bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ceramics for Aero-Engine Applications
Authors: Wortmann J. , Prewo K. M.
Published: March 2015

In the general aero-engine development effort to significantly improve specific fuel consumption as well as thrust-to-weight ratios, ceramics have been under investigation since the mid-Seventies. Their great potential for increasing gas-turbine performance has resulted in a number of research programs worldwide to assess their desirability for static or rotating components.

There has been remarkable progress in the drive to improve material strength by especially process control and the clean room approach. This development has been assisted by revised design and lifing methods. Thus static components like hybrid vanes and combustor rings have withstood temperatures of up to 1650 °C for several hundred hours and some ten cycles. But for ceramics, one essential property required of all aero-engine materials — defect tolerance, or the ability to reduce stresses in a controlled manner — still falls short of the standard commonly associated with other materials.

Attention is therefore focused on methods of controlling the inherently poor defect tolerance of ceramic materials by appropriate design concepts (small volumes, simple shapes, constant wall thickness, compression stress state) and by strengthening the material proper through fiber reinforcement.

Apart from the ambitious application of monolithic or fibrereinforced ceramics as structural components in the hot gas path in extremely high temperature environments, some applications, such as thermal barrier coatings, bearings and flaps, have already reached the production stage.
X-ray excited Auger transitions of Pu compounds
Authors: Nelson Art J. , Grant William K. , Stanford Jeff A. , Siekhaus Wigbert J. , Allen Patrick G. , McLean William
Published: March 2015

X-ray excited Pu core–valence–valence and core–core–valence Auger line-shapes were used in combination with the Pu 4f photoelectron peaks to characterize differences in the oxidation state and local electronic structure for Pu compounds. The evolution of the Pu 4f core-level chemical shift as a function of sputtering depth profiling and hydrogen exposure at ambient temperature was quantified. The combination of the core–valence–valence Auger peak energies with the associated chemical shift of the Pu 4f photoelectron line defines the Auger parameter and results in a reliable method for definitively determining oxidation states independent of binding energy calibration. Results show that PuO2, Pu2O3, PuH2.7, and Pu have definitive Auger line-shapes. These data were used to produce a chemical state (Wagner) plot for select plutonium oxides. This Wagner plot allowed us to distinguish between the trivalent hydride and the trivalent oxide, which cannot be differentiated by the Pu 4f binding energy alone.
Viral entry route determines how human plasmacytoid dendritic cells produce type I interferons
Authors: Bruni Daniela , Chazal Maxime , Sinigaglia Laura , Chauveau Lise , Schwartz Olivier , Desprès Philippe , Jouvenet Nolwenn
Published: March 2015

A population of dendritic cells can mount an antiviral response when exposed to virally infected cells or when infected themselves with RNA virus.
Control of IL-17 receptor signaling and tissue inflammation by the p38α–MKP-1 signaling axis in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Huang Gonghua , Wang Yanyan , Vogel Peter , Chi Hongbo
Published: March 2015

A cytokine released by infiltrating lymphocytes activates p38α-dependent signaling in the CNS in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
Channeling Ebola virus entry into the cell
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: March 2015

Ebola virus requires endosomal two-pore calcium channels to enter host cells.
Calcium regulator hidden in a long “noncoding” RNA
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: March 2015

Myoregulin is a micropeptide encoded in a long noncoding RNA and inhibits the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
pump in skeletal muscle.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Intravenous Cidofovir for Life-Threatening Viral Infections in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Caruso Brown Amy E. , Cohen Mindy N. , Tong Suhong , Braverman Rebecca S. , Rooney James F. , Giller Roger , Levin Myron J.
Published: March 2015

Children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at risk for life-threatening viral infections. Cidofovir is often used as a first-line agent for adenovirus infections, despite the absence of randomized controlled trials with HSCT patients, and as a second-line agent for resistant herpesvirus infections. The frequency and severity of adverse effects, particularly nephrotoxicity, in pediatric HSCT recipients are unclear, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of cidofovir in children have not previously been reported. This study was an open-label, nonrandomized, single-dose pilot study to determine the safety and PK of cidofovir in pediatric HSCT recipients with symptomatic adenovirus, nucleoside-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) or herpes simplex virus (HSV), and/or human papovavirus infections. Subsequent dosing and frequency were determined by clinical response and side effects, as assessed by the treating physician. Blood and urine samples were obtained from patients for PK studies and assessment of toxicity and virologic response. Twelve patients were enrolled (median age, 9 years; 33.5 days posttransplantation). Four of seven patients with adenovirus infection were successfully treated and eventually cleared their infections. Four of twelve patients died of disseminated viral disease and multiorgan failure. Two of twelve patients had evidence of acute kidney injury after the first dose, and one of these patients developed chronic kidney disease; two other patients developed late nephrotoxicity. The mean drug half-life was 9.5 h. There was no correlation between nephrotoxicity and plasma maximum concentration, clearance, or half-life. PK were similar to those reported for adults, although the drug half-life was significantly longer than that for adults. Cidofovir was well tolerated in the majority of patients. However, effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to support patients until immune reconstitution is achieved.
Heterogeneity of Genetic Pathways toward Daptomycin Nonsusceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus Determined by Adjunctive Antibiotics
Authors: Berti Andrew D. , Baines Sarah L. , Howden Benjamin P. , Sakoulas George , Nizet Victor , Proctor Richard A. , Rose Warren E.
Published: March 2015

Daptomycin is increasingly used in combination with other antibiotics to enhance antimicrobial efficacy and/or to mitigate the emergence of daptomycin nonsusceptibility (DNS). This study used a clinical methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) strain in which DNS emerged upon therapy to examine the influence of antibiotic combinations on the development of mutations in specific genes (
mprF
,
rpoBC
,
dltA
,
cls2
, and
yycFG
) previously associated with DNS. Whole genomes of bacteria obtained following 28 days of
in vitro
exposure to daptomycin with or without adjunctive clarithromycin, linezolid, oxacillin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were sequenced, and the sequences were compared to that of the progenitor isolate. The addition of oxacillin to medium containing daptomycin prevented the emergence of
mprF
mutation but did not prevent
rpoBC
mutation (
P
< 0.01). These isolates maintained susceptibility to daptomycin during the combined exposure (median MIC, 1 mg/liter). Daptomycin plus clarithromycin or linezolid resulted in low-level (1.5 to 8 mg/liter) and high-level (12 to 96 mg/liter) DNS, respectively, and did not prevent
mprF
mutation. However, these same combinations prevented
rpoBC
mutation. Daptomycin alone or combined with linezolid or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resulted in high-level DNS and mutations in
mprF
plus
rpoBC
,
cls2
, and
yycFG
. Combining daptomycin with different antimicrobials alters the mutational space available for DNS development, thereby favoring the development of predictable collateral susceptibilities.
CD4
+
T Cell Response Correlates with Naturally Acquired Antibodies against Plasmodium vivax Tryptophan-Rich Antigens
Authors: Zeeshan Mohammad , Tyagi Kriti , Sharma Yagya D.
Published: March 2015

Tryptophan-rich proteins play important biological functions for the
Plasmodium
parasite.
Plasmodium vivax
contains remarkably large numbers of such proteins belonging to the “Pv-fam-a” family that need to be characterized. Earlier, we reported the presence of memory T cells and naturally acquired antibodies against 15 of these proteins in
P. vivax
malaria-exposed individuals (M. Zeeshan, H. Bora, and Y. D. Sharma, J Infect Dis
207:
175–185, 2013,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jis650
). Here, we sought to characterize and ascertain the cross talk between effector responses of T and B cells in malarial patients against all Pv-fam-a family proteins. Therefore, we expressed the remaining 21 of these proteins in
Escherichia coli
and studied the humoral and cellular immune responses based on the same parameters used in our previous study. Naturally acquired IgG antibodies were detected against all 21 antigens in
P. vivax
patient sera (37.7 to 94.4% seropositivity). These antigens were able to activate the lymphocytes of
P. vivax
-exposed individuals, and the activated CD4
+
T lymphocytes produced higher levels of Th1 (interleukin-2 [IL-2] and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines than the healthy controls, but the response was Th2 biased. The combined results of present and previous studies seem to suggest a striking link between induction of the CD4
+
T cell response and naturally acquired antibodies against all 36 proteins of the Pv-fam-a family, the majority of them having conserved sequences in the parasite population. Further work is required to utilize this information to develop immunotherapeutic treatments for this disease.
Evidence that Biosynthesis of the Second and Third Sugars of the Archaellin Tetrasaccharide in the Archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis Occurs by the Same Pathway Used by Pseudomonas aeruginosa To Make a Di-N-Acetylated Sugar
Authors: Siu Sarah , Robotham Anna , Logan Susan M. , Kelly John F. , Uchida Kaoru , Aizawa Shin-Ichi , Jarrell Ken F.
Published: March 2015

Methanococcus maripaludishas two surface appendages, archaella and type IV pili, which are composed of glycoprotein subunits. Archaellins are modified with an N-linked tetrasaccharide with the structure Sug-1,4-β-ManNAc3NAmA6Thr-1,4-β-GlcNAc3NAcA-1,3-β-GalNAc, where Sug is (5S)-2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-5-O-methyl-α-l-erythro-hexos-5-ulo-1,5-pyranose. The pilin glycan has an additional hexose attached to GalNAc. In this study, genes located in two adjacent, divergently transcribed operons (mmp0350-mmp0354andmmp0359-mmp0355) were targeted for study based on annotations suggesting their involvement in biosynthesis of N-glycan sugars. Mutants carrying deletions inmmp0350,mmp0351,mmp0352, ormmp0353were nonarchaellated and synthesized archaellins modified with a 1-sugar glycan, as estimated from Western blots. Mass spectroscopy analysis of pili purified from the Δmmp0352strain confirmed a glycan with only GalNAc, suggestingmmp0350tommp0353were all involved in biosynthesis of the second sugar (GlcNAc3NAcA). The Δmmp0357mutant was archaellated and had archaellins with a 2-sugar glycan, as confirmed by mass spectroscopy of purified archaella, indicating a role for MMP0357 in biosynthesis of the third sugar (ManNAc3NAmA6Thr).M. maripaludismmp0350,mmp0351,mmp0352,mmp0353, andmmp0357are proposed to be functionally equivalent toPseudomonas aeruginosawbpABEDI, involved in converting UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to UDP-2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-d-mannuronic acid, an O5-specific antigen sugar. Cross-domain complementation of the final step of theP. aeruginosapathway withmmp0357supports this hypothesis.

IMPORTANCEThis work identifies a series of genes in adjacent operons that are shown to encode the enzymes that complete the entire pathway for generation of the second and third sugars of the N-linked tetrasaccharide that modifies archaellins ofMethanococcus maripaludis. This posttranslational modification of archaellins is important, as it is necessary for archaellum assembly. Pilins are modified with a different N-glycan consisting of the archaellin tetrasaccharide but with an additional hexose attached to the linking sugar. Mass spectrometry analysis of the pili of one mutant strain provided insight into how this different glycan might ultimately be assembled. This study includes a rare example of an archaeal gene functionally replacing a bacterial gene in a complex sugar biosynthesis pathway.
Oxygen-Dependent Regulation of Bacterial Lipid Production
Authors: Lemmer Kimberly C. , Dohnalkova Alice C. , Noguera Daniel R. , Donohue Timothy J.
Published: March 2015

Understanding the mechanisms of lipid accumulation in microorganisms is important for several reasons. In addition to providing insight into assembly of biological membranes, lipid accumulation has important applications in the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. The photosynthetic bacterium
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
is an attractive organism to study lipid accumulation, as it has the ability to increase membrane production at low O
2
tensions. Under these conditions,
R. sphaeroides
develops invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane to increase its membrane surface area for housing of the membrane-bound components of its photosynthetic apparatus. Here we use fatty acid levels as a reporter of membrane lipid content. We show that, under low-O
2
and anaerobic conditions, the total fatty acid content per cell increases 3-fold. We also find that the increases in the amount of fatty acid and photosynthetic pigment per cell are correlated as O
2
tensions or light intensity are changed. To ask if lipid and pigment accumulation were genetically separable, we analyzed strains with mutations in known photosynthetic regulatory pathways. While a strain lacking AppA failed to induce photosynthetic pigment-protein complex accumulation, it increased fatty acid content under low-O
2
conditions. We also found that an intact PrrBA pathway is required for low-O
2
-induced fatty acid accumulation. Our findings suggest a previously unknown role of
R. sphaeroides
transcriptional regulators in increasing fatty acid and phospholipid accumulation in response to decreased O
2
tension.

IMPORTANCE
Lipids serve important functions in living systems, either as structural components of membranes or as a form of carbon storage. Understanding the mechanisms of lipid accumulation in microorganisms is important for providing insight into the assembly of biological membranes and additionally has important applications in the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. In this study, we investigate the ability of
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
to increase membrane production at low O
2
tensions in order to house its photosynthetic apparatus. We demonstrate that this bacterium has a mechanism to increase lipid content in response to decreased O
2
tension and identify a transcription factor necessary for this response. This is significant because it identifies a transcriptional regulatory pathway that can increase microbial lipid content.
Novel Antibacterial Targets and Compounds Revealed by a High-Throughput Cell Wall Reporter Assay
Authors: Nayar Asha S. , Dougherty Thomas J. , Ferguson Keith E. , Granger Brett A. , McWilliams Lisa , Stacey Clare , Leach Lindsey J. , Narita Shin-ichiro , Tokuda Hajime , Miller Alita A. , Brown Dean G. , McLeod Sarah M.
Published: March 2015

A high-throughput phenotypic screen based on a
Citrobacter freundii
AmpC reporter expressed in
Escherichia coli
was executed to discover novel inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis, an attractive, well-validated target for antibiotic intervention. Here we describe the discovery and characterization of sulfonyl piperazine and pyrazole compounds, each with novel mechanisms of action.
E. coli
mutants resistant to these compounds display no cross-resistance to antibiotics of other classes. Resistance to the sulfonyl piperazine maps to LpxH, which catalyzes the fourth step in the synthesis of lipid A, the outer membrane anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To our knowledge, this compound is the first reported inhibitor of LpxH. Resistance to the pyrazole compound mapped to mutations in either LolC or LolE, components of the essential LolCDE transporter complex, which is required for trafficking of lipoproteins to the outer membrane. Biochemical experiments with
E. coli
spheroplasts showed that the pyrazole compound is capable of inhibiting the release of lipoproteins from the inner membrane. Both of these compounds have significant promise as chemical probes to further interrogate the potential of these novel cell wall components for antimicrobial therapy.

IMPORTANCE
The prevalence of antibacterial resistance, particularly among Gram-negative organisms, signals a need for novel antibacterial agents. A phenotypic screen using AmpC as a sensor for compounds that inhibit processes involved in Gram-negative envelope biogenesis led to the identification of two novel inhibitors with unique mechanisms of action targeting
Escherichia coli
outer membrane biogenesis. One compound inhibits the transport system for lipoprotein transport to the outer membrane, while the other compound inhibits synthesis of lipopolysaccharide. These results indicate that it is still possible to uncover new compounds with intrinsic antibacterial activity that inhibit novel targets related to the cell envelope, suggesting that the Gram-negative cell envelope still has untapped potential for therapeutic intervention.
The unmasking of a pyopericardium
Authors: Cracknell Benjamin Robert Syer , Ail Dhiraj
Published: March 2015

Pyopericardium is a rare condition with a high mortality rate in which infection propagates in the pericardial space, leading to a pus filled pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, which can cause cardiogenic shock and death. We present a case of a previously healthy woman of 52, who was admitted with a severe lower respiratory tract infection that eventually led to a pyopericardium. The diagnosis of pyopericardium was delayed due to masking of symptoms by her underlying infection, sepsis and an upper gastrointestinal bleed that the patient suffered during the admission, requiring an emergency gastroscopy. The pyopericardium was considered when ST elevation was seen on an ECG and an ECHO discovered a large pericardial effusion causing tamponade. An emergency pericardiocentesis drained frank pus. Treatment with intravenous antibiotics, frequent pericardial drainage and a pericardectomy led to an excellent outcome, and a full recovery.
Velocity dependence of eccentric strength in young and old men: the need for speed!
Authors: Power Geoffrey A. , Makrakos Demetri P. , Stevens Daniel E. , Rice Charles L. , Vandervoort Anthony A.
Published: March 2015

Older adults better maintain eccentric strength relative to isometric strength, as indicated by a higher ratio of eccentric:isometric torque as compared with younger adults. The effect of increasing angular velocities (>200°/s) on the age-related maintenance of eccentric strength has not been tested and thus it is unknown whether the eccentric:isometric ratio is velocity dependent in old age. The purpose of this study was to investigate eccentric strength of the ankle dorsiflexors over a large range of lengthening angular velocities in young and older men. Isometric neuromuscular properties were assessed on a HUMAC NORM dynamometer. Nine young (∼24 years) and 9 older (∼76 years) healthy men performed maximal voluntary eccentric contractions at angular velocities of 15–360°/s. Despite near full voluntary activation (>95%), the older men were ∼30% weaker than the young men for isometric strength (P < 0.05). Across all lengthening velocities, older men had a greater eccentric:isometric ratio than young men (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a velocity dependence of strength in both young and older men: eccentric strength increased as velocity increased up to 120°/s (P < 0.05) and plateaued thereafter. In young and older men, eccentric strength at 15°/s was ∼20% and ∼40% greater than isometric strength (P < 0.05), while at 360°/s eccentric strength was ∼50% and ∼90% greater, respectively (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that with increasing angular velocity, both young and older men have considerable increases in the eccentric:isometric ratio of torque production.
Influence of habitual high dietary fat intake on endothelium-dependent vasodilation
Authors: Dow Caitlin A. , Stauffer Brian L. , Greiner Jared J. , DeSouza Christopher A.
Published: March 2015

High-fat diets are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A potential underlying mechanism for the increased cardiovascular risk is endothelial dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO)-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation is critical in the regulation of vascular tone and overall vascular health. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of dietary fat intake on endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Forty-four middle-aged and older sedentary, healthy adults were studied: 24 consumed a lower fat diet (LFD; 29% ± 1% calories from fat) and 20 consumed a high-fat diet (HFD; 41% ± 1% calories from fat). Four-day diet records were used to assess fat intake, and classifications were based on American Heart Association guidelines (<35% of total calories from fat). Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to acetylcholine, in the absence and presence of the endothelial NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA), as well as responses to sodium nitroprusside were determined by plethysmography. The FBF response to acetylcholine was lower (∼15%; P < 0.05) in the HFD group (4.5 ± 0.2 to 12.1 ± 0.8 mL/100 mL tissue/min) than in the LFD group (4.6 ± 0.2 to 14.4 ± 0.6 mL/100 mL tissue/min). L-NMMA significantly reduced the FBF response to acetylcholine in the LFD group (∼25%) but not in the HFD group. There were no differences between groups in the vasodilator response to sodium nitroprusside. These data indicate that a high-fat diet is associated with endothelium-dependent vasodilator dysfunction due, in part, to diminished NO bioavailability. Impaired NO-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk with high dietary fat intake.
New structure, reconstruction, and behaviour of the coordination polymer framework [CuZn(CN)4]– towards hydrated alkali metal ions
Authors: Yamada Junpei , Nishikiori Shin-ichi
Published: March 2015

A new framework structure of the coordination polymer [CuZn(CN)4]– has been discovered in the newly synthesized [Na(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4] (n = 12.7; 1). X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed a 3D framework comprised of tetrahedral Cu(I) and Zn(II) centres with bridging cyanide ligands containing both octagonal and square channel cavities; these channels contain hydrated Na+ ions as guests. In open air, complex 1 is extremely unstable and loses water molecules to form [Na(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4] (n = 5.2–6.8; 2) within 30 min. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed that this change results in the conversion of the framework of complex 1 to the same framework observed in [K(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4]. The [CuZn(CN)4]– framework of [K(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4] has a tridymite structure with hexagonal channel cavities occupied by hydrated K+ ions. Like 1, 2 is also unstable under atmospheric conditions, yielding [Na(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4] (n = 3), which has an unknown structure. While the framework of [K(H2O)n][CuZn(CN)4] is structurally flexible and robust, the framework of 2 is unstable and fragile. This contrast comes from the difference between the nature of the hydrated K+ and Na+ ions present in the frameworks.
Numerical study on three-dimensional flow of nanofluid past a convectively heated exponentially stretching sheet
Authors: Khan Junaid Ahmad , Mustafa M. , Hayat T. , Alsaedi A.
Published: March 2015

A theoretical study on the boundary layer flow of nanofluid past a bi-directional exponentially stretching sheet is presented. Heat transfer analysis via convective boundary conditions is performed. Further, the recently proposed boundary condition by Kuznetsov and Nield (Int. J. Therm. Sci. 77, 126 (2014)) is considered, which requires nanoparticle volume fraction at the wall to be passively rather than actively controlled. The resultant boundary layer equations are non-dimensionalized and then solved for the numerical solutions. The results are found in excellent agreement with the existing studies in the literature. It is seen that the thermal boundary layer is largely influenced by the variations in the convective heating at the sheet. Moreover the nanoparticle volume fraction is found to be in the vicinity of the bounding surface.
Effects of geophagy on food intake, body mass, and nutrient dynamics of snowshoe hares (Lepusamericanus)
Authors: Worker S.B. , Kielland K. , Barboza P.S.
Published: March 2015

Geophagy is thought to have several physiological benefits to animals, including mineral supplementation and adsorption of toxins. However, these benefits have rarely been demonstrated experimentally. Using soil from a known lick in northern Alaska, we investigated the effect of geophagy on food intake and mass loss in captive snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fed a formulated ration of feltleaf willow leaves (Salix alaxensis (Andersson) Coville), a preferred forage of snowshoe hares. Lick soil contained 4.8% clay, 12.5% carbonates, and had more available Na (72.7 mg·kg−1) than willow leaves. Hares fed willow leaves consumed more soil (15.2 ± 2.0 g·kg–0.75·d−1) than those fed formulated ration (9.3 ± 1.3 g·kg–0.75·d−1). Hares had higher willow intake when offered soil (45.8 ± 2.0 g·kg–0.75·d−1) than those without soil (35.0 ± 2.1 g·kg–0.75·d−1), and willow-fed hares offered soil lost less body mass (P < 0.001) than those without soil. Soil availability resulted in higher digestible intakes of N, Ca, Mg, Na, and K, but not P. These results suggest that the availability of mineral licks may alter forage use and functional response of this generalist herbivore in interior Alaska.
Corwin–Greenleaf multiplicity functions for complex semisimple symmetric spaces
Authors: Nasrin Salma
Published: March 2015

Let Gℂbe a complex simple Lie group, GUa compact real form, and [Formula: see text] the natural projection between the dual of the Lie algebras. We prove that, for any coadjoint orbit [Formula: see text] of GU, the intersection of [Formula: see text] with a coadjoint orbit [Formula: see text] of Gℂis either an empty set or a single orbit of GUif [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to a complex symmetric space.
Higher-Order Regularized Kernel Canonical Correlation Analysis
Authors: Ashad Alam Md. , Fukumizu Kenji
Published: March 2015

It is well known that the performance of kernel methods depends on the choice of appropriate kernels and associated parameters. While cross-validation (CV) is a useful method of kernel and parameter choice for supervised learning such as the support vector machines, there are no general well-founded methods for unsupervised kernel methods. This paper discusses CV for kernel canonical correlation analysis (KCCA), and proposes a new regularization approach for KCCA. As we demonstrate with Gaussian kernels, the CV errors for KCCA tend to decrease as the bandwidth parameter of the kernel decreases, which provides inappropriate features with all the data concentrated in a few points. This is caused by the ill-posedness of the KCCA with the CV. To solve this problem, we propose to use constraints on the fourth-order moments of canonical variables in addition to the variances. Experiments on synthesized and real-world data demonstrate that the proposed higher-order regularized KCCA can be applied effectively with the CV to find appropriate kernel and regularization parameters.
Global Coherence Field and Distributed Particle Filter-Based Speaker Tracking in Distributed Microphone Networks
Authors: Zhang Qiaoling , Chen Zhe , Yin Fuliang
Published: March 2015

Based on the combination of global coherence field (GCF) and distributed particle filter (DPF) a speaker tracking method is proposed for distributed microphone networks in this paper. In the distributed microphone network, each node comprises a microphone pair, and its generalized cross-correlation (GCC) function is estimated. Based on the average over all local GCC observations, a global coherence field-based pseudo-likelihood (GCF-PL) function is developed as the likelihood for a DPF. In the proposed method, all nodes share an identical particle set, and each node performs local particle filtering simultaneously. In the local particle filter, the likelihood GCF-PL for each particle weight is computed with an average consensus algorithm. With an identical particle set and the consistent estimate of GCF-PL for each particle weight, all individual nodes possess a common particle presentation for the global posterior of the speaker state, which is utilized by each node for an estimated global speaker position. Employing the GCF-PL as the likelihood for DPF, no assumption is required about the independence of nodes observations as well as observation noise statistics. Additionally, only local information exchange occurs among neighboring nodes; and finally each node has a global estimate of the speaker position. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Melville Corporate Finance, Inc.
Authors: Lanney Andrew Ray , Ensign Prescott C.
Published: March 2015

Melville Corporate Finance, Inc. (Melville) is approached by a Canadian bottling equipment manufacturer to provide $3.4 million of capital investment foreign buyer financing to their customer, a rapidly expanding Chinese bottling company. The Chinese company needs to purchase the equipment and increase its production capacity to secure long-term, multi-million dollar contracts with Pepsi and Coca-Cola in Thailand. With very short deadlines, Melville's CEO works with Export Development Canada (EDC) to assess the risks involved in offering full financing and insurance for the Chinese bottler, and must keep in mind that the Canadian manufacturer will lose the sale if the financing does not get approved. The deal presents several challenges to Melville; an unknown foreign buyer with no proven credit history, language and communication barriers, geographic distance, incongruent accounting standards, etc. As the risk variables emerge, both Melville and EDC must decide if the stakes are too high to support the transaction.
MCM of Sung Joo Group: An MCM Licensee Wrote a Creation Myth in the Luxury Industry
Authors: Choi Eun Jung
Published: March 2015

In 1994, Sung Joo International was an international distributor of premium and luxury fashion brands in Korea. During that time, Sung Joo International successfully built partnerships with designers such as Gucci, Sonia Rykiel, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) and Mode Creations Munich (MCM) until 1999. Due to the premillennial global financial crisis, Sung Joo International strategically terminated all their international distribution agreements in 1999 — except their agreement with MCM. The brand gained notoriety among Korean, female college students within the masstige handbag market. Therefore, Sung Joo International acted as the official MCM licensee in Korea, from 2000 to 2004. Based upon a $4 million increase in sales volume, the Sung Joo Group purchased MCM in 2005 with the intent of transforming it into a full-fledged, global luxury brand.

Since 2005, the Sung Joo Group has successfully molded MCM into an emerging, semi-luxury brand of iconic leather goods in China, the United States, Korea and Europe. Several innovative steps, such as new product designs, competitive pricing strategies, remerchandising, retail store expansions and collaborative marketing, preceded their entry into the international market. Such steps have been important for the elevation of MCM's brand prestige.

The public image of Sung Joo Kim, founder and chairperson of Sung Joo International, has been vital to the rebuilding of MCM's brand image. Under her leadership, Sung Joo International was officially dubbed the “Sung Joo Group.” Her presence in news media and MCM advertisements has since broadened MCM's aspirational appeal.

MCM is currently valued at $320 to $400 million, exceeding the $250 million in sales during MCM's 1993 preacquisition height. Within 5 years, Sung Joo Kim expects MCM to become a luxury brand that will be competitive with more established brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
Kraft Foods, Inc. in India — The Cadbury Acquisition
Authors: Pai V. S. , Subramanian Ram
Published: March 2015

When the United States-based Kraft Foods, Inc. (KFI) acquired the United Kingdom-based Cadbury plc, KFI got entry into the Indian market. KFI CEO, Irene Rosenfeld had targeted the developing markets as key for the company to achieve a 5% organic growth rate and the strong position of Cadbury India augured well for expanding KFI's presence in that market. However, after nearly a year since the acquisition, KFI was moving slowly in India and appeared content to consolidate Cadbury's market presence. Anand Kripalu, President of KFI South Asia and Indo-China and Managing Director of Cadbury India was to meet his superiors to present his strategic plan for the India operations. He had a critical decision to make regarding whether to continue consolidating the Cadbury brand in India or use Cadbury's strong market presence to launch brands from KFI's global portfolio.
Visible fluorescence of biological fluids as a renal failure marker: New integrative approach
Authors: Kuznetsov Artur I. , Frorip Aleksander , Kozlova Jekaterina , Nagirnyi Vitali , Ots-Rosenberg Mai , Romet Ivo , Sünter Alar
Published: March 2015

Solid phases of visible fluorescence substance (VFS) of biological fluids (blood, urine, hemodialysate) which was proposed earlier as a morbidity and mortality marker by renal failure and diabetes were investigated in-depth by the methods of electron and confocal microscopy, optical spectroscopy and matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) mass spectroscopy. It is shown that dry VFS exists predominantly in the form of carbon–oxygen–nitrogen (N ≈ 8.7 wt .%) nanoparticles (NPs) (5 ≤ d ≤ 100 nm ). For the first time the existence of the threshold energy Eg ≈ 2.15 eV for excitation of VFS was observed experimentally and confirmed by semi-empirical calculations of the bathochromic shift. A good accordance with the earlier autonomous theoretical calculations was achieved. Thus, the long wavelength limit (575 nm) of the spectral range where the VFS can be used as a fluorescent marker was reliably determined. A pilot MALDI comparative study of graphene oxide (GO) and urine VFS was carried out. Six kinds of nitrogen-free particles (412 ≤ M ≤ 456 Da ) were observed in each substance and possible computer models of those have been composed. It is established that along with nitrogen-containing advanced glycation end products (AGEs) also nitrogen-free carbon–oxygen–hydrogen particles (probably toxic) with the composition and structure related to GO can exist in biofluids. Both types of particles should be taken into account in search for the reasons of high mortality among end stage renal disease patients.
Numerical interpretation of gas-injection tests at different scales
Authors: Shao Hua , Xu Wenjie , Marschall Paul , Kolditz Olaf , Hesser Jürgen
Published: March 2015

To investigate gas-migration processes in saturated low-permeability argillaceous rocks, gas-injection tests under different injection pressures were carried out at different scales: on core samples at the laboratory scale; in the packed-off section of boreholes at the borehole scale (HG-B); and in the sealed microtunnel at the tunnel scale (HG-A) – a 1:2 scale experiment at the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory, Switzerland. All three tests at the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory involved Opalinus Clay. A fully coupled hydromechanical model has been developed that takes account of elastic and plastic anisotropies, anisotropic two-phase flow based on the van Genuchten function, and permeability changes when evaluating the experimental data. Two different flow regimes were studied: two-phase flow under low gas-injection pressure and dilatancy-controlled gas flow under high gas-injection pressure above the confining pressure in the laboratory experiment or the minimal principal stress
in situ
. When dealing with the dilatancy-controlled gas-flow regime, special consideration was made by applying two permeability approaches in which (i) the permeability change was pore-gas-pressure dependent and (ii) where the permeability change was deformation dependent.

Using the parameter values determined by laboratory data, the
in situ
borehole tests obtained under well-defined hydromechanical conditions could be analysed accordingly. The gas-flow regime in large-scale experiments, as in the case of HG-A, is mainly governed by experimental circumstances: in this case, the excavation-induced fractures around an opening with a permeability four order of magnitude higher than that in the undisturbed rock mass.
Application of a new method for rapid quality assessment of renewable aggregate resources in alpine regions
Authors: Pfleiderer S. , Heinrich M. , Rabeder J. , Reitner H. , Untersweg T. , Wimmer-Frey I.
Published: March 2015

Alluvial fans, valley fills and debris cones represent economically significant, natural aggregate resources in the alpine regions of Austria. Due to continual erosion they constitute renewable sources of sand and gravel. However, knowledge of their petrographic properties and resulting aggregate quality is scant. An automated evaluation method was developed to estimate petrographic characteristics and predict resource suitability. This method makes use of the fact that the properties of a gravel deposit depend on the morphology and geology of the provenance area. Area percentages of geological units in the source area were expected to mirror the litho-spectrum of the gravel resource. Petrographic analysis of 13 field samples shows that this is indeed the case. Discrepancies amount to 0–10%; larger deviations occur for grain size fractions <2 mm in the presence of soft rock types such as mica-schist or paragneiss. Forecasts of aggregate quality on the basis of lithological composition and grain size characteristics were compared to operational data of five gravel pits. The actual usage of the material agrees with predictions in four out of the five cases.
Fully Automatic, Omnidirectional Acquisition of Geometry and Appearance in the Context of Cultural Heritage Preservation
Authors: Nöll Tobias , Köhler Johannes , Reis Gerd , Stricker Didier
Published: March 2015

Effective documentation and display of ancient objects is an essential task in the field of cultural heritage conservation. Digitization plays an important role in the process of creating, preserving, and accessing objects in digital space. Up to the present day, industrial scanners are used for this task, which focus mainly on the detailed reconstruction of the object’s geometry only. However, particularly important for a faithful digital presentation of the object is the appearance information—that is, a description of the used materials and how they interact with incident light. Using the world’s first full-spherical scanner, we propose a user-friendly reconstruction process that is specifically tailored to the needs of digitizing and representing cultural heritage artifacts. More precisely, our hardware specifically addresses the problem that invaluable or fragile artifacts may not be turned over during acquisition. Nevertheless, we can digitize the object completely, including its bottom. Further, by integrating appearance information into our digitization, we achieve a far more faithful digital replica with a quality comparable to a real picture of the object. But in contrast to a static picture, our representation allows one to interactively change the viewing and lighting directions freely. In addition, the results are very memory efficient, consuming only several megabytes per scanned object. In cooperation with museums and a private collector, we digitized several cultural heritage artifacts to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed process.
Wireless Fingerprints Inside a Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Knox D. A. , Kunz T.
Published: March 2015

We discriminate between different SiLabs IEEE 802.15.4 2.4GHz RF sources using the Ettus Labs USRP1 Software-Defined Radio. The wireless fingerprinting method implemented on the USRP1 device exploits differences in the phase attributes of demodulated data samples. The method does not require the use of expensive spectrum analyzer equipment and the associated high sampling and processing rates with such equipment. Instead, data sample inputs are used, sampled at a rate of 4MHz. This makes implementation using real Wireless Sensor Network nodes feasible and allows wireless fingerprints to be gathered inside each node in a network. This is important since wireless fingerprints degrade over distance, making distributed implementations more attractive. With our method, the USRP1 classifies accurately over a wide range of network conditions, including time and transmission distance. Performance is also stable for different receiving devices. We achieve average classification accuracies of 99.6% at short range, 95.3% at medium range, and 81.9% at long range when classifying a limited sample of five devices from the same manufacturer.
A Hybrid Approach to Answering Why-Not Questions on Relational Query Results
Authors: Herschel Melanie
Published: March 2015

In analyzing and debugging data transformations, or more specifically relational queries, a subproblem is to understand why some data are not part of the query result. This problem has recently been addressed from different perspectives for various fragments of relational queries. The different perspectives yield different yet complementary explanations of such
missing answers
.

This article first aims at unifying the different approaches by defining a new type of explanation, called
hybrid
explanation, that encompasses the variety of previously defined types of explanations. This solution goes beyond simply forming the union of explanations produced by different algorithms and is shown to be able to explain a larger set of missing answers. Second, we present
Conseil
, an algorithm to generate hybrid explanations.
Conseil
is also the first algorithm to handle nonmonotonic queries. Experiments on efficiency and explanation quality show that
Conseil
is comparable and even outperforms previous algorithms.

This article extends a previous short conference paper by providing proofs, additional theorems, and a detailed discussion of each step of the
Conseil
algorithm. It also significantly extends the experimental evaluation on efficiency and explanation quality.
The Dream and the Cross
Authors: Leoni Chiara , Callieri Marco , Dellepiane Matteo , O’donnell Daniel Paul , Turco Roberto Rosselli Del , Scopigno Roberto
Published: March 2015

The Dream of the Rood
is one of the earliest Christian poems in Old English and an example of the genre of dream poetry. While a complete text can be found in the 10th-century “Vercelli Book,” the poem is considerably older, and its oldest occurrence is carved (in runes) on the 7- to 8th-century Ruthwell Stone Cross. In this article, we present the work done in the framework of the “Visionary Cross” project, starting from the digitization of the Ruthwell Cross to the creation of a web-based digital edition of
The Dream of the Rood
, as it is carved on the Cross. The 3D data has been collected and processed with the explicit aim of creating a multimedia framework able to present the highly detailed digital model acquired with 3D scanning technology, together with the transcription and translation of the runes that can be found on its surface. The textual and spatial information are linked through a system of bidirectional links called Spots, which allow the users to navigate freely over the multimedia content, keeping the 3D and textual data synchronized. The present work discusses the different issues that arose during the work, from digitization and processing to the design of a tool for the integration of three-dimensional content in the context of the presentation on the web platform of heterogeneous multimedia data. We end with the difficulties involved in the creation of an XML encoding that could account for the necessities of the visualization system but remain within the scholarly encoding standards of the relevant disciplinary community.
Synthesis of Complex Image Appearance from Limited Exemplars
Authors: Diamanti Olga , Barnes Connelly , Paris Sylvain , Shechtman Eli , Sorkine-Hornung Olga
Published: March 2015

Editing materials in photos opens up numerous opportunities like turning an unappealing dirt ground into luscious grass and creating a comfortable wool sweater in place of a cheap t-shirt. However, such edits are challenging. Approaches such as 3D rendering and BTF rendering can represent virtually everything, but they are also data intensive and computationally expensive, which makes user interaction difficult. Leaner methods such as texture synthesis are more easily controllable by artists, but also more limited in the range of materials that they handle, for example, grass and wool are typically problematic because of their non-Lambertian reflectance and numerous self-occlusions. We propose a new approach for editing of complex materials in photographs. We extend the texture-by-numbers approach with ideas from texture interpolation. The inputs to our method are coarse user annotation maps that specify the desired output, such as the local scale of the material and the illumination direction. Our algorithm then synthesizes the output from a discrete set of annotated exemplars. A key component of our method is that it can cope with missing data, interpolating information from the available exemplars when needed. This enables production of satisfying results involving materials with complex appearance variations such as foliage, carpet, and fabric from only one or a couple of exemplar photographs.
Yield Improvement for 3D Wafer-to-Wafer Stacked ICs Using Wafer Matching
Authors: Taouil Mottaqiallah , Hamdioui Said , Marinissen Erik Jan
Published: March 2015

Three-Dimensional Stacked IC (3D-SIC) using Through-Silicion Vias (TSVs) is an emerging technology that provides heterogeneous integration, higher performance, and lower power consumption compared to traditional ICs. Stacking 3D-SICs using Wafer-to-Wafer (W2W) has several advantages such as high stacking throughput, high TSV density, and the ability to handle thin wafers and small dies. However, it suffers from low-compound yield as the stacking of good dies on bad dies and vice versa cannot be prevented. This article investigates wafer matching as a means for yield improvement. It first defines a complete wafer matching framework consisting of different scenarios, each a combination of a
matching process
(defines the order of wafer selection), a
matching criterion
(defines whether good or bad dies are matched),
wafer rotation
(defines either wafers are rotated or not), and a repository type. The
repository type
specifies whether either the repository is filled immediately after each wafer selection (i.e., running repository) or after all wafers are matched (i.e., static repository). A mapping of prior work on the framework shows that existing research has mainly explored scenarios based on static repositories. Therefore, the article analyzes scenarios based on running repositories. Simulation results show that scenarios based on running repositories improve the compound yield with up to 13.4% relative to random W2W stacking; the improvement strongly depends on the number of stacked dies, die yield, repository size, as well as on the used matching process. Moreover, the results reveal that scenarios based on running repositories outperform those of static repositories in terms of yield improvement at significant runtime reduction (three orders of magnitude) and lower memory complexity (from exponential to linear in terms of stack size).