bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of over 100 scanner‐years of computed tomography daily quality control data
Authors: Nute Jessica L. , Rong John , Stevens Donna M. , Darensbourg Brandan J. , Cheng Jing , Wei Wei , Hobbs Brian P. , Cody Dianna D.
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

The results of a long‐term, comprehensive CT quality control (QC) program were analyzed to investigate differences in failure rates based on QC test, scanner utilization pattern, and number of channels, as well as explore issues regarding testing frequency.

Methods:

CT QC data were collected over a 4‐yr period for 26 CT scanners representing two different vendors and using three different QC programs culminating in over 100 scanner‐years of QC data. QC tests analyzed included water tests [mean CT number, standard deviation, and uniformity], linearity tests [air, water, and acrylic], and artifact analysis [water phantom and large phantom]. The data were organized based on scanner use, number of channels, scanner modality, and QC test. Logistic regression model analysis with generalized estimating equation method was used to estimate failure rates for each group.

Results:

A significant difference between failure rates with respect to QC test was found (p‐value = 0.02). Large phantom artifacts, standard deviation of water, and water phantom artifacts had the three highest failure rates. No significant difference was found between failure rates organized by scanner use, scanner modality, or number of channels.

Conclusions:

Standard deviation of water is the most important quantitative value to collect as part of a daily QC program. Uniformity and linearity tests have relatively low failure rates and, therefore, may not require daily verification. While its failure rates were moderate, daily artifact analysis is suggested due to its potentially high impact on clinical image quality. Weekly or monthly large phantom artifact analysis is encouraged for those sites possessing an appropriate phantom.
Respiration‐based sorting of dynamic MRI to derive representative 4D‐MRI for radiotherapy planning
Authors: Tryggestad Erik , Flammang Aaron , Han‐Oh Sarah , Hales Russell , Herman Joseph , McNutt Todd , Roland Teboh , Shea Steven M. , Wong John
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

Current pretreatment, 4D imaging techniques are suboptimal in that they sample breathing motion over a very limited “snap‐shot” in time. To potentially address this, the authors have developed a longer‐duration MRI and postprocessing technique to derive the average or most‐probable state of mobile anatomy and meanwhile capture and convey the observed motion variability.

Methods:

Sagittal and coronal multislice, 2D dynamic MRI was acquired in a sequential fashion over extended durations in two abdominal and four lung studies involving healthy volunteers. Two sequences, readily available on a commercial system, were employed. Respiratory interval‐correlated, or 4D‐MRI, volumes were retrospectively derived using a two‐pass approach. In a first pass, a respiratory trace acquired simultaneous with imaging was processed and slice stacking was used to derive a set of MRI volumes, each representing an equal time or proportion of respiration. Herein, all raw 2D frames mapping to the given respiratory interval, per slice location, were averaged. In a second‐pass, this prior reconstruction provided a set of template images and a similarity metric was employed to discern the subset of best‐matching raw 2D frames for secondary averaging (per slice location and respiratory interval). Breathing variability (per respiratory interval and slice location) was depicted by computing both a maximum intensity projection as well as a pixelwise standard deviation image.

Results:

These methods were successfully demonstrated in both the lung and abdomen for both applicable sequences, performing reconstructions with ten respiratory intervals. The first‐pass (average) resulted in motion‐induced blurring, especially for irregular breathing. The authors have demonstrated qualitatively that the second‐pass result can mitigate this blurring.

Conclusions:

They have presented a novel methodology employing dMRI to derive representative 4D‐MRI. This set of techniques are practical in that (1) they employ MRI sequences that are standard across commercial vendors; (2) the 2D imaging planes can be oriented onto an arbitrary axis (e.g., sagittal, coronal, axial…); (3) the image processing techniques are relatively simple. Systematically applying this and similar dMRI‐based techniques in patients is a crucial next step to demonstrate efficacy beyond CT‐only based practice.
Impaired α-TTP-PIPs Interaction Underlies Familial Vitamin E Deficiency
Authors: Kono Nozomu , Ohto Umeharu , Hiramatsu Tatsufumi , Urabe Michiko , Uchida Yasunori , Satow Yoshinori , Arai Hiroyuki
Published: April 2013

Vitamin E Out

Familial vitamin E deficiency is caused by mutations in the α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) gene.

Kono
et al.

(p.
1106
, published online 18 April; see the Perspective by

Mesmin and Antonny

) studied natural mutations in α-TTP. α-TTP bound phosphatidylinositol polyphosphates (PIPs), especially PI(4,5)P2, and a disease-related missense mutation abolished PIP binding but not α-tocopherol binding. The x-ray crystal structure of the α-TTP–PIP complex suggested that PIP binding opens the lid of the α-tocopherol–binding pocket to facilitate the release of α-tocopherol. Thus, PIP binding to α-TTP at the target membrane may facilitate the release of α-tocopherol in the hydrophobic pocket of α-TTP to the lipid bilayer of the target membrane, providing a mechanism for the transfer of lipids from the lipid-transfer protein to the target membrane.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Recombinant Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Strain from Eastern China
Authors: Li Bin , Liu Haofei , He Kongwang , Guo Rongli , Ni Yanxiu , Du Luping , Wen Libin , Zhang Xuehan , Yu Zhengyu , Zhou Junming , Mao Aihua , Lv Lixin , Hu Yiyi , Yu Yang , Zhu Haodan , Wang Xiaomin
Published: April 2013

A field porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strain, JS2008, was isolated from stool samples of a piglet with acute diarrhea on a vaccinated farm in eastern China. We sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of strain JS2008, which will help increase our understanding of the molecular characteristics of the epidemic PEDV in China.
Genome Sequence of a Freshwater Low-Nucleic-Acid-Content Bacterium, Betaproteobacterium Strain CB
Authors: Hao Zhenyu , Li Lei , Liu Jie , Ren Yan , Wang Lei , Bartlam Mark , Egli Thomas , Wang Yingying
Published: April 2013

Betaproteobacterium strain CB is a typical minute freshwater bacterium, representing the small-cell bacteria that are numerically dominant in most freshwater environments. The genome of betaproteobacterium CB consists of a circular 2,045,720-bp chromosome, and the information we report will provide insights into the mechanisms underlying its survival and ecological function.
Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma columbinum Strain SF7
Authors: Guo Zisheng , Xu Xiaolong , Zheng Qian , Li Tingting , Kuang Shichang , Zhang Zongde , Chen Yushan , Lu Xidong , Zhou Rui , Bi Dingren , Jin Hui
Published: April 2013

Mycoplasma columbinum
is a member of nonglycolytic
Mycoplasma
species which can hydrolyze arginine. Increasingly research has revealed that
M. columbinum
is associated with respiratory disease of pigeons and that the respiratory disease symptoms could be eliminated via the use of mycoplasma treatment medicine. Here we report the genome sequence of
M. columbinum
strain SF7, which is the first genome report for
M. columbinum.
Changes in Skin Surface Temperature at An Acupuncture Point with Moxibustion
Authors: Lin Li-Mei , Wang Shu-Fang , Lee Ru-Ping , Hsu Bang-Gee , Tsai Nu-Man , Peng Tai-Chu
Published: April 2013

Objective

This study evaluates the thermographic changes associated with moxa burner moxibustion at the SP6 acupuncture point to establish an appropriate, safe distance of efficacy for moxibustion.

Methods

Baseline temperature changes using a moxa burner were obtained for a paper substrate at various distances and times, and the tested with volunteers in a pilot study. A single-group trial was then conducted with 36 healthy women to monitor temperature changes on the body surface at the acupuncture point (SP6).

Results

Based on the temperature changes seen for the paper substrate and in the pilot study, a distance of 3 cm was chosen as the intervention distance. Moxibustion significantly increased the SP6 point skin surface temperature, with a peak increase of 11°C at 4 min (p <0.001). This study also found that during moxibustion the temperature of the moxa burner's rubber layer and moxa cautery were 56.9±0.9°C and 65.8±1.2°C, as compared to baseline values of 35.1°C and 43.8°C (p<0.001).

Conclusions

We determined 3 cm was a safe distance between the moxa burner and acupuncture point. Moxibustion can increase the skin surface temperature at the SP6 point. This data will aid traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners in gauging safer treatment distances when using moxibustion treatments.
Surgical removal of mandibular tori and its use as an autogenous graft
Authors: Rastogi Khushboo , Verma Santosh Kumar , Bhushan Rajarshi
Published: April 2013

While there is a hereditary component to tori, this does not explain all cases. Tori tend to appear more frequently during middle age of life. Certain ethnic groups are more prone to one torus or the other. Torus is mainly removed owing to prosthodontic reasons, as it may also be used as biomaterial, not only in periodontology, but also in implantology. This case report deals with the surgical removal of mandibular tori and is thereby improving clinical implications and serving as an adequate autogenous bone graft.
Trichilemmal carcinoma: an unusual presentation of a rare cutaneous lesion
Authors: Wilkie Mark David , Munir Nazia , Roland Nicholas J , Lancaster Jeffrey
Published: April 2013

Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm which is derived from adnexal keratinocytes, is histologically invasive, contains cytologically atypical clear cell neoplasm and is in continuity with the epidermis and/or follicular epithelium. However, the diagnostic criteria and even the existence of TC have been contentious. We report the case of a 92-year-old woman with TC of the head and neck region who presented with an unusually long history. She was treated successfully with wide local excision. Important aspects in presentation, differential diagnosis, including histopathological features and management are discussed.
Streptococcus bovis-related cholecystitis
Authors: McCarthy Deering Eoin , Muravec Zlatko , Castineira Constantino Fiuza , O'Donoghue Gerry
Published: April 2013

Acute cholecystitis is a common inflammatory condition of the gallbladder caused most commonly byEscherichia coli,Enterococcus, andKlebsiellaorganisms. Streptococcus bovisis a Gram-positive, catalase-negative, anaerobic coccus found as a commensal inhabitant of the digestive system in 16% of healthy people. We report a rare case of acute cholecystitis caused byS bovisand discuss its implications with regard to the two knownS bovisbiotypes (I & II) both of which are associated with a number of other gastrointestinal diseases.
Periprosthetic metastasis: a rare cause for prosthetic loosening
Authors: Nagy Mathias Thomas , Young Andrew Fred , Gorgees Neshteman , Barrington Richard Lawrence
Published: April 2013

Malignant periprosthetic metastasis is a very rare yet important cause of painful joint arthroplasty. This study presents a case in which periprosthetic osteolysis following total hip replacement (THR) occurred as a result of metastatic mesothelioma. After a THR and revision THR, histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic mesothelioma. Primary lesion was identified using CT scan of the chest. Patient is receiving palliative chemotherapy.
Pseudochylothorax and diaphragmatic weakness secondary to a misplaced central venous catheter
Authors: Puttagunta Hari Krishna , Seneviratne Chanaka , Kupfer Yizhak , Tessler Sidney
Published: April 2013

A 20-year-old woman admitted with an aspirin overdose was encephalopathic and was intubated for airway protection. Under sonographic guidance, a right internal jugular central venous catheter was inserted for volume resuscitation. She was agitated and required treatment with a propofol infusion. Her salicylate levels improved and she was successfully extubated 12 h after intubation. One day later she developed severe dyspnoea and a right-sided pleural effusion and required immediate reintubation. The effusion was drained and was consistent with a chylothorax. A CT scan of the chest revealed that the central venous catheter traversed the mediastinum with its tip in the right pleural space. The propofol infusion was draining into the pleural space. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed to drain the pleural effusion and repair the punctured vessel. She was extubated within a day and discharged home 1 day later without any pleural fluid.
Combined endodontic therapy and periapical surgery with MTA and bone graft in treating palatogingival groove
Authors: Mittal Mudit , Vashisth Pallavi , Arora Rachita , Dwivedi Swati
Published: April 2013

A 37-year-old male patient reported to our department with chief complaint of pain and pus discharge from the labial marginal gingiva in the maxillary right lateral incisor region since last 4 months. Clinically, the tooth was hypersensitive to percussion and palpation but failed to respond to pulp sensitivity testing. After periodontal probing, a palatal groove was observed which started at the cingulum and travelled apically and laterally, associated with a pocket depth of 8 mm. Occlusal radiograph showed circumscribed radiolucency measuring 5 mm×7 mm in diameter at the apex of the tooth. A clinical diagnosis of chronic apical abscess was established. The case was treated with a combination of mineral trioxide aggregate and bone graft. At the 6-month follow-up visit, the tooth showed progressive healing without sinus track and sulcular bleeding.
Steroid-responsive depression
Authors: Normann Claus , Frase Lukas , Berger Mathias , Nissen Christoph
Published: April 2013

A 48-year-old man presented with long-standing symptoms of major depression in the absence of markedly abnormal neurological findings or structural brain alterations. Antidepressive treatment, including medication and psychotherapy, had not led to significant improvement. The EEG, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and neuropsychological testing showed pathological findings. An epileptic state provided further evidence for an organic encephalopathy. Extensively elevated thyroid-antibodies in the serum and CSF, as well as the rapid and sustained recovery after intravenous treatment with prednisolone, pointed to the diagnosis of a primarily psychiatric manifestation of a steroid responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT).
Sprengel's deformity: association with musculoskeletal dysfunctions and tethered cord syndrome
Authors: Mittal Nimish , Majumdar Ritu , Chauhan Sonal , Acharjya Minati
Published: April 2013

Sprengel's deformity is a rare and complex congenital deformity of the shoulder girdle. The deformity commonly occurs sporadically, though in combination with other congenital anomalies, such as congenital scoliosis, fusion of cervical vertebrae, and conditions like Klippel-Feil syndrome may coexist. We report a case of a 14-year-old girl with bilateral Sprengel's deformity presenting with a progressive bilateral lower limb weakness and gait abnormality. Radiological investigations demonstrated multiple musculoskeletal abnormalities on x-ray and lumbar spina bifida occulta causing tethering of the cord on MRI. The patient consulted neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, who recommended no operative intervention and conservative management till the end of growth spurt. Therefore, we prescribed a home-based exercise regimen to strengthen the periscapular and intrinsic foot muscles. Although rare, Sprengel's deformity can be associated with other musculoskeletal abnormalities including lumbar spina bifida and comprehensive neurological examination should not be ignored as it is much more than a cosmetic problem.
Ciprofloxacin-associated choreoathetosis in a haemodialysis patient
Authors: Abdalla Ahad , Ramly Shazrul , Boers Peter , Casserly Liam
Published: April 2013

This report describes a case of drug-associated choreoathetosis in a patient receiving ciprofloxacin. A 72-year-old haemodialysis patient presented with a 4-day history of progressive weakness, restlessness and involuntary movements of all limbs. He had been prescribed ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for a lower respiratory tract infection 7 days previously. He had generalised choreoathetosis affecting both upper and lower limbs. The temporal relationship with drug exposure and a dose which was on the upper limit for his renal impairment implicated ciprofloxacin as the culprit. His symptoms completely resolved within 1 week of drug withdrawal and never recurred subsequently.
Melioidosis in a returning traveller
Authors: Ismail Alaa , Buckley Adam , Dubrey Simon William
Published: April 2013

A 66-year-old man returned to the UK from Thailand with a 2-week history of new confusion, hallucinations, fever with rigours and productive cough. He had not responded to (unspecified) antibiotic treatment in Thailand. On examination he was afebrile, with an abbreviated mental test score of 8/10 and no other findings on systemic examination. He was treated with ceftriaxone in response to discovery of a Gram-negative organism in blood. This was converted to meropenem on the clinical suspicion of our microbiologist, on the basis of a history of contact with surface water in the Far East. A blood culture subsequently confirmedBurkholderia pseudomallei. His condition remained stable for approximately 4 days, but then deteriorated over the course of the next 2 weeks with pneumonia and subsequent formation of disseminated abscesses. Treatment was withdrawn as his condition deteriorated to the point at which survival was deemed impossible and he subsequently died.
Schizophrenia is associated with excess multiple physical-health comorbidities but low levels of recorded cardiovascular disease in primary care: cross-sectional study
Authors: Smith Daniel J , Langan Julie , McLean Gary , Guthrie Bruce , Mercer Stewart W
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess the nature and extent of physical-health comorbidities in people with schizophrenia and related psychoses compared with controls.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

314 primary care practices in Scotland.

Participants

9677 people with a primary care record of schizophrenia or a related psychosis and 1 414 701 controls. Main outcome measures Primary care records of 32 common chronic physical-health conditions and combinations of one, two and three or more physical-health comorbidities adjusted for age, gender and deprivation status.

Results

Compared with controls, people with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to have one physical-health comorbidity (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27), two physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.44) and three or more physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.27). Rates were highest for viral hepatitis (OR 3.98, 95% CI 2.81 to 5.64), constipation (OR 3.24, 95% CI 3.00 to 4.49) and Parkinson's disease (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.42 to 3.88) but people with schizophrenia had lower recorded rates of cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.73), hypertension (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.76), coronary heart disease (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.71) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.97).

Conclusions

People with schizophrenia have a wide range of comorbid and multiple physical-health conditions but are less likely than people without schizophrenia to have a primary care record of cardiovascular disease. This suggests a systematic under-recognition and undertreatment of cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia, which might contribute to substantial premature mortality observed within this patient group.
Acute kidney injury is independently associated with death in patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Scott Robert A , Austin Andrew S , Kolhe Nitin V , McIntyre Chris W , Selby Nicholas M
Published: April 2013

Background and aims

Current creatine-based criteria for defining acute kidney injury (AKI) are validated in general hospitalised patients but their application to cirrhotics (who are younger and have reduced muscle mass) is less certain. We aimed to evaluate current definitions of AKI (acute kidney injury network (AKIN) criteria) in a population of cirrhotic patients and correlate this with outcomes.

Methods

We prospectively identified patients with AKI and clinical, radiological or histological evidence of cirrhosis. We compared them with a control group with evidence of cirrhosis and no AKI.

Results

162 cirrhotic patients were studied with a mean age of 56.8±14 years. They were predominantly male (65.4%) with alcoholic liver disease (78.4%). 110 patients had AKI: 44 stage 1, 32 stage 2 and 34 stage 3. They were well matched in age, sex and liver disease severity with 52 cirrhotics without AKI. AKI was associated with increased mortality (31.8% vs 3.8%, p<0.001). Mortality increased with each AKI stage; 3.8% in cirrhotics without AKI, 13.5% stage 1, 37.8% stage 2 and 43.2% stage 3 (p<0.001 for trend). Worsening liver disease (Child–Pugh class) correlated with increased mortality: 3.1% class A, 23.6% class B and 32.8% class C (p=0.006 for trend). AKI was associated with increased length of stay: median 6.0 days (IQR 4.0–8.75) versus 16.0 days (IQR 6.0–27.5), p<0.001. Multivariate analysis identified AKI and Child–Pugh classes B and C as independent factors associated with mortality.

Conclusions

The utility of AKIN criteria is maintained in cirrhotic patients. Decompensated liver disease and AKI appear to be independent variables predicting death in cirrhotics.
Abiotic and biotic factors associated with brook trout invasiveness into bull trout streams of the Canadian Rockies
Authors: Warnock Will G. , Rasmussen Joseph B.
Published: April 2013

An information-theoretic approach was used to determine the association between brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) invasiveness and a suite of abiotic and biotic factors, measured at 80 sites from 51 streams in the Canadian Rockies. The streams selected had confirmed brook trout invasions and were identified as current or historical nursery habitat for native bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). The biomass at most sites was strongly or completely dominated (95%–100%) by one species or the other, and sites were classified as having high brook trout invasiveness (>60% of the biomass of the community relative to remnant bull trout) or low invasiveness (<40%). Among abiotic factors, high brook trout invasiveness was positively associated with stream temperature and undercut bank habitat, but negatively associated with large in-stream substrate (cobbles and boulders). Among biotic factors, brook trout invasiveness was negatively associated with co-occurring rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) or brown trout (Salmo trutta), two other introduced species. Brook trout appear to dominate communities over native bull trout where thermal or habitat niche opportunities are provided for them, although other non-native species may restrict their invasion into bull trout streams.
Mollusk shell structures and their formation mechanism
Authors: Suzuki Michio , Nagasawa Hiromichi
Published: April 2013

In nature, mollusk shells have a role in protecting the soft body of the mollusk from predators and from the external environment, and the shells consist mainly of calcium carbonate and small amounts of organic matrices. Organic matrices in mollusk shells are thought to play key roles in shell formation. However, enough information has not been accumulated so far. High toughness and stiffness have been focused on as being adaptable to the development of organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Because mollusks can produce elaborate microstructures containing organic matrices under ambient conditions, the investigation of shell formation is expected to lead to the development of new inorganic–organic hybrid materials for various applications. In this review paper, we summarize the structures of mollusk shells and their process of formation, together with the analysis of various organic matrices related to shell calcification.
ROBUST NEONATAL EEG SEIZURE DETECTION THROUGH ADAPTIVE BACKGROUND MODELING
Authors: TEMKO ANDRIY , BOYLAN GERALDINE , MARNANE WILLIAM , LIGHTBODY GORDON
Published: April 2013

Adaptive probabilistic modeling of the EEG background is proposed for seizure detection in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. The decision is made based on the temporal derivative of the seizure probability with respect to the adaptively modeled level of background activity. The robustness of the system to long duration "seizure-like" artifacts, in particular those due to respiration, is improved. The system was developed using statistical leave-one-patient-out performance assessment, on a large clinical dataset, comprising 38 patients of 1479 h total duration. The developed technique was then validated by a single test on a separate totally unseen randomized prospective dataset of 51 neonates totaling 2540 h of duration. By exploiting the proposed adaptation, the ROC area is increased from 93.4% to 96.1% (41% relative improvement). The number of false detections per hour is decreased from 0.42 to 0.24, while maintaining the correct detection of seizure burden at 70%. These results on the unseen data were predicted from the rigorous leave-one-patient-out validation and confirm the validity of our algorithm development process.
SUTURED TQFT, TORSION AND TORI
Authors: MATHEWS DANIEL V.
Published: April 2013

We use the theory of sutured TQFT to classify contact elements in the sutured Floer homology, with ℤ coefficients, of certain sutured manifolds of the form (Σ × S1, F × S1) where Σ is an annulus or punctured torus. Using this classification, we give a new proof that the contact invariant in sutured Floer homology with ℤ coefficients of a contact structure with Giroux torsion vanishes. We also give a new proof of Massot's theorem that the contact invariant vanishes for a contact structure on (Σ × S1, F × S1) described by an isolating dividing set.
LOCAL SYMPLECTIC FIELD THEORY
Authors: FABERT OLIVER
Published: April 2013

Generalizing local Gromov–Witten theory, in this paper we define a local version of symplectic field theory. When the symplectic manifold with cylindrical ends is four-dimensional and the underlying simple curve is regular by automatic transversality, we establish a transversality result for all its multiple covers and discuss the resulting algebraic structures.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE-AREA MICROMEGAS DETECTORS FOR THE ATLAS UPGRADE
Authors: WOTSCHACK JOERG
Published: April 2013

The upgrade of the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN calls for a new generation of muon detectors capable of operating in a flux of collision and background particles approximately ten times larger compared to today's conditions. We report here on the Muon ATLAS MicroMegas Activity (MAMMA) R&D project aimed at the construction of large-area spark-resistant muon chambers using the micromegas technology.
MICROMEGAS TRACKERS FOR HADRONIC PHYSICS
Authors: PROCUREUR S.
Published: April 2013

Modern experiments in hadronic physics require excellent detection and tracking capabilities in very high flux environment. Probing the quark and gluon content of the nucleon indeed necessitates semi-inclusive or exclusive reactions with very small cross-sections. Micromegas detectors have therefore been rapidly identified as natural candidates to equip the hottest region of the COMPASS spectrometer at CERN. Benefitting from several years of smooth operation at COMPASS, the Micromegas have been proposed to equip the future central tracker of the CLAS12 experiment at the Jefferson Laboratory. This project triggered an important R&D on the bulk and resistive technologies and inspired several projects involving cylindrical trackers. This paper focuses on the design and performance of the COMPASS and CLAS12 Micromegas, and reviews the R&D made on the discharge reduction in large hadron fluxes.
FRACTIONAL EINSTEIN–HILBERT ACTION COSMOLOGY
Authors: SHCHIGOLEV V. K.
Published: April 2013

We propose a new type of cosmological model derived from the fractional variational principle when it is applied to the gravitational sector of action functional. In contrast to the fractional cosmological model developed earlier by the author from a fractional total action, in our new model the continuity equation remains valid in its usual form. For this model, a lot of exact solutions are obtained from a specific ansatz which is proposed for the cosmological term in this paper. Several examples arising from the given variations of the Hubble parameter with time are provided. Besides, we suggest an original interpretation of the main equations for our model. It supposes that the effective cosmological term could arise as a result of kinematical induction through the nonzero Hubble parameter. With the help of particular example, we demonstrate how this approach could lead our model quite closer to the real behavior of the universe.
CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLVABLE GROUPS AND SOLVABLE RADICAL
Authors: GRUNEWALD FRITZ , KUNYAVSKII BORIS , PLOTKIN EUGENE
Published: April 2013

We give a survey of new characterizations of finite solvable groups and the solvable radical of an arbitrary finite group which were obtained over the past decade. We also discuss generalizations of these results to some classes of infinite groups and their analogues for Lie algebras. Some open problems are discussed as well.
A NEW COMPLEXITY FUNCTION FOR WORDS BASED ON PERIODICITY
Authors: MIGNOSI FILIPPO , RESTIVO ANTONIO
Published: April 2013

Motivated by the extension of the critical factorization theorem to infinite words, we study the (local) periodicity function, i.e. the function that, for any position in a word, gives the size of the shortest square centered in that position. We prove that this function characterizes any binary word up to exchange of letters. We then introduce a new complexity function for words (the periodicity complexity) that, for any position in the word, gives the average value of the periodicity function up to that position. The new complexity function is independent from the other commonly used complexity measures as, for instance, the factor complexity. Indeed, whereas any infinite word with bounded factor complexity is periodic, we will show a recurrent non-periodic word with bounded periodicity complexity. Further, we will prove that the periodicity complexity function grows as Θ( log n) in the case of the Fibonacci infinite word and that it grows as Θ(n) in the case of the Thue–Morse word. Finally, we will show examples of infinite recurrent words with arbitrary high periodicity complexity.
A UNIFIED APPROACH TO THE CONDITIONAL DIAGNOSABILITY OF INTERCONNECTION NETWORKS
Authors: CHENG EDDIE , LIPTÁK LÁSZLÓ , QIU KE , SHEN ZHIZHANG
Published: April 2013

The conditional diagnosability of interconnection networks has been studied in a number of ad-hoc methods resulting in various conditional diagnosability results. In this paper, we utilize these existing results to give an unified approach in studying this problem. Following this approach, we derive the exact value of the conditional diagnosability for a number of interconnection networks including Cayley graphs generated by 2-trees (which generalize alternating group graphs), arrangement graphs (which generalize star graphs and alternating group graphs), hyper Petersen networks, and dual-cube like networks (which generalize dual-cubes.)
INTRODUCING THE EXTREMELY HETEROGENEOUS ARCHITECTURE
Authors: LIU SHAOSHAN , RO WON W. , LIU CHEN , CRISTOBAL-SALAS ALFREDO , CÉRIN CHRISTOPHE , HAN JIAN-JUN , GAUDIOT JEAN-LUC
Published: April 2013

The computer industry is moving towards two extremes: extremely high-performance high-throughput cloud computing, and low-power mobile computing. Cloud computing, while providing high performance, is very costly. Google and Microsoft Bing spend billions of dollars each year to maintain their server farms, mainly due to the high power bills. On the other hand, mobile computing is under a very tight energy budget, but yet the end users demand ever increasing performance on these devices. This trend indicates that conventional architectures are not able to deliver high-performance and low power consumption at the same time, and we need a new architecture model to address the needs of both extremes. In this paper, we thus introduce our Extremely Heterogeneous Architecture (EHA) project: EHA is a novel architecture that incorporates both general-purpose and specialized cores on the same chip. The general-purpose cores take care of generic control and computation. On the other hand, the specialized cores, including GPU, hard accelerators (ASIC accelerators), and soft accelerators (FPGAs), are designed for accelerating frequently used or heavy weight applications. When acceleration is not needed, the specialized cores are turned off to reduce power consumption. We demonstrate that EHA is able to improve performance through acceleration, and at the same time reduce power consumption. Since EHA is a heterogeneous architecture, it is suitable for accelerating heterogeneous workloads on the same chip. For example, data centers and clouds provide many services, including media streaming, searching, indexing, scientific computations. The ultimate goal of the EHA project is two-fold: first, to design a chip that is able to run different cloud services on it, and through this design, we would be able to greatly reduce the cost, both recurring and non-recurring, of data centers\clouds; second, to design a light-weight EHA that runs on mobile devices, providing end users with improved experience even under tight battery budget constraints.
ON THE CHROMATIC NUMBERS OF FUNCTIGRAPHS
Authors: QI GEORGE , WANG SHENGHAO , GU WEIZHEN
Published: April 2013

The chromatic number of a graph G, denoted χ(G) is the minimum number of colors needed to color vertices of G so that no two adjacent vertices share the same color. A functigraph over a given graph is obtained as follows: Let G' be a disjoint copy of a given G and f be a function f : V(G) → V(G'). The functigraph over G, denoted by C(G, f), is the graph with V(C(G, f)) = V(G) ∪ V(G') and E(C(G, f)) = E(G) ∪ E(G') ∪ {uv : u ∈ V(G), v ∈ V(G'), v = f(u)}. Recently, Chen et al. proved that [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we first provide sufficient conditions on functions f to reach the lower bound for any graph. We then study the attainability of the chromatic numbers of functigraphs. Finally, we extend the definition of a functigraph in different ways and then investigate the bounds of chromatic numbers of such graphs.
COMBINED ATOMIC FORCE AND FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPIES TO MEASURE SUBCELLULAR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LIVE CELLS
Authors: CHANG CHENG-TAO , LIN CHOU-CHING K. , JU MING-SHAUNG
Published: April 2013

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely applied to study cellular functions;however, the relationship between cellular elasticity and ultrastructure density of a live cell remains to be discovered. The objective of this study was thus to extend our previous method of integrating AFM and immunofluorescence imaging to measure the ultrastructure distribution-related local mechanical properties of live cells. First, the morphology of a live cell was obtained by AFM. Second, the indentation sites were selected and flexible force volume indentation was performed. Third, the immunofluorescence image of the cell was obtained. The last was the mapping of the indentation site to the immunofluorescence image and obtaining the relationship between the local elastic properties and cytoskeleton density. The results on differentiated rat Schwann cells (RSCs) showed that the elastic modulus of stress fibers is higher than those of the nucleus and cytosol. The local elastic modulus of the live RSCs is correlated to the actin density, and the stress fiber that behaves like a pretension beam can give RSCs enough strength to envelop axons during myelination. In particular, the elastic properties of the live RSCs were twofold lower than those of the fixed. The results demonstrated the integrated method's applicability for a live cell.
APPLICATION OF AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK FOR THE QUANTITATIVE CLASSIFICATION OF TROCHLEAR DYSPLASIA
Authors: CHO KYUNGJIN , MÜLLER JACOBUS H. , SCHEFFER CORNIE , ERASMUS PIETER J.
Published: April 2013

A method that provides the ability to accurately classify trochlea dysplasia would be a valuable tool in treating patients with unstable patellas and anterior knee pain. In this study, a reference frame and a standardised femoral parameter measurement method for three-dimensional models were established to measure key femoral parameters. An artificial neural network was then trained with these parameters and the matching output from qualitative classifications by three orthopaedic surgeons for each knee. The neural network was then evaluated to test its ability for quantitative classification of normal and dysplastic knees. The maximum agreement between the qualitative and quantitative classification methods was found to be 80.6%, whereas agreement between the surgeons was 69.44%.This was achieved for a neural network with 8 input parameters and 19 hidden-layer neurons. The study shows that there is merit in making use of a trained artificial neural network as an additional tool for classification of trochlear dysplasia.
CHIRAL CARBON NANOTUBES AND CARBON NANOTUBE CHIRAL COMPOSITES: PREPARATION AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: CHEN XIAO-QING , LIAO XIAO-YUN , YU JIN-GANG , JIAO FEI-PENG , JIANG XIN-YU
Published: April 2013

A review of preparation of chiral carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanotube chiral composites is presented. Novel chiral separation science and technology based on CNTs is analyzed and discussed, with the emphasis in two topics. The first topic concerns the possibility of application of chiral CNTs in resolution and chiral sensing. The second topic centers on the subject of enantioseparation based on CNT chiral composites. Despite the crucial functionalization of CNTs using chiral selectors, better resolution could also be achieved by using a mixture of CNTs and optical pure substances as chiral selectors. Due to their ability of improving the degree of enantioseparation, CNTs could find their potential applications in the resolution in the future.
日常生活中的国际联系(1950–1990)：
Authors: 郑莉
Published: April 2013

本文主要依据安溪湖头李氏家人的海外来信和访谈资料， 考察1950至1980年代闽南侨乡的国际联系， 探讨跨国家庭的生存状态和文化传承机制。 1950年以后， 由于中国国内政治与国际环境的制约， 闽南侨乡的国际联系一度陷入低谷， 但大量的跨国家庭使得日常生活中的国际联系并未中断。闽南侨乡的跨国家庭， 源于早期海外移民的“两头家”生活方式， 后来演变为家庭成员散居于不同国家的特殊家庭形态。 1950至1980年代， 海内外亲人之间的国际联系， 主要表现为经济资助、 物资交流和礼仪交往。 这种以跨国家庭为基础的的国际联系， 构成了闽南侨乡与海外世界的基本联系方式， 推进了闽南侨乡的改革开放热潮。
新加坡真空教发展史初探
Authors: 石沧金  , 欧阳班铱
Published: April 2013

本文在田野调查及相关史料的基础上， 探索真空教在新加坡的发展简史。 1900年至1930年为真空教在新加坡的奠基期， 1931年至1969年为迅速发展期， 1970年代至今为其衰落期。 尽管目前真空教在新加坡处于衰落状态， 但仍有不少道友在坚守信仰并一直努力试图走出困境。
The effect of exogenous GLP-1 on food intake is lost in male truncally vagotomized subjects with pyloroplasty
Authors: Plamboeck Astrid , Veedfald Simon , Deacon Carolyn F. , Hartmann Bolette , Wettergren André , Svendsen Lars B. , Meisner Søren , Hovendal Claus , Vilsbøll Tina , Knop Filip K. , Holst Jens J.
Published: April 2013

Rapid degradation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 suggests that endogenous GLP-1 may act locally before being degraded. Signaling via the vagus nerve was investigated in 20 truncally vagotomized subjects with pyloroplasty and 10 matched healthy controls. Subjects received GLP-1 (7-36 amide) or saline infusions during and after a standardized liquid mixed meal and a subsequent ad libitum meal. Despite no effect on appetite sensations, GLP-1 significantly reduced ad libitum food intake in the control group but had no effect in the vagotomized group. Gastric emptying was accelerated in vagotomized subjects and was decreased by GLP-1 in controls but not in vagotomized subjects. Postprandial glucose levels were reduced by the same percentage by GLP-1 in both groups. Peak postprandial GLP-1 levels were approximately fivefold higher in the vagotomized subjects. Insulin secretion was unaffected by exogenous GLP-1 in vagotomized subjects but was suppressed in controls. GLP-1 significantly reduced glucagon secretion in both groups, but levels were approximately twofold higher and were nonsuppressible in the early phase of the meal in vagotomized subjects. Our results demonstrate that vagotomy with pyloroplasty impairs the effects of exogenous GLP-1 on food intake, gastric emptying, and insulin and glucagon secretion, suggesting that intact vagal innervation may be important for GLP-1's actions.
Glyoxalate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase interacts with the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-1 to regulate cellular vitamin C homeostasis
Authors: Subramanian Veedamali S. , Nabokina Svetlana M. , Patton Joseph R. , Marchant Jonathan S. , Moradi Hamid , Said Hamid M.
Published: April 2013

The human sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (hSVCT1) contributes to cellular uptake of ascorbic acid (AA). Although different aspects of hSVCT1 cell biology have been extensively studied, nothing is currently known about the broader hSVCT1 interactome that modulates its role in cellular physiology. Here, we identify the enzyme human glyoxalate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase (hGR/HPR) as an hSVCT1 associated protein by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening of a human liver cDNA library. The interaction between hSVCT1 and hGR/HPR was further confirmed by in vitro GST pull-down assay, in vivo coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid firefly luciferase assays. This interaction had functional significance as coexpression of hGR/HPR with hSVCT1 led to an increase in AA uptake. Reciprocally, siRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous hGR/HPR led to an inhibition of AA uptake. Given that oxalate is a degradation product of vitamin C and hGR/HPR acts to limit cellular oxalate levels, this association physically couples two independent regulators of cellular oxalate production. Furthermore, confocal imaging of human liver HepG2 cells coexpressing GFP-hSVCT1 and hGR/HPR-mCherry demonstrated that these two proteins colocalize within a subpopulation of intracellular organelles. This provides a possible molecular basis for organellar AA transport and regulation of local glyoxylate/glycolate concentration in the vicinity of organelle membranes.
Inflammation increases cells expressing ZSCAN4 and progenitor cell markers in the adult pancreas
Authors: Ko Shigeru B. H. , Azuma Sakiko , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Yamamoto Akiko , Kyokane Kazuhiro , Niida Shumpei , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Ko Minoru S. H.
Published: April 2013

We have recently identified the zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 4 (Zscan4), which is transiently expressed and regulates telomere elongation and genome stability in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of ZSCAN4 in the adult pancreas and elucidate the role of ZSCAN4 in tissue inflammation and subsequent regeneration. The expression of ZSCAN4 and other progenitor or differentiated cell markers in the human pancreas was immunohistochemically examined. Pancreas sections of alcoholic or autoimmune pancreatitis patients before and under maintenance corticosteroid treatment were used in this study. In the adult human pancreas a small number of ZSCAN4-positive (ZSCAN4+) cells are present among cells located in the islets of Langerhans, acini, ducts, and oval-shaped cells. These cells not only express differentiated cell markers for each compartment of the pancreas but also express other tissue stem/progenitor cell markers. Furthermore, the number of ZSCAN4+cells dramatically increased in patients with chronic pancreatitis, especially in the pancreatic tissues of autoimmune pancreatitis actively regenerating under corticosteroid treatment. Interestingly, a number of ZSCAN4+cells in the pancreas of autoimmune pancreatitis returned to the basal level after 1 yr of maintenance corticosteroid treatment. In conclusion, coexpression of progenitor cell markers and differentiated cell markers with ZSCAN4 in each compartment of the pancreas may indicate the presence of facultative progenitors for both exocrine and endocrine cells in the adult pancreas.
Aging attenuates the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning against endothelial ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans
Authors: van den Munckhof Inge , Riksen Niels , Seeger Joost P. H. , Schreuder Tim H. , Borm George F. , Eijsvogels Thijs M. H. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Rongen Gerard A. , Thijssen Dick H. J.
Published: April 2013

Reperfusion is mandatory after ischemia but also triggers ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can limit endothelial I/R injury. Nonetheless, translation of IPC to the clinical arena is often disappointing. Since application of IPC typically relates to older patients, efficacy of IPC may be attenuated with aging. Our objective was to examine the impact of advanced age on the ability of IPC to protect against endothelial dysfunction due to I/R injury. We included 15 healthy young (20–25 yr) and 15 older (68–77 yr) men. We examined brachial artery endothelial function using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after arm I/R (induced by inflation of an upper-arm blood pressure cuff for 20 min and 15 min of reperfusion). In a randomized order, I/R was preceded by IPC or a control intervention consisting of three cycles of 5 min upper-arm cuff inflation to 220 or 20 mmHg, respectively. As a result, in young men, FMD decreased significantly after I/R (6.4 ± 2.7 to 4.4 ± 2.5%). This decrease was not present when I/R was preceded by IPC (5.9 ± 2.3 to 5.6 ± 2.5%). IPC-induced protection appeared to be significantly reduced in the elderly patients ( P = 0.04). Although FMD decreased after I/R in older men (3.5 ± 1.7 to 2.5 ± 1.0%), IPC could not prevent this (3.7 ± 2.1 to 2.2 ± 1.1%). In conclusion, this study is the first to observe in humans in vivo that older age is associated with an abolished effect of IPC to protect against endothelial dysfunction after I/R in the brachial artery. This provides a possible explanation for the problematic translation of strategies that reduce I/R injury from preclinical work to the clinical arena.
Parenchymal mechanics, gas mixing, and the slope of phase III
Authors: Wilson Theodore A.
Published: April 2013

A model of parenchymal mechanics is revisited with the objective of investigating the differences in parenchymal microstructure that underlie the differences in regional compliance that are inferred from gas-mixing studies. The stiffness of the elastic line elements that lie along the free edges of alveoli and form the boundary of the lumen of the alveolar duct is the dominant determinant of parenchymal compliance. Differences in alveolar size cause parallel shifts of the pressure-volume curve, but have little effect on compliance. However, alveolar size also affects the relation between surface tension and pressure during the breathing cycle. Thus regional differences in alveolar size generate regional differences in surface tension, and these drive Marangoni surface flows that equilibrate surface tension between neighboring acini. Surface tension relaxation introduces phase differences in regional volume oscillations and a dependence of expired gas concentration on expired volume. A particular example of different parenchymal properties in two neighboring acini is described, and gas exchange in this model is calculated. The efficiency of mixing and slope of phase III for the model agree well with published data. This model constitutes a new hypothesis concerning the origin of phase III.