bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intramolecular electron dynamics in the ionization of acetylene by an intense laser pulse
Authors: Lötstedt Erik , Kato Tsuyoshi , Yamanouchi Kaoru
Published: March 2013

Ionization of acetylene (C2H2) induced by an intense laser field whose polarization direction is parallel to the molecular axis is investigated by time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations. It is found that, in the ionization process, the probability of the ejection of an electron from the two highest occupied orbitals of σ symmetry increases drastically as the C–H distance is symmetrically increased. On the contrary, the ejection probability of an electron in the two degenerate π orbitals is much less influenced by the bond elongation. The laser-induced dynamics of the time-dependent orbitals are interpreted by projecting them onto time-independent orbitals, which are eigenfunctions of the time-independent Fock operator.
Antiferromagnetic ordering of dangling-bond electrons at the stepped Si(001) surface
Authors: Lee Jun-Ho , Kim Sun-Woo , Cho Jun-Hyung
Published: March 2013

Using first-principles density-functional calculations, we explore the possibility of magnetic order at the rebonded DB step of the Si(001) surface. The rebonded DB step containing threefold coordinated Si atoms can be treated as a one-dimensional dangling-bond (DB) wire along the step edge. We find that Si atoms composing the step edge are displaced up and down alternatively due to Jahn-Teller-like distortion, but, if Si dimers on the terrace are passivated by H atoms, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) order can be stabilized at the step edge with a suppression of Jahn-Teller-like distortion. We also find that the energy preference of AFM order over Jahn-Teller-like distortion is enhanced in an oscillatory way as the length of DB wires decreases, showing the so-called quantum size effects.
Geometric and magnetic properties of Co adatom decorated nitrogen-doped graphene
Authors: Lee Sangho , Lee Minho , Chung Yong-Chae
Published: March 2013

The potential for nitrogen doped graphene with dispersed Co metal atoms as a candidate material for future spintronic applications was studied using first-principles calculations. Among the three types of defective structures, the pyridinic and pyrrolic systems were demonstrated to be structurally stable since the binding energy between the Co adatom and these substrate layers exceeded the cohesive energy of Co metal alone. Also, Co adatom on these two structures showed high magnetic moment values, which surpassed that of the Co metal bulk. From these results, it is shown that the pyridinic and pyrrolic N defects on graphene have a positive effect on the geometric stability and magnetic property of decorated Co atoms.
A compact 45 kV curve tracer with picoampere current measurement capability
Authors: Sullivan W. W. , Mauch D. , Bullick A. , Hettler C. , Neuber A. , Dickens J.
Published: March 2013

This paper discusses a compact high voltage curve tracer for high voltage semiconductor device characterization. The system sources up to 3 mA at up to 45 kV in dc conditions. It measures from 328 V to 60 kV with 15 V resolution and from 9.4 pA to 4 mA with 100 fA minimum resolution. Control software for the system is written in Microsoft Visual C# and features real-time measurement control and IV plotting, arc-protection and detection, an electrically isolated universal serial bus interface, and easy data exporting capabilities. The system has survived numerous catastrophic high voltage device-under-test arcing failures with no loss of measurement capability or system damage. Overall sweep times are typically under 2 min, and the curve tracer system was used to characterize the blocking performance of high voltage ceramic capacitors, high voltage silicon carbide photoconductive semiconductor switches, and high voltage coaxial cable.
Physiological skeletal gains and losses in rat mothers during pregnancy and lactation are not observed following uteroplacental insufficiency
Authors: Romano Tania , Wark John D. , Wlodek Mary E.
Published: March 2013

Fluctuations in maternal bone mass during pregnancy and lactation facilitate calcium transfer to offspring. Uteroplacental insufficiency causes fetal growth restriction and programs poor adult bone health. We aimed to characterise maternal skeletal phenotype during normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by uteroplacental insufficiency. Uteroplacental restriction (Restricted) or sham surgery (Control) was performed on gestational Day 18 (term = 22 days) in pregnant Wistar-Kyoto rats. Maternal right femurs were collected on embryonic Day 20, postnatal Day 1 and Weeks 5, 7 and 9 postnatal. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to quantify global bone mineral content, density and body composition. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was utilised to determine trabecular and cortical content, density, circumferences and strength. Control rats exhibited expected reductions in trabecular and cortical content, density and bone strength from embryonic Day 20 to postnatal Day 1 (P < 0.05). These skeletal alterations were absent in Restricted rats. By postnatal Day 7, bone parameters in Control and Restricted rats were not different from non-pregnant rats, indicating restoration of maternal bone. The lack of bone loss in mothers suffering uteroplacental insufficiency suggests that calcium transfer to pups would be impaired. This reduction in calcium availability is a likely contributor to the programming of poor adult bone health in growth-restricted offspring.
Frovatriptan salts of aliphatic carboxylic acids
Authors: Ravikumar Krishnan , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Hariharakrishnan Venkatasubramanian , Rao Bandi Venugopal
Published: March 2013

The interaction of the antimigraine pharmaceutical agent frovatriptan with acetic acid and succinic acid yields the salts (±)-6-carbamoyl-N-methyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-3-aminium acetate, C14H18N3O+·C2H3O2−, (I), (R)-(+)-6-carbamoyl-N-methyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-3-aminium 3-carboxypropanoate monohydrate, C14H18N3O+·C4H5O4−·H2O, (II), and bis[(R)-(+)-6-carbamoyl-N-methyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-3-aminium] succinate trihydrate, 2C14H18N3O+·C4H4O42−·3H2O, (III). The methylazaniumyl substitutent is oriented differently in all three structures. Additionally, the amide group in (I) is in a different orientation. All the salts form three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structures. In (I), the cations form head-to-head hydrogen-bonded amide–amide catemers through N—H...O interactions, while in (II) and (III) the cations form head-to-head amide–amide dimers. The cation catemers in (I) are extended into a three-dimensional network through further interactions with acetate anion acceptors. The presence of succinate anions and water molecules in (II) and (III) primarily governs the three-dimensional network through water-bridged cation–anion associationsviaO—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The structures reported here shed some light on the possible mode of noncovalent interactions in the aggregation and interaction patterns of drug molecule adducts.
Combining multiple FDG‐PET radiotherapy target segmentation methods to reduce the effect of variable performance of individual segmentation methods
Authors: McGurk Ross J. , Bowsher James , Lee John A , Das Shiva K.
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

Many approaches have been proposed to segment high uptake objects in 18F‐fluoro‐deoxy‐glucose positron emission tomography images but none provides consistent performance across the large variety of imaging situations. This study investigates the use of two methods of combining individual segmentation methods to reduce the impact of inconsistent performance of the individual methods: simple majority voting and probabilistic estimation.

Methods:

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association image quality phantom containing five glass spheres with diameters 13–37 mm and two irregularly shaped volumes (16 and 32 cc) formed by deforming high‐density polyethylene bottles in a hot water bath were filled with 18‐fluoro‐deoxyglucose and iodine contrast agent. Repeated 5‐min positron emission tomography (PET) images were acquired at 4:1 and 8:1 object‐to‐background contrasts for spherical objects and 4.5:1 and 9:1 for irregular objects. Five individual methods were used to segment each object: 40% thresholding, adaptive thresholding, k‐means clustering, seeded region‐growing, and a gradient based method. Volumes were combined using a majority vote (MJV) or Simultaneous Truth And Performance Level Estimate (STAPLE) method. Accuracy of segmentations relative to CT ground truth volumes were assessed using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and the symmetric mean absolute surface distances (SMASDs).

Results:

MJV had median DSC values of 0.886 and 0.875; and SMASD of 0.52 and 0.71 mm for spheres and irregular shapes, respectively. STAPLE provided similar results with median DSC of 0.886 and 0.871; and median SMASD of 0.50 and 0.72 mm for spheres and irregular shapes, respectively. STAPLE had significantly higher DSC and lower SMASD values than MJV for spheres (DSC,p < 0.0001; SMASD, p = 0.0101) but MJV had significantly higher DSC and lower SMASD values compared to STAPLE for irregular shapes (DSC, p < 0.0001; SMASD, p = 0.0027). DSC was not significantly different between 128 × 128 and 256 × 256 grid sizes for either method (MJV, p = 0.0519; STAPLE, p = 0.5672) but was for SMASD values (MJV, p < 0.0001; STAPLE, p = 0.0164). The best individual method varied depending on object characteristics. However, both MJV and STAPLE provided essentially equivalent accuracy to using the best independent method in every situation, with mean differences in DSC of 0.01–0.03, and 0.05–0.12 mm for SMASD.

Conclusions:

Combining segmentations offers a robust approach to object segmentation in PET. Both MJV and STAPLE improved accuracy and were robust against the widely varying performance of individual segmentation methods. Differences between MJV and STAPLE are such that either offers good performance when combining volumes. Neither method requires a training dataset but MJV is simpler to interpret, easy to implement and fast.
Flooding Frequency of Hypersaline Coastal Environments Determined by Orbital Imagery: Geologic Implications
Authors: Vonder Haar Stephen P. , Gorsline Donn S.
Published: March 2013

Available satellite imagery in the infrared and near-infrared wavelengths provides a simple, rapid, and low-cost method for monitoring the extent and duration of the flooding of coastal ecosystems. Hypersaline environments in Baja California, Mexico, are flooded as a result of complex interactions between the higher of the two spring tides each month and local winds. Such flooding necessitates a reappraisal of ideas on rhythmic lamination in algal mats, stromatolites, and evaporite sediments preserved in the geologic record.
The Cation H
13
O
6
+
: A Short, Symmetric Hydrogen Bond
Authors: Bell Robert A. , Christoph Gary G. , Fronczek Frank R. , Marsh Richard E.
Published: March 2013

The H
13
O
6
+
ion has been found to exist as a discrete entity, forming when the cage compound [(C
9
H
18
)
3
(NH)
2
Cl]
+
Cl
-
is crystallized from hydrochloric acid solution. The aquo-cation H
13
O
6
+
has crystallographic symmetry 2/
m
(
C

2
h

). The central bond O⋅⋅H⋅⋅O is symmetric. with a length of 2.39 ± 0.02 angstroms; the four outer hydrogen bonds are asymmetric. with a length of 2.52 ± 0.01 angstroms. The cage compound consists of a chloride ion encapsulated within a triply bridged diammonium species. with hydrogen bond distances N(H)⋅⋅Cl of 3.10 ± 0.01 angstroms.
Source of Photosynthetic Oxygen in Bicarbonate-Stimulated Hill Reaction
Authors: Stemler Alan , Radmer Richard
Published: March 2013

The bicarbonate ion can stimulate oxygen evolution fivefold in chloroplasts performing a Hill reaction (oxidation of water to molecular oxygen and reduction of an artificial oxidant). When bicarbonate containing oxygen-18 is administered, however, the evolved oxygen contains only oxygen-16. Bicarbonate, therefore, cannot be the immediate source of photosynthetically evolved oxygen.
Multidimensional Variation in an Avian Display: Implications for Social Communication
Authors: Wiley R. Haven
Published: March 2013

An analysis of song-spread displays performed in social communication by carib grackles,
Quiscalus lugubris
, revealed that two components of this motor coordination. beak elevation and wing elevation, varied independently. Variation in each depended strongly on the performer's social context, an indication that these components simultaneously reflected different behavioral tendencies of the performer. Independent variation in the elements of a display can permit transmission of more information per display about the performer's behavioral state.
Aerosol Chemical Parameters and Air Mass Character in the St. Louis Region
Authors: Vanderpol A. H. , Carsey F. D. , Covert D. S. , Charlson R. J. , Waggoner A. P.
Published: March 2013

Comparisons of the chemical character of ambient aerosols in St. Louis during the month of September 1973 with the trajectory of the air parcel before it arrived in St. Louis indicate that regional sulfuric acid-ammonium bisulfate aerosol was associated with maritime tropical air and that regional ammonium sulfate aerosol was associated with continental polar air.
Host Tree Location Behavior of a Tropical Vine (
Monstera gigantea
) by Skototropism
Authors: Strong Donald R. , Ray Thomas S.
Published: March 2013

Seedlings of the arboreal, ground-germinating, tropical vine
Monstera gigantea
(Engler) are shown to grow directly toward potential host trees: they do not find hosts by haphazard growth or random searching. Our experiments show that these vines are attracted to the darkest sector of the horizon. In nature trees provide these dark sectors. We term this response skototropism (growth toward darkness). Skototropism is probably produced by a modification of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that produce negative phototropism. We introduce the new term to emphasize the adaptive nature of the response: whereas the term "negative phototropism" can imply either growth away from light or growth toward darkness, only growth toward darkness can lead the vine directly to a host. This is because, in nature, hosts will not be aligned 180° from the lightest sector of the horizon relative to the vine.
Polygyny in Indigo Buntings: A Hypothesis Tested
Authors: Carey Michael , Nolan Val
Published: March 2013

A test of a model for the evolution of avian polygyny revealed that 10 percent of male indigo buntings had two mates simultaneously and some had none. Old males acquired territories first, and yearlings moved into leftover space. Yearling males that obtained mates tended to form brief, monogamous bonds. Females mated to polygynists produced as many young as females mated to monogamists.
Acoustically Orienting Parasitoids: Fly Phonotaxis to Cricket Song
Authors: Cade W.
Published: March 2013

Larviparous female tachinid flies are attracted to taped cricket songs. In the laboratory flies deposit larvae on a cricket mounted to a speaker; the larvae burrow through the cricket's exoskeleton and develop internally. These acoustically orienting parasitoids probably influence male reproductive behavior and sexual competition in crickets.
What is the lowest threshold to make a diagnosis of concussion?
Authors: McCrory Paul , Meeuwisse Willem H , Echemendia Ruben J , Iverson Grant L , Dvořák Jiří , Kutcher Jeffrey S
Published: March 2013

Objective

The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence for determining the lowest threshold for diagnosing a sport-related concussion.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Mosby's Index, PsycEXTRA, PsycINFO and Scopus. Key words included sports concussion, concussion assessment, diagnosis, concussion symptoms, onfield assessment and sports-related traumatic brain injury.

Results

The majority of concussions in sport occur without loss of consciousness or frank neurological signs. Some of the hallmark signs of acute concussion include mental confusion, memory and balance disturbance. Over the course of the first 24 h, the most common symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness and balance problems, blurred vision or other visual disturbance, confusion, memory loss and ‘fatigue’. Symptoms such as tiredness, irritability, nervousness or anxiety, sleep disturbance and sensitivity to light or noise may be noticed in the days after injury. The pathophysiology of sports concussion remains poorly understood. There appears to be a period of vulnerability following concussion in which an overlapping injury might cause magnified pathophysiology.

Conclusions

Sport-related concussions can be difficult to diagnose. Concussion produces an evolving constellation of somatic, cognitive and neurobehavioral symptoms that are typically most severe during the earliest acute postinjury period (ie, within the first 24–48 h) and diminish over a matter of several days to weeks in the majority of athletes. Athletes suspected of concussion should be removed from play and evaluated thoroughly.
The middle Eocene to early Miocene integrated sedimentary record in the Qaidam Basin and its implications for paleoclimate and early Tibetan Plateau uplift
Authors: Song Bowen , Zhang Kexin , Lu Jingfang , Wang Chaowen , Xu Yadong
Published: March 2013

Detailed analysis of whole-rock geochemistry, clay minerals, sedimentary color, and pollen in the Dahonggou section, northeast of the Qaidam Basin, are investigated, and the results suggest an intense weathering in the source area during the middle Eocene (∼48.5–40.5 Ma), indicating a warm and humid condition. The distinct decrease of chemical weathering degree in source regions began at ∼40.5 Ma, which is in agreement with the distinct decrease in redness of sedimentary sequences and the disappearance of thermophilic elements in pollen records. This 40.5 Ma cooling event extent demonstrated evidence for an intensification of central Asian aridification, which could be attributed to attainment of high elevations in southern-central Tibet and retreat of the Paratethys from central Asia in the late Eocene, reducing moisture transport to the Qaidam Basin.
ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR IMPULSE RESPONSE FUNCTIONS BASED ON SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO ENHANCEMENT AND COMPLETENESS OF SOURCE SIGNAL RECONSTRUCTION USING PASSIVE TIME REVERSAL
Authors: HSIEH YU-HAO , TOO GEE-PINN
Published: March 2013

Noise reduction and signal separation are important functions of acoustic signal processing. This study presents a detailed analysis for designing an acoustic signal processing procedure based on the time-reversal method. For some applications, setting transducers to retransmit at source locations is impracticable. Modeling a wave propagation path between two points using impulse response function is one way to overcome this limitation. This paper introduces alternative methods to calculate impulse response function, including an adaptive digital filter, deconvolution with singular value decomposition and Tikhonov regularization, and correlation. A discussion is also provided on the applicable frequency range and anti-noise ability of the impulse response functions obtained by all three techniques through simulation, and subsequently applies them to the designed time reversal process to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and restore source signals through experimentation. The conclusions of this study are given based on the level of accuracy using the SNR and correlation coefficient as indicators, and the computation time required by alternative methods is also an important factor to be discussed for real-time system design. Results prove that the proposed passive time reversal process is capable of enhancing the SNR and restoring the source signal. The alternative methods of calculating the impulse response function offer various advantages, and should be selected according to the application. If the time-cost is the first consideration and there is no dominant noise source, then correlation is the best choice for calculating impulse response function. If completeness of the reconstructed signal is the key point, the optimal deconvolution process is appropriate. If noise reduction is the highest priority in extracting a useful signal from noisy environments while ensuring acceptable restoration capability and computation time, an adaptive digital filter is suitable.
ACOUSTIC SCATTERING FROM AN ELASTIC SPHERICAL SHELL IN AN OCEANIC WAVEGUIDE WITH A PENETRABLE BOTTOM
Authors: GRIGORIEVA NATALIE S. , FRIDMAN GREGORY M.
Published: March 2013

The paper describes the theory and implementation issues of modeling of the acoustic field scattered by an air-filled spherical elastic shell immersed in a shallow-water waveguide over a homogeneous, fluid half-space. The normal mode evaluation is applied to the source contribution and to the scattering coefficients. The arising branch cut integrals are simplified and expressed via the probability integral. Two cases are analyzed: when a source frequency differs from the critical frequency of a normal mode and when they coincide. The formalism is applied to evaluate the effect of coupling between propagation and scattering on transmission loss.
PARALLEL GAUSS-SEIDEL ON A TORUS NETWORK-ON-CHIP ARCHITECTURE
Authors: AL-TOWAIQ MOHAMMAD H. , DAY KHALED
Published: March 2013

Network-on-chip multicore architectures with a large number of processing elements are becoming a reality with the recent developments in technology. In these modern systems the processing elements are interconnected with regular network-on-chip (NoC) topologies such as meshes and trees. In this paper we propose a parallel Gauss-Seidel (GS) iterative algorithm for solving large systems of linear equations on a torus NoC architecture. The proposed parallel algorithm is O (Nn2/k2) time complexity for solving a system with matrix of order n on a k × k torus NoC architecture with N iterations assuming n and N are large compared to k (i.e. for large linear systems that require a large number of iterations). We show that under these conditions the proposed parallel GS algorithm has near optimal speedup.
ENHANCING THE RESILIENCE OF NETWORKED AGENTS THROUGH RISK SHARING
Authors: NAMATAME AKIRA , TRAN HOANG ANG Q.
Published: March 2013

Since social-economic systems increase interdependency, a crucial question arises: Is an interconnected world a safer or a more dangerous place to live? Over the last few years, we have witnessed the dark side of increasing interdependencies. As such, there is a growing need to focus on how to mitigate networked risk and to enhance the system resilience to the impact of a large-scale shock. The traditional engineering approach has been to design systems that are less vulnerable to damage from hazard events. On the other hand, system resilience is the ability to recover from failure and provide the continuity of system function. The goal of the present paper is to investigate the gain from risk sharing. We propose a mechanism of risk sharing that may enhance the resilience of the networked systems. The proposed risk sharing protocols are based on coordinated incentives of agents to survive collectively by absorbing external shocks. The key issue we would like to analyze is how the gain from risk sharing depends on the capacity of each agent to absorb shock and on the interconnections patterns among agents with risk sharing rules. We demonstrate that risk sharing is beneficial from a systems point of view when the agents' capacities to shocks is high and detrimental when it is low. In particular, we evaluate the effectiveness of risk sharing in two domains. In the first domain, in which networked agents have the possibility of cascading failure, risk sharing is useful in mitigating systemic failure, especially if the agents are running at high load. In the second domain, we evaluate the ratio of safe agents who invest in risky portfolios or projects collectively. In this case, risk sharing is only beneficial if the agents' risk absorbing capacity is high.
ON BICOMPLEX-HOLOMORPHIC MANIFOLDS
Authors: SALIMOV A. A. , CAKAN RABIA
Published: March 2013

The main purpose of this paper is to study some properties of bicomplex-holomorphic 4-manifolds endowed with a holomorphic double Walker–Norden metric.
Rapid PCR Detection of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Ureaplasma parvum
Authors: Cunningham Scott A. , Mandrekar Jayawant N. , Rosenblatt Jon E. , Patel Robin
Published: March 2013

Objective. We compared laboratory developed real-time PCR assays for detection of Mycoplasma hominis and for detection and differentiation of Ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum to culture using genitourinary specimens submitted for M. hominis and Ureaplasma culture. Methods. 283 genitourinary specimens received in the clinical bacteriology laboratory for M. hominis and Ureaplasma species culture were evaluated. Nucleic acids were extracted using the Total Nucleic Acid Kit on the MagNA Pure 2.0. 5 μL of the extracts were combined with 15 μL of each of the two master mixes. Assays were performed on the LightCycler 480 II system. Culture was performed using routine methods. Results.  M. hominis PCR detected 38/42 M. hominis culture-positive specimens, as well as 2 that were culture negative (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 99.2%). Ureaplasma PCR detected 139/144 Ureaplasma culture-positive specimens, as well as 9 that were culture negative (sensitivity, 96.5%; specificity, 93.6%). Of the specimens that tested positive for Ureaplasma species, U. urealyticum alone was detected in 33, U. parvum alone in 109, and both in 6. Conclusion. The described PCR assays are rapid alternatives to culture for detection of M. hominis and Ureaplasma species, and, unlike culture, the Ureaplasma assay easily distinguishes U. urealyticum from parvum.
Phytochemical Screening of Pentadesma butyracea Sabine (Clusiaceae) Acclimated in Benin by GC/MS
Authors: Noudogbessi J. P. A. , Natta A. K. , Tchobo F. P. , Bogninou G. S. , Bothon F. T. D. , Bossou A. D. , Figueredo G. , Chalard P. , Chalchat J. C. , Sohounhloué D. C. K.
Published: March 2013

The results brought back at the end of this work concerned various chemical constituents of P. butyracea materials collected in seven forest galleries in northern of Benin. The phytochemical analysis showed mucilage, coumarins, gallic tannins, flavones, sterols, and saponins, in its leaves. The cyclohexanic fractions realized from petroleum ether extracts and analysed by GC/MS were marked by important rates of 9, 19-cyclolanost-24-en-3β-3-ol (49.3–72.6%), taraxasterol (18.4–30.1%), and friedooleanan-3-one (10.0%). Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from P. butyracea and analyzed by GC/MS contained 11 to 38 compounds representing 85.2 to 99.5% of the weight of this volatile extracts essentially rich in sesquiterpene constituents. The essential oils predominant compounds (>10%) identified and recorded independently of the organ studied were β-caryophyllene (14.9–77.9%), aromadendrene (43.5%), α-copaene (18.4–26.6%), α-ylangene (21.1%), germacrene-B (5.1–13.5%), selina-3,7(11)-diene (13.3%), α-humulene (6–13.3%), (2E, 6Z)-α-farnesene (12.6%), seychellene (12.0%), and palmitic acid (10,6%).
A Review of Soft Computing Techniques for Gene Prediction
Authors: Goel Neelam , Singh Shailendra , Aseri Trilok Chand
Published: March 2013

In the past decade, various genomes have been sequenced in both plants and animals. The falling cost of genome sequencing manifests a great impact on the research community with respect to annotation of genomes. Genome annotation helps in understanding the biological functions of the sequences of these genomes. Gene prediction is one of the most important aspects of genome annotation and it is an open research problem in bioinformatics. A large number of techniques for gene prediction have been developed over the past few years. In this paper a theoretical review of soft computing techniques for gene prediction is presented. The problem of gene prediction, along with the issues involved in it, is first described. A brief description of soft computing techniques, before discussing their application to gene prediction, is then provided. In addition, a list of different soft computing techniques for gene prediction is compiled. Finally some limitations of the current research and future research directions are presented.
Subclinical Cardiovascular System Changes in Obese Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Głowińska-Olszewska Barbara , Bossowski Artur , Dobreńko Elżbieta , Hryniewicz Andrzej , Konstantynowicz Jerzy , Milewski Robert , Łuczyński Włodzimierz , Piotrowska-Jastrzębska Janina , Kowal-Bielecka Otylia
Published: March 2013

Objective. We aimed to determine the prevalence of excess body mass in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) children and to investigate the influence of obesity into the early, subclinical changes in cardiovascular system in these patients.Methods. Fifty-eight JIA patients, aged median 13 years, were compared to 36 healthy controls. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers (hsCRP, IL-6, TNFα, adiponectin) were studied together with IMT (intima-media thickness), FMD (flow mediated dilation), and LVMi (left ventricle mass index) as surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.Results. Thirteen JIA children (22%) were obese and had increased systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, HOMA, hsCRP, and IL-6 compared to nonobese JIA and controls. FMD was decreased compared to nonobese JIA and controls, whereas IMT and LVMi were increased. In multivariate regression analysis, TNFα, SDS-BMI, and systolic blood pressure were independent predictors of early CV changes in JIA.Conclusions. Coincident obesity is common in JIA children and is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and increased levels of inflammatory markers leading to early changes in cardiovascular system. Thus, medical care of children with JIA should include strategies preventing cardiovascular disease by maintenance of adequate body weight.
Syntheses and Characterization of the Coordination Compounds of N-(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)-C-(3′-carboxy-2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidin-4-one
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Kumar Amit , Dass Durga
Published: March 2013

A dry benzene solution of the Schiff base N-(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)-3′-carboxy-2′-hydroxybenzylideneimine upon reacting with mercaptoacetic acid undergoes cyclization and forms N-(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)-C-(3′-carboxy-2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidin-4-one, LH3(I). A MeOH solution ofIreacts with Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zr(OH)2(IV), and UO2(VI) ions and forms the monomeric coordination compounds, [M(LH)(MeOH)3] [where M = Co(II), Ni(II)], [M′(LH)(MeOH)] [here M′ = Cd(II), UO2(VI)] and [Zr(OH)2(LH)(MeOH)]. The coordination compounds have been characterized on the bases of elemental analyses, molar conductance, molecular weight, spectral (IR, NMR, and reflectance) studies, and magnetic susceptibility measurements.Ibehaves as a dibasic tridentate OOS donor ligand in these compounds. The compounds are nonelectrolytes (ΛM= 3.8–8.9 mho cm2 mol−1) in DMF. A tetrahedral structure for [Cd(LH)(MeOH)] and an octahedral structure for the remaining compounds are suggested.
Tuning the Pore Size in Ionic Nanoparticle Networks
Authors: Neouze Gauthey Marie-Alexandra , Litschauer Marco , Puchberger Michael , Kronstein Martin , Peterlik Herwig
Published: March 2013

Highly promising hybrid materials consisting of silica, titania, or zirconia nanoparticles linked with ionic liquid-like imidazolium units have been developed. The nanoparticle networks are prepared by click-chemistry-like process through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The type of metal oxide nanoparticles appears to play a key role regarding the pore size of the hybrid material.
Some Properties of a Sequence Similar to Generalized Euler Numbers
Authors: Wang Haiqing , Liu Guodong
Published: March 2013

We introduce the sequence {Un(x)} given by generating function (1/(et+e-t-1))x=∑n=0∞Un(x)(tn/n!)  (|t|<(1/3)π,1x:=1) and establish some explicit formulas for the sequence {Un(x)}. Several identities involving the sequence {Un(x)}, Stirling numbers, Euler polynomials, and the central factorial numbers are also presented.
Noncommutative Lightweight Signcryption for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Gu Lize , Pan Yun , Dong Mianxiong , Ota Kaoru
Published: March 2013

Key management techniques for secure wireless-sensor-networks-based applications must minimally incorporate confidentiality, authenticity, integrity, scalability, and flexibility. Signcryption is the proper primitive to do this. However, existing signcryption schemes are heavyweight and not suitable for resource-limited sensors. In this paper, we at first propose a braid-based signcryption scheme and then develop a key establishment protocol for wireless sensor networks. From the complexity view, our proposal is 215times faster than RSA-based ones. As far as we know, our proposal is the first signcryption scheme based on noncommutative algebraic structures.
XRD and DTA Analysis of Developed Agglomerated Fluxes for Submerged Arc Welding
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Singh Hari , Maheshwari Sachin
Published: March 2013

A unique study of structural and chemical analysis of crystalline phases in developed agglomerated fluxes was carried out. Thirty-two fluxes were developed by using a mixture of oxides, halides, carbonates, silicates, and ferroalloys for submerged arc welding. The present paper focuses on only ten (out of thirty-two) fluxes which were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to know the different types of oxides formed and changed in oxidation number of metallic centers after sintering process at around 850∘C. To know the effect of temperature over phase transformation and melting of different compounds, differential thermal analysis (DTA) was carried out from 1000 to 1400∘C. This study aims to know the quantity of ions present (percentage) and melting behavior of developed agglomerated fluxes for submerged arc welding process.
Lifestyle Factors and the Risk of a Second Breast Diagnosis after DCIS in the Wisconsin In Situ Cohort
Authors: V McLaughlin , A Trentham-Dietz , JM Hampton , PA Newcomb , BL Sprague
Published: March 2013

Purpose: Certain tumor factors have been associated with increased likelihood of a second breast diagnosis after treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) breast cancer. However, little information exists on modifiable lifestyle factors that affect prognosis after DCIS and may be useful for survivors in reducing their risk of a second breast cancer event. Methods: We examined the longitudinal association between body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and alcohol intake and risk of a second breast diagnosis among 1,925 DCIS survivors first diagnosed in 1997–2006 and enrolled in the Wisconsin In Situ Cohort. Data were collected during biennial patient interviews and diagnosis information was validated via pathology report. BMI, physical activity, and alcohol intake were examined over time using Chi-square and ANOVA methods. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the risk of a second diagnosis after adjustment for patient, tumor, and treatment factors. Repeated measures were incorporated to make use of exposure measurements taken at each post-diagnosis interview. Results: Over an average of 6.6 years of follow-up, 162 second breast cancer diagnoses were reported. Significant trends of increasing BMI and decreasing physical activity were observed over time since diagnosis (p < 0.001). For all women, a significant linear trend of increasing risk of a second diagnosis was found over increasing categories of post-diagnosis alcohol intake (p-trend 0.02). Among women treated with ipsilateral mastectomy, a reduction in risk was suggested with increasing post-diagnosis physical activity (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45, 1.02 for each additional hour/week). Among postmenopausal women, higher categories of post-diagnosis BMI were associated with increasing risk, although these results were of borderline significance (p-trend 0.09). Conclusion: This study is the first to examine the association of physical activity and alcohol intake with second breast diagnoses in an exclusively DCIS population. Our results suggest that DCIS survivors may reduce their risk of a second diagnosis by engaging in physical activity and reducing their alcohol consumption.
Physical Activity, Tumor PTGS2 Expression, and Colorectal Cancer Survival: A Molecular Pathological Epidemiology (MPE) Approach
Authors: M Yamauchi , R Nishihara , AT Chan , S Ogino
Published: March 2013

Purpose: Evidence suggests that energy balance in tumor microenvironment may influence systemic inflammatory status and cancer progression through its effect on prostaglandin biosynthesis. We examined whether the physical activity after diagnosis of colorectal cancer was associated with improved survival in PTGS2-positive colorectal cancer. Methods: Utilizing 605 stage I–III colon and rectal cancers in two prospective cohort studies, we assessed patient survival according to physical activity and tumor PTGS2 status. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate multivariate hazard ratio (HR), adjusting for clinical and other tumor features (including microsatellite instability and BRAF and KRAS mutations). Results: Among patients with PTGS2-positive cancer, compared with the least active first quartile, the multivariate HRs were 0.30 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.62) for the second quartile, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.20–0.71) for the third quartile, and 0.18 (95% CI, 0.08–0.41) for the fourth quartile of increasing physical activity (P = 0.0002 for trend). In contrast, among patients with PTGS2-negative cancer, physical activity level was not significantly associated with colorectal cancer-specific survival (P = 0.84 for trend). We observed significant interaction between physical activity and tumor PTGS2 status (P = 0.024 for interaction). Conclusion: Post-diagnosis physical activity was associated with better survival among patients with PTGS2-positive colorectal cancer. This finding from molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) suggests that PTGS2 may be a tumor biomarker that may predict stronger benefit from exercise in colorectal cancer patients.
Contribution of Health Behaviors to the Association between Area-Level Socioeconomic Status and Cancer Mortality
Authors: T Hastert , A Beresford , E White
Published: March 2013

Background: Area-level socioeconomic status (SES) is increasingly recognized as an important predictor of health outcomes; however, its association with cancer mortality is not established. Moreover, mediators of the association between area-level factors and health outcomes are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to quantify the association between area-level SES and cancer mortality and to identify whether and to what extent behaviors mediate the association. Methods: We identified the census block groups of participants in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Study cohort and constructed an SES index using data from the 2000 U.S. Census. Participants included 54,736 men and women ages 50–76 years with no history of cancer at baseline (2000–2002). Cancer deaths (n = 1,488) were tracked through the Washington State death file over 7.7 years of follow-up. We tested whether eight modifiable risk factors (e.g. body mass index (BMI), physical activity, diet, alcohol, smoking, screening) mediated the association between area-level SES and cancer mortality. Results: Living in the lowest-SES areas was associated with 77% higher cancer mortality than living in the highest-SES areas (hazard ratio (HR): 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50, 2.11). Adding modifiable risk factors into the models explained 45% (95% CI: −68%, −11%) of the association. In models controlling for individual education and income, area-level SES remained associated with cancer mortality (HR highest- vs. lowest-SES areas: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.65) and adding modifiable risk factors reduced the association by 37% (95% CI: −99%, 22%). Smoking, physical activity and screening mediated the largest proportion of the association, while diet, alcohol use and BMI had little explanatory effect for the health disparities. Conclusions: Low area-level SES is associated with increased cancer mortality. This association persists after accounting for individual education and income and is partially mediated by smoking, physical activity, and screening.
Volumentherapie in der Sepsis: Wann ist das Limit erreicht?
Authors: Muhl Elke
Published: March 2013

Hintergrund: Die Endpunkte der Volumentherapie bei schwerer Sepsis und septischem Schock sind nicht selten Gegenstand kontroverser Diskussionen am Krankenbett. Methode: Anhand der Leitlinien und der aktuellen Literatur werden die Zielparameter sowie die durch Volumentherapie erreichbaren Wirkungen und Nebenwirkungen vorgestellt. Ergebnisse: Werden die Zielparameter der Volumentherapie in der Sepsis nicht in den ersten 6 h erreicht, ist ein erweitertes hämodynamisches Monitoring zur Überwachung der Vorlast und der Volumenreagibilität sowie der Gewebsoxygenierung indiziert. Eine Überinfusion führt nicht selten zu grotesken Anasarka und Nebenwirkungen am Herz, an der Lunge und im Abdomen, die lebensbedrohliche Ausmaße annehmen können. Schlussfolgerung: Die Grenzen der Volumentherapie sind nicht nur in hämodynamischen Zielparametern zu sehen, sondern auch in den Nebenwirkungen der Volumentherapie, die im Rahmen der Sepsisbehandlung nicht sämtlich vermieden, aber in ihren Auswirkungen begrenzt werden können.
Effects of the Janus Kinase Inhibitor CP-690550 (Tofacitinib) in a Rat Model of Oxazolone-Induced Chronic Dermatitis
Authors: Fujii Yasutomo , Sengoku Takanori
Published: March 2013

The effect of CP-690550 (tofacitinib), a new Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, was evaluated in chronic allergic dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis was induced in rat ears by repeated application of oxazolone. This dermatitis was accompanied by sustained ear swelling and marked epidermal hyperplasia. In the induced ear, a lot of inflammatory cells infiltrated into the dermis site and the amounts of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-22 were elevated. Orally administered CP-690550 significantly suppressed ear swelling as well as epidermal thickening, and the effect at 10 mg/kg was comparable to that of cyclosporin A and etanercept. These results suggest a great potential of CP-690550, a JAK inhibitor, as a treatment for chronic dermatitis featuring epidermal hyperplasia (in the pathogenesis of which IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-22 play a role) such as psoriasis and chronic atopic dermatitis.
When Size Matters: Diagnostic Value of Kidney Biopsy according to the Gauge of the Biopsy Needle
Authors: Roth Rachel , Parikh Samir , Makey Dayanand , Foster Jamison , Rozenblit Grigory , Satoskar Anjali , Nadasdy Gyongyi , Von Visger Jon , Hebert Lee , Rovin Brad H. , Nadasdy Tibor , Brodsky Sergey V.
Published: March 2013

Background: Kidney biopsy is a vital tool in the diagnosis of kidney disease. Although it has become a routine procedure, it is not complication-free. Some serious complications of percutaneous kidney biopsy include retroperitoneal hemorrhage and death. There is an increased belief that smaller biopsy needle size results in a lower complication rate. As renal pathologists, we witness an increased number of kidney biopsies performed with a small needle size (as low as gauge 22), which results in inadequate tissue sampling and often non-diagnostic biopsy results. Herein we report the diagnostic value of kidney biopsies according to the size of the biopsy needles. Methods: We performed kidney biopsies from nephrectomy specimens using biopsy needles of different sizes. Morphologic parameters were analyzed. Results: We found that biopsies performed by small needles (gauges 20 and 22) contain significantly lower numbers of glomeruli and blood vessels, which limits pathologic evaluation. Data from our institution do not show differences in kidney biopsy complication rates between 16- and 18-gauge needles. Conclusions: Our data indicate that small biopsy needles do not provide sufficient material for diagnosis, and they increase the likelihood for a repeat biopsy.
Distribution and variation of the giant alpha anoles (Squamata: Dactyloidae) of the genus Dactyloa in the highlands of western Panama, with the description of a new species formerly referred to as D. microtus
Authors: LOTZKAT SEBASTIAN , HERTZ ANDREAS , BIENENTREU JOE-FELIX , KÖHLER GUNTHER
Published: March 2013

Six species of giant alpha anoles of the genus Dactyloa are known to occur in western Panama: Dactyloa casildae, D. frenata, D. ibanezi, D. insignis, D. kunayalae, and D. microtus. Based on own material collected along the highlands in Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Veraguas provinces and the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé of western Panama, we review their vari-ation in morphological characters and the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene. Our results support all six nominal taxa, but re-veal considerable genetic differentiation between populations of the two highland species, D. casildae and D. microtus, respectively, from different localities. Correlated morphological differences confirm the existence of a cryptic species among populations currently assigned to D. microtus, which we describe as Dactyloa ginaelisae sp. nov. We provide point distribution maps, morphology and color descriptions, photographs in life, conservation status assessments, and an iden-tification key for all seven species.
The sexuales of giant black bark aphid, Pterochloroides persicae (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea: Lachninae)
Authors: WIECZOREK KARINA , KANTURSKI MARIUSZ , JUNKIERT ŁUKASZ
Published: March 2013

The oviparous female and male of the giant black bark aphid Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky) are described and illustrated for the first time. Notes on distribution, biology and host plants are presented.
The Force Balance of the Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning Circulation
Authors: Mazloff Matthew R. , Ferrari Raffaele , Schneider Tapio
Published: March 2013

The Southern Ocean (SO) limb of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is characterized by three vertically stacked cells, each with a transport of about 10 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1). The buoyancy transport in the SO is dominated by the upper and middle MOC cells, with the middle cell accounting for most of the buoyancy transport across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. A Southern Ocean state estimate for the years 2005 and 2006 with ⅙° resolution is used to determine the forces balancing this MOC. Diagnosing the zonal momentum budget in density space allows an exact determination of the adiabatic and diapycnal components balancing the thickness-weighted (residual) meridional transport. It is found that, to lowest order, the transport consists of an eddy component, a directly wind-driven component, and a component in balance with mean pressure gradients. Nonvanishing time-mean pressure gradients arise because isopycnal layers intersect topography or the surface in a circumpolar integral, leading to a largely geostrophic MOC even in the latitude band of Drake Passage. It is the geostrophic water mass transport in the surface layer where isopycnals outcrop that accomplishes the poleward buoyancy transport.