement. Finally, in the deformation zone induced by HCPEB irradiation, the grain size can be refined to several hundred nanometers, such as the grain size of the hypereutectic Al‐15Si alloys in the deformation zone, which can reach ~400 nm after HCPEB treatment for 25 pulses. Therefore, HCPEB technology is an efficient way to obtain surface nanostructure.
Global Stability of Almost Periodic Solution of a Class of Neutral‐Type BAM Neural Networks
Authors: Pan Tetie , Shi Bao , Yuan Jian
Published: December 2012

A class of BAM neural networks with variable coefficients and neutral delays are investigated. By employing fixed‐point theorem, the exponential dichotomy, and differential inequality techniques, we obtain some sufficient conditions to insure the existence and globally exponential stability of almost periodic solution. This is the first time to investigate the almost periodic solution of the BAM neutral neural network and the results of this paper are new, and they extend previously known results.
Forecasting Cohesionless Soil Highway Slope Displacement Using Modular Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yanyan , Wang Shuwei , Chen Ning , Long Xueqin , Tang Xiru
Published: December 2012

The highway slope failures are triggered by the rainfall, namely, to create the disaster. However, forecasting the failure of highway slop is difficult because of nonlinear time dependency and seasonal effects, which affect the slope displacements. Starting from the artificial neural networks (ANNs) since the mid‐1990s, an effective means is suggested to judge the stability of slope by forecasting the slope displacement in the future based on the monitoring data. In order to solve the problem of forecasting the highway slope displacement, a displacement time series forecasting model of cohesionless soil highway slope is given firstly, and then modular neural network (MNN) is used to train it. With the randomness of rainfall information, the membership function based on distance measurement is constructed; after that, a fuzzy discrimination method to sample data is adopted to realize online subnets selection to improve the self‐adapting ability of artificial neural networks (ANNs). The experiment on the sample data of Beijing city’s highway slope demonstrates that this model is superior to others in accuracy and adaptability.
A Network Model of Credit Risk Contagion
Authors: Chen Ting-Qiang , He Jian-Min
Published: December 2012

A network model of credit risk contagion is presented, in which the effect of behaviors of credit risk holders and the financial market regulators and the network structure are considered. By introducing the stochastic dominance theory, we discussed, respectively, the effect mechanisms of the degree of individual relationship, individual attitude to credit risk contagion, the individual ability to resist credit risk contagion, the monitoring strength of the financial market regulators, and the network structure on credit risk contagion. Then some derived and proofed propositions were verified through numerical simulations.
Temporal Activity Patterns of the Spider WaspPepsis montezumaSmith (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) in a Disturbed Lower Montane Rainforest (Manizales, Colombia)
Authors: Restrepo-Giraldo Carlos , Rodriguez Juanita , Pitts James P.
Published: December 2012

We studied the temporal activity pattern of the spider waspPepsis montezumaSmith (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) in a disturbed lower montane rainforest, which is located in the city of Manizales, Colombia, at an altitude of 2,150 m. Females of this species are diurnal with two peaks of activity: one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. During the morning, nectar foraging occurred atBaccharis latifolia. During the afternoon, females hunted for tarantulas of the genusPamphobeteus(Araneae: Theraphosidae), which were dragged backwards to the nest by the wasp. The nest was excavated before hunting. This is the first description of the behavior ofPepsis montezuma.
Filtering‐Based Fault Detection for Stochastic Markovian Jump System with Distributed Time‐Varying Delays and Mixed Modes
Authors: Ding Yucai , Zhu Hong , Zhong Shouming , Zhang Yuping , Xia Jianwei
Published: December 2012

The problem of fault detection for stochastic Markovian jump system is considered. The system under consideration involves discrete and distributed time‐varying delays, Itô‐type stochastic disturbance, and different system and delay modes. The aim of this paper is to design a fault detection filter such that the fault detection system is stochastically stable and satisfies a prescribed H∞ disturbance attenuation level. By using a novel Lyapunov functional, a mix‐mode‐dependent sufficient condition is formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed main results.
Prostaglandins as PPARγModulators in Adipogenesis
Authors: Fujimori Ko
Published: December 2012

Adipocytes and fat cells play critical roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Adipogenesis (adipocyte differentiation) is regulated via a complex process including coordinated changes in hormone sensitivity and gene expression. PPARγis a ligand-dependent transcription factor and important in adipogenesis, as it enhances the expression of numerous adipogenic and lipogenic genes in adipocytes. Prostaglandins (PGs), which are lipid mediators, are associated with the regulation of PPARγfunction in adipocytes. Prostacyclin promotes the differentiation of adipocyte-precursor cells to adipose cells via activation of the expression of C/EBPβandδ. These proteins are important transcription factors in the activation of the early phase of adipogenesis, and they activate the expression of PPARγ, which event precedes the maturation of adipocytes. PGE2and PGF2αstrongly suppress the early phase of adipocyte differentiation by enhancing their own production via receptor-mediated elevation of the expression of cycloxygenase-2, and they also suppress the function of PPARγ. In contrast, PGD2and its non-enzymatic metabolite,Δ12-PGJ2, activate the middle-late phase of adipocyte differentiation through both DP2 receptors and PPARγ. This paper focuses on potential roles of PGs as PPARγmodulators in adipogenesis and regulators of obesity.
General Helices of AW(k)‐Type in the Lie Group
Authors: Yoon Dae Won
Published: December 2012

We study curves of AW(k)‐type in the Lie group G with a bi‐invariant metric. Also, we characterize general helices in terms of AW(k)‐type curve in the Lie group G.
A Dynamic Multistage Hybrid Swarm Intelligence Optimization Algorithm for Function Optimization
Authors: Wu Daqing , Zheng Jianguo
Published: December 2012

A novel dynamic multistage hybrid swarm intelligence optimization algorithm is introduced, which is abbreviated as DM‐PSO‐ABC. The DM‐PSO‐ABC combined the exploration capabilities of the dynamic multiswarm particle swarm optimizer (PSO) and the stochastic exploitation of the cooperative artificial bee colony algorithm (CABC) for solving the function optimization. In the proposed hybrid algorithm, the whole process is divided into three stages. In the first stage, a dynamic multiswarm PSO is constructed to maintain the population diversity. In the second stage, the parallel, positive feedback of CABC was implemented in each small swarm. In the third stage, we make use of the particle swarm optimization global model, which has a faster convergence speed to enhance the global convergence in solving the whole problem. To verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed hybrid algorithm, various scale benchmark problems are tested to demonstrate the potential of the proposed multistage hybrid swarm intelligence optimization algorithm. The results show that DM‐PSO‐ABC is better in the search precision, and convergence property and has strong ability to escape from the local suboptima when compared with several other peer algorithms.
Cooling Intensification of a Continuously Moving Stretching Surface Using Different Types of Nanofluids
Authors: Akgül M. B. , Pakdemirli M.
Published: December 2012

The effect of different types of nanoparticles on the heat transfer from a continuously moving stretching surface in a concurrent, parallel free stream has been studied. The stretching surface is assumed to have power‐law velocity and temperature. The governing equations are converted into a dimensionless system of equations using nonsimilarity variables. Resulting equations are solved numerically for various values of flow parameters. The effect of physical quantities on the temperature profiles is discussed in detail.
Characterization of Micronutrient Deficiency in Australian Red Cedar (Toona ciliataM. Roem var.australis)
Authors: Moretti Bruno da Silva , Furtini Neto Antonio Eduardo , Peres Benatti Bruno , José de Pádua Eduane , Lopes Santos Lauana , Junio de Jesus Lacerda Julian , Fernanda Caio Deccetti Soami
Published: December 2012

The Australian Red Cedar presents a great exploitation potential in Brazil, but works about the nutrient requirements and deficiency characterization in that species are still scarce. The objectives of this work were evaluating the effects of the omission of micronutrients and characterizing the nutrient deficiency symptoms in Australian Red Cedar saplings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for a 90-day period. Australian Red Cedar cuttings were cultivated in pots with a nutrient solution under the missing element technique. The omission of the micronutrients B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn affect negatively the height, diameter, and dry matter yield of the Australian Red Cedar plants. The micronutrient which affected the relative growth of the plants the most was B. Australian Red Cedar plants deficient in micronutrients present several visual symptoms characteristic of the metabolism disorders. The perception of the deficiencies through the visual diagnosis can be useful in the nutrient management of the culture of the Australian Red Cedar.
Fatal Renal Failure in a Spinal Cord Injury Patient with Vesicoureteric Reflux Who Underwent Repeated Ureteric Reimplantations Unsuccessfully: Treatment Should Focus on Abolition of High Intravesical Pressures rather than Surgical Correction of Reflux
Authors: Vaidyanathan Subramanian , Soni Bakul , Abraham Abraham Kottarathil , Hughes Peter , Singh Gurpreet
Published: December 2012

A 29-year-old man developed paraplegia at T-10 level due to road traffic accident in 1972. Both kidneys were normal and showed good function on intravenous urography. Division of external urethral sphincter was performed in 1973. In 1974, cystogram showed retrograde filling of left renal tract, which was hydronephrotic. Left ureteric reimplantation was performed. Following surgery, cystogram revealed marked retrograde filling of left renal tract as before. Penile sheath drainage was continued. In 1981, intravenous urography revealed bilateral severe hydronephrosis. Left ureteric reimplantation was performed again in 1983. Blood pressure was 220/140 mm Hg; this patient was prescribed atenolol. Cystogram showed gross left vesicoureteral reflux. Intermittent catheterisation was commenced in 2001. In 2007, proteinuria was 860 mg/day. This patient developed progressive renal failure and expired in 2012. In a spinal cord injury patient with vesicoureteral reflux, the treatment should focus on abolition of high intravesical pressures rather than surgical correction of vesicoureteric reflux. Detrusor hyperactivity and high intravesical pressures are the basic causes for vesicoureteral reflux in spinal cord injury patients. Therefore, it is important to manage spinal cord injury patients with neuropathic bladder by intermittent catheterisations along with antimuscarinic drug therapy in order to abolish high detrusor pressures and prevent vesicoureteral reflux. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor-blocking agents should be prescribed even in the absence of hypertension when a spinal cord injury patient develops vesicoureteral reflux and proteinuria.
Existence and Uniqueness of Homoclinic Solution for a Class of Nonlinear Second‐Order Differential Equations
Authors: Chen Lijuan , Lu Shiping
Published: December 2012

The authors study the existence and uniqueness of a set with 2kT‐periodic solutions for a class of second‐order differential equations by using Mawhin′s continuation theorem and some analysis methods, and then a unique homoclinic orbit is obtained as a limit point of the above set of 2kT‐periodic solutions.
Towards Personalized Medicine Based on Platelet Function Testing for Stent Thrombosis Patients
Authors: Godschalk Thea Cornelia , Hackeng Christian Marcus , ten Berg Jurriën Maria
Published: December 2012

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a severe and feared complication of coronary stenting. Patients who have suffered from ST are usually treated according to the “one-size-fits-all” dosing regimen of aspirin and clopidogrel. Many ST patients show high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) despite this antiplatelet therapy (APT). It has been shown that HPR is a risk factor for major adverse cardiac events. Therefore, ST patients with HPR are at a high risk for recurrent atherothrombotic events. New insights into the variable response to clopidogrel and the advent of stronger P2Y12 inhibitors prasugrel and ticagrelor have changed the attention from a fixed APT treatment strategy towards “personalized APT strategies.” Strategies can be based on platelet function testing, which gives insight into the overall response of a patient to APT. At our outpatient ST clinic, we practice personalized APT based on platelet function testing to guide the cardiologist to a presumed optimal antiplatelet treatment of ST patients. Beside results of platelet function testing, comedication, clinical characteristics, and genetics have to be considered to decide on personalized APT. Ongoing studies have yet to reveal the optimal personalized APT strategy for cardiologists to prevent their patients from atherothrombotic and bleeding events.
Isolated Solitary Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis Presenting as the First Manifestation of Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Report of a Rare Case
Authors: Duransoy Yusuf Kurtuluş , Mete Mesut , Selçuki Mehmet , Işisağ Aydın
Published: December 2012

Background. Intramedullary spinal cord metastases presenting as the first manifestation of malignancies are extremely rare lesions.Case Description. The authors report a 74-year-old woman who presented with an isolated intramedullary spinal cord metastasis which presents as first manifestation of malignancy without central nervous system and/or other organ involvement. She went under surgery, and after histopathological evaluation, primary focus was determined in lung in positron emission tomography. She is still alive after 9 months since the first diagnosis of primary focus.Conclusion. In patients with solitary intramedullary lesion in the spinal magnetic resonance imaging, whole-body investigation might help for diagnosis of primary focus and approach to treatment.
Contribution to Semantic Analysis of Arabic Language
Authors: Zouaghi Anis , Zrigui Mounir , Antoniadis Georges , Merhbene Laroussi
Published: December 2012

We propose a new approach for determining the adequate sense of Arabic words. For that, we propose an algorithm based on information retrieval measures to identify the context of use that is the closest to the sentence containing the word to be disambiguated. The contexts of use represent a set of sentences that indicates a particular sense of the ambiguous word. These contexts are generated using the words that define the senses of the ambiguous words, the exact string-matching algorithm, and the corpus. We use the measures employed in the domain of information retrieval, Harman, Croft, and Okapi combined to the Lesk algorithm, to assign the correct sense of those proposed.
A Unified Channel Charges Expression for Analytic MOSFET Modeling
Authors: Murray Hugues , Martin Patrick
Published: December 2012

Based on a 1D Poissons equation resolution, we present an analytic model of inversion charges allowing calculation of the drain current and transconductance in the Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. The drain current and transconductance are described by analytical functions including mobility corrections and short channel effects (CLM, DIBL). The comparison with the Pao-Sah integral shows excellent accuracy of the model in all inversion modes from strong to weak inversion in submicronics MOSFET. All calculations are encoded with a simple C program and give instantaneous results that provide an efficient tool for microelectronics users.
Mandibular Talon Cusp in Primary Lateral Incisor: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Kavitha Swaminathan , Selvakumar Haridoss , Barathan Rajendran
Published: December 2012

A talon cusp is a dental anomaly commonly occurring in the permanent dentition compared to the primary dentition. It commonly affects the maxillary anterior teeth. In primary dentition, the most commonly affected tooth is the maxillary central incisors. This is a rare case report of a 5-year-old male patient with a talon cusp affecting the mandibular primary lateral incisor. Recognition and treatment of this anomaly at early stages is important to avoid complications.
Evaluating Potential Changes in Fire Risk fromEucalyptusPlantings in the Southern United States
Authors: Goodrick Scott L. , Stanturf John A.
Published: December 2012

Renewed interest in short-rotation woody crops for bioenergy and bioproducts has prompted a reevaluation of theEucalyptusspecies for the southern United States. One question that arises about the potential effects of introducing a nonnative species is what effect will there be on fire behavior. Our approximate answer based on modeling fire behavior using the Fuel Characteristic Classification System is that surface fire behavior in young stands differs little from surface fires common to pine plantations in the southern Coastal Plain. By the age of 9, the absence of a shrub layer, along with an increased height to live crown, reduced initiation potential despite increased bark shedding. When a shrub layer was introduced in the model, the initiation potential became equivalent to commonPinusfuelbeds. If a crown is ignited, however, the potentials for transmissivity and spread are very high, and the potential for crown fire behavior is more severe. Our modeling effort suggests that fire behavior at the stand level differs little from current conditions and points to the importance of avoiding the development of a shrub layer. Stands managed on short rotation (less than 10 years) will likely be harvested before bark shedding presents a significant spotting problem.
Oxidative Stress Contributes to Endothelial Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Jerkic Mirjana , Sotov Valentin , Letarte Michelle
Published: December 2012

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia caused by mutations in endoglin (ENG; HHT1) or activin receptor-like kinase (ALK1; HHT2) genes, coding for transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) superfamily receptors. We demonstrated previously that endoglin and ALK1 interact with endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and affect its activation. Endothelial cells deficient in endoglin or ALK1 proteins show eNOS uncoupling, reduced NO, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we measured NO and H2O2levels in several organs of adultEngandAlk1heterozygous mice, to ascertain whether decreased NO and increased ROS production is a generalized manifestation of HHT. A significant reduction in NO and increase in ROS production were found in several organs, known to be affected in patients. ROS overproduction in mutant mice was attributed to eNOS, as it was L-NAME inhibitable. Mitochondrial ROS contribution, blocked by antimycin, was highest in liver while NADPH oxidase, inhibited by apocynin, was a major source of ROS in the other tissues. However, there was no difference in antimycin- and apocynin-inhibitable ROS production between mutant and control mice. Our results indicate that eNOS-derived ROS contributes to endothelial dysfunction and likely predisposes to disease manifestations in several organs of HHT patients.
Suitable Environmental Flow Release Criteria for Both Human and Riverine Ecosystems: Accounting for the Uncertainty of Flows
Authors: Tang Jian , Yin Xinan , Yu ChunXue , Yang Zhifeng
Published: December 2012

Environmental flow (e‐flow) release criteria are key parameters in water resources management and riverine ecosystem protection. The previous methods for e‐flow criterion determination are based on the historical flow time series without the consideration of flow uncertainty. Due to low possibility of reoccurrence of the historical flows and the uncertainty of future flows, the flow uncertainty needs to be integrated in the process of determining e‐flow release criteria. In this research, a new method is proposed to determine the optimal e‐flow release criteria under flow uncertainty accounting for both the human and riverine ecosystem needs. In the new method, the scenario tree method is applied to generate the scenarios of flows, which can cover most of possible flow conditions and can effectively reflect the uncertainty of flows; the Range of Variability Approach (RVA), a most commonly used method to assess the flow regime alteration, is refined by incorporating the uncertainty of flows. The Tang River in Northern China is taken as a case study to test the effectiveness of the new method. The results show that the previous method obviously overestimates the optimal e‐flow release criteria and the new method can get more suitable criteria that are suitable for both human and riverine ecosystems.
Stochastic Recursive Zero‐Sum Differential Game and Mixed Zero‐Sum Differential Game Problem
Authors: Wei Lifeng , Wu Zhen
Published: December 2012

Under the notable Issacs′s condition on the Hamiltonian, the existence results of a saddle point are obtained for the stochastic recursive zero‐sum differential game and mixed differential game problem, that is, the agents can also decide the optimal stopping time. The main tools are backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) and double‐barrier reflected BSDEs. As the motivation and application background, when loan interest rate is higher than the deposit one, the American game option pricing problem can be formulated to stochastic recursive mixed zero‐sum differential game problem. One example with explicit optimal solution of the saddle point is also given to illustrate the theoretical results.
A Kind of Compact Quantum Semigroups
Authors: Maysami Sadr Maysam
Published: December 2012

We show that the quantum family of all maps from a finite space to a finite-dimensional compact quantum semigroup has a canonical quantum semigroup structure.
Integral Bifurcation Method together with a Translation‐Dilation Transformation for Solving an Integrable 2‐Component Camassa‐Holm Shallow Water System
Authors: Rui Weiguo , Long Yao
Published: December 2012

An integrable 2‐component Camassa‐Holm (2‐CH) shallow water system is studied by using integral bifurcation method together with a translation‐dilation transformation. Many traveling wave solutions of nonsingular type and singular type, such as solitary wave solutions, kink wave solutions, loop soliton solutions, compacton solutions, smooth periodic wave solutions, periodic kink wave solution, singular wave solution, and singular periodic wave solution are obtained. Further more, their dynamic behaviors are investigated. It is found that the waveforms of some traveling wave solutions vary with the changes of parameter, that is to say, the dynamic behavior of these waves partly depends on the relation of the amplitude of wave and the level of water.
A Case of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Caused by Opioid Treatment for Nonmalignant Chronic Pain
Authors: Tabuchi Yukiko , Yasuda Tetsuyuki , Kaneto Hideaki , Kitamura Tetsuhiro , Kozawa Junji , Otsuki Michio , Imagawa Akihisa , Nakae Aya , Matsuda Youichi , Uematsu Hironobu , Mashimo Takashi , Shibata Masahiko , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: December 2012

We report a case of 42-year-old male patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. He suffered from general fatigue and erectile dysfunction after the treatment with transdermal fentanyl for chronic pain by traffic injury. Endocrine examinations and hormone stimulating tests showed that he had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no abnormal findings, and he had no past history of accounting for acquired hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Therefore, his hypogonadism was diagnosed to be caused by opioid treatment. Although opioid-induced endocrine dysfunctions are not widely recognized, this case suggests that we should consider the possibility of endocrine dysfunctions in patients with opioid treatment.