bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polar optical phonon states and their degenerative behaviors of wurtziteZnO/MgZnOcoupling quantum dots
Authors: Zhang Li , Shi J. J.
Published: March 2014

Analytical polar optical phonon states in a wurtzite ZnO -based cylindrical coupling quantum dots (CQDs) with arbitrary number of quantum dots (QDs) are deduced and analyzed. It is found that there are four types of polar mixing optical phonon modes, i.e., the z-IO/ρ-QC modes, the z-PR/ρ-IO modes, the z-QC/ρ-QC modes and the z-HS/ρ-IO modes coexisting in the ZnO -based CQDs. Within the framework of the macroscopic dielectric continuum model, the dispersive equations are derived by using the transferring matrix method. And the Fröhlich electron–phonon interaction Hamiltonians are obtained via a standard procedure of field quantization. The relationships between the present ZnO -based CQDs and the ZnO -based quantum wells (QWs) or the nanowires (NWs) are analyzed, and the general features of phonon modes in ZnO -based low-dimensional quantum structures are concluded and discussed. Under certain conditions, the present theoretical results in wurtzite ZnO -based CQDs can be naturally degenerate into those in wurtzite ZnO -based single or double QDs, wurtzite NWs and QWs and even into cubic quantum confined structures. This just embodies the intrinsic consistency of phonon mode theories in low-dimensional confined systems with different confined dimensions. Due to the ternary mixing effect of MgxZn1-xO crystal, the dielectric functions of MgxZn1-xO crystals are quite complicated, and the phonon modes in ZnO -based quantum structures have both the features of phonon modes in anisotropic wurtzite confined systems and isotropic rock-salt crystal quantum systems. The characteristics of electron–phonon coupling strength in ZnO -based quantum systems are summarized. Very strong polaronic effect could be prognosticated and anticipated in ZnO -based low-dimensional quantum structures because of their quite large electron–phonon coupling constants. The theoretical results and conclusions described in this paper also can be looked on as a summary of phonon states and their general features in ZnO -based quantum confined systems.
VASCULARIZED NAIL TRANSFER FROM NON-REPLANTABLE DIGIT: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Zemirline Ahmed , Taleb Chihab , Goukodadja Oswald , Liverneaux Philippe
Published: March 2014

We report the case of a traumatic amputation by circular saw of the ring and small fingers, associated with middle finger nail matrix loss and tendon, bone and joint exposure.

The replantation was not attempted with patient's consent. Since the nail unit from the ring finger was intact, we decided to harvest the ring finger nail unit for major finger reconstruction.

Although the principle of vascularized transfer from a severely damaged finger is widely recognized and the vascularized nail transfer from toe is a relatively common procedure, there is no description of a vascularized nail transfer from a non-replantable digit in the literature.
Lp (p ≥ 1) solutions of multidimensional BSDEs with monotone generators in general time intervals
Authors: Xiao Li-Shun , Fan Sheng-Jun , Xu Na
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we are interested in solving general time interval multidimensional backward stochastic differential equation in Lp (p ≥ 1). We first study the existence and uniqueness for Lp (p > 1) solutions by the method of convolution and weak convergence when the generator is monotonic in y and Lipschitz continuous in z both non-uniformly with respect to t. Then we obtain the existence and uniqueness for L1 solutions with an additional assumption that the generator has a sublinear growth in z non-uniformly with respect to t.
Projectivity and flatness over the endomorphism ring of a finitely generated quasi-Poisson comodule
Authors: Guédénon T.
Published: March 2014

Let k be a field of characteristic 0, A a noncommutative Poisson k-algebra, U(A) the ordinary enveloping algebra of A, 𝒞 a quasi-Poisson A-coring that is projective as a left A-module, *𝒞 the left dual ring of 𝒞 (it is a right U(A)-module algebra) and Λ a right quasi-Poisson 𝒞-comodule that is finitely generated as a right U(A)#*𝒞-module. The vector space End 𝒫,𝒞(Λ) of right quasi-Poisson 𝒞-colinear maps from Λ to Λ is a ring. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for projectivity and flatness of a module over End 𝒫,𝒞(Λ). If 𝒞 contains a fixed quasi-Poisson grouplike element, we can replace Λ with A.
The cozero-divisor graph of a noncommutative ring
Authors: Afkhami Mojgan
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we extend the concept of the cozero-divisor graph to any arbitrary ring with nonzero identity. Also we study some basic properties of this graph and gain some results on the cozero-divisor graphs of matrix rings.
The group of units on an affine variety
Authors: Ford Timothy J.
Published: March 2014

The object of study is the group of units 𝒪*(X) in the coordinate ring of a normal affine variety X over an algebraically closed field k. Methods of Galois cohomology are applied to those varieties that can be presented as a finite cyclic cover of a rational variety. On a cyclic cover X → 𝔸m of affine m-space over k such that the ramification divisor is irreducible and the degree is prime, it is shown that 𝒪*(X) is equal to k*, the non-zero scalars. The same conclusion holds, if X is a sufficiently general affine hyperelliptic curve. If X has a projective completion such that the divisor at infinity has r components, then sufficient conditions are given for 𝒪*(X)/k* to be isomorphic to ℤ(r-1).
Products of idempotents in separative regular rings
Authors: O'Meara K. C.
Published: March 2014

We show that the condition [Formula: see text] characterizes elements a of a regular ring R that are products of idempotents in precisely the separative regular rings.
Existence results for singular φ-Laplacian problems in presence of lower and upper solutions
Authors: Cabada Alberto , Dimitrov Nikolay D.
Published: March 2014

This paper is devoted to the study of the existence of solutions to singular φ-Laplacian problems, coupled with nonlinear functional boundary value conditions, in presence of a pair of well-ordered lower and upper solutions. The main result ensures the existence of solutions for a functional problem. It improves previous ones due to Bereanu and Mawhin related to non-homogeneous Dirichlet equations. Some of the used arguments follow the line of some previous papers devoted to regular φ-Laplacian operators.
FACTORIZATION OF INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY PREFERENCE RELATIONS
Authors: MORDESON JOHN N. , CLARK TERRY D. , ALBERT KAREN
Published: March 2014

The proofs of many factorization results for an intuitionistic fuzzy binary relation 〈ρμ,ρν〉 involve dual proofs, one for ρμ with respect to a t-conorm ⊕ and one for ρν with respect to a t-norm ⊗. In this paper, we show that one proof can be obtained from the other by considering ⊕ and ⊗ dual under an involutive fuzzy complement. We provide a series of singular proofs for commonly defined norms and conorms.
Shared-port register file architecture for low-energy VLIW processors
Authors: Goel Neeraj , Kumar Anshul , Panda Preeti Ranjan
Published: March 2014

We propose a reduced-port Register File (RF) architecture for reducing RF energy in a VLIW processor. With port reduction, RF ports need to be shared among Function Units (FUs), which may lead to access conflicts, and thus, reduced performance. Our solution includes (i) a carefully designed RF-FU interconnection network that permits port sharing with minimum conflicts and without any delay/energy overheads, and (ii) a novel scheduling and binding algorithm that reduces the performance penalty. With our solution, we observed as much as 83% RF energy savings with no more than a 10% loss in performance for a set of Mediabench and Mibench benchmarks.
Rapid evaluation of custom instruction selection approaches with FPGA estimation
Authors: Lam Siew-Kei , Srikanthan Thambipillai , Clarke Christopher T.
Published: March 2014

The main aim of this article is to demonstrate that a fast and accurate FPGA estimation engine is indispensable in design flows for custom instruction (template) selection. The need for a FPGA estimation engine stems from the difficulty in predicting the FPGA performance measures of selected custom instructions. We will present a FPGA estimation technique that partitions the high-level representation of custom instructions into clusters based on the structural organization of the target FPGA, while taking into account general logic synthesis principles adopted by FPGA tools. In this work, we have evaluated a widely used graph covering algorithm with various heuristics for custom instruction selection. In addition, we present an algorithm called Refined Largest Fit First (RLFF) that relies on a graph covering heuristic to select non-overlapping superset templates, which typically incorporate frequently used basic templates. The initial solution is further refined by considering overlapping templates that were ignored previously to see if their introduction could lead to higher performance. While RLFF provides the most efficient cover compared to the ILP method and other graph covering heuristics, FPGA estimation results reveals that RLFF leads to the worst performance in certain applications. It is therefore a worthy proposition to equip design flows with accurate FPGA estimation in order to rapidly determine the most profitable custom instruction approach for a given application.
Bluetooth aided mobile phone localization
Authors: Li Shuai , Lou Yuesheng , Liu Bo
Published: March 2014

It is meaningful to design a strategy to roughly localize mobile phones without a GPS by exploiting existing conditions and devices especially in environments without GPS availability (e.g., tunnels, subway stations, etc.). The availability of Bluetooth devices for most phones and the existence of a number of GPS equipped phones in a crowd of phone users enable us to design a Bluetooth aided mobile phone localization strategy. With the position of GPS equipped phones as beacons, and with the Bluetooth connection between neighbor phones as proximity constraints, we formulate the problem into an inequality problem defined on the Bluetooth network. A recurrent neural network is developed to solve the problem distributively in real time. The convergence of the neural network and the solution feasibility to the defined problem are both theoretically proven. The hardware implementation architecture of the proposed neural network is also given in this article. As applications, rough localizations of drivers in a tunnel and localization of customers in a supermarket are explored and simulated. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Simulation-based functional verification of dynamically reconfigurable systems
Authors: Gong Lingkan , Diessel Oliver
Published: March 2014

Dynamically reconfigurable systems (DRS) implemented using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) allow hardware logic to be partially reconfigured while the rest of the design continues to operate. By mapping multiple reconfigurable hardware modules to the same physical region of an FPGA, such systems are able to time-multiplex their modules at runtime and adapt themselves to changing execution requirements. This architectural flexibility introduces challenges for verifying system functionality. New simulation approaches are required to extend traditional simulation techniques to assist designers in testing and debugging the time-varying behavior of DRS. This article summarizes our previous work on ReSim, the first tool to allow cycle-accurate yet physically independent simulation of a DRS reconfiguring both its logic and state. Furthermore, ReSim-based simulation does not require changing the design for simulation purposes and thereby verifies the implementation-ready design instead of a variation of the design. We discuss the conflicting requirements of simulation accuracy and verification productivity in verifying DRS designs and describe our approach to resolve this challenge. Through a range of case studies, we demonstrate that ReSim assists designers in detecting fabric-independent bugs of DRS designs and helps to achieve verification closure of DRS design projects.
Leveraging GPUs using cooperative loop speculation
Authors: Samadi Mehrzad , Hormati Amir , Lee Janghaeng , Mahlke Scott
Published: March 2014

Graphics processing units, or GPUs, provide TFLOPs of additional performance potential in commodity computer systems that frequently go unused by most applications. Even with the emergence of languages such as CUDA and OpenCL, programming GPUs remains a difficult challenge for a variety of reasons, including the inherent algorithmic characteristics and data structure choices used by applications as well as the tedious performance optimization cycle that is necessary to achieve high performance. The goal of this work is to increase the applicability of GPUs beyond CUDA/OpenCL to implicitly data-parallel applications written in C/C++ using speculative parallelization. To achieve this goal, we propose
Paragon
: a static/dynamic compiler platform to speculatively run possibly data-parallel portions of sequential applications on the GPU while cooperating with the system CPU. For such loops, Paragon utilizes the GPU in an opportunistic way while orchestrating a cooperative relation between the CPU and GPU to reduce the overhead of miss-speculations. Paragon monitors the dependencies for the loops running speculatively on the GPU and nonspeculatively on the CPU using a lightweight distributed conflict detection designed specifically for GPUs, and transfers the execution to the CPU in case a conflict is detected. Paragon resumes the execution on the GPU after the CPU resolves the dependency. Our experiments show that Paragon achieves 4x on average and up to 30x speedup compared to unsafe CPU execution with four threads and 7x on average and up to 64x speedup versus sequential execution across a set of sequential but implicitly data-parallel applications.
Tuning the continual flow pipeline architecture with virtual register renaming
Authors: Jothi Komal , Akkary Haitham
Published: March 2014

Continual Flow Pipelines (CFPs) allow a processor core to process hundreds of in-flight instructions without increasing cycle-critical pipeline resources. When a load misses the data cache, CFP checkpoints the processor register state and then moves all miss-dependent instructions into a low-complexity WB to unblock the pipeline. Meanwhile, miss-independent instructions execute normally and update the processor state. When the miss data return, CFP replays the miss-dependent instructions from the WB and then merges the miss-dependent and miss-independent execution results.

CFP was initially proposed for cache misses to DRAM. Later work focused on reducing the execution overhead of CFP by avoiding the pipeline flush before replaying miss-dependent instructions and executing dependent and independent instructions concurrently. The goal of these improvements was to gain performance by applying CFP to L1 data cache misses that hit the last level on chip cache. However, many applications or execution phases of applications incur excessive amount of replay and/or rollbacks to the checkpoint. This frequently cancels benefits from CFP and reduces performance.

In this article, we improve the CFP architecture by using a novel virtual register renaming substrate and by tuning the replay policies to mitigate excessive replays and rollbacks to the checkpoint. We describe these new design optimizations and show, using Spec 2006 benchmarks and microarchitecture performance and power models of our design, that our Tuned-CFP architecture improves performance and energy consumption over previous CFP architectures by ∼10% and ∼8%, respectively. We also demonstrate that our proposed architecture gives better performance return on energy per instruction compared to a conventional superscalar as well as previous CFP architectures.
Parsing hierarchical data format (HDF) files
Authors: Nyberg Karl
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a description of the creation of a library to parse Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) Files in Ada. It describes a "work in progress" with discussion of current performance, limitations and future plans.
Cardy-Verlinde Formula of Noncommutative Schwarzschild Black Hole
Authors: Abbas G.
Published: March 2014

Few years ago, Setare (2006) has investigated the Cardy-Verlinde formula of noncommutative black hole obtained by noncommutativity of coordinates. In this paper, we apply the same procedure to a noncommutative black hole obtained by the coordinate coherent approach. The Cardy-Verlinde formula is entropy formula of conformal field theory in an arbitrary dimension. It relates the entropy of conformal field theory to its total energy and Casimir energy. In this paper, we have calculated the total energy and Casimir energy of noncommutative Schwarzschild black hole and have shown that entropy of noncommutative Schwarzschild black hole horizon can be expressed in terms of Cardy-Verlinde formula.
Image Guided Hypofractionated Radiotherapy by Helical Tomotherapy for Prostate Carcinoma: Toxicity and Impact on Nadir PSA
Authors: Barra Salvina , Vagge Stefano , Marcenaro Michela , Blandino Gladys , Timon Giorgia , Vidano Giulia , Agnese Dario , Gusinu Marco , Cavagnetto Francesca , Corvò Renzo
Published: March 2014

Aim. To evaluate the toxicity of a hypofractionated schedule for primary radiotherapy (RT) of prostate cancer as well as the value of the nadir PSA (nPSA) and time to nadir PSA (tnPSA) as surrogate efficacy of treatment.Material and Methods. Eighty patients underwent hypofractionated schedule by Helical Tomotherapy (HT). A dose of 70.2 Gy was administered in 27 daily fractions of 2.6 Gy. Acute and late toxicities were graded on the RTOG/EORTC scales. The nPSA and the tnPSA for patients treated with exclusive RT were compared to an equal cohort of 20 patients treated with conventional fractionation and standard conformal radiotherapy.Results. Most of patients (83%) did not develop acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity and 50% did not present genitourinary (GU) toxicity. After a median follow-up of 36 months only grade 1 of GU and GI was reported in 6 and 3 patients as late toxicity. Average tnPSA was 30 months. The median value of nPSA after exclusive RT with HT was 0.28 ng/mL and was significantly lower than the median nPSA (0.67 ng/mL) of the conventionally treated cohort (P=0.02).Conclusions. Hypofractionated RT schedule with HT for prostate cancer treatment reports very low toxicity and reaches a low level of nPSA that might correlate with good outcomes.
Coupled Fixed Point Theorems for (φ,ψ)-Contractive Mixed Monotone Mappings in Partially Ordered Metric Spaces and Applications
Authors: Jain Manish , Gupta Neetu , Kumar Sanjay
Published: March 2014

The object of this paper is to establish the existence and uniqueness of coupled fixed points under a (φ, ψ)-contractive condition for mixed monotone operators in the setup of partially ordered metric spaces. Presented work generalizes the recent results of Berinde (2011, 2012) and weakens the contractive conditions involved in the well-known results of Bhaskar and Lakshmikantham (2006), and Luong and Thuan (2011). The effectiveness of our work is validated with the help of a suitable example. As an application, we give a result of existence and uniqueness for the solutions of a class of nonlinear integral equations.
A Simple Mathematical Model of Cyclic Circadian Learning
Authors: Šimon J. , Bulko M.
Published: March 2014

This paper deals with the derivation of a simple mathematical model of cyclic learning with a period of 24 hours. Various requirements are met with an emphasis and approach which relies on simple mathematical operations, the prediction of measurable quantities, and the creation of uncomplicated processes of calibration. The presented model can be used to answer questions such as the following.Will I be able to memorize a given set of information? How long will it take to memorize information? How long will I remember the information that was memorized?The model is based on known memory retention functions that are in good agreement with experimental results. By the use of these functions and by formalism of differential equations, the concurrent processes of learning and forgetting are described mathematically. The usability of this model is limited to scenarios where logical bonds (connections to prior learning) are not created and mnemonic devices cannot be utilized during the learning process.
Mathematical Models Arising in the Fractal Forest Gap via Local Fractional Calculus
Authors: Long Chun-Ying , Zhao Yang , Jafari Hossein
Published: March 2014

The forest new gap models via local fractional calculus are investigated. The JABOWA and FORSKA models are extended to deal with the growth of individual trees defined on Cantor sets. The local fractional growth equations with local fractional derivative and difference are discussed. Our results are first attempted to show the key roles for the nondifferentiable growth of individual trees.
Development of an FPGA-Based Motion Control IC for Caving Machine
Authors: Lai Chiu-Keng , Tsao Yaw-Ting , Tsai Shou-Liang , Chien Wei-Nan
Published: March 2014

Since the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) with high density are available nowadays, systems with complex functions can thus be realized by FPGA in a single chip while they are traditionally implemented by several individual chips. In this research, the control of stepping motor drives as well as motion controller is integrated and implemented on Altera Cyclone III FPGA; the resulting system is evaluated by applying it to a 3-axis caving machine which is driven by stepping motors. Finally, the experimental results of current regulation and motion control integrated in FPGA IC are shown to prove the validness.
Adipokines, Biomarkers of Endothelial Activation, and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Genre Fernanda , López-Mejías Raquel , Miranda-Filloy José A. , Ubilla Begoña , Carnero-López Beatriz , Blanco Ricardo , Pina Trinitario , González-Juanatey Carlos , Llorca Javier , González-Gay Miguel A.
Published: March 2014

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. AS patients also display a high prevalence of features clustered under the name of metabolic syndrome (MeS). Anti-TNF-αtherapy was found to be effective to treat AS patients by suppressing inflammation and also improving endothelial function. Previously, it was demonstrated that a short infusion of anti-TNF-αmonoclonal antibodyinfliximab induced a rapid and dramatic reduction in serum insulin levels and insulin resistance along with a rapid improvement of insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic AS patients. The role of adipokines, MeS-related biomarkers and biomarkers of endothelial cell activation and inflammation seem to be relevant in different chronic inflammatory diseases. However, its implication in AS has not been fully established. Therefore, in this review we summarize the recent advances in the study of the involvement of these molecules in CV disease or MeS in AS. The assessment of adipokines and biomarkers of endothelial cell activation and MeS may be of potential relevance in the stratification of the CV risk of patients with AS.
The Effect of Seed Sources Variation and Presowing Treatments on the Seed Germination ofAcacia catechuandElaeocarpus floribundusSpecies in Bangladesh
Authors: Das Niamjit
Published: March 2014

The seed germination of seed sources and presowing treatments ofAcacia catechuandElaeocarpus floribundusseeds were conducted in the nursery of Bangladesh Agricultural University. The seeds were collected from matured and healthy trees from four different locations in Bangladesh and treated with six presowing methods. The germination test was conducted in polybags with a mixture of topsoil and cow dung in a ratio of 3 : 1. The results of ANOVA showed no significant differences among seed sources but statistically significant differences among the presowing treatments for both species. Thus the presowing methods affected the germination process of seeds, and then the highest germination success was found to be 91.26% in hot water (80°C for 10 min), treatment inAcacia catechuand the highest germination success (89.81%) ofElaeocarpus floribunduswas found in H2SO4treatment followed by 86.35% and 78.42% in treatments with hot water (100°C for 12 min) and scarification. The study also revealed that the interactions between seed source variation and presowing methods effect significantly differed in seed germination percentages. Therefore, it is concluded that hot water treatment can be suggested on seed germination of both species for developing nurseries and rural Bangladesh.
Tissue Biomarkers for Prognosis of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Zhao Liuyang , Yu Na , Guo Tianfang , Hou Yixuan , Zeng Zongyue , Yang Xiaorong , Hu Ping , Tang Xi , Wang Jian , Liu Manran
Published: March 2014

Background: Although numerous investigators have made efforts to assess prognostic biomarkers of prostate cancer, no biomarker has been recommended for clinical practice.

Methods: According to REMARK (Reporting recommendations for tumor marker prognostic studies) and MISFISHIE (Minimum information specification for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry experiments) guidelines, the published articles of immunohistochemistry-based prognostic biomarkers on prostate cancer were extracted and pooled.

Results: Ninety-three prognostic biomarkers from 92 high-quality cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. Our analysis reveals some promising independent prognostic biomarkers, including Ki-67 [all-cause mortality (ACM) HR, 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–3.25; PSM HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.42–2.34; DFS HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.31–1.75]; Bcl-2 (ACM HR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.27–3.58; PSM HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01–2.57; DFS HR, 3.86; 95% CI, 2.14–6.96); CD147 (ACM HR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.19–5.81; DFS HR, 5.84; 95% CI, 3.41–9.99); COX-2 (PSM HR, 7.6; 95% CI, 0.7–80.1; DFS HR, 7.9; 95% CI, 2.62–23.83); ALDH1A1 (ACM HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.163–2.527; PSM HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.028–1.107), and FVIII (ACM HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.19–2.60; PSM HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01–1.02).

Conclusions: Our analysis identified a subset of biomarkers (Ki-67, Bcl-2, CD147, COX-2, ALDH1A1, and FVIII) that may have prognostic value for predicting the outcome of patients with prostate cancer.

Impact: These reliable prognostic biomarkers will improve the clinical management of patients with prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(6); 1047–54. ©2014 AACR.
A review of the collections of the infraorders Thalassinidea Latreille, 1831 and Callianassidea Dana, 1852 (Decapoda, Pleocyemata) lodged in three German Museums, with revised keys to the genera and species
Authors: Sakai Katsushi , Türkay Michael
Published: March 2014

The collections of the infraorders Thalassinidea Latreille, 1831 and Callianassidea Dana, 1852 logded in three German Museums, viz., Zoologische Staatssammlung, Munich (ZSM), Zoologisches Museum der Universität Hamburg, Hamburg (ZMH), and Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (ZMB) were examined. The results of the present study indicate that the material of these collections comprises 10 families, 31 genera, including one new genus, and 73 species, three of which are new to science.
Annotated checklist and new records of Harpacticoida (Copepoda) from a coastal system of northern Colombia, South America
Authors: Fuentes-Reinés J. M. , Suárez-Morales E.
Published: March 2014

The harpacticoid copepod fauna of the Laguna Navío Quebrado, La Guajira, a protected area of the northern Colombian coast, was studied from plankton samples obtained at littoral areas covered by vegetation (macrophytes and mangroves), and at limnetic habitats close to an oyster bank. A total of 14 species of harpacticoid copepods are reported from the surveyed area. Nine of these species are new to the Colombian copepod fauna:Schizopera knabeniLang, 1965,Cletocamptus helobiusFleeger, 1980,Quinquelaophonte quinquespinosa(Sewell, 1924),Sarsamphiascus hirtus(Gurney, 1927),Parategastes herteliJacobi, 1953,Enhydrosoma lacunaeJakubisiak, 1933,Metis holothuriae(Edwards, 1891),Robertsonia propinqua(T. Scott, 1894) andNitokra tayloriGómez, Carrasco & Morales-Serna, 2012. The first two species have not been hitherto recorded from South America and the last one is reported for the Americas for the first time. Nine of these species are also new records for the Caribbean Sea. This is the first report on the marine benthic harpacticoid Copepoda from northern Colombia. A complete species list plus brief diagnostic descriptions of the new records for the Colombian harpacticoid copepod fauna are provided together with morphologic remarks, notes on the variability of some species and their distribution.
Correlation of aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index with hepatic venous pressure gradient in cirrhosis
Authors: Verma Vipin , Sarin Shiv Kumar , Sharma Praveen , Kumar Ashish
Published: March 2014

Background

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is a prognostic marker in cirrhosis, but is invasive. There is a need to validate a noninvasive marker to measure portal hypertension. Aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) is proposed as a good noninvasive estimator of hepatic fibrosis. Whether APRI could be used as noninvasive tool to measure portal hypertension has not been studied.

Aim

To correlate APRI with HVPG in patients with cirrhosis and to determine the diagnostic usefulness of the APRI in detection of high portal pressure.

Methods

APRI and HVPG were measured in consecutive patients of cirrhosis aged 18–75 years, with serum bilirubin <5 mg/dl, Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) score ≤12, and without evidence of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure or flare.

Results

This study included 74 patients (median age 47 years, range 20–70 years; 57 males, (77%). The aetiology of cirrhosis was: viral 33 (45%), alcohol 10 (14%), and cryptogenic and others 31 (42%). The median HVPG was 16 mmHg (range 2–28 mmHg). The median APRI was 1.19 (range 0.17–7.92). There was significant correlation between HVPG and APRI (Spearman's rho 0.365; p  = 0.001). The ROC curve to study the performance of APRI for predicting high portal pressure (HVPG >12 mmHg) had area under curve 0.716 (95% CI 0.574–0.858). An APRI of ≥1.09 had a sensitivity 66%, specificity 73%, positive predictive value 85%, negative predictive value 47%, and diagnostic accuracy 68% for predicting HVPG >12 mmHg.

Conclusions

APRI correlates fairly with HVPG in patients of cirrhosis. An APRI score of ≥1.09 seems to have an acceptable accuracy for prediction of high portal pressure. APRI is a fair, bedside, cost‐effective parameter for diagnosis of high portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis.
Variable induction of PRDM1 and differentiation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is associated with anergy
Authors: Duckworth Andrew , Glenn Mark , Slupsky Joseph R. , Packham Graham , Kalakonda Nagesh
Published: March 2014

Key Points

Differentiation of CLL cells in response to IL-21 and cytosine guanine dinucleotide-enriched oligo-deoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) is variable and linked to PRDM1 induction. The failure of CLL cells to express or induce PRDM1 correlates with anergy.
Development and characterization of a physiologically relevant model of lymphocyte migration in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Walsby Elisabeth , Buggins Andrea , Devereux Stephen , Jones Ceri , Pratt Guy , Brennan Paul , Fegan Chris , Pepper Chris
Published: March 2014

Key Points

We have developed a novel in vitro system to model how shear force and transient interaction with endothelial cells alter chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell phenotype and behavior. We have used our model to investigate chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell migration and have determined the critical role for integrin α4β1 in this process.
Assessment of total hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein in HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia
Authors: Russi Sabino , Sansonno Domenico , Mariggiò Maria Addolorata , Vinella Angela , Pavone Fabio , Lauletta Gianfranco , Sansonno Silvia , Dammacco Franco
Published: March 2014

Introduction

In hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinemia (MCG), the nonenveloped HCV core protein (HCV-Cp) is a constituent of the characteristic cold-precipitating immune complexes (ICs). A possible correlation between HCV-Cp, virologic, laboratory, and clinical parameters in both untreated MCG patients and those undergoing specific treatment was explored.

Methods

HCV-Cp was quantified by a fully automated immune assay. Correlations between HCV-Cp and HCV RNA, cryocrit, and virus genotype (gt) were investigated in 102 chronically HCV-infected MCG patients.

Results

HCV-Cp concentrations strongly correlated with HCV RNA levels in baseline samples. An average ratio of 1,425 IU and 12,850 IU HCV RNA per picogram HCV-Cp was estimated in HCV gt-1 and gt-2 patients, respectively. This equation allowed us to estimate that, on average, HCV-Cp was associated with the viral genome in only 3.4% of the former and in 35% of the latter group of patients. The direct relation between HCV-Cp and the cryocrit level suggests that the protein directly influences the amount of cryoprecipitate. Although the therapy with rituximab (RTX) as a single agent resulted in the enhancement of HCV-Cp levels, in patients treated with RTX in combination with a specific antiviral therapy (pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin), the prompt and effective clearance of HCV-Cp was documented.

Conclusions

Our data provide evidence that HCV-Cp has a direct effect on the cold-precipitation process in a virus genotype-dependence in HCV-related MCG patients.
Theoretical Investigation on the Optical Properties of Diphosphine-protected Au8 Cluster Complexes
Authors: Hayashi Sachio , Tada Kohei , Sakata Kohei , Koga Hiroaki , Yamanaka Shusuke , Kawakami Takashi , Kitagawa Yasutaka , Okumura Mitsutaka
Published: March 2014

Herein, we have theoretically investigated the optical properties of the two Au8 complexes with different shapes of the Au8 cluster core. From the results of TD-DFT and DFT calculations, it was found that the shape of the Au8 clusters in the two Au8 complexes greatly influenced their optical properties, such as absorption and photoluminescence spectra. In particular, the intensities of their photoluminescence spectra are greatly decreased with an increase of the Au–Au bond length variation of the Au core cluster in the S1 states of the Au8 complexes.
Non Linear Analysis of S&P Index
Authors: Hanias Mike
Published: March 2014

This paper applies non-linear methods to analyze and predict the daily  open S&P index which is one of the most important stock index in the world. The  aim of the analysis is to quantitatively show if the corresponding time series is  a deterministic chaotic one and if one or more days ahead prediction can be  achieved. These results make the present work a valuable tool for traders investors  and funds.
Allelopathic Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Neem (Azadiracta indica) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citroides) on the Growth and Germination of Wheat (Triticum aestivum var-desi)
Authors: R.J. Rao Faroz Ahmad Ahangar , Mamta K.
Published: March 2014

Allelopathic effects of the neem and eucalyptus were analyzed on the growth and germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Desi) in a laboratory of IGAEERE, Jiwaji University, Gwalior. The aqueous extract concentrations of neem and eucalyptus used in the experiment were 25%, 50% and 100% w/v prepared by dissolving the leaf powder of 25 g, 50 g and 100 g of the neem and eucalyptus plants in 500 ml distilled water. The aqueous extracts of various concentrations of both these plants showed a remarkable allelopathic effect on the growth and germination of the wheat. The inhibitory allelopathic effect of both these plants directly increases as the concentration of the extract increases. However, the allelopathic effect of eucalyptus extract was found more than neem on the growth and germination of wheat. The present study has very important implications as the eucalyptus and the neem has been used extensively as a part of Agroforestry in various parts of India.
Plasmonic Nanometric Optical Tweezers in an Asymmetric Space of Gold Nanostructured Substrates
Authors: Hirano Kodai , Shimizu Hisashi , Enami Taira , Terakawa Mitsuhiro , Obara Minoru , Nedyalkov Nikolay N. , Atanasov Petar A.
Published: March 2014

We present a plasmonic near-field tweezers in water with gold nanosphere pairs on various substrates. An enhanced near field localized in the nanometric gap space pumped with 800 nm femtosecond laser is to trap and kill small viruses. The maximal optical trapping force obtained is larger than 20 pN at an incident optical peak intensity of 1 mW/mm2. We also propose a new system consisting of a gold nanosphere and a gold nanoridge. In this system, the enhanced near field stems mainly from the image charge effect, exhibiting an optical trapping in an asymmetric space. The calculated trapping force is equivalent to the system of gold nanosphere pairs. The trapped viruses may easily be inactivated using a unfocused 800 nm femtosecond laser.
Análisis comparativo de la formación reglada en turismo: Benidorm y el capital humano hotelero
Authors: Brotons Martínez Matilde
Published: March 2014

El sector turístico está experimentando muchos cambios debido principalmente a la globalización, la segmentación de la demanda, las nuevas tecnologías, la sostenibilidad tanto ambiental como social y la llegada de una demanda que requiere un producto y una experiencia de calidad frente al precio. Esta calidad, en Turismo la ofrece principalmente el factor humano y por tanto este artículo pretende dar a conocer la importancia del capital humano como factor de competitividad y calidad en la industria turística. Esta calidad en los recursos humanos del sector turístico, la aporta la formación recibida en materia de turismo de los trabajadores. Por tanto nuestra investigación se centra en el análisis de los planes de estudios de la formación reglada que existe en nuestro país en materia de turismo y mediante entrevistas en profundidad realizadas a recepcionistas, empleadores y jefes de recepción, de diferentes hoteles de Benidorm, conoceremos los requisitos que exigen los empresarios para ocupar el puesto de recepción, la utilidad de lo aprendido en sus estudios para su puesto de trabajo, la valoración de los mismo sobre la formación recibida y su opinión y satisfacción de puesto que ocupan. Por tanto la finalidad de este artículo es comparar la Diplomatura de Turismo y el Grado Superior de Técnico en Alojamiento turístico para por tanto, saber cuál de éstas titulaciones es la idónea para ocupar un determinado puesto en las empresas turísticas para así en un futuro lograr mejorar y adaptar los planes de estudios a la realidad que necesita el sector.
Turismo y Desarrollo Económico en el Caribe: el auge de las “Industrias del Pecado”
Authors: Pantojas García Emilio
Published: March 2014

En las últimas tres décadas las pequeñas econmías del Caribe han sido transformadas de exportadoras de productos primarios, a plataformas de exportación para manufacturas livianas (maquiladoras), a plataformas de servicios internacionales. Durante la primera década del siglo veintiuno los ejes dinámicos de la economía son el turismo y los centros financieros internacionales (offshore). Ligado a estos sectores han surgido un conjunto de actividades denominadas como “industrias del pecado”. Estas son actividades económicas de legalidad ambigua, asociadas a actividades informales o subterraneas y vistas por la sociedad como improductivas.  Las “industrias del pecado” surgen como un intento de “captar divisas” y valor en un sector económico con bajo valor añadido.  La alta proporción de insumos importados—desde la comida hasta el combustible, los paquetes turísticos “todo incluído” y cruceros limitan ingresos a la población en el sector turístico y de servicios internacionales. Se estudian los casos de tres de estas actividades, el turismo sexual, los juegos de azar y el “lavado de dinero,” y se examina su impacto económico y social para el desarrollo socioeconómico del Caribe.
La gestión de instalaciones náuticas de recreo. Su relación con el turismo náutico en la Costa Blanca
Authors: Gómez Javaloyes Enrique
Published: March 2014

El turismo náutico es un campo poco estudiado en España y las publicaciones científicas son escasas, pero todas coinciden en que en España y en concreto en la Costa Blanca se dan las condiciones idóneas para el desarrollo de este producto. Este estudio se introduce en el mundo de los agentes náuticos encargados de gestionar una instalación náutica de recreo y su relación con la administración pública, para explicar la escasa profesionalización y estructuración del producto náutico en la Costa Blanca. Desde una perspectiva cualitativa, se comparan los distintos tipos de agentes náuticos gestores y sus opiniones que representan visiones antagónicas sobre el turismo. A su vez se analiza el conflicto sobre el asociacionismo entre clubes náuticos. Finalmente, se describe un proyecto de futuro que puede servir como piedra angular para desarrollar el producto turismo náutico de manera eficiente: el club de producto de turismo náutico puesto en marcha por la concejalía de turismo y los agentes náuticos de Torrevieja.
Identitat i postmodernitat: els nous mecanismes identitaris del segle XXI
Authors: Mir Gual Andreu
Published: March 2014

La definitiva irrupció de l’era postmoderna ha tingut una projecció més que evident en el camp de les identitats, tant en la seva dimensió individual com ara també en la col·lectiva. Si fins a meitat del segle XX, va ser la solidesa dels Estats-Nació qui s’encarregà de modelar els sentiments identitaris, els darrers decennis han contemplat l’entrada de nous actors susceptibles de condicionar aquest fenomen, com ara les noves tecnologies de la informació i comunicació. L’herència d’aquest nou escenari, ha estat l’aparició d’unes identitats més ambigües i volàtils les quals romanen contínuament influenciades per una multitud de referents.
Las concepciones sobre el desarrollo regional en las políticas públicas del sur-sureste mexicano y en los proyectos autogestivos de las comunidades locales: una contrastación a la luz de las inconsistencias del Plan Puebla-Panamá
Authors: Enríquez Pérez Isaac
Published: March 2014

El presente artículo se orienta a explicar e interpretar el sentido de la acción social ejercida por actores y agentes socioeconómicos y políticos que intervienen en el proceso de planeación, tomando como punto de partida el reconocimiento y comprensión de las concepciones sobre el desarrollo regional esbozadas por ellos en sus comunicados, directrices y documentos estratégicos que emplean para incidir en una macrorregión como el Sur-Sureste mexicano en el marco de lo que se denominó como Plan Puebla-Panamá. Se plantea la tesis de que el desarrollo regional no es un proceso espontáneo, sino que es un proceso dirigido y gestionado mediante políticas públicas en las cuales convergen múltiples actores y agentes que hacen valer sus prioridades e intereses en los procesos de construcción de mercados y redistribución de la riqueza. Se trata pues de interpretar y contrastar la naturaleza, los alcances y limitaciones de las concepciones sobre el desarrollo regional expresadas por los gobiernos locales y las fuerzas sociales opositoras en el contexto de políticas públicas transfronterizas promovidas en espacios de reserva.
Idempotent tropical matrices and finite metric spaces
Authors: Kambites M. , Johnson M.
Published: March 2014

There is a well-known correspondence between the triangle inequality for a distance function on a finite set, and idempotency of an associated matrix over the tropical semiring. Recent research has shed new light on the structure (algebraic, combinatorial and geometric) of tropical idempotents, and in this paper we explore the consequences of this for the metric geometry of tropical polytopes. We prove, for example, that every n-point metric space is realised by the Hilbert projective metric on the tropical vertices of a pure n-dimensional, tropical and convex polytope in tropical n-space. More generally, every n-point asymmetric distance function is realised by a residuation operator on the vertices of such a polytope. In the symmetric case, we show that the maximal group of tropical matrices containing the idempotent associated to a metric space is isomorphic to G × ℝ, where G is the isometry group of the space. From this we deduce that every group of the form G×ℝ with Gfinite arises as amaximal subgroup of a sufficiently large finitary full tropical matrix semigroup. In the process we also prove some new results about tropical idempotent matrices, and note some semigroup-theoretic consequences which may be of independent interest.
Geometric structures over non-reductive homogeneous 4-spaces
Authors: Calvaruso G. , Zaeim A.
Published: March 2014

We investigate the geometric properties of four-dimensional non-reductive pseudo- Riemannian manifolds admitting an invariant metric of signature (2; 2). In particular, we obtain the classification of Walker structures, self-dual and anti-self-dual metrics and para-Hermitian structures for all the invariant metrics of these manifolds. For the examples admitting an invariant parallel null plane distribution, we shall also obtain an explicit description of the invariant metrics in canonical Walker coordinates.
Preparation and properties of multilayered polymer/nanodiamond composites via an in situ technique
Authors: Ashraf Rozina , Kausar Ayesha , Siddiq Muhammad
Published: March 2014

Compared to conventional materials, nanocomposites of conjugated polymers are found to have excellent performance due to a larger exposed surface area. In this study, polyaniline (PANi), polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene (PTh) and polyazopyridine (PAP)/nanodiamonds (NDs) composites were efficiently synthesized by in situ oxidative polymerization. Physical characteristics of fabricated nanocomposites were explored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR indicated layer-by-layer oxidative polymerization of various matrices on functional ND (F-ND) surfaces. FESEM revealed the fibrillar (web-like) morphology of multilayered nanocomposites having a granular arrangement of NDs. TGA of multilayered F-NDs/PAP/PANi/PTh showed 10% degradation at an enhanced temperature of 482°C compared with F-NDs/PANi/PPy/PTh (471°C). Improvement in glass transition of layered material was observed from 99°C (NDs/PANi/PPy/PTh) to 121°C (NDs/PAP/PANi/PTh). Functional filler also contributed towards the enhancement in the conductivity of NDs/PAP/PANi/PTh (5.7 S cm-1) relative to NDs/PANi/PPy/PTh (3.7 S cm-1) systems. New conducting composites are potentially important in various applications, including polymer lithium-ion batteries.