bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Coupled-Field Expansion Method for Single-Layer and Multilayer Planar Periodic Structures
Authors: Li Yading , Esselle Karu P. , Zhang Lvqian
Published: May 2012

A new, rigorous, field-based, seminumerical analysis method is presented to obtain the reflection and transmission coefficients of 2D planar periodic structures with arbitrarily shaped metallization patterns for both normal and oblique incidence conditions. It is useful for the analysis, design, and optimization of many single-layer and multilayer planar structures, such as frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs), artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) surfaces, electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures, some metamaterials and high-impedance surfaces. In this coupled-field expansion method (CFEM), thex- andy-components of the vector magnetic potential in each homogeneous region in a unit cell are expanded in terms of Bloch-Floquet modes and the solution to the coupled-field problem is formulated. The unique, analytical formulation presented here leads to a linear system with reasonably simple matrix elements. By cascading the matrices representing each interface, multilayer periodic structures are analyzed in a very flexible way. Being field based, CFEM does not require substrate Green's functions to analyze surfaces printed on dielectric substrates. The method was validated by analyzing one single-layer periodic surface (a printed AMC on a dielectric substrate) and one multilayer periodic surface (a circular polarizer) and comparing CFEM results with HFSS results.
Reversible Masking Using Low-Molecular-Weight Neutral Lipids to Achieve Optimal-Targeted Delivery
Authors: Templeton Nancy Smyth , Senzer Neil
Published: May 2012

Intravenous injection of therapeutics is required to effectively treat or cure metastatic cancer, certain cardiovascular diseases, and other acquired or inherited diseases. Using this route of delivery allows potential uptake in all disease targets that are accessed by the bloodstream. However, normal tissues and organs also have the potential for uptake of therapeutic agents. Therefore, investigators have used targeted delivery to attempt delivery solely to the target cells; however, use of ligands on the surface of delivery vehicles to target specific cell surface receptors is not sufficient to avoid nonspecific uptake. PEGylation has been used for decades to try to avoid nonspecific uptake but suffers from many problems known as “The PEGylation Dilemma.” We have solved this dilemma by replacing PEGylation with reversible masking using low-molecular-weight neutral lipids in order to achieve optimal-targeted delivery solely to target cells. Our paper will focus on this topic.
Analytic Solutions of Some Self‐Adjoint Equations by Using Variable Change Method and Its Applications
Authors: Delkhosh Mehdi , Delkhosh Mohammad
Published: May 2012

Many applications of various self‐adjoint differential equations, whose solutions are complex, are produced (Arfken, 1985; Gandarias, 2011; and Delkhosh, 2011). In this work we propose a method for the solving some self‐adjoint equations with variable change in problem, and then we obtain a analytical solutions. Because this solution, an exact analytical solution can be provided to us, we benefited from the solution of numerical Self‐adjoint equations (Mohynl‐Din, 2009; Allame and Azal, 2011; Borhanifar et al. 2011; Sweilam and Nagy, 2011; Gülsu et al. 2011; Mohyud‐Din et al. 2010; and Li et al. 1996).
Rapid Screening for FlavoneC-Glycosides in the Leaves of Different Species of Bamboo and Simultaneous Quantitation of Four Marker Compounds by HPLC-UV/DAD
Authors: Wang Jin , Yue Yong-de , Jiang Hao , Tang Feng
Published: May 2012

A strategy for analyzing flavoneC-glucosides in the leaves of different species of bamboo was developed. Firstly, the flavoneC-glycosides were extracted from the bamboo leaves (51 species in 17 genera) with methanol and chromatographed on silica gel 60 plates in automatic developing chamber (ADC2), and a qualitative survey using simple derivatization steps with the NP reagent was carried out. The flavoneC-glycosides were found in 40 of 51 species of bamboo examined. Secondly, an HPLC method with photodiode array and multiple wavelength detector was optimized and validated for the simultaneous determination of flavoneC-glycosides, including isoorientin, isovitexin, orientin, and vitexin in the leaves of three species of bamboo and the flavoneC-glycosides were confirmed by LC/MS. The optimized HPLC method proved to be linear in the concentration range tested (0.2–100 μg/mL,r2≥0.9997), precise (RSD≤1.56%), and accurate (88–106%). The concentration ranges of isoorientin, isovitexin, orientin, and vitexin in three bamboo leaves samples were 1.00–2.78, 0–0.31, 0–0.07, and 0.20–0.68 mg/g, respectively. The proposed method was validated to be simple and reliable and can be a tool for quality control of bamboo leaf extract or its commercial products.
Clarifying Some Fundamental Errors in Herries' “A Chronological Perspective on the Acheulian and Its Transition to the Middle Stone Age in Southern Africa: The Question of the Fauresmith” (2011)
Authors: Barham Lawrence
Published: May 2012

Herries provides a timely review of the archaeological and dating evidence of the transition from the Acheulean to the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in southern Africa, however, in relation to the site of Twin Rivers, Zambia he makes several fundamental errors of interpretation that demand correction. The stratigraphic sequence of the site is admittedly complex, but it deserves a more careful analysis than that offered by Herries. This detailed response by the most recent excavator of the site addresses Herries critique by placing the site in its historical context and then dealing with the central issue of the association of dated speleothem with the surviving archaeological deposits. Herries is shown to have mistakenly combined the dates from two separate cave passages and to have misunderstood the published sections, plans, and taphonomic assessment of each excavation area. His reinterpretation of the site as being significantly younger than published is based on a conflation of unrelated data.
Globally Exponential Stability of Periodic Solutions to Impulsive Neural Networks with Time‐Varying Delays
Authors: Shao Yuanfu , Xu Changjin , Zhang Qianhong
Published: May 2012

By using Schaeffer′s theorem and Lyapunov functional, sufficient conditions of the existence and globally exponential stability of positive periodic solution to an impulsive neural network with time‐varying delays are established. Applications, examples, and numerical analysis are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the main results.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalysis of Fe-Doped : A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Wen Liping , Liu Baoshun , Zhao Xiujian , Nakata Kazuya , Murakami Taketoshi , Fujishima Akira
Published: May 2012

Fe-doped TiO2was prepared by hydrothermal treating Ti peroxide sol with different amount of iron nitrate. Fe ions can enter TiO2lattice by substituting Ti4+ions, which significantly affect the crystallinity and morphology of TiO2nanoparticles. Fe doping also influences the UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence of TiO2, due to the change of electronic structure. It is shown that Fe ions are more easily doped on TiO2surface than in bulk. The theoretical computation based on the density functional theory (DFT) shows that the Fe ions in TiO2bulk are localized and mainly act as the recombination centers of photoinduced electrons and holes. Some results support that the Fe3+ions on surface can form intermediate interfacial transfer pathway for electrons and holes, which is beneficial for increasing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The photocatalytic activity first increases and then decreases as the Fe concentration increases, which is coaffected by the bulk-doped and surface-doped Fe ions.
Surveillance and Treatment of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer in the USA
Authors: Barocas Daniel A. , Globe Denise R. , Colayco Danielle C. , Onyenwenyi Ahunna , Bruno Amanda S. , Bramley Thomas J. , Spear Rachel J.
Published: May 2012

Seventy percent of newly diagnosed bladder cancers are classified as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and are often associated with high rates of recurrence that require lifelong surveillance. Currently available treatment options for NMIBC are associated with toxicities that limit their use, and actual practice patterns vary depending upon physician and patient characteristics. In addition, bladder cancer has a high economic and humanistic burden in the United States (US) population and has been cited as one of the most costly cancers to treat. An unmet need exists for new treatment options associated with fewer complications, better patient compliance, and decreased healthcare costs. Increased prevention of recurrence through greater adherence to evidence-based guidelines and the development of novel therapies could therefore result in substantial savings to the healthcare system.
Metformin Rescues the Myocardium from Doxorubicin-Induced Energy Starvation and Mitochondrial Damage in Rats
Authors: Ashour Abdelkader E. , Sayed-Ahmed Mohamed M. , Abd-Allah Adel R. , Korashy Hesham M. , Maayah Zaid H. , Alkhalidi Hisham , Mubarak Mohammed , Alhaider Abdulqader
Published: May 2012

Clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by its cardiotoxic side effects. Recent studies established that metformin (MET), an oral antidiabetic drug, possesses an antioxidant activity. However, whether it can protect against DOX-induced energy starvation and mitochondrial damage has not been reported. Our results, in a rat model of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, show that DOX treatment significantly increased serum levels of LDH and CK-MB, indicators of cardiac injury, and induced expression of hypertrophic gene markers. DOX also caused marked decreases in the cardiac levels of glutathione, CoA-SH and ATP, and mRNA expression of catalase and NQO-1. These biochemical changes were associated with myocardial histopathological and ultrastructural deteriorations, as observed by light and electron microscopy, respectively. Cotreatment with MET (500 mg/kg) eliminated all DOX-induced biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural changes. These findings demonstrate that MET successfully prevents DOX-induced cardiotoxicityin vivoby inhibiting DOX-induced oxidative stress, energy starvation, and depletion of intramitochondrial CoA-SH.
Enhancing the Signal of Corticomuscular Coherence
Authors: Micheli Cristiano , Braun Christoph
Published: May 2012

The availability of multichannel neuroimaging techniques, such as MEG and EEG, provides us with detailed topographical information of the recorded magnetic and electric signals and therefore gives us a good overview on the concomitant signals generated in the brain. To assess the location and the temporal dynamics of neuronal sources with noninvasive recordings, reconstruction tools such as beamformers have been shown to be useful. In the current study, we are in particular interested in cortical motor control involved in the isometric contraction of finger muscles. To this end we are measuring the interaction between the dynamics of brain signals and the electrical activity of hand muscles. We were interested to find out whether in addition to the well-known correlated activity between contralateral primary motor cortex and the hand muscles, additional functional connections can be demonstrated. We adopted coherence as a functional index and propose a so-called nulling beamformer method which is computationally efficient and addresses the localization of multiple correlated sources. In simulations of cortico-motor coherence, the proposed method was able to correctly localize secondary sources. The application of the approach on real electromyographic and magnetoencephalographic data collected during an isometric contraction and rest revealed an additional activity in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the hand involved in the task.
Financial Factors and Labour Market Transitions of Older Workers in Canada
Authors: Chen Xuyang , Fougère Maxime , Rainville Bruno
Published: May 2012

This paper looks at the influence of financial factors on the labour market transitions of Canadian older workers. Also, in contrast to previous studies, the analysis focuses on transitions between full-time work, part-time work, and retirement. Sequential annual observations of employment and retirement choices are examined for samples of full-time and part-time workers, drawn from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), 2001–2006. Measures of potential pension wealth and one-year and peak pension accruals are imputed using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, 1973–1997, and the SLID, 1997–2006. Regression results indicate that financial factors influence workers to move from full-time to part-time jobs and support the evidence found in previous studies that retirement is usually a process, not a single event. Also, an increase in pension accruals increases the probability of working full-time for lower-income earners only. Among nonfinancial factors, a negative health shock increases the probability of working part-time or retiring for full-time workers but has little effect on the labour market transitions of part-time workers. Finally, these results suggest that policies to encourage phased retirement are unlikely to have a significant labour market effect since bridge employment is already a common transition process among older workers.
Suppression of the Nuclear Factor Eny2 Increases Insulin Secretion in Poorly Functioning INS-1E Insulinoma Cells
Authors: Dames P. , Weise M. , Puff R. , Göke B. , Parhofer K. G. , Seissler J. , Lechner A.
Published: May 2012

Eny2, the mammalian ortholog of yeast Sus1 and drosophila E(y)2, is a nuclear factor that participates in several steps of gene transcription and in mRNA export. We had previously found that Eny2 expression changes in mouse pancreatic islets during the metabolic adaptation to pregnancy. We therefore hypothesized that the protein contributes to the regulation of islet endocrine cell function and tested this hypothesis in rat INS-1E insulinoma cells. Overexpression of Eny2 had no effect but siRNA-mediated knockdown of Eny2 resulted in markedly increased glucose and exendin-4-induced insulin secretion from otherwise poorly glucose-responsive INS-1E cells. Insulin content, cellular viability, and the expression levels of several key components of glucose sensing remained unchanged; however glucose-dependent cellular metabolism was higher after Eny2 knockdown. Suppression of Eny2 enhanced the intracellular incretin signal downstream of cAMP. The use of specific cAMP analogues and pathway inhibitors primarily implicated the PKA and to a lesser extent the EPAC pathway. In summary, we identified a potential link between the nuclear protein Eny2 and insulin secretion. Suppression of Eny2 resulted in increased glucose and incretin-induced insulin release from a poorly glucose-responsive INS-1E subline. Whether these findings extend to other experimental conditions or to in vivo physiology needs to be determined in further studies.
Optimization of Nano- Photocatalytic Reactor for Organophosphorus Degradation
Authors: Sadeghi Ilin , Arbab Pooya , Fathizadeh Mahdi , Fakhraee Hoseen , Amrollahi Mahdi
Published: May 2012

The photocatalytic decontamination of triethyl phosphate (TEP) is studied by the UV/nano-TiO2process. The nano-TiO2concentration and pH value for the complete oxidation of TEP were investigated in different concentrations of TEP. The kinetic reaction was calculated for TEP as a function of initial concentration of TEP. Results of adsorptions showed that TEP was adsorbed better in alkalinity pH, and the natural pH had the highest reaction rate for complete degradation. Also, the zero-kinetic order with the lag time as a function of initial concentration of TEP and TiO2was suggested for oxidation of TEP. The optimized concentration of nano-TiO2was 400 mg/lit which had the best conversion and the lowest lag time in the reaction.
A Population Genetic Model of Evolution of Host-Mate Attraction and Nonhost Repulsion in a Bark BeetlePityogenes bidentatus
Authors: Byers John A.
Published: May 2012

Studies have shown that the bark beetlePityogenes bidentatus(Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) avoids volatiles of nonhost trees (Norway Spruce, birch, and oak) and healthy host Scotch Pine when orienting to aggregation pheromone. A population genetic model of two behavioral genes was hypothesized where AA, Aa, and aa were allele combinations regulating orientation to host tree and pheromone odors, and BB, Bb, and bb were combinations allowing avoidance of nonhost and unsuitable host odors. The nine possible genotypes were assigned different survival factors that remained constant during simulation. The initial proportion of aabb genotype (little aggregation/host response and little avoidance of nonhosts) was ~1.0 when a mutation was hypothesized that caused better orientation to host/beetle odors (Aabb) and another mutation causing more efficient avoidance of nonhosts (aaBb). After these initial mutations, the model used indiscriminate mating of genotypic proportions and subsequent survival as input for each successive generation. The results indicate that AABB eventually fixates in the populations in some scenarios, while AABB and other genotypes reach stable equilibriums in other models depending on genotypic survival values supported by ecologically sound assumptions. The models indicate how development of insecticide resistance in pest insects may proceed.
Effect of Auricular Acupressure on Peri- and Early Postmenopausal Women with Anxiety: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, and Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Kao Ching-Ling , Chen Chao-Hsun , Lin Wei-Yun , Chiao Yu-Ching , Hsieh Ching-Liang
Published: May 2012

We tested effects of auricular acupressure on peri- and early postmenopausal women with anxiety (PPWA). Fifty PPWA were randomly assigned to the auricular acupressure group (AG) or the sham group (SG). After 3 meals and before sleep every day for 4 weeks, the AG received auricular acupressure on the bilateral ear shenmen and subcortex points for 3 min per point on alternating ears. The SG received sham auricular acupressure. The Alprazolam was reduced from 0.5 mg/day at baseline to 0.3 mg/day 4 weeks after auricular acupressure (4 W) in the AG (P<.05) whereas maintained at 0.5 mg/day in the SG (P>.05). The Zolpidem was reduced from 3.0 mg/day at baseline to 1.5 mg/day at 4 W (P<.05) whereas was reduced from 2.4 mg/day to 1.9 mg/day at 4 W in the SG (P>.05), thus, significant tapering medication, suggesting auricular acupressure is helpful to PPWA.
Cutoff Values of Serum IgG4 and Histopathological IgG4+ Plasma Cells for Diagnosis of Patients with IgG4-Related Disease
Authors: Masaki Yasufumi , Kurose Nozomu , Yamamoto Motohisa , Takahashi Hiroki , Saeki Takako , Azumi Atsushi , Nakada Shinji , Matsui Shoko , Origuchi Tomoki , Nishiyama Susumu , Yamada Kazunori , Kawano Mitsuhiro , Hirabayashi Akira , Fujikawa Keita , Sugiura Tomoko , Horikoshi Masanobu , Umeda Naoto , Minato Hiroshi , Nakamura Takuji , Iwao Haruka , Nakajima Akio , Miki Miyuki , Sakai Tomoyuki , Sawaki Toshioki , Kawanami Takafumi , Fujita Yoshimasa , Tanaka Masao , Fukushima Toshihiro , Eguchi Katumi , Sugai Susumu , Umehara Hisanori
Published: May 2012

IgG4-related disease is a new disease classification established in Japan in the 21st century. Patients with IgG4-related disease display hyper-IgG4-gammaglobulinemia, massive infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells into tissue, and good response to glucocorticoids. Since IgG4 overexpression is also observed in other disorders, it is necessary to diagnose IgG4-related disease carefully and correctly. We therefore sought to determine cutoff values for serum IgG4 and IgG4/IgG and for IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cells in tissue diagnostic of IgG4-related disease.Patients and Methods. We retrospectively analyzed serum IgG4 concentrations and IgG4/IgG ratio and IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cell ratio in tissues of 132 patients with IgG4-related disease and 48 patients with other disorders.Result. Serum IgG4 >135  mg/dl demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.0% and a specificity of 79.6% in diagnosing IgG4-related disease, and serum IgG4/IgG ratios >8% had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.5% and 87.5%, respectively. IgG4+cell/IgG+ cell ratio in tissues >40% had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.4% and 85.7%, respectively. However, the number of IgG4+ cells was reduced in severely fibrotic parts of tissues.Conclusion. Although a recent unanimous consensus of all relevant researchers in Japan recently established the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease, findings such as ours indicate that further discussion is needed.
Numerical Simulation of LVAD Inflow Cannulas with Different Tip
Authors: Liu Guang-Mao , Chen Hai-Bo , Luo Fu-Liang , Zhang Yan , Sun Han-Song , Zhou Jian-Ye , Hu Sheng-Shou
Published: May 2012

The tip structure of LVAD inflow cannula is one of major factors to lead adverse events such as thrombosis and suction leading to obstruction. In this research, four kinds of tips that had been used in inflow cannulas were selected and designed. The flow field of the four inflow cannulas inserted into the apex of left ventricle (LV) was numerically computed by computational fluid dynamics. The flow behavior was analyzed in order to compare the blood compatibility and suction in left ventricle and cannulas after the inflow cannulas with different tips were inserted to the apex of LV. The results showed that the cannula tip structure affected the LVAD performance. Among these four cannulas, the trumpet-tipped inflow cannula owned the best performance in smooth flow velocity distribution without backflow or low-velocity flow so that it was the best in blood compatibility. Nevertheless, the caged tipped cannula was the worst in blood compatibility. And the blunt-tipped and beveled tipped inflow cannulas may obstruct more easily than trumpet and caged tipped inflow cannulas because of their shape. The study indicated that the trumpet tip was the most preferable for the inflow cannula of long-term LVAD.
Influence of Skin Diseases on Fingerprint Recognition
Authors: Drahansky Martin , Dolezel Michal , Urbanek Jaroslav , Brezinova Eva , Kim Tai-hoon
Published: May 2012

There are many people who suffer from some of the skin diseases. These diseases have a strong influence on the process of fingerprint recognition. People with fingerprint diseases are unable to use fingerprint scanners, which is discriminating for them, since they are not allowed to use their fingerprints for the authentication purposes. First in this paper the various diseases, which might influence functionality of the fingerprint-based systems, are introduced, mainly from the medical point of view. This overview is followed by some examples of diseased finger fingerprints, acquired both from dactyloscopic card and electronic sensors. At the end of this paper the proposed fingerprint image enhancement algorithm is described.
Fetal Programming of Body Composition, Obesity, and Metabolic Function: The Role of Intrauterine Stress and Stress Biology
Authors: Entringer Sonja , Buss Claudia , Swanson James M. , Cooper Dan M. , Wing Deborah A. , Waffarn Feizal , Wadhwa Pathik D.
Published: May 2012

Epidemiological, clinical, physiological, cellular, and molecular evidence suggests that the origins of obesity and metabolic dysfunction can be traced back to intrauterine life and supports an important role for maternal nutrition prior to and during gestation in fetal programming. The elucidation of underlying mechanisms is an area of interest and intense investigation. In this perspectives paper we propose that in addition to maternal nutrition-related processes it may be important to concurrently consider the potential role of intrauterine stress and stress biology. We frame our arguments in the larger context of an evolutionary-developmental perspective that supports roles for both nutrition and stress as key environmental conditions driving natural selection and developmental plasticity. We suggest that intrauterine stress exposure may interact with the nutritional milieu, and that stress biology may represent an underlying mechanism mediating the effects of diverse intrauterine perturbations, including but not limited to maternal nutritional insults (undernutrition and overnutrition), on brain and peripheral targets of programming of body composition, energy balance homeostasis, and metabolic function. We discuss putative maternal-placental-fetal endocrine and immune/inflammatory candidate mechanisms that may underlie the long-term effects of intrauterine stress. We conclude with a commentary of the implications for future research and clinical practice.
The Impact of State Preemption of Local Smoking Restrictions on Public Health Protections and Changes in Social Norms
Authors: Mowery Paul D. , Babb Steve , Hobart Robin , Tworek Cindy , MacNeil Allison
Published: May 2012

Introduction. Preemption is a legislative or judicial arrangement in which a higher level of government precludes lower levels of government from exercising authority over a topic. In the area of smoke-free policy, preemption typically takes the form of a state law that prevents communities from adopting local smoking restrictions.Background. A broad consensus exists among tobacco control practitioners that preemption adversely impacts tobacco control efforts. This paper examines the effect of state provisions preempting local smoking restrictions in enclosed public places and workplaces.Methods. Multiple data sources were used to assess the impact of state preemptive laws on the proportion of indoor workers covered by smoke-free workplace policies and public support for smoke-free policies. We controlled for potential confounding variables.Results. State preemptive laws were associated with fewer local ordinances restricting smoking, a reduced level of worker protection from secondhand smoke, and reduced support for smoke-free policies among current smokers.Discussion. State preemptive laws have several effects that could impede progress in secondhand smoke protections and broader tobacco control efforts.Conclusion. Practitioners and advocates working on other public health issues should familiarize themselves with the benefits of local policy making and the potential impact of preemption.
Alternative Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease: Stress Response Triggers
Authors: Smith Sonneborn Joan
Published: May 2012

Stress resistance capacity is a hallmark of longevity protection and survival throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. Latent pathway activation of protective cascades, triggered by environmental challenges to tolerate heat, oxygen deprivation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), diet restriction, and exercise provides tolerance to these stresses. Age-related changes and disease vulnerability mark an increase in damage, like damage induced by environmental challenges. An alternative approach to immunotherapy intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease is the use of mimetics of stress to upregulate endogenous protective cascades to repair age damage, shift the balance of apoptosis to regeneration to promote delay of onset, and even progression of Alzheimer’s disease memory dysfunction. Mimetics of environmental stress, hormetic agents, and triggers, endogenous or engineered, can “trick” activation of expression patterns of repair and rejuvenation. Examples of known candidate triggers of heat response, endogenous antioxidants, DNA repair, exercise, hibernation, and telomeres are available for AD intervention trials. Telomeres and telomerase emerge as major regulators in crossroads of senescence, cancer, and rejuvenation responsive to mimetics of telomeres. Lessons emerge from transgenic rodent models, the long-lived mole rat, clinical studies, and conserved innate pathways of stress resistance. Cross-reaction of benefits of different triggers promises intervention into seemingly otherwise unrelated diseases.
Task‐Level Data Model for Hardware Synthesis Based on Concurrent Collections
Authors: Cong Jason , Gururaj Karthik , Zhang Peng , Zou Yi
Published: May 2012

The ever‐increasing design complexity of modern digital systems makes it necessary to develop electronic system‐level (ESL) methodologies with automation and optimization in the higher abstraction level. How the concurrency is modeled in the application specification plays a significant role in ESL design frameworks. The state‐of‐art concurrent specification models are not suitable for modeling task‐level concurrent behavior for the hardware synthesis design flow. Based on the concurrent collection (CnC) model, which provides the maximum freedom of task rescheduling, we propose task‐level data model (TLDM), targeted at the task‐level optimization in hardware synthesis for data processing applications. Polyhedral models are embedded in TLDM for concise expression of task instances, array accesses, and dependencies. Examples are shown to illustrate the advantages of our TLDM specification compared to other widely used concurrency specifications.
Positive Contrast Imaging of SPIO Nanoparticles
Authors: Lin Chenghong , Cai Shuhui , Feng Jianghua
Published: May 2012

It is advantageous to achieve positive contrast images instead of negative contrast images in superparamagnetic iron‐oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles‐based MR imaging in order to distinguish the signal surrounding SPIO nanoparticles from the dark signal due to local field inhomogeneity and the artifacts due to tissue interface and background noise, eliminate the inherent defects in the traditional MRI such as partial‐volume effects and large void volume for reliable visualization, and increase contrast‐to‐noise ratio. Many methods generating positive signal with SPIO nanoparticles have been developed in the last decade. This paper provides an overview of current visualization methods and states their advantages and disadvantages. In practice, these techniques have been widely applied to cell labeling and disease diagnosis and monitoring. However, there is still a need for an ideal method to achieve both accuracy and sensitivity.
Emodin, a Naturally Occurring Anthraquinone Derivative, Ameliorates Dyslipidemia by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats
Authors: Tzeng Thing-Fong , Lu Hung-Jen , Liou Shorong-Shii , Chang Chia Ju , Liu I-Min
Published: May 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and antihyperlipidaemic effects of emodin on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats, and on the regulation of the expression of the genes involved in lipid metabolism to elucidate the mechanisms. After being fed HFD for two weeks, Wistar rats were dosed orally with emodin (40 and 80 mg kg−1) or pioglitazone (20 mg kg−1), once daily for eight weeks. Emodin (80 mg kg−1per day) displayed similar characteristics to pioglitazone (20 mg kg−1per day) in reducing body weight gain, plasma lipid levels as well as coronary artery risk index and atherogenic index of HFD-fed rats. Emodin also caused dose related reductions in the hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents and lowered hepatic lipid droplets accumulation in HFD-fed rats. Emodin and pioglitazone enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its primary downstream targeting enzyme, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, up-regulated gene expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, and down-regulated sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and fatty acid synthase protein levels in hepatocytes of HFD-fed rats. Our findings suggest emodin could attenuate lipid accumulation by decreasing lipogenesis and increasing mitochondrial fatty acidβ-oxidation mediated by activation of the AMPK signaling pathway.
Modelling and Prediction of Particulate Matter,NOx, and Performance of a Diesel Vehicle Engine under Rare Data Using Relevance Vector Machine
Authors: Wong Ka In , Wong Pak Kin , Cheung Chun Shun
Published: May 2012

Traditionally, the performance maps and emissions of a diesel engine are obtained empirically through many testes on the dynamometers because no exact mathematical engine model exists. In the current literature, many artificial-neural-network- (ANN-) based approaches have been developed for diesel engine modelling. However, the drawbacks of ANN would make itself difficult to be put into some practices including multiple local minima, user burden on selection of optimal network structure, large training data size, and overfitting risk. To overcome the drawbacks, this paper proposes to apply one emerging technique, relevance vector machine (RVM), to model the diesel engine, and to predict the emissions and engine performance. With RVM, only a few experimental data sets can train the model due to the property of global optimal solution. In this study, the engine speed, load, and coolant temperature are used as the input parameters, while the brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption, concentrations of nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are used as the output parameters. Experimental results show the model accuracy is fairly good even the training data is scarce. Moreover, the model accuracy is compared with that using typical ANN. Evaluation results also show that RVM is superior to typical ANN approach.
Pathogenic Mechanisms andIn VitroDiagnosis of AERD
Authors: Schäfer Dirk , Maune Steffen
Published: May 2012

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) refers to chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, bronchoconstriction, and/or eosinophilic inflammation in asthmatics following the exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A key pathogenic mechanism associated with AERD is the imbalance of eicosanoid metabolism focusing on prostanoid and leukotriene pathways in airway mucosa as well as blood cells. Genetic and functional metabolic studies on vital and non-vital cells pointed to the variability and the crucial role of lipid mediators in disease susceptibility and their response to medication. Eicosanoids, exemplified by prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and peptidoleukotrienes (pLT), are potential metabolic biomarkers contributing to the AERD phenotype. Also other mediators are implicated in the progress of AERD. Considering the various pathogenic mechanisms of AERD, a multitude of metabolic and genetic markers is suggested to be implicated and were introduced as potential biomarkers forin vitrodiagnosis during the past decades. Deduced from an eicosanoid-related pathogenic mechanism, functional tests balancing PGE2and pLT as well as other eicosanoids from preferentially vital leukocytes demonstrated their applicability forin vitrodiagnosis of AERD.
Increased Frequency of Circulating Follicular Helper T Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Ma Jie , Zhu Chenlu , Ma Bin , Tian Jie , Baidoo Samuel Essien , Mao Chaoming , Wu Wei , Chen Jianguo , Tong Jia , Yang Min , Jiao Zhijun , Xu Huaxi , Lu Liwei , Wang Shengjun
Published: May 2012

Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are recognized as a distinct CD4+helper T-cell subset, which provides for B-cell activation and production of specific antibody responses, and play a critical role in the development of autoimmune disease. So far, only one study investigated the circulating Tfh cells increased in a subset of SLE patients. Since relatively little is known about the Tfh cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, in this study, Tfh-cell frequency, related cytokine IL-21, and transcription factor Bcl-6 were investigated in 53 patients with RA and 31 health controls. Firstly, we found that the frequency ofCD4+CXCR5+ICOShighTfh cells was increased significantly in the peripheral blood of RA patients, compared with that in healthy controls. It is known that Tfh cells are critical for directing the development of an antibody response by germinal centers B cells; secondly, we observed that the Tfh-cell frequency is accompanied by the level of anti-CCP antibody in RA patients. Furthermore, expression of Bcl-6 mRNA and plasma IL-21 concentrations in RA patients was increased. Taken together, these findings have shown that the increased frequency of circulating Tfh cells is correlated with elevated levels of anti-CCP antibody, indicating the possible involvement of Tfh cells in the disease progression of RA.
Preliminary Design of Debris Removal Missions by Means of Simplified Models for Low-Thrust, Many-Revolution Transfers
Authors: Zuiani Federico , Vasile Massimiliano
Published: May 2012

This paper presents a novel approach for the preliminary design of Low-Thrust, many-revolution transfers. The main feature of the novel approach is a considerable reduction in the control parameters and a consequent gain in computational speed. Each spiral is built by using a predefined pattern for thrust direction and switching structure. The pattern is then optimised to minimise propellant consumption and transfer time. The variation of the orbital elements due to the thrust is computed analytically from a first-order solution of the perturbed Keplerian motion. The proposed approach allows for a realistic estimation ofVand time of flight required to transfer a spacecraft between two arbitrary orbits. Eccentricity and plane changes are both accounted for. The novel approach is applied here to the design of missions for the removal of space debris by means of an Ion Beam Shepherd Spacecraft. In particular, two slightly different variants of the proposed low-thrust control model are used for the different phases of the mission. Thanks to their low computational cost they can be included in a multiobjective optimisation problem in which the sequence and timing of the removal of five pieces of debris are optimised to minimise propellant consumption and mission duration.
Influence of Temperature, Agitation, Sludge Concentration and Solids Retention Time on Primary Sludge Fermentation
Authors: Sánchez Rubal J. , Cortacans Torre J. A. , del Castillo González I.
Published: May 2012

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of temperature, agitation, sludge concentration, and solids retention time (SRT) to obtain readily biodegradable organic matter on primary sludge (PS) fermentation, which would be used as substrate in a biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. Stirring and heating the sludge as well as increasing SRT improved the PS fermentation, producing a large amount of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). The influence of each operational parameter on PS hydrolysis was observed clearly. A great performance on SCOD production was obtained when the PS was stirred and heated for 3 days. However, PS concentration did not affect the fermentation. Sludge agitation is a simple process with minimal energy consumption. Warming the sludge is very interesting in those plants with anaerobic digestion, where heat energy is obtained from biogas. Therefore, PS fermentation can be improved with a minimum investment and leveraging existing resources in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Fermenter volume can also be reduced if sludge is being heated and stirred during fermentation.
Current Challenges in Prostate Cancer Management and the Rationale behind Targeted Focal Therapy
Authors: Barqawi Al B. , Krughoff Kevin J. , Eid Khadijah
Published: May 2012

Among men, prostate cancer has a high prevalence, with relatively lower cancer-specific mortality risk compared to lung and colon cancer. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has increased prostate cancer awareness since its implementation as a screening tool almost 25 years ago, but, due to the largely indolent course of this disease and the unspecific nature of the PSA test, increased incidence has largely been associated with cancers that would not go on to cause death (clinically insignificant), leading to an overdiagnosis challenge and an ensuing overtreatment consequences. The overtreatment problem is exacerbated by the high risk of side effects that current treatment techniques have, putting patients’ quality of life at risk with little or no survival benefit. The goals of this paper are to evaluate the rise, prevalence, and impact of the overdiagnosis and ensuing overtreatment problems, as well as highlight potential solutions. In this effort, a review of major epidemiological and screening studies, cancer statistics from the advent of prostate-specific antigen screening to the present, and reports on patient concerns and treatment outcomes was conducted to present the dominant factors that underlie current challenges in prostate cancer treatment and illuminate potential solutions.
Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Zhu Bin , Xu Zeshui , Xia Meimei
Published: May 2012

In recent decades, several types of sets, such as fuzzy sets, interval‐valued fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets, type 2 fuzzy sets, type n fuzzy sets, and hesitant fuzzy sets, have been introduced and investigated widely. In this paper, we propose dual hesitant fuzzy sets (DHFSs), which encompass fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, hesitant fuzzy sets, and fuzzy multisets as special cases. Then we investigate the basic operations and properties of DHFSs. We also discuss the relationships among the sets mentioned above, use a notion of nested interval to reflect their common ground, then propose an extension principle of DHFSs. Additionally, we give an example to illustrate the application of DHFSs in group forecasting.
The Univalence Conditions of Some Integral Operators
Authors: Stanciu Laura
Published: May 2012

We introduce new integral operators of analytic functions f and g defined in the open unit disk 𝕌. For these operators, we discuss some univalence conditions.
Can Faulty Modules Be Predicted by Warning Messages of Static Code Analyzer?
Authors: Mizuno Osamu , Nakai Michi
Published: May 2012

We have proposed a detection method of fault-prone modules based on the spam filtering technique, “Fault-prone filtering.” Fault-prone filtering is a method which uses the text classifier (spam filter) to classify source code modules in software. In this study, we propose an extension to use warning messages of a static code analyzer instead of raw source code. Since such warnings include useful information to detect faults, it is expected to improve the accuracy of fault-prone module prediction. From the result of experiment, it is found that warning messages of a static code analyzer are a good source of fault-prone filtering as the original source code. Moreover, it is discovered that it is more effective than the conventional method (that is, without static code analyzer) to raise the coverage rate of actual faulty modules.
Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescent Properties of Europium‐Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystalline Powders
Authors: Ciobanu Carmen Steluta , Iconaru Simona Liliana , Massuyeau Florian , Constantin Liliana Violeta , Costescu Adrian , Predoi Daniela
Published: May 2012

The luminescent europium‐doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp, Ca10−xEux(PO4)6(OH)2) with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 nanocrystalline powders was synthesized by coprecipitation. The structural, morphological, and textural properties were well characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The vibrational studies were performed by Fourier transform infrared, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that hydroxyapatite is the unique crystalline constituent of all the samples, indicating that Eu has been successfully inserted into the HAp lattice. Eu doping inhibits HAp crystallization, leading to a decrease of the average crystallite size from around 20 nm in the undoped sample to around 7 nm in the sample with the highest Eu concentration. Furthermore, the samples show the characteristic 5D0→7F0 transition observed at 578 nm related to Eu3+ ions distributed on Ca2+ sites of the apatitic structure.
Large-Scale Containment Cooler Performance Experiments under Accident Conditions
Authors: Kapulla Ralf , Mignot Guillaume , Paladino Domenico
Published: May 2012

Computational Fluid Dynamics codes are increasingly used to simulate containment conditions after various transient accident scenarios. This paper presents validation experiments, conducted in the frame of the OECD/SETH-2 project. These experiments address the combined effects of mass sources and heat sinks related to gas mixing and hydrogen transport within containment compartments. A wall jet interacts with an operating containment cooler located in the middle (M-configuration) and the top (T-configuration) of the containment vessel. The experiments are characterized by a 3-phase injection scenario. In Phase I, pure steam is injected, while in Phase II, a helium-steam mixture is injected. Finally, in Phase III, pure steam is injected again. Results for the M-configuration show helium stratification build up during Phase II. During Phase III, a positively buoyant plume emerging from the cooler housing becomes negatively buoyant once it reaches the helium-steam layer and continuously erodes the layer. For the M-configuration, a strong degradation of the cooler performance was observed during the injection of the helium/steam mixture (Phase II). For the T-configuration, we observe a mainly downwards acting cooler resulting in a combination of forced and natural convection flow patterns. The cooler performance degradation was much weaker compared with the M-configuration and a good mixing was ensured by the operation of the cooler.
Time-Independent Data Collection Protocol in Mobility-Assistant Wireless Sensor Networks with Duty Cycles
Authors: Zhang Xiwei , Xu Lijie , Chen Guihai
Published: May 2012

Mobility-assistant sensor networks comprise mobile elements, and static sensors are established for the purpose of solving the serious problems such as overlapping or energy holes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In such systems, most of the energy is consumed when the radios are on, waiting for a mobile sink (MS) to arrive. Sleep/wake scheduling is an effective mechanism to prolong the lifetime of these energy-constrained wireless sensors. However, sleep/wake scheduling could result in substantial discovery delays because the sensor needs time to receive the beacon-ID signals when MS entered its communication range. In this paper, we first study on the MS discovery mechanism and the factors which affect the efficiency of data collection. Based on these results, we then provide a solution to the control problem of how to optimally adjust the system parameters of the sleep/wake scheduling protocol to maximize the network lifetime, subject to a constraint on the expected residual contact time. Our numerical results indicate that the proposed solution can balance the network consumption, especially in sparse sensor networks.
Integrated Treatment to Achieve Functional Recovery for First-Episode Psychosis
Authors: Valencia Marcelo , Juarez Francisco , Ortega Hector
Published: May 2012

This study describes an integrated treatment approach that was implemented to enhance functional recovery in first-episode psychotic patients. Patients were randomized to two treatment conditions: either to an integrated treatment approach: pharmacotherapy, psychosocial treatment, and psychoeducation (experimental group:N=39) or to medication alone (control group:N=34). Patients were evaluated at baseline and after one year of treatment. Functional recovery was assessed according to symptomatic and functional remission. At the end of treatment, experimental patients showed a 94.9% of symptomatic remission compared to 58.8% of the control group. Functional remission was 56.4% for the experimental group and 3.6% for the control group, while 56.4% of the experimental group met both symptomatic and functional remission criteria and were considered recovered compared to 2.9% of the control group.
Some Notes on the Poincaré‐Bertrand Formula
Authors: Schneider Baruch
Published: May 2012

The aim of this present paper is to establish the Poincaré‐Bertrand formula for the double‐layer potential on piecewise Lyapunov curve of integration.