bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keloids: Scar Revision
Authors: BROWN LOUIS A. , PIERCE HAROLD E.
Published: June 2013

Abstract
The treatment of keloids can be a long‐term, and at times, vexing, dermatologic surgical management problem arising in both white and non‐white patients. This paper reviews a number of conventional, as well as novel, therapeutic approaches for the management of this disease of uncontrolled scar growth. Additionally, fundamental aspects of this disease are covered, including clinical, histologic, biochemical, immunologic, endocrinologic, and epidemiologic factors.

An understanding of these latter aspects may be useful to the clinician in realizing the best possible therapeutic results. It must be emphasized that, regardless of the technique employed, an observation period of at least 2 years is necessary to effectively limit the chance and degree of recurrence.
Histologic Response to Intradermal Zyderm and Zyplast (Glutaraldehyde Cross‐Linked) Collagen in Humans
Authors: KLIGMAN ALBERT M. , ARMSTRONG ROSA C.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Biopsies were periodically taken over 6 months from sites injected intradermally with purified bovine collagen, Zyderm collagen implant, and a similar collagen, cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde, Zyplast implant. The ultimate fate of the implants differed. Zyderm collagen was dispersed among host collagen fibers and gradually lost the appearance of a cohesive implant. By 90 days, the injected material could not be detected and was presumably resorbed, without becoming colonized by host fibroblasts. In contrast, the cross‐linked implant remained as distinct foci for 3 to 6 months accompanied by massing of fibroblasts around the periphery. These fibroblasts subsequently invaded the implant and provoked an inflammatory reaction which replaced the implant by new host collagen. The fine collagen bundles in parallel arrays along with many small blood vessels were deposited in the site formerly occupied by the implant. These findings indicate that Zyplast collagen might provide longer‐lasting correction of soft tissue defects.
Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Skin Managed by Microscopically Controlled Surgery (Mohs Surgery)
Authors: LANG PEARON G. , METCALF JOHN S. , MAIZE JOHN C.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. A patient with recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skin managed by Mohs surgery is reported. The histopathologic features and differential diagnosis of this tumor are reviewed. Mohs surgery appears to be an ideal way to manage this neoplasm since recurrences after routine excision are common and metastases are uncommon.
Dermabrasion‐Loo‐Punch‐Excision Technique for the Treatment of Acne‐Induced Osteoma Cutis
Authors: FULTON JAMES E.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Three patients with chronic osteoma cutis secondary to acne vulgaris were treated with the dermabra‐sion‐Loo‐punch‐excision technique. Under regional nerve block with lidocaine‐bipuvacaine (50:50) a uniform der‐mabrasion was performed across the entire face, including the hairline and 1 cm below the jawline. This exposed the foci of osteoma cutis. Then the appropriate sized Loo punch (usually the 2.0‐ or the 2.5‐mm punch) was used to excise the bluish‐gray miliary lesions. The majority of the foci were removed in one operation. Following excision, the lesions were closed with 7‐0 prolene suture. To prevent crust formation postoperatively, Aloe‐vera‐soaked polyethylene oxide gel dressings (Vigilon) were changed twice daily following an ice water compress. Sutures were removed rapidly in 5 to 7 days to prevent the appearance of suture lines. Although one patient required an additional procedure, the cosmetic results were excellent. Only a few small residual blue “dot” lesions remained in these three cases.
A Histologic Evaluation of the Effects of Skin Refrigerants in an Animal Model
Authors: HANKE C. WILLIAM , O'BRIAN JEFFREY J.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. The effects of a number of commonly used skin refrigerants were studied in controlled freezing experiments on guinea pig skin. Frigiderm and Fluro Ethyl produced very little effect on the skin compared to colder preparations such as Cryosthesia ‐30°C and Cryosthesia ‐60°C.
Dressings for Dermabrasion: New Aspects
Authors: PINSKI JAMES BERNARD
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Occlusive dressings reduce healing time by up to 50% over air‐exposed wounds. Biobrane (Woodroof, Santa Ana, CA), a biosynthetic wound dressing which is maintenance free, shortens wound healing, and results in less erythema and milia formation, appears to be the wound dressing best suited for dermabrasion.
Residency and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Weight Status and Lifestyle Behaviors Among US Youth
Authors: Kenney Mary Kay , Wang Jing , Iannotti Ron
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Elevated risk for obesity is found in rural environments and in some minority populations. It is unclear whether living in rural or nonmetropolitan areas and being a minority compound the risk of obesity beyond that of either factor acting alone. Our purpose was to examine adolescent obesity in light of the potential concomitant influences of race/ethnicity, residency, and obesity‐related lifestyle behaviors.

Methods

We assessed obesity prevalence, physical activity, consumption of fatty snack foods, and screen time in 8,363 US adolescents based on variation in race/ethnicity and residency. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were used to: (1) calculate race‐ and residency‐based rates of obesity and obesity‐related lifestyle behaviors and (2) generate race‐ and residency‐based obesity odds ratios as a function of those same behaviors.

Findings

The results indicated that nonmetropolitan black youth had the highest risk of obesity (26%), rate of consuming fatty snack foods on more than 2 days/week (86%), and rate of spending more than 2 hours/day in screen time (91%) compared to white metropolitan youth. Compared to their metropolitan counterparts, black nonmetropolitan youth had greater odds of being obese if they exercised less than daily (1.71 times), ate fatty snack foods on more than 2 days/week (1.65 times), or spent more than 2 hours/day in screen time (1.64 times).

Conclusions

Race/ethnicity and residency may have a compounding effect on the risk of obesity. Prevention and intervention must be viewed in a socioecological framework that recognizes the importance of culture and community on obesity‐related behaviors.
Light noble gases in 12 meteorites from the Omani desert, Australia, Mauritania, Canada, and Sweden
Authors: Leya I. , Ammon K. , Cosarinsky M. , Dalcher N. , Gnos E. , Hofmann B. , Huber L.
Published: June 2013

We measured the concentrations and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar in 14 fragments from 12 different meteorites: three carbonaceous chondrites, six L chondrites (three most likely paired), one H chondrite, one R chondrite, and one ungrouped chondrite. The data obtained for the CV3 chondrites Ramlat as Sahmah (RaS) 221 and RaS 251 support the hypothesis of exposure age peaks for CV chondrites at approximately 9 Ma and 27 Ma. The exposure age for Shişr 033 (CR chondrite) of 7.3 Ma is also indicative of a possible CR chondrite exposure age peak. The three L chondrites Jiddat al Harasis (JaH) 091, JaH 230, and JaH 296, which are most likely paired, fall together with Hallingeberg into the L chondrite exposure age peak of approximately 15 Ma. The two L chondrites Shelburne and Lake Torrens fall into the peaks at approximately 40 Ma and 5 Ma, respectively. The ages for Bassikounou (H chondrite) and RaS 201 (R chondrite) are approximately 3.5 Ma and 5.8 Ma, respectively. Six of the studied meteorites show clear evidence for 3He diffusive losses, the deficits range from approximately 17% for one Lake Torrens aliquot to approximately 45% for RaS 211. The three carbonaceous chondrites RaS 221, RaS 251, and Shişr 033 all have excess 4He, either of planetary or solar origin. However, very high 4He/20Ne ratios occur at relatively low 20Ne/22Ne ratios, which is unexpected and needs further study. The measured 40Ar ages fit well into established systematics. They are between 2.5 and 4.5 Ga for the carbonaceous chondrites, older than 3.6 Ga for the L and H chondrites, and about 2.4 Ga for the R chondrite as well as for the ungrouped chondrite. Interestingly, none of our studied L chondrites has been degassed in the 470 Ma break‐up event. Using the amount of trapped 36Ar as a proxy for noble gas contamination due to terrestrial weathering we are able to demonstrate that the samples studied here are not or only very slightly affected by terrestrial weathering (at least in terms of their noble gas budget).
Maternal milk DHA content predicts cognitive performance in a sample of 28 nations
Authors: Lassek William Day , Gaulin Steven J.C.
Published: June 2013

Convergent evidence from neuronal biology and hominin brain hypertrophy suggests that omega‐3 fatty acids are a limiting resource for neural and cognitive development in Homo sapiens, and therefore that children from populations with higher omega‐3 availability should display superior cognitive performance. Using multiple regression, we tested this prediction in a sample of 28 countries, with Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) math scores in 2009 as an index of cognitive performance, and country‐specific breast milk levels of omega‐3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as an index of omega‐3 availability. Breast milk DHA makes a highly significant contribution to math scores (β = 0.462, P = 0.006), greater in magnitude than the control variables of per capita Gross Domestic Product (PCGDP) and educational expenditures per pupil. Together, dietary fish (positively) and total fat (negatively) explain 61% of the variance in maternal milk DHA in a larger sample of 39 countries.
A prospective study of maternal fatty acids, micronutrients and homocysteine and their association with birth outcome
Authors: Wadhwani Nisha S. , Pisal Hemlata R. , Mehendale Savita S. , Joshi Sadhana R.
Published: June 2013

Our earlier studies both in animals and in humans have indicated that micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12) and long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are interlinked in the one‐carbon cycle, which plays an important role in fetal ‘programming’ of adult diseases. The present study examines the levels of maternal and cord plasma fatty acids, maternal folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine in healthy mothers at various time points during pregnancy and also examine an association between them. A longitudinal study of 106 normal pregnant women was carried out, and maternal blood was collected at three time points, viz., T1 = 16–20th week, T2 = 26–30th week and T3 = at delivery. Cord blood was collected at delivery. Fatty acids were estimated using a gas chromatograph. Levels of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine were estimated by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) technology. Maternal plasma folate (P < 0.05), vitamin B12 (P < 0.01) and DHA (P < 0.05) levels were lowest, while maternal homocysteine levels were highest (P < 0.01) at T3. There was a negative association between maternal DHA and homocysteine at T2 (P < 0.05) and T3 (P < 0.01). There was a positive association between plasma DHA in maternal blood at T3 and cord blood. Furthermore, there was a positive association between maternal folate and vitamin B12 at T3 and baby weight, whereas maternal homocysteine at T1 were inversely associated with baby weight at delivery. Our study provides evidence for the associations of folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine with DHA and baby weight, suggesting that a balanced dietary supplementation of folate–vitamin B12–DHA during pregnancy may be beneficial.
Effect of complementary feeding with lipid‐based nutrient supplements and corn–soy blend on the incidence of stunting and linear growth among 6‐ to 18‐month‐old infants and children in ruralMalawi
Authors: Mangani Charles , Maleta Kenneth , Phuka John , Cheung Yin Bun , Thakwalakwa Chrissie , Dewey Kathryn , Manary Mark , Puumalainen Taneli , Ashorn Per
Published: June 2013

Low nutritional value of complementary foods is associated with high incidence of childhood growth stunting in low‐income countries. This study was done to test a hypothesis that dietary complementation with lipid‐based nutrient supplements (LNS) promotes linear growth and reduces the incidence of severe stunting among at‐risk infants. A total of 840 6‐month‐old healthy infants in ruralMalawi were enrolled to a randomised assessor‐blinded trial. The participants received 12‐month supplementation with nothing, milk–LNS, soy–LNS, or corn–soy blend (CSB). Supplements provided micronutrients and approximately 280 kcal energy per day. Outcomes were incidence of severe and very severe stunting [length‐for‐agez‐score, (LAZ) < −3.00 and <−3.50, respectively], and change inLAZ. The incidence of severe stunting was 11.8%, 8.2%, 9.1% and 15.5% (P = 0.098) and that of very severe stunting 7.4%, 2.9%, 8.0% and 6.4% (P = 0.138) in control, milk–LNS, soy–LNSandCSBgroups, respectively. Between 9 and 12 months of age, the mean change inLAZwas −0.15, −0.02, −0.12 and −0.18 (P = 0.045) for control, milk–LNS, soy–LNSandCSBgroups, respectively. There was no significant between‐group difference in linear growth during other age‐intervals. Although participants who received milk–LNShad the lowest incidence of severe and very severe stunting, the differences between the groups were smaller than expected. Thus, the results do not provide conclusive evidence on a causal association between theLNSsupplementation and the lower incidence of stunting. Exploratory analyses suggest that provision of milk–LNS, but not soy–LNSpromotes linear growth among at‐risk infants mainly between 9 and 12 months of age.
The Training of Jobseekers by Non‐profit Organizations: An Analysis Based on Data from the Upper Normandy Region of France
Authors: Bailly Franck , Chapelle Karine
Published: June 2013

There is now an extensive academic literature on non‐profit organizations (NPOs). The hypothesis that these organizations are different from for‐profit organizations (FPOs) is one that is frequently adopted. Nevertheless, a number of recent studies have suggested that many factors may cause NPOs to lose their specificity. The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of these variables empirically with regard to the continuing training sector. Our results lead us to conclude that, while some of these variables do indeed have an impact on the behavior of NPOs, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that they do behave differently from FPOs.
Hardcore Re‐visioned: Reading and Misreading in Sonic Youth, 1987–8
Authors: Heetderks David
Published: June 2013

This article uses Harold Bloom's concept of revision, defined as a reading that is simultaneously a re‐interpretation, to examine how the alternative band Sonic Youth transformed the hardcore style. Sonic Youth embraced hardcore in the early 1980s as a means of expanding beyond their no‐wave origins, but because of a cultural gulf between them and other hardcore bands, their successful appropriation of hardcore necessarily involved fragmentation and ironic reversal of its stylistic elements, combined with formally unorthodox means of re‐integrating those elements.

Examining lyrics, scalar subsets, gestural motions on the guitar, timbre, references to formal archetypes and cues for pitch centricity, this article shows revision in two Sonic Youth songs from the late 1980s. ‘Silver Rocket’ (1988) fragments riffs characteristic of hardcore and substitutes a large‐scale constructive principle for musical narrative in its verse and chorus. ‘White Kross’ (1987) transforms hardcore's characteristic stance against authority, creating instead a sense of internal conflict both lyrically and musically. I present the analyses in order to provide a foundation for examining other post‐punk songs and explaining Sonic Youth's cultural significance in the alternative‐rock scene.
Indole‐3‐butyric acid induces lateral root formation via peroxisome‐derived indole‐3‐acetic acid and nitric oxide
Authors: Schlicht Markus , Ludwig‐Müller Jutta , Burbach Christian , Volkmann Dieter , Baluska Frantisek
Published: June 2013

Controlled plant growth requires regulation through a variety of signaling molecules, including steroids, peptides, radicals of oxygen and nitrogen, as well as the ‘classical’ phytohormone groups. Auxin is critical for the control of plant growth and also orchestrates many developmental processes, such as the formation of new roots. It modulates root architecture both slowly, through actions at the transcriptional level and, more rapidly, by mechanisms targeting primarily plasma membrane sensory systems and intracellular signaling pathways. The latter reactions use several second messengers, including Ca2+, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Here, we investigated the different roles of two auxins, the major auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and another endogenous auxin indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA), in the lateral root formation process of Arabidopsis and maize. This was mainly analyzed by different types of fluorescence microscopy and inhibitors of NO production.

This study revealed that peroxisomal IBA to IAA conversion is followed by peroxisomal NO, which is important for IBA‐induced lateral root formation.

We conclude that peroxisomal NO emerges as a new player in auxin‐induced root organogenesis. In particular, the spatially and temporally coordinated release of NO and IAA from peroxisomes is behind the strong promotion of lateral root formation via IBA.
Fiscal Foresight, Limited Information and the Effects of Government Spending Shocks
Authors: Fragetta Matteo , Gasteiger Emanuel
Published: June 2013

We quantify the impact of government spending shocks in the US. Thereby, we control for fiscal foresight, a specific limited information problem (LIP) by utilizing the narrative approach. Moreover, we surmount the generic LIP inherent in vector autoregressions (VARs) by a factor‐augmented VAR (FAVAR) approach. We find that a positive deficit‐financed defence shock raises output by more than in a VAR (e.g. 2.61 vs. 2.04 for peak multipliers). Furthermore, our evidence suggests that consumption is crowded in. These results are robust to variants of controlling for fiscal foresight and reveal the crucial role of the LIP in fiscal VARs.
First Step in Social Media: Measuring the Influence of Online Management Responses on Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Gu Bin , Ye Qiang
Published: June 2013

With the growing influence of online social media, firms increasingly take an active role in interacting with consumers in social media. For many firms, their first step in online social media is management responses, where the management responds to customers' comments about the firm or its products and services. In this article, we measure the impact of management responses on customer satisfaction using data retrieved from a major online travel agency in China. Applying a panel data model that controls for regression toward the mean and heterogeneity in individual preference for hotels, we find that online management responses are highly effective among low satisfaction customers but have limited influence on other customers. Moreover, we show that the public nature of online management responses introduces a new dynamic among customers. Although online management responses increase future satisfaction of the complaining customers who receive the responses, they decrease future satisfaction of complaining customers who observe but do not receive management responses. The result is consistent with the peer‐induced fairness theory.
Changes in villus‐like projections of corneocytes from the facial skin in normal infants with or without infantile eczema; useful parameter to assess barrier function
Authors: Naoko Ota , Satoshi Hirakawa , Fukuyoshi Mori , Mitsuyoshi Honda
Published: June 2013

Background/Purpose

Skin barrier function changes rapidly during the first year of life in infants. Measuring skin barrier function in infants is difficult because of the burden on patients and their parents or guardians. A simple method for assessing barrier function in infants that can be performed quickly and would enable swift treatment and skin care management.

Methods

We used laser microscopy to investigate villus‐like projections (VPs) observed on the lower surface of corneocytes obtained on tape strips from 18 normal Japanese infants at the ages of 1, 3, and 6 months. We also performed transepidermal water loss and corneocyte size measurements. A dermatologist clinically assessed the cutaneous findings. We rapidly measured skin barrier function changes during the first 6 months of life in infants.

Results

During the study period, very slight erythema and pityriasis were the primary reasons for skin rash, which were generally most severe at 3 months. The results showed that barrier function declined at approximately 3 months of age in nearly all subjects. Therefore, we found that normal barrier function of infantile skin becomes temporarily impaired after birth.

Conclusion

We conclude that even in patients with very mild skin rashes, multiple objective indices of skin barrier function deteriorate simultaneously. Observation of VPs on the surface of corneocytes using laser microscopy is a rapid, painless, and effective method of monitoring skin barrier function in infants, and VP score offers a useful index for assessing barrier function.
An objective assessment of melanin in vitiligo skin treated with Balneo PUVA therapy
Authors: Hegyi V. , Petrovajová M. , Novotný M.
Published: June 2013

Background

Visual clinical methods of skin color evaluation for diagnostic purposes are so far mostly subjective and thus inaccurate. We present a modified method of melanin amount measurement based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). This method is non‐invasive and objective, and allows easy quantification and comparison of melanin levels.

Material and methods

Skin pigmentation was measured by DRS method in 0‐18 year old patients at the Department of Pediatric Dermatovenerology, School of Medicine Comenius University Bratislava. Patients were treated for their vitiligo by Balneo PUVA treatment twice weekly. Each patient had measured his remittance spectra from the treated vitiliginous skin before the treatment was started, after 10 irradiations of Balneo PUVA and at the end of the treatment after 25 irradiations of Balneo PUVA. In our study as a reference skin for spectroscopic assessment of melanin in vivo was used the averaged remittance spectra (measured on the inner arm) from the sample of 10 albino patients. The remittance spectra obtained from the vitiligo patients were ratioed against the newly described remittance reference albino skin. We exploited the linear behavior of the spectral curve in the 620‐720 nm interval (significant for melanin absorption) and used the slope of the regression line to compute the quantification index α.

Results

By clinical examination before the Balneo PUVA therapy, after the 10th dose of Balneo PUVA therapy as well as at the end of the complete course of Balneo PUVA therapy (after 25 irradiations) we recorded a marked increase of pigmentation in all treated patients for their vitiligo. In each patient the values of melanin quantification angle α were calculated. Statistically we found a significant difference between the melanin quantification angle α in vitiliginous skin before, during the 10th dose of treatment and after the treatment. Similar significant difference was also observed between treated and non‐involved skin. We could confirm a clear association between clinical visual examination of treated vitiligo lesions, objective data collected by DRS and melanin quantification angle α.

Conclusions

By using a new standard for the reference skin (albino skin) we could more exactly compare melanin levels in different subjects. Our proposed melanin quantification angle α expresses the extent of the difference in melanin levels between the examined skin lesions. We successfully used this index to quantify the variations of melanin (progress of repigmentation) throughout different stages of treatment of the same lesion and also to objectively evaluate the final effect of the therapy. In the present study, we showed that the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) may be suitable method to measure skin colour and the content of human skin melanin in vivo.
Ustilago maydis reprograms cell proliferation in maize anthers
Authors: Gao Li , Kelliher Timothy , Nguyen Linda , Walbot Virginia
Published: June 2013

The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is a ubiquitous pathogen of maize (Zea mays), one of the world's most important cereal crops. Infection by this smut fungus triggers tumor formation in aerial plant parts within which the fungus sporulates. Using confocal microscopy to track U. maydis infection on corn anthers for 7 days post‐injection, we found that U. maydis is located on the epidermis during the first 2 days, and has reached all anther lobe cell types by 3 days post‐injection. Fungal infection alters cell‐fate specification events, cell division patterns, host cell expansion and host cell senescence, depending on the developmental stage and cell type. Fungal effects on tassel and plant growth were also quantified. Transcriptome profiling using a dual organism microarray identified thousands of anther genes affected by fungal infection at 3 days post‐injection during the cell‐fate specification and rapid cell proliferation phases of anther development. In total, 4147 (17%) of anther‐expressed genes were altered by infection, 2018 fungal genes were expressed in anthers, and 206 fungal secretome genes may be anther‐specific. The results confirm that U. maydis deploys distinct genes to cause disease in specific maize organs, and suggest mechanisms by which the host plant is manipulated to generate a tumor.
Molecular characterization of canine BCR‐ABL–positive chronic myelomonocytic leukemia before and after chemotherapy
Authors: Culver Sarah , Ito Daisuke , Borst Luke , Bell Jerold S. , Modiano Jaime F. , Breen Matthew
Published: June 2013

Genetic aberrations linked to tumorigenesis have been identified in both canine and human hematopoietic malignancies. While the response of human patients to cancer treatments is often evaluated using cytogenetic techniques, this approach has not been used for dogs with comparable neoplasias. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the applicability of cytogenetic techniques to evaluate the cytogenetic response of canine leukemia to chemotherapy. Cytology and flow cytometric techniques were used to diagnose chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in a dog. High‐resolution oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (oaCGH) and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to identify and characterize DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs) and targeted structural chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood WBC at the time of diagnosis and following one week of chemotherapy. At the time of diagnosis, oaCGH indicated the presence of 22 distinct CNAs, of which trisomy of dog chromosome 7 (CFA 7) was the most evident. FISH analysis revealed that this CNA was present in 42% of leukemic cells; in addition, a breakpoint cluster region‐Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog (BCR‐ABL) translocation was evident in 17.3% of cells. After one week of treatment, the percentage of cells affected by trisomy of CFA7 and BCR‐ABL translocation was reduced to 2% and 3.3%, respectively. Chromosome aberrations in canine leukemic cells may be monitored by molecular cytogenetic techniques to demonstrate cytogenetic remission following treatment. Further understanding of the genetic aberrations involved in canine leukemia may be crucial to improve treatment protocols.
Investigation of a High-Temperature Packed-Bed Sensible Heat Thermal Energy Storage System With Large-Sized Elements
Authors: Kuravi Sarada , Trahan Jamie , Goswami Yogi , Jotshi Chand , Stefanakos Elias , Goel Nitin
Published: June 2013

A high-temperature, sensible heat thermal energy storage (TES) system is designed for use in a central receiver concentrating solar power plant. Air is used as the heat transfer fluid and solid bricks made out of a high storage density material are used for storage. Experiments were performed using a laboratory-scale TES prototype system, and the results are presented. The air inlet temperature was varied between 300 °C to 600 °C, and the flow rate was varied from 50 cubic feet per minute (CFM) to 90 CFM. It was found that the charging time decreases with increase in mass flow rate. A 1D packed-bed model was used to simulate the thermal performance of the system and was validated with the experimental results. Unsteady 1D energy conservation equations were formulated for combined convection and conduction heat transfer and solved numerically for charging/discharging cycles. Appropriate heat transfer and pressure drop correlations from prior literature were identified. A parametric study was done by varying the bed dimensions, fluid flow rate, particle diameter, and porosity to evaluate the charging/discharging characteristics, overall thermal efficiency, and capacity ratio of the system.
Optimization of the Mass Flow Rate Distribution of an Open Volumetric Air Receiver
Authors: Ahlbrink Nils , Andersson Joel , Diehl Moritz , Pitz-Paal Robert
Published: June 2013

The thermodynamical efficiency of a solar power tower power plant with an open volumetric air receiver depends among others on the operational strategy of the receiver. This strategy includes, on the one hand, controlling the distribution of irradiated power on the receiver surface via aim point optimization, and on the other hand, controlling the air mass flow rate and its distribution by choosing suitable dimensions of fixed orifices and controlling air flaps. The maximum mass flow rate of the receiver as an indication of the thermal power is commonly used as a quality function when assessing new component designs, comparing different operational strategies, or evaluating the role of aim point optimization for the open volumetric air receiver technology. In this paper, a method is presented to maximize the mass flow rate of the receiver using given technical capabilities of the receiver technology like orifices and air flaps for a desired air outlet temperature of the receiver. The method is based on dynamic programming, a general technique for solving decision making problems where a complex problem can be split up into a sequence of simpler ones. The potential of the method is demonstrated for a prototype solar thermal power tower with open volumetric air receiver technology.
Assembling Creative Teams in New Product Development Using Creative Team Familiarity
Authors: Sosa Manuel E. , Marle Franck
Published: June 2013

Creativity is strongly influenced by the way individuals are organized. One of the most difficult and important challenges when managing innovation is to identify the individuals within an organization who must work closely with each other to maximize the generation of creative ideas. This paper aims to inform managers of new product development (NPD) organizations about forming creative teams. To do so, we extend the notion of team familiarity (i.e., the extent to which team members have worked together before becoming members of a team) by considering the quality of past interactions. We define creative team familiarity as the degree to which team members have triggered the generation of creative ideas in one another during task-related interactions prior to joining the team. This paper argues that a high level of creative team familiarity (rather than simply a high level of team familiarity) is positively associated with a team's capability to produce innovative outcomes. We test this hypothesis in a unique empirical setting involving participants in an international executive MBA program. We also illustrate the implications of our findings by identifying members in a real NPD organization who would form a creative task force with maximum level of creative team familiarity.
GPR15 Gets T
regs
to Guard the Gut
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: June 2013

A G protein–coupled receptor helps to localize regulatory T cells in the large intestine.
Pruning Dendrites with Calcium
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: June 2013

Localized calcium influx induces developmental dendrite pruning.
In Vitro
Activity of Retapamulin against Staphylococcus aureus Resistant to Various Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Saravolatz Louis D. , Pawlak Joan , Saravolatz Stephanie N. , Johnson Leonard B.
Published: June 2013

Retapamulin and six other antimicrobial agents were evaluated against 155 methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) isolates, including strains resistant to vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, and mupirocin by microdilution tests. Time-kill assays were performed against representative MRSA, vancomycin-intermediate
S. aureus
(VISA), and vancomycin-resistant
S. aureus
(VRSA) isolates. Retapamulin and mupirocin demonstrated MIC
90
s of 0.12 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml, respectively, with resistance seen in 2.6% and 10% of isolates, respectively. Retapamulin maintained good activity against 94% (15/16) of mupirocin-resistant isolates.
Efficacy of Amphotericin B at Suboptimal Dose Combined with Voriconazole in a Murine Model of Aspergillus fumigatus Infection with Poor
In Vivo
Response to the Azole
Authors: Sandoval-Denis Marcelo , Pastor F. Javier , Capilla Javier , Guarro Josep
Published: June 2013

The combination of amphotericin B at a suboptimal dose (0.3 mg/kg) with voriconazole has shown efficacy in prolonging survival and reducing tissue burden in a murine model of disseminated infection by an isolate of
Aspergillus fumigatus
that had showed a poor
in vivo
response to the azole. The efficacy of the combined treatment was higher than that obtained with amphotericin B at 0.8 mg/kg.
Antifungal Activity of the Noncytotoxic Human Peptide Hepcidin 20 against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida glabrata in Human Vaginal Fluid
Authors: Del Gaudio Gaetano , Lombardi Lisa , Maisetta Giuseppantonio , Esin Semih , Batoni Giovanna , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Senesi Sonia , Tavanti Arianna
Published: June 2013

Vaginal infections caused by
Candida glabrata
are difficult to eradicate due to this species' scarce susceptibility to azoles. Previous studies have shown that the human cationic peptide hepcidin 20 (Hep-20) exerts fungicidal activity in sodium phosphate buffer against a panel of
C. glabrata
clinical isolates with different levels of susceptibility to fluconazole. In addition, the activity of the peptide was potentiated under acidic conditions, suggesting an application in the topical treatment of vaginal infections. To investigate whether the peptide activity could be maintained in biological fluids, in this study the antifungal activity of Hep-20 was evaluated by a killing assay in (i) a vaginal fluid simulant (VFS) and in (ii) human vaginal fluid (HVF) collected from three healthy donors. The results obtained indicated that the activity of the peptide was maintained in VFS and HVF supplemented with EDTA. Interestingly, the fungicidal activity of Hep-20 was enhanced in HVF compared to that observed in VFS, with a minimal fungicidal concentration of 25 μM for all donors. No cytotoxic effect on human cells was exerted by Hep-20 at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μM, as shown by 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide tetrazolium salt (XTT) reduction assay and propidium iodide staining. A piece of indirect evidence of Hep-20 stability was also obtained from coincubation experiments of the peptide with HVF at 37°C for 90 min and for 24 h. Collectively, these results indicate that this peptide should be further studied as a novel therapeutic agent for the topical treatment of vaginal
C. glabrata
infections.
Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri Attenuates the Stressor-Enhanced Severity of Citrobacter rodentium Infection
Authors: Mackos Amy R. , Eubank Tim D. , Parry Nicola M. A. , Bailey Michael T.
Published: June 2013

Stressor exposure has been shown to enhance host susceptibility and the severity of a plethora of illnesses, including gastrointestinal disease. In mice, susceptibility to
Citrobacter rodentium
has been shown to be dependent on host genetics as well as the composition of the intestinal microbiota, but the effects of stressor exposure on this gastrointestinal pathogen have not been elucidated fully. Previously, our lab showed that exposure to the prolonged-restraint stressor prior to a challenge with
C. rodentium
alters the intestinal microbiota community structure, including a reduction of beneficial genera such as
Lactobacillus
, which may contribute to stressor-enhanced
C. rodentium
-induced infectious colitis. To test the effects of stressor exposure on
C. rodentium
infection, we exposed resistant mice to a prolonged-restraint stressor concurrent with pathogen challenge. Exposure to prolonged restraint significantly enhanced
C. rodentium
-induced infectious colitis in resistant mice, as measured by increases in colonic histopathology, colonic inflammatory mediator gene production, and pathogen translocation from the colon to the spleen. It was further tested if the beneficial bacterium
Lactobacillus reuteri
could reduce the stressor-enhanced susceptibility to
C. rodentium
-enhanced infectious colitis. While
L. reuteri
treatment did not reduce all aspects of stressor-enhanced infectious colitis, it did significantly reduce pathogen translocation from the colon to the spleen. Taken together, these data demonstrate the deleterious effects that prolonged stressor exposure can have at the onset of a gastrointestinal infection by its ability to render a resistant mouse highly susceptible to
C. rodentium
. Probiotic treatment ameliorated the systemic manifestations of stress on colonic infection.
Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 4 and Syntaxin 6 Interactions at the Chlamydial Inclusion
Authors: Kabeiseman Emily J. , Cichos Kyle , Hackstadt Ted , Lucas Andrea , Moore Elizabeth R.
Published: June 2013

The predominant players in membrane fusion events are the
s
oluble

N

-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor
a
ttachment protein
re
ceptor (SNARE) family of proteins. We hypothesize that SNARE proteins mediate fusion events at the chlamydial inclusion and are important for chlamydial lipid acquisition. We have previously demonstrated that
trans
-Golgi SNARE syntaxin 6 localizes to the chlamydial inclusion. To investigate the role of syntaxin 6 at the chlamydial inclusion, we examined the localization and function of another
trans
-Golgi SNARE and syntaxin 6-binding partner, vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 (VAMP4), at the chlamydial inclusion. In this study, we demonstrate that syntaxin 6 and VAMP4 colocalize to the chlamydial inclusion and interact at the chlamydial inclusion. Furthermore, in the absence of VAMP4, syntaxin 6 is not retained at the chlamydial inclusion. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of VAMP4 inhibited chlamydial sphingomyelin acquisition, correlating with a log decrease in infectious progeny. VAMP4 retention at the inclusion was shown to be dependent on
de novo
chlamydial protein synthesis, but unlike syntaxin 6, VAMP4 recruitment is observed in a species-dependent manner. Notably, VAMP4 knockdown inhibits sphingomyelin trafficking only to inclusions in which it localizes. These data support the hypothesis that VAMP proteins play a central role in mediating eukaryotic vesicular interactions at the chlamydial inclusion and, thus, support chlamydial lipid acquisition and chlamydial development.
BASE COMPOSITION EFFECTS STUDY ON NBR CURRENT AND CURRENT GAIN IN SiGe HBT
Authors: DAVOODI HOSSEN , KAATUZIAN HASSAN
Published: June 2013

In present study, SiGe Hetero-junction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs) performances are discussed based on both TCAD and analytical evaluations of the heavily doped base. It is demonstrated that neutral base recombination (NBR) current has significant effects on base current and hence current gain. An optimized Ge profile for 20 nm wide base of understudy structure, with 16% Germanium at EB edge and 24% at CB edge is concluded analytically, which improves DC and high frequency behavior. TCAD simulations reveal that for the specific structure and proposed profile, current gain is about 3500. It also exhibits ft and f max about 325 GHz and 192 GHz, respectively. In the next section for the first time, a comprehensive study of early voltage variation based on total Ge content and Ge grading in base is also presented. Forced base-emitter voltage and forced base current configurations are studied separately. NBR current has been analyzed under two different configuration and prospective guidelines are indicated.
REOPTIMIZATION UNDER VERTEX INSERTION: MAX Pk-FREE SUBGRAPH AND MAX PLANAR SUBGRAPH
Authors: BORIA NICOLAS , MONNOT JÉRÔME , PASCHOS VANGELIS TH.
Published: June 2013

The reoptimization issue studied in this paper can be described as follows: given an instance I of some problem Π, an optimal solution OPT in I and an instance I' resulting from a local perturbation of I that consists of insertions or removals of a small number of data, we wish to use OPT to solve Π in I', either optimally or by guaranteeing an approximation ratio better than that guaranteed by an ex nihilo computation and with running time better than that needed for such a computation. We use this setting to study weighted versions of MAX Pk-FREE SUBGRAPH and MAX PLANAR SUBGRAPH, which are representatives of a broad class of problems known in the literature as maximum induced hereditary subgraph problems. We also show that the techniques presented allow us to handle BIN PACKING.
Optimal Bounds for Johnson-Lindenstrauss Transforms and Streaming Problems with Subconstant Error
Authors: Jayram T. S. , Woodruff David P.
Published: June 2013

The Johnson-Lindenstrauss transform is a dimensionality reduction technique with a wide range of applications to theoretical computer science. It is specified by a distribution over projection matrices from R
n
→ R
k
where
k n
and states that
k
=
O
(
ε
−2
log 1/
δ
) dimensions suffice to approximate the norm of any fixed vector in R
n
to within a factor of 1 ±
ε
with probability at least 1 −
δ
. In this article, we show that this bound on
k
is optimal up to a constant factor, improving upon a previous
Ω
((
ε
−2
log
1/
δ
)/log(1/
ε
)) dimension bound of Alon. Our techniques are based on lower bounding the information cost of a novel one-way communication game and yield the first space lower bounds in a data stream model that depend on the error probability
δ
.

For many streaming problems, the most naïve way of achieving error probability
δ
is to first achieve constant probability, then take the median of
O
(log 1/
δ
) independent repetitions. Our techniques show that for a wide range of problems, this is in fact optimal! As an example, we show that estimating the ℓ
p
-distance for any
p
 ∈ [0,2] requires
Ω
(
ε
−2
log
n
log 1/
δ
) space, even for vectors in {0,1}
n
. This is optimal in all parameters and closes a long line of work on this problem. We also show the number of distinct elements requires
Ω
(
ε
−2
log 1/
δ
+ log
n
) space, which is optimal if
ε
−2
=
Ω
(log
n
). We also improve previous lower bounds for entropy in the strict turnstile and general turnstile models by a multiplicative factor of
Ω
(log 1/
δ
). Finally, we give an application to one-way communication complexity under product distributions, showing that, unlike the case of constant
δ
, the VC-dimension does not characterize the complexity when
δ
 = 
o
(1).
Greedy name lookup for named data networking
Authors: Wang Yi , Tai Dongzhe , Zhang Ting , Lu Jianyuan , Xu Boyang , Dai Huichen , Liu Bin
Published: June 2013

Different from the IP-based routers, Named Data Networking routers forward packets by content names, which consist of characters and have variable and unbounded length. This kind of complex name constitution plus the huge-sized name routing table makes wire speed name lookup an extremely challenging task. Greedy name lookup mechanism is proposed to speed up name lookup by dynamically adjusting the search path against the changes of the prefix table. Meanwhile, we elaborate a string-oriented perfect hash table to reduce memory consumption which stores the signature of the key in the entry instead of the key itself. Extensive experimental results on a commodity PC server with 3 million name prefix entries demonstrate that greedy name lookup mechanism achieves 57.14 million searches per second using only 72.95 MB memory.
Root cause detection in a service-oriented architecture
Authors: Kim Myunghwan , Sumbaly Roshan , Shah Sam
Published: June 2013

Large-scale websites are predominantly built as a service-oriented architecture. Here, services are specialized for a certain task, run on multiple machines, and communicate with each other to serve a user's request. An anomalous change in a metric of one service can propagate to other services during this communication, resulting in overall degradation of the request. As any such degradation is revenue impacting, maintaining correct functionality is of paramount concern: it is important to find the root cause of any anomaly as quickly as possible. This is challenging because there are numerous metrics or sensors for a given service, and a modern website is usually composed of hundreds of services running on thousands of machines in multiple data centers.

This paper introduces MonitorRank, an algorithm that can reduce the time, domain knowledge, and human effort required to find the root causes of anomalies in such service-oriented architectures. In the event of an anomaly, MonitorRank provides a ranked order list of possible root causes for monitoring teams to investigate. MonitorRank uses the historical and current time-series metrics of each sensor as its input, along with the call graph generated between sensors to build an unsupervised model for ranking. Experiments on real production outage data from LinkedIn, one of the largest online social networks, shows a 26% to 51% improvement in mean average precision in finding root causes compared to baseline and current state-of-the-art methods.
Exact analysis of the M/M/k/setup class of Markov chains via recursive renewal reward
Authors: Gandhi Anshul , Doroudi Sherwin , Harchol-Balter Mor , Scheller-Wolf Alan
Published: June 2013

The M/M/k/setup model, where there is a penalty for turning servers on, is common in data centers, call centers and manufacturing systems. Setup costs take the form of a time delay, and sometimes there is additionally a power penalty, as in the case of data centers. While the M/M/1/setup was exactly analyzed in 1964, no exact analysis exists to date for the M/M/k/setup with k>1. In this paper we provide the first exact, closed-form analysis for the M/M/k/setup and some of its important variants including systems in which idle servers delay for a period of time before turning off or can be put to sleep. Our analysis is made possible by our development of a new technique, Recursive Renewal Reward (RRR), for solving Markov chains with a repeating structure. RRR uses ideas from renewal reward theory and busy period analysis to obtain closed-form expressions for metrics of interest such as the transform of time in system and the transform of power consumed by the system. The simplicity, intuitiveness, and versatility of RRR makes it useful for analyzing Markov chains far beyond the M/M/k/setup. In general, RRR should be used to reduce the analysis of any 2-dimensional Markov chain which is infinite in at most one dimension and repeating to the problem of solving a system of polynomial equations. In the case where all transitions in the repeating portion of the Markov chain are skip-free and all up/down arrows are unidirectional, the resulting system of equations will yield a closed-form solution.