bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When Prefetching Works, When It Doesn’t, and Why
Authors: Lee Jaekyu , Kim Hyesoon , Vuduc Richard
Published: April 2012

In emerging and future high-end processor systems, tolerating increasing cache miss latency and properly managing memory bandwidth will be critical to achieving high performance. Prefetching, in both hardware and software, is among our most important available techniques for doing so; yet, we claim that prefetching is perhaps also the least well-understood.

Thus, the goal of this study is to develop a novel, foundational understanding of both the benefits and limitations of hardware and software prefetching. Our study includes: source code-level analysis, to help in understanding the practical strengths and weaknesses of compiler- and software-based prefetching; a study of the synergistic and antagonistic effects between software and hardware prefetching; and an evaluation of hardware prefetching training policies in the presence of software prefetching requests. We use both simulation and measurement on real systems. We find, for instance, that although there are many opportunities for compilers to prefetch much more aggressively than they currently do, there is also a tangible risk of interference with training existing hardware prefetching mechanisms. Taken together, our observations suggest new research directions for cooperative hardware/software prefetching.
A Massively Parallel, Energy Efficient Programmable Accelerator for Learning and Classification
Authors: Majumdar Abhinandan , Cadambi Srihari , Becchi Michela , Chakradhar Srimat T. , Graf Hans Peter
Published: April 2012

Applications that use learning and classification algorithms operate on large amounts of unstructured data, and have stringent performance constraints. For such applications, the performance of general purpose processors scales poorly with data size because of their limited support for fine-grained parallelism and absence of software-managed caches. The large intermediate data in these applications also limits achievable performance on many-core processors such as GPUs. To accelerate such learning applications, we present a programmable accelerator that can execute multiple learning and classification algorithms. To architect such an accelerator, we profile five representative workloads, and find that their computationally intensive portions can be formulated as matrix or vector operations generating large amounts of intermediate data, which are then reduced by a secondary operation such as array ranking, finding max/min and aggregation. Our proposed accelerator, called MAPLE, has hundreds of simple processing elements (PEs) laid out in a two-dimensional grid, with two key features. First, it uses dynamic in-memory processing where on-chip memory blocks perform the secondary reduction operations. Second, MAPLE uses banked off-chip memory, and organizes its PEs into independent groups each with its own off-chip memory bank. These two features allow MAPLE to scale its performance with data size. We also present an Atom based energy-efficient heterogeneous system with MAPLE as the accelerator that satisfies the application’s performance requirements at a lower system power. This article describes the MAPLE architecture, explores its design space with a simulator, illustrates how to automatically map application kernels to the hardware, and presents its performance improvement and energy benefits over classic server-based implementations. We implement a 512-PE FPGA prototype of MAPLE and find that it is 1.5-10x faster than a 2.5 GHz quad-core Xeon processor despite running at a modest 125 MHz clock rate. With MAPLE connected to a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom, we show an energy improvement of 38-84% over the Xeon server coupled to a 1.3 GHz 240 core Tesla GPU.
Data authenticity and availability in multihop wireless sensor networks
Authors: Ayday Erman , Delgosha Farshid , Fekri Faramarz
Published: April 2012

Security services such as data confidentiality, authenticity, and availability are critical in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) deployed in adversarial environments. Due to the resource constrain's of sensor nodes, the existing protocols currently in use in adhoc networks cannot be employed in WSNs. In this article, we propose a protocol called location-aware network-coding security (LNCS) that provides all the aforementioned security services. By dividing the terrain into nonoverlapping cells, the nodes take advantage of the location information to derive different location-binding keys. The key idea in LNCS is that all the nodes involved in the protocol collaborate in every phase. We employ random network coding in order to provide data availability significantly higher than that in other schemes. A hash tree-based authentication mechanism is utilized to filter the bogus packets enroute. We provide a comparison between our scheme and previously proposed schemes. The results reveal significant improvement in data availability while maintaining the same level of data confidentiality and authenticity.
Information-theoretic modeling of false data filtering schemes in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Cao Zhen , Deng Hui , Guan Zhi , Chen Zhong
Published: April 2012

False data filtering schemes are designed to filter out false data injected by malicious sensors; they keep the network immune to bogus event reports. Theoretic understanding of false data filtering schemes and guidelines to further improve their designs are still lacking. This article first presents an information-theoretic model of false data filtering schemes. From the information-theoretic view, we define the scheme's filtering capacity
C

F
i

as the uncertainty-reduction ratio of the target input variable, given the output. This metric not only performs better than existing metrics but also implies that only by optimizing the false negative rate and false positive rate simultaneously, can we promote a scheme's overall performance. Based on the investigation from the modeling efforts, we propose
HiFi
, a hybrid authentication-based false data filtering scheme. HiFi leverages the benefits of both symmetric and asymmetric cryptography and achieves a high filtering capacity, as well as low computation and communication overhead. Performance analysis demonstrates that our proposed metric is rational and useful, and that HiFi is effective and energy efficient.
Wireless sensor node localization by multisequence processing
Authors: Zhong Ziguo , He Tian
Published: April 2012

Wireless Sensor Networks have been proposed for use in many location-dependent applications. Most of these need to identify the locations of sensor nodes, a challenging task because of severe constraints on cost, energy and effective range of sensor devices. To overcome limitations in existing solutions, we present a Multi-Sequence Positioning (MSP) method for large-scale stationary sensor node localization in outdoor environments. The novel idea behind MSP is to reconstruct and estimate two-dimensional location information for each sensor node by processing multiple one-dimensional node sequences, easily obtained through loosely guided event distribution. Starting from a basic MSP design, we propose four optimizations that work together to increase localization accuracy. We address several interesting issues such as incomplete (partial) node sequences and sequence flip, found in the Mirage test-bed we built. We have evaluated the MSP system through theoretical analysis, extensive simulation as well as two physical systems (an indoor version with 46 MICAz motes and an outdoor version with 20 MICAz motes). Evaluation demonstrates that MSP can achieve an accuracy within one foot, requiring neither additional costly hardware on sensor nodes nor precise event distribution. In fact, it provides a nice tradeoff between physical cost (anchors) and soft cost (events) while maintaining localization accuracy.
Secure reconfiguration of software-defined radio
Authors: Li Chunxiao , Jha Niraj K. , Raghunathan Anand
Published: April 2012

Software-defined radio (SDR) implements a radio system in software that executes on a programmable processor. The components of SDR, such as the filters, amplifiers, and modulators, can be easily reconfigured to adapt to the operating environment and user preferences. However, the flexibility of radio reconfiguration brings along the serious security concern of malicious modification of software in the SDR system, leading to radio malfunction and interference with other users' communications. Both the SDR device and the network need to be protected from such malicious radio reconfiguration.

In this article, a new architecture targeted at protecting SDR devices from malicious reconfiguration is proposed. The architecture is based on robust separation of the radio operation environment and user application environment, through the use of virtualization. A new radio middleware layer is designed to securely intercept all attempts to reconfigure the radio, and a security policy monitor checks the target configuration against security policies that represent the interests of various parties. Even if the operating system in the user application environment is compromised, the proposed architecture can ensure secure reconfiguration in the radio operation environment. We have prototyped the proposed secure SDR architecture using VMware and the GNU Radio toolkit and demonstrate that overheads incurred by the architecture are small and tolerable. Therefore, we believe that the proposed solution could be applied to address secure SDR reconfiguration in both general-purpose and embedded computing systems.
A retrospective look at the UMass DOME mobile testbed
Authors: Soroush Hamed , Banerjee Nilanjan , Corner Mark , Levine Brian , Lynn Brian
Published: April 2012

In this paper we describe the evolution of DOME, a diverse outdoor testbed for mobile experimentation. In addition, while highlighting the challenges faced in construction of DOME, we describe a concrete set of scientific results derived from this experience in a retrospective study. First, we argue that a broad range of mobility experiments could be performed in a testbed which provides the properties of temporal, technological, and spatial diversity. We demonstrate these properties in our testbed through analysis of data collected from DOME over a period of four years. Second, we crystallize a set of design principles that others should use when constructing testbeds of their own, including those related to deploying and managing a diverse testbed, distributing experiments remotely, and fostering collaborations among testbed stakeholders. Finally, using traces collected by DOME, we provide insights into several important problems in mobile systems research.
MobiCom 2011 poster
Authors: Hess Andrea , Hummel Karin Anna
Published: April 2012

Opportunistic networking is a mobile communication paradigm utilizing spontaneously arising networking options for data forwarding. Although node movement affects the forwarding capabilities of these nodes, the utilization of this knowledge for local forwarding decisions is still not sufficiently exploited and a major aim of our approach. We describe node heterogeneity along movement features capturing urban user movement and how to derive movement activities from these features. Hereby, we summarize main results of an experimental study based on real-world GPS data of 252 daily trips. In a second step, we explain how movement characteristics of mobile nodes may influence data dissemination and present first simulation results indicating that the heterogeneity in movement activities indeed influences the performance of opportunistic data dissemination.
Plasma Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Causation
Authors: Freeman Michael D. , Kohles Sean S.
Published: April 2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbons that have extensively polluted the environment and bioaccumulated in the food chain. PCBs have been deemed to be probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency, and exposure to high levels of PCBs has been consistently linked to increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In the present article we present a forensic epidemiologic evaluation of the causal relationship between NHL and elevated PCB levels via application of the Bradford-Hill criteria. Included in the evaluation is a meta-analysis of the results of previously published case-control studies in order to assess the strength of association between NHL and PCBs, resulting in an odds ratio in which the lowest percentile PCB concentration (quartile, quintile, or tertile) has been compared with the highest percentile concentration in the study groups. The weight-adjusted odds ratio for all PCB congeners was 1.43 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.31 to 1.55, indicating a statistically significant causal association with NHL. Because of the lack of an unexposed comparison group, a rationale for the use of a less than 2.0 relative risk causal contribution threshold is presented herein, including an ecologic analysis of NHL incidence and PCB accumulation (as measured by sales volume) over time. The overall results presented here indicate a strong general causal association between NHL and PCB exposure.
Properties of Cu(In,Ga) Thin Films and Solar Cells Deposited by Hybrid Process
Authors: Marsillac S. , Khatri H. , Aryal K. , Collins R.W.
Published: April 2012

Cu(In,Ga)Se2solar cells were fabricated using a hybrid cosputtering/evaporation process, and efficiencies as high as 12.4% were achieved. The films were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, glancing incidence X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, auger electron spectroscopy, and transmittance and reflectance spectroscopy, and their properties were compared to the ones of films deposited by coevaporation. Even though the films were relatively similar, the ones deposited by the hybrid process tend to have smaller grains with a slightly preferred orientation along the (112) axis and a rougher surface. Both types of films have uniform composition through the depth. Characterization of these films by variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometry allowed for the calculation of the position of the critical points, via calculation of the second derivative of the dielectric function and fit with critical points parabolic band oscillators. The solar cells were then characterized by current-voltage and quantum efficiency measurements. An analysis of the diode parameters indicates that the cells are mostly limited by a low fill factor, associated mostly with a high diode quality factor () and high series resistance ( ) .
Grey Zone Lymphomas: Lymphomas with Intermediate Features
Authors: Hoeller Sylvia , Copie-Bergman Christiane
Published: April 2012

The current classification of lymphoid neoplasms is based on clinical information, morphology, immunophenotype, and molecular genetic characteristics. Despite technical and scientific progress, some aggressive B-cell lymphomas with features overlapping between two different types of lymphomas remain difficult to classify. The updated 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of Tumours of the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues has addressed this problem by creation of two new provisional categories of B-cell lymphomas, unclassifiable; one with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma and the second with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. We review here the diagnostic criteria of these two provisional entities and discuss new scientific findings in light of the 2008 WHO classification.
Treatment of Autoimmune Pancreatitis with the Anecdotes of the First Report
Authors: Kamisawa Terumi , Takeuchi Tadashi
Published: April 2012

The first case that led researchers to put forward a new concept of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) was treated with steroids by gastroenterologists in Tokyo Women’s Medical University. It is important to differentiate AIP from pancreatic cancer before treatment with steroids is started. Today, steroids are standard therapy for AIP worldwide. In the Japanese consensus guidelines, steroid therapy is indicated for symptomatic AIP. After management of glucose levels and obstructive jaundice, oral prednisolone is initiated at 0.6 mg/kg/day for 2–4 weeks and is gradually tapered to a maintenance dose of 2.5–5 mg/day over 2-3 months. To prevent relapse, maintenance therapy with low-dose prednisolone is used. For relapsed AIP, readministration or increased doses of steroids are effective. The presence of proximal bile duct stenosis and elevated serum IgG4 levels may be predictive of relapse of AIP. It is necessary to verify the validity of the Japanese regimen of steroid therapy for AIP. The necessity, drugs, and duration of maintenance therapy for AIP need to be clarified by prospective studies.
InCl3‐Catalyzed [2+3] Cycloaddition Reaction: A Rapid Synthesis of 5‐Substituted 1H‐tetrazole under Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Patil Vijay S. , Nandre Kamlakar P. , Borse Amulrao U. , Bhosale Sidhanath V.
Published: April 2012

A series of 5‐substituted 1H‐tetrazole were efficiently prepared by InCl3 catalyzed (10 mol %) from structurally divert organic nitriles with sodium azide under the influence of microwave irradiation. The present protocol was successfully applied to the aliphatic, aryl, benzylic and heterocyclic nitriles and corresponding 5‐substituted 1H‐tetrazole were obtained in good to excellent yield (70‐96%). This method gives remarkable advantages such as short reaction time, simple work‐up procedure and economical beneficial.
Ovarian Follicular Atresia of Ewes during Spring Puerperium
Authors: Vlčková Radoslava , Sopková Drahomíra , Pošivák Ján , Valocký Igor
Published: April 2012

The distribution of healthy and atretic follicles on the ovarian surface of improved Valachian ewes 17, 24, and 32 days postpartum is reported in this study. The number of healthy follicles was higher on day 24 postpartum and their mean diameter tended to increase to day 32 (P<0.05) with the greatest diameter of 5 mm. 78–81% of atretic follicles ≥3 mm in diameter was observed where apoptosis began in the follicular cells situated at the follicular cavity. The early atretic follicles are characterized by the presence of mitotic pictures. In one ewe 24 days postpartum, small regressive follicular cysts were observed. Contracting atresia is characterized by thickening of the theca interna even to 190 μm. Progesterone and oestradiol-17βconcentrations were maintained at relatively low levels, but with no significant difference between the days postpartum.
Successful Treatment of a Patient with Giant Cell Vasculitis (Horton Arteritis) with Tocilizumab a Humanized Anti-Interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody
Authors: Lurati Alfredomaria , Bertani Luca , Re Katia Angela , Marrazza Mariagrazia , Bompane Daniela , Scarpellini Magda
Published: April 2012

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in adults, affecting preferentially medium-large size arteries. Here we report a case of a female with a diagnosis of GCA based on temporal artery biopsy, successfully treated with tocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody.
Magnetic Characteristics of Mn‐Implanted GaN Nanorods Followed by Thermal Annealing
Authors: Yoon Im Taek , Shon Yoon , Kwon Younghae , Park Young S. , Park Chang Soo , Kang Tae Won
Published: April 2012

We have investigated the magnetic and optical properties of dislocation‐free vertical GaN nanorods with diameters of 150 nm grown on (111) Si substrates by radio‐frequency plasma‐assisted molecular‐beam epitaxy followed by Mn ion implantation and annealing. The GaN nanorods are fully relaxed and have a very good crystal quality characterized by extremely strong and narrow photoluminescence excitonic lines near 3.47 eV. For GaMnN nanorods, it can be concluded that the ferromagnetic property of GaMnN nanorod with a Curie temperature over 300 K is associated with the formation of Mn4Si7 magnetic phase which results from the effects of magnetic and structural disorder introduced by a random incorporation and inhomogeneous distribution of Mn atoms in the porous layer between the nanorods that form precipitates in the Si substrate before or during the annealing step amongst the GaN nanorods.
Kalirin, a Key Player in Synapse Formation, Is Implicated in Human Diseases
Authors: Mandela Prashant , Ma Xin-Ming
Published: April 2012

Synapse formation is considered to be crucial for learning and memory. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of synapse formation is a key to understanding learning and memory. Kalirin-7, a major isoform of Kalirin in adult rodent brain, is an essential component of mature excitatory synapses. Kalirin-7 interacts with multiple PDZ-domain-containing proteins including PSD95, spinophilin, and GluR1 through its PDZ-binding motif. In cultured hippocampal/cortical neurons, overexpression of Kalirin-7 increases spine density and spine size whereas reduction of endogenous Kalirin-7 expression decreases synapse number, and spine density. In Kalirin-7 knockout mice, spine length, synapse number, and postsynaptic density (PSD) size are decreased in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons; these morphological alterations are accompanied by a deficiency in long-term potentiation (LTP) and a decreased spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) frequency. Human Kalirin-7, also known as Duo or Huntingtin-associated protein-interacting protein (HAPIP), is equivalent to rat Kalirin-7. Recent studies show that Kalirin is relevant to many human diseases such as Huntington’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, ischemic stroke, schizophrenia, depression, and cocaine addiction. This paper summarizes our recent understanding of Kalirin function.
Sulfuric Acid and Ammonium Sulfate Leaching of Alumina from Lampang Clay
Authors: Numluk Paweena , Chaisena Aphiruk
Published: April 2012

The rapid development of the global alumina industry has led to a considerable increase in the production alumina and processing of alumina from non‐bauxitic sources. Lampang clays comprise various minerals that contain about 22.70 wt% of extractable alumina. Local clay was ground, activated by calcination and treated with sulfuric acid to extract alumina. In the activation step, the effects of temperature and time on the extraction of alumina and iron were investigated. The leaching experiments were performed on clay samples with particle sizes less than 200 mesh. The samples were calcined at different temperatures, ranging from 450°C to 1050°C, and for different periods, ranging from 30 to 150 min. The optimum conditions for the extraction of alumina from Lampang clay include grinding the clay to pass through a 200 mesh sieve, calcining the ground clay at 750°C for 30 min, extracting the alumina from the calcined clay by leaching with 3M sulfuric acid, and using an acid to clay ratio of 80 wt% at 100°C for 120 min. An aluminum dissolution efficiency of 95.1 % was achieved under the conditions that resulted in the maximum dissolution efficiency of iron (26.6 %).
Eggshell Powder as an Adsorbent for Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution: Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Bhaumik R. , Mondal N. K. , Das B. , Roy P. , Pal K. C. , Das C. , Baneerjee A. , Datta Jayanta kumar
Published: April 2012

A new medium, eggshell powder has been developed for fluoride removal from aqueous solution. Fluoride adsorption was studied in a batch system where adsorption was found to be pH dependent with maximum removal efficiency at 6.0. The experimental data was more satisfactorily fitted with Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetics and the factor controlling adsorption process fully accepted by pseudo‐second‐order model were also discussed. Ea was found to be 45.98 kJmol-1 by using Arrhenius equation, indicating chemisorption nature of fluoride onto eggshell powder. Thermodynamic study showed spontaneous nature and feasibility of the adsorption process with negative enthalpy (∆H0) value also supported the exothermic nature. Batch experiments were performed to study the applicability of the adsorbent by using fluoride contaminated water collected from affected areas. These results indicate that eggshell powder can be used as an effective, low‐cost adsorbent to remove fluoride from aqueous solution as well as groundwater.
Intraoperative Pontine Infarction: A Hidden Challenge
Authors: Marcanthony Nicholas , Farag Ehab
Published: April 2012

Apneusis, or apneustic respirations, is characterized by an abnormal breathing pattern involving gasping and the inability to fully expire. A loss of gag reflex and other cranial nerve deficits are also often accompanied with these respiratory changes. In neurological intensive care units (NICUs), these respiratory and airway changes are not uncommon and have been well documented (Lee et al. 1976). These clinical changes are often associated with pontine trauma as it is the core pneumotaxic center in the brain stem. We describe the airway management of a patient with an acute, occult pontine infarct status post craniectomy and cervical laminectomy for decompression of known Chiari malformation in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).
Multilayer, Stacked Spiral Copper Inductors on Silicon with Micro-Henry Inductance Using Single-Level Lithography
Authors: Reissman Timothy , Park Joon-Sik , Garcia Ephrahim
Published: April 2012

We present copper structures composed of multilayer, stacked inductors (MLSIs) with tens of micro-Henry inductance for use in low frequency (sub 100 MHz), power converter technology. Unique to this work is the introduction of single-level lithography over the traditional two-level approach to create each inductor layer. The result is a simplified fabrication process which results in a reduction in the number of lithography steps per inductor (metal) layer and a reduction in the necessary alignment precision. Additionally, we show that this fabrication process yields strong adhesion amongst the layers, since even after a postprocess abrasion technique at the inner diameter of the inductors, no shearing occurs and connectivity is preserved. In total, three separate structures were fabricated using the single-level lithography approach, each with a three-layered, stacked inductor design but with varied geometries. Measured values for each of the structures were extracted, and the following results were obtained: inductance values of 24.74, 17.25, and 24.74 μH, self-resonances of 9.87, 5.72, and 10.58 MHz, and peak quality factors of 2.26, 2.05, and 4.6, respectively. These values are in good agreement with the lumped parameter model presented.
A Comparison of Inner and Outer Spiral Rainbands in a Numerically Simulated Tropical Cyclone
Authors: Li Qingqing , Wang Yuqing
Published: April 2012

The simulated inner and outer spiral rainbands in a tropical cyclone are compared in this study. The inner rainbands are generally active immediately outside the eyewall in the rapid filamentation zone, while the outer rainbands are active in regions outside about 3 times the radius of maximum wind. The inner rainbands are characterized by the convectively coupled vortex Rossby waves. The movement of the outer rainbands follows the low-level vector winds associated with the azimuthally averaged low-level flow and the radially outward cross-band flow caused by the downdraft-induced cold pool in the boundary layer. Convective cells in outer rainbands are typical of convective systems and move cyclonically and radially outward (inward) at large (small) radii.

Net upward vertical mass transports (VMTs) appear throughout the depth of the troposphere in the whole inner-rainband region, while net downward VMTs are found below 4-km height in the outer-rainband region. In the whole inner-rainband region, only a very shallow layer with net horizontal convergence appears below 2-km height, while a deep layer with net convergence is found below 7.5-km height with net divergence aloft in the outer-rainband region. The inner rainband shows two tangential wind maxima, respectively, located near the top of the inflow boundary layer and immediately below the upper-tropospheric outflow layer. A secondary horizontal wind maximum occurs at about 4-km height on the inner edge of the outer rainband. Distinct features of the upwind, middle, and downwind sectors of the outer rainband are also discussed.
Fabrication and characterization of polyetherimide nanofoams using supercritical CO2
Authors: Zhou Changchun , Vaccaro Nicholas , Sundarram Sriharsha S , Li Wei
Published: April 2012

Polymer nanofoams have recently attracted significant interest in both industry and academia. The unique nanoscaled porous structure could bring unprecedented material properties that have not been seen in conventional or microcellular polymer foams. It has been hypothesized that nanofoams could have a much higher specific strength and toughness as well as significantly improved thermal resistivity. In this research, we study the fabrication and characterization of polyetherimide nanofoams using a supercritical carbon dioxide foaming process. A process map indicating the conditions to obtain various polyetherimide foam structures, including micro-, micro/nano transition, and nanofoams has been established. Two types of nanofoams were observed, one made with high gas concentrations and the other with high foaming temperatures. The one with high gas concentrations exhibited a higher specific modulus than that of unfoamed polyetherimide. Nanofoams generally showed a higher thermal resistivity than microfoams with similar relative densities. It is found that the equilibrium CO2 concentration in polyetherimide under the supercritical conditions does not fit well to the well-known dual-mode sorption model. A new gas concentration model was developed to describe the CO2 uptake under supercritical conditions.
‘Taking it back to the office’: A practitioner perspective of the value of a PhD
Authors: Lloyd-Williams Philip
Published: April 2012

For the past six years I have faced a recurring question from family, friends and co-workers – ‘why are you bothering – do you not want to work and become a lecturer?’ While I welcomed the interest this showed in some aspect of my life as a PhD student it also felt like a bit of a let-down. Why did people view my curiosity for learning and developing as a waste of time and nothing more than a vain desire to be the centre of attention in the lecture theatre. Little perhaps did I and they know how doing a PhD gave me a new vista on life, work and problem solving. I am glad I took up the challenge and here I share my personal experience
Integrative Analysis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reveals DNA Copy Number–Associated miRNAs Dysregulating Target Genes
Authors: Serrano Nicholas A. , Xu Chang , Liu Yan , Wang Pei , Fan Wenhong , Upton Melissa P. , Houck John R. , Lohavanichbutr Pawadee , Kao Michael , Zhao Lue Ping , Schwartz Stephen M. , Chen Chu , Méndez Eduardo
Published: April 2012

Objective

To better understand possible mechanisms involved in the dysregulation of gene expression unique to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis, the investigators examined the differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in OSCC metastasis and their functional impact on target gene expression.

Study Design

Observational assessment of DNA copy number, miRNA, and RNA expression in primary and metastatic OSCC.

Setting

University of Washington Medical Center and affiliated hospitals.

Subjects

Tumor samples were taken from patients with primary incident OSCC; cells were laser‐capture microdissected from 17 nonmetastatic primary tumors and 20 metastatic lymph nodes.

Methods

DNA copy number aberrations and gene expression profiles were previously determined using Affymetrix 250K Nsp I SNP arrays and HU133 plus 2.0 expression arrays. miRNAs were interrogated with Exiqon’s Ready‐to‐Use PCR Panels assessing the expression of 368 human miRNAs.

Results

Investigators found 31 miRNAs differentially expressed between metastatic and nonmetastatic samples (false discovery rate <0.4; 26 overexpressed and 5 underexpressed in metastatic samples). Expression of 7 of these miRNAs was significantly associated with their DNA copy numbers, and expressions of 8 of these miRNAs were significantly associated with their target genes. Among these unique miRNAs, miR‐140‐3p, miR‐29c, and miR‐29a were differentially expressed in metastasis versus nonmetastatic samples and had a strong positive correlation with their DNA copy numbers and a negative correlation with the expression of their target genes.

Conclusion

Results suggest that DNA copy number aberration may play a role in the dysregulation of some differentially expressed miRNAs in OSCC metastasis, warranting further investigation.
Quantitative Crawling Wave Sonoelastography of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Walsh Jonathan , An Liwei , Mills Brad , Hah Zaegyoo , Moalem Jacob , Miller Matthew , Giampoli Ellen , Parker Kevin , Rubens Deborah
Published: April 2012

Objective

The purpose of this study is to determine if crawling wave elastography, a novel sonoelastography technique, can be used to provide quantitative measurements of thyroid tissue shear velocity (a measure of tissue stiffness) and distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Study Design

Diagnostic test assessment.

Setting

Academic university.

Subjects and Methods

Fresh thyroid specimens (n = 20) with 44 regions of interest were imaged ex vivo with crawling wave sonoelastography over a 9‐month period in 2010 at a single institution. Using the sonoelastography technique, shear velocity estimations and contrast‐to‐noise ratios were calculated. The higher the shear velocity (SV) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), the greater the tissue stiffness. Histological diagnosis was correlated with shear velocity and contrast‐to‐noise ratio values.

Results

Both the shear velocity and contrast‐to‐noise values of papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 10, CNR = 5.29, SV = 2.45 m/s) were significantly higher than benign nodules (n = 22, CNR = −0.41, SV = 1.90 m/s). There is a maximum sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90.9%, respectively, for differentiating papillary thyroid carcinoma from benign nodules using contrast‐to‐noise ratio values. There is a maximum sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 72.7%, respectively, for differentiating papillary thyroid carcinoma from benign nodules using shear velocity values. Insufficient samples were obtained for comparison with other histological types.

Conclusion

Crawling wave sonoelastography can provide quantitative estimations of shear velocity, thereby depicting the elastic properties of thyroid nodules. The shear velocity and contrast‐to‐noise ratio can differentiate between benign thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid carcinoma with high specificity and sensitivity.
Landscape ecology and biogeography
Authors: Kupfer John A.
Published: April 2012

Landscape pattern indicators or ‘metrics’ provide simple measures of landscape structure that can be easily calculated with readily available data and software. Unfortunately, the ecological relevance of many metrics (i.e. the relationship between metric values and the real-world ecological processes that they are meant to serve as proxies for) is often unproven and questionable, and concerns are regularly voiced that such metrics fail to capture important aspects of landscape function. In this paper, I provide a review of landscape measures that may better link landscape pattern and function, ranging from approaches that extend existing metrics by incorporating a more functional component (e.g. core area measures, least cost distances) to those rooted in graph, network, and electrical circuit theory. While more ‘functional’ approaches are becoming increasingly popular, the selection of appropriate landscape metrics in many applications involves tradeoffs regarding data requirements, ease of calculation, functional basis, and simplicity of interpretation by a range of specialist and non-specialist stakeholders. Regardless, there continues to be a need for landscape metrics because they are seen by many land managers and stakeholders as simple, intuitive tools for assessing and monitoring changes in landscape pattern and, by extension, the effects on underlying ecological processes. Future needs include: (1) the development of more user-friendly landscape analysis software that can simplify graph-based analyses and visualization; and (2) studies that clarify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, including the potential limitations and biases in graph and network-based measures.
The Social Calibration of Emotion Expression
Authors: von Scheve Christian
Published: April 2012

This article analyzes the role of emotions in social interaction and their effects on social structuration and the emergence of micro-social order. It argues that facial expressions of emotion are key in generating robust patterns of social interaction. First, the article shows that actors’ encoding of facial expressions combines hardwired physiological principles on the one hand and socially learned aspects on the other hand, leading to fine-grained and socially differentiated dialects of expression. Second, it is argued that decoding facial expression is contingent upon this combination so that reciprocal attributions of emotional states, situational interpretations, and action tendencies are more effective within rather than across social units. Third, this conjunction affects the conditions for emotional contagion, which is argued to be more effective within social units exhibiting similar encoding and decoding characteristics, and thus aligns emotions and action tendencies in a coherent, yet socially differentiated way.
Political Economy and Surveillance Theory
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: April 2012

The task of this article is to help in the grounding of foundations for relating surveillance studies to Marxian categories. Existing theories of surveillance have thus far not been linked systematically to Marx’s works. The contribution of this article is that it discusses the relation of the Marxian concept of the cycle of accumulation and the notion of surveillance. It is shown that for Karl Marx surveillance was a fundamental aspect of the capitalist economy and the modern nation state. Surveillance is an integral negative and antagonistic feature of capitalist society. The Marxian concept of the cycle of capital accumulation allows for systematically distinguishing six forms of economic surveillance: applicant surveillance, workplace surveillance, workforce surveillance, property surveillance, consumer surveillance, and surveillance of competition. The notion of accumulation is suitable for establishing a general critical understanding of surveillance.
Impact of Altitude on Predicting Midterm Outcome in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Isık Turgay , Tanboga Ibrahim Halil , Ayhan Erkan , Uyarel Huseyin , Kaya Ahmet , Kurt Mustafa , Erdogan Ercan , Ergelen Mehmet , Cicek Gokhan , Akgul Ozgur , Ghannadian Bahman
Published: April 2012

This study investigated the effects of altitude on occurrence of mid-term negative events among patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study enrolled 492 patients with STEMI. 119 of those patients were living at an intermediate altitude (1960 m, Group I) and 373 were living at sea level (0 m, Group II). There was no significant difference between the different altitude groups in terms of the incidence of cardiac death, urgent target vessel revascularization (TVR), stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and composite endpoints. However, Group I had a significantly higher reinfarction incidence when compared with the Group II. Independent predictors of 6-month composite endpoints were history of statin use, presentation with acute stent thrombosis, peak CK-MB level, success of procedure, Killip classification, and left ventricular ejection fraction. In conclusion, altitude status and altitude-related hematologic changes had no influence over the mid-term outcomes in STEMI patients treated with percutaneous intervention.
A Common VWF Exon 28 Haplotype in the Turkish Population
Authors: Berber Ergul , Pehlevan Funda , Akin Mehmet , Capan Ozlem Yalcin , Kavakli Kaan , Çaglayan S. Hande
Published: April 2012

An increasing number of mutations and polymorphisms have been identified in the von Willebrand factor ( VWF) gene of patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD). Most of the sequence alterations are within exon 28, duplicated in the VWF pseudogene on chromosome 22. Genetic recombination causing the gene conversion between the VWF gene and its pseudogene is associated with multiple substitutions in the VWF gene and with VWD. In the present study, VWF gene exon 28 was analyzed in 33 patients with VWD by DNA sequencing. A total of 73% of the patients were heterozygous for p.D1472H, p.V1485L, p.1500A, p.1501F, p.L1503P, and p.S1506L single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Family analysis revealed that the gene conversion occurred between the VWF gene and its pseudogene in 3 patients. Case-control association analysis by Haploview 4.2 did not show an association between the haplotype and VWD. In conclusion, a common exon 28 haplotype in the Turkish population, which might have arisen from the gene conversion events in the founder population, was identified.
Development and preliminary validation of the Parent Efficacy for Child Healthy Weight Behaviour Scale
Authors: Nelson Marina , Davis Melissa Christine
Published: April 2012

This study developed a new measure of parent self-efficacy for promoting healthy weight behaviours in their children, the Parent Efficacy for Child Healthy Weight Behaviour Scale (PECHWB). In total 601 primary caregivers of children aged 4–17 completed an online survey consisting of the PECHWB, a measure of general parenting self-efficacy, measures of parental depression, anxiety and stress and demographic questions. Factor analysis identified four PECHWB subscales with high levels of internal consistency. The PECHWB showed significant small positive correlations with a measure of global parenting self-efficacy and small negative correlations with measures of parental negative affect. This study provides initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the PECHWB. Future research is required to establish further evidence of the psychometric properties of the PECHWB scale in independent samples before the scale can be used in evaluating intervention outcomes.
Liquid language? On the personalization of discourse in the digital era
Authors: Soffer Oren
Published: April 2012

Interpersonal digital discourse (CMC and SMS), currently performed by wide circles of users, is characterized by deliberate misspelling and exhibits a strong influence of orality on the written text. This article examines the social legitimation of such non-standard oral discourse and its socio-discursive implications. I argue that this digital orality has strong links to postmodern and post-structural ideas. Oral-written text ostensibly reflects a melting of linguistic structures, resembling the changes that occurred in social structures in the late modern era. However, I demonstrate, using De Saussure’s basic structural perceptions in analyzing how this oral-written text is formed, that this deliberate misuse of language is quite structural and systematic in nature. What seems to be an anarchistic use of language or a rebellion against modernist rigid linguistic structures is highly performative in essence.
C-Reactive Protein and the Framingham Coronary Risk Score in Patients Newly Diagnosed With Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Shahin Yousef , Hatfield Josie , Chetter Ian
Published: April 2012

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the calculated 10-year Framingham risk score (FRS) in patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication. Methods: Serum CRP levels were measured in 90 patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication over a 12-month period. In all, 76 patients (53 males [70%], mean age 63.3 ± 9.3) were included in the analysis. Results: Log-transformed CRP levels significantly correlated with total FRS ( r = .34, P = .002). Participants were divided into 4 groups according to log-CRP levels. Analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference between the 4 groups in terms of mean FRS, P = .003. Post hoc comparisons indicated that group 1 was significantly different from group 4, P = .002. Analysis of covariance showed a significant difference between the 4 groups of log-CRP levels in terms of mean FRS, P = .008. Conclusion: There is an increased 10-year risk of coronary heart disease associated with increased plasma concentration of CRP in patients newly diagnosed with intermittent claudication.
Radiofrequency-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Metanephric Adenoma
Authors: Conzo Giovanni , Sciascia Valerio , Palazzo Antonietta , Stanzione Francesco , Della Pietra Cristina , Insabato Luigi , Natella Valentina , Radice Leonardo , Santini Luigi
Published: April 2012

Metanephric adenoma (MA) is a rare benign tumor, diagnosis of which is often carried out after surgical treatment. In case of peripheral lesions, a partial nephrectomy (PN)—either open or laparoscopic may be preferred—and, furthermore, a radiofrequency (RF)-assisted procedure may facilitate adequate hemostasis. In November 2010, the authors performed a RF-assisted PN, according to Habib’s technique, using a 4-needle bipolar device, on a woman affected by a small exophytic MA of the right kidney. Fibrin glue was applied on the cut surface. Postoperative course was uneventful, and discharge was on postoperative day 4. MA is an extremely rare benign tumor with a favorable prognosis. In case of a preoperative cytological diagnosis, a careful follow-up has to be considered. PN represents the standard of care for small exophytic MA, and RF-assisted procedures allow an excellent hemostasis and a rapid conservative resection, with very low morbidity.
Risperidone-associated prolactin elevation and markers of bone turnover during acute treatment
Authors: Bishop Jeffrey R. , Rubin Leah H. , Reilly James L. , Pavuluri Mani N. , Sweeney John A.
Published: April 2012

Objective

Prolactin elevation has been proposed as a risk factor for low bone density and potentially osteoporosis in patients on long-term treatment with prolactin-elevating antipsychotics. Our objective was to study the acute effects of prolactin elevation on serum markers of bone formation and resorption in patients treated with risperidone.

Methods

Thirty participants meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition criteria for schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, or bipolar disorder with psychosis were enrolled. At baseline, subjects were antipsychotic free. Subjects were evaluated before and after 4 weeks of risperidone treatment. Assessments included symptom ratings along with testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, osteocalcin (marker of bone formation), and n-telopeptide crosslinks (NTx marker of bone resorption). Primary analysis examined the impact of risperidone treatment on change in the bone markers and hormone levels from pre to post treatment.

Results

Prolactin levels significantly increased from 12.1 ± 1.9 ng/ml to 65.7 ± 12.2 ng/ml after treatment ( p < 0.001). NTx markers of bone resorption significantly decreased from 18.31 ± 1.49 nM bone collagen equivalent (BCE) before treatment to 15.50 ± 1.22 nM BCE after treatment in the study sample as a whole ( p < 0.05). A trend was observed indicating that NTx may increase in individuals who have the greatest increases in prolactin after treatment r = 0.33, p = 0.07).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that prolactin elevation is associated with changes in bone physiology very early in the course of treatment with risperidone. Bone resorption decreased in many subjects but higher levels of bone resorption occurred in patients with the greatest increases in prolactin. This may have important implications for prolactin monitoring or the periodic assessment of osteoporosis-related outcomes in patients requiring extended treatment.