bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual working memories are abstractions of percepts
Authors: Duan Ziyi , Curtis Clayton E.
Published: May 2024

Pioneering studies demonstrating that the contents of visual working memory (WM) can be decoded from the patterns of multivoxel activity in early visual cortex transformed not only how we study WM, but theories of how memories are stored. For instance, the ability to decode the orientation of memorized gratings is hypothesized to depend on the recruitment of the same neural encoding machinery used for perceiving orientations. However, decoding evidence cannot be used to test the so-called
sensory recruitment hypothesis
without understanding the underlying nature of what is being decoded. Although unknown during WM, during perception decoding the orientation of gratings does not simply depend on activities of orientation tuned neurons. Rather, it depends on complex interactions between the orientation of the grating, the aperture edges, and the topographic structure of the visual map. Here, our goals are to 1) test how these aperture biases described during perception may affect WM decoding, and 2) leverage carefully manipulated visual stimulus properties of gratings to test how sensory-like are WM codes. For memoranda, we used gratings multiplied by radial and angular modulators to generate orthogonal aperture biases despite having identical orientations. Therefore, if WM representations are simply maintained sensory representations, they would have similar aperture biases. If they are abstractions of sensory features, they would be unbiased and the modulator would have no effect on orientation decoding. Results indicated that fMRI patterns of delay period activity while maintaining the orientation of a grating with one modulator (eg, radial) were interchangeable with patterns while maintaining a grating with the other modulator (eg, angular). We found significant cross-classification in visual and parietal cortex, suggesting that WM representations are insensitive to aperture biases during perception. Then, we visualized memory abstractions of stimuli using a population receptive field model of the visual field maps. Regardless of aperture biases, WM representations of both modulated gratings were recoded into a single oriented line. These results provide strong evidence that visual WM representations are abstractions of percepts, immune to perceptual aperture biases, and compel revisions of WM theory.
Visual to default network pathways: A double dissociation between semantic and spatial cognition
Authors: Gonzalez Alam Tirso RJ , Krieger-Redwood Katya , Varga Dominika , Gao Zhiyao , Horner Aidan , Hartley Tom , Thiebaut de Schotten Michel , Sliwinska Magdalena W , Pitcher David , Margulies Daniel S. , Smallwood Jonathan , Jefferies Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

Processing pathways between sensory and default mode network (DMN) regions support recognition, navigation, and memory but their organisation is not well understood. We show that functional subdivisions of visual cortex and DMN sit at opposing ends of parallel streams of information processing that support visually-mediated semantic and spatial cognition, providing convergent evidence from univariate and multivariate task responses, intrinsic functional and structural connectivity. Participants learned virtual environments consisting of buildings populated with objects, drawn from either a single semantic category or multiple categories. Later, they made semantic and spatial context decisions about these objects and buildings during functional magnetic resonance imaging. A lateral ventral occipital to frontotemporal DMN pathway was primarily engaged by semantic judgements, while a medial visual to medial temporal DMN pathway supported spatial context judgements. These pathways had distinctive locations in functional connectivity space: the semantic pathway was both further from unimodal systems and more balanced between visual and auditory-motor regions compared with the spatial pathway. When semantic and spatial context information could be integrated (in buildings containing objects from a single category), regions at the intersection of these pathways responded, suggesting that parallel processing streams interact at multiple levels of the cortical hierarchy to produce coherent memory-guided cognition.
Cortical beta oscillations map to shared brain networks modulated by dopamine
Authors: Chikermane Meera , Weerdmeester Liz , Rajamani Nanditha , Köhler Richard M. , Merk Timon , Vanhoecke Jonathan , Horn Andreas , Neumann Wolf-Julian
Published: May 2024

Brain rhythms can facilitate neural communication for the maintenance of brain function. Beta rhythms (13–35 Hz) have been proposed to serve multiple domains of human ability, including motor control, cognition, memory and emotion, but the overarching organisational principles remain unknown. To uncover the circuit architecture of beta oscillations, we leverage normative brain data, analysing over 30 hours of invasive brain signals from 1772 cortical areas in epilepsy patients, to demonstrate that beta is the most distributed cortical brain rhythm. Next, we identify a shared brain network from beta dominant areas with deeper brain structures, like the basal ganglia, by mapping parametrised oscillatory peaks to whole-brain functional and structural MRI connectomes. Finally, we show that these networks share significant overlap with dopamine uptake as indicated by positron emission tomography. Our study suggests that beta oscillations emerge in cortico-subcortical brain networks that are modulated by dopamine. It provides the foundation for a unifying circuit-based conceptualisation of the functional role of beta activity beyond the motor domain and may inspire an extended investigation of beta activity as a feedback signal for closed-loop neurotherapies for dopaminergic disorders.
Inverted encoding of neural responses to audiovisual stimuli reveals super-additive multisensory enhancement
Authors: Buhmann Zak , Robinson Amanda K , Mattingley Jason B , Rideaux Reuben
Published: May 2024

A central challenge for the brain is how to combine separate sources of information from different sensory modalities to optimally represent objects and events in the external world, such as combining someone’s speech and lip movements to better understand them in a noisy environment. At the level of individual neurons, audiovisual stimuli often elicit super-additive interactions, where the neural response is greater than the sum of auditory and visual responses. However, investigations using electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain activity have revealed inconsistent interactions, with studies reporting a mix of super- and sub-additive effects. A possible explanation for this inconsistency is that standard univariate analyses obscure multisensory interactions present in EEG responses by overlooking multivariate changes in activity across the scalp. To address this shortcoming, we investigated EEG responses to audiovisual stimuli using inverted encoding, a population tuning approach that uses multivariate information to characterise feature-specific neural activity. Participants (n = 41) completed a spatial localisation task for both unisensory stimuli (auditory clicks, visual flashes) and combined audiovisual stimuli (spatiotemporally congruent clicks and flashes). To assess multivariate changes in EEG activity, we used inverted encoding to recover stimulus location information from event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants localised audiovisual stimuli more accurately than unisensory stimuli alone. For univariate ERP analyses we found an additive multisensory interaction. By contrast, multivariate analyses revealed a super-additive interaction ∼180 ms following stimulus onset, such that the location of audiovisual stimuli was decoded more accurately than that predicted by maximum likelihood estimation. Our results suggest that super-additive integration of audiovisual information is reflected within multivariate patterns of activity rather than univariate evoked responses.
Computer-aided colorectal cancer diagnosis: AI-driven image segmentation and classification
Authors: Erdaş Çağatay Berke
Published: May 2024

Colorectal cancer is an enormous health concern since it is among the most lethal types of malignancy. The manual examination has its limitations, including subjectivity and data overload. To overcome these challenges, computer-aided diagnostic systems focusing on image segmentation and abnormality classification have been developed. This study presents a two-stage approach for the automatic detection of five types of colorectal abnormalities in addition to a control group: polyp, low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, serrated adenoma, adenocarcinoma. In the first stage, UNet3+ was used for image segmentation to locate the anomalies, while in the second stage, the Cross-Attention Multi-Scale Vision Transformer deep learning model was used to predict the type of anomaly after highlighting the anomaly on the raw images. In anomaly segmentation, UNet3+ achieved values of 0.9872, 0.9422, 0.9832, and 0.9560 for Dice Coefficient, Jaccard Index, Sensitivity, Specificity respectively. In anomaly detection, the Cross-Attention Multi-Scale Vision Transformer model attained a classification performance of 0.9340, 0.9037, 0.9446, 0.8723, 0.9102, 0.9849 for accuracy, F1 score, precision, recall, Matthews correlation coefficient, and specificity, respectively. The proposed approach proves its capacity to alleviate the overwhelm of pathologists and enhance the accuracy of colorectal cancer diagnosis by achieving high performance in both the identification of anomalies and the segmentation of regions.
Changes in the concentration of bone turnover markers in men after maximum intensity exercise
Authors: Bagińska Małgorzata , Tota Łukasz Marcin , Morawska-Tota Małgorzata , Kusmierczyk Justyna , Pałka Tomasz
Published: May 2024

Background

Physical activity is an important factor in modelling the remodelling and metabolism of bone tissue. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in indices demonstrating bone turnover in men under the influence of maximum-intensity exercise.

Methods

The study involved 33 men aged 20–25, divided into two groups: experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 18). People training medium- and long-distance running were assigned to the experimental group, and non-training individuals to the control. Selected somatic, physiological and biochemical indices were measured. The level of aerobic fitness was determined using a progressively increasing graded test (treadmill test for subjective fatigue). Blood samples for determinations were taken before the test and 60 minutes after its completion. The concentration of selected bone turnover markers was assessed: bone fraction of alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), osteoclacin (OC), N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of the alpha chain of type I collagen (NTx1), N-terminal propeptide of type I progolagen (PINP), osteoprotegerin (OPG). In addition, the concentration of 25(OH)D3 prior to the stress test was determined. Additionally, pre and post exercise, the concentration of lactates in the capillary blood was determined.

Results

When comparing the two groups, significant statistical differences were found for the mean level of: 25(OH)D3 (p = 0.025), b-ALP (p < 0.001), OC (p = 0.004) and PINP (p = 0.029) prior to the test. On the other hand, within individual groups, between the values pre and post the stress test, there were statistically significant differences for the average level of: b-ALP (p < 0.001), NTx1 (p < 0.001), OPG (p = 0.001) and PINP (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

A single-session maximum physical effort can become an effective tool to initiate positive changes in bone turnover markers.
Effect of Single Bout of Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Girth and Cardiovascular response: A Pretest, Post-test Quasi-experimental Study
Authors: Aboud Salma , Nartigah Deborah , Gujral Tanya , Rai Richa Hirendra
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) was developed by Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SATO) in Japan in 1966. BFRT is a method that mimics the effects of high-intensity training by combining low-intensity exercise with blood flow obstruction. It involves limb compression using compression cuffs to limit venous outflow and minimise arterial inflow during rehabilitation training. By allowing individuals to lift smaller loads and increase strength training gains, BFRT can reduce the overall stress exerted on the limb. Aim: To assess the difference in muscle girth and blood pressure after a single bout of BFRT. Materials and Methods: This was a single-blinded, singlesite pretest, post-test quasi-experimental study. A total of 30 subjects were enrolled (16 females and 14 males) between the ages of 18 to 25 years. This study was conducted at the Department of Physiotherapy, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Outcome measures included muscle girth measured using a flexible tape and blood pressure using an automatic oscillometric device (Omron Hem 7113, São Paulo, Brazil). Paired t-test and Wilcoxon test were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0. Results: It was found that an acute bout of BFRT caused improvement in all outcome measures. There was a statistically significant increase in muscle girth and blood pressure after BFRT (p-value<0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant increase in blood pressure (both Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)) and muscle girth after BFRT with no reported adverse effects.
Global alcohol policy implementation in Thailand: A narrative review
Authors: Talek Muhammadfahmee , Vichitkunakorn Polathep , Assanangkornchai Sawitri , Wichaidit Wit
Published: May 2024

Alcohol consumption is growing in emerging economies. Thailand is an upper-middle-income emerging economy in Southeast Asia where the alcohol market has been under an oligopoly, which political groups are attempting to amend. The Thai Ministry of Public Health works in close partnership with the non-profit sector in alcohol control, and has recently adapted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) SAFER initiatives as part of the national alcohol agenda. In light of these ongoing changes, we conducted a narrative review with the following objectives: (1) to describe the development of alcohol control policy strategies in Thailand; and (2) to describe the current situation on alcohol policy implementation. We performed a search of the published and grey literature in both Thai and English languages using keywords related to topics of interest, and reviewed data on SAFER's effectiveness using a group of indicators (policy-attributable health outcomes). We found that Thailand has laws and regulations covering various domains of SAFER. However, gaps do exist with regard to regulation of alcohol outlet density, relatively low alcohol sales permit fees, control of online and surrogate marketing of alcoholic products, and enforcement of drinking-and-driving deterrence measures, among others. A review of the indicators showed that annual per capita alcohol consumption (APC) and prevalence of drinkers have remained constant since 2008, whereas the prevalence of binge-drinking has been on a decline since 2014. However, deaths attributable to alcohol have increased in both men and women. The findings of this narrative review may have implications for policymakers and stakeholders in behavioral health.
Fish Biodiversity and Suggested Conservation Measures of Transboundary River Someshwari in Netrokona, Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md. Shahin , Haidar Nadim , Khanom Maliha , Fatema Mst. Kaniz
Published: May 2024

Considering the importance of fish biodiversity for sustainable management of river fisheries, this study aims to explore and evaluate the fish biodiversity of Someshwari River along with conservation measures from November 2020 to October 2021. Data collection was carried out in Jaria, Susang Durgapur, Shivganj Bazar and Bijoypur of Netrokona district. Questionnaire interview, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Direct observations, Key Informant Interview (KII) was used to collect data. During the study period, 23 species under 12 families were determined. Among them 6 finfish species are endangered, 4 are critically endangered, 5 are vulnerable, 7 are data deficient, and 2 are not threatened, respectively which includes highest catch catfishes at about 26.62%. However, the lowest amount catch constituted the Miror carp of about 5.29%. After the catfish, the second highest catch was 15.9% of small prawn. Another dominant group major carps contained 11.26%, and barbs remained at 11% of the catch and the loaches constituted 1.3% of the total catch. In addition, other groups like Mola carplet 7%, gourami 2.20%, Spiny eels 9.86% etc. were found in the Someshwari river. There were about 81% fish for food and 17% ornamental fish. Fourteen distinct types of fishing equipment were used namely: nets, traps, hooks, and lines, and wounding equipment. Finally, indiscriminate use of harmful gear, extraction of sand and rock, inadequate supervision of Governments and Non Governemental orgazizations, pollution from the adjacent areas, high interest rate of bank loan were understood as common constraints in the study area. Therefore, recommendations were made to improve river fisheries management through habitat restoration, increasing public awareness, prohibition on exploiting brood fish and active participation for sustainable catch.
Allelopathic Impact of Callistemon Citrinus on Sorghum Bicolor Growth under Salinity Stress
Authors: ElAal Hamed, Badr eldin Abd , Mona Sayed,
Published: May 2024

The current study assessed the impact of 0.09% aqueous leaf extract from Callistemon citrinus on the growth of two cultivars of Sorghum bicolor L. (Giza 15 - G15 and Dorado - Dor) under two salinity levels (100 mM and 200 mM NaCl). Results revealed that salinity reduced various growth criteria, including insoluble and total carbohydrates, photosynthetic pigments, protein, total phenols, and reduced glutathione, while soluble carbohydrates (sucrose and trehalose) were influenced. Salinity also affected free amino acids (proline and glycine betaine), malondialdehyde, and ascorbic acid. The activity of amylase decreased, while antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid oxidase, and glutathione peroxidase) increased. Additionally, concentrations of K+, Ca++, and Mg++ were reduced, while Na+ accumulated. Application of Callistemon extract improved plant growth under stressed or normal growth conditions. The aqueous leaf extract (0.09%) of Callissstemon sp., with its enriched phenolic allelochemicals, mitigated the impact of salinity by enhancing photosynthesis, osmoregulation, and the antioxidant defense system of sorghum plants. Furthermore, results indicated that Sorghum cultivar G15 exhibited more resistance than Dor, with this resistance correlating with the activity of the antioxidant system.
Bias and Fairness Issues in Artificial Intelligence-driven Cybersecurity
Authors: Mmaduekwe Ugochukwu
Published: May 2024

Aim: This paper aims to examine the bias and fairness issues accorded with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cybersecurity.                                                              
Problem Statement: The evolving global dependence on cybersecurity has exposed organizations, individuals, and nations to different vulnerabilities and security threats. However, merging of cyberspace with AI technologies has the potential to transform multiple domains but the implementation of AI is faced with bias problems limiting its application.
Significance of Study: Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity have been identified as two transformative and interconnected entities with great potential to revolutionize numerous areas of human life. However, it is imperative to critically look at the bias and fairness accorded with the implication of artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity which are keywords limiting the usage and efficiency of the approach.                              
Discussion: The concept of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity was discussed together with their interconnectivity which enhances the application in tackling cyber threats. Various areas of artificial intelligence deployment in cyberspace were presented. The sources and solutions to bias and fairness in artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity were also discussed. This paper has critically discussed various ways via which AI biases influence cyber security. Nonetheless, ways by which this problem can be tackled were presented.   
Conclusion: Artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity has found wide industrial applications in different areas. However, there is a need to critically address the issues of bias and fairness attached to it to improve its efficiency. The use of the teams; AI model; and Corporate governance and leadership should be adopted to find lasting solutions to the problem of biases in AI-driven cyber security.
OPTIMASI FLUKTUASI RESOURCE PADA PROYEK PERUMAHAN X YANG MENGGUNAKAN METODE PENJADWALAN LINE OF BALANCE DENGAN ALGORITMA SYMBIOTIC ORGANISMS SEARCH
Authors: Husada Vania Regina , Prayogo Doddy , Arijanto Lie
Published: May 2024

Penjadwalan proyek merupakan aspek penting penentu keberhasilan proyek konstruksi. Line of Balance (LOB) merupakan salah satu metode penjadwalan yang paling sering digunakan untuk proyek repetitif. Alokasi resource yang terlalu fluktuatif dalam penjadwalan LOB merupakan salah satu permasalahan dalam penjadwalan proyek. Resource leveling merupakan teknik untuk meratakan fluktuasi resource. Teknik ini biasanya dilakukan dengan trial and error yang prosesnya cukup lama. Sebagai metode alternatifnya, digunakan metode metaheuristik Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) untuk memperoleh penjadwalan proyek yang memiliki fluktuasi resource paling minimum dengan durasi penyelesaian proyek tetap. Studi kasus yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah proyek perumahan X di Sidoarjo dengan 15 aktivitas proyek dengan durasi dan man per gang tiap aktivitas per kelompok unit. Tujuan penelitian adalah menghasilkan penjadwalan proyek yang memiliki fluktuasi resource minimum. Hasil akhir optimasi adalah penjadwalan proyek perumahan dengan fluktuasi resource lebih minimum dibandingkan data proyek sesungguhnya yang dibuktikan dengan objective function hasil optimasi yang lebih rendah.
Tunnelling Behavior: Exploring Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure
Authors: Perdana Cahya Mahardika Putra , Minanurohman Adib
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the impact of corporate governance quality and ownership structure on tunnelling behaviour in Indonesia, specifically examining the moderating effect of the number of subsidiaries. The study utilized quantitative research methods and secondary data from the Indonesia Stock Exchange, company websites, and relevant journals. The sample consisted of 474 observations from listed companies on the IDX, excluding non-financial firms, covering the period from 2016 to 2019. Statistical analyses, including Pearson Correlation, OLS Regression, and Moderated Regression, were conducted using STATA 14.2 software. The results indicate that managerial ownership, government ownership, and corporate governance quality positively influence tunnelling behaviour, while domestic ownership has a negative impact. Foreign ownership, on the other hand, does not significantly affect tunnelling behaviour. Notably, the number of subsidiaries strengthens the relationship between corporate governance quality and tunnelling behaviour.
Mass Spectrometry of Hydroxylamines, Oximes and Hydroxamic Acids
Authors: Giorgi Gianluca
Published: October 2010

Hydroxylamines, oximes and hydroxamic acids have been extensively studied by mass spectrometry. Different ionization techniques and mass spectrometry methods, such as high resolution, study of metastable ions, collision induced dissociations, together with chemical modifications and stable isotope labeling, have been used for investigating the gas phase properties and reactivity of radical cations, positively and negatively charged species produced by these classes of molecules.
Relationships Between Phase Transformations, Microstructure and Properties in Ti and Pb‐Free Alloys
Authors: Servant Colette
Published: October 2010

The mechanical or use properties of alloys are determined by their chemical composition and microstructure history. The microstructure changes during phase transformations occurring during solidification, thermomechanical processing and subsequent heat treatments. The best mechanical properties for the chosen application need optimized parameters of the microstructure. Tailored microstructures: can a dream come true.1
Low Cycle Fatigue Life Threshold for Titanium Aluminides
Authors: Heckel Thomas K. , Christ Hans‐Jürgen
Published: October 2010

Although there exists a good understanding of dislocation glide mechanisms during fatigue of titanium aluminides,1 fatigue life prediction remains a crucial issue because of the low amount of macroscopic plastic strain and the existence of microstructural inhomogeneities. The concept proposed here aims at a threshold value, allowing a reasonable low cycle fatigue life for isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue conditions. It can be stated that under isothermal testing conditions a maximum strain amplitude of Δε/2 = 0.35% (corresponding to a stress amplitude of about Δσ/2 = 500 MPa) for temperatures up to 750 °C is feasible for TNB‐V2 in order to reliably reach a sufficient LCF life. Concerning satisfactory thermomechanical fatigue life the proposed concept suggests that the acting combination of mean stress and strain amplitude needs to be located below the Goodman line. It can be concluded that with increase in maximum cyclic temperature and temperature range, the tolerable strain amplitude decreases. Because of the well‐documented unfavorable combination of tensile mean stresses and environmental attack during OP‐TMF, an acceptable strain amplitude for TMF conditions is significantly lower than under isothermal conditions.
Integration of a Ca looping system for CO2 capture in existing power plants
Authors: Martínez Isabel , Murillo Ramón , Grasa Gemma , Carlos Abanades Juan
Published: October 2010

This work analyses a Ca looping system that uses CaO as regenerable sorbent to capture CO2 from the flue gases generated in power plants. The CO2 is captured by CaO in a CFB carbonator while coal oxycombustion provides the energy required to regenerate the sorbent. Part of the energy introduced into the calciner can be transferred to a new supercritical steam cycle to generate additional power. Several case studies have been integrated with this steam cycle. Efficiency penalties, mainly associated with the energy consumption of the ASU, CO2 compressor and auxiliaries, can be as low as 7.5% p. of net efficiency when working with low‐CaCO3 make‐up flows and integrating the Ca looping with a cement plant that makes use of the spent sorbent. The penalties increase to 8.3% p. when this possibility is not available. Operation conditions aiming at minimum calciner size result in slightly higher‐efficiency penalties. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Thermodynamic consistency test for experimental data of water content of methane
Authors: Eslamimanesh Ali , Mohammadi Amir H. , Richon Dominique
Published: October 2010

Accurate knowledge of the water content of natural gases is an important factor to estimate the gas hydrate, ice, and condensed water formation conditions. However, the experimental data regarding the water content of gases in equilibrium with the gas hydrate, ice, or liquid water (near gas hydrate or ice formation region) are limited. This is partly because of the fact that concentration of water in the gaseous phase in equilibrium with gas hydrate, ice or liquid water (near gas hydrate or ice formation region) is very low considering that reaching the equilibrium conditions near and inside gas hydrate or ice formation region is time consuming process. The measurement difficulties may consequently result in generating unreliable experimental data. This work aims at performing a thermodynamic consistency test based on area approach to study the reliability of some experimental data reported in the literature on the water content of methane (the main component of natural gases) in equilibrium with the gas hydrate, ice, or liquid water (near gas hydrate or ice formation region). A discussion is made on the studied experimental data according to the performed consistency test. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Water transport in cellular tissues during thermal processing
Authors: Halder Amit , Datta Ashim K. , Spanswick Roger M.
Published: October 2010

Accurate modeling of water transport in food materials requires knowledge of how transport properties depend on the material structure. Water transport in a cellular tissue depends on its pathway (intracellular versus extracellular), which in turn depends on temperature. Using a combination of permeability measurement, pore‐size distribution analysis and bioimpedance analysis, it is shown that water in a cellular tissue (e.g., potatoes) is mostly intracellular at lower temperatures at which cell membranes are intact. During drying at high‐temperatures, cell membranes in potatoes are damaged, and the moisture transport pathway is primarily extracellular (through intercellular spaces and the lacunae created by the killed cells), with a much lower resistance to water transport. The difference in moisture diffusivity in potatoes for the two pathways has been estimated to be three orders of magnitude. Therefore, transport properties measured or predicted at low temperatures cannot be used for high temperatures because they correspond to different moisture migration pathways. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
High solids concentration agitation for minerals process intensification
Authors: Wu J. , Wang S. , Graham L. , Parthasarathy R. , Nguyen B.
Published: October 2010

By using mixing intensification involving high solids concentration as a means to achieve process intensification for the mineral process industry is discussed here. Improving agitator energy efficiency is essential for operating at high solids concentrations. It is shown that improved agitator energy efficiency can be achieved by removing baffles and using higher power number impellers at high solids loadings. Power consumption (50–80%) reductions were demonstrated in the experiments. It is also suggested that slurry stratification in tanks can be used to boost either solids residence time or slurry mass flow. Basic equations related to solids residence time and solids throughput are presented for guidance toward minerals process intensification. An example on doubling throughput via intensification is presented. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Bubbles in a fluidized bed: A fast X‐ray scanner
Authors: Mudde R. F.
Published: October 2010

We present experiments on a bubble train in a 23‐cm‐diameter fluidized bed of a Geldart B powder. The bubbles are injected via a single capillary inserted in the bed. We use our double X‐ray tomographic scanner to measure the solids distribution in two parallel cross sections of the bed. We report data for four different heights of the measuring planes above the capillary outlet. The velocity of individual bubbles is found from the time of flight from the lower to the upper plane. We have done separate calibration experiments for the velocity. In this article, we present data for the size and velocity of individual bubbles. From the bubble velocity, we could obtain the vertical dimension of the bubbles. This makes it possible to measure the volume of each bubble. The results show that our scanner is capable of measuring properties of bubbles with a size of 2.5 cm and above. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Unique hydrogen adsorption properties of graphene
Authors: Wang Lifeng , Stuckert Nicholas R. , Yang Ralph T.
Published: October 2010

Graphene showed an unusually high hydrogen storage capacity as well as a unique, slow hydrogen adsorption process compared with a variety of carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, activated carbons, mesoporous carbons, templated carbons, and metal organic frameworks). Catalytic dissociation of hydrogen on graphene is observed for the first time. The hydrogen dissociation rate on graphene is also significantly faster than the adsorption rate. This leads to the conclusion that the most active sites on graphene for hydrogen dissociation are not the only sites where the enhanced adsorption occurs. The mechanistic differences in adsorption on graphene when compared with the other carbons are further demonstrated by differences in temperature‐programed desorption results and heats of adsorption. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
Lemurs in a complex landscape: mapping species density in subtropical dry forests of southwestern Madagascar using data at multiple levels
Authors: Axel Anne C. , Maurer Brian A.
Published: October 2010

The study of southern dry forest lemurs has been largely restricted to small reserves; yet, the majority of the region's lemur populations reside outside protected areas.Lemur cattaandPropithecus verreauxioccupy the same forests but have different dietary preferences. This study assessedL. cattaandP. verreauxipopulation densities across a 3‐km dry forest gradient (1,539 ha) in southern Madagascar. The study was designed to allow lemur densities to be related to particular forest types. A particular aim of this study was to collect lemur data in both protected and unprotected areas. Density estimates were calculated using point transect distance sampling in a study area that contained the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve and the adjacent disturbed forests. The highest densities recorded for each species were in the protected area where the two species were most segregated in their distribution, withL. cattadensity highest in gallery forest type andP. verreauxidensity highest in dry deciduous. Densities of both species varied widely outside the protected area, butP. verreauxidensity was more uniform than wasL. catta.Results of this study indicate that patterns of lemur density in protected areas are not representative of patterns in disturbed forests; this also suggests that we cannot fully understand the ecological constraints facing primate species by studying them only in protected areas. This research highlights the value of pairing the study of landscape‐level patterns of species distribution with both local ground‐level ecological interpretations and broad‐scale satellite data; information from only one level may give an incomplete view of the community. Am. J. Primatol. 73:38–52, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bonding, biophilia, biosynergy, and the future of primates in the wild
Authors: Rose Anthony L.
Published: October 2010

Human and nonhuman primates bond with one another in countless ways, and the results are varied and vital to the individuals and species involved. The manifesto that is the basis for the collection of essays in which this commentary is included proposes that the “human/nonhuman bonds that arise in primatological research and practice deserve and demand study and research.” An essential corollary of this proposal is that the primatologists themselves must be studied. The aim of this essay is to explore the influence of human/nonhuman primate bonding on conservation practice and on the future of primates in the wild. This commentary applies the author's professional experience as a conservation psychologist and his research on the impact of profound interspecies bonds on human worldviews, attitudes, and behavior. It examines two general categories of bonds: those driven by Biophilia (human fascination with life) and those influenced by Biosynergy (mutual enrichment of life). It is the author's premise that biosynergy promotes complex collaborative interspecies bonds that broaden the conservationist's desire to enhance synergy among all organisms in an ecosystem. Conversely, biophilia induces relatively simple unidirectional bonds between humans and other animals that deepen the conservationist's desire to understand and protect certain species. This contrast raises some crucial questions. Do biophilia‐driven bonds between conservationists and their favorite primates blind them to the synergistic needs of all species and impair their ability to work for sustained preservation of threatened habitat? Does biosynergy‐based human/nature bonding enhance focus on conservation as an ecological science and thus ignore species‐specific factors crucial to assure survival of endangered primates? How can both types of bonds be optimally applied to the conservation of wildlife and wilderness? Am. J. Primatol. 73:245–252, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Population‐level right‐handedness for a coordinated bimanual task in naturalistic housed chimpanzees: replication and extension in 114 animals from Zambia and Spain
Authors: Llorente Miquel , Riba David , Palou Laia , Carrasco Lara , Mosquera Marina , Colell Montserrat , Feliu Olga
Published: October 2010

Recently, many studies have been conducted on manual laterality in chimpanzees. Nevertheless, whether nonhuman primates exhibit population‐level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. One of the behaviors studied has been bimanual coordinated actions. Although recent studies have highlighted that captive chimpanzees show handedness at population level for these tasks, some authors have questioned the validity and consistency of these results. The first reason has been the humanization of the samples. The second one has been that the results refer to animals in American biomedical centers and the studies were conducted by the same team [WD Hopkins et al.]. This article aims to assess the laterality in bimanual coordination (tube task) activities in animals housed in an intermediate environment (Chimfunshi, Zambia). This has been conducted by replicating previous studies on similar samples (Mona Foundation, Spain), and then by extending the results to chimpanzees housed in intermediate settings. Individuals were evaluated through four experimental sessions (tests). Results indicated that 86% of the Chimfunshi sample was lateralized (48% RH, 38% LH). Furthermore, the sample showed population‐level right‐handedness in the mean handedness index, in Test 1, Test 2, and the first half of the study (Test 1+2). Rearing experience did not have an influence on hand preference. Taken together, the two sample (intermediate settings: Chimfunshi and Mona) results indicate a clear right‐handedness. In conclusion, this replication and extension shows that (1) the Mona and Chimfunshi chimpanzees are right‐handed in certain conditions, (2) the results are consistent with those obtained by Hopkins in captive settings, (3) the humanization of the samples does not affect manual laterality, (4) females are right‐handed at population‐level, but not males, and (5) these results reinforce the fact that the complexity of the task plays a dominant role in the expression of hand laterality among chimpanzees. Am. J. Primatol. 73:281–290, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/polypropylene‐g‐polystyrene/polystyrene blends
Authors: Li Jinge , Li Huayi , Ke Yucai , Li Qian , Zhang Liaoyun , Hu Youliang
Published: October 2010

The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP), PP/polystyrene (PS), and PP/PP‐g‐PS/PS blends were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry at different cooling rates. The Jeziorny modified Avrami equation, Ozawa method, and Mo method were used to describe the crystallization kinetics for all of the samples. The kinetics parameters, including the half‐time of crystallization, the peak crystallization temperature, the Avrami exponent, the kinetic crystallization rate constant, the crystallization activation energy, and the F(T) and a parameters were determined. All of the results clearly indicate that the PP‐g‐PS copolymer accelerated the crystallization rate of the PP component in the PP/PP‐g‐PS/PS blends. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
In vivo fluorescence imaging of E‐selectin: Quantitative detection of endothelial activation in a mouse model of arthritis
Authors: Gompels Luke L. , Madden Leigh , Lim Ngee Han , Inglis Julia J. , McConnell Ellen , Vincent Tonia L. , Haskard Dorian O. , Paleolog Ewa M.
Published: October 2010

Objective

In vivo optical imaging can delineate at the macroscopic level processes that are occurring at the cellular and molecular levels. E‐selectin, a leukocyte adhesion molecule expressed on endothelium, is induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and other cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in mice is widely used to study the disease mechanisms and identify new treatments for RA. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate E‐selectin–targeted fluorescence imaging in vivo in a mouse model of paw edema generated by local injection of TNFα as well as in mice with CIA.

Methods

Animals with either CIA or TNFα‐induced paw edema were injected with anti–E‐selectin or control antibodies labeled with a DyLight 750‐nm near‐infrared (NIR) probe. In vivo imaging studies were undertaken using an NIR optical imaging system, and images were coregistered with plain radiographic images.

Results

The mean fluorescence intensity measured over the time‐course of TNFα‐induced edema demonstrated a 1.97‐fold increase (P < 0.001) in signal in inflamed paws at 8 hours following injection of anti–E‐selectin antibody, as compared to that in the isotype control. In the CIA model, a 2.34‐fold increase in E‐selectin–targeted signal was demonstrated (P < 0.01). Furthermore, significant E‐selectin–targeted signal was observed in the paws of animals immunized with collagen that did not display overt signs of arthritis.

Conclusion

E‐selectin–targeted fluorescence in vivo imaging is a quantifiable method of detecting endothelial activation in arthritis and can potentially be applied to the quantification of disease and the investigation of the effects of new therapies. Importantly, this approach may also be useful for the detection of subclinical disease in RA.
Suppression of autoimmunity and organ pathology in lupus‐prone mice upon inhibition of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase type IV
Authors: Ichinose Kunihiro , Juang Yuang‐Taung , Crispín José C. , Kis‐Toth Katalin , Tsokos George C.
Published: October 2010

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with aberrant immune cell function. Treatment involves the use of indiscriminate immunosuppression, which results in significant side effects. SLE T cells express high levels of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase type IV (CaMKIV), which translocates to the nucleus upon engagement of the T cell receptor–CD3 complex and accounts for abnormal T cell function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether inhibition of CaMKIV would improve disease pathology.

Methods

We treated MRL/lpr mice with KN‐93, a CaMKIV inhibitor, starting at week 8 or week 12 of age and continuing through week 16 and evaluated skin lesions, proteinuria, kidney histopathology, proinflammatory cytokine production, and costimulatory molecule expression. We also determined the effect of silencing of CAMK4 on interferon‐γ (IFNγ) expression by human SLE T cells.

Results

CaMKIV inhibition in MRL/lpr mice resulted in significant suppression of nephritis and skin disease, decreased expression of the costimulatory molecules CD86 and CD80 on B cells, and suppression of IFNγ and tumor necrosis factor α production. In human SLE T cells, silencing of CAMK4 resulted in suppression of IFNγ production.

Conclusion

We conclude that suppression of CaMKIV mitigates disease development in lupus‐prone mice by suppressing cytokine production and costimulatory molecule expression. Specific silencing of CAMK4 in human T cells results in similar suppression of IFNγ production. Our data justify the development of small‐molecule CaMKIV inhibitors for the treatment of patients with SLE.
Osteoarthritic chondrocyte–secreted morphogens induce chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Aung Aereas , Gupta Gunjan , Majid Ghassemian , Varghese Shyni
Published: October 2010

Objective

The potential of stem cells to repair compromised cartilage tissue, such as in osteoarthritis (OA), depends strongly on how transplanted cells respond to factors secreted from the residing OA chondrocytes. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of morphogenetic signals from OA chondrocytes on chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods

The effect of OA chondrocyte–secreted morphogens on chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs was evaluated using a coculture system involving both primary and passaged OA chondrocytes. The findings were compared against findings for human MSCs cultured in OA chondrocyte–conditioned medium. Gene expression analysis, biochemical assays, and immunofluorescence staining were used to characterize the chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs. Mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify the soluble factors. Numerical analysis was carried out to model the concentration profile of soluble factors within the human MSC–laden hydrogels.

Results

The human MSCs cocultured with primary OA chondrocytes underwent chondrogenic differentiation even in the absence of growth factors; however, the same effect could not be mimicked using OA chondrocyte–conditioned medium or expanded cells. Additionally, the cocultured environment down‐regulated hypertrophic differentiation of human MSCs. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated cell–cell communication and chondrocyte phenotype–dependent effects on cell‐secreted morphogens.

Conclusion

The experimental findings, along with the results of the numerical analysis, suggest a crucial role of soluble morphogens and their local concentrations in the differentiation pattern of human MSCs in a 3‐dimensional environment. The concept of using a small number of chondrocytes to promote chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs while preventing their hypertrophic differentiation could be of great importance in formulating effective stem cell–based cartilage repair.