bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Fitzgerald Bethan
Published: October 2015

Elgin vet Bethan Fitzgerald is currently in Quebec where she is competing in the 2015 World Dryland Sled Dog championships (which take place from October 29 to November 1). It is the first time that British dogs have competed in this event in Canada.
Bioenergetic calculations evaluate changes to habitat quality for salmonid fishes in streams treated with salmon carcass analog
Authors: Keeley Ernest R. , Campbell Steven O. , Kohler Andre E.
Published: October 2015

Nutrient supplementation in oligotrophic streams is proposed as a means of mitigating losses of marine-derived subsidies from declining or extirpated populations of anadromous fishes. One of the central predictions of nutrient addition is an increased production of fish through bottom-up increases in invertebrate abundance. Such changes in food availability may increase growth and production rates for stream fishes by increasing habitat quality. In this study we apply bioenergetic calculations to estimate changes to habitat quality based on predicted increases in net energy intake. We compared invertebrate drift abundance and estimated changes in energy availability in streams treated with salmon carcass analog versus untreated controls. Our results revealed a two- to threefold increase in invertebrate drift abundance following the addition of salmon carcass analog; however, this effect appeared to be short-term. Measures of the energetic profitability of stream habitat for salmonid fishes revealed small, yet significant, increases in net energy availability in streams that received analog additions, but only after controlling for differences in physical habitat features such as temperature and stream flow.
Expression of thenifHgene in diazotrophic bacteria inEucalyptus urograndisplantations
Authors: da Silva Marliane de Cássia Soares , Mendes Igor Rodrigues , Paula Thiago de Almeida , Dias Roberto Sousa , de Paula Sérgio Oliveira , Silva Cynthia Canedo , Bazzolli Denise Mara Soares , Kasuya Maria Catarina Megumi
Published: October 2015

A large proportion of eucalypt plantations in Brazil are located in areas with low soil fertility. The actions of microorganisms are of great importance for the cycling of nutrients, including nitrogen (N), that are essential for plant metabolism. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to monitor and identify the total and active microorganisms involved in the N cycle in both the soil and root systems of a forest of Eucalyptus urograndis with sections that were fertilized with N or unfertilized. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of the nifH gene in N-fixing bacteria present in both the soil and root systems. According to the DGGE analysis, in the total and active populations of N-fixing bacteria, the presence and expression of the nifH gene were influenced by the winter and summer seasons and (or) N fertilization, respectively. DGGE band sequencing from total DNA samples showed that the most abundant group of diazotrophic bacteria belonged to Alphaproteobacteria in both the soil and root systems. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that nifH expression was higher in the soil samples, especially in those that did not receive N fertilization. The differences in the composition of the total and active diazotrophic populations highlight the importance of evaluating the active populations, because they are effectively responsible for the biogeochemical transformation of N and also control its’ availability to plants.
Conformal and traversable wormholes with monopole and perfect fluid in f(R)-gravity
Authors: Taṣer Dog̃ukan , Dog̃ru Melis Ulu
Published: October 2015

We investigate spherically symmetric spacetime filled with global monopole and perfect fluid in [Formula: see text]-gravity. We consider field equations of [Formula: see text]-gravity in order to understand the global monopole and the perfect fluid curve to the spacetime. It has taken advantages of conformal symmetry properties of the spacetime to solve these equations. The obtained solutions are improved in case of phantom energy. It is shown that obtained [Formula: see text] function is consistent with well-known models of the modified gravity. Also, it is examined whether the obtained solutions support a traversable wormhole geometry. Obtained results of the solutions have been concluded.
UTILITY MAXIMIZATION WITH RANDOM HORIZON: A BSDE APPROACH
Authors: JEANBLANC MONIQUE , MASTROLIA THIBAUT , POSSAMAÏ DYLAN , RÉVEILLAC ANTHONY
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we study a utility maximization problem with random horizon and reduce it to the analysis of a specific backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE), which we call BSDE with singular coefficients, when the support of the default time is assumed to be bounded. We prove existence and uniqueness of the solution for the equation under interest. Our results are illustrated by numerical simulations.
The Pollution Caused by Protection: The Unintended Consequences of the Local Governance of the Urban Drinking Water Source Protection in Tianjin, China
Authors: TAN Hongze , LUO Jing , ORDERUD Geir Inge , ZHENG Yan , PAN Jiahua
Published: October 2015

This paper examines how the hierarchical way of governing erodes and distorts the function of environmental policies by analyzing the unintended consequences of the governance of the urban drinking water source protection in Tianjin, a mega-city in China, as a case study. Since the 1990s, Tianjin Municipal Government and Jixian Government (China) have setup a series of local measures for environmental governance to protect Yuqiao Reservoir, which is the water source of Tianjin and its surroundings. In general, the measures fall into three categories: water management, residence management, and the waste management. The governing principle is “no use, no pollution”. However, according to the field study, unintended consequences come along: some new kinds of pollution, from both household and production, occur in this area as a result of the implementation of these measures. Through the combination of functional analysis and the unintended consequences approach, three responsible factors have been found: Firstly, the absence of local residents in the whole decision-making process leads to distrust of the government, especially at the grass-roots level. Secondly, the “no use, no pollution” logic vastly reduces the reservoir’s utility and significance to the local residents, which leads to “no use, no protection”. Thirdly, the collapse of the traditional rules of mutual supervision also contributes to the deterioration. In conclusion, the typically hierarchical way of governing in this area leads to inevitable unintended consequences. This paper starts by summarizing relevant literature on local protective governance of the environment, especially in China, focusing on the consequences and their causes, in relation to research done in the area of unintended consequences of purposive social action. Then, following the empirical objects and the data collection methods, we present the case study in Yuqiao reserve, Tianjin, China, and analyze the unintended consequences. Moving to the result, the three reasons for the occurrence of the situation are shown. The last part is a discussion of the relevance of the findings in relation to the current urban governance study in China, and some practical suggestions are also given to point out a pathway for work in the next steps.
Land Use Conversion Probabilities in a Peri-Urban District of Ghana
Authors: APPIAH Divine Odame , FORKUO Eric Kwabena , BUGRI John Tiah
Published: October 2015

This paper is a critical review, which synthesizes the theory-application linkage of peri-urban land use and land cover changes (LULCC) using the Bosomtwe District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana as the case. From abstractive thinking to empirical possibility, we conjecture human decisions within agent-based modeling (ABM) perspective. The key question the paper has tried to answer is: what are the probable future land use conversion and modification potentials in the district? LULCC in peri-urban areas respond to social and biophysical dynamics. These control spatial distribution of populations, infrastructure, and the space economy. Under systemic laxity of controls, peri-urban land uses deviate from effective land use plans.
UK shallow ground temperatures for ground coupled heat exchangers
Authors: Busby Jon
Published: October 2015

Accurate estimations of shallow ground temperatures are required when sizing the horizontal closed loops and air supply culverts of ground coupled heating and cooling systems. These collector loops and culverts are within the zone affected by the seasonal swing in temperatures. Soil temperatures from 106 Met Office weather stations, located across the UK, have been analysed from which mean annual, seasonal minimum and maximum, and daily minimum and maximum temperatures have been calculated. Mean annual temperatures at 1 m depth, reduced to sea level, range from 12.7°C in southern England to 8.8°C in northern Scotland, with corresponding seasonal ranges in temperature of 10.3°C and 7.9°C respectively. An average urban heat island (UHI) effect at 1 m depth of 0.55°C has been observed at localities adjacent to urban green spaces, from which it can be assumed that the UHI effect will be greater in densely developed city and town centres. A linear relation has been derived for the mean annual temperature at any non-urban UK locality, at 1 m depth. The seasonal temperature cycle has been extrapolated accurately to several metres depth with site-specific thermal properties derived from the soil temperature measurements.
Increases in skeletal muscle ATGL and its inhibitor G0S2 following 8 weeks of endurance training in metabolically different rat skeletal muscles
Authors: Turnbull Patrick C. , Longo Amanda B. , Ramos Sofhia V. , Roy Brian D. , Ward Wendy E. , Peters Sandra J.
Published: October 2015

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) catalyzes the rate-limiting removal of the first fatty acid from a triglyceride. ATGL is activated by comparative gene identification-58 and inhibited by G(0)/G(1) switch gene-2 protein (G0S2). Research in other tissues and cell culture indicates that inhibition is dependent on relative G0S2-to-ATGL protein content. G0S2 may also have several roles within mitochondria; however, this has yet to be observed in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle G0S2 relative to ATGL content would decrease to facilitate intramuscular lipolysis following endurance training. Male Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 10; age 51–53 days old) were progressively treadmill trained at a 10% incline for 8 wk ending with 25 m/min for 1 h compared with control. Sciatic nerve stimulation for hind-limb muscle contraction (and lipolysis) was administered for 30 min to one leg, leaving the opposing leg as a resting control. Soleus (SOL), red gastrocnemius (RG), and white gastrocnemius were excised from both legs following stimulation or control. ATGL protein increased in all trained muscles. Unexpectedly, G0S2 protein was greater in the trained SOL and RG. In RG-isolated mitochondria, G0S2 also increased with training, yet mitochondrial G0S2 content was unaltered with acute contraction; therefore, any role of G0S2 in the mitochondria does not appear to be acutely mediated by content alone. In summary, G0S2 increased with training in oxidative muscles and mitochondria but not following acute contraction, suggesting that inhibition is not through relative G0S2-to-ATGL content but through more complicated intracellular mechanisms.
Spectrophotometric Analysis of Caffeine
Authors: Ahmad Bhawani Showkat , Fong Sim Siong , Mohamad Ibrahim Mohamad Nasir
Published: October 2015

The nature of caffeine reveals that it is a bitter white crystalline alkaloid. It is a common ingredient in a variety of drinks (soft and energy drinks) and is also used in combination with various medicines. In order to maintain the optimum level of caffeine, various spectrophotometric methods have been developed. The monitoring of caffeine is very important aspect because of its consumption in higher doses that can lead to various physiological disorders. This paper incorporates various spectrophotometric methods used in the analysis of caffeine in various environmental samples such as pharmaceuticals, soft and energy drinks, tea, and coffee. A range of spectrophotometric methodologies including chemometric techniques and derivatization of spectra have been used to analyse the caffeine.
Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Partial Shading on Photovoltaic Cells’ Electrical Parameters
Authors: Xiao W. B. , Hu F. Y. , Zhang H. M. , Wu H. M.
Published: October 2015

The short-circuit current (Isc), the open-circuit voltage (Voc), and the maximum power point (VMPP,IMPP) of monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon solar cells under three kinds of partial shading patterns have been investigated experimentally. The partial shades are, respectively, the nine shelter locations by 1 cm × 1 cm black card, the six shelter locations by 2 cm × 1 cm black card, and the center shelters with isosceles triangle, circle, square, and two rectangles black cards whose areas are 2 cm2. Firstly, the results show that the partial shading causes disproportional high losses on those parameters of both cells but will have a minimal effect onVoc. Secondly, it is found that those parameters of the monocrystalline cell are less dependent on the shading than that of the multicrystalline cell. Thirdly, it is noted thatIscandIMPPof both cells will be decreasing dramatically as a rectangular black shading card with a long side parallel to cell’s finger, compared with that normal to cell’s finger. Finally, it can be seen that the effects of shading on the electrical parameters of both cells will be suppressed when the border lines of shading match the size of the shaded cell.
Relationship of Gallbladder Perforation and Bacteriobilia with Occurrence of Surgical Site Infections following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Jain Nikhar , Neogi Sushanto , Bali Rajandeep Singh , Harsh Niket
Published: October 2015

Aim. To assess the occurrence of SSIs in patients with spillage of gallbladder contents and bacteriobilia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods. We evaluated 113 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between September 2013 and April 2015. The SSIs and their relationship with gallbladder rupture and bacteriobilia were assessed.Results. The mean age of patients developing SSIs was 45.57 ± 8.89 years. 18 patients (16%) had spillage of bile from the gallbladder. Percentage of SSIs overall was 6%, while percentage of SSIs in gallbladder content spillage was 5.5%. Organism profile of the culture from surgical site showed monomicrobial infection: 58%Staphylococcus aureus, 14%Pseudomonas, and 14%E. coli. The occurrence of SSIs in patients with bacteriobilia was 16% as compared to 2% in patients without bacteriobilia.Conclusions. Gallbladder content spillage is not a significant risk factor leading to increase in SSIs. The occurrence of SSIs is significantly higher in patients with bacteriobilia.
Solvability ofNth Order Linear Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Almenar P. , Jódar L.
Published: October 2015

This paper presents a method that provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions ofnth order linear boundary value problems. The method is based on the recursive application of a linear integral operator to some functions and the comparison of the result with these same functions. The recursive comparison yields sequences of bounds of extremes that converge to the exact values of the extremes of the BVP for which a solution exists.
Hierarchical Objective Quality Assessment for CS Video in WMSN
Authors: Chen Shouning , Zheng Baoyu , Zhao Yujuan
Published: October 2015

Compressive sensing (CS) is a sub-Nyquist sampling way while still enabling exact reconstruction, which is applicable to WMSN. In this paper, based on the characteristic of CS video in WMSN, we proposed a hierarchical objective CS video quality assessment (HOCSVQA) approach to get CS video quality index (CSVQI) from three levels, measurement level, stream level, and packet level, respectively. This approach cannot only keep the convenience and real-time characteristic of objective video assessment, but also reflect the QoE to a certain extent due to the coefficients regressed from subjective video assessment experiments. A set of experiments on subjective CS video quality assessment and another set of verification experiments are designed and settled. The CS video quality index, CSVQI, assessed by the model we proposed maintained a high correlation with data from verification experiments under statistical correlation measure.
Connections between Some Concepts of Polynomial Trichotomy for Noninvertible Evolution Operators in Banach Spaces
Authors: Babuţia Mihai-Gabriel , Seimeanu Nicolae Marian
Published: October 2015

The present paper treats three concepts of nonuniform polynomial trichotomies for noninvertible evolution operators acting on Banach spaces. The connections between these concepts are established through numerous examples and counterexamples for systems defined on the Banach space of square-summable sequences.
Approximate Method for Solving the Linear Fuzzy Delay Differential Equations
Authors: Narayanamoorthy S. , Yookesh T. L.
Published: October 2015

We propose an algorithm of the approximate method to solve linear fuzzy delay differential equations using Adomian decomposition method. The detailed algorithm of the approach is provided. The approximate solution is compared with the exact solution to confirm the validity and efficiency of the method to handle linear fuzzy delay differential equation. To show this proper features of this proposed method, numerical example is illustrated.
An Efficient Framework for Large Scale Multimedia Content Distribution in P2P Network: I2NC
Authors: Anandaraj M. , Ganeshkumar P. , Vijayakumar K. P. , Selvaraj K.
Published: October 2015

Network coding (NC) makes content distribution more effective and easier in P2P content distribution network and reduces the burden of the original seeder. It generalizes traditional network routing by allowing the intermediate nodes to generate new coded packet by combining the received packets. The randomization introduced by network coding makes all packets equally important and resolves the problem of locating the rarest block. Further, it reduces traffic in the network. In this paper, we analyze the performance of traditional network coding in P2P content distribution network by using a mathematical model and it is proved that traffic reduction has not been fully achieved in P2P network using traditional network coding. It happens due to the redundant transmission of noninnovative information block among the peers in the network. Hence, we propose a new framework, called I2NC (intelligent‐peer selection and incremental‐network coding), to eliminate the unnecessary flooding of noninnovative coded packets and thereby to improve the performance of network coding in P2P content distribution further. A comparative study and analysis of the proposed system is made through various related implementations and the results show that 10–15% of traffic reduced and improved the average and maximum download time by reducing original seeder’s workload.
Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma: A Review of the Literature with Updates on Surgical Management
Authors: Plateroti Pasquale , Plateroti Andrea Maria , Abdolrahimzadeh Solmaz , Scuderi Gianluca
Published: October 2015

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a systemic disorder caused by progressive accumulation of extracellular material over various tissues. PES usually determines increased intraocular pressure, changes in the anatomical aspects of the optic nerve, and visual field alterations leading to the diagnosis of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG). Use of topical medical treatment usually leads to poor results in terms of long-term follow-up but many surgical techniques, such as Argon Laser or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, have been proposed for the management of PEG affected patients. The present paper is a review on the pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma with an update on surgical management.
Parenting Behavior in Mothers of Preschool Children with ASD: Development of a Self-Report Questionnaire
Authors: Lambrechts Greet , Maljaars Jarymke , Boonen Hannah , van Esch Lotte , Van Leeuwen Karla , Noens Ilse
Published: October 2015

Parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter many daily challenges and often experience much stress. However, little research exists about parenting behavior among these parents. With this study, we aim to address this gap. We examined the structure and internal consistency of a questionnaire intended to measure parenting behavior among mothers of young children with ASD. Furthermore, we compared parenting behavior among mothers of young children with and without ASD between two and six years old. Factor analyses resulted in a factor solution with seven subscales of parenting behavior. Two additional subscales especially relevant for parenting preschoolers with ASD were also considered.Analyses of covariance, controlling for gender and age, showed significantly higher scores forDisciplineandStimulating the Developmentin the control group in comparison with the ASD group. These findings suggest that mothers of preschoolers with ASD are still trying to find strategies to guide and stimulate their child’s behavior and development effectively.
A Missing Sensor Data Estimation Algorithm Based on Temporal and Spatial Correlation
Authors: Gao Zhipeng , Cheng Weijing , Qiu Xuesong , Meng Luoming
Published: October 2015

In wireless sensor network, data loss is inevitable due to its inherent characteristics. This phenomenon is even serious in some situation which brings a big challenge to the applications of sensor data. However, the traditional data estimation methods can not be directly used in wireless sensor network and existing estimation algorithms fail to provide a satisfactory accuracy or have high complexity. To address this problem,Temporal and Spatial Correlation Algorithm(TSCA) is proposed to estimate missing data as accurately as possible in this paper. Firstly, it saves all the data sensed at the same time as a time series, and the most relevant series are selected as the analysis sample, which improves efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm significantly. Secondly, it estimates missing values from temporal and spatial dimensions. Different weights are assigned to these two dimensions. Thirdly, there are two strategies to deal with severe data loss, which improves the applicability of the algorithm. Simulation results on different sensor datasets verify that the proposed approach outperforms existing solutions in terms of estimation accuracy.
On Some Properties and Symmetries of the 5-Dimensional Lorenz System
Authors: Lăzureanu Cristian , Bînzar Tudor
Published: October 2015

The 5-dimensional Lorenz system for the gravity-wave activity is considered. Some stability problems and the existence of periodic orbits are studied. Also, a symplectic realization and some symmetries are given.
Generalized Inferences about the Mean Vector of Several Multivariate Gaussian Processes
Authors: Ibarrola Pilar , Vélez Ricardo
Published: October 2015

We consider in this paper the problem of comparing the means of several multivariate Gaussian processes. It is assumed that the means depend linearly on an unknown vector parameterθand that nuisance parameters appear in the covariance matrices. More precisely, we deal with the problem of testing hypotheses, as well as obtaining confidence regions forθ. Both methods will be based on the concepts of generalizedpvalue and generalized confidence region adapted to our context.
Some Characterization Results on Dynamic Cumulative Residual Tsallis Entropy
Authors: Sati Madan Mohan , Gupta Nitin
Published: October 2015

We propose a generalized cumulative residual information measure based on Tsallis entropy and its dynamic version. We study the characterizations of the proposed information measure and define new classes of life distributions based on this measure. Some applications are provided in relation to weighted and equilibrium probability models. Finally the empirical cumulative Tsallis entropy is proposed to estimate the new information measure.
Klein-Gordon Equation with Superintegrable Systems: Kepler-Coulomb, Harmonic Oscillator, and Hyperboloid
Authors: Mohammadi V. , Aghaei S. , Chenaghlou A.
Published: October 2015

We study the two-dimensional Klein-Gordon equation with spin symmetry in the presence of the superintegrable potentials. On Euclidean space, theSO(3)group generators of the Schrödinger-like equation with the Kepler-Coulomb potential are represented. In addition, by Levi-Civita transformation, the Schrödinger-like equation with harmonic oscillator which is dual to the Kepler-Coulomb potential and theSU(2)group generators of associated system are studied. Also, we construct the quadratic algebra of the hyperboloid superintegrable system. Then, we obtain the corresponding Casimir operators and the structure functions and the relativistic energy spectra of the corresponding quasi-Hamiltonians by using the quadratic algebra approach.
Acuteβ-N-Methylamino-L-alanine Toxicity in a Mouse Model
Authors: Al-Sammak Maitham Ahmed , Rogers Douglas G. , Hoagland Kyle D.
Published: October 2015

The cyanobacterial neurotoxinβ-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is considered to be an “excitotoxin,” and its suggested mechanism of action is killing neurons. Long-term exposure to L-BMAA is believed to lead to neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Objectives of this study were to determine the presumptive median lethal dose (LD50), the Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (LOAEL), and histopathologic lesions caused by the naturally occurring BMAA isomer, L-BMAA, in mice. Seventy NIH Swiss Outbred mice (35 male and 35 female) were used. Treatment group mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0.03, 0.3, 1, 2, and 3 mg/g body weight L-BMAA, respectively, and control mice were sham-injected. The presumptive LD50of L-BMAA was 3 mg/g BW and the LOAEL was 2 mg/g BW. There were no histopathologic lesions in brain, liver, heart, kidney, lung, or spleen in any of the mice during the 14-day study. L-BMAA was detected in brains and livers in all of treated mice but not in control mice. Males injected with 0.03 mg/g BW, 0.3 mg/g BW, and 3.0 mg/g BW L-BMAA showed consistently higher concentrations (P< 0.01) in brain and liver samples as compared to females in those respective groups.
Living Space Evolution: A New Crowd Based Computational Approach
Authors: Laisheng Xiao
Published: October 2015

Inspired by the life cycle and survival of the fittest and combined with the consideration of living space information, a new computational intelligence approach, namely, living space evolution (LSE), is presented. LSE has reflected two new ideas. One is living space evolution: under the guidance of living space information, the offspring of life concentrate and evolve continuously towards richer living spaces. The other is multiple offspring reproduction: simulating real life in nature, a life can reproduce multiple offspring within one generation. In this work, LSE dynamic model, its flow, and pseudocodes are described in detail. A digital simulation has shown the procedure of LSE living space evolution. Furthermore, two applications of using LSE are employed to demonstrate its effectiveness and applicability. One is to apply it to the optimization for continuous functions, and the other is to use it as an optimization tool for routing protocol in wireless sensor network that is a discrete problem in real world. Research has shown that LSE is effective for the optimization for the continuous functions and also applicable for the discrete problem in real world. In addition, LSE has a special ability to balance search process from exploration to exploitation gradually.
Cache Locality-Centric Parallel String Matching on Many-Core Accelerator Chips
Authors: Tran Nhat-Phuong , Lee Myungho , Choi Dong Hoon
Published: October 2015

Aho-Corasick (AC) algorithm is a multiple patterns string matching algorithm commonly used in computer and network security and bioinformatics, among many others. In order to meet the highly demanding computational requirements imposed on these applications, achieving high performance for the AC algorithm is crucial. In this paper, we present a high performance parallelization of the AC on the many-core accelerator chips such as the Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) from Nvidia and the Intel Xeon Phi. Our parallelization approach significantly improves the cache locality of the AC by partitioning a given set of string patterns into multiple smaller sets of patterns in a space-efficient way. Using the multiple pattern sets, intensive pattern matching operations are concurrently conducted with respect to the whole input text data. Compared with the previous approaches where the input data is partitioned amongst multiple threads instead of partitioning the pattern set, our approach significantly improves the performance. Experimental results show that our approach leads up to 2.73 times speedup on the Nvidia K20 GPU and 2.00 times speedup on the Intel Xeon Phi compared with the previous approach. Our parallel implementation delivers up to 693 Gbps throughput performance on the K20.
Modeling Spontaneous Metastasis following Surgery: An In Vivo-In Silico Approach
Authors: Benzekry Sebastien , Tracz Amanda , Mastri Michalis , Corbelli Ryan , Barbolosi Dominique , Ebos John M.L.
Published: October 2015

Rapid improvements in the detection and tracking of early-stage tumor progression aim to guide decisions regarding cancer treatments as well as predict metastatic recurrence in patients following surgery. Mathematical models may have the potential to further assist in estimating metastatic risk, particularly when paired with in vivo tumor data that faithfully represent all stages of disease progression. Herein, we describe mathematical analysis that uses data from mouse models of spontaneous metastasis developing after surgical removal of orthotopically implanted primary tumors. Both presurgical (primary tumor) growth and postsurgical (metastatic) growth were quantified using bioluminescence and were then used to generate a mathematical formalism based on general laws of the disease (i.e., dissemination and growth). The model was able to fit and predict pre/postsurgical data at the level of the individual as well as the population. Our approach also enabled retrospective analysis of clinical data describing the probability of metastatic relapse as a function of primary tumor size. In these data-based models, interindividual variability was quantified by a key parameter of intrinsic metastatic potential. Critically, our analysis identified a highly nonlinear relationship between primary tumor size and postsurgical survival, suggesting possible threshold limits for the utility of tumor size as a predictor of metastatic recurrence. These findings represent a novel use of clinically relevant models to assess the impact of surgery on metastatic potential and may guide optimal timing of treatments in neoadjuvant (presurgical) and adjuvant (postsurgical) settings to maximize patient benefit. Cancer Res; 76(3); 535–47. ©2015 AACR.
Clinicopathologic Risk Factor Distributions for MLH1 Promoter Region Methylation in CIMP-Positive Tumors
Authors: Levine A. Joan , Phipps Amanda I. , Baron John A. , Buchanan Daniel D. , Ahnen Dennis J. , Cohen Stacey A. , Lindor Noralane M. , Newcomb Polly A. , Rosty Christophe , Haile Robert W. , Laird Peter W. , Weisenberger Daniel J.
Published: October 2015

Background: The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is a major molecular pathway in colorectal cancer. Approximately 25% to 60% of CIMP tumors are microsatellite unstable (MSI-H) due to DNA hypermethylation of the MLH1 gene promoter. Our aim was to determine if the distributions of clinicopathologic factors in CIMP-positive tumors with MLH1 DNA methylation differed from those in CIMP-positive tumors without DNA methylation of MLH1.

Methods: We assessed the associations between age, sex, tumor-site, MSI status BRAF and KRAS mutations, and family colorectal cancer history with MLH1 methylation status in a large population-based sample of CIMP-positive colorectal cancers defined by a 5-marker panel using unconditional logistic regression to assess the odds of MLH1 methylation by study variables.

Results: Subjects with CIMP-positive tumors without MLH1 methylation were significantly younger, more likely to be male, and more likely to have distal colon or rectal primaries and the MSI-L phenotype. CIMP-positive MLH1-unmethylated tumors were significantly less likely than CIMP-positive MLH1-methylated tumors to harbor a BRAF V600E mutation and significantly more likely to harbor a KRAS mutation. MLH1 methylation was associated with significantly better overall survival (HR, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–0.82).

Conclusions: These data suggest that MLH1 methylation in CIMP-positive tumors is not a completely random event and implies that there are environmental or genetic determinants that modify the probability that MLH1 will become methylated during CIMP pathogenesis.

Impact: MLH1 DNA methylation status should be taken into account in etiologic studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(1); 68–75. ©2015 AACR.
Patients with a High Polygenic Risk of Breast Cancer do not have An Increased Risk of Radiotherapy Toxicity
Authors: Dorling Leila , Barnett Gillian C. , Michailidou Kyriaki , Coles Charlotte E. , Burnet Neil G. , Yarnold John , Elliott Rebecca M. , Dunning Alison M. , Pharoah Paul D.P. , West Catharine M.
Published: October 2015

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that increased predisposition to breast cancer may correlate with radiosensitivity, and thus increased risk of toxicity following breast irradiation. This study investigated the relationship between common breast cancer risk variants and radiotherapy toxicity.

Experimental Design: SNP genotypes were determined in female breast cancer patients from the RAPPER (Radiogenomics: Assessment of polymorphisms for predicting the effects of radiotherapy) study using the Illumina CytoSNP12 genome-wide array. A further 15,582,449 genotypes were imputed using the 1000 Genomes Project reference panel. Patient (n = 1,160) polygenic risk scores were generated by summing risk-allele dosages, both unweighted and weighted by published effect sizes for breast cancer risk. Regression models were used to test associations of individual variants and polygenic risk scores with acute and late toxicity phenotypes (telangiectasia, breast edema, photographically assessed shrinkage, induration, pigmentation, breast pain, breast sensitivity, and overall toxicity).

Results: Genotypes of 90 confirmed breast cancer risk variants were accurately determined and polygenic risk scores were approximately normally distributed. Variant rs6964587 was associated with increased breast edema 5 years following radiotherapy (Beta, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.34; P = 7 × 10−4). No other associations were found between individual variants or the unweighted (P > 0.17) or weighted (P > 0.13) polygenic risk score and radiotherapy toxicity. This study had >87% power to detect an association between the polygenic risk score (relative risk > 1.1) and toxicity.

Conclusions: Cancer patients with a high polygenic predisposition to breast cancer do not have an increased risk of radiotherapy toxicity up to 5 years following radiotherapy but individual variants may increase risk. Clin Cancer Res; 22(6); 1413–20. ©2015 AACR.
Plasma Inflammatory Markers and Risk of Advanced Colorectal Adenoma in Women
Authors: Song Mingyang , Mehta Raaj S. , Wu Kana , Fuchs Charles S. , Ogino Shuji , Giovannucci Edward L. , Chan Andrew T.
Published: October 2015

Evidence remains inconclusive about the association of systemic inflammatory markers with colorectal neoplasia. We investigated whether circulating inflammatory markers were associated with risk of advanced colorectal adenoma. We measured plasma macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), and soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNFR-2) in blood samples drawn from 32,826 women in 1989 to 1990 in the Nurses' Health Study. Through 2008, we documented 757 cases of advanced colorectal adenomas (≥1 cm or any size with advanced histology); each case was matched by age and time of blood draw with one control randomly selected from participants who underwent lower endoscopy and did not have neoplasia. Plasma MIC-1 was associated with higher risk of advanced adenoma (Ptrend = 0.04), with an OR of 1.55 (95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.32) comparing extreme quintiles of MIC-1 after adjusting for colorectal cancer–risk factors and other inflammatory markers. Among cases, MIC-1 level was positively associated with the number of adenomas (P < 0.001) and gradually increased from adenomas located in the rectum, distal colon, and up to the proximal colon. There was a strong positive association between MIC-1 and risk of adenomas with multiplicity, ≥1 cm size and location in the proximal colon (all Ptrend < 0.05). CRP, IL6, or sTNFR-2 was not associated with adenoma risk. In conclusion, plasma MIC-1 was associated with higher risk of colorectal adenoma, especially multiple, large, and proximal adenomas. Our results provide further support for a role for MIC-1 in carcinogenesis and the potential for MIC-1 as an adjunctive biomarker for detection of advanced colorectal adenoma. Cancer Prev Res; 9(1); 27–34. ©2015 AACR.
A Case Report of Ablepharon-Macrostomia Syndrome with Amniotic Membrane Grafting
Authors: Feinstein Eric , Traish Aisha S. , Aakalu Vinay , Kassem Iris S.
Published: October 2015

We describe a rare case of an infant who was born with multiple congenital anomalies, including the absence of eyelids. This patient had many dysmorphic features consistent with a severe phenotype of ablepharon-macrostomia syndrome (AMS) including a fish-like appearance of the mouth, rudimentary ears, absence of body hair, thin skin, absent nipples, abdominal distension, and genital abnormalities. Upon presentation, there was severe exposure keratopathy causing large bilateral sterile ulcers culminating in corneal melting of both eyes. An amniotic membrane graft was used to attempt to maintain the corneal surface integrity. However, because of the late presentation, the corneas could not be salvaged. Extensive surgical reconstruction of both eyelids and bilateral penetrating keratoplasty was ultimately performed successfully to protect the ocular surfaces while trying to maximize the visual potential. Early amniotic membrane grafting may be done at the bedside and may help preserve the ocular in patients with severe eyelid deformities until more definitive treatment is performed.
Does the Volume of Ischemic Stroke Admissions Relate to Clinical Outcomes in the Ontario Stroke System?
Authors: Hall Ruth E. , Fang Jiming , Hodwitz Kathryn , Saposnik Gustavo , Bayley Mark T.
Published: October 2015

Background—

Better outcomes have been found among hospitals treating higher volumes of patients for specific surgical and medical conditions. We examined hospital ischemic stroke (IS) volume and 30-day mortality to inform regionalization planning.

Methods and Results—

Using a population-based hospital discharge administrative database (2005/2006 to 2011/2012), average annual IS patient volumes were calculated for 162 Ontario acute hospitals. Hospitals were ranked and classified as small (<126), medium (126–202), and large (>202). Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of death within 7 and 30 days to account for the homogeneity in outcomes for patients treated at the same hospital. Overall, 73 368 patients were hospitalized for IS, and 30-day mortality was 15.3%. The mean (±SD) of annual hospitalizations for IS was 29 (31) for small-volume hospitals, 156 (20) for medium-volume hospitals, and 300 (78) for high-volume hospitals. High-volume hospitals admitted younger patients (mean [±SD] age, 73.0 [13.9] years) compared with medium- and small-volume hospitals (74.0 [13.2] and 75.5 [12.5] years, respectively;
P
<0.0001). Patients at small-volume hospitals were more likely than patients at high-volume hospitals to die at 30 days after an acute IS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.65).

Conclusions—

Hospital IS volume is associated with 30-day mortality in Ontario. Patients admitted to hospitals with annual IS volumes <126 annually are more likely to die within 30 days than patients admitted to hospitals that see on average 300 patients annually. This finding supports centralizing care in stroke-specialized hospitals.
Academic-Community Hospital Comparison of Vulnerabilities in Door-to-Needle Process for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Prabhakaran Shyam , Khorzad Rebeca , Brown Alexandra , Nannicelli Anna P. , Khare Rahul , Holl Jane L.
Published: October 2015

Background—

Although best practices have been developed for achieving door-to-needle (DTN) times ≤60 minutes for stroke thrombolysis, critical DTN process failures persist. We sought to compare these failures in the Emergency Department at an academic medical center and a community hospital.

Methods and Results—

Failure modes effects and criticality analysis was used to identify system and process failures. Multidisciplinary teams involved in DTN care participated in moderated sessions at each site. As a result, DTN process maps were created and potential failures and their causes, frequency, severity, and existing safeguards were identified. For each failure, a risk priority number and criticality score were calculated; failures were then ranked, with the highest scores representing the most critical failures and targets for intervention. We detected a total of 70 failures in 50 process steps and 76 failures in 42 process steps at the community hospital and academic medical center, respectively. At the community hospital, critical failures included (1) delay in registration because of Emergency Department overcrowding, (2) incorrect triage diagnosis among walk-in patients, and (3) delay in obtaining consent for thrombolytic treatment. At the academic medical center, critical failures included (1) incorrect triage diagnosis among walk-in patients, (2) delay in stroke team activation, and (3) delay in obtaining computed tomographic imaging.

Conclusions—

Although the identification of common critical failures suggests opportunities for a generalizable process redesign, differences in the criticality and nature of failures must be addressed at the individual hospital level, to develop robust and sustainable solutions to reduce DTN time.
The Minefields of Mediation: An Overview
Authors: Fixdal Mona
Published: October 2015

This special issue explores significant problems of peace mediation. How do these “minefields of mediation” arise, how do mediators’ ways of handling them impact the negotiation process, and what can mediators do to overcome them? Using examples from the last quarter century, and from the Middle East in particular, the authors examine these questions at different stages of the mediation process, from its initiation to its culmination, and with reference to different forms of mediation, including facilitation, muscular, and multiparty mediation. This short introduction provides a systematic overview of some of the most pertinent mediation challenges, with reference to who the mediators are, when the mediation takes place and what the issues of contention and possible outcomes are. These areas are of course all intertwined, and, as the articles in this issue point out, are also very much influenced by changes in the domestic, regional and international environment.
The Shifting Sands of Peacemaking: Challenges of Multiparty Mediation
Authors: Crocker Chester A. , Hampson Fen Osler , Aall Pamela
Published: October 2015

Multiparty mediation, which occurs when two or more third parties cooperate or compete in helping antagonists negotiate a conflict settlement, carries both risks and rewards as a conflict management strategy. Cooperating multiple third parties can increase the chances of crafting an agreement, band together to create greater pressure on the conflict parties to reach agreement, and supply outside resources to help implement the negotiated agreement. Competing multiple third parties can undercut each other, prolonging the conflict and allowing antagonists to resist necessary compromises and negotiated concessions. This article examines the changing environment for multiparty mediation and the impact of five changes that affect the practice of mediation. It derives some interim conclusions about where the field is heading and offers some recommendations for making multiparty engagements more effective.
Mediation: Ripeness and its Challenges in the Middle East
Authors: Zartman I. William
Published: October 2015

A mutually hurting stalemate is a necessary but insufficient condition for the opening of negotiations, direct or mediated. It is subject to perception, buffered by many insulating ploys even if it seems to exist objectively. Thus, the major challenge for a mediator in most cases is to ripen the parties’ perceptions. In addition to the attitudinal challenge, there are structural challenges posed by other types of stalemates and near-stalemates, which call for not only persuasion but also manipulation by the mediator. The ultimate challenge to a mediator is to move successful negotiations producing conflict management onto the consummating phase of negotiations for conflict resolution. But the first removes the incentive for the second, since it ceases the violence that is the most effective source of pain.
Do Languages and Genes Correlate?
Authors: Campbell Lyle
Published: October 2015

This paper examines aspects of how linguistics and human genetics can collaborate in the investigation of human prehistory. Matters that need more careful attention for linguistic-genetic correlations to have value are emphasized. Some ways to make collaboration between geneticists and linguists more productive are considered, while some misconceptions frequently encountered in work which correlates languages and genes are clarified. In particular, the questions posed by Comrie (2006) in his position paper on language and genes are addressed.
Training Theological Reflectors to Facilitate Ordinary Theology in Churches
Authors: Armstrong Michael R.
Published: October 2015

This paper argues that there are good reasons why church and academy need better to hear and take account of the ordinary theology (hereafter O.Th) of practising Christians. It is an important form of practical theology which not only can inform current theological debates and even challenge existing theological norms, but also provide deep learning experiences both for ordinary theologians and those ministering to them. To facilitate the articulation of O.Th, trained theological reflectors are needed who can listen to ordinary Christian people with a ‘theological ear’ and become ‘people’s theologians’. Also needed is a workable model for small-scale research into O.Th. Empirical research into O.Th has hitherto been undertaken by the application of significant resource, either by an individual researcher (often the doctoral thesis) or a team. Such resource-intensive endeavour has provided important data on various aspects of O.Th, and has put O.Th firmly on the research map. However, there is a clear need for O.Th research to become something which can be more easily undertaken by ministers and others in roles of pastoral responsibility and theological education. A research model based on an expanded pastoral cycle makes this possible.