bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender equity predicts condom use among adolescent and young adult parents in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Nelson LaRon E. , Thach Chia T. , Zhang Nanhua
Published: March 2014

Adolescents and young adults have higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) than any other age cohort in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The sub-population of young parents is at even higher risk for acquiring STIs than the general population of adolescents and young adults. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how co-parenting relationship functioning and gender equitable attitudes were associated with condom use among adolescent and young adult parents. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 102 non-married adolescent and young adult parents in Toronto. Study participants used iPads to self-administer the co-parenting relationship scale, gender equitable men scale, and a sexual behaviour battery regarding their condom use during the last episode of sexual intercourse (including vaginal and anal). Logistic regression was used to determine whether scale scores predicted condom use at last intercourse, adjusting for age and sex. t-tests were performed to assess group mean differences in gender equitable attitudes and co-parenting relationship functioning between condom users and nonusers and between mothers and fathers. We observed that co-parenting relationship functioning was not associated with condom use behaviours. Instead, gender equitable attitudes predicted condom use in the overall sample (AOR=1.13; 95% CI 1.03, 1.25, p<0.05). Fathers who used condoms at last intercourse had higher gender equitable attitude scores than fathers who did not use condoms (M=58 vs. 53, p=0.02). Mothers' gender equitable attitude scores were not associated with condom use behaviours. Attitudes that support gender equity attitudes predict condom use among young parents, particularly among young fathers. Sexual risk reduction programs targeting young parents may benefit from incorporating components that promote gender equity norms.
Revised Design Procedure for Thin and Ultrathin Bonded Whitetopping
Authors: Vandenbossche Julie M. , Dufalla Nicole , Li Zichang
Published: March 2014

Development of design procedures for bonded whitetopping overlays has been based on the assumption that failure mechanisms are a function of overlay thickness; namely, thin whitetopping results in longitudinal cracking and ultrathin whitetopping results in corner cracking. However, field data from whitetopping sections indicate that failure modes are dictated by slab size rather than overlay thickness. The revised procedure presented here for thin whitetopping and ultrathin whitetopping offers four primary enhancements to the Portland Cement Association and Colorado Department of Transportation procedures that traditionally have been used: (a) the failure mode is dictated by the joint spacing and not the overlay thickness, (b) the stress adjustments factors have been calibrated with an extensive data set, (c) the equivalent gradients to be used as the design input are defined according to the pavement structure and geographical location of the project and, (d) the effect of temperature change on hot-mix asphalt stiffness is considered. Comparisons of the predicted performance for the revised procedure with the actual performance for four separate projects showed that the predicted thicknesses are reasonable. It was also found that the predicted thickness obtained with the revised procedure was sensitive to the thickness of hot-mix asphalt, the level of traffic, and the modulus of rupture of the portland cement concrete, as expected.
Cooperative Highway Traffic
Authors: Monteil Julien , Billot Romain , Sau Jacques , Armetta Frédéric , Hassas Salima , Faouzi Nour-Eddin El
Published: March 2014

As cooperative systems (connected vehicles) enable communication and the exchange of information between vehicles and infrastructure, the communication capabilities are expected to lead to better active traffic management on urban motorways. Technological constraints must be the basis for any management strategy. If communication has been analytically proved to help stabilize traffic flow at a microscopic level, then realistic communication strategies should be evaluated by taking into consideration multiple perturbations such as sensor faults and driver cooperation. In this study, a three-layer multiagent framework was used to model and control the homogenization of traffic flow. The physical layer coordinated vehicle dynamics on the basis of a cooperative car-following model. This layer included cooperation derived from the communication and trust layers that, respectively, managed information and its reliability. Simulation results highlight the positive impacts of communication and control on the stability of traffic flow.
Hysteresis and Capacity Drop Phenomena in Freeway Networks
Authors: Saberi Meead , Mahmassani Hani S.
Published: March 2014

The objective of this study was to characterize hysteresis and capacity drop phenomena in freeway networks with the use of commonly available loop detector data from three networks: Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; and Irvine, California. For exploration of the effects of variations in network topology and size on the network fundamental diagram, a comparison was made by using the observed flow–occupancy diagrams of the selected freeway networks. The results provide further confirmation that findings from the literature for a limited number of networks are also valid for freeway networks not previously studied. Freeway networks have been found more likely to exhibit an inconsistent hysteretic pattern in shape and size that depends on the spatial distribution of congestion over the network. On the basis of empirical observations, hysteresis loops were characterized by their shape and size. Two shapes of hysteresis loops, H1 and H2, were identified and characterized. The size of each hysteresis loop was believed to be characterized by its width, height, and the area covered by the hysteresis loop. The authors postulated that the capacity drop phenomenon existed in freeway networks in a manner similar to that in individual freeway sections. Two types of capacity drop were identified. Type 1 was associated with the inability of the freeway network to sustain its throughput at its peak value for a relatively long time, and therefore, capacity dropped while demand was still high and the network was loading. Type 2 was associated with the instability of network traffic when the network underwent reloading (e.g., afternoon peak period) after an incomplete recovery from the initial loading (e.g., morning peak period). In some cases, this reloading resulted in a lower capacity in the afternoon than in the morning. Empirical results showed that the observed phenomena were reproducible on different days and for different networks.
Connecting Networkwide Travel Time Reliability and the Network Fundamental Diagram of Traffic Flow
Authors: Mahmassani Hani S. , Hou Tian , Saberi Meead
Published: March 2014

The existence of the network fundamental diagram (NFD) has been established at the urban network scale. It relates three traffic descriptors: speed, density, and flow. However, its deterministic nature does not convey the underlying variability within the network. In contrast, travel time reliability as a network performance descriptor is of growing concern to both the traveling public and traffic managers and policy makers. The objectives of this paper were to extend travel time reliability modeling from the link–path level to the network level and to connect overall network variability to NFD. Robust relationships between travel time variability and network density and flow rate were analytically derived, investigated, and validated with both simulated and real-world trajectory data. The distance-weighted standard deviation of travel time rate, as a measure of travel time variability, was found to increase monotonically with network density. A maximum network flow rate existed beyond which network travel time reliability deteriorated at a much faster pace. The results also suggest that these relationships are inherent network properties (signature) that are independent of demand level. The effects of en route information on the proposed relationships were also studied. The results showed that en route information reduced network travel time variability. The findings provide a strong connection between NFD and travel time variability, and this connection can be used further for modeling of network travel time reliability and assessment of measures intended to improve reliability of travel in a network.
Calibration of Traffic Flow Models under Adverse Weather and Application in Mesoscopic Network Simulation
Authors: Hou Tian , Mahmassani Hani S. , Alfelor Roemer M. , Kim Jiwon , Saberi Meead
Published: March 2014

The weather-sensitive traffic estimation and prediction system (TrEPS) aims for accurate estimation and prediction of the traffic states under inclement weather conditions. Successful application of weather-sensitive TrEPS requires detailed calibration of weather effects on the traffic flow model. In this study, systematic procedures for the entire calibration process were developed, from data collection through model parameter estimation to model validation. After the development of the procedures, a dual-regime modified Greenshields model and weather adjustment factors were calibrated for four metropolitan areas across the United States (Irvine, California; Chicago, Illinois; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Baltimore, Maryland) by using freeway loop detector traffic data and weather data from automated surface-observing systems stations. Observations showed that visibility and precipitation (rain–snow) intensity have significant impacts on the value of some parameters of the traffic flow models, such as free-flow speed and maximum flow rate, while these impacts can be included in weather adjustment factors. The calibrated models were used as input in a weather-integrated simulation system for dynamic traffic assignment. The results show that the calibrated models are capable of capturing the weather effects on traffic flow more realistically than TrEPS without weather integration.
Empirics of a Generalized Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram for Urban Freeways
Authors: Knoop Victor L. , Hoogendoorn Serge P.
Published: March 2014

Because of an increasing exchange of data between measurement sites, the area over which traffic control is applied is also increasing. This situation leads to three new challenges: (a) working with the large quantities of data (transmit, store), (b) estimating the traffic state, and (c) controlling a large area with many controllers (and thus large solution space). This paper introduces a new way of describing the traffic state for a large area, one that requires much less data and nevertheless gives an accurate representation of the state. The macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) links the production (the average flow) to the accumulation (the average number of vehicles) in an area. This paper shows that MFD can be converted to a generalized MFD (GMFD) for urban freeways; the GMFD relates the production to the accumulation and the spatial spread of density. Analysis of 10 months of data from the Amsterdam, Netherlands, ring road freeway showed that GMFD is a continuous function that increases and decreases with accumulation, as does a fundamental diagram, and decreases with the spatial spread of density. The predictive performance of GMFD was tested with a nonparameterized fit and by fitting a functional form; each test performed equally well. Predicting the production is important, especially near the maximum production. GMFD explains much more of the spread in the production than MFD does, especially near this maximum production. Thus, this lean traffic state description can be used in setting a target for traffic control.
Self-Learning Adaptive Ramp Metering
Authors: Rezaee Kasra , Abdulhai Baher , Abdelgawad Hossam
Published: March 2014

Ramp metering (RM) is the most effective dynamic traffic measure in response to growing congestion in urban freeway networks. Among the extensive RM methods available, those based on optimal control theory have shown strong potential in improving freeway performance. However, these algorithms require an accurate traffic model that limits their applicability in practice. Reinforcement learning (RL) provides the tools to achieve optimal RM control without reliance on any traffic model. In this paper, a guideline for designing RM control systems based on RL is presented by testing different states’ representations, learning methods, action selection, and reward definitions. A microscopic simulation test bed based on a portion of Highway 401 in Toronto, Canada, is developed to evaluate each of the above design parameters and quantify various RM control strategies. A comparison of the reinforcement learning ramp-metering (RLRM) algorithm with a modified version of ALINEA shows the potential of RLRM to improve freeway traffic conditions. When applied to the developed case study, the proposed RLRM algorithm and modified ALINEA reduce the total travel time by 40% and 20%, respectively, compared with the case with no RM.
Macroscopic Travel Time Reliability Diagrams for Freeway Networks
Authors: Tu Huizhao , Li Hao , Van Lint Hans , Knoop Victor , Sun Lijun
Published: March 2014

Travel time reliability is considered to be one of the key indicators of transport system performance. Knowledge of the mechanisms of travel time unreliability enables the derivation of explanatory models with which travel time reliability can be predicted and utilized in traffic management. Inspired by the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD), describing the relationship between production (average flow completing the trips) and vehicle accumulation (average density) in a traffic network, this paper investigates a macroscopic travel time reliability diagram (MRD) relating the travel time reliability to the network accumulation. The MFD relationship has potential because it characterizes the state of an entire traffic network with just two (production and accumulation) or three (adding spatial variability of accumulation) state variables. Likewise, the MRD describes the network travel time reliability as a function of just one independent state variable (network accumulation). Empirical analyses were performed to investigate the variability in MFD as seen in scatters and to show the travel time reliability in relation to the network accumulations. Traffic data from Dutch freeway networks were employed to facilitate the analyses. With the MRD for different freeway networks, it was found that a critical travel time reliability accumulation existed, below which network accumulation had little or no impact on travel time reliability and above which it had a significant impact. Also, the critical travel time reliability accumulation was, in general, lower than the critical MFD accumulation. These findings provide insights for road authorities in how to make trade-offs in traffic management between maximum production and travel time reliability.
Traffic Queue Estimation for Metered Motorway On-Ramps through use of Loop Detector Time Occupancies
Authors: Lee Jinwoo (Brian) , Jiang Rui , Chung Edward
Published: March 2014

The primary objective of this study is to develop a robust queue estimation algorithm for motorway on-ramps. Real-time queue information is a vital input for dynamic queue management on metered on-ramps. Accurate and reliable queue information enables the management of on-ramp queues in a manner that adapts to the actual traffic queue size and thus minimizes the adverse impacts of queue flush while increasing the benefit of ramp metering. The proposed algorithm is based on the Kalman filter framework. The fundamental conservation model is used to estimate the system state (queue size) with the flow-in and flow-out measurements. These projection results are updated with the measurement equation by using the time occupancies from midlink and link entrance loop detectors. This study also proposes a novel singular-point correction method. This method resets the estimated system state to eliminate the counting errors that accumulate over time. In the performance evaluation, the proposed algorithm demonstrated accurate and reliable performance and consistently outperformed the benchmarked single-occupancy Kalman filter (SOKF) method. The improvements over the SOKF method were 62% and 63% on average for the estimation accuracy and reliability, respectively. The benefit of the innovative concepts of the algorithm is well justified by the improved estimation performance in conditions of congested ramp traffic, in which long queues may significantly compromise the benchmark algorithm's performance.
Implementation and Evaluation of Weather-Responsive Traffic Management Strategies
Authors: Kim Jiwon , Mahmassani Hani S. , Alfelor Roemer , Chen Ying , Hou Tian , Jiang Lan , Saberi Meead , Verbas Ömer , Zockaie Ali
Published: March 2014

This study presents the development and application of methodologies to support weather-responsive traffic management (WRTM) strategies by building on traffic estimation and prediction system models. First, a systematic framework for implementing and evaluating WRTM strategies under severe weather conditions is developed. This framework includes activities for planning, preparing, and deploying WRTM strategies in three different time frames: long-term strategic planning, short-term tactical planning, and real-time traffic management center operations. Next, the evaluation of various strategies is demonstrated with locally calibrated network simulation-assignment model capabilities, and special-purpose key performance indicators are introduced. Three types of WRTM strategies [demand management, advisory and control variable message signs (VMSs), and incident management VMSs] are applied to multiple major U.S. areas, namely, Chicago, Illinois; Salt Lake City, Utah; and the Long Island area in New York. The analysis results illustrate the benefits of WRTM under inclement weather conditions and emphasize the importance of incorporating a predictive capability into selecting and deploying WRTM strategies.
Synthesis of 1-Azadienes by a Three-Component Reaction between Isocyanides, Esters and 3-Hydroxy-2-Methyl-4H-Pyran-4-One
Authors: Souldozi Ali , Pour Amin Mohammad , Karami Samad
Published: March 2014

The 1: 1 reactive intermediate generated by the addition of alkyl isocyanides to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates was trapped by 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4 H -pyran-4-one as OH-acid in water to yield highly functionalised 1-azadienes.
One-pot, Procedure for the Preparation of some Thiazino[2,3-b]quinoxaline Derivatives
Authors: Bakavoli Mehdi , Eshghi Hossein , Azizollahi Hamid , Saberi Sattar , Bazrafshan Faezeh
Published: March 2014

An efficient and convenient synthesis of new thiazino[2,3-b]quinoxaline derivatives has been developed by employing a one-pot cyclo-condensation of several α-haloketones and 3-aminoquinoxaline-2-thiol in acetic acid. A similar reaction with 4-bromo-3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-5-pyrazolone gave a new heterocyclic system, 3-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6][1,4] thiazino[2,3-b]quinoxaline.
Transplanted Neural Stem Cells Modulate Regulatory T, γδ T Cells and Corresponding Cytokines after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Gao Lu , Lu Qin , Huang Li-Jie , Ruan Lin-Hui , Yang Jian-Jing , Huang Wei-Long , ZhuGe Wei-Shan , Zhang Yong-Liang , Fu Biao , Jin Kun-Lin , ZhuGe Qi-Chuan
Published: March 2014

The immune system, particularly T lymphocytes and cytokines, has been implicated in the progression of brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Although studies have shown that transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) protect the central nervous system (CNS) from inflammatory damage, their effects on subpopulations of T lymphocytes and their corresponding cytokines are largely unexplored. Here, rats were subjected to ICH and NSCs were intracerebrally injected at 3 h after ICH. The profiles of subpopulations of T cells in the brain and peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that regulatory T (Treg) cells in the brain and peripheral blood were increased, but γδT cells (gamma delta T cells) were decreased, along with increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β) and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, and IFN-γ), compared to the vehicle-treated control. Our data suggest that transplanted NSCs protect brain injury after ICH via modulation of Treg and γδT cell infiltration and anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokine release.
Effect of Nitrate on Nodule and Root Growth of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)
Authors: Saito Akinori , Tanabata Sayuri , Tanabata Takanari , Tajima Seiya , Ueno Manabu , Ishikawa Shinji , Ohtake Norikuni , Sueyoshi Kuni , Ohyama Takuji
Published: March 2014

The application of combined nitrogen, especially nitrate, to soybean plants is known to strongly inhibit nodule formation, growth and nitrogen fixation. In the present study, we measured the effects of supplying 5 mM nitrate on the growth of nodules, primary root, and lateral roots under light at 28 °C or dark at 18 °C conditions. Photographs of the nodulated roots were periodically taken by a digital camera at 1-h intervals, and the size of the nodules was measured with newly developed computer software. Nodule growth was depressed approximately 7 h after the addition of nitrate under light conditions. The nodule growth rate under dark conditions was almost half that under light conditions, and nodule growth was further suppressed by the addition of 5 mM nitrate. Similar results were observed for the extending growth rate of the primary root as those for nodule growth supplied with 5 mM nitrate under light/dark conditions. In contrast, the growth of lateral roots was promoted by the addition of 5 mM nitrate. The 2D-PAGE profiles of nodule protein showed similar patterns between the 0 and 5 mM nitrate treatments, which suggested that metabolic integrity may be maintained with the 5 mM nitrate treatment. Further studies are required to confirm whether light or temperature condition may give the primary effect on the growth of nodules and roots.
Historical Landscape Perspectives on Grasslands in Sweden and the Baltic Region
Authors: Eriksson Ove , Cousins Sara
Published: March 2014

A landscape perspective is generally recognized as essential for conservation biology. The main underlying reason is that species respond to features of the landscape at various spatial scales, for example habitat area, connectivity, and matrix habitats. However, there is also an “historical” component of a landscape perspective, which has not received similar attention. The underlying reasons for historical effects are that humans have influenced landscapes during several millennia and that species and communities may respond slowly to land use change. An historical perspective on landscapes also relates to how we perceive “natural” vs. “cultural” landscapes, and thus how conservation actions are motivated and valuated. We review studies from Sweden and the Baltic region in the context of an historical landscape perspective, focusing on semi-natural grasslands, i.e., grasslands formed by long-term human management for grazing and hay-making. Semi-natural grasslands are today a high concern for conservation. Historical effects are ubiquitous on species distributions and patterns of species richness, and have important implications for developing informed conservation programs in semi-natural grasslands, particularly with regard to assumptions of historical baselines, the choice of conservation targets, and insights on time-lags in the response of species to current landscape change.
In Vitro Cytotoxicity of a Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta Alloy Doped with Different Oxygen Contents
Authors: Donato Tatiani , De Almeida Luciano , Arana-Chavez Victor , Grandini Carlos
Published: March 2014

Cp-Ti is the most common material used for dental implants, but its elastic modulus is around five times higher than that of bone. Recently, promising alloys that add Nb, Ta, Zr and Mo to Ti have been developed. The mechanical properties of these alloys are directly related to its microstructure and the presence of interstitial elements, such as oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta (TNZT) alloys was analyzed in the as-received condition and after being doped with several small quantities of oxygen on a cultured osteogenic cell. The cell’s morphology was also examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TNZT alloy presented no cytotoxic effects on osteoblastic cells in the studied conditions.
The Role of Biophysical Parameters in the Antilipopolysaccharide Activities of Antimicrobial Peptides from Marine Fish
Authors: Gopal Ramamourthy , Seo Chang , Park Yoonkyung
Published: March 2014

Numerous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from marine fish have been identified, isolated and characterized. These peptides act as host defense molecules that exert antimicrobial effects by targeting the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. The LPS-AMP interactions are driven by the biophysical properties of AMPs. In this review, therefore, we will focus on the physiochemical properties of AMPs; that is, the contributions made by their sequences, net charge, hydrophobicity and amphipathicity to their mechanism of action. Moreover, the interactions between LPS and fish AMPs and the structure of fish AMPs with LPS bound will also be discussed. A better understanding of the biophysical properties will be useful in the design of AMPs effective against septic shock and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, including those that commonly produce wound infections.
Anti-Diabetic Effects of CTB-APSL Fusion Protein in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
Authors: Liu Yunlong , Gao Zhangzhao , Guo Qingtuo , Wang Tao , Lu Conger , Chen Ying , Sheng Qing , Chen Jian , Nie Zuoming , Zhang Yaozhou , Wu Wutong , Lv Zhengbing , Shu Jianhong
Published: March 2014

To determine whether cholera toxin B subunit and active peptide from shark liver (CTB-APSL) fusion protein plays a role in treatment of type 2 diabetic mice, the CTB-APSL gene was cloned and expressed in silkworm (Bombyx mori) baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), then the fusion protein was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg for five weeks in diabetic mice. The results demonstrated that the oral administration of CTB-APSL fusion protein can effectively reduce the levels of both fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb), promote insulin secretion and improve insulin resistance, significantly improve lipid metabolism, reduce triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, as well as effectively improve the inflammatory response of type 2 diabetic mice through the reduction of the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Histopathology shows that the fusion protein can significantly repair damaged pancreatic tissue in type 2 diabetic mice, significantly improve hepatic steatosis and hepatic cell cloudy swelling, reduce the content of lipid droplets in type 2 diabetic mice, effectively inhibit renal interstitial inflammatory cells invasion and improve renal tubular epithelial cell nucleus pyknosis, thus providing an experimental basis for the development of a new type of oral therapy for type 2 diabetes.
Folate Receptor Targeted Alpha-Therapy Using Terbium-149
Authors: Müller Cristina , Reber Josefine , Haller Stephanie , Dorrer Holger , Köster Ulli , Johnston Karl , Zhernosekov Konstantin , Türler Andreas , Schibli Roger
Published: March 2014

Terbium-149 is among the most interesting therapeutic nuclides for medical applications. It decays by emission of short-range α-particles (Eα = 3.967 MeV) with a half-life of 4.12 h. The goal of this study was to investigate the anticancer efficacy of a 149Tb-labeled DOTA-folate conjugate (cm09) using folate receptor (FR)-positive cancer cells in vitro and in tumor-bearing mice. 149Tb was produced at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. Radiolabeling of cm09 with purified 149Tb resulted in a specific activity of ~1.2 MBq/nmol. In vitro assays performed with 149Tb-cm09 revealed a reduced KB cell viability in a FR-specific and activity concentration-dependent manner. Tumor-bearing mice were injected with saline only (group A) or with 149Tb-cm09 (group B: 2.2 MBq; group C: 3.0 MBq). A significant tumor growth delay was found in treated animals resulting in an increased average survival time of mice which received 149Tb-cm09 (B: 30.5 d; C: 43 d) compared to untreated controls (A: 21 d). Analysis of blood parameters revealed no signs of acute toxicity to the kidneys or liver in treated mice over the time of investigation. These results demonstrated the potential of folate-based α-radionuclide therapy in tumor-bearing mice.
Molecular Characterizations of Subcellular Localization Signals in the Nucleocapsid Protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Authors: Shi Da , Lv Maojie , Chen Jianfei , Shi Hongyan , Zhang Sha , Zhang Xin , Feng Li
Published: March 2014

The nucleolus is a dynamic subnuclear structure, which is crucial to the normal operation of the eukaryotic cell. The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein, plays important roles in the process of virus replication and cellular infection. Virus infection and transfection showed that N protein was predominately localized in the cytoplasm, but also found in the nucleolus in Vero E6 cells. Furthermore, by utilizing fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein (GFP), deletion mutations or site-directed mutagenesis of PEDV N protein, coupled with live cell imaging and confocal microscopy, it was revealed that, a region spanning amino acids (aa), 71–90 in region 1 of the N protein was sufficient for nucleolar localization and R87 and R89 were critical for its function. We also identified two nuclear export signals (NES, aa221–236, and 325–364), however, only the nuclear export signal (aa325–364) was found to be functional in the context of the full-length N protein. Finally, the activity of this nuclear export signal (NES) was inhibited by the antibiotic Lepomycin B, suggesting that N is exported by a chromosome region maintenance 1-related export pathway.
A Web-Based Model to Estimate the Impact of Best Management Practices
Authors: Park Youn , Engel Bernie , Harbor Jon
Published: March 2014

The Spreadsheet Tool for the Estimation of Pollutant Load (STEPL) can be used for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) processes, since the model is capable of simulating the impacts of various best management practices (BMPs) and low impact development (LID) practices. The model computes average annual direct runoff using the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method with average rainfall per event, which is not a typical use of the SCS-CN method. Five SCS-CN-based approaches to compute average annual direct runoff were investigated to explore estimated differences in average annual direct runoff computations using daily precipitation data collected from the National Climate Data Center and generated by the CLIGEN model for twelve stations in Indiana. Compared to the average annual direct runoff computed for the typical use of the SCS-CN method, the approaches to estimate average annual direct runoff within EPA STEPL showed large differences. A web-based model (STEPL WEB) was developed with a corrected approach to estimate average annual direct runoff. Moreover, the model was integrated with the Web-based Load Duration Curve Tool, which identifies the least cost BMPs for each land use and optimizes BMP selection to identify the most cost-effective BMP implementations. The integrated tools provide an easy to use approach for performing TMDL analysis and identifying cost-effective approaches for controlling nonpoint source pollution.
Effect of contaminations and surface preparation on the work function of single layer MoS2
Authors: Ochedowski Oliver , Marinov Kolyo , Scheuschner Nils , Poloczek Artur , Bussmann Benedict Kleine , Maultzsch Janina , Schleberger Marika
Published: March 2014

Thinning out MoS2 crystals to atomically thin layers results in the transition from an indirect to a direct bandgap material. This makes single layer MoS2 an exciting new material for electronic devices. In MoS2 devices it has been observed that the choice of materials, in particular for contact and gate, is crucial for their performance. This makes it very important to study the interaction between ultrathin MoS2 layers and materials employed in electronic devices in order to optimize their performance. In this work we used NC-AFM in combination with quantitative KPFM to study the influence of the substrate material and the processing on single layer MoS2 during device fabrication. We find a strong influence of contaminations caused by the processing on the surface potential of MoS2. It is shown that the charge transfer from the substrate is able to change the work function of MoS2 by about 40 meV. Our findings suggest two things. First, the necessity to properly clean devices after processing as contaminations have a great impact on the surface potential. Second, that by choosing appropriate materials the work function can be modified to reduce contact resistance.
Synthesis of chiral N-phosphinyl α-imino esters and their application in asymmetric synthesis of α-amino esters by reduction
Authors: Xiong Yiwen , Mei Haibo , Wu Lingmin , Han Jianlin , Pan Yi , Li Guigen
Published: March 2014

A variety of chiral N-phosphinyl α-imino esters have been synthesized for the first time from ketoesters and phosphinylamide, which were then reduced by L-selectride to give the corresponding N-phosphinyl-protected α-amino esters. The reduction proceeded very well with excellent chemical yields (88–98%) as well as high diastereoselectivities (96:4 to 99:1). Some of these products could be obtained without column chromatography and recrystallization. The chiral phosphinyl auxiliary could be easily cleaved under acidic conditions.
Tarjetas de respuesta ¿Son necesarias para una correcta cumplimentación del cuestionario?
Authors: Díaz de Rada Igúzquiza Vidal
Published: March 2014

La utilización en encuestas de preguntas con “tarjetas de respuesta” está totalmente aceptada por la comunidad investigadora. Esto supone una carga de trabajo “extra” en la tarea del entrevistador, lo que explica que en ocasiones no se utilicen correctamente. Pese a esta situación, hay muy poca literatura sobre la influencia de las tarjetas en las respuestas del entrevistado. El objetivo de este trabajo es profundizar en los efectos que la utilización de tarjetas tiene en la calidad de las respuestas del cuestionario, partiendo de la hipótesis que considera que las tarjetas —pese a complicar la tarea del encuestador— suponen importantes mejoras en la administración del cuestionario. Utilizaremos para ello un estudio del Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas con 23 preguntas de tarjeta, comparando las respuestas de los entrevistados que utilizaron las tarjetas con aquellos que no las emplearon.
Gesture-Based Process Modeling Using Multi-Touch Devices
Authors: Kolb Jens , Rudner Benjamin , Reichert Manfred
Published: March 2014

Contemporary business process modeling tools provide menu-based user interfaces for defining and visualizing process models. Such menu-based interactions have been optimized for applications running on desktop computers, but are limited regarding their use on multi-touch devices. At the same time, the widespread use of mobile devices in daily business life as well as their multi-touch capabilities offer promising perspectives for intuitively defining and changing business process models. Additionally, multi-touch tables will foster collaborative business process modeling based on natural as well as intuitive gestures and interactions. This paper presents the results of an experiment that investigated the way users define and change business process models using multi-touch devices. Based on experiment results, a core gesture set is designed enabling the easy definition and change of business process models with multi-touch devices. Finally, a proof-of-concept implementation of this core gesture set is presented. Overall, gesture-based process modeling and multi-touch devices will foster new ways of (collaborative) business process modeling.
A Semantic Framework for Knowledge Management in Virtual Innovation Factories
Authors: Diamantini Claudia , Potena Domenico , Proietti Maurizio , Smith Fabrizio , Storti Emanuele , Taglino Francesco
Published: March 2014

Knowledge management is a crucial aspect for enterprises that want to effectively cope with business innovation. However, the full control of the knowledge asset is often missing due to the lack of precise organizational models, policies, and proper technologies, especially in Virtual Enterprises (VEs), which are characterized by heterogeneous partners with different policies, skills and know-how. For such reasons, the need for technologies that enable knowledge sharing, efficient access to knowledge resources, and interoperability is felt as primary. This work proposes a semantics-based infrastructure aimed at supporting effective knowledge management for business innovation in VEs. Knowledge resources are formally represented and stored in a semantic layer, which is exploited by a set of semantic services for enabling efficient retrieval and reasoning capabilities to derive additional knowledge.
An Extension of Business Process Model and Notation for Security Risk Management
Authors: Altuhhov Olga , Matulevičius Raimundas , Ahmed Naved
Published: March 2014

Business process modelling is one of the major aspects in the modern information system development. Recently business process model and notation (BPMN) has become a standard technique to support this activity. Typically the BPMN notations are used to understand enterprise's business processes. However, limited work exists regarding how security concerns are addressed during the management of the business processes. This is a problem, since both business processes and security should be understood in parallel to support a development of the secure information systems. In the previous work we have analysed BPMN with respect to the domain model of the IS security risk management (ISSRM) and showed how the language constructs could be aligned to the concepts of the ISSRM domain model. In this paper the authors propose the BPMN extensions for security risk management based on the BPMN alignment to the ISSRM concepts. We illustrate how the extended BPMN could express assets, risks and risk treatment on few running examples related to the Internet store regarding the asset confidentiality, integrity and availability. Our proposal would allow system analysts to understand how to develop security requirements to secure important assets defined through business processes. The paper opens the possibility for business and security model interoperability and the model transformation between several modelling approaches (if these both are aligned to the ISSRM domain model).
Research on Measuring Semantic Correlation Based on the Wikipedia Hyperlink Network
Authors: Ye Feiyue , Zhang Feng
Published: March 2014

As a free online encyclopedia with a large-scale of knowledge coverage, rich semantic information and quick update speed, Wikipedia brings new ideas to measure semantic correlation. In this paper, the authors present a new method for measuring the semantic correlation between words by mining rich semantic information that exists in Wikipedia. Unlike the previous methods that calculate semantic relatedness merely based on the page network or the category network, the authors' method not only takes into account the semantic information of the page network, it also combines the semantic information of the category network and it improves the accuracy of the results. Besides this, the authors analyze and evaluate the algorithm by comparing the calculation results with famous knowledge base (e.g., Hownet) and traditional methods based on Wikipedia on the same test set and prove its superiority.
Fuzzy Set Theoretical Approach to the Tone Triangle System
Authors: Sugano Naotoshi
Published: March 2014

The present study considers a fuzzy color system in which three fuzzy sets are constructed on the tone triangle. This system processes a fuzzy input and outputs a color on the color triangle system. Two fuzzy sets (not black and white) are applied to the tone triangle relationship. By evaluating the attributes of chromaticness, whiteness, and blackness on the tone triangle, a target color can be easily obtained as the center of gravity of the resulting fuzzy set. The output of the system is a tone triangle, which includes a compound vector with three weights (scalars) in color space. The differences between a fuzzy input and the resulting inference output is shown by the input-output characteristic (linear shape and right triangle shape) between the chromaticness, the whiteness, and the blackness of the input and the chromaticness of the output.
Formal Models and Cognitive Mechanisms of the Human Sensory System
Authors: Wang Yingxu
Published: March 2014

The human sensory system is a perfect natural real-time distributed system. It transforms physical and chemical stimuli of the external environment into electronic neural signals by specialized sensory receptors. This paper presents a comprehensive framework of the human sensory system as well as its cognitive and theoretical foundations. A set of primary and perceptual sensory and neural receptors is formally modeled and analyzed. Sensory neural interfaces and interactions to the central and peripheral nervous systems of the brain and associated memories are systematically described. This work is a part of a strategic project towards the development of cognitive computers and cognitive robots.
TNFR1/Phox Interaction and TNFR1 Mitochondrial Translocation Thwart Silica-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Fazzi Fabrizio , Njah Joel , Di Giuseppe Michelangelo , Winnica Daniel E. , Go Kristina , Sala Ernest , St Croix Claudette M. , Watkins Simon C. , Tyurin Vladimir A. , Phinney Donald G. , Fattman Cheryl L. , Leikauf George D. , Kagan Valerian E. , Ortiz Luis A.
Published: March 2014

Macrophages play a fundamental role in innate immunity and the pathogenesis of silicosis. Phagocytosis of silica particles is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), secretion of cytokines, such as TNF, and cell death that contribute to silica-induced lung disease. In macrophages, ROS production is executed primarily by activation of the NADPH oxidase (Phox) and by generation of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS); however, the relative contribution is unclear, and the effects on macrophage function and fate are unknown. In this study, we used primary human and mouse macrophages (C57BL/6, BALB/c, and p47phox−/−) and macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7 and IC21) to investigate the contribution of Phox and mtROS to silica-induced lung injury. We demonstrate that reduced p47phox expression in IC21 macrophages is linked to enhanced mtROS generation, cardiolipin oxidation, and accumulation of cardiolipin hydrolysis products, culminating in cell death. mtROS production is also observed in p47phox−/− macrophages, and p47phox−/− mice exhibit increased inflammation and fibrosis in the lung following silica exposure. Silica induces interaction between TNFR1 and Phox in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, TNFR1 expression in mitochondria decreased mtROS production and increased RAW 264.7 macrophage survival to silica. These results identify TNFR1/Phox interaction as a key event in the pathogenesis of silicosis that prevents mtROS formation and reduces macrophage apoptosis.
Inflammasome Priming by Lipopolysaccharide Is Dependent upon ERK Signaling and Proteasome Function
Authors: Ghonime Mohammed G. , Shamaa Obada R. , Das Srabani , Eldomany Ramadan A. , Fernandes-Alnemri Teresa , Alnemri Emad S. , Gavrilin Mikhail A. , Wewers Mark D.
Published: March 2014

Caspase-1 activation is a central event in innate immune responses to many pathogenic infections and tissue damage. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein scaffolding complex that assembles in response to two distinct steps, priming and activation, is required for caspase-1 activation. However, the detailed mechanisms of these steps remain poorly characterized. To investigate the process of LPS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome priming, we used constitutively present pro–IL-18 as the caspase-1–specific substrate to allow study of the early events. We analyzed human monocyte caspase-1 activity in response to LPS priming, followed by activation with ATP. Within minutes of endotoxin priming, the NLRP3 inflammasome is licensed for ATP-induced release of processed IL-18, apoptosis-associated speck-forming complex containing CARD, and active caspase-1, independent of new mRNA or protein synthesis. Moreover, extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) phosphorylation is central to the priming process. ERK inhibition and small interfering RNA–mediated ERK1 knockdown profoundly impair priming. In addition, proteasome inhibition prevents ERK phosphorylation and blocks priming. Scavenging reactive oxygen species with diphenylene iodonium also blocks both priming and ERK phosphorylation. These findings suggest that ERK1-mediated posttranslational modifications license the NLRP3 inflammasome to respond to the second signal ATP by inducing posttranslational events that are independent of new production of pro–IL-1β and NOD-like receptor components.
NF90 Exerts Antiviral Activity through Regulation of PKR Phosphorylation and Stress Granules in Infected Cells
Authors: Wen Xi , Huang Xiaofeng , Mok Bobo Wing-Yee , Chen Yixin , Zheng Min , Lau Siu-Ying , Wang Pui , Song Wenjun , Jin Dong-Yan , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Chen Honglin
Published: March 2014

NF90 was shown to exhibit broad antiviral activity against several viruses, but detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the molecular basis for the inhibitory effect of NF90 on virus replication mediated through protein kinase (PKR)-associated translational regulation. We first verified the interaction between NF90 and PKR in mammalian cells and showed that NF90 interacts with PKR through its C-terminal and that the interaction is independent of NF90 RNA-binding properties. We further showed that knockdown of NF90 resulted in significantly lower levels of PKR phosphorylation in response to dsRNA induction and influenza virus infection. We also showed that high concentrations of NF90 exhibit negative regulatory effects on PKR phosphorylation, presumably through competition for dsRNA via the C-terminal RNA-binding domain. PKR activation is essential for the formation of stress granules in response to dsRNA induction. Our results showed that NF90 is a component of stress granules. In NF90-knockdown cells, dsRNA treatment induced significantly lower levels of stress granules than in control cells. Further evidence for an NF90–PKR antiviral pathway was obtained using an NS1 mutated influenza A virus specifically attenuated in its ability to inhibit PKR activation. This mutant virus replicated indistinguishably from wild-type virus in NF90-knockdown cells, but not in scrambled control cells or Vero cells, indicating that NF90’s antiviral function occurs through interaction with PKR. Taken together, these results reveal a yet-to-be defined host antiviral mechanism in which NF90 upregulation of PKR phosphorylation restricts virus infection.