bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parasenecio chenopodiifolius (Compositae–Senecioneae) is a Synotis and conspecific with S. otophylla based on evidence from morphology, cytology and ITS/ETS sequence data
Authors: Tang Ming , Ren Chen , Yang Qin‐Er
Published: September 2014

Observations on living plants and herbarium specimens have convinced us that Synotis otophylla (Compositae–Senecioneae) from south Xizang (Tibet), China, must be merged with the Himalayan Parasenecio chenopodiifolius. However, is the plant a Synotis or a Parasenecio? We have examined floral micro‐morphological and cytological characters of P. chenopodiifolius, and performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and ETS sequence data. The anther collar of this taxon is balusterform, and the endothecial tissue cell wall thickenings are radial. These conform to the floral micro‐characters of Synotis but differ from those of Parasenecio, which has subcylindrical anther collars, and polarized endothecial tissue cell wall thickenings. Chromosome counts indicate the taxon has 2n = 40, a number common in Synotis, whereas Parasenecio has 2n = 60. Our phylogenetic analyses based on ITS/ETS sequences also place P. chenopodiifolius in Synotis. We make the new combination S. chenopodiifolia and synonymize S. otophylla.
MicroRNAs and Photocarcinogenesis
Authors: Syed Deeba N. , Lall Rahul K. , Mukhtar Hasan
Published: September 2014

As a new class of sequence‐specific regulators of gene expression, the microRNAs (miRNA) form a regulatory network with growth factors and transcription factors participating in various biological processes. It is now being recognized that the various key processes involved in cancer induction are under the control of these small noncoding RNAs, which regulate ~30% of all human genes by targeting sequences in their 3′‐untranslated regions. Photocarcinogenesis is a complex interplay of signaling events in the UV exposed human skin including DNA damage and repair, apoptosis, cell survival, mutations and the immune system. In this review, we have scrutinized the role of miRNAs in skin cancer biology focusing on the three most common types of skin cancer namely the basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma. An overview of these studies will be useful in gaining insights into the mechanisms of cancer development in the human skin. A better understanding of the functionality of miRNAs will have enormous implications to risk assessment, and to target interventions against signaling events involved in photocarcinogenesis.
Neonatal Mortality Risks Among Preterm Births in a Rural Bangladeshi Cohort
Authors: Shah Rashed , Mullany Luke C. , Darmstadt Gary L. , Talukder Radwanur Rahman , Rahman Syed Moshfiqur , Mannan Ishtiaq , Arifeen Shams El , Baqui Abdullah H. ,   ProjAHNMo Study Group in Bangladesh
Published: September 2014

Background

Preterm birth leads to an estimated 35% of neonatal deaths worldwide. Our study analyses neonatal mortality risks among preterm births in rural Bangladesh.

Methods

Trained community health workers (CHW) prospectively collected data between June 2007 and September 2009.

Results

Among 32 126 livebirths, 22.3% were preterm (delivered at <37 weeks gestation) and almost half (46.4%) of all neonatal deaths occurred among preterm babies. Preterm babies who were born as the first child {[risk ratio (RR) 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1, 1.8]} and in the poorest households [RR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2, 2.4] were at higher mortality risk. Birth and newborn care preparedness was associated with lower risk of mortality [RR 0.3; 95% CI 0.2, 0.4] while preterm infants who had symptoms of infection [RR 5.6; 95% CI 4.3, 7.1] or whose mother suffered antenatal complications [RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1, 1.8] were at higher mortality risk. Elimination of excess neonatal deaths caused by preterm would decrease population‐level neonatal mortality rate by 31.0% [95% CI 27.60%, 34.5%].

Conclusion

Given that 87% of preterm births and 60% of preterm deaths were in late or moderate preterm infants, and that 87% preterm babies received a visit from CHW within third day of life, a home‐based essential care package delivered by CHWs for sick preterm infants, specifically focused on birth preparedness, skin‐to‐skin care, immediate breast feeding, early recognition of danger signs, and linked through referral to intensive and quality care in health facilities, could be an effective approach in low resource settings.
How do high‐ and low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulations modulate the temporal cortex
Authors: Nathou Clement , Etard Olivier , Simon Gregory , Dollfus Sonia
Published: September 2014

Few studies have examined the impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the cortical excitability of nonmotor cortices; current treatments often target the temporal or prefrontal cortex. We used auditory evoked potentials recorded in 24 healthy subjects to evaluate the neuromodulatory effects of low‐ and high‐frequency rTMS in the temporal lobe. Both auditory evoked potential P50 amplitude, a marker of cortical excitability, and P50 ratio, a marker of sensory gating known to be impaired in patients with auditory verbal hallucinations, were compared before and after rTMS. We observed a similar effect after both stimulation frequencies, with a decrease in P50 amplitude and no significant effect on P50 ratio. Low‐ and high‐frequency rTMS applied to the temporal lobe seemed to exert the same cortical neuromodulation effect, while auditory sensory gating may not be modulated by temporal rTMS.
Regional Accounts of India: Methods, New Estimates, and Their Uses
Authors: Sethia Deepak
Published: September 2014

For large economies with substantial regional variation, it is of great importance for policymakers and economic analysis that macro‐economic statistics are broken down by region. This paper reviews the regional accounts in India, discusses their role in Indian federal and state policies, and provides new estimates to cover major data gaps. Statistics on domestic product by Indian state, broken down by industry, are regularly published. But despite demands and recommendations by various commissions and policymakers, a comprehensive system of regional accounts is yet to be developed. New estimates for the period 1993–2010 are presented for saving and the macro‐economic expenditure by Indian states, like final consumption, capital formation, and trade balance. They show, for example, that some of the fastest growing Indian states have increased their saving and investment rates to 50 percent of their domestic product.
How Many Times and How Many Ways: The Impact of Number of Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Methods on the Relationship Between Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Frequency and Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Anestis Michael D. , Khazem Lauren R. , Law Keyne C.
Published: September 2014

Several variables have been proposed as heavily influencing or explaining the association between nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior. We propose that increased comfort with bodily harm may serve as an incrementally valuable variable to consider. We sought to indirectly test this possibility by examining the moderating role of number of NSSI methods utilized on the relationship between NSSI frequency and lifetime number of suicide attempts, positing that increased variability in methods would be indicative with a greater general comfort with inflicting harm upon one's own body. In both a large sample of emerging adults (n = 1,317) and a subsample with at least one prior suicide attempt (n = 143), results were consistent with our hypothesis. In both samples, the interaction term was significant, with the relationship between NSSI frequency and suicidal behavior increasing in magnitude from low to mean to high levels of NSSI methods. Although frequency of NSSI is robustly associated with suicidal behavior, the magnitude of that relationship increases as an individual engages in a wider variety of NSSI methods. We propose that this may be due to an increased comfort with the general concept of damaging one's own body resulting from a broader selection of methods for self‐harm.
AtC3H14, a plant‐specific tandem CCCH zinc‐finger protein, binds to its target mRNAs in a sequence‐specific manner and affects cell elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kim Won‐Chan , Kim Joo‐Yeol , Ko Jae‐Heung , Kang Hunseung , Kim Jungmook , Han Kyung‐Hwan
Published: September 2014

AtC3H14 (At1 g66810) is a plant‐specific tandem CCCH zinc‐finger (TZF) protein that belongs to the 68‐member CCCH family in Arabidopsis thaliana. In animals, TZFs have been shown to bind and recruit target mRNAs to the cytoplasmic foci where mRNA decay enzymes are active. However, it is not known whether plant TZF proteins such as AtC3H14 function. So far, no mRNA targets of plant TZFs have been identified. We have obtained several lines of experimental evidence in support of our hypothesis that AtC3H14 is involved in post‐transcriptional regulation of its target genes. Nucleic acid binding assays using [35S]‐labeled AtC3H14 protein showed that AtC3H14 could bind to ssDNA, dsDNA, and ribohomopolymers, suggesting its RNA‐binding activity. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay identified several putative target RNAs of AtC3H14, including a polygalacturonase, a well‐known cell wall modifying gene. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays (RNA‐EMSA) were used to confirm the RIP results and demonstrate that the TZF domain of AtC3H14 is required for the target RNA binding. Microarray analysis of 35S::AtC3H14 plants revealed that many of the cell wall elongation and/or modification‐associated genes were differentially expressed, which is consistent with the cell elongation defect phenotype and the changes in the cell wall monosaccharide composition. In addition, yeast activation assay showed that AtC3H14 also function as a transcriptional activator, which is consistent with the previous finding that AtC3H14 activate the secondary wall biosynthesis genes. Taken together, we conclude that AtC3H14 may play a key role in both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation.
Targeting MAGO proteins with a peptide aptamer reinforces their essential roles in multiple rice developmental pathways
Authors: Gong Pichang , Quan Hui , He Chaoying
Published: September 2014

Peptide aptamers are artificial short peptides that potentially interfere with the biological roles of their target proteins; however, this technology has not yet been applied to plant functional genomics. MAGO and Y14, the two core subunits of the exon junction complex (EJC), form obligate heterodimers in eukaryotes. In Oryza sativa L. (rice), each of the two genes has two homologs, designated OsMAGO1 and OsMAGO2, and OsY14a and OsY14b, respectively. Here, we characterized a 16‐amino acida peptide aptamer (PAP) for the rice MAGO proteins. PAP and rice Y14 bound competitively to rice MAGO proteins. Specifically targeting the MAGO proteins by expressing the aptamer in transgenic rice plants did not affect the endogenous synthesis and accumulation of MAGO proteins; however, the phenotypic variations observed in multiple organs phenocopied those of transgenic rice plants harboring RNA interference (RNAi) constructs in which the accumulation of MAGO and/or OsY14a transcripts and MAGO proteins was downregulated severely. Morphologically, the aptamer transgenic plants were short with abnormally developed flowers, and the stamens exhibited reduced degradation and absorption of both the endothecium and tapetum, thus confirming that EJC core heterodimers play essential roles in rice development, growth and reproduction. This study reveals that as a complementary approach of RNAi, peptide aptamers are powerful tools for interfering with the function of proteins in higher plants.
Stimulatory effect of fibroblast‐derived prostaglandin E2 on keratinocyte stratification in the skin equivalent
Authors: Arai Koji Y. , Fujioka Atsuko , Okamura Ryoko , Nishiyama Toshio
Published: September 2014

Epidermal–dermal interaction plays important roles in physiological events such as wound healing. In this study, we examined a double paracrine mechanism between keratinocytes and fibroblasts through interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and an IL‐1‐induced inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) using the skin equivalent. The epidermal layer of the skin equivalent expressed high levels of IL‐1α mRNA (IL1A mRNA) and relatively low levels of IL‐1β mRNA (IL1B mRNA). IL1A mRNA was not detected in fibroblasts. Fibroblasts also expressed low but not negligible levels of IL1B mRNA only in the presence of keratinocytes. Expression of prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase 2 mRNA (PTGS2 mRNA) and production of PGE2 in three‐dimensionally cultured fibroblasts were noticeably stimulated by co‐culture with keratinocytes, whereas PTGS2 mRNA expression in the epidermal layer was very low. In addition, hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15‐(NAD) mRNA was highly expressed in keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts, and exogenous IL‐1β stimulated PTGS2 mRNA expression in the dermal equivalent. The thickness of the epidermal layer and the number of MKI67‐positive keratinocytes in the skin equivalent were decreased by treatment with indomethacin, and the decrease recovered when exogenous PGE2 was added. These results indicate that keratinocytes stimulate their own proliferation through a double paracrine mechanism mediated by IL‐1 and PGE2.
Multi-Agent Autonomous Surveillance: A Framework Based on Stochastic Reachability and Hierarchical Task Allocation
Authors: Kariotoglou Nikolaos , Raimondo Davide M. , Summers Sean J. , Lygeros John
Published: September 2014

We develop and implement a framework to address autonomous surveillance problems with a collection of pan-tilt (PT) cameras. Using tools from stochastic reachability with random sets, we formulate the problems of target acquisition, target tracking, and acquisition while tracking as reach-avoid dynamic programs for Markov decision processes (MDPs). It is well known that solution methods for MDP problems based on dynamic programming (DP), implemented by state space gridding, suffer from the curse of dimensionality. This becomes a major limitation when one considers a network of PT cameras. To deal with larger problems we propose a hierarchical task allocation mechanism that allows cameras to calculate reach-avoid objectives independently while achieving tasks collectively. We evaluate the proposed algorithms experimentally on a setup involving industrial PT cameras and mobile robots as targets.
Priming to Promote Fluent Motor Skill Execution: Exploring Attentional Demands
Authors: Adams Danielle , Ashford Kelly J. , Jackson Robin C.
Published: September 2014

The effect of priming on the speed and accuracy of skilled performance and on a probe-reaction time task designed to measure residual attentional capacity, was assessed. Twenty-four skilled soccer players completed a dribbling task under three prime conditions (fluency, skill-focus, and neutral) and a control condition. Results revealed changes in trial completion time and secondary task performance in line with successfully priming autonomous and skill-focused attention. Retention test data for task completion time and probe-reaction time indicated a linear decrease in the priming effect such that the effect was nonsignificant after 30 min. Results provide further support for the efficacy of priming and provide the first evidence of concurrent changes in attentional demands, consistent with promoting or disrupting automatic skill execution.
On the Interaction of Attentional Focus and Gaze: The Quiet Eye Inhibits Focus-Related Performance Decrements
Authors: Klostermann André , Kredel Ralf , Hossner Ernst-Joachim
Published: September 2014

To date, despite a large body of evidence in favor of the advantage of an effect-related focus of attention compared with a movement-related focus of attention in motor control and learning, the role of vision in this context remains unclear. Therefore, in a golf-putting study, the relation between attentional focus and gaze behavior (in particular, quiet eye, or QE) was investigated. First, the advantage of an effect-related focus, as well as of a long QE duration, could be replicated. Furthermore, in the online-demanding task of golf putting, high performance was associated with later QE offsets. Most decisively, an interaction between attentional focus and gaze behavior was revealed in such a way that the efficiency of the QE selectively manifested under movement-related focus instructions. As these findings suggest neither additive effects nor a causal chain, an alternative hypothesis is introduced explaining positive QE effects by the inhibition of not-to-be parameterized movement variants.
Abasic Phosphorothioate Oligomers Inhibit HIV-1 Reverse Transcription and Block Virus Transmission across Polarized Ectocervical Organ Cultures
Authors: Fraietta Joseph A. , Mueller Yvonne M. , Lozenski Karissa L. , Ratner Deena , Boesteanu Alina C. , Hancock Aidan S. , Lackman-Smith Carol , Zentner Isaac J. , Chaiken Irwin M. , Chung Suhman , LeGrice Stuart F. J. , Snyder Beth A. , Mankowski Marie K. , Jones Natalie M. , Hope Jennifer L. , Gupta Phalguni , Anderson Sharon H. , Wigdahl Brian , Katsikis Peter D.
Published: September 2014

In the absence of universally available antiretroviral (ARV) drugs or a vaccine against HIV-1, microbicides may offer the most immediate hope for controlling the AIDS pandemic. The most advanced and clinically effective microbicides are based on ARV agents that interfere with the earliest stages of HIV-1 replication. Our objective was to identify and characterize novel ARV-like inhibitors, as well as demonstrate their efficacy at blocking HIV-1 transmission. Abasic phosphorothioate 2′ deoxyribose backbone (PDB) oligomers were evaluated in a variety of mechanistic assays and for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection and virus transmission through primary human cervical mucosa. Cellular and biochemical assays were used to elucidate the antiviral mechanisms of action of PDB oligomers against both lab-adapted and primary CCR5- and CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 strains, including a multidrug-resistant isolate. A polarized cervical organ culture was used to test the ability of PDB compounds to block HIV-1 transmission to primary immune cell populations across ectocervical tissue. The antiviral activity and mechanisms of action of PDB-based compounds were dependent on oligomer size, with smaller molecules preventing reverse transcription and larger oligomers blocking viral entry. Importantly, irrespective of molecular size, PDBs potently inhibited virus infection and transmission within genital tissue samples. Furthermore, the PDB inhibitors exhibited excellent toxicity and stability profiles and were found to be safe for vaginal application
in vivo
. These results, coupled with the previously reported intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties of PDBs, support further investigations in the development of PDB-based topical microbicides for preventing the global spread of HIV-1.
NS5A Inhibitors Impair NS5A–Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase IIIα Complex Formation and Cause a Decrease of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate and Cholesterol Levels in Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Membranes
Authors: Reghellin V. , Donnici L. , Fenu S. , Berno V. , Calabrese V. , Pagani M. , Abrignani S. , Peri F. , De Francesco R. , Neddermann P.
Published: September 2014

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural (NS) protein 5A is a multifunctional protein that plays a central role in viral replication and assembly. Antiviral agents directly targeting NS5A are currently in clinical development. Although the elucidation of the mechanism of action (MOA) of NS5A inhibitors has been the focus of intensive research, a detailed understanding of how these agents exert their antiviral effect is still lacking. In this study, we observed that the downregulation of NS5A hyperphosphorylation is associated with the actions of NS5A inhibitors belonging to different chemotypes. NS5A is known to recruit the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIα (PI4KIIIα) to the HCV-induced membranous web in order to generate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) at the sites of replication. We demonstrate that treatment with NS5A inhibitors leads to an impairment in the NS5A-PI4KIIIα complex formation that is paralleled by a significant reduction in PI4P and cholesterol levels within the endomembrane structures of HCV-replicating cells. A similar decrease in PI4P and cholesterol levels was also obtained upon treatment with a PI4KIIIα-targeting inhibitor. In addition, both the NS5A and PI4KIIIα classes of inhibitors induced similar subcellular relocalization of the NS5A protein, causing the formation of large cytoplasmic NS5A-containing clusters previously reported to be one of the hallmarks of inhibition of the action of PI4KIIIα. Because of the similarities between the effects induced by treatment with PI4KIIIα or NS5A inhibitors and the observation that agents targeting NS5A impair NS5A-PI4KIIIα complex formation, we speculate that NS5A inhibitors act by interfering with the function of the NS5A-PI4KIIIα complex.
Potential for Reduction of Streptogramin A Resistance Revealed by Structural Analysis of Acetyltransferase VatA
Authors: Stogios Peter J. , Kuhn Misty L. , Evdokimova Elena , Courvalin Patrice , Anderson Wayne F. , Savchenko Alexei
Published: September 2014

Combinations of group A and B streptogramins (i.e., dalfopristin and quinupristin) are “last-resort” antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
and vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium
. Resistance to streptogramins has arisen via multiple mechanisms, including the deactivation of the group A component by the large family of virginiamycin
O
-acetyltransferase (Vat) enzymes. Despite the structural elucidation performed for the VatD acetyltransferase, which provided a general molecular framework for activity, a detailed characterization of the essential catalytic and antibiotic substrate-binding determinants in Vat enzymes is still lacking. We have determined the crystal structure of
S. aureus
VatA in
apo
, virginiamycin M1- and acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA)-bound forms and provide an extensive mutagenesis and functional analysis of the structural determinants required for catalysis and streptogramin A recognition. Based on an updated genomic survey across the Vat enzyme family, we identified key conserved residues critical for VatA activity that are not part of the
O
-acetylation catalytic apparatus. Exploiting such constraints of the Vat active site may lead to the development of streptogramin A compounds that evade inactivation by Vat enzymes while retaining binding to their ribosomal target.
Beyond the superficial:Coccidioides immitisfungaemia in a man with fever, fatigue and skin nodules: a case of an emerging and evolving pathogen
Authors: Langelier Charles , Baxi Sanjiv M , Iribarne Daniela , Chin-Hong Peter
Published: September 2014

Coccidioidomycosis is an insidious fungal disease, endemic to arid regions of the Americas, which is becoming more frequently recognised worldwide. While most infections resemble a mild respiratory illness, a subset of cases progress to severe pneumonia or systemic dissemination. Here, we describe a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a 54-year-old immunocompetent African-American man with geographic and demographic risk factors forCoccidiodesacquisition who presented with 2 months of fevers, fatigue, weight loss and painful skin lesions. Blood count and serum chemistry studies initially demonstrated leukocytosis, anaemia, hyponatraemia and acute renal failure. Chest imaging revealed numerous small pulmonary nodules and skin biopsy, serological studies and blood cultures eventually confirmed disseminated infection withCoccidioides immitis. This case highlights important features regarding the risk factors, spectrum of clinical findings, evaluation and treatment of coccidioidomycosis relevant to providers in endemic areas and throughout the world.
Latent vitellointestinal duct sinus presenting with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in an adolescent
Authors: Patel Ramnik V , Evans Kathryn , Sau Indranil , Huddart Simon
Published: September 2014

A 12-year-old boy with a history, at birth, of a weeping pink fleshy lesion after his umbilical cord detached, requiring repeated chemical cauterisation, presented with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding and required resuscitation and blood transfusion. Augmented Tc99m nuclear medicine scan confirmed ectopic gastric mucosa. The lateral view suggested its attachment behind the umbilicus. At exploration, a latent vitellointestinal duct sinus with ectopic gastric mucosal mass was found. Segmental resection of the sinus and mass excision with primary anastomosis and incidental appendicectomy was curative. Pink fleshy mass discharging coloured fluid at the umbilicus following detachment of umbilical cord should be considered a remnant of vitellointestinal duct unless proved otherwise. A pink lesion with yellowish discharge resistant to chemical cauterisation should raise the suspicion of embryonic structures. Latent vitellointestinal sinus is a new lesion in the spectrum of umbilical anomalies. Lateral view of the nuclear medicine scan is helpful in locating the site.
Rate constants for formation of bisulfite addition compounds: an examination in terms of No Barrier Theory
Authors: Guthrie J. Peter , Wu Yin-Yin , Bannister Alexander R. , Peiris Sriyawathie , Povar Igor , Wilson Elizabeth A. , Wang Qiang
Published: September 2014

We report a study of the rates of sulfite addition to carbonyl compounds. This reaction is useful in separating compounds (aldehydes react more extensively than ketones, thus becoming water soluble) because the reaction is readily reversible. Although the reaction is mainly by addition of sulfite dianion, the equilibrium is much more favorable for the addition of bisulfite to give a monoanionic adduct. It is also of interest because bisulfite addition is very favorable; thus, we are dealing with a very strong nucleophile. This work demonstrates that No Barrier Theory can calculate rates for good nucleophiles (cyanide and now sulfite) as well as poor nucleophiles such as water. It has been necessary to develop good ways to handle the anionic tetrahedral adducts (in the case of sulfite as nucleophile, dianionic), which tend to break down in the gas phase unless explicitly solvated, and modified procedures for crowded transition states to allow for some relief of steric congestion while maintaining the essential definition of the distorted species resulting from bond formation without geometry change.
Merging transit schedule information with a planning network to perform dynamic multimodal assignment: lessons from a case study of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Authors: Weiss Adam , Mahmoud Mohamed S. , Kucirek Peter , Habib Khandker Nurul
Published: September 2014

Traffic assignment has traditionally been performed using aggregate static user equilibrium approaches for a single mode. These approaches are typically favoured over more complex dynamic multimodal micro and meso-simulated models. Investigations into dynamic multimodal assignment models have shown promise, prompting interest in the adoption of complex modelling structures. The development and operation of these complex models can still be problematic, highlighting the need for efficient approaches to allow practitioners to acquire and apply these models. This paper presents a method to modify existing static auto assignment networks for dynamic multimodal assignment. To complement this, a method, which improves the overall performance of the transit routing procedure used within many assignment models, is presented. These methods were tested using data from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and result in an assignment procedure with reasonable run time and results, suggesting potential for wide spread adoption of these approaches.
Computation of the Łojasiewicz exponent of nonnegative and nondegenerate analytic functions
Authors: Búi Nguyễn Thao Nguyên , Phạm Tiến Son
Published: September 2014

Let f : (ℝn, 0) → (ℝ, 0) be a nonconstant analytic function defined in a neighborhood of the origin 0 ∈ ℝn. The classical Łojasiewicz inequality states that there exist positive constants δ, c and l such that |f(x)| ≥ cd(x, f-1(0))l for ‖x‖ ≤ δ, where d(x, f-1(0)) denotes the distance from x to the set f-1(0). The Łojasiewicz exponent of f at the origin 0 ∈ ℝn, denoted by [Formula: see text], is the infimum of the exponents l satisfying the Łojasiewicz inequality. In this paper, we establish a formula for computing the Łojasiewicz exponent [Formula: see text] of f in terms of the Newton polyhedron of f in the case where f is nonnegative and nondegenerate.
Massless and massive representations in the spinor technique
Authors: Troha T. , Lukman D. , Mankoč Borštnik N. S.
Published: September 2014

The technique for representing spinors and the definition of the discrete symmetries is used to illustrate on a toy model properties of massless and massive spinors states, in the first and the second quantized picture. Since in this toy model the number of the starting massless representations is well-defined as well as the origin of masses and charges in d = (3+1) space, this contribution might help to clarify the problem about Dirac, Weyl and Majorana kinds of representations in physically more interesting cases.
Bulk Synthesis of Fe3Al Intermetallic Compound Nanoparticles by Flow-Levitation Method
Authors: Chen Shan-Jun , Chen Yan , Li Song , Wang Yang-En , Zeng Hui , Tang Yong-Jian , Sun Wei-Guo
Published: September 2014

Metallic nanopowders have an increasing application in magnetic materials, catalysts and chemical and metallic industries. In this research, a novel bulk synthesis method for preparing high pure intermetallic Fe 3 Al nanoparticles was developed by flow-levitation (FL) method. The Fe and Al vapors ascending from the high-temperature levitated droplet were condensed by cryogenic argon gas under atmospheric pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to identify and characterize the prepared nanopowders exhibiting a Fe 3 Al phase. Measurement of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the Fe 3 Al particles are nearly spherical, and the particle size of the compound ranges from 10 nm to 200 nm in diameter. The chemical composition of the nanoparticles were determined with energy dispersive spectrometer. The magnetic properties of the nanopowder indicate that Fe 3 Al intermetallic compound is a soft magnet at room temperature, with coercivity of 24.2 Oe and saturation magnetization of 173.2 emu/g. The production rate of Fe 3 Al nanoparticles was estimated to be about 4 g/h in a continuous manner, by using the FL method. This method has great potential in mass production of Fe 3 Al nanoparticles.
Evaluating Alternatives to the 2D Grid Interface for Mobile Image Browsing
Authors: Hudelist Marco A. , Schoeffmann Klaus , Ahlström David
Published: September 2014

In recent years point-and-shoot cameras were largely replaced by smartphones and tablets. For example, in the device chart of the Flickr photo sharing site the first four devices are smartphones. Eight megapixel sensors are already standard in high-end smartphones and Nokia released in 2012 a smartphone with a 41 megapixel sensor, aiming at product categories above point-and-shoot cameras. Since smartphones and tablets are easy to use and highly portable they are an easy choice for shooting images on the go. Therefore, image collections on the devices grow fast but the default grid-based image browsing interfaces are increasingly overwhelmed by the amount of images. They make it very difficult to find images fast and effortless. We therefore investigate the performance of new image browsing interfaces for smartphones and tablets, which utilize simple content-based sorting and 3D visualization to improve search time. In two user studies we compare a color sorted 3D-globe, 3D-ring, a zoomable image pane interface and a traditional grid-based image browsing interface. Our evaluations on tablets and smartphones show that especially 3D can reduce search time when there is enough screen space. On the other hand, it looses its advantage on smaller screens.
Quantification of glucose and glycerol diffusion in myocardium
Authors: Tuchina Daria K. , Bashkatov Alexey N. , Genina Elina A. , Tuchin Valery V.
Published: September 2014

The results on determination of glucose and glycerol diffusion coefficients in myocardium tissue are presented. The method is based on the measurement and analysis of temporal dependence of tissue optical collimated transmittance under action of a hyperosmotic agent. This temporal tissue response is related to the rate of the agent and water diffusion in a tissue. The diffusion coefficients for tissue fluid fluxes at glucose and glycerol application to the myocardium at 20°C have been estimated as (4.75 ± 3.40) × 10-7 and (7.71 ± 4.63) × 10-7 cm2/s, respectively.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Productivity Spillovers and the Role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Financing: An Overview
Authors: Tan Khee Giap , Tan Kong Yam
Published: September 2014

There is a large literature dealing with the spillover effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to emerging and developing economies at the aggregate level. Beyond the aggregate impacts, a growing number of studies also examine the impact of FDI spillovers on firms of different sizes, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This special issue of the journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP) features seven empirical papers dedicated to exploring issues relating to the various interactions between FDI flows, productivity spillovers and SMEs in Asia and beyond.
Prospects for quantum computing: Extremely doubtful
Authors: Dyakonov M. I.
Published: September 2014

The quantum computer is supposed to process information by applying unitary transformations to 2N complex amplitudes defining the state of N qubits. A useful machine needing N~103 or more, the number of continuous parameters describing the state of a quantum computer at any given moment is at least 21000 ~10300 which is much greater than the number of protons in the Universe. However, the theorists believe that the feasibility of large-scale quantum computing has been proved via the “threshold theorem”. Like for any theorem, the proof is based on a number of assumptions considered as axioms. However, in the physical world none of these assumptions can be fulfilled exactly. Any assumption can be only approached with some limited precision. So, the rather meaningless “error per qubit per gate” threshold must be supplemented by a list of the precisions with which all assumptions behind the threshold theorem should hold. Such a list still does not exist. The theory also seems to ignore the undesired free evolution of the quantum computer caused by the energy differences of quantum states entering any given superposition. Another important point is that the hypothetical quantum computer will be a system of 103 –106 qubits PLUS an extremely complex and monstrously sophisticated classical apparatus. This huge and strongly nonlinear system will generally exhibit instabilities and chaotic behavior.
Numerical modelling of catchment management options to manage nitrate concentrations in water abstracted from the Chalk aquifer, Cambridgeshire, UK
Authors: Price Victoria M. , Andersson Maria A.
Published: September 2014

Catchment management is favoured by the Water Framework Directive as a solution to the problem of rising nitrate levels in groundwater. The directive requires that member countries achieve a good, or improving, status in all water bodies by 2015. Currently, Cambridge Water relies on treatment or blending to reduce end-of-pipe nitrate concentrations to below the drinking water standard. The effectiveness of catchment management measures at 21 boreholes in Cambridgeshire was assessed with a combination of models, representing groundwater and soil zone processes. These sources are in predominantly arable catchments; they abstract from the Chalk aquifer, which is covered by Glacial Till in the south and east. Only seven sources showed a response to the catchment management scenarios within 40 years when compared with the current practice scenario. However, nitrate concentrations were not reduced at any sources by 2015 with the simulated catchment management measures. The seven sources that are most responsive to changes in land use or land management are those already affected by high nitrate levels. Catchment management may need to be used in conjunction with treatment and/or blending in the short to medium term so that Cambridge Water can continue to provide compliant drinking water to customers.
Measuring and Recommending Time-Sensitive Routes from Location-Based Data
Authors: Hsieh Hsun-Ping , Li Cheng-Te , Lin Shou-De
Published: September 2014

Location-based services allow users to perform geospatial recording actions, which facilitates the mining of the moving activities of human beings. This article proposes to recommend time-sensitive trip routes consisting of a sequence of locations with associated timestamps based on knowledge extracted from large-scale timestamped location sequence data (e.g., check-ins and GPS traces). We argue that a good route should consider (a) the popularity of places, (b) the visiting order of places, (c) the proper visiting time of each place, and (d) the proper transit time from one place to another. By devising a statistical model, we integrate these four factors into a route goodness function that aims to measure the quality of a route. Equipped with the route goodness, we recommend time-sensitive routes for two scenarios. The first is about constructing the route based on the user-specified source location with the starting time. The second is about composing the route between the specified source location and the destination location given a starting time. To handle these queries, we propose a search method,
Guidance Search
, which consists of a novel heuristic satisfaction function that guides the search toward the destination location and a backward checking mechanism to boost the effectiveness of the constructed route. Experiments on the Gowalla check-in datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our model on detecting real routes and performing cloze test of routes, comparing with other baseline methods. We also develop a system
TripRouter
as a real-time demo platform.
Fuzzy Time in Linear Temporal Logic
Authors: Frigeri Achille , Pasquale Liliana , Spoletini Paola
Published: September 2014

In the past years, the adoption of adaptive systems has increased in many fields of computer science, such as databases and software engineering. These systems are able to automatically react to events by collecting information from the external environment and generating new events. However, the collection of data is often hampered by uncertainty and vagueness. The decision-making mechanism used to produce a reaction is also imprecise and cannot be evaluated in a crisp way, as it depends on vague temporal constraints expressed by humans. Logic has been extensively used as an abstraction to express vagueness in the satisfaction of system properties, as well as to enrich existing modeling formalisms. However, existing attempts to fuzzify the temporal modalities still have some limitations. Existing fuzzy temporal languages are generally obtained from classical temporal logic by replacing classical connectives or propositions with their fuzzy counterparts. Hence, these languages do not allow us to represent temporal properties, such as “almost always” and “soon,” in which the notion of time is inherently fuzzy. To overcome these limitations, we propose a temporal framework, fuzzy-time temporal logic (FTL), to express vagueness on time. This framework formally defines a set of fuzzy temporal modalities that can be customized by choosing a specific semantics for the connectives. The semantics of the language is sound, and the introduced modalities respect a set of mutual relations. We also prove that under the assumption that all events are crisp, FTL reduces to linear temporal logic (LTL). Moreover, for some of the possible fuzzy interpretations of the connectives, we identify adequate sets of temporal operators, from which it is possible to derive all of the other ones.
Pattern-Based Verification for Multithreaded Programs
Authors: Esparza Javier , Ganty Pierre , Poch Tomáš
Published: September 2014

Pattern-based verification checks the correctness of program executions that follow a given
pattern
, a regular expression over the alphabet of program transitions of the form
w
1
*
…
w

n

*
. For multithreaded programs, the alphabet of the pattern is given by the reads and writes to the shared storage. We study the complexity of pattern-based verification for multithreaded programs with shared counters and finite variables. While unrestricted verification is undecidable for abstracted multithreaded programs with recursive procedures and PSPACE-complete for abstracted multithreaded while-programs (even without counters), we show that pattern-based verification is NP-complete for both classes, even in the presence of counters. We then conduct a multiparameter analysis to study the complexity of the problem on its three natural parameters (number of threads+counters+variables, maximal size of a thread, size of the pattern) and on two parameters related to thread structure (maximal number of procedures per thread and longest simple path of procedure calls). We present an algorithm that for a fixed number of threads, counters, variables, and pattern size solves the verification problem in
st

O
(
lsp
+ ⌈ log (
pr
+1) ⌉)

time, where
st
is the maximal size of a thread,
pr
is the maximal number of procedures per thread, and
lsp
is the longest simple path of procedure calls.
An Achievement Degree Analysis Approach to Identifying Learning Problems in Object-Oriented Programming
Authors: Allinjawi Arwa A. , Al-Nuaim Hana A. , Krause Paul
Published: September 2014

Students often face difficulties while learning object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. Many papers have presented various assessment methods for diagnosing learning problems to improve the teaching of programming in computer science (CS) higher education. The research presented in this article illustrates that although max-min composition is a method to analyze and determine student learning problems, when performed on an OOP exam, it shows some limitations. The max-min composition may be suitable for multiple choice questions (MCQs), but it is not adequate for questions with a more complex structure, as in the OOP assessment. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to present the incorporation of a concept-effect propagation approach and the Handy Instrument for Course Level Assessment (HI-Class) approach to promote a modified valid analysis approach, the Achievement Degree Analysis (ADA). The ADA approach will diagnose students’ problem outcomes and demonstrate its effectiveness within the context of an OOP course.
The binaural masking level difference: cortical correlates persist despite severe brain stem atrophy in progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Hughes Laura E. , Rowe James B. , Ghosh Boyd C. P. , Carlyon Robert P. , Plack Christopher J. , Gockel Hedwig E.
Published: September 2014

Under binaural listening conditions, the detection of target signals within background masking noise is substantially improved when the interaural phase of the target differs from that of the masker. Neural correlates of this binaural masking level difference (BMLD) have been observed in the inferior colliculus and temporal cortex, but it is not known whether degeneration of the inferior colliculus would result in a reduction of the BMLD in humans. We used magnetoencephalography to examine the BMLD in 13 healthy adults and 13 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). PSP is associated with severe atrophy of the upper brain stem, including the inferior colliculus, confirmed by voxel-based morphometry of structural MRI. Stimuli comprised in-phase sinusoidal tones presented to both ears at three levels (high, medium, and low) masked by in-phase noise, which rendered the low-level tone inaudible. Critically, the BMLD was measured using a low-level tone presented in opposite phase across ears, making it audible against the noise. The cortical waveforms from bilateral auditory sources revealed significantly larger N1m peaks for the out-of-phase low-level tone compared with the in-phase low-level tone, for both groups, indicating preservation of early cortical correlates of the BMLD in PSP. In PSP a significant delay was observed in the onset of the N1m deflection and the amplitude of the P2m was reduced, but these differences were not restricted to the BMLD condition. The results demonstrate that although PSP causes subtle auditory deficits, binaural processing can survive the presence of significant damage to the upper brain stem.
High-conductance states and A-type K+ channels are potential regulators of the conductance-current balance triggered by HCN channels
Authors: Mishra Poonam , Narayanan Rishikesh
Published: September 2014

An increase in the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel conductance reduces input resistance, whereas the consequent increase in the inward h current depolarizes the membrane. This results in a delicate and unique conductance-current balance triggered by the expression of HCN channels. In this study, we employ experimentally constrained, morphologically realistic, conductance-based models of hippocampal neurons to explore certain aspects of this conductance-current balance. First, we found that the inclusion of an experimentally determined gradient in A-type K+ conductance, but not in M-type K+ conductance, tilts the HCN conductance-current balance heavily in favor of conductance, thereby exerting an overall restorative influence on neural excitability. Next, motivated by the well-established modulation of neuronal excitability by synaptically driven high-conductance states observed under in vivo conditions, we inserted thousands of excitatory and inhibitory synapses with different somatodendritic distributions. We measured the efficacy of HCN channels, independently and in conjunction with other channels, in altering resting membrane potential (RMP) and input resistance ( Rin) when the neuron received randomized or rhythmic synaptic bombardments through variable numbers of synaptic inputs. We found that the impact of HCN channels on average RMP, Rin, firing frequency, and peak-to-peak voltage response was severely weakened under high-conductance states, with the impinging synaptic drive playing a dominant role in regulating these measurements. Our results suggest that the debate on the role of HCN channels in altering excitability should encompass physiological and pathophysiological neuronal states under in vivo conditions and the spatiotemporal interactions of HCN channels with other channels.
Model Based Adaptive Piecewise Linear Controller for Complicated Control Systems
Authors: Tsay Tain-Sou
Published: September 2014

A model based adaptive piecewise linear control scheme for industry processes with specifications on peak overshoots and rise times is proposed. It is a gain stabilized control technique. Large gain is used for large tracking error to get fast response. Small gain is used between large and small tracking error for good performance. Large gain is used again for small tracking error to cope with large disturbance. Parameters of the three-segment piecewise linear controller are found by an automatic regulating time series which is function of output characteristics of the plant and reference model. The time series will be converged to steady values after the time response of the considered system matching that of the reference model. The proposed control scheme is applied to four numerical examples which have been compensated by PID controllers. Parameters of PID controllers are found by optimization method. It gives an almost command independent response and gives significant improvements for response time and performance.