bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRECISION MEASUREMENTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC TRANSITION RATES IN A=10 NUCLEI AS A TEST OF GFMC Ab-INITIO CALCULATIONS
Authors: KIM LISTER C. J.
Published: June 2010

A new generation of self-consistent calculations has deepened our understanding of how nuclei are bound and the structure and spatial extent of their wavefunctions. New methods are being developed to calculate nuclear properties starting from realistic unrenormalized two-body nucleon-nucleon potentials. Higher order correlations are needed to reproduce both masses and spectra, and the special importance of three-body correlations has become clear. Precise experimental measurements can help improve the calculations and constrain the form and strength of three body Hamiltonians. In this contribution, I will review new calculations on A =10 nuclei made with the Greens Function Monte Carlo method (GFMC) using a variety of three-body interactions, and new experiments designed to measure the lifetime of excited states with an improved Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM*). The electromagnetic matrix elements are determined to a level of precision, <5%, that really challenge GFMC and other contemporary theories.
MEASUREMENT OF TWO-PROTON CORRELATION FROM THE BREAK-UP OF 23Al
Authors: ZHOU P. , FANG D. Q. , MA Y. G. , CAI X. Z. , CHEN J. G. , GUO W. , SUN X. Y. , TIAN W. D. , WANG H. W. , ZHANG G. Q. , CAO X. G. , FU Y. , HU Z. G. , WANG J. S. , WANG M. , TOGANO Y. , AOI N. , BABA H. , HONDA T. , OKADA K. , HARA Y. , IEKI K. , ISHIBASHI Y. , ITOU Y. , IWASA N. , KANNO S. , KAWABATA T. , KIMURA H. , KONDO Y. , KURITA K. , KUROKAWA M. , MORIGUCHI T. , MURAKAMI H. , OISHI H. , OTA S. , OZAWA A. , SAKURAI H. , SHIMOURA S. , SHIODA R. , TAKESHITA E. , TAKEUCHI S. , YAMADA K. , YAMADA Y. , YASUDA Y. , YONEDA K. , MOTOBAYASHI T.
Published: June 2010

Experiments of 23 Al and 22 Mg radioactive beams bombarding a 12 C target at an energy of 60 ~70 A MeV have been performed at the projectile fragment separator beamline (RIPS) in the RIKEN Ring Cyclotron Facility to study the two-proton emission from 23 Al and 22 Mg excited states, respectively. The trajectorie of the decay products, namely 21 Na + p + p from 23 Al and 20 Ne + p + p from 22 Mg , are clean identified. The relative momentum and opening angle between two protons in the rest frame of three body decay channels are obtained by relativistic-kinematics reconstruction. The results demonstrate that there are some di-proton emission components from 2 He cluster for the excited 23 Al and 22 Mg .
HYPERON PRODUCTION AND POLARIZATION WITH CLAS AND CLAS12 AT JLAB
Authors:   for CLAS Collaboration, PEREIRA SERGIO ANEFALOS
Published: June 2010

Many baryon resonances are predicted studying the channels with π, but very few established. This is the so-called "missing resonance" problem. It is important to provide data to investigate the spectrum of baryon ( N * and Δ) resonances, with the decay in KY. A comprehensive study of the electromagnetic strangeness production has been undertaken at Jefferson Lab using circularly and linearly polarized photon beam and polarized hydrogen and deuterium target. Recent results in strangeness photoproduction on protons, including cross sections and spin observables, are discussed in this paper, as well preliminary results on photoproduction on bound neutron. Also an overview of the future perspectives for the 12 GeV upgrade.
STUDY OF EXOTIC BEAMS INDUCED REACTIONS IN THE REGION OF 11Be WITH CHIMERA ARRAY
Authors: AMORINI F. , ANZALONE A. , AUDITORE L. , CARDELLA G. , CAVALLARO S. , CHATTERJEE M. B. , DE FILIPPO E. , GERACI E. , GRASSI L. , GRZESZCZUK A. , GUAZZONI P. , HAN J. , LA GUIDARA E. , LANZALONE G. , LOMBARDO I. , LO NIGRO S. , LORIA D. , MAIOLINO C. , PAGANO A. , PAPA M. , PIRRONE S. , POLITI G. , PORTO F. , RIZZO F. , ROSATO E. , RUSSOTTO P. , TRIFIRÒ A. , TRIMARCHI M. , VERDE G. , VIGILANTE M. , ZETTA L.
Published: June 2010

Intermediate energy beams of light exotic nuclei have been produced at LNS by the FRIBs facility. Thanks to these beams, a complex study of the structure of halo nuclei in the 11 Be region has been started exploiting the performances of the CHIMERA array.
ESTIMATES OF THE ASTROPHYSICAL S-FACTORS FOR PROTON RADIATIVE CAPTURE BY 10B AND 24Mg NUCLEI USING THE ANCs FROM PROTON TRANSFER REACTIONS
Authors: ARTEMOV S. V. , IGAMOV S. B. , KARAKHODZHAEV A. A. , NIE G. K. , YARMUKHAMEDOV R. , ZAPAROV E. A. , BURTEBAEV N. , REHM K. E.
Published: June 2010

The contribution of the direct radiative capture of protons by 10 B and 24 Mg nuclei at low energies to the astrophysical S -factors in the reactions 10 B (p,γ)11 C and 24 Mg (p,γ)25 Al have been calculated within the R-matrix formalism by using empirical proton asymptotical normalization coefficients (ANC). The ANCs for bound proton configurations {10 B +p} and {24 Mg +p} were obtained from the analysis of the reactions (3 He , d). The ANCs were also estimated from the values of the neutron ANCs in the mirror nucleus 25 Mg following the suggestion that the neutron and the proton in the mirror states have equivalent nuclear potentials. It has been found that the S -factor for the reaction 10 B (p,γ)11 C extrapolated to zero energy contributes ~100 keV b to the radiative capture to the ground state of 11 C . For the reaction 24 Mg (p,γ)25 Al the value S(0) gives 58 keV b with a direct capture contribution of 41 keV b .
TWO PROTON RADIOACTIVITY OF 18Ne
Authors: GIACOPPO F. , RACITI G. , RAPISARDA E. , CARDELLA G. , SFIENTI C. , DE NAPOLI M. , AMORINI F.
Published: June 2010

The decay of 18 Ne excited states into 2 p +16 O channel has been studied. The 18 Ne secondary beam, at 33 AMeV incident energy, was produced by fragmentation of a primary 20 Ne beam at the LNS-FRIBs facility. Coulomb excitation on a nat Pb secondary target was found to be the main interaction process leading to the population of 18 Ne excited levels. The two-proton decay of the 6.15 MeV (1-) level has been detected, but in addition other high-lying states decaying via 2 p emission were observed. A significant branching ratio of 2 He decay has been deduced from the analysis of the relative angle and energy correlation spectra of the two protons emitted from the 6.15 MeV (1-) state.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON η′ PHOTOPRODUCTION AT GRAAL
Authors: MANGANARO M. , BELLINI V. , BOCQUET J. P. , CASANO L. , D'ANGELO A. , DI SALVO R. , FANTINI A. , FRANCO D. , GERVINO G. , GHIO F. , GIARDINA G. , GIUSA A. , GIROLAMI B. , IGNATOV A. S. , LAPIK A. M. , LEVI SANDRI P. , LLERES A. , MAMMOLITI F. , MANDAGLIO G. , MORICCIANI D. , MUSHKARENKOV A. N. , NEDOREZOV V. G. , RANDIERI C. , REBREYEND D. , RUDNEV N. V. , RUSSO G. , SCHAERF C. , SPERDUTO M. L. , SUTERA M. C. , TURINGE A. , VEGNA V.
Published: June 2010

The γp → η′p reaction was studied near the threshold, in the 1.44 GeV > Eγ < 1.55 GeV energy range with the tagged photons of the former GRAAL experiment. The two neutral decays γγ(Γi/Γ = 2.10 ± 0.12%) and π0π0η(Γi/Γ = 20.7 ± 1.2%) were analized and preliminary results of the beam asymmetry were extracted together with the invariant masses.
ω PHOTOPRODUCTION AT GRAAL
Authors: VEGNA V. , BELLINI V. , BOCQUET J. P. , CASANO L. , D'ANGELO A. , DI SALVO R. , FANTINI A. , FRANCO D. , GERVINO G. , GHIO F. , GIARDINA G. , GIROLAMI B. , GIUSA A. , IGNATOV A. S. , LAPIK A. , LLERES A. , LEVI SANDRI P. , MAMMOLITI F. , MANDAGLIO G. , MANGANARO M. , MORICCIANI D. , MUSHKARENKOV A. N. , NEDOREZOV V. G. , RANDIERI C. , REBREYEND D. , RUDNEV N. V. , RUSSO G. , SCHAERF C. , SPERDUTO M. L. , SUTERA M. C. , TURINGE A.
Published: June 2010

The study of meson photoproduction on the nucleon is a very important tool to complete the puzzle of baryon excited states. GRAAL aim is the measurement of cross sections and of beam asymmetries for all the photonuclear reactions accessible in the energy range from 600 MeV up to 1.5 GeV. In the following preliminary results of the Σ beam asymmetry for ω photoproduction on the free proton in Hydrogen and on the quasi-free nucleon in Deuterium are shown. GRAAL is the first experiment in which both the charged and the radiative decay of ω meson are studied. Since the beam asymmetry is independent of the decay mode, the comparison of the results from the two channel allows an important check on data consistency. Results on the free proton are in good agreement with theoretical prediction from Zhao model and confirm the presence of P13(1720) state. The analysis performed for the radiative decay is applied to the process of ω photoproduction on the quasi free nucleon in Deuterium.
IMPLEMENTING ARBITRARILY HIGH-ORDER SYMPLECTIC METHODS VIA KRYLOV DEFERRED CORRECTION TECHNIQUE
Authors: FENG QUANDONG , HUANG JINGFANG , NIE NINGMING , SHANG ZAIJIU , TANG YIFA
Published: June 2010

In this paper, an efficient numerical procedure is presented to implement the Gaussian Runge–Kutta (GRK) methods (also called Gauss methods). The GRK technique first discretizes each marching step of the initial value problem using collocation formulations based on Gaussian quadrature. As is well known, it preserves the geometric structures of Hamiltonian systems. Existing analysis shows that the GRK discretization with s nodes is of order 2s, A-stable, B-stable, symplectic and symmetric, and hence "optimal" for solving initial value problems of general ordinary differential equations (ODEs). However, as the unknowns at different collocation points are coupled in the discretized system, direct solution of the resulting algebraic equations is in general inefficient. Instead, we use the Krylov deferred correction (KDC) method in which the spectral deferred correction (SDC) scheme is applied as a preconditioner to decouple the original system, and the resulting preconditioned nonlinear system is solved efficiently using Newton–Krylov schemes such as Newton–GMRES method. The KDC accelerated GRK methods have been applied to several Hamiltonian systems and preliminary numerical results are presented to show the accuracy, stability, and efficiency features of these methods for different accuracy requirements in short- and long-time simulations.
Compiling for reconfigurable computing
Authors: Cardoso João M. P. , Diniz Pedro C. , Weinhardt Markus
Published: June 2010

Reconfigurable computing platforms offer the promise of substantially accelerating computations through the concurrent nature of hardware structures and the ability of these architectures for hardware customization. Effectively programming such reconfigurable architectures, however, is an extremely cumbersome and error-prone process, as it requires programmers to assume the role of hardware designers while mastering hardware description languages, thus limiting the acceptance and dissemination of this promising technology. To address this problem, researchers have developed numerous approaches at both the programming languages as well as the compilation levels, to offer high-level programming abstractions that would allow programmers to easily map applications to reconfigurable architectures. This survey describes the major research efforts on compilation techniques for reconfigurable computing architectures. The survey focuses on efforts that map computations written in imperative programming languages to reconfigurable architectures and identifies the main compilation and synthesis techniques used in this mapping.
Sensor faults
Authors: Sharma Abhishek B. , Golubchik Leana , Govindan Ramesh
Published: June 2010

Various sensor network measurement studies have reported instances of transient faults in sensor readings. In this work, we seek to answer a simple question: How often are such faults observed in real deployments? We focus on three types of transient faults, caused by faulty sensor readings that appear abnormal. To understand the prevalence of such faults, we first explore and characterize four qualitatively different classes of fault detection methods. Rule-based methods leverage domain knowledge to develop heuristic rules for detecting and identifying faults. Estimation methods predict “normal” sensor behavior by leveraging sensor correlations, flagging anomalous sensor readings as faults. Time-series-analysis-based methods start with an a priori model for sensor readings. A sensor measurement is compared against its predicted value computed using time series forecasting to determine if it is faulty. Learning-based methods infer a model for the “normal” sensor readings using training data, and then statistically detect and identify classes of faults.

We find that these four classes of methods sit at different points on the accuracy/robustness spectrum. Rule-based methods can be highly accurate, but their accuracy depends critically on the choice of parameters. Learning methods can be cumbersome to train, but can accurately detect and classify faults. Estimation methods are accurate, but cannot classify faults. Time-series-analysis-based methods are more effective for detecting short duration faults than long duration ones, and incur more false positives than the other methods. We apply these techniques to four real-world sensor datasets and find that the prevalence of faults as well as their type varies with datasets. All four methods are qualitatively consistent in identifying sensor faults, lending credence to our observations. Our work is a first step towards automated online fault detection and classification.
Near-lifetime-optimal data collection in wireless sensor networks via spatio-temporal load balancing
Authors: Lee Huang , Keshavarzian Abtin , Aghajan Hamid
Published: June 2010

In wireless sensor networks, periodic data collection appears in many applications. During data collection, messages from sensor nodes are periodically collected and sent back to a set of base stations for processing. In this article, we present and analyze a near-lifetime-optimal and scalable solution for data collection in stationary wireless sensor networks and an energy-efficient packet exchange mechanism. In our solution, instead of using a fixed network topology, we construct a set of communication topologies and apply each topology to different data collection cycles. We not only use the flexibility in distributing the traffic load across different routes in the network (spatial load balancing), but also balance the energy consumption in the time domain (temporal load balancing). We show that this method achieves an average energy consumption rate very close to the optimal value found by network flow optimization techniques. To increase the scalability, we further extend our solution such that it can be applied to networks with multiple base stations where each base station only stores part of the network configuration, cooperating with each other to find a global solution in a distributed manner. The proposed methods are analyzed and evaluated by simulations.
Pilot gaze and glideslope control
Authors: Kim Juno , Palmisano Stephen A. , Ash April , Allison Robert S.
Published: June 2010

We examined the eye movements of pilots as they carried out simulated aircraft landings under day and night lighting conditions. Our five students and five certified pilots were instructed to quickly achieve and then maintain a constant 3-degree glideslope relative to the runway. However, both groups of pilots were found to make significant glideslope control errors, especially during simulated night approaches. We found that pilot gaze was directed most often toward the runway and to the ground region located immediately in front of the runway, compared to other visual scene features. In general, their gaze was skewed toward the near half of the runway and tended to follow the runway threshold as it moved on the screen. Contrary to expectations, pilot gaze was not consistently directed at the aircraft's simulated aimpoint (i.e., its predicted future touchdown point based on scene motion). However, pilots did tend to fly the aircraft so that this point was aligned with the runway threshold. We conclude that the supplementary out-of-cockpit visual cues available during day landing conditions facilitated glideslope control performance. The available evidence suggests that these supplementary visual cues are acquired through peripheral vision, without the need for active fixation.
Towards A Universally Usable Human Interaction Proof
Authors: Sauer Graig , Lazar Jonathan , Hochheiser Harry , Feng Jinjuan
Published: June 2010

The need for security features to stop spam and bots has prompted research aimed at developing human interaction proofs (HIPs) that are both secure and easy to use. The primarily visual techniques used in these HIP tools present difficulties for users with visual impairments. This article reports on the development of Human-Interaction Proof, Universally Usable (HIPUU), a new approach to human-interaction proofs based on identification of a series of sound/image pairs. Simultaneous presentation of a single, unified task in two alternative modalities provides multiple paths to successful task completion. We present two alternative task completion strategies, based on differing input strategies (menu-based vs. free text entry). Empirical results from studies involving both blind and sighted users validate both the usability and accessibility of these differing strategies, with blind users achieving successful task completion rates above 90%. The strengths of the alternate task completion strategies are discussed, along with possible approaches for improving the robustness of HIPUU.
A time efficient indexing scheme for complex spatiotemporal retrieval
Authors: Lagogiannis G. , Lorentzos N. , Sioutas S. , Theodoridis E.
Published: June 2010

The paper is concerned with the time efficient processing of spatiotemporal predicates, i.e. spatial predicates associated with an exact temporal constraint. A set of such predicates forms a buffer query or a Spatio-temporal Pattern (STP) Query with time. In the more general case of an STP query, the temporal dimension is introduced via the relative order of the spatial predicates (STP queries with order). Therefore, the efficient processing of a spatiotemporal predicate is crucial for the efficient implementation of more complex queries of practical interest. We propose an extension of a known approach, suitable for processing spatial predicates, which has been used for the efficient manipulation of STP queries with order. The extended method is supported by efficient indexing structures. We also provide experimental results that show the efficiency of the technique.
The influence of priming exercise on oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and muscle oxygenation kinetics during very heavy-intensity exercise in 9- to 13-yr-old boys
Authors: Barker Alan R. , Jones Andrew M. , Armstrong Neil
Published: June 2010

The present study examined the effect of priming exercise on O2 uptake (V̇o2) kinetics during subsequent very heavy exercise in eight 9- to 13-yr-old boys. We hypothesised that priming exercise would 1) elevate muscle O2 delivery prior to the subsequent bout of very heavy exercise, 2) have no effect on the phase II V̇o2 τ, 3) elevate the phase II V̇o2 total amplitude, and 4) reduce the magnitude of the V̇o2 slow component. Each participant completed repeat 6-min bouts of very heavy-intensity cycling exercise separated by 6 min of light pedaling. During the tests V̇o2, muscle oxygenation (near infrared spectroscopy), and cardiac output (Q̇) (thoracic impedance) were determined. Priming exercise increased baseline muscle oxygenation and elevated Q̇ at baseline and throughout the second exercise bout. The phase II V̇o2 τ was not altered by priming exercise ( bout 1: 22 ± 7 s vs. bout 2: 20 ± 4 s; P = 0.30). However, the time constant describing the entire V̇o2 response from start to end of exercise was accelerated ( bout 1: 43 ± 8 s vs. bout 2: 36 ± 5 s; P = 0.002) due to an increased total phase II V̇o2 amplitude ( bout 1: 1.73 ± 0.33 l/min vs. bout 2: 1.80 ± 0.59 l/min; P = 0.002) and a reduced V̇o2 slow component amplitude ( bout 1: 0.18 ± 0.08 l/min vs. bout 2: 0.12 ± 0.09 l/min; P = 0.048). These results suggest that phase II V̇o2 kinetics in young boys is principally limited by intrinsic muscle metabolic factors, whereas the V̇o2 total phase II and slow component amplitudes may be O2 delivery sensitive.
Comparison of DXA and water measurements of body fat following gastric bypass surgery and a physiological model of body water, fat, and muscle composition
Authors: Levitt David G. , Beckman Lauren M. , Mager Jennifer R. , Valentine Bret , Sibley Shalamar D. , Beckman Tiffany R. , Kellogg Todd A. , Ikramuddin Sayeed , Earthman Carrie P.
Published: June 2010

Measurement of body composition changes following bariatric surgery is complicated because of the difficulty of measuring body fat in highly obese individuals that have increased photon absorption and are too large for the standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) table. We reproducibly measured body composition from half-body DXA scans and compared the values of total body fat estimated from total body water (TBW) and DXA measurements before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB). DXA, TBW (deuterium dilution), extracellular water (ECW; bromide dilution), and intracellular water (ICW) measurement (by subtraction) were made before surgery and at 2 wk, 6 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo after surgery. Twenty individuals completed baseline and at least four follow-up visits. DXA appeared to underestimate the fat and bone mass in extreme obesity (before surgery), whereas at 6 and 12 mo after surgery, the DXA and TBW fat measurements were similar. The ECW-to-ICW ratio was increased in obese individuals and increased slightly more after surgery. We describe a new model that explains this abnormal water composition in terms of the normal physiological changes that occur in body composition in obesity and weight loss. This model is also used to predict the muscle mass loss following RYGB.
Hyperbaric hyperoxia and normobaric reoxygenation increase excitability and activate oxygen-induced potentiation in CA1 hippocampal neurons
Authors: Garcia Alfredo J. , Putnam Robert W. , Dean Jay B.
Published: June 2010

Breathing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is common practice in hyperbaric and diving medicine. The benefits of breathing HBO, however, are limited by the risk of central nervous system O2 toxicity, which presents as seizures. We tested the hypothesis that excitability increases in CA1 neurons of the rat hippocampal slice (400 μm) over a continuum of hyperoxia that spans normobaric and hyperbaric pressures. Amplitude changes of the orthodromic population spike were used to assess neuronal O2 sensitivity before, during, and following exposure to 0, 0.6, 0.95 (control), 2.84, and 4.54 atmospheres absolute (ATA) O2. Polarographic O2 electrodes were used to measure tissue slice Po2 (PtO2). In 0.95 ATA O2, core PtO2 at 200 μm deep was 115 ± 16 Torr (mean ± SE). Increasing O2 to 2.84 and 4.54 ATA increased core PtO2 to 1,222 ± 77 and 2,037 ± 157 Torr, respectively. HBO increased the orthodromic population spike amplitude and usually induced hyperexcitability (i.e., secondary population spikes) and, in addition, a long-lasting potentiation of the orthodromic population spike that we have termed “oxygen-induced potentiation” (OxIP). Exposure to 0.60 ATA O2 and hypoxia (0.00 ATA) decreased core PtO2 to 84 ± 6 and 20 ± 4 Torr, respectively, and abolished the orthodromic response. Reoxygenation from 0.0 or 0.6 ATA O2, however, usually produced a response similar to that of HBO: hyperexcitability and activation of OxIP. We conclude that CA1 neurons exhibit increased excitability and neural plasticity over a broad range of PtO2, which can be activated by a single, hyperoxic stimulus. We postulate that transient acute hyperoxia stimulus, whether caused by breathing HBO or reoxygenation following hypoxia (e.g., disordered breathing), is a powerful stimulant for orthodromic activity and neural plasticity in the CA1 hippocampus.
Improved and Reproducible Flow Cytometry Methodology for Nuclei Isolation from Single Root Meristem
Authors: Silva Thaís Cristina Ribeiro , Abreu Isabella Santiago , Carvalho Carlos Roberto
Published: June 2010

Root meristems have increasingly been target of cell cycle studies by flow cytometric DNA content quantification. Moreover, roots can be an alternative source of nuclear suspension when leaves become unfeasible and for chromosome analysis and sorting. In the present paper, a protocol for intact nuclei isolation from a single root meristem was developed. This proceeding was based on excision of the meristematic region using a prototypical slide, followed by short enzymatic digestion and mechanical isolation of nuclei during homogenization with a hand mixer. Such parameters were optimized for reaching better results. Satisfactory nuclei amounts were extracted and analyzed by flow cytometry, producing histograms with reduced background noise and CVs between 3.2 and 4.1%. This improved and reproducible technique was shown to be rapid, inexpensive, and simple for nuclear extraction from a single root tip, and can be adapted for other plants and purposes.
A Framework for an IP-Based DVB Transmission Network
Authors: Ewald-Arostegui Nimbe L. , Fairhurst Gorry , Yun-Garcia Ana
Published: June 2010

One of the most important challenges for next generation all-IP networks is the convergence and interaction of wireless and wired networks in a smooth and efficient manner. This challenge will need to be faced if broadcast transmission networks are to converge with IP infrastructure. The 2nd generation of DVB standards supports the Generic Stream, allowing the direct transmission of IP-based content using the Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE), in addition to the native Transport Stream (TS). However, the current signalling framework is based on MPEG-2 Tables that rely upon the TS. This paper examines the feasibility of providing a GSE signalling framework, eliminating the need for the TS. The requirements and potential benefits of this new approach are described. It reviews prospective methods that may be suitable for network discovery and selection and analyses different options for the transport and syntax of this signalling metadata. It is anticipated that the design of a GSE-only signalling system will enable DVB networks to function as a part of the Internet.
Existence of Three Positive Solutions to Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Wang Li , Li Jianli
Published: June 2010

Criteria are established for existence of three solutions to the
boundary value problems Lx = f(t, x), w1x(0) − w2x′(0) = 0 = w3x(1) + w4x′(1), where Lx : = −(px′) ′ + qx. Here, p ∈ C1[0,1], p > 0, q ∈ C[0,1], q ≥ 0.
Small-Area Analysis of Incidence and Localisation of Vulvar Cancer
Authors: Baumann Klaus H. , Müller Olga , Naujok Helke B. , Mann Ellen , Barth Peter , Wagner Uwe
Published: June 2010

Objective. Vulvar cancer is a rare disease mainly in older women. HPV and non-HPV induced vulvar cancer reflect two types of oncogenesis. Controversies exist on most recent developments in vulvar cancer incidence, patients, and disease characteristics. Changes in incidence, age of disease onset, and tumor site in women treated for primary vulvar cancer in a single German university hospital unit will be described.Methods. A retrospective analysis of patient records of women treated between 1994 and 2008 was performed. The fifteen-year-spanning period was divided into three five year-spanning cohorts. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed.Results. 104 patients were identified: cohort-1 from 1994 to 1998 (11 patients); cohort-2 from 1999 to 2003 (21 patients); cohort-3 from 2004 to 2008 (72 patients). Mean age (years) was 73.18 (confidence interval (CI): 64.04; 82.33), 58.9 (CI: 52.24; 65.57), and 61.19 (CI: 57.27; 65.12), respectively. Vulvar cancer confined to the region between clitoris and urethra was seen more often in cohort-3 () compared to cohort-1 () or cohort-2 ().Conclusion. This analysis supports the notion of rising incidence of vulvar cancer and a changing pattern of anatomical local extension. Disease onset is not restricted to older women.
Opportunistic Communication (Cognitive Radio) over Primary Discarded Subchannels by Applying a Double Power Distribution
Authors: Medina-Acosta G. A. , Delgado-Penín José A.
Published: June 2010

This paper proposes the establishment of a simultaneous cognitive radio communication based on a subdistribution of power made over unselected subchannels which were discarded by the primary user through an initial optimal power allotment. The aim of this work is to show the possibility of introducing an opportunistic communication into a licensed transmission where the total power constraint is shared. The analysis of the proposed transmission scheme was performed by considering 128 and 2048 independent subchannels affected byRayleighfading, over 10,000 channel realizations, and three different signal-to-noise ratios (8 , 16 , and 24 ). From the system evaluation it was possible to find the optimal power allotment for the primary user, the subdistribution of power for the secondary user, as well as the attenuation and the capacity per subchannel for every channel realization. Moreover, thePDFandCDFof the total obtained capacities, as well as the generation of empirical capacity regions, were estimated as complementary results.
Impact of Land Use Change on the Local Climate over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Jin Jiming , Lu Shihua , Li Suosuo , Miller Norman L.
Published: June 2010

Observational data show that the remotely sensed leaf area index (LAI) has a significant downward trend over the east Tibetan Plateau (TP), while a warming trend is found in the same area. Further analysis indicates that this warming trend mainly results from the nighttime warming. The Single‐Column Atmosphere Model (SCAM) version 3.1 developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research is used to investigate the role of land use change in the TP local climate system and isolate the contribution of land use change to the warming. Two sets of SCAM simulations were performed at the Xinghai station that is located near the center of the TP Sanjiang (three rivers) Nature Reserve where the downward LAI trend is largest. These simulations were forced with the high and low LAIs. The modeling results indicate that, when the LAI changes from high to low, the daytime temperature has a slight decrease, while the nighttime temperature increases significantly, which is consistent with the observations. The modeling results further show that the lower surface roughness length plays a significant role in affecting the nighttime temperature increase.
CXCL7-Mediated Stimulation of Lymphangiogenic Factors VEGF-C, VEGF-D in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Yu Minghuan , Berk Richard , Kosir Mary Ann
Published: June 2010

Increased expression of lymphangiogenesis factors VEGF-C/D and heparanase has been correlated with the invasion of cancer. Furthermore, chemokines may modify matrix to facilitate metastasis, and they are associated with VEGF-C and heparanase. The chemokine CXCL7 binds heparin and the G-protein-linked receptor CXCR2. We investigated the effect of CXCR2 blockade on the expression of VEGF-C/D, heparanase, and on invasion. CXCL7 siRNA and a specific antagonist of CXCR2 (SB225002) were used to treat CXCL7 stably transfected MCF10AT cells. Matrigel invasion assays were performed. VEGF-C/D expression and secretion were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA assay, and heparanase activity was quantified by ELISA. SB225002 blocked VEGF-C/D expression and secretion (P<.01). CXCL7 siRNA knockdown decreased heparanase (P<.01). Both SB225002 and CXCL7 siRNA reduced the Matrigel invasion (P<.01). The MAP kinase signaling pathway was not involved. The CXCL7/CXCR2 axis is important for cell invasion and the expression of VEGF-C/D and heparanase, all linked to invasion.
Multivisceral Resection for Colon Cancer: Analysis of Prognostic Factors
Authors: López-Cano Manuel , Mañas Maria José , Hermosilla Eduardo , Espín Eloy
Published: June 2010

Background/Aims: To assess outcome of multivisceral resection in colon cancer patients and to identify predictors of survival. Methods: One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients with primary locally advanced colon cancer infiltrating adjacent organs undergoing multivisceral resection between 1998 and 2007 were reviewed. Overall survival and disease-free survival were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The relative risk for clinical outcome was obtained using a Cox multivariate model. Results: The median follow-up was 74.9 months. Fifty-two patients had sigmoid tumors and 48 involvement of the small intestine. Complications occurred in 54 patients. The diagnosis was conventional adenocarcinoma in 94 patients. R0 resection was achieved in 96 patients (85%). Eighty-three patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The operative mortality was 7.1% (8 patients). Sixty-seven patients died at follow-up. Of the 46 patients who were alive, 38 were free of disease. In 73 patients with pT4a disease, 42 patients died (57.5%) and of the 31 survivors, recurrence was documented in 6. Hematochezia and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent factors of favorable outcome and grade G3 and tumor stage III–IV of poor survival. Conclusion: Hematochezia and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with a better survival, and poorly differentiated tumors and stage IV disease with a poor survival.
Mycobacterium abscessus Skin Infection after Tattooing: First Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bechara Chadi , Macheras Edouard , Heym Beate , Pages Adele , Auffret Nicole
Published: June 2010

Mycobacterium abscessus is a species of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). This species can cause skin and soft tissue infections after trauma or surgical procedures, pulmonary infections and disseminated diseases in immunocompromised patients. It has been rarely documented after tattoo procedures. Herein we describe the case of a 51-year- old man who presented with erythematous papules over a tattoo on the back 10 days after a tattoo session. Culture revealed M. abscessus. Tattoo infections, clinical features and treatment options due to RGM are reviewed.
Two Congenital Cases of Pigmented Epithelioid Melanocytoma Studied by Fluorescent in situ Hybridization for Melanocytic Tumors: Case Reports and Review of These Recent Topics
Authors: Battistella M. , Prochazkova-Carlotti M. , Berrebi D. , Bennaceur S. , Edan C. , Riffaud L. , Rütten A. , Fraitag S.
Published: June 2010

The term ‘pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma’ (PEM) has recently been proposed as a nosological framework grouping lesions formerly known as animal-type melanomas, sporadic epithelioid blue nevi and Carney complex-associated epithelioid blue nevi. Congenital PEMs have been reported extremely rarely and their prognosis is poorly known. Four-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for melanocytic lesions is a recent method developed to assess the malignant potential of ambiguous melanocytic lesions. Here we describe 2 cases of congenital epithelioid and strongly pigmented melanocytic lesions consistent with PEM. No BRAF gene mutation was found in the 2 cases. FISH for melanocytic lesions was also performed. The first case proved entirely negative, whereas the second one showed a positive zone with an extra copy of chromosome 6. The prognosis and management of PEM are discussed, with a review of the available data on the history, demographics, molecular alterations and histopathological aspects of this entity. PEM seems to represent a unique low-grade melanocytic tumor with a limited potential of metastasis to lymph nodes, but a favorable long-term clinical course. The published data about FISH for melanocytic tumors, and especially PEM, are reviewed. Four-color FISH may be a useful tool to assess more accurately the prognosis of these tumors.
Calf Bioimpedance Ratio Improves Dry Weight Assessment and Blood Pressure Control in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Zhou Yi-Lun , Liu Jing , Sun Fang , Ma Li-Jie , Han Bin , Shen Yang , Cui Tai-Gen
Published: June 2010

Background: Chronic fluid overload due to overestimation of dry weight (DW) is the major factor in the development of hypertension in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether bioimpedance ratio in the calf (Calf-BR = impedance at 200 kHz/impedance at 5 kHz) could be a useful hydration marker for estimation of DW and facilitate better control of blood pressure (BP) in HD patients. Methods: Target range of Calf-BR was derived from 157 healthy Chinese subjects. Post-dialysis Calf-BR was measured in 117 stable, non-edematous HD patients. Those with Calf-BR(s) above target level had their DW(s) gradually reduced under the guidance of Calf-BR. Results: The Calf-BR was normally distributed and increased with age, but was independent of BMI and gender in both healthy subjects and dialysis patients. HD patients with Calf-BR above age-stratified target range had significantly higher home BP, in spite of more antihypertensive treatments (p = 0.058). The patients who reached the target range of Calf-BR by decreasing DW, had their home BP significantly decreased, along with reduction in antihypertensive medications (p = 0.012). Conclusion: Recognition and correction of chronic fluid overload based on age-stratified Calf-BR is helpful in hypertension control in Chinese HD patients.
Efficacy of Desloratadine in Persistent Allergic Rhinitis – A GA2LEN Study
Authors: Bousquet Jean , Bachert Claus , Canonica Giorgio W. , Mullol Joaquim , Van Cauwenberge Paul , Jensen Carsten Bindslev , Fokkens Wystke J. , Ring Johannes , Keith Paul , Gopalan Gokul , Lorber Richard , Zuberbier Torsten ,   the ACCEPT-2 Study Group
Published: June 2010

Background: The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) guidelines proposed a classification for allergic rhinitis based on the duration of symptoms (intermittent or persistent) rather than on the time of allergen exposure (seasonal or perennial). There had been no placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial of desloratadine (DL) in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis to date. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of DL in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis based on the ARIA classification. Methods: Patients 12 years of age and older with persistent allergic rhinitis were assessed over 85 days of treatment with DL 5 mg once daily (n = 360) or placebo (n = 356). The primary endpoint was the AM/PM reflective total 5-symptom score (T5SS) averaged over days 1–29. Secondary endpoints included AM/PM instantaneous T5SS and individual symptoms, therapeutic response, symptom severity assessed by a visual analogue scale and quality of life. Results: The mean reduction in AM/PM reflective T5SS was significantly greater with DL than placebo over days 1–29 (–3.76 vs. –2.87, p < 0.001) and on each individual day (p < 0.05). The mean AM instantaneous T5SS was significantly reduced with DL compared with placebo as early as day 2 (–1.90 vs. –1.46; p < 0.001). The therapeutic response and improvement in quality of life were significantly greater with DL than placebo (p < 0.001 for each). The frequency of treatment-related adverse events was low and similar between DL (10.0%) and placebo (8.4%). Conclusions: This study showed DL to be effective and safe in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis.
Pimecrolimus Induces Apoptosis of Mast Cells in a Murine Model of Cutaneous Mastocytosis
Authors: Ma Zhongcai , Tovar Jason P. , Kwong Kenny Y.C. , Paek David
Published: June 2010

Background: Cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) is a common type of mastocytosis. Current treatment of CM is generally symptomatic. Pimecrolimus has been demonstrated as an effective anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, but whether it treats CM remains unknown. Methods: The murine model of CM was induced by subcutaneous injection of 100 µg/kg recombinant murine stem cell factor (rmSCF) for a total of 17 days in Balb/c mice. Beginning on the 8th day, treatment with pimecrolimus 1% cream or vehicle was performed topically and daily for 10 days. The clinical signs of CM were scored, and pathological analysis was performed with toluidine blue staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The in situ apoptotic mast cells (MCs) were studied by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. The cutaneous histamine level was measured by ELISA. Results: In the rmSCF-treated mice, the clinical signs of CM, including erythema, wheal after rubbing lesion skins, and increased thickness of skin, were obvious compared to control mice, and were reduced after pimecrolimus treatment. The numbers of cutaneous MCs and neutrophils were significantly greater in mice with CM than in control mice, and pimecrolimus treatment decreased the numbers of MCs but not neutrophils. Extensive apoptosis of cutaneous MCs was observed in pimecrolimus-treated mice. The cutaneous histamine level was elevated in the mice with CM compared with healthy controls, and was lowered after treatment with pimecrolimus. Conclusions: Pimecrolimus effectively treats CM by reducing the density of cutaneous MCs and the subsequent histamine production through inducing MCs apoptosis.
Resident Endothelial Cells Surrounding Damaged Arterial Endothelium Reendothelialize the Lesion
Authors: Itoh Yoshiaki , Toriumi Haruki , Yamada Satoshi , Hoshino Haruhiko , Suzuki Norihiro
Published: June 2010

Objective—

To evaluate endothelial repair processes in denuded pial vessels to clarify mechanisms for reconstructing endothelium (because endothelial repair of the cerebral artery after its damage is critical for the prevention of thrombosis, the maintenance of vascular tone, and the protection of the brain by the blood-brain barrier).

Methods and Results—

Endothelial cells (ECs) in a 350-μm-long segment of the middle cerebral artery were damaged through a photochemical reaction. Tie2-green fluorescent protein transgenic mice were used for the identification of ECs. Six hours after the endothelial damage, ECs were detached from the luminal surface of the damaged artery, which was then covered with a platelet carpet. Within 24 hours, recovery of the denuded artery started at both edges, with EC elongation and migration. The repair rate was faster at the proximal edge than at the distal edge. Reendothelialization with EC proliferation peaked at 2 to 3 days and ended at 5 days, together with normalization of EC length, with no apparent involvement of foreign progenitor cells.

Conclusion—

Our in vivo study demonstrated a stepwise reendothelialization process by resident ECs of the pial artery. The prevention of thrombosis, vasospasm, and treatment for blood-brain barrier dysfunction should be considered during the reendothelialization period.
Combined Vitamin C and Vitamin E Deficiency Worsens Early Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice
Authors: Babaev Vladimir R. , Li Liying , Shah Sanket , Fazio Sergio , Linton MacRae F. , May James M.
Published: June 2010

Objective—

To assess the role of combined deficiencies of vitamins C and E on the earliest stages of atherosclerosis (an inflammatory condition associated with oxidative stress), 4 combinations of vitamin supplementation (low C/low E, low C/high E, high C/low E, and high C/high E) were studied in atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E–deficient mice also unable to synthesize their own vitamin C (gulonolactone oxidase
−/−
); and to evaluate the effect of a more severe depletion of vitamin C alone in a second experiment using gulonolactone oxidase
−/−
mice carrying the hemizygous deletion of SVCT2 (the vitamin C transporter).

Methods and Results—

After 8 weeks of a high-fat diet (16% lard and 0.2% cholesterol), atherosclerosis developed in the aortic sinus areas of mice in all diet groups. Each vitamin-deficient diet significantly decreased liver and brain contents of the corresponding vitamin. Combined deficiency of both vitamins increased lipid peroxidation, doubled plaque size, and increased plaque macrophage content by 2- to 3-fold in male mice, although only plaque macrophage content was increased in female mice. A more severe deficiency of vitamin C in gulonolactone oxidase
−/−
mice with defective cellular uptake of vitamin C increased both oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E
−/−
mice compared with littermates receiving a diet replete in vitamin C, again most clearly in males.

Conclusion—

Combined deficiencies of vitamins E and C are required to worsen early atherosclerosis in an apolipoprotein E–deficient mouse model. However, a more severe cellular deficiency of vitamin C alone promotes atherosclerosis when vitamin E is replete.
Impact of Combined Deficiency of Hepatic Lipase and Endothelial Lipase on the Metabolism of Both High-Density Lipoproteins and Apolipoprotein B–Containing Lipoproteins
Authors: Brown Robert J. , Lagor William R. , Sankaranaravanan Sandhya , Yasuda Tomoyuki , Quertermous Thomas , Rothblat George H. , Rader Daniel J.
Published: June 2010

Rationale
:

Hepatic lipase (HL) and endothelial lipase (EL) are extracellular lipases that both hydrolyze triglycerides and phospholipids and display potentially overlapping or complementary roles in lipoprotein metabolism.

Objective
:

We sought to dissect the overlapping roles of HL and EL by generating mice deficient in both HL and EL (HL/EL-dko) for comparison with single HL-knockout (ko) and EL-ko mice, as well as wild-type mice.

Methods and Results
:

Reproduction and viability of the HL/EL-dko mice were impaired compared with the single-knockout mice. The plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, non–HDL cholesterol, and phospholipids in the HL/EL-dko mice were markedly higher than those in the single-knockout mice. Most notably, the HL/EL-dko mice exhibited an unexpected substantial increase in small low-density lipoproteins. Kinetic studies with [
3
H]cholesteryl ether–labeled very-low-density lipoproteins demonstrated that the HL/EL-dko mice accumulated counts in the smallest low-density lipoprotein–sized fractions, as assessed by size exclusion chromatography, suggesting that it arises from lipolysis of very-low-density lipoproteins. HDL from all 3 lipase knockout models had an increased cholesterol efflux capacity but reduced clearance of HDL cholesteryl esters versus control mice. Despite their higher HDL cholesterol levels, neither HL-ko, EL-ko, nor HL/EL-dko mice demonstrated an increased rate of macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in vivo.

Conclusions
:

These studies reveal an additive effect of HL and EL on HDL metabolism but not macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in mice and an unexpected redundant role of HL and EL in apolipoprotein B lipoprotein metabolism.