bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vision 20/20: Mammographic breast density and its clinical applications
Authors: Ng Kwan‐Hoong , Lau Susie
Published: November 2015

Breast density is a strong predictor of the failure of mammography screening to detect breast cancer and is a strong predictor of the risk of developing breast cancer. The many imaging options that are now available for imaging dense breasts show great promise, but there is still the question of determining which women are “dense” and what imaging modality is suitable for individual women. To date, mammographic breast density has been classified according to the Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) categories from visual assessment, but this is known to be very subjective. Despite many research reports, the authors believe there has been a lack of physics‐led and evidence‐based arguments about what breast density actually is, how it should be measured, and how it should be used. In this paper, the authors attempt to start correcting this situation by reviewing the history of breast density research and the debates generated by the advocacy movement. The authors review the development of breast density estimation from pattern analysis to area‐based analysis, and the current automated volumetric breast density (VBD) analysis. This is followed by a discussion on seeking the ground truth of VBD and mapping volumetric methods to BI‐RADS density categories. The authors expect great improvement in VBD measurements that will satisfy the needs of radiologists, epidemiologists, surgeons, and physicists. The authors believe that they are now witnessing a paradigm shift toward personalized breast screening, which is going to see many more cancers being detected early, with the use of automated density measurement tools as an important component.
Bioengineered vocal fold mucosa for voice restoration
Authors: Ling Changying , Li Qiyao , Brown Matthew E. , Kishimoto Yo , Toya Yutaka , Devine Erin E. , Choi Kyeong-Ok , Nishimoto Kohei , Norman Ian G. , Tsegyal Tenzin , Jiang Jack J. , Burlingham William J. , Gunasekaran Sundaram , Smith Lloyd M. , Frey Brian L. , Welham Nathan V.
Published: November 2015

Primary human vocal fold mucosal cells recapitulate native physiologic function, offering voice restoration to patients with advanced laryngeal disease.
Predicting therapeutic nanomedicine efficacy using a companion magnetic resonance imaging nanoparticle
Authors: Miller Miles A. , Gadde Suresh , Pfirschke Christina , Engblom Camilla , Sprachman Melissa M. , Kohler Rainer H. , Yang Katherine S. , Laughney Ashley M. , Wojtkiewicz Gregory , Kamaly Nazila , Bhonagiri Sushma , Pittet Mikael J. , Farokhzad Omid C. , Weissleder Ralph
Published: November 2015

Magnetic nanoparticles predict the efficacy of drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles in vivo, helping select for tumors more responsive to nanomedicine.
Targeting LGR5
+
cells with an antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of colon cancer
Authors: Junttila Melissa R. , Mao Weiguang , Wang Xi , Wang Bu-Er , Pham Thinh , Flygare John , Yu Shang-Fan , Yee Sharon , Goldenberg David , Fields Carter , Eastham-Anderson Jeffrey , Singh Mallika , Vij Rajesh , Hongo Jo-Anne , Firestein Ron , Schutten Melissa , Flagella Kelly , Polakis Paul , Polson Andrew G.
Published: November 2015

An antibody-drug conjugate targeting LGR5 effectively treats intestinal cancer in preclinical models.
The enemy within
Authors: Nalepa Grzegorz
Published: November 2015

Tapeworm’s cancer kills the human host.
Response to comment on “Antibodies to influenza nucleoprotein cross-react with human hypocretin receptor 2”
Authors: Steinman Lawrence , Ahmed S. Sohail
Published: November 2015

Similarity between influenza nucleoprotein and hypocretin receptor 2 may trigger vaccine-associated narcolepsy.
Is higher serum cholesterol associated with altered tendon structure or tendon pain? A systematic review
Authors: Tilley Benjamin J , Cook Jill L , Docking Sean I , Gaida James E
Published: November 2015

Background

Tendon pain occurs in individuals with extreme cholesterol levels (familial hypercholesterolaemia). It is unclear whether the association with tendon pain is strong with less extreme elevations of cholesterol.

Objective

To determine whether lipid levels are associated with abnormal tendon structure or the presence of tendon pain.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Relevant articles were found through an electronic search of 6 medical databases—MEDLINE, Cochrane, AMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus. We included all case–control or cross-sectional studies with data describing (1) lipid levels or use of lipid-lowering drugs and (2) tendon structure or tendon pain.

Results

17 studies (2612 participants) were eligible for inclusion in the review. People with altered tendon structure or tendon pain had significantly higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; with mean difference values of 0.66, 1.00, 0.33, and −0.19 mmol/L, respectively.

Conclusions

The results of this review indicate that a relationship exists between an individual’s lipid profile and tendon health. However, further longitudinal studies are required to determine whether a cause and effect relationship exists between tendon structure and lipid levels. This could lead to advancement in the understanding of the pathoaetiology and thus treatment of tendinopathy.
The BMEA study: the impact of meridian balanced method electroacupuncture on women with chronic pelvic pain—a three-arm randomised controlled pilot study using a mixed-methods approach
Authors: Chong Ooi Thye , Critchley Hilary O D , Horne Andrew W , Elton Robert , Haraldsdottir Erna , Fallon Marie
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects 3–4% of women worldwide. Proven treatments for CPP are limited and unsatisfactory. The meridian balance method (BM) electroacupuncture (EA) treatment (BMEA + Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Consultation (TCM HC) may be effective for CPP. Previous EA studies have demonstrated an analgesic effect. Large-scale studies on acupuncture for other chronic pain conditions suggest that patient-healthcare provider interaction might play a role in pain reduction. We propose a pilot study to explore the effectiveness of the meridian BMEA treatment in managing women with CPP to inform a future large randomised controlled trial.

Methods and analysis

A 3-armed randomised controlled pilot study is proposed with an aim to recruit 30 women with CPP in National Health Service (NHS) Lothian. Randomisation will be to BMEA treatment, TCM HC or standard care (SC). Validated pain, physical and emotional functioning questionnaires will be administered to all participants at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Focus group discussions will be conducted when week 12 questionnaires are completed. The primary objective is to determine, recruitment and retention rates. The secondary objectives are to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of the proposed methods of recruitment, randomisation, interventions and assessment tools.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Scotland Research Ethics Committee (REC 14/SS/1022). Data will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT02295111.
Barriers and enablers to healthcare access and use among Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative comparative study
Authors: Alzubaidi H , Mc Namara K , Browning Colette , Marriott J
Published: November 2015

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the decision-making processes and associated barriers and enablers that determine access and use of healthcare services in Arabic-speaking and English-speaking Caucasian patients with diabetes in Australia.

Study setting and design

Face-to-face semistructured individual interviews and group interviews were conducted at various healthcare settings—diabetes outpatient clinics in 2 tertiary referral hospitals, 6 primary care practices and 10 community centres in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants

A total of 100 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited into 2 groups: 60 Arabic-speaking and 40 English-speaking Caucasian.

Data collection

Interviews were audio-taped, translated into English when necessary, transcribed and coded thematically. Sociodemographic and clinical information was gathered using a self-completed questionnaire and medical records.

Principal findings

Only Arabic-speaking migrants intentionally delayed access to healthcare services when obvious signs of diabetes were experienced, missing opportunities to detect diabetes at an early stage. Four major barriers and enablers to healthcare access and use were identified: influence of significant other(s), unique sociocultural and religious beliefs, experiences with healthcare providers and lack of knowledge about healthcare services. Compared with Arabic-speaking migrants, English-speaking participants had no reluctance to access and use medical services when signs of ill-health appeared; their treatment-seeking behaviours were straightforward.

Conclusions

Arabic-speaking migrants appear to intentionally delay access to medical services even when symptomatic. Four barriers to health services access have been identified. Tailored interventions must be developed for Arabic-speaking migrants to improve access to available health services, facilitate timely diagnosis of diabetes and ultimately to improve glycaemic control.
Preoperative factors affecting cost and length of stay for isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: hierarchical linear model analysis
Authors: Shinjo Daisuke , Fushimi Kiyohide
Published: November 2015

Objective

To determine the effect of preoperative patient and hospital factors on resource use, cost and length of stay (LOS) among patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB).

Design

Observational retrospective study.

Settings

Data from the Japanese Administrative Database.

Participants

Patients who underwent isolated, elective OPCAB between April 2011 and March 2012.

Primary outcome measures

The primary outcomes of this study were inpatient cost and LOS associated with OPCAB. A two-level hierarchical linear model was used to examine the effects of patient and hospital characteristics on inpatient costs and LOS. The independent variables were patient and hospital factors.

Results

We identified 2491 patients who underwent OPCAB at 268 hospitals. The mean cost of OPCAB was $40 665 ±7774, and the mean LOS was 23.4±8.2 days. The study found that select patient factors and certain comorbidities were associated with a high cost and long LOS. A high hospital OPCAB volume was associated with a low cost (−6.6%; p=0.024) as well as a short LOS (−17.6%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The hospital OPCAB volume is associated with efficient resource use. The findings of the present study indicate the need to focus on hospital elective OPCAB volume in Japan in order to improve cost and LOS.
Evaluating disability management in the Manitoban construction industry for injured workers returning to the workplace with a disability
Authors: Winter J. , Issa M.H. , Quaigrain R. , Dick K. , Regehr J.D.
Published: November 2015

The poor safety record of the construction industry raises concerns about the extent to which it is able to integrate workers disabled as a result of a workplace injury back to the workplace. A review of the literature indicates there is little empirical evidence about the status of disability management (DM) in the Canadian construction industry, specifically with respect to injured construction workers returning to the workplace with a disability. To address this limitation, a web-based survey was administered to a sample of Manitoban construction organizations to enquire about workers disabled as a result of a workplace injury in the industry, practices in place to accommodate them, and barriers to their employment. The analysis of the responses of 88 organizations showed that the majority of responding organizations employed few disabled workers. Disabilities due to musculoskeletal injuries were the most common, followed by physical mobility and hearing impairments. Respondents saw retaining valued and experienced employees and maintaining employee morale as the main reasons for implementing a DM program. They also found the lack of suitable modified or alternate work to be the most important barrier to DM; however, they identified the provision of such work as the most common practice implemented by them, raising questions about this work’s suitability to disabled workers.
Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation by sulforaphane reduces adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelial cell
Authors: Cho Young S. , Kim Chan H. , Ha Tae S. , Ahn Hee Y.
Published: November 2015

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) play key roles in the initiation of vascular inflammation. In this study, we explored whether sulforaphane, a dietary phytochemical, can inhibit the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the mechanisms involved. Sulforaphane prevented the LPS-mediated increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, (P < 0.01) in HUVEC. Sulforaphane also prevented the LPS-mediated increase in the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (P < 0.01). Stattic, a STAT3 inhibitor, reduced the LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and STAT3 phosphorylation (P < 0.01). STAT3 small interfering RNA treatment reduced the LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and STAT3 (P < 0.01). Sulforaphane reduced LPS-mediated THP-1 monocyte adhesion to HUVEC (P < 0.01). In C57BL/6 mice, injection of LPS increased aortic ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, and this effect was prevented by sulforaphane. These data provide insight into the mechanism through which sulforaphane partly reduces the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on the vascular wall by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation.
Analytical solutions of the Schrödinger equation for the Hulthén potential within SUSY quantum mechanics
Authors: Ahmadov H. I. , Jafarzade Sh. I. , Qocayeva M. V.
Published: November 2015

The analytical solution of the modified radial Schrödinger equation for the Hulthén potential is obtained within ordinary quantum mechanics by applying the Nikiforov–Uvarov method and supersymmetric quantum mechanics by applying the shape invariance concept that was introduced by Gendenshtein method by using the improved approximation scheme to the centrifugal potential for arbitrary l states. The energy levels are worked out and the corresponding normalized eigenfunctions are obtained in terms of orthogonal polynomials for arbitrary l states.
Approximating the Diameter of Planar Graphs in Near Linear Time
Authors: Weimann Oren , Yuster Raphael
Published: November 2015

We present a (1 + ε)-approximation algorithm running in
O
(
f
(ε) ·
n
log 
4
n
) time for finding the diameter of an undirected planar graph with
n
vertices and with nonnegative edge lengths.
Development of a Remote Therapy Tool for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Parnandi Avinash , Karappa Virendra , Lan Tian , Shahin Mostafa , McKechnie Jacqueline , Ballard Kirrie , Ahmed Beena , Gutierrez-Osuna Ricardo
Published: November 2015

We present a multitier system for the remote administration of speech therapy to children with apraxia of speech. The system uses a client-server architecture model and facilitates task-oriented remote therapeutic training in both in-home and clinical settings. The system allows a speech language pathologist (SLP) to remotely assign speech production exercises to each child through a web interface and the child to practice these exercises in the form of a game on a mobile device. The mobile app records the child's utterances and streams them to a back-end server for automated scoring by a speech-analysis engine. The SLP can then review the individual recordings and the automated scores through a web interface, provide feedback to the child, and adapt the training program as needed. We have validated the system through a pilot study with children diagnosed with apraxia of speech, their parents, and SLPs. Here, we describe the overall client-server architecture, middleware tools used to build the system, speech-analysis tools for automatic scoring of utterances, and present results from a clinical study. Our results support the feasibility of the system as a complement to traditional face-to-face therapy through the use of mobile tools and automated speech analysis algorithms.
Alternative Representations of 3D-Reconstructed Heritage Data
Authors: Miles Helen C. , Wilson Andrew T. , Labrosse Frédéric , Tiddeman Bernard , Griffiths Seren , Edwards Ben , Ritsos Panagiotis D. , Mearman Joseph W. , Möller Katharina , Karl Raimund , Roberts Jonathan C.
Published: November 2015

By collecting images of heritage assets from members of the public and processing them to create 3D-reconstructed models, the HeritageTogether project has accomplished the digital recording of nearly 80 sites across Wales, UK. A large amount of data has been collected and produced in the form of photographs, 3D models, maps, condition reports, and more. Here we discuss some of the different methods used to realize the potential of this data in different formats and for different purposes. The data are explored in both virtual and tangible settings, and—with the use of a touch table—a combination of both. We examine some alternative representations of this community-produced heritage data for educational, research, and public engagement applications.
Differential Game Logic
Authors: Platzer André
Published: November 2015

Differential game logic
(dG
L
) is a logic for specifying and verifying properties of
hybrid games
, i.e., games that combine discrete, continuous, and adversarial dynamics. Unlike hybrid systems, hybrid games allow choices in the system dynamics to be resolved adversarially by different players with different objectives. The logic dG
L
can be used to study the existence of winning strategies for such hybrid games, i.e., ways of resolving the player’s choices in
some
way so that he wins by achieving his objective for
all
choices of the opponent. Hybrid games are determined, i.e., from each state, one player has a winning strategy, yet computing their winning regions may take transfinitely many steps. The logic dG
L
, nevertheless, has a sound and complete axiomatization relative to any expressive logic. Separating axioms are identified that distinguish hybrid games from hybrid systems. Finally, dG
L
is proved to be strictly more expressive than the corresponding logic of hybrid systems by characterizing the expressiveness of both.
Exact Sampling of Stationary and Time-Reversed Queues
Authors: Blanchet Jose , Wallwater Aya
Published: November 2015

We provide the first algorithm that, under minimal assumptions, allows simulation of the stationary waiting-time sequence of a single-server queue backward in time, jointly with the input processes of the queue (interarrival and service times). The single-server queue is useful in applications of Dominated Coupling from the Past (DCFTP), which is a well-known protocol for simulation without bias from steady-state distributions. Our algorithm terminates in finite time, assuming only finite mean of the interarrival and service times. To simulate the single-server queue in stationarity until the first idle period in finite expected termination time, we require the existence of finite variance. This requirement is also necessary for such idle time (which is a natural coalescence time in DCFTP applications) to have finite mean. Thus, in this sense, our algorithm is applicable under minimal assumptions.
Scalable Energy Efficiency with Resilience for High Performance Computing Systems
Authors: Tan Li , Chen Zizhong , Song Shuaiwen Leon
Published: November 2015

Ever-growing performance of supercomputers nowadays brings demanding requirements of energy efficiency and resilience, due to rapidly expanding size and duration in use of the large-scale computing systems. Many application/architecture-dependent parameters that determine energy efficiency and resilience individually have causal effects with each other, which directly affect the trade-offs among performance, energy efficiency and resilience at scale. To enable high-efficiency management for large-scale High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems nowadays, quantitatively understanding the entangled effects among performance, energy efficiency, and resilience is thus required. While previous work focuses on exploring energy-saving and resilience-enhancing opportunities separately, little has been done to theoretically and empirically investigate the interplay between energy efficiency and resilience at scale. In this article, by extending the Amdahl’s Law and the Karp-Flatt Metric, taking resilience into consideration, we quantitatively model the integrated energy efficiency in terms of performance per Watt and showcase the trade-offs among typical HPC parameters, such as number of cores, frequency/voltage, and failure rates. Experimental results for a wide spectrum of HPC benchmarks on two HPC systems show that the proposed models are accurate in extrapolating resilience-aware performance and energy efficiency, and capable of capturing the interplay among various energy-saving and resilience factors. Moreover, the models can help find the optimal HPC configuration for the highest integrated energy efficiency, in the presence of failures and applied resilience techniques.
Tumbler
Authors: Pusukuri Kishore Kumar , Gupta Rajiv , Bhuyan Laxmi N.
Published: November 2015

Schedulers used by modern OSs (e.g., Oracle Solaris 11™ and GNU/Linux) balance load by balancing the number of threads in run queues of different cores. While this approach is effective for a single CPU multicore system, we show that it can lead to a significant load imbalance across CPUs of a multi-CPU multicore system. Because different threads of a multithreaded application often exhibit different levels of CPU utilization, load cannot be measured in terms of the number of threads alone. We propose
Tumbler
that migrates the threads of a multithreaded program across multiple CPUs to balance the load across the CPUs. While Tumbler distributes the threads equally across the CPUs, its assignment of threads to CPUs is aimed at minimizing the variation in utilization of different CPUs to achieve load balance. We evaluated Tumbler using a wide variety of 35 multithreaded applications, and our experimental results show that Tumbler outperforms both Oracle Solaris 11™ and GNU/Linux.
SPCM
Authors: Hoseinzadeh Morteza , Arjomand Mohammad , Sarbazi-Azad Hamid
Published: November 2015

Phase Change Memory (PCM) devices are one of the known promising technologies to take the place of DRAM devices with the aim of overcoming the obstacles of reducing feature size and stopping ever growing amounts of leakage power. In exchange for providing high capacity, high density, and nonvolatility, PCM Multilevel Cells (MLCs) impose high write energy and long latency. Many techniques have been proposed to resolve these side effects. However, read performance issues are usually left behind the great importance of write latency, energy, and lifetime. In this article, we focus on read performance and improve the critical path latency of the main memory system. To this end, we exploit striping scheme by which multiple lines are grouped and lie on a single MLC line array. In order to achieve more performance gain, an adaptive ordering mechanism is used to sort lines in a group based on their read frequency. This scheme imposes large energy and lifetime overheads due to its intensive demand for higher write bandwidth. Thus, we equipped our design with a grouping/pairing write queue to synchronize write-back requests such that all updates to an MLC array occur at once. The design is also augmented by a directional write scheme that takes benefits of the uniformity of accesses to the PCM device—caused by the large DRAM cache—to determine the writing mode (striped or nonstriped). This adaptation to write operations relaxes the energy and lifetime overheads. We improve the read latency of a 2-bit MLC PCM memory by more than 24% (and Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) by about 9%) and energy-delay product by about 20% for a small lifetime degradation of 8%, on average.
Integrated Mapping and Synthesis Techniques for Network-on-Chip Topologies with Express Channels
Authors: D'souza Sandeep , J Soumya , Chattopadhyay Santanu
Published: November 2015

The addition of express channels to a traditional mesh network-on-chip (NoC) has emerged as a viable solution to solve the problem of high latency. In this article, we address the problem of integrated mapping and synthesis for express channel--based mesh NoC topologies. An integer linear programming--based formulation has been presented for the mapping problem followed by a constructive heuristic for simultaneous application mapping and synthesis for an express channel--based NoC. The static and dynamic simulation results indicate that the obtained mappings lead to significant reduction in both average packet delay and network energy consumption. The obtained synthesized topologies were also found to be much more power efficient compared to conventional express channel topologies.
Deep Neural Networks: A New Framework for Modeling Biological Vision and Brain Information Processing
Authors: Kriegeskorte Nikolaus
Published: November 2015

Recent advances in neural network modeling have enabled major strides in computer vision and other artificial intelligence applications. Human-level visual recognition abilities are coming within reach of artificial systems. Artificial neural networks are inspired by the brain, and their computations could be implemented in biological neurons. Convolutional feedforward networks, which now dominate computer vision, take further inspiration from the architecture of the primate visual hierarchy. However, the current models are designed with engineering goals, not to model brain computations. Nevertheless, initial studies comparing internal representations between these models and primate brains find surprisingly similar representational spaces. With human-level performance no longer out of reach, we are entering an exciting new era, in which we will be able to build biologically faithful feedforward and recurrent computational models of how biological brains perform high-level feats of intelligence, including vision.
Optogenetic Approaches to Restoring Vision
Authors: Pan Zhuo-Hua , Lu Qi , Bi Anding , Dizhoor Alexander M. , Abrams Gary W.
Published: November 2015

Severe loss of photoreceptor cells in inherited or acquired retinal degenerative diseases can result in partial loss of sight or complete blindness. The optogenetic strategy for restoration of vision utilizes optogenetic tools to convert surviving inner retinal neurons into photosensitive cells; thus, light sensitivity is imparted to the retina after the death of photoreceptor cells. Proof-of-concept studies, especially those using microbial rhodopsins, have demonstrated restoration of light responses in surviving retinal neurons and visually guided behaviors in animal models. Significant progress has also been made in improving microbial rhodopsin-based optogenetic tools, developing virus-mediated gene delivery, and targeting specific retinal neurons and subcellular compartments of retinal ganglion cells. In this article, we review the current status of the field and outline further directions and challenges to the advancement of this strategy toward clinical application and improvement in the outcomes of restored vision.
Canonical Notch activation in osteocytes causes osteopetrosis
Authors: Canalis Ernesto , Bridgewater David , Schilling Lauren , Zanotti Stefano
Published: November 2015

Activation of Notch1 in cells of the osteoblastic lineage inhibits osteoblast differentiation/function and causes osteopenia, whereas its activation in osteocytes causes a distinct osteopetrotic phenotype. To explore mechanisms responsible, we established the contributions of canonical Notch signaling (Rbpjκ dependent) to osteocyte function. Transgenics expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the dentin matrix protein-1 ( Dmp1) promoter were crossed with Rbpjκ conditional mice to generate Dmp1-Cre +/−; Rbpjκ Δ/Δ mice. These mice did not have a skeletal phenotype, indicating that Rbpjκ is dispensable for osteocyte function. To study the Rbpjκ contribution to Notch activation, Rosa Notch mice, where a loxP-flanked STOP cassette is placed between the Rosa26 promoter and the NICD coding sequence, were crossed with Dmp1-Cre transgenic mice and studied in the context ( Dmp1-Cre +/−; Rosa Notch; Rbpjκ Δ/Δ) or not ( Dmp1-Cre +/−; Rosa Notch) of Rbpjκ inactivation. Dmp1-Cre +/−; Rosa Notch mice exhibited increased femoral trabecular bone volume and decreased osteoclasts and bone resorption. The phenotype was reversed in the context of the Rbpjκ inactivation, demonstrating that Notch canonical signaling was accountable for the phenotype. Notch activation downregulated Sost and Dkk1 and upregulated Axin2, Tnfrsf11b, and Tnfsf11 mRNA expression, and these effects were not observed in the context of the Rbpjκ inactivation. In conclusion, Notch activation in osteocytes suppresses bone resorption and increases bone volume by utilization of canonical signals that also result in the inhibition of Sost and Dkk1 and upregulation of Wnt signaling.
Feeling form: the neural basis of haptic shape perception
Authors: Yau Jeffrey M. , Kim Sung Soo , Thakur Pramodsingh H. , Bensmaia Sliman J.
Published: November 2015

The tactile perception of the shape of objects critically guides our ability to interact with them. In this review, we describe how shape information is processed as it ascends the somatosensory neuraxis of primates. At the somatosensory periphery, spatial form is represented in the spatial patterns of activation evoked across populations of mechanoreceptive afferents. In the cerebral cortex, neurons respond selectively to particular spatial features, like orientation and curvature. While feature selectivity of neurons in the earlier processing stages can be understood in terms of linear receptive field models, higher order somatosensory neurons exhibit nonlinear response properties that result in tuning for more complex geometrical features. In fact, tactile shape processing bears remarkable analogies to its visual counterpart and the two may rely on shared neural circuitry. Furthermore, one of the unique aspects of primate somatosensation is that it contains a deformable sensory sheet. Because the relative positions of cutaneous mechanoreceptors depend on the conformation of the hand, the haptic perception of three-dimensional objects requires the integration of cutaneous and proprioceptive signals, an integration that is observed throughout somatosensory cortex.
Effect of Bariatric Weight Loss on the Adipose Lipolytic Transcriptome in Obese Humans
Authors: Karki Shakun , Farb Melissa G. , Myers Samantha , Apovian Caroline , Hess Donald T. , Gokce Noyan
Published: November 2015

Background. Dysregulated lipolysis has been implicated in mechanisms of cardiometabolic disease and inflammation in obesity. Purpose. We sought to examine the effect of bariatric weight loss on adipose tissue lipolytic gene expression and their relationship to systemic metabolic parameters in obese subjects. Methods/Results. We biopsied subcutaneous adipose tissue in 19 obese individuals (BMI 42 ± 5 kg/m2, 79% female) at baseline and after a mean period of 8 ± 5 months (range 3–15 months) following bariatric surgery. We performed adipose tissue mRNA expression of proteins involved in triglyceride hydrolysis and correlated their weight loss induced alterations with systemic parameters associated with cardiovascular disease risk. mRNA transcripts of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), and lipid droplet proteins comparative gene identification 58 (CGI‐58) and perilipin increased significantly after weight loss (p < 0.05 for all). ATGL expression correlated inversely with plasma triglyceride (TG), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and glucose, and HSL expression correlated negatively with glucose, while CGI‐58 was inversely associated with HbA1C. Conclusion. We observed increased expression of adipose tissue lipolytic genes following bariatric weight loss which correlated inversely with systemic markers of lipid and glucose metabolism. Functional alterations in lipolysis in human adipose tissue may play a role in shaping cardiometabolic phenotypes in human obesity.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-9/Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Complex Activity in Human Glioma Samples Predicts Tumor Presence and Clinical Prognosis
Authors: Liu Ming-Fa , Hu Yong-Yang , Jin Tao , Xu Ke , Wang Shao-Hong , Du Guang-Zhou , Wu Bing-Li , Li Li-Yan , Xu Li-Yan , Li En-Min , Xu Hai-Xiong
Published: November 2015

Matrix metalloproteinase-9/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (MMP-9/NGAL) complex activity is elevated in brain tumors and may serve as a molecular marker for brain tumors. However, the relationship between MMP-9/NGAL activity in brain tumors and patient prognosis and treatment response remains unclear. Here, we compared the clinical characteristics of glioma patients with the MMP-9/NGAL activity measured in their respective tumor and urine samples. Using gelatin zymography assays, we found that MMP-9/NGAL activity was significantly increased in tumor tissues (TT) and preoperative urine samples (Preop-1d urine). Activity was reduced by seven days after surgery (Postop-1w urine) and elevated again in cases of tumor recurrence. The MMP-9/NGAL status correlated well with MRI-based tumor assessments. These findings suggest that MMP-9/NGAL activity could be a novel marker to detect gliomas and predict the clinical outcome of patients.
Thermal Ground State and Nonthermal Probes
Authors: Grandou Thierry , Hofmann Ralf
Published: November 2015

The Euclidean formulation of SU(2) Yang-Mills thermodynamics admits periodic, (anti)self-dual solutions to the fundamental, classical equation of motion which possess one unit of topological charge: (anti)calorons. A spatial coarse graining over the central region in a pair of such localised field configurations with trivial holonomy generates an inert adjoint scalar fieldϕ, effectively describing the pure quantum part of the thermal ground state in the induced quantum field theory. Here we show for the limit of zero holonomy how (anti)calorons associate a temperature independent electric permittivity and magnetic permeability to the thermal ground state ofSU2CMB, the Yang-Mills theory conjectured to underlie the fundamental description of thermal photon gases.
Surge‐Resistant Nanocomposite Enameled Wire Using Silica Nanoparticles with Binary Chemical Compositions on the Surface
Authors: Yoo Jeseung , Kim Yongbeom , Kwon Suyong , Lee Joohyun , Seo Young-Soo
Published: November 2015

We developed polyesterimide (PEI) nanocomposite enameled wires using surface‐modified silica nanoparticles with binary chemical compositions on the surface. The modification was done using silanes assisted by ultrasound, which facilitated high density modification. Two different trimethoxysilanes were chosen for the modification on the basis of resemblance of chemical compositions on the silica surface to PEI varnish. The surface‐modified silica was well dispersed in PEI varnish, which was confirmed by optical observation and viscosity measurement. The glass transition temperature of the silica‐PEI nanocomposite increased with the silica content. The silica‐dispersed PEI varnish was then used for enameled wire fabrication. The silica‐PEI nanocomposite enameled wire exhibited a much longer lifetime compared to that of neat PEI enameled wire in partial discharge conditions.
Control System Design for a Ducted-Fan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Using Linear Quadratic Tracker
Authors: Jeong Junho , Kim Seungkeun , Suk Jinyoung
Published: November 2015

Tracking control system based on linear quadratic (LQ) tracker is designed for a ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under full flight envelope including hover, transition, and cruise modes. To design the LQ tracker, a system matrix is augmented with a tracking error term. Then the control input can be calculated to solve a single Riccati equation, but the steady-state errors might still remain in this control system. In order to reduce the steady-state errors, a linear quadratic tracker with integrator (LQTI) is designed to add an integral term of tracking state in the state vector. Then the performance of the proposed controller is verified through waypoint navigation simulation under wind disturbance.
On Association Measures for Continuous Variables and Correction for Chance
Authors: Warrens Matthijs J.
Published: November 2015

This paper studies correction for chance for association measures for continuous variables. The set of linear transformations of Pearson’s product-moment correlation is used as the domain of the correction for chance function. Examples of measures in this set are Tucker’s congruence coefficient, Jobson’s coefficient, and Pearson’s correlation. An equivalence relation on the set of linear transformations is defined. The fixed points of the correction for chance function are characterized. It is shown that each linear transformation is mapped to the fixed point in its equivalence class.
Essure Microinsert Abdominal Migration after Hysteroscopic Tubal Sterilization of an Appropriately Placed Essure Device: Dual Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Authors: Rezai Shadi , LaBine Meghan , Gomez Roberts Hunter Azdel , Lora Alcantara Isamarie , Henderson Cassandra E. , Elmadjian Malvina , Nuritdinova Dilfuza
Published: November 2015

Background. The Essure device is a method of permanent sterilization widely used in the US that has proven to be safe and effective in most cases. However, there have been reports of device migration that have led to failed tubal occlusion as well as several other serious complications resulting from the presence of the device in the abdominal cavity.Case. This paper represents two cases of failed tubal occlusion by an appropriately placed Essure device without signs or symptoms of further complications related to device migration.Conclusion. Although there have only been 13 reported cases of abdominal device migration since November 2014, this case indicates that the actual number may be higher than reported since it is possible for migration to occur without additional complications. In the majority of reported cases of abdominal migration a major complication requiring surgical correction occurred, such as adhesions, small bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, or persistent pelvic pain. To avoid these complications it is recommended that migrating implants be removed; however, this case also represents an example of when a migrating device may remainin situin an asymptomatic patient.
Critical Combinations of Higher-Order Terms in Einstein-Maxwell Theory and Compactification
Authors: Kan Nahomi , Shiraishi Kiyoshi
Published: November 2015

We discuss the role of a particular combination of higher derivative terms in higher dimensional theories, particularly in the background of spontaneous compactification. Two classes of theories are proposed in this paper. The first model as a generalization of the critical gravity with the Maxwell field could have a de Sitter solution. We consider the Lanczos-Lovelock term and Horndeski term as well as the higher-order Maxwell term for the second model, which contains a possible longer expansion time for the inflationary phase. It is interesting that both models can be regarded as the generalization of the Randjbar-Daemi, Salam and Strathdee (RSS) model and give the well behavior for inflation stage under the specific assumptions.
Complex-Mass Definition and the Structure of Unstable Particle’s Propagator
Authors: Kuksa Vladimir
Published: November 2015

The propagators of unstable particles are considered in framework of the convolution representation. Spectral function is found for a special case when the propagator of scalar unstable particle has Breit-Wigner form. The expressions for the dressed propagators of unstable vector and spinor fields are derived in an analytical way for this case. We obtain the propagators in modified Breit-Wigner forms which correspond to the complex-mass definition.
Proteomic Analysis of the Vitreous following Experimental Retinal Detachment in Rabbits
Authors: Mandal Nakul , Lewis Geoffrey P. , Fisher Steven K. , Heegaard Steffen , Prause Jan U. , la Cour Morten , Vorum Henrik , Honoré Bent
Published: November 2015

Purpose. The pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) remains incompletely understood, with no clinically effective treatment for potentially severe complications such as photoreceptor cell death and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Here we investigate the protein profile of the vitreous following experimental retinal detachment using a comparative proteomic based approach.Materials and Methods. Retinal detachment was created in the right eyes of six New Zealand red pigmented rabbits. Sham surgery was undertaken in five other rabbits that were used as controls. After seven days the eyes were enucleated and the vitreous was removed. The vitreous samples were evaluated with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the differentially expressed proteins were identified with tandem mass spectrometry.Results. Ten protein spots were found to be at least twofold differentially expressed when comparing the vitreous samples of the sham and retinal detachment surgery groups. Protein spots that were upregulated in the vitreous following retinal detachment were identified as albumin fragments, and those downregulated were found to be peroxiredoxin 2, collagen-Iα1 fragment, andα-1-antiproteinase F.Conclusions. Proteomic investigation of the rabbit vitreous has identified a set of proteins that help further our understanding of the pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and its complications.
Topological Structures of Derivative Weighted Composition Operators on the Bergman Space
Authors: Tong Ce-Zhong , Yuan Cheng , Zhou Ze-Hua
Published: November 2015

We characterize the difference of derivative weighted composition operators on the Bergman space in the unit disk and determine when linear-fractional derivative weighted composition operators belong to the same component of the space of derivative weighted composition operators on the Bergman space under the operator norm topology.
Bounds for Products of Zeros of Solutions to Nonhomogeneous ODE with Polynomial Coefficients
Authors: Gil’ Michael
Published: November 2015

We consider the equationu″=P(z)u+F(z)  (z∈C), whereP(z)is a polynomial andF(z)is an entire function. Letzk(u)  (k=1,2,…)be the zeros of a solutionu(z)to that equation. Lower estimates for the products∏k=1j|zk(u)|  (j=1,2,…)are derived. In particular, they give us a bound for the zero free domain. Applications of the obtained estimates to the counting function of the zeros of solutions are also discussed.
Onset of Celiac Disease after Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Interferon Based Triple Therapy
Authors: Singh Amandeep , Zaeri Nayere , Ho Immanuel K.
Published: November 2015

Background. Patients treated with interferon (IFN) based therapies may develop exacerbation of autoimmune disease. We herein present the case of a 53-year-old female patient who developed celiac disease (CD) as a result of triple therapy (interferon, ribavirin, and boceprevir) for chronic HCV.Case. 53-year-old Caucasian female with past medical history of IV drug abuse was referred for abnormal LFTs. Laboratory data showed HCV RNA of 4,515,392 IU/mL, HCV genotype 1a, with normal LFTs. She was treated with 4 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin, followed by triple therapy using boceprevir for a total of 28 weeks. Approximately 4 weeks after initiation of triple therapy patient developed loose nonbloody bowel movements and was also found to have anemia. Biopsies from first and second portions of the duodenum were consistent with CD. The patient was treated with a gluten-free diet. Her intestinal symptoms improved and the hemoglobin returned to normal.Conclusion. Chronic HCV patients being treated with interferon alfa can develop celiac disease during or after therapy. For patients with positive autoantibodies, all-oral-IFN-free regimens should be considered. Celiac disease should be considered in patients who develop CD-like symptoms while on and shortly after cessation of interferon alfa therapy.
Technical and Socioeconomic Potential of Biogas from Cassava Waste in Ghana
Authors: Kemausuor Francis , Addo Ahmad , Darkwah Lawrence
Published: November 2015

This study analyses technical potential and ex ante socioeconomic impacts of biogas production using cassava waste from agroprocessing plants. An analysis was performed for two biodigesters in two cassava processing communities in Ghana. The results showed that the two communities generate an excess of 4,500 tonnes of cassava peels per year. Using approximately 5% of the peels generated and livestock manure as inoculum can generate approximately 75,000 m3 of gas with an estimated 60% methane content from two separate plants of capacities 500 m3 and 300 m3 in the two communities. If used internally as process fuel, the potential gas available could replace over 300 tonnes of firewood per year for cassava processing. The displacement of firewood with gas could have environmental, economic, and social benefits in creating sustainable development. With a 10 percent discount rate, an assumed 20-year biodigester will have a Net Present Value of approximately US$ 148,000, 7-year Payback Period, and an Internal Rate of Return of 18.7%. The project will create 10 full-time unskilled labour positions during the investment year and 4 positions during operation years.
Immunoregulation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Chronic Cigarette Smoking-Induced Lung Inflammation in Rats
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Wang Junyan , Cao Jing , Ma Lijuan , Xu Jianying
Published: November 2015

Impact of bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transfusion on chronic smoking-induced lung inflammation is poorly understood. In this study, a rat model of smoking-related lung injury was induced and the rats were treated with vehicle or BMSCs for two weeks. Different subsets of CD4+ T cells, cytokines, and anti-elastin in the lungs as well as the lung injury were characterized. Serum and lung inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and STAT5 phosphorylation in lymphocytes from lung tissue were also analyzed. Results indicated that transfusion of BMSCs significantly reduced the chronic smoking-induced lung injury, inflammation, and levels of lung anti-elastin in rats. The frequency of Th1 and Th17 cells and the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, IP-10, and MCP-1 increased, but the frequency of Tregs and IL-10 decreased. Transfusion of BMSCs significantly modulated the imbalance of immune responses by mitigating chronic smoking-increased Th1 and Th17 responses, but enhancing Treg responses in the lungs of rats. Transfusion of BMSCs limited chronic smoking-related reduction in the levels of serum and lung iNOS and mitigated smoking-induced STAT5 phosphorylation in lymphocytes from lung tissue. BMSCs negatively regulated smoking-induced autoimmune responses in the lungs of rats and may be promising for the intervention of chronic smoking-related lung injury.