bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Outcomes in Patients with Lupus and End‐Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Inda‐Filho Antonio , Neugarten Joel , Putterman Chaim , Broder Anna
Published: September 2013

The development of lupus‐related end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) confers the highest mortality rates among individuals with lupus. Lupus‐related ESRD is also associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates compared with non‐lupus ESRD. We review the evidence that persistent lupus activity, hypercoagulability, and continuing immunosuppression may contribute to unfavorable outcomes in dialysis and renal transplantation among lupus patients. Robust epidemiologic studies are needed to develop individualized evidence‐based approaches to treating lupus‐related ESRD. In the meantime, managing lupus‐related ESRD presents a significant challenge for clinicians and requires a team approach involving nephrologists and rheumatologists. Goals of therapy after developing ESRD should include continuing monitoring of lupus activity, minimizing corticosteroid exposure, and choosing the most appropriate renal replacement therapy based on patient's risk profile and quality‐of‐life considerations.
A 4‐week instructed minimalist running transition and gait‐retraining changes plantar pressure and force
Authors: Warne J. P. , Kilduff S. M. , Gregan B. C. , Nevill A. M. , Moran K. A. , Warrington G. D.
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this study is to compare changes in plantar pressure and force using conventional running shoes (CRS) and minimalist footwear (MFW) pre and post a 4‐week MFW familiarization period. Ten female runners (age: 21 ± 2 years; stature: 165.8 ± 4.5 cm; mass: 55.9 ± 3.2 kg) completed two 11 km/h treadmill runs, 24 hours apart, in both CRS and MFW (pretest). Plantar data were measured using sensory insoles for foot strike patterns, stride frequency, mean maximum force (), mean maximum pressure () and eight mean maximum regional pressures. Subjects then completed a 4‐week familiarization period consisting of running in MFW and simple gait‐retraining, before repeating the tests (posttest). During the pretests, 30% of subjects adopted a forefoot strike in MFW, following familiarization this increased to 80%; no change occurred in CRS. A significant decrease in in both MFW and CRS (P = 0.024) was observed from pre‐post, and a significant decrease in heel pressures in MFW. was higher in MFW throughout testing (P < 0.001).A 4‐week familiarization to MFW resulted in a significant reduction in in both the CRS and MFW conditions, as well as a reduction in heel pressures. Higher was observed throughout testing in the MFW condition.
Reduction in facial hyperpigmentation after treatment with a combination of topical niacinamide and tranexamic acid: a randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled trial
Authors: Lee Do Hyun , Oh In Young , Koo Kyo Tan , Suk Jang Mi , Jung Sang Wook , Park Jin Oh , Kim Beom Joon , Choi Yoo Mi
Published: September 2013

Background

Facial hyperpigmentation occurs in multiple conditions. In addition, many Asian women desire a lighter skin color. Thus, there is a need for the development of skin lightening agents, and niacinamide and tranexamic acid (TXA) are promising candidates.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of a combination of niacinamide and TXA as a topical moisturizing formulation for treatment of irregular facial pigmentation.

Materials and Methods

A total of 42 Korean women (age range: 30–60 years) who were not pregnant, nursing, or undergoing any concurrent therapy were enrolled in this study for 8 weeks. Subjects used a twice‐daily regimen of either a moisturizing cream containing 2% niacinamide + 2% TXA (test formulation; n = 21) or cream vehicles (vehicle control; n = 21) in addition to an assigned sunscreen each morning. Pigmentation was measured objectively using a mexameter and chromameter, in addition to physicians' assessment using clinical photographs.

Results

The niacinamide + TXA formulation regimen was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than the vehicle control formulation regimen in reducing the appearance of pigmentation.

Conclusion

A formulation containing the combination of niacinamide + TXA reduced the appearance of irregular pigmentation, providing an effect beyond that achieved with sunscreen.
Low-damage silicon etching using a neutral beam
Authors: Miwa Kazuhiro , Nishimori Yuki , Ueki Shinji , Sugiyama Masakazu , Kubota Tomohiro , Samukawa Seiji
Published: September 2013

A low-damage silicon etching technology for fabricating microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices using a neutral beam is reported. Neutral beams were produced from Cl2 plasma in an etching apparatus and were used to etch silicon trenches and MEMS devices. Si trench etch rate depended on the bias voltage applied to an aperture, used to produce the neutral beam. Etch rate decreased with increasing Si trench aspect ratio. This trend was minimized by enlarging the aspect ratio of through-holes in the aperture. The silicon trench profile was influenced by the aspect ratio of through-holes in the aperture. Etched Si surfaces were smooth, and no damage/defects were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Si etching of MEMS devices with smooth surfaces and scallop free sidewalls was achieved. The mechanical characteristics of an oscillator etched with the neutral beam were superior to those of that etched using a conventional Bosch process.
Vacuum sealing using atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 at 250 °C
Authors: An Seungdo , Gupta Naveen K. , Gianchandani Yogesh B.
Published: September 2013

This paper describes the use of low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3, for vacuum seals in wafer-level vacuum packaging and other applications. The conformal coverage provided by ALD Al2O3 is shown to seal circular micromachined cavities. The cavities are 0.8 μm in height, 400 μm in diameter, and are capped by porous plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited dielectrics that form a membrane. The ALD Al2O3 film, of thickness ≈0.2 μm, is deposited at a temperature of 250 °C on this membrane. The retention of vacuum is indicated by the deflection of the membrane. Lifetime tests extending out to 19 months are reported.
Direct reconstruction of cardiac PET kinetic parametric images using a preconditioned conjugate gradient approach
Authors: Rakvongthai Yothin , Ouyang Jinsong , Guerin Bastien , Li Quanzheng , Alpert Nathaniel M. , El Fakhri Georges
Published: September 2013

Purpose:

Our research goal is to develop an algorithm to reconstruct cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) kinetic parametric images directly from sinograms and compare its performance with the conventional indirect approach.

Methods:

Time activity curves of a NCAT phantom were computed according to a one‐tissue compartmental kinetic model with realistic kinetic parameters. The sinograms at each time frame were simulated using the activity distribution for the time frame. The authors reconstructed the parametric images directly from the sinograms by optimizing a cost function, which included the Poisson log‐likelihood and a spatial regularization terms, using the preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) algorithm with the proposed preconditioner. The proposed preconditioner is a diagonal matrix whose diagonal entries are the ratio of the parameter and the sensitivity of the radioactivity associated with parameter. The authors compared the reconstructed parametric images using the direct approach with those reconstructed using the conventional indirect approach.

Results:

At the same bias, the direct approach yielded significant relative reduction in standard deviation by 12%–29% and 32%–70% for 50 × 106 and 10 × 106 detected coincidences counts, respectively. Also, the PCG method effectively reached a constant value after only 10 iterations (with numerical convergence achieved after 40–50 iterations), while more than 500 iterations were needed for CG.

Conclusions:

The authors have developed a novel approach based on the PCG algorithm to directly reconstruct cardiac PET parametric images from sinograms, and yield better estimation of kinetic parameters than the conventional indirect approach, i.e., curve fitting of reconstructed images. The PCG method increases the convergence rate of reconstruction significantly as compared to the conventional CG method.
Certify Sustainable Aquaculture?
Authors: Bush S. R. , Belton B. , Hall D. , Vandergeest P. , Murray F. J. , Ponte S. , Oosterveer P. , Islam M. S. , Mol A. P. J. , Hatanaka M. , Kruijssen F. , Ha T. T. T. , Little D. C. , Kusumawati R.
Published: September 2013

Certification's limited contribution to sustainable aquaculture should complement public and private governance.
Reducing Earthquake Risk
Authors: Tucker Brian E.
Published: September 2013

How can a higher level of earthquake preparedness be achieved, particularly in developing nations?
Radio Jets Clearing the Way Through a Galaxy: Watching Feedback in Action
Authors: Morganti Raffaella , Fogasy Judit , Paragi Zsolt , Oosterloo Tom , Orienti Monica
Published: September 2013

Pushy Black Hole

The giant black holes that sit at the centers of most galaxies influence the way galaxies evolve in poorly understood ways.

Morganti
et al.

(p.
1082
; see the Perspective by

McNamara

) have acquired high-resolution radio images of a galaxy with an actively accreting black hole from which a jet of relativistic particles emanates. The observations show that a cloud of neutral hydrogen gas is being driven outward, possibly limiting star formation and galaxy growth.
Achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Goals for Plant Conservation
Authors: Joppa L. N. , Visconti P. , Jenkins C. N. , Pimm S. L.
Published: September 2013

Plant Protection

The Convention on Biological Diversity's 20 Aichi Targets, agreed in October 2010, extend to 2020 an international commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity. Using data from “The Plant List” (
www.theplantlist.org
),

Joppa
et al.

(p.
1100
), show that ∼65% of plant species are endemic to 17% of the terrestrial land surface and include many islands, with mainland contributions concentrated heavily in central and southern America and Asia. These regions include 75% of all plant species. These regions are also important for terrestrial vertebrates—containing most of all—bird, mammal, and amphibian species, but less than one-sixth of this land surface is under protection.
A Hyperventilating Biosphere
Authors: Fung Inez
Published: September 2013

Seasonal carbon dioxide uptake and release patterns are changing as a result of global warming.

[Also see Report by

Graven
et al.

]
Improving ERC Ethical Standards
Authors: Nowotny Helga , Exner Pavel
Published: September 2013

Imagine sitting over a pile of applications submitted to one of the most prestigious funding agencies. Suddenly, what you read appears familiar—not only the idea, but its terminology and the methods proposed. You recognize entire sentences because you wrote them. This scenario must have been an utter surprise for one of the European Research Council's (ERC's) evaluation panel members who, last year, stumbled across the most bizarre case of scientific misconduct that the organization has witnessed so far. The proposal, submitted some years earlier to a funding agency on a different continent, was copied by one of the reviewers, a highly recognized scientist, and then submitted to the ERC. It was pure chance that the former applicant detected the fraud.
Protein Designers Go Small
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: September 2013

After years of frustration and controversy, computer scientists have succeeded in designing a protein able to bind tightly and uniquely to a single small drug molecule.
Japan Gets Serious About Creating Its Own NIH
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: September 2013

Japan is counting on biomedical innovation as a pillar of economic growth.
Evolution Heresy? Epigenetics Underlies Heritable Plant Traits
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: September 2013

A study presented at an evolutionary biology meeting found that heritable changes in plant flowering time and other traits were not the result of DNA sequence changes but chemical modifications to the DNA.
Boxed In
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: September 2013

In a year of triumphs for their reigning models, cosmologists and particle physicists yearn for something new that they can't explain.
The Unruly Neutrino
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: September 2013

Neutrinos flout the rules of particle physicists' standard model, but researchers are already deciphering their tricks.
Sizing Up a Slumbering Giant
Authors: Stone Richard
Published: September 2013

A thousand years ago, Mount Paektu unleashed one of the biggest eruptions in recent history. An unusual collaboration aims to learn why the volcano is so potent.
Acute HIV-1 Seroconversion with an Unusual Plasma Biomarker Profile
Authors: Aziz Najib , Detels Roger , Martinez-Maza Otoniel , Oishi John , Jamieson Beth D. , Witt Mallory D. , Butch Anthony W.
Published: September 2013

An unusual case of acute primary HIV-1 infection in a man with a high plasma viral load, a 51-fold increase in C-reactive protein, and antibodies against only gp160 is described. Numerous serum cytokine concentrations were elevated during HIV-1 seroconversion.
A Novel Line Immunoassay Based on Recombinant Virulence Factors Enables Highly Specific and Sensitive Serologic Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Formichella Luca , Romberg Laura , Bolz Christian , Vieth Michael , Geppert Michael , Göttner Gereon , Nölting Christina , Walter Dirk , Schepp Wolfgang , Schneider Arne , Ulm Kurt , Wolf Petra , Busch Dirk H. , Soutschek Erwin , Gerhard Markus
Published: September 2013

Helicobacter pylori
colonizes half of the world's population, and infection can lead to ulcers, gastric cancer, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Serology is the only test applicable for large-scale, population-based screening, but current tests are hampered by a lack of sensitivity and/or specificity. Also, no serologic test allows the differentiation of type I and type II strains, which is important for predicting the clinical outcome.
H. pylori
virulence factors have been associated with disease, but direct assessment of virulence factors requires invasive methods to obtain gastric biopsy specimens. Our work aimed at the development of a highly sensitive and specific, noninvasive serologic test to detect immune responses to important
H. pylori
virulence factors. This line immunoassay system (
recom
Line) is based on recombinant proteins. For this assay, six highly immunogenic virulence factors (CagA, VacA, GroEL, gGT, HcpC, and UreA) were expressed in
Escherichia coli
, purified, and immobilized to nitrocellulose membranes to detect serological immune responses in patient's sera. For the validation of the line assay, a cohort of 500 patients was screened, of which 290 (58.0%) were
H. pylori
negative and 210 (42.0%) were positive by histology. The assay showed sensitivity and specificity of 97.6% and 96.2%, respectively, compared to histology. In direct comparison to lysate blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the
recom
Line assay had increased discriminatory power. For the assessment of individual risk for gastrointestinal disease, the test must be validated in a larger and defined patient cohort. Taking the data together, the
recom
Line assay provides a valuable tool for the diagnosis of
H. pylori
infection.
Detection of Colonization by Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacilli in Patients by Use of the Xpert MDRO Assay
Authors: Tenover Fred C. , Canton Rafael , Kop JoAnn , Chan Ryan , Ryan Jamie , Weir Fred , Ruiz-Garbajosa Patricia , LaBombardi Vincent , Persing David H.
Published: September 2013

Detecting colonization of patients with carbapenemase-producing bacteria can be difficult. This study compared the sensitivity and specificity of a PCR-based method (Xpert MDRO) for detecting
bla
KPC
,
bla
NDM
, and
bla
VIM
carbapenem resistance genes using GeneXpert cartridges to the results of culture with and without a broth enrichment step on 328 rectal, perirectal, and stool samples. The culture method included direct inoculation of a MacConkey agar plate on which a 10-μg meropenem disk was placed and plating on MacConkey agar after overnight enrichment of the sample in MacConkey broth containing 1 μg/ml of meropenem. Forty-three (13.1%) samples were positive by PCR for
bla
KPC
and 11 (3.4%) were positive for
bla
VIM
; none were positive for
bla
NDM
. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PCR assay for
bla
KPC
were 100%, 99.0%, 93.0%, and 100%, respectively, compared to broth enrichment culture and sequencing of target genes. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the assay for
bla
VIM
were 100%, 99.4%, 81.8%, and 100%, respectively. Since none of the clinical samples contained organisms with
bla
NDM
, 66 contrived stool samples were prepared at various dilutions using three
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates containing
bla
NDM
. The PCR assay showed 100% positivity at dilutions from 300 to 1,800 CFU/ml and 93.3% at 150 CFU/ml. The Xpert MDRO PCR assay required 2 min of hands-on time and 47 min to complete. Rapid identification of patients colonized with carbapenemase-producing organisms using multiplex PCR may help hospitals to improve infection control activities.
Comparison of Six Real-Time PCR Assays for Qualitative Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Clinical Specimens
Authors: Binnicker M. J. , Espy M. E.
Published: September 2013

In this study, we compared the performance of six real-time PCR assays for the qualitative detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in clinical samples other than plasma. Two hundred specimens (respiratory [
n
= 72], urine [
n
= 67], cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] [
n
= 25], tissue [
n
= 18], amniotic fluid [
n
= 10], and bone marrow [
n
= 8]) submitted for routine testing by CMV real-time PCR analyte-specific reagents (ASR) (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) were also tested by a laboratory-developed test (LDT) and 4 commercially available PCR assays: EraGen Multicode (Luminex, Austin, TX), Focus Simplexa (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA), Elitech MGB Alert CMV (Fisher Scientific, Hanover Park, IL), and Abbott CMV (Abbott Park, IL). Nucleic acid was extracted using the MagNA Pure system (Roche Diagnostics) and subsequently tested by each PCR method. Results were analyzed by comparing each assay to a “consensus result,” which was defined as the result obtained from at least 4 of the 6 assays. In addition to the prospective samples, 13 lower respiratory samples with known positive results by CMV shell vial were tested by each PCR method. Following testing of the 200 prospective specimens, the Abbott, Elitech, EraGen, and Focus PCR assays demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% (46/46), while the Roche analyte-specific reagents (ASR) and LDT showed sensitivities of 89% (41/46) and 98% (45/46), respectively. Percent specificities ranged from 97% (149/154) by Elitech to 100% (154/154) by the LDT. Among the 13 shell vial-positive lower respiratory samples, the percent sensitivities ranged from 69% (9/13) by Elitech to 92% (12/13) by the LDT. The Abbott, EraGen, Elitech, Focus, and LDT PCR assays performed similarly (κ ≥ 0.89) for the detection of CMV in clinical specimens and demonstrated increased sensitivity compared to the Roche ASR.
Human Herpesvirus 6A Infection and Immunopathogenesis in Humanized Rag2−/−γc−/−Mice
Authors: Tanner Anne , Carlson Stephanie A. , Nukui Masatoshi , Murphy Eain A. , Berges Bradford K.
Published: September 2013

Although serious human diseases have been correlated with human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and HHV-6B, the lack of animal models has prevented studies which would more definitively link these viral infections to disease. HHV-6A and HHV-6B have recently been classified as two distinct viruses, and in this study we focused specifically on developing anin vivomodel for HHV-6A. Here we show that Rag2−/−γc−/−mice humanized with cord blood-derived human hematopoietic stem cells produce human T cells that express the major HHV-6A receptor, CD46. Both cell-associated and cell-free viral transmission of HHV-6A into the peritoneal cavity resulted in detectable viral DNA in at least one of the samples (blood, bone marrow, etc.) analyzed from nearly all engrafted mice. Organs and cells positive for HHV-6A DNA were the plasma and cellular blood fractions, bone marrow, lymph node, and thymic samples; control mice had undetectable viral DNA. We also noted viral pathogenic effects on certain T cell populations. Specific thymocyte populations, including CD3−CD4+CD8−and CD3+CD4−cells, were significantly modified in humanized mice infected by cell-associated transmission. In addition, we detected significantly increased proportions of CD4+CD8+cells in the blood of animals infected by cell-free transmission. These findings provide additional evidence that HHV-6A may play a role in human immunodeficiencies. These results indicate that humanized mice can be used to study HHV-6Ain vivoinfection and replication as well as aspects of viral pathogenesis.
The Amino-Terminal Domain of Alphavirus Capsid Protein Is Dispensable for Viral Particle Assembly but Regulates RNA Encapsidation through Cooperative Functions of Its Subdomains
Authors: Lulla Valeria , Kim Dal Young , Frolova Elena I. , Frolov Ilya
Published: September 2013

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a pathogenic alphavirus, which circulates in the Central, South, and North Americas, including the United States, and represents a significant public health threat. In recent years, strong progress has been made in understanding the structure of VEEV virions, but the mechanism of their formation has yet to be investigated. In this study, we analyzed the functions of different capsid-specific domains and its amino-terminal subdomains in viral particle formation. Our data demonstrate that VEEV particles can be efficiently formed directly at the plasma membrane without cytoplasmic nucleocapsid preassembly. The entire amino-terminal domain of VEEV capsid protein was found to be dispensable for particle formation. VEEV variants encoding only the capsid's protease domain efficiently produce genome-free VEEV virus-like particles (VLPs), which are very similar in structure to the wild-type virions. The amino-terminal domain of the VEEV capsid protein contains at least four structurally and functionally distinct subdomains, which mediate RNA packaging and the specificity of packaging in particular. The most positively charged subdomain is a negative regulator of the nucleocapsid assembly. The three other subdomains are not required for genome-free VLP formation but are important regulators of RNA packaging. Our data suggest that the positively charged surface of the VEEV capsid-specific protease domain and the very amino-terminal subdomain are also involved in interaction with viral RNA and play important roles in RNA encapsidation. Finally, we show that VEEV variants with mutated capsid acquire compensatory mutations in either capsid or nsP2 genes.
Encapsidation of Host-Derived Factors Correlates with Enhanced Infectivity of Sindbis Virus
Authors: Sokoloski Kevin J. , Snyder Anthony J. , Liu Natalia H. , Hayes Chelsea A. , Mukhopadhyay Suchetana , Hardy Richard W.
Published: September 2013

The genus
Alphavirus
consists of a group of enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses, many of which are transmitted by arthropods to a wide range of vertebrate host species. Here we report that Sindbis virus (SINV) produced from a representative mammalian cell line consists of at least two unique particle subpopulations, separable on the basis of virion density. In contrast, mosquito-derived SINV consists of a homogeneous population of particles. Our findings indicate that the denser particle subpopulation, SINV
Heavy
, is more infectious on a per-particle basis than SINV
Light
. SINV produced in mosquito cell lines (SINV
C6/36
) exhibited particle-to-PFU ratios similar to those observed for SINV
Heavy
. In mammalian cells, viral RNA was synthesized and accumulated more rapidly following infection with SINV
Heavy
or SINV
C6/36
than following infection with SINV
Light
, due partly to enhanced translation of viral genomic RNA early in infection. Analysis of the individual particle subpopulations indicated that SINV
Heavy
and SINV
C6/36
contain host-derived factors whose presence correlates with the enhanced translation, RNA synthesis, and infectivity observed for these particles.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections and the risk of adverse obstetric outcomes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Bette , Roberts Christine L , Clarke Marilyn , Jorm Louisa , Hunt Jennifer , Ward James
Published: September 2013

Objectives

To examine the association between prior chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections and adverse obstetric outcomes.

Methods

Records of women resident in New South Wales, Australia with a singleton first birth during 1999–2008 were linked to chlamydia and gonorrhoea notifications using probabilistic linkage. Obstetric outcomes and potential confounders were ascertained from the birth record. Logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders was used to estimate the association between a disease notification prior to the birth and adverse birth outcomes: spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), small for gestational age (SGA) and stillbirth.

Results

Among 354 217 women, 1.0% (n=3658) had a prior chlamydia notification; 0.06% (n=196) had a prior gonorrhoea notification. The majority of notifications (>80%) occurred before the estimated conception date. 4.1% of women had a SPTB, 12.1% had a SGA baby and 0.6% of women had a stillbirth. Among women with a prior chlamydia notification, the risk of SPTB and stillbirth was increased, aOR 1.17 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.37) and aOR 1.40 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.96) respectively but there was no association with SGA, aOR 0.99 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.09). For women with gonorrhoea the risks for SPTB, stillbirth and SGA were respectively aOR 2.50 (95%CI 1.39 to 4.50), 2.35 (95% CI 0.58 to 9.56) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.68). Among women with a prior chlamydia diagnosis, the risk of SPTB did not differ between women diagnosed >1 year prior to conception, within the year prior to conception or during the pregnancy, (p=0.9).

Conclusions

Sexually transmissible infections in pregnancy and the preconception period may be important in predicting pregnancy outcomes.
Combined analyses reveal environmentally driven changes in the North Sea ecosystem and raise questions regarding what makes an ecosystem model’s performance credible?
Authors: Mackinson Steven
Published: September 2013

When an ecosystem model of the North Sea is calibrated to data from multiple trophic levels, the model estimated the primary production required to support the food web correlates temporally with observed changes in sea temperature and nutrient levels, supporting evidence from empirical analyses. However, a different result is given from an alternative calibration using fish stock data only. The inference taken from the emergent primary production – temperature relationship and empirical data are that, on balance, there is stronger overall evidence to support the calibration constrained at multiple trophic levels. Two important implications of the findings are (i) that the relative importance of fishing and environmental effects is likely to be interpreted differently depending on the calibration approach and (ii) the contrasting model calibrations would give different responses to fishing policies. It raises questions regarding how to judge the performance (and credibility) of an ecosystem model and the critical importance of conducting empirical and modelling analyses in parallel. Adopting a combined approach to ecosystem modelling is an important step in the pursuit of operational and defensible tools to support the ecosystem approach to management.
Habitat loss exceeds habitat regeneration for an IUCN flagship lichen epiphyte: Erioderma pedicellatum
Authors: Cameron Robert , Goudie Ian , Richardson David
Published: September 2013

The boreal felt lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M. Jørg.) is globally critically endangered, being threatened by forestry operations, habitat disturbance, and air pollution. To determine if loss of habitat due to forestry activities has occurred in Nova Scotia, a predictive habitat model was built using historical data from 1988. Satellite data were used for the period between 1987 and 2005 to determine the amount of suitable habitat harvested during this period. Available habitat was modeled through time from 1988 to 2005 in which area harvested was subtracted and regeneration was added in 3- to 5-year time steps. The predicted suitable boreal felt lichen habitat area was then modeled from 2005 to 2055 using the same harvesting assumptions and modeling process, but using 10-year time steps. The results of the model indicated that there has been a loss of 2311 ha (11.5%) in the amount of predicted suitable boreal felt lichen habitat between 1988 and 2005. A forward-projected drop is predicted between 2005 and 2055 that will amount to 4499 ha (25.4%), assuming no change in forest harvesting. Protection of unoccupied habitat surrounding existing boreal felt is recommended.
KINEMATIC REPULSIONS BETWEEN INERTIAL SYSTEMS IN AN EXPANDING INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
Authors: SAVICKAS D.
Published: September 2013

The cosmological background radiation is observed to be isotropic only within a coordinate system that is at rest relative to its local Hubble drift. This indicates that the Hubble motion describes the recessional motion of an inertial system that is at rest relative to its local Hubble drift. It is shown that when the Hubble parameter is kinematically defined directly in terms of the positions and velocities of mass particles in the universe, it then also defines inertial systems themselves in terms of the distribution and motion of mass particles. It is independent of the velocity of photons because photons always have a speed c relative to the inertial system in which they are located. Therefore the definition of their velocity depends on the definition of the Hubble parameter itself and cannot be used to define H. The derivative of the kinematically defined Hubble parameter with respect to time is shown to always be positive and highly repulsive at the time of the origin of the universe. A model is used which describes a universe that is balanced at the time of its origin so that H approaches zero as the universe expands to infinity.
ACCURATE GATE DELAY EXTRACTION FOR TIMING ANALYSIS OF BODY-BIASED CIRCUITS
Authors: BAEK DONKYU , SHIN INSUP , SHIN YOUNGSOO
Published: September 2013

Static body biasing is a circuit technique in which bias voltage is selected from more than one available voltage after manufacturing. It allows circuits to be designed at more favorable process corners; but effective application requires gate delays to be available for the new process corners, without the expense of re-characterizing individual gates. We show that the new delay of a gate (when body bias is applied) can be extrapolated from its old delay without body bias together with old and new delays of a few reference gates. Output transition time, which is another component of gate timing model, is extrapolated in a similar manner. Experiments with an industrial 32-nm gate library show that the average error in the new gate delays is less than 4.3%.
ON OPTIMAL SUPER-HEDGING AND SUB-HEDGING STRATEGIES
Authors: TSUZUKI YUKIHIRO
Published: September 2013

This paper proposes optimal super-hedging and sub-hedging strategies for a derivative on two underlying assets without any specification of the underlying processes. Moreover, the strategies are free from any model of the dependency between the underlying asset prices. We derive the optimal pricing bounds by finding a joint distribution under which the derivative price is equal to the hedging portfolio's value; the portfolio consists of liquid derivatives on each of the underlying assets. As examples, we obtain new super-hedging and sub-hedging strategies for several exotic options such as quanto options, exchange options, basket options, forward starting options, and knock-out options.
Reaching Economies of Scale to Be a Viable Ongoing Entity
Authors: Long Michael S. , Wijeyaratne Isuru Devaka
Published: September 2013

This paper empirically considers economies of scale that firms must reach to be considered viable ongoing entities. These are estimated from the selling prices of actual firms in two broad industries — service and manufacturing. For service firms, the minimum size is $10 million in annual revenues and for manufacturing firms, it is smaller at $6 million in sales to reach economies of scale.

Traditional economic theory considers firms becoming more efficient with increasing size until they reach an optimal economy of scale. Until they reach that size, we show that they cannot be considered truly ongoing firms and cannot be valued directly as the present value of future earnings. When firms are also independent of their owner/manager, we consider that a viable ongoing entity exists.
Effects of Industry Clusters on Company Competitiveness: Special Economic Zones in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Maw-Shin , Lai Yung-Lung , Lin Feng-Jyh
Published: September 2013

According to the Global Competitiveness Report released by the WEF in 2007–2009, Taiwan has been ranked No. 1 in the assessment of industry cluster developments for three consecutive years. It is one of the success stories in the worldwide development of innovation and industry clusters furthermore the creation and driven Taiwan economics development of benchmark is special economic zones. This paper examines the special economic zones and performs an empirical study on industry clusters and company competitiveness. A questionnaire survey is conducted and the statistics are regressed and analyzed. The purpose is to explore the strategic resources of industry clusters in special economic zones, the relationship with company clusters and the effects on company performance. The study finds that the strategic resources of clusters in special economic zones are indeed a key factor that influences the relationship with industry clusters and also enhance enterprise competitive advantage. All the hypotheses are supported. The study also proves that the resources and relationships associated with industry clusters have impacts on company performance and can enhance company competitiveness.
DYNAMIC PROPAGATION OF SNAP-THROUGH BUCKLING IN TENSEGRITY STRUCTURES
Authors: SHEKASTEHBAND B. , ABEDI K.
Published: September 2013

Tensegrity structures under certain conditions may be prone to snap-through buckling. The temporary loss of equilibrium due to snap-through normally results in a dynamic force being applied to each node associated with the snap-through. This paper presents a numerical study on the progressive collapse behavior of tensegrity structures due to the buckling of struts. Emphasis is given to the dynamic nature of the coupled member and nodal snap-through effects on the overall structural behavior. Member buckling is taken into consideration by carefully following the buckling load–displacement response of the member. It is assumed that the structure is subjected only to static gravitational load. Results of the present study allow one to assess the effects of various design parameters such as self-stress levels, effective-length factor of struts and damping characteristics on the propagation of snap-through buckling in these structures. The conclusions, drawn from this study, lead to the suggestion of some guidelines and recommendations for the design of such structures.
COMMITMENT AS A CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR FOR MANAGING COMPLEX MULTINATIONAL PROJECTS
Authors: THAMHAIN HANS J.
Published: September 2013

Commitment from all stakeholders is a critical condition for project success, especially for complex and multinational undertakings that involve intricate networks of resource and power sharing. This paper examines the challenges of building and sustaining commitment in culturally diverse global teams. The results of this field study identify (1) the components of commitment in various stakeholder groups, (2) the drivers and barriers to obtaining and sustaining commitment, and (3) the leadership style most conducive to fostering an organizational environment for high levels of project ownership and commitment to established project objectives. The findings provide an insight into the factors which influence team behavior and performance in complex multinational work environments, and a framework for assessing project leadership and managerial effectiveness. The paper concludes with specific suggestions for enhancing commitment within project organizations, its team members and partners.
ASSESSING ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS FOR INNOVATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INNOVATIVENESS
Authors: UZKURT CEVAHIR , KUMAR RACHNA , ENSARI NURCAN
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify and present the key organizational characteristics of innovativeness which will provide an organization a better assessment of their readiness for innovation. An extensive examination of the existing literature was performed to identify the gaps in research on innovativeness, and to generate candidate characteristics for assessing an organization's readiness for innovation. The research employed focus groups with managers and professionals in an exploratory study as the first step in developing a measure for assessing characteristics for organizational innovativeness. A content analysis of the results revealed five underlying characteristics for organizational innovativeness. The most frequently cited characteristics were innovative organizational culture, structure and climate. This was followed by leadership and management style that support innovation, organizational support to innovate and change, creative human capital, and learning orientation and knowledge management respectively. These results are consistent with the existing literature in this area. Our results provide an important contribution to the developing body of innovation literature, and provide implications for organizations interested in assessing their readiness to innovate.
HOUSEHOLD SERVICE ROBOT WITH CELLPHONE INTERFACE
Authors: HAN LONG , WU XINYU , OU YONGSHENG , CHEN YEN-LUN , CHEN CHUNJIE , XU YANGSHENG
Published: September 2013

In this paper, an efficient and low-cost cellphone-commandable mobile manipulation system is described. Aiming at house and elderly caring, this system can be easily commanded through common cellphone network to efficiently grasp objects in household environment, utilizing several low-cost off-the-shelf devices. Unlike the visual servo technology using high quality vision system with high cost, the household-service robot may not afford to such high quality vision servo system, and thus it is essential to use some of low-cost device. However, it is extremely challenging to have the said vision for precise localization, as well as motion control. To tackle this challenge, we developed a realtime vision system with which a reliable grasping algorithm combining machine vision, robotic kinematics and motor control technology is presented. After the target is captured by the arm camera, the arm camera keeps tracking the target while the arm keeps stretching until the end effector reaches the target. However, if the target is not captured by the arm camera, the arm will take a move to help the arm camera capture the target under the guidance of the head camera. This algorithm is implemented on two robot systems: the one with a fixed base and another with a mobile base. The results demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of the algorithm and system we developed, and the study shown in this paper is of significance in developing a service robot in modern household environment.
RESEARCH OF PRINTING QUALITY DETECTION BASED ON IMAGE RESTORATION
Authors: TAN ZHIYING , LUO MINZHOU , FENG YONG , ZHUANG XIAOMING , SONG XIAOBO
Published: September 2013

When kernel methods are applied to detect the defection, there is a need to select the training samples, because kernel methods are based on the statistical learning theory. To extract the defects, the pre-image is calculated. In this paper, a sampling algorithm based on the alignment is designed to improve the calculation efficiency, where kernel alignment can measure the similarity between different kernel functions and matrices. A local linear algorithm is proposed to calculate the pre-image. When obtain the 0–1 difference image, an algorithm is designed to determine whether there are defects. An algorithm is designed to calculate the center coordinates and the areas of defects in the 0–1 image. Using this method, the accuracy of detection can be improved, because the method can remove the effect from recovery errors. When using the algorithms on a data set of printing products, the experiment results show that the detection results are more accurately than using the difference matrix.
AN ELASTOPLASTIC CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR POROUS MATERIALS
Authors: HUANG ZHUPING , CHEN YONGQIANG , BAI SHU-LIN
Published: September 2013

A micromechanics-based elastoplastic constitutive model for porous materials is proposed. With an assumption of modified three-dimensional Ramberg–Osgood equation for the compressible matrix material, the variational principle based on a linear comparison composite is applied to study the effective mechanical properties of the porous materials. Analytical expressions of elastoplastic constitutive relations are derived by means of micromechanics principles and homogenization procedures. It is demonstrated that the derived expressions do not involve any additional material constants to be fitted with experimental data. The model can be useful in the prediction of mechanical properties of elastoplastic porous solids.
Peripheral cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity in cardiovascular disease: role of neuropeptides
Authors: Shanks Julia , Herring Neil
Published: September 2013

High levels of sympathetic drive in several cardiovascular diseases including postmyocardial infarction, chronic congestive heart failure and hypertension are reinforced through dysregulation of afferent input and central integration of autonomic balance. However, recent evidence suggests that a significant component of sympathetic hyperactivity may also reside peripherally at the level of the postganglionic neuron. This has been studied in depth using the spontaneously hypertensive rat, an animal model of genetic essential hypertension, where larger neuronal calcium transients, increased release and impaired reuptake of norepinephrine in neurons of the stellate ganglia lead to a significant tachycardia even before hypertension has developed. The release of additional sympathetic cotransmitters during high levels of sympathetic drive can also have deleterious consequences for peripheral cardiac parasympathetic neurotransmission even in the presence of β-adrenergic blockade. Stimulation of the cardiac vagus reduces heart rate, lowers myocardial oxygen demand, improves coronary blood flow, and independently raises ventricular fibrillation threshold. Recent data demonstrates a direct action of the sympathetic cotransmitters neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin on the ability of the vagus to release acetylcholine and control heart rate. Moreover, there is as a strong correlation between plasma NPY levels and coronary microvascular function in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction being treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Antagonists of the NPY receptors Y1 and Y2 may be therapeutically beneficial both acutely during myocardial infarction and also during chronic heart failure and hypertension. Such medications would be expected to act synergistically with β-blockers and implantable vagus nerve stimulators to improve patient outcome.
Assessment of impaired vascular reactivity in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy: effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on intrarenal diffusion and oxygenation measured by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Hueper Katja , Hartung Dagmar , Gutberlet Marcel , Gueler Faikah , Sann Holger , Husen Bettina , Wacker Frank , Reiche Dania
Published: September 2013

Diabetes is associated with impaired vascular reactivity and the development of diabetic nephropathy. In a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy, the effects of systemic nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition on intrarenal diffusion and oxygenation were determined by noninvasive magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and blood O2 level-dependent (BOLD) imaging, respectively. Eight weeks after the induction of diabetes, 21 rats [ n = 7 rats each in the untreated control group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group, and DM with uninephrectomy (DM UNX) group] were examined by MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging and BOLD sequences were acquired before and after NO synthesis inhibition with N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). In the same rats, mean arterial pressure and vascular conductance were determined with and without the influence of l-NAME. In control animals, NO synthesis inhibition was associated with a significant increase of mean arterial pressure of 33.8 ± 4.3 mmHg ( P < 0.001) and a decrease of vascular conductance of −17.8 ± 2.0 μl·min−1·100 mmHg−1 ( P < 0.001). These changes were attenuated in both DM and DM UNX groups with no significant difference between before and after l-NAME measurements in DM UNX animals. Similarly, l-NAME challenge induced a significant reduction of renal transverse relaxation time (T2*) at MRI in control animals, indicating reduced renal oxygenation after l-NAME injection compared with baseline. DM UNX animals did not show a significant T2* reduction after NO synthesis inhibition in the renal cortex and attenuated T2* reduction in the outer medulla. MRI parameters of tissue diffusion were not affected by l-NAME in all groups. In conclusion, BOLD imaging proved valuable to noninvasively measure renal vascular reactivity upon NO synthesis inhibition in control animals and to detect impaired vascular reactivity in animals with diabetic nephropathy.
Discharge regularity in the turtle posterior crista: comparisons between experiment and theory
Authors: Goldberg Jay M. , Holt Joseph C.
Published: September 2013

Intra-axonal recordings were made from bouton fibers near their termination in the turtle posterior crista. Spike discharge, miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs), and afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) were monitored during resting activity in both regularly and irregularly discharging units. Quantal size (qsize) and quantal rate (qrate) were estimated by shot-noise theory. Theoretically, the ratio, σV/(dμV/d t), between synaptic noise (σV) and the slope of the mean voltage trajectory (dμV/d t) near threshold crossing should determine discharge regularity. AHPs are deeper and more prolonged in regular units; as a result, dμV/d t is larger, the more regular the discharge. The qsize is larger and qrate smaller in irregular units; these oppositely directed trends lead to little variation in σV with discharge regularity. Of the two variables, dμV/d t is much more influential than the nearly constant σV in determining regularity. Sinusoidal canal-duct indentations at 0.3 Hz led to modulations in spike discharge and synaptic voltage. Gain, the ratio between the amplitudes of the two modulations, and phase leads re indentation of both modulations are larger in irregular units. Gain variations parallel the sensitivity of the postsynaptic spike encoder, the set of conductances that converts synaptic input into spike discharge. Phase variations reflect both synaptic inputs to the encoder and postsynaptic processes. Experimental data were interpreted using a stochastic integrate-and-fire model. Advantages of an irregular discharge include an enhanced encoder gain and the prevention of nonlinear phase locking. Regular and irregular units are more efficient, respectively, in the encoding of low- and high-frequency head rotations, respectively.