bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Evaluation for Safety Critical Components and Material
Authors: Tian Gui Yun , Cheng Liang , Cheng Yuhua , Yang Fan
Published: February 2014

After review of defects in nuclear reactor plants, this paper exhibits novel electromagnetic (EM) non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT & E) for defect and material characterisation of nuclear fuel materials. Through comparison with traditional method for nuclear material inspection, e.g. X-Ray and phase array, EM NDT&E show advantages in non-contact inspection. Several recent development EM NDT & E techniques are reported and several case studies are investigated and discussed. Results show pulsed eddy current (PEC) can measure the stress and defect via the normalised ΔBZ features. The bigger stress results in the larger amplitude on normalised ΔBZ response. Magnetic Barkenhasuen noise (MBN) can measure the strain status via the RMS of Barkhausen noise amplitude. The RMS value decreases as the increase in strain. Eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) can be used for welding detection and characterisation through ‘highlighting’ the welding in thermal images. ECPT and MBN methods are also compared with traditional X-Ray and phase array methods for the inspection of welding samples. The comparison shows the competitive capability of ECPT in welding detection and evaluation. This paper demonstrates PEC, MBN and ECPT as good candidates for nuclear fuel materials.
Countermeasures Derived From the Lessons of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Authors: Narabayashi Tadashi
Published: February 2014

On March 11, 2011, Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) was hit by a tsunami caused by the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake, resulting in nuclear accidents in Units #1 to #4. With the aim of improving the safety of NPPs worldwide, we summarize the lessons that have been learned following a thorough analysis of the event and make specific proposals for improving the safety of such facilities. The author has been involved in investigating the causes of the accidents and developing countermeasures for other NPPs in Japan as a member of the Committee for the Investigation of Nuclear Safety of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan [1], an advisory meeting member of NISA with regard to technical lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accidents, and a Safety Evaluation Member of NISA for the other NPPs in Japan [2].
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of H2-Air Deflagration in the Presence of Concentration Gradients
Authors: Kudriakov S. , Studer E. , Kuznetsov M. , Grune J.
Published: February 2014

A set of experiments performed at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the framework of the LACOMECO European project is devoted to flame propagation in an obstructed large scale facility A3 (of 8 m height and 33 m3 volume) with initially vertical hydrogen concentration gradients. Almost linear positive and negative (relative to gravity) concentration gradients are created prior to ignition in the range from 4% to 13%, and the process of flame acceleration is investigated depending on hydrogen concentration gradient and ignition positions.

In this paper we describe the A3 facility and analyse the experimental data obtained during the project. The results of numerical simulation performed using Europlexus code are presented together with the critical discussions and conclusions.
CNSC Review of Safety Improvements: CANDU Fuel Modification in Canada
Authors: Guo Yujun
Published: February 2014

Aging of a CANDU nuclear power plant affects various safety margins of the plant. Margin to fuel sheath dryout is one of the safety margins that have been detrimentally affected, leading to a reduced margin to dryout with time. If no proactive actions are taken, the plant will have to de-rate its operation at an earlier time. To postpone the de-rating, the Canadian nuclear Industry has taken multi-initiatives to restore, or partially restore the safety margins that have been eroded due to plant aging. One of the initiatives is modification/re-optimization of the current fuel design, in order to improve the fuel thermalhydraulic performance, i.e., to suppress fuel sheath dryout, whereby offset partially the erosion of margin to fuel sheath dryout.

In response to the initiative of fuel bundle modification, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) — the nuclear safety regulator — has set clear requirements and expectations and followed rigours processes and procedures for reviewing and licensing the modified fuel. This paper summarizes the fuel modification program in Canada, and the CNSC requirements, expectations, and review processes associated with licensing review of fuel modifications in Canada.
The European Utility Requirements (EUR): A Great Achievement and Still on its Way
Authors: de Fraguier Eric , Guelfi Antoine , Vanhoenacker Luc , Rousselot Olivier , Béolet Michel , Bellens Valérie
Published: February 2014

Twenty years ago, a small group of representatives of European electricity producers involved in nuclear generation set up a light structure called the European Utility Requirements organisation. Its long-term objective was to foster the development of competition in the European nuclear industry through writing common design requirements for the new plants. The stabilised version of the specifications (the Revision C) was released in 2001 and since that time it has been extensively used by the utilities that were preparing bids as well as by the vendors that were developing new projects. The EUR has become a reference document, well beyond the initial circle of European utilities that promoted it.

Today, the first challenge for the EUR organisation is to promote the issue of revision D of the document (October 2012). Ten years after the last revision, many technological advances and requirements needed to be revised in the effort to keep utilities’ requirements at the highest level. Their role in design of future plants is essential more than ever in the quest for maximum standardisation, itself necessary to maintain the competitiveness of nuclear power in Europe.

The second challenge is to take into account the effects of the Fukushima accident. The EUR organisation must not only continue working on the technical impacts as the feedback will be worked out and their integration into the EUR requirements; but it has also to focus on reactions to the disaster among all stakeholders around the world. And support harmonisation processes broadly, in this respect. This is one way to contribute to better acceptance of nuclear energy, while the control of greenhouse gas emissions remains a major global challenge.

The third challenge for the future of the EUR organisation lies in strengthening of the links and incorporating the views of its members, particularly through collaborative workgroups, so that the Nuclear Option remains open in future decisions to build new power plants wherever accepted. This will involve the organisation in further enhancing its role as a privileged interface for discussions between utilities, vendors and European regulators.

For twenty years the EUR organisation and its members have been able to work together and develop a common vision of the pace of political and economic consolidation of Europe and its enlargement to the East. The pioneers of the approach have been joined by a new generation of contributors. New members have brought their expertise to the organisation. Recently, others have put their participation in standby according to the evolution of their respective nuclear national policy. EUR keeps the way open for future and is proud of being part of nuclear stakeholders promoting standardisation and high quality requirements recognised by the Industry for future new Generation 3 plants.
Evolutionary Pattern of Improved 1-Mile Running Performance
Authors: Foster Carl , de Koning Jos J. , Thiel Christian
Published: February 2014

The official world records (WR) for the 1-mile run for men (3:43.13) and for women (4:12.58) have improved 12.2% and 32.3%, respectively, since the first WR recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Previous observations have suggested that the pacing pattern for successive laps is characteristically faster-slower-slowest-faster. However, modeling studies have suggested that uneven energy-output distribution, particularly a high velocity at the end of the race, is essentially wasted kinetic energy that could have been used to finish sooner. Here the authors report that further analysis of the pacing pattern in 32 men’s WR races is characterized by a progressive reduction in the within-lap variation of pace, suggesting that improving the WR in the 1-mile run is as much about how energetic resources are managed as about the capacity of the athletes performing the race. In the women’s WR races, the pattern of lap times has changed little, probably secondary to a lack of depth in the women’s fields. Contemporary WR performances have been achieved a coefficient of variation of lap times on the order of 1.5–3.0%. Reasonable projection suggests that the WR is overdue for improving and may require lap times with a coefficient of variation of ~1%.
Effect of Different Simulated Altitudes on Repeat-Sprint Performance in Team-Sport Athletes
Authors: Goods Paul S.R. , Dawson Brian T. , Landers Grant J. , Gore Christopher J. , Peeling Peter
Published: February 2014

Purpose:

This study aimed to assess the impact of 3 heights of simulated altitude exposure on repeat-sprint performance in teamsport athletes.

Methods:

Ten trained male team-sport athletes completed 3 sets of repeated sprints (9 × 4 s) on a nonmotorized treadmill at sea level and at simulated altitudes of 2000, 3000, and 4000 m. Participants completed 4 trials in a random order over 4 wk, with mean power output (MPO), peak power output (PPO), blood lactate concentration (Bla), and oxygen saturation (SaO2) recorded after each set.

Results:

Each increase in simulated altitude corresponded with a significant decrease in SaO2. Total work across all sets was highest at sea level and correspondingly lower at each successive altitude (P < .05; sea level < 2000 m < 3000 m < 4000 m). In the first set, MPO was reduced only at 4000 m, but for subsequent sets, decreases in MPO were observed at all altitudes (P < .05; 2000 m < 3000 m < 4000 m). PPO was maintained in all sets except for set 3 at 4000 m (P < .05; vs sea level and 2000 m). BLa levels were highest at 4000 m and significantly greater (P < .05) than at sea level after all sets.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that “higher may not be better,” as a simulated altitude of 4000 m may potentially blunt absolute training quality. Therefore, it is recommended that a moderate simulated altitude (2000–3000 m) be employed when implementing intermittent hypoxic repeat-sprint training for team-sport athletes.
The Usefulness of Session Rating of Perceived Exertion for Monitoring Training Load Despite Several Influences on Perceived Exertion
Authors: Haddad Monoem , Padulo Johnny , Chamari Karim
Published: February 2014

Despite various contributing factors, session rating of perceived exertion has the potential to affect a large proportion of the global sporting and clinical communities since it is an inexpensive and simple tool that is highly practical and accurately measures an athlete’s outcome of training or competition. Its simplicity can help optimize performance and reduce negative outcomes of hard training in elite athletes.
Molecular Editing of Cellular Responses by the High-Affinity Receptor for IgE
Authors: Suzuki Ryo , Leach Sarah , Liu Wenhua , Ralston Evelyn , Scheffel Jörg , Zhang Weiguo , Lowell Clifford A. , Rivera Juan
Published: February 2014

Allergen Affinity

Allergic responses are initiated by interaction of allergens with immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which in turn bind to IgE receptors on the surface of mast cells.

Suzuki
et al.

(p.
1021
, published online 6 February; see the Perspective by

Daëron

) explored how the signaling properties of such receptor complexes differ, depending on the affinity of the IgE antibody for the antigen leading to different allergic responses.
Quantifying Molecular Stiffness and Interaction with Lateral Force Microscopy
Authors: Weymouth Alfred John , Hofmann Thomas , Giessibl Franz J.
Published: February 2014

A Soft Molecular Spring

In noncontact atomic force microscopy, extremely high resolution has been achieved by attaching a terminal CO molecule to the metal scanning probe tip. This CO molecule can undergo torsional vibrations, and a full understanding of the imaging mechanism requires a measure of this spring constant.

Weymouth
et al.

(p.
1120
, published online 6 February; see the Perspective by

Salmeron

) used lateral force microscopy, in which the tip vibrates laterally across the surface, to determine this torsional constant. The stiffness of the isolated CO molecules on the tip was much less than that for CO molecules adsorbed on planar surfaces.
Draft Genome Sequence of Textile Azo Dye-Decolorizing and -Degrading Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain PFK10, Isolated from the Common Effluent Treatment Plant of the Ankleshwar Industrial Area of Gujarat, India
Authors: Faldu P. R. , Kothari V. V. , Kothari C. R. , Rawal C. M. , Domadia K. K. , Patel P. A. , Bhimani H. D. , Raval V. H. , Parmar N. R. , Nathani N. M. , Koringa P. G. , Joshi C. G. , Kothari R. K.
Published: February 2014

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strain PFK10, isolated from the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) of the Ankleshwar industrial area of Gujarat, India. The 6.04-Mb draft genome sequence of strain PFK10 provides information about the genes encoding enzymes that enable the strain to decolorize and degrade textile azo dye.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium PC4.1, a Clade B Strain Isolated from Human Feces
Authors: Ó Cuív Páraic , Klaassens Eline S. , Smith Wendy J. , Mondot Stanislas , Durkin A. Scott , Harkins Derek M. , Foster Les , McCorrison Jamison , Torralba Manolito , Nelson Karen E. , Morrison Mark
Published: February 2014

Enterococcus faecium
is commonly isolated from the human gastrointestinal tract; however, important intraspecies variations exist with relevance for host health and well-being. Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of
E. faecium
PC4.1, a clade B strain isolated from human feces.
Draft Genome Sequence of Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans Strain UI, a Mesophilic Aromatic Compound-Degrading Syntroph
Authors: Nobu Masaru K. , Narihiro Takashi , Tamaki Hideyuki , Qiu Yan-Ling , Sekiguchi Yuji , Woyke Tanja , Goodwin Lynne , Davenport Karen W. , Kamagata Yoichi , Liu Wen-Tso
Published: February 2014

Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans
strain UI is a mesophilic bacterium capable of degrading aromatic substrates in syntrophic cooperation with a partner methanogen. The draft genome sequence is 3.7 Mb, with a G+C content of 52.0%.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophage phiIBB-PAA2
Authors: Pires Diana P. , Kropinski Andrew M. , Azeredo Joana , Sillankorva Sanna
Published: February 2014

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
phage phiIBB-PAA2 is a broad-host-range virus isolated from raw hospital sewage (Porto, Portugal). This phage has a terminally redundant (183 bp), 45,344-bp double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome encoding 66 coding sequences (CDSs) and 3 tRNAs. It belongs to the family
Podoviridae
and the genus
Luz24likevirus
.
Complete Genome Sequence of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O Isolated from Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Munawar , Siddique Mohammad Anwar , Momtaz Samina , Rahman Arafat , Ullah Huzzat , Nandi Shuvro Prokash , Hossain M. Anwar
Published: February 2014

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious enzootic disease caused by FMD virus. The complete genome sequence of a circulatory FMD virus (FMDV) serotype O isolated from Natore, Bangladesh, is reported here. Genomic analysis revealed antigenic heterogeneity within the VP1 region, a fragment deletion, and insertions at the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and 3A region compared to the genome of the available vaccine strain.
A rare case of prosthetic endocarditis and dehiscence in a mechanical valved conduit
Authors: Kannan Arun , Smith Cristy , Subramanian Sreekumar , Janardhanan Rajesh
Published: February 2014

A middle-aged adult patient with a history of aortic root replacement with a mechanical valved conduit and remote chest trauma was referred to our institution with prosthetic endocarditis. Transoesophageal echocardiogram at our institution confirmed a near-complete dehiscence of the prosthetic aortic valve from the conduit, with significant perivalvular flow forming a pseudoaneurysm. The patient underwent a high-risk re-operation, involving redo aortic root replacement with a homograft after extensive debridement of the infected tissue. The patient was discharged to an outside facility after an uncomplicated hospital course, and remains stable.
Two siblings with unbalanced t(10;21) translocations and non-neuropathic neuropathic bladder
Authors: Thyoka Mandela , Henderson Alex , Starzyk Bozena , Lall Anupam
Published: February 2014

We describe an unusual case of two siblings, aged 5 years and 5 months, with an unbalanced t(10;21) translocation and concomitant non-neuropathic neuropathic bladder abnormalities, whose father was a known balanced carrier of the translocation, t(10;21). Postnatally both siblings had normal spine and neurological examination. However, ultrasound scans and micturition cystourethrograms revealed grossly distended non-neuropathic neuropathic bladder. In both siblings, the bladder abnormalities responded to clean intermittent catheterisation. On follow-up, dimercaptosuccinic acid scans for both siblings showed equal split function with no scarring.
Fever of unknown origin in a patient with red ears: relapsing polychondritis
Authors: Avila Juliana Nunes , Carvalho Susana Bonacho , Tavares Graça , Garcia Ruben
Published: February 2014

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune disease that affects cartilage and multiple organ system. We describe a case of RP presenting with fever, conjunctivitis and inflammatory signs of the right knee. Infectious and neoplastic diseases were excluded by imaging and laboratory examinations. After 17 days of admission the patient reported coughing and odynophagia, and, a physical examination showed red ears. Otorhinolaryngological examination demonstrated arytenoid chondritis. RP was diagnosed based on four McAdam’s criteria. The patient was medicated with oral prednisone, and a positive clinical response was noted. Severe disease may require high doses of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents and the biological treatment may be beneficial. Beginning manifestations, such as fever, are often unspecific, leading to RP misdiagnosis. In this case, close attention to the patient’s clinical history and a detailed physical examination were fundamental in concluding the correct diagnosis, and consequently beginning the appropriate medication.
Socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers’ ratings of plain and branded cigarette packaging: an experimental study
Authors: Guillaumier Ashleigh , Bonevski Billie , Paul Chris , Durkin Sarah , D'Este Catherine
Published: February 2014

Objectives

This study aimed to test the potential impact of plain packaging for cigarettes on brand appeal among highly socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers using the new design for cigarettes implemented in Australia, which combines plain packaging with larger health warning labels.

Design

A 2×2 factorial design trial embedded within a cross-sectional computer touchscreen survey. Data were collected between March and December 2012.

Setting

Socially disadvantaged welfare aid recipients were recruited through a large Social and Community Service Organisation in New South Wales, Australia.

Participants

N=354 smokers. The majority of the sample had not completed high school (64%), earned less than $A300/week (55%) and received their income from Government payments (95%).

Interventions

Participants were randomised to one of the four different pack conditions determined by brand name: Winfield versus Benson & Hedges, and packaging type: branded versus plain. Participants were required to rate their assigned pack on measures of brand appeal and purchase intentions.

Results

Plain packaging was associated with significantly reduced smoker ratings of ‘positive pack characteristics’ (p<0.001), ‘positive smoker characteristics’ (p=0.003) and ‘positive taste characteristics’ (p=0.033) in the Winfield brand name condition only. Across the four pack conditions, no main differences were found for ‘negative smoker characteristics’ (p=0.427) or ‘negative harm characteristics’ (p=0.411). In comparison to plain packaging, the presentation of branded packaging was associated with higher odds of smokers’ purchase intentions (OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.34 to 3.54; p=0.002).

Conclusions

Plain packs stripped of branding elements, featuring larger health warning labels, were associated with reduced positive cigarette brand image and purchase intentions among highly socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers.
Social support for South Asian Muslim parents with life-limiting illness living in Scotland: a multiperspective qualitative study
Authors: Gaveras Eleni Margareta , Kristiansen Maria , Worth Allison , Irshad Tasneem , Sheikh Aziz
Published: February 2014

Objective

To explore experiences of social support needs among South Asian Muslim patients with life-limiting illness, living in Scotland, who are parents of young children.

Design

Secondary analysis of data from a multiperspective, longitudinal Scottish study involving in-depth semistructured interviews with patients, their nominated carers and healthcare professionals. Data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Setting

Edinburgh, Scotland.

Participants

South-Asian Muslim patients with life-limiting illness with children under the age of 18 (n=8), their carer (n=6) and their healthcare professional.

Main outcome measures

Access and provision of social support in palliative care.

Results

Open-ended qualitative interviews identified four main themes: (1) parental sadness over being unable to provide tangible support; (2) parental desire to continue to provide emotional support; (3) limited availability of informal social support networks; and (4) differing perspectives between healthcare professionals and patients on patient access to social support sources, with a subtheme being the capacity of male carers to provide social support.

South-Asian parents at the end of life had limited access to extended-network support. Gender roles appeared as challenging for healthcare providers who at times overestimated the amount of support a female carer could provide and underestimated the amount of support male carers provided. Implications for practice include the need for greater awareness by healthcare providers of the social support needs of ethnic minority and migrant parents with life-limiting illnesses and especially an awareness of the importance of the role of male and female carers. Further research is needed to explore how the timing of migration impacts the need for and availability of tangible and emotional informal social support among ethnic minority parents with life-limiting illness.
UK doctors’ views on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as applied to medical practice: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Maisonneuve Jenny J , Lambert Trevor W , Goldacre Michael J
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To report on doctors’ views, from all specialty backgrounds, about the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and its impact on the National Health Service (NHS), senior doctors and junior doctors.

Design

All medical school graduates from 1999 to 2000 were surveyed by post and email in 2012.

Setting

The UK.

Methods

Among other questions, in a multipurpose survey on medical careers and career intentions, doctors were asked to respond to three statements about the EWTD on a five-point scale (from strongly agree to strongly disagree): ‘The implementation of the EWTD has benefited the NHS’, ‘The implementation of the EWTD has benefited senior doctors’ and ‘The implementation of the EWTD has benefited junior doctors’.

Results

The response rate was 54.4% overall (4486/8252), 55.8% (2256/4042) of the 1999 cohort and 53% (2230/4210) of the 2000 cohort. 54.1% (2427) of all respondents were women. Only 12% (498/4136 doctors) agreed that the EWTD has benefited the NHS, 9% (377) that it has benefited senior doctors and 31% (1289) that it has benefited junior doctors. Doctors’ views on EWTD differed significantly by specialty groups: ‘craft’ specialties such as surgery, requiring extensive experience in performing operations, were particularly critical.

Conclusions

These cohorts have experience of working in the NHS before and after the implementation of EWTD. Their lack of support for the EWTD 4 years after its implementation should be a concern. However, it is unclear whether problems rest with the current ceiling on hours worked or with the ways in which EWTD has been implemented.
Sheep health, welfare and production planning 1. Recording and benchmarking performance indicators of flock health and production
Authors: Phythian Clare , Phillips Kate , Wright Nerys , Morgan Mair
Published: February 2014

This is the first in a series of three articles that examine the opportunities for veterinary practitioners and livestock advisers to engage sheep farmers in proactive health and production planning. It focuses on the use of on‐farm records to identify specific flock health, welfare and production issues and for setting farm‐specific targets and action plans. Subsequent articles in the series will look at flock nutrition, and ways in which financial and performance indicators can be used to demonstrate the economic and future benefit of flock health planning.
Effective team communication
Authors: Crick Jerry
Published: February 2014

Communication in business is fundamental for proper organisation, staff moral, problem solving and information sharing. Jerry Crick shares strategies for effective team communication to increase productivity and efficiency.
Differences in adiposity trajectories by birth cohort and childhood social class: evidence from cohorts born in the 1930s, 1950s and 1970s in the west of Scotland
Authors: Shaw Richard J , Green Michael J , Popham Frank , Benzeval Michaela
Published: February 2014

Background

Since the 1930s, the environment has become increasingly obesogenic, leading to rising rates of adiposity and socioeconomic inequalities in adiposity. Building on studies comparing body mass index (BMI) for cohorts born over a period of 20 years, we examine the social patterning of BMI and central adiposity for three cohorts born over a 40-year period.

Methods

Using data from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 study (n=4510), we investigate 20-year trajectories of adiposity for three cohorts born in the 1930s, 1950s and 1970s, allowing us to study 60 years of the lifecourse. Stratified by gender, we employed multilevel models to generate trajectories for BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and explored how these trajectories varied by childhood social class.

Results

Adiposity increased most quickly with age in the youngest cohort, and cohort differences were greater than socioeconomic differences. For example, the smallest cohort difference for BMI, a comparison of men in the 1930s and 1950s cohorts at age 55, was 2.66 (95% CI 2.11 to 3.20) kg/m2, while the largest socioeconomic difference, a comparison of manual and non-manual women at age 64, was 1.18 (95% CI 0.37 to 1.98) kg/m2. Socioeconomic inequalities in adiposity increased with age and were greater for women than for men. The results for WHtR differed in that increases in WHtR accelerated with age while increases in BMI slowed.

Conclusions

Socioeconomic differences in adiposity accumulate slowly across the lifecourse and are approximately only a third of the adiposity differences between cohorts.
On the validity of the Boltzmann equation for short range potentials
Authors: Pulvirenti M. , Saffirio C. , Simonella S.
Published: February 2014

We consider a classical system of point particles interacting by means of a short range potential. We prove that, in the low-density (Boltzmann–Grad) limit, the system behaves, for short times, as predicted by the associated Boltzmann equation. This is a revisitation and an extension of the thesis of King [9] (that appeared after the well-known result of Lanford [10] for hard spheres) and of a recent paper by Gallagher et al. [5]. Our analysis applies to any stable and smooth potential. In the case of repulsive potentials (with no attractive parts), we estimate explicitly the rate of convergence.
Dirichlet and Neumann eigenvalues for half-plane magnetic Hamiltonians
Authors: Bruneau Vincent , Miranda Pablo , Raikov Georgi
Published: February 2014

Let H0,D(respectively, H0,N) be the Schrödinger operator in constant magnetic field on the half-plane with Dirichlet (respectively, Neumann) boundary conditions, and let Hℓ:= H0,ℓ- V, ℓ = D, N, where the scalar potential V is non-negative, bounded, does not vanish identically, and decays at infinity. We compare the distribution of the eigenvalues of HDand HNbelow the respective infima of the essential spectra. To this end, we construct effective Hamiltonians which govern the asymptotic behavior of the discrete spectrum of Hℓnear inf σess(Hℓ) = inf σ(H0,ℓ), ℓ = D, N. Applying these Hamiltonians, we show that σdisc(HD) is infinite even if V has a compact support, while σdisc(HN) could be finite or infinite depending on the decay rate of V.
ONLINE MULTIPLE TARGETS DETECTION AND TRACKING FROM MOBILE ROBOT IN CLUTTERED INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS WITH DEPTH CAMERA
Authors: ZHOU YU , YANG YINFEI , YI MENG , BAI XIANG , LIU WENYU , LATECKI LONGIN JAN
Published: February 2014

Indoor environment is a common scene in our everyday life, and detecting and tracking multiple targets in this environment is a key component for many applications. However, this task still remains challenging due to limited space, intrinsic target appearance variation, e.g. full or partial occlusion, large pose deformation, and scale change. In the proposed approach, we give a novel framework for detection and tracking in indoor environments, and extend it to robot navigation. One of the key components of our approach is a virtual top view created from an RGB-D camera, which is named ground plane projection (GPP). The key advantage of using GPP is the fact that the intrinsic target appearance variation and extrinsic noise is far less likely to appear in GPP than in a regular side-view image. Moreover, it is a very simple task to determine free space in GPP without any appearance learning even from a moving camera. Hence GPP is very different from the top-view image obtained from a ceiling mounted camera. We perform both object detection and tracking in GPP. Two kinds of GPP images are utilized: gray GPP, which represents the maximal height of 3D points projecting to each pixel, and binary GPP, which is obtained by thresholding the gray GPP. For detection, a simple connected component labeling is used to detect footprints of targets in binary GPP. For tracking, a novel Pixel Level Association (PLA) strategy is proposed to link the same target in consecutive frames in gray GPP. It utilizes optical flow in gray GPP, which to our best knowledge has never been done before. Then we "back project" the detected and tracked objects in GPP to original, side-view (RGB) images. Hence we are able to detect and track objects in the side-view (RGB) images. Our system is able to robustly detect and track multiple moving targets in real time. The detection process does not rely on any target model, which means we do not need any training process. Moreover, tracking does not require any manual initialization, since all entering objects are robustly detected. We also extend the novel framework to robot navigation by tracking. As our experimental results demonstrate, our approach can achieve near prefect detection and tracking results. The performance gain in comparison to state-of-the-art trackers is most significant in the presence of occlusion and background clutter.
HUMAN AGE CLASSIFICATION WITH OPTIMAL GEOMETRIC RATIOS AND WRINKLE ANALYSIS
Authors: IZADPANAHI SHIMA , TOYGAR ÖNSEN
Published: February 2014

This paper presents geometric feature-based model for age group classification of facial images. The feature extraction is performed considering significance of the effects that age has on facial anthropometry. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is used to find optimized subset of geometric features. The relevance and importance of age differentiation capability of the features are evaluated using support vector classifier. The facial images are categorized in seven major age groups. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed feature extraction is demonstrated with the experiments that are conducted on two publicly available databases namely Face and Gesture Recognition Research Network (FGNET) Aging Database and Iranian Face Database (IFDB). The results demonstrate that the success rate of the classification is 92.62%. The results also show significant improvement compared to the state-of-the-art models.
Mechanism of Lewis-acid-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of sp3C–H bond and alkene: A theoretical investigation
Authors: Ye Miaoqiang , Liu Rongfu , Zeng Hui , Tan Kai , Lu Xin
Published: February 2014

First-principle density functional calculations have been carried out to explore the mechanism of the BF 3-catalyzed intramolecular coupling between a C ( sp 3)- H bond in the α-position of such heteroatom as O and an electron-deficient alkene that has an electron-withdrawing substitute, e.g. acetal or carbonyl [McQuaid KM, Sames D, J Am Chem Soc131:402, 2009]. The computations not only confirmed the previously proposed mechanism that coordination of BF 3 (as Lewis acid catalyst) to the acetal oxygen atom triggers 1,5-hydride transfer from the α- C ( sp 3)- H bond to the alkenic carbon, followed by 1,6-cyclization ( C – C bond formation) between the carbon atom of the as-formed oxacarbenium and another alkenic carbon atom, but also disclosed that the 1,5-hydride transfer step is rate-limiting and the cyclization step accounts for the stereoselectivity. In addition, the following substituent effects were disclosed, i.e. the efficacy of intramolecular coupling can be significantly improved by introducing a more electron-donative amino group as the closest neighbor of the hydride donor, but retarded by introducing a less electron-withdrawing – CO 2 Me group as the closest neighbor of the hydride acceptor or by introducing an aromatic phenyl linkage, instead of the saturated linkages exploited in experiments, between the two reacting groups.
Perfect-translation-invariant variable-density complex discrete wavelet transform
Authors: Toda Hiroshi , Zhang Zhong , Imamura Takashi
Published: February 2014

The theorems giving the conditions for discrete wavelet transforms (DWTs) to achieve perfect translation invariance (PTI) have already been proven, and based on these theorems, the dual-tree complex DWT and the complex wavelet packet transform, achieving PTI, have already been proposed. However, there is not so much flexibility in their wavelet density. In the frequency domain, the wavelet density is fixed by octave filter banks, and in the time domain, each wavelet is arrayed on a fixed coordinate, and the wavelet packet density in the frequency domain can be only designed by dividing an octave frequency band equally in linear scale, and its density in the time domain is constrained by the division number of an octave frequency band. In this paper, a novel complex DWT is proposed to create variable wavelet density in the frequency and time domains, that is, an octave frequency band can be divided into N filter banks in logarithmic scale, where N is an integer larger than or equal to 3, and in the time domain, a distance between wavelets can be varied in each level, and its transform achieves PTI.
A novel variable filter band discrete wavelet transform: Theory and principle
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Toda Hiroshi , Imamura Takashi , Miyake Tetsuo
Published: February 2014

It is well-known that a mother wavelet for the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has the band-pass filter characteristic with octave width in the frequency domain and can be used for octave analysis. However, it is possible that the octave analysis is not necessarily the most suitable to match the analysis signal. In this study, in order to construct the most suitable basis to match the analysis signal, a novel variable-filter band discrete wavelet transform (VFB-DWT) is proposed. It is achieved by using variable-band filters instead of conventional decomposition and reconstruction sequences, which are designed in consideration of the real signal characteristics. Additionally, it is proven that perfect reconstruction of the analysis signal by VFB-DWT is guaranteed using the perfect shift invariant theorem that underlies the theory of the PTI-CDWT having base DWT.
A novel variable filter band discrete wavelet transform: Application
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Ohtaki Jin , Toda Hiroshi , Imamura Takashi , Miyake Tetsuo
Published: February 2014

In this study, in order to verify the effectiveness of the variable filter band discrete wavelet transform (VFB-DWT) and construction method of the variable-band filter (VBF), a fetal ECG extraction has been carried out and the main results obtained are as follows. The approach to configuration VBF by selecting the frequency band only where the fetal ECG component is present was effective to configure the optimal base sensible signal. The extraction of the fetal ECG was successful by applying the wavelet shrinkage to VFB-DWT, which used the constructed VBF. The information entropy was selected as an evaluation index, and two kinds of ECG signals are used to evaluate the wavelet transform basis between the wavelet packet transform (WPT) and the VFB-DWT. One is a synthesized signal composed of white noise, the maternal ECG and the fetal ECG. The other signal is the real target signal separated by independent component analysis (ICA) and has the mother's body noise, the maternal ECG and the fetal ECG. The result shows that the basis by VBF of the VFB-DWT is better than the basis of the WPT that was chosen by the best basis algorithm (BBA).
Comparative metagenome analysis of an Alaskan glacier
Authors: Choudhari Sulbha , Lohia Ruchi , Grigoriev Andrey
Published: February 2014

The temperature in the Arctic region has been increasing in the recent past accompanied by melting of its glaciers. We took a snapshot of the current microbial inhabitation of an Alaskan glacier (which can be considered as one of the simplest possible ecosystems) by using metagenomic sequencing of 16S rRNA recovered from ice/snow samples. Somewhat contrary to our expectations and earlier estimates, a rich and diverse microbial population of more than 2,500 species was revealed including several species of Archaea that has been identified for the first time in the glaciers of the Northern hemisphere. The most prominent bacterial groups found were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Firmicutes were not reported in large numbers in a previously studied Alpine glacier but were dominant in an Antarctic subglacial lake. Representatives of Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes were among the most numerous, likely reflecting the dependence of the ecosystem on the energy obtained through photosynthesis and close links with the microbial community of the soil. Principal component analysis (PCA) of nucleotide word frequency revealed distinct sequence clusters for different taxonomic groups in the Alaskan glacier community and separate clusters for the glacial communities from other regions of the world. Comparative analysis of the community composition and bacterial diversity present in the Byron glacier in Alaska with other environments showed larger overlap with an Arctic soil than with a high Arctic lake, indicating patterns of community exchange and suggesting that these bacteria may play an important role in soil development during glacial retreat.
Congruence properties of Taylor coefficients of modular forms
Authors: Larson Hannah , Smith Geoffrey
Published: February 2014

In their work, Serre and Swinnerton-Dyer study the congruence properties of the Fourier coefficients of modular forms. We examine similar congruence properties, but for the coefficients of a modified Taylor expansion about a CM point τ. These coefficients can be shown to be the product of a power of a constant transcendental factor and an algebraic integer. In our work, we give conditions on τ and a prime number p that, if satisfied, imply that pm divides the algebraic part of all the Taylor coefficients of f of sufficiently high degree. We also give effective bounds on the largest n such that pm does not divide the algebraic part of the nth Taylor coefficient of f at τ that are sharp under certain additional hypotheses.
Geometric optimization and sums of algebraic functions
Authors: Vigneron Antoine
Published: February 2014

We present a new optimization technique that yields the first FPTAS for several geometric problems. These problems reduce to optimizing a sum of nonnegative, constant description complexity algebraic functions. We first give an FPTAS for optimizing such a sum of algebraic functions, and then we apply it to several geometric optimization problems. We obtain the first FPTAS for two fundamental geometric shape-matching problems in fixed dimension: maximizing the volume of overlap of two polyhedra under rigid motions and minimizing their symmetric difference. We obtain the first FPTAS for other problems in fixed dimension, such as computing an optimal ray in a weighted subdivision, finding the largest axially symmetric subset of a polyhedron, and computing minimum-area hulls.
Tissue-Specific RNA-Seq in Human Evoked Inflammation Identifies Blood and Adipose LincRNA Signatures of Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Liu Yichuan , Ferguson Jane F. , Xue Chenyi , Ballantyne Rachel L. , Silverman Ian M. , Gosai Sager J. , Serfecz Jacquelyn , Morley Michael P. , Gregory Brian D. , Li Mingyao , Reilly Muredach P.
Published: February 2014

Objective—

Inappropriate transcriptional activation of innate immunity is a pathological feature of several cardiometabolic disorders, but little is known about inflammatory modulation of long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) in disease-relevant human tissues.

Approach and Results—

We applied deep RNA sequencing (>500 million filtered reads per sample) to blood and adipose during low-dose experimental endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide) in a healthy human, with targeted replication in separate individuals undergoing endotoxemia (n=6), to identify inflammatory lincRNAs. A subset of these lincRNAs was examined for expression in adipocytes and monocytes, modulation in adipose of obese humans, and overlap with genome-wide association study signals for inflammatory and cardiometabolic traits. Of a stringent set of 4284 lincRNAs, ≈11% to 22% were expressed with 201 and 56 lincRNAs modulated by lipopolysaccharide in blood or adipose, respectively. Tissue-specific expression of a subset of 6 lipopolysaccharide-lincRNAs was replicated with lipopolysaccharide modulation confirmed for all 3 expressed in blood and 2 of 4 expressed in adipose. The broader generalizability of findings in blood of subject A was confirmed by RNA sequencing in 7 additional subjects. We confirmed adipocytes and monocytes as potential cell-sources of selective lipopolysaccharide-regulated lincRNAs, and 2 of these, linc-DMRT2 (
P
=0.002) and linc-TP53I13 (
P
=0.01), were suppressed in adipose of obese humans. Finally, we provide examples of lipopolysaccharide-modulated lincRNAs that overlap single nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with cardiometabolic traits.

Conclusions—

Our findings provide novel insights into tissue-level, inflammatory transcriptome regulation in cardiometabolic diseases. These are complementary to more usual approaches limited to interrogation of DNA variations.
Mutation in the γ2-Subunit of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Stimulates Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Hypertrophy Independent of Glycogen Storage
Authors: Kim Maengjo , Hunter Roger W. , Garcia-Menendez Lorena , Gong Guohua , Yang Yu-Ying , Kolwicz Stephen C. , Xu Jason , Sakamoto Kei , Wang Wang , Tian Rong
Published: February 2014

Rationale:

AMP-activated protein kinase is a master regulator of cell metabolism and an attractive drug target for cancer and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Point mutations in the regulatory γ2-subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (encoded by
Prkag2
gene) caused a unique form of human cardiomyopathy characterized by cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular preexcitation, and glycogen storage. Understanding the disease mechanisms of
Prkag2
cardiomyopathy is not only beneficial for the patients but also critical to the use of AMP-activated protein kinase as a drug target.

Objective:

We sought to identify the pro–growth-signaling pathway(s) triggered by
Prkag2
mutation and to distinguish it from the secondary response to glycogen storage.

Methods and Results:

In a mouse model of N488I mutation of the
Prkag2
gene (R2M), we rescued the glycogen storage phenotype by genetic inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate–stimulated glycogen synthase activity. Ablation of glycogen storage eliminated the ventricular preexcitation but did not affect the excessive cardiac growth in R2M mice. The progrowth effect in R2M hearts was mediated via increased insulin sensitivity and hyperactivity of Akt, resulting in activation of mammalian target of rapamycin and inactivation of forkhead box O transcription factor–signaling pathways. Consequently, cardiac myocyte proliferation during the postnatal period was enhanced in R2M hearts followed by hypertrophic growth in adult hearts. Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin activity by rapamycin or restoration of forkhead box O transcription factor activity by overexpressing forkhead box O transcription factor 1 rescued the abnormal cardiac growth.

Conclusions:

Our study reveals a novel mechanism for
Prkag2
cardiomyopathy, independent of glycogen storage. The role of γ2-AMP-activated protein kinase in cell growth also has broad implications in cardiac development, growth, and regeneration.
The Comings and Goings of the Son of Man
Authors: Harris Mark
Published: February 2014

Matthew’s eschatological schema presents difficult narrative puzzles, not least of which is the paradox between a ‘coming Son of Man’ who is assumed to be absent from earth in the present, and a risen Jesus who promises perpetual presence ‘until the end of the age’ (28.20). A suggestion of G.B. Caird will be explored using a narrative-critical approach that focuses especially on Matthew’s interests in divine presence, mountains and the significance of the Jerusalem Temple. It will be argued that the Matthean παρουσία may be read not so much as a ‘second coming’ but as a more continuous statement of presence from the cross and resurrection onwards. This places the ‘Son of Man’ as a narrative symbol of mediation between heaven and earth, in the clouds, on the final mountain-top, ‘until the end of the age’. It is suggested that this can be seen as part of Matthew’s theodicy for the destruction of the Temple in 70 ce.